Scheduled to begin Saturday, Aug. 4 in Hayward, the two-day J-West Conference for Cultural, Humanistic and Secular Jews is designed for Jews whose connection to Judaism is based more on culture, ethics and history than on religion.
The fourth annual conference — hosted this year by the Pleasanton-based group Tri-Valley Cultural Jews — will allow people to discuss their beliefs in a safe and welcoming environment, according to organizers. The event will include a wide range of lectures, workshops and entertainment. Topics include Yiddish theater of the 1930s, two important Jewish suffragists, Jewish genealogy for beginners and African refugees in Israel.
The first J-West Conference in 2009 was held in Foster City, and last year’s venue was Seattle. The conference aims to bring together communities affiliated with the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations (such as Tri-Valley Cultural Jews) and the Society for Humanistic Judaism (such as Kol Hadash, based in Albany), along with other cultural and secular Jewish groups, such as Workmen’s Circle/Arbeter Ring and the Jewish Labor Committee.
Secular Judaism argues that shared values and practices are what unite Jews from all over the world, rather than the rules and religious beliefs of Judaism. A sector of secular Judaism is cultural Judaism, which focuses on aspects of Jewish culture (the arts, food and familial relations). Humanistic Jews emphasize that even within a communal identity, every individual can still create his or her own Jewish lifestyle, deciding for themselves which, if any, Jewish customs relate to his or her life.
People can sign up for workshops and lectures at the door. For more information, visit www.j-west.net or call (650) 759-5996. For the full schedule, visit www.trivalleyculturaljews.wordpress.com.