Jewish Children's Folkshul and Adult Community
A Secular Humanist Jewish Community
JEWISH CHILDREN'S FOLKSHUL & ADULT COMMUNITY
A Secular Humanist Jewish Community
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Folkshul Welcomes You
We welcome all who want to be part of our Jewish community including, but not limited to folks who are: culturally Jewish, agnostic, atheist, spiritual, self-identified Jewish, Jew~ish, Jew-curious, in an interfaith family, LGBTQ, leaving Judaism, returning to Judaism, freethinkers, humanists, grandparents, singles, couples, parents-trying-to-give-their-kids-good-values-and-a-cultural-identity-in-a-non-religious-setting... A VIBRANT JEWISH COMMUNITY
Folkshul is a joyful hub of family programs and community activities. A member-run cooperative with a professional staff, Folkshul provides a culturally enriching and meaningful experience.
Our students learn Jewish history, values, mythology, and celebration of holidays. They participate in music, dance, and art and develop social action projects. Special attention is given to relating the “Jewish Experience” to modern day events and issues.
Folkshul is also a family experience with holidays and rites of passage celebrated by the entire community.
Adult members play a critical role in setting policy, developing educational direction, designing social action projects, educating ourselves, and working with staff to develop and strengthen our Folkshul (People's School).
From Max Rosdenfeld's What is Secular Jewish Education Secular Humanistic Judaism Folkshul’s mission is to transmit the values of social justice and human responsibility in an environment that nourishes critical thinking and provides a strong sense of Jewish identity.
From Max Rosenfeld's What Is Secular Jewish Education?
"The English word “secular” is an inadequate translation of the Yiddish word veltlich, which means this worldly as opposed to next worldly, profane as opposed to sacred, rationalism as opposed to supernaturalism...
The word combination “secular-humanism” better expresses the ideas contained in the word veltlich. This view of Jewish history and tradition holds that the Jews are a people and that religion is only one aspect of Jewish culture. It recognizes the historic importance of religion as a cementing force in the existence of the Jewish people, but does not consider this the sole reason for Jewish existence or the sole explanation for Jewish survival...
The secularists among the Jews base our views on the premise that the Jewish people are more than a religious group; that we constitute a world people; and that as with every modern people there is room in Jewish life for a diversity of opinion, including the secular-humanist view which does not subscribe to the tenets of religion." CONTACT US
Mailing Address: PO Box 17 Wyncote, PA 19095
Location: Folkshul is held at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy:
8000 Cherokee Street, Philadelphia, PA 19118
Email: Folkshul@folkshul.org
Phone: 215-248-1550
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Folkshul's Board, Leadership, and COVID-19 Task Force are working diligently to plan safe and meaningful high caliber programming this fall. When in-person programs are possible, we will meet in a socially distant, masked and safe fashion. Our synchronous online programming will take place on ZOOM. Please see your weekly emails for more information. We will update this site to reflect any changes.
In The News
- Local group fosters cultural Judaism, Chestnut Hill Local, September 16, 2021.