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Welcome

The purpose of Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism is to respectfully record and share the voices of Jewish UUs and UU Jews, and their personal stories and experiences.  It started out with the dream of a book, but has quickly grown to be an even larger project.  After the book is complete, we will keep this website up as a place for Jewish UUs and Unitarian Universalist Jews to meet one another, share their experiences, and celebrate their unique identities.

The book will offer a glimpse into the lives of people who identify with Judaism within Unitarian Universalism, and will attempt to explain why so many Jews have found a welcoming home within the UU Community.  It may also illuminate why so many Jews raised in Unitarian Universalism are choosing to reconnect with their Jewish roots. 

On this site, you will find information about the book project, be able to meet other "Jewnitarians" on our guest book page, order fun Jewnitarian stuff, read sermons and articles related to our combined faiths, and stay connected to your inter-spiritual UU and Jewish "family".  The site will stay up long after the book is published, to offer support and networking to Jewish UUs all over the world.  Welcome to the beginning of an exciting journey!  Baruchim Habaim (Welcome)!

Note: This project is not an effort to recruit, convert or proselytize anyone to anything.  Whoever you are, and however you affiliate is your business, and we honor you!   Our  purpose is to record, share and nurture the diverse voices of Unitarian Universalist Jews and Jewish UUs.  This private site, developed by a Jewish UU, is completely independent of the UUA, any official UU organization, or any Jewish organization. 
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Our Definitions, for purposes of this book

Who is a Unitarian Universalist?

Any individual, couple, or family who has joined a Unitarian Universalist congregation anywhere in the world (see www. UUA.org for a complete list), or who identifies as a Unitarian Univesalist.  Members of the UUA honor the same Principles and Purposes, as well as the same Sources of Inspiration.  We want to hear from current members, past members, and those who closely identify as UUs but have never joined a congregation.

Who is a Jew? 

Who is a Jew?  Of course, it is more complicated in Judaism than in many other traditions, since we are not only a faith, but a "People".  We have a distinct history and culture separate from our theology, which has continued to evolve and thrive parallel to Christianity.  Although a person is usually thought of as Christian or Muslim based on the public or private affirmation of a belief or set of beliefs (a creed), a person may identify as Jewish through one or more of many connections (depending on who you ask) including:
  • a connection by birth, despite intermarriage or conversion to another faith (a biological definition)
  • birth to a Jewish Mother or formal adoption by a Jewish family (a traditional definition)
  • traditional conversion with public acceptance of theological principles, and a willingness to raise children in the Jewish community (a mainline theological definition)
  • identification with, or appreciation of Jewish history and culture, despite beliefs which may or may not be theologically consistent (A Jew can be an Atheist, for example, since Judaism is not based on belief, but on kinship. This is an ethnic or cultural definition)
  • any person who strongly identifies with Judaism and the Jewish people (a modern, alternative definition) 
(For a fascinating discussion of Jewish identity, see Judaism Beyond God, by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, published in 1985 by the Society for Humanistic Judaism.)

  For purposes of this book, our definition is, "You are Jewish if you identify as a Jew".  If you identify as a Jewish UU, "a Jewnitarian", or a Unitarian Universalist Jew, we would love to hear your story!


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  Check this site often for updates on the progress of this project, and the completion of the book, Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism.

Please sign our Guest Book.
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"It is possible to be 100% Jewish and 100% UU, and have an interest and appreciation for other traditions as well.  They do not have to conflict.  Although the UU faith began as a Christian faith, and some UUs are Christian, many UUs are not.  The Unitarian Universalist philosophy encourages choosing one's "own spiritual path".  According to some scholars and visionaries, the promise of Unitarian Universalism lies in its potential to become an  "interfaith denomination".  www.uua.org.

"...Do not turn your back on that which inspires you to your highest self, wherever the source.   Go where your heart leads you, but never forget who you are."
~Editor, Jewish Voices in Unitarian Universalism, Nancy Cronk
Update on our book:
Editor Nancy Cronk is in the process of preparing the essays for submission to Skinner House.  A Senior Editor at Skinner House expressed verbal interest and indicated a review date in May. 
Stay tuned for more details as we get them. 
News:  A Victory!
A Unitarian Universalist church in New Jersey recently changed its name to "congregation" to become more welcoming to its diverse members and guests!  Click here for the story:  www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=14907
Like this site and want to see it up and running permanently?  So do we!  Please contribute here.  Thank-you!