Who Are We

The Cultural and Secular Jewish Organization (CSJO) is an international organization focused on promoting and educating a secular Jewish world view. We are comprised of communities, schools and individual members.

Our schools, adult and youth groups function outside the framework of organized religion and carry out programs of education directed towards understanding our people’s past and enriching our present Jewish lives. These programs include study of our tradition, history, literature, music, art, languages (Yiddish as a vital instrument of expression of a significant period of our history; Hebrew as it relates to modern Israel; and other Jewish languages created in the Diaspora). Creative approaches to holiday celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect upon our cultural and historic heritage and to relate their significance to present-day life.

Our Philosophy

As Jewish organizations with a secular world view, the Cultural and Secular Jewish Organization stresses the historic, cultural, and ethical aspects of our Jewishness in an effort to create identity that is relevant to contemporary life and committed to justice, peace, and community responsibility. Although the Jews are a world people, with a multitude of views and beliefs, we hold that it is not only possible but also essential for Jewish survival that Jews with all different world views work together in Jewish community programs of mutual interest.

CSJO has ties with Jews everywhere in the world and is concerned with their welfare. We are hopeful that peace will come to the Middle East and to the State of Israel, which is home to a significant and vital part of world Jewry.

Through educational, cultural, and social activities we hope to instill in our members an ever-deepening sense of Jewish identity, as well as pride in being Jewish.