Kol Haskalah: A Humanistic Jewish Congregation, formerly known as the Triangle Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, is the only congregation of its kind in the Triangle. Now in its eighth year, the congregation is home to more than 50 families. Along with the adoption of a new name, a new website has been launched at www.kolhaskalah.org.

To learn more about the group, the public is invited to an Open House Sunday, Aug. 30, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Murphey Hall on the UNC campus.

Kol Haskalah means "Voice of Enlightenment," referring to both the Humanistic tradition of open-mindedness and the Jewish Enlightenment of the 19th century, which marked the beginning of the wider engagement of Jews with the secular world. Founded in 1963 in Birmingham, Mich., by Rabbi Sherwin Wine, the Society for Humanistic Judaism stresses human influence and responsibility in a non-theistic framework while sustaining Jewish cultural and historical ties.

Recent surveys have found that nearly half of American Jews consider themselves "secular" or "cultural" as opposed to "religious."

"Judaism is more than just a religion, it is a culture, a people, an ethnic identity," said Cathy Moore, co-president of the congregation. "There is an ethical core that exists independent of any belief in a supernatural authority and that is the essence of Humanistic Judaism."

Alan Metz, co-president of the congregation, said, "Humanistic Jews rely on their reasoning power to understand and engage with the world around them, applying this knowledge to advance universal ethical and moral goals. At the same time, we celebrate the Jewish traditions and values that are so meaningful to us."

Members of Kol Haskalah celebrate Jewish traditions and values by participating in ongoing social action projects, enjoying a vibrant Sunday School program and engaging in activities and celebrations of Jewish holidays and life-cycle events through the year.

High Holiday services this year will feature a Rosh Hashanah visit from Rabbi Miriam Jerris, president of the Association of Humanistic Rabbis.

Jennifer Sessler, a member of the congregation, says that after moving to Chapel Hill from California and New York, she and her family were warmly welcomed by Kol Haskalah.

"People here come from so many different backgrounds and faiths, but we're all bound together by identifying with the Jewish people, history and culture."

For more information, visit www.kolhaskalah,org or call 919-968-7888.

Timely topics on tap

Upcoming Sunday forums at United Church of Chapel Hill will address timely topics of concern to all.

On Sunday, Aug. 16, Christopher Gianino, an organizer with the North Carolina Conservation Network, will speak about climate change, effects and impacts, and what needs to be done here in the state to build support for strong federal legislations to help stop global climate change.

The forum meets at 10 a.m. and all are welcome. The church is located at 1321 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Infant loss support group forms

Angels Too Soon, a support group for parents who have experienced the loss of an infant during pregnancy or during the child's first year, helps those who have lost a young child.

Led by Julie Moushon, it will meet in the West Parlor at University United Methodist Church on the third Monday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m., beginning on Aug. 17.

"Society really doesn't talk about infant losses," said Moushon, whose first son, Zachary, died just hours after he was born with a rare birth defect in 1994.

"It's such a different situation than losing an older person," she said. "People expected you to get on with your lives, especially if it had been a miscarriage or a stillbirth. There are so many aspects of lost dreams when you've lost an infant. It's very different than when you have actual memories of someone that you can share. I found that people really need to talk about it and sometimes they need to talk about it a lot."

Angels Too Soon is a safe, private, non-judgmental group, is open to anyone in the community who needs it.

"The loss does not have to be recent," Moushon said. "Nobody has to talk when they come to the meetings if they don't want to. They are welcome to just sit there and listen and cry. But if they want to share their story and talk about it, they're perfectly welcome to. We'll try to have a topic that's focus on something each time, but there will also be plenty of time to talk about what's going on in different people's lives."

For further information, call the church office at -929-7191.

'Godspell' opens Thursday

It's interesting to see the techniques churches use to get their stories out. In neighboring Granville County, the Oxford United Methodist Church is launching a theater ministry with a production of "Godspell," the first pop-rock-gospel musical that sprang from the youth culture of the '60s.

Director Joanne Fruth and musical assistant Chris Bagley have assembled a cast of local actors who will open the show on Thursday, Aug. 13, with nightly performances at 7:30 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 16, in the open amphitheater at Granville Athletic Park.

Jesus will be played by Kyle Perren, who played opposite Evan Rachel Wood in "Romeo and Juliet" for Theater in the Park. Shawn Rhodes will play Judas. Rhodes recently played Benedick in Granville Little Theatre's production of "Much Ado about Nothing."

The show is free but donations will be accepted to support local mission of the church. The audience is welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Rain date is Aug. 18. The Granville Athletic Park is located on Belltown Road near I-85 exit 202.

FAITH IN FOCUS

FLO JOHNSTON