Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture
Encyclopedia
The Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture is a centre for secular Jewish culture
and humanistic Judaism
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The stated purpose of the Peretz Centre is to "provide a quality alternative approach to Jewish life through the appreciation of Jewish history and culture in the context of world history, and the celebration of secular (non-religious) and humanist Jewish traditions."
The Peretz Centre is affiliated with the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
It is associated with Vancouver's Jewish left
community.
posed by the Holocaust and World War II
. The centre was named after Isaac Leib Peretz, a prominent figure in Yiddish literature
and culture.
In 1959–1960 it had 118 children, but by 1971 its enrolment had dropped to below 50.
In 2001, a new building was constructed at thee same location, and the name was changed to the "Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture".
program, a coming-of-age ceremony for boys and girls, that focuses on learning about Jewish history
and culture.
The centre also hosts the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir, which performs Jewish songs
in Yiddish, Hebrew
, Ladino
, and English.
In addition, the Peretz centre has Yiddish classes, senior programs, and Sunday School, and regularly hosts secular versions of Jewish holidays.
It is also home to the Jewish Museum & Archives of British Columbia, Ahavat Olam Synagogue, Bravo Dance, Jewish Food Bank storage and distribution, Kol Halev Performance Ensemble, MOST/Bridge Russian Seniors, Outlook Magazine, and the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival.
Secular Jewish culture
Secular Jewish culture embraces several related phenomena; above all, it is the international culture of secular communities of Jewish people, but it can also include the cultural contributions of individuals who identify as secular Jews...
and humanistic Judaism
Humanistic Judaism
Humanistic Judaism is a movement in Judaism that offers a nontheistic alternative in contemporary Jewish life. It defines Judaism as the cultural and historical experience of the Jewish people and encourages humanistic and secular Jews to celebrate their Jewish identity by participating in Jewish...
in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The stated purpose of the Peretz Centre is to "provide a quality alternative approach to Jewish life through the appreciation of Jewish history and culture in the context of world history, and the celebration of secular (non-religious) and humanist Jewish traditions."
The Peretz Centre is affiliated with the International Federation of Secular Humanistic Jews, the Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver.
It is associated with Vancouver's Jewish left
Jewish left
The term "Jewish left" describes Jews who identify with or support left wing, occasionally liberal causes, consciously as Jews, either as individuals or through organizations. There is no one organization or movement which constitutes the "Jewish left," however...
community.
History
The Vancouver Peretz Institute, also known as the Vancouver Peretz Shule, was founded in 1945 in response to the threat to Jewish culture and Yiddish languageYiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
posed by the Holocaust and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The centre was named after Isaac Leib Peretz, a prominent figure in Yiddish literature
Yiddish literature
Yiddish literature encompasses all belles lettres written in Yiddish, the language of Ashkenazic Jewry which is related to Middle High German. The history of Yiddish, with its roots in central Europe and locus for centuries in Eastern Europe, is evident in its literature.It is generally described...
and culture.
In 1959–1960 it had 118 children, but by 1971 its enrolment had dropped to below 50.
In 2001, a new building was constructed at thee same location, and the name was changed to the "Peretz Centre for Secular Jewish Culture".
Programs
The Peretz Centre runs a two-year B'nai MitzvahB'nai Mitzvah
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah are Jewish coming of age rituals. According to Jewish law, when Jewish boys reach 13, they become responsible for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah . The age for girls is 12...
program, a coming-of-age ceremony for boys and girls, that focuses on learning about Jewish history
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their religion and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Since Jewish history is over 4000 years long and includes hundreds of different populations, any treatment can only be provided in broad strokes...
and culture.
The centre also hosts the Vancouver Jewish Folk Choir, which performs Jewish songs
Jewish music
Jewish music is the music and melodies of the Jewish People which have evolved over time throughout the long course of Jewish History. In some instances Jewish Music is of a religious nature, spiritual songs and refrains are common in Jewish Services throughout the world, while other times, it is...
in Yiddish, Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, Ladino
Judaeo-Spanish
Judaeo-Spanish , in Israel commonly referred to as Ladino, and known locally as Judezmo, Djudeo-Espanyol, Djudezmo, Djudeo-Kasteyano, Spaniolit and other names, is a Romance language derived from Old Spanish...
, and English.
In addition, the Peretz centre has Yiddish classes, senior programs, and Sunday School, and regularly hosts secular versions of Jewish holidays.
It is also home to the Jewish Museum & Archives of British Columbia, Ahavat Olam Synagogue, Bravo Dance, Jewish Food Bank storage and distribution, Kol Halev Performance Ensemble, MOST/Bridge Russian Seniors, Outlook Magazine, and the Vancouver Jewish Film Festival.