Or Emet is a Humanistic Jewish congregation in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota associated with the Society for Humanistic Judaism.
The congregation was founded in 1986, and runs two regular events a month that focus on celebrating Jewish culture with rituals cast in humanistic terms. A monthly Friday evening Shabbat service is held at the Minneapolis Jewish Community Center in St. Louis Park, MN, and a Sunday cultural school for children -- with a parallel program for adults -- is held monthly at the Friends School in St. Paul [1] [2].
Or Emet co-founder Harold Londer was ordained as a madrikh (which means "guide", in Hebrew) by the Society for Humanistic Judaism in 2007. Londer oversees services for the group, and conducts baby namings, bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings, and funerals. Richard Logan is the current president of the congregation. [1]
The Jewish Cultural School for children runs one Sunday each month, where students learn about Jewish history, traditions, and secular philosophies. [2]. On these days there is a presentation for adults on a topic relevant to Or Emet's Judaic and humanistic interests.
In 2011, the organization has a membership of about 60 families. Events such as High Holiday services and the Passover Seder can attract 150 or more people.[3]