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Press Release
Rabbi Named Humanist of the Year
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Washington, DC, May 10, 2003) Friday Night, May 9th, Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine was named
Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association (AHA). Founder
and President of the Society for Humanistic Judaism, Wine was introduced as
an outstanding individual who has given over 40 years of leadership,
guidance, and care to the Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Joining previous awardees including Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, and Betty
Friedan, Wine chose this evening to highlight the need for Humanists to set
aside their inhibitions about publicly proclaiming Humanism and reach out
with their beliefs—like others do. He said that he even makes it a point to
be nice to Mormon missionaries because they are acting on integrity and
“telling you what they believe is essential to your welfare.”
Rabbi Wine also called on Humanists to practice Humanism, infusing their
philosophy into their lives. “People are not their mouths or their
intentions, but their behavior,” he said. Wine further added, “If we don’t
have the behavior, than all the language doesn’t matter.”
Other awardees at this years AHA conference included, Gloria Feldt of
Planned Parenthood, Kate Michelman of the NARAL: Pro-Choice America, and
Hearst Newspapers columnist Helen Thomas. Other speakers included Lester R.
Brown of the Earth Policy Institute, former Eagle Scout Darrell Lambert, and
Public Citizen Ralph Nader.
Hundreds of Humanists participated in banquets, meetings, workshops and
symposiums that addressed Humanism in today’s turbulent environment.
# # #
The American Humanist Association is the oldest
and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to
ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and
experience, which embraces all of humanity.
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