User:HJUKorg/sandbox

Apr 23, 2026 - 13:34
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User:HJUKorg/sandbox

← Previous revision Revision as of 08:03, 23 April 2026
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== History ==
== History ==


HJUK held its inaugural meeting in October 2011, at which it was agreed the organisation needed to offer contact points across the UK so that small local groups could develop under its umbrella.{{cite web |url=https://humanisticjudaismuk.wordpress.com/blog-2/ |title=Blog – Humanistic Judaism UK |publisher=Humanistic Judaism UK |date=2011-11-26 |access-date=2026-04-23}} Previous attempts had been made to establish a branch of Humanistic Judaism in Britain, but these had not put down permanent roots.
HJUK held its inaugural meeting in October 2011, at which it was agreed the organisation needed to offer contact points across the UK so that small local groups could develop under its umbrella.{{cite web |url=https://humanisticjudaismuk.wordpress.com/blog-2/ |title=Blog – Humanistic Judaism UK |publisher=Humanistic Judaism UK |date=2011-11-26 |access-date=2026-04-23}}


The organisation grew gradually, and by 2025 its core UK community comprised over 480 members, with in-person services held on Jewish holidays in London. Its online community, Spinoza Havurah, attracted around 500 participants from around the world.
The organisation grew gradually, and by 2025 its core UK community comprised over 480 members, with in-person services held on Jewish holidays in London.


On 3 September 2025, HJUK conducted its first-ever [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|B'Mitzvah]] ceremony — a milestone for the organisation — officiated by its founder Martin Di Maggio.{{cite web |url=https://shj.org/a-historic-first-hjuks-first-bmitzvah-ceremony/ |title=A Historic First: HJUK's First B'Mitzvah Ceremony |publisher=Society for Humanistic Judaism |date=2025-10-27 |access-date=2026-04-23}} Di Maggio described it as "a huge step" for the community and expressed hope it would raise wider awareness of the movement in the UK.
On 3 September 2025, HJUK conducted its first-ever [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|B'Mitzvah]] ceremony — a milestone for the organisation — officiated by Martin Di Maggio.{{cite web |url=https://shj.org/a-historic-first-hjuks-first-bmitzvah-ceremony/ |title=A Historic First: HJUK's First B'Mitzvah Ceremony |publisher=Society for Humanistic Judaism |date=2025-10-27 |access-date=2026-04-23}} Di Maggio described it as "a huge step" for the community and expressed hope it would raise wider awareness of the movement in the UK.


== Leadership ==
== Leadership ==
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=== Martin Hasan Di Maggio ===
=== Martin Hasan Di Maggio ===


Martin Hasan Di Maggio is the founder and leader of HJUK. He grew up in Hereford and Worcester in a mixed British-Italian-Albanian family and is based in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.jewthink.org/author/martindimaggio/ |title=Martin Di Maggio – Author profile |publisher=JewThink |access-date=2026-04-23}} He is a sociolinguist with a master's degree in language documentation for endangered languages and a BA in Anthropology and Community Development. He is a researcher for [[Wikitongues]], which documents over 7,000 languages, and speaks [[Ladino language|Ladino]], on which he has led sessions at the annual [[Limmud]] Festival.
Martin Hasan Di Maggio is the founder and leader of HJUK. He grew up in Hereford and Worcester in an Anglo-Italian-Albanian family and is based in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.jewthink.org/author/martindimaggio/ |title=Martin Di Maggio – Author profile |publisher=JewThink |access-date=2026-04-23}} He is a sociolinguist with a master's degree in language documentation for endangered languages and a BA in Anthropology and Community Development. He is a researcher for [[Wikitongues]], which documents over 7,000 languages, and speaks [[Ladino language|Ladino]], on which he has led sessions at the annual [[Limmud]] Festival.


Di Maggio undertook a four-year study course with the USA-based [[International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism]] (IISHJ), qualifying as an officiant, and has continued to develop his credentials within the movement. He also co-leads '''Spinoza Havurah''', an international online Humanistic Jewish community. He sees his role not as that of a rabbi, but as a "facilitator".
Di Maggio undertook a four-year study course with the USA-based [[International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism]] (IISHJ), qualifying as a leader, and has continued to develop his credentials within the movement. He also co-leads '''Spinoza Havurah''', an international online Humanistic Jewish community. He sees his role not as that of a rabbi, but as a "facilitator". Martin is currently a rabbinic student of Dr. Rabbi Tzemah Yoreh, based in New York City.


Di Maggio has additionally worked as a community development worker providing training on [[LGBTI+]] rights, including intersex issues and neurodiversity, and has previously worked with the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] to improve police responses to hate crime reports from marginalised communities.
Di Maggio has additionally worked as a community development worker providing training on [[LGBTI+]] rights, including intersex issues and neurodiversity, and has previously worked with the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] to improve police responses to hate crime reports from marginalised communities.
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