Ethical Culture is a humanistic religious and educational movement inspired by the ideal that the supreme aim of human life is working to create a more humane society. Our faith is in the capacity and responsibility of human beings to act in their personal relationships and in the larger community to help create a better world.

The Ethical Society of Northern Westchester is one of more than twenty Ethical Culture Societies in the United States. Federated in the USA by the American Ethical Union, the Ethical Culture movement is affiliated with countless humanists and humanist projects around the world through participation in the International Humanists and Ethical Union.

The first Ethical Society was founded in New York City in 1876 by Dr. Felix Adler and dedicated, in the ringing language of that era, "to the ever increasing knowledge, love and practice of the right." The men and women who began the Ethical Culture movement worked to cultivate active communities built on the foundation of shared ethical commitments and outlooks in order to help foster a more ethically responsive world. The Ethical Culture movement continues to cultivate humane values and ethical ideals, and this process forms the basis of on-going educational programs and social action projects.

The spiritual leadership of Ethical Societies is provided by a Leader. Our Leader at ESNW is Dr. Robert Berson, a practicing psychologist, who has been our Leader since 1987. Dr. Berson is highly respected in the Ossining community, and is a member of the Briarcliff-Ossining Ministerial Association.

The Ethical Society of Northern Westchester began in 1951. In 1960 we bought our present home on Pinesbridge Road in the Town of New Castle.