Our Havurot
At B’nai Havurah, the havurah is one of the building blocks of our community. The word “havurah” (Hebrew for fellowship group) is singular; the plural is “havurot.” A havurah usually consists of 5 to 15 households that meet on a regular basis to keep Judaism relevant in our lives.
Havurot come together to study, connect, celebrate Shabbat, enjoy holidays, gather for lifecycle events; and to live Jewishly in the context of a supportive community that exists beyond the conventional congregation. The identity of each havurah is unique to its members, interests, and mission.
Each havurah meets on its own schedule for programs prepared or led by its members, often engaging with other groups or the larger community. Each havurah is an independent group, determining policy which affects its own membership. Additionally, each Havurah may elect to participate in the governance of the larger B’nai Havurah community through our Board of Directors. Contact us to learn more about how you might participate in a havurah.
Where Did The Havurah Concept Come From?
The founder of Reconstructionist thought, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, first suggested the havurah concept. In the 1960s, the havurah movement arose in the United States as a reaction to the large size, formality, emotional distance, and passive experience perceived and felt in many congregational settings. Havurot exist in many different models – freestanding and unaffiliated with a synagogue or community center, or as a sub-group of a Jewish institution.
