“Havurah: An Experiment in Jewish Gathering” is an initiative hosted by Congregation B’nai Israel which provides support to individuals and families who are interested in gathering and building community with others. We want to support you in developing homegrown, peer-led, Jewish gatherings.  The goal of this initiative is to provide a platform for people to fill in gaps they experience in current Jewish programming and offerings.

In these times, we know gathering has it's barriers, and that staying connected is key. We want to support our community in finding connective and safe ways to gather this winter and beyond. And, there are many ways for us to gather with others to find meaning at the intersection of our Jewish identities – as parents, young adults, spiritual seekers, members of the queer community, as an outdoor adventure group, cooking or gardening group. The possibilities are endless, the next step is to gather.

Fill out the interest form below and let us know how you may be interested in gathering. From there you wil be connected to a Havurah Connector or to our Havurah Coordinator, Molly Bajgot, to learn more. 

• Hearing Our Voices, Knowing Our Stories: Interested in learning about the stories of women in Jewish texts? Wondering what their relevance is to us today? Join for a monthly discussion of Jewish women in text. We'll read, learn, and explore the stories of these powerful ancestors.
• Interfaith Havurah: Did you grow up mixed-heritage? Are you in a mixed-faith household now? Do you have a blended family or background? The Interfaith havurah is a gathering space for folks with a variety of religious backgrounds or experiences to come together to connect and celebrate the beauty and the tension found there.
• First Friday Havurah: First Friday Havurah is an egalitarian minyan that comes together once a month for a Shabbat service and meal together. First Friday celebrates all leadership abilities and styles and encourages active participation of young-adults.