“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 will be connected to a Havurah Connector or to our Havurah Coordinator, Amy Stein, to learn more. 

• Hilltowns Havurah: All hilltown adults and friends are invited to join a monthly oudoor gathering on Saturday evenings for havdalah, discussion, food and drinks.
• 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. 
• The Ohel Minyan: The mission of the Ohel Minyan Chavurah is to nurture and sustain a halakhically traditional, egalitarian, multi-generational Jewish community in Northampton, MA. We are a community built around our love of communal prayer and a desire to help one another through life stages, challenges, losses, and celebrations. We meet daily for morning minyan in the backyards of the minyan coordinators. Everyone is welcome.