Learn about Havurot by watching this video
Havurah Initiative
Scroll down to see active Vermont Havurot!
HAVURAH INITIATIVE
“Havurah: An Experiment in Jewish Gathering” is an initiative through the Jewish Communities of Vermont (JCVT) and funded by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. This exciting grant opportunity provides financial and mentoring support to individuals to initiative small affinity groups (Havurot). These Havurot aim to create an intimate community where deep, caring supportive relationships are fostered between the members of the group as they share and explore a focus of their own choosing. The group sets its own agenda, is peer-led and meets on an ongoing basis. A Havurah should ultimately have a minimum of seven people, meet nine times a year or more, have Jewish content, have shared leadership and be affiliated with a Vermont Jewish organization. The grant provides funding for group expenses as well as to the “connector” of the group who is responsible for coordinating the logistics of the group and is responsible for reporting to and meeting with the grant coordinator. JCVT would like to support you in developing these homegrown, peer-led, Jewish gatherings.
If you are interested in gathering and building Jewish community with others and would like to find out more about this grant opportunity, please contact
Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org.
Current Havurot
Building Meaningful Connections Remotely Hosted by JCVT
Building Meaningful Connections Remotely Havurah is for Jewish Vermonters who have difficulty feeling connected to the Jewish community due to health, location, access or other factors that make it difficult to take part in local Jewish activities on a regular basis. The goal of this Havurah is building relationships and combating isolation.
The connector of this Havurah is Dar Hall
Contact: Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
Zoom Art & Writing Share
Show your art or short videos, read or sing your words, then receive positive feedback only. Young adults, old adults, & everyone in between, share your creative works within an encouraging community. This Havurah can inspire you to create more and connect you with new, interesting humans. Bask in Jewish humor, passion, storytelling, love of ideas, & tikkun olam.
Contact: Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
LGBTQ+: hosted by Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
The LGBT+ Havurah is a collective of LGBT+ Jews. We come together to share food, study and create LGBT+ Jewish texts and rituals, and support each other as LGBT+ Jews. For more information or to join this Havurah, please fill out Ohavi Zedek’s LGBTQ+ Chavurah Interest Form https://ohavizedek.shulcloud.com/form/lgbtq-programs
The Perennials: hosted by Temple Sinai
The Perennials Havurah is composed of empty nesters (or almost empty) who come together regularly to celebrate Shabbat dinners (mostly, and the occasional Saturday night Havdalah + activity) and enjoy meaningful fellowship. These gatherings provide a warm and supportive community where members can share stories, traditions, and a sense of belonging now that their children have left home. Through the shared experience of Shabbat, this Havurah strengthens their bonds and enriches their spiritual connections. For more information or to join this Havurah, please contact Judy Alexander: judy.alexander@templesinaivt.org.
Gathering with the Seasons: hosted by Living Tree Alliance
The Gathering with the Seasons Havurah meets monthly to celebrate Shabbat and the seasons. The Havurah creates intergenerational gatherings inspired by the Jewish holidays and Living Tree Alliance’s 91-acre homestead in Moretown, Vermont, where the Havurah meets.
Contact Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
Knit, Crochet…Handwork: hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue
The Knit, Crochet…Handwork Havurah was started by knitters, but welcomes those doing any kind of handwork, such as crochet,embroidery, etc. The connector of this Havurah Joyce Kahn. April 7, May 5, June 2.
Contact Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
Hands on Holidays: hosted by Congregation Beth El, St. Johnsbury
The Hands-on Holidays Havurah seeks to connect young Jewish families in the St. Johnsbury area to each other and to older members who have been part of the synagogue community for a long time. The Havurah meets once a month to do different activities around Jewish holidays- such as cooking, art projects, learning songs, or outdoor activities. Leadership of the monthly holiday activities will be shared among the Havurah members. The connector of this Havurah is Abby Johnson.
Contact Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
Mindful Parenting: hosted by Kol Ha’Emek: the Upper Valley Jewish Community
The Mindful Parenting Havurah discusses topics such as, talking to our kids about Jewish identity, Jewish mindfulness, encouraging participation in Jewish services, teaching kids the concept of empathy, how to apologize and forgive, dealing with antisemitism, Holocaust Education, Shabbat and High Holidays, and being Jewish in America.
Contact Alison Hill at alison@jcvt.org
Jewish Spirituality: hosted by Ohavi Zedek Synagogue
Mindful prayer, meditation, discussion of transformative Jewish teachings and more will be in a home environment once per month. For more information and registration please click Jewish Spirituality Havurah Registration.
https://www.stufforstuffing.com/jewish-spirituality-havurah
Examples of Havurot
Aging/Life Balance Multi Cultural Households Jewish Creatives Theater Makers Queeries Momentum Moms Caregivers Healing Circle
Singing Israeli Politics and Culture Mah Jongg Shabbat Dinner Veg Pod Creative Writing Family Havdalah and Holidays
Life Legacy Writing Men’s Group Shoah Recovering Jewish Addicts Music Appreciation Ramah Families Hebrew Chanting Documentary Films Visual Artists
Jewish Thinkers Hikers Yiddish readers group Art Making Active Empty Nesters Hebrewly Mindfullness Film Civil Rights Young Families
Book Club Jews and Brews Settlers of Catan