What’s a havurah?

 

A havurah aims to be an intimate community where deep, caring, supportive relationships are fostered between the members of the group as they share and explore a Jewish focus of their own choosing. The group sets its own agenda, is peer-led, and meets on an ongoing basis. The havurah should ultimately have a minimum of seven people, meet nine times a year or more, have a Jewish focus and shared leadership.

The Havurah Initiative

 

The Havurah Initiative is one of the joint programs between Harold Grinspoon Foundation (HGF) and Jewish Federation. 

 

We currently have 6 active Havurot in our community and can support more! New Havurot can get up to $1,000/year for program expenses and supplies, and each connector can receive up to an additional $1,000/year. Grants are available for the first two years of the Havurah being active.

Our Havurah

Schenectady Young Families Havurah is a group consisting of young families looking to connect within their community, Jewishly. To learn more about this Havurah, please contact Ilene Friedman: ilene_friedman@yahoo.com.

Hebrewly is a group of Hebrew-speaking individuals (ranging from beginner to advanced/fluent speaking) engaging in regular daily activities, from a Hebrew language lens. To learn more about this Havurah, please contact Tsila Waldman: tsila37@gmail.com.

Machers & Mavens is a group of mature couples who originally bonded over games of Mah Jongg and Canasta, who want to continue their connection through a variety of social and Jewish activities. To learn more about this Havurah, please contact Randy Fox: randfox@gmail.com.

Active Empty Nesters is a havurah group designed and created for those members of our community whose children have “flown the nest.” To learn more about this Havurah, please contact Paula Metzner: metzner.paula@gmail.com.

Clifton Park Young Families is a Havurah geared towards families looking to connect with other families located in the Clifton Park region. To learn more about this Havurah, please contact Erik Lustgarten: eriklg@gmail.com.

 For more information about The Havurah Initiative, contact:

Lakota Lustig

(518) 783-7800 ext. 228

llustig@jewishfedny.org