Havurot (Small Groups)
Hesed: Caring, Connections and Community is one of the core values in BJ’s Community Covenant—reflecting our belief that the foundation of community is connection and relationships. We know that it takes all of us to make this a reality, especially in a place as large as BJ.
That’s where the BJ Havurah Initiative comes in.
Each year, BJ members step up to create havurot: small, self-organized groups based around shared interests or demographics. In these spaces, members can come together to build and deepen relationships, learn from one another, and co-create micro-communities within BJ. In past years, more than 500 members have participated in this initiative, deeply enriching their connection to BJ and to Judaism.
This is an opportunity to build and deepen the relationships that can bring joy and comfort into our lives.
Become a Havurah Leader in 2026-2027
We are currently inviting BJ members to propose ideas for this year’s havurot and to learn more about becoming a havurah leader.
If you have an idea–or even an inkling of an idea!–for a havurah, please fill out this form by Tuesday, July 14. If you want to learn more about this initiative and what it means to take a leadership role, read on!
What’s a Havurah?
A havurah can be pretty much anything you want it to be. Want to host virtual Shabbat dinners? Study Jewish texts on Tuesday evenings? March in every protest to support our democracy? Sit on a bench schmoozing with other parents while your kids have fun at the playground?
Whatever the structure and content, all we ask is that havurot:
- Meet at least six times between November and June (though they can continue on into the summer/fall and far beyond!)
- Be intentional about building relationships and community among your members. (We’ve got resources to help you!)
- Have a leader (or co-leaders).
This year, we are also offering an opportunity to lead havurot that will engage Jewish text and tradition as America celebrates its 250th birthday.
NEW THIS YEAR! Jewish Wisdom for America@250
The celebration of America’s 250th birthday presents a time for serious consideration of the values and premises upon which this country was founded: democracy, civic responsibility, justice, and belonging—among others. As Jews, we also have the opportunity to draw from our own tradition’s wisdom, and the lived experience of Jews in America, to meaningfully engage in the questions and challenges that we face at this historic moment. Using a variety of resources such as those prepared by the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America and the American Jewish Civics initiative, these havurot will dig deeply into what it means to be a Jew in America@250, and how Jewish wisdom can help shape our thinking about this country’s future.
If you are interested in leading a Jewish Wisdom for America@250 havurah, or learning more about this option, please indicate so on the form.
How will this work?
Once we launch registration, all BJ members will have a chance to sign up for a havurah of their choosing. We will finalize the havurot by late October, and then havurah leaders will work with their members to schedule gatherings and start meeting. (Based on the number of participants who sign up for each havurah, the nature of the havurah, or other factors, we may need to consolidate or tweak havurot.)
What’s the role of the havurah leader?
A havurah leader does NOT have to host, cook, teach, or facilitate every aspect of the havurah’s activities! The leader’s job is to get the havurah off the ground, keep the wheels turning, and communicate outside of havurah meetings so people stay connected in between gatherings.
BJ will provide guidance to help you start your havurah and keep it going; pair you with an experienced havurah ‘mentor’, if you want one; and offer resources and workshops.
I know people do things differently when it comes to Jewish practice. How will the havurot handle this?
We ask that all havurot follow a few standard practices regarding Shabbat and kashrut observance, and will make these guidelines clear to everyone who joins a havurah.
Can a havurah include people who are not BJ members?
At this time, participation in a havurah is a benefit of BJ membership.
Do we need to meet in person or is Zoom ok?
You can meet in person, on Zoom, or a mixture of both. If you meet in person, you don’t need to host each gathering in your home as a leader, though it’s usually helpful to do so for the first meeting. After that, attendees should alternate hosting. If you use Zoom, we can help you get started but you will need your own Zoom account. Unfortunately, we typically can’t host havurah gatherings at BJ and can’t always use the BJ Zoom accounts for virtual meetings.
I have an idea for a havurah! What do I do?
Fill out this form by Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Over the summer, we will be in touch to finalize the details and description of your havurah so that it is ready to be included in the registration launch in the fall.
This sounds interesting but I’m not sure I’m ready to jump in. Is there someone I can talk to about this?
Absolutely. Billie Di Stefano oversees the havurah initiative and is here to answer your questions, talk through ideas, and explore what leading a havurah could look like for you.
I’ve never done something like this before. Is this really for me?
Yes! We will help you learn the skills and practices that foster community-building and group formation. On Wednesday, October 14, we will lead an initial online training for leaders, addressing topics such as building relationships within your havurah, troubleshooting problems that may arise, and general best practices. Throughout the year, you’ll have opportunities to check-in with Shuli, and to connect with other havurah leaders for peer support.
Ready to jump in? Fill out the havurah leader interest form by Tuesday, July 14, 2026!