Joining a havurah (friendship group) is a great way to get to know other members of the congregation. Havurot have flourished at Tikvat Israel for many years, resulting in many lifelong friendships.
The original havurah idea was developed by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, founder of the Reconstructionist Movement. His concept was to get small Jewish groups to come together for study and observance of Jewish rituals and life cycle events.
Here at Tikvat Israel, each havurah group is self-directed, planning its activities based on the interests of its members. Some groups are more social in nature, while others focus more on religious, family or study-related activities. They may even take the form of a book club. Past activities of Tikvat Israel havurot have included potluck dinners, book discussions, sports (bowling, skating, hiking), musical or theater events, movies, Shabbat dinners, Havdalah services and holiday celebrations.
At Tikvat Israel we believe that belonging to a havurah can be fun and enriching. Whether you are new to the synagogue, or have been a member for a while, it is a way to meet people with similar interests, get to know other families and build friendships.
Groups are usually formed on the basis of life stage. Every year in the fall, all Tikvat Israel members receive an application form to join a havurah. Based on the responses received, the havurah coordinator forms new groups. Members may also join existing havurot. The synagogue currently has groups for families with children, couples, single-parent families and single individuals. If you are interested in joining an existing havurah (new blood is always welcome!) or have an idea for a new one, contact Melissa Apter.
We have several different havurot and welcome your participation.
For anyone who likes outdoor activities
The winter and spring schedule for Tikvat Israel’s Outdoors Havurah has plenty of variety on tap for those interested in outdoors activity.
The havurah’s plans for the first half of 2014 included a cross country skiing/scenic hiking trip at New Germany State Park in Garrett County, MD; a hike along the Seneca Creek Greenway trail; a visit to the Antietam Civil War battleground; a hike through the National Arboretum in Southeast Washington and a march through the Monocacy Crossing Civil War battleground/viaduct.
To learn about details of the next event or to be added to the mailing list for the havurah, contact Sue Urban.
Groups are usually formed on the basis of life stage. Every year in the fall, all Tikvat Israel members receive an application form to join a havurah. Based on the responses received, the havurah coordinator forms new groups. Members may also join existing havurot. The synagogue currently has groups for families with children, couples, single-parent families and single individuals.
If you are interested in joining an existing havurah (new blood is always welcome!) or in forming a new one, contact Melissa Apter.
For anyone interested in philanthropy
Purpose: The Tikvat Israel Tzedakah Havurah was started in 1987 by members of (then) Beth Tikva Congregation. We are a small group of volunteers whose purpose is to receive funds contributed by members of the congregation and distribute those funds to various Tzedakah projects. We define “Tzedakah” as pure, decent caring or, simply put, “just doing the right thing.” As a constituent organization of Tikvat Israel, we operate under the umbrella of the synagogue’s tax-exempt status.
Based upon Jewish tradition, the Tzedakah Havurah funds both Jewish and non-Jewish programs. Because the members of Tikvat Israel have other ways to contribute to the synagogue itself and its various subsidiary organizations, we do not distribute funds within Tikvat Israel itself. It is our explicit goal to distribute funds in our local community, elsewhere in the United States,in Israel and wherever in the world there is need-and to inspire others to follow this example.
Our vision:
Our goals:
Activities (past and present): The Tzedakah Havurah discusses and allocates the monies received from donations to the Pushka as well as during Purim at Tikvat Israel. Our meetings and discussions are primarily conducted via e-mail and deal with choosing what kind and how much our allocations should be.
Seeking new members: Anyone interested in philanthropy.
Contact persons: David Gantz, Hope Kott, Robbi Cohen, Dan Jacobs, or Elyse Bernstein
