What
is a Havurah?
A
Havurah, or a “circle of friends” is a group of congregants that come
together with the goal of forming a smaller community within the expanding
B’nai Shalom of Olney family. Usually made up of 8-10 families, a Havurah
provides an avenue for you and your family to increase your knowledge of
Judaism, your Jewish practices and social interactions within the shul.
-
Participate
in a Mitzvah Project
-
Share
a Shabbat Experience
-
Celebrate
family simchas
-
Support
in times of need
-
Pot luck
dinners
-
Establish
traditions
-
Begin
a book club
-
Take part
in a synagogue event
-
Attend
a concert
-
Form a
Torah study group
-
Learn
about Israel
-
Much more!
What
should I expect?
A
Havurah is more than a social, prayer or service group. Friends
within a Havurah, create a special connection to each other by sharing
a more
intense experience within our synagogue life. Sharing both the joyous
and sad moments of life, the members of a Havurah truly become your extended
family at BSO. Sharing these experiences create a community within a community
or families within a family.
B’nai
shalom can help
Fill out an
application and we will help you make a match.
-
Families
with similar age children? If
you want to belong to a Havurah that has children around the same age
as your children, we will match
families together.
-
New
stage of life? Are your children grown? Are you looking for
other couples to spend time with? Let us know we will help you make
the best match.
- Single? Are
you a single parent? Or are you ready to meet other single people? There
are many congregants who are just like you and want to make connections
at our shul.
- Special
Interest? Do
you have a special interest? Would you like to
get more involved with Israeli causes? Perhaps you want to get involved
in making our world a better place. Let us know and a variety of special
interest Havurot might be the answer for you.
- Interfaith
Family? B’nai Shalom is a very diverse community with
families that include spouses of a different faith. Like you, they
have chosen to participate in Jewish life. Participating in an Interfaith
Havurah can allow you to create an environment where the whole family
is comfortable.
What
will my Havurah do?
Havurot meet
every 4-6 weeks for events like pot luck Shabbat dinners, basketball games,
attending a concert, performing an act of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world),
attending a BSO sponsored event, participating in a Kabbalat Shabbat service
and much more.
Why
does B'nai Shalom of Olney do this?
We are very
proud of the growth that B’nai Shalom has experienced over the past few
years. But we are aware of the sense of isolation that is easily felt
when membership gets as large as ours. We regret that sometimes important
moments of your life might get overlooked within our shul. A Havurah
will ensure that your connection to BSO’s family will be a solid and meaningful
one. To this end, BSO will help you connect with congregants that share
your interests, are at similar crossroads in their lives and are equally
committed to providing a special Jewish experience for themselves and their
families.
What
do I do now?
Fill out the
application provided or get a copy by calling the B’nai Shalom Office at
301-774-0879 or online at www.bnaishalomofolney.org .
The Membership
and Havurah Committee will be in touch with you. We will coordinate
the first meeting with you and the members of your Havurah and provide
you
with the resources you need to make it a success.
Just
Imagine
Imagine 5, 10,
20 years into the future. Congregants you haven’t even met could become
the most important people in your life.
It only takes
a small effort to become part of something special.
In
Pirkei Avot 6:6, we are taught that “Torah is acquired through
48 middot (virtues).”
One
middah, Dibuk Haverim, cleaving to friends, suggests that in
order to successfully study and internalize Torah, one must surround
oneself with friends of good character and intellectual clarity, who
are both good hearted and perform good deeds.
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