The Havurah Initiative (HI) encourages and provides funding for the formation of ongoing, intimate, peer-led groups that share and explore a Jewish focus of their own choosing. Havurot bring a richness of Jewish experience, personal meaning and interpersonal connection to their members.
Each havurah that forms as part of the HI program will have a Connector who brings people together based on shared Jewish interests.
What is the role of the Connector?
- Reach out to individuals who are looking for a Jewish connection; listen to their interests and ideas.
- Convene with prospective members and facilitate an initial meeting to discuss group goals, focus, and next steps.
- Help the group develop expectations around scheduling, communication, and decision-making.
- Facilitate the members of the group taking full ownership of all aspects of the havurah.
- Bring the support and resources offered by the HGF HI to the attention of the havurah
- Attend sessions with other connectors and HGF HI staff for training, workshops, and idea sharing.
- Complete a brief trimester report highlighting havurah developments, progress, challenges, and successes.
- Stay in regular contact with HI staff.
- Background checks are a requirement to be a connector in the HI.
Who qualifies?
To be eligible for the role of a connector in the HI, the individual must
- Be a resident of Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, or Berkshire counties
- Be Jewish
- Help to initiate and guide a havurah in its formation stage
Havurot guidelines and expectations
For a havurah to qualify, it must
- Have a minimum of seven people
- Meet eight times a year or more
- Have a Jewish focus
- Share leadership among its members
What funding is available?
- Connectors will receive a grant for participating in the HI for each of the first two years of the havurah.
- The grant is paid in two semi-annual payments contingent upon submission of the semi-annual report and meeting the above expectations established by the HGF. The payment will be issued to the Connector.
- Havurot are eligible to be reimbursed during their first four years for program expenses and materials up to an amount designated in their LOA. Receipts must be submitted with the expense report.
- HGF will determine the grant amounts for Independent Connectors. Havurot that are part of a partnering organization are subject to the guidelines specific to that organization.
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation sponsors independent havurot as well as havurot operating within the following organizations:
- Congregation B’nai Israel, Amherst MA
- Springfield Jewish Community Center
- Jewish Communities of Vermont
- Jewish Federation of Northeast New York
Need help?
If you are interested in beginning an independent havurah under the sponsorship of the HGF or finding out more about this program, please contact the Harold Grinspoon Foundation at grants@hgf.org. You can also contact one of the four havurah sponsoring organizations listed above to find out about their new and existing havurah initiatives.
Disclaimer
The Harold Grinspoon Foundation reserves the right to decline any application.
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