Havurot

The Hebrew word havurah is translated to mean "circle" or "group of friends." The havurot at Congregation Dor Hadash are just that, groups of friends who form close and warm connections to share Jewish experiences together.

Most havurot meet once a month to enjoy food, friendship and discussion. Among the many havurot are several women havurot, family havurot, study havurot, as well as interfaith couples havurot.

If you are not in a havurah, you're missing something wonderful. New havurot are forming and existing havurot are adding new members.

For more information on havurot in general or one in particular, please call the office.

The Havurah Experience
Profiles of four havurot at Dor Hadash

North County Havurah
The North County Havurah was begun by some members living in (far) North County -- Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista -- when some members expressed frustration at "having to" drive to San Diego for everything Jewish. The original members were all from the coastal area. Soon afterward, members from Poway joined and then later a couple from Rancho Penasquitos. We now have a member from San Diego who was used to spending a good deal of time in North County.

We get together monthly, usually on a Saturday evening or Sunday morning. After dinner or brunch, we engage in intellectual and fun activities including discussing ethics problems (does a Jewish lawyer have the obligation to accept defending a client s/he believes to be guilty of a horrendous crime?) and playing charades where all the answers are related somehow to being Jewish (titles of movies with a Jewish theme is one example; imagine having to act out the phrase, alef bet). Other activities have included going on picnics (once with a concert in the park), driving together to Los Angeles to visit the Getty Museum and the Skirball Museum, and leading services at Dor Hadash when the rabbi and cantor were away.

As you can see from our smiling faces, we enjoy each other's company. A side benefit is that we are great cooks!

Nivatim Havurah
The Nivatim Havurah was established 17 years ago. It began as a havurah for interfaith couples for the purpose of providing educational support for those converting and a safe environment to discuss interfaith issues. Today it has evolved into a highly organized family-oriented havurah. Monthly programs revolve around family activities such as picnics and beach parties and a variety of outings including annual trips to Bates Nut Farm and a local orchard for apple picking. Nivatim plans its whole year in advance. They meet at the beginning of January and plan activities for each month of the year. The havurah has withstood the test of time, and the families in Nivatim feel committed to each other and strongly connected as a group.

Women's Havurah
The Woman's Havurah was established 12 years ago. It began as a women's havurah for the purpose of celebrating Jewish rituals around such events as Rosh Chodesh. Today it has evolved into a havurah that participates in a variety of activities including reading Jewish texts, conducting study sessions, and celebrating Jewish holidays together. The havurah has withstood the test of time through its core of 8 women who have been active in the group since its inception. The women in the havurah feel closely bonded. They often share personal stories about women's issues at their meetings, which they identify as one of their greatest strengths. Every summer the havurah leads an Erev Shabbat service. The Women's Havurah meets every other month for a potluck dinner and program.

Issues II Havurah
The Issues II Havurah was started 16 years ago. It was established for the purpose of providing a forum for discussing a wide range of Jewish related topics. The havurah consists of a core group of primarily retired couples and individuals who are dedicated to study and learning. Past programs have included in depth discussions of contemporary Jewish literature, Reconstructionism, and Jewish mysticism. The Issues II Havurah meets on the 3rd Sunday of every month, which usually includes a potluck dinner.