Chavurah

Or Shalom offers a thriving and growing Chavurah program for our congregation. A Chavurah is a group of eight to twelve adult participants (singles or couples) that get together on a regular basis to participate in activities around shared interests and celebrate Jewish life.

Sign up to join us and you'll:

• Build meaningful friendships and connections with other adults
• Grow your personal interests and learn about how they intersect with your Jewish identity
• Develop your sense of belonging and your feeling of "home" at Or Shalom

We launched 9 groups in 2021 and 2022 with over 100 participants. 

Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis. Stay tuned for the date of our fall kick-off event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for FAQs about our Chavurah program:

What is a Chavurah?

• A group of eight to twelve singles or couples with a max of twenty individuals. ​

• They get together on a regular basis to participate in activities around shared interests and celebrate Jewish life. ​

• Chavurah members must make a commitment to the group to meet regularly (we suggest once a month, but some groups may meet less frequently). ​

• Each chavurah chooses their own activities within their selected interest area. They are responsible for planning and funding these activities as a group.​

• Other events can also include celebrating Jewish holidays, hosting speakers and discussions on Jewish topics, or joining together to participate in social action activities.​

• Chavurot can become like extended family especially during life cycle events.

Who can participate?

Any adult member of Congregation Or Shalom who is interested in joining a smaller group within the synagogue​.

How many sessions are there and how long are they?

• Each chavurah meets approximately one time per month (every 4-6 weeks) throughout the year for a program or a planning session.​

• Each session should last approximately two to four hours each. ​

• Each group is responsible for setting the cadence of their meetings and there is no requirement for them to meet monthly if they prefer to meet less frequently.​

Is there a fee to participate?

• There is no separate fee for becoming a member of a chavurah at Or Shalom.​

• Some chavurot choose to have each family pay a small amount ($5 or $10 per month) for a collective fund to pay for entrance fees, speakers’ honoraria, special presents, donations to honor a member, charitable functions, or to save toward a chavurah weekend. ​

• This is up to each chavurah, and no member is excluded for not being able to pay this nominal fee.​

Are there ever opportunities to meet up with other Chavurot?

• Yes! Once a quarter, chavurot convene at the synagogue for a special session planned by the Chavurah Committee. ​

• This provides chavurot members the opportunity to connect and share ideas across groups, and to provide opportunities for celebrating, learning, and providing support.​

What if I'm interested in being a part of the Chavurah Steering Committee?

Send an email to chavurah@orshalomlc.com and our committee chair will reach out to you!