JANUARY 24, 2019 – 18 SHEVAT 5779 JEWISHVOL 43, NO 12 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG Learning with friends: The spirit of havurah is alive and well with the founding of Havurat Shalom in 1968 (it moved to Somerville a year later, where it remains today). According to one of its founders, Rabbi Arthur Green, who is now rec- tor of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew College in Newton, the movement was born out of countercultural disillusionment with American synagogues of the time. “We were reacting against the sterility of the American synagogue, the formality. In those days, you had to wear a tie and jacket to go to shul, and we were a generation of people Havurah on the Hill at the Vilna Shul hosts monthly talks and services. who wore jeans,” said Green. “We thought of ourselves as a By Michael Wittner action committee, or even at a kind of brotherhood of Jewish JOURNAL STAFF stand-up paddle board session. study. We had a community of The word “havurah” comes learning, full of close friendship, All over Greater Boston, from the Hebrew word “haver,” and we were trying all kinds of Jewish friends are getting meaning “friend,” and since experimental things. It was very together. It could be in a group the 1960s, it has been used to much a Jewish project, and a of young rabbinical students describe groups of like-mind- very American ’60s project.” in a rented house sitting in a ed Jews who gather together Green and a few fellow grad- circle, spending hours debating to nosh, learn, debate, pray, or uates of the Jewish Theological how to forge a new, radically any combination of the above. Seminary in New York wanted Photo by Bette Keva inclusive Judaism. It could be In these times, the philosophy to create a learning community Joelle Gunther of Lexington, on left, and Annette Koren of Waltham, in an intimate, lay-led service of intimate, bottom-up learn- more in sync with the chang- of Temple Emunah, emphasize unity. with Hebrew prayers that refer ing based in friendship and ing times. This meant forming to the divine in both the mascu- community has found its way their own seminary in which line and the feminine. It could into many different aspects of there were no rabbis, people Amid anti-Semitic controversy, be at a home-cooked Shabbat Jewish life. sat in a circle rather than in meal, followed by a communal In the 1970s, havurot grew to rows, wore casual clothing, and Boston Women’s March discussion tying the week’s par- become an international phe- taught each other. shah to current events. It could nomenon, but the movement’s Lounged on sofas in the liv- draws thousands be at a book group, a social roots began in Cambridge continued on page 10 By Bette Keva motivated their choice to dis- JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT engage. Despite the divisions, lack Jerusalem stone BOSTON – Despite the con- of funding and frigid weath- troversy over anti-Semitism – or er, demonstrators blanketing possibly because of it – Jewish Boston Common displayed no By Steven A. Rosenberg women from across the state shortage of issues dear to their JOURNAL STAFF banded with thousands of oth- hearts. ers on Saturday in the Boston A Swampscott High School ’m on the Boston-Tel Aviv El Al flight, 35,000 Women’s March. Joining togeth- group of 14, led by sophomores feet up in the air – somewhere over the Atlantic er on a frigid Saturday wearing Sarah Winters and Mackenzie – lost in the dreamy notes of Miles Davis when I their pink hats from the first Kearney, both 16, held signs I realize that my life will change again in a matter Women’s March the day after saying “Love Trumps Hate,” and of hours. the Trump inauguration in “Everything you can do, I can do Some people find meaning on the ski slopes; 2017, women and allies young bleeding.” others recharge in the Caribbean. I go to Israel and old spread out over Boston Winters said she was moti- to reconnect with my soul, and during my walks Common calling for empower- vated to march because she had through Jerusalem and ment, equality, morality and a been inspired by Rabbi David Personal Tel Aviv, I am able to focus lot more. Meyers of Temple Emanu-El in on the present. It would Essay Photo by Steven A. Rosenberg/Journal Staff March Forward Massachu- Marblehead. “Growing up hear- be more convenient per- “I Know You Rider,” in Talpiot. setts, a coalition of feminist ing about everything my people haps, if I could reach the same state of mind in organizations, is separate from went through, and hearing my Massachusetts. But there are subtle conclusions go to marvel at this vibrant, 70-year-old democra- the national Women’s March, rabbi talk about how we should I reach in Israel that cannot be found elsewhere. cy. Most of my ancestors, who toiled in the ghettos which gave life to the move- get involved as Jewish teens And so, I sojourn to the Holy Land for perspec- and lost villages of Europe for 2,000 years, prob- ment three years ago. Women’s made me want to be part of the tive. Getting there is the easiest part. I go because ably would have given all of their material wealth marches – independent of the movement.” Logan Airport is 12 miles from my house and, to spend just a few seconds in Jerusalem. And, so, national group – were held in Robin Slavin of Swampscott, these days, an El Al jet is waiting to take me non- I also go for my relatives. over 20 states. Several of the mother of one of the teens, stop to Tel Aviv. I go because I am lucky enough to * * * organizers stated the charges of marched in order to “bring the live during a time when a Jewish country exists. I continued on page 26 anti-Semitism in the movement continued on page 18 The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. 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