Our Philosophy

Havurat Tikvah's philosophy has been influenced by three important Jewish movements: The Havurah Movement, the Reconstructionist Movement, and the Jewish Renewal Movement. These philosophies influence how we focus on community, spirituality, inclusion, and the meaning of ritual celebration. In November 1999 Havurat Tikvah formally affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.

The three Jewish movements overlap, but each has a specific focus:

• The Havurah movement promotes community.
• The Reconstructionist movement aims to reinterpret important Jewish concepts.
• The Jewish Renewal movement experiments with new Jewish rituals and practices.

The Havurah Movement
The Hebrew word "Havurah" can be translated as "friendship," "fellowship," "community," or "collective." A Havurah is a relatively small group of individuals and families who come together to explore many aspects of Judaism. Havurah members may share Torah study, worship, lifecycle celebrations, and support in times of trouble. A Havurah draws on the energy and ideas of all its members, and so offers a creative and diverse experience of Judaism.

American Havurot come together through the National Havurah Committee. The Committee, founded in 1973, sponsors an annual conference, a newsletter, and technical support of all kinds to growing Havurot.

To learn more about Havurot, please visit:
National Havurah Committee
Links to Havurot

Reconstructionist Judaism

Reconstructionist Judaism recognizes that Judaism is always evolving in response to the surrounding culture. Reconstructionist Jews try to transform this evolution into a thoughtful, self-conscious process. Within small communities, they experiment with Jewish ideas and practices. Their guides include Jewish law and tradition, individual conscience and contemporary ideas about ethics and spirituality. Reconstructionist discussion takes off from the ideas of the founder of the Reconstructionist movement, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983). Rabbi Kaplan, ordained as an Orthodox Rabbi, taught at the Conservative Seminary and was a major influence on Conservative thought and practice. He most clearly defined Reconstructionism. Judaism is a religion, culture and national identity. Think of Jews as a people who answered the call from God, but who were not necessarily chosen. Reconstructionist congregations pursue gender equality in all aspects of Jewish practice. To learn more about Reconstructionism, please visit:
The Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Jewish Renewal
The Jewish Renewal movement seeks to anchor Judaism in a sense of creative joy, calling on Jews to reinvent ideas, practices, and rituals. The Jewish tradition of midrash (creative biblical interpretation) inspires the movement's creativity. The Jewish prophetic tradition inspires its emphasis on social justice. And the world's mystical traditions offer Renewal practitioners many ways of seeking close encounters with God.

To learn more about Jewish Renewal, please visit:
Aleph, Alliance for Jewish Renewal