WELCOME TO OUR HEVRUTA!

OUR HEVRUTA is our pilot program for fourth graders. OUR HEVRUTA creates a multigenerational learning community. Adult congregants (parents, grandparents, retirees, lifelong-learners) volunteer as TORAH FACILITATORS to lead circles of fourth graders in conversations about Torah and our lives.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE:

For children and adults to understand how to explore Scripture together
To identify where our sacred texts intersect with our selves

The Hebrew word hevruta (חַברוּתָא) is Aramaic for “friendship.” In Judaism, we use this word to refer to the special relationship we have when we study Torah together. Hevruta is a trusted learning partner, or better yet, a dear companion in the exploration of our tradition. It is with our Hevruta that we discover those shining places where the sacred story of our people intersects with our own personal lives.
 

DOWNLOAD THE OUR HEVRUTA BOOKLET HERE
Booklet includes the schedule for the year, vocabulary, and all the texts for each class.
 
SIGN UP TO BE A TORAH FACILITATOR HERE
Sign up for one just to check it out, or four, twenty or however many sessions you’d like. One of the clergy will work with you personally to give you the tools you need, and you will quickly find that you are already an expert!

OUR HEVRUTA SCHEDULE:

Tuesdays, 4:45 p.m. – 5:20 p.m., Social Hall
 
Participants gather into circles of five – six students and two adult facilitators. This is their hevruta circle.
 
1.  Opening blessings: Sweet as Honey

o   All participants are led in this blessing on page 6 over Torah study.

2.  Hevruta introductions

o   Circles share names

3.  The Hevruta explores one to three little texts relating to the Torah portion.

o   The goal is NOT to cover all the material. If the group is engaged in a rich conversation, and you have only read one word of text, hooray! The Torah is a mystical mirror to facilitate self-reflection. Facilitators read through the texts for the weekly Torah portion and choose one or two from either the summary, Gems of Torah, middah, or mitzvah section and uses them as springboards to ask and solicit lots of questions.

o   Students are praised when they ask a question.

o   If there is a particularly challenging kushiya, the hevruta rings the bell to invite a clergyperson or educator over to help explore it.

4.  Closing blessing: Kaddish d’Rabanan

o   All participants are led in the closing blessing on page 6 over learning together.

Thank you! I’m really excited to learn together!