Beth+El+Temple+(West+Hartford)-+Handout

__Shabbat BaBayit Havurah__
Beth El Temple, West Hartford, CT

We are seeking to extend the reach of synagogue programming to the home to underscore Judaism as a way of life. From our experiences with both La’atid and Synaplex, we know that what children learn is often not practiced at home. Our children learn the rituals and meanings of Shabbat – and particularly, Shabbat BaBayit observance – at an early age in our Religious School. However, parents are often not confident in their Jewish knowledge and/or they are not willing to commit to a Shabbat dinner routine, so that what the students learn in school is not necessarily always reinforced or experienced at home. We hope to strengthen the Shabbat concepts taught in school by educating family units, bringing them together with other families, and equipping them with tools and confidence. Our plan is to create a **Shabbat BaBayit Havurah** for families with at least one child in grades 3-5. Through educational activities, meaningful programming, and touching experiences, we hope to encourage families to feel more confident in their Shabbat observance, in general, and in their Shabbat BaBayit practice, specifically. As a result of this program, we hope that families gain an appreciation for Shabbat and for the rhythm it brings to life, that they hold Shabbat dinners at home more often, and that they feel confident and competent in the Shabbat rituals. We hope this program impacts family mealtime and communication, families creating sacred space, and families appreciating what “creation” and “exodus” mean in their lives. We see Shabbat as a “lynchpin” issue in Jewish life. Family life creates memories constantly, and a pattern of Shabbat experiences at home will not only promote Jewish identity but also strengthen families in whatever form they assume. We also anticipate that this will have a significant impact on our Shabbat community, leading to increased attendance, participation, and meaningful experiences. By embracing Shabbat practice, we expect that families will understand and appreciate the value of Shabbat in their lives. This, in turn, will lead families to consider incorporating into their lives other aspects of Judaic involvement, such as kashrut, daily prayer, even greater Shabbat observance, and a further commitment to Jewish education.
 * Elevator Pitch:**

We anticipate that this program will create a culture of participation in our synagogue in which participants will influence others to observe Shabbat and share Shabbat meals. By connecting congregants through Shabbat meals and programming, they will enhance their network of associations, ultimately forming new friendships across generations and geographic locations. We hope to empower families to use their newfound knowledge of implementing Shabbat at home and to share their interests with other families, even those outside our synagogue, by inviting others to Shabbat dinner at their homes. Ultimately, we hope this program fosters a better understanding of the vision of Shabbat – that observance occurs in the home and the synagogue, both communal observance and home/family ritual. We hope that participants will internalize the pattern and rhythm of Shabbat, and that they in turn will help foster a vital core of a Shabbat community of commitment.
 * How to make our approach more systemic:**

One key challenge that we have identified is that of maintaining momentum once the program begins. We often have great success with new initiatives and ideas, but after some time, participation dwindles. This program requires that a certain group of people remain committed for an extended period of time. How will we maintain their interest, involvement, and investment? Another challenge is relative to the internal governance, perceptions, and atmosphere of our synagogue. Will this new program that focuses initially on a small group of young families, be perceived as a threat to congregational unity? Will some members feel excluded? How will we create a tight-knit havurah for our participants while inviting the entire congregation to some of the programs? Finally, or along with this second challenge, is the reality that our congregants are comfortable with the status quo. Change is a challenge in and of itself, and our congregants may be weary of a program that seeks to create systemic change within the community and congregation. How will we convince them otherwise? How will we make these changes for the betterment of our congregation? We believe we might be able to address all of these challenges by creating a 5-year, permanent structure for the program. This would include a committee of professional staff and lay leaders, from diverse parts of the congregation, who would strategize the long-term challenges and blessings of the initiative. By securing funding, identifying staff needs and responsibilities, meeting regularly, and evaluating frequently, this committee can identify both the problems with the program plan itself as well as the systemic challenges presented in our particular community.
 * Challenges:**

Click here to go back to Beth El Temple's main page.