People have come together to form several small groups, and new groups are forming all of the time. To get more information about a small group (or Havurah), please contact the organizer. Email addresses are provided in the descriptions.

Green Hevrah

Can the Jewish tradition attune us to a greater appreciation of the Earth? Is Judaism relevant in an era of global environmental challenges? Green Hevra is a community of seekers and learners dedicated to exploring the Jewish Earth wisdom tradition. Together we engage in spiritual practice, stimulating text study of Jewish texts and contemporary deep ecological writings, and creating a safe place to share our insights and challenges.

Come find spiritual support for your work of ecological healing in the world as we further cultivate a deep reverence for all of creation. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30.

For more information or to be put on the list-serve, please contact Julie Wolk at Julie_wolk@yahoo.com.

Women’s Rosh Chodesh Group

Rosh Chodesh is an ancient tradition on the Jewish path, and a beautiful opportunity for women to come together in strength and song on the new moon. This intentional women's circle meets once a month (on the new moon) and focuses on the kabbalistic moon theme of the month. Using art, ritual, song, meditation, prayer and movement, this drop-in group meets with the intention of being supportive, creative, grounding, fun, and soulful.

For more information, please contact the facilitator, Jueli Garfinkle at jueli@jspirituality.org

Ritual Drumming Group

Join us in an exploration of drumming as a path of spirituality. We use dumbeks, frame drums, djembes (or anything that makes a sound) to accompany Jewish song and prayer. Come to a class taught by Bruce Silverman to learn technique, or come afterward just to play. Beginners and experienced drummers welcome. We meet 2 Tuesdays per month at 7:30 pm.

For more information and location, please contact Beth
at bethchas@gmail.com.

LGBT Interest Initiative

Chochmat HaLev is a community where all people are fully included, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.  We strive to provide programming that is both inclusive and reflective of LGBT interests and issues.  This group comes together to discuss initiatives, programming, issues of teaching and spirituality that make Chochmat the unique place that integrates and celebrates its diversity.

For more information and location, please contact Kerrick Lucker at kerrick@chochmat.org

Heart to Heart Group

Chochmat HaLev's Bikkur Cholim
(the practice of caring for the sick)

When someone in our community is sick, we try to respond to basic short-term needs. Heart to Heart provides transportation, shops, delivers meals, makes home visits, and checks in on the phone with community members in need of assistance.

This practice opens the hearts of both those giving and those receiving the service. In the spirit of this compassionate work and to complete the circle, we also provide support and nurturing to the caregivers in Heart to Heart. If you would like to volunteer for this group, please contact us. If you know someone in need of help, please let us know. 

For more information, please contact Alix Wall
at alixwall@sbcglobal.net or
heart2heart@chochmat.org.

Hospitality Committee/Chochmat Volunteers

We are a group of people dedicated to making Chochmat a warm, welcoming, comfortable place to visit for everyone in the community--newcomers and old-timers, alike. From greeting those walking into Shabbat services to helping with Onegs and community celebrations to being available to families commemorating life events at Chochmat, we are the personal face of the organization. We proactively think of what would be useful, homier and more comfortable here and make it happen.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Maurice Abrams at maurice@chochmat.com or Cindy Solomon at solofreesail@gmail.com.        

Contemplative Chavurah

Interested in making meditation practice a regular part of your life? Do you enjoy the energy and sacredness of sitting, chanting and meditating with others aspiring to the same depth, peace, oneness and equanimity? Join us throughout the week in lay-led meditations (specifically, on Thursday mornings at 8 am and on Friday evenings at 6 pm) and also at regular dinner gatherings once a month.

For more information, please contact Jeffrey Kessler
at yesh1021@yahoo.com.

Torah Study Gathering

Started by the students in the Maggid Program (Pastoral Training), this group gathers on Saturday mornings in the Sanctuary to learn about and discuss a relevant piece of Torah. Everyone is welcome in this free-form exploration of the holy scripture, community and the self.

For more information, please contact Hal Aronson
at hal.aronson@gmail.com.

Tikkun Olam Group

Each act of charity we do repairs our world and also opens our own hearts. Our group addresses problems outside our safe Chochmat community. We’re collecting non-perishable food to donate to food banks; we’ve raised money for an area shelter. We’re also thinking of joining a county-wide coalition to feed homeless, and we’re always looking for new ideas of how we can work together. In coming together we hope to create our own bonds with each other and to commit to making our bigger community a safer place for those at risk.

Please email Nancy Newman at nanzhn@aol.com.