Sixth & I is honored to welcome our newest community, the Sixth & I Family Chavurah. The working goals of this program are to create a(n):

·         Authentically welcoming Jewish community for all Jewish families, including interfaith, GLBT, single-parent, and multicultural families;

·         Innovative and joy-filled Hebrew school experience starting in Pre-K through Bar/Bat Mitzvah and beyond;

·         Group that upholds the Jewish values of kehilla (community), limmud (life-long learning), tzedek (justice), simcha (joy), and tefilah (prayer/introspection).

Please note that the Chavurah is limited to 12 families for the 2010-11 school year. To learn more about joining the Chavurah, contact Rabbi Shira Stutman at sstutman@sixthandi.org or 202.266.4866.

How will the Sixth & I Family Chavurah work?

·         Each month, the group will come together to celebrate a Jewish holiday or theme. Sometimes these gatherings will be for members of the Chavurah only while other times, members of the Chavurah will go as a group to another Sixth & I event. Families are required to attend all monthly gatherings, except in extreme cases.

·         The Chavurah will hold weekly, one-hour Hebrew school tutorial sessions.

·         Once a year, the group may go on a shabbaton, a weekend away, to participate in social justice work or to celebrate Shabbat in depth.

·         There will be a suggested donation to Sixth & I for participation in the Chavurah, and a fixed Hebrew school tuition. No family, however, will be turned away for lack of funds.

What is a Chavurah?

Chavurah is the Hebrew word for fellowship. A chavurah is a small group of like-minded Jews or Jewish families who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat and holiday prayer services, sharing communal experiences such as lifecycle events and Jewish learning. Chavurot usually provide autonomous alternatives to established Jewish institutions and Jewish denominations.