IN FOCUS
In Focus :: Archive
April 2006
Kehilat Hadar In Focus
What is the mission of the organization?
Kehilat Hadar is an independent, egalitarian community committed to fostering spirited traditional prayer, study and social action.
What are the central activities of your organization?
  • Shabbat services three times a month, attracting over 200 people from backgrounds ranging from unaffiliated to Orthodox.
  • Weekly Beit Midrash at the JCC on the Torah portion.
  • Mini-series educational programming focusing on ritual skills, Zionism, philosophy and prayer.
  • Regular Lunch and Learn series on Shabbat. Speakers have included: Ruth Messinger, Ruth Calderon, Dr. Steven M. Cohen, Dr. Devora Steinmetz, Devorah Zlochower, Rabbi Shai Held, Rabbi Michael Paley, Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses, Rabbi Steve Greenberg and others.
  • Social action advocacy and action programs, focusing on housing issues.
  • Annual Shavuot Retreat: 4 days of learning, prayer, and relaxation in the Berkshires with over 250 participants.
  • High Holiday services: over 500 people joined us for Rosh Hashanah and/or Yom Kippur Services.
  • Holiday programs and services for Simhat Torah, Purim, Passover, Tisha BíAv, Selichot.
  • CD of Hadar melodies (over 500 copies sold in 25 states).
What events are you planning in the future?
Following a community meeting in January, we have planned the following areas of growth:
  1. Increasing religious programming: weekly services, life-cycle events, counseling, etc.
  2. Expanding educational opportunities: more intensive classes, full-time summer learning program, symposia on critical Jewish issues.
  3. Serving as a model for other communities: Share lessons learned and information with other synagogues and start-up minyanim across the country.
  4. Building community: Thicken existing community through hospitality and welcoming programs.
Who participates in your activities?
Most people at Hadar are in their 20s and 30s, although we have a growing number of people in the over-40 and under-3 age-groups. The majority of participants do not identify with a particular Jewish denomination. They come from a diverse background: about 60% grew up Conservative, 20% Orthodox, 12% Reform, and 8% unaffiliated. The majority (60%) have lived in New York for 3 years or more, and about 15% are new to Manhattan. Most people at Hadar work during the day, although about a quarter are students.
How many people do you serve?
More than 2600 people have joined the Hadar email list. In addition, Hadar has inspired various minyanim in New York City and elsewhere (Washington, DC; Brookline, MA; Cambridge, MA), and our CD has been sold to more than 500 people in 25 states.
What are your sources of funding?
Voluntary donations from within the community comprise the bulk of our revenue. Other sources include: Beit Midrash fees, grant support from UJA-Federationís Commission on Jewish Identity and Renewal, UJC/Bikkurim and the Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel.
What has your organization gotten out of Bikkurim?
Participating in the Bikkurim Project has assisted us in many significant ways.
  1. Being associated with the Bikkurim name has afforded us immediate legitimacy and recognition when applying for grants, speaking with potential funders, and marketing to media outlets.
  2. The specific strategic advice offered by Martin Kaminer and Aliza Mazor has been invaluable to Hadar as we moved from a small gabbai leadership structure to a more inclusive one.
  3. The expertise of Wendy Rosov in the Berman Center (JESNA) has helped us formulate a thoughtful system of collecting and analyzing feedback data.
  4. Bikkurim offered an invaluable 2-day seminar on public speaking and presentation that greatly enhanced our ability to make effective presentations.
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