The National Havurah Committee’s

30th SUMMER INSTITUTE

August 11-17, 2008 Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, NH
“A week-long retreat of Jewish learning and community”

New
• ONLINE registration at www.havurah.org
• Scholarships and Travel Grants
• More programming for Shabbat participants
including special rabbi, scholar, and activist
Steve Greenberg
• Additional emphasis on social and
environmental justice, including first-ever
Hollander Social Justice Fellow
• Improved parent support system
• Mishpacha groups provide opportunities
for participants to connect around shared
identities or interests

Kids Camp: 3 Shabbat-only Participation: 3 Everett Young Adult Fellowship: 4

National Havurah Committee • (215) 248-1335 • www.havurah.org
Welcome to the NHC! A Day at the Institute
• Take two classes with dynamic teachers
The National Havurah Committee
• Attend (or lead!) stimulating optional
(NHC) is a network of diverse indi-
workshops
viduals and communities dedicat-
• Children ages 6 months to 12 years old
ed to Jewish living and learning,
enjoy Kids Camp
community building, and tikkun • Choose from exciting prayer, Havurah
olam (repairing the world). 2008 davvening, text study, and yoga options
is the NHC’s 30th year of bringing • Enjoy delicious, kosher, vegetarian food
together Jews across North Amer- • Walk, swim, hike, or work out at the
ica to envision a joyful grassroots fully-equipped indoor gym
Judaism and providing the tools • Spend free time relaxing in a beautiful
to help them create empowered natural setting
Jewish lives and communities. The • Participate in evening programs and
NHC is a nondenominational, multigenerational, egalitarian, and volunteer- entertainment
run organization. • Make and renew friendships, have great
The NHC’s flagship program, the week-long Summer Institute, is a unique op- conversations, laugh, think, sing, dance,
and learn
portunity for serious study, moving prayer, spirited conversation, late-night
jam sessions, singing, dancing, swimming, meditation, and hiking – all in the
Sample Schedule
company of more than 300 people from a wide range of backgrounds. Each
7:00 – Traditional Egalitarian Services
year, participants leave the Institute reinvigorated and excited to return to
7:30 – Breakfast
their home communities to share new ideas, skills, and experiences.
8:30 – Yoga or Musical prayer service
Our 2008 theme is Baruch She-amar v’Hayah Ha-Olam / Blessed Is The One 9:30 – Morning Class: Introduction to
Who Spoke the World Into Being. This phrase, from the morning liturgy, Talmud Study
resonates with our overall interest in turning speech into action and learning 11:00 – Kippah Crocheting Workshop
into doing, connecting Torah with social and environmental justice. It evokes 12:30 – Lunch
creation themes, both ecologically and spiritually, and invites us to spend the 1:30 – Afternoon Class: Jewish Memoir
week of the Institute exploring the worlds we can create with our words. Writing
3:00 – Building Interfaith Families
At the Institute, every teacher is also a student and every student is a teacher. Discussion
People who are usually called “rabbi” or “professor” throughout the year go 4:30 – Swim with children in the lake
by their first names here. And people who rarely take active leadership roles 5:30 – 12 Step Meeting
in their communities discover that they, too, can teach and contribute to the 6:15 – Dinner at Yiddish Language Table
community. 7:00 – Mincha / Ma’ariv Prayer Services
We look forward to creating community with you at this year’s Summer 8:00 – Social Justice through Jewish
Institute! Teachings
9:00 – Klezmer Jam
Our Community
Courses
One of the NHC’s greatest strengths is the diversity of its participants. We are At the center of the Institute are a wide array
musicians, doctors, students, furniture makers, retirees, Jewish professionals, of courses offered in morning and afternoon
homemakers, teachers, activists, and just about everything else. At the 2007 sessions. Each course has a maximum of 20
Summer Institute, the youngest participant was a newborn, and our oldest students and is led by a teacher who is also
was over 80, with many participants from all age groups in between. The an Institute participant, presenting material
NHC includes Jews from birth, Jews by choice, people committed to both tra- that she or he loves in an inclusive style that
ditional and non-traditional Jewish practice, non-Jews, and people exploring encourages everyone to participate. Choose
Judaism. NHC participants have a variety of identities including: LGBTQ and from classes in traditional texts, Jewish poli-
straight; people of color, Sephardi, Mizrachi, and Ashkenazi; urban, rural, tics, poetry, Jewish ethics, dance and sing-
and suburban; Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Reform, Renewal, ing, Judaism and world religions, and con-
secular, and Jewish without labels. NHC participants also have a variety of temporary topics. Your background is not
Jewish learning backgrounds from those with no formal Jewish education to important – your desire to learn is.
those with Ph.D.s in Talmud. The dynamic process of exploring together what
Judaism and Jewishness means in our lives is a highlight of the Institute. Workshops
The Institute also offers informal hour-long
workshops led by Institute participants on

We are committed to making the Institute financially accessible to all. This year we have significantly increased our financial aid,
scholarship, and work-study options. See pages 11-12 for full details. If you can’t come to the Institute this year, please consider
making a contribution to help someone else come. Donations can be sent to the NHC office at: 7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd
floor, Philadelphia, PA 19119 or contact us at Institute@Havurah.org, 215-248-1335

topics of their choice. Last year’s workshop
topics included Israeli folk dance, poetry of
the Middle East, the future of the havurah
movement, how to chant haftorah, and Has-
sidic text study on the Sh’ma prayer. Partici-
pants will decide this year’s topics by volun-
teering to teach workshops! Please indicate
on the registration form if you would like
to lead a workshop – we encourage you to
share your knowledge, passions, and skills!
Minyanim
Every day will offer a different menu of
spirited prayer options and alternatives to
prayer. There will be prayer in many styles,
including Hebrew and English, meditative
and musical, with and without instruments,
and both indoors and outdoors, in addition
to a Traditional Egalitarian service three
times daily. All davening is intended to be
family friendly. Please indicate on the reg-
istration form if you would like to lead a
service or service alternative in any style. All
minyanim organized and sponsored by the
NHC are fully egalitarian, with equal par-
ticipation regardless of gender or sexual ori-
entation. Individual participants who wish
to organize minyanim where eligibility for
leading or participation is based on gender
are invited to contact the NHC office to ar-
range a meeting space.
Families and Children
At the Institute, families with children are
not only welcome, they are a priority. The
Institute “village” is supportive of all kinds
of families, and prayer services celebrate
the inclusion of children. While parents
partake of Institute offerings, children ages
six months to twelve years old enjoy Kids
Camp, joining their parents again at meal-
times. During times in which Kids Camp
is not meeting, parents can participate in
a special “buddy” system, improved this
year, in which other folks share the joys
and responsibilities of child care with par-
ents during meals and other times. Evening
babysitting is available for a small fee paid
in advance.
Kids Camp
Forming its own tight-knit community
within the broader Institute, the Kids
Camp offers exciting and enriching Jewish
programming for children. With morning
and afternoon sessions running concurrent
to Institute classes, parents can learn and ex-
plore at their level while knowing their kids
are also experiencing a vibrant age-appro-
priate learning opportunity. The camp is
lead by a talented staff of educators, artists,
musicians, and athletes, many of whom are
long-time Institute participants - this year
supported by a generous grant from the Al-
bin Family Foundation. The NHC’s adult
teaching faculty, Artists-in-Residence, and
other members of the Institute community
also participate in Kids Camp, sharing their
expertise and talents with the children.
In true havurah style, the Kids Camp pro-
gram is highly participatory; emphasizing
relationship-building through shared expe-
riences of art, music, sports, and a wide ar-
ray of Jewish programming. For many fam-
ilies with young children, the Kids Camp
has become a primary incentive to return
year after year.
Kids Camp features:
• Daily gatherings with song, prayer, and
stories
• Creative activities in art, music, and
theater
• Supervised outdoor recreation
• Water play or swimming each day (weather
permitting)
• Creative, developmentally appropriate
Jewish learning for preschool children
• Jewish-oriented playtime for babies and
toddlers
• A unique experience in Jewish community
building which celebrates diversity
Please note that Kids Camp operates during
scheduled class times. The camp is designed
for kids from six months to twelve years
old who can participate in an all-day pro-
gram with a break for lunch. Children are
grouped according to age and grade levels.
We do our best to accommodate all children.
Celebrating Shabbat
Shabbat is the culmination of the Institute.
The intellectual, creative, and spiritual ex-
citement of the week’s courses, the intense
Jewish living experience, and our new and
renewed friendships combine to lead to
a special, joyful Shabbat. Before Shabbat
starts, participants build an eruv (bound-
ary) and make other Shabbat preparations.
Shabbat then begins with a rousing kabbalat
Shabbat (welcoming Shabbat) and evening
service as a whole community, followed by
a festive dinner and opportunities for text
study, storytelling, poetry reading, and sing-
ing late into the night. A number of differ-
ent minyanim meet on Saturday morning,
including a special Family Shabbat Service,
after which the community gathers for
lunch, further study and recreational activi-
ties, and seudah shelishit (the third Shabbat
meal). Shabbat ends on a high note with
a beautiful havdalah (end-of-Shabbat cer-
emony) under the stars.
Special Shabbat Teacher
This year we are honored to welcome rab-
bi, scholar, and activist Steve Greenberg as
a special Shabbat teacher. Steve is known
as a campaigner for pluralistic Jewish com-
munity and a skilled teacher of social justice
issues in Jewish tradition, from gay rights
to environmentalism. Steve will be joining
us for the Shabbat portion of the Institute
to share his wisdom with us and facilitate
discussion, so for those who cannot join us
for the whole week, here’s an extra reason to
come for Shabbat. We’re so excited to have
Steve join us and we hope you are too!
Special Shabbat Teacher
About Rabbi Steve Greenberg
Steve is an Orthodox rabbi, ordained at
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.
Since 1985, he has served as a senior educa-
tor for CLAL, a think tank, leadership train-
ing institute, and resource center. Steve was
a Jerusalem Fellow (1996 – 1998) and while
living in Jerusalem, he helped to found the
Jerusalem Open House, Jerusalem’s first gay
and lesbian community center. In 2001,
he appeared in the documentary Trembling
Before G-d and joined with the film maker
to create a worldwide outreach project, con-
ducting over 500 post-screening commu-
nity dialogues all over the world. Steve is
the author of Wrestling with God and Men:
Homosexuality in the Jewish Tradition (Feb-
ruary 2004), which recently won the Koret
Jewish Book Award.
Shabbat Participants
Can’t join us for the whole week? Have
friends or family members who would like

to join you for Shabbat? All are welcome to
join the Institute community for a beau-
tiful, restful, meaningful Shabbat in the
mountains. Weekday classes will be over,
but there are a number of special programs
planned just for the weekend. Programming
on Shabbat will include a variety of Shab-
bat-friendly options including special work-
shops, text study, spirited singing, discussion
groups, hikes, pick-up sports, a board game
bonanza, and more. Shabbat guests should
plan to arrive on Friday, August 15, between
1:30 and 3:15pm. Please see the fee sched-
ule for Shabbat-only registration.
Teen Program
Every year, teenagers at the Institute build a
community that radiates into the teens’ lives
through the rest of the year. This commu-
nity provides a home base and an inclusive
group of friends for teen participants, most
of whom attend with their families. Desig-
nated adult advisors are available to teenag-
ers at all times for checking in and trouble-
shooting. Teens may work in the Children’s
Camp or the Institute office for a reduction
in registration fees. Please inquire for de-
tails.
Everett Fellowship and
Young Adult Programming
A generous grant from the Edith and Henry
Everett Philanthropic Fund underwrites the
Everett Fellows Program for young adults
who have demonstrated their potential to be
advocates for Jewish causes and who are ac-
tively engaged in defining their post-college
participation in the Jewish community.
Fellows participate in the full Institute pro-
gramming and in four workshops designed
specifically for them. They also participate
in a special program on building and sus-
taining havurot that is open to the entire
young adult community at the Institute. In
addition, each Everett Fellow will be paired
with a “mentor,” a returning Institute par-
ticipant who shares similar interests and can
support the Fellow in getting the most out
of the Institute.
Everett Fellows receive a scholarship for tu-
ition, room, and board, and are expected
to pay for registration and dues. To apply
for an Everett fellowship, you must be 22
through 32 years of age, interested in ex-
ploring havurah Judaism, and willing to
participate fully in the Institute. Preference
given to first time Institute attendees and
previous qualified Everett applicants.

Everett Application:
Please email your application and letters of
recommendation to everettNHC@gmail.
com by May 12, 2008. Include your name,
complete postal address, day and evening
phone numbers, email address, age, year of
graduation (if any) and occupation. In ad-
dition, please provide brief answers to the
following questions in 1-2 pages:
1. What are you looking for in a Jewish
community? (List some characteristics.
This need not be a definitive list.)
2. What kind of role have you played in
Jewish communities thus far and what
kind of role do you see yourself playing
in the future?
3. What do you hope to gain from the Insti-
tute? What do you expect to bring?
4. Please list 1-3 leadership experiences that
you consider significant (name of orga-
nization, title and short description of
your role, and dates).
A complete Everett Fellows application also
includes:
• Two letters of recommendation (may be
sent by separate email). Please ask your
recommenders to focus on your leader-
ship and community-building skills.
• A completed NHC Summer Institute reg-
istration form with a check for your fees
($120.00) made out to the NHC, sent to
the NHC office. Your check will be held
until you accept the Fellowship.
NEW: Hollander Social Justice
Fellowship
Do you have a social justice cause you are
passionate about and want to pursue with
the NHC community? Apply for the Hol-
lander Social Justice Fellowship. You will
receive a $400 scholarship towards Institute
fees and up to $100 for materials or prepa-
ration in exchange for planning social jus-
tice oriented programming for the NHC
community. Your proposal needs to include
at least three hours of programming on a
relevant and nonpartisan social justice is-
sue. This programming could be through
a daytime workshop (or workshop series),
evening community-wide program, Kids
Camp or Everett program, and/or Shab-
bat program. We expect that the strongest
applications will come from people with at
least three to five years of professional or
volunteer experience in their area.
Hollander Application:
Submit a completed Institute registration
form and deposit to the NHC office. (De-
posit is refundable if your application is
not selected.) In addition, submit to hol-
landerNHC@gmail.com by May 12, 2008
brief answers to the following questions in
2-3 pages:
• What are your project’s goals?
• How will the project be carried out (pro-
gramming, methods, resources you will
need)? Note that your plan needs to in-
clude at least three hours of program-
ming.
• How can the issue be brought back to
participants’ home communities? How is
your project relevant to the NHC com-
munity?
• What resources/knowledge/skills do you
bring to this project that will make it ef-
fective?
• What is your experience or background
(professional or volunteer) with the social
justice issue your project will address?
• Give an example of a successful social
justice project you have worked on and
describe your role was in helping make it
successful.
NEW: Mishpacha Groups
Mishpacha groups are small groups that
meet several times during the Institute to
discuss participants’ experiences and feel-
ings as the week progresses. Guided by a
facilitator, participants have the opportu-
nity to connect in a safe and intimate group
with the same people throughout the week.
If you are interested, you may sign up for
a randomly assigned group, or for a special
interest group on the registration form. We
ask that everyone who signs up commits to
attending all meetings of their mishpacha
group.
Franklin Pierce University
Franklin Pierce University is located among
the beautiful forests, lakes, and mountains
of southern New Hampshire. The campus
features ample conference facilities with
free internet access, a variety of comfort-
able housing choices, and a fitness center.
Mt. Monadnock and the White Mountains
overlook the grounds, which also contains
walking trails and a lake for swimming and
boating.
Course Descriptions
MORNING COURSES
M-1 Translating Text Into Textile
Heather G. Stoltz, Poretsky Artist
in Residence
Discover a new way of looking at texts and
learn how to express yourself in fabric. Us-
ing text and speech as inspiration, students
will design and create a small art quilt
while learning different sewing and quilt-
ing methods. In this way, we will find the
power of turning words into a physical cre-
ation which speaks to others. No sewing or
quilting experience is necessary.
Poretsky Artist in Residence
Heather G. Stoltz is a fiber artist who dis-
covered her passion for sewing the stories of
Biblical women when studying for a Master’s
Degree in Jewish Women’s Studies at the Jew-
ish Theological Seminary in New York City.
Heather’s work has been shown at various
venues, including the International Quilt Fes-
tival in Houston, TX and JOFA’s 10th Anni-
versary International Conference and has been
published in Creative Quilting: The Journal
Quilt Project and Zeek Magazine. To view
Heather’s work, visit www.sewingstories.com.
M-3 Applied Breslov Chassidut: From
Page to Practice
Ozer Bergman
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov is among the
most popular chassidic masters. Why? Are
his teachings warm and fuzzy cliches, or
real-life suggestions for real live people?
Ozer, a Breslover since the 1970s, will share
his intimate, humorous, iconoclastic (sans
Orthodox apologetics) take on attitudes and
practices recommended by Rebbe Nach-
man for dealing with life; studying Torah
and praying; “The Big Three: Eating, Sex,
and Money”; and the tzaddik (righteous
Unless specified as intermediate or advanced, all text study courses will be accessible to everyone.
person). We will work with primary Breslov
texts and see how they can function in our
lives as individual Jews. Some familiarity
with any chassidic text OR ability to read
Hebrew will be helpful. Translations will be
provided.
Spiritual and Religious Life; Advanced
Text
Born and raised in New York, Ozer Bergman
made aliyah to Israel in the 1970s and has
been living there as a Breslover ever since. A
philosophy major turned chassid, he has trans-
lated, edited, and authored over a dozen works
of Rebbe Nachman’s teachings and writes a
weekly dvar Torah for the Breslov Research In-
stitute (www.breslov.org). He has taught and
lectured around the world. He teaches at The
Bat Ayin Yeshiva and gives private instruction
at his home.
M-5 Playing with White Fire
Mitchell Chefitz
Tradition teaches the Torah was written in
letters of black fire on a background of white
fire. The black letters were those that passed
through Moses 2,500 years ago. As Torah
expands, the space between the letters – the
white fire – becomes greater and greater. If
we immerse ourselves in that white fire, our
selves boil away, and we can discover there
new Midrash, new stories, and learn how to
bring them to the surface. The format will
be text study, meditative work, and story
sharing through the four worlds of experi-
ence. The instructor will provide text for the
first session, and then build each session out
of the last. Best to have at least an elemen-
tary understanding of the Jewish spiritual
framework. The instructor can recommend
reading for those who think they might not
be prepared.
Arts and Literature; Spirituality and
Religious Life
Mitch Chefitz is the author of two novels and
a collection of stories written around a core of
Jewish spirituality. He’s currently Scholar in
Residence at Temple Israel of Greater Miami.
M-7 Franz Kafka: A Jew for
Our Time
James S. Diamond
The Jewish foundation of Franz Kafka’s
extraordinary stories and parables is often
downplayed, yet these writings constitute
an engagement with Judaism that offers per-
haps the earliest (pre)figuration of a post-
modern Jewish identity. In this course, we
will study several of Kafka’s key texts with
an eye toward not only understanding him
as a profoundly Jewish writer but, more im-
portantly, as a paradigm for understanding
ourselves as Jews living in a still emerging
postmodern condition.
Arts and Literature, Contemporary
Issues
James S. Diamond taught at last year’s Ha-
vurah Institute and felt like a duck in water.
He teaches in the Program in Judaic Studies at
Princeton University and is the author of the
forthcoming book Stringing the Pearls: How to
Read the Weekly Torah Portion (JPS 2008.)
M-9 Israel at Sixty: Forty-One Years
as an Occupier, 1967-2008
Harold Gorvine
A consideration of Israel’s post-1967 oc-
cupation of the West Bank and Gaza: the
origins of the settlements, and the effects of
the occupation on the occupied, the occupi-
ers, and American Jews. We will also delve
into the roots of the occupation in secular
and religious Zionism. We will use both
primary and secondary sources, and we will
engage in hevruta (one-on-one) study.
History and Culture
Harold Gorvine was honored in June 2001 by
the Alumni Association of Akiba Hebrew Acad-
emy (suburban Philadelphia) for 35 years of be-

Course Descriptions continued
ing an outstanding teacher of history and Jew-
ish studies. This is his 10th Havurah Institute.
M-11 Joseph’s Multi-Colored
Hellenistic Coat
Aaron Kachuck
Joseph, the man with a many-colored coat,
also wore the variegated garments of mul-
ticulturalism. It was therefore natural that
those Jews who flourished in Hellenistic
Egypt (~300 BCE-100 CE) saw Joseph as a
prototype for their own cosmopolitan com-
munity dedicated both to Greek moder-
nity and Jewish tradition. Through Greek
“midrash,” we will explore the Hellenis-
tic, and our own, struggle with the Joseph
story. Sources will include Genesis, Philo,
Josephus, and Joseph and Aseneth, a Jewish-
Greek story (~200 BCE-100 CE) of chariot
chases, romance, and palace intrigue. Come
explore these strange and wonderful texts!
Readings will be in Hebrew and Greek, with
translations provided.
Intermediate Text
Aaron Kachuck is currently the Mellon Fellow
at Clare College, University of Cambridge, in
the Faculty of Classics. His research interests
include comparative epic poetry, religion and
atheism in ancient Greece, and Hellenistic Ju-
daism. He is a co-founder of Minyan Urim, an
inclusive prayer group at Yale University, and
was also the founder of the Jump and Jive Min-
yan at Adat Ari El Synagogue in Los Angeles.
M-13 The Essential Prayer: A Deep
Investigation into the Amidah
Elie Kaunfer
Together we will explore the Biblical and
rabbinic sources of the various blessings of
the Amidah to understand why this is THE
prayer of rabbinic literature. How do the
non-verbal elements relate to the experience
of this prayer? How do the stories behind
the creation of the Amidah help us discover
new meaning in the liturgy? How does the
Biblical context inform our textured under-
standing of the words? All texts will be in
Hebrew and English, although it is aimed
for people who can navigate some Hebrew
texts.
Text For Everyone
Elie Kaunfer is executive director of Mechon
Hadar: An Institute for Prayer, Personal

Growth, and Jewish Study (www.mechonha-
dar.org) - the first full-time egalitarian yeshiva
program in the United States. Elie is director
of Yeshivat Hadar (www.yeshivathadar.org), a
yeshiva in New York that offers generous sti-
pends to students looking to engage in intensive
Jewish study. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, Elie
completed ordination and an MA in liturgy at
the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is working
on a doctorate in liturgy. The Forward News-
paper named him one of 50 Top Jewish Leaders.
M-15 A Daf a Day for 18 Years:
Deconstructing the Encyclopedia
Judaica
Bill Kavesh and
Solomon Mowshowitz
What has kept the Jewish people going all
these years? Spiritual creativity? Ancestor
worship? Devotion to text? Stubbornness?
After 18 years, we share hitherto undis-
closed secrets of Jewish survival gleaned
from a close reading of the (allegedly) great-
est compendium of Jewish knowledge since
the Talmud, the Encyclopedia Judaica (EJ).
Explore biographies of mystics, scoffers and
others; descriptions of far-flung commu-
nities; literature; mysticism; art; religious
ideas; Zionism; and miscellaneous oddities.
Each day, we examine a few categories for
content and EJ editorial quirks; then visit
some of the more horrifying, hilarious, or
otherwise fascinating entries. Share the ex-
perience of slogging through it for 18 years,
and why life after the EJ seems empty and
meaningless.
Text For Everyone, Suitable for Families
William Kavesh and Solomon Mowshowitz,
longtime havurahniks, hope to complete their
hevruta (one-on-one) study of the Encyclopedia
Judaica this year at the Havurah Institute, after
reading a Daf (folio page) each day since 1988.
M-17 Welcoming the Homeless
Stranger — How a Mitzvah is
Rooted in Our Stories
Herb Levine
Welcoming the stranger is at the heart of the
biblical story (think of Abraham, Rebecca,
Boaz) and therefore at the heart of Judaism.
This course explores the textual basis for the
mitzvah of welcoming the stranger in both
biblical narrative and law, as elaborated in
Talmudic legend and Maimonides’ code of
Jewish law. The interpenetration of story and
religious practice (aggada and halachah) in
these texts will give us a basis for connecting
them to issues of who are the strangers and
poor people in U.S. society most in need of
our hospitality and advocacy. All texts will
be translated, with originals available.
Contemporary Issues
Herb Levine is Executive Director of the Mer-
cer Alliance to End Homelessness, Lawrence-
ville, NJ, and a past chair of the NHC. He
has taught at six previous Havurah Institutes.

M-19 The Unfinished Revolution:
Jewish Feminism in a
“Post-Feminist” Age
Judith Plaskow and
Martha Ackelsberg
What issues do feminists still need to ad-
dress in this supposedly post-feminist age?
The course will begin by taking stock of
what Jewish feminists have and have not
accomplished over the past forty years and
will end by seeking to map some future di-
rections. We will explore challenges to the
gender binary and their implications for
Jewish life, look at the problem of work/life
balance, and discuss the potential contribu-
tions of Jewish feminists to broader issues of
social justice.
Contemporary Issues
Judith Plaskow and Martha Ackelsberg are
long-time Jewish feminist activists who are mem-
bers of Havurat Ha-Emek in Northampton,
MA. Judith is professor of religious studies at
Manhattan College and author of Standing
Again at Sinai: Judaism from a Feminist Per-
spective. Martha is professor of Government
and the Study of Women and Gender at Smith
College and a founder of Ezrat Nashim and
B’not Esh. They are both included in the
new encyclopedia, Feminists Who Changed
America.
M-21 Words and Worlds of Two
Prophets: Isaiah and Mohammad
Dawn Rose professor of mathematics at Rutgers University
A respectful introduction to Mohammad
and the Koran by way of an enlightening
comparison with our own prophet Isaiah
and his works. During historical times of
great bloodshed, both of these prophets
articulated revolutionary notions of good
and evil. Both understood the task of the
prophet as impacting social, political, and
economic spheres. Both offer visions of
a world redeemed. This class, geared for
discussion, will reveal differences as well as
similarities which are fascinating and deeply
meaningful. All texts will be in English.
Participants should purchase an inexpensive
volume of the Koran, The Qur’an (Oxford
World’s Classics) paperback, 2004.
History and Culture
Dawn Rose is rabbi of the Norwich Jewish Cen-
ter in New York. With a doctorate in Jewish
Unless specified as intermediate or advanced, all text study courses will be accessible to everyone.
Philosophy, she has published
many articles and chapters
and is currently working on
a book dealing with struggles
around religious fundamen-
talism in the U.S. and Israel.
M-23 What is Rosh
Hashanah All About?
Joe Rosenstein
Is it simply a prelude to
Yom Kippur, or does the
beginning of a new year
have a separate existence
and meaning? Is it a time
for repentance or a time
for celebrating our new
year and the birthday of the universe? And
what are the spiritual implications of these
questions? In this course, we will explore,
through study, discussion, and guided med-
itation, the themes of the Rosh Hashanah
liturgy, how their authors and later com-
mentators understood these themes, and
how these themes might be reflected in our
own observance of Rosh Hashanah. Transla-
tions of all texts will be provided.
Spirituality and Religious Life
Joe Rosenstein is a founder and former chair
of the NHC and of the Havurah Institute.
He is the author of Siddur Eit Ratzon (www.
newsiddur.org) and a member of the High-
land Park (NJ) Minyan. In real life, he is a
focused on K-12 mathematics education. He
and his wife Judy are blessed with five daugh-
ters, two sons-in-law, and three grandchildren.
M-25 Speaking the World into
Being: Jewish Ethics of What We
Say and How We Say It
Regina Sandler-Phillips
Is what comes out of your mouth as impor-
tant to you as what goes into it? Unethical
speech is considered equivalent to murder
in Jewish thought, but it runs rampant
through Jewish life—and everyone thinks
it’s someone else’s problem. What’s a Jew
to do? We’ll help each other move from
studies to solutions with a toolkit of Biblical
and rabbinic teachings, modern guidance,
experiential exercises, and motivational
melodies—and special consideration of
our choices regarding electronic commu-
nications and the news media. If you are
someone who “desires life,” join us and help
build the Jewish ethical speech movement!
Spirituality and Religious Life, Interme-
diate Text
Regina Sandler-Phillips is rabbi of the Free Syn-
agogue of Flushing, New York, and the found-
ing chair of the 70-member hevra kadisha
(sacred Jewish burial fellowship) at Park Slope
Jewish Center in Brooklyn. She has served as
a chaplain, educator, and “singer provocateur”
in a variety of settings in Israel and the U.S.,
including the NYC disaster relief efforts follow-
ing September 11, 2001. Regina believes that
we teach what we most need to learn, and has
done both at many previous Havurah Institutes.
M-27 Rabbinic Rules for Radicals
Ari Weisbard
So you say you want a revolution? We all
want to change the world. In this class,
we will study how. We will delve into the
practical lessons of Jewish tradition, from
Talmudic texts to Saul Alinsky. What do
our texts teach us about how to promote ef-
fective change in the world? By unlocking
the nature of powerful institutions, com-
munity organizing and leadership, and the
truly “radical” actions in Jewish history, we
can become better organizers, activists, and
community leaders. All course materials will
be in English, with original languages avail-
able to supplement the discussion when ap-
propriate.
Ari Weisbard is in his final year at Yale Law
School. His radical experiences include par-
ticipating in a three-week sit-in to win a

Course Descriptions continued
living wage at Harvard, organizing politi-
cal campaigns, and working for The Nation
magazine and the Brennan Center for So-
cial Justice at NYU. His rabbinic experi-
ence includes being a younger brother to
Rabbi Talya Weisbard Shalem (which could
also be listed under his radicalizing experi-
ences) and being raised as a Havurah Jew.
AFTERNOON COURSES
A-2 Storytelling, Diaspora, and
Survival
S. Bear Bergman, Poretsky Artist in
Residence
Jewish storytelling has created a uniting
thread, binding Jews together across time,
distance, joy and despair. In this course, we
will foster storytelling skills in a fresh new
batch of storytellers. We will look at stories
everywhere, Talmud to Haggadah to Me-
gillah to Chelm, on stage and in song, and
appreciate what gives a story the blood and
breath to outlive the original creator. Once
we have some theories, we’ll test them by
composing and retelling more modern Jew-
ish stories, practice performing them, and
record them to share across and outside the
Institute. No prior performance experience
is required.
Extended Format (each session is 2.5
hours)
Poretsky Artist in Residence
Artist, activist, storyteller and scholar S. Bear
Bergman is the author and performer of three
plays about the intersections between and
among gender, sexuality, and Jewish iden-

tity. Hir publications include Butch
Is A Noun (Suspect Thoughts Press,
2006), essays on queer and Jewish cul-
ture, and a chapter of the LGBT In-
clusion Guide for Hillel. Ze performs
widely and facilitates workshops about
the parallels between Jewish and LG-
BTQ communities in diaspora. Berg-
man serves on the board of NUJLS (The
National Union of LGBTQ Students),
and works with Hillels across North
America on LGBT student concerns.
A-4 The Art and Spirit of Prayer
Leading
Julia Appel
Where does our own connection to God fit
in when we’re aiding the connection of oth-
ers? How do we elevate our prayer experi-
ence and that of our communities? We will
improve our own understanding of prayer
leading by exploring central Jewish ap-
proaches, in texts from the Talmud to Chas-
sidism to contemporary thinkers. Together,
we will hone our use of tone and words to
facilitate prayer experience of clear, directed
intention. Topics include prayer’s purpose,
cultivating koved rosh (concentration), kev-
ah, and kavanah (structure and intentional-
ity), and raising up others’ prayers. English
translations provided, but text will be dis-
cussed in the original Hebrew. Prerequisites:
Experience prayer leading (any setting).
Familiarity with service structure and basic
Hebrew comprehension.
Intermediate Text; Spirituality and
Religious Life
Having prayed and led services with havu-
rot, shabbatons, and congregations across the
Northeast, Julia Appel currently develops her
tefilah (prayer) skills with Rabbi Ebn Lead-
er at Hebrew College Rabbinical School in
Newton, MA, where she enters her third year
this fall. This is her sixth Havurah Institute.
A-6 Controversy for the Sake of
Heaven: Facilitating constructive
dialogue across political differences
about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
and other controversial issues
Mitch Chanin
This course will teach you to organize and
facilitate dialogue sessions that help people:
• talk across political differences in ways
that promote mutual understanding
• reflect on their own ideas, feelings, ques-
tions, and dilemmas
• seek ethical and effective ways to respond
to the conflict
You will experience an actual dialogue ses-
sion; discuss the theory behind it; explore
Jewish texts and traditions that support the
practice of dialogue; and practice facilitat-
ing. Visit www.jewishdialogue.org to read
more about our approach.
Contemporary Issues
Extended Format
(each session is 2.5 hours)
Mitch Chanin is the Executive Director of the
Jewish Dialogue Group (JDG) and helped
to found the organization in Fall 2001. He
has facilitated nearly 100 dialogue sessions
in synagogues, colleges, schools, and other
venues around the Philadelphia area and
New York, and has trained facilitators for
the past four years. He is co-author of the
JDG/Public Conversations Project guidebook
Constructive Conversations about the Is-
raeli-Palestinian Conflict, and the JDG’s
booklet Dialogue in the Jewish Tradition.
A-8 Law and The Law
Stephen Eisdorfer
Among its first decisions, the U.S. Supreme
Court upheld a lower court ruling fining a
Jew for refusing to testify on Shabbos. In this
course, we will consider opinions by Ameri-
can courts from 1793 to the present as em-
blematic tales of the changing attitudes of
mainstream American society toward Jews
and vice versa. Through group text study
of court opinions – such as those featuring
The War of the Butchers, The Rabbi with a
Secret Past, The Jewish “Bleak House,” and
The Eruv Hated by the Jews – we will ex-
plore the historical, cultural, and religious
issues illuminated by these tales.

History and Culture, Advanced Text
Stephen Eisdorfer is a graduate of Harvard Law
School and a practicing lawyer. Among other ac-
tivities, he represents Jewish organizations and
public entities in land use cases involving syna-
gogues, day schools, yeshivas, etc. He is a long-
time member of the Highland Park Minyan.
A-10 The Soul’s Search for
Meaning—Creating a Personal
Theology
Shelly Fredman A-14 What is Oral about “Oral
Our lives are a tapestry of luminous mo-
ments—if only we could see it that way.
Join us as we look into some of Judaism’s
most stirring and important texts, writ-
ing our way in, through and around them.
Writing into a text allows us all, those with a
willingness to write and those who consider
themselves non-writers, to explore writing
as a form of meditation or prayer. Taking
text as our inspiration, we will look into is-
sues of Sacred Time, Sacred Space, and the
path to Holiness, and begin to craft a vision
of the Sacred Life.
Arts and Literature, Spirituality and
Religious Life
Shelly R. Fredman teaches writing at Bar-
nard College and the “Writer’s Beit Midrash:
Creative Non-Fiction” at The Skirball Center
for Adult Jewish Learning at Temple Emanu-
El. She received an MFA from Washington
University. Her work has appeared in Best
Jewish Writing 2002, Lilith, and a num-
ber of anthologies and literary magazines.
A-12 What Words Can Do!
Bob Freedman
“God spoke and the world was created”–
you think it only happened once? Breshit
(Genesis) records four creations initiated
by Divine speech; more creation accounts
appear in Tanach and Midrash. But who
is speaking? Were not the words written by
humans to describe essentially unknowable
events? We’ll explore texts, using hevruta
(one-on-one) study to reflect the partner-
ship that brings together Divine and hu-
man creativity. This beit midrash (house of
study) style class is designed to satisfy ad-
vanced text learners and those who want to
improve their skill. Knowledge of Hebrew
is helpful but not required. Please bring a
Unless specified as intermediate or advanced, all text study courses will be accessible to everyone.
Hebrew/English Tanach. The instructor will
provide supporting texts.
Bob Freedman began his Jewish professional
life as a cantor, then returned to school and
obtained rabbinical ordination. After serving
a congregation in Manchester, VT, for seven
years, he moved with his wife, Sally, to Prince-
ton, NJ, to enjoy the intellectual and social
delights of that fair burg. He has attended
and taught at Havurah Institutes since 1996.
Torah”?
Bob Goldenberg
The idea of “oral Torah” (Torah she-b’al-peh)
has been central to the rabbinic tradition
since ancient times. What did that idea re-
ally mean? How did orality shape the Jewish
tradition, and how did that tradition shape
Jewish speech? The course will examine a set
of texts that shed light on these questions:
we’ll discuss the texts in English (of course!),
but study them in the original languages.
Ability to handle rabbinic texts in the origi-
nal will be extremely helpful; we’ll translate
the texts as we go, but printed translations
will not be distributed in advance.
Advanced Text; History and Culture
Robert Goldenberg teaches Judaic Stud-
ies at Stony Brook University. He was
chair of the NHC from 1985-1987 and at-
tended about a dozen Havurah Institutes
from the beginning till 1997; then circum-
stances kept him away, but now he’s back.
A-16 Infinity and God
Matthew Goldfield
“[One] who wishes to attain human
perfection should study Logic first, next
Mathematics, then Physics, and lastly
Metaphysics.” — Maimonides
We are taught that God is infinite, yet hear-
ing the words “ein sof” (without end) may
not help us understand the grandeur of God,
since imagining anything without an end is
a difficult task. We will compare a concep-
tion of infinity born from the theory of Jew-
ish mathematician (and father of modern
set theory) Georg Cantor, including the
ideas of “larger and smaller infinities,” with
Jewish conceptions of infinity and God to
help us glimpse worlds without end. In this
course, we explore an area where Torah and
science combine particularly beautifully.
No prior math knowledge/skills required,
only an open mind!
Spirituality and Religious Life
Matthew Goldfield is a doctoral student in
Computer Science at Brandeis University. He
enjoys playing lots of different kinds of music
on different instruments. He has been attend-
ing the Havurah Institute since he was 15.
A-18 It Goes Without Saying:
Power, Passivity, and Social Change
Jill Jacobs and Guy Izhak Austrian
Words create worlds. But what does silence
create? In many of our personal, profes-
sional, communal, and societal interac-
tions, power is the unspoken dynamic that
creates, destroys, and maintains worlds.
In this class, we will examine traditional
sources and contemporary Jewish perspec-
tives about power. We will consider our
attitudes toward Jewish power, think about
the ways in which power operates, and share
some techniques for using power responsi-
bly for social justice. Prerequisites: Basic fa-
miliarity with and prior exposure to Talmud
and Midrash; basic knowledge of American
Jewish history. All traditional texts will be
accompanied by English translations.
Intermediate Text, Contemporary Issues
Jill Jacobs is the Rabbi-in-Residence for the
Jewish Funds for Justice. Her writings on
Judaism and economic/social justice have ap-
peared in more than two dozen magazines,
journals, and websites, and she has spoken and

Course Descriptions continued
served as a scholar in residence at synagogues,
schools, and campuses throughout the country.
Guy Izhak Austrian works as Director of
Social Action/Social Justice at Congrega-
tion B’nai Jeshurun in New York City. He
has four years of experience as a professional
community organizer, beginning in Chicago
at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. In
Chicago, he led skills trainings across the
metro area for synagogue social action com-
mittees, while also building a coalition of
Jews and Muslims to stand against bias crimes
and to advocate for civil rights legislation.
A-20 Line, Color, Form: The Shape
of Torah and the Kabbalah of Color
Eleni Litt
What color was the first light of creation?
What is the shape of loving-kindness? What
did it look like when Hashem spoke and the
world came into being? Even as Jews are
known as “the people of the book,” there is
a Jewish tradition of image making that is
stimulated by contemplating texts. In this
class, we will do close text study of some key
texts from Genesis (and related commentar-
ies) and explore our own visual interpreta-
tions of these texts. Along the way, we’ll
also look at art that shows how other artists
wrestled with the same issues. Each day in-
cludes text study, consideration of images,
and studio time.
Arts and Literature. Spirituality and
Religious Life
Eleni Litt is a visual artist (with a Certificate
in Fine Arts from Parsons The New School for
Design) and an independent scholar (with a
PhD in Social Anthropology from the Lon-
don School of Economics), combining her
interests in art history, anthropology, and
Jewish Studies with painting and drawing.
She is a long-time Havurah teacher, hav-
ing taught on a variety of Jewish practices
and texts. She lives in Princeton, NJ, and
works at The New School in New York City.
A-22 Beyond the Binary: the
“Other” Genders in the Mishna and
Contemporary Judaism
Benjamin Maron
Contrary to Genesis, wherein we find that
“male and female created He them” (1:27),
rabbis of ancient Judaism recognized many
more genders than this binary suggests.
10
Unless specified as intermediate or advanced, all text study courses will be accessible to everyone.
There is male and female, and also people
who have qualities of both, or neither, gen-
ders. The rabbis had to decide how other-
gendered people would fit into a religion
and society that had fairly rigid gender roles.
Reading Mishna and tshuvot (responsa), we
will learn about the halachic (legal) obliga-
tions and exemptions applied to transgen-
der and intersex Jews, then write our own
responsa. Texts provided will be in English
or Hebrew with English translation.
Contemporary Issues
Benjamin Maron is currently living a no-
madic life, centering around studying, poli-
tics, and activism. In previous Canadian
homesteads, he’s been active in leading tradi-
tional egalitarian minyans, organizing Jew-
ish-Muslim interfaith groups, and running
informal learning classes for Jewish youth.
A-24 Diversity and Rupture: The
“Parting of the Ways” between
Judaism and Christianity
Adele Reinhartz
While much of the early relationship be-
tween Judaism and Christianity is shrouded
in mystery, two facts are certain: 1) Jesus and
his earliest followers were Jewish and consid-
ered themselves part of the larger Jewish na-
tion and community. 2) After Christianity
separated from Judaism, Christians viewed
themselves as being outside the Jewish na-
tion and community. We will consider the
factors and historical circumstances under
which such rupture occurs, the impact of
separation, not only on Christianity, but
also on Judaism, and the development of
Jewish identity down to the present day. All
readings will be in English.
Adele Reinhartz is Professor in the Depart-
ment of Classics and Religious Studies at the
University of Ottawa, in Canada, and a long-
time participant and teacher at the Havurah
Institute. Her main areas of research are the
Gospel of John, early Jewish-Christian rela-
tions, feminist criticism, and the Bible and
Film. She is author of numerous articles and
several books in these areas, the most recent be-
ing Jesus of Hollywood (Oxford, 2007), a
study of the Jesus movies. She is currently com-
pleting a book on Caiaphas the High Priest,
and working on the “Parting of the Ways”
between early Judaism and Christianity.
A-26 The Vagina Monologues
Meet the Talmud
Aviva Richman
This course is a textual fusion. Eve Ensler’s
twentieth century script, The Vagina Mono-
logues, crashes into a page of Talmud and
we’re left sorting out the debris. What can
these two very different genres teach each
other? And together, what do they teach
us about ways to understand, articulate,
and communicate our most intimate selves?
We will use the styles and contents of both
genres, to reflect on issues such as privacy,
body image, power dynamics in relation-
ships, and celebration. The course is open
to all genders.
Intermediate Text, Contemporary Issues
This summer will be Aviva Richman’s six-
teenth year at the Havurah Institute. She
has studied Talmud in a women’s yeshiva
in Jerusalem and majored in Chemistry
and Jewish Studies at Oberlin College. She
is currently in the Advanced Scholars pro-
gram at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies.
A-28 Do We Mourn for the Dead,
or for the Living? The Case of
Suicide in Halacha
Micha’el Rosenberg
In classical Jewish law, one is forbidden from
mourning for someone who committed
suicide. However, this seemingly straight-
forward law does not go unchallenged or
unchanged. In this advanced course, we will
study Jewish legal texts on this topic, focus-
ing on post-Talmudic materials, examining
them from legal, psychological, and socio-
logical perspectives, and always asking: What
value does this text express? All texts will be
studied in the original (translations will not
be provided) with the use of wordlists.
Contemporary Issues, Advanced Text
Micha’el Rosenberg is a doctoral student in Tal-
mud at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).
In 2006, he passed with honors the Chief Rab-
binate of Israel’s exam in the laws of mourn-
ing. He has taught in a variety of settings, in-
cluding at Drisha, JTS, and the Northwoods
Kollel and Beit Midrash of Ramah Wisconsin.
Accessibility
Almost all buildings on the Franklin Pierce
campus are wheelchair-accessible. Accessi-
ble accommodations close to the classroom
buildings and dining hall are available upon
request. If you are physically disabled, please
let us know when you register so we can
make sure that your classes and housing are
in accessible buildings. Some participants
who have difficulty walking around campus
drive between buildings by car and others
use the golf carts available for a small fee,
subsidized by the NHC. Accessibility tours
will be offered the first day of the Institute
and as needed for Shabbat guests.
Food
Each day features three delicious, kosher,
vegetarian meals and plenty of evening
snacks. There are always pareve/vegan op-
tions and an abundance of healthy, tasty
choices. The kitchen and dining hall are un-
der the strict supervision of a mashgiach (su-
pervisor), who also participates in the Insti-
tute. If you have special food needs or food
allergies/sensitivities, please help us meet
your needs by letting us know on the reg-
istration form and providing a detailed ex-
planation by June 15. Please call the NHC
office for more information.
Housing
Four comfortable, modern housing op-
tions are available. All accommodations
have parking, washing machines, and dryers
nearby. Please indicate your housing prefer-
ence on the registration form.
The suites in the center of campus are air-
conditioned and accessible to those with
special mobility needs. Each
suite has six bedrooms with
two twin beds per room, one
bathroom with three showers
and sinks, a living room, and
a kitchenette with refrigerator
and microwave oven. Suites are
generally designated for fami-
lies with children under the age
of 10 (to facilitate babysitting)
and people with special mobil-
ity needs.
The apartments are located
near the suites. Each apart-
ment has two bedrooms with
registering as a commuter. Commuter reg-
two twin beds per room, 1.5 baths, a living
istration includes all meals and full partici-
room, and a kitchen with refrigerator, stove,
pation in all programs. There are numerous
and dining area. The apartments do not
campsites nearby if you would like to take
have air-conditioning; however, the moun-
advantage of our commuter rate.
tain climate usually makes air-conditioning
unnecessary at night.
Transportation and Timing
Franklin Pierce University is located off
The townhouses are next to the lake, a 7
Route 119 in Rindge, NH, just north of the
to 10 minute walk to the dining hall and
Massachusetts border. Approximate driv-
classrooms. There is a wheelchair-accessible
ing time is 4.5 hours from New York City
studio apartment on the first floor, while the
and 90 minutes from Boston. The closest
second and third floors each contain three
airports are in Manchester, NH and Bos-
bedrooms with two twin beds each, three
ton, MA. Ride-share arrangements will be
full bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room
provided once you register. On Monday,
area. The townhouses are air-conditioned.
August 11, check-in starts at 1:30pm, pro-
gramming at 3:45, dinner that evening, and
Young adults and teens are housed in tradi- courses begin on Tuesday morning. The
tional dormitories with two beds per room closing program on Sunday, August 17,
and a communal bathroom. Dormitory ends around 10:30am and the Institute
rooms do not have air conditioning. concludes at 11:30am.
Commuting and Camping NEW! Scholarships and
Anyone who lives or is staying near the Travel Grants
campus can participate at a reduced cost by The NHC strives to make the Summer Insti-
tute accessible to all who want to participate.
Toward this end, the NHC is very excited
to announce a new scholarship program this
year, subsidizing Institute registration/travel
with the goal that no one will be unable to
participate in the Institute for financial rea-
sons. To apply for a scholarship, just follow
the directions on the registration form and
indicate the amount of the full registration
fees that you are able to pay to come to the
Institute. The application deadline for the
first round of support is May 1, after which
point support will be distributed on a roll-
ing basis, dependent on available funds.
In order to make this new system work, the
NHC is asking applicants to assess their own
ability to pay as honestly and accurately as
11
 Some partici- two online discussion groups: nhc-havurah,
pants who belong for NHC and havurah-related issues, and
to a synagogue nhc-discuss, an open discussion forum on
have secured as- topics of interest to members of the NHC
sistance from community.
their rabbi’s dis-
cretionary fund, Cancellation Policy and
some Jewish Insurance
educators have
Cancellation insurance enables you to re-
received help to
ceive a partial refund in the event that you
attend as a form
must cancel due to unforeseen circumstanc-
of professional
es. Register by April 1 for free Cancellation
development,
Insurance or pay after April 1 for Cancella-
and some college
tion Insurance at a rate of 5% of your to-
students have
tal Institute fees. If you have cancellation
obtained finan-
insurance and must cancel on or before
cial help from
August 1, you will receive a refund of your
Hillel or chap-
Institute fees minus a $35 administrative fee
lain conference
per person. If you cancel after August 1,
funds. Residents
you will receive a refund of your Institute
of Western Mas-
possible. The NHC recognizes that financial fees minus a $300 administrative fee per
sachusetts should check out the Harold
matters can be very sensitive, and pledges person. If you do not purchase cancellation
Grinspoon Foundation (www.hgf.org) for
that each applicant’s financial information insurance at the time that you register, and
scholarship funds. Jewish federations may
will remain confidential, shared only with need to cancel, refunds will be allocated as
have similar funds for children’s participa-
the members of the scholarship committee. follows:
tion in Kids Camp. Before concluding that
you can’t afford to join us, research your re- • Cancel on or before May 31: Institute fees
If you can afford to pay the full price of In- sources — and ask! refunded minus a $75 administrative fee
stitute, please do so. If you can’t afford the per person.
full price, please pay as much as you can. Work-Study Assistance • Cancel between June 1 and July 13: Insti-
And if you are able to make a tax-deduct- tute fees refunded minus a $150 adminis-
A limited number of work-study positions
ible contribution toward the scholarship trative fee per person.
are available in one of three areas: the Insti-
fund, please do that, too, so that everyone • Cancel between July 24 and July 31: Insti-
tute office, the children’s camp, or kashrut
who wants to attend has the opportunity to tute fees refunded minus a $225 adminis-
supervision. In exchange for at least 14 hours
do so. trative fee per person.
of work over the course of the week, partici-
pants can attend the Institute for $400 plus • Cancel on or after August 1, “no show” on
Please include a deposit of at least $300 per NHC dues and participate fully in the rest site, or leave early — No fees refunded.
person, send in your registration form by of the program. To apply for a work-study Supplemental fees for services arranged by
May 1, and email the following to: scholar- position, check www.havurah.org to see the the NHC (housing, golf-cart, and baby-
ships@havurah.org. open positions and call the Institute office sitting) will be refunded in full only if the
1) How much your NHC Summer Institute (215-248-1335) to apply. All requests are NHC can cancel them without incurring a
registration fees would be at full rates and confidential and must be submitted by June penalty. Membership dues are non-refund-
how much of this you (and your family, if 30, 2008. able and tax deductible. Administrative fees
applicable) can afford to pay. retained by the NHC may be considered a
2) Any additional details or circumstances NHC Online tax-deductible contribution.
you feel are relevant, including the cost of Check out the NHC’s
travel, if applicable. website at www.
havurah.org for late-
Shortly after May 1, you will be informed breaking Institute infor-
whether your application has been ap- mation and updates on
proved. All balances are due by June 1. The courses and programs.
deposit is completely refundable if your re- All Institute registrants
quest is not approved and you are unable to are automatically sub-
afford to attend. Some additional support scribed to nhc-an-
may be available after May 1, but this will nounce, a low volume
depend on the availability of funds. email list for announce-
ments from the NHC
related to its programs.
It may be possible to secure financial help
The NHC also offers
to attend the Institute from other sources.
12
 REGISTRATION FORM
REGISTER ONLINE at www.havurah.org/register to be entered into a raffle for this year’s Institute t-shirt!
At $800 for adults, the Summer Institute is priced well below other week-long Jewish retreats across the country. (It’s also a great value when you
consider what seven days away plus all meals and activities would cost on a typical summer vacation!) However, we know that cost puts the Insti-
tute out of reach for some, so we make sure there are options for scholarship assistance, work-study, and deeply subsidized rates for children. All
of these options are made possible through the generosity of our donors. If you would like to enable others to experience the Institute by mak-
ing an additional tax-deductible contribution with your registration, it would be greatly appreciated. See the end of the registration form.

Who will be attending? (please print) before after How

June 15 June 15 Many $ DUE
Name
*NHC membership dues
Age Gender Occupation ($40 per adult or $80 per household)
Adult #1

Day Phone Eve Phone Fee Schedule

Adult Resident $800 $825
E-mail*
^Adult Commuter $600 $625
Address Children (6 months to 12 years)
Thank you to the Albin Family Foundation for
City State Zip
helping to keep our rates low for children

Name Child #1 $200 $225

Child #2 $175 $200
Age Gender Occupation
Child #3 $150 $175
Adult #2

Day Phone Eve Phone Prepaid Babysitting, per child

(age 10 & under, 6 nights) $60 $80
E-mail*
+Shabbat-Only Adult $267 $292
Address ❏ (Same as above) +Shabbat-Only Child $89 $114
(6 months to 12 years)
City State Zip
Single-room, shared bath $125
*Registration confirmation will be sent by e-mail. If you would like
postal confirmation, check here. ❏ Single-room, Private bath, air conditioning $150
In order to save trees and money, would you prefer to receive all
NHC communications via email? Y / N Private apartment, 2 bedrooms $250

Private townhouse, 3 bedrooms, air conditioning $300

Children/Teens Attending Institute*
Private-use golf cart $250
#1 Name Age Grade Gender
#2 Name Age Grade Gender Subtotal Fees Above
Optional cancellation insurance
#3 Name Age Grade Gender
(Multiply subtotal above by .05)
*Indicate age as of August and the grade the child will be entering in Optional t-shirt/merchandise orders
September. Please note if your child receives special assistance at school (Total from next page)
or elsewhere so we can help you plan for your child’s needs.
If you would like to enable others to experience the Institute
If you would like to participate in the Parent buddy system (see by making an additional tax-deductible contribution, please
page 3), check here. ❏ indicate the amount here

Class Preferences Total Amount Due

List three class choices per session, in order of preference. List each
course by its number (e.g.,M-3,A-2).Classes are filled in order of I am applying for a scholarship and can pay
postmark; you are assigned to your highest preference course that
is open. Amount Enclosed
(Through 6/15, minimum of 50%of total. After 6/15, enclose total due.)
Adult #1 Classes Adult #2 Classes
Morning Afternoon Morning Afternoon
PLEASE REGISTER EARLY
1st choice
Your registration implies that you have read and agreed to
2nd choice the financial terms stated in this brochure. If you live outside the
3rd choice U.S., please pay in U.S. DOLLARS.
Mail this form with your credit card information or check pay-
Financial Assistance able to “National Havurah Committee” to:
❏ Applying for Everett Fellowship or Hollander Scholarship (See page
4 for application information) National Havurah Committee
7135 Germantown Avenue,2nd Floor
❏ Applying for a scholarship (See page 11 for additional infomation
you need to send. Your registration will be held until May 1.) Philadelphia, PA 19119-1842
❏ Interested in a work-study position (See www.havurah.org for Questions? Call (215)248-1335 or e-mail institute@havurah.org
work-study job descriptions and contact office before applying.)
BALANCE DUE BY JUNE 15
*Required and tax deductible.^Includes full program and all meals, including Shabbat. +Friday-Sunday room and meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast.
PLEASE COMPLETE QUESTIONNAIRE ON REVERSE BEFORE MAILING
 REGISTRATION FORM cont’d
Volunteer
The NHC operates on the principle that everyone has something to
contribute. All adult and teen participants are asked to volunteer a
few hours during the Institute. Please indicate where each person
would like to serve.
Adult #1 Adult #2 Teen #1 Teen #2
Registration/Checkout
Sales table/Fundraising/Shuk
Errands
Shabbat preparation
Mentor a first-timer
Set up and cleanup for programs
Assist someone with special needs
Anywhere needed
Lead Services (July 6 Deadline)
Please volunteer to lead a service, either during the week or on Shab-
bat! Tell us which service or part of a service (e.g., weekday morning)
and in what style (e.g.,musical, havurah, traditional egalitarian, medi-
tative, feminist, movement, four worlds, or something else). Also let us
know if you’d like to read Torah or Haftarah or give a d’var Torah.
Propose a Workshop (first come, first served)
Everyone is encouraged to lead a workshop! List your topic here and,
by July 5, e-mail workshops@havurah.org with a brief description of
your workshop and a short bio. For examples of last year’s workshops
see our website.
Topic:
Tell Us About Yourself
Is this your first Institute? Y / N
If No, how many Institutes have you been to? ____
What year did you last join us? ________
How did you hear about the Summer Institute?
Do you participate in a havurah, minyan, congregation and/or Jewish
school? Please provide its name and location:
We serve kosher vegetarian meals with vegan options and we plan to
serve Fair Trade Certified coffee and tea. If you need any special food or
other arrangements, please attach a note with specific information.
Mishpacha Group Sign-Up (Optional)
Mishpacha groups are small groups that meet several times during the
Institute as a way to connect with other people and discuss our experi-
ences and feelings. See page 4 for details. If you are interested and
coming for the whole week, rank your first and second choice of the
options below:
__ General group (randomly assigned)
__ Women’s group - Open to all self-identified women
__ Men’s group - Open to all self-identified men
__ Working with Halacha - Exploring our relationship to Jewish law
__ Sexuality & gender interest group
__ First-time Institute attendees
__ Other:_________________
PLEASE COMPLETE ENROLLMENT INFORMATION ON REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING
Housing Preference
All of our housing is double occupancy (unless you pay for a single).
If you register with another person, we will house you together, un-
less you indicate otherwise. If you have mobility concerns that impact
the distance you can walk, please give us a call so we can best accom-
modate your needs. If you are attending with children, we will house
you in the suites to facilitate evening babysitting. If you are a teen or
young adult, we will house you in the dormitories. Otherwise, please
indicate your housing preference:
❏ townhouses near lake (air-conditioned), or
❏ main campus apartments (not air-conditioned)
We will make our best effort to accommodate you.
Do you or your children have a roommate or suitemate request?
_________________________________________________________________
Would you like your teen roomed with your family ❏ or roomed with
the teens ❏?
Do you use electricity on Shabbat? Y / N
If yes, are you willing to accommodate roommates who do not? Y / N
Permission to be Photographed
In submitting this registration form, I hereby grant permission for my
image and/or the images of my child(ren),captured at the Institute
through video, photo, and digital camera, to be used in official NHC
promotional material, including but not limited to news releases, pub-
lications, videos, and the NHC website. I further waive rights of com-
pensation or ownership.
Affirmation of Drug/Alcohol Policy
Franklin Pierce College is, according to Federal law, a drug-free zone.
By submitting this form, I affirm that I will not use or possess illegal
drugs while at the College. If I am under the age of 21, I will also obey
federal law prohibiting the consumption of alcohol. Consequences of
violating this policy are extremely serious, as violations would impact
the NHC community as a whole and future Summer Institutes.
Cancellation Policy and Cancellation Insurance
(See page 12 for information.)
❏ I want cancellation insurance and am including 5% of my fees
(include payment)
❏ I am declining cancellation insurance and have read the policy
Payment Information
❏ Check payable to “National Havurah Committee”
❏ Please charge my credit card: ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard
Credit card #
Name (as it appears on card)
Expiration date
Please fill out both sides of this form completely and return it with
your payment to:
National Havurah Committee
7135 Germantown Avenue, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1842
Questions? Call (215) 248-1335 or e-mail Institute@Havurah.org
BALANCE DUE BY JUNE 15
 T-shirts / Merchandise Subform
Pre-order National Havurah Committee merchandise, such as the annual t-shirt and new items – tank tops and hoodies! Order in
advance to ensure that we do not run out of the sizes and styles you want. Plus the pre-order prices below are $5 less per item than
the at-Institute price! Even if you do not wish to order in advance, please indicate the sizes and styles in which you would be inter-
ested, so we can be sure to order enough. All apparel will be 100% organic cotton and sweat-free. We anticipate ordering from
www.nosweatapparel.com, so you can visit their site to check sizing.
This year’s T-shirts will be blue, screen-printed in white. Tank tops will be white or cream. Hoodies will be gray or navy, with the
Institute logo screen-printed in white on the back.

Item YS YM YL XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL Prepaid Total

price
Kids T- x $10
shirt ea
Adult T- x $15
shirt ea
Women’s x $15
Fitted T ea
Women’s x $10
Tank top ea
Hoodie x $35
ea

TOTAL
Please include this form with your registration

NHC Board of Directors PAST CHAIRS Managing Director

Chair: Sherry Israel Michael Strassfeld (1980-1981) Christine Oliger
Vice Chair: Sandy Sussman Elaine Cohen (1981- 1982)
Treasurer: Howard Wial Joe Rosenstein (1983-1985) Planning Committee Chairs
Secretary: Ceidlen Beller Robert Goldenberg (1985-1987) Abby Bellows
Immediate Past Chair: Mark Frydenberg Mitch Chefitz (1987-1989) Ben Murane
Ruth Goldston (1989-1991)
MEMBERS AT LARGE Herb Levine (1991-1993) Course Committee Chairs
Russ Agdern Diane Klein Steve Lewis (1993-1995) Janet Hollander
Annie Bass Bettyrose Nelson Janet Hollander (1995-1997) Neil Litt
Ben Dreyfus Dan Richman Leonard Gordon (1997-1999)
Linda Emanuel Elizabeth Richman Solomon Mowshowitz (1999-2001) Cover Art
Bob Freedman Dawn Rose Neil Zatz Litt (2001-2003) Sarah Beller
Adam Gordon Jody Seltzer Mark Frydenberg (2003-2006)
Marisa Harford Thank you to all the NHC participants
NHC Advisory Board who lent their photographs for this
Samuel Barth Vanessa Ochs brochure
Judith Baumann Drorah O’Donnell Setel
Debra Cash Michael Paley
Marcia Falk Neil Reisner
Merle Feld Louis Rieser
Susan Fendrick Harry Rosenbluh
Ellen Frankel Carl Sheingold
Robert Goldenberg David Shneyer
Robert Goldston Harold Schulweis
Arthur Green Matthew Thomases
Barry Holtz Max Ticktin
Frank Loeffler Moshe Waldoks
Michael Masch Shoshana Waskow
Miriam May Deborah Waxman
Victor Miller Fran Zeitler
Anne Mintz
15
 Non-Profit Org.
National Havurah Committee U.S. Postage
7135 Germantown Avenue PAID
2nd Floor Bensalem, PA
Philadelphia, PA 19119-1842 Permit No. 182

Forwarding Service Requested

The National Havurah Committee’s

30th SUMMER INSTITUTE
August 11-17, 2008 • Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, NH
Phone: (215) 248-1335 • Fax: (215) 248-9760
E-mail: Institute@havurah.org
Website: www.havurah.org
Dates to Remember:
Register by April 15 for FREE Cancellation Insurance
Register by June 15 and Save!

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