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eligious life
91
Non-denominational/Unaffiliated
■■Congregation Tikvah Chadashah
1122 E Pike St., #734, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: 206-355-1414
ctc@tikvahchadashah.org
www.tikvahchadashah.org
President: Flora Ostrow
Congregation Tikvah Chadashah, Puget Sound’s GLBTQ chavurah,
was founded in 1980. CTC holds egalitarian services the second Friday of
each month at 7 p.m. in the homes of chavurah members, and each service
is followed by a potluck dinner. CTC also holds informal High Holiday
services, a Passover seder, and other holiday celebrations, and works to
coordinate a community-wide gay pride Shabbat in conjunction with other
synagogues and Jewish and GLBTQ organizations.
CTC is a member of the World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual
Jewish Organizations. It also participates frequently with other Jewish
and GLBTQ organizations at various events throughout the Puget Sound
area. CTC exists to provide Jewish worship, education and fellowship in a
progressive, non-sexist environment that affirms and celebrates diversity.
Events are open to everyone, regardless of observance preference, identity
or background. All are welcome!
■■The Kavana Cooperative
P.O. Box 19666, Seattle, WA 98109
info@kavana.org
www.kavana.org
Rabbi: Rachel Nussbaum
Kavana is an independent Jewish community
in Seattle that has received a lot of national
attention for its innovative approach to
building Jewish community. Kavana strives
to create a supportive communal environment Rabbi Nussbaum
in which individuals and families can use
“kavana” — intention — to create a Jewish life that is spiritually fulfilling,
intellectually satisfying, fun and meaningful. Most events and programs
take place at Kavana’s headquarters in Queen Anne, but some programs
happen in parks, community centers, and living rooms around town.
Here are some of the features that make Kavana unique:
• Cooperative model: As the first Jewish cooperative of its kind, partners
share in the task of creating Jewish life for the group. Each partner
commits to taking an active role, to being a “producer,” rather than just
a “consumer,” of Jewish life.
• Non-denominational and pluralistic: Kavana draws participants from
highly diverse backgrounds and allows for multiple entry points to Jewish
involvement.
• Personalized Judaism in a community context: Kavana acknowledges
and embraces the dynamic tension between an individual’s interest and
needs, versus the desire to create community.
• Local: Kavana believes that Jewish communal life will best thrive in
settings that are local, organic and intimate.
Examples of Kavana programming from 2012-2013 have included:
For adults:
• Living Room Learning: Meets every other week to study the Torah
portion and other texts.
• Book club and cultural programs: Thought-provoking and fun.
• Rebbe’s Tisch: Singing, l’chaims, and spirituality around a table.
Shabbat and Holidays:
• Shabbat morning minyan: Traditional (mostly Hebrew) service, with lots
of spirit and singing (monthly).
• Coffee-shop Shabbat (a.k.a. Kabbalat with a Double-Shot): Short Friday
night prayer service, followed by vegetarian potluck dinner in a local
coffee shop (monthly).
• Shabbat in the Park: Friendly Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner in
the great outdoors.
• Holiday celebrations: Hanukkah ice skating party, Megillah reading for
Purim, home hospitality seders, Tisha B’Av program (outdoors), High
Holiday observances of all kinds.
Community:
• CSA (community-supported agriculture, in partnership with a local
organic farm): Get fresh fruits and veggies, and learn about the connections
between agriculture and Judaism through farm visits and holiday
parties.
• Home hospitality Shabbat and neighborhood potlucks: Dinner exchange
program.
• Annual summer camping trip.
For kids:
• Gan Kavana: This is Seattle’s only Hebrew-immersion preschool! Offered
five mornings/week, a supportive and nurturing environment for ages
2–5.
• Summer camp: Old-fashioned camp fun, in a Jewish context (for
preschool and early elementary grades).
• Sippurim v’Otiyot (“Stories and Letters”): A weekly after-school program
taught entirely in Hebrew, open to graduates of their Gan and children
with Hebrew-speaking backgrounds. Early elementary grades.
• Moadon Yeladim (Kids’ Club): Kavana’s after-school program for grades
K–5 is energetic, arts-based, and features spoken Hebrew.
• Havdalah Club: Kids (aged 8–10) share dinner, a service to end Shabbat,
and guided conversation about Jewish issues (from the serious to the
silly).
• Middle school program: Creative weekly program with a history- and
text-based curriculum for grades 6–8.
For kids and parents together:
• Family Shabbat: Monthly Saturday morning kid-friendly service led by
Rabbi Rachel Nussbaum, followed by a light kiddush brunch.
• Prep & Practice: Monthly Sunday morning program helps families
prepare for Jewish holidays together.
• Family Hebrew: Weekly class for
parents and children in grades 1-6
to learn Hebrew reading and conversational
skills together.
For more information about
Kavana’s programming, please
visit their website.
■■LivingJudaism
4851 S Raymond St.
Seattle, WA 98118
Phone: 206-851-9949
Seattle@livingjudaism.com
Herzl-Ner Tamid
Judaica Shop
3700 East Mercer Way
Mercer Island
206-232-8555
www.h-nt.org/about-us/judaica-shop
Open Wednesdays 12-2
or by Appointment at
206-719-2224
the Guide to JewisH Washington n 2013–2014