Havurat Shalom

Address: 113 College Ave, Somerville, MA 02144

Years Active: 1968–Present

Tradition: Judaism

Founded in 1968, Havurat Shalom (“The Hav”)  is a progressive, non-denominational Jewish community based in Somerville. They self-describe as “a lay-led congregation where people come to pray, celebrate, and grapple with Jewish texts and traditions and work for social justice.” In addition to hosting regular services, they occasionally host public classes and gatherings of other Jewish groups. 

They are grounded in values of non-hierarchy and egalitarianism, allowing all community members to participate fully in services and in the decision-making of the community. The Hav is welcoming of Jewish individuals regardless of sexuality, ethnicity, or Jewish background. It also welcomes interfaith families and Jews of patrilineal heritage, who are not considered Jewish by some more traditional denominations. In addition, Havurat Shalom’s egalitarian values have informed their creation of a new siddur—prayer book—with updated liturgy, including a blessing for diversity and “Hebrew and English egalitarian language for both G-d and humans.” 

The Hav helped kick off the “Havurah movement” of the late 1960s and early 1970s.  Havurat Shalom was initially founded as a seminary in order to help its members escape the Vietnam war draft. Initially a hyper-local community centered around its home base (a residential building in Somerville where members used to live), it helped inspire smaller self-sufficient communities of Jews to start across the country. While never an organized  movement, other Havurot (prayer and learning groups) shared values of anti-institutional and progressive Judaism. The Hav is not run by rabbis and was initially composed of young adults (although The Hav became more intergenerational over time). To this day, The Hav is not affiliated with any major Jewish denominational movements or with the Boston Jewish Federation (JCRC). The JCRC is a local Jewish federation, which collects money and returns it to philanthropic interests in the Jewish community. 

The Hav also is dedicated to social justice and Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). Annually they collect tzedakah (charity) that they donate to various causes including transgender rights, immigrant support, and local mutual aid. Almost sixty years since their founding, they continue to be a representative of what is possible for progressive Judaism. 

Sources and Further Information:

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/havurah-judaism/ 

https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/13/archives/havurah-offers-jews-religion-in-commune-setting-alternative-to.html 

https://www.thehav.org/tikkun-olam-and-tzedakah.html

https://pluralism.org/havurat-shalom

Entry written by Dalya Lessem Elnecave in July 2026.