In 1974, Hevreh was founded with “B’reisheet” – the first word of Genesis – at the top of a flyer sent to Berkshire County Jews, inviting them to a meeting to discuss founding a new Jewish fellowship group in south Berkshire County.
“Hevreh” comes from the Hebrew word for friendship and our name states our purpose, to be a community of friends in a Jewish context. 40 years later, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire still adheres to the goals of its founders, to be a supportive Jewish community based on egalitarian and non-authoritarian leadership. Hevreh continues to emphasize democratic decision-making and worship leadership.
As a congregation, Hevreh began meeting in members’ homes and meeting spaces throughout Berkshire County; eventually purchasing its first permanent building in 1992 at 41 Mahaiwe Street. When the congregation was 18 years old; we hired our first Rabbi, Deborah Zecher. By 1996 we had outgrown Mahaiwe Street and began the process of planning, designing, and building our current building at 270 State Road. In June 1999 the dream became a reality, as members of the congregation, clergy and religious school carried our Torahs through Great Barrington from our old home to our new synagogue.
During Rabbi Zecher’s tenure at Hevreh, our membership grew to over 375 families and the values which animated Hevreh’s founders are still very much alive and well. The Board of Directors continues to reflect those values, balancing the needs of the congregation with the responsibility of reaching out to the larger Berkshire County community. Hevreh’s members welcome newcomers as we strive to embody the best of Jewish history, culture, ritual, and ethical values.
Rabbi Zecher became our Rabbi Emerita in 2014. After a year of transitional leadership, we are fully staffed once again with Rabbi Neil P.G. Hirsch and Rabbi Jodie Gordon who also serves as Education Director. Together they are a dynamic, exciting team and Hevreh is looking toward continued growth in a future that is full, engaging, enriching, meaningful and joyous.
Hevreh of Southern Berkshire is a welcoming and inclusive Reform Jewish congregation. Our goal is to build relationships within and beyond our community that embrace and enrich our lives. We strive to bring purpose through sacred and secular activities, worship and rituals, sharing our stories, education, community service, and social action.
We will accomplish in our Mission:
A living, working document to be used as a tool to guide Hevreh into and for the future.
To deepen one’s sense of Jewishness
To strengthen our congregation’s sense of belonging, engagement and connection.
To strengthen Hevreh’s financial viability.
✔Draft Strategic Plan
✔Submit plan to Board for approval
✔Create Revenue Enhancement Task Force
Purpose: identify best ways to maintain and grow Hevreh’s revenue streams.
✔Create Metrics Team
Purpose: Measure congregation’s views, through a Congregation-wide sentiment survey, regarding perceptions of life at Hevreh and engagement in it. – In progress
Launch the Early Childcare Center at Hevreh
Focus on the Hevreh Worship Experience
Get, keep, and grow membership
Implement the Revenue Enhancement Task Force’s recommendations, as adopted by the Board
Design new educational paradigm for school aged children and families
Adult Jewish learning
Continue implementing previous year’s planning, building on the Revenue Enhancement Task Force’s recommendations
Preserving the core while stimulating progress for the future:
Integrating the traditions of our community with the new approaches we are implementing.
Carol Beyer (Chair), Jeff Blaugrund, Jan Kabel, Joan Kleinman, Sharon Mozian, Helice Picheny, Shelley Rolf, Suzanne Sawyer (President), Rabbi Neil Hirsch, Rabbi Jodie Gordon