Jewish Secular Circle of Puget Sound

The Chavurah Collective is a collection of “chavurah” communities. The Hebrew word “chavurah” literally means community of friends, and this collective approach to community co-creation reflects our belief that we are stronger together. In Judaism, we are commanded to “l’yached” (unify) and “l’taken olam b’malchut Shaddai” (be a force of healing in this world). These two religious principles inform our approach to community creation, which is grounded in the progressive values of Reform Judaism, and informed by Jewish Renewal and the principles of restorative justice that are articulated in Canada’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

The Chavurah Collective is composed of many “chavurot” or communities: Reform Judaism in Atlantic Canada is comprised of multiple smaller communities across four provinces that are located in the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people, and that have the following colonial names: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. In addition, Rabbi Siritsky provides rabbinic leadership and support to a number of other other progressive Jewish communities across Turtle Island (North America), on both sides of the colonial border (in both Canada and the United States), including Kol Israel Community of Kentucky, a new Jewish Renewal community that has formed in Louisville, Kentucky. By meeting monthly over Zoom, with many communities gathering locally to stream services over a potluck dinner, the Chavurah Collective seeks to create a “new way to Jew”.

The Chavurah Collective is committed to creating progressive and accessible Jewish community and worship experiences, with a focus on serving those individuals and communities that are not (yet) supported by existing Jewish community resources- in particular, those of us who live in geographically isolated or rural communities, or whose intersectional identities do not feel welcomed in more traditional Jewish communities. We are especially focused on welcoming those who are in interfaith relationships, and/or part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and/or do not live near a Jewish community that has a Reform or progressive worship option and/or who need a more accessible way to connect to Jewish community and/or who are seeking a trauma-informed and progressive alternative to existing options.