Creating and Sustaining a Year-Round NHC Community
Fall 2008
Last July 4, Havurah teen Talia Laster and I were chatting about how hard it is to come home to our "regular" lives after the Institute. Tali, who attended her first NHC Summer Institute just weeks after her birth, decided to offer a workshop on how to "take home" the community we build there.
On Friday of the Institute, large sheets of paper lined the walls along the walkway to the dining room. They listed upcoming havurah activities in various communities the week following the Institute, along with other suggestions (from Talia's workshop and participants waiting in the lunch line) for infusing the energy of the Institute into our Jewish lives all year.
Everett Fellowship Network and Online Resource Bank
This year, the NHC is committed to extending the impact of the Institute and regional programs and building the year-round NHC community. We will launch a network of Everett Fellowship recipients and begin to develop an online resource bank for building havurah communities.
Both these projects need your support. We received a small grant from the Bronfman Alumni Youth Fellowships in Israel (BYFI) Alumni Venture Fund to begin the online resource bank, and we seek additional contributions to fully fund this effort to help build the year-round NHC community.
If you have time to help with research or technical skills to help us build a web portal, click here to provide your contact information so those working on the project can be in touch with you.
Scholarship Initiative
The 2008 scholarship program allowed more families with children, younger adults, and people with financial need to attend the Institute. The phenomenal success of the program increased participation to the highest level since 2001. We are excited to continue the program for 2009, and we anticipate that the state of the economy will lead to more requests for scholarships and travel grants. Your support now will help make the Institute accessible to all who want to attend next summer!
Many shabbat siddurim (prayer books) contain a blessing for chol mi she'oskim b'tsorchai tsibbur, all who involve themselves with the needs of the community. May all of us be so blessed.