East Rock Havurah

Havurah wasn't a word I knew. Neither, apparently, was "saute." The first - an informal group of like minded Jews who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat - was one I'd come across studying for my conversion. The second, well, that was the task I was given as I walked into my friend Ilana's house this past Shabbat. Sauteing. With fire. Clearly, this wouldn't be my first fully observant Friday. I stayed in the kitchen while the other members arrived. Being the only non-Jew in the room can feel a little overwhelming. And now I was going to burn the asparagus. Great. Somewhere in the living room I heard a guitar being tuned, and then, the soft hum of voices. We were beginning.

East Rock Havurah is an egalitarian, songful (read: guitar, drums, even a saxophone!) worship group that meets a few times a month in the homes of its members. It has a full liturgy service, and that night I was excited to find Hebrew letters I knew hidden among the strangers - Shin, Tav, Bet, Mem Sofit. Finally, the D'var Torah - this week, a simple exploration of hospitality by my darling friend. Could the strangers we meet on the street carry news as great as that given to Sarah, if only we show them kindness enough to warrant it? I found myself still teasing out the answer as we walked into the dining room. Hands I didn't know passed me plates, opened jars. An arm slipped around me as we recited Kiddush. And then I got it. The importance of hospitality. Of making the stranger feel at home.

And really, the asparagus? It didn't turn out half bad.