During the summer of 2008 a group of English speakers (along with some of their Hebrew-speaking spouses) began to meet at members homes for Erev Shabbat dinners after services. This was a chance to get to know each other better – in a context outside the synagogue.

Over time, the group grew by adding native Hebrew-speakers who had lived in English speaking countries or who just said: “Is my English good enough?” It always was!

The focus of the group remains potluck dinners on Friday nights at members’ homes. We have shared delicious food, exchanged recipes and gotten to know something more about each other – and become friends. At the first dinner about 12 people attended, but the attendance has grown to as many as 30 people.

From time to time, we have reached out to bring the broader congregation membership into synagogue-based dinners – when groups from abroad visited or for Hot Soups nights or holidays.

In parallel, some of our members began last year to meet with Rabbi Danny Meyer to study texts in English. We began with Pirkay Avot and the moved on to Talmud (Shema). This year we have added a brief discuss of an aspect of the Parsha Hashavua before continuing with the Talmud study. Anyone is welcome to join at any time.

Yael Meyer