Haver began more than 30 years ago in the late 1980s as the brainchild of Rabbi Emerita Deborah Bronstein of Congregation Har HaShem and Rabbi Emerita Tirzah Firestone of Congregation Nevei Kodesh. Initially, they wanted to create a local Beit Din – a Jewish court of law to handle legal matters like divorce, conversion and other religious disputes. However, that plan was quickly put on hold because a Beit Din requires three members and the third rabbi in town at the time had conflicting thoughts about women serving on such a council. So, these pioneering rabbis shifted course to create community support in other ways.
“On Christmas, Rabbi Tirzah and I would go for long walks together,” recalls Rabbi Bronstein. “It was on one of these walks that we came up with a plan.” Each rabbi created a support group that filled a need in their communities and then opened those groups to anyone who needed support.
As time passed and the Jewish community grew, needs for support grew, too, and not just for community members but for the rabbis in town. “There were about six rabbis living in Boulder,” recalls Rabbi Bronstein, “and we started meeting regularly to support each other.” They also realized that they could accomplish more as a group than individually. “No one synagogue was large enough or had the resources to create holiday and education programs, so we co-developed them for the greater Jewish community.”
Soon after, Haver shifted from an informal meet-up to an official 501c3 non-profit organization. Today, there are 19 members from five different denominations (Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal) representing four synagogues and six independent organizations. Haver continues to co-develop annual and one-time community events and education programs, and it has a beit din that rules on religious disputes.
In Hebrew, Haver means friend, and Boulder’s clergy aim to be in loving fellowship with one another. The connection, respect, and affection between the members of Haver is evident. And because that mutual respect spreads, it is not uncommon in Boulder for people to participate in events at multiple synagogues.