The Honeycomb Project

Rabbi Joshua LesserGayanne Geurin

Amy Robertson, PhDCongregation Bet Haverim, Atlanta, GA

Elements of StrategyThe Original Va’ad

• By Invitation• Thoughtfully put together

Intentionally Diverse (Straight, Gay, Transgender, Men, Women, Different Ages, Parents, Partnered, Single, Intermarried, Multi-Ethnic Family, Jews of Color, Jews by Choice)

12 participants (reduced to 10)• Structure

Once a month (January-October) 1.5 hour Shabbat Morning Practice In people’s homes Generally led by rabbi, but had two gatherings successfully led by

other program leaders (Lay cantor and Exec Director)

Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community

• Word of Mouth – Our first Va’ad had such a positive experience that there was a buzz

• High Holy Day Launch Our Executive Director explained the launching of

this project as a part of her welcome. Our community has laypeople along with the rabbi

give d’vrei torah. This year the laypeople were from the original va’ad and everyone including the rabbi focused their sermons on a middah or two.

Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community

• Create Clarity, Consistency and Regular Engagement Visual and Conceptual Cohesion

The Honeycomb Project – The honeycomb as the visual represents individual middot as parts of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The honeycomb was chosen to represent the unity and harmony of all of the middot working together so that the structure reaches it’s unique potential.

Elements of Strategy Introducing it to the Community

• Create an Iterative Process• Middah of the Month

(See )• Communicate through various

platforms Weekly e-newsletter Bookmarks Facebook Website Shabbat Services Rabbi Mails/Specialized Emails

Elements of Strategy Build on What Exists and is Successful

• Create another Va’ad So much excitement that we created two One that meets 2x a month and the other once a month One that is intentionally geared toward parents and does have

couples taking it together• Chant

CBH holds regular chant serviceso Weekly morning and monthly eveningo Occasional Shabbat chant services

Aligning chant practice and middah of the montho The kavanah before chant practice focuses on middah of month

(usually includes teaching and a focused consideration)o Chants will reflect an aspect of the middah

Elements of Strategy Chanting Example

Middah of the Month: Kavod

• Draw from teachings on holiness/kedushah in kavod section in the project’s curriculum (Isaiah, angels calling out: Holy Holy Holy .. “Where there is true holiness there is God’s kavod”) and Rabbi Shai Held’s recent teaching from protests on injustice and racism: Rabbi Joshua B. Levi says: "When a person walks on his or her way, a procession of angels walks before him or her and says, 'Make way for an image of the Blessed Holy One'" (Midrash Tehillim, 17).

Elements of Strategy Examples of Chants for Kavod Middah

Kadosh, Kadosh, KadoshAdonai tzevaotm’loh kol ha-ertz k’vodoHoly, Holy, Holy is Adonai of hosts, all the Earth is full of It’s Glory

Hareini mekabel alaiEt mitsvat haborehVeahavtah lerachah camochaVeahvtah chamocha(Leviticus 19 / morning prayers) I take upon myself to bond with the Creator’s commandment: Love your fellow human being as yourself

Galeh Galeh Galeh Galeh Kavod Malchutecha AleinuReveal the honor of your magnificence

Blessing Practice ( silent focused meditation)

May I, ( other by name)___be blessed with freedom from fear

May I, ___ be blessed with compassion

May I, ___ be blessed with lovingkindess

May I, ___ be blessed with peace

Elements of Strategy Meditation & Mussar

• Formerly Meditation and Mysticism• A monthly Shabbat meditation service with

text study• Example: Kavod text on Greeting People with

Shalom as recognizing God’s presence within them.

Elements of Strategy Culmination

• A Shabbaton open to the entire community engaging spiritual practices

• October 16-18, 2015

3 Most Successful Components

1. Chanting Supports middah teachings/experiences in other

congregational settings Creates community opportunity for deeper

immersion into the middah through a contemplative and mindfulness practice.

Weekly practice allows for people to go more deeply into the practice

3 Most Successful Components

2. Middah of the Month Includes the entire community Offers a “bite-size” learning and a practice Offers different learning and practice from

curriculum Can be printed out Supports the work of the Va’ads

3 Most Successful Components

3. The Post-Va’ad People are looking for more Group initiated Leadership opportunities

Biggest Challenges

• Adapting Curriculum Beyond binaries Different modalities Implications for privilege and gender roles More mindfulness

• Chanting Challenges Time for development of focused phrases, composing new

chants and researching existing chants Time for thoughtful design of integrating kavanah and chants

• People Feeling Excited

Integration

• The culminating retreat• Involving the community• Already part of the strategy/building on what

has already been enduring and successful in the synagogue.

• Integrate middah into conflict resolution