Welcome

On behalf of Congregation Havurim, welcome!

Our small, but mighty, congregation has changed a lot over the last 14 years that I have been a part of it.  But the most important part of it has not changed: we are a warm, welcoming community of families and individuals, who support each other to express our Judaism in the way that best fits our beliefs and needs.

When I became President of the Congregation over 3 years ago, I wanted to continue our traditions and make our Reform practices as accessible and attractive to as many as would want to come.  This has led us to continue our small worship services in the Reform tradition at the Sanctuary of our sister temple, B’Nai Chaim.  But we like to be adventurous and fun also and have had our services in local parks and other fun venues!  We also get together at Congregation social events to build fellowship and strengthen our community relationships.

We have been and will continue to be welcoming of all people wishing to share or explore Reform Judaism, whatever their history and experience in it.  I, myself, came to Judaism with my family and converted, have had three sons have their Bar Mitzvah – all with this wonderful Congregation.  I continue to learn about my faith every day and am glad to have such a great group of people to learn with and from.

Please feel welcome to join us – for whatever you would like to experience!  Our supporting members will be glad to have you with us for whatever and however much you would like.  Our regular services, our holiday services, and our community events are all open.

I hope you enjoy our expression of Reform Judaism!

Cassy Klein

President – Congregation Havurim

Rabbi

Rabbi Singer served Temple Beth El in Riverside, CA for 15 years before coming to Havurim.
As the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, she is keenly aware of the need to make our world a better place. She recently served as a member of the Reform movement’s Commission on Social Action, as President of PARR (Pacific Area Reform Rabbis), and as a Commissioner for the City of Riverside’s Human Relations Commission. She was named a Riverside “Champion of Justice” in 2010 and a Riverside “Woman of Distinction” in 2015. In addition to an OpEd in The New York Times, her essays have been published in The Torah: A Women’s Commentary, the CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, and in several CCAR Press collections.

Before coming to Riverside, Rabbi Singer served at Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA. She also served both as Director of the Introduction to Judaism Program for the Pacific Southwest Council of the Union for Reform Judaism, and as Coordinator of a leadership initiative at Hebrew Union College’s (HUC) Los Angeles campus.

Rabbi Singer grew up in New York City and attended the Lycée Français de New York from elementary through high school. She holds three Masters Degrees: a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters and a Masters of Arts in Judaic Studies from Hebrew Union College (HUC); and a Masters in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, where she also earned a Bachelors Degree in Comparative Literature. Rabbi Singer was ordained by HUC in 2003.

Prior to attending HUC, Rabbi Singer spent twenty years as a television producer and programming executive, primarily for national public television (PBS) and primarily in news and public affairs. As executive producer of a national documentary series, POV, she won two national Emmy awards. She also co-created and produced a national preschool series, The Puzzle Place, designed to help children respect and appreciate diversity. Rabbi Singer is married to actor/acting teacher Jordan Lund. She is also the aunt of seven nieces and nephews with whom she is very close.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to foster a vibrant, thriving Jewish community within the Temecula Valley that meets the religious and cultural needs of our membership. We offer a warm, caring reform environment for Jewish practice through creative programs and events that fit individual and family spiritual and social needs.

History

We began in the spring of 1995 as a group of 18 individuals.

Our plan was to create a group of friends that could enjoy Judaism socially and spiritually in a liberal environment. We held Shabbat services, holidays and social events in homes, parks and business offices.

As our mission statement proclaims, we seek to enjoy the similarities in our history and culture rather than compare the differences.

As the Temecula Valley community has grown so has our membership and needs. We now have families who meet twice each month for Shabbat services.

We continue to share our holidays, social events and offer Religious school, Bar/Bat Mitzvah training for our children as well as opportunities for adult learning.