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| Q:
Nashuva: what is it? |
| Q:
What will coming to Nashuva do for me? |
| Q:
Nashuva: who is it? |
| Q:
How did it start? |
| Q:
What if I¹m only half Jewish? Or one-quarter? What if my
spouse isn¹t Jewish? What if I¹m not Jewish at all? |
| Q:
Can I bring my kids? |
| Q:
Is Nashuva just a service? |
| Q:
So is Nashuva a synagogue, or what? |
| Q:
If I go, will I be asked for money? For membership? |
| Q:
I went to synagogue as a kid and it was boring. Is Nashuva boring? |
| Q:
Is it a singles service? |
| Q:
What does “Nashuva” mean? |
| Q:
Are you affiliated with any movement or denomination? |
| Q:
Why do you meet in a church? |
| Q:
Do you do anything together with the church? |
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Okay, I¹ll come. But will I feel awkward if I show up alone?
Will I know what to do? Will everyone turn and stare at me? |
| Q:
Nashuva¹s 13 Principles: What Are We About? |
| Q:
Nashuva Shabbat Services: What They Are Like? |
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Q:
Nashuva: what is it?
Nashuva is a new soulful Jewish community open to all. |
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Q:
What will coming to Nashuva do for me?
First, you¹ll enjoy it. Nashuva is our haven from the hectic
and sometimes spiritually depleting lives we lead. Nashuva energizes
us, it revives our souls, it reminds us that we are here on
this earth to manifest God in our words and in our actions. |
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Q:
Nashuva: who is it?
We are Jews committed to creating a soulful community of prayer
AND action. We are diverse, and that diversity reflects a spirit
of tolerance and openness. We are young and old. Some of us
have extensive Jewish backgrounds, some of us have virtually
no Jewish involvements. Some of us are single, some of us are
in committed relationships. |
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Q:
How did it start?
Rabbi Naomi Levy founded Nashuva in June 2004. Rabbi Levy was
ordained by the Jewish Theological seminary in New York City.
She served as a rabbi at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, Ca for seven
years, before leaving to write two best-selling books, To Begin
Again (Knopf) and Talking to God (Knopf). Naomi speaks on Jewish
spiritual issues to audiences around the country, and has appeared
on television on Oprah and The Today Show. Naomi founded Nashuva
to create a passionate, engaging Jewish experience for all.
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Q:
What if I¹m only half Jewish? Or one-quarter? What if my
spouse isn¹t Jewish? What if I¹m not Jewish at all?
Those of us who are interfaith experience Nashuva as a safe
and inspiring setting where we can grow and be nourished. You
will find a Judaism that is true to its roots, profound and
accessible. And everyone is welcome. |
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Q:
Can I bring my kids?
Yes, please do. The service in the main sanctuary is directed
toward adults. We encourage parents to bring their children
to our children’s service which runs simultaneous to the
adult service. At the end of the service all the kids come in
for a blessings. |
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Q:
Is Nashuva just a service?
No. We also engage in monthly social action projects. We at
Nashuva are committed to actively working to heal our world.
We seek to engage people of other faiths and hope to move beyond
token interfaith programs to true interfaith partnership. |
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Q:
So is Nashuva a synagogue, or what?
It¹s a community. We don¹t have a building, or a building
fund. We don¹t have dues or membership. We meet for community
service and for prayer. New people are always joining in, and
always welcome. |
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Q:
If I go, will I be asked for money? For membership?
Nashuva is supported by contributions, but people can give (or
not) of their own free will. We only ask that you give us a
business card or sign our guestbook before Shabbat so we can
e-mail you information about future services. But even that
is optional. |
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Q:
I went to synagogue as a kid and it was boring. Is Nashuva boring?
No. The service is lively, stimulating and features great music.
Afterwards there are delicious refreshments and you can mingle
with other interesting people. |
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Q:
Is it a singles service?
Many singles attend, but people of all ages and relationships
are welcome. |
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Q:
What does “Nashuva” mean?
The Hebrew word “Nashuva” means “We Will Return.”
Nashuva is a community dedicated to the art of returning--to
life, to self, to dreams, to community, to hope, and to God.
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Q:
Are you affiliated with any movement or denomination?
No. We believe the path to returning is rooted in three fundamental
disciplines:
a. Soulful prayer
b. Meaningful learning
c. Social action rooted in the belief that God put us here to
heal this world. |
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Q:
Why do you meet in a church?
Rabbi Levy was looking for a venue in which to hold Nashuva
and was driving by the church one day. Naomi always felt the
church had a good feel about it, and decided then and there
to cold call. When Naomi asked, “May I speak to the Reverend?”
and a woman answered, “This is she,” Naomi knew
she had found her Christian soulmate Reverend Kirsten Linford-Steinfeld.
Reverend Kirsten Linford-Steinfeld and her congregation have
been generous and welcoming, and we value their friendship
and support beyond words. |
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Q:
Do you do anything together with the church?
Nashuva social action is a true interfaith partnership with
the church that takes place on the third Sunday of every month.
People from both our congregations pitch in to help improve
some part of our city. |
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Q:
Okay, I¹ll come. But will I feel awkward if I show up alone?
Will I know what to do? Will everyone turn and stare at me?
No. Many, many people who come to Nashuva are coming for the
first time. The service is easy to follow, the music is great,
and Naomi makes sure everyone greets their neighbor. |
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| Nashuva¹s
13 Principles: What Are We About?
1. We are diverse
and intergenerational.
2. We are welcoming and accepting.
3. We believe in questioning and in critical thinking.
4. We believe in deep, soulful prayer and in a God who is
near and hears prayer.
5. We believe in a Judaism that is meaningful, vital and
joyous.
6. We believe that true prayer leads to action.
7. We are passionately committed to social justice and social
action.
8. We believe that each human being has a role to play in
actively healing our world.
9. We are committed to thoughtful Jewish learning.
10. We believe in taking care of one another and in the power
of community.
11. We believe in transformation, in the God-given power
to remake our lives and our world.
12. We choose dialogue over dogma, we choose joy over fear.
13 We believe that opportunities for true interfaith partnership
can heal the intolerance and fear that threatens to destroy
our world.
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Nashuva
Shabbat Services: What They Are Like?
Walk into Nashuva on the first Friday of the month and you will
find a room full of people of all ages and backgrounds dressed
in white singing and praying with all their souls. The prayers
are led by the Nashuva Band--an amazingly soulful multi-racial
and interfaith band that truly knows how to “pray music.”
Open our prayer book and you will find new translations of ancient
prayers that speak to your soul and connect you to God. Pray
with us and you will soon feel enveloped by a sense of oneness
and community. Meditate with us and you will face the stillness
you may have been hiding from and emerge transformed. Listen
to Rabbi Naomi Levy¹s teachings and you will receive wisdom
and inspiration to illuminate your life. |
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