Pesach and Shavuot, the Jewish holidays that bookend the 49 days of the Omer, mark a key episode in the story of the Jewish people. We usually think of this episode as a journey from slavery to freedom (Pesach) and on to revelation (Shavuot), but it marks another key moment too: the transition of the Israelite family (Jacob’s clan) that went down to Egypt into the Israelite people that emerged.
Today’s world could use a lot more peoplehood, a lot more community. We yearn for connection and belonging but live far from friends and isolated from neighbors. Our Jewish lives feel compartmentalized. According to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, we have an epidemic of social isolation that reduces life spans by the same amount as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. As G-d says in the creation story, lo tov heyot ha’adam l’vado, it is not good for the human to be alone.
How might we live differently, deeply connected to those around us and to Jewish values and tradition? Cohousing, a model of intentional community, offers a solution. Cohousers own private homes clustered in a campus or building. As engaged neighbors, they eat meals together (a few times each week), go on hikes together, discuss books together, and help care for kids and elders together. In Jewish cohousing – which the nonprofit Urban Moshav is developing – they also engage in Jewish life together.
Berkeley Moshav will be the first urban Jewish cohousing community. Currently in development and seeking members, our goal is to create a connected, vibrant, multigenerational community where everyone can participate together in the rhythms of Jewish life. As with the ancient Israelites, the bonds between members are being formed by a shared journey. For the Israelites, it was a journey of wandering 40 years and experiencing together the highs (freedom), lows (golden calf), and fears (giants!) of finding their home. For Berkeley Moshav, it’s a journey of together investing money, time, and energy to build our home. This is our key moment of transition from family to community. We invite you to join us or to get in touch about creating a moshav of your own.
