FAQs
What is Berkeley moshav?
We are a forming cohousing community in Berkeley, CA where Jewish life will be a prominent component of community life.
What does cohousing look like?
Cohousing is a form of intentional neighborhood, with private homes and extensive common facilities, in which residents know their neighbors well and engage deeply in community life.
Common facilities include a community kitchen and a great room that can be used for meals, celebrations, and other community events. Other shared amenities may include indoor or outdoor recreation spaces, a community garden, a children’s playroom, guest rooms, an art or exercise studio, a workshop, office space, and vehicles. Buildings are purposefully designed to support and promote community among residents. Individual homes are privately owned and have the full suite of amenities typical to private homes, including full kitchens. Residents have the opportunity to gather for community meals two to four times per week and share a commitment to community, a respect for privacy, and the reward of daily connection, planned and impromptu gatherings, and being a part of each other’s lives. Cohousing was developed about 50 years ago in Denmark, and more than 1% of the Danish population currently lives in cohousing. There are 168 cohousing communities across the U.S.
Common facilities include a community kitchen and a great room that can be used for meals, celebrations, and other community events. Other shared amenities may include indoor or outdoor recreation spaces, a community garden, a children’s playroom, guest rooms, an art or exercise studio, a workshop, office space, and vehicles. Buildings are purposefully designed to support and promote community among residents. Individual homes are privately owned and have the full suite of amenities typical to private homes, including full kitchens. Residents have the opportunity to gather for community meals two to four times per week and share a commitment to community, a respect for privacy, and the reward of daily connection, planned and impromptu gatherings, and being a part of each other’s lives. Cohousing was developed about 50 years ago in Denmark, and more than 1% of the Danish population currently lives in cohousing. There are 168 cohousing communities across the U.S.
what would jewish cohousing look like?
Jewish cohousing is a form of cohousing where much of the connection among neighbors occurs through Jewish ritual, tradition, culture, and values. Residents have the opportunity to do many Jewish things together: celebrate Shabbat and holidays, study Jewish text and topics, learn Hebrew, take on tikkun olam (social action) projects, say kaddish, etc. A Jewish cohousing community can be thought of as a year-round, all ages Jewish summer camp where Jewish life is integrated with daily life and responsibilities. Jewish life will help connect cohousing members to one another, and living together in cohousing will nurture our Jewish life.
who will live in berkeley moshav?
Anyone who wants to live in a close-knit, intentional Jewish community. Our vision is to be an inclusive community of households diverse in age, income, family composition, and Jewish observance. We are open and welcoming to people of every religion, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Do i have to be jewish to live in berkeley moshav?
Nope. While we have a distinct focus on Jewish tradition and values, we are open to everyone irrespective of religious affiliation. Much like cohousing attracts people who want to engage their immediate neighbors in regular, meaningful community, we imagine Berkeley Moshav will attract people who want much of this neighborly engagement to occur via Jewish ritual and culture. But residents need not be Jewish or participate in Jewish-related activities, and while many of our communal activities will involve Jewish life, we will engage communally in other ways too. We also intend to participate fully in the life of the surrounding civic community, being good neighbors, hosting neighborhood events, sponsoring service projects, supporting local initiatives and businesses, and offering support and community to people of all faiths and backgrounds.