Historical and Contemporary Havurot: A Comparison

This article explores the similarities and differences between the contemporary and ancient havurah. According to the author, the original havurah was formed around 1 B.C.E. and was composed of two sects: those who emphasized the study of the Torah and those who focused on the neglected details of Jewish law. The contemporary havurah emerges as a more tolerated group, each functioning independently from each other and from a central administration. In Journal of Jewish Communal Service, 52:4