By Ziva Swire, Sr. Program Specialist

One of my favorite perks of MHWOW is Capstone Programs! These special events allow hosts who have successfully hosted for one year to celebrate this milestone with the community they have built. During the 12th month of your hosting term, you can receive an increased budget to accommodate this special program. The reimbursement will be based on participation as follows:

  • Capstone Programs with 4-6 participants are eligible for a reimbursement of $150  
  • Capstone Programs with 7-9 participants are eligible for a reimbursement of $200 
  • Capstone Programs with 10-12 participants are eligible for a reimbursement of $250 
  • Capstone Programs with 13+ participants are eligible for a reimbursement of $300 

If your Capstone Program is coming up and you’re needing some inspiration, here are just a few snapshots to see what others have done:

Looking for FAQ’s? Click here.

Light Within Darkness
Zach Sapinsley, Frisco, Colorado

“We are excited to partner with our local mountain communities Synagogue of the Summit and B’nai Vail to bring the musician-in-residence Eitan Kantor and members of Colorado’s Klezmer fusion band Hadgaba back to the Rocky Mountains for an evening of music and connection. With daylight hours nearing their shortest, we’ll come together to learn and sing niggunim (wordless melodies) and music to bring light to these darker days.”

Discovering Israeli Wineries
Eliana Rudee, Jerusalem, Israel

“We are heading up north to visit one or two wineries (Netofa and/or Jonah Winery) in the Northern region of Israel. We will discuss the importance of wine in Judaism, and enjoy a picnic basket or brunch along with the wine tasting and tour!”

Thanksgivukkah
Ari Rubin, Cincinnati, Ohio

“Getting friends together to celebrate the 6th night of Hanukkah. Since Hanukkah is so close to Thanksgiving this year, we will call it a Thanksgivukkah. I will have lots of food, drinks, decorations, board/card games, and Hanukkah decor. I will also set up the projector and have eight crazy nights playing in the background or Hanukkah music. We can light up the fire pits too and people can make s’mores.”

Shabbaton Weekend
Mia Ottman, Salisbury, United Kingdom

“We will spend Shabbat and the weekend together at a rental house. We will celebrate Shabbat, make Havdallah, and enjoy eating meals and socializing together. This will be a fun way to connect and observe Shabbat over a longer time period (a whole weekend instead of just a few hours).”

Senses Shabbat
Lauren Cohen, Lawrence Township, New Jersey

“The word “shema” means not just to hear, but to listen, pay attention, & focus. This Shabbat, we’re going to put the shema prayer into action, seeing how our different senses are used in nature and art. We’ll attend Night Forms: dreamloop by Klip Collective, a multi-sensory experience created between nature and art, and uses video projection, light, and sound as a bridge between technology and storytelling. On this Shabbat, we will leave behind our busy workweek & appreciate the beauty of art and nature.”

Jewish Culture Around the World
Dani Nurick, Somerville, Massachusetts

“In my year of hosting with MHWOW, and being a resident of Moishe House, I’ve brought my passion for global Jewry into my events. We’ve had a Russian/Ukrainian learning and cooking event, Mizrachi/Iraqi Shabbat dinner and brunch, Indian learning and dinner night, etc. This capstone program will explore east Asian Jewish traditions–I will share my own personal experience and photos as well as resources found through research. We will also explore the connection between the Jewish community in East Asia and the Holocaust–learning about the righteous gentiles in China and Japan who risked their lives to save Jews during this time. Guests will first gather for the learning session, and then we will have a private sushi/Asian street food class from a private chef.”

Havdallah
Shani Aharon, Seattle, Washington

“We will be doing Havdallah at my house with food from a community member’s chosen place. This event was incredibly meaningful. The idea came from the candle that Moishe House sent me earlier this year, and as a community, we took that candle and lit the room. One of the community members offered to lead the service, grabbed my roommate’s guitar, and started strumming. As soon as he started playing all of us knew what to say. This is the first time I’ve done Havdallah with these folks, and I could feel chills down my spine as we came together in such a way. As a post-Havdallah reflection, we decided that we would like to start doing this more often.”

 

From elevating Shabbat dinners to fun holiday celebrations to unique adventures, there are so many different ways to create a memorable experience for you and your community. How will you make your Capstone Program special? Share your pictures in the MHWOW Facebook group, by tagging @moishehouse on Instagram, or send us a message at withoutwalls@moishehouse.org for a chance to be featured next!