About Us

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer teachingIn June 2006, Rabbi Shai Held, Rabbi Elie Kaunfer and Rabbi Ethan Tucker, launched Mechon Hadar: An Institute for Prayer, Personal Growth and Jewish Study. The founders of Mechon Hadar have spent years teaching and building Jewish community, and have served as founders and leaders of Kehilat Hadar, an independent, egalitarian community committed to spirited traditional prayer, study and social action.

For more information about the relationship between Mechon Hadar and Kehilat Hadar, click here.


Yeshivat Hadar

A Transformative Summer Experience

Sara Labaton teaching A corps of motivated, young Jews who feel empowered to create and strengthen dynamic Jewish communities is crucial to the realization of Mechon Hadar's mission. Unlike any program in the United States, this study program will combine the following elements:
  • Text study in Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Halakha, liturgy, and theology.
  • A commitment to the religious and spiritual growth of the individual participants.
  • The creation of a passionate and active Jewish learning community.
  • Social justice initiatives that embody the values embedded in the texts.
  • Intensive, all-day programming for students in an egalitarian setting.
  • Individualized projects students will take home to local communities.
In our first summer application process, we received 50 applications for 15 summer spots. We are both honored and fortified by the strong demand for this intensive program.


The Minyan Project

Empowering Prayer and Community

A group at the minyan conference In the last 5 years, thousands of unaffiliated young Jews have sought spiritual expression through new, independent minyanim. The leaders of Mechon Hadar have been at the forefront of working with these communities, including organizing a sold-out national conference for 60 minyan leaders from 11 independent minyanim in August 2006. Mechon Hadar continues to assist these communities in the following ways:
  • Prayer leader empowerment training series.
  • Halakhic consulting for pressing communal issues (gender, kashrut, etc).
  • Practical guides for running complicated prayer services.
  • New melody workshops and resources.
  • Networking conference for leaders to connect and share best practices.
  • Internet resources and email lists for cross-minyan communication.

Religious Vision

Mechon Hadar takes a focused approach to religious community. The minyanim we are working with across the country, and the community we are building at Yeshivat Hadar, share certain core values:
  • A focus on global obligation and Jewish social responsibility.
  • A passionate engagement with theological and religious language.
  • Traditional Jewish practice committed to the nexus of serving God and cultivating compassion for fellow human beings.
  • A commitment to halakhic discourse in all its richness and diversity.