August 6, 2017: Community gathers on Gracie and Nic’s porch to discuss if it is time to jump in and make a synagogue! (Lots more pictures forthcoming on this page!)
Our Story
We are incredibly proud of our community, the work that has gone into dreaming and building Hinenu. Continue on for pictures and a timeline of our creation and know that if you are just jumping in, we’ve been waiting for you to be a part of this story.
January 2017
Student rabbi Ariana starts driving to Baltimore from Philadelphia for 100 coffee meetings with potential community members.
August 2017
First gathering of interested people share ideas and dreams on chart paper and decide to take the leap and make a community.
September 2017
Hinenu’s first event: Erev-Erev Rosh HaShanah 5778 study and celebration (with way too much honey cake.) Listen to Hinenu teen Rowan talk about their experience of that first gathering.
October 2017
Leadership retreat to explore a name, values, and community priorities. 18 people in attendance, most of whom are still leading the community today!
Winter 2017-2018
Beit Midrash gatherings to learn text in local cafes and to connect with more interested people
September 2018
First High Holy Day services for 100 people at Homewood Friends Meetinghouse.
October 2018
Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, PA. Hinenu responds with havdallah vigil and community networking to explore safety through solidarity.
Hannukah 2017
Hinenu formally takes on our name and celebrates our first Hannukah together!
Membership launches!
First crowdfunded fundraiser raised $15k in 2 months. Rabbi Ariana graduates from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and signs first part time contract with Hinenu.
Fall 2018
Diving Into Judiasm class starts, regular Shabbat services begin, Klezmer band forms, and committee meetings take off. Watch this year end video!
Winter 2018-2019
First baby naming (twins!) at Hinenu.
Spring 2019
Daniel Kahn concert at 2640 Space.
Membership meeting unanimously approves values statement after a year long process.
Rabbi Ariana installed, and Hinenu’s new sefer Torah dedicated!
September 2019
First Hinenu selichot concert that weaves the liturgy with contemporary music. Listen to a recording of that service here.
High Holy Days welcome 250 guests to Homewood Friends.
Fall 2019
Hinenu is the first religious community to support Hopkins Students Sit-In protesting JHU Police and ICE collaboration
Winter 2019-2020
Beit Hinenu launches religious school, 3 classes for 15 studetns.
March 2020
Hinenu’s 3rd Purim Party at Peabody Heights Brewery, “Little Lots of Horror.”
March 13 2020
All programming moves online and Hinenu launches a virtual community space.
March 15 2020
Morning Minyan begins on Zoom, and has continued daily to date!
Spring 2020
Mutual aid groups form within the congregation, online learning and workshops, craft nights, and talent shows. Coolers of challah for porch pickup for members, small neighborhood mutual aid groups in the congregation form.
Hinenu leads 8 congregations from around the country to host Up All Night, Shavuot study for 600 people that raises $10k for 3 justice organizations.
September 2020
The annual beloved Selichot service went virtual. Hinenu’s Selichot service weaves the traditional pre-High Holy Day service with secular music to create a contemporary liturgy just for that moment.
All virtual High Holy Days serve 275 households with multimedia service. “Kits” delivered to members (and featured in The Forward.) In a time when we missed the sound of our voices together, we created an epic number of videos of members teaching, singing together, and leading services. Watch some of the videos here. We highly recommend this edit of Hayom. Tawanda Jones of West Wednesdays spoke as the Kol Nidre guest speaker.
Virtual Simchat Torah, watch the Baltimorim play together using the magic of video editing.
Fall 2020
Online classes, clubs, and services continue.
“Fried Bits” Hanukkah Shpiel videos
Spring 2021
Rent Strike Shushan, virtual Purim shpiel and fundraiser for Right to Housing Alliance. Watch it here!
The Shpielmeisters continue in Passover with Exodus, the Low-Budget Documentary
August 2021
Rabbi Ariana hired for full time contract, as well as half time education director and congregational administrator
Fall 2021
Services again livestreamed with leaders in the same place. Guest lectures online and in person Tashlich and Kol Nidre recitation. Reverend Heber Brown III of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church and the Black Church Food Security Network spoke as the guest speaker at Kol Nidre.
Beit Hinenu grows in programming.
Hinenu sponsors families from Afghanistan seeking asylum in the US.
59 households join since March 2020, a total of 160 membership households.
Launch of Rooting to Rise, Hinenu’s 100k “human capital” campaign.
Spring 2022
The Future is Feygele bird-themed Purim celebration at Union Craft Brewing. Watch some of the interstitial videos here.
Fall 2022
High Holy Days at Pearlstone Retreat Center. A hurricane threat cancels erev Rosh HaShanah services (blue sky instead…) Yom Kippur morning was frigid, in 40 degree weather. Neilah closed Yom Kippur with huge rainbows in the sky and a gorgeous sunset. Rajani Gudlavalleti of the Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition spoke at Kol Nidre services.
Winter 2022-2023
Baltimore Oriole mascot visits Hinenu in honor of Tu b’Shvat and Shabbat Shirah.
Spring 2023
Cast Your Lot Purim party on voter rights at Peabody Brewing. Fundraiser to support Black Girls Vote, Baltimore Votes, and Hinenu.
Up All Night Shavuot celebration at Homewood Friends.
Fall 2023
Hinenu High Holy Days return to Homewood Friends! Kol Nidre remarks from Rabbi Julia Watts Belser. Members are briefed on how to celebrate the High Holy Days by the Hinenu Shpilmeisters.
Hinenu gathers for grief and processing circles in the wake of the October 7 attack in Israel and immediate retributive violence in Gaza. Hosts a communal mourning service October 15th.
Hinenu signs a three-year contract with Rabbi Ariana.
Membership grows by 10% from June 2023.
Winter 2023-2024
Hannukah celebration at Pariah Brewery
Hinenu co-sponsors Shabbat for Ceasefire, organized by Rabbis for Ceasefire. Hinenu hosts 600+ for Shabbat morning services, with a d’var Torah from poet Mosab Abu Toha.
Spring 2024
Celebration of Rabbi Ariana’s co-authored book, For Times Such as These: a Radical’s Guide to the Jewish Year.
PURIM IS CANCELLED Purim party at Mobtown Ballroom. Fundraiser to support the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Hinenu.