HAMAQOM|THE PLACE

Mission: Through learning and ritual, we build inclusive communities and inspire personal connections with Judaism. Formerly known as Lehrhaus Judaica.

Vision: After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, a new name emerged to describe God: HAMAQOM (meaning, “The Place”). This enduring rabbinic innovation communicated that God is not located in one place (the Temple in Jerusalem), but wherever Jews gathered, that place became a sacred space (HAMAQOM). 

We consider The Place as anywhere we come together to engage in learning and ritual, and we support our participants in the construction of Jewish communities on their terms. 

We are not about a single building; we’re about building relationships. We’re independent, engage multiple viewpoints, and are The Place for anyone who is curious to learn about and engage with Judaism.

The basic building block of Judaism is a relationship. In your neighborhoods, homes, JCCs, and in synagogues, wherever our participants come together in the Bay Area and engage in meaningful Jewish activity, we create HAMAQOM.