Welcome to the Vilna Shul
The Vilna Shul, its beautiful sanctuary quiet for 20 years, rings out again with the sounds and songs of Jewish tradition and culture. Its social hall, worn with years and awaiting renovations, nevertheless overflows with spirit as Bostonians and visitors from other cities enjoy exhibits and programs commemorating the heritage of Boston Jewry.
The Vilna Shul is open to the public from March 15 through November 30,2008 and by appointment year round. Closed major Jewish Holidays:
REGULAR HOURS FOR THE VILNA SHUL ARE NOT APPLICABLE DURING DECEMBER, JANUARY AND FEBRUARY SO PLEASE CALL FIRST TO MAKE SURE WE WILL BE ONSITE WHEN YOU PLAN TO VISIT - THANK YOU Sunday: 1 pm - 5 pm
Wednesday: 11 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 11 am - 5 pm
Friday: 11 am - 5 pm
For group tour inquiries, please e-mail or call: 617-523-2324.
Read more about the Vilna Shul »
In Hebrew, Havurah means a gathering or community of friends. Havurah on the Hill is a group of young Jewish Bostonians ages 18-39 (and the young at heart) that gather at Boston's historic Vilna Shul for communal Shabbat meals, monthly Friday night and holiday learning services, classes, and lectures. The atmosphere is warm and informal with a nice hint of tradition and the learning services are filled with songs and ruach.
Havurah on the Hill featured in
The Boston Sunday Globe Magazine
Friday night programs consist of a learning service with a rotating leader, an interesting speaker from the community, and a seated Shabbat meal or standing light dinner. All of our events seek to incorporate the best elements of the Jewish experience, including the educational, the historical, the communal, and the spiritual.
Havurah on the Hill is the young community division of the Vilna Shul, Boston's Center for Jewish Culture. The Vilna Shul is a non-profit organization whose mission is to restore the Vilna Shul and rededicate it as a center for exploring the rich traditions of the American Jewish experience through exhibits and programs. The Havurah seeks to invigorate Boston's rapidly growing young Jewish community by taking advantage of the unique elements that the Vilna Shul has to offer: It is interesting and beautiful, it combines Jewish history with the history of Boston, and it evokes a certain spiritual feeling just being inside its walls.Come join us and experience for yourself what this historic building and Boston's newest Jewish community have to offer.
All ages and backgrounds are welcome. Please join us for these events.
Please add your name to our email list above.
Havurah services are at:
The Vilna Shul
18 Phillips Street
in Beacon Hill, Boston, MA
View Map
What's New
January’s Speaker Series Event: Annual Panel of Venture Capital Partners
Galen Moore, Mass High Tech writer on the VC and startup beat, moderates a panel discussion with three leading Boston-area Venture Capitalists. The panel topic: “The Boston-area Venture Capital Industry: Looking Back on 2008 and Looking Forward to 2009”
More »Kabbalat Shabbat with Havurah on the Hill - December 19th
Our speaker this month is Tamar Morad, co-editor of the new book “Iraq’s Last Jews,” an oral history anthology.
Additional information and registration can be found here.
More »The Boston Jewish Experience: Reconnect to the Tapestry
The Boston Jewish Experience: Reconnect to the Tapestry, is an exhibit that is now open to the public and receiving acclaimed reviews. The exhibit focuses on Boston Jewish life on
More »The Vilna Shul Speakers Series
“The Vilna Shul Speakers Series” features leading voices from Boston and beyond, including voices from journalism, technology, law, finance, biotechnology and life sciences, arts and culture, and other fields. Speakers…More »
More News »