Circles of Connection: Building Belonging and Healing at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA

November 17, 2025

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By Liz Friedman, CEO & Co-Founder of GPS Group Peer Support

At a time when disconnection, fear, and grief ripple through communities everywhere, Temple Beth Elohim (TBE) in Wellesley, Massachusetts, is leading with a powerful response: coming together. Through GPS Group Peer Support’s Circles of Connection, this vibrant Reform Jewish community is creating safe, compassionate spaces where people can share, listen, and heal — together.

In conversation with Joey Margulies DuPont, lead of Circles of Connection at TBE, it’s clear that this initiative is more than a program. It’s a living expression of Jewish values — community, compassion, and the belief that no one should face hardship alone.

A Community Rooted in Connection

Temple Beth Elohim has long been known for its welcoming, inclusive spirit. Its programs and clergy foster deep relationships, where people of all ages and identities find belonging. Yet, as Joey shared, the last several years have brought new layers of isolation and uncertainty. From the lingering effects of the pandemic to rising antisemitism and global conflict, many in the community have felt untethered.

“One of our incredible rabbis, Rabbi Rachel Saphire recognized that our community needed spaces to process, to listen, and to feel held,” Joey reflected. “GPS offered a framework that honored both the individuality of people’s experiences and the collective strength that comes from being in a group.”

The Power of Circles

Circles of Connection are grounded in a trauma-informed, evidence-based model designed to support emotional resilience and authentic communication. Each circle is led by trained facilitators who guide participants through structured yet organic conversations — creating space for people to express grief, fear, hope, and gratitude.

For TBE members, the circles have become places of genuine transformation. Participants describe leaving sessions feeling lighter, seen, and reminded of the healing potential that comes from being witnessed without judgment.

One participant shared: “I didn’t realize how much I needed this. I came in carrying so much, and I left feeling connected — not just to others, but to myself again.”

A Broader Network of Support

TBE’s Circles of Connection are part of a regional collaboration bringing Jewish organizations together to strengthen mental health and community resilience. The initiative is delivered through a partnership among GPS Group Peer Support, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS), and the JCC of Greater Boston — and is funded by Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) via its Antisemitism Initiative, the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Beker Family Foundation.

Integration into Community Life

After community members from Temple Beth Elohim attended the Circles of Connection program, they brought that structure back into their congregation — weaving the model of small-group peer support into TBE’s communal life. This integration is giving parents, clergy, and other congregants access to trusted spaces where they can show up for one another more deeply.

A Shared Vision of Healing

This work between TBE and GPS reflects a shared understanding: that healing is not only personal, but communal. In Jewish tradition, the idea of tikkun olam — repairing the world — begins with repairing the spaces between us. Circles of Connection give that principle real form, helping participants rebuild trust, compassion, and hope in times of uncertainty.

For Joey, the other GPS trained facilitators, and the TBE leadership, this collaboration is part of a broader vision — one that reimagines how faith communities can meet emotional and spiritual needs. “Our goal is to weave these circles into the fabric of our community life,” Joey explained. “They give people tools to show up for each other in deeper, more grounded ways.”

Looking Forward

As GPS continues to expand Circles of Connection across diverse settings — from healthcare organizations to congregations — Temple Beth Elohim offers a shining example of what’s possible when communities embrace connection as sacred work.

In a world too often defined by separation, these circles remind us that healing happens in relationships, and that when we gather to listen and be seen, we create something holy.

For more information on how to bring Circles of Connection to your community:  

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