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Welcome to Havurah Shalom!
Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility. We welcome people of all ages, gender identities, and backgrounds. As a part of the Reconstructing Judaism movement, we envision a just and compassionate world where creative Jewish living and learning guide us toward lives of holiness, meaning, and purpose.
Our me
mbers work together to promote Jewish spirituality, learning, and social action. We invite you to join us for Shabbat services, holiday celebrations, and educational opportunities.
Havurah Shalom is an LGBT Safe Zone and a member of the Community of Welcoming Congregations. We also support racial justice by recognizing systemic racism, and promoting values, conversations, groups, and efforts that fight it directly.
Thu, January 28 2021
15 Shevat 5781
Upcoming Events
All Events
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Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Beginning Conversational Hebrew
Thursday, Jan 28th 7:00p to 8:00p
Would you like to improve your ability to speak conversational Hebrew? Can you already read Hebrew but don't always know what you're reading? Did you take Hebrew lessons ages ago or did you participate in an Ulpan experience in Israel but have forgotten all you learned? Would you like to laugh and learn with fellow Havurahniks? Come join Racheli Ross as she continues a beginning Hebrew class in which the focus is on functional Hebrew conversations and vocabulary development. Thursdays, 7-8:00 pm, with an optional 8-8:30 practice session, starting on January 14, and continuing until March 18. This will be in Zoom Room Heh. -
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 28 , 2021Writer’s Workshop (for Non-Writers!)
Thursday, Jan 28th 7:00p to 9:00p
Have you thought about trying to write prose? Do you want to try with others? This year’s Havurah Adult Writers Workshop (for Non-Writers!) begins January 14 and continues for the next 7 Thursdays, through March 4. The workshop is for anyone who wants to explore prose writing – and is NOT a published writer or working on a big writing project. The focus is memoir writing generated through reflection, engaging prompts, discussion and feedback. While the Jewish experience often comes up in memoir writing in a Jewish community, our focus is the writer’s personal exploration from any perspective. Participants develop one piece from the workshop and may choose to read at a culminating Friday Oneg Reading for the Havurah community. Led by David Kertzner. Group size limited to 8. -
Friday ,
JanJanuary 29 , 2021Kabbalat Shabbat Service
Friday, Jan 29th 7:30p to 8:30p
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service, led by Elizabeth Schwartz. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians. This service will take place in Zoom Room Aleph. Please email info@havurahshalom.org if you need Zoom join info. -
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021Bar Mitzvah of Logan Mafchir-Werth
Shabbat, Jan 30th 10:00a to 12:00p
Please join us in welcoming Logan Mafchir-Werth as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. -
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021Dancing In God’s Earthquake: Book Talk & Discussion with Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow
Shabbat, Jan 30th 3:00p to 5:00p
Between Climate Change, Covid, great economic and social injustice, and a reckoning after centuries of oppression for Black and Ingdigenous peoples, we are living in a powerfully transformative Earthquake trembling time. Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow has recently completed his latest book for just such a time, Dancing In God’s Earthquake, and he will be joining Havurah & P’nai Or, Jan. 30th, 3-5 p.m. for a book talk and discussion, followed by Havdalah led by Rabbi Benjamin. At 87, having been arrested more than 60 times, Rabbi Arthur has lived a deeply spiritual life devoted to teaching and activism. His latest book succinctly distills his lifelong Torah wisdom into pearls for these times. He invites us to take a hard look at ourselves, Judaism, and the way humanity is living with each other and our world. With great love and wisdom, he takes us on a journey to help transform it all. From chapter 1, Healing the Perennial Sin of Eden, through the final chapter 11, Two Biblical Genocides: Were Both Sins? Rabbi Waskow guides us through Renaming God as an Ecological Worldview. Purchase the book through Havurah for $15 using the form below. -
Sunday ,
JanJanuary 31 , 2021Havurah Leadership Retreat
Sunday, Jan 31st 10:00a to 5:00p
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Monday ,
FebFebruary 1 , 2021Jews of the Middle East and North Africa
Monday, Feb 1st 7:00p to 8:30p
This class will focus on the modern history of the Jewish communities of the Middle East and North Africa, roughly from 1860 to the present. To orient ourselves, we will begin with a brief discussion of Spanish Jewry (Sephardim) and the Jewish communities of Iraq, Iran, Yemen and Ethiopia. We will devote particular attention to the communities of Morocco, Algeria, Iraq and Egypt. We will examine the complex relationship between these Jewish communities, the local cultures and European colonialism. We will also discuss the sociology, politics and culture of these communities in Israel today. Taught by Joel Beinin. This class takes place in Zoom Room Bet. Please see the weekly Hineinu newsletter for the link. -
Monday ,
FebFebruary 1 , 2021The Torah of Our Lives: Havurah Spiritual Writing Group
Monday, Feb 1st 7:00p to 9:00p
Have you ever wanted to explore stories in Torah and use the writing process to personally understand the significance of Torah stories in your life? Join a small group of Havurahniks to delve into Torah using the writing process to explore and record our journey. Each evening will include a summary of that week's Torah portion and pearls from commentary. We will then begin two free-writes from prompts from the portion. All that is required is a journal. There is an optional opportunity to choose one portion to study, summarize and use to create writing prompts. Facilitated by Harriet Cooke and Jenni Besen. Harriet trained and led groups with Portland's Write Around Portland, then led an eight-year writing group on Torah. 10-person maximum. This class takes place in Zoom Room Gimel. Please see the weekly Hineinu newsletter for the link. -
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 2 , 2021HCAT Meeting
Tuesday, Feb 2nd 7:00p to 8:30p
Monthly meeting of the HCAT. Zoom available! -
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 2 , 2021Grappling with White Nationalism and White Supremacy as Jews
Tuesday, Feb 2nd 7:00p to 8:30p
Through readings, writing prompts and discussion, we will deepen our understanding of how we are impacted by the intersection of Jewishness and white supremacy. Facilitated by members of the IMIrJ Countering White Nationalism cohort. Limited to 20 participants. This class takes place in Zoom Room Gimel. Please see the weekly Hineinu newsletter for the link.
Thu, January 28 2021 15 Shevat 5781