From mysticism, to forest marvels, to saviors that need our protection, this year Havurah’s Climate Action Team will join with Congregation P’nai Or to host our Climate Action Tu B’shvat seder. Through song, storytelling, prayer, and activism, our seder interweaves this sacred ritual and celebration of Trees and Renewal with our modern forest and climate crisis. A children's Tu B'Shvat seder will be taking place simultaneously for youth elementary school and younger. Older children are invited to the community seder. Both will be followed by a pot luck oneg of fruit-inspired treats.

Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. We meet in Zoom Room Bet.

If you consider yourself a creative actor/singer who loves musical theater and trying new things, then please join us for this first ever musical theater workshop series. We are writing a musical - Freedom: The Untold Story of Moses – and want to work with a group of passionate performers to develop a physical, spiritual, and musical language for the piece. You can be a part of bringing the script to life and pick up a few tips and tricks to musical theater performance along the way! This will culminate in a staged reading performance of the first act at Havurah Shalom. Performance dates: Sunday, April 5, 2pm and 7pm 10 spaces open to adults. Questions? Contact Chari Smith

Parenting is challenging at some points no matter what. Although each situation is unique and parenting experiences differ tremendously, mental or physical health conditions, addiction, history of trauma, and some kinds of disabilities can add another layer to parenting. Systemic social issues like stigma, marginalization, lack of services, or general lack of knowledge can add yet more layers and create further challenge. These 2 sessions aim to begin to build a safe space for parents to be heard, break down the isolation that can come with parenting with many layers, and explore how Jewish community and Judaism can be helpful. Facilitated by Laura Orgel, psychologist and child/family therapist, and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Max. 8 participants; commitment to confidentiality prior to attendance required. Please contact Laura at ljorgel@earthlink.net by January 20 to indicate your interest.

We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve. We will meet both in-person (Havurah Sanctuary or Library) and in Zoom Room Bet. Log in to the website and then visit havurahshalom.org/zoom or call the office for join info (503-248-4662). All are welcome.

For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org for join info.

Join us for delicious food at Kachka, considered by many as the best Russian restaurant in the country. Kachka address: 960 SE 11th Ave.

Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin In what ways can Jewish spiritual practice guide our work for healing and justice in the world? In this group we will explore this question together through learning, discussion, and practice. At each meeting we will engage in various modalities, including meditation, chanting, contemplative study, and self-reflection. Guidance will be given for continued practice and engagement between sessions. Our intention will be to form a trusting and supportive group as a foundation for this sacred work. No experience necessary, but participants should be able to commit to all or nearly all of the meetings. Please RSVP by January 15. Limited to 12 participants.

What does it mean that Havurah is a member of Reconstructing Judaism? We will explore values and approaches that have inspired and guided the movement, engaging with material from founder Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan as well as contemporary Reconstructionist leaders. Taught by Rabbi Benjamin.

Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, Zoom Room Bet). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. *Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for the Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.*

David Kertzner will be leading another Havurah adult amateur writers group for anyone who wants to explore their interest in prose writing – and is not a published writer or working on a big writing project. This group welcomes people who have never shared their own writing or worked in a group before, but would like to try! The focus will be memoir writing in the broadest sense of the word. We will strive to be a supportive, reflective community using writing prompts and discussion to generate short pieces each week. Participants will select one of their pieces to develop in more depth and then share at a culminating Friday oneg for the Havurah community. Group size is limited to 8 participants. We will meet together for 8 sessions on Thursday evenings from 7-9 pm, January 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 5 and a public reading with an Oneg on March 6. Spot reservations do not open until the spring! Please call David Kertzner if you have questions.

An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. At Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Bet. Email info@havurahshalom.org for Zoom link. **Note that Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon, will be on February 22 and March 22 this year. In April 2025, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will again be held on the third Shabbat morning (third Saturday) of the month**

The hike has been canceled.