A maqam -- cognate with Hebrew MAKOM, literally PLACE -- is an Arabic and Ottoman Turkish musical mode. Mizraḥi and Sephardic Jewish communities traditionally made religious and secular music using these modes. This class will give a short background to maqams and how they work and explore some examples from Jewish communities in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Greece. The instructor will demonstrate some of the music on the oud. There will be opportunities for singing, and musicians who want to join in are encouraged to bring an instrument. -- Guitars will work for some pieces, but instruments that can play microtones such as the violin family, clarinet, etc. are recommended.-- Led by Channing Dodson.

Create beautiful Chanukah cards to give to friends and loved ones! We will look at various Hanukkah symbols to discern what we want to adorn our cards with and use colored pencils to illustrate them. Examples of handmade cards by the instructor will be shown. Led by Carolina Martinez.

Let's spend some time enjoying the special qualities each of us brings while eating good food, singing, schmoozing, learning more about our community, and even doing some arts and crafts! Haven't been to a Welcome Committee shindig yet? You are in for a treat. Been to one and want to come again? What a great way to meet new people! ALL ARE WELCOME! Kids welcome too! Childcare will be provided.

The Israel-Palestine Committee is pleased to continue our film discussion series this winter. Please watch the films on your own prior to attending the sessions. The discussions will be facilitated by members of the Israel/Palestine Committee and will use the film as the basis for an exploration of the complex and often emotional issues it raises. Our first feature, “The Other Son” is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming ‘switched at birth’ story. It will provide an opportunity to discuss, among other things, the question of “Who is a Jew?”

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

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.

Creating an ethical will is not just for end-of-life preparation. They are useful tools for any stage of life. For a young family it can help you identify your family values. Later in life, it can guide your will and advanced directive. What is an ethical will? Why do I want one? What's included in an ethical will? How do I create one? How do I get started? Come to have all these questions answered.

Tap into your creative side with this writing workshop open to writers and non-writers alike. Writing prompts and short writing sessions will get your creative juices flowing in this non-judgmental environment. You can use these prompts to discover important things about yourself and your family, or you can just have some fun writing a zany story about Jewish robots and matzoh. Participants can (optionally) develop a piece from the workshop and share it at a reading at the end of the session. Group size limited to 8. Led by Yuvi Zalkow, author of two novels and a bunch of stories.

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**

Please join us in welcoming Evana Lindemann as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. This service will take place in Zoom Room Aleph. Please contact info@havurahshalom.org for access.