About Us
Havurah Shalom is located in Portland, Oregon, at 825 NW 18th Ave, between NW Johnson and NW Kearney. We have grown from a small group of families meeting in each other's homes in 1978 to our current membership of more than 400 households.
Affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism, Havurah's progressive approach to Jewish life integrates traditional, communal Jewish practices with the intellectual and political impulses of democracy and pluralism. We are open to all who want to connect with Judaism, including traditional Jewish families, single people, couples of mixed faiths and/or races, and people of all gender identifications.
Empowered and supported by our rabbi, education director, and other staff, Havurah members take leadership roles in governing, educating, providing music, taking social action, davening and reading Torah on Shabbat, and leading and leyning during High Holiday services. Our High Holiday services, attended by roughly 1,000 people, are open to the public, with no payment or tickets required.
Our emphasis on active involvement distinguishes Havurah from most other congregations and allows members to become truly engaged in Jewish community. It enriches individual experience, deepens family relationships and friendships, and creates a strong, intertwined community. Each member has the opportunity for equal participation in determining the direction and goals of the community.
All are welcome at our High Holidays services, Shabbat services, and holiday celebrations!
Community Brochure for 2019 / 5780
Click here to read our community brochure which lists many of our events, classes, and activities!
How We Are Organized
Havurah Shalom has six different organizational bodies called "clusters":
Kehillah (Community)
Avodah (Spiritual Life)
Hadracha (Governance)
Makom (Place)
Limud (Education)
Tikkun Olam (Social Action)
Each of these clusters is home to many committees. Committees meet and progress in their desired area of focus. These focuses could range greatly, from transparency and inclusivity to climate action, to gardening, or even welcoming new members. Every committee has its own mission and goals, and that's what makes the Havurah community so rich and engaging. Members can be involved in as many committees as they want!
Affiliations
Havurah Shalom is affiliated with the following organizations:
Reconstructing Judaism – The Jewish Reconstructionist movement sprang from 20th century American concerns about egalitarianism, the democratic process, and a focus on the community as arbiter of Jewish imaginative practice and theology. Pictured here is Rabbi Deborah Waxman, President of Reconstructing Judaism, the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement, which trains the next generation of rabbis, supports and uplifts congregations and havurot, fosters emerging expressions of Jewish life, and encourages people to be their best selves — always helping to shape what it means to be Jewish today and to imagine the Jewish future. (Photo taken by Barbara Gundle)
Community of Welcoming Congregations (CWC) – An association of congregations in the Portland metropolitan area that welcome and affirm people of all sexual orientations and identities.
Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (MACG) – An organization of community-based institutions in and around Portland that works to create a strong, non-partisan civil sector voice to address economic, social, and environmental issues affecting our community.
Long Range Plan
Our Long Range Plan, published in 2014, highlights our vision for the coming years. You can find a one-page Overview of the Plan here and the entire Long Range Plan here.
Growth Report
Tom Berg and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner prepared this insightful report about Havurah’s growth and the decisions Havurah needs to make based on those projections.