Hineinu, July 24, 2024

Tisha B'av: Beginning to Turn
(Learning and Ritual)
8 pm to 9:30 pm, Monday, August 12 
– Havurah Shalom and/or Zoom, TBD
Tisha B’Av is a powerful holy day in our cycle of Jewish time. Yet, it is often overlooked, considered as just a day of mourning for the destruction of the temples. We will look at how Tisha B’Av came to be the collecting point of Jewish loss, grief, and displacement as well as what Alan Lew calls “the moment of turning, the moment when we turn away from denial and begin to face exile and alienation as they manifest themselves in our own lives...Teshuvah – turning is the essential gesture of the entire High Holiday season.” We will also commemorate Tisha B’av with a short ritual that helps us being the process of Teshuvah. All are welcome. Stay tuned for an update on the location/medium of delivery: This event will be held at Havurah Shalom and/or on Zoom. RSVP

Havurahniks, please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, deborah@havurahshalom.org if you would like to help plan this ritual.

Call for Visual Art
This September, Havurah's social hall will be transformed into a visual art gallery to celebrate and contemplate the themes of the High Holidays and the month of Elul. Members are invited to create and share artwork, photography, and other physical media that reflect on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether arising from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own process of looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season.

Reach out to Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org) to learn how to participate. More information here.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon.)

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Sebastian Mellman, August 10) are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Prospective members of Havurah Shalom interested in our mahjong group are invited to attend a game to become better acquainted with our group, but we ask that you already know how to play before coming. Please contact the Havurah office to schedule your visit. Havurah members, reach out to Leah Hershey if you want to be added to the group email list and receive notices of meeting changes.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, July 29  – Zoom Room Heh
We will resume our monthly letter writing to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact David Lewis (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, August 5 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on the location and other details throughout the year.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Sebastian Mellman
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, August 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Sebastian Mellman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, August 12  – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Tisha B'av – Beginning to Turn (Learning and Ritual)
8 pm to 9:30 pm, Monday, August 12 – Havurah Shalom and/or Zoom, TBD
Tisha B’Av is a powerful holy day in our cycle of Jewish time. Yet, it is often overlooked, considered as just a day of mourning for the destruction of the temples. We will look at how Tisha B’Av came to be the collecting point of Jewish loss, grief, and displacement as well as what Alan Lew calls “the moment of turning, the moment when we turn away from denial and begin to face exile and alienation as they manifest themselves in our own lives...Teshuvah – turning is the essential gesture of the entire High Holiday season.” We will also commemorate Tisha B’av with a short ritual that helps us being the process of Teshuvah. All are welcome. Stay tuned for an update on the location/medium of delivery: This event will be held at Havurah Shalom and/or on Zoom. RSVP
Havurahniks, please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, deborah@havurahshalom.org if you would like to help plan this ritual.
 

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, August 13 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).

More Tikkun Olam 

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG |Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven |Jewish Earth Alliance | IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice)

Safety Corner

Out in the Community

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms


To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
 

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Hineinu, July 10, 2024

Adela Basayne's Medical Leave Begins on Monday, July 15
Adela Basayne, Havurah Program Director, will be away on medical leave from July 15 until approximately September 15. We are all wishing for her complete healing and a speedy recovery: refuah shlemah.
Rachel Pollak, Havurah Office and Facilities Manager, will be availalbe to help with matters that would normally go to Adela, so feel free to reach out to Rachel (rachel@havurahshalom.org) as needed during this time.

Introducing Our Proposed Brit Kavod
Read Havurah’s proposed Brit Kavod, a Covenant of Mutual Respect. This document embodies a decade plus of discussions and drafting regarding how we might address conflict within Havurah. The proposed Brit Kavod is based on values important to Havurah, that speak most directly to respectful behavior toward one another. At this stage, we are seeking feedback on the draft. Please refer to this article in the July Hakol for a more extensive discussion of the proposed Brit Kavod.

Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 – Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB.
RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Noa Isabel Zaragoza, July 6; Lailah Kaplan, July 20) are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Prospective members of Havurah Shalom interested in our mahjong group are invited to attend a game to become better acquainted with our group, but we ask that you already know how to play before coming. Please contact the Havurah office to schedule your visit. Havurah members, reach out to Leah Hershey if you want to be added to the group email list and receive notices of meeting changes.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, July 11 to August 15 – Zoom Room Dalet
The Havurah Ma’avar Committee is offering a six-week grief process-support group for Havurah members in any stage of grief. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate the group with a focus on the dying experience, the impact of the relationship, the things unsaid, making peace within ourselves, forgiveness, and continuing the relationship after death. (This group will be limited to eight participants. If we reach capacity, that will be indicated on the RSVP page.) RSVP

Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting
7 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, July 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for our monthly Racial Justice Committee meeting where we will discuss current relevant topics and plan for upcoming events at Havurah. New Havurah members or others Havurahniks who have not previously attended are welcome! Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon.

Asylum Seekers Host Support Group
2 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, July 14 – Havurah Shalom
Are you considering hosting an asylum-seeking family for a short, or medium stay? Please attend a Host Support Group on the Second Sunday of each month, at 2 pm at Havurah Shalom. As more and more people try hosting, a network of support makes hosting easier and more fun. These are sponsored by IMIrJ and the Asylum Seeker Solidarity Collective. This opportunity to host families and to attend host support group meetings are open to members of Havurah and non-members alike. We hope to see some of you at the upcoming July 14 IMIrJ Asylum Support Group meeting!

Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 –  Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB.
RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller.

Multi-synagogue Torah Study Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, July 20 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
On the third Saturday of the month (Shabbat morning), we have a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom include Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. As with our regular Torah Study, no prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Lailah Kaplan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, July 20 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Lailah Kaplan as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, July 22 – Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurahniks are invited to join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. 

Book Group: Learning from the Germans by Susan Neiman
7 pn to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, July 23 – Zoom Room Bet
Susan Neiman is a Jewish philosopher who lives and teaches in Berlin. Her book insightfully looks at the journey that allowed the shift in German consciousness, from seeing themselves as the victims of WWII to taking responsibility for the atrocities done to Jews and others in the Holocaust. From the publisher: "As an increasingly polarized America fights over the legacy of racism... Neiman's book gives an urgently needed perspective on how a nation might come to terms with historical wrongdoing." I was moved to read this book while wondering how Israel might come to terms with her own historical wrongdoings toward Palestinians. I have about a hundred flags sticking out of the book- a testament to the wisdom I have found in these pages. Her writings and teachings have been used in Havurah's class on reparations. - Harriet Cooke 
Discussion led by Harriet Cooke. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, July 29 – Zoom Room Heh
We will resume our monthly letter writing on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact  Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.
 

More Tikkun Olam 

Nothing is Impossible Webinar with U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
5 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday, July 16 – RSVP to receive Zoom login info
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team and partner Jewish Earth Alliance to hear Rep. Jamie Raskin, an inspiring leader who challenges us to make democracy work for us.  "Nothing is impossible and nothing is inevitable," Jamie says. "Change is only possible through the democratic arts of educating people and organizing towards real change.” Following Jamie’s remarks, meet, if interested, in breakout sessions to plan lobby meetings for a Virtual Lobby Day in August. Do you have questions for Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT) related to this event? Contact Elianne Lieberman.

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG |Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven |Jewish Earth Alliance | IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice)

Safety Corner

Out in the Community

Parking Available for Havurah Events

Legacy has generously given us permission to park in its lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on weekdays after 5 pm and all day on weekends. We can park in any spot except spots 1 through 10. We hope this will make it easier to come for services and other programming! Please help us maintain our relationship with Legacy by honoring these guidelines.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
 

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Hineinu, June 26, 2024

Havurahniks, it's time to renew our dues commitments for 2024-2025.

Be sure to submit your completed dues renewal form 
by Sunday, June 30.

Have questions about your dues? Contact Havurah's Finance Manager, Shari Raider, at shari.raider@havurahshalom.org.

Barry Sutton Burial: Service Scheduled for 2:30 pm
2:30 pm to 3 pm, Wednesday, June 26 – Havurah Cemetery (5656 SW Humphrey Blvd, Portland, Oregon - directions)
Barry Sutton's cremains will be buried in Havurah's Cemetery. Barry, a regular Havurah Shalom participant for over 30 years, died September 24, 2023, Erev Yom Kippur. His life was celebrated on November 16 by over 200 people from religious communities across Portland.
This is Barry's story, as told by the Oregonian's Tom Hallman.

Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 – Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB.
RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller and Percy Wise.

Havurahniks, Want to Enhance our Safety?
Scroll down to the recurring "Safety Corner" section in our weekly Hineinu newsletter to learn about upcoming opportunities. This week, featured upcoming safety training opportunities (all on Zoom) include a situational awareness training on July 2 - RSVP; a training on countering active threats on July 17 -  RSVP; and a Narcan-administration training (for drug overdose reversal) on July 24 - RSVP.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Noa Isabel Zaragoza, July 6) are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

It's Dues Rewewal Time: Havurahniks, Please Make Your Dues Commitments for 2024-2025 by Sunday, June 30!
Click here to fill out and submit your member dues renewal form for 2024-2025. Do you have questions about your dues? Reach out to Havurah Shalom's Finance Manager, Shari Raider, at shari.raider@havurahshalom.org.

Office Closure: Fourth of July
Thursday, July 4
The Havurah office is closed for the Fourth of July.

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Noa Isabel Zaragoza
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, July 6 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Noa Isabel Zaragoza as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, July 7 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on the location and other details throughout the year.

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, July 8 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, July 9 – Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurah Shalom members are invited to join for Steering Committee meetings. (Havurahniks: If you'd like to join, log in to the website and then visit havurahshalom.org/zoom or call the office in advance for assistance, 503-248-4662.)

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, July 11 to August 15 – Zoom Room Dalet
The Havurah Ma’avar Committee is offering a six-week grief process-support group for Havurah members in any stage of grief. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate the group with a focus on the dying experience, the impact of the relationship, the things unsaid, making peace within ourselves, forgiveness, and continuing the relationship after death. (This group will be limited to eight participants.) RSVP

Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 –  Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB.
RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller and Percy Wise.

Safety Corner

More Tikkun Olam 

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven

Out in the Community

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
​​​​​​​The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, June 11, 2024

Come to Havurah's Shavuot Celebration Tonight - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah!
7 pm to until 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (and Zoom Room Bet as well, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning! Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! Childcare available! All ages are invited! 
RSVP | Food/dessert sign-up | Volunteer

7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert potluck/smorgasbord
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
 

- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and was also one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, celebrating the wheat harvest. It ends the counting of the Omer, which began the second day of Passover. Two observances we’ll be doing at Havurah Shalom are enjoying dairy and dairy-substitutes and studying Torah into the night, meaningful traditions with storied origins.

Havurah members: We ask you to submit your
2024-2025 dues commitments by June 30.

Join Havurah for Torah Study and Shabbat Morning, Including Two Unique Upcoming Events

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, June 15 (and every third Saturday) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
On the third Saturday of the month (Shabbat morning), we have a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (Learn more in the Havurah calendar.)

Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 15  — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. On June 15, Havurahnik David Dropkin will lead the whole Shabbat morning service. From David Dropkin: ... I want to bring to the community what I have learned about the overall structure of the Shabbat morning service, including how each of the parts are connected to each other, with the goal of bringing us closer to connecting with the divine in ourselves and in our community. I encourage you to join me on this journey through the morning service. I hope that those in attendance will bring with them their inquisitiveness and questions regarding the Shabbat morning service. I do not have the answers, but I am open to having discussions about topics that the morning service brings up. We will talk together, we will sing, we will make joyous noise, we may even dance. I can say for sure that you will be encouraged to do more than sit, unless that is what works for you. Please join me for what should be a wonderful Shabbat experience. Learn more.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (On the third Saturday of each month (next up: Saturday, June 15), there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon.)

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Jacob Blackstein, June 22) are listed below and in the website calendar.
(There will be a Shabbat Morning service led by David Dropkin on Saturday, June 15. Check out the calendar event page titled Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service to learn more.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome. (We will also observe Yizkor on Wednesday, June 12 at 8 am.)

Upcoming Havurah Events

Shavuot - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah
7 pm to 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (with Zoom Room Bet option, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning!
7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert Potluck (Havurah Shalom)
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - Music and Learning (Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet)
- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin
Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! All ages are invited! RSVP  (Also, Havurahniks, here are our food sign-up and volunteer sign-up pages!)

Shavuot Minyan (Yizkor)
8 am to 9 pm, Wednesday, June 12 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will also observe Yizkor today.

Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, June 13 – Zoom Room Bet
Join us for the monthly Racial Justice Committee to help plan events for the community and have discussions on a variety of racial justice topics that matter to you. We are open to all members. Even if you haven't joined before please feel free to join this month!

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
On the third Saturday of the month (Shabbat morning), we have a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom include Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.
 

Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. On June 15, Havurahnik David Dropkin will be leading the Shabbat morning service. See the event page for more information.

Office Closure: First Day of Shavuot
Wednesday, June 12
The Havurah office is closed on Wednesday, June 12 (First Day of Shavuot).

Hakol (Monthly Newsletter) Deadline is Thursday, June 20
The deadline for submissions to the July 2024 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, June 20, 2024. Click here to learn more.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Blackstein
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Jacob Blackstein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (For Zoom room login info, log in to your Havurah member account on the website, go to the Contact tab, and click on Zoom Meeting Rooms in the drop-down menu.)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We will resume our monthly letter writing on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact  Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.

Book Club to Discuss All I Know and Love by Judith Frank
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, June 25 – Zoom Room Bet
A searing drama of a modern American Family on the brink of dissolution, one that explores adoption, gay marriage, and love lost and found. For years, Matthew Greene and Daniel Rosen have enjoyed a quiet domestic life together in Northhamton, Mass., But when they learn that Daniel’s twin brother and sister-in-law have been killed in a bombing in Jerusalem, their lives are suddenly and utterly transformed. The deceased parents wanted Matthew and Daniel to adopt their children—a six year old and a baby. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Office Closure: Fourth of July
Thursday, July 4
The Havurah office is closed on the Fourth of July.

Safety Corner

Countering Active Threat Training Session
7 pm, Monday, June 17 — Zoom by RSVP
A comprehensive training program to counter an active threat event developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP

Safety at Havurah: Training for Families
7 pm, Wednesday, June 19 — Zoom Room Bet
Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will meet with us to discuss situational awareness, door greeting, and other safety considerations, with a focus on Shabbat School and b'nei mitzvah. Please join us to learn about the precautions and procedures we have in place to keep everyone safe. There will be time for questions as well! RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Sanctuary Committee
Car Seat Needed for a Two-Year-Old
The two-year-old member of our Afghan family needs a new or gently-used car seat. It must meet safety standards. Please be in touch by email with Robbin Isaacson DeWeese. Thank you from the Afghan Family Support Group!

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven

Out in the Community

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
​​​​​​​The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms​​​​​​​

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, June 5, 2024

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

A Message from Rabbi Benjamin on Supporting the Oregon Food Bank
As many of you know, twelve local Jewish organizations released a statement last week condemning the Oregon Food Bank for its prior statement calling for a ceasefire. In their letter, these Jewish institutions charged that the food bank made “false accusations [that] serve to further fan the flames of Jewish hatred” and announced the withdrawal of their support for the organization unless they retract their statement.

In my opinion, the Oregon Food Bank’s statement makes no false accusations and does not perpetuate antisemitism. While their wording is in ways sharper and more detailed than Havurah’s ceasefire statement from February, our messages share significant alignment. Like us, in addition to calling for an end to Israel’s assault in Gaza and for the flow of unimpeded humanitarian aid, they also condemn Hamas’ attacks and call for a release of all hostages. Whether or not an organization dedicated to local social services should weigh in on an international conflict is a fair question, which in my mind has legitimate arguments both in favor and against. Personally, I support the Oregon Food Bank making this statement, though I recognize that some of you feel differently. The question at hand, though, is whether we feel any of this merits the kind of attack they are facing from several of our fellow Jewish institutions, who view the statement as so egregious as to warrant ceasing support for the essential work they do. Those organizations’ public announcement, delivered to local press, clearly reflects an effort to encourage other people and organizations to do the same.

At Havurah, I feel grateful to say, we have responded by doing the opposite. At their meeting last night, our Steering Committee voted to approve a $1,000 donation to the Oregon Food Bank. If you feel moved as an individual or family to donate further, I encourage you to do so. In addition, Steering affirmed a plan to explore ways in which Havurah can strengthen our relationship with the food bank over time and help sustain the vital work it does in our community.

May we soon see an end to the violence in Israel/Palestine, and may all people experiencing hunger receive the nourishment and care they need and deserve.

RSVP for Havurah's Shavuot Celebration - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah!
7 pm to until 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (and Zoom Room Bet as well, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning! Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! Childcare available! All ages are invited! 
RSVP to attend | Food/dessert sign-up | Volunteer

7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert potluck/smorgasbord
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
 

- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and was also one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, celebrating the wheat harvest. It ends the counting of the Omer, which began the second day of Passover. Two observances we’ll be doing at Havurah Shalom are enjoying dairy and dairy-substitutes and studying Torah into the night, meaningful traditions with storied origins.

More Shavuot

TischPDX Invites You to “Up All Night: Shavuot 5784/2024”
7 pm to 1 am, Saturday, June 8 — Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Get Tickets/Learn More | View Full Schedule | Volunteer

The Torah of Freedom for All: A Global Shavuot Teach-in with Rabbis for Ceasefire
8 am, Tuesday, June 11 through 10 am, Wednesday, June 12 (Pacific) — Zoom login via Registration
Learn more | Register to participate

Havurah members, we ask you to submit your
2024-2025 dues commitments by June 30.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (On the third Saturday of each month (next up: Saturday, June 15), there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon.)

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Raisa Zusman-Carr, June 9; Jacob Blackstein, June 22) are listed below and in the website calendar. (There will be a Shabbat Morning service led by David Dropkin on Saturday, June 15. Check out the calendar event page titled Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service to learn more.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome. (We will also observe Yizkor on Wednesday, June 12 at 8 am.)

Upcoming Havurah Events

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursday, June 6 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on the location and other details throughout the year.

Shabbat Morning and Bat Mitzvah of Raisa Zusman-Carr
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 8 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Raisa Zusman-Carr as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Shavuot - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah
7 pm to 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (with Zoom Room Bet option, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning!
7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert Potluck (Havurah Shalom)
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - Music and Learning (Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet)
- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin
Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! All ages are invited! RSVP  (Also, Havurahniks, here are our food sign-up and volunteer sign-up pages!)

Office Closure: First Day of Shavuot
Wednesday, June 12
The Havurah office is closed on Wednesday, June 12 (First Day of Shavuot).

Shavuot Minyan (Yizkor)

8 am to 9 pm, Wednesday, June 12 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will also observe Yizkor today.
 

Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, June 13 – Zoom Room Bet

Join us for the monthly Racial Justice Committee to help plan events for the community and have discussions on a variety of racial justice topics that matter to you. We are open to all members. Even if you haven't joined before please feel free to join this month!
 

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study

9 am to 10 am, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
On the third Saturday of the month (Shabbat morning), we have a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom include Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.
 

Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. On June 15, Havurahnik David Dropkin will be leading the Shabbat morning service. See the event page for more information.

Hakol (Monthly Newsletter) Deadline is Thursday, June 20
The deadline for submissions to the July 2024 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, June 20, 2024. Click here to learn more.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Blackstein
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Jacob Blackstein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (For Zoom room login info, log in to your Havurah member account on the website, go to the Contact tab, and click on Zoom Meeting Rooms in the drop-down menu.)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We will resume our monthly letter writing on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact  Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.

Book Club to Discuss All I Know and Love by Judith Frank
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, June 25 – Zoom Room Bet
A searing drama of a modern American Family on the brink of dissolution, one that explores adoption, gay marriage, and love lost and found. For years, Matthew Greene and Daniel Rosen have enjoyed a quiet domestic life together in Northhamton, Mass., But when they learn that Daniel’s twin brother and sister-in-law have been killed in a bombing in Jerusalem, their lives are suddenly and utterly transformed. The deceased parents wanted Matthew and Daniel to adopt their children—a six year old and a baby. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Safety Corner

Countering Active Threat Training Session
7 pm, Monday, June 17 — Zoom by RSVP
A comprehensive training program to counter an active threat event developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Poverty and Homelessness Committee
First Thursday Meetings with the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: Next Online Gathering on June 6
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, June 6 (and every first Thursday of the month) — Zoom login info via RSVP (visit allianceonpoverty.org)
Havurah is a member of The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, whose efforts to educate Portland on poverty, those if affects, housing, outcomes, and more are presented each month by those who provide us with insight, solutions, causes, and more. To attend this Thursday, June 6 presentation, register at the website of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty.

Sanctuary Committee
Car Seat Needed for a Two-Year-Old
The two-year-old member of our Afghan family needs a new or gently-used car seat. It must meet safety standards. Please be in touch by email with Robbin Isaacson DeWeese. Thank you from the Afghan Family Support Group!

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven | Oregon Food Bank

Out in the Community

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, May 22, 2024

Havurah Members: Join Our Annual Congregational Meeting on Sunday, June 2
10 am to noon, Sunday, June 2 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please plan to join us—virtually or in person! All Havurah members in good standing are welcome to attend, participate, and vote on the budget. As is our custom, we will connect with each other through music, discussion, learning, and a little food for those attending in person. This event is for Havurah Shalom members only. Childcare will be provided at Havurah. RSVP

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

Jewish Women's Round Table Song of Miriam Brunch: Sunday, June 9 (Register by Mail)
10 am to noon, Sunday, June 9 – Mittleman Jewish Community Center (6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, Oregon)  [To enter the MJCC, bring photo ID and be ready for potential bag inspections.]
Join other Havurahniks at the Song of Miriam Brunch, sponsored by the Jewish Women's Round Table, to celebrate the contributions of Havurahnik Sarah Shine and 17 other stellar volunteers from the local Jewish community.
* Advanced registration and pre-payment are needed to join this brunch. Please print the registration form and mail the filled-out form—along with your check made out to the JWRT—to the the mailing address provided on the registration form. (Sorry, checks only; credit cards cannot be accepted.)
* Regular tickets cost $32 (or $34 after May 29). Children 12 or younger: $10. Patron/sponsor: $45.
Havurahniks, Adele Thompson is happy to answer your questions and tell you more about the Song of Miriam Brunch.

Shavuot - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah!
7 pm to 11 pm, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning! Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! All ages are invited! RSVP

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and was also one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, celebrating the wheat harvest. It ends the counting of the Omer, which began the second day of Passover. Two observances we’ll be doing at Havurah Shalom are enjoying dairy and dairy-substitutes and studying Torah into the night, meaningful traditions with storied origins.

Tasty food is provided by Havurah members, but more potluck commitments are needed! Volunteers to help during part of the night will also make the night even more enjoyable for all: 
Food sign-up | Volunteer sign-up

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Note: The Spiritual Life Committee has considered the pros and cons of where the giant screen in the sanctuary should be placed for services and has decided on the following procedure: “The screen shall be in the back and turned on during services by default. In the case of extended remote service leadership, it may be brought to the front of the room when decided in advance. (Extended service leadership means most of the service, not leyning.) If the screen is ever left in the front on a service day, perhaps from previous use, procedure is to move it to the back.” Questions can be directed to Sam Sirkin or Diane Chaplin. Thank you!

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Nadine Luker, May 25) are listed below and in the website calendar. (There will be a Tot Shabbat from 10:30 am to 11:30 am on Saturday, June 1. RSVP)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Nadine Luker
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, May 25 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Nadine Luker as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Office Closure: Memorial Day
Monday, May 27
The Havurah office is closed on Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day).

Book Group Discussion: Whatever Happened to Antisemitism? By Anthony Lerman
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, May 28 – Zoom Room Bet
The public, academics, journalists, activists and Jewish people themselves are divided over the meaning of antisemitism. Antony Lerman shows that this is a result of a 30-year process of redefinition of the phenomenon, casting Israel, problematically defined as the “persecuted collective Jew,” as one of its main targets. This political project has taken the notion of the “new antisemitism” and codified it in the flawed International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s “working definition” of antisemitism. This text is the glue holding together an international network comprising the Israeli government, pro-Israel advocacy groups, Zionist organizations, Jewish communal defense bodies and sympathetic governments fighting a war against those who would criticize Israel. The consequences of this redefinition have been to suppress free speech on Palestine/Israel, legitimize Islamophobic right-wing forces, and politicize principled opposition to antisemitism. Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, June 1 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome. RSVP

Havurah's Congregational Meeting
10 am to 12 pm, Sunday, June 2  – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please plan to join us — virtually or in person! All members in good standing are welcome to attend, participate, and vote on the budget. As is our custom, we will connect with each other through music, discussion, learning, and a little food for those attending in person. This event is for Havurah Shalom members only. Childcare will be provided at Havurah. RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, June 4 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurah Shalom members are invited to join for Steering Committee meetings. This hybrid Steering meeting is taking place a bit earlier in the month than usual due to the Shavuot holiday the following week. (Havurahniks: If you'd like to join via Zoom Room Gimel, log in to the website and then visit havurahshalom.org/zoom or call the office in advance for assistance, 503-248-4662.)

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursday, June 6 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on the location and other details throughout the year.

Shabbat Morning and Bat Mitzvah of Raisa Zusman-Carr
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 8 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Raisa Zusman-Carr as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Shavuot - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah
7 pm to 11 pm, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning! Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! All ages are invited! RSVP  (Also, click on the links for the food sign-up and volunteer sign-up.)

Office Closure: First Day of Shavuot
Wednesday, June 12
The Havurah office is closed on Wednesday, June 12 (First Day of Shavuot).

Safety Corner

Stop the Bleed
7 pm, Tuesday, May 28 — Zoom by RSVP
You’ll gain the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and intervene effectively. This training is relevant to all aspects of our lives, outdoor recreation, household accidents, etc. You'll learn the concepts of wound pressure and packing skills, and learn how to use a tourniquet on yourself and others. The person next to a bleeding victim may be the one who’s most likely to save them. RSVP

BeAware: Introduction to Situational Awareness
7 pm, Monday, June 3 — Zoom by RSVP
Learn observation skills and best-practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life – from going to synagogue and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. It will help you protect yourself, your family, and your community. RSVP