Havurah Updates

Hineinu: Solidarity Shabbat, Jewish Ethical Responses to Racism, Musical Shabbaton w/ Aly Halpert, and More

Hineinu, April 23, 2025

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Potluck Nosh on Friday, April 25
A reminder that our next Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat service and potluck nosh (fourth Fridays) will take place in person and on Zoom this Friday. Learn more about this gathering, including masking requests, the potluck sign-up, the volunteer sign-up (for Havurah members), the Zoom and in-person schedule, and more. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike. Learn more & RSVP.

Jewish Ethical Responses to Racism:
A Four-Session Curriculum
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, May 5, 12, 19, and June 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. Please RSVP ASAP to help make this opportunity a success! Questions? Contact Adela Basayne at adela@havurahshalom.org.

Join Our Musical Shabbaton, May 9 to 10,
with Musician-in-Residence Aly Halpert
- On Friday evening, May 9, all are welcome to join for our Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (second Fridays, with a break for summer).
- On Saturday morning, May 10, all are welcome to join for our Shabbat Morning with Musical Shabbaton (10 am to noon, followed by kiddush lunch). If you plan to stay for lunch after the service, please RSVP for that soon.
- On Saturday afternoon, May 10, Havurah members are welcome to join for a Songs of Liberation Song Circle with Aly Halpert. Havurahniks, be sure to RSVP very soon if you would like to join for this song circle; registration capped at 80 Havurah members.
(Learn more about our May 9 and 10 Musical Shabbaton with Aly Halpert in our April 2025 Hakol.)

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. All are welcome. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study on Saturday, April 26 (normally held on third Saturdays). 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 (Dora Fortgang, April 26) are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, May 10, there will be a special Shabbat Morning and Music Shabbaton with musician-in-residence Aly Halpert; please RSVP in advance if you'd like to stay for the kiddush lunch after the service on May 10.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays — Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, April 25 (and fourth Fridays) — Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider helping out at this April 25 gathering. Most shifts just 10 or 15 minutes.)

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, April 26 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on April 26 this month.)

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Dora Fortgang
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 26 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dora Fortgang as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
April 27 (at 3 pm) and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join for any or all of the remaining Zoom gatherings in this four-session series to learn about the Progressive Israel Network. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. The April 27 speakers are from Reconstructing Judaism and New Israel Fund and the May 4 speaker is from New Jewish Narrative. Learn more and RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, April 27 — RSVP for location updates (either in Zoom Room Heh or North Portland)
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, April 28 — ~~Zoom Room Bet~~ Zoom Room Gimel
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays. (Havurah members, click for our Zoom room login info page; log in to your Havurah member account for access.)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, April 28 — Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Steering Meeting (Budget)
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 28 — Havurah Shalom
Havurah Shalom's Steering Committee will meet an extra time this month to discuss the budget. All Havurah members are welcome to attend this Steering Meeting. See the calendar for updates as the meeting date approaches.

Havurah Teens and Havurah's Poverty and Homelessness Committee: Supporting Rose Haven
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 30 — Havurah Shalom
Havurah Teens help Rose Haven prepare for their 12th annual 'Reigning Roses Walk' by making ribbon rosettes! Drinks and snacks will be provided! RSVP 

Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5, 12, 19, and June 9 — Havurah Shalom
Following the curriculum developed by the Program in Jewish Ethics at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, each class will address a different topic, and be accompanied by videos and readings. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. Topics addressed in the four sessions include: Countering White Nationalism and Antisemitism; Jewish Perspectives on Reparations; Repairing Jewish Pioneer Memory; Responding to Racial Microaggressions.
(https://jewsandrace.com/about/). If you'd like to join this course, please RSVP as soon as possible. Questions? Reach out to Adela Basayne (adela.basayne@havurahshalom.org).

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, May 8 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (second Thursdays). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. We welcome all members to join us even if you have not joined before or it has been awhile since you attended a meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for Havurah's Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, May 9 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. Aly Halpert, musician-in-residence, will join the Havurah musicians for our musical, family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat service. No RSVPs. All are welcome! Learn more. (Havurahniks, consider signing up for a volunteer shift; many shifts that are just ten or fifteen minutes.Thank you!) Note that we'll take a break from these Kabbalat Shabbat Celebrations during the summer.

Shabbat Morning with Musical Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert)
10 am to 12 pm (with kiddush lunch afterward, please RSVP for lunch ASAP) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
On Shabbat morning, May 10, Aly will partner with Ken Lerner and Susan Brenner, infusing music into our Community Minyan and offering a drash. All are welcome. Planning to join for the kiddush lunch after the service? RSVP for that ASAP/by Monday, May 5.

Songs for Liberation Song Circle with Musician-in-residence Aly Halpert
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (closing with the Havdalah ritual), Saturday, May 10 — Havurah Shalom
Songs for Liberation. How can songs help us create a liberated world? Join Aly Halpert for a session exploring how song can ground us, hold us, heal us, and expand our imagination, especially in times where liberation seems furthest from reach. We will sing together, connect with each other, and resource ourselves for the times ahead. Music is especially important at this critical time of struggle that we are all facing. Havurah members, if you plan to attend this Songs of Liberation Song Circle, please RSVP now. (The Saturday afternoon Song Circle is currently specifically for Havurah members, as it caps at 80 people.) Questions? Contact Sacha Reich (avodah@havurahshalom.org). RSVP

You can learn more about our May 9 and 10 Musical Shabbaton with musician-in-residence Aly Halpert on page 8 of our April 2025 issue of Hakol.

Safety Corner

Guardian Online Training via Secure Community Network
12 pm, Thursday, April 24 — Zoom by RSVP
Guardian seeks to empower people to be “Active Bystanders.” The goal is to provide individuals with the skillset to identify potential threats, protect institutions, and respond to situations from a safety perspective. Elements include how to react appropriately to possible threats, use of de-escalation techniques, and concepts from the Department of Homeland Security’s The Power of Hello program. RSVP.

BeAware: Introduction to Situational Awareness
12 pm, Wednesday, May 7 – Zoom by RSVP
Build observation skills and learn to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life – from going to Havurah and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. The course will cover the basics of situational awareness and how to help protect yourself, your family, and your community. Taught by Jessica Anderson, Secure Community Network Regional Security Director. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Interfaith Advocacy Day in Salem on Tuesday, April 29
The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty is holding Interfaith Advocacy Day all-day on Tuesday, April 29 at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Salem, Oregon. Learn more here. Registration closes on Sunday, April 27. Interested in connecting with a Havurahnik about this event or other happenings from the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty? Contact Sue Abrams.

Participate in Rose Haven's Mother's Day Reigning Roses Walk
10 am check-in, 11 am walk, Sunday, May 11 — Register for location details for this walk (in NW Portland, not so far from Havurah Shalom)
Havurah Shalom's Poverty and Homelessness Committee supports several non-profits who provide various services for those in need of shelter, food, and more. One of these non-profits is a Havurah neighbor a few blocks away, Rose Haven, a day shelter and community center. Rose Haven holds an amazing annual Mother's Day neighborhood walk, the Reigning Roses Walk! Per Rose Haven: Supporters and guests will unite for an uplifting celebration of women, striding a beautiful route through NW Portland featuring interactive and sponsored stops along the way. Walk with–or in honor of–a special person in your life: a mother, auntie, grandmother, daughter, partner or friend. Learn more and register here.

Our Havurah Poverty & Homelessness Committee contact person for Rose Haven is Marcia Suttenberg; Havurahniks, feel free to reach out to Marcia with questions about Rose Haven and this event. If you are further interested in the Poverty & Homelessness Commitee's work or would like more info about our committee, contact Gloria Halper or Steve Rudman.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Tivnu Jewish Social Justice Gap Year Program in Portland: May 1 Info Session
From Tivnu: From Passover celebrations to high school graduations, this season is one of big questions. If you’ve got questions about what comes next after high school for you, your child, or your students, check out our May 1 info session to learn more about the benefits and day-to-day experience of Tivnu’s once-in-a-lifetime gap year experience. Register for the last Tivnu info session of the year (at 5:30 pm, Thursday, May 1, on Zoom).

Tivnu: All Grown Up - A Taste of Tivnu for Adults (Register by May 1)
From Tivnu: You don’t have to be a Tivnu Gap Year participant to learn to swing a hammer and help build a community—at least, not anymore! We’d love for you to join us June 15-19, 2025 for the best of Tivnu: hands-on work at places like Hazelnut Grove tiny house village, conversations with our favorite inspiring young activists, and exploring the amazing beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention a good local Pinot Noir after work. (There are some things we don’t get to share with the gap year kids!) Homestays available. Greatly discounted price of $360 for professional Jewish educators. Tivnu is offering a special rate of $540 for Havurah Shalom members. (Financial assistance available for all: contact steve@tivnu.org.) Questions? Contact Steve@Tivnu.org for more information. We’re looking forward to this taste of Tivnu with you in June!

Arab-Jewish Partnership in a Time of War: A Conversation with Raghad Jaraisy of Sikkuy-Aufoq
7 pm, Tuesday, May 6 — Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 SE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Per the New Israel Fund: "In recent years, actions taken by Israel's right-wing government have further marginalized the country's Arab minority. Since the events of October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, tensions between Israel's Jewish and Palestinian citizens have further intensified. And yet, even in this difficult moment, there is hope. Across Israel, courageous activists are working to build a more equal and shared future for all who call the land home. The New Israel Fund is proud to support these efforts and the leaders behind them.
One such leader is Raghad Jaraisy, Co-Executive Director of Sikkuy-Aufoq. A respected attorney and human rights advocate, Raghad has devoted her career to advancing the civil and collective rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel ..." (Havurah Shalom is among the co-sponsors of this event.)
Learn more. | Sign Up to Attend.

Portland Jewish Music Festival (w/ Free-of-Charge Solo Cello Concert from Havurahnik Diane Chaplin at Noon on Friday, May 16!)
May 8 to 18 — Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 SE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon) and at any other venues listed on the EJC's website
See the EJC's PDX Jewish Music Fest website for more, including event dates, workshop info, and festival passes and tickets Music, Films, Lectures, Workshops!
Regarding Havurahnik Diane Chaplin's May 16 Solo Cello Concert, per the EJC: Join us for a noon concert with world-class cellist Diane Chaplin as she plays a solo concert spanning her repertoire of music by Jewish composers, Klezmer and Jewish concert music and more! Get your free tickets/reserve your spot at Diane Chaplin's cello concert (scroll down on the EJC's Portland Jewish Music Fest website and click on Diane Chaplin's May 16 event).

Parking Available for Havurah Events

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Seders on Friday, Pesach Yizkor, Grandparent/Parent Huddle, and More

Hineinu, April 16, 2025

Two Friday, April 18 Seder Opportunities:
Reach Out by Noon on Friday

As we move through Passover, are you a Havurahnik interested in joining a seder this Friday, April 18?

To be part of a very non-traditional Zoom (online) seder, with opportunity for discussion, send Havurahnik Elinor Gollay an email saying you'd like to participate. Be sure to email Elinor by noon on Friday to get the Zoom link. This virtual gathering will start at 5 pm on Friday and finish around 6 pm. (Your Havurah Shalom member login is required to access our member directory.)

Or, for a very family-friendly (and everyone-friendly), short-and-sweet community potluck seder in SE Portland/Sellwood, reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) by noon on Friday to request the potluck seder sign-up sheet provided by the hosts. This big community potluck seder in Sellwood, whose generous hosts include some Havurahnik and Havurah-adjacent families.This community seder potluck begins at 6 pm on Friday.

Passover Seder Resources
Social Justice themed resources for your Seder are available here, on our Havurah website. Havurah Shalom's Tikkun Olam Committees are updating with the latest to add to your Seder from organizations working on Climate Change, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Racial Justice and other Social Justice areas. Havurahniks, if you have a suggestion of something to add, please email tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org.

A Sweet Pesach Opportunity to Support Refugee and Immigrants
If you're at Havurah this week, pick up a sweet treat for Passover made by Havurah's middle and high schoolers and help support the Refugee and Immigrant Fund! Look for the poster about the Refugee and Immigrant Fund in the entranceway, pick up a bundle of chocolate matzo, and scan the QR code to make a donation. (You can also click here to visit our Refugee and Immigrant Fund donation page.)

Zissen Pesach!

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. All are welcome. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study on Saturday, April 26 (normally held on third Saturdays). 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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, April 19, there will be a Yizkhor during our Shabbat Morning services.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Passover Yizkor
On Saturday, April 19, there will be a Yizkhor during our Shabbat Morning service. Our Shabbat Morning service is from 10 am to 12 pm, both in person at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph. For the Zoom info, email info@havurahshalom.org in advance.

Parenting Huddle: How Do We Parent/GrandParent Right Now?
3:10 to 4:35 pm, Saturday, April 19 — Havurah Shalom
How do we parent/grandparent right now? How do we sustain our strength, values, and connections when they are being attacked? We gather to share ourselves, wisdom, and support. (This gathering takes place during Shabbat School at Havurah Shalom; all Havurah Shalom parents/grandparents welcome.) RSVP

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Sundays, April 20 (at 3 pm), April 27 (at 3 pm), and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join for any or all of the remaining Zoom gatherings in this four-session series to learn about the Progressive Israel Network. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. The April 20 speakers are from T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and J Street; the April 27 speakers are from Reconstructing Judaism and New Israel Fund; and the May 4 speaker is from New Jewish Narrative. Learn more and RSVP

Writing (and Drawing) for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sundays, April 20 and May 4 — Havurah Shalom
Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community. Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike. It is recommended to attend either just the first session (April 20) or both sessions (April 20 and May 4). Learn more and RSVP

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, April 21 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom

All Havurah members are invited to come together for our B’khol Levav’kha gatherings. In these unprecedented and unsettling times, we are each invited to check in with ourselves, get quiet, name what we need, and have our group hear and acknowledge us. These gatherings are an opportunity to take care of be taken care of by our community. All this is followed by noshing. Read the full event description & RSVP. Facilitated by Ben Anderson-Nathe and Cara Ungar. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Submissions Deadline for the May 2025 Issue of Hakol
Havurahniks, Monday, April 21 is the submissions deadline for the May 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

Havurah's Book Group: Slavery's Capitalism, edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 22 — Zoom Room Bet
Join with Havurah's Book Group to discuss essays in Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development, edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman (nonfiction, 416 pages). Discussion led by Holly Hoffnung. Non-Havurah members welcome; Learn more & RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, April 25 (and fourth Fridays) — Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider helping out at this April 25 gathering. Most shifts just 10 or 15 minutes.)

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, April 26 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on April 26 this month.)

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Dora Fortgang
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 26 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dora Fortgang as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, April 27 — RSVP for location updates (either in Zoom Room Heh or North Portland)
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, April 28 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays. (Havurah members, click for our Zoom room login info page; log in to your Havurah member account for access.)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, April 28 —Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Steering Meeting (Budget)
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 28 — Havurah Shalom
Havurah Shalom's Steering Committee will meet an extra time this month to discuss the budget.

***

[RSVP Ahead of Time]
Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. RSVP

[Save the Date & RSVP Soon]
Song Circle with Musician-in-residence Aly Halpert
4:30 pm and closing with the havdalah ritual, Saturday, May 10 — Havurah Shalom
Rising Song Records artist Aly Halpert concludes our music shabbaton with a Song Circle, a space to enjoy our voices together as we learn new and ancient Jewish songs and niggunim together. Aly Halpert is at the epicenter of a resurgence of Jewish music-making– introducing new tunes, new words, and new ways of bringing music into davening and community-buildinng. RSVP
(Learn more from "Musical Shabbaton Featuring Musician-in-Residence Aly Halpert, May 9 and 10," on page 8 of the most recent issue of Hakol.)

Safety Corner

Stop the Bleed via Secure Community Network
12 pm, Wednesday, April 23 — Offsite Zoom
Stop the Bleed is a national program, like Red Cross First Aid and CPR, designed to train people how to stop potentially fatal bleeding. 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. Take the course and become empowered to make a life or death difference when a bleeding emergency occurs. RSVP

Guardian Online Training via Secure Community Network
12 pm, Thursday, April 24 — Offsite Zoom
Guardian seeks to empower people to be “Active Bystanders.” The goal is to provide individuals with the skillset to identify potential threats, protect institutions, and respond to situations from a safety perspective. Elements include how to react appropriately to possible threats, use of de-escalation techniques, and concepts from the Department of Homeland Security’s The Power of Hello program. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ) April 2025 Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice April newsletter for recent immigration news and new actions to take.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Jews Who Wine
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, April 24 — Oak Flat Vineyards' Tasting Room (4701 SE Belmont Street, Portland, Oregon)
Come gather and sip some grape at Oak Flat Vineyards. Sponsored by Eastside Jewish Commons (EJC). Details here.

Oregon Premiere of El Tuve Corazon (I Had the Heart), an Official Selection of the Miami Jewish Film Festival
5:30 pm to 7 pm, (followed by Q & A, dinner & drinks for purchase, and then tango dancing (Milonga) with a DJ and live music until 11:30 pm), Sunday April 27 — The Loft at 8th Avenue (2010 SE 8th Avenue)
Come check out El Tuve Corazon, a movie written and directed by a Jewish Tango dancer from Argentina. Learn more. Tickets for film premiere only are $15 at the door (or $12 in advance).

Tivnu Jewish Social Justice Gap Year Program in Portland: May 1 Info Session
From Tivnu: From Passover celebrations to high school graduations, this season is one of big questions. If you’ve got questions about what comes next after high school for you, your child, or your students, check out our May 1 info session to learn more about the benefits and day-to-day experience of Tivnu’s once-in-a-lifetime gap year experience. Register for the last Tivnu info session of the year (at 5:30 pm, Thursday, May 1, on Zoom).

Tivnu: All Grown Up - A Taste of Tivnu for Adults (Register by May 1)
From Tivnu: You don’t have to be a Tivnu Gap Year participant to learn to swing a hammer and help build a community—at least, not anymore! We’d love for you to join us June 15-19, 2025 for the best of Tivnu: hands-on work at places like Hazelnut Grove tiny house village, conversations with our favorite inspiring young activists, and exploring the amazing beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention a good local Pinot Noir after work. (There are some things we don’t get to share with the gap year kids!) Homestays available. Greatly discounted price of $360 for professional Jewish educators. Tivnu is offering a special rate of $540 for Havurah Shalom members. (Financial assistance available for all: contact steve@tivnu.org.) Questions? Contact Steve@Tivnu.org for more information. We’re looking forward to this taste of Tivnu with you in June!

Chag Pesach Sameach!

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Meaningful Gatherings and Opportunities, Chag Pesach Sameach!

Hineinu, April 9, 2025

Seder Matching Finishing Up
Havurahniks, for those still looking for a seder, we may very well be able to connect you with a warm, mixed-ages home seder in NW Portland/Hillside (Sunday, April 13), a family-friendly/everyone-friendly community potluck seder in SE Portland/Sellwood (Friday, April 18), or a welcoming, non-traditional virtual Zoom seder (Friday, April 18).
If you're a Havurah member looking for a seder match, please reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) ASAP.
(For inquiries about seders taking place this weekend, it will be best to contact Tara Anderson by 3 pm or sooner on Thursday, April 10, although you can try after that too.)

Passover Seder Resources
Social Justice themed resources for your Seder are available here, on our Havurah website. Havurah Shalom's Tikkun Olam Committees are updating with the latest to add to your Seder from organizations working on Climate Change, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Racial Justice and other Social Justice areas. Havurahniks, if you have a suggestion of something to add, please email tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org.

A Sweet Pesach Opportunity to Support Refugee and Immigrants
If you're at Havurah this week, pick up a sweet treat for Passover made by Havurah's middle and high schoolers and help support the Refugee and Immigrant Fund! Look for the poster about the Refugee and Immigrant Fund in the entranceway, pick up a bundle of chocolate matzo, and scan the QR code to make a donation. (You can also click here to visit our Refugee and Immigrant Fund donation page.)

Commemorate the Last Day of Pesach and Yitzkor in Community
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, April 20 and May 4 (joining for at least the first session is recommended) — Havurah Shalom
Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for an in-person writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP .

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. All are welcome. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study on Saturday, April 26 (normally held on third Saturdays). 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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, April 19, there will be a Yizkhor during our Shabbat Morning services.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Monthly Racial Justice Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, April 10 — Zoom Room Bet

Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. We welcome all members to join us even if you have not joined before or it has been awhile since you attended a meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for Havurah's Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.)

Office Closed for Passover on Monday, April 14
On Monday, April 14, the Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Pesach.

Parenting Huddle: How Do We Parent/GrandParent Right Now?
3:10 to 4:35 pm, Saturday, April 19 — Havurah Shalom
How do we parent/grandparent right now? How do we sustain our strength, values, and connections when they are being attacked? We gather to share ourselves, wisdom, and support. (This gathering takes place during Shabbat School at Havurah Shalom; all Havurah Shalom parents/grandparents welcome.) RSVP

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Sundays, April 20 (at 3 pm), April 27 (at 3 pm), and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join for any or all of the remaining Zoom gatherings in this four-session series to learn about the Progressive Israel Network. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. (The April 20 speakers are from T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and J Street.) Learn more and RSVP

Writing (and Drawing) for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sundays, April 20 and May 4 — Havurah Shalom
Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community. Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike. It is recommended to attend either just the first session (April 20) or both sessions (April 20 and May 4). Learn more and RSVP

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, April 21 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom

Havurah members, we welcome you to gather at Havurah Shalom for B'khol Levav'kha ("With All Your Heart"). "On January 21, just after the inauguration, a number of Havurahniks gathered for B’khol Levav’kha—a moment to simply be together wholeheartedly. ... Together, we named and acknowledged our feelings and needs ... Now, we're in the thick of it. And "it" is hard, painful, and confusing. It feels overwhelming and urgent. And still, I know that to be okay and to be wholehearted, I need to be held in calm, patience, and tenderness." Read the full event description & RSVP. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Submissions Deadline for the May 2025 Issue of Hakol
Havurahniks, Monday, April 21 is the submissions deadline for the May 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

Havurah's Book Group: Slavery's Capitalism, edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 22 — Zoom Room Bet
Join with Havurah's Book Group to discuss Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman (nonfiction, 416 pages). Discussion led by Holly Hoffnung. Non-Havurah members welcome; Learn more & RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, April 25 (and fourth Fridays) — Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider helping out at this April 25 gathering. Most shifts just 10 or 15 minutes.)

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, April 26 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on April 26 this month.)

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Dora Fortgang
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 26 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dora Fortgang as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

***

[RSVP Ahead of Time] Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ) April 2025 Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice April newsletter for recent immigration news and new actions to take.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

A New Play, Regret: A Gothic Tragicom, Featuring the Creativity of Havurahniks Karen Polinsky and Esmé Schwall
7 pm, Thursday, April 10 and 5:30 pm, Sunday, April 13 — Chapel Theater (4107 SE Harrison Street, Milwaukie, Oregon)
Written by Karen Polinsky, with live music by Esmé Schwall. At a rustic property in Oregon – attacked by crows but suddenly worth millions – a dysfunctional family gathers to pay respects to a dying patriarch and his problematic wife, at long last turning their regrets into murder. Meanwhile, an endangered squirrel is running out of time. With an original score and live performance by Michael C. Hays and Esmé Schwall. Puppetry by Inna Pustakhanova. Also part of the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, get tickets ($15) to Regret: A Gothic Tragicom.

Tivnu Jewish Social Justice Gap Year Program in Portland!
Know a teen looking for a year of self-discovery? Our flagship program, brings 17- to 20- year-olds together for nine months of creating community, working at meaningful, hands-on internships, making friends for life, and exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest – and who they are – along the way. We are committed to making this incredible experience available to students from every economic background. To learn more, email Miriam@Tivnu.org and visit tivnu.org.

Tivnu: All Grown Up - A Taste of Tivnu for Adults (Register by May 1)
From Tivnu: You don’t have to be a Tivnu Gap Year participant to learn to swing a hammer and help build a community—at least, not anymore! We’d love for you to join us June 15-19, 2025 for the best of Tivnu: hands-on work at places like Hazelnut Grove tiny house village, conversations with our favorite inspiring young activists, and exploring the amazing beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention a good local Pinot Noir after work. (There are some things we don’t get to share with the gap year kids!) Homestays available. Greatly discounted price of $360 for professional Jewish educators. Tivnu is offering a special rate of $540 for Havurah Shalom members. (Financial assistance available for all: contact steve@tivnu.org.) Questions? Contact Steve@Tivnu.org for more information. We’re looking forward to this taste of Tivnu with you in June!

Chag Pesach Sameach!

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Havurahnik Seder Matching & Seder Resources, Kabbalat Shabbat (Apr. 4), Queer Havdalah (Apr. 5), Safety Training (Apr. 6)

Hineinu, April 2, 2025

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, April 4
Spread the word to friends and family! Our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday evening, April 4 (to leave lots of time to prep for Pesach). Deborah Eisenbach-Budner will present the drash and the service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians!
Learn more about our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat. All are welcome at our Kabblat Shabbat Celebrations. No RSVPs.
(Havurah members, we appreciate you signing up to help out at our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat; many shifts are just 15 minutes. Thanks!)
Also, everyone, be sure to save the date for our May 9 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration, the last one before the summer break.

Key Due Dates for Havurah's Shabbat School
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. To ensure a spot for the 2025-26 (5786) school year, families must (1) be members of Havurah Shalom by mid-April 2025 and (2) enroll their children in Shabbat School by May 1, 2025. Please visit our Shabbat School page under Learning on Havurah’s website for more information. If you have friends or family who are interested in participating in Shabbat School, please pass along this information.

Havurahnik Passover Seder Matching
Havurahniks, can you share a seat at your seder table?
Or, are you a Havurahnik looking to join a seder?
Pesach is coming soon! Havurah members, as you are planning your seder, please let Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) know if you are able to host one, two or more guests at your table this year for our 5785 seder matching effort. Also, let Tara know if you are a Havurah member seeking a seat at a seder. Thank you!

Passover Seder Resources
Social Justice themed resources for your Seder are available here, on our Havurah website. Havurah Shalom's Tikkun Olam Committees are updating with the latest to add to your Seder from organizations working on Climate Change, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Racial Justice and other Social Justice areas.
Havurahniks, if you have a suggestion of something to add, please email tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org.

Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park (July 11)
& Havurah in Portland's Pride Parade (July 20)
Save the Dates! Havurah will be holding our Pride Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park on Friday, July 11 in North Portland. Plan to come be with us! Additionally, Havurah Shalom has a parade contingent in this year's Portland Pride Parade. Havurahniks and friends, on Sunday, July 20, come march under our Havurah banner in celebration of queerness and solidarity with LBGTQ+ people.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more!

And for all Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!), you're invited to our next queer community-building event at Havurah: Queer Havdalah, on Saturday, April 5. Learn more & RSVP .

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, mornally on third Saturdays (but on Saturday, April 26 this month), 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. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, April 5, Shabbat Morning will be Text and Torah: Vayikra. Learn more.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (Note the earlier than usual date: April 4!)
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, April 4 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. At our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner is delivering the drash at Kabbalat Shabbat. The service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians. No RSVPs. All are welcome! Learn more. (Havurahniks, click here to sign up for a volunteer shift; many shifts that are just ten or fifteen minutes.Thank you!)

Text & Torah: Vayikra
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee. Learn more.

Bake Sale at Flor Wines for Havurah's Refugee and Immigrant Fund
1 pm to 3 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Flor Wines (825 NW Glisan St., Portland, Oregon)
Come to a delicious bake sale at Flor Wines! All proceeds go to the Refugee and Immigrant Fund (RIF) at Havurah Shalom to support the needs of refugee and immigrant families in our community. All are welcome. See flyer.

Queer Havdalah
7 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Havurah Shalom
All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next queer community-building event at Havurah. We'll start with an ice-breaker, set intentions for the week to come, play some games, and sing our way out of Shabbat. No familiarity with Havdalah rituals required. There will be snacks. Questions? Contact Kayla Reiman or Beth Kaye (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory). RSVPs are appreciated.

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah members, come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Learn more & RSVP

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Sundays, April 6 (at 5 pm), April 20 (at 3 pm), April 27 (at 3 pm), and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Put a PIN on it! Havurah Shalom's Lifelong Learning Committee is hosting a four-session series from the Progressive Israel Network (PIN). Per PIN: “The Progressive Israel Network brings together 12 organizations representing Americans who are committed to pursuing democracy, equality and peace in Israel.” Havurah members, please join us in a series of Zoom gatherings to learn about the Progressive Israel Network from a number of PIN organizations. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. Attend any or all sessions. (The April 6 speakers are from Partners for a Progressive Israel and the Progressive Israel Network.) Learn more & RSVP

Monthly Music Jams
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 7 — Havurah Shalom
If you want to sing out, sing out (as Cat Stevens so eloquently sang) and play together, please come to Havurah's monthly music jam. (Note that this month's music jam, on April 7, is being held a week earlier than usual due to Pesach. And FYI—there's only one more jam for the year on May 12.)
As always, Havurahnik musicians and singers gather for the joy of making music together. Participants choose Jewish and secular songs from our notebook.
If you have time, please arrive a few minutes early to help set up chairs and music stands, and stay at the other end to help put them way. RSVP

Playing Klezmer Music
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesdays, April 8, 15, and 22 — Havurah Shalom
Klezmer: where does it come from and where is it going? We will look at dance melodies and other musical forms and see how they were made and used. We will also see if we can create our own melodies. Led by Andrew Ehrlich. (Limited to 10 students). RSVP

Havurah Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 8 — Havurah Shalom
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. Learn more.

Teen Night with the Sanctuary Committee
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 9 — Havurah Shalom

Come help make sweet Passover matzah treats and learn about Havurah’s work to support refugees and immigrants. Help kick off the new campaign to raise funds and brainstorm ways you can help! RSVP (please note name, grade, and pizza restrictions). Questins? Contact Estee Segal. (Log in to your member account to access the directory.)

Monthly Racial Justice Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, April 10 — Zoom Room Bet

Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. We welcome all members to join us even if you have not joined before or it has been awhile since you attended a meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for Havurah's Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.)

Office Closed for Passover
On Monday, April 14, the Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Pesach.

Writing (and Drawing) for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sundays, April 20 and May 4 — Havurah Shalom
Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community. Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike. It is recommended to attend either just the first session (April 20) or both sessions (April 20 and May 4). RSVP

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, April 21 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom

Havurah members, we welcome you to gather at Havurah Shalom for B'khol Levav'kha ("With All Your Heart"). "On January 21, just after the inauguration, a number of Havurahniks gathered for B’khol Levav’kha—a moment to simply be together wholeheartedly. ... Together, we named and acknowledged our feelings and needs ... Now, we're in the thick of it. And "it" is hard, painful, and confusing. It feels overwhelming and urgent. And still, I know that to be okay and to be wholehearted, I need to be held in calm, patience, and tenderness." Read the full event description & RSVP. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Havurah's Book Group: Slavery's Capitalism, edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 22 — Zoom Room Bet
Join with Havurah's Book Group to discuss Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman (nonfiction, 416 pages). Discussion led by Holly Hoffnung. Non-Havurah members welcome; Learn more & RSVP for Zoom info.
***

[RSVP Ahead of Time] Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. RSVP

Safety Corner

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah members, come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, April 3 — RSVP for Zoom info
Martin Hart-Landsberg—Professor Emeritus of Economics at Lewis and Clark, chair of Portland Rising, and more—will discuss the value of unions in building a stable middle class and helping overcome income inequality. RSVP (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.) Learn More & RSVP.

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice (JCIJ) April 2025 Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice April newsletter for recent immigration news and new actions to take.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Staged Reading of Havurahnik David Fuks' New Play, Conciliation
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 6 — Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (724 NW Davis Street, Portland, Oregon)
A staged reading of Havurahnik David Fuks’ new play, Conciliation, will take place at the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works. “Conciliation” is a play that portrays a therapy session in Germany where descendants of Nazi perpetrators and descendants of Holocaust victims meet to act out their fraught histories and seek a path towards understanding. The play focuses on the possibility of making amends and can be viewed as a Holocaust education tool. It also speaks out to the truth that must be faced in our people’s past and the international violence and issues of anti-Semitism on the current world stage. Tickets are $10 or pay what you will.

A New Play, Regret: A Gothic Tragicom, Featuring the Creativity of Havurahniks Karen Polinsky and Esmé Schwall
7 pm, Thursday, April 10 and 5:30 pm, Sunday, April 13 — Chapel Theater (4107 SE Harrison Street, Milwaukie, Oregon)
Written by Karen Polinsky, with live music by Esmé Schwall. At a rustic property in Oregon – attacked by crows but suddenly worth millions – a dysfunctional family gathers to pay respects to a dying patriarch and his problematic wife, at long last turning their regrets into murder. Meanwhile, an endangered squirrel is running out of time. With an original score and live performance by Michael C. Hays and Esmé Schwall. Puppetry by Inna Pustakhanova. Also part of the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works, get tickets ($15) to Regret: A Gothic Tragicom.

Tivnu: All Grown Up - A Taste of Tivnu for Adults (Register by April 15)
From Tivnu: You don’t have to be a Tivnu Gap Year participant to learn to swing a hammer and help build a community—at least, not anymore! We’d love for you to join us June 15-19, 2025 for the best of Tivnu: hands-on work at places like Hazelnut Grove tiny house village, conversations with our favorite inspiring young activists, and exploring the amazing beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Not to mention a good local Pinot Noir after work. (There are some things we don’t get to share with the gap year kids!) Homestays available. Greatly discounted price of $360 for professional Jewish educators. Tivnu is offering a special rate of $540 for Havurah Shalom members. (Financial assistance available for all: contact steve@tivnu.org.) Questions? Contact Steve@Tivnu.org for more information. We’re looking forward to this taste of Tivnu with you in June!

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: As Pesach Nears, Gathering in Music, Learning, Solidarity, and Joy

Hineinu, March 27, 2025

Passover Seder Matching
Havurahniks, can you share a seat at your seder table?
Or, are you a Havurahnik looking to join a seder?
Pesach is coming soon! As you are planning your seder, please let Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) know if you are able to host one, two or more guests at your table this year for our 5785 seder matching effort. Also, let Tara know if you are seeking a seat at a seder. Thank you! (Non-Havurah members, you can reach out too, and we'll try to help connect you with seder opportunities as well.)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, April 4
Spread the word to friends and family! Our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday evening, April 4 (to leave lots of time to prep for Pesach). Deborah Eisenbach-Budner will present the drash and the service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians!
Learn more about our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat. All are welcome at our Kabblat Shabbat Celebrations. No RSVPs.
(Havurah members, consider signing up to help out at our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat; many volunteer shifts are just 15 minutes. Thanks!)
Also, everyone, be sure to save the date for our May 9 Kabblaat Shabbat Celebration, the last one before the summer break.

Key Due Dates for Havurah's Shabbat School
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. To ensure a spot for the 2025-26 (5786) school year, families must (1) be members of Havurah Shalom by mid-April 2025 and (2) enroll their children in Shabbat School by May 1, 2025. Please visit our Shabbat School page under Learning on Havurah’s website for more information. If you have friends or family who are interested in participating in Shabbat School, please pass along this information.

Havurah Seeking Child Care Provider
Havurah Shalom offers childcare at all our Shabbat services as well as other events at the request of the event organizers. We are seeking a new person to fill the position of child care provider. Must be responsible, always on time, a good communicator, and of course great with children and families. The child care provider also helps facilitate Tot Shabbat with Program Staff and helps reset the space afterward. Minimal lifting required. This staff person is an essential part of our Saturday morning community, and beyond. Pays $25/hr., weekly shifts 2.25 hrs. Please contact Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org) to apply or learn more.

LGBTQ+ Havurahniks and Allies: Join the Reconstructing Judaism-Keshet Shivyon Cohort!
Havurah Shalom recently applied to and was accepted into the Reconstructing Judaism-Keshet Shivyon 2025 Equality Project cohort! Staff members Adela Basayne, Rachel Pollak and Tara Anderson have begun the preliminary work, but the participation of members is essential and very much wanted. Through this year-long cohort, you’ll gain access to in-depth education, practical training, personal coaching, skill-building, and knowledge to spark long-lasting change right here. We will look at programming, policy, and culture at Havurah Shalom and create an action plan to enhance them all for our LGBTQ+ Havurah community. The program lasts a year, but the monthly commitment is only a few hours, with high flexibility for your schedule. Please email Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org) to learn more.

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, on third Saturdays, 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. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, April 5, Shabbat Morning will be Text and Torah: Vayikra. Learn more.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:30 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:40 pm Service; 8 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, March 28 — Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at this event; most shifts are just 15-minutes.)

“Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley” Author Talk
2 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
As part of our programming focusing on Jewish reparations to Native Americans, Havurah Shalom is featuring a talk by Dr. David G. Lewis, the author of the first comprehensive history of indigenous peoples of the Willamette: Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley. Dr. Lewis has studied these histories for over two decades and relies heavily on primary sources. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is a Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies at Oregon State University. This talk is open to the community and will be followed by light refreshments. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 31 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

No Other Land Film Discussion at Havurah Shalom
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, March 31 — Havurah Shalom
Join some members of a Havurah workgroup focused on Israel-Palestine to discuss the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. The film is currently playing at Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Avenue) through April 1. Tickets can be purchased from Cinema 21 here. At the March 31 discussion at Havurah, we will be joined by Havurah members who have visited the places in the film. Questions? Reach out to Harriet Cooke. RSVP

Tivnu SPENT Simulation for Grades 8-12
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 2 — Havurah Shalom
What’s it like to live in the US on the verge of houselessness? Could you make tough choices as you face daily challenges? Come try out the fast-paced simulation SPENT, created by Durham Urban Ministries, and adapted in a Jewish context by Tivnu Program Director Adinah Miller. What safety nets and solutions are out there to support people and how can you take action? Pizza dinner included. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, April 4 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. At our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner is delivering the drash at Kabbalat Shabbat. The service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians. No RSVPs. All are welcome! Learn more. (Havurahniks, click here to sign up for a volunteer shift; many shifts that are just ten or fifteen minutes.Thank you!)

Text & Torah: Vayikra
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee. Learn more.

Bake Sale at Flor Wines for Havurah's Refugee and Immigrant Fund
1 pm to 3 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Flor Wines (825 NW Glisan St., Portland, Oregon)
Come to a delicious bake sale at Flor Wines! All proceeds go to the Refugee and Immigrant Fund (RIF) at Havurah Shalom to support the needs of refugee and immigrant families in our community. All are welcome. See flyer.

Queer Havdalah
7 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, April 5 — Havurah Shalom
All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next queer community-building event at Havurah. We'll start with an ice-breaker, set intentions for the week to come, play some games, and sing our way out of Shabbat. No familiarity with Havdalah rituals required. There will be snacks. Questions? Contact Kayla Reiman or Beth Kaye (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory). RSVPs are appreciated.

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah members, come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Learn more & RSVP

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Sundays, April 6 (at 5 pm), April 20 (at 3 pm), April 27 (at 3 pm), and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Put a PIN on it! Havurah Shalom's Lifelong Learning Committee is hosting a four-session series from the Progressive Israel Network (PIN). Per PIN: “The Progressive Israel Network brings together 12 organizations representing Americans who are committed to pursuing democracy, equality and peace in Israel.” Havurah members, please join us in a series of Zoom gatherings to learn about the Progressive Israel Network from several PIN organizations. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP

Monthly Music Jams
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 7 — Havurah Shalom
Havurahniks, tune your instrument, warm up your voice and head down to Havurah to jam with us. Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic—everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP

Playing Klezmer Music
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesday, April 8 — Havurah Shalom
Klezmer: where does it come from and where is it going? We will look at dance melodies and other musical forms and see how they were made and used. We will also see if we can create our own melodies. Led by Andrew Ehrlich. RSVP

Havurah Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 8 — Havurah Shalom
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. Learn more.

Teen Night with the Sanctuary Committee
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 9 — Havurah Shalom
Join us to learn the many ways that Havurah has been supporting immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and how, over the last several years, we have assisted one family from Guatemala and one from Afghanistan. We will also make sweet matzah treats (with melted chocolate and toffee) to taste and bag up for congregants who make a donation to the Refugee and Immigrant Fund. RSVP

***

[RSVP Ahead of Time] Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. RSVP

Safety Corner

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah members, come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, April 3 — RSVP for Zoom info
Martin Hart-Landsberg—Professor Emeritus of Economics at Lewis and Clark, chair of Portland Rising, and more—will discuss the value of unions in building a stable middle class and helping overcome income inequality. RSVP (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.) Learn More & RSVP.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

No Trans Visibility Without Community Safety
4 pm Pacific Time, Monday, March 31 — RSVP for Zoom info
Per Keshet, "In this critical moment, our Jewish communities hold unique power to protect and advocate for our trans, nonbinary, and intersex communities. Join us as we hear directly from the community about what’s needed—and how we can all step up to ensure safety, dignity, and justice for trans people everywhere." Learn more & RSVP

Showing of Sabbath Queen, a Documentary Film about a Gay Rabbi, to be Recorded by Live Wire Radio
7 pm, Wednesday, April 2 — The PAM CUT Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St., Portland)
SABBATH QUEEN, a feature documentary filmed over 21 years, follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie's epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis including the Chief Rabbis of Israel. He is torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny and becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer bio-dad and the founder of Lab/Shul—an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. Tickets $35. Watch trailer. | Buy tickets.

Conciliation by David Fuks
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 6 — Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
A staged reading of Havurahnik David Fuks’ new play, Conciliation, will take place at the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works! Tickets are $10 or pay what you will! RSVP

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Get Ready for Spring at Havurah Shalom

Hineinu, March 19, 2025

Key Due Dates for Havurah's Shabbat School
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. To ensure a spot for the 2025-26 (5786) school year, families must (1) be members of Havurah Shalom by mid-April 2025 and (2) enroll their children in Shabbat School by May 1, 2025. Please visit our Shabbat School page under Learning on Havurah’s website for more information. If you have friends or family who are interested in participating in Shabbat School, please pass along this information.

Havurah Seeking Child Care Provider
Havurah Shalom offers childcare at all our Shabbat services as well as other events at the request of the event organizers. We are seeking a new person to fill the position of child care provider. Must be responsible, always on time, a good communicator, and of course great with children and families. The child care provider also helps facilitate Tot Shabbat with Program Staff and helps reset the space afterward. Minimal lifting required. This staff person is an essential part of our Saturday morning community, and beyond. Pays $25/hr., weekly shifts 2.25 hrs. Please contact Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org) to apply or learn more.

LGBTQ+ Havurahniks and Allies: Join the Reconstructing Judaism-Keshet Shivyon Cohort!
Havurah Shalom recently applied to and was accepted into the Reconstructing Judaism-Keshet Shivyon 2025 Equality Project cohort! Staff members Adela Basayne, Rachel Pollak and Tara Anderson have begun the preliminary work, but the participation of members is essential and very much wanted. Through this year-long cohort, you’ll gain access to in-depth education, practical training, personal coaching, skill-building, and knowledge to spark long-lasting change right here. We will look at programming, policy, and culture at Havurah Shalom and create an action plan to enhance them all for our LGBTQ+ Havurah community. The program lasts a year, but the monthly commitment is only a few hours, with high flexibility for your schedule. Please email Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org) to learn more.

Increasing Understanding Through Film
The Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land (purchase tickets here) is playing through Thursday, March 27, at Cinema 21 on NW 21st Ave. The Israel-Palestine workgroup will hold a discussion about No Other Land on Monday, March 31, at 7 pm in person at Havurah Shalom.

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be a Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat; RSVP if joining for lunch.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

Rumble on the River Community Forum & Panel Discussion on So-called "Renewable Fuels"
5:30 pm/6 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team as we host Rumble on the River Community Forum #21. Doors open, tabling and snacks begin at 5:30 pm. Panel discussion starts at 6:30 pm. A panel discussion on the problems and dangers of so-called “renewable fuels,” the fossil fuel industry’s climate solution. All are welcome; open to Havurah members and the greater community. (Havurahniks with questions can contact Elianne Lieberman.) Learn more and RSVP.

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 (but normally held on second Thursdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting, where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account to access our Zoom Room login info and member directory.)

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 (but normally on third Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom are in Monticello, New York; Ashland, Oregon; and Coos Bay, Oregon. We may have folks from around the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. March 22 Shabbat Morning will be Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. RSVP for lunch.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Hakol Submission Deadline is March 24
Havurahniks, the deadline for submissions to the April 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Monday, March 24. Learn more.

Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25 – Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Surviving Autocracy (288 pages, nonfiction). Masha Gessen is a Russian-American writer, journalist, and activist. They are an opinion columnist for the New York Times and were a staff writer at the New Yorker for many years. They are also an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and a clear-eyed observer of America’s disjointed and tepid response to threats to our democracy. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:30 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:40 pm Service; 8 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, March 28 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at this event; most shifts are just 15-minutes.)

“Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley” Author Talk
2 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
As part of our programming focusing on Jewish reparations to Native Americans, Havurah Shalom is featuring a talk by Dr. David G. Lewis, the author of the first comprehensive history of indigenous peoples of the Willamette: Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley. Dr. Lewis has studied these histories for over two decades and relies heavily on primary sources. He is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is a Professor of Anthropology and Indigenous Studies at Oregon State University. This talk is open to the community and will be followed by light refreshments. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 31 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

No Other Land Film Discussion
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, March 31 — Havurah Shalom
Join members of the Israel-Palestine workgroup in discussing the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, currently playing at Cinema 21 through March 27. Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.cinema21.com/movie/no-other-land We will be joined by Havurah members who have visited the places in the film. Questions? Reach out to Harriet Cooke. RSVP

Tivnu SPENT Simulation for Grades 8-12
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 2 — Havurah Shalom
What’s it like to live in the US on the verge of houselessness? Could you make tough choices as you face daily challenges? Come try out the fast-paced simulation SPENT, created by Durham Urban Ministries, and adapted in a Jewish context by Tivnu Program Director Adinah Miller. What safety nets and solutions are out there to support people and how can you take action? Pizza dinner included. RSVP

Progressive Israel Network Sessions
2 pm to 3 pm, Sundays, April 6, 20, third date TBA — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah Shalom is hosting a three-session series from the Progressive Israel Network. RSVP

Playing Klezmer Music
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesday, April 8 — Havurah Shalom
Klezmer: where does it come from and where is it going? We will look at dance melodies and other musical forms and see how they were made and used. We will also see if we can create our own melodies. Led by Andrew Ehrlich. RSVP

Teen Night with the Sanctuary Committee
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 9 — Havurah Shalom
Join us to learn the many ways that Havurah has been supporting immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers and how, over the last several years, we have assisted one family from Guatemala and one from Afghanistan. We will also make sweet matzah treats (with melted chocolate and toffee) to taste and bag up for congregants who make a donation to the Refugee and Immigrant Fund. RSVP

Join Ahead of Time: Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, April 4
Spread the word to friends and family! Our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday, April 4 (to leave lots of time to prep for Pesach).

Deborah Eisenbach-Budner will present the drash and the service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians!

- Learn more about our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat. All are welcome. No RSVPs.
- Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat; many volunteer shifts are just 10 or 15 minutes. Thank you!

Safety Corner

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, March 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Throughout history, the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. In the first film of this upcoming series, we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film. (Co-facilitated by Havurahnik Andrine de la Rocha.)
Learn more and get tickets. Sliding scale tickets fee.

Conciliation by David Fuks
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, April 6 — Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
A staged reading of Havurahnik David Fuks’ new play, Conciliation, will take place at the Fertile Ground Festival of New Works! Tickets are $10 or pay what you will! RSVP

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 wndered 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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Purim Celebration Thursday, March 13 (Hamantaschen & Helpers Needed!), Plus More Havurah Events

Hineinu, March 12, 2025

Havurah's Purim Celebration!
Thursday, March 13
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 - At Havurah Shalom (or join via Zoom—we now recommend you join Zoom Room Aleph by 6:40 pm!)
Everyone, whether you're a Havurah member or not,
we appreciate your RSVP/registration!

RSVP for Purim

Thank you hamantaschen bringers!
Purim revelers, learn about our hamantaschen bake off. And if you can, sign up to bring hamantaschen to share at our Purim Party!

Also, we need more Havurah members to help out with decorations/set-up, door greeting, and clean-up crew! Thanks!Sign up to help out or bring needed food items.

Hamantaschen & Purim Helper Sign-Up

Chag Sameach!

Greeter Safety Training This Sunday Morning
10:30 am to noon, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Open to all Havurah members, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families. With Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson, please join us to learn about the precautions and procedures we have in place to keep everyone safe, with a focus on b'nei mitzvah. There will be time for questions as well—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee!

RSVP for Greeter Safety Training

Key Due Dates for Havurah's Shabbat School
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. To ensure a spot for the 2025-26 (5786) school year, families must (1) be members of Havurah Shalom by mid-April 2025 and (2) enroll their children in Shabbat School by May 1, 2025. Please visit our Shabbat School page under Learning on Havurah’s website for more information. If you have friends or family who are interested in participating in Shabbat School, please pass along this information.

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be a Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat; RSVP if joining for lunch that day.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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 Adela Basayne, 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

PURIM! Havurah Shalom Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 – At Havurah Shalom (or join via Zoom—we now recommend you join Zoom Room Aleph by 6:40 pm!)
A family-friendly Purim Celebration for all. Everyone, Havurah member or non-member, learn more and RSVP!

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah Shalom as Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT) hosts one of 17 statewide hubs for the 12th Annual Interfaith Earth Summit. Participants will learn what is happening with Oregon’s climate – and hear the responses of faith leaders, youth leaders, scientists and state officials. Havurahniks with questions about this event can contact Michael Heumann. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP. (Havurahniks, can you be a door greeter or help with set-up or clean-up? Sign up to help out.)

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 17 – Zoom Room Gimel
What does Havurah have to offer me? Where can I find other Havurah members involved in areas I feel passionate about? How do I join a committee, lead a Shabbat service, gather with musicians, find out about Tikkun Olam activities? How are decisions made and what does the Steering Committee actually steer? Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for answers to these questions and whatever you have been wondering abut Havurah.
New and longtime Havurah members welcome. RSVP.

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, March 17 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom
"On January 21, just after the inauguration, a number of Havurahniks gathered for B’khol Levav’kha—a moment to simply be together wholeheartedly. ... Together, we named and acknowledged our feelings and needs ... Now, we're in the thick of it. And "it" is hard, painful, and confusing. It feels overwhelming and urgent. And still, I know that to be okay and to be wholehearted, I need to be held in calm, patience, and tenderness." Read the full event description & RSVP. All Havurah members welcome. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Rumble on the River Community Forum & Panel Discussion on So-called "Renewable Fuels"
5:30 pm/6 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team as we host Rumble on the River Community Forum #21. Doors open, tabling and snacks begin at 5:30 pm. Panel discuss starts at 6:30 pm. A panel discussion on the problems and dangers of so-called “renewable fuels,” the fossil fuel industry’s climate solution. All are welcome; open to Havurah members and the greater community. (Havurahniks with questions can contact Elianne Lieberman.) Learn more and RSVP.

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 (but normally held on second Thursdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting, where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account to access our Zoom Room login info and member directory.)

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 (but normally on third Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom are in Monticello, New York; Ashland, Oregon; and Coos Bay, Oregon. We may have folks from around the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. The March 22 Shabbat Morning will be our Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. Please join us for the service and lunch following. RSVP for lunch.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Hakol Submission Deadline is March 24
Havurahniks, the deadline for submissions to the April 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Monday, March 24. Learn more.

Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25 – Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Surviving Autocracy (288 pages, nonfiction). Masha Gessen is a Russian-American writer, journalist, and activist. They are an opinion columnist for the New York Times and were a staff writer at the New Yorker for many years. They are also an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and a clear-eyed observer of America’s disjointed and tepid response to threats to our democracy. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:30 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:40 pm Service; 8 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, March 28 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at this event; most shifts are just 15-minutes.)

Come Hear Dr. David G. Lewis, Specialist on History of Western Oregon Tribes
2 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 30 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
As part of our programming focusing on Jewish reparations to Native Americans, the Racial Justice Committee of Havurah Shalom is featuring a talk by Dr. David G. Lewis, author of the first comprehensive history of indigenous peoples of the Willamette: Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley. You can join in person or online. This talk is open to the community and will be followed by light refreshments. RSVP.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, April 4
Spread the word to friends and family! Our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday, April 4 (to avoid overlapping with Pesach).
- Learn more about our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat. All are welcome. No RSVPs.
- Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat; many volunteer shifts are just 10 or 15 minutes. Thank you!

Safety Corner

Greeter Safety Training
10:30 am, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Open to all Havurah members, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families, Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will meet with us to discuss situational awareness, door greeting, and other safety considerations, with a focus on 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—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee! RSVP

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Havurah members, please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. More details here. Havurahniks, to be added to the listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, March 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Throughout history, the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. In the first film of this upcoming series, we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film. (Co-facilitated by Havurahnik Andrine de la Rocha.)
Learn more and get tickets. Sliding scale tickets fee.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

You're Invited: Kabbalat Shabbat Tonight, March 7; Purim Celebration on Thursday, March 13, and More at Havurah Shalom

You're Invited
to Havurah Shalom

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration - Friday, March 7

5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 — At Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. Learn more.

On Friday, March 7, Rabbi Joey Wolf, Havurah Rabbi from 1987 to 2017, is delivering the drash at Kabbalat Shabbat. The service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians.

(Note about calendaring: We moved our Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration up to Friday, March 7 because of Purim. And next month's Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday, April 4, to avoid overlapping with Pesach.)

Kids in the Purim Spiel at Havurah Shalom

Havurah's Purim Celebration is Thursday, March 13 — Your RSVPs Help Us Prepare!
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 — Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option at 7:10 pm+)

Everyone, whether you're a Havurah Member or not,
RSVP/Register soon, if possible!
And please say in the notes if you're likely to join in person or via Zoom.

Chag Purim, Chag Purim, Chag Gadol Hu La’Yehudim, Masechot Ra’ashanim, Shirim v’Rikudim.
(Purim, Purim, a great festival for the people, noisemakers, songs, and dances.)

Purim is a joyous holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre in ancient Persia.

RSVP for Purim

Come be together for Purim!
Come in costume or throw on one of ours (we have wigs, boas, masks, etc.!), eat (hamantaschen included!), drink, do Purim arts and crafts, and enjoy our lively and musical Purim Spiel! Fun for adults, teens, and kids alike.

Again, we really appreciate your RSVP/Registration for Purim.
Scroll down to "Register" after you click on the link.
(Please join us even if you don't have a chance to RSVP though.)

Joining In-Person and Online Events

If you're not presently a member of Havurah Shalom:
For events with an online/Zoom component, know that you'll be emailed the Zoom info when you RSVP for the event on our Havurah Shalom calendar (or click on the RSVP links listed in this email and register for the event).

If there is no RSVP option for an event, you can email info@havurahshalom.org to request that the Zoom info be emailed to you.

Many events in our calendar are marked with (IP) in person only, (ZM) Zoom/online only, or (HYB) a hybrid of in-person and online. Click on the event names in the calendar for more information and to see any RSVP options.

***

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

Interested in Membership?

Are you interested in becoming a member of Havurah Shalom?
Whether you've been highly involved at Havurah in the past or have never been to a Havurah event before, please feel free to explore membership with us. You can find information on joining Havurah on our Becoming a Member webpage.

Reach out to Tara Anderson, Participation and Publications Coordinator, if you have questions or otherwise want to learn more:
tara@havurahshalom.org, (503) 248-4662, ext. 4.

Weekly 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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, March 8, there will be a Tot Shabbat, in addition to the regular Shabbat Morning services. On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be an Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat.)

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 – Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. Learn more.

Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats. Join us in grappling with the ideas presented in Rebecca's book. If you can, join us at 6 pm for pizza or other nosh, or come at 6:30 pm for the start of the discussion. Clarren’s book—a blend of history, journalism, and memoir—retells how U.S. policy helped her immigrant family at great cost to Native Americans. She grapples with the legacy of those harms today and whether repair is possible. Kirkus Reviews and The Forward named The Cost of Free Land a Best Book of 2023. Please indicate if you will be attending in person or via Zoom in the registration notes. All are welcome. (Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon or Karen Sherman. Member login required to access the directory.). RSVP.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, March 8 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP, and note when you plan to come

PURIM! Havurah Shalom Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option, 7:10+)
A family-friendly Purim Celebration for all. Everyone, Havurah member or non-member, learn more and RSVP!

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah Shalom as Havurah 's Climate Action Team (HCAT) hosts one of 17 statewide hubs for the 12th Annual Interfaith Earth Summit. The theme of this statewide gathering is “Climate Safety and Health.” Participants will learn what is happening with Oregon’s climate – and hear the responses of faith leaders, youth leaders, scientists and state officials. Free childcare available. Havurahniks with questions about this event can contact Michael Heumann. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP.

Rumble on the River Community Forum
6 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team as we host Rumble on the River Community Forum #21. Doors open, tabling and snacks begin at 5:30 pm. Program starts at 6:30 pm. The panel discussion is about methane gas (also called natural gas, which is what many of us heat our homes with). Learn about the hazards of this gas to our health and the environment, plus actions we can take to support and/or defeat upcoming legislation. Free. All are welcome; open to Havurah members and the greater community. Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman. RSVP.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22, returning to the usual schedule in April.)

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. The March 22 Shabbat Morning will be our Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. Please join us for the service and lunch following.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25 – Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Surviving Autocracy (288 pages, nonfiction). Masha Gessen is a Russian-American writer, journalist, and activist. Born in Soviet Russia, they moved to the United States in adolescence. After having returned to Russia, Gessen now lives with their family in exile in the United States. They are an opinion columnist for the New York Times and were a staff writer at the New Yorker for many years. Gessen is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and a clear-eyed observer of America’s disjointed and tepid response to threats to our democracy. The author will speak at the Portland Literary Arts next year. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Out in the Community

Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, March 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Throughout history, the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. In the first film of this upcoming series, we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film. (Co-facilitated by Havurahnik Andrine de la Rocha.)
Learn more and get tickets. Sliding scale tickets fee.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Kabbalat Shabbat This Friday (March 7); Purim Celebration Next Thursday (March 13)

Hineinu, March 5, 2025

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration - Friday, March 7

5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 — At Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. Learn more.

Havurah members:
Sign up to help out at our March 7 Kabbalat Shabbat!
Most shifts are 15-minutes. Thank you!

On Friday, March 7, Rabbi Joey Wolf is delivering the drash at Kabbalat Shabbat. The service will be led by Sarah Shine and Havurah musicians.

Kabbalat Shabbat is March 7! Spread the word to friends and family!
We moved Kabbalat Shabbat up to Friday, March 7 because of Purim. And next month's Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday, April 4, to avoid overlapping with Pesach.

Havurah's Purim Celebration is Thursday, March 13 — Your RSVPs Help Us Prepare!
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 - Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option at 7:10 pm+)

Everyone, whether you're a Havurah Member or not,
RSVP/Register soon, if possible!
And please say in the notes if you're likely to join in person or via Zoom.

Chag Purim, Chag Purim, Chag Gadol Hu La’Yehudim, Masechot Ra’ashanim, Shirim v’Rikudim.
(Purim, Purim, a great festival for the people, noisemakers, songs, and dances.)

Purim is a joyous holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jews from a threatened massacre in ancient Persia.

RSVP for Purim

Come be together for Purim!
Pizza and healthy (and not-so-healthy) snacks for all!
The Alte Rockers' infamous drinks table!
Purim arts and crafts/games for the kids!
Costumes! Come dressed up or throw on one of ours.
And, of course, Music and the Purim Spiel!

We'll also have "The Great Yiddish (Hamantashen) Bake Off!"
Havurah members will bake and bring Hamantashen for all.
Havurahniks, learn more on the event page, then sign up to bring Hamantaschen.

And we have more Purim helper and food-bringing opportunities.
Havurahniks, please sign up to help out. Thanks!

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, March 8, there will be a Tot Shabbat, in addition to the regular Shabbat Morning services. On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be an Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 – Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. Learn more.

Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats. Join us in grappling with the ideas presented in Rebecca's book. If you can, join us at 6 pm for pizza or other nosh, or come at 6:30 pm for the start of the discussion. Clarren’s book—a blend of history, journalism, and memoir—retells how U.S. policy helped her immigrant family at great cost to Native Americans. She grapples with the legacy of those harms today and whether repair is possible. Kirkus Reviews and The Forward named The Cost of Free Land a Best Book of 2023. Please indicate if you will be attending in person or via Zoom in the registration notes. All are welcome. (Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon or Karen Sherman. Member login required to access the directory.). RSVP.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, March 8 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP, and note when you plan to come.

Teen Engagement Committee
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 10 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 10 – Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic—everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 11 (second Tues-days) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of govern-ance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Book Group Annual Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 11 – Zoom Room Bet

The Havurah Book Group will be holding its annual meeting. All Havurahniks are welcome to attend as we consider possible changes in choosing books, scheduling discussions, and anything else book group related. Please RSVP by emailing Shana Elson (member log-in to access the directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

PURIM! Havurah Shalom Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option, 7:10+)
A family-friendly Purim Celebration for all. Everyone, Havurah member or non-member, learn more and RSVP!

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah Shalom as Havurah 's Climate Action Team (HCAT) hosts one of 17 statewide hubs for the 12th Annual Interfaith Earth Summit. The theme of this statewide gathering is “Climate Safety and Health.” Participants will learn what is happening with Oregon’s climate – and hear the responses of faith leaders, youth leaders, scientists and state officials. Free childcare available. Havurahniks with questions about this event can contact Michael Heumann. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP.
(Havurahniks, can you be a door greeter or help with set-up or clean-up? Sign up to help out at Earth Summit.)

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 17 – Zoom Room Gimel
What does Havurah have to offer me? Where can I find other Havurah members involved in areas I feel passionate about? How do I join a committee, lead a Shabbat service, gather with musicians, find out about Tikkun Olam activities? How are decisions made and what does the Steering Committee actually steer? Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for answers to these questions and whatever you have been wondering abut Havurah.
New and longtime Havurah members welcome. RSVP.

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, March 17 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom
Havurah members, we welcome you to gather at Havurah Shalom for B'khol Levav'kha ("With All Your Heart"). These Havurahnik gatherings—a chance to be together wholeheartedly—will take place on the third Monday of the month. Read the full event description & RSVP. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Rumble on the River Community Forum
6 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team as we host Rumble on the River Community Forum #21. Doors open, tabling and snacks begin at 5:30 pm. Program starts at 6:30 pm. The panel discussion is about methane gas (also called natural gas, which is what many of us heat our homes with). Learn about the hazards of this gas to our health and the environment, plus actions we can take to support and/or defeat upcoming legislation. Free. All are welcome; open to Havurah members and the greater community. Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman. RSVP.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22, returning to the usual schedule in April.)

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. The March 22 Shabbat Morning will be our Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. Please join us for the service and lunch following.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25 – Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Surviving Autocracy (288 pages, nonfiction). Masha Gessen is a Russian-American writer, journalist, and activist. Born in Soviet Russia, they moved to the United States in adolescence. After having returned to Russia, Gessen now lives with their family in exile in the United States. They are an opinion columnist for the New York Times and were a staff writer at the New Yorker for many years. Gessen is an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and a clear-eyed observer of America’s disjointed and tepid response to threats to our democracy. The author will speak at the Portland Literary Arts next year. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Safety Corner

Greeter Safety Training
10:30 am, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Open to all, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families, Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will meet with us to discuss situational awareness, door greeting, and other safety considerations, with a focus on 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—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee! RSVP

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 – Havurah Shalom
Come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice March Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice March newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Wings of the Dove

Havurahniks, Become a Conversation Starter
The Wings of the Dove campaign has a goal to have individual conversations with every Havurah household. This is an opportunity for members to connect with each other to share stories and to talk about Havurah. We’ve already had 57 conversations. We are seeking members to join our team of conversations starters. For more information about becoming a conversation starter, email our Campaign Manager, Aaron Pearlman at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.
— Herman Asarnow, Alexis Baghdadi, Loree Devery, David Kertzner, Ericka Kimball, David Rosenfeld, and Rachel Shimshak (Wings of the Dove Taskforce)

Out in the Community

Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, March 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Throughout history, the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. In the first film of this upcoming series, we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film. (Co-facilitated by Havurahnik Andrine de la Rocha.)
Learn more and get tickets. Sliding scale tickets fee.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Shabbat Gatherings and More; Wings of the Dove Campaign Seeks Conversation Starters

Hineinu, February 27, 2025

Upcoming Havurah Event Highlights

Havurahniks and friends are invited to a Solidarity Shabbat, with snack buffet and (vegetarian) potluck nosh, this Friday evening, February 28, at Havurah Shalom and on Zoom. Learn more and RSVP. Havurahniks, please consider signing up to help out at this event.

All are welcome to join a special Shabbat Morning service, Text and Torah: Special Shabbatot, this Saturday morning, March 1, at Havurah Shalom and on Zoom. Followed by a light community brunch.
Learn more; no RSVPs.

No Other Land Film Havurahnik Meet-up and Debrief, this Sunday afternoon, March 2, at Cinema 21 and a nearby coffeeshop.
Learn more; Havurahniks, email David Lewis to RSVP. You can also reach out to Havurahniks Dale Oller and Matthew Nelkin to learn more about the area of the West Bank featured in the film; Dale and Matthew both recently spent time there through the Center for Jewish Nonviolence.

All are welcome to join our Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration next Friday evening, March 7, at Havurah Shalom and on Zoom. Includes a hearty nosh plus dessert. Learn more; no RSVPs.

Everyone is invited to read and discuss the book The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance, by Havurahnik Rebecca Clarren, next Sunday evening, March 9, at Havurah Shalom and on Zoom. Nosh before the discusion. Learn more and RSVP.

Check out the rest of our Hineinu weekly newsletter for more on these and other Havurah happenings!

Also, the Eastside Jewish Commons will be screening Muhammad Ali - The Greatest, a documentary, this Sunday afternoon, March 2. Learn more and register. The filmmaker, William Klein (z"l) is Havurahnik Lawrence Reichman's uncle. Havurahniks interested in William Klein and his work are invited to reach out to Larry Reichman.

Save the Date: Havurah's Purim Celebration is Thursday Evening, March 13
Our Purim Celebration is set for Thursday, March 13 at 6 pm. Join us for costumes, hamantaschen, revelry, and more! We'll get to watch the Purim spiel as well. All are welcome. More info coming soon.

Wings of the Dove Campaign:
Havurahniks, Become a Conversation Starter
The Wings of the Dove campaign has a goal to have individual conversations with every Havurah household. This is an opportunity for members to connect with each other to share stories and to talk about Havurah. We’ve already had 57 conversations. We are seeking members to join our team of conversations starters. For more information about becoming a conversation starter, email our Campaign Manager, Aaron Pearlman at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.

— Herman Asarnow, Alexis Baghdadi, Loree Devery, David Kertzner, Ericka Kimball, David Rosenfeld, and Rachel Shimshak (Wings of the Dove Taskforce)

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, March 1, Shabbat Morning will be aText & Torah on Special Shabbatot. On Saturday, March 8, there will be a Tot Shabbat, in addition to the regular Shabbat Morning services. On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be an Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, February 28 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines.
(Havurah members, please consider signing up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up. Non-members, please be our guests!) Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP.

Text and Torah Shabbat: Special Shabbatot
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 1 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on the topic of Special Shabbatot, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! All are welcome. Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.

Meet Up to Watch No Other Land Together at Cinema 21, Followed by Havurahnik Debrief Nearby
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 2 - Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Avenue), w/ debrief afterward nearby
No Other Land, a Palestinian-Israeli directed and Oscar-nominated documentary, is presently set to play at Cinema 21 from February 27 to March 6.
Havurahniks, you're invited to meet up with David Lewis, Karen Mitzner, and more of your fellow Havurahniks at the Cinema 21 theater for the 1:30 pm showing on Sunday, March 2, to be followed by a debrief/discussion for Havurahniks at a nearby coffee shop. Because tickets for this film may sell out quickly, please aim to get your tickets ASAP. (Havurahniks who want to attend but can't afford a ticket, please email David Lewis ASAP; David may be able to provide you with complimentary tickets.). Learn more & RSVP.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 2 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. Learn more.

Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats. Join us in grappling with the ideas presented in Rebecca's book. If you can, join us at 6 pm for pizza or other nosh, or come at 6:30 pm for the start of the discussion. Clarren’s book—a blend of history, journalism, and memoir—retells how U.S. policy helped her immigrant family at great cost to Native Americans. She grapples with the legacy of those harms today and whether repair is possible. Kirkus Reviews and The Forward named The Cost of Free Land a Best Book of 2023. Please indicate if you will be attending in person or via Zoom in the registration notes. All are welcome. (Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon or Karen Sherman. Member login required to access the directory.). RSVP.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, March 8 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP, and note when you plan to come.

Teen Engagement Committee
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 10 — Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 10 — Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic—everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 11 (second Tues-days) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of govern-ance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Book Group Annual Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 11 — Zoom Room Bet

The Havurah Book Group will be holding its annual meeting. All Havurahniks are welcome to attend as we consider possible changes in choosing books, scheduling discussions, and anything else book group related. Please RSVP by emailing Shana Elson (member log-in to access the directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Havurah Shalom Purim Celebration
6 pm to 9 pm, Thursday, March 13 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
A family-friendly Purim Celebration for all. More info coming soon!

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 16 — Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah Shalom as Havurah 's Climate Action Team (HCAT) hosts one of 17 statewide hubs for the 12th Annual Interfaith Earth Summit. The theme of this statewide gathering is “Climate Safety and Health.” Participants will learn what is happening with Oregon’s climate – and hear the responses of faith leaders, youth leaders, scientists and state officials. Free childcare available. Havurahniks with questions about this event can contact Michael Heumann. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP.

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 17— Zoom Room Gimel
What does Havurah have to offer me? Where can I find other Havurah members involved in areas I feel passionate about? How do I join a committee, lead a Shabbat service, gather with musicians, find out about Tikkun Olam activities? How are decisions made and what does the Steering Committee actually steer? Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for answers to these questions and whatever you have been wondering abut Havurah.
New and longtime Havurah members welcome. RSVP.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on March 22, returning to the usual schedule in April.)

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. The March 22 Shabbat Morning will be our Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. Please join us for the service and lunch following.

Safety Corner

Greeter Safety Training
10:30 am, Sunday, March 16 — Havurah Shalom
Open to all, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families, Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will meet with us to discuss situational awareness, door greeting, and other safety considerations, with a focus on 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—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee! RSVP

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 — Havurah Shalom
Come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Screening of Muhammad Ali: The Greatest at EJC, Film by William Klein
2 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 2 - Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Per the Eastside Jewish Commons: William Klein’s masterful portrait of the Man-So-Mean-He-Made-Medicine-Sick focuses on the lead-ups to and aftermaths of three of his signature fights (both title matches with Sonny Liston in 1964 and 1965, and the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman in 1974) and, in the process, miraculously manages to touch on nearly everything the three-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the world represented. Muhammad Ali, the Greatest is arguably the most complex documentary about an athlete ever made, as attuned to the fascinating sociopolitical climate surrounding the champ as it is to his incomparable achievements within the ring. An exhilarating medley of Ali’s unforgettable press-conference performances and incredible footage showcasing his physical and rhetorical prowess alike, the film argues for his status as one of the key cultural figures of his time. Learn more and get tickets. (Willaim Klein z"l is Havurah member Lawrence Reichman's uncle. Havurahniks, feel free to connect with Larry Reichman if you'd like to learn more about the film or William Klein.)

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Engaging Text and Film, Brit Kavod Workshop Participants Wanted, Purim Approaches

Hineinu, February 19, 2025

Brit Kavod Trainers Workshop:
Last Call for Participants!
Havurahniks, please sign up to join our one-time workshop on Thursday April 3 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. In this interactive class, taught by a local professor who specializes in values-based communication, you will learn how to teach our new Brit Kavod (Covenant of Mutual Respect). We will role-play real-life scenarios that illustrate our Brit Kavod. Participants will come away equipped to introduce our Brit Kavod at various Havurah gatherings, using the techniques you will learn.
Email Bija Gutoff if you’re interested.

The Jewish Catalog: The Next 50 Years
1:30 pm to 2:15 pm, Sunday, February 23 — Havurah Shalom
Everything about this classic 1973 text, The Jewish Catalog, from the hand-drawn diagrams to the lovingly-compiled local resources, charted a new course for Jewish life and Jewish home practice. I bet you have used the book (and its two sequels) and the constellation of materials influenced by the Catalog, even if you don't realize it! DIY-Judaism has changed a lot in a half-century, and it's a richer world than ever. Let's talk about where it is now, and where it's going, too. Led by David Feder. RSVP

Save the Date: Havurah's Purim Celebration is Thursday Evening, March 13
Mark your calendars: Our Purim Celebration is set for Thursday, March 13 at 6 pm. Join us for costumes, hamantaschen, revelry, and more! We'll get to watch the Purim spiel as well. All are welcome.

Havurahniks, are you interested in performing in the Purim spiel? RSVP for Purim Play Time, which meets on Saturdays through Purim. This is an especially great opportunity for kids!
Questions? Contact Karen Polinsky.

General Info

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on February 22 and March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, February 22, Shabbat Morning will be a Reproductive Rights Shabbbat ("Repro Shabbat") - Learn more. On Saturday, March 1, Shabbat Morning will be a Text & Torah on Special Shabbatot.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Hakol Deadline
Havurahniks, Thursday, February 20 is the submissions deadline for the March 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, February 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly 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. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on Febreuary 22 and March 22, returning to the usual schedule in April.)

Reproductive Rights Shabbat (Shabbat Morning)
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Repro Shabbat – an Earth-based Feminist Service: Join us in awareness of reproductive rights in the Torah as we read Parashat Mishpatim. The National Council of Jewish Women established Reproductive Rights Shabbat two years ago in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. There is a law in this week’s Torah portion that became the foundation for the Jewish view on abortion. Service leaders will be Andrine de la Rocha, Howard Patterson and Diane Chaplin. Learn more.

The Jewish Catalog: The Next 50 Years

1:30 pm to 2:15 pm, Sunday, February 23 — Havurah Shalom
Everything about this classic 1973 text, from the hand-drawn diagrams to the lovingly-compiled local resources, charted a new course for Jewish life and Jewish home practice. I bet you have used the book (and its two sequels) and the constellation of materials influenced by the Catalog, even if you don't realize it! DIY-Judaism has changed a lot in a half-century, and it's a richer world than ever. Let's talk about where it is now, and where it's going, too. Led by David Feder. RSVP.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, February 25 -– Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (nonfiction, 350 pages). (A list of the Havurah Book Group's 2024-25 books is available here.) Per the publisher, "Doppelganger asks: What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now—and an intellectual adventure story for our times." Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Havurah members and non-members welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, February 28 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. (Havurah members, please consider signing up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up. Non-members, please be our guests!) Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP.

Text and Torah Shabbat: Special Shabbatot
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 1 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on the topic of Special Shabbatot, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! All are welcome. Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.

[RSVP & BUY TICKETS] Meet Up to Watch No Other Land Together at Cinema 21, Followed by Havurahnik Debrief Nearby
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 2 - Cinema 21 (616 NW 21st Avenue), w/ debrief afterward nearby
No Other Land, a Palestinian-Israeli directed and Oscar-nominated documentary, is presently set to play at Cinema 21 from February 27 to March 6.
Havurahniks, you're invited to meet up with David Lewis, Karen Mitzner, and more of your fellow Havurahniks at the Cinema 21 theater for the 1:30 pm showing on Sunday, March 2, to be followed by a debrief/discussion for Havurahniks at a nearby coffee shop. Because tickets for this film may sell out quickly, please aim to get your tickets ASAP. Learn more & RSVP.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 2 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

[RSVP & GET THE BOOK] Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats; please save the date and start reading! RSVP.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, March 7 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. *Our March 7 Kabbalat Shabbat will now have a special focus on refugees, immigrants, and HIAS.*
Learn more.

Safety Corner

Greeter Safety Training
10:30 am, Sunday, March 16 — Havurah Shalom
Open to all, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families, Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will meet with us to discuss situational awareness, door greeting, and other safety considerations, with a focus on 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—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee! RSVP

Guardian Active Bystander Safety Training
11:30 am, Sunday, April 6 — Havurah Shalom
Come at 11:30 for nosh and schmoozing, then stick around together for Guardian Active Bystander Training at noon! Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander—someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge—at Havurah. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Portland Jewish Film Festival Happening Now!
The Portland Jewish Film Festival (PJFF) returns from February 12 to 23, 2025! The festival includes six feature-length films, five will be screened in person and one will be screened virtually. Visit PJFF's official website for complete information about the films and to purchase tickets and passes.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Tu B'Shvat, Kabbalat Shabbat This Friday, More Learning & Engagement Opportunities

Hineinu, February 12, 2025

Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, February 14

Weather notice: Due to weather uncertainty, we are scaling down the variety of food before and after services, but we will still have plenty for all!

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help! Havurahnik volunteers needed for Feb. 14 Kabbalat Shabbat!
Most shifts are about 15 minutes.

Come to Havurah Shalom or join via Zoom Room Aleph for a musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. 5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 Service; 7:30 Oneg. Free childcare is provided. Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30; the in-person hearty nosh portion and oneg will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. All are welcome at Kabbalat Shabbat. No RSVPs. Additionally, all who would like to do so are invited to make a Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration donation.

Feb. 14 Kabbalat Shabbat to Focus on Refugees, Immigrants, and HIAS

From Havurah's Sanctuary Committee: The Havurah community has long engaged with advocacy for, and supported our immigrant and refugee neighbors in many concrete ways. Our Kaballat Shabbat on February 14, 2025 will once again partner with HIAS, the world’s oldest refugee agency. Please join us to reflect on Jewish values to Welcome the Stranger, to work with other groups on refugee and immigrant needs, and to recognize the difficult challenges ahead. Those challenges directly attack programs though which Havurah has helped Carlos and Maria with the asylum process, and the Darmani family and Special Immigrant Visa program. Questions? Contact Michael Rice (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory).

Tu B'Shvat "New Year for Trees" Havurahnik Activity This Saturday Morning (2/12 Deadline)
Havurahniks, you’re invited to celebrate Tu B’Shvat by planting native shrubs and wildflowers together with Friends of the Trees at 9:45 am, this Saturday, February 15, at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a transitional housing facility in North Portland.

To participate, be sure to RSVP by contacting Havurahnik Dan Reid by Feb. 12 (member login required to access the directory). This endeavor is part of a B'nei Mitzvah project and will be an especially excellent opportunity for Havurah teens!

Please review the Friends of the Trees Volunteer FAQ for more info on what to bring; age, waiver, and parent/legal guardian supervision requirements; and more.

For more Tu B'Shvat opportunities, check out two recent Hakol pieces from Havurah's Climate Action Team. Contact Elianne Lieberman to learn more about getting involved with HCAT's work or just come to one of the Climate Action Team's monthly meetings (5 pm, normally on last Mondays, Zoom Room Gimel). Chag Sameach!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — First two sessions in Zoom Room Heh; third session at Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Havurah's Purim Spiel Approaches ... Sign Up for Purim Playtime!

5:30 pm to 7:15 pm, Saturdays, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, Mar. 1, and Mar. 8 (w/ Purim spiel performance evening of Thursday, Mar. 13) — Havurah Shalom

For all ages! As a group we’ll creatively retell the story of Queen Esther, dramatically and with live music! No matter what your experience in theater, all are welcome! Learn more and RSVP. Questions? Contact Karen Polisnky (member login required to access the directory).

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on February 22 and March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

[SAVE THE DATE] Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats; please save the date and start reading! RSVP

[CANCELLATION] The Jewish Origins of Comic Books, a class that had been scheduled for March 2025, needed to be cancelled; we hope to offer it again at a later date

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, February 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Are you curious about what the Racial Justice Committee is doing? Join us at our monthly meeting whether you have never been before or it's been awhile since you have joined. We welcome everyone to join us. In our meetings we spend time learning together about anti-racism and ways we can be better allies and dedicate time to planning events for our community. We hope to see you there!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — Feb. 13 & 20 in Zoom Room Heh; Feb. 27 at Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, Friday 14 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. *The February 14 Kabbalat Shabbat will have a special focus on refugees, immigrants, and HIAS.*
Havurahnik Kabbalat Shabbat Volunteer Sign-Up | Learn more

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah Hannaleah Lindner
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 15 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Hannaleah Lindner as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Purim Play Time: Take Part in Retelling the Story of Queen Esther
5:30 pm to 7:15 pm, Saturdays, February 15 to March 9 -– Havurah Shalom (Purim spiel performance at Havurah Shalom's Purim Celebration on Thursday evening, March 13)

Calling Havurahniks of all ages! As a group we’ll creatively retell the story of Queen Esther, dramatically and with live music! A secret theme, known only to the players, will be unveiled when we perform the Purim spiel on March 13. No matter what your experience in theater, all are welcome! This class has been just been rescheduled for a new day and time to include more kids, following Shabbat School in the sanctuary with pizza! Parents and other family welcome too. Led by Karen Polinsky. RSVP to join Purim Playtime.

[SAFETY] Intro to Situational Awareness and the Power of Hello
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesday, February 18 — Zoom Room Bet
Learn observation skills and best-practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life — as well as how to use your words as powerful tools. The OHNO approach–Observe, Initiate a Hello, Navigate the Risk, and Obtain Help–enables us to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors, empowering us to lower risk and obtain help when necessary. Come to this online training provided by Jessica Anderson of Secure Community Network to learn important skills around welcoming and maintaining safety at Havurah! RSVP

Hakol Deadline
Havurahniks, Thursday, February 20 is the submissions deadline for the March 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

The Jewish Catalog: The Next 50 Years

1:30 pm to 2: 15 pm, Sunday, February 23 — Havurah Shalom
Everything about this classic 1973 text, from the hand-drawn diagrams to the lovingly-compiled local resources, charted a new course for Jewish life and Jewish home practice. I bet you have used the book (and its two sequels) and the constellation of materials influenced by the Catalog, even if you don't realize it! DIY-Judaism has changed a lot in a half-century, and it's a richer world than ever. Let's talk about where it is now, and where it's going, too. Led by David Feder. RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, February 25 -– Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (nonfiction, 350 pages). (A list of the Havurah Book Group's 2024-25 books is available here.) Per the publisher, "Doppelganger asks: What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now—and an intellectual adventure story for our times." Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Havurah members and non-members welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, February 28 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. (Havurah members, please consider signing up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up. Non-members, please be our guests!) Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Portland Jewish Film Festival Happening Now!
The Portland Jewish Film Festival (PJFF) returns from February 12 to 23, 2025! The festival includes six feature-length films, five will be screened in person and one will be screened virtually. Visit PJFF's official website for complete information about the films and to purchase tickets and passes.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu Corrections: Text & Torah Shabbat on Feb. 8; Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck in North Portland on Feb. 9

Hineinu Corrections: February 6, 2025

Text & Torah Shabbat: Names of God
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 8 (with Text & Torah sessions on specific Shabbat mornings through May) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph

Text & Torah schedule:
February 8 – The Many Names of God
March 1 – Special Shabbatot through the Year
April 5 – The Richness of the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra)
May 17 – "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals

Text and Torah is an interactive learning session followed by a brief Shabbat morning service and a light, catered community brunch. Guided by Diane Chaplin and other congregants, we’ll discuss and study both ancient and modern history and interpret how certain Jewish practices can be meaningful to us today. No registration or previous knowledge necessary—all you need is an eager mind! For the Zoom login info, please email info@havurhshalom.org in advance. As with all Shabbat services, you can attend in person at Havurah Shalom or on Zoom. All are welcome; join for any and all Text & Torah sessions.

(Note that while Havurah’s weekly Torah Study takes place at 9 am on Saturday mornings, Text and Torah begins at 10 am, as part of Shabbat Morning services.)

Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck in North Portland This Sunday

4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, February 9 — Chelsea Spangler and Beka Feathers' North Portland Home

All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next queer solidarity gathering and potluck at Beka Feathers and Chelsea Spangler's North Portland home. In addition to sharing space and a meal, we'll talk about future activities to protect, strengthen, and support our community within Havurah. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. We also ask that you stay home if you have any COVID symptoms. RSVPs are appreciated but not required.

Questions? RSVPing? Email Beka Feathers (log in to your Havurah member account to access the member directory).

(Note: Last week's issue of Hineinu incorrectly listed the location of this potluck as Havurah Shalom; to clarify, the Feb. 9 Queer@Havurah Solidarity potluck will take place at Chelsea Spangler and Beka Feather's North Portland home.)

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Queer at Havurah Solidarity Potluck, Tu B'Shvat (New Year for Trees), and More

Hineinu, February 5, 2025

Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck in North Portland This Sunday

4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, February 9 — Chelsea Spangler and Beka Feather's North Portland Home
All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next queer solidarity gathering and potluck at Beka Feather and Chelsea Spangler's North Portland home. In addition to sharing space and a meal, we'll talk about future activities to protect, strengthen, and support our community within Havurah. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. We also ask that you stay home if you have any COVID symptoms. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. Questions? Contact Beka Feathers (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory).

First Thursdays with Interfaith Alliance on Poverty
The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP), a Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam partner, holds learning events on first Thursdays at noon, including Thursday, February 6, "Future of the Metro Supportive Housing Services Measure." Register on the IAP's First Thursday Meeting website to be emailed the Zoom login info for their next online meeting. If you'd like to learn more about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty from an involved fellow Havurahnik, contact Sue Abrams (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory).

Tu B'Shvat (New Year for Trees)
Havurahniks, you’re invited to celebrate Tu B’Shvat by planting native shrubs and wildflowers together with Friends of the Trees at 9:45 am, on Saturday, February 15, at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a transitional housing facility in North Portland. To participate, be sure to RSVP by contacting Havurahnik Dan Reid (member login required to access the directory) by February 12. This endeavor is part of a B'nei Mitzvah project and will be an especially excellent opportunity for Havurah teens! Please review the Friends of the Trees Volunteer FAQ for more info on what to bring; age, waiver, and parent/legal guardian supervision requirements; and more.

For more Tu B'Shvat opportunities, check out two recent Hakol pieces from Havurah's Climate Action Team. Contact Elianne Lieberman to learn more about getting involved with HCAT's work or just come to one of the Climate Action Team's monthly meetings (5 pm, normally on last Mondays, Zoom Room Gimel).

Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, February 14
Come to Havurah Shalom or join via Zoom Room Aleph for a musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. 5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 Service; 7:30 Oneg. Free childcare is provided. Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30; the in-person hearty nosh portion and oneg will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. Volunteer sign-ups are open. Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help! All are welcome at Kabbalat Shabbat. No RSVPs. Additionally, all who would like to do so are invited to make a Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration donation. *The February 14 Kabbalat Shabbat will have a special focus on refugees, immigrants, and HIAS.*

Brit Kavod Trainers Workshop: Join Us!
Coming soon: a one-time workshop for folks interested in helping our community understand our new Brit Kavod (Covenant of Mutual Respect). This interactive class, taught by a local professor who specializes in values-based communication, will feature real-life scenarios that illustrate our Brit Kavod. Participants will come away equipped to introduce our Brit Kavod at various Havurah gatherings, using the techniques you will learn. Please join us! Email Shelley Sobel if you’re interested. Date TBA.

Lost & Found Item
While sorting through the lost and found, we found some cash in a child’s pair of pants. If this might be yours, please reach out to Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on February 22 and March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, February 9 at Beka Feather and Chelsea Spangler's Home in North Portland
All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next queer solidarity gathering and potluck. In addition to sharing space and a meal, we'll talk about future activities to protect, strengthen, and support our community within Havurah. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. We also ask that you stay home if you have any COVID symptoms. RSVPs are appreciated but not required; email Beka Feathers (member login required to access directory). RSVP

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, February 10 — Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic—everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP.

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, February 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Are you curious about what the Racial Justice Committee is doing? Join us at our monthly meeting whether you have never been before or it's been awhile since you have joined. We welcome everyone to join us. In our meetings we spend time learning together about anti-racism and ways we can be better allies and dedicate time to planning events for our community. We hope to see you there!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, Friday 14 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! No RSVPs for this event. *The February 14 Kabbalat Shabbat will have a special focus on refugees, immigrants, and HIAS.*
Havurahnik Kabbalat Shabbat Volunteer Sign-Up | Learn more

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah Hannaleah Lindner
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 15 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Hannaleah Lindner as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Purim Play Time: Take Part in Retelling the Story of Queen Esther
5:30 pm to 7:15 pm, Saturdays, February 15 to March 9 -– Havurah Shalom (Purim spiel performance at Havurah Shalom's Purim Celebration on Thursday evening, March 13)

Calling Havurahniks of all ages! As a group we’ll creatively retell the story of Queen Esther, dramatically and with live music! A secret theme, known only to the players, will be unveiled when we perform the Purim spiel on March 13. No matter what your experience in theater, all are welcome! This class has been just been rescheduled for a new day and time to include more kids, following Shabbat School in the sanctuary with pizza! Parents and other family welcome too. Led by Karen Polinsky. RSVP to join Purim Playtime.

[SAFETY] Intro to Situational Awareness and the Power of Hello
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesday, February 18 — Zoom Room Bet
Learn observation skills and best-practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life — as well as how to use your words as powerful tools. The OHNO approach–Observe, Initiate a Hello, Navigate the Risk, and Obtain Help–enables us to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors, empowering us to lower risk and obtain help when necessary. Come to this online training provided by Jessica Anderson of Secure Community Network to learn important skills around welcoming and maintaining safety at Havurah! RSVP

Hakol Deadline
Havurahniks, Thursday, February 20 is the submissions deadline for the March 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

The Jewish Catalog: The Next 50 Years

1:30 pm to 2: 15 pm, Sunday, February 23 — Havurah Shalom
Everything about this classic 1973 text, from the hand-drawn diagrams to the lovingly-compiled local resources, charted a new course for Jewish life and Jewish home practice. I bet you have used the book (and its two sequels) and the constellation of materials influenced by the Catalog, even if you don't realize it! DIY-Judaism has changed a lot in a half-century, and it's a richer world than ever. Let's talk about where it is now, and where it's going, too. Led by David Feder. RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, February 25 -– Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (nonfiction, 350 pages). (A list of the Havurah Book Group's 2024-25 books is available here.) Per the publisher, "Doppelganger asks: What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now—and an intellectual adventure story for our times." Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Havurah members and non-members welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

***

[SAVE THE DATE] Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats; please save the date and start reading! RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, February 6 - RSVP for Zoom login
From Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: Future of the Metro Supportive Housing Services Measure, with speakers John Taponga, President Emeritus of EcoNorthwest and Brooke Hofer Goldberg, Public Policy Director of Central City Concern. The Metro Council members are working on revisions to the Supportive Housing Services Measure. This measure was voted in by citizens in the tri-county area in 2020. A revised measure may be placed on the upcoming May ballot. We will learn what issues have triggered suggested revisions. We will hear more about the public responses to proposed changes. RSVP (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.)

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Gather Grants from Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Any Jewish-identifying group, individual, family or couple can apply. Receive up to $120 for hosting an event that you plan, at the place and with the people you choose! Grants are available now for programs hosted through March. New funding will be open on a quarterly basis. For details, visit the webpage. After reviewing requirements, apply for a Winter Gather Grant. Questions? Contact Caron Blau Rothstein via email or call (503) 246-6449.

Be Part of the Conversation with JFGP and Resetting the Table
From the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland: Dear Jewish Community: When it comes to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is a diversity of opinions within the Jewish community. One of the things that was made clear from our 2024 community study is a widespread desire for the creation of “safe spaces” to express our respective views on Israel. In response to this need, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is partnering with the national organization Resetting the Table to offer our community an opportunity to learn the tools and skills to transcend the “fault lines” within and across our community. We are looking for 72 participants consisting of three cohorts of 24 individuals. One of the cohorts will be exclusively for young adults ages 22-35, the other two will be intergenerational. Each cohort will include participants who represent a wide range of views on Israel. Those wishing to participate must be willing to commit to a three-hour in-person workshop followed by a two-hour commitment for a virtual program a month later. More details and an application can be found here.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Coming Together, Learning with Each Other

Hineinu, January 29, 2025

Coming Together, Learning with Each Other
Check out the rest of this newsletter to learn about our many upcoming Havurah events. Here's a quick run-down of some special Havurah gatherings taking place very soon:

- Reparations Shabbat: Exploring Our Relationships with Indigenous People (10 am, Sat., Feb. 1, at Havurah and on Zoom - RSVP)
- View on Your Own, Discuss Together: Short Films by Palestinian Filmmakers (11:30 am, Sun., Feb. 2, at Havurah - RSVP)
- Game Day for Havurah Members (3 pm, Sun., Feb. 2, at Havurah - RSVP)
- Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck (4 pm, Sun., Feb. 9, at ~~Havurah~~ N. Portland home - RSVP for location)

Additionally, as of now, there are still a couple slots left in the Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul grief-process support group (7 pm, Thursdays, Jan. 30 to Mar. 6, at Havurah - RSVP).

"Be 2 Weeks Ready" to be Offered to Havurahniks
The fires in LA are a tragic reminder that unexpected events can strike a community with little or no notice, severely limiting the availability of essential services like water, sewer and electricity for days or even weeks. But there are ways that we can take simple steps as individuals, families and communities to be more resilient together. To help Havurahniks to be prepared for events, we will be offering a series of information/workshop sessions based on the content from "Be 2 Weeks Ready", a community-based program that helps people prepare for long-duration emergencies. If you have experience with emergency preparedness and would like to help with this effort, please contact Michael Heumann or Steve Birkel.

Brit Kavod Trainers Workshop: Join Us!
Coming soon: a one-time workshop for folks interested in helping our community understand our new Brit Kavod (Covenant of Mutual Respect). This interactive class, taught by a local professor who specializes in values-based communication, will feature real-life scenarios that illustrate our Brit Kavod. Participants will come away equipped to introduce our Brit Kavod at various Havurah gatherings, using the techniques you will learn. Please join us! Email Shelley Sobel if you’re interested. Date TBA.

Calling Out Antisemitism
If you are concerned about Elon Musk’s fascist/antisemitic predilections on view at the inauguration on Monday (see this Slate article for unvarnished coverage) or the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) denial of the significance of Musk’s Nazi salute, consider joining this Bend the Arc petition action. The ADL exists to identify, track, and fight antisemitism and purports to be the representative of the American Jewish community in this field. We need to build alternatives; here are two organizations that actually do this work—in solidarity with other targeted groups: Western States Center, Southern Poverty Law Center. We are amidst a bombardment of executive orders meant to demoralize and overwhelm; we need to figure out how to see past theatrics calculated to distract us from the actual destruction being wreaked. And we each need to figure out how to build and sustain 4 years of resilience and resistance. The Havurah community will expand to hold many efforts. This is a call out to those who may want to focus on antisemitism – be in touch with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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, with a multi-synagogue Torah Study every third week of the month 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. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (Note that the February 1 Tot Shabbat has been cancelled; Tot Shabbat is set to take place again on March 8.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, Jan. 30 to March 3 — 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. RSVP

Reparations Shabbat: Exploring Our Relationships with Indigenous Peoples
10 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, February 1 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are invited to a Shabbat Morning Service, Reparations: A Journey. The focus of our Shabbat service (including a drash and mini drashot) will be hearing Havurah members describing their individual journeys of reckoning with their relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Lunch will follow. This Reparations Shabbat is presented by Havurah's Racial Justice Committee. Questions? Please contact Kathy Gordon or Julia Lager Mesulam (member login required to access the directory). RSVP for lunch or childcare by Tuesday, January 28.

Tot Shabbat Cancelled on Feb. 1; Join Us Again on Mar. 8
~~10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom~~
The Feb. 1 Tot Shabbat has been cancelled, but you can join us for our next Tot Shabbat on Saturday, March 8. Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more.

View on Your Own, Then Discuss at Havurah: Short Films by Palestinian Filmmakers
11:30 am to 1 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Havurah Shalom
As part of the Center of Jewish Non-Violence’s Solidarity Month, Havurah members are invited to view short films by Palestinian filmmakers on their own, including Sorry Cinema and Soft Skin. This Sunday, join us at Havurah to discuss these and other Palestinian-made films with other Havurah members and guests. We'll have light snacks during our discussion as well. Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member login required to access the directory). RSVP

Game Day for Havurah Members
3 pm to 5 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Havurah Shalom
The Havurah Welcome Committee invites Havurah members to Game Day. Fun! Meet new people! Bring a game. There will be coffee and cookies! Let's play! RSVP

The Welcome Committee invites members to Game Day! Fun! Meet new people! Let's Play! Bring a game! Sunday, Feb. 2, 3-5 pm at Havurah

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah's Participation & Leadership Retreat
9:45 am to 3 pm, Sunday, February 9 — Havurah Shalom
We are inviting Havurah community members who are already involved with a committee, or those who would like to become involved, to join us at the annual leadership retreat. Please RSVP at this link by January 29. Questions? Contact Debbi Nadell, co-chair of Havurah's Leadership Development Committee.

Queer@Havurah Solidarity Potluck
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, February 9 — ~~Havurah Shalom~~ At N. Portland home; RSVP for location
All Havurah members who identify as LGBTQIA+ (and families!) are invited to our next solidarity gathering and potluck. In addition to sharing space and a meal, we'll talk about future activities to protect, strengthen, and support our community within Havurah. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share. We also ask that you stay home if you have any COVID symptoms. RSVPs are appreciated but not required; email Beka Feathers(member login required to access directory). RSVP

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, February 10 — Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic--everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP.

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, February 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Are you curious about what the Racial Justice Committee is doing? Join us at our monthly meeting whether you have never been before or it's been awhile since you have joined. We welcome everyone to join us. In our meetings we spend time learning together about anti-racism and ways we can be better allies and dedicate time to planning events for our community. We hope to see you there!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, Friday 14 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! (No RSVPs for this event.)

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

Activate Portland!
10 am to 4 pm, Saturday, February 1 — Leaven Community Center (5431 NE 20th Ave, Portland, Oregon)
Join the Portland Placemaking Coalition and 25+ organizations committed to creating a more beautiful and connected Portland. Expect a day filled with opportunities to network, attend workshops, and engage in discussions that empower us to take action with a focus on regenerative agriculture, placemaking, community building, climate resilience, and land tending. Want to connect with an involved Havurahnik about this opportunity? Contact Adele Thompson.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Wings of the Dove Campaign for Havurah Shalom January Engagement Sessions — Seeking Your Input on Havurah's Future
For years, Havurah volunteers have been working on plans for our space and staffing needs. Now it is your time to step forward and give us some input. Your participation in one of the upcoming Wings of the Dove Engagement sessions will give us the feedback needed to create a campaign that assures Havurah will thrive as a participatory community while addressing our growing needs. Thank you to the over 200 members who have already given their input. Please RSVP for one of the upcoming engagement session dates:

• SE Neighborhood Session — Time and Location TBD
• NE Neighborhood Session — Wednesday, February 5, 7 pm, RSVP

Note that these are not fundraising sessions. We are seeking input on our goals and plans. Thank you.

Out in the Community

25th Annual Community Havdalah Service from Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park
7 pm to 8 pm, Saturday, January 25 -– Rose Schnitzer Manor, Zidell Hall (6125 SW Boundary, Portland)
Havdalah Service led by Rabbi Eve Posen and Cantor Eyal Bitton both of Congregation Neveh Shalom at Rose Schnitzer Manor. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park. In-person only. Public is welcome! More info here. To learn more from a Havurahnik about this event, contact Adele Thompson (member login required to access directory).

Gather Grants from Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Any Jewish-identifying group, individual, family or couple can apply. Receive up to $120 for hosting an event that you plan, at the place and with the people you choose! Grants are available now for programs hosted through March. New funding will be open on a quarterly basis. For details, visit the webpage. After reviewing requirements, apply for a Winter Gather Grant. Questions? Contact Caron Blau Rothstein via email or call (503) 246-6449.

Be Part of the Conversation with JFGP and Resetting the Table
From the Jewish Federation of Great Portland: Dear Jewish Community: When it comes to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is a diversity of opinions within the Jewish community. One of the things that was made clear from our 2024 community study is a widespread desire for the creation of “safe spaces” to express our respective views on Israel. In response to this need, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is partnering with the national organization Resetting the Table to offer our community an opportunity to learn the tools and skills to transcend the “fault lines” within and across our community. We are looking for 72 participants consisting of three cohorts of 24 individuals. One of the cohorts will be exclusively for young adults ages 22-35, the other two will be intergenerational. Each cohort will include participants who represent a wide range of views on Israel. Those wishing to participate must be willing to commit to a three-hour in-person workshop followed by a two-hour commitment for a virtual program a month later. More details and an application can be found here.

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. (Note: Rabbi Benjamin's five-month sabbatical begins Feb. 1, 2025. We will be sharing information on our website about who to contact during this time.)

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 Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Find Ways to Connect with Community

Hineinu, January 22, 2025

Rabbi Benjamin's Sabbatical Begins Feb. 1
From the Havurah Presidents Team: Rabbi Benjamin will take part one of a well-deserved sabbatical for five months, beginning on February 1, 2025, and returning to our thriving community on July 1, 2025. During this time, the many functions of his position will be picked up by … everyone – as a participatory community is compelled to do. Many will take on these responsibilities, from our staff and lay leaders to committee chairs and congregants who have pastoral skills, are musically inclined, or otherwise want to help lead services. What an opportunity for us to stretch and grow!

Click here to see a list of some of the Havurahniks who are stepping up. For their contact info, please see the member directory (member login is required) or reach out to staff.

Finally, if you have questions or need to communicate with Rabbi Benjamin, please reach out to him before the last minute.

"Be 2 Weeks Ready" to be offered to Havurahniks
The fires in LA are a tragic reminder that unexpected events can strike a community with little or no notice, severely limiting the availability of essential services like water, sewer and electricity for days or even weeks. But there are ways that we can take simple steps as individuals, families and communities to be more resilient together.

To help Havurahniks to be prepared for events, we will be offering a series of information/workshop sessions based on the content from "Be 2 Weeks Ready", a community-based program that helps people prepare for long-duration emergencies. If you have experience with emergency preparedness and would like to help with this effort, please contact Michael Heumann or Steve Birkel.

Brit Kavod Trainers Workshop: Join Us!
Coming soon: a one-time workshop for folks interested in helping our community understand our new Brit Kavod (Covenant of Mutual Respect). This interactive class, taught by a local professor who specializes in values-based communication, will feature real-life scenarios that illustrate our Brit Kavod. Participants will come away equipped to introduce our Brit Kavod at various Havurah gatherings, using the techniques you will learn. Please join us! Email Shelley Sobel if you’re interested. Date TBA.

Calling Out Antisemitism
If you are concerned about Elon Musk’s fascist/antisemitic predilections on view at the inauguration on Monday (see Slate article for unvarnished coverage) or the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) denial of the significance of Musk’s Nazi salute, consider joining this Bend the Arc petition action. The ADL exists to identify, track, and fight antisemitism and purports to be the representative of the American Jewish community in this field. We need to build alternatives; here are two organizations that actually do this work—in solidarity with other targeted groups: Western States Center, Southern Poverty Law Center.

We are amidst a bombardment of executive orders meant to demoralize and overwhelm; we need to figure out how to see past theatrics calculated to distract us from the actual destruction being wreaked. And we each need to figure out how to build and sustain 4 years of resilience and resistance. The Havurah community will expand to hold many efforts. This is a call out to those who may want to focus on antisemitism – be in touch with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

High Holiday Survey Report
Curious about the results of the post-High Holidays Survey? You can now read all about them in an Executive Summary developed by the High Holidays Core Team, which is composed of Ericka Kimball, Bija Gutoff, Adela Basayne, and Rachel Pollak. The summary and accompanying slides and visual digest show us what we can learn from the 112 survey responses. The focus this year was on Youth and Families, Music, Participation, and Jewish Wisdom and Practice, with an overall concern for creating a community of care shaped by our values, as articulated in the proposed Brit Kavod. Please read and send any questions to info@havurahshalom.org.

Executive Summary | Survey Result Slides | Visual Digest

Steering Summary
Havurah's monthly Steering Committee met for a monthly meeting on January 14, facilitated by Co-President David Kertzner. See a summary of the discussions that took place.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

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, with a multi-synagogue Torah Study every third week of the month 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. All are welcome.

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 are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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, 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

History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6 – Havurah Shalom

Who are the Sephardic Jews? What is their history and what is their language? We will focus on the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal who settled in the Ottoman Empire and their language, Ladino. You will learn where they lived, the communities they formed, and what happened to them in the Holocaust and post-Holocaust. You will be exposed to Sephardic culture, music, and literature. You will get a taste of the Ladino language, how it formed, how it was used, its literature, and its proverbs. If you speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. If you don’t speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. Led by Roger Brewer. RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, January 24-– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time!
Questions? Email Dale Oller. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Tracing Homelands: Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging by Linda Dittmar
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 28 – Zoom Room Bet
For January, we invite you to read and discuss Tracing Homelands by Linda Dittmar (nonfiction, 240 pages), which is, per the publisher, "an intimate, beautifully written account that uncovers inconvenient truths about an embattled Israeli-Palestinian history that is often buried in silence." Discussion led by Barbara Hershey. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP. A list of the 2024-25 books is available here.

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, Jan. 30 to March 3 – 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. RSVP

Reparations Shabbat: Exploring Our Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
10 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are invited to a Shabbat Morning Service, Reparations: A Journey. The focus of our Shabbat service (including a drash and mini drashot) will be hearing Havurah members describing their individual journeys of reckoning with their relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Lunch will follow. This Reparations Shabbat is presented by Havurah's Racial Justice Committee. Questions? Please contact Kathy Gordon or Julia Lager Mesulam (member login required to access the directory). RSVP for lunch or childcare by Tuesday, January 28.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Short Films by Palestinian Filmmakers
11:30-1 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Havurah Shalom
As part of the Center of Jewish Non-Violence’s Solidarity Month, Havurah members are invited to view short films by Palestinian filmmakers from the collection From Ground Zero, which can be viewed at home or at Cinema 21, then come to a discussion and nosh. Please RSVP. Links to the films will be sent when you RSVP. For more information, contact Dale Oller. RSVP

Game Day for Havurah Members
3-5 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Havurah Shalom
The Havurah Welcome Committee invites Havurah members to Game Day. Fun! Meet new people! Bring a game. There will be coffee and cookies! Let's play!

The Welcome Committee invites members to Game Day! Fun! Meet new people! Let's Play! Bring a game! Sunday, Feb. 2, 3-5 pm at Havurah

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7-8:15 pm, Sunday, February 2 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah's Participation & Leadership Retreat
9:45-3 pm, Sunday, February 9 — Havurah Shalom
We are inviting Havurah community members who are already involved with a committee, or those who would like to become involved, to join us at the annual leadership retreat. Please RSVP at this link by January 29. Questions? Contact Debbi Nadell, co-chair of Havurah's Leadership Development Committee.

Monthly Music Jam
7-8:30 pm, Monday, February 10 — Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic--everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. More details here.

Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Wings of the Dove Campaign for Havurah Shalom January Engagement Sessions — Seeking Your Input on Havurah's Future
For years, Havurah volunteers have been working on plans for our space and staffing needs. Now it is your time to step forward and give us some input. Your participation in one of the upcoming Wings of the Dove Engagement sessions will give us the feedback needed to create a campaign that assures Havurah will thrive as a participatory community while addressing our growing needs. Thank you to the over 200 members who have already given their input. Please RSVP for one of the upcoming engagement session dates:

• Zoom Session – Sunday, January 26, 7 pm, RSVP
• SE Neighborhood Session — Time and Location TBD
• NE Neighborhood Session — Wednesday, February 5, 7 pm, RSVP

Note that these are not fundraising sessions. We are seeking input on our goals and plans. Thank you.

Out in the Community

25th Annual Community Havdalah Service from Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park
7 pm to 8 pm, Saturday, January 25 -– Rose Schnitzer Manor, Zidell Hall (6125 SW Boundary, Portland)
Havdalah Service led by Rabbi Eve Posen and Cantor Eyal Bitton both of Congregation Neveh Shalom at Rose Schnitzer Manor. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park. In-person only. Public is welcome! More info here. To learn more from a Havurahnik about this event, contact Adele Thompson (member login required to access directory).

Gather Grants from Jewish Federation of Greater Portland
Any Jewish-identifying group, individual, family or couple can apply. Receive up to $120 for hosting an event that you plan, at the place and with the people you choose! Grants are available now for programs hosted through March. New funding will be open on a quarterly basis. For details, visit the webpage. After reviewing requirements, apply for a Winter Gather Grant. Questions? Contact Caron Blau Rothstein via email or call (503) 246-6449.

Be Part of the Conversation with JFGP and Resetting the Table
Similar to Havrah's Panim el Panim sessions, The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, in an effort to help members of our greater Portland community bridge the gap of diverse opinions on Israel-Palestine, is partnering with the national organization Resetting the Table to offer our community an opportunity to learn the tools and skills to transcend the “fault lines” within and across our community. Initially there will be three cohorts. More details and an application can be found here .

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Zoom Room Aleph
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.

Zoom Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.

Zoom Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

Zoom Room Dalet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.

Zoom Room Heh
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.

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.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Rabbi Benjamin Sabbatical Info, Organizing for Justice Conversation, Course on History of Sephardic Jews, and More

Hineinu, January 15, 2025

High Holiday Survey Report
Curious about the results of the post-High Holidays Survey? You can now read all about them in an Executive Summary developed by the High Holidays Core Team, which is composed of Ericka Kimball, Bija Gutoff, Adela Basayne, and Rachel Pollak. The summary and accompanying slides and visual digest show us what we can learn from the 112 survey responses. The focus this year was on Youth and Families, Music, Participation, and Jewish Wisdom and Practice, with an overall concern for creating a community of care shaped by our values, as articulated in the proposed Brit Kavod. Please read and send any questions to info@havurahshalom.org.

Executive Summary | Survey Result Slides | Visual Digest

Rabbi Benjamin's Sabbatical Begins Feb. 1
From the Havurah Presidents Team: Rabbi Benjamin will take part one of a well-deserved sabbatical for five months, beginning on February 1, 2025, and returning to our thriving community on July 1, 2025. During this time, the many functions of his position will be picked up by … everyone – as a participatory community is compelled to do. Many will take on these responsibilities, from our staff and lay leaders to committee chairs and congregants who have pastoral skills, are musically inclined, or otherwise want to help lead services. What an opportunity for us to stretch and grow!

Click here to see a list of some of the Havurahniks who are stepping up. For their contact info, please see the member directory (member login is required) or reach out to staff.

Finally, if you have questions or need to communicate with Rabbi Benjamin, please reach out to him before the last minute.

Wings of the Dove Campaign for Havurah Shalom January Engagement Sessions — Seeking Your Input on Havurah's Future
For years, Havurah volunteers have been working on plans for our space and staffing needs. Now it is your time to step forward and give us some input. Your participation in one of the upcoming Wings of the Dove Engagement sessions will give us the feedback needed to create a campaign that assures Havurah will thrive as a participatory commu-nity while addressing our growing needs. Thank you to the over 200 members who have already given their input. Please take note of the upcoming engagement session dates in January and watch your email for final details:
• NW Neighborhood Session – Thursday, January 16, 7 pm, RSVP
• SW Neighborhood Session – Wednesday, January 22, 7 pm, RSVP
• Zoom Session – Sunday, January 26, 7 pm, RSVP
• SE Neighborhood Session – Members in SE will receive a personal invitation
• NE Neighborhood Session – Members in N/NE will receive a personal invitation
Note that these are not fundraising sessions. We are seeking input on our goals and plans. Thank you.

Havurah Shalom – More Coming Up Very Soon

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon, at 9 am, on Saturday, January 18, at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Bet. See calendar.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Nathaniel "Nat" Fox, at 10 am on Saturday, January 18, at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph. See calendar.

Teen Tikkun Olam: The Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers (FSSW) Coat Sort, at 11 am on Monday, January 20, at Lewis & Clark College.
For Havurah teens and parents. Learn more & RSVP.

Organizing for Justice in the Era of Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Rabbis Benjamin Barnett, Sarah Brammer-Shlay, and Elliott Tepperman, at 5 pm, on Tuesday, January 21. Learn more & RSVP.

B’khol Levav’kha: Meeting this Moment Wholeheartedly – An Evening of Meditation and Connection, at 7 pm, on Tuesday, January 21, at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph. Learn more & RSVP. (Note the recent time and date change.)

History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino, at 7 pm, on Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6, at Havurah Shalom. Learn more & RSVP.

Solidarity Shabbat on Friday, January 24, including 5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, and 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, at Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph). Learn more & RSVP.

Havurah's Participation & Leadership Retreat on Feb. 9
This year our Participation and Leadership Retreat will be held Sunday, February 9 from 10 am to 3 pm at Havurah Shalom. We are inviting Havurah community members who are already involved with a committee, or those who would like to become involved, to join us. We ask that participants commit to attending the entire time. Please RSVP at this link by January 29. Questions? Contact Debbi Nadell, co-chair of Havurah's Leadership Development Committee.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

Weekly/Biweekly 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. All are welcome.
(On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon, including on Saturday, January 18.)

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (On January 4, there will be a Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat. Also, note that the Tot Shabbat for January is now taking place a on Saturday, January 11. 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. 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, 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.

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, January 18 (Third Saturdays) – 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 with Bar Mitzvah of Nathaniel "Nat" Fox
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 18 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Nathanial "Nat" Fox as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah Shalom Office Closure: January 20 (MLK Day)
The Havurah office will be closed on Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Teen Tikkun Olam: The Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers (FSSW) Coat Sort
11 am to 2 pm, Monday, January 20 – Lewis & Clark College in the Stamm Dining Hall (Located in the Fowler Student Center)
Tikkun Olam opportunity for Havurah teens on MLK, Jr. Day! Join us to sort coats being donated to various charities by Columbia Sportswear, or-ganized by Teen Engagement Committee and the Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers. RSVP

Organizing for Justice in the Era of Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Rabbis Benjamin Barnett, Sarah Brammer-Shlay, and Elliott Tepperman
5 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21 – Offsite Zoom, RSVP for link
Presented by Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation on Israel/Palestine (RECIP), co-sponsored by Havurah Shalom, join for this online conversation. From RECIP: How should we, as Jews, confront the second Trump presidency? Can Jews be co-conspirators in progressive coalitions and stand in solidarity with communities directly targeted by the Trump administration – immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people? What should be the place of the struggle for Palestinian rights and for the right to speak out on this issue in the agenda of the broad array of forces that must be mobilized to resist the “America First” MAGA program? How can we navigate staying in progressive political alliances when Israel/Palestine is either strategically used as a wedge issue or there are real differences of opinion? RSVP

[NEW DATE & TIME] B’khol Levav’kha: Meeting this Moment Wholeheartedly – An Evening of Meditation and Connection
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 21– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
We’ll gather for spiritual practice and spiritual community as we enter this new chapter in our country. Interweaving guided meditation, song, and space for reflection and sharing, we’ll draw from our tradition’s spiritual resources as we accompany and support each other during this time of transition. We’ll also leave some time for informal connection and community. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions. All are welcome. RSVP

History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6 – Havurah Shalom

Who are the Sephardic Jews? What is their history and what is their language? We will focus on the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal who settled in the Ottoman Empire and their language, Ladino. You will learn where they lived, the communities they formed, and what happened to them in the Holocaust and post-Holocaust. You will be exposed to Sephardic culture, music, and literature. You will get a taste of the Ladino language, how it formed, how it was used, its literature, and its proverbs. If you speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. If you don’t speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. Led by Roger Brewer. RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, January 24-– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time!
Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well. There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login.

Book Group: Tracing Homelands: Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging by Linda Dittmar
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 28 – Zoom Room Bet
The Havurah Shalom Book Group meets monthly to discuss fiction and nonfiction books voted on by Havurah members. All are welcome to any and all meetings. Copies of our upcoming books can be checked out by members in the Havurah library. A list of the 2024-25 books is available here. For January, we invite you to read and discuss… Tracing Homelands by Linda Dittmar (nonfiction, 240 pages). From the publisher: "A raw and courageous memoir of the 1948 war and its aftermath, and a searing personal journey to uncover the suppressed traumas, facts, and myths that undergird the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When author Linda Dittmar stumbles upon the ruins of an abandoned Palestinian village, she is faced with a past that sits uneasily with her Israeli childhood memories—and the history she was raised never to question. Tracing Homelands is an intimate, beautifully written account that uncovers inconvenient truths about an embattled Israeli-Palestinian history that is often buried in silence." Discussion led by Barbara Hershey. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, Jan. 30 to March 3 – 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 here on the RSVP page.)
RSVP

Reparations Shabbat: Exploring Our Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
10 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
(Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 28 if you plan to stay for lunch and/or use our free childcare at this gathering.)
All are invited to a Shabbat Morning Service, Reparations: A Journey. The focus of our Shabbat service (including a drash and mini drashot) will be hearing Havurah members describing their individual journeys of reckoning with their relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Lunch will follow. This Reparations Shabbat is presented by Havurah's Racial Justice Committee. Questions? Please contact Kathy Gordon or Julia Lager Mesulam (member login required to access the directory). RSVP.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Safety Corner

Trainings will return in the new year, so how about a refresher on door safety in the meantime? Here are two rules that keep us safe at Havurah Shalom:
1. With the door locked and shut, we can control entry, and that keeps us safe! Never prop open a door that goes outside!
2. Remember to set a greeter to let people into the building if you’re having an event or waiting for someone. Make plans ahead of time for how your group members will get inside when they arrive.

For questions about safety, please reach out to Ben Walters, Joel Bettridge (makom@havurahshalom.org) or Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).

More Tikkun Olam

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. Please see the page 9 article in the December 2024 Hakol for more details!
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

25th Annual Community Havdalah Service from Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park
7 pm to 8 pm, Saturday, January 25 -– Rose Schnitzer Manor, Zidell Hall (6125 SW Boundary, Portland)
Havdalah Service led by Rabbi Eve Posen and Cantor Eyal Bitton both of Congregation Neveh Shalom at Rose Schnitzer Manor. Co-sponsored by the Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park. In-person only. Public is welcome! More info here. To learn more from a Havurahnik about this event, contact Adele Thompson (member login required to access directory).

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.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Kabbalat Shabbat This Friday, Upcoming Learning and Engagement Opportunities

Hineinu, January 8, 2025

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, Jan. 10
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! No RSVPs. Free childcare is provided! Learn more.

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out! We need people to fill and set out water pitchers, make almond butter and jam sandwiches for the kiddos, bus tables, distribute challah and wine/juice, put out song sheets, and more! Sign up here to volunteer.

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom. We have a couple more spots available. If you are interested, RSVP by noon tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 9).

Wings of the Dove Campaign for Havurah Shalom January Engagement Sessions — Seeking Your Input on Havurah's Future
For years, Havurah volunteers have been working on plans for our space and staffing needs. Now it is your time to step forward and give us some input. Your participation in one of the upcoming Wings of the Dove Engagement sessions will give us the feedback needed to create a campaign that assures Havurah will thrive as a participatory commu-nity while addressing our growing needs. Thank you to the over 200 members who have already given their input. Please take note of the upcoming engagement session dates in January and watch your email for final details:
• NW Neighborhood Session – Thursday, January 16, 7 pm, RSVP
• SW Neighborhood Session – Wednesday, January 22, 7 pm, RSVP
• Zoom Session – Sunday, January 26, 7 pm, RSVP
• SE Neighborhood Session – Members in SE will receive a personal invitation
• NE Neighborhood Session – Members in N/NE will receive a personal invitation
Note that these are not fundraising sessions. We are seeking input on our goals and plans. Thank you.

Havurah Shalom – More Coming Up Very Soon
- Monthly Racial Justice Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9 (Havurah members, in Zoom Room Bet, click & log in or find Zoom info at end of Hineinu email);
- Tot Shabbat on Saturday, Jan. 11 (all are welcome, at Havurah, RSVP).
- Rabbi Shelley to Speak with Havurahniks on Monday, Jan. 13 (all are welcome, in Zoom Room Gimel, RSVP);
- Make Your Own Haggadah on Mondays, Jan. 13 to Feb. 3 (all are welcome, in Zoom Room Heh, RSVP);
- Teen Engagement Committee Meeting on Monday, Jan. 13 (Havurah teens and parents, in Zoom Room Bet, click & log in or find Zoom info at end of Hineinu email),
- Monthly Music Jam on Monday, Jan. 13 (Havurah members, at Havurah, RSVP); and
- Steering Meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 14 (Havurah members, at Havurah and in Zoom Room Gimel, learn more).

Rabbi Benjamin's Sabbatical Begins Feb. 1
From the Havurah Presidents Team: Rabbi Benjamin will take part one of a well-deserved sabbatical for five months, beginning on February 1, 2025, and returning to our thriving community on July 1, 2025. During this time, the many functions of his position will be picked up by … everyone – as a participatory community is compelled to do. Many will take on these responsibilities, from our staff and lay leaders to committee chairs and congregants who have pastoral skills, are musically inclined, or otherwise want to help lead services. What an opportunity for us to stretch and grow! Details on who will be stepping into different roles and the help we still need can be found on page 6 of the January 2025 Hakol and will be further shared in the Hineinu newsletter during this month. If you have questions or need to communicate with Rabbi Benjamin, please reach out to him before the "last minute" in late January. Replenish well, beloved Rabbi!

Havurah's Participation & Leadership Retreat on Feb. 9
This year our Participation and Leadership Retreat will be held Sunday, February 9 from 10 am to 3 pm at Havurah Shalom. We are inviting Havurah community members who are already involved with a committee, or those who would like to become involved, to join us. We ask that participants commit to attending the entire time. Please RSVP at this link by January 29. Questions? Contact Debbi Nadell, co-chair of Havurah's Leadership Development Committee.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

Weekly/Biweekly 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. All are welcome.
(On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon, including on Saturday, January 18.)

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (On January 4, there will be a Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat. Also, note that the Tot Shabbat for January is now taking place a on Saturday, January 11. 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. 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, 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.

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, January 9 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager-Mesulam (member login needed to access directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! Learn more. Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out! Sign up here to volunteer.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, January 11 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom. We have a couple more spots available. If you are interested, RSVP by noon tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 9).

Rabbi Shelly to Speak to Havurahniks
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a discussion with Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis, author of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth. Dr. Adriane Leveen, Bible Scholar and Climate Activist writes, “Lewis conveys the many ways in which the Hebrew Bible celebrates the natural world as a sacred creation that we must cherish and work to preserve. His words are glorious, his vision illuminating. Reading his book fills me with joy. Learn more & RSVP

Make Your Own Haggadah
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Mondays, January 13, 20, 27 and February 3 - Zoom Room Heh
Adults and teens, put your own mark on the seder by making your own Haggadah to tell the story of the Exodus! We'll meet four times and focus on choosing and making art, selecting readings to include, selecting songs for a songbook and playlist, and telling the story of the plagues. At the end, you will have a document you can print or share to be used at your seder, along with a songbook and playlist you can sing along with! Led by Carolina Martinez. Learn more and RSVP.

Teen Engagement Meeting
7 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, January 13 — Havurah Shalom
Havurahniks, tune your instrument, warm up your voice, and head down to the Havurah music jam! Join the January Jam, this month led by Hannah Truehaft. All players and singers are welcome for a fun evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Our songbook includes Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. Can't wait to sing and play with you! RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 14 (second Tues-days) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of govern-ance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Com-mittee meetings. Members will be able to view a draft meeting agenda on Havurah’s calendar page for the Jan. 14 Steering meeting.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, January 18 (Third Saturdays) – 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 with Bar Mitzvah of Nathaniel "Nat" Fox
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 18 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Nathanial "Nat" Fox as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah Shalom Office Closure: January 20 (MLK Day)
The Havurah office will be closed on Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Teen Tikkun Olam: The Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers (FSSW) Coat Sort
11 am to 2 pm, Monday, January 20 – Lewis & Clark College in the Stamm Dining Hall (Located in the Fowler Student Center)
Tikkun Olam opportunity for Havurah teens on MLK, Jr. Day! Join us to sort coats being donated to various charities by Columbia Sportswear, or-ganized by Teen Engagement Committee and the Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers. RSVP

Organizing for Justice in the Era of Trump 2.0: A Conversation with Rabbis Benjamin Barnett, Sarah Brammer-Shlay, and Elliott Tepperman
5 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21– Register for Zoom link from RECIP
Presented by Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation on Israel/Palestine (RECIP), co-sponsored by Havurah Shalom, join for this online conversation. From RECIP: How should we, as Jews, confront the second Trump presidency? Can Jews be co-conspirators in progressive coalitions and stand in solidarity with communities directly targeted by the Trump administration – immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people? What should be the place of the struggle for Palestinian rights and for the right to speak out on this issue in the agenda of the broad array of forces that must be mobilized to resist the “America First” MAGA program? How can we navigate staying in progressive political alliances when Israel/Palestine is either strategically used as a wedge issue or there are real differences of opinion? Register with RECIP here; you'll be sent the Zoom login information.

B’khol Levav’kha: Meeting this Moment Wholeheartedly – An Evening of Meditation and Connection
6:30 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, January 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
We’ll gather for spiritual practice and spiritual community as we enter this new chapter in our country. Interweaving guided meditation, song, and space for reflection and sharing, we’ll draw from our tradition’s spiritual resources as we accompany and support each other during this time of transition. We’ll also leave some time for informal connection and community. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions. All are welcome. RSVP

History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6 – Havurah Shalom

Who are the Sephardic Jews? What is their history and what is their language? We will focus on the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal who settled in the Ottoman Empire and their language, Ladino. You will learn where they lived, the communities they formed, and what happened to them in the Holocaust and post-Holocaust. You will be exposed to Sephardic culture, music, and literature. You will get a taste of the Ladino language, how it formed, how it was used, its literature, and its proverbs. If you speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. If you don’t speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. Led by Roger Brewer. RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, January 24-– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. Looking forward to seeing you there! RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, January 27 -– Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time!
Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well. There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login.

Book Group: Tracing Homelands: Israel, Palestine, and the Claims of Belonging by Linda Dittmar
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 28 – Zoom Room Bet
The Havurah Shalom Book Group meets monthly to discuss fiction and nonfiction books voted on by Havurah members. All are welcome to any and all meetings. Copies of our upcoming books can be checked out by members in the Havurah library. A list of the 2024-25 books is available here. For January, we invite you to read and discuss… Tracing Homelands by Linda Dittmar (nonfiction, 240 pages). From the publisher: "A raw and courageous memoir of the 1948 war and its aftermath, and a searing personal journey to uncover the suppressed traumas, facts, and myths that undergird the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When author Linda Dittmar stumbles upon the ruins of an abandoned Palestinian village, she is faced with a past that sits uneasily with her Israeli childhood memories—and the history she was raised never to question. Tracing Homelands is an intimate, beautifully written account that uncovers inconvenient truths about an embattled Israeli-Palestinian history that is often buried in silence." Discussion led by Barbara Hershey. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, Jan. 30 to March 3 – 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 here on the RSVP page.)
RSVP

Reparations Shabbat: Exploring Our Relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
10 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, February 1 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
(Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 28 if you plan to stay for lunch and/or use our free childcare at this gathering.)
All are invited to a Shabbat Morning Service, Reparations: A Journey. The focus of our Shabbat service (including a drash and mini drashot) will be hearing Havurah members describing their individual journeys of reckoning with their relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Lunch will follow. This Reparations Shabbat is presented by Havurah's Racial Justice Committee. Questions? Please contact Kathy Gordon or Julia Lager Mesulam (member login required to access the directory). RSVP

Safety Corner

Trainings will return in the new year, so how about a refresher on door safety in the meantime? Here are two rules that keep us safe at Havurah Shalom:
1. With the door locked and shut, we can control entry, and that keeps us safe! Never prop open a door that goes outside!
2. Remember to set a greeter to let people into the building if you’re having an event or waiting for someone. Make plans ahead of time for how your group members will get inside when they arrive.

For questions about safety, please reach out to Ben Walters, Joel Bettridge (makom@havurahshalom.org) or Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).

More Tikkun Olam

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. Please see the page 9 article in the December 2024 Hakol for more details!
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

18th Annual Winter Sephardic Film Festival
7 pm to 9 pm on second Tuesdays through April 2025 (next film showing is January 14) -– Congregation Ahavath Achim (6686 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland)
From Congregation Ahavath Achim: Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from December - April for a Sephardic Film followed by Sephardic desserts and discussion. (The Tuesday, January 14 film is Glickman.) For more information on this film festival, including a list of all films to be shown, click here.

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.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Much to Join and Take Part in; Seeking Input in January on Future of Havurah Shalom

Hineinu, January 1, 2025

Rabbi Benjamin's Sabbatical Begins Feb. 1
From the Presidents Team: Rabbi Benjamin will take part one of a well-deserved sabbatical for five months, beginning on February 1, 2025, and returning to our thriving community on July 1, 2025. During this time, the many functions of his position will be picked up by … everyone – as a participatory community is compelled to do. Many will take on these responsibilities, from our staff and lay leaders to committee chairs and congregants who have pastoral skills, are musically inclined, or otherwise want to help lead services. What an opportunity for us to stretch and grow! Details on who will be stepping into different roles and the help we still need can be found on page 6 of the January 2025 Hakol and will be further shared in the Hineinu newsletter during this month. If you have questions or need to communicate with Rabbi Benjamin, please reach out to him before the "last minute" in late January. Replenish well, beloved Rabbi!

Wings of the Dove Campaign for Havurah Shalom January Engagement Sessions — Seeking Your Input on Havurah's Future
For years, Havurah volunteers have been working on plans for our space and staffing needs. Now it is your time to step forward and give us some input. Your participation in one of the upcoming Wings of the Dove Engagement sessions will give us the feedback needed to create a campaign that assures Havurah will thrive as a participatory commu-nity while addressing our growing needs. Thank you to the over 200 members who have already given their input. Please take note of the upcoming engagement session dates in January and watch your email for final details:
• NW Neighborhood Session – Thursday, January 16, 7 pm, RSVP
• SW Neighborhood Session – Wednesday, January 22, 7 pm, RSVP
• Zoom Session – Sunday, January 26, 7 pm, RSVP
• SE Neighborhood Session – Members in SE will receive a personal invitation
• NE Neighborhood Session – Members in N/NE will receive a personal invitation
Note that these are not fundraising sessions. We are seeking input on our goals and plans. Thank you.

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, Jan. 10
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! No RSVPs. Free childcare is provided! Learn more.

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out! We need people to fill and set out water pitchers, make almond butter and jam sandwiches for the kiddos, bus tables, distribute challah and wine/juice, put out song sheets, and more! Sign up here to volunteer.

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

Weekly/Biweekly 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. All are welcome.
(On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon, including on Saturday, January 18.)

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (On January 4, there will be a Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat. Also, note that the Tot Shabbat for January is now taking place a on Saturday, January 11. 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. 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, 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.

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org in advance.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Tevet
7 pm, Sunday, January 5 – Meeting in Zoom Room Heh during the winter; future gatherings to take place in Zoom Room Heh or in Inner NE.
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month at 7 pm on the Sunday closest to the New Moon, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions; all are welcome. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.

How Precious the Ground Book Discussion: Ch. 5, 6, and Epilogue
[Note Date & Zoom Room Changes]
5 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday, January 7 — Zoom Room Heh
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a discussion of Chapters 5, 6, and Epilogue from How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. Each chapter stands on its own; no worries if this will be your first time joining us. All are welcome. Zoom info will be shared when you register. (The author will speak to Havurahniks via Zoom on Monday, Jan. 13!) RSVP

Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Wednesdays, Jan. 8 to Jun. 18 — Havurah Shalom
Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary. RSVP to join this course.

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, January 9 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager-Mesulam (member login needed to access directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! Learn more.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, January 11 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

Rabbi Shelly to Speak to Havurahniks
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a discussion with Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis, author of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth. Dr. Adriane Leveen, Bible Scholar and Climate Activist writes, “Lewis conveys the many ways in which the Hebrew Bible celebrates the natural world as a sacred creation that we must cherish and work to preserve. His words are glorious, his vision illuminating. Reading his book fills me with joy. Learn more & RSVP

Make Your Own Haggadah
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Mondays, January 13, 20, 27 and February 3 - Zoom Room Heh
Adults and teens, put your own mark on the seder by making your own Haggadah to tell the story of the Exodus! We'll meet four times and focus on choosing and making art, selecting readings to include, selecting songs for a songbook and playlist, and telling the story of the plagues. At the end, you will have a document you can print or share to be used at your seder, along with a songbook and playlist you can sing along with! Led by Carolina Martinez. Learn more and RSVP.

Teen Engagement Meeting
7 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, January 13 — Havurah Shalom
Havurahniks, tune your instrument, warm up your voice, and head down to the Havurah music jam! Join the January Jam, this month led by Hannah Truehaft. All players and singers are welcome for a fun evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Our songbook includes Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. Can't wait to sing and play with you! RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, January 14 (second Tues-days) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of govern-ance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Com-mittee meetings. Members will be able to view a draft meeting agenda on Havurah’s calendar page for the Jan. 14 Steering meeting.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, January 18 (Third Saturdays) – 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 with Bar Mitzvah of Nathaniel "Nat" Fox
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 18 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Nathanial "Nat" Fox as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah Shalom Office Closure: January 20 (MLK Day)
The Havurah office will be closed on Monday, January 20 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Teen Tikkun Olam: The Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers (FSSW) Coat Sort
11 am to 2 pm, Monday, January 20 – Lewis & Clark College in the Stamm Dining Hall (Located in the Fowler Student Center)
Tikkun Olam opportunity for Havurah teens on MLK, Jr. Day! Join us to sort coats being donated to various charities by Columbia Sportswear, or-ganized by Teen Engagement Committee and the Friends of Seasonal and Service Workers. RSVP.

B’khol Levav’kha: Meeting this Moment Wholeheartedly – An Evening of Meditation and Connection
6:30 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, January 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
We’ll gather for spiritual practice and spiritual community as we enter this new chapter in our country. Interweaving guided meditation, song, and space for reflection and sharing, we’ll draw from our tradition’s spiritual resources as we accompany and support each other during this time of transition. We’ll also leave some time for informal connection and community. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions. All are welcome. RSVP.

History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6 – Havurah Shalom

Who are the Sephardic Jews? What is their history and what is their language? We will focus on the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal who settled in the Ottoman Empire and their language, Ladino. You will learn where they lived, the communities they formed, and what happened to them in the Holocaust and post-Holocaust. You will be exposed to Sephardic culture, music, and literature. You will get a taste of the Ladino language, how it formed, how it was used, its literature, and its proverbs. If you speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. If you don’t speak modern Spanish, you should take this class. Led by Roger Brewer. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, January 2 - RSVP for Zoom login
From the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: (1) Training presented by John Calhoun: "Advocacy in Oregon: A Lifestyle." John Calhoun is a volunteer lobbyist with a great deal of experience in how to talk to the people who need to know what best supports our citizens. We can learn from him how to make the right calls, write the convincing letter, and send our comments to the right people. (2) Alliance Advocacy Action Team: Opportunities for advocacy in the 2025 legislative session. (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.)

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January Newsletter
Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice January newsletter to learn about upcoming advocacy and accompaniment trainings. We also include links to multiple resources for helping to protect immigrants in our challenging times.

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. Please see the page 9 article in the December 2024 Hakol for more details!
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Out in the Community

Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively
10:30 am to 11:45 am, on seven alternating Sundays, January 5 to March 30 -– On Zoom and at Temple Emek Shalom (TES) in Ashland, Oregon
From Temple Emek Shalom: Join an 7-session class taught by Emily Simon to study mahloket l’shem shamayim (constructive disagreements) as a vital tool to generate critical thinking and personal growth. Text study can be used to increase the desire and ability to understand and engage more constructively with conflicting political opinions today. Each class will present a mahloket (disagreement) in classical Jewish texts that is relevant to a unique aspect of modern life and contemporary challenges. For a complete list of dates and topics click here. No Hebrew or prior study is necessary for this course. This class will be free for TES members and cost $120 for non-TES member households. If anyone needs financial assistance, please contact Rabbi Julie at rabbijulie@emekshalom.org. You can register for the class here.

18th Annual Winter Sephardic Film Festival
7 pm to 9 pm on second Tuesdays through April 2025 (next film showing is January 14) -– Congregation Ahavath Achim (6686 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland)
From Congregation Ahavath Achim: Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from December - April for a Sephardic Film followed by Sephardic desserts and discussion. (The Tuesday, January 14 film is Glickman.) For more information on this film festival, including a list of all films to be shown, click here.

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.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Happy Chanukah! Take Lost & Found Items (by Dec. 31), Havurah's Chanukah Celebration (Dec. 29), Solidarity Shabbat (Dec. 27), and More

Hineinu, December 24, 2024

Happy Hanukkah! Our Havurah Shalom Chanukah Celebration is This Sunday, Dec. 29 - All are welcome - RSVP
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 — Havurah Shalom (with a Zoom Room Aleph track of programming starting at 4:45 pm)
All are invited to celebrate the lights of Chanukah at Havurah Shalom! You can bring latkes for the latke contest, lovingly used items for the give-away/swap table, warm clothing for the tikkun olam winter drive, and kids and teens to enjoy games and the gaga pit! Fun for adults, teens, and children alike. Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). RSVP.

Havurah members, please sign up for a 15-minute greeter shift and/or any Chanukah Chelpers shift!

**More Havurahnik latke-bringers needed too!** Sign up to bring latkes when you RSVP to attend the celebration (or you can send Wendy Castineira an email ASAP letting her know you'll be bringing latkes).

Solidarity Shabbat This Friday, Dec. 27
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, December 27 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service, Chanukah celebration, and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory), or leave a question in your registration notes. Learn more and RSVP.

Havurahniks, would you like to sign up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up? (Non-members, be our guests!)

Pick Up Your Lost & Found Items at Havurah Shalom by Dec. 31 (Check Kitchen, Coat Room)
Attention Havurahniks! If you have left any items at the building, it is time to pick them up! The kitchen is filling up with platters, the closet is filling up with coats, and the lost and found is full of expensive water bottles, among lots of other things! Anything left by Jan. 1 will be donated to a thrift shop. Please don’t lose your stuff this way! Plan to stop by the kitchen and coat room next time you’re here, or make a special trip to rummage for your things. Questions? Please reach out to Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others.

Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, Jan. 10
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! 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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

Weekly/Biweekly 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. All are welcome.
(On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon, including on Saturday, January 18.)

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 are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (On January 4, there will be a Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat. Also, note that the Tot Shabbat for January is now taking place a on Saturday, January 11. 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. 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, 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.

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Havurah Shalom Office Closures: December 25
The Havurah office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, December 27 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service, Chanukah celebration, and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians — and for the liberation of all peoples — to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Free childcare provided! Please review Havurah's proposed Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided; the organizers request that all attendees who are able do so mask during the Grounding & Introduction and Service portions. A vegetarian snack buffet will be provided with gluten free and dairy free options. If you are able, you may also bring a small dish of your choice to share. We are a vegetarian (fish ok) facility. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink welcome! (Havurahniks, would you like to sign up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up? Non-members, be our guests!) Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory), or leave a question in your registration notes. Learn more and RSVP.

Chanukah Celebration
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 — Havurah Shalom (with a Zoom Room Aleph track of programming starting at 4:45 pm)
All are invited to celebrate the lights of Chanukah at Havurah Shalom!
Fun for adults, teens, and children alike. You can bring latkes for the latke contest, lovingly used items for the swap table/give-away table, warm clothing for the tikkun olam winter drive, and kids and teens to enjoy games and the gaga pit! (Havurahniks, sign up for a door greeter shift or Chanukah Chelper shift. Most shifts are 15 minutes.) Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). Learn More & RSVP.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, December 30 — Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP for the Dec. 30 letter-writing group if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory).

Havurah Shalom Office Closures: January 1
The Havurah office will be closed on Wednesday, January 1.

Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org in advance.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Tevet
7 pm, Sunday, January 5 – Meeting in Zoom Room Heh during the winter; future gatherings to take place in Zoom Room Heh or in Inner NE.
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month at 7 pm on the Sunday closest to the New Moon, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions; all are welcome. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.

Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Wednesdays, Jan. 8 to Jun. 18 — Havurah Shalom
Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary. RSVP to join this course.

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, January 9 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager-Mesulam (member login needed to access directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! Learn more.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, January 11 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

How Precious the Ground Book Discussion: Ch. 5, 6, and Epilogue
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a discussion of Chapters 5, 6, and Epilogue from How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. Each chapter stands on its own; no worries if this will be your first time joining us. Please RSVP. All are welcome. Zoom info will be shared when you register. (Book's author set to join for this conversation!)

Make Your Own Haggadah
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Mondays, January 13, 20, 27 and February 3 - Zoom Room Heh
Adults and teens, put your own mark on the seder by making your own Haggadah to tell the story of the Exodus! We'll meet four times and focus on choosing and making art, selecting readings to include, selecting songs for a songbook and playlist, and telling the story of the plagues. At the end, you will have a document you can print or share to be used at your seder, along with a songbook and playlist you can sing along with! Led by Carolina Martinez. Learn more and RSVP.

Teen Engagement Meeting
7 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, January 13 — Havurah Shalom
Monthly music jams are back! Tune your instrument, warm up your voice and head down to Havurah to jam with us. Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic--everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam

Havurah Shalom December Tikkun Olam Warm Clothing Drive
Throughout December, at Havurah Shalom
Gently used or new winter clothing and blankets are always needed and will be distributed as appropriate (likely to Rose Haven or to our own courtyard users). Questions? Contact Marcia Suttenberg (member login required to access directory).

Give-Away Tables at the Chanukah Party
During the Chanukah Party, will be availble from about 4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 -– Havurah Shalom
It’s fun to “shop” at the "Chanukah Give-Away!" Do you have toys, games, puzzles, jewelry, books, woven baskets, blank journals, or other items in your house that you no longer use/need, and are in good shape, that someone—a child, teen, or adult—might like to receive as a gift? Then bring them to the Chanukah party at Havurah Shalom and put them on one of the give-away tables. Are you looking for a gift to give to someone, even yourself, for Chanukah, a birthday, or “because I love you”? Then come check out the give-away tables at the Chanukah party. You do not have to bring an item(s) to take an item(s). All items are free for the taking! Any items left on the tables at the end of the evening will be packed up and donated. Questions about the give-away table? Reach out to Elianne Lieberman.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, January 2 - RSVP for Zoom login
From the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: (1) Training presented by John Calhoun: "Advocacy in Oregon: A Lifestyle." John Calhoun is a volunteer lobbyist with a great deal of experience in how to talk to the people who need to know what best supports our citizens. We can learn from him how to make the right calls, write the convincing letter, and send our comments to the right people. (2) Alliance Advocacy Action Team: Opportunities for advocacy in the 2025 legislative session. (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.)

After the Election, Advocacy is Essential; An Invitation to Havurah Members from the Tikkun Olam Cluster
Participation, from all of us, is needed now more than ever. Please join the existing Tikkun Olam listserv to be informed about action opportunities related to issues the five Tikkun Olam committees are focused on. Emails will be user-friendly and succinct. The intention of this proposal is to ensure that as many Havurahniks as possible have access to relevant information about opportunities and actions that we believe can be impactful. Please see the page 9 article in the December 2024 Hakol for more details!
Havurahniks, to be added to Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam listserv, send an email to tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: Add to Tikkun Olam Google Group.

Check Out the Temperature Tapestries at Havurah Shalom
Throughout the month of December — Havurah Shalom Social Hall
From Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT): Through the rest of December, a Temperature Tapestry exhibition will hang in the social hall: bright graphs constructed of yarn with colors representing the high temperature in Portland each day of a chosen year. Looking across the decades represented by these tapestry graphs, from the 1940s to the 2020s, you will see evidence of warming weather, with earlier heat, less cold winters, and longer summers. We hope this exhibit inspires you to pay attention and take action. Read, gather and discuss, ask questions, make calls, write letters, keep the issues public. If you would also like to knit the evidence, many websites have reliable historic weather records. Learn more by checking out the bottom of page 3 and top of page 4 of the most recent issue of Hakol.

Out in the Community

Some of the Many Chanukah Gatherings Out in the Community (click links for details):
- Dec. 25 at 4 pm - Public menorah lighting with Chabad, with former hostage Judith Raanan joining, in Pioneer Square (701 SW 6th Avenue)
- Dec. 25 at 6 pm - Kesser Israel Chanukah Party (6698 SW Capitol Hwy)
- Dec. 26 at 4 pm - Live Chanukah concert at Rose Schnitzer Manor (6140 SW Boundary Street).
- Dec. 26 at 5:30 pm - The People's Courts Hanukkah Party and EJC Benefit (2700 NE 82nd Avenue)

Israeli Folk Dancing Chanukah Party
7:30 pm to 10 pm, Monday, Dec. 30 -– Leedy Grange Hall (835 NW Saltzman Rd, Portland)
Join the Portland Israeli Dance community for a night of music, dance, celebration and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). As we head into the darkest time of the year, we will light Chanukah candles, sing songs, and dance together. All are welcome: beginners through advanced, kids and adults of all ages. Not a dancer? No worries, we will teach you a few basic steps at 7:30 pm. More info here. $10 at the door, cash or Venmo. (Havurahniks with questions can reach out to Cindy Merrill, whose contact info is in the member directory.)

Enjoy Gelt from Divine Chocolate? You Can Support Tru'ah: The Rabbinal Call for Human Rights by Ordering "T'ruah Gelt" on the Page Linked Below
From Divine Chocolate: Divine Chocolate is proud to partner with T'ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights to promote Kosher Fair Trade gelt this Chanukah. On Chanukah, we celebrate the miracles of ages past. The Talmud teaches us, however, "לא סמכינן אניסא" "We don't rely on miracles" (Kiddushin 39b); instead of waiting for a miracle, we take action to establish a world that is safe and just for everyone. This Chanukah, we take one concrete step toward the "miracle" of protecting the human rights of all workers, empowering farmers, and ending labor abuses in the cocoa industry. To learn more about our partnership and T'ruah's campaigns for worker justice, go to Truah.org. ... Divine Chocolate is pleased to donate 10% of Chanukah gelt sales on this page to the work of T'ruah.

Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively
10:30 am to 11:45 am, on seven alternating Sundays, January 5 to March 30 -– On Zoom and at Temple Emek Shalom (TES) in Ashland, Oregon
From Temple Emek Shalom: Join an 7-session class taught by Emily Simon to study mahloket l’shem shamayim (constructive disagreements) as a vital tool to generate critical thinking and personal growth. Text study can be used to increase the desire and ability to understand and engage more constructively with conflicting political opinions today. Each class will present a mahloket (disagreement) in classical Jewish texts that is relevant to a unique aspect of modern life and contemporary challenges. For a complete list of dates and topics click here. No Hebrew or prior study is necessary for this course. This class will be free for TES members and cost $120 for non-TES member households. If anyone needs financial assistance, please contact Rabbi Julie at rabbijulie@emekshalom.org. You can register for the class here.

18th Annual Winter Sephardic Film Festival
7 pm to 9 pm on second Tuesdays through April 2025 (next film showing is January 14) -– Congregation Ahavath Achim (6686 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland)
From Congregation Ahavath Achim: Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from December - April for a Sephardic Film followed by Sephardic desserts and discussion. (The Tuesday, January 14 film is Glickman.) For more information on this film festival, including a list of all films to be shown, click here.

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.

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Havurah Shalom

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