Hineinu, September 4, 2024

Check out the many classes and other activities scheduled for the month of Elul in September! RSVP for something today.

TONIGHT: Havurah Community Meeting to Discuss
Co-sponsorship of JFGP October 7th Memorial Event
7:30 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, September 4
— Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph

Havurah members, you are invited to join tonight's community meeting, which the Havurah Presidents Team announced in an August 29 email. Tonight's upcoming community meeting was further discussed in the recently published September 2024 Hakol, page 1 and page 3.

Again, this gathering will now be taking place both in person at Havurah Shalom and online in Zoom Room Aleph. Please refer to the RSVP page for more information.

Join Our Next Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration, Now in a New Format! — Friday, September 13
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly hearty nosh before and nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! No registration needed. Free childcare provided.

5:45 pm — Hearty nosh (in person at Havurah)
6:30 pm — Service (in person at Havurah and in Zoom Room Aleph)
7:30 pm — Oneg nosh plus dessert (in person at Havurah)
 
Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30 pm; the in-person nosh and dessert will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. You can also find Zoom Room Aleph info here (member log-in is required to access Zoom info online).
 
Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out. Check out the Sept. 13 Volunteer Sign-up Sheet!
——
Important Note: This Kabbalat Shabbat will be in the new format described by the Kabbalat Shabbat Committee on page 1 of the August 2024 Hakol; we encourage you to read about this change!

RSVP for Latino/Latine Heritage Gathering at Havurah
5 pm to 8 pm, Monday, September 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join the Havurah community as we celebrate Latino Heritage Month!
Havurahnik Victor Grimaldi will introduce a documentary about the "Chicano!" movement made possible by labor leaders Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez.  Our good friend Keren Rodriguez with IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice) will facilitate the Q&A and discuss personal experiences, the impact of the movement, and what we learn from the film. And we will enjoy delicious Latin American food, made locally in the Portland area. Please join this in-person event at Havurah Shalom. All are welcome. RSVP requested by Friday, Sept. 13. 

The Cost of Free Land, Book Discussion with Havurahnik Author Rebecca Clarren
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, September 25 - Havurah Shalom & Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome to this Elul event from Havurah's Racial Justice Committee: Havurah member Rebecca Clarren will be in person at Havurah for a book presentation and signing of her award-winning book, The Cost of Free Land. The book investigates the entangled history of her Jewish ancestors’ land in South Dakota and the Lakota people, who were forced off that land by the United States government. Non-members are invited! You can find more information and RSVP here.

General Info

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

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

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

Regular Havurah Happenings

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

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti, September 7; Emma Blau, September 14) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome.

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

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

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

Upcoming Havurah Events

Daily Shofar
All day, every day (except on Shabbat) from September 4 to October 1 –  Havurah's YouTube page (for everyone) and Facebook page (for Havurah members)
Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts & a touch of kavannah. Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages to watch as you are able.

Havurah Community Meeting to Discuss Co-sponsorship of JFGP October 7th Memorial Event
7:30 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, September 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Havurah members, you are invited to join tonight's community meeting, which the Havurah Presidents Team announced in an August 29 email. Your RSVP is appreciated.

The Torah in the High Holydays
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, September 5 to 26 – Havurah Shalom
There are four Torah readings during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We will take four 90-minute sessions and look at each of the Torah readings. We will look at the readings through the four ways of studying Torah: P'shat (literal, simple, plain, intended meaning), Remez (alluded meaning, “reading between the lines”), D’rash (drawn-out meaning; Midrash – “concept”); and Sod (hidden meaning). This will be a participatory class where we use the combined knowledge of the group to increase the knowledge of each of us. Please come prepared to delve into the text and share your thoughts. Fluency in Hebrew is not required. Led by David Dropkin. All are welcome. RSVP

Shabbat Morning with B'nei Mitzvah of Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, September 7 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming as members of our community Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven as a Bar Mitzvah and Molly Faccinetti as a Bat Mitzvah. All are welcome.

Connecting Past with Present: May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 8 (at Havurah)
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 22 (at Havurah)
7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 24 (on Zoom)
7-8:30 pm on Monday, Sept. 30 (on Zoom)
Make your memory of a deceased family member or friend into a blessing by attending one of four gatherings during the month of Elul to share a story and hear a story. These September gatherings are part of Havurah Shalom’s “Arc of Remembrance” programming in preparation for Yizkor (Service of Remembrance) on Yim Kippur afternoon. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP for the Sept. 8 session (or choose a different session and RSVP).

Drash as Prayer and Teaching
7 pm, Sundays, Sept. 8, 15, 22 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
What moves you? Want to learn how to tie that into Torah to help inspire and move others? Havurah community minyan is often looking for members to write and give a drash. Drashot can be made to honor a birthday or yahrzeit, or you may speak on a topic that calls for understanding and prayer. Join Harriet Cooke to learn and practice how to write a drash. Bring a notebook and pen. All are welcome. RSVP
 
Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, September 9 - Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Fleece Blanket Making for Community Warehouse
1 pm to 3 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 10 — Havurah
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 25 — Havurah
Join the Poverty and Homelessness Committee and Teen Engagement Committee as we assemble ten no-sew fleece blanket kits to be donated to Community Warehouse. The evening session on Sept. 25 will be led by the teens. No experience necessary. Bring a sharp pair of sewing scissors if you have one. Contact Julie Hastings with questions. All are welcome. RSVP for the Sept. 10 session and/or RSVP for the Sept. 25 session.
 
Hebrew for Prayer: A Close Look at Key Prayers for the High Holidays
6:30 pm, Tuesdays, Sept. 10, 17 — Havurah Shalom
Come explore key prayers of the High Holiday liturgy. We will be looking through the lens of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary in order to gain some translation skills and find essential meanings of the prayer(s). It is helpful to be able to decode the aleph-bet, although not necessary if you are comfortable with transliteration. Led by Patty Magid-Volk. All are welcome. RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, September 10 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. Click here for Zoom login links (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).

Make a Jewish Calendar 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18 — Zoom Room Bet
We will make a paper Jewish wall calendar and datebook (paper or virtual) for the coming Jewish year together in two two-hour sessions. Led by Carolina Martinez, the class is geared toward school-age children, teens and adults. You choose the themes and formatting for your calendar and planner and Carolina Martinez helps you find a starting point and resources and guides you in the assembly. Please RSVP so Carolina can plan ahead and send materials in advance for printing and for class use. All are welcome. RSVP and learn more

Kabbalat Shabbat Service (in the New Format!)
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Oneg Nosh plus Dessert, Friday, September 13  – Havurah Shalom (and also in Zoom Room Aleph at 6:30 pm for the Service)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly hearty nosh before and nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! No registration needed. Free childcare provided.
5:45 pm — Hearty Nosh (in person at Havurah)
6:30 pm — Service (in person at Havurah and in Zoom Room Aleph)
7:30 pm — Oneg Nosh plus Dessert (in person at Havurah)
Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help! Check out the Sept. 13 volunteer sign-up sheet.

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Emma Blau
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, September 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Emma Blau as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Latino/Latine Heritage Gathering
5 pm to 8 pm, Monday, September 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join the Havurah community as we celebrate Latino Heritage Month!
Havurahnik Victor Grimaldi will introduce a documentary about the "Chicano!" movement made possible by labor leaders Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez.  Our good friend Keren Rodriguez with IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice) will facilitate the Q&A and discuss personal experiences, the impact of the movement, and what we learn from the film. And we will enjoy delicious Latin American food, made locally in the Portland area. Please join this in-person event at Havurah Shalom. All are welcome. RSVP requested by Friday, Sept. 13.

Exploring the Torah: Authors, Eras, and Agendas
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Mondays, Sept. 16, 23, 30 — Zoom Room Bet
Torah was a massive, multi-century writing and editing project. We’ll dip into by whom and for whom, when, where—and why. Inspired by the work of Gil Kidron. Led by Howard Patterson. All are welcome. RSVP

High Holidays in Places You Might Not Expect
7 pm, Thursday, Sept. 19 — Havurah Shalom
Soon we will be celebrating the High Holidays as we do every year, and maybe similarly to how we marked these holidays when we were growing up. Yet, did you know that there are many extraordinary Jewish communities around the world celebrating our new year with so much exuberance? While there are similarities between how the holidays are observed here and elsewhere, there are many differences as well. Come learn about how Jews in parts of India, Southern Italy, various countries of Africa, and several other global communities celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur! Led by Judi Kloper, a Havurah member who serves on the board of Kulanu, an international nonprofit that supports isolated, emerging, and returning Jews and Jewish communities worldwide. All are welcome. RSVP


Multiy-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, September 21 — 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. Email info@havurahshalom.org for Zoom link. All are welcome.

Siddur Repair Workshop
1 pm to 5 pm, Saturday, Sept 21 — Havurah Shalom
Would you like to learn some basic book mending skills and help mend our many siddurim? Joe Clement, a Havurah member who works for Multnomah County Library, is offering a tutorial and tikkun workshop. All are welcome. Tools will be provided, but please RSVP so we know how many we need.

Teen Honey Cake Baking
10 am, Sunday, Sept. 22 — Havurah Shalom
The Teen Engagement Committee invites all Havurah teens to learn how to bake honey cake to share with family and friends as we start the New Year with a sweet treat. All are welcome. RSVP
 
Birding Together
10 am to 12 pm (noon), Sunday, Sept. 22 — Sellwood Park
Meet at the Sellwood Park parking lot at SE 7th Ave and Sellwood Blvd for a leisurely walk to look for birds. Join experienced birders Cindy and Andrew Merrill to see how many different species we can find and identify together. Birding expertise is not required, but interest in nature is helpful. We’ll walk from the parking lot down a gradual slope to a dirt and gravel path to the wetland. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers, and bikes and dogs are not permitted. Questions? Call, text, or email Cindy Merrill (member login required to access directory). All are welcome. Read other key event info and RSVP.

Safety Corner

More Tikkun Olam 

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

Out in the Community

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

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, August 21, 2024

Check out the many classes and other activities scheduled for the month of Elul in September! RSVP for something today.

Sponsorship Policies and Decisions at Havurah 
Havurah Shalom was recently invited to co-sponsor a Community Memorial Service to Commemorate October 7, organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland (JFGP). To learn more about how the Steering Committee has been considering this request, please read this update from the Presidents' team.

Save the Date: September 13 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (in the New Format!)
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 Oneg, Friday, September 13 – Havurah Shalom (Service to be shared in Zoom Room Aleph)
Please save the date for our upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration on Friday, September 13! A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. All are welcome! Remember, this Kabbalat Shabbat will be in the new format described by the Kabbalat Shabbat Committee in the August 2024 Hakol.  

2 Ways to Share Your High Holidays Reflections: Please Send by Aug. 26
 
Write a 3- to 4-minute reflection to share during a High Holiday service. This year we do not have a congregational theme. We invite you to share your insights on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether they arise from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season. (The more personal the reflection, the more powerful. Share a story or experience that shaped you to help us connect more powerfully to what you’re saying.)

Create and share artwork, photography, and other physical media that reflect on any aspect of the High Holidays experience. Your work will help transform Havurah's social hall into a visual art gallery that lets us celebrate and contemplate the themes of the High Holidays and the month of Elul. The gallery will be in place from September to to the end of the holidays. More information here.
 
Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of October 2 and Yom Kippur begins on the evening of October 11. Please send your reflections via email to rachel@havurahshalom.org by August 26.

Musicians of ALL ages invited to help lead Rosh Hashanah Family Service!
We are trying something new this year for the family (ages 5+) Rosh Hashanah service! Alicia, Hannah and Ethan (Shabbat School parents who have co-led the service for the past few years) would like to experiment with adding more music to the service (10 am, Thursday Oct. 3). Our dream is to assemble a kid-centric, adults-welcome band to play 5 classic Rosh Hashanah songs as part of the service. All instruments and singers welcome. We will teach you the songs! We ask that kids be comfortable on their instruments, able to be respectful as prayer leaders, and available for at least one rehearsal on a Saturday afternoon in September. More details TBD!

Please email Alicia Jo Rabins to sign up or if you have any questions. 

General Info

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

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

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

Regular Havurah Happenings

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

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Eyal Casama Gerber, August 24; Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti, September 7) are listed below and in the website calendar.

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

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

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

Upcoming Havurah Events

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Eyal Casama Gerber
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, August 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Eyal Casama Gerber as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Annual Havurah Teen Picnic: Pizza, Potluck, Music, Fun, Games
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, August 25 – Sellwood Park
All Havurah teens entering grades 7+ and their parents/guardians are welcome to join us at Sellwood Park for food and kehillah! Pizza and drinks will be provided by the Teen Engagement Committee. Please round out our offerings by bringing your favorite salad or dessert to share. We will have cornhole, badminton, ladderball, volleyball, football, soccer ball and frisbee. Any other equipment you'd like to contribute is enthusiastically welcome! Contact Michelle Bobowick and Andy Waxman for more info. RSVP

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, August 26 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, August 26 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold our monthly letter writing group on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.

Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, September 2
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Labor Day.

Daily Shofar
All day, every day (except on Shabbat) from September 4 to October 1 –  Havurah's YouTube page and Facebook page
Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts & a touch of kavannah. Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages to watch as you are able.

The Torah in the High Holydays
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, September 5 to 26 – Havurah Shalom
There are four Torah readings during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We will take four 90-minute sessions and look at each of the Torah readings. We will look at the readings through the four ways of studying Torah: P'shat (literal, simple, plain, intended meaning), Remez (alluded meaning, “reading between the lines”), D’rash (drawn-out meaning; Midrash – “concept”); and Sod (hidden meaning). This will be a participatory class where we use the combined knowledge of the group to increase the knowledge of each of us. Please come prepared to delve into the text and share your thoughts. Fluency in Hebrew is not required. Led by David Dropkin. RSVP

Shabbat Morning with B'nei Mitzvah of Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, September 7 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming as members of our community Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven as a Bar Mitzvah and Molly Faccinetti as a Bat Mitzvah.

Connecting Past with Present: May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 8 (at Havurah)
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 22 (at Havurah)
7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 24 (on Zoom)
7-8:30 pm on Monday, Sept. 30 (on Zoom)
Make your memory of a deceased family member or friend into a blessing by attending one of four gatherings during the month of Elul to share a story and hear a story. These September gatherings are part of Havurah Shalom’s “Arc of Remembrance” programming in preparation for Yizkor (Service of Remembrance) on Yim Kippur afternoon. Learn more and RSVP for the Sept. 8 session (or choose a different session and RSVP).

Drash as Prayer and Teaching
7 pm, Sundays, Sept. 8, 15, 22 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
What moves you? Want to learn how to tie that into Torah to help inspire and move others? Havurah community minyan is often looking for members to write and give a drash. Drashot can be made to honor a birthday or yahrzeit, or you may speak on a topic that calls for understanding and prayer. Join Harriet Cooke to learn and practice how to write a drash. Bring a notebook and pen. RSVP
 
Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, September 9 - Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Fleece Blanket Making for Community Warehouse
1 pm to 3 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 10 — Havurah
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 25 — Havurah
Join the Poverty and Homelessness Committee and Teen Engagement Committee as we assemble ten no-sew fleece blanket kits to be donated to Community Warehouse. The evening session on Sept. 25 will be led by the teens. No experience necessary. Bring a sharp pair of sewing scissors if you have one. Contact Julie Hastings with questions. RSVP for the Sept. 10 session and/or RSVP for the Sept. 25 session.
 
Hebrew for Prayer: A Close Look at Key Prayers for the High Holidays
6:30 pm, Tuesdays, Sept. 10, 17 — Havurah Shalom
Come explore key prayers of the High Holiday liturgy. We will be looking through the lens of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary in order to gain some translation skills and find essential meanings of the prayer(s). It is helpful to be able to decode the aleph-bet, although not necessary if you are comfortable with transliteration. Led by Patty Magid-Volk. RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, September 10 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).

Make a Jewish Calendar 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18 — Zoom Room Bet
We will make a paper Jewish wall calendar and datebook (paper or virtual) for the coming Jewish year together in two two-hour sessions. Led by Carolina Martinez, the class is geared toward school-age children, teens and adults. You choose the themes and formatting for your calendar and planner and Carolina Martinez helps you find a starting point and resources and guides you in the assembly. Please RSVP so Carolina can plan ahead and send materials in advance for printing and for class use. RSVP and learn more

Safety Corner

More Tikkun Olam 

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

Out in the Community

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, August 7, 2024

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

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

Check out the many classes and other activities scheduled for the month of Elul in September! RSVP for something today.

Musicians of ALL ages invited to help lead RH Family Service!
We are trying something new this year for the family (ages 5+) Rosh Hashana service! Alicia, Hannah and Ethan (Shabbat School parents who have co-led the service for the past few years) would like to experiment with adding more music to the service (10 am, Thursday Oct. 3). Our dream is to assemble a kid-centric, adults-welcome band to play 5 classic Rosh Hashanah songs as part of the service. All instruments and singers welcome. We will teach you the songs! We ask that kids be comfortable on their instruments, able to be respectful as prayer leaders, and available for at least one rehearsal on a Saturday afternoon in September. More details TBD!

Please email Alicia Jo Rabins to sign up or if you have any questions. 

2 Ways to Share Your High Holidays Reflections
 
Write a 3- to 4-minute reflection to share during a High Holiday service. This year we do not have a congregational theme. We invite you to share your insights on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether they arise from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season. (The more personal the reflection, the more powerful. Share a story or experience that shaped you to help us connect more powerfully to what you’re saying.)

Create and share artwork, photography, and other physical media that reflect on any aspect of the High Holidays experience. Your work will help transform Havurah's social hall into a visual art gallery that lets us celebrate and contemplate the themes of the High Holidays and the month of Elul. The gallery will be in place from September to to the end of the holidays. More information here.
 
Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of October 2 and Yom Kippur begins on the evening of October 11. Please send your reflections via email to rachel@havurahshalom.org by August 26.

Havurah Member Comment Period Open for Policy on Enhanced Security at Havurah
Havurah Shalom members are invited to review the following policy proposal draft that will guide leadership’s decision-making in times of heightened security concerns. Please read the draft carefully and email Joel Bettridge (makom@havurahshalom.org) to discuss any response, feedback, or suggestions. You may also send your response to the Transparency and Inclusivity Committee (transparency@havurahshalom.org) if you are more comfortable doing so and your response will be passed along anonymously.
 
Your feedback is highly desired and will be considered seriously as the policy is prepared to be submitted to Steering. Deadline to comment is August 14.
 
Due to sensitive contents, Havurah members must be logged in to view the link below. Thank you!

A Message from the Spiritual Life Committee on Hybrid Services and the Big Screen

We are evolving! Covid introduced Zoom-only services. As the pandemic receded, we evolved to “hybrid services.” This allowed in-person and Zoom participation. We purchased equipment that allowed Zoom participants to be heard and seen. They could effectively lead services, chant Torah, and be heard, saying names for healing prayers and Kaddish. In “early hybrid”, the large screen was placed in the front of the service space, not far from the Bima. 

Today, we want to make sure Zoom participants can be as fully engaged and fully present as possible. For this “late hybrid” stage, the large screen is being placed at the back of the sanctuary space. The Zoom participants are facing forward, easily addressed by those on the bima and not “on display” and a distraction for some, at the front of the space. The pandemic gave us the tools to allow members and guests to participate even when they can't come in person. They can hear and be heard and, if desired, be seen. We don’t want to lose this.
  
Important note: the use of the screen during Shabbat services is not optional (unless special provisions have been made, and notice provided to potential Zoom participants that the service will be exclusively in-person.) Buff Neretin and Josh Hankin are Zoom hosts for Shabbat mornings and holiday services. For smaller services, like the Morning Minyan (Wednesdays, 8:30-9 am), the screen placement may be up front to involve and engage with the Zoomers more, and Zoom set-up will be the responsibility of the participants.

Questions? Please be in touch with Sam Sirkin.

General Info

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

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

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

Regular Havurah Happenings

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

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Sebastian Mellman, August 10; Eyal Casama Gerber, August 24) are listed below and in the website calendar.

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

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

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

Upcoming Havurah Events

Racial Justice Monthly Meeting
7 to 8:30 pm, August 8 — Zoom Room Bet
Please join the monthly Racial Justice Committee meeting to learn what we are up to, see how you can engage, and learn with us! This committee is open to all members—whether you have joined before or not!!

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

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

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

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

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, August 17 (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 Eyal Casama Gerber
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, August 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Eyal Casama Gerber as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

More Tikkun Olam 

Poverty and Homelessness Committee
Volunteer on First Wednesdays at the Ortiz Center Free Food Market
9 am to 12 pm, first Wednesdays — Oregon Food Bank Ortiz Center Free Food Market (6736 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, Oregon)
Havurahniks (ages 16+) are invited and encouraged to pitch in at the  Ortiz Center Free Food Market on First Wednesdays. Want to ask an experienced Havurahnik about it? Email Judi Kloper.

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

Out in the Community

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

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

Hineinu, July 24, 2024

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

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

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

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

General Info

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

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

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

Regular Havurah Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Havurah Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Tikkun Olam 

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

Safety Corner

Out in the Community

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms


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

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, July 10, 2024

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

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

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

General Info

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

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

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

Regular Havurah Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Havurah Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Tikkun Olam 

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

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

Safety Corner

Out in the Community

Parking Available for Havurah Events

Legacy has generously given us permission to park in its lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on weekdays after