Havurah Updates - Havurah Shalom

Hineinu: Tot Shabbat & Parenting Huddles, Tikkun Olam & Learning Opportunities, Gearing Up for Chanukah

Hineinu, December 4, 2024

Our Next Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration is on Friday, December 13 - Come Join In!
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, December 13 – Havurah Shalom (the 6:30 pm Service in Zoom Room Aleph as well)

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! All who would like to do so are also invited to make a Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration donation.

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out! Check out the volunteer sign-up for the December 13 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration.

The December 13 Kabbalat Shabbat will also feature hand-crafted temperature tapestries in our Social Hall, an exhibit from Havurah's Climate Action Team (learn more on the bottom of page 3 and the top of page 4 of the December 2024 issue of Hakol).

Havurah Members to Share Experience Volunteering with Center for Jewish Nonviolence in the West Bank
4 pm to 5:30 pm, Sunday December 15 — Havurah Shalom

Havurah Members Matthew Nelkin and Dale Oller invite you to join for an in-person Havurah gathering in which they will share their experiences volunteering with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV) last August in the South Hebron Hills of Masafer Yatta.

From Dale and Matthew: In solidarity with the Palestinian villagers, we witnessed the joys and difficulties of two different villages. Our role as “protection presence” provided the honor to support these villagers, bear witness and bring home these experiences to share with our community.

The afternoon will be moderated by Havurahnik Sally Goldman, who participated previously as a CJNV volunteer.
All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike.
See the Sunday, Dec. 15 Havurah event page. |
See a packet on the CJNV’s work.

Save the Date &
RSVP for Our Chanukah Celebration
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option, 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 (a.k.a., gift give-away table), warm clothing for the tikkun olam winter drive, and kids and teens to enjoy games and the gaga pit!

There will also be a Zoom track of programming for those who would like to join us online at 4:45 pm.

Click to Learn More & RSVP

General Info

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

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

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

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, December 21.)

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 (Ezrah Szego, December 21) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (Tot Shabbat is set to take place on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 am.)

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

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, December 7 – 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

Parenting Huddle: What to do with the G Word (God)?
3:10 am to 4:30 am, Saturday, December 7 – Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents/guardians/grandparents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other.
For the Dec. 7 Parenting Huddle: All are welcome in this discussion – ardent atheists, those with a strong God relationship, those with questions, clarity, skepticism, enthusiasm, and everything in between. Facilitated by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Member and non-member parents/guardians/grandparents welcome; please RSVP by December 4.

Cancelled: Create a Personal Chanukah Card
4 pm to 5:15 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Zoom Room Bet

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, December 9 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 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).

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday (2nd Thursdays), December 12 – 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. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, December 13
5:45 pm (Hearthy Nosh), 6:30 pm (Service), 7:30 (Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert), Friday, December 13 – Havurah Shalom (and 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 need to RSVP, but please see the Dec. 13 event page for important information.

Parenting Huddle: Will the Real Chanukah Please Stand Up? And Other December Dilemmas
3:10 pm to 4:30 pm, Saturday, December 14 — Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents/guardians/grandparents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. For the Dec. 14 Parenting Huddle, Havurah parents and grandparents of all backgrounds and with (grand)children of any age, please join us as we look into the contentious historical roots of Chanukah, many of which parallel questions of cultural and religious identity that we still contend with today, as well as its evolution through time. We will try to articulate what we want Chanukah to really be about for our families at this point as well as discuss the particular challenges that our diverse families face at this time of year as well. Bring your thoughts, questions, family traditions, recipes, favorite children's Chanukah books, etc. Facilitated by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Member and non-member parents/guardians/grandparents welcome; please RSVP by December 11.

Havurah Members to Share Experience Volunteering with Center for Jewish Nonviolence in the West Bank
4 pm to 5:30 pm, Sunday December 15 — Havurah Shalom
Havurah Members Matthew Nelkin and Dale Oller invite you to join for an in-person Havurah gathering in which they will share their experiences volunteering with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJNV) last August in the South Hebron Hills of Masafer Yatta. The afternoon will be moderated by Havurahnik Sally Goldman, who participated previously as a CJNV volunteer. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike.See the Sunday, Dec. 15 Havurah event page. |
See a packet on the CJNV’s work.

Teen Tikkun Olam Food Prep
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 15 -– Havurah Shalom
For Havurah teens. We will be baking, making sandwiches, and preparing other edible items to support members of P:ear or Blanchet House. RSVP

HCAT Invites You to Discuss Chapters of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth — Author to Join Final Meeting!
5 pm to 6 pm, Mondays, Dec. 16 (Ch. 3 & 4) and Jan. 13 (Ch. 5, 6, and Epilogue) -– Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) in Zoom Room Gimel for a slow read of 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. Rabbi Sheldon, the author of the book, will be joining us for the Jan. 13 discussion! Books are available at BookShop.org. If you're interested in purchasing an inscribed copy directly from the author, email Elianne Lieberman (member login required to access directory) for purchasing info. All are welcome. You’ll receive Zoom info upon registering. RSVP for Dec. 16 | RSVP for Jan. 13

Havurahnik Summer Camp Songs Singalong and Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, December 16 — Havurah Shalom
Havurahniks, come join the combined instrumental jam and singalong groups to play and sing summer camp songs. You'll have to imagine the fire and the smoke ... Together we'll revisit those magic memories of camp. Everyone will have the opportunity to request their favorite songs. Bring a copy of Rise Up Singing, mark your calendars, and RSVP. Can't wait to sing and play together!

Book Group: The Diary Keepers by Nina Siegel (on Zoom only)
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 17 — 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. For December, we invite you to read and discuss … The Diary Keepers by Nina Siegel (nonfiction, 544 pages). The Diary Keepers in an account of WWII and the Holocaust through the diaries of Dutch citizens, firsthand accounts of ordinary people living in extraordinary times… both Jew and gentile. Discussion led by Yvonne Cohen. Both members of Havurah and non-members are welcome. You can join on Dec. 17 via Zoom. RSVP for Zoom info.

Dreams in the Torah, Dreams in Our Lives
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesdays, Dec. 3, 17; Jan. 7, 21; Feb. 4, 18 — Havurah Shalom
Dreams are important messages in the Torah and, some say, from our unconscious minds. We will explore the dreams of our ancestors as a prelude to sharing and learning about our own dreams, using a facilitated process from the Haden Institute, based in Jungian, Gestalt and Jeremy Taylor methodologies. Facilitated by Adela Basayne. Limited to 8 participants. (You can still join starting with the next session on Dec. 17. A few spots are still available as of now.) RSVP to join this course.

Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (Now Starting on January 8)
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.

Hakol Submission Deadline is Thursday, December 19
The deadline for submissions to the January 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, December 19. Havurah members: To read the submission guidelines and submit your short articles, go to HavurahShalom.org > News > Submit News & Requests > Click on the Hakol Submission Form. Or click on this link to go directly to the Hakol submission form. Reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org), Havurah Participation and Publications Coordinator, if you have questions.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, December 21 (Third Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Ezrah Szego
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, December 21 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Ezrah Szego as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

More Tikkun Olam

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, December 5 – Westminster Presbyterian Church (1624 NE Hancock Street, Portland, Oregon)
From the IAP: The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty monthly meeting on December 5 will be in person. Our speaker will be Julia Nielson, Director of Organizing for Leaven Land and Housing Coalition, a statewide interfaith collective organizing people of faith to advocate for and steward faith land toward affordable and transitional housing. We will be serving lunch. Please RSVP by clicking on this link and completing the form. No other registration is required. The entrance to the meeting is across from the church parking lot on Hancock.
(Havurahniks, if you're interested in connecting with a fellow Havurah member who has long been involved in these IAP First Thursday meetings, please feel free to reach out to Sue Abrams; member login required to access the Havurah member directory.)

Havurah Shalom December Tikkun Olam Warm Clothing Drive (Especially Needed are *New* Gloves, Hats, and Socks!): Christmas Gifts for the Homeless to be Distributed at Congregation Beth Israel
A large basket is available at our sanctuary entryway for collection of holiday gifts for the homeless. Especially needed are *new* gloves, hats, and socks (which could include hand-knitted hats or scarves). These will be part of the 350 Holliday meal boxes / gift bags which will be distributed at Congregation Beth Israel on Christmas Day. Additionally gently used 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.

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice: December 2024 Newsletter
From the JCIJ: Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice December newsletter to learn about our upcoming legislative priorities, the asylum and legal clinics we help organize, and some recent immigration news.

Green Bag Fill-up Time Approaches: Portland Food Project Picking Up (Potentially Early in the Day) on Saturday, Dec. 14
If you are participating in the Portland Food Project’s green bag program--which the Poverty and Homelessness Committee promoted at High Holidays--it’s time to fill up your Green Bag again. Saturday, December 14 is our next food collection day, unless you individually have a different pick-up day, which your Portland Food Project (PFP) neighborhood coordinator should email you about. Please have your Green Bag out in front of your house early. If you did not sign up to have a Portland Food Project volunteer come pick up your bag, you can do so here.

Out in the Community

Winter Marketplace at the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center) from ORA Northwest Jewish Artists; Havurah Chaverim Music on Thursday
Sunday, December 8 (11 am to 4 pm) and Monday, December 9 to Thursday, December 12 (9 am to 7 pm) – Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) (6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, Oregon)
ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is holding its annual Hanukkah Marketplace from December 8 to December 12 at the MJCC. Art, music, and storytelling. Stock up on gifts, be entertained, and support local artists. Free admission. See flyer for more information.
- Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website. And learn more about the individual ORA NW artists—a group that includes several Havurahniks in their number—and their artwork.
- The Havurah Chaverim, whom you will likely have seen leading music at our High Holiday services, will be playing live acoustic music for the closing reception at 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 12!

Congregation Shir Tikvah Pop-Up Hanukkah Market at the EJC
11 am to 2 pm, Sunday, Dec 8 – At the Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon)
Gifts by local Jewish artisans, gelt, wrapping paper, decor, dreidels, and more. Open to the community; all welcome.

Israeli Dancing for Chanukah
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, Dec. 18 — Leikam Brewery (5812 E Burnside St, Portland)
All are welcome to learn fun Israeli dances at the Leikam Brewery as part of their Chanukah event series. (This is a free event.) Dance, meet new people, and enjoy tasty treats! (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.

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: Getting Ready for Chanukah and Much More

Hineinu, November 27, 2024

Upcoming Hanukkah Events to Check Out

Create a Personal Chanukah Card on December 8
4 pm to 5:15 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Zoom Room Bet and Havurah Shalom
Let's make virtual and paper collage Chanukah cards in December! This class is for children, teens, and adults. We will focus on symbols of the season and creating a personalized image (or set of images) that you can use in your cards this year to accompany a gift or send to friends and family. For virtual cards, you will need a computer that has Word or Google Docs or a sketching app like Sketchbook. For paper cards, you need colored or metallic card stock or construction paper, markers, colored pencils, metallic markers, scissors, white glue, origami metallic paper, or stickers. We will use clip art, and there will be samples images and messages at hand. Led by Carolina Martinez. All are welcome.
While Carolina will be online to teach, you are invited to join us at Havurah to learn in a group! RSVP to receive more instructions ahead of time, including the Zoom login info.

Winter Marketplace at the MJCC from ORA Northwest Jewish Artists; Havurah Chaverim Musicians Playing on December 12
Sunday, December 8 (11 am to 4 pm) and Monday, December 9 to Thursday, December 12 (9 am to 7 pm) – Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) (6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, Oregon)
ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is holding its annual Hanukkah Marketplace from December 8 to December 12 at the MJCC. Art, music, and storytelling. Stock up on gifts, be entertained, and support local artists. Free admission. See this flyer for more on the Winter Marketplace.
The ORA Northwest Jewish Artists include several Havurahniks among their number. Additionally, the Havurah Chaverim—Havurah musicians you may recognize from our recent Havurah Shalom High Holidays services—will be providing live acoustic entertainment for the closing reception in the MJCC Lobby at 5:30 pm on Thursday, Dec. 12 - see poster.

Hauvrah Shalom Chanukah Celebration on December 29: Save the Date!
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are invited to celebrate the lights of Chanukah at Havurah Shalom! Fun for adults, teens, and children alike. There will be a Zoom track of programming for those who would like to join us online. Please check back on our Chanukah Celebration calendar event page closer to the celebration date for more information.

Our Next Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration is on Friday, December 13 - Come Join In!
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, December 13 – Havurah Shalom (7:30 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 here.)

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help out! Check out the volunteer sign-up for the December 13 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration.

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, December 21.)

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 (Leo Friedman, November 23) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (Tot Shabbat is set to take place on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 am.)

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

Office Closed November 28 and 29
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Kislev
7 pm, Sunday, December 1 – 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.

Dreams in the Torah, Dreams in Our Lives
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, alternating Tuesdays, December 3 to February 18 – Havurah Shalom
Dreams are important messages in the Torah and, some say, from our unconscious minds. Over six sessions, we will explore the dreams of our ancestors as a prelude to sharing and learning about our own dreams, using a facilitated process from the Haden Institute, based in Jungian, Gestalt and Jeremy Taylor methodologies. Facilitated by Adela Basayne. Limited to 8 participants. RSVP

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, December 7 – 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

Parenting Huddle: What to do with the G Word (God)?
3:10 am to 4:30 am, Saturday, December 7 – Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents/guardians, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. For the Dec. 7 Parenting Huddle: We will explore an expansive array of different ways that Jews think about God, including our own experiences and questions, as parents and as people. And we will talk about how all this relates to parenting, in both spiritual and practical terms. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. For parents/guardians to enjoy during Shabbat School, at Havurah Shalom. Member and non-member parents/guardians welcome. RSVP.

Create a Personal Chanukah Card
4 pm to 5:15 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Zoom Room Bet
Let's make virtual and paper collage Chanukah cards in December! This class is for children, teens, and adults. We will focus on symbols of the season and creating a personalized image or set of images you can use in your cards this year to accompany a gift or send to friends and family. For virtual cards, you will need a computer that has Word or Google Docs or a sketching app like Sketchbook. For paper cards, you need colored or metallic card stock or construction paper, markers, colored pencils, metallic markers, scissors, white glue, origami metallic paper, or stickers. We will use clip art, and there will be samples images and messages at hand. RSVP to receive more instructions ahead of time, including the Zoom login info. All are welcome. Led by Carolina Martinez.

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, December 9 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 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).

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday (2nd Thursdays), December 12 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly (second Thursdays) meeting. We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, December 13
5:45 pm (Hearthy Nosh), 6:30 pm (Service), 7:30 (Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert), Friday, December 13 – Havurah Shalom (and 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 need to RSVP, but please see the Dec. 13 event page for important information.

More Tikkun Olam

Seeking Hand-Knitted Scarves and Hats (Plus Non-Knitted Socks and Gloves) for Christmas Gifts for the Homeless: Collection Begins Dec. 1
The Poverty and Homelessness committee is supporting the Winter Holiday meal provided for homeless folks by Temple Beth Israel on Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) from noon to 2 pm. This year, for health and safety reasons, the holiday meals will be provided as takeout boxes. In addition to a full dinner, each box will contain a handknitted scarf and hat, as well as gloves and socks. We are asking any knitters in Havurah to donate a scarf and/or a hat. (For non-knitters: quality socks and gloves are also needed.) There will be a box by the doors to Havurah’s sanctuary for dropoff of these items starting on December 1. Please help us create a nice collection of items we can bring over to Temple Beth Israel for this special holiday event. (Volunteers might also be needed to help stuff bags and/or pass out these gift bags out on Christmas Day.) Questions? Contact Marcia Suttenberg.

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice: December 2024 Newsletter
From the JCIJ: Read the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice December newsletter to learn about our upcoming legislative priorities, the asylum and legal clinics we help organize, and some recent immigration news.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, December 5 – Westminster Presbyterian Church (1624 NE Hancock Street, Portland, Oregon)
From the IAP: The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty monthly meeting on December 5 will be in person. Our speaker will be Julia Nielson, Director of Organizing for Leaven Land and Housing Coalition, a statewide interfaith collective organizing people of faith to advocate for and steward faith land toward affordable and transitional housing. We will be serving lunch. Please RSVP by clicking on this link and completing the form. No other registration is required. The entrance to the meeting is across from the church parking lot on Hancock.
(Havurahniks, if you're interested in connecting with a fellow Havurah member who has long been involved in these IAP First Thursday meetings, please feel free to reach out to Sue Abrams; member login required to access the Havurah member directory.)

Out in the Community

Portland Jewish Academy K-8 Admissions Open House
10 am to 12 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Portland Jewish Academy (6651 SW Capitol Highway)
From Portland Jewish Academy: (For incoming K-8 students and their families) Learn all about Portland Jewish Academy's values-based education at our upcoming admissions open house. PJA is an inclusive Jewish community school that welcomes families of all backgrounds. We offer a well-rounded education infused with Jewish values that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, social-emotional learning, community engagement, and character development. Our students are empowered to think for themselves and work for the world.
RSVP today. (If you can’t make the open house, click to inquire about a private tour with PJA.)

Winter Marketplace at the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center) from ORA Northwest Jewish Artists; Havurah Chaverim Music on Thursday
Sunday, December 8 (11 am to 4 pm) and Monday, December 9 to Thursday, December 12 (9 am to 7 pm) – Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) (6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, Oregon)
ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is holding its annual Hanukkah Marketplace from December 8 to December 12 at the MJCC. Art, music, and storytelling. Stock up on gifts, be entertained, and support local artists. Free admission. See flyer for more. (Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website. And learn more about the individual ORA NW artists—a group that includes several Havurahniks in their number—and their artwork. Additionally, the Havurah Chaverim will be playing live acoustic music for the closing reception at 5:30 pm on Thursday, December 12.)

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: From Shabbat Services to Rosh Chodesh New Moon Rituals to Chanukah Preparations

Hineinu, November 20, 2024

Shabbat and Opportunities to Be Together
Upcoming Shabbat gatherings (in person and on Zoom) include Solidarity Shabbat (Friday evening, Nov. 22), Weekly Torah Study (Saturdays at 9 am, with a special multi-synagogue Torah study on third Saturdays, see calendar for more info), Shabbat Morning (including Shabbat Mornings with B'nei Mitzvah) (Saturdays at 10 am, see calendar for more info), and our regular Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (Friday evening, Dec. 13).

There will also be a Tot Shabbat (Saturday, Dec. 7, at 10:30 am) and a Parenting Huddle: What to Do with the G Word (God)? (Saturday, December 7, 3:10 pm), both at Havurah Shalom.

Check out the rest of this newsletter for many more events, classes, meetings, and other gatherings and opportunities coming up in the next few weeks or so.

Learn to Chant Torah: Register Soon!
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Mondays, February 3 to March 3 – Havurah Shalom
Are you interested in learning how to chant the Torah? This beautiful, ancient system is a treat to learn, and inspiring to sing. A five-session class led by Ken Lerner will teach you everything you need in order to connect with this heritage, and become a proud “leyner” (Torah chanter). Ken has been a patient teacher of beginning Torah readers for over 30 years at Havurah, and would be happy to help you feel the satisfaction of gaining this skill.

Note: There needs to be a minimum of three interested students to make the class a reality, and there is an upper limit of seven people. Please RSVP soon if you are interested, but no later than Jan. 15, 2025, and Ken will be in touch about the class.

Questions? Contact Ken Lerner (member login required to access directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP/register.

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services, including individual drashot? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.

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, December 21.)

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 (Leo Friedman, November 23) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (Tot Shabbat is set to take place on Saturday, December 7 at 10:30 am.)

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

Submission Deadline for December Hakol: Thursday, November 21
The deadline for submissions to the December 2024 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, November 21. Havurah members: To read the submission guidelines and submit your short articles, go to HavurahShalom.org > News > Submit News & Requests > Click on the Hakol Submission Form. Or click on this link to go directly to the Hakol submission form. Reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org), Havurah Participation and Publications Coordinator, if you have questions.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm to 8 pm, Friday, November 22 – Havurah Shalom and 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 provided! Please review Havurah's proposed Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. (Schedule: 5:45 pm - Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm - Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm - Service; and 7:30 pm - Kiddush & Shmooze.) Masks strongly encouraged and provided; the organizers request that all attendees who are able do so mask during the Grounding & Introduction and Service portions. If possible, please bring a small dish of your choice for the potluck. We are a vegetarian (fish ok) facility. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink welcome! RSVP with your name and how many are attending. When you register/RSVP, in the Notes section, please let us know if you can bring something for the potluck and what it is. Looking forward to seeing you! Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Dove Balgley (member login required to access the directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Leo Friedman
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Leo Friedman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Wings of the Dove Campaign Community Conversations (Next Session at Havurah is Saturday, Nov. 23)
3:15 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom (During Shabbat School)
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate! Your voice is needed. Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please choose one of the Wings of the Dove Community Sessions listed above and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. RSVP for your preferred session (the next session is on Nov. 23). Questions? Email Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.

Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) Monthly Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – Zoom Room Gimel Havurahniks, join us at the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. With the new normal of extreme hot summer days and wildfire smoke, we are all affected by the climate crisis. Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) meets monthly and online as needed, to educate and support one another in tangible actions and political advocacy to address solutions. Questions? Contact the HCAT Co-chairs, Elianne Lieberman or Harriet Cooke.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – 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. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP if you need the Zoom info. Otherwise, feel free to drop in anytime! Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory).

Havurah Book Group: There Was an Old Woman (216 pages, nonfiction) by Andrea Carlisle—Author to Join Discussion!
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 26 (last Tuesdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Join the Havurah Book Group in discussing There Was an Old Womanl: . We are also pleased to be joined by the author, Andrea Carlisle! (From the publisher’s description) “In these personal essays, Carlisle looks for new ways to bring herself more fully into this time of life. Those curious about approaching or living in old age will find wisdom and insight in her unique perspective. In a voice that rings with clarity, humor, and humility, Carlisle shows us that old age is not another country where we can expect to find the Old Woman grimly waiting, but instead is an expansion of the borders in the country we are most familiar with: ourselves.” Discussion led by Beth Kaye. All are welcome to any and all meetings, members of Havurah and non-members alike. RSVP for Zoom info.

Office Closed November 28 and 29
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Kislev
7 pm, Sunday, December 1 – 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.

Dreams in the Torah, Dreams in Our Lives
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, alternating Tuesdays, December 3 to February 18 – Havurah Shalom
Dreams are important messages in the Torah and, some say, from our unconscious minds. Over six sessions, we will explore the dreams of our ancestors as a prelude to sharing and learning about our own dreams, using a facilitated process from the Haden Institute, based in Jungian, Gestalt and Jeremy Taylor methodologies. Facilitated by Adela Basayne. Limited to 8 participants. RSVP

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, December 7 – 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

Parenting Huddle: What to do with the G Word (God)?
3:10 am to 4:30 am, Saturday, December 7 – Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents/guardians, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. For the Dec. 7 Parenting Huddle: We will explore an expansive array of different ways that Jews think about God, including our own experiences and questions, as parents and as people. And we will talk about how all this relates to parenting, in both spiritual and practical terms. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. For parents/guardians to enjoy during Shabbat School, at Havurah Shalom. Member and non-member parents/guardians welcome. RSVP.

Create a Personal Chanukah Card
4 pm to 5:15 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Zoom Room Bet
Let's make virtual and paper collage Chanukah cards in December! This class is for children, teens, and adults. We will focus on symbols of the season and creating a personalized image or set of images you can use in your cards this year to accompany a gift or send to friends and family. For virtual cards, you will need a computer that has Word or Google Docs or a sketching app like Sketchbook. For paper cards, you need colored or metallic card stock or construction paper, markers, colored pencils, metallic markers, scissors, white glue, origami metallic paper, or stickers. We will use clip art, and there will be samples images and messages at hand. RSVP to receive more instructions ahead of time, including the Zoom login info. All are welcome. Led by Carolina Martinez.

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, December 9 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 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).

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday (2nd Thursdays), December 12 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly (second Thursdays) meeting. We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, December 13
5:45 pm (Hearthy Nosh), 6:30 pm (Service), 7:30 (Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert), Friday, December 13 – Havurah Shalom (and 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 need to RSVP, but please see the Dec. 13 event page for important information.

More Tikkun Olam

Seeking Hand-Knitted Scarves and Hats (Plus Non-Knitted Socks and Gloves) for Christmas Gifts for the Homeless
The Poverty and Homelessness committee is supporting the Winter Holiday meal provided for homeless folks by Temple Beth Israel on Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) from noon to 2 pm. This year, for health and safety reasons, the holiday meals will be provided as takeout boxes. In addition to a full dinner, each box will contain a handknitted scarf and hat, as well as gloves and socks. We are asking any knitters in Havurah to donate a scarf and/or a hat. (For non-knitters: quality socks and gloves are also needed.) There will be a box by the doors to Havurah’s sanctuary for dropoff of these items starting on December 1. Please help us create a nice collection of items we can bring over to Temple Beth Israel for this special holiday event. (Volunteers might also be needed to help stuff bags and/or pass out these gift bags out on Christmas Day.) Questions? Contact Marcia Suttenberg.

Out in the Community

Portland Jewish Academy K-8 Admissions Open House
10 am to 12 pm, Sunday, December 8 – Portland Jewish Academy (6651 SW Capitol Highway)
From Portland Jewish Academy: (For incoming K-8 students and their families) Learn all about Portland Jewish Academy's values-based education at our upcoming admissions open house. PJA is an inclusive Jewish community school that welcomes families of all backgrounds. We offer a well-rounded education infused with Jewish values that emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, social-emotional learning, community engagement, and character development. Our students are empowered to think for themselves and work for the world.
RSVP today. (If you can’t make the open house, click to inquire about a private tour with PJA.)

Winter Marketplace at the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center) from ORA Northwest Jewish Artists
Sunday, December 8 (11 am to 4 pm) and Monday, December 9 to Thursday, December 12 (9 am to 7 pm) – Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) (6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, Oregon)
ORA Northwest Jewish Artists is holding its annual Hanukkah Marketplace from December 8 to December 12 at the MJCC. Art, music, and storytelling. Stock up on gifts, be entertained, and support local artists. Free admission. See flyer for more. (Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website. And learn more about the individual ORA NW artists—a group that includes several Havurahniks in their number—and their artwork.)

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

You're Invited: Forum on Homelessness (Tonight), An Evening of Stories in Music and Words (This Sunday), and More

You're Invited
from Havurah Shalom

Forum on Affordable Housing
& Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman (former director of Home Forward), will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke (Community Partners for Affordable Housing), and Andrea Sanchez (Housing Development Center). Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. All are welcome.
(You'll be emailed the Zoom login info upon registering; you can attend this forum in person or on Zoom)
Learn More & RSVP

Questions? Contact Steve Rudman (member login required to access directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned:
An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Learn More & RSVP

Lives Lived Lessons Learned An Evening of Stories in Words and Music on Sunday November 17 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Havurah Shalom. RSVP on the Havurah Shalom calendar.

Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos have now been posted as well, includ drashot from Rabbi Benjamin, Keren McCord, Edward Hershey, Marian Rhys, Rocky Cohen, and Elise Granek.

Membership at Havurah Shalom
Are you interested in becoming a member of Havurah Shalom? Whether you've been highly involved in 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.

General Info

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

For events that are on Zoom (online) or that are both online and in person, please RSVP for the event to receive the relevant Zoom login information.

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, November 16.)

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 (Leo Friedman, November 23) 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, 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

Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. All are welcome. RSVP

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, November 16 (3rd Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Open to all, and especially for those seeking to better understand Shabbat Morning service. (Free childcare is provided.) RSVP

(Note: Learn to Bake Babke, which had been scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17, has been cancelled. Stay tuned for future offerings of this class.)

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned: An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Alte Rockers, Havurah’s aptly named group of active seniors, has a gift for you — “Lives Lived, Lessons Learned” an evening of stories in words and music. Four storytellers — Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow — will join musician Steven Mesulam in a program designed to demonstrate the many ways our lives are enriched and informed by the experiences we have. And feel free to share an experience of your own. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access the directory) or leave a note when you register. RSVP

How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth - A Slow Read w/ Havurah's Climate Action Team Book Group
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, November 18 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a slow read of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. 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.” Discussion focus: Chapters 1 and 2. Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman (member login required to access the directory) or leave a note when you register. RSVP.

History of HIAS
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesdays, November 12 and 19 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah member Michael Rice will present the storied history of HIAS from documentary sources, with personal insight as the son of James Rice, HIAS executive director 1956-1966. From predecessor organizations dating to 1870 in New York assisting Jews immigrating to the US or fleeing pogroms, HIAS has sheltered and supported refugees for over 150 years. Along with other Jewish organizations, HIAS took on the rescue and resettlement of Holocaust survivors during World War II and the post-war era. In 1965, thanks to the strong advocacy of HIAS and others, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended decades of discriminatory nationality quotas. Now HIAS operates with 1,800 employees in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Israel, with a large team at our Southern border and in Mexico. Asylum protection, resettlement of Afghan, Ukrainian, Venezuelan and other refugees through Jewish communities, and political advocacy for legal and budget support are ongoing work. All are welcome. (The Nov. 19 session, in person at Havurah, will focus on HIAS history from the 1960s to present times; you're welcome to join even if you didn't attend the first session.) RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm to 8 pm, Friday, November 22 – Havurah Shalom and 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 provided! Please review Havurah's proposed Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. (Schedule: 5:45 pm - Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm - Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm - Service; and 7:30 pm - Kiddush & Shmooze.) Masks strongly encouraged and provided; the organizers request that all attendees who are able do so mask during the Grounding & Introduction and Service portions. If possible, please bring a small dish of your choice for the potluck. We are a vegetarian (fish ok) facility. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink welcome! RSVP with your name and how many are attending. When you register/RSVP, in the Notes section, please let us know if you can bring something for the potluck and what it is. Looking forward to seeing you! Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Dove Balgley (member login required to access the directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Leo Friedman
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Leo Friedman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – 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. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP if you need the Zoom info. Otherwise, feel free to drop in anytime! Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory) or leave a question in the notes section when you register.

Havurah Book Group: There Was an Old Woman (216 pages, nonfiction) by Andrea Carlisle—Author to Join Discussion!
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 26 (last Tuesdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Join the Havurah Book Group in discussing There Was an Old Womanl: . We are also pleased to be joined by the author, Andrea Carlisle! (From the publisher’s description) “In these personal essays, Carlisle looks for new ways to bring herself more fully into this time of life. Those curious about approaching or living in old age will find wisdom and insight in her unique perspective. In a voice that rings with clarity, humor, and humility, Carlisle shows us that old age is not another country where we can expect to find the Old Woman grimly waiting, but instead is an expansion of the borders in the country we are most familiar with: ourselves.” Discussion led by Beth Kaye. All are welcome to any and all meetings, members of Havurah and non-members alike. RSVP for Zoom info.

Office Closed November 28 and 29
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Cheshvan
7 pm, Sunday, December 1 — 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.

Dreams in the Torah, Dreams in Our Lives
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, alternating Tuesdays (six-session class), December 3 to February 18 — Havurah Shalom
Dreams are important messages in the Torah and, some say, from our unconscious minds. We will explore the dreams of our ancestors as a prelude to sharing and learning about our own dreams, using a facilitated process from the Haden Institute, based in Jungian, Gestalt and Jeremy Taylor methodologies. Facilitated by Adela Basayne. Limited to 8 participants. RSVP

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Hineinu: Forum on Homelessness (Thursday!); An Evening of Stories in Music and Words (Sunday)

Hineinu, November 13, 2024

Forum on Affordable Housing
& Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman (former director of Home Forward), will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke (Community Partners for Affordable Housing), and Andrea Sanchez (Housing Development Center). Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. All are welcome. RSVP

Questions? Contact Steve Rudman (member login required to access directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned:
An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
RSVP

Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos have now been posted as well, includ drashot from Rabbi Benjamin, Keren McCord, Edward Hershey, Marian Rhys, Rocky Cohen, and Elise Granek.

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, November 16.)

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 (Leo Friedman, November 23) 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, 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

Wings of the Dove Campaign Community Conversations (Choose an Upcoming Session)
7 pm, Wednesday, November 13 – Havurah Shalom (During Havurah Middle School/Havurah High) or
3:15 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom (During Shabbat School)
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate! Your voice is needed. Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please choose one of the Wings of the Dove Community Sessions listed above and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. RSVP for your preferred session. Questions? Email Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. RSVP

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday (2nd Thursdays), November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly (second Thursdays) meeting. We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, November 16 (3rd Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Open to all, and especially for those seeking to better understand Shabbat Morning service. (Free childcare is provided.) RSVP

Learn to Bake Babke (scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17) has been cancelled. Stay tuned for future offerings of this class.

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned: An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Alte Rockers, Havurah’s aptly named group of active seniors, has a gift for you — “Lives Lived, Lessons Learned” an evening of stories in words and music. Four storytellers — Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow — will join musician Steven Mesulam in a program designed to demonstrate the many ways our lives are enriched and informed by the experiences we have. And feel free to share an experience of your own. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access the directory) or leave a note when you register. RSVP

How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth - A Slow Read w/ Havurah's Climate Action Team Book Group
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, November 18 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a slow read of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. 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.” Discussion focus: Chapters 1 and 2. Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman (member login required to access the directory) or leave a note when you register. RSVP.

History of HIAS
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesdays, November 12 and 19 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah member Michael Rice will present the storied history of HIAS from documentary sources, with personal insight as the son of James Rice, HIAS executive director 1956-1966. From predecessor organizations dating to 1870 in New York assisting Jews immigrating to the US or fleeing pogroms, HIAS has sheltered and supported refugees for over 150 years. Along with other Jewish organizations, HIAS took on the rescue and resettlement of Holocaust survivors during World War II and the post-war era. In 1965, thanks to the strong advocacy of HIAS and others, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended decades of discriminatory nationality quotas. Now HIAS operates with 1,800 employees in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Israel, with a large team at our Southern border and in Mexico. Asylum protection, resettlement of Afghan, Ukrainian, Venezuelan and other refugees through Jewish communities, and political advocacy for legal and budget support are ongoing work. All are welcome. The Nov. 19 session, in person at Havurah, will focus on HIAS history from the 1960s to present times; you're welcome to join even if you didn't attend the first session. RSVP

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm to 8 pm, Friday, November 22 – Havurah Shalom and 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 provided! Please review Havurah's proposed Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. (Schedule: 5:45 pm - Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm - Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm - Service; and 7:30 pm - Kiddush & Shmooze.) Masks strongly encouraged and provided; the organizers request that all attendees who are able do so mask during the Grounding & Introduction and Service portions. If possible, please bring a small dish of your choice for the potluck. We are a vegetarian (fish ok) facility. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink welcome! RSVP with your name and how many are attending. When you register/RSVP, in the Notes section, please let us know if you can bring something for the potluck and what it is. Looking forward to seeing you! Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Dove Balgley (member login required to access the directory) or ask a question in the registration notes when you RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Leo Friedman
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Leo Friedman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) Monthly Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – Zoom Room Gimel Havurahniks, join us at the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. With the new normal of extreme hot summer days and wildfire smoke, we are all affected by the climate crisis. Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) meets monthly and online as needed, to educate and support one another in tangible actions and political advocacy to address solutions. Questions? Contact the HCAT Co-chairs, Elianne Lieberman or Harriet Cooke.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – 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. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP if you need the Zoom info. Otherwise, feel free to drop in anytime! Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory).

Havurah Book Group: There Was an Old Woman (216 pages, nonfiction) by Andrea Carlisle—Author to Join Discussion!
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 26 (last Tuesdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Join the Havurah Book Group in discussing There Was an Old Womanl: . We are also pleased to be joined by the author, Andrea Carlisle! (From the publisher’s description) “In these personal essays, Carlisle looks for new ways to bring herself more fully into this time of life. Those curious about approaching or living in old age will find wisdom and insight in her unique perspective. In a voice that rings with clarity, humor, and humility, Carlisle shows us that old age is not another country where we can expect to find the Old Woman grimly waiting, but instead is an expansion of the borders in the country we are most familiar with: ourselves.” Discussion led by Beth Kaye. All are welcome to any and all meetings, members of Havurah and non-members alike. RSVP for Zoom info.

Office Closed November 28 and 29
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed on Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Cheshvan
7 pm, Sunday, December 1 — 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.

Dreams in the Torah, Dreams in Our Lives
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, alternating Tuesdays (6-session class), December 3 to February 18 — Havurah Shalom
Dreams are important messages in the Torah and, some say, from our unconscious minds. We will explore the dreams of our ancestors as a prelude to sharing and learning about our own dreams, using a facilitated process from the Haden Institute, based in Jungian, Gestalt and Jeremy Taylor methodologies. Facilitated by Adela Basayne. Limited to 8 participants. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam

Time-sensitive Sanctuary Committee Volunteer Opportunity: Care Packages for Migrant Workers
Note: The due date for either donating items or committing to volunteer is Sunday, November 17. (Volunteering will take place on Wednesday, November 20.)
Invisible to most of us, the ships that import our international goods are staffed by seafarers, mostly Filipino men, who face appalling working conditions, little pay, and no real legal protection. Havurah's Sanctuary Committee is joining Jobs With Justice (JWJ) to build care packages for these migrant workers on whom we depend.
We have two great ways you and your family can contribute!
(1) Donations! We'll be collecting new beanies (warm knit caps) the weekend of November 16-17. Drop off new hats at 6374 N Commercial Ave. anytime during that weekend (there will be a box on the porch. (JWJ is requesting 200!)
(2) Volunteering! Volunteer to build care packages on Wednesday, November 20 from 6 to 8 pm at Grants Park Church (2728 NE 34th Ave.). If you are interested in joining Havurah's volunteer party, email Beka Feathers by Sunday, November 17.
For questions about this effort or want to know more about what the Sanctuary Committee does, please contact Beka Feathers or Kathy Gordon.

Seeking Hand-Knitted Scarves and Hats (Plus Non-Knitted Socks and Gloves) for Christmas Gifts for the Homeless
The Poverty and Homelessness committee is supporting the Winter Holiday meal provided for homeless folks by Temple Beth Israel on Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) from noon to 2 pm. This year, for health and safety reasons, the holiday meals will be provided as takeout boxes. In addition to a full dinner, each box will contain a handknitted scarf and hat, as well as gloves and socks. We are asking any knitters in Havurah to donate a scarf and/or a hat. (For non-knitters: quality socks and gloves are also needed.) There will be a box by the doors to Havurah’s sanctuary for dropoff of these items starting on December 1. Please help us create a nice collection of items we can bring over to Temple Beth Israel for this special holiday event. (Volunteers might also be needed to help stuff bags and/or pass out these gift bags out on Christmas Day.) Questions? Contact Marcia Suttenberg.

Out in the Community

ORA Art, Music, and Storytelling Show at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
10 am to 4 pm (1 pm to 2 pm: all-ages, storytelling time), Sunday, November 3 – Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) (724 NW Davis St, Portland, Oregon)
You’re invited to a show and art sale put on by Ora–Northwest Jewish Artists. This is a free admission day. The show runs from 10 am to 4 pm. From 1 pm to 2 pm, we will have three Ora members telling stories for all ages with a musical group performing between each story. Ora is a community of Jewish artists, craftsmen, storytellers and book authors who share a love of art and creativity. We support each other through camaraderie, networking, and continued learning. Please come meet us, especially if you are an art lover or artist who would like to meet other artists or join our group. Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website.

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: Being Together - Kabbalat Shabbat, Molly Bajgot Concert, and More Gatherings, Big and Small

Hineinu, November 6, 2024

Community Gathering
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 7 –
At Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph
We’ll gather for support and solace, as we sing, share, and draw strength from coming together in this time.

For more, see the email ("Post-Election Gathering, Thursday at 7 pm") sent out to Havurah members this evening.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
w/ Guest Musical Leader, Molly Bajgot
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh Plus Dessert, Friday, November 8 – Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service on Zoom as well)
Join us on Friday evening, November 8 for a musical, all-ages service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided!

Everyone, please click to learn more, including how you can provide support for these celebrations by donating to our Spiritual Life Fund.

Havurah members, please consider contributing a bit of your time to help out at the Nov. 8 Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Molly Bajgot Concert on Nov. 10
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10 – Havurah Shalom
After joining us for some songs at Kabbalat Shabbat this Friday, Molly Bajgot will hold a full concert at Havurah on Sunday, November 10! Join us for an inspiring evening of new Jewish music and powerful song. Molly will share music from her first full-length album Revelry, new tunes for Jewish liturgy and original songs of hope. Molly’s soulful voice and alluring melodies bridge the realms of Jewish, folk, and devotional music. Her orientation to community building and prayer shines through in her musical leadership. Together, we’ll create a sacred and songful space to revel in our aliveness, our grief, our healing, and our work for collective liberation.

RSVP for the Molly Bajgot Concert at Havurah Shalom (Sunday, Nov. 10, at 7 pm). Free, and welcome to all.

Forum on Affordable Housing & Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. All are welcome. RSVP

Questions? Contact Steve Rudman (member login required to access directory).

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned:
An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Alte Rockers, Havurah’s aptly named group of active seniors, has a gift for you — “Lives Lived, Lessons Learned,” an evening of stories in words and music. Four storytellers — Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow — will join musician Steven Mesulam in a program designed to demonstrate the many ways our lives are enriched and informed by the experiences we have. And feel free to share an experience of your own. All are welcome. RSVP

Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access the directory).

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos will be posted soon and then highlighted in Hineinu and Hakol, our weekly and monthly newsletters, respectively.

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. 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, November 16.)

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 (Dylan Schatz, November 9; Leo Friedman, November 23) 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, 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

Community Gathering
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 7 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
We’ll gather for support and solace, as we sing, share, and draw strength from coming together in this time. For more, see the email ("Post-Election Gathering, Thursday at 7 pm") sent out to Havurah members this evening.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (w/ Guest Molly Bajgot)
5:45 pm, Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm, Service; 7:30 pm, Continued Hearty Nosh (Plus Dessert), Friday, November 8 – Havurah Shalom (Service is 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 need to register. More event details here.
- Everyone, please consider supporting our Kabbalat Shabbat Celebrations through a donation to our Spiritual Life Fund. Go to the event page and scroll to the bottom to learn now.
- Havurahniks, please sign up to help out if you can; volunteer shifts are about 15 minutes each.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Dylan Schatz
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dylan Schatz as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Queer Torah Study
11 am to 12:15 pm, Sundays, November 3 and November 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Emma Lugo of Shir Tikvah will visit to lead us in Queer Torah study, an intensive exploration of and wide-ranging conversation on the weekly parsha, or Torah portion, using material sourced in Queer identity from sources such as Svara, Torah Queeries, and the amazing online world of Queer Jewish content. Join us to study LGBTQ commentators with Emma and explore the Torah and learn together. All are welcome. RSVP

Molly Bajgot Concert, Music from New Album, Revelry
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10 – Havurah Shalom
Join for an inspiring evening of new Jewish music and powerful song with Molly Bajgot. Molly will share music from her first full-length album Revelry, new tunes for Jewish liturgy and original songs of hope. Molly’s soulful voice and alluring melodies bridge the realms of Jewish, folk, and devotional music. Her orientation to community building and prayer shines through in her musical leadership. Together, we’ll create a sacred and songful space to revel in our aliveness, our grief, our healing, and our work for collective liberation. All are welcome. RSVP

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – 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. Can't waitt to sing and play with you! RSVP

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 12 – 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. Learn more.

History of HIAS
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesdays, November 12 and 19 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah member Michael Rice will present the storied history of HIAS from documentary sources, with personal insight as the son of James Rice, HIAS executive director 1956-1966. From predecessor organizations dating to 1870 in New York assisting Jews immigrating to the US or fleeing pogroms, HIAS has sheltered and supported refugees for over 150 years. Along with other Jewish organizations, HIAS took on the rescue and resettlement of Holocaust survivors during World War II and the post-war era. In 1965, thanks to the strong advocacy of HIAS and others, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended decades of discriminatory nationality quotas. Now HIAS operates with 1,800 employees in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Israel, with a large team at our Southern border and in Mexico. Asylum protection, resettlement of Afghan, Ukrainian, Venezuelan and other refugees through Jewish communities, and political advocacy for legal and budget support are ongoing work. All are welcome. RSVP

Wings of the Dove Campaign Community Conversations (Choose an Upcoming Session)
7 pm, Wednesday, November 13 – Havurah Shalom (During Havurah Middle School/Havurah High) or
3:15 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom (During Shabbat School)
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate! Your voice is needed. Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please choose one of the Wings of the Dove Community Sessions listed above and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. RSVP for your preferred session. Questions? Email Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.

Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. RSVP

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday (2nd Thursdays), November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly (second Thursdays) meeting. We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, November 16 (3rd Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph

This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Open to all, and especially for those seeking to better understand Shabbat Morning service. (Free childcare is provided.) RSVP

Learn to Bake Babke
3 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Impress your friends and family by baking babke for your next social gathering! We’ll provide the ingredients, and you’ll leave with a tasty recipe for future baking. Led by Elyse Hill. All are welcome. RSVP

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned: An Evening of Stories in Words and Music
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Alte Rockers, Havurah’s aptly named group of active seniors, has a gift for you — “Lives Lived, Lessons Learned” an evening of stories in words and music. Four storytellers — Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow — will join musician Steven Mesulam in a program designed to demonstrate the many ways our lives are enriched and informed by the experiences we have. And feel free to share an experience of your own. All are welcome. Questions? Contact Ed Hershey (member login required to access the directory). RSVP

How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth - A Slow Read w/ Havurah's Climate Action Team Book Group
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, November 18 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a slow read of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. 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.” Discussion focus: Chapters 1 and 2. RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Leo Friedman
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Leo Friedman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) Monthly Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – Zoom Room Gimel Havurahniks, join us at the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. With the new normal of extreme hot summer days and wildfire smoke, we are all affected by the climate crisis. Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) meets monthly and online as needed, to educate and support one another in tangible actions and political advocacy to address solutions. Questions? Contact the HCAT Co-chairs, Elianne Lieberman or Harriet Cooke.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, November 25 (last Mondays) – 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. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP if you need the Zoom info. Otherwise, feel free to drop in anytime! Questions? Contact Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory).

Havurah Book Group: There Was an Old Woman (216 pages, nonfiction) by Andrea Carlisle—Author to Join Discussion!
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 26 (last Tuesdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Join the Havurah Book Group in discussing There Was an Old Womanl: . We are also pleased to be joined by the author, Andrea Carlisle! (From the publisher’s description) “In these personal essays, Carlisle looks for new ways to bring herself more fully into this time of life. Those curious about approaching or living in old age will find wisdom and insight in her unique perspective. In a voice that rings with clarity, humor, and humility, Carlisle shows us that old age is not another country where we can expect to find the Old Woman grimly waiting, but instead is an expansion of the borders in the country we are most familiar with: ourselves.” Discussion led by Beth Kaye. All are welcome to any and all meetings, members of Havurah and non-members alike. RSVP for Zoom info.

More Tikkun Olam

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1 pm, Thursday, November 7 - RSVP for Zoom login
From the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: Meet Transition Projects: 55 years helping people transition into a home and stability. Hear about their process and their strategies. Kelsey Stark, Volunteer Program Manager for Transition Projects, the largest shelter provider of shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County, will talk about their programs and opportunities to be involved. Tara Slak, supervisor of the Transition Projects Navigation Team, and Peer Wellness Specialist, will share the story of her work and of living in one of the shelters in 2017. (Would you like to speak with an involved fellow Havurahnik about the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty and the First Thursday meetings? Contact Sue Abrams.)

Time-sensitive Sanctuary Committee Volunteer Opportunity: Must Donate Items and/or Commit to Volunteering by Nov. 17
Invisible to most of us, the ships that import our international goods are staffed by seafarers, mostly Filipino men, who face appalling working conditions, little pay, and no real legal protection. Havurah's Sanctuary Committee is joining Jobs With Justice (JWJ) to build care packages for these migrant workers on whom we depend.
We have two great ways you and your family can contribute!
(1) Donations! We'll be collecting new beanies (warm knit caps) the weekend of November 16-17. Drop off new hats at 6374 N Commercial Ave. anytime during that weekend (there will be a box on the porch. (JWJ is requesting 200!)
(2) Volunteering! Volunteer to build care packages on Thursday, November 20 from 6 to 8 pm at Grants Park Church (2728 NE 34th Ave.). If you are interested in joining Havurah's volunteer party, email Beka Feathers by Sunday, November 17.
For questions about this effort or want to know more about what the Sanctuary Committee does, please contact Beka Feathers or Kathy Gordon.

Jewish Coalition on Immigrant Justice November Newsletter
Read the November newsletter of the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice, with information about our upcoming movie showing and accompaniment training, other upcoming events, and the latest immigration news.

Seeking Hand-Knitted Scarves and Hats (Plus Non-Knitted Socks and Gloves) for Christmas Gifts for the Homeless
The Poverty and Homelessness committee is supporting the Winter Holiday meal provided for homeless folks by Temple Beth Israel on Christmas Day (Wednesday, Dec. 25) from noon to 2 pm. This year, for health and safety reasons, the holiday meals will be provided as takeout boxes. In addition to a full dinner, each box will contain a handknitted scarf and hat, as well as gloves and socks. We are asking any knitters in Havurah to donate a scarf and/or a hat. (For non-knitters: quality socks and gloves are also needed.) There will be a box by the doors to Havurah’s sanctuary for dropoff of these items starting on December 1. Please help us create a nice collection of items we can bring over to Temple Beth Israel for this special holiday event. (Volunteers might also be needed to help stuff bags and/or pass out these gift bags out on Christmas Day.) Questions? Contact Marcia Suttenberg.

Out in the Community

ORA Art, Music, and Storytelling Show at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
10 am to 4 pm (1 pm to 2 pm: all-ages, storytelling time), Sunday, November 3 – Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) (724 NW Davis St, Portland, Oregon)
You’re invited to a show and art sale put on by Ora–Northwest Jewish Artists. This is a free admission day. The show runs from 10 am to 4 pm. From 1 pm to 2 pm, we will have three Ora members telling stories for all ages with a musical group performing between each story. Ora is a community of Jewish artists, craftsmen, storytellers and book authors who share a love of art and creativity. We support each other through camaraderie, networking, and continued learning. Please come meet us, especially if you are an art lover or artist who would like to meet other artists or join our group. Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website.

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: Teen Shabbat Tonight, Queer Torah Study Sunday, Kabbalat Shabbat Nov. 8, Molly Bajgot Concert Nov. 10

Hineinu, November 1, 2024

Havurah Shalom Gatherings
This Evening, Tomorrow (Shabbat), and Sunday

On Friday, November 1, Havurah teens and their parents/guardians are invited to Teen Kabbalat Shabbat (6 pm, at Havurah, RSVP).

Join us on Saturday, November 2, for Torah Study at 9 am and Shabbat Morning at 10 am (refer to the calendar for Nov. 2 to learn more),
including Tot Shabbat (10:30 am, at Havurah, RSVP).

At Shabbat School in the afternoon, there will be a Parenting Huddle w/ Rabbi Benjamin & Deborah Eisenbach-Budner (3:05 pm, at Havurah, RSVP).

On Sunday, November 3, all are welcome to sign up to join us for Queer Torah Study (11 am, at Havurah and on Zoom, RSVP, the first of two sessions) and the Rosh Chodesh Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (7 pm, RSVP to be sent location info: on Zoom or in NE Portland).

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
w/ Guest Musical Leader, Molly Bajgot
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh Plus Dessert, Friday, November 8 – Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service on Zoom as well)
Join us on Friday evening, November 8 for a musical, all-ages service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided!

All, please click to learn more about our upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration, including how you can provide support by donating to our Spiritual Life Fund.

Havurah members, please consider contributing a bit of your time to help out at the Nov. 8 Kabbalat Shabbat service.

At this upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat, musical guest Molly Bagjot will share some of her songs. And on Sunday, November 10, Molly Bajgot will hold a full concert at Havurah Shalom. All are welcome RSVP for the Nov. 10 Molly Bajgot Concert

Molly Bajgot Concert on Nov. 10:
Music from New Album, Revelry
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10 – Havurah Shalom
After joining us at Kabbalat Shabbat, Molly Bajgot will hold a full concert at Havurah on Sunday, November 10! Join us for an inspiring evening of new Jewish music and powerful song. Molly will share music from her first full-length album Revelry, new tunes for Jewish liturgy and original songs of hope. Molly’s soulful voice and alluring melodies bridge the realms of Jewish, folk, and devotional music. Her orientation to community building and prayer shines through in her musical leadership. Together, we’ll create a sacred and songful space to revel in our aliveness, our grief, our healing, and our work for collective liberation.

RSVP for Molly Bajgot's Concert at Havurah Shalom (Sunday, Nov. 10, at 7 pm). Free, and welcome to all.

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos will be posted soon and then highlighted in Hineinu and Hakol, our weekly and monthly newsletters, respectively.

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. 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, November 16.)

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 (Jude Esmer, November 2, Dylan Schatz, November 9) 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, 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

Teen Kabbalat Shabbat
6 pm to 8 pm, Friday, November 1 – Havurah Shalom
This Kabbalat Shabbat led by Rabbi Benjamin is for Havurah teens (7th to 12th grade) and their parents/guardians. We will welcome in Shabbat, and enjoy a musical evening all together. Dinner entrees will be provided for all. We ask each family to bring either a salad or dessert (gluten-free dishes welcomed and encouraged as well) or drinks to share with others. When you RSVP, please specify the number of teens and number of adults in the registration notes.

Shabbat Morning with the Bar Mitzvah of Jude Esmer
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 2 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Jude Esmer as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, November 2 – 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

Parenting Huddle: Parenting/Being Jewish in the World Right Now, with Rabbi Benjamin and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner
3:05 pm to 4:20 pm, Saturday, November 2 – Havurah Shalom
Many people have expressed that the war in Israel/Palestine has brought up questions and challenges around parenting in Jewish families, around being a Jew (or in a Jewish family) in the world, in their workplace, in Portland… And, of course, there is this upcoming election! We will focus on those experiences, together, using some Jewish text wisdom as well as our collective wisdom. Please RSVP

Queer Torah Study
11 am to 12:15 pm, Sundays, November 3 and November 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Emma Lugo of Shir Tikvah will visit to lead us in Queer Torah study, an intensive exploration of and wide-ranging conversation on the weekly parsha, or Torah portion, using material sourced in Queer identity from sources such as Svara, Torah Queeries, and the amazing online world of Queer Jewish content. Join us to study LGBTQ commentators with Emma and explore the Torah and learn together. All are welcome. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Cheshvan
7 pm, Sunday, November 3 - Either Zoom Room Heh or In Person in Inner NE; RSVP for location updates
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.

Teen Tikkun Olam with Rose Haven
4:30 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, November 7 – Rose Haven (1740 NW Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon)
High school-age Havurah teens will volunteer at and attend Rose Haven’s annual Branching Out fundraising event. We'll help with final set-up tasks, then helping to table, sell raffle tickets and then help with clean up. This event will be an opportunity to learn more about Rose Haven, and to interact with individuals who utilize the services. Food and snacks will be provided! More information is included in the confirmation email after you RSVP. Email Michelle Bobowick with any questions.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (w/ Guest Molly Bajgot)
5:45 pm, Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm, Service; 7:30 pm, Continued Hearty Nosh (Plus Dessert), Friday, November 8 – Havurah Shalom (Service is 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! See the calendar entry for more information; no need to RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Dylan Schatz
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dylan Schatz as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Molly Bajgot Concert, Music from New Album, Revelry
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10 – Havurah Shalom
Join for an inspiring evening of new Jewish music and powerful song with Molly Bajgot. Molly will share music from her first full-length album Revelry, new tunes for Jewish liturgy and original songs of hope. Molly’s soulful voice and alluring melodies bridge the realms of Jewish, folk, and devotional music. Her orientation to community building and prayer shines through in her musical leadership. Together, we’ll create a sacred and songful space to revel in our aliveness, our grief, our healing, and our work for collective liberation. All are welcome. RSVP

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – 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. Can't waitt to sing and play with you! RSVP

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 12 – 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. Learn more.

History of HIAS
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesdays, November 12 and 19 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah member Michael Rice will present the storied history of HIAS from documentary sources, with personal insight as the son of James Rice, HIAS executive director 1956-1966. From predecessor organizations dating to 1870 in New York assisting Jews immigrating to the US or fleeing pogroms, HIAS has sheltered and supported refugees for over 150 years. Along with other Jewish organizations, HIAS took on the rescue and resettlement of Holocaust survivors during World War II and the post-war era. In 1965, thanks to the strong advocacy of HIAS and others, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended decades of discriminatory nationality quotas. Now HIAS operates with 1,800 employees in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Israel, with a large team at our Southern border and in Mexico. Asylum protection, resettlement of Afghan, Ukrainian, Venezuelan and other refugees through Jewish communities, and political advocacy for legal and budget support are ongoing work. All are welcome. RSVP

Wings of the Dove Campaign Community Conversations (Choose an Upcoming Session)
7 pm, Wednesday, November 13 – Havurah Shalom (During Havurah Middle School/Havurah High) or
3:15 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom (During Shabbat School)
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate! Your voice is needed. Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please choose one of the Wings of the Dove Community Sessions listed above and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. RSVP for your preferred session. Questions? Email Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, at aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org.

~~Havurah 101~~ (Next Havurah 101 now set for March 2025)
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Zoom Room Gimel
Are you interested in understanding Havurah's history and values and how our participatory culture has informed our governance structure? Do you have questions about how our committees work, the Havurah budget, or how you might get more involved? Members of the Havurah Leadership Development Committee will help you understand our unique community and the many roles members and staff take to support each other. All members welcome to join us!

Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Heh
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. A lot of money exists, and a bewildering array of solutions. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. RSVP

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, Zoom Room Bet). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on our calendar.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Open to all, especially for families with youth in Grades 5-7. Free childcare is provided. RSVP

Learn to Bake Babke
3 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Impress your friends and family by baking babke for your next social gathering! We’ll provide the ingredients, and you’ll leave with a tasty recipe for future baking. Led by Elyse Hill. All are welcome. RSVP

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Join storytellers Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow and musician Steven Mesulam for a fun and insightful evening of stories with musical accompaniment presented by Havurah Alte Rockers for the congregation and community — and feel free to bring a story or anecdote of your own to share! RSVP

How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth - A Slow Read w/ Havurah's Climate Action Team Book Group
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, November 18 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a slow read of How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. 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.” Discussion focus: Chapters 1 and 2. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam

Get Out the Vote
The Tikkun Olam Cluster has been sending post cards, writing letters, and phone and text banking to get out the vote. This is an activity you can do at home, or with friends. If you would like to join other Havuranicks in this effort, contact Elianne Lieberman.
Click here for resources on you can help "Get out the Vote" from home.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Learning Meeting
12 pm to 1 pm, Thursday, November 7 - RSVP for Zoom login
From the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: Meet Transition Projects: 55 years helping people transition into a home and stability. Hear about their process and their strategies. Kelsey Stark, Volunteer Program Manager for Transition Projects, the largest shelter provider of shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness in Multnomah County, will talk about their programs and opportunities to be involved. Tara Slak, supervisor of the Transition Projects Navigation Team, and Peer Wellness Specialist, will share the story of her work and of living in one of the shelters in 2017. (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 on Immigrant Justice November Newsletter
Read the November newsletter of the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice, with information about our upcoming movie showing and accompaniment training, other upcoming events, and the latest immigration news.

Out in the Community

ORA Art, Music, and Storytelling Show at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
10 am to 4 pm (1 pm to 2 pm: all-ages, storytelling time), Sunday, November 3 – Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) (724 NW Davis St, Portland, Oregon)
You’re invited to a show and art sale put on by Ora–Northwest Jewish Artists. This is a free admission day. The show runs from 10 am to 4 pm. From 1 pm to 2 pm, we will have three Ora members telling stories for all ages with a musical group performing between each story. Ora is a community of Jewish artists, craftsmen, storytellers and book authors who share a love of art and creativity. We support each other through camaraderie, networking, and continued learning. Please come meet us, especially if you are an art lover or artist who would like to meet other artists or join our group. Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website.

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: Be Together for Simchat Torah (Thursday, Oct. 24), Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday, Nov. 8), and Much More

Hineinu, October 23, 2024

Being Together on Simchat Torah

A Yizkor to Remember Those Taken from Us
on Simḥat Torah a Year Ago
5 pm to 6 pm, Thursday, Oct. 24 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshemah
All are welcome. RSVP

Simchat Torah Celebration
6 pm to 9 pm, Thursday, Oct. 24 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshemah
All are welcome. RSVP

Wings of the Dove Engagement Sessions
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate!

Your voice is needed.

Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please attend a Wings of the Dove Campaign Engagement session and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. These are non-fundraising events.

Please choose one of the following Community Engagement sessions:
Sunday, October 27 at 11 am - In Person at Havurah,
Tuesday, October 29 at 7 pm - In Zoom Room Gimel,
Wednesday, November 13 at 7 pm - At Havurah (During Middle School/High School),
or Saturday, November 23 at 3:15 pm - At Havurah (During Shabbat School)

Click to RSVP for a Community Session

For more information, contact Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos will be posted soon and then highlighted in Hineinu.

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. 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, November 16.)

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 (Isaac Colman, October 19, Jude Esmer, November 2) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome.
(On Saturday, October 26, Ted Scheinman will chant his Bar Mitzvah portion, share some thoughts on turning 80, and host a lunch for all who come. If possible, please let Ted know if you plan to join for this.)

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.

Sukkot & Simchat Torah

Morning Minyan (Yizkor)
8 am to 9:15 am, Thursday, October 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Today's service will include Shmeini Atzeret Yizkor. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org for join info.

A Yizkor to Remember Those Taken from Us on Simḥat Torah a Year Ago
5 pm to 6 pm, Thursday, October 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
On the last day of Sukkot every year, as we conclude the Days of Awe, we recite Yizkor prayers for loved ones no longer with us. In addition this year, just before Simḥat Torah, we will gather for a special Yizkor service to remember those killed in the Hamas attacks on this day in the Hebrew calendar a year ago. We will then move directly into Simḥat Torah, rejoicing in all that connects us and renewing our story once again. RSVP

Simḥat Torah Celebration
6 pm to 9 pm, Thursday, October 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
Join us for a family-friendly and joyous celebration featuring music and dancing with the Torah! Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the conclusion of our annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of another. We read the last Torah portion, then the first chapter of Genesis, remembering that the Torah is a circle of life that never ends. Torah brings sweetness to the lives of all of us! More information on this celebration will be shared as the date nears. RSVP

Sukkah Takedown
9 am to 1 pm, Sunday, October 27 – Havurah Shalom
The holidays are over! Time to disassemble the sukkah and take it down to the basement! Members, please sign up on the High Holiday Volunteer Signup to help us out!

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Virtual Phone Banking to Get Out the Vote
6 pm to 8 pm, Wednesday, October 23 – Zoom Room Bet
Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT) will be hosting a Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action activity, Virtual Phone Bank to Get Out the Vote. Both a personal laptop/tablet and a smartphone are needed to phone bank. All are welcome. You will be emailed the Zoom login upon registering. Questions? Contact Judi Soloway. RSVP

Exploring Sephardic Music
6:30 pm to 8:15 pm, Wednesdays, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, and Nov. 6 – Havurah Shalom Annex (1816 NW Irving Street, in the basement at Lutheran Immanuel Church, up the block from Havurah Shalom)
In this class we will explore Sephardic music—the music of Jews in diaspora who were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492—through lecture, recordings, and live music. Led by Eric Stern, international performer and Events Coordinator and Cultural Arts Ambassador at the Eastside Jewish Commons. All are welcome. RSVP

Shabbat Morning with the Ted Scheiman Chanting His Bar Mitzvah Portion and Celebrating His 80th Birthday
10 am to 2:30 pm, Saturday, October 26 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including Ted Scheinman (the Alte-Rocker himself) trying to chant his Bar Mitzvah portion and sharing some thoughts on turning 80. Following services at about 12:30 pm, Ted will host a delicious Shabbat Lunch for all who come; all are welcome. Afterwards, we may even have Israeli Folk Dancing. If possible, please let Ted know if you plan to join for this.

Wings of the Dove Campaign Community Conversations (Choose a Session)
11 am, Sunday, October 27 – Havurah Shalom,
7 pm, Tuesday, October 29 – Zoom Room Gimel,
7 pm, Wednesday, November 13 – Havurah Shalom (During Havurah Middle School/Havurah High), or
3:15 pm, Saturday, November 23 – Havurah Shalom (During Shabbat School)
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate! Your voice is needed. Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please choose one of the Wings of the Dove Community Sessions listed above and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. RSVP for your preferred session.

MACG Leadership Academy
2:30 pm to 5 pm, Sunday, October 27 – Havurah Shalom
Come to a MACG (Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good) training session hosted by Havurah's MACG committee. RSVP and get more information.

Teen Tivnu Building Project
11 am to 2 pm, Sunday, October 27 – Hazelnut Grove, a self-governed tiny house village near North Portland's Overlook Park [RSVP for key event info]
The Teen Tivnu Building Project is for Havurah teens (7th - 12th grade). This project will be at Hazelnut Grove, a self-governed tiny house village. We will build planter boxes for the community and assist with any other work the residents ask for help with. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use tools to build stuff – Tivnu's staff will teach you. The project will be framed in the context of Jewish values surrounding self-sufficiency, land use, and caring for your body.
Once you RSVP, you will be emailed key information on where to meet up and what to bring.

HCAT (Havurah's Climate Action Team) Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, October 28 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, October 28 – Zoom Room Heh
We will engage in 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.

Teen Kabbalat Shabbat
6 pm to 8 pm, Friday, November 1 – Havurah Shalom
This Kabbalat Shabbat led by Rabbi Benjamin is for Havurah teens (7th to 12th grade) and their parents/guardians. We will welcome in Shabbat, and enjoy a musical evening all together. Dinner entrees will be provided for all. We ask each family to bring either a salad or dessert (gluten-free dishes welcomed and encouraged as well) or drinks to share with others. When you RSVP, please specify the number of teens and number of adults in the registration notes.

Shabbat Morning with the Bar Mitzvah of Jude Esmer
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 2 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Jude Esmer as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, November 2 – 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

Parenting Huddle: Parenting/Being Jewish in the World Right Now
3:10 pm to 4:30 pm, Saturday, November 2 – Havurah Shalom
Many people have expressed that the war in Israel/Palestine has brought up questions and challenges around parenting in Jewish families, around being a Jew (or in a Jewish family) in the world, in their workplace, in Portland…This is a dedicated time to share those experiences and hopefully gain some clarity for how to move forward. Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. For parents/guardians to enjoy during Shabbat School, at Havurah Shalom. Member and non-member parents/guardians welcome. RSVP

Queer Torah Study
11 am to 12:15 pm, Sundays, November 3 and November 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Emma Lugo of Shir Tikvah will visit to lead us in Queer Torah study, an intensive exploration of and wide-ranging conversation on the weekly parsha, or Torah portion, using material sourced in Queer identity from sources such as Svara, Torah Queeries, and the amazing online world of Queer Jewish content. Join us to study LGBTQ commentators with Emma and explore the Torah and learn together. All are welcome. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Cheshvan
7 pm, Sunday, November 3 - Either Zoom Room Heh or In Person in Inner NE;RSVP for location updates
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.

Teen Tikkun Olam with Rose Haven
4:30 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, November 7 – Rose Haven (1740 NW Glisan Street, Portland, Oregon)
High school-age Havurah teens will volunteer at and attend Rose Haven’s annual Branching Out fundraising event. We'll help with final set-up tasks, then helping to table, sell raffle tickets and then help with clean up. This event will be an opportunity to learn more about Rose Haven, and to interact with individuals who utilize the services. Food and snacks will be provided! More information is included in the confirmation email after you RSVP. Email Michelle Bobowick with any questions.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (w/ Guest Molly Bajgot)
5:45 pm, Hearty Nosh; 6:30 pm, Service; 7:30 pm, Continued Hearty Nosh (Plus Dessert), Friday, November 8 – Havurah Shalom (Service is 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! See the calendar entry for more information; no need to RSVP.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Dylan Schatz
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dylan Schatz as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Molly Bajgot Concert, Music from New Album, Revelry
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, November 10 – Havurah Shalom
Join for an inspiring evening of new Jewish music and powerful song with Molly Bajgot. Molly will share music from her first full-length album Revelry, new tunes for Jewish liturgy and original songs of hope. Molly’s soulful voice and alluring melodies bridge the realms of Jewish, folk, and devotional music. Her orientation to community building and prayer shines through in her musical leadership. Together, we’ll create a sacred and songful space to revel in our aliveness, our grief, our healing, and our work for collective liberation. All are welcome. RSVP

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – 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

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, November 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, November 12 – 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. Learn more.

History of HIAS
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesdays, November 12 and 19 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Havurah member Michael Rice will present the storied history of HIAS from documentary sources, with personal insight as the son of James Rice, HIAS executive director 1956-1966. From predecessor organizations dating to 1870 in New York assisting Jews immigrating to the US or fleeing pogroms, HIAS has sheltered and supported refugees for over 150 years. Along with other Jewish organizations, HIAS took on the rescue and resettlement of Holocaust survivors during World War II and the post-war era. In 1965, thanks to the strong advocacy of HIAS and others, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 ended decades of discriminatory nationality quotas. Now HIAS operates with 1,800 employees in 20 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Israel, with a large team at our Southern border and in Mexico. Asylum protection, resettlement of Afghan, Ukrainian, Venezuelan and other refugees through Jewish communities, and political advocacy for legal and budget support are ongoing work. All are welcome. RSVP

POSTPONED; NEW DATE TBD - Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Zoom Room Gimel
Are you interested in understanding Havurah's history and values and how our participatory culture has informed our governance structure? Do you have questions about how our committees work, the Havurah budget, or how you might get more involved? Members of the Havurah Leadership Development Committee will help you understand our unique community and the many roles members and staff take to support each other. All members welcome to join us!

Affordable Housing and Homelessness in Portland
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 14 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Homelessness remains one of the most important issues in Portland. A lot of money exists, and a bewildering array of solutions. To help our community better understand this issue, the Poverty and Homelessness Committee is offering this forum. Havurahnik, Steve Rudman, former director of Home Forward, will convene the forum with Havurah members, Rachael Duke with Community Partners for Affordable Housing, and Andrea Sanchez with Housing Development Center. Looking forward to a lively and informative evening. RSVP

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on our calendar.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Open to all, especially for families with youth in Grades 5-7. Free childcare is provided. RSVP

Learn to Bake Babke
3 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Impress your friends and family by baking babke for your next social gathering! We’ll provide the ingredients, and you’ll leave with a tasty recipe for future baking. Led by Elyse Hill. All are welcome. RSVP

Lives Lived, Lessons Learned
7 pm to 9 pm, Sunday, November 17 – Havurah Shalom
Join storytellers Edward Hershey, Cassandra Sagan, Sarah Stein and Yuvi Zalkow and musician Steven Mesulam for a fun and insightful evening of stories with musical accompaniment presented by Havurah Alte Rockers for the congregation and community — and feel free to bring a story or anecdote of your own to share! RSVP

More Tikkun Olam

Get Out the Vote
The Tikkun Olam Cluster has been sending post cards, writing letters, and phone and text banking to get out the vote. This is an activity you can do at home, or with friends. If you would like to join other Havuranicks in this effort, contact Elianne Lieberman.

Click here for resources on you can help "Get out the Vote" from home.

Out in the Community

Israeli Dance Open House
7:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, October 28 – Leedy Grange, 835 NW Saltzman Rd, Portland, Oregon
The magic of Israeli dance is togetherness, connection to Israeli culture, movement, music, and so much more. This is an opportunity to see and experience the Israeli Dance community in Portland. We'll have an hour of beginner instruction, and then transition into an open dance session. $7 at the door; free for first-timers.

Oregon Jewish Voices 2024: A Quarter-century of Jewish Voices Reading
7 pm start time, doors open at 6:30 pm, Wednesday, October 30 - The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) auditorium (724 NW Davis St, Portland, Oregon)
Started in 1999 and organized by writer (and Havurahnik) Willa Schneberg, this annual event features readings by prominent Oregon Jewish poets and writers. The writers in the 2024 program span a range of genres, including fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and essays and will share selections from their work. This year, the annual series celebrates a quarter-century of showcasing Oregon Jewish Writers. David Axelrod, Jan Baross, Marat Grinberg, Willa Schneberg & Jodi Varon will present their work. Admission: $13 general admission, $8 for members with code on back of membership card. Click here to purchase tickets.

ORA Art, Music, and Storytelling Show at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
10 am to 4 pm (1 pm to 2 pm: all-ages, storytelling time), Sunday, November 3 – Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) (724 NW Davis St, Portland, Oregon)
You’re invited to a show and art sale put on by Ora–Northwest Jewish Artists. This is a free admission day. The show runs from 10 am to 4 pm. From 1 pm to 2 pm, we will have three Ora members telling stories for all ages with a musical group performing between each story. Ora is a community of Jewish artists, craftsmen, storytellers and book authors who share a love of art and creativity. We support each other through camaraderie, networking, and continued learning. Please come meet us, especially if you are an art lover or artist who would like to meet other artists or join our group.
Check out the ORA-Northweset Jewish Artists website.

Ha

vurah 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 HavurahShalom 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: Gatherings for Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shabbat, and Much More

Hineinu, October 16, 2024

Wings of the Dove Engagement Sessions
The Wings of the Dove Campaign is on track to lift the Havurah community to new heights, expanding the potential of our congregation in new spaces where we will gather, learn, sing, and celebrate!

Your voice is needed.

Havurahniks and those interested in supporting the future of our community, please attend a Wings of the Dove Campaign Engagement session and share in building the vision to address Havurah's future facility and staffing needs. These are non-fundraising events.

Please choose one of the following Community Engagement sessions:
Sunday, October 27 at 11 am - In Person at Havurah,
Tuesday, October 29 at 7 pm - In Zoom Room Gimel, or
Saturday, November 23 at 3:15 pm - At Havurah (During Shabbat School)

Click to RSVP for a Community Session

For more information, contact Aaron Pearlman, Campaign Manager, aaron.pearlman@havurahshalom.org

5785/2024 High Holidays Videos
Would you like to watch and listen to recordings of our recent High Holiday services? Check out our YouTube playlist, High Holidays 2024/5785.
Rosh Hashanah drashot videos are included in the playlist; Yom Kippur drashot videos will be posted soon and then highlighted in Hineinu.

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. 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, October 19.)

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 (Isaac Colman, October 19, Jude Esmer, November 2) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome.
(On Saturday, October 26, Ted Scheinman will chant his Bar Mitzvah portion, share some thoughts on turning 80, and host a lunch for all who come. If possible, please let Ted know if you plan to join for this.)

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.

Sukkot & Simchat Torah

Alte Rockers in the Sukkah
5 pm to 7 pm, Thursday, Oct. 17 – Havurah Shalom
Come perform the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah with your fellow Alte-Rockers! We will have our annual dairy/fish potluck in the Sukkot (if weather permits, otherwise in the Synagogue). All are welcome. RSVP

Queer Sukkot Potluck in SE Portland
7 pm to 9 pm, Saturday, Oct. 19 – Reed College Neighborhood, RSVP for location
Come shake the lulav in the Sukkah with a bunch of Jewish Queers. Bring a tasty contribution. Hosted by Lev Pearlman. All are welcome; RSVP.

Get Out the Vote Letter Writing Party in the Sukkah
Anytime between 12:30 pm and 2 pm, Tuesday, October 22 – Havurah Shalom
Drop in anytime between 12:30 and 2 to join the Tikkun Olam Cluster as we write the final batch of letters and post cards to encourage people to vote. We’ll shake the Lulav and Etrog, and enjoy each other’s company. We’ll provide the paper and pens and snacks! Bring your lunch if you’d like. RSVP or drop by.

Morning Minyan (Yizkor)
8 am to 9:15 am, Thursday, October 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph