Hineinu, January 11, 2023

Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Dinner
6:00 - 8:30, Friday, Jan. 13

We're gathering in person to welcome Shabbat. All are welcome! 
These monthly celebrations are held on the second Friday, from October through May. A  light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay.

6 pm   Light Snack     
6:30    Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph)      
7:30    Dinner

RSVP here! Please consider a suggested donation of $15 for the meal, in recognition that the actual cost for food and preparation is $30. Thank you.
Please consider volunteering for part of the evening! Sign up now!

Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh for more information.

Deborah Eisenbach-Budner Upcoming Sabbatical
From the Presidents Team: Our Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, will take the first part of a well-deserved sabbatical for six weeks, beginning Feb. 10. She returns on March 25. During this time, the wide-ranging demands of her position will be picked up by everyone, from our great staff to lay leaders, Shabbat School Co-chairs and other congregants. Part two of her sabbatical will happen during Winter/Spring ’23/’24. If you have questions, please reach out to Deborah before ‘the last minute.’

Replenish well, Deborah!

Masks urged and stay home if you are feeling sick
Havurah Shalom is following the recommendation of Multnomah County health officials and urging everyone to wear masks indoors when around others. This recommendation is due to the surge in respiratory winter viruses and is not a change to our Covid Policy. In addition, Havurah reminds our members and guests to please stay home if you have any symptoms of congestion, coughing, fever, or a sore/scratchy throat.

Havurah is hiring:
Participation and Publications Coordinator 
Salary range $40,000-45,000

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility. If you enjoy working with an amazing dedicated and collaborative team, this is the opportunity for you. The Coordinator helps facilitate Havurah’s participatory, communal, and spiritual ethos among prospective, new, and longstanding members. This position also creates, edits, and manages internal and external communications and databases.  
 
Qualifications: BA in a related field + 2 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization or 3 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization.
 
Full-time, benefited position including: Medical, dental, generous PTO, retirement benefits when eligible. Hybrid after onboarding.  
 
Find the full job description here. To apply please send resume and cover letter to adela.basayne@havurahshalom.org

Regular Happenings

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Alef & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, In Person & Zoom Room Bet with some exceptions (check the calendar)
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7-8:30 pm, Thursday, Jan. 12  -- Zoom
Attend the monthly meeting of the Racial Justice Committee to learn what we are up to and how you can be engaged!

 Bar Mitzvah of Tevi Sanchez
10 am, Saturday, Jan. 14— Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome as Tevi Sanchez is called to the Torah.

From Honoring to Action: Celebrating  MLK Day at Havurah
12-3 pm, Monday, Jan. 16 — Havurah Shalom
Join the Racial Justice Committee & Rabbi Benjamin for Havurah’s first family-friendly event to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! There'll be music, poetry, learning activities, time for reflection, and opportunity to think about how our values as Jews help us continue the fight for civil rights. And pizza for lunch, too! (Please RSVP so we know how much pizza to order.) Recommended for ages 10 and up..Contact Kristine Munholland for more information. RSVP

The Climate on Capitol Hill: A Roadmap for Jewish Climate Advocacy in the 118th Congress
5 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Offsite RSVP
Havurah’s Climate Action Team and Jewish Earth Alliance invite you to an exciting webinar with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, climate reporter David Roberts, and Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller of the Religious Action Center-CA, who will discuss what Jews can do to press Congress to continue to take action to heal the climate. The recorded event will be on the JEA youtube channel. Or see the webinar at Havurah and stay for the Rumble on the River Forum. Questions? Ask Elianne Lieberman.

Rumble on the River #4
6 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
The HCAT-sponsored Rumble on the River is a community forum on Zenith Energy & Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. A lineup of deeply respected health, public safety, energy, & environmental panelists will share information and respond to our concerns and questions. This is a hybrid event and the panelist presentation will be recorded. Zenith and the CEI are extremely dangerous situations in our backyard. They require all of us stepping up to become aware and help pressure Portland to move forward with informed community involvement. RSVP  

PURIM PLANNING **PURIM PLANNING** PURIM PLANNING
6:00 pm, Wednesday, Jan.18 -- Zoom Room Heh
The topsy turvy craziness of Purim will be here sooner than you think.  Want to plan a fantastic, carnival-esque, evening?  Work on a schpeil?  Let's talk, darlings. Questions?  Adela Basayne may or may not have answers.

How Jewish Congregations And Community Organizations Can Invest in a Just, Livable Future
5:30 - 6:30 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19, outside Zoom link
HCAT invites you to learn how we can leverage the power of our communities, congregations, and organizations to lead the way to a clean, just energy future. If your, your congregation or organization has a bank account or investments, this event is for you. Sponsored by Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action. Register here  for the zoom link.

Living Well Jewishly with Chronic Illness: Virtual Panel and Discussion
7 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19 — Zoom Room Bet
* Have you, or someone close to you experienced chronic conditions of any sort?
* Have there been struggles, challenges and disappointments along the way, not only medically, emotionally but also spiritually?
* What about the weariness, and burnout and from seeking and trying different types of  treatments? To say nothing of physical pain?
If these questions speak to you, or a loved one’s  experience, then come join the Ma’avar committee’s Panel for a deep dive into this salient and important topic. Discuss and learn along with us how approaching these issues from a Jewish perspective may allow for us to live more fully facing these challenges.
Panelists will include Keren McCord, Julia Lager-Mesulim, Rabbi Mel Young, Adela Basayne.  Contact  moderator Annie Goldberg for more information. RSVP here.

Art of the Hamsa
3:30 - 4:30 PM, Sundaym Jan. 22 -- Zoom Room Bet
We will study the history and meaning of the hamsa symbol and its part in Jewish life and culture. Then we will design a piece for our homes. You may choose to make it from clay, mixed media, drawing, painting, or fabric. You will see examples of hamsa designs, how they are decorated, and their crucial elements.
Led by Carolina Martinez.

“Out in the Dark” Film Discussion
7 pm, Sunday, Jan. 22 — Zoom Room Bet
The Havurah Israel/Palestine Committee’s next Zoom film discussion will be Out in the Dark, an award-winning 2012 Israeli romantic drama that explores an illicit gay relationship between a Palestinian student and an Jewish Israeli attorney. The discussion will be led by two members of the I/P Committee. Please watch the film in advance, available through Kanopy, the free streaming channel available through public libraries, and Amazon Prime. Here is the trailer. Open to all Havurah members. RSVP  

Seeking God’s Face: An Overview of Mystical Judaism
7 pm, Mondays, Jan. 23, 30; Feb. 6, 13 — Zoom Room Dalet
In this four-week introductory class, we will delve into the history of Jewish mysticism, sample ancient Kabbalistic texts and contemporary mystical writings, become acquainted with Hasidic rebbes and their enduring stories, and explore selected mystical concepts and practices. In addition to formal presented material, the class will include readings, interactive discussions, and some experiential content. RSVP  

Book Group: Paradise by Abdulrazak Gumah
7 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 24 — Zoom Room Bet
Fiction: 247 Pages. Published in 1994, Paradise tells the story of a boy growing up in Tanzania in the early twentieth century. The story is told through the eyes of Yusuf, a gentle boy taken at the age of 12 as an indentured servant to pay off his father’s debt. From the simple life of rural Africa, Yusuf is thrown into the complexities of precolonial urban East Africa. Join the Book Group for a discussion of this compelling work. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP  

Judaism And The Wilderness: A Brief Escape With Northern Exposure
2 pm, Sunday, Jan. 29 — Havurah Shalom
This will be a two-hour “class” in which we will watch one of the episodes from Northern Exposure’s fourth season—“Kaddish for Uncle Manny”—and explore together some of these themes. In this episode, Fleischman’s uncle in New York has died, and Fleischman goes on a journey to find ten male Jews in Alaska to say Kaddish. RSVP

Refugee and Immegrant Shabbat
7:30 pm, Friday, Feb. 3 -- at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph
We will celebrate our 4th Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat on Feb 3rd. Rabbi Benjamin will lead the service , Be-Shallah – the flight from Egypt, parting of the Red Sea and the Song of the Sea. As in Exodus, refugees and immigrants today face challenges, and have times for celebration. Margie Rosenthal will lead the music
This Shabbat is sponsored by HIAS who provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world. Along with themes provided by HIAS, we will hear teachings and stories about Havurah’s own engagement with refugees and immigrants.
Contact Michael RIce for more information.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah
10:00 - 12:00, Saturday, Feb 4 -- Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please share in our joy as Havurah Shalom’s Adult B’nai Mitzvah group is called to the Torah. After services, please join us for a luncheon sponsored by the B’nai Mitzvah group, with the help of the Havurah Community and our friends and family. Please RSVP by Jan. 19.
Called to the Torah will be:
Alexis Nasdor-Jones Baghdadi • Fran Berg • Amanda Elliston • Lesley Isenstein •
Ericka Kimball • Megan Koler • Michelle Lamanet • Matthew Nelkin • Karen Polinsky• Ellen Regal • Jennifer Rousseau • Beth Segal • Rachel Shimshak • Brady Snyder •Liza Springgate • Sharon Stern • Justin David Strom • Susan Ungar • Mara Zusman
 

Tikkun Olam Updates

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Lift Up has provided food boxes throughout NW PDX for many years and is another P&H Committee-supported organization. Check them out — there are many volunteer opportunities here too.

Interested in P&H work? Please contact Gloria Halper.

The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW believes another world is possible. In our vision, all immigrants deserve to be treated with respect and care under laws that are just and humane. In our vision, we live in safety, peace and power together. And we welcome the stranger because we have been strangers ourselves.
 Since 2017, the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW has been a powerful voice for immigrant justice in the Jewish communities statewide, inspiring activism and supporting and moving forward the work of immigrant justice organizations. We build relationships and community in taking our lead from those directly impacted by immigration policy.
 Please join us in any way that works for your busy life:
Take actions suggested in the newsletter.
Join our advocacy, accompaniment and community engagement work.
Donate to enable our work to go on.
Subscribe to the JCIJ Newsletter. Read the latest newsletter here. Keep In touch with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW at jcij.nw@gmail.com and follow by liking us on Facebook.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Registration is Open for Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization
5:30-7:30 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 26, 31; Feb. 2, 7, 9 [Required orientation either 2 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19 or 5:30 pm, Thursday, Jan. 24] — Offsite Zoom

The Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good (MACG) Havurah Core Team hope you will consider registering for the 5-session virtual course “Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization.” (View 1.5-minute video.) This course has been developed and presented by local Indigenous leaders in Washington, Montana, two Canadian provinces, New Zealand and Australia. The course is very powerful and moving. Please spread the word wide and far within our community and beyond. You can link to this flyer. Since Havurah is a MACG member, there is no cost. RSVP

There will be three follow-up sessions led by local Indigenous leaders beginning one month after the end of the course. These sessions are designed to consider local actions and personal goals. We are excited to be able to offer this powerful and informative course.  We hope you will attend and share this invitation with others.  Please email Bob Brown or Michael Heumann if you have any questions.

Community Announcements

Weekend in Quest 2023
Friday-Sunday, March 3-5 — Holiday Inn Express in Astoria
OJMCHE is excited to announce that Weekend in Quest is returning to Astoria on the Oregon Coast. Join us in person for a weekend of community and study with Professor Mika Ahuvia, whose lectures will draw upon her recent book On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture. Sessions will focus on the presence of angels in ancient and contemporary Judaism, classical rabbinic sources, Jewish magic, and liturgy. Eddy Shuldman will serve as the weekend's service leader. For detailed information and registration, visit OJMCHE's website. 

Kadima in Seattle is Hiring!
Kadima Reconstructionist Community in Seattle, WA is hiring a temporary part-time fundraiser and event organizer. This position will run through May 2023 and will be fully remote with the exception of our fundraising event on Sunday, April 30th. Job description, pay, and instructions on how to apply are here: www.kadima.org/were-hiring.html For more information please contact office@kadima.org.

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

Hineinu, January 4, 2023

Deborah Eisenbach-Budner Upcoming Sabbatical
From the Presidents Team: Our Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, will take the first part of a well-deserved sabbatical for six weeks, beginning Feb. 10. She returns on March 25. During this time, the wide-ranging demands of her position will be picked up by everyone, from our great staff to lay leaders, Shabbat School Co-chairs and other congregants. Part two of her sabbatical will happen during Winter/Spring ’23/’24. If you have questions, please reach out to Deborah before ‘the last minute.’

Replenish well, Deborah!

Masks urged and stay home if you are feeling sick
Havurah Shalom is following the recommendation of Multnomah County health officials and urging everyone to wear masks indoors when around others. This recommendation is due to the surge in respiratory winter viruses and is not a change to our Covid Policy. In addition, Havurah reminds our members and guests to please stay home if you have any symptoms of congestion, coughing, fever, or a sore/scratchy throat.

Participation and Publications Coordinator at Havurah Shalom
Salary range $40,000-45,000

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility. If you enjoy working with an amazing dedicated and collaborative team, this is the opportunity for you. The Coordinator helps facilitate Havurah’s participatory, communal, and spiritual ethos among prospective, new, and longstanding members. This position also creates, edits, and manages internal and external communications and databases.  
 
Qualifications: BA in a related field + 2 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization or 3 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization.
 
Full-time, benefited position including: Medical, dental, generous PTO, retirement benefits when eligible. Hybrid after onboarding.  
 
Find the full job description here. To apply please send resume and cover letter to adela.basayne@havurahshalom.org

Regular Happenings

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Alef & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, In Person & Zoom Room Bet with some exceptions (check the calendar)
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Contemplative Shabbat Morning Service
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 24 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph

Antisemitism and Israel-Related Speech
11 am, Sunday, Jan. 8 — Offsite Zoom
The Joint Israel Commission of the Reconstructionist Movement will present a webinar on “Antisemitism and Israel-Related Speech.” The speakers include authors of two essays expressing contrasting views on an April 2021 public statement of Reconstructing Judaism on the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition of antisemitism and Prof. Amos Goldberg (Hebrew University), a co-author of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
RSVP 

Palestinian Voices
7 pm, Wednesdays, beginning on Jan. 11 — Havurah Shalom
Joel Beinin will offer an eight-week class on “Palestinian Voices.” We will read, view, and experience films, poetry, prose, music, and (Covid conditions, permitting) food. You are invited to be open to hearing things that may make us uncomfortable in a spirit of respectful and open-hearted engagement – with the materials and with each other. This is an in-person course only. RSVP  

From Honoring to Action: Celebrating  MLK Day at Havurah
12-3 pm, Monday, Jan. 16 — Havurah Shalom
Join the Racial Justice Committee & Rabbi Benjamin for Havurah’s first family-friendly event to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! There'll be music, poetry, learning activities, time for reflection, and opportunity to think about how our values as Jews help us continue the fight for civil rights. And pizza for lunch, too! (Please RSVP so we know how much pizza to order.) Recommended for ages 10 and up..Contact Kristine Munholland for more information. RSVP

The Climate on Capitol Hill: A Roadmap for Jewish Climate Advocacy in the 118th Congress
5 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Offsite RSVP
Havurah’s Climate Action Team and Jewish Earth Alliance invite you to an exciting webinar with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, climate reporter David Roberts, and Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller of the Religious Action Center-CA, who will discuss what Jews can do to press Congress to continue to take action to heal the climate. The recorded event will be on the JEA youtube channel. Or see the webinar at Havurah and stay for the Rumble on the River Forum. Questions? Ask Elianne Lieberman.

Rumble on the River #4
6 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
The HCAT-sponsored Rumble on the River is a community forum on Zenith Energy & Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. A lineup of deeply respected health, public safety, energy, & environmental panelists will share information and respond to our concerns and questions. This is a hybrid event and the panelist presentation will be recorded. Zenith and the CEI are extremely dangerous situations in our backyard. They require all of us stepping up to become aware and help pressure Portland to move forward with informed community involvement. RSVP  

Save the Date — Living Well Jewishly with Chronic Illness: Panel and Discussion
7 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19 — Zoom Room Bet

“Out in the Dark” Film Discussion
7 pm, Sunday, Jan. 22 — Zoom Room Bet
The Havurah Israel/Palestine Committee’s next Zoom film discussion will be Out in the Dark, an award-winning 2012 Israeli romantic drama that explores an illicit gay relationship between a Palestinian student and an Jewish Israeli attorney. The discussion will be led by two members of the I/P Committee. Please watch the film in advance, available through Kanopy, the free streaming channel available through public libraries, and Amazon Prime. Here is the trailer. Open to all Havurah members. RSVP  

Seeking God’s Face: An Overview of Mystical Judaism
7 pm, Mondays, Jan. 23, 30; Feb. 6, 13 — Zoom Room Dalet
In this four-week introductory class, we will delve into the history of Jewish mysticism, sample ancient Kabbalistic texts and contemporary mystical writings, become acquainted with Hasidic rebbes and their enduring stories, and explore selected mystical concepts and practices. In addition to formal presented material, the class will include readings, interactive discussions, and some experiential content. RSVP  

Book Group: Paradise by Abdulrazak Gumah
7 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 24 — Zoom Room Bet
Fiction: 247 Pages. Published in 1994, Paradise tells the story of a boy growing up in Tanzania in the early twentieth century. The story is told through the eyes of Yusuf, a gentle boy taken at the age of 12 as an indentured servant to pay off his father’s debt. From the simple life of rural Africa, Yusuf is thrown into the complexities of precolonial urban East Africa. Join the Book Group for a discussion of this compelling work. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP  

Judaism And The Wilderness: A Brief Escape With Northern Exposure
2 pm, Sunday, Jan. 29 — Havurah Shalom
This will be a two-hour “class” in which we will watch one of the episodes from Northern Exposure’s fourth season—“Kaddish for Uncle Manny”—and explore together some of these themes. In this episode, Fleischman’s uncle in New York has died, and Fleischman goes on a journey to find ten male Jews in Alaska to say Kaddish. RSVP
​​​​​​​

Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Dinner
6:00 - 8:30, Friday, Jan. 13

We're gathering in person to welcome Shabbat. All are welcome! 
These monthly celebrations are held on the second Friday, from October through May. A  light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay.

6 pm   Light Snack     
6:30    Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph)      
7:30    Dinner

RSVP here! Please consider a suggested donation of $15 for the meal, in recognition that the actual cost for food and preparation is $30. Thank you.
Please consider volunteering for part of the evening! Sign up now!

​​​​​​​Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh for more information.

Tikkun Olam Updates

News from the Streets — Poverty and Homelessness Committee
The January First Thursday ( Jan. 5) meeting of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty will host Jillian Joseph, Executive Divector of the Native Wellness Center. She will discuss work being done to assist Native American Communities, particularly the exciting new project "Barbie's Village" at the site of the former Laurelhurst Presbyterian Church. Register here. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, contact Sue Abrams.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Lift Up has provided food boxes throughout NW PDX for many years and is another P&H Committee-supported organization. Check them out — there are many volunteer opportunities here too.

Interested in P&H work? Please contact Gloria Halper.

The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW believes another world is possible. In our vision, all immigrants deserve to be treated with respect and care under laws that are just and humane. In our vision, we live in safety, peace and power together. And we welcome the stranger because we have been strangers ourselves.
 
Since 2017, the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW has been a powerful voice for immigrant justice in the Jewish communities statewide, inspiring activism and supporting and moving forward the work of immigrant justice organizations. We build relationships and community in taking our lead from those directly impacted by immigration policy.
 
Please join us in any way that works for your busy life:
Take actions suggested in the newsletter.
Join our advocacy, accompaniment and community engagement work.
Donate to enable our work to go on.
Subscribe to the JCIJ Newsletter. Read the latest newsletter here. Keep In touch with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW at jcij.nw@gmail.com and follow by liking us on Facebook.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Registration is Open for Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization
5:30-7:30 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 26, 31; Feb. 2, 7, 9 [Required orientation either 2 pm, Thursday, Jan. 19 or 5:30 pm, Thursday, Jan. 24] — Offsite Zoom

The Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good (MACG) Havurah Core Team hope you will consider registering for the 5-session virtual course “Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization.” (View 1.5-minute video.) This course has been developed and presented by local Indigenous leaders in Washington, Montana, two Canadian provinces, New Zealand and Australia. The course is very powerful and moving. Please spread the word wide and far within our community and beyond. You can link to this flyer. Since Havurah is a MACG member, there is no cost. RSVP

There will be three follow-up sessions led by local Indigenous leaders beginning one month after the end of the course. These sessions are designed to consider local actions and personal goals. We are excited to be able to offer this powerful and informative course.  We hope you will attend and share this invitation with others.  Please email Bob Brown or Michael Heumann if you have any questions.

Community Announcements

Weekend in Quest 2023
Friday-Sunday, March 3-5 — Holiday Inn Express in Astoria
OJMCHE is excited to announce that Weekend in Quest is returning to Astoria on the Oregon Coast. Join us in person for a weekend of community and study with Professor Mika Ahuvia, whose lectures will draw upon her recent book On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture. Sessions will focus on the presence of angels in ancient and contemporary Judaism, classical rabbinic sources, Jewish magic, and liturgy. Eddy Shuldman will serve as the weekend's service leader. For detailed information and registration, visit OJMCHE's website. 

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Room Alef
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

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

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

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

Hineinu, December 21, 2022

Regular Happenings

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Alef & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, Zoom Room Bet and In Person
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Chanukah Shabbat Morning Service
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 24 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Join us for a cozy, dreamy, snowy Chanukah Shabbat, both at Havurah (weather permitting) and in Room Aleph (regardless of the weather). Andrine de la Rocha, Howard Patterson and Diane Chaplin will zoom-guide this introspective service as it wends its way, dreaming a path into the new moon of Tevet, and slowly returning to greater light. Grab a cup of cocoa and a handful of marshmallows, and snuggle in for an eclectic service, weaving the old and the new into this liminal space between Solstice and New Year.

Book Group: The Overstory by Richard Powers
7 pm, Tuesday, Dec. 27 — Zoom Room Bet
This novel is about nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests. Join the Book Group for a discussion of this compelling work. Nonmembers welcome. Please note date correction from that briefly shown in Hakol. RSVP 

Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 3 (first Tuesdays monthly) — Zoom Room Heh
The Teen Engagement Committee has a standing meeting on the first Tuesday of the month. We are looking for adults and for teens in Grades 7-12 who want to help plan and participate in social events with other teens in the Havurah community. Participation in the Havurah Middle/High School programs is not required.

Antisemitism and Israel-Related Speech
11 am, Sunday, Jan. 8 — Offsite Zoom
The Joint Israel Commission of the Reconstructionist Movement will present a webinar on “Antisemitism and Israel-Related Speech.” The speakers include authors of two essays expressing contrasting views on an April 2021 public statement of Reconstructing Judaism on the International Holocaust Remembrance Association’s definition of antisemitism and Prof. Amos Goldberg (Hebrew University), a co-author of the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.
RSVP 

Palestinian Voices
7 pm, Wednesdays, beginning on Jan. 11 — Havurah Shalom
Joel Beinin will offer an eight-week class on “Palestinian Voices.” We will read, view, and experience films, poetry, prose, music, and (Covid conditions, permitting) food. You are invited to be open to hearing things that may make us uncomfortable in a spirit of respectful and open-hearted engagement – with the materials and with each other. This is an in-person course only. RSVP ​​​​​​​ 

SAVE THE DATE: Celebrate MLK Day at Havurah!
12-3 pm, Monday, Jan. 16 — Havurah Shalom
The Racial Justice Committee will host a family-friendly event to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. There'll be music, poetry, intergenerational learning, time for reflection, and opportunity to think about ways to continue the fight for justice. And pizza, too! Please plan to join us. RSVP

Rumble on the River #4
6 pm, Tuesday, Jan. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
The HCAT-sponsored Rumble on the River is a community forum on Zenith Energy & Portland’s Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. A lineup of deeply respected health, public safety, energy, & environmental panelists will share information and respond to our concerns and questions. This is a hybrid event and the panelist presentation will be recorded. Zenith and the CEI are extremely dangerous situations in our backyard. They require all of us stepping up to become aware and help pressure Portland to move forward with informed community involvement. RSVP  

Participation and Publications Coordinator at Havurah Shalom
Salary range $40,000-45,000

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility. If you enjoy working with an amazing dedicated and collaborative team, this is the opportunity for you. The Coordinator helps facilitate Havurah’s participatory, communal, and spiritual ethos among prospective, new, and longstanding members. This position also creates, edits, and manages internal and external communications and databases.  
 
Qualifications: BA in a related field + 2 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization or 3 years of experience in non-profit or membership organization.
 
Full-time, benefited position including: Medical, dental, generous PTO, retirement benefits when eligible. Hybrid after onboarding.  
 
Find the full job description here. To apply please send resume and cover letter to adela.basayne@havurahshalom.org

Tikkun Olam Updates

News from the Streets — Poverty and Homelessness Committee
Havurah has been an very active partner with Path Home (formerly Portland Homeless Family Solutions). See the link at the bottom of this section for our monthly meal volunteering info. And this time of year there are many extra volunteer opportunities

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Lift Up has provided food boxes throughout NW PDX for many years and is another P&H Committee-supported organization. Check them out — there are many volunteer opportunities here too.

Interested in P&H work? Please contact Gloria Halper.

The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW believes another world is possible. In our vision, all immigrants deserve to be treated with respect and care under laws that are just and humane. In our vision, we live in safety, peace and power together. And we welcome the stranger because we have been strangers ourselves.
 
Since 2017, the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW has been a powerful voice for immigrant justice in the Jewish communities statewide, inspiring activism and supporting and moving forward the work of immigrant justice organizations. We build relationships and community in taking our lead from those directly impacted by immigration policy.
 
Please join us in any way that works for your busy life:
Take actions suggested in the newsletter.
Join our advocacy, accompaniment and community engagement work.
Donate to enable our work to go on.
Subscribe to the JCIJ Newsletter. Read the latest newsletter here. Keep In touch with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW at jcij.nw@gmail.com and follow by liking us on Facebook.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Community Announcements

Weekend in Quest 2023
Friday-Sunday, March 3-5 — Holiday Inn Express in Astoria
OJMCHE is excited to announce that Weekend in Quest is returning to Astoria on the Oregon Coast. Join us in person for a weekend of community and study with Professor Mika Ahuvia, whose lectures will draw upon her recent book On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture. Sessions will focus on the presence of angels in ancient and contemporary Judaism, classical rabbinic sources, Jewish magic, and liturgy. Eddy Shuldman will serve as the weekend's service leader. For detailed information and registration, visit OJMCHE's website. 

Reckoning Together Pilgrimage: Ten Days Left to Register!
March 16-19, 2023, Montgomery, Selma & Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA
The uniquely Reconstructionist trip will visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum in Montgomery and iconic sites of the Civil Rights Movement. The memorial and museum are powerful and sacred spaces for truth-telling and reflection about racial violence in America and its ongoing legacy today. We will meet with leaders of the historic Civil Rights Movement to gain insight and inspiration for the ongoing fight for racial justice in our day.

There will be opportunities to learn, pray, eat, and converse with values-aligned folks from across the Reconstructionist movement. Scholarships are available. Register here

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Room Alef
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

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

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

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

Hineinu, December 8, 2022

Masks Urged
Havurah Shalom is following the recommendation of Multnomah County Health officials and urging everyone to wear masks in public indoor spaces until at least Jan. 1, 2023. This recommendation is due to the surge in respiratory winter viruses and is not a change to our Covid Policy. In addition, Havurah reminds our members and guests to please stay home if you have any symptoms of congestion, coughing, fever, or a sore/scratchy throat.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
This Friday, Dec. 9 — Havurah Shalom and service in Zoom Room Aleph

A  light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay.

6 pm — Light Snack
6:30 — Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph)      
7:30 — Dinner

No RSVP needed for snack and service. RSVP for dinner so we can have a caterer count. Please consider a suggested donation of $15 for the meal, in recognition that the actual cost for food and preparation is $30. Thank you.

Volunteers are very much needed! Sign up here.

Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh for more information.

Regular Happenings

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Alef & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, Zoom Room Bet and In Person
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

Dec. 11, 4-6 pm, in person at Havurah Shalom

Let's spend some time enjoying the special qualities each of us brings while eating good food, singing, schmoozing, learning more about our community, and even doing some arts and crafts! 

Haven't been to a Welcome Committee shindig yet? You are in for a treat.

Been to one and want to come again? What a great way to meet new people! 

Kids welcome too! Childcare will be provided. RSVP

Explore Solar Solutions!
5 pm, Thursday, Dec. 8 — Zoom Join Link
Get the scoop on rooftop and community solar. Hear about Salem Beth Israel's project. Learn what you can do as a homeowner, renter, business owner and/or congregation, and the great incentives and rebates in the Inflation Reduction Act. Presented by the Climate Action Committee of the Jewish Federation of Portland, which includes Havurah’s Climate Action Team. See the Nov. 23 Jewish Review for a related article. RSVP to Steve Katz.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6 pm, Friday, Dec. 9 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Alef
A  light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. 6 pm, Light Snack — 6:30, Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph) — 7:30, Dinner — RSVP for dinner | Volunteer

Remembering Ari Goldschmidt
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 10 at Shabbat Morning Services — in person at Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph | 7:30 pm, Saturday, Dec. 17 at Susan Brenner and Ed Kraus’ home
There are two upcoming opportunities to remember Ari Goldschmidt in community and with some of his family, including Michele and Robert. Ari died Oct. 28. Dec 10, during the Torah service, Emily Simon will dedicate the third aliyah to Ari and offer memories of Ari inspired by the portion. Some of Ari's family will join this service via Zoom. Dec. 17, a community shiva minyan will be hosted by Susan Brenner and Ed Kraus. Michele and Robert will be there. This will be in-person only. Susan and Ed's address can be found in the member directory (sign-in required).

December Dilemmas
3:05 - 4:35, Saturday, Dec.10 — Havurah Shalom
A workshop for parents of children of any age; for parents of all backgrounds, Jewish and non-Jewish. We’ll look into the contentious historical roots of Chanukah, many of which parallel questions of cultural and religious identity that we still deal with today! We will try to articulate what we want Chanukah to really be about for our families as well as how to generally reclaim the holiday from commercialism and cooptation. We will discuss the particular challenges that our diverse families face at this time of year, as well. Bring your thoughts, questions, family traditions, favorite children's Chanukah books, etc. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP

CANCELED Design Your Own Chanukah Card!

Discrimination & Resistance Exhibit at OJMCHE
11 am, Sunday, Dec. 11 — OJMCHE, 724 NW Davis St.
The Racial Justice Committee invites you to a guided tour of "Discrimination & Resistance: An Oregon Primer" at the Oregon Jewish Museum. As noted on their website, the exhibit "documents Oregon's history of discrimination from its territorial days into statehood, and through the 20th century... (and) the numerous ways individuals and groups have resisted and overcome...." We look forward to learning together! Due to limited capacity for 15 attendees on the tour, please contact Kristine Munholland to RSVP. Payment at the museum is $5 per person, or free for members.

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

Dec. 11, 4-6 pm, in person at Havurah Shalom
Let's spend some time enjoying the special qualities each of us brings while eating good food, singing, schmoozing, learning more about our community, and even doing some arts and crafts! Haven't been to a Welcome Committee shindig yet? You are in for a treat. Been to one and want to come again? What a great way to meet new people! Kids welcome too! Childcare will be provided. RSVP

Israel/Palestine Film Discussion Series: The Other Son
7 pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 — Zoom Room Bet
The Israel-Palestine Committee continues our film discussion series with The Other Son, a heartbreaking and heartwarming ‘switched at birth’ story, which provides an opportunity to discuss, among other things, the question “Who is a Jew?”. Please watch the film on your own prior to the discussion that will be facilitated by members of the Israel/Palestine Committee. The film is available for streaming via Kanopy (public library streaming service) and Amazon Prime.  RSVP

Bat Mitzvah of Evana Lindemann
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Evana Lindemann as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Ma'avar Educational Event: Ethical Wills Throughout Your Life
7 pm, Thursday, Dec.  15 — Zoom Room Bet
Creating an ethical will is not just for end-of-life preparation. They are useful tools for any stage of life. For a young family it can help you identify your family values. Later in life, it can guide your will and advanced directive. What is an ethical will? Why do I want one? What's included in an ethical will? How do I create one? How do I get started? Come to have all these questions answered. RSVP

Chanukah Donations for People In Need
3:30-5:30 pm, Sunday, Dec. 18 — Havurah Shalom
While swapping gifts for your loved ones, think about donating needed items for others. We are collecting new and gently used items for the Common Good Project, Rose Haven, and Path Home (formerly Portland Homeless Family Solutions) during the Chanukah Swap/Chanukah Party. See list of needed items. Not planning on coming to Havurah? See the bottom of the list for items you can purchase on Amazon for these organizations.

Book Group: The Overstory by Richard Powers
7 pm, Tuesday, Dec. 27 — Zoom Room Bet
This novel is about nine Americans whose unique life experiences with trees bring them together to address the destruction of forests. Join the Book Group for a discussion of this compelling work. Nonmembers welcome. Please note date correction from that briefly shown in Hakol. RSVP

Time for the Chanukah Party!
3:30-5:30, Sunday, Dec. 18
at Havurah Shalom and (starting at 4:30 pm) Zoom Room Aleph

Plan to come with friends and family, and join the fun.
• Arts & crafts tables (kids/adults)
• Dreidel game tables
• Chanukah swap meet – get or give used stuff for free! Makes great gifts!
• Tikkun Olam display on community solar
• Sweet donut treats
• Candle lighting at 4:30 pm*
• Storytelling*
• Sing-along

RSVP to ensure we get enough donut holes and gelt! 
And if you can, please volunteer to help make the party a success.

Tikkun Olam Updates

News from the Streets — Poverty and Homelessness Committee
Havurah has been an very active partner with Path Home (formerly Portland Homeless Family Solutions). See the link at the bottom of this section for our monthly meal volunteering info. And this time of year there are many extra volunteer opportunities
.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Lift Up has provided food boxes throughout NW PDX for many years and is another P&H Committee-supported organization. Check them out — there are many volunteer opportunities here too.

Interested in P&H work? Please contact Gloria Halper.

The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW believes another world is possible. In our vision, all immigrants deserve to be treated with respect and care under laws that are just and humane. In our vision, we live in safety, peace and power together. And we welcome the stranger because we have been strangers ourselves.
 
Since 2017, the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW has been a powerful voice for immigrant justice in the Jewish communities statewide, inspiring activism and supporting and moving forward the work of immigrant justice organizations. We build relationships and community in taking our lead from those directly impacted by immigration policy.
 
Please join us in any way that works for your busy life:
Take actions suggested in the newsletter.
Join our advocacy, accompaniment and community engagement work.
Donate to enable our work to go on.
Subscribe to the JCIJ Newsletter. Read the latest newsletter here. Keep In touch with the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW at jcij.nw@gmail.com and follow by liking us on Facebook.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Community Announcements

A Jewish Ending: An Introduction to Dying, Death, Mourning, and Beyond
Chevra Kavod haMet invites Havurah members to learn more about Jewish ways to approach end of life experiences. We will briefly discuss how you can be prepared to make practical and personal decisions about the time before death, the moment of passing, the ritual preparations for burial, the interment options, the stages of mourning, and beliefs in the afterlife. The event will take place on two dates. Here are direct links to join on Zoom: Dec. 11, 10 am | Dec. 13, 7 pm  

Join Portland's Jewish Community for Chanukah: First Night in Portland's Pioneer Square
4:30 pm, Sunday, Dec. 18 — Pioneer Square
This year's event is dedicated to refugees from Ukraine who will be honored with lighting the first candle. Live Klezmer music by a Ukrainian Music Group! Fire Show! Menorah Lighting! Fresh latkes for all! More Info 

Reckoning Together: A Reconstructionist Pilgrimage Towards Racial Justice
March 16-19, 2023, Montgomery, Selma & Birmingham, AL and Atlanta, GA
Registration Deadline 12/31. This spring, join Reconstructionists from all across the movement on a pilgrimage trip to the American South. Together we will visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum in Montgomery, Alabama, and iconic sites of the Civil Rights Movement. The memorial and museum are powerful and sacred spaces for truth-telling and reflection about racial violence in America and its ongoing legacy today. We will meet with leaders of the historic Civil Rights Movement to gain insight and inspiration for the ongoing fight for racial justice in our day.

Contact Bob Brown or Shari Raider with any questions. Scholarships are available through Reconstructing Judaism. Scholarship deadline is 12/15. We are also working on scholarships through Havurah because we do not want cost to be a barrier to participation. More Info 

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

Hineinu, November 23, 2022

From Rabbi Benjamin

Dear Friends,

As we have done far too often in recent years, this week we mourn the senseless loss of life. Our hearts break for the families of the five people murdered at Club Q in Colorado Springs, and we pray for refu’ah shleimah, complete recovery, for the dozens wounded.

The day of the shooting was Transgender Day of Remembrance. At Havurah that Shabbat morning, before the Mourners’ Kaddish, we recited a prayer, composed by Rabbi Reuben Zellman, which included the words: “We pray, God, that those who perpetrate hate and violence will speedily come to understand that Your creation has many faces, many genders, and many holy expressions.” May it be so.

Amid increasing anti-LGBTQ policies and vicious rhetoric, tragedies like this feel inevitable. So let us respond to this moment by fighting harder to disrupt hateful speech and safeguard human rights. To all of our LGBTQ community members: May Havurah always be a place in which you feel safe and know you belong, a refuge for all of us seeking love and connection. 

This is a precarious moment in our history — as a nation, as a people, and as a species. With the rise in antisemitism, and with increased violence and hate-filled acts in general, it is touching every one of us, in different but shared ways. May we continue to turn toward one another and support each other, and together locate the courage and resilience we need. May the memories of those murdered be for blessing in the lives of all who loved them, and may they inspire our continued fight for a world that is more safe and just and loving for us all.

Gentle Reminder for Gatherings

While it continues to be exciting and joyous to be together again in the building, Staff would like to ask groups to remember to wash their dishes after meeting. We all rely on everybody doing their part!

Please also take the time to reset your meeting space if you happen to move tables and chairs from the way you found them. This is essential for efficiently run programming to take place. (You might snap a picture of the original setup first if it looks complex.) Thank you!

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Regular Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
We gather mostly via Zoom 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, or Nancy Becker.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays, beginning Nov. 7 — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

The Havurah Office will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.

Bar Mitzvah of Zeke Stein
10 am, Saturday, Nov. 26 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Zeke Stein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5:30 pm, Monday, Nov. 28 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting in Zoom Room Gimel.

Don't Miss the next Racial Justice Meeting on 12/1
7 pm, Thursday, Dec. 1 — Zoom Room Bet
The 12/1 meeting will be a continuation of the conversation we had at the last meeting. Beka Feathers will continue to facilitate this conversation. There are still questions to be answered, so if you missed the last meeting there continues to be an opportunity for your input. Our goal is to create an intention document, which will guide us in how we engage with organizations doing racial justice work.

Bar Mitzvah of Philip Elliston
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 3 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Philip Elliston as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Even God Had Bad Parenting Days: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for New Parents
3:10 pm, Saturday, Dec. 3 — Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions we face as parents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. Today, join Alicia Jo Rabins, musician, poet, parent and Havurahnik(!), as she shares from her recently released book about parenting and Jewish spirituality and facilitates discussion about the realities of parenting. RSVP (And Dec. 10, come back for December Dilemmas!)

NEW CLASS! Voices and Visions
11 am, Sunday, Dec. 4 — Zoom Room Gimel
Let's explore Jewish identity and philosophy through contemporary art! The Grinspoon Foundation (of PJ Library fame) asked contemporary artists to visually interpret key quotations from great Jewish thinkers. The results are rich and thought-provoking. RSVP

Tallit Class
1 pm, Sunday, Dec. 4, 1 pm — at Havurah Shalom
We will learn how the tzitzit, or fringe, of a tallit transforms a simple shawl or piece of fabric into a sacred garment. And then you will create your own tallit by tying the tzitzit, learning the meaning of the gematria, or mathematical symbolism, wound and knotted into the holy fringe. Led by Laine Barbanell Schipper. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6 pm, Friday, Dec. 9 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
A  light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. 6 pm, Light Snack — 6:30, Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph) — 7:30, Dinner — RSVP for dinner | Volunteer

Design Your Own Chanukah Card!
3:30 pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 — Zoom Room Bet
Create beautiful Chanukah cards to give to friends and loved ones! We will look at various Hanukkah symbols to discern what we want to adorn our cards with and use colored pencils to illustrate them. Examples of handmade cards by the instructor will be shown. Led by Carolina Martinez. RSVP

Israel/Palestine Film Discussion Series: The Other Son
7 pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 — Zoom Room Bet
The Israel-Palestine Committee continues our film discussion series with The Other Son, a heartbreaking and heartwarming ‘switched at birth’ story, which provides an opportunity to discuss, among other things, the question “Who is a Jew?”. Please watch the film on your own prior to the discussion that will be facilitated by members of the Israel/Palestine Committee. The film is available for streaming via Kanopy (public library streaming service) and Amazon Prime. RSVP

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

Are you NEW?
You are welcome!

Are you New-ISH?
You are welcome!

Are you interested in joining Havurah?
You are welcome!

Come to the Havurah Welcome Get-Together,

where all are welcome!

Dec. 11, 4-6 pm, in person at Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave.
RSVP

Let's spend some time enjoying the special qualities each of us brings while eating good food, singing, schmoozing, learning more about our community, and even doing some arts and crafts!

Haven't been to a Welcome Committee shindig yet? You are in for a treat. Been to one and want to come again? What a great way to meet new people! 

ALL ARE WELCOME! 
 
Kids welcome too! Childcare will be provided. Please RSVP here.

Artwork by Havurahnik Cassandra Sagan

Tikkun Olam Updates

Start Saving Now for our Chanukah Swap, Dec, 18, 3:30-5:30pm 

Do you have toys, books, games, jewelry, stuffed animals or other items in good repair that you no longer use/need but would make a good gift? Please save them for our 2nd Chanukah swap, to be held during Havurah’s party on the first night of Chanukah. Look for details of the swap later in the month. If you are looking for gifts, you do not need to bring something to exchange. All items are free. Contact Elianne Lieberman for more information. 

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven

Community Announcements

B'Yachad Participation Pledge - Please Complete Yours Today!
"At Havurah, wide participation is nothing out of the ordinary—it's the lifeblood of our community." —Oren Kosansky, Havurah Co-President at Kol Nidre Services

Every year, following the High Holidays, we ask members to complete the B'Yachad (Together) Participation Pledge and consider how they can help to fulfill Havurah's mission of being a vibrant, diverse and participatory community. As Oren said, there is a place at Havurah for everyone. Check out the possibilities at the link below and find out how you can participate in the coming year.

 — Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee

Help With a Video!

Would you like to help create a short video capturing Havurah Shalom’s essence?
The Gesher Committee is collecting brief video interviews, music, and photographs from which to create a video to orient and remind members of Havurah’s unique culture and what a member-driven participatory congregation entails.

We will conduct interviews illuminating Havurah’s values of community, education, spiritual practice, and tikkun olam.

Want to help gathering interviews, recordings, or images?
Call or email: Herman Asarnow or Shelley Sobel
Youth and adults welcome.

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, November 9, 2022

Gather with community for joy and learning!

Kabbalat Shabbat This Friday, Nov. 11

Scholars in Residence next Saturday night and Sunday

We are delighted to welcome Yehuda Webster (in person) and Rabbi David Jaffe (online) from the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project (IOWA) for a weekend of learning and practice together. For years, IOWA has supported social change makers “integrate deep spiritual wisdom into their justice work in order to lead from a place that is more visionary, creative, sustainable, and grounded.”

Most recently, Rabbi David and Yehudah have developed a curriculum specifically focused on anti-racism: “Dismantling Racism from the Inside Out (DRIO) is a course and community of practice that equips participants with daily concrete Jewish spiritual tools of Mussar [applied Jewish ethical practice] to confront, subvert, and heal implicit and internalized racism within ourselves and others, supporting the collective organizing, advocacy and service-work efforts to dismantle racism systemically.”

You can learn more about the project and curriculum here, and about Rabbi David and Yehudah here.

All sessions will take place in-person at Havurah as well in Zoom Room Alef. Child care will be provided.

Schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 19
Engaging with Our Ratzon — 6-8 pm — Through sharing and engaging with real-life stories, Yehudah and Rabbi David will lead us in an evening of engaging with our Ratzon — the deep desire to dismantle racism.

Sunday, Nov. 20
Introduction to DRIO Anti-racism Framework — 9:30-12:30 pm — An introduction to and engagement with the DRIO anti-racism framework of balance of care

Lunch — 12:30-1:30 — Lunch served at Havurah. (Zoom will be off)

Mussar, IOWA and the DRIO Anti-Racism Framework — 1:30-4:30 pm — An introduction to Mussar practice through the IOWA lens, and a final hour of integrating Mussar and the DRIO anti-racism framework of balance of care.

RSVP here for all or part of this excellent opportunity to learn and grow.

Gatherings

COVID Guidelines - streamlined and simplifiedHavurah Covid Guidelines – streamlined and simplified

Havurah’s Covid Management Team (the “CMT”) met recently to review and update our Guidelines. The consensus of the CMT was that we could streamline and simplify our Guidelines into a single page of essential “rules” for our community to follow. It was agreed that we no longer needed separate, specific guidelines for different categories of activities at Havurah, but that our basic rules around vaccination, testing, and masking could be broadly applied to most Havurah events. The updated Havurah COVID Safety Guidelines can be found here.

As always, the COVID Management Team is here to answer your questions and address your concerns. Please reach out to Co-President, Loree Devery, by email or phone (in the Havurah Directory). Your communication will be shared with the entire group and a member of the CMT will get back to you.

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

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

Regular Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​
Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.

Shabbat Morning Service
Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
We gather mostly via Zoom 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, or Nancy Becker.

Morning Minyan
Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays, beginning Nov. 7 — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Upcoming Events

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration and Dinner
Friday, Nov. 11, 6 pm Light Snack — 6:30 Service — 7:30 Dinner

A family-friendly oneg followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. All are welcome! RSVP

Bat Mitzvah of Aleeza Stein
10 am, Saturday, Nov. 12 -- Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Aleeza Stein as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

The Journey to Die For: Improving Quality of Your Life
7 pm, Thursday, Nov. 17  — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
The Ma'Avar Committee will be hosting an education series on The Journey ie For: Improving Quality of Your Life about the different stages of life, from health to illness, aging and end of life monthly through July. Rabbi Benjamin will open the series with a talk on rituals in death and dying on Nov. 17. Contact Ericka Kimball with questions. RSVP (link corrected)

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am, Saturday, Nov. 19 — Havurah Shalom
Especially for young children (0-5) and parents.  We celebrate with singing, moving, blessings, and storytelling, followed by a nosh and play.  RSVP

Scholars in Residence
Saturday, Nov. 19 and Sunday, Nov. 20 -- Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Alef
We are delighted to welcome Yehuda Webster (in person) and Rabbi David Jaffe (on line) from the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project (IOWA) for a weekend of learning and practice together. For years IOWA has supported social change makers “integrate deep spiritual wisdom into their justice work in order to lead from a place that is more visionary, creative, sustainable, and grounded.”

Schedule:

Saturday, Nov. 19
Engaging with Our Ratzon — 6-8 pm — Through sharing and engaging with real-life stories, Yehudah and Rabbi David will lead us in an evening of engaging with our Ratzon — the deep desire to dismantle racism.

Sunday, Nov. 20
Introduction to DRIO Anti-racism Framework — 9:30-12:30 pm — An introduction to and engagement with the DRIO anti-racism framework of balance of care

Lunch — 12:30-1:30 — Lunch served at Havurah. (Zoom will be off)

Mussar, IOWA and the DRIO Anti-Racism Framework — 1:30-4:30 pm — An introduction to Mussar practice through the IOWA lens, and a final hour of integrating Mussar and the DRIO anti-racism framework of balance of care

RSVP here for all or part of this excellent opportunity to learn and grow.

Book Group: Beyond a Two-State Solution, by Jonathan Kuttab
7 pm, Tuesday, Nov. 22 — Location (Zoom/Havurah) TBD
Nonfiction: 110 pages. Several members of the Portland Jewish community met and were impressed by Jonathan Kuttab last year (even if they did not necessarily agree with him). Kuttab explains that the two-state solution (that he supported) is no longer viable. He suggests that any solution be predicated on the basic existential needs of the two peoples, which he discusses in exceptional detail. He formulates a one-state solution that challenges both Zionism and Palestinian nationalism. This book invites readers to begin a new conversation based on reality: two peoples will need to live together. Separation is no longer possible or (for some) desirable. Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info

Bar Mitzvah of Zeke Stein
10 am, Saturday, Nov. 26 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Zeke Stein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Bar Mitzvah of Philip Elliston
10 am, Saturday, Dec. 3 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Philip Elliston as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

ATTENTION TEENS

Teen Havurah Bowling Day
12:30-2:30 pm, Sunday, Nov. 13 — Superplay (9300 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy)
Please join us for our 2nd Havurah Teen Event for a Bowling Pizza Party at Superplay (9300 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy). Cost: $10, scholarships available. RSVP

Steering Update

Tikkun Olam Updates

Start Saving Now for our Chanukah Swap to Lighten Our Impact on the Earth
Do you have toys, books, games, jewelry, stuffed animals or other items in good repair that you no longer use/need but would make a good gift. Please save them for our 2nd Chanukah swap, to be held during Havurah’s Chanukah party, Dec. 18. Look for details of the swap later in the month. If you are looking for gifts, you do not need to bring something to exchange. all items are free. Contact Elianne Lieberman for more information.

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice Northwest
The October JCIJ Newsletter is out! Read simple ways to support immigrants, Migrants might arrive by busload from Texas, JCIJ Book club reads Streets of Gold, and a few songs for pure joy.

News from the streets:
What a great fall! Here’s the latest from the Common Good Project:

• Since January CGP has collected and disposed of 50,000 pounds of refuse from Portland streets. (Note: we have had inconsistent funding, what could we do with consistent funding?!)
• We are now 2 employees and a bunch of great volunteers!
• And, we are looking for volunteers to help distribute items on Tuesdays (10:45 am-2 pm). Reach out to Jenn Louis if you are available! 
• Current needs: hand warmers, men’s jeans and sweats (30-38), women’s jeans and leggings (4-16), hoodies, jackets, sleeping bags and blankets

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Community Announcements

Psalms in Search of Home: Three poets on new expressions of Jewish identity and meaning - in their work and our world
7 pm, Saturday, Nov. 12 — Soma Space, 4050 NE Broadway
Three outstanding poets will read from new works and reflect on how Judaism informs their world. Rabbi Josh Rose, Dan Alter, Daniela Molnar and Alicia Jo Rabins will go deep into how their work as contemporary poets is shaped by the Jewish past. The conversation will enlighten us not only about the value of Jewish creativity in this moment, but also about what it means for each of us to weave our Jewish identities into the fabric of our lives. Before and after the discussion we will enjoy music with Rabbi Benjamin Barnett, Steve Mesulam, Daniel Raider, Chaim Lev and Scott Snyder. This is a free event, pre-registration is requested.

Israeli Folk Dancing — NEW TIMES
1:30-4 pm and 7:30-10:30 pm, Sundays; 7-10:30 pm, Mondays; 7-10 pm, Thursdays
Whether you haven't danced in a while, or want to try something new in the new year, there's beginner and intermediate Israeli dance instruction and lots of circle, line, and couples dances. Please join us to dance for part or all of any session! For details including cost and locations, look here. (Link corrected from last week.)  For more information, contact Cindy Merrill.

B'Yachad Participation Pledge - Please Complete Yours Today!
"At Havurah, wide participation is nothing out of the ordinary—it's the lifeblood of our community." —Oren Kosansky, Havurah Co-President at Kol Nidre Services

Every year, following the High Holidays, we ask members to complete the B'Yachad (Together) Participation Pledge and consider how they can help to fulfill Havurah's mission of being a vibrant, diverse and participatory community. As Oren said, there is a place at Havurah for everyone. Check out the possibilities at the link below and find out how you can participate in the coming year.

 — Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee

Help With a Video!

Would you like to help create a short video capturing Havurah Shalom’s essence?
The Gesher Committee is collecting brief video interviews, music, and photographs from which to create a video to orient and remind members of Havurah’s unique culture and what a member-driven participatory congregation entails.

We will conduct interviews illuminating Havurah’s values of community, education, spiritual practice, and tikkun olam.

Want to help gathering interviews, recordings, or images?
Call or email: Herman Asarnow or Shelley Sobel
Youth and adults welcome.

We have provided our membership list to the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, which is conducting a study of the Greater Portland Jewish Community on behalf of the Jewish Federations of Greater Portland and Lane County, beginning in late October. Because this is a scientific survey with a defined sample frame, not everyone will be contacted. However, if you are, please know the study is valid. 

You may be contacted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center on the phone or via text or receive emails from the Cohen Center at Brandeis University. 

Calls will be coming from 603-397-0660. 
Texts will be coming from 603-397-0765. 
Emails from Cohen Center will be from noreply@qemailserver.com.

Some households will also get letters in the mail from Brandeis University. These will look like any ordinary letter. They'll just have Brandeis University stamped on the envelope and will be addressed to "The ________ household." 

For more information about this study, please visit this webpage.

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Year-long Havurah Zoom Rooms

Room Aleph
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

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

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

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