Weekly Community Email, August 9

FROM OUR CALENDAR
(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Please RSVP if You Can Come This Friday (2) Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation (3) Hakol Deadline (4) Havurah Sanctuary Committee Meeting (5) Wednesday Morning Minyan (6) Tikkun Olam Committee Meeting (7) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (8) Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family (9) Book Discussion of The Plot Against America (10) Courtyard Mosaic Project (11) Music Group Gatherings to Prepare for the Yamim Noraim

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Please Sign Up for High Holidays Volunteering! (2) Summer Concerts at MJCC (3) Thawing ICE: Mindful Walk for Immigrant Justice (4) How to Use the Havurah Online Directory (5) Jewish Pride PDX Happy Hour (6) If I Had a Hammer(er) (7) Shabbat Shira

FROM OUR CALENDAR

(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Kabbalat Shabbat Service on Friday, Aug. 11, 7:00 pm - Please join us this Friday, for our first Shabbat service with Rabbi Benjamin. The service will be led by Rabbi Benjamin and Ilene Safyan, and will start earlier than our traditional Kabbalat Shabbat services. Though we won't have a dinner in advance of the service, we will have a dessert oneg following the service. To help us plan the oneg, please RSVP here ASAP. Thank you! 

Community Minyan, Saturday, Aug. 12, 10:00 am - Havurahniks Maria Lisa Johnson, Teri Ruch, Roger Brewer, Susan Brenner, and Michele Goldschmidt will lead, leyn and drash this Saturday as we explore Ekev. In this parsha, Moses tells the people that the land they are about to enter will overflow with milk and honey if they obey God's commandments and teach them to their children. Join us!

(2) Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation, Tuesdays at Noon - Our Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation group will continue to meet at noon on Tuesdays during the summer whenever at least two people can attend. Deborah will be at Havurah most Tuesdays. Please add your name to this doodle poll to indicate when you can come.

(3) Hakol Deadline, Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Noon - The deadline for the September Hakol is noon on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Please submit all articles and photos via email. If you have any photos of Havurah events over the last few weeks please send them to me. Many thanks, Rachel.

(4) Havurah Sanctuary Committee Meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 7:00 pm, Havurah Shalom Social Hall - The mission of the Havurah Sanctuary Committee is to explore and plan actions of accompaniment and political actions that demonstrate our commitment as a Sanctuary Congregation.

At this meeting we will review our plans for relationship building and action with the community in the Cully neighborhood and hear about how we can accompany individuals to their ICE check-ins. We will also hear an update on the support we are providing to the Gorge ICE Resistance in opposition to the collaboration happening between ICE and the NORCOR county jail in The Dalles. In addition, we will discuss our actions at the upcoming High Holiday Services. All are welcome, and we hope you will join us. If you have questions, please contact Bob Brown, rebrown47@gmail.com, Kathy Gordon, farvergordon@gmail.com, or Shari Raider, shari.raider@gmail.com.

(5) Wednesday Morning Minyan, Aug. 16, 8:30 am - Our weekly Wednesday morning service from 8:30 to 9:00 am is for those who wish to incorporate daily practice in their lives and those saying Kaddish, or both. All are welcome. (Please note that our Wednesday Morning Minyan on Aug. 23 will begin at 8:15 am for Rosh Chodesh Elul.)

(6) Tikkun Olam Committee, Thursday, Aug. 17, 7:00 pm - Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee will meet at Havurah the evening of Aug. 17.

(7) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Goose Hollow Direct Service Voluntary Project News - Havurah began the PHFS Adopt-A-Night volunteering direct service project a few years ago as a way to do this kind of work locally. We fill all of the needed volunteer positions once month. Our list of volunteers continues to grow, as well as the need for shelter. Come be a part of this experience. The only requirement other than your willingness to put yourself in what may be a new, sometimes uncomfortable situation, is a one-hour orientation.

Next orientations: Aug. 14 at 5:00 pm, Aug. 24 at 4:00 pm. All orientations are at the shelter, 1838 SW Jefferson. Please let Gloria Halper know if you are planning on attending on one of these two dates: losninos6@gmail.com.

(8) Havdalah Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family, Saturday, Aug. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park in SE Portland - At this potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration, we will welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family. We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 pm to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come!

(9) Book Group Discussion on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 7:00 pm - Join us as Arleen Slive leads a discussion of The Plot Against America by Philip Roth. This book presents the 1930s and 1940s in the U.S. The twist occurs when Roosevelt is not re-elected in 1940 but rather the election is won by Charles Lindbergh, who makes a better hero and lightning rod than a leader. It goes downhill from there. Charles Lindbergh negotiates a cordial "understanding" with Adolf Hitler, and the new government embarks on a program of folksy anti-Semitism. It is horrifying to realize that this book, published in 2004, so perfectly describes our current political climate. Some commentators describe Roth's book as "eerily prescient." RSVP here if you can come.

(10) Courtyard Mosaic Project, Aug. 27, 28 & 29; 10:00-12:30 pm, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, 6:30 - 8:30 pm - We will meet at the same three times on each date. Come help with our mosaic art project! We will apply the tiles and glass that we made to the backing board in preparation for the installation of our new murals. We will work at all the times listed above. Let us know on this doodle poll when you'd like to join us by selecting the time(s) and day(s) that work for you!

(11) Music Group Gatherings to Prepare for the Yamim Noraim, Wednesdays, Aug. 23 & Aug. 30, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, Havurah Shalom - Havurah will begin musical preparation for the Yamim Noraim in earnest the week of Aug. 21, when the new month of Elul begins, and we will spend the next weeks singing and feeling the rhythms of the upcoming holidays. The first couple of sessions will occur on Wednesday nights, and we will expand to accommodate anyone interested who is unable to make those times. Please contact Ilene Safyan  if you can make it or if you are interested but can't make those dates.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) High Holidays Volunteering - Your High Holidays packet should have arrived in your mailbox by now. As always, it takes a village to make our services happen. Please look through the many types of volunteer positions open at our SignUp website and see what fits you best. Thank you to all our volunteers! Click here to find RSVP forms for Erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner, High Holidays childcare, and our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur family services. (Photo above is from My Jewish Learning.)

(2) Mittleman Jewish Community Center Summer Concert Series - Havurah supports the MJCC's Summer Concert Series. The next concert features Nefesh Mountain on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 pm, on the grounds of the MJCC. The group Nefesh Mountain pioneers a new sound in which Jewish Spirit and Soul meet with Bluegrass and Old-time musical traditions. Founders, husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, blend their love for both of these rich traditions and have created a new genre that marries these two seemingly disparate worlds. They are winning the hearts of audiences nationwide. Learn more and buy tickets here.

(3) Thawing ICE: Mindful Walk for Immigrant Justice, Organized by IMIrJ-member Buddhist Peace Fellowship - Thursday, Aug. 10, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, 4310 SW Macadam - Participants need not be Buddhists or members of any faith. Instruction in the practice of moving meditation will be given at the time of each walk. We invite ALL to join us in being present, offering witness, and making more visible the reality of the injustice happening every day in the South Waterfront district of Portland, Oregon. Havurah is longtime member of IMIrJ, and with IMIrJ, we are committed to an interfaith presence and witness at the Portland I.C.E. Office.

(4) How to Use the Havurah Online Directory - Havurah is fortunate to work with a website management and membership support system provided by a company called ShulCloud. It's relatively young as companies go, and it offers services to Jewish groups like ours that track yahrzeits and have other Jewish-focused needs.

It would be hard to calculate how much time our online directory has saved Havurah office staff during the past two years. We no longer have to dedicate several days in a row to creating a directory that is often outdated by the time it's completed, and we rarely have to look up contact information for members. Most of you are very independent and empowered!

Unfortunately, the online directory doesn't provide a way for households with different last names to be listed in multiple locations in its alphabetical lists. A simple solution is to look for people using the search feature at the top of the directory. At our request, ShulCloud recently highlighted this feature to make it easier to notice. Once you enter the name - first or last - of the person you're looking for, hit "return," and the listing for the person should appear. Please let our office know if you have trouble using the search feature or if you need assistance signing in as a member (which you need to do if you want to access the directory). We'd be happy to help.

(5) Jewish Pride PDX Happy Hour at Hobo's on Aug. 24, 6:30 pm - The first round of drinks will be on Jewish Pride PDX!

(6) If I Had a Hammer(er) - Are you good with tools, small repairs, and solving problems? Havurah is seeking a handy-person who can be on call for odd jobs related to the building and grounds. This can be either a paid or volunteer position, depending on your preference. For more information, please email Rachel.

(7) Shabbat Shira, Nov. 2-5 - OSRUI (URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute) announces that registration will open soon for Shabbat Shira, OSRUI's music experience for adults - a great opportunity for spiritual renewal and making community through music. This flier provides more information.

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Weekly Community Email, July 26

FROM OUR CALENDAR
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Tisha b'Av Service (3) Welcome, Rabbi Benjamin! (4) Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation (5) Alter Rockers Happy Hour (6) Wednesday Morning Minyan (7) High Holidays Mailing (8) Privilege & Equity Meetings (9) Havdalah & Music Sharing (10) Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Benjamin (11) Havdalah & Potluck Picnic

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Last Thursday Witness (2) Meeting with U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (3) Summer Concerts at the MJCC (4) If I Had a Hammer(er) (5) Shabbat Shira

FROM OUR CALENDAR

1) Upcoming Shabbat - Join us for our Community Minyan at 10:00 am this Saturday, July 29, as we read and discuss Parsha Devarim. Susan Brenner, Sam Sirkin, Emily Simon, Annie Goldberg, Noah Goldenberg, Karen St. Clair, Richard Goldenberg, Maria Lisa Johnson, Arleen Slive and Teri Ruch will lead and leyn.

In the parsha, Moses begins his reprise of the story of Israel’s 40-year journey from Egypt, including the moment when the people reach the Jordan River but have to continue wandering in the desert for decades because they didn't trust Hashem to support them as they settled in the land.

2) Tisha b'Av Service, Mon., July 31, 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Havurah - In these times of political turmoil and tragedy, Tisha b’Av, one of the most important days of fasting and contemplation in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem on two separate occasions, takes on added significance. Join us on July 31 for a short Ma’ariv and Tisha b’Av Service.

We will then listen together to to Leonard Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony (24 minutes), the third movement of which includes excerpts from the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), traditionally read on Tisha b’Av. Please bring a pillow and flashlight. The service will be led by Steve Goldberg and Susan Brenner.

3) Welcome, Rabbi Benjamin! - We are excited to welcome Rabbi Benjamin Barnett as our rabbi on Tuesday, Aug. 1.

4) Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation, Aug. 1, 12:00 noon - Our Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation group will continue to meet at noon on Tuesdays during the summer whenever at least two people can attend. Deborah will be at Havurah most Tuesdays. Please add your name to this doodle poll to indicate when you can come.

5) Alter Rockers Happy Hour at Havurah, Aug. 1, 5:00 pm - Havurah's Alter Rockers (those of us who may or may not be retired and just want to have fun) are planning a simple happy hour on Aug. 1. The happy hour will be at Sarah Rosenberg's home. Bring a little appetizer of some sort to share, and your beverage of choice (wine, gin and tonic, non-alcoholic, whatever...) and join us! Contact Sarah if you have questions.

6) Wednesday Minyan, Aug. 2, 8:30 - 9:00 am - Our weekly Wednesday morning service is for those who wish to incorporate daily practice in their lives and those saying Kaddish, or both. Please join us.

7) High Holidays Mailing, Wed., Aug. 2, 9:00 am - Please join our wonderful team of volunteer mailers to assemble our High Holidays packets for mailing at 9:00 am on Aug. 2. Email Rachel if you can come or if you have questions.

Image below is from My Jewish Learning's website.

8) Privilege & Equity Meetings -Those of us who were part of the six-week class last winter on Privilege & Equity invite you to join us at 7:00 pm on Thurs., Aug. 3, and 7:00 pm on Wed., Sept. 13, to form small groups to discuss options for our next steps. Learn more here about the meetings and the options that have come from our classes and meetings so far.

9) Havdalah & Music Sharing Evening, Sat., Aug. 5, 7:30 - 9:00 pm - Havurah Music Coordinator Ilene Safyan invites Havurah's Music Group to a Havdalah & Music Sharing Evening. Weather (and crowd) permitting, she hopes to host it at her home, so please let her know if you would like to come so she can plan accordingly.

Along with your voices and instruments, please consider bringing a song to share, and if you could print up words, chords, etc, to share with everyone, that would be wonderful. More details will be coming, once Ilene has a sense of who all might be able to join in. Please respond to Ilene privately by email here and she'll be back in touch with information about where and when, and any other details.

10) Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Fri., Aug. 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Havurah - Watch Havurah's online calendar for details. Meanwhile, save this date so you can join us for the first Shabbat service Rabbi Benjamin will lead at Havurah as our new rabbi.

11) Havdalah Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family, Sat., Aug. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park in SE Portland - At this potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration, we will welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family. We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 pm to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) 'Last Thursday Witness' Vigil, Portland I.C.E. Building, July 27, 10:00 - 11:00 am - On the last Thursday of every month, beginning July 27, at 4310 SW Macadam Ave - All are welcome to gather in vigil as we express our support and love for families affected by I.C.E. detentions in Oregon. Join this monthly gathering to lift up the reality of what happens every day at this I.C.E. facility - and participate in different interfaith expressions and rituals in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers. We encourage carpooling, as parking is very limited.

Photo of Rep. Earl Blumenauer above is from Wikimedia, taken by Edith Green.

2) Meeting With Rep. Earl Blumenauer - U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer invites members of Portland's Jewish community to meet with him at Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane, from noon to 1:00 pm on Aug. 2. He writes, "In the beginning of July, I had the opportunity to travel to Israel for the third time since 1999. This six-day trip that included other members of Congress considered many of the issues and challenges facing Israel and Palestinians. There was particular focus on the escalating crisis in Gaza regarding water and sanitation, which remarkably seems one area where people of divergent opinions are joining forces to urge cooperation and action. It was a fascinating and powerful trip. I would welcome the opportunity to share my experience with members of the Jewish Community here in Portland. I hope you’ll join me for an informal discussion and Q&A to consider some of the areas where I think progress can be made."

3) Mittleman Jewish Community Center Summer Concert Series

Havurah supports the MJCC's Summer Concert Series. The next concert features Nefesh Mountain on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 pm, on the grounds of the MJCC. The group Nefesh Mountain pioneers a new sound in which Jewish Spirit and Soul meet with Bluegrass and Old-time musical traditions. Founders, husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, blend their love for both of these rich traditions and have created a new genre that marries these two seemingly disparate worlds. They are winning the hearts of audiences nationwide. Learn more and buy tickets here. (Above photo is from the Bnai Keshet website.)

4) If I Had a Hammer(er) - Are you good with tools, small repairs, and solving problems? Havurah is seeking a handy-person who can be on call for odd jobs related to the building and grounds. This can be either a paid or volunteer position, depending on your preference. For more information, please email Rachel. (Photo below is from Wikimedia, taken by Bamminick.)

5) Shabbat Shira, Nov. 2-5 - OSRUI (URJ Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute) announces that registration will open soon for Shabbat Shira, OSRUI's music experience for adults - a great opportunity for spiritual renewal and making community through music.

This flier has more information.

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Weekly Community Email, July 12

FROM OUR CALENDAR
(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Dorot in the Park this Friday & Emanuel Ben-David, Scholar in Residence, this Saturday (2) Tisha b'Av Service (3) Tuesday Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation (4) Wednesday Morning Minyan (5) Book Discussion Group (6) Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Benjamin on Aug. 11 (7) Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & Family on Aug. 19

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) New Baby Girl for the Brewers (2) Stefanie Hausman's Article in Hakol (3) Are You the Handy-Person for Havurah? (4) Messages of Love, Hope & Gratitude (5) You Are Awesome

1) Upcoming Shabbat

Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck Picnic In the Park, Friday, July 14, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (Service begins at 6:00 pm), Laurelhurst Park Picnic Area "D" near intersection of SE Ankeny & Cesar Chavez - Please join our Dorot musicians, Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff and Jacob Mandelsberg, as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. Bring a veggie dish to share and blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer-style. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit! We have Picnic Area "D" reserved from 4:00 pm until closing, and the site contains five picnic benches. For questions, contact jmandelsberg@gmail.com or sarah.shine@gmail.com. RSVP here.

Above photo is of Emanuel Ben-David and his wife, Connie.

Scholar In Residence Emanuel Ben-David, Saturday, July 15 - Community Minyan at 10:00 am, Potluck Lunch & Afternoon Presentations on Israel​​​​​ - Havurah is honored to welcome Emily Simon's good friend from Ashland and Israel, Emanuel Ben-David, as our Scholar In Residence on Saturday, July 15. Emanuel and Emily will lead morning services at 10:00 am, which will be followed by a potluck vegetarian lunch and two afternoon presentations on Israel. As a native Israeli, Emanuel notices nuances in Hebrew, and as a result his teachings have great depth. His "day job" in Israel involved the technical side of Israeli military defense, and he has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. His 1:30 pm presentation will be a humorous perspective on the "Ten Commandments" of being an Israeli, and his 3:00 pm presentation will focus on Israeli defense technologies and their applications in the medical field. Come to the morning service and potluck lunch, or the afternoon presentations, or both. Childcare will be available for the morning service. (Please arrive on time.) Learn more and RSVP here.

2) Tisha b'Av Service, Monday, July 31, 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Havurah - In these times of political turmoil and tragedy, Tisha b’Av, one of the most important days of fasting and contemplation in the Jewish calendar commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem on two separate occasions, takes on added significance. Join us on July 31 for a short Ma’ariv and Tisha b’Av service. We will then listen together to to Leonard Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony (24 minutes), the third movement of which includes excerpts from the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), traditionally read on Tisha b’Av. Please bring a pillow and flashlight. The service will be led by Steve Goldberg and Susan Brenner.

3) Tuesday Meditation During Summer Months - Havurah's Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation group will continue to meet at noon on Tuesdays during the summer whenever at least two people can attend. Deborah will be at Havurah most Tuesdays. Please add your name to this doodle poll to indicate when you can come.

4) Wednesday Morning Minyan, 8:30 - 9:00 am - This weekly service is for those who wish to incorporate daily practice in their lives and those saying Kaddish, or both. Please join us.

5) Book Discussion, Tuesday, July 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Barry Kast will lead a discussion of Call it Sleep, written by Henry Roth in 1934. The novel tells the story of an eight-year-old boy growing up on the East Side of Manhattan as an immigrant from Eastern Europe. As a sensitive and imaginative child, he experienced the security of his mother’s coddling but is now terrified by the world that lies beyond sight and sound of her. The pageantry of the East Side is displayed in all "its polyglot, polychrome crowds" (NY Times, 1935). This book is now regarded as a classic of Jewish literature. RSVP here.

Join us Friday, Aug. 11 for a Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Benjamin, and Saturday, Aug. 19 for a Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to welcome him & his family!

6) Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, Aug. 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Havurah - Watch Havurah's online calendar for details. Meanwhile, save this date so you can join us for the first Shabbat service Rabbi Benjamin will lead at Havurah as our new rabbi.

7) Havdalah Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family, Saturday, Aug. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 pm, Laurelhurst Park in SE Portland - At this potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration, we will welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family. We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 pm to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) New Baby Girl - Mazel tov to new grandparents Miryam and Roger Brewer, and to the new parents, Ben Brewer and Rachel Hershenberg! Ben and Rachel, who live in Atlanta, just welcomed a healthy baby girl to the world and will reveal her name soon, so watch for updates.

2) Mittleman Jewish Community Center Summer Concert Series

Havurah Shalom is helping support the MJCC’s Summer Concert Series. The first concert, featuring Kim Schneiderman, is Sunday, July 16.

The MJCC's summer concerts will be held on the lawn of the MJCC, and the first one is this Sunday at 5:00 pm, featuring Kim Schneiderman. A teacher, storyteller, and musician, Kim has spent the last 15 years singing, creating, and making music with young families from all over. She has just released her new album, "Walk Around the Block," a labor of love, tears, truth and beauty. Learn more and buy tickets here. (Above photo is from the MJCC website.)

3) Stefanie Hausman - A clarification about our July-August Hakol: The article "Tips for Helping Children Heal Through Play" was written by Stefanie Hausman. Thank you, Stefanie, for your thoughtful and helpful tips!

4) Could You be the Handy-Person for Havurah? - Are you good with tools, small repairs, and solving problems? Havurah is seeking a handy-person who can be on call for odd jobs related to the building and grounds. This can be either a paid or volunteer position, depending on your preference. For more information, email Rachel.

5) Messages of Love, Hope and Gratitude at the Hollywood Transit Center Memorial - Havurah member and photographer Ellen Regal joined Judy Brodkey and others to create this inspiring e-book  about the Hollywood Transit Center tributes to two Muslim women and the men who defended them. (Above photo is from OregonLive.)

6) You Are Awesome - We have many wonderful photos in our online directory now. Thank you to all who uploaded photos to help Rabbi Benjamin learn our names and to enhance our security. You can add your or your family's photo to the directory by logging into your account, scrolling down and clicking on "Setup Your Directory Listing" in the "Manage People" section, and clicking the red button to upload your photo. If you haven't logged into your membership account yet, go to our website, click on "login" in the upper right corner, enter your email address as your ID, and create a password - any password you wish. Thank you for helping Rabbi Benjamin get to know all of us!

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Weekly Community Email, July 5

FROM OUR CALENDAR
(1) Bar Mitzvah (2) Tuesday Meditation (4) Wednesday Morning Minyan (5) Dorot in the Park (6) Emanuel Ben-David, Scholar in Residence (7) Book Discussion Group (8) Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & Family

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) New Baby at Havurah (2) Havurah Member's Art Opening (3) Vote Each Day for PHFS (4) Can You Help Rachel's Well? (5) Is Your Photo the One You Want? (6) High Holy Days Planning has Begun
 

In this Saturday's Torah portion, Balak receives news from an unexpected source. Photo from Wikimedia.

1) Isaac Kerstetter's Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, July 8, 10:00 am

This Saturday Isaac Kerstetter, son of Jessie and Brad Kerstetter and grandson of Betty and Jacob Reiss, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Come celebrate with Isaac and his family and welcome him as a member of our community. Mazel tov!
 

2) Tuesday Meditation During Summer Months
Havurah's Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation group will continue to meet at noon on Tuesdays during the summer whenever at least two people can attend. Deborah will be at Havurah most Tuesdays. Please add your name to this doodle poll to indicate when you plan to come.

3) Wednesday Morning Minyan at 8:30 am
Join us on Wednesday mornings for a short service for those who want to make daily practice a part of their lives and those who want to say Kaddish.

4) Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck Picnic In the Park, Friday, July 14, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (Service begins at 6:00 pm), Laurelhurst Park Picnic Area "D" (near intersection of SE Ankeny & Cesar Chavez)
Please join our Dorot musicians, Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff and Jacob Mandelsberg, as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. Bring a veggie dish to share and blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer-style. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit!! We have Picnic Area "D" reserved from 4:00 pm until closing, and the site contains five picnic benches. For questions, contact jmandelsberg@gmail.com or sarah.shine@gmail.com. RSVP here!

5) Scholar In Residence Day with Emanuel Ben-David on July 15 - Community Minyan at 10:00 am, Potluck Lunch & Afternoon Presentations on Israel​​​​​​
Havurah is honored to welcome Emily Simon's good friend from Ashland and Israel, Emanuel Ben-David, as our Scholar In Residence on Saturday, July 15. Emanuel and Emily will lead morning services at 10:00 am, which will be followed by a potluck vegetarian lunch and two afternoon presentations on Israel. Emanuel is studying for the rabbinate, and he and Emily have led services together in Ashland, where he and his wife Connie (pictured above) live now.

Being a native Israeli, Emanuel notices nuances in Hebrew, and as a result his teachings have great depth. His "day job" in Israel involved the technical side of Israeli military defense, and he has a wealth of knowledge on the subject. His 1:30 pm presentation will be a humorous perspective on the "Ten Commandments" of being an Israeli, and his 3:00 pm presentation will focus on Israeli defense technologies and their applications in the medical field. Come to the morning service and potluck lunch, or the afternoon presentations, or both. Learn more and RSVP here. Childcare will be available for all of the events. Please arrive on time.

6) Book Discussion, Tuesday, July 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Join us as Barry Kast leads a discussion of Call it Sleep. Written by Henry Roth in 1934, the novel tells the story of an eight-year-old boy growing up on the East Side of Manhattan as an immigrant from Eastern Europe. As a sensitive and imaginative child, he experienced the security of his mother’s coddling but is now terrified by the world that lies beyond sight and sound of her. The pageantry of the East Side is displayed in all "its polyglot, polychrome crowds" (NY Times, 1935). This book is now regarded as a classic of Jewish literature. RSVP here.

7) Havdalah Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family, Saturday, Aug. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 pm, Laurelhurst Park

We are holding a picnic and Havdalah celebration to welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family on Saturday, Aug. 19. We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 pm to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) New Baby at Havurah - Eli William Weintraub, son of Ben and Mackenzie and brother of Emmett Weintraub, grandson of Nancy and Frank Weintraub, entered the world on June 28. Mazel tov!

2) Three Days Left to Vote - Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS), Goose Hollow Shelter Volunteer Project News - PHFS is a semi-finalist to receive an Advantis Credit Union GROW Community Fund Grant to expand the Goose Hollow shelter, where Havurah Shalom has been volunteering once a month since July 2015. You can vote here once a day until 5:00 pm on July 7. Thank you so much! 

Above photo is from Gallery 114's website.

2) "Human Being" by David Slader with B. Pat, Jerome Sloan & David Drenth, Preview tonight, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Gallery 114 (1100 NW Glisan), to benefit Oregon Justice Resource Center; Open First Thursday, July 6, 6:00 - 9:00 pm, through July 28 - What do OPB’s Think Out Loud, KBOO’s News In Depth, Street Roots, the Oregon State Bar Bulletin and Oregon Jewish Life have in common? They are all noticing Gallery 114’s "Human Being" exhibit featuring Havaurah member David Slader’s politically inspired paintings of defiant women and the work of three incarcerated guest artists. If you missed OPB’s Think Out Loud interview with David earlier today, you can hear it rebroadcast tonight on FM 91.5. The interview begins at 8:50 pm.

3) Will You Consider Being Havurah's Representative on the New Mikvah Advisory Board? - Please consider representing Havurah on the advisory board of Rachel's Well, Portland's new mikvah. The first Mikvah Advisory Board meeting will be at 9:00 am on Friday, Aug. 11, at the MJCC. Everyone who attends will receive an update on the mikvah, which should be open for viewing by then, and a review of the responsibilities and opportunities available for Advisory Board members. Naomi Malka, the director of the Adas Israel Community Mikvah in Washington, DC, will lead a mikvah guide training on Aug. 13. Please contact Havurah's office to learn more.

Above photo is of Havurah Sanctuary Team members Gloria Halper, Deb Kallen, Robbin Isaacson Deweese, Fran Berg, Kathy Gordon, and Marjorie Walters at the new affordable housing in the Cully neighborhood.

4) Is Your Photo the One You Want? - Thank you to all who have uploaded photos to our online directory to help Rabbi Benjamin get to know us and to increase our security. Additional photos have been added to other directory listings, so please see if your photo is the one you want in the directory. You can always delete the current photo and upload the photo you prefer - or send your preferred photo to Teri at Havurah to upload for you.

You can do it yourself by logging into your account, scrolling down and clicking on "Setup Your Directory Listing" in the "Manage People" section, then clicking on the red button to upload your photo. If you haven't logged into your membership account yet, go to our website, click on "login" in the upper right corner, enter your email address as your ID, and create a password - any password you wish! If you logged in long ago and forgot your password, just create a new one. After you receive an email confirming that Havurah has received your password, you can log in any time. Thank you for helping Rabbi Benjamin get to know all of us!

5) Planning Begins for High Holy Days, a Message from Susan Lazareck - If you're like my family, you're thinking about school being out, warm and sunny days becoming the norm, summer vacations, hanging out and eating dinner with friends on the patio or in the park. We are excited, knowing that the daylight will be lasting longer. But before we all head off into the sunshine, may I suggest you take some time to organize your calendar? 

I am talking about the High Holy Days that come at the end of September. Calls and requests have begun to ask members to take on the many parts that make the Days of Awe amazing and beautiful. Havurah Shalom is fortunate to have such a large and creative collective of families. And to our collective of families, I say, come and join the work of preparing and creating our High Holy Days. Go ahead: put the dates on your calendar for services at the Tiffany Center. Read more here!

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Tuesday Sanctuary Committee Meeting & Book Discussion Group

July 14 Dorot in the Park, July 15 Israeli Scholar in Residence

Havurah Sanctuary Committee Meeting
Tuesday, June 27
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Havurah Shalom

This will be an important meeting! Havurah is making plans with the folks at the Clara Vista apartments in Cully, and we need to discuss how we will be able to support the community. We will also hear about the rapid response training and important work needed to oppose some initiative petitions that we might see in 2018. Please attend. Questions? Email Kathy Gordon at farvergordon@gmail.com.

Above photo is from the movie "The Zookeeper's Wife."

Book Discussion Group

Tuesday, June 27

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Havurah Shalom

Phil Walters will lead a discussion of The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman. This is a riveting and tragic non-fiction work drawing upon the unpublished diary of Antonina Zabinski and her accounting of her life during World War II with her husband Jan Zabinski, the director of the Warsaw Zoo. The couple became active in the Polish underground resistance and risked their lives to shelter more than 300 Jews in the zoo, saving them from deportation from the Warsaw ghetto to the camps. Please RSVP here.

Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck Picnic in the Park
Friday, July 14
5:30 - 8:30 pm

Laurelhurst Park Picnic Area D

Near SE Ankeny & Cesar Chavez

Please join our Dorot musicians, Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff & Jacob Mandelsberg, as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. Please bring a veggie dish to share and your blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer-style. Who knows ... we just may break into a camp-style song session while we're at it. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit!!  We have Picnic Area "D" reserved from 4:00 pm until closing, and the site contains five picnic benches. For questions, contact jmandelsberg@gmail.com or sarah.shine@gmail.com.

RSVP here.

Photo above is of Emanuel Ben-David and his wife, Connie.

Emanuel Ben-David, Scholar In Residence

Saturday, July 15
10:00 am - 3:30 pm (service, lunch, presentations)

Havurah Shalom
 

Havurah is honored to welcome Emily Simon's good friend from Ashland and Israel, Emanuel Ben-David, as our Scholar In Residence on Saturday, July 15. He will lead morning services at 10:00 am, join us for a potluck vegetarian lunch afterward, then give two presentations on Israel in the afternoon.

Being a native Israeli, Emanuel notices nuances in Hebrew, and as a result his teachings have great depth. He is studying for the rabbinate, and he and Emily have led services together in Ashland. His "day job" in Israel involved the technical side of Israeli military defense.

In the first afternoon presentation, at 1:30 pm, he will share “Ten Commandments” that humorously examine the characteristics of the "typical" Israeli and, by extension, of the country at large. The commandments examine some of the driving forces and origins that have made Israelis who they are and explain how they came to be that way. Each of the ten points is supported by examples and facts, many of which come from Emanuel’s personal experience.

In the second presentation, at 2:30 pm, Emanuel will unveil his personal experience working for decades for Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, one of the major three Defense Contractors in Israel. Among the technologies and products he describes are the Iron Dome and David’s Sling, two of the three layers of Israel’s Missile Defense Architecture. He will also give an example of how defense technology is transposed to the medical arena to provide life-saving breakthroughs.

All are invited to the morning service and potluck lunch or the afternoon presentations, or both the morning and the afternoon. Please RSVP here.

Photo below is a cool photo of Havurah this past winter. Hard to imagine today, with the temperature soaring over 100!

Please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Weekly Community Email, June 21

FROM OUR CALENDAR
(1) Community Minyan (2) PLEASE COME to the Final Ceramic Glazing Workshops for our Courtyard Mural this Sunday (3) Tuesday Meditation & Wednesday Morning Minyan (4) Book Discussion of "Zookeeper's Wife" (5) Text & Torah (6) RSVP for Dorot in the Park on July 14 (7) RSVP for Minyan & Presentations on Israel by Emanuel Ben-David on July 15

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) "Pink the Night Out" Tonight (2) Portland Jewish Film Festival (3) Security (4) Help Welcome Our New Rabbi (5) Connect (6) David Slader in Oregon Jewish Life (7)Tivnu in Slingshot Guide (8) PHFS (9) Are You a Handy-Person? (10) Opportunity in Israel for People Ages 21-30 (11) JFCS Looks for Three Visitors

Almond blossoms

1) Community Minyan, Saturday, June 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Join Emily Simon, Susan Brenner, and other Havurah leaders and leyners this Saturday as we daven and discuss this week's dramatic parsha, Korach. The parsha, Moses faces a defiant Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 others who challenge his leadership. The earth opens and swallows the three men and their families, and a plague sweeps the camp. The plague is finally stopped when Aaron makes an offering. His staff blooms and produces almonds to show that, unlike the others, he is divinely ordained as a priest.

Below is a photo taken by Barbara Gundle of one of the many tiles that Havurah members created for our new courtyard mural at workshops in the fall and winter.

2) PLEASE COME, PLEASE RSVP for Last Ceramic Glazing Workshops, Sunday, June 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
At three workshops on Sunday, June 25, Havurahniks will complete all of the tile preparations for our new courtyard mural. Please RSVP below for the workshop you can attend to glaze the tiles you created or tiles other Havurahniks created. Snacks will be served.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Adult Workshop
11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Workshop for Kids Ages 5-10
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Teens Workshop

3) Tuesday Meditation & Wednesday Morning Minyan
We will continue to meet for Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation at noon on Tuesday and Morning Minyan at 8:30 am on Wednesday.

4) Book Discussion Group, Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Join us as Phil Walters leads a discussion of The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman. This is a riveting and tragic non-fiction work drawing upon the unpublished diary of Antonina Zabinski and her accounting of her life during World War II with her husband Jan Zabinski, the director of the Warsaw Zoo. The couple became active in the Polish underground resistance and risked their lives to shelter more than 300 Jews in the zoo, saving them from deportation from the Warsaw ghetto to the camps. RSVP here! (Photo below is from the movie "The Zookeeper's Wife.")

5) Text & Torah, Saturday, July 1, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Diane Chaplin will lead a discussion titled "What is a Mitzvah." Bagels, juice and coffee will be provided. Please arrive early so you can have a bite to eat before we begin. The discussion will be followed by a short service.

6) Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck Picnic In the Park, Friday, July 14, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (Service begins at 6:00 pm), Laurelhurst Park Picnic Area "D" (near intersection of Ankeny & Cesar Chavez)
Please join our Dorot musicians, Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff and Jacob Mandelsberg, as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. Please bring a veggie dish to share and your blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer-style. Who knows ... we just may break into a camp-style song session while we're at it. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit!! We have Picnic Area "D" reserved from 4:00 pm until closing, and the site contains five picnic benches. For questions, contact jmandelsberg@gmail.com or sarah.shine@gmail.com. RSVP here!

7) PLEASE RSVP HERE for this Special Saturday, July 15 - Community Minyan led by Emanuel Ben-David and Emily Simon, followed by Potluck Lunch & Presentations on Israel​​​​​​
Havurah is honored to have Emily Simon's good friend from Ashland and Israel, Emanuel Ben-David, join us on July 15 for a special Shabbat. Suffice it to say that, being a native Israeli, Emanuel notices nuances in Hebrew, and as a result his teachings have great depth. He is studying for the rabbinate but to Emily's mind could be a rabbi right now based upon his ability to lead davening. He and Emily have led services together in Ashland, and Emily is convinced that he will be a great guest for the Shabbat that he is coming to visit. His "day job" was involved in the technical side of Israeli military defense, and his knowledge on that topic is terrific to hear. RSVP here if you can attend one or more of these events.

The photo below is from the movie "Past Life."

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Planned Parenthood Supporters "Pink the Night Out" to Oppose Trumpcare Tonight, June 21, 8:00 - 9:00 pm, 3727 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Planned Parenthood patients and supporters will hold "Pink the Night Out" at rallies all across the country, including in Portland and Eugene. They'll be rallying outside health centers at sunset to illuminate the night sky with pink lights, to share personal stories about the importance of Planned Parenthood, and to demand that the U.S. Senate oppose Trumpcare.

2) Portland Jewish Film Festival Continues Through June 25 - Havurah is a co-sponsor of the 25th annual Portland Jewish Film Festival, produced by the Northwest Film Center and co-presented with the Institute for Judaic Studies. Learn more on the Portland Jewish Film Festival website. If you missed "Past Life," which was shown at the Festival on June 17, you can see it at Portland's Living Room Theaters beginning this Friday.

3) Security - Havurah encourages all members to use the door code to enter the building when attending Wednesday and Saturday services. This will allow more Havurah members to participate in services rather than leave the service to open the door as people arrive after services begin. If you don’t know the door code, please call or stop by Havurah's office. Also, we'd love to have more volunteers who are willing to take a shift sitting in back to watch the door during services. Many thanks to all who already have stepped up to help!

4) Help Welcome Our New Rabbi - Help welcome Rabbi Benjamin to Havurah by adding your photo to our online directory. This will help him connect our names with our faces. It's easy! Log into your account, click on "Setup Your Directory Listing" in the "Manage People" section, then upload your photo. If you haven't logged into your membership account yet, go to our website, click on "login" in the upper right corner, enter your email address as your ID, and create a password - any password you wish! If you've logged in before but forgot your password, just create a new one. After you receive an email confirming that Havurah has received your password, you can log in any time.

5) Connect - Please tell us how you want to connect at Havurah, or how you are connecting already. Click here and answer the six questions. Many thanks to the 70 people who have already responded!
6John Neiheisel took the photo below at the Portland Pride Parade on Sunday, June 18.

6) David Slader Featured in Oregon Jewish Life - Mazel tov to Havurah member David Slader, who is featured here in Oregon Jewish Life. The article describes David's art and its focus on the humanity of people in prison. The opening reception for his exhibit, which includes the art of three guest artists working from Oregon prisons, "Human Beings: Portraits of Women," is on First Thursday, July 6, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at Gallery 114, NW 11th & Glisan.

7) Congratulations to Tivnu - Havurah congratulates one of our sister local Jewish organizations, Tivnu Building Justice, on being selected for the 2017 national Slingshot Guide, a collection of the 50 most forward-thinking Jewish organizations. Tivnu was selected for its work "focusing on social justice through holistic education and concrete, hands-on work in the community. ... Through intensive, immersive, and integrating experiences, partners inextricably entwine their idealism and their Jewish selves, preparing to become knowledgeable, committed, and innovative contributors to American Jewish life."  Over the last six years, Havurah has partnered with Tivnu for various programs including building low-income housing and canvassing for the recent affordable housing measure. Numerous Havurahniks have served on the Tivnu board and helped start the organization. The upcoming cohort of Tivnu Gap Year participants will be building the new Havurah sukkah!

8) Portland Homeless Family Solutions Goose Hollow Shelter Direct Service Project - Since July, 2015 Havurah has had a team of volunteers at Goose Hollow evening shelter once a month. I have had the pleasure of coordinating Havurah volunteers for this hands-on project. The families are uniquely different. Some adults over these past two years stand out as they are the ones who challenged my prior assumptions of homeless adults. Several children I will continue to carry in my heart. Each one clearly demonstrated with actions and words their understanding of how to make the best of their situation, not just for themselves, yet also for the other children there. And then there are the Havurah volunteers who I have the humble honor to get to work with. Join this incredible group of Havurahniks. It only takes an hour of your time to complete the sole requirement of an on-site orientation. Contact Gloria Halper.

9) Are You a Handy-Person? - Are you good with tools, small repairs, and solving problems? Havurah is seeking a handy-person who can be on call for odd jobs related to the building and grounds. This can be either a paid or volunteer position, depending on your preference. For more information, email Rachel.

10) Opportunity in Israel for Adults Ages 21-30 - BINA ("understanding” in Hebrew) designs and implements programming integrating cultural, social and educational elements of Judaism, while promoting religious pluralism, honoring secular Israeli identity, and focusing on social justice work across all kinds of lines and sectors in Israeli society. One of BINA's programs is available to young North American adults ages 21–30. It’s a 10-month-long fellowship, in which young adults teach in Israel and receive a small monthly stipend. Participants pay $1000 and in return receive free airfare, housing, Ulpan (Hebrew language immersion classes), and amenities. While they’re in Israel in this program, they receive a stipend, which is about $650/month for participants who serve as teaching assistants, and about $1,430/month for participants who are certified teachers and are assigned a full teaching role. Learn more at www.bina.org.il/itf or contact Elliot Glassenberg at elliot@bina.org.il if you have questions.

11) Jewish Family and Child Service Looking for Three Visitors - Through JFCS’s Friendly Visitor Program, volunteers visit weekly at a client’s home or do activities such as shopping or dining. Three clients are looking for a friendly visitor to spend a few hours with them each week: 1) A German Holocaust survivor would like someone to socialize with once or twice a week. Speaking German would be a plus but is not required. 2) An elderly client has recently stopped driving and needs help shopping and getting to appointments. She would also like to socialize and spend some time out of the house. 3) An older adult with a significant visual impairment is requesting assistance with organization, including sorting through paperwork, mail, bills, old books, CDs, and cassette tapes. If you are interested in becoming a Friendly Visitor, please contact Brenna Park-Egan atbrenna.park-egan@cedarsinaipark.org.

Below is a photo from last Saturday's Bat Mitzvah of Maia Goldberg. Mazel tov, Maia, and thank you to the Havurahniks and Havurah friends who are stepping in to help during these interim months when we don't have a rabbi.

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Havurah Shalom

Weekly Community Email, May 24

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1) Tonight! The 10th Annual Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture - The Ten Commandments in the Limelight, with Dr. Jenna Weissman Joselit,
Wednesday, May 24, 7:00 pm (Dessert Reception at 8:45 pm), Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 333. Thank you to Havurah member Nathan Cogan and the Cogan Family for their generous sponsorship of this event. Learn more here.

2) Sharing Life Stories: Bridging Our Perspectives on Israel, faciliatated by Elad Vazana (co-sponsored by the Institute for Judaic Studies) - Thursday, May 25, 7:00 pm, Neveh Shalom. This event and the June 12 event are free, but RSVP at 503-246-8831 or  lwoloshin@nevehshalom.org as there are only 150 spots available. "Story is the shortest distance between people," says Israeli Elad Vazana, an artist, educator, multi-narrative tour guide, and experienced mediator and facilitator of successful face-to-face relationship building for social change. For 15 years he has helped Palestinian and Israeli youth and adults — Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others — build trust while experiencing that “an enemy is one whose story we have not heard.” Also Monday, June 12, 7:00 pm - Nani: A Musical Journey into the Ancient Roots of Israeli Music. Learn more here.

3) Connect with Your Community! - It has been more than a year since Havurah asked you to tell us your interests. After huge changes in the world and in our community, we’re hoping you’ll let us know if your interests have changed and, if so, how you’re most interested in connecting with others at Havurah. Please take a moment to answer the five questions on this survey. Thank you for helping us improve our community’s connections!

4) Planning Ahead for High Holy Days - If you are like my family, you are beginning to think about school getting out, warm and sunny days becoming the norm, summer vacations, hanging out and eating dinner with friends on the patio or in the park. We are excited, knowing that the daylight will be lasting longer. But before we all head off into the sunshine, may I suggest you take some time to organize your calendar? I am talking about the High Holy Days that come at the end of September. Soon calls and requests will be made for members to take on the many parts that make the Days of Awe amazing and beautiful. Havurah Shalom is fortunate to have such a large and creative collective of families. And to our collective of families, I say, come and join the work of preparing and creating our High Holy Days. **Go ahead: put the dates in the sidebar in your calendar for services at the Tiffany Center. Read more of Susan Lazareck's inspiring message on our blog.

5) Portland Homeless Family Solutions Goose Hollow Shelter Direct Service Project - Since July, 2015 Havurah has had a team of volunteers at Goose Hollow evening shelter once a month. I have had the pleasure of coordinating Havurah volunteers for this hands-on project. Last Thursday I was at the shelter, as I am on occasion, as a member of Havurah's team. The families are uniquely different. Some adults over these past 2 years stand out as they are the ones who challenged my prior assumptions of homeless adults. Several children I will continue to carry in my heart. Each one clearly demonstrated with actions and words their understanding of how to make the best of their situation, not just for themselves, yet also for the other children there. And then there are the Havurah volunteers who I have the humble honor to get to work with. Join this incredible group of Havurahniks. It only takes an hour of your time to complete the sole requirement of an on site orientation. Contact Gloria Halper.

6) Book Drive for Boise-Eliot, May 16 - June 4 - I am organizing a book drive for the kids at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt PK-8 School in North Portland. Boise-Eliot serves the largest population of Black children in Oregon, and the school community is a supportive and nurturing environment in a neighborhood that has lost almost all of its Black population. Here's a 2016 Slate article about the school and the changing realities in the surrounding community. Please consider donating new or gently used books, Tuesday, May 16- Sunday, June 4. The goal is to collect 700 books, so each child has at least one book to read over the summer. Here's how to donate: Send books directly to Boise-Eliot/Humboldt via their Amazon wish list at http://a.co/4Tak0s6 or buy books and drop them off at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt PK-8 School, 620 N Fremont, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, or Children's Institute, 1411 SW Morrison Street, Suite 205,
9:00 am - 4:00 pm. - Danielle Cogan, Havurah member

7) Rachel’s Well—Portland’s New Community Mikvah for all—will open this summer for traditional contemporary ritual immersion. This is a Mikvah created by the community for the community, and with everyone’s support we will together make it a beautiful (and functional) space. If you would like to serve as Havurah Shalom's representative on the advisory committee for the new community mikvah, contact Julia Lager-Mesulam. 

8) Just in Time for Your Summer Camping! Own a Piece of Havurah's History. A Havurah Shalom member is selling 30 Super Nova LED camping lights used for Joey's retirement party. All the batteries have been used for 5+ hours on medium setting - lights have five settings and have a great handle at the top which makes them a perfect tent light for camping. They were purchased for $9.98 and are selling for $8, with $1 of that donated to Havurah. Email Monica if you are interested in purchasing one. Happy Summer!

9) Havurah Sanctuary Committee Action, "Radical Accompaniment in difficult times." Over a dozen Havurah members went up to the Tacoma Detention Center for the 9th Annual Mother's Day Vigil. Thank you to all who participated!

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Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
 

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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Havurah Shalom

Weekly Community Email, May 17

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Press Conference on Affordable Housing - In 2003, tens of millions of our taxpayer dollars were invested in the South Waterfront development. The major beneficiary was OHSU and, in return, OHSU promised to build 400 units of affordable housing. To date, OHSU has produced ZERO affordable housing units. On Tuesday, May 23, from 12:15 to 12:45 pm, MACG will hold a press conference urging OHSU to keep its promise. It would be wonderful if Havurah members could attend to show their support. The press conference will be at Elizabeth Caruthers Park, 3508 SW Moody Ave. If you have any questions, please contact Steve Goldberg.

Counting the Omer - Many thanks to Diane Chaplin for leading an engaging Text & Torah discussion last Saturday about counting the omer. You can read the information she presented about Emor & Omer here.

Connect With Your Community! - More than a year has passed since Havurah asked members to tell us how they would like to connect at Havurah. Having experienced significant changes in both the world and our community, your interests may have changed. Please take five minutes to answer the five questions on this survey. Thank you for helping us improve our community's connections!

Portland Homeless Family Solutions Goose Hollow Shelter Direct Service Project - Since July, 2015 Havurah has had a team of volunteers at Goose Hollow evening shelter once a month. I have had the pleasure of coordinating Havurah volunteers for this hands-on project. Last Thursday I was at the shelter, as I am on occasion, as a member of Havurah's team. The families are uniquely different. Some adults over these past 2 years stand out as they are the ones who challenged my prior assumptions of homeless adults. Several children I will continue to carry in my heart. Each one clearly demonstrated with actions and words their understanding of how to make the best of their situation, not just for themselves, yet also for the other children there. And then there are the Havurah volunteers who I have the humble honor to get to work with. Join this incredible group of Havurahniks. It only takes an hour of your time to complete the sole requirement of an on site orientation. Next one: May 18, 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Contact Gloria Halper.

Email List for Social Action - Havurahniks, there's nothing like a Trump presidency to inspire action! So, are you interested in attending rallies, calling senators, writing postcards, etc. with other Havurah folks? If so, Rebecca Darling-Budner (as part of the Tikkun Olam Committee) is now facilitating an email list that will be used solely for organizing ourselves to take action together. To join the list, just shoot her an email requesting to be a member, rbudner@yahoo.com.

Book Drive for Boise-Eliot, May 16 - June 4 - I am organizing a book drive for the kids at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt PK-8 School in North Portland. Boise-Eliot serves the largest population of Black children in Oregon, and the school community is a supportive and nurturing environment in a neighborhood that has lost almost all of its Black population. Here's a 2016 Slate article about the school and the changing realities in the surrounding community. Please consider donating new or gently used books, Tuesday, May 16- Sunday, June 4. The goal is to collect 700 books, so each child has at least one book to read over the summer. Here's how to donate: Send books directly to Boise-Eliot/Humboldt via their Amazon wish list at http://a.co/4Tak0s6 or buy books and drop them off at Boise-Eliot/Humboldt PK-8 School, 620 N Fremont, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, or Children's Institute, 1411 SW Morrison Street, Suite 205, 9:00 am- 4:00 pm - Danielle Cogan, Havurah member

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Please use this form to submit a story for publication in this weekly community email.

Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
 

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

503-248-4662

Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

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