Eve Berry, Song of Miriam Honoree
Eve Berry is the 2017 Song of Miriam Honoree from Havurah Shalom. Her many contributions to our congregation stem from her lifelong focus on childhood education and learning. In her civilian life, Eve is an elementary teacher for ESL students. She has generously shared her time, talent and expertise with us at Havurah.
Eve and her family became members of Havurah Shalom in 1993. Her oldest daughter was in the first grade, and Eve jumped right into Havurah’s parent-led Shabbat School. She enthusiastically embraced her role as a parent teacher throughout both her daughter’s years in Shabbat School. After her daughters became B'not Mitzvah and continued on to high school, she served on the Havurah High Committee for six years.
Eve’s contributions did not stop after her children graduated and moved on. She served as Vice President of Education on the Havurah Shalom Steering Committee (our board) for four years. Eve was instrumental in the creation of several policies for our Shabbat School, including a “Grandparent” Policy, a Shabbat School Safety Policy, and a Building Use Policy. She was generous with her time, faithfully attending meetings, and always returning to meetings with any promised homework (such as writing many policy drafts!).
In her role on the Steering Committee, Eve also participated in our “Short Term-Long Range Planning Task Force,” called the Gesher Committee. She was proud to contribute to the creation of a new administrative strategy for the congregation as we faced growing pains, and proud of the committee’s success.
Her friend Karen says that she and her family have shared seders with Eve’s family for many years. Over the years, Eve instigated many fun ideas for telling the Passover tale – some years in a Dr. Suess manner, some years in plays, and some years with Passover songs to the tune of Broadway musicals.
Eve’s passion for children and teaching, along with her work ethic and big heart, have benefited all she touches. We at Havurah Shalom are lucky to count Eve Berry as one of our own, and are proud to have her share this honor on our behalf.
-Shelley Sobel
May 10 Community Email
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RABBI JOEY IN TIMES OF ISRAEL, NEW MEMBER BAGEL BRUNCH, SONG OF MIRIAM
Kabbalat Shabbat Honors Our High School Seniors Join us for our joyful and musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service this Friday at 7:30 pm, where we will honor our high school seniors. They are Havurah's future! Eight talented Havurah musicians will help us celebrate: Ilene Safyan, Scott Snyder, Steven Sandberg-Lewis, John Duke, Karen Stolzberg, Barry Lavine, Chaim Wolin and Jacob Mandelsberg.
Text & Torah - Emor & Counting the Omer Torah study will be followed by a short Shabbat service. We’ll study Parashat Emor and look at the history and intricacies surrounding the counting of the Omer. We will serve breakfast and coffee, including bagels and lox and gluten-free options. Please arrive early enough to eat before the study begins at 10:00 am. Above photo of barley is from Wikimedia Commons.
Tot Shabbat Young children (0-5) and their parents will celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we will enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here. RABBI JOEY IN TODAY'S TIMES OF ISRAEL - EMOR & THE FIRING OF COMEY Read Rabbi Joey's message in today's "Times of Israel" about this week's parsha, Emor, and the firing of James Comey: Firing the director of the FBI? Because of the way he presided over Hillary Clinton’s emails? Why now? Am I imagining it or are we back in the days of Nixon’s White House and the Saturday Night Massacre? Sure seems like it. Congressman Elijah Cummings on the Rachel Maddow Show said, “I am shocked, but not really surprised.” Are the Republicans surprised? Who believes Donald Trump? Who is not wondering if he’s manipulating our justice system, the foundation of American democracy? Commenting on the opening line of Parashat Emor, “Tell the priests, say to them, none shall defile himself for any dead person”, the Midrash Tanchuma tries to imagine a situation in which the priests who model holiness should be required to stay pure? Everyone knows they are not to come into contact with a dead body. The rabbis offer an example: a priest leaves the city on business (or to play golf, or both). His servant urgently attempts to get in touch with him, but is unsure how to pin him down. (The priest is easily distracted.) Read more here in the Times of Israel. ANNUAL MOTHER'S DAY VIGIL - RADICAL ACCOMPANIMENT IN DIFFICULT TIMES
Saturday, May 13 To carpool to the vigil, please meet at 8:15 am at Ascension Catholic Church parking lot (734 SE 76th, Portland). Join members of Havurah's Sanctuary Cohort to stand together for immigrants’ rights here in the Pacific Northwest. Please RSVP here if you plan to carpool to the vigil. There will be special speakers, testimony and action. Learn more here.
For more information, contact Shari Raider, shari.raider@gmail.com, or Bob Brown, rebrown47@gmail.com.
Above Mother's Day Vigil photo is from the IMIrJ website.
THANK YOU TO OUR CLIMATE CHANGE WORKGROUP! On Sunday, May 7, the Climate Action Workgroup of Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee welcomed 25 local environmental groups to a first-ever Climate Change Information & Action Fair at Havurah. Many thanks to all who organized and participated in the fair. Here are more photos taken by Steve Birkel.
Above photo was taken at Sunday's Climate Change Information & Action Fair by Steve Birkel.
If you have stories for our June Hakol, please submit them along with headlines and accompanying artwork to Rachel Pollak by Tuesday, May 16.
Friday, May 19
Our Dorot Service is specifically welcoming to families with children and also strives to create a space for all the generations of Havurah to connect and enjoy Shabbat together. It is a relaxed, meaningful and sweet way to end a busy week and start Shabbat. Our fabulous Shabbat School parents Jacob Mandlesberg, Sarah Shine and Gabe Adoff will lead us in bringing in Shabbat together with music and prayer.
After the short and sweet service, we'll enjoy a vegetarian potluck dinner. Please bring a kid-friendly main dish. RSVP here if you think you might make it. Feel free to invite friends and family to join in as well - the more the merrier! NEW TO HAVURAH? MEET PEOPLE & LEARN MORE ON MAY 21!
New & Prospective Member Bagel Brunch
Havurah Shalom welcomes new and prospective new members to a morning of fun and information at our annual orientation on Sunday, May 21, at Havurah. Attendees will get acquainted with various offerings in the Havurah Shalom community, hear from experienced members, and meet with other newer members. The orientation runs from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, and we will have a coffee, bagels and juice. Childcare will be provided. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP here if you can come. If you have questions, contact Sarah Rosenberg, 503-452-4250. Tuesday May 23
A Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman is the next book the group selected to discuss. Here is a brief excerpt about it: "Telling the fictionalized life of Rachel Pissarro, the mother of the famous Impressionist Camille Pissarro, the story unwinds slowly—beginning with Rachel in her youth, growing up in a strict Jewish community on the island of St. Thomas in the early 1800s. Rachel is a headstrong girl who becomes a fierce woman and mother of eleven, initially forced into an arranged marriage at a very young age. But when her older husband dies, she soon falls in love with her husband’s nephew, and her defiance and strength to be with the one she loves manages to supersede her community’s desire for discretion and adherence to custom." The book also concerns the relationship between mother and her artist son, Camille. We hope you will join us. Please RSVP to the Havurah website. Above photo of a painting on St. Thomas by Camille Pissarro is from Wikimedia. ANNUAL SONG OF MIRIAM AWARDS BRUNCH Sunday, June 4 This year’s Havurah Shalom Song of Miriam honoree is Eve Berry. Mazel tov, Eve! Please join your fellow Havurah members as we celebrate Eve and other Song of Miriam honorees on June 4.
The cost of the brunch - Patron: $36 Regular, $25 if postmarked by May 24. After May 24 the cost is $32; Children 12 & under: $10. Download a registration form here. Email Shelley Sobel (shelleysemail2@yahoo.com) if you plan to attend so we can all sit together! Rabbi Benjamin and his family plan to move to Portland in mid-July. The Rabbi Transition Team will be coordinating with other Havurah committees and groups to ensure that the transition for him and his family, and the Havurah community, is smooth and allows for everyone to have a chance to meet and socialize. Please let us know if you are planning an event that would provide Rabbi Benjamin and his family with an opportunity to mingle and get to know Havurah cohorts. Also, let us know if you are interested in being a member of the team. Co-chairs Amanda Coffey, akcoffey23@gmail.com, 503-341-1596, and Stacy Hankin, twokids@spiritone.com, 503-887-5296.
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. HAVURAH LOST & FOUND GOES TO GOODWILL ON MONDAY, MAY 15
If you left a water bottle, coat, or anything else at Havurah, please come by to pick it up. Anything not claimed by Saturday, May 13, will be donated to Goodwill on Monday, May 15. Thank you to all who have already picked up lost items and all who contacted our office and are planning to collect their items soon! NO WEEKLY EMAIL ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7 Havurah's office staff will attend an out-of-town conference the week of June 7 to learn ways to use Havurah's ShulCloud system more efficiently in managing our membership data, website, and more. Because of travel, limited time, and limited access to the internet, we will not have a weekly community email on Wednesday, June 7. Please submit stories that you ordinarily would have submitted for our June 7 email in time to be included in the weekly email on Wednesday, May 31. The deadline for that email is Tuesday, May 30, at noon. Please use this form to submit your stories. Thanks! Light the Hearth, Wednesday, May 10, 4:00 pm - Dark, Jamison Square
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN EUGENE: "Dare I Call You Cousin" exhibition that showed at Havurah will open at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene. Exhibition Opening, Friday, May 12 On Friday, May 12, doors open at 6:30 pm for exhibition viewing, preceding Shabbat services at 7:30 pm, during which poet Frances Payne Adler will give a reading and talk about the exhibition.
Video Screening, Monday, May 15. Doors open at 6:00 pm for exhibition viewing. At 7:00 pm, a communal discussion and viewing of selected videos from the exhibition, with introductory remarks by Dr. Paul Slovic. Above photos copyrighted by Michal Fattal Webinar on Lilith with Havuarahnik Alicia Jo Rabins on May 18 No matter where you are on the globe, you are invited to join Havurah member Alicia Jo Rabins for a free one-hour webinar on the fascinating, mysterious, utterly captivating character of Lilith! Hosted by Jewish Women's Archive, Thursday, May 18, at 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time (1:00 pm Eastern time). Sign up here to join the webinar (or to access the recording later). We will be exploring this legendary demoness - or heroine, depending on your interpretation - through amulets, ancient bowls, contemporary art, and the Girls in Trouble song, "We Are Androgynous." To ensure that our news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's online calendar & weekly email updates. News for weekly emails is due Tuesday at noon prior to the email. Due to staff attending a conference, we won't have a weekly email on Wednesday, June 7. 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 |
Rabbi Joey in Times of Israel
Read Rabbi Joey's message in today's "Times of Israel" about this week's parsha, Emor, and the firing of James Comey:
Firing the director of the FBI? Because of the way he presided over Hillary Clinton’s emails? Why now?
Am I imagining it or are we back in the days of Nixon’s White House and the Saturday Night Massacre? Sure seems like it. Congressman Elijah Cummings on the Rachel Maddow Show said, “I am shocked, but not really surprised.” Are the Republicans surprised? Who believes Donald Trump? Who is not wondering if he’s manipulating our justice system, the foundation of American democracy?
Commenting on the opening line of Parashat Emor, “Tell the priests, say to them, none shall defile himself for any dead person”, the Midrash Tanchuma tries to imagine a situation in which the priests who model holiness should be required to stay pure? Everyone knows they are not to come into contact with a dead body. The rabbis offer an example: a priest leaves the city on business (or to play golf, or both). His servant urgently attempts to get in touch with him, but is unsure how to pin him down. (The priest is easily distracted.)
Read more here in the Times of Israel.
Above photo of Rabbi Joey was taken by Torsten Kjellstrand.
8 Musicians & Our High School Seniors
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KABBALAT SHABBAT WITH 8 GREAT MUSICIANS & OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
KABBALAT SHABBAT WITH 8 MUSICIANS & TRIBUTES TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RSVP by Monday, May 8! Remember the amazing music at our April 21 Friday service? (If you forgot, here's a video of the evening.) We have another wonderful lineup of musicians for our Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, May 12: Ilene Safyan, Scott Snyder, Steven Sandberg-Lewis, John Duke, Karen Stolzberg, Barry Lavine, Chaim Wolin and Jacob Mandelsberg. We will also honor Havurah's high school seniors at the service. At the 6:30 pm vegetarian dinner, we will offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free choices, and you're invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8. RSVP for the dinner by May 8! Cost adjustments are available by calling 503-248-4662. Havurah Climate Action & Information Fair
This fair is sponsored by the Havurah Climate Action Team, which is part of Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee. Please RSVP here. Twenty-one organizations are partnering with Havurah for the fair! Text & Torah - Parashat Emor Torah study will be followed by a short Shabbat service. We’ll study Parashat Emor and look at the history and intricacies surrounding the counting of the Omer. We will serve breakfast and coffee, including bagels and lox and gluten-free options. Please arrive early to eat before the study begins at 10:00 am. PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN EUGENE: "Dare I Call You Cousin" exhibition that showed at Havurah will open at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene.
Exhibition Opening, Friday, May 12 On Friday, May 12, doors open at 6:30 pm for exhibition viewing, preceding Shabbat services at 7:30 pm, during which poet Frances Payne Adler will give a reading and talk about the exhibition. Video Screening, Monday, May 15. Doors open at 6:00 pm for exhibition viewing. At 7:00 pm, a communal discussion and viewing of selected videos from the exhibition, with introductory remarks by Dr. Paul Slovic. Above photos copyrighted by Michal Fattal
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May 3 Community Email
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CLIMATE ACTION FAIR WITH BAGELS, SHABBATON, KABBALAT SHABBAT
Community Minyan Join Havurah members Susan Brenner, Maria Lisa Johnson, Sam Sirkin, Cindy Merrill, and others who will lead, drash, and read Torah this Saturday. The parsha Kedoshim begins by urging us to be holy, and gives us many mitzvot to help. The parsha also includes what Rabbi Akiva called the heart of Torah: Love your neighbor as yourself. Join us! M'YAD L'YAD: FROM HAND TO HAND - THE CHAIN OF OUR TRADITION Pacific NW Shabbaton for Reconstructionist Communities
How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next? During this Shabbaton we’ll explore some of these enduring issues of transmission:
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens.
Enjoy a bagel nosh and hands-on activities for the young among us, and learn how you can easily reduce the worst impacts of climate change and make our communities healthier. Twenty-one organizations are partnering with Havurah for this fair! This is a family-friendly event with something for all ages (including childcare). For more information, email Michael Heumann or call 503-880-2226. Here's where you can park on Sunday, May 7. This fair is sponsored by the Havurah Climate Action Team, which is part of Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee. Please RSVP here so we know how much food to prepare! Image of climate change below is from Wikimedia. Sunday, May 7 Please notice the new time for our annual cemetery clean-up so as not to interfere with the church services. Come to our beautiful cemetery and make it even prettier. Bring tools for trimming and weeding. Help fertilize and trim the hedge. Bring brushes to clean the stones. Mostly just bring yourself and pitch in. If you have any questions, call Dave Weil at 503-293-6806. THANK YOU, ELLEN REGAL, FOR A WONDERFUL LUNCH & RECIPE SWAP! Many thanks to Ellen Regal for organizing a fun - and delicious! - brunch-n-share with our new friends from the Muslim Educational Trust on April 30. Several recipes were demonstrated and cooked for all to enjoy. Additional recipes were passed around for folks to try at home, along with family stories and bits of kitchen science and wisdom across cultures and generations. More than one person asked, "When can we do this again?" - perhaps the best evidence of success. - Beth Hamon You can see photos taken by Beth Hamon here. KABBALAT SHABBAT WITH TRIBUTES TO OUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
RSVP by Monday, May 8!
What a musical lineup! Havurah musicians Ilene Safyan, Scott Snyder, Steven Sandberg-Lewis, John Duke, Karen Stolzberg, Barry Lavine, Chaim Wolin and Jacob Mandelsberg will lead our Kabbalat Shabbat Service on Friday, May 12, where we will honor Havurah's high school seniors!
We will offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free choices. You are invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8.
RSVP here by May 8! Cost adjustments are available by calling 503-248-4662.
LEARNERS' MINYAN ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Ken Lerner will lead our Wednesday morning minyan on May 10 and teach us how to lead a minyan ourselves. Join us for a reflective morning service for those who want to incorporate davenning in their daily life and/or those who want to say Kaddish.
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.
Saturday, May 13 Young children (0-5) and their parents will celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we will enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here. ANNUAL MOTHER'S DAY VIGIL - RADICAL ACCOMPANIMENT IN DIFFICULT TIMES Saturday, May 13
To carpool to the vigil, please meet at 8:15 am at Ascension Catholic Church parking lot (734 SE 76th, Portland). Join members of Havurah's Sanctuary Cohort going to Tacoma to stand together for immigrants’ rights here in the Pacific Northwest. Please RSVP here if you plan to carpool to the vigil. There will be special speakers, testimony and action. Learn more here. For more information, contact Shari Raider, shari.raider@gmail.com, or Bob Brown: rebrown47@gmail.com.
NEW TO HAVURAH? MEET PEOPLE & LEARN MORE ON MAY 21 Sunday, May 21
Havurah Shalom welcomes new and prospective new members to a morning of fun and information at our annual orientation on Sunday, May 21, at Havurah. Attendees will get acquainted with various offerings in the Havurah Shalom community, hear from experienced members, and meet with other newer members. The orientation runs from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, and we will have a coffee, bagels and juice. Childcare will be provided. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP here if you can come. If you have questions, contact Sarah Rosenberg, 503-452-4250. COULD YOU HAVE ANOTHER'S TALLIT OR GLASSES? Do you have a blue tallit bag similar to the one below? If so, please look inside it to be sure it’s yours.
Dick Mastbrook has been missing a special tallit for several months now, though he’s looked at every tallit at Havurah – several times. His tallit bag held a small tallit and a medium-sized tallit. Both have blue markings, and one belonged to his brother-in-law, of blessed memory. He would love to find it, so if you accidentally picked it up, please email him to let him know. Many thanks to Dick for folding every tallit at Havurah and separating them into “small” and “medium-large sized” stacks. When you borrow a tallit for a service, please fold it afterward and replace it where you found it, so we can keep our sanctuary area beautiful. Also, Karen Labinger is looking for her son's reading glasses, which are in a brown eye glass case. They have black or dark brown frames. Please let us know if you have any information about these missing items. The next date Havurah's Book Discussion Group will meet is May 23. We will read A Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman. The discussion leader for this meeting will be Marcia Danab. Desserts will be provided. Please RSVP here. Rabbi Benjamin and his family plan to move to Portland in mid-July. The Rabbi Transition Team will be coordinating with other Havurah committees and groups to ensure that the transition for him and his family, and the Havurah community, is smooth and allows for everyone to have a chance to meet and socialize. Please let us know if you are planning an event that would provide Rabbi Benjamin and his family with an opportunity to mingle and get to know Havurah cohorts. Also, let us know if you are interested in being a member of the team. Co-chairs Amanda Coffey, akcoffey23@gmail.com, 503-341-1596, and Stacy Hankin, twokids@spiritone.com, 503-887-5296. Book Launch of 'Pirkei Imahot, The Wisdom of Mothers' Please join us and help spread the word about the upcoming book launch of Rabbi Eve Posen (Congregation Neveh Shalom) and Lois Sussman Shenker's new book, "Pirkei Imahot, The Wisdom of Mothers, the Voices of Women." It is free and open to the public. Ruth Messinger, Global Ambassador for American Jewish World Service, will be the guest speaker. Light the Hearth
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS IN EUGENE: "Dare I Call You Cousin" exhibition that showed at Havurah will open at Temple Beth Israel in Eugene. Exhibition Opening, Friday, May 12
On Friday, May 12, doors open at 6:30 pm for exhibition viewing, preceding Shabbat services at 7:30 pm, during which poet Frances Payne Adler will give a reading and talk about the exhibition. Video Screening, Monday, May 15. Doors open at 6:00 pm for exhibition viewing. At 7:00 pm, a communal discussion and viewing of selected videos from the exhibition, with introductory remarks by Dr. Paul Slovic. Read more here. Above photos - Michal Fattal copyright Webinar on Lilith with Havuarahnik Alicia Jo Rabins on May 18 No matter where you are on the globe, you are invited to join Havurah member Alicia Jo Rabins for a free one-hour webinar on the fascinating, mysterious, utterly captivating character of Lilith! Hosted by Jewish Women's Archive, Thursday, May 18, at 10:00 am Pacific Standard Time (1:00 pm Eastern time). Sign up here to join the webinar (or to access the recording later). We will be exploring this legendary demoness - or heroine, depending on your interpretation - through amulets, ancient bowls, contemporary art, and the Girls in Trouble song, "We Are Androgynous." Reconstructionist News Read the latest news from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. To ensure that our news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's online calendar & weekly email updates. News for weekly emails is due Tuesday at noon prior to the 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 |
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Rabbi Joey in The Oregonian
Our very own beloved Rabbi Joey is featured in The Oregonian! Read about him here.Thank you, Cathie Ericson, for this wonderful story. An excerpt is below:
When Rabbi Joseph Wolf – known to his flock as "Rabbi Joey" – retired in late April after 30 years as Havurah Shalom's spiritual leader, the Portland community lost a civic and social luminary.
"He has been an amazing force in the congregation," says Herman Asarnow, who has been a member since 1989. "He evokes discussion when we're discussing the Torah at services like no other rabbi I've seen. He has deepened and challenged us, but is also full of compassion."
Finding the path to Portland
Wolf, 66, had been a rabbi for six years in Austin, Texas, when he started considering his next move. Serendipitously, just as he was weighing a different career turn, he received a call from an old friend who suggested he consider a socially active congregation in Portland. He agreed to visit and it was, shall we say, a match made in heaven.
"I found this group of audacious, creative people – political leaders, activists, writers and musicians," he says. Drawn to their sense of purpose and community, he appreciated that they were looking for a rabbi who would give them the space to continue their work.
"As a rabbi, I want to be more of a spark plug or a battery," he says. "We weren't looking to establish a large-scale presence, but rather to nurture a bond that existed between the congregation and the community. My work has been about connecting people to each other and making the sparks fly," he says.
April 26 Community Email
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L'HITRAOT JOEY, PNW SHABBATON, LUNCH/RECIPE SWAP, CLIMATE ACTION FAIR The links below will take you directly to posts, except on Apple devices.
Submitting News For Weekly Emails & Online Calendar To ensure that our news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's online calendar & weekly email updates. News for weekly emails is due Tuesday at noon prior to the email. Bat Mitzvah of Lirit Miller This Saturday Lirit Miller, daughter of Doug Miller and Ellen Meyer, who passed away seven years ago, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Lirit and her family and welcome Lirit to our community. Mazel tov! PHOTOS & VIDEOS OF L'HITRAOT JOEY CELEBRATIONS
These videos speak for themselves. If you missed any L'hitraot Joey celebrations, this is your chance to watch a video of the one you missed. If you attended all of them, we hope you enjoy watching and listening to some of your favorite moments. The Havurah Shalom community's great gratitude to Rabbi Joey is evident in all of the photos and videos, and in the many tributes to Rabbi Joey in verse, song, photos, centerpieces, treasure chest messages, and more. We can't say good bye, and we only reluctantly say, "L'hitraot, Joey." Above photo of Amelia, Joey, Gavriella, Sarah and Simeon was taken by Barbara Gundle. Thanks to everyone who participated in making our celebrations for Rabbi Joey's retirement so wonderful! The community really stepped up to the challenge of honoring Rabbi Joey in many different ways. Thank you to the dinner organizers, speakers, musicians, greeters, cookie bakers, lunch organizers, food bringers, service leaders, and everyone else involved with the weekend. -Debbi Nadell & Karen Westerman Thank you to all of our EXTRAORDINARY service leaders, davenners and musicians. You took us to such incredible heights this past weekend. Your spirit, your generosity, your hearts, your music and kavannah touched us all. It was such an honor sharing this time with you, and on behalf of the entire congregation, we thank you! -Ilene Safyan M'YAD L'YAD: FROM HAND TO HAND - THE CHAIN OF OUR TRADITION
How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next?
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens. BOOK GROUP POTLUCK & PLANNING MEETING Thursday, April 27 This will be a planning/book selection meeting over a potluck dinner. We will choose books and dates for the rest of the year and beyond. Bring your book suggestion - one which you've already read and would like the group to discuss, and also a side, salad or desert dish to share. Get to know and enjoy the company of your fellow readers at Havurah! RSVP here on the Havurah website. LUNCH & RECIPE SWAP WITH MUSLIM EDUCATIONAL TRUST Sunday, April 30 Come share lunch, recipes and cooking demonstrations of favorite ethnic food from Havurah and the Muslim Educational Trust. All ages of cooks and food lovers welcome. Sponsored by the Tikkun Olam Committee. For more information, contact Ellen Regal at ellenregal@yahoo.com or 503-288-5042. FISCAL YEAR ENDING APRIL 30 - PAY YOUR DUES, MAKE YOUR NEW COMMITMENT First, thank you to Havurahniks who have already submitted their membership/dues renewal for 2017-18. If you haven’t done so, please click here to renew your dues commitment. If you are on automatic debit, pay unadjusted dues and there are no changes, nothing more is needed. But if you adjust or pay by check, stock or credit card, please fill out the forms. We have 380 members for whom we need to keep dues records. More information / more communication about your intentions regarding dues is BEST! And, as we approach the end of the current year, we ask that you finish paying your 2016-17 commitment. If you pay by check, please send it to Havurah Shalom, 825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 99720. You can pay by credit card using this link. A 3% fee is added. Thank you, HAVURAH CLIMATE INFORMATION & ACTION FAIR
Havurah will host its first ever Climate Information & Action Fair on Sunday, May 7. Come to learn more about how we are impacting our environment and our health, and how we can easily make a difference to help reduce the worst aspects of climate chaos that will also make our communities healthier and our homes more comfortable.
Havurah is bringing experts and service providers from local agencies and organizations to present information about a range of actions and activities that we can participate in to improve our lives and that of future generations here in the Pacific Northwest.
This is a family-friendly event with something for people of all ages (including childcare). We will have a bagel nosh for your brunch. Childcare will be provided if requested by May 3 through this RSVP link.
For more information, please email Michael Heumann or call 503-880-2226. Learn where you can park on Sunday, May 7. This information and action fair is sponsored by the Havurah Climate Action Team, which is part of your Tikkun Olam Committee. Sunday, May 7 Notice the new time for our annual cemetery clean-up so as not to interfere with the church services. Come to our beautiful cemetery and make it even prettier. Bring tools for trimming and weeding. Help fertilize and trim the hedge. Bring brushes to clean the stones. Mostly just bring yourself and pitch in. If you have any questions, call Dave Weil at 503-293-6806. KABBALAT SHABBAT DINNER & SERVICE - RSVP BY MONDAY, APRIL 8 Friday, May 12
Our vegetarian Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by a musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm, where we will honor Havurah's high school seniors. We offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free choices. You’re invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8.
RSVP here by May 8. Cost adjustments for the dinner are available. Please call 503-248-4662 if you have questions.
Saturday, May 13 Young children (0-5) and their parents will celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we will enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here. Rabbi Benjamin and his family plan to move to Portland in mid-July. The Rabbi Transition Team will be coordinating with other Havurah committees and groups to ensure that the transition for him and his family, and the Havurah community, is smooth and allows for everyone to have a chance to meet and socialize. Please let us know if you are planning an event that would provide Rabbi Benjamin and his family with an opportunity to mingle and get to know Havurah cohorts. Also, let us know if you are interested in being a member of the team. Co-chairs Amanda Coffey, akcoffey23@gmail.com, 503-341-1596, and Stacy Hankin, twokids@spiritone.com, 503-887-5296. ANNUAL SONG OF MIRIAM AWARDS BRUNCH Sunday, June 4 This year’s Havurah Shalom Song of Miriam honoree is Eve Berry. Mazel tov, Eve! Please join your fellow Havurah members as we celebrate Eve and other Song of Miriam honorees on June 4. The cost of the brunch - Patron: $36 Regular, $25 if postmarked by May 24. After May 24 the cost is $32; Children 12 & under: $10. Download a registration form here. Email Shelley Sobel (shelleysemail2@yahoo.com) if you plan to attend so we can all sit together! "The Reluctant Radical" Documentary Works in Progress Screening & Fundraiser Thursday, April 27
Havurah member Lindsey Grayzel and her co-producer Deia Schlosberg present select scenes from their work in progress documentary following climate activist Ken Ward, and Schlosberg's short BACKYARD, about the dangers of fracking. After the screenings, we will have a panel discussion with activist Ken Ward, and the filmmakers who were both arrested and charged with felonies while filming climate activists shutting down tar sands oil pipelines on Oct. 11, 2016. 100% of box office sales donated to help finish the film! Tickets are available here. For more information, contact Lindsey Grayzel.
The Supreme Court: What's Next? (an up-to-the-minute presentation) Alison Gash is a political science professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in US Supreme Court and civil rights laws. She also taught at Berkeley, where she received the Commendation for Excellence in Teaching two years in a row, and is the author of "Below the Radar: How Silence Can Save Civil Rights." Learn more and register here. People's Climate Movement March on Saturday, April 29 Spiritrials Havurah member Ruth Wikler-Luker curates and produces a nonprofit theatre/performing arts organization called Boom Arts (www.boomarts.org), which focuses on social justice issues. Spiritrials combines Hip Hop and theatre, two amazing ways to tell stories. What happens when you put them together? In Spiritrials, Def Poetry Jam alum Dahlak Brathwaite does just that, touching on issues like racial profiling, religion and faith, addiction and drug policy, criminal justice, and human imperfection through his own personal story. Learn more here. "Rising Up for Human Dignity" 2017 Film Festival (PSU's Holocaust and Genocide Studies Project + Never Again Coalition)
Upcoming Events at Portland State University Download this flier for more information about events through June 6. Light the Hearth
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 |
L'hitraot Joey Videos & Photos
Below are links to videos that Steve Birkel and Barbara Gundle made of last week's L'hitraot Joey celebrations. If you missed any of them, you can experience being there by watching a video or two. Or if you attended all of the celebrations, you can replay some of your favorite moments.
You can also watch this slide show about Rabbi Joey, whichTom Berg and Barbara Gundle presented on April 20. And you can see photos from last Thursday night in this April 20 photo album and from last Friday and Saturday in this April 21-22 photo album.
Fortunately, Rabbi Joey and Lisa Rackner are staying in Portland, so our paths will cross again. Apparently there is no word for "good bye" in Hebrew, except "shalom," which is used for both "hello" and "good bye" but really means "peace."
So this is just "L'hitraot" - "See you later, Joey!"
- Havdalah with Shabbat School on Saturday, April 15
- MJCC on April 20, Part 1 (Emily Simon, emcee, and Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman)
- MJCC on April 20, Part 2 (Ilene Safyan's blessing, Emily Simon's song, Dave Weil, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, and Abigail Webb speaking, and the Endowment Team of Margie Rosenthal, Herman Asarnow, and David Fuks)
- MJCC on April 20, Part 3 (Beth Hamon and Margie Rosenthal leading everyone in a sing-a-long and Mazel Tones led by Ilene Safyan)
- MJCC on April 20, Part 4 (Bill Kwitman and Ken Lerner present treasure chest of letters and Rabbi Joey speaks)
- MJCC on April 20, Part 5 (Happy Trails)
- Friday Night Service, April 21
- Saturday Morning Service, April 22
The above photo taken by Barbara Gundle after Saturday's service shows Rabbi Joey with his children (who aren't kids anymore), Amelia, Gavriella, Sarah and Simeon.
Celebrating Rabbi Joey Wolf
Tonight a sell-out crowd of 320 members of the Portland area community and visitors from as far away as Jerusalem will gather at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center to honor Rabbi Joey Wolf, who retires this month after 30 years as Havurah's spiritual leader. Rabbi Joey has been a voice of conscience and compassion in our community and beyond for many decades. Below is an excerpt of a story about Rabbi Joey in the April issue of Oregon Jewish Life written by Elizabeth Schwartz.
When Rabbi Joey Wolf moved to Portland in the late 1980s, Portland’s synagogues were known as “The Big Three” – Beth Israel (Reform), Neveh Shalom (Conservative) and Shaarie Torah (traditional). But there was an emerging fourth, Havurah Shalom, which hired Rabbi Joey in 1987. Over the last 30 years, Rabbi Joey has shepherded HS through numerous changes. This month, Havurah and Wolf celebrate his 30-year tenure with a weekend of events, which will launch Rabbi Joey’s retirement.
A native of Boston, Rabbi Joey was ordained in the Conservative Movement, after attending Brandeis University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. In his first posting as a senior rabbi, he served Agudas Achim, a large Conservative congregation in Austin, TX.
“It was a generic large synagogue,” Rabbi Joey says. “I was a necktie rabbi and I didn’t like it. I felt really constrained; there were so any expectations about what a rabbi was and what kinds of work and relationships I was expected to fulfill.”
In 1987, Rabbi Joey heard about an opening at Havurah, flew up to interview and, to use his word, was immediately “enraptured.” He adds that “I couldn’t believe the colorfulness of people, their questions, what they cared about, what was important to them. I was blown away. I said, ‘This is where the work is.’ ”
When he arrived, Rabbi Joey found the members of his new community (affectionately known as ‘Havurahniks’) “spontaneous, unendingly imaginative and audacious, both spiritually and politically. There were always wonderful people bursting the seams of Jewish life, whether creating a new prayer, doing a dance, taking us to new places to pray, going on a hike, or bringing together people with disparate interests, like astrology. Services weren’t some standard brand form.”
In those days, HS did not have its own building and held Friday night services at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. “We averaged between 40 and 50 people per service, and our demographic skewed young; the average age of the people was 29-30. It was a different kind of spiritual experience.”
One central facet of Havurah Shalom is its conscious choice to highlight its community identity, as its name suggests, rather than its rabbi.
“That was music to my ears,” says Rabbi Joey. “There’s a lot of intention in congregants saying, ‘We want to be in the driver’s seat. We want to demand of ourselves that we lead our own services, that we figure out what counts in Jewish life, living, worship, etcetera.’” Although Rabbi Joey has been a full-time rabbi, he led services only twice a month, which allowed congregants to take on that role on both Friday nights and Saturday mornings. This lay-led model extends to holidays and festivals, as well. Another important aspect of Havurah’s community is the diversity of its membership, particularly its interfaith couples.
April 19 Community Email
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TORAH TREASURES, L'HITRAOT JOEY, SANCTUARY MEETING, CLIMATE ACTION FAIR The links below take you directly to posts, except on Apple devices, which can't read anchor links yet.
Form For Submitting News For Weekly Email & Havurah's Online Calendar To ensure that our news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's online calendar & weekly email updates. News for weekly emails is due Tuesday at noon prior to the email. Please let me know if a post you requested by the deadline is missing or inaccurate. Meanwhile, your understanding is greatly appreciated. We are a very active and creative community! TORAH TREASURES AND CURIOUS TRASH - Tonight! Screening of the Film "Torah Treasures and Curious Trash"
April 19-22
WHERE YOU CAN PARK ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS Thanks to a generous offer from Legacy Health Systems, Havurah members can park in the Legacy corporate office parking lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays - in the "visitor" spaces (marked "V" below) and, at especially large gatherings, in spaces 20-37 along the Lovejoy side of the lot.
NEW START DATE FOR TROPE CLASS Instead of beginning tonight as originally planned, the trope class being taught by Ken Lerner will begin next Wednesday night, April 26. The final session will be Wednesday, May 17. PLEASE FIND WHAT YOU LOST AT HAVURAH - THANKS! Are you missing your favorite water bottle? Your child's jacket? Your reading glasses? Havurah has a bin full of lost-and-found items in the area where we hang our coats. Please check the bin this month and retrieve your items so we can donate whatever is left to Goodwill or William Temple House in May. Thank you! LUNCH & RECIPE SWAP WITH MUSLIM EDUCATIONAL TRUST Come share lunch, recipes and cooking demonstrations of favorite ethnic food from Havurah and the Muslim Educational Trust. All ages of cooks and food lovers welcome. Sponsored by Tikkun Olam Committee. For more information, contact Ellen Regal ellenregal@yahoo.com 503-288-5042. HAVURAH SANCTUARY COMMUNITY MEETING Monday, April 24
Please join us as we continue to explore what it means for Havurah to be a Sanctuary Congregation. On April 2, about 35 Havurah members gathered to begin exploring how we can respond to the needs of the larger community as a Sanctuary Congregation. We heard from a member of the Latino community about his experiences living in the current environment and the fears that he felt. We generated a great list of areas of interest and action. Here are the recommendations from our first meeting. At our next meeting on April 24, we will
For more information, contact Shari Raider at shari.raider@gmail.com or Kathy Gordon at farvergordon@gmail.com. Please RSVP here if you can come. BOOK GROUP POTLUCK & PLANNING MEETING APRIL 27 Havurah Book Discussion Group: NEXT MEETING 4/27/17 at Havurah, 7:00 - 8:30 pm This will be a planning/book selection meeting over a potluck dinner. We will choose books and dates for the rest of the year and beyond. Bring your book suggestion - one which you've already read and would like the group to discuss, and also a side, salad or desert dish to share. Get to kow an enjoy the company of your fellow readers at Havurah! RSVP here on the Havurah website. HAVURAH CLIMATE INFORMATION & ACTION FAIR
Havurah will host its first ever Climate Information & Action Fair on Sunday, May 7. Come to learn more about how we are impacting our environment and our health, and how we can easily make a difference to help reduce the worst aspects of climate chaos that will also make our communities healthier and our homes more comfortable.
Havurah is bringing experts and service providers from local agencies and organizations to present information about a range of actions and activities that we can participate in to improve our lives and that of future generations here in the Pacific Northwest.
This is a family-friendly event with something for people of all ages (including childcare). We will have a bagel nosh for your brunch. Childcare will be provided if requested by May 3 through this RSVP link. For more information, please email Michael Heumann or call 503-880-2226.
This information and action fair is sponsored by the Havurah Climate Action Team, which is part of your Tikkun Olam Committee. ADULT B'NAI MITZVAH GROUP FORMING Are you interested in … Deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer) and Kehillah (Community)? Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism? Going through this process in community and celebrating your Jewish learning in Havurah? Then … consider joining the new ADULT B'NAI / B'NOT MITZVAH GROUP. This group will study together from May 2017 – December 2019, with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and other teachers. This Adult Bnai / Bnot Mitzvah study process is for: Those who never became Bar or Bat Mitzvah AND those who had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – in form but not in substance. There are some things that you can go back and do again – but better this time!!! Contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner as soon as possible. NEW FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE FORMING Are you interested in building capacity for Havurah? Check out the new Fundraising Committee! The purpose of this committee is to set up a plan for intentional fundraising, as Havurah really has not done that in the past. That means setting goals, keeping track of our progress, and maintaining lists of non-members who have been generous in the past. We'll also be brainstorming and laying the groundwork for a big fundraising event to be held next February. Event planners, with or without experience, are welcome! I do not foresee any direct fundraising appeals coming from us as individuals, in case you are worried about that. Contact me at nancyjbecker@gmail.com. - Nancy Becker Book Readings at Annie Bloom's Tomorrow, April 20
Havurah members Ruth Feldman and Amber Keyser will read from their new novels, "Seven Stitches" and "Pointe, Claw," at Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, tomorrow at 7:00 pm. Read more here. Yom HaShoah Day of Remembrance Events April 23 – Public Tour or Oregon Holocaust Memorial (12:00 noon)
The Last Mentsch Born as Menachem Teitelbaum, Marcus Schwarz (German Academy Award winner Mario Adorf) escaped Auschwitz with his life, only to exterminate his Jewishness. With no synagogue, Jewish friends or family, the hardened old man has done such an effective job of creating a new identity that, when faced with his own mortality, the rabbis refuse his about-face appeal to be buried in a Jewish cemetery in Cologne. Read more here. "The Reluctant Radical" Documentary Works in Progress Screening & Fundraiser Thursday, April 27
Havurah member Lindsey Grayzel and her co-producer Deia Schlosberg present select scenes from their work in progress documentary following climate activist Ken Ward, and Schlosberg's short BACKYARD, about the dangers of fracking. After the screenings, we will have a panel discussion with activist Ken Ward, and the filmmakers who were both arrested and charged with felonies while filming climate activists shutting down tar sands oil pipelines on Oct. 11, 2016. 100% of box office sales donated to help finish the film! Tickets are available here. For more information, contact Lindsey Grayzel.
The Supreme Court: What's Next? (an up-to-the-minute presentation) Alison Gash is a political science professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in US Supreme Court and civil rights laws. She also taught at Berkeley, where she received the Commendation for Excellence in Teaching two years in a row, and is the author of "Below the Radar: How Silence Can Save Civil Rights." Learn more and register here. Spiritrials Havurah member Ruth Wikler-Luker curates and produces a nonprofit theatre/performing arts organization called Boom Arts (www.boomarts.org), which focuses on social justice issues. Spiritrials combines Hip Hop and theatre, two amazing ways to tell stories. What happens when you put them together? In Spiritrials, Def Poetry Jam alum Dahlak Brathwaite does just that, touching on issues like racial profiling, religion and faith, addiction and drug policy, criminal justice, and human imperfection through his own personal story. Learn more here. "Rising Up for Human Dignity" 2017 Film Festival (PSU's Holocaust and Genocide Studies Project + Never Again Coalition)
M’Yad L’Yad: From Hand to Hand — The Chain of Our Tradition
How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next?
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens. Are You 35-45 & Interested in a Social Group to Celebrate Shabbat? Havurah friend Kiel Moses is looking to form a monthly potluck where single Jews can talk about social justice issues, current events in Portland, and life. "Being conscious of who we are and what as Jews we can do to make the world better is very important to continually discuss," he explains. "Being resources for each other can be the best way to progress toward this goal." If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Kiel at kielmoses@yahoo.com.
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 |
April 12 Community Email
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CHAG SAMEACH, L'HITRAOT JOEY, TOT SHABBAT, CONGREGATIONAL MEETING *** L'hhitraot Joey - April 15-22, including 'Torah Treasures and Curious Trash' on April 19 *** New: The headers in the announcement above and in the table of contents below are linked to their stories so you can find them more quickly. Unfortunately Apple has not yet made it possible for these kinds of links to work in its emails, so the links only work on non-Mac interfaces.
New Form For Submitting News For This Email & Havurah's Online Calendar To ensure that our news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit stories for Havurah's online calendar & this weekly email update. Thank you! Community Minyan This Saturday the following Havurah leaders and leyners will daven and drash with us: Ken Lerner, Natalie Lerner, Diane Chaplin, Sarah Wetherson, Becky Chiao, Laura Orgel, Annie Goldberg, Susan Lazareck, and Marty Brown. Please join us as we celebrate Shabbat during Passover! Tot Shabbat families will join us during the Torah service. Saturday, April 15 Young children (0-5) and their parents will celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we will enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here. It's in Our Hands: Intergenerational Activism Fair for Reproductive Justice - You can find a recap, photos, and resources here from an amazing Intergenerational Activism Fair at Havurah on April 5. Many thanks to Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Stefanie Hausman, and many others for engaging so many generations of Havurahniks in a single evening. Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan for B'nai Mitzvah Families - Young Havurahniks did a great job of leading during our 'Discovering Shabbat Morning' service on Saturday, April 8. Many thanks to all of them, and to Susan Brenner, Diane Chaplin, Sam Sirkin, Rabbi Joey, and Owen Jablonski for leading and teaching. These photos show some of the younger crowd in action. For those of you who missed the service or had to leave early, here's a link to a video of the service. The shortened Torah service starts at 1:12 minutes. Today, April 12; Monday & Tuesday, April 17 & 18 Havurah Shalom's office will be closed on April 12, 17 & 18, for Passover. L'HITRAOT JOEY April 15-22 Read about Rabbi Joey here in Oregon Jewish Life!
TORAH TREASURES AND CURIOUS TRASH Screening of the Film "Torah Treasures and Curious Trash" CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON APRIL 16 Sunday, April 16 At this annual congregational meeting we will vote on the upcoming year's budget and on the upcoming year's Steering Committee. Please join us so your voice is heard! LIBRARY BOOKS MISSING Several books were taken from Havurah’s library without the check-out cards being completed. Please email Miryam Brewer if you checked out the following books so your name can be added to the check-out cards:
The May Hakol deadline is Tuesday, April 18. Please send your articles, photos and titles to Rachel Pollak by April 18. BOTTLES, JACKETS, GLASSES & MORE Are you missing your favorite water bottle? Your child's jacket? Your reading glasses? Havurah has a bin full of lost-and-found items in the area where we hang our coats. Please check our lost-and-found bin this month and retrieve your items so we can donate whatever is left to Goodwill or William Temple House in May. Thank you! The Supreme Court: What's Next? (an up-to-the-minute presentation) Alison Gash is a political science professor at the University of Oregon who specializes in US Supreme Court and civil rights laws. She also taught at Berkeley, where she received the Commendation for Excellence in Teaching two years in a row, and is the author of "Below the Radar: How Silence Can Save Civil Rights." Learn more and register here. Passover Immigration Focused Community Seder There will be a Community "Seder" with a focus on immigrant justice. There are some very powerful parts to the Passover seder readings that are so perfect for Immigration justice and for combating racism and Islamophobia, transphobia, and homophobia. This will be an abbreviated event, will include important Passover messages, and will not include a meal. The event is organized and supported by Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition, and other organizations. We hope to see you there on Friday. Contact Bob Brown, rebrown47@gmail.com. Are You 35-45 & Interested in a Social Group to Celebrate Shabbat? Havurah friend Kiel Moses is looking to form a monthly potluck where single Jews can talk about social justice issues, current events in Portland, and life. "Being conscious of who we are and what as Jews we can do to make the world better is very important to continually discuss," he explains. "Being resources for each other can be the best way to progress toward this goal." If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Kiel at kielmoses@yahoo.com. Spiritrials Havurah member Ruth Wikler-Luker curates and produces a nonprofit theatre/performing arts presenting organization called Boom Arts (www.boomarts.org), which focuses on social justice issues. Spiritrials combines Hip Hop and theatre, two amazing ways to tell stories. What happens when you put them together? In Spiritrials, Def Poetry Jam alum Dahlak Brathwaite does just that, touching on issues like racial profiling, religion and faith, addiction and drug policy, criminal justice, and human imperfection through his own personal story. Learn more here.
M’Yad L’Yad: From Hand to Hand — The Chain of Our Tradition How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next?
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens. Download the event program here. Rising Up for Human Dignity - 2017 Film Festival
Women of the Wall with Lesley Sachs On April 25, Lesley Sachs will speak about the battle that Women of the Wall (WOW) has been fighting for 28 years - achieving gender equality at Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Executive Director of Women of the Wall, Lesley grew up in Haifa, Israel. She has enjoyed a long and successful career in the areas of women’s rights and religious freedom in Israeli society. Lesley has led Women of the Wall since 2008. Learn more here. 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 |
Discovering Shabbat Morning
Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learner's Minyan for B'nai Mitzvah Families
Young Havurahniks did a great job of leading during our 'Discovering Shabbat Morning' service on Saturday, April 8. Many thanks to all of them, and to Susan Brenner, Diane Chaplin, Sam Sirkin, Rabbi Joey, and Owen Jablonski for leading and teaching. The photos below show some of the younger crowd in action.
For those of you who missed the service or had to leave early, here's a link to a video of the service. The shortened Torah service begins at 1:12 minutes.
Wishing You a Happy & Healthy Pesach
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On behalf of the Steering Committee and Havurah staff, we extend our warmest wishes to all of you for a happy and healthy Pesach! Amazingly, even more than at this time last year, we're struck by the Passover themes related to refugees. We will all tell the story of the Hebrew people fleeing Egypt, and today we see that experience being shared by many in our own country. We are proud of the amazing response of our Tikkun Olam Committee and the Havurah community to this issue. We hope you have the opportunity to watch this video from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College & Jewish Reconstructionist Communities, and to reflect on it either at your seder or when you have a quiet moment this week. May your seder be uplifting and inspiring as you enjoy the company of friends and family. We look forward to a wonderful year for our congregation. Shelley Sobel and Bill Kwitman |
It's in Our Hands
At Havurah Shalom's Intergenerational Activism Fair for Reproductive Justice ("It's in Our Hands") on April 5, Havurahniks and representatives from the reproductive rights nonprofits Momentum Alliance, Planned Parenthood and the Western States Center shared and learned about reproductive rights advocacy - past, present and future - while raising money for the three nonprofits through the sale of beautiful handmade items.
The evening included a reproductive justice history slideshow and presentations by Eliana Kertzner, Layton Borkan, Judith Arcana, Emily Lai, Mica Hastings, Natalie Lerner, and Katherine McDowell. Topics included early activists for reproductive justice, how teens can get involved, the Oregon Reproductive Justice Bill, and current legal challenges and issues.
All parts of the evening included people from a wide range of ages, and more than $1,800 was raised for the three nonprofits. So many planners, presenters and artists to thank ... especially Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, who conceived the idea of the activism fair and led the planning team, and Stefanie Hausman, who organized the hand-made crafts fair.
For a good basic history of the evolution and definition of reproductive rights in this country, see this Reproductive Rights Fact Sheet. (Thank you, Buff Neretin.)
For the visuals complementing this history, see the It’s in Our Hands slideshow, which we adapted from the Western States Center’s Reproductive Justice 101 slideshow to include Jewish and Havurah member quotes. (Thank you, Amanda Coffey.)
Read about the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Act, introduced in February legislative session, with 450 people at the Lobby Day for the bill. (Thank you, Natalie Lerner.)
And here's a list of Reproductive Justice Legal FAQs (Thank you, Katherine McDowell.)
The above photo is of Becky Seel checking out Roberta Michaels' Herbs Daughter products, and the photo on the right is of Natalie Lerner of the ACLU.
You'll find more more photos on Havurah's Facebook page with captions describing who led which parts of the program. (You don't have to have a Facebook account in order to see them.)
April 5 Community Email
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'IT'S IN OUR HANDS' TONIGHT, RSVPs FOR SEDER & TROPE CLASS DUE TODAY Upcoming Shabbat - 'Discovering Shabbat Morning' Learners' Minyan L'hitraot Joey - RSVP by April 7 - April 15-22
In the Community - Reconstructionism Today & Passover Suggestions, Spiritrials, Pacific NW Reconstructionist Shabbaton, 'Rising Up for Human Dignity' 2017 Film Festival New Form For Submitting News For Havurah's Online Calendar & Weekly Email To ensure that your news is as accurate as possible, please use this form to submit news for Havurah's online calendar & weekly emails. Many thanks to Rachel Pollak for compiling these helpful email publicity guidelines. UPCOMING SHABBAT Discovering Shabbat Morning Have you ever felt mystified by the Shabbat morning service, wondering just what it all means? This learners’ minyan/workshop may answer some of your questions. We will walk, talk and sing our way through the b'nai mitzvah service, highlighting the prayers, rituals and components of the morning and Torah services. We will provide a colorful guide to the service along with a service outline suitable for any b’nai mitzvah at Havurah. Students will also have a chance to lead some prayers and blessings. The morning will be led by Susan Brenner, Diane Chaplin and Rabbi Joey. While this service is designed especially for families 5th grade and up, we welcome all Havurahniks to attend and participate as a community. Mourners Kaddish will be recited. Shabbat Shalom! Please RSVP here if you plan to come. IT'S IN OUR HANDS: ACTIVISM FAIR FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE Tonight!
Purchase beautiful hand-made items to benefit Planned Parenthood (providing reproductive healthcare), Momentum Alliance (inspiring youth), and Western States Center (building diverse reproductive justice leadership). Delight in the creativity of your community. Bring your checkbook, cash, and/or open heart! HAVURAH COMMUNITY SEDER Tuesday, April 11
Award-winning Havurah musician Beth Hamon and longtime Havurahnik Adela Basayne will lead our community seder on Tuesday, April 11. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. The dinner will be vegetarian, with gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options. Reserve your place by April 5! Cost adjustments are available by contacting rachelp@havurahshalom.org. TROPE FOR NEW & REFRESHING SKILLS Wednesdays, April 19 & 26, May 3 & 10 This class is for Havurah members who want to read Torah or refresh their trope skills. Basic Hebrew reading skills are required. The goal is for each student to learn how to chant a short Aliyah from the Torah. Taught by Ken Lerner. Limited to eight participants. Register here by April 5. EARLY DEADLINE FOR COMMUNITY EMAIL NEXT WEEK Due to office closures for Passover, the deadline for submitting news for the weekly community email next week is noon on Monday, April 10. Please use this form to submit your news. OFFICE CLOSURES FOR PASSOVER Tuesday & Wednesday, April 11 & 12; Monday & Tuesday, April 17 & 18 Havurah Shalom's office will be closed on the first two days and the last two days of Passover: April 11 & 12 and April 17 & 18. PORTLAND HOMELESS FAMILY SOLUTIONS GOOSE HOLLOW SHELTER UPDATE What does one experience as a volunteer with Portland Homeless Family Solutions at their Goose Hollow evening shelter? The good feeling of knowing you are helping families in need; direct service volunteering locally; joining with other Havurah volunteers on a monthly basis; stretching past your comfort zone. Curious about Goose Hollow? Have you been thinking about this project for awhile? Start with an orientation – it's just one hour at the shelter: 1838 SW Jefferson, April 11, 4:00 pm. For more information about this Tikkun Olam sponsored project please contact Gloria Halper. EARLY MORNING MINYAN NEXT WEDNESDAY Wednesday, April 12 Join us for a short, focused service where you can say Kaddish if you wish. This minyan starts earlier than usual, at 8:15 am, for the second day of Pesach, so we have time for Hallel and Torah readings. L'HITRAOT JOEY April 15-22 RSVP here by April 7 for celebrations to honor Rabbi Joey, who has been Havurah's spiritual leader for 30 years.
RSVP here by April 7. To help with planning, greeting, baking or lunch, email debbinadell@gmail.com. TORAH TREASURES AND CURIOUS TRASH Screening of the Film "Torah Treasures and Curious Trash" TOT SHABBAT Saturday, April 15 Young children (0-5) and their parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ON APRIL 16 Sunday, April 16 At this annual congregational meeting we will vote on the upcoming year's budget and vote on the upcoming year's Steering Committee. Please join us so your voice is heard! LIBRARY BOOKS MISSING Several books were taken from Havurah’s library without the check-out cards being completed. Please email Miryam Brewer if you checked out the following books so your name can be added to the check-out cards:
NEW ADULT B'NAI MITZVAH GROUP FORMING Are you interested in … Deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer) and Kehillah (Community)? Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism? Going through this process in community and celebrating your Jewish learning in Havurah? Then … consider joining the new ADULT B'NAI / B'NOT MITZVAH GROUP. This group will study together from May 2017 – December 2019, with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and other teachers. This Adult Bnai / Bnot Mitzvah study process is for: Those who never became Bar or Bat Mitzvah AND those who had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – in form but not in substance. There are some things that you can go back and do again – but better this time!!! Contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner as soon as possible. BOOK GROUP POTLUCK & PLANNING MEETING Thursday, April 27 This will be a planning meeting over a potluck dinner. We will choose books & dates for the rest of the year. Bring your book suggestion—one you’ve already read—and a side, salad, or dessert dish to share. RSVP here. IN THE COMMUNITY Reconstructionism Today & Passover Ideas This Passover, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC) and Jewish Reconstructionist Communities (JRC) have developed resources around the theme of refugees. They created a video featuring RRC and JRC President Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., walking viewers through the symbolism of a seder plate. They also created a supplement for our haggadot related to refugee support. The video and supplement were featured in the Jewish Daily Forward. Learn more here. Spiritrials Havurah member Ruth Wikler-Luker curates and produces a nonprofit theatre/performing arts presenting organization called Boom Arts (www.boomarts.org), which focuses on social justice issues. Spiritrials combines Hip Hop and theatre, two amazing ways to tell stories. What happens when you put them together? In Spiritrials, Def Poetry Jam alum Dahlak Brathwaite does just that, touching on issues like racial profiling, religion and faith, addiction and drug policy, criminal justice, and human imperfection through his own personal story.
M’Yad L’Yad: From Hand to Hand — The Chain of Our Tradition How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next?
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens. Download the event program here. Rising Up for Human Dignity - 2017 Film Festival
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 |
March 29 Community Email
Rabbi Joey & Charles McGee
On March 24, at the first of Havurah’s L’hitraot Joey events to honor Rabbi Joey for his 30 years as our spiritual leader, Rabbi Joey led a short Tikkun Olam Shabbat service followed by a conversation with Charles McGee, founder and CEO of Black Parent Initiative.
Joey and Charles have been friends for many years, and Joey was one of Black Parent Initiative’s first board members. The sanctuary overflowed with new members, old members, former members (such as Rabbi Me’irah Iliinsky), and visitors (including Charles McGee’s wife and sons). Steve Goldberg did a great job as moderator, and the conversation between Charles and Joey was insightful, heartwarming, and inspiring.
The end of the evening was especially moving, when Steve spoke on behalf of Havurah. “Joey has consistently been the conscience of Havurah,” Steve said. Turning to Joey he added, “You should never underestimate the impact that you’ve had not just for the old people here but for our younger people and our children who are here today.” Which led to a standing ovation that Joey valiantly tried to dismiss.
Which was when Charles took the microphone and stated that a huge percentage of Americans thought Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a rabble-rouser when he was alive.
You can watch the video of the March 24 service and conversation at https://youtu.be/QnWATTvnBtg.
Photos taken by Barbara Gundle.
4/5 Intergenerational Activism Fair
It's In Our Hands: Intergenerational Activism Fair for Reproductive Justice
Gear up for a fun and empowering evening! Come and remember, learn, help protect the future, and be part of something critical, with your community!
It’s in Our Hands
Intergenerational Activism Fair
For Reproductive Justice
Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
6:30 – 7:00 Reproductive Justice History slideshow and ‘It’s In Our Hands’ craft fair - Buy beautiful handmade items; delight in the creativity of your community; raise funds for 3 amazing organizations
7:00 – 7:40 Speakers; Hear about what it took to gain the rights we have and what the struggle for reproductive justice looks like, today
7:40 – Action Tables, craft fair, and shmoozing with activists working on Current legal challenges, Sexuality Education, Building leadership amongst diverse communities of color and class, Oregon’s proposed Reproductive Health Equity Act.
Are you somebody who has been impacted by reproductive choices - health care, birth control, sexuality information, abortion, adoption, fertility information? Have you cherished OR taken those choices for granted? Join us for an evening of empowerment, information, and action.
Bring your checkbook, cash, and/or open heart!
Want to donate your art, craft, baked goods? Contact Stefanie stefhausman@gmail.com
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| Reproductive Healthcare | Inspiring Youth | Building Diverse RJ Leadership |
Deborah Eisenbach-Budner
Havurah Shalom, Education Director
deborah@havurahshalom.org
Havurah Shalom
825 NW 18th Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97209
(503) 248-4662 ex. 5
www.havurahshalom.org
March 22 Community Email
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Charles McGee, Choices Lasting Decades, Torah Treasures, In Our Hands
UPCOMING SHABBAT Rabbi Joey & Black Parent Initiative Founder Charles McGee On Friday, March 24, Havurah will host a short Shabbat service followed by a conversation between Rabbi Joey and Charles McGee, co-founder and president of the Black Parent Initiative. This is the first of several events honoring Rabbi Joey as he leaves his decades-long role as Havurah Shalom's rabbi.
Above photo is of Charles McGee. The conversation between Charles McGee and Rabbi Joey will be facilitated by Steve Goldberg, with Michael Eric Dyson's book Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America as a launching point. The conversation will explore the history that Jews and African Americans have in common and the possibilities of supporting each other. You can learn more about Charles McGee here in Street Roots. Please RSVP here if you can come! You can also use the link to RSVP for other events planned for April 20-22 in honor of Rabbi Joey. Childcare will be available. Bat Mitzvah of Audrey Landau This Saturday Audrey Landau, daughter of Elona and Stephen Landau, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Audrey and her family, and welcome Audrey as a member of our community. Mazel tov! TORAH TREASURES AND CURIOUS TRASH Screening of the Film "Torah Treasures and Curious Trash"
Join Jerusalem-based filmmaker and documentarian Paula Weiman-Kelman in the screening of her film, Torah Treasures and Curious Trash, a film about 87 year old outsider artist Jo Milgrom, who lives in Jerusalem. The filmmaker will lead a discussion following the screening, which is being shown as part of the celebration honoring Rabbi Joey Wolf who is retiring from Havurah Shalom after 30 years. The evening is co-sponsored by OJMCHE and Havurah Shalom. Register here through the OJMCHE website. L'HITRAOT JOEY March 24 - April 22
To help with planning, greeting, baking or lunch, contact Debbi at debbinadell@gmail.com. LAST CHANCE TO SEND YOUR B'NAI MITZVAH PHOTOS OF JOEY This is the very last chance to send b'nai mitzvah photos of Rabbi Joey and your children for the display in our foyer. Email your photos to Susan Lazareck, who will print and mount them. Thanks! SHEMA HAVURAH! Shema Havurah! Answer the call! A phone-a-thon for our Give Back to the Future! endowment campaign will take place Thursday evening, March 23. Fellow Havurahniks will be calling all members yet to donate, explaining the campaign and asking for your participation, at whatever level fits your family. Read this letter, visit the Give Back to the Future! web pages for details, and look for our letter with a pledge card in your snail mail. Please—hear and answer the call! HAVURAH BOOK DISCUSSION OF THE FAMILY Thursday, March 23 The next book group will meet at Havurah to discuss The Family by David Laskin. This is the story about the author’s own genealogy, which details three different paths that his family members took across the span of 150 years. One branch emigrated to America and founded the Maidenform Bra Company; one branch went to Palestine as pioneers and participated in the birth of the State of Israel; and the third branch remained in Europe and endured the Holocaust. Published in 2013, the book has been very well received, with good reviews. Please come and share you your thoughts and reactions about the book in the company of fellow Havurahniks. Bring a small snack if you like. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend. PGE POWER GENERATION: CHOICES THAT LAST DECADES Sierra Club Presentation on Closing PGE Coal-Fired Power Plant
The Havurah Climate Action Team will host a presentation by Gregory Monahan, Ph.D., from the Sierra Club. Dr. Monahan will discuss the implications of Portland General Electric’s proposal to replace the Carty-Boardman coal-fired power plant with two gas-fired power plants. This decision would lock Oregon into decades more of climate-disrupting fossil fuel energy just when clean and renewable energy sources like wind and solar are more affordable than ever. Find out more about this important issue and learn about options for action we can take to urge PGE to choose renewable energy for Portland. Please plan to join us for this informative presentation. For more information, contact Michael Heumann (503-880-2226, heumanncycle@gmail.com). Please RSVP here if you can come. HOW DOES HAVURAH REALIZE OUR SANCTUARY COMMITMENT? Community Meeting on Sanctuary Did you know that in 2016, Havurah Shalom signed the Sanctuary Pledge to be a Sanctuary Congregation? (See the pledge here.) We joined dozens of Portland Faith Communities, supported by Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, pledged to stand in solidarity and support with immigrant and refugee communities who are facing extreme pressures to their everyday existence. By signing this pledge, we are dedicated to educating ourselves, speaking out and taking action.
But what does being a Sanctuary Congregation mean to Havurah? It is important and timely for the larger Havurah community to become involved in establishing what we can and are willing to provide toward this effort. Questions? Contact Kathy at farvergordon@gmail.com, or Shari at shari.raider@gmail.com, or Bob at rebrown47@gmail.com. Please join us for an important community meeting to explore our next steps. IT'S IN OUR HANDS: INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVISM FAIR FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE Wednesday, April 5
Purchase beautiful hand-made items to benefit Planned Parenthood (providing reproductive healthcare), Momentum Alliance (inspiring youth), and Western States Center (building diverse reproductive justice leadership). Delight in the creativity of your community. Bring your checkbook, cash, and/or open heart! If you would like to donate your art, craft, baked goods … please contact Stefanie Hausman, as soon as possible. HAVURAH COMMUNITY SEDER Tuesday, April 11
Back by popular demand, Havurah's Beth Hamon and Adela Basayne will lead our community seder on Tuesday, April 11, at 6:00 pm. Adults and children of all ages are welcome! The dinner will be vegetarian, with gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options. Reserve your place by April 5! Cost adjustments are available by contacting Havurah's office at rachelp@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext 2. TROPE FOR NEW & REFRESHING SKILLS Wednesdays, April 19 & 26, May 3 & 10 This class is for Havurah members who want to read Torah or refresh their trope skills. Basic Hebrew reading skills are required. The goal is for each student to learn how to chant a short aliyah from the Torah. Taught by Ken Lerner. Limited to eight participants. Register here by April 5. DISCOVERING SHABBAT MORNING, A LEARNERS' MINYAN FOR B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES 5TH GRADE & UP Saturday, April 8 Have you ever felt mystified by the Shabbat morning service, wondering just what it all means? This learners’ minyan/workshop may answer some of your questions. We will walk, talk and sing our way through the b'nai mitzvah service, highlighting the prayers, rituals and components of the morning and Torah services. We will provide a colorful guide to the service along with a service outline suitable for any b’nai mitzvah at Havurah. Students will also have a chance to lead some prayers and blessings. The morning will be led by Susan Brenner, Diane Chaplin and Rabbi Joey. While this service is designed especially for families 5th grade and up, we welcome all Havurahniks to attend and participate as a community. Mourners Kaddish will be recited. Shabbat Shalom! Please RSVP here if you plan to come. PORTLAND HOMELESS FAMILY SOLUTIONS GOOSE HOLLOW SHELTER UPDATE What does one experience as a volunteer with Portland Homeless Family Solutions at their Goose Hollow evening shelter? The good feeling of knowing you are helping families in need; direct service volunteering locally; joining with other Havurah volunteers on a monthly basis; stretching past your comfort zone. Curious about Goose Hollow? Have you been thinking about this project for awhile? Start with an orientation – it's just one hour at the shelter: 1838 SW Jefferson, April 11, 4:00 pm. For more information about this Tikkun Olam sponsored project please contact Gloria Halper: losninos6@gmail.com. NEW EMAIL LIST FOR RALLIES
Havurahniks, there's nothing like a Trump presidency to inspire action! So, are you interested in attending rallies, protesting, calling senators, writing postcards, etc. with other Havurah folks? If so, the Tikkun Olam email list (separate from the committee list) is being repurposed, and instead Rebecca Darling-Budner is now facilitating an email list that will be solely used for organizing ourselves to take action together. To join the list, just shoot her an email requesting to be a member, rbudner@yahoo.com. NEW ADULT B'NAI/B'NOT MITZVAH GROUP FORMING Are you interested in … Deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer) and Kehillah (Community)? Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism? Going through this process in community and celebrating your Jewish learning in Havurah? Then … consider joining the new ADULT B'NAI / B'NOT MITZVAH GROUP. This group will study together from May 2017 – December 2019, with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and other teachers. This Adult Bnai / Bnot Mitzvah study process is for: Those who never became Bar or Bat Mitzvah AND those who had a Bar or Bat Mitzvah – in form but not in substance. There are some things that you can go back and do again – but better this time!!! Contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner as soon as possible. COOKING DEMONSTRATION OF FAVORITE JEWISH & MIDDLE EASTERN FOODS Sunday April 30 Ellen Regal and the Tikkun Olam Committee invite members of Havurah Shalom and Muslim Educational Trust to come together for lunch and a cooking demonstration of favorite Jewish and Middle Eastern foods. More details to follow. CEMETERY MITZVAH Here’s a chance to do a mitzvah. For over 20 years I have been selling grave sites at our beautiful cemetery. Most of the time it is a leisurely stroll with a family, finding the right spot for themselves or their loved ones. On rare occasion, there is an unexpected death and an emergency burial needs to be dealt with. Since I now do a lot of traveling, we need one or two people willing to fill in when I’m gone. All that is necessary is knowing the layout of the cemetery, being knowledgeable about the map, and knowing our price structure. The funeral home and Metro do the hard work. It’s very easy and it is a wonderful mitzvah to be able to help families when they need it most. If you’re interested or feel you need more information, please call me at (503) 293-6806, or email at dave3082@aol.com. Thanks, IN THE COMMUNITY Ritual Unmoored Opening, March 22, 5:00-7:00 pm, PSU Broadway Gallery Good Deeds Day, April 2 Volunteer with family and friends, putting into practice the simple idea that every single person can do something good. Projects are available all day, including Passover food boxes, blanket-making for vulnerable children, food preparation for the hungry, card-crafting to cheer seniors and more. Family-friendly options are available. All projects will be held at the Schnitzer Family Campus (MJCC/PJA). Calling all 6-12th graders to join us for J-Serve and The Butterfly Project as part of Good Deeds Day Community service hours available! The Butterfly Project uses the lessons of the Holocaust to educate teens about the dangers of hate and bigotry through the painting of ceramic butterflies memorializing each of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. 6th-12th graders are invited to create a Portland installation of butterflies and learn the importance of #NeverAgain. Spiritrials Havurah member Ruth Wikler-Luker curates and produces a nonprofit theatre/performing arts presenting organization called Boom Arts (www.boomarts.org), which focuses on social justice issues. Spiritrials combines Hip Hop and theatre, two amazing ways to tell stories. What happens when you put them together? In Spiritrials, Def Poetry Jam alum Dahlak Brathwaite does just that, touching on issues like racial profiling, religion and faith, addiction and drug policy, criminal justice, and human imperfection through his own personal story. Reading at Annie Bloom's Books, April 20 Havurah members Ruth Feldman and Amber Keyser will read from their new novels, "Seven Stitches" and "Pointe, Claw," at Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, on Thursday, April 20, at 7:00 pm.
M’Yad L’Yad: From Hand to Hand — The Chain of Our Tradition How does Judaism get passed on within communities, from person to person and from one generation to the next?
As we celebrate Shabbat in a beautiful PNW setting, we will look at the challenges we face now, with a focus on inclusivity and hopes for the future, informed by traditional wisdom and a Reconstructionist lens. Download the event program here. Rising Up for Human Dignity - 2017 Film Festival
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 |
