Hineinu, December 8, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

Volunteers are very much needed! Sign up here.

Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh for more information.

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

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

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

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

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

Kids welcome too! Childcare will be provided. RSVP

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

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

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

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

CANCELED Design Your Own Chanukah Card!

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

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tikkun Olam Updates

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

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

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

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

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Community Announcements

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

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

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

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

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

Hineinu, November 23, 2022

From Rabbi Benjamin

Dear Friends,

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

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

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

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

Gentle Reminder for Gatherings

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

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

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

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

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Havurah Welcome Get-Together

Are you NEW?
You are welcome!

Are you New-ISH?
You are welcome!

Are you interested in joining Havurah?
You are welcome!

Come to the Havurah Welcome Get-Together,

where all are welcome!

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

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

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

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

Artwork by Havurahnik Cassandra Sagan

Tikkun Olam Updates

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

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

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Community Announcements

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

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

 — Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee

Help With a Video!

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

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

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

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, November 9, 2022

Gather with community for joy and learning!

Kabbalat Shabbat This Friday, Nov. 11

Scholars in Residence next Saturday night and Sunday

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

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

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

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

Schedule:

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

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

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

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

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

Gatherings

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

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

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

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

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

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schedule:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ATTENTION TEENS

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

Steering Update

Tikkun Olam Updates

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

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

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

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

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Community Announcements

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

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

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

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

 — Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee

Help With a Video!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resources

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Year-long Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

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

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

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

Hineinu, October 26, 2022

Correction: This edition corrects the dates for the presentation by our anti-racism consultants and mahjong gatherings.

Hear from Our Anti-Racism Consultants Nov. 6

Presentation from our Antiracism Consultants
10 am to noon, Sunday, Nov. 6 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Our consultant team, Tabitha and Adam St. Bernard-Jacobs, facilitated 10 small groups between April and September, and in total heard from 114 Havurah members. We now all have the opportunity to hear from them, as they present their report on Sunday, Nov. 6. What we glean from this listening phase will guide us into the next phase of our antiracism efforts, so please come on Nov. 6 to learn and be part of it.

Save the Dates for Scholars in Residence

Rabbis David Jaffe and Yehuda Webster will be here Nov. 19 and 20

We're excited that our scholars in residence this year will be Rabbi David Jaffe (virtually) and Yehuda Webster (in person) from the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project (IOWA). They will bring us integrating teaching and practice directly related to two things Havurahniks have been learning about since 2020: anti-racism and Mussar.   

Mussar is the method of studying and strengthening character traits, called middot, through Jewish texts, self reflection, meditation, hevruta (partners), and va'ad (small group) support. You may have encountered Mussar through one of Rabbi Benjamin's Sacred Action classes, through reading R. Jaffe's book (Changing the World from the Inside Out) or the work of Alan Moranis.  

Havurah is seeking to become a truly antiracist organization, through classes, committee work, the Anti-Racism and Belonging discussion groups, and the upcoming (Nov. 6, 10 am) report from the facilitators of those groups, which will lead us into next steps.  

Yehuda Webster and David Jaffe will be with us for Havdalah, Saturday night, and then all day Sunday. We'll do Mussar practices and learn about Dismantling Racism from the Inside Out, with time for meeting together panim al panim (face to face), and lunch. Our va'ads will be  led by Rabbi Benjamin and a cohort of Havurahniks who were trained this summer in the IOWA methods.

The IOWA Project work helps social changemakers develop Jewish spiritual practices and connect to Jewish spiritual wisdom. More about Inside Out

Gatherings

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

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

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

Racial Justice Monthly Meeting
7 pm, Thursday, Oct. 27  — Room Gimel
One of the key tenets of the Racial Justice Committee is to engage with organizations that positively impact the BIPOC community. This meeting will be devoted to creating guiding principles for how do this work. 

Intermediate Hebrew
7 pm Thursdays, Oct. 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17; Dec. 1 — Havurah Shalom
Join us in practicing Hebrew and learning new vocabulary through listening to Israeli songs and watching short video clips. Participants will receive a shared Spotify playlist with all songs taught in class (and a few more) for practice and for their own enjoyment. In class, we will discuss lyrics, make connections to different topics, and practice using the new vocabulary through games and conversations.
Requirement: You should be able to read and write Hebrew, be able to hold a simple conversation, and understand (not necessarily master) the three verb tenses. Led by Racheli Ross. RSVP here

B'nei Mitzvah of Yon Zalkow-Blue
10:00am, Saturday, Oct. 29 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Yon Zalkow-Blue as a B'nei Mitzvah and member of our community.

Music of Jews of the Middle East and North Africa
2 pm, Sunday, Oct. 30; Nov. 6, 13 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
A maqam is an Arabic and Ottoman Turkish musical mode. Mizraḥi and Sephardic Jewish communities traditionally made religious and secular music using these modes. The instructor will demonstrate some of the music on the oud and there will be opportunities for singing, and musicians who want to join in are encouraged to bring an instrument. Led by Channing Dodson. RSVP here

What is Reconstructionism?
5:00 PM - 6:15, Wednesdays, Nov. 2nd, and Nov. 9 — Zoom Room Gimel
A three-part series on the history, beliefs, and practices of the Reconstructing Judaism movement with which Havurah Shalom is affiliated. Led by Rabbi Maurice Harris, Associate Director for Thriving Communities and Israel Affairs Specialist at Reconstructing Judaism. RSVP here.

Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest
5:30 pm, first and third Mondays, beginning Nov. 7 — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. We’ll start by reading the first 44 pages. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

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

Israeli Folk Dancing
12-2:30 pm, Sundays; 7-10 pm, Mondays, 7-10 pm, Thursdays
Whether you haven't danced in a while, or want to try something new in the new year, there's beginner and intermediate Israeli dance instruction and lots of circle, line, and couples dances. Please join us to dance for part or all of any session! For details including cost and locations, look here. (Link corrected from last week.)  For more information, contact Cindy Merrill.

CANCELED Defining Jewish Identity: Communal Responses to Interfaith Marriage & Families

Tikkun Olam Updates

How Do We Build Economic Justice in Oregon?
12 pm, Thursday, Nov. 3 — Offsite Zoom Link
A plan is a must to achieve dignity and economic justice for all. You are invited to hear Alejandro Queral, Executive Director of the Oregon Center for Public Policy, discuss poverty issues and tax policies. Tis is an Interfatith Alliance on Poverty event. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Then learn more about the work of the Oregon Center for Public Policy here.

Volunteer Opportunity
The Common Good Project is looking very hard for drivers on Tuesdays (10:45-2) to help distribute clothing and supplies on the streets. Can you help on an occasional basis? Sign up here. For our latest newletter, look here.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Community Announcements

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

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

 — Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee

Help with a video!

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, October 12, 2022

Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner is Friday Night!
We are gathering in person and in Zoom Room Aleph

to welcome Shabbat!

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

6 pm   Light Snack       
6:30    Service         
7:30    Dinner

RSVP for Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner here! 
Please consider a suggested donation of $15 for the meal, in recognition that the actual cost for food and preparation is $30. Thank you!

Volunteers for door greeting and more are needed! Sign up here. ​

Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh for more information.

RSVP to Simchat Torah 6 pm Monday at Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah!! RSVPs help us get enough dessert (very important). You'll also get the Zoom Room Neshamah link emailed to you.

Are you a Havurahnik who loves to volunteer? Here are roles we still need filled!

Gatherings

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

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

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

Alte Rockers Take Over the Sukkah
6:30 pm, Thursday, Oct. 13 — at Havurah
Havurah Alte Rockers have reserved the Havurah Sukkah to celebrate this harvest festival of Sukkot. Let us plan to have an outside gathering in the Sukkah—celebration of the holiday and a non-meat potluck dinner and/or dessert, with the usual schmoozing. For those who prefer, you can bring your own dinner. Please RSVP to Ted Scheinman. Your help is also appreciated. 

Tot Shabbat 
10:30 am, Saturday, Oct. 15 — at Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling.

Shacharit with Yizkor
8:15 am, Monday, Oct. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Our usual Wednesday service will be replaced with this Monday service in order to observe the Shmini Atzeret Yizkor. We look forward to davening with you!

Simchat Torah Celebration
6-7:30 pm, Monday, Oct. 17 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
Join us for a family-friendly and joyous celebration featuring music and dancing with the Torah! Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the conclusion of our annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of another. We read the last Torah portion, then the first chapter of Genesis, remembering that the Torah is a circle of life that never ends. On Simchat Torah, we sing and dance with the Torah. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll, and as many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading). Children are called up for an aliyah, too. Torah brings sweetness to the lives of all of us!
There will be music, drinks and desserts for all! RSVP here

Israel/Palestine Committee “Expanding the Conversation” Continues
Second Event: Nadia Saah (Project48), "The Nakba: Palestinian History through Testimonies and Images"
5 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 18 — offsite Zoom RSVP
The Israel/Palestine Committee is once again co-sponsoring the free Zoom series "Expanding the Conversation about Israel/Palestine." This fall the series will focus on Palestinian Voices. Details about the series and registration information are available in Hakol and through the portal link on Committee web page. Contact Joel Beinin for more information.

23rd Annual Reading of Oregon Jewish Writers 
7-8:30 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at OJMCHE and on Zoom 
Havurah member Willa Schneberg curates the Annual "Oregon Jewish Voices" reading now in its 23rd season! She will be joined by authors Bryna Goodman, Seth Lorinczi, Havurah member Vivienne Popperl and Michael Schein. A Q&A will follow the reading. RSVP here

What Is Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good?
7 pm, Thursday, Oct. 20 — Offsite Zoom Link
Havurah is a long-time member of MACG (Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good) but many congregants do not know how it works. This orientation is for you! Learn: What is MACG? What is institutional organizing? How does it strengthen my institution? How does it reduce isolation and build connection? How does it lessen polarization and strengthen the center? How does being part of the MACG alliance lead to real positive changes in the public arena? 

Banot Mitzvah of Lyla and Violet Maxen
10 am, Saturday, Oct. 22 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Lyla and Violet Maxen as Banot Mitzvah and members of our community.

Gardening Party
10 am, Sunday, Oct. 23 — Havurah Shalom
Come do some gardening to keep our space beautiful! Bring gloves, clippers and an appreciation for our fall weather!

Music of Jews of the Middle East and North Africa
2 pm, Sunday, Oct. 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
A maqam is an Arabic and Ottoman Turkish musical mode. Mizraḥi and Sephardic Jewish communities traditionally made religious and secular music using these modes. This class will give a short background to maqams and how they work and explore some examples from Jewish communities in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey, and Greece. The instructor will demonstrate some of the music on the oud. There will be opportunities for singing, and musicians who want to join in are encouraged to bring an instrument. Guitars will work for some pieces, but instruments that can play microtones such as the violin family, clarinet, etc. are recommended. Led by Channing Dodson. RSVP here

Book Group: The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
7 pm, Sunday, Oct. 23 — at Havurah and in Zoom Room Bet
Corbin College, not quite upstate New York, winter 1959–1960: Ruben Blum, a Jewish historian—but not an historian of the Jews—is co-opted onto a hiring committee to review the application of an exiled Israeli scholar specializing in the Spanish Inquisition. When Benzion Netanyahu shows up for an interview, family unexpectedly in tow, Blum plays the reluctant host to guests who proceed to lay waste to his American complacencies. Mixing fiction with nonfiction, the campus novel with the lecture, The Netanyahus is a wildly inventive, genre-bending comedy of blending, identity, and politics. Fiction: 240 Pages. Discussion led by Stacy Hankin.

Enjoy the Benefits of Solar Power Without Putting Solar Panels on Your Roof!
5 pm, Sunday, October 23 — Zoom Room Bet
Exciting news: individuals, businesses, and houses of worship can gets the benefits of solar power—lowering your carbon footprint and lowering your electric bill—without installing solar panels on your roof. For PGE and Pacific Power customers, find out how you can be part of "community solar." This is different from the green energy programs offered by the electric companies. For information, contact Elianne Lieberman, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest Book Study
First and Third Mondays, beginning Nov. 7 — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the world of trees. She reveals that trees are a complex, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through underground networks by which trees communicate their vitality and vulnerabilities with communal lives not that different from our own. We’ll start by reading the first 44 pages. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here

Alte Rockers Happy Hour and Michelle Goldberg Talk
4:30 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 25 — Restaurant TBD and Smith Hall at PSU
We will meet for happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 (time and location TBD) then go to Smith Hall at PSU to hear Michelle Goldberg's talk titled "Autocracy and Anti-Feminism."

Michelle Goldberg at the Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture
7 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 25 — Smith Hall, Portland State Univ., 1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201
New York Times columnis Michelle Goldberg will address the clash between authoritarianism and feminism. This is the 13th annual speaker program that has brought Prof. Timothy Snyder, Prof. Daniel Ziblatt, among others, to PSU since 2007. Admission is free.

Israeli Folk Dancing
Sunday afternoons 12-2:30 pm, Monday evenings 7-10 pm, Thursday evenings 7-10 pm
Whether you haven't danced in a while, or want to try something new in the new year, there's beginner and intermediate Israeli dance instruction and lots of circle, line, and couples dances. Please join us to dance for part or all of any session! For details including cost and locations, look here. (Link corrected from last week.)  For more information, contact Cindy Merrill.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Rose Haven and The Common Good Project Share Their Experiences
4:30, Sunday, Oct. 16, in the Havurah Sukkah, or inside if it's raining — Child care will be available — RSVP here
For congregants interested in homelessness issues, please join us under the Havurah sukkah with representatives from The Common Good Project and the Rose Haven day shelter for women and children. Available services, volunteer opportunities, and general concerns will be discussed. RSVP here for both event and child care. And check out our flyer!

News From the Streets: 
Our Elul Food Drive was quite successful! Many thanks to all who contributed to that success! If you missed that opportunity, or are wanting to also participate in more Tzedakah, click here.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Announcements

COVID Safety Guidelines - refreshed for the new year! 
This is to let you know that we have updated our Covid Safety Gathering Guidelines to remove outdated language about date specific masking rules from last spring and the “kitchen is closed” alert that is no longer in effect. The basic rules we have been following since last spring remain the same – only symptom-free people may participate at Havurah events, masks are optional indoors and outdoors, and (except for children under the age of five) those attending Havurah events must be fully vaccinated or test negative before attending the event. See the detailed Guidelines here. The one-sheet summary is here. Questions? Email me at loree@havurahshalom.org. 

Covid Safety Guidelines | Covid Safety Guidelines Summary

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, September 28, 2022

In these days of reflection...

May we all be gently guided to loving and brave return to the places we most need to be.

May we be written and sealed for a good year.

Erev Yom Kippur next Tuesday night!

Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer!

It takes all of us working together to bring High Holidays to the Tiffany Center. If you haven't signed up for a spot yet, there are many still open, all of them essential to this incredible community gathering!

Volunteer Signup

Other info at Hand:

High Holiday Information Packet | Free Childcare RSVP | Community Luncheon RSVP | Machzor PDF | Songbook PDF | Website


Tell Your Friends!
High Holidays at Havurah Shalom is always free to everyone, no tickets required!

Gatherings

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

Zoom Room links, including the High Holiday rooms Neshamah and Shofar, can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Happenings

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

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

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

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

Upcoming Events

Days of Awe-some: Text, Talk and Teshuvah
7:30 pm, Wednesday, Sept 28, Thursday, Sept 29, Saturday, Oct. 1, Sunday, Oct. 2,  Monday, Oct 3,  and Wednesday, Oct. 5, Zoom Room Neshama
We will meet evenings on most of the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and as a bonus on Yom Kippur during the service break.We gather to indulge in Inquiry, Intention and Introspection around themes of the ten Days of Awe, with a focus on turning and returning to the One. Each evening we will read an excerpt from The Book of Days, by Rabbi Jill Hammer, and/or other texts, make time for guided contemplation, and share reflections about teshuvah in small groups. All are welcome.
Contact Howard Patterson or Andrine de la Rocha for information.

Walking Beside You, a grief processing group
2:00- 3:00, Thursdays, Sept.29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17,  on Zoom with JFCS
The Ma'avar group realizes the holidays can be a particularly difficult time for people who are mourning. Jewish Family and Child Service is offering its fall virtual sessions for their Walking Beside You grief processing group. The first session is on September 29 and will run for eight consecutive weeks. The group is free and is open to any adult in the community who has experienced the loss of someone close. For questions or to register for the group, please contact: Missy Fry, LCSW (503) 226-7079 ext. 133 MissyFry@jfcs-portland.org  Click here for more information

 “Days of Awe”, a solo cello livestream
5:45pm, Tuesday, Oct 4th ,  https://www.youtube.com/c/DianeChaplinCello
Diane Chaplin performs solo cello, featuring introspective and meditative music for Yom Kippur.  Listen before the Kol Nidrei service, or at any time afterwards, including during a break on Yom Kippur.

Tikkun Olam Discussion Group
2:00, Tuesday, Oct. 5th, at the Tiffany Center
A time for inspiration, reflection and ronnection as we listen to some wisdom from the books Becoming Rooted and Braiding Sweetgrass, engage in thoughtful discussion, and share what's on our minds. Facilitated by members of the Tikkun Olam cluster.

Information Session about the Portland Charter Amendment
3-4:30 pm, Sunday, Oct. 9, Havurah Shalom Sanctuary 
Do you live in Portland? Are you interested in learning more about the Portland Charter amendment that will be on the November ballot? You are invited to attend a Havurah-specific information session to learn more about the city charter amendment. The changes are sweeping and we hope that our community will vote with the needed and accurate information about the proposal.  Sponsored by Tikkun Olam Cluster. RSVP here

This Is Real and You are Completely Unprepared: Book Study Group
7pm, Sunday, Oct. 9 — Havurah Shalom Sukkah
Whether you’ve read the book before, or this is your first time, R. Alan Lew’s book can deepen our experience of the High Holidays as a journey of personal transformation. We’ll meet a final time to share our reflections on the ideas and practices and discuss chapters 8, 9, 10 and the epilogue. Led by Adela Basayne and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here

Israel/Palestine Committee “Expanding the Conversation” Continues
First Event: Rashid Khalidi, “The 100 Years War on Palestine”
5 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 12— offsite Zoom RSVP
The Israel/Palestine Committee is once again co-sponsoring the free Zoom series "Expanding the Conversation about Israel/Palestine." The fall the series will focus on Palestinian Voices. Details about the series and registration information are available in Hakol and through the portal link on Committee web page. The first event will feature Rashid Khalidi, author and Columbia University Professor, discussing "The 100 Years War on Palestine." Contact Joel Beinin for more information.

Back in person after 30 Months !!!!  Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6:00-8:30pm, Friday, Oct 14th
These celebrations with a new schedule are beginning again, the second Friday of each month from October - June.  Expect a light,  family-friendly oneg followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. All are welcome!  Volunteers for set up and clean up are needed!  Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh.
6 pm.  Light Oneg       
6:30    Service         
7:30    Dinner (RSVP for dinner opens 1 October) 

Simchat Torah Celebration
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Monday, Oct. 17, Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
Join us for a family-friendly and joyous celebration featuring music and dancing with the Torah!Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the conclusion of our annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of another. We read the last Torah portion, then the first chapter of Genesis, remembering that the Torah is a circle of life that never ends. On Simchat Torah, we sing and dance with the Torah. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll, and as many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading). Children are called up for an aliyah, too. Torah brings sweetness to the lives of all of us!
There will be drinks and desserts for all! RSVP here

Reparations:  An Opportunity to Learn, Discuss and Act
6:30-8:30 pm, Tuesdays, Oct.18, 25, Nov. 1, 15, 22, at Havurah and on Zoom
The Racial Justice Committee is pleased to offer a class on reparations. The 5-session class offers an opportunity to study and reflect on some of the writings of prominent thought leaders on the topic of reparations for Black Americans as a path to restorative justice. Class materials will include articles and videos. Class size limited to 12 people to allow for active participation. Registration will close when we meet that number. The classes will be in-person to allow for deeper interaction with each other and the material, but accommodations will be made for people to attend virtually if needed. We hope to offer this class again in the spring to allow for more members to participate. For more information or to express interest, contact TikkunOlam@HavurahShalom.org. RSVP here

23rd Annual Reading of Oregon Jewish Writers 
7-8:30 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at OJMCHE, In Person & Zoom 
Havurah member Willa Schneberg curates the Annual “Oregon Jewish Voices” reading now in its 23rd season! It will be in person & on zoom. She will be joined by authors Bryna Goodman, Seth Lorinczi, Vivienne Popperl and Michael Schein. There will be a Q&A following the reading. RSVP here.     

Enjoy the Benefits of Solar Power Without Putting Solar Panels on Your Roof!
5-6pm, Sunday, October 23,
Exciting news: individuals, businesses, and houses of worship can gets the benefits of solar power - lowering your carbon footprint and lowering your electric bill - without installing solar panels on your roof. For PGE and Pacific Power customers. Find out how you can be part of "community solar". This is different than the green energy programs offered by the electric companies. For information, contact Elianne Lieberman, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Rose Haven and The Common Good Project Share Their Experiences
Sunday, Oct. 16, 4:30 - 6:00 in the Havurah Sukkah, or inside if it's raining — Child care will be available — RSVP here

Havurahniks are invited to attend a discussion of homelessness in our community, under the fragile shelter of the Sukkah. We have invited Jenn Louis with the Common Good Project, which twice weekly provides food and clothing directly to about eight tent pod communities in NE Portland, and is part of a city program that hires homeless folks to pick up trash.

Also presenting will be a representative from the Rose Haven Day Center for women and children, just blocks from Havurah,  which provides meals, clothing, computer use, laundry, showers, medical care, and classes to women-identifying people and children, as well as just a safe warm space to be in during the day when shelters are not open.

Perhaps you might want to volunteer?  Maybe you just want to know more about homeless populations? Or you have thoughts about the homeless folks who often use our courtyard? Please join us to talk about this important issue.

News From the Streets: 
Our Elul Food Drive was quite successful! Many thanks to all who contributed to that success! If you missed that opportunity, or are wanting to also participate in more Tzedakah, click here.

High Holiday Tzedakah Project
Drop off at Tiffany Center during High Holiday services
Havurah's Tikkun Olam Poverty and Homelessness Committee is organizing the High Holiday Tzedakah Project. We have selected two of our partner nonprofit organizations whose mission and values we feel strongly reflect those of Havurah: Rose Haven and The Common Good Project. Learn more about these organizations, and see the items needed and Tiffany Center drop-off info here. Thank you, Havurah, for your support!

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Announcements

So many volunteer opportunities available:

High Holidays
There are so many ways to help! Look here  to make your contribution to the TIffany Center barn raising.

Kabbalat Shabbat
We are looking for volunteers to lead a few tasks for Kabbalat Shabbat, which is resuming monthly for nine months beginning Oct. 14. In our new format, the catered dinner will take place after the service instead of before. This will hopefully make the service accessible to a wider group of people, including families with children. There will be a light oneg/nosh available 30 minutes before the service. Dinner, for folks with reservations, will follow the service. We are looking for people to coordinate volunteers for these tasks: greeters/door monitors; set-up and take-down of the oneg/nosh; set-up for dinner; and clean-up after dinner. These are easy, fun tasks and provide an opportunity to get to know and connect with others at Havurah. Co-leads are welcome! Volunteer leads will not be involved in recruitment, just organizing the volunteers the day of the event. Please contact Marni Glick and Sally Hersh.

Resources

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

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

Hineinu, September 14, 2022

Something for Everyone This Weekend

Saturday

Weekly Torah Study
9 am, Zoom Room Bet and Havurah Shalom

Banot Mitzvah of Naomi Granek-Brown and Margot Kirshbaum
10 am, Zoom Room Aleph and Havurah Shalom

Seliḥot Service
8 pm, Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph

Sunday at Havurah

Elul Food Drive
11-1 pm, Havurah Shalom

"The US and the Holocaust" Group Watch 7:30 pm, Havurah Shalom

Sunday Online-Only

Anti-Racism and Belonging Conversation for White Members10 am, Zoom Room Bet

Sound the Shofar
11:30 am, Zoom Room Shofar

Live in Concert on Sunday

Joey Weisenberg Elul Music Event
4:30 pm, Shaarie Torah, 920 NW 25th
Free Tickets Here

And for Teens!

Teen Pizza Party
5 pm, Sellwood Park

High Holidays

Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer!

It takes all of us working together to bring High Holidays to the Tiffany Center. If you haven't signed up for a spot yet, there are many still open, all of them essential to this incredible community gathering!

Volunteer Signup

Other info at Hand:

High Holiday Information Packet | Free Childcare RSVP | Community Luncheon RSVP | Machzor PDF | Songbook PDF | Website


Tell Your Friends!
High Holidays at Havurah Shalom is always free to everyone, no tickets required!

Gatherings

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

Zoom Room links, including the High Holiday rooms Neshamah and Shofar, can be found near the end of this email.