Hineinu: Bar Mitzvah of Elliot Strom, Zoom Trainings, and COVID-19 Resources
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Hineinu
Let's Support Each Other Do You Need Help or Would You Like to Offer Help?
Thank you to those who have responded so far, whether to offer support or to share a need for it. Sincerely, these are each valuable offerings to this sacred work of being in community.
If you would benefit from the support of community members for things like grocery shopping, errands, or any other concrete needs, for any reason, please contact Susan Lazareck at susanlazareck@gmail.com or Rabbi Benjamin at benjamin.barnett@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3.
If you would like to be on a list of people to support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Susan and Rabbi Benjamin at the emails above.
If you are facing financial hardship from a loss of employment or decrease in income, or from any other impact of this crisis, please contact Rabbi Benjamin at the email or phone number above.
Keeping Quarantine
The best thing we can do for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community is to keep staying home and to keep a 6-foot distance if we have to go out. Every choice we make can be an act of compassion. The outbreak curve is doubling every few days. All ages are vulnerable. If we stay in, the medical system will be able to keep up and lives will be saved.
Although we are not publishing these links broadly, please feel free to invite your family and friends to any of our events below.
Shabbat Evening Home Rituals with Alicia Jo Rabins, Friday, 5:30 pm – Room Bet Join Alicia Jo Rabins and her family for Shabbat blessings and singing. All ages welcome – geared for children ages 0-12 and their parents.
Kirtan Shabbat with J.D. Kleinke, Friday, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph Join us this Friday for a kirtan-infused Shabbat service. (“Kirtan” is Sanskrit for “repeat” — a simple, call-and-response form of devotional, communal singing that originated in Eastern religious traditions, and moved to the west with yoga and meditation.) A kirtan Shabbat follows the arc of the tradtional Friday night service, slowed down and simplified, to invoke the meditational spirit at the heart of all Jewish prayer.
Bar Mitzvah of Elliot Strom, Saturday, 10 am – Room Aleph Please join us in welcoming Elliot Strom as a bar mitzvah and member of our community!See details here.You can click here to find Zoom Room Aleph once you sign in.
Havdallah: Shabbat School, Saturday (see below for times) – Room Gimel 4:30 pm - Shabbat School parents’ check-in
5 pm - All ages welcome. Havdallah with singing and stories.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation, Tuesday, 12 pm – Room Bet We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Now twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Morning Minyan, Wednesday, 8:30 am – Room Aleph For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation, Thursday, 5:30 pm – Room Bet We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Now twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
Jewish Bedtime Stories with Magid Cassandra Sagan, Thursday, 6:30 pm – Room Bet A weekly (except April 2) session meant for children 4-10. Ready your drawing materials!
Dorot Shabbat, Friday, 6 pm – Room Aleph Casual, family-friendly, musical service that begins with candle lighting and Kiddush, followed by prayer.
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Updates Inside Havurah Making changes now that COVID-19 has affected our events
Can You Help Others with Technology? Because of the major shift in Havurah activities, a lot of members are still wanting to participate in our programs, but have little to no experience with Zoom or our website. Please contact Brad, our Communications & Membership Coordinator, at brad@havurahshalom.org to be added to this new group devoted to helping members with technology!
Confused by Zoom? Look No Further!
Check out this Zoom guide and this upcoming Zoom training put on by Reconstructing Judaism on two different dates! Please use a computer or smartphone, since videoconferencing features for hosts are most accessible via these platforms. Zoom can be downloaded to your computer here. You can also download the app to your mobile device through the Apple App Store or Google Play (you need to click these links from your mobile device to install them to the device).
If you have any questions about these online events or about Zoom, you can contact jweinberg@reconstructingjudaism.org.
Beware of Phishing Scams via Email For some time now, people have been receiving phising emails where scammers obtain free Gmail accounts and impersonate Rabbi Benjamin. Another one of these scams is going around. You can tell it's fake by looking carefully at the email address from the sender.
Book Group Needs Recommendations
Book suggestions are still being accepted until April 15. We encourage people to submit more suggestions until then. After that, we will be compiling and sending the list out for voting in May. Please contact Marjorie Walters via the Havurah member directory on our website if you would like to recommend a book.
Bereavement Group Postponement
At the request of David Molko of JFCS and in light of the current health situation, we are postponing offering the next Bereavement Support Group until the fall. We hope to reconnect with folks then about this. We are also organizing our Bikkur Holim team to make phone calls to those who might feel alone or isolated. We will be reaching out to many of our members, since we all could use the connection, but if you would especially appreciate a call or the chance to spend time digitally visiting with someone, please contact Rabbi Benjamin at 503-248-4662 or benjamin.barnett@havurahshalom.org.
Havurah Happenings: Our Weekly Email
Due to the lack of events occuring in person, our weekly email will be suspended for now. We will be putting out Hineinu, this email, twice a week instead. We will update you if this changes in any way. If you have something you think should be included in Hineinu, please submit to the weekly email form here.
Hakol Goes Digital-Only for April
The April issue of Hakol, set to release the last week of March, will be digital-only. We will be posting a link to it in our email updates and it'll be on the website in its usual location here.
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Other Resources for You From Our Siddur to a Havurah Website Guide
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, May 3rd 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurahshalom.org.
(IP) Shabbat School Shabbat, May 3rd 3:00p to 5:15p This program gives children a foundation for lifelong Jewish learning and engagement while integrating parents and children in a caring Jewish community.
(ZM) Progressive Israel Network Sessions Sunday, May 4th 11:00a to 12:00p Havurah Shalom is hosting a four-session series from the Progressive Israel Network. Come learn in collaboration with representatives from five to six of the participating Progressive Israel Network organizations, including T’ruah, New Jewish Narrative, Partners for Progressive Israel, New Israel Fund, J Street, and Reconstructing Judaism.
All perspectives on Israel-Palestine, as well as all curious people, are welcomed and encouraged. Our guests will give presentations and take questions. You can register for all sessions, below, but it's okay if you can't attend all three sessions.
(Reconstructing Judaism, the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement, of which Havurah Shalom is a part, is a member of the Progressive Israel Network.)
(IP) Writing for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us Sunday, May 4th 6:30p to 8:30p Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? April 20th & May 4th, 6:30 PM at Havurah, join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. (It is recommended to attend either just the first session or both sessions.)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 5th 6:30p to 7:45p We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne.
(CANCELED) Collage Art with Jewish Symbols Wednesday, May 7th 6:30p to 7:45p This class has been canceled by the instructor. If you are interested in doing art at Havurah, please reach out to Adela Basayne (info@havurahshalom.org). Bring your crafts and creativity out for making collage art with Jewish symbols. We will create hamzas, stars of David, trees of life, and images for blessing the home. All ages are invited! Led by Carolina Martinez.
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 7th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
