Hineinu: Meditation, Passover Singalong, and Bar Mitzvah of Saul Drucker
Author
Date Added
Hineinu
The Flame of Our Community Always Burning with Kindness and Compassion
In this week’s Torah portion, Tzav, we’re instructed that a fire shall continuously burn on the altar. We do this in our sanctuary with the Ner Tamid, a light that shines continuously. In this time when we are unable to gather in person, we keep the flame of community alive gathering virtually, supporting each other through this challenge with hesed (kindness) and rachamim (compassion). Every time we can see each other panim al panim (face to face), we are keeping the sacred fire of Havurah alive.
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. Also be in touch if you would like to help provide this type of support for others!
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.
____________________________
HA’MAKOM Y’NACHEM. MAY WE ALL BE COMFORTED.
Shiva Minyan for Steve Altshuld, tonight at 7, Room Gimel
The community is invited to take part in a shiva service tonight at 7:00 for Steve Altshuld, husband of Bonnie and father of Max and Gabe. To join the Shiva minyan, connect to Room Gimel using the links in the Upcoming Havurah Virtual Events section below.
____________________________
Important Message About Phishing Scams
More emails are being sent from predators impersonating Rabbi Benjamin. There are two ways to tell if you have received such an email:
The email does not end in @havurahshalom.org.
The sender asks you to make a purchase for him, usually of gift cards. Rabbi Benjamin will NEVER make such a request.
Since these attempts are somewhat frequent, there's no need to alert the office when they take place. But if you want to be sure an email from Rabbi Benjamin is real, go ahead and forward it to the office (info@havurahshalom.org) for verification.
Although we are not publishing these links broadly, please feel free to invite your family and friends to any of our events below.
Morning Minyan, Wednesday, 8:30 am – Room Aleph For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Calligraphy Group, Thursday, 10:30 am – Room Bet A group effort to teach each other and ourselves Hebrew calligraphy! If you don’t have a calligraphy pen, I am sure you can start to learn with a regular pen or pencil. If there is interest, we might do it every week until we get through the alphabet. Perhaps a perfect way for someone to learn the alphabet if you do not know Hebrew. Contact Sarah Rosenberg if you have questions.
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!
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.
Dorot Shabbat, Friday This service has been canceled. Families with children are invited to Shabbat Evening Home Rituals with Alicia Jo Rabins at 5:30 in Room Bet!
Contemplative Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph We will move through the flow of Shabbat evening slowly and intentionally, aiming to open our hearts and deepen our awareness. No experience necessary.
Bar Mitzvah ofSaul Drucker, Saturday, 10 am – Room Aleph Please join us in welcoming Saul Drucker as a bar mitzvah and member of our community!
Passover Song Singalong, Sunday, 4 pm – Room Aleph
Passover is coming! The first seder is April 8. This year may be more difficult than any other year to have a seder since it is unlikely that we can attend a seder at someone else’s house. So why not plan your own and make it fun? Sing silly songs as well as some of the old favorites. Play games. Be creative. Havurah Shalom will offer a sing-along session for anyone interested in learning some seder songs. Led by Ken Lerner and Ben Walters. Copies of the songs can be downloadedhere.You can also RSVP here.
You can find our Zoom rooms here once you are signed into your Havurah account.
____________________________
Updates Inside Havurah Making changes now that COVID-19 has affected our events
Emergency Steering Session Our Steering Committee will be hosting an emergency session on Thursday from 5 to 7:30 pm. If you would like to attend, please contact President Miriam Resthoko first, and then join in via Room Gimel.
Virtual Seders Let's not let quarantine get in the way of a good seder! Look for information about joining virtual seders with Havurahniks in the next issue of Hineinu.
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! Please use a computer or smartphone, since videoconferencing features for hosts are most accessible via these platforms.
If you have any questions about these online events or about Zoom, you can contact jweinberg@reconstructingjudaism.org.
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.
Do You Have Items for Hineinu?
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.
____________________________
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.
