Being Each Other's Anchors "It is good to name the mensches."
Last week I was sitting, by video, with one of our wise elders. I shared with her that I had recently connected with a mutual friend of ours. Upon hearing this, she repeated the person’s name and smiled broadly. Pausing for a moment, she then offered, “It is good to name the mensches.” I agreed, smiling back at that response. She wasn’t done, though. “They’re like prayer beads,” she mused, “like jewels, each time we say their names.”
I have been carrying this beautiful image with me since then. What a suggestion: that we each can be “prayer beads” for one another. Like the grounding gesture of sliding each bead down a row, each mention of someone dear to us, or someone we respect and admire, can help reorient us toward who we are and what we know deep in our hearts. And I will share that in difficult moments during this destabilizing time, I have found that the image of a dear friend or someone who inspires me can serve as an anchor, drawing me back to connection and resilience.
You might try this as a practice. Even if you do not have many people with whom you regularly connect, call to mind someone toward whom your heart opens or whose example lifts your spirit. It is quite understandable that in this time of isolation we will feel disconnected, and in those moments experience fear or despair or other heavy burdens. So maybe when that happens, say the name of one of your mensches. Invoke their presence — their kindness, their integrity, or their courage.
In the passages following the Shema, we say le-ma’an tizkeru — we have these rituals and utter these words “so that [we] remember” that we are connected, that none of us is alone. So let us be reminders for each other. In moments of aloneness or darkness, may our names be jewels, grounding us and easing our burden.
Wishing us all a Shabbat of peace and wholeness,
Rabbi Benjamin
Join a Virtual Seder!
Thanks to Havurah families who are inviting community members to virtually join their Seder! We have a variety of gatherings planned for adults and families with children of all ages. Check below for the options and follow the links to RSVP. Limited space will be available for these gatherings.
Wednesday, April 8 – First-Night Seder Options
Family-friendly Seder hosted by Alicia Jo Rabins, 4:30 – 5:15
Appropriate for all families with kids ages 0-10. Join Alicia Jo to welcome Passover. Information about what you could have on hand to share with your family will be included with your confirmation. We will go through the rituals with matza, charoset, singing and storytelling – plan for your family meal after the Seder. RSVP here.
Seder hosted by Ken Lerner and Katherine McDowell, 5:30 – 9:00
Appropriate for adults and families with kids 10 and older. Ken and Katherine’s Seder will combine some of the usual Haggadah with readings, games, singing and a break for dinner. RSVP here.
Seder hosted by Oren Kosansky and Julie Hastings, 6:00 – 9:00
Appropriate for adults and families with teenagers and young adults. Join Oren and Julie for a "pot-luck" Seder where everyone will be invited to share a song, tradition, teaching, or reflection that is meaningful to them. Dinner break included. RSVP here.
Seder hosted by Debbi Nadell and Steve Birkel, 6:00 – 9:00
Appropriate for adults and families with high schoolers. Seder will include traditional and modern Haggadah readings, music, and a break for dinner. RSVP here.
Thursday, April 9 – Second-Night Seder
Second Night Seder hosted by Sam, Jesse and Zoe Sirkin, 7:00 – 9:30
Appropriate for adults and families with kids 10 and older. Join Sam, Jesse and Zoe to travel through the Reconstructionist Haggadah for the second night of Passover. Come ready to sing and share a favorite tune if you’d like. RSVP here.
Sunday, April 12 – Happy Hour Seder
Seder hosted by David Feder, 4:00 – 5:15
Appropriate for adults and families with high-schoolers. A cocktail-hour read-through of David's innovative Storyteller’s Haggadah, including a short meal break for hors d’oeuvres and snacks. RSVP here.
Sunday, April 12 – ‘Seder’, Songs and Sharing
‘Seder’ hosted by Sacha Reich and Aaron Pearlman, 7:30 – 9:00
Appropriate for adults and families with high schoolers. Join Sacha and Aaron for a "Seder" composed of Songs & Sharing from the group. Have your wine & dessert (this is an after dinner gathering) ready, and each family or person should bring a reading, song or joke to share related to redemption. We will kick things off with "Redemption Song" and then go around the zoom room. RSVP here.
Monday, April 13th – Participatory Seder
Sixth night Seder hosted by Laine and Joel Schipper, 5:00 – 7:00
Appropriate for adults and families with kids B’nai Mitzvah age and older. Laine and Joel will use a Haggadah that is gender inclusive, socially aware, spiritually alive and grounded in tradition connected to history and ritual. We offer thoughtful questions based in the Haggadah so that participants can reflect and share ‘In this Generation and this time of pandemic as we come out of Egypt.’ Dinner on your own after the Seder. RSVP here.
More Passover Resources from Reconstructing Judaism
Virtual Passover Box - Here you will find several additions and suggestions for each step of the traditional Passover seder.
A Night of Questions Haggadah - The digital version of the Reconstructing Judaism haggadah is available for your family to use.
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, Tonight, 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.
Contemplative Kabbalat Shabbat, Tonight at 7:30 pm – Room Aleph Rabbi Benjamin will facilitate our entering Shabbat through prayer and meditation, interspersed with teachings to support and guide us during this time.
Bar Mitzvah of Saul Drucker, Saturday, 10 am – Room Aleph Please join us in welcoming Saul Drucker as a bar mitzvah and member of our community!
Havdallah: Shabbat School, Saturday (see below for times) – Room Dalet 5 pm - All ages welcome. Havdallah with singing and stories.
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 downloaded here. You can also RSVP here.
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.
The Havurah Office will be closed Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10, for Passover. The following week, we will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, April 15 and 16, also for Passover.
This Monday, Rachel will be out of the office.
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Jewish Community Resources for those Seeking Support or Wanting to Give
Portland Homeless Family Solutions is seeking food donations for their shelter and for food boxes to be delivered to clients. More information here. In addition, to help with our monthly food commitment, coordinated by Len and Elayne Shapiro, sign up here.
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Updates Inside Havurah Making changes now that COVID-19 has affected our events
Introducing Neighborhood Groups Our community has grown tremendously in the last few years. We are grateful for the riches that accompany growth. One of those riches is the opportunity to build strong connections among our diverse membership. To further that opportunity, we have grouped members into 26 neighborhoods. with the goal of creating social, emotional, and spiritual connections among neighbors. Soon, you will receive a welcome from a Neighborhood Captain. Once each group is established, there will be opportunities to get together (virtually for now), check in with each other, and ask for assistance, if you need it. We are still building this network and are looking for Neighborhood Captains. Contact Stacy Hankin if you are interested.
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!
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. Please never purchase gift cards for anyone who emails you. If you are not sure whether Rabbi Benjamin is actually emailing you, forward the message to info@havurahshalom.org for verification. If you are certain you have received spam, no need to alert the office.
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.
Our Weekly Email
If you have something you think should be included in Hineinu, please submit to the weekly email form here.
(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.
