Hineinu

Dear Havurahniks,

We are in the first week of the Omer, which links Pesach to Shavuot. Each of the seven weeks is devoted to one of the sefirot, an attribute or quality. This week’s is Hesed, which I have been translating simply as Kindness. I mean by this our genuine wishing well for another, and the action that flows from that.

In meditation yesterday we put this aspiration into practice, by offering blessings internally for another. I suggested perhaps bringing to mind someone in our neighborhood we don’t know well, but whom we have noticed when we have crossed the street to avoid them. It is an unsettling feeling, this sense of potential contagion. Blessing practice, I find, can be an antidote to it. Even though I must avoid you physically, I can still wish you well as I pass: May you be safe and free from harm, may you receive the care and support you need.

We can all do this. Whatever words feel authentic for you, I invite you to try it as you pass others. And of course for your loved ones, and for anyone you know. May we each be safe and free from harm, may we each receive the care and support we need. Together we nurture the force of Hesed in the world.

Wishing well to all,
Rabbi Benjamin

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Support Needed for a Community Member

A Havurah member has lost part-time jobs and is losing housing in about two weeks. They are healthy, easy going and capable. They have a car and can get around safely. They are in need of help to secure: A place to live. A place to store belongings, including some furniture. They have very limited financial resources, but are happy to work out a trade for shelter and storage, for instance doing gardening, running errands, or other work. If you can assist in any way with shelter or storage, or with providing work, please contact Rabbi Benjamin at benjamin.barnett@havurahshalom.org.

Let's Help 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.

Havurah Office Hours

The Havurah Office will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, April 15 and 16, for Passover. There will only be one Hineinu email this week.

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Upcoming Events
Dates, Times, and Zoom Rooms Listed Below

Although we are not publishing these links broadly, please feel free to invite your family and friends to any of our services below.

Morning Minyan with Yizkor (date adjustment)
Thursday, April 16, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Join the World Record Attempt for Simultaneous Shabbat Candle Lighting
Organized by the Oregon Jewish community
Friday, April 17, 7:10 pm
When Jewish communities from across Oregon and SW Washington come together for a Unity Shabbat, we can set a world record for the largest virtual Shabbat candle lighting. Be a part of it! Register here.

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, April 17, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
Join Rabbi Benjamin for this musical service!

Discovering Shabbat (Tot Shabbat cancelled)
Saturday, April 18, 10:30 am – Room Aleph
A warm and welcoming service, aimed at supporting learning and connections to Shabbat morning prayer. Geared for families with kids 4th grade and up, as well as any interested adults.

The Havdallah Sessions: Singing Our Way into a New Week Together
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
Singing together has always been a way for people to gather together to lift our collective spirits whether in difficult or joyous times. While we are physically isolated, our community can still bring our voices together in song. We invite you as we join our voices and our spirits in a campfire sing-a-long.

Yom HaShoah Virtual Observance
Monday, April 20, 7 pm
A service in observance of Yom HaShoah will be provided virtually through the Oregon Board of Rabbis by Rabbi Josh Rose from Shaarie Torah. In recognition of the COVID-19 health crisis this year, the Reading of the Names, normally held at Pioneer Courthouse Square, will be done virtually. The video will be posted on OJMCHE’s website here on April 21. Registration details for the stream TBA.

Counting the Omer: Spiritual Practice for Precarious Times
Tuesdays (until May 26), 12 pm – Room Bet
During these seven weeks of Counting the Omer, the period linking Pesach with Shavuot, our Tuesday meditation will focus on the sefirot, or qualities, associated with each week. Rabbi Benjamin will guide us in reflecting on and practicing with these attributes, as tools for resilience and support in this moment. Everyone is welcome to any or all of these sessions. Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin.

Slack Training for Neighborhood Groups

Tuesday at 2pm & Thursday at 4pm – Room Dalet
Join Brad, our Communications & Membership Coordinator, as we explore Slack, a community platform for our new Neighborhood Groups. If you haven't received an email about it yet, look out for one. And if you have received one, please accept the Slack invite!

Earth Day Movie Discussion
Sunday, April 26, 7 pm – Special Discussion Room (link here)
Havurah’s Climate Action Team invites you to join them in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a movie discussion of The Human Element, by zoom, on Sunday, April 26 from 7-8 pm. The movie is being offered for viewing from April 17-26, for free here. For details about the movie, and descriptions of other interactive Earth Day activities HCAT members are participating in, go to the HCAT page on the Havurah website here. 

Reclaiming Stolen Black Lands in the "Whitest City" Q&A
Monday, April 27, 7 pm
Emanuel Displaced Persons Association 2 (EDPA2) consists of impacted families whose homes and businesses were taken and demolished for Emanuel Hospital expansion in the 1960s and 1970s. In solidarity with EDPA2's pursuit of justice, we'll host an informational Q&A session. Register for the event here. EDPA2 provides this historical summary of the forced removal that participants should read here.

You can access the Havurah Zoom rooms here if you are signed in.

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Updates Inside Havurah
Making changes now that COVID-19 has affected our events

Get One, Give One: Purchase Our New Machzor!

We're so close! Help us reach the finish line. Kol Haneshamah Machzor Leyamim Nora’im from the Reconstructionist Press is our machzor of choice. Thanks to generous donations made so far, we have enough funds to acquire approximately 550 new machzors. Our goal is as many as 700 to replace our current set. Consider participating in this effort by purchasing your own, purchasing one for the community, or making a donation to the machzor fund. $40 covers a copy, shipping, book plate, and future song inserts. Deadline May 1. Click here to order!

Introducing Neighborhood Groups
Slack invites are going out! Please accept them when you can.
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!

Book Group Needs Recommendations
Book suggestions are still being accepted until the end of today, 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.

Can You Help Keep the Courtyard Trash-Free?
During this difficult time, the courtyard of our building has become a resting place for many more houseless folks than usual. Are you able to come to the building periodically to pick up what's being left behind? Havurah will provide gloves, trash picker and bags. Please be in touch with Rachel at rachel@havurahshalom.org if you can help.

Our Weekly Emails
If you have something you think should be included in Hineinu, please submit to the weekly email form here.

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Donations Needed

Portland Homeless Family Solutions Seeks Donations
PHFS 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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Other Resources for You
From Our Siddur to a Havurah Website Guide

Digital Copy of Shabbat Vehagim
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Digital Copy of the Daily Prayerbook
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COVID-19 Resources Spreadsheet
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Oregon Jewish Life COVID-19 Resources
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A Spreadsheet of Livestreaming Services, Torah Study, and more
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Community Resources During COVID-19
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Daily Online Jewish Mindfulness Sit with Institute for Jewish Spirituality
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Recon Connect: A Hub for Live Experiences from Reconstructing Judaism
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Meditations, Blog Posts & Podcasts to Help Adults Coping with Uncertainty & Anxiety
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This Can Be Our Finest Hour, But We Need All Of You (COVID-19 article)
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How to Explain Coronavirus to a Child with Anxiety
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A Guide to Havurah Website Resources (including how to access the member directory)
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Ritualwell Coronavirus Articles (a website by Reconstructing Judaism)

Click on the image above to read the April issue of Hakol!