June is the last month in our fiscal year and is the time to consider our annual budget for the coming year, which starts July 1, 2020. The annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled to take place Sunday. June 7, from 1-3 pm, at which time we will present the budget and other topics of importance to the congregation. This event is the one time each year when we, as participatory members, can get together to review where we are, discuss what the future looks like, and ask and answer questions you may have. Please plan to join us and bring your thoughts to share. All members in good standing (meaning, those who are current with their dues commitment, or have made other arrangements for payment) are welcome to attend and participate. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Because we are observing a physical distance regime, and because there is a state prohibition on large gatherings, we will have to hold this year’s meeting electronically via Zoom. We ask for your patience as we work through the many details to make this first virtual Congregational meeting one that allows us to be together, share important information, allows you to ask your questions and have them answered. The Steering Committee passed a resolution to permit a virtual meeting to occur under the extreme circumstances that currently exist, and the need to hold a congregational meeting to approve the budget. It is hoped that this will actually make it easier for many to attend.
In preparation for this type of meeting it is recommended that everyone who wishes to attend have their own Zoom account with the most current version of the Zoom app. While this isn’t required, it will help our meeting host identify you. Anyone who has trouble using Zoom can contact our IT Team at techteam@havurahshalom.org to request assistance or instruction on how to use Zoom.
According to our bylaws, notice of the time and place of the meeting , and any items that will be voted on must be given to all members at least seven days in advance of the meeting. Additional specific details will be forthcoming about the meeting agenda, the proposed budget, and protocols for entering the Zoom meeting. Stay tuned, stay safe, and stay involved.
Sincerely,
Steering Committee
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Let's Help Each Other Do You Need Help or Would You Like to Offer Help?
If you are facing financial hardship from a loss of employment, decrease in income, or any other impact of this crisis; or, if you would benefit from the support of community members for grocery shopping, errands, or any other concrete needs, for any reason, please contact 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 Lazareck at susanlazareck@gmail.com and Rabbi Benjamin at the email above.
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Rabbi Benjamin's Omer Meditations Week of Yesod: Living in Covenant Read Rabbi Benjamin's meditations on this week's sefirah or quality, designed to support spiritual and life practice for this time.
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Editorial Note
Hineinu now goes out regularly each Wednesday evening. Due to staff scheduling, an adjustment had to be made this week. Apologies for any confusion or inconvenience!
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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.
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, May 22, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
Welcome in Shabbat with a service led by Barbara Slader.
Bar Mitzvah of Orion Segal Saturday, May 23, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join this simcha as the community welcomes Orion to the Torah.
Counting the Omer Spiritual Practice for Precarious Times Tuesday, 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.
Book Group DiscussionDATE CHANGE Our Book Group will be convening on June 1 instead of May 26. Same time, same room!
Israeli and Palestinian Literature
Tuesday, May 26 & June 9, 23, 7 pm – Room Dalet
Joel Beinin will offer a class on Israeli and Palestinian Literature. See the schedule and readings and RSVP here.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, May 27, 8:30 am – Room Aleph For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Celebrating Shavuot Thursday & Friday, May 28 & 29
Shavuot, which begins at sunset on May 28, commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai after the Exodus from Egypt. Also originating in an ancient pilgrimage holiday celebrating the grain harvest, today it’s a community observance, with Jews coming together to read the Book of Ruth, eat blintzes, and participate in Tikkun Leil Shavuot, study sessions lasting into the night. Those who attended Havurah’s Shavuot celebration last year will remember the festive spring greenery decorating the sanctuary and the poetry readings and late-night learning we enjoyed together.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot with Emek Shalom Through the Gate of Praise: Love and Fear, Intimacy and Retreat Thursday, May 28, 10 pm onward –RSVP for Zoom link
Rabbbi Benjamin will join Rabbi Joshua, Emily Simon, and others from Emek Shalom in teaching and learning. We often understand praise to mean heaping accolades upon a Divine being. But perhaps praise in the deepest sense is a singing from the heart, whether in grief or joy. We will explore texts ancient and contemporary expressing praise and inviting us into reimagining its relevance in our lives. RSVP here to receive Zoom info.
Shavuot Shabbat Service, Poetry Reading, and even more learning Friday, May 29, 7 pm onward – Room Aleph
Havurah Shalom celebrates Shavuot during this extraordinary time, when we need our community more than ever. We’ll begin with a short and sweet Shabbat service at 7, led by Rabbi Benjamin. Then stick around for a poetry reading and discussion featuring poems on this year’s congregational theme, Hineinu: we are here. Following the poetry, Rabbi Benjamin will lead Leil Shavuot learning beginning at 9:15. RSVP here. Following your registration, you'll receive copies of the poems and a link to sign up for the discussion of your choice.
Additional opportunities for learning on Shavuot… Celebrating at Sinai: A Virtual Shavuot Celebration for Reconstructing Judaism Thursday, May 28, 4:30 pm & Friday, May 29, 7:30 am
RJ's celebration will begin with Kabbalat Hag Song Fest and Candlelighting and continuing with a Tikkun Leyl Shavuot of teaching, learning, movement, and musical offerings through Friday morning. Reconstructionist communities and individuals will be welcome to join RJ's Zoom webinar or view on RJ's Facebook live stream for as much or as little as they would like. Registration and further details here.Watch on Facebook here. Oregon Board of Rabbis Tikkun Leyl Shavuot Thursday, May 28, 6 pm - 11:30 pm
All are welcome to learn from Rabbis across the denominational spectrum, and from other students of Judaism from throughout Oregon and SW Washington. Registration and further info here.
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Welcoming Maria and Carlos
Maria and Carlos are a mother and son from Guatemala seeking asylum in the U.S. Havurah will be with them on this journey by providing housing, pro bono legal representation, medical care, and more.Click here for our previous announcements.
At this time, we specifically need help with Spanish-speaking translators and members willing to drive Maria and Carlos (after virus restrictions are lifted) for appointments, shopping and other needs. We are also looking for a sewing machine that Maria can use. If you can help with these items or other support, please contact Kathy Gordon or Debbi Nadell. Please use this link to financially support Maria and Carlos.
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Updates Inside Havurah Our Community Presses Onward Despite the Pandemic
Confused by Zoom? Havurah member Yuvi Zalkow has made us a helpful new instructional video! Click here to view.
Havurahniks Have Donated 150 Machzorim! Our Machzor drive has come to an end, and thanks to the generosity of many Havurahniks, we have reached our goal! In addition to the 550 books previously made possible by dedicated funds, 150 more were donated during the drive, for a total of 700! We are so grateful and pleased! (To order books under the wire, click here.)
Reconstructing Judaism Resources Visit ReconstructingJudaism.org and click on Recon Connect or the Virtual Shabbat Box. There you will find the community, innovation, spirit and depth that embody Reconstructionist Judaism. Recon Connect is an online hub updated regularly with live experiences from across the Reconstructionist movement. The Virtual Shabbat Box is a weekly offering of multisensory experiences: essays, meditations, and other resources that you can download for Shabbat.
Our Weekly Emails If you have something you think should be included in Hineinu, please submit to the regular weekly email form here.
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PHFS Donations Needed
Havurah Food Donations to PHFS Families
PHFS not only shelters 26 families at their new Lents location, they also have two dedicated staff to assist over 30 families living in hotels and those newly "housed." From May to July, we will put together food boxes for these families. Our goal is for each Havurah Neighborhood Group to commit to putting together a Food Box over the next three months (May, June, and July). The item list (all non-perishables) is in this link. Box drop-off is Tuesday and Thursday between 9 and 11 am, 6220 SE 92nd Ave, Portland, 97266. Questions? Contact Gloria Halper or Emma Hoyle (Emma@pdxhfs.org). In addition, to help with our monthly food commitment, coordinated by Len and Elayne Shapiro, sign up here.
Here are two sample boxes:
Sample Box 1:
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Shelf stable milk
Cereal or granola
Boxes of mac & cheese
Rice
2 cans of beans
Any leftover salt and pepper packets you have lying around
4-pack of toilet paper
Small pack of paper plates and box of plastic cutlery
Sample Box 2:
Bread
Peanut butter
Jelly
4 cans of soup
4 cans of chili
Box of granola bars
Container of apple sauce
4-pack of toilet paper
Small pack of paper plates and box of plastic cutlery
PHFS is suggesting folks look for items that are the least amount of work, like canned soup and chili, mac & cheese, instant rice, etc. Things that you only have to heat up or add hot water to. Just make sure items go together and you don’t need any extra things to make a meal.
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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.
