You may have heard that Havurah will be holding High Holiday services online this year. We are busily developing meaningful programming to span the month of Elul through the end of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. We look forward to telling you more very soon.
In the meantime, the need arises for High Holiday volunteers. In normal years, over 200 volunteers come together to make High Holidays happen in person at the Tiffany Center. This year, the need is for fewer people, with new skill sets.
Our service leaders will be leading the services from home, so we need production assistants to help them set up great lighting, sound and video.
Many of our musical offerings will be pre-recorded, so we need audio editors to optimize the sound quality of their recordings.
Some of our visual offerings will also be pre-recorded, so we need video editors who know a thing or two about how to make video look and sound nice.
All of the volunteer positions above are remote and would take place through the beginning of September. Choose how much and how often you help — even a little bit is a lot! Audio and video editing sought is very basic, nothing fancy. Teens welcome!
No Kabbalat Shabbat This Week
We will now feature one every other week. Hakol was published before this decision was made, so please refer to the Havurah website calendar for the most up-to-date information.
Community Minyan Saturday, July 18, 10 am– Room Aleph Join our Community Minyan in celebrating Shabbat. Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion, as well as an opportunity to say Kaddish.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, July 21, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, and Nancy Becker.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, July 22, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Grief Support Group: Online Drop-In Wednesday, July 22, Aug. 5 & 19, Sept. 9 & 23, 12:30 pm - 2 pm
Havurah Shalom is initiating a facilitated Grief Support Group. Participants receive support and are invited to share feelings and experiences in a confidential peer-group setting. Each session also includes grief education focused on a theme, such as common grief reactions or coping with stress. Participants are asked to pre-register for each individual session they wish to attend, and may attend as many or as few sessions as needed. Sessions start promptly at 12:30pm and are limited to 10 people, age 18+. The Zoom Room will be given out with the registration confirmation email. To register, click your desired date(s) below:
This is a new initiative by Havurah Shalom. Consideration will be given to extending these sessions through the end of 2020 or beyond if they appear to meet congregant needs and if in-person gatherings are still curtailed. Contact Tivona Reith at bikkurholim@havurahshalom.org with any questions.
Uprooting and Rooting: A Jewish Meditation Retreat with Rabbis Benjamin Barnett, Joshua Boettiger, and Yael Levy Thursday-Saturday, July 23-25
Honoring the reality of this time, we are shifting to a three-day retreat guided online. While our contact will be virtual, we will still build a very real community of retreat. A detailed schedule will guide us, including: sitting and walking meditation, prayer, chanting, teachings and instructions, and check-ins with teachers. Information and registration here.
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, July 24, 7:30 pm– Room Aleph
Join us for our Friday night service!
Judaism and the Green New Deal Sunday, July 26, 4 pm
Please join the Havurah Climate Action Team and Congregation P’nai Or for a Zoom presentation and discussion on the Green New Deal. Learn the key elements of this deep vision for our future and how we can help make this a reality. Register here.
Four Wise Biblical Women (And They Aren't Who You Think They Are) Monday, July 27, August 10 & 24, 3-4 pm – Room Gimel
Please join Emily Simon as she brings to light four wise women from the Tanach who deserve recognition for their wisdom, courage and/or vitality. Classes are every other week to allow participants to have time to do the biblical reading before each class. We will study Devorah on July 27. Before the class please read Judges Chapters 4 & 5. RSVP here.
Book Group Discusses An Oasis in Time Tuesday, July 28, 7pm – Room Bet
Please join us for a special book discussion! We will be discussing the book An Oasis in Time by Marilyn Paul. Marilyn, the author, will be joining us via Zoom!
Alte Rockers Zoom Happy Hour Thursday, July 30, 5pm – Room Bet Let's have another Alte Rockers Zoom Happy Hour! Following last month's event, we are going to arrange a happy hour each month to check in with our wonderful group. Grab your favorite drink and appetizer and join others from Alte Rockers in socializing. I don't know about you, but I am sure interested in how you have learned to enjoy life during the time of COVID-19. How have you been using your time? Have you come up with new food dishes? What are you doing this summer? If you have any questions, please contact Ted Scheinman via the member directory.
Havurah Zoom Rooms
To access our Zoom rooms, click here. You must sign-in after you visit the link.
Photo by Brad Pector
Updates Inside Havurah
Have You Filled Out Your Dues Commitment?
Havurah Shalom’s new fiscal year has begun, which means it’s time to renew your dues commitment. Please renew here ASAP. A heartfelt thank you for your continued support and participation in our community. We look forward to another year of financial health!
Sign Up to Be a Host or Scroller
You have probably attended a service, class, meditation, or other Havurah event on Zoom by now. Have you ever wondered how we manage to get such a great experience for everyone, or who is scrolling through the siddur? Our hosts and scrollers are volunteers, and you can join them! Just sign up on the Hosts & Scrollers tab of this form. No experience? We can train you! Please sign up today, or contact Karen Westerman for more info.
COVID-19 Resources Check out our COVID-19 resource pageon our website for more information.
Tikkun Olam
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's July Newsletter
A lot of good information on current issues and programs regarding poverty in Portland. View the issue here.
A Quick Note from Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS)
One of our amazing volunteers, Stacey, made us PHFS face masks! (See photo below.)
Reconstructing Judaism
Recon Connect & Virtual Shabbat Box
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!
Support Project Rozana
Reconstructing Judaism and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association are encouraging congregations and individuals to support this life-saving fund-raising effort organized by Project Rozana, a well-respected international non-profit organization that is leading a project supported by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority to purchase badly needed ventilators for West Bank and Gaza hospitals in light of the current COVID-19 spike in the region, which threatens to overwhelm Palestinian hospital ICUs. Project Rozana is also arranging specialized training at Rambam Hospital in Haifa for Palestinian medical staff as part of this program.
This initiative is supported by the World Health Organization, and it is one of the rare examples of cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority during this politically strained time. Several synagogues, including Reconstructionist affiliates, are currently participating in different ways. Individuals can also donate by clicking here.
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.
Resources for Anti-Racism Let's Inform Ourselves & Our Community
(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.
