Tisha B’Av Lamenting & Yearning for a Renewed World
At sundown this evening we enter the sacred day of Tisha B’Av. According to tradition, our ancestors suffered catastrophes on this date throughout the generations. And so our practice each year is to mourn and lament devastation and exile in all its forms.
There is also a teaching that on Tisha B’Av the Moshiaḥ, the Messiah, will be born. From the midst of suffering, we are to imagine, a renewed world can emerge. Tonight, in honor of Tisha B’Av, a group of Jews and other seekers of justice will gather in front of City Hall to lament the brutality against Black lives and others at the hands of law enforcement. Alongside our lamentation, we will also call out demands for change and express our vision for the society and the world we strive to create. I will be co-leading the service with Rabbi Deb Kolodny, with the support of some interfaith partners. It will also be live streamed. See details below.
In response to destruction and violence, may we draw together from the wells of courage and radical compassion.
Tisha B'Av Wednesday, July 29, 8:30 pm in front of City Hall (also streamed)
Tisha B'Av service and chanting of a Black Lives Matter Eicha/Lamentations. Led by Rabbis Debra Kolodny and Benjamin Barnett. The service will be livestreamed here (Rabbi Debra Kolodny's Facebook page).
Bring a candle and something to make sitting on the ground more comfortable.
The walls of the city of Portland have been breached over and over again. Together we mourn, even as we resist.
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.
Bar Mitzvah of Max Smith Saturday, Aug. 1, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Max Smith as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community!
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, and Nancy Becker.
BIPOC Community Meet Up Tuesday, Aug. 4, 7:30 pm– Room Gimel
If you identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a person of color, we hope you will join us. This will be a casual get together with the sole purpose of listening to, learning from, and supporting one another. This meeting requires no ongoing commitment.
RSVP here or just show up! If you're unable to make it but like this idea, or have other ideas as a BIPOC community member, please contact Yshai Boussi.
Warmly,
Michael Anderson-Nathe, Yshai Boussi, Danielle Cogan, and Karen St. Clair
Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Aug. 5, 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, 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.
Community Minyan Saturday, Aug. 8, 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.
Four Wise Biblical Women (And They Aren't Who You Think They Are)
Monday, Aug. 10 & 24, 3-4 pm – Room Gimel
Please join Emily Simon as she features two more wise women who are entwined - Deborah and Yael (this is two classes worth). Please read Judges 4 & 5 and make sure to have a tanach available during the class. RSVP here.
And for extra credit: this portion is read as the Haftarah to parshat Beshlach. (Exodus 13:17 through 17:16). Even a quick perusal of the parsha (think chapter 15) should give you a big hint for why that might be.
Havurah Zoom Rooms
For info on Zoom rooms, click here. You must sign-in after you visit the link.
Photo by Brad Pector
Updates Inside Havurah
Add Your Voice to High Holidays!
As we did last year, we invite you once again to add your voice to our prayer and celebration at High Holidays by submitting a “mini-drash” or kavanah (intention). These are short reflections or sharing of life experience, 2-3 minutes long, either in response to this year’s theme (reference the theme here), or connected to the annual themes of teshuvah (returning/renewal/repentance) or forgiveness. Through your contributions we will include more voices and reflect more diversity of experience as we journey through Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur together.
Deadline for contributions is August 31.Send to Rachel at rachel.pollak@havurahshalom.org with the subject line: “Mini-drash 2020”
Why Did We Choose Slack for Our Havurahood Groups?
See these helpful slides explaining why Slack was chosen for our community.
Book Group News
Would you like to look at the schedule of books to be read this year? Looking at the schedule will help you plan ahead for your reading. You will find it on the new Book Group webpage found here. You can also go to the Havurah website and hover over the Clusters tab to find Limud, and then hover over Limud to the Book Group page. The Book Group webpage also has tips for discussion leaders, and a list of previously read books. Enjoy reading!
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.
Zoom Gabbai Training from Reconstructing Judaism
with Carol Stern (Adat Shalom, MD) and Jake Ehrlich (T’Chiyah, MI) Tuesday, August 11, 10:30 am PST
With our new normal of using Zoom for services and programming, a new type of gabbai is needed to remove the responsibility of managing technology from Rabbis, Cantors, and program leaders. This important role of “Zoom Gabbai” is a key part of running Zoom services and programming safely and smoothly, and preventing Zoom bombing. This session, originally developed by Adat Shalom in Bethesda, Maryland to train volunteers, will describe the most important parts of being a Zoom Gabbai so that you and other folks in your community can take on this role. This call will be recorded and made available later for those who are not able to attend. Register for Zoom Gabbai Training here! If you have any questions regarding this call, please reach out to jweinberg@reconstructingjudaism.org.
Recon Connect & Virtual Shabbat Box from Reconstructing Judaism
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!
Lift UP Needs Food Gleaners Wednesday, July 29, Aug. 5 & 12
Lift UP needs substitute gleaners to collect donated food to distribute at Preston’s Pantry. Gleaners lift 50-75 pounds repeatedly, collecting about 2000 pounds usually from warehouses in NW. Shifts are Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. If you are willing to be on the substitute list, please contact Jenn Louis at jenn@jennlouis.com.
Letter and Petition Sponsored by Portland United Against Hate
Portland United Against Hate has put out a letter and petition pertaining to Portland police brutality and the actions of Trump's federal agents here, and any Havurah members who are so moved are invited to sign on to this letter. Rabbi Benjamin and a number of other rabbis (including rabbis Daniel Isaak and Deborah Kolodny) along with other faith leaders and numerous progressive organizations are sponsoring this letter. Please see the letter here and scroll down to bottom to sign.
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Updates
Here are three different links about Argyle Garden, 72 units of very affordable housing and the first modular housing permitted in Portland.
The Metro Transit-Oriented Development Program (not Bond or Supportive Housing) donated $340,000 and Transition Projects developed it. Check it out, it's cool!
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.
Volunteers Needed to Increase Voter Turnout One effective way to increase voter turnout for November: Volunteer with Vote Forward. Research shows that registered voters who receive a personalized letter a few days before the election have increased likelihood of going out to vote. A larger turnout is essential, especially in swing states.
Sign up with Vote Forward and you can choose from a number of states and download prepared letters with names and addresses of registered voters and then stamp and address these to be mailed in late October. Consider choosing one of the following states: North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan or Wisconsin. You can prepare as few or as many letters as you have time for.
Here is an article that explains the rationale for this letter-writing strategy.
Please email or call Lee Gordon with questions and to let him know if you choose to do this, so we can keep track of how many Havurah folks have volunteered.
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.
(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.
