Song Leaders Needed for Elul Havdalah Sing Along!
Saturday, Aug. 29, 7:30-9pm
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. The month of Elul, beginning August 21, is a month for return and restoration leading up to the High Holidays. Havdalah welcomes the new week with songs and blessings.
For this Havdalah sing along, we would like to stay somewhat close to our theme "Nishmat Kol Chai: The Breath of all Life," but let your creativity and interpretation run wild! Songs that are familiar and easy to sing along with are great.
Sign up to share a song (or a poem would work, too) with Sarah Shine, who will also need a digital copy of the words or lyrics of your song.
Add Your Voice to High Holidays with a Mini-Drash!
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”
Space Jam Update
We need to tell everyone that we have had a setback in our efforts to secure new space and a potential option to purchase the Bage Building.
Nearly 100 people attended the Space Jam committee meeting in late June to learn more about the announcement that the Bage building behind us might be up for sale. You demonstrated that our congregation is filled with committed, connected, caring people, and we were deeply impressed with the thoughtfulness of your questions, several of which had to do with the amount of time we had to act, and whether we could acquire an exclusive option to purchase the building through a lease agreement.
The unfortunate news is that while we were figuring out our approach, and working with the Steering Committee and our real estate agent to craft a letter of inquiry, another buyer stepped forward with an offer that we were unable to match. It looks like the building will be sold to this new buyer unless something unusual happens during their due diligence investigation of the property.
There is more information in the August Hakol, but we wanted to give you this short update. This is not the last you will hear from us on the topic of our space crunch. We will continue our work and devote more energy to further dialogue among our members in order to be more agile when another opportunity presents itself. Stay tuned and stay involved.
Why Did We Choose Slack for Our Havurahood Groups?
See these helpful slides explaining why Slack was chosen for our community. You can also see the article in our August Hakol, which goes more in-depth.
Interested in Book Group?
We have a 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 has tips for discussion leaders, and a list of previously read books, and most exciting of all, the list of books being read this year! 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.
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!
COVID-19 Resources
Check out our COVID-19 resource page on our website for more information. We have added a new publication about Parenting in a Pandemic and Mental Health During a Pandemic.
