Hineinu

Dear Havurahniks,

Hineni he’ani mima’as. "Here I am, impoverished in deeds and merit. But nevertheless I have come before You, to plead on behalf of Your people Israel."

So begins the Hazzan’s Prayer, traditionally offered before the musaf Amidah during the High Holidays.

I write to you today, on behalf of the 5781 High Holidays Planning group, the service leaders, and the tech hosts and scrollers, to say:

We have made many decisions this year about things we never imagined we’d have to decide, with incomplete information and imperfect expertise. We know that it is more than likely that our fallible humanity will be as visible as our sacred intention, as we embark into these Days of Awe in our virtual tent. We humbly ask for your patience and forgiveness as we work together to create these Holy Days.

And we ask the Source of All that our errors not impede our community’s ability to pray, that our beginners’ use of technology place no obstacle to the prayers of our beloved Havurah Shalom reaching their destination. Please, do not charge them with our imperfections. May they not be blamed for our transgressions, may they not be shamed by our actions. Cover all our faults with Your veil of love. Amen.

- Adela Basayne, Program Director

High Holidays Info & Registration

Click the button below to view our High Holidays packet for this year! It has a lot of valuable information, including a full schedule, how to pick up your machzor, a selection of event and service offerings, and much more.

Sign into our High Holidays web portal now!

1. Register by filling out the form at the registration site here. (Skip this step if you've already done it.) Make sure you hit the "submit" button at the end of the form to complete your registration!

2. After registering, go to the web portal via the following link and sign in:https://event.crowdcompass.com/havurahshalom/ If this doesn't work, try a different web browser. Use your name and email, then a verification code will be sent to you by email. It make take a few minutes to receive it. A new verification code will be sent every time you log in. You can avoid being logged out by just keeping your window open.
 
3. You will receive an additional email within 48 hours with links to the web portal (same as above) and to the App Store, where you can download the app and participate on your devices. Both the web portal and app have identical content and features, but the app may be more convenient for some folks.

You can also find the app yourself after you register by searching for "CrowdCompass AttendeeHub" in the App Store. Once it's downloaded, open the app and search for "Havurah Shalom" and you will find our High Holidays app! Sign in and you're all set to go! The app will stay logged in.

Attending Events
After you’re logged in to the web portal or the app, navigate to the schedule and click on the event you want to attend. There will be a Zoom link there! If you do not see a Zoom link, make sure you're on this site.

Video Tutorial
For a thorough video tutorial on everything mentioned above, please click here!

What If Our Technology Fails?

We Have A Backup Plan!

In the event that either Zoom or our Cvent web platform goes down, Rabbi Benjamin will continue with services from the sanctuary via the Havurah Shalom YouTube channel. We will send the congregation an email at that time with a link. Feel free to subscribe beforehand!

Machzor Pickup/Tzedakah Drop-Off

Last Chance to Pick Up Machzorim!

Sign up here to to be a volunteer librarian or to pick up your hard copies of our brand new Kol Ha Neshama Days of Awe machzor. We will record your name and manage returns after the holidays end. Read more about this project in the High Holidays packet or in the Tikkun Olam section of the email below.

Aliyot Blessings at Yom Kippur

A few aliyot each service will invite blessings from the verses we chant. If you feel called to one of these, and are willing to be the rep for it (unmuted for others to hear) please email Rabbi Benjamin.

For laying something to rest in the year to come, whether an aspect of your life, and/or as part of our collective release of harmful or unhelpful ways of being in the world.

For comfort, strength and resilience amidst having made life-altering changes or met overwhelming challenges during the pandemic.

For particular attributes in support of our efforts to repair the world:

• Generosity
• Awe and Reverence
• Courage

Elul & High Holiday Offerings
Register for High Holidays here to attend these events and see full descriptions.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 3:30 pm

Social Action Poetry: For Those Who Seek Justice and Love Literature
Thursday, Sept. 17 & 24; Oct. 1, 7 pm

Erev Rosh Hashanah

Friday, Sept. 18, 7:30 pm

Rosh Hashanah: Day 1

Saturday, Sept. 19, 9 am - 4 pm

Rosh Hashanah: Day 2

Sunday, Sept. 20, 9:30 am - 5 pm

Tashlich: Outdoor In-Person
Tashlich, Sunday, Sept. 20 (in person, outdoors in various locations - weather permitting, see RSVP)

RSVP here by September 14; maximum 25 persons. Please DO NOT come without an RSVP. Bring a rhythm instrument if you like; we will not be singing. Thanks for helping us all stay safe!

Elul Mindfulness & Meditation

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 12 pm

Morning Minyan

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 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, Sept. 23, 12:30-2 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. 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):  Sept. 9  |   Sept. 23

High Holiday Zoom Rooms

High Holiday Zoom Rooms Only Accessible Via Registration!

High Holiday Zoom rooms are only accessible through Havurah's High Holidays web portal or app. Register for High Holidays here to gain access. Our regular Zoom room links (only used by Wednesday morning minyan this week) can be found at the bottom of this email.

Wildfire Resources & Relief

General Info
Main hub for resources from the State of Oregon
Fires and hotspots map
Road conditions and closures
Evacuation levels & current emergency shelters

Tips for fire safety & levels of preparation

Regional Info
Clackamas County
Washington County
Multnomah County
 
Need Assistance?
JFCS, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, is offering emergency assistance for wildfire relief. If you or someone you know is in need, please contact Caitlin DeBoer, Program Manager at 503-226-7079 ext. 134 or by email at cdeboer@jfcs-portland.org.

Volunteer

For people interested in volunteering from sometime between 11 am - 3 pm to either shop for some supplies needed or to sort incoming donations, contact Beth (503-358-3165) or Alyssa (503-804-1480). To volunteer to help distribute things to families who come to the church from 3:15 pm - 7:30 pm contact Whitney (857-214-9532).

Make Donations
The Jewish Federation of Portland has created an emergency fund where, 100% of all contributions will go to assist those impacted by the fires. You can donate here.

Donate to Clackamas Emergency Services Foundation for local relief.

You can buy the following items and bring them to the Mutual Aid location (a church) at 16575 SE Webster Rd. Milwaukie, OR 97267. You can also bring them to Bob Brown (contact info in member directory):

KN95/N95 masks, diapers (all sizes), wipes, infant formula, pillows (new), blankets (new), foods needed: dried beans, canned beans, rice, peanut butter, tortillas, snacks, baby food (nothing perishable), shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, sponges, hand soap, bar soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, razors, gallons of water/cases of bottled water, packs of toilet paper (12 roll ideal), paper towels, laundry detergent (small bottles/small powder boxes), feminine hygiene products, and paper bags (ask for extras at checkout).

Tikkun Olam

At High Holidays we engage in a Tzedakah Project. This year Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS), Lift UP Portland, and Jewish Family & Child Services (JFCS) Emergency Aid have been chosen. See PHFS needs here. See Lift UP needs here. Jewish Family & Child Services (JFCS) Emergency Aid needs funding for: community resources, grocery aid, and limited financial assistance to individuals, couples, and families. Checks can be mailed to: Jewish Family & Child Service 1221 SW Yamhill St., Suite 301 Portland, OR 97205. Check the Cvent web portal for machzor pick up schedule. Tzedakah Project items can be dropped off at these times. Containers will be in the foyer with signs.
 

"Me and White Supremacy" Group Forming

Havurah’s Countering White Nationalism cohort is using Layla Saad’s "Me and White Supremacy" as a tool for self-reflection to unpack our histories and roles within our white supremacy culture. The recording of the session they held about their experiences is available in the On Demand section of the High Holiday platform. There is interest in forming one or more new groups to work through the material together. Interested in joining a group? Email Chris Coughlin.

Portland Protests: A Conversation by Transform Network

Watch community leaders, including Rabbi Benjamin, speak on the Portland protests here.

Confronting Hate: Uncovering the Hidden History of Discrimination in Oregon
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7 pm – Special Zoom room

Walidah Imarisha co-edited two anthologies including Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories From Social Justice Movements. Imarisha’s nonfiction book Angels with Dirty Faces: Three Stories of Crime, Prison, and Redemption won a 2017 Oregon Book Award. She is also the author of the poetry collection Scars/Stars. More info here.
 

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty

The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty has compiled an educational packet on poverty for its congregations, including a book list, videos, etc. A three-minute YouTube video put out by the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN) is in this compilation. It's short, informative, real view of poverty in Portland presents another perspective on this issue. See it here.

Havurah's BLM Resource Page
Check out our new Black Lives Matter resource page for more info!

Do You Need 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 or Rabbi Benjamin at the email above.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

For info on Zoom, click here. You must sign-in after you visit the link.