Hineinu

Photo from the Hoyt Arboretum by Cole Keister on Unsplash

Hevre,

I’ve been reading Valarie Kaur’s book, See No Stranger. After sections on “Loving Others” and “Loving Opponents,” this final portion I’m in is on “Loving Ourselves.” In exploring self care, she draws from the wisdom of several Black women, including Melissa Harris-Perry, who pushes us beyond self care to “collective care” or “squad care.” This wisdom is always important, but feels particularly vital right now, as we navigate through the emotional roller coaster of this election season, all amidst the still-intensifying pandemic. I encourage us to remember how much we need to tend, within ourselves and within those we love, as we move through this time.

The language of “collective care” reminds me that I am never able to care for myself on my own, and that to genuinely care for myself is to do so in partnership with others, for the sake of others’ well-being as much as my own. And it is a reminder to us as a community to nurture the structures that support each individual’s well-being. As Harris-Perry puts it: “Squad care reminds us there is no shame in reaching for each other and insists the imperative rests not with the individual, but with the community. Our job is to have each other’s back.”

May we reach for each other, and may we be attuned to one another’s well-being.
 
– Rabbi Benjamin

Hanukah at Havurah

We have started planning for Hanukah at Havurah! Many details will be shared in the coming weeks. Please fill out our quick two-question survey below if you'd like to participate in the fun!

We are looking forward to an online celebration with the community!

Upcoming Events

Drop-In Grief Support Groups
Thursdays, Nov. 12, Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 24, 7-8:30 pm – Room Heh
As we approach the winter holidays, especially in this time of COVID, Havurah Shalom supports members grieving a death.  Drop-in grief group sessions are facilitated by Havurah Shalom members experienced in grief support and confidential group facilitation. Pre-registration is required by Thursday noon the day of each session. Each session is limited to 10 people. Additional details will be sent to those registered. For more information, contact Tivona Reith at bikkurholim@havurahshalom.org. RSVP via the links on the dates above.

Kabbalat Shabbat   Every week at 7:30 pm!
Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Leah Shoshanah and Rabbi Benjamin. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.

Bat Mitzvah of Lulu Way
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming LuLu Way as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community!

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 12-1 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, and Nancy Becker.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Thanksgiving Shabbat
Friday, Nov. 27, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
You are warmly invited to be a part of Shabbat Hoda'ah: Gratitude In This Place led by Leah Shoshanah, Barbara Slader, and Sarah Shine. Come light candles together, sing, and share gratitude with your Havurah community! Please invite your friends and family, near and far, to join us – everyone will fit around this table. If you can, let your Zoom camera “see” your lighted candles, Shabbat flowers, or autumn leaves, to warm our souls with light and color. See you there!

Hanukah Song Share with Leah Shoshanah and the Havurah Music Collective

Sunday, Nov. 29, 4:30-6 pm – Room Aleph

Join our Music Coordinator, Leah Shoshanah and musicians from the Havurah Musician’s Collective for an evening of learning and sharing songs. This month, our theme focuses on resilience, justice and light in honor of the upcoming holiday of Hanukah. We will be sharing a mix of classic Hanukah songs, Sephardic songs, secular songs, and new Hanukah songs by contemporary composers. We will provide song sheets, chord sheets and a brief singing/playing tutorial so that folks can continue playing these songs in their own homes. While not a kid-focused event, this is a kid-friendly event, and we encourage families to join us. RSVP here.

Grant Writer Needed!

Seeking Volunteers with Grant Writing Experience
The Havurah Safety Committee will be applying for a grant to make security and safety improvements next year. We have a tight turnaround and are seeking people available through January who would be interested in working together to help make our case.

Tikkun Olam Events

PHFS New Volunteer Orientation
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 5:30-6:30 pm
An hour long zoom orientation with PHFS will leave you with an understanding of what PHFS does for homeless families at their Lents shelter, and what volunteer jobs are available during COVID-19. RSVP to TC Schumacher at tc@pdxhfs.org for Zoom access.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Photo of Lift UP volunteers with donations.

Online Tutors Needed: Spanish Speakers
The Havurah-Ortiz Virtual Tutoring project is off to a good start. We have eight students involved! We have several families with little or no English, so we need Spanish speaking tutors. You do not need to be "fluent" but simply "conversational". Community Center has received many requests for tutors, from students in all grades (K-12). In response, we are organizing a "virtual" tutoring program. We are interviewing the parents and students, to verify their computer and Internet access, to establish scheduling needs/preferences, and to learn about specific homework needs (e.g., specific subjects for high school students). We will then match each student to the preferences of each tutor. These students are almost all children of immigrants, very motivated to succeed in school just like all of our own families. Questions? Contact Jay Moskovitz.

Lift UP Partners with Grand Central Baking!

Grand Central Baking is partnering with Lift UP by offering the purchase of an additional loaf of bread to their customers when they are buying anything in the bakery. Each additional loaf that is purchased goes to Lift UP and is included in food boxes, and at the pantry. Please consider purchasing a loaf for your fall holiday tables and include a donation for an extra loaf to share.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's November Newsletter
Read the November IAP newsletter here. Information on the Wapato prison building (now called Bybee Lakes Hope Center), Alternative Shelter and Village Forum: Learning From Seattle article, and speakers for their first Thursday meeting: November 5, 12-1:30 pm.

Havurah's BLM Resource Page
Check out our Black Lives Matter resource page!

Do You Need Help?

If you are facing financial hardship from a loss of employment, decrease in income, or any other impact of our recent crises; 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 and Rabbi Benjamin.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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