Hevre,

Last week we announced our updated Havurah COVID Safety Guidelines. Those guidelines are now posted our our website's COVID information page (under the "News" tab in the dropdown menu).

We want all of you to know that there was a significant process that preceded the release of these guidelines and we have written a short letter explaining that process and our guiding principles. We invite you to take a moment to read our letter. We also encourage you to reach out to any one of us if you have any questions or concerns about the updated guidelines.

Thank you,
Miriam Reshotko, Ben Walters, Loree Devery & Julia Lager-Mesulam

Join the Non-Writers Workshop!

The Writers Workshop (for Non-Writers!) begins January 14, 2021, for 8 Thursdays through March 4. The commitment is for 8 sessions. We focus on memoir writing generated through prompts and discussion. Our process examines personal exploration from any perspective, including the Jewish experience. Participants may choose to read at a culminating Friday Oneg for the Havurah community. Led by David Kertzner. Sign up here! Only 8 slots available. Contact David via the Havurah Member Directory with questions.

Upcoming Events

Drop-In Grief Support Groups
Thursdays, 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. RSVP via the links on the dates above. For more information, contact Tivona Reith at bikkurholim@havurahshalom.org.

Video and Discussion on White Supremacy, White Nationalism, and Anti-Semitism
Thursday, Dec. 3, 7 pm – Room Gimel
Havurah’s Countering White Nationalism cohort invites you to join us for a conversation about the differences between white supremacy and white nationalism, including the role anti-semitism plays within the white nationalist movement. We will show the first 36 minutes of a talk by Eric Ward (password: 8K?.4$f4), Executive Director of the Western States Center, as the starting place for our conversation. This is a repeat of the October 7 program.

West Coast Collaborative Shabbat
with Emek Shalom of Ashland and Or Shalom of San Francisco
Friday, Dec. 4 & Saturday, Dec. 5
Connect with other kindred spirits on the West Coast as we share shabbat music, learning and practice with a triad of Reconstructionist communities. Each community will host a service with some guest leadership from the other congregations. RSVP here for Zoom info.

Dec. 4, 7 pm: Kabbalat Shabbat hosted by Temple Emek Shalom
Dec. 5, 10 am: Shabbat morning hosted by Havurah
Dec. 5, 7 pm: Havdalah hosted by Or Shalom

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Hanukah 2020: A Sneak Peak
Dec. 10-17, 6 pm every night – Room Aleph
(Friday: time TBA, Sunday: additional special event 5-6 pm)
Let's bring more light to Hanukah and celebrate together this year — all eight days. During the week of Hanukah, a communal menorah lighting will be held. Each night also features a brief program of singing, storytelling, joke telling, or dreidel playing. Join any or all nights, from 6-6:30 pm, followed by opportunities to stay on and schmooze. All evening programs are family-friendly and for all ages. We'd love to see everyone all nights, but feel free to pick and choose! Details for each night are coming in a special email on Friday.

Tikkun Olam Events

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Monthly Meeting: "Reimagine Oregon"
Thursday, Dec. 3, 12-1:30 pm via Zoom
Imagine a place where everyone has an opportunity to succeed! Imagine a place where social and economic justice rules! Imagine a place where the past injustice is acknowledged and ameliorated by the future! Let’s help to create that community by joining those who aim to “Reimagine Oregon." Recognizing that systemic racism is a clear and persistent root cause of poverty in communities of color, the Alliance formed a small team to explore the project’s mission, focus, and specific strategies, including legislative proposals. And now, the team brings its conclusions and its strategies for Alliance action in support of the project to our “First Thursday” meeting. Interested? Contact Gloria Halper or Steve Rudman via the Havurah Member Directory.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Specialized Helping Hand Opportunities
We have a few projects at Family Village where we need a few volunteers’ expertise. Is your background in maintenance, carpentry, or perhaps you’re an experienced DIY’er? Please contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory. Some current projects include:

• Re-upholstering chairs
• Sanding, painting, and revitalizing old furniture
• Cleaning box fans
• Re-screening window and sliding door frames

More Online Tutors Needed!
The Havurah-Ortiz Virtual Tutoring project is off to a good start. We have 8-10 students involved! We have several families with little or no English, so we need some Spanish speaking tutors. You do not need to be "fluent" but simply "conversational." We still need non-Spanish-speaking tutors! The Ortiz Center has received many requests for tutors for students in all grades. In response, we have created 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 match each student to the preferences of each tutor. These students are almost all children of immigrants and very motivated to succeed in school just like all of our own families. Questions? Contact Jay Moskovitz via the Havurah Member Directory.

Requesting Donations of Knit Hats, Scarves, and More
We will be collecting again this year hand knit scarves and hats for the Lift Up Community Gift Market (formally known as the Lift Up Holiday Dinner). Please drop off your knitted items to the Havurah Collection Box that will be stationed inside the Havurah doors. Hours will be M/W/Th/F: 1-6 pm and Tuesdays: 10-6pm. Purchased hats and scarves are also accepted if you can't knit. Please try to include some children sizes as well as adults size hats. Last day for collection for items is Dec. 7. Questions? Please contact Fran Berg via the Havurah Member Directory.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Book Group Starting!

The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's Transition to Stability Action Team is starting a book group in January based on The Alternative. Check it out here. If interested contact Dave Albertine. Please let Dave know you are a member of Havurah Shalom.

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

Adult B'nei Mitzvah Group Forming

We have a new Adult B’nei Mitzvah Group forming! Are you interested in deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer) and Kehillah (Community)? Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism? Nourishing your intellect and spirit, individually and within the context of an ongoing learning community. Then consider joining the new Adult B'nei Mitzvah Group!

This group will study together from early April 2021 – February 2023, almost two years, with Havurah Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, and other teachers. If anything above sparks your interest, please contact the Havurah Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner at deborah@havurahshalom.org soon!

Questions About Havurah?

The Transparency and Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to question they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will publish your question in Hakol anonymously, and then answer that question. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity!

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

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.