Hanukah Events Every Night!

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 nightly. Each night also features a brief program of singing, storytelling, jokes, or dreidel playing. Join any or all nights, from 6-6:30 pm (or as described below), followed by opportunities to stay on and schmooze. All evening programs are family-friendly and for all ages. We'd love to see every-one all nights, but feel free to pick and choose! All Hanukah events will be in Room Aleph.

Welcoming Hanukah
Thursday, Dec. 10, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Join the Havurah community to welcome Hanukah with a communal menorah lighting, blessings, and singing led by Rabbi Benjamin.

Hanukah & Human Rights Shabbat
Friday, Dec. 11, 6-7 pm – Room Aleph
Leah Shoshanah and Rabbi Benjamin will lead us in an evening of music, prayer and connection as we light the Hanukah candles together and welcome in Shabbat. We will also hear other Havurah voices reflecting on the festival’s themes of revolution and human rights.

Hanukah Havdalah: A Festival of Lights
Saturday, Dec. 12, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Led by Andrine, Howard , and Diane. End Shabbat with a fun and bright Havdalah service and then we’ll light our menorahs followed by an exciting fire/LED Poi demonstration by Chava.

Hanukah Cooking & Candles
Sunday, Dec. 13 – Room Aleph
5-6 pm: Latke cooking
6-6:30 pm: Candles, Songs, and Stories
Join our very own chef, Jenn for latke making. Cook latkes alongside Jenn or enjoy a scrumptious cooking demo of the BEST potato latkes as well as tasty butternut squash latkes. RSVP here for recipes. Followed by Hanukiah lighting, guitar-accompanied singing, and stories at 6 pm.

Jewish Mystical Realism Songs & Stories
Monday, Dec. 14, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Bring in the light, unpack the joy, and travel to the heartland of Jewish Mystical Realism. Music with Steve Mesulam and a new story from Chelm with Cassandra Sagan.

Multi-Generational Songs & Stories
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Join us for an evening of multi-generational songs and stories led by Tivona, Carolina, Elinor, and Buff — something for everyone to brighten the night!

Oh Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel!
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Sing songs, light the menorah, hear a short story, and play virtual dreidel!

“Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
We can't be in one room.
But stop kvetching;
Tradition lives on Zoom!”

The AlteRockers Host Hanukah!
Thursday, Dec. 17, 6-6:30 pm – Room Aleph
What’s the best thing to put in sufganiyot? Your teeth! Join the AlteRockers as they tell jokes, rock Yiddish songs, and share stories. A festive last night of Hanukah for all! If you’re an AlteRocker, stick around for some schmoozing.

Other Upcoming Events

Text & Torah: Truth-Telling & Human Rights
Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 am – Room Aleph
In honor of Human Rights Shabbat, we will explore the theme of truth-telling, in Torah and within the Hanukah story, in light of the struggle for human rights and dignity for all. Torah study from 10-11, facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin, followed by a short service and Torah reading for 11-12.

Light and Darkness: Rabbis from the PNW Reconstructionist Congregations Share Favorite Hanukkah Teachings

Sunday, Dec. 13, 2-3:30 pm – Special Zoom Room

We invite you to join us as we gather regionally to reflect on our favorite teachings about Hanukkah, light and darkness. Sunday, December 13, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Featuring rabbis from Kadima (Seattle), Temple Beth Hatfiloh (Olympia), Havurah Shalom (Portland), Temple Beth Israel (Eugene), Temple Emek Shalom (Ashland). Register here.
 

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.

Community Minyan

Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 am – Room Aleph

Please join us for Shabbat morning! Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion.

Drop-In Grief Support Groups
Thursday, 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.

Tikkun Olam Events

The City & Prosper Portland Get Paid, The Black Community Gets PLAYED!
Presentation by the Emmanuel Displaced Persons Association
Thursday, Dec. 10, 7 pm
Learn from survivors and descendants forcibly displaced by the Emanuel Hospital expansion. This one-hour event is in preparation for the Portland City Council meeting on December 16.  We ask you to join in insisting that the council votes "NO" on the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal Area UNLESS and UNTIL survivors and descendants of the Emanuel Hospital Expansion are given restitution. Registration here.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Feeding Houseless Portlanders with Hot Meals

We are feeding houseless Portlanders in tent camps with nutritious hot meals. We asked several people what some of their needs are and they listed the following:

• socks
• hand sanitizer
• hoodies and sweaters
• thermal tops and bottoms
• bottled beverages

Things we can still use are:

• takeout containers
• food donations, prepared food and raw ingredients
• homemade baked goods, individually wrapped
• disposable forks and spoons

100 meals have been served and we will ramp up! Contact Jenn Louis via the Havurah Member Directory if you have questions.

Thank You for Donating!

Thanks to everyone who shared soaps, hand sanitizer, face masks, knitted hats and scarves and other wonderful items for the Winter Community Market bags that will be distributed to those who participate in Lift UP's food pantry and others who are in need. We received a great number of items that will be distributed on Dec. 14.

Bybee Lakes Hope Center Lunch Project

As a member of the Alliance on Poverty we have been providing sack lunches to the Bybee Lakes Hope Center (the former Wapato jail) on Sundays since mid September. Havurah volunteers for the Portland Homeless Family Solutions have been doing this. The Center is asking for an extension into Jan. and possibly Feb. If you are interested in being on a Havurah team of 3-4 others, to make and deliver one or two times, please contact Gloria Halper soon as The Alliance needs to know which of their members can continue this effort.

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.

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!

Community COVID-19 Assistance

We are seeing surges in COVID-19 cases in the region, and public health officials expect this to continue through at least the end of December. Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services is here to help!
 
Their available services differ based on whether or not the person seeking assistance has been diagnosed with or exposed to the virus. For those who have been exposed to the virus or tested positive and need to quarantine, CNSCOS can assist with and cover costs for things like grocery shopping, finding housing, childcare, or transportation. For those who have been affected by Covid-19 in an indirect way, CNSCOS can help with finding and applying for financial resources, running errands, accessing food assistance, finding other helpful services, or just calling to chat with folks who are feeling isolated or lonely.

The CNSCOS team also provides timely information online here and via a weekly email here.

On December 15, Neveh Shalom is hosting a Q&A with two mental health experts to discuss how to stay hopeful and manage mental health issues during a pandemic. Here is a registration link.

Contact covid19@nevehshalom.org or call 971-990-5652 if you need COVID-19 assistance.

December Hakol

Check out the December issue of Hakol! It features articles on our High Holidays this past year, asylum in the United States, logging, Adult B'nei Mitzvah, and much more.

Join the Non-Writers Workshop!

The Writers Workshop (for Non-Writers!) begins January 14, 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.

Havurah COVID Safety Guidelines

Check out our new 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

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!

Challah Calendar for a Cause

Lisa Spiegel has created a wonderful calendar to support JFCS’ meal delivery service for our community’s Holocaust survivors. All profits go to that program. The calendar features some of the lovely challah Lisa bakes every week.

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.