The End of 2020 Is Near!

After a long, tumultuous year, Havurah staff members will be taking some time off in the next couple weeks. Please be patient if you're trying to get into contact with one of them. If they are gone, you can reference their away email message for their expected return date. We look forward to a healthier and even more lively 2021 with you all!

Upcoming Events

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.

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.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.

Book Group: A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7 pm – Room Bet

This debut novel by an Arab-American voice, takes us inside the lives of conservative Arab women living in America. In Brooklyn, eighteen-year-old Deya is starting to meet with suitors. Though she doesn’t want to get married, her grandparents give her no choice. History is repeating itself: Deya’s mother, Isra, also had no choice when she left Palestine as a teenager to marry Adam. Though Deya was raised to believe her parents died in a car accident, a secret note from a mysterious, yet familiar-looking woman makes Deya question everything she was told about her past. As the narrative alternates between the lives of Deya and Isra, she begins to understand the dark, complex secrets behind her community. Discussion led by Stacy Hankin.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Dec. 23, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

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.

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.

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:

• propane, small camping size (available at Fred Meyer)
• hand sanitizer, tampons, soap, combs and brushes
• hoodies and sweaters
• blankets
• flashlights and extra batteries
• thermal tops and bottoms
• bottled water, gallon is ideal

Things we can still use are:

• food donations (feel free to reach out to inquire about what is needed now)
• homemade baked goods, individually wrapped
• individually wrapped snacks: tuna packets and cans, peanut butter, applesauce

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

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.

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 Events & Offerings

Free COVID-19 Testing at the MJCC

Sunday, Dec. 20, 12:30-2:30 pm

Get a free COVID-19 test! The CNSCOS Team will be at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center with nurses from Signature Healthcare to provide masks, hand sanitizer, and fall-themed goodies along with the COVID-19 tests. Registration in advance in required. Please click the link here to sign up for a time slot to receive a test. You can also call us and we can provide you a time slot. This event is a drive through! If you need help getting there, we can provide taxi vouchers. Please contact our team at covid19@nevehshalom.org or call at 971-990-5652 to request one, or if you have any questions.

Br’iut and B’rachot: A Community Wellness Havdalah

Saturday, Jan. 9, 6 pm

Next month Jewish Federation is delighted to invite the community to Br’iut and B’rachot—A Community Wellness Havdalah. Co-led by Community Chaplain Rabbi Barry Cohen & Cantorial Soloist Ilene Safyan. Start 2021 off coming together to mark the close of Shabbat and the start of a new week. Details and registration here.

This is part of a community-wide effort around mental health and wellness in January. We invite you to join us by programming, promoting and encouraging awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing in these extra challenging times.

We’ve curated a mental health webpage with resources and opportunities, including some shared by you, thank you!

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

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.