I hope we each have taken a moment today to exhale. My, what we have been through these past four years. And while the moment remains precarious, and profound suffering continues, and we know that the work ahead will be long and demanding, we can still today appreciate the turning. Compassion being restored among our nation’s highest leadership. A Black woman sworn in as vice-president. All made possible by the tireless work of so many, a reminder that we can indeed nurture wholesome power among us when people join together.
In celebration of this moment and our collective potential, and as dedication for the work ahead, civil rights activist Valarie Kaur has initiated The People’s Inauguration. Follow the link to register for what will be an inspiring collection of teaching, practice, conversation, and performance over the next 10 days. And in tandem with it, IMIrJ has organized locally an Oregon People’s Inauguration event, Thursday evening from 6-7:30 pm. You can register here.
May we be strengthened, and may we be blessed with wisdom as we turn further toward the work of creating a genuinely inclusive, multi-racial democracy.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָֽנוּ וְקִיְּמָֽנוּ וְהִגִּיעָֽנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Source of All, who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment.
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Elizabeth Schwartz. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians!
Discovering Shabbat Learner's Minyan Saturday, Jan. 23, 10 am – Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service, led by Rabbi Benjamin, focuses on the structure and key themes and prayers of the morning service.
Songwriter Spotlight Featuring Leah Shoshanah, Ilene Safyan and Beth Hamon
Sunday, Jan. 24, 4:30 pm – Special Zoom Room
Join us for a special concert featuring our own Havurah songwriters. They will share their music, both secular and Jewish. RSVP here.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, Jan. 26, 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 Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love, by Dani Shapiro Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7 pm – Room Bet
Dani Shapiro's memoir unfolds at a breakneck pace – part mystery, part real-time investigation, part rumination on the ineffable combination of memory, history, biology, and experience that makes us who we are. A haunting interrogation of the meaning of kinship and identity, written with stunning intensity and precision--Dani Shapiro's most intimate and compelling work yet. Discussion led by Barbara Hershey.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, Jan. 27, 8:30 am – Room Aleph For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Reconstructionist Communities of the PNW Joint Tu B’shvat Wednesday, Jan. 27, 6:30-8 pm – Register here
Join an evening of learning and eating meditations as we celebrate the New Year of Trees through an in-depth exploration of the seven species of abundance in Torah: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olive (oil) and dates. We invite you to bring your own samples of each of these items (or their respective derivatives), and journey through the mystical and the mundane as each rabbi explores the significance of one of these items in Jewish tradition and leads us in mindful tasting. Registration here.
Dancing In God’s Earthquake: Book Talk & Discussion with Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow Saturday, Jan. 30, 3 pm – RSVP for Zoom access Between climate change, COVID, great social injustice, and more, we are living in powerfully transformative times. Rabbi Arthur Ocean Waskow’s latest book, Dancing In God’s Earthquake, The Coming Transformation of Religion, will help guide us through. He will be joining Havurah & P’nai Or for a book talk and discussion, followed by Havdalah, led by Rabbi Benjamin.RSVP and order the book here if you desire. The book can be preordered through Havurah at a discount: $15 through Jan. 3.
Bar Mitzvah of Logan Mafchir-Werth Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 am– Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Logan Mafchir-Werth as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community!
Reviving the Havurah History Committee Sunday, Jan. 31, 7-8:30 pm – Room Bet Are you interested in reviving and participating in Havurah's History Committee? There will be a meeting of people interested in preserving and recording Havurah's history soon! If you are interested or have questions, please contact Miryam Brewer via the Havurah Member Directory.
Space Jam Update
The Space Jam Committee is continuing to work on identifying options for our long-term space needs. In October, we hired architect Richard Brown (who designed our current building) to prepare a feasibility study for building “up” at our current site. In December, the Steering Committee reviewed the first two concept drawings from Richard Brown, which included rough cost estimates. We are also working with a commercial broker to actively seek out churches and other space in the Portland area that might meet our needs. Look for more information about Space Jam in upcoming Hakol articles and Hineinu updates!
Nominating Committee Update
The Nominating Committee has started work to nominate candidates for the 2021-2022 Steering Committee. This spring, we’ll be submitting nominations for the following positions:
• Vice-President (four year commitment) • Corporate Secretary
• Avodah (Spiritual Life) Cluster Lead
• Kehillah (Community) Cluster Lead
We are looking for motivated Havurah members who want to be involved in a hands-on manner with our governance and planning. With the exception of Vice-President, the other candidates will serve from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023.
If you are interested in being on the Steering Committee or have questions about the available positions, please contact one of the Nominating Committee members:
Eve Berry
Janice Kettler
Julia Lager-Mesulam
Debbi Nadell
Aaron Pearlman
Ben Walters
Tikkun Olam Updates
Help Needed for Our Houseless Neighbors
Current needs include:
warm clothes (wool sweaters, thermal tops and bottoms, pants, coats)
sleeping bags
tents
sleeping pads
non-perishable food (snacks, peanut butter, canned items, hot beverages)
An Amazon wishlist has been started and will be updated regularly based on needs. Thank you for all of your help! Contact Jenn Louis via the Havurah Member Directory if you have questions. You must sign in to access this directory.
Lift UP Has A New Office Location!
Lift UP has moved it's offices! More space, great location and all moved in. New address and contact info is:
Lift UP
Design Center PDX
735 SW 20th Place Suite 250
Portland, OR 97205
503-221-1224
info@lifturbanportland.org
Community Events & Offerings
Introduction to Judaism Class Thursdays, Jan. 21 (and continuing for 18 weeks), 7-9 pm via Zoom Taught in rotation by Oregon rabbis, curriculum includes: Jewish history, lifecycle, holidays, ritual and daily practice, theology, Torah study and contemporary Jewish America. While not a conversion class, is great for students studying toward conversion, and others. This term will be held via Zoom. Register online here or contact JoAnn Bezodis, Class Facilitator, at 971-248-5465, or by email at info@oregonboardofrabbis.org.
21st Annual Community Havdalah Service Saturday, Jan. 23, 6:30 pm
Service led by Cantor Rayna Green with a welcome from Cedar Sinai Park CEO Kimberly Fuson, CSP Spiritual Life Coordinator Cathy Zheutlin, and Jewish Women’s Round Table President Marki Maizels.Join here.
Jews, Race, and Religion: A Lecture Series from Reconstructing Judaism Starting Jan. 28, 1:30 pm (recordings will be posted to their website)
Racism is one of the most pressing ethical challenges of our time. This site provides resources for studying race and racism through the prism of Jewish experience. It accompanies a lecture series co-sponsored by the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies. Leading scholars in Jewish Studies, Critical Race Studies, and Religious Studies will share cutting-edge research that deepens the conversation about race, racism and anti-racism in contemporary society, both American and Jewish. The lecture series is free and open to the public. Recordings of the lectures will be posted on this site after they occur. Find out more and get access here.
Community COVID-19 Assistance
Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services is here to help! 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!
Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & 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.
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, May 23rd 5:45p to 8:00p Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided.
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Maya Rosenbaum Shabbat, May 24th 10:00a to 12:00p Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Maya Rosenbaum as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, May 25th 7:00p to 8:15p A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.
CANCELED - Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, May 26th (All day) We are taking May off for Memorial Day. See you in June! We hold monthly letter writing group Zoom gatherings to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP, but please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well.
(ZM) Book Group: A Day in the Life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall Tuesday, May 27th 7:00p to 8:30p The Havurah Shalom Book Group meets monthly to discuss fiction and nonfiction books voted on by Havurah members. All are welcome to any and all meetings. Copies of our upcoming books can be checked out by members in the Havurah library. *This is the last meeting for the year. We will start up again in September 2025.*
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 28th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, May 31st 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurahshalom.org.
