Hineinu: Tu B'Shvat Events, COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist, and Planning Classes
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Tu B'shvat Events
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.
Celebrating Tu B'Shvat: The Birthday of the Tree Jan. 27-31
A free, virtual and collaborative festival by and for people who want to activate Jewish values to move the needle on climate change. Re-energizing Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish “Earth Day” of sorts, as a relevant and timely holiday to connect Jewish values with the urgency of climate action. Over 150 events in 5 days. Learn more and register here.
Treehuggers’ Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Jan. 29, 7:30 pm – Room Aleph
This Friday night comes fast on the heels of Tu B’Shvat, the celebration of trees on the Jewish calendar. Join J.D. Kleinke and friends for an Erev Shabbat service with special songs and reading for the budding of the trees and the great gifts of nature.
Kabbalat Shabbat will start at 7 pm instead of 7:30 pm starting next week.
Other Upcoming Events
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!
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 here.
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.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, Feb. 2, 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, Feb. 3, 8:30 am – Room Aleph For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Refa’einu: A Healing Circle Saturday, Feb. 13, 5-6 pm – Room Aleph Facilitated by Tivona Reith and Rabbi Benjamin
On Shabbat afternoon, February 13, we gather via Zoom to create sacred space and time to focus on healing and wholeness of any kind, for ourselves and/or others. Through contemplative teachings, sacred chant, meditation, prayer, and sharing, we encircle ourselves with healing energy — however it is needed in our lives, our families, our communities, our planet. Refa’einu, Havayah, v’neirafei—Heal us, Source of All Healing, and we will be healed. RSVP here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist
Kaiser Permanente is offering to sign up members and non-members of their insurance program to a waitlist for COVID-19 vaccines. Visit their webpage here to sign up. Vaccines will be based on priority groups. See more information about priority groups and the vaccine at the OHA COVID-19 vaccine website here.
Planning Classes at Havurah
The Lifelong Learning Committee (LLC) oversees our educational programs for adults. It is our goal to offer classes that fit into one of three categories: historical/cultural, hands-on/expressive, or spiritual/religious. We make sure that each season of classes includes a blend of offerings from each of these categories. We are extremely grateful to all the members who have stepped up to offer their knowledge and skills to keep Havurahniks engaged in meaningful Jewish learning experiences. Do you have an idea for a class you would be in- terested in teaching? Please email Eve Berry or Joel Beinin via the Havurah Member Directory.
Tikkun Olam Updates
Gift Card Donations Needed for Displaced Families
Eight families lost everything in a fire at Hacienda's Clara Vista apartments. Several Havurah members, as part of the Tikkun Olam community, have been volunteering for the past four years at the Ortiz Center and many of the families we have served live in these apartments. The Ortiz director, Nabil, explained that one way to help is to donate Visa gift cards or cards for Winco or Fred Meyers. The Ortiz Center will make sure that the displaced families receive the gift cards. For more information, contact Judi Kloper via the Havurah Member Directory; she will deliver them for you when she volunteers every Wednesday, or you can bring them to the Ortiz Center as well. Thank you!
Interfaith Alliance's Monthly Meeting Thursday, Feb. 4, 12-2 pm via Zoom
Senator Frederick will be speaking at the First Thursday Meeting of the Interfaith Alliance on legislative activity, Reimagine Oregon, education, housing, and economic development. Senator Frederick's experiences as a youth in the 1960s with his parents during the Civil Rights Movement anchor his commitment to service and making people's lives better. His legislative focus is on justice in public safety, education, economic security, and "quality of life." Please register for this meeting here.
Lift UP Needs Volunteers!
Lift UP always needs volunteers. From working the pantry and packing food bags, to delivering food and stocking the pantry, there are jobs for everyone. If interested email Abby at abby@lifturbanportland.org.
Poverty & Homelessness Committee: Join In, Join Up!
The Poverty and Homelessness Committee is actively seeking to connect — or reconnect — with members interested in direct service, philanthropy, or advocacy. Highlighted in this document are several on-going activities in keeping with COVID-19 restrictions. Please let me know if you would be interested in talking more about our committee work, or perhaps signing on to join us! Contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory for more info.
Community Events & Offerings
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.
Through a Reconstructionist Lens: An Adult B- / Re- Mitzvah Program March 1, 2021 - March 27, 2022
As a prequel to our 2022 Convention and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Judith Kaplan Eisenstein becoming a Bat Mitzvah, we are offering a once-a-month virtual class for those who are studying for their B-Mitzvah or recommitting to Reconstructionist learning. The goal of this class is for adult learners to engage with the movement in exploring evolving Reconstructionist thought and practice. More info on the registration page 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 emotional or 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 or emotional 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 Rabbi Benjamin.
Havurah Zoom Rooms
To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
Daily Shofar Blast Sunday, Sep 14th (All day) Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages.
Hakol Deadline is Thursday, September 18 Thursday, Sep 18th (All day) Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
(HYB) Torah Study for the High Holy Days Thursday, Sep 18th 7:00p to 8:30p During the High Holy Days we read four sections of the Torah. This series of study sessions will give us an opportunity to read the texts and explore their meanings. We will look at what our teachers before us thought of the readings, as well as investigate modern commentators. We also will come up with our own thoughts and see how we can understand the texts for our lives today.
Led by David Dropkin. No experience necessary. Please join us.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Sep 20th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, 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.
Daily Shofar Blast Sunday, Sep 21st (All day) Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages.
(IP) Teen Honey Cake Baking Sunday, Sep 21st 10:30a to 12:30p Bake honey cake muffins to share with family and friends and start the New Year with a sweet treat.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Sep 21st 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.
