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.
(IP) The Stories of Abraham Thursday, Oct 23rd 7:00p to 8:30p Explore the biblical figure Abraham using sources from all three Abrahamic Religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) to enrich our understanding of Judaism’s founding patriarch. After the class, take part in an optional opportunity to write a drash about Abraham to read at the Torah service! Led by former PJA Jewish Studies Teacher Benjamin Foote.
(HYB) Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Oct 24th 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.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Oct 25th 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.
(IP) Tot Shabbat Shabbat, Oct 25th 10:30a to 11:15a Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more.
(IP) Shabbat School Shabbat, Oct 25th 3:00p to 5:15p This program gives children a foundation for lifelong Jewish learning and engagement while integrating parents and children in a caring Jewish community.
New Family Orientation and Teacher Training part 2 Shabbat, Oct 25th 3:00p to 4:30p Families new to Shabbat School are required to attend both parts of the New Family Orientation and Teacher Trainings. You will meet other parents, become more oriented to the Shabbat School program and your participation in it and gain some training in teaching Shabbat School. Your attendance and participation are integral to the success of your family’s experience and our program. Please add the names of parents/grandparents who are attending for your family in the notes below. Thanks
(IP) Tivnu Teen Building Project Sunday, Oct 26th 11:00a to 2:00p Learn how to build planter boxes that will be used by a houseless community to grow their own produce and flowers. Tivnu staff/participants will teach you how to use the tools you need to bring fresh produce and a little cheer. Tivnu will also frame the project in the context of Jewish values surrounding self-sufficiency, land use, and taking care of your body.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Oct 26th 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.
(ZM) Israel-Palestine Committee Monthly Planning Meeting Sunday, Oct 26th 7:00p to 8:30p Havurah members, you are welcome to join the Israel-Palestine Committee planning meeting. We meet monthly in Zoom Room Dalet (fourth Sundays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm). For Zoom Room info, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (be sure you log in to your Havurah member account).
