Upcoming Events

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, Feb. 12, 7 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service, led by Leah Shoshanah and Rabbi Benjamin. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.

Text & Torah Shabbat Study
Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 am – Room Aleph
Shabbat Shekalim is the first special Shabbat leading up to Pesach. Join us as we explore what these special days are, how we observe them in modern times, and what they meant historically. One-hour of study and discusssion followed by short Shacharit and Torah service. Led by Diane Chaplin.

Refa’einu: A Healing Circle
Saturday, Feb. 13, 5-6 pm – Room Aleph
Facilitated by Tivona Reith and Rabbi Benjamin
We will gather via Zoom to create sacred space and time to focus on healing and wholeness. Through contemplative teachings, meditation, prayer, and sharing, we encircle ourselves with healing energy—however it is needed in our lives, our families, our communities, our planet. There will be a hand-washing ritual during the gathering, so please have a bowl of water, small pitcher or cup, and towel if you would like. RSVP here.

Mountains of Evidence?
Sunday, Feb. 14, 11 am – Room Bet
Nations start out as ideas before they’re anything else: writing history is about the future of the nation as much as it is about the past. There’s no better example than the state of Israel, and no more classically Israeli story than the fall and rise of Masada. But this founding myth of Israel is not always what it seems, and history and political storytelling can be pretty strange bedfellows. We’ll take a hard look at fact and fantasy and ask the difficult questions about what Israel’s 20th Century history needed, and whether those needs are the same today. Taught by David Feder. RSVP here.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 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. 17, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Lev Tahor Chanting Circle
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 7 pm – Room Gimel
Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin
We will come together for an evening of contemplative practice, chanting interspersed with silence, guided by teachings from the tradition. While clearly different over Zoom, we will still gather in community and lift our voices as we draw strength from one another through the practice. Everyone is welcome, no experience or musical ability required. RSVP here.

B'nei Mitzvah: Beginning the Journey & Date Selection
Sunday, Feb. 21, 10 am – Room Bet
This workshop for parents intends to launch families on the b’nei mitzvah journey. We will focus on the rite of passage itself, then families will learn about the date selection process. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, and the B’nei Mitzvah Committee. RSVP here.

Poverty & Homelessness Committee Presents Discussions on Homelessness
Sunday, Feb. 21, 4 pm – Room Bet
Jenn Louis will share her experiences in developing relationships with various homeless camps. Getting to know the regulars, bringing needed food, clothing, and ‘tent’ items. Facing our fears and awkwardness in talking to folks. Learning to acknowledge and respect people whose lives are different from ours, but who share many similar needs. Join us for an honest and probing discussion.

Havurah Song Share
Sunday, Feb. 21, 5 pm – Room Aleph
This month, in honor of Purim, we are singing songs about the topsy-turvy, the inside-out, the "not-what-you'd-expect" and the upside-down! Bring your voice and your instruments. All are welcome. If you are interested in sharing a song, please email leah.shoshanah@havurahshalom.org.

Second Meeting of the Israel/Palestine Committee
Sunday, Feb. 21, 7 pm – Room Heh
The Israel/Palestine committee will meet to firm up plans for possible film discussions, the beginnings of a list of books to suggest to the Havurah book club, and other tentative programming ideas. This is a working committee not a forum for discussion about Israel/Palestine issues. New committee members are welcome. Contact Elinor Gollay with questions via the Havurah Member Directory.

Book Group: Shadowlands by Anthony McCann
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
In 2016, a group of armed, divinely inspired right-wing protestors led by Ammon Bundy occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in the high desert of eastern Oregon. Encamped in the shadowlands of the republic, insisting that the Federal government had no right to own public land, the occupiers were seen by a divided country as either dangerous extremists dressed up as cowboys, or as heroes insisting on restoring the rule of the Constitution. Read more here. Discussion led by Marjorie Walters.

Jewish Understandings of Slavery & Freedom: The Passover Seder Evolves
Wednesdays, Feb. 24; Mar. 3, 10, 17, 7-8:30 pm – Zoom Room Bet
One of the four names for Pesach is Hag ha-Herut (The Feast of Freedom). Jews in different historical contexts have understood Mitzrayim (the narrow space) differently and therefore freedom has looked different in different generations. We will look at this evolution; one focus will be on the liberation of gender, which has been a hallmark of contemporary seders. Taught by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Register here.

AlteRocker's Happy Hour
Thursday, Feb. 25, 4:30 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze and celebrate Purim!

Knitting Class Postponed

Want to Share Your Songs?

B'nei Mitzvah Projects

Learn about and Support the work that our B’nei Mitzvah students are doing in order to give back to the community and express their values.

Photo by Barbara Gundle

I foster Hamsters and Gerbils who needed a new home. I take them in, give them the love and care that they need and supply them with a healthy environment (500 square inch cages with 6 inches of bedding, toys, water, and food). I hand tame them if needed. I have very cute and social animals who are looking for their FURever home! Contact Roza Eisenbach-Budner at TinyPawsRescueandFoster@gmail.com if you would like to adopt one. Thank you.

– Roza

Songwriter Spotlight Recording

Planning Classes at Havurah

Tikkun Olam Updates

Our Homeless Neighbors

Thank you all for so much support, the kindness and sense of care is well-received. Most of the people I am serving are seeming more settled and well with their basic needs mostly met. Help is still needed. Here is what is needed most:

• Men's pants
• Women's leggings
• Socks, men and women
• Canned foods, food and meals to reheat (non-perishable)
• Blankets and comforters

Please see jennlouis.com (homeless relief) for more information on how you can participate.

Poverty and Homelessness Committee Volunteer Opportunity

Tikkun Olam's Poverty and Homelessness Committee has been a part of the lunch brigade program at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center (BLHC) since September. We, along with six other congregations from the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, have delivered daily lunches to those in shelter at BLHC. Sunday is our day. If you would like to participate with a small group of other Havurahniks there are Sundays in February and March available. Please contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory.

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!

Community Events & Offerings

Uncovering the Hidden History of Discrimination in Oregon
Feb. 23 & March 8
In this time of national and local reckoning with our country and city’s grim legacy of discrimination and hate, we have come together as a broad coalition of friends and allies to create a series of public programs to confront hate. We have been reminded almost daily that our communities of color, immigrants, and LGBTQ persons, as well as many of our neighbors of various religious faiths, are frequent targets of vicious hatred. Nevertheless, we have also seen seeds of hope. We have witnessed an upsurge of people ready to stand in solidarity with those who are targets of discrimination and hate—people who are eager to listen, to learn, and to take action to make Portland a place that truly protects the lives, well-being, and dignity of all who live here. See more info 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.

2021 Weekend in Quest
Circus Jews Under National Socialism: A Lecture & Performance
Sunday, March 7, 11 am
Scholar in Residence Stav Meishar
2021 Weekend in Quest is a free virtual program that honors the roots of the program as a Shabbaton Study Weekend. This year’s program has shifted to a webinar format with Scholar in Residence Stav Meishar. The true stories of Jewish circus artists between the world wars are told with sensitivity and humor by Stav Meishar, a circus artist and academic. The lecture is based on over seven years of extensive research and combines photos from personal albums, recorded testimonies, and personal stories. Additionally, Meishar will present excerpts from her show "The Escape Act", a show based on one of the stories she uncovered–that of a Jewish acrobat who survived the Holocaust hiding in a German circus. Stav Meishar is a theatre maker, multidisciplinary performer, academic researcher and educator, working across circus, theatre, and contemporary performance. Register for Weekend in Quest at OJMCHE website.

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.

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.

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?

Havurah Zoom Rooms

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.