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Upcoming Events

Uncovering the Hidden History of Discrimination in Oregon

Thursday, March 18, 7 pm – RSVP here
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.

Writers Workshop Oneg
Friday, March 19, 7 pm – Room Aleph
This year's Havurah Writers Workshop will lead Friday night’s Shabbat Service with workshop participants reading from their work of the past two months. Readers include Judi Kloper, David Striar, Carolina Martinez, Elianne Lieberman, Michelle Sobel, Marianna Grossman, Kate Dreyfus and David Kertzner. Barbara Slader and David Kertzner will facilitate the service which will include candle lighting and music.

Bat Mitzvah of Sanna Berkson-Klaus
Saturday, March 20, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Sanna Berkson-Klaus as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community!

Song Share with the Havurah Music Maker's Collective
Sunday, March 21, 5 pm – Room Aleph
This month the Havurah Music Maker's Collective sings songs of liberation in honor of Passover! Bring your voice and instrument. All are welcome. If you'd like to share a song, please email Leah at leah@havurahshalom.org.

Israel-Palestine Film Discussion
Sunday, March 21, 7 pm – Room Heh
The Israel/Palestine Committee will host discussions about films that help illuminate the I/P situation. The first film will be "Wanted 18", a Palestinian-Canadian animated documentary. It can be viewed on Kanopy, Apple TV, YouTube, or VUDU. Please watch the film prior to the discussion. RSVP required here. 

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, March 23, 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: Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult
Tuesday, March 23, 7 pm – Room Bet
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game. Discussion led by Gloria Halper and Ruth Feldman.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, March 24, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by J.D. Kleinke.

AlteRockers Happy Hour
Thursday, March 25, 4:30 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes every last Thursday of the month!

HIAS Refugee Shabbat Follow-Up

Our HIAS Refugee Shabbat on March 5, 2021 was inspiring, full of wonderful music and prayers that spoke truly to welcoming the stranger and to repairing America’s broken paths for refugees and asylum seekers. Click here to learn more about HIAS' work, advocating for refugees and impactful actions you can take.

Space Jam Q&A

As we reported in Hakol and last week’s Hineinu, Havurah has now received the Expansion Opportunities Report (click here to see the full report) from architect Richard Brown (who designed our current building), which gives us some rough cost estimates and conceptual drawings for three options:

Option 1: Adding one story to the South side of the building, which would give us roughly 13,000 square feet total space and cost approximately $3.6 million.
Option 2: Adding two stories to the South side of the building, which would give us approximately 17,000 total square feet and cost approximately $3.8 million.
Option 3: Completely replacing our building with a new, 3-story building that would give us about 23,000 total square feet of space at a cost of about $9.3 million.

Q: Why is the cost of a two-story addition only slightly more expensive than a one-story addition?
A: Seismic and structural upgrades would be required to do a one-story addition, and that is a large portion of those costs. Adding another story on top of that is much less expensive – just “sticks and bricks” and not additional structural expenses.

New Committee for Teenagers

Teenagers are an integral part of Havurah Shalom and it is important to ensure their continued sense of Jewish identity and community with the synagogue. With that in mind, a new committee is forming. The committee will be focused on the needs of young people, aged 13-18. The vision is that this committee will be made up of parents of teens, teens themselves, and adults who have an expertise working with teens. If you or your child is interested in becoming involved in creating and serving on this committee please contact Galit Reilly or Eve Berry via the Havurah Member Directory.

Tikkun Olam

April Family-Friendly Letter Writing Party
by the Havurah Climate Action Team
Sunday, April 11, 5-6 pm
On Passover we celebrate redemption from slavery and entry into the Promised Land, where we could derive our livelihood from the land of milk and honey. Now climate change threatens our food system. Farmers need the tools to rebuild the soil and make our food system resilient. Join our fun, family-friendly multi-generational party to write to our members of Congress to fund climate solutions in agriculture. Check out the Jewish Earth Alliance for more information. Facilitated by Rebecca Darling-Budner and Marianna Grossman. RSVP here.

Poverty Discussions Update
by the Poverty & Homelessness Committee
If you missed our second Poverty Discussion event and would like the Event Resource Packet, contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory. The Resource Packet was put together by the hosts of this 2nd Poverty Discussion: Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) and Street Roots. The Packet has the FAQ, a recording of the event, community resources, personal stories, advocacy actions and a Poverty Handbook with history, causes, and more.

Community Events & Offerings

How can we draw from the healing capacities of Jewish contemplative practice? What are the spiritual tools that can nurture healing, that make room for it in our lives, our communities and our world? See further details and registration information here.

COVID-19 Vaccines & Assistance

Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services (CNSCOS)
Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services can help you make sense of all there is to know about the pandemic, testing, and vaccines. 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.

Assistance for Seniors
If you have seniors in your organizations who need help signing up for vaccinations JFCS is partnering with Positive Charge! PDX to get them their appointments. Here is the link to the sign up form.

Do You Need Help?

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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

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 anonymously publish your question in Hakol and then answer that question. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity!