Hineinu: Interested in Learning to Read Hebrew? Jewish Genealogy?
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Passover Events
The Last Chance Seder Saturday, April 3, 6 pm with Andrine de la Rocha, Diane Chaplin, and Howard Patterson
Join us on the last evening of Pesach as we follow our family Haggadah on the Exodus from Egypt to Freedom. With ritual foods, modern commentary, songs and witty banter. Suitable for adults and high school students. BYOMatzo. RSVP here.
A special event for wee Jews
Pesach Tot Shabbat Saturday, April 3, 10:30-11 am – Room Bet
Join us for a short and sweet Passover Shabbat morning with singing and stories. Especially for families with wee Jews (0-5). Led by Leah Shoshanah and Adela Basayne.
Accompanying Maria & Carlos
This season of Pesach, as we commemorate our exodus from Mitzrayim, we also reflect on those still struggling in the narrow places. Havurah is sponsoring Maria and Carlos, Guatemalan asylum seekers whose search for safety echoes our own foundational story. If you are able, please consider contributing to our fundraiser to support Maria and Carlos as they prepare to move from the home of a Havurah family and into an apartment of their own.
Upcoming Classes
Begin with Aleph: Learn to Read Hebrew Wednesdays, April 7 - May 12, 7 pm – Room Bet
This course is for beginners, even those who have "begun" before. Focusing on basic reading competency, we will uncover bits of Judaism that are only accessible through its original language. Our text has online home practice. Taught by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.Sign up here.
Jewish Genealogy Class Sunday, April 11, 18, 25, 10 am – Room Gimel
This Jewish genealogy introduction will show you that there is much evidence remaining to discover about your own family history. Over our three sessions, you will learn about your family history and how to use the tools to continue gathering information on your own. Please rsvp in advance so Barbara Hershey can collect information to help direct the class and send you a Family Group Sheet to organize basic information about already known family members.Sign up here.
Upcoming Events
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, April 2, 7 pm– Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Leah Shoshanah and Rabbi Benjamin.
Community Minyan Saturday, April 3, 10 am– Room Aleph
Join us for an uplifting morning service. Led by J.D. Kleinke, Ken Lerner, Susan Brenner, Rabbi Benjamin, and Barbara Slader.
Community Havdalah Saturday, April 3, 5 pm– Room Aleph
Join Shabbat School for a community celebration of Havdallah! Led by Leah Shoshanah, Rabbi Benjamin, and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, April 6, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.
BIPOC Community Meetup Tuesday, April 6, 7 pm – Room Heh
If you identify as Black, Indigenous, or other person of color, we hope you will join us. This will be a casual get together with the sole purpose of listening to, learning from, and supporting one another. This meeting requires no ongoing commitment. Please RSVP here, or just show up. If you're unable to make it but like this idea, or have other ideas as a BIPOC community member, please contact Yshai Boussi via the Havurah Member Directory.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, April 7, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by Liz Schwartz.
Bar Mitzvah of Simon Ilsley Saturday, April 10, 10 am– Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Simon Ilsley as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
April Family-Friendly Letter Writing Party Sunday, April 11, 5-6 pm– RSVP for details
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 from the Havurah Climate Action Team.
Saving Lives, Saving Dignity Monday, April 19, 7-8:30 pm– Room Bet
Modern medical technology allows us to prolong life, but often in a way that directly contraindicates what a patient wants at the end of life. Dr. Molk an Emergency Physician and Author will share his thoughts to help you fully understand the emotional and financial costs, as well as the potential benefits and/or disadvantages in medical decisions. His talk will give you insights and empower you to make your decisions intelligently. This event is organized by the Ma'avar Committee. RSVP here.
PNW Reconstructionist Community Shabbaton April 30 & May 1
Join (online) together for services, learning, yoga, meditation and discussion with communities from Ashland to Seattle. Featuring Reconstructionist movement ethicist and Talmudist Dr. Mira Wasserman as Scholar-in-Residence, topic TBA. Shabbaton will include Friday evening and Shabbat morning communal prayer and gathering options as well as keynote late Saturday afternoon, with discussion and Havdalah Saturday evening. Further details and registration info coming soon.
COVID Gathering Guidelines
We are all seeing in the news that vaccine availability and eligibility is increasing. We want you to know that Havurah’s crisis team is regularly meeting to review the rapidly changing environment. We are committed to having our practices aligned with Jewish values and the most current information about COVID’s spread from reliable sources. As such, we’ve made a couple minor adjustments to Havurah’s Covid Gathering Guidelines, which you can find here.
Havurah Music Makers Survey
We are assembling a database of all Havurah members who make music and want to share it. It will be used to identify singers and musicians for regular and special services, Shabbat school activities, holidays, song-shares, and other events. If you or anyone in your family is a musicmaker — experienced, fledgling, or aspirational, all ages welcome — and would like to be included in the database. Click here to take the survey!
Tikkun Olam
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's Monthly Meeting: Shelters in PDX Thursday, April 1, 12-1:30 pm Plan to join April’s First Thursday meeting for an extensive update on the work of Shelter NOW. The session will highlight the various issues and opportunities that Shelter NOW is engaged in. RSVP and more info here. This event is run by a Havurah partner who works with our Poverty & Homelessness Committee.
Third Annual Fair Fight Bond Fund Virtual Fundraiser Sunday, May 2, 6 pm Havurah's Sanctuary Committee is co-sponsoring this virtual event which is being put on by The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW. The organization's purpose is to secure the release of immigrants from the NW Detention Center. The fund is a revolving community bond fund that gives immigrants a 70% increased chance of winning their case by bonding them out of detention so they can gather evidence. To date, 40 people have been bonded out. RSVP here.
Healing the Heart: A Jewish Meditation Retreat with Rabbis Yael Levy, Joshua Boettiger, and Benjamin Barnett April 15-18 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.
Jewish Arts Month: Virtual Show April 18 - May 8
Northwest Jewish Artists for its tenth Jewish Arts Month (JAM) art show — this year it is virtual! At your leisure, view seventeen artists’ fiber work, beadwork, metal art pieces, glass, ceramics, painting, and more. You can purchase unique artwork and Mother’s Day gifts online for yourself or family and friends. This year’s show takes place virtually online here. Everything displayed will be for sale.
Chronicling These Times
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education just announced the second phase of a project to document these extraordinary times through a powerful oral history project and is looking for the help of the Jewish community. Through a short online interview you can become part of a national project that will provide a snapshot for researchers and future generations of the Jewish experience during these unprecedented times. Jewish community members of all ages and backgrounds who live throughout Oregon can participate by contacting Alisha Babbstein, OJMCHE archivist ababbstein@ojmche.org. The full story of the Chronicling These Times oral history project can be found here on OJMCHE’s website.
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 to Get Vaccinated
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?
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.
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!
(HYB) Shabbat Morning with Music Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 10:00a to 12:00p This community minyan will feature the musical contributions of Aly Halpert who is in residence with us this Shabbat. 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, May 10th 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) Songs for Liberation Song Circle (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 4:30p to 6:30p (Currently this event is for Havurah members only, as registrations are capped at 80 people. Havurah members, be sure to RSVP.) Rising Song Records artist Aly Halpert concludes our music shabbaton with a Song Circle, a space to enjoy our voices together as we learn new and ancient Jewish songs and niggunim together. Aly Halpert is at the epicenter of a resurgence of Jewish music-making– introducing new tunes, new words, and new ways of bringing music into davening and community-building.
Rose Haven Walk (register at their 2025 Reigning Roses Walk site) Sunday, May 11th 10:00a to 1:00p Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother’s Day at the 12th Annual Reigning Roses Walk. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner, or friend. 10 am check-in, 11 am begin walking. (We've cancelled the Havurah Teen Engagement plan for this event; just go to the Rose Haven 2025 Reigning Roses Walk website to register!)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 12th 6:30p to 7:45p We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne.
(HYB) Steering Meeting Tuesday, May 13th 6:30p to 8:30p Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 14th 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.
(IP) B’nei Mitzvah Drash and Service Workshop Thursday, May 15th 7:00p to 8:00p Students and parents are guided through responding to Torah in a drash. You will also take a walk through the Shabbat Morning service. Led by Sarah Shine.
(HYB) Text and Torah Shabbat: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals Shabbat, May 17th 10:00a to 12:00p One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. 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@havurhshalom.org.
