For the Breath of Every Life

Dear Hevre,

I said a prayer of thanks yesterday upon hearing news of the guilty verdict. There is accountability for George Floyd’s murder. It was beautiful to hear the Floyd family share their gratitude for the result, and for all those who worked tirelessly for 11 months to make it happen. They offered a sentiment I heard echoed from other Black activists and leaders, that today they felt like they could breathe.

But of course, the freedom to breathe is still very much denied for Black people, as it is for other marginalized communities. Only moments before the Chauvin verdict was announced, police in Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed Ma’Khia Bryant, a 16-year-old Black girl. And this past Friday our own local Police killed another Portland resident, Robert Delgado, who it appears posed no threat. And the list goes on, of the ways in which those sworn to protect perpetrate violence rather than assure safety.

While in a sense the verdict was historic, it is enraging that accountability for someone so clearly guilty in the eyes of the entire world still demands such a fight. True justice is a system transformed. One in which Black, Brown and Indigenous people, the unhoused, disabled people and those struggling with mental illness are no longer murdered or harmed. In a chilling statement, policing expert Alex Vitale wrote: “Chauvin was found guilty because he had to be to preserve the current system of policing. The Dept. turned against him to save itself.”

I take this statement as a challenge for us to keep our sights on true justice, and to lean into this moment in its fullness — the heartbreak and rage, and the hope and resilience.

May every soul everywhere be free to breathe. Tzedek tzedek tirdof — May we pursue justice in its fullest and most redemptive expression.
 

– Rabbi Benjamin

Upcoming Classes

Sacred Action: Spiritual Practice for Pursuing Justice
Thursdays, April 29 – June 3, 4-5:30 pm
In this cohort, we will explore Jewish spiritual wisdom to guide our pursuit of justice and support our building a more loving world. In trusted community, and utilizing a range of texts and practices, we will focus on particular middot, “soul traits,” and their impact on our relationships and action. Guidance will also be given for practice and reflection in between sessions. To register, contact Rabbi Benjamin directly at benjamin.barnett@havurahshalom.org.

Long Range Plan Focus Groups

Click a time below:
Thursday, April 22, 7 pm
Sunday, April 25, 10 am
Monday, April 26, 7 pm

Havurah members will soon receive an invitation to complete the Havurah Census. You can also provide input for the Long Range Plan by attending a focus group. A 45-minute conversation with members of the Long Range Plan team gives Havurah members the chance to imagine our future, what we want to look like five years from now, and how we will get there. We welcome Havurah members of all ages to attend! RSVP via the links above.

Upcoming Events

AlteRockers Earth Day Cleanup
Thursday, April 22, 4-6 pm at Havurah Shalom
Join with Havurah’s AlteRockers on Earth Day to work together on a neighborhood cleanup around the building, as well as the surrounding blocks. This event will be entirely outdoors and will comply with social distancing guidelines. After a safety talk and getting cleanup supplies, we will spend a couple of hours picking up litter in the neighborhood to improve our community and protect our ecosystem. Join us and help give back this Earth Day! RSVP here. Please contact Ted Scheinman via the Havurah Member Directory with questions.

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, April 23, 7 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by Leah Shoshanah. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.
 

Bar Mitzvah of Uziel Lamanet
Saturday, April 24, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Uziel Lamanet as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Garden Committee Spring Work Party
Sunday, April 25, 10 am - 2 pm at Havurah Shalom
We will prune, weed, clean, and spiff up all the plantings at Havurah in honor of spring. Bring good gloves, pruners, mask, snacks and water. Contact Barbara Gundle or Megan Koler via the Havurah Member Directory for questions. This activity will be in-person and will observe social distancing measures.

HCAT Film Discussion: Kiss the Ground
Sunday, April 25, 4-6 pm – Register for Zoom info
Watch Kiss the Ground, a film about how soil regeneration can rapidly stabilize climate, restore lost ecosystems, and create abundant food supplies. Then join us for a discussion that will include speakers and an interactive presentation about local actions you can take.

Israel/Palestine Committee Film Discussion: The Gatekeepers
Sunday, April 25, 7-8:30 pm – Room Heh
Film is available on Prime Video, VUDU, Apple TV, STARZ, Fandago Now, Google Play, and at Movie Madness video store
Participants should have watched The Gatekeepers film but need not be experts on the Israel/Palestine situation. The 2012 Oscar-nominated documentary tells the story of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service, from the perspective of six former Directors who recount Shin Bet’s role from the 1967 Arab-Israeli War until their retirement. RSVP here.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, April 27, 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: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Tuesday, April 27, 7 pm – Room Bet
Just Mercy is at once an unforgettable account of an idealistic, gifted young lawyer’s coming of age, a moving window into the lives of those he has defended, and an inspiring argument for compassion in the pursuit of true justice. A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice. Discussion led by Leatrice Kaplan.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, April 28, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by Roger Brewer.

AlteRockers Happy Hour
Thursday, April 29, 4:30-6 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes – the last Thursday of the month!

PNW Reconstructionist Community Shabbaton
Friday & Saturday, April 30 & May 1 – RSVP for link & schedule
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, on “The Talmud of Social Justice.” Shabbaton will include Friday evening and Shabbat morning communal prayer and gathering options as well as keynote late Saturday afternoon, with discussions and Havdalah Saturday evening.

BIPOC Community Meetup
Tuesday, May 4, 7-8:30 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 via the Havurah Member Directory.

Earth Day Playlist

Need some music for Earth Day? Our Music Coordinator, Leah Shoshanah, has assembled an Earth Day playlist on YouTube. Follow this link to listen.

Tikkun Olam

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. 

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's Monthly Meeting
Thursday, May 6, 12-1:30pm – RSVP here
Please join us for First Thursday Meeting of the Interfaith Alliance. The topic is "Reparations: What does our moral voice tell us?" RSVP and more info here. IAP is a partner of the Poverty & Homelessness Committee.

Nicholas Kristof Speaking on His Book Tightrope
Monday, June 7, 7 pm
Havurah is invited through our membership with The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty to hear Nicholas Kristof, sharing from his book Tightrope. Be prepared to be inspired, educated and moved to engage from this session "Conversation and questions on poverty. What are our moral imperatives?" More info here. Info brought to you by the Poverty & Homelessness Committee. 

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG

Community Events & Offerings

Good Deeds Month
Join with fellow Jewish community members in volunteering around Portland this month: from Tivnu, to cleaning parks, to helping homeless folks, and much more! There's something to get everyone engaged in their community. Learn more here.

Jewish Currents Is Looking for Soviet Jewish Stories to Publish
Jewish Currents invites pitches for our Fall 2021 themed issue, which will focus on Soviet Jewish experiences both in the Soviet Jewish diaspora and in the former Soviet Union. We are looking for reported features, investigative pieces, profiles, conversations, and essays; we also welcome tips for stories even if you can’t write the piece yourself. Please email pitches, tips, or finished work to submissions@jewishcurrents.org by April 23 with the subject line SOVIET ISSUE: [description of pitch].

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?

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!