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– Zoom info here
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.
Third Annual Fair Fight Bond Fund Virtual Fundraiser Sunday, May 2, 6 pm– RSVP here 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.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, May 4, 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, 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.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, May 5, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Teen-Led Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, May 7, 7 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for a special, teen-led Kabbalat Shabbat. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians!
Bar Mitzvah of Noah Karoli Saturday, May 8, 10 am– Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Noah Karoli as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community!
Shavuot: Mark Your Calendar
Shavuot is coming on Sunday night, May 16. Mark your calendars now for an engaging evening of learning and discussion! This year, we will include a session for our younger population of high schoolers and college folk. In addition, Rabbi Benjamin will offer some learning opportunities. Stay tuned for more details!
Israel/Palestine Film Discussion
Sunday, May 23, 7-8:30 pm in Zoom Room Heh RSVP here
Our third film discussion is about In Between (Bar Behar). Please watch the film prior to discussion. Available from: Prime Video; Kanopy; Fandango Now; VUDU; iTunes; Film Movement.
In Between, a 2016 Israeli-French film about three Palestinian Israel women sharing an apartment in Tel Aviv, depicts their struggles as shaped by living in relatively liberal Tel Aviv, the more conservative Arab society, inequality of Israeli society, and their desire to free themselves.
Space Jam Update
The Space Jam page (sign-in to access) on the Havurah website has been updated! You can now go to that page for information about the committee, read through the architect’s Expansion Opportunities Report, and read the Q&As we have posted about space issues. Visit the updated Space Jam page to learn more about our process and progress! For future reference, you can always find the Space Jam page from the Havurah home page by signing in, going to the “Clusters” drop down, then “Makom,” and finally “Space Jam.”
Tikkun Olam
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.
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.
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.
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.
