Praying for Peace & Liberation

Friends, this is a dark moment in Israel and Palestine. I find myself, as I have so many times, struggling to name what feels right, or helpful, or necessary, amidst an escalation of violence there. Within our community there is a wide diversity of connection, or lack thereof, to that land and its residents, and a broad range of perspectives on what is happening now and what precipitated this moment. As always, my phone line and inbox are open. I would welcome the chance to connect, whether to share in struggle about the situation or in response to anything I write with which you disagree.

Like all of us, I am praying for peace, for a de-escalation of violence, and for safety and security for all residents of Israel and Palestine. My hearts breaks over the killing of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza in the past few days, including 14 children. I feel particularly enraged in solidarity with the families and communities of those young people whose lives were ended so senselessly. My heart breaks as well for the two Israeli women in Ashkelon killed by a rocket from Gaza, and I mourn with their families and communities. For all Israelis living in fear right now, having to duck into bomb shelters at a moment’s notice, I shudder, knowing that this is a reality far from what I live. And I shudder further as I imagine all the Palestinian people and families, for whom the situation is many times more precarious. They may receive a warning that their building will be struck, but where are they to go?

I pray for peace, and I pray for liberation. Liberation, yes, for all people suffering under these generational cycles of violence. And liberation in particular for the Palestinian people, who have endured over 50 years of a brutal and dehumanizing occupation by the State of Israel. There are a lot of events that have contributed to this moment’s escalation, and I unequivocally condemn violence against civilians from either side. But the forced removal of Palestinian families to be replaced by Jewish settlers in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the denial of worshippers access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the last Friday of Ramadan, and the subsequent harassment and attack against worshippers who were there, are all state-sanctioned acts of violence, which are necessary elements in maintaining the occupation. As long as it continues, and millions of Palestinians are systematically denied basic human rights, including the right to vote for the government which ultimately controls their fate, the violence will not end. So in this moment, more than ever, I believe we must call and work for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian people.

As Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of T’ruah, put it in her powerful article yesterday:

"All of us who care about the future of Israel and Palestine, and of Israelis (Jewish, Palestinian & other) and Palestinians should be putting our money, advocacy energy, and organizing power into working to end occupation, investing in organizations both here & there that are doing so, and supporting the extraordinary activists on the ground who are devoting their lives to this work."

Ken y’hi ratzon — May it be so.
    
– Rabbi Benjamin

The Census is Almost Here!

We need all Havurah households to complete the Havurah Census you will soon receive in your email. The demographic information we are collecting is critical for understanding who is part of the Havurah community and how we project forward in our Long-Range Plan. All information is confidential and being aggregated by a third party.

Please complete your Havurah Census as soon as it arrives in your inbox! If you have any questions, or do not receive the Census email by this Sunday, contact Sam Sirkin via the Havurah Member Directory.

Tikkun Leyl Shavuot

A Night of Multigenerational Learning and Discussion
Sunday, May 16 – Room Aleph

Upcoming Classes

Intergenerational Conflict and Sexuality in Yiddish Poetry
Wednesdays, May 26, June 2, June 9, 12-1:15 pm – Room Gimel
Themes of change, family loyalty, and the struggle for autonomy permeate early 20th century Yiddish literature. Using sexuality as a focal point, we will see how Jewish language and culture are used to explore themes of generational conflict, identity and cultural transition. Malka Heifetz Tussman and Anna Margolin are among the poets that we will read together in English translation (but we will have the Yiddish available for reference). Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Please register here.

Upcoming Events

New & Prospective Member Welcome Tea
Thursday, May 13, 7 pm – Room Aleph
The Welcome Committee invites new and newish faces to the New and Prospective Member Welcome Tea — an informal Zoom gathering. Come and meet other new and prospective members and some long-time members too! Ask questions about Havurah, and be ready to have some fun! BYOT! (Bring Your Own Tea!) Anyone and everyone is welcome. RSVP here.

Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 14, 7 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Led by Rabbi Benjamin. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.

Bar Mitzvah of Noah Malmon
Saturday, May 15, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Noah Malmon as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Morning Minyan  DATE CHANGE
Monday, May 17, 8:15 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, May 18, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.

Bikkur Holim Visioning Meeting
Thursday, May 20, 7-8:30 pm – Room Bet
After its first year of activity, the Bikkur Holim Committee is looking at lessons learned and visioning how best to continue providing contact and comfort for those who are ill or in mourning, and supporting Rabbi Benjamin in the pastoral care he provides our community. Interested Havurah members are invited to join with current committee members to explore ideas and options. RSVP here.

Discussion on Poverty
Sunday, May 23, 4-5 pm – Room Bet
The Poverty & Homelessness Committee presents the third in our series of discussions on poverty. Our guest speaker is Havurah member Fran Weick. Since 2002, Fran has been the Director of Human Solutions' Resident Services Program. She has over 30 years of experience working with low-income families. Her focus is housing stability for low-income households and for those who are moving from homelessness to permanent housing. Join us! RSVP here.

Israel/Palestine Film Discussion
Sunday, May 23, 7-8:30 pm – Room Heh
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, and 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. This event is put on by the Israel/Palestine Committee.

Book Group Reads Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History by Steven Zipperstein
Tuesday, May 25, 7 pm – Room Bet
So shattering were the aftereffects of Kishinev, the rampage that broke out in late-Tsarist Russia in April 1903, that one historian remarked that it was “nothing less than a prototype for the Holocaust itself.” Steve Zipperstein, who may be the most eminent historian of eastern European Jewry in the United States, uncovers sources in Russian, Yiddish, and English that show not only why this bloody event ignited the Jewish imagination, its sense of embattlement in exile, but also why it had such lasting resonance internationally. Discussion led by Joel Beinin. This event is put on by the Havurah Book Group.

Cemetery Workshop
Wednesday, May 26, 7-8:30 pm – Room Dalet
If you're interested in our beautiful cemetery, come to our workshop! The goal is to help members be more cognizant of the cemetery, and to see if we can develop a group who are trained to sell graves. We'll give a brief history of why we have a cemetery and why it's in the Jones Pioneer Cemetery. We will talk about who can be buried there and what options are available when it comes to grave site selection. Also to be covered: the process of selling a grave site and how we know what graves are sold and which are still available. Questions? Call Dave Weil via the Havurah Member Directory and leave a message. He'll call you back. RSVP here. This event is put on by the Cemetery Committee.

Tikkun Olam

MACG General Assembly
Thursday, May 13, 6:30-8:30 pm
MACG (Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good) General Assemblies are events where all 24 MACG member institutions are represented. The focus for this assembly is on criminal justice reform, in particular, Measure 11 — a 1994 ballot measure requiring mandatory minimum sentences — and two key reform bills in the current Oregon Legislative session: House Bill 2002 and Senate Bill 401. Measure 11 establishes mandatory sentences for certain crimes and takes away any leeway judges may want to exercise. Come to learn more about these bills, hear personal stories, and take action!
We will be joined at the assembly by two special guests: Edward Jones, a retired judge of the Multnomah County Circuit Court who wrote a recent op-ed in support of Measure 11 reform. Aaron Knott, chief of staff for Multnomah County’s District Attorney Mike Schmidt. RSVP here. This event is put on by the Havurah MACG Core Team.

Building Justice: Tikkun Olam Virtual Brunch
Sunday, May 16, 11-12:30pm – Room Bet
As a congregation, Havurah Shalom engages in strong social justice work. We believe that it the strength of our relationships that enable change to happen. Let’s take some time to get to know each other, schmooze, nosh, and act. Join the Tikkun Olam cluster for conversation and action as a way to build relationships. Bring your advocacy actions and we will join together to support each other’s causes. RSVP here. This event is put on by the Havurah MACG Core Team.

Family-Friendly Letter Writing to Congress
Sunday, May 16, 5-6 pm – RSVP for Zoom info
Each month we invite people of all ages to join us to write letters to our members of Congress to urge action on behalf of a healthy climate for all. The topic for May is advancing climate solutions in the Jobs Act. Bring physical or electronic writing implements and your sense of fun and patriotism to make our Jewish voices heard. This event is put on by the Havurah Climate Action Team.

Nicholas Kristof's Event Prep Session #3
Monday, May 17, 7pm – Zoom room here
As a member of The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty join this 3rd prep session. In small groups preliminary discussion topics formulated for Kristof will be shared, as well as developing a few more during this 60-90 minute facilitated session. Zoom passcode: 236168. This event is brought to you by 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. Poster 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

Space Jam Q&A

The Expansion Opportunities Report outlines three possible “build-up” opportunities for Havurah at our current site, which range in rough price estimates from $3.6 million (1-story addition) to over $9 million (tear down and build a 3-story building). Our commercial realtor is diligently looking for well-located buildings with parking that would meet our long term needs, but which would also likely require significant remodeling.

Q: Can we afford this? What was raised to build our current building?
A: There is no doubt that Havurah will need to explore our capacity and appetite for embarking on a capital campaign if we were to decide to build up or purchase (and possibly renovate) another building. But we’ve done this before. Approximately $4 million was raised to build our current building – an initial campaign, plus several follow-on fundraisers. And, we only had half our current membership when we did this in the 1990s.

Can You Help Maria Find a Job?

Do you have experience connecting job seekers to employers? Or connections that could lead to a job? Is your business hiring? The Sanctuary Committee seeks leads, as well as volunteers to join our "employment navigators" supporting Maria, a Guatemalan asylum seeker being sponsored by Havurah. Vaccinated, with a work permit, and improving (though limited) English, Maria needs our support in her transition to independence. Interested, or have a tip to share? Please contact Deborah Kallen (contact info in Havurah directory).

Want to joing our team of employment navigators helping Maria find work? We are looking for leads and volunteers. Please contact Deb Kallen via the Havurah Member Directory.

Community Events & Offerings

A Community Call to Confront Hate
Wednesday, May 26, 9-1 pm – Register here
In this time of national and local reckoning with our country and state's grim legacy of discrimination and hate, we have come together as a broad coalition of partner organizations and allies to create a virtual summit. A Community Call to Confront Hate is the culmination of a collaborative effort by several local area organizations that previously presented webinars on the history of discrimination and bigotry in Oregon.

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?

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!