Hineinu: Renew Your Dues Now | Help Resettle A Family
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Remember to Renew Your Dues!
If you haven’t already renewed your membership and made your dues commitment for 2021-22, please do so by June 30 by completing this form.
By taking time to fill out the Havurah Dues Renewal Form for 2021-22 or sending an e-mail with a note indicating your commitment to karenwesterman@havurahshalom.org, you will save lots of volunteer time! Havurah has 480 households now and that is a lot of renewals. Thank you!
– Karen Westerman, past Havurah President
Help Resettle A Family
Maria and Carlos are close to moving into their own apartment. We have a big need for a couple of strong people to help move the heavier pieces from storage to a truck. This will be on June 30 during the late afternoon and evening and also from the truck into the apartment on July 1. The kindness of our community has secured almost all of the needed furnishings for their apartment. As of writing this, we lack a twin-sized mattress and box springs. Please contact me if you might be able to help with either need and I’ll provide details. Thank you!
Wednesday Morning Minyan & B'nei Mitzvah The Core Crisis Team met on June 15 to further discuss issues around opening our space. Havurah’s COVID Safety Guidelines have been updated to reflect our decision to allow limited use of the sanctuary for B’nei Mitzvahs and the Wednesday Morning Minyan Group. A copy of the updated Guidelines can be found here. As we continue to balance various needs and values, the Core Crisis Team has solicited input from the Steering Committee and our Transparency & Inclusivity Committee. We are also planning on organizing community forums in July and August to hear directly from our members. Look for publicity and details about those events in the coming weeks!
Upcoming Events
Community Minyan Saturday, June 19, 10 am– Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning! Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, June 22, 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 Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots Tuesday, June 22, 7-8:30 pm – Room Bet
As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Discussion led by David Newman.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, June 23, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
AlteRockers Happy Hour Thursday, June 24, 4:30-6 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes - last Thursday of the month!
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, June 25, 7 pm – Room Aleph
Please join us for our spirited and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service led by J.D. Kleinke. Music will be provided by our talented Havurah musicians.
Bat Mitzvah of RozaBess Eisenbach-Budner Saturday, June 26, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming RozaBess Eisenbach-Budner as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community!
Fourth Israel/Palestine Film Discussion Sunday, June 27, 7-8:30 pm– Room Heh
Film discussion of "Dancing Arabs" / "A Borrowed Identity" from 2014. The screenplay is based on the semi-autobiographical novel Dancing Arabs. An academically talented Palestinian-Israeli attends a prestigious boarding school in Jerusalem where he is the only Arab. He and a Jewish girl who is a schoolmate fall in love. The film explores Israeli identity and shows the difficulties and eventually the impossibility of them maintaining a relationship. Amazon Prime; Strand Releasing; Vudu; Apple TV. RSVP here.
Help Launch the Racial Justice Committee Monday, June 28, 7 pm – Room Bet
Please join us as we continue to explore forming a Racial Justice Committee at Havurah. One organizing meeting was held a few weeks ago, but we are early in the process, so this is a great time to join and share your suggestions and interests. All are welcome! Contact Bob Brown with any questions, and please RSVP to Bob Brown if you plan to attend. Bob's info can be found via the Havurah Member Directory.
LGBTQIA+ Advance Care Planning Tuesday, June 29, 7-8:30 pm– Room BetDATE CHANGE The Ma'avar Committee is hosting an Advance Care Planning workshop on creating an Advance Directive with a special focus for the LGBTQI+ community. Advance care planning is a process of considering the types of healthcare decisions that may need to be made in a medical crisis or at the end-of-life then writing those decisions and preferences into an Advance Directive. Space is limited and RSVP is required. Please contact Ericka Kimball via the Havurah Member Directory with questions. RSVP here.
Juneteenth on June 19
Here are some useful resources related to Juneteenth:
Nicholas Kristoff's Book Discussion
If you missed the discussion of Tightrope author Nicholas Kristoff and would like to view the event, click the link below.
This discussion was sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty with whom Havurah partners through the work of the Tikkun Olam Poverty & Homelessness Committee. Please contact Havurah member Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory for more info.
Opportunity to Connect with Progressive Israeli Organizations Tuesday, June 29, 9:30 am - RSVP here
The Israel/Palestine Committee wants to alert you about an exciting new initiative from the Joint Israel Commission of the Reconstructionist movement called Shutafut, a simple way for Reconstructionist communities to partner with progressive, creative Israeli organizations working for peace, justice, and pluralism. The initiative launches with a panel discussion of representatives from three Israeli organizations.
COVID-19 Vaccines & Assistance
Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services (CNSCOS)
CNSCOS can help you make sense of all there is to know about the pandemic, testing, and vaccines. 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.