The Core Crisis Team is considering having Havurah move toward reopening our building using an honor system protocol which would permit fully vaccinated persons to choose whether or not to wear a mask in the building. Unvaccinated individuals would be required to wear a mask. No vaccine verification process would be used and, if this protocol were adopted, we would strongly emphasize the message of de-stigmatizing masks since many people will continue to wear masks for many reasons. This protocol is initially being implemented on a small-scale “pilot” basis for the Wednesday morning minyan group and B’nai Mitzvah celebrations, but no decision has been made for larger gatherings in the building.
Click here to register for the Community Forum on Monday, July 19 at 7 pm in Room Aleph to understand more about the basis for this proposal, hear about the alternatives that are being considered, and share your input.
Upcoming Events
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, July 16, 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 Ella Bendsneyder-Koven Saturday, July 17, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Ella Bendsneyder-Koven as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community!
Tisha B'Av: 40 Day of Teshuvah film screening, panel, and discussion
Sunday, July 18, 10 am
On Tisha B’Av we commemorate the darkest moments in our Jewish history and begin to move from brokenness towards redemption. “Zion will be redeemed through justice” (Isaiah 1:27). As we emerge from the losses of the COVID pandemic, we have a fresh opportunity to reengage in the work of repair both at the level of our intimate communities and in the broader society. Havurah joins the Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project and the Reconstructing Judaism movement in showing the film, 40 Days of Teshuvah, Last summer, Yehudah Webster and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) protested for 40 days culminating with Tisha B'Av. The film offers a powerful model for integrating Jewish spiritual tools and technologies like prayer, teshuvah and Mussar into the work of social change in general and racial justice in particular. RSVP here.
Community Forum on Reopening Monday, July 19, 7 pm– Room Aleph
The Core Crisis Team is considering having Havurah move toward reopening our building using an honor system protocol which would permit fully vaccinated persons to choose whether or not to wear a mask in the building and require unvaccinated individuals to wear a mask. This protocol is initially being implemented on a small-scale “pilot” basis for the Wednesday morning minyan group and B’nai Mitzvah celebrations, but no decision has been made for larger gatherings in the building. The CCT wants your input about this proposal and the alternatives we are considering. Do you have questions or comments for the Core Crisis Team? Send them to info@havurahshalom.org and someone from the committee will get back to you.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, July 20, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, July 21, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by J.D. Kleinke.
Bar Mitzvah of Ezra Webb Saturday, July 24, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Ezra Webb as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community!
Film Screening & Discussion: "Other Side of the Hill" Monday, July 26, 7 pm – Room Bet
"Other Side of the Hill" explores the impacts of a changing climate as seen through the eyes of local leaders on the ground in rural Oregon. The film amplifies the voices of rural communities often left unheard, and shines a light on stories of progress and hope. In a time of unprecedented cultural divide between rural and urban communities, this film finds common ground in an urgency to address a changing landscape. The film will be available for free online viewing July 10-25. Register here to view the film at home. RSVP here to attend the discussion. Contact Michael Huemann with questions. This event is put on by our Havurah Climate Action Team.
Book Group Journey From the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran Tuesday, July 27, 7 pm – Room Bet
In Journey from the Land of No, Roya Hakakian recalls her childhood and adolescence in pre-revolutionary Iran with candor and verve. The result is a beautifully written coming-of-age story about one deeply intelligent and perceptive girl’s attempt to find an authentic voice of her own at a time of cultural closing and repression. Remarkably, she manages to re-create a time and place dominated by religious fanaticism, violence, and fear with an open heart and often with great humor. Discussion led by Mischa and Salome DuPont.
AlteRockers Happy Hour Thursday, July 29, 4:30-6 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes the last Thursday of the month!
B'nei Mitzvah Projects
Art was such an important part of my elementary school experience, so when school arts program funding was cut, I worried that students with less resources wouldn’t be able to provide their own supplies. I decided to use my Bat Mitzvah as an opportunity to break down barriers facing these youth. I will use all funds raised to purchase art supplies for a local SUN Community School IRCO program, and then deliver them to the kids at the start of the coming school year. Donate directly to the project by clicking here. In the donation notes, write “in honor of Ella’s Bat Mitzvah.” Thank you!
– Ella
Tikkun Olam
Particpate in the Racial Justice Committee There is a group of people who have been meeting to discuss and define a Racial Justice Committee within the Tikkun Olam Cluster. We have met twice. If you are interested in participating and have not been included in the previous meetings, contact Bob Brown via email at tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org and he will include you in communications about this effort.
High Holy Days Tzedakah Project: Coming Soon!
Our High Holy Days are approaching. In our efforts to do the work of Tikkun Olam, the Poverty and Homeless Tikkun Olam Committee will coordinate collections to support those in need. Lists of needed items will soon be posted in Hineinu and in the High Holy Day packet you will receive that the office staff are currently working on. Thank you for your support. Contact Gloria Halper if you have questions.
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 who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Rabbi Benjamin.
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!
Havurah Zoom Rooms
To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, Jun 27th 5:45p to 8:30p Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided.
(HYB) Climate Change Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jun 28th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. 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.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Jun 29th 7:00p to 8:15p A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.
(ZM) Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, Jun 30th 6:00p to 7:30p We hold monthly letter writing group Zoom gatherings to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP, but please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well.
(IP) Pride Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park Friday, Jul 11th 6:30p to 8:30p Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB. All are welcome.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jul 12th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. 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.
