Havurah Shalom’s Core Crisis Team has now conducted two Community Forums on the topic of re-opening our building for services, community-wide B’nei Mitzvah, celebrations, and events. The CCT shared the three possibilities that are under consideration for returning to indoor settings:
Level 1 – masks optional for vaccinated persons; masks mandatory for unvaccinated persons
Level 2 – masks preferred for vaccinated persons; masks mandatory for unvaccinated persons
Level 3 – masks mandatory for all
Many members attended the forums and shared their thoughts and feelings about re-opening under these different protocols. The events were recorded on Zoom and are available here:
If you have any questions about the choices under consideration, or have a comment for the CCT, please send an email to info@havurahshalom.org and a member of the CCT will get back to you.
Havurah Needs Consulting
Havurah is hiring a consulting team to help us move our anti-racism and belonging work forward. While we think it is best to engage a consulting team that doesn’t include Havurah members, we are asking for help to find a consulting team. If you have contacts who you think would be a good match, please share our Statement of Work. If you have questions, please contact Bob Brown or Chris Coughlin. Watch for more information in the August Hakol.
Upcoming Events
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.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, July 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 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.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, July 28, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by Liz Schwartz.
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!
Community Minyan Saturday, July 31, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning! Led by J.D. Kleinke and Emily Simon this week. This service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion.
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.
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.
(IP) Pride Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park Friday, Jul 11th 6:30p to 8:30p Celebrate queer and Jewish joy and resistance 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.
(HYB) Steering Meeting on July 15 Tuesday, Jul 15th 6:30p to 8:30p **Our Steering Meeting this month will be held on Tuesday, July 15 instead of on the usual day (second Tuesdays).** 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).
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Sylvia Hartman Shabbat, Jul 19th 10:00a to 12:00p Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Sylvia Hartman as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
Havurah Marching in the Pride Parade with Shir Tikvah Sunday, Jul 20th 10:30a to 2:00p Havurah is marching in Pride! Havurah Shalom is a parade contingent in the 2025 Portland Pride Parade. **Havurahniks, please RSVP to let us know you'll be marching with us in the Portland Pride Parade. It will really help us with planning and communications.** (Note: 10:30 am is when parade organizers have asked marchers to arrive by.)
HCAT Book Group Meeting Monday, Jul 21st 7:00p to 8:00p Join us for our first meeting for the book "Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility."
