Sign up starting August 4 for engaging, provocative, meaningful classes, discussions, and presentations led by our talented and knowledgeable fellow Havurahniks.
You’ll get an email on August 4 with a link to register for access to Havurah’s High Holidays website, the portal we will be using for all Elul events and High Holiday services. After registering, you can RSVP for these exciting offerings! In the meantime, enjoy this sneak peek.
Core Crisis Team: Two Updates
1. Masks are now required in the building. In light of recent Multnomah County health guidance, Havurah will now require masking in the building, including Wednesday Morning Minyan and B’nei Mitzvah gatherings.
2. In addition to the masking options, the Core Crisis Team will also consider a re-opening protocol that factors in vaccination status. In response to community member requests and recommendations from our health professionals, the CCT will be evaluating a reopening policy that takes vaccine status into consideration.
For more details about these updates, click here to read a longer explanation. If you have any questions about these updates, or have a comment or question for the CCT, please send an email to info@havurahshalom.org. Your email will be shared with the committee and one of the members will get back to you.
Upcoming Events
Looking for Elul programming? You'll be invited to RSVP in an email you'll receive on August 4.
You can also find the event details on our Havurah calendar.
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, Barbara Slader, and Emily Simon this week. This service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, August 3, 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, August 4, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. Led by Rabbi Benjamin this week.
Text & Torah: Moving into Elul from Parashah Re'eh Saturday, August 7, 10 am – Room Aleph We’ll look at the wealth of guidelines for a Jewish life as outlined in Parashah Re’eh, and discuss what it means to open our hearts during the month of Elul. Study session led by Diane Chaplin, followed by a shortened Shabbat service.
Havurah's High Holidays Website Launch Party Sunday, August 8, 7-8 pm
Sign in and say hi to all your friends at our High Holidays Website Launch Party. There will be games, schmoozing, and more as we welcome in the month of Elul. The party will take place on Havurah’s High Holidays website. Register for free when it opens on August 4! Visit this page for more information.
A "Still in Prison" Campaign Teach-In Thursday, August 12, 12 pm – RSVP here
Do you want to work toward restoring justice? Learn about Oregon’s history with a racist law supported by the Ku Klux Klan that was recently declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Sadly, despite the decision, the work to undo the injustice of this racist Oregon law is not finished. You can take action to seek justice for all Oregonians. No one should remain wrongfully imprisoned by an explicitly racist, antisemitic, xenophobic discriminatory law. After nearly 90 years of injustice by an inequitable judicial system, the opportunity for justice should not be ignored. Speakers include Dr. Aliza Kaplan, Professor of Lawyering and Director, Criminal Justice Reform Clinic, and Terrence Hayes. Sponsored by Shir Tikvah, P'nai Or, Bend the Arc, Never Again Action - Portland, EJC, Tisch PDX, Alberta Shul, Matzah Block, and Havurah Shalom.
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.
Tikkun Olam
Volunteer Opportunities
1. Havurah partners with Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): The first step is an orientation. New volunteers complete an application, a background check, and attend a training. Volunteers must be 18+ and vaccinated. Those under 18 may volunteer with their parent or guardian. Virtual orientations: August 9, 5:30-6:30pm; August 11, 12-1pm; August 11, 5:30-6:30pm. RSVP to PHFS staff: TC Schumacher at tc@pdxhfs.org.
2. Helping to distribute clothing at homeless shelters on Tuesdays. Contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah member directory for more info.
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.
(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.
