Program Director Absence

Adela will be out on medical leave from October 4 to November 15. Please be in touch with Rachel Pollak (at rachel.pollak@havurahshalom.org), who can direct you to the appropriate person for questions regarding Adela's usual duties.

Upcoming Classes

Personal Cyber Security
Thursday, Oct. 7, 7-8:15 pm – Room Bet
Thinking about your safety online can be intimidating, but it does not have to be! Meet with the Safety Committee to learn how to secure your sensitive online accounts. We’ll show you how to install and use a free and simple password manager and how to handle multi-factor authentication. No matter your comfort level with computers, we will walk you through this process so your personal cyber security will be greatly improved by the end of the session. Led by Joel Bettridge and Curtis Shipley. Register here.

A Bird Eye's View of Jewish History
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 19, 26; 7-8:15 pm – Room Heh
Do you have a vague sense that a lot happened between the Jews' presumed exodus from Egypt and our modern era–but you aren't sure what actually happened or where? Have you ever wondered how and why Jewish people dispersed from one small piece of real estate in the Middle East and came to live in every part of the globe? Do you want to know more but don't have the time or patience to read books on Jewish history? Using illustrations and maps, we will enjoyably learn the themes, geography and journey of the Jewish people. We will learn key events, where Jews lived and why, what languages Jews spoke,  key contributions Jews have made to the world and key ways that Jews responded to events and ideas in world history. We'll learn where the ancestors of American Jews came from. Please obtain Barnavi's A Historical Atlas of the Jewish People from the Time of the Patriarchs to the Present, in advance. Led by Roger Brewer. Register here.

Lev Tahor Chanting Circle
Thursday, Oct. 28, 7-8 pm – Room Bet
Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin. We gather in community for an evening of contemplative practice, chanting interspersed with silence, guided by teachings from the tradition. Everyone is welcome, no experience or musical ability required. Register here.

Upcoming Events

AlteRocker Happy Hour
Thursday, Sept. 30, 4:30 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes - the last Thursday of the month!

Bat Mitzvah of Sophie Nathe
Saturday, Oct. 2, 10 am – Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Sophie Nathe as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community!

Book Group
Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
Tuesday, Oct. 5, 7 pm – Room Bet
This new book points to our entire social structure as an unrecognized caste system. Wilkerson points out that we tend to refer to slavery as a “sad, dark chapter” in America when in fact it lasted for hundreds of years — but in order to maintain a social order and an “economy whose bottom gear was torture”, it was necessary to give blacks the lowest possible status. Whites in turn got top status. In between came the middle castes of Asians, Latinos, indigenous people, and immigrants of African descent. Such a caste system allowed generations of whites to live under the same assumptions of inequality whether their ancestors were slave owners or abolitionists. This isn’t an easy book, but it’s extremely important, especially in light of current times. Discussion led by Laurie Brown and Marjorie Walters.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 8:15 am – Room Aleph
We are getting an early start for Rosh Ḥodesh today. For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

B'nei Mitzvah Cohort
Wednesday, Oct. 6, 6:45-8 pm – Room Heh
Youths being called to the Torah this year will build community and ask, “What does being Jewish and becoming bar, bat or b’nei mitzvah mean to me?” Led by Rabbi Benjamin.

Personal Cyber Security
Thursday, Oct. 7, 7-8:15 pm – Room Bet
Thinking about your safety online can be intimidating, but it does not have to be! Meet with the Safety Committee to learn how to secure your sensitive online accounts. We’ll show you how to install and use a free and simple password manager and how to handle multi-factor authentication. No matter your comfort level with computers, we will walk you through this process so your personal cyber security will be greatly improved by the end of the session. Led by Joel Bettridge and Curtis Shipley.

Community Minyan
Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 am – Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion.

Tikkun Olam Events & Updates

Cully/Killingsworth Family Friendly Neighborhood Clean Up
Saturday, Oct. 2, 10-12 pm
Join your neighbors for a family friendly clean-up event in collaboration with Verde, SOLVE, CBA, Hacienda CDC, Habitat for Humanity, Columbia Slough, and ABC. We will be picking up trash along Killingsworth, Cully Blvd, Hwy 30, Simpson and 65th. SOLVE provides safety and trash pick up equipment. Masks are required. We will have extras on hand if you need one! We will provide a delicious lunch after the event for all volunteers. Kids are welcome to join with an adult. To register click here. Contact Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory if you have questions.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: First Thursday Meeting
Thursday, Oct. 7, 12 pm
FEATURED SPEAKER: SAM ADAMS, PORTLAND'S DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INNOVATIONS. Adams believes in public-private partnerships as the key to our city’s success. Five partnership groups, which Adams calls “action tables,” focus on promoting public safety, addressing homelessness, cleaning up trash across the city, and helping businesses reopen. Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting. Contact Steve Rudman or Gloria Halper via the Havurah Member Directory if you have questions.

Refugee Update: Assisting Afghan Arrivals to Oregon
Monday, Oct. 11, 7-8:30 pm
If you missed the informational session held on September 12, you can find a recording here. The Sanctuary Committee is continuing to gather information and find out how to best assist Afghan arrivals to Oregon. In the meantime, you can access the Afghan Resource Guide which continues to be updated with information as needs change. Havurah has arranged to have a virtual training session with Catholic Charities for anyone interested in volunteering with them. The session will be held on October 11 at 7-8:30pm If you would like to register by clicking this link.

Havurah's Winter Shmita Collection Drive for Homeless
One of Havurah's first Smita events is a collection drive of clothing and housing necessities for NE homeless camps. Drop off info will be in our October Hakol.
Tikkun Olam's Poverty & Homelessness Committee member, Jenn Louis, has been supplying food, and more to those on the streets. Jenn posts regularly on Havurah's Facebook page "News from the Streets." Also, Havurah volunteers are needed on Tuesdays to hand out items, along with Jenn. For more info contact Jenn Louis. Info list here.

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG

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?

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.