Hineinu: Women's Group Has Spots Open | Many Tikkun Olam Events
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Rosh Chodesh: Women's Group
Rosh Chodesh, a Havurah women's group, has openings for 4 members. We meet monthly (virtually now) at Rosh Chodesh: Nov. 7 in the evening (Kislev), Dec. 5 in the evening (Tevet). The Havurah Rosh Chodesh group has been meeting for many years now. It is a group of about 14 women, which comes together each month in celebration and study in the new moon cycle. Each member takes a turn to provide commentary, insight and Jewish learning about history, traditions, holidays, and observances. We rotate the responsibility and each person takes on one month each year. If you would like to know more about the Rosh Chodesh group and would like to consider joining us, please contact Laurie Brown via the Havurah Member Directory.
Upcoming Classes
Using Hebrew to Understand Judaism & Prayer Wednesday, Oct. 20 - Feb. 2, 7-8:30 pm – Room Dalet
An in-depth, word-by-word study of selected prayers, with a special focus on the Shema and Amidah. We build a vocabulary of words commonly used in Jewish prayer in order to uncover both ancient and modern understandings of the relationships between humans, God, and the rest of nature, how we call forth our best human selves, give and receive love, and struggle with an imperfect world. Basic Hebrew decoding ability needed (even slowly). Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. 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.
What is Israeli Food? Sunday, Nov. 14, 2-3:15 pm – Room Bet
Jenn Louis will teach you about the rich and savory collection of Israeli food, how it came to be and what are some of her favorites. This class will focus on what Israelis eat and how modern Israeli cuisine developed. Class will be a combination of demonstration, lecture and Q & A. Register here.
Upcoming Events
Racial Justice Meeting Thursday, Oct. 21, 7-8:30 pm – Room Bet
Interested in how you can work with other Havuraniks on issues of Racial Justice? A Racial Justice Committee is forming, and we are welcoming anyone interested. The work will consist of activities to guide us on our own individual reckoning with our whiteness and privilege, educating ourselves about the inherent racism that exists in our societal systems, and finding BIPOC organizations with whom we can partner. Come to this meeting and learn more!
Bat Mitzvah of Shani Ross Saturday, Oct. 23, 10 am– Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Shani Ross as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, Oct. 26, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin or Nancy Becker.
Book Group Paper Bullets: Two Artists Who Risked Their Lives to Defy the Nazis Tuesday, Oct. 26, 7-8:15 pm – Room Bet
Paper Bullets is the first book to tell the history of an audacious anti-Nazi campaign undertaken by an unlikely pair: two French women, Lucy Schwob and Suzanne Malherbe, who drew on their skills as Parisian avant-garde artists to write and distribute “paper bullets” — wicked insults against Hitler, calls to rebel, and subversive fictional dialogues designed to demoralize Nazi troops occupying their adopted home on the British Channel Island of Jersey. Devising their own psyops campaign, they slipped their notes into soldier’s pockets or tucked them inside newsstand magazines. Discussion led by Emily Simon.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, Oct. 27, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
AlteRockers Happy Hour Thursday, Oct. 28, 4:30 pm – Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes – the last Thursday of the month!
Community Minyan Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 am– Room Aleph
Led by community members or Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading and discussion.
Tikkun Olam Events & Updates
Havurah's Winter Shmita Collection Drive for Homeless Drop Off Info Sunday, Oct. 24, 1-3 pm at Havurah Shalom
Thank you for collecting items for several NE homeless camps. Item link here. Please drop your off items at Havurah at this time. Tikkun Olam Cluster members will receive, sort, and distribute at the camps. Check with your Havurahood Captain about possible neighborhood drop off sites: HavuraHood link here. To learn more about the camps, please read Jenn Louis' "News From the Street" on Havurah's Facebook group. Contact Gloria Halper for more info.
Havurah Sacred Circle Welcomes New Participants Monday, Oct. 25, 11-12:30 pm
Havurah Sacred Circle is a group of Havurah members who work on issues around immigrant justice, racial justice, and associated issues. We are guided by INTERFAITH MOVEMENT FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, IMIrJ, a local NGO that works for immigrant justice. At our recent meeting, we agreed that we would like to welcome new members to this group. We agreed to develop our understanding of the issues around immigrant rights and what are the most effective actions we can join together to make a difference. Activities and actions will be developed by the group, with efforts to involve the greater Havurah community. We are meeting monthly on Zoom on the fourth Monday from 11-12:30 pm. Please RSVP here so we can send you the Zoom link.
Dream Hoarders Book Study Monday, Oct. 25, 7 pm
Havurah is a member of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty who is "On a Mission to Alleviate Poverty in the Portland Region." We are invited to The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Wealth Inequality Series Book Study of Richard V. Reeves book: Dream Hoarders. Hosted by George Johnson and Rev. Connie Yost. Register, read the book, and come discuss it. Contact Gloria Halper for more info.
Opportunity to Learn About Afghan Refugee Resettlement in Oregon Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5-6:30 pm
You are invited to participate in a free Zoom presentation to learn more about the imminent arrival of as many as 200 Afghan refugees in the Portland area and Oregon. Speakers from Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) will give an overview of the situation and let us know how we can of help. Please register here. You will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Pre-Chanukah Swap Meet to Lighten Our Impact on the Earth
Do you have toys, books, jewelry, clothes, stuffed animals, or other items in good repair that you no longer use/need but someone else would enjoy? Are you looking for any these items? We have the solution: a Covid-safe swap meet just in time for Chanukah gift giving. Start gathering your items to share. Check out future Hineinu emails for the November date, time, and location. Volunteer to help by sending an email to shmita@havurahshalom.org.
Seeking Input
During Elul and Yom Kippur, members of Havurah joined the Tikkun Olam Cluster to brainstorm how to have a modern practice of this Shmita (release) Year where we have rest and rejuvenation for ourselves and the planet, address forms of modern day slavery, and forgive debt. To help us plan, please let us know which of the proposed programs for learning, study, action, and gathering with others you are interested in, fill this out by November 1. Questions? Contact shmita@havurahshalom.org.
For my Bat Mitzvah project I chose to focus on cleaning up Portland. SOLVE is an organization that cleans up the city, rivers, beaches and more. I personally spent time volunteering at a few clean up projects and it was a tiring but extremely rewarding experience.
Please consider signing up to volunteer or donating to the cause. If you are interested in volunteering you can sign up here. You can also donate here. If you choose to donate, please make sure to include my name in the line that says “Would you like to honor a person?” I chose specifically that donations would go to urgent care cleanups, which are clean up projects in areas where illegal dumping has occurred and specialized volunteers go to clean them up.
Thank you for considering to participate in my Bat Mitzvah project,
Shani Ruth Karlinsky Ross
Jewish Community Events
Reconstructing Judaism Convention: Discount Before Nov. 1
There is a discount for registering for the convention before November 1. Register here. More on the event here.
New Mexico Jewish Storytelling Festival Oct. 22-24
A weekend of storytelling services, concerts, and workshops. Havurah member, Cassandra Sagan, is thrilled to be one of the featured Tellers Saturday evening alongside Jewish Storytelling greats like Penninah Schram and Judith Black, and she will be leading a workshop Saturday afternoon and telling a new Shabbat story right before services Friday. Services free, Saturday night concert $10, or $36 for the whole weekend.More info and registration here.
22nd Annual Reading of Oregon Jewish Voices Tuesday, Oct. 26, 7 pm – Register here
Havurah member, Willa Schneberg, has curated this event since its inception. She will be joined by Joan Dobbie, Ellen Michaelson, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, and Amy Shapiro.
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 or info.
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.
