Increase the Light

Photo by Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson on Unsplash

Rededicate and Sing at Havurah

Rededicate to Immigrant Justice: A Hanukah Solidarity Day at the Northwest Detention Center
Sunday, Dec. 5, 12 pm, at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Wash.
Please join the Havurah Sanctuary Committee, Never Again Seattle, The Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW and La Resistencia for a Hanukah Solidarity Day at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma. See the Facebook invitation here. Please contact Shari Raider for more info or to coordinate carpooling.

Hanukah Song Share Sing-a-long
Sunday, Dec. 5, 6:30 pm – Room Aleph
Come sing-a-long with members of the Havurah Music Makers Collective, as we light candles and gaze at the fully lit menorah for the 8th night of Chanukah, also known as “Zos Chanukah”. We will share an array of Chanukah themed music to help bring light into our homes and hearts, as the days grow shorter and winter approaches. RSVP

What are your favorites?
The Hanukah planning team is collecting favorite latke recipes and story books to share with the Havurah community! You can submit your favorite recipes and/or books through this link.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Discount on “B’Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together” Convention Tickets
Mar. 23-27, 2022
We will come together, both in person and virtually, from March 23 to 27, 2022, for “B’Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together” in the Washington, D.C., metro area. We will learn from and with experts, scholars and lay leaders. We will engage in conversations, ask questions and listen. We will pray together, sing together, dance together and celebrate all that we do every day in our communities to reconstruct Judaism.

Use Code CYBERMONDAY5 to save 5 percent on your RJ Convention registration. Please allow 15 to 20 minutes to complete the registration process.  If you need to update your registration or cannot finish in one sitting, your progress will be saved and you'll be able to complete or edit later.

 

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's First Thursday Meeting
Dec. 2, 12 pm, Zoom
The first-Thursday meeting of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty will feature guest speaker Tom Sincic of Health Care for All Oregonians (HCAO), who will tell us about his organization and our role in creating equitable access to health care. HCAO declares health care is a fundamental element of a just society.  It must not be rationed by cost as a commodity in private markets, but be secured to the people on an equitable basis. Register in advance for this meeting, then receive joining info. Contact Gloria Halper with questions. RSVP

Bar Mitzvah of Ezra Fish
Saturday, Dec. 4, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Ezra Fish as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. 

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 12 pm – Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, or Nancy Becker.

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 8:30 am – Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Hand in Hand: Israel/Palestine Committee Event
Sunday, Dec. 5, 10:30 am – RSVP to receive Zoom link
Come join Havurah's Israel/Palestine Committee as we host two principals from Israel's Hand-in-Hand integrated schools, serving Jewish and Palestinian Arab citizens. Manar Hayadre, who is Palestinian-Israeli, and Efrat Meyer, who is Jewish-Israeli, will share personal and professional stories. Feel free to invite friends. We've invited other Reconstructionist synagogues in Oregon/Washington. This is not a fund-raising event. For more info, go to the Israel/Palestine Committee portal.

Havurah Ambassador Training
Tuesday, Dec. 7, 7 pm, Zoom Room Dalet — RSVP
People love Havurah! If you would like to help staff by chatting with folks who contact us with general inquiries, please RSVP for a training session. You will learn about what questions tend to be asked and how to answer them, where to refer folks for questions you can't answer, and about Havurah's process for becoming a new member. If you decide to volunteer in this way, Havurah staff will support you all the way!

Community Minyan
Saturday, Dec. 11, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading and discussion.

Tot Shabbat
Saturday, Dec. 11, 10:30 am – Zoom Room Bet
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling.

Shmita Year Winter Art Class
Sunday, December 12, 7-9 pm – RSVP to receive Zoom link
A drawing class that will help with your Shmita year relaxation. Adults and children are welcome. No prior art experience necessary. Carolina Martinez will lead you in creating a picture that incorporates your style and uses a minimal amount of art supplies! Art supply list will be provided after RSVP.

A Shmita for Hearts and Minds Support Group
Monday, Dec. 13, 5 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Join the support group on Shmita for Hearts and Minds to help counter the anxiety and discouragement that can come with our climate and social justice work. Cultivate a balance of rest, personal care, activism, and faith in community with others. We’ll have time for sharing and discussion, a guided meditation, and planning for future meetings. All are welcome to attend, whether or not you attended the first workshop held in October.

Open Meeting on Hybrid Gatherings
Monday, Dec. 13, 6 pm – Zoom Room Dalet
When Havurah eventually transitions back to gathering in person, we will remain committed to the expanded access provided by the Internet. But what will access look like? How do we hold events, classes and services in person and online at the same time? Over the summer, a group of Havurahniks met to begin this conversation and were very productive. To continue this work, we will meet and share our thoughts about modes of attendance, meaningful participation, the role technology plays in experience, and most of all, what works for us. (We won't be discussing specific technologies or immediately making any decisions.) Join us to help imagine the Havurah gatherings of tomorrow. For more information, please contact Rachel Pollak.

Lev Tahor Chanting Circle
Thursday, Dec. 16, 7 pm – Zoom 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. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Updates

Join Us for the First Meeting of the the Racial Justice Committee
Thursday, Dec. 9, 6:30-8 pm – Zoom Room Bet – RSVP
Earlier in November, after months of groundwork and the input of many voices, the Racial Justice Committee became Tikkun Olam's newest official committee, thanks to a unanimous vote by Steering. Through two workgroups–Social Justice Advocacy and Individual Education/Reckoning–we will provide a container within Havurah to educate ourselves and to seek opportunities to work toward racial justice. Please join us for the first official meeting of this new committee! Questions or want to be added to the committee email list or join a workgroup? Contact Bob Brown for more info.

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Jewish Community Offerings

Musical & Artistic Opportunities for Convention
Deadline Dec. 15 for video premiere March 23-27
Calling all Reconstructionist singers, musicians, dancers and artists to participate remotely in a video that will premiere at Convention. Deadline to indicate interest is Dec. 15.
Seeking new/recent Jewish music by writers connected to the Reconstructionist movement for inclusion in a Convention program. Deadline to submit is Dec. 31. More info here .

Reconstructing Judaism Together Convention
March 23-27, 2022 in Washington DC and online
Come gather from March 23 to 27, 2022, for "B’Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together." We will be together both in-person and virtually to learn from and with experts, scholars and lay leaders. We will engage in conversations, ask questions and listen. We will pray together, sing together, dance together and celebrate all that we do every day in our communities to reconstruct Judaism. More info here ​​​​​​​.

Resources

COVID-19 Vaccines & Assistance
Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach and Services (CNSCOS) provides information about the pandemic, testing, and vaccines, and helps 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. Contact cnscos@nevehshalom.org or call (971) 990-5652.

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 questions they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity!

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.