Photo by  Emerson Peters on Unsplash

Upcoming Classes and Events

The class Grappling with White Supremacy as Jews will be rescheduled.  Please watch your email for the new date. Thank you.

Community Minyan
Saturday, Dec. 25, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading and discussion.

Book Group: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Tuesday, Dec. 28, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Come discuss one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history, the story of how the newly created FBI took up the case of a growing string of murders of Osage people living on oil-rich land. Discussion led by Maude Naroll.

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

The True Cost of Free Land: A Jewish Response to the Dispossession of Indigenous Lands
Six Wednesdays starting Jan. 26, 7 pm
Facilitated by Becca Clarren and Rabbi Benjamin, this class examines and grapples with collective accountability and repair. We will explore both primary Jewish sources and contemporary analysis to analyze examples of collective apology and learn about Indigenous-led efforts for how to move forward. RSVP by Jan 12

Long Range Plan Data Analysis Kick-off
Sunday, Jan. 9, 10 am – Zoom Room Gimel
With over 90 percent of the community completing the Census and over 200 members completing the Survey, the Long Range Plan Committee is moving into data analysis and reporting. Join us for the kick-off to this process, or if you have questions, please contact Adela Basayne or Debbi Nadell. RSVP

Bar Mitzvah of Noah Rosenbaum
Saturday, Jan. 8, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Noah Rosenbaum as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. 

Climate & Social Justice Activist Spiritual Support Group
Monday, Jan. 10, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Join us for informal sharing, discussion and occasional meditation as we wrestle with the long-haul while working on urgent issues of our time. We’ll share how we deal with the anxiety, terror, discouragement and sometimes hopelessness that can accompany our work, motivating one another to keep on participating. Hosted by Harriet Cooke. RSVP

Becoming Rooted: Discover a Different Relationship with Nature
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 5 pm – Offsite Online Link
Hear Randy Woodley speak about his new book Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting With Sacred Earth. It raises awareness of the sacredness of Earth and deals with the continuing impacts of colonization of indigenous lands. This event is hosted by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon and will be recorded. For more information, contact Michael Heumann. RSVP

Bat Mitzvah of Lennon Goldberg
Saturday, Jan. 15, 4:30 pm – Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Lennon Goldberg as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. 

Mending Circle
Sunday, Jan. 16, 3:30 pm – Zoom Room Dalet
Do you have socks to darn, pants to hem, buttons to sew on, rips to repair, a zipper to fix? Inspired by the Shmita year and quilting circles, you are invited to repair your clothes in the company of others. We’ll gather by Zoom, either on your own or invite a few friends to join you, to say hi, chat, and share questions and tips about clothing repair. RSVP

Becoming Rooted Discussion Group Kickoff
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Come to HCAT’s kick-off meeting to discuss the Jan. 12 author talk (listing above) about Randy Woodley’s book Becoming Rooted. We’ll decide how we want to structure our reading and further discussion of the book, to culminate in time for Passover and Earth Day. For more information, contact Michael Heumann. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Ruach Service
Friday, Jan. 21, 6:30 pm – Zoom Room Aleph
A musical, soulful way to welcome Shabbat. Songs of joy and peace for rest, reflection, and renewal.

Contemplative Shabbat
Saturday, Jan. 22, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
We will chant verses and spend time in silent prayer or meditation, then connect through Torah discussion and share blessings by chanting a few aliyot. Led by Rabbi Benjamin.

Tot Shabbat
Saturday, Jan. 22, 10:30 – Zoom Room Bet
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. 

Checking In on Our Governance Structure
In May, Governance 2.0 began to evaluate how the Gesher (bridge) design of Steering with clusters of committees (created in 2016) was working for Havurah leadership. Recommendations have been provided to Steering for review. Look for more information in January’s Hakol and updates on how members can volunteer to help improve the support of our participatory congregation.

Governance 2.0 Task Force: Debbi Nadell, Wendy Weissman, R.E. Szego, David Kertzner, Alanna Hein, Julia Lager-Mesulam, Shelley Sobel

Tikkun Olam Updates

Don't Forget About Volunteer Opportunities

With the Poverty and Homelessness Committee

Our Poverty and Homelessness committee toured Rose Haven Day Shelter, its new space under construction near Havurah, serving women. Look for our article in January's Hakol. Contact: Marcia Suttenberg

Oregon@poorpeoplescampaign.org is supporting the Hazelnut Grove Tiny Cabin Village in North Portland. Volunteers are needed in seven areas. Contact: Gloria Halper

Sign up for our monthly dinner for Portland Homeless Family Solutions. Contact: Len and Elayne Shapiro

Feeding the Homeless Initiative needs help on Tuesdays. Contact Jenn Louis

LiftUp provides food boxes and pantries. Contact: Abby Morris

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Reconstructing Judaism Convention

March 23-27, 2022 in Washington, DC, and online

Come gather from this March 23 to 27 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, 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. Learn more ​

Participate in a Reconstructionist Movement Project!
Calling all Reconstructionist singers, musicians, dancers, artists, etc. to participate remotely in a video that will premiere at Reconstructing Judaism's 2022 convention. Sign up and find additional information here. Deadline to indicate interest is TOMORROW, Dec. 23.

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 or concerns  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.