Photo by Federico Beccari on Unsplash

Upcoming Classes and Events

CANCELED: Lev Tahor Chanting Circle
Unfortunately, the Jan. 20 Lev Tahor chanting circle needs to be canceled due to scheduling conflicts. The next Lev Tahor will be on Thursday, Feb. 17. RSVP

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
Tuesdays, 12 pm – Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne or Nancy Becker. 

Community Minyan
Saturday, Jan. 15, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading and discussion.

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. Led by Adela Basayne.

Old School Ashkenazi Favorites
Sunday, January 23, 2022  2:00 PM - 3:15 PM – Zoom Room Bet
Do you remember kasha varnikas and blintzes and other traditional dishes from the Old World? Take a trip back to old school New York Jewish immigrant cuisine with Jenn Louis. This session will visit the dishes brought to America when Jews came from the Old World. Class will be a combination of demonstration, lecture and Q&A. Led by Jenn Louis. RSVP

Israel/Palestine Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 5 pm – Zoom Room Dalet
We will consider plans for future activities, including possible film discussions, get feedback from anyone attending the Reconstructionists Expanding the Conversation About Israel/Palestine events, and review progress reports on other events.  All members of Havurah are welcome to attend.

Book Group Reads Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime, by Ron Stallworth
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Nonfiction/memoir, 208 pages. Black Klansman is an amazing true story that reads like a crime thriller, and a searing portrait of a divided America and the extraordinary heroes who dare to fight back. Discussion led by Harriet Cooke. 

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 

Writers’ Workshop (for Non-Writers!)
Thursday, Jan. 27, 7 pm – Zoom Room Heh
Explore memoir writing through reflection, engaging prompts, discussion and feedback. With support from the group, develop a short piece in more depth and share at a low-key, Friday Oneg for the Havurah community. Facilitated by David Kertzner. 

AlteRocker Happy Hour
Thursday, Jan. 27, 4:30 pm – Zoom Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes - the last Thursday of the month!

Magical Practices of Judaism
Taught by Oren Kosansky and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner
New starting date! 4 sessions starting Tuesday, Feb. 1, 7 pm – In Person/Online to be decided
We can still see traces of the "magical" elements of Judaism in religious and cultural practices from communities in Eastern Europe, North Africa and elsewhere. This class will touch on several that may be less familiar–amulets, protective jewelry, golems, dybbuks, pilgrimages to the graves of saints–as well practices that are familiar, like mezuzot and Torah sacredness. While we hope to hold the class in person so we can interact more personally and hold some ritual objects, it's unclear what we'll decide. Please note on your RSVP how you'd like to meet. Learn more and RSVP 

Share Your Passion by Teaching a Class!

Calling all Havurahniks!  The Lifelong Learning Committee is once again looking for volunteers who have interests and talents to share with the congregation.  We have had wonderful classes this past year in cooking, Hebrew, genealogy, history and Israel, to name a few. What is your passion?  Would you like to offer a class for adults in our community? If so, please contact Eve Berry or Joel Beinin.

Tree Planting for Tu B' Shevat

Come plant trees with your Neighborhood for Tu B'Shevat! We'll be working together in sponsored events with our Havurah Neighborhoods. Your Neighborhood Captains will be in touch!

January 22, 9 am – Planting Trees in Happy Valley  Sponsored by the North Clackamas Watershed Council & Friends of Trees
Children 15 & under may come accompanied by an adult. RSVP

January 22, 9 am – Planting Trees at Springbrook Park in Lake Oswego
Sponsored by SOLVE
For adults and children 13 years & above. RSVP

January 29, 9 am – Planting Trees in the Fanno Creek Trail Area 
Sponsored by Friends of Trees, City of Beaverton, Clean Water Services, and Tree for All.
Children 15 & under may come accompanied by an adult. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Updates

Volunteer Opportunities with the Poverty and Homelessness Committee

Multnomah Severe Weather Donations and Volunteers
How to help | Orientation signup | Donate cold weather gear

This information on short-term aid opportunities above was provided by Rabbi Benjamin and has been reviewed by the Poverty and Homelessness Committee. For more information, please use the links to find a contact person. 

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS)
Our monthly dinner program – Contact Len and Elayne Shapiro.

Housewarming Baskets – Using donated items, PHFS staff will assemble housewarming kits for families leaving the Family Village.

Masks – To sew or purchase masks for PHFS children, contact Gloria Halper.

Feeding the Homeless Initiative
Help is needed on Tuesdays. Contact Jenn Louis. 

LiftUp provides food boxes and pantries. Contact Abby Morris.

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's January Newsletter

Volunteer Opportunities to Support Refugees

The Sanctuary Committee has been connecting with Portland Refugee Support Group, a local nonprofit that works to empower refugees through social support and education. Here are three ways to get involved: an inventory project, a laptop collection drive, and a women’s group. If you have questions, contact Fran Berg or Lauren Fortgang.

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

We will come together, both in-person and virtually, from March 23 to 27, for B'Yachad: Reconstructing Judaism Together in the Washington, D.C. metro area. During the convention, 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.

Our convention will take place in the versatile spaces of the beautiful Hilton McLean Tysons Corner hotel, located in the Chesapeake region. The hotel is five minutes from the Metro Silver Line, putting D.C. destinations within reach. A free shuttle stops at Tysons Galleria and other locations within a mile. Reserve a hotel room for our convention at a special rate. Learn more ​

Community Happenings

The Big Bold Climate Fest
Monday, Jan. 10 to Friday, Jan. 14 – RSVP Offsite
The Big Bold Jewish Climate Fest is a national, free, (mostly) online, collaborative festival by and for people who want to activate Jewish values to move the needle on climate change. Workshops will be recorded for later viewing if you register. 

National Discussions About Israel/Palestine
Starting Wednesday, Jan. 12, 5 pm – RSVP Offsite
The Israel/Palestine Committee is encouraging Havurah members to register for and attend all or some of the nine 1½ hour national sessions of Reconstructionists Expanding Our Conversation about Israel/Palestine being offered by Reconstructionist rabbis with a range of perspectives.

17th Annual Solomon Memorial Lecture: "American Jews in 2022: Who Counts? And Why That's Important" with Dr. Mijal Bitton
Thursday, Feb. 10, 5:30 pm – RSVP Offsite – Updated Link
In recent years, American Jews have become much more aware of the diversity of their community. American Jews are not only Ashkenazi Jews whose ancestors immigrated to the U.S. from Eastern Europe, but also Sephardic Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Jews of color, and Jews of many other backgrounds. In this talk, sociologist and thought leader Mijal Bitton explains why understanding this diversity and its implications is so crucial for the future of American Jewry.⁠
 

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.

How can we support each other during the pandemic?
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.