In this moment, we are safe.
 
As we feel the rise of worry after this weekend's hostage taking, it can help to remember all the ways Havurah Shalom is prepared to keep our community safe in our building.
 
Havurah has been proactive in keeping ourselves safe.  We have had a safety committee for many years.  In the past, members trained with Secure Community Network, and the Portland Police Bureau to provide security at the Tiffany Center during High Holidays.   
 
After the shootings in Pittsburgh in 2018, we took steps to decrease the vulnerability of the building in a number of ways.  The door is always locked. We have panic buttons and safe rooms. Many members took safety tours of the building to learn how to operate these features.  Staff have been to situational awareness, active shooter and stop the bleed trainings by the police, DOJ, Secure Community Network and FBI.
 
Before the pandemic, we had an audit of the building by the Dept of Homeland Security, then wrote a grant application (which was funded) to further harden the building in the ways they suggested.  We’re writing the next application, which will focus on training, right now.  The safety committee is busy with evacuation plans, trainings for congregants and cyber security assessments. In concert with other Jewish organizations, through the  local Federation, we share a dedicated security expert with whom we are in regular communication.
 
The rabbi and congregants who survived the crisis in Coleyville have given credit to the safety trainings they received.  As we prepare to inhabit our building once again, we’ll let you know about opportunities to get trained in how to effectively respond to emergency situations in which we hope never to find ourselves.
 
Ufros alyenu sukkah shalomecha.  May we , all the people Israel, and all who dwell on earth be protected and safe.
B'shalom,
Adela

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. 

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.

Becoming Rooted Book Group
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 5:30 pm – Zoom Room Aleph
“Becoming Rooted” explores the connections we have with the land around us and the tools of nature that allow us to live sustainably and justly on this planet. The first in an ongoing book discussion group, this is an opportunity to be in touch with the spiritual events that occur each day and to be connected to the land we live on. We’ll discuss new chapters every week. Join us whenever you can. For information, reach out to Michael Heumann. RSVP

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. 

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!

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. 

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 

Shmita Living Lightly: Adinkra Patterned Design Art Piece Class
Sunday, Feb. 6, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
This class, taught by Carolina Martinez, is geared toward making an Adinkra and Kente symbolic design picture. Coming from Ghana, Adinkra symbols represent character traits, and the colors of the designs in Kente woven textiles also have symbolic meaning. You can combine them in a pattern or use them as a focal point. No art experience necessary. 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

Mark Your Calendars for the Faith Legislative Forum

Sunday, Jan. 23, 1:30 pm – Offsite Registration Link
Havurah is a member of The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, which is one of this Legislative Forum's sponsors. The forum will be an overview of legislative issues of concern to the faith community. Rabbi Benjamin shared that he “went to one of their planning meetings and it seems like they are focusing on important issues and bills. We’ll be hearing directly from legislators." Contact Gloria Halper with questions.

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 ​​​​​​​

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Weekend In Quest 2022

How the Soviet Jew Was Made: Literature, Culture, Humor

with scholar-in-residence Sasha Senderovich
March 5-6, 2022 | Registration $18 per household

Now open for registration, the program will be presented virtually, in Zoom format, over the course of two days, honoring the program’s roots as a Shabbaton Study Weekend.

Lectures include:
Hammer and Pickle: How Soviet Jews Joked—And Were Joked About
Rooted and Rootless: History, Memory and Cultural Mythology
Scenes of Encounter: How American Jews Imagined Soviet Jews—and Vice Versa
See more about our program at the Jewish Review


Havdalah service will be led by Cantor Barbara Slader

This is the second year Weekend in Quest is held under the auspices of the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. The program was arranged by the Weekend in Quest planning committee, chaired by Mimi Epstein.

Detailed Information and Registration | Questions? Please email Gail Mandel

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

National Discussions About Israel/Palestine
Ongoing – 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.