Opening Our Building to More Activities–
with more safety precautions

New COVID Gathering Guidelines have been adopted by the COVID Management Team (the “CMT”) which give us the infrastructure for allowing more people in the building for more purposes. Due to current Omicron concerns, the CMT has also imposed stricter masking requirements in the building. Click here for a longer explanation of the updated Guidelines, along with a Q&A. 

Here is a summary of the new Havurah Gathering Guidelines that will go into effect on February 1.

New Vaccination, Testing, and Masking Requirements:
 

Vaccination and testing. Individuals ages five and over who are participating in an indoor Havurah event or activity must be fully vaccinated or (if medically ineligible for vaccination) have a negative COVID test.

• A negative COVID test means a negative antigen test within 24 hours of being in the building, or a negative PCR test within 48 hours.
• This vaccination and testing requirement is to be administered on an honor system.
• Children ages 5 to 11 are not required to be vaccinated or tested prior to attending Shabbat School classes or Shabbat School sponsored activities. Note: for any other indoor Havurah-sponsored activity, event, or service, children ages 5 to 11 are required to be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test.

Masking. Adults aged 18 and over must wear KN95 or N95 masks during indoor activities; individuals under the age of 18 may wear a well-fitted cloth or disposable mask.

• Until February 25, 2022, this mandatory masking rule shall also apply to all individuals on the bima during services.
• Masking requirements (bima and otherwise) will be reassessed in mid-February 2022 and periodically thereafter.
• Note: KN95 masks have been purchased for the synagogue and will be available to those who are in the building who did not bring their own N95 OR KN95 mask. 

The full text of the  updated Guidelines can be found here and will be posted on the Havurah website on February 1.

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about any COVID policy issues, please send an email to info@havurahshalom.org. Your email will be shared with the COVID Management Team and one of the members will get back to you.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Old School Ashkenazi Favorites
The recording of Jenn Louis’ cooking demonstration on Sunday is now available! On the menu: New York Jewish immigrant cuisine, including blintzes and kasha varnishkes. Video Link

Note: Dropbox only allows an hour of streaming, but you can view the entire video by downloading it to your device.

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. 

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!

Community Minyan
Saturday, Jan. 29, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading and discussion.

Becoming Rooted Book Group
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5:15 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. This ongoing book discussion group 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.

Magical Practices of Judaism
4 sessions starting Tuesday, Feb. 1, 7 pm – In Person/Online to be decided
Taught by Oren Kosansky and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. 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

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 8:30 am – Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

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! One last date is left:

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

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee has started work to nominate candidates for the 2022-2023 Steering Committee. This spring, we will be submitting nominations for the following positions:

• Vice-President (four-year commitment)
• Treasurer
• Limud (Learning) Cluster Lead
• Makom (Building) Cluster Lead
• Tikkun Olam (Social Action) Cluster Lead

Learn more here

Tikkun Olam Updates

Poverty and Homelessness Committee: News From the Streets

Listen to the recording of Sunday’s Faith Legislative Forum, cosponsored by the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, of which Havurah Shalom is a member. (Recording Passcode: wLP2#?%1)

Portland Homeless Family Solutions has received a $2.5 million grant from the Bezos Day One Fund! Learn more in this OPB interview with the Executive director and a mom who was helped by PHFS, one of our Tikkun Olam partner organizations.

Our national blood supply is at an all-time shortage.
Ill individuals are not receiving essential quantities.
Please consider donating to Red Cross. 

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

BeAware: An Introduction to Situational Awareness (webinar)
Thursday, Jan. 27, 10 am – RSVP Offsite 
One of the best ways to stay safe is to learn how to recognize danger and handle it appropriately. This is called situational awareness, and you can improve your skill in it by taking a webinar offered by the Secure Community Network. SCN is a safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America. In this online training, you’ll learn to recognize suspicious behavior and criminal activity, get guidance on how to report it, and learn strategies to protect yourself and others from violence.

JWRT/Rose Schnitzer Manor Community Havdalah
Saturday, Feb. 5, 7 pm – Offsite Zoom, passcode 116185
The 22nd Annual Community Havdalah sponsored by Jewish Women's Round Table and Rose Schnitzer Manor is open to the community via Zoom. Kim Schneiderman will lead. Residents will be in person, all others on Zoom.     

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
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.⁠

Special Trip To Israel With Reconstructionist Congregations!
April 24 to May 6, 2022
Join travelers from other Reconstructionist congregations on this Israel trip geared towards people who want a thorough first introduction to Israel and its complexities. The trip is organized in conjunction with Regarding Israel, a dynamic and reputable tour company, and will introduce participants to key sites and important themes connected to Israeli civil society and conflict and co-existence that will allow people to gain a deeper understanding of some of the key issues affecting Israelis today. Participants must have received their booster shot by March 15. More details and itinerary coming soon. More Info

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.