As you've probably noticed, updating Havurah's online presence helps us stay connected as a community. Since photos often say more than words, I hope to add a few more to the website. If you took photos of Havurah happenings during the past two years that are jpg, gif, or png files, and are medium to large in size (ideally 350-400 KB), please consider sending a few to me at teri@havurahshalom.org. Also, I will be contacting cluster and committee chairs soon so I can update each committee's web page with the names of committee members and a description of the committee's purpose and goals. Please don't wait for me to email you if you have updates to send me. I'd love to hear from you!
Updating your online membership account also helps us connect as a community. If your contact information has changed, please update your account by clicking on "login" in the upper right corner of the website and entering your email address and password. If you've forgotten your password or never created one, click on “forgot password” to retrieve, create, or reset it. Once you’ve logged in, you can choose the appropriate button to click and make your updates. You can always call Rachel if you need help.
Thank you for welcoming me back to Havurah during this time of staff transition. It's inspiring to see how much you are doing, even during difficult times. And thank you for your patience as I learn about the many changes made at Havurah during the past three years. – Teri Ruch
A Note from the Safety Committee
As we begin to move back into our building, we need to be mindful of our building safety procedures. Please keep in mind that all entry doors need to be closed and locked at all times. If you are organizing an event, please arrange to have either a greeter at the door or a way for attendees to contact someone who can let them into the building. You can find a copy of the greeter guidelines printed on cards in the building foyer.
Upcoming Classes and Events
AlteRocker Happy Hour Thursday, Feb. 24, 4:30 pm – Zoom Room Heh
Come schmooze with us! And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes on the last Thursday of the month.
Leadership Development and Middle School Parents Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 pm – Zoom Room Gimel
Have you ever wondered how Havurah makes decisions? Are you curious about the different clusters in Havurah? Do you want to connect with others in the synagogue but don't really know how? Join us for an overview of how Havurah works, find out about the assortment of ways to participate in the Havurah community, and ask any questions you may have. Learn more about this event and RSVP here.
Bar Mitzvah of Abraham Zapp-Meyer Saturday, Feb. 26, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Abraham Zapp-Meyer as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
B’nei Mitzvah: Beginning the Journey/Date Selection Sunday, Feb. 27, 10 am – Zoom Room Heh
This workshop for parents will focus on the rite of passage itself, then on the date-selection process. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, and the B’nei Mitzvah Committee. Register here.
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesday, March 1, 12 pm – Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, March 2, 8:30 am – Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and people saying Kaddish.
HIAS Refugee Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, March 4, 6:30 pm – Zoom Room Aleph
The 4th annual HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) Refugee Shabbat will take place on the weekend of March 4-5, 2022. Please join Rabbi Benjamin and the Sanctuary Committee as we dedicate sacred time and space to refugees and asylum seekers. We will speak aloud our commitment to welcoming the stranger and our dedication to working towards safety for all communities. Learn more and RSVP here.
HIAS Refugee Shabbat Service Saturday, March 5, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
We will join congregations nationwide in dedicating this Shabbat service to honoring refugees and asylum seekers.
How Can Jewish Values Transform our Economic and Policy Decision-Making from Exploitation to Regeneration? From Planet Hurting to Planet Healing? Monday, March 7, 7 pm – Zoom Room Dalet
One solution to reversing climate change is to change the way our economy prioritizes short-term economic values above all other values. Join us for an interactive, thought-provoking, and practical guide to how we can elevate and enact changes in our individual and collective decision-making through elevating the Jewish values of being stewards of creation, commitment to social justice, and investing in the well being of future generations. Sponsored by the Climate Action Team. RSVP here.
Tikkun Olam Updates
Reduce Gun Violence in Oregon: Volunteers Needed!
Havurah has recently joined an interfaith coalition to place two initiatives to reduce gun violence on the fall ballot. The next signature gathering training is Thursday, March 3, and help is urgently needed.Click here to register for the March 3 training, learn about the coalition, and/or sign the initiative petition yourself. Questions? Contact Barbara Gundle.
International Women's Day Open House, Tuesday, March 8, 5 pm – Rose Haven Day Shelter and Community Center, 1740 NW Glisan, will hold an open house to celebrate moving into a new expanded location. They are our neighbors, and the Havurah Poverty and Homelessness Committee is developing an active, ongoing relationship with their program. We invite anyone at Havurah to attend this open house and learn more about Rose Haven. Parking is available at NW Davis between NW 17th and 18th. Contact Marcia Suttenberg for more information.
Please Consider Donating Blood Our national blood supply is at an all-time shortage. Please consider donating. The American Red Cross can set up a Sunday Havurah blood donation schedule sometime in the next few months at their N. Vancouver location. A minimum of 35 donors needed. If you're interested, please email Gloria Halper to tell her which time on a Sunday works best for you.
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
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.
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. Learn more and register here.
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 info here.
Community Happenings
Talking About Death Won't Kill You Thursday, Feb. 24 (and March 10 and 31), 7 pm – Zoom
In this three-part series, participants will learn how Judaism approaches the last phase of the life cycle. Tradition provides a path both for the person who is dying, and for those who love them. We will discuss how you can be prepared to make practical and personal decisions about the time before death, the moment of passing, the ritual preparations for burial, the interment options, the stages of mourning, and beliefs in the afterlife. Sources for further learning will be provided. Session leaders include: Rabbi Ariel Stone of Shir Tikvah; Community Chaplain, Rabbi Barry Cohen; and Rabbi Eve Posen from Neveh Shalom. This program is sponsored by the Oregon Board of Rabbis and Chevra Kavod HaMet (the Chevra Kadisha). Sign up for one or all three Zoom sessions. Register here.
"Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution" Documentary Screening Sunday, Feb. 27, 6:30 pm
Join Jewish Family and Child Services and Congregation Shir Tikvah for a free online screening of “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution.” This documentary takes place in the early 1970s and centers around Camp Jened, a camp for disabled individuals, and how the camp propelled the start of the Disability Rights Movement. Visual descriptions and captions will be included. Register here.
"A Stroke Left Him Isolated. Love Is His Lifeline"
The niece of Rabbi Cahana of Congragation Beth Israel, Kitra Cahana, produced this moving New York Times Op-Doc about her father.
National Discussions About Israel/Palestine Ongoing – RSVP Offsite
The Havurah 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.
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!
Havurah Zoom Rooms
Room Aleph PC/Mac/Smartphone:Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472. Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
Room Bet PC/Mac/Smartphone:Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472. Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
Room Gimel PC/Mac/Smartphone:Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472. Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.
Room Dalet PC/Mac/Smartphone:Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472. Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.
Room Heh PC/Mac/Smartphone:Click hereto join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472. Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.
To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning with Music Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 10:00a to 12:00p This community minyan will feature the musical contributions of Aly Halpert who is in residence with us this Shabbat. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurahshalom.org.
(IP) Tot Shabbat Shabbat, May 10th 10:30a to 11:15a Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more.
(IP) Songs for Liberation Song Circle (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 4:30p to 6:30p (Currently this event is for Havurah members only, as registrations are capped at 80 people. Havurah members, be sure to RSVP.) Rising Song Records artist Aly Halpert concludes our music shabbaton with a Song Circle, a space to enjoy our voices together as we learn new and ancient Jewish songs and niggunim together. Aly Halpert is at the epicenter of a resurgence of Jewish music-making– introducing new tunes, new words, and new ways of bringing music into davening and community-building.
Rose Haven Walk (register at their 2025 Reigning Roses Walk site) Sunday, May 11th 10:00a to 1:00p Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother’s Day at the 12th Annual Reigning Roses Walk. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner, or friend. 10 am check-in, 11 am begin walking. (We've cancelled the Havurah Teen Engagement plan for this event; just go to the Rose Haven 2025 Reigning Roses Walk website to register!)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 12th 6:30p to 7:45p We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne.
(HYB) Steering Meeting Tuesday, May 13th 6:30p to 8:30p Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 14th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
(IP) B’nei Mitzvah Drash and Service Workshop Thursday, May 15th 7:00p to 8:00p Students and parents are guided through responding to Torah in a drash. You will also take a walk through the Shabbat Morning service. Led by Sarah Shine.
(HYB) Text and Torah Shabbat: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals Shabbat, May 17th 10:00a to 12:00p One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.
