Hineinu, April 20, 2022

Holding Steady – A COVID Management Team Update

The COVID Management Team met earlier this month to review the COVID Safety Gathering Guidelines for Havurah (adopted March 9, 2022) in light of decreased COVID risk in our community. We analyzed the rules and protocols that are currently in place and asked ourselves whether they are sufficiently clear and flexible to move us forward in the current conditions. We concluded that – though a few minor revisions were needed – our current Guidelines should serve our community now and into the foreseeable future. For more details about our decision to hold steady, and to look at a Q&A about the issues we considered, click here or below to read the longer explanation. 

Questions or concerns? As always, the COVID Management Team is here to answer your questions and address your concerns. Please reach out to us by email at info@havurahshalom.org. Your email will be shared with the entire group and a member of the CMT will get back to you.

Upcoming Classes & Events

Please follow our safety requirements at all in-person gatherings.

WEEKLY HAPPENINGS ...

Shabbat Morning Service – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Saturdays, 10 am
Check our online calendar for details.

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

Morning Minyan – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Wednesdays, 8:30 am
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

UPCOMING ...

Office Closure
Havurah’s office is closed this week for systems updates, during which staff will be focusing on the administrative systems that make Havurah run smoothly. Your patience with email response times next week is appreciated.

Tomorrow is Deadline for Next Week's Hineinu
Thursday, April 21
Please submit your posts for next week's Hineinu by tomorrow, April 21, so Teri Ruch, who will be away next week, can prepare the April 27 Hineinu this week. Thank you!

Lev Tahor Chanting Circle – Zoom Room Bet & In Person
Thursday, April 21, 7 pm
Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin. We’ll gather in community for an evening of contemplative practice, chanting interspersed with silence, guided by teachings from the tradition. Everyone is welcome.

Anti-Racism and Belonging Conversation for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) Members – Zoom Room Bet
Sunday, April 24, 10 am
We invite you to embark with us on gaining a better understanding of how anti-racism and belonging show up within Havurah through this small group conversation. All conversation groups are structured by self-selected shared identity. This discussion is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) members. Led by Havurah consultants Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs and Adam St. Bernard Jacobs. RSVP here. Click below for the full calendar of Anti-Racism and Belonging Conversations.

Earth Day Outing – In Person
Sunday, April 24, 10 am to Noon
Celebrate Earth Day with a leisurely outing at Smith and Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. We will enjoy the woods, meadows, and spring flowers, and look for woodland and water birds. Join us for this family-friendly adventure. We will walk about one mile in, but you are welcome to finish your walk sooner. Sponsored by the Climate Action Team. RSVP here. (Photo below of Smith Lake taken by Finetooth/Wikimedia)

Book Group: The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah – Zoom Room Bet
Tuesday, April 26, 7 pm
In The Lost Vintage, a woman returns to her family’s ancestral vineyard in Burgundy and unexpectedly uncovers a lost diary, an unknown relative, and a secret her family has been keeping since World War II. As she learns more about her family, the line between Resistance and Collaboration blurs, driving Kate to ask exactly who her family aided during the difficult years of the war. Discussion led by Sandy Bacharach. Learn more.

Joint Yom HaShoah Service and Special “Voices of the Generations” Presentation with Julie Kohner
Wednesday, April 27, 7 pm, Zoom Link & Login Here
Please join Havurah Shalom and five other west coast congregations for a special Yom HaShoah Service and presentation by Julie Kohner, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Ms. Kohner will be sharing some of her mother’s story, as well as the changing way her mother’s story was told over the years. We will watch a 1953 episode of “This is Your Life,” which was the first time a Holocaust survivor shared her story on national television. The presentation will be held in the larger context of a service honoring the Holocaust with music, prayers, and ritual contributions from all six of our congregations. Learn more.

AlteRocker Happy Hour – Zoom Room Heh
Thursday, April 28, 4:30 pm
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes – the last Thursday of the month!

Bar Mitzvah of Benjamin Bettridge– Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Saturday, April 30, 10 am
Please join us in welcoming Benjamin Bettridge as a bar mitzvah and member of our community.

Mah Jongg Group Meeting – In Person
Sunday, May 1, 1 pm
At this first meeting in person at Havurah since the pandemic began, we will get acquainted and settle on a tentative schedule. Experienced players and people new to the game are welcome. If you have questions or would like to be added to the email list, please contact Leah Hershey.

Israeli Documentary Discussion – Zoom Room Bet
Sunday, May 1, 7 pm 
The Israel/Palestine Committee invites you to join us on a powerful journey through a Spring Zoom discussion series of three Israeli documentaries. The first discussion, about "1948: Creation & Catastrophe," will be led by Lee Gordon and Harriet Cooke. Please watch the film on your own in advance. Learn more here.

The Song Circle – Zoom Room Dalet & In Person
Monday, May 2, 7:30 pm
The Song Circle meets on the first Monday of the month and is open to all who wish to learn, share music, and grow their leadership skills. Based on Joey Weisenberg and the Rising Song Institute's program, it involves guided self-study of communal songs and niggunim using Joey’s videos and written materials. Access to Joey's library costs $18/month per person, but limited subsidies are available. Contact: Ken Lerner

Anti-Racisim and Belonging Conversation for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) youth ages 14-24 – Zoom Room Bet
Wednesday, May 4, 6:30 pm
We invite you to embark with us on gaining a better understanding of how anti-racism and belonging shows up within the congregation through this small group conversation. All conversation groups are structured by self-selected shared identity. This discussion is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) youth ages 14-24. Led by Havurah consultants Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs and Adam St. Bernard Jacobs. RSVP here.

B'nei Mitzvah Event Planning 101 – Zoom Room Bet
Thursday, May 5, 7 pm
In this workshop, we will walk through event planning basics for both the service and reception. We will break down the event planning process into manageable steps, with a worksheet to help you stay on track. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with others, and take the stress out of event planning so you can experience the joy that comes with this special occasion. Taught by Chari Smith. RSVP here.

Tot Shabbat – Zoom Room Bet
Saturday, May 7, 10:30 am
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. RSVP here.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Afghan Family Support Fund
During Passover, we remember how important it is to welcome the stranger and help those who are fleeing oppression. Havurah is partnering with Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) to help resettle an Afghan family in Portland. While LCSNW will place the family in permanent housing, Havurah’s direct fundraising will help support the family’s other needs. For this purpose, Havurah's Sanctuary Committee and Steering Committee have created the Afghan Family Support Fund. Please consider a contribution in any amount to help us welcome the Afghan family. (At this time, your contributions are not tax-deductible.) Thank you, The Sanctuary Committee

Constructive Conversations about Race Workshop
Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Havurah is co-sponsoring this workshop by The Dialogue Company, whose goal is to provide the inspiration and tools to have conversations about race. Learn more on this flier and click here for a calendar of events, pricing, and registration. Financial hardship should not be a barrier to participating. For more information or to ask about financial assistance, contact Kathy Gordon or Bob Brown.

Chase Bank: Stop Funding Fossil Fuels! Passover Action
Friday, April 22, 12 pm, Chase Bank, 811 SW Sixth Ave
This Passover we will work to free ourselves from the destruction of the fossil fuel economy and create a world where everyone can thrive. The Climate Action Team is joining Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action. We will proclaim today's fossil-fueled plagues and lift matzah as a symbol of urgency, calling on Chase Bank, which invests in oil, gas, and coal companies, to move its dough. Rabbi Benjamin will be a speaker and Beth Hamon will lead us in song. Contact: Judi Soloway. RSVP here.

"Youth v Gov" Discussion – Offsite Zoom
Friday, April 29, Watch on Netflix; Sunday, May 1, Discuss on Zoom
"Youth v Gov," the award-winning documentary film about our constitutional right to a livable climate future, will be available on Netflix Friday, April 29. Join a statewide discussion (via Zoom) of the issue in a faith context Sunday May 1. Register through Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Havurah Announcements

Nominating Committee Looking for Treasurer Candidates
Do you have some experience with organizational budgets or finance? Havurah's Nominating Committee is interested in talking to you about the Treasurer position on the Steering Committee. This is a great opportunity to join a group of amazing leaders and help Havurah manage our financial picture. Please contact Debbi Nadell or Ben Walters for more information.

A Video About Havurah Shalom
People attending the Reconstructing Judaism convention last month were treated to this short, engaging video by Havurah member Megan Koler. You may recognize some of the people in it!

Jenn Louis's Presentation on Israeli Flavors
On Sunday, April 3, Jenn Louis gave a presentation on Zoom titled: Using Israeli Flavors in Vegetable Dishes. Click here to watch the presentation.

Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner/Oneg Committee Needs Help
Remember our sweet (pre-Covid) Kabbalat Shabbat services with dinner before and Oneg afterward? Plans are afoot for something a little different in the Fall. We'll start earlier, have a simple Oneg before our lovely musical services, and enjoy a relaxed dinner afterwards. We need new co-chairs, as our current ones are stepping back (but will be available for consultation and advice!). Please contact Rachel Shimshak if you are interested.

Jeff Gottfried Needs a Stem Cells Donor
Longtime Havurah member Jeff Gottfried needs a bone marrow transplant. Please urge anyone you know who is between 18 and 40 to sign up to be a donor. The transplant would be of blood stem cells, not bone marrow. This could be lifesaving for Jeff or any of the 18,000 people who need such transplants annually. Sign up here. Questions? Contact Marcia Danab.

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b)  Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support. (benjamin@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 Lotsa Helping Hands.

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!

Community News

Seeking Construction Job for Carlos
Carlos is a Guatemalan asylum seeker being sponsored by Havurah. A junior at Beaverton HS, he learned construction from his grandfather back in Guatemala and is seeking a job in the field on the west side this summer. Do you have any contacts or information? Please contact Kathy Gordon with leads.

Walking Beside You: A Grief Processing Group – Zoom (offsite)
April 28; May 5, 12, 19, and 26; June 2, 9, 16; 11 am
Jewish Family & Child Service and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland invite you to an 8-week grief processing group for adults. We will have the opportunity to share our own experiences with grief, connect with others, and learn strategies for moving through loss. There is no cost, but registration is required. For questions or to register, email MissyFry@jfcs-portland.

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.