Hineinu: Mourning with Those in Buffalo, Genizah Ritual, Shavuot
Author
Date Added
Hineinu, May 18, 2022
Mourning with Those in Buffalo
Dear Friends,
The tragic news from Buffalo, NY, this past Saturday was devastating. The ten individuals whose lives were so violently ended, taken from their families and communities, were targeted because they were Black. It is heartbreaking and enraging. And we can and must respond with solidarity. As Jews, we know what it is like to be the targets of hate. In this moment in our community, when we are carrying all the emotions of recent anti-Jewish violence here, the tragedy in Buffalo is another reminder of how we must perceive ourselves — all of us who are targeted by racist violence — as connected. In fact, the shooter in Buffalo championed the same racist and antisemitic “replacement theory” echoed at other killings in recent years, including at the Tree of Life synagogue. In response we must continue to build bridges in solidarity with others in every way we can.
As the loved ones of those murdered in Buffalo mourn, we mourn with them. We pray for the recovery of those who were injured, and for healing and strength for the families and communities so terribly shaken. May they feel held and accompanied in the days and weeks to come.
For those looking to offer financial support, my colleague at Congregation Shir Shalom in Buffalo shared this resource page set up by the local Jewish Family Service.
May the memories of those ten souls be for a blessing in the lives of everyone they touched. And may this horrific moment move us toward further action to build a world in which everyone of every race, religion, and identity of every kind is safe and free.
L’shalom, Rabbi Benjamin
Classes & Events
Please follow our safety requirements at all in-person gatherings. Thank you!
Weekly Happenings
Shabbat Morning Service Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Check our online calendar for details. (See below for dates of 9 am parsha study before Community Minyans.)
Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Tuesdays, 12 pm, Zoom Room Bet & In Person
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, or Nancy Becker.
Morning Minyan Wednesdays, 8:30 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.
Upcoming Events
Anti-Racism & Belonging Conversation Group for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) and Multiracial Families Wednesday, May 18, 6:30 pm, Zoom Room Bet
We invite you to embark with us on gaining a better understanding of how anti-racism and belonging shows up within Havurah through this small group conversation. All conversation groups are structured by self-selected shared identity. Today's conversation is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) and multiracial families. It will be led by Havurah consultants Tabitha and Adam St. Bernard-Jacobs. RSVP here.
Learn more here about Tabitha and Adam and the Anti-Racism & Belonging conversations. Click below for the complete schedule of conversations, including open registration links for June.
"The Worst Thing" Thursday, May 19, 5 pm Movie will be shown in Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
In 1985, Kathleen lost her brother Eddie, an American soldier, to the Red Army Faction (RAF), a German leftist terrorist organization. This film follows Kathleen decades later as she travels to Germany to make peace with aging former members of the RAF. The documentary shows new possibilities for forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation and provides an intimate window into the long-term friendship between two queer women of color. Kathleen and the filmmaker, Des, will join us virtually after the movie. Pizza will be provided for in-person viewers. Sponsored by Lifelong Learning. RSVP here.
Parsha Study – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person Saturday, May 21, 9 am (also on June 11, June 25, July 23)
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Community Minyan.
Long Range Planning Review: Open Meeting Sunday, May 22, 9-11:30 am, Zoom Room Gimel & In Person
The Long Range Planning Committee invites all interested members to review the census and survey responses together with committee members as we move towards distilling recommendations from the data collected so far. Please RSVP here.
Genizah Ritual Sunday, May 22, 12 pm, Havurah Cemetery (Directions to Cemetery)
As Jews, we are enjoined by tradition to treat our sacred texts as living entities. We will gather to open Havurah Shalom's genizah, our repository for sacred texts, for the first time and respectfully retire our old machzorim. Led by Rabbi Benjamin.
Annual Cemetery Beautification Day Sunday, May 22, 1 pm, Havurah Cemetery (Directions to Cemetery)
To beautify our cemetery, please bring garden implements and wear appropriate clothing.
"The Law in These Parts" Film Discussion Monday, May 23, 7 pm – Zoom Room Gimel
The Havurah Israel/Palestine Committee continues its discussion series of three Israeli documentaries on May 23. You can watch the trailer for "The Law in These Parts" here. Please watch the film, which is available through Kanopy.com, prior to the discussion. The discussion will be led by Fran Payne Adler and Lois Bronfman and is for Havurah members only. We encourage you to invite your Havurah friends to join us. Contact: Lee Gordon. RSVP here.
Discussion of Beloved Tuesday, May 24, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet
Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize, Toni Morrison’s Beloved is a spellbinding and innovative portrait of a woman haunted by the past. Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. This novel has much to offer, whether you have never read it or have read it a dozen times. Discussion led by David Newman. Learn more.
AlteRocker Happy Hour Thursday, May 26, 4:30 pm – Zoom Room Heh
Come schmooze with us. And mark your calendars for monthly schmoozes – the last Thursday of the month!
Lev Tahor Chanting Circle Thursday, May 26, 7 pm – Zoom Room Bet & In Person
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! RSVP here.
Bar Mitzvah of Sasha Blau Saturday, May 28, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Please join us in welcoming Sasha Blau as a bar mitzvah and member of our community.
Office Closure for Memorial Day Monday, May 30
Our office will be closed on May 30 for the Memorial Day holiday.
Bat Mitzvah of Arianna Gammage Saturday, June 4, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Please join us in welcoming Arianna Gammage as a bat mitzvah and member of our community.
Shavuot Service Sunday, June 5, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
We will celebrate Shavuot with a morning service, including Yizkor and a short Torah service, and we will also welcome a new Torah to Havurah Shalom, lent by the Lager family. Afterward, enjoy an oneg with simple dairy (and non-dairy!) treats.
The Song Circle Monday, June 6, 7:30 pm – Zoom Room Dalet & In Person
The Song Circle is based on a program designed by Joey Weisenberg and the Rising Song Institute focusing on communal songs and niggunim, wordless melodies. It is open to all who wish to learn, share music, and grow their personal leadership techniques. The guided self-study requires access to a library of Joey’s music videos, written materials, and short instructional videos, which costs $18/month per person, but limited subsidies are available. Contact: Ken Lerner
Tot Shabbat Saturday, June 11, 10:30 am – Zoom Room Bet
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. RSVP here.
Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, June 12, 10 am – Zoom Room Aleph
Members will hear updates, vote on the 2022-23 budget, and vote on amending our Bylaws. (See Bylaws post in "Havurah Announcements" below.)
Tikkun Olam Updates
News from the Streets: Monthly PHFS Dinner
Our monthly dinner at Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) has continued through the pandemic under the guidance of Len and Elayne Shapiro, who are in need of more volunteers. Two families are needed each month: one to bring a veggie main dish, the other to bring a salad and yogurt for approximately 30 people. The food can be dropped at their house in Garden Home or at the PHFS shelter in the Lents neighborhood on the afternoon of the second Wednesday of the month. Sign up at bit.ly/havurahshalom. Thanks to the many families who have done this mitzvah and to those considering! Contact: Len and Elayne Shapiro
Youth Climate Strike, March & Festival Friday, May 20, 10:45 am
The Havurah Climate Action Team and Rose City Dayenu Circle will meet at 10:45 am at the east side of Terry Schrunk Plaza on SW 3rd Ave. Look for the Havurah banner and the Dayenu banner. The rally is from 11 am to 1 pm at City Hall, followed by a march across the river to Revolution Hall, with activities there between 2 and 8 pm. Learn more. Contact: Michael Heumann
Where the Waters Come Together Saturday, May 21, 1 pm, Center for Native Arts and Cultures, 800 SE 10th Ave
Havurah's Racial Justice Committee invites you to join them at The Center for Native Arts and Cultures to view the opening exhibit, "Where the Waters Come Together." Learn more.
"Vanport: The Musical" Weekends May 20-June 5, NW Children's Theatre, 1819 NW Everett
The Racial Justice Committee encourages you to consider seeing "Vanport: The Musical" at NW Children's Theatre. This is an opportunity for our younger community members and families to learn more about the history of systemic anti-black racism in Portland. Learn more.
New Misheberach Request Form
Yesterday Havurah members received this email about our new Misheberach request form, which makes it possible for Havurah members to submit the names of their relatives or Havurah members to be read during the Misheberach (healing) prayer during Shabbat services. The form is linked below and can be found in the drop-down menu under “Services” when you are logged in as a member.
During the “pilot” phase of this project we will be trying things out in real time and looking for input on anything that doesn’t work or could be improved. And we will work on the processes for managing the list and reading names. We invite you to use this form if you have questions or comments during this time. – Sam Sirkin, Tivona Reith, and Fran Berg
Pride in the Park Kabbalat Shabbat is Seeking Volunteers Friday, June 17, 6 pm – Columbia Park
Celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat and Pride with a special service at Columbia Park! We’ll enjoy a paper-sack catered dinner afterwards. Would you like to take part in our Pride service leadership by helping to plan the service, offering intentions, sharing readings/poetry or playing music? Please contact Rabbi Benjamin. Would you like to help with things like food distribution, helping attendees, setup and cleanup? Sign up here. RSVPs will open for the service in a couple weeks, but for now we are looking for people who wish to help.
Paid Zoom Host Positions Open
Havurah is seeking to fill paid positions for two people to monitor our Zoom rooms during services and other events and to help support the online component of b’nei mitzvah. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Please share this job description with those who may be interested.
Congregation to Vote to Amend Havurah's Bylaws at Annual Meeting
Havurah Shalom’s annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 12, at 10 am. This year’s meeting will include a request for approval of amendments to Havurah’s Bylaws. An annotated version of the Bylaws summarizing the requested changes is linked here. The changes propose an additional officer position, Recording Secretary for the Steering Committee, who will serve a two-year term and be responsible for taking minutes at Steering Committee meetings and maintaining the archives of the Steering Committee. The proposed Bylaws amendments also reflect general housekeeping changes, including deleting obsolete committee references and requirements. Please send questions or comments to corporatesec@havurahshalom.org.
Transparency & Inclusivity Committee Seeking New Members
Interested in joining a vibrant and relevant committee? This committee's purpose is to ensure continued transparency of governance decisions to allow for greater communication between members and leadership – and among members – so that every congregant feels valued. We believe this leads to greater membership engagement and promotes inclusivity. We meet monthly and/or there are opportunities to work on specific projects. Contact: Janice Kettler
Community News
Finding a Clearing: A Faith-Based Story Exchange
Connecting Through Empathetic Storytelling Saturday, May 21, 5:30 pm, 7270 NW Helvetia Rd, Hillsboro Youth Advocates for Immigrants & Refugees, a youth-run organization dedicated to building bridges of multicultural understanding through art, activism, and storytelling, is partnering with the Islamic Community Center of Hillsboro and Narrative4 to host a faith-based story exchange to connect participants through empathetic storytelling. Learn more on this event flier.
BB Camp Openings
Thanks so much for inviting BB Camp to your end-of-the-year family event [Shabbat School Siyyum on May 7]. We enjoyed getting to know Havurah as an organization and the families that make up your community. We had a great time playing, crafting, and singing with your kiddos, and ask that you keep BB Camp in mind as we approach the summer. BB Day Camp Portland, Eastside Camp, and BB Overnight Camp still have open sessions for campers and are still hiring staff. Reach out to Abby at aevonuk@bbcamp.org with any questions or visit the BB Camp website to learn more!
Resources
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're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, use this Misheberach Request Form.
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.
Prayer Flags for Our Planet Thursday, Apr 25th 11:00a to 3:00p This exhibit is about science and art.
It is meant to be a learning experience, about the top 60 solutions to climate change, as researched by over 5,000 scientists.
And most importantly it is about hope.
It is about learning about these solutions to climate change and
changing the hearts and minds of those around us,
so that we can all work together.
Anne Nesse, 2024
(ZM) Racial Justice Committee Meeting Thursday, Apr 25th 7:00p to 8:30p Please join us for our monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting. We will learn of upcoming events and plan new ones.
(IP) HCAT & Partners' Climate Action Fair at MJCC Sunday, Apr 28th 12:00p to 4:00p HCAT invites you to continue with our climate action month by attending a community wide Climate Action Fair at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Cosponsored by the MJCC and the Jewish Federation’s Climate team, meet dozens of environmental organizations and discover resources for actions you can take. A series of speakers will talk about forestry, electrification, native plants and climate friendly foods. (And let Elianne Lieberman know if you can give someone a ride or are seeking a ride!)
Passover Minyan (Yizkor) Tuesday, Apr 30th 8:00a to 9:15a For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will observe Yizkor today as well. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org for join info.
Experience the Omer: Making it Count! Tuesday, Apr 30th 7:00p to 7:30p [RSVP to be emailed a recording of the April 9 intro session.] The Omer is an ancient tradition marking time between the Exodus from the Narrow Place to the Expanse at Sinai. Explore tools and practices to facilitate your own learning and experience from Liberation to Revelation. We will have an intro class followed by half-hour check-ins, one for each Sephira. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. 7 pm, Tuesdays, Apr. 9 (Intro), 23 (Chesed), 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), 14 (Netzach), 21 (Hod), 28 (Yesod); Jun. 4 (Malchut) Led by Andrine de la Rocha.
(ZM) Book Group: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Tuesday, Apr 30th 7:00p to 8:30p February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy’s body.
From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying.
