Genizah Ritual Last Sunday
On May 22, Rabbi Benjamin led Havurah members in a ritual to respectfully bury the machzorim that we used for many years in our new genizah, or receptacle for sacred texts. As Jews, we are enjoined by tradition to treat our sacred texts as living entities. The photo below was taken at Sunday's Genizah Ritual by Rachel Pollak. More photos here.
Classes & Events
Please follow our safety requirements at all in-person gatherings. Thank you!
Weekly Happenings
Weekly Parsha Study Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading before each Shabbat service.
Shabbat Morning Service Saturdays, 10 am, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. You don't need to receive an invitation. Just come celebrate with the b'nei mitzvah, their family, and the community! Check our online calendar for details about all Shabbat services.
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
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. No invitation is required. All are welcome!
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. No invitation is required. All are welcome!
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: A Night of Learning and Connection Saturday June 4, 8 pm
More info coming soon!
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 photo above of Julia Lager Mesulam and her family's Torah was taken by Adela Basayne.
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. 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. Limited subsidies are available. Contact: Ken Lerner
Tot Shabbat Saturday, June 11, 10:30 am – Zoom Room Bet (Meeting by Zoom only.)
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 (Meeting by Zoom only.)
Members will hear updates and vote on the 2022-23 budget.
"5 Broken Cameras" Film Discussion Sunday, June 12, 7 pm – Zoom Room Gimel
Please watch the film on your own prior to the discussion. It's available free through your county library system; sign up with kanopy.com. You can watch the trailer here. Sponsored by the Israel/Palestine Committee.
Save the Date: Pride in the Park Kabbalat Shabbat 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 soon, but for now we are looking for people who wish to help.
Tikkun Olam Updates
Racial Justice Committee Volunteer Opportunity Friday, June 17, 12-8 pm (and same time on Saturday & Sunday)
The Havurah Racial Justice Committee presents a unique volunteer opportunity! Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., is now a federal and state holiday. Portland's Juneteenth Oregon organization is asking for volunteers on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 17-19. Could some Havuraniks support this event? (Four-hour shifts preferred.) Contact Kathy Gordon or Kristine Munholland, and we will connect you to the event coordinators. Learn more.
Save the Date: Forum on the Global Refugee Crisis Wednesday, June 22, 5:30 pm – Zoom Room TBA
The Sanctuary Committee recognizes that refugee resettlement and immigration are challenging at both the national and local level. We will hear from experts about the global refugee situation, the current status of the U.S. resettlement program, and how Jewish communities and individuals can help. Speakers include Naomi Steinberg, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, HIAS; Myra Dahgaypaw, Refugee Congress Delegate and Senior Partnership Officer for Justice and International Accountability at UUSC; and Havurah members. Contact: Lauren Fortgang Register here.
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
Have You Updated Your Member Account Recently?
Please remember to update your member account whenever your contact information changes. It's helpful to log in occasionally to be sure your information is up to date. To access your account:
Click on the "log in" link in the upper right corner of the website.
Enter your email address and password.
Forgot your password? Create a new one! After you receive an email from Havurah/ShulCloud confirming the new password, you'll be ready to log in.
Click on "profile" or another icon to make your updates.
New Karen Labinger Misheberach Request Form
Havurah members can use our new Misheberach request form now to request that the names of relatives or Havurah members be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services. The form is linked below and can be found in the drop-down menu under “Services” on our website, when you are logged in as a member. During a three-month pilot project that began May 17, we invite you to use this form to send us comments or questions. The list is named after Karen Labinger, of blessed memory, who read the names of people in need of healing during the Misheberach. – Sam Sirkin, Tivona Reith, and Fran Berg
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.
Community News
Aaron Kahn's OneTable Dinner: Music & the Mediterranean Friday, May 27, 7-9 pm
For location of event, contact Aaron Kahn
Travel with us in sound and nourishment to Israel as we eat food from the woman-owned Lil' Shalom and explore the musical instruments, songs, and events passed down through generations. If you play an instrument or sing, please bring it or your voice! Street parking is free – a bit tough in the NW Portland neighborhood, but you can find it. The dinner is for young adults ages 21-39 who play or appreciate music. 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.
(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.
