As the housing crisis and the pandemic have brought changes to Portland, so too have some difficult challenges come to the Havurah Shalom building. Visitors may see people sitting in our courtyard charging their phones, or just resting. A number of tents have gone up, legally, along Kearney Street. Often there is trash, and sometimes there are needles, attesting to drug use taking place when no is around to curtail it.
This state of things is painful for all involved. For those returning to the building, it can be shocking or frightening. Staff—Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Adela Basayne, Carrie Kirschner, and Rachel Pollak—want you to know that we are here with you and are always doing our best to promote safety while extending chesed, lovingkindness, to those who also visit our space.
We are serious about being proactive. Just today, video cameras have been installed to help monitor the space and allow staff to see people at the door. Following the recommendation of the Courtyard Task Force, who have examined this set of challenges very closely, we have hired a person not currently housed to clean the space three times a week, and that arrangement has worked well for both parties. Our janitors also clean up outside.
It is important to note that just as many good things take place outside too. Our courtyard visitors often clean up other people’s messes, without being asked. They thank us for the use of the outlets and the space. We believe we are doing good out there overall.
And yet, problems persist, and likely will until the citywide houselessness problem is solved, hopefully in a compassionate way that really solves problems. In the meantime, we are a microcosm of all the larger issues.
What can you do?
First, please remember that staff has been working on things both in front of and behind the scenes, and we have deep, long-term experience in relating to the people who come by. Ask us for help if you’re ever nervous about something, or if you want to run a possible solution by us.
Second, take a Havurah Safety Class led by Rachel Pollak. She will cover all of the safety features of the building, and also give some practical advice for dealing with needles and understanding the people you may meet outside. One is taking place Thursday (tomorrow!) at 6:30 pm. We really encourage you to do this; the more people who take the class, the more who can help each other feel and be safe at the building.
There is much more we can describe to let you know that we’re on this, but space and time are insufficient. Please be in touch with Adela or Rachel with questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you at the building soon!
Weekly Parsha Study Saturdays, 9 am, Zoom Room Bet & 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 mostly via Zoom to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. 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.
Safety Trainings
Back to the Building Safety and AV Training Thursday, Aug. 11, 6:30 pm — In Person — RSVP
Thursday, Aug. 18, 6:30 pm — In Person — RSVP
As more and more of us return to Havurah's beautiful building, we are all finding changes and hoping we still know how to do things. From opening the main entry, using the alarm, and knowing what security features are at hand to using the technology we've added to support Zoom meetings, this quick yet comprehensive safety/AV tour of the building will answer all your questions. Led by Office and Facilities Manager Rachel Pollak. (If you are having a meeting at Havurah and would like Rachel to give a much abbreviated version of this tour to the attendees, please let her know!)
Online Stop the Bleed Tuesday, Aug. 16, 7-8 pm — Online — RSVP Tuesday, Aug. 23, 9-10 pm — Online — RSVP
Free online course provided by Secure Community Network. With SCN’s Stop the Bleed course, you’ll gain the ability to recognize life-threatening bleeding and intervene effectively. The person next to a bleeding victim may be the one who’s most likely to save them. Take the course and become empowered to make a life-or-death difference when a bleeding emergency occurs. The training will last approximately one hour with time available for questions.
Situational Awareness Thursday, Aug. 25, 6:30 pm — In Person — RSVP
Led by Jessica Anderson of Secure Community Network. Build observation skills and learn best practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life–from going to synagogue and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. The class will cover the basics of situational awareness and how to help protect yourself, your family and your community. The training will last approximately one hour with time available for questions.
Upcoming Events
This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: Book study gatherings begin Sunday, Aug. 21, 7:00 pmWhether you’ve read the book before, or this is your first time, R. Alan Lew’s book can deepen our experience of the High Holidays as a journey of personal transformation. We’ll meet four times to share our reflections on the ideas and practices in different chapters. Come to one, some or all. Led by Adela Basayne and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.
We have purchased several copies, available to members on a first come basis in the office.
Aug. 21, 7-8:30 pm, An introduction to the process (Chapter 1) — Zoom Room Bet — RSVP here
Aug. 28, 7-8:15 pm in the Havurah Sanctuary and Zoom Room Bet — Elul and Teshuvah (Chapters 2-4) — RSVP here
Sept. 11, 7-8:30 pm, Zoom Room Bet — Coming towards Rosh Hashana and the Days of Awe (Chapters 5, 6, 7) — RSVP here
Oct. 9, 7-8:15 pm in the Havurah Sukkah — Yom Kippur and Sukkot (Chapters 8, 9, 10 and epilogue) —RSVP here
Tikkun Olam Updates
News From the Streets:Elul Food Drive for The Common Good Project
See our P&H page on Havurah's website for the list of food items needed and drop-off dates, etc. Also check out information about our committee's work, organizations we support, and more! Each TO committee has an easy-to-find web page: just click on the "committee" tab! Dates when you can deliver food to Havurah are: Friday, Aug. 26, 1:30-4 pm, and Sunday, Sept. 18, 11 am-1 pm
News From the Streets: Monthly PHFS Dinner
Once a month since 2015, Havurahniks have prepared a dinner, served it and then sat with "guests" at Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS). We have continued preparing and delivering throughout Covid under the coordination of Len and Elayne Shapiro. We invite you to join us!
Looking for New Committee Members
The Lifelong Learning Committee is looking to expand our committee. If you love the classes we have been offering, then you are a perfect candidate for the committee. You don't need to teach or have a specific skill. You just need to be organized to help support the people who do teach the classes. By joining the committee you become part of a great group of people who enjoy working together. For more specifics, please contact Eve Berry or Joel Beinin.
Come Sing with Us!
The residents at Robison love to sing each Wednesday at 11 am. But we need more volunteers to help lift them in song. Just one hour a week can make a huge difference. We have a fabulous pianist and easy lyrics for well-known songs. Please contact Kim.Hughes@cedarsinaipark.org. We are excited to have you come sing with us!
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, please 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.
Daily Shofar Blast Sunday, Sep 14th (All day) Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages.
Havurahnik Mahjong Group Monday, Sep 15th 1:00p to 4:00p Just for Havurah members, our Mahjong Group is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. And while some of us may play elsewhere as well, we all agreed that restoring its place as an ongoing congregational activity will be a good fit for Havurah and those of us who play or want to learn the game.
(ZM) High Holiday Safety Training Monday, Sep 15th 6:30p to 7:30p All Havurah members are invited to this important safety training. High Holidays event manager Rachel Pollak will cover the procedures and practices that keep us safe at the Tiffany Center and at the Havurah building, and Secure Community Network Regional Security Advisor Jessica Anderson will teach us situational awareness and de-scalation. There will be time for questions at the end. All High Holiday greeters, ushers and event monitors are especially encouraged to attend this training. It will be recorded for those not able to attend.
(ZM) Climate Change Book Group Slow Reading of "Not Too Late" Tuesday, Sep 16th 5:30p to 6:30p All are welcome! Havurah members and non-members alike are invited to join us in this slow, section-by-section reading of "Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility." Click and RSVP. Attend any or all of these HCAT (Havurah's Climate Action Team) Book Group discussions about "Not Too Late."
(ZM) Story Turning: Harvesting Joy in the Past Tuesday, Sep 16th 7:00p to 8:15p Teshuvah is the ongoing process of Turning and Returning. Using brief, simple, playful forms: sound, movement, story, stillness—which EVERYONE can do—we'll discover and shape our own tales of transformation and renewal.
Together we’ll play with a few classic Jewish tales and find our own voices, visions, ancestors, light, and revelations. This is not a performance class. No experience is required, just a willingness to be curious and a little silly.
Led by Cassandra Sagan, a twice-ordained Maggid (Jewish storyteller/teacher), and a lifetime creative process/poetry/arts educator.
(IP) My Soul Thirsts for You: Elul Watercolor Workshop Wednesday, Sep 17th 7:00p to 8:15p Elul opens the gates of return. It’s a time when we are invited to soften, reflect, and seek out closeness with the Divine. In this workshop we'll explore watercolor, which is an especially effective medium for holding and expressing emotion. Our learning will center on the 13 Attributes, a sacred text recited throughout the High Holiday season, as we invite in qualities of compassion, honesty, and patience. No art experience needed, just a willingness to experiment and be present. All materials provided. Led by Noah Lind, Rabbinic Intern.
Hakol Deadline is Thursday, September 18 Thursday, Sep 18th (All day) Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
