If you’ve been to the building lately, you may have seen trash or needles in the Havurah courtyard, or encountered people charging their phones, resting on our benches, or worse. Last week, our staff wrote a piece in Hineinu about the challenges of being a shul in the downtown/metro area, where the citywide houselessness crisis impacts us all. In that article, staff wrote about striking a balance between our need for safety and cleanliness and our desire to practice chesed, lovingkindness, whenever possible. This article is to let you know that Havurah leadership is also working on this issue.
Havurah leadership has asked the Courtyard Task Force to meet, hear the concerns and experiences of our members and staff, understand what steps are being taken now, consider adjustments to current practices in order to address concerns, and make recommendations to Steering if policies or practices need to be updated. To read more about the Courtyard Task Force and how to contact that group with your suggestions and concerns, click here .
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together to address this sensitive, complicated issue.
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
This Saturday, Aug. 20, Andrine de la Rocha & Howard Patterson, who have spent the year 5782 studying with Kohenet Hebrew Priestess Institute,will zoom-lead an earth-based embodied feminist Shabbat service. The drash will be presented by Rabbi Benjamin.
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. 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. 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 Group Beginning Aug. 21, 7pm
Whether 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
Good News for the Darmani Family
By Michael Rice — Zakrullah, Horia and Zoya Darmani will make a big step this weekend and move into Crescent Court apartments on SE Division Street. The two-bedroom unit, part of an affordable-housing development, will bring the family out of their temporary housing at the Clarion Inn and Suites in Clackamas. Zakrullah found and applied for the apartment. The Havurah Afghan Family Support Group (AFSG) helped with initial fees, and Lutheran Community Services Northwest will also provide rental assistance. This is great news, and AFSG will share how our community can help the Darmanis with other household needs in the weeks ahead.
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!
Update Your Account!
Have you changed addresses or phone numbers? Had a name change? Added a family member? Put in everyone's birthday? We rely on our member data base to be complete and accurate for so many of our functions. Log into your account on the website, and click on My Account in the pull down menu on the top right hand side, where you see "Weldome" and your name. You'll see all the places you can edit. THANK YOU!!!
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.
(ZM) Climate Change Book Group Slow Reading of "Not Too Late" Monday, Aug 18th 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) Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul: A Grief Process Support Group Tuesday, Aug 19th 5:30p to 7:00p **Note: Registration for this group is now closed.** During the month of Elul, we are guided to examine our souls, explore our relationships, reflect on our actions with God and others, and prepare ourselves spiritually to begin a new year. With the Spirit of Elul, we will journey into exploring the aspects of grief. For Havurah members only. Limited to 8 people. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
(IP) Israeli Dancing Wednesday, Aug 20th 7:30p to 8:30p Join us to learn Israeli dancing! We’ll teach the steps and tell the stories behind Israeli dances while you enjoy the catchy rhythms, creative body movements, and spending time with friends.
Led by Havurah members Cindy Merrill and Gail Schwartz with dance instructor Rhona Feldman.
Hakol Deadline is Thursday, August 21 Thursday, Aug 21st (All day) Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
(HYB) Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Aug 22nd 5:45p to 8:00p Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Aug 23rd 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. 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.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 8:15p A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.
(ZM) Israel-Palestine Committee Monthly Planning Meeting Sunday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 8:30p Havurah members, you are welcome to join the Israel-Palestine Committee planning group. We meet monthly in Zoom Room Dalet (fourth Sundays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm). For Zoom Room info, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (be sure you log in to your Havurah member account).
Daily Shofar Blast Monday, Aug 25th (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.
