Havurah's High Holidays schedule and other essential information is now available here! Plan ahead and RSVP for events, and sign up to volunteer to help make it all happen! We are excited to begin the month of Elul soon with amazing classes and events led by members and open to all!
Note: In order to accommodate people connecting as guests to our programming, we will be holding most Elul and High Holiday events in special Zoom Rooms, Shofar and Neshamah. Links will be included in a confirmation email when you RSVP and can be found near the bottom of this email.
Weekly Torah 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
TOMORROW! Situational Awareness in Person at Havurah! Thursday, Aug. 25, 6:30 pm — In Person — RSVP
Do not miss this important class led by Jessica Anderson of Secure Community Network. You will build observation skills and learn best practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life–from coming to Havurah 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.
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. 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
Hear the Sound of the Shofar! 11:30-11:45 am, Aug. 28 through Sept. 23 (except Shabbat) – Zoom Room Shofar
"When the Shofar is sounded, hear, all you inhabitants of the world." Isaiah 18:13 It is customary to hear the sound of the Shofar every day of Elul. To observe this custom, Andrine de la Rocha, Howard Patterson and Diane Chaplin will sound the Shofar every afternoon during the month of Elul, except for Shabbos. They will use the traditional Shofar calls and give a bit of kavanot each time. Each session will last only a few minutes, so be prompt or you’ll miss it! RSVP to be sent a link to the special High Holiday Zoom Room Shofar.
Bat Mitzvah of Dorothy Korin 10 am, Saturday, Sept 3 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Dorothy Korin as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
Contemplative Practice to Support Teshuvah
7 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 7 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
In these sessions we will gather to engage with the sacred work of this season: Teshuvah — repentance and repair. Working with the spiritual tools of Mussar — applied Jewish ethics — and Meditation, we will practice and reflect together, examining where we have caused harm and lovingly holding ourselves accountable to make amends and grow as we enter the new year. RSVP to be sent a link to the special Zoom Room Neshamah
Racial Justice Committee Meeting 7-8:30 pm, Sept. 8 — Zoom Room Gimel
Please join the Racial Justice Committee to learn what we have been up to and what we hope to work on in the future. Join us and be part of this new(ish) committee at Havurah!
Tikkun Olam Updates
Furniture for the Darmani Family
By Michael Rice
Zakrullah, Horia, and Zoya Darmani, with help from an enthusiastic team of Havurahniks, are now settling in at the Crescent Court apartments on SE Division Street. The Saturday move-in also brought a new bed and “restart kits” of household supplies through Lutheran Community Services Northwest.
Thank you all thus far for your generous donations for the apartment. A couch, a desk chair and small area rugs would be a good addition. Please contact Fran Berg if you can donate those items. We are also looking for the use of a van or pickup.
Zakrullah and Horia express warm appreciation for our community’s help.
Barbara Smith Warner Speaks on Public Education and Generational Poverty
Thursday, Sept. 1, 12-1:30 — RSVP for offsite Zoom
Barbara Smith Warner, retiring Oregon representative, speaks to the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty about why public education is so important to lifting children out of generational poverty, how well Oregon is meeting the needs of these students and what the future looks like.
News From the Streets:
Elul Food Drive for The Common Good Project
Friday, Aug. 26, 1:30-4 pm at Havurah Shalom
Sunday, Sept. 18, 11-1 pm at Havurah Shalom
Elul is approaching, giving us time to prepare for the High Holidays. In thinking about others, Our Poverty and Homelessness Committee is conducting a food drive during the month of Elul to benefit The Common Good Project. Originally named The Homeless Relief Initiative, its continuing mission is to provide meals to homeless people in several Northeast tent communities. Food delivery, along with hot meals, continues under the name of The Common Good Project. Please donate to our food drive by bringing the the items listed at this link to Havurah Shalom on the dates specified above
Tzedakah Project
Havurah's Tikkun Olam Poverty and Homelessness Committee is once again organizing the High Holiday Tzedakah Project. We have selected two of our partner nonprofit organizations whose mission and values we feel strongly reflect those of Havurah, Rose Haven and The Common Good Project. Learn more about items needed and drop-off at the Tiffany Center here.
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 "Welcome" 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.
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.
Havurah Zoom Rooms
Special High Holiday Zoom Rooms
Room Neshamah PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 84045798192 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5783.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 84045798192.
Room Shofar PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 89559296630 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5783.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 89559296630.
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 19th 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.
(IP) Last Music Jam of the Season! Monday, May 19th 7:00p to 8:30p Join your fellow Havurah musicians for our last jam of the season. We'll play and sing Jewish and secular songs, just for the joy of it! Everyone has the opportunity to choose and lead songs from a wide range of artists and eras. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP.
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 21st 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.
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, May 23rd 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.
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Maya Rosenbaum Shabbat, May 24th 10:00a to 12:00p Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Maya Rosenbaum as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, May 25th 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.
