It's time to prepare for the High Holidays! Once again, Havurah Shalom is opening our doors to all who wish to celebrate with us, free and ticketless. We will be back at the Tiffany Center as well as streaming online. See our complete schedule in the digital info packet below!
Zoom Room links for the High Holiday rooms Neshamah and Shofar, can be found near the end of this email.
Regular Happenings
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
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and on the website calendar.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Israel/Palestine Committee “Expanding the Conversation” Continues
First Event: Rashid Khalidi, “The 100 Years War on Palestine”
5 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 14 – offsite Zoom RSVP
The Israel/Palestine Committee is once again co-sponsoring the free Zoom series "Expanding the Conversation about Israel/Palestine." The fall the series will focus on Palestinian Voices. Details about the series and registration information are available in Hakol and through the portal link on Committee web page. The first event will feature Rashid Khalidi, author and Columbia University Professor, discussing "The 100 Years War on Palestine." Contact Joel Beinin for more information.
Tikkun Olam Updates
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:
The Lullaby Project 2 pm, Sunday, Sept. 11 – Lents Park
For the fourth year in a row, Portland Homeless Family Solutions is partnering with the Oregon Symphony on the Lullaby Project. This innovative program brings professional singer-songwriters and Oregon Symphony musicians together with parents from Family Village to co-create lullabies for their kids. This live community concert will debut this year's songs. Park entrance is on SE 92nd and Steele. The concert is open to the public and no tickets are needed.
Elul Food Drive for The Common Good Project 11-1 am, Sunday, Sept. 18 – 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. See the food list here.
High Holiday Tzedakah Project Drop off at Tiffany Center during High Holiday services
Havurah's Tikkun Olam Poverty and Homelessness Committee is 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 these organizations, and see the items needed and Tiffany Center drop-off info here. Thank you, Havurah, for your support!
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, Jun 27th 5:45p to 8:30p 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) Climate Change Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jun 28th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), 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@havurhshalom.org.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Jun 29th 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) Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, Jun 30th 6:00p to 7:30p We hold monthly letter writing group Zoom gatherings to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP, but please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well.
(IP) Pride Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park Friday, Jul 11th 6:30p to 8:30p Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB. All are welcome.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jul 12th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), 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.
