Hineinu, September 28, 2022

In these days of reflection...

May we all be gently guided to loving and brave return to the places we most need to be.

May we be written and sealed for a good year.

Erev Yom Kippur next Tuesday night!

Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer!

It takes all of us working together to bring High Holidays to the Tiffany Center. If you haven't signed up for a spot yet, there are many still open, all of them essential to this incredible community gathering!

Volunteer Signup

Other info at Hand:

High Holiday Information Packet | Free Childcare RSVP | Community Luncheon RSVP | Machzor PDF | Songbook PDF | Website


Tell Your Friends!
High Holidays at Havurah Shalom is always free to everyone, no tickets required!

Gatherings

Thank you for following our safety requirements at in-person gatherings. 

Zoom Room links, including 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.

Upcoming Events

Days of Awe-some: Text, Talk and Teshuvah
7:30 pm, Wednesday, Sept 28, Thursday, Sept 29, Saturday, Oct. 1, Sunday, Oct. 2,  Monday, Oct 3,  and Wednesday, Oct. 5, Zoom Room Neshama
We will meet evenings on most of the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and as a bonus on Yom Kippur during the service break.We gather to indulge in Inquiry, Intention and Introspection around themes of the ten Days of Awe, with a focus on turning and returning to the One. Each evening we will read an excerpt from The Book of Days, by Rabbi Jill Hammer, and/or other texts, make time for guided contemplation, and share reflections about teshuvah in small groups. All are welcome.
Contact Howard Patterson or Andrine de la Rocha for information.

Walking Beside You, a grief processing group
2:00- 3:00, Thursdays, Sept.29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17,  on Zoom with JFCS
The Ma'avar group realizes the holidays can be a particularly difficult time for people who are mourning. Jewish Family and Child Service is offering its fall virtual sessions for their Walking Beside You grief processing group. The first session is on September 29 and will run for eight consecutive weeks. The group is free and is open to any adult in the community who has experienced the loss of someone close. For questions or to register for the group, please contact: Missy Fry, LCSW (503) 226-7079 ext. 133 MissyFry@jfcs-portland.org  Click here for more information

 “Days of Awe”, a solo cello livestream
5:45pm, Tuesday, Oct 4th ,  https://www.youtube.com/c/DianeChaplinCello
Diane Chaplin performs solo cello, featuring introspective and meditative music for Yom Kippur.  Listen before the Kol Nidrei service, or at any time afterwards, including during a break on Yom Kippur.

Tikkun Olam Discussion Group
2:00, Tuesday, Oct. 5th, at the Tiffany Center
A time for inspiration, reflection and ronnection as we listen to some wisdom from the books Becoming Rooted and Braiding Sweetgrass, engage in thoughtful discussion, and share what's on our minds. Facilitated by members of the Tikkun Olam cluster.

Information Session about the Portland Charter Amendment
3-4:30 pm, Sunday, Oct. 9, Havurah Shalom Sanctuary 
Do you live in Portland? Are you interested in learning more about the Portland Charter amendment that will be on the November ballot? You are invited to attend a Havurah-specific information session to learn more about the city charter amendment. The changes are sweeping and we hope that our community will vote with the needed and accurate information about the proposal.  Sponsored by Tikkun Olam Cluster. RSVP here

This Is Real and You are Completely Unprepared: Book Study Group
7pm, Sunday, Oct. 9 — Havurah Shalom Sukkah
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 a final time to share our reflections on the ideas and practices and discuss chapters 8, 9, 10 and the epilogue. Led by Adela Basayne and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here

Israel/Palestine Committee “Expanding the Conversation” Continues
First Event: Rashid Khalidi, “The 100 Years War on Palestine”
5 pm, Wednesday, Oct. 12— 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.

Back in person after 30 Months !!!!  Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6:00-8:30pm, Friday, Oct 14th
These celebrations with a new schedule are beginning again, the second Friday of each month from October - June.  Expect a light,  family-friendly oneg followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. All are welcome!  Volunteers for set up and clean up are needed!  Contact Marni Glick or Sally Hersh.
6 pm.  Light Oneg       
6:30    Service         
7:30    Dinner (RSVP for dinner opens 1 October) 

Simchat Torah Celebration
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Monday, Oct. 17, Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshamah
Join us for a family-friendly and joyous celebration featuring music and dancing with the Torah!Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." On Simchat Torah, we celebrate the conclusion of our annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of another. We read the last Torah portion, then the first chapter of Genesis, remembering that the Torah is a circle of life that never ends. On Simchat Torah, we sing and dance with the Torah. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll, and as many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading). Children are called up for an aliyah, too. Torah brings sweetness to the lives of all of us!
There will be drinks and desserts for all! RSVP here

Reparations:  An Opportunity to Learn, Discuss and Act
6:30-8:30 pm, Tuesdays, Oct.18, 25, Nov. 1, 15, 22, at Havurah and on Zoom
The Racial Justice Committee is pleased to offer a class on reparations. The 5-session class offers an opportunity to study and reflect on some of the writings of prominent thought leaders on the topic of reparations for Black Americans as a path to restorative justice. Class materials will include articles and videos. Class size limited to 12 people to allow for active participation. Registration will close when we meet that number. The classes will be in-person to allow for deeper interaction with each other and the material, but accommodations will be made for people to attend virtually if needed. We hope to offer this class again in the spring to allow for more members to participate. For more information or to express interest, contact TikkunOlam@HavurahShalom.org. RSVP here

23rd Annual Reading of Oregon Jewish Writers 
7-8:30 pm, Tuesday, Oct. 18, at OJMCHE, In Person & Zoom 
Havurah member Willa Schneberg curates the Annual “Oregon Jewish Voices” reading now in its 23rd season! It will be in person & on zoom. She will be joined by authors Bryna Goodman, Seth Lorinczi, Vivienne Popperl and Michael Schein. There will be a Q&A following the reading. RSVP here.     

Enjoy the Benefits of Solar Power Without Putting Solar Panels on Your Roof!
5-6pm, Sunday, October 23,
Exciting news: individuals, businesses, and houses of worship can gets the benefits of solar power - lowering your carbon footprint and lowering your electric bill - without installing solar panels on your roof. For PGE and Pacific Power customers. Find out how you can be part of "community solar". This is different than the green energy programs offered by the electric companies. For information, contact Elianne Lieberman, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here.

Tikkun Olam Updates

Rose Haven and The Common Good Project Share Their Experiences
Sunday, Oct. 16, 4:30 - 6:00 in the Havurah Sukkah, or inside if it's raining — Child care will be available — RSVP here

Havurahniks are invited to attend a discussion of homelessness in our community, under the fragile shelter of the Sukkah. We have invited Jenn Louis with the Common Good Project, which twice weekly provides food and clothing directly to about eight tent pod communities in NE Portland, and is part of a city program that hires homeless folks to pick up trash.

Also presenting will be a representative from the Rose Haven Day Center for women and children, just blocks from Havurah,  which provides meals, clothing, computer use, laundry, showers, medical care, and classes to women-identifying people and children, as well as just a safe warm space to be in during the day when shelters are not open.

Perhaps you might want to volunteer?  Maybe you just want to know more about homeless populations? Or you have thoughts about the homeless folks who often use our courtyard? Please join us to talk about this important issue.

News From the Streets: 
Our Elul Food Drive was quite successful! Many thanks to all who contributed to that success! If you missed that opportunity, or are wanting to also participate in more Tzedakah, click 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!

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven ​​​​​​​

Announcements

So many volunteer opportunities available:

High Holidays
There are so many ways to help! Look here  to make your contribution to the TIffany Center barn raising.

Kabbalat Shabbat
We are looking for volunteers to lead a few tasks for Kabbalat Shabbat, which is resuming monthly for nine months beginning Oct. 14. In our new format, the catered dinner will take place after the service instead of before. This will hopefully make the service accessible to a wider group of people, including families with children. There will be a light oneg/nosh available 30 minutes before the service. Dinner, for folks with reservations, will follow the service. We are looking for people to coordinate volunteers for these tasks: greeters/door monitors; set-up and take-down of the oneg/nosh; set-up for dinner; and clean-up after dinner. These are easy, fun tasks and provide an opportunity to get to know and connect with others at Havurah. Co-leads are welcome! Volunteer leads will not be involved in recruitment, just organizing the volunteers the day of the event. Please contact Marni Glick and Sally Hersh.

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.