As we have done far too often in recent years, this week we mourn the senseless loss of life. Our hearts break for the families of the five people murdered at Club Q in Colorado Springs, and we pray for refu’ah shleimah, complete recovery, for the dozens wounded.
The day of the shooting was Transgender Day of Remembrance. At Havurah that Shabbat morning, before the Mourners’ Kaddish, we recited a prayer, composed by Rabbi Reuben Zellman, which included the words: “We pray, God, that those who perpetrate hate and violence will speedily come to understand that Your creation has many faces, many genders, and many holy expressions.” May it be so.
Amid increasing anti-LGBTQ policies and vicious rhetoric, tragedies like this feel inevitable. So let us respond to this moment by fighting harder to disrupt hateful speech and safeguard human rights. To all of our LGBTQ community members: May Havurah always be a place in which you feel safe and know you belong, a refuge for all of us seeking love and connection.
This is a precarious moment in our history — as a nation, as a people, and as a species. With the rise in antisemitism, and with increased violence and hate-filled acts in general, it is touching every one of us, in different but shared ways. May we continue to turn toward one another and support each other, and together locate the courage and resilience we need. May the memories of those murdered be for blessing in the lives of all who loved them, and may they inspire our continued fight for a world that is more safe and just and loving for us all.
Gentle Reminder for Gatherings
While it continues to be exciting and joyous to be together again in the building, Staff would like to ask groups to remember to wash their dishes after meeting. We all rely on everybody doing their part!
Please also take the time to reset your meeting space if you happen to move tables and chairs from the way you found them. This is essential for efficiently run programming to take place. (You might snap a picture of the original setup first if it looks complex.) Thank you!
Zoom Room links 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.
Mahjong Group 1 pm, first and third Mondays — Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Please don't hesitate to join us!
Book Study: Finding The Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest 5:30 pm, first and third Mondays, beginning Nov. 7 — Zoom Room Bet
We’ll meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, until we finish Suzanne Simard's inspiring and illuminating exploration of the complex, interdependent world of trees. Join us whenever you can. For information, contact Michael Heumann, Havurah Climate Action Team. RSVP here
Upcoming Events
The Havurah Office will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.
Bar Mitzvah of Zeke Stein 10 am, Saturday, Nov. 26 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Zeke Stein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
Climate Action Team Meeting 5:30 pm, Monday, Nov. 28 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting in Zoom Room Gimel.
Don't Miss the next Racial Justice Meeting on 12/1 7 pm, Thursday, Dec. 1 — Zoom Room Bet
The 12/1 meeting will be a continuation of the conversation we had at the last meeting. Beka Feathers will continue to facilitate this conversation. There are still questions to be answered, so if you missed the last meeting there continues to be an opportunity for your input. Our goal is to create an intention document, which will guide us in how we engage with organizations doing racial justice work.
Bar Mitzvah of Philip Elliston 10 am, Saturday, Dec. 3 — Havurah and Zoom Room Alef
Please join us in welcoming Philip Elliston as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
Even God Had Bad Parenting Days: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for New Parents 3:10 pm, Saturday, Dec. 3 — Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions we face as parents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. Today, join Alicia Jo Rabins, musician, poet, parent and Havurahnik(!), as she shares from her recently released book about parenting and Jewish spirituality and facilitates discussion about the realities of parenting. RSVP (And Dec. 10, come back for December Dilemmas!)
NEW CLASS! Voices and Visions 11 am, Sunday, Dec. 4 — Zoom Room Gimel
Let's explore Jewish identity and philosophy through contemporary art! The Grinspoon Foundation (of PJ Library fame) asked contemporary artists to visually interpret key quotations from great Jewish thinkers. The results are rich and thought-provoking. RSVP
Tallit Class 1 pm, Sunday, Dec. 4, 1 pm — at Havurah Shalom
We will learn how the tzitzit, or fringe, of a tallit transforms a simple shawl or piece of fabric into a sacred garment. And then you will create your own tallit by tying the tzitzit, learning the meaning of the gematria, or mathematical symbolism, wound and knotted into the holy fringe. Led by Laine Barbanell Schipper. RSVP
Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration 6 pm, Friday, Dec. 9 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
A light, pre-service oneg will be followed by a spirited, all-ages service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward for those who wish to stay. 6 pm, Light Snack — 6:30, Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph) — 7:30, Dinner — RSVP for dinner | Volunteer
Design Your Own Chanukah Card! 3:30 pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 — Zoom Room Bet
Create beautiful Chanukah cards to give to friends and loved ones! We will look at various Hanukkah symbols to discern what we want to adorn our cards with and use colored pencils to illustrate them. Examples of handmade cards by the instructor will be shown. Led by Carolina Martinez. RSVP
Israel/Palestine Film Discussion Series: The Other Son 7 pm, Sunday, Dec. 11 — Zoom Room Bet
The Israel-Palestine Committee continues our film discussion series with The Other Son, a heartbreaking and heartwarming ‘switched at birth’ story, which provides an opportunity to discuss, among other things, the question “Who is a Jew?”. Please watch the film on your own prior to the discussion that will be facilitated by members of the Israel/Palestine Committee. The film is available for streaming via Kanopy (public library streaming service) and Amazon Prime. RSVP
Havurah Welcome Get-Together
Are you NEW?
You are welcome!
Are you New-ISH?
You are welcome!
Are you interested in joining Havurah?
You are welcome!
Come to the Havurah Welcome Get-Together,
where all are welcome!
Dec. 11, 4-6 pm, in person at Havurah Shalom 825 NW 18th Ave. RSVP
Let's spend some time enjoying the special qualities each of us brings while eating good food, singing, schmoozing, learning more about our community, and even doing some arts and crafts!
Haven't been to a Welcome Committee shindig yet? You are in for a treat. Been to one and want to come again? What a great way to meet new people!
Start Saving Now for our Chanukah Swap, Dec, 18, 3:30-5:30pm
Do you have toys, books, games, jewelry, stuffed animals or other items in good repair that you no longer use/need but would make a good gift? Please save them for our 2nd Chanukah swap, to be held during Havurah’s party on the first night of Chanukah. Look for details of the swap later in the month. If you are looking for gifts, you do not need to bring something to exchange. All items are free. Contact Elianne Lieberman for more information.
B'Yachad Participation Pledge - Please Complete Yours Today!
"At Havurah, wide participation is nothing out of the ordinary—it's the lifeblood of our community." —Oren Kosansky, Havurah Co-President at Kol Nidre Services
Every year, following the High Holidays, we ask members to complete the B'Yachad (Together) Participation Pledge and consider how they can help to fulfill Havurah's mission of being a vibrant, diverse and participatory community. As Oren said, there is a place at Havurah for everyone. Check out the possibilities at the link below and find out how you can participate in the coming year.
— Havurah Staff, Leadership and Leadership Development Committee
Would you like to help create a short video capturing Havurah Shalom’s essence?
The Gesher Committee is collecting brief video interviews, music, and photographs from which to create a video to orient and remind members of Havurah’s unique culture and what a member-driven participatory congregation entails.
We will conduct interviews illuminating Havurah’s values of community, education, spiritual practice, and tikkun olam.
Want to help gathering interviews, recordings, or images?
Call or email: Herman Asarnow or Shelley Sobel
Youth and adults welcome.
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.
(HYB) Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration Friday, May 9th 5:45p to 8:00p A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. All are welcome! 5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 Service, 7:30 Oneg. Free childcare is provided. Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30; the in-person hearty nosh portion and oneg will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning with Music Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 10:00a to 12:00p This community minyan will feature the musical contributions of Aly Halpert who is in residence with us this Shabbat. 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.
(IP) Tot Shabbat Shabbat, May 10th 10:30a to 11:15a Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more.
(IP) Songs for Liberation Song Circle (w/ Aly Halpert) Shabbat, May 10th 4:30p to 6:30p (Currently this event is for Havurah members only, as registrations are capped at 80 people. Havurah members, be sure to RSVP.) Rising Song Records artist Aly Halpert concludes our music shabbaton with a Song Circle, a space to enjoy our voices together as we learn new and ancient Jewish songs and niggunim together. Aly Halpert is at the epicenter of a resurgence of Jewish music-making– introducing new tunes, new words, and new ways of bringing music into davening and community-building.
Rose Haven Walk (register at their 2025 Reigning Roses Walk site) Sunday, May 11th 10:00a to 1:00p Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother’s Day at the 12th Annual Reigning Roses Walk. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner, or friend. 10 am check-in, 11 am begin walking. (We've cancelled the Havurah Teen Engagement plan for this event; just go to the Rose Haven 2025 Reigning Roses Walk website to register!)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 12th 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.
(HYB) Steering Meeting Tuesday, May 13th 6:30p to 8:30p Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 14th 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.
(IP) B’nei Mitzvah Drash and Service Workshop Thursday, May 15th 7:00p to 8:00p Students and parents are guided through responding to Torah in a drash. You will also take a walk through the Shabbat Morning service. Led by Sarah Shine.
