Hineinu, February 1, 2023

Regular Happenings

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

Zoom Room links can be found near the end 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 Alef & 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, In Person & Zoom Room Bet with some exceptions (check the calendar) IN PERSON ONLY Feb. 7
We gather 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, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Kabbalat Shabbat  Service and Dinner
Second Fridays, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
 All are welcome as we gather to bring in Shabbat.
These monthly celebrations are held on the second Friday, from October through May. 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. RSVP on the calendar.
6 pm   Light Snack     
6:30    Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph)      
7:30    Dinner

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 — 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

This week! Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat
7:30 pm, Friday, Feb. 3 — at Havurah Shalom and in Zoom Room Aleph
We will celebrate our fourth Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat on Friday, February 3 at 7:30 p.m. Rabbi Benjamin will lead the service for Be-Shallah - the flight from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and Michamochah, the Song of the Sea. As in Exodus, refugees and immigrants today face challenges and times for celebration. Margie Rosenthal will lead a special music program.
 
Zakrullah Darmani will speak about his family’s story of leaving Afghanistan and settling in Portland. The Afghan Family Support Group has been helping Zakrullah, Horia, and baby Zoya Darmani since May 2022. Havurah has been helping Guatemalan asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees as well.
 
We are partnering with HIAS, originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. HIAS founded as an organization to help Jewish refugees, is a now an organization helping refugees because we are Jewish.  We will hear other teachings and stories about our community’s engagement with refugees and immigrants in Portland.

Adult B'nei Mitzvah
10 am, Saturday, Feb. 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please share in our joy as Havurah Shalom’s Adult B’nei Mitzvah group is called to the Torah. After services, please join us for a luncheon sponsored by the B’nei Mitzvah group, with the help of the Havurah Community and our friends and family. 

Called to the Torah will be:
Alexis Nasdor-Jones Baghdadi • Fran Berg • Amanda Elliston • Lesley Isenstein •
Ericka Kimball • Megan Koler • Michelle Lamanet • Matthew Nelkin • Karen Polinsky• Ellen Regal • Jennifer Rousseau • Beth Segal • Rachel Shimshak • Brady Snyder •Liza Springgate • Sharon Stern • Justin David Strom • Susan Ungar • Mara Zusman

Havurah Teen Night
7 pm, Saturday, Feb. 4 — Havurah Shalom
Teens! Come hang out with your friends at Havurah! Activities include board games, gaga, cornhole, etc. Ice cream sundae bar for dessert, and music with DJ Saul. RSVP 

Tu B'shvat Tryon Creek Family Hike and Seder
1-3 pm, Sunday Feb. 5 — Tryon Creek Nature Center, 11321 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Join us for a joyful, family-friendly hike from Tryon Creek Nature Center through trails to the Tryon Farm, about 20 minutes. A short Tu B'shvat seder (under cover of a large yurt if rainy or too cold), followed by return hike back to the nature center. The hike will be led by forest activist Brenna Bell. Seder will be led by Harriet Cooke and Karen Ballard. RSVP 

Kabbalat Shabbat  Service and Dinner
Friday, Feb.10, 6:00 - 8:30 PM, Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
 All are welcome as we gather to bring in Shabbat.
These monthly celebrations are held on the second Friday, from October through May. 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. RSVP here
6 pm   Light Snack     
6:30    Service (Join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph)      
7:30    Dinner

Leadership Retreat 
10:30-2:30, Sunday, Feb. 12 — Havurah Shalom
Havurah's annual leadership retreat is a chance for all committee co-chairs, staff and Steering to come together to look at the big picture of what is happening in Havurah. It is also a place for connections to happen across areas of interest with the hope of having a more diverse group of participants from the congregation at all events and activities. Attendance at the retreat is not restricted to co-chairs. If you have any interest in participating in this upcoming retreat, please contact Shelley Sobel or Debbi Nadell to receive an invitation. 

Taking Action Lunch Bunch
12 pm, Monday, Feb. 13 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Do you get emails asking you to contact your elected official, but don’t find the few minutes it takes to call or email them? Looking to connect with other Havurahniks? We have the solution. Together, by Zoom or at Havurah, we’ll eat lunch, chat, and spend a few minutes taking our political action. From climate change to social justice, we’ll have info on who to call or write. Bring your suggestions too. RSVP 

Learn Trope
7 pm, Thursdays, starting Feb. 16 — Havurah Shalom
Trope is a beautiful, ancient system of reading Torah. It is a treat to learn and inspiring to sing. A six-session class led by Ken Lerner will teach you everything you need to connect with this heritage and become a proud leyner (Torah chanter). Ken has been a patient teacher of beginning Torah readers for over 30 years at Havurah and would be happy for you too to feel the satisfaction of gaining this skill. RSVP

The Journey to Die For: The Dying Process
7 pm, Thursday, Feb. 16 — Zoom Room Bet
The fourth installment of the educational series: The Journey to Die for: Improving the Quality of Your Life hosted by the Ma'avar Committee. In this session, we will ponder the questions we all face in the last phase of life. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman and Dale Oller, MD will present on the dying process and facilitate a discussion on what happens to us spiritually and emotionally during dying, death, mourning, and grief processes. RSVP 

Mussar Study Basics for Self Improvement And Creating Artistic Mussar Tools
2 pm, Sundays, Feb. 19; March 5, 19 — Zoom Room Heh
Carolina Martinez is offering a three-session Mussar sampler class to engage in introspection about self, relationships, and Hashem. We will blend Jewish learning through text study, combined with journaling, and create artistically decorated Mussar trait focus cards and a journal for study. RSVP

Tikkun Olam Updates

News from the Street
Thursday,, Feb.2, noon, offsite zoom
The February Interfaith Alliance on Poverty speaker will be Cole Merket, Co-Chair of Here Together Oregon Coalition. He will discuss Together's 2023 Roadmap: Advancing Solutions for Homelessness.
RSVP here.
Here is a link to the Roadmap.

Beyond the Count: Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color 
5 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 1 — Offsite Zoom
The Racial Justice Committee invites you to a "virtual teach-in" by the Jews of Color Initiative and Dayenu about the complex fabric of Jews of Color Identities, lived experiences, and perspectives. Arya Marvazy, Senior Director of Programs at the Jews of Color Initiative, will speak about the Initiative's critical research that presents the largest dataset of Jews of Color in United States history. A panel discussion will follow. RSVP

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 ​​​​​​​

Do you know the next new member of Havurah Shalom's staff?

Spread the Word: We are Hiring

Participation and Publications Coordinator 
Salary range $40,000-45,000

Please tell your friends and professional circles about the open position at Havurah Shalom! We are looking for someone to facilitate membership and participation, as well as to create, edit, and manage internal and external communications and databases. Find the full job description here. To apply please send resume and cover letter to adela.basayne@havurahshalom.org

Community Announcements

Weekend in Quest 2023
Friday-Sunday, March 3-5 — Holiday Inn Express in Astoria
OJMCHE is excited to announce that Weekend in Quest is returning to Astoria on the Oregon Coast. Join us in person for a weekend of community and study with Professor Mika Ahuvia, whose lectures will draw upon her recent book On My Right Michael, On My Left Gabriel: Angels in Ancient Jewish Culture. Sessions will focus on the presence of angels in ancient and contemporary Judaism, classical rabbinic sources, Jewish magic, and liturgy. Eddy Shuldman will serve as the weekend's service leader. For detailed information and registration, visit OJMCHE's website. 

Jewish Community Orchestra Young Artists Showcase
3 pm, Sunday, Feb. 19 — Mittleman Jewish Community Center
The Jewish Community Orchestra holds an annual Young Artists Competition and selects four winners to perform one movement of a concerto. This concert's featured Jewish composer is Erich Wolfgang Korngold. The mission of the Jewish Community Orchestra is to provide enjoyable music to the Jewish and surrounding communities of the Portland Metro area. Our goal as amateur musicians is to further the growth of local artists by presenting concerts that attract, educate, and entertain our audience. More Info  

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

Room Alef
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 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
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 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
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 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

Room Dalet
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 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.

Room Heh
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 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.