Hineinu: Beat the February Doldrums with Jewish Learning
Author
Date Added
Hineinu, February 15, 2023
Building Announcement
You may know that we have been having problems with uninvited water in part of the building. Repair work begins soon, but in the meantime, we will be making adjustments to how some larger events are carried out, with the goal of minimizing water usage and preventing flooding. This Saturday's Shabbat Morning for Reproductive Justice will still take place, but the kitchen and bathrooms will not be in use. Please plan to walk down to the Annex at 18th and Irving to use the facilities there. Kiddush lunch will be provided as usual. If other upcoming events will be impacted, Rachel will be in touch with organizers and participants. Thanks for bearing with us!
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 (This Week: Shabbat Morning for Reproductive Justice! See description below.) 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)
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
Sing Z’mirot (Table Songs) at Shabbat Lunch 12 pm, Saturday, Feb. 18 — Havurah Shalom Social Hall
Now that Havurah has resumed hosting lunch after Shabbat Minyan services, we can enjoy the EXTRA delight of singing together around the table as the meal winds down. We’ll pre-announce dates for organized singing at lunch once or twice a month–spontaneous singing is welcome too! Our ‘B’Kol Echad’ songbooks are full of songs to explore, recall, or learn anew, as well as the Grace After Meals. No experience necessary—come sing! To join an email list for Shabbat Singing announcements, music links, and discussion, please contact Barbara Slader.
Learn Trope 7 pm, Thursdays, starting Feb. 16 — Havurah Shalom
A five-session class led by Ken Lerner will teach you everything you need to 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. Note: Learning trope over a 5-week period necessarily requires an ability to read Hebrew, so this class is not well suited for very beginning Hebrew learners, or those who cannot yet read or decode Hebrew. 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
Shabbat Morning for Reproductive Justice 10 am, Saturday, Feb. 18 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The National Council of Jewish Women sponsors an annual “Repro Shabbat” on Parashat Mishpatim, when we read verses uplifting our foundational commitments to human rights and justice. As part of our Shabbat morning this year, Havurah members Autumn Davidson and Roberta Suzette Hunte will share insights, analysis, and stories from their many years of work for reproductive freedom and justice.
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
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am, Saturday, Feb. 25 — Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling.
Next Israel/Palestine Film Discussion: FILM CHANGE 7 pm, Sunday, Feb. 26 — Zoom Room Bet
Due to current events in Israel, we've decided to switch to a more timely film for this discussion: Ahed's Knee, directed by Nadav Lapid. In it, "an Israeli filmmaker throws himself in the midst of two battles doomed to fail: one against the death of freedom, the other against the death of a mother." The film is available through Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube and the Criterion Collection. See a trailer here and join us!
Book Group: How to Find Your Way in the Dark, by Derek B. Miller 7 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 28 — Zoom Room Bet
Fiction: 368 Pages. Twelve-year old Sheldon Horowitz is still recovering from the tragic loss of his mother only a year ago when a suspicious traffic accident steals the life of his father near their home in rural Massachusetts. Join the Book Group for a discussion of this compelling work. Nonmembers welcome.
Bat Mitzvah of Elena Sagazio 10 am, Saturday, March 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Elena Sagazio as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
Exploring Teshuvah in our Lives and the World: Reading Danya Ruttenberg’s On Repentance and Repair 7 pm, Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22; Apr. 12, 19 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin. In this series we’ll read through Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg’s On Repentance and Repair, an in-depth exploration of Teshuvah, Havurah’s theme for this year. Beginning with an overview of the concept, Rabbi Ruttenberg then examines it through various lenses, from the interpersonal to the national. Chapters will be read on our own between sessions, and we’ll explore them together each class.Please RSVP by Feb. 22.
Aging in Portland: Resources, Continuum of Care and Housing Options for Seniors 2 pm, Sunday, March 12 — Zoom Room Bet
Sponsored by the Alter Rockers, Aging in Portland will be a 2.5-hour interactive presentation with a focus on practical resources, continuum of care and housing options for seniors in the greater Portland area. This event will feature two presenters, Lyn Trainer, co-chair of RiverWest Villages, and Don Torrence, Eldercare specialist/assisted living administrator and dementia care consultant. RSVP
Tikkun Olam
News From the Street 12 pm, Thursday March 2 — Offsite Zoom
At the First Thursday meeting of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, the superintendent of Portland Public Schools, Guadelupe Guerraro, will speak about what is happening in the school district. After pre-registering, you will receive a Zoom link to the event. Pre-Register
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
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
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.
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
To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Aug 23rd 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, 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.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Aug 24th 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) Israel-Palestine Committee Monthly Planning Meeting Sunday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 8:30p Havurah members, you are welcome to join the Israel-Palestine Committee planning meeting. We meet monthly in Zoom Room Dalet (fourth Sundays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm). For Zoom Room info, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (be sure you log in to your Havurah member account).
Daily Shofar Blast Monday, Aug 25th (All day) Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages.
(ZM) Havurah Climate Action Team Meeting Monday, Aug 25th 5:00p to 6:30p Havurah members, join the next monthly meeting of Havurah's Climate Action Team in Zoom Room Gimel, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. ***For Havurah members who are not already on HCAT, RSVP/register to be emailed the agenda for our next meeting when it's ready. You don't have to commit to attending all the meetings listed.*** Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman or Marianna Grossman.
(IP) Hebrew for Prayer: The Ashamnu Monday, Aug 25th 6:30p to 7:30p Come explore key prayers of the High Holiday liturgy. We will be looking at the Ashamnu prayer through the lens of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary in order to gain some translation skills and find essential meanings of the prayer. It is helpful to be able to decode the aleph-bet, although not necessary if you are comfortable with transliteration. Led by Patty Magid-Volk.
(ZM) Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, Aug 25th 7:00p to 8:00p 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.
(ZM) Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul: A Grief Process Support Group Tuesday, Aug 26th 5:30p to 7:00p **Note: Registration for this group is now closed.** During the month of Elul, we are guided to examine our souls, explore our relationships, reflect on our actions with God and others, and prepare ourselves spiritually to begin a new year. With the Spirit of Elul, we will journey into exploring the aspects of grief. For Havurah members only. Limited to 8 people. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
(HYB) Special Steering Meeting: Staffing Task Force Presenting Comprehensive Staffing Plan Tuesday, Aug 26th 6:30p to 8:30p The Staffing Task Force will be presenting the comprehensive staffing plan which has been created through community and staff feedback about the needs of our community to support members, staff and ensure our sustainability as a participatory community. The plan includes a number of staffing models for Steering to consider. This meeting is to introduce the plan and respond to questions from Steering and Staff.
At the September Steering meeting, the Staffing Task Force will have another opportunity to answer questions from Steering and Staff and then a decision will be made in October by Steering on how to proceed.
Havurah members are invited to this presentation on 8/26 but questions will only be entertained from Steering and Staff so as to ensure that Steering and Staff have ample opportunity to understand the models being presented so Steering can make an informed decision in October.
(IP) What’s All This About Prayer? Wednesday, Aug 27th 6:30p to 8:00p What blocks you from praying? Maybe you don’t believe in God, or see no purpose in sitting there pretending to be spiritual. This class will study the reasons for prayer as explained and amplified by our sages, both ancient and current. It will be very interactive.
Emily Simon has been a member of Havurah since 1980. She now resides in Ashland where she is also a member of Temple Emek Shalom. She is a devoted student of Jewish text and an enthusiastic and effective teacher.
