Help Wanted for an Adar Photo Treat
Do you know a little Publisher or Illustrator? The office has received so many photos that we need help putting them together in an attractive PDF to share with the community. Volunteers can come in and use a computer if you don’t have the software. We are excited to put out a post-Purim Mishloach Manot treat for everybody! Please contact Rachel.
Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.
Weekly Torah Study 9 am, Saturdays — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly parsha, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Join Havurah for a community-led study session of the weekly Torah reading at 9 am before each Community Minyan 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)
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.
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 Library (to receive updates and changes, contact Leah Hershey to be put on the email list)
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar .
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
Sanctuary Committee and Temporary Housing Needed for Asylum Seekers 7 pm, Thursday, March 16 — Zoom Room Dalet
At our next Sanctuary Committee meeting, one agenda item will cover the escalating needs for temporary housing for hundreds of recently-arrived asylum-seekers in Portland. Natalie Lerner and KellyAnn Cameron will share their experiences and opportunities for Havurah members to get involved. You can also learn more by emailing Natalie.
The Conversation Project and Advanced Directives 7 pm, Thursday, March 16 — Havurah Shalom
The Conversation Project focuses on learning and considering the types of healthcare decisions that may need to be made in a medical crisis and/or at the end-of-life, and most importantly having conversations with your loved ones and your healthcare provider about your preferences. Our first meeting will focus on types of health decisions and preparing to have a conversation with your loved ones. The second meeting will focus on writing your own Advance Directive. Sessions will be led by Ericka Kimball, PhD, LCSW and Karen Erde, MD. RSVP
Family Shabbat 10:30 am, Saturday, March 18 — Havurah and Zoom Room Aleph
Fabulous morning of singing, storytelling, and Torah learning. Especially for families with youth in Grades K-6. All are welcome.
Havurah 101 7 pm, Tuesday, March 21 in Zoom Room Bet (RSVP)
Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for a chance to learn about Havurah's governance structure and history. We look forward to helping you better understand our unique community and the ways we are all able to support each other in our participatory culture. All members are welcome to join us!
Tot Shabbat 10:30 am, Saturday, March 25 — Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling.
Book Group: A Girl is a Body of Water by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi 7 pm, Tuesday, March 28 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi sets her blazing new novel, “A Girl Is a Body of Water,” in the conflicted nation of her adolescence: 1970s Uganda, under the brutal rule of dictator Idi Amin. In her twelfth year, Kirabo, a young Ugandan girl, confronts a piercing question that has haunted her childhood: who is my mother? Discussion led by David Newman. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP
Introduction to the Joint Memorial 7 pm, Sunday, April 2 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Joined by Rabbi Benjamin, we will discuss the background for the Join Israeli and Palestinian Memorial and the impact of the current Israeli government on the organizers, followed by poetry readings, small group discussions, and final words and song by Rabbi Benjamin. Refreshments will be provided after the meeting. Learn more and register for the Joint Memorial livestream and recording. RSVP
Tikkun Olam
The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty
Havurah Shalom has been a partner member of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty for several years through the Poverty and Homelessness committee of Tikkun Olam. The IAP provides education and advocacy to help people overcome obstacles that make rising out of poverty difficult. This is done at both the local and state level through actions that include letter writing, making public comment and testimony, attending city meetings and legislative hearings and informing member congregations of our actions for their own advocacy.
The IAP’s has a virtual meetings on the first Thursday of the month are open to all. The agenda for these meetings is published in Hineinu and includes the registration link. You can also go directly to the IAP website and sign up to receive their newsletter and the email to directly pre-register for the First Thursday meetings
Volunteer ESL Teachers Needed!
For more than three years, Havurah members volunteered teaching English at the Ortiz Center in the Cully Neighborhood; we taught people who are immigrants and refugees and we were just as excited as they were for this opportunity. Then Covid shut the class down. We'd like to start up again but we need at least three volunteers. We will likely meet weekly on Thursdays, possibly morning, for two hours. Please contact Judi Kloper for more information. (And you don't have to be a teacher to volunteer!)
Israel’s Minister of Justice introduced a legislative package that would overhaul Israel’s judicial system, sparking widespread protests and acts of military refusal.
This article can help explain the Judicial Reform initiative as well as lead you to various pieces of analyses.
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 hereto 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.
(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.
(HYB) Text and Torah Shabbat: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals Shabbat, May 17th 10:00a to 12:00p One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. 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.
