Hineinu, April 12, 2023

Can you volunteer at Kabbalat Shabbat? Click to see sign up options!

Kabbalat Shabbat volunteers are highly appreciated!
Available volunteer slots are between 15 and 90 minutes long.

Kabbalat Shabbat: Friday, April 14

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 (Come to Havurah or join us remotely in Zoom Room Aleph.)      
7:30    Dinner (Click here to RSVP for the Friday, April 14 dinner.)

Office Closures for Passover

Wednesday, April 12 and Thursday, April 13
While Staff will be out and the office closed, the Havurah Shalom building will still be available for use, as usual.

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​ 
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.

Shabbat Morning Service
10am, Saturdays, 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.

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.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5:30 pm, fourth Mondays — Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays, Havurah Shalom & 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.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm, second Tuesdays — Zoom Room Gimel
All members are welcome to attend. Presently on Zoom only.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays, Zoom Room Aleph & In Person at Havurah
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish.

(To allow us to observe Yizkor, Passover Minyan, on Wednesday, April 12, will begin at 8:15 am.)
 

Yom HaShoah 5783/2023

at Havurah Shalom

An Afternoon with David Fuks:

Short Stories from a Child of Holocaust Survivors
2 pm, Sunday, April 30 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Co-sponsored by Next Generation Group, David Fuks will share his short stories based on his experience being raised by survivors. RSVP

in the community

Memorial Service
7 pm, Monday, April 17 — Neveh Shalom
A service at Congregation Neveh Shalom will take place with the participation of the Oregon Board of Rabbis, Holocaust survivors, and their descendants. Portland Chamber Music will be performing.

Reading of the Names
9-5 pm, Tuesday, April 18 — Pioneer Courthouse Square
Every year on Yom HaShoah, the Day of Remembrance, communities around the world uphold the memory of victims of the Holocaust through the Reading of the Names, a public recitation of Holocaust victims’ names, ages, and birthplaces. A selection of community members and elected officials will be reading the names of those murdered in the Holocaust.

Upcoming Events

Finding Your Way In—To Jewish Ritual & Spiritual Practice, Prayer, Torah, and Your Own Theology
7 pm, Mondays, April 10, 17, and 24 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
We will be riffing on tradition with the freedom that comes with Reconstructing Judaism. Sam Sirkin will share his approach to making Jewish practice accessible while allowing participants to share their experiences. We will also reflect on a few pieces by thinkers such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Art Green. Led by Sam Sirkin. RSVP.

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm, Thursday, April 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Attend the Racial Justice Monthly Committee to connect with each other, hear what we are up to and be part of planning meaningful events for our community.

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learners’ Minyan
10:30 am, Saturday, April 15 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This upbeat, interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Especially for families with youth in Grades 5-7. 

Knitting Kippot Class
10 am, Sundays, April 16, 23, and 30 — Havurah Shalom
Learn to make a kippah! This class is for knitters who have intermediate knitting skills and a desire to get to know other knitters in the community. Please bring a short size 2 circular needle, size 2 double-pointed needles, and numerous stitch markers. Yarn and pattern will be provided, along with instruction regarding three skills: 1) double-pointed cast on and increase, 2) diamond lace motif, 3) i-cord bind off. Led by Marsha Green. RSVP.

Movie Discussion: 13th
6:30 pm, Sunday, April 16 — Zoom Room Bet
Join members of the Racial Justice Committee for a discussion about the movie 13th, a 2016 American documentary film by director Ava DuVernay. The film explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States. Visit this site for details. For more details and to RSVP, click here.

Conversational Hebrew Through Song
7 pm, Thursdays, April 20 and 27; May 4, 11, and 18 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Join us in learning beginner-level Hebrew through children’s and other simple songs. In class, we will practice the new vocabulary in games and conversations, and at home you’ll listen to a premade playlist to help you learn the words while singing along. Led by Racheli Ross. See more details (including Hebrew knowledge requirements) and RSVP.

Garden Work Party at Havurah (Postponed to April 20)
2 pm, Thursday, April 20 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah's garden work party has been rescheduled to Thursday, April 20 from 2-4 pm…rain or shine! All members are welcome. Bring pruners, if you can, and good garden gloves.

Electrify Everything & Everyone
3 pm, Sunday, April 23 – Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
Learn how to have a healthier home, lower your utility bills and reduce carbon! You’ll hear about: how to electrify your home and your ride; the role of electric heat pumps for heating and cooling; the benefits of induction cooktops and electric ovens; newly-available incentives and rebates; electric vehicles; and community solar. Contact Michael Heumann for further information. See the Havurah calendar for more info and to RSVP.

Israel/Palestine Committee Sponsored Event: Joint Memorial Ceremony
10:30 am, Monday, April 24 – Off-site Livestream (The Havurah Israel/Palestine Committee will hold a follow-up event on May 7; details to come.)
The Joint Israeli-Palestinian Memorial Ceremony will be live-streamed from Israel, April 24, 2023 at 10:30 AM Pacific Time. The recording will be available soon thereafter. The Ceremony, organized by Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle Families Forum, is the largest Israeli-Palestinian jointly organized peace event. Learn more and register to watch the live-stream or recorded Ceremony.

Book Group: The Hundred Years War on Palestine by Rashid Khaladi
7 pm, Tuesday, April 25th – Zoom (RSVP for details)
Drawing on a wealth of untapped archival materials and the reports of generations of family members, Khalidi traces a hundred years of colonial war on the Palestinians, waged first by the Zionist movement and then Israel, but backed by Britain and the United States, the great powers of the age. Discussion led by Stacy Hankin. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Banot Mitzvah of Olive Colman & Avna Siegel-Lukin
10 am, Saturday, April 29 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us in welcoming Olive Colman and Avna Siegel-Lukin as banot mitzvah and members of our community.

Parenting Huddle: 'Whose B'nei Mitzvah Is It Anyway?'
3:10 pm, Saturday, April 29 – Havurah Shalom
Parenting Huddle - Concepts, Conundrums, and Conversations about Parenting in Jewish Families; explore real-life questions that we face as parents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. The April 29 huddle is Mindful Jewish Parenting, with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Laura Orgel. RSVP.

Reparations Class this Spring: An Opportunity to Learn, Discuss, and Act
6:30 pm, Wednesdays, April 26; May 10, 17, 24, and 31 – Havurah Shalom
After a very successful reparations class last fall, Havurah Shalom is organizing another class on reparations this Spring! 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. The class size is limited to 12 people to allow for active participation. 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. Class registration is required. RSVP/register.

Have questions or otherwise want more information on the reparations class starting on April 26? Contact Kiel Moses or Kathy Gordon.

(For additional registration help or for help contacting Kiel or Kathy, please email info@havurahshalom.org and include 'Reparations Class' in the subject line of your email.)

Tikkun Olam

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW March-April Newsletter
Support freedom for all this Passover!
Read the latest Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW newsletter.

Interfaith Advocacy Day
Wednesday, May 10 — Salem Oregon 
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon is once again organizing an in-person Interfaith Lobby Day to support the Tikkun Olam values we hold dear. From Climate & Environment, Criminal Justice Reform & Gun Violence Prevention, Healthcare, Housing & Homelessness, Hunger, Immigration & Refugees, we'll learn about the issues and bills, and meet with our legislators. Fee $20, scholarships available. Register  

Vote for Eviction Protections
On May 16, Multnomah County voters will vote on Measure 26-238. The ballot measure provides attorneys at no cost for anyone facing eviction. The measure is funded by an adjustable 0.75% capital gains tax that should only impact the wealthiest in our community. It has been endorsed by Havurah’s Poverty & Homelessness Committee, as well as several other faith communities.

The Multnomah Friends Meeting (Quakers) are hosting the following workshop:
6:30 pm, Sunday, April 16 — Zoom (Zoom link to be announced)
There will be information about Measure 26-238 and a chance to ask questions to folks from the ERA campaign. Questions: Steve Goldberg or Gloria Halper 

News & Events From Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Path Home (formerly PHFS): volunteer for our monthly PHFS dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven

Community

Introduction to Israeli Dance
Saturday, April 8; Saturday, April 15; and Sunday, April 23 — Southwest Portland
Get a taste of Israeli dancing in a 3-week class. If all you know about Israeli dancing is doing the grapevine step to vintage dances, you will be surprised. Israeli choreographers are creating new dances for new Israeli music all the time. Who is Israeli dancing for? Anyone who loves music and enjoys dancing. Introverts, you will hardly have to make small talk at all. Extroverts, charge up your batteries with all the happy group energy. WARNING: Israeli dancing is addictive! But luckily, it’s also great exercise and a stress-reducer. Learn more and sign up.

Willa Schneberg Reads from Her New Poetry Collection: The Naked Room
3 pm reading; doors open at 2 pm, Sunday, April 23 — Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Boulevard, Portland, Oregon)
Havurah member and award-winning poet Willa Schneberg reads from her new collection of poems relating to mental health, The Naked Room. These are poems of the unconscious, the dreamscape, the despondent, the unmoored, and the mortal. Poet and psychotherapist Donna Prinzmetal will be the discussant followed by a Q&A from the audience. Read more and register from the Eastside Jewish Commons website here.

Awake in the Midst of Life: A Life Integration Virtual Retreat

May 14-19 — Off-site Zoom (Or HaLev retreat event)
Designed to integrate practice into our everyday lives, Rabbi Benjamin will co-facilitate this virtual retreat with colleagues Rabbi Dr. James Jacobson-Maisels and Rabbi Genevieve Greinetz. While the retreat will run continuously, allowing a full immersive experience for those able, each participant is invited to choose which parts of the retreat to join, tuning in when able and otherwise attending to other aspects of their lives. Find more details from Or HaLev here.

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.​​​​​​​

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