Community Email, July 20
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ROSES & THORNS, SHABBAT IN THE POOL, BLACK LIVES MATTER, BDS
UPCOMING SHABBAT, WEDNESDAY MINYAN, LAST SHABBAT Community Minyan Join us this Saturday as Beth Hamon, Susan Brenner, Maria Lisa Johnson, Chris Coughlin and Debbi Nadell lead and drash. In this week's Torah portion, King Balak of Moab hires Balaam to curse the Jewish people. But instead of cursing them, Balaam blesses them – three times. This occurs after Balaam, on his journey to Balak, cursed his donkey three times for stopping when the donkey saw an angel that Balaam couldn’t see.
Above photo is from Wikimedia. Wednesday Morning Minyan Our weekly Wednesday Morning Minyan is for people who want to incorporate a regular prayer practice in their lives and for people saying Kaddish for their loved ones. Please join us on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am. Last Saturday's Community Minyan About 40 people, including Reconstructionist Rabbinical College President Deborah Waxman, joined our Community Minyan last Saturday, as Havurah member (and Deborah Waxman's brother) Andy Waxman and Havurahnik Heidi Bader were called to the Torah for a blessing for their marriage on Sunday. Mazel tov, Heidi and Andy! LET'S TAKE A DEEP BREATH ON BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions Against Israel) Mitchell Plitnick His writing has appeared in Ha’aretz, the New Republic, the Jordan Times, Middle East Report, the San Francisco Chronicle, +972 Magazine, Outlook, and other outlets. He was a columnist for Tikkun Magazine, Zeek Magazine and Souciant. He has spoken across the country on Middle East politics, and regularly offers commentary through a wide range of radio and television outlets including PBS News Hour, the O’Reilly Factor and CNBC Asia. Sponsored by J-Street & Havurah Shalom DRASH WRITING WITH RABBI JOEY Tuesday, July 26 If you ever found someone else’s comments springing from Torah on contemporary issues compelling – but were too unsure to give a drash (d’var Torah) yourself – this will lay out the steps you can take to spark your community’s reflection on a Shabbat morning or at a meeting or whenever you’d like others to wrap their heads around an important issue. For beginners & others! Male-identifying individuals are especially encouraged to attend. Please prepare for the workshop by reading Numbers 22:1–25:2 in advance. RSVP here. ROSES, THORNS & HAVURAHNIKS Saturday, July 30
Adults - $54 Reserve your seats (and seats for friends and family) HERE. In addition to enjoying a fun evening with your friends, your name will be entered in a raffle to win a handsome Portland Timbers scarf. This is Havurah's only fundraiser in 2016! It's a chance to have fun with friends, watch and cheer your winning team, and support your favorite Jewish community - all at the same time! To inquire about reduced-price tickets, please contact Debbi Nadell. SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE Wednesday, Aug. 3 Eleyna Fugman will facilitate a congregational discussion to process recent events related to racial injustice. Eleyna Fugman is a Havurah member and political activist working with SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) PDX, part of a national network of groups and individuals organizing white people for racial justice. The time (6:30 to 8:30) is tentative, so please check the calendar at havurahshalom.org for updates. SHABBAT IN THE POOL Saturday, Aug. 6
We will have the Sellwood Park Pool to ourselves from 5:15 to 6:15 pm, then gather for Havdalah singing, a story, and BYO picnic under the trees. RSVP here by Monday, Aug. 1 with family name(s) and ages of any children so we can reserve enough lifeguards. In order to defray the major cost of renting the pool/lifeguards, please consider making a donation of $5–$15. The above photo was taken at last year's Shabbat in the Pool.
Above photo is from Wikimedia. BAGELS, BOARD GAMES, KIDS GAMES, ADULT GAMES & JUST PLAIN FUN GAMES Sunday, Aug. 21 Join fellow Havurahniks on Sunday, Aug. 21, for bagels, board games, kids games, adult games, strategy games, luck games, and just plain fun games from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. All ages welcome! After bagels, lox and a morning of games, we'll enjoy a potluck vegetarian lunch. Please tell us when you RSVP if you can bring a vegetarian item for the potluck lunch. RSVP here. If you'd like to lead an earth-friendly art project so people of all ages can create collages from leaves, sticks, grass, and other outdoor items, please email Sarah Rosenberg. HAVURAHNIK IMPACTS JCPA ON WAGE THEFT Many at Havurah appreciate the work Nancy Becker does on our behalf as Havurah’s representative to the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. Havurah member Hank Kaplan is also an “at large” member of the council. A few years ago, at the urging of Havurah member Bob Brown, the JCRC joined the Oregon Coalition Against Wage Theft, which is comprised of other faith-based organizations and labor unions. As a labor lawyer, Hank took action himself, both in Oregon and nationally through the JCRC’s national umbrella agency, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). Read the full story here. PORTLAND HOMELESS FAMILY SOLUTIONS GOOSE HOLLOW SHELTER TIKKUN OLAM DIRECT SERVICE PROJECT NEWS Three out of five families with low incomes can't find a home they can afford in Multnomah County because we lack 36,000 affordable housing units. Join other Havurahniks at Goose Hollow to let these families know we care about their situation. Children of any age are allowed to come volunteer with a parent or guardian. Goose Hollow volunteer orientation: July 27, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, at Goose Hollow, 1838 SW Jefferson. Park behind the church, in their lot. No orientation is needed to help with the dinner meal. For more information about the meal planning, please contact Len Shapiro. For general PHFS info, contact Gloria Halper. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO HAVURAH Did you know that you can take public transportation to Havurah Shalom, and you won't have to work hard to find a parking space? Here are some tips for taking public transportation to Havurah: These streetcar stops are near Havurah Shalom:
These bus stops are near Havurah:
These links provide helpful information about timing: IN THE COMMUNITY ... Summer of Hope Concerts Sunday, Aug. 28 Have you heard? It's the Summer of Hope... This summer, Portland's beloved Jewish singer-songwriter and Havurah member, Beth Hamon, is fighting hunger in our community. Your ticket purchase to one of two private house concerts will raise funds for the Oregon Food Bank, the Portland Food Project, and Beth's new album (which is ready to be recorded!) The Oregon Food Bank concert is Sunday, July 31, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, in SW Portland. Tickets: http://bethhamonjuly31.bpt.me The Portland Food Project concert is Sunday, Aug. 28, 4:00 to 6:00 pm, in NE Portland. Tickets: http://bethhamonaug28.bpt.me Immerse yourself in Beth's original songs of hope, love, justice and peace while helping to make a difference in our community. July Reconstructionism Today You can read the July issue of Reconstructionism Today here. The Bridge, an International Exhibition of Interfaith Works Trinity Episcopal Cathedral will host a ground-breaking exhibition this summer of 47 premier Arab, Persian and Jewish contemporary artists from 15 countries of Muslim, Christian and Jewish traditions, exploring the theme of what "bridges" us to each other and what we have in common. Conversation Cafes: Compassionate Listening Delegation to Israel & Palestine Head Start Programs Accepting Applications Neighborhood House's Head Start Program is accepting applications for several westside locations. Help your children prepare for success in school with free services for low-income families with children ages 0-5. Call 503-246-1663 ext 7307 or email lavakyan@nhweb.org. ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR RABBI THROUGH SEPTEMBER Based on information from all who participated in Havurah’s rabbi search survey and focus groups, Havurah Shalom has posted this job description on our website for the position of rabbi. The Rabbi Search Committee will begin reviewing applications on July 17, 2016, and applications will be accepted through Sept. 30, 2016. All inquiries about the job should be directed to Rabbi Joel Alpert, Director of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Placement Center. His contact number is 215-576-0800 ext 304. Please do not send resumes to the committee! |
