Daily Shofar Blast - Beginning on Rosh Chodesh Elul 5783
Friday, August 18 to Friday, September 15 (except on Shabbat) – Havurah Facebook Page and on the Havurah YouTube Channel
Daily Elul Kavannah and Shofar blasts will be posted on the Havurah Shalom Facebook page by Diane Chaplin, Howard Patterson & Andrine de la Rocha. Elul Tov! The daily shofar blasts are being offered as part of Havurah Shalom’s celebration of the Hebrew month of Elul. To access the daily shofar post, visit (and sign up for) the Havurah Facebook page or visit the Havurah YouTube page. Look for the daily shofar blast posts for Elul 5783.
The Play of Turning and Returning
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursday, August 31 – Zoom Room Heh RSVP
Using simple, incremental birthright practices of story, voice, movement, and stillness, we'll enter the text and discover our own personal midrash, stories, chochma flashes (insights, ahas!). Open to everyone: cultural creatives and recovering serious people, newbies and scholars. Childcare will be provided for the in-person version. Led by Cassandra Sagan. All are welcome.
Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Roger Veneklase
10 am, Saturday, September 2 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Roger Veneklase as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.
Jonah: A Deep Dive During Elul
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Tuesday, September 5 – Havurah Shalom
Join Emily Simon to learn and discuss many of the myriad interpretations of Jonah—all the way from Herman Melville to feminist theorists, to our very own previous Havurah teen drashes (and if you don’t remember the teen drashes—it’s even more reason to come!). Expect to have a good time, find out what resonates for the class, and then—if you are willing—be prepared to participate in the Mincha service on Yom Kippur. Readings will be emailed ahead of class. Familiarity with the Jonah story is much appreciated but not required. All are welcome. RSVP
Teen Engagement Commitee Monthly Meeting
7 pm to 8 pm, Tuesday, September 5 – Zoom Room Heh
We need your and your Havurah teen's help in keeping the momentum going as, together, we develop engaging opportunities for them to connect.
Rabbi Benjamin Leads a Discussion of the Peter Beinart Presentation
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Tuesday, September 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
Rabbi Benjamin will lead a Torah and values-based discussion of the complex issues raised by Peter Beinart’s Aug 29 Conversation: “Reparations and the Palestinian Right of Return as a Form of Teshuvah for the Nakba.” You are strongly urged to watch the Beinart conversation live or recorded prior to attending this discussion; if you RSVP for the September 5 discussion, you'll be sent information as soon as possible on how to watch the recording of the August 29 Peter Beinart event. Click here to RSVP for the discussion led by Rabbi Benjamin and to learn more. All are welcome.
A Reparations Primer
6 pm to 7:15 pm, Wednesday, September 6 – Zoom Room Dalet
Considerations about reparations are complicated. This causes any meaningful discussion about reparations not to go anywhere. This discussion will not answer many questions but will provide a framework for thinking about what it means to plan for a reparations program. The hope is that people will learn the language and tools to discuss reparations. This discussion might also motivate people to participate in our 5-part class offering about reparations offered by the Racial Justice Committee in the fall. There may be some short pre-readings. Questions? Please reach out to Bob Brown. All are welcome. RSVP
Safety and Situational Awareness: Useful Skills For Greeters, Ushers, and All Members
6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Wednesday, September 6 – Zoom Room Heh RSVP
or 1 pm to 2 pm, Sunday, September 10 – Havurah Shalom RSVP
During Elul, all Havurah members are warmly encouraged to sign up for our safety and awareness training, listed in the Elul offerings as Greeter and Usher Training. While anyone who is interested in ushering at High Holidays or in being a greeter at High Holidays and at Havurah throughout the year is encouraged to take this training, it’s not just for greeters and ushers! This training gives you valuable skills around situational awareness, welcoming, and de-escalation (among others) that can benefit everyone. You will learn how to respond appropriately to challenging situations that can come up in anyone’s life — at home, at work, at school, or out in the community. The two remaining class sessions are the same, except one is on Zoom and the other is in person at Havurah. Questions? Contact Joel Bettridge or Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org). (These trainings are for Havurah members only.)
Growing a Tree of Intentions After the Al Chet
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursday, September 7 – Havurah Shalom
How do you make baring your soul (anonymously) fun? By participating in a ribbon tree project! Participate in this kick-off event of the Ribbon Tree Project, a way to inspire each other as we begin the new Jewish year. The Yom Kippur Al Chet prayer has us examine where we “missed the mark” in the past year. After taking a closer look at the prayer, and using a Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) lens and personal reflectional time, we’ll start creating a tree of intentions and hope for the coming year. Led by Elianne Lieberman. All are welcome. RSVP
Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Abraham Cogan
10 am, Saturday, September 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Abraham Cogan as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.
Selichot
9 pm to 10 pm, Saturday, September 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Neshama
The Saturday before Rosh Hashana, we gather to begin to ready our hearts for the compassion and forgiveness the High Holidays ask of us. All are welcome.
Birding at Bybee
10 am to 12 pm, Sunday, September 10 – Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area in North Portland
Meet outside at Smith & Bybee Wetlands Natural Area in North Portland for a leisurely walk on the paved Interlakes Trail to look for birds. Join experienced birders Cindy and Andrew Merrill to see how many different species we can find and identify together. Birding expertise is not required, but interest in nature is helpful. Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome, but bikes and dogs are not permitted. All are welcome. RSVP
Make Your Own Tzedakah Box
2 pm to 3 pm, Sunday, September 10 – Zoom Room Heh
Make your own tzedakah box using a wooden box from the craft store! All ages are invited, and this is a great project to do with friends or family. All are welcome.RSVP
Havurah Climate Action Team Meeting
5:30 pm, Monday, September 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Join for the Havurah Climate Action Team's monthly meeting, which will take place at 5:30 pm in Zoom Room Bet. (In October, the monthly HCAT meeting will again take place at 5:30 pm the fourth Monday of the month in Zoom Room Gimel.) Havurahniks are encouraged to join.
Music Maker Jam Session: Jewish and Folk Songs of Returning/Teshuvah
7 pm, Monday, September 11 – Havurah Shalom
Play music with fellow Havurah Music Makers at an Elul themed Jewish and folk music jam session. Bring music to share. Questions? Contact Julie Walcer. RSVP
For more on upcoming High Holidays and Elul gatherings—including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippure services—check out theHavurah High Holidays website.
