Hineinu, November 15, 2023

Panim el Panim: A Havdalah Gathering to Listen and Share in This Moment
7 pm, Saturday, November 18 — In person at Havurah
Amid the strong reactions and emotions many of us are experiencing right now in response to the violence in Israel and Gaza, one of Havurah’s core reasons for being is to nurture our connections with one another. The intention of this gathering will be for us each to be able to name what we are experiencing right now, to be heard and hear one another, without confrontation and without pressure to identify any particular positions. Grief, anger, fear, yearning, and confusion will all be welcome. Clear guidelines will be provided, so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen.

Part of this gathering may entail listening to personal perspectives that feel challenging to hear, and that is not what we each need right now. So please do what feels right for you, and join us if you are moved to.

The format of this program is not conducive to hybrid, but there will be other opportunities in the future that include Zoom participation. This gathering is intended for members of Havurah Shalom. RSVP

Celebration of Life: Barry Sutton
4:30 pm, Thursday, November 16 – First Unitarian Church, in Eliot Chapel (1011 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon)
An interfaith service celebrating the life of Barry Sutton is being organized by Havurah members and people from other faith communities that he was connected to, including Quaker, Unitarian, Buddhist and Lutheran. Rabbi Benjamin and Barbara Slader will contribute Jewish prayers. Barry was an active attendee at Havurah events for over 25 years. Potluck hors d'oeuvre dishes welcome. Contact Sam Sirkin if are you a Havurahnik who would like to serve as a greeter/usher at this interfaith service. Click here to go to an obituary for Barry Sutton.

Attention Retired Havurahniks!
If you are required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your retirement account (401k, 403b, etc.) this year and are looking to possibly limit paying income taxes on your RMD, consider donating all or part of your RMD to the Campaign for Havurah! While the Campaign for Havurah hasn’t officially begun, we are accepting early donations as we gear up. Donating your RMD will help the Campaign get off to a great start and it might give you a tax break. For more information about this opportunity, click here. To anyone interested in making an early donation to the Campaign for Havurah, click here.

New Adult B'nei Mitzvah Cohort Forming Now!
A new Havurah Shalom Adult B’nei Mitzvah group is forming! Are you interested in: Deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer), and Kehillah (Community)? Expanding your Jewish literacy skills, confidence, and sense of connection with Judaism? Going through this process in community and celebrating your Jewish learning in Havurah? Then…consider joining the new Adult B’nei Mitzvah cohort.  This group will study together from January 2024 to February 2026 with Havurah Education Director Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, Program Director Adela Basayne, and other teachers. The group is forming now. Be in touch with Deborah Eisenbach-Budner (deborah@havurahshalom.org) by November 30 to learn more.

The Adult B’nei Mitzvah process is for people who want to nourish their intellectual and spiritual selves, individually and within the context of an ongoing learning community. One might have never become a B’nei Mitzvah or they might have had a Bar/Bat Mitzvah – in form but not in substance. There are some things that you can go back and do again (but better this time)! You will learn how to read Hebrew (or increase your knowledge), translate sections of prayers – while grappling with their spiritual and other meanings, engage a section of Torah through close translation and commentary, chant from the Torah, and navigate Shabbat services. The pre-requisites are: 1) the willingness to learn and grow, maybe in surprising ways, 2) the ability to participate on Wednesday evenings during the school year as well as participate in monthly Shabbat morning services. 

Hanukkah at Havurah Shalom - Save the Date!
* Sunday, December 10 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm *
Juin us for an evening of Chanukah fun for everyone! All are welcome! Please RSVP. (Part of our Chanukah festivities will also be shared via Zoom. RSVP to be sent Zoom details when they are ready. And if you plan to only join via Zoom, please note that when you RSVP/register.)

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked below, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). Zoom/YouTube stream links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Matan Carroll, November 25) are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
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. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
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.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Events

Rumble on the River Community Forum Panel and Action Night #10: Stop Zenith Energy
6:30 pm to 8 pm (6 pm: doors open; 6:30 pm to 8 pm: program), Thursday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
The Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) is hosting another Rumble on the River Community Forum. This Rumble’s panel discussion is on the upcoming DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) decision regarding Zenith Energy’s Air Quality Permit. Without the permit Zenith will not be able to operate and pollute our air. Afterwards, we’ll be guided in a Writing Effective Comments Workshop, and write a letter to Governor Kotek. Panelists are Bob Sallinger - Urban Conservation Director with Willamette Riverkeeper, Kate Murphy - Community Organizer with Columbia Riverkeeper, Nick Caleb - Climate and Energy Attorney with Breach Collective. Click here for the event flyer. Feel free to come to the event in person at Havurah without RSVPing--all are welcome--but if you want to be emailed Zoom login details before the event, please RSVP.

Panim el Panim: A Havdalah Gathering to Listen and Share in This Moment
7 pm, Saturday, November 18 – Havurah Shalom
Amid the strong reactions and emotions many of us are experiencing right now in response to the violence in Israel and Gaza, one of Havurah’s core reasons for being is to nurture our connections with one another. The intention of this gathering will be for us each to be able to name what we are experiencing right now, to be heard and hear one another, without confrontation and without pressure to identify any particular positions. Grief, anger, fear, yearning, and confusion will all be welcome. Clear guidelines will be provided, so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Part of this gathering may entail listening to personal perspectives that feel challenging to hear, and that is not what we each need right now. So please do what feels right for you, and join us if you are moved to. The format of this program is not conducive to hybrid, but there will be other opportunities in the future that include Zoom participation. This gathering is intended for members of Havurah Shalom. RSVP

Hakol Submission Deadline: Tuesday, November 21
Havurahniks, click here to learn more on submitting short articles for the next issue of our monthly synagogue newsletter, Hakol.

Office Closed/Staff Out During Thanksgiving Holiday (Thursday & Friday)
Thursday, November 23 and Friday, November 24
Our Havurah Shalom offices will be closed and staff will be unavailable during the Thursday and Friday of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Matan Carroll
10 am, Saturday, November 25 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Matan Carroll as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah Book Group to Discuss The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, November 28 – Zoom Room Bet
Brunhild was a foreign princess, raised to be married off for the sake of building an alliance. Her sister-in-law Fredegund started out as a lowly palace slave. And yet in sixth-century Merovingian France, where women were excluded from noble succession and royal politics was a blood sport, these two iron-willed strategists reigned over vast realms, changing the face of Europe. After the queens' deaths—one gentle, the other  horrific—their stories were rewritten, their names consigned to slander and legend. In The Dark Queens, award-winning writer Shelley Puhak sets the record straight. The Dark Queens offers proof that the relationships between women can transform the world. (Non-Fiction, 384 pages.) Discussion led by Maud Naroll. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.
 

Racial Justice Movie Discussion Night: Selma
6:30 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, December 3 – Zoom Room Bet
Please join the Racial Justice Committee for a discussion of the movie Selma. (Please watch the film ahead of time; it's available on several platforms.) This is the third film in our series. Film summary: Although the Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for Black people to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers pressed forward on an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, and their efforts culminated with President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Rated PG-13, although note there are several scenes with graphic violence. Contact  Kathy Gordon if you have questions. RSVP

Havurah 101: You're a Havurah Member - Now What?
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 5 – Zoom Room Bet
Do you have questions about how Havurah's committee structure works?  What makes our participatory model different?  How can you connect with areas you may be interested in?  Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for a discussion to learn more about the inner works of Havurah and how you can find your place in the community.  All members welcome. RSVP

Sacred Music of Moroccan Jews
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, December 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Eyal Bitton is the cantor at Portland's Neveh Shalom and was raised in the Moroccan Jewish community in Montreal. Through lecture and song, he will examine various elements of Moroccan sacred music—synagogue song, cantillation of sacred texts, the piyyut (liturgical poetry), and life cycle songs. Moroccan Jews have a very rich and proud religious culture, and a varied and ancient musical tradition, reflecting its Moroccan milieu, its Andalusian heritage, and more. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Rumble on the River Community Forum Panel and Action Night #10: Stop Zenith Energy
6:30 pm to 8 pm (6 pm: doors open; 6:30 pm to 8 pm: program), Thursday, November 16 – Havurah Shalom and Special Zoom Room
The Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) is hosting another Rumble on the River Community Forum. This Rumble’s panel discussion is on the upcoming DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) decision regarding Zenith Energy’s Air Quality Permit. Click here for the event flyer. Feel free to come to the event in person at Havurah without RSVPing--all are welcome--but if you want to be emailed Zoom login details before the event, please RSVP.

Winter Clothing Drive for Rose Haven (before the December Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration) 
5 pm to 6 pm, December 8 – Havurah Shalom
The Havurah Poverty and Homelessness Committee will collect winter coats and other needed items for the women and non-bininary folks served by the Rose Haven day shelter. There is a substantial need for community donations this winter. Thank you. Items most needed: adult women's clothing, with a particular need for larger sizes - winter coats, raincoats, waterproof pants, durable pants, waterproof shoes/ boots, hats, gloves, hand warmers, socks, BRAND NEW underwear, and blankets. Questions? Contact Gloria Halper.

Memorial Walk for Traffic Victims
11:30 am, Sunday, November 19 - Leaving from 1259 Lloyd Center
Families for Safe Streets of Oregon & SW Washington is commemorating the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims with a memorial walk leading to an installation representing the lives lost in preventable traffic crashes in our community—60 people so far this year in Portland. Please join us in the demand for action on this epidemic of traffic violence. Wear yellow. Questions? Contact Marian Rhys. To learn more about this event, click here.

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

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

Out in the Community

Drawing Upon What is Hidden: An Evening of Stories with Maggidahs
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Saturday, November 18 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon)
This evening of stories features two Havurahniks, Cassandra Sagan and David Fuks. This event is part of the Eastside Jewish Commons' Crypto-Judaism Storytelling week. Maggidahs (Jewish Storytellers), Cassandra Sagan and Gail Pasternack along with improviser and stand-up comedian David Fuks present an evening of storytelling on the theme of What is Hidden. And afterwards YOU get to tell your stories! Sign up to deliver a personal story or even a traditional/folk tale on the theme (5 minute limit). All Ages $6-$18/Person Sliding Scale.Click here to learn more and get tickets. (Or visit the Nov. 18 event page on the EJC calendar.)

An Hour of Jewish Stories: Laughter and Tears Encore (for adults)
3 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, November 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, Oregon)
Havurahnik Sarah Stein is a professional storyteller and founder of the Portland Storytellers Guild. Born in New York City in 1944, Sarah Stein loves telling Jewish stories filled with irony and the special Jewish sense of humor. She said this about Laughter and Tears Encore: "There will be lots of new exciting stories from Chelm, King Solomon and a longer tale of a trickster and a miser. Plus many more stories from the wealth of Jewish folklore. There will also be music between the stories." Note that this show is for adults only. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors pre-sale; $17 and $12 at the door. Click here to register and get tickets in advance. (Or visit the Nov. 19 event page on the EJC calendar.)

Jewish Poetry Book Club (instigated by Havurahnik Betsy Fogelman Tighe)
12:30 pm to 2 pm, Wednesday, December 6 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Join for the December 6 gathering of the Jewish Poetry Book Club, instigated by but not under the tutelage of Havurahnik Betsy Fogelman Tighe. Love to read poetry? Drawn to Jewish poets writing in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish in translation? Let's lift the poetry right off the page with some communal meaning-making. The December 6 poetry selection is Avrom Sutzkever's The Full Pomegranate. Please come prepared with comments. Feel free to bring your lunch, and plan on making a small donation to EJC at each meeting. $3-10 is suggested. No one turned away for lack of funds.

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.