Community Email, Aug 24
|
3 UPDATES (IN RED), 2 FRIDAYS IN SEPTEMBER, HIGH HOLIDAYS
UPCOMING SHABBAT Bar Mitzvah of Zev Green This Saturday, Zev Green, son of Johanna Cohen and Doug Green, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Please join us in celebration and welcome him to our community. Mazel tov!
MUSIC SHARING & HAVDALAH WILL BE RESCHEDULED A very dear friend of Ilene Safyan passed away this week, so Ilene regretfully has to reschedule the Music Sharing & Havdalah, which she originally planned for this Saturday.
LIFT URBAN PORTLAND'S "MAKING CONNECTIONS" IS TOMORROW Lift Urban Portland is a local nonprofit that partners with the Oregon Food Bank and aims to reduce hunger and improve the lives of low-income residents of northwest and downtown Portland. We invite you to join Lift Urban Portland for "Making Connections," a casual reception and evening of entertainment, including music, silent auction, drinks and hors d'oeuvres. You will hear stories about our impact on the community and learn more about our path to the future.
The event will take place Thursday Aug. 25, 5:30 – 8:30 pm at the Montgomery Park Atrium, 2701 NW Vaughn St, Portland. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.LiftUrbanPortland.org or call 503-221-1224. You can also email Michael Feldman (mfeldman@gwu.edu), Havurah's member of the Lift Urban Portland Board of Directors. Above photo is from Lift Urban Portland's website.
MORNING MINYAN NEXT 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. During the summer months, we sometimes have fewer people at the Wednesday service. You could be the one who makes a minyan, making it possible for others to say Kaddish! Please join us on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 am.
OFFICE CLOSURE ON LABOR DAY Havurah's office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5, for Labor Day.
RABBI JOEY'S WORDS ABOUT BLACK LIVES MATTER In the September Hakol, which you should receive in a couple of days, you'll find a column by Rabbi Joey on Black Lives Matter. You can also read his column here on our website.
URGENT NEED FOR HOMES FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES Catholic Charities is reaching out to a few congregations that they have been working with as they have three Syrian families of seven arriving next week (one of which they just found out about on Friday). In addition to the generally high number of arrivals this month and next, housing continues to be the greatest challenge. With these families arriving so close together, the need for three-bedroom units is intense. Catholic Charities recognizes that they may not be able to secure and set up that many in the next week and so are reaching out to try to find some temporary housing options and additional support for these families. Any leads or support you may be able to provide is tremendously appreciated. Michelle Welton of Catholic Charities would be happy to answer specific questions or to meet with anyone as it would be helpful to the process. Her email address is MWelton@CatholicCharitiesOregon.org.
PORTLAND HOMELESS FAMILY SOLUTIONS (PHFS) GOOSE HOLLOW SHELTER - A TIKKUN OLAM COMMITTEE DIRECT SERVICE PROJECT "My ten-year-old and I volunteered last month and loved it. She made friends with three girls close to her age. They sat and drew together for a couple of hours. It was sweet." - Stacy Shinault, Havurah Goose Hollow Family Shelter Volunteer Join us in doing this Tikkun Olam project volunteer work. The next orientation at the shelter is Wednesday, August 24, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, 1838 SW Jefferson. Parking is behind the church. Questions: Gloria Halper, Tikkun Olam Committee, losninos6@gmail.com.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORUM Wednesday, Sept. 14 In November, the residents of Portland will vote on a $258 M general obligation bond that will provide more money for affordable housing in Portland. The Havurah Steering Committee has endorsed the passage of this bond. What is the scope and impact of the housing problem; what does this bond measure mean to you, to our community?
Havurah has organized a panel discussion with our very own Havurah housing experts to give you the information you need to make an informed decision in November. We will also have a representative from Yes for Affordable Homes campaign who will let us know opportunities that they have to support the passage of this bond. Learn more about the forum here on Havurah's website. Above photo is from the Yes for Affordable Homes campaign.
KABBALAT SHABBAT ON SEPT. 9 Join us for the first Kabbalat Shabbat of the 2016-17 year on Friday, Sept. 9. We'll have a catered vegetarian dinner at 6:30 pm and a joy-filled, musical service at 7:30 pm. Please register here for the dinner by Monday, Sept. 5.
Moved to Thursday, Sept. 15 Presented by Havurah's B’nai Mitzvah Committee, this class is best for those with Bar or Bat Mitzvah dates between December 2016 and December 2017. The class will cover many of the items in the B’nai Mitzvah Handbook and is designed to answer questions for those people concerned with the nuts and bolts of planning, building rental, setting up, catering, etc. Only parents need attend. Led by Rachel Palmer, Office & Facilities Manager. Please RSVP online by Sept. 7.
Friday, Sept. 23 Join us for a casual, family-friendly and music-filled service for people of all ages. Beginning with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, the service continues with prayers and music led by congregants, followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. Please RSVP here if you can join us.
SELICHOT SERVICE Saturday, Sept. 24 Tradition tells us that the heavens are most open to prayer during the Days of Awe. Our Selichot Service will be held in our Bet HaKnesset. We will begin the process of Teshuvah, of resolving those issues that have been heavy on our hearts and minds, and of welcoming the New Year. Please arrive early and bring a pillow to sit on and a candle in a container. Led by Rabbi Joey and Karen St. Clair. Music by Beth Hamon. All are welcome. Learn about all of our High Holidays services and sign up to help. We can only open our doors to the community for the Days of Awe if each Havurahnik helps as a volunteer in some way!
Don't forget to register for the Erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner!
If you have a car and pass near the corner of Vista and Burnside on your way to Havurah, please consider giving Havurahnik Karen Labinger, who doesn't have a car, a ride to Wednesday Morning Minyan or Saturday services. Many thanks to those of you who have already been helping her come to our services!
Summer of Hope Concert Sunday, Aug. 28 Passport to Jewish Portland Havurah Shalom is participating in a new Passport to Jewish Portland program for young adults ages 22-30. The program provides a one-year synagogue membership (to only one of the participating synagogues), MJCC membership, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education membership and a subscription to the Oregon Jewish life magazine. The cost is $360 per person ($720 for a couple).
Prayer Project's Month-Long Spiritual Writing for Elul, Sept. 4-30 “This is a fabulous opportunity to help us prepare for the Days of Awe, really starting the New Year with some intention and focus. I highly recommend the work of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, having studied Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation with them for two years. And we can participate here in our own homes on our own time.“ - Deborah Eisenbach-Budner Offered online, you can choose the time that's most convenient for you to watch the weekly half-hour teaching video, engage in the brief but focused daily practice, and post your questions and reflections. Learn more here. Interest Free Loans Interest free loans of up to $2000, repayable over a maximum of two years, are available to qualified individuals. Loans are for tuition, rent, home/car repair, simchas, losses — any of life’s ups and downs for which a hand up could be helpful. Eligibility and application materials are available at www.jewishportland.org/freeloan Mother's Circle The Mothers Circle is a 13-week community-wide empowering program geared to women of other religious backgrounds raising kids in a Jewish family environment. Held at the MJCC, this supportive class is for anyone wanting to learn more about the "how-to's" of tradition, holidays and ritual. There is no cost and childcare is provided. Come learn more at an information session Mothers' Circle style Rosh Hashanah "mini-lesson" and coffee on Sept. 18, 9:30-10:30 am, at the MJCC. Contact programs@nevehshalom.org or 503-293-7313 to RSVP or for more information.
For the past several months, the Rabbi Search Committee has been receiving resumes for the position of rabbi starting August 1, 2017. The deadline for resumes to be received is Sept. 30, 2016. During the summer we have been reviewing the resumes already received and are determining which candidates with whom we want to have skype interviews. We will decide which candidates to invite for the interview weekends by the end of the High Holidays. It will be announced in the community email and on the website. Bios of the candidates will be placed on the website in November. There will be several opportunities during the interview weekends for you to see the candidates in action and for you to interact with them. The schedule for those weekends will be published in Hakol, the community email, and on the website in November. We are looking forward to seeing you at the different events and getting your feedback. Please remember to put on your calendar the following dates:
If you have any questions and/or concerns, please contact us at rabbisearch@havurahshalom.org. |
