Hineinu, January 24, 2024

Upcoming Havurah Community Tu B'Shvat Seder Near Tryon Creek - Now on Sunday, January 28!

Please register/re-register here (even if you signed up for the one last week, which was postponed due to weather)

Tu B'Shvat Seder for the Havurah Community
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, January 28 - Tryon Creek State Natural Area visitors' center / Farm nearby
Learn More & RSVP

For Havurahniks Interested in Leadership Roles: Upcoming Leadership Retreat in Early February
Are you a Havurahnik already involved in—or interested in becoming involved in—leadership roles at Havurah (serving on Havurah's Steering Committee, being a committee co-chair at Havurah)? Reach out to  Debbi Nadel or Shelley Sobel to learn more and to explore the possibility of attending the upcoming Leadership Retreat (all day Sunday, February 4 at Havurah Shalom).

Sabbatical for Deborah Eisenbach-Budner
From the Havurah Presidents' Team: Our Education Director, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner will take part two of a well-deserved sabbatical beginning February 26, 2024. She returns on June 30, 2024. During this time, the wide-ranging demands of her position will be picked up by everyone, from our great staff to lay leaders, to Shabbat School Co-chairs and other congregants. If you have questions, please reach out to Deborah before ‘the last minute’. Her last day will be February 25th. Replenish well, Deborah!

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 Havurah 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 (Ellora Thornley and Stella Reid, January 27). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, February 10, there will also be a Family Shabbat at 10:30 am - RSVP)

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 Havurah Events

Tu B'Shvat
Tu B'Shvat, also known as the New Year of the Trees, begins at sundown on Wednesday, January 24 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, January 25.

Palestine Solidarity Letter-writing
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, January 29 – Havurah Shalom (may be held in the Pardes classroom, specifically)
Hosted by the Palestine Justice work group and open to Havurah members, we will gather to write letters and emails to elected representatives in support of a ceasefire in Gaza. Bring a laptop, some stationary and envelopes, and pens. We'll discuss how to write effective letters. Questions? Contact Sally Goldman.

Parenting Huddle - Listening Circle about Israel/Palestine
3:10 pm to 4:30 pm, Saturday, January 20 – Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. With Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, a discussion about Israel. RSVP

Shabbat Morning with Banot Mitvah of Ellora Thornley and Stella Reid
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 27– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Ellora Thornley and Stella Reid as a Banot Mitzvah and members of our community.

Teen Dance Party and Ice Cream Social
7 pm to 9:30 pm, Saturday, January 27 – Havurah Shalom
Havurah Teens (Grades 7-12), come join us for a fun evening of dancing, gaga (in our new portable gaga pit), games and ice cream sundaes. Teens, bring your clean playlist to play your favorites. Parents can stay to talk with other teen parents in a separate area or just drop your teen off. RSVP

Tu B'Shvat Seder
1:30 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, January 28 – Tryon Life Farm (and Tryon Creek State Park vistor's center for hike) - RSVP for seder, as space is limited.
This year, HCAT (Havurah Climate Action Team) invites our community to celebrate Tu B' Shevat for a family friendly seder at Tryon Life Farm. We'll hike from Tryon State Park visitors center to the farm where we will hold the seder before hiking back to the park. The hike is about 20-30 minutes one way and includes a slope down to the creek and up to the farm. For those unable to hike a slope, limited parking is available at the farm and off of Boones Ferry Rd at the entrance to the farm. The farm is rugged and not wheelchair accessible. Space is limited at the seder; please learn more and RSVP. Please RSVP for the Jan. 28 Seder even if you signed up already when it was scheduled for last week.

Meeting of the Palestine Justice Group
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, Januay 28  – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Steering has voted not to recognize us as a Tikkun Olam committee. We will be discussing what went wrong. We will also be deciding what form this group will take going forward. Should we form a work group? Should we move this group outside of Havurah? Should we ask Steering to endorse a peace cease resolution? Whatever we decide, the need for Jewish solidarity with Palestinians is greater than ever. Please attend this important meeting. RSVP

Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul
Thursdays, February 1 to March 14  – Zoom Room Dalet
The Havurah Ma'avar Committee is offering a seven-week grief process support group for Havurah members. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate this online group with a focus on the dying experience, the impact of the relationship, the things unsaid, making peace within ourselves, forgiveness, and continuing the relationship after death. The group is open to Havurah members at any stage and with any type of grief. The group will be limited to eight participants, and participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions. Questions? Contact  Chaplain Candi Wuhrman. RSVP

Ceramic Seder Plate Workshop
6:30 pm to 8 pm, Thursdays, February 1 to February 22 – Havurah Shalom
We will look at traditional seder plates from cultures around the world and learn the meanings of their different elements, as well as about new traditions that have become significant in recent years. We'll then design and hand-build a seder plate using additive and subtractive techniques. While you may already have a seder plate, you are welcome to create a gift or create a seder plate that incorporates elements that are meaningful to you and your family. Led by Anna Mafchir. RSVP

Parenting Huddle - Being Divorced in Community
3:10 pm to 4:30 pm, Saturday, February 3, 2024 – Havurah Shalom
Explore real-life questions that we face as parents, with some guidance from our Jewish texts and values, and each other. Discussion with Adela Basayne, Being Divorced in Community. RSVP

For Havurahniks Interested in Leadership Roles: Upcoming Leadership Retreat in Early February
10 am to 4 pm, Sunday, February 4 – Havurah Shalom (Havurahniks, please confer in advance with Debbi Nadel or Shelley Sobel to see if joining this event is right for you.)
Are you a Havurahnik already involved in—or interested in becoming involved in—leadership roles at Havurah (serving on Havurah's Steering Committee, being a committee co-chair at Havurah)? Reach out to Debbi Nadel or Shelley Sobel to learn more and to explore the possibility of attending the upcoming Leadership Retreat.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6 pm Oneg; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 registration-only Dinner, Friday, February 9 – Havurah Shalom
A family-friendly oneg followed by a service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward. 6 pm Oneg and 6:30 Service. There is a registration-only dinner at 7:30. No RSVP or registration is needed to join for the oneg and service. All are welcome!

Havurahniks, can you help out at the Feb. 9 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration? Shifts start at 15 minutes. Sign up to volunteer

Also, please see the special note below on Feb. 9 dinner reservations.

Note on Feb. 9 Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner:

After we had to cancel the Jan. 12 Kabbalat Shabbat dinner due to inclement weather, most people who had signed up for the Jan. 12 dinner chose to transfer their registrations over to the Feb. 9 dinner. As a result, there are still dinner slots available for Feb. 9, but the dinner registration may fill up very soon.

Havurahniks, if you'd like to request to sign up for the Feb. 9 dinner, please email tara@havurahshalom.org and put "Feb. 9 Dinner Registration Request" in the subject line of your email. Please wait until the next weekday for confirmation from Tara that your dinner registration has been successful.

In your email, please be sure to note the following: (a) The first and last names of everyone in your party (including yourself) for dinner name tags; (b) the total number of adult dinners and child (under-11) dinners; (c) any dietary restrictions we should know about; and (d) the number of children under 10 (if any) that you will be bringing children for our (free) childcare.

As usual for Kabbalat Shabbat dinners, we ask you to consider a suggested contribution of $18 for each meal, in recognition that the actual cost for food and preparation is $40. Instructions on how to make any such contributions will be provided to you after your dinner registration is confirmed.

Again, no RSVP or registration is needed to join for the 6 pm oneg and 6:30 pm service! All are welcome.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Saturday, February 10, 2024 (and recurring with each new moon) – Zoom Room Heh or in-person, leader will announce which
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month a 7 pm, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year. RSVP

Family Shabbat
10:30 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Fabulous morning of singing, storytelling, and Torah learning. Especially for families with youth in Grades K-6. RSVP
.

Safety Corner

Stop the Bleed
8 pm, Wednesday, Jan. 31 – Zoom via RSVP
Stop the Bleed is a national program, like Red Cross First Aid and CPR, designed to train people how to stop potentially fatal bleeding. This training is relevant to all aspects of our lives, outdoor recreation, household accidents, etc. You'll learn the concepts of wound pressure and packing skills, and learn how to use a tourniquet on yourself and others. Take the course and become empowered to make a life or death difference when a bleeding emergency occurs. RSVP
 
BeAware: Introduction to Situational Awareness
7 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 6 – Zoom by RSVP
This course, offered by Secure Community Network, seeks to build observation skills and will teach you best practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life – from going to synagogue and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. It will help you protect yourself, your family, and your community. RSVP
 
Guardian Active Bystander Training Session
1 pm, Sunday, Feb. 18 – Havurah Shalom
Guardians take personal responsibility for the safety and security of themselves, families, and community. Learn skillsets that help you identify, protect, and respond to all hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander in your community. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

More Tikkun Olam Opportunities for Martin Luther King Day and Tu B'Shvat
In the run-up to Tu b'Shevat, (January 25), the New Year for the Trees, there are several tree-related volunteer opportunities this month, some of which can also be found on MLK Day of Service listings. The opportunities include the following; click on the links to find dates, details, and sign-ups on each organization's websites:  Portland Fruit Tree Project at the Sabin orchard (NE); the Watershed Alliance of SW Washington (Vancouver); and Wood Memorial Nature Area (SW Portland) - Portland Parks and Recreation.

Welcoming Asylum Seekers: Collaboration & Training
2 pm to 3:30 pm & 3:30 pm to 5 pm (join for either or both meetings), Sunday, January 28 – First Unitarian Church Room (1211 SW Main Street, in Meeting Room A108; Enter at breezeway between buildings)
Come learn about efforts to support arriving asylum seekers though hosting, faith-based accompaniment, and other mutual aid. Learn more from the flyer here. The gathering from 2 pm to 3:30 pm will focus on a mutual aid network which supports hosting asylum seeker individuals and families in community homes and meeting immediate needs. This will be followed by a faith-based organizing conversation hosted by IMIrJ from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. RSVP (Have questions for some involved Havurahniks? Contact KellyAnn Cameron and Natalie Lerner.)
 

Interfaith Alliance on Poverty First Thursday Meeting: Michael Denbrow
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, February 1 – Zoom, register in advance here and you will be emailed the Zoom log-in info

Join us in conversation with State Senator Michael Dembrow, District 23. He will share his views about the challenges and strengths facing our state and his perspectives on the future as it relates to critical issues in education, housing, and natural resources. Senator Dembrow serves as Chair, Senate Interim Education Committee, Co-Chair, Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Natural Resources and Co-Chair, Environmental Caucus. Bring your questions. (Have questions for an involved Havurahnik? Contact Sue Abrams.)

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

The January Lecture Series in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Birthday from Cedar Sinai
7 pm, Thursdays, January 4 through January 25 – Zidell Hall, Rose Schnitzer Manor, Cedar Sinai Park, 6125 SW Boundary Street, Portland, Oregon
You're invited to join for any or all of the upcoming lectures, which are being held in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to learn more. The final lecture in the series is being given by Havurahnik Elden Rosenthal.

24th Annual Community Havdalah Service from the JWRT and Cedar Sinai
7 pm, Saturday, January 27 – Zidell Hall, Rose Schnitzer Manor, Cedar Sinai Park (6125 SW Boundary Street, Portland, Oregon)
The Jewish Women's Round Table and Cedar Sinai Park is sponsorig this musical Havdalah service, followed by refreshments and socializing. Free and open to the community (over age 18). Learn more 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.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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