Community Email, Sept. 21
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SELICHOT, ILENE'S HASHKIVENU, ELUL MEDITATIONS, SUKKOT HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING SHABBAT Dorot Shabbat
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 come. The above photo was taken at a recent Dorot Shabbat. Text & Torah Study - Selichot We’ll examine the history of this unique time that precedes Rosh Hashanah, learn about the traditional observances, and recite Selichot poetry. Torah study will be followed by a shortened Saturday morning service led by Rabbi Joey and Havurah members. We will serve breakfast and coffee, including bagels and lox and gluten-free options. Please arrive early to eat before the study begins at 10:00 am. Shabbat School - First Day of New School Year Selichot Service This meditative, musical evening will help us usher in the High Holy Days. This year Selichot takes place at a time in which we wonder how we are implicated in envisioning a more equitable and just society. What does it mean to ask for forgiveness amidst the pleas and demands for Black Lives Matter and the scorched-earth conspiracy rhetoric of Donald Trump? Do we see ourselves changing? Letting go – of what? Returning – to what? Praying – with what in mind and in our hearts? Join us as we begin the process of teshuvah, of resolving those issues that have been heavy on our hearts and minds. Please arrive early and bring a candle in a container and a dessert to share. Please RSVP here if you can come.
Mazel tov to Havurah's Music Coordinator, Ilene Safyan, who was chosen as one of ten finalists who have the chance to have a recording included in Forward's Soundtrack of Our Spirit 2016! People across the nation are voting between now and Sunday evening. The song that receives the most votes will be selected for the soundtrack. PLEASE CLICK HERE, scroll down to find Ilene's "Hashkivenu" and VOTE! You can vote EVERY DAY, now through Sunday! Ilene's recording of "Hashkivenu" gave our community peace and comfort during difficult times this year, when many of us were overwhelmed by violence and tragedy in our country and the world. You can find other beautiful songs on this web page recorded by musicians from across the country. AWESOME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH HOLY DAYS We Need You - All of You! If you've already signed up to volunteer during High Holy Days, thank you!! If you haven't, please click on the Sign Up button below and add your name to a role that suits you. You don't need to create an account with SignUp.com. Just click on the button below and enter your email address.
It's Much Easier Than You Might Think!
We don't need people to haul impossibly heavy loads. But we do need volunteers to help arrange the spaces we'll be using in the Tiffany Center. Can you help create the sacred space for our High Holy Days services? If so, please click on the Sign Up button above and let us know you can help. We hope you'll join us at the Tiffany Center from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, Sept. 29. We can do it if we all work together!
We also need help on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Oct. 4, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, as we place Havurah items in safe places at the Tiffany Center so we can retrieve them when we set up for Yom Kippur. Please use the Sign Up button above to let us know if you can help. You might even get to bring home a beautiful bouquet of flowers afterward! Many other roles are still available, so please commit to what you can. Register for Erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner by This Thursday Havurah members can sign up for Erev Rosh Hashanah Dinner here. The deadline to register is this Thursday, Sept. 22. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the New Year, see old friends and new, and introduce your growing children to the joys of community!
High School Student & Parent Orientation Middle School Orientation Talmud Lite High Holy Days Music Sharing Morning Minyan
Many thanks to all who attended the Affordable Housing discussion at Havurah last week and especially to Havurah members with extensive experience in affordable housing issues who led the discussion. Pictured above, from left to right, are Janet Byrd, David Fuks, Steve Rudman, and Steve Goldberg. Read below to learn about next steps. MACG Housing Action Assembly Portland’s homelessness crisis is well known, as is the broader affordable housing crisis that displaces people across multiple income levels. MACG has been working on various strategies to address these crises through changes to existing policy structures. We need your support now to advance other solutions that are more substantial and more creative. You can help before the assembly in these ways:
To register, volunteer, or share a story of housing pressure, contact Bob Brown at rebrown47@gmail.com or Steven Goldberg at stevengoldberg@comcast.net. Tivnu Housing Sukkot Event This event involves morning canvassing in NE Portland and a dairy potluck lunch in Tivnu's sukkah. Learn more at info@tivnu.org.
"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 Sept. 28, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, 1838 SW Jefferson. Parking is behind the church. Questions: Gloria Halper, Tikkun Olam Committee, losninos6@gmail.com.
Saturday, Oct. 1 Get into the mood for the High Holy Days with meditative readings and music. Diane Chaplin will play holiday melodies and other Jewish meditative music on the cello. Led by Andrine de la Rocha.
Havurah's sukkah will be constructed the weekend of Oct. 15 and 16. If you'd like to add lavender and bamboo branches (generously provided again this year by our Co-President Shelley Sobel), and/or other decorations, drop by Havurah's courtyard on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 16, and join in the fun. Also, mark your calendars for these Sukkot happenings at Havurah: Alter Rockers Potluck in the Sukkah Havurah Alter Rockers will meet in the sukkah for pizza and vegetarian potluck salads and desserts. Please RSVP to Sarah at sarah.r.rosenberg@gmail.com or Roberta at robertakaplan@gmail.com if you can come. First Session of "Creating Climate Solutions" This first class of six sessions will be held indoors because of the size of the group, but you're welcome to come early and eat in our sukkah! Join us for a six-session course on climate action to better understand climate change and how we can take action to increase resilience and mitigate the impacts. The course will refer to connections in Jewish texts that relate to our impact on the earth. The discussion sessions will integrate video and readings compiled by the Northwest Earth Institute’s guide "Change is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions." For more information, contact Michael Heumann (heumanncycle@gmail.com). Kabbalat Shabbat Join us for our monthly musical and engaging Kabbalat Shabbat Service. The Dinner starts at 6:30 pm, and RSVPs are required by Monday, Oct. 16. The musical service begins at 7:30 pm, and all are welcome. Weather permitting, oneg desserts can be eaten in the sukkah following the service. Tikkum Olam Folk Singing in the Sukkah!
Reconstructionist Birthright Israel Trip - Registration is Open! The Reconstructionist Movement is excited to partner with Israel Experts to offer a uniquely Reconstructionist journey to Israel as part of the Birthright Israel program (meaning the major costs of the trip are covered for qualifying participants). 21–26 year olds who are members of Reconstructionist communities are encouraged to apply! You can sign up here. Study with Havurahnik Alicia Jo Rabins Bringing Jewish Texts to Life Through Art The evening will include text study interwoven with songs and poetry, presented in partnership with Portland State University. "Pop Up Divinity School" Performance and Q&A Alicia Jo Rabins will perform poems and songs, and answer questions about Judaism, gender, poetry and music.
The Rabbi Search Committee is currently identifying candidates to bring to Havurah for the interview weekends. Please don’t forget to put on your calendars the following weekends:
During these weekends, the congregation will be able to see and interact with the candidates at:
How is the decision going to be made? In mid January a final survey will be sent via email to each congregant asking them to rank the candidates. In February 2017, after considering all the feedback, the Rabbi Search Committee will give a recommendation to the Steering Committee. At a congregational meeting on March 5, 2017, the congregation will be asked to approve the Steering Committee’s recommendation. We look forward to seeing you at the interview weekends. We thank you for your engagement and participation throughout this important process. As always, if there are questions, please contact the Rabbi Search Committee at rabbisearch@havurahshalom.org.
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