Hineinu, June 5, 2024

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

A Message from Rabbi Benjamin on Supporting the Oregon Food Bank
As many of you know, twelve local Jewish organizations released a statement last week condemning the Oregon Food Bank for its prior statement calling for a ceasefire. In their letter, these Jewish institutions charged that the food bank made “false accusations [that] serve to further fan the flames of Jewish hatred” and announced the withdrawal of their support for the organization unless they retract their statement.

In my opinion, the Oregon Food Bank’s statement makes no false accusations and does not perpetuate antisemitism. While their wording is in ways sharper and more detailed than Havurah’s ceasefire statement from February, our messages share significant alignment. Like us, in addition to calling for an end to Israel’s assault in Gaza and for the flow of unimpeded humanitarian aid, they also condemn Hamas’ attacks and call for a release of all hostages. Whether or not an organization dedicated to local social services should weigh in on an international conflict is a fair question, which in my mind has legitimate arguments both in favor and against. Personally, I support the Oregon Food Bank making this statement, though I recognize that some of you feel differently. The question at hand, though, is whether we feel any of this merits the kind of attack they are facing from several of our fellow Jewish institutions, who view the statement as so egregious as to warrant ceasing support for the essential work they do. Those organizations’ public announcement, delivered to local press, clearly reflects an effort to encourage other people and organizations to do the same.

At Havurah, I feel grateful to say, we have responded by doing the opposite. At their meeting last night, our Steering Committee voted to approve a $1,000 donation to the Oregon Food Bank. If you feel moved as an individual or family to donate further, I encourage you to do so. In addition, Steering affirmed a plan to explore ways in which Havurah can strengthen our relationship with the food bank over time and help sustain the vital work it does in our community.

May we soon see an end to the violence in Israel/Palestine, and may all people experiencing hunger receive the nourishment and care they need and deserve.

RSVP for Havurah's Shavuot Celebration - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah!
7 pm to until 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (and Zoom Room Bet as well, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning! Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! Childcare available! All ages are invited! 
RSVP to attend | Food/dessert sign-up | Volunteer

7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert potluck/smorgasbord
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot
 

- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and was also one of the three major pilgrimage festivals, celebrating the wheat harvest. It ends the counting of the Omer, which began the second day of Passover. Two observances we’ll be doing at Havurah Shalom are enjoying dairy and dairy-substitutes and studying Torah into the night, meaningful traditions with storied origins.

More Shavuot

TischPDX Invites You to “Up All Night: Shavuot 5784/2024”
7 pm to 1 am, Saturday, June 8 — Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Get Tickets/Learn More | View Full Schedule | Volunteer

The Torah of Freedom for All: A Global Shavuot Teach-in with Rabbis for Ceasefire
8 am, Tuesday, June 11 through 10 am, Wednesday, June 12 (Pacific) — Zoom login via Registration
Learn more | Register to participate

Havurah members, we ask you to submit your
2024-2025 dues commitments by June 30.

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, 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 Room 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. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (On the third Saturday of each month (next up: Saturday, June 15), there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon.)

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 (Raisa Zusman-Carr, June 9; Jacob Blackstein, June 22) are listed below and in the website calendar. (There will be a Shabbat Morning service led by David Dropkin on Saturday, June 15. Check out the calendar event page titled Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service to learn more.)

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 Ria de Neeve.

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. (We will also observe Yizkor on Wednesday, June 12 at 8 am.)

Upcoming Havurah Events

Panim el Panim: Reflecting on Havurah's Engagements with Israel/Palestine
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, June 5 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
The third Panim el Panim dialogue invites Havurah members to reflect on their experiences of Havurah’s multiple engagements with Israel/Palestine. This will also be an opportunity to begin imagining principles and processes for guiding our future engagements across commonalities and differences. The intention will be for us each to name what we are feeling, to be heard and hear one another, and to think together about how we can move forward in dialogue and community. We will again provide clear guidelines so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. Please join in person if you’re comfortable and able, and we will also provide a Zoom option. The opening and closing of the program will be hybrid, while the sharing itself in pairs and small groups will be separate, with in-person and Zoom programs running simultaneously. RSVP

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursday, June 6 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on the location and other details throughout the year.

Shabbat Morning and Bat Mitzvah of Raisa Zusman-Carr
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 8 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Raisa Zusman-Carr as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Shavuot - Celebrate the Giving of the Torah
7 pm to 11 pm/late, Tuesday, June 11 – Havurah Shalom (with Zoom Room Bet option, 8 pm+)
Join us at Havurah for our Shavuot celebration: a night of noshing, music, and learning!
7 pm to 8 pm: Dessert Potluck (Havurah Shalom)
8 pm to late: Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - Music and Learning (Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet)
- 8 pm to 9:30 pm: Niggunim, Piyyut, Shiviti: Creative Spiritual Technologies for Being Present, with Alicia Jo Rabins
- 9:30 pm to 10 pm: Singing Circle
- 10 pm on: Awake to our Lives, Awake to the Other, with Rabbi Benjamin
Bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! Come join us for all or part of Tikkun Leyl Shavuot! All ages are invited! RSVP  (Also, Havurahniks, here are our food sign-up and volunteer sign-up pages!)

Office Closure: First Day of Shavuot
Wednesday, June 12
The Havurah office is closed on Wednesday, June 12 (First Day of Shavuot).

Shavuot Minyan (Yizkor)

8 am to 9 pm, Wednesday, June 12 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will also observe Yizkor today.
 

Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, June 13 – Zoom Room Bet

Join us for the monthly Racial Justice Committee to help plan events for the community and have discussions on a variety of racial justice topics that matter to you. We are open to all members. Even if you haven't joined before please feel free to join this month!
 

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study

9 am to 10 am, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
On the third Saturday of the month (Shabbat morning), we have a multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom include Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.
 

Shabbat Morning: Journey through the Shabbat Service
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 15 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. On June 15, Havurahnik David Dropkin will be leading the Shabbat morning service. See the event page for more information.

Hakol (Monthly Newsletter) Deadline is Thursday, June 20
The deadline for submissions to the July 2024 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, June 20, 2024. Click here to learn more.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Jacob Blackstein
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, June 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Jacob Blackstein as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (For Zoom room login info, log in to your Havurah member account on the website, go to the Contact tab, and click on Zoom Meeting Rooms in the drop-down menu.)

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, June 24 – Zoom Room Heh
We will resume our monthly letter writing on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact  Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well. RSVP for Zoom info.

Book Club to Discuss All I Know and Love by Judith Frank
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, June 25 – Zoom Room Bet
A searing drama of a modern American Family on the brink of dissolution, one that explores adoption, gay marriage, and love lost and found. For years, Matthew Greene and Daniel Rosen have enjoyed a quiet domestic life together in Northhamton, Mass., But when they learn that Daniel’s twin brother and sister-in-law have been killed in a bombing in Jerusalem, their lives are suddenly and utterly transformed. The deceased parents wanted Matthew and Daniel to adopt their children—a six year old and a baby. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Safety Corner

Countering Active Threat Training Session
7 pm, Monday, June 17 — Zoom by RSVP
A comprehensive training program to counter an active threat event developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Poverty and Homelessness Committee
First Thursday Meetings with the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty: Next Online Gathering on June 6
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday, June 6 (and every first Thursday of the month) — Zoom login info via RSVP (visit allianceonpoverty.org)
Havurah is a member of The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, whose efforts to educate Portland on poverty, those if affects, housing, outcomes, and more are presented each month by those who provide us with insight, solutions, causes, and more. To attend this Thursday, June 6 presentation, register at the website of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty.

Sanctuary Committee
Car Seat Needed for a Two-Year-Old
The two-year-old member of our Afghan family needs a new or gently-used car seat. It must meet safety standards. Please be in touch by email with Robbin Isaacson DeWeese. Thank you from the Afghan Family Support Group!

Havurah Shalom 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 | Oregon Food Bank

Out in the Community

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

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