Adela Basayne's Medical Leave Begins on Monday, July 15 Adela Basayne, Havurah Program Director, will be away on medical leave from July 15 until approximately September 15. We are all wishing for her complete healing and a speedy recovery: refuah shlemah.
Rachel Pollak, Havurah Office and Facilities Manager, will be availalbe to help with matters that would normally go to Adela, so feel free to reach out to Rachel (rachel@havurahshalom.org) as needed during this time.
Introducing Our Proposed Brit Kavod Read Havurah’s proposed Brit Kavod, a Covenant of Mutual Respect. This document embodies a decade plus of discussions and drafting regarding how we might address conflict within Havurah. The proposed Brit Kavod is based on values important to Havurah, that speak most directly to respectful behavior toward one another. At this stage, we are seeking feedback on the draft. Please refer to this article in the July Hakol for a more extensive discussion of the proposed Brit Kavod.
Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 – Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB. RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller.
General Info
Thank you for following ourCOVID 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.
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 (Noa Isabel Zaragoza, July 6; Lailah Kaplan, July 20) are listed belowand 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. Prospective members of Havurah Shalom interested in our mahjong group are invited to attend a game to become better acquainted with our group, but we ask that you already know how to play before coming. Please contact the Havurah office to schedule your visit. Havurah members, reach out to Leah Hershey if you want to be added to the group email list and receive notices of meeting changes.
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.
Upcoming Havurah Events
Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul 5:30 pm to 7 pm, Thursdays, July 11 to August 15 – Zoom Room Dalet
The Havurah Ma’avar Committee is offering a six-week grief process-support group for Havurah members in any stage of grief. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate the 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. (This group will be limited to eight participants. If we reach capacity, that will be indicated on the RSVP page.) RSVP
Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting 7 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, July 11 – Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for our monthly Racial Justice Committee meeting where we will discuss current relevant topics and plan for upcoming events at Havurah. New Havurah members or others Havurahniks who have not previously attended are welcome! Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon.
Asylum Seekers Host Support Group 2 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, July 14 – Havurah Shalom
Are you considering hosting an asylum-seeking family for a short, or medium stay? Please attend a Host Support Group on the Second Sunday of each month, at 2 pm at Havurah Shalom. As more and more people try hosting, a network of support makes hosting easier and more fun. These are sponsored by IMIrJ and the Asylum Seeker Solidarity Collective. This opportunity to host families and to attend host support group meetings are open to members of Havurah and non-members alike. We hope to see some of you at the upcoming July 14 IMIrJ Asylum Support Group meeting!
Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19 – Columbia Park (4503 N. Lombard Street)
Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB. RSVP & Learn More | Sign Up to Bring Food | Sign Up to Help Out
Questions? Email Maggie Weller.
Multi-synagogue Torah Study Led by Emily Simon 9 am to 10 am, July 20 – 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. As with our regular Torah Study, no prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Lailah Kaplan 10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, July 20 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Lailah Kaplan as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
Climate Action Team Meeting 5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, July 22 – Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurahniks are invited to join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.
Book Group: Learning from the Germans by Susan Neiman 7 pn to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, July 23 – Zoom Room Bet
Susan Neiman is a Jewish philosopher who lives and teaches in Berlin. Her book insightfully looks at the journey that allowed the shift in German consciousness, from seeing themselves as the victims of WWII to taking responsibility for the atrocities done to Jews and others in the Holocaust. From the publisher: "As an increasingly polarized America fights over the legacy of racism... Neiman's book gives an urgently needed perspective on how a nation might come to terms with historical wrongdoing." I was moved to read this book while wondering how Israel might come to terms with her own historical wrongdoings toward Palestinians. I have about a hundred flags sticking out of the book- a testament to the wisdom I have found in these pages. Her writings and teachings have been used in Havurah's class on reparations. - Harriet Cooke
Discussion led by Harriet Cooke. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.
Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group 6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, July 29 – 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.
More Tikkun Olam
Nothing is Impossible Webinar with U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) 5 pm to 6 pm, Tuesday, July 16 – RSVP to receive Zoom login info
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team and partner Jewish Earth Alliance to hear Rep. Jamie Raskin, an inspiring leader who challenges us to make democracy work for us. "Nothing is impossible and nothing is inevitable," Jamie says. "Change is only possible through the democratic arts of educating people and organizing towards real change.” Following Jamie’s remarks, meet, if interested, in breakout sessions to plan lobby meetings for a Virtual Lobby Day in August. Do you have questions for Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT) related to this event? Contact Elianne Lieberman.
Countering Active Threat Training Session 7 pm, Wednesday, July 17 – Zoom by RSVP
Learn how to counter an active threat event in this hourlong training developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP
Get Certified to Administer Narcan to Someone Having an Overdose 9 am, Wednesday, July 24 – Zoom by RSVP
This Community NARCAN Training is a hands-on opportunity to learn about how substance use affects the Jewish community (spoiler: much, much more than you think it does, and yes - if you’re wondering, you definitely know someone at risk of overdose right now), to become certified in the use and application of NARCAN to reverse a drug overdose, and to encounter Jewish wisdom to inspire us as harm reduction ambassadors. Each participant can choose to receive a NARCAN kit upon completion of the training. RSVP
Out in the Community
Cedar Sinai Park to Host Tikkun Olam Lecture Series 7 pm, Thursdays, July 11, July 25, and August 1 – Cedar Sinai Park's Rose Schnitzer Manor Assisted Living Facility, Zidell Hall (6125 SW Boundary St., Portland, Oregon)
These three lectures will cover environmental protection and the law, urban and suburban bird habitat, and the psychology of tikkun olam. You can learn more about this lecture series on the Cedar Sinai Park Facebook page (no log-in required, but scroll down to their June 28 post on this event to see the full details on the lecture series). No RSVP needed to attend.
Parking Available for Havurah Events
Legacy has generously given us permission to park in its lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on weekdays after 5 pm and all day on weekends. We can park in any spot except spots 1 through 10. We hope this will make it easier to come for services and other programming! Please help us maintain our relationship with Legacy by honoring these guidelines.
Havurah Zoom Rooms
To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.
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.
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, Mar 19th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
(IP) Rumble on the River Community Forum Thursday, Mar 20th 6:00p to 8:30p Free, All are welcome. Click to go to the RSVP page. Doors & Info Tables Open: 5:30 pm; Panel Discussion Begins: 6:30 pm Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) is hosting this event. Just as it seemed that we were making real climate progress, the fossil fuel industry is sidetracking elected officials, regulators and business leaders with a rash of climate solution diversions. In the face of Zenith Energy’s plans to make Portland the West Coast center for so-called renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, the panel will examine how renewable diesel is fraught with all kinds of problems and dangers—and actually may have a higher carbon footprint than petroleum-based fuels—and how renewable natural gas actually comes from methane produced by tortured animals in factory farms.
(ZM) Monthly Racial Justice Meeting Thursday, Mar 20th 7:00p to 8:30p (Normally held on second Thursdays, this month's meeting is on March 20.) Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, Zoom Room Bet). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. *Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for the Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.*
Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Mar 22nd 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.
(ZM) Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen Tuesday, Mar 25th 7:00p to 8:30p The Havurah Shalom Book Group meets monthly to discuss fiction and nonfiction books voted on by Havurah members. All are welcome to any and all meetings. Copies of our upcoming books can be checked out by members in the Havurah library. We'll meet on Zoom for March 25; RSVP for Zoom info.
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, Mar 28th 5:45p to 8:00p Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Mar 29th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org.
(HYB) Come Hear Specialist on History of Western Oregon Tribes Sunday, Mar 30th 2:00p to 4:30p Come hear Dr. David G. Lewis, a specialist in the history of the Kalapuyans and other Western Oregon tribes. Join us in person at Havurah Shalom or online via Zoom. RSVP for Zoom info. All are welcome.
