Tisha B'av: Beginning to Turn (Learning & Ritual) 8 pm to 9:30 pm, Monday, August 12 – Havurah Shalom Tisha B’Av is a powerful holy day in our cycle of Jewish time. Yet, it is often overlooked, considered as just a day of mourning for the destruction of the temples. We will look at how Tisha B’Av came to be the collecting point of Jewish loss, grief, and displacement as well as what Alan Lew calls “the moment of turning, the moment when we turn away from denial and begin to face exile and alienation as they manifest themselves in our own lives...Teshuvah – turning is the essential gesture of the entire High Holiday season.” We will also commemorate Tisha B’av with a short ritual that helps us begin the process of Teshuvah. All are welcome. RSVP
Havurahniks,please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, deborah@havurahshalom.org if you would like to help plan this ritual.
Musicians of ALL ages invited to help lead RH Family Service! We are trying something new this year for the family (ages 5+) Rosh Hashana service! Alicia, Hannah and Ethan (Shabbat School parents who have co-led the service for the past few years) would like to experiment with adding more music to the service (10 am, Thursday Oct. 3). Our dream is to assemble a kid-centric, adults-welcome band to play 5 classic Rosh Hashanah songs as part of the service. All instruments and singers welcome. We will teach you the songs! We ask that kids be comfortable on their instruments, able to be respectful as prayer leaders, and available for at least one rehearsal on a Saturday afternoon in September. More details TBD!
Please email Alicia Jo Rabins to sign up or if you have any questions.
2 Ways to Share Your High Holidays Reflections
Write a 3- to 4-minute reflection to share during a High Holiday service. This year we do not have a congregational theme. We invite you to share your insights on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether they arise from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season. (The more personal the reflection, the more powerful. Share a story or experience that shaped you to help us connect more powerfully to what you’re saying.)
Create and share artwork, photography, and other physical media that reflect on any aspect of the High Holidays experience. Your work will help transform Havurah's social hall into a visual art gallery that lets us celebrate and contemplate the themes of the High Holidays and the month of Elul. The gallery will be in place from September to to the end of the holidays. More information here.
Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of October 2 and Yom Kippur begins on the evening of October 11. Please send your reflections via email to rachel@havurahshalom.org by August 26.
Havurah Member Comment Period Open for Policy on Enhanced Security at Havurah Havurah Shalom members are invited to review the following policy proposal draft that will guide leadership’s decision-making in times of heightened security concerns. Please read the draft carefully and email Joel Bettridge (makom@havurahshalom.org)to discuss any response, feedback, or suggestions. You may also send your response to the Transparency and Inclusivity Committee (transparency@havurahshalom.org) if you are more comfortable doing so and your response will be passed along anonymously.
Your feedback is highly desired and will be considered seriously as the policy is prepared to be submitted to Steering. Deadline to comment is August 14.
Due to sensitive contents, Havurah members must be logged in to view the link below. Thank you!
A Message from the Spiritual Life Committee on Hybrid Services and the Big Screen
We are evolving! Covid introduced Zoom-only services. As the pandemic receded, we evolved to “hybrid services.” This allowed in-person and Zoom participation. We purchased equipment that allowed Zoom participants to be heard and seen. They could effectively lead services, chant Torah, and be heard, saying names for healing prayers and Kaddish. In “early hybrid”, the large screen was placed in the front of the service space, not far from the Bima.
Today, we want to make sure Zoom participants can be as fully engaged and fully present as possible. For this “late hybrid” stage, the large screen is being placed at the back of the sanctuary space. The Zoom participants are facing forward, easily addressed by those on the bima and not “on display” and a distraction for some, at the front of the space. The pandemic gave us the tools to allow members and guests to participate even when they can't come in person. They can hear and be heard and, if desired, be seen. We don’t want to lose this.
Important note: the use of the screen during Shabbat services is not optional (unless special provisions have been made, and notice provided to potential Zoom participants that the service will be exclusively in-person.) Buff Neretin and Josh Hankin are Zoom hosts for Shabbat mornings and holiday services. For smaller services, like the Morning Minyan (Wednesdays, 8:30-9 am), the screen placement may be up front to involve and engage with the Zoomers more, and Zoom set-up will be the responsibility of the participants.
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. (On the third Shabbat of each month, 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 (Sebastian Mellman, August 10; Eyal Casama Gerber, August 24)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, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, 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
Racial Justice Monthly Meeting 7 to 8:30 pm, August 8 — Zoom Room Bet
Please join the monthly Racial Justice Committee meeting to learn what we are up to, see how you can engage, and learn with us! This committee is open to all members—whether you have joined before or not!!
Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Sebastian Mellman 10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, August 10 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Sebastian Mellman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
Teen Engagement Committee Meeting 7 pm, Monday, August 12 – Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.
Tisha B'av – Beginning to Turn (Learning and Ritual) 8 pm to 9:30 pm, Monday, August 12 – Havurah Shalom
Tisha B’Av is a powerful holy day in our cycle of Jewish time. Yet, it is often overlooked, considered as just a day of mourning for the destruction of the temples. We will look at how Tisha B’Av came to be the collecting point of Jewish loss, grief, and displacement as well as what Alan Lew calls “the moment of turning, the moment when we turn away from denial and begin to face exile and alienation as they manifest themselves in our own lives...Teshuvah – turning is the essential gesture of the entire High Holiday season.” We will also commemorate Tisha B’av with a short ritual that helps us begin the process of Teshuvah. All are welcome. RSVP
Steering Meeting 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, August 13 (second Tuesdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).
Multi-synagogue Torah Study 9 am to 10 am, Saturday, August 17 (third Saturdays) – 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 with Bar Mitzvah of Eyal Casama Gerber 10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, August 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Eyal Casama Gerber as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
More Tikkun Olam
Poverty and Homelessness Committee Volunteer on First Wednesdays at the Ortiz Center Free Food Market 9 am to 12 pm, first Wednesdays — Oregon Food Bank Ortiz Center Free Food Market (6736 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland, Oregon)
Havurahniks (ages 16+) are invited and encouraged to pitch in at the Ortiz Center Free Food Market on First Wednesdays. Want to ask an experienced Havurahnik about it? Email Judi Kloper.
Safety Through Solidarity Event at Powell's: Shane Burley & Ben Lorber in Conversation With Eric K. Ward & CJ Alicandro 7 pm, Wednesday, August 7 – Powell's City of Books (1006 W Burnside St. Portland, Oregon)
Antisemitism is on the rise today. How can we stand in solidarity with Palestinians seeking justice, while also avoiding antisemitism — and resisting those who seek to conflate the two? How do we forge the coalitions across communities that we need, in order to overcome the politics of division and fear? Using personal stories, historical deep-dives, front-line reporting, and interviews with leading change-makers, Shane Burley and Ben Lorber’s Safety Through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism helps us break the current impasse to understand how antisemitism works, what's missing in contemporary debates, and how to build true safety through solidarity, for Jews and all people. (This event is co-sponsored by Powell's Books and Jewish Voice for Peace Portland.)Learn more.
Blood Drive Hosted by the Eastside Jewish Commons Sunday, August 11 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon) From the EJC: Spread the word. The Red Cross is really low on blood and EJC is hosting a blood drive. Donors will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card. Register hereand use sponsor code eastsidejewish. (You can see available August 11 appointment times on the blood drive registration page for eastsidejewish, if slots are still available.)
Responding to Instability: Viewing our Democracy Through the Lens of 9 Av 10 am (Pacific Time), Tuesday, August 13 – Pre-register for Zoom info
From Reconstructing Judaism: In this session, we will reflect on how the observance of Tisha B’Av might guide us in responding to the instability in our democracy. What might our tradition’s stories of resistance, destruction, and survival teach us about how to respond to the current crisis? How could the practice of mourning sustain our capacity for hope as we face the challenges of the moment? Speakers include Rabbi William Plevan, Rabbi Sandra Lawson, and more. This is a free event. Register | Learn more
Documentary: Living While Dying 10 to 12 pm, Sunday, August 18 — Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Ballroom A
The Jewish Association for Death Education (JADE) & the Mittleman Jewish Community Center is hosting a screening of the film Living While Dying: a documentary that features Portland residents navigating their own death processes and the life-affirming messages contained in their stories. The film will be followed by commentary and a Q & A session with local director & producer Cathy Zheutlin.RSVP
2024 Rabbi Stampfer Community Enrichment Award Dinner 5 pm, Sunday, September 22 — Congregation Neveh Shalom
Join us to celebrate Brian Suher's dedication to our community, the legacy of previous honorees, and the evening’s featured organization, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. RSVP required. Tickets: $72/person or $576/table (8 people). RSVP required
Parking Available for Havurah Events
Havurah Zoom Rooms
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.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 8:15p 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. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.
(ZM) Israel-Palestine Committee Monthly Planning Meeting Sunday, Aug 24th 7:00p to 8:30p Havurah members, you are welcome to join the Israel-Palestine Committee planning meeting. We meet monthly in Zoom Room Dalet (fourth Sundays, 7 pm to 8:30 pm). For Zoom Room info, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (be sure you log in to your Havurah member account).
Daily Shofar Blast Monday, Aug 25th (All day) Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages.
(ZM) Havurah Climate Action Team Meeting Monday, Aug 25th 5:00p to 6:30p Havurah members, join the next monthly meeting of Havurah's Climate Action Team in Zoom Room Gimel, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm. ***For Havurah members who are not already on HCAT, RSVP/register to be emailed the agenda for our next meeting when it's ready. You don't have to commit to attending all the meetings listed.*** Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman or Marianna Grossman.
(IP) Hebrew for Prayer: The Ashamnu Monday, Aug 25th 6:30p to 7:30p Come explore key prayers of the High Holiday liturgy. We will be looking at the Ashamnu prayer through the lens of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary in order to gain some translation skills and find essential meanings of the prayer. It is helpful to be able to decode the aleph-bet, although not necessary if you are comfortable with transliteration. Led by Patty Magid-Volk.
(ZM) Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, Aug 25th 7:00p to 8:00p We hold monthly letter writing group Zoom gatherings to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP, but please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well.
(ZM) Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul: A Grief Process Support Group Tuesday, Aug 26th 5:30p to 7:00p **Note: Registration for this group is now closed.** During the month of Elul, we are guided to examine our souls, explore our relationships, reflect on our actions with God and others, and prepare ourselves spiritually to begin a new year. With the Spirit of Elul, we will journey into exploring the aspects of grief. For Havurah members only. Limited to 8 people. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
(HYB) Special Steering Meeting: Staffing Task Force Presenting Comprehensive Staffing Plan Tuesday, Aug 26th 6:30p to 8:30p The Staffing Task Force will be presenting the comprehensive staffing plan which has been created through community and staff feedback about the needs of our community to support members, staff and ensure our sustainability as a participatory community. The plan includes a number of staffing models for Steering to consider. This meeting is to introduce the plan and respond to questions from Steering and Staff.
At the September Steering meeting, the Staffing Task Force will have another opportunity to answer questions from Steering and Staff and then a decision will be made in October by Steering on how to proceed.
Havurah members are invited to this presentation on 8/26 but questions will only be entertained from Steering and Staff so as to ensure that Steering and Staff have ample opportunity to understand the models being presented so Steering can make an informed decision in October.
(IP) What’s All This About Prayer? Wednesday, Aug 27th 6:30p to 8:00p What blocks you from praying? Maybe you don’t believe in God, or see no purpose in sitting there pretending to be spiritual. This class will study the reasons for prayer as explained and amplified by our sages, both ancient and current. It will be very interactive.
Emily Simon has been a member of Havurah since 1980. She now resides in Ashland where she is also a member of Temple Emek Shalom. She is a devoted student of Jewish text and an enthusiastic and effective teacher.
(IP) Israeli Dancing Wednesday, Aug 27th 7:30p to 8:30p Join us to learn Israeli dancing! We’ll teach the steps and tell the stories behind Israeli dances while you enjoy the catchy rhythms, creative body movements, and spending time with friends.
Led by Havurah members Cindy Merrill and Gail Schwartz with dance instructor Rhona Feldman.
