Hineinu, August 21, 2024

Check out the many classes and other activities scheduled for the month of Elul in September! RSVP for something today.

Sponsorship Policies and Decisions at Havurah 
Havurah Shalom was recently invited to co-sponsor a Community Memorial Service to Commemorate October 7, organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland (JFGP). To learn more about how the Steering Committee has been considering this request, please read this update from the Presidents' team.

Save the Date: September 13 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (in the New Format!)
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 Oneg, Friday, September 13 – Havurah Shalom (Service to be shared in Zoom Room Aleph)
Please save the date for our upcoming Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration on Friday, September 13! A musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after. All are welcome! Remember, this Kabbalat Shabbat will be in the new format described by the Kabbalat Shabbat Committee in the August 2024 Hakol.  

2 Ways to Share Your High Holidays Reflections: Please Send by Aug. 26
 
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.

Musicians of ALL ages invited to help lead Rosh Hashanah Family Service!
We are trying something new this year for the family (ages 5+) Rosh Hashanah 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. 

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 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 (Eyal Casama Gerber, August 24; Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti, September 7) are listed below and 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

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.

Annual Havurah Teen Picnic: Pizza, Potluck, Music, Fun, Games
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, August 25 – Sellwood Park
All Havurah teens entering grades 7+ and their parents/guardians are welcome to join us at Sellwood Park for food and kehillah! Pizza and drinks will be provided by the Teen Engagement Committee. Please round out our offerings by bringing your favorite salad or dessert to share. We will have cornhole, badminton, ladderball, volleyball, football, soccer ball and frisbee. Any other equipment you'd like to contribute is enthusiastically welcome! Contact Michelle Bobowick and Andy Waxman for more info. RSVP

Climate Action Team Meeting
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, August 26 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, August 26 – Zoom Room Heh
We hold our monthly letter writing group 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.

Office Closed for Labor Day
Monday, September 2
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Labor Day.

Daily Shofar
All day, every day (except on Shabbat) from September 4 to October 1 –  Havurah's YouTube page and Facebook page
Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts & a touch of kavannah. Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages to watch as you are able.

The Torah in the High Holydays
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, September 5 to 26 – Havurah Shalom
There are four Torah readings during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We will take four 90-minute sessions and look at each of the Torah readings. We will look at the readings through the four ways of studying Torah: P'shat (literal, simple, plain, intended meaning), Remez (alluded meaning, “reading between the lines”), D’rash (drawn-out meaning; Midrash – “concept”); and Sod (hidden meaning). This will be a participatory class where we use the combined knowledge of the group to increase the knowledge of each of us. Please come prepared to delve into the text and share your thoughts. Fluency in Hebrew is not required. Led by David Dropkin. RSVP

Shabbat Morning with B'nei Mitzvah of Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven and Molly Faccinetti
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, September 7 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming as members of our community Abraham Bendsneyder-Koven as a Bar Mitzvah and Molly Faccinetti as a Bat Mitzvah.

Connecting Past with Present: May Their Memories Be For a Blessing
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 8 (at Havurah)
1-2:30 pm on Sunday, Sept. 22 (at Havurah)
7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 24 (on Zoom)
7-8:30 pm on Monday, Sept. 30 (on Zoom)
Make your memory of a deceased family member or friend into a blessing by attending one of four gatherings during the month of Elul to share a story and hear a story. These September gatherings are part of Havurah Shalom’s “Arc of Remembrance” programming in preparation for Yizkor (Service of Remembrance) on Yim Kippur afternoon. Learn more and RSVP for the Sept. 8 session (or choose a different session and RSVP).

Drash as Prayer and Teaching
7 pm, Sundays, Sept. 8, 15, 22 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
What moves you? Want to learn how to tie that into Torah to help inspire and move others? Havurah community minyan is often looking for members to write and give a drash. Drashot can be made to honor a birthday or yahrzeit, or you may speak on a topic that calls for understanding and prayer. Join Harriet Cooke to learn and practice how to write a drash. Bring a notebook and pen. RSVP
 
Teen Engagement Committee Meeting
7 pm, Monday, September 9 - Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome.

Fleece Blanket Making for Community Warehouse
1 pm to 3 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 10 — Havurah
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 25 — Havurah
Join the Poverty and Homelessness Committee and Teen Engagement Committee as we assemble ten no-sew fleece blanket kits to be donated to Community Warehouse. The evening session on Sept. 25 will be led by the teens. No experience necessary. Bring a sharp pair of sewing scissors if you have one. Contact Julie Hastings with questions. RSVP for the Sept. 10 session and/or RSVP for the Sept. 25 session.
 
Hebrew for Prayer: A Close Look at Key Prayers for the High Holidays
6:30 pm, Tuesdays, Sept. 10, 17 — Havurah Shalom
Come explore key prayers of the High Holiday liturgy. We will be looking through the lens of Hebrew grammar and vocabulary in order to gain some translation skills and find essential meanings of the prayer(s). 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. RSVP

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, September 10 — 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).

Make a Jewish Calendar 
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18 — Zoom Room Bet
We will make a paper Jewish wall calendar and datebook (paper or virtual) for the coming Jewish year together in two two-hour sessions. Led by Carolina Martinez, the class is geared toward school-age children, teens and adults. You choose the themes and formatting for your calendar and planner and Carolina Martinez helps you find a starting point and resources and guides you in the assembly. Please RSVP so Carolina can plan ahead and send materials in advance for printing and for class use. RSVP and learn more

Safety Corner

Welcoming and Safety: The Role of Greeters, Ushers, and Volunteers 
11 am, Thursday, Aug. 29 — Zoom by RSVP
This webinar will focus on best practices and skills used by non-staff helpers at large events. Topics will include situational awareness, communication, leadership, emergency response, and potential issues to be aware of. Although the webinar focuses on High Holiday events, these skills apply to anyone who volunteers to serve in a position of some responsibility at any time of the year, be it a chaperone for a school outing or greeting guests for a b’nai mitzvah.
 
The Power Of Hello
11 am, Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Zoom by RSVP
5:30 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Zoom by RSVP
Used effectively, the right words can be a powerful tool. Simply saying “Hello” can prompt a casual conversation with a new person, providing an opportunity to observe and establish a connection. The OHNO approach–Observe, Initiate a Hello, Navigate the Risk, and Obtain Help–enables us to observe and evaluate suspicious behaviors, empowering us to lower risk and obtain help when necessary. Come to this national training provided by Secure Community Network to learn important skills around welcoming and maintaining safety at Havurah!
 
Havurah Greeter Safety Training
7 to 8:15 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 24 — Zoom Room Dalet
We will learn how to how to be aware of our surroundings, help people having medical or psychological emergencies, and what the best practices are for emergencies specifically at the Tiffany Center and Havurah Shalom, where our High Holidays services will be taking place. These skills can be used year-round at Havurah and in your everyday life too. Have a good time learning in the session, come out more knowledgeable than before, and then sign up to greet and usher when volunteer sign-ups open! (This class is for Havurah Shalom members only.) RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice Picnic
10:30 am to 1:00 pm, Sunday, Sept. 8, Gasworks Park, Seattle
Join the Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice for our 2nd annual Picnic to come together in community! Please let us know if you can make it - registration is required and tickets are free. Register here.

Save the Date: Interfaith Alliance on Poverty First Thursday Meeting
Noon to 1:30 pm, Thursday, Sept. 5 — Zoom  check back at the IAP website
Check the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty website later for information on the featured speaker for the September 5th meeting, as well as information about registration to this event. (Further information to be shared in Hineinu as well, when available.)

 

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 |Jewish Earth Alliance | IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice)

Out in the Community

Calling All Musicians! Join Us for a Klezmer Jam Session This Sunday
2 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, August 25— Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
From Eastside Jewish Commons: Bring your instruments, sheet music, heart and soul, and don’t worry about ability — this is a (facilitated) jam for all. Let your creativity flow and let the music flow! Once you sign up for this free event, materials from the other jams will be sent to you and perhaps even new material! If you have a song to share, please bring it! Let’s make some Klezmer jams and music magic happen! Free, please register here. | All ages

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 

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.