Hineinu, December 18, 2024

Havurah Shalom Chanukah Celebration Dec. 29:
RSVP
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 — Havurah Shalom (with a Zoom Room Aleph track of programming starting at 4:45 pm)
All are invited to celebrate the lights of Chanukah at Havurah Shalom! You can bring latkes for the latke contest, lovingly used items for the swap table/give-away table, warm clothing for the tikkun olam winter drive, and kids and teens to enjoy games and the gaga pit! Fun for adults, teens, and children alike.
(Havurah members, please sign up for a 15-minute greeter shift!)
Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). RSVP

Rabbi Benjamin's Sabbatical to Begin on Feb. 1
From the Presidents Team: Rabbi Benjamin will take part one of a well-deserved sabbatical for five months, beginning on February 1, 2025, and returning to our thriving community on July 1, 2025.
During this time, the many functions of his position will be picked up by … everyone – as a participatory community is compelled to do. Many will take on these responsibilities, from our staff and lay leaders to committee chairs and congregants who have pastoral skills, are musically inclined, or otherwise want to help lead services. What an opportunity for us to stretch and grow!
Details on who will be stepping into different roles and the help we still need will be shared in the January issue of Hakol and in Hineinu later this month and next.
If you have questions or need to communicate with Rabbi Benjamin, please reach out to him before the last minute.
Replenish well, beloved Rabbi!

Save the Dates: Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on Sunday afternoon, January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on Sunday afternoon, January 26, along with members of First Unitarian Church, to host co-author Shane Burley and explore how we can fight antisemitism, in solidarity with others. RSVPs required. Havurah members participating should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting in between. This two-part series will be held at Havurah Shalom.

Save the Dates: The History of the Sephardic Jews and Their Language, Ladino
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, January 23, January 30, and February 6 – Havurah Shalom
Who are the Sephardic Jews? What is their history and what is their language? We will focus on the Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal who settled in the Ottoman Empire, and their language, Ladino. You will learn where they lived, the communities they formed, and what happened to them in the Holocaust and post-Holocaust. You will be exposed to various aspects of Sephardic culture, music, and literature. You will get a taste of the Ladino language, how it formed, how it was used, its literature, and its proverbs. If you speak modern Spanish, you should take this class! If you don’t speak modern Spanish, you should take this class! RSVP

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.

Coming to Havurah Shalom by bicycle? Feel free to bring your bike inside our building while you're at Havurah.

Weekly/Biweekly 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. All are welcome. 
(On the third Shabbat of each month, there will be a multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon, including on Saturday, December 21.)

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 (Ezrah Szego, December 21) are listed below and in the website calendar. All are welcome. (On January 4, there will be a Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat. Also, note that the Tot Shabbat for January is now taking place a on Saturday, January 11. RSVP)

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, 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.

More Upcoming Havurah Events

Hakol Submission Deadline is Thursday, December 19
The deadline for submissions to the January 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Thursday, December 19. Havurah members: To read the submission guidelines and submit your short articles,  go to HavurahShalom.org > News > Submit News & Requests > Click on the Hakol Submission Form. Or click on this link to go directly to the Hakol submission form. Reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org), Havurah Participation and Publications Coordinator, if you have questions.

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, December 21 (Third Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. Multi-synagogue Torah Study includes engagement from members of congregations in Oregon and New York and beyond. All are welcome. Learn more on the Havurah calendar.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Ezrah Szego
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, December 21 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Ezrah Szego as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, December 23 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting. (Havurah members: 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.)
 

Alte Rockers Restaurant Dinner on the First Night of Chanukah and Christmas Day
4 pm to 7 pm, Wednesday, December 25 -– At SW Portland restaurant in the John's Landing area, very close to the Willamette River
Havurah's Alte Rockers will hold a traditional Jewish Chinese restaurant dinner, as we did last year. We have made arrangements for us to have a group dinner at a very simple, small restaurant. We will order and pay individually; it is best to order in advance to prevent delays. If you would like to join us for this dinner, please be sure to RSVP directly to Ted Scheinman (member login required to access the directory). After you call or email Ted, make sure that you receive confirmation that you are indeed signed you up for the dinner, as space is limited.

Havurah Shalom Office Closures: December 25
The Havurah office will be closed on Wednesday, December 25

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, December 27 -– Havurah Shalom (w/ the 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction and 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service, Chanukah celebration, 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. Free childcare provided! Please review Havurah's proposed Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided; the organizers request that all attendees who are able do so mask during the Grounding & Introduction and Service portions. A vegetarian snack buffet will be provided with gluten free and dairy free options. If you are able, you may also bring a small dish of your choice to share. We are a vegetarian (fish ok) facility. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan food and drink welcome! (Havurahniks, would you like to sign up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up?) Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory), or leave a question in your registration notes. Learn more and RSVP.

Chanukah Celebration
4 pm to 6 pm, Sunday, December 29 — Havurah Shalom (with a Zoom Room Aleph track of programming starting at 4:45 pm)
All are invited to celebrate the lights of Chanukah at Havurah Shalom!
Fun for adults, teens, and children alike. You can bring latkes for the latke contest, lovingly used items for the swap table/give-away table, warm clothing for the tikkun olam winter drive, and kids and teens to enjoy games and the gaga pit! (For those joining by Zoom, email info@havurahshalom in advance for the Zoom link, if needed.) Members! Please sign up for a 15-minute greeter shift! Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). Learn more and RSVP.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, December 30 — Zoom Room Heh
We hold monthly letter-writing group Zoom gatherings (last Mondays) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP; however, please do RSVP for the Dec. 30 letter-writing group if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory).

Before the End of 2024, Pick Up Your Lost and Found Items at Havurah
Attention Havurahniks! If you have left any items at the building, it is time to pick them up! The kitchen is filling up with platters, the closet is filling up with coats, and the lost and found is full of expensive water bottles, among lots of other things! Anything left by Jan. 1 will be donated to a thrift shop. Please don’t lose your stuff this way! Plan to stop by the kitchen and coat room next time you’re here, or make a special trip to rummage for your things. Questions? Please reach out to Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).

Havurah Shalom Office Closures: January 1
The Havurah office will be closed on Wednesday, January 1.

Text and Torah Shabbat: Rituals of Shabbat
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, January 4 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. 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 in advance.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual: Tevet
7 pm, Sunday, January 5 – Meeting in Zoom Room Heh during the winter; future gatherings to take place in Zoom Room Heh or in Inner NE.
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. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month at 7 pm on the Sunday closest to the New Moon, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions; all are welcome. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.

Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Wednesdays, Jan. 8 to Jun. 18 — Havurah Shalom
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.​​​​​​ RSVP to join this course.

More Tikkun Olam 

 

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

Israeli Folk Dancing Chanukah Party
7:30 pm to 10 pm, Monday, Dec. 30, Leedy Grange Hall (835 NW Saltzman Rd, Portland)
Join the Portland Israeli Dance community for a night of music, dance, celebration and sufganiyot (jelly donuts). As we head into the darkest time of the year, we will light Chanukah candles, sing songs, and dance together. All are welcome: beginners through advanced, kids and adults of all ages. Not a dancer? No worries, we will teach you a few basic steps at 7:30 pm. More info here. $10 at the door, cash or Venmo. (Havurahniks with questions can reach out to Cindy Merrill, whose contact info is in the member directory.)

Enjoy Gelt from Divine Chocolate? You Can Support Tru'ah: The Rabbinal Call for Human Rights by Ordering "T'ruah Gelt" on the Page Linked Below
From Divine Chocolate: Divine Chocolate is proud to partner with T'ruah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights to promote Kosher Fair Trade gelt this Chanukah. On Chanukah, we celebrate the miracles of ages past. The Talmud teaches us, however, "לא סמכינן אניסא" "We don't rely on miracles" (Kiddushin 39b); instead of waiting for a miracle, we take action to establish a world that is safe and just for everyone. This Chanukah, we take one concrete step toward the "miracle" of protecting the human rights of all workers, empowering farmers, and ending labor abuses in the cocoa industry. To learn more about our partnership and T'ruah's campaigns for worker justice, go to Truah.org. ... Divine Chocolate is pleased to donate 10% of Chanukah gelt sales on this page to the work of T'ruah.

Mahloket Matters: How to Disagree Constructively
10:30 am to 11:45 am, on seven alternating Sundays, January 5 to March 30 – On Zoom and at Temple Emek Shalom (TES) in Ashland, Oregon
From Temple Emek Shalom: Join an 7-session class taught by Emily Simon to study mahloket l’shem shamayim (constructive disagreements) as a vital tool to generate critical thinking and personal growth. Text study can be used to increase the desire and ability to understand and engage more constructively with conflicting political opinions today. Each class will present a mahloket (disagreement) in classical Jewish texts that is relevant to a unique aspect of modern life and contemporary challenges. For a complete list of dates and topics click here. No Hebrew or prior study is necessary for this course. This class will be free for TES members and cost $120 for non-TES member households. If anyone needs financial assistance, please contact Rabbi Julie at rabbijulie@emekshalom.org. You can register for the class here.

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.