Hineinu, December 24, 2024

Happy Hanukkah! Our Havurah Shalom Chanukah Celebration is This Sunday, Dec. 29 - All are welcome - 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 give-away/swap 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. Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). RSVP.

Havurah members, please sign up for a 15-minute greeter shift and/or any Chanukah Chelpers shift! 

**More Havurahnik latke-bringers needed too!** Sign up to bring latkes when you RSVP to attend the celebration (or you can send Wendy Castineira an email ASAP letting her know you'll be bringing latkes).

Solidarity Shabbat This Friday, Dec. 27
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. 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.

Havurahniks, would you like to sign up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up? (Non-members, be our guests!) 

Pick Up Your Lost & Found Items at Havurah Shalom by Dec. 31 (Check Kitchen, Coat Room) ​​
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).

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on 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.

Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, Jan. 10
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! Learn more. 

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, January 18.)

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 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

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? Non-members, be our guests!) 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! (Havurahniks, sign up for a door greeter shift or Chanukah Chelper shift. Most shifts are 15 minutes.) Questions? Contact Wendy Castineira (member login required to access the directory). Learn More & 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).

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.

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, January 9 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Racial Justice Committee Monthly Meeting where we spend some time learning together and planning activities for our community. We welcome new committee members all the time! Come check us out if you are curious! Questions? Contact Julia Lager-Mesulam (member login needed to access directory). (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, January 10 — Havurah Shalom (w/ 6:30 pm Service also in Zoom Room Aleph)
A musical, all-ages Friday night service with hearty nosh before the service and continued hearty nosh plus dessert after. All are welcome! Free childcare is provided! Learn more. 

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 am, Saturday, January 11 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! Please RSVP when you plan to come. We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon and which is followed by a light community brunch. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

Two-Part Series on Engaging with Antisemitism
4 pm to 6 pm, Sundays, January 12 and 26 — Havurah Shalom
Using sections of the book Safety through Solidarity: A Radical Guide to Fighting Antisemitism, we'll gather as Havurah members on January 12 to share personal experiences and reflect together about the reading and antisemitism in general. We'll gather again on 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. Participating Havurah members should be able to attend both sessions and do some reading and reflecting before each session. Childcare will be available as well. RSVPs required for this two-part series at Havurah Shalom.

How Precious the Ground Book Discussion: Ch. 5, 6, and Epilogue
5 pm to 6 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Gimel
Join Havurah’s Climate Action Team (HCAT) for a discussion of Chapters 5, 6, and Epilogue from How Precious the Ground on Which We Stand: Jewish Values that Could Save the Earth by Rabbi Sheldon (Shelly) Lewis. Each chapter stands on its own; no worries if this will be your first time joining us. Please RSVP. All are welcome. Zoom info will be shared when you register. (Book's author set to join for this conversation!)

Make Your Own Haggadah
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Mondays, January 13, 20, 27 and February 3 - Zoom Room Heh
Adults and teens, put your own mark on the seder by making your own Haggadah to tell the story of the Exodus! We'll meet four times and focus on choosing and making art, selecting readings to include, selecting songs for a songbook and playlist, and telling the story of the plagues. At the end, you will have a document you can print or share to be used at your seder, along with a songbook and playlist you can sing along with! Led by Carolina Martinez. Learn more and RSVP.

Teen Engagement Meeting
7 pm, Monday, January 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Monthly meeting for the Teen Engagement Committee leadership. Havurah teens and their parents are welcome. Questions? Contact Andy Waxman and Michelle Bobowick. (*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Monthly Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, January 13 — Havurah Shalom
Monthly music jams are back! Tune your instrument, warm up your voice and head down to Havurah to jam with us. Join your fellow Havurah musicians for an evening of playing and singing together—for the joy of it! Jams are led by fellow Havurah members and are completely democratic--everyone chooses songs! Our songbook includes both Jewish and secular songs from a wide range of artists and eras. RSVP

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

Some of the Many Chanukah Gatherings Out in the Community (click links for details):
- Dec. 25 at 4 pm - Public menorah lighting with Chabad, with former hostage Judith Raanan joining, in Pioneer Square (701 SW 6th Avenue)
- Dec. 25 at 6 pm - Kesser Israel Chanukah Party (6698 SW Capitol Hwy)
- Dec. 26 at 4 pm - Live Chanukah concert at Rose Schnitzer Manor (6140 SW Boundary Street).
- Dec. 26 at 5:30 pm - The People's Courts Hanukkah Party and EJC Benefit (2700 NE 82nd Avenue)

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.

18th Annual Winter Sephardic Film Festival
7 pm to 9 pm on second Tuesdays through April 2025 (next film showing is January 14) -– Congregation Ahavath Achim (6686 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland)
From Congregation Ahavath Achim: Join us on the second Tuesday of each month from December - April for a Sephardic Film followed by Sephardic desserts and discussion. (The Tuesday, January 14 film is Glickman.) For more information on this film festival, including a list of all films to be shown, click here.

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.