Hineinu, February 12, 2025

Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, February 14

Weather notice: Due to weather uncertainty, we are scaling down the variety of food before and after services, but we will still have plenty for all!

Havurah members, please consider donating a bit of your time to help! Havurahnik volunteers needed for Feb. 14 Kabbalat Shabbat!
Most shifts are about 15 minutes.

Come to Havurah Shalom or join via Zoom Room Aleph for a musical, all-ages Friday night service with family-friendly dessert and hearty nosh before and after.  5:45 pm Hearty Nosh; 6:30 Service; 7:30 Oneg. Free childcare is provided. Those joining on Zoom, please come at 6:30; the in-person hearty nosh portion and oneg will not be televised. For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. All are welcome at Kabbalat Shabbat. No RSVPs.  Additionally, all who would like to do so are invited to make a Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration donation.

Feb. 14 Kabbalat Shabbat to Focus on Refugees, Immigrants, and HIAS

From Havurah's Sanctuary Committee: The Havurah community has long engaged with advocacy for, and supported our immigrant and refugee neighbors in many concrete ways. Our Kaballat Shabbat on February 14, 2025 will once again partner with HIAS, the world’s oldest refugee agency. Please join us to reflect on Jewish values to Welcome the Stranger, to work with other groups on refugee and immigrant needs, and to recognize the difficult challenges ahead. Those challenges directly attack programs though which Havurah has helped Carlos and Maria with the asylum process, and the Darmani family and Special Immigrant Visa program. Questions? Contact Michael Rice (log in to your Havurah member account to access the directory).

Tu B'Shvat "New Year for Trees" Havurahnik Activity This Saturday Morning (2/12 Deadline)
Havurahniks, you’re invited to celebrate Tu B’Shvat by planting native shrubs and wildflowers together with Friends of the Trees at 9:45 am, this Saturday, February 15, at the Bybee Lakes Hope Center, a transitional housing facility in North Portland.

To participate, be sure to RSVP by contacting Havurahnik Dan Reid by Feb. 12 (member login required to access the directory). This endeavor is part of a B'nei Mitzvah project and will be an especially excellent opportunity for Havurah teens!

Please review the Friends of the Trees Volunteer FAQ for more info on what to bring; age, waiver, and parent/legal guardian supervision requirements; and more.

For more Tu B'Shvat opportunities, check out two recent Hakol pieces from Havurah's Climate Action Team. Contact Elianne Lieberman to learn more about getting involved with HCAT's work or just come to one of the Climate Action Team's monthly meetings (5 pm, normally on last Mondays, Zoom Room Gimel). Chag Sameach!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — First two sessions in Zoom Room Heh; third session at Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Havurah's Purim Spiel Approaches ... Sign Up for Purim Playtime!

5:30 pm to 7:15 pm, Saturdays, Feb. 15, Feb. 22, Mar. 1, and Mar. 8 (w/ Purim spiel performance evening of Thursday, Mar. 13) — Havurah Shalom

For all ages! As a group we’ll creatively retell the story of Queen Esther, dramatically and with live music! No matter what your experience in theater, all are welcome! Learn more and RSVP. Questions? Contact Karen Polisnky (member login required to access the directory).

 

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.

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. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Note that Multi-synagogue Torah Study will be held on February 22 and March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule for Multi-synagogue Torah Study will resume. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Hannaleah Lindner, February 15). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar.

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. Reach out to Leah Hershey to be added to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom 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.

Upcoming Havurah Events

[SAVE THE DATE] Book Discussion: The Cost of Free Land
6 pm to 8 pm, Sunday, March 9 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for a book discussion on The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurah member Rebecca Clarren, whose book was just nominated for an Oregon Book Award! The book is available in all formats; please save the date and start reading! RSVP

[CANCELLATION] The Jewish Origins of Comic Books, a class that had been scheduled for March 2025, needed to be cancelled; we hope to offer it again at a later date

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, February 13 — Zoom Room Bet
Are you curious about what the Racial Justice Committee is doing? Join us at our monthly meeting whether you have never been before or it's been awhile since you have joined. We welcome everyone to join us. In our meetings we spend time learning together about anti-racism and ways we can be better allies and dedicate time to planning events for our community. We hope to see you there!

Zionism, Anti-Zionism, and Antisemitism
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursdays, February 13, 20, and 27 — Feb. 13 & 20 in Zoom Room Heh; Feb. 27 at Havurah Shalom

We will explore a range of Jewish and non-Jewish understandings of Zionism, anti-Zionism, and antisemitism. Long before Oct. 7, 2023, their definitions have been debated, politicized, and weaponized for divergent purposes. Jews have never had a unified understanding of these terms or agreement about the political projects connected to them. All are welcome; priority given to Havurah members for courses with limited space. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, Friday 14 — 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! No RSVPs for this event. *The February 14 Kabbalat Shabbat will have a special focus on refugees, immigrants, and HIAS.*
Havurahnik Kabbalat Shabbat Volunteer Sign-Up | Learn more

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah Hannaleah Lindner
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, February 15 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Hannaleah Lindner as a Bat  Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Purim Play Time: Take Part in Retelling the Story of Queen Esther
5:30 pm to 7:15 pm, Saturdays, February 15 to March 9 -– Havurah Shalom (Purim spiel performance at Havurah Shalom's Purim Celebration on Thursday evening, March 13)

Calling Havurahniks of all ages! As a group we’ll creatively retell the story of Queen Esther, dramatically and with live music! A secret theme, known only to the players, will be unveiled when we perform the Purim spiel on March 13. No matter what your experience in theater, all are welcome! This class has been just been rescheduled for a new day and time to include more kids, following Shabbat School in the sanctuary with pizza! Parents and other family welcome too. Led by Karen Polinsky. RSVP to join Purim Playtime.

[SAFETY] Intro to Situational Awareness and the Power of Hello
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Tuesday, February 18 — Zoom Room Bet
Learn observation skills and best-practice techniques to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life — as well as how to use your words as powerful tools. 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 online training provided by Jessica Anderson of Secure Community Network to learn important skills around welcoming and maintaining safety at Havurah! RSVP

Hakol Deadline
Havurahniks, Thursday, February 20 is the submissions deadline for the March 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

The Jewish Catalog: The Next 50 Years

1:30 pm to 2: 15 pm, Sunday, February 23 — Havurah Shalom
Everything about this classic 1973 text, from the hand-drawn diagrams to the lovingly-compiled local resources, charted a new course for Jewish life and Jewish home practice. I bet you have used the book (and its two sequels) and the constellation of materials influenced by the Catalog, even if you don't realize it! DIY-Judaism has changed a lot in a half-century, and it's a richer world than ever. Let's talk about where it is now, and where it's going, too. Led by David Feder. RSVP

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– Zoom Room Bet
Havurahniks, join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting on last Mondays.

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, February 24 -– 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/register if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome to join as well.

Book Group: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, February 25 -– Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein (nonfiction, 350 pages). (A list of the Havurah Book Group's 2024-25 books is available here.) Per the publisher, "Doppelganger asks: What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now—and an intellectual adventure story for our times." Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Havurah members and non-members welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh, 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Kiddush & Schmooze, Friday, February 28 -– 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 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. Questions? Contact Rocky Cohen or Nat Lerner (member login required to access directory) or leave a question in your registration notes. Visit the RSVP page to register to attend and learn more, including potluck and snack buffet specifics, masking requests, and community guidelines. (Havurah members, please consider signing up for a volunteer role, like door greeting or helping with setup/clean-up. Non-members, please be our guests!) Looking forward to seeing you there!  RSVP

Tikkun Olam Corner

 

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Rose Haven (day shelter for women, children, and marginalized genders) | Path Home (family transitional shelter) |
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG |Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​| Jewish Earth Alliance | IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice)

Out in the Community

Portland Jewish Film Festival Happening Now!
The Portland Jewish Film Festival (PJFF) returns from February 12 to 23, 2025! The festival includes six feature-length films, five will be screened in person and one will be screened virtually. Visit PJFF's official website for complete information about the films and to purchase tickets and passes.

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. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical from February 1 to July 1, 2025. For pastoral needs during this time, please contact the Havurah Shalom office (info@havurahshalom.org, 503-248-4662) and Rachel Pollak will make the appropriate connection for you.

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.