Hineinu, March 12, 2025

Havurah's Purim Celebration!
Thursday, March 13
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 - At Havurah Shalom (or join via Zoom—we now recommend you join Zoom Room Aleph by 6:40 pm!)
Everyone, whether you're a Havurah member or not,
we appreciate your RSVP/registration!

Thank you hamantaschen bringers! 
Purim revelers, learn about our hamantaschen bake off. And if you can, sign up to bring hamantaschen to share at our Purim Party!

Also, we need more Havurah members to help out with decorations/set-up, door greeting, and clean-up crew! Thanks!Sign up to help out or bring needed food items.

Chag Sameach!

Greeter Safety Training This Sunday Morning
10:30 am to noon, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Open to all Havurah members, but especially for b'nei mitzvah families. With Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson, please join us to learn about the precautions and procedures we have in place to keep everyone safe, with a focus on b'nei mitzvah. There will be time for questions as well—and of course, bagel nosh and coffee!

Key Due Dates for Havurah's Shabbat School
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. To ensure a spot for the 2025-26 (5786) school year, families must (1) be members of Havurah Shalom by mid-April 2025 and (2) enroll their children in Shabbat School by May 1, 2025. Please visit our Shabbat School page under Learning on Havurah’s website for more information. If you have friends or family who are interested in participating in Shabbat School, please pass along this information.

 

General Info

 

Havurah members, are you having difficulty logging in to our website? Click here.

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 March 22. In April, the usual third Saturday schedule 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. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, March 22, Shabbat Morning will be a Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat; RSVP if joining for lunch that day.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah members. 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 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

PURIM! Havurah Shalom Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, March 13 – At Havurah Shalom (or join via Zoom—we now recommend you join Zoom Room Aleph by 6:40 pm!)
A family-friendly Purim Celebration for all. Everyone, Havurah member or non-member, learn more and RSVP!

Interfaith Earth Summit: Climate Safety and Health
1 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, March 16 – Havurah Shalom
Join us at Havurah Shalom as Havurah's Climate Action Team (HCAT) hosts one of 17 statewide hubs for the 12th Annual Interfaith Earth Summit. Participants will learn what is happening with Oregon’s climate – and hear the responses of faith leaders, youth leaders, scientists and state officials. Havurahniks with questions about this event can contact Michael Heumann. All are welcome. Learn more and RSVP. (Havurahniks, can you be a door greeter or help with set-up or clean-up? Sign up to help out.)

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 17 – Zoom Room Gimel
What does Havurah have to offer me? Where can I find other Havurah members involved in areas I feel passionate about? How do I join a committee, lead a Shabbat service, gather with musicians, find out about Tikkun Olam activities? How are decisions made and what does the Steering Committee actually steer? Join members of the Leadership Development Committee for answers to these questions and whatever you have been wondering abut Havurah.
New and longtime Havurah members welcome. RSVP.

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, March 17 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom
"On January 21, just after the inauguration, a number of Havurahniks gathered for B’khol Levav’kha—a moment to simply be together wholeheartedly. ... Together, we named and acknowledged our feelings and needs ... Now, we're in the thick of it. And "it" is hard, painful, and confusing. It feels overwhelming and urgent. And still, I know that to be okay and to be wholehearted, I need to be held in calm, patience, and tenderness." Read the full event description & RSVP. All Havurah members welcome. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Rumble on the River Community Forum & Panel Discussion on So-called "Renewable Fuels"
5:30 pm/6 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah's Climate Action Team as we host Rumble on the River Community Forum #21. Doors open, tabling and snacks begin at 5:30 pm. Panel discuss starts at 6:30 pm. A panel discussion on the problems and dangers of so-called “renewable fuels,” the fossil fuel industry’s climate solution. All are welcome; open to Havurah members and the greater community. (Havurahniks with questions can contact Elianne Lieberman.) Learn more and RSVP.

Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 20 (but normally held on second Thursdays) – 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. (Log in to your Havurah member account to access our Zoom Room login info and member directory.)

Multi-Synagogue Torah Study, Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, March 22 (but normally on third Saturdays) – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will again have our monthly multi-synagogue Torah Study, led by Emily Simon. Other congregations joining Havurah Shalom are in Monticello, New York; Ashland, Oregon; and Coos Bay, Oregon. We may have folks from around the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books.

Refugee and Immigrant Shabbat Morning
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 22 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! For Zoom information, please email info@havurhshalom.org. The March 22 Shabbat Morning will be our Immigrant and Refugee Shabbat. We will have special readings and information from HIAS about the current situation for refugees. Please join us for the service and lunch following. RSVP for lunch.

Havurah's Climate Action Team's Monthly Meeting (HCAT)
5 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday, March 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, March 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.
 

Hakol Submission Deadline is March 24
Havurahniks, the deadline for submissions to the April 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol, is Monday, March 24. Learn more.

Book Group: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 25 – Zoom Room Bet
For February, Havurah's Book Group invites you to read and discuss Surviving Autocracy (288 pages, nonfiction). Masha Gessen is a Russian-American writer, journalist, and activist. They are an opinion columnist for the New York Times and were a staff writer at the New Yorker for many years. They are also an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin and a clear-eyed observer of America’s disjointed and tepid response to threats to our democracy. Discussion led by Beth Kaye. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:30 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:40 pm Service; 8 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, March 28 – Havurah Shalom (w/ Zoom Room Aleph option starting at 6:30 pm for Grounding & Intro and Service)
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. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP. (Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at this event; most shifts are just 15-minutes.)

Come Hear Dr. David G. Lewis, Specialist on History of Western Oregon Tribes
2 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 30 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
As part of our programming focusing on Jewish reparations to Native Americans, the Racial Justice Committee of Havurah Shalom is featuring a talk by  Dr. David G. Lewis, author of the first comprehensive history of indigenous peoples of the Willamette: Tribal Histories of the Willamette Valley. You can join in person or online. This talk is open to the community and will be followed by light refreshments. RSVP.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, March 30 — Zoom Room Heh
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP.

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, April 4
Spread the word to friends and family! Our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration will be on Friday, April 4 (to avoid overlapping with Pesach).
- Learn more about our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat. All are welcome. No RSVPs.
- Havurahniks, consider signing up to help out at our April 4 Kabbalat Shabbat; many volunteer shifts are just 10 or 15 minutes. Thank you!

Safety Corner

 

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

Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
7 pm to 9 pm, Wednesday, March 19 – Eastside Jewish Commons (2420 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, Oregon)
Throughout history, the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. In the first film of this upcoming series, we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film. (Co-facilitated by Havurahnik Andrine de la Rocha.)
Learn more and get tickets. Sliding scale tickets fee.

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.