Hineinu, April 9, 2025

Seder Matching Finishing Up
Havurahniks, for those still looking for a seder, we may very well be able to connect you with a warm, mixed-ages home seder in NW Portland/Hillside (Sunday, April 13), a family-friendly/everyone-friendly community potluck seder in SE Portland/Sellwood (Friday, April 18), or a welcoming, non-traditional virtual Zoom seder (Friday, April 18).
If you're a Havurah member looking for a seder match, please reach out to Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) ASAP.
(For inquiries about seders taking place this weekend, it will be best to contact Tara Anderson by 3 pm or sooner on Thursday, April 10, although you can try after that too.)

Passover Seder Resources
Social Justice themed resources for your Seder are available here, on our Havurah website. Havurah Shalom's Tikkun Olam Committees are updating with the latest to add to your Seder from organizations working on Climate Change, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Racial Justice and other Social Justice areas. Havurahniks, if you have a suggestion of something to add, please email tikkunolam@havurahshalom.org.

A Sweet Pesach Opportunity to Support Refugee and Immigrants
If you're at Havurah this week, pick up a sweet treat for Passover made by Havurah's middle and high schoolers and help support the Refugee and Immigrant Fund! Look for the poster about the Refugee and Immigrant Fund in the entranceway, pick up a bundle of chocolate matzo, and scan the QR code to make a donation. (You can also click here to visit our Refugee and Immigrant Fund donation page.)

Commemorate the Last Day of Pesach and Yitzkor in Community
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, April 20 and May 4 (joining for at least the first session is recommended) — Havurah Shalom
Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for an in-person writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome. Learn more & RSVP . 

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. 

Gmail users may find that this email message is truncated. Please be sure to click or tap the option at the bottom to extend the cotent and see all our news!

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. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. All are welcome. We also have a monthly Multi-synagogue Torah Study on Saturday, April 26 (normally held on third Saturdays). 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 are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, April 19, there will be a Yizkhor during our Shabbat Morning services.)

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

Monthly Racial Justice Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, April 10 — Zoom Room Bet

Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (2nd Thursdays). We will make plans to create learning opportunities for our community and engage in learning together during the meeting. We welcome all members to join us even if you have not joined before or it has been awhile since you attended a meeting. Questions? Contact Julia Lager Mesulam. (Log in to your Havurah member account on our website and look under the Contact tab for Havurah's Member Directory and Zoom Room login info.)

Office Closed for Passover on Monday, April 14
On Monday, April 14, the Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Pesach.

Parenting Huddle: How Do We Parent/GrandParent Right Now?
3:10 to 4:35 pm, Saturday, April 19 — Havurah Shalom
How do we parent/grandparent right now? How do we sustain our strength, values, and connections when they are being attacked? We gather to share ourselves, wisdom, and support. (This gathering takes place during Shabbat School at Havurah Shalom; all Havurah Shalom parents/grandparents welcome.) RSVP

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Sundays, April 20 (at 3 pm), April 27 (at 3 pm), and May 4 (at 11 am) — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join for any or all of the remaining Zoom gatherings in this four-session series to learn about the Progressive Israel Network. Ask questions and learn how we can plug in. (The April 20 speakers are from T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights and J Street.) Learn more and RSVP

Writing (and Drawing) for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sundays, April 20 and May 4 — Havurah Shalom 
Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community. Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? Join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. All are welcome, Havurah members and non-members alike. It is recommended to attend either just the first session (April 20) or both sessions (April 20 and May 4). Learn more and RSVP

B'Khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)
7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, April 21 (third Mondays) – Havurah Shalom

Havurah members, we welcome you to gather at Havurah Shalom for B'khol Levav'kha ("With All Your Heart"). "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. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Submissions Deadline for the May 2025 Issue of Hakol
Havurahniks, Monday, April 21 is the submissions deadline for the May 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.

Havurah's Book Group: Slavery's Capitalism, edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 22 — Zoom Room Bet
Join with Havurah's Book Group to discuss Slavery’s Capitalism: A New History of American Economic Development edited by Sven Beckert and Seth Rockman (nonfiction, 416 pages). Discussion led by Holly Hoffnung. Non-Havurah members welcome; Learn more & RSVP for Zoom info.

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, April 25 (and fourth Fridays) — 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 helping out at this April 25 gathering. Most shifts just 10 or 15 minutes.)

Multi-synagogue Torah Study
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, April 26 – 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 include Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. (Normally held on the third Saturday of the month, Multi-Synagogue Torah Study will be held on April 26 this month.)

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Dora Fortgang
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 26 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Dora Fortgang as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

***

[RSVP Ahead of Time] Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5 — Havurah Shalom
We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. 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

Chag Pesach Sameach!

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 (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin*, for spiritual and moral support. *Note that Rabbi Benjamin will be on sabbatical until 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.