Hineinu, April 30, 2025

Join Our Musical Shabbaton, May 9 to 10,
with Musician-in-Residence Aly Halpert
- On Friday evening, May 9, all are welcome to join for our Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration (second Fridays, with a break for summer).
- On Saturday morning, May 10, all are welcome to join for our Shabbat Morning with Musical Shabbaton (10 am to noon, followed by kiddush lunch). If you plan to stay for lunch after the service, please RSVP for that soon.
- On Saturday afternoon, May 10, Havurah members are welcome to join for a Songs of Liberation Song Circle with Aly Halpert. Havurahniks, be sure to RSVP very soon if you would like to join for this song circle; registration capped at 80.
(Learn more about our May 9 and 10 Musical Shabbaton with Aly Halpert in our April 2025 Hakol.)

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. 

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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, next taking place on Saturday, May 24. 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 (Dora Fortgang, April 26) are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, May 10, there will be a special Shabbat Morning and Music Shabbaton with musician-in-residence Aly Halpert; please RSVP by May 5 if you'd like to stay for the kiddush lunch after the service on May 10. And on Saturday, May 14, there will be a special Text & Torah: "Forgotten" Rituals, led by Diane Chaplin.)

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

Progressive Israel Network (PIN) Sessions
Last session on 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 May 4 speaker is from New Jewish Narrative. Learn more and RSVP

Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism
6:30 pm to 7:45 pm, Monday, May 5, 12, 19, and June 9 — Havurah Shalom
Following the curriculum developed by the Program in Jewish Ethics at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, each class will address a different topic, and be accompanied by videos and readings. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne. Topics addressed in the four sessions include: Countering White Nationalism and Antisemitism; Jewish Perspectives on Reparations; Repairing Jewish Pioneer Memory; Responding to Racial Microaggressions. Questions? Reach out to Adela Basayne, adela@havurahshalom.org. RSVP
 
Monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting

7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, May 8 — Zoom Room Bet
Havurah members, join the Racial Justice Committee for our monthly meeting (second 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. (Havurah members, click for our Zoom room login info page; log in to your Havurah member account for access.)

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
5:45 pm Hearty Nosh, 6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Continued Hearty Nosh, Plus Dessert, Friday, May 9 — 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. Adela Basayne will deliver the drash. Aly Halpert, musician-in-residence, will join the Havurah musicians for our musical, family-friendly Kabbalat Shabbat service. No RSVPs. All are welcome! Learn more. (Havurahniks, consider signing up for a volunteer shift; many shifts that are just ten or fifteen minutes.Thank you!) Note that we'll take a break from these Kabbalat Shabbat Celebrations during the summer. 

[RSVP by May 5 for lunch] Shabbat Morning with Musical Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert)
10 am to 12 pm (with kiddush lunch afterward, please RSVP for lunch by May 5), on Saturday, May 10 — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
On Shabbat morning, May 10, Aly will partner with Ken Lerner and Susan Brenner, infusing music into our Community Minyan and offering a drash. All are welcome. Planning to join for the kiddush lunch after the service? RSVP for that ASAP/by Monday, May 5.

[RSVP ASAP] Songs for Liberation Song Circle with Musician-in-residence Aly Halpert
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm (closing with the Havdalah ritual), Saturday, May 10 — Havurah Shalom
Songs for Liberation. How can songs help us create a liberated world? Join Aly Halpert for a session exploring how song can ground us, hold us, heal us, and expand our imagination, especially in times where liberation seems furthest from reach. We will sing together, connect with each other, and resource ourselves for the times ahead. Music is especially important at this critical time of struggle that we are all facing. Havurah members, if you plan to attend this Songs of Liberation Song Circle, please RSVP now. 
(Please note that this Saturday afternoon Song Circle is currently specifically for Havurah members, as it caps at 80 people.)  
Questions? Contact Sacha Reich (avodah@havurahshalom.org). RSVP

**You can learn more about our May 9 and 10 Musical Shabbaton with musician-in-residence Aly Halpert on page 8 of our April 2025 issue of Hakol.**

Havurah Teen Tikkun Olam Walk with Rose Haven
10 am check-in, 11 am begin walking until about 1 pm, Sunday, May 11 — 

The Eleanor (1605 NW Everett St., Portland) 
Rose Haven supporters and guests will unite to stride a beautiful route through NW Portland on Mother’s Day at the 12th Annual Reigning Roses Walk. Sponsored by Teen Engagement Committee. RSVP here for the Havurah teen event.

Teen Engagement Committee
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, May 12 — 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.*)

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, May 13 (second Tuesdays) — Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of govern-ance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings.(*Havurah members: For Zoom room info, go to HavurahShalom.org/Zoom and log in to your member account.*)

Text & Torah: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, May 17 — 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.

[RSVP by May 13] New(ish) Member Brunch
10 am to 12 pm, Sunday, May 18  — Havurah Shalom
A schmear & schmooze brunch at Havurah Shalom from the Havurah Welcoming Committee for new members, newish members, and any Havurahniks who would appreciate being welcomed in again and learning about new ways to become more connected within the community. Questions? Email Wendy Castineira. You can also reach out to Tara Anderson, Havurah's Participation and Publications Coordinator (503-248-4662, ext. 4; tara@havurahshalom.org). RSVP

Annual Cemetery Beautification Day
1 pm to 3:30 pm, Sunday, May 18 — Havurah Shalom Cemetery, 5656 SW Humphrey Blvd

To beautify our cemetery, please bring garden implements and wear appropriate clothing.

B'khol Levav'kha Gathering (Being Together Wholeheartedly)

7 pm to 8 pm, Monday, May 19 (third Mondays) — Havurah Shalom
All Havurah members are invited to come together for our B’khol Levav’kha gatherings. In these unprecedented and unsettling times, we are each invited to check in with ourselves, get quiet, name what we need, and have our group hear and acknowledge us. These gatherings are an opportunity to take care of be taken care of by our community. All this is followed by noshing. Read the full event description & RSVP. Facilitated by Ben Anderson-Nathe and Cara Ungar. Questions? Contact Cara Ungar.

Last Music Jam of the Season
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, May 19 (third Mondays) — Havurah Shalom
Join your fellow Havurah musicians for our last jam of the season. We'll play and sing Jewish and secular songs, just for the joy of it! Everyone has the opportunity to choose and lead songs from a wide range of artists and eras. Hope to see you there! RSVP

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

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.