Hineinu, May 7, 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; Aly will also deliver the drash (10 am to noon). Learn more.
- On Saturday afternoon, May 10, Havurah members are welcome to join for a Songs of Liberation Song Circle. Havurahniks, be sure to RSVP as soon as possible; the gathering is just for Havurah members and is capped at 80 attendees.
(Learn more about our May 9 and 10 Musical Shabbaton with Aly Halpert in our April 2025 Hakol.)

New(ish) Member Welcome Brunch at Havurah Shalom on Sunday morning, May 18
Please RSVP by May 13
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. Learn more & RSVP.

Save the Date & RSVP for Shavuot
7 pm to 11 pm, Sunday, June 1 at Havurah Shalom & in Zoom Room Aleph
Join us on June 1 for a night of noshing, music, and learning!
Plan to bring a dairy dessert, or some other sweet noshing, or just yourself! All are welcome and childcare is available too!
More details to come. Please save the date and RSVP for Tikkun Leyl Shavuot as soon as you'd like.

We are Here for Each Other, Reach Out to Get Better Connected
Havurah Shalom leadership and staff are here for you; as members, we are here for each other. Amidst assaults on our values, our livelihoods, our communities, our identities, our safety, and our sense peace and well-being, know that we are in solidarity with you. If you are a Havurahnik seeking to plug in and make connections within our community, reach out to Tara Anderson, Havurah Participation & Publications Coordinator, at tara.anderson@havurahshalom.org or (503) 278-4634 (phone calls & voicemails). Feel free to be in touch with any staff member or other Havurahnik you'd like to turn to at this time. Reaching out to connect with one another helps stengthen our whole community.

June 2025 Hakol Update
Havurah members, for the June 2025 issue of Hakol, please send your questions and requests to Rachel Pollak (rachel@havurahshalom.org).
The Hakol submission deadline is Monday, May 19.

Cemetery Committee Announcement
The Cemetery Committee, after many years of wise leadership by Dave Weil, will now be headed up by Cindy Merrill! To get in touch about the cemetery or purchasing a grave, please reach out to info@havurahshalom.org.

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, 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  (learn more) . Also on Saturday, May 10, we have Tot Shabbat, for ages 0-5 and families, at 10:30 am (RSVP). 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

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. 

Shabbat Morning with Musical Shabbaton (w/ Aly Halpert)
10 am to 12 pm, 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. Learn more.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:15 pm, Saturday, May 10 — Havurah Shalom

Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome! We provide free childcare for those staying to enjoy the full Shabbat service that ends at noon. Email info@havurahshalom.org to learn more. RSVP

[Havurah members, 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. Questions? Contact Sacha Reich, avodah@havurahshalom.org. 
Havurah members, if you plan to attend this Songs of Liberation Song Circle, please RSVP now. Note that Song Circle is currently just for Havurah members, as it caps at 80 registrants.

**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.**

Register on Rose Haven Website for "Reigning Roses Walk"
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. You can register for the walk on the Rose Haven site. Havurahniks, to reach out to the Havurah Poverty & Homelessness Committee liason to Rose Haven, reach out to Marcia Suttenberg. 
(Note that the Havurah teen meet-up for this event has been cancelled.)

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.

Hakol Deadline is Monday, May 19
Havurahniks, Monday, May 19 is the submissions deadline for the June 2025 issue of our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
(For the June 2025 issue of Hakol, please direct questions and requests to Rachel Pollak, rachel@havurahshalom.org.)

Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat
5:45 pm Hearty Potluck Nosh; 6:15 pm Grounding & Introduction; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 pm Kiddush & Shmooze, Friday, May 23 (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 May 23  gathering. Most shifts just 10 or 15 minutes.)

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Maya Rosenbaum
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, May 24 -– Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Maya Rosenbaum as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. All are welcome.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual (Nisan)
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Sunday, May 25 — RSVP for location updates (either in Zoom Room Heh or North Portland)
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Office Closed for Memorial Day on May 26
The Havurah Shalom office will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 26

Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, May 26 — 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.

Havurah's Book Group: A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy by Nathan Thrall
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, May 27 — Zoom Room Bet
Join with Havurah's Book Group to discuss A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of a Jerusalem Tragedy by Nathan Thrall (nonfiction, 272 pages)
Immersive and gripping, an intimate story of a deadly accident outside Jerusalem that unravels a tangle of lives, loves, enmities, and histories over the course of one revealing, heartbreaking day. Discussion led by Joel Beinin. Non-Havurah members welcome as well. Learn more & RSVP for Zoom info. (*This is the last Havurah Book Group meeting for the year. We will start up again in September 2025.*)

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

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

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Zoom Room Aleph
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Zoom Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Zoom Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

Zoom Room Dalet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join. 
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.

Zoom Room Heh
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.

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.