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WEEKLY EMAIL CHANGES
During the coming weeks you may notice changes in our weekly community email as we use new technology options to provide news more efficiently. Thank you for your understanding as the weekly email evolves!
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IN THIS WEEK'S EMAIL ...
Read About Rabbi Joey in Oregon Jewish Life!
1 - Upcoming Shabbat & Last Shabbat with Rabbi Joey & Charles McGee
2 - How Does Havurah Realize Our Sanctuary Commitment Community Meeting
3 - It's in Our Hands: Intergenerational Activism Fair for Reproductive Justice
4 - Torah Treasures and Curious Trash
5 - L'hitraot Joey
6 - Community Seder
7 - Discovering Shabbat Morning Learners' Minyan
8 - Tot Shabbat
9 - Courtyard Art & Trees at Havurah
10 - Portland Homeless Family Solutions
11 - Are You 45-60 Years Old & Interested in Jewish-Centered Activities?
- More Havurah Happenings
- Events in the Community
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READ ABOUT RABBI JOEY IN OREGON JEWISH LIFE!
Don't miss this story about Rabbi Joey by Liz Schwartz in the April issue of Oregon Jewish Life!
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1) UPCOMING SHABBAT & LAST SHABBAT
Upcoming Shabbat
This Saturday Beryl Isenberg, daughter of Amber Keyser and Seth Isenberg, will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Beryl and her family, and welcome Beryl to our community. Mazel tov!
Last Shabbat
Last Friday, at the first of many events to honor Rabbi Joey for his 30 years as our spiritual leader, Rabbi Joey led a short Tikkun Olam Shabbat service followed by a conversation with Charles McGee, founder and CEO of Black Parent Initiative. Joey and Charles have been friends for many years, and Joey was one of Black Parent Initiative’s first board members.
The sanctuary overflowed with new members, old members, former members (such as Rabbi Me’irah Iliinsky), and visitors (including Charles McGee’s wife and sons). Steve Goldberg did a great job as moderator, and the conversation between Charles and Joey was insightful, heartwarming, and inspiring.
At the end of the evening, Steve spoke on behalf of Havurah: “Joey has consistently been the conscience of Havurah,” he said. Turning to Joey he added, “You should never underestimate the impact that you’ve had not just for the old people here but for our younger people and our children who are here today.” Which led to a standing ovation that Joey valiantly tried to dismiss.
You can watch the video of the evening at https://youtu.be/QnWATTvnBtg.
The above photo was taken by Barbara Gundle.
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2) HOW DOES HAVURAH REALIZE OUR SANCTUARY COMMITMENT?
Community Meeting on Sanctuary
Sunday, April 2
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Havurah Shalom
Did you know that in 2016, Havurah Shalom signed the Sanctuary Pledge to be a Sanctuary Congregation? (See the pledge here.) We joined dozens of Portland faith communities, supported by Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, pledged to stand in solidarity and support with immigrant and refugee communities who are facing extreme pressures to their everyday existence. By signing this pledge, we are dedicated to educating ourselves, speaking out, and taking action.
But what does being a Sanctuary Congregation mean to Havurah? It is important and timely for the larger Havurah community to become involved in establishing what we can and are willing to provide toward this effort.
Questions? Contact Kathy at farvergordon@gmail.com, or Shari at shari.raider@gmail.com, or Bob at rebrown47@gmail.com. Please join us for an important community meeting to explore our next steps.
Please RSVP here.
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3) IT'S IN OUR HANDS: INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVISM FAIR FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Wednesday, April 5
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Havurah Shalom
- Remember those who struggled for the rights we have now
- Learn from youth fighting for reproductive justice for all, today
- Act to protect reproductive justice and choices for the future
Purchase beautiful hand-made items to benefit Planned Parenthood (providing reproductive healthcare), Momentum Alliance (inspiring youth), and Western States Center (building diverse reproductive justice leadership). Delight in the creativity of your community. Bring your checkbook, cash, and/or open heart!
If you would like to donate your art, craft, baked goods … please contact Stefanie Hausman, as soon as possible.Please RSVP here by March 31!
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4) TORAH TREASURES AND CURIOUS TRASH
Screening of "Torah Treasures and Curious Trash"
A L'hitraot Joey Celebration
Wednesday, April 19
7:00 pm
Havurah Shalom
Free & Open to the Public
Join us for the screening of Torah Treasures and Curious Trash, a film about 87-year-old outsider artist Jo Milgrom, who lives in Jerusalem. The filmmaker, Paula Weiman-Kelman, will lead a discussion following the screening. This event is part of our L'hitraot Joey celebrations honoring Rabbi Joey. The evening is co-sponsored by OJMCHE and Havurah Shalom. You can RSVP on Havurah's website or OJMCHE's website.
Below is a photo of Jerusalem-based documentary filmmaker Paula Weiman-Kelman. Her previous films include Eyes Wide Open, Rites of Passage: The Spiritual Journey of Alica Shalvi and Blessings: Roommates in Jerusalem.
Paula's husband, Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman, will be a special guest at our L'hitraot Joey celebrations. A longtime friend of Rabbi Joey, Rabbi Weiman-Kelman is the founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Haneshama, a Reform community in Jerusalem devoted to prayer, study and social action, and he is a founding member of Rabbis for Human Rights.
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5) L'HITRAOT JOEY
April 15 - 22
Havurah Shalom & MJCC
- Saturday, April 15, 4:45 pm, Havdalah and Family Celebration, Havurah Shalom
- Wednesday, April 19, 7:00 pm, Paula Weiman-Kelman’s "Torah Treasures & Curious Trash," Havurah Shalom (co-sponsored by Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education & Havurah)
- Thursday, April 20, 6:00 – 9:00 pm, Dinner to honor Rabbi Joey, Mittleman Jewish Community Center
- Friday, April 21, 8:00 pm, Shabbat Evening Service & Oneg, Drash by Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman of Congregation Kol HaNeshama in Jerusalem. Childcare will be available.
- Saturday, April 22, 10:00 am, Community Minyan, with “planned” potluck lunch following the service. Childcare will be available.
RSVP here by April 7.
Above photo of Rabbi Joey was taken by Barbara Gundle.
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6) HAVURAH COMMUNITY SEDER
Tuesday, April 11
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Havurah Shalom
Award-winning Havurah musician Beth Hamon and longtime Havurahnik Adela Basayne will lead our community seder on Tuesday, April 11. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. The dinner will be vegetarian, with gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free options. Reserve your place by April 5! Cost adjustments are available by contacting rachelp@havurahshalom.org.
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7) DISCOVERING SHABBAT MORNING: LEARNER'S MINYAN FOR B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES FIFTH GRADE & UP
Saturday, April 8
10:00 - 12:00 noon
Havurah Shalom
At this workshop/learners minyan, we will walk through Shabbat morning for a Bar/Bat Mitzvah and practice leading some of the prayers. Led by Susan Brenner and Diane Chaplin fom the Spiritual Life Committee, we'll talk about what goes in a B'nai Mitzvah service, and we'll practice some prayers with youth participation. If you have an upcoming Bar or Bat Mitzvah, you'll want to attend this workshop/service. Childcare will be available.
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8) TOT SHABBAT
Saturday, April 15
10:30 - 11:30 am
Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and their parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings and storytelling. We touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat morning service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing and Torah. Afterward we enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.
RSVP here.
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9) COURTYARD ART & TREES AT HAVURAH
On March 19, Havurah members glazed tiles for Havurah's courtyard art project. Click here to see photos from the March 19 workshops, taken by Barbara Gundle, and to learn more about the project.
We now have three beautiful new trees at Havurah. Thanks to Marlene Salon and Barbara Gundle for filing the permits to remove our dying and damaged trees and plant new Snowcone Japanese Snowbells. Watch for flowering trees on NW 18th Ave this spring! Pictured below is Rachel Pollak, Havurah's Office & Facilities Manager.
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10) PORTLAND HOMELESS FAMILY SOLUTIONS UPDATE
What does one experience as a volunteer with Portland Homeless Family Solutions at their Goose Hollow evening shelter? The good feeling of knowing you are helping families in need; direct service volunteering locally; joining with other Havurah volunteers on a monthly basis; stretching past your comfort zone.
Curious about Goose Hollow? Have you been thinking about this project for awhile? Start with an orientation – it's just one hour at the shelter: 1838 SW Jefferson, April 26, 5:00 - 6:00 pm. For more information about this Tikkun Olam sponsored project please contact Gloria Halper: losninos6@gmail.com.
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11) 45-60 YEARS OLD & INTERESTED IN JEWISH-CENTERED ACTIVITIES?
Havurah member Carolina Martinez is interested in forming a group of Havurah members between the ages of 45 and 60 to enjoy activities centered around Jewishness. The group could attend films, holiday dances, the Jewish museum, Jewish musical events or comedies, or host Shabbat and holiday dinners together. Other possibilities include creating Judaica together, hiking or camping, or discussing midlife issues. If you’re interested, please email 68.carolina@gmail.com.
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