FROM OUR CALENDAR 1 Community Minyan 2 PLEASE COME to the Final Ceramic Glazing Workshops for our Courtyard Mural this Sunday 3 Tuesday Meditation Wednesday Morning Minyan 4 Book Discussion of "Zookeeper's Wife" 5 Text Torah 6 RSVP fo
Weekly Community Email, June 21
FROM OUR CALENDAR (1) Community Minyan (2) PLEASE COME to the Final Ceramic Glazing Workshops for our Courtyard Mural this Sunday (3) Tuesday Meditation & Wednesday Morning Minyan (4) Book Discussion of "Zookeeper's Wife" (5) Text & Torah (6) RSVP for Dorot in the Park on July 14 (7) RSVP for Minyan & Presentations on Israel by Emanuel Ben-David on July 15
ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) "Pink the Night Out" Tonight (2) Portland Jewish Film Festival (3) Security (4) Help Welcome Our New Rabbi (5) Connect (6) David Slader in Oregon Jewish Life (7)Tivnu in Slingshot Guide (8) PHFS (9) Are You a Handy-Person? (10) Opportunity in Israel for People Ages 21-30 (11) JFCS Looks for Three Visitors
Almond blossoms
1) Community Minyan, Saturday, June 24, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Join Emily Simon, Susan Brenner, and other Havurah leaders and leyners this Saturday as we daven and discuss this week's dramatic parsha, Korach. The parsha, Moses faces a defiant Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 others who challenge his leadership. The earth opens and swallows the three men and their families, and a plague sweeps the camp. The plague is finally stopped when Aaron makes an offering. His staff blooms and produces almonds to show that, unlike the others, he is divinely ordained as a priest.
Below is a photo taken by Barbara Gundle of one of the many tiles that Havurah members created for our new courtyard mural at workshops in the fall and winter.
2) PLEASE COME, PLEASE RSVP for Last Ceramic Glazing Workshops, Sunday, June 25, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm At three workshops on Sunday, June 25, Havurahniks will complete all of the tile preparations for our new courtyard mural. Please RSVP below for the workshop you can attend to glaze the tiles you created or tiles other Havurahniks created. Snacks will be served.
3) Tuesday Meditation & Wednesday Morning Minyan We will continue to meet for Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation at noon on Tuesday and Morning Minyan at 8:30 am on Wednesday.
4) Book Discussion Group, Tuesday, June 27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm Join us as Phil Walters leads a discussion of The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman. This is a riveting and tragic non-fiction work drawing upon the unpublished diary of Antonina Zabinski and her accounting of her life during World War II with her husband Jan Zabinski, the director of the Warsaw Zoo. The couple became active in the Polish underground resistance and risked their lives to shelter more than 300 Jews in the zoo, saving them from deportation from the Warsaw ghetto to the camps. RSVP here! (Photo below is from the movie "The Zookeeper's Wife.")
5) Text & Torah, Saturday, July 1, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon Diane Chaplin will lead a discussion titled "What is a Mitzvah." Bagels, juice and coffee will be provided. Please arrive early so you can have a bite to eat before we begin. The discussion will be followed by a short service.
6) Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck Picnic In the Park, Friday, July 14, 5:30 - 8:30 pm (Service begins at 6:00 pm), Laurelhurst Park Picnic Area "D" (near intersection of Ankeny & Cesar Chavez)
Please join our Dorot musicians, Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff and Jacob Mandelsberg, as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. Please bring a veggie dish to share and your blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer-style. Who knows ... we just may break into a camp-style song session while we're at it. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit!! We have Picnic Area "D" reserved from 4:00 pm until closing, and the site contains five picnic benches. For questions, contact jmandelsberg@gmail.com or sarah.shine@gmail.com. RSVP here!
7) PLEASE RSVP HERE for this Special Saturday, July 15 - Community Minyan led by Emanuel Ben-David and Emily Simon, followed by Potluck Lunch & Presentations on Israel
Havurah is honored to have Emily Simon's good friend from Ashland and Israel, Emanuel Ben-David, join us on July 15 for a special Shabbat. Suffice it to say that, being a native Israeli, Emanuel notices nuances in Hebrew, and as a result his teachings have great depth. He is studying for the rabbinate but to Emily's mind could be a rabbi right now based upon his ability to lead davening. He and Emily have led services together in Ashland, and Emily is convinced that he will be a great guest for the Shabbat that he is coming to visit. His "day job" was involved in the technical side of Israeli military defense, and his knowledge on that topic is terrific to hear. RSVP here if you can attend one or more of these events.
The photo below is from the movie "Past Life."
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Planned Parenthood Supporters "Pink the Night Out" to Oppose Trumpcare Tonight, June 21, 8:00 - 9:00 pm, 3727 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. - Planned Parenthood patients and supporters will hold "Pink the Night Out" at rallies all across the country, including in Portland and Eugene. They'll be rallying outside health centers at sunset to illuminate the night sky with pink lights, to share personal stories about the importance of Planned Parenthood, and to demand that the U.S. Senate oppose Trumpcare.
2) Portland Jewish Film Festival Continues Through June 25 - Havurah is a co-sponsor of the 25th annual Portland Jewish Film Festival, produced by the Northwest Film Center and co-presented with the Institute for Judaic Studies. Learn more on the Portland Jewish Film Festival website. If you missed "Past Life," which was shown at the Festival on June 17, you can see it at Portland's Living Room Theaters beginning this Friday.
3) Security - Havurah encourages all members to use the door code to enter the building when attending Wednesday and Saturday services. This will allow more Havurah members to participate in services rather than leave the service to open the door as people arrive after services begin. If you don’t know the door code, please call or stop by Havurah's office. Also, we'd love to have more volunteers who are willing to take a shift sitting in back to watch the door during services. Many thanks to all who already have stepped up to help!
4) Help Welcome Our New Rabbi - Help welcome Rabbi Benjamin to Havurah by adding your photo to our online directory. This will help him connect our names with our faces. It's easy! Log into your account, click on "Setup Your Directory Listing" in the "Manage People" section, then upload your photo. If you haven't logged into your membership account yet, go to our website, click on "login" in the upper right corner, enter your email address as your ID, and create a password - any password you wish! If you've logged in before but forgot your password, just create a new one. After you receive an email confirming that Havurah has received your password, you can log in any time.
5) Connect - Please tell us how you want to connect at Havurah, or how you are connecting already. Click here and answer the six questions. Many thanks to the 70 people who have already responded!
6John Neiheisel took the photo below at the Portland Pride Parade on Sunday, June 18.
6) David Slader Featured in Oregon Jewish Life - Mazel tov to Havurah member David Slader, who is featured here in Oregon Jewish Life. The article describes David's art and its focus on the humanity of people in prison. The opening reception for his exhibit, which includes the art of three guest artists working from Oregon prisons, "Human Beings: Portraits of Women," is on First Thursday, July 6, 6:00 to 9:00 pm, at Gallery 114, NW 11th & Glisan.
7) Congratulations to Tivnu - Havurah congratulates one of our sister local Jewish organizations, Tivnu Building Justice, on being selected for the 2017 national Slingshot Guide, a collection of the 50 most forward-thinking Jewish organizations. Tivnu was selected for its work "focusing on social justice through holistic education and concrete, hands-on work in the community. ... Through intensive, immersive, and integrating experiences, partners inextricably entwine their idealism and their Jewish selves, preparing to become knowledgeable, committed, and innovative contributors to American Jewish life." Over the last six years, Havurah has partnered with Tivnu for various programs including building low-income housing and canvassing for the recent affordable housing measure. Numerous Havurahniks have served on the Tivnu board and helped start the organization. The upcoming cohort of Tivnu Gap Year participants will be building the new Havurah sukkah!
8) Portland Homeless Family Solutions Goose Hollow Shelter Direct Service Project - Since July, 2015 Havurah has had a team of volunteers at Goose Hollow evening shelter once a month. I have had the pleasure of coordinating Havurah volunteers for this hands-on project. The families are uniquely different. Some adults over these past two years stand out as they are the ones who challenged my prior assumptions of homeless adults. Several children I will continue to carry in my heart. Each one clearly demonstrated with actions and words their understanding of how to make the best of their situation, not just for themselves, yet also for the other children there. And then there are the Havurah volunteers who I have the humble honor to get to work with. Join this incredible group of Havurahniks. It only takes an hour of your time to complete the sole requirement of an on-site orientation. Contact Gloria Halper.
9) Are You a Handy-Person? - Are you good with tools, small repairs, and solving problems? Havurah is seeking a handy-person who can be on call for odd jobs related to the building and grounds. This can be either a paid or volunteer position, depending on your preference. For more information, email Rachel.
10) Opportunity in Israel for Adults Ages 21-30 - BINA ("understanding” in Hebrew)designs and implements programming integrating cultural, social and educational elements of Judaism, while promoting religious pluralism, honoring secular Israeli identity, and focusing on social justice work across all kinds of lines and sectors in Israeli society. One of BINA's programs is available to young North American adults ages 21–30. It’s a 10-month-long fellowship, in which young adults teach in Israel and receive a small monthly stipend. Participants pay $1000 and in return receive free airfare, housing, Ulpan (Hebrew language immersion classes), and amenities. While they’re in Israel in this program, they receive a stipend, which is about $650/month for participants who serve as teaching assistants, and about $1,430/month for participants who are certified teachers and are assigned a full teaching role. Learn more at www.bina.org.il/itf or contact Elliot Glassenberg at elliot@bina.org.il if you have questions.
11)Jewish Family and Child Service Looking for Three Visitors - Through JFCS’s Friendly Visitor Program, volunteers visit weekly at a client’s home or do activities such as shopping or dining. Three clients are looking for a friendly visitor to spend a few hours with them each week: 1) A German Holocaust survivor would like someone to socialize with once or twice a week. Speaking German would be a plus but is not required. 2) An elderly client has recently stopped driving and needs help shopping and getting to appointments. She would also like to socialize and spend some time out of the house. 3) An older adult with a significant visual impairment is requesting assistance with organization, including sorting through paperwork, mail, bills, old books, CDs, and cassette tapes. If you are interested in becoming a Friendly Visitor, please contact Brenna Park-Egan atbrenna.park-egan@cedarsinaipark.org.
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Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.
Rose Haven Walk (register at their 2025 Reigning Roses Walk site) Sunday, May 11th 10:00a to 1:00p 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. Walk with, or in honor of, a special woman in your life – a mother, grandmother, daughter, partner, or friend. 10 am check-in, 11 am begin walking. (We've cancelled the Havurah Teen Engagement plan for this event; just go to the Rose Haven 2025 Reigning Roses Walk website to register!)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 12th 6:30p to 7:45p 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.
(HYB) Steering Meeting Tuesday, May 13th 6:30p to 8:30p Steering members and staff will meet to consider matters of governance. All Havurah Shalom members are invited to attend Steering Committee meetings. For Zoom join links, visit havurahshalom.org/zoom (must be logged in) or call the office in advance for assistance (503-248-4662).
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 14th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
(IP) B’nei Mitzvah Drash and Service Workshop Thursday, May 15th 7:00p to 8:00p Students and parents are guided through responding to Torah in a drash. You will also take a walk through the Shabbat Morning service. Led by Sarah Shine.
(HYB) Text and Torah Shabbat: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals Shabbat, May 17th 10:00a to 12:00p 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.
(IP) Shabbat School Summit Shabbat, May 17th 3:00p to 5:15p Summit for all Shabbat School Families. At least one parent/adult from each familiy needs to attend. If you have two adults and children in more than one grade, it is best to have one adult attend per grade.
(IP) New(ish) Member Brunch Sunday, May 18th 10:00a to 12:00p 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. Please RSVP!
You can also reach out to Tara Anderson, Havurah's Participation and Publications Coordinator (phone: 503-248-4662, ext. 4; email: tara@havurahshalom.org).
When you register, please let us know in the Notes section about any relevant dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, etc.)
