FROM OUR CALENDAR 1 Upcoming Shabbat 2 Tisha b'Av Service on July 31 3 Tuesday Jewish Mindfulness Meditation 4 Wednesday Morning Minyan 5 Book Discussion Group 6 Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Benjamin on Aug. 11 7 Havdalah Pot
Weekly Community Email, July 19
FROM OUR CALENDAR (1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Tisha b'Av Service on July 31 (3) Tuesday Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation (4) Wednesday Morning Minyan (5) Book Discussion Group (6) Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Benjamin on Aug. 11 (7) Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & Family on Aug. 19
ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) Photos of Last Friday's Dorot in the Park (2) Photos of Shabbat School Third Grade Camping Trip (3) Dafna Hershenberg Brewer (4) "Last Thursday Witness" IMIrJ Monthy Vigil, Portland I.C.E. (5) Summer Concerts at the MJCC (6) Stefanie Hausman's Article in Hakol (7) If I Had a Hammer(er)
1) Upcoming Shabbat - This Saturday, July 22, Miles Smith, son of Chari and Thomas Smith, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Please join us as we celebrate with the family and welcome Miles as a member of our community. Mazel tov!
2) Tisha b'Av Service, Monday, July 31, 8:30 - 9:30 pm, Havurah - In these times of political turmoil and tragedy, Tisha b’Av, one of the most important days of fasting and contemplation in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem on two separate occasions, takes on added significance. Join us on July 31 for a short Ma’ariv and Tisha b’Av service. We will then listen together to to Leonard Bernstein's Jeremiah Symphony (24 minutes), the third movement of which includes excerpts from the Book of Lamentations (Eicha), traditionally read on Tisha b’Av. Please bring a pillow and flashlight. The service will be led by Steve Goldberg and Susan Brenner.
3) Tuesday Meditation, 12:00 pm - Havurah's Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation group will continue to meet at noon on Tuesdays during the summer whenever at least two people can attend. Deborah will be at Havurah most Tuesdays. Please add your name to this doodle poll to indicate when you can come.
4) Wednesday Minyan, 8:30 - 9:00 am - This weekly service is for those who wish to incorporate daily practice in their lives and those saying Kaddish, or both. Please join us.
5) Book Discussion, Tuesday, July 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Barry Kast will lead a discussion of Call it Sleep, written by Henry Roth in 1934. The novel tells the story of an eight-year-old boy growing up on the East Side of Manhattan as an immigrant from Eastern Europe. As a sensitive and imaginative child, he experienced the security of his mother’s coddling but is now terrified by the world that lies beyond sight and sound of her. The pageantry of the East Side is displayed in all "its polyglot, polychrome crowds" (NY Times, 1935). This book is now regarded as a classic of Jewish literature. RSVP here.
Join us Friday, Aug. 11 for a Kabbalat Shabbat Service with Rabbi Benjamin, and Saturday, Aug. 19 for a Havdalah & Potluck Picnic to welcome him & his family!
6) Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, Aug. 11, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Havurah - Watch Havurah's online calendar for details. Meanwhile, save this date so you can join us for the first Shabbat service Rabbi Benjamin will lead at Havurah as our new rabbi.
7) Havdalah Picnic to Welcome Rabbi Benjamin & His Family, Saturday, Aug. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 pm at Laurelhurst Park in SE Portland - At this potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration, we will welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family. We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 pm to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1) Photos From Dorot Kabbalat Shabbat & Potluck in the Park
Havurah musicians Tanja Lux, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff and Jacob Mandelsberg led about 50 Havurahniks at a family-friendly, musical Dorot service at Laurelhurst Park on Friday, July 14. Thank you to the awesome musicians and organizers and to Monica Moriarty, who took these photos.
2) Third Grade Families Camping Trip- In June, the coming year's Shabbat School third grade class had a camping adventure together. The families included Moss, Marble, Lowenthal, Rose, Korin, Strom, Wise, Endress, Handelsman and Granek. Thank you to Elise Granek for taking these photos!
3) Mazel Tov, Dafna Hershenberg Brewer - Ben Brewer and Rachel Hershenberg's new daughter is Dafna Hershenberg Brewer. She is named for Rachel's grandfather. Dafna is an Israeli name and is Hebrew for the laurel plant. Mazel tov to Ben and Rachel, and to the new grandparents, Miryam and Roger Brewer!
4) "Last Thursday Witness" IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice) Monthy Vigil, Portland I.C.E. - On the last Thursday of every month, beginning July 27, 10:00 - 11:00 am, at Portland I.C.E. Building/Headquarters, 4310 SW Macadam Ave - All are welcome to gather in vigil as we express our support and love for families affected by I.C.E. detentions in Oregon. Join this monthly gathering to lift up the reality of what happens every day at this I.C.E. facility - and participate in different interfaith expressions and rituals in solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers. We encourage carpooling, as parking is very limited.
5) Mittleman Jewish Community Center Summer Concert Series
Havurah supports the MJCC's Summer Concert Series. The next concert features Nefesh Mountain on Thursday, Aug. 10, at 6:30 pm, on the grounds of the MJCC. The group Nefesh Mountain pioneers a new sound in which Jewish Spirit and Soul meet with Bluegrass and Old-time musical traditions. Founders, husband and wife team Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, blend their love for both of these rich traditions and have created a new genre that marries these two seemingly disparate worlds. They are winning the hearts of audiences nationwide. Learn more and buy tickets here.(Above photo is from the Bnai Keshet website.)
6) Stefanie Hausman - A clarification about our July-August Hakol: The article "Tips for Helping Children Heal Through Play" was written by Stefanie Hausman. Thank you, Stefanie, for your thoughtful and helpful tips!
7) If I Had a Hammer(er)- 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, please email Rachel.(Photo below is from Wikimedia, taken by Bamminick.)
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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.)
