Friday, Aug. 18 Dear Havurahniks, We have an exciting few days ahead! Tomorrow, Aug. 19, from 530 to 800 pm, Havurah is hosting a potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration at Laurelhurst Park to welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family, Rachel, Arava
Next 4 Days - Havdalah Picnic, Travel Tips, B'racha for the Eclipse
Friday, Aug. 18
Dear Havurahniks,
We have an exciting few days ahead!
Tomorrow, Aug. 19, from 5:30 to 8:00 pm, Havurah is hosting a potluck picnic and Havdalah celebration at Laurelhurst Park to welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family, Rachel, Arava, Judah and Lev. We will meet at sites E and F, which are closest to SE Ankeny St.
Please bring a vegetarian dish to share - your choice of main dish, side dish or dessert. Havurah will provide some vegetarian sub sandwiches, plates, napkins, juice, cups and water, but please bring your own drink to share as well, if you want to drink something other than water or juice.
We will have games for children, potluck dinner, music and Havdalah. Come at 5:30 to start the games, and dinner will begin around 6'ish. Please RSVP here if you can come.
Travel Tips for Weekend Events & Events on Monday & Tuesday
Please plan your travel to upcoming Havurah events head of time! This applies to all who are coming to our Community Minyan Saturday morning, our Tuesday noon meditation group, and the Tuesday evening Safety Committee Meeting and Book Group Discussion. Here are some guidelines provided by the Portland Bureau of Transportation:
Prepare for heavy traffic congestion on area highways and potential delays on public transit this weekend through Tuesday, as the state experiences an influx of visitors for Monday's total solar eclipse. On Monday, Portlanders should consider telecommuting, working flexible hours, walking, or biking to avoid travel delays. Carpooling can reduce the number of vehicles on the roads, reducing traffic for everyone. Portland Streetcar and BIKETOWN bike share service both plan normal operations.
Be alert! Be respectful!
The Portland area will experience a nearly total eclipse, so make sure you have your eclipse glasses with you, but also remember to use caution when traveling, especially around buses and trains.
Whether walking or driving, do not stop or park on train tracks or stand in the street to get a better view. Be especially careful on rail tracks, as streetcars and light rail vehicles require longer stopping distances.
People driving, especially downtown on Monday morning from 9 to 11:30 a.m., should expect crowded sidewalks and heavy pedestrian traffic.
Portlanders should be prepared for traffic delays, and check online resources, specifically:
Public transit service may also experience delays and congestion, especially as travelers use the MAX Red Line to reach Portland International Airport before and after the event. TriMet Riders can stay informed of delays or disruptions at trimet.org/alerts, using TransitTracker online or through the TriMet Tickets mobile app. Also TriMet's Rider Support team at 503-238-RIDE (7433) can help plan trips or help navigate delays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.
Portland Streetcar service plans normal operations, though highway traffic could overflow onto city streets that share the road with streetcar. Check schedules and real time arrival times at PortlandStreetcar.org and service alerts at PortlandStreetcar.org/alerts.
Jewish View of Eclipses & B'racha for the Eclipse
Deborah Eisenbach-Budner has provided this link to interesting information about the Jewish view of eclipses over time, and a b’rachah (blessing) to say when you witness the eclipse:
Ancient rabbis actually thought an eclipse was a bad omen, so they weren’t so big on a b’rachah for it. But some folks will say “Barukh atah Adonai eloheinu melech haolam oseh ma’aseh b’reishit,” which praises the Divine for the works of creation.
Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
[B'nei Mitzvah Run Through] Friday, Aug 15th 12:00p to 2:00p (This is a closed event and is included in our calendar for space reservation reasons and attendee reference.)
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Natasha Raish Shabbat, Aug 16th 10:00a to 12:00p Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Natasha Raish as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
(IP) Elul Gallery Art Drop-Off Sunday, Aug 17th 12:00p to 3:00p As part of our annual holiday cycle, Havurah members are invited to share our own reflections on the themes and stories of the High Holiday season. In addition to prose or poetry that may be shared on the bima at High Holiday services, we are putting out a call for artistic expressions in any visual medium, including paintings, drawings and photography. We welcome your reflections on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether they arise from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own process of looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season. The Elul and High Holiday Gallery is a project of the High Holidays Committee and the Design Committee, led by Joan Peck and Marcia Suttenberg.
(ZM) Climate Change Book Group Slow Reading of "Not Too Late" Monday, Aug 18th 5:30p to 6:30p All are welcome! Havurah members and non-members alike are invited to join us in this slow, section-by-section reading of "Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility." Click and RSVP. Attend any or all of these HCAT (Havurah's Climate Action Team) Book Group discussions about "Not Too Late."
(ZM) Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul: A Grief Process Support Group Tuesday, Aug 19th 5:30p to 7:00p During the month of Elul, we are guided to examine our souls, explore our relationships, reflect on our actions with God and others, and prepare ourselves spiritually to begin a new year. With the Spirit of Elul, we will journey into exploring the aspects of grief. For Havurah members only. Limited to 8 people. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
(IP) Israeli Dancing Wednesday, Aug 20th 7:30p to 8:30p Join us to learn Israeli dancing! We’ll teach the steps and tell the stories behind Israeli dances while you enjoy the catchy rhythms, creative body movements, and spending time with friends.
Led by Havurah members Cindy Merrill and Gail Schwartz with dance instructor Rhona Feldman.
Hakol Deadline is Thursday, August 21 Thursday, Aug 21st (All day) Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
(HYB) Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Aug 22nd 5:45p to 8:00p 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.
