HAVURAH HAPPENINGS 1 Upcoming Shabbat 2 Thank You to Our Sukkah Take-Down Crew 3 Wednesday Events 4 Thursday Events 5 Refugee Support Meeting 6 A Broken Hallelujah - Tribute to Leonard Cohen on Kristallnacht 7 Whose Bat or Bar Mitzvah I
Weekly Community Email, Oct. 25
HAVURAH HAPPENINGS
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Thank You to Our Sukkah Take-Down Crew (3) Wednesday Events (4) Thursday Events (5) Refugee Support Meeting (6) A Broken Hallelujah - Tribute to Leonard Cohen on Kristallnacht (7) Whose Bat or Bar Mitzvah Is It Anyway? (8) Nov. 10 Kabbalat Shabbat with Dinner - RSVP Now!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Premiere of Documentary 'Priced Out' (2) Outside the Frame's 'Leaving Home' (3) Awakening the Divine Jewish Spirituality Retreat (4) Weekend in Quest (5) Developing an Eastside Jewish Commons
HAVURAH HAPPENINGS
(1) Upcoming Shabbat
Erev Shabbat with Portland Just Energy Transition Initiative, Friday, Oct. 27, 7:00 pm - The Havurah Climate Action Team invites you to this Erev Shabbat service, where we will be joined by Jo Ann Hardesty, President of the Portland NAACP, and Anaïs Tuepker, from 350PDX, who will lead a presentation after services about the Portland Just Energy Transition Initiative. The initiative has been developed by a diverse group of local organizations representing communities of color and the climate movement in Portland. Come, learn more, and find out how you can help. Questions? Contact Michael Heumann (503-880-2226) or Elianne Lieberman (503-422-6402). RSVP here.
Bar Mitzvah of Ari Mesulam, Saturday, Oct. 28, 10:00 am - This Saturday, Ari Mesulam, son of Steve Mesulam and Julia Lager-Mesulam (Havurah's Vice President), will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Ari and his family, and welcome Ari to our community. Mazel tov!
(2) Thank You, Sukkah Take-Down Team! - Many thanks to Michael Alter, Daniel Cogan, Andy Waxman, Daniel Raider, and Ken Lerner for spending Sunday morning taking down our sukkah and cleaning up our courtyard! Special thanks to Michael Alter for being Havurah's lead point person for the sukkah, for helping Tivnu build the sukkah and for leading the take-down team. (Above photo was taken by Estee Segal during Sukkot this year.)
(3) Wednesday, Oct. 25
Training to Volunteer at Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Goose Hollow Shelter, 5:00 pm, 1838 SW Jefferson - If you'd like to attend a training so you can join other Havurah members on our volunteer night at Goose Hollow Shelter, RSVP to Bethany Rocci at bethany@pdxhfs.org. An even simpler way to see how the PHFS program is run and to meet other Havurahniks, staff, and some of the families being served: Sign up to help with a meal. Meal Providers do not need to attend an orientation! Contact Elayne Shapiro, elayneshapiro@gmail.com or Leonard Shapiro, lenshap@gmail.com. All other questions: Gloria Halper at losninos6@gmail.com.
Middle School & High School, 6:30 pm
Ongoing Narrative of Torah Class, 7:00 pm
(4) Thursday, Oct. 26 (details on Havurah's website calendar)
Last Thursday Witness, IMIrJ I.C.E. Vigil, 10:00 am
Tikkun Olam Equity Meeting, 7:00 pm
MACG Delegates Assembly, 7:00 pm
(5) Refugee Support Meeting, Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30-8:00 pm - This is an opportunity for new and veteran Catholic Charities volunteers from our congregation to meet for support, information and inspiration. Please join us, even if you aren’t yet a volunteer and are simply curious. Questions? Email Rebecca Darling-Budner at rbudner@yahoo.com. Please RSVP here.
(6) “A Broken Hallelujah,” Tribute to Leonard Cohen on The Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht), Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:00 pm, Congregation Beth Israel, 1972 NW Flanders St - A community gathering of music, poetry and reflection, with Beth Israel Cantor Ida Rae Cahana and Havurah Music Coordinator Ilene Safyan, and with the following special guests: Havurah members Sacha Reich and Andrew Ehrlich, Wendy Westerwelle, Courtney Von Drehl, Ralph Huntley, Ji Tanzer, and Ben Sandler. Sponsored by the Institute for Judaic Studies, Beth Israel, Havurah Shalom, Neveh Shalom, and the Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education. Light reception and discussion to follow. Suggested donation of $10. (Above poster was designed by Hannah Westerman.)
(7) Whose Bat or Bar Mitzvah Is It Anyway?, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 7:00-8:15 pm - Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Education Director, and Laura Orgel, Child & Family Therapist - This workshop is not about logistics or expectations: It is about the meaning of B'nai Mitzvah and its power as a rite of passage for the whole family. We will explore the hopes and fears that inspire, inform and complicate the preparation and planning process. How can we feel more connected to our child in this process? Our partner or ex-partner? Our family of origin? The rituals and liturgy? The community? How do we celebrate the occasion in a way that honors these connections, and our values? This frank and non-judgmental workshop is about the big questions and how they impact the concrete decisions that parents and youth are called upon to make. RSVP here by Nov. 2.
(8) Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner & Service, Friday, Nov. 10, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Service - Our catered, vegetarian Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by a musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm. For dinner, we offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free choices, and you’re invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8. Please RSVP here for the dinner by Nov. 6. Cost adjustments are available at 503-248-4662.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Premiere of Documentary Film 'Priced Out,' Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7:00 pm, Whitsell Auditorium in the Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave – 'Priced Out,' the new film edited and co-produced by Havurah member Eric Maxen, will premiere at the 44th annual Portland Filmmakers Festival. The film is about gentrification and its impact on the African American population in Portland's Albina neighborhood, and is a sequel to the 2002 film 'Northeast Passage.' For more details about the premiere and to buy tickets: https://nwfilm.org/films/priced-out/. For more details about the film:www.PricedOutMovie.com. Questions? Contact Rachel Plotinsky, plotinsky@hotmail.com.
(2) Outside the Frame Gala Screening: 'Leaving Home,' Monday, Nov. 13 - Doors open at 5:30 pm with beverages and snacks provided; Seating at 6:00 pm; Portland Center Stage at The Armory - This show is for all ages! - Join Outside The Frame for a special gala screening of new films by and with youth experiencing homelessness in Portland, presented with Outside In and Prosper Portland. Filmmakers will be in attendance. A Lifetime Achievement Award this year will be presented to Tia Plympton to recognize her decades of work and mentorship with homeless youth. The theatre will undoubtedly fill up, so reserve your tickets online here. Questions? Contact Nili Yosha at nili@otfpdx.org.
(3) Awakening the Divine Jewish Spirituality Retreat, Jan. 2-7 - Rabbi Benjamin will co-lead this five-day retreat on the East Coast in January, alongside other skilled teachers of contemplative Jewish practice. Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels, the retreat’s lead teacher, is one of the foremost teachers of meditation in the Jewish world today. This is Rabbi Benjamin’s third year teaching at this retreat, and he would be happy to answer any questions for those who are interested. You can learn more on this flier.
(4) "Jewish Masculinity and Femininity in the Premodern World" with Professors Rena Lauer and Yiftakh (Kevin) Osterloh of OSU, March 2-4 - The Institute for Judaic Studies presents the 12th Annual Weekend in Quest at the Holiday Inn Express, Astoria. Shabbat Services led by Rabbi Joshua Rose of Congregation Shaarie Torah. Learn more and register at www.weekendinquest.org. You can download a flier here. Questions: Contact Mimi Epstein at mimiepstein42@comcast.net.
(5) Developing an Eastside Jewish Commons - Community leaders have been actively discussing developing a shared Jewish community space on Portland's Eastside. The Jewish Eastside Commons initiative envisions a large enough space to accommodate multiple programs at the same time. The project team is seeking input from the Eastside Jewish community. Please join one of two remaining community conversations: Sunday, Nov. 12, 2-4 pm, Taborspace, 5441 SE Belmont St; Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6-8 pm, McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave. RSVP athttp://bit.ly/2xJlUjjas space is limited.
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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.
(IP) HCAT & Partners' Climate Action Fair at MJCC Sunday, Apr 28th 12:00p to 4:00p HCAT invites you to continue with our climate action month by attending a community wide Climate Action Fair at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Cosponsored by the MJCC and the Jewish Federation’s Climate team, meet dozens of environmental organizations and discover resources for actions you can take. A series of speakers will talk about forestry, electrification, native plants and climate friendly foods. (And let Elianne Lieberman know if you can give someone a ride or are seeking a ride!)
Passover Minyan (Yizkor) Tuesday, Apr 30th 8:00a to 9:15a For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will observe Yizkor today as well. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org for join info.
Experience the Omer: Making it Count! Tuesday, Apr 30th 7:00p to 7:30p [RSVP to be emailed a recording of the April 9 intro session.] The Omer is an ancient tradition marking time between the Exodus from the Narrow Place to the Expanse at Sinai. Explore tools and practices to facilitate your own learning and experience from Liberation to Revelation. We will have an intro class followed by half-hour check-ins, one for each Sephira. Led by Andrine de la Rocha. 7 pm, Tuesdays, Apr. 9 (Intro), 23 (Chesed), 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), 14 (Netzach), 21 (Hod), 28 (Yesod); Jun. 4 (Malchut) Led by Andrine de la Rocha.
(ZM) Book Group: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Tuesday, Apr 30th 7:00p to 8:30p February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy’s body.
From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying.
Prayer Flags for Our Planet Thursday, May 2nd 11:00a to 3:00p This exhibit is about science and art.
It is meant to be a learning experience, about the top 60 solutions to climate change, as researched by over 5,000 scientists.
And most importantly it is about hope.
It is about learning about these solutions to climate change and
changing the hearts and minds of those around us,
so that we can all work together.
Anne Nesse, 2024
(ZM) B'nei Mitzvah Event Planning 101 Thursday, May 2nd 7:00p to 8:30p We will break the event planning process into manageable steps. Led by Chari Smith. We will meet in Zoom room Gimel
