HAVURAH HAPPENINGS 1 Upcoming Shabbat 2 Water Is Life 3 Dorot Shabbat 4 Tot Shabbat 5 Lev Tahor Pure Heart Chanting 6 No Meditation Next Tuesday 7 Text Torah 8 Silver Falls State Park Hike 9 Book Discussion 10 ICE Vigil Led by
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HAVURAH HAPPENINGS
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (3) No Meditation Next Tuesday (4) Text & Torah (5) Silver Falls State Park Hike (6) Book Discussion (7) ICE Vigil Led by Havurah (8) PHFS Goose Hollow Shelter (9) Energy Efficiency In Times of Darkness (10) Chanukah Celebration & Kabbalat Shabbat
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Welcoming Andi, Havurah Shalom Program Director (2) 'Homeward' by Ari Shapiro (3) Moishe House Discussion for 20s & 30s (4) Sign Up Now for Lift Urban Portland Christmas Dinner (5) Fair Trade Judaica Gelt (6) Just Energy Transition Initiative Video (7) Jewish Spirituality Retreat & Weekend In Quest
HAVURAH HAPPENINGS
(1) Upcoming Shabbat -
Dorot Shabbat, Friday, Nov. 17, 6:00 pm - Join Havurah families for a casual family-friendly and music-filled service. Beginning with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, the service continues with prayers and music led by Jacob Mandelsberg, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff, Tanja Lux, and Ilene Moss. A vegetarian potluck dinner will follow the service. Please bring a dish to share! Questions? Contact Karen Pomerantz. Please RSVP here by Nov. 15.
Community Minyan, Saturday, Nov. 18, 10:00 am - Join Rabbi Benjamin, Susan Brenner, Sam Sirkin, Emily Simon, Noah Goldenberg, Richard Goldenberg, and David Koff in davening, reading Torah, and discussing Torah this Saturday. In parsha Toldot, Jacob secures his brother's birthright and steals his blessing, then flees to escape his brother's anger.
Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Nov. 18, 10:30-11:30 am - Young children 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. Afterwards, we enjoy an informal potluck nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Rabbi Benjamin. RSVP here by Nov. 15.
(2) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, Nov. 20, 7:00-8:00 pm - We will gather to lift sacred phrases through melody, harmony, and rhythm in order to open our hearts, clarify our minds, and cultivate qualities such as gratefulness and compassion. Interspersed with periods of silent meditation, the chanting will be guided by teachings and intentions from Rabbi Benjamin. Each of these monthly gatherings is open to anyone – no experience, musical ability, or commitment necessary. RSVPs are welcome.
(3) No Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation Next Tuesday - But, we continue bravely forward after that! It is amazing how this little group has sustained. This is the first Tuesday that we aren’t meeting for a whole year. Wishes for good health and thankfulness for all of us. - Deborah
(4) Text & Torah: The Torah and Gender Identification, Saturday, Nov. 25, 10:00 am - Come early to grab a breakfast nosh before we examine gender diversity in the Torah. Did you know that Classical Judaism identifies six categories of gender? We will read and discuss both ancient and contemporary Judaism’s views around non-binary genders.
(5) Silver Falls State Park Hike, Tuesday, Nov. 28 – Are you interested in exploring Oregon’s natural areas with other Havurahniks? Join the new Havurah Naturalists Group! Jeff Gottfried will lead the group’s first hike on Tuesday, Nov. 28, in Silver Falls State Park. The group will leave Portland at 8:30 am from Jeff’s house, 7040 SW 84th Ave, and drive through Silverton to Silver Falls. Learn more here.
(6) Book Discussion, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 7:00-8:30 pm - Join us for a discussion led by Stacy Hankin of The Luminous Heart of Jonah S. by Gina Nahai. This book tells the story of an Iranian Jewish family that is tormented for decades by a crafty and unscrupulous financier who has futilely claimed to be an heir to the family's fortune. Forty years later he suddenly disappears. Learn more and RSVP on our website calendar to help the discussion leader plan. Questions? Contact marjoriewalters@gmail.com.
(7) Vigil at ICE Office led by Havurah Shalom, Thursday, Nov. 30, 10:00-11:00 am - Join Rabbi Benjamin, Illene Safyan, and the Havurah Sanctuary team as we lead the monthly "Last Thursday Witness" Vigil on Nov. 30 at ICE offices. Through song and prayer we will lift our voices together to express our solidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters. Meet at 4310 SW Macadam Ave from 10:00-11:00 am. The Vigil will happen rain or shine. Questions, please contact Bob Brown rebrown47@gmail.com or Shari Raider shari.raider@gmail.com.
(8) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS), Goose Hollow Shelter Direct Service Project - Come to an hour-long orientation to learn how Goose Hollow offers families temporary housing and helps them become stable and no longer homeless. Orientations: Nov. 30 at 4:00 pm, Dec. 6 at 5:00 pm, at 1838 SW Yamhill. RSVP to Bethany Rocci. From a PHFS volunteer: “Being a Kid Time Host is more than just playing a game with the kiddos. You have the opportunity to offer emotional support, peer contact, confidentiality, and skill-building in self-assertion and conflict resolution. Kids need to know that the trauma is not their fault and that adults are working to fix it.” For more info re: PHFS please contact Gloria Halper.
(9) Energy Efficiency in Dark Times, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 7:00-8:30 pm - This session, facilitated by the Lifelong Learning Committee, will offer reflection, encouragement, and renewal as we celebrate the second night of Chanukah. Please join us in community as we acknowledge challenges, tap into cultural sources that offer perspective, and find ways to mend, rededicate, and move forward. Tikkun olam comes in a variety of sizes, from the very personal to the global. Bring on the light! RSVP here.
(10) Joy & Light, 4th Night of Chanukah, Friday, Dec. 15, 6:00-8:30 pm
- Chanukah Celebration for All Ages, 6:00-6:45 pm: Candle lighting, singing, storytelling, led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, and Ilene Safyan. RSVP here by Dec. 4.
- Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner, 6:45-7:45 pm - Bring a chanukiah and candles for your dinner table if you wish! RSVP here by Dec. 4. Please note that this RSVP deadline is a week earlier than our usual RSVP deadline for dinner.
- Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7:45-8:30 pm (No RSVP required)
You can download a flier here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Welcoming Andi, Havurah Shalom Program Director - We are thrilled to let you know that Andi Bales Molnar will begin at Havurah on Monday, Nov. 27, as Havurah Program Director. This position was identified long ago as critical to supporting our growing community and contributing to a sustainable organizational infrastructure for staff, lay leaders, and members of Havurah. Remodeling is happening currently in the Gan room to create an office for Andi as well as to modify the Kerem classroom for Shabbat School. Read more here.
(2) 'Homeward,' Nov. 16 & 17 at 7:30 pm, and Nov. 18 at 7:00 & 9:00 pm, World Trade Center #2, 121 SW Salmon - Ari Shapiro, son of Havurah members Len and Elayne Shapiro, will present 'Homeward,' his new one-man show with music. Learn more about Ari and the show in this month’s Oregon Jewish Life.
(3) Moishe House Discussion, Games & Drinks for People in their 20s & 30s, Sunday, Nov. 19, 1:00-5:00 pm - The Jewish People Policy Institute will lead a discussion on Israel-Diaspora Relations at Moishe House in NE Portland. Discussion is from 1:00-3:00 pm. Games and cozy drinks from 3:00-5:00 pm.Learn more here.
(4) Sign Up Now for Lift Urban Portland Christmas Dinner - Havurah members often help serve Christmas dinner to NW Portland residents in need at Lift Urban Portland’s Community Christmas Dinner. If you would like to volunteer this year, sign up here.
(5) Fair Trade Judaica Chanukah Gelt - This Chanukah, we can support Kuapa Kokoo, a Fair Trade cooperative in Ghana who are co-owners of Divine Chocolate. Fair Trade standards prohibit the use of child labor. Learn more and order gelt here.
(6) If you missed the Just Energy Transition Initiative Conversation at Havurah on Oct. 27, you can watch it here!
(7) Jewish Spirituality Retreat & Weekend In Quest – Click here to learn about 'Awakening the Divine Jewish Spirituality Retreat' and 'Weekend In Quest.'
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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.
(HYB) Solidarity Shabbat Friday, Jun 27th 5:45p to 8:30p 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.
(HYB) Climate Change Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jun 28th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. 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.
(HYB) Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual Sunday, Jun 29th 7:00p to 8:15p A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year.
(ZM) Palestinian Justice Letter Writing Group Monday, Jun 30th 6:00p to 7:30p We hold monthly letter writing group Zoom gatherings to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Email Dale Oller (member log-in required to access directory). Feel free to drop in any time! There’s no need to RSVP, but please do RSVP if you need the Zoom login. Non-Havurah-members very welcome as well.
(IP) Pride Kabbalat Shabbat in the Park Friday, Jul 11th 6:30p to 8:30p Celebrate queer and Jewish joy with a special Kabbalat Shabbat service at Columbia Park! We’ll enjoy a potluck dinner together afterward. Beverages will be provided. BYOB. All are welcome.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Jul 12th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin (who is on sabbatical until July 1, 2025), this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. 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@havurahshalom.org.
