HAVURAH HAPPENINGS
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Energy Efficiency in Dark Times (3) Las Posadas (4) Begin With Aleph: Learn to Read Hebrew (5) Exploring Our Assumptions (6) Mindfulness & Meditation (7) Morning Minyan (8) Rabbi Benjamin's Installation

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(1) Adelante Volunteering (2) Songs to Warm a Winter's Night (3) PHFS Direct Service (4) Weekend In Quest (5) Steering Committee Meeting Minutes (6) No Weekly Email Last Week in December (7) Havurah Dues & Donations (8) Moishe House Opening

HAVURAH HAPPENINGS

(1) UPCOMING SHABBAT
Chanukah Celebration & Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, Dec. 15 - Chanukah Celebration for All Ages, 6:00-6:45 pm: Candle lighting, singing, storytelling, led by Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, and Ilene Safyan. In addition to Ilene Safyan, musicians for the evening include Sarah Shine, Tanja Lux, Jacob Mandelsberg, Scott Snyder, Steven Sandberg-Lewis, Chaim Wolin, and Larry Reichman. Kabbalat Shabbat Service, 7:45-8:30 pm. Tzedakah: Please bring a book for children ages 1-10 to read at a local community center. Spanish or bilingual English/Spanish books are preferred. These books do not have to be new; well loved books will also be treasured.

Bat Mitzvah of Moriah Cordova, Saturday, Dec. 16, 10:00 am - This Saturday, Moriah Cordova, daughter of Lisa and Allan Cordova, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Please join us in celebration with Moriah and her family and welcome Moriah as a member of our community.

(2) 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. Above photo is from Wikimedia.

(3) Annual Las Posadas Community Building Event, Sunday, Dec. 17, 6:00 pm, in the Cully Neighborhood - Las Posadas are an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and grow in relationship and mutual accompaniment with our immigrant neighbors in Cully! A different congregation joins each night to share cultures including food. It’s a beautiful opportunity to receive hospitality and share in a tradition that is meaningful to those hosting while bringing some of our own traditions and wisdom and considering our collective work for justice. As the visiting congregation, we'll share briefly about our Sanctuary work, and we will light Chanukah candles. We bring sweet snacks and, as a bonus, we bring an activity/craft for the kids. The host then usually serves food to everyone. Please RSVP so we can tell you where to meet on Dec. 17. Questions?  Bob Brown, rebrown47@gmail.com.

(4) Begin with Aleph: Learn to Read Hebrew, Wednesdays, Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7, 7:00-8:30 pm - This course is for beginners, even those who have “begun” before. Focusing on basic reading competency, we will uncover bits of Judaism that are only accessible through its original language. Our text has online home practice. Taught by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here.

(5) Exploring Our Assumptions: How Do We Live in a Diverse World?, Tuesdays, Jan. 9, 16, 23, 30 and Feb. 6, 13, 7:00-9:00 pm - Open for registration now. The first step in embracing diversity is acknowledging that we all carry assumptions and experiences that influence the way we interpret and interact with people we perceive as “not like us” or “the other." We will explore our personal and collective perspectives about diversity within an accepting and open format, using the book Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving, to provide an initial structure for discussion. Participants will read sections of the book prior to each class. We will use the ideas to prompt participants to explore their own assumptions and biases and discuss how our collective biases impact our interactions in a diverse world. Class is limited to 18 participants. RSVP here. Questions? Contact Susan Lazareck or Judy Steinberger.

(6) Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation, Tuesday, Dec. 19, Noon - We gather on Tuesdays, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm, to find some moments of quiet and shalom.

(7) Morning Minyan, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 8:30 am - Please join us for this focused minyan for people who are saying Kaddish and/or want to incorporate a regular prayer practice in their life.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) Volunteering with Tikkun Olam Adelante, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:00-4:00 pm (volunteering with a group of Latino women and men once or twice a month) - The group Tikkun Olam Adelante grew out of Havurah's Sanctuary work. We wanted to work with Latinos who were and continue to be targeted. We meet our clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-4:00 pm, who come in with a variety of issues: U visa help, job seeking, desire to start a small business, etc.One can sign up for once a month or more. If you are interested please note that there is also the expectation of some time spent outside of a Tues./Thurs. shift. Please contact Gloria Halper.

(2) Songs to Warm a Winter's Night, Sunday, Dec. 17, 7:00-9:00 pm, Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane -  A Night of music with Havurah Music Coordinator Ilene Safyan and Havurah member Barry Lavine. Join us for a memorable evening of music that will touch your soul and soothe your heart while indulging in fine wines and scrumptious desserts. $36 per person. Click here for tickets. Questions? Contact Marina Vidrio, 503-246-8831.

(3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Direct Service - A new temporary winter shelter, operated by PHFS, opened at Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) Dec. 11, 2017, and will close April 30, 2018. The shelter is starting with only adult volunteers (18 years and older). Havurah will continue our Adopt-a-Night at Goose Hollow as well as volunteer at the temporary winter shelter. If interested in volunteering at either Goose Hollow or the winter shelter, an hour-long orientation is required. Questions about orientations? Email Bethany Rocci. For more info about PHFS, please contact Gloria Halper.

(4) Weekend In Quest - Check out this article about Weekend In Quest in Oregon Jewish Life! The theme for the 12th Annual Weekend In Quest, which is sponsored by the Institute for Judaic Studies and many other Jewish organizations, including Havurah Shalom, will be "Masculinity and Femininity in the Premodern World." Weekend in Question will be held at the Holiday Inn Express, Astoria, March 2-4. It will feature Professors Rena Lauer and Yiftakh (Kevin) Osterloh of OSU. Shabbat Services will be led by Rabbi Joshua Rose of Congregation Shaarie Torah.
Learn more and register at www.weekendinquest.org or download a flier here.
Questions? Contact Mimi Epstein at mimiepstein42@comcast.net.

(5) Steering Committee Meeting Minutes - You can read the minutes from our November Steering Committee Meeting here .

(6) No Weekly Email the Week of Wednesday, Dec. 27 - Due to the winter holidays, no weekly community email will be delivered the week of Dec. 27.

(7) Havurah Dues and Donations for 2017 - The end of 2017 is rapidly approaching.  If you wish to have any dues payments or other donations to Havurah included in your year-end tax letter, be sure to make your payment well before the end of December. Checks should reach the Havurah office by Dec 29.  Credit card payments can be made (on line) up until Dec 31. Stock donations need to arrive in Havurah's Ameritrade account by Dec 26 to allow time for the sale and settlement of the transaction. Contact Karen Westerman at 503-421-4533 with questions or if you need stock donation instructions.
Thank you!

(8) Moishe House Portland Seeking New Resident, Aged 22-30 - Moishe House Portland is seeking a new resident and accepting applications through the end of December at www.moishehouse.org/apply. After being part of Havurah High School and graduating from Colorado College, I have moved into Moishe House Portland. My four housemates and I host Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, Jewish learning and social events for the young professional Jewish community in Portland seven times a month, supported by the national Moishe House non-profit organization. One of our housemates is moving on so we are looking for a new community builder aged 22-30 to live with us and create events starting in March. Benefits include Jewish learning scholarships and retreats, programming budget, and a rent subsidy. Please get in touch with any questions and/or recommend someone that you think would be a good fit. Thanks! Jake Sullivan, jake.moishepdx@gmail.com.

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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.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662