(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) RSVP for Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner by Monday! (3) Volunteers Needed for Measure 101 Telethon (4) Exploring Our Assumptions: How Do We Live in a Diverse World? (5) Orientations for PHFS Shelters (6) Volunteering with Tikkun Olam Adelante (7) Installation of Rabbi Benjamin (8) Parents, Let's Talk Race (9) January Book Group Discussion (10) Never Again: A Jewish Response to the Rohingya Crisis (11) Creative Energy Abounding (12) Goose Hollow Kid Time Host Training
(1) Upcoming Shabbat, Community Minyan, Saturday, Jan. 6, 10:00 am - Emily Simon, Marty Brown, Ellen Regal, Susan Brenner, and Roger Brewer will lead and leyn this Saturday, when we read the parsha Shemot, Hebrew for “names.” Among the stories in Shemot that we hear at least twice a year are the enslavement of the Israelites, Pharoah's order that all baby boys be killed, the saving of Moses, and Moses' encounter with the burning bush. Pictured at left is a painting by Pedro Américo of Jochebed and her baby, Moses.
Community Minyan Kiddush Lunch Is Back - After we feed our souls, it’s time to feed our bellies! What’s for lunch? The Spiritual Life Committee will provide a veggie lasagna and tossed greens. We welcome you to contribute side salads, fruit, cookies, etc. We’re also looking for some people to help with set up and clean up. Let’s eat!
Shabbat School and Hebrew classes start up again this Saturday.
(2) Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, Jan. 12, 6:30 pm Dinner & 7:30 pm Service - Join us on Jan. 12 for our next Kabbalat Shabbat dinner and service. The service will be led by Rabbi Benjamin and an array of talented musicians: Beth Hamon, guitar and vocals; Scott Snyder, mandolin; Steven Sandberg-Lewis, mandolin or guitar; Jacob Mandelsberg, guitar; Tanja Lux, violin; Karen Stolzberg, cajon; Barry Lavine, melodica; Chava Wolin, ukulele; Chaim Wolin, clarinet. The vegetarian Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by the service at 7:30 pm. We offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free choices, and all are invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8. Please RSVP here by Jan. 8. Cost adjustments are available by calling 503-248-4662.
(3) Yes on Measure 101 Telethon, Sunday, Jan. 7, 12:00-3:00 pm - YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. On Jan. 23, Oregon voters will decide whether to ensure that the state’s most vulnerable citizens continue to have access to health care. Voting YES on Measure 101 will enable Oregon to continue insuring low-income Oregonians. Measure 101 protects health care coverage for one in four Oregonians, including 400,000 kids. Havurah has joined over 100 groups in endorsing Measure 101. Your help is needed to ensure it passes. Please come and help call your fellow Havurah members to ask them to vote for Measure 101. A good time is guaranteed. Pizza and snacks provided. If you are able to volunteer, please contact David Newman at davnew2@earthlink.net to be put on the list.
(4) 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 - 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. Please RSVP here. Questions? Contact Susan Lazareck or Judy Steinberger.
(5) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) New Temporary Winter Shelter at Beth Israel - A new temporary winter shelter operated by PHFS at Congregation Beth Israel offers overnight shelter to our homeless neighbors until April 30. The shelter will start with only adult volunteers (18 years and older). Volunteers are needed! If you are interested in attending an orientation, email Bethany Rocci.
Adopt-a-Night at PHFS Goose Hollow Shelter - Havurah is continuing our Adopt-a-Night volunteering at Goose Hollow Shelter. To volunteer, an hour-long orientation is required. On Jan. 8, 6:15-7:15 pm, an orientation will be offered at 13 Salmon (the PHFS day shelter receiving 25 more people each day from the new winter shelter at Beth Israel). On Jan. 18, 5:00-6:00 pm, an orientation is offered at Goose Hollow, 1838 SW Jefferson. Please RSVP to Bethany@pdxhfs.org with your name and the date and location of the orientation you're interested in attending. For more info about PHFS, contact Gloria Halper or John Devlin.
(6) 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. You 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. Pictured above are members of Havurah's Adelante group.
(7) Save This Date! Rabbi Benjamin Installation Ceremony, Saturday, Jan. 20, 5:15 pm - Havurah will officially welcome Rabbi Benjamin and his family in an installation ceremony, and we want you to join the festivities! This will be a participatory, multigenerational event, inclusive of all ages and abilities. The intention is for us to come together as a community and officially mark our transition and growth, as well as formally install Benjamin as our rabbi.
The celebration will begin after Shabbat School around 5:15 pm with pizza and veggies. The installation ceremony, centered on the Havdallah ritual, will include music (of course!), a passing of the Torah through generations to Rabbi Benjamin, and a few other components. EVERYONE is welcome and encouraged to attend this important moment in Havurah's past, present and future. More details will follow in the Havurah weekly emails. RSVP HERE. Questions? Email Fran Berg at bergfr@gmail.com. Remember to mark your calendars and join us on JANUARY 20!! —The Rabbi Transition Team
(8) Parents - Let's Talk Race, Sunday, Jan. 21, 1:00-4:00 pm - This is an anti-racism workshop for parents and caregivers of young children, facilitated by and for parents who benefit from white privilege. It is organized by the Portland Chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), Family Action. SURJ is a national group of individuals and groups organizing white people for racial justice. Learn more about the objectives and expectations of the workshop, and RSVP HERE.
(9) January Book Group Discussion, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 7:00-8:30 pm - Please join us for discussion of The Mathematician’s Shiva by Stuart Rojstaczer. A prominent mathematician dies. She is a Russian woman, one of the most eminent brilliant mathematicians ever. The story is written from the point of view of her son who tries to understand his brilliant mother. There are 400 eminent mathematicians who show up to honor her, who also want to see if she left clues to solve a brilliant math enigma. The book includes pieces written by the mother herself as well as interactions among the family and the mathematicians. This discussion will be led by Carolina Martinez. Please RSVP here.
(10) Never Again: A Jewish Response to the Rohingya Crisis, Monday, Jan. 29, 6:30-8:30 pm, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, 724 NW Davis St, Portland - The Royingya are a majority Muslim ethnic minority who have been ruthlessly oppressed by the Myanmar military, suffering indiscriminate killings, forced evacuations, rape and other forms of violence. Approximately 700,000 Royingya have been forced to flee their homes since August and only about 400,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar. 120,000 of those are kept in concentration camps. Learn more about the evening here.The above photo of a Rohingya family is from VOA News.
(11) Creative Energy Abounding! - Let’s meet for two hours (come late/leave early) to work on individual art or arts and crafts projects. Time/ frequency to be determined. If interested, contact Eileen Deerdock by email or text: Deerdock@aol.com or 503-928-1910 (I'm a new member, but my photo is in the directory.)
(12) New Volunteer Resource: Goose Hollow Kid Time Host Training - This article from the July-August issue of Hakol, by Stefanie Hausman, gives great advice on providing effective support for parents and kids at the Goose Hollow Shelter. It is a must-read for anyone interested in volunteering with Portland Homeless Family Solutions at Goose Hollow. Questions? Contact Gloria Halper at losninos6@gmail.com or Rachel Pollak atrachel@havurahshalom.org.
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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.
Prayer Flags for Our Planet Thursday, Apr 18th 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
Shabbat HaGadol: Special Multi-synagogue Torah Study Led by Emily Simon Shabbat, Apr 20th 9:00a to 10:00a We will be discussing why this shabbes is called Shabbat HaGadol, and the special Haftarah, which is Malachi 3:4-24. Interestingly enough, there is no special Torah reading for what would seem like such a special occasion. In addition to Havurah Shalom, other congregations are being invited, and we may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, Apr 20th 10:00a to 12:00p Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. For Zoom link (Zoom Room Aleph), email info@havurahshalom.org.
(IP) Tot Shabbat Shabbat, Apr 20th 10:30a to 11:30a Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome.
Shabbat School Shabbat, Apr 20th 3:00p to 5:15p This program gives children a foundation for lifelong Jewish learning and engagement while integrating parents and children in a caring Jewish community.
(HYB) Meeting of Palestine Justice working group Sunday, Apr 21st 7:00p to 8:30p Our regular monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice working group will take place on the third Sunday of every month, at Havurah and in Zoom Room Bet. The agenda will be distributed in advance on the listserv. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.
Experience the Omer: Making it Count! Tuesday, Apr 23rd 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.
Passover Minyan Wednesday, Apr 24th 8:00a to 9:15a For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org for join info.
Prayer Flags for Our Planet Thursday, Apr 25th 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
