HAVURAH HAPPENINGS - (1) Upcoming Shabbat & Installation of Rabbi Benjamin (2) Music Rehearsal (3) PHFS Volunteering (4) Parents, Let's Talk Race (5) Book Discussion (6) Dorot: Short & Sweet Shabbat (7) Discovering Shabbat Morning Learners' Minyan (8) "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth" (9) How to Love with All Your Heart, Soul & Might
ANNOUNCEMENTS - (1) Rachel's Well Mikvah Grand Opening (2) Lotsa Helping Hands Leads Needed (3) Awaken Your Inner Keyboard (4) Creative Energy Abounding! (5) Steering Committee Minutes (6) Never Again: A Jewish Response to the Rohingya Crisis (7) Weekend In Quest
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(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Community Minyan, Saturday, Jan. 20, 10:00 am - This Saturday, Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Sam Sirkin, Emily Simon, Marty Brown, and Barbara Sevde will lead prayers and read Torah at our community minyan, and Tot Shabbat families will join us for the Torah service. The last three plagues occur in this week's parsha, Bo, and Pharaoh finally releases the Israelites, who leave Egypt so quickly they have to take unleavened bread with them. The trek through the wilderness has begun.
Tot Shabbat, 10:30 am - We will 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. Tot Shabbat is fashioned for the under-6 crowd, but older kids are welcome (and can help tell a story, etc.). Afterwards, we enjoy an informal potluck oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Please plan to bring a small snack to share.
Installation of Rabbi Benjamin, 5:15 pm, Pizza and Veggies; 6:00 pm, Ceremony- This Saturday, 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 celebration will begin after Shabbat School, around 5:15 pm, with pizza and veggies. This event is BYOB--bring your own beer or wine. The installation ceremony, centered on the Havdalah ritual, will include music (of course!) and a passing of the Torah through generations to Benjamin.
PLEASE BRING FOOD: 1. Veggies must be cut and plated. 2. No dips are needed because Havurah will provide dairy and non-dairy dips. 3. All desserts must be easy to pick up with fingers (cut into small sizes), ready to serve, and labeled if they contain nuts or are gluten free or vegan. 4. BYOB - We will have an adult beverage table and Havurah will provide water and La Criox soft drinks. Contact Fran Berg for food-related needs at bergfr@gmail.com.
(2) Music Rehearsal for Installation, Thursday, Jan. 18, 7:00 pm - If you didn't attend the installation rehearsal on Monday, please plan on attending on Thursday. No RSVP is necessary, though Ilene would like to know who wants to participate. You can email her at ilene.safyan@havurahshalom.org.
(3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Every Night, 6:00-9:00 pm, Beth Israel - A new temporary winter night shelter is operated by PHFS at Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) through April 30. The 75 space capacity is for families with children.The shelter is starting with only adult volunteers (18 years and older). Volunteers are needed! Orientations at CBI: Jan.18 at 1:00 pm and Jan. 24 at 4:30 pm.There will be more orientations. If you are interested in attending an orientation, email losninos6@gmail.com with orientation date.
Direct Service Project, One Thursday a Month, 1838 SW Jefferson - Havurah is continuing our Adopt-a-Night volunteering at Goose Hollow Shelter. To volunteer, an hour-long orientation is required. On Jan. 22, 5:00-6:00 pm, an orientation is offered at Goose Hollow, 1838 SW Jefferson.Please RSVP to Bethany@pdxhfs.org. For more info about PHFS, contact Gloria Halper or John Devlin.
(4) 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.
(5) 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 Russian mathematician dies. The story is written from the point of view of her son, who tries to understand his brilliant mother. The 400 eminent mathematicians who show up to honor her want to see if she left clues to solve an important math enigma. The book includes pieces written by the mother as well as interactions among the family and the mathematicians. This discussion will be led by Carolina Martinez. Please RSVP here.
(6) Dorot: Short & Sweet Shabbat, Friday, Jan. 26, 6:00 pm - Join us for this casual, family-friendly, and music-filled service. Beginning with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, the service continues with prayers and music, followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. Led by Jacob Mandelsberg, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff, Tanja Lux, and Ilene Moss. 6:00 pm Service, 6:45 pm Potluck. Please RSVP here.
(7) Discovering Shabbat Morning Learners’ Minyan, Saturday, Jan. 27, 10:00-11:30 am - Join this upbeat workshop/minyan, led by Rabbi Benjamin, where we will walk through the Shabbat morning service, learn about the general structure of the service, the key themes and prayers, and some of the choreography. We will practice some prayers together and answer questions. This service is especially for families with youth in grades 5 and up who are in the B’nai Mitzvah process, all adults who are curious or perplexed, and anybody else. Childcare is available every Saturday morning for children 0-9. Please RSVP in advance for childcare.
(8) Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth - Screening and Panel Discussion, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 6:30-8:30 pm - Join Havurah's middle and high school students for a special screening of an important and timely documentary. "Papers: Stories of Undocumented Youth" highlights the challenges faced by young people without legal status. A panel discussion will follow the film, led by producer Rebecca Shine of Graham Street Productions and joined by two youths deeply affected by these issues. Every day 122 Dreamers may lose their DACA status, making them undocumented in the only country they have known. Come be part of this vital discussion, hosted by the Havurah Sanctuary Committee. Questions? Contact shari.raider@gmail.com. No RSVP necessary.
(9) How to Love with All Your Heart, Soul, and Might: Listening to the Shema, Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21; April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 - The words of the Shema, and the prayers surrounding it in every service, are about love—how to give love, how to receive love, how to live with love at the center of our personal and cosmic universes. There is no Hallmark fluff, here, though! These prayers are pragmatic and visionary, affirming and aggravating. Word-by-word, we will study these few prayers to understand their complex meanings as well as our own sensibilities. Participants need to be able to sound out Hebrew words. (See our Hebrew class taught in January-February.) Taught by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. Register here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS - (1) Grand Opening of Rachel's Well Community Mikvah (ritual immersion bathhouse), Sunday, Jan. 21, 3:00 pm, 6655 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland – Friends and supporters and those just curious are invited to the grand opening of Rachel’s Well. Short tours are available by reservation only from 2:00-3:00 pm at mikvah@jewishportland.org; Ribbon cutting, speakers and refreshments at 3:00 pm; "A Conversation About Mikvah" panel discussion, with Havurah's Deborah Eisenbach-Budner as facilitator, at 4:00 pm. Learn more about Rachel’s Well at tinyurl.com/yaqk487s. Questions? Contact Deborah at deborah@havurahshalom.org. Photo below is from Oregon Jewish Life.
(2) EXTRA: Pastoral Care/Lotsa Helping Hands- The Pastoral Care Team is taking Lotsa Helping Hands under our wing and we're looking for a couple of people to manage and expand the website. Time commitment is less than an hour per community need and the technology is fairly easy. We'd love at least two people representing more than one age cohort. This is a perfect opportunity for someone skilled in social outreach who can assess needs and communicate them to our helping community. If you're interested, please email Sandy at sandylou29@yahoo.com.
(3) Writing Group - Awaken Your Inner Keyboard - Do you like to write? David Kertzner and Sharon Reyes are organizing a Havurah adult writers workshop for anyone who wants to explore writing from any level. They want to bring people together for eight sessions culminating in a Friday night reading and oneg in June. Dates TBD, but they expect to meet every other week for two-hour sessions, starting mid-late February or March, at Havurah and/or willing participants’ homes. David has offered to lead the sessions which will include a warm-up activity, followed by sharing of writing and supportive feedback. Writers may continue meeting after the reading. They’d like to cap the group at eight. Questions? Email (or RSVP to) David, dkertzner@proactive-english.com, or email Sharon, adelmanreyes12@yahoo.com.
(4) Creative Energy Abounding! - Let’s meet for two hours (come late/leave early) to work on individual art or arts & 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.)
(5) Steering Committee Meeting Minutes, Dec. 2017 - You can read the minutes from our Steering Committee Meeting in Decemberhere.
(6) 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.
(7) Weekend in Quest, March 2-4, Holiday Inn Express, Astoria - The 12th annual Shabbaton of study and community. This year's Topic: Jewish Masculinity & Femininity in the Premodern World. Scholars: Rena Lauer & Yiftach Osterloh of OSU. Register and pay at www.weekendinquest.org or pick up a brochure at Havurah use the form to mail in your check. For more information, email mimiepstein42@comcast.net. REGISTRATION IS NOW FULL, BUT YOU CAN ADD YOUR NAME TO THE WAITLIST BY CONTACTING MIMI.
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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.
[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.
