HAVURAH HAPPENINGS (1) Upcoming Shabbat - Early Start (2) Annual Cemetery Beautification (3) Last Chance to Pre-Purchase Shindig Tickets (4) Kabbalat Shabbat (5) Mother's Day Interfaith Vigil (6) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (7) Dorot Shabbat (8) Text & Torah (9) Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: A Night of Learning, Connection, and Cheesecake (10) Book Discussion Group (11) A Night of Reading (12) Contemplative Shabbat (13) Song of Miriam Awards (14) Pride Parade

ANNOUNCEMENTS (1) Program Director Opening (2) Reusable Kiddush Cups (3) "Keep the Change," Award Winning Film with Autistic Characters Played by Actors on the Autism Spectrum

If you're reading this in Gmail, click on "view entire message" at the lower left to see the complete email.
 

(1) Bar Mitzvah of Max Nudelman-Nellen, Saturday, May 5, 9:30 am-12:00 pm – This Saturday's Bar Mitzvah will start earlier than our Saturday morning services usually start - at 9:30 am. Please join us in welcoming Max Nudelman-Nellen, son of Debra Nudelman, as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. Mazel tov to Max and his family!

(2) Annual Cemetery Beautification, Sunday, May 6, 1:00-3:00 pm -– We will gather at the Havurah cemetery, 5656 SW Humphrey, to garden and honor our relatives who are no longer with us. You can find directions to the cemetery here.

(3) Last Chance to Pre-Purchase Shindig Tickets! Havurah Shindig, May 6, 4:00-8:00 pm – Aren’t Havurah folks the most interesting people you know? Come to the Shindig and meet a few more compelling Haverim! We’ve prepared two specialty cocktails: “The Joey” and “The Benjamin.” (Ingredients are still a secret.) There will be delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, music, dancing, and of course, schmoozing! Meet new folks and reconnect with old friends – all this and more! And there's still time to arrange babysitting with our list of Havurah babysitters. Call Nancy Becker for details or questions at 503-422-2482.

(4) Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, May 11, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Service – Join one of Portland’s most musical and spirited Shabbat gatherings, led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. At our May service, we will honor our High School seniors. The service is preceded by a catered dinner, which starts at 6:30 pm and requires advance registration. Dinner registration will close when the maximum number of seats have been filled or at noon on May 9, if the maximum number isn't reached by then. So RSVP here soon! Whether or not you attend the dinner, we hope you will join us for the Kabbalat Shabbat service at 7:30 pm. No RSVP is required for the service, and all are welcome. Childcare is available. (Photo below was taken by Barbara Gundle at our last Kabbalat Shabbat dinner.)

(5) Faithful Resistance: Mother's Day Interfaith Vigil, Saturday, May 12, 12:00-1:30 pm, Northwest Detention Center (NWDC), 1623 E J St, Tacoma, WA – Immigrant rights advocates will gather for the 10th annual Mother's Day Vigil in Tacoma. (See photo from annual vigil at the top of this email.) NWDC is an ICE prison for undocumented immigrants. This has been an exceptionally difficult year for immigrants and refugees under persecution from the current administration. The event is a celebration of faith groups’ shared values and determination to resist racism and xenophobia. Join the Havurah contingent at this fun, inspirational, and important event. Carpool meet-up for Portlanders is 9:00 am, Ascension Catholic Church, 743 SE 76th Ave. To carpool with Havurah members, contact David Newman at davnew2@earthlink.net. RVSP is not strictly needed but it's good to know who is planning to go.

(6) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, May 14, 7:00 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. Lev Tahor is open to anyone – no experience, musical ability, or commitment necessary. It is free for members; non-members are asked to make a small donation.

(7) Dorot Shabbat, Friday, May 18, 6:00 pm Service, 6:45 pm Potluck – 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. Please RSVP here.

(8) Text & Torah, Saturday, May 19, 10:00 am-12:00 pm – Torah text study will be led by Diane Chaplin, followed by a shortened Saturday morning service. We will serve breakfast and coffee, including bagels and lox and gluten-free options. Please arrive early to eat before the study begins at 10:00 am. Childcare is available.

(9) Tikkun Leyl Shavuot: A Night of Learning, Connection, and Cheesecake for Teens and Adults, Saturday, May 19, 7:30 pm to Late – Please join us as we celebrate the festival of Shavuot by connecting with the wisdom of our tradition and with one another. Deborah Eisenbach-Budner will lead off the evening with “The Book of Ruth: Witnessing Personal and Spiritual Change.” At the same time, David Feder will facilitate some meaningful discussion for teens. At 9:00 pm we will all break for cheesecake, followed by more learning into the night for those who have the energy. Rabbi Benjamin will lead us in exploring texts and images of Revelation and Witness, and how we might understand the notion of revelation as progressive Jews today. Please RSVP here.

(10) Havurah Book Discussion Group, Tuesday, May 22, 7:00-8:30 pm – Please join us for a discussion of Henna House by Nomi Eve, led by Maud Naroll. Adela, a young Jewish girl in early 20th century Yemen, lives with her garrulous brothers, ailing father, and bitter mother. In a hidden cave, Adela dreams while protecting herself from the Confiscator, a Muslim official who seizes Jewish children whose fathers have died. Racing against time, Adela’s family makes an engagement with a distant cousin, Asaf, whom Adela invites into her heart. When Asaf leaves town, Adela is comforted by the arrival of her aunt, a henna artist. As Adela grows, we follow her journey to the prosperous port of Aden, and departure for Israel in the famous airlift Operation On Wings of Eagles. This novel is a welcome glimpse into this little-known culture. Please RSVP here. Questions? Contact Marjorie Walters at marjoriewalters@gmail.com.

(11) A Night of Reading, Thursday, May 31, 7:30 pm – The current Havurah Writing Group will share short, reflective works they have been developing over the past three months in their Tuesday evening gatherings. Join us for a fast-moving, lyrically-compelling, and plain old-fashioned evening of creative expression. Snacks and coffee with these possibly soon-to-be-really-famous authors to follow. Questions? David Kertzner, dkertzner@proactive-english.com.

(12) Presence, Light, Manna: What We Need is Here - A Contemplative Shabbat, June 1-2 – Led by Rabbi Benjamin and Rabbi Joshua Boettiger of Emek Shalom in Ashland. Beginning Friday evening, then continuing all day Saturday from morning through Havdalah, we will immerse ourselves in contemplative Jewish practice. Through meditation, chanting, and prayer, supported by instruction and teaching, we will aim to open hearts and refine our awareness. Our time will be spent in silence, aside from prayer and chanting, as well as brief opportunities to check in about the practice. The retreat is open to everyone, regardless of experience. Registration to cover expenses is $40 for members of Havurah or Emek Shalom, $50 otherwise. You can register here. The Shabbat morning service and lunch following are open, with no registration needed. Contact Rabbi Benjamin at benjamin.barnett@havurahshalom.org with questions.

(13) Honoring Chris Coughlin at Jewish Women’s Round Table's Song of Miriam Awards Brunch, Sunday, June 3, 10:00 am – 12:15 pm, MJCC – Mazel tov to this year's Havurah Shalom Song of Miriam honoree, Chris Coughlin! Chris's work on the Steering Committee and her ongoing focus on Tikkun Olam have been hugely important as Havurah has grown and transitioned the last several years. Use this form to reserve your place at the brunch. The cost is $25 if you RSVP before May 26, $32 after. To arrange to sit with other Havurah members, contact Debbi Nadell at debbinadell@gmail.com.

(14) Pride Parade, Sunday, June 17 – Havurah has marched in Portland’s annual Pride Parade for two decades now. Last year, for the first time, Havurah joined with other Jewish organizations to participate. Learn more here about how to get involved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) Program Director Opening – Help us recruit Havurah's next Program Director! This position will be a key member of Havurah's leadership team along with Rabbi Benjamin and Education Director Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and work in close coordination with our 400 families to help the community meet our congregational goals. You can see the job desription here. All interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to havurahjobpost@gmail.com.

(2) Reusable Kiddush Cups – Two hundred new reusable kiddush cups were introduced last Shabbat, replacing disposable plastic cups. Numerous members have urged us to eliminate these very visible bits of plastic waste, and Rabbi Benjamin told us how his congregation in Corvallis had turned to small stainless steel cups. Please collect the cups after the kiddush and return them to the kitchen for cleaning. Pictures of a suggested method of loading the dish racks are posted near the dishwasher. Please send questions and feedback to Adele Thompson for the Climate Action Team at adeledt@live.com.

(3) “Keep the Change,” Living Room Theaters in Portland, May 4-10 – “Keep the Change” is the first feature film in which autistic characters are played by actors on the autism spectrum. When aspiring filmmaker David (Brandon Polansky) is mandated by a judge to attend a social program at the Jewish Community Center, he is sure of one thing: he doesn’t belong there. But when he’s assigned to visit the Brooklyn Bridge with the vivacious Sarah (Samantha Elisofon), sparks fly and his convictions are tested. Their budding relationship must weather Sarah’s romantic past, David’s judgmental mother (Jessica Walter), and their own pre-conceptions of what love is supposed to look like. Watch the trailer here.
 

Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.

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