May 30 - Contemplative Shabbat, Annual Meeting, Night of Reading
(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Presence, Light, Manna: What We Need Is Here, A Contemplative Shabbat (2) New Babies at Havurah (3) Last Thursday Witness ICE Vigil (4) A Night of Reading (5) Annual Congregational Meeting (6) An Evening of Learning & Action (7) Kabbalat Shabbat (8) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (9) Early Morning Contemplative Hike (10) Generation to Generation Silo Busting (11) Portland Jewish Film Festival (12) Online Benefits of Membership (Member Directory, Yahrzeit Reminders & More)
(1) Upcoming Shabbat - Presence, Light, Manna: What We Need is Here - A Contemplative Shabbat, Saturday, June 2, 10:00 am – This Shabbat morning service will be led by Rabbi Benjamin and Rabbi Joshua Boettiger of Emek Shalom in Ashland. Through meditation, chanting, and prayer, supported by instruction and teaching, we will aim to open hearts and refine our awareness. Registration has closed for the full Contemplative Shabbat (Friday night and all day Saturday), but no registration is required for the Shabbat morning service and following lunch.
(2) New Babies at Havurah – This month we welcomed two new babies to our Havurah community: Lilah Shirley Werner, daughter of Ben and Leora Werner, was born on May 11, and Benjamin John Peterson, son of Rachel Fortgang and Alex Peterson, was born on May 22. Mazel tov to the Werner and Fortgang-Peterson families, and welcome, Lilah and Benjamin!
(3) Last Thursday Witness IMIrJ (Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice) ICE Vigil, Thursday, May 31, 10:00 am, 4310 Southwest Macadam Ave – All are welcome to gather in vigil as we express our support and love for families affected by ICE detentions in Oregon. Join this monthly gathering to lift up the reality of what happens every day at the Portland ICE facility and participate in solidarity through various interfaith expressions and ritual. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is very limited.
(4) A Night of Reading, Thursday, May 31, 7:30-9:00 pm – Havurah members Elianne Lieberman, Buff Neretin, Will Carpenter, Melissa Carpenter, Judi Kloper, Carolina Martinez, and David Kertzner will share short, reflective works they have been developing over the past three months at Tuesday evening gatherings. Each will read for about ten minutes. 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? Contact David Kertzner,dkertzner@proactive-english.com.
(5) Annual Congregational Meeting, Sunday, June 3, 1:00-3:00 pm – As we prepare for the Congregational Meeting, our goal is to make the information shared meaningful. With that in mind, please let us know what questions you may have about Havurah's operations, programming, membership, etc. We may not have time to answer all the questions at the Congregational Meeting. If not, we will get an answer to you either via email or in Hakol. Questions can be sent to info@havurahshalom.org. Thank you in advance for helping us make this meeting a good use of everyone's time. We look forward to the conversation.
(6) An Evening of Learning & Action, Thursday, June 7, 6:30-8:30 pm – The Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) and Stop Fracked Gas/PDX invite you to prevent serious pollution while supporting jobs in our state. The proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project and the Pacific Connector Pipeline project in Southern Oregon cannot be built without all the required federal and state permits. An important 60-day comment period will open soon for the Department of Environmental Quality’s 401 Water Quality Permit. We seek denial of the permit. To provide background on the projects, members of Stop Fracked Gas/PDX will open this evening with a short play, “The Folly of Frack.” This will lead into a comment-writing workshop, during which you will get practical tips and an opportunity to write your own comments to DEQ. For more information, please contact Jan Zuckerman, ses_janz@yahoo.com.
(7) Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, June 8, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Service – This is our last Kabbalat Shabbat celebration before summer break! Join Rabbi Benjamin, Ilene Safyan, and our talented Havurah musicians for a joyful, musical service to welcome Shabbat. Our catered vegetarian dinner begins at 6:30 pm, and the service begins at 7:30 pm.Registration for thedinner closes at noon on Wednesday, June 6, or sooner if the maximum number of seats are filled first. RSVP here. We especially need volunteers who are willing to greet people as they arrive for the service. Two shifts still need to be filled: 8:00-8:20 pm and 8:20-8:40 pm. Greeters can watch the door from the social hall and participate in the service, too. Please click here to sign up to be a greeter by Monday, June 4!
(8) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, June 11, 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 Chanting is open to anyone – no experience, musical ability, or commitment necessary. Free for members; non-members are asked to make a small donation.
(9) Early Morning Contemplative Hike, Thursday, June 21, 6:30-8:30 am, Holman Lane Trailhead in Forest Park – Rabbi Benjamin will lead us in walking together mindfully in nature on this early morning of the summer solstice. Utilizing walking meditation, stops along the way for chanting, and intentions to guide us from Jewish tradition, we will aim to heighten our awareness and wake up more fully in our lives. This will be a moderate hike at a gentle pace. Wear clothing and shoes for hiking, and bring water. Please register online here. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions.
(10) Generation to Generation Silo Busting – Havurah Shalom has been growing. Often we hear that making new connections has become a challenge. Folks who have been around the shul for a long time feel comfortable with old friends. New families and new members are looking for a smiling face and the opportunity to make friendships beyond “hello.” A few Havurahniks have been talking and taking an online class about building and supporting an intentional intergenerational community. Yes, this idea has come up before, but we want to do more intentional programming now. Would you like to know more? Do you want to talk with other Havurahniks to see what is possible? Let’s talk. Send a text, an email, or carrier pigeon to: Andy Gordon, 503-313-6544, Andygordon1017@gmail.com; Susan Lazareck, 503-880-5711, susanlazareck@gmail.com; or Aaron Pearlman, 503-810-1208, aaron@pearlmanoffice.com.
(11) Portland Jewish Film Festival, June 10-24 – Havurah Shalom is a sponsor of this year's Portland Jewish Film Festival. Learn about the films and show times here.
(12) Online Benefits of Membership (Member Directory, Yahrzeit Reminders & More) – If you're a member of Havurah, and you haven’t logged in as a member through Havurah’s website yet, you’re missing some great opportunities. These include adding or updating the yahrzeits of your loved ones so Havurah can send you reminders as the yahrzeits approach and having access to Havurah’s member directory. Learn more here.
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Havurah Shalom is an engaged, vibrant, egalitarian, and diverse Jewish Reconstructionist community. Steeped in Jewish values, Havurah promotes spirituality, learning, and acts of social responsibility.
(HYB) Shabbat Morning Shabbat, May 3rd 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.
(IP) Shabbat School Shabbat, May 3rd 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.
(ZM) Progressive Israel Network Sessions Sunday, May 4th 11:00a to 12:00p Havurah Shalom is hosting a four-session series from the Progressive Israel Network. Come learn in collaboration with representatives from five to six of the participating Progressive Israel Network organizations, including T’ruah, New Jewish Narrative, Partners for Progressive Israel, New Israel Fund, J Street, and Reconstructing Judaism.
All perspectives on Israel-Palestine, as well as all curious people, are welcomed and encouraged. Our guests will give presentations and take questions. You can register for all sessions, below, but it's okay if you can't attend all three sessions.
(Reconstructing Judaism, the central organization of the Reconstructionist movement, of which Havurah Shalom is a part, is a member of the Progressive Israel Network.)
(IP) Writing for Peace and Reconciliation, Within and Between Us Sunday, May 4th 6:30p to 8:30p Commemorate the last day of Pesach and Yitzkor in community Passover not only invites us to retell our ancient story but to look at our current reality and ask: what is our mitzrayim today? The obstacle in our personal and communal life? Where can we break through in an act of courage and compassion? April 20th & May 4th, 6:30 PM at Havurah, join Harriet Cooke for a writing/drawing group to explore this theme along with Yitzkor, the Sephirot and Counting the Omer. (It is recommended to attend either just the first session or both sessions.)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 5th 6:30p to 7:45p We will address topics such as countering white nationalism and antisemitism, Jewish perspectives on reparations, repairing Jewish pioneer memory, and responding to racial microaggressions. Facilitated by Karen Sherman and Adela Basayne.
(CANCELED) Collage Art with Jewish Symbols Wednesday, May 7th 6:30p to 7:45p This class has been canceled by the instructor. If you are interested in doing art at Havurah, please reach out to Adela Basayne (info@havurahshalom.org). Bring your crafts and creativity out for making collage art with Jewish symbols. We will create hamzas, stars of David, trees of life, and images for blessing the home. All ages are invited! Led by Carolina Martinez.
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 7th 7:00p to 8:15p (This class will now be starting on January 8.) Using an in-depth, word-by-word approach, we discover literal meaning(s), ancient layers of understanding, and our own personal interpretations that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding skills necessary.
