June 6 - Pride Parade, Contemplative Hike, Transparency
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) An Evening of Learning & Action (3) Jewish Community Orchestra Finale (4) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (5) Pride Parade (6) Goose Hollow Orientation (7) Early Morning Contemplative Hike (8) Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber (9) Portland Jewish Film Festival (10) Israel at 70 Celebration (11) Transparency & Inclusivity (12) Shindig Pics & Praise (13) Gesher Reflections (14) Generational Silo Busting
Above photo is of Havurah Tikkun Olam Adelante members and Ortiz Community Center friends.
(1) Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, June 8, 7:30-8:30 pm – This is our last Kabbalat Shabbat celebration before summer break! Join Rabbi Benjamin, Ilene Safyan, Chaim Wolin, Barry Lavine, and Karen Stolzberg for a joyful, musical service to welcome Shabbat. Tikkun Olam Adelante, a subgroup of Havurah' s Sanctuary Committee, has invited six special guests from the Ortiz Community Center in Northeast Portland. These staff members work closely with Havurah members who volunteer in various programs at the center. Please join us in welcoming them and find out more about Havurah's involvement with the diverse population this community center serves. Also, one greeter shift still needs to be filled for Friday night: 8:20-8:40 pm. As a greeter, you can watch the door from the social hall and participate in the service, too. Please click here to sign up and help!
Bar Mitzvah of Burke Reilly, Saturday, June 9, 10:00 am – On June 9, Burke Reilly, son of Galit Reilly, will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah. Join us in celebrating with Burke and his family and welcome him as a member of our community. Many streets will be closed on June 9 due to the Grand Floral Parade, so please allow for extra travel time. Legacy Health Systems has generously offered Havurah parking spaces in their corporate office parking lot, at 1919 NW Lovejoy, on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays. This web page shows the spaces where you can park.
(2) 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.
(3) Jewish Community Orchestra Season Finale, with Cellist Diane Chaplin, Sunday, June 10, 3:00-5:00 pm, Mittleman Jewish Community Center – Havurah Spiritual Life Committee Chair Diane Chaplin will solo with the Jewish Community Orchestra at its season finale.
(4) 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.
(5) Pride Parade, Sunday, June 17, 10:30 am – Hey, Havurahniks! We are marching with Jewish Pride PDX, which will have vehicles available for folks who want to participate but cannot walk the route, and they are providing a bagel brunch starting around 10:30 am. Porta-potties are available around the corner from our location. Join us Sunday, June 17. Our unit is #105 and our gathering place is NW 8th between Everett and Davis in the North Park Blocks. We will likely step off close to noon since there are so many units in the Parade. Our route will take us to Waterfront Park where there will be booths and vendors and fun activities. Special added treat: Our friends the Unpresidented Brass Band will be marching with us! For more info or if you have questions, contact me: Sandy Ramirez: 503-730-3702 or sandylou29@yahoo.com. Also check out the Facebook page for Jewish Pride Greater PDX.
(6) PHFS Goose Hollow Shelter Orientation, Wednesday, June 20, 5:00-6:00 pm – Are you interested in direct service and cooking up a nutritious meal for needy families? Love hanging out with kids, enjoying a new experience, or looking to get out of your comfort zone? Volunteering once a month on a Thursday night with our Adopt-a-Night Havurah group at Goose Hollow, the night shelter of Portland Homeless Family Solutions, could be the program for you. How to connect: Take an hour-long orientation at the shelter on June 20. RSVP to the shelter's volunteer coordinator, Bethany Rocci at bethany@pdxhfs.org. For more information about this direct service project, contact Gloria Halper: losninos6@gmail.com, or John Devlin: john.t.devlin@gmail.com.
(7) 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.
(8) Book Group Discusses Crescent by Diana Abu-Jaber, Tuesday, June 26, 7:00-8:30 pm – The book Crescent draws the reader deeply into the experience of Arab refugees, immigrants, and their descendants from a broad perspective, making palpable their feeling of loss, not only of family members, but of identity, including the difficulties of creating a new one, while in exile. “Green-eyed, 39-year-old Sirine cooks up Arab specialties in a bustling cafe in Los Angeles where Arab students gather for a taste of home. When her doting uncle … introduces her to his colleague Hanif, the placid surface of her life is disturbed. Their affair begins quickly and ardently, as Sirine … discovers the pleasures of romance, and the exiled Han struggles to feel grounded in a place far from the Baghdad he loved as a boy.” - from Amazon
(9) 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.
(10) Israel at 70! Celebration Through Dance, with LA Israeli Folk Dance Leader Lior Haykeen, Saturday, June 23, 3:30-11:00 pm, MJCC – Havurah members Cindy Merrill and Mimi Epstein will join other Israeli folk dancers in Portland for a celebration through dance, music, food, and camaraderie. Dance sessions will be offered for families, tweens, teens, and adults. Israeli folk dance is a foundation of Israel’s history and culture, and folk dancers near and far – whether seasoned, new, or returning – can carry on this cultural tradition through the celebration, which includes instruction and open dancing, a scrumptious Israeli style buffet dinner, a fun dance party, schmoozing and more. Register online here. Dinner buffet reservations are required before June 16 so there is enough food for everyone! Find the flier here and the printable registration form here.
(11) Transparency and Inclusivity Committee – Transparency, inclusivity, and feeling connected are valued within the Havurah community and were major themes from the debrief of the Equity Class in Spring 2017. A committee was formed to address these issues. Help us: We are looking for additional voices and multiple perspectives to inform the work. For more information, to add your voice, or to join the committee, contact Judy Steinberger, jlasteinberger@gmail.com, or Fran Weick, weick2@yahoo.com.
(12) Shindig Pics & Praise – Check out these Shindig photos on Facebook. You don't have to have a Facebook account to see the photos. Just click on the link above and enjoy!
(13) Gesher Reflections in the June Hakol - Click here to read the latest installment of Rabbi Benjamin's, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner's, and Havurah's presidents' reflections on the Gesher process at Havurah.
(14) 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.
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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.
