July 11 - Shabbats in the Park, Tisha B'Av, Music for High Holidays
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Rabbinical Reports from San Diego (3) An Evening of Learning & Taking Action (4) Tisha B'Av Ritual: A Lament for Tragedy & Suffering (5) Book Discussion: A Tale of Love and Darkness (6) Moshav at the MJCC (7) Getting Ready for High Holidays – Music Group Gatherings (8) The Conversation Project (9) Do You Enjoy Solving Puzzles? (10) Trip to Israel in 2020 (11) Bon Voyage (12) Helping Our Neighbors Who Have No Home (13) Dorot Shabbat in the Park (14) Minutes & Reports from the June Steering Committee Meeting
(1) Shabbat in the Park, Friday, July 13, 6:00-8:00 pm, Wallace Park, NW 25th & Raleigh – Enjoy a summertime Shabbat in the Park. We’ll gather at 6:00 by the picnic tables and sing the Kiddush and Motzi blessings at 6:30 before eating a potluck supper. Our musical Kabbalat Shabbat service begins at 7:30. Be environmentally friendly by bringing your own plates and utensils. However, we’ll have backup disposable supplies available. All ages are welcome. We need a few volunteers to help with clean up after the service is over. Please pitch in! RSVPs are welcome to help with planning but aren’t required. Shabbat Shalom from the Spiritual Life Committee!
Community Minyan, Saturday, July 14, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm – With leading, leyning and drashing by Rabbi Benjamin, Maria Lisa Johnson, Lev Barnett, Harriet Cooke, Roger Brewer, Marty Brown, and Sam Sirkin, we will daven and explore Matot-Masei. In Matot, we learn laws regarding oaths, and the Israelites battle the Midianites. In Masei, Moses learns where each tribe will live, the laws of murder are clarified, and the daughters of Zelophehad receive their inheritance. We will have a Kiddush lunch following the service, but we need food contributions! Could you drop off some lettuce, hummus, cream cheese, or crackers in the kitchen as you arrive? Save your receipts to be reimbursed later.
(2) Reports from San Diego – On July 2 in San Diego, Rabbis with T’ruah: The Rabbinical Call for Human Rights joined other faith leaders and Mijente, a national Latinx organization, to protest administration policies on immigration. From Rabbi Joey: “I was one of twenty-five T’ruah rabbis who showed up in San Diego to protest the cruel immigration policies of the Trump Administration. What brought us together with other faith groups and people across the age spectrum?” Read more here. From Rabbi Lekach-Rosenberg, daughter of Ilene Safyan and Mark Rosenberg, on this week's Torah portion, Matot-Masei: “Standing on a dusty street in Tijuana last week, I spoke with a young man, who addressed me in unaccented English. “Are you coming from San Diego?” he asked, “I just got deported two days ago from San Diego. I don’t have any family here. I have no idea where to go.” Read more here.
(3) An Evening of Learning & Taking Action, Tuesday, July 17, 7:00-8:30 pm – Join us for a fun, informative, and community comment writing event. Members of Stop Fracked Gas PDX will open with a short play, “Folly of Frack,” an informative romp, followed by a community writing workshop. Doors open at 6:30 pm for information table viewing. Youth ages 10 and up are encouraged to attend. Comments are needed to stop Oregon's worst climate-busting proposal, the Canadian company Pembina’s proposed Jordan Cove fracked-gas export terminal & Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. The 229-mile pipeline and export terminal would impact 485 rivers, streams, and water bodies. We need your voice let our agencies know how you would be impacted by the pollution and degradation of our rivers and streams. Please add your voice! For more information, please contact Elianne Lieberman, elianne97202@yahoo.com, Jan Zuckerman, ses_janz@yahoo.com, or Michael Heumann, heumanncycle@gmail.com.
(4) Tisha B’Av Ritual: A Lament for Tragedy and Suffering, Sunday, July 22, 10:00-11:30 am, Location TBD – As tradition tells it, on the ninth day of Av the Jewish People suffered the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, as well as several other catastrophes. Jews gather each year to commemorate those tragedies, chanting the book of Lamentations to a haunting yet beautiful melody. In response to tragedies in today’s world, as we gather this year we will also acknowledge suffering that individuals and families across the globe are enduring right now. Through reflection, prayer, and ritual, we will open our hearts to these destructions, and turn ourselves toward working for healing and security for all beings.
(5) Book Group Discussion of A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz, Tuesday, July 31, 7:00-8:30 pm – This is a powerful saga of a man, a family, and a nation forged in the crucible of a difficult, painful history. The tale is epic in scope, set mostly during the author's childhood in Jerusalem of the 1940s and '50s, while also following his ancestors back to 19th-century Ukraine, and describing the anti-Semitism and Zionist passions that drove them to Palestine in the early 1930s, where they settled in a rough, dusty, lower-middle-class suburb of Jerusalem. Oz's parents found mainly disappointment there: his father, a scholar, failed to attain the academic distinction and Oz's beautiful, tender mother, after a long depression, committed suicide when Oz was 12. This memoir brims over with riches: metaphors and poetry, drama and comedy, failure and success, unhappy marriages and a wealth of idiosyncratic characters, all painted lovingly and with humor. Questions? Contact Marjorie Walters at marjoriewalters@gmail.com .
(6) MJCC Summer Concert by Moshav, Thursday, July 26, 7:00 pm – Internationally acclaimed American-Israeli rock group Moshav began when childhood friends Yehuda and Duvid made music together on Moshav Mevo Modlin, a cooperative community of farmers in Israel. As a sponsor of the MJCC Summer Concert Series, Havurah Shalom has been offered four tickets for each concert. If you’re interested in the July 26 concert, please email teri@havurahshalom.org. Cost: $10. Kids 3 and under free. Learn more here.
(7) Getting Ready for High Holidays, Aug. 2, 16, 23, 30; Sept. 6, 7:00 pm (Daytime options TBD) – It may be summer, but the focus is now on High Holidays. Erev Rosh Hashanah begins on Sept. 9. Consider being a part of this year’s music! Typically, a group of singers and instrumentalists participate during Erev Rosh Hashanah and N’eilah, with more limited participation on Kol Nidre. There may be additional opportunities this year … TBD. We begin by exploring the music and themes of the holiday, so we can talk about which songs might be most meaningful to share. If you love to sing and plan to be with us over the holidays, please be in touch. If you can’t make all rehearsals or have concerns about the schedule, let me know. I'm sure we can figure something out. All ages welcome! There's nothing better than singing in the summertime. Ilene Safyan, Ilene.Safyan@HavurahShalom.org
(8) The Conversation Project – The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes and their loved ones’ wishes for end-of-life care. Last year the Ma’avar Committee led workshops at Havurah, guided by materials created by The Conversation Project. We plan to offer workshops again this fall, from 10:00 am to noon on Oct. 21 and Nov. 4. If you are interested in learning more, please check out theconversationproject.org, and contact Teri in the Havurah office if you want to sign up. Recently The Conversation Project created a special resource to help families of people with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia, who want guidance about "having the conversation." We appreciate the extra challenge of having these conversations and would like to offer a separate session for those who are interested. For more information, please contact Sidney Gold at sidney.gold@gmail.com or 503-452-4430.
(9) Are You Someone Who is Curious & Enjoys Solving Puzzles? – The Gesher team is looking for a few people to join them in helping members with great ideas discover paths to create activities that enrich our community. What is Gesher? Guided by Havurah’s long range plan and a volunteer consultant, the Steering Committee created clusters to “house” committees and enhance coordination among them. They established a model for planning called Gesher (bridge), which emphasizes shared leadership, places responsibility for and ownership of programming at the committee level, and emphasizes collaboration and communication among Steering, staff, and all clusters and committees. The current Gesher team is Shelley Sobel, Chris Coughlin, and Julia Lager-Mesulam. The Gesher team will only be needed until the Gesher model becomes the way we do things at Havurah. If you’re interested in helping, please email lagermes@gmail.com.
(10) Trip to Israel in 2020 – The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is turning 100 in 2020 and celebrating with a deluxe trip to Israel for the Greater Portland community. PDX→Israel 2020 promises to be the trip of the century. First timers and veteran Israel visitors alike will enjoy it, as can the young and young at heart. Track options to delve deeper into particular geographic and topical areas of interest will be available. The trip takes place March 18-29, 2020 and registration has begun. Please contact Bill Kwitman at billkwitman@gmail.com if you have questions.
(11) Bon Voyage – This week Havurah bid farewell to longtime member Gaby Saunders, who moved to Denmark with her husband, Drew. Gaby joined Havurah just after 9/11. As a single working parent then, she volunteered by producing Hakol from home. Later she chaired the B’nai Mitzvah Committee. Some of her favorite memories came from teaching Shabbat School. Initially she found it “terrifying to teach,” but she enjoyed the freedom and creativity. When she taught Exodus, she had the kids make bricks from straw in the courtyard, and she helped students learn about trust by having them give each other blind taste tests (trusting that they wouldn't be given something nasty tasting). Most recently Gaby joined Patricia Schwartz to co-lead holiday celebration planning. This spring, she linked households together for home-based seders. We are grateful for all of Gaby's contributions over the years and wish her the best in her next life adventure! Above is a photo of Gaby and Drew at our Havdalah picnic last August.
(12) Helping Our Neighbors Who Have No Home – As we know, poverty and lack of housing is evident all around us, and folks with nowhere else to rest sometimes spend time on Havurah grounds. While it is a value of Havurah to be welcoming, we want to be sure we provide useful, accurate information to our homeless neighbors, and we also want to consider any safety issues that might impact our staff and members. Knowing that we are a talented and skilled community, we are asking if you know of resources that offer immediate suggestions for where folks can go for basic needs such as food and shelter, or if you have experience in de-escalation training that could be offered to our staff and interested members. Please contact our office if you have suggestions. Thank you!
(13) Dorot Shabbat in the Park, Friday, Aug. 3, 5:30-7:00 pm – Please join Dorot musicians Tanja Lux, Gabe Adoff, Jacob Mandelsberg & Larry Reichman as we bring our family-friendly, musical Dorot service from the sanctuary to the beautiful grounds of Laurelhurst Park. We have Picnic Area "F" reserved and will meet up at 5:30 pm. Please bring a veggie dish to share and your blankets to spread as we welcome Shabbat in true summer style. Kiddos and parents are welcome to bring a music-making instrument and/or spirit! For questions, contact karen_pomerantz@yahoo.com. RSVP here.
(14) June Steering Committee Meeting – Click here to read the minutes and reports from our June Steering Committee Meeting.
Please use this form to submit stories for this weekly community email. Submissions are due by noon on Tuesday each week.
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.
