(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Preparing for High Holidays with Music (3) Selichot Service (4) Returning Again: Spiritual Preparation for the Days of Awe (5) 20th Anniversary of Bien Estar at the Ortiz Community Center (6) Book Group Discussion of Shtetl by Eva Hoffman (7) Havurah Takes a Stand Against Racial Profiling (8) High Holidays Tzedakah Project (9) The Poetry of the Soul (10) Kabbalat Shabbat Planning Leaders Needed (11) July Steering Committee Minutes & Reports (12) Reconstructing Judaism Learning Opportunities (13) Searching for a New Reconstructing Judaism Plenum Representative (14) Want to Work on Programming for Families with Young Children? 

(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Bar Mitzvah of Ravi Jake Eisner, Aug. 25, 10:00 am – This Saturday Ravi Jake Eisner, son of Cheryl Schultz and Leo Eisner, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Ravi and his family and welcome him as a member of our community. 

(2) Preparing for High Holidays with Music, Thursdays, Aug. 23 and 30, Sept. 6, 7:00 pm – Consider being a part of this year’s High Holidays music. A group of singers and instrumentalists will participate during Erev Rosh Hashanah and N’eilah, with more limited participation on Kol Nidre. 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 Ilene Safyan know. All ages welcome! 

(3) Selichot Service, Saturday, Sept. 1, 8:00-9:30 pm, Havurah – Traditionally, Jews gather on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah to initiate the process of Selichot, “Forgiveness,” in preparation for the Ten Days of Teshuvah (“Returning/Repentance”). We will use some traditional Selichot prayers, as well as contemplative music and prayer, in order to access forgiveness and compassion as we move further into this sacred time. RSVPs welcome but not required.

(4) Returning Again: Spiritual Preparation for the Days of Awe, Wednesdays, Sept. 5 & 12, 7:00-8:30 pm – During the month preceding the High Holidays, our tradition instructs us to look closely at our lives. We devote ourselves to teshuvah, literally “returning”— to the path of our most wholesome selves and sincerest intentions. In these sessions, we will come together in support of this sacred work. Through close readings of texts on teshuvah, as well as contemplation and deep listening — to one another and to our own hearts and minds — we will aim to nurture the seeds of teshuvah within and amidst us. Taught by Rabbi Benjamin. RSVP here.

(5) 20th Anniversary of Bien Estar at the Ortiz Community Center, Friday, Aug. 24, 2:30-6:00 pm, Ortiz Community Center, 6736 NE Killingsworth – Our volunteer work at the Ortiz Community Center has been the cornerstone of the community engagement branch of our Sanctuary Committee. Join us for this celebration. All are welcome. There are volunteer opportunities as well throughout the day. Contact Gloria Halper, losninos6@gmail.com, to sign up for a spot. Free food, music, games for children, and much more. Comida, música, juegos para los niños, y mucho más, todo gratis. **Please see flyer. Questions? Email Gloria Halper at losninos6@gmail.com. Please RSVP to Gloria if you're interested in volunteering that day.
 

(6) Book Group Discussion of Shtetl by Eva Hoffman, Tuesday, Aug. 28, 7:00-8:30 pm – This book explodes the common image of the shtetl, a lá Fiddler on the Roof, into something much more interesting and compelling. It traces the history of Jews in Poland over many centuries, the emergence of the shtetl and its characteristics, and the changes in the relations between Jewish and non-Jewish Poles from the 18th and 19th centuries and through the Shoah. The author does not ignore the continuing struggle over anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. A mid-90s Frontline account of a young man who discovered in a cemetery in Bransk (a shtetl south of Bialystok) grave markers used as paving stones, who then reconstructed the cemetery in his cornfield, led Hoffman to employ a specific focus on Bransk in her review of this history. Discussion will be led by Marjorie Walters.

(7) Havurah Takes a Stand Against Racial Profiling – Measure 105 on the November ballot would throw out Oregon’s Sanctuary law, which passed more than 30 years ago with overwhelming bipartisan support. The law provides clear guidance to local police on how to handle immigration issues. It was introduced to combat racial profiling while keeping the local police focused on protecting communities. If Measure 105 passes, Oregon will be left without this guidance and these important protections. Havurah Shalom has made a formal decision to oppose Measure 105, and Rabbi Benjamin is an endorser of the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) voters pamphlet argument in opposition. (Look for it when you get your voters pamphlet.) Havurah Shalom is an endorser of the Oregonians United Against Profiling Campaign. Learn more here.

(8) High Holidays Tzedakah Project – High Holidays tzedakah project items can be brought to the Tiffany Center on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. We will have containers at Havurah for the second day of Rosh Hashanah. In our endeavor to support the homeless in Portland, we volunteer with Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS). PHFS’s recent purchase of a building will expand its ability to help more parents, guardians, and their children. From serving eight families at the '13 Salmon' and Goose Hollow shelters, PHFS will soon be serving 26 families in just one location in the Lents neighborhood. Our High Holidays tzedakah project this year is to help supply PHFS with needed items for this transition. Please note that all items on this list must be new. Questions? Email losninos6@gmail.com or john.t.devlin@gmail.com. Thank you!

(9) The Poetry of the Soul, Thursdays beginning Sept. 20, 12:00-1:30 pm – We will read the Psalms closely, one by one. How they lend voice to our oscillating emotions, engagement with a sublime Other, and a longing for refuge will help us honor our own truths. We will use English translations and commentaries and refer to the Hebrew. Taught by Rabbi Joey. RSVP here.

(10) Kabbalat Shabbat Planning Leaders Needed – Our monthly Kabbalat Shabbat dinners followed by a short service have become quite popular. For the past several years a committee of three has been responsible for the logistics of these evenings. We are looking for a few more people to join us. Currently we need 2-3 people willing to take on tasks during the evening with a minimal amount of outside prep time. Meetings are not required! Want more info? Please contact Gloria Halper.

(12) Reconstructing Judaism Learning Opportunities – Read about educational opportunities offered through Reconstructing Judaism here. Learn about Reconstructing Judaism's Evolve, Groundbreaking Jewish Conversations, here.

(13) Searching for a New Reconstructing Judaism Plenum Representative – Havurah is affiliated with Reconstructing Judaism, a diverse organization of Reconstructionist congregations, seminary, rabbis and educators. Policy decisions are discussed at semi-annual plenum meetings. Havurah is one of the largest affiliate congregations, and Andy Gordon has been our Plenum Representative, whose primary function is to speak for Havurah at plenum meetings and report back to us. A successful representative must know Havurah’s current issues and communicate with the Associate Director of Affiliate Support, Rabbi Maurice Harris. This is a fun opportunity to see how the movement works, meet people from around the country, and learn from other Reconstructionists. We need a new representative to replace Andy as he has moved to Seattle. Andy will be available for consultation during the transition and beyond. For more information, call 503-313-6544.

(14) Want to Work on Programming for Families with Young Children? – What brought you to Havurah? Tot Shabbat? Shabbat in the Pool? These programs introduced many of us to this great community. We are developing a committee to create, promote and implement our Families with Young Children Programming, and we need your support so we can offer this programming for the next generation. We want members of all ages, with children 0-5, older children, or no children at all. Opportunities include being an onsite presence for events and a general schmoozer and connector to all things Havurah, helping with Tot Shabbat, promoting family-focused events, logistics, etc. Rabbi Benjamin and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Education Director, are scheduled to lead Tot Shabbats and are happy to include others if they're interested in leading this fun and lively service. Interested? Reach out to Julia Lager-Mesulam at lagermes@gmail.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.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662