Sept 20 - Celebrating Sukkot & Simchat Torah, Encountering the Other
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) CHANGE OF START DATE: 'The Poetry of the Soul' Starts Sept. 27 - Not Today (3) Calling on Some Happy Hands! Sukkah Decorating Tomorrow and Sunday Morning (4) Folk Singing in the Sukkah (5) Office Closures Sept. 24 and 25 (6) Early Start - 8:15 am - for Wednesday Morning Minyan on Sept. 26 (7) Book Discussion of Union Square (8) Alter Rockers Happy Hour in the Sukkah (9) Shemini Atzeret (10) Simchat Torah (11) Encountering the Other: The Teaching of Martin Buber (12) Photos from Last Sunday's Tashlich (13) Two Trips to Israel (14) Hurricane Relief (15) Workshops on Having the Conversation: What Quality Means at the End of Life (16) Rafiki Village Project Benefit (17) Early Deadline for Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 Community Emails
(1) Upcoming Shabbat, Community Minyan, Saturday, Sept. 22, 10:00 am– At our Community Minyan this Saturday, Maria Lisa Johnson, Roger Brewer, Emily Simon, Marty Brown, and Sarah Wetherson will lead, read Torah, and drash about this week’s Torah portion, Ha’Azinu, which means “listen.” In this portion, the people of Israel listen to Moses’ last speech, a song of sorts, in which he recounts their many struggles and the challenges that lie ahead.Please note that last week's community email inadvertently announced a Text & Torah session this Saturday, but we will have a Community Minyan on Sept. 22.
(2) CHANGE OF START DATE: The Poetry of the Soul begins on Thursday, Sept. 27, 12:00-1:15 pm, instead of today, as originally planned – In this class, 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.
(3) Calling on Some Happy Hands! Sukkah Decorating All Day Friday, Sept. 21, and Sunday Morning, Sept. 23– Two Havurah members have been working hard for many days to build Havurah's sukkah in our courtyard. Thank you, Daniel Raider and Michael Alter! Now is the fun part! We just need to add Havurah's light-weight bamboo mesh (new this year) to the roof, hang strands of lights along the edges of the roof, and add Havurah's colorful fabrics, banners, and greenery to the walls. Please add your own decorations, too! Come by any time tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 21, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or Sunday morning until 1:00 pm. Decorating the sukkah is a great activity for families and groups of friends. Above is a photo taken by Gretta Siegel of a beautiful decoration added to last year's sukkah.
(4) Folk Singing in the Sukkah, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2:30-4:30 pm – Bring your voices, your instruments, and your spirit. We will have some copies of “Rise Up Singing” to guide us. RSVPs are helpful but not required. Questions? Contact Susan Rosenthall at sarosenthall@msn.com or Judy Heumann at mjheumann@gmail.com. The above photo was taken by Michael Heumann at last year's folk singing in the sukkah.
(5) Office Closures for Sukkot Next Monday & Tuesday – Havurah's office will be closed on Sept. 24 and 25 for Sukkot.
(6) Early Start for Wednesday Morning Minyan, Sept. 26, 8:15 am– Please note that the morning minyan on Sept. 26 will begin early, at 8:15 am, to provide time for extra prayers said during Sukkot.
(7) Book Group Discussion: Union Square by Meredith Tax, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 7:00 pm – Union Square paints a complex, believable picture of the life of socialist workers and confirmed Marxists within a Russian-born immigrant family in Manhattan during the tumultuous years between World War I and World War II. This book brims over with the passions and struggles of five indomitable women. Read more here.
(8) Alter Rockers Get-Together in the Sukkah, Wednesday, Sept. 26, 4:00-7:00 pm – Come any time between 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Bring a nosh and whatever you are drinking, and spend some time shmoozing with friends, old and new. Please RSVP to sarah.r.rosenberg@gmail.com so we have an idea about setting up.
(9) Shemini Atzeret Service, with Yizkor, Monday, Oct. 1, 8:00-9:30 am – Our Shemini Atzeret service begins at 8:00 am on Monday, Oct. 1. Please note that this will be our weekday service for the week, and we will not have a Wednesday morning minyan on Oct. 3. You can learn about Shemini Atzeret here.
(10) Simchat Torah Celebration, Monday, Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30 pm – Join us for a family-friendly, joyous evening! We'll have potluck desserts from 6:30-6:50 pm, followed by music, dancing, and celebrating Torah. Please bring fruit or sweets to share that don'trequire plates and flatware. Gluten-free and dairy-free options are welcome. We'll have an adult drinks table, too, so bring the beverage of your choice to share. RSVP here!
(11) Encountering the Other: The Teaching of Martin Buber, Wednesdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 7:00-8:30 pm – Martin Buber taught that “all actual life is encounter.” He insisted on our relating to the other as subject rather than object. During these sessions, half in the fall and half in the spring, we will engage with some of the wisdom of this 20th century Jewish theologian and teacher, aiming to shed light on our lives and the world today through considering his teachings, and exploring together the vision of community and society which they inspire. Taught by Rabbi Benjamin. Free for members, $10/class for non-members. RSVP here.
Rabbi Benjamin spoke about encountering the other in his Erev Rosh Hashanah drash. You can read it here: Panim el Panim: In Kinship with One Another. We hope to add more drashot from this year's High Holidays services soon. If you gave a drash during High Holidays, please consider sharing your words with those who may have missed them. Send them to teri@havurahshalom.org. This year's and previous years' drashot can be found here on our High Holidays web page.
(12) Photos & Thanks For Tashlich Last Sunday – More than 100 people gathered at Willamette Park last Sunday for a potluck lunch, Tashlich service, and Tikkun Olam fair. This was the first time Havurah hosted Tashlich the Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Check out these photos from the day and a thank you to all who made it possible.
(13) Two Opportunities to Travel to Israel – If you’re interested in the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s 2020 trip to Israel, you can learn more at an evening meeting in SW Portland on Thursday, Oct. 4, or a meeting in NW Portland on Monday, Oct. 29. Email pdxisrael2020@jewishportland.org to RSVP and for address/directions. Please contact Havurah's Bill Kwitman (wkwitman@gmail.com) if you have questions. Also, Reconstructionist congregation Beth Sholom of Salem, Oregon, invites Havurah members to join them for a Community Hike on the Israel National Trail, March 22-30, 2019, which they're organizing through Israel Experts. The 8-day tour of the Israel National Trail will include 5-7 miles of walking each day, with a 10-mile amble on the last day. Accommodations will be made in hotels with an option to camp out two of the evenings. Click here for details or contact Bob Choderker at bobthefish50@aol.com or 503-480-9650.
(14) Hurricane Florence Support– Please consider supporting the victims of Hurricane Florence. Donations can be made through the Jewish Federations of North America or the Red Cross.
(15) Having the Conversation: What Quality Means at the End of Life, Sundays, Oct. 21 and Nov 4, 10:00 am-12:00 pm– Previous year's Having the Conversation workshops have been so well attended and appreciated that Havurah's Ma'avar (Transitions) Committee is offering them again this fall. Using materials provided by The Conversation Project, trained Ma'avar workshop leaders will help people plan for conversations with their loved ones about what quality means for them at the end of life. Please RSVP here by Oct. 9 if you're interested. You can learn more about The Conversation Project at theconversationproject.org.
(16) Benefit Concert for the Rafiki Village Project, Sunday, Sept. 23– You are invited to a fun-packed evening benefiting the work of the Rafiki Village Project. Learn more here.
(17) Early Deadlines for Upcoming Community Emails – Because Teri Ruch, who composes our weekly community emails, will be out of town from Sept. 30 through Oct. 10, please submit your posts for the Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 community emails by Friday, Sept. 28. Thank you for your understanding.
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.
[B'nei Mitzvah Run Through] Friday, Aug 15th 12:00p to 2:00p (This is a closed event and is included in our calendar for space reservation reasons and attendee reference.)
Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Natasha Raish Shabbat, Aug 16th 10:00a to 12:00p Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Natasha Raish as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.
(IP) Elul Gallery Art Drop-Off Sunday, Aug 17th 12:00p to 3:00p As part of our annual holiday cycle, Havurah members are invited to share our own reflections on the themes and stories of the High Holiday season. In addition to prose or poetry that may be shared on the bima at High Holiday services, we are putting out a call for artistic expressions in any visual medium, including paintings, drawings and photography. We welcome your reflections on any aspect of the High Holidays experience, whether they arise from our tradition’s core concepts of teshuvah (return) or seliḥah (forgiveness), or from any other aspect of your own process of looking inward during the time leading into the holiday season. The Elul and High Holiday Gallery is a project of the High Holidays Committee and the Design Committee, led by Joan Peck and Marcia Suttenberg.
(ZM) Climate Change Book Group Slow Reading of "Not Too Late" Monday, Aug 18th 5:30p to 6:30p All are welcome! Havurah members and non-members alike are invited to join us in this slow, section-by-section reading of "Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility." Click and RSVP. Attend any or all of these HCAT (Havurah's Climate Action Team) Book Group discussions about "Not Too Late."
(ZM) Healing the Heart, Soothing the Soul: A Grief Process Support Group Tuesday, Aug 19th 5:30p to 7:00p **Note: Registration for this group is now closed.** During the month of Elul, we are guided to examine our souls, explore our relationships, reflect on our actions with God and others, and prepare ourselves spiritually to begin a new year. With the Spirit of Elul, we will journey into exploring the aspects of grief. For Havurah members only. Limited to 8 people. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions.
(IP) Israeli Dancing Wednesday, Aug 20th 7:30p to 8:30p Join us to learn Israeli dancing! We’ll teach the steps and tell the stories behind Israeli dances while you enjoy the catchy rhythms, creative body movements, and spending time with friends.
Led by Havurah members Cindy Merrill and Gail Schwartz with dance instructor Rhona Feldman.
Hakol Deadline is Thursday, August 21 Thursday, Aug 21st (All day) Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol.
(HYB) Solidarity Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Aug 22nd 5:45p to 8:00p Join Havurah members and friends for a Solidarity Shabbat service and potluck nosh. This is a spiritual space for community members working in solidarity with Palestinians - and for the liberation of all peoples - to come together to pray, build connections, and renew ourselves on Shabbat to continue our justice work. Please review Havurah's Brit Kavod for our community guidelines. Masks strongly encouraged and provided.
