(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Refugee Shabbat, Tot Shabbat, Rabbi Joey on Lech Lecha (2) Phone Banking Tomorrow (3) MACG Training (4) Transparency and Inclusivity Committee (5) Phone Banking on Oct. 23 (6) Book Discussion of In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance (7) Clearing Our Lost & Found (8) Discovering Shabbat Morning (9) New Member Tea & Salon (10) September Steering Minutes (11) Free Family Caregivers' Workshop (12) Simchat Torah Thanks & Photos (13) "Sheridan to NORCOR" Photos (14) Awakening to the Divine (15) PDXIsrael 2020

(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Refugee Shabbat, Saturday, Oct. 20, 10:00 am – During this time of unprecedented attempts to close America’s doors to those seeking freedom from violence and persecution, Havurah will join the American Jewish community in dedicating sacred time and space to refugees and asylum seekers as part of HIAS' National Refugee Shabbat. Maria Lisa Johnson, Liz Schwartz, Beth Hamon, Emily Simon, Sam Sirkin, Barbara Slader, and Laura Orgel will lead and read Torah. Chris Coughlin and Kate Haas, who have been very active in Havurah's refugee support work, will give the drash. You can read about the Torah portion, Lech Lecha, below.

Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Oct. 20, 10:30-11:30 am – Join us for singing, movement, blessings and storytelling as we celebrate Shabbat with a morning service designed for young children. We'll have an informal potluck nosh and a chance to play and schmooze afterwards. Please RSVP today!

Rabbi Joey on This Week's Torah Portion – Read Rabbi Joey’s commentary, “Rogue Elements,” about democracy and this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, here.

(2) Measure 105 Phone Banking, Thursday, Oct. 18, 5:30-8:30 pm, 1259 Lloyd Center (next to Marshall's on the outside of the mall) – We had a super turnout for phone banking against Measure 105 last week! We almost overwhelmed the lovely young people who trained us. Let's keep it up and represent Havurah and the Jewish community against this terrible ballot measure. Join your Havurah pals for phoning this Thursday. No need to RSVP. Just show up with your phone and, if possible, a laptop. You will feel so good after doing this! Questions? Contact nancyjbecker@gmail.com  or bbrown47@gmail.com . (The photo below was taken at last week's phone banking by Nancy Becker.)

​​​​​​​(3) In the Spirit of Panin el Panim: MACG Training, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2:00-7:00 pm, Havurah – Since Havurah is one of the 24 member institutions of the Metropolitan Alliance for Common Good (MACG), you have an opportunity to participate in the MACG Leadership Institute at no cost. The MACG model is based on building an organization's internal and external relationships to accomplish change. Strong leadership creates strong and effective institutions. The training will focus on tools and techniques for relationship building and organizing skills. We want a good turnout from Havurah members. Registration is required so adequate staff, volunteers, and food is provided. To RSVP, please contact the Leadership Institute or Bob Brown at rebrown47@.gmail.com.

(4) Phone Banking at Havurah, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:00-8:30 pm – Join us for a wonderful member-to-member opportunity: calling fellow Havurah members to "get out the vote" and discuss the four ballot measures that Havurah’s Steering Committee has taken positions on and which align with our Tikkun Olam work:
- Yes on 26-199 – Metro Regional Affordable Housing Bond Measure
- Yes on 26-201 – Portland Clean Energy Initiative
- Yes on Measure 102 – Statewide Affordable Housing Measure
- NO on Measure 105 – End Oregon’s Sanctuary Law

This is an important and fun opportunity for interested Havurah members to join together on one evening to reach out to other Havurah Members and encourage them to vote in this mid-term election. We will provide clear and brief information about each measure for callers to discuss with folks they call. We will not try to persuade anyone but to let them know that Havurah encourages folks to consider the positions mentioned above. We will provide pizza & snacks. Remember to bring your cell phone (and charger just in case). Please RSVP by Monday to either Michael Heumann at heumanncycle@gmail.com or Shari Raider at shari.raider@gmail.com. 

(5) Book Group Discussion of In the Place of Justice: A Story of Punishment and Deliverance by Wilbert Rideau, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 7:00 pm – In 1961, Rideau, a disillusioned African American 19-year-old high school dropout, attempted robbery, panicked, and killed a white bank teller. Rideau was sentenced to death by an all-white jury in a segregated town. Rideau remained incarcerated for 44 years, many of which he suffered on death row and in solitary. Gradually he worked his way onto The Angolite, the prison’s publication, and become editor. He earned the respect of the warden, prisoners, guards, as well as the broader journalism profession, with exposés of the politics and economics of the prison system. Life magazine declared him "the most rehabilitated prisoner in America." After scores of lost appeals, Rideau was finally freed in 2005. This book is a searing indictment of the American justice system. Discussion will be led by Maud Naroll.

(6) Transparency/Inclusivity Committee Welcomes Questions – The Transparency/Inclusivity Committee welcomes your questions about Havurah! We will find the answer to your question and publish the question (but not the questioner) and answer in an upcoming Hakol. It is our intention at Havurah that what you know and understand about our congregation should not be a function of who you know. So if you find yourself wondering about something related to Havurah, or if someone shares their question with you, we hope you will remember to send the question to transparency@havurahshalom.org. Questions? Email Judy Steinberger at jlasteinberger@gmail.com or Fran Weick at  weick2@yahoo.com. 
 

(7) Clearing Our Lost & Found – Have you lost something recently? The time to check Havurah's lost and found is NOW. We will be donating all unclaimed items to Goodwill on Thursday, Nov. 1. The lost and found container is in the coat room. We have a lot of clothing items, water bottles, a few books, and some toys and miscellaneous small items. Please come take a look. A growing number of coats have also been left hanging in the coat room. (Above image is from Medicine Media.)

Did You Find a Music Book & Binder After Simchat Torah? – Aaron Pearlman, who helped provide music for our Simchat Torah celebration, can't find the music he left at Havurah after the celebration: Complete Jewish Songbook, Definitive Collection and a black three-ring binder with sheet music in the inside flaps. He has searched the entire Havurah building twice. If you accidentally picked up this music, please email Aaron at aaron@pearlmanoffice.com.

(8) Discovering Shabbat Morning, Saturday, Oct. 27, 10:00-11:30 am – Join this upbeat workshop/minyan where we will walk through the Shabbat morning service and learn about the general structure of the service, the key themes and prayers, and some of the choreography. We will practice some prayers together and answer questions. This service is especially for families with youth in grades 5 and up who are in the b’nai mitzvah process, all adults who are curious or perplexed, and anybody else. Childcare is available every Saturday morning for children 0-9. Light lunch provided afterwards. Please RSVP here.

(9) New & New-ish Member Tea & Salon, Sunday, Nov. 11, 3:00-5:00 pm – In the spirit of Panim el Panim, or “Encountering One Another,” the Havurah Welcome Team would like to invite new Havurah members, those new-ish to Havurah, and those who may be interested in joining Havurah to an afternoon of storytelling, noshing, schmoozing, and learning more about our community from Havurah members and leaders in an informal setting. Families are welcome, and childcare will be provided. Please RSVP here. Questions? Email  stefhausman@gmail.com.

(10) September Steering Committee Minutes & Reports – You can read the September Steering Committee Minutes & Reports here on our website. Just scroll down the page to the Steering Committee Minutes section.

(11) Free Family Caregivers Workshop, Monday, Oct. 22, 7:00 pm, Cedar Sinai Park, 6140 SW Boundary – Caring for a loved one can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly challenging. Learn more about this free workshop for family caregivers here.

(12) Simchat Torah Photos & Thanks – Thank you to all who made our Simchat Torah celebration so joyful. You'll find thank you's and photos here.

(13) Sheridan to NORCOR Photos – Rabbi Benjamin and Havurahniks joined many others for the All Day in Portland part of the seven-day pilgrimage "Sheridan to NORCOR: Unshackle Oregon." You can see photos here.

(14) Awakening the Divine, Pardes Jewish Spirituality Retreat, Dec. 25-30 – Rabbi Benjamin will co-lead this five-day retreat on the East Coast in December, alongside other skilled teachers of contemplative Jewish practice. Rabbi James Jacobson-Maisels, the retreat’s lead teacher, is one of the foremost teachers of meditation in the Jewish world today. This is Rabbi Benjamin’s fourth year teaching at this retreat, and he would be happy to answer any questions for those who are interested. You can learn more on this flier.

(15) PDXIsrael2020 Early Bird Deadline – The early bird deadline for PDXIsrael2020 is only weeks away! Nearly 100 community members have already signed up. RSVP here to participate in an online information session about the trip.
 

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.

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

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