Nov. 7 - Tot Shabbat, Dreamers, New Members Tea, Bereavement Group
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Focusing on the Most Important Things in the World: Standing for the Amidah (3) Brownbag Lunch with Rosalyn Kliot (4) Dreamers: Out of the Shadows Photo Exhibit & Reception (5) New & New-ish Members Tea & Salon (6) PHFS New Volunteer Orientation (7) Camp Havurah (8) Havurah Bereavement Group (9) Book Discussion Group (10) Death Cafe (11) The Jewish Project: Portrait of a Jew Through Ice Cream & Storytelling (12) Jewish Community Orchestra (13) Awakening the Divine Pardes Jewish Spirituality Retreat (14) Weekend In Quest
The above photo was taken by Sam Sirkin at last Saturday's Solidarity Shabbat.
(1) Upcoming Shabbat
Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, Nov. 9, 7:30 pm – This musical and uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat Service will be led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. No RSVP is required, and all are welcome.
Community Minyan, Saturday, Nov. 10, 10:00 am – Rabbi Benjamin, Barbara Slader, Sam Sirkin, Roger Brewer, Melissa Carpenter, and Lev Barnett will lead, read Torah, and discuss the Torah portion Toldot, or Generations. The portion encompasses the birth of Jacob and Esau and the struggles between the brothers that culminated in Jacob's fleeing his brother's wrath.
Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Nov. 10, 10:30-11:30 am– Young children (0-5) and their parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. We will touch on the main highlights of the Shabbat service: wonder, fun, song, listening to the world, dancing, and Torah. Afterward we will enjoy an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Please RSVP here.
(2) Focusing on the Most Important Things in the World: Standing for the Amidah, Wednesdays, Nov. 7, 14, 28 & Dec. 5, 12 & Jan. 2, 9, 7:00-8:30 pm – An in-depth, word-by-word study of the Amidah, a key prayer found in all services, exploring the themes embedded in the Amidah section as well as core questions of Jewish prayer and spirituality: What does it mean to be connected to our past? What is power? How do we decide what is most important? What are the relationships between humans, God, the rest of nature? How do we come to give thanks and feel abundance? Why pray, anyways? Being able to sound out Hebrew words (slowly) is needed for this class. Taught by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here.
(3) Brown Bag Lunch with Rosalyn Kliot, Thursday, Nov. 8, 12:00-1:00 pm, 724 OJMCHE, NW Davis St – Noted artist and author Rosalyn Kliot will share her story, from origins in Vilna (now Vilnius) and Lodz, to her life in Oregon today. Questions? Contact Ruth Feldman at ruthtenzerfeldman@gmail.com.
(4) Dreamers: Out of the Shadows Photo Exhibit and Reception, Sunday, Nov. 11, 1:00-3:00 pm, Eliot Chapel, First Unitarian Church, 1211 SW Main St, Portland – Join Havurah's Sanctuary Committee, the First Unitarian Church Immigrant Justice Action Group (IJAG), and Journey Koinonia Catholic Community for "Dreamers of Oregon: Out of the Shadows," sponsored by Bienestar Inc. The event includes a photo exhibit that features portraits of Dreamers, undocumented young adults who came with their families to the U.S. as children. By highlighting Dreamers’ aspirations, accomplishments, and humanity, the exhibit works to change the dominant narrative around immigration.Two Dreamers will share their stories and their dreams. Questions? Email Bob Brown at rebrown47@gmail.com.
(5) New & New-ish Members 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. (Above painting is by Havurah member Cassandra Sagan.)
(6) PHFS New Volunteer Orientations for the Family Winter Shelter, Lents or 13 Salmon, Thursday, Nov. 16, 5:30-6:30 pm, New PHFS Building, 6220 SE 92nd Ave – This orientation is at the new PHFS home, so you will learn about PHFS and the volunteer positions available and also be able to see their new building. The orientation has limited spaces. If interested, please RSVP as soon as possible to Havurah PHFS Coordinator, Gloria Halper, losninos6@gmail.com.
(7) Camp Havurah, Saturday, Nov. 17, 10:00-11:45 am, with Pizza Kiddush Lunch Following – Come to a fun, upbeat musical "Camp Havurah" Shabbat morning service, great for all generations of Havuraniks. Enjoy lots of great singing in Hebrew and English. Perfect for families with kids 4th grade and up, minyan “regulars," singles and empty nesters alike. Childcare is available for younger kids. A shortened Torah service will cap the morning’s prayer. Led by Havurah musicians and leaders: Susan Brenner, Sarah Shine, Beth Hamon, and Charles Green. Please RSVP here for the Kiddush lunch. Shabbat Shalom!
(8) Havurah Bereavement Group, Sundays, Nov. 18, Dec. 9 & 16, Jan. 6, 13 & 27, 10:00-11:30 am – Havurah will be offering a new bereavement support group this fall and winter so Havurahniks who have lost loved ones can come together to support each other with one another's grief. The Pastoral Care and Ma'avar committees have given thoughtful consideration to how the bereavement group should be run, and it was decided that it would be best to have an outside mental health provider. The committees have asked Dr. Louise Marasco to facilitate this group. The group will be limited to 15 people. It will be a closed group, meaning that after the group is underway, new group members won't be added, so people can create a sense of community and comfort with this process. Learn more about Dr. Marasco and the bereavement group and register here.
(9) Book Discussion of Saving the Jews: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Holocaust, by Robert N. Rosen, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 7:00 pm – Was FDR an indifferent, possibly anti-Semitic president who abandoned European Jews? Or was he a pragmatic leader who understood that winning WWII as swiftly as possible was key to saving the Jews? Saving the Jews is a rigorously researched narrative and interpretive history of how FDR dealt with the Nazi persecution of the Jews, 1933-1945. It disputes the accepted view that Roosevelt abandoned the European Jews, that America was a passive, callous bystander to the Holocaust. For example, Rosen describes how American and Palestinian Jews opposed bombing Auschwitz and never asked Roosevelt to bomb the camps. Rosen found no credible evidence that FDR was an anti-Semite. Still, the controversy about Roosevelt continues. The discussion will be led by Art Boussel. Questions? Email Marjorie Walters at marjoriewalters@gmail.com.
(10) Death Café at Havurah, Sunday, Dec. 2, 10:00am-12:00 pm – At a Death Café folks gather to converse about the ever so many aspects of dying and death, including but not limited to end-of-life paperwork, the multitude of feelings about caring for one who is ill/dying, what might a good death look like, grieving, celebrating and any/everything else this topic inspires for you. This is not a therapy or counseling group. Feel free to speak or just listen. Or both. Completely confidential. For those who are 21 and over. Refreshments will be available. Please join us. RSVP here. Questions? Email Buff Medb Neretin at aurorasilks@gmail.com. (Above photo is from Reuters.)
(11) The Jewish Project: Portrait of a Jew Through Ice Cream and Storytelling – Havurah member Jared Goodman weaves personal stories of being a Jew with Jewish history and culture, exploring themes of identity, secularism vs traditionalism, the writings of Isaac Bashevis Singer and Abraham Joshua Heschel, plus some klezmer music too. Pairing storytelling with handmade and inspired ice cream desserts, he aims to combat the spread of anti-Semitism and share Judaism and Jewishness with Oregonians. Find dates, locations, and costs of performances here. Questions? Email Jared Goodman at info@morgansttheater.com.
(12) Jewish Community Orchestra Concert, Sunday, Nov. 18, 3:00 pm, MJCC, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy – Join the Jewish Community Orchestra for their first concert of the season, featuring the world premiere of "Endgame," a commissioned work composed by David Avshalomov, son of Jacob Avshalomov, former director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic. The orchestra will also play Bizet's "Roma Suite" and Smetana's "Ma Vlast No 4 - Forests and Meadows." Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. Children under 6 are free. Tickets available at the door on the day of the concert. Learn more at jco@jewishcommunityorchestra.org.
(13) Awakening the Divine, Pardes Jewish Spirituality Retreat, Dec. 25-30, Capital Retreat Center, Pennsylvania – 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.
(14) Weekend in Quest 2019, March 1-3, Astoria, Oregon – Modern Jewish Writers Reinterpreting Tradition – A Shabbaton: Weekend of Study & Community with Scholar-in-Residence Professor Naomi Sokoloff with the University of Washington. She will present four lectures entitled: Hey, Izzy, Listen Up! New Takes on the Shema; The Blessings of Women Poets; 13 ways of Looking at the Kaddish; and Prayer Shawls: Making Space for Prayer in Poetry. Professor Sokoloff will share her deep knowledge of Jewish literature and liturgy. Weekend also includes Shabbat services led by Ilene Safyan. Learn more and register here. Questions? Email mimiepstein42@comcast.net .
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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.
