Nov. 14 - Camp Havurah, Bereavement Group, Special Dorot Shabbat
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Camp Havurah (2) PHFS New Volunteer Orientation (3) Bereavement Group Begins on Sunday (4) November Lev Tahor Chanting Canceled (5) Simchas & Welcome Team Thanks (6) Book Discussion on Nov. 27 Starts at 4:00 pm (7) "Chasing Portraits" for Jewish Book Month (8) Continuing to Stand with Our Immigrant Neighbors (9) IMIrJ Last Thursday Witness Vigil (10) Special Dorot Shabbat on Nov. 30 (11) Death Cafe (12) Increase the Light, Tikkun Olam Chanukah Fair & Celebration (13) Fair Trade Chanukah Gelt (14) The Jewish Project (15) Helping Dor Hadash in Pittsburgh (16) Helping Displaced People in California
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Camp Havurah, Saturday, Nov. 17, 10:00-11:45 am, with Pizza Kiddush Lunch Following, at Havurah Shalom – 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!
(2) PHFS New Volunteer Orientation 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.
(3) Havurah Bereavement Group, Sundays, Nov. 18, Dec. 9 & 16, Jan. 6, 13 & 27, 10:00-11:30 am – Havurah is offering a new bereavement support group that begins Nov. 18, 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 bereavement support 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, to create a sense of community and comfort with this process. Learn more and sign up here. Please register before Nov. 18!
(4) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting Canceled for Nov. 19– Please note that Lev Tahor Chanting, originally scheduled for Monday, Nov. 19, has been canceled. The next Lev Tahor Chanting will be on Monday, Dec. 17.
(5) Simchas & Welcome Team Thanks– We have three recent simchas at Havurah: the birth of Lulu Frances Fox to Emily Teplin Fox and Nathaniel Fox on Nov. 2; the birth of Isaac Benjamin Palmer to Rachel Palmer, Havurah's former office and facilities manager, and Andy Palmer on Oct. 12; and the marriage of Marah Danielson and Avi Tayar on Aug. 18. Mazel tov to these young families! And thank you to Stefanie Hausman and Havurah's new Welcome Team for hosting 45 new and prospective members at a tea and salon last Sunday. Thanks also to Welcome Team member Loree Devery, who has begun knitting booties and kippot for new babies at Havurah. (See the photo below.)
(6) Book Discussion of Saving the Jews: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Holocaust, by Robert N. Rosen, Tuesday, Nov. 27, NEW START TIME: 4:00 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.
(7) "Chasing Portraits," a film by Elizabeth Rynecki, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 7:00 pm, Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland – In conjunction with Jewish Book Month, OJMCHE presents "Chasing Portraits," which documents Elizabeth Rynecki's quest to find the lost paintings of her great-grandfather, which were disbursed across the world after he was killed in the Majdanek concentration camp during WWII. The movie captures the richness of one man’s art, the devastation of war, and one woman’s unexpected path to healing. Learn more and buy tickets here.
(8) Continuing to Stand with Our Immigrant Neighbors – Please make an official comment against the proposed rule changes to “public charge," a rule that makes immigrants choose between their family’s well-being and their immigration status. Comments can be sent through this link. Let’s make our voices heard! Any questions? Contact Bob Brown at rebrown47@gmail.com.
(9) IMIrJ Last Thursday Witness Vigil at the ICE building, 4310 Southwest Macadam Ave, Thursday, Nov. 29, 10:00-11:00 am– Please join Rabbi Benjamin and the Sanctuary Committee as we come together to explore the theme of Gratitude as Resistance. This vigil is a collaborative effort between Havurah Shalom, First Unitarian Portland, and Journey Koinonia. Come lift your voice in song and prayer for true thanks giving cannot be silent in the face of injustice. Questions? Please contact shari.raider@gmail.com.
Thank you, Sandy Ramirez, for this photo of Havurah Alter Rockers at last Thursday's "pizza and movie" night.
(10) Special Dorot Short & Sweet Shabbat Service, Friday, Nov. 30, 6:00 pm Service, 6:45 pm Vegetarian Potluck – This casual, family-friendly, and music-filled service begins with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, and continues with prayers and music led by Jacob Mandelsberg, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff, Larry Reichman, and Tanja Lux. The Hebrew word dorot means 'generations.' The Dorot service is designed with the idea that adults and children can experience Jewish spiritual practice together. This special Dorot service is being expanded to include the Alter Rockers, Havurahniks who are retired or contemplating retirement, who meet for social activities. Of course, all are welcome! After the potluck dinner, we'll play board games, cards and puzzles. Please bring a vegetarian dish to share with 5-7 others and your favorite board or card game that is appropriate for 6+ people. Learn more and RSVP here.
(11) 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.
Thank you to Rachel Oh for this photo of our Shabbat School second graders' recent visit to Rose Schnitzer Manor.
(12) Increase the Light, Tikkun Olam Fair & Chanukah Celebration, Saturday, Dec. 8, 4:30-7:00 pm – This year, in concert with our theme of Panim el Panim (face to face), we’ll celebrate Chanukah all together, focusing on the light our Tikkun Olam work groups are bringing into the world with Shabbat School families and Havurahniks of all ages. Join us any time between 3:00 and 7:00 pm to visit the Tikkun Olam displays in the social hall and learn how you can increase the light. (Shabbat School will be in session, as scheduled.) The celebration begins at 4:30 pm:
4:30-5:15 pm, Havdalah, Chanukiot lighting, skit, and singing
5:15-6:15 pm, Vegetarian potluck dinner
6:15-7:00 pm, Dreidels, games, and merriment
Please bring a vegetarian salad, latkes or dessert to share (reheat-able latkes are welcome, but we can’t fry in the Havurah kitchen.) Also, please bring socks, gloves, or handwarmers for people experiencing homelessness. RSVP here.
(13) Guilt-Free Chanukah Gelt– The first night of Chanukah is Sunday, Dec. 2. Order kosher guilt-free gelt here! Divine's Fair Trade gelt tastes great, and your purchase will support T'ruah, Rabbis for Human Rights.
(14) 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.
(15) Helping Dor Hadash in Pittsburgh – The Pittsburgh Reconstructionist community Dor Hadash was unable to recover many of its prayer books and chumashim following the recent shooting. Reconstructing Judaism is sending them copies of Kol Haneshamah: Prayerbook for Shabbat and the Festivals (Shabbat Vehagim) and Kol Haneshamah: Prayers for a House of Mourning (Tefilot Leveyt Ha’evel). Please consider donating to help rebuild their prayer resources. A gift of $36 will cover the cost and shipping of one copy of Shabbat and the Festivals. A gift of $18 will cover one copy of Prayers for a House of Mourning. If sufficient gifts come in, Reconstructing Judaism will help replace chumashim, too.
(16) Helping People Impacted by the Wildfires – The Los Angeles Jewish community is in dire need of help. Thousands of individuals and families have been evacuated and displaced by the wildfires. Three Jewish summer camps have burned to the ground and need to rebuild for summer 2019. The Ilan Ramon Jewish day School was destroyed. Families who have been evacuated do not have a place to go, and many have already lost their homes. All donations to help them will go directly through the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Please give what you can.
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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.
