(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Kabbalat Shabbat Service & Community Minyan (2) Community Meeting to Define Our Values & Vision to Make Havurah Safe & Welcoming (3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (4) Have a Question About Havurah? The Transparency/Inclusivity Committee Welcomes Your Questions (5) Tikkun Olam Global Sunday (6) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (7) White Nationalism + Antisemitism, Countering the Movement and Building Solidarity (8) Photos & Thanks to Our Tikkun Olam Fair & Chanukah Celebration Planners

Thank you to everyone who made our Tikkun Olam & Chanukah Celebration so successful. (See below.) The above photo was taken by Julia Lager-Mesulam.

(1) Upcoming Shabbat:

Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, Dec. 14, 7:30 pm – All are welcome at our joyful and musical Kabbalat Shabbat service on Dec. 14. No RSVPs are required. The service will be led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians.

Community Minyan, Saturday, Dec. 15, 10:00 am – Barbara Slader, Maia Gordon, Sam Sirkin, Emily Simon, Lee Gordon, Miriam Reshotko, Barbara Sevde, Eli Reshotko, and Michele Goldschmidt will lead, read and drash as we explore the Torah portion Vayigash, which means "and he drew near." Vayigash offers a striking example of Havurah's theme for the year, Panim el Panim, or "face to face." While asking for food during the famine, Joseph's brothers don't recognize that Pharaoh's overseer is their brother, Joseph. Joseph keeps his cover until Judah begs him to release Benjamin and let him take Benjamin's place, even if it means becoming a slave in Egypt. Joseph is moved to reveal his identity and comes face to face with the brothers who sold him into slavery many years ago.

(2) Defining Our Values & Vision to Make Havurah Safe & Welcoming, Thursday, Dec. 13, 7:00-9:00 pm – What makes us feel safe as individuals and what makes us feel safe as a community? How do we integrate our concerns about safety with our commitment to be a welcoming community? Join us for an opportunity to share our concerns and vision for how we can define our values and concerns as a community. RSVP here.

(3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions – Did you miss the Tikkun Olam Fair & Chanukah Celebration and miss signing up to receive information about the next Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) orientation? Here's another chance! Havurah has a once-a-month, regularly scheduled evening when we volunteer with PHFS. It is one of our ongoing, hands-on projects to help families who are experiencing homelessness. Parents (or guardians) are welcome to bring their child(ren) of any age. Interested? Contact Gloria Halper, PHFS Havurah coordinator, at losninos6@gmail.com.

(4) Have a Question About Havurah? The Transparency/Inclusivity Committee Welcomes Your Questions! – The Transparency/Inclusivity Committee welcomes your questions! We will find the answer 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 send your question to transparency@havurahshalom.org.

(5) Tikkun Olam Global, Sunday, Dec. 16, 3:30 pm – We are exploring the formation of a new Tikkun Olam work group focused on the challenges facing the developing world. As we work to “repair the world,” we want to extend our gaze outward, towards the entire global village. The problems facing the planet are interconnected; consider how climate change, wealth concentration, resource scarcity, poverty, disease and illiteracy all interact. Together we will deepen our understanding of these issues and take meaningful actions to improve the lives of people around the world. As we did when we formed our work groups around Sanctuary and refugees, we will first ascertain the interest level within Havurah and then establish the mission and purpose of the group. Questions or input? Contact David Newman at davnew2@earthlink.net or 503-804-5701.

(6) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, Dec. 17, 7:00 pm – We will gather to lift sacred phrases through melody, harmony, and rhythm in order to open our hearts, clarify our minds, and cultivate qualities such as gratefulness and compassion. Interspersed with periods of silent meditation, the chanting will be guided by teachings and intentions from Rabbi Benjamin. Each of these gatherings is open to anyone – no experience, musical ability, or commitment necessary. Lev Tahor Chanting is free for members. Non-members are asked to make a small donation.
 

(7) White Nationalism + Antisemitism, Countering the Movement and Building Solidarity, Thursday, Dec. 20, 7:00-9:00 pm – Over the past two years, there has been a marked rise in the presence of visible white nationalism in the United States. While white nationalism can take many forms, one thing remains consistent: Much of the ethos of the movement is rooted in antisemitism. Come learn about the relationship between antisemitism and white nationalism and how the Jewish community can join with other communities to counter this dangerous form of hate. This is an interactive workshop led by Natalie Lerner, Havurah member and Western States Center Defending Democracy Fellow, and it presupposes no prior knowledge. The event is sponsored by Havurah's Tikkun Olam Committee. Light refreshments will be served. RSVP here. Read more about Natalie and the workshop here on the Oregon Jewish Life​​​​​​​ website.

(8) Thank You to Our Chanukah Celebration Planners – Many Havurahniks and Havurah friends made our Tikkun Olam Fair & Chanukah Celebration possible last Saturday. Check out these photos taken by Julia Lager-Mesulam. If you helped and your name isn't listed here, we apologize and thank you, too: Patricia Schwartz, Elise Granek, Fran Berg, Adele Thompson, Marian Rhys, Phil Walters, Rabbi Benjamin, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Alicia Jo Rabins, Rachael Duke, Andy Waxman, Steve Birkel, Karen Westerman, John Devlin, Deb Kallen, Robbin Deweese, David Newman, Arleen Slive, Alan Westerman, John Schultz, Teri Ruch, Judy Kloper, Racheli Ross, Sandy Bacharach, Eden Isenstein, R.E. Szego, Mischa DuPont, Debbi Nadell, Merriah Fairchild, Sue Osborn, Mimi Epstein, Judy Probber, Emily Weltman, Dan Reid, Liza Springgate, Beth Yohalem-Ilsley, Sandy Ramirez, Abigail Webb, Jan Zuckerman, Elianne Lieberman, Kathy Gordon, Gloria Halper, Laura Orgel, Michael Heumann, Harriet Cooke, Isaac Lasky, Marian Lebwohl, Yshai Boussi, Julia Lager-Mesulam, Beth Shreve, Jacqueline Lerner, Adela Basayne, Max Symmes, and Jordan Devlin.
 

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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