Dec. 19 - White Nationalism + Antisemitism Workshop, Tu B'Shvat Coming
(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) White Nationalism + Antisemitism, Countering the Movement and Building Solidarity (3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (4) Have a Question About Havurah? The Transparency/Inclusivity Committee Welcomes Your Questions (5) Office Closure on Dec. 25 (6) Wednesday Minyan on Dec. 26 (7) Last Thursday Witness with IMIrJ (8) Community Minyan on Dec. 29 (9) Family Yizkor (Remembering Those We Loved) (10) Tu B'Shvat Happenings at Havurah (11) November Steering Committee Minutes (12) Weekend in Quest
This Shabbat we will explore the story of Jacob's passing and Joseph's death. In the above painting by Guercino (Wikimedia), Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. Once again breaking with the tradition of the times, a patriarch blesses the younger son before the older, despite Joseph's admonition.
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Bar Mitzvah of Etienne Timmons, Saturday, Dec. 22, 10:00 am – This Saturday, Etienne Timmons, son of Florence Deutsch and Robert Timmons, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with Etienne and his family, and welcome him as a member of our community. Mazel tov, Etienne!
(2) 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.
(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) Office Closure on Tuesday, Dec. 25– Havurah's office will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25, for the holiday.
(6) Morning Minyan, Wednesday, Dec. 26, 8:30 am – Our usual Wednesday Morning Minyan is scheduled for 8:30 am on Dec. 26.
(7) Last Thursday Witness - IMIrJ ICE Vigil, Thursday, Dec. 27, 10:00 am, Portland ICE Headquarters, 4310 SW Macadam Ave– We will gather in vigil as we express our support and love for families affected by ICE detentions. Join this monthly gathering to lift up the reality of what happens every day at the Portland ICE facility and participate in solidarity in various interfaith expressions and rituals. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is very limited.
(8) Community Minyan, Saturday, Dec. 29, 10:00 am– At our Community Minyan on Dec. 29, Chris Coughlin, Marty Brown, Roger Brewer, and Susan Brenner will help us daven and explore the parsha Shemot ("Names"), which covers a wide range of events. These include the Israelites’ enslavement in Egypt, Pharaoh’s order to kill the slaves' baby boys, the early years of Moses' life, his marriage to Tzipporah and his encounter with the burning bush, and his first demand that Pharaoh free the slaves. Several service-maker volunteer roles for the Dec. 29 minyan still need to be filled. Learn here how you can help, and sign up for a role!
(9) Family Yizkor (Remembering Those We Loved), Sunday, Jan. 13, 4:00-5:00 pm– Has your family lost a loved one, who you continue to remember with your child/ren? We will gather to remember, share, sing, and reflect on the lives and the loss of dear ones – in a way that gently includes children and their experience. Your family loss may have been very recent or years ago. We are focusing this experience on children ages 4-14, but older and younger are also welcome. Please RSVP with names and ages of children. We will ask you to bring 1-2 of these: a photo, an object that reminds you of the person you are remembering, something that your family wants to share about that person through words. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Rabbi Benjamin.
(10) Tu B'Shvat Happenings on Jan. 20, 21 & 24– Midwinter. The sap begins to rise in the trees. It's a time of reenergizing and awakening: Tu B’Shvat, the New Year of the Trees. With climate solutions significantly connected to the restoration of healthy forests, the Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) will host three events in honor of Tu B’Shvat. The first two include a presentation by John Talbert on the State of Our Forests and a Tu B'Shvat Seder (Jan. 20, 6:30-8:30 pm) and a Tu B'Shvat Tree Planting with Friends of Trees (Jan. 21, 8:45 am-12:00 pm). Please RSVP for the tree planting by Jan. 7. Learn more here about both events.
Tu B'Shvat Book Reading with Live Music, Thursday, Jan. 24, 7:00-8:30 pm, at Havurah– Havurah members Alicia Jo Rabins and Rebecca Clarren will read from their newly published books, Fruit Geode and Kickdown. Alicia's first collection of poems, Divinity School, won the APR/Honickman First Book Award; she is a poet, musician and Torah teacher, and will perform live music as part of the reading. Rebecca is an award-winning journalist with extensive experience reporting on environmental issues; Kickdown, her debut novel, was shortlisted for the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. In the spirit of Tu B’Shvat, the authors will read passages from their books related to the natural world.
(11) November Steering Committee Minutes– You can read the minutes and reports from our November Steering Committee Meeting on the Governance page of our website.
(12) Weekend in Quest, 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. Professor Sokoloff 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. She will share her deep knowledge of Jewish literature and liturgy. The weekend also includes Shabbat services led by Ilene Safyan. Learn more and register here. Questions? Email mimiepstein42@comcast.net.
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.
(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.
