(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Reconstructing Judaism President Rabbi Deborah Waxman Speaks at Havurah Tonight (3) Video of Reconstructing Judaism Conference (4) Tikkun Olam Global Meeting (5) PHFS Volunteer Orientations (6) The Poetry of the Soul (7) RESCHEDULED: Tu B'Shvat Book Reading (8) Dorot Shabbat (9) Tot Shabbat (10) Making Family Space for Tikkun Olam (11) Last Thursday Witness IMIrJ Vigil (12) Discovering Shabbat Morning (13) Annual Community Havdalah Service & Social (14) Beginning the B'nai Mitzvah Journey (15) Eye-opening & Unexpected Stories from Jewish History (16) Kabbalat Shabbat (17) Have a Question About Havurah? (18) Talking Points about Sanctuary
Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., President of Reconstructing Judaism, will speak at Havurah tonight. Read more below.
(1) Upcoming Shabbat, Community Minyan, Saturday, Jan. 26, 10:00 am– Rabbi Benjamin, Emily Simon, Barbara Slader, and Susan Brenner will lead, leyn, and drash at this Saturday's service. We will explore Parsha Yitro, in which Moses’ father-in-law gives Moses advice about governing, the Israelites experience God as thunder and lighting, and Moses receives the Ten Commandments. Join us!
(2) Rabbi Deborah Waxman Speaks Tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7:00 pm – Reconstructing Judaism President Rabbi Deborah Waxman, Ph.D., will speak at Havurah about the Reconstructionist movement and resilience. The first woman rabbi to head a Jewish congregational union and a Jewish seminary, Rabbi Waxman became president of Reconstructing Judaism in 2014 and is the movement’s leading voice in the public square. In addition to being a cum laude graduate of Columbia College, Columbia University, and a recipient of a rabbinical ordination and a Master of Arts in Hebrew letters from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she received a Ph.D. in American Jewish history from Temple University. She is also the sister of Havurah member Andy Waxman.
(3) Reconstructing Judaism Video – Ten Havurahniks attended the Reconstructing Judaism conference in November. Can you find some of them in this video about the conference?
(4) Tikkun Olam Global Meeting, Sunday, Feb. 3, 1:00 pm– I hope you will join us for the second Tikkun Olam Global meeting where we will continue our discussion of our mission and start talking about a project to take on. Tikkun Olam Global takes a global perspective on Havurah's Tikkun Olam work. We are looking at the challenges faced by the developing countries of the world and thinking about how Havurah can make a difference. This is an opportunity to get on the ground floor of an exciting new Havurah initiative. - David Newman, davnew2@earthlink.net.
(5) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) New Volunteer Orientations, Feb. 4 at 1:00 pm, Feb. 13 at 6:00 pm, Feb. 21 at 5:00 pm, 6220 SE 92nd– So you've been reading about Havurah's volunteering with Portland Homeless Family Solutions for some time now. An orientation could be your first step to becoming a volunteer or an opportunity to learn more about homelessness in Portland and the work that PHFS does. Children can attend if they will be volunteering too, but their attendance at the orientation is not required. RSVP with your name and which orientation date to Bethany Rocci at bethany@pdxhfs.
(6) "The Poetry of the Soul" Begins Again, Thursdays, Jan. 24, 31, Feb. 14, 21, 28, March 7, 12:00 noon-1:15 pm – We will read the Psalms closely, one by one. How they lend voice to our oscillating emotions, engagement with a sublime Other, and a longing for refuge will help us honor our own truths. We will use English translations and commentaries and refer to the Hebrew. Taught by Rabbi Joey. Please RSVP here if you plan to attend, even if you RSVPed for the fall classes previously.
(7) RESCHEDULED: Tu B'Shvat Book Reading– The Tu B'Shvat Book Reading by Alicia Jo Rabins and Rebecca Clarren originally scheduled for Jan. 24 will be rescheduled for an upcoming Friday night at Havurah. Please watch Havurah's website, emails, and Facebook notices for the new date and time.
(8) Dorot: Short & Sweet Shabbat Service, Friday, Jan. 25, 6:00-7:30 pm – A casual, family-friendly, and music-filled service, followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. Led by Jacob Mandelsberg, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff, Larry Reichman, and Tanja Lux. RSVP by Jan. 23.
(9) Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Jan. 26, 10:30-11:30 am – Young children (0-5) and their parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. You can stay for an informal oneg nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP by Jan. 23.
(10) Overwhelmed by the World's Needs? Making Family Space for Tikkun Olam, Saturday, Jan. 26, 3:10-4:30 pm (for parents with children of all ages) –
How do we balance our parenting desire to create a cozy nest for our children, in which they feel safe and that the world is good, and our acute knowledge of the great pain and need in our world? How do we, as a family, choose amongst the myriad needs and possibilities, to get involved in a positive way that works with the temperament and ages of our child(ren)? How do we as adults model engagement with Tikkun Olam in a healthy way? Discussion and concrete ideas for families to consider. Workshop led by Laura Orgel, Child and Family Therapist, parent, and long-time Tikkun Olam worker and wonderer. Minimum number of participants is 4. RSVP here.
(11) Last Thursday Witness - IMIrJ I.C.E. Vigil, Thursday, Jan. 31, 10:00 am, Portland ICE Headquarters, 4310 SW Macadam Ave. – 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.
(12) Discovering Shabbat Morning, Saturday, Feb. 2, 10:00-11:30 am – Join this upbeat workshop/minyan where we will walk through the Shabbat morning service and answer questions. This service is especially for families with youth in grades 5 and up and all who are in the B’nai Mitzvah process. Childcare is available every Saturday morning for children 0-9. Light lunch provided afterwards. Led by Susan Brenner and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. RSVP here.
(13) 19th Annual Community Havdalah Service and Social, Saturday, Feb. 2, 7:00 pm, Cedar Sinai Park, 6125 SW Boundary Street – Havdalah service with music, refreshments, conversation, and Israeli dance demonstration (including Havurah member Cindy Merrill). Rabbi Ariel Stone will lead the service. Event is sponsored by Jewish Women's Round Table in cooperation with Cedar Sinai Park and area synagogues and Jewish organizations. Questions? Contact Adele Thompson at adeledt@live.com.
(14) Beginning the B’nai Mitzvah Journey: Why, When & How, Sunday, Feb. 3, 10:00 am-12:00 pm – This workshop for parents intends to launch families on the b’nai mitzvah journey. Rabbi Benjamin will begin with a focus on the rite of passage itself, then families will learn about the date selection process. Rabbi Benjamin, David Newman, and Michael Evans will lead this workshop. RSVP by Jan. 28.
(15) Eye-opening and Unexpected Stories from Jewish History, Sundays, Feb. 3, 10, 24, 10:00-11:30 am – Educator David Feder, who also happens to be our Havurah High teacher, will lead a series of classes that span knowledge of ancient, medieval, and modern Judaism and explore how stories of diversity and problem-solving can unite us going forward. Register here.
(16) Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, Feb. 8, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Service –
Our catered vegetarian Kabbalat Shabbat dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by a short, joyful, and musical Kabbalat Shabbat service at 7:30 pm, led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. RSVP here for the dinner no later than Feb. 6. All are welcome at our 7:30 pm service, and no RSVP is required. Childcare is available. For cost adjustments for the dinner, please call 503-248-4662.
(17) Have a Question About Havurah? – 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.
(18) Elevator Talking Points for Havurah's Sanctuary Committee – Havurah’s Sanctuary Committee has been wrestling with this thorny issue: How do we respond to statements about immigrants and immigration that conflict with our community’s welcome philosophy? We decided to develop “Elevator Talking Points” so we could feel more informed and knowledgeable about current events and be able to respond when faced with questions and statements that raise emotions and leave us feeling uncertain. We realize that we need to listen to others rather than enter into a debate and hope that having some facts at our disposal might help us be open to the "other." We hope these talking points will clarify some facts about immigration, walls, and sanctuary. For more detailed information about immigration issues, the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) has created additional resources, which are available here. We'd like to know if these are useful to you. Questions? Contact Sandy at sandylou29@yahoo.com.
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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.
