(1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Eye-Opening & Unexpected Stories from Jewish History (3) Planning Meeting for 40th Anniversary (4) Thinking About Israel/Palestine (5) PHFS Volunteer Orientations (6) Joey Weisenberg Shabbaton (7) Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture (8) Community Cooking for PHFS (9) Eastside Jewish Commons (10) The Opposite Field: A Memoir (11) Story Swap (12) Drawdown Book Study & Climate Conversation (13) Weekend in Quest (14) The Chosen People? A Film About Jewish Identity (15) Lift Urban Portland (16) Talking Points About Immigration (17) Volunteer Opportunities at Havurah

(1) UPCOMING SHABBAT

Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, Feb. 8, 7:30 pm – This short, musical Kabbalat Shabbat service is led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians. No RSVP is required. Childcare is available.

Community Minyan, Saturday, Feb. 9, 10:00 am – With leading and Torah reading by Rabbi Benjamin, Tivona Reith, Emily Simon, and others, we will discuss Parsha Terumah, in which we learn about the construction of the tabernacle. (Above painting of the tabernacle by John Gilman.)

Exploring Jewish Teachings in Response to Fear and Uncertainty, Saturday, Feb. 9, 3:05-4:10 pm – In this workshop with Rabbi Benjamin for parents and any interested adults, we will examine texts, from ancient to contemporary, which address precarious and daunting moments. Over the generations, Jewish tradition has offered various responses to the fear and uncertainty we experience in life. Together we will engage with some of these texts and discuss ways in which they speak to us and might be applied in our lives. RSVP here.

(2) Eye-opening and Unexpected Stories from Jewish History, Sunday, Feb. 10, and Sunday, Feb. 24, 10:00-11:30 am – We will delve into knowledge that opens up new possibilities for what it meant to be Jewish in the past and what it means to be connected to the Jewish community today. We’ll broaden our understanding of “relevant Jewish texts” to include the latest discoveries in Galilean archaeology and the curious messages from 23 And Me. This series isn’t just about what we all share from the ancient, medieval, and modern period; it’s about how stories of diversity and problem-solving can unite us going forward. Led by writer and educator David Feder. RSVP here for one or both of the upcoming classes.

(3) Planning Meeting for 40th Anniversary Celebration, Monday, Feb. 11, 7:00 pm – We're combining the celebration of Havurah's 40th anniversary and our spring fundraiser this year for a party on May 1. Join Nancy Becker, Fran Berg, and Debbi Nadell for a planning meeting to kick off our efforts. All members and your ideas are welcome.

(4) Member Registration for "Thinking About Israel/Palestine" Closes Tuesday, Feb. 12: One Spot Open! - February 12 marks the end of Havurah member registration for "Thinking about Israel/Palestine," which starts March 5. After that, available spaces will be offered to both members and non-members on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-members may sign up for the wait list at any time before February 12 as well. Participants are expected to attend at least 8 of the 10 sessions, to have read up to 50 pages of material prior to each session, and to maintain an open and respectful approach to a variety of perspectives. Learn more and register here for the remaining opening for the 7:00 pm session. Questions? Contact Ruth Feldman at ruthtenzerfeldman@gmail.com.

(5) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Volunteer Orientations, 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.org.

(6) Shabbaton Weekend with Joey Weisenberg, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17, Shaarie Torah, 920 NW 25th Ave – Havurah members are invited to participate in a Shabbaton weekend at Shaarie Torah with acclaimed musician, author, and teacher Joey Weisenberg. No community minyan will be planned at Havurah that Saturday to give Havurah members an opportunity to join the Friday night and Saturday morning services with Joey Weisenberg. The Saturday service will be followed by a Kiddush lunch and, later that afternoon, a singing circle. A special singing workshop is scheduled for Sunday. All events are free except the Friday evening dinner and Sunday workshop, which require a modest fee. The cost for all weekend events is $36. Learn more and RSVP here on Shaarie Torah's website. You can hear Joey Weisenberg's music here on his website.

(7) 12th Annual Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture: Is American Democracy in Danger?, Thursday, Feb. 21, 7:00 pm, Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway – Daniel Ziblatt has spent more than twenty years studying the breakdown of democracies in Europe and other parts of the world, and he believes that American democracy is in danger. In this lecture, he will discuss his best-selling book, How Democracies Die (co-authored with Steve Levitsky). According to his analysis, democracy no longer ends with a bang, in a revolution or military coup, but with a whimper: the slow, steady weakening of critical institutions, such as the judiciary and the press, and the gradual erosion of long-standing political norms. Using historical examples from America’s past as well European and Latin American experiences, Ziblatt assesses the threats and possibilities facing American democracy today. The good news is that there are several exit ramps on the road to authoritarianism. The bad news is that we have entered an era of extreme polarization, in which it has become harder and harder to find these exit ramps. Questions? Email Nathan Cogan, nfcogan@gmail.com.

(8) Havurah Community Cooking for PHFS Family Winter Shelter, Monday, Feb. 25, 4:30-6:00 pm Cooking at Havurah Shalom; 6:00-8:30 pm Serving at the PHFS Winter Shelter – A group of Havurahniks will gather in the Havurah kitchen to cook a meal for the Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Family Winter Shelter. Some of us will then carry it over to the shelter and serve the meal and hang out with the children there. If you would like to join us, sign up here. It's a fun way to perform a mitzah in community! If you have questions, contact Barb Ruben at 503-317-1193 or bjruben948@gmail.com.

(9) Eastside Jewish Commons Questions – Please take three minutes to fill out this survey from the Eastside Jewish Commons (EJC). Over 60% of Havurah members live on the eastside of Portland, and we want to make sure we, as a community, are represented in EJC's planning. Click here ​​​​​​​to open the EJC Community Comment form. This information will play an important role in helping further Jewish community life on Portland’s eastside, including planning of collaborative community programs in 2019 and ongoing planning for a permanent Eastside Jewish Commons that will improve access to Jewish programming for all Portland eastsiders. Questions?Contact Ashley at pdxejc@gmail.com or Aaron at aaron@pearlmanoffice.com.

(10) Book Group Discusses The Opposite Field, A Memoir, by Jesse Katz, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7:00-8:30 pm – Faced with the collapse of his son’s Little League program, consisting mostly of Latino kids in an immigrant east LA neighborhood, single dad Jesse Katz finds himself thrust into the role of baseball commissioner for La Loma Park. While Jesse soothes egos, brokers disputes, chases down delinquent coaches and missing equipment, and applies popsicles to bruises, he creates community and family for himself and his son Max. This is a story of the losing and finding of self, of sex and love, fatherhood, and the joy of language, of death and failure and heartbreak. And yes, mom Vera has a cameo role. The author’s mother, Vera Katz, was Portland’s mayor from 1993-2005. She is remembered as courageous, principled, and energetic.

(11) Story Swap at the Oregon Jewish Museum, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7:00 pm – I’d like to invite everyone to join me at the February Story Swap at the Museum. The theme is Immigration Stories, personal stories told from the heart. Our featured tellers are Sankar Raman and Wafa Almaktari of The Immigrant Story, and Marc Blattner and Rachel Nelson of the Jewish Federation. After the featured tellers, we’ll have an open mic. Five minute stories told from a first person perspective. Please come to listen and to share. $8 members/$10 non-members. -Havurah Member Cassandra Sagan

(12) Drawdown Book Study & Climate Conversation, Thursday, Feb. 28, 7:00-8:30 pm – There is way out of the climate change disaster. And there are many things we can do to have an impact. These actions are addressed in depth in the New York Times best seller, Drawdown. The editor and creator is Paul Hawken, and the Drawdown Project was developed by an international coalition of almost 200 researchers, professionals, and scientists from 22 countries. They came together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change that are already successfully being done and need our support to scale up.
The Havurah Climate Action Team invites you to join us for a discussion about this ground-breaking book. Please prepare by reading the introductory chapter and any other sections that speak to you. The book is available from the Multnomah County Library and the usual retailers. RSVP here if you can come.

(13) There's Still Time to Register! Weekend In Quest, Friday-Sunday, March 1-3, Astoria, OR – Weekend in Quest is an exhilarating Shabbaton in Astoria, on the beautiful Oregon coast by the mighty Columbia River. Professor Naomi Sokoloff of the University of Washington will lead study sessions about "Poems and Prayers: Modern Jewish Writers Reinterpreting Tradition." Shabbat service will be led by Havurah member Ilene Safyan. Weekend in Quest is sponsored by the Institute for Judaic Studies and co-sponsored by Havurah Shalom and many other congregations. Learn more and register here. Questions? Email Mimi Epstein at mimiepstein42@comcast.net.
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(14) “The Chosen People? A Film About Jewish Identity,” Sunday, March 3, 3:00 pm – Do you feel uncomfortable with the idea of being the chosen people? What does it mean to be chosen? How has this notion of chosenness changed over time? Why does the belief in chosenness remain so powerful among religious people in the 21st century? These are some of the questions explored in the new film, "The Chosen People? A Film About Jewish Identity." Please join the Lifelong Learning Committee for a screening of the film followed by a discussion. Learn more and RSVP here.

(15) Lift Urban Portland Needs You! – Help feed our neighbors. Havurah Shalom is one of the congregations and organizations that supports Lift Urban Portland, which provides fresh and shelf-stable food to low-income residents in northwest and downtown Portland. Volunteer opportunities abound, including food gleaning, packing, or delivery, nutrition classes and dinners (Supper Club), work with nearby Preston’s Pantry (1808 NW Irving), and office support (2701 NW Vaughn, Suite 102). Learn more at www.lifturbanportland.org or contact Havurah liaison Ruth Feldman (ruthtenzerfeldman@gmail.com) for more information.

(16) What to Say About Immigration When You're Panim el Panim with Your Political or Philosophical Opposite – 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 provided additional resources here. We'd like to know if these are useful to you. Questions? Contact Sandy at sandylou29@yahoo.com.

(17) Volunteer Opportunities – Interested in helping out with light office work? The volunteer opportunities at this link  are perfect for Havurah members who would like to spend a little time making a difference on a schedule of their own choosing. To get started, visit the link, then call or email Rachel Pollak (503-248-4662, ext. 2 or rachel@havurahshalom.org). 

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.

Find our calendar and learn more at www.havurahshalom.org.

825 NW 18th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
503-248-4662