(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Joey Weisenberg Shabbaton with Shaarie Torah (2) PURIM: Calling All Actors, Musicians, Chanters, Spielers & Planners! (3) PHFS New Volunteer Orientations (4) Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture (5) Tot Shabbat (6) Eye-Opening & Unexpected Stories from Jewish History (7) Jewish Artists Month (8) Community Cooking for PHFS (9) Eastside Jewish Commons (10) Book Group Discussion of The Opposite Field: A Memoir (11) Drawdown Book Study & Climate Conversation (12) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (13) Family Shabbat (14) Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions (15) Rabbi Joey at National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. (16) Have a Question About Havurah? (17) Lift Urban Portland (18) Help Wanted   **In Gmail, click on "View entire message" in lower left to see the complete email. 

(1) UPCOMING SHABBAT: 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 this Saturday to give Havurah members an opportunity to join the services at Shaarie Torah. 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.

(2) PURIM: Calling All Actors, Musicians, Chanters, Spielers & Planners – Join the fun as we perform a few short skits and musical numbers. Dress up, become a King, Queen, bad guy, or part of the crowd. Just two rehearsals TBD. All ages, past performers, levels of experience welcome. Purim celebration starts at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 20. Contact Ellen Regal, ellenregal@yahoo.com, 503-288-5042.

In addition to spielers, we need planners to make the celebration possible. Would you be willing to: Use budgeted funds to plan Hamantaschen and other treats for the celebration? Recruit and lead a team of greeters to take shifts at the door? Join others to tidy up as the celebration winds down? It takes a team of Havurahniks to make a holiday celebration happen. If you can help plan our Purim celebration, please email Adela Basayne at adela@havurahshalom.org. Toda raba!!

(3) Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) Volunteer Orientations, Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 6:00 pm & Thursday, 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.

(4) 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.

(5) Tot Shabbat, Saturday, Feb. 23, 10:30-11:30 am – Young children (0-5) and their parents celebrate Shabbat with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. Afterwards, enjoy an informal nosh and the chance to play and schmooze. Please bring healthy finger foods for our nosh. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, or Adela Basayne. RSVP here by Feb. 20.

(6) Eye-opening & Unexpected Stories from Jewish History, 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 the final class in the series.

(7) Jewish Artists Month, hosted by ORA, Opening is Sunday, Feb. 24, 4:00-5:00 pm, MJCC, 6651 SW Capitol Highway – Among other artists, ORA's Jewish Artists Month will feature Havurah High student Miles Smith. Meet Jewish student artists in Oregon, and purchase art from them directly at the opening reception. Art will be up for the entire week. Questions? Contact Eddy Shuldman, mameleh@comcast.net, about the show, or Miles Smith, milesthesmith@gmail.com, about Miles' art.

(8) 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 mitzvah 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.
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(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. (Above photo of Jesse Katz is from OregonLive.)

(11) 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.

(12) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, March 4, 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.

(13) Family Shabbat!, Saturday, March 9, 10:30 am-12:00 noon – A big fabulous morning of singing, storytelling, Torah learning, celebration and noshing. We gather together for some parts of the service and break into smaller age-focused groups for Torah learning and family activities. Especially for families with youth grades K–6 and anybody who wants a boost of kid energy. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, and community members. Followed by potluck oneg lunch. RSVP here.

(14) Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions, Mondays, March 11 and 18, April 1, 8 and 15, 7:00-8:30 pm – Don't know much about climate change or want to learn more? Join us for a five-week discussion course which will explore climate change from scientific, psychological, and social perspectives. The class will follow the curriculum developed by the Northwest Earth Institute and will require purchase from them of the e-book Change Is Our Choice: Creating Climate Solutions. RSVP here.

(15) Rabbi Joey is Guest of Sen. Merkley at National Prayer Breakfast in D.C. – Rabbi Joey was a guest of U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. last week. He also joined a press conference for the Shut Tornillo Down Coalition, against the detention of children in the name of “border security.” Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Judy Chu introduced a Bill today to stop the detentions. See Facebook photos here​​​​​​​.

(16) 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.

(17) 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.

(18) Help Wanted – Two opportunities for Havurah members to share their talents and interests with the community – * Our Safety Committee is looking for new members, especially those with disaster preparedness experience. * We need three to five volunteers to work with the Northwest Neighborhood Parking Committee to see how our needs can be accommodated, and also to work with nearby businesses on potentially using their parking after hours. Contact Debbi Nadell, debbinadell@gmail.com, for more information. * We also need volunteers for these office projects. Contact Rachel Pollak at rachel@havurahshalom.org.
 

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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