May 8 - Jazz, Klezmer, Tasty Food at 40th Celebration, Kabbalat Shabbat
HAVURAH HAPPENINGS: (1) Upcoming Shabbat - Kabbalat Shabbat & Bar Mitzvah (2) Sanctuary Committee Meeting (3) RSVP ASAP for Encountering the Other: The Teaching of Martin Buber (4) Dorot: A Short & Sweet Shabbat (5) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (6) 40th Anniversary Celebration with Jazz, Klezmer, Dancing & Tasty Food (7) Song of Miriam Awards Brunch (8) Annual Congregational Meeting (9) Shavuot Celebration (10) Shavuot Service with Yizkor (11) Proposed Changes to Parking in NW Portland (12) Poverty & Homelessness Workgroup
COMMUNITY NEWS: (1) Poverty in Portland: Root Causes & Strategies (2) Packing Food Boxes for Lift Urban Portland
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Kabbalat Shabbat Service, Friday, May 10, 7:30 pm – Join us for this short, musical service as we welcome Shabbat. No RSVP is required, and childcare is provided. Bar Mitzvah of Maxwell Jablonski, Saturday, May 11, 10:00 am – This Saturday Maxwell Jablonski, son of Debra and Bryan Jablonski, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah. Join us to celebrate and welcome Maxwell as a member of our community.
(2) Sanctuary Committee Meeting, Thursday, May 9, 7:00-9:00 pm – In the past month, 22 Havurahniks participated in an awesome IMIrJ Advocacy Day in Salem, we organized and lifted our collective voices at the Last Thursday Passover Vigil at ICE and we continue to build relationships through our intercambio program. Please come to our next meeting as we come together to explore future programming, debrief current actions and discuss our shared mission and vision with the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ). Questions? Email shari.raider@gmail.com or rebrown47@gmail.com.
(3) Encountering the Other: The Teaching of Martin Buber, Wednesdays, May 15, 22 & 29, 7:00-8:30 pm - RSVP ASAP! – Martin Buber taught that “all actual life is encounter.” He insisted on our relating to the other as subject rather than object. During these sessions, half in the fall and half in the spring, we will engage with some of the wisdom of this 20th century Jewish theologian and teacher, aiming to shed light on our lives and the world today through considering his teachings, and exploring together the vision of community and society which they inspire. Taught by Rabbi Benjamin. Free for members, $10/class for non-members. RSVP by Thursday, May 9.
(4) Dorot: Short & Sweet Shabbat, EASTSIDE PICNIC, Friday, May 17, 6:00 pm Service, 6:45 pm Potluck– Join us for this casual, family-friendly, and music-filled service. Beginning with candle lighting, Kiddush and challah, the service continues with prayers and music, followed by a vegetarian potluck dinner. Led by Jacob Mandelsberg, Sarah Shine, Gabe Adoff, Larry Reichman, and Tanja Lux. The Eastside picnic location will be announced soon, on our website calendar and in next week's community email. RSVP here!
(5) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Monday, May 20, 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.
(6) Havurah 40th Anniversary Celebration, Sunday, May 19, 5:00-8:00 pm, Havurah – Havurah Shalom is 40 years old! Join us to celebrate and support your favorite community. We're having a tasty menu along with beer, wine, and a signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic drinks, too. We're excited to feature two Havurah music groups, including some of your favorite musicians. They will accompany our celebration with jazz, klezmer, and dancing to your favorites from 40 years ago!
Whether you've been a member for one year or for 40, our party will be a great time to reflect on our history and look forward to the next 40 years! The party is for members ages 21 and over. If you aren't available on May 19, you can donate to our Mitzvah Moment at the RSVP link below. Questions? Contact Debbi Nadell, debbinadell@gmail.com. RSVP here.
(7) Song of Miriam Brunch Honoring Nancy Becker, Sunday, June 2, 10:00 am-12:15 pm, MJCC – Havurah is honoring Nancy Becker at this year's Song of Miriam Brunch. Nancy has been involved in many different areas of Havurah and is known for her Tikkun Olam efforts and for representing us at the Jewish Community Relations Council. Nancy is also our current Fundraising Committee Chair. Register for the brunch using the form linked here. We will be saving a table for Havurahniks. Let Debbi Nadell know (debbinadell@gmail.com) if you want a seat at the Havurah table.
(8) Annual Congregational Meeting, Sunday, June 2, 1:00-3:00 pm – Please join us for music, study, and community building. This will be an excellent opportunity to greet old friends, welcome new ones, and consider what Havurah Shalom means to each of us. We will share the proposed nominations for Steering positions starting July 1 as well as review and approve our annual budget. The budget will be sent out to the congregation the week of May 20, so you will have time to review before the meeting. Please join us, and if you have questions that you would like to have answered at the meeting, email them to transparency@havurahshalom.org by May 30. Questions? Email Julia Lager-Mesulam (lagermes@gmail.com) or Ken Lerner (ken@klerner.com).
(9) Shavuot Celebration, Saturday, June 8, 4:30 pm until late, at Havurah – For Families: We’ll begin at 4:30 pm with paper crafts and a First Harvest Procession to beautify the Sanctuary. At 5:45 pm, we’ll have blintzes and cheesecake for our potluck dinner, followed by Havdalah. For Adults: You are welcome for dinner and Havdalah. From 6:30-8:00 pm, Alicia Jo Rabins and Rebecca Clarren will read from their new books, rescheduled from January. Childcare will be available. For those who want to do Tikkun Leil Shavuot and study into the night: From 8 pm on, Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Rabbi Benjamin will guide us in text and hevruta. RSVP here.
(10) Shavuot Service with Yizkor, Sunday, June 9, 9:00 am-12:00 pm – Join us for a morning Shavuot service with Yizkor.
(11) Proposed Changes to Parking in NW -- Your input, please. Portland Bureau of Transportation, through the NW Parking SAC, will be making recommendations for several changes to parking in the Havurah neighborhood, including installing meters. You can learn about the proposals and give input online here. Questions? Email adela@havurahshalom.org,
(12) Poverty and Homelessness Workgroup Update – On April 30, the Family Winter Shelter (FWS) coordinated by Portland Homeless Family Solutions (PHFS) closed, having met its goal to house throughout our winter whatever number of families comprise the 75-person limit. In the spirit of Tikkun Olam, Havurah played a formidable role in volunteer hours at the shelter as well as meal preparation at home and at Havurah. We will continue to support PHFS at its new site in the Lents neighborhood throughout the year. To volunteer an orientation is required. For info about PHFS orientations please contact Havurah member Gloria Halper at losninos6@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY NEWS
(1) Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Presents Poverty in Portland: Root Causes & Strategies, Monday, May 13, 6:30-8:30 pm, Madeleine Parish Center, 3123 NE 24th Ave, Portland – 6:30 pm, pizza, beverages, cookies; 7:00 pm, Mayor Ted Wheeler’s presentation with time for Q & A; 8:00 pm small table debriefs. Please register by May 6 to bonniejgregg@msn.com. Childcare available, pre-registration required. No charge, but free-will offering appreciated. Havurah Shalom is a partner with the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty in Portland.
(2) Packing Food Boxes for Lift UP, Wednesday, May 22, 2:00-3:30 pm, Lift UP warehouse (in U-Store facility), 2860 NW 29th Ave, Portland– DATE CHANGE! Our food box packing at Lift Urban Portland’s warehouse has changed from May 15 to May 22 at 2:00 pm. We’ll be packing boxes to be delivered to residents in low-income housing in northwest and downtown Portland. The warehouse is at 2860 NW 29th Ave. This will take about 60-90 minutes, no heavy lifting, families welcomed. WE NEED MORE VOLUNTEERS. Havurah Shalom is a supporter of Lift UP. Questions? Please contact Ruth Feldman at 503-530-0072 or ruthtenzerfeldman@gmail.com. Thanks!
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Havurah Shalom is a vibrant, diverse, participatory Jewish community steeped in Jewish values promoting 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.
