May 29 - Contemplative Hike, Song of Miriam, Annual Meeting, Shavuot
HAVURAH HAPPENINGS: (1) Upcoming Shabbat (2) Last Thursday Witness (3) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting (4) Annual Congregational Meeting (5) Climate Justice Rally in Support of Children's Trust Lawsuit (6) Shavuot Celebration (7) Shavuot Service (8) Tikkun Olam Global Meeting (9) Kabbalat Shabbat (10) Mid-Year Planning Retreat for Everyone Planning Events or Programs in the Coming Year (11) Two Spots Open in Adult B'nei Mitzvah Fall Trope Class (12) Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Monthly Meetings (13) 40th Anniversary Party Mitzvah Moment & Photos (14) Reminder About Submitting to Weekly Email
COMMUNITY NEWS: (1) Gathering Hope: A Story Swap, Part of the Vanport Mosaic Memory Activism Festival (2) ORA's 13th Annual Celebration of Art
Shavuot is almost here! Read about Havurah's June 8 celebration and June 9 service below. Learn about Shavuot here.
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Bar Mitzvah of Spencer Litwin, 10:00 am – This Saturday Spencer Litwin, son of Jennifer and Seth Litwin, will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah. Please join us in celebrating with the family and welcome Spencer as a member of our community.
(2) Last Thursday Witness, IMIrJ ICE Vigil, May 30, 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.
(3) Lev Tahor (Pure Heart) Chanting, Sunday, June 2, 7:00 am, Lower Macleay Park – This will be facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin. We will gather in Lower Macleay Park in the early morning, beginning with some chanting then walking mindfully along the trail. With teachings and intentions from Jewish tradition to guide us, we will intersperse chanting, silence, and reflective sharing as a means to connect within and without, and to wake up more fully in our lives. This will be a short hike at a gentle pace. We will conclude by 8:30 or 9:00 am. Contact Rabbi Benjamin with questions. RSVP here.
(4) 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 draft budget was sent to the congregation on May 21 so everyone has time to review it 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 or Ken Lerner.
(5) Climate Justice Rally in Support of the Children’s Trust Lawsuit, A Call to Havurah Members to Join the Larger Faith Community, Tuesday, June 4, 1:30 pm, Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave – Faith communities across Portland will be gathering in support of the Children’s Trust Lawsuit (known as Julianna vs the United States). The next phase of this monumental case begins in Portland with a panel of judges from the 9th Circuit Court. Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon has issued a call to all faith communities to show up at a rally, where Rabbi Benjamin will speak and we will stand together with the Havurah banner. We are asking Havurah members who are able to participate in the rally to arrive at Director Park by 1:20 pm, so we can gather behind the Havurah Shalom banner. For more information, contact Michael Heumann. On behalf of the Havurah Climate Action Team, we hope to see you there on June 4.
(6) 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.
(7) Shavuot Service with Yizkor, Sunday, June 9, 9:00 am-12:00 pm – Join us for a morning Shavuot service with Yizkor.
(8) Tikkun Olam Global Meeting, Sunday June 9, 3:00 pm– The Tikkun Olam Global work group is the forum for Havurah’s international social justice work. Our mission statement says that, “Through advocacy, fundraising, and direct service we aim to be a force for equity and human rights in the developing world." As we work to “repair the world,” we are extending our gaze outward, towards the entire global village. At this meeting we will be considering a proposal to help fund a solar energy project at a Tanzanian Secondary School. We hope you will join us as we continue our planning for the coming year. Questions? Contact David Newman.
(9) Kabbalat Shabbat, Friday, June 14, 6:30 pm Dinner, 7:30 pm Service – Join us for a tasty catered vegetarian meal and good fellowship on Friday, June 14, at 6:30 pm. RSVP for the dinner by June 9. No RSVP is required for the short, musical Kabbalat Shabbat Service following the meal, and childcare is available. Join us!
(10) Mid-Year Planning Retreat for Everyone Planning Events & Programs for the Coming Year, Sunday, June 30, 9:30 am-12:00 pm– Come collaborate across clusters and gain insight and tools to make your program a success! RSVP by 6/12. Contact Shelley Sobel with your name and the name of your cluster or committee.
(11) Two Spots Open in Adult B'nei Mitzvah Fall Trope Class, Wednesdays, Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25 and Oct. 2, 7:00-8:15 pm– If you are able to read Hebrew, if you can attend all classes and agree to complete homework inbetween classes, this may be your opportunity to learn the fundamentals of leyning (chanting) Torah. Contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner at deborah@havurahshalom.org for questions or information about fees paid to teachers.
(12) Interfaith Alliance on Poverty Monthly Meetings, First Thursdays, 12:00 noon-2:00 pm, Member Congregation Locations – Havurah is the latest partner member of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP), with approval of the Steering Committee. We had a good showing at their May 13 meeting hosting Portland's mayor. The mayor shared stats and more about what Portland has done and continues to do, and future plans to address poverty, specifically the issue of homelessness in our city. Interested in IAP monthly meeting info or joining a sub group of the IAP, please contact Steve Rudman at sdrpdx@gmail.com or Gloria Halper at losninos6@gmail.com. IAP's website: www.allianceonpoverty.org. Also, watch for more from the Poverty and Homelessness Tikkun Olam workgroup in Havurah's community emails and Hakol. Questions? Contact Steve Rudman or Gloria Halper.
(13) 40th Anniversary Party and Mitzvah Moment – Thanks to everyone who joined us at our lively, musical, 40th Anniversary Party! Havurah members know how to celebrate! If you weren't able to join us at the party, you can still donate to the Mitzvah Moment to support Havurah's ongoing activities – adult ed classes, lunch after Saturday minyans, Tikkun Olam efforts, holiday celebrations, building maintenance, and so much more happening in our community. Click here to donate. Click here to see the celebration photos on Facebook.
(14) Reminder About Submitting to Weekly Email– Are you submitting an event or announcement to this e-newsletter? Your contact person is Teri Ruch (teri@havurahshalom.org). Submit your content and details about your event using this form. (The form can also be found on the website, on the "Current News" and "Submitting News" web pages, and at the bottom of each weekly email.) The form allows Teri to receive all the required information about the event in one location and helps ensure that everything is accurate. Thank you!
COMMUNITY NEWS:
(1) Gathering Hope: A Story Swap, Part of the Vanport Mosaic Memory Activism Festival, Wednesday May 29, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cerimon House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave– Join us for an evening of live storytelling to spark hope and action. Storyteller/Maggid Cassandra Sagan will be working with community members who are targets of "othering" based on their religion, race, disability, or sexual orientation to help craft their stories, and there will be an open mic for your five-minute story. Featured tellers: Iman Abdi, Liza Jensen, Sam Sachs, and Tom Gevurtz. $5 donation. Questions? Email Cassandra Sagan.
(2) 13th Annual Celebration of Art, Sunday, June 2, Congregation Neveh Shalom – Calling all Jewish artists! Jury for Northwest Jewish Artsists 13th Annual Celebration of Art on Sunday, June 2, at Congregation Neveh Shalom. There is a $25 jury fee that can be applied to the membership of $50. For detailed information and jury application, go to the ORA website: northwestjewishartists.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 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.
