July 3 - "God of Vengeance" Readings, New Progressive Israel Network
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Bat Mitzvah of Maddie Teitelman (2) Office Closure this Thursday (3) Reconstructing Judaism Is a Founding Member of the New Progressive Israel Network (4) Hebrew Teacher for Youth Needed (5) Book Discussion of Tortilla Curtain (6) National Jewish Education Conference in Portland (7) Play Reading of "God of Vengeance" in Preparation for "Indecent" Shabbaton (8) Shabbat in the Pool (9) Middle School for 2019-20 (10) Havurah High for 2019-20 (11) Reconstructing Judaism Annual Report Video (12) Ruth Bader Ginsburg Awards $9,000 to Hand in Hand
The above art about Korach is by David Baruch Wolk. In this week’s parsha, Korach leads a rebellion against Moses, after which the earth swallows all of the rebels except those who offered incense, who are consumed by fire.
(1) Upcoming Shabbat: Bat Mitzvah of Maddie Teitelman, Saturday, July 6, 10:00 am-12:00 pm – This Saturday Maddie Teitelman, daughter of Andrew Teitelman and Chandra Basham, will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah. Please come celebrate with Maddie and her family, and welcome Maddie as a member of our community.
(2) Office Closure for July 4th Holiday – Havurah's office will be closed tomorrow for the July 4th holiday.
(3) Reconstructing Judaism Is a Founding Member of the New Progressive Israel Network – Reconstructing Judaism is one of ten leading organizations representing Americans who are committed to pursuing democracy, equality, and peace in Israel, and who announced the launch of the Progressive Israel Network. The new coalition will provide a strong, unified voice in support of its members’ common goals: democracy and equal rights, religious freedom and pluralism, and a two-state solution that would secure a peaceful future for Israel and end the 52-year-long occupation. Click here for more information.
(4) Hebrew Teacher for Youth Needed – Havurah Shalom seeks a part-time teacher for youth ages 8-10, who can teach beginning Hebrew reading with a very clear Tora Aura curriculum. Hours of instruction are 16 Saturdays (already scheduled) between Sept. 21 and May 9, 1:30-2:40 pm, at Havurah. 7-14 children per class. Competitive compensation. Please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Education Director, deborah@havurahshalom.org; describe your experience and expertise.
(5) Book Discussion Group: The Tortilla Curtain, Tuesday, July 23, 7:00-8:30 pm – Originally published in 1994, The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle is very topical now. Topanga Canyon is home to two couples on a collision course. Los Angeles liberals Delaney and Kyra Mossbacher lead an ordered sushi and-recycling existence in a newly gated hilltop community: he is a sensitive nature writer, she an obsessive realtor. Mexican illegal immigrants Candido and America Rincon desperately cling to their vision of the American Dream as they fight off starvation in a makeshift camp deep in the ravine. And from the moment a freak accident brings Candido and Delaney into intimate contact, these four and their opposing worlds gradually intersect in what becomes a tragicomedy of error and misunderstanding. The book is about middle class values, illegal immigration, xenophobia, poverty and environmental destruction. In 1997 it was awarded the French Prix Medicis Etranger prize for best foreign novel. Discussion led by Susan Lazareck.
(6) National Jewish Education Conference in Portland, Sunday-Wednesday, July 28-31, Reed College – Look at the fabulous workshops on Jewish education coming to Portland with NewCAJE10. (NewCAJE’s mission is to connect, inspire and affirm all Jewish educators to build a stronger Jewish community.)
• Pre-conference Shabbat: July 26-27
• 450 Jewish educators
• 200+ workshops
• Networking, learning, prayer, and entertainment
See the schedule here. If you're interested and need financial assistance, contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner at deborah@havurahshalom.org.
(7) Play Reading of "God of Vengeance" In Preparation for "Indecent" Shabbaton, Wednesdays, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14, 7:00 pm, Havurah Shalom – To support the joint Shabbaton over Labor Day weekend with Temple Emek Shalom, Emily Simon will lead an informal, participatory play reading of "God of Vengeance," the play on which "Indecent" is based. Act I will be read on Aug. 7, and Act II will be read on Aug. 14. The evenings will begin with a short show introduction by Emily, who will then assign the parts based upon who shows up and what part they want to read. Hopefully there will be enough time after the reading to then discuss the play. Everyone is welcome to participate in either evening event (no need to attend both), whether they are attending the Shabbaton, seeing "Indecent" at another time, have already seen it, or are not seeing it at all. Please RSVP here for Aug. 7 and RSVP here for Aug. 14.You can read a pdf of the play here.
(8) Shabbat in the Pool, Saturday, Aug. 10, 5:15-7:30 pm– We've got the Sellwood Pool to ourselves for Shabbat games followed by a potluck picnic and Havdalah. Music? Yes! Fun for everyone? You bet! RSVP here to save your spot and help us know how many lifeguards to request.
(9) Middle School for 2019-20 – We are planning for Havurah Middle School and hope you will join us. Havurah Middle School is for those who will be in Grades 7 and 8 in the autumn. The goals of Havurah Middle School are Kehillah and Kesher: Community and Connection. The Havurah Middle School program aims to be fun and help students expand their circle of relationships and community. It is structured to accommodate the fact that many families are involved with Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation or other transitions. The classes and activities tend toward a Jewish cultural focus, rather than religious, and expose the students to diverse ways of being Jewish. There is always a good dose of Jewish cooking and food!
We will meet on the following Wednesdays: Sept. 25; Oct. 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec. 4, 11; Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26; March 4, 11, 18. Watch for a special email coming soon with more information about Middle School and a link to a registration form.
(10) Havurah High for 2019-20 – We are planning High School for next year and look forward to welcoming new and returning students in the fall. The coming year promises to be an exciting and engaging one with opportunities for students to learn from each other and our High School Educator, David Feder. In Havurah High, teens in grades 9-12 explore, challenge, and reflect on questions that arise from their multi-faceted identities as teens, Jews, Americans, and modern people with particular experiences and perspectives. The curricular focus comes from expressed student interest as well as the educator’s expertise.
Havurah High School classes meet on the following Wednesday nights: Sept. 25; Oct. 16, 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 20; Dec. 4, 11; Jan. 8, 15, 29; Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26; March 4, 11, 18; April 1,15, 22. Watch for a special email coming soon with more information about Havurah High and a link to a registration form.
(11) Reconstructing Judaism Annual Report Video– Have you seen the most recent Reconstructing Judaism Annual Report video? Check out the background at two minutes and 21-24 seconds to find a Havurahnik in the background.
(12) Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Donate $9,000 to Hand in Hand– The following was posted yesterday by JTA: "The Times of Israel announced today that US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said she is donating $9,000 to a network of bilingual Hebrew and Arabic schools in Israel. "The grant to schools operated by Hand in Hand comes from prize money that Bader Ginsburg, who is Jewish, was awarded in winning the 2019 Gilel Storch Award from a Stockholm-based organization called Jewish Culture in Sweden, Haaretz reported." Read the full story here.
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.
