Community Minyan Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 am - 12pm
Our Community Minyan is a welcoming and spirited service that includes davening, Torah reading and discussion. Led by Rabbi Benjamin or community members. Childcare is available.
Familiar Food That Is Full of Surprises (and usually also garlic) [RSVP only] Sunday, Dec. 1, 10 am - 11:30 am
"The pen is mightier than the sword,” they say. But if you want rich, amazing, delicious Jewish culture and history, it’s hard to beat the spatula. Join us to learn some of the fascinating history behind old favorites and new inventions in the Jewish kitchen and table. We’ll discuss them, we’ll cook them, and best of all, we’ll eat them. Come interested, and come hungry! Taught by David Feder.
Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation Tuesday, Dec. 3, 12 pm - 1 pm
We gather on Tuesdays, from 12 pm to 1 pm, to find some moments of quiet and shalom. Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, and Nancy Becker.
Morning Minyan Wednesday, Dec. 4, 8:30 am - 9:00 am
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Dorot Shabbat Friday, Dec. 6, 6 pm - 7:30 pm
Short and sweet, casual, family-friendly and music filled, led by Rabbi Benjamin. The service begins at 6pm with candle lighting and kiddush. Followed by potluck dinner at 6:45pm.
Bar Mitzvah of Levi Mandelsberg & Community Minyan Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 am - 12 pm
Please join us in welcoming Levi Mandelsberg as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.
Tallit Class Sundays, Dec. 8, 10:30 am - 12 pm
We will learn to create a tallit, tie the tzitzit and learn the meaning of the gematria wound and knotted into the holy fringe. $7 for supplies! RSVP here.
Winter Welcome Tea for New and Prospective Members Sunday, Dec. 8, 11 am - 1 pm
A chance to connect for new and prospective members seeking more connection. We'll come together to schmooze, nosh, kibbutz, and learn about Havurah happenings. Join the Welcome Committee as we show up to build and enrich our relationships to one another in the spirit of Hinenu: We Are Here! Sign up for the event on our website by clicking here.
END GAME: A Film & Panel Discussion About the End of Life Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 pm - 6 pm
The Ma'avar committee will be showing END GAME. It is a film that share three stories of choices people make for their end of life and sometimes the choices that overtake them. Following the film, there will be a panel of folks where people who work in the field of palliative care, medical oncology social work, and hospice care will be present. All are welcome, including relatives and friends. You can RSVP here.
Cookie Call: Bakers Needed for This Event!
3-4 dozen cookies baked per person.
Please bring cookies to Havurah to be plated on Sunday morning. Please mark your cookies for dietary needs non-dairy (V), gluten-free (GF), nut-free (NF). Contact Fran Berg at to let her know if you'll bring them in.
Havurah Writers Workshop: Sign-up Now! (Correction Note: Classes Start Jan. 16, Sign-up Is Now!) Thursdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27, March 5; 7 pm - 9 pm; Public reading at a Friday Oneg, March 6
The Havurah Adult Writers Workshop begins on January 16, 2020 – three weeks earlier than listed in the 2019-2020 Havurah calendar. The workshop is for anyone who wants to explore their interest in prose writing – and is not a published writer or seeking feedback on a writing project.
Havurah member David Kertzner leads the workshop which focuses on memoir writing. We generate short pieces each week. Participants develop one piece in depth to share at a culminating Friday Oneg.
Limited to 8 participants, we meet for 8 sessions on Thursdays. Call David to sign up.
Human Rights Shabbat Friday, Dec. 13, 6:30 pm Dinner (RSVP only), 7:30 pm Service (open)
Saturday, Dec. 14, 10 am - 12pm
Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat services on Friday night and Saturday morning services as we gather for Human Rights Shabbat! Check the community email for more details about the dinner and service.
This year, T’ruah, the rabbinic call for human rights, is asking Jewish communities to go beyond what Human Rights Shabbat has been in the past and make a commitment to oppose racism in sustained ways — beyond a single Shabbat. We hope that this Shabbat will be a first step in exploring how our community can engage with racial justice and combat racism in our community and abroad.
Havurah Leadership Training Sunday, Dec. 15; Jan. 12; March 15, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
Please note that we are changing the time of our Leadership Training Classes to the afternoon. The new time is 2:00 pm - 4:30 pm on all three dates. More information on the three sessions can be found in the November HaKol or here.If you have questions about the training, contact Debbi Nadell.
Hanukah Neighborhood Celebrations Sunday, Dec. 22-30, various times - sign up!
This year, we are trying something different. Instead of one large Havurah Hanukah party, we will get together in smaller groups to light candles, sing songs, play dreidel, and eat latkes. If you are already hosting a Hanukah party, why not add some Havurahniks to your guest list? Or, if you would like to attend a neighborhood Hanukah party, let us know and we will find you a party to join.
Drivers Needed for Christmas Meal Deliveries Wednesday, Dec. 25, Congregation Beth Israel
Lift Urban Portland and Congregation Beth Israel needs more individuals or families to deliver meals to housebound folks on Christmas Day. Last year the meals-on-wheels volunteers delivered over 300 meals, about as many meals as was served at the dinner.
If you are able to help, please use the link: https://www.volunteersignup.org/MMACD. Scroll down to Meals on Wheels and click on the arrow. Enter the name of each family or team member. Please include separate email(s). This year drivers will be divided into two groups, the first should arrive at 10:00, and the second at 10:30.
If you drove last year or are a resident of Portland for more than 5 years with no traffic violations, you are good to go. If not, you will require a background check, which the team leader can facilitate. As Christmas approaches, you will receive updates and related details. For assistance or questions please contact Mike Freeman at Congregation Beth Israel.
Inside Havurah
Roots Visit to Portland: Following Up
Havurah turned out in numbers to hear the stories of personal transformation, truth, bravery, and the hope of reconciliation from Shadi Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger. They invite you to support their work in a number of ways:
Visit Rav Hanan’s personal website: www.ravhanan.org under the tab “Palestinian-Israeli Reconciliation”. Sign up on the home page to receive his monthly blog.
Donate to Friends of Roots now or through the website. It is tax deductible.
Wanted: Havurah Historian
Are you looking for a project that can be done mostly on your own, but that will enrich the life of the congregation? Havurah has a 40+ year history. We are looking for someone who can add memorable events to our timeline documents, both as they happen and by using archival material (like old Hakols) as a source. If this project sounds up your alley, contact Rachel Pollak to learn more!
Kitchen News: No Kvetching!
The Kitchen Committee would like to keep the fridge clean and organized! The refrigerator will be cleaned every two weeks by a rotating group of volunteers, who will dispose of any unlabeled foods and jars. All long term items like salad dressing and jam must be dated, and it will be helpful to state what the item was for and where it came from. We don't want to throw out anything that can be reused, but we also want to improve the chilled environment for our community!
Are You a Descendant of German Speaking Jews?
Do you have documents or artifacts from pre-WWII Europe that are in a box somewhere? The Leo Baeck Institute in NYC may be interested in archiving and preserving your items. They have approached me to help them identify folks who have artifacts, photos, and documents to potentially donate for preservation, research, and scholarship. Please contact Nancy at if you are interested in finding out more or have any questions.
Be a Welcomer at Havurah!
Attending an event at Havurah? If so, you can be a welcomer! Sign up here, grab a welcome button from the basket in the hallway, smile, be friendly, check in with people who may have come alone, and introduce people to each other! Contact Stefanie Hausman if you have questions.
Tikkun Olam
Tikkun Olam Adelante
Volunteers Needed to Teach English!
Havurah volunteers continue in our 3rd year teaching English at the Ortiz Center in NE Portland to men and women from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Beginning in January, two more volunteers are needed, one just until the first week in April. We teach on Monday mornings from 10am to 12pm. Requirements: Willingness to engage with people from other countries and cultures and a cheerful disposition. You do NOT have to have an education degree! For more information, please contact Judi Kloper.
Havurah Climate Action Team
Climate Change: Is It a Jewish Issue? Wednesday Dec. 11, 7 pm - 8:30 pm
Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Schnitzer Family Campus
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland
Join us for a panel discussion on the Climate Crisis from a Jewish perspective. The conversation will be led by Rabbi Tziv Fischer, Rabbi David Kosak and key experts.
The Havurah Climate Action Team is a cosponsor of this event with the Jewish Community Relations Council, MJCC, Portland Kollel, and Community Neveh Shalom. RSVP here.
Needed for the LIFT UP Community Christmas Dinner Drop off at Havurah by December 20
Each year, several hundred guests come for dinner on Dec 25 and each guest is given a toiletry kit and makes a choice for a hat, scarf, gloves and a pair of socks. We've noticed that there aren't enough large sizes and that many of our guests prefer dark colors. Are you a knitter? Can you make some hats and scarves? Or can you pick up some gloves and socks to donate? Please bring your (purchased) gloves and socks and your (hand-knitted) hats and scarves to Havurah. Thank you!
Volunteer for Lift UP Community Christmas Dinner Wednesday, Dec. 25, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Congregation Beth Israel, Goodman Hall
Congregation Beth Israel is again hosting the Lift Urban Portland Community Christmas Dinner. This beloved neighborhood event is attended by several hundred guests and is a popular volunteer opportunity. Last year over 200 people helped to make the dinner a success. This event will take place on Christmas Day in Goodman Hall, located on NW Flanders in the Schnitzer Family Center. Dinner will be served from 12 pm - 2 pm. Meals are also delivered to homebound individuals. Many volunteers are needed to make this event happen, including drivers to deliver meals. Delivering meals can be a family activity. Sign up to volunteer here starting November 1!
Other Events in the Community
Fighting Homelessness One Tiny House at a Time with Tivnu Wednesdays, Dec. 4, 11, 10 am - 3 pm
A field outside the MJCC, on Capitol Highway, opposite the Federation
Build a better Portland for all of us, one tiny house at a time! Join Havurah's longtime partner Tivnu: Building Justice along with PJA and Cascadia Clusters. Let's make this a New Year of security, opportunity, and community, working alongside the folks who really need it. Tivnu and partners will bring the tools and the construction coach; you bring the hands and the heart. Sign up now!Questions? Email Erik at Erik@Tivnu.org.
Jewish Life & Learning
Volunteer at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education Deadline: Dec. 8, 2019
The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE) is currently looking to expand our group of trained volunteer educators. As part of the Education Team, docents play a critical role in helping thousands of visitors and school groups engage with museum content each year. Docents participate in in-depth educational sessions on the Holocaust, Oregon Jewish history, and the history of discrimination and resistance in Oregon as well Jewish art and culture. In the museum, docents lead conversation style tours of core exhibitions as well as national and international temporary exhibits.
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge and giving back to the community as part of a like-minded group of volunteers, follow this link to fill out an application before the deadline.
Bend the Arc's Jeremiah Fellowship
Applications are open for the 2020 cohort of the Jeremiah Fellowship, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice’s national leadership program for young adult Jews who want to mobilize their community to fight for progressive change. Click here to start your application.
Reconstructing Judaism Newsletter
Interested in what’s happening in the national Reconstructing Judaism movement? Looking for some new ideas? Check out Reconstructing Judaism news here, or listen to the latest podcast.
Have a Question About Havurah?
The Transparency and 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. If you find yourself wondering about something related to Havurah, or if someone shares their question with you, we hope you contact us.
Send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org.
Please use this formto 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.
Find our calendar and learn more at havurahshalom.org or call 503-248-4662.
(HYB) Text and Torah Shabbat: "Forgotten" Jewish Rituals Shabbat, May 17th 10:00a to 12:00p One hour of text study with Diane Chaplin on special topics, followed by a brief service. 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@havurhshalom.org.
(IP) Shabbat School Summit Shabbat, May 17th 3:00p to 5:15p Summit for all Shabbat School Families. At least one parent/adult from each familiy needs to attend. If you have two adults and children in more than one grade, it is best to have one adult attend per grade.
(IP) New(ish) Member Brunch Sunday, May 18th 10:00a to 12:00p A schmear & schmooze brunch at Havurah Shalom from the Havurah Welcoming Committee for new members, newish members, and any Havurahniks who would appreciate being welcomed in again and learning about new ways to become more connected within the community. Questions? Email Wendy Castineira. Please RSVP!
You can also reach out to Tara Anderson, Havurah's Participation and Publications Coordinator (phone: 503-248-4662, ext. 4; email: tara@havurahshalom.org).
When you register, please let us know in the Notes section about any relevant dietary needs (vegan, gluten-free, etc.)
(IP) Jewish Ethical Responses to the Problem of Racism Monday, May 19th 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.
(IP) Last Music Jam of the Season! Monday, May 19th 7:00p to 8:30p Join your fellow Havurah musicians for our last jam of the season. We'll play and sing Jewish and secular songs, just for the joy of it! Everyone has the opportunity to choose and lead songs from a wide range of artists and eras. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP.
(IP) Hebrew as a Tool: Prayer and Torah (registration closed) Wednesday, May 21st 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.
