Click here or on our logo below to watch our video celebrating the 40th anniversary of Havurah Shalom Shabbat School!
Thank you to everyone who was involved!
Havurah Events
Community Minyan Saturdays, Dec. 21 & 28, 10 am - 12 pm
Our Community Minyan is a welcoming and spirited service that includes davening, Torah reading and discussion. Led by Rabbi Benjamin or community members. Lunch follows. Childcare is available.
Mah Jongg Sunday, Dec. 22, 10 am - 1 pm
Contact Gloria Halper to RSVP.
Join One of Our Hanukah Celebrations Dec. 22-30, various times (must be logged in) 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?Click here to log in and then fill out the form!
Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation Tuesdays, Dec. 24 & 31, 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. 25, 8:30 am - 9:00 am
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Events at the ICE Facility
Light Up the Night! Monday, Dec. 23, 4 pm - 7pm, PDX ICE Headquarters: 4310 SW Macadam Ave.
Rabbi Ariel Stone is hosting a gathering to celebrate the message of Hanukah! Children are dying in camps along the border. Families are living in fear. We have seen this before and we won’t let it happen again. Join us to mourn those who have died in ICE detention, and to remind the world that Never Again is Now! Thoughts and prayers won't save lives; it is our actions that matter.
Bring a menorah if you have one. We’ll light 3 candles (2nd day of Hanukkah + the sham ash) and defy the darkness of the evil of this administration. All Jews and allies welcome! This is a peaceful family friendly event. Bring your signs, banners, and resistance art! Click herefor more information and to share this event on social media.
Last Thursday Witness: IMIrJ Vigil at ICE Thursday, Dec. 26, 10 am, PDX 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.
Sign Up for Our Workshops!
InterPlay Torah Study Tuesdays, Jan. 7, 14, 21; Feb. 4, 11, 18, 7 pm - 9 pm at Havurah
Step into the Living Torah! Beginning in text, we’ll use simple, incremental forms of “sacred play” to find and express our own meaning and connections. Using voice, movement, story, stillness, and a bissel silliness, we’ll tell and witness each other’s stories, and learn ways to encourage and cultivate personal midrash and Torah-based narrative. Through embodied Torah study, we find ways to discover and express meaning, EVEN WHEN WE CAN’T ARTICULATE IT. For cultural creatives and recovering serious people, newbies and scholars. Fun as a spiritual practice!RSVP by clicking here.
Chari Smith offers two opportunities to sing our Jewish stories together.
Teens and adults welcome. Questions? Contact Chari at charismith@comcast.net or 971-409-5036.
Music Workshop: Songs from Freedom the Untold Story of Moses Sunday, Jan. 5, 4pm – 5pm Do you love to sing and are looking for a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon? Come join this one-time musical workshop, exploring songs from my new musical, Freedom: The Untold Story of Moses. This special afternoon gathering will focus on exploring the songs, piloting the harmonies, and spending time hearing a brand new piece of art. The music ranges from rock‘n‘roll to blues, lots of opportunities for singers of any range! And if you love what you hear, you can join us for an extended workshop series January to March 2020. Register here.
Musical Theater New Works Workshop Rehearsals on Mondays, January 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10, 17, 24; March 2, 16, 30; 7 - 8:30 pm; Performance date: Sunday, April 5, 2 pm and 7 pm If you consider yourself a creative actor/singer who loves musical theater and trying new things, then please join us for this first ever musical theater workshop series. We are writing a musical—Freedom: The Untold Story of Moses—and want to work with a group of passionate performers to develop a physical, spiritual, and musical language for the piece. You can be a part of bringing the script to life and pick up a few tips and tricks to musical theater performance along the way! This will culminate in a staged reading performance of the first act at Havurah Shalom. Please register here. Led by Chari Smith and Kelly Lyons.
Havurah Leadership Training Sunday, 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.
Havurah Writers Workshop: Sign Up 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 – 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. Sign up for the class here!
Limited to 8 participants. 8 sessions on Thursdays. Call David to sign up, or if you have questions.
Coming Up in January
Kabbalat Shabbat Friday, Jan. 10, 6:30 pm dinner & 7:30 pm service
Our catered vegetarian Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm. Sign up to attend by clicking here!
This event happens with the help of many volunteers. Please sign up by clicking here if you're able to help.
Inside Havurah
Give Your Input on the Machzor Selection Process
The Machzor Task Force would like to get your feedback on our short list of 3 books, which are all easily readable, egalitarian, and transliterated. Please fill out this short survey to share your opinions of these 3 solid options. You can familiarize yourself with the books virtually by clicking on the links inside the survey, and physically by handling them at Havurah. The books will be out on a table in the entrance from Dec. 11- Jan. 10. Please do not remove them from the building! Questions? Contact Susan Brenner, Sacha Reich, Cindy Merrill and Sarah Wetherson.
New Havurah Photo Submission Policy
If you submit photos to our staff, we have new rules about what we can do with them and how we will credit you! Check out the policy here.
Dues & Donations for 2019 Tax Credit
In late January, we will send out the 2019 tax letter showing your donations (including dues) for the year. If you wish to make a donation or pay/pay off your dues, please make sure the funds reach the Havurah office by Dec. 31. If you are paying with stock, allow for a three-day settlement period. If you wish to pay online, use this link. If you are mailing in a check, please drop it off at the office or mail it with enough time for a 12/31 arrival. Thank you. Contact Karen Westerman with questions.
No Meeting for Book Discussion Group in December
The next meeting will be January 28, 7 - 8:30 pm at Havurah. The book for that discussion is Necessary Stories by Haim Watzman. Discussion led by Stacy Hankin.
Tikkun Olam
Poverty & Homelessness
Support Houseless Neighbors with Item Donations Saturday, Dec. 21, 3-5 pm, SE Salmon and Vera Katz Esplanade
Havurah, along with The Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, is collecting needed winter items (see this list) for houseless folks. On Dec. 21, there will be a vigil with items given out, a Las Posadas procession, and stories from houseless folks. After the vigil, people will be walking to City Hall to call for an end to "sweeps" of the houseless (see event flyer). Items collected after Dec. 21 will be brought to Sisters of the Road, a sponsor of this event.
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's Monthly Meeting Thursday, Jan. 9, 12pm - 2 pm
Fremont United Methodist Church, 2620 NE Fremont
Come to a monthly Alliance meeting to hear from those affected by poverty, and those working on reducing to ending it. Attached here is the presentation by John Mulvey. John, formerly houseless, is the Co-Chair of the East Portland Action Plan Housing Committee, He covered a range of issues related to population and poverty, displacement of people in the Portland area and initiatives to increase the strength and financial health of those living in East Portland.
Sanctuary
Are You Interested In Going On a Border Delegation Trip? Monday, December 30th, 7 pm - 8:30 pm at Havurah
The Havurah Sanctuary Committee is exploring organizing a border delegation for Havurah adult members (over 18 years old) to the southern border. This would be an educational and spiritual opportunity to experience first hand the situation at our border from an immigrant and asylum seeker's perspective. This is not a service focused trip but there will be some service component. We hope that this will be an intentional experience to galvanize people to action and advocacy, although we understand that each person attending will get different benefits for participating.
We are thinking of a trip of between six and ten days with a total cost of about $1000 for both airfare and ground expenses. We hope to arrange some scholarship money to reduce the financial barrier. We are thinking about a trip to El Paso, Texas, USA/Ciudad Juárez, México. And we hope we can arrange a connection with the Jewish community at our destination location.
This first meeting will be to explore what a delegation could look like an to answer questions. We will have people attending who have been on similar delegations. Please RSVP here.
Needed for the LIFT UP Community Christmas Dinner Drop off at Havurah by Dec. 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!
Other Upcoming Events
The Sephardic Winter Film Series Returns! Jan. 14; Feb. 11; March 2 at 7 pm, 6686 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland
Sponsored by Ahavath Achim, the series will feature a film monthly on Tuesday evenings from December to March. Click here for the schedule.
Weekend In Quest: The Dreyfus Affair Friday, March 6, 3:00 pm and ending at noon on Sunday, March 8; Holiday Inn Express, Astoria, Oregon
The Institute for Judaic Studies Presents the 14th Annual Weekend in Quest — Friends, Foes, Fanatics and Proto-Fascists: The Dreyfus Affair in Fin-de-Siècle* France (1894-1906). Professor Evlyn Gould of the University of Oregon will present 4 lectures. Shabbat Services & Saturday evening program will be led by Havurah’s own Beth Hamon & Liz Schwartz. (*Fin-de-siècle = End of the century) Register here.
Jewish Life & Learning
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.
