The Havurah calendar for January 2020 can be printed out here or seen on the website here. The website calendar will be consistently updated.
Upcoming Events
Morning Minyan Wednesday, Jan. 1 & 8, 8:30 am - 9:00 am
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.
Text & Torah: Counting the New Years & Torah of Healing Emotions Saturday, Jan. 4, 10 am - 12 pm
This Text & Torah service will be led by Diane Chaplin and Harriet Cooke. Childcare is available.
Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation Tuesday, Jan. 7, 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.
Artwork by Cassandra Sagan
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.
Music & Meaning in the Shabbat Morning Service Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7 pm - 8:30 pm
A walk through the Shabbat morning service, focusing on the prayers we generally sing at Havurah. We will learn melodies and engage with the meaning and resonance of each prayer and of the service as a whole. These three sessions build on each other, but students are welcome to come to any or all. Taught by Rabbi Benjamin.
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.
Tot Shabbat Saturday, Jan. 11, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling, followed by a nosh and time to play and schmooze.
Jewish Power & Powerlessness Sunday, Jan. 12; March 15, 10 am - 12 pm
The 20th century gave us examples of the most extreme Jewish powerlessness and unheard-of Jewish power as well. But the history of Jews and political, military, and social power — especially so-called “soft power” — is much more complicated, much more nuanced than popular consciousness has led us to believe. How did Jews use communal wisdom and the concerted application of influence to ensure centuries of survival? Where was the Church, the Reformation, the growth of secular power and the emergence of modern society for all of this? There are several perspectives to consider, and we’ll break it down, from Philo to philo-Semitism. Taught by David Feder.
Havurah Leadership Training Sunday, Jan. 12; March 15, 2 pm - 4:30 pm
Information on the three sessions can be found in the November Hakol or here.If you have questions about the training, contact Debbi Nadell.
Alter Rockers Go to the Movies Tuesday, Jan. 14
4:30 pm - Happy Hour at Seasons and Regions, 6660 SW Capitol Highway 7 pm - Sephardic film: A Kiss to This Land, 6686 SW Capitol Highway
Join us for Happy Hour and a Sephardic Winter Film Festival movie. Admission and Sephardic dessert are free! This fascinating film narrates the story of Jewish immigration to Mexico 1920-1930. It is a tribute to an entire generation of both Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews who built communities and new lives and dreams after leaving their homes in Europe and the Middle East. This film has humor, love, adventure, joy and sadness. Spanish with English subtitles: 83 minutes. Producer: Daniel Goldberg. Speaker: Jose Behar. RSVP here!
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. Contact David to sign up, or if you have questions.
Step into Havurah Saturday, Jan. 25, 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Are you new to Havurah? Or have you been a member for awhile but don't know what's been going on in the synagogue? Have questions about how decisions are made? This is an opportunity to learn about the inner workings of Havurah! This session will offer some history, explain its organizational structure, and explore how our congregation is different from other synagogues. RSVP here.
Book Group Discusses Necessary Stories by Haim Watzman Tuesday, Jan. 28, 7 pm - 8:30 pm at Havurah
Twenty-four stories of Israeli and Jewish life, chosen from the more than one hundred Haim Watzman has written over the last nine years in his "Necessary Stories" column in the Jerusalem Report. Bookended by a flashback to his first weekend in Israel forty years ago and a storytelling encounter on a recent flight back home from the US, these stories-funny, meditative, and sad, set in immigrant camps, the army, and the author's own neighborhood in south Jerusalem-uniquely capture what it is like, in our age, to be an Israeli and a Jew. The stories touch on technology, immigration, marriage, parenting, death, duty, and tradition in modern Israel and contemporary Judaism. Discussion led by Stacey Hankin.
Sacred Action: Contemplative Practice for Engaging in the World Wednesdays, Jan. 29 - March 4, 12 pm - 1 pm Facilitated by Rabbi Benjamin
In what ways can Jewish spiritual practice guide our work for healing and justice in the world? In this group we will explore this question together through learning, discussion, and practice. At each meeting we will engage in various modalities, including meditation, chanting, contemplative study, and self-reflection. Guidance will be given for continued practice and engagement between sessions. Our intention will be to form a trusting and supportive group as a foundation for this sacred work. No experience necessary, but participants should be able to commit to all or nearly all of the meetings.Please RSVP here! Limited to 12 participants.
Adult B'nei Mitzvah Saturday, February 1; 6 Sh’vat 5780; Parashat Bo
Please share in the joy of community and learning as Havurah Shalom’s Adult B’nai Mitzvah group is called to the Torah. RSVP here.
Amy Lennon
Kate Dreyfus
Benjamin Walters
Beth Yohalem-Ilsley
Laurel Singer
Patricia Schwartz
Curtis Shipley
Rachel Shipley
Nancy Spigal
Rochelle Hannah Cohen
Charles Green
David Naftali Kertzner
After services, you are invited to a luncheon sponsored by the B’nai Mitzvah group along with the help of the Havurah Community and other friends and family.
Inside Havurah
Staff Time
Brad, our Communications and Membership Coordinator, will be out of the office January 1 - January 6. If you have any immediate concerns, please contact Rachel or Adela.
Hakol Corrections
The print version of the January 2020 issue has the December 2019 calendar on page 11, and a misprint on the cover, stating "January 2019" instead of "January 2020." The online version of Hakol has been released with these issues corrected, and you can find the link to the printable calendar at the top of this email. Read the new issue of Hakol here!
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.
Tikkun Olam
A Warm Thank You!
Food was not the only item on the menu for the Lift UP/Beth Israel Community Christmas Dinner, an annual event since 1985. The 330 guests who attended at Congregation Beth Israel selected socks, gloves, hats, and scarves, including some handknit beauties. Guests also took gift bags of toiletries. Lift Urban Portland and Meals on Wheels provided an additional 220 meals to those unable to attend the dinner. Leftover food went to shelters. Havurahniks Fran Berg, Alan and Karen Westerman, and Judy Steinberger helped with the non-food aspects of the event. Kudos to Karen for organizing our collection at Havurah. Others from Havurah helped with the meals. Thank to you all!
Volunteers Needed to Deliver Food Boxes Wednesday, Jan. 8, 11:15 am - 12:15 pm, 1620 NW 14th Ave.
We need two more people for our four-person team to distribute food boxes. Vibrant! is a new family-centered building for our low-income and previously unhoused neighbors. Our partner organization, Lift Urban Portland, will provide the food boxes on a monthly basis. All we need to do is to deliver them to residents who are unable to go to Lift UP's food pantry. Contact Ruth Feldman for details.
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty's Monthly Meeting Thursday, Jan. 9, 12 pm - 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.
Portland Homeless Family Solutions Family Village, 6220 SE 92nd Ave.
PHFS has moved into their new building in Lents. They house the families, and also provide all of the wrap-around services needed for them to keep their housing once they are rehoused. Support continues after they are rehoused to help ensure that the family does end up in their car or on the streets again. These same services are also provided for many families not at the shelter! Orientations will start again in January. Go to their website: PDXhfs.org. You can also contact Gloria Halper.
A Shabbat School Retrospective
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!
Jewish Life & Learning
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.
Women’s Giving Circle Is Now Accepting Grant Proposals Grant submission deadline: February 21, 2020
Award date: June 30, 2020
The Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy’s Women’s Giving Circle is now accepting grant proposals. The Women's Giving Circle is proud to impact our community through our collective giving. Together our giving reflects a vision and process that allows us to build a better world. This year, we are proud funders of the Rachel's Well Bodies of Water program, BB Camp's summer camp inclusion coordinator, the Rosh Chodesh annual joint women's retreat for the University of Oregon and Oregon State University Hillel students, the Shmirat Haguf Jewish yoga for women at the MJCC, and Rosh Chodesh groups at Chabad of Hillsboro Oregon. The Women’s Giving Circle’s now in our fourth year! We are looking forward to furthering our impact in the community. Apply here!If you have questions, please email Wendy at wendy@jewishportland.org.
Weekend In Quest: The Dreyfus Affair Friday, March 6, 3 pm through Sunday, March 8 at 12 pm
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.
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.
Israeli and Palestinian Literature Tuesday, May 26th 7:00p to 8:30p Literature offers a perspective on Israel/Palestine that centers the human dimension and reminds us of the vibrancy a of both modern Hebrew and Palestinian Arab culture. We will read four works of fiction whose themes and plots revolve around the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. This class was designed with those who have already taken “Thinking About Israel/Palestine” in mind. But this background is not required, as the literature speaks in its own terms. This class will take place in Zoom Room Dalet.
Tikkun Leyl Shavuot Thursday, May 28th 10:00p to 11:59p In partnership with Temple Emek Shalom in Ashland, with Rabbi Joshua Boettiger of TES and Rabbi Benjamin. Through the Gate of Praise: Love and Fear, Intimacy and Retreat - We often understand praise to mean heaping accolades upon a Divine being. But perhaps praise in the deepest sense is a singing from the heart, whether in grief or joy. We will explore texts ancient and contemporary expressing praise and inviting us into reimagining its relevance in our lives.
RSVP for Zoom join info. A password will be emailed to you.
Shavuot Celebration Friday, May 29th 7:00p to 9:30p Shavuot, which begins at sunset on May 28, commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai after the Exodus from Egypt. Also originating in an ancient pilgrimage holiday celebrating the grain harvest, today it’s a community observance, with Jews coming together to read the Book of Ruth, eat blintzes, and participate in Tikkun Leil Shavuot, study sessions lasting into the night. Those who attended Havurah’s Shavuot celebration last year will remember the festive spring greenery decorating the sanctuary and the poetry readings and late-night learning we enjoyed together.
Please join us via Zoom on Friday the 29th, as we celebrate Shavuot during this extraordinary time, when we need our community more than ever. We’ll begin with a short and sweet Shabbat service at 7:00, led by Rabbi Benjamin. Then stick around for a poetry reading and discussion featuring poems on this year’s congressional theme, Hineinu: we are here. Following the poetry, Rabbi Benjamin and Deborah will lead Leil Shavuot learning beginning at 9:15.
This celebration will take place in Zoom Room Aleph. Find the link in the weekly email, Hineinu, or contact the office at rachel@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662.
Community Minyan Shabbat, May 30th 10:00a to 12:00p Join our Community Minyan in celebrating Shabbat. Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion, as well as an opportunity to say Kaddish. We will meet virtually through Zoom Room Aleph while COVID-19 precautions are being observed. Log in to the website and then visit havurahshalom.org/zoom or call the office for join info (503-248-4662 ext. 2).
And the Walls Came Tumbling Down Monday, Jun 1st 3:00p to 4:00p A follow up to Emily Simon's May class “Staying Inside/Staying Alive” but can easily be taken independently. In the book of Joshua, we read of spies, G-D drying up a body of water for us to cross over into the Promised Land, and social disruption. Does any of this strike a familiar chord??? We also read (and will focus on) an absolutely heroic woman, Rahab (and for those of you who took the prior class - the antithesis of Lot's daughters) and her role in the walls tumbling down. Join us as we explore the first six chapters of the book of Joshua. Having a Tanach with you during the class will be very helpful. If you are feeling particularly inspired, you can read any part of the first six chapters prior to the class. And whether you have or haven’t, please feel free to join. This class will take place in Zoom Room Bet.
Book Discussion Group Monday, Jun 1st 7:00p to 8:30p This activity will take place in Zoom Room Bet. Join info for members is in the weekly email. Please be in touch with the office otherwise at 503-248-4662.
Discussion of Dr. Katharine Hayhoe's Keynote Earthday Presentation Wednesday, Jun 3rd 7:00p to 8:30p Join Havurah Climate Action Team for a discussion of Dr. Katharine Hayhoe’s thought-provoking and hopeful Earth Day Keynote Address, titled Healthy People, Healthy Planet. Her presentation, sponsored by Citizen’s Climate Lobby, is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prsCP44oitc&feature=youtu.be. The 40-minute keynote starts at 5 minutes. Dr. Hayhoe is a climate scientist who believes together we can fix global warming because many of the solutions are already in our backyard. This discussion will take place in a special Zoom Room to allow for public attendance. Please be in touch with the Havurah office for more info: info@havurahshalom.org.
