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. This event happens with the help of many volunteers. Please sign up by clicking here if you're able to help.

Community Minyan
Saturday, Jan. 11, 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.

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. 19 & 26, 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 here. If you have questions about the training, contact Debbi Nadell.

Havurah Writers Workshop: Sign Up Now!
Thursday, Jan. 16 - 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 if you have questions.

Jewish Mindfulness and Meditation
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 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.

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!

Morning Minyan
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 8:30 am - 9:00 am
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish.

Sanctuary Committee Meeting & Potluck
Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30 pm - 9pm
Our regularly scheduled Sanctuary Committee meeting will include a potluck sharing of food. Come at 6:30 pm to share and socialize. Are regular meeting will start around 7:15 pm. Agenda will be sent to the Sanctuary Committee email list. All are welcomed. Contact Bob Brown to be added to the Sanctuary Committee email list.

Mah Jongg
Friday, Jan. 17, 2 pm - 5 pm
Mah Jongg at Havurah! We meet on Sundays, which are determined by the Havurah calendar, so they are not consistent at this point. A doodle poll goes out to those on our list. If you are interested in being on the list and would like more info, contact Gloria Halper.

Maintenance Work Party!
Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 pm - 4 pm
Join our handy-people as they work on fix-it projects around the building.

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.

Refa’einu Healing Circle
Sunday, Jan. 26, 3 pm - 4:15 pm at Havurah
The Refa’einu Healing Circle will be offered periodically on Sunday afternoons. The purpose of this circle is to provide sacred space and time to focus on healing and wholeness. Through contemplative teachings, sacred chant, guided and silent meditations, and prayer, we open to healing energy—however it is needed in our lives, our families, our communities, our planet. Tivona Reith will lead the first of these circles on Sunday, January 26, from 3:00-4:15pm.

Refa’einu, Yah, v’neirafei — Heal us, Source of All Healing, and we will be healed.

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, Feb. 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.

Parenting with Multiple Layers
Monday, Feb. 10 & 24, 7 pm - 8:30 pm
Parenting is challenging. Although each situation is unique and parenting experiences differ tremendously, mental or physical health conditions, addiction, history of trauma, and some kinds of disabilities can add another layer to parenting. Systemic social issues like stigma, marginalization, lack of services, or general lack of knowledge can add yet more layers and create further challenge. These 2 sessions aim to begin to build a safe space for parents to be heard, break down the isolation that can come with parenting with many layers, and explore how Jewish community and Judaism can be helpful. Facilitated by Laura Orgel, psychologist and child/family therapist, and Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.
Max. 8 participants (members of Havurah); commitment to confidentiality prior to attendance required. Please contact Laura Orgel by January 20 to indicate your interest.

Last Chance to Give Input on the Machzor Options
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.

InterPlay Torah Study Cancelled
The remaining sessions of InterPlay Torah Study have been cancelled. Look for an afternoon of embodied learning, personal midrash, and playful connection. Date and time TBA.

Lost Your Tallis?
Havurah has a growing collection of tallitot that have perhaps been left behind after services. Could one of them be yours? Contact Rachel Pollak if you suspect the answer is yes! You can arrange to come in and look at them.

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. Read the new issue of Hakol here!

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.

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.

20th Annual Community Havdalah
Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 pm
Cedar Sinai Park, Rose Schnitzer Manor, 6140 SW Boundary St.
Rabbi Hannah Laner (P'nai Or) will lead the service and dancers from local Israeli Folk Dancing groups will entertain. Refreshments provided. Havurah has been a sponsor of this event for many years.

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.

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 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.

Find our calendar and learn more at havurahshalom.org, or call 503-248-4662.