End of Life
Cemetery Committee
Havurah's Cemetery Committee is led by Dave Weil, David Ellenberg, and Evan King. The committee helps Havurah members purchase cemetery plots and manages other aspects of the cemetery. Every year the committee brings the Havurah community together during High Holidays to remember loved ones who have passed away and organizes an annual cemetery beautification day. You can find information about the cemetery below.
In the Event of a Death
If you are a member of Havurah Shalom and experience a death in the family, you can reach Rabbi Benjamin at 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you need to make funeral, burial or shiva minyan arrangements, and Rabbi Benjamin is out of town and can't be reached, his voicemail message will direct you to the pastoral support person who can assist you.
Yahrzeits
If you would like Havurah to notify you when the yahrzeit dates of your loved ones are approaching, you can log into your Havurah membership account and add the names and dates there.
If you haven't logged in as a member yet, click on the "login" link in upper right corner of our website, enter the email address where you receive Havurah correspondence, and create a password for yourself. You'll receive an email from Havurah confirming that your password has been received, and then you'll be able to log into your account any time. If you have questions, call 503-248-4662.
Chevra Kadisha
A chevra kadisha is a group of men and a group of women who perform the traditional Jewish ritual of preparing individuals for burial. This service is one of chesed shel emet (ultimate kindness). In order to maintain the dignity of the one who has died, the ritual is performed by chevra members who are the same gender as the deceased. Chevra Kavod haMet is a chevra kadisha for several Jewish communities in the Portland area.
Resources
- Commentary and Research by Diane Chaplin about Jewish mourning traditions
- Books for Children and Families about terminal illness, aging and death, in a Jewish context
- Books for Adults About Death in a Jewish Context, which can be checked out from Havurah's library
- Reference Information from end-of-life workshops at Havurah by former Havurah member Rabbi Me'irah Iliinsky
- Video of Rabbi Iliinsky's Interactive Play at Havurah on Tahara
Cemetery
Havurah Shalom's cemetery is located off the Sylvan Hill, just west of downtown Portland, at 5656 SW Humphrey Blvd. You can find directions below.
This interview with founding member Elden Rosenthal describes how and why Havurah established the cemetery shortly after the congregation was formed and the egalitarian concepts the cemetery reflects.
Havurah works closely with Holman’s Funeral Service to coordinate funerals at our cemetery. Holman's is located at 2610 SE Hawthorne Blvd. You can call 503-232-5131 to make arrangements or to learn about preplanning to make the end of life less stressful.
If you are a member of Havurah and need to make funeral, burial, or shiva minyan arrangements, please contact Rabbi Benjamin at 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If he is out of town and can't be reached, his voicemail message will direct you to the pastoral support person who can assist you.
These are some helpful resources for making burial arrangements:
Directions to the Cemetery
Click here to see driving and public transit (TriMet) directions to Havurah's cemetery, a section of the Jones Cemetery located at 5656 SW Humphrey Blvd in Portland, Oregon (Southwest Hills).
Sat, December 2 2023
19 Kislev 5784
Need Help? If you are a Havurah member in need of help, log in to find resources here.
Havurah Updates
Hineinu: Rebecca Clarren Book Convo, Adult B'nei Mitzvah Due Date, Kabbalat Shabbat, Chanukah
The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance by Havurahnik Rebecca Clarren
5:30 to 7 pm, Wednesday,
Hineinu Correction: Regarding Two Events Tomorrow (Tuesday, November 28)
Correction: Upcoming Havurah Events
Havurah Book Group to Discuss The
Upcoming Events
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Saturday ,
DecDecember 2 , 2023
Shabbat, Dec 2nd 5:15p to 8:00p
Grade 4 Shabbat School class gets together to hang out and have fun! -
Sunday ,
DecDecember 3 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 3rd 10:00a to 12:00p
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Sunday ,
DecDecember 3 , 2023
Sunday, Dec 3rd 6:30p to 8:00p
Watch Selma before we meet, and we'll discuss the film together over Zoom. (Film rating: PG-13; teens welcome to join too.) -
Monday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2023
Monday, Dec 4th 1:00p to 4:00p
We are excited to bring mahjong back to Havurah. It is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. And while some of us may play elsewhere as well, we all agreed that restoring its place as an ongoing congregational activity will be a good fit for Havurah and those of us who play or want to learn the game. So please don't hesitate to join us! -
Monday ,
DecDecember 4 , 2023
Monday, Dec 4th 7:00p to 8:30p
We will explore the military occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip through film, lectures, and discussion. We will ask questions about the declared purposes, political and legal foundations, impact, and future of the Occupation. Led by Joel Beinin. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2023
Tuesday, Dec 5th 7:00p to 8:30p
Join members of the Havurah Leadership Development Committee to learn more about our unique community and the ways we all support each other in our participatory culture. All members are welcome to join us! -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2023
Tuesday, Dec 5th 7:00p to 8:30p
Eyal Bitton is the cantor at Portland's Neveh Shalom and was raised in the Moroccan Jewish community in Montreal. Through lecture and song, he will examine various elements of Moroccan sacred music—synagogue song, cantillation of sacred texts, the piyyut (liturgical poetry), and life cycle songs. Moroccan Jews have a very rich and proud religious culture, and a varied and ancient musical tradition, reflecting its Moroccan milieu, its Andalusian heritage, and more. -
Tuesday ,
DecDecember 5 , 2023
Tuesday, Dec 5th 7:30p to 8:45p
Jewish text study is similar to tuning a radio. Each type of text—TaNaKH (Bible), Rabbinic Literature (Midrash and Talmud), Medieval Commentary (Rashi, ibn Ezra, Nachmanides) and Mystical (Kabbalistic and Hasidic)—operates on a different frequency. Each seeks to clarify what we are hearing about the world, following a set of rules. Each reads the world’s signals. We will spend two weeks tuning into specific passages from the four genres. Hebrew is not necessary for this overview , although we will read some of the “greatest hits” together in the original. Transistor radios preferred to digital, because we are all subject to static. Led by Rabbi Joey Wolf. -
Wednesday ,
DecDecember 6 , 2023
Wednesday, Dec 6th 4:00p to 6:00p
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Wednesday ,
DecDecember 6 , 2023
Wednesday, Dec 6th 6:30p to 8:30p