Long Range Plan
Long Range Plan - Executive Summary
Havurah Shalom’s founding members were committed to creating a vibrant, participatory, diverse, welcoming Jewish community for their families. When they first started gathering in 1978, no one could have predicted they were establishing an enduring congregation that would become the third largest in the Portland Metro area and an important center for progressive thought, learning and education.
Our latest Long Range Plan work has been an effort to identify who we are from a demographic view and also discover how members feel about our community’s mission and values, our wide range of programs and our current challenges.
The Long Range Plan process began during 2020 and has continued for close to two years. You can find specifics about who was involved in developing and executing the process and congregational responses here.
Throughout the Long Range Plan process, we have been able to validate the values that guide our community leaders, members and staff. In the Havurah survey, we asked members to reflect on each of our values and identify their importance and how we are doing in living according to the values. The results of that question are in the chart below.
The chart shows that Havurah members feel that community, lovingkindness, tikkun olam, respect, inclusivity and sustainability are the most important values. We have the largest variation between the importance and how well we are living up to our values in the areas of inclusivity and sustainability.
Not surprisingly, most of the data collected by the Long Range Plan Committee has focused on the effects of the community’s growth, including specific challenges to our historical governance, staff, and participation models. Based on our data analysis efforts, these are the top recommendations from the plan that are being presented to the Steering Committee in January 2023.
1) Consider/assess the sustainability of our participatory model with 500+ member households
2) Revisit how we welcome people – How are our systems set up to be welcoming and to encourage a sense of belonging?
3) Continue and expand inclusivity and belonging focus through work of Anti-Racism and Belonging Task Force
4) Continue to emphasize increasing space and staff to adequately support the size of our membership
5) Create/invest in ongoing programs for 20’s and 30’s cohort
6) Continue to provide resources for teen engagement, with an emphasis on social activities
7) Create opportunities for younger members to feel encouraged and invited into leadership
8) Evaluate the Shabbat School structure and the parent teaching model
9) Consider/assess how our structure and policies impact those who feel they aren’t able to be full financial participants in our dues model
10) Create opportunities for integration of Shabbat School and b’nei mitzvah into the Havurah community
11) Consider how our aging population is impacting need for pastoral care and our financial sustainability
12) Focus time and energy resources on finding parking solutions in the neighborhood
The links below will take you to more detailed information and a sample of graphs that show the dominant themes of the Long Range Plan findings.
- Growth – How have we grown? How old are we? Where do we live?
- Participation – How do current participation levels reflect this core value we share?
- Staffing – With our recent growth, what staff support is needed for members?
- Space – What do we think the next steps should be for ensuring we meet our needs for space?
- Finances – How do we feel about membership dues?
- Inclusivity – How are we doing in making sure members feel welcomed to the community?
Complete sets of graphs and charts capturing responses to the demographic census and the survey can be found here:
If you have questions about any of the material, please contact Sam Sirkin, Debbi Nadell or Adela Basayne.
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
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Havurah Updates
Hineinu: Pride Shabbat in the Park This Friday, Call for Visual Art, and More
Havurah's Pride Shabbat in the Park
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (6:30 pm Service, 7:30 pm Potluck Dinner), Friday, July 19
Upcoming Events
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Saturday ,
JulJuly 27 , 2024
Shabbat, Jul 27th 10:00a to 12:00p
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. For Zoom link (Zoom Room Aleph), email info@havurahshalom.org. -
Monday ,
JulJuly 29 , 2024
Monday, Jul 29th 6:00p to 7:30p
We will resume our monthly letter writing on the last Monday of each month to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact David Lewis. Havurah members and non-members welcome. RSVP for Zoom info. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 1 , 2024
Thursday, Aug 1st 5:30p to 7:00p
The Havurah Ma’avar Committee is offering a six-week grief process-support group for Havurah members. Each group session will be held virtually Thursday evenings, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, beginning July 11 through August 15. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate the group with a focus on the dying experience, the impact of the relationship, the things unsaid, making peace within ourselves, forgiveness, and continuing the relationship after death. -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 3 , 2024
Shabbat, Aug 3rd 10:00a to 12:00p
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. For Zoom link (Zoom Room Aleph), email info@havurahshalom.org. -
Monday ,
AugAugust 5 , 2024
Monday, Aug 5th 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! For Havurah members and prospective members. -
Monday ,
AugAugust 5 , 2024
Monday, Aug 5th 7:00p to 8:15p
A gender-inclusive New Moon group, learning and celebrating each Rosh Ḥodesh with ancient and contemporary ritual. Open to any and all genders, inviting each to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. An introductory meeting will happen on the full moon of Elul on Wednesday, Aug. 30 outdoors—weather permitting—in North Portland. Subsequent meetings will be on or near the new moon of each month either in person in North Portland or on Zoom, depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year. -
Thursday ,
AugAugust 8 , 2024
Thursday, Aug 8th 5:30p to 7:00p
The Havurah Ma’avar Committee is offering a six-week grief process-support group for Havurah members. Each group session will be held virtually Thursday evenings, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm, beginning July 11 through August 15. Chaplain Candi Wuhrman will facilitate the group with a focus on the dying experience, the impact of the relationship, the things unsaid, making peace within ourselves, forgiveness, and continuing the relationship after death. -
Friday ,
AugAugust 9 , 2024
Friday, Aug 9th 10:00a to 12:00p
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Saturday ,
AugAugust 10 , 2024
Shabbat, Aug 10th 10:00a to 12:00p
Please join us in welcoming Sebastian Mellman as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community. -
Monday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2024
Monday, Aug 12th 8:00p to 9:30p
Tisha B’Av is a powerful holy day in our cycle of Jewish time. Yet, it is often overlooked, considered as just a day of mourning for the destruction of the temples. We will look at how Tisha B’Av came to be the collecting point of Jewish loss, grief, and displacement as well as what Alan Lew calls “the moment of turning, the moment when we turn away from denial and begin to face exile and alienation as they manifest themselves in our own lives...Teshuvah – turning is the essential gesture of the entire High Holiday season.” We will also commemorate Tisha B’av with a short ritual that helps us being the process of Teshuvah. All are welcome. Stay tuned for an update on the location/medium of delivery: This event will be at Havurah Shalom and/or on Zoom. Havurahniks, please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner, deborah@havurahshalom.org if you would like to help plan this ritual.