Poverty & Homelessness Committee
Poverty & Homelessness Committee
Poverty and homelessness continue to be major issues in Portland. We believe it is vital that Havurah continue to educate our community and be an active advocate in the ongoing goal to reduce the hardships, isolation, loneliness, and violence experienced by those who face unaffordable housing, wage inequity, racial/sexual discrimination, and mental and physical disabilities.
The Poverty & Homelessness Committee supports the work of various nonprofit agencies that we believe reflect these values held by the Havurah community. We support organizations through volunteer time, financial donations, and advocacy work.
Current co-chairs of this committee are Gloria Halper, Steve Rudman, and Jenn Louis.
Currently we are working with the following groups:
- Havurah has been a longtime supporter of Portland Homeless Family Solutions to empower homeless families with children for their long-term housing needs.
- Havurah is a partner congregation of the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty, a volunteer-driven, advocacy group of 14 Portland faith-based institutions. It offers an opportunity to become informed and involved with systems-change efforts to reduce poverty in our community. Their website offers educational resources and information. Join them for their first Thursday meetings at noon to listen to speakers addressing issues of homelessness and poverty. You must sign up for these virtual meetings through their homepage.
- Havurah supports The Common Good Project, founded by Havurah member Jenn Louis in 2020, which provides direct service to Portland's homeless population. Support includes building an ongoing relationship through the distribution of supplies to meet basic needs and supporting a project that employs our homeless neighbor to clean and maintain public streets.
- Havurah supports Lift Urban Portland, which provides food and supports low-income residents in northwest and downtown Portland.
- In 2021-22, Havurah added the RoseHaven Day Shelter for women, children, and marginalized genders experiencing homelessness and poverty. RoseHaven is the only day shelter and community center in Multnomah County supporting these vulnerable populations. Of interest to our Havurah community, RoseHaven is physically located in our NW neighborhood, only blocks from our synagogue, and it provides opportunities for our Education Committee for Youth volunteer projects.
Sun, May 29 2022
28 Iyyar 5782
Need Help? If you are a Havurah member in need of help, log in to find resources here.
Upcoming Events
-
Monday ,
MayMay 30 , 2022
Monday, May 30th 7:00p to 8:30p
We will read three novels that ponder the human response to severe trauma—William Styron's Sophie’s Choice, Toni Morrison's Beloved and Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things—and explore whether and how these novels illuminate how people process, integrate and adapt to traumatic events. -
Tuesday ,
MayMay 31 , 2022
Tuesday, May 31st 7:00p to 8:30p
Join the Leadership Development Committee for a two-part orientation for new Committee Chairs. We will be in Zoom Room Gimel. -
Wednesday ,
JunJune 1 , 2022
Wednesday, Jun 1st 7:00p to 8:30p
A thorough decoding of Exodus 13:17-17:16, Song of the Sea. We continue to build vocabulary and delve into what it means to escape oppression, rejoice, receive privilege at the expense of others, and keep moving. We will refer to ancient and modern midrashim (interpretation) that stem from the nuances of the Hebrew text. Basic Hebrew decoding ability needed (even slowly). Led by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner. We will meet in person and in Zoom Room Dalet. For login info, contact info@havurahshalom.org or see Hineinu. -
Wednesday ,
JunJune 1 , 2022
Wednesday, Jun 1st 7:00p to 8:15p
Rabbi Benjamin will guide students and parents in responding to the text with their own questions and walk through the Shabbat morning service. (Please check back close to the date of this event for information on gathering. Depending on circumstances, it may take place in person, on Zoom or both. If it will be accessed via Zoom, please use Zoom Room Heh. For login info, contact info@havurahshalom.org or see Hineinu.) -
Wednesday ,
JunJune 1 , 2022
Wednesday, Jun 1st 7:00p to 8:30p
For cohort members. (Members, please check back close to the date of this event for information on gathering. Depending on circumstances, it may take place in person, on Zoom or both. If it will be accessed via Zoom, please use Zoom Room Dalet. For login info, contact info@havurahshalom.org or see Hineinu.) -
Friday ,
JunJune 3 , 2022
Friday, Jun 3rd 10:00a to 12:00p
-
Saturday ,
JunJune 4 , 2022
Shabbat, Jun 4th 10:00a to 12:00p
Please join us in welcoming Arianna Gammage as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community. -
Sunday ,
JunJune 5 , 2022
Sunday, Jun 5th 10:00a to 12:00p
We will celebrate Shavuot with a morning service, including Yizkor and a short Torah service, and we will also welcome a new Torah to Havurah Shalom, lent by the Lager Family. Afterward, enjoy an oneg with simple dairy (and non-dairy!) treats. -
Monday ,
JunJune 6 , 2022
Monday, Jun 6th 12:00p to 4:00p
Mahjong meetups take place the first and third Monday of the month. At noon, we will offer a training session for beginners and those who want to brush up on their skills with experienced players, followed by the regularly scheduled game, which runs 1 to 4 pm. Based on interest, an evening option can be scheduled for people who are unable to attend during the day. Please contact Leah Hershey if you are interested. -
Monday ,
JunJune 6 , 2022
Monday, Jun 6th 5:30p to 6:30p
We are a group of Havurah members interested in climate social justice. We will be reading "Braiding Sweetgrass" to connect to indigenous wisdom about life and social action around the environment. We are reaching out to see if new people want to join our lively and joyful book discussions. Open to non-members as well as members. We will meet every other Monday through July 4.