Transparency Archive
Previous Transparency Q&As
Havurah's Transparency and Inclusivity Committee has invited Havurah members to submit questions to them about Havurah. Below is an answer to one of the questions. (Updated on April 24, 2023 to reflect current staffing.)
Question:
- What is the process when you have a great idea for a project to become a reality?
Answer:
- Determine which committee or cluster your idea is best connected to. You can do this by either looking at the organization chart on the website or asking the Gesher Team for their suggestions. The committee organization chart can be found on the Governance page of our website, and information about the Gesher Team can be found on the Planning an Activity page.
- Contact the appropriate person(s) and discuss your idea with them.
- Utilize the Principles and Practices: A Checklist for our Participatory Governance as a guide for the discussion as you develop the project or activity.
- Your idea might be found consistent with priorities and move forward, determined to be consistent but shelved for a later time if scheduling, space, staff, and/or volunteer resources are not available at that time, or found not to currently match congregational priorities.
Further questions about this process? Let Fran Weick or Judy Steinberger know, and they will try to answer them. You can find their email addresses in our membership directory on our website.
Question:
- I’m confused about who does what in the office so I know who to contact.
Answer:
When you visit or call the Havurah office, you will meet two staff members: Tara Anderson, the Participation & Publications Coordinator, and Rachel Pollak, the Office & Facilities Manager. Both can help you with general inquiries, but you may want to contact one or the other for the following things.
Tara's roles at Havurah include the following:
- Welcoming new and prospective members and providing information about Havurah in print and online
- Helping all members engage in the Havurah community by connecting them with groups, committees, and activities of interest to them
- Managing production of printed brochures, including annual community brochure
- Producing the monthly printed newsletter Hakol
- Sending weekly news emails to Havurah members about upcoming activities and opportunities and monthly emails to non-members interested in Havurah
- Managing Havurah’s website and social media
- Providing staff support to the Kehillah (community) cluster
- Providing planning guidelines so members know how to plan Havurah activities
- Managing Havurah’s branding, including logo, fonts, and color palette
- Managing external publicity and advertising, in print and online
Here are some of Rachel’s main roles:
- Assisting members with account questions, billing, and payments
- Helping b'nei mitzvah families and others to rent the building
- Reimbursing people for program expenses
- Managing contractors such as janitors, child care providers, IT support, and building maintenance providers
- With Makom cluster, being responsible for building upkeep, repairs, improvements, and security
- With Tara, adding events to the calendar and keeping it up to date
- Arranging set-up for Havurah events and other logistics
- Managing High Holiday logistics
- Supporting Havurah cemetery management
- Being a liaison to the Safety Committee
Both Tara and Rachel are always happy to help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to either of us if you’re not sure whom to call!
Is there something about Havurah you have wondered about or would like to better understand? Send your question/concern to transparency@havurahshalom.org and we will make sure to forward it to the appropriate person.
Wed, September 17 2025
24 Elul 5785
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Upcoming Events
IP = In person only (normally at Havurah Shalom);
ZM = On Zoom/online only;
HYB = In person and online; and
ANN = In person at Havurah's Annex.
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Sunday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2025
Sunday, Sep 14th (All day)
Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages. -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025
Thursday, Sep 18th (All day)
Havurah members, click to learn how to submit your contributions to our monthly newsletter, Hakol. -
Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025
Thursday, Sep 18th 5:30p to 7:30p
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025
Thursday, Sep 18th 6:30p to 9:00p
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Thursday ,
SepSeptember 18 , 2025
Thursday, Sep 18th 7:00p to 8:30p
During the High Holy Days we read four sections of the Torah. This series of study sessions will give us an opportunity to read the texts and explore their meanings. We will look at what our teachers before us thought of the readings, as well as investigate modern commentators. We also will come up with our own thoughts and see how we can understand the texts for our lives today. Led by David Dropkin. No experience necessary. Please join us. -
Friday ,
SepSeptember 19 , 2025
Friday, Sep 19th 12:00p to 1:30p
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Saturday ,
SepSeptember 20 , 2025
Shabbat, Sep 20th 10:00a to 12:00p
Led by community members and Rabbi Benjamin, this service includes davening, Torah reading, and discussion. Join us afterward for a light community brunch provided by the Lunches and Noshes Committee! Free childcare is provided. For Zoom information, please email info@havurahshalom.org. -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 21 , 2025
Sunday, Sep 21st (All day)
Hear the Sound of the Shofar each day of Elul (except Shabbat): Andrine, Diane & Howard (& sometimes Dominic & Wesley) help prepare us for Rosh Hashanah with shofar, deep thoughts, and a touch of kavanah (intention). Videos will be posted daily on Havurah's YouTube and Facebook pages. -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 21 , 2025
Sunday, Sep 21st 10:30a to 12:30p
Bake honey cake muffins to share with family and friends and start the New Year with a sweet treat. -
Sunday ,
SepSeptember 21 , 2025
Sunday, Sep 21st 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.
Address: 825 NW 18th Ave, Portland OR 97209 Phone: 503-248-4662
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