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.
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.