Hineinu, April 17, 2024

• An article by Rabbi Amy Eilberg and another article by Rabbi Jay Michaelson, both on talking about Israel/Palestine at the seder
• An article about the power of expanding upon the story of Passover, by Rabbi Joshua Boettiger
• A Haggadah supplement lifting up commentary from Jews of Color.
• Seder supplements from Keshet (for LGBTQ equality in Jewish life)
• Seder supplement from Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action
• Seder supplement from T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
• A Haggadah from Families for Ceasefire in Philadelphia
  
  If you are a Havurahnik looking to be matched with a Havurahnik seder host (or a Havurahnik seder host seeking guests), please contact Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) ASAP. We may be able to match you with a seder host or seder guest(s) by Friday.
  
  Check out the special Passover studies and services in the "Regular Havurah Happenings" section, below.
  
  Check out some additional Passover opportunities in the "Out in the Community" section, near the end of this Hineinu newsletter, including Havurahnik Chari Smith's concert of songs from Freedom: The Untold Story of Moses,  4 pm at the EJC, on Sunday, April 21. You can also find a list of numerous seder opportunities in the greater Portland area.

A Poem for Pesach
 
(An excerpt from Red Sea: April 2002, a poem by Aurora Levins Morales)

We cannot cross until we carry each other,
all of us refugees, all of us prophets.
No more taking turns on history's wheel,
trying to collect old debts no-one can pay.
The sea will not open that way. 

This time that country
is what we promise each other,
our rage pressed cheek to cheek
until tears flood the space between,
until there are no enemies left,
because this time no one will be left to drown
and all of us must be chosen. 
This time it's all of us or none. 

Experience the Omer: Making it Count!
7 pm to 7:30 pm, Tuesdays, April 23 to June 4 – Zoom Room Dalet
Come learn about the ancient practice of counting the Omer and find your own best practice for making the transition out of the Narrow Place of Mitzrayim to the Expansive Reception at Sinai. Apr. 9 (Intro), April 23 (Chesed), April 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), May 14 (Netzach), May 21 (Hod), May 28 (Yesod); June 4 (Malchut). Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP to join and to be emailed a recording of the hour-long intro session.

Shabbat School Registation is Open: Enroll by April 26
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. Families must enroll their children in Shabbat School by April 26, 2024, to ensure a spot for the 2024-25 (5785) school year. You can find the enrollment link on our Shabbat School page (under the Learning tab on Havurah’s website).

Come to the Spring Havurah New(ish) Member Welcome Brunch!
10 am to noon, on Sunday, May 5, at Havurah Shalom
All Havurahniks are welcome at the brunch, new and old alike! Click here to register for this event!

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. (There will be a special multi-synagogue Torah Study led by Emily Simon for Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Pesach, at 9 am, on Saturday, April 20.)

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom, April 27) are listed below and in the website calendar. (There will also be a Tot Shabbat at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 20.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Ria de Neeve.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome. (The Morning Minyan on Wednesday, April 24 (Second Day of Pesach) will be a Passover Minyan and will start at 8 am. On Tuesday, April 30 (Eighth Day of Pesach), there will be a Passover Minyan (Yizkor) that will also start at 8 am.)

Upcoming Havurah Events

Shabbat HaGadol: Special Multi-synagogue Torah Study Led by Emily Simon
9 am to 10 am, Saturday, April 20 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
There will be a special multi-synagogue torah study led by Emily Simon in honor of Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat before Pesach. We will be discussing why this shabbes is called  Shabbat HaGadol, and the special Haftarah, which is Malachi 3:4-24. Interestingly enough, there is no special Torah reading for what would seem like such a special occasion. In addition to Havurah Shalom, other congregations that are being invited are Temple Sholom in Monticello New York, Emek Shalom in Ashland, Oregon, and Mayim Shalom in Coos Bay, Oregon. We may even have some folks joining us from other parts of the country and maybe the world. No prior knowledge or study is necessary. All viewpoints are welcome as we try to draw lessons from our holy books. If you are having trouble signing in to the Zoom, you can text or email David Dropkin to be walked through the Zoom login process. RSVP for Zoom info. All are wecome.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, April 20 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome. 

Meeting of Palestine Justice working group
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, April 21 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Join for the regular monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice working group. The agenda will be distributed in advance on the listserv. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.
 
Havurah Staff Holiday: April 23, 24, 29, and 30
The office will be closed and staff will be unavailable for the start and end of the Passover holiday.

Experience the Omer: Making it Count!
7 pm to 7:30 pm, Tuesdays, April 23 to June 4 (RSVP to get the recording of the April 9 Intro session) – Zoom Room Dalet
Join the Omer journey from Liberation to Revelation! Come learn about the ancient practice of counting the Omer and find your own best practice for making the transition out of the Narrow Place of Mitzrayim to the Expansive Reception at Sinai. We will learn about the mystical practice of counting each of the lower seven Sephirot — divine emanations — of the Tree of Life, each of the seven days, of each of the seven weeks, bringing us a closer, clearer understanding of this journey. Apr. 9 (Intro), April 23 (Chesed), April 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), May 14 (Netzach), May 21 (Hod), May 28 (Yesod); June 4 (Malchut). Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP to join and to be emailed a recording of the hour-long intro session.

Passover Minyan (Second Day of Pesach)
8 am to 9:15 am, Wednesday, April 24 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org in advance of the Pesach holiday for Zoom login info.
 

Racial Justice Committee Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, April 25 – Zoom Room Bet
Please join us for our monthly Racial Justice Committee Meeting. We will learn of upcoming events and plan new ones. Questions? Contact Kathy Gordon.

Shabbat School Enrollment Deadline is Friday, April 26
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. Families must enroll their children in Shabbat School by Friday, April 26, 2024, to ensure a spot for the 2024-25 (5785) school year. You can find the enrollment link on our Shabbat School page (under the Learning tab on Havurah’s website).

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 27 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Climate Action Fair at MJCC
12 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, April 28 – Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
HCAT (Havurah Climate Action Team) invites you to continue with our climate action month by attending a community wide Climate Action Fair at the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center). Cosponsored by the MJCC and the Jewish Federation’s Climate team, meet dozens of environmental organizations and discover resources for actions you can take. A series of speakers will talk about forestry, electrification, native plants and climate friendly foods. All are welcome! ASL interpretation will be provided for speakers. An arts activity area will be available for both children and adults. For more information on tablers, sponsors, and speakers see our Facebook page. The event and parking are free, or be climate friendly and come by bus. For questions, or if you would like to help volunteer, contact Michael Heumann. And please spread the word! All of us taking action is the solution to climate change. See the Havurah calendar event page for more info, including programming highlights.

Climate Action Team Monthly Meeting
5:30 to 7 pm, Monday, April 29 – Zoom Room Gimel 
With the new normal of extreme hot summer days and wildfire smoke, we are all affected by the climate crisis. Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) meets monthly and online as needed, to educate and support one another in tangible actions and political advocacy to address solutions. We are reaching out to Havuraniks of all ages and welcome new members to our team!  We enthusiastically want to hear your thoughts and vision for actions! Please join us via Zoom on fourth Mondays from 5:30 to 7 pm. Check the Havurah calendar for details/confirmation. Contact Elianne Lieberman or Harriet Cooke.

Passover Minyan (Yizkor) (Eighth Day of Pesach)
8 am to 9:15 am, Tuesday, April 30 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and for people saying Kaddish. We will observe Yizkor today as well. We meet both in person and streaming online in Zoom Room Aleph. All are welcome. Please email info@havurahshalom.org in the week prior for Zoom login info.

Havurah Book Group: Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, April 30 – Zoom Room Bet
(Fiction/368 pages) February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returns, alone, to the crypt several times to hold his boy’s body. From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional state—called, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardo—a monumental struggle erupts over young Willie’s soul. Lincoln in the Bardo is an astonishing feat of imagination and a bold step forward from one of the most important and influential writers of his generation. Saunders has invented a thrilling new form that deploys a kaleidoscopic, theatrical panorama of voices to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end? Discussion led by David Newman. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.
 

Kabbalah and Hasidism Through the Life of Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Thursdays, May 2 to May 23 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Dalet
Using Buber's The Tales of Rabbi Nachman, we will look at the life of Rabbi Nachman, his teachings, and his profound stories. The class will involve some meditation and journaling to help us reflect. Led by Harriet Cooke. RSVP

Contemplative Shabbat
10 am to noon, Saturday, May 4 - Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
We will chant verses and spend time in silent prayer or meditation, then connect through Torah discussion and share blessings. Led by Rabbi Benjamin.

Spring New(ish) Member Welcome Brunch
10 am to noon, Sunday, May 5 – Havurah Shalom
All Havurahniks are welcome at the brunch, new and old alike! Questions? Email Wendy Castineira, Kehillah (Community) Cluster Lead. RSVP

Palestine Justice Working Group Check-In Meeting
7 pm, Sunday, May 5 - Zoom Room Bet
In addition to meeting every third Sunday of the month at Havurah and in Zoom Room Bet, we also meet on the first Sunday of the month just  in Zoom Room Bet to check in. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.

Havurahniks, Save the Date for the May 11 Panim el Panim Conversations.
Another Panim el Panim Conversations event is set to take place on Saturday, May 11 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Stay tuned to the calendar for updates.

Safety Corner

Guardian Active Bystander Training
7 pm, Tuesday, May 14 — Zoom by RSVP
Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander--someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Sanctuary Committee
Seeking Volunteers to Assist with the Asylum Crisis: How to Support Recently-arrived Asylum Seekers
Seeking temporary housing (3 months) for asylum seekers arriving in Portland. Do you have space you can offer to temporarily house asylum seekers? This Sunday alone, more than 20 families will be losing their access to hotel sheltering. If interested in hosting, a Host Orientation and Support Group, sponsored by IMIrJ, will be held at Havurah on Sunday, April 14, from 2 to 3 pm.

We are building a list of volunteers who can provide interpretation and transportation to support families who step up to host. You can volunteer once or many times. These efforts are connected to the work of IMIrJ and the Asylum Solidarity Collective. For background information on what IMIRJ is doing, please see page 10 of the March Hakol. This work is another way our community can live out our commitment to being a Sanctuary Congregation! Please contact Kathy Gordon with questions, or to volunteer.

Havurah Climate Action Team
Climate Action Fair at MJCC
12 pm to 4 pm, Sunday, April 28 – Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
HCAT (Havurah Climate Action Team) invites you to continue with our climate action month by attending a community wide Climate Action Fair at the MJCC (Mittleman Jewish Community Center). For more information on tablers, sponsors, and speakers see our Facebook page. For questions, or if you would like to help volunteer, contact Michael Heumann. And please spread the word! All of us taking action is the solution to climate change. See the Havurah calendar event page for more info, including programming highlights.

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven | Oregon Food Bank

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Out in the Community

Parking Available!
Legacy has generously given us permission to park in its lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on weekdays after 5 pm and all day on weekends. We can park in any spot but 1-10. We hope this will make it easier to come for services and other programming! Please help us maintain our relationship with Legacy by honoring these guidelines.

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Room Aleph
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

Room Dalet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.

Room Heh
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, April 3, 2024

Kabbalat Shabbbat is Friday, April 12
Dinner Registation Just Opened
6 pm Oneg; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 registration-only Dinner, Friday, April 12  – Havurah Shalom (Service both in person at Havurah and online in Zoom Room Aleph)

A family-friendly oneg followed by a service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward. No RSVP or registration is needed to join for the oneg and service; just join in! All are welcome!

Only the 7:30 pm dinner requires registration, and you can register for dinner here. Dinner often fills up, so please register for the dinner asap if you'd like to join.

Havurahniks, can you help out at our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration? Click here to explore available volunteer shifts, which start at just 15 minutes. Many helping hands are needed to make Kabbalat Shabbat a success each month.

Also: Prayer Flags for the Planet with Artist/Scientist Anne Nesse
Havurah will be hosting an art exhibit opening April 12 at Kabbalat Shabbat. The exhibit will consist of prayer flags that illustrate women’s role in preventing climate disaster. There will also be a reception and talk by artist and scientist Anne Nesse on Sunday, April 14 at 3 pm.

Havurahniks, can you share a seat at your seder table? Or, are you a Havurahnik looking to join a seder?
Pesach is coming soon! As you are planning your seder, please let Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) know if you are able to host one, two or more guests at your table this year for our 5784 seder matching effort. Also, let Tara know if you are seeking a seat at a seder. Thank you!

Shabbat School Registation is Open
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families.

Families must enroll their children in Shabbat School by April 26, 2024, to ensure a spot for the 2024-25 (5785) school year.

You can find the enrollment link on our Shabbat School page (under the Learning tab on Havurah’s website).

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah (Kai Berkson-Klaus, April 13; Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom, April 27) are listed below and in the website calendar. (There will also be a Tot Shabbat at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 20.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Help Out a Havurahnik

Would Jewish-focused programming be beneficial for parents as they navigate raising their children, who may currently or at some point identify as LGBTQ+?
Havurahnik Talia Cordova is working on an undergraduate thesis on developing culturally relevant resources for Jewish parents of LGBTQ+ youth. You are invited to help her by completing an anonymous survey for her research.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Nosh and Learn: Countering Active Threat Training
12:30 pm to 2:15 pm, Sunday, April 7 - Havurah Shalom
Come at 12:30 for bagels, stay for an engaging and informative safety training at 1 pm. We will learn best practices for how to counter an active threat at this training developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. RSVP

Teen Havurah: Viking Gameroom
3 pm to 5 pm, Sunday, April 7 - PSU Viking Gameroom (1825 SW Broadway, in the basement of Smith Memorial Student Union)
Havurah Teens: Join us at the Viking Gameroom at PSU for an afternoon of fun! Video games - Xbox One, billiards, popcorn & soda, foosbal, pop-a-shot. RSVP
Parent/guardian volunteers are needed. If you can chaperone, add your name in the RSVP/registration notes.

Zoom Check-in Meeting of the Palestine Justice Working Group
7 pm, Sunday, April 7 (first Sundays) – Zoom Room Bet 
We meet on Zoom halfway between our larger monthly hybrid meetings to see where we're at. Please feel free to join us. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, April 8 — In Person or Zoom Room Heh (to be announced)
Our gender-inclusive New Moon group celebrates each Rosh Ḥodesh with learning and ancient and contemporary ritual. Everyone is invited to connect with our closest heavenly body, the Moon. Gatherings take place on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year. Location details for the April 8 gathering will be announced soon.

Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 8 (every second Monday) — Havurah Shalom
Havurah Music Jams Rock On! Come sing and play in community! Songsheets will be provided and include a mix of country, folk, Jewish folk, liturgical and popular songs. Bring your instrument, your voice and your enthusiasm! Please RSVP for the April Music Jam— RSVPing for each Music Jam helps us know how many chairs we need to set up!

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 9 pm, Tuesday, April 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurah members are invited to join for Steering Meetings.

Experience the Omer: Making it Count!
7 pm to 7:30 pm (intro class is 7 pm to 8 pm), Tuesdays, April 9 to June 4 – Zoom Room Dalet
Join the Omer journey from Liberation to Revelation! Come learn about the ancient practice of counting the Omer and find your own best practice for making the transition out of the Narrow Place of Mitzrayim to the Expansive Reception at Sinai. We will learn about the mystical practice of counting each of the lower seven Sephirot — divine emanations — of the Tree of Life, each of the seven days, of each of the seven weeks, bringing us a closer, clearer understanding of this journey. Apr. 9 (Intro), April 23 (Chesed), April 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), May 14 (Netzach), May 21 (Hod), May 28 (Yesod); June 4 (Malchut). Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 10 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join members of the Havurah Leadership Development Committee on Zoom 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! RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6 pm Oneg; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 registration-only Dinner, Friday, April 12 – Havurah Shalom (Service both in person at Havurah and online in Zoom Room Aleph). 
A family-friendly oneg followed by a service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward. No RSVP or registration is needed to join for the oneg and service; just join in! All are welcome! Only the 7:30 pm dinner requires registration, and you can register for dinner here. Dinner often fills up, so please register for the dinner asap if you'd like to join. (Havurahniks, can you help out at our April Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration? Click here to explore available volunteer shifts, which start at just 15 minutes. Many helping hands are needed to make Kabbalat Shabbat a success each month.)

Also at Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, April 12: Prayer Flags for the Planet with Artist/Scientist Anne Nesse
Havurah will be hosting an art exhibit opening April 12 at Kabbalat Shabbat. The exhibit will consist of prayer flags that illustrate women’s role in preventing climate disaster. There will also be a reception and talk by artist and scientist Anne Nesse on Sunday, April 14 at 3 pm.

Shabbat Morning with Bar Mitzvah of Kai Berkson-Klaus
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 13 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Kai Berkson-Klaus as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Spring Gardening Day
10 am to 2 pm, Sunday, April 14 – Havurah Shalom
Come early, come in the middle, or come at the end; there is plenty to do. Or better yet, come for the whole thing! Bring gloves, pruners, and any other tools you can, plus water and a snack to share. RSVP

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, April 20 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome. RSVP

Meeting of Palestine Justice working group
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, April 21 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Join for the regular monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice working group. The agenda will be distributed in advance on the listserv. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.

Prayer Flags for the Planet Reception with Artist/Scientist Anne Nesse
3 to 5 pm, Sunday, April 14 – Havurah Shalom
Join Havurah Climate Action Team to welcome and talk with artist Anne Nesse. Her Prayer Flags for the Planet art exhibit was inspired by Paul Hawkin's Project Drawdown, the top 100 Climate Solutions that together can help reverse our climate crisis. The reception event is excellent for ages middle school and above, it includes a hands-on Climate Flag making table. (The exhibit will be up through May 10.) RSVP for the reception.

Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24
The office will be closed for the start of Passover.

Shabbat School Enrollment Deadline is Friday, April 26
Shabbat School is for Havurah families with children in grades K-6. Shabbat School gives our children a basis for Jewish learning and fosters a strong sense of community amongst families. Families must enroll their children in Shabbat School by April 26, 2024, to ensure a spot for the 2024-25 (5785) school year. You can find the enrollment link on our Shabbat School page (under the Learning tab on Havurah’s website).

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitzvah of Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, April 27 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Beatrice Weiss Ekstrom as a Bat Mitzvah and member of our community.

Meet Up with the Alter Rockers!

Alter Rockers at OJMCHE: ORA Jewish Artists Art Show and Sale, and The Burned Piano Exhibit Opening
11:30 am, Sunday, April 7 — Oregon Jewish Museum and Holocaust Resource Center
Meet in the new café at OJMCHE for brunch/coffee/etc., then go together around the exhibits. RSVP by April 5 to Ted Scheinman.
 
(FREE) Habitat for Humanity HopeBuilder Lunch
11:30 am, Wednesday, April 24 — Oregon Convention Center
Learn about the new Habitat for Humanity projects in Portland – probably near you! Keynote speaker Majora Carter is an urban revitalization strategist, author, and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster. Our table will have Passover-friendly foods! RSVP to Ted Scheinman.

Safety Corner

Nosh and Learn at Havurah! Countering Active Threat Training
12:30 pm, Sunday, April 7 — Havurah Shalom
Come at 12:30 for bagels, stay for an engaging and informative safety training at 1 pm. We will learn best practices for how to counter an active threat at this training developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP
 
Guardian Active Bystander Training
7 pm, Monday, April 8 — Zoom by RSVP
Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander--someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Sanctuary Committee
Seeking Volunteers to Assist with the Asylum Crisis: How to Support Recently-arrived Asylum Seekers
Seeking temporary housing (3 months) for asylum seekers arriving in Portland. Do you have space you can offer to temporarily house asylum seekers? This Sunday alone, more than 20 families will be losing their access to hotel sheltering. If interested in hosting, a Host Orientation and Support Group, sponsored by IMIrJ, will be held at Havurah on Sunday, April 14, from 2 to 3 pm.

We are building a list of volunteers who can provide interpretation and transportation to support families who step up to host. You can volunteer once or many times. These efforts are connected to the work of IMIrJ and the Asylum Solidarity Collective. For background information on what IMIRJ is doing, please see page 10 of the March Hakol. This work is another way our community can live out our commitment to being a Sanctuary Congregation! Please contact Kathy Gordon with questions, or to volunteer.

Poverty and Homelessness Committee
Interfaith Alliance on Poverty First Thursday Meeting
12 pm to 1:30 pm, Thursday April 4 — Offsite Zoom
Brandy Westerman, recently appointed to the position of Emergency Humanitarian Director, will speak. She will oversee the City of Portland's alternative shelter efforts. RSVP to receive Zoom link

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven | Oregon Food Bank

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom Room links can be found near the end of this email.

Out in the Community

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, March 20, 2024

Havurah Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, March 23 at Havurah Shalom
Come as you aren't! All are welcome! Fun for all ages! 
Featuring: Pizza and healthy (and not-so-healthy) snacks for all! The Alte Rockers' infamous drinks table! Arts and crafts and/or games for the kids! Costumes! The Great Yiddish (Hamentashen) Bake Off! And, of course, Music and the Spiel! Learn more and register to attend here!

Havurahniks, we need (more) folks to sign up for:
- Decorations/Set-up!
- Baking and bringing hamantashen!

Questions? Email Avodah Cluster Lead and Purim Lead, Sarah Wetherson at sarah@havurahshalom.org. 

RSVP

A Seat at Your Seder?
Purim is upon us, and Pesach is coming soon! As you are planning your seder, please let Tara Anderson (tara@havurahshalom.org) know if you are able to host one, two or more guests at your table this year for our 5784 seder matching effort. Thank you!

Havurahnik Help Wanted
Community is an enduring value of Havurah. These are just some of the ways to be engaged in building our community—what ways are right for you?

Visit havurahshalom.org/helpwanted.org for the most up-to-date specific requests from groups and committees.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked below, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom/YouTube stream links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services.. Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar.
(There will be a Tot Shabbat  at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 30.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Racial Justice Monthly Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 21 (but normally on second Thursdays) – Zoom Room Bet
Join the monthly meeting of the Racial Justice Committee to learn what we are up to and how you can be involved. Join us even if you haven't joined in the past. New members always welcome! If you have questions about what the Racial Justice Committee does, feel free to reach out to Julia Lager-Mesulam, Bob Brown, Kathy Gordon or Jennifer Bruml.

Hakol Deadline: Thursday, March 21
The deadline to submit materials for the upcoming month's Hakol newsletter is usually the third Thursday of the month. The deadline for the April 2024 issue of Hakol is Thursday, March 21. Havurahniks, click here to learn more about how to submit to Hakol, Havurah's monthly newsletter.

Havurah Purim Celebration
6 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, March 23 – Havurah Shalom
Come as you aren't! All are welcome! Fun for all ages! 
Featuring: Pizza and healthy (and not-so-healthy) snacks for all! The Alte Rockers' infamous drinks table! Arts and crafts and/or games for the kids! Costumes! The Great Yiddish (Hamentashen) Bake Off! And, of course, Music and the Spiel! RSVP

Havurahniks: We need more bakers & bringers of hamantashen and helpers with decorations/set-up. Sign up here to help out at Purim. Questions? Email Avodah Cluster Lead and Purim Lead, Sarah Wetherson at sarah@havurahshalom.org.

Climate Team Action Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Monday, March 25 (last Mondays) -– Zoom Room Bet
With the new normal of extreme hot summer days and wildfire smoke, we are all affected by the climate crisis. Havurah Climate Action Team (HCAT) meets monthly and online as needed, to educate and support one another in tangible actions and political advocacy to address solutions. We are reaching out to Havuraniks of all ages and welcome new members to our team! We enthusiastically want to hear your thoughts and vision for actions! Please join us on fourth Mondays! Questions? Contact Elianne Lieberman or Harriet Cooke.

Monthly Letter-writing for Israeli/Palestinian Justice
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, March 25 (last Mondays) – Zoom Room Heh
We gather via Zoom on the last Monday of each month at 6:30 pm. The purpose of the group is to write to legislators, organizations and influential individuals concerning such issues as ceasefire and Gaza food aid. For this upcoming letter-writing gathering on Monday, March 25, please check the calendar again to confirm that the exact start time and Zoom room are still the same as listed above. Questions? Contact Dale Oller.

Havurah Book Group: Apeirogon by Colum McCann
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 26 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
Bassam is a Palestinian Muslim who was imprisoned by Israeli officials for seven years. Rami is a Jewish man who was born in Israel and married into a well-heeled family that has some social capital in Israeli politics. They inhabit a world of conflict that colors every aspect of their lives, from the roads they are allowed to drive on to the schools their children attend to the checkpoints, both physical and emotional, they must negotiate. Ultimately, Apeirogon is a timely novel about war, violence, grief, forgiveness, and the human connection between everyone despite our differences. The novel expands to cross centuries and continents, stitching together time, art, history, nature, and politics in a tale both heartbreaking and hopeful. The novel received positive reviews and was longlisted for the Booker prize in 2020496 pages, fiction. Learn more about Apeirogon on the book group event page. Discussion led by Marjorie Walters. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, March 30 – Havurah Shalom
​​​​​​​Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome. RSVP

Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization Training with MACG
6 pm to 8 pm,  April 4th ,9th, 11th, 16th, and 18th -– external  MACG Zoom
(Register by April 1)
Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization is an eight-session training (the remaining 3 sessions will be planned with local Indigenous leaders as an outcome of the training) offered by the Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (MACG). Wrestling with the Truth of Colonization was created by a global team of Indigenous leaders offered locally by the Industrial Area Foundation Northwest and hosted by MACG. Last year, 14 members of our community participated. You are invited to join this year’s sessions in reflection and learning about the consequences of colonization and its ongoing impact on the region where we live. “These sessions were challenging but were so important in my understanding of the experiences of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.” Please see the REGISTRATION LINK to learn more about this offering and to register. The registration deadline is April 1st. Contact Michael Heumann or Bob Brown with questions or more information.

Nosh and Learn: Countering Active Threat Training
12:30 pm to 2:15 pm, Sunday, April 7 - Havurah Shalom
Come at 12:30 for bagels, stay for an engaging and informative safety training at 1 pm. We will learn best practices for how to counter an active threat at this training developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP

Teen Havurah: Viking Gameroom
3 pm to 5 pm, Sunday, April 7 - PSU Viking Gameroom (1825 SW Broadway, in the basement of Smith Memorial Student Union)
Havurah Teens: Join us at the Viking Gameroom at PSU for an afternoon of fun! Video games - Xbox One, billiards, popcorn & soda, foosbal, pop-a-shot. RSVP
Parent/guardian volunteers are needed. If you can chaperone, add your name in the RSVP/registration notes.

Zoom Check-in Meeting of the Palestine Justice Working Group
7 pm, Sunday, April 7 (first Sundays) – Zoom Room Bet 
We meet regularly on the third Sunday of every month, at Havurah and in Zoom Room Bet. We also meet on the first Sunday of the month, in Zoom Room Bet, for a Zoom check-in. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, please email David Lewis.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, April 8 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (Leader will announce which.)
 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. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month at 7 pm, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year. The location (in-person or Zoom) for the April 8 gathering will be announced.

Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, April 8 (every second Monday) - Havurah Shalom
Havurah Music Jams Rock On! On the second Monday of the month, come sing and play in community! We will be in the Pardes classroom at Havurah. Songsheets will be provided and include a mix of country, folk, Jewish folk, liturgical and popular songs. Bring your instrument, your voice and your enthusiasm! Please RSVP for the April Music Jam.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 9 pm, Tuesday, April 9 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurah members are invited to join for Steering Meetings. For thsi meeting, we will meet both in person at Havurah Shalom and virtually via Zoom Room Gimel.

Experience the Omer: Making it Count!
7 pm to 7:30 pm (except intro class is 7 pm to 8 pm), Tuesdays, April 9 to June 4 –Zoom Room Dalet
Join the Omer journey from Liberation to Revelation! Come learn about the ancient practice of counting the Omer and find your own best practice for making the transition out of the Narrow Place of Mitzrayim to the Expansive Reception at Sinai. We will learn about the mystical practice of counting each of the lower seven sephirot — Divine Emanations — of the Tree of Life, each of the seven days, of each of the seven weeks, bringing us a closer, clearer understanding of this journey. There are a variety of tools and practices, from saying the daily blessing, to sets of Omer cards, counting barley seeds, stitching patterns, to movement-based rituals, that you might choose to facilitate your own learning and experience. Apr. 9 (Intro), April 23 (Chesed), April 30 (Gevurah); May 7 (Tiferet), May 14 (Netzach), May 21 (Hod), May 28 (Yesod); June 4 (Malchut). Led by Andrine de la Rocha. RSVP

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, April 10 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join members of the Havurah Leadership Development Committee on Zoom 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! RSVP

Safety Corner

BeAware: Introduction to Situational Awareness
7 pm, Tuesday, April 2 – Zoom by RSVP
Build observation skills and learn to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life – from going to synagogue and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. The course will cover the basics of situational awareness and how to help protect yourself, your family, and your community. Taught by Jessica Anderson, Secure Community Network Regional Security Director. RSVP
 
Nosh and Learn at Havurah! Countering Active Threat Training
12:30 pm, Sunday, April 7 — Havurah Shalom
Come at 12:30 for bagels, stay for an engaging and informative safety training at 1 pm. We will learn best practices for how to counter an active threat at this training developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Provided by Jessica Anderson of the Secure Community Network. RSVP
 
Guardian Active Bystander Training
7 pm, Monday, April 8 — Zoom by RSVP
Secure Community Network's Jessica Anderson will teach us skillsets to help identify and respond to hazards, enabling you to become an Active Bystander--someone who helps and protects others with confidence and knowledge. RSVP

More Tikkun Olam 

Havurah Sanctuary Committee Seeking Volunteers to Support Recently-arrived Asylum Seekers
Havurah's Sanctuary Committee is building a list of volunteers from within our congregation to support the growing number of asylum seekers in our community. Do you speak Spanish? Do you have time to help with transportation? Are you open to temporarily housing asylum seekers? So far, a few Havurah families have stepped up to provide much-needed temporary housing. We are organizing to provide ongoing support to both the asylum-seeking and the Havurah families. We are beginning this support effort by helping with transportation and interpretation. You can volunteer once or many times. These efforts are connected to the work of IMIrJ and the Asylum Solidarity Collective. For background information on what IMIRJ is doing, please see page 10 in the March 2024 Hakol. 

If you are interested in adding your name to a list of potential volunteers for any of the above (regarding supporting asylum seekers), please contact Kathy Gordon. This is another way our community can live out our commitment to being a Sanctuary Congregation!

Havurah Poverty and Homeless Committee Encourages First Wednesday Volunteer Opportunity: Oregon Food Bank Ortiz Center's Free Food Market
9 am to 11:30 am/12 noon, First Wednesdays (next up: April 3) - Oregon Food Bank Ortiz Center Free Food Market - 6736 NE Killingsworth Street, Portland
Havurahniks (ages 16+) are invited and encourged to join on any first Wednesday morning of the month to volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank Ortiz Center's monthly outdoor free food market. 

Click here to learn more about this vital monthly volunteer opportunity and sign up to help out at the next first Wednesday of the month. Want to ask questions of a Havurahnik who has been involved in this volunteer work with the Ortiz Center Free Food Market? Email Judi Kloper.

Havurah Shalom Tikkun Olam Partners:
Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven | Oregon Food Bank

Out in the Community

New Parking Now Available!
Legacy has generously given us permission to park in its lot at 1919 NW Lovejoy on weekdays after 5 pm and all day on weekends. We can park in any spot but 1-10. We hope this will make it easier to come for services and other programming! Please help us maintain our relationship with Legacy by honoring these guidelines.

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
​​​​​​​The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Room Aleph
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 604560503 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 604560503.
 
Room Bet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 291215092 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 291215092.
 
Room Gimel
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 502586440 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 502586440.

Room Dalet
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 472484392 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 472484392.

Room Heh
PC/Mac/Smartphone: Click here to join.
Note for all devices: You can also open your Zoom app first, click “Join a Meeting” then enter meeting ID 87852542099 and "call via device audio." The passcode is 5472.
Cell/Landline: Dial +1 669-900-6833 and enter meeting ID 87852542099.

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms

Havurah Zoom Rooms
 

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.

Hineinu, February 21, 2024

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration: Friday, March 8

Want to Stage a Purim Spiel at Havurah? RSVP for this All-Ages Opportunity: Purim Playtime!
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Mondays, February 26 to March 18 – Havurah Shalom
For all ages! This class is for anyone who has ever wanted to stage a play. As a group we’ll figure out how to retell the story of Queen Esther dramatically in a way that’s relevant for our times, and then perform that play on Purim for the Havurah Shalom congregation. Over four sessions, we’ll explore what makes good theater, how to write a script and a song, and then turn our crazy ideas into a fully staged production. Actors, writers, artists, and musicians, no matter what your age or experience, this is your chance to show off your talents, create a captivating theater experience for your community, and have fun! Taught by Karen Polinsky. Questions? Contact Karen Polinsky.  RSVP

Opportunity for Havurah Teens: Please RSVP by Feb. 29
1 pm to 3 pm, Sunday, March 3 – Havurah Shalom
For Havurah Teens: Join us as we help prepare food for P:EAR, a youth homeless mentor program. This event is co-sponsored by the Teen Engagement Committee & Kai's Bar Mitzvah Project. Parents are welcome to stay and schmooze, help prepare the meal, or drop off their teens. Please aim to RSVP for this Teen Engagement/Bar Mitzvah Project by February 29. Questions? Contact Lorissa Klaus.

General Info

Thank you for following our COVID safety guidelines for in-person gatherings, which were updated on June 15, 2023. 

Contacting your fellow Havurah members: If a member's name is hyperlinked below, you can go directly to their contact page in the directory by clicking on their name and then logging into your Havurah account. Or search in the online Havurah member directory (log into the website and go to the Contact tab). 

Zoom/YouTube stream links can be found near the end of this email.

Regular Havurah Happenings

Weekly Torah Study​ 
9 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
An in-depth look at the weekly Torah reading, led by congregants. No prior knowledge or study is necessary.

Shabbat Morning
10 am, Saturdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
All are welcome at our Shabbat services, including b'nei mitzvah services (Maya Oh, February 17; Samuel Pomerantz-Roll. March 2). Upcoming b'nei mitzvah are listed below and in the website calendar. (On Saturday, February 24, there will be a Tot Shabbat - RSVP.)

Mahjong Group
1 pm, first and third Mondays – Havurah Shalom Library
Mahjong is a fun, social activity that builds community, encouraging new friendships and cementing old ones. If you want to learn how to play, please contact Leah Hershey for teaching resources. If you are ready to join a game, please RSVP on the calendar. To receive Mahjong Group updates, ask Leah to add you to the email list.

Jewish Mindfulness & Meditation
12 pm, Tuesdays – Havurah Shalom (Sanctuary or Library) and Zoom Room Bet
We gather to find moments of quiet and shalom in a welcoming space. Various styles of Jewish meditation are explored. No meditation experience necessary. All are welcome to drop in. Led by Rabbi Benjamin, Adela Basayne, Nancy Becker, or Deborah Eisenbach-Budner.

Morning Minyan
8:30 am, Wednesdays – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
For all who want a regular prayer practice and those saying Kaddish. All are welcome.

Upcoming Havurah Events

Tot Shabbat
10:30 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, February 24 – Havurah Shalom
Young children (0-5) and parents celebrate with singing, movement, blessings, and storytelling. All are welcome. RSVP

Parenting Huddle - Listening Circle About Israel/Palestine
3:05 pm to 4:35 pm, Saturday, February 24 – Havurah Shalom
The intention will be for us each to name what we are experiencing, to be heard and hear one another without confrontation or pressure to identify any particular positions. We will share in accord with a very clear structure and clear guidelines, so that each person will have equal opportunities to speak and equal responsibility to listen. For some, encountering different perspectives may not be what you need. But if you are moved to join, we look forward to being together as we continue to build trust with one another. This is along the same lines as the Havdallah Panim al Panim gatherings that have been happening, but with enhanced structure. Facilitated by Deborah Eisenbach-Budner and Shari Raider. RSVP

Meeting of Palestine Justice Working Group
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Sunday, February 25 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Bet
We will hold our regular monthly meeting of the Palestine Justice working group. The agenda will be distributed in advance on the listserv. If you are interested in being added to the listserv, David Lewis.

HCAT Monthly Meeting
5:30 pm, Monday, February 26 – Zoom Room Gimel
Join the Climate Action Team's monthly meeting in Zoom Room Gimel.

Monthly Letter Writing to Lawmakers for Israeli/Palestinian Justice
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Monday, February 26 (last Mondays, except in May and September) – Zoom Room Heh
We will gather online on the last Monday of each month (except in May and September) to write letters to our lawmakers for Israel/Palestine justice. Questions? Contact Dale Oller.

Purim Playtime!
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Mondays, February 26 to March 18 – Havurah Shalom
For all ages! This class is for anyone who has ever wanted to stage a play. As a group we’ll figure out how to retell the story of Queen Esther dramatically in a way that’s relevant for our times, and then perform that play on Purim for the Havurah Shalom congregation. Over four sessions, we’ll explore what makes good theater, how to write a script and a song, and then turn our crazy ideas into a fully staged production. Actors, writers, artists, and musicians, no matter what your age or experience, this is your chance to show off your talents, create a captivating theater experience for your community, and have fun! Taught by Karen Polinsky. Questions? Contact Karen Polinsky. RSVP

Havurah Book Group: Horse by Geraldine Brooks
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, February 27 – Zoom Room Bet
Horse by Geraldine Brooks, winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for March, is a story covering nearly 170 years of American history, stretching from antebellum Kentucky to present-day Washington, DC. Thoroughbreds provide the unifying element for this far-reaching narrative, but horses and the complex culture surrounding them are only devices for Brooks to explore her fundamental subject: race and its corrosive influence on our nation’s foundation and cancerous impact on society today. 401 pages, fiction. Learn more about Horse. Discussion led by Leah Hershey. Nonmembers welcome. RSVP for Zoom info.

Shabbat Morning with Bat Mitvah of Samuel Pomerantz-Roll
10 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 2 – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph 
Please join us for Shabbat morning services, including welcoming Samuel Pomerantz-Roll as a Bar Mitzvah and member of our community.

Teen Engagement/Bar Mitzvah Project
1 pm to 3 pm, Sunday, March 3 – Havurah Shalom (Aim to RSVP by February 29)
For Havurah Teens: Join us as we help prepare food for P:EAR, a youth homeless mentor program. This event is co-sponsored by the Teen Engagement Committee & Kai's Bar Mitzvah Project. Parents are welcome to stay and schmooze, help prepare the meal, or drop off their teens. Aim to RSVP by February 29. Questions? Contact Lorissa Klaus.

BYOCB: Bring Your Own Climate Book
5:30 pm to 7 pm, Monday, March 4 – Zoom Room Dalet
The HCAT (Havurah Climate Action Team) Book group will be meeting in a one-time Bring Your Own Climate Book format. This will be a group for each person to have a little time to share out something relevant to climate protection that we have read. We will meet in Zoom Room Dalet. All are welcome to join. RSVP

Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration
6 pm Oneg; 6:30 pm Service; 7:30 registration-only Dinner, Friday, March 8 – Havurah Shalom (Service both in person at Havurah and in Zoom Room Aleph)
A family-friendly oneg followed by a service led by Rabbi Benjamin and Havurah musicians, with dinner afterward. No RSVP or registration is needed to join for the oneg and service. The dinner does require RSVPing/registration in advance and may fill up to capacity. RSVP for the dinner.

Also, Havurahniks, can you help out at the March 8 Kabbalat Shabbat Celebration? Shifts start at 15 minutes. Sign up to volunteer.

Rosh Ḥodesh Tov! Gender-Inclusive New Moon Ritual
7 pm to 8:15 pm, Monday, March 11 – In Person or Zoom Room Heh (Leader will announce which.)
 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. Gatherings take place monthly on or near the new moon of each Hebrew month at 7 pm, either on Zoom or in person - outdoors in inner North/East Portland - depending on seasonal shifts in the weather. Attend any or all sessions. RSVP to be updated on location and other details throughout the year. The location (in-person or Zoom) for the March 11 gathering will be announced.

Music Jam
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Monday, March 11 – Havurah Shalom (in the Pardes Classroom)
Havurah Music Jams Rock On! On the second Monday of the month, come sing and play in community! We will be in the Pardes classroom at Havurah. Songsheets will be provided and include a mix of country, folk, Jewish folk, liturgical and popular songs. Bring your instrument, your voice and your enthusiasm! RSVP for the March Music Jam.

Steering Meeting
6:30 pm to 9 pm, Tuesday, March 12 – Zoom Room Gimel
All Havurah Shalom members are invited to join for Steering Committee meetings.

Havurah Book Group Annual Meeting
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Tuesday, March 12 – Zoom Room Bet
The Havurah Book Group will be holding its annual meeting. Anyone is welcome to attend as we consider possible changes in choosing books, scheduling discussions, and anything else book group related. Please RSVP by emailing  Stacy Hankin.

Havurah 101
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Wednesday, March 13 – Havurah Shalom
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! RSVP

Understanding October 7, 2023
7 pm to 8:30 pm, Thursday, March 14; 3 pm to 4:30 pm, Sunday, March 17; and 7 pm to 8:30 pm,Thursday, April 4 – Havurah Shalom
Rabbi Benjamin and Joel Beinin will offer three sessions on “Understanding October 7, 2023” – the Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s response. The class will offer space for people to express their personal feelings about the events. We will have the opportunity to read and respond to testimonies from Israelis and Palestinians about their experience of the events. Integrated into our examination of this moment, we will engage with a variety of Jewish texts: on grief and loss, on holding multiple truths, and on questions of fundamentalism and fixed views. RSVP

Discovering Shabbat Morning: Learners' Minyan
10 am to 11:30 am, Saturday, March 16  – Havurah Shalom and Zoom Room Aleph
This interactive service focuses on the structure, key themes, and prayers of the morning service. Especially for families with youth in Grades 5-7.

Safety Corner

Thanks to the 25 Havurahniks who took Sunday’s Guardian Bystander Training Sunday! We have a similar live event in April, but here is another online safety training coming up soon!
 
BeAware: Introduction to Situational Awareness
7 pm, Monday, March 4 – Zoom by RSVP
Build observation skills and learn to recognize and react to various situations in your everyday life – from going to synagogue and dropping off children at school, to going to the gas station or an ATM. The course will cover the basics of situational awareness and how to help protect yourself, your family, and your community. Taught by Jessica Anderson, Secure Community Network Regional Security Director.

More Tikkun Olam 

Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice February Newsletter and Legislative Update
Read about ways to support immigrant justice in the JCIJ newsletter for February 2024.

Video of February's Interfaith Alliance on Poverty First Thursday Meeting
Would you like to view the video recording of the most recent Interfaith Alliance on Poverty First Thursday meeting? Email Sue Abrams to learn how to access a video recording of the most recent First Thursday discussion from the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty. If you missed February's live Zoom Interfaith Alliance First Thursday meeting, we had a very informatve discussion with Senator Michael Dembrow as he heads into his final legislative session in Salem. He shared his insights and concerns, and he answered questions from the audience. Some areas included school performance, the housing crisis, and ways the Alliance can be most effective in its advocacy.

News & Events from Our Tikkun Olam Partners

Path Home (formerly PHFS): Volunteer for our monthly Path Home dinner | Interfaith Alliance on Poverty (IAP) | Lift UP | MACG | Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW ​​​​​​ | Rose Haven

Resources

Do You Need Support?
If you are facing emotional, financial, or health challenges and would welcome support, please consider contacting the (a) Bikkur Holim (Visiting the Sick) Committee for spiritual support, (b) Lotsa Helping Hands for help with food, transportation, or other errands, or (c) Rabbi Benjamin, for spiritual and moral support – benjamin@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext. 3. If you're interested in being on a list of people who support others in concrete ways, such as grocery shopping or running other errands, please contact Lotsa Helping Hands. To request that the name of a relative or Havurah member be read during the Misheberach (healing prayer) at Shabbat services, please use this Misheberach Request Form.

Questions About Havurah?
The Transparency & Inclusivity Committee is an avenue within Havurah Shalom to help members find the answers to questions or concerns they have wondered about. Please send your questions to transparency@havurahshalom.org. We will anonymously answer your question in Hakol. Everyone in our community benefits from this clarity.

Havurah Zoom Rooms​​​​​​​

To see our full Zoom room instructions, click here. Member sign-in required.