Opportunities
for Social
Action and
Charity this
High Holy Day
Season
Friends,
In the weeks leading up to our Days of Awe, many opportuniies to make a diference are
sent to the synagogue oice. Some of these we send out in our weekly e-blast, others make it
onto our website.
With how much we all juggle, it is easy to overlook these programs and aciviies. Our more
personal demands can seem hard enough to handle.
During the High Holidays, we are hopefully more primed to expand our vision and consider
how we are contribuing to the larger community. As we imagine the Book of Life lying open,
we ind ourselves more open to adding our energy to the posiive forces that support life,
dignity, caring and compassion.
We understand that Judaism has always married our paricularisic concerns with our
universal obligaions to all of humankind. This year, I hope that you will be able to carve out
more ime to share your love, resources and hopes where they are needed. If you do take on
a new endeavor, please drop me a note. I’d love to know how you are engaged in building a
beter tomorrow.
On behalf of the enire congregaion, our board of directors, professional staf and clergy
team, let me wish you a year of health, contentment and moral ambiion.
Shanah tovah u’m’tukah.
Rabbi David Kosak
‘Rav D’
LEND A HAND
Neveh Shalom Habitat for Humanity Program
Next Build: Sunday, Nov 6, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Habitat for Humanity believes that every person should have a decent, safe and afordable place to live. They
build, renovate and repair houses using volunteer labor and donaions for deserving families throughout the
Greater Portland area. Partner families help to build the homes, then buy them at no proit with inancing
by Habitat on terms they can aford. Neveh Shalom men, women and teenagers have volunteered for
Habitat Home Construcion Projects as well as Home Repair Projects for deserving families in many Portland
Neighborhoods. Habitat also ofers the opportunity for members of Neveh Shalom who do not want to or can’t
“swing a hammer” to volunteer at Portland Habitat ReStores to ofer their ime on Family Selecion and Family
Partnering Commitees. Working with two local Habitat ailiates: Portland/Metro East Habitat for Humanity
and Willamete West Habitat for Humanity, we organize teams 3-4 imes a year. We frequently collaborate our
volunteer eforts with members of the local Bilal Mosque. If you are interested in volunteering contact Mike
Titelbaum (503-626-6265; [email protected]), Steve Sirkin (503-454-0610; [email protected]) or Dick
Cohon (503-644-3862; [email protected])
Shomrei Teva Monthly Mitzvah Crew
3rd Sundays at 9:45am
Come join our merry band of diggers and weeders as we restore the natural area alongside Neveh Shalom. We
remove invasives like English ivy and Armenian blackberry and someimes plant beauiful new naive shrubs
and trees. Bring a small digging/weeding tool (trowel, small shovel, etc.), and work as long as you want. Dress
for the weather, including shoes with some kind of tracion. It’s surprisingly enjoyable work with a good
schmooze and warm camaraderie. Meet in the wooded area of our lower parking lot. Contact Jordan Epstein,
503.245.6580, [email protected]
Community Warehouse
www.communitywarehouse.org
Community Warehouse is a volunteer-based nonproit agency in Portland that provides furniture and
household items to people in need. We need your donaions of essenial furniture, linens and household
goods! We rely on volunteers to keep our doors open. Mark your calendars for Purim! Bring your SPOONS,
POTS AND PANS to the megillah reading. Ater your use them as noisemakers we will collect them for re-use by
families in need! Contact Roz Babener for more informaion at [email protected]
Hygiene Kit Drive
Your travel sized hygiene items assist Transiions Project, a Portland charity that provides showers for homeless
who are not in a shelter. Collecion boxes are in the Eleanor Fisher Foyer and in the lobby outside the main
oice. All items should be new and unopened. Items needed: small deodorant, toothbrushes, razors,
tampons, hotel size loion, hotel size shampoo and condiioner and small tubes of toothpaste. Join us for a
Hygiene Supplies Soring Party: October 30, 9:30-11:30am in Birnbach Hall. Contact Cathy Blair, 503.675.1328,
[email protected]
Cooking for Outside-In www.outsidein.org
One day a month Neveh Shalom members gather in the Neveh Shalom kitchen to prepare a main dish and
salad for 60 homeless youth at Outside-In. Outside-In’s mission is to help homeless youth move toward
improved health and self-suiciency. Watch the Chronicle and synagogue e-mails for updates or contact Cathy
Blair, [email protected], to be on the e-mail noiicaion list.
Violence and a worldwide refugee crisis seem to be on the news on a daily basis these
days. We often feel helpless when hearing about these issues and wishing that there is
something that we could do. We want to let you know that there IS something you can do.
Actually, many things.
Neveh Shalom is proud to be a central part of the Never Again Coalition. Through our
work on the conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, we are
dedicated to not only raising awareness, but putting an end to these deadly conflicts. Come
check out one of our meetings and find out how you can be a part of our work. (Don't worry.
No string attached!) Our work varies from our annual Chocolate for Congo event to raise
money for micro-financing in the DR Congo to sending postcards to elected officials to
support legislation. There’s also our
upcoming event on October 16 at
Lagunitas Brewery to support
education and sports programs in
Darfuri refugee camps. With your
help we can really mean it when we
say “Never Again!”
Join us at one of our next meetings in the
New Year - Monday, October 10, 7pm at
Neveh Shalom and Monday, November 7,
7pm at Kol Shalom
We usually meet the first Monday of every
month at 7pm.
Contact Lauren Fortgang with questions or
for more info:
[email protected] or 503-477-4586
The Never Again Coalition is Portland’s response to genocide and other crimes against humanity.
Joining together from different organizations and backgrounds, we stand together and work towards
revitalizing the phrase “Never Again.”
www.neveragaincoalition.org
“Human suffering ANYWHERE concerns men and women EVERYWHERE.”
-Elie Wiesel, Night
celebrate sukkot by canvassing for
Affordable Housing
p o rt land b al l o t measur e 2 6 - 1 7 9
A historic opportunity to invest in affordable housing
R S VP
a n d
p o t l u c k
d et a i l s :
October 23 - RSVP for address
9 30 Bagels & Shmooze (Optional)
10 00 Learn about Sukkot &
train for canvassing
10 30 Canvass in NE PDX
1 00 Dairy potluck in the sukkah
Thousands of years
ago we wandered;
now we remember
our unsettledness
with a holiday. Our
week in temporary
homes reminds us to
advocate for
permanent
housing for all.
i n f o @ t i v n u .o rg
Help build a better world
with Tivnu: Building Justice
and Jewish community
partners. Event and potluck
details at: [email protected]
5k Timed Race: $31 pre-reg
5k or 1 Mile Family Walk: Free
Fundraise $100 or more to receive a 2016 race t-shirt!
Come in Costume!
On any given night in Multnomah County, over 2,000
children experience homelessness. Together let's make
an IMPACT and bring that to ZERO!
All proceeds support New City Initiative’s work in the
community to end child and family homelessness.
Oregon Food Bank volunteers contribute
to our mission in many valuable ways.
Volunteer opportuniies at our Portland and Beaverton locaions include: repackaging
food, leading nutriion educaion classes, maintaining our learning gardens, helping out
in our oices, lending a hand at events, and more!
Most volunteer opportuniies are 2-3 hours in length and do not require a regular
commitment.
For more informaionon volunteering, donaing money and supporin gthe cause to end
hunger, please visit: www.oregonfoodbank.org or contact: 503-282-0555.
Israel: A Home For All Jews!
These High Holy Days Let Israel Know You Demand
the Kotel Agreement Be Implemented
Dear Friend,
Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world. More speciically, it celebrates the
creation of humanity. “And God created humanity (HaAdam) in God’s image, in the image of
God did God create it (humanity); male and female God created them.” (Genesis 1:27). We
believe in egalitarianism and religious pluralism precisely because of this text, and others like
it, that teach all human beings are created equally in the divine image.
This teaching of creation leads Masorti/Conservative Judaism to value egalitarianism, pluralism,
responsibility for others and more. And that’s why we have, are and will continue to struggle
for Jewish pluralism in Israel, especially at the Kotel, the most sacred site of our people.
USCJ, in partnership with the Masorti movement, the Rabbinical Assembly, and other
Conservative organizations, strongly supports an egalitarian and pluralistic vision of Judaism
in Israel- one that is intellectually curious, accessible and open and appreciative of traditional
observances in a modern context. For us, this must include the establishment of a prayer
space at the Kotel where men and women, fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, and
families may pray together consistent with our custom.
After nearly four years of negotiation, and more than 20 years of struggle, the Israeli
cabinet voted in January 2016 to approve and fund the creation of a permanent
egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall,which included oficial recognition of
both the Masorti and Reform movements.
Yet the agreement continues to stall. The Minister of Religious Affairs, whose job includes
developing regulations concerning the Holy Sites, has refused to issue and sign the relevant
regulations. Others among the Ultra-Orthodox parties are threatening to quit the government
if this historic agreement moves forward.
This situation persists despite recent polls from the Jerusalem Post demonstrating that almost
2/3 of Israelis support the agreement. There can be no doubt that the vast majority of Jews
in the world want to see this agreement implemented. They want Jewish pluralism in the
Jewish state.
These High Holy Days, be the sound of the Shofar and make your voice heard! Let the
government of Israel know that we -- Masorti/Conservative Jews the world over -- are united.
Help us ensure Israel remains a Home for All Jews, one that relects our highest values and
aspirations.
Send your email to Israeli decision makers today by visiting:
http://masorti.org/equality-at-the-kotel/
Shanah Tovah,
Margo Gold
International President
Rabbi Steven Wernick
CEO
open the gates for refugees
Download, cut out, and place this special door hanger on your door as a sign of your
commitment to keep the gates of our country open to refugees this High Holiday season.
Through our programs around the globe,
HIAS, the world’s oldest, and only Jewish,
refugee organization, rescues and resettles
refugees so they can live in safety and
with dignity. We also mobilize the Jewish
community to respond together to the
global refugee crisis.
open the gates for us
In this new year, visit www.hias.org for
opportunities to:
• advocate for policies that protect
refugees
• volunteer with refugees in your local
community
• educate others about the global
refugee crisis
• donate to support refugees
Once, we helped refugees because they
were Jewish. Today we help refugees
because we are Jewish.
In this season of relection and renewal,
we ask God to keep the Gates of Repentance
open for us, so we may enter into a new year
of life and blessing.
Just as we consider our own fate, we stand
aware that the gates of our own country are
in danger of closing to refugees worldwide.
Let us commit to ensuring that the gates of
the United States remain open to refugees
that they may live in safety and freedom.
Join thousands of American Jews calling to
keep the gates open: www.hias.org/opengates.