Tikkun Olam: Habitat for Humanity Report
May 3, 2011
On Sunday, April 24, about a dozen chavurahniks contributed their time to help build a single family home for Habitat for Humanity in northeast Portland. The group ranged in ages from 16 to 60. Steve Eisenbach-Budner from Havuurah and Ev Hu from Habitat helped supervise the day’s work. The group erected scaffolding, installed insulation, did some tricky interior framing and worked carefully on laying out and installing hardware for front porch posts and beams. While it sprinkled on and off throughout the day, spirits remained high. Thanks to all for contributing their time, energy and passion to this effort!
At lunch the group was joined by Rabbi Joey and Steve Rudman, who spoke about affordable housing and the wider implications of housing, justice and civil society and a Jewish approach to helping your neighbor, be they friend or enemy. The conversation gave context to the work, connecting local efforts to the larger picture.
One of the volunteers, Beverlee Cutler, noted that while the work was tiring, it was satisfying to put it a hard day’s work on the project and be able to step back and see their concrete accomplishments. In particular, she is grateful Havurah community members like Steve E-B and Steve Rudman are participating in efforts at repairing the world.
If you’re interested in volunteering on a similar project, there are still openings to volunteer on a construction project on Sunday May 15th at the Oregon Farmworkers union PCUN in Woodburn. Kids as young as 14 may participate. For details contact Steve Eisenbach-Budner or Ben Walters
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