Passover Greetings from Havurah’s Steering Committee
March 25, 2010
On behalf of the Steering Committee, we extend our warmest wishes to all for a happy and healthy Pesach.
Pesach is a rich, multi-sensory, multi-themed, many layered holiday. You will find ideas and information here to whet your appetite, and help you create an enjoyable, meaningful family holiday.
May all your sedarim be uplifting and inspiring as you enjoy the company of friends and family. We look forward to a productive and prosperous year for our congregation.
Herman Asarnow
Rachel Shimshak
Havurah Shalom Co-Presidents
Havurah and Green Empowerment in the News
March 25, 2010
Havurah’s Green Empowerment Project was featured in a story in the Jewish Review. Click here to read the story online or pick up a copy of the Jewish Review in the Havurah foyer (Magazine Exchange Box). Find out more about Havurah’s project here.
Passover Readings to Support Social Justice
March 19, 2010
From the Social Action Committee
For your Passover Seder this year, we encourage you to recognize that we are Jews in the World. We have a responsibility to work towards reducing inequality, recognize and work toward a reduction of global poverty in the global south and act to support the human rights of all people in this world.
Havurah supports local efforts to provide food for those in needs through our work with the Oregon Food Bank and the Northwest Portland Ministries. We provide a connection with the homeless by providing meals at the Transition Project. We advocate with our elected representatives for debt relief as an effective foreign aid strategy to achieve the Millennium Development Goals through our membership in the Jubilee Oregon and Jubilee USA. We support sustainable development and the funding for a solar powered water system in El Jacote, Nicaragua through our partnership with Green Empowerment.
Please look at these two Passover resources from American Jewish World Service to include in your Seder.
Why is this year different from all other years? Readings to augment the Four Questions, click here.
Dayenu: Supporting the Long Journey from Disaster to Recovery, click here.
Adult B’nai/B’not Mitzvah: Expand your connection to Judaism – Begins April 7
March 19, 2010
Are you interested in expanding your Jewish literacy skills and confidence?
Deepening your knowledge and commitment to Torah, Tefillah (Prayer) and Kehillah (Community) and going through this process with others and celebrating your Jewish learning in our communty?
Then… consider joining a group of adults who will become B’nai and B’not Mitzvah together through a 2 year process of engaging, independently and collectively. Meetings will begin late spring 2010 with the B’nai/B’not Mitzvah tentatively planned for late fall, 2012.
This is especially for those who never became Bar/Bat Mitzvah, and for those who did in form, but not in substance. (Note: participation is for Havurah Shalom members; if you are not a member, you will need to join.)
If you are interested, please contact Deborah Eisenbach-Budner without delay! Initial meeting is April 7th. You may use the form below:
Advocacy Works: Haiti and Debt Cancellation
March 1, 2010
by Bob Brown
If you wonder if sending a message to your congressman matters, this story will demonstrate that it does matter.
The Jubilee USA Network organizations have been advocating for debt forgiveness for Haiti since 2007. The story of Haiti’s poverty and debt is complicated, having both political and economic aspects that have perpetuated the poverty of the Haitian people. Natural disasters have exacerbated the country’s poverty.
The earthquake on January 12, 2010 has caused unimaginable destruction. In response to the crisis, the International Monetary Fund responded by announcing its intent to give Haiti a $100 million loan. Loaning Haiti more money was completely inappropriate. This action by the IMF caused the advocacy community to act. Jubilee USA and other organizations organized a letter writing campaign to Members of Congress. This caused a bi-partisan letter to be written by two Representatives to Treasury Secretary Geithner, calling for “the complete cancellation of debts owed by Haiti to multilateral financial institutions…and the provision of assistance to Haiti in the form of grants so that the country does not accumulate additional debts.” 94 Members signed this letter as a direct result of phone calls and emails that were made by you and people like you.
Next, individuals were asked to sign a petition to Treasury Secretary Geithner urging him use his leadership to negotiate the cancellation of Haiti’s remaining debts to international institutions and ensure that all new aid comes in the form of grants, not loans.
The consequence of these advocacy actions;
On the eve of the G7 meeting in Canada, Geithner announced that the U.S. intends to seek a commitment with other donors for Haiti’s debt relief to the international financial institutions “in a manner that provides direct and immediate grant support to Haiti.”
At the G7 meeting in Canada, these countries have told Haiti that any debts it owes them needn’t be repaid and international lenders (such as the IMF and the World Bank) should do the same.
The story is not over. Jubilee and other organizations must hold these countries and the international financial institutions accountable to their stated intention.
Actions of advocates like you made this happen. If you wonder if sending a message to your congressman matters, this should demonstrate that it does matter.