Jewish Community Havurah of Southern Oregon

Since 2018, Havurah Shir Hadash has hosted more than fifty houseless individuals and families in our parking lot. To do this, we are required to rent a porta-potty and provide trash service. This venture costs us about $6 daily to fund.

We have been hosting a wonderful yearly concert to raise funds for this. However, we fell behind during the pandemic when fundraising in this way was not possible. To keep our program secure for another year, we need to raise $2200.

Residing in the parking lot provides our residents with a quiet, peaceful environment and a sense of security, not to mention freedom from parking tickets! We are currently hosting three individuals and four dogs. Here’s a picture of our Havurah parking lot family! Please donate if you can!

Our community, led by Rabbi David Zaslow, is keeping the Jewish Renewal legacy of Reb Zalman zt"l and Reb Aryeh z"l alive in southern Oregon, California, Arizona, Washington and even Canada. Reb David is retiring this June and a young, newly ordained Jewish Renewal, Rabbi Rachel Dorit Goldberg, will carry the torch.

Please contribute in honor of Reb David and all he's given to our community since he became our spiritual leader in 1996, and to ensure that our community remains strong and vibrant.

Reb David writes,

"Each autumn the Havurah sends out this end-of-year request for donations that will carry us through the rest of our year. Why is this year different from all other years? At our recent high holiday services I mentioned that these would be the last Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services that I would be leading as the rabbi of the Havurah. And the same is true of this request for your tax-deductible financial support.

Next year, God willing, I'll be rabbi emeritus of the Havurah, and Rabbi Rachel Dorit Goldberg will be the spiritual leader of our wonderful Jewish Renewal synagogue. You'll see her signature at the bottom of next year’s fundraising drive.

In this time of year, so close to Thanksgiving, I am so thankful to each of you who have supported our community for so many years. From helping people to deepen their connections to G-d, Torah, and Israel, to our ongoing educational outreach in the greater local community concerning the explosion of antisemitism that we've seen throughout the world.

Maybe the most important thing we do is to fulfill the commandment of keeping Judaism alive and meaningful dor l’dor, generation to generation. Since 1985 the Havurah has carved out a special place for itself in southern Oregon. We’re known for our inspiring interfaith activities, as well as for offering services and adult education classes that make Jewish spiritual practices more relevant than ever in our world that is so divided.

Once again we come to you in this time of year, so close to Thanksgiving and Hanukah, for your financial support. We’re all getting end-of-year solicitations from so many worthy charities, and we hope that the Havurah will be on your list, and we can count on you for your gift.

In deep gratitude,

Rabbi David Zaslow

As the conflict began to unfold in Ukraine, many of us sat helplessly watching and wondering what we could do, as mothers, parents and grandparents held the hands of their children while running for cover, and thousands fled to safety in neighboring countries.

 

Now we know what we are called to do – and you have a crucial role to play!

Community members in southern Oregon have organized under the banner “Uniting for Ukraine” under the umbrella of the Havurah Synagogue, a local non-profit. All funds donated go directly to helping incoming families.

 

With your help, we are bringing 7-10 Ukrainian families to the Rogue Valley in Oregon to live with volunteer host families until they can safely return home. 

Funds are needed to pay for flights, fund resettlement costs, and contribute to host family expenses.

 

The estimated cost of resettling and hosting one family for one year will be approximately $8,000 to $10,000. Host families will support refugee families in navigating life in the US with the support of our volunteer teams.

 

Your tax-deductible donation will help in this humanitarian effort. Every donation helps! Donations are being dispersed by the organizer, Dr. Scott Bandoroff, who heads up this effort.

 

“To save a life is to save the world entire.” Talmud.

 

This is no small undertaking and will require your generous financial support. You can make a difference with a donation of any amount. Please consider supporting this effort!