Saturday, November 3, 2018

2018 coffeeneuring challenge # 8: Havurah Shalom

My synagogue community, Havurah Shalom, holds worship services every Saturday morning without fail. Our Conservative-style gathering includes lots of singing and praying, all centered around a Torah service where we read the weekly portion from the Torah scroll. We end by blessing wine/juice and breaking bread together. Sometimes there's a kiddush lunch, too.

Today's service, part of a worldwide movement called #solidarityshabbat, was advertised as a "slightly expanded" regular community minyan. Sweetie was really tired and underslept, so she stayed home and I rode into town. I made coffee to take along in my thermal cup (Nossa Familia Italian Roast. Get some) and rode away from the house in cool air with a touch of leftover nighttime dampness.
Photo: Interstate Avenue bike lane, leading up to the Broadway Bridge. Those are grain silos. The Willamette River is below, on the other side of them. Trains bring wheat from Eastern Oregon, and it's loaded onto ships headed for Asia and Europe.
Oregon is a major contributor to US exports opf hard wheat.













Below: On the Broadway Bridge, with the Fremont Bridge in the distance.


My tallit (prayer shawl) in its bag.
I didn't need to stick it in a plastic bag because it stayed dry all day.











The All-Rounder, parked outside my shul, Havurah Shalom. The sanctuary was packed to standing room only. People sang and swayed to the music, and talked with each other about our collective fear. We resolved to move forward together to help each other and make our community and our world safer and better.

It was a really good morning to spend in community.

Riding home was sweet. I rode along tree-lined streets turned golden by the changing season.
Riding under trees that were shaped like a leafy canopy took my breath away. Knowing that within a month it would be gone, I had to stop and admire it. And give thanks.
































(looking eastward on N. Ainsworth Street.)
There is nothing like riding at a slow enough pace to actually notice beauty. Total: around 9 miles.

I may try and squeak in another one or two Coffee rides before the Challenge ends.
Happy riding!

No comments: