Calendar

Preserving the Past: The Legacy of Jewish Women is the theme of the
Lifelong Learning Lecture Series in January at Rose Schnitzer Manor at
Cedar Sinai Park.
RSM invites to community to come to the lecture series every Tuesday
evening this January. All lectures are open to the public and will be held
in Zidell Hall of Rose Schnitzer Manor.
The series begins Jan. 3 when Priscilla Kostiner speaks on “The Personal
Journey of a Jewish Woman.” Priscilla has spent her life as a Jewish lay
leader and professional in the Jewish world. Whether leading Shabbat
services at the Rose Schnitzer Manor, speaking about Judaism to high
school students or greeting new immigrants on the tarmac at Ben Gurion
Airport in Israel, Priscilla loves what she does, and is looking forward to
sharing her experiences with you.
On Jan. 10 Ellen Eisenberg speaks on “Whatever Happened to Old South
Portland.”
Ellen is the Dwight and Margaret Lear Professor of American History at
Willamette University and is the author of The First to Cry Down Injustice?
Western Jews and Japanese Removal during WWII, Embracing a Western
Identity: Jewish Oregonians, 1849-1950 and The Jewish Oregon Story,
1950-2015.
Cantor Ida Rae Cahana continues the series Jan. 17 with her talk, “Abi
Gezunt – As Long as You’re Well, You’re Happy!” Ida Rae was raised in
Pittsburgh, PA, where she made history and the local news at the age
of 17, when she became one of the first women to sing in a synagogue
as cantorial soloist. Ida Rae has since appeared on Broadway and in
concerts at Merkin Concert Hall and the 92nd Street Y. She made her
Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 and her Oregon Symphony debut in 2013.
Ida Rae is a featured soloist for two recordings from the Milken Archive
of Jewish music (Naxos label), of Yiddish Art Song, and on their latest
release of Jewish Wedding Music. With ordination from Hebrew-Union
College –Jewish Institute of Religion in 1993, she is the senior cantor for
Congregation Beth Israel. She says her greatest joy is to be the “ema on
the bima” for her four children, Sarit, Liora, Idit and David.
On Jan. 24 Jeannie Smith will share how “One Person Can Make a
Difference!” Jeannie is the daughter of Polish Rescuer, Irene Gut Opdyke;
who passed away on May 17, 2003. Irene received international
recognition for her actions during the Holocaust while working for a
high-ranking German official. Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett will speak Jan.
31 about “Jewish Women and Civil Rights: Behind the Scenes, Around
the Table, and on the Picket Line.” Kimberly is the author of Carolina
Israelite: How Harry Golden Made Us Care about Jews, the South, and Civil
Rights, the first comprehensive biography of Golden. Golden’s one-man
newspaper and hugely popular books including, Only in America and For
2-cents Plain, used wry humor and blunt observations to raise awareness
of the Jewish role in fighting for civil rights in this country.

Congregation Ahavath Achim, in cooperation with the Sephardic Cultural Center of Oregon, will present the 10th Annual Sephardic Winter Film Series, a compilation of film screenings with Sephardic content, to be shown on the first Tuesday of each month, beginning November 2016 through April 2017.  Film screenings are FREE to the public, (a modest voluntary donation is suggested but not required).  After each film is screened, a discussion period will follow with a prominent local personality to lead the discussion.  A Sephardic dessert and tea will be provided during the discussion period.

Remaining films:

January 3, 2017.

Among The Righteous.  Lost stories from Arab Lands. Did Arabs save Jews during the Holocaust? Seeking a hopeful response to the plague of Holocaust denial in the Arab world, Robert Satloff, head of a respected Washington think tank, sets out in the wake of 9/11, on an eight-year journey to find an Arab hero whose story would change the way Arabs and Jews view their history.  Along the way, Satloff found not only the Arab heroes for whom he sought, but a vast history of what actually happened to the half-million Jews of Arab lands in North Africa under Vichy, Fascist, and Nazi control.

English language, Produced by William Cran, 60 minutes, Shown on PBS, Speaker: Rabbi Kaplan

This feature film will be accompanied with a second short documentary, for your viewing pleasure.

February 7, 2017.  The Long Way Home.  This Academy Award-winning documentary examines the critical post-World War II period from 1945 – 1948, and the plight of the tens of thousands of refugees who survived the Nazi Holocaust but whom most of the world left to fend for themselves.  Their clandestine attempts to get to the Jewish homeland led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.  Narrated by Morgan Freeman and featuring the voices of Edward Asner, Sean Astin, Martin Landau, Miriam Margolyes, David Paymer and Nina Slemaszko.  Two Thumbs Up from Siskel and Ebert.

English language, 120 minutes, Produced by Rabbi Marvin Hier, Discussion following the film

March 7, 2017.  The Truce.  A biographical documentary about Italian chemist turned author Primo Levi, who was interned at Auschwitz during WWII.  Following his release, he returned to his native Turin.  This movie depicts his hellish nine month journey from the camp back to his home.  He goes through many different countries, and along the way he meets and is befriended by assorted fellow travelers. Through them, his appreciation of life and freedom slowly returns, but with it also comes a deep rage and an abiding guilt at having survived.

English language, 118 minutes, 1997, Director Francesco Rosi, Discussion speaker: Ivonne Saed

April 4, 2017.  The Ballad of the Weeping Spring.  Musical instruments take the place of guns and an Iranian symphony takes the place of a gun fight in this clever, emotional homage to The Magnificent Seven.  In this drama, a dying man’s last wish sends his oldest friend, Tawila, on a grand adventure to find the best symphony players around for a final performance of “The Ballad of Weeping Spring.”  But will a guilty secret undo all of Tawila’s hard work?  Winner of 4 Israeli Academy Awards, plus 5 nominations including Best Film, and winner Best Music at Jerusalem Film Festival.

Hebrew with subtitles, 105 minutes, 2012, Film by Benny Toraty, Discussion speaker: Charles Levy

Films shown FIRST Tuesday of each month at 7PM.  Admission & Sephardic dessert are FREE.

Sponsors: Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, National Council of Synagogue Youth (NCSY),

Albert J. & Esther Menashe, Richard & Judi Matza, Charles & Jo Levy, Ron & Pam Sidis, Renee Ferrera,

Eve Stern & Les Gutfreund, Michael Menashe

For information call David 503-892-6634 or jewishfilmportland.org

Join other families for prayer, singing, conversation and fun followed by an indoor picnic style lunch.

A Film by Walter Wehmeyer

This is the story of two very different families and the store that connects them in

Aachen, Germany. This documentary features the story of Salem’s Britta Franz. It follows the fate of her and Marianne who were Jewish in Germany in 1937. As two sisters, 9 and 12, they were forced to flee the town of Aachen. Their father, Curt Lion, owned a beautiful clothing store and sold it to the filmmaker’s grandfather. The filmmaker takes you back with Britta and Marianne as they travel back to visit their old family store and piece together the traces of their relatives who didn’t survive escaping the Nazis.

Britta, a longtime Salem resident, business owner and civic leader will be there to introduce the film and have a Q & A session afterwards.  She will have DVDs of the film available to purchase for $20 each.  We are honored to be bringing you this program.

Preserving the Past: The Legacy of Jewish Women is the theme of the
Lifelong Learning Lecture Series in January at Rose Schnitzer Manor at
Cedar Sinai Park.
RSM invites to community to come to the lecture series every Tuesday
evening this January. All lectures are open to the public and will be held
in Zidell Hall of Rose Schnitzer Manor.
The series begins Jan. 3 when Priscilla Kostiner speaks on “The Personal
Journey of a Jewish Woman.” Priscilla has spent her life as a Jewish lay
leader and professional in the Jewish world. Whether leading Shabbat
services at the Rose Schnitzer Manor, speaking about Judaism to high
school students or greeting new immigrants on the tarmac at Ben Gurion
Airport in Israel, Priscilla loves what she does, and is looking forward to
sharing her experiences with you.
On Jan. 10 Ellen Eisenberg speaks on “Whatever Happened to Old South
Portland.”
Ellen is the Dwight and Margaret Lear Professor of American History at
Willamette University and is the author of The First to Cry Down Injustice?
Western Jews and Japanese Removal during WWII, Embracing a Western
Identity: Jewish Oregonians, 1849-1950 and The Jewish Oregon Story,
1950-2015.
Cantor Ida Rae Cahana continues the series Jan. 17 with her talk, “Abi
Gezunt – As Long as You’re Well, You’re Happy!” Ida Rae was raised in
Pittsburgh, PA, where she made history and the local news at the age
of 17, when she became one of the first women to sing in a synagogue
as cantorial soloist. Ida Rae has since appeared on Broadway and in
concerts at Merkin Concert Hall and the 92nd Street Y. She made her
Carnegie Hall debut in 2012 and her Oregon Symphony debut in 2013.
Ida Rae is a featured soloist for two recordings from the Milken Archive
of Jewish music (Naxos label), of Yiddish Art Song, and on their latest
release of Jewish Wedding Music. With ordination from Hebrew-Union
College –Jewish Institute of Religion in 1993, she is the senior cantor for
Congregation Beth Israel. She says her greatest joy is to be the “ema on
the bima” for her four children, Sarit, Liora, Idit and David.
On Jan. 24 Jeannie Smith will share how “One Person Can Make a
Difference!” Jeannie is the daughter of Polish Rescuer, Irene Gut Opdyke;
who passed away on May 17, 2003. Irene received international
recognition for her actions during the Holocaust while working for a
high-ranking German official. Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett will speak Jan.
31 about “Jewish Women and Civil Rights: Behind the Scenes, Around
the Table, and on the Picket Line.” Kimberly is the author of Carolina
Israelite: How Harry Golden Made Us Care about Jews, the South, and Civil
Rights, the first comprehensive biography of Golden. Golden’s one-man
newspaper and hugely popular books including, Only in America and For
2-cents Plain, used wry humor and blunt observations to raise awareness
of the Jewish role in fighting for civil rights in this country.

A monthly discussion covering a wide range of topics that will draw on our experiences.
January’s topic: Parshat Vayechi: The meaning of “And He Lived”

Learn the basics of Improv Theater! Students will learn short-form games that teach the skills of listening and responding, working together as a group to create a story on the spot, and building self-confidence. The class will be working towards a demo that showcases their favorite improv games, and shows off their new comedy chops!

In partnership with Portland Jewish Academy and Northwest Children’s Theater & School
Register: oregonjcc.org/registration; CG202

Join us on the 2nd Saturday of this month for our Shabbat gathering of toddlers and their caregivers.

Enjoy stories, songs and crafts that celebrate holidays and Jewish values. Stay afterwards for bagels and coffee with Rabbi – free play for the kids and schmoozing for the adults.

Best for kids up to age five, although older siblings are welcome too.

Expectant mothers and their partners will learn about and prepare for birth through hands-on education. Practice comfort techniques and learn about the physiology of birth, routine medical procedures, breastfeeding and informed consent in a dynamic group setting. This course is designed to instill confidence and empower expectant parents, as well as provide expectant parents with a support group of peers. Lamaze classes are based on the most up-to-date research from the gold-standard Cochrane database. Three couples needed to run this class.

This five-session class meets on Sundays from Jan. 15 through Feb. 12.

Teacher: Elana Alpert, LCCE
Register: oregonjcc.org/lamaze