“The Ministry of Special Cases”
The Jewish Theatre Collaborative has once again brought a little-known story of Jewish history to life with its Page2Stage season focused on a novel, The Ministry of Special Cases, at the Milagro Theatro (525 SE Stark, Portland), where JTC is “in residence.”
Set in 1976 at the dawn of Argentina’s “Dirty War,” the novel and the play explore the surreal era during which about 30,000 people “disappeared.”
The world that swirls around the story’s main characters is surreal, Kafkaesque. Kaddish, whose mother was a whore involved in the sex trade (which most members of the Jewish community are mortified to acknowledge the community had a role in) and his traditional wife, Lillian, are struggling to raise their teenage son in world of inflation and political instability. Then their son becomes one of the disappeared.
The play continues at 7:30 pm Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 pm Sundays March 14 through April 11.
Tickets are $30 and are available at jewishtheatrecollaborative.org.
A Joyous Evening of Story, Song and Amazing Juggling Feats
P’nai Or of Portland presents a family friendly evening of performance by Rabbi Mark Novak and his wife, Renée Brachfeld, on Saturday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at TaborSpace, 5441 SE Belmont, Portland 97215. Mark and Renée will also be leading Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday night, 4-17, Torah Service on 4-18 and adult study on 4-19 at P’nai Or, 9750 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Rabbi Mark Novak and Renée are guests of P’nai Or for their Scholar-in-Residence weekend April 17-19. This husband-wife duo have appeared at over 130 synagogues across the U.S. and Canada, leading services, presenting workshops, and performing for both adult and family audiences. Their recording, “King Solomon’s Daughter”, was awarded the Parents’ Choice Gold Award.
Mark and Renée live in the Washington DC area and have been featured as presenters at LimmudFest in England, Limmud NY, Ruach HaAretz, Routes and the Seattle International Storytelling Festival.
Mark began his music career as a child, singing in a professional Jewish choir and appearing on Broadway in the musical “Oliver”. From 1977-1986 he was the music director of Living Stage at Arena Stage in Washington, DC. His original theater pieces have been performed at Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts and The Smithsonian.
Renée has been a professional storyteller since 1986. In addition to performing, she teaches a variety of workshops including family storytelling, integrating storytelling in the classroom and building community through storytelling. Her work has been published in Penina Schram’s “Chosen Tales” and Goldie Milgram’s “Mitzvah Stories”.
Visit Rabbi Mark and Renée’s website at jewishstorytelling.com.
Israeli Folk Dancing at Leedy Grange in Cedar Mill.
Beginnner’s Class 7:30-8:30; Review and open dancing 8:30-9:30.
Learn and enjoy beginning dances from experienced folk dancers.
Made possible with support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
Living our later years to the fullest! Let’s talk about everything: adult children, physical changes, emotional issues, losses, letting go, and more. Facilitators: Muriel Adler, Dorothy Dworkin, Carol Price (retired clinical social workers and group leaders).
Mar. 18, Apr. 1, 15, 29, 1:00-2:30 pm
$20 (G:$32) CG206
Enjoy an old film with a smile of nostalgia on our big screen at the MJCC. Free and no RSVP is required.
Come celebrate the humanistic, culturally Jewish meaning of Passover with Kol Shalom. 4 pm check in/social hour. Seder commences at 5 pm. Catered dinner by Spin. Preregistration required: 503-459-4210 or info@kolshalom.org. www.kolshalom.org
Second Seder at Congregation Kol Ami. Please contact admin@jewishvancouverusa.org for more information.
No class on April 8th, due to Passover.
Wednesday Night School at Shaarie Torah for Middle and High School students
Every Wednesday (except for major holidays) from 6:00 to 8:15
For more information email Dorice at education@shaarietorah.org
Love your neighbor as yourself (Ahavta rei-echa kamocha) is a major principle of the Torah. How we relate to and treat one another, what we do for others, the way we help one another – all these are significant measures of the Torah’s vision of a fully lived Jewish life. We all know these teaching, so why is it so hard to fulfill? Rabbi Rose will lead us through a study of Jewish texts and spiritual teachings in search of answers to this question, helping us to become more mindful, awake and present to our spouses, our friends, our families and even ourselves.
The Joy of Judaism- Locally.
Join your friends of the SE Portland Jewish community for a lavish Passover Seder!
7:15 pm. @ the SE Portland Chabad House- 3355 SE steele st. Portland OR 97202
Kids are welcome!!!
For more info and for other events going on in SE Portland, visit- www.SEPortlandChabad.com