Her novel alternates between late medieval Spain and Portugal during the traumatic time of the Inquisition, and a very small town in New Mexico in 1992. The modern New Mexican characters are Catholics with peculiar habits. Nobody in town eats pork but they don’t know why. It is likely they are the descendants of conversos, Jews who converted during the Spanish Inquisition. The story weaves a connecting thread from the Iberian Peninsula to Mexico City and then on to the original settlers who moved into what is now the American Southwest. Five hundred years later, a young amateur astronomer wonders about the secret of the town he grew up in: Entrada de la Luna, or Gateway to the Moon.
Morris’ previous work, The Jazz Palace, won the Anisfeld-Wolf Book Award for important contributions to the understanding of racism in 2016. She also writes short stories and travel memoirs. Her many novels and story collections have been translated into six languages. She lives in Brooklyn, New York and teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College.
Doors open at 4:00 PM to meet and greet the author. A one-hour author reading and discussion will follow beginning at 4:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.
Co-sponsored by the Beit Am Jewish Community and the MJCC. Grassroots Bookstore will be there with copies of the paperback edition of Gateway to the Moon for sale and author signing.
Pizza in the Sukkah
Join friends and family for an evening of great food, schmoozing, singing, and storytelling!
Wednesday, October 16
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Cost: $15 per family.
Register by Oct. 13: oregonjcc.org/sukkah
In partnership with Portland Jewish Academy
Habitat for Humanity Build
Sunday, November 10, 9am-4pm
Congregation Neveh Shalom members join members of the Bilal Mosque for a Habitat for Humanity build! No building skills required; Habitat trains you on the site.
RSVP to Steve Sirkin stevejew18@frontier.com or 503-680-7006.
Please note: Programs are subject to change; please contact the office for more information: 503.246.8831 or visit the website at: www.nevehshalom.org
Soup to the Streets
Monday, Nov 11, Dec 9, 6:00-9:00pm
Congregants come together at Rabbi Kosak’s home to prepare a hot meal and go to the streets to directly feed those that need it the most.
contact: lrichmond@nevehshalom.org To RSVP for address and to donate food supplies
Please note: Programs are subject to change; please contact the office for more information: 503.246.8831 or visit the website at: www.nevehshalom.org.
K-6th Grade Led Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 22, 6:15-7:15pm
Join the ALIYAH K-6th graders as they lead a special Kabbalat Shabbat at Congregation Neveh Shalom.
Please note: Programs are subject to change; please contact the office for more information: 503.246.8831 or visit the website at: www.nevehshalom.org