Calendar

The Holocaust Memorial Program at Oregon State University is proud to present a panel discussion on the evolution of religious rights and their connection with, and impact on, human rights.

How has the promotion of religious rights figured into the larger effort to protect and advance human rights? On the one hand, we find many historical and contemporary declarations of rights coupling freedom of thought, belief, conscience, and religion. However, we likewise see examples of religious freedoms for some being yoked to religious (and other) oppression for others.

Our distinguished panel will explore the historical, philosophical, legal, and experiential dimensions of this complicated question. We welcome your contributions to the discussion that will follow.

Leading our panel will be the 2015 recipient of the Elie Weisel Award, a recognition granted annually by the United States Holocaust Memorial museum, Judge Thomas Buergenthal. Buergenthal will speak to us in a double capacity: first, as a survivor of Auschwitz, whose experiences during the Holocaust are chronicled in his highly acclaimed memoir, A Lucky Child; and second, as a renowned legal scholar who has labored to make international law an ever-more-effective tool in combating human rights abuses. He has also served as a judge on several international tribunals that deal heavily in human rights cases, including the International Court of Justice (a.k.a. “The World Court”).

Also participating in the panel discussion will be:

• Dr. Rena Lauer (specialties in medieval Europe and Jewish history) will speak on minority religions and their legal rights in the medieval Mediterranean.
• Dr. Amy Koehlinger (North American religious history and thought; American Catholicism) will address the issue of religion and human rights in the history of Oregon.
• Dr. Stuart Sarbacker (comparative religion; Indic religions and philosophical traditions) will focus on religious freedom in the context of Eastern faith traditions.
• Dr. Paul Kopperman (war and genocide; chair, Holocaust Memorial Committee) will discuss the value of Holocaust education in promoting respect for diversity.

After their individual statements, the panelists will join audience members in an interactive discussion of the core themes of the evening, Religious Rights and Human Rights.

At the conclusion of this event, copies of the new, expanded edition of A Lucky Child, Thomas Buergenthal’s Holocaust memoir, will be available for purchase courtesy of GrassRoots Books.

This event is sponsored by the OSU Holocaust Memorial Program, the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, the Institute for Judaic Studies, Grass Roots Books and Music, and the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation.

The Havurah invites the community to a Sunset Dinner at Grizzly Peak Winery in Ashland; The Best of Both Worlds, on Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 PM with light jazz by the Paul Schmeling Trio. Ashland Gourmet will provide appetizers from the Middle Eastern kitchen with delights such as tabouli, hummus, baba ganoush and more, followed by an entrée from the Spanish Sephardic tradition of Chicken Marbella and dessert of fresh fruit and baklava. The all inclusive price per person, which includes the wonderful wines of Grizzly Peak, is $60, and tables of eight can be reserved for $440. All reservations must be made in advance no later than August 19 by calling 541-488-7716. The event is a benefit for the Havurah.

Havurah’s catered Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner begins at 6:30 pm, followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat Service at 7:30 pm. The dinner is vegetarian, and we offer dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free options. You’re invited to bring wine or juice to celebrate Shabbat. Childcare is available for kids age 2 to 8.

RSVPs are required for all who plan to attend the dinner. Please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/4-8-Kabbalat by Monday, April 4.

Whether or not you attend the dinner, we hope you’ll join us for our musical and joy-filled Kabbalat Shabbat Service. The service will be led by Rabbi Joey and Havurah musicians, and is sponsored by Havurah’s Tikkun Olam Committee, with a focus on welcoming refugees.

We invite you to join us on Friday, Dec. 30, to welcome Shabbat, spread the light of the Chanukah candles, and share our feelings, fears, and hopes for the difficult times we are facing as a country. For those of us who came together on the Sunday after the election, it was a powerful expression of community, and there have been requests to identify some next steps. It continues to feel premature to launch a specific action plan. Instead, it seems more appropriate to gather in community, listen to how we are doing, and continue conversations about our hopes and fears about areas such as immigrants and refugees, poverty and homelessness, climate change, equity, and gun control.

We will begin by lighting the Chanukah and Shabbat candles, sing some songs, and then spend our time talking and listening. There will not be a formal Friday night service.

Please RSVP here.

Havurah Shalom will host a Passover Community Seder on Tuesday, April 11, at 6:00 pm. Adults and children of all ages are welcome!

Back by popular demand, Havurah’s very own Beth Hamon and Adela Basayne will lead the seder. The dinner will be vegetarian, with gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free options.

Please register no later than April 5 at tinyurl.com/Pesac17! To inquire about cost adjustments, contact Rachel at rachelp@havurahshalom.org or 503-248-4662 ext 2.