Rivkah began to play drums after being inspired by a Sevendust concert in Miami, FL. After a few years of being self-taught and playing in local bands, she attended Broward College in Davie, FL, as a music major and studied jazz drum set and classical percussion. Rivkah played and recorded with a variety of South Florida artists, including Andrew Bayuk, the four-time winner of the American Idol Underground Folk Competition.
In 2008, Rivkah moved to Los Angeles to study drumming at Musicians Institute. While being a student at Musicians Institute, she went on tours around California with Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats, a 1960’s soul-rock band, and recorded and played with many other local artists. Rivkah opened for Dick Dale, the B-52s, and The New Mastersounds with Jeff Hershey and the Heartbeats. The band went on to complete three European tours, performing multiple dates in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Switzerland. After touring with the band, Rivkah returned to Los Angeles and continued to play and record with two unique all-female jazz bands, Lady Jazz and the Hard Bop Chicks, as well as other artists. She gained an endorsement through Soultone Cymbals while living in Los Angeles, and performed with Stevie Wonder as part of a drum ensemble on Stevie Wonder’s Annual House of Toys at the Nokia Theater. In 2016, Rivkah relocated to Portland, Oregon, where she continues to perform.
Rivkah loves to teach and is a Certified Facilitator for The Rhythmic Arts Project, a non-profit organization that teaches life skills to students with disabilities using hand drums and specialized curriculum. She has worked with students with disabilities, as well as disadvantaged and chronically ill students, and she has a special interest in working with students who face challenges. Rivkah holds a Master of Education with emphasis in Special Education from Southern New Hampshire University.
Rivkah enjoys being out in nature, spending time with loved ones, writing stories, traveling, dancing, hiking, and inspiring and teaching others, especially girls and women, to play drums. Her favorite drummers are Roy Haynes, Cindy Blackman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and Sean Reinert.
Rev. Matthew Fox – Ecology & Deep Ecumenism:
In the Image of God, the Cosmic Christ, and Buddha Nature
March 9-10, 2018 at the Havurah Synagogue in Ashland
The Havurah Synagogue is hosting a unique interfaith event featuring the renowned scholar and author Rev. Matthew Fox on March 9-10, 2018. The three-part event is called Ecology & and Deep Ecumenism: In the Image of God, the Cosmic Christ, and Buddha Nature. Register on line at https://bpt.me/3233117 or by calling 1-800-838-3006. For general information call (541) 488-7716. Cost of the registration for the three events including Friday evening hospitality and Saturday luncheon is $85 for early registration before February 5, and $95 after that. Partial work trade opportunities are available.
The event is co-sponsored by R.E.D. Red Earth Descendants, Kagyu Sukha Choling Buddhist Center, Trinity Episcopal Church, Unity in Ashland, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Havurah Synagogue, and the Rogue Valley Manor Department of Spiritual Care and Wellbeing.
Matthew Fox is a renowned American theologian. Formally a Dominican priest his controversial ideas on what is known as Creation Spirituality, and the alignment of ecology with religion, caused his expulsion from the Catholic priesthood in 1993. He is now an Episcopal priest. He is the author of 35 books including the best-selling The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, Original Blessing, Creation Spirituality, and The Reinvention of Work. He teaches regularly at Fox Institute for Creation Spirituality in Boulder, CO. And that his latest book is Order of the Sacred Earth. Learn more about the order at www.orderofthesacredearth.org
The weekend of events will be divided in three parts, all taking place at the Havurah Synagogue in Ashland and requiring pre-registration. Friday evening 7:00 PM, Saturday morning at 10 AM, and Saturday evening at 7:30 PM. Rev. Fox led what he calls a Cosmic Mass in September, 2016 at the Ashland Historic Armory. Describing the theme of the upcoming event Rev. Fox says,
Clearly the earth as we know it, and our species along with many others are in dire straits. Global warming, species extinction, soil depletion, oceans rising and becoming more acidic, weather extremes, climate immigrants, increased wildfires and waters polluted – all this adds up to a near apocalyptic situation. Time is rapidly running out. What does a renewed spiritual awakening bring to the table? How can we draw on the best of our religious traditions to assist this waking up process?
The weekend of events will be the presentation of teachings on the link between ecology and religion, and how people of all faiths can recover a sense of the sacredness of the earth and her processes. Rev. Fox teaches that the religious archetype for the sacredness of creation can be found in the “Image of G-d” tradition in Judaism, the “Cosmic Christ” tradition of Christianity; and by the “Buddha Nature” teachings in Buddhism. Rev. Fox will teach about these archetypes during the weekend and in the process awaken participants to look for stories of the sacredness of nature in their own spiritual traditions.
Rabbi David Zaslow says, “Rev. Fox’s work is unique in the interfaith world. He expects those of us from particular faiths to stop settling with merely respecting each other’s traditions, but to ask each other ‘how can I help you? How can we pray and work together for the sake of our planet?’”
The weekend will culminate on Saturday evening with a special ecumenical panel highlighting the wisdom of local spiritual leaders: Dan Wahpepah from Red Earth Descendants, Rev. Norma Burton of Unity, Rev. Fr. Tony Hutchinson from Trinity Episcopal, Rabbi David Zaslow from the Havurah, Lama Yeshe Parke from the KSC Buddhist center, Rev. Christina Kukuk of the United Church of Christ, and Fr. Joel S. Garavaglia-Maiorano from the Rogue Valley Manor.
You can learn more about Creation Spirituality and the cutting edge theological work of Rev. Matthew Fox at his website at http://www.matthewfox.org. For more information about the weekend call (541) 488-7716.
Adroit Maneuvers by Michael Bertish.
This timely and thought-provoking drama portrays a very different view of the personal impacts of war in a touching study of intergenerational trauma and the painful dysfunctions that continue to haunt an entire family. The play is full of music, and discussions of art, philosophy, culture, science and politics on a world stage. As details of the story lay out the facts of the past, the audience can’t help but be reminded of the political climate of the present.
Not suitable for children.
ABOUT THE PLAY
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
This well-known anonymous statement from the 1930s (often erroneously attributed to American novelist Sinclair Lewis) is a prophetic warning about the rise of authoritarian regimes. With the recent tragic events of Charlottesville and other flashpoints of intolerance in the news, assaults on members of the LGBTQ community and racial, religious and ethnic minorities, attacks on a free press, and the rise of voices advocating extreme nationalism throughout the civilized world, many say that our current time is reminiscent of the advent of World War II. However, the real test of our time is to avoid the trap of reactionary fear and to commit to healing change. Adroit Maneuvers offers a compassionate, hopeful perspective on bridging these divides that threaten to fracture our humanity.
The play is set in New York City in 1996 at the Dinger family home. The story revolves around an elderly grandmother, Tilde, and her adult grandson, Micky, who comes back to the city for a final visit. Micky is determined to get Tilde to open up about her experiences during the Anschluss in Vienna. Until this point in her life, Tilde has never spoken about living through the Nazi invasion and World War II. As Tilde tells her story, her memories come to life and the characters from her past enter to relive vignettes from the golden era of Vienna’s famous café society. Micky discovers Tilde’s acts of selfless courage and her friendships with world-class figures of the day: Sigmund and Martha Freud, Albert Einstein, and members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Tilde’s story is interwoven with true historical events, and hearing her story gives Micky the courage to be open for the first time about his own deep-rooted secrets.
This timely and thought-provoking drama portrays a very different view of the personal impacts of war in a touching study of intergenerational trauma and the painful dysfunctions that continue to haunt an entire family. The play is full of music, and discussions of art, philosophy, culture, science and politics on a world stage. As details of the story lay out the facts of the past, the audience can’t help but be reminded of the political climate of the present.
In October 2017, actor/director Tom Hanks said, “If you’re concerned about what’s going on today, read history and figure out what to do because it’s all right there.” Adroit Maneuvers delves into the history of intolerance and brings us to the realization that we have the power to rise above it all through devoted relationships, humility, compassion and forgiveness.
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, September 9
Monday, October 7
Monday, November 4
Monday, December 9
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, September 9
Monday, October 7
Monday, November 4
Monday, December 9
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, September 9
Monday, October 7
Monday, November 4
Monday, December 9
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, September 9
Monday, October 7
Monday, November 4
Monday, December 9
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, January 13
Monday, February 3
Monday, March 16
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, January 13
Monday, February 3
Monday, March 16
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah
Gates of Light: A New-Old Approach to Torah and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism helps us understand the Torah, the world, and ourselves. Delve into the core teachings of the majestic Kabbalistic tradition. Red bracelets aren’t going to do it – dig deep into the texts and into ourselves. Join Rabbi Joshua Rose for a look into the book Sha’arei Orah – Gates of Light.
Monday, January 13
Monday, February 3
Monday, March 16
2:30 – 3:25 pm
Free and open to the community.
In partnership with Congregation Shaarie Torah