Service animals welcome – please leave other pets at home
Shir Tikvah Rabbi Ariel Stone and J.D. Kleinke will be joined by Stumbleweed, a perennial favorite at this event.
Bring a blanket or a chair, and pack a picnic dinner to enjoy while the bluegrass band plays!
Last month it was rain. This month it is heat! Due to extreme weather, Shabbat in the Park has been cancelled.
When your bluegrass band can’t make it due to the temperature, you know it’s time to celebrate Shabbat at Home. We want all of our congregants and their guests to stay cool and healthy, so there will not be evening services at the synagogue on Friday the 19th.
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.
During March Movie Night on Sunday, March 18, Havurah Shalom’s Ma’avar Committee will show “Living While Dying,” a film made by P’nai Or member Cathy Zheutlin.
Here is a brief description of the film: Death is a big mystery, and yet the outcome is 100 percent certain. How do you plan for the unknown? Filmmaker Cathy Zheutlin tells the stories of four friends with terminal illness who chose to live out their final days at home with creativity humor and courage. One might think that it would be depressing or morose. In fact, just the opposite – it is loving, hopeful and and full of joy. Despite cultural norms that death is meant to be vanquished, “Living While Dying” transforms sorrow and fear into inspiration and beauty. It honors what University of California San Francisco palliative care physician BJ Miller says, that “dying is a human act, not just a medical one.”
The film will be followed by a panel discussion with some experts in end-of-life care, many of whom are Havurah members.
Panelists include:
A suggested donation of $10 will directly help the filmmaker so she can continue to pay for the production of this very beautiful and important film.
Please RSVP at tinyurl.com/Live-HS.
Opening Night – Peace & Justice Exhibit
Artists Sara Harwin, Kanaan Kanaan and Inga Dubay explore the tradition of sacred letters in Hebrew, Arabic & English calligraphy in many forms of art expression. They each have a creative voice dedicated to peace & justice. “Inga Dubay, Kanaan Kanaan and I come from three different lettering traditions, yet when we each speak about our journeys, we seek to touch upon a sacred, spiritual path,” says Harwin.
Please join us for an opening panel discussion with light snacks, followed by a viewing of the exhibit.
Free and open to the community.
Art Gallery Exhibit: The Passover Series
Shlomo Katz, Polish/Israeli, 1937 – 1992
Born in Lodz, Poland, Shlomo Katz immigrated to Palestine when he was eight years old in 1945. Katz developed an original technique of oil painting on a gilded metal surface. The result recalls medieval icons on the one hand, and oriental miniatures on the other. These ancient resources combine to form a totally modern image with a light humorous touch and a noble character. It took a lot of experimentation to translate these images to the graphic art form. The metallic inks of the golden tones and the importance of absolute registration presented just a part of the challenge, but the Katz serigraphs became the ultimate in modern printmaking.
Exhibit on display April 19 – 28, MJCC Lobby
First place Israel photo by Niomi Markel
Israel from the Eyes of the Community – A PDX Community Art Display:
Members from the Greater Portland area submitted photos that were taken by them while in Israel. A committee selected the photos on display. During the week leading up to our annual Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebration (May 8), visitors were ask to vote for your favorite photo! That evening, we will announce the winners.
This year’s winning photo was taken by Nimoi Markel.
Submissions to lsteinberg@oregonjcc.org by April 12.
Exhibit on display April 29 – May 31
Sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and PJ Library
JAM Art Show + Sale
Enjoy a rotating exhibit in the MJCC lobby all month. Members of ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists will answer questions, accept commissions, and sell their art. A portion of the proceeds benefits the MJCC.
Wondering Jews: A Taste of Life
Wednesday, April 22, 2:00pm
Two special talks, one special afternoon:
With Age Comes Wisdom: Many aspects of living and dying with intention involve the decisions we make. We’ll talk about the 10 most important decisions we can think about NOW to make sure that our wishes will be met later, and how to communicate about these decisions with family and friends.
More Control Over Your Life! Health Care Self-Advocacy. Sadly, not all of us, in fact very few of us have a health advocate – a family member, friend, trusted coworker, or a hired professional who can ask questions, write down information, and speak up for you.
Even if you are not facing a chronic condition, learning health self-advocacy help you understand: What is “negotiable” in the health services arena – from bills to lab work to treatment modalities; Hidden ways self-advocacy can save you money; What key issues you should ask about to better understand your illness and get the care and resources you need;
How a health care provider thinks. An important tool for better communication between you and your provider.
RSVP: programs@nevehshalom.org
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.
