“Women in Torah”
Mondays, Feb. 22 & 29; March 7, 14 & 28; April 4 & 18; May 2, 9 & 16
12:00 – 1:30 pm
Register at RSVP@havurahshalom.org with subject line “Women in Torah” by Feb. 8.
This spring, Havurah member Alicia Jo Rabins will guide us through the complicated lives of ten Biblical women. Alicia’s Women in Torah workshop will use creativity and conversation to explore characters from Eve to Yiftach’s daughter. This is the first full-length pilot course of Alicia’s Girls in Trouble curriculum, created around her critically acclaimed Girls in Trouble song cycle (indie-folk songs about women in Torah).
A poet, violinist, and Torah scholar, Alicia created the one-woman show A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff, which she performed recently at Disjecta. Her new collection of poems, Divinity School, won the 2015 American Poetry Review/Honickman First Book Prize.
With Alicia’s expertise, we will examine these famous and not-so-famous women in ways that might inspire us in moments of struggle and in the context of our own lives. Each of the ten sessions will explore one woman and is relatively independent of the others within the overarching theme of the course.
–Ruth Feldman
This course is free for Havurah members, $15/class for non-members.
Wrap yourself in “herstory!” Ever thought about making your own Tallit? Come learn more about them, and make one yourself! Sisterhood is hosting a Women’s Tallit program, where you can learn about the history of women’s use of a talllit, as well as the basics of making your own. If you have a Tallit you wear, or have made, please bring to share! We will re-convene at a later date and plan to tie our “tzitzit” together. For more information contact Dana at otrbanana@frontier.com.
An uplifting hour of study on Shabbat! Delve into biblical and midrashic text, with a group of other women to find meaning from our traditions that relate to our lives. All levels of experience welcome. Taught by Mel Berwin. Free.
Federation Women Make an IMPACT!
Women’s Philanthropy welcomes producer, Nancy Spielberg https://www.facebook.com/whowillwriteourhistory/ to present at IMPACT. Women’s Philanthropy provides a place in the Portland Jewish community for all women. We represent the diversity of women from all ages and stages of life. Women are thoughtful, powerful and caring as individuals and make a difference when we collaborate and unite…we have IMPACT! Join us October 26 @ 7 pm at the MJCC and make your IMPACT!
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:
- Rabbi Benjamin
- Charles Blanke – Havurah member and OHSU oncologist specializing in end-of-life care and death with dignity
- Karen Erde -Havurah member and palliative care physician
- Susan Hedlund – Manager of Patient and Family Support Services at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. She has over 30 years of experience in oncology and hospice care, and worked on the original task force to legalize death with dignity.
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.
Beit Haverim is having a Casino Night including Black Jack, Craps and Roulette. It should be fun and tasty! There are some spectacular prizes, including: a weekend at a beach house, Blazer tickets, a private party at Portland distillery, restaurant gift cards, wine tastings, Timber tickets, ice skating and bowling parties, clothing store gift cards and more!
Everyone is welcome, and the more we have, the more fun it will be.
Women’s Philanthropy Three part Financial Empowerment Series
Sept. 5, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, Adulting All of those questions you’re afraid to ask! (i.e., How do I make a budget? How do I manage my debt from student loans to credit? Can I save for the future now? Create a personalized financial action plan.
Nov. 3, 9:30 am -11:30 am, Transitions Planning for life! How do you financially prepare for death, divorce, losing a job, having a baby, needs of your children from throwing a bar/bat mitzvah to college, to paying for a wedding? What do you need to know about insurance? Create a personalized action plan.
Dec. 8, 9:30 am -11:30 am Retirement How do I take care of myself and those that follow me? Who should you talk to help you with estate planning? How do you prepare to avoid widow worry? 401k/IRA, insurance 101 and asset management. Create a personalized action plan.
All three locations to be determined (tbd).
Sign up for one or all. Registration details available starting March 18.
Questions contact: Wendy Kahn, Associate Director of Financial Resource Development, wendy@jewishportland.org