Swim, sing, picnic and celebrate Havdalah at Havurah’s Shabbat In the Pool (For All Ages!) on August 8. We will have the pool to ourselves from 5:15 to 6:15 pm, then gather for Havdalah singing, a story, and BYO picnic under the trees.
RSVP at RSVP@havurahshalom.org by Monday, July 27 with family name(s) and ages of any children so we can reserve enough lifeguards. In order to defray the major cost of the renting the pool/lifeguards, please consider making a donation of $5–$15.
“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.
We will have the Sellwood Park Pool to ourselves on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 5:15 to 6:15 pm. Afterward, we’ll gather for Havdalah singing, a story, and BYO picnic under the trees.
Shabbat in the Pool is free, but in order to defray the major cost of renting the pool/lifeguards, please consider making a donation of $5–$15.
RSVP here here by Monday, Aug. 1 with family name(s) and ages of any children so we can reserve enough lifeguards.
Please join us for a very special evening of great music, fine wines, and delicious desserts for a beautiful end to your weekend. You will be treated to the musical gifts of Ilene Safyan, award winning singer and composer and talented, versatile pianist, Barry Lavine. They will perform some of your favorite music, including Jazz standards, contemporary favorites and some wonderful new surprises. This will be an evening to remember! $36.00. Tickets at: tinyurl.com/lightthenight2016.
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.
Monthly Mitzvah Project – January
Each month, the MJCC and PJA communities will collect items for the monthly mitzvah. These projects reflect the Jewish commitment to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), providing opportunities to give back to our community.
Please drop off items in the blue bin in the MJCC Lobby.
January – New and gently used socks for Janus Youth Programs
20s – 30s Cosmic Havdalah
Join us for Havdalah on the mountain! Meet at Mt. Hood Ski Bowl for Havdalah and then hit the slopes for Cosmic Tubing. Carpooling arrangements will be made prior to the event.
Cost: $30, includes rental gear and snacks.
Mt. Hood Adventure Park at Ski Bowl
Tickets: oregonjcc.org/cosmichavdalah
Each month the MJCC and PJA communities will collect items for the monthly mitzvah. Drop off items in the blue bin in the MJCC lobby. Check the display for how you can participate and donate to these worthy causes.
This project reflects the Jewish commitment to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), providing opportunities to give back to our community.
Please drop off items in the blue bin in the MJCC Lobby.
January
New Socks for teens and families living on the streets or in shelters
• Portland Homeless Family Solutions
• Janus Youth Programs
PJ Havdallah Movie Night (0-2nd Grade), Saturday, Jan 25, 5:15pm
Say goodbye to Shabbat in our PJs with dinner and an age-appropriate movie.
RSVP: nevehshalom.org/pjhavdallah