Calendar

Mar
3
Thu
Dare I Call You Cousin @ Havurah Shalom
Mar 3 @ 6:00 pm – Mar 13 @ 5:00 pm

Dare I Call You Cousin, an exhibition of photos, poems, and videos compassionate to the struggle of both Israelis and Palestinians, will open on Thursday, March 3, at Havurah Shalom.

“…have the fears from our history/crusted our eyes like the inside of kettles/ have they rusted the hinges of our mouths…” – Frances Payne Adler

Cousin is a collaboration by three artists:

– Portland poet Frances Payne Adler
– Jerusalem photographer Michal Fattal (photo on left © Michal Fattal)
– Tel Aviv videographer Yossi Yacov

Many of the voices and images shared, from both Israeli and Palestinian points of view, are those that are often missing from national and international media narratives. These voices reveal the simmering conditions that underpin day-to-day lives—conditions that repeatedly erupt into war. Viewers will see and hear from both Palestinians and Israeli settlers in Hebron; Israeli and Palestinian high school students at the region’s only bilingual, integrated school; workers and students crossing over at Qalandiya checkpoint; rabbis; peace activists; and others.

The exhibition offers viewers the opportunity to experience, through art, some of the struggles of Israelis and Palestinians; to meet people perhaps not yet known to them, stories not yet heard. Dare I Call You Cousin provides the occasion to come together to participate in reflection and dialogue, creating breathing space for community discussion.

First Thursday, March 3
Opening & Reception, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Brief Poetry Reading, 8:00 pm
Havurah Shalom

Please join us at the opening on March 3 and return for a follow-up event of your choice:

  • Sunday, March 6, 2:00-5:00 pm, Viewing at your own pace. Brief reading 3:00 pm.
  • Tuesday, March 8, 7:00-9:00 pm, Poetry reading by Frances Payne Adler. Viewing of the exhibition is from 7:00-7:30 pm. Poetry reading is from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Introduction by Paulann Petersen, Oregon’s Poet Laureate, 2010-2014.
  • Thursday, March 10, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Video screening. Reflect & discuss in community. Viewing of exhibition is from 7:00 – 7:30 pm. Videos are from 7:30-9:00 pm.
  • Sunday, March 13, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, Video screening. Reflect & discuss in community. Viewing of exhibition is from 2:00-3:00 pm. Videos are from 3:00-5:00 pm.

Carpool and public transportation are recommended. The Lovejoy streetcar stops one block away.

Funded in part by Portland’s Regional Arts & Culture Council
Co-Sponsored by J Street Education Fund
Hosted by Havurah Shalom

About the artists:

A Jerusalem photographer and a Tel Aviv videographer whose ancestral families emigrated from the conflicts in Iraq and Yemen; a Portland poet whose grandmother, by herself at the age of 13, walked out of Russia and away from pogroms. Three artists concerned about the settlements have collaborated to create Dare I Call YouCousin. Poet Frances Payne Adler, author of five books and founder of the Creative Writing and Social Action Program at California State University Monterey Bay; photographer Michal Fattal, who works for Ha’aretz newspaper and whose photographs have been published in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune, and the Guardian; and videographer Yossi Yacov, who has documented the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements for years.

“Thank you for Dare I Call You Cousin. The poems and photographs are close to my heart. Sending my respect and appreciation.” – Amos Oz

Dec
10
Sat
Women’s Torah Study @ Congregation Neveh Shalom
Dec 10 @ 12:30 pm

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.

Dec
30
Fri
Coming Together in Dark Times @ Havurah Shalom
Dec 30 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

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.

Jun
18
Sun
Portland PRIDE Parade @ Portland
Jun 18 @ 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Join the MJCC and a dozen other Jewish organizations and synagogues from our community as we march together at Portland PRIDE.

Meet between 8 – 10 am on NW Everett between 8th and Broadway. Join us for bagels, nosh and coffee at 9:00 am. Swag will be available. See you Sunday!

The 2017 Portland PRIDE theme is “We ARE the Change!”

Pride is the tangible and VERY visible representation of LGBTQ progress and power. Whether we call it a march or a parade, when Portland’s downtown streets fill with tens of thousands of people claiming their space and celebrating who they are-who WE are-make no mistake, that is power and that is change. We ARE the Change!

PRIDE Partners

B’nai B’rith Camp, Cedar Sinai Park, Congregation Beth IsraelCongregation Kol Ami, Congregation Neveh Shalom, Congregation Shir Tikvah, Jewish Family & Child Service, Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Moishe House, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, PDX Hillel, Portland Jewish Academy & Portland’s UnShul

Sponsor: Jewish Federation of Greater Portland