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
Open to the whole community, the support group will provide emotional and educational support for caregivers and care partners of people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Taking care of someone with dementia also means taking care of yourself and getting help. Joining a support group means that you do not have to do it alone.
Portland Jewish Book Celebration continues
The annual Portland Jewish Book Month celebration was expanded this year to reach beyond one book and one month. The six-month celebration that began last November continues with in March the Mittleman Jewish Community Center hosts its first Authors’ Series. The talks at the MJCC begin with Kimberly Marlowe Hartnett. At 7 pm, March 3, she will discuss her book, Carolina Israelite – How Harry Golden Made Us Care about Jews, the South, and Civil Rights. On March 8 at 7 pm, author Jessica Fechtor will share her book, Stir – My Broken Brain and the Meals That Brought Me Home. Laura Nicole Diamond, author of Shelter Us: A Novel, wraps up the author series at 7 pm, March 15.
Individual event tickets are $8 or $5 for MJCC members; a series pass is $20 or $12 for members. For information and registration for the Authors’ Series, visit oregonjcc.org/authorseries or contact Len Steinberg at lsteinberg@oregonjcc.org.
Join PJ Library as we bring back Yad b’Yad with Kim Schneiderman! Intergenerational singing and stories at Cedar Sinai Park.
A weekly story hour for young families with music & PJ Library books!
No story hour on April 29th.
Join us on Friday night, March 4, for an inspirational dinner with Kesser Israel’s scholar-in-residence, Rabbi Simcha Willig.
The event, to take place at the MJCC will include delicious Shabbat Dinner by Century Catering, words of Torah from Rabbi Willig, a children’s program, and more!
Rabbi Willig is an instructor in Torah Studies at Yeshiva University and a PhD candidate in NYU’s doctoral program in Education and Jewish Studies. He has led education programs in schools, synagogues, and youth groups throughout North America, Israel, and South Africa.
He was a Sanford Lurie Scholar at the Jewish Center of Manhattan, a member of the rabbinic team at Young Israel of Scarsdale, and has been a Jewish Student Union educator/advisor in Westchester’s public high schools. He’s also a Wexner Fellow and a Davidson Scholar. Music is a love, film is a hobby, and he enjoys playing ping-pong.
Rabbi Willig holds an MA in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School and Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshiva University. He received a Bachelor’s in Talmudic Law from Ner Israel Rabbinical College and he studied at various yeshivot, including Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and the Mir Yeshiva, in Israel.
He lives in New York with his wife and children.
Please contact Jodi for more information at: jodi@kesserisrael.org.
Join JND, Congregation Beth Israel’s group for 20 and 30-somethings, for our monthly Shabbat services, led by board member Sarah Philips and Rabbi Joseph, with a d’varscussion led by Lauren Shapiro. Our March Shabbat Service will be held at and co-sponsored by Moishe House.
Tot Shabbat and Preschool Open House
Saturday, March 5, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join Join us for a musical Tot Shabbat with Kim Schneiderman and our Clergy. This will be followed by a family Oneg and games in our preschool classrooms. Come meet our teachers and learn more about Early Childhood Education at CBI!
Featuring Yossi Abramowitz
All adults and families with children 4th grade and above are invited to attend Congregation Shaarie Torah’s ten year tradition of praying together, learning together and being together. Led by Education Director Dorice Horenstein, this modified services touches everyone’s heart with song, prayers, and discussion galore! Join us for out of the box prayer service!