Calendar

Oct
7
Sun
JGSO: Jewish Life in Poland @ Congregation Ahavath Achim
Oct 7 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The Jewish Genealogical Society of Oregon invites you, your family and friends to its upcoming program “Jewish Life in Poland” by Avraham Groll.

Description: Part 1 (10th-15th centuries) will explore patterns of Jewish migration to Poland between the 10th-15th centuries. We will discuss when and why the major shifts happened, where the Jews settled and their involvement in the Poland’s development. This presentation is designed for beginners, and is not a workshop. Maps, pictures, and documents will be displayed. Handouts with further information and a bibliography will also be distributed.

Part 2 (16th-18th centuries) will explore patterns of Jewish migration to Poland between the 16th-18th centuries. We will discuss the “Golden Age of Polish Jewry,” the reaction to Shabtai Tzvi, and how the Jewish experience in Poland helped set the stage, in part, for the eventual rise of the Hasidic movement. This presentation is designed for beginners, and is not a workshop. Maps, pictures, and documents will be displayed. Handouts

Bio: Avraham Groll, the Director of JewishGen.org, is passionate about connecting people with their Jewish roots, and helping them experience what it means to be part of the Jewish people. Avraham holds an MBA from Montclair State University, an MA in Judaic Studies from Touro College, and a BS in Business Administration from Ramapo college, and spent two years studying at Yeshiva Ohr Yeruslahayim in Israel. He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of Jewish genealogical and historical topics.

Feb
17
Sun
A Jewish Studies Sampler @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Feb 17 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

A Jewish Studies Sampler with Rabbi Jonathan Seidel PhD

Four Surveys of Intriguing and Slightly Mysterious Topics:

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
  • Kabbalah – New Approaches and Discoveries both Scholarly and Popular
  • Jewish Magic: Amulets, Healing and Transformation
  • The Jewish Role in the Development of Science both Empirical and Mystical

Sundays: February 17, March 31, April 28, May 12
1:00 pm
Cost: $15. Register: oregonjcc.org/jewishlearning

Mar
31
Sun
A Jewish Studies Sampler @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Mar 31 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

A Jewish Studies Sampler with Rabbi Jonathan Seidel PhD

Four Surveys of Intriguing and Slightly Mysterious Topics:

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
  • Kabbalah – New Approaches and Discoveries both Scholarly and Popular
  • Jewish Magic: Amulets, Healing and Transformation
  • The Jewish Role in the Development of Science both Empirical and Mystical

Sundays: February 17, March 31, April 28, May 12
1:00 pm
Cost: $15. Register: oregonjcc.org/jewishlearning

Apr
28
Sun
A Jewish Studies Sampler @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Apr 28 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

A Jewish Studies Sampler with Rabbi Jonathan Seidel PhD

Four Surveys of Intriguing and Slightly Mysterious Topics:

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
  • Kabbalah – New Approaches and Discoveries both Scholarly and Popular
  • Jewish Magic: Amulets, Healing and Transformation
  • The Jewish Role in the Development of Science both Empirical and Mystical

Sundays: February 17, March 31, April 28, May 12
1:00 pm
Cost: $15. Register: oregonjcc.org/jewishlearning

May
12
Sun
A Jewish Studies Sampler @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
May 12 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

A Jewish Studies Sampler with Rabbi Jonathan Seidel PhD

Four Surveys of Intriguing and Slightly Mysterious Topics:

  • The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
  • Kabbalah – New Approaches and Discoveries both Scholarly and Popular
  • Jewish Magic: Amulets, Healing and Transformation
  • The Jewish Role in the Development of Science both Empirical and Mystical

Sundays: February 17, March 31, April 28, May 12
1:00 pm
Cost: $15. Register: oregonjcc.org/jewishlearning

May
28
Tue
Magevet Live! Yale University’s Jewish A Cappella @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
May 28 @ 7:00 pm

Magevet – Yale University’s Jewish A Capella Singing Group – Performing LIVE at the MJCC!

Tuesday, May 28, 7:00 pm

Cost: $15 per adult, $10 per youth (ages 18 and under). Tickets: www.oregonjcc.org/concert

Founded in 1993, Magevet is one of the nation’s premiere Jewish a cappella singing groups. A coed ensemble comprised of undergraduate students at Yale University, Magevet is known for its sweet blend of voices, unique arrangements, and lighthearted sense of humor.

​The group’s diverse repertoire spans modern Israeli pop and Renaissance choral pieces to Yiddish folk tunes and Zionist classics. The members of Magevet are equally diverse: engineers and historians, Jews and Gentiles, New Yorkers and Californians, all united by camaraderie and a love of singing.

Magevet is devoted to spreading Jewish music to the far corners of the globe, and embarks on two major tours each year, in addition to regular performances throughout the Northeast. In the past few years, their tours have brought them all over the United States and Canada, as well as to Europe, Africa, South America, and Israel.

Magevet is, incidentally, the Hebrew word for “towel.” The founding members of the group are in near-complete disagreement about what inspired them to choose such an unusual name for an a cappella group, though many of their accounts involve a sauna.

For more information on Magevet, click HERE!

Supported by the Kostiner Cultural Education Fund.

Jun
23
Sun
JGSO: Research Session @ Hillsdale Public Library
Jun 23 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

June’s JGSO meeting will be a research session providing one-on-one support. Bring your research materials and your personal laptops or tablets. Some computers with internet access will be available for those without. While you work with our Mavens/Experts, take advantage of some of the resources that are available within the library.

Set aside a few hours each month to work on your family tree. Redefine your research goals. Get help with the endless supply of genealogical websites. Exchange knowledge and ideas with others who have similar interests. Help others and be prepared to learn something new as you listen to other people’s questions and the processes used in finding their answers.

Oct
13
Sun
Community Sukkah Building @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Oct 13 @ 10:00 am

Community Sukkah Building

Help build our NEW community Sukkah! Fun for kids and adults! Bring your own decorations or create some while you are here to hang up in the Sukkah! Tools and supplies provided.
Sunday, October 13
10:00 am

Supported by the Cookie and Merritt Yoelin Fund at OJCF

Oct
16
Wed
Pizza in the Sukkah @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center
Oct 16 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Pizza in the Sukkah

Join friends and family for an evening of great food, schmoozing, singing, and storytelling!
Wednesday, October 16
5:00 – 6:30 pm

Cost: $15 per family.
Register by Oct. 13: oregonjcc.org/sukkah
In partnership with Portland Jewish Academy

Nov
3
Sun
JGSO: Genealogy Mini “Boot Camp” @ Congregation Neveh Shalom
Nov 3 @ 10:30 am – 12:30 pm

You’ve done your DNA, gotten your results, but don’t recognize any names and don’t know what to do next? Or have you been working on building out your family tree but need help to research your family?  Where do you begin?  How to get additional information if you’ve hit that brick wall?  This will be geared to help both newbies and those who have been working to build their family tree for many years.

Laurel Smith, past president of the Genealogy Forum of Oregon will present a mini “boot camp” to get everyone started. Contact: 503-997-1685, jgsoregon@gmail.com.

Cost:  The program is free to JGSO members. We request a $5 contribution from non-members. That fee can be applied to a membership should you decide to join JGSO at this meeting.

Please come early if you would like help from other genealogists.