Philip Roth and R.B. Kitaj became good friends in London during the ’80s, and the painter influenced Roth in many ways, especially for the title character of Roth’s greatest novel, Sabbath’s Theater. Roger Porter, Professor of English and Humanities, Emeritus, Reed College focuses his lecture on Roth and Kitaj’s shared attitudes, or perhaps those of their characters and their painterly subjects, regarding desire, ecstasy, and the inevitable demise. The title of the lecture is a paraphrase of a quote by the protagonist Sabbath on the last page of Roth’s Sabbath’s Theater.
Pianist David Rothman in Recital
Piano virtuoso David Rothman tackles the masterworks of composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin. The four-part concert series that began in September returns to the J’s December schedule for the final two performances.
David Rothman was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1962. At age 6, he began to study piano, and he was accepted into the Menuhin School in England at age 10. At 17, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute where he studied with Mieczyslaw Horszowski.
Thursdays, Dec. 13 + 20
Cost: $10. Member Cost: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/pianoconcert
Pianist David Rothman in Recital
Piano virtuoso David Rothman tackles the masterworks of composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Frederic Chopin. The four-part concert series that began in September returns to the J’s December schedule for the final two performances.
David Rothman was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1962. At age 6, he began to study piano, and he was accepted into the Menuhin School in England at age 10. At 17, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute where he studied with Mieczyslaw Horszowski.
Thursdays, Dec. 13 + 20
Cost: $10. Member Cost: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/pianoconcert
Her novel alternates between late medieval Spain and Portugal during the traumatic time of the Inquisition, and a very small town in New Mexico in 1992. The modern New Mexican characters are Catholics with peculiar habits. Nobody in town eats pork but they don’t know why. It is likely they are the descendants of conversos, Jews who converted during the Spanish Inquisition. The story weaves a connecting thread from the Iberian Peninsula to Mexico City and then on to the original settlers who moved into what is now the American Southwest. Five hundred years later, a young amateur astronomer wonders about the secret of the town he grew up in: Entrada de la Luna, or Gateway to the Moon.
Morris’ previous work, The Jazz Palace, won the Anisfeld-Wolf Book Award for important contributions to the understanding of racism in 2016. She also writes short stories and travel memoirs. Her many novels and story collections have been translated into six languages. She lives in Brooklyn, New York and teaches writing at Sarah Lawrence College.
Doors open at 4:00 PM to meet and greet the author. A one-hour author reading and discussion will follow beginning at 4:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free.
Co-sponsored by the Beit Am Jewish Community and the MJCC. Grassroots Bookstore will be there with copies of the paperback edition of Gateway to the Moon for sale and author signing.
Piano Concert with David Rothman
Join us for an evening with concert pianist, David Rothman, as he performs works of classical music featuring Beethoven and Schumann.
Tuesday, June 25
7:00 pm
Cost: $10. Member: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/pianoconcert
Shaba-lah Family Shabbat BBQ
Bring your family or join your child at camp for a special Shabbat. Enjoy a Shabbat set to the theme of camp this week with stories, songs, and more.
Friday, July 19
3:30 pm
Cost: MJCC Camp Families: $10 per family.
Community Members: $15 per family.
Register at: oregonjcc.org/shabbatbbq
Bring your spirit and your voice for a special Kabbalat Shabbat. Accompanied by Ilene Safyan on guitar, this service is filled with beautiful music, singing and lots of participation.
SHIR! A Musical Shabbat, Friday, January 10, 6:15pm
Please join us for a musically enhanced Friday evening service with Cantor Eyal Bitton, the Koleinu choir, and the SHIR! Shabbat Musical Ensemble along with special guests.
Les Miz’s Jewish Composer with Cantor Eyal Bitton, Thursday, January 30, 7:00pm
In this fascinating and entertaining presentation featuring live musical performances and in-depth analysis, Cantor Eyal Bitton explores the musical genius of Claude-Michel Schönberg, composer of Miss Saigon and Les Misérables.