Check out our calendar of public events.
Below the calendar you’ll find a detailed listing of events by date.
EJC presents but also rents our community space as a venue, platform, stage, and convener of organizations representing a wide range of Jewish denominations, connectivity, foci, opinions, beliefs, and engagement. Our role as a host venue does not mean that EJC endorses or agrees with a particular position or event taking place at our facility.
EJC & JFCS Senior Mixer and Social Hour
Join us for a relaxed Senior Social Mixer, an easygoing evening of conversation and connection. Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with a selection of wine and soft drinks, and plenty of time to mingle, laugh, and meet new friends. Free but please consider donating to EJC at checkout.
This evented presented by EJC and JFCS.
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism A Lunch & Learn Series Eastside Jewish Commons
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism
A Lunch & Learn Series
Eastside Jewish Commons
2420 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232-2784
1st Session: Thursday, March 12, 2026
2nd Session: Thursday, March 19, 2026
3rd Session: Thursday, March 26, 2026
4th Session: Thursday, April 16, 2026
5th Session: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sessions will take place from 12 PM - 1:30 PM.
Kosher lunch will be provided.
Across Jewish history, Jews have asked daring questions: Can a human encounter the divine directly? Is spiritual experience accessible to all? Are there religious or psychological dangers to the mystical quest?
To explore answers given to these questions, this lunch & learn series turns to one of Judaism’s most mysterious and compelling stories: the Four Who Entered the Pardes. It tells of four rabbis who set out on a spiritual journey beyond ordinary understanding. What happened to them became a lasting Jewish meditation on mystical devotion, danger, wisdom, and restraint. We’ll use this legend to map a wider history of Jewish mysticism in Late Antiquity, one that touches on how early Jews imagined God, angels, ecstatic experience, and the boundaries of the self. Along the way, we’ll see how the Pardes story shaped later Jewish mystical traditions and why it still speaks to modern spiritual seekers.
Parking: Consider carpooling or other forms of transportation as parking is tight.
Free Noontime Concert! John Silliman Dodge
Singer songwriter John Silliman Dodge has been playing guitar, writing songs, and composing instrumental music for over 50 years.
He has opened for James Taylor, Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Cocker, and countless others. Dodge is a frequent performer in clubs in Portland, Oregon, and on Cape Cod.
Enjoy our free monthly concert series with top musicians! Pack a lunch or stop by one of the many pods at 24th and Glisan, bring your food in (no pork or shellfish, please), and come and hear the music! Small concerts that are semi-acoustic and always enlivening. All are welcome. What better thing is there to do on a Friday afternoon?!
Day of Women's Wellness
Hello! In the midst of our busy lives, it’s all too easy to put our own health and wellness on the back burner. We invite you to take a moment for yourself and join us for our upcoming Day of Women’s Wellness hosted by Dvora Mencher and Michelle Amir-Brownstein.
These workshops are designed to be a supportive space where we can connect, learn, and move with one another. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve your physical health, or simply find a supportive community, there is a place for you here.
Cost: $15 per person, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Dror Israel, cost will also cover room rental . Register Here
The Day of Women's Wellness includes:
Easy Lifestyle Hacks (The Harmony Between Fascia & Lymph): 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM
The fascia and lymphatic systems function as one interconnected communication network within the body. Fascia provides structural support and fluid pathways, while the lymphatic system regulates immune function, detoxification, and inflammation. When hydration, movement, and breath are balanced, these two systems work in harmony-supporting lightness, flexibility, resilience, and overall vitality. Simple daily practices, including gentle fascial and neck routine exercises, can help stimulate lymph flow, reduce tension, and maintain healthy fascial glide, especially in areas where fluid congestion commonly accumulates.
This workshop explains how the body systems function, how their components interact, and how imbalances can contribute to pain and tension. Participants will learn simple, practical steps, daily hacks, and gentle movements designed to reduce pain, improve mobility, support nervous system balance, and enhance overall well-being.
Lunch: 12:00 PM- 12:45
Please bring a sack lunch to enjoy. Coffee shops and a deli/market are within walking distance of the EJC.
Menopause and your pelvic floor (how menopause affects your bladder, bowel, and sexual functioning): 12:50 PM-2:15 PM
(Peri)menopause affects the whole body including the systems that support bladder, bowel, and sexual functioning. This workshop includes information about the location and function of your pelvic floor, education on common pelvic floor symptoms during (peri)menopause, strategies to decrease or eliminate these symptoms, and movement recommendations to decrease pelvic floor discomfort.
Each workshop includes some gentle movement. Please wear comfortable clothing that is easy to move in.
We would love to have you join our community as we journey toward better health together.
In health and wellness,
Dvora Mencher, (Kalos Health Facilitator, Training In Power Academy of Healling and Meditation level 1 teacher, Reiki level 1practitioner)
Michelle Amir-Brownstein, OTD, OTR/L, owner of PATHOC Pelvic Health
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
JFCS' Job search workshop
Job searching these days can be overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting out or changing careers later in life, JFCS can help prepare you for the job hunt ahead. Join JFCS Tuesday, March 24 at 2pm at Eastside Jewish Commons as Career Coach Jack Birnbach helps you get started navigating the modern job market, with topics including interview techniques, resume building, and job search strategies. The session will also include tips on networking and advice for landing a new career. The workshop is free and open to all in the community. Registration is required. Learn more and register here: https://www.jfcs-portland.org/job-workshop/
An Evening of Interfaith Safety & Security Training
2025 saw attacks on faith-based institutions across the U.S. While these events are still rare, it is important to know what to do when they occur and how to prevent them. The Secure Community Network (SCN) is dedicated to empowering all who wish to worship in peace. Join other faith-based organizations for an evening of safety & security training. Learn how to improve your situational awareness, respond to an active threat, and help your place of worship respond more quickly and effectively as an organization. Free and open to all. For more information, contact Jessica Anderson at janderson@securecommunitynetwork.org
https://jewishportland.org/interfaithsafetysecuritytraining
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism A Lunch & Learn Series Eastside Jewish Commons
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism
A Lunch & Learn Series
Eastside Jewish Commons
2420 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232-2784
1st Session: Thursday, March 12, 2026
2nd Session: Thursday, March 19, 2026
3rd Session: Thursday, March 26, 2026
4th Session: Thursday, April 16, 2026
5th Session: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sessions will take place from 12 PM - 1:30 PM.
Kosher lunch will be provided.
Across Jewish history, Jews have asked daring questions: Can a human encounter the divine directly? Is spiritual experience accessible to all? Are there religious or psychological dangers to the mystical quest?
To explore answers given to these questions, this lunch & learn series turns to one of Judaism’s most mysterious and compelling stories: the Four Who Entered the Pardes. It tells of four rabbis who set out on a spiritual journey beyond ordinary understanding. What happened to them became a lasting Jewish meditation on mystical devotion, danger, wisdom, and restraint. We’ll use this legend to map a wider history of Jewish mysticism in Late Antiquity, one that touches on how early Jews imagined God, angels, ecstatic experience, and the boundaries of the self. Along the way, we’ll see how the Pardes story shaped later Jewish mystical traditions and why it still speaks to modern spiritual seekers.
Parking: Consider carpooling or other forms of transportation as parking is tight.
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
Krav Maga Class (Israeli Self-Defense) with Jazzy Green
This two hour introduction seminar is being offered in response to a real and present need many in our Jewish community are feeling right now: the desire to be more prepared, informed, and capable in uncertain situations.
Before becoming the system for the IDF, Krav Maga was developed as a Jewish civilian self-defense system, designed to work for people of all sizes, strengths, and physical backgrounds. It emphasizes the simplest, most direct responses that align with natural human reactions under stress of a physical assault, rather than relying on complex techniques or physical dominance.
$36/Person Register Here
This introduction class is led by Jazzy Green, an expert-level Krav Maga Worldwide instructor trained through the international community’s most direct lineage from the creator of the system. Her teaching focuses on efficiency, realism, and understanding — helping students learn not just what to do, but how to access those skills when adrenaline and fear are present.
This seminar is open to those who want a serious, grounded approach to personal safety, taught with respect for the realities people are navigating right now and that Jews have been navigating throughout history. This is not about fear — it’s about preparedness, connection, and taking care of one another. Expect physicality at your level of ability along with technique practice.
Jazzy is particularly looking for students who have interest in the possibility of continued learning in subsequent classes to the point where they can defend a wide range of assaults from any grab to disarming any weapon.
She will soon be offering teen and young adult classes so bring your teen if you would like to introduce it to them with you.
“So one may walk in peace” - Imi Lichtenfeld, creator of Krav Maga
You are welcome to reach out to her with any questions:
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
Andean Music Workshop (Portland Folkmusic Society)
Portland FolkMusic Society Presents!
Sing songs from the Highland cultures of Peru and Bolivia, accompanied by panpipes, at the next Portland FolkMusic Society global folksong workshop,
The workshop is led by Lynette Yetter, a Portland resident who spends three months a year in South America learning and playing this music and participating in processions and festivals related to it. She will teach the songs and accompany them on the siku, or Andean panpipes.
The songs will be in Spanish with a few Quechua and Aymara words. Participants will receive handouts with the music and lyrics. No prior musical or language knowledge is required.
All ages $10 adv/ $12 door Register Here
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism A Lunch & Learn Series Eastside Jewish Commons
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism
A Lunch & Learn Series
Eastside Jewish Commons
2420 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232-2784
1st Session: Thursday, March 12, 2026
2nd Session: Thursday, March 19, 2026
3rd Session: Thursday, March 26, 2026
4th Session: Thursday, April 16, 2026
5th Session: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sessions will take place from 12 PM - 1:30 PM.
Kosher lunch will be provided.
Across Jewish history, Jews have asked daring questions: Can a human encounter the divine directly? Is spiritual experience accessible to all? Are there religious or psychological dangers to the mystical quest?
To explore answers given to these questions, this lunch & learn series turns to one of Judaism’s most mysterious and compelling stories: the Four Who Entered the Pardes. It tells of four rabbis who set out on a spiritual journey beyond ordinary understanding. What happened to them became a lasting Jewish meditation on mystical devotion, danger, wisdom, and restraint. We’ll use this legend to map a wider history of Jewish mysticism in Late Antiquity, one that touches on how early Jews imagined God, angels, ecstatic experience, and the boundaries of the self. Along the way, we’ll see how the Pardes story shaped later Jewish mystical traditions and why it still speaks to modern spiritual seekers.
Parking: Consider carpooling or other forms of transportation as parking is tight.
Rooted: Nature Inspired Embodied Healing
Rooted is a 3-part nature inspired embodied healing series for women who are ready to quiet mental noise, unwind the constant urgency, release tension, and reconnect to a more grounded presence with your mind & body. This series will guide you to mindfully reconnect with your body’s rhythms, wisdom, and cues.
Rooted is led by Alana Cogen, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Master of Arts in Integrative Psychology student, who has spent 6+ years supporting women in holistic wellness. Drawing from her background in strength training, holistic nutrition, somatics, and mind-body psychology, Alana creates a non-judgmental, supportive environment that blends nature, wellness, and intuition - offering guidance that is both practical and deeply compassionate.
With Alana’s guidance, you’ll explore how to nourish your body with guided somatic practices + intuitive movement, how to notice what your body is communicating, and how to carry that awareness into creating more presence and spaciousness in everyday life.
Each gathering weaves nature inspired themes with intuitive movement, somatic practices, and space for creative reflection + integration - so you don’t just learn concepts, you embody them. You’ll leave every session feeling more spacious, present, and connected. Also, you will leave with tangible, practical tools to support presence and connection to yourself after the series ends.
✨ Upgrade Option: Rooted Workshop + 30 Days of Virtual 1:1 Coaching Support: $333!
For those who want to deepen this healing + embodiment work beyond the group setting, this add-on includes the full 3-part workshop series + personalized 1:1 Coaching designed around your unique mental, emotional, and physical needs. You’ll begin with a comprehensive intake exploring your physical health history, stress, lifestyle, habits, emotional landscape, and goals, allowing Alana to tailor support specifically to you.
During the 30 days, you’ll receive voice-note and message support for in real time guidance, accountability, support, education, and integration as life unfolds. This high-touch experience includes customized holistic nutrition guidance, 1 month of personalized strength training programming, nervous system + emotional wellness tools, and somatic practices tailored entirely to you! This level of coaching is typically offered only in 6-month packages at $525/month, making this a unique opportunity to receive individualized care while integrating the Rooted experience into your daily life.
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
Jewish Poetry Book Club at EJC
Join us on quarterly fourth Wednesdays, 12:30-2:30 pm Reading Dead Men’s Praise by Jacqueline Osherow
Isbn 0-8021-3654-0
Feel free to bring your lunch and please plan on making a small donation to EJC each time we meet. $3-$10 is suggested. No one turned away for lack of funds.
Email bjftighe@hotmail.com with questions
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism A Lunch & Learn Series Eastside Jewish Commons
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism
A Lunch & Learn Series
Eastside Jewish Commons
2420 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232-2784
1st Session: Thursday, March 12, 2026
2nd Session: Thursday, March 19, 2026
3rd Session: Thursday, March 26, 2026
4th Session: Thursday, April 16, 2026
5th Session: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sessions will take place from 12 PM - 1:30 PM.
Kosher lunch will be provided.
Across Jewish history, Jews have asked daring questions: Can a human encounter the divine directly? Is spiritual experience accessible to all? Are there religious or psychological dangers to the mystical quest?
To explore answers given to these questions, this lunch & learn series turns to one of Judaism’s most mysterious and compelling stories: the Four Who Entered the Pardes. It tells of four rabbis who set out on a spiritual journey beyond ordinary understanding. What happened to them became a lasting Jewish meditation on mystical devotion, danger, wisdom, and restraint. We’ll use this legend to map a wider history of Jewish mysticism in Late Antiquity, one that touches on how early Jews imagined God, angels, ecstatic experience, and the boundaries of the self. Along the way, we’ll see how the Pardes story shaped later Jewish mystical traditions and why it still speaks to modern spiritual seekers.
Parking: Consider carpooling or other forms of transportation as parking is tight.
Rooted: Nature Inspired Embodied Healing
Rooted is a 3-part nature inspired embodied healing series for women who are ready to quiet mental noise, unwind the constant urgency, release tension, and reconnect to a more grounded presence with your mind & body. This series will guide you to mindfully reconnect with your body’s rhythms, wisdom, and cues.
Rooted is led by Alana Cogen, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Master of Arts in Integrative Psychology student, who has spent 6+ years supporting women in holistic wellness. Drawing from her background in strength training, holistic nutrition, somatics, and mind-body psychology, Alana creates a non-judgmental, supportive environment that blends nature, wellness, and intuition - offering guidance that is both practical and deeply compassionate.
With Alana’s guidance, you’ll explore how to nourish your body with guided somatic practices + intuitive movement, how to notice what your body is communicating, and how to carry that awareness into creating more presence and spaciousness in everyday life.
Each gathering weaves nature inspired themes with intuitive movement, somatic practices, and space for creative reflection + integration - so you don’t just learn concepts, you embody them. You’ll leave every session feeling more spacious, present, and connected. Also, you will leave with tangible, practical tools to support presence and connection to yourself after the series ends.
✨ Upgrade Option: Rooted Workshop + 30 Days of Virtual 1:1 Coaching Support: $333!
For those who want to deepen this healing + embodiment work beyond the group setting, this add-on includes the full 3-part workshop series + personalized 1:1 Coaching designed around your unique mental, emotional, and physical needs. You’ll begin with a comprehensive intake exploring your physical health history, stress, lifestyle, habits, emotional landscape, and goals, allowing Alana to tailor support specifically to you.
During the 30 days, you’ll receive voice-note and message support for in real time guidance, accountability, support, education, and integration as life unfolds. This high-touch experience includes customized holistic nutrition guidance, 1 month of personalized strength training programming, nervous system + emotional wellness tools, and somatic practices tailored entirely to you! This level of coaching is typically offered only in 6-month packages at $525/month, making this a unique opportunity to receive individualized care while integrating the Rooted experience into your daily life.
by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee: A History of Palestine and Israel
Sponsored by: Havurah Shalom Israel/Palestine Committee and Some Members of the Jewish Community of Portland Oregon
Sign up for a 10-week course entitled “A History of Palestine and Israel,” taught by Joel Beinin, Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and Professor of Middle East History, Emeritus at Stanford University. Joel is a member of Havurah Shalom in Portland. He has taught versions of this class several times in congregations in the Portland area and online nationally. His teachings are accessible and offer depth and insight.
The course meets Mondays at 7:00-8:30pm. Come grapple with the history, engage with difficult ideas, and process complex questions in a respectful environment.
Topics include:
The Crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry
Late Ottoman Palestine
Origins of the Zionist Movement
The Balfour Declaration and the Zionist Alliance with British Imperialism
The Palestinian National Movement
The Nakba
The 1967 War and Occupation
The US-Israeli Alliance
Gaza
Cost of attendance, $18; no one turned away for lack of funds
CLASS SOLD OUT to be on waiting list please contact:
For more information: Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com Phone: 503 477-7409
Payment /Register
Rooted: Nature Inspired Embodied Healing
Rooted is a 3-part nature inspired embodied healing series for women who are ready to quiet mental noise, unwind the constant urgency, release tension, and reconnect to a more grounded presence with your mind & body. This series will guide you to mindfully reconnect with your body’s rhythms, wisdom, and cues.
Rooted is led by Alana Cogen, Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Master of Arts in Integrative Psychology student, who has spent 6+ years supporting women in holistic wellness. Drawing from her background in strength training, holistic nutrition, somatics, and mind-body psychology, Alana creates a non-judgmental, supportive environment that blends nature, wellness, and intuition - offering guidance that is both practical and deeply compassionate.
With Alana’s guidance, you’ll explore how to nourish your body with guided somatic practices + intuitive movement, how to notice what your body is communicating, and how to carry that awareness into creating more presence and spaciousness in everyday life.
Each gathering weaves nature inspired themes with intuitive movement, somatic practices, and space for creative reflection + integration - so you don’t just learn concepts, you embody them. You’ll leave every session feeling more spacious, present, and connected. Also, you will leave with tangible, practical tools to support presence and connection to yourself after the series ends.
✨ Upgrade Option: Rooted Workshop + 30 Days of Virtual 1:1 Coaching Support: $333!
For those who want to deepen this healing + embodiment work beyond the group setting, this add-on includes the full 3-part workshop series + personalized 1:1 Coaching designed around your unique mental, emotional, and physical needs. You’ll begin with a comprehensive intake exploring your physical health history, stress, lifestyle, habits, emotional landscape, and goals, allowing Alana to tailor support specifically to you.
During the 30 days, you’ll receive voice-note and message support for in real time guidance, accountability, support, education, and integration as life unfolds. This high-touch experience includes customized holistic nutrition guidance, 1 month of personalized strength training programming, nervous system + emotional wellness tools, and somatic practices tailored entirely to you! This level of coaching is typically offered only in 6-month packages at $525/month, making this a unique opportunity to receive individualized care while integrating the Rooted experience into your daily life.
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism A Lunch & Learn Series Eastside Jewish Commons
Enter the Pardes: An Introduction to Early Jewish Mysticism
A Lunch & Learn Series
Eastside Jewish Commons
2420 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97232-2784
1st Session: Thursday, March 12, 2026
2nd Session: Thursday, March 19, 2026
3rd Session: Thursday, March 26, 2026
4th Session: Thursday, April 16, 2026
5th Session: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Sessions will take place from 12 PM - 1:30 PM.
Kosher lunch will be provided.
Across Jewish history, Jews have asked daring questions: Can a human encounter the divine directly? Is spiritual experience accessible to all? Are there religious or psychological dangers to the mystical quest?
To explore answers given to these questions, this lunch & learn series turns to one of Judaism’s most mysterious and compelling stories: the Four Who Entered the Pardes. It tells of four rabbis who set out on a spiritual journey beyond ordinary understanding. What happened to them became a lasting Jewish meditation on mystical devotion, danger, wisdom, and restraint. We’ll use this legend to map a wider history of Jewish mysticism in Late Antiquity, one that touches on how early Jews imagined God, angels, ecstatic experience, and the boundaries of the self. Along the way, we’ll see how the Pardes story shaped later Jewish mystical traditions and why it still speaks to modern spiritual seekers.
Parking: Consider carpooling or other forms of transportation as parking is tight.
Workshop Title: Spilling Your Guts: Flash Memoir with Leanne Grabel
- Workshop Registration: https://events.humanitix.com/writing-flash-or-short-form-memoir-with-leanne-grabel
Workshop Description:
In Spilling Your Guts, you will be introduced to and write flash memoir. Flash memoir is a wonderfully accessible form, easy for the reader and somewhat easy for the writer. The magic is in the details chosen to describe the impactful moments, places, and people of your life, lucidly, succinctly and poetically. In my opinion, flash memoir is very close to prose poetry. One page per story is the goal. I will share many examples and hopefully, you will come away inspired to continue with this form to create a full length anthology of flash that tells your story.
Learn more about Leanne Grabel: https://leannegrabel.com/
And check out one of her own flash pieces, illustrated: Big Mistake
Rabbi Caryn Aviv-Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Suffer Less
Feeling anxious lately about the state of the world and being Jewish? It's not all in your head, and you’re not alone. Jewish anxiety is not our fault. It’s an understandable response to fear, uncertainty, and anti-Jewish contempt.
Rabbi Caryn Aviv’s new book, Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Suffer Less explores what anxiety feels like, and untangles some common Jewish anxiety habits about our safety, worth, and belonging in this difficult world.
Using neuroscience and Jewish wisdom, Rabbi Dr. Caryn Aviv offers practical tools for how to spot when we’re in a Jewish anxiety loop, and how to respond with better habits.
This interactive conversation will describe what we face, how we got here, and how we can live more fully in the present moment with awareness, curiosity, and self-compassion. And hopefully, less suffering.
Free/All ages, please register and consider donating at checkout
Rabbi Caryn Aviv’s new book, Unlearning Jewish Anxiety: How to Live with More Joy and Suffer Less explores common Jewish anxiety habits about our safety, worth, and belonging in a world filled with anti-Jewish contempt. Using neuroscience and Jewish wisdom, Rabbi Dr. Caryn Aviv offers tools for how to spot when we’re in a Jewish anxiety loop, and how to calm that anxiety.
The book concludes with simple practices to help us live in the present moment with more awareness, curiosity, and self-compassion.
Caryn Aviv is Rabbinic Director at Judaism Your Way in Denver, CO. She’s a recovering academic in sociology and Jewish studies, and (mostly) formerly anxious Jew. Rabbi Caryn teaches and leads ritual that offer healing and compassion for Jews, their loved ones and allies. Unlearning Jewish Anxiety is her fourth book.
92nd Street Y Livestream: Bret Stephens / Dara Horn / Deborah Lipstadt Debate: Is Fighting Antisemitism a Losing Battle?
The oldest hatred – an honorific given to anti-Jewish prejudice – never tires. If anything, it gathers force. According to many surveys, animus towards Jews is increasing in the United States and worldwide. What should American Jewry do about it?
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A LIVESTREAMED EVENT FROM THE 92ND STREET Y
Free, Register here and consider donating at checkout
Some believe that we should expend our capital, energy, and creativity to change hearts and minds, especially of those still reachable. That means raising awareness of this scourge through high visibility campaigns, social media engagement, support for Holocaust education, and renewed allyship with other ethnic and religious communities.
Others insist that efforts to fight a conspiracy are futile, likely ineffective, and possibly even counterproductive. Decades of teaching “never again” has not stemmed the tide of hate. Rather, our limited resources are better spent by doubling down on creating proud Jews, strengthening Jewish education, and creating a more informed citizenry about Jewish civilization.
Moderated by SAPIR Editor-in-Chief Bret Stephens, this SAPIR Debate will feature two illustrious voices:
Arguing NO: Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism at the Department of State and award-winning author, historian, and professor.
Arguing YES: Dara Horn, three-time National Jewish Book Award-winning author of People Love Dead Jews, and founder and president of The Tell Institute, which is devoted to educating the public about Jewish civilization, including in K-12 schools and other channels.
The SAPIR Debates is a new series that features a spirited and civil exchange of views on the most consequential issues facing the American Jewish community.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services with P'nai Or
Join P'nai Or of Portland for a warm and welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat. As a Jewish Renewal congregation, our services are joyful, musical, embodied, and deeply spiritual. All are welcome. No RSVP needed.
CANCELLED Baby & Toddler Music Circle with Singin' Dylan
CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS
Join Singin' Dylan for a fun and interactive music circle geared towards 0-4 year olds and their grown ups!
These classes are a great way to instill a love of music within your little ones while practicing language, movement, and social skills!
$20 per family (up to 2 adults & 2 children) Any extra adults or children require a separate booking
Email Dylan (dylanalandau@gmail.com) to register
Screening: Bernstein/Sondheim West Side Story
Part of EJC's Winter Jewish Musical Series, a documentary plus three iconic Broadway musicals written by Jewish composers and lyricists.
West Side Story, with a book by Arthur Laurents, is a classic 1957 musical that reimagines Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York City, focusing on the rivalry between the Jets and Sharks gangs and the forbidden love between Tony and Maria. It features music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins, and is known for its powerful themes, iconic score, and athletic dance, becoming a landmark in musical theater. Register Here.
All Ages, Suggested Donation $5-$10 (see donation button at checkout). No one turned away for lack of funds.
Nu! to Nigun: Musical Chassidic Workshops
Nu! to Nigun: A Musical Chassidic Workshop
Join PDX Nigun Circle facilitator Aiden Kugelman-Samba for Nu! to Nigun, a monthly workshop inviting the Portland Jewish community into the powerful world of nigunim—wordless Jewish melodies that open the heart, deepen the soul, and connect us to something greater.
Free/All Ages but please consider donation at checkout to support facilitator and EJC REGISTER HERE
Whether you're new to this tradition or a longtime lover of Jewish song, this gathering is designed to help you build musical confidence, nourish spiritual depth, and experience the transformative joy of communal singing. Each session focuses on a single nigun, allowing us to sink into its unique emotional and spiritual landscape—whether celebratory, yearning, meditative, or ecstatic.
Rooted in Chassidic musical and spiritual traditions, Nu to Nigun is also a space of discovery. Through text-based learning and guided reflection, we’ll explore the historical and spiritual contexts of each melody—learning about the Chassidic group or teacher it comes from, and how it fits into the broader tradition of Jewish spiritual practice. Together, we’ll open up concepts like dveikut (spiritual attachment), tikkun olam, and the role of joy and song in Chassidic thought—always in an accessible, beginner-friendly way.
Our goals are simple but profound:
Learn by ear: Build your ability to learn melodies in the traditional oral style.
Understand the roots: Discover the history and intention behind each nigun and the movement it comes from (Chabad, Breslov, etc.).
Nourish the soul: Use melody and reflection to touch deeper places of the heart and return to connection with the Divine.
Strengthen community: Feel the joy of singing in harmony with others, across age, background, and level of observance.
This is a mixed-gender, mechitza-free space, open to all regardless of musical background, religious practice, or familiarity with Chassidut. Children are welcome (please let us know in advance if you plan to bring them so we can help create a good experience for all), but this is an adult-geared space just due to the complexity of the material.
Each workshop includes time to settle in and connect, followed by a structured but warm session that may include:
Vocal warm-ups and breath work
Kavanot (intentions) and spiritual framing
Accessible Chassidic teachings
Guided melody learning
Group singing with dynamic exploration (pace, volume, ornamentation, etc.)
Time for reflection and personal integration
You don’t need to know Hebrew or have prior exposure to nigunim. Just bring your voice, your curiosity, and your openness to being moved.
Whether you're seeking musical connection, spiritual renewal, or a deeper understanding of Jewish tradition, Nu! to Nigun is a space to encounter the ancient and the new, side by side—in song, in spirit, and in community.
Follow @pdxnigun circle on Instagram for updates, or get in touch via email: aidenkent13@gmail.com.
Zoë Aqua and her Transylvanian String Band!
In their very first tour in the United States, Zoë Aqua and her Transylvanian String Band will bring an energetic, powerful and deeply unique program to American audiences.
All ages $20adv/$25 door Tickets Here
Fiddler Zoë Aqua studied folk music for two years as a Fulbright grantee in Transylvania, a region in north-west Romania with a strongly multi-ethnic history, as evinced by the Hungarian and Romani flavors in its music. While living there, Aqua started playing regularly with three stars of the local folk music scene: Kálmán Szopos, Károly Dénes and Gergely Réman. Steeped in traditional folk music and dance since childhood, they play instruments not often seen in American venues: the brácsa (chordal viola) and the full-size Hungarian cimbalom, along with the upright bass.
Zoë’s compositions are an outgrowth of her background in klezmer and Yiddish music. Arranged in collaboration with her bandmates, the resulting sound features the raw power and deep rhythmic groove of Transylvanian string band music. It’s safe to say there’s nothing quite like this band in the world music scene today.
This concert will appeal to fans of string band music, whether bluegrass, old-time, or Irish fiddle music, as well as those who love klezmer and Yiddish music. Don’t miss it!
Kabbalat Shabbat Services with P'nai Or
Join P'nai Or of Portland for a warm and welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat. As a Jewish Renewal congregation, our services are joyful, musical, embodied, and deeply spiritual. All are welcome. No RSVP needed.
Free Noontime Concert: Smut City Jellyroll Duo!
Smut City Jellyroll Duo takes you back to the 1920's and 30's, the early days of both blues and jazz. Featuring powerful vocals by Chelsea Barnes, fingerpicked guitar by Doug Shafer in the style of Blind Blake and others. 20's and 30's swing, jazz, ragtime and blues with some original tunes in the mix!
Enjoy our free monthly concert series with top Portland musicians! Pack a lunch or stop by one of the many pods at 24th and Glisan, bring your food in (no pork or shellfish, please), and come and hear the music! Small concerts that are semi-acoustic and always enlivening. All are welcome. What better thing is there to do on a Friday afternoon?!
Screening: Gershwin's An American in Paris
Part of EJC's Winter Jewish Musical Series, a documentary plus three iconic Broadway musicals written by Jewish composers and lyricists.
An American in Paris is one of Hollywood’s most spectacular musicals ever produced. Featuring a score by American musical icon George Gershwin and dance performances by the talented Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, it tells the story of Jerry Mulligan, a struggling American painter in post-war Paris in love with Lise, a young French woman already engaged to a cabaret singer.
Films start early so you can be home early!
All Ages, Suggested Donation $5-$10 (see donation button at checkout). No one turned away for lack of funds. Register here.
An American in Paris is a 1951 American musical romantic comedy film inspired by the 1928 jazz-influenced symphonic poem (or tone poem) An American in Paris by George Gershwin. Starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron (her film debut), Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, and Nina Foch, the film is set in Paris and was directed by Vincente Minnelli from a script by Alan Jay Lerner. The music is by George Gershwin with lyrics by his brother Ira, with additional music by Johnny Green and Saul Chaplin, the music directors.
Music and Game night (Havdallah Cafe Winter Sephardic Edition)
It's winter and at EJC that means it's time for Havdallah Cafe!
We warmly invite you to celebrate life, cafe-style with tea, coffee, games and live music! It's not a performance though-rather let the music be the background to a night of conversation, card games and backgammon. Come share the warmth of Havdallah even as the days get longer (we'll light a braided candle too))! Food okay to bring but no pork or shellfish. We encourage you to bring games: Rummikub! Backgammon! Uno!
For this Havdallah Cafe EJC, is teaming up with Congregation Ahavath Achim. Havdallah will be lead by Aiden Kugelman-Samba and there will be oud music after the first hour.
ALL Ages, $5/person or Family (any definition of family is acceptable) and consider making an additional donation to EJC at checkout! No one turned away for lack of funds. Register here
JFCS presents Senior Sweets Social Hour An afternoon of Chocolate and Community
Community members 60+: Join Jewish Family & Child Service at EJC for a fun and festive Senior Social Hour celebrating Valentine’s season! Enjoy an afternoon of connection, conversation, and hands-on chocolate lollipop making—no experience needed. We’ll provide all the supplies and guidance, along with plenty of time to socialize and enjoy being together. Create something sweet to take home or share with someone special. There is no cost to attend but RSVP required.
EJC PRESENTS, Screening: Irving Berlin's Top Hat
Part of EJC's Winter Jewish Musical Series, a documentary plus three iconic Broadway musicals written by Jewish composers and lyricists.
Top Hat is the apotheosis of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and Irving Berlin’s score is one of the most famous in film history. “Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails” is the song most closely associated with Astaire throughout his career, while “Cheek to Cheek” epitomizes the onscreen dynamic of Astaire and Rogers
Films start early so you can be home early!
All Ages, Suggested Donation $5-$10 (see donation button at checkout). No one turned away for lack of funds. Register here.
Top Hat is a 1935 American musical comedy film, in which Fred Astaire plays an American tap dancer named Jerry Travers, who arrives in London to star in a show produced by Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton). He meets and attempts to impress Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers) to win her affection. The film also features Eric Blore as Hardwick's valet Bates, Erik Rhodes as Alberto Beddini, a fashion designer and rival for Dale's affections, and Helen Broderick as Hardwick's long-suffering wife Madge.
Super Bowl Sunday at EJC 2026!
EJC SUPER BOWL PARTY!
Come watch the 2026 Super Bowl at the Commons on the big screen! Free and family friendly. We'll be selling kosher hot dogs, beer, wine, snacks and soft drinks (you can also bring your own food but no pork or shellfish and no outside drinks).
Come relax and cheer your team on at the Commons. Bring the whole family and get ready for SUPER BOWL LX
Free, but please register (and consider making a donation to EJC when registering).
Nani Vazana sings Ladino
With a ship’s-horn power voice & irresistible stage presence, Eurovision winner Nani Vazana breathes life into the endangered Ladino Language. Nani’s heard Ladino from her Moroccan grandmother in hiding, as her father forbade the language at home. Her songwriting fuses Sephardic fairytales with contemporary storytelling and the sounds of the marketplace with Flamenco drama. Vazana’s new album Ke Haber was documented for the Library of Congress, ranked #11 on the International World Music Chart and #13 on World Music Chart Europe 2022.
All ages $22 Adv/$20 at door. Tickets Here
Nani Vazana is a millennial Ladino songwriter, she won the Eurovision for minority languages 2024 “Liet International” representing the Netherlands with her original song Una Segunda Piel (A Second Skin).
Described by BBC Radio 3 as “a voice that transports you from ancient markets to modern jazz clubs in one breath”, Vazana’s music breathes new life into Ladino—the nearly lost language of Sephardic Jews—through soulful vocals, flamenco-inspired melodies, and raw, contemporary storytelling.
Nani captures the spirit of the ancient, matriarchal Ladino language & propels it into the future w/ socially pertinent lyrics celebrating migration, gender & female empowerment. The soundscape captures the sounds & smells of the marketplace and fuses them with raw, flamenco like vocals, soft choral trombone, mariachi guitar & percussion & piano.
Vazana’s music was recognized and preserved by the Library of Congress USA and her album Ke Haber (What’s New) ranked #11 World Music Charts and #13 Music Charts Europe. She performed at the Kennedy Center USA, London Jazz Festival UK and TEDx Amsterdam.
Documentary: Broadway Musicals a Jewish Legacy
Part of EJC's Winter Jewish Musical Series, a documentary plus three iconic Broadway musicals written by Jewish composers and lyricists.
The Series kicks off with the documentary Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. The film, a PBS documentary, explores the profound impact of Jewish composers and lyricists, like Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Leonard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim, on creating the American musical, featuring interviews and performances from stars like Barbra Streisand, Nathan Lane, and Kristin Chenoweth, and narrated by Joel Grey.
Films start early so you can be home early!
All Ages, Suggested Donation $5-$10 (see donation button at checkout). No one turned away for lack of funds. Register Here
About Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy
The film (originally aired on BBC in 2013 and PBS in the U.S.), highlights how Jewish artists transformed Broadway into a distinctly American art form, drawing on cultural experiences and traditions to tell stories of outsiders and community, as seen in shows from Porgy and Bess to Fiddler on the Roof.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services with P'nai Or
Join P'nai Or of Portland for a warm and welcoming Kabbalat Shabbat. As a Jewish Renewal congregation, our services are joyful, musical, embodied, and deeply spiritual. All are welcome. No RSVP needed.
KENAHORROR! Presents: The Witches
Kenahorror : The Witches
This month we are screening the film "The Witches" (2020) based on Roald Dahl’s novel and contains the quintessential tropes of antisemitism that have endangered the lives of Jewish people for centuries. From large hooked noses, to pointy hats, to blood libel, witchcraft has been equated with Judaism from time immemorial. We will discuss the history of these stereotypes and the ancient & modern Jewish relationship to the term “Witch.”
All Ages/Sliding Scale $7-$18 Tickets Here
Your facilitators: Miss Petra is a film and folklore nerd, professional aerialist, and co-founder of Prismagic Circus. Andrine de la Rocha is a queer Jewish American Priestess, and creator of the Hebrunes Oracle.
Throughout history the stories, myths, and fears by and about Jewish customs and Jewish people have been used to create literature, film and art, often without the consent of, or input from, the people depicted. It is a little known fact that most scary books and films that predate nuclear war feature these stories that cast Jewish folklore and traditions as something to be feared. In this series we will illuminate how Jewish stereotypes became the foothold for the genre of horror as we know it today.
Remembering the Holocaust: Author Presentation Bettie Denny
Remembering the Holocaust
Author Presentation: Bettie Denny
Commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day with an inspiring story of courage, savvy and resilience.
In a captivating slideshow, Bettie Denny recounts the miraculous evolution of her book and her family’s nail-biting escape from Nazi-occupied Europe in 1941. In the Wake of Madness: My Family’s Escape from the Nazis combines anecdotes, historical research, and memoir – bolstered by a cache of poignant letters and documents that helped recreate a precise roadmap and timeline of their escape. The family’s journey will take you from Germany to Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, New York, Japan, Chile, Britain and Palestine. A riveting and relevant story for these changing times.
Q&A to follow.
Free/All Ages, please register and consider donating to EJC at checkout.
About Bettie Denny
Since retiring from 25 years in broadcast television, Bettie Denny has written three books. In the Wake of Madness: My Family’s Escape from the Nazis is now on the shelves of the Jewish Museums of Berlin and Frankfurt, the Leo Baeck Institute in New York, the Hague, and, of course, Multnomah County Public Library. Currently, she is blogging about her recent trip to Germany. Her previous book, Burying My Dead, is historical fiction set in 1870s Portland. Originally from New York, her working years were spent in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2006, Bettie and her husband, Pat, adopted Portland as her home. Their two daughters and three grandchildren live nearby.
Nu! to Nigun: Musical Chassidic Workshops
Nu! to Nigun: A Musical Chassidic Workshop
Join PDX Nigun Circle facilitator Aiden Kugelman-Samba for Nu! to Nigun, a monthly workshop inviting the Portland Jewish community into the powerful world of nigunim—wordless Jewish melodies that open the heart, deepen the soul, and connect us to something greater.
Free/All Ages but please consider donation at checkout to support facilitator and EJC REGISTER HERE
Whether you're new to this tradition or a longtime lover of Jewish song, this gathering is designed to help you build musical confidence, nourish spiritual depth, and experience the transformative joy of communal singing. Each session focuses on a single nigun, allowing us to sink into its unique emotional and spiritual landscape—whether celebratory, yearning, meditative, or ecstatic.
Rooted in Chassidic musical and spiritual traditions, Nu to Nigun is also a space of discovery. Through text-based learning and guided reflection, we’ll explore the historical and spiritual contexts of each melody—learning about the Chassidic group or teacher it comes from, and how it fits into the broader tradition of Jewish spiritual practice. Together, we’ll open up concepts like dveikut (spiritual attachment), tikkun olam, and the role of joy and song in Chassidic thought—always in an accessible, beginner-friendly way.
Our goals are simple but profound:
Learn by ear: Build your ability to learn melodies in the traditional oral style.
Understand the roots: Discover the history and intention behind each nigun and the movement it comes from (Chabad, Breslov, etc.).
Nourish the soul: Use melody and reflection to touch deeper places of the heart and return to connection with the Divine.
Strengthen community: Feel the joy of singing in harmony with others, across age, background, and level of observance.
This is a mixed-gender, mechitza-free space, open to all regardless of musical background, religious practice, or familiarity with Chassidut. Children are welcome (please let us know in advance if you plan to bring them so we can help create a good experience for all), but this is an adult-geared space just due to the complexity of the material.
Each workshop includes time to settle in and connect, followed by a structured but warm session that may include:
Vocal warm-ups and breath work
Kavanot (intentions) and spiritual framing
Accessible Chassidic teachings
Guided melody learning
Group singing with dynamic exploration (pace, volume, ornamentation, etc.)
Time for reflection and personal integration
You don’t need to know Hebrew or have prior exposure to nigunim. Just bring your voice, your curiosity, and your openness to being moved.
Whether you're seeking musical connection, spiritual renewal, or a deeper understanding of Jewish tradition, Nu! to Nigun is a space to encounter the ancient and the new, side by side—in song, in spirit, and in community.
Follow @pdxnigun circle on Instagram for updates, or get in touch via email: aidenkent13@gmail.com.
Mother's Wellness Fair presented by The Mom’s Collaborative
Join the Mom’s Collaborative at the Mother's Wellness Fair for a resource fair, workshops, speakers, and radical rest!
Welcome to the Mother's Wellness Fair! Join us for a day dedicated to all the amazing moms out there at The Eastside Jewish Commons. This event is all about empowering moms with all the right resources and information to feel confident in your motherhood. Come and explore various booths offering wellness products, experts in women's health, and resources to support your well-being. There will also be speakers on topics like financial literacy (budgeting to be a parent), estate planning, and how to use Paid Leave Oregon. There will be opportunities to rest, get a massage, and do yoga as well. Free childcare on site. Take some time for yourself and connect with other moms in the community. We can't wait to see you there!
EJC & JFCS Senior Mixer and Social Hour
Join us for a relaxed Senior Social Mixer, an easygoing evening of conversation and connection. Enjoy a welcoming atmosphere with a selection of wine and soft drinks, and plenty of time to mingle, laugh, and meet new friends. Free but please consider donating to EJC at checkout.
This evented presented by EJC and JFCS.
Concert: The Stranniki, Polina Shepherd and Psoy Korolenko
The Stranniki (The Wanderers) is a collaboration between Polina Shepherd and Psoy Korolenko, renowned multilingual artists in the Yiddish music scene for over two decades. Together, they have toured the U.S. and internationally, performing programs such as “Schlepping the Steppes and the Shtetl.” Their work centers on the themes of the wanderer and the road as a path, blending Yiddish and Russian poetry, folklore, and music from the 19th and 20th centuries with their own compositions. The project reveals a unique continuity of texts, melodies, roads, and destinies—still inspiring and meaningful today, perhaps more than ever.
All Ages $25 Adv/$30 Door. Tickets here
Polina Shepherd, a Siberia-born, UK-based composer and singer, specializes in Yiddish and Russian music, blending East European Jewish, Slavic, and Turkic influences. She has collaborated with artists such as Merlin Shepherd, Lorin Sklamberg, and Psoy Korolenko. During the pandemic, she launched the online project Yiddish Song: Step Forverts, featuring Yiddishists from around the world, and co-produced the CD Undzer Yiddishkayt, showcasing new songs by Eurasian artists. Her work spans choral direction, improvisation, and theatre, promoting Jewish music globally.
Psoy Korolenko (Pavel Lion) is a multilingual singer-songwriter, translator, journalist, and scholar, and a Visiting Lecturer at Dartmouth College. A former artist-in-residence at several U.S. universities, he has released numerous albums and books. His eclectic style combines Soviet urban folk, Yiddish theater songs, French chanson, and more. A Recording Academy voting member, he co-organizes the JetLAG Festival in New York and co-created the Grammy-nominated Yiddish Glory, reviving WWII-era Yiddish songs from Ukraine in collaboration with historian Anna Shternshis.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFvWT71znY0daT5luXp5EA3VIXimfWPHK