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.
Arab-Jewish Partnership in a Time of War
In recent years, actions taken by Israel's right-wing government have further marginalized the country's Arab minority. Since the events of October 7th and the ensuing war in Gaza, tensions between Israel's Jewish and Palestinian citizens have further intensified.
And yet, even in this difficult moment, there is hope. Across Israel, courageous activists are working to build a more equal and shared future for all who call the land home. The New Israel Fund is proud to support these efforts and the leaders behind them.
One such leader is Raghad Jaraisy, Co-Executive Director of Sikkuy-Aufoq. A respected attorney and human rights advocate, Raghad has devoted her career to advancing the civil and collective rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel. At Sikkuy-Aufoq—one of the country's leading organizations promoting equality and inclusion—she is helping shape a more just and democratic society.
Raghad will share insights into her work, including the urgent challenges she faces, such as U.S. funding cuts and new legislation, as well as the opportunities she sees for meaningful progress.
We hope you will join us for this important and inspiring conversation.
Raghad Jaraisy was appointed Sikkuy-Aufoq's Co-Executive Director in April 2023 after serving three years as Co-Director of the Equality Policy Department. Before joining Sikkuy-Aufoq, Raghad worked for nine years at NIF's flagship grantee, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), in various positions, including Manager of the Department for the Promotion of the Rights of the Arab Minority in Israel and member of ACRI's leading team.
Co-sponsored by EJC, Congregation Shir Tikvah, and J Street
Portland Jewish Music Fest Film: ‘On the Banks of the Tigris’ (Festival Opening Night)
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Opening night of of the Portland Jewish Music Festival kicks off with our first week-end of music and culture of the Sephardic and Mizrachi diaspora.
On the Banks of the Tigris is a musical odyssey that uncovers the hidden - and almost erased - story of Iraqi music. After escaping from Saddam's regime, Majid Shokor searches for the source of the songs he loved hearing in Baghdad's bustling streets and crowded coffeehouses. Australia is a safe haven, but the music of childhood lingers in Majid's mind. He begins to search and makes a startling discovery - that many of the best-known Iraqi songs were written by Iraqi Jews The Ba'ath Party purged Iraqi music of its origins, but Majid learns the truth, as he travels the world to meet exiled musicians who still sing and play these songs. The film’s message is that Jews, Muslims and Christians lived harmoniously in Baghdad and had a shared cultural heritage. This heritage is part of what defines Iraqi music.
$10-$15 Sliding Scale/ All Ages Register Here
More About the Film
(2015, 79 minutes, producer/director: Marsha Emerman, winner Best Documentary, Baghdad International Film Festival)
This musical odyssey tells the story of Majid Shokor, an Iraqi-Australian who seeks the source of songs he loves and discovers a hidden history. To find out more, Majid makes a bold journey around the world to meet Iraqi musicians - Jewish, Muslim and Christian - and unite them in a concert for peace and reconciliation. Featuring: oud master Ahmed Mukhtar, Iraqi-Israeli star Yair Dalal, and the great Iraqi maqam singer Farida and her ensemble.
Co-writers: Majid Shokor & Marsha Emerman; Editor: Lucy Papkinska; Production Manager: Merran Williams; Cinematographers: Sander Snoep, Philippe Bellaiche, Peter Zakharov; Script Editor & Sound Recordist: Bob Phelps
BEST DOCUMENTARY - Baghdad International Film Festival
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD - Arab Film Festival, San Francisco & Los Angeles
FINALIST, BEST DOCUMENTARY, Social & Political Issues - ATOM Awards, Australia
BEST DIRECTOR (DOCUMENTARY), Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival
MOST INSPIRATIONAL and AUDIENCE FAVORITE, The Archeology Film Festival, Eugene, Oregon
BEST CULTURAL HERITAGE FILM, Arkhaios Film Festival, Columbia, South Carolina
BEST LONG FILM, International Folk Music Film Festival, Nepal
Brenna McDonald Flamenco Guitarist (with Eric Stern, Oud)
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
The first week of the Portland Jewish Music Festival focuses on the Sephardic/Mizrachi musical heritage of Jews as well as the modern fusion between Spanish flamenco/gitano music and those genres.
In this one hour concert international flamenco guitarist Brenna McDonald will be joined by oudist Eric Stern (Vagabond Opera, Festival Director) to explore the musical relationship between the oud (a kind of fretless lute used in Mizrachi music) and it's cousin the guitar.
Free/All Ages; Tickets Here
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Brenna McDonald has lived and studied flamenco in Spain and is a founding member of La Peña Flamenca de Portland and Espacio Flamenco. She currently teaches flamenco dance and guitar at Espacio Flamenco and co-organizes the performance company Espacio Flamenco Onstage. Her passion for flamenco drew her to study flamenco guitar and dance from an early age. Her first teachers were Martita Santiago and Jaime Woods in Eugene, OR. Her pursuit of learning took her to Spain to study where she lived and studied for several years between 2003 and 2009 with some of the greatest maestros, including Chiqui de Jerez, Jose Luis Balao, Parrilla de Jerez, and Juan de los Reyes. Brenna is one of the few female flamenco guitarists in the world who has achieved a level of proficiency in flamenco dance and singing accompaniment.
Eric Stern is a performer, producer, and arts advocate. As a performer, he’s appeared on NPR and has performed at the Kennedy Center, throughout the Northwest, and internationally from Portland to Paris to Poland. Best known as the founder and leader of Vagabond Opera, Stern has returned in recent years to his Jewish roots, studying and playing Oud (a kind of lute that is played throughout the Mizrachi, and Sephardic world). Along with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb he founded the Jewish Theater Project in New Mexico, Vagabond Opera in Portland and Hungry Opera Machine, a modern-opera company. He has produced productions from intimate cafe events to full-scale theatrical performances.
Flamenco/Mizrachi Fusion night with Espacio Flamenco, Michelle Alany and Eric Stern
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Flamenco, Sephardic, and Mizrachi music share deep historical and musical connections, rooted in the cultural exchanges of the Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula (Al-Andalus), and the Jewish diaspora. Experience a fusion of styles: Flamenco! Sephardic! Mizrachi! The artists of Espacio Flamenco, steeped in the culture and craft of Flamenco, create a rich tapestry of flamenco music, dance, and song hearkening back to Spain's golden age. The dancers and musicians of Espacio Flamenco will be joined by internationally touring violinist & vocalist Michelle Alany, and oudist Eric Stern to explore the deep connections between the cultures of the Iberian peninsula and the Mizrachi diaspora. A night of music dancing, spectacle and cultural fusion!
All ages, $22/Person Tickets Here
Amel Tafsout: Jews of the Maghreb (North Africa) History, Tradition, and Culture
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
North African Jewish communities, also known as Maghrebi Jews, have a long history in the Maghreb region (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya), with some communities established long before the Arab conquest and others formed after the expulsion from Iberia in the late 15th century. This fascinating presentation will be taught by world-renowned scholar, Amel Tafsout. Tafsout is a master dance artist, choreographer, instructor, frame drummer, singer, and one of the finest exponents of North African traditional and contemporary Maghreb Dance of our time.
$8-$15 Sliding Scale/All Ages. Tickets Here
Michelle Alany and the Mystics, Mizrachi Sephardic Music Concert
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Join Michelle Alany and her Mystics ensemble as they play Sephardic and Mizrachi music (along with some originals) to round out the first week-end of the festival. Vibrating with her Iraqi roots Michelle Alany releases melodies that are pure-spun gold from the soul of her violin through your ears and into your heart. Add the Mystics ensemble and it will be an unforgettable night of ancient sweet songs and timeless melodies.
All Ages/$22. Tickets Here
Michelle Alany is an internationally touring violinist & vocalist, a dynamic performer & ambassador of world folk traditions. She specializes in soulful Sephardic, Mediterranean & Eastern European-inspired music, as well as originals, drawing on rich folk and classical traditions. Her remarkable playing is tinged with the tarab of her Iraqi roots combined with fiery Ashkenazic melodies, and the combination that practically explodes from her violin is pure alchemy. Sure, she'll play Balkan music too, she'll play originals, and what's more she'll play the roof off the joint.
Screening: "Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s'"
Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS, EJC and OPB wrap up its 2024-25 season of amazing documentaries with "Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer's"
"Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s" is an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and how this progressive neurodegenerative disease transforms roles and relationships. Whether it's a partner caring for a loved one or an adult child shifting into being their parent's caregiver, these stories show how families evolve when a loved one is diagnosed.
EJC is wheelchair accessible and the screening is open-captioned. The talkback following the screening will be ASL interpreted.
Watch the trailer here
All ages, free but please register here, as seating is limited.
Community Partner: Alzheimer’s Association
Sklamberg Lurje Judelman Trio, Songs of Resilience
Sklamberg Lurje Judelman Trio, Songs of Resilience
Kickoff to week two The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Featuring co-founder of The Klezmatics, Lorin Sklamberg (NYC), darling of the international Yiddish scene, Sasha Lurje (Riga/Berlin), and renowned globe-trotting fiddler Craig Judelman (Seattle/Berlin) this new transatlantic collaboration is thrilled to present their latest program, Songs of Resilience. After decades spent immersed in the Yiddish culture of Ashkenazi Jews and the cultures of their European neighbors, this band presents Yiddish culture at the highest level, ranging from folk to art song, as well as theater, spiritual and dance music
All Ages/ $22 Tickets here
Diane Chaplin Solo Cellist
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Join us for a noon concert with world-class cellist Diane Chaplin as she plays a solo concert spanning her repertoire of music by Jewish composers, Klezmer and Jewish concert music and more!
Free/All Ages Register here
About Diane Chaplin
Diane Chaplin is a world-class cellist and nurturing music educator who lives in Portland, Oregon. She appears often as a concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber music artist, and tours around the US as a featured member of the Portland Cello Project. For the 2024-25 season she is the Cello Professor at the University of California at Santa Barbara; she also has a large class of private cello students, both in-person and on zoom, and teaches students all over the world through the Cello Refinery. Since the spring of 2020, Diane has been performing monthly livestream concerts of solo cello music, and has learned more than 250 pieces of solo repertoire during this time.
Shabbat with Congregation P'nai Or and PDX Nigun Circle
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Join congregation P’nai Or's Kabbalat Shabbat Service along with Portland Nigun Circle to celebrate Shabbat with chanting, singing, live music, movement, meditation, storytelling and more.
Free/All Ages Register HereRegister Here
P’nai Or (Faces of Light) celebrates the Divine reflected in everyone – LGBTQ+, interfaith, Jews by birth, Jews by choice. We are a vibrant, egalitarian congregation founded in 1991 by Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, z"l. Our inspiration comes from Torah, Kabbalah, the teachings of the Chassidic masters, and Jewish and non-Jewish contemporary sources.
PDX Nigun Circle is a monthly gathering where we sing, socialize, and learn the beautiful history of Jewish mysticism as communicated through the art of the nigun. Participants are encouraged to bring a nigun to share if they know one.
PDX Nigun Circle is open to all! No Jew is too young, old, religious or secular to attend. While the art of nigun was started by and is kept alive by Hasidim, all can find strength and meaning through the practice. Most importantly, you do not need to consider yourself a good singer, let alone a singer at all! The nigun is an act of vocalizing the needs of the soul, so quality is not a factor in having a meaningful experience.
What is a nigun?
A nigun is a primarily wordless melody. Emerging out of the 18th century Ashkenazic mystical revival movement called Ḥasidut (Chassidism), nigunim (plural) have been passed down to us today through a long oral tradition. Nigunim are vocal outpourings of all the ranges of human emotion: joy, suffering, piety and yearning, and have carried the spirit of the Jewish people though generations of exile.
The nigun has the potential to uplift and transform the individual and communal experience of spirituality and the Jewish tradition. Nigunim are said to carry and evoke the spirit of their composers. While a nigun might emerge as a cry from the lonely heart, when we gather in song, we cultivate a sense of unity and belonging that feels ecstatic, vulnerable, nourishing and decidedly rebellious.
The Magid Presents: ‘Shterna and the Lost Voice’, a musical Crankie storytelling adventure
The Magid Ensemble: Join us! – for a musical crankie storytelling adventure titled ‘Shterna and the Lost Voice’ – a new folktale by A.C. Weaver that brings together mythical stories of Elyahu Hanovi with traditional motifs of Yiddish folklore. Drawing inspiration from S. Ansky’s ethnographies of Jewish life in Eastern Europe during the turn of the 20th century, 'Shterna and the Lost Voice' follows the quest of a young woman from the realms of the dead to the celestial gardens of the immortal – all to restore her friend's lost voice. Our narrator guides listeners on Shterna’s epic adventure, accompanied by live original klezmer music, all while the narrative unfolds through a papercut crankie. This dynamic performance is geared towards audiences of all ages!
$22/All Ages Tickets HereTickets Here
Shterna and the Lost Voice is the debut theatrical project of the Magid Ensemble, transporting audiences into the rich world of Yiddish folklore. Developed through rigorous research on Eastern-European Jewish folklore, this immersive storytelling production follows Shterna on an epic hero’s journey, through the living world, the underworld, and the immortal world, in order to retrieve the lost voice of her friend. Narration unfolds alongside a stunning papercut crankie (a long scroll wound onto two spools that illustrates the story as it unwinds) and is accompanied by a live original klezmer music score. Shterna and the Lost Voice is a highly engaging 50-minute storytelling performance suitable for audiences of all ages!
Shterna and the Lost Voice is presented by The Magid Ensemble (magid, meaning “storyteller” in Yiddish) – a new collaboration featuring award-winning klezmer musicians and composers Mattias Kaufmann, Raffi Boden, and Rachel Leader, Yiddishist and storyteller Weaver, and visual artist Kiah Raymond. The Magid Ensemble explores the interplay of sound, story, light, and shadow to create expressive and immersive storytelling landscapes.
Fundamentals of Yiddish Dance
Traditional Ashkenazi dance styling is a way to explore emotional self-expression, deeper engagement with klezmer music, and lively, social way to move together collectively. Join dance leader Weaver and musicians Raffi Boden, Mattias Kaufmann and Rachel Leader to learn to dance to a freylekhs, a bulgar, a zhok, and other kinds of tunes you might hear at the festival! Beginner friendly, all are welcome!
All Ages/$10-25 Sliding Scale. Register Here
About The Magid Ensemble (magid, meaning “storyteller” in Yiddish) – a new collaboration featuring award-winning klezmer musicians and composers Mattias Kaufmann, Raffi Boden, and Rachel Leader, Yiddishist and storyteller Weaver, and visual artist Kiah Raymond.
Make them Tanz! Klezmer Rhythm & Accompaniment.
Make them Tanz! In this class we will hone in on groove and accompaniment ideas - to be played on all instruments! We will review the basic dance types, learn middle voice lines, and explore rhythmic variations. We will start with a simple klezmer tune or two and learn how to enhance it through creative and groovy accompaniment. Open to all levels and instruments. Led by Mattias Kauffman (accordion) and Raffi Boden (cello).
All Ages/Sliding Scale $10-$25, Register Here
Mattias Kaufmann is an accordionist based in Boston, MA. Mattias has toured internationally with the Klezmer ensembles Mamaliga and Farnakht and served as teaching faculty at festivals of Klezmer music such as Yiddish New York and KlezMaineia. As a recent graduate of the Contemporary Musical Arts Program at New England Conservatory, Mattias is on a path of innovation and discovery with the accordion, combining diverse influences from around the world.
Raffi Boden is a NY based cellist, composer and educator known for his groovy bass lines and his versatility. With Mamaliga, he has performed internationally and been a guest artist at Yiddish New York, Yiddish Summer Weimar and KlezKanada. Raffi was recently in the Juilliard production of “Indecent”, for which he worked with composer and music director Lisa Gutkin to compose a cello part for the band. In classical contexts, he has performed internationally in Europe and South America, locally in Carnegie Hall, and with members of the NY Philharmonic. Raffi holds degrees from Juilliard and Oberlin. Raffi is also a member of chamber-jazz ensemble Simone Baron & Arco Belo. These days, Raffi is freelancing in NY, teaching, and working on singing in Yiddish!Register Here
Jake Shulman-Ment Duo with Brivele!
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
Saturday night Klez with internationally renowned violinist Jake Shulman-Ment performing with oudist and guitarist Yoshie Fruchter. Seattle based duo Brivele opens.
All Ages/ $22 Tickets Here
About Jake Shulman-Ment
Brooklyn-based Jake Shulman-Ment is among the most highly regarded klezmer musicians performing today. He tours and records internationally as a soloist, and with Midwood, Daniel Kahn, Joey Weisenberg, Abigale Reisman, Pete Rushefsky, and many others. Past collaborators have included The Painted Bird, Di Naye Kapelye, The Brothers Nazaroff, Frank London, Sanda Weigl, Adrian Receanu, Duncan Sheik, Francesca Ter-Berg, Laurel Premo, Ali Dineen, Michael Alpert, Fleytmuzik, MetroFolk, and Romashka.
Jake performs tonight with Yoshie Fruchter. Yoshie Fruchter is a guitar, bass and oud player. Fruchter is notable for his work in composing and interpreting Jewish music, and has forged new directions with his performance, regardless of genre. His current project, Sandcatchers, in which he plays oud and is joined by lap steel player Myk Freedman and Erik Friedlander on cello, explores the sounds of the Middle East combined with the American South.
Brivele is a Seattle-based duo who braid together Yiddish song, anti-fascist and labor balladry, folk-punk, and contemporary rabble-rousing in stirring vocal harmony. Brivele is touring in support of their forthcoming album, “Khaveyrim Zayt Greyt,” which will be released on May 1, 2025 through Borscht Beat records.
In Yiddish, Brivele (בריוועלע) means "little letter." Like letters, songs travel — through time and over borders. They pick up dirt, aromas, fingerprints. They are sent to lovers, they foment revolution, they get stolen and censored, burned and salvaged, sewn into our clothes.
Brivele is Maia Brown and Stefanie Brendler, who journey into the archives of Yiddish anti-fascist musical tradition, bringing together anti-authoritarian satire, mournful remembrances, and the disguised political commentary in folk ditties and theater classics. These songs are a correspondence: ancestors' voices speaking clearly and uncompromisingly, sometimes sweetly, to the present moment.
Klezmer for Melodic players led by Jake Shulman-Ment
Open to all instrumentalists from intermediate through professional levels, in this workshop we will learn old spiritual and dance melodies by ear in the way klezmer music has traditionally been passed down. We will also learn to phrase, ornament, and accompany the melodies in the Ashkenazic Jewish folk style, and explore modal improvisation using typical Eastern European Jewish motifs and scales.
All Ages/$20 Register Here
About Jake Shulman-Ment
Brooklyn-based Jake Shulman-Ment is among the most highly regarded klezmer musicians performing today. He tours and records internationally as a soloist, and with Midwood, Daniel Kahn, Joey Weisenberg, Abigale Reisman, Pete Rushefsky, and many others. Past collaborators have included The Painted Bird, Di Naye Kapelye, The Brothers Nazaroff, Frank London, Sanda Weigl, Adrian Receanu, Duncan Sheik, Francesca Ter-Berg, Laurel Premo, Ali Dineen, Michael Alpert, Fleytmuzik, MetroFolk, and Romashka.Register Here
Great Big Klezmer Ensemble led by Jake Shulman-Ment
Great Big Klezmer Ensemble
We welcome musicians of any instrument to join a glorious klezmer band, where we will learn tunes by ear. We will work on some basics of melodic klezmer ornamentation as well as chordal and rhythmic accompaniment, and learn how to groove together in the klezmer style.
All Ages/$20 Register Here
About Jake Shulman-Ment
Brooklyn-based Jake Shulman-Ment is among the most highly regarded klezmer musicians performing today. He tours and records internationally as a soloist, and with Midwood, Daniel Kahn, Joey Weisenberg, Abigale Reisman, Pete Rushefsky, and many others. Past collaborators have included The Painted Bird, Di Naye Kapelye, The Brothers Nazaroff, Frank London, Sanda Weigl, Adrian Receanu, Duncan Sheik, Francesca Ter-Berg, Laurel Premo, Ali Dineen, Michael Alpert, Fleytmuzik, MetroFolk, and Romashka.
Yankl Falk & The Carpathian Pacific Express!
Part of The Portland Jewish Music Festival!
All aboard!! Join with some of Portland’s finest musicians in an exciting exploration of klezmer and Yiddish song, Romanian and Hungarian fiddle virtuosity, mystical Hasidic chant, raucous songs of drunken exuberance in many languages, and much more!
Carpathian: Our repertoire draws from the Yiddish- and Hungarian-speaking world of our grandparents, with echoes of Poland, Ukraine, Romania, and elsewhere.
Pacific: We live in Oregon in the early 21st century. We play what we hear.
Express: More direct than the Local.
All Ages/$22 Tickets HereTickets Here
About Yankl Falk
Jack (Yankl) Falk is best known for his years as singer/clarinetist with the Budapest-based Di Naye Kapelye, with whom he recorded three albums of Jewish roots music from the Carpathians. Falk’s instrumental and vocal repertoire draws from the Yiddish- and Hungarian-speaking world of his childhood, offering musical sustenance for the truly bizarre times in which we now find ourselves.
Poetry Reading: Judy Nahum, ahuva s. zaslavsky, Daniela Naomi Molnar
a poetry reading in celebration of i have wrestled with the way clouds weep by Judy Nahum
Readings by:
Judy Nahum
Ahuva S. Zaslavsky
Daniela Naomi Molnar
Free/All Ages, Registration Required
Judy Nahum lives and writes in Portland, OR. Her poems have been published in The Muleskinner Journal, Yes, Poetry, and Windfall: A Journal of Poetry of Place, among others. I have wrestled with the way clouds weep is her first chapbook.
ahuva s. zaslavsky lives and works in Portland, Oregon. she is a multimedia artist whose work spans painting, printing, sculpture, and writing. Her art explores the connections between space, memory, and trauma, focusing on how people and places influence one another. She investigates themes of displacement, belonging, and power dynamics, while also examining the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, and the potential for transformation.
Daniela Naomi Molnar is a poet, artist and writer who creates with color, water, language, and place. Her paintings are created with pigments she has made from plants, bones, stones, rainwater and glacial melt. Poems and essays are created alongside the pigments and paintings; the practices overlap and influence each other, creating new ecologies. Her debut book CHORUS won the 2024 Oregon Book Award for Poetry. Her next book PROTOCOLS: An Erasure will be published in June 2025 by Ayin Press.Registration Required
A History of Palestine and Israel, Instructor: Joel Beinin
REGISTRATION:
Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com
Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7Phone: 503 477-7409
Jewish Poetry Reading Group
Jewish Poetry Reading Group at EJC
Love to read poetry? Drawn to Jewish poets writing in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish in translation? You don’t need to be Jewish to join!
Let's lift the poetry off the page with some communal meaning-making. Quarterly meetings led by group members on books of their choosing.
Join us on quarterly first Wednesdays, 12:30-2:30 pm at Eastside Jewish Commons, 2
Reading: Sleeping as Fast as I Can by Richard Michelson, published by Slant Books
Discussion led by Betsy Fogelman Tighe
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@gmail.com with questions
EJC Unplugged
Join us as EJC celebrates its 4th birthday with a South American brunch and and an appearance by Pink Martini’s China Forbes plus a special surprise performance!
Featuring captivating music, delicious food, and yummy mimosas in an intimate setting, EJC Unplugged is unlike any gala you've ever been to. Just ask anyone who came to last year's celebration!
All ages; limited seating. Dress: Casual and Joyful! Purchase Gala tickets here
Childcare is also available for $18 (+ service charge) via our ticketing website.
If you would like to purchase a discounted table of 8 for $800 please email howieb@ejcpdx.org
We can't wait to see you!
A History of Palestine and Israel, Instructor: Joel Beinin (Copy)
REGISTRATION:
Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com
Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7Phone: 503 477-7409
A History of Palestine and Israel, Instructor: Joel Beinin (Copy)
REGISTRATION:
Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com
Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7Phone: 503 477-7409
A History of Palestine and Israel, Instructor: Joel Beinin (Copy)
REGISTRATION:
Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com
Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7Phone: 503 477-7409
Poetry reading with David Rutiezer and Carter McKenzie to celebrate new chapbooks!
Please join us for a poetry reading in celebration of the publication of the chapbooks: Other Dances, David Rutiezer, Handtype Press, Squares and Rebels Series 2025.
The Book of Fire, Carter McKenzie, above/ ground press, 2024.
Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Free/All Ages Registration RequestedRegistration Requested
A History of Palestine and Israel, Instructor: Joel Beinin (Copy)
REGISTRATION:
Email: IMJCP25@gmail.com
Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7Phone: 503 477-7409
Art/Lab Workshop Golem Ahuva Zaslavsky
Dive into the world of Jewish folklore with multimedia artist and Co/Lab Art/Lab Alum Ahuva S. Zaslavsky! Join for a hands-on sculpture workshop where you’ll craft your very own golem using clay and found materials. Ahuva will share the cultural story behind this mythical creature before guiding you through the process of bringing your inner golem to life. At the end of the workshop, you’ll get to take home your very own creation (just make sure it doesn’t come to life when you get home!)
Sunday Afternoon Klez and Jewish Music Jam at EJC
EJC Klezmer Jam
The people have spoken and what they've asked for is a Klezmer jam at Eastside Jewish Commons! Let's have one on a Sunday afternoon. Bring your instruments, sheet music, heart and soul, and don't worry about ability--this is a (facilitated) jam for all. We'll settle in and play for a couple of hours. Once you sign up, materials from the other jams will be sent to you and perhaps even new material! If you have a song to share, please bring it! Also if you play an instrument that is non-concert, i.e. Bb, you'll have to be ready to transpose or make your own versions (don't worry if you don't know what this means; it's mainly for clarinet and trumpet players who read sheet music).
Feel free to eat here (maybe it will start to become a Klezmer brunch), just no pork or shellfish. N.B. this is not a show, so while you might have a family member or two with you this is really not a place to listen to music but rather it’s a place to participate.
Ages. Free, but please consider making a donation at checkout. Register Here
PJC Karaoke Night
After last year's amazing success, PJC is back with another exciting Karaoke Night at EJC! Join us for an evening of music, laughter, and unforgettable moments as we celebrate through song.
Whether you're a karaoke pro or a first-timer, everyone’s welcome to take the stage. Enjoy snacks, a cash bar, and games throughout the night! Songs will be available in both English and Hebrew, so there’s something for everyone.
21+; bar available. Proceeds benefit Portland Jewish Connection.
Advance tickets are available here
Jews Who Wine
Eastside Jewish Commons is back with another fun evening to gather, nosh, sip, savor and schmooze!
Join EJC at Oak Flat Vineyards' Tasting Room for our third installment of “Jews Who Wine”. The tasting includes Rhone Style Rose wine, Grenache Blanc; and Oak Flat’s signature Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre Red Wine Blend. Additional wine tasting options and a full menu are also offered.
A special bonus: Purchase two bottles of wine and get $12 off!
Limited seating. 21+. The facility is wheelchair accessible. Tickets are available here
Note: This event takes place at Oak Flat Vineyards' Tasting Room, 4701 SE Belmont St. in Portland
Learn more about Oak Flat Vineyards here
Free Noontime Concert with Trio Tsuica
Join us for our free concert series with top musicians! Pack a lunch or stop by one of the many nearby eateries at NE 24th and Glisan. Bring your food in (no pork or shellfish, please) and come and hear the music!
The concerts will feature small ensembles and soloists that are semi-acoustic and always enlivening. The EJC welcomes seniors, parents and kids, students, and all others. What better thing is there to do on a Friday afternoon?!?
Trio Tsuica is Romanian brandy made from plums. Trio Tsuica brings a fiery distillation of music from eastern and central Europe, played on violin, accordion, bass, and cimbalom. Most of the band's repertory comes from Romania and Hungary, with occasional side trips south through the Balkans all the way to Greece. You’ll hear toe-tapping dance tunes, haunting melodies, unusual rhythms, and interesting harmonies. triotsuica.com.
Screening: "We Want the Funk!"
EJC and OPB are proud to present the acclaimed documentary, "WE WANT THE FUNK!"
WE WANT THE FUNK! is a syncopated voyage through the history of funk music, spanning from African, soul, and early jazz roots, to its rise into the public consciousness. Featuring James Brown's dynamism, the extraterrestrial funk of George Clinton's Parliament Funkadelic, transformed girl group Labelle, and Fela Kuti's Afrobeat, the story also traces funk's influences on both new wave and hip-hop.
Filmmakers: Stanley Nelson (Director) and Nicole London (Co-director and Producer)
Before and after the screening enjoy the funky sounds of DJ Aspen.
All ages. Admission is free but please register here.
EJC is wheelchair accessible and the screening is open-captioned.
Watch the trailer here
Shir Tikvah Queer Weekly Torah Study
This group meets every week to look at the parashah (Torah portion) from a queer perspective. Using a variety of traditional and queer approaches — including those of Svara, Joy Ladin, Noam Sienna, Abby Chavastein, and more — we explore, discuss, and learn together in a fun, intimate environment!
2025 OJCYF Benefit Dinner
Join Us for an Inspiring Evening Celebrating Youth Philanthropy!
Experience a joyous evening hosted by our community's teen philanthropists as they share what they've learned during their year in the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation. Discover how they've embraced Jewish values of giving while addressing local community needs.
The dinner will feature a kosher-style meal. To request a fully kosher meal, notify us of food allergies, or make seating requests, please email Susan at susanb@ojcf.org by March 26th. We will make every effort to honor seating preferences.
MAKE YOUR IMPACT TODAY! Consider making a Mitzvah Moment gift as part of your ticket purchase. Your additional donation will be recognized during the event, amplifying your support for this meaningful program. Make your donation in the additional donation box after selecting a ticket.
![A Night of Kurdish Music and Culture with Emrah Korkmaz [CANCELLED]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c7d5f0ea56827a3d15cfaf8/1742343739820-5Z01JM757587R2ZXKGEC/emrahpizza.jpg)
A Night of Kurdish Music and Culture with Emrah Korkmaz [CANCELLED]
DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
A night to celebrate Kurdish culture with Emrah Korkmaz Ensemble – Kurdish Musician & Cultural Ambassador! Emrah Korkmaz is a passionate singer, musician, and educator committed to preserving and sharing the richness of Kurdish music and culture. Emrah is primarily known for playing the saz baglama (a family of plucked string instruments and long-necked lutes played in Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkey). His musical expertise extends across the entire Saz family of instruments, as well as the Kaval, Mey, and keyboard. Korkmaz has worked and shared stages with some of the most prominent contemporary Kurdish artists: These collaborations and his instrumental versatility have enriched his performances, allowing him to seamlessly blend traditional Kurdish sounds with contemporary influences.
The night will include a presentation on Kurdish culture and history as well.
All ages sliding scale $16-$24
Photos courtesy Phoebus-Foto
More about Emrah Korkmaz: Emrah Korkmaz's connection to music runs deep—it has been part of his life since birth. Each morning, his parents would sing to him, filling their home with melodies that shaped his earliest memories. By age 9, he was already memorizing and singing the songs his father cherished, and as a teenager, he took his passion further by pursuing formal music education. It became clear quickly that music was his true calling. He went on to pursue dedicated training, ultimately completing his studies in music education at the University Conservatory ( Van Yüzüncü Yıl University in Turkey) and officially started his professional music career.
Now, having recently immigrated to the United States, Emrah continues to honor tradition, inspire others, and bridge cultures through music with his performances and teachings. Beyond the stage, he is committed to passing on his knowledge, offering individual lessons to inspire the next generation of musicians.
Shir Tikvah Queer Weekly Torah Study
This group meets every week to look at the parashah (Torah portion) from a queer perspective. Using a variety of traditional and queer approaches — including those of Svara, Joy Ladin, Noam Sienna, Abby Chavastein, and more — we explore, discuss, and learn together in a fun, intimate environment!
Wisdom Workshop for Women, Facilitator: Ken Roht CANCELLED
CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
The workshop is a four-part series that will culminate in a dance theater piece, to be performed at EJC and beyond. By joining Part One, you are not committing yourself to all three parts. Overall, we will focus on exploring the concepts and examples of wisdom gathered and demonstrated by women over 45 years old. Drawing from Jewish literature, folk traditions and personal experiences, the eventual dance-theatre piece is meant to enlighten others about growing older with wisdom, while promoting the expressive empowerment of Jewish women, and of the Jewish community by extension.
PART ONE First, we will gather inspiring texts and audio record them. Music will be generated in response to the texts, and dances will be choreographed to the music. In this process, we’ll establish a collaborative dynamic that works for all, while growing our abilities to respond to music with inspired movement.
New movers are welcomed, and advanced movers will be challenged.
All ages/One price ($80) pays for all four sessions.
REGISTER HERE
About Ken Roht
As a community arts facilitator, Ken Roht’s history includes creating many professional music-theatre pieces and community-engagement programs. Recently, Ken served as the artistic director of the Daniel Arts Center, in Great Barrington, MA, where he facilitated the development of a diverse array of community arts projects. He has been commissioned and granted by many established arts institutions, including Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Center Theater Group in Los Angeles, and Audrey Skirball-Kenis Theatre Projects. As a choreographer, Ken has worked all around the country, including at New York City Opera, New York Philharmonic and Boston Opera Theatre. Closer to Portland, he choreographed at Oregon Shakespeare Festival for seven seasons.
Israeli Dancing for Everyone with Allison Victor
Join local Israeli dance instructor Allison Victor as she leads a session of Israeli Dance for all ages and levels, but tailored especially to beginners. Great for families, singles, couples, and...everyone! Groove around in a circle and dance the hora! Have fun with Israeli line dancing and more!
All Ages; Children must be accompanied by adult at all times (no drop-offs)
Suggested Donation:$6-$12 sliding scale/person or family
Allison Victor has been finding joy in dance since she was a child in ballet school and doing the cha cha at her oldest brother’s bar mitzvah! She began Israeli dancing in Portland in the late 70’s and has been a long-time instructor and session leader at the MJCC and at Cafe Shalom in SW Portland. She has performed with fellow dancers and taught at community and private venues in the northwest and internationally. She may be reached at allisuev@gmail.com for information on classes and open dancing.
Indie Pop Up Screening: "Home Court
EJC and OPB are proud to present the third installment of its Indie Pop Up documentary film series: Home Court.
Home Court is the coming-of-age story of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball prodigy in Southern California whose life intensifies as recruitment heats up. As she overcomes injury as well as racial and class differences between her home and private school worlds, in peer groups, and against rival schools, Ashley strives to become her own person and leave a legacy behind.
A talkback with the film’s director, Erica Tanamachi follows the screening.
Free! All ages; registration required. Get tickets here
Watch the trailer here.
Duty, Defiance and Dissent: Jewish Responses to Power
Rabbi Josh Rose
Can American Jews recover from the post-October 7th communal divisions and pain? Can America recover from Trump-era fractures in the body politic? This is a time of such stark division, it seems that the threads of community are nearly irreperably broken. At times of such communal crisis, there seems to be no hope for a shared understanding of who we are. Yet without such hope, we cannot begin to contribute to or sustain ourselves with the communities that give us meaning. We will explore Jewish texts and ideas that contemplate crisis, the fracturing of community, and hope and so help us think about our own situation. Expect careful readings of Jewish texts (no expertise necessary, all texts in English) and opportunities for conversation and reflection.
Click here to register. You are welcome to attend any individual session without attending the others.
JFCS Senior Social Hour Brunch n’ Learn Downsizing: Learning to Let Go
Join us for this month’s Senior Social Hour at Eastside Jewish Commons! We’ll schmooze, nosh, & enjoy an interactive presentation by downsizing coach Miley Stanton-Flowers.
Downsizing: Learning to Let Go
Do you feel overwhelmed with clutter and don’t know where to start? Do you struggle with letting go of your items? Whether you’re decluttering your current home or downsizing into a smaller home, this presentation will help you get started! We’ll cover some basic tips and tricks to learn how to downsize your stuff, get more organized and create a more harmonious living environment.
There is no cost to attend but RSVP is required.
New Horizons Big Band
Join us for an afternoon where we go back in time to the Big Band Era with standards and show-stoppers performed by The New Horizons Big Band! All of your favorite tunes of a bygone era played live by a top-notch Big Band orchestra. It'll get you In the Mood! So, sit and listen, tap your toes, or get out on the dance floor and Swing! Swing! Swing!
All Ages/Free but please register
Writing Your Ethical Will CANCELLED
CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Deepen your connection to the meaningful tradition of creating an ethical will in this three-part workshop, inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Joshua Stampfer (z”l) and The Forever Letter by Elana Zaiman. Lead by inspirational Jewish educator and CNS congregant (and Wondering Jew!), Laurie Fendel.
Session 1: Discovering Your Values and Stories
Explore the sacred tradition of creating an ethical will in the context of Jewish history and its role in preserving personal values and life lessons. Through guided exercises and group discussions, identify the core principles and stories that have shaped your life, creating the foundation for your ethical will.
Session 2: Writing From the Heart
Learn how to articulate your values, hopes, and blessings in a way that is deeply personal and authentic. This session provides practical writing tips, creative prompts, and space to craft the first draft of your ethical will.
Session 3: Refining and Sharing Your Legacy
Refine your ethical will and celebrate this mitzvah of passing on your love and guidance.
Explore how to make your ethical will an enduring document that reflects your voice and aligns with Jewish values.
This workshop is open to individuals of all writing levels and is an enriching experience for anyone looking to leave a preserve their Jewish identity and leave a meaningful legacy.
$60 for all Three Sessions (Registrants must sign up for all three).
About Laurie Fendel
Laura Fendel taught elementary grades in Beaverton for 30 years and received The Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching by students, parents and colleagues. She had two books published on Self Esteem for teachers to use with young children. She became an interior designer with a national company for 8 years. For more than 20 years Laura studies and teaches Mussar, Jewish Ethics, which is steeped in Torah. She is a trained End of Life Doula, and has volunteered with Hospice. Laura is a fiber artist specializing in three dimensional fabric sculptures. Www.jewishendoflifedoulapdx.com
Art Workshops with Art/Lab Alumni: Spill Your Guts Flash Fiction with Leanne Grabel
Inspired by the work of Roz Chast, Maira Kalman, Alison Bechdel, Ellen Forney, Nora Krug, as well as a variety of poets, you will write flash memoir. This highly accessible genre allows us to coddle our shortened attention spans while crystallizing our stories of impactful moments, people, places and things. You will write concise, yet detailed, clear, yet lyrical, SHORT pieces-- prose poems, really. I will also share techniques that will allow even the "non-artist" to cleverly illustrate these pieces, as well as suggest ideas for compiling your pieces into a whole that tells the bigger story. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Taught by award winning writer and performer, Leanne Grabel www.leannegrabel.com
Kabbalat Shabbat 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.
Noon Concert Whiskey Deaf Duet
Join us for our free concert series with top musicians! Pack a lunch or stop by one of the many nearby eateries at NE 24th and Glisan. Bring your food in (no pork or shellfish, please) and come and hear the music!
The concerts will feature small ensembles and soloists that are semi-acoustic and always enlivening. The EJC welcomes seniors, parents and kids, students, and all others. What better thing is there to do on a Friday afternoon?!
Whiskey Deaf Duet
Annie Staninec and John Kael are a Portland duo that share a passion for traditional bluegrass, early country and old-time music, and they have a vast repertoire spanning many decades. They both play and teach multiple instruments, have toured internationally, and have received numerous awards and recognition.
Annie is a uniquely gifted fiddle player, bringing driving rhythm, musicality and joyful exuberance to every performance. She has toured the world with artists spanning from David Grisman to Rod Stewart, and is on countless recordings in a variety of musical styles. John plays guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass equally deftly, and is an award-winning songwriter. Together, they put on a show that is both educational and entertaining, and Annie's fiddling is 100% guaranteed to put a smile on your face
Legend of Destruction - Presented by Co/Lab and EJC
EJC and Co/Lab: Reimagine Jewish Present a
One-of-a-Kind Award-Winning Israeli Film.
A tour de force in artistic vision and execution, Legend of Destruction explores a critical turning point in Jewish history and in the process examines themes that resonate with contemporary Jewish life.
The Land of Israel is under Roman rule. Social inequalities, corruption and injustices are rampant. The masses are crushed by imposing taxes, while the aristocracy lives a life of unimaginable wealth. Polarized Jerusalem is a powder keg about to explode; cries for freedom, justice, and equality in the name of God are prevalent. Secret groups of Zealots roam the streets, causing havoc and hatred. When the rebellion against the Roman oppressor breaks out, it swiftly escalates into a full-blown vicious civil war. A devastating famine, fueled by a quest for justice and revenge, cripples the city. When the Roman legions eventually unleash their wrath on emaciated Jerusalem, disaster is inevitable.
The film’s unique visual style was created with 1,500 original paintings by David Polonsky and Michael Faust, the artists behind the Oscar-nominated ‘Waltz with Bashir,’ while the original music and score written by Assaf Talmudi and Yonatan Albalak are nothing short of amazing.
Based on Talmudic legends and the accounts of Yosef Ben Matityahu (Josephus Flavius), Legend of Destruction depicts the dangers of greed, social injustices, corruption, polarization, political hubris, and, above all, religious fanaticism in the name of God. These events took place some 2000 years ago, yet the timeliness of this seminal story to the Jewish people is shocking.
Legend of Destruction is a winner of four Israeli Academy Awards
Following the screening, Rabbi Rose of Co/Lab will lead a discussion about the film’s themes and their implications for today.
Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
Kenahorror! Behind the Evil Eye - Jewish Lore that Begat the Horror Genre
Strangely garbed hominids gather for their weekly ritual: chanting as the sun sets, they begin their night of revelry. Dressed in finery, wearing distinctive head coverings, they ignite flames and howl in peculiar tongues, drink from gilded vessels the juice of plump fruit in the prime of life, and tear a braided body to shreds. The rite culminates in an indulgent hedonistic feast punctuated with raucous song and discourse on their ancient myths.
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.
For the inaugural event we present the Yiddish folktale "The Finger" and screen Tim Burton's Corpse Bride which is based upon this Jewish story, yet never acknowledged. Discussion following the film.
Sliding Scale $7-$18
Your facilitators:
Miss Petra is a film and folklore nerd, professional aerialist, and co-founder of Prismagic Circus
Andrine is a queer Jewish American Priestess, and creator of the Hebrunes Oracle
EJC Presents: PJ Library Afternoon Hour
Bring your kids and join us for a monthly hour at Eastside Jewish Commons and explore books from PJ Library
EJC and PJ Library partner to bring a low impact hangout with you, your kids, and other parents. FREE!
Please Register so we have an idea of how many will attend.