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.

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?!

A graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and a virtuoso mandolinist with over twenty years professional performing experience, Tim Connell has created a sophisticated and original style on the mandolin.

Widely regarded as one of the top North American interpreters of the Brazilian choro style on the mandolin, Tim has his own unique voice on the instrument, described in a Mandolin Magazine feature story as “fiery and energetic, soulful and evocative.”

Tim will be playing with 7-string guitarist Sean Watson.

FREE. No RSVP needed.

About This Event

✨Join us for an evening of connection, creativity, and curiosity.✨

You’ll sample arts & crafts, dip into Torah card readings, and meet some of the amazing women who bring the magic to REJEWV. Light snacks and drinks provided.

Get your questions answered, take in the vibe, and find out what makes this Jewish women’s retreat so meaningful and fun!

BONUS: Attendees get an exclusive discount when registering for REJEWVvenation at the event!

💸Free to attend, please register.

Eastside Jewish Commons and The Portland Folk Music Society Present:

The Sounds of Bossa Nova: A Pronunciation Workshop for Music and Language Lovers

Learn how to pronounce the lyrics in Portuguese while singing songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim.

No need to speak Portuguese or be a singer - just bring your curiosity and love for music!

All Ages/$10/person Register Here

This workshop is the perfect blend of language and melody. Come experience the beauty of Brazilian Portuguese and the smooth sounds of Bossa Nova in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

This workshop will be led by Brazilian Portuguese teacher and bossa nova enthusiast, Luciana Diniz, with live instrumental accompaniment by Tim Connell. Luciana has an MA and PhD in Applied Linguistics from Georgia State University, and she has been teaching Portuguese as a second language for more than 15 years. She often uses music to teach her native language. You can find out more information about her Portuguese classes HERE.

ART OPENING

Rosalyn Kliot

The show runs through September 8th at EJC’s Art Gallery. The gallery is open Mondays and Wednesday from 10-2, during EJC public events and by appointment.

The opening is free but please register

All Ages, Wheelchair Accessible

Award winning and published artist, Rosalyn Kliot has shown and or sold her works nationally and in a travelling art exhibit in Japan. Her numerous juried exhibits, both solo and group shows include galleries in Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland, Vancouver, and include a museum in Springfield, Oregon.

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.

Part of EJC's Sidewalks of New York Summer Film series: Eastside (Jewish Commons), West Side (come on over!), all around the town, three films that showcase the Jewish experience in New York.

Our final film in the series is Menashe. Deep in the heart of New York's notoriously secretive Hasidic Jewish community, Menashe, a good-hearted but somewhat hapless grocery store clerk, struggles against tradition to keep custody of his only son after his wife passes away.

All Ages (Please note though that this film has an MPAA rating of PG)/Suggested Donation $5-$8

"The film is worth praising for what it is and admiring for what it’s not — there’s no sappiness or false emotion, and none of the clichéd, quirky misfits who populate so many commercial comedies. 'Menashe' also gently raises a few questions about faith, change and conformity." --New York Times

Zine & poetry!  Join Art/Lab Alum Jessica Rehfield (@alenereh) for a hands-on Lost and Found Poetry Collage Zine Workshop, the next Workshop in Art/Lab's Alumni Workshop Series! Learn to make 3 fun, easy zine formats (mini 14-page, 8-page, and large), perfect for journaling, note-taking, or your next burst of poetic inspiration!

Jessica will lead participants to dive into the “Lost and Found” collage technique - turning junk mail, sheet music, and more into unexpected word and image magic! A Jewish text prompt will help spark your creative flow. You’ll leave with multiple mini zines, new collage journaling skills, and extra blank zines to keep the creativity going at home.

Register Here

Part of EJC's Sidewalks of New York Summer Film series: Eastside (Jewish Commons), West Side (come on over!), all around the town, three films that showcase the Jewish experience in New York.

Our second film in the series is Enemies, a Love Story. It's New York, 1949; Herman is an educated Jew married to the gentile peasant girl (Stein) who saved him from the Nazis. Life gets complicated. He's carrying on a turbulent affair with Masha (Olin), a deeply troubled survivor of the camps. Enter his first wife Tamara (Huston), long presumed dead. 'Ten enemies can't harm a man as much as he can harm himself': in its reference to the Yiddish saying, Isaac Bashevis Singer's novel sums up Herman's predicament. A 'fatalistic hedonist' makes for a seemingly unsympathetic lead character, but in this intelligent adaptation, Mazursky (co-scripting with Roger L Simon) conveys emotion without manipulation, sensitively distilling despair and self-hatred, but lifting the mood with dark humor. Philosophical issues are brought into focus rather than generated by the Holocaust, and are examined within the realm of relationships rather than intellectual debate. The performances (from Lena Olin in particular) are perfectly suited to the mood, while period is beautifully evoked in subdued tones and subtly lit interiors.

All Ages, (R Rated, children MUST be accompanied by Parent or Guardian)/Suggested Donation $5-$8

"Enemies, A Love Story is such an intriguing film because it refuses to be tamed, to settle down into a nice, comforting parable with a lesson to teach us. It is about the tumult of the heart, and Mazursky tells its story without compromise. " -Roger Ebert

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.

All Ages $5-$10 Sliding Scale, you are welcome to attend all classes, or drop-in.

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.Register Here

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?!?

Mary Flower’s immense finger picking guitar and lap-slide prowess is soulful and meter-perfect, a deft blend of the inventive, the dexterous and the mesmerizing. Her supple honey-and-whiskey voice provides the perfect melodic accompaniment to each song’s story. “There are few musicians in the genre bringing as much creative spark and low-key mojo to this century-old music…” – Acoustic Guitar Magazine

FREE. No RSVP needed.

Part of EJC's Sidewalks of New York Summer Film series: Eastside (Jewish Commons), West Side (come on over!), all around the town, three films that showcase the Jewish experience in New York.

Our first film in the series, is Hester Street . A Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe, Gitl (Carol Kane in her Academy Award nominated role) and her son arrive on the Lower East Side of New York in 1896 to join her husband Jake (Keats). They soon find that Jake, who has taken a job in a sweatshop, has completely embraced America, including picking up an English-speaking girlfriend. Gitl, on the other hand, clings to her old country ways, refusing to dress or act differently. Gitl’s journey of assimilation also becomes a journey of liberation from the abusive and unfaithful Jake.

“A magnificent performance by Carol Kane. An unconditionally happy achievement.” – The New York Times

All Ages (Please note though that this film has an MPAA rating of PG)/Suggested Donation $5-$8

Free/All Ages

Please Register Here

What if your next choice could change everything?

Every day, we make hundreds of decisions—some small, others life-altering. But how often do we stop to ask: Are these choices aligned with who we truly are and who we want to become?

In Choosing to Be Your Own Champion, Dorice Horenstein invites you to step into the driver’s seat of your life with her powerful CHOOSE framework. This six-step playbook is your guide to embracing intentional choice-making, unlocking your potential, and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

With 36 thought-provoking life lessons, reflective “Move Forward” exercises, and an included workbook for deeper exploration, this book is designed to not just inspire but to empower you to take action. Whether you’re facing uncertainty, seeking clarity, or longing to lead a more joyful, fulfilling life, Choosing to Be Your Own Champion will show you the way.

Uncover the CHOOSE Framework:

Clarity: Recognize the real choice before you.

Honor: Align your choices with your values and emotions.

Openness to Options: Explore new perspectives with curiosity and courage.

Oneness: Connect your choices to your authentic self.

Strategy: Build a practical plan for success.

Enactment: Take bold action to create the life you desire.

Every choice shapes your story. With humor, wisdom, and heartfelt guidance, Dorice Horenstein empowers you to become the life champion you were always meant to be.

This isn’t just a book. It’s your moment. Your choice. Your transformation.

Dorice Horenstein, the Oy to Joy Champion Catalyst, is an international speaker, Positive Intelligence® expert, and author of Choose to Be Your Own Champion and best-seller Moments of the Heart. Dorice empowers individuals and organizations with mental fitness tools that transform stress into strength and setbacks into opportunities. With energy, humor, and practical insights, she empowers people to uncover their inner champion and lead with confidence and joy.

Learn more about the book and Dorice

Become a Choosing ambassador- gain gifts and more.

Interested in bringing Dorice to your organization? Bring Dorice Form

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

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

Enjoy our free monthly concert series with top Portland musicians! Pack a lunch or stop by one of the many pods at NE 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?!

This time we're joined by the untamed and inimitable Jet Black Pearl, who comes from the port of Amsterdam and spent many years in the south of France before settling in Portland in 2014. She has performed on more than a thousand stages all over the world. Jet is a creator of alternative worlds filled with surreal humor and wry observations. Intelligently zany, her songs are a mad hatter's European party with a funky attitude. With her loop station, she records grooves and layers of flute, vocal percussion and harmonies while squeezing one hot accordion.

FREE. No RSVP needed. Learn more at jetblackpearl.com. Check her out on OPB Art Beat (2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyZcuJpUFNE&feature=youtu.be

MINDFUL COLLAGE
Join us for an afternoon of creative exploration

This workshop is for anyone interested in exploring collage more deeply or discovering it for the first time. We will work with a wide assortment of colored and textured art papers, scraps of paintings, old book pages, and personal items you choose to add. Collage allows for spontaneous and layered work that can be beautiful, personally meaningful, fun, and easy to do.

I provide cues to help us focus and get started and materials for inspiration. I also share ideas about my process, examples of collage styles and design concepts to help form your pieces.

$65; most materials included, Register Here

What previous students shared…
“The vibe you created helped keep my inevitable self-judgment at bay.”
“Wonderful support and sharing of work and ideas”
“Great, inspiring atmosphere!”

Char Breshgold has been a working and exhibiting artist for 40 years. She paints, often from photos, using her art to tell stories. She incorporates collage in handmade books and multi-layered paintings.

Char is a longtime meditator who finds awareness of her breath to be helpful in creating art. She was a member of The Girl Artists, a collaborative group whose records have recently been acquired by The Smithsonian Archive of American Art. She is currently at work on a graphic memoir in paintings and stories about the AIDS crisis years. Her first published hybrid writing and painting pieces were in Prism, International last fall. 

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!

TICKET REGISTRATION HERE

Nu to Nigun: A Musical Chassidic Workshop 

First timers and tzadikim welcome. Learn Chassidic history and stories of the Great Masters alongside their transformative and uplifting musical tradition. Each workshop session will focus on a particular Chassidic master or theme, learning text alongside singing. The first session will focus on the Ba'al Shem Tov and specific themes in his teachings that relate to making your daily life a bit more magical. You do not have to be a good singer! You just have to have a soul and some curiosity. 
Free/All Ages

Register Here

Who can attend?

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.

Is it free to attend?

Yes! Donations are accepted and appreciated to compensate for kosher snack procurement and space rental costs.

Will there be others?

Yes! This is a monthly gathering. Follow @pdxnigun circle on Instagram for updates, or get in touch via email: aidenkent13@gmail.com.