Upcoming Events
May
Jewish Life
Yom Ha'Atzmaut Concert - May 1
Come out and celebrate Israel’s Independence Day! Join us for an incredible concert with
The Premier Israeli Music Cover Band, TLV!
Sunday, May 1
New Time! Doors Open at 12:30 pm
Concert at 1:00 pm
At the MJCC
Israeli food will be available for purchase but the event is FREE and open to all!
Please let us know if you plan to attend by RSVP'ing here.
TLV was created in 2016 and is comprised of professional musicians with decades of experience performing in some of the biggest venues, and with some of the biggest artists, in Israel and the world. These amazing artists have performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national and international tours, Carnegie Hall, the legendary Cafe Wha, B.B. King’s, Birdland, America’s Got Talent, international festivals like Red Sea Jazz and Sanremo Music Festival, and more. This is sure to be a great show for the whole family! In partnership with JFGP. This program is proudly supported by the Israel Engagement Fund: A JCC Association of North America Program Accelerator.
Hebrew for Lunch - Every other Tuesday
Community
- Chai Baby Indoor Playground - May 4
- Knit Together - May 3, 17, 24 + 31
- The James Recycling Drop-Off Event - May 15
- Mah Jongg Classes (All Levels) - Starts May 16 + 17
- Annual MJCC Community Celebration - May 24
Chai Baby Indoor Playground - May 4
For parents/caregivers and their children up to 5 years old. Play, meet friends, run, have a snack, sing, and listen to stories, while having a blast! First Wednesday of each month.
Wednesday, May 4
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
In the MJCC Sportsplex
Free and open to everyone!
In partnership with Chai Baby and Portland Jewish Academy
Knit Together - May 3, 17, 24 + 31
The James Recycling Drop-Off Event - May 15
The event is a project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Climate Action Committee, which is part of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Encouraging recycling dovetails with the Climate Action Committee’s mission to help preserve our irreplaceable planet. Joining in the effort, Portland Jewish Academy students and MJCC Members will collect items for recycling over the next several months. Please check out the article in the Jewish Review on items that will be accepted:
https://bit.ly/3Ha6O6P, or visit the links below.
The event is an opportunity to dispose of some hard-to-recycle items, including a variety of plastics, Styrofoam and small electronics. All items must be clean, dry and sorted. Items that can be put into curbside recycling bins will not be accepted. The cost to recycle each grocery bag or 5-gallon container of sorted plastics is $3; recycling Styrofoam costs $3 per 39-gallon garbage bag.
- For a detailed list of what will be accepted at the event, go to this link: Visual list with examples of items to bring to the James Recycling Event
- For information on how to sort items properly, go to this link: Video: How to Sort Items for the James Recycling Event
- For information on what goes into curbside recycling, go to this link: What to put in curbside recycling (These items will not be accepted at the event)
The event is hosted by the Climate Action Committee of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.
Sunday, May 15
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Mah Jongg Classes (All Levels) - Starts May 16 + 17
Mah Jongg for Beginner Players
Learn the ancient game of Mah Jongg!
Tuesday mornings, May 17 - June 21, CG303
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: $110. Member Cost: $90.
Mah Jongg for Intermediate Players
Take your game to the next level. It will give your mind a workout!
Tuesday afternoons, May 17 - June 21, CG304
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Cost: $110. Member Cost: $90.
Mah Jongg for Advanced Players
For those experienced in playing Mah Jongg and looking to sharpen their skills!
Monday mornings, May 16 - June 20, CG305
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Cost: $110. Member Cost: $90.
Register: oregonjcc.org/registration
Annual MJCC Community Celebration - May 24
Celebrate our members, membership and YOU!! We will recognize our Pillar of Excellence Awardee, The Harry Glickman Scholar Athlete Award to two outstanding high school students, and induct new members into the Oregon Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Tuesday, May 24
This is a free event and there will be no solicitation.
More information here.
Presented by the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of OJCF/Jordan Schnitzer
Literature, Arts + Music
- MJCC Book Club - May 10
- Author Series: "Mahjong" by Annelise Heinz - May 22
- Author Series: "Red Rea Spies" by Raffi Berg - May 29
MJCC Book Club - May 10
Tuesday, May 10
12:00 pm
Anxious People by Frederick Backman
Calling all book lovers! Come to the J or join us virtually the second Tuesday each month at noon and discuss different literature throughout the year. At the MJCC and on Zoom. Link is available via our online calendar here.
Author Series: "Mahjong" by Annelise Heinz - May 22
Author Series featuring Annelise Heinz, Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of Modern American Culture
Annelise Heinz narrates the history of this game to show how it has created a variety of meanings, among them are American modernity, Chinese American heritage, and Jewish American women’s culture.
Sunday, May 22
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $5.
Register: oregonjcc.org/authorseries
Author Series: "Red Rea Spies" by Raffi Berg - May 29
Red Sea Spies: The True Story of Mossad's Fake Diving Resort
By Raffi Berg
New Date!
May 29
11:00 am (PST)
Virtual Only
Cost: $5. Register at: oregonjcc.org/authorseries
The Mossad, the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, is the national intelligence agency of Israel. They have, over the years, completed many secret missions. One incredible mission is being shared now with the public; the story of how they assisted thousands of Ethiopian Jews to make the journey to Israel.
Raffi Berg has written the definitive work on the exploits of the Mossad, who helped Ethiopian Jews who were walking hundreds of kilometers across dangerous terrain in their effort to reach Jerusalem. What started as small groups of escapees using fake credentials to fly out of the Sudan to Israel grew into large groups of people being smuggled out of the country on boats, which finally led to major airlifts out of the desert in the dead of night.
It is a fascinating story of bravery, dedication and subterfuge. The Mossad agents who took part in this project were never allowed to tell anyone what they were doing, not even their families.
When they were being hired to participate, they were not told what the job would be until after they had passed a series of tests and agreed to take on the mission. Read more here.
June
Community
- Chai Baby Indoor Playground - June 1
- Knit Together - June 7, 21 + 28
- PDX Business Series (In-Person!): Let's Talk About OR Wine - June 22
Chai Baby Indoor Playground - June 1
For parents/caregivers and their children up to 5 years old. Play, meet friends, run, have a snack, sing, and listen to stories, while having a blast! First Wednesday of each month.
Wednesday, June 1
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
In the MJCC Sportsplex
Free and open to everyone!
In partnership with Chai Baby and Portland Jewish Academy
Knit Together - June 7, 21 + 28
PDX Business Series (In-Person!): Let's Talk About OR Wine - June 22
Literature, Arts + Music
Jewish Community Orchestra Season Finale - June 12
JCO provides enjoyable music to the Jewish and surrounding communities of the Portland Metro area. This program helps to further the growth of local artists by presenting concerts that attract, educate, and entertain our audience.
Beethoven - Fidelio Overture
Mahler - Songs of a Wayfarer,
Laura Beckel Thoreson, soloist
Franck - Symphony in D Minor
Sunday, June 12
3:00 pm
Tickets are available at the door on the day of the concert. $10 adults.
$8 seniors, $5 students. Children under 6 free.
Jewish Life
Hebrew for Lunch - Every other Tuesdays
Join members of the community for a discussion in Hebrew. Purchase lunch or just enjoy the conversation. Some conversational Hebrew required.
In person at the MJCC and on Zoom
Every other Tuesdays at 12:15 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Banner photo by Rob Pro Photo.