Rabbi Ariel and J.D. Kleinke will lead the 12th Annual Community Havdalah Service this weekend for the Jewish Women’s Round Table in Zidell Hall at the Rose Schnitzer Manor, located at 6140 SW Boundary, Portland, 97221.  The service will start at 6:30PM and is open to the public. There is no charge for this event, and the entire community is invited.

Beginning on February 10, Shir Tikvah introduces Kley Kodesh (Holy Vessels) – a magical, mystical, musical Erev Shabbat every second Shabbat of the month. Join us at 6.30pm at our current location, the Bridgeport building at 621 NE 76th street, to welcome Shabbat with joy-filled song, prayer, and some kirtan-style meditative music, led by Rabbi Ariel and accompanied by J.D. Kleinke.  The service will be followed by a small oneg. In conjunction with Portland Young Adult Shabbat.

Every two years since Shir Tikvah began, we’ve retreated to Menucha, in the Gorge, for a full Shabbat experience with Rabbi Ariel. Beautiful location, serene schedule, no hurry and no worry – lacto-ovo vegetarian meals included from erev Shabbat dinner through Sunday morning. Bring: tallit, humash, warm clothes, a good book for Shabbat afternoon rest, and your favorite snack and wine to share.
Cost: $180 per person (single, double, triple occupancy, doesn’t matter); consider, if you can, adding $20 to your check to help someone else attend.
Deadline: February 10, 2012 (we have to give up the space we’ve reserved at the end of the day on Feb 10 if we do not have 24 confirmed reservations). Your check is your reservation – please send it to the Shir Tikvah office marked Menucha Retreat by February 10, 2012.

The teachers and Rabbi will be expecting all students for at least one special session on Shabbat during the month of January. Here are the details:

• January 7, 10am-11.30am: BaMidbar, Devarim, and Bat/bar mitzvah candidate classes have a special Torah study and visit services for the Torah reading. Please bring a copy of the Humash*.

• January 21, 10.30am-11.30am: Bereshit attends Tot Shabbat tefilah and kiddush

• January 28, 10.30am-11.30am: Shemot and VaYikra classes have a special Torah study and visit services for the Torah reading.

Each session will be followed by a brunch for students and parents. Details about your brunch will be sent to your email.

*The word Humash generally only refers to “book” bound editions of the Pentateuch, whereas the “scroll” form is called asefer Torah (“book [of the] Torah”).

• A printed ḥumash usually sets out the Hebrew text of the Torah with vowel points and cantillation marks, separated into its 54 constituent weekly Torah portions (parashiyyot), together with the haftarah for each portion and, often, translations and notes.
• A ḥumash-Rashi also contains the Targum of Onkelos and the commentary of Rashi, and usually has no vernacular translation of the text.
• A Tikkun soferim or Tiqqun Qore’im sets out, in parallel columns, the unvocalized text of the Pentateuch as it would appear in a Torah scroll and the normal printed text as it appears in a Humash; it sometimes includes haftarot and the five megillot. It exists as an aid for Torah scribes and for those preparing to read from the Sefer Torah in the synagogue.
• A multi-volume set in Hebrew only, often but not always including the entire Tanakh with masoretic notes(sometimes), Targumim and several classical commentaries, is referred to as Mikraot Gedolot ”Great Scriptures.”

Come one, come all, children of all ages! Over 140 people have confirmed they will celebrate Shir Tikvah’s Annual Hanukkah Party and Dedication of the Children with us on December 20, 6pm at the Laurelhurst Club, for dinner, dreydel playing, and music by a local klezmer band. Don’t miss it, and don’t forget to bring your hanukkiyah pre-loaded with 2 candles.

And here are the potluck assignments (vegetarian/dairy please!):

If you’d rather make Latkes, that would be fantastic–just let the office know you’ll be joining the group of latke makers!

The Laurelhurst Club is -across from Laurelhurst Park at 3721 SE Ankeny Street, Portland, OR 97214.