JFCS has recently launched a job search support group, especially for young adults aged 18-35. Led by Erin Bradshaw and Sheri Blue, young adults themselves, the group meets on Thursdays, every other week, at JFCS, 1130 SW Morrison St, suite 316, at 10am. It will focus on keeping up your spirits and self-esteem, maintaining motivation, sharing resources, contacts, and support, and de-stigmatizing joblessness so participants can stay focused and persevere. Resume writing and interview practice resources are also available.
 
The next group meeting is on February 18th, and then on March 1st. No charge to participate, but please register so we know you will be coming. To sign up or learn more, 503-226-7079 x158 or email brian@jfcs-portland.org

This four-session intensive with Pam Gross (founder of CareerMakers), which has gotten rave reviews from participants, explores alternative methods that will enhance what you are currently doing to find work. Specifically it will deal with:

·      Getting ready to conduct a job search
·      Marketing yourself effectively
·      Articulating skills for interviews & resumes
·      Researching what’s ‘out there’ & wrap-up

Dates: Tuesday, February 16th through Friday, February 19th
Workshop fee: only $35 for a comprehensive workbook of materials & all 4 sessions. Scholarships available for those in need.
Location: JFCS, 1130 SW Morrison St, suite 316
Space is limited and will fill on a first-come basis, so please sign up asap. To register or learn more, 503-226-7079 x158 or email brian@jfcs-portland.org
 
NOTE: This intensive is followed up with a FREE weekly support group for intensive grads which meets every Wednesday at from 11-12 to help participants keep their spirits and motivation up.

Jewish Arts Monthly (JAM) is a new collaborative festival of the arts in Portland. The festival will kick off with a “Pre JAM Slam” party at the MJCC on February 24th, and continue with events through April 25th. Events including the visual arts, music, dance, theater, film, poetry and more will be held around the city. To learn more about their events, click here: JAM Calendar (link)

Insights into the Modern Spiritual Search from Ancient Mystical Sources, taught by Rabbi Ariel Stone and hosted by the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. The class will be held on Wednesdays at 7pm, February 3-March 24, 2010.

Join Rabbi Ariel Stone for eight fascinating weeks of exploring talmudic, medieval, and early modern Jewish sources offering insights into our own modern Jewish spiritual journey.  No Hebrew necessary. $36 per person.

Because of the burden the recession has placed on us all, this class is deliberately underpriced. Please send tzedakah in any additional amount that you believe the class is worth to the beneficiary of your choice.

Everyone who attended last year’s Tu B’Shvat celebration probably remembers how we built this wonderful and unusual seder around a lot of fun music, drawn from various traditional Jewish and non-Jewish sources.  Click here (link)  for a PDF of the songsheet for the seder, which we will be using again this year.  Don’t worry about printing it out; Bev and I will bring color copies.  For more information on our Tu B’Shvat music and links to recorded versions, go to our new Zemirot(link) page.  Bev and I are very much looking forward to celebrating this most Portland friendly of Jewish holidays with all of you!  - J.D. Kleinke