This Friday evening, come welcome Shabbat with your congregational family.

Shabbat is traditionally welcomed at home with blessings, a special meal, good food and hopefully a guest or two to join in with the family. Have you ever wished you were more comfortable with that idea? Join us this week for our next Kabbalat Shabbat.

Kabbalat Shabbat (“receiving Shabbat”) refers to the rituals that accompany the coming of dusk of Friday evening. On these special erev Shabbat evenings, we’ll replace our usual prayer service with a relaxed potluck meal, starting with candle lighting and on through the Birkat haMazon, the singing of the blessing after eating.

At this informal, family-friendly event, you’ll be able to brush up on the blessings, learn a song or two and share this special time with other members of your Jewish community.

Please bring a vegetarian/dairy dish to share. Your dish should serve at least twice as many as your family. RSVP to the office; we’re especially interested in hearing from those of you who would like to attend, but have not in the past because of mobility issues.

Mark your calendars now for the next two Kabbalat Shabbat potlucks: May 17 and June 21

All are welcome…and be prepared to sing as one!

Jason Eisdorfer, Utility Program Director for the State of Oregon and his daughter, Olive Eisdorfer, one of our high school students, have conceived of a program where the rising generation can ask the questions that really matter…

Please join them—and bring your questions!

WHEN:      SUNDAY, April 21^ST    2pm – 3pm

WHERE:   Theater! Theatre!  3430 SE Belmont

PANELISTS:

Jason Eisdorfer, Utility Program Director for the State of Oregon

Gabriela Goldfarb, Natural Resources Policy Advisor to Governor Kitzhaber

Ann Gravatt, Oregon Director, Climate Solutions

Rachel Shimshack, Executive Director, Renewable NW Project

Offered by Shir Tikvah

through the

Food For Thought Festival –feed your mind and enrich your soul

The Festival is presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and is a Benefit the Oregon Food Bank

FREE  

but please let us know that you plan to attend:

email: shirtikvahoffice@shir-tikvah.net

phone: 503.473.8227

Lisa Morasch is a pillar of Congregation Shir Tikvah’s existence. As one of our earliest members, she immediately stepped forward to help build the congregation. Lisa does not wait to be asked; she offers to help, and often helps without anyone knowing about it. She leads by example, in her fulfillment of both formal and informal mitzvot.

Formally, Lisa has served on our Finance Committee, helping to guard our resources, and as Secretary, Vice Chair and finally Co-Chair of our Steering Committee. With her gift for strategic planning, she shepherded our current growth path. She’s there at our social justice projects, and her home is open to host a Rosh Hodesh gathering, a teenage Hevra movie night, or a Shabbat At Home evening.

Informally, always, Lisa is a shining role model for us. Need a ride to the doctor or a hallah for Shabbat, a consoling visit to a sickbed or a place for Seder? Lisa will take care of you. She understands the Jewish art of filling a space with family, gracefully.  When Shir Tikvah is in need, you will find her, and when you can’t find her, she’s doing a mitzvah for someone, quietly, effectively, and compassionately.

Lisa Morasch is the embodiment of gemilut hasadim, the practice of lovingkindness, and we are proud to celebrate her as Shir Tikvah’s Song of Miriam honoree for 5773.

Please join Shir Tikvah in honoring Lisa at the Song of Miriam Award Brunch on Sunday, June 2 from 10 am to 12:15 pm at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Registration for the brunch is open now. The cost will be $22 per person. Click here for the form. If you are planning to attend, please let Anne Whitaker know.

Thanks to our Song of Miriam Award selection committee, all previous SOM Honorees: Betsy Kauffman, Caroline Bailey, Dale Schwartz, Elaine Israel, Ellen Green, Flori Hall, Jennifer Klump, Joyce Shields, Leslie Dolin, Miriam Levitt, Paula Froh, and Anne Whitaker.