Shavuoth Services led by Hazzan Eli Falk
beginning at 6:45p
Meal prepared by Patrick Varon and our Kitchen Committee.
Dinner Buffet
(Dairy with vegan options)
On the evening of Shavuoth, we gather around a Sephardic Mediterranean table inspired by the Jewish communities of Greece and Italy. The meal features a bright crushed cucumber salad with feta, basil, and lemon; a rustic spinach and ricotta torta baked in generous slabs; slow-braised chickpeas with tomato, garlic, and olive oil; and lemony orzo tossed with fresh herbs and toasted almonds. Roasted carrots with whipped ricotta and honey add warmth and sweetness, while a simple spaghetti with ricotta, olive oil, and parmesan offers a familiar, comforting option for all ages. The menu is fresh, seasonal, and designed for sharing—rooted in tradition but shaped for our community table.
As we move from the meal into the Velada, this table serves a deeper purpose. Shavuoth is not only a celebration of harvest, but of revelation—of receiving wisdom with open hearts and clear minds. The meal is designed to nourish without weighing us down, to energize rather than lull, so that we may enter the evening’s learning with clarity, curiosity, and presence. In this way, the table becomes more than a meal—it becomes a threshold, preparing both body and soul for an evening of insight, connection, and renewal.
Velada / Tikkun Leil Shavuoth Learning Sessions
8:15p - with Aiden Kugelman-Samba
The Parable of Fire: Synagogue as Holy Training Ground
The synagogue is the center of Jewish life for so many, and yet, we seem to treat it with a kind of banality in our daily lives. The Parable of Fire will illuminate the hidden mystery of the physical beit midrash (house of study), and encourage listeners to take renewed ownership over our shared space.
8:30p - with Dr. Yosef Rosen
Shamor V’Zachor: Two Models of Shabbat in the Ten Commandments
We often think of the Ten Commandments as fixed and unchanging, quite literally set in stone. Yet the mitzvah of Shabbat is described in strikingly different terms in the two versions of the Ten Commandments in the Torah. In this class, we will explore the differences between a Shabbat rooted in creation and a Shabbat rooted in liberation, and ask why the Torah wished to highlight both models.
9:10p - with Dr. Uri Henig
No Kings? Judges, Kings and Prophets in Ancient Israel
Jews had only three significant periods of complete political independence. During these periods, beginning in the bible and until the present days, we grappled with defining the ideal form of political organization, a conversation which helped shape some of the most fundamental concepts of modern western thinking on these issues. Discover how the Jewish tradition dealt with the ideas and concepts of kings, the rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, and justice.
9:50p - with Jared Laws
Mystery Velada
(Be unprepared)
[Break for ice cream and beer!]
10:50p - with Mati McKenzie
Uncovering Geonic Mysticism:
Intellect, Reality, and the Guide for the Perplexed
Uncover the lesser-known but deeply rooted approach to Jewish mysticism found within the intellectual tradition of the Geonim and the Rambam’s Guide for the Perplexed. Rather than viewing mysticism as escape from reason or reality, this tradition sees the path to divine awareness as grounded in disciplined thought, intellectual refinement, halachic practice, and alignment with reality itself. Through key themes from the Guide, we will explore imagination vs intellect, prophecy, human development, the purpose of mitzvot, and how this structured approach differs from more commonly presented mystical frameworks in contemporary Judaism.
11:20p - with Gadi Golan
Building American Jewish ldentity
The Portland Jewish community is made up of a range of affiliation statuses, political backgrounds, observance levels, and beliefs. So how can we reach unity? Together we wrestle with what it means to be American and Jewish in 2026 by exploring, understanding, and defining an identity that has always been ours to claim.
11:50p - with Aiden Kugelman-Samba
The Woman Who Defied Kings: Meeting Doña Gracia Nasi
How did a Sephardic woman's philanthropy over 500 years ago impact the Jewish world so extensively, it shaped the modern Zionist movement, and is still funding Torah study around the world? Known to some only as "La Señora", we'll meet Doña Gracia Beatrice Nasi, who would come to be known as Doña Gracia, one of the richest women the world has ever seen, who made a lasting impact on the Jewish people. Together, we'll uncover her legacy and discover what it means for how we interact with our own local Jewish communities today.
