Held on the first Friday of every month September-May, Ahavath Achim's First Friday Shabbat is the perfect opportunity to connect with our larger community. Our kitchen committee prepares delicious authentic Sephardic recipes for you to enjoy.

As spring settles in, our table turns toward Italy—seen through a Sephardi lens and shaped by the ingredients of the Pacific Northwest. This is not a red-sauce tour, but a Mediterranean table built on olive oil, herbs, and bright, layered flavors that reflect centuries of movement between Iberia, North Africa, and the Italian coast.

Our Shabbat dinner opens with rustic breads and small bites before a simple, vibrant first course of tomatoes, sweet onion, and mint. At the center is our featured pasta: wide ribbons of pappardelle in a slow-built tomato sauce with rose harissa, olives, and capers—deep, savory, and gently spiced. A finishing touch of Oregon hazelnuts adds warmth and texture, grounding the dish in place.

A few fresh, seasonal accompaniments keep the meal balanced and bright, letting the flavors speak clearly. It’s a table that feels both familiar and new—Italian in spirit, Sephardi in soul, and rooted in the season.

Register: https://ahavathachimpdx.weebly.com/monthly-shabbat-dinners.html