Previews

Beyond the Pale brings its BalkanKlezmer fusion to the Western U.S.

Beyond the Pale, Toronto’s award-winning acoustic-roots ensemble known for its unique take on klezmer, Balkan and Romanian music is bringing its string- and reed-powered sound

to the U.S. West Coast with an 11-date tour of venues and festivals. While the band is kicking off its 22nd year together and has previously toured extensively in the U.S., these will be their frst-ever foray into the musically rich Pacifc Northwest. The occasion has prompted BTP co-founder and mandolin player Eric Stein to refect on the band’s longevity, and how klezmer (east European Jewish instrumental folk music) has evolved over the band’s lifespan. “When Beyond the Pale started in 1998, the klezmer music scene was still something of an obscure, countercultural insurgency, existing on the fringes of both the Jewish community and the broader music world. In the last couple of decades, that’s all changed. The music has blown up in myriad directions, and klezmer seems to be everywhere these days, sometimes in the least expected places.”

They band will perform on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 pm at the Old Church Concert Hall at 1422 SW 11th Ave in Portland and on Feb. 17 at 7 pm at Temple Beth Israel at 1175 E. 29th Ave. in Eugene. For more information, visit beyondthepale2020. rockpaperscissors.biz.

Stephanie Pollak comes to Congregation Ahavath Achim for three special sessions Feb. 21-22 to discuss loving and losing someone to addiction and her journey of self exploration during that challenging time.

On Friday, Feb. 21, there will be a presentation and dinner, “Pain, Perseverance, Purpose – How Addiction Took My Husband, and How I Chose to Save My Own Life.” The cost is $18 per person or $54 for a family; RSVP by Feb. 18.

For Shabbat morning on Saturday, Feb. 22, there will be a presentation and lunch, “I Asked God for a Waterfall of Blessings, and He Gave it to Me.”

Then on Saturday evening the program concludes with an evening round table discussion for women only, “Positive Body Image and Self Care.”

“I’m so excited to bring out Stephanie Pollak, a very special and dear friend of mine, to share her powerful story and wisdom with our community.” says Eve Levy, women’s program coordinator at the Portland Kollel.

For more information or to RSVP to any or all of the events, contact info@ ahavathachim.com. Stephanie Pollak shares her story at Ahavath Achim

Southern Rites opens at OJMCHE In “Southern Rites,” American photographer Gillian Laub engages her skills as a photographer, storyteller, and visual activist to examine the realities of racism and raise questions that are simultaneously painful and essential to understanding the American consciousness. Te project began as an exploration of racially segregated proms and homecoming rituals in one community in rural Georgia. Gillian continued to photograph its residents for more than a decade, recording their experiences in their own words as she created a portrait of an American town. In the process, she investigated the racial tensions that scar much of American history. Tis exhibition runs from Feb. 5 through May 24 in the main gallery of the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education at 724 NW Davis St. in Portland and is organized by the International Center of Photography and Curator Maya Benton.

“In ‘Southern Rites,’ Gillian engages her tremendous skills as a photographer, flmmaker, and visual activist to examine the realities of racism and raise questions that are simultaneously painful and essential to understanding the American consciousness,” says Maya Benton. Te exhibition is also accompanied by Laub’s HBO flm – praised by the New York Times flm review as “Riveting...In a calm, understated tone, Southern Rites digs deep to expose the roots that have made segregated proms and other afronts possible. Southern Rites is a portrait of the inequities that lead to disaster on the streets of cities like Baltimore and Ferguson.” Every Wednesday at 2 pm there will be a free screening of the HBO flm “Southern Rites” by Gillian Laub. Te flm follows the weekly 1 pm public tour. Please call 503-226-3600 to confrm screening. For more information on the exhibit, visit ojmche.org.

Shomrei Teva Tu b’Shvat Hike and Seder

Tu b’Shvat begins the evening of Feb. 9, and what better way to celebrate this most nature-oriented of Jewish holidays than with a hike and seder from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, Feb. 9. Join Shomrei Teva and friends for a classic Tu b’Shvat hike from Congregation Neveh Shalom at 2900 SW Peaceful Lane in Portland to the Hoyt Arboretum at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd. in Portland and back.

A seder will follow the hike with ritual foods, drinks, readings and singing. There is a modest fee to help cover the cost of food and drinks.

A RSVP is required. For more information, contact Yaakov Epstein at yaakovme@gmail.com.

JAM Art Show and Sale

Join the Mittleman Jewish Community Center at 6651 SW Capitol Hwy. in Portland for the ninth Jewish Arts Month (JAM) – the annual exhibit of paintings, fiber, beadwork, metals, glass, ceramics, and more co-sponsored by ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists and the Mittleman Jewish Community Center.

This year’s show takes place in the MJCC lobby from Sunday, February 2 through Friday, February 28. Diferent sets of between four and six artists will display their work each week. Everything displayed during JAM will be for sale. Members of ORA will be on hand, selling their art work, answering questions, and accepting commissions throughout the show. A portion of the proceeds will benefits the MJCC. For more information, visit oregonjcc.org