Portland's Eastside Synagogue
Congregation Shir Tikvah is a mid-sized independent congregation. Our founders envisioned a participatory, learning community and we work hard to fulfill that promise. At less than 20 years old, we're the "start up" in Portland's Jewish Community. .
Our neighborhoods are diverse and so are our supporters. They come from across the Jewish spectrum: Jew-by-birth, Jew-by-choice, gay, straight, interfaith, atheist, devout believer. We welcome all who want to grapple with the beauty and contradictions of our sacred texts to better understand our faith, our world and our place in it.
Shir Tikvah means "song of hope". We gather strength from each other and our tradition.
During dark times...
During dark times, we who are the Jewish community are summoned to kindle light.
In solidarity with all of us who watch and worry from afar, I offer my thoughts as you consider your own:
My closest family and my closest cousins are fighting again. I feel helpless to stop it. They both are traumatized from too many generations of fear and scarcity. Nothing about the 21st century is going to make this better. I am pro Palestine and pro Israel; I love them all.
I will not take refuge in blanket condemnations nor in vilifying any human being. I will insist on nuance and history even when I am exhausted and tempted to make an exception and declare something completely evil or good.
I believe that every child born should grow up in love, joy, peace and safety. There is no reason I should have to choose between peoples to work for this. Demonizing a person or a people is lazy, does not create meaningful community, and in my spiritual tradition is a sin.
Milad and Manar of El Azarayiah, Fa'iz from the West Bank and Fatma of the Beduin village of the Negev, Na'amah in Netanya and Itay from the kibbutz, Biti the mom in Jerusalem and Eli the business owner in Tel Aviv - I love you. I will continue to work for a world in which you can be safe living together, without the machinations of politicians and the military industrial complex that uses you for its own wealth and power.
People are good at heart; people will choose to live in peace until forced to act otherwise. Is the culprit nationalism, colonialism, climate crisis, mass brainwashing? I don't know, and it's likely very complicated. But love is not. I will keep on growing my capacity to love.
I support those who seek to live together in peace as the only way to fight those who seek division and hate to gain power. Don't just protest. Support organizations that work for peace, mutual dignity and co-existence:
Roots/Shorashim/Judur https://www.friendsofroots.
@omdimbeyachad https://www.
@WomenWagePeace https://
@peacenowisrael https://
@theIMEU https://imeu.org/
@AdalahEnglish https://www.
@NewIsraelFund https://www.
Just as in efforts to reform policing in Portland and elsewhere, protests are part of a larger effort: protests alone only express our outrage. They must be followed up by real efforts to support the positive that we see lacking in the world. Believe in a better world? Help to grow it.
hazak, hazak, v'nit'hazek, let us be strong and strengthen each other,
Rabbi Ariel
We've Moved
We are now in our new space at 2420 NE Sandy Blvd. The Commons building has natural light, and plenty of room for worship, classes, activities, and more. Our joint vision with the Eastside Jewish Commons is to create a vibrant and welcoming eastside center for Jewish life.
We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation and will follow Oregon Health Authority precautions as we gradually open the Commons facility. Our office hours in the space are Monday - Thursday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
ALL SERVICES AND CLASSES ARE CURRENTLY ONLINE ONLY
If you are struggling with the economic effects of the Coronavirus, there are Jewish community resources available to you. Please follow this link to find out more. COVID related Community Resources.
Members - please log into your member account to find the Zoom links to events.
If you need a dues adjustment, please fill out our short form.
If you'd like to advertise a class or your business venture in the Week's Worth, contact Katie.
Friends and Guests - we welcome you to join our virtual events, study and prayer.
Send an email to get Zoom links and to be added to our guest lists.
If you need a text from shul - Torah, Talmud or a prayerbook - please be in touch. We'll help get you what you need.