Established 1858
Shabbat on the Plaza Returns June 8th! Join Us… Congregation Beth Israel invites you to join us For an evening of Hors d’oeuvres and dancing In celebration of
eBulletin June 2012 Sivan - Tamuz 5772 Vol. 61, No. 9
Heritage Ballroom At the Historic Governor Hotel 614 Southwest 11th Avenue Downtown Portland
Cantor Judith Blanc Schiff
confirm your reservation with Dara in the
And her 32 years of devotion
Temple office at 503-222-1069 by June 5th.
Attendance is limited, so please call to
to our congregation Celebration for guests age 18 and over. Saturday, June 23, 2012 7:30 p.m.
No Host Bar
Dress: Festive
Dear Friends, The “Schiff and Schiff” concert last April 21st was everything I wanted it to be: a musical farewell from the heart from David and me to you, in thanks for thirty-two years as your Senior Cantor. The program began with Havdalah, written by David in honor of my 25th anniversary at Beth Israel. Along with Denise VanLeuven, professor of piano at Reed College, I was joined by Dr. Linda Bailey, professor of flute at UW. Not only were Linda and her family our neighbors, but she was one of my first Bat Mitzvah students! Linda was babysitting Daniel the Erev Purim Jamie was born; but as Jamie forgot to check the calendar as to her arrival time, Linda’s parents, Kenneth and Caroline took over the task. All enjoyed the hammentaschen I was baking that morning, while waiting for our daughter. How fitting that the next piece on the program was “Vashti,” written in honor of Jamie’s Bat Mitzvah in 1997. It is a retelling of the Purim story from Vashti’s point of view. The original narrator was David’s
late mother, Lillian. This time I was joined by Denise and by Todd Kuhns, clarinetist with the Oregon Symphony. The narrator was the wonderful Portland actress Michele Mariana. Cameo appearances were made by Sarit, Liora, and Idit Cahana! Perhaps the most emotional part of the evening for us all was the encore. David arranged for me--and accompanied!-- Bernstein’s “Some Other Time” from “On the Town.” It said everything I wanted to say to you all--so much easier for me to do through music! Warm thanks to the Hal Ruthizer Cultural Arts Fund for sponsoring this memorable evening. Anyone interested in replenishing this fund will receive a DVD of the concert recorded by our own Robyn and Tony Barbon, who have done so much to document life at Congregation Beth Israel. With love, Cantor Judy and Dr. David Schiff
Shhhh….it’s a surprise….mum is the word! Reminder: Please send us your fondest memory. Use the page sent to you or create your own. Send them to Dara in the Temple office by June 16th.