Congregation Kesser Israel

09/26/2025

May you be written and sealed for a good year (in the Book of Life)!

02/20/2025

02/10/2025

Join us for Week 2 and 3 of the "A Spiritual Path in Marriage" Class this Sunday, February 16 and 23 at 7 pm at the Portland Kollel. For a sneak preview, check out this fascinating conversation with Jacob Spilman, LMFT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiEGGPbErgE . Register at: https://www.kesserisrael.org/event/marriage

01/24/2025

Experience a spiritual awakening in the dead of winter & create your own beautiful tree painting! Take a break mid-week and join us for a fun and creative women's Tu B'Shvat Seder on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:45 at Kesser Israel. Register at

01/24/2025

Bring the family and celebrate Tu B'Shvat with Kesser Israel on Sunday, February 9 from 2:00-3:00 pm! Join us for a fun afternoon at the Fried Garden - we will be planting seeds to take home. Eva Fried will also be doing a tour of her large garden and answering questions. No green thumb necessary. Register at https://www.kesserisrael.org/event/garden

01/17/2025

Join us on February 7-9 as we welcome Chana Meira Katz, a popular speaker with the OU Women’s Initiative.

Times and topics:

Saturday, February 8, after Shabbat services at Kesser “Leadership through the Lens of Tanach” (for men and women).

Saturday, February 8, 7:30 pm, Melave Malka at the Kollel. “Finding Light in Dark Times,” Chevruta learning with relevant texts (for men and women).

Sunday, February 9, 9:30-11 am at Kesser. Women’s Brunch: Exploring Psalms (women only)

For more information or to register, visit kesserisrael.org.

01/15/2025

We highly recommend attending this excellent series by our very own Jacob Spilman! Jacob Spilman will be drawing on his many years of experience as a Marriage-Family Therapist, as well as his grounding in Torah and Jewish thought, to help create a course using research-based skills designed to enrich your marriage by helping you to:
Improve your communication.
Reduce and eliminate the emotional damage in your arguments.
Make arguments more productive and use them to increase your satisfaction and intimacy in your relationships.
Increase your friendship in the relationship

For more info and to register, visit: https://www.kesserisrael.org/event/marriage

01/08/2025

An Evening of Recognition: Spotlight on the Sacred Work of the Portland Hevra Kaddisha

Saturday, January 11 at 7:30 pm at the Portland Kollel
Register at: https://www.kesserisrael.org/event/Hevra

This year, Congregation Kesser Israel, together with the Hevra Kaddisha of Portland and the Portland Kollel, is hosting a Shabbat program at the shul and a Melave Malka (after- Shabbat gathering) at the Portland Kollel on January 11 to spotlight awareness of and preparation for end-of-life needs. Today, more than 500 synagogues and 135 communities in North America, England and Australia will offer Shabbos Vayechi programming – with topics ranging from ethical wills, to caring for aging parents to burial, mourning and grief.

All are warmly welcomed to attend! Robin Meyerson of Scottsdale, AZ, is the featured speaker; she is the West Coast Coordinator for the National Association of Chevra Kadisha (www.nasck.org), which has provided support and guidance to burial societies, rabbis, and individuals on the laws and rituals of Jewish death and mourning since the 1980s. Rabbi Elchonon Zohn, the founder and president of NASCK, launched the Shabbos Vayechi initiative a decade ago to highlight the wisdom, and importance, of Jewish burial traditions.

11/28/2024

Come celebrate Chanukah with Kesser! Chinese Food Buffet, Beverages & Bar with an Adult Cocktail Social, Children's Program & More! Register at kesserisrael.org/event/party

11/21/2024

Come together with the women of the Kesser Sisterhood to create an exquisite resin menorah, just in time for Chanukah!

Who: All Jewish women. Bring a friend!
What: Use resin to create a beautiful menorah for Chanukah
Where: Portland Kollel (6682 SW Capitol Hwy)
When: Wednesday, December 18th at 8pm
How much: $25/person. Scholarships and Sponsorships available.
How: Register at https://www.kesserisrael.org/event/sisterhood by December 3rd to secure your spot
Contact Rebbetzin Chaviva Skolnik, Eleanor Warshaw, or Chava Daitchman with any questions