​Ahavath Achim has been Portland's Sephardic synagogue since 1916 when it was founded by members of the Rhodes and Turkish communities. Our congregation welcomes Jews of all backgrounds and observance levels (really!) and is proud to include Ashkenazim in addition to Sephardim. 

Whether you're looking for a traditional Sephardic community, reconnecting with your Sephardic heritage, or wanting to experience Sephardic ways for the first time, we look forward to being a part of your journey! Check out opportunities to get involved below, and contact us if you have any questions. 
Every Second Tuesday, December - April
Next showing: Tuesday, Jan. 13

Portland Sephardic
​Film Festival

We're proud to host our 19th Annual Film Festival!
​Enjoy light refreshments, great conversation, and best of all--tickets are free!

Made possible through partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, and of course the creators and archivists.

​Tickets: Free
Please RSVP.
​Suggested Donation $5.
Thursday, Jan. 15
​8:00p - 9:15p

Zohar & Zhug

Join community member Dr. Yosef Rosen for mystical learning and delicious spicy zhug (a yemenite hot sauce).
​
​Free to attend. Please RSVP.
​​Suggested Donation $5.

We’ll study passages of the Zohar (in English), the classic work of Jewish mysticism, exploring its poetic visions of the cosmos, the sefirot, and the mysteries of the soul, and savor the flavors of zhoug—that fiery, fragrant Yemenite schmear—on crackers, to add a bit of heat and joy to our conversations. Whether you’re well-versed in Kabbalah or just curious to taste these mystical texts (and the zhoug), you’re warmly invited. Come deepen your Jewish journey in the company of seekers, spice-lovers, and kabbalistic wisdom.
Friday, Feb. 6
Services start at 5:30p, followed by Dinner

First Friday
​Shabbat Dinner

Held on the first Friday of every month September-May, our 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.

Arvit/Kabbalat Shabbat services begin just before sunset, including Shabbat candle lighting. We offer traditional Sephardic tefillah in the style of the Jews of Rhodes and Turkey. 

RSVP required.​
Weekly Shabbat Mornings
​10:30a

Women's Torah Study

Free, no registration required. 
​​
Open to experienced and beginner learners alike, join us every month for a women's only Torah study focusing on the parashat of the week. Join community members Mrs. Elyse Berkovitch and Mrs. Aiden Kugelman-Samba for meaningful conversation, deep insights, and connection with the women in our community.
​Weekly Shabbat Mornings
​12:30p following Kiddush lunch

Sephardic Foundations

Free, no registration required.

Open to experienced and beginner learners alike, join us every week to learn about the foundations of Sephardic thought. Join community member Mati McKenzie to dive into the foundations of the rich Torah learning traditions of the Sephardim, and gain a new level of understanding of what it means to be Jewish

Often used to describe the ethnic and cultural character of Jews following the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Sephardic also describes the distinct intellectual tradition of the Jews across Southwest Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean which emerged in the Muslim-ruled Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus) from the Babylonian/Geonic lineage of Torah thought. Distinct in form and function from the widely-spread Ashkenazi forms of learning, the Sephardic intellectual tradition is fiercely rational, yet welcomes relationships with science, mathematics, and the natural world as an act of devotion and spirituality.

Join Portland's Sephardic community for all Jews.
Enjoyed your experience and want to become a member? 
​6686 SW Capitol Hwy. Portland, OR 97219
Mailing address: 5150 SW 85th Ave. Portland, OR 97225
Phone: 503.227.0010
[email protected]
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