UUJME Information for May 2025

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First Unitarian Petition to End US Military Aid to Israel

We obtained 111 signatures from members of First Unitarian on the petition calling on the US Congress to end US military aid to Israel until Israel obeys international law and stops the war on Gaza. We will deliver those signatures to Members of Congress in the Portland area along with copies of the Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) that passed at last Summer’s General Assembly that also called for an end to US military aid to Israel. Signed copies of the petition and the AIW will be personally delivered to aides of Members of Congress aides in their offices. We ask each member of Congress for their position on Israeli violence against Gaza.

We have already met with the aide to Representative Maxine Dexter and will meet this week with aides to Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, and Representative Bonamici. We have not heard back yet from aides to Representatives Bynum or Salinas about a meeting.  

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Benefit Concert for the People of Gaza

Friday May 30, 7:30 pm

Main Street Sanctuary, 1211 SW Main St, Portland

Seffarine, a singer of Spanish Flamenco, Arabic, and Persian songs will sing and Amer Zahr, a Palestinian American comedian, will be the Master of Ceremonies. The funds will go the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund that provides medical care to the children of Gaza. The event is put on by the Jewish-Palestinian Alliance of Portland and Tickets can be bought at jpao.org/events.

All are welcome. Please share with your lists.

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Testimonies from Apartheid-Free Unitarian Universalists

Sunday May 18, 3 PM PT

Live Webinar by Zoom,

RSVP: bit.ly/UU-Pal-Ed

The Action of Immediate Witness that passed the UUA General Assembly last Summer included a call to UU Churches to declare themselves Apartheid Free. Learn what it means to be Apartheid Free and hear the testimonies of members of UU churches that have declared themselves Apartheid Free.

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Meeting of First Unitarian Church Chapter of UUJME

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday May 27 at 7pm in the Buchan Reception room at First Unitarian. Along with our regular business we hope to have Wael Elasady speak to us about the current situation in Israel Palestine. All are welcome.

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Showing of Film “The Palestine Exception”

The film, “The Palestine Exception”, will be shown at the Clinton Street Theater on May 29 at 7pm. The film was made by filmmakers at Portland State University and describes the suppression of student voices protesting the actions of Israel on the Portland State University campus and other campuses around the country. Tickets at https://cstpdx.com/event/the-palestine-exception/ .

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A History of Palestine and Israel

A five week course taught by Joel Beinin

Mondays, June 2 – June 30, 7:00 – 8:30  pm   

East Side Jewish Commons, 2420 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland

Joel is an Emeritus Professor of History from Stanford University. This is an opportunity to grapple with the complex issues of Israel/Palestine in a respectful environment. Topics to be covered include:

  • The crisis of Eastern Europe Jewry: Solutions. Immigration, Socialism, Zionism.
  • The Palestinian National Movement.
  • The Nakba.
  • The 1967 War and Occupation.
  • Gaza.

Registration Fee: $18.00, No one turned away for lack of funds.

To Register: Email – IMJCP25@GMAIL.COM

Payment: https://tinyurl.com/5hdd5yy7

Phone: 503-477-7409