While Jews can trace their affinity for law to biblical days, two women now serving as legal leaders in Oregon had few female role models when they entered law school in the 1970s. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and Oregon State Bar Executive Director Sylvia Stevens, who graduated from law school in 1975 and 1981,…
y Liz Rabiner Lippoff When I was 50-something, I participated in the adult Too many cooks can … make it better b’nai mitzvah program at Congregation Beth Israel. Then I made a pretty yummy dinner for a few family and friends who had come to celebrate. My daughter, who was in her 20s at the…
According to The Oregonian, Russian-speaking immigrants are one of Portland’s largest immigrant groups. Even so, the cuisines of Russia seem to be sadly underrepresented in this town. Fortunately, with the arrival of Kachka, Portlanders can now enjoy classic Russian specialties such as blini, vareniki (dumplings) and ukha (fish soup). Kachka opened in fall 2013 to…
My son and I spend a lot of time in the car. Between 7 am and 7 pm I may drive 20-30 miles while schlepping him to and from his various commitments. I don’t complain because I know soon he’ll be driving himself, and we’ll never see him! My son is quite an accomplished musician,…
When the Portland Chamber Orchestra presents George Frideric Handel’s “Judas Maccabaeus” this month, Israeli- born conductor Yaacov Bergman says, “It will take us into our holiday story in a way that portrays Hanukkah vividly.” The PCO, of which Maestro Bergman has been music director/conductor for a decade, will offer four performances of its ecumenical holiday…
Last month, our community experienced the tragic loss of two members. The loss was unexpected and violent in nature. The most vulnerable members of our community, children, were directly affected by the event. Now we must consider our response and how we move forward. This horrific event brings many important issues to the forefront. Among…
Participants in the only domestic Jewish gap year program for recent high school graduates are working to alleviate homelessness while they gain social and hands-on skills that will benefit them in college and beyond. The eight teens in the first cohort of Tivnu: Building Justice gap year spend four days a week on a Habitat…
When Lucy, the Cohn family’s dog, died suddenly of cancer two years ago, Lisa and her then 4-year-old son Michael wrote a story about their beloved pet to keep her alive forever. Lisa had started writing about their wonderful Lucy, a golden doodle, to deal with her grief, but when Michael heard what she was…
The long, cold, rain-soaked nights, suffused with the aroma of organic, locally sourced, cruelty-free, artisan latkes can mean only one thing – it’s Hanukkah in Oregon! For Jewish families with young children, Hanukkah is a special time to come together and share the history of our people. Hanukkah, or dedication in Hebrew, commemorates the rededication…
Hanukkah has all the ingredients for a wonderful family holiday – a good story, strong rituals, fun songs, delicious (fried!) food, a kid-friendly gambling game, colorful candles and, of course, presents. Despite all the potentially delightful parts of the holiday, oftentimes the presents become the dominant focus, which can be unpleasant and stressful for parents….
