Organizations & Agencies 2018-19

The first Oregon Jews, who came from Germany in the mid-1850s, often lived in other places in America before finding their way out West. Many of them were merchants who helped build a strong Jewish community – founding synagogues, schools, social and charitable organizations and welcoming waves of other immigrants, refugees and survivors who would come to call Oregon their home. Those later arrivals made their own contributions to Oregon Jewish life.

The first Jewish organization in Oregon, Portland’s Mt. Sinai Cemetery Association, was incorporated in 1856. The Portland chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women organized in 1896, remaining active for nearly 120 years. The B’nai B’rith Building, later to become the Jewish Community Center, opened in 1914; in 1971 the center moved to its present location in Southwest Portland. In 1920 The Jewish Women’s Endeavor joined forces with the Old Men’s Hebrew Fraternal Organization to create “The Jewish Old Peoples Home.” The Federated Jewish Societies, the precursor of today’s Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, organized in 1920 to raise money for a variety of Jewish institutions.

Beneficiaries included the B’nai B’rith Building, the First Hebrew Benevolent Society, Jewish Relief Society, Jewish Women’s Benevolent Society, Jewish Women’s Sewing Society, National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, Neighborhood House, the Committee on Jewish Orphans, Portland Hebrew Free School, Sisters of Israel Benevolent Society and the South Portland Benevolent Society.

As community and individual needs shifted in subsequent decades, some organizations faded while others evolved, and new groups arose to meet the needs of 21st century America. Following are the organizations that today meet the needs of Jews living in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS

GIFT (GIVING IT FORWARD TOGETHER)

9604 NE 126th Ave.

Vancouver, WA

360-597-3942

giftclarkcounty.com

HADASSAH, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION

Women’s Zionist Organization of

America

140 Lakeside Ave., Suite A #36

Seattle, WA

hadassah.org/pnw

HADASSAH, PORTLAND CHAPTER

Diana Lindemann

PO Box 19205

Portland, OR 97280

503-312-2530

pnwregion@hadassah.org

HADASSAH, SHALOM CHAPTER

(Vancouver and SW Washington)

Maxine Silverman, Membership Vice-President

360-566-8188

msilverman15@comcast.net

JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK

9604 NE 126th Ave., Ste. 2340

Vancouver, WA

360-597-3942

thejbn.org

 

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL

Bob Horenstein, Director

6680 SW Capitol Hwy.

Portland, OR

503-245-6496

bob@jewishportland.org

jewishportland.org/jcrc

With representation from a cross-section of the Greater Portland and Southwest Washington Jewish community, the JCRC develops consensus positions to: protect the social safety net, safeguard civil rights, combat anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, and strengthen local ties to Israel. The JCRC is affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the planning and coordinating body for the national organized Jewish community in public affairs advocacy.

JEWISH EVENTS WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2531 Chula Vista Blvd.

Eugene, OR

541-514-2571

JEWISH FAMILY & CHILD SERVICE

Lee Cordova, Board Chair

Ruth Scott, Interim Executive

Director

1221 SW Yamhill St., Ste. 301

Portland, OR

503-226-7079

info@jfcs-portland.org

jfcs-portland.org

JFCS provides social services to adults, families and children in the Jewish and general community. Our Counseling team offers sliding scale counseling for individuals, couples and families. People with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities are able to receive supportive training and resources through our Disability Support Services. Our Emergency Aid program provides help with short-term crisis situations. And our Holocaust Survivor Services program offers a variety of specialized services for Jewish Nazi victims.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF LANE COUNTY

PO Box 5924

Eugene, OR 97405

541-484-2541

jewishfedlc.org/jewish-family-services/

 

JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PORTLAND

Marc N. Blattner, President and CEO

6680 SW Capitol Hwy.

Portland, OR

503-245-6219

info@jewishportland.org

jewishportland.org

Since 1920, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland assures the building and strengthening of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas and in Israel, in accordance with Jewish values.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF LANE COUNTY

PO Box 5924

Eugene, OR 97405

541-484-2541

jewishfedlc.org

JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OREGON

971-266-0005

jgsoregon@gmail.com

JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY

nwfam.com/jgswvo.html

JEWISH WOMEN’S ROUND TABLE

Portland, OR

jwrt.org

MAZON: A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER

10850 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 400

Los Angeles, CA

310-442-0020

mazon.org

MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Steve Albert, Executive Director

Kelsey Kaplan, Membership + Customer Service Manager

Beth Germain, Chief Financial Officer

6651 SW Capitol Hwy.

Portland, OR

503-244-0111

mjcc@oregonjcc.org

oregonjcc.org

The MJCC has been a vital part of the greater Portland community for over 100 years. We provide a gathering place for the Jewish community while warmly embracing people of all faiths. We offer a variety of recreational programming for all ages, wonderful fitness facilities, a 25-yard lap pool, a warm water pool, a flexible space for your next meeting or event, and of course, much loved community celebrations and social and cultural events.

OREGON BOARD OF RABBIS

Rabbi Rachel Joseph, Chair

2900 SW Peaceful Lane,

Portland, OR

971-248-5465

oregonboardofrabbis.org

OREGON JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Julie Diamond, President & CEO

Gail Mandel, Director of Philanthropy

Tara Siegman, Director of Donor Relations & Grants

1618 SW First Ave., Ste. 210

Portland, OR

503-248-9328

info@ojcf.org

ojcf.org

OJCF’s mission is to build and promote a culture of giving in Oregon and Southwest Washington that supports a thriving Jewish community now and for generations to come. The foundation promotes strategic philanthropy offering charitable individuals philanthropic tools including donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities, planned gifts and trusts. In partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, OJCF directs the LIFE & LEGACY initiative in Oregon to promote after-lifetime giving to build endowments and strengthen Jewish organizations for the future.

OREGON JEWISH MUSEUM AND CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

Judy Margles, Director

Anne LeVant Prahl, Curator of Collections

April Slabosheski, Manager of Museum and Holocaust Education

724 NW Davis St.

Portland, OR

503-226-3600

info@ojmche.org

ojmche.org

OJMCHE has galleries for national and international exhibitions and core exhibitions: Discrimination and Resistance, An Oregon Primer, which identifies discrimination as a tool affecting varied groups of people over the history of this region; The Holocaust, An Oregon Perspective, a history of the Holocaust using stories of Oregon survivors; and Oregon Jewish Stories, which examines Oregon Jewish life. The museum also includes an auditorium, museum shop, and Lefty’s Café with Jewish inspired fare.

 

JEWISH MEDIA

OREGON JEWISH LIFE

Cindy Saltzman, Publisher

503-892-7402

advertise@ojlife.com

info@ojlife.com

ORJewishLife.com is the online arm of Oregon Jewish Life magazine. The website features engaging content that celebrates the vitality, diversity, challenges and accomplishments of our community. In addition to feature stories and columns, we provide a resource for local organizations to share their news. Jewish organizations in Oregon and SW Washington are invited to post their events and programs on our online calendar, creating an up-todate resource for the community. Advertising options are available on the website and in our free weekly e-newsletters, as well as the magazine. For home delivery, subscribe online at orjewishlife. com/magazine-subscription. To receive any of our themed e-newsletters, sign up at orjewishlife.com/ newsletter-sign-me-up/

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