One of the greatest gifts of Jewish learning is how, in the hands of a gifted teacher, texts that were formulated centuries ago can be made relevant to modern lives. Case in point: “Overcoming Your Inner Pharaoh,” an interactive workshop series taught by Eugene’s Shmuel Shalom Cohen. The premise is simple but elegant. Shmuel posits…
For more than a decade, the Women’s Day of Jewish Learning has annually brought together a diverse group of women to study and explore Jewish texts with a nosh. This year Rabbi Dara Frimmer, of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles, will help women “re-encounter the classic story of Esther retold through a contemporary lens.”“Rosh Hodesh,…
For young adults, going off to college can be a thrilling journey into the unknown. As exciting and liberating as that journey can be, it can also be a disorienting shift, and having a home away from home can be a big help. For many Jewish students, Hillel is that home. The largest Jewish campus…
One of the biggest challenges facing families with teenagers is how to prepare for life after high school. Both parents and students feel the pressure to prepare and make smart decisions for post-high-school life. Dr. Deborah Barany, a Portland-based teacher and college counselor, has worked with students for more than 20 years – helping them…
Since the majority of teenagers take driver’s ed and many college- bound students take SAT prep courses, Portland’s NCSY now offers both courses specifically for Jewish teens. “Jewish Driver’s Ed and Jewish SAT Prep were designed for Jewish teens to meet each other without additional scheduling conflicts,” says Meira Spivak, NCSY’s Oregon teen programming director….
