The first Jewish holiday I ever experienced was Purim. Think Halloween meets Easter, but much, much better! We feast, visit friends, dress up in costumes and drink to excess – all while handing out our baskets of food called mishloach manot to members of the community. I fell in love with the holiday, and I…
In our first edition of Hidden Gems, we focused on a surprising sushi find on Southeast Powell. It turns out that only 10 blocks away, there is an equally satisfying Cantonese gem. Red and green neon lights announce the deceptively unassuming Powell’s Seafood Restaurant, which has been serving customers seven days a week since 1994….
As a new season begins to bud and I start to plan for sunny days, lazy afternoons outside and springtime events, I start to consider packing up my dark, thick winter wear, boxing up the boots and sweaters, and doing a little online pre-shopping. Then I’ll be ready to hit the mall or stores for…
In 1928 Ben Selling was the inaugural recipient of the Portland Association of Realtors’ “First Citizen” Award, honoring contributions to the city. His 70th birthday was celebrated throughout the town. And when he died on Jan. 15, 1931, the Oregon Legislature adjourned and flags flew at half-staff. “Ben Selling Dies; City in Mourning,”The Oregonian proclaimed…
Tal Caspi, who has lived in Portland for almost decade, was born to Argentinian parents in the Israeli city of Ashkelon, which lies 36 miles south of Tel Aviv. He would go on to live in Southern California and all over the United States, but people kept telling him to move to Portland. “I had…
Malka Osserman is the religious school administrator at Beit Haverim in Portland, and last summer she found herself in a situation she never could have imagined. With two master’s degrees, 25 years as a geriatric social worker in Florida and a job she enjoyed, she was struggling to make rent every month. Malka had moved…
You’ve seen the phenomenon at OMSI for 40 years, a 10-foot-high, ever-moving mechanical sculpture that lifts and then drops balls through its labyrinth. The gravitram, a name derived from the words “gravity” and “tramway,” is the work of artist, designer and inventor Shab Levy. Built in 1973, the OMSI sculpture is one of many custom-made…
Overnight camps help young campers learn valuable life skills that enhance their lives in college and beyond. Numerous studies have shown youth benefit from attend- ing sleep-away camps. The American Camp Association lists numerous benefits young people develop through their experiences at residential camps. In terms of social skills development, campers learn leadership, communication and…
A zipline tops fifth-grader Javier Vollmayer’s list. Jared Norman wants a GaGa Pit. In fact, everyone at the Residential Camp Fair held at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center Jan. 12 had something special in mind for this summer’s fun. The Jewish camp experience, an important indicator of future attachment and engagement with the community, was…
President Shimon Peres does not let his age of 91 deter him from attending and addressing several events on a daily basis. A few years ago, at one of these events, he was asked if he wants to be remembered as a leader who never stopped pursuing peace. Expecting a positive answer in some variation…
