On February 1, 2003 twenty years ago today, I was a young mother and wife living in Israel with 3 young children. Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut was aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia about to reenter the earth’s atmosphere with the 6 other crew members, all American; commander Rick Husband, pilot Willie McCool, Michael…
As youth, we are told the overwhelming social issues perpetuating inequalities and discrimination followed by the climate crisis are our problems to solve. Yet, we do not have the financial capital to affect international change overnight. So what can we do? The Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation provides teens the opportunity to explore these…
Renowned historian of the Holocaust and Jewish history, Deborah Lipstadt, was finally confirmed this past Wednesday as an ambassador to combat antisemitism for the Department of State. The grueling eight-month process of hearings and delays only seemed to strengthen the resolve of Jewish groups supporting her nomination. Groups as diverse as the Orthodox Union and…
Photo credit: Kachka owners photo credit: Carly Diaz On April 20th, Kachka will host a Passover Seder meal to benefit HIAS (a global Jewish nonprofit that assists and protects refugees of all faiths), which is currently providing instrumental aid to displaced Ukrainians. Kachka has served Seder meals at various venues in Oregon, as well as…
Owen Broder and partner Shelly Zeiserl have embarked on an ambitious and dynamic project for the young adults of Portland with the Moishe House Pod, a two-person Moishe House. Portland’s original Moishe House, located in Southeast Portland began in 2008. Moishe House is the global leader in Jewish peer-led young adult engagement programs Moishe Houses…
Photo: Rabbi Motti Wilhelm, Mimi Wilhelm and their family. Mimi Wilhelm is one of those women you can’t help but look at with awe. She is a mother of seven children, director of The Gan-Portland Jewish Preschool; she teaches Hebrew classes, runs a Mommy and Me group, runs marathons and just recently became a certified…
In addition to Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coming this week, the Saltzman household is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of an enchanting children’s book written by my mother, Ruth Saltzman. The book, Poppy Bear And the Garden that Overslept, came out in 2001 and was an immediate hit with children, parents and grandparents. In fact,…
Portland lost another community icon recently. Jim Meyer, z”l, was truly a mensch, who conducted himself with quiet strength, thoughtfulness and generosity. Ami-Fields-Meyer, a grandson of Jim Meyer, wrote a beautiful tribute to his grandfather. Following is a partial excerpt: “(My grandfather) was an elder statesman in Portland and in Oregon. Governors and CEOs…
Photo: Julie Diamond Upon hearing the news of Julie Diamond’s death on the morning of August 12, like many people, I literally lost my breath. I knew she was in the struggle of her life, as we had discussed it often. But, we had plans to get together in a couple of weeks. We…
I could honestly write pages on the incredible human being that Rudy Rochman is. Although I am not familiar with Eduard and Noam, I can only imagine they are amazing young men as well. But, as this is a fluid situation, and none of us know what is happening behind the scenes, the families…
