IMAGES: Cosmic Form. Acrylic painting by Wendelin Russell. Artist Wendelin Russell is secretary of ORA: Northwest Jewish Artists. Wendelin Russell will be one of 24 juried artists displaying their creations at this month’s Celebration of Art at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. In addition to being an artist herself, Wendelin is the secretary…
PHOTO: Students and parents explore Maayan Torah’s new school. Maayan Torah Day School began the school year Sept. 4 in a new home – a dedicated school building with a host of indoor and outdoor amenities. Maayan’s new home at 2 Touchstone Dr. in Lake Oswego is a 12,270-square-foot school featuring large classrooms and dedicated…
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Israel have shared a journey over the past 70 years. Born on a kibbutz six years before Israel became a state, Barak has memories of all of Israel’s wars – playing important roles in many – and has helped shepherd the country through challenges and accomplishments that have…
PHOTO: Eric Benjaminson’s father stands on the site of his father’s house in Kuldiga, Latvia; the house was destroyed in World War II. Whether you have ancestral roots in Italy or Northern Europe or are interested in the history or culture of either region, a Jewish cultural tour this spring could be just the ticket….
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…
Almost from the moment Jews arrived in Oregon, they have sought to meet the spiritual needs of the community. The first Jewish New Year services in the Oregon Territory were held in 1856 in the gold-rush boomtown of Jacksonville in southern Oregon, where German- Jewish immigrants had moved from the California gold fields. During the…
A series of rituals guide Jewish families and individuals through each stage of life. With the exception of the rituals surrounding death, each of the following stages is often accompanied by festive celebrations. Even the rituals surrounding death bring the community together to remember and honor the deceased and to support their family. The following…
Jewish life revolves around the cycle of life. In the Jewish tradition, lifecycle moments from birth to death carry specific rituals, most of which have been used for centuries. These moments truly center us. Following are the resources that will help you celebrate and mark each stage of life. MOHELS A mohel is the…
The Jewish people have treasured books and learning for millennia. Even our central prayer, the Shema, includes the instruction: “Take these words which I command you this day and teach them faithfully to your children.” The Jews of Oregon have taken this task to heart. For almost as long as Jews have been in Oregon,…
COLLEGES THE HAROLD SCHNITZER FAMILY PROGRAM IN JUDAIC STUDIES AT PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY Natan M. Meir, Academic Director University Center Bldg., Ste. 465 1881 SW 5th Ave. PO Box 751 – JST Portland, OR 97207 503-725-8449 judaicst@pdx.edu pdx.edu/Judaic The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies fosters academic achievement, leadership skills and civic engagement…
