Photo by Benjamin Ariff With broad organizational and grassroots support, Portland’s new community mikvah opened Nov. 1 to provide every Jew access to the ritual bath for all traditional and contemporary transitions and milestones. Rachel’s Well is now open on the Schnitzer Family Campus in a secluded, natural setting. Owned by the Jewish Federation of…
Oregon is not a community property state, so why should residents, lawyers and financial planners care? The topic drew about 50 professionals who advise clients on estate planning and tax and legal issues to the October luncheon of the Professional Advisors Group of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. The program was presented by attorneys Abby…
PHOTOS (From left): Zach Duitch, Robin Kamerling, Simi Mishulovin and Abbie Barash Duitch hired to lead Solomon Schechter On Dec. 1 Zach Duitch became the new executive director of Camp Solomon Schechter, a Pacific Northwest Jewish camp near Olympia, WA, founded in 1954 by Rabbi Joshua Stampfer. Zach succeeds Sam Perlin, who served as executive…
Hood River Havurah member Amanda Lawrence wanted to bring the light of Chanukah to towns in the Columbia Gorge. “After I spoke with (Hood River Mayor) Paul Blackburn about this idea, he graciously offered to pay for half and then I reached out to the Havurah group to help pay for the other half,” says…
With holiday parties in abundance this month, thoughts inevitably turn to food. What should you take your hostess? Food and drink to share? Or maybe a thank you gift? A bottle of wine is always a nice choice for a formal dinner or elegant party. But if you’re going to a casual get together, consider…
David Spear may be a scholar-in-residence at Portland State University for the fall term of 2017 only, but the music he has shared with his students and the community will reverberate for many years to come. David is a composer, conductor, pianist and educator who began his career orchestrating film scores for Elmer Bernstein. Those…
Oregon Hillel is on track to impact a record number of students this year. By Nov. 1 more than 400 students (325 at the University of Oregon and 77 at Oregon State University) had connected with Hillel at one of the many programs, events and Shabbat dinners, or through one-on-one interactions with Oregon Hillel’s staff…
When Shakespearean scholar Daniel Pollack-Pelzner saw a new adaptation of “Pericles,” the playwright’s use of women’s voices reminded him of the gender-neutral prayers he grew up with at Havurah Shalom. This month Portland Shakespeare Project presents the world premiere of “Pericles Wet,” a visceral reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Pericles, Prince of Tyre.” Commissioned by Portland Shakes…
Community conversations this fall have given a broad-based coalition the focus to move forward on efforts to develop a large, multi-purpose program space on Portland’s East Side. The Eastside Jewish Commons is distinct from the Alberta Shul project (see story). Started independently, the two projects mutually support the goal of building Jewish community infrastructure serving…
Maimonides Jewish Day School is sponsoring a Chanukah essay contest for third/fourth-graders and fifth/sixth-graders. Essays of about 150 words should reflect on “What Freedom Means to Me.” There will be one winner selected from each of the two age groups. Winners will receive an autographed book by award-winning author Eric Kimmel, who has endorsed the…
