Whether you spend your summer lounging by the pool or on the beach, camping in the mountains or relaxing at home, a good book can enhance your pleasure. Here is a selection of the books that have come across my desk in recent months. I’ve dipped into a few while compiling this listing and have…
This spring several Portland Jewish Academy students were honored in two statewide writing contests – The Oregon Poetry Association and Honoring Our Rivers, both of which publish the winners’ work in an annual publication. “We are PJA Proud of these kids,” says PJA Principal Merrill Hendin. “We really value writing. Our teachers do a great…
The second annual Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewish Professional Award will be presented to Jemi Kostiner Mansfield at the 96th Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. Following Laurie’s retirement from 30-plus-year career as a Jewish communal professional, federation created this award to honor her dedication to community and passion for Jewish life. The…
When Steve Kantor was the president of Jewish Family & Child Service nearly three decades ago, he realized all the local Jewish agencies were competing against each other for charitable gifts. As a CPA and attorney specializing in estate planning, charitable planning and trusts, in addition to business law, Kantor believed there was a better…
Life’s turns have put Shira Einstein on path to Woman of the Year nominee An immigrant and cancer survivor, Shira Einstein is an intelligent, empathic and very grateful young woman dedicated to giving back, both as a volunteer and a professional. Shira, 24, is studying to be a pediatrician and has already traveled to Peru,…
Speaking in Portland on the challenges facing Israel today, Israel’s ambassador to the United States emphasized that growing global anti-Semitism threatens not just Israel but Jewish communities around the world. In the first visit of an Israeli ambassador to Oregon in 28 years, Ambassador Ron Dermer spoke to an invitation-only crowd of about 180 people…
Two moms – a rabbi and a congregant – started a conversation about women’s voices in the Torah. Now they are inviting other women to join an online conversation that may evolve into a book of mothers’ wisdom. “My goal is to start conversations on women’s voices in our ancient texts,” says Rabbi Eve Posen….
The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies at Portland State University welcomes Ayelet Waldman to campus for its 2016 Sara Glasgow Cogan Memorial Lecture. This is the renowned author and journalist’s only Portland appearance; she last came to town in 2009. For the Ninth Cogan Lecture, Waldman presents “There’s No Business Like Shoah Business:…
Local actor and director Michael Mendelson plays Judge Moses in the epic, relevant revival of Thornton Wilder’s 1943 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “The Skin of Our Teeth,” coming to Artists Repertory Theatre this spring. Wilder’s classic spans the history of the world with numerous biblical references including Lilith, Cain and Abel, and Noah’s Ark. Michael calls…
Calling Israel an apartheid state is an injustice to both Israel and South Africa; that’s according to two black South African students who visited U.S. campuses this spring, including two in Portland. Klaas Mokgomole and Jamie Mithi were accompanied by Jewish South African Benji Shulman from the South Africa Israel Forum. Over the past year SAIF has…
