Rich Geller works at the Beaverton Trader Joe's and is a freelance writer living in Portland, OR. He has written for The Bloomfield Journal, The Hometown Crier, The Hood River News, The Rosette Gazette, The Jewish Review, Art and Artifact, Oregon Jewish Life, Arizona Jewish Life, and Metro Parent. As a student at Portland State University, Rich worked at both Ooligan and Collectors Press while pursuing a Masters in Writing with a concentration in Publishing. In the Spring of 2011, Rich's first book, WonderDads Portland - The Best Dad/Child Activities in Portland was published. Rich is married to Leslie Geller, and has three children, Leo, Ethan, and Sela.
Photo: The author’s bar mitzvah party featuring Mr. Jiggs the chimp was an example of over-the-top extravaganzas popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps the most iconic ritual in Judaism, the bar mitzvah is steeped in meaning and tradition. For generations Jewish boys, and more recently girls, have heard the call of the Torah…
PHOTO: Animals roam freely on the Weisman family farm, where the family is closely connected to its food supply. With the arrival of Passover later this month, most of us are looking forward to our seders. But for our distant ancestors Passover looked very different from today’s holiday. For the ancient Israelites, the primary…
All Jewish holidays begin with a good story. Passover depicts Moses facing off against Pharaoh, and Purim features Mordechai and Esther prevailing over the wicked Haman. Chanukah boasts a particularly compelling narrative with its epic tale of freedom versus tyranny. The underdog Maccabees managing to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and the…
Rosh Hashanah is a time of repentance, reflection and returning, or Teshuva in Hebrew. Returning to our roots, returning to our values and returning to the Earth that sustains us. In the Torah, G-d grants humanity dominion over the Earth and all that dwells within it. However, as it is said, with great power comes…
Now that the snows of winter and the rains of spring have abated, an Oregonian’s thoughts naturally turn to … more water! Yes, it’s time for summer water fun! In the Beaver State you can splish-splash your way from Memorial Day straight on through to Labor Day. But don’t worry about getting wet; after all,…
Grab your groggers and make some noise, because Purim arrives the evening of Saturday, March 11. This joyous, raucous festival commemorates the thwarting of a plot to kill the Jews of ancient Persia. Purim is unlike any other Jewish holiday – Jews drink to excess, don fanciful costumes and masks, put on plays and carnivals,…
For more than 2,000 years the Jewish people have kept the lights of Hanukkah shining brightly, shepherding the story of the miracle of the oil through the generations. Innumerable Hanukkah celebrations and myriad innovations in how we celebrate have graced the intervening years. I’ll admit that it takes some chutzpah to try and distill two…
The signs of fall are everywhere. The leaves are turning vibrant shades of red and gold, the scent of pumpkin lattes wafts gently on the breeze and the crisp, cool nights grow long as the Pacific Northwest prepares for winter. Even for urban dwellers, the Earth and its seasons help to define time for us….
As we gather with family and friends around the seder table this Passover, the story we read in the Haggadah is as timely as today’s headlines. The Haggadah presents the account of the Exodus: the deliverance of the ancient Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Currently, a modern-day exodus is taking place throughout the Middle East…
The calendar may insist that it’s still winter, but summer will be here before you know it. It’s not too early to start thinking about how your kids are going to spend their summer. If you’re considering summer camp, those slots are filling up fast, so start looking now to find the right camp for…
