New OPB Oregon Experience Documentary Examines the History of Oregon’s Earliest Jewish Settlers
“The Jewish Frontier” airs January 25 on OPB TV and online; advance public screening event in Portland
PORTLAND, Ore.– January 12, 2015— This month, OPB will premiere a new Oregon Experience documentary that examines the history of the Jewish people who helped build the American West and shape the state of Oregon. They were some of the earliest settlers, arriving with the Gold Rush and staying to create businesses, civic organizations and communities.
The one-hour documentary “The Jewish Frontier” airs January 25 at 9 p.m. on OPB TV and online at watch.opb.org at the same time.
In Europe, Russia, and elsewhere, Jews faced a long history of persecution—but in the unsettled American frontier, they could create their own destinies. Arriving as merchants, they were welcomed for the much-needed goods and services they provided to growing towns.
They ranged from junk peddlers in Portland’s immigrant community to entrepreneurs who built multi-million dollar businesses. Some of these individuals include Aaron Meier of Meier & Frank, who opened his first Portland store in 1857 and went on to operate one of the nation’s largest department stores; Bernard Goldsmith, a mediator between the military and Native Americans, who became Portland’s first Jewish mayor; and Sigmund Heilner, who followed gold miners to Southern and Eastern Oregon and established one of the region’s longest-operating businesses.
“The Jewish Frontier” tells the story of pioneering Jews from across the state— from a Jewish farming commune near Roseburg that gave equal rights to men and women, to South Portland, home of Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe and Russia along with Mel Blanc, Trail Blazers founder Harry Glickman, internationally-renowned painter Mark Rothko and more.
Through Urban Renewal that displaced homes and synagogues to the devastating aftermath of the Holocaust, Oregon’s Jews have continually found new ways to honor the past, and set the foundation for a future, while at the same time redefining what it means to be Jewish in the American West.
This new Oregon Experience documentary features rare historical photos, film, and more than two dozen interviews with people across the state, including:
- Pete Asch, archivist, Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
- David Zaslow, rabbi, Havurah Shir Hadash, Ashland
- Joshua Boettige, rabbi, Temple Emek Shalom, Ashland
- Ellen Eisenberg, professor of History, Willamette University
- Daniel Eliezer Froehlich, genealogist
- Gerry Frank, Meier & Frank
- Joshua Rose, rabbi, Congregation Shaarie Torah, Portland
- William Toll, historian
- Michael Kaplan, rabbi, Congregation Ahavath Achim
- Joshua Stampfer, rabbi emeritus, Congregation Neveh Shalom
- Steven Wasserstrom, professor of Jewish and Religious Studies, Reed College
- Harry Glickman, founder, Portland Trail Blazers
- Miriam Greenstein, Holocaust survivor
- Noel Blanc, Mel Blanc’s son
“The Jewish Frontier” is written and produced by Kami Horton and edited by Lisa Suinn Kallem. It airs Monday, January 25 at 9 p.m. on OPB TV and will be available to watch online at http://watch.opb.org/ at the same time. For more information, visit Oregon Experience online.
In advance of the TV premiere, OPB is hosting a free, public screening event on January 19 at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Portland. Free and open to the public, the event begins at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30) and will feature the full-length documentary and a Q&A with producer Kami Horton.
Learn to play this ancient game. Registration code: CG201, cost: $85. Member Cost: $72.
Learn to play this ancient game. Registration code: CG201, cost: $85. Member Cost: $72.
Join us for a weekly story hour for young families with PJ Library stories, crafts and music!
Join PJ Library as we bring back Yad b’Yad with Kim Schneiderman! Intergenerational singing and stories at Cedar Sinai Park.
A weekly story hour for young families with music & PJ Library books!
No story hour on April 29th.
Climate Justice Ambassadors Miko and Isaac Vergun and Pam Vergun will be taking part in the Friends of Trees Crew Leader Training on Saturday, January 30th. Join us!
One of the major goals of Plant for the Planet is planting lots and lots of trees. Worldwide we’ve planted 14 billion with our partners, but our goal is to plant 1,000 billion between now and 2020. Friends of Trees will help us achieve our goal by training us in tree planting leadership skills to help team of volunteers to plant tens of thousands of native trees and shrubs in the Green Space Program. If we team up with them, maybe they can even plant more this year!
To become a crew leader with us, visit the following site for more information and online registration: http://www.friendsoftrees.org/volunteering/calendars/portland-vancouver-salem for more information. The training goes from 9am to 3pm and takes place at 6159 SW Nyberg Ln, Tualatin, OR 97062.
Part of the training involves volunteering for 2-4 more tree planting parties this year. We’ll post here again when we decide which ones we’re doing, but sign up for the training now before the spots are filled! Anyone 15 and older can do it on their own; younger leaders can take the training with a parent.
If you live in Eugene, contact Friends of Trees in Eugene for more information on when they will be having a Crew Leader Training and to request that they have another one this year. Let them know you’re planning to become a Climate Justice Ambassador at our Plant for the Planet Academy in Eugene on February 14th!
Plant for the Planet, sponsored by the United Nations, is training children and teens to become Ambassadors for Climate Justice at free one-day Academies open to all students ages 8-17.
We now have two Academies scheduled in our area:
In Vancouver, Washington on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Columbia Springs
In Portland, Oregon on Monday, January 25, 2016 at Sunnyside Environmental School–this is a day that Portland Public School students have off!
To learn more and register, visit: ClimateChangeRecovery.org.
On Saturday, January 30, 7:30 PM storytellers and musicians will share Jewish stories, folk tales, personal stories, and songs of hope, healing and transformation. The evening is a benefit for Rafael Jensen, 15 year-old AHS student who suffered a traumatic brain injury. Suggested Donation $10-$20. Call 541-488-7716 for more info. The Havurah is located at 185 N Mountain Ave in Ashland.
Concerti winners and pieces to be announced.
$10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students, children under 6 free – tickets at the door.
In partnership with the MJCC.