Annette Gerard has always volunteered, which meant juggling board memberships, synagogue activities and raising children. So, when she moved cross-country to Rose Schnitzer Manor four years ago, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work. Annette is instrumental to the success of Purls of Wisdom, the manor’s knitting group that has donated hundreds of…
When Anwar Sadat made his dramatic and historic trip to Israel in late 1977, I was a sophomore at Tel Aviv University on hiatus from the University of Washington. At that time, there was only one Israeli television channel, the state-owned Israel Broadcast Authority, and it broadcasted only a few hours each evening. But the…
Publishers’ Message From our family to yours….. Thank you for being the best part of Oregon Jewish Life. May the coming year be one of peace, health, happiness and inspiration. Shanah Tova U’metukah- הנש הבוט הקותמו Bob Cindy Deb, Janet, Kira, Susan Cynthia, Debbie and all of our contributors
Musical prodigies aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, but acquiring the technique required to play violin or piano at concert-level ability often manifests in early childhood. Precociously talented young musicians, from Mozart to violinist Joshua Bell to pianist Lang Lang, are hardly uncommon. It is far more unusual, however, to find a young musician with…
This Mother’s Day, show your mom you care by taking her out for something sweet. An elegant afternoon of tea and pastry is sure to delight her. Here are some of greater Portland’s finest venues for high tea and dessert. The Heathman Hotel The Tea Court Lounge at the Heathman offers a lovely Sunday afternoon…
Artist Sheila Lynn Lawton spent three weeks interacting with, and creating art personifying the hopes and interests of, residents of Kehillah Housing, a new Portland affordable housing project for adults with special needs. Kehillah, which means community, welcomed 14 residents with developmental disabilities last September to the new apartment building on the southwest Portland campus…
“Your Jewish Genes,” a free program presenting information on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, will be presented on April 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Women of Ashkenazi (central or eastern European Jewish) descent have higher risks of developing many cancers due to a higher incidence of inherited…
Residents of Oregon come from many places and often leave family behind. While Passover is traditionally a “home” holiday, congregations realize there are many who do not have family nearby or who would just like to celebrate with their larger community family. Here are some options (Note: Many seders offer scholarships for those unable to…
Most musicians tend to reduce their professional engagements as they age. Not Itzhak Perlman. If anything, Perlman has increased his activities. In addition to his 40-plus years as one of the world’s premier violinists, in recent years he has returned to his alma mater – Juilliard – to teach. He’s also embarked on a second…
As seasons change so do our tastes for what we like to eat. When spring arrives, tender baby vegetables, peas and asparagus lure us. Summer invites us to fire up the grill, because a hot indoor oven can resemble an instrument of torture on a sweltering day. Fall is synonymous with pumpkins, butternut squash and…
