I like to joke that Israeli customer service is an oxymoron. If you’re used to an American attitude that “The Customer is Always Right,” you’re going to have to do some major attitude adjustment while in the Holy Land. Don’t get me wrong – I do love living here. I just don’t like the service…
The word “agenda” often carries a negative connotation; however, having one is not necessarily sinister. Simply put, an agenda is a well thought-out plan that outlines the steps that will move a person from one point to the next. That’s actually how you get things accomplished. You make a plan; then you work your plan…
Jews are not “bar-mitzvahed” or “bat-mitzvahed.” it does not happen to them. it is a status achieved by demonstrating personal awareness of the responsibility to take on the fulfillment of the mitzvot of Judaism. Children who become bar or bat mitzvah are “obligated to the mitzvot” (Mishnah Avot 5.21). According to Jewish tradition, this…
Say you’re the parent of an 11- or 12-year-old and that bat/bar mitzvah date is looming ever closer. With so many details to cover – sending invitations and tracking RSVPs, making guest arrangements for out-of-town friends and family, keeping track of your child’s progress on their drash and Torah portion, perhaps learning one yourself –…
Everyone knows the story of Noah’s Ark, right? Noah was commanded by God to build a great ship and stock it with male and female pairs of every animal on Earth. God sent down a massive flood to wipe out every living thing on the planet to give humanity, which had become irretrievably corrupt, a…
Ashland resident Judy Visser was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 11 years ago. A wife/mother/grandmother, Judy was a teacher and education director for Temple Emek Shalom who lived the active Southern Oregon lifestyle. This could have been a devastating diagnosis. This should have been a devastating diagnosis. Our telephone interview, though, began with music: Judy played a…
Breast cancer. Those two little words can strike fear in the heart of even the strongest women among us. In fact, statistics show that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at one point in their lifetime. Most women know of at least one other woman who has been diagnosed with breast…
In the midst of our busy lives, finding time to get enough sleep is a challenge. Our days and nights are jam-packed with not only our own schedules, but with the agendas of our family and friends. Our digital world – now available 24/7 – has resulted in an extended work day and a…
In February, Oregon Jewish Life posted a survey for singles on our website as part of our effort to get to know our readers. Now we want to share the results of that survey: Single status: Never Married – 36.54%, Divorced – 46.15%, Widowed – 17.31% Age: 20-30 – 21.15%, 40-5 – 19.23%, 50-60 – 13.46%,…
Long known as “The People of the book,” the Jewish people have treasured books and learning for millennia. Embedded within our most central prayer, the Shema, is the v’ahavta in which we are instructed by G-d to “Take these words which I command you this day and teach them faithfully to your children.” The Jews of Oregon have taken this…
