Julie Diamond often thinks of people she’s never met, shares reminiscences about them and reflects on King Solomon’s observations that “charity saves from death.” The people – Rebecca and Sada Tarshis, Art Krichevsky and Chuck Karsun among them – left most of their money to charity, aiding a host of institutions and causes close to…
Oregon Jewish Community Foundation has been selected as one of seven pilot communities for the new Life & Legacy – a community partnership program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. OJCF will be eligible for match funds from the Grinspoon Foundation for two years along with the guidance and mentorship of the Grinspoon organization to support…
Sandi Scholnick was reduced to tears – again. Her 92-year-old mother, Pauline Lecker, had been living at the Rose Schnitzer Manor at Cedar Sinai Park for 5½ years, and, despite her encroaching Alzheimer’s, the situation had been ideal. Then her mother’s condition began to deteriorate day by day rather than month by month. It was…
Herbert Schwab inspired many, terrified some and left an impressive legacy both in Oregon law and community service. Among many other achievements, Schwab, who died in 2005, was the first chief judge of Oregon’s Court of Appeals and helped shape and define what is today one of the busiest intermediate appellate courts in the nation….
All seniors should check their Medicare prescription plan (Medicare Part D) and options for Medicare Advantage before the Dec. 7 Medicare Open Enrollment deadline, says Samuel Weiss, who serves as a long-term care ombudsman. As an advocate for residents of senior care facilities, including Robison Jewish Health Center and Rose Schnitzer Manor, Weiss helps seniors…
“My son the doctor; my daughter the lawyer,” declares the iconic Jewish mother, kvelling (bursing with pride). What’s behind this boast? Is it parents’ vicarious pride in their children’s mastery of a challenging and intellectually rigorous profession? Is it about status and material success? Or are there other factors in play? Why do a disproportionate…
The tradition of leaving gaps in the thatched roof of a sukkah sufficient to allow natural light to pass through makes the week-long harvest festival of Sukkot a natural time to speculate about space and the people who explore it. As my family gazed contentedly at the Portland night sky from our sukkah, the clear…
Judaism reminds judge to listen, wrestle and speak carefully in quest for justice Although religion has no place in legal decisions, Oregon’s only Orthodox appellate judge believes Judaism offers valuable guidance on how to approach the work of pursuing justice. In April Rick T. Haselton became chief judge of the Oregon Court of Appeals, on…
When Irina Panova-Proctor came to the United States in 2009 to be with the love of her life, she left 18 years of nursing experience behind in her native Latvia and started from scratch. Though she had worked in pediatrics, neurology and maternity, her license wasn’t transferable. “All around the world, nurses work not because…
The innovation and creativity that has flourished in Portland’s Jewish community lately is now attracting national attention. Two Portlanders – Steve Eisenbach-Budner and Sarah Blattner – recently brought home prestigious national awards. Every two years the Joshua Venture Group awards fellowships to social entrepreneurs who have the potential to “transform the Jewish landscape.” In a…
