At the Passover seder, we ask the question “Why is this night different from all other nights?” On this night, we eat only matzah. On this night, we especially eat bitter herbs and dip them twice. On this night, we dine with special ceremony. The story of Passover represents the journey from darkness into light….
THIS FLOURLESS ALMOND cake may be the best-hidden secret for a Passover dessert! There are plenty of almond cake recipes on the internet, but most of them use finely ground almonds or almond flour for the base ingredient. This cake uses almond butter instead. The result is a dense, moist cake that is sweet and…
PHOTO: Volunteers pack bags of corn at the Oregon Food Bank at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Doing Tuesday mitzvah project. In addition to the Jewish Federation, Portland Jewish Academy and Havurah Shalom have recently sent groups to volunteer with Oregon Food Bank. At the dawn of the new millennium, Oregon topped…
Volunteers are needed April 14 to pack and deliver Passover food boxes to families and individuals in need. The Maot Chittim Project – literally “Money for Wheat” – ensures that area families have the food they need to truly celebrate Passover. This year the Maot Chittim Project will deliver about 125 kosher-for-Passover food boxes to…
The Havurah Synagogue and Temple Emek Shalom will co-host a dynamic weekend of pre-Passover learning, prayer, music and community featuring Estelle Frankel, MFT, April 5-7. Estelle is a practicing psychotherapist, spiritual advisor and seasoned teacher of Jewish mysticism. Ordained as a spiritual director by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Estelle has taught Jewish studies in Israel and…
This year’s performance of “Crossing Over – A Musical Haggadah” will be an interfaith experience with the celebration of Passover and crossing the Red Sea offering a new vision of rebirth and renewal. Crossing Over, composed by Michael Allen Harrison with book and lyrics by Rabbi Alan Berg, debuted at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center…
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces annually distributes Mishloach Manot to IDF soldiers. This year, some 25,000 Mishloach Manot were distributed to soldiers across various brigades and battalions adopted by the organization. “Supporting the IDF soldiers throughout the year is the cornerstone of our organization,” said FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir…
On Purim people gather to hear “the Megillah,” also known as the Book of Esther, which tells how the Jews in ancient Persia were saved from the wicked Haman through the leadership of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai. When the name of Haman is read, people stomp their feet, hiss, boo or shake noisemakers…
Last evening we went to bed learning the horrifying news about massacres at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. This morning we learned 49 dead and 20 injured. No one should ever fear going to their house of worship. Our siddurim (prayer books) contain the following in the prayer for peace, “May we see the…
A family member of a victim of the massacre at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue has created “2 for Seder,” aimed at tackling anti-Semitism at the grassroots level. The 2 for Seder event encourages Jewish families to welcome two non-Jews into their seder to experience first-hand the most celebrated Jewish holiday of the year…
