Jodi Bromberg, CEO of InterFaith Family shared this poignant message after Saturday’s tragedy in Poway. I struggled with writing this note to you. Another synagogue, another shooting, another person dead and more wounded. First Pittsburgh, then New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and now, Poway, a short distance away from San Diego. Ma nishtana? What’s different?…
The federal government shutdown is impacting thousands of our friends and neighbors. Uncertainty over the length of the furlough is causing additional anxiety and stress for those who are not getting paid during this time. We have heard from several Jewish agencies, groups and congregations about steps they are taking to help alleviate the stress…
PHOTO: KOSHER INSPECTOR Aaron Wulkan examines meat to ensure that the food is stored and prepared according to Jewish regulations and customs in a Bat Yam store. (photo credit: BAZ RATNER/REUTERS) This article originally appeared in the Jerusalem Post, Jan. 8, 2019 The recent Belgian government ban of shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter) overlooks some important…
The federal government shutdown is impacting thousands of our friends and neighbors. Uncertainty over the length of the furlough is causing additional anxiety and stress for those who are not getting paid during this time. Jewish Free Loan of Greater Portland offers interest-free, emergency bridge loans to help Jewish federal employees and contractors in Oregon…
PHOTO: Oregon Poet Laureate Kim Stafford talks to students about the importance of voice. Photo by Deborah Moon On election day, I had the absolute pleasure meeting Oregon’s 9th Poet Laureate Kim Stafford at Maimonides Jewish Day School. He spoke with the warmest of voices to the children in the most majestic way – the…
PHOTO: Kim Stafford, PhD, Oregon’s ninth poet laureate, speaks to students at Maimonides Jewish Day School on Election Day 2018. He is the director of Lewis & Clark College’s Northwest Writing Institute and has published 20 books of poetry and prose. Photos by Deborah Moon “After the last election, I devoted myself to healing…
By Randy Kessler, StandWithUs Northwest executive director, Oct. 27, 2018 StandWithUs staff and board members around the U.S., Israel, Canada, the UK are shocked and heartbroken by today’s savage anti-Semitic act of mass murder in Pittsburgh, at the Tree of Life synagogue during a baby naming ceremony. Our international community mourns with the Pittsburgh community and the family…
Reacting to the burgeoning Me Too Movement, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland presented a May training on sexual harassment in the workplace. Fran Sepler, who is nationally known for her work in harassment prevention and workplace investigations, visited Portland from May 15-17. She has done a lot of work with the #Metoo and #Timesup…
PHOTO: Joyce Tischler and her dog, Deja. When Joyce Tischler was a law student 40 years ago, animal law didn’t exist. Now the Animal Legal Defense Fund Joyce cofounded in 1979 has 180 student chapters, three offices on the West Coast and thousands of attorneys protecting animals’ rights. For Joyce, protecting animals is all about…
When David Newman, 63, took his son, Seth, to Tanzania for a safari and a cultural safari, they expected to be moved by the grandeur of Africa’s wildlife. What David did not expect was that he would be so moved by the humans he met that he would come home to Portland and start a…
