PHOTO: Eric Kimmel returns to Green Bean Books on Dec. 2 for his annual Hanukkah reading for PJ Library. NOV. 14 PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY OPEN HOUSE: 10 am at PJA, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland. Come tour the campus, meet the faculty and see the school that is an inclusive community school providing a…
PHOTO: Eddy Shuldman and her parents at her bat mitzvah (1966). OJM 07171 The tradition of girls having bat mitzvah ceremonies in the United States is relatively new. Bat mitzvahs weren’t customary until the 1960s, and it took until the 1980s for it to be commonplace for girls to read from the Torah. The…
Photo: The author’s bar mitzvah party featuring Mr. Jiggs the chimp was an example of over-the-top extravaganzas popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps the most iconic ritual in Judaism, the bar mitzvah is steeped in meaning and tradition. For generations Jewish boys, and more recently girls, have heard the call of the Torah…
Planning for a bar or bat mitzvah can become practically a full-time job with all of the decisions that need to be made from the venue to the favors. We searched party planning sites, Pinterest and blogs to see what some of the hottest trends happening in celebrations for 2018 are. We are happy to…
PHOTO: A girl celebrates her bat mitzvah at the Western Wall with Women of the Wall. PHOTO BY MIRI TZACH You might be surprised to learn that egalitarian prayer services, including celebrations of bar/bat mitzvahs, continue regularly at the Kotel (Western Wall). Lost amid the controversy concerning the Government of Israel’s decision to renege on its…
Oct. 1, 2, 12 & 29 VACATION CAMPS AT MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland for ages 3-11. Need something for your kids to do during school breaks? Keep them busy and having fun at the MJCC with sports, swimming, gymnastics, arts and crafts, games, and more! Kids must be potty-trained. Half-day:…
PHOTO: Students and parents explore Maayan Torah’s new school. Maayan Torah Day School began the school year Sept. 4 in a new home – a dedicated school building with a host of indoor and outdoor amenities. Maayan’s new home at 2 Touchstone Dr. in Lake Oswego is a 12,270-square-foot school featuring large classrooms and dedicated…
By Lenny Steinberg From Aug. 5 to 10, 16 athletes and artists traveled to Southern California to participate in the 2018 JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest to represent Team Oregon. They joined 3,047 athletes, artists, coaches and delegation heads as they marched into Santa Ana Stadium in Orange County, CA, on Aug. 5 for…
Maimonides Jewish Day School in Southwest Portland announces Oregon’s second annual Hanukkah essay contest. All Oregon students in third to sixth grades are encouraged to reflect on and write an essay on the topic, “What Freedom Means to Me.” The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is a contest partner. The contest has sections for third-fourth…
For millions of school-age children in the United States, each day begins – and ends – with a bus ride. While the school bus is the safest way to travel to and from school, according to the National Association of Pupil Transportation , it’s important for parents to teach their children how to stay safe…
