Simon Benson Awards: Portland State University President Wim Wiewel, right, presents one of two Simon Benson Awards to Jordan Schnitzer, who shared the award recognizing philanthropists with his mother, Arlene Schnitzer. The other award recipients, Stephanie Fowler and Irving Levin, pose with Diane Keaton, who was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 9 event at the Oregon Convention Center. Photos by Keene Studio, LLC.
Survivor: Nearly 500 people turned out Oct. 18 to hear Dan Alon, who survived the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Here Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Chabad of Oregon, the event organizer, joins Alon onstage at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. Alon and four other members of Israel’s Olympic delegation survived the attack by the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September. Alon described the indescribable joy at the opening ceremonies when the Israeli athletes marched behind their flag on German soil, a joy that became hysterical grief 10 days later. He remained angry, scarred and silent until Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film Munich prompted the Chabad rabbi at Oxford to invite him to speak. “Chabad helped me to recover,” he said. After speaking at another Chabad event in Berlin, he asked his driver to stop at the Brandenberg Gate and play “Am Israel Chai” on his loudspeakers. As the two sang, he said he felt “6 million Jews were with me singing.”
Circle of Life Awards: On Oct. 14 the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center presented the 2012 Circle of Life Awards to Chancellor Mary Jo Tully, the Rev. Ross Miller and Jakob Kryszek for their long-term commitment, dedication and loyalty to furthering the mission and vision of the OHRC. From left are keynote speaker Jeannie Smith, Kryszek, Tully, Miller and master of ceremonies Mike Donahue. The honorees have worked tirelessly to teach the lessons of the Holocaust so that current and future generations will remember and reflect on the historical events and work toward eradicating prejudice and hatred now and in the future. Smith held the room spellbound with the courageous story of her mother, reminding all that love and forgiveness can heal all. More than 200 people attended the luncheon at the Multnomah Athletic Club.
Shabbat in the Sukkah: More than 100 people celebrated Shabbat Oct. 5 at SukkahPXD, the juried architectural design competition and festival at the Oregon Jewish Museum. Devin Getreu, Jenn Salzberg and Marie Brophy enjoy music by Kivett Bednar and Anthony Pausic, light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Some of the local sukkah designers were in attendance and answered questions about their creative inspiration and sukkah construction. The event was co-sponsored by the Oregon Jewish Museum, Moishe House, and Portland Young Adult Shabbat with the Community Impact Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. Photo by Analucia Lopezrevoredo
