Portland’s Jewish Community takes center stage – 4,000 celebrate on Portland’s waterfront

By Cindy Saltzman

 Photos courtesy of Rockne Roll/The Jewish Review

For one Sunday in late August, Portland’s waterfront looked—and sounded—a little different.

Nearly 4,000 people came to Zidell Yards for the Portland Jewish Festival, filling the sprawling South Waterfront venue with music, dancing, food, families, artists, Jewish organizations and something that felt especially important right now: unabashed Jewish joy.

Presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, the Aug. 30 festival brought together people from across the Portland metro area for a public celebration of Jewish culture and community. Federation President and CEO Marc Blattner had said before the event that one of its goals was for Portland’s Jewish community to be “loud and proud.” Judging by the turnout, Portland was ready.

The event took place at the Zidell Yards which sits prominently along the Willamette River, a highly visible location that helped take Jewish life beyond the walls of synagogues, schools and community centers and place it quite literally in the middle of Portland. The site itself has Jewish roots: the former shipyard was developed by the Zidell family, whose story began with an Eastern European Jewish immigrant.

The music reflected just how broad contemporary Jewish culture can be. Nissim Black and Kosha Dillz brought Jewish hip-hop and rap to the main stage, while Portland singer-songwriter Alicia Jo Rabins, Carpathian-Pacific Express and other performers added everything from indie folk to klezmer. Festival-goers moved between live performances, Israeli dancing, food and drink, vendors, children’s activities, artists and booths representing Jewish organizations from throughout the region.

NISSIM BLACK told us, “It was an amazing event and if felt so good to be met with so much love in the Northwest.It feels like we’re forgotten a lot in that corner of the world. It’s always a big privilege to return.”

But perhaps the best measure of the day wasn’t found onstage.

“The Portland Jewish Festival reminded me what a gift it is to be Jewish and living in Portland, Oregon,” said active community member, Michelle Bombet Minch, who described reconnecting with old friends, meeting people she had previously known only through social media and discovering just how many Jewish connections surrounded her. “It’s the conversation and connection” that she said she will carry with her.

That sense of connection was everywhere.

Dozens of community partners participated, representing congregations, schools and organizations including ADL Pacific Northwest, Greater Portland Hillel, Jewish Family & Child Service, the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Portland Jewish Academy and many others. The Federation also partnered with JFCS on a kosher food drive connected to the festival.

The months of planning also included extensive security coordinated with the Secure Community Network, private security and Portland Police—allowing families to come together and concentrate on what the day was intended to be about: celebrating.

At a time when being visibly Jewish can sometimes feel complicated, there was something wonderfully uncomplicated about seeing thousands of people gathered on Portland’s waterfront simply enjoying being Jewish—and inviting the wider community to enjoy it with them.