The first Oregon Jews, who came from Germany in the mid-1850s, often lived in other places in America before finding their way out West. Many of them were merchants who helped build a strong Jewish community – founding synagogues, schools, social and charitable organizations and welcoming waves of other immigrants, refugees and survivors who would come to call Oregon their home. Those later arrivals made their own contributions to Oregon Jewish life.
The first Jewish organization in Oregon, Portland’s Mt. Sinai Cemetery Association, was incorporated in 1856. The Portland chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women organized in 1896, remaining active for nearly 120 years. The B’nai B’rith Building, later to become the Jewish Community Center, opened in 1914; in 1971 the center moved to its present location in Southwest Portland. In 1920 The Jewish Women’s Endeavor joined forces with the Old Men’s Hebrew Fraternal Organization to create “The Jewish Old Peoples Home.” The Federated Jewish Societies, the precursor of today’s Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, organized in 1920 to raise money for a variety of Jewish institutions.
Beneficiaries included the B’nai B’rith Building, the First Hebrew Benevolent Society, Jewish Relief Society, Jewish Women’s Benevolent Society, Jewish Women’s Sewing Society, National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, Neighborhood House, the Committee on Jewish Orphans, Portland Hebrew Free School, Sisters of Israel Benevolent Society and the South Portland Benevolent Society.
As community and individual needs shifted in subsequent decades, some organizations faded while others evolved, and new groups arose to meet the needs of 21st century America. Following are the organizations that today meet the needs of Jews living in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS
ADL PACIFIC NORTHWEST
206-448-5349
seattle.adl.org
AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AIPAC)
Oregon and Washington office
206-624-5152
aipac.org
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
212-751-4000
ajc.org
B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL
1120 20th St. NW #300N, Washington, DC
202-857-6600
bnaibrith.org
GIFT (GIVING IT FORWARD TOGETHER)
9604 NE 126th Ave., Ste. 2340
Vancouver, WA
360-524-4830
giftclarkcounty.com
HADASSAH, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION
Women’s Zionist Organization of America
Chapters in Bellingham, Corvallis, Eugene, Portland, Salem, Seattle, Spokane and Tacoma
140 Lakeside Ave., Ste. A #36
Seattle, WA
hadassah.org/regions/pacific-northwest
JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK
9604 NE 126th Ave., Ste. 2340
Vancouver, WA
360-524-4830
thejbn.org
JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL
Bob Horenstein, Director, Community Relations and Public Affairs
9900 SW Greenburg Road, Ste. 220
Tigard, OR
503-245-6496
bob@jewishportland.org
jewishportland.org/jcrc
With representation from a cross-section of the Greater Portland and Southwest Washington Jewish community, the JCRC develops consensus positions to: protect the social safety net, safeguard civil rights, combat anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination, and strengthen local ties to Israel. The JCRC is affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the planning and coordinating body for the national organized Jewish community in public affairs advocacy.
JEWISH EVENTS WILLAMETTE VALLEY
2531 Chula Vista Blvd.
Eugene, OR
541-514-2571
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILD SERVICE
Larry Holzman, Board President
Ruth Scott, Executive Director
Caitlin DeBoer, Emergency Aid Program Manager
1221 SW Yamhill St., Ste. 301
Portland, OR
503-226-7079
info@jfcs-portland.org
jfcs-portland.org
JFCS is the key social service agency for Portland’s Jewish community and beyond serving adults, families and children in the Greater Portland area. Our Counseling team provides behavioral health support, telehealth options, and accepts Medicare and some commercial insurance, in addition to sliding-scale options. People with developmental and other disabilities are able to receive supportive training and resources through our TASK & Tikvah Disability Support Services. Our Emergency Aid program provides resources, referrals and support in crisis situations—and our Holocaust Survivor Services program offers vital support services for Portland’s Holocaust survivor community.
JEWISH FAMILY & CHILD SERVICE
Larry Holzman, Board President
Ruth Scott, Executive Director
Caitlin DeBoer, Emergency Aid Program Manager
503-226-7079 ext. 134
CDeBoer@jfcs-portland.org
1221 SW Yamhill St., Ste. 301
Portland, OR
503-226-7079
info@jfcs-portland.org
jfcs-portland.org
JFCS is the key social service agency for Portland’s Jewish community and beyond serving adults, families and children in the Greater Portland area. Our Counseling team provides behavioral health support, telehealth options, and accepts Medicare, Medicaid and some commercial insurance, in addition to sliding-scale options. People with developmental and other disabilities are able to receive supportive training and resources through our TASK & Tikvah Disability Support Services. Our Emergency Aid program provides resources, referrals and support in crisis situations including wildfire assistance statewide – and our Holocaust Survivor program offers vital support services for Portland’s Holocaust survivor community.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF LANE COUNTY
PO Box 5924
Eugene, OR
541-484-2541
jewishfedlc.org/jewish-family-services
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PORTLAND
Marc N. Blattner, President and CEO
9900 SW Greenburg Road #220
Tigard, OR 97223
503-245-6219
info@jewishportland.org
jewishportland.org
Since 1920, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland assures the building and strengthening of the Jewish community locally, nationally, overseas and in Israel, in accordance with Jewish values.
JEWISH FEDERATION OF LANE COUNTY
Office: inside Temple Beth Israel at 1175 E. 29th Ave.
Mail: PO Box 5924
Eugene, OR
541-484-2541
jewishfedlc.org
JEWISH FREE LOAN OF GREATER PORTLAND
Les Gutfreund, chair
9900 SW Greenburg Rd., Suite 220
Tigard, OR
503-892-7417
freeloan@jewishportland.org
jewishportland.org/freeloan
Loans available for up to $4,000 for life’s “ups and downs,” such as tuition, car repair, medical expense, debt consolidation, housing assistance, etc. Applicants must identify as Jewish, be 18 years or older, have a co-signer(s), and have lived in Oregon/SW Washington for at least 6 months. Visit webpage for complete list of guidelines and application.
JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OREGON
PO Box 19736
Portland, OR
971-266-0005
sites.rootsweb.com/~orjgs/contact.html
JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY
nwfam.com/jgswvo.html
JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE
140 W. 31st St., 2nd floor
New York, NY
212-477-0707
jewishlaborcommittee.org
JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL
1129 20th St. NW #801, Washington, DC
800-343-2823
jwi.org
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND, PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Boaz Meir, Executive Director
206-760-1188 ext. 977
Jackson Pincus, Campus and Israel Programs Admissions Director
206-760-1188 ext. 941
1455 NW Leary Way #400
Seattle, WA
bmeir@jnf.org | jpincus@jnf.org
jnf.org
Unparalleled in the Jewish philanthropic world, Jewish National Fund-USA’s strategic vision is to build and connect to the land of Israel. Our driving focus has always been to ensure a strong, secure and prosperous homeland for the Jewish people in the land of Israel. Everything we do – every project, initiative and campaign we take on – connects to our vision. We run an American semester abroad high school in Israel connecting the next generation with Israel.
JEWISH WOMEN’S ROUND TABLE
Portland, OR
jwrt.org
JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS (JAC)
847-433-5999
jacpac.org
MAZON: A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER
10850 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 400
Los Angeles, CA
800-813-0557
mazon.org
MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Steve Albert, Executive Director
Kelsey Kaplan, Membership + Retention Manager
Beth Germain, Chief Financial Officer
6651 SW Capitol Hwy.
Portland, OR
503-244-0111
mjcc@oregonjcc.org
oregonjcc.org
The MJCC has been a vital part of the community for over 100 years, providing a gathering place for the Jewish community while warmly embracing people of all faiths. Presently, the MJCC offers in-person work out facilities and programs for kids as well as virtual group exercise classes, personal training, and arts + culture programs. The 25-yard lap pool and warm water pool will reopen when we enter Phase 2 of the Reopen Oregon plan.
NA’AMAT USA
21515 Vanowen St. #102, Canoga Park, CA
844-777-5222
naamat.org
OREGON BOARD OF RABBIS
JoAnn Bezodis, Administrator
2900 SW Peaceful Lane,
Portland, OR
971-248-5465
oregonboardofrabbis.org
OREGON JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Julie Diamond, President & CEO
Tara Siegman, Director of Donor Relations and Development Officer
1618 SW First Ave., Ste. 210
Portland, OR
503-248-9328
info@ojcf.org
ojcf.org
OJCF’s mission is to build and promote a culture of giving in Oregon and Southwest Washington that supports a thriving Jewish community now and for generations to come. The foundation promotes strategic philanthropy offering charitable individuals philanthropic tools including donor-advised funds, charitable gift annuities, planned gifts and trusts. In partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, OJCF directs the LIFE & LEGACY initiative in Oregon to promote after-lifetime giving to build endowments and strengthen Jewish organizations for the future.
OREGON JEWISH MUSEUM AND CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION
724 NW Davis St.
Portland, OR
503-226-3600
ojmche.org
ORT AMERICA
75 Maiden Lane, 10th Floor
New York, NY
800-519-2678
ortamerica.org
JEWISH MEDIA
OREGON JEWISH LIFE
Cindy Saltzman, Publisher
Mala Blomquist, Editor-in-Chief
602-538-2955
advertise@ojlife.com
info@ojlife.com
orjewishlife.com
Oregon Jewish Life magazine features engaging content that celebrates the vitality, diversity, challenges and accomplishments of our community. In addition to feature stories and columns, we provide a resource for local organizations to share their news. Jewish organizations in Oregon and SW Washington are invited to share their events and programs by sending information to editor@ojlife.com. Advertising options are available on the website and in our free weekly e-newsletter, as well as the magazine. To receive The Weekly, sign up at orjewishlife.com/ newsletter-sign-me-up.
