With a full moon in the night sky, it’s a perfect time to celebrate Tu B’Av, the Jewish Day of Love. The holiday starts this evening of July 23 at sundown and continues through July 24. Historically, Tu B’Av marked the beginning of the grape harvest and Yom Kippur marked the end. During the…
Jamie Geller’s Quinoa Mushroom Risotto You can make risotto with all kinds of grains, why not quinoa? It isn’t quite and creamy as traditional risotto but the quinoa gives a nice nutty flavor you will love. This risotto is made easy with an oven risotto method, no stirring! RECIPE …
As we celebrate the holiday of sukkot, we are reminded that many people in our community lack shelter and food. This year the Eastside Jewish Commons is holding a sukkot open house event each night of the holiday (October 13-20). Each night one or more eastside families will open their sukkot to the community for…
During Passover Jews gather to tell the story of the Exodus. “Remember this day on which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage, how God freed you from it with a mighty hand.” Exodus 13:3 Some people wonder if it is OK to invite strangers or non- Jews to their seder table. While…
The first program funded by the Emily Georges Gottfried Fund is a black/Jewish dialogue, which began on Feb. 6 with the first in a series of four planned sessions. The dialogue was a fitting first recipient to be selected by the fund named in memory of Emily Gottfried, z”l, who created and led numerous programs…
Among Polish Jews looking forward to Passover, Karina Sokolowska stands out. As manager of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Poland, she knows holidays offer the perfect opportunity to reach out to her often hidden community and invite them back to their religion and roots. This year JDC caravans will spread out to small…
Like most Jewish holidays, Passover demands a certain degree of introspection. As Jews we are required not just to recall the slavery visited upon the ancient Israelites, we are commanded to imagine we have been personally delivered from slavery, and Dayenu, if that were not enough, we must also teach it to our children! In…
Though Miko Vergun becomes a bat mitzvah this month, she introduced her project to her congregation last fall. Her Nov. 9 talk at Congregation P’nai Or began simply: “My bat mitzvah project involves helping the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the country where I was born.” Miko hopes to increase awareness of the devastating effects…
It’s hard to believe, but Hanukkah is upon us once again. As Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally might say, “I haven’t even finished eating all my Halloween candy!” My kids can barely contain their excitement. “Daddy, how many more days until Hanukkah?” is the constant refrain around the house these days. Hanukkah in Oregon is…
