The death of four commercial fishermen on Dec. 11, 2001, when their 40-foot aluminum fishing vessel Nesika capsized a half-mile west of Yaquina Head, marked a turning point for each of the men’s families. It was the first day that the Dungeness crab fleet put to sea that year – a cold, dirty day on…
With a dozen members seated in a circle each Wednesday morning at Ashland’s Temple Emek Shalom, Rabbi Joshua Boettiger leads “Jewish Meditation.” Though in its silence, peace and community, it resembles Buddhism, it’s decidedly Hebraic in the brief introductory lesson. The silence of the meditators is already rich as they cross their legs and begin…
One of the greatest gifts of Jewish learning is how, in the hands of a gifted teacher, texts that were formulated centuries ago can be made relevant to modern lives. Case in point: “Overcoming Your Inner Pharaoh,” an interactive workshop series taught by Eugene’s Shmuel Shalom Cohen. The premise is simple but elegant. Shmuel posits…
Since the majority of teenagers take driver’s ed and many college- bound students take SAT prep courses, Portland’s NCSY now offers both courses specifically for Jewish teens. “Jewish Driver’s Ed and Jewish SAT Prep were designed for Jewish teens to meet each other without additional scheduling conflicts,” says Meira Spivak, NCSY’s Oregon teen programming director….
Nineteen-year-old Josh Israel was a typical Portland teenager. He spent most of his time studying, watching television or playing video games with his friends. A graduate of Portland Jewish Academy and Riverdale High School, he says during his senior year he realized he wanted to do something different with his life. “I hadn’t done anything…
When the Harold Schnitzer family gifted the Park Tower Apartments to the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, it was a winning proposition for all involved. The Schnitzer family was able to fulfill the wishes expressed by Harold Schnitzer in the weeks leading up to his death in April 2011. The OJCF won with a boost to…
Many families head to the slopes for winter fun. Learning the rules of the mountain and how to ski or snowboard properly can enhance both fun and safety. One Portland family has found a long-term partner in that quest for family fun. Joyce Bernheim, John Ashworth and their children, Alexandra and Paul, have all taken…
“We have a special obligation from our history and our perspective as Americans and as Jews that should align us with the interests of immigrants and make us struggle against anti-immigrant sentiment.” Strong words, but if you want wishy-washy talk about this controversial subject, don’t ask Portland resident Rebecca Shine what she thinks or those…
The somewhat calm demeanor I acquired growing up in the United States has been constantly challenged by living in Israel for more than 31 years. Nowhere is this more evident than in driving. While I try to maintain the basic courtesy and caution imbued in me in the green tranquility of the U.S., it is…
