Albanian Muslims Keep Holocaust-era “Promise” in Terrific Documentary: An important challenge for 21st-century documentary filmmakers is connecting the distant history of the Holocaust to today, and making it relevant for younger audiences. More often than not, it’s the children and grandchildren of survivors, rescuers and perpetrators who supply the necessary link between the past and…
Israeli filmmaker Rama Burshtein’s gripping debut, “Fill the Void,” focuses on the quietly dramatic domestic lives of religious Jews in Israel. Even more unusual, however, is that the director is a member of that community, an observant Jew – and, as you probably discerned, a woman. Born in New York and a selfdescribed “wild child”…
From its origins as a five-film weekend at the coast, the Portland Jewish Film Festival has grown into a two-week festival of 16 films that annually attracts thousands of Jewish and non-Jewish filmgoers. The 21st annual PJFF is presented by the Northwest Film Center in partnership with the Institute of Judaic Studies June 16-30. This…
As the weather warms and the days grow longer, many Oregon residents are venturing out to explore new terrain on the path to home ownership. If you’re considering buying or refinancing a home, there has simply never been a better time. Low interest rates provide a unique and timely opportunity to save money on your…
When you make handcrafted beer-soaked Portland using local ingredients, the only way forward is to simply brew more beer. That is why Hillsboro-based Ambacht Brewery has moved to a new, bigger location to increase its production volume. Known in the Jewish community for its matzah-based Matzobrau beer and in the wider community for its creative…
Patrons come from far and wide to enjoy the piquant curries and garlicky kebobs at Portland’s Bombay Cricket Club. The owners, Karim and Sherri Ahmad, have relatives throughout India, Lebanon and Israel. When the couple opened the restaurant in 1995, they decided to include both Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines on their menu. “Some people…
What’s happening over summer vacation? Most of us ask friends and family this question assuming there must be a reservation pending to an exotic destination resort. However, in this economy, an extended luxury vacation might not be in the budget. Fortunately there is often much to do right in your own hometown. Sometimes we take…
Fans of musicals can choose between new and old classics this summer, as the Broadway Rose Theatre Company presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster “Cats” in July, and Lerner & Loewe’s equally beloved hit “My Fair Lady” in August. Alan Anderson, BRT’s marketing director, says these two productions fit well into BRT’s theme for 2012-13, “Season…
It seems obvious that Jeff Hammer’s life as a carefree windsurfer and entrepreneur is light-years away from his roots as a Jewish boy from Great Neck, NY. Yet, like his father, he has created a manufacturing company that fills a niche. His journey took him from New York to Jackson Hole, WY, where he spent…
Beautiful Ashland makes a great getaway with enough indoor and outdoor activities to keep the whole family happy. Home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival with its Elizabethan stage and variety of plays, the compact city is the perfect place to kick back and have it all. Browse the shops or sip wine at an outdoor…
