The crack of that first piece of matzah, destined to become the afikomen. Homemade matzah ball soup simmering on the stove, its magical aroma evocative of days of Pesach past. The warmth of family gathered together. Is it any wonder that Passover is the most widely observed Jewish holiday in America? Why is this night…
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…
The Oregon Hillels have had a busy year overcoming challenges to keep up with innovative programming, attract students and spread Jewish enthusiasm across college campuses. The Oregon Hillel at University of Oregon and the Greater Portland Hillel, which has chapters at Portland State University, Lewis & Clark and Reed, have welcomed many new participants. This…
Passover is one of my favorite holidays. I spend days before our Passover Seder rendering chicken skin for the schmaltz in my matzah balls, and slowly poaching homemade gefilte fish. I gather all the necessary items for the Seder plate and look forward to gathering with my family, reading the Haggadah and recalling the story…
Passover is one of the most compelling Jewish holidays. Jews have struggled to observe it during the most difficult of times and circumstances – whether in grinding poverty, on the battlefields of wars or at the peril of their lives in concentration camps.
Throughout history, humanity has instinctively understood the power of music to heighten emotions. The strident beat of war drums, melodious Torah chants, ethereal church hymns and the ominous rhythm of the Jaws movie theme have all used the language of the soul. Yet Rabbi Alan Berg says that he has never heard a liturgical composition…
Each month Oregon Jewish Life will ask a group of rabbis, cantors, educators and/or members of the community a question relevant to the season or a theme in that issue. For April, we asked rabbis to reflect on Passover’s message of freedom. Rabbi Glenn Ettman Temple Beth Tikvah, Bend The holiday of Passover is the…
