PHOTO: Animals roam freely on the Weisman family farm, where the family is closely connected to its food supply. With the arrival of Passover later this month, most of us are looking forward to our seders. But for our distant ancestors Passover looked very different from today’s holiday. For the ancient Israelites, the primary…
Passover begins at the end of this month, and the checklist starts to form with all my to-dos. My biggest focus every year is the food. How do I make Passover healthy for my kids, my husband and myself? For almost two years, I have been eating a more Paleo diet (a diet based on…
By the time an Israeli military pilot saluted Jeff Silver on the kibbutz where he spent his 17th summer in 1978, Jeff was already pre-disposed toward a career in aviation and the military. But Jeff couldn’t know that now, 34 years later, he would be poised to ascend to heights few others reach in that…
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 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.
