Final crisis grants made 

The final $17,000 from the Jewish community COVID-19 assistance fund was allocated late last month. 
The Greater Portland Jewish Community COVID Emergency Fund was a joint project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation. Over the past eight months, 42 Jewish organizations across the State of Oregon and SW Washington have received a total of $901,243.
The final grants went to:
Beit Am Mid-Willamette Jewish Community (Corvallis) – $1,800 for technology needs 
Cedar Sinai Park – $4,200 for additional personal protective equipment 
Jewish Community of Central Oregon, Congregation Shalom Bayit (Bend) – $1,000 for technology needs 
Oregon Board of Rabbis – $10,000 to provide food gift cards to community members in need. 
“I am so proud of our community for not only raising these needed funds, but also for the leaders who volunteered their time to responsibly allocate them,” says JFGP President and CEO Marc Blattner. “Unfortunately, as we all know, we are still struggling with the pandemic. That is why your support of the Jewish Federation’s Campaign for Community Needs matters so much at this time. That is how you can support our community agencies.”
You can make your pledge at jewishportland.org/donor2021.

Women's Giving Circle accepting grant requests

The Women’s Giving Circle seeks to expand and improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women and girls’ lives through strategic and effective grantmaking. The Women’s Giving Circle endeavors to empower women as leaders, funders, and decision makers.

On Dec. 1, the Women’s Giving Circle began its 2021-2022 Grantmaking Cycle and is accepting applications for grants. Grant submission deadline is Feb. 15, 2021. Grants will be announced June 7, 2021. Individual grant amounts will be between $1,000 and $5,000, with a total of $28,000 available.

The Women’s Giving Circle is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Women’s Philanthropy Program.

To apply: jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/womens-philanthropy/womens-giving-circle

Chaya Wilhelm certified as Nurtured Heart Trainer
Chaya Wilhelm was recently certified as a trainer in The Nurtured Heart Approach. NHA is a relationship-focused methodology founded strategically in “The 3 Stands” for helping children (and adults) build Inner Wealth and use their intensity in successful ways. It has become a powerful way of awakening the inherent greatness in all children while facilitating parenting and classroom success. The essence of NHA is a set of core methodologies originally developed for working with the most difficult children. It has a proven impact on every child, including those who are challenged behaviorally, socially and academically.
As a trainer certified by Howard Glasser, the creator of this approach, Chaya is able to train and coach people in NHA. Chaya is the wife of Rabbi Shneur Wilhelm, principal of Maimonides Jewish Day School, where Chaya teaches.
A recent participant in one of Chaya’s parenting classes says, “Every child has greatness within them. And it’s a parent/teacher’s job to help the children in their care to discover, recognize and build on that greatness; but many of us aren’t sure how to do that. With warmth, clarity and humility, Chaya Wilhelm can teach you how. One of the best parenting classes I’ve taken.”
Chaya is available for classes, school workshops and individual coaching. She can be reached at Whatsgoingright@gmail.com or whatsgoingright.org.

Monthly Mitzvah: Kashrut

To celebrate 36 (double chai) years in Oregon, Chabad of Oregon is promoting a different mitzvah for each month of this year. 
The celebration is based on the Mitzvah Campaign created by Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, z”l, in 1967. 
In December, the focus is on kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. For a healthy and sound soul, eat kosher foods and make your Judaism part and parcel of your very being. 
“We’ll be glad to help,” says Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm. “For assistance or more information, call me at 503-957-7842.”