A quick update from my Marc’s Remarks from last week. Nothing has yet moved forward at the City Council. We are monitoring the situation and reaching out to city councilors. The Jewish Review wrote a story about it here.

More importantly, at the virtual press conference, the editor of the Jewish Review registered as a member of the press. When the press conference started, he was removed from the call. Note, he represents the only Jewish newspaper in Oregon. It makes you wonder. The Oregonian wrote this article about the incident.

Wednesday night was our Women’s Philanthropy IMPACT event with Lindsay Gottlieb, USC Women’s Basketball Head Coach. She talked about the balance between being a coach, wife, and mother. She even provided life advice - “How you feel is real – whether after losing a game, making mistakes with your children, or just general life challenges. We can all continue to grow. Allow yourself to do that.”

That night was about far more than a charismatic speaker. It marked an exciting transition point in our community. Most of the women in the room were in their 30s and 40s. Many “community veterans” (who have attended these types of events for decades) were there commenting to me how nice it was to see so many young people they did not know. To see a whole new generation of women “leaning in” and hopefully finding avenues for deeper engagement. It was inspiring! Their presence spoke volumes and can only bode well for our community’s future. We hope to see you, and others, many times in the years ahead.

I also wish our community could have heard mothers and daughters talk about what the Jewish community means to them; a teen express how her involvement in the Jewish community is helping to shape her life as she fights antisemitism in our high schools; and, hear one of the finest “campaign pitches” I have ever heard. It was special!

Now, to have even more fun with our community, the Jewish

Federation presents ILLUMINATE on Saturday, November 15 at The

Loft at 8^th Avenue. It is a night of dancing, food, drink (including a vodka tasting from KACHKA), and community! Everyone deserves a night out with longtime and new friends. Tickets are only $50 per person and you can buy your tickets here. Do not miss the most fun event of the season and the opportunity to come together!

As of today, our annual campaign now stands at $1,803,000 – in only 54 days. We have raised double what we raised last year at this time. Plus, our donors have been so generous that we currently have a 17% increase in pledges year-over-year. Thank you to everyone who has already made their commitment to the Campaign for Community Needs. If you have yet to do so, please make your pledge today (payment is not due until December 2026.) Our community is counting on you!

Something I am very proud of -- the Jewish Federation of Greater

Portland was just ranked the 4^th best small nonprofit to work for in

the State of Oregon by Oregon Business – out of over 9,500 nonprofits with fewer than 24 employees. We will continue to strive to be #1. BB360 was also highly ranked – mazel tov to our colleagues.

This Shabbat is deemed “Resilience Shabbat” – an opportunity to empower Jewish communities to reflect on resilience, build awareness of disaster-related challenges, and strengthen their resolve to be part of the solution for those impacted by natural disasters. It coincides with Parshat Noach -- the timeless narrative of the flood and Noah's active work of rebuilding and establishing a new covenant. The story offers profound lessons in navigating devastation, finding hope, and engaging in the crucial work of reconstruction.

Inspired by Jewish values of nechama (consolation) and tikkun olam (repairing the world), Resilience Shabbat provides a framework for Jewish communities to:

• Reflect and Engage: Create a sacred space to reflect on the broader issues of disaster resilience and the importance of communal support, even for those not directly affected.

• Build Collective Strength: Cultivate collective resilience by drawing on Jewish wisdom and traditions, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and action.

• Highlight Direct Action: Showcase how taking direct action to aid disaster victims embodies the spirit of rebuilding that is emphasized in Parshat Noach, and how communities can contribute to this vital work.

For whatever reason, the Jewish community in Portland has always generously supported those impacted by natural disasters – whether in Hawaii, North Carolina, Texas, Los Angeles, or halfway around the world. You care! I am grateful for that.

And, as we continue to hear, one day our region may/will be impacted by a major natural disaster. We want to be prepared, and we hope others will come to our aid.

We have three excellent upcoming speakers in Portland:

This coming Tuesday, the Jewish Community Relations Council is

sponsoring a K-12 Parent Advocacy Training featuring Jillian Stone, a civil rights specialist with the Oregon Department of Education. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. at Congregation Neveh Shalom. You can learn more here.

We are excited to welcome, Dr. Dean Bell, President and CEO of the

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Dr. Bell will lead a interactive learning session on how we can align professional and volunteer leadership to address antisemitism. The program will be held at Congregation Neveh Shalom (and co-sponsored by them) on Wednesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. Please register here.

We are also delighted to have Gil Hoffman, Executive Director of Honest Reporting, speak in Portland on both November 10 (at Congregation Neveh Shalom where he will speak on, Eye on the Media: The World's Obsession with Israel) and on November 11 (at the Eastside Jewish Commons where he will speak on Peace, Politics and Propaganda: An Insider's Look at how Israel is Overcoming the World's Challenges). Each program begins at 7:00 p.m. and we are pleased to co-sponsor with Congregation Neveh Shalom’s Israel360 and StandWithUs. Please click here to register for either night.

Shabbat shalom.