Monday night, the Jewish Federation brought author and educator Dara Horn to Portland for a sold-out event. Attendees heard her comments about the rise in antisemitism and thoughts on what we can do to “pop that balloon.” Her speech was challenging and inspiring.

We were contractually not allowed to record her presentation, but you can watch this speech she gave at an ADL meeting, which is similar to what she shared in Portland. I encourage you to listen.

Here are some excerpts from Dara’s powerful speech:

Unfortunately, antisemitism is not localized. It is everywhere. I am not talking about criticism of Israel or criticism of the Israeli government, or of the conduct of this war on which, of course, there is endless room for all of us to disagree. I am talking about the ongoing campaign to demonize the overwhelming majority of the world's Jews… 

Tonight, I want to talk about the consequences of not speaking up and about what we are up against and what we are called upon to do in this moment, the through line of antisemitism for thousands of years has been the denial of truth and the promotion of lies. These lies range in scope from conspiracy theories to Holocaust denial to the blood libel to the currently popular claims that Zionism is racism, that Jews are settler colonialists, and that Jewish civilization is somehow magically not native to the Land of Israel. These lies are all part of the foundational big lie. The big lie is that antisemitism itself is a righteous act of resistance against evil, because Jews are collectively evil and have a no right to exist…

Our enemies have already discovered that it only takes a few loud voices to pass a resolution at a school board meeting or shut someone down in a city council meeting. All of you have the power of your own voice. Now is the time to spend your social capital. Each of us has our own spheres of influence. This is our Queen Esther moment. It is time to go to the king… 

When we get to the end of the Torah, we read the Haftarah from the Book of Joshua, where God says to Joshua the famous Hebrew words, 'chazak v’ematz' – be strong and courageous. Tonight, I want to offer you the words of the God of our ancestors, which all of us need as we meet this moment. Chazak v’ematz. Be strong and courageous enough to know what is worth defending. Be strong and courageous when you enter that uncomfortable place, when you say what no one else has the guts to say, when you refuse to bow to tyrants. Be strong and courageous as you carry forth with you this ancient tradition that insists on the most uncomfortable truths and it carries with it the antidote to tyranny. Chazak v’ematz, because of your courage, the people of Israel live. Am Yisrael Chai.

Yesterday, a group of Jewish community leaders met with Governor Tina Kotek to share our concerns about antisemitism. Gov. Kotek was an active listener and is committed to working with the Jewish community to address this challenging issue.

In addition, you can read this just-released House Committee on Education and the Workforce’s more than 100-page report on its year-long probe of antisemitism on U.S. college campuses. It paints a vivid portrait of missteps at universities as antisemitism and anti-Zionism mounted. The committee said that the incidents investigated reflect “a broader environment on these campuses that is hostile to Jewish students,” in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

After hearing Dara’s speech, I was interested in learning more about the phrase “chazak v’ematz.” I came upon this song by Alan Goodis. He wrote it in 2018 at a songwriting conference hosted by the Union of Reform Judaism. The lyrics are as follows: 

I’ve got the power, 

I’ve got the tough. 

I’m daring enough to be heard. 

I’ve got the grit, 

I’ve got the spark. 

I am a light when the world gets dark. 

Stand Up, 

go be courageous. 

Be strong, 

make it contagious. 

Don’t stop, 

you’ve got the fight. 

We’ll band together, 

We’ll heed the call.

We are relentless, 

We won’t fall. 

We’ll break the ceiling, 

We’ll touch the sky. 

They clip our wings and we still fly. 

Stand Up, 

Go be courageous. 

Be strong, 

make it contagious. 

Don’t stop, 

You’ve got the fight. 

Stand Up, 

Go be courageous. 

Be strong, 

Make it contagious. 

Don’t stop, 

You’ve got the Light. 

We can fight this! We are stronger together! We can and will stand up to hate. Chazak v’ematz!! 

Today is the seventh anniversary of Rachel’s Well, our community mikvah. We were the first Jewish Federation in the country to build, own, and operate a community mikvah. Anyone who identifies as Jewish is welcome to experience mikvah. Rachel’s Well is designed to support Jewish ritual life and the personal transitions of individuals and families in the community. People may visit for traditional reasons like: married women immersing monthly (niddah/taharat ha-mishpacha), getting married, making dishes kosher, conversion, and preparing spiritually for Shabbat and holidays.

Equally welcome and encouraged are creative reasons to immerse, such as to celebrate a major life transition or change in status. Examples of this type of visit are varied but include reaching a milestone birthday, acknowledging a diagnosis or recovery from illness, marking the end of a mourning period, becoming a bar or bat mitzvah, coming out, or celebrating an anniversary. We hope many in our community will experience and utilize this important and beautiful community resource.

Join us for Comedy for Peace -- Jews. Muslims. Comedy. No politics. Just laughs. You can learn more about them here and here. Tickets are selling fast!

Comedy for Peace will be coming on Sunday, November 17 for two shows at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center:

Matinee – 3:00 pm – Tickets are $25

Evening – 7:00 pm – Tickets are $36

(food and drinks included in ticket price)

We hope you will join us for a fun and funny opportunity. Buy your tickets here.

Most important of all -- VOTE!

Shabbat shalom.