Last week, I was very excited to announce the Portland Jewish Festival on August 30. Ticket sales have exceeded our expectations, and we have more exciting announcements to make in the near future. Join us and buy your tickets now.

I have heard from a few community members their concerns about festival security. I wish that was not a consideration, but we understand. Let’s be frank, those who attend the Greek Festival or Polish Festival do not worry about attending those public events.

Security and safety for all participants is our top priority! We are working closely with law enforcement and security agencies. I will not make our plans public, but every security precaution is being taken, and there will be security on-site.

Beyond what will be taking place in August, our community has an array of upcoming celebrations, advocacy events, festivals, and learning opportunities.

Do not miss our community's Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration on Sunday from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. There will be food, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, a live DJ, scavenger hunt, dancing, and we are excited to welcome, all the way from Israel, the band “Hashayara.” Come celebrate Israel’s 78th anniversary with our community. Registration is required – click here.

One of the key roles of our Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is to provide opportunities to meet candidates running for office. On Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. (location provided upon registration), we present an evening to meet candidates running for Beaverton City Council and Washington County Commissioner. Washington County residents are invited to hear directly from and ask questions to Rachel Phillip, Kevin Teater, John Dugger, Anthony Martin, Nafisa Fai, Antonio Pirog, Pam Treece, Felicita Monteblanco, and Jenny Kamprath. Space is limited – register here.

Enjoy the Portland Jewish Music Festival, set for May 6-17 at the Eastside Jewish Commons (EJC). Now in its second year, this celebration of Jewish musical traditions from throughout the Diaspora and Israel will include top-tier artists from near and far. I am excited the festival will host one of the most famous Mizrachi musicians in the world – Yair Dalal – as a festival headliner.

The Portland Jewish Music Festival was born last year when local folk music organization Bubbaville, (producer of the Portland Klezmer Festival for several years prior), passed the event’s torch to EJC as its natural home. Eric Stern, curator of the festival, extended it and added Sephardic and Mizrachi music to highlight a broader and more inclusive vision of global Jewish artistry. The Portland Jewish Music Festival became a multicultural event showcasing folk music from Spain, North Africa, Iraq, as well as Yiddish and Klezmer music.

Enjoy 11 days and nights of concerts, discussions, and community! More information here and listen to Eric Stern discuss the music festival on this week’s Jewish Review podcast.

Mazel tov to Sammy Monk, Volunteer Program Manager at Jewish Family and Child Service for being named this year’s recipient of the Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewish Professional Award. Sammy will be honored at the Jewish Federation’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday, May 27 at 4:30 PM at the MJCC. Register here.

A quick note based on Sammy’s role in our community. We are concluding National Volunteer Week, a time when we recognize and honor volunteers. Thank you to those who do hands-on volunteering or sit on boards and committees – your dedication, compassion, and service make an incredible impact in our community. THANK YOU!

On June 21, the Jewish Federation and Art/Lab will be hosting The Shuk: A Day of Jewish Ideas, Contemporary Art, and Culture. The Shuk, with generous funding from the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, will be held at the Eastside Jewish Commons and is a full day of choose-your-own Jewish adventure, featuring the best of Portland’s local Jewish educators, artists, and creative voices. This event brings Jewish learning, Jewish art-making, and Jewish community into the same space. Alongside workshops, panels, and lectures, expect a shuk of Jewish vendors, a kosher catered lunch, after-hours with a bar & DJ, and more! Learn more here.

Many of you will remember that "Keep Portland Weird" was first introduced in 2003 by Terry Currier, owner of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest record store, Music Millenium. Currier noticed that a lot of national chain stores and big box retailers were opening in Portland. As a small business advocate, Currier wanted to start a campaign encouraging people to support the city’s independent retail stores.

Originally, he considered “Keep Portland Unique,” but he decided it did not have a ring to it. It was not until 2003 that a friend in Austin, Texas, a city that had already launched a "weird" movement of its own, encouraged Currier to start a similar slogan in Portland.

As “weird” as Portland may be, perhaps Sid and Marty Krofft, TV producers best known for their work in children’s entertainment, were the epitome of weird. The brothers co-created a number of imaginative live-action fantasy series during the 1970s, including H.R. Pufnstuf, Land of the Lost, and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. (My family had a beautiful dog named Sigmund (z”l). When we would introduce him, most would inquire if he was named after Sigmund Freud. No. He was actually named after Sigmund from the television show.) Their productions were defining examples of creative children’s programming, blending puppetry, vibrant visuals, and fantasy storytelling.

I share this because last week Sid Krofft passed away. I idolized his creativity and loved his TV shows as a child – and as an adult. In fact, I have all their shows on DVD (but I no longer have a DVD player) and shared them with my own children. You can read more about Sid Krofft here.

Shabbat shalom and go Blazers!