Dr. Alan Morinis’ first book in 12 years takes a little explaining.
“I’ve written a book about Shabbat, and also not about Shabbat,” he said. “The part that’s not about Shabbat is about the intersection of religion and spirituality in the Jewish world.”
“The Shabbat Effect:…
The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland will host the Portland Jewish Festival Sunday, Aug. 30 at Zidell Yards in Portland’s South Waterfront neighborhood.
“It is going to be filled with food, kids’ activities, Israeli dancing, musical performances, organizational booths, Jewish art…
“I try really hard as a parent to model,” Arielle Goranson, chair of Portland’s chapter of Dignity Grows, said. “I don’t tell them to be involved. I show them what it looks like to be involved so that they can look for ways to be involved that are meaningful for them.”
Her work …
In the days leading up to the founding of Greater Portland Hillel eighteen years ago, a study examined the number and needs of Jewish students at Portland State University, Lewis & Clark College and Reed College. “Students felt isolated on campus with few opportunities for connecting…
David Michael Slater has written 40 books, but he describes his newest as “my first big book.”
The book, “Ugly,” released last October by Library Tales Publishing, derives its length, in part, from the three distinct stories that weave together across its pages.
“It’s three gen…
Rabbi Zalmy Berkowitz is building a synagogue. Sort of. A photographer by trade, Rabbi Berkowitz doesn’t use his title in everyday conversation and perhaps saying he’s building a synagogue conjures the wrong impression. “It’s hard to define because I’m not sure exactly what…
Retired Israel Defense Forces Col. Miri Eisen has some experience with war due to a lengthy career in military intelligence followed by her work with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
“War is not pretty. It’s not nice. There’s nothing good about it,” Eisen explained to the crowd a…
“According to Jewish law, you’re supposed to build a mikvah before you build a synagogue,” Oregon Board of Rabbis President Rabbi Abby Cohen pointed out.
It is a testament to the centrality of a mikvah, the rainwater-fed pool used for numerous Jewish rituals, to the life of a Jewish c…
Jessie Levine and John Bissell have had a dream for most of their relationship – a dream that has now come true in Southeast Portland. The aptly-named Dream Deli is not just their dream – but a reawakening of Portland’s deli tradition. This dream is a merger of two culinary…
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Volunteer Coordinator Merit Pinker has been selected for the fourth cohort of The Catalyst professional development initiative for Federation leaders working in volunteer service spaces.
Pinker joins 10 other Federation professionals from across North A…
When the Jews of Color Initiative planned out their national listening tour, Portland was a natural stop. “We’ve been working with the Jews of Color Initiative since 2022 when they gave us a grant to help fund what we think is one of the first surveys of Jews of Color in the Pacific…
One transplanted Jew’s quest to make clothing resale more fun turned into an online phenomenon and a growing business here in Portland. Owen Gail, raised in Wilsonville, came to Portland following his studies at Brandeis University. He was already selling used clothing online but…
Chanukah is the Festival of Light – a joyous occasion celebrating an ancient Jewish triumph.
As Portlanders gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square Sunday, Dec. 14 for the annual Portland Menorah Lighting, the joy was tinged with sadness as the ancient triumph was marked alongside a very mo…
Talking about Israel can be challenging and fraught under the best of circumstances. Meir Zimmerman is on a mission to make those conversations a little bit easier.
Zimmerman, who serves as Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Jewish Grad Organization, came to Portland Wednesday, Dec. 3 t…
B’reshit bara elohim, the Torah starts. “In the beginning, G-d created…” Three Hebrew words that carry immense meaning for Rabbi Adina Allen.
“The first thing we learn about G-d is that G-d is the creative force of the universe,” she said in her Thursday, Dec. 4 conversation wit…
