B’nei Mitzvah Olivia Cull Olivia Cull will become Bat Mitzvah on September 5, 2015. She is the daughter of Julia Epstein and Tom Cull and older sister of Anabel. Olivia will be an 8th grader this fall at Laurelhurst School. For her Mitzvah Project, she has chosen to support global literacy. She explains, “During the school year, I have been visiting classrooms to raise awareness about the need for materials to improve literacy in developing countries. During my visits, I had students design and create bookmarks that will be sent to schools in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. For every bookmark made, a dollar is being matched by the Bezos Family Foundation to directly support literacy in these places. Along with making the bookmarks, I created a presentation for each classroom so students could imagine what it may be like to be without schools or the ability to learn. In September, we will have the chance to exchange dialogue via web chat with the school in Peru to learn about one another’s schooling. The next piece of my project will involve raising funds to provide children in Nepal with educational supports that were destroyed after the earthquake.” To learn more about Olivia’s project, check out the Save the Children website (savethechildren.org), which gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm; and The Global Nomads Group website (gng.org), which fosters dialogue and understanding among the world’s youth.
Marc Morgan Marc Morgan will become Bar Mitzvah on September 12, 2015. He is the son of Mel Birge and Janet Morgan and older brother to Estelle. Marc attends the Portland Waldorf School. For his Mitzvah Project, Marc has chosen to support the Community Cycling Center Holiday Bike Drive. The Community Cycling Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to broadening access to bicycling and its benefits. Donations help the Community Cycling Center build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. Donated bicycles form the foundation of the Community Cycling Center. Their professional mechanics and skilled volunteers refurbish bicycles and direct them to their bike safety programs for low-income youth or to their bike shop. In Marc’s words, “I picked this mitzvah project because my parents own a bike shop and I wanted to do something with bikes. I selected this project to support the Community Cycling Center’s mission and to help more people enjoy riding a bike.” To donate, visit the website https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/ MarcMitzvah..
Abigail Brown Abigail Brown will become Bat Mitzvah on September 26, 2015. She is the daughter of Marisa and Ron Brown, and older sister of Eleanor. Abigail is an 8th grader at Lake Oswego Junior High. Abigail loves her dogs Dash (a Weimaraner) and Jack and Nina (French Bulldogs). For this reason, she has
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chosen to support The Pongo Fund for her mitzvah project. Rather than see any dog go hungry due to circumstances beyond their control, Abigail is compelled to help support these animals in need, along with their human parents. According to their website, “The Pongo Fund is Oregon’s only full-time charity fighting animal hunger—Because hungry people have hungry pets.” In honor of her Bat Mitzvah, Abigail plans to spend time this fall working with The Pongo Fund to help bag kibble, do fundraising, and participate in events supporting the Pongo Fund. You can learn more about the Pongo Fund by visiting their web site at www.thepongofund. org Donations in celebration of Abigail’s bat mitzvah can be made at www.thepongofund.org/contact/donation-page.
High Holidays Funds for Food Drive 509,000
Oregonians without enough food
8,508
Lunches served by Lift Urban Portland last year
5,000
People served by Sunshine Pantry in a typical month
190+
Pounds of food your $108 gift will buy
31+
Pounds of bulk food your $18 gift will buy
<5
Minutes it takes to write a check to CBI’s High Holidays Food Drive
The Torah and our traditions compel us to feed those who would otherwise go hungry. As Maimonides knew, a hungry person cannot think of higher things. Even the dayto-day tasks we do without a second thought are difficult when food is scarce. To support Congregation Beth Israel’s High Holidays Food Drive, you can: • M ail a check marked “HHD Food Drive” to 1972 NW Flanders Street, Portland, OR 97209. • Call (503) 222-1069 to donate with a Visa or MasterCard. • D onate items the food banks need. Visit the Sunshine Pantry and Lift Urban Portland websites for wishlists and ideas: www.sunshinepantry.org/what-we-need/index.php www.lifturbanportland.org/donate/wish-list
The CBI High Holidays Food Drive continues through September 27.
Congregation Beth Israel