Oregon Jewish Life Summer 2019 Vol 8/Issue 5

SUMMER 2019

AWARDED

WANDER NO MORE

TOP 10 ONLINE

JEWISH MAGAZINE

FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Think beyond ties

Founders Karen and Howard Schwartz

National Jewish Educators Conference Comes to Portland

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 1

2 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 3

WANDER NO MORE

CO N TE N TS Summer 2019 | Iyar-Av 5779 | Volume 8/Issue 5

15

COVER STORY

SUMMER FUN

Couple unites world through Hip Hop

18

Warm weather fashion Outings in and around Portland

Summer reading roundup Dining Out at Delores Exhibit: Hans Coper ceramics Summer Fun briefs Portland Jewish Film Festival

FEATURES

18

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Janet Hamada and The Next Door

10

BUSINESS Ins & Outs MJCC Strategic Plan

12 13

EDUCATION Teaching in costume National conference comes to Portland

29

15 16

FATHER’S DAY Gift options (no ties included) 17

ON THE COVER: Howard and Karen Schwartz, founders of Hip Hop International INSET: CBAction from Argentina – the 2018 Hip Hop International’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship gold medal winners in the adult category

37 4 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Photos courtesy Hip Hop International

25 28 29 30 31 32

JLIVING P’nai Or celebrates new rabbi and home The comfort of a minyan Previews FACES & PLACES

36 37 38 39

COLUMNS NW Nosh by Kerry Politzer 29

ACTIVELY SENIOR Chef Jon Wirtis cooks creative kosher

34 Everyone can leave a legacy 35

30

24

17

Institute for Jewish Spirituality Wise Aging Cultivating mindful leaders. Revitalizing Jewish life.

JFCS wishes to express our heartfelt gratitude to The Holzman Foundation and Larry Holzman for their support of JFCS

This year The Holzman Foundation is: Presenting sponsor for the annual brunch; Underwriter for the Wise Aging facilitator training; Start-up sponsor for the Child & Family mental health counselor.

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 5

WANDER NO MORE

SUMMER 2019 Oregon Jewish Life | Iyar-Av 5779 | Volume 8/Issue 5

PU B LI S H E R

H OW T O R E AC H U S

Cindy Salt zman

503- 892-7402

A DV E R TI S I N G A N D E D ITO R I A L D I R EC TO R

ADVERTISING SALES: adver tise@ojlife.com

Cindy Salt zman

E D ITO R- I N - C H I E F Deborah Moon

ART DIREC TOR Philip Nerat

GR APHIC DE SIGNER

EDITORIAL: 503- 892-7402 or editor @ojlife.com E VENTS: editor @ojlife.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: orjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription BUSINESS: publisher @ojlife.com S U B S C R I P TI O N S A N D D I S TR I B U TI O N Home deliver y of Oregon Jewish Life Magazine is $12 for an annual subscription or $20 for two years. Subscribe online at orjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription.

Complimentar y copies of Oregon Jewish Life magazine are available at dozens of retail locations including Jewish agencies, synagogues, New Seasons grocer y stores, enter tainment venues, restaurants and professional of fices.

Tamara Kopper

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

PU B L I C ATI O N A N D D E A D L I N E S

Mala Blomquis t

COLUMNIS TS

Oregon Jewish Life magazine is dis tributed on the fir s t of the month.

Stor y ideas for features and special sec tions are due 45 - 60 days prior to public ation.

Kerr y Polit zer

BIZ INS & OUTS: Busines s news is due about 25 days before public ation.

FACES & PL ACES: Photos from past events are due 20 days prior to publication.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Steve Alber t

Teresa Bergen

Gloria Hammer

E VENTS: Information about upcoming event s is due about 20 days prior to public ation.

C ALENDAR: Please pos t event s on our online c alendar. Relevant event s that are pos ted by the 10 th of the month before public ation will be included in the magazine. To reques t fir s t-time authorization to pos t event s online, go to orjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “c alendar acces s reques t ” link under “quick links” on the right. Af ter you submit the form, you’ ll receive an email with ins truc tions for pos ting future event s.

A Prince Hal Produc t ion ( TGMR18)

2018-2019 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved

50 6 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

The content and opinions in Oregon Jewish Life do not necessarily reflec t those of the publishers, staf f or contrac tors. Ar ticles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although ever y ef for t is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Oregon Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contrac tors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reser ve the right to refuse any adver tisement. Publication of adver tisements does not constitute endorsement of produc ts or ser vices.

A Great Big Thank You to Everyone Who Made Our 2019 Bene it a Night to Remember!

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO2

AND A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: WIZARD OF OZ SPONSORSÂ Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of OJCF/ Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer

WIZARD OF OZ SPONSORS Harold & Arlene S hnit.er Family EMERALD CITY SPONSORS F*nd of OJCF/ Arlene S hnit.er Susan erson Columbia Bank and Jordan S hnit.er Dr. Philip and Mrs. Dorothy Reiter RUBY SLIPPER SPONSORS

EMERALD CITY SPONSORS Consonus Rehabilitation Friends of Robison S*san Gerson R&H Construction WellsCol*m ia Far#o Bank Bank Dr. AND Philip and DONORS Mrs. Dorothy Reiter mATCHIN R BY SLIPPER SPONSORS Conson*s Reha ilitation Friends of Ro ison R&H Constr* tion Wells Far o Bank

The generously contributed funds will help support our co unity's elders with love, honor and respect all year long

Wat h for information on o*r 100th Anni,ersary Cele ration in 2020!

Thank You for another great year!

jewishportland.org JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 7

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

CINDY SALTZMAN Publisher

WANDER NO MORE

Give me a break! ...a summer break.

H

ave you ever noticed that adults tend to get very nostalgic at the onset of summer? I think it probably has to do with childhood memories of long, carefree days. Summer vacation seems to have been created just for kids. Well, it kind of was.

But most adults I know still look forward to that first day of summer.

Although most of us work during the summer, as summer approaches, our thoughts turn to freedom, fun, swimming, ice cream and a slower pace. But other than the first few days or a short family vacation, it rarely is a slower pace. If you are a young parent with children, your schedule hits warp speed during the summer. Ah, the delusions of nostalgia.

During the busy summer months, some days I actually start planning a special summer camp just for adults. I mean I seriously make notes about the business plan, the logistics, activities, etc. But before I get too far, reality hits and adult summer camp becomes just one more thing to plan and execute and eat up my not-so-carefree summer. But there is an upside to my summer camp plans – when I let go of those plans, I feel freer and appreciate the summer again. It is kind of a warped mental exercise, but it does the trick every time.

This year, one of the biggest Jewish holidays – one many have never heard of and whose name they can’t pronounce – begins the evening of June 8. Whether you call it Shavuot or Shavuos or “that holiday when you eat a lot of dairy,” it is a beautiful holiday to celebrate. Although I come from a long line of rabbis, I clearly missed the rabbi gene, and my religious knowledge is sorely lacking.

For those of you who can relate to that lack, here are a few interesting tidbits about the holiday:

Subscriptions: orjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription Newsletter: orjewishlife.com, click on“Subscribe Now!” Facebook: @ojlife Twitter: @JewishLifeNow Instagram: JEWISHLIFENOW Call: 503-892-7402 8 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

• It is the only Jewish holiday without a date; it is based on the passage of time and occurs 50 days after Passover.

• It is known for Matan Torah, G-d giving the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

• Many people decorate their home with greenery and flowers because the Torah tells us that Mount Sinai suddenly bloomed when the Torah was given.

• Following dinner, many engage in all-night study sessions called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, which may include text study or a musical or artistic exploration of the Torah.

• It is taught that when the Torah was received, everyone heard it in their own language and according to their ability to understand.

On all other nights, it is better to give than receive; on Shavuot, it is all about receiving – receiving the Torah. This year, we should all stand together in solidarity and plan to continue learning and spiritual growth.

Chag Sameach!

For great Shavuot recipes visit orjewishlife.com/Shavuot-recipes.

Email us: publisher@ojlife.com advertise@ojlife.com distribution@ojlife.com editor@ojlife.com subscriptions@ojlife.com

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS In Honor of Les Soltesz May his example of compassionate leadership live on to future generations Howard and Wendy Liebreich Kathy and Norman Chusid Lee and Sheri Cordova Steve and Michelle Gradow Rosenbaum Financial Inc.

Solomon and Rosalyn Menashe Babener & Associates Gloria Bacharach Family Fund of OJCF Nathan Cogan Family Fund of OJCF Ferguson Wellman / West Bearing Investments Rosalie Goodman Wendy Gutmann & Jeff Menashe JFCS Board

Ru DiSu Meyer

Victor & Toinette Menashe Jim & Lora Meyer Leah Nepom Eve & Alan Rosenfeld Elaine J. Savinar & Sharon L. Weil Martha Soltesz Charlene Zidell

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 9

Jewswith

Attitude Janet Hamada puts tikkun olam in action Next Door

By Gloria Hammer

Janet Hamada grew up in Chicago the daughter of a Japanese-American father and Jewish mother. She expresses her passion for social work through social action and her work as executive director of The Next Door, a nonprofit that supports and empowers people in seven counties in the Columbia Gorge.

The following Q&A with Janet has been edited for brevity and clarity.

How does a Jewish girl from the south side of Chicago find her way to Hood River?

My father’s brother, a doctor, moved to Hood River to practice medicine in 1969. My paternal grandparents, secondgeneration Japanese-Americans, decided to retire in Hood River in 1975 to be with their son. I always came to visit during my summer vacations. Hood River was like a second home.

As a newlywed in 2004, my husband, Steve Glatter, and I lived in Chicago, where being a social worker was stressful. My grandmother was in her 90s, and I wanted to spend time with her in Hood River. My husband didn’t hesitate.

I saw a job posting in the Hood River News for the only job that interested me – program manager for a health promotion program for Latinx workers at a private nonprofit organization called The Next Door, Inc. I applied for the position and it was a good fit. We decided to stay “awhile.”

Our two daughters were born in 2005 and 2007, and we all spent my grandmother’s last years with her. We still live in Hood River in the house my grandparents bought in 1975.

Tell us about your family.

I met my husband, Steve Glatter, walking my dog in Chicago.

My dog fell in love with his dog, Charlie. For the first six months I didn’t even know his name – he was “Charlie’s dad.”

I was happy to meet a nice Jewish boy in Chicago. Our only issue was that he is a Yankee fan and I’m a White Sox fan. Our daughters are Melanie and Elena. Both are in middle school and love academics and music.

10 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Janet Hamada at the annual march to commemorate Minoru Yasui, who was the first Oregonian to win the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was recognized for his courage contesting the incarceration of JapaneseAmericans during World War II. “I stand up for justice for the individual and marginalized groups,” says Janet. “Since Trump was elected, I’ve brought my family to at least six marches for women, immigrants, gun control, et cetera.”

Are you involved with the Jewish community in Hood River?

We have found a growing Jewish community in the Gorge.

Every year, we host a Hanukkah party. In the beginning we invited our neighbors, even though they were not Jewish. They enjoyed the holiday and eating my husband’s latkes. For the last few years, I’ve invited other Jewish families to celebrate with us and our neighbors. Last year, we were 41 people. After my husband’s parents, Lynne and Herb, moved to Hood River in 2010, we had a competition to see whose latkes were better.

For Passover we host a seder, which has become quite a tradition.

How is The Next Door evolving?

In 2007, I was promoted to executive director, a promotion I was able to accept thanks to my supportive husband. Steve became the primary caretaker of our newborn and our 2-yearold. As an IT consultant, he works from home, allowing me to pursue this full-time career.

We have a budget of $4.5 million, which supports 30 programs and 70 employees who work in seven counties: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Wheeler and Gilliam in Oregon, and Klickitat and Skamania in Washington. We serve more than 3,000 people a year, living out our mission of “Opening doors to new possibilities by strengthening children and families and improving communities.”

Our mission is broad, but the intent is clear: making sure all of our children are safe, healthy and valued by inclusive communities. We provide parents with support and education, connect children to caring adults and give teens the attention they deserve. We have helped adults open their own businesses.

Our biggest successes over the past decade have been to buy and renovate our two offices in Hood River and The Dalles, and to stabilize our programs by fundraising and grant-writing to provide living wages for our amazing staff. Our new consulting service uses the expertise we have on staff to train our community partners on diversity and inclusion in leadership.

What is your biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge of private nonprofit organizations is getting enough revenue to keep its programs running.

The Next Door has 75 funding streams that we blend together to support our 30 programs.

L O V E LY YO U R S E L F Simple beauty treatments to help you look your natural best.

We s p e c i a l i z e i n F D A - a p p r o v e d , natural-looking, non-surgical, medical facial aesthetics and rejuvenation treatments.

Get the treatment you deserve.

nextdoorinc.org | janeth@nextdoorinc.org Gloria Hammer is the co-creator of The Glo & Joy Art Project, which offers painting parties for The Next Door’s program participants at Joy’s Art Studio.

Schedule your free consultation today. s k i n b y l o v e l y. c o m OREGON

See the full interview online at orjewishlife. com/Janet-Hamada

LAKE OSWEGO | 503 902 6337 | 6000 Meadows Rd #104, Lake Oswego, OR 97035 PORTLAND | 870 416 3803 | 2311 NW Northrup St #100, Portland, OR 97210

CALIFORNIA S A N TA M O N I C A | 3 1 0 5 6 6 0 8 5 7 | 2 7 3 0 W i l s h i r e B l v d # 3 2 0 , S a n t a M o n i c a , C A 9 0 4 0 3

Tw i t t e r @ S k i n b y L o v e l y

F a c e b o o k @ S k i n b y L o v e l y P DX

Instagram @SkinbyLovely

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 11

BIZ

I N S & O UTS

Eve Levy

Joyce Tischler

Evy Levy to Receive Jewish Professional Award Eve Levy is the recipient of the 2019 Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewish Professional Award in recognition of her contributions and leadership in the greater Portland Jewish community.

Eve will receive her award at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland on June 5, 4:30 pm, at Congregation Neveh Shalom. As part of the award, Eve will receive up to $1,800 to participate in a professional development experience.

A Toronto native, she has been the director of women's programs at the Portland Kollel for the last five years. In that role Eve has taken nearly 250 women on spiritual trips, mostly via JWRP (Jewish Women's Renaissance Project) to Israel, but also to Poland and most recently Thailand. Eve engages Jewish women of all ages, backgrounds and life stages in the beauty of Jewish tradition. She has assumed a new role (see next brief) where she will continue to inspire women in Portland and beyond.

JewishPortland.org

Ahavath Achim Hires Eve Levy as Rabisa For the past year, Eve Levy has supported her husband, Rabbi Gadi Levy, in his role as rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Achim. On May 15 Eve began a full-time position as Rabisa of Ahavath Achim to help build the Sephardic congregation and community.

“I’ve been supporting him, but it was clear to me, we needed to go all in,” says Eve. “Ahavath Achim has been around over 100 years, but it is not thriving now as a synagogue. It needs a renewal with fresh energy and fresh events to bring in young families. We will offer programming not available at other synagogues that connects to Sephardic traditions and the beautiful culture.”

eve@ahavathachim.com

Cover Update: “Mother of Animal Law” Attorney Joyce Tischler has moved to Portland to launch her second career.

Joyce was featured on the January 2018 cover of Oregon Jewish Life for her work as the “Mother of Animal Law.” In 1979 Joyce co-founded Animal Legal Defense Fund, the first U.S. nonprofit dedicated to protecting animals using the legal system. Since then, Joyce has played a pivotal role in launching and shaping the emerging field of animal law. She retired from ALDF in the spring of 2019.

Joyce is now a professor in practice as part of the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland. In the coming school year, she will teach the Fundamentals of Animal Law, and Animals in Agriculture Law and Policy at Lewis & Clark. She co-authored (with CALS Executive Director Pamela Hart and Professor Kathy Hessler) a first-of-its-kind casebook, Animal Law: New Perspectives on Teaching Traditional Law. She is now hard at work on a new casebook that will enable law schools to offer industrial animal agriculture 12 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Todd Bonime

Rick Zurow

law as a separate law course in the environmental, animal, food policy and public health tracks.

jtischler@lclark.edu | law.lclark.edu/centers/animal_law_studies/

Todd Bonime named to Master’s Club Todd Bonime in Seattle’s Morgan Stanley Wealth Management office was recently named to Morgan Stanley’s prestigious Master’s Club, an elite group composed of the firm’s top financial advisors.

The appointment recognizes Todd’s consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to his clients.

Todd, who has been with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management since 1985, is a native of Portland. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Pomona College. Todd lives in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle with his family.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Master’s Club members must meet a number of criteria including performance, conduct and compliance standards, revenue, length of experience and assets under supervision. Master’s Club membership is no guarantee of future performance.

601 Union St., Suite 5200, Seattle, WA 98101

Rick Zurow joins World Forestry Center Rick Zurow became the director of philanthropy for the World Forestry Center on April 26. In his new position, Rick oversees all of fundraising for the organization, a nonprofit dedicated to creating and inspiring champions of sustainable forestry.

“I was raised as a Reform Jew until my bar mitzvah, which I had at Temple Beth Israel,” says Rick. “After that my family switched to Neveh Shalom. I also went to Hebrew school all the way through high school at the MJCC.” Rick worked in Kansas City for 10 years, the last three with the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater KC. He returned to Portland to help relaunch the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation in 1992. He led OJCF until September 2002.

Rick then worked for the University of Arizona as the lead development officer for the College of Education. He had been travelling frequently between Tucson and Portland because his wife, Debbie, was working here for Boly Welch. “I was tired of going back and forth, so it was time to come home,” says Rick of his full-time return to Oregon two years ago.

Rzurow@worldforestry.org | 503-488-2111

Increasing the number of Israel-related programs (such as this Yom Ha’atzmaut event) and expanding the offerings for families with young children are two of the goals of the MJCC's new strategic plan.

Mittleman Jewish Community Center approves new strategic plan

By Steve Albert For more than a century, the J has been a place for the community to meet, greet, sweat and eat.

At its January meeting, the board of directors of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center approved an exciting, ambitious, new strategic plan for the center. With our plan, we will repurpose spaces, expand programming, enhance collaborative offerings and reach a broader scope of Oregonians. Already, we have added a Counselor In Training program to day camp, hosted a cultural program in Corvallis, expanded our Business Breakfast Series in partnership with Portland State University, grown our Stingrays Swim Team, and expanded our Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration.

The strategic planning process spanned nearly a year and a half. Discussions involved numerous members of the board, staff, MJCC and broader community. David Posner, a strategic visioning consultant with the Jewish Community Center Association of North America, advised the process.

The board began by crafting a revised mission statement and a new vision statement.

Next, the board identified six areas of focus: Arts and Culture Programming, Programs for Children and Young Families, Community Engagement, Building Utilization, Financial Sustainability and Development. Task forces were created to explore each area, and craft an overall objective, strategies and tactics to achieve each strategy.

The first three sections focus primarily on program areas.

One important Arts and Culture Programs strategy is to focus on program areas not served elsewhere. Programs for Children and Young Families includes a focus to engage teens. The Community Engagement section identifies a need to engage new demographics, enhance community connections, and engage volunteers to plan and implement programs across

MJCC departments.

The second three sections of the strategic plan address the long-term sustainability of the facilities and finances of the MJCC. The board plans to develop a campus vision to address the long-term needs of both the MJCC and Portland Jewish Academy, which shares the Schnitzer Family Campus with the J. The Development section identifies major fundraising goals: raising a larger percentage of revenue from fundraising; expanding the MJCC’s donor base; creating a physical plant repair, replacement and maintenance account; expanding the MJCC’s endowment; and fundraising to meet the capital and program needs in the strategic plan.

The Financial Sustainability portion reviews pricing for programs and services, as well as compensation, to ensure that the J can attract and retain high quality staff and meet the longterm capital needs of the campus.

To read the objectives and strategies in each of the six areas of focus is available as a brochure from the Welcome Desk at the MJCC, online at oregonjcc.org/about-us/strategicplan, or via email from salbert@oregonjcc.org.

Steve Albert is the executive director of the MJCC.

See expanded story online at orjewishlife.com/MJCC-strategic-plan

Have a life insurance policy you no longer need or can afford?

Before you let it lapse or sell it, at least get an appraisal.

I have done several of these.

SIMON FINANCIAL SERVICES Morton J. Simon, CLU, LACP 503.516.7843

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 13

Will Lipman, standing right, was a member of the 1981 MAC football team.

Jewish founders of the Multnomah Athletic Club In 1891 the MAC was founded by 26 athletes … nine of them were Jewish

By Lori Delman

The Multnomah Athletic Club (the MAC) is a private athletic club in Portland founded in 1891. Contrary to a common misconception that membership was restricted for Jewish applicants until the late-1950s, nine of the 26 founders of the MAC were Jewish.

The nine Jewish founders were: Felix Friedlander, Louis J. Goldsmith, Hugo Goldsmith, Melvin Goldsmith, Moses Kline, Julius Lang, Isaac Lipman, William Lipman and Milton Wasserman. Louis Goldsmith and Will Lipman were members of the original eight-member board of trustees.

These early MAC members were, for the most part, the young adult sons of established German Jewish Portland businessmen.

Their fathers were merchants (Lipman, Wolfe & Co), jeweler (Friedlander), wholesale grocer (Lang & Co), and merchantpoliticians (Goldsmith and Wasserman were both Portland mayors in the early 1870s).

Moses Kline was the exception. Kline’s parents were born in Russia and he grew up in Corvallis where his father had a dry goods store. Kline was sent to Portland at the age of 14 to attend a private boarding school.

In the late 1880s, the idea of competitive amateur sports was becoming more popular throughout the United States. Football, baseball, track and field, cricket and bicycle races were gaining in popularity. The purpose of the MAC founders was to form an amateur athletic association in Portland to field sports teams

Read the full story online at orjewishlife.com/MAC-Founders 14 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

that could compete against club teams in Seattle, San Francisco and Spokane. The Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club teams (amateur was dropped from the name in 1936) also played against collegiate teams until the 1920s.

Of the 26 MAC founders, 17 were football players. According to the Legacy of the Twenty-Six, Will Lipman was a leader of these football players who first met in 1890 to discuss how football would be played in Portland. The style of play was changing from a rugby-style to the “American” gridiron style.

Writer Lori Delman received research assistance from Eliezer Froehlich and Wendi Menashe for this article.

PJA teacher gets into character

EDUCATION

Portland Jewish Academy toddler teacher Drew Calhoun dresses up in costume every day.

After two years at PJA, Drew will be moving to Sweden this summer his partner, Lauren, who was accepted to graduate school at Lund University.

Following is a brief sample of a Q&A with Drew on his costume habit and how it influences those around him.

Why do you wear a costume every day?

I often get comments on my clothes because I like to wear fun and sometimes outlandish things, so in my mind I sort of always dress up. Most days, whatever I wear has some sort of secret theme in my head – a character, or someone who I think would wear the outfit.

The responses I receive from my students, and from my coworkers, make it worth the extra effort in the morning. I have continued to do it (despite the occasional hair-pulling-out-in-the-morning) because it’s always an instant boost of emotional energy to my own day and (purportedly) to those around me. It is a blessing to come to work each day and see my coworkers light up when they see me.

What has been the best reaction to one of your costumes?

I’d say I have two common reactions that are very hard to choose between.

Occasionally I’ll get swarmed by 3-year-olds in the hallway, and I get to do a little impromptu lesson. I see it as a moment that I can encourage curiosity and discovery through inquiry.

When I get to see the power of that curiosity, I want to come up with new costumes to share with them.

The second common reaction is from my coworkers. One day I dressed up as George Michael (a costume clearly targeted

You can see the rest of the interview and more photos of his costumes online at orjewishlife.com/Drew-costumes more at the teachers than the students) and played “Careless Whisper” when I walked into classrooms, and the teachers laughed for several minutes.

How do your young students react when they see you dressed up?

For my pre-verbal students, sometimes it takes them a second to realize it’s me, though usually once I talk or smile at them they recognize me immediately. A large part of my intention is to show them that the people who are capable of loving them and caring for them can look many different ways.

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 15

will make contacts with others they can reach EDUCATION out to during the year for help, advice and materials. Each of them will take 18 hours of professional development from the best educators in the country and beyond. They will be exposed to the most innovative ideas in the field. They will come back to their schools excited and invigorated for the coming school year. They also will become a stronger team having had this common experience together.”

“All of this will undoubtedly improve the education in the schools in Portland,” she concludes.

Portland was chosen to host this year’s conference because the national organization recognized Portland’s strong commitment to Jewish education.

Mel Berwin and Rachel Nelson are coordinating local participation in this “We believe that Portland is an exciting place for Jewish year’s NewCAJE conference. educational innovation and a place that provides a positive role model for other communities of how to appreciate and honor its teachers,” says Cherie.

This will be the third year JFGP has provided grants to send groups of educators to the conference. Two years of fundraising raised enough for 70 Portland area Jewish educators to attend this local conference.

Mel said she hopes more area educators will take advantage of other discounts and scholarships available through NewCAJE. Discounts are available for young professionals between the ages of 22 and 36, as well as for retired educators

By Deborah Moon and multiple educators from one organization. Scholarships are also available from NewCAJE. Additionally, Jewish educators living in Washington state are eligible for a scholarship to Hundreds of Jewish educators from across the country will attend the conference from the SAMIS Foundation. For more convene in Portland this July for NewCAJE10. information, contact washingtonscholarships@newcaje.org.

The conference features 240 workshops in 12 sessions Cherie hopes local families come to the evening programs with tracks for different age groups, arts, storytelling, music, during the conference. technology and other focus areas. More than 30 exhibitors will “Our evening programs are beyond excellent,” she says. share education-based products in the exhibit area. Evening “Last year we had 60 nationally known musicians, artists, programming, which is open to the community, will feature actors and storytellers participate in our evening programs. music, art, dance, theater, storytelling and other entertainment.

Families can come and join us Monday and Tuesday evenings “I’m so excited about this amazing opportunity to go with for outstanding concerts and an excellent nonmusic parallel so many local teachers,” says Mel Berwin who is helping program that we do for those who don't listen to live music coordinate the conference locally with Rachel Nelson. during the three weeks.

On Sunday evening, there will be an “I’m excited for our educators to come together in deep arts fair with lots of incredible venues to select from including learning and for our educators to connect to the local and theater, dance, art, storytelling and music.” national community,” adds Rachel. “They are not isolated.

They are part of an international cohort infusing Judaism into everything they do.”

As the director of educational initiatives and intergroup outreach for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Rachel WHAT: 10th annual conference presented by NewCAJE: provides staff support for the Portland Area Jewish Educators.

Re-Imagining Jewish Education for the 21st Century Mel is director of congregational learning at Neveh Shalom WHO: Jewish educators from every stream of Judaism and sits on the program board of NewCAJE; she is the national teaching every age group liaison for the conference. Mel has attended CAJE conferences since 1990; Rachel attended her first conference in 2005. The WHERE: Reed College, Portland financial collapse in 2008/9 drove CAJE into bankruptcy, but WHEN: July 28-31; pre-conference Shabbat July 26-28 the following year Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox founded NewCAJE PUBLIC PROGRAMS: Evening entertainment suitable to continue the successful conferences. for families; $10 per person with children under “The conference will be a real change agent for the Portland 13 free. newcaje.org/home/newcaje10/eveningcommunity,” says Cherie. “It will link 70+ teachers from programs preschool through adult ed, from the day school and afternoon schools to the national network of Jewish education. They REGISTRATION: newcaje.org

Nation’s Jewish educators convene in Portland in July

NEWCAJE10

16 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

A dozen gift ideas for dad Pizza Cutter • $15 genuinefred.com

WHEN A MAN becomes a father, he also becomes his son’s first hero and his daughter’s first love. He’s also the one who gives advice (although not always wanted) and tells those great dad jokes (also not always wanted).

What do you get this guy for Father’s Day? Before you give up and grab a tie (don’t do it!) take a look at our list of fun – and useful – gifts for dear old dad.

For the full gift guide, visit: azjewishlife.com/dozen-for-dad orjewishlife.com/dozen-for-dad

By Mala Blomquist

Men’s Bracelet Charger Cord $49.95

BBQ Toolbox • $99 Beer of the Month Club $42 per shipment

Whiskey Wedge $17.95 YETI Rambler 18-ounce Bottle $29.99

Swiss Army Small Pocket Knife $19 Wooden Watch • $120 • treehut.co

Daddysaurus T-Shirt $33.49

Pro Tech Toolkit $59.99

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells • $299

Lavender Shaving Kit • $95 JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 17

COVER STORY

The MegaCrew Yung ID from New Zealand competed at Hip Hop International’s 2018 World Finals.

18 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL:

Uniting the world through dance

By Mala Blomquist

W

hat comes to mind when you hear the terms breaking, popping, locking or whacking?

If you’re thinking it’s the sounds your middle-aged bones are making in the morning, you’re only partially right.

For the thousands of dancers who will descend on Phoenix this August, these are the names of the moves they spend hours perfecting.

For the third straight year, the Hip Hop International World Hip Hop Dance Championship will be held in Phoenix Aug. 5-10. Before the world competition, the Hip Hop International U.S.A. Finals will run Aug. 2-4.

If you enter “hip-hop dance crews” in the YouTube search bar, you will be inundated with videos. You can lose hours mesmerized by these dancers performing athletic moves with perfect precision. According to the HHI website, “Hip hop dance is a fusion of dance disciplines and cultural interpretations that capture the look, attitude, posture, music and elements of the urban environment.”

If you attend a HHI competition, you may see Howard and Karen Schwartz. The couple looks slightly out of place – perhaps parents who are there to cheer on JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 19

Howard and Karen Schwartz with their canine companion, Riley.

20 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

HIP-HOP INTERNATIONAL a competitor. But you’ll quickly notice that everybody seems to know the couple. That’s because they are the force behind the juggernaut that is Hip Hop International.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Howard and Karen met in the ’80s when Karen was producing an aerobics competition (yes, the leg warmers and leotards kind).

Howard, who owned a marketing and production company, was researching how to create something similar on a national basis.

It was beshert from the beginning. The two took their combined skills and brought aerobic championships across the United States and then branched out internationally. They also began to produce competitions for television.

“A lot of the videos we produced years ago have now gone viral,” says Karen. “Taylor Swift had a song called ‘Shake It Off,’ and someone took it and matched it up with our old TV show and it went viral.”

In the late ’80s the championship was gaining notoriety, and the couple picked up some big sponsors including Crystal Light. The Schwartzes also worked with Shape magazine when it was a fledgling publication.

Now the quirky fitness craze has morphed into a legitimate sport. “Now it’s a full-fledged sports discipline under gymnastics and the USAG,” says Howard.

The couple was in Paris for an aerobic championship when they first encountered what would become their future. “We saw a bunch of b-boys (breakdancers) on the street,” says Howard. “It draws a big crowd any time you see b-boys on the street. They are tremendously athletic and very dance-oriented as well. It’s a unique step and a unique type of dance.”

They noticed how enticing and entertaining it was for people to watch. “Then we were in Tokyo, also for aerobics, and as we were getting off the subway and in front of the stores there were a number of dancers, they were doing a hip-hop style of dance in groups,” recalls Howard.

Karen adds, “They were utilizing the storefront windows as mirrors – they could see themselves in it.”

The couple noticed that wherever they traveled in the world, they would come upon street performers doing some version of hip-hop. They also realized that there wasn’t a platform for the dance style to be able to share it with the general public.

After this realization, they brought together a group of people who understood dance more than they did and took a couple of years to make sure that they created the proper foundation.

From left: Karen Schwartz, Don Campbell, Toni Basil, Randy Jackson and Howard Schwartz at Hip Hop International’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas.

“What’s, very, very important in hip-hop dance is the respect of the basics and the origins,” says Karen.

“We took our time to make sure that we developed the rules and guidelines that respected the dance.”

Once they were ready, they launched their first hip-hop dance competition in 2002. Held in South Beach, FL, the event had competitors from 12 countries. Hip Hop International was born.

“We were impressed with the cultural differences and how entertaining it was and the talent we saw from the U.S. and from around the world,” says Karen. “We had a sense that this was the start of something big.”

ONWARD AND UPWARD

After they produced Hip Hop International competitions for a few years, the Schwartzes wanted to get the concept out so that it would become more mainstream. They began to pitch the idea of a dance competition show to different television studios, and after five years they were picked up.

“America’s Best Dance Crew” premiered on Feb. 7, 2008, on MTV. The show was produced by Randy Jackson who was well known after his appearance as a judge on “American Idol.” “MTV told us that, ‘Your show is our American Idol,’ ” remembers Howard.

On the show, dance crews would showcase their talents and compete for a $100,000 grand prize. The winner of season one was the JabbaWockeeZ. In 2010, the JabbaWockeeZ crew began performing in Las Vegas, becoming the first dance crew ever to headline a show there. They now perform their show, “JREAMZ” every Thursday through Monday at the MGM Grand.

ABDC ran for eight successful seasons. In 2016, the Quest Crew won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding choreography on the show, beating out two nominees from “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Their show was at the beginning of the wave of popularity that performance competition shows now enjoy. “When we were doing auditions one season for ABDC, our casting director was also casting for this brand new show ‘The Voice,’” says Karen. “She was showing us the concept of the chairs turning around and all that. That was brand new.”

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 21

HIP-HOP INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS STORIES

HIP HOP INTERNATIONAL USA HIP HOP DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Dance crews from across America compete for the U.S.A. title and to represent the U.S.A. in the World Championship.

WHEN: Aug. 3-4 WHERE: Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 8000 Arizona Grand Pkwy., Phoenix

WORLD HIP HOP DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP Winning dance crews from 50+ countries including U.S.A. compete for the world title.

WHEN: Aug. 6-10 WHERE: Preliminaries at Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 8000 Arizona Grand Pkwy., Phoenix; Final Aug. 10 at Gila River Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale

WORLD BATTLES The world’s top bboys/bgirls, poppers, lockers, whackers and all-stylers compete for world honors and cash prizes in 1vs1 and 2vs2 dance battles.

WHEN: Aug. 9 WHERE: Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, 8000 Arizona Grand Pkwy., Phoenix For more information, or to purchase tickets to any event, visit hiphopinternational.com.

22 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Thanks to social media and YouTube, once a crew wins a Hip Hop Dance Championship they become known worldwide. Since the competition started, it has paved the way for many hip-hop dancers and choreographers to make a career doing what they love.

One such example is Parris Goebel. A New Zealand-born choreographer and dancer, her crew, The Royal Family, won the international championship three times. Since then, she has had the opportunity to work with Ciara, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and many others.

“It’s like an Olympic athlete,” says Karen. “Some will take it and get the endorsements or go touring or teach or perform.

It’s an opportunity for some very talented people. This is their opportunity to shine and get out there and be discovered.”

The top dancers are usually in their 20s or 30s. The youngest competitor was age 7. The oldest crew to ever perform at the championship had an average age of 80.

This particular crew hailed from a small island of the coast of New Zealand called Waiheke, and they wanted nothing more than to compete at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship.

“Their director put this crew together for seniors and she called us and asked if she could compete in our event – we laughed and said the only way you can compete is if you win your national championship in your country,” says Howard. “We finally decided we will invite you to perform if you send us videos of your progression.”

They did end up at WHHDC (in the special exhibition performance category). A documentary called “Hip Hop-eration” followed their journey from New Zealand to Las Vegas. “Their stories are so genuine and beautiful,” says Howard.

“Hip Hop-eration” is not the only movie following the trail of a crew to WHHDC. A 2015 film, “Anybody Can Dance 2,” was based on the story of the Kings United India dance crew.

They were the first Indian group ever to win a medal the WHHDC. In 2015 they earned a bronze and were also the crowd favorites.

“They went back to India, and a motion picture company heard about their story and said that they wanted to recreate it for a movie,” says Howard. “They did – but in the movie, they won. This crew has grown tremendously around the world.”

The Schwartzes realize the difficulties that some of the crews may encounter when trying to get to the United States to compete. They work with Adam Schiff ’s office in California to try and help the dancers with their visas.

“When we started, the MegaCrew (10-40 dancers) competition, was only for the U.S.A. because we figured it’s too much to ask a country, studio or group for the expense to come to the United States with that many dancers,” says Howard. “After the first year, we were inundated with, ‘How come we’re not part of this,’ so we opened it up to the world, and it now is probably the biggest of all the events.”

The crews coming to compete this year represent 50 countries; each one is licensed under Hip Hop International. “There are HHI Japan, HHI Brazil, so on and so forth,” says Howard. “Part of our organization is operating and running an organization that

has 50 franchisees around the world.”

They have a system of judging that was created when they first launched the championship. “It’s expanded, but we do teach a course all over the world, and we do have judges that are elite judges that go through the course and we approve them and certify them to a certain level so that they can teach around the world,” says Howard.

The crews, from MiniCrews of three members to MegaCrews of up to 40 crewmembers are judged on their performance, technical skills and ability, but they are also encouraged to bring their culture to their dance.

“The rules and guidelines – what it does – it allows everyone from around the world to compete under an even playing field but there’s certainly a lot of room for creativity, and we welcome that as well,” says Karen. “You will see the cultural flavor for a dance crew from India or China or Japan. You have Russia, China, Japan, Brazil the U.S. – everybody competing to be number one in the world – it’s an incredibly motivating event.”

SHARING THEIR VALUES

The Schwartzes have two children, Jason who is 30 and Lauren who is 22. Lauren just graduated from the University of Oregon with a major in cinema studies and music. Jason is a sports broadcaster and lately he has been working for a minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, the Lancaster JetHawks.

“Throughout the years they have been our best focus group,” says Karen. “They always are appreciative of the hard work, and I think we have been good role models. They are great kids.”

Howard remembers that the kids were especially excited when they were working on “America’s Best Dance Crew.” “Our kids could really appreciate what we were doing, and all their friends enjoyed it,” he says.

The couple raised their children with the traditional values of Judaism. Howard says that it was important for the children to know their history, and to be able to ask questions.

“I think we’ve been able to share something that we are passionate about throughout the world,” adds Karen. “It’s

been very rewarding to pull cultures together and family values, and we feel that we’ve really given something back to both the global community and families as well.”

It’s one thing to produce a competition on a global level, but the Schwartzes also create an atmosphere where real connections and friendships can be made under the shared passion for dance.

For the time that the dancers are in Phoenix, the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa becomes their “Olympic Village.” “We have crews and dancers coming in from all over the world, and we have a wonderful opening ceremony, like the Olympics,” says Karen. “The way we kick it all off starts it on the right foot where everybody meets one another so that it’s a week of friendship.”

“I always remark to people that our final event is four hours long, but people do not leave that arena,” says Howard. “They stay until the very end, and it is exciting watching the dancers onstage live and in the audience are people from their country waving flags calling out the name of the country. It’s really like being at the Olympics.”

“It’s very entertaining, and it’s interesting for people that have never seen it before to come as a spectator,” adds Karen. “We had one woman who had never seen it, and she came up to us and said ‘this is probably the best four hours of my life.’ ” When the final medals are awarded, the winners stand on podiums and their country’s flag is lowered and the anthem is played. “People stand in respect and tears run down all the dance crews’ faces,” recounts Karen. “All the hardship to even get to the championship, after months and months of training and then to finally win it, you see it on their faces. It’s incredible.”

That takes a lot of work to make sure that they give everybody the best experience possible – both as a participant or a spectator.

“It’s rewarding when you see the fruits of the efforts for (working) year round and see everyone come together,” says Karen. “We went them to, as soon as they leave, count the days when they can hopefully come back.”

TLxWC - USA won the gold medal in the Varsity Division at Hip Hop International’s 2017 World Hip Hop Dance Championship finals.

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 23

S U M M E R

Fun-in-the-sun Fashion

By Mala Blomquist

SUMMER

means extended time outside and in the sun. While feeling sun on your face is one of life’s simple pleasures, those rays include ultraviolet radiation, and exposure to those rays can lead to sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer. While you can slather on the sunscreen, why not add an additional protective layer by choosing clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor.

UPF is the rating system used for apparel. It’s similar to SPF, the rating system used for sunscreen products. The higher the number, the better the sun protection. UPF gauges a fabric’s effectiveness in blocking ultraviolet radiation. For example, a UPF rating of 25 means that only 1/25 or 4% of the UV radiation can penetrate the fabric.

The highest UPF rating a garment can be assigned is 50+. A piece in this range is determined as providing “excellent” protection from UV radiation. All items listed have a UPF 50+.

1

2

1. Black Sun Protective Uni-Suit Slip on this stylish uni-suit with gold hardware.

This suit gives you the added protection of long sleeves. Supportive bra cup feature stays put no matter how active you get, and it’s a sleek pairing for beach and lounge pants. cabanalife.com

F U N 24 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

2. Casual Traveler Women’s Sun Protection Hat This casual, summer style has a 4” adjustable brim that can be worn up or down. With an assortment of colors, the Casual Traveler is sure to be the best companion for any summer outing! Extremely easy to pack and care for. wallaroohats.com 3. Girl’s & Women’s Fitness Polo The sporty design of this polo is perfect for outdoor activities like running, golf, tennis or riding. Made with soft, slightly textured material that is lightweight and breathable, providing superior moisture management for dry comfort in warm conditions. Contrast mesh lining on the underside of the arms allows for increase air flow for added cooling during activity in the heat. coolibar.com

3

4. Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt Versatile performance knit for use on trails or on the water provides 50+ UPF sun protection and Polygiene permanent odor control. Patagonia tech tees keep you comfortable when you’re working hard in conditions ranging from cool to hot. Fair Trade Certified sewn. Available in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes. patagonia.com

4

PORTLAND SUMMER FUN

By Teresa Bergen As daffodils and tulips poke through their green casings, Portlanders emerge from puffy jackets and knit caps to step into the sun.

There’s lots of fun to be had outside this summer. Here are a few reliable bets.

TRY SUP YOGA Paddleboards aren’t just for paddling – people also treat them like oversized yoga mats.

Several businesses in town offer SUP yoga classes. Next Adventure’s class meets weekend mornings during summer at Sellwood Riverfront Park, and welcomes participants with or without experience in either yoga or SUP. Students secure boards to knots on a rope so nobody floats downriver, then ease their way into a series of seated, kneeling and standing positions adapted for SUP. Experienced yogis will find the paddleboard lends a whole new element to balancing in even simple poses, and the sights, smells, sounds and feel of the river provide a new perspective on a very old practice.

Continued on next page

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 25

S U M M E R

F U N RAFT THE CLACKAMAS RIVER An hour southeast of Portland, the Clackamas River roars through the Mount Hood National Forest. Blue Sky Rafting offer exciting whitewater trips though intermediate class 3 rapids in spring and summer. The water is higher and much wilder during spring runoff, but summer rafters find plenty of fun and wet thrills running rapids with names like Hole in the Wall, Toilet Bowl and Rock and Roll. Kids 6 and up are welcome. Expect to get wet.

Courtesy of Blue Sky Rafting

CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER WATERFRONT If you enjoy riding, running or strolling river banks, now’s the time to head north and see what developers have been doing in Vancouver. A $1.5 billion project has made the Columbia River the most accessible it’s been for more than 100 years. Wander the Waterfront Renaissance Trail, or join Vancouver Segway Tours to cover more ground.

Check out the 40-foot-wide pedestrian Vancouver Land Bridge, which features indigenous plants, history displays and Native basket weavings. Then have lunch or a drink with a river view at one of the restaurants that opened up on the waterfront, like Twigs or WildFin American Grill.

TOUR SOUTH PORTLAND WITH THE OREGON JEWISH MUSEUM The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education offers summer walking tours of the old Jewish neighborhood in South Portland. Walkers visit a settlement house that was built to help immigrants adjust to life in America, the former library where many immigrants improved their English skills, an old synagogue and the former site of Sarah Neusihin’s pickle making operation. Along the way, guides tell stories about Jewish Portland, informed by the museum’s extensive oral history collection. The two-hour tour covers about a mile of easy walking and unearths a part of Portland’s history that has mostly been buried beneath new development. Summer tour dates TBD, or contact the museum to request a tour for your group.

PEDAL THE OREGON COAST ON TRAIN TRACKS A cross between biking and taking a scenic train ride, railriding involves pedaling fourperson carts down old railroad tracks. You can only do this a few places around the country, and one of them is with Oregon Coast Railriders, 90 minutes west of Portland in Bay City. Railriding is more relaxing than biking, as nothing else runs on this stretch of track, and guides stop traffic at road crossings. While pedaling the relatively flat 12-mile route, riders take in views of Tillamook Bay, estuaries, meadows and native coastal plants, and cross 200-plus-year old railroad bridges. Tours run May through October.

PARTICIPATE IN A $5 FUN RUN Portland Parks & Recreation designed its series of 5Ks to be basic, fun, encouraging and affordable. The races are scheduled on one Sunday per month, from April through October, at different parks around the city. Depending on the park, the course will probably be two or three laps around the perimeter. This year, faster runners will start at 8:45, followed by a kids’ fun run at 9:20, then everybody else at 9:40, which is a much more reasonable time than many crack-of-dawn running events. There’s something exhilarating and motivating about running with a pack of local citizens of all ages, even for runners who don’t take it too seriously.

Teresa Bergen is a Portland-based travel writer and author of Easy Portland Outdoors, which features 100 fun things to do around Portland. She focuses on fitness, outdoors, wellness and vegan travel. Visit her at teresabergen.com.

26 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Let’s Celebrate!

‫ב"ה‬

nce The Jewish Experie ! for the Modern Child Day Camp

nce for the Mo der

- Augustm2- 6:00pm June 24 tra Care, 7:00a

n Child !

6/24| Ex 9:00am - 3:30pm

Day Cam p

6/25

ons 4 Div REGisi GIO

SHAD -Y13 PLA esOW1.5 Ag

WELC OME

1O0ff% till

BLUEB ER MUFF RY INS

August 2

0am - 6:

00pm

register

June 5

m/Regis ter

Older

YOM SHENI

7/3





6/27

YOM ECHAD



SPAR KL SAND Y PIT

EXPERI CLOUDS ENCE THE AND S EAS

7/4

7/15

VEGETABLE PAINTING PA RTY

GALA

Izzy

XY

P

GLOW IN THE DARK FUN

Gan (a

7/22

CAMP

ges 6-

13)

SCIEN

CE FU N

6/28

RM FA RIP T

7/236/27

PHOTO

7/17

PLANT

GRA HEADS SS

IT /C

P ISH JEW DAY

7/1

NG

VIP

YS esdA

7/9

IT L ICA G CTR ERIN E GIN G Y CLA LPTIN U SC

/C

7/8

KO

S

7/16

IP

DA

G

MIN

WIM

ELL BB Q

CO

IT

/C

VIP

7/18

TS

Y RR BE ING K PIC

SHAB BAT PARTY

7/25

7/23

YS rsdA Thu Y ELR JEWKING MA

7/22

PH MP

CA

ALL CH ING K BA

T BA AB SH TY R PA

ICE

7/30

7/29

dive

IT /C VIP RK -PA TS OR SP

Y

DA AH

R

TO

ING

AT

SK

VIP

T

IGH

N VER

O

PETTIN

G ZOO

SHAB BA NT T TALSET EB A PTAR OW UD SHTY

8/2

A CE AM DR MAN OR F R PE

ON EG OR AST HT CO NIG TE LA

JUMPI

Org Profit e Non stag US Po ID PA R nd, O Portla #2664 it Perm

NG CA STL

ES

O

O GZ

TIN

PET

8/2

8/1

Gan Israel is attended by Jewish children from ns. rse backgrounds and affiliatio

G

RIN PLO EX URE T NA

AYS Frid AH

IT

/C

O OT

7/26

7/26

ZY CRA DAY T HA

7/24

SPICE & HER B CHALL AH BAKE!

7/19

E

S UR

IZE ES LIF MES GA

OR

SP

FAREW

VY UR Y T UP PS TO RESS D

Y

DA

ER

S MU AIN FA MILY

TR

Mo re specials online

7/19

PLANT BEAN SPROUTS

M EU

7/17

H 7/15 IENDS Y FR

S IN KID CHEN KIT

LE

AC

ST

OB

SH

AYS nesd E Wed TH

7/11

O HER ISH UP JEW ESS DR

7/10

BOWLING

E

NC

DA

E RID

20% Off

by March 15

7/18

K 7/24 6/26LY SOUCP orts SIL ESS NATU DR E h a v COLLE RE AM 7/25 z 5 bakin 6/2 GE gar mit 7/5 CTEM g CRA senso dening LIFVT HOW ANIMAL P 7 BIRD F /2 M A 9 ry/2a S EEDER NO C 6 4 ct e !!

7/4 S YOGA SHAB G esbrew enr ivities TH BA 7/30 IN ichm veme W AETK L T ALL Y4 E ent L O nt.

B ONG7/3 U J T E E SH E S AB U Y BAT DRAM J BL 7/31 M A E&P HIT SLL U ECT M WCO E CO E RED DRES 7/2 W L 8/1 7/12 Q BB

HEBREW FUN

‫ב“ה‬

503-224-3900 7/12 Portlandspirit.com 503-224-3900 Local family ownedPortlandSpirit.com since 1994

7/11 DECOR A PLANT TE ERS

6/28

BABK A CHALL AH BAKE!

7/5

7/10

7/16

FUN

NO C AM

JULY 4TH!!

7/9

FLOW ER SH APE COOK IES

18-24 2-3 • 4 Month s -5 ye ars o ld

se fo r

7/2



7/8

visit

Mini Gan

6/26



7/1

Care, 7:0

Lunch Brunch Dinner Sightseeing Groups Charters

AL ION AT P ERN S U INT RES D

7/31

LES

ST

A GC

PIN

JUM

Y BQ MIL FA LL B E REW

FA

wish Life, SW Portland Chabad Campus of Je | 503.246.KIDS (5437) info@CGIportland.com

ister

CGIportland.com/Reg

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 27

S U M M E R

F U N

SUMMER AND A GOOD BOOK – the perfect pair Compiled by Deborah Moon

Over the past six months, a wide assortment of Jewish-themed books have arrived at my doorstep to be stacked into a precarious pile on my desk.

With summer leisure in the wind, it’s time to share some of these titles with you for your reading pleasure.

KIDS BOOKS

FICTION

Mommy, Who Was Irena Sendler? by Cathy Werling, (Lowell Milken Center for Unsung

Eternal Life, by Dara Horn (W.W. Norton &

Heroes, Oct. 2018), paperback, 40 pages, ages 7-12, $9.95

Irena Sendler, a young social worker in Poland, was determined to help save Jewish children from the concentration camps.

Irena smuggled them out of the Warsaw Ghetto and hid them with non-Jewish families. She buried their Jewish names and where they were sent in glass jars, hoping to reunite the families once the war ended.

Irena Sendler’s story was unknown for 60 years, until three high school students discovered it during a history project.

Good Night, Wind: A Yiddish Folktale, by Linda Elovitz Marshall, illustrated by Maelle Soliveus, (Holiday House, Feb. 26,

2019), Hardcover, $17.99

When the exhausted winter wind throws a snowy tantrum, it finds comfort in the friendship of two young children in this lyrical retelling of a Yiddish folktale illustrated with stunning collage.

FAMILY Simple Acts: The Busy Family’s Guide to Giving Back, by Natalie Silverstein

(Gryphon House; April 1, 2019), paperback, 144 pages, $19.95

Natalie Silverstein believes it’s never too early to start kids on the path of tikkun olam. Here she offers parents hundreds of practical ideas on how to do just that – from visiting the elderly to cleaning up a playground on Earth Day to writing notes to active duty military. Simple Acts brings busy parents practical, easy-to-do ideas, to involve the whole family in volunteering.

Co., Jan. 8, 2019), paperback, 244 pages, $15.95

Rachel’s current troubles—a middleaged son mining digital currency in her basement, a scientist granddaughter trying to peek into her genes—are only the latest in a litany spanning dozens of countries, scores of marriages, hundreds of children, and 2,000 years, going back to Romanoccupied Jerusalem. Only one person shares her immortality: an illicit lover who pursues her through the ages. But when her children develop technologies that could change her fate, Rachel must find a way out. From ancient religion to the scientific frontier, Dara Horn pits our efforts to make life last against the deeper challenge of making life worth living.

NONFICTION ELIE WIESEL: An Extraordinary Life and Legacy – Writings, Reflections, Photographs, edited by Nadine Epstein (Moment Books,

April 2, 2019), Trade Paperback, $35

In this striking volume, editor-in-chief and CEO of Moment Magazine Nadine Epstein shares her memories of Wiesel and brings together 36 reflections from friends, colleagues and others who knew him — including his son Elisha Wiesel, Michael Berenbaum, Wolf Blitzer, Father Patrick Desbois, Ben Kingsley, Ronald S. Lauder, Bernard-Henri Levy, Kati Marton, Itzhak Perlman, Natan Sharansky, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Oprah Winfrey and Ruth Wisse. The foreword is by world famous British Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and the Afterword is by acclaimed broadcaster Ted Koppel and it includes more than 100 photographs.

SEE THE EXPANDED LIST OF NEW BOOKS ONLINE AT ORJEWISHLIFE.COM/SUMMER-READING-2019

28 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Delores brings Polish cuisine to Southeast

By Kerry Politzer

T

he shopping plaza at Southeast Morrison and 14th Avenue was already quite a culinary destination with Nostrana and its sister restaurant, Enoteca Nostrana.

Now, with the recent opening of Delores, there’s one more reason to visit the block.

Chef B.J. Smith totally revamped his Smokehouse barbecue joint into an upscale Polish restaurant. “In southern Indiana, there was a huge Polish population, and I grew up eating this food for my entire childhood,” says B.J. “And in the last few years, I think the older we get – you start missing childhood things, and you find ways to revisit them.”

When he opened Delores, “there were no Polish restaurants whatsoever in Portland, and there were no contemporary Polish restaurants in the United States. So I just wanted to make that happen.”

At Delores, B.J. serves “elevated comfort food” that is both beautiful to look at and satisfying.

B.J. cooks up what are arguably the best potato pancakes in Portland. Delicate, lightly fried and dotted with apple butter,

Delores: 1401 SE Morrison St., Ste. 117, 503-231-3609, delorespdx.com

KERRY POLITZER

Kerry Politzer is a lifelong foodie who moved from New York to Portland in 2011. Before becoming the NW Nosh columnist for Oregon Jewish Life, she wrote for Dessert Professional, IN New York and WHERE Traveler.

HANS COPER —LESS MEANS MORE June 6 - September 22 LESS MEANS MORE features the sculptural work of Hans Coper (1920-1981), a radical Jewish artist of the mid-twentieth century who was at the vanguard of the British studio ceramics.

Hans Coper, Cycladic vase, stoneware, 1975. Courtesy of York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), York, England.

Above: Delorus Carrot Cake Right: Delores Potato Pancake

they make a great appetizer. Another recommended opener is a dish of pepita-topped roasted carrots atop a pumpkin puree.

The spätzle with rapini and a velvety Gruyere sauce could be described as the best macaroni and cheese you’ve ever had.

“That’s what we were going for,” says B.J. with a laugh.

Other dishes include borscht and potato cheese pierogies.

Readers should be aware that the caramelized onions in this last dish can be omitted, as they are cooked with bacon. The restaurant staff is knowledgeable about the contents of each dish, and they are happy to answer questions about ingredients.

The menu at Delores changes according to what is available on the market. Recently, sturgeon has been rotating with steelhead trout and black cod in the seared fish entrée.

Desserts shouldn’t be missed, especially the imaginative carrot cake with cream cheese, salted caramel and black sesame seeds and the paczki (Polish donuts) with berries. As for dessert drinks, there’s a chocolate martini made with tahini cordial, cinnamon and crème de cacao.

Reservations are highly recommended, as the eatery has been generating a lot of buzz.

724 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 97209 | 503-226-3600 | www.ojmche.org JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 29

S U M M E R

F U N

Hans Coper

ceramics in first West Coast exhibit

H

Albers, Peter Collingwood and Dan Flavin.

Less Means More re-contextualizes Coper on the eve of the centennial of his birth in 1920 with an exhibition of work from the 1950s until the late 1970s. The exhibition draws from a seminal Portland collection and internationally from England’s York Museums Trust, among others. The exhibition marks the first time Coper’s work has been shown in the United States since the 1994 Metropolitan Museum exhibition Lucie Rie/Hans Coper: Masterworks by Two British Potters. It is also the first time Coper’s work has been shown on the West Coast.

“There are many silences emanating from artist Hans Coper,” says

ans Coper – Less Means More presents the sculptural work of Hans Coper (1920-1981), a radical Jewish artist of the mid20th century who was at the vanguard of British studio ceramics. Coper pushed the boundaries of clay and forms of abstraction as seen in the 45 pieces of his work on display.

Guest curated by Sandra Percival, founding director and curator of Zena Zezza, the exhibition presents Coper within the context of a selection of work

by Austrian-born British studio potter Lucie Rie who was Coper’s life-long friend, as well as selected works by other influential artists including Alberto Giacometti, Barbara Hepworth, Anni

1. Hans Coper, Spinning top vase, stoneware, 1960. Courtesy of York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), York, England 2. Hans Coper, Cycladic vase, stoneware, 1975.

Courtesy of York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), York, England 3. Hans Coper, Bottle with disc-shaped rim, stoneware, 1969. Courtesy of York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), York, England 4. Hans Coper, Disc form with cylindrical base and neck, stoneware, 1959. Courtesy of York Museums Trust (York Art Gallery), York, England

HANS COPER – LESS MEANS MORE June 6-Sept. 22, 2019 Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education 724 NW Davis St., Portland ojmche.org | 503-226-3600

3

4

1 2

30 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Sandra Percival, guest curator. “As a teacher at the Royal College of Art in London (1966-1976), Coper’s impact as a teacher was described as ‘gentle yet shattering.’ He more often than not took his students to a teashop and talked about jazz, noting that ‘improvisation’ around a theme was a part of his own practice. He was also wary of any words to describe his work. Coper spent the last two years of his life alone in his studio writing in notebooks, reading and listening to music. He had all his writings and letters destroyed upon his death in 1981. Hans Coper – Less Means More opens up a space for contemporary perspectives on Coper’s work to expand upon his historic mid-20th century importance.”

SUMMER BRIEFS PORTLAND JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

The 27th Annual Portland Jewish Film Festival will be June 16-30.

Founded in 1992, The Portland Jewish Film Festival, produced by the Northwest Film Center and co-presented with the Institute for Judaic Studies, celebrates the diversity of Jewish history, culture and identity while speaking to the universal experiences and issues that confront all humanity.

The films screen at the Portland Art Museum’s Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave. See this year’s schedule on pages 32-33.

ROOFTOP JAZZ SWING CONCERT

JFCS thanks the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of OJCF for their 2019 Brunch Matching Donation and presenting sponsorship of the Art for TASK/Tikvah Silent Auction

Did you know OJMCHE’s rooftop is a beautiful setting for summer events? On July 24 you can discover the magic when the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education presents a Rooftop Swing Jazz Concert.

The 7 pm concert honors Benny Goodman’s legacy. Portland’s Cherry Blossom Orchestra will feature both standard and new arrangements of tunes from the discography of Benny Goodman’s long and celebrated career in jazz. This will be a concert to live long in the memory as we celebrate a truly great Jewish-American musical and civil rights pioneer.

Tickets are $25 reserved seat and $20 general admission; purchase tickets at ojmche.org/tickets/rooftop-swing-jazz-concert.

Be careful what you wish for...

MULTNOMAH DAYS RETURNS

Directed by JESSICA WALLENFELS Music & Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by JAMES LAPINE

Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer

A community tradition for almost 100 years, Multnomah Days kicks off at 8 am, Aug. 18, in Multnomah Village between SW 31st and 39th along SW Capitol Highway. Every year the popular event draws nearly 10,000 guests with its spirited parade, tasty treats and family-friendly activities making it one of the largest street fairs in Oregon.

At 10 am, fire trucks will lead off the parade featuring marching bands, classic cars, dancers, entertainers and musicians.

The festival includes a kid zone, live music, food court, wine garden and two opportunities to support worthy causes. Get a snazzy new haircut from an Annastasia stylist and the $25 donation goes to Neighborhood House’s Food Box. Or wash your pup at the Lucky Lab with proceeds supporting Dove Lewis Animal Hospital.

Check out the latest news on Facebook or Instagram @Multnomah_Days.

sponsored by

MAY 30 - JUN. 30 TICKETS 503.620.5262 •

www.broadwayrose.org

BROADWAY ROSE NEW STAGE • 12850 SW GRANT AVE., TIGARD

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 31

PRODUCED BY THE NORTHWEST FILM CENTER AND CO-PRESENTED WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR JUDAIC STUDIES

27th Portland Jewish Film Festival JUNE 16–30, 2019

NWFILM.ORG Budapest Noir

GENERAL ADMISSION: $10

STUDENTS AND SENIORS: $8

PATRON PASS: $95

Complete schedule, tickets, and passes are available online at nwfilm.org. location: Northwest Film Center—Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue

Founded in 1992, the Portland Jewish Film Festival, produced by the Northwest Film Center and co-presented with the Institute for Judaic Studies, celebrates the diversity of Jewish history, culture, and identity while speaking to the universal experiences and issues that confront all humanity.

Sunday, June 16, 7 pm The Light of Hope, Spain, 2018

dir. Silvia Quer (96 mins., drama, DCP) A gripping film about perseverance in the face of extremity, The Light of Hope focuses on Elisabeth Eidenbenz, a young nurse at a maternity home in the South of France who became its director during the 1930s and 40s, saving over 600 infants of mothers fleeing the Vichy and Franco regimes.

Monday, June 17, 7 pm Budapest Noir, Hungary, 2018

dir. Éva Gárdos (95 mins., film noir, DCP) This breakneck film noir thriller mines Budapest circa 1936 as a site of intrigue and geopolitical upheaval. The fascist prime minister turns up dead, but he’s not the only one—crime reporter Zsigmond Gordon (Krisztián Kolovratnik) burrows always deeper to find out who killed a mysterious, beautiful young woman.

32 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

Tuesday, June 18, 7 pm Dear Fredy, Israel, 2017

dir. Rubi Gat (74 mins., documentary, DCP) In this beautiful and heart-wrenching documentary, we’re introduced to Fredy Hirsch, an openly gay German Jew who became both head of the youth department in the Terezin Ghetto and built a daycare in Auschwitz before being tragically killed in the Holocaust.

Thursday, June 20, 7 pm Red Cow, Israel, 2018

dir. Tsivia Barkai Yacov (90 mins., drama, DCP) Yacov’s debut feature poignantly tackles the uncertainty and confusion of youth in its story of Benny (Avigayil Koevary), a 17-year-old who becomes critical of her father’s faith while exploring her newfound sexuality.

Saturday, June 22, 8 pm A Fortunate Man, Denmark, 2018

dir. Bille August (162 mins., drama, DCP) Academy Award-winning director Bille August’s latest follows Per (Esben Smed), a young but driven man from rural 19th-century Denmark who moves to Copenhagen in search of a new life—and meets a charming Jewish woman, integrating himself into her family.

A Fortunate Man

Wednesday, June 19, 7 pm Fig Tree, Israel/Germany/France/Ethiopia, 2018 dir. Aäläm-Wärqe Davidian (93 mins., drama, DCP) Ethiopian-Israeli filmmaker Davidian tells the gripping story of Mina, a 16-year-old Jewish girl from Addis Ababa who must protect her Christian boyfriend, Eli, from being drafted into the brutal army of murderous dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam—with many obstacles in front of them.

Fig Tree

Sunday, June 23, 4:30 pm Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel, US/ Israel, 2018 dir. Seth Kramer, Daniel Miller, & Jeremy Newberger (87 mins., documentary, DCP) Following years of middling performances, in 2017 the Israeli national baseball team finally qualified for the World Baseball Classic, fielding a team of players with a mostly tenuous connection to their Judaism. Banding together, the team represents Israel in the tournament while discovering the pride in playing for their country.

The Interpreter

Thursday, June 27, 7 pm 93Queen, US, 2018

Sunday, June 23, 7 pm The Interpreter, Slovakia/Czech Republic, 2018 dir. Paula Eiselt (90 mins., documentary, DCP)

dir. Martin Šulík (113 mins., comedy/drama, DCP) Legendary Czech filmmaker Jiří Menzel (Closely Watched Trains) and seasoned actor Peter Simonsichek (Toni Erdmann) star in this odd-couple road movie that asks: can the son of Holocaust victims bring himself to translate for the son of a Nazi murderer while they travel together through Eastern Europe?

In the Hasidic neighborhood of Borough Park, Brooklyn, a group of women—led by the charismatic Rachel “Ruchie” Freier—band together to create their own EMT service, since the wives of the neighborhood can’t be touched by men who aren’t their husbands.

Saturday, June 29, 8 pm Working Woman, Israel, 2018

dir. Michal Aviad (93 mins., drama, DCP) Presented as an impossible choice, Aviad’s Monday, June 24, 7 pm piercing, staunchly feminist film follows Orna The City Without Jews, Austria, 1924 dir. H.K. Breslauer (80 mins., silent drama, DCP) (Liron Ben Shlush), a working mother newly This prescient work, which follows the expulsion inaugurated into the world of high-end real estate. She faces a boss not shy about his sexual of Jews from Austria and the aftermath, was considered lost for many decades. Over the past advances and a husband desperate for financial several years, the film has been pieced together stability. and restored by Filmarchiv Austria.

Working Woman

Sunday, June 30, 4:30 pm Prosecuting Evil: The Extraordinary World of Ben Ferencz, Canada, 2018

dir. Barry Avrich (83 mins., documentary, DCP) Still going strong at 98, Ben Ferencz is famous worldwide for his role as chief prosecutor in the Einsatzgruppen trial at Nuremberg.

Avrich’s documentary paints a tender portrait of this great man and all that he’s seen in his remarkable life.

Sunday, June 30, 7 pm Promise at Dawn, France, 2017

dir. Eric Barbier (131 mins., biopic, DCP) Barbier’s touching film, based on the author’s autobiography, follows famed Jewish novelist Romain Gary from his hardscrabble childhood through his military service in WWII and beyond—with the love for his devoted mother (played by Charlotte Gainsbourg) at the center of everything.

Promise at Dawn

Wednesday, June 26, 7 pm Redemption, Israel, 2018

dir. Joseph Madmony & Boaz Yehonatan Yacov (104 mins., drama, DCP) Soft-spoken single father Menachem (Moshe Folkenflick) watches over his young daughter Geula (Emily Granin) after she’s diagnosed with cancer. Menachem has a past as a lead singer, and he needs money for Geula’s treatments— can getting the band back together answer his prayers?

All screenings have English subtitles, except where noted.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Family Fund of the OJCF

Leonard & Lois Schnitzer Charitable Supporting Fund of the OJCF

The Oregon-Israel Fund of the OJCF

Ruben J. and Elizabeth Menashe

Diane Solomon Family Fund of JCF San Diego

Jerry & Helen Stern Grandchildren’s Fund of the OJCF

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 33

ACTIVELY SENIOR

A financial advisor weighs in on leaving a lasting legacy

By Tony Urdes

No matter your net worth, you can Executive Chef Jon Wirtis in the kitchen at Rose Schnitzer Manor.

create a legacy that supports your heirs as

Chef Jon Wirtis brings flair to CSP kitchens

well as the causes you care about most.

Over the course of our lives, we build relationships, support our families, and devote resources to organizations and causes we believe in. Why should that change after we’re gone? With the right planning, conscientious people of all financial backgrounds can use their money

By Deborah Moon

to make a difference in the lives of those

In April, Executive Chef Jon Wirtis returned to Portland to take the culinary reins

they love and the causes they care about,

at Cedar Sinai Park.

even after they’re gone.

Portlanders might remember Jon from the years he held Seder in the City at

Leaving behind a meaningful legacy

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, where he was executive chef from

isn’t difficult, but it does require careful

1989 to 2000. He always skipped pages in the Haggadah and served matzah balls he

consideration. If you haven’t begun

made using Grandma Goldye’s recipe.

thinking about how your money can make

He adapted that same recipe to make the world’s largest matzah ball in 2010. The 486-pound matzah ball took two days to cook and served more than 3,000 people at

an impact after you pass, now’s the time to do so.

the Third Annual Jewish Food Festival in Tucson, AZ. At Cedar Sinai Park, Jon is inspired by both family recipes and the seafood he fell in love with cooking at McCormick & Schmicks.

“I’m bringing in fun food and twisting and koshering it,” says Jon. Jon graduated from the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and is a certified executive chef with the American Culinary Federation.

Why leave a legacy?

In the simplest form of a will, all of a person’s assets go to their children or next of kin upon their death. However, many

While in Portland, he also taught at Le Cordon Bleu for five years. While living

people wish to use their assets to provide

in Tucson, he worked with nonprofits as well as restaurants. He is especially proud

for other members of their family, benefit

of the culinary training program he developed for low-income individuals at the

their communities or support charitable

Caridad Community Kitchen. The 10-week program had an 80% placement rate. He

causes. In short, a legacy allows you to

also ran a culinary program for youth aging out of foster care.

continue supporting the things you value

In addition to his culinary skills, he plans to put his training skills to work at CSP

in life – even long after you are gone.

to enhance kitchen staff ’s skills and thus the overall dining experience for residents.

Some people may fear that “leaving a legacy” requires a certain amount of

34 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

money or other assets, or that the gift they would give is not

religious or spiritual institutions that have been meaningful to

“substantial” enough. In fact, we often find that everyday

them. This is especially true for Jewish people, who often know

people give a higher percentage of their assets away in trust

the value of religious education firsthand and have a desire to

than those who have more resources at their disposal. It’s not

pass on knowledge of faith and heritage to the next generation.

clear why that is, but it’s certainly encouraging for “regular”

This can take many forms, including scholarships for

people who hope to use their assets for good.

Birthright trips and rabbinical studies, supporting a synagogue

Legacies are more than just allocating a certain percentage of your assets to a given cause. Certain kinds of trusts allow you to scope out flexible dollar amounts for multiple beneficiaries,

directly or leaving money in trust for a Jewish educational institution.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to leaving a legacy,

allowing your trustee to give money where it’s needed on a

and an experienced financial advisor can help you make the

year-by-year basis. This arrangement can also insulate against

best choices for you and your family. Even better, they can

changes in the market and tax codes, extending the life of the

work with you and your heirs to ensure that your wishes are

trust.

carried out even after you pass.

In addition, a trust doesn’t have to be exclusively composed of liquid assets. Many people –especially Jewish families – have

Tony Urdes, together with Bianca Urdes and Ken Miller, is the Urdes Miller

collections of items that may be of financial or historical value.

Group at Stifel Financial Corp. Website: urdesmiller.com. The group was featured

Depending on the nature of your collection, you may wish to keep those treasured items in the care of Jewish organizations.

in Oregon Jewish Life last May: orjewishlife.com/tony-bianca-urdes-puttingpeople-first. Tony can be reached at tony.urdes@stifel.com or 503-499-6275.

An experienced financial advisor can connect you with organizations that will want and care for those items.

To whom should you leave your legacy?

It’s up to you to decide who will ultimately benefit from your legacy, but many people create trusts that benefit the things they value and support today and want to continue to support after they’re gone. For most, these values fall into one of three main categories: academic or cultural education, health-related causes, or religious or spiritual institutions.

People who wish to create trusts for educational or cultural causes often do so by setting up scholarships. You can create scholarships for individual members of your family or allocate money to students attending certain schools or coming from specific backgrounds.

However, scholarships are far from the only way a trust can benefit educational or cultural causes. People can set up trusts to benefit a beloved performing arts venue or group, or they can create funds intended to promote arts or cultural education in their communities.

It’s similarly possible to make an impact on health-related causes. Donors often choose to help fight a disease that has affected their health or the health of their family in some way, frequently via trusts set up to benefit nonprofits, hospitals or research institutions.

Finally, many donors wish to leave a lasting legacy with the JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 35

L iving

J

By Deborah Moon

During her first interview with P’nai Or of Portland, Rabbi Hannah Laner knew it was beshert, a match made in heaven.

Rabbi Laner loved the congregation’s deep and heartfelt services and sense of community.

“It’s such a musical congregation,” she says, adding she also was attracted by the congregation’s commitment to social justice and the environment.

P’nai Or saw a woman who was a cantorial soloist, ordained Maggidah (storyteller) and lay leader in the Jewish Renewal community for decades before becoming a rabbi in 2013. She is a certified Hakomi psychotherapist whose mind-body-spirit orientation is a great fit for the congregation founded more than 20 years ago by Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, z”l, with whom Rabbi Laner was friends. Ashland Renewal Rabbi David Zaslow – Laner studied to become a maggid with the rabbi and his wife, Deborah – recommended she apply to lead P’nai Or. The congregation hired her, and she and husband, Jeffrey Laner, a life coach, moved from Boulder, CO, to Portland last August. Her daughter, Tzuria, 27, a certified herbalist, remained in the family home in Nederland, in the mountains above Boulder.

The beshert “couple” enjoyed a nine-month joyous “engagement” before formalizing the union on April 7 with an official installation using metaphors and symbols from the wedding ceremony.

Seven congregants gave her seven blessings under the chuppah.

Like many new families, P’nai Or moved to a new home shortly after the wedding. After 15 years, P’nai Or needed to find a new home when its host, St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, closed.

In May, the Renewal congregation began to share space with the Hillsdale Community Church, United Church of Christ at 6948 SW Capitol Hwy. The congregation invites Jews of all backgrounds, interfaith couples and LGBTQ individuals and families to meet their new rabbi in their new home.

“I love teaching Torah and about our holidays and traditions, and making it meaningful and relevant to today,” says Rabbi Laner.

“We have a lot offer,” she adds. “Jewish Renewal is really special, and I think a lot of people aren’t aware of it. I feel a lot of people could really find their home here.”

Some summer Shabbat services will be held in parks around town.

“I love taking Judaism outdoors,” says Rabbi Laner. “Torah says a lot about how to take care of our environment.” pnaiorpdx.org

36 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

P’nai Or celebrates new leader and home

Neveh Shalom “Minyonnaires” gather to bid Shalom L’Hitraot to Howard and Petra Shapiro (holding hands). The couple sold their Portland home and moved to Oceanside, and Howard, a minyon regular for many years, will be sorely missed. Photo by Nan Lipton

Minyan attendees benefit in so many ways

By Deborah Moon

For Priscilla Kostiner, going to minyan nearly every day is “a great way to start the day with purpose and a place to be as part of a group that is going to help someone say Kaddish.”

During Mental Health Month in May, we explored the mental and emotional benefits people reap from participating in a daily minyan. The Oregon Board of Rabbis provided a local minyan list (see box) so community members can find a minyan when they need to say the mourner’s Kaddish or to enjoy the longterm benefits of participation.

A 1997 study printed in The Psychoanalytic Review explores “the minyan as a psychological support system … (that provides) a sense of continuity and meaning in life.” Study author S. Scheidlinger adds that “this group experience helps its members maintain an intergenerational sense of personal identity and self-esteem.”

Priscilla has seen all of those benefits first-hand in the decades she has been involved in Neveh Shalom’s daily minyan.

Like many people, she began attending the minyan regularly to say Kaddish after her father’s death in 1993. She continued going in part to honor her father’s memory, who had attended minyan in Virginia regularly beginning in 1955 when the family lived near the synagogue. As a high school student, Priscilla worked part-time for the synagogue and maintained the minyan list to help ensure 10 men (women were not then counted as part of the minyan) were present every day. Now at Neveh Shalom, she “basically runs the minyan” either leading

the short morning service or ensuring someone is there to do so.

She especially enjoys the intergenerational connections.

Many members attend into their 80s and 90s, and one woman still came at age 100. For a time religious school students were required to attend minyan one day a week for the year before their b’nai mitzah.

“We get kids up there, so they are not intimidated by being in front of people,” says Priscilla.

“These will always be our kids,” says Priscilla, of the young people who often continue to come regularly into adulthood.

“It’s like a family.”

Newcomers are always greeted and asked if they need to say Kaddish, or need an Aliyah or want help with the prayers.

“We celebrate with them, and we mourn with them,” says Priscilla. “For mental and emotional health, we are there for each other.”

MINYAN TIMES

(Times may vary on holidays; usually 15 minutes earlier on Rosh Hodesh; call or check websites to confirm)

PORTLAND Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane, Portland; 503-246-8831; Fri. 6:15 pm (4th Fri. 8 pm); Sat./Sun. 9 am; Mon.-Fri. 7:15 am Kesser Israel, 6698 SW Capitol Hwy.; kesserisrael.org/home; daily approx. 5 pm; Sat. 9 am; Sun. 8 am; Mon.-Fri. 6:45 am Beis Menachem (Chabad): 2317 SW Vermont 503-977-9947; Fri., 7 pm (AprAug); 10 min. after candle lighting (Sept-Mar); Sat. 10 am; Sun. 8:30 am; Mon.-Fri. 8:25 am; Mon 8 pm Ahavath Achim: 6688 SW Capitol Hwy.; 503-318-3732; Fri. 6:30 pm Apr-Aug., 10 minutes after candle lighting Sept.-Mar.); Sat. 9 am Beth Israel: 1972 NW Flanders St.; 503-222-1069; Fri. 6 pm; Sat. 10:30 am Havurah Shalom: 825 NW 18th Ave.; 503-248-4662; Sat. 10 am; Wed. 8:30 am Shaarie Torah: 920 NW 25th Ave.; 503-226-6131; Sat. 9:15 am; Sun. 8:30 am; Mon. & Thurs. 7:30 am Shir Tikvah: 7550 NE Irving St.; 503-473-8227; Fri. 6.30 pm (varies); Sat. 10:30 am Portland's UnShul: location varies, email RabbiDebra@AstheSpiritMovesUs.com; 2nd and 3rd Sat. 10 am; 4th Fri. 7 pm

EUGENE

Temple Beth Israel – Center for Jewish Life: 1175 E 29th Ave.; tbieugene.org; Fri. 7:30 pm 2nd Fri. 6 pm; Sat. 10 am; Sun. 8:30 am; Mon. & Thurs. 7:30 am; Wed. 5:30 pm JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 37

L iving

J

PREVIEWS

Fake News in 1930s Germany and Today

The rise to power of the Nazi Party in Germany in the 1930s was amplified by institutionalized propaganda and suppression of truth. Today, challenges to free expression of truth are threatening democratic values in the United States and around the world.

A program comparing and contrasting the two is scheduled for 7 pm, June11 at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. The program is presented by the Leo Baeck Institute of New York and Berlin.

The evening begins with a lecture by Professor Steven Wasserstrom on the repression of truth through organized propaganda. Following the lecture, William Weitzer, Ph.D, and Friderike Heuer, Ph.D., will join Wasserstrom on a panel to discuss from the similarities and differences between then and now.

Wasserstrom is The Moe and Izetta Tonkon Professor of Judaic Studies and the Humanities at Reed College, where he has taught since 1987. He is the author or editor of several books. All Religion Is Inter-Religion, Engaging the Work of Steven M. Wasserstrom, with editors Kambiz GhaneaBassiri and Paul Robertson, is forthcoming in July 2019.

He is presently working on a study of Hans Blumenberg's philosophy as the expression of a German Jew. Heuer was born in post-war Germany and trained as a lawyer before immigrating to the United States in 1981.

She received her Ph.D. in experimental psychology. After 15 years at Lewis & Clark College teaching and doing research on memory for emotional events, she retired in 2004 to pursue her interest in the photographic arts. She was a co-founder of Zeitgeist NW, an organization dedicated to bringing contemporary German culture to the Pacific Northwest. Weitzer became the executive director of the Leo Baeck Institute in 2013. The Leo Baeck Institute is a research library and archive that documents the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry, primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries, but also including documents dating back to the Middle Ages. It was founded in 1955 as a repository for the books, papers, photos and documents that were salvaged from Central Europe after World War II and donated to the Institute.

The event is free, but RSVPs are required: ojmche.org/ events/2019-fake-news-in-1930-s-germany-and-today or 503-226-3600.

Walk for cancer research

The 15th Annual SHOC Walk & Run will be Aug. 3 at Latus Motors Harley-Davidson in support of ovarian and gynecologic cancer research. The event begins at 7:30 am with KATU’s Rhonda Shelby leading the opening ceremony with the walk and run beginning at 8.

Participants will enjoy a beautiful 5K/10K walk or run or a 1-mile family walk along the Clackamas River and 38 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE

through the city of Gladstone. A warm pancake and griddle breakfast will await participants as they return from the course. Gynecologic cancer survivors may indulge in an exclusive sit-down breakfast beginning at 8:30 am. Other attractions include massage, music, the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers, face painting, vendors, the Rose City Rollers and the Rose City Hogs.

The SHOC Walk is presented by The Sherie Hildreth Ovarian Cancer Foundation, a volunteer nonprofit dedicated to finding a cure for the disease that claimed the life of its founder. Sherie Hildreth, a Gladstone teacher and member of Congregation Beth Israel, lost her life in 2009 after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. The Foundation has donated $1 million to ovarian and gynecologic cancer research at the Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute.

Registration and other details are available at shocfoundation.org.

Shavuot learning set east of Willamette

Following the holiday meal on Shavuot, many Jews spend the night in Torah study. The tradition of the Tikkun Leil Shavuot is based on the mystical belief that at midnight of the festival, the heavens open and prayers are more likely to be answered.

From 6 to 10 pm June 8, “Hineh Ma Tov: A Night of Joyful Learning” will offer attendees their choice of classes that range from rabbinical discussion, movement, storytelling, cooking and more. Workshops will be led by members and leaders of TischPDX, The Alberta Shul, The Portland Jewish Yoga Collective, Moishe House and Congregation Shir Tikvah. Teachers include Rabbi Ariel Stone, Rabbi Brian Mayer, Maggidah Cassandra Sagan and yoga instructor Rachel Stern.

This night of learning will be at Sunnyside Community House, 3520 SE Yamhill St., Portland.

Organizers anticipate making Tikkun Leil Shavuot an annual event on Portland’s east side. A suggested donation of $5-$15 includes light dairy refreshments.

Pre-registration in requested: brownpapertickets.com/ event/4239836

For summer events, visit orjewishlife.com/calendar Check back regularly: New events will be added throughout the summer.

L iving

J

FACES & PLACES

HONORARY DOCTORATE – Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Graduation Ceremony May 1 in New York.

Rabbi Cahana has served as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel since 2006. He was honored for 25 years of distinguished professional service as an alumnus of HUC-JIR. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, who was the keynote speaker, also received an honorary doctorate.

WOMEN’S IMPACT – New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss, interviewed here

by Kim Rosenberg, right, delivered a powerful message of how we can fight anti-Semitism in this world when she spoke in Portland May 6. Bari addressed more than 250 women at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Women’s Philanthropy IMPACT event.

CHEFS – Portland Chef Jenn cooked with Chef Michael Solomonov (who was featured in our special May issue on Israeli cuisine) at an event to raise money for the Vetri Community Partnership in Philadelphia. Vetri Community Partnership empowers children and families to lead healthier lives through fresh food, hands-on experiences and education.

SOMEPLACE LIKE HOME – Cedar Sinai Park held its Ozthemed benefit dinner May 11 at The Loft. Jordan Schnitzer and Arlene Schnitzer and the Harold and Arlene Schnitzer Family fund of OJCF, served as presenting sponsor. Jordan matched all $500 paddle raises, leading to $17,500 in contributions by others at that level. Marcy Tonkin kicked off the Mitzvah Moment with a $25,000 contribution and matched the more than 40 people who made an entry-level donation of $54. Photos by Colleen Cahill Studios

WOMEN’S INITIATIVE – Portlander Jodi Garber-Simon was one of 100 participants in the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative inaugural Leadership Summit May 20-21 in New Jersey. Jodi was nominated by Congregation Kesser Israel. The lay leadership conference is designed to encourage and develop women serving as lay leaders within their communities. Jodi says the conference will help her help in her volunteer roles at Kesser and elsewhere and in her professional role at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, where she is the director of marketing and communications.

YOM HA'ATZMAUT – About 600 people enjoyed a host of activities at the MJCC to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut on May 8. Photo

by Paul Rich Studio

JEWISH LIFE | SUMMER 2019 39

40 SUMMER 2019 | JEWISH LIFE