at the
JewishMittlemanCommunityCenter Schnitzer
Sunday | Our athletes’ JCC Maccabi Games® experience started with service projects. Sara Ellis (tennis) made care packages for students and the Team Oregon 3-on-3 basketball team (Joshua Braden, Itai Guy, Omer Shapira, and Noam Yaffe) met with Jewish soldiers and American armed forces members and then wrote thank you letters to men and women in the service. Following service projects, Sara went to her host family’s house while our basketball players moved into the dorms at the University of San Diego with 500 other athletes.
Monday night we had the opening ceremonies at the Del Mar racetrack. Team Oregon marched into the song “Tudu Bom” honoring three of our delegation’s athletes with Israeli parents. It was a spectacular evening culminated by a presentation by Goldberg from the World Wrestling Federation who calls San Diego home. He reminded all the athletes they have a purpose and should be proud to be Jewish.
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219 | 503.244.0111 | oregonjcc.org
Exclusive updates for our donors and supporters from your MJCC Fall 2022
Tuesday | We started bright and early again, boarding buses at 6:30 am. Our boys basketball team went two and two for the day and Sara had a couple of great matches.
Tuesday culminated with a trip to SeaWorld. The Maccabi athletes took SeaWorld by storm. The night ended with an impressive fireworks display.
Team Oregon Competes at JCC Maccabi Games® in San Diego
Monday | Monday morning, bright and early, our athletes took buses to San Diego Jewish Academy where they competed in their respective sports. Team Oregon boys lost to Miami 21 to 12 in their first game but rebounded to beat Team Orange County by five points in their second game. Sara, our tennis player, played in two tough matches.
Thursday | While no medals in sports were won by the Oregon athletes, basketball player Joshua Braden and tennis player Sara Ellis were each awarded a middot medal. The medal is presented to athletes who demonstrate the qualities of “good-heartedness, respectfulness, efforts to repair the world (tikkun olam), Jewish peoplehood, joy and pride.”
Wednesday | With the preliminaries out of the way, Team Oregon athletes had their chance in the knockout tournament. Our basketball team fought valiantly against the team from Louisville, Milwaukee and Tucson but were knocked out in a close battle. Our tennis player, Sara, made her mark. Rebounding from the preliminaries, she won her first match 8 to 3, and made it to the quarterfinals by winning her second match in an 8-8 tiebreaker. There were secondary sports available for our athletes and Joshua Braden had a great run at a spikeball tournament.
This summer, we saw the return of the JCC Maccabi Games®! In this, its 40th year, the Games drew 1,600 Jewish teen athletes from 57 delegations and 67 JCCs across Canada and the U.S., as well as delegations from Bulgaria, Mexico, and Israel. Everyone gathered in San Diego for a week of competition, and much more, at what can reasonably be called the Olympics for North American Jewish teens. With the 2020 and 2021 Games lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, these Games were particularly special, making the return to action all the sweeter. Team Oregon arrived on July 31st, ready to make new friends, trade pins, compete in their respective sports, and have a meaningful Jewish experience. Here’s a snapshot of their week:
Family Campus
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Wednesday was also host family night, so Sara spent more time with her host family, while our dorm residents went to the Padres game, catching Juan Soto’s first game as a Padre and a Padres win.
Our week finished up with a huge celebration at the Lawrence Family JCC in La Jolla. Our athletes and 1500 of their new friends and fellow competitors were treated to a BBQ dinner with personalized water bottles, sno cones, churros, a dance party with musical performances, and a spectacular San Diego sunset. As Sara Ellis said “I enjoyed getting to meet other Jewish teens from around the world, while competing in the games!”
This year was the first year that the JCC Maccabi Games® games included the Access games. Seven athletes with disabilities from all over the world competed in what has been the most inclusive JCC Maccabi Games® yet. Their closing ceremony featured a performance by the dance competitors from the Games as well as a presentation from Doron Krakow the CEO of JCCA. Next year, in Fort Lauderdale, the program will be even bigger and better for our Access athletes. They had basketball, bowling, soccer and swimming competitions and medals were awarded to each of the athletes.
We are grateful to the Jerry & Helen Stern Grandchildren’s Fund of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, Mia Birk and Glen Coblens, and the Goodman Family for helping us keep this program affordable for those who want to attend.
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If you know a teen athlete who is interested in participating, there will be two options to join the festivities in 2023 –Israel (July 5-25 for ages 12-17) or Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Aug. 6-11 for ages 12-16). There are also many ways to support our athletes by providing a sponsorship or donation, helping to make JCC Maccabi accessible to all athletes, regardless of financial circumstances. For more information contact Saul Korin at 503.452.3427 or skorin@oregonjcc.org.
never been to the JCC Maccabi Games® before, you likely don’t know the importance of pins. Each delegation has a pin and pins are traded and collected for years to come. Each Oregon athlete was given 40 pins to trade (and more if they wanted). It’s an opportunity to connect and meet other participants. Our pins and pins from around the country and world will be featured at the MJCC in the coming weeks.
IfPinsyou’ve
Since 1982, the JCC Movement has engaged tens of thousands of Jewish teens and family members, spectators, and volunteers through the Olympic-style magic of JCC Maccabi, one of the greatest Jewish peoplehood projects of our time. For the majority of JCC Maccabi athletes, 63% of whom report being otherwise unaffiliated with any other Jewish youth organization, JCC Maccabi remains their primary connection to the Jewish community, global Jewish life, and Israel—creating a remarkable and unmatched opportunity to engage them, support their efforts to build their Jewish identity, and have a significant and lasting impact on their lives.
Access
When we moved to Portland, we did not know a soul. We have made good friends in the classes we frequent. I recently had knee replacement surgery and was given helpful advice and equipment that made my recovery easier. It was nice to have people who would check on me and visit me when I was unable to get out and about.
I think the thing that is remarkable about the J is the friendly welcoming attitude of the people that work there. We are also greeted by name and with a smile. This personal touch means a lot.
We moved here from South Texas. We take advantage of the many shows and concerts here in Portland that were not available where we lived. We are regulars at the many farmer’s markets here in Portland and the surrounding areas. We joined the Portland Art Museum and Japanese Garden. We go for walks in the parks and walking trails in Portland. We have also discovered some great restaurants and food carts.
We are so glad we joined the J. We feel like we are part of a community of people who share our values and interests and who are fun to be around.
How are you utilizing the J now that it has reopened?
What sets the J apart from other gyms?
Where are you from originally? What hobbies do you have outside of the gym?
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Patty pictured with her husband Pat on a cross country ski trip.
How Do You J? With MJCC Member, Patty Hanemann
Do you have any interesting connections you’ve built over your time at the J?
My husband and I joined the J in March 2021. We had visited Portland in 2019 and had toured the J then, and we intended to join when we had planned to move here in March of 2020. Our plans were put on hold when the pandemic hit, and we did not return until the end of July 2020. The J was not open at that time. We joined the J eight months later. We started personal training with Joe Seitz. He found ways to make us comfortable by training outdoors and in areas and times when few people were around. He was our first introduction to the J and his flexibility and good attitude kept us coming back.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Member Patty Hanemann joined the MJCC during the pandemic in March of 2021. As a transplant from Texas, the J was one of the first places she discovered and she quickly made it her home away from home. We were delighted to catch up with Patty recently to find out more about the many ways she finds fulfillment at the J.
We love the selection of classes that are offered. We have enjoyed Chair Yoga with Amy who is inspiring with her upbeat attitude and complete body workout. My husband continues to work out with Joe, and I take the water aerobics classes. We have also taken Israeli dance. Sometimes we eat at the cafe after our workouts.
How long have you been a member of the J? What drew you to us and what keeps you here?
Keep an eye out for our fall PDX Business Series event this November! Details soon at oregonjcc.org/pdxbiz
October 23-25 Used Book Sale
Day Camp Offers a Safe Space for Growth and Fun
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December 30 Erev New Year’s at Noon
Summer 2022 was as busy as it was fun! Our nine weeks together gave campers the opportunity to return to group activities, including favorites like Jewish Enrichment, playing in the Sportsplex, cooking, and swimming. On average, we served 166 campers a week, offering varied programming for all ages ranging from pre-k through 10th grade. Our older campers went on field trips throughout the summer, and they also hosted their own camp activities, such as planning an allcamp carnival and creating a play. We were also glad to return to having swimming more frequently each week, offering four days of open swim for campers 5-years-old and up, which is a marked increase compared to the single day of swimming that we were able to offer in 2021. On Fridays, we loved coming together to sing and tell stories for Shabbat, and for three of our weeks, we invited families to join us for Friends and Family Shabbat.
Most of all, we want to thank our camp families for choosing MJCC Day Camp this summer. We were honored to be able to provide a home away from home for our wonderful camp family. We also want to thank our generous donors who helped to provide camp scholarships to families who otherwise would not have been able to afford summer camp for their children. Our gratitude goes out to the Juan Young Trust and the Marenstein Family Endowment for enabling us to assist nine campers with scholarship funds, representing 24 free or discounted weeks of camp.
In addition to our own MJCC summer camps, we continued our partnership with Skyhawks Sports Camp, and they provided three weeks of basketball and soccer camps.
Upcoming Arts + Culture Events*
October 12 Pizza in the Hut
October 29 ORA Celebration of Art
*This is a selected listing of upcoming events; many more can be found on our website
oregonjcc.org/cultureat:
Unit Head, Holden Regnier, delighted in the summer’s success, “It was such an incredible experience to see our campers grow together and develop friendships over the summer,” he said. “We can’t wait to see our campers back again next year.”
October 27 Friends of the Center Society Celebration (by invitation only)
October 30 ORA Art Sale
November 13 Jewish Community Orchestra Concert
It was wonderful to see our returning campers this summer, and we were excited to welcome dozens of new families as well. Overall, we served nearly 500 unique campers during the summer. Our summer ended with a super awesome Family Fun Event, complete with bouncy houses, hot dogs, lawn games, popcorn and more. We are grateful to OnPoint Community Credit Union for making the Family Fun Event possible.
It’s certainly an exciting time to be an MJCC member! We are expanding our hours and programs and making some fun new additions. These new programs are made possible thanks to the generous support of donors like you.
This is just a sampling of some of the exciting things happening on campus:
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• We are now open on Saturdays from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.
We also inducted Jake Raiton into the Oregon Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and recognized some of our MJCC Stingrays, our most dedicated members and our superstar camp counselors. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our community! Be sure to save the date for this year’s Community Celebration, scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
What’s New at the J?
New Fitness Classes Making Their Debut
Our fitness offerings continue to expand. We’ve got lots of options to strengthen your core including Senior Core, Intermediate Core and Advanced Core. We’ve also added two new HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes. We’re also delighted to bring back Tai Chi to work on balance, strength and mindfulness. Our aquatic exercise class offerings now include Aqua Yoga as well as Ai Chi, both in the Warm Water Pool. There are now 55 weekly group exercise classes! If personal training is more your style, we have eight highly experienced, qualified trainers to help you on your fitness journey. And with Saturdays now back in rotation, you can now hit the gym seven days a week!
• New golf, sports, and enrichment afterschool classes are being offered for youth.
Expanded Building Hours, Childcare and More
• Adult drop-in Pickleball is starting on Sundays in October.
• Dozens of new group exercise classes are now available! Read more below. For more information and details on these and other programs, please visit our website at oregonjcc.org
The MJCC’s annual Community Celebration was held on May 24th. In its first two years, the event was fully virtual, and, this year, it was held in person for the first time. Guests were entertained with live music by Michelle Alany & The Mystics.
Jake Raiton, Oregon Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.
Everest Sibony and Lyla Paru (center of both photos), Harry Glickman Scholar Athlete Award Winners, pictured with Steve Friedman (left) and Glen Coblens (right).
Executive Director, Steve Albert (left) pictured with Pillar of Excellence Awardee, Jerry Sadis.
The Pillar of Excellence Award was presented to MJCC Past-President, and longtime friend, Jerry Sadis. Two outstanding Oregon teens–Everest Sibony from Seaside and Lyla Paru from Beaverton–were presented with the Harry Glickman Scholar Athlete Award.
Check out our latest fitness schedule at: oregonjcc.org/fitness.
Celebrating Community
• Evening and Sunday Child Care is now available, in addition to Monday - Friday mornings.
The members are lovely as well! When I first started, I made an effort to walk around and introduce myself to them doing various activities. I enjoyed meeting some of the basketball guys, taking water aerobics and other group exercise classes. I am planning to return to doing that now that camp has wrapped up for the summer.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Tell us a little about yourself.
My job title is Assistant Executive Director, and I get to work with various departments including aquatics, membership, fitness, camps, and sports and recreation.
I started at the MJCC in May of 2022 and have jumped right into the Day Camp experience. I have been working at Day Camps since I was 17 in various roles so I am super familiar with how fun it is to be a part of camps. The MJCC staff and members have been really welcoming since my arrival and have been patient with me learning the culture of this special place.
I grew up in Vancouver, WA and live seven minutes from my childhood home (my children went to the same high school I went to). I studied Recreation Administration at Washington State University in Pullman and that is where I met my husband of 22 years. We have a daughter, Grace, who is 21 and finishing up her senior year of college at Eastern Washington University in Education. Our son Braydon is 19 and is studying at Washington State University.
Tell us when you started here and what your experience has been like since you arrived.
The staff at the MJCC are really a team, and work together through everything. When interviewing for the position that was stated over and over, and was the selling point for me in deciding to join the team. You always hope to find a place that really works like a team, and that is what I have experienced here.
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What is your job title and what are some of your responsibilities?
When I am not at work I love to be with my family, travel, and watch football. I also am a sucker for reality television.
A Special Thanks to our Newsletter Contributors
Staff Profile: Jenny Robinett
What has struck you about working at the MJCC?
Steve Albert, Sandy Engel, Becky Ewer, Patty Hanemann, Anna Hixon, Lisa Katon, Saul Korin, Holden Regnier, Jenny Robinett, Eden Samiee, Karen Sapoznikow, Joe Seitz, Daylee Shaw, Hillary Shifrin, and Bethany West. New Year! Shana Tova
We are delighted to introduce you to Jenny Robinett, the J’s new Assistant Executive Director. Jenny started back in May and has had a very busy summer overseeing Day Camp, in addition to all of her other responsibilities. If you haven’t yet met Jenny, please take a moment to introduce yourself when you see her around the building. In the meantime, here’s an opportunity to learn a little more about her.
Bernard Goldhammer z”l
Jason Zidell
Since 2017, the MJCC has hosted the PDX Business Series. Originally conceived as a Breakfast Series, the Covid-19 pandemic and reluctance to attend early morning meetings has led us to convert the series to lunch time Zooms and afternoon events or happy hours.
Lois and Leonard z”l Schnitzer
James E. Richman
• Our final event of the year will be a look at Portland’s Jewish Food Renaissance. Dates and panelists to be announced. We are grateful that Income Property Management and Jeff Reingold have signed on again as Presenting Sponsors. We are building our sponsorship list at this time for the series as well as individual events. For more information, contact Saul Korin at 503.452.3427 or skorin@oregonjcc.org.
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Sheldon Klapper and Sue Hickey
Gail Mandel and Steven Klein
Jeff and Anne Nudelman
Jeanne Newmark
Stephen and Becki Saltzman
• In January, we will host a Zoom gathering on the Business of Hollywood.
Les z”l and Martha Soltesz
Rita Philip
Glen Coblens, Mia Birk and the Birk-Coblens Family
Gerel MiltonStephenBlauerButlerCarl z”l
Merrill and Perry Hendin Lisa Katon and Noah Kressel
Stan and Madelle Rosenfeld
Bunny and Jerry Sadis
Anonymous (2) Steve Albert and Janie Goldenberg
For the first time since 2020, we finished the year in person with “Let’s talk about Oregon Wine,” which included a wine tasting at Cellar 503. On June 22, 25 people joined us to learn about and taste Oregon wine with Carrie Wynkoop of Cellar 503 and Matt Berson from Love and Squalor Wine. We learned about the history of Oregon wine, about environmental and smoke impacts, and where the industry is going. Of course, we tasted four delicious wines, hand-selected by Carrie and Matt, and noshed on kosher snacks provided by Century Catering.
Howard and Jen Feldman
Robert E. Glasgow and Lesley G. Glasgow
As we plan for 2022-2023, we have come up with the following tentative topics and schedule:
How are we combating houslessness? What’s the current situation downtown?
Sandra Schnitzer
M. Teiblum z”l
Ralph and Sandy Miller
MJCC’s #PDXBIZ Series Enters its Sixth Year
“The JCC is a vital part of our community. Growing up at the J, Glen learned from role models who had an incredibly positive impact on his life. We are excited to see the next generation grow and develop at the JCC.”
John and Beth Germain
Kenneth and Jennifer Zeidman
Gayle and Paul Romain Steve Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman
Gary and Linda Singer
Amy and Doug Blauer
Bruce Abrams
Stacy Barna Barry and Karla Benson
Kyle and Rebecca Rotenberg
• In March, we will examine the question, “Do I Need a Coach for Business or Life?”
Marshal Oller
Jonathan and Sarah Glass
Eric and Anna Kodesch
Edith BeckyDorsenandGreg Ewer
MJCC Legacy Society
Jonathan Singer
Glen Coblens and Mia Birk
Faye Gordon Samuels
Stacey JordanaLebenzonandRyan Levenick
John and Carol Arnsberg
Sue RobertPerkeland
Tom MenachemStern
Bert and Laurie Rogoway
• In November, we plan to meet in Downtown Portland to take a look at our fine city. Did the charter review pass?
Tony and Priscilla Kostiner
Howard and Wendy Liebreich
Andrea Sanchez and Benjamin Drucker
Nancy J. Green z”l
The MJCC Legacy Society is a group of dedicated community members who have made the extraordinary commitment to remember the MJCC in their estate plans. We are deeply grateful for their ongoing support and their dedication to ensure the long-term sustainability of our Center. If you are interested in becoming a Legacy Society member, contact our Executive Director, Steve Albert, at salbert@oregonjcc.org or 503.535.3592.
Eric and Robin Kornblit
MiriamStroud,HumanResourcesDirector 503.535.3632|mstroud@oregonjcc.org
Schnitzer Family Campus
JennyRobinett,AssistantExecutiveDirector 503.535.3541|jrobinett@oregonjcc.org
BethGermain,ChiefFinancialOfficer 503.535.3593|bgermain@oregonjcc.org
MJCCStaffisHereForYou!
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219 503.244.0111 | oregonjcc.org
SaulKorin,DirectorofDonorEngagement+Philanthropy 503.452.3527|skorin@oregonjcc.org
BeckyEwer,Marketing+CreativeDirector 503.535.3533|bewer@oregonjcc.org
JewishMittlemanCommunityCenter
SteveAlbert,ExecutiveDirector 503.535.3592|salbert@oregonjcc.org
LisaKaton,DonorRelations+GrantsSpecialist 503.535.3532|lkaton@oregonjcc.org
MJCCBoardofDirectors DanelleRomain|President JohnEmshwiller|VicePresident RichBarker|Treasurer NaomiHarwin|Secretary JasonZidell|ImmediatePast-President BarryBenson Joyce KashinskyGartnerEvansNadineJonathanGlassMarniGlickMichelleStevenKleinOpherNadlerRickNittiDavidSolondzSandraValleTamarWyte-Lake WearegratefultotheJewishFederationofGreater PortlandandourcommunityfortheirsupportoftheMJCC.www.jewishportland.org Supportedby