PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY
At the Schnitzer Family Campus | Think for yourself. Work for the world. Winter 2025, 5785 | Exclusive updates for our donors and supporters.
An All-Star Night for PJA - A Grand Slam Success!
On Sunday, December 15th, PJA’s 63rd Anniversary Auction hit a home run, with a record number of sponsorships (108!) and 165 generous Mitzvah Moment donations! In all we raised almost $665,000 to support tuition assistance and to ensure an outstanding student experience for all PJA students. It was a true all-star affair, with over 250 guests joining us in person and many more bidding online for an incredible array of items generously donated by our community. The energy in the room was electric, akin to a packed stadium on a championship night. The live auction was a thrilling showdown, with bidders vying for coveted prizes like dazzling jewelry, exotic vacations, and prime tickets to sporting events, of course! It was a nail-biter, with every bid raising the stakes and the excitement. All proceeds support an outstanding PJA education and make it possible for us to provide over half of PJA day school families with tuition assistance.
We had retro tennis players, the crew from Ted Lasso, the “sun is also a star” group, a Fantasy Football gang, an outstanding homemade soccer ball dress accompanied by Timber Joey, and a large group of folks dressed in custom PJA blue retro ‘80s tracksuits. This year’s costume contest winner was Yehuda Gruenberg, dressed as a five-athlete star, representing different sports from head to toe. The entire evening was a slam dunk, with laughter and applause filling the room.
But the night was about more than just the big plays. We had a pickleball game on stage (won by PJA dad, Matthew DiVeronica) and a new spin on Heads or Tails – called PopFly or Grounder – won by proud alumni dad, Bob Gitelson. Our costume contest was a highlight, with attendees dressing up in their most creative and outrageous outfits.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Jay & Diane Zidell Charitable Foundation for matching each and every sponsorship and Mitzvah Moment gift! We also want to thank all of our incredible sponsors, Mitzvah Moment donors, and item donors. Your generosity is what makes this event possible. A special thanks to auctioneer Ian Lindsay and emcee Josh Kashinsky for hosting the event, and to the incredible staff auction team for their tireless work in organizing this phenomenal event. Rosanne Levi and Bess Butterworth led a stellar team of staff and volunteers, ensuring this year’s event was a resounding success. We would be remiss not to mention Century Catering’s Allen Levin and his superstar catering team for the delicious meal. Kol Hakavod to all!
Together, we’ve scored a major victory for PJA, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!
PJA Family Camp Builds Bonds and Memories
In late September, 30 PJA families and several staff members headed to Camp Solomon Schechter in Tumwater, WA, for a weekend packed with fun, friendship, and a festive Shabbat celebration. The mild weather and beautiful 175-acre forest welcomed families into a joyful and meaningful weekend.
Attendees ran around, hiked to the bog and beyond, paddled boats, and spent hours jumping on Clark, the giant inflatable waterpark on the lake. Shabbat felt extra special and was filled with joyful songs (thanks to Amy Katz for leading!). Delicious family-style meals were shared (the matzo ball soup was epic!). On Saturday night, families gathered under the stars for a magical Havdalah service, followed by a memorable, marshmallow-y bonfire.
Perhaps most importantly, bonds were formed with friends, old and new. Children formed new friendships as they explored the campgrounds, while parents enjoyed engaging conversations, lots of laughs, and even a few moments of sheer relaxation.
The weekend was a refreshing reminder of the joy that comes from slowing down, reconnecting with nature and with each other. When it was time to pack up and leave, everyone carried home not just memories, but the warmth of a stronger PJA community.
PJA strives to make Family Camp accessible for all. If you are interested in helping to provide financial assistance to families that cannot afford the full fees, please contact Bess Butterworth at bbutterworth@pjaproud.org.
JOIN US FOR NEXT YEAR'S FAMILY CAMP September 26-28, 2025 Camp Solomon Schechter
Holiday Sweetness
One of the most special things about PJA is that we live our day-to-day school lives in the rhythm of the Jewish calendar. This means that in the weeks leading up to Rosh Hashanah, students heard the sounds of the shofar each day, ate apples and honey, envisioned and created goals to become the best versions of themselves they could be, wrote blessings and cards for their school “buddies,” went on an apple picking field trip, and baked apple cakes for the holidays with the apples they picked.
On Sukkot, students decorated our school sukkah, baked and ate more delicious food in the sukkah, and learned about the connection between Sukkot and helping the hungry. The end of the fall holidays culminated in our annual Simchat Torah celebration as members of our class of 2025 chanted the end and beginning of the Torah. This celebration allowed the PJA community to sing and dance together, even as hearts were heavy with the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Oct 7. At our assembly for Simchat Torah, we took a moment of silence to remember the victims of the attack and considered how being Jewish means always holding the bitter alongside the sweet.
And while we were not in school this year during Hanukkah, the sweet celebrations kicked off our anticipation of one of our favorite holidays. Students spun dreidels, wrote Hanukkah stories, sang Hanukkah songs, spent time with their buddies, and of course grated, fried, and ate countless potato latkes! 5785 has been off to a sweet start at PJA!
“Girls on the Run” Empowers and Energizes PJA's Service Learning: A Year of Action
For the third year in a row, PJA has offered a Girls on the Run team for 3rd-5th graders. This fall, we welcomed eight girls, all but one of whom were current PJA students. Girls on the Run is a national organization dedicated to instilling girls with self-empowerment lessons combined with physical activity, culminating in a 5K. Participants take part in twice-weekly interactive lessons about friendship, inclusivity, self-esteem, and building confidence. Each session includes time for reflection on the day’s lesson and physical activity, of course! To celebrate the end of the season, participants from all Portland-area teams gathered at Portland International Raceway on November 27th for an exclusive Turkey Trot 5K.
PJA’s coaching team consists of a cadre of dedicated volunteers, including parents, staff members, and community members, all of whom are dedicated to inspiring girls to discover and celebrate their own unique strengths, while lifting others up in the process. The practices are fun and interactive, and they encourage participants to take on increasing leadership roles.
PJA has seen several past participants join the cross country team once they advance to middle school. Having built confidence in their running abilities through their Girls on the Run experience, these girls have developed the mindset to pursue further goals, whether they are running or participating in another sport.
According to veteran coach and PJA parent, Naomi Harwin, “Girls on the Run has been fantastic for my daughters. My older daughter is now competing in track and cross country, something I don’t think she would have done without the confidence gained in GOTR. My younger daughter, who didn’t see herself as a runner, is already setting goals for her next 5K. It has been an honor and privilege to coach the team at PJA.”
If you would like more information about Girls on the Run, please contact PJA’s Site Director, Mike Khavul, at mike.khavul@gmail.com.
PJA is particularly proud of our tagline, “Think for Yourself, Work for the World,” and we put it into practice every day. This year our service learning projects have shifted to be more focused on alignment with classroom content, in addition to supporting 8th grade Capstone Projects.
During the course of the school year, each grade level or grade level groupings, will pick a service project that aligns with what they are learning in the classroom. For instance, our 5th graders, in collaboration with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, planted native plants in a recently constructed stormwater bioswale on campus. This paired well with the 5th grade study about native plants and the students’ recent work removing invasive plants from the PJA garden.
At the start of the school year, our 2nd graders learned about ways to support children in need and developed a schoolwide project to make beautiful cards to include in backpacks for Portland Backpack, an organization that provides weekend food sacks for children who are at risk of hunger.
Another example comes from the 3rd grade Thanksgiving Service Project. As our 3rd graders learn about the greater Portland community, they organized a schoolwide effort along with Jewish Family and Child Service (JFCS), to collect cans of corn to be included in the Thanksgiving meal boxes that JFCS distributes to their clients. In addition, through the efforts of our PJA Kehillah Organization, $1,080 was collected by PJA families to donate to JFCS’ Family Holiday Drive.
Every year, PJA 8th graders choose individual Capstone Projects as part of a year-long endeavor. Students learn indepth about service learning and choose their own area of focus to support, both through study and service projects. Through their research they make connections to Jewish texts and values. This year, each 8th grader is working with a mentor who is supporting them in their efforts to identify a project and organize their own form of support for that project. A beautiful example of this comes from one of our 8th graders who, through his study of supporting houseless people, has organized a toy drive to support Path Home, a local organization that supports families to find and retain housing.
These projects, along with upcoming schoolwide drives, offer everyone at PJA opportunities to learn, give back, and live our motto. We're grateful for the dedication of our students, teachers, and families to making a difference.
New Faces and a Winter Market at PJA Afterschool
PJA Afterschool is an enrichment based afterschool program that focuses on building community and connections. We serve about 225 children across Portland at four different schools; Portland Jewish Academy, Odyssey Program, Forest Park Elementary and Glencoe Elementary.
We provide care for K-6 students, and we offer a variety of activities each day including active games, crafts, and STEM activities. For December, all of our programs ran a Winter Market! Students joined together to become market vendors and created a product to sell. All month long they prepared their shops, built inventory, and determined prices. On the day of the market, students got ‘market bucks’ to spend at each other's shops. Students learned all about entrepreneurship, teamwork, collaboration, negotiation, and more!
The program’s new Director, Carly Landau, has been working with PJA, PPS and various afterschool programs for the past eight years. She loves working in aftercare because it allows her to work with kids through a creative and SEL (social emotional learning) lens. She loves the freedom of being able to create a curriculum that's catered to her students, and offer learning opportunities that aren’t always available in a traditional classroom. This is her fourth year with PJA, and she has really fallen in love with the supportive and heart-centered community of teachers and administrators here.
Also leading the afterschool team, we have three new program coordinators. Joni Mueller is running Kidscorner at PJA. Joni worked for many years at an arts-focused afterschool program based in Portland. She also has taught preschool and provided private music lessons. Jack Pickell is running Kidspace at Forest Park Elementary. Jack assisted in running our program at Glencoe Elementary for three years before moving into this position. Jack brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Kidspace community, and he prioritizes activities that develop gross motor skills. Diana Buck is running our newest site at Odyssey Program. Diana has a degree in elementary education and has spent many years working in classrooms and running similar afterschool enrichment programs.
Expanding Hands-On Science in Elementary Classrooms: Sparking
Curiosity and Creativity
We believe that science education is more than textbook lessons - it’s about igniting curiosity through hands-on, experiential learning. This year, Sara Morton, one of our middle school science teachers, is helping lower school teachers to enrich their science curriculum with interactive activities that allow students to explore the world around them in fun and engaging ways.
In 4th grade, students have been exploring potential and kinetic energy. They started their exploration by engineering paper towel tube marble runs, which needed to meet design criteria and stay within prescribed constraints. This hands-on challenge teaches problemsolving and critical thinking as students experiment with angles and structures that affect the motion of the marble, gaining first-hand experience with the transfer of energy. Students then expanded their understanding of motion and energy transfer by investigating how the height a ball is dropped from affects its bounce height. In this activity, students act as scientists, making predictions, collecting data, graphing results, and analyzing the results.
Third grade students started the year diving into the world of circuits by creating their own electrical systems, learning how energy flows and how components work together. This sparked their creativity and introduced them to basic engineering concepts, all while empowering them to build their own working devices and navigate difficulties. They were then challenged to connect what they learned about circuits to a seemingly unrelated activity - rubber band cars. After students built their cars, they tested the effects of twisting the rubber band more or less on the resulting motion of the car, drawing connections between batteries and the flow of electricity in circuits.
First grade students have been investigating forests and the roles different organisms play in ecosystems, from mighty trees to microscopic bacteria. Building on investigations they have completed on field trips to the Tualatin Hills Nature Center, they were taken on a "microscope safari” where they were introduced to the microscopic organisms that are living in leaf litter, doing the important work of decomposing. Future plans involve growing fungus cultures and building tiny snail terrariums.
These activities are more than just fun - they’re key to fostering a love for science while promoting critical thinking and encouraging problem solving. From kindergarten to 8th grade, we are working on inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers!
What Has PJA Kehillah Been Up To This Fall?
PJA Kehillah has been busy building a strong PJA school community and leading classroom reps to foster strong class communities. Through a mix of parent-led events, sports meet-ups, family holiday celebrations and parentvolunteer opportunities, PJA Kehillah is creating an environment where all families feel welcome and engaged.
PJA Kehillah kicked-off the school year with about 20 families and a beautiful day at Providence Park cheering on the Timbers T2 team. PJA families celebrated the fall holidays this year with two family-led events. First, “Create & Bloom” allowed families to live hiddur mitzvah (the mitzvah of making something beautiful) and let their creativity blossom by making bouquets to take home for Rosh Hashanah, led by PJA parent and master gardener Kenzie Woods. Second, eight PJA families opened their sukkot this year during the holiday for PJA’s Annual Sukkah Hop, where dozens of PJA families celebrated the holiday together, including a few visits from the PJA Cross Country Team! A big thank you to our friends at Dairy Hill who provided gift cards for the PJA Sukkah Hop prize drawing.
In October, PJA Kehillah commemorated October 7th with a parent-led family rock painting activity after school. A handful of families participated in International Walk+Roll to school day, and parent volunteers stepped in to sell challah weekly on Fridays (with a full roster of parent volunteers signed up through February!). PJA Kehillah also kicked-off monthly Shabbat flower sales - another parentled endeavor with funds being contributed back to PJA Kehillah.
Rounding out the fall, class reps have been busy collecting funds for winter gifts for teachers, staff and administration, and, collectively, donated $1,080 to Jewish Family & Child Service’s Family-to-Family program. Kehillah also provided breakfast treats and lunch for teachers during fall conferences, and hosted the first parent kibitz of the year, Kombucha & Kibitz before November’s all-school Kabbalat Shabbat.
Looking forward to winter, PJA Kehillah is planning a parent-led regenerative writing workshop, preparing for a Tu B’Shevat celebration, coordinating a PJA Blazer night, and kicking-off the annual community art project.
If you’d like to get involved with PJA’s Kehillah, please contact kehillah@pjaproud.org.
Alumni Spotlight:
Roni Heyman, PJA Class of 2015
How long did you attend PJA? What are your fondest memories of your time as a PJA student?
I attended PJA from 1st to 8th grade! Some of my fondest memories as a PJA student were spent at the library with Safranit Molly (Ms. Sloan). She always took the time to listen to and encourage me through her reading recommendations and much more. She’s the reason Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books to this day! I also always loved how Jewish prayers and Hebrew songs were integrated into our daily curriculum; even though I do not go to synagogue every week now, I could still lead an Amida service on the spot.
What are you doing currently?
I am in my second year of the University of Cincinnati (UC) Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program, which combines clinical training and academic research. My research interests lie in neuropsychology (brain-behavior relationships) with a primarily pediatric focus; I am currently finishing my first manuscript for publication, “Novel Problem Solving and Phonology Among Children Evaluated for Dyslexia.” This year, I am gaining clinical experience by conducting neuropsychological testing in a clinical practicum at the UC Medical Center and working as a therapist in an academic training clinic. Outside of the program, I am an active member of the Cincinnati Jewish community, which warmly welcomed me to the city last year and has been an invaluable support in the aftermath of October 7th. I regularly participate in the events sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati for young Jewish professionals, as well as by Moishe House (an international non-profit organization and Jewish outreach initiative). I am also a member of the Israeli student community at UC, with whom I recently attended the Cincinnati annual Jewish National Fund gala.
Describe your life/educational path after PJA.
After PJA, I attended St. Mary’s Academy. Although it was a big change to attend a Catholic, all-girls high school, I left PJA with a strong Jewish identity. As a Jewish Israeli woman, I felt responsible for representing my community at St. Mary’s and then at Purdue University as an undergraduate. At Purdue, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Brain and Behavioral Science, gaining research experience in human development and family studies, behavioral neurobiology, and neuropsychology research. As a research assistant, I facilitated data collection, recorded neurophysiological responses of children during computerized tasks, and participated in developing coding scales for parent-child dyadic communication. I graduated with minors in Human Development & Family
Studies and Jewish Studies and an undergraduate honors thesis. I minored in Jewish studies to explore Hebrew, Jewish history, and collegiate-level discussions about Jewish culture, which inform the way I discuss, debate, and represent Judaism today.
Can you share with us how your PJA education shaped you into the person you are today?
The biggest impact of my PJA experience was the multilayered Jewish learning, from interpreting stories from the Talmud to learning about mitzvot by volunteering at the Blanchet House. Graduates leave PJA with a wide breadth of knowledge about the different facets and values of modern-day Judaism. I left PJA with a deep curiosity for knowledge and a desire to connect with others, which are still part of me today.
Any advice you have for current PJA students? Any gratitude you’d like to share with a teacher/staff member or the school in general?
I want to thank Ms. Molly Sloan and Ms. Debbie Paynter for the lifelong impact of their encouragement, support, and individualized attention. My advice to current PJA students is to be patient and kind with yourself; this can be a challenging time in life. Sometimes, the parts of you that make it hard to fit in make you great at what you do in the future. Finding my passions, career, and sense of self took me a long time. Being Jewish, or Israeli if you’re like me, has never been more complicated. Know that you are the expert in your life story; don’t hesitate to take up space to tell it. Listen to who you are, and keep an open mind for who you’ll be!
Are you a PJA alum?
Share photos and updates with us at pjaproud.org/alumni
PJA Alumni Share Secrets to High School Success
In early November, PJA hosted an informative and engaging high school information night for our 8th graders and their families. We welcomed back five alumni to share their experiences and impart sound advice for our students embarking on the big new world of high school, next fall.
The alumni represented a variety of schools including public, independent, large and small. Our guest speakers were:
Jake Chisholm, Junior, Northwest Academy
Anna Kappler, Junior, Oregon Episcopal School (OES)
Eitan Miller Feder, Junior, Grant High School
Sydney Rosenberg, Sophomore, St. Mary's Academy
Maya Zaslavsky, Junior, Ida B. Wells High School
The evening began with the panelists sharing a bit about themselves and the kinds of activities in which they are involved, both in and outside of school. Across the board, all of the alumni agreed that they felt quite academically prepared coming into high school. Most of the session was spent answering questions from the audience of middle schoolers and their families. The questions included, “How hard was it to make friends?”, “What is the one thing you wish you had known before starting high school?”, and “What advice do you have for parents?”.
Our alumni were all incredibly confident and well-spoken, sharing the importance of getting involved in some way at their respective high schools. They suggested playing a sport, going out for drama, joining a club, even starting a club, etc. There was universal agreement that one of the most vital skills needed is self-advocacy. They shared that the teachers at PJA had taught them how to juggle multiple assignments and the importance of communicating with teachers if they needed extra help or clarification of a concept. For the caregivers in the group, the students’ advice was “to trust your kid.” The panelists assured the adults that the wonderful teachers at PJA had helped them to hone these types of skills in order to succeed in high school, and that their job now was to let their students demonstrate all that they learned over their years at PJA.
We loved having our alumni back on campus and providing an opportunity for them to demonstrate such maturity, insight and grace. They all seem to be thriving at their different schools, involved in their communities, and practicing thinking for themselves.
From left to right: Sydney Rosenberg, Jake Chisholm, Anna Kappler, Eitan Miller Feder, Maya Zaslavsky
Ask the Expert: Arlene D. Schiff
Senior
Advisor, Life
&
Legacy®
Harold Grinspoon Foundation
How can you ensure that Portland Jewish Academy and other Jewish organizations that have impacted your life can similarly impact future generations?
at the
You are a vital link in a chain that connects past generations of Jews to future generations. You have benefited from the support, services, and programs provided by Portland Jewish Academy (PJA) and other Jewish organizations created and sustained by previous and current residents of Portland. You have enjoyed the generosity of those who recognize the importance of maintaining a strong and vibrant Portland Jewish community.
How can you continue this tradition of generosity and care? One way is to make a gift to the PJA endowment, or the endowment of another Jewish organization, today, either in cash or with securities or by donating a portion of your required minimum distribution from your retirement account if you are over 70.5. Once placed in an endowment, your gift will provide annual funding to support the organization's operations.
Another option is to make an after-lifetime commitment. At PJA, doing so will make you a member of our Dor L’Dor Society. This type of gift is payable upon your passing. It allows you to maintain your current lifestyle while representing your support for PJA and the wider Jewish community. After-lifetime gifts can be arranged through a will or trust, by designating a beneficiary on a retirement account, life insurance policy, bank account, donor-advised fund, or other methods that provide income to you or your heirs.
These gifts are easy to make and allow you to have a lasting impact on the Portland Jewish community. Your professional advisor or the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation can help you with the details.
Imagine how wonderful you will feel knowing you helped ensure future generations of PJA families who will benefit from the same vibrant community you have been fortunate to be a part of.
Fall Sports Spotlight:
PJA Athletics is off to a great start for the 2024-25 school year! The cross country team included 17 student athletes, 11 boys and six girls. The girls’ team grew to a post-pandemic high, thanks to an influx of five new 6th graders. Throughout the season, the team ran over 5,000 combined miles throughout practice and 153 kilometers during the four different 3k races throughout the season. PJA Cross Country plans to build on this great season and continue to “Run for yourself, work for the team.”
The fall 5th and 6th grade basketball season has come to a close. It was a successful season with eight athletes competing in nine games. The team grew tremendously on defense, but more importantly, in teamwork and sportsmanship. PJA basketball’s mantra is that athletes can only control two things while on the court–attitude and hustle. Regardless of the outcome of the game on the court, the student athletes displayed those skills throughout the season.
Seventh and 8th grade basketball got underway with practices in December, with a team of 16 student athletes, the largest number in many years. Home games are every Thursday starting January 9th and ending February 20th. Come cheer them on and show your Dragon pride!
Finally, the PJA Cheer team has started back up for the second year, with six student athletes. They will build up their routine and perform at some 7th/8th grade PJA home basketball games.
The PJA Kehillah is proud of the Dragons and continues to cheer them on in all of our sports!
Early Childhood: Shining Lights and Community Connections
Hanukkah
This year the Early Childhood program explored Hanukkah through the lens of B'tzelem Elohim (in God’s image). Recognizing one's own divine image helps to recognize the divine potential within ourselves and every human being. Each family took home a lantern that they decorated with their child. These were used to light up our hallway along with transparent portraits of the children. Hanukkah is a beautiful time to focus on all the light that we can see in each other and the light that we share with those around us. Each little light shines bright at PJA. May they continue to dispel the darkness in the world.
Community Helpers
Infants and Toddlers have been learning about helpers inside and outside our community. They have invited families who do jobs in a hospital or in a search and rescue capacity. We had a special visit from the fire fighters and the fire truck. Even at the youngest age, our children need to know those who keep us safe. They loved getting close to the fire truck and seeing all the flashing lights up close.
2's and Preschool classes
These classes have been inviting families to be part of their school community by volunteering to share stories (in Hebrew and English), making latkes, and joining them in the art studio. The children are so proud to welcome each other's families!
In Grant News
We are grateful to the following donors who made recent grants in support of PJA:
• Holzman Family Foundation to support the 2025 8th Grade travel experience.
• Leonard & Lois Schnitzer Charitable Supporting Foundation of OJCF to bring Dr. Sivan Zakai to present workshops for teachers and parents on how to teach/talk about Israel in the current climate.
• OCF Joseph E. Weston Public Foundation for General Support.
• Wholistic Peace Institute Harold Schnitzer Spirit of Unity Award to support the Elana Cohn-Rozansky Annual Shelter Feed serving a Transition Projects shelter.
Thank you to our newsletter contributors:
Steve Albert | Bess Butterworth | Richard Boyd
Angelica Evans | Becky Ewer | Sarah Glass
Arielle Goranson | Naomi Harwin | Merrill Hendin
Roni Heyman | Lisa Katon | Amy Katz
Kim Krikorian | Carly Landau | Colleen Morrissey
Sara Morton | Lexie Quandt | Elizabeth Rice
Eden Samiee | Karen Sapoznikow | Elliott Saunders
Arlene Schiff | Emily Yeomans
PJA Dor L’Dor Society
The Dor L’Dor Society recognizes those who have made the extraordinary commitment of including Portland Jewish Academy in their estate plan with a gift through a bequest, trust, life insurance policy or other planned gift. We gratefully acknowledge all of the members of the PJA Dor L’Dor Society.
Anonymous (3)
Steven Albert and Janie Goldenberg
Bonnie Boone Altshuld and Steve z"l Altshuld*
Ron and Judy Applebaum
Gloria Bacharach z"l*
Alan Bacharach*
Richard Barker and Kelly Portnoff-Barker
Stacy Barna
Jackie & Stuart Barthold*
Barry and Karla Benson
Gregory Bishop and Sharon Klin*
Lynn Bonner*
Donna and Dick z"l Brownstein*
Stanley Davis*
Marlene Davis z"l*
Julie Diamond z"l
Esther Dickstein
Edith Dorsen
Robert Erlich z"l
Becky and Greg Ewer
Eleanor Fisher z"l
Robin and Eric z"l Flamm
Karen and Skip Freedman*
Nadine Gartner and Benjamin Olds
John and Beth Germain*
Jacob Gildesheim*
Jonathan and Sarah Glass
Edward and Florence Glick z"l*
Eric Goldenberg*
Erica Goldman and Jeffrey Druckman*
Adam and Robin Greenman*
Rick Haselton and Sura Rubenstein*
Merrill and Perry Hendin*
Helen Herner*
Ruth Horenstein*
Lewis and Lisa Horowitz*
Hilde Jacob z"l
Dr. Irvin and Dr. Jacqueline Jacobs
Sam Jacobson*
Phil Jansen and Ariel Shattan*
Garry and Judith Kahn
Hank Kaplan and Marni Glick*
Lisa Katon and Noah Kressel
Sheldon Klapper and Sue Hickey
Eric and Robin Kornblit
Tony and Priscilla Kostiner*
Stacey Lebenzon
Shirlee and Reuben Lenske z"l*
Jordana and Ryan Levenick
Al and Rosanne Levi*
Holly R. Litwin*
Gail Mandel and Steven Klein
Richard and Judi Matza*
Zen Menasche-Slayen*
Vic and Toinette Menashe*
Jeffrey Menashe and Wendy Gutmann*
Larry and Joyce Mendelsohn*
Mark and Marcia Meyer*
Joel Mullin and Sheri Katz
Hillary Nasso and Ken Wittenberg*
Diane Nemer z"l*
Dale Oller
Ella and Herbert Ostroff z"l*
Jack & Clara Paige Family Fund of the Oregon
Make a Lasting Impact
For more information about PJA's Dor L'Dor Society, contact Steve Albert at: salbert@pjaproud.org or call 503.535.3592.
Jewish Community Foundation
Robert Leonard Parnas z"l
Erik Richmond and Annette Demsey
Gayle and Paul Romain
Steve Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman*
Stan and Madelle Rosenfeld
David and Darcy Rubin*
Nicole Heiman Sacks and Robert Sacks*
Jerry and Bunny Sadis
Stephen and Becky Saltzman
Faye Gordon Samuels
Andrea K. Sanchez and Benjamin Drucker
Joan Schnitzer
Richard and Patricia Schwartz*
Gary and Linda Singer*
Jonathan Singer
Anthony Slayen*
Kelly and Julie Smith*
Les z"l and Martha Soltesz
Marshal Spector
Roslyn Srebnik Fund of the Srebnik Family Trust
Carol and Noam z"l Stampfer*
Sherry and Steven Stone*
Howard and Vivian Wasserteil
Rabbi Joey Wolf and Lisa Rackner*
Carrie Wynkoop and Kari Chisholm
Esther and Henry z"l Zabronsky*
Ken and Jennifer Zeidman
Mark and Mindy Zeitzer
Jason Zidell
Jay & Diane Zidell
*Denotes Founding Members of the Dor L'Dor Society
It is hard to believe that it has been four and a half years since our son, Eli, graduated from PJA in June 2020. His PJA education began in Transitional Kindergarten and the opportunities, culture, and nurturing yet challenging environment the school provided him has fundamentally contributed to who he is today. He is an independent and inquisitive thinker as well as a thoughtful and empathetic individual. He is a mensch. PJA provided him with a solid foundation for high school, which in turn prepared him for college. His classmates from PJA are still at the forefront in his life and serve as a lodestar as he navigates both opportunities and challenges.
For us, including Portland Jewish Academy in our estate plan was an obvious and heartfelt decision. We are infinitely grateful to PJA’s teachers, administration, and staff for being our partners in Eli’s education and growth. We want to do our part to help ensure that PJA thrives and continues to provide such an outstanding educational experience for future generations.
Gail Mandel and Steve Klein Proud PJA alumni parents
Portland Jewish Academy
Schnitzer Family Campus
6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97219
P: 503.244.0126 | F: 503.245.4233 | pjaproud.org
VIEW THE COMPLETE CALENDAR: pjaproud.org/calendar
March 24-31: 8th Grade Trip to New York/Washington DC.
March 20-21: Day School Spring Conferences
March 14: Purim
March 7: Conference Prep Day
Feb. 17: No School: President's Day
Kabbalat Shabbat
Feb. 14: Early Childhood and Day School
Feb. 13: Tu B’Shevat
Jan. 27: Teacher Inservice Day
Kabbalat Shabbat
Jan. 24: Early oodChildh and Day School
Calendar of Events
Tamar Wyte-Lake
Sandra Valle
Danelle Romain
Michelle Kashinsky
Chris Hathaway
Arielle Goranson
Martha Izenson
Marni Glick
Nicole Frisch
Eric Brickenstein
Naomi Harwin | Secretary
Nate Smith | Treasurer
David Solondz | Vice President of Strategy
John Emshwiller | Vice President of Facilities
Jason Zidell | Immediate Past President
Nadine Gartner | President
We are grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and our community for their support of PJA. jewishportland.org 2024-25