AGENCIES & ORGANIZATIONS

JEWISH AGENCIES & ORGANIZATIONS

JEWISH MEDIA

The first Oregon Jews often lived in other places in America before finding their way out West. Many of them were merchants who helped build a strong Jewish community – founding synagogues, schools, social and charitable organizations and welcoming waves of other immigrants, refugees and survivors who would come to call Oregon their home. Those later arrivals made their own contributions to Oregon Jewish life.

The first Jewish organization in Oregon, Portland’s Mt. Sinai Cemetery Association, was incorporated in 1856. The Portland chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women organized in 1896, remaining active for nearly 120 years. The B’nai B’rith Building, later to become the Jewish Community Center, opened in 1914; in 1971 the center moved to its present location in Southwest Portland. In 1920 The Jewish Women’s Endeavor joined forces with the Old Men’s Hebrew Fraternal Organization to create “The Jewish Old Peoples Home.” The Federated Jewish Societies, the precursor of today’s Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, organized in 1920 to raise money for a variety of Jewish institutions.

Beneficiaries included the B’nai B’rith Building, the First Hebrew Benevolent Society, Jewish Relief Society, Jewish Women’s Benevolent Society, Jewish Women’s Sewing Society, National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, Neighborhood House, the Committee on Jewish Orphans, Portland Hebrew Free School, Sisters of Israel Benevolent Society and the South Portland Benevolent Society.

As community and individual needs shifted in subsequent decades, some organizations faded, others evolved, and new groups arose to meet the needs of 21st century America. Following are the organizations that today meet the needs of Jews living in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

AGENCIES/ORGANIZATIONS

ADL PACIFIC NORTHWEST

206-448-5349 seattle.adl.org

ALBERTA SHUL

503-703-5205 albertashul.wordpress.com

AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (AIPAC)

Oregon and Washington office

206-624-5152 aipac.org

AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

212-751-4000 ajc.org

B’NAI B’RITH INTERNATIONAL

1120 20th St. NW #300N, Washington, DC

202-857-6600 bnaibrith.org

EASTSIDE JEWISH COMMONS

2420 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland, OR ejcpdx.org

GIFT (GIVING IT FORWARD TOGETHER)

9604 NE 126th Ave. #2340, Vancouver, WA 360-524-4830 giftclarkcounty.com

HADASSAH, PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION

6214 E. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA hadassah.org/regions/pacific-northwest

IAC EITANIM-PORTLAND

Gitit Dekel Stein, Community engagement Manager, Portland Israeli American Council (IAC) (971) 348-9294 gdekel@Israeliamerican.org

IAC Eitanim brings together the next generation’s Jewish-American and Israeli-American middle and high school students for an immersive, innovative, project-based learning experience which strengthens participants’ Jewish identity, builds their connection to Israel and ignites their “Israeliness”.

Mentored by industry experts, Israeli- and Jewish American teens lead innovative projects, build their resumes, and develop important life skills while forming new friendships with like-minded peers.

Teens who engage in Eitanim get to:

* Connect to Israel culture, values and spirit

* Be guided by leading mentors, innovators and creators

* Develop valuable life and business skills

* Connect with Israeli-American and jewish-american teens across the nation

* Collaborate and impactful projects and initiatives

We would be thrilled to have families start their journey with us, and proud of taking this great step of infusing the love of Israel and Israeliness in the Portland Jewish community.

JEWISH BUSINESS NETWORK

9604 NE 126th Ave. #2340, Vancouver, WA 360-524-4830 thejbn.org

JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL

9900 SW Greenburg Road #220, Tigard, OR 503-245-6496 jewishportland.org/jcrc

JEWISH EVENTS WILLAMETTE VALLEY

2531 Chula Vista Blvd., Eugene, OR 541-514-2571 info@jfcs-portland.org jfcs-portland.org

JFCS is Portland's Jewish social-services agency, serving all ages in Portland metro via its four programs. Counseling provides patient-centered, trauma-informed mental-health care and has flexible payment options. Disability Support Services offers resources and social programs for adults with disabilities and for parents whose children have disabilities. Community Support Services' resource list is robust, and Holocaust Survivor Services is Oregon’s only program whose employees are trained specifically to provide dedicated services for Survivors.

JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF LANE COUNTY

Office inside Temple Beth Israel at 1175 E. 29th Ave. Mail: PO Box 5924

Eugene, OR 541-484-2541 jewishfedlc.org/jewish-family-services

JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PORTLAND

9900 SW Greenburg Road #220, Tigard, OR 97223 503-245-6219 jewishportland.org

JEWISH FEDERATION OF LANE COUNTY Office: inside Temple Beth Israel at 1175 E. 29th Ave. Mail: PO Box 5924

Eugene, OR 541-484-2541 jewishfedlc.org

JEWISH FREE LOAN OF GREATER PORTLAND 9900 SW Greenburg Road #220, Tigard, OR 503-892-7417 jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/jewish-free-loan

JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF OREGON PO Box 19736, Portland, OR 971-266-0005 sites.rootsweb.com/~orjgs/contact

JEWISH GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF WILLAMETTE VALLEY nwfam.com/jgswvo

JEWISH LABOR COMMITTEE

140 W. 31st St., 2nd floor, New York, NY 212-477-0707 jewishlaborcommittee.org

JEWISH NATIONAL FUND, PACIFIC NORTHWEST 1455 NW Leary Way #400, Seattle, WA 206-760-1188 jnf.org

JEWISH FAMILY & CHILD SERVICE

Larry Holzman, board president

Ruth Scott, executive director

1221 SW Yamhill St. #301, Portland, OR 503-226-7079

JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

1129 20th St. NW #801, Washington, DC 800-343-2823 jwi.org

JEWISH WOMEN’S ROUND TABLE

Portland, OR jwrt.org

JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS (JAC)

847-433-5999 jacpac.org

MAZON: A JEWISH RESPONSE TO HUNGER

10850 Wilshire Blvd. #400, Los Angeles, CA 800-813-0557 mazon.org

MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Steve Albert, Executive Director

Jenny Robinett, Assistant Executive Director

Beth Germain, Chief Financial Officer

6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland, OR 503-244-0111 mjcc@oregonjcc.org oregonjcc.org

The MJCC has been a vital part of the community for over 100 years, providing a gathering place for the Jewish community while warmly embracing people of all faiths. The MJCC offers work out facilities, group exercise classes, personal training, a 25 yard lap pool, a warm water pool, racquetball courts, massage services, basketball, youth and adult soccer leagues, after school youth programs, summer day camp, a wide array of arts, cultural, educational and social programs, holiday programming, a cafe and more!

NA’AMAT USA

6320 Canoga Ave. #270, Woodland Hills, CA 844-777-5222 naamat.org

OREGON BOARD OF RABBIS

541-520-3434 oregonboardofrabbis.org

OREGON JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

David Forman, President and CEO

1618 SW First Ave. #210, Portland, OR 503-248-9328 davidf@ojcf.org ojcf.org

OJCF helps individuals and families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington achieve their philanthropic goals through the most tax-advantaged approaches to charitable giving. The foundation offers donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities, charitable trusts and other sophisticated planned giving options and accepts cash and non-cash gifts. Its mission is to build and promote a culture of giving that supports a thriving Jewish community now and for generations to come.

OREGON JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

LIFE AND LEGACY PROGRAM

1618 SW First Ave., # 210, Portland, OR 503-248-9328 davidf@ojcf.org ojcf.org

OJCF is dedicated to securing the future of Jewish Oregon and Southwest Washington through the LIFE & LEGACY initiative, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. The program provides participating Jewish organizations with training, mentoring, marketing and incentive grants to support legacy gift development. LIFE & LEGACY supplements existing foundation services for individuals and family philanthropy, partner organizations and the professional investment of philanthropic funds.

OREGON JEWISH MUSEUM AND CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

724 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 503-226-3600 ojmche.org

ORT AMERICA

75 Maiden Lane, 10th Floor, New York, NY 800-519-2678 ortamerica.org

JEWISH MEDIA

OREGON JEWISH LIFE

Cindy Saltzman, Publisher 602-538-2955 advertise@ojlife.com editor@ojlife.com orjewishlife.com

Oregon Jewish Life offers the best of what the Oregon Jewish community has to offer: local personalities, the arts, businesses, agencies, happenings and Jewish food.

JEWISH REVIEW

9900 SW Greenburg Road, Suite 220 Tigard, OR 503-892-7404 jewishportland.org/jewishreview http://www.jewishportland.org/jewishreviewhttp://www. jewishportland.org/jewishreview