Oregon Jewish Life February 2017 Vol.6/Issue 1 by JewishLifeMagazine

FEBRUARY 2017

WANDER NO MORE

Trends for 2017 Step-by-Step Jewish Wedding

CAPTAIN SUNSHINE Solar Powered World Appreciates Israel

Kosher treats for the

Super Bowl

BILLY CRYSTAL "Spend the Night" with the Jewish Comedian, Actor, Author

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 1

Â®

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

6680 SW Capitol Highway | Portland, OR 97219 | 503.245.6219 | www.jewishportland.org 2 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

JewishPDX

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 3

WANDER NO MORE

Oregon Jewish Life • February 2017 | Shevat-Adar 5777 | Volume 6/Issue 1

COVER STORY

WEDDINGS

Billy Crystal has stories aplenty Spend the Night with Billy Crystal

30 35

FEATURES JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Yossi Abramowitz taps solar’s power

HOME & LIFESTYLE Remodeling for warmth Finding slower pace on vacation

12 Portland teens explore USY convention Kids and Teens calendar

36 37 37

38 40

SENIORS Community celebrates together Service, friendship next door in villages

43 44

FOOD Chef’s Corner: Meals of love NW Nosh: Vegetarian Indian menu Kosher Super Bowl treats

46 48 49

COVER: Billy Crystal Photo by Steve Schofield

4 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

15 18 19 22 24 26 28 29

JKIDS & TEENS TOO

BUSINESS Ins & Outs ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT Kids to launch Jewish Arts Month Youth invited to submit art Feb. 12 JAM Exhibitors

Finding love in Israel Music sets the tone of wedding Take time to plan beyond ceremony Jewish wedding scenes Wedding fashion Dating issues Trends for 2017 Wedding Directory

50 52

JLIVING My Grandmother’s candlesticks 53 Columnist talks legacies in Portland 54 Tu B’Shevat is Jewish Arbor Day 55 Previews of things to come 55 FACES 56 Calendar 58

COLUMNS Ask Helen Chef’s Corner by Lisa Glickman NW Nosh by Kerry Politzer To Life by Amy Hirshberg Lederman

26 46 48 53

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 5

WANDER NO MORE

FEBRUARY 2017 O r e g o n J ewi s h Li fe | Fe b ru a r y 2017 | S h eva t-Ad a r 57 7 7

PUBLISHERS

H OW TO R E AC H U S

Rober t Philip Cindy Saltzman

503-892-7402

ADVE RTI S I N G AN D E D ITO R IAL D I R EC TO R

ADVERTISING SALES: 503-892-7403 or advertise@ojlife.com

Cindy Saltzman

EDITORIAL: 503-892-7402 or editor@ojlife.com EVENTS: editor@ojlife.com

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS: 503-892-7403 orjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription

Deborah Moon

BUSINESS: publisher@ojlife.com

S O C IAL M E D IA E D ITO R

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION

Mala Blomquist

WE B M ASTE R Karl Knelson

ART D I R EC TO R

Home delivery of Oregon Jewish Life magazine is $12 for an annual subscription or $20 for two years. Subscribe online at orjewishlife.com/magazinesubscription or call 503-892-7403. Complimentary copies of Oregon Jewish Life magazine are available at dozens of retail locations including Jewish agencies, synagogues, New Seasons grocery stores, entertainment venues, restaurants and professional offices.

Philip Nerat

G R AP H I C D E S I G N E R Tamara Kopper

CO LU M N I STS Lisa Glickman Amy Hirshberg Lederman Kerr y Politzer Helen Rosenau

CO NTR I B UTI N G WR ITE R S Mala Blomquist Polina Olsen Murray Rosenbaum Tori Rosenblum Shuly Wasserstrom Teddy Weinberger

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER Debbie Taylor: Debbie.t@ojlife.com

6 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

P U B L I C AT I O N A N D D E A D L I N E S Oregon Jewish Life magazine is distributed on the f irst of the month. Stor y ideas for features and special sec tions are due 45-60 days prior to publication. B IZ IN S & O UTS: Business news is due about 25 days before publication. FACES & PLACES: Photos from past events are due 20 days prior to publication. E VENTS: Information about upcoming event s is due about 20 days prior to publication. C ALEN DAR : Please post event s on our online calendar. Relevant event s that are posted by the 10th of the month before publication will be included in the magazine. To request f irst-time authorization to post event s online, go to orjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “calendar access request” link under “quick links” on the right . Af ter you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with instruc tions for posting future event s.

A Prince Hal Production ( TGMR18) 2016-2017 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Oregon Jewish Life do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, staff or contractors. Articles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Oregon Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contractors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products or services.

Join Us Wednesday, March 1st â&#x20AC;˘ 7:00 PM

Join Portland Hadassah for an evening with the author @ Mittleman Jewish Community Center

Letty Cottin Pogrebin

A founding editor and writer forÂ Ms. Magazine, Ms. Pogrebin is also the author of eleven books, including How To Be A Friend To A Friend Who's Sick. Pogrebin's advice about friendship and illness -- infused with sensitivity, warmth, and (believe it or not) humor--is interwoven with boldly candid stories from her own journey through the land of the sick and her sometimes imperfect interactions with friends of hers who are sick or suffering.

Cost: $36, Includes wine, refreshments, and snacks Registration: online http://hadassah.org/events/pdxhbc Fundraising for Hadassah Marlene Greenbaum Breast Cancer Institute

Co-sponsor Mittleman Jewish Community Center In support of Hadassah Bikkur Cholim Interest Group: Portland Jewish Family & Child Services

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 7

WANDER NO MORE

Marriage as an institution is ever changing, from who can get married, when to get married and also who is getting married. According to national statistics, the percentage of married baby boomers is 48%, Gen Xers are at 36% and only 26% percent of Millennials are married. I am not certain what these figures say about our society, or even if these numbers are different in the Jewish community, but clearly, change is in the air. Wedding ceremonies and wedding venues are diversifying as well. (See our wedding section on page 15.) While traditional weddings are still very popular, today many couples are opting for more customized ceremonies in unusual settings and venues. Robert Philip

Though some would debate whether marriage itself is essential; the one thing that is not debatable is that love, friendship and a generous spirit are essential to a healthy relationship. So whether you are in the throes of an exciting new relationship, enjoying a stimulating and fulfilling long-term marriage, or somewhere in between, as the wise words of four Brits once said, “Love is all you need.”

Cindy Saltzman

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU CONNECT Subscriptions: orjewishlife.com/ magazine-subscription

Email us:

Newsletter: orjewishlife.com, click on “Subscribe Now!”

advertise@ojlife.com

Facebook: @ojlife Twitter: @ORJewishlife Call: 503-892-7402 8 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

publisher@ojlife.com distribution@ojlife.com editor@ojlife.com subscriptions@ojlife.com

WANDER NO MORE

Coming in March 2017

SPECIAL SECTION

REAL ESTATE To advertise, please contact Debbie Taylor 503-892-7403 debbie.t@ojlife.com orjewishlife.com

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 9

Jews with Attitude

Prosperity via solar power? “Captain Sunshine” says yes! By Deborah Moon

Yosef Abramowitz, aka Captain Sunshine, was a member of the negotiating team representing Israel at the 2015 Paris climate talks. Serious business, yes, but he spent much of his time there getting hugged by African energy officials. As the only one of the 50,000 or so attendees wearing a yarmulke, he was easy to spot. And African representatives were eager to talk to him about the success of the first commercial solar energy field in sub-Saharan Africa. A project of Yossi’s Energiya Global, the 8.5-megawatt field increased Rwanda’s production of electricity by 6%, with zero increase in emissions – thus bucking the conventional wisdom that poor countries need to burn carbon in pursuit of prosperity. Now 10 African nations are working with Energiya (which means energy of God) on solar projects in various stages of development, including a new solar field in Burundi expected to provide 15% of that poor nation’s electricity by March of this year. Yossi will be in Portland at about that time as the keynote speaker at the March 5 Friends of the Center Brunch at the MJCC (see below left). He hopes his reception in the United States will be as warm and the impact will be lasting.

“How do we apply our Jewish values in our personal life and in the world doing unusual things?" FRIENDS OF THE CENTER BRUNCH

SPEAKER: Yosef Abramowitz: Energized to Change the World Through Solar WHEN: 10 am-noon, Sunday, March 5 WHERE: MJCC, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland TICKETS: $54, individual; $36, 36 and under; $432, table RSVP: oregonjcc.org/brunch by Feb. 22

10 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

~ Yossi Abramowitz

“Rosy (Steve Rosenberg) invited me to come talk about my Jewish journey,” he says, noting the two met through the Wexner Jewish leadership program. “How do we apply our Jewish values in our personal life and in the world doing unusual things?” The Rwanda project earned Yossi his third nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, based on two reasons: for the energy solution itself and because it was situated at the AgahozoShalom Youth Village, providing income for the orphans of the Rwandan genocide. His first two nominations were for his participation in the movement to free Soviet Jewry, which Yossi calls “the greatest human rights victory in the world – we

Yossi Abramowitz and his wife, Rabbi Susan Silverman, flank their five children in this 2016 family portrait.

U2 lead singer Bono (in camouflage hat) joins a group of congressional leaders and local officials at the opening of Energiya's solar field in Rwanda. Slightly to the left and behind Bono is Sen. Jeff Merkeley (D-OR) and Yossi Abramowitz is in the back row at far right.

were able to free a million people without shedding blood.” Shifting his focus to solar energy was unplanned, but maintaining his emphasis on tikkun olam as he created a new business model was not. Yossi is a former journalist and Jewish educator. He and his wife, Rabbi Susan Silverman, now a leader of the Women of the Wall movement, each planned to write a book in 2006 when they made aliyah with their five children (two adopted from Ethiopia). Moving from Boston to Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel, Yossi was astounded to learn there were no solar energy fields in the sun-drenched nation. Government regulations and the national utility had quashed that option. As a newcomer, Yossi didn’t know how hard it would be to change the laws. Believing solar energy was a natural step, he co-founded Arava Power Company with David Rosenblatt from New Jersey and Ed Hofland of Kibbutz Ketura. Following a lengthy bureaucratic battle, Arava opened Israel’s first solar field at the kibbutz in 2011. Yossi says he expected solar power to explode in Israel following the changes in the law. While solar now supplies 70% of daytime electric needs in southern Israel, nationwide only 2% of Israel’s power is from renewable sources. “We’ve only scratched the surface,” says Yossi. “The rest of the country is way too slow considering the pace of climate change.” When the first field opened, Yossi says, “People came from 58 poor countries and said, ‘Startup Nation, can you help us?’ ” “As solar developers, we have a strong humanitarian

mission,” says Yossi. “It’s not just about the bottom line. We are interested in a quadruple bottom line. In addition to a good return for our investors, we have a strong environmental mission, a strong humanitarian mission and we are strengthening Israel’s diplomacy in Africa.” He says Israel can help provide Africans with the four things they need most – water (Israel water technology is the best in the world), food (we can grow things almost anywhere), energy (solar) and security from Islamic extremism, which Israel unfortunately has expertise in. “African leaders are turning to Israel for all those needs,” says Yossi. “When we bring prosperity and security to them, Israel gets more support from those countries.” With the Rwandan solar project online before the Paris talks, a key sticking point in past climate talks was overcome. “Energy is a key component to economic prosperity,” says Yossi. Decoupling GDP from emissions means poor countries don’t need to “burn their way to prosperity.” “It’s a business model for tikkun olam that is backed by guarantees from the World Bank and the U.S. government.” While in Portland, he also plans to speak to students at Portland Jewish Academy, deliver a d’var Torah at Congregation Shaarie Torah and address the Oregon-Israel Business Alliance. “My wife and I are donating 30 boxes of a parenting book we did to thank the JCC for its interest and in honor of Rosy and Ellen (Lippmann, Rosy’s wife),” says Yossi. He says he hopes the books and the story of his Jewish journey to improve the world “will inspire the community and the next generation to take seriously climate change.” When he finishes his Portland visit, he will fly to Washington, D.C., to participate in President Trump’s first briefing about the Power Africa and the Electrify Africa Act, a bill passed by both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support and signed into law by President Obama Feb. 8, 2016. While he worries that the Trump administration may build pipelines and grant more oil and drilling rights, he is hopeful that the reality of jobs will encourage President Trump to support renewable energy, too. “Wind and solar are creating more new jobs in the U.S. than coal, oil and gas,” says Yossi. “If the president has an emphasis on jobs, hopefully we won’t lose too much momentum on the climate side.” OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 11

INS & OUTS

Steven Wilker

Steven Wilker of Tonkon Torp LLP Honored as First Amendment Lawyer of the Year

Wendy Kahn

Steven Wilker of Tonkon Torp LLP was honored by The Best Lawyers in America as First Amendment Lawyer of the Year in Portland for his work defending civil liberties and requiring public records disclosures to improve government transparency and oversight. Only a single lawyer in each practice in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year”. The ACLU of Oregon also honored Wilker in 2016 as one of three attorneys who had argued for the Oregon affiliate at the U.S. Supreme Court and for volunteering more than 1,000 hours of service for the ACLU. Wilker argued to the Supreme Court in Wood v. Moss that Secret Service agents violated constitutional free speech rights by moving peaceful protesters away from then-President Bush because of the political viewpoint of their speech. Wilker is a partner at Tonkon Torp LLP, where his practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, intellectual property, and media law. Wilker, his wife, Lainie, and daughters, Hannah and Callie, are members at Congregation Beth Israel. He is actively engaged in the community as vice chair of ACLU Lawyers Committee, as chair of Metropolitan Family Service, and as a board member for Classroom Law Project. 503-802-2040 | steven.wilker@tonkon.com | tonkon.com

Federation Hires Wendy Kahn

On Jan. 3 Wendy Kahn joined the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland as director of Women’s Philanthropy, which includes the Lions of Judah. She will also serve as staff liaison to the Overseas Special Projects Committee, which she co-chaired last year as a lay leader. Wendy worked at Congregation Neveh Shalom from 2007 to December 2016 – first as capital campaign coordinator and then as the membership development director. “I love the Neveh Shalom community,” says Wendy. A Lion for several years, she attended the national Lion of Judah Conference last September. “That sparked my interest, and when this position became available I thought it sounded very exciting. … Now is a really important time to have a wider focus and a broader impact.” Wendy moved to Portland in 1990 to join her family’s Olshens Bottle Supply Co. She served as CEO for eight years. She and her husband, Steven, have two children – Rebecca, 20, and Michael, 17. After Rebecca was born, the family sold their company and Wendy became a stay-at-home mom. “During those 10 years I dug deep and got super involved in the 12 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

Dan Saltzman

Rachel Chodorow-Reich

Jewish community,” says Wendy. She served as president of the Young Women’s Board and chair of the Lions. She sat on numerous committees and boards including the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Community Relations Council. 503-892-3015 | wendy@jewishportland.org | jewishportland.org

Portland City Council Approves Historic Inclusionary Housing Program

Portland joined hundreds of municipalities across the country in December with a unanimous City Council vote to adopt Oregon’s first Inclusionary Housing policy. The program, proposed by Commissioner Dan Saltzman and the Portland Housing Bureau, will link the production of affordable housing to market-rate housing development by requiring affordable units in new multifamily residential developments. “Our vote today ensures that economically diverse neighborhoods and housing affordability will be preserved for generations to come,” says Commissioner Saltzman, who is a member of Congregation Beth Israel. “Inclusionary Housing is an important new tool to ensure affordable housing is integrated throughout our city, so people who work in Portland can live in Portland.” State law prevented local municipalities from adopting Inclusionary Housing programs until Senate Bill 1533 passed in the 2016 legislative session, lifting the pre-emption. The program will require developments with 20 or more units to reserve 20% of those units for households at 80% of the Area Median Income (or $58,650 for a family of four), with additional incentives for developers to include more deeply affordable units for households at 60% AMI (or $43,980 for a family of four). The Inclusionary Housing policy goes into effect Feb. 1. portlandoregon.gov/phb/70578

Hillel Hires First Staff Person for OSU

Rachel Chodorow-Reich was hired a part-time director of Jewish student life at Oregon State University starting Jan. 9. As the sole Hillel employee on the OSU campus, Rachel will support the work of the Jewish student leaders, engage students in meaningful Jewish conversations and experiences, and connect Oregon Hillel to activities around the state and nation. She will work to empower students by providing them with tools and resources to create programs that energize Jewish life on campus. “As Jews we have a huge gift of connection to thousands of years of

Andy Gitelson

Gary Fifer

tradition, family lineage, spiritual and life guidance, and a global tribe of diverse people with diverse connections to our heritage,” says Rachel. “Being Jewish is central to my life.” Rachel has studied Kabbalah, Jewish ethics and the tradition of feminine divine worship. She has taught, studied and led Jewish programming in Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal and inclusive settings. For two years the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland funded a University of Oregon Hillel staff person shared with OSU one day a week. Through that effort Hillel connected with 170 Jewish students. “While we recognize the success, it became clear that the only way to best serve this student community was to extend our resources in order to hire a highly qualified and committed Jewish educator and leader like Rachel who can strengthen and build the Jewish campus community and opportunities for student leadership and learning,” says Andy Gitelson, Oregon Hillel executive director. Rachel@oregonhillel.org | 510-703-6445 | OregonState.Hillel.org

Oregon Hillel honored with MLK JR Award

Oregon Hillel was among those recognized by the University of Oregon’s Division of Equity and Inclusion at a Martin Luther King Jr. Award Luncheon on Jan. 18. The award recognizes the Oregon Hillel Foundation, The University of Oregon Muslim Student Association and Arab Student Unions for their partnership in creating and facilitating the Manzil Midrash/ Conflict Series. “It’s very important that we recognize this important relationship,” says Oregon Hillel Foundation Executive Director Andy Gitelson. The series, which first ran during spring term 2016, offered students opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue. The award presented to the Jewish, Arab and Muslim groups it called the Institutional Transformation Award. This year’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Luncheon also presented faculty and staff awards and recognized student essay contest winners. The awards program promotes cultural diversity and cultural awareness on campus. oregonhillel.org |inclusion.uoregon.edu

Shaarie Torah Appoints Exec. Director

Gary Fifer has joined Congregation Shaarie Torah as executive director. He previously served as executive director of Congregation Har HaShem in Boulder, CO. “Gary stood out as a leader with extensive synagogue management experience, a deep commitment to Jewish traditions and a keen

Jewish Family & Child Service provides social services that improve the lives of adults, families, and children in the Jewish and general communities. Our Services Counseling, Disability Support Services, Emergency Aid & Holocaust Survivor Services

1221 SW YAMHILL ST. SUITE 301 PORTLAND, OR 97205 503-226-7079 JFCS-PORTLAND.ORG

bove

Beyond

It’s Important. Get it Done! They’ll be “Glad you did” ...instead of “Wishing you had”

Information. Options. Assistance. For Comfort and Peace of Mind. For You. For Your Family.

Preplan with Phil 503.567.1480 Phil Berger Lonsman phil@preplanwithphil.com jewishfuneralplanning.com Serving Greater Portland, OR and SW WA OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 13

insight in creating an outstanding member experience,” says President Phillip Cohen. "I feel blessed to join the Shaarie Torah community at such an exciting time in its memorable history," Gary says. "I had the good fortune to work with Rabbi (Joshua) Rose previously. The growth in Shaarie Torah’s membership since he has become its rabbi tells me that the Portland Jewish community sees in him the same outstanding qualities I respect.” Gary previously held advancing responsibilities in direct marketing operations and led his own consulting company for a decade. When he switched careers he earned certifications from the National Association of Temple Administrators as a senior director and from the Kellogg School of Management for Jewish Leaders program. “Gary brings all kinds of experience and knowledge that will help manage our growth and that strengthens and adds to the Jewish values that are at our core,” says Rabbi Rose. “He’s a mensch who is passionate about Jewish life and synagogue life.” A native of New York, Gary and his wife, Hope Trachtenberg-Fifer, raised four children in Roanoke, VA, for 30 years. shaarietorah.org | 503-226-6131

Danit Rothstein to guide culture at MJCC

and social programs. A Portland native who spent several years in Israel and Los Angeles, Danit returned to Oregon in December and started her new job Jan. 4. Danit worked as an assistant to the clergy and b’nai mitzvah coordinator for a Los Angeles temple. Danit and Candace Rothstein decided to move to Portland following their marriage Danit Rothstein last summer to be closer to Danit’s family. Her father, Fred Rothstein, is the executive director of Congregation Neveh Shalom, where the couple plans to affiliate. The Rothstein family spent four years in Israel when Danit was young. When the family returned to Portland, Danit became active in USY; following high school, she returned to Israel for USY’s Nativ gap year program. She attended the American Jewish University in Los Angeles, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA in nonprofit management. “The J is excited to have Danit bring her expertise to our programs,” says MJCC Program Director Len Steinberg. “She has a background in putting on concerts, which is perfect for the concert series we plan to launch this summer.” 503-535-3617 | drothstein@oregonjcc.org

The Mittleman Jewish Community Center has hired Danit Rothstein as assistant program manager in charge of arts and culture, and holiday

GET YOUR $1000 GRANT

BEFORE THEY’RE GONE OneHappyCamper.org

Don’t spend the summer kicking yourself because you missed out! Visit our Camp Finder tool to choose from 150+ amazing Jewish camps—and to apply for $1,000 off. Your child deserves the summer of a lifetime. Visit OneHappyCamper.org to start your application. ®

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY.

Together WE do extraordinary things 503.245.6219 | www.jewishportland.org 6680 SW Capitol Highway | Portland, OR 97219

JewishPDX

14 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

15 Both said yes 18 Set the tone with music 19 Relationship planning 22 Step-by-step wedding 24 Fashion report 26 Ask Helen 28 Wedding trends 2017 29 Wedding resources

Both said yes:

First, to a trip to Israel, and then to each other By Shuly Wasserstrom

Seth and Debbie Feder

or Seth and Debbie (nee Stone) Reder, a spontaneous and careeroriented trip to Israel turned out to be romantically life-changing. Seth, who was raised in Boring, OR, recalls meeting Debbie on the flight to Israel. Both were participating in a MASA Israel Teaching Fellows program, where they would live and work in Netanya for the year. Both had worked in higher education throughout their careers, so they had plenty to talk about. The mutual interest in education “is something that bonded us,” Seth says. “We were also the oldest of the group. Living in Netanya, we were 27 and 28 and the others were right out of college. Everyone called us the grandma and the grandpa of the group,” he jokes. What Seth left out of the story of meeting Debbie on the plane is that they had connected on Facebook before the plane meet-up. Members in the Netanya cohort were getting acquainted on a group page, and when Debbie and Seth realized they were on the same flight to Tel Aviv from JFK, they began messaging back and forth. They decided to find each other at the airport. Continued on next page

Photo by Charles Townsend Bessent OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 15

“I had just said goodbye to my parents, and I texted him to see where he was. He said he’s the guy with the guitar on his back, so I looked around near the gate and there he was. That was the first time I ever saw him,” Debbie recalls. “I actually left him on the plane when we landed in London. We didn’t have much time to get through Heathrow, and I didn’t want to miss the flight to Tel Aviv. I had planned ahead and booked a seat at the front of the plane, and he hadn’t.” A few minutes after she arrived at the gate for Tel Aviv, Seth came running down the hall. Both made the flight. The two discovered the MASA Israel Teaching Fellows program after having done Birthright trips. Seth, who left Boring for college in California, was working in higher education when he received an email from MASA asking if he would be interested in living and working in Israel for a year. He had always wanted to find a deeper connection to Judaism and decided to go for it. In Boring, Seth and his siblings were raised Jewish, but the lack of community made it difficult to feel deeply connected. “Most of my Jewish identity came later in life,” Seth explains. Debbie was raised in Fairfield, CT, and was involved in a large Jewish community. For her, going to Israel at age 27 was an opportunity to gain teaching experience abroad. “I just wanted to do something out of my comfort zone,” she says. In Netanya, the two took advantage of programming and day trips offered by MASA. They didn’t start dating until two months into the trip. “It was really wonderful to experience the country together,” Seth says. Debbie’s apartment was a floor above his, and they were able to spend plenty of time together. “We had similar interests because of higher education, so that helped,” he says. During Hanukkah vacation, the two flew to Paris, and both 16 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

went to Poland as part of a MASA delegation. After the year ended, both were offered jobs with Hillel International, Debbie at the University of Virginia and Seth at the University of Central Florida. Distance kept them apart, but didn’t stop them from planning a future together. They eventually decided to leave the Hillel jobs and move to Colorado, where they married on Aug. 14 at Arapahoe Basin at 11,000 feet elevation. “Our guests had to ride up in ski lifts,” Seth says. So did the couple and their officiant, Rabbi Joel Newman of Bnai Vail, which serves the Jewish community of the Western Slope of Colorado. “It was a beautiful and memorable wedding,” says Rabbi Newman. “We were 11,550 feet closer to God. Surrounded by the forest and mountains, the wedding took on a spiritual feeling that you rarely can find. It was a bright and sunny day, so as the couple got off the chairlift, there was nothing but rarified sunlight shining down upon them and a light breeze. “What I love about officiating at weddings in the mountains of Colorado is the response of those attending, ‘Oh, my God…this is so beautiful.’ ” Seth brought Debbie to his hometown of Boring for the first time before the wedding. It was her first trip to Oregon and the West Coast. “Boring is very beautiful, and it was great to see where he grew up,” Debbie says. Seth’s parents recently moved to Colorado, but his siblings, a brother and a sister, live in Portland. In Colorado, just outside of Denver, Debbie is now a seventhgrade history teacher, and Seth is working on his Ph.D. in education at the University of Northern Colorado. They have been back to Israel several times to staff Birthright trips together, something they hope to continue to do in the future. “We are so grateful we got that email from MASA propelling us to say, why not, I’ll go to Israel. We both took the chance and little did we know we would meet each other,” Debbie says.

Caption: Clockwise, top: Chairlift PHOTO BY CHARLES TOWNSEND BESSENT

Couple at the Dead Sea in Israel; MASA at wedding PHOTO BY CHARLES TOWNSEND BESSENT

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 17

Set the tone with music By Deborah Moon

Cantor Ida Rae Cahana

18 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

hough it’s often given only fleeting consideration in wedding planning, music is a great way to set the mood a couple wants for their special day. “What do you hear in your head that you want to hear at your wedding?” asks Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, senior cantor of Congregation Beth Israel. “The bride and groom should talk to a cantor or other Jewish music professional who can help them create the spirit they want.” The processional, recessional and music played while guests sit waiting all offer opportunities to create a special ambiance. Music can reflect a couple’s taste, heritage and family. The music can also enable friends and family to contribute their talents to the day. “It can really reflect the personality of the bride and groom,” says Cantor Cahana. “Music can honor different parts of the family.” For couples with a Sephardic background, Cantor Cahana suggests checking out the beautiful repertoire of Ladino music, which includes many sweet songs about the bride and groom. Popular culture is also a source of inspiration for couples. One couple who enjoyed the movie “The Mission” included the film’s romantic song, “Gabrielle’s Oboe,” at their wedding. She recalls one bride who, for her processional, selected a piece by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo, from whom the bride is descended. A fan of Bob Marlow, the groom wanted a medley of British pop music for the recessional. “It is interesting to see how we can accommodate two different people with two different tastes,” the cantor adds. “I also encourage couples to tap talented friends and family in helping to personalize the day,” she says. The wedding of Jamie and Jason Sperling was a beautiful example of that concept. Beth Israel Cantor Emeritus Judith Schiff sang at her daughter’s wedding, which featured a composition by Jamie’s father, David Schiff, titled the “Sheva Brachot” for the processional. David also composed a medley of the couple’s favorite songs for piano, flute, violin, viola and cello. A key consideration for the processional and recessional is that the music be easy to walk to. Cantor Cahana encourages Jewish couples to avoid Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” (Here comes the bride) and Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March,” since both are associated with Christian weddings in most people’s minds. Cantor Cahana has compiled a list of songs suitable for Jewish weddings featuring suggestions from classical, religious and contemporary sources. Classical ideas include “Spring” from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and Tchaikovsky’s “Love Theme” from “Romeo and Juliet.” Contemporary options include “Sunrise, Sunset” from “Fiddler on the Roof ” and “Wedding Processional” from “The Sound of Music.” For a more religious feel, she lists Hebrew love poetry such as “Erev shel Shoshanim” or “Dodi Li” or the traditional Sephardic melody “Scalerica de Oro.” Couples can find CDs or listen online to melodies at transcontinentalmusic. com/home.php and tara.com.

When planning your wedding, don’t forget to plan a healthy marriage By Deborah Moon

A “

bout half of first-time marriages end in divorce; be in the half that rides off into the sunset together,” says Laura in the introduction on her website laurakosak.com. “My coaching program The Divorce Vaccine can inoculate your marriage against the challenges you will encounter.” The Kosak family moved to Portland from Cleveland in July 2015 when Rabbi David Kosak was hired as the new senior rabbi at Congregation Neveh Shalom. In Ohio, Laura was licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and she has a master’s in clinical psychology. But her two premarriage programs are coaching and education – not therapy. The Divorce Vaccine features six core sessions, typically via Skype since she has clients worldwide. Expanded coaching options are available. “Couples tell me they really appreciate knowing they will be spending time working on their marriage,” says Laura. “They look forward to having time with me to spend time on the marriage and not get lost in wedding planning. … It is great to focus on the relationship and the potential for greatness in it.” Couples who live far from family and whose circle of friends are largely single have no role models for how to develop a successful relationship, explains Laura. But, she adds, “There are things you can learn, and it is worth the time to learn how to be married.” When new books on relationships cause a popular stir, Laura says the new “hot tips” frequently are reminiscent of ideas in the Torah or the Talmud. “People were talking about these issues 2,000 years Continued on next page

Portland relationship coach Laura Kosak draws on her diverse experiences as a human resources manager, Jewish educator, clinical psychologist and rebbetzin for her two trademarked marriage prep programs, the Daily Chuppah and the Divorce Vaccine.

STAY LIKE A LOCAL IN THE HEART OF PORTLAND’S WEST END DISTRICT

4 0 9 S W 1 1 T H AV E P O R T L A N D | 5 0 3 . 2 2 4 . 3 2 9 3 | M A R K S P E N C E R . C O M OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 19

ago,” she says, adding the topics were the same without the hip terms such as “language of love.” Communication is an integral component of both programs. Compassionate communication has been shown to be effective in relationships. When she teaches that concept in The Daily Chuppah, she incorporates short texts from the Torah and other teachings that illustrate the skill as an ancient wisdom. “We are all made in the image of God, and therefore everyone deserves respect, dignity and compassion,” says Laura. She uses this example when talking to Jewish couples about the need to listen with respect and not just to respond. Her approach to Jewish traditions is pluralistic and embracing of “wherever people are – Jewish, interfaith, any gender identity…” In addition to integrating Jewish teaching into the core sessions, The Daily Chuppah includes a seventh session on the elements of a Jewish wedding and suggestions on incorporating Jewish elements in the ceremony. “I’ve seen a lot of Jewish weddings,” says Laura, noting this is a natural outcome of being married to a rabbi for 17 years. When she works with interfaith couples or unaffiliated Jewish couples, she offers to include the officiating clergy in the session that focuses on the ceremony. Laura also explores topics related to enhancing relationships through a weekly blog accessible on her website. On her Facebook page, Laura Kosak Connects, she explores relationships and invites a discussion regarding building meaningful connections with others. Laura created her pre-wedding programs last year based on her review of the multitude of studies about what creates effective relationships and her own experiences promoting healthy interpersonal relationships in work and school settings. “All my careers have that as a core passion,” Laura says. As a human resources manager, she enjoyed helping teams work together effectively and happily, and helping employees create a healthy work/life balance – “that was the part I loved.” As an educator, “I loved helping kids get along and helping parents develop meaningful relationships with their children. At the end of the day, I was excited by relationships among people.” When she decided to pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Alliant University, her major graduate research was in the specialty of marriage preparation. Now she is sharing the insights she has gained from those life and educational experiences to help couples build healthy, happy relationships that last well beyond their wedding day. 20 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

Cs, Fs & Rs FOR ENGAGED COUPLES Cultivating a deep, joyful, enduring marriage involves more than sharing closet space. When planning your wedding, be sure your timeline includes the opportunity to focus energy and attention on your marriage. The marriage will last thousands of times longer than the wedding. I encourage couples to mind their Cs, Fs and Rs. DEVELOP SKILLS AND PRACTICES IN:

Communication – it takes intentional effort Conflict – every marriage has some Courtesy – kindness counts for a lot. HAVE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT:

Finances – from joint accounts to retirement Family – from how to split the holidays to whether children are in the future Fun – what to do for fun and recreation, how to spend leisure time, etc. Romance – how to nourish the intimate connection Roles – who’s in charge of paying bills, who does the laundry Routine – the daily tasks of living, keeping a home and achieving a work/life balance. Couples who run into trouble often are not operating based on the same set of expectations. They haven’t developed a way to be successful at working through challenges with effective communication. Practice having real conversations about challenging topics and clarify expectations before the wedding, and you’ll be starting your marriage off strong. Mazel tov and blessings for a wonderful life together!

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 21

1. Kabbalat Panim – Greeting the Bride and Groom

Wedding Scenes

BEFORE THE CEREMONY

Usually separate receptions are held for the bride and groom as the guests arrive at the ceremony site. The bride is seated in a throne-like chair where friends and relatives may greet her. Meanwhile, at the groom’s reception, the guests listen to a d’var Torah by the groom, who is often interrupted by songs or jokes.

2. Ketubah – Marriage Contract

or nearly two

The ketubah, written in Aramaic, is the Jewish legal contract that states the rights, provisions and conditions of the marriage partnership. The contract becomes the bride’s property.

decades, fifth graders at Congregation

Neveh Shalom have had front row seats for a full Jewish

wedding ceremony as part of

3. Bedeken – Veiling of the Bride

their life cycle class. Each year

During the ceremony the bride wears a veil. The groom approaches the bride, looks into her eyes and lowers the veil. By doing so he makes sure that he has the right bride, unlike Jacob, who married Leah first instead of Rachel.

a Neveh Shalom couple has

volunteered to recreate a full wedding so the students can

participate in the day, from the signing of the ketubah to the

reception honoring the couple with songs, dancing and refreshments.

The photographs on these

pages show the key elements of a Jewish wedding with

explanations condensed from the class curriculum. Most of

the photos are also from these Neveh Shalom wedding re-creations.

The three essential elements

of a wedding are the signing of the ketubah, the giving of the ring(s) and the yichud (seclusion). Under the

chuppah two ceremonies

take place: Erusin (betrothal), also known as Kiddushin

(sanctification), and Nissuin (the nuptials).

22 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

THE CEREMONY

4. Chuppah – Wedding Canopy

The wedding canopy is a multifaceted symbol: it is a home, a garment and a reminder of the tents of nomadic ancestors. Stepping under the chuppah, the bride and groom enter their new home, established in the presence of God.

5. Hakafot - Circling

Before the bride takes her position next to the groom, she may circle him either three or seven times. This ancient custom symbolizes the couple making an invisible wall of protection around themselves.

6. Erusin - Betrothal

The rabbi recites the blessing over the wine and then the betrothal blessing, Birkat Erusin. Drinking from the same glass indicates that the bride and groom are ready to begin a life of sharing.

7. Tabba’at - The Ring Ceremony

The giving of the ring is the central legal element of the betrothal ceremony. In the presence of the witnesses, the groom recites the Harei At, the public proclamation of this union. Tradition stipulates that the rings be simple, unbroken bands without precious stones, symbolizing that

rich and poor are alike in love and marriage. The rings are placed on each other’s right index finger, making it easy for witnesses to see this legal aspect of the ceremony.

8. K’riat HaKetubah - Reading of the Ketubah The bride’s acceptance of her ring marks the end of the betrothal ceremony. At this natural break between Kiddushin and Nissuin, the ketubah is read aloud and then given to the bride to keep.

NISSUIN - NUPTIALS

9. Sheva B’rachot

Each blessing has its own significance: the first is for the wine; the second is in honor of the wedding guests; the third celebrates the creation of humankind; the fourth, fifth and sixth bless the couple’s marriage; finally, the seventh is in honor of Israel and the wedding couple. These blessings are recited over the second cup of wine, after which both groom and bride drink.

10. Shattering the Glass

The groom breaks a glass placed under his foot at the end of the ceremony. The most well-known interpretation is that it represents the destruction of the Temple. This reminds us that even at times of greatest joy and happiness, we should not forget the suffering of our people – past and present. At the sound of the broken glass, family and guests call out words of congratulations and “Mazal Tov” (good luck).

11. Siman Tov u’Mazal Tov

Couple exits under tallit canopy. A common song at Jewish weddings, “Siman Tov u’Mazal Tov” is a musical way of wishing the couple well. “Siman Tov” means a good sign. “Mazal Tov” means good fortune.

AFTER THE CEREMONY

12. Yichud – Seclusion

This is the formal seclusion of the bride and groom. A few moments of quiet time are spent together as they break bread as husband and wife. 13. Se’udah – Festive Meal and Celebration

Upon the couple’s return from yichud, family and friends join together in dance, songs and a festive meal.

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 23

Say Yes to Which Dress? By Tori Rosenblum

bride’s wedding day is a major fashion opportunity. But before she can pick her gown, she needs first to identify her bridal style. Some brides want to look haute chic with a couture silhouette and bold details, while others prefer to be understated in a clean, sleek style. Deciding to look romantic, sexy, classic or untraditional is the first step in finding the perfect dress.

FLOWERS ARE NOT ONLY for the bride’s bouquet. They will be in full bloom this spring, as they jump off the season’s most romantic wedding dresses. The 3-D details add beautiful texture, unlike the typical embroidered blossoms. These feminine flowers add whimsy to even the most understated silhouettes.

24 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

For a sexier look, a bride should try a DEEP NECKLINE that shows off her décolletage. This year, bridal style is about being bold and making a statement. A sexy neckline is perfect for a modern bride who wants to show off some skin.

If the plunging neckline is a little too fiery for the bride, an OFF-THESHOULDER STYLE might be a better fit. We’ve seen the trend all over ready-to-wear runways and now it’s taking over bridal fashion. Bare shoulders look beautiful on simple and ornate gowns.

PLAYING OVERSIZED WITH BOWS are COLOR coming back from is a great the 80s, but they option for the are more chic unorthodox than ever before. bride. Don’t think Pantone’s billowing bows colors of the on poufy sleeves – year, rose bows are elegant quartz and additions to the serenity, most sophisticated are white’s silhouettes. A runner-ups bold bow can highlight a bride’s waist or a plunging back, or and we couldn’t be happier! A blushing bride can take a simply add extra femininity to any wedding dress. chance in the soft shade of pink or be her own “something blue” as she walks down the aisle. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 25

ask helen Taking dating issues one at a time

A NOSH OF

JEWISH WISDOM:

In honor of Tu B’Shevat, consider “what kind are you?” At the holiday seder this idea is demonstrated with fruits and nuts such as almonds, dates and raisins. Do you have a hard outer shell and soft center, a soft outer but stony center, or are you loving and sweet all the way through?

Dear Helen: My son went through high school without a single date. He’s a good kid, a geek and never needed much from his peers. Now in his second year of college he’s been dating the same girl for more than a year. She’s lovely, and they’re both 4.0 pre-meds. He seems so happy with her, and, I am pretty sure, no longer the only virgin he knows. But I want him to have more experiences in life. We have no problem with her visiting and sleeping over, but her parents, who live two hours away, are very (I think overly) protective. We’ve never met them, but she talks about them in the careful way my students use when there’s family dysfunction. I just got a post-holiday gift basket with a note saying, “We hope our daughter has her own room when she stays in your home.” How should I reply? Gifted Dear Gifted: You have two interlocking issues. Your son seems to be making up for lost time very nicely. Relationships between college kids may seem serious, but if they’re both aimed toward med school, the chances that they’ll stay together are pretty slim. As long as he seems happy, let life take its course. As for the parent, reply: “Dear Mr./Mrs. (name): Thanks for the delicious gift box. How kind of you. We’ve enjoyed getting to know (daughter’s name). She is a lovely person. I’m sure we’ll meet if they continue to date. When she visits us she’s treated like an honored guest.” That shows you’re supportive of the relationship, without disclosing enough to start a fight. Their presumed dysfunction isn’t your problem to solve. Dear Helen: I’ve been single for several years. I’d been in a serious relationship that fell apart when I realized my partner had been self-medicating a serious depression for a long time. It’s not that he didn’t talk about his problems. In fact, that’s mostly what he talked about. But he was secretly drinking and taking pills at a rate that would have felled a lesser man. I tried to get him to go into counseling, rehab or a 12-step

26 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

program, all of which he refused. So I ended the relationship. Now I have started dating someone new, and I am seeing symptoms that scare me, but I cannot tell if I’m just suspicious because of my prior experience. We agreed not to dissect our pasts in the first three months. Should I say something now, wait or … ? Once Burned Dear Burned: There’s a difference between not talking about exes or why previous relationships fell apart and not talking about something that would be an immediate deal-killer to how the two of you are relating now. Even business contracts have cancellation clauses, so it’s not like you must stay in this relationship for the full three months before having a discussion about medical or substance-abuse issues. You have a choice about relaying how your relationship history touches these topics, but do not wait to bring up the subject. I’d start with something such as: “I’ve noticed that I respond with concern, apprehension and curiosity when I see you do x, y, z. (Notice so far this is phrased in “I” statements, as most counselors suggest.) Are these issues you’ll discuss? Am I misreading something?” Then see how he responds and how you respond to how he speaks and acts. The bottom line on this and any relationship is always good communication over troublesome topics, no matter how well you enjoy the good times. No one deserves to have the shadow of an ex looming over their future happiness. You or him.

HELEN

A resident of Eugene since 1981, Helen is a member of Temple Beth Israel, where she studies and speaks on Torah. She claims to have black belts in schmoozing, problem solving and chutzpah. She’s a writer and an artist (kabbalahglass.com). Please email your questions to helen@yourjewishfairygodmother.com

Celebrate! Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

503-224-3900 PortlandSpirit.com

Your Special Day Deserves a Special Venue. Call Today! 503.553.5429 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 27

What’s trending in weddings – from drones to doughnuts! By Mala Blomquist

Cake

Flowers

Invitations

Photography

Rustic

here’s no shortage of amazing wedding ideas on the internet. A simple Google search for “wedding ideas on Pinterest” brings up everything from how much alcohol to stock for a wedding with 100 guests to the best way to pee while wearing a wedding dress. Here are some popular ideas to inspire you! INVITATIONS The wedding invitation market ranges from online options to local stationary stores with custom invites. Elaborate wedding invitations with embossed flowers, textured cardstock, metallic accents and laser cutouts resembling lace are popular now. IT TAKES THE CAKE The traditional wedding cake is not going to be replaced anytime soon, but choices abound. Dessert bars are popular with individual treats like chocolate-covered strawberries and macaron towers that mimic the height of a many-tiered cake. Doughnuts can be frosted to match any wedding décor and can include many flavors so guests can choose their favorite. Forego the sweets entirely and take the savory route with different wheels of cheese stacked to resemble a cake. FLOWER POWER A wedding without flowers is like a day without sunshine. But more brides are opting for artificial flowers made from wood or silk for their bridal bouquets. Centerpieces are also changing. Instead of large flowers that block conversation, consider smaller herbs or succulents that can be replanted after the ceremony. A flower wall, constructed entirely of flowers offers an awesome backdrop for bridal-party photos and guest selfies.

28 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

SMILE AND SAY CHEESE Brides and grooms are breaking with tradition and taking “first look” photos capturing when the bride and groom get that first glimpse of each other before the wedding. Many photographers use drones to capture photos with aerial angles. Provide Polaroid instant cameras to get guests involved. Guests can place the photos in scrapbooks on the reception tables and leave a special note for the happy couple. GOING VINTAGE Vintage touches have always been popular (think “something borrowed”). Inspiration can be found in the aisles of your local thrift store. Old frames can display family photos or table numbers. Include lace, strands of fake pearls or costume jewelry in centerpieces, table decorations or draped on the backs of chairs. Tealights set in old mason jars or tea cups add both light and vintage charm. RUSTIC IS IN Barns, mills, wineries and farms are becoming popular venue choices for a more casual, rustic setting. Accents like wooden pallets are used as signage or for a listing of the day’s events. Rough-sawn pieces of wood are used for table numbers and cake platters. For the finale: tossing lavender, bird seed or confetti made from hole-punched leaves are all ecological choices for the bride and groom’s exit. Whether you gain inspiration from this list or from the thousands of ideas on Pinterest, just remember that the day is all yours – take a deep breath, relax and have fun!

WEDDING DIRECTORY VENUES MARK SPENCER HOTEL Cydelle Higa-Johnston, Director of Sales 409 SW 11th Ave. Portland, OR 503-224-3293 or 800-548-3934 hospitality@markspencer.com markspencer.com The Mark Spencer Hotel is a historic hotel in Downtown’s West End District offering more than 2,200 square feet of renovated event space to host your special event. Combined with 102 guest rooms and suites, experience the true essence of Portland and what it’s like to “Stay Like a Local.” MITTLEMAN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER Bethany West 6651 SW Capitol Highway Portland, OR 503-244-0111 bwest@oregonjcc.org oregonjcc.org From services to receptions, MJCC offers a variety of versatile spaces, Kosher catering, and access to everything necessary to create a memorable wedding day. PORTLAND SPIRIT CRUISES & EVENTS 110 SE Caruthers Portland, OR 503-224-3900 | 800-224-3901 portlandspirit.com Each of our four vessels has its own flair to set the stage for your magical day. Fresh northwest cuisine, outstanding service and attention to detail ensure every moment of your wedding is filled with romance.

PROVIDENCE PARK 1844 SW Morrison Portland, OR • 503-553-5429 events@timbers.com • providenceparkpdx.com Providence Park offers a unique and exciting venue to host your next private event! Don’t let the Oregon weather deter you; the stadium is an indoor and outdoor facility for events throughout the year. We offer professional and experienced event managers to help make your event special and memorable!

JEWELERS

MALKA DIAMONDS & JEWELRY David & Ronnie Malka, owners 529 SW Third Ave. Portland, OR 503-222-5205 ronnie@malkadiamonds.com malkadiamonds.com Our shop is a full-service boutique founded on precision craftmanship and service. Malka Diamonds houses a state-of-the-art jewelers workshop. We have two exceptional craftsman jewelers working hard full time to assure that the custom pieces are made in an impeccable way. PACKOUZ JEWELERS Rick Mahler, Owner 522 SW Broadway Portland, OR 503-228-3111 rick.mahler@packouzjewelers.com packouzjewelers.com Established in 1917, Packouz Jewelers is a family owned and operated business located in the heart of downtown Portland’s historic Broadway district. With a continued legacy of the finest jewelry and unsurpassed customer service, Packouz Jewelers has pieces to match each unique style and occasion. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 29

"I was just ropin' over there, thought I'd mossey on over. I never moseyed before, I hope I did it right." -City Slickers

“So tonight, enjoy yourselves because nothing can take the sting out of the world's economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues.” — 2012 Oscars

"Forget Paris? How do you forget the best week in your life?"

-The Princess Bride

30 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

-The Princess Bride

"Without Goliath, David is just some punk throwing rocks."

- Forget Paris

"True love is the greatest thing in the world – except for a nice MLT – mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. They’re so perky, I love that."

"You rush a miracle man, you get rotten miracles."

-My Giant

"What is my goal here, to make you a happy, welladjusted gangster?" — Analyze This

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

-When Harry Met Sally

illy Crystal invites Portlanders to sit down for an informal after-dinner conversation at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall March 3 (see page 35) as he spins stories from his multi-faceted life and career. The evening is part of the comedian/actor/director/author’s “Spend the Night with Billy Crystal” U.S. tour. Calling it a sit-down show, Billy says the audience will feel like they are part of an informal conversation, though he’ll be standing and moving 90% of the evening. In a phone interview before the U.S. tour began, Billy said that when he debuted the format in Australia for seven weeks, “People seem to like that atmosphere. … People loved the fact that it was intimate and they felt like they were talking to me.” “It’s a performance from beginning to end,” he says. “It’s so much fun. This show is storytelling.” Billy has plenty of stories to share from his family, his career on stage and screen, the fulfillment of his dream to be a Yankee with a one-day contract and his relationships with other celebrities from all walks of life. He’ll share tales of growing up in a Jewish family and the close friendships they had with African-American jazz musicians they met through the family’s Commodore Records. He credits those early friendships with his comfort in portraying black celebrities in a friendly light, including in the routine that caused Muhammad Ali to call him “my Jewish little brother.” The friendship with Ali played a role in the creation of an intercultural program Billy says he is very proud of. Ali served as the dinner chairman when Hebrew University presented the prestigious National Scopus Award to Billy for his outstanding achievement as an entertainer and philanthropist. The evening raised $1 million, which endowed the Billy Crystal Peace through Performing Arts program at Hebrew University. The program brings Jewish and Arab artists together for theater workshops and performances designed to build bridges and enhance understanding. “It is such a great metaphor for what should be happening in the Middle East,” says Billy. “Arab, Palestinian and Israeli artists working together to do something good.” He hopes to finally get to Jerusalem this summer to see the program in person. He says it’s very satisfying to hear reports and see videos of participants performing at children’s hospitals and participating in workshops to enhance understanding. Another stop he hopes to make this summer is his first visit to Wrigley Field, one of only two of the old ballparks remaining. “I love going to Fenway Park in Boston; it’s still the original structure,” says Billy. Billy attended his first game at Yankee Stadium in 1956, and received a program signed by Mickey Mantle, who signed the same program for him again 21 years later when they both appeared on Dinah Shore’s show. “Nothing will replace old Yankee Stadium because of what it meant to me,” he says, adding that seeing his first game there “developed me as a fan, player and student of the game.” Continued on next page

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 31

“It’s a very patient game and so is life and so is a career,” he says, noting the game involves a lot of waiting. “Once in a while you hit a home run, and a couple doubles … sometimes you strike out. You just try to make sure you are ahead in the ninth inning. At 68, I still think about that.” A lifelong baseball fan, Billy has called the old Yankee stadium “my synagogue.” Since that field’s demolition after the 2008 season, he says he hasn’t found that feeling anywhere else. When I mentioned growing up attending baseball games at the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit, he fondly recalled using Tiger Stadium to film most of the baseball scenes for his HBO movie 61*, the story of Mickey Mantle’s and Roger Maris’ attempts during the 1961 season to break Babe Ruth’s single season home run record of 60. “Tiger Stadium was the very last triple-deck stadium,” Billy said with perhaps a touch of melancholy. “Since it was empty we were able to make it Yankee Stadium in 1961 and Tiger Stadium in 1961. … When we did the baseball scenes, I would get there early and enjoy seeing the big Michigan mashed potato clouds over the stadium … and the way the sun hit the field. It was quiet and I could think about my favorite season – 1961. … It was magical.” In addition to being a magical baseball year, 1961 was also the year Billy became a bar mitzvah. “I was a pretty reverent bar mitzvah boy,” he says. He doesn’t recall making any baseball references in his bar mitzvah speech, but he did speak strongly for a ban on fossil fuels and for marriage equality. Billy went on to play one of the first openly gay characters on television with his role as Jodie on the series “Soap” from 1977-85. Happily married to his wife Janice for 45 years, he has continued to support marriage equality. He laments the new vice president “doesn’t believe in it … he believes in conversion therapy. We are going into scary times.” He’s also still a proponent of environmental 32 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

stewardship, despite a tongue in cheek comment in the introduction to his latest book Still Foolin’ ’Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going and Where the Hell are My Car Keys? “At 65 you’re always a little cold… You start to think global warming isn’t such a bad thing,” he wrote in this entertaining look at aging. He says the decline of fossil fuel has come a long way. “I pray the Paris (climate) agreement will not be overturned,” he says. “The fact is the earth is dying and we have to do our best to regenerate it and heal it.” Acknowledging oil, gas and coal have historically provided many jobs, he adds, “We need to create other jobs” and train people for “jobs that will sustain the earth.” His environmentalism is not the only one of his values and traditions sprinkled throughout Still Foolin’ ’Em. “I’m still the pro-gay marriage, pro-civil rights, anti-war, feed-thehungry-and-house-the homeless, it’s-okay-to-have-red-winewith-fish, liberal-thinking guy I always have been,” he writes in a chapter called Conservative. The chapter details his slow drift to the right in terms of “conservative rage” against “things you can live with but that annoy the crap out of you” – things like people using cell phones in restaurants, a Congress that brags about not passing anything and Super PACs. Reading his memoir to prepare for this interview, I thought I’d found common ground again on the baseball front when I read that he and Janice bought a minority interest in the Arizona Diamondbacks. Having written a Continued on page 34 FROM TOP: Billy Crystal's love of baseball triggers memories of the historic Tiger Stadium and Yankee Stadium; both have been replaced by "modern"stadiums with Wrigley Field and Fenway Park the only original baseball stadiums still standing. HBO Special 61* Poster. Billy as Miracle Max in the Princess Bride. Princess Bride Poster. OPPOSITE PAGE: Billy as Jodi Dallas on "Soap" (SOAP - Show Coverage - Shoot Date: Aug. 11, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives).

Clockwise, above: Original Yankee Stadium 1964; Tiger stadium in Detroit 1984; Poster for the HBO special 61*.

BILLY CRYSTAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS HOST

Nine-time Oscar host between 1990 and 2012 Three-time host of the Grammys Three-time host of Saturday Night Live AWARDS

Anti-Defamation League 1995 entertainer of the year Six-time Emmy Winner Tony Award winner for 700 Sundays Mark Twain Prize for American Humor National Scopus Award FILM ROLES

The Princess Bride When Harry Met Sally City Slickers Monsters Inc. (voice of Mike Wazowski) Forget Paris Mr. Saturday Night Analyze This Parental Guidance BOOKS

Absolutely Mahvelous 700 Sundays

I Already Know I Love You (children’s book) Grandpa’s Little One (children’s book)

©AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANIES, INC.

Still Foolin’ ’Em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going and Where the Hell are My Car Keys?

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 33

“It is such a great metaphor

for what should be happening in the Middle East – Arab, Palestinian and Israeli

artists working together to do something good.” ~ Billy Crystal

34 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

story about D-backs President Derrick Hall, I hoped we could talk about our shared interest in that baseball team. But Billy told me his foray into baseball ownership, though it was fun, ended six or seven years ago. He did share one story from his Diamondback days. In 2001 when his beloved Yankees team was again in the World Series, he and Janice watched the Diamondbacks win the first two games in Phoenix. He recalls Janice saying, “Honey, we’re beating us.” When Arizona won the series, Billy describes it as “awkward.” Another baseball story in his memoir that I didn’t get a chance to ask him about was his one-day contract as a New York Yankee. But Still Foolin’ ’Em recounts the joyous experience. When Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter asked Billy what would make his 60th birthday special, Billy knew he wanted to fulfill his childhood dream of playing with the Yankees. “I came up with a plan where I would get one at bat in a spring training game,” he wrote. “Whatever happens, happens, and I then announce my retirement and throw the team a party. Jeter loved the idea and a few weeks before my 60th birthday, he and George Steinbrenner, Lonn Trost, Randy Levine, Brian Cashman, Bud Selig and Major League Baseball gave me the greatest birthday gift ever.” On March 13, 2008, the day before he turned 60, Billy stepped to the plate as the leadoff batter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He saw six pitches before striking out, but he was warmly cheered by the team and fans and presented with the ball. His mother had always told him to do something special on his birthday. Five years later, he had another unparalleled birthday surprise. His fourth grandchild, Griffin, was born on his 65th birthday – “the greatest gift of all,” as he wrote in the epilogue to his memoir. Family and passing on traditions from generation to generation was another quintessential Jewish value I flagged while reading the memoir. At a time when many couples downsize, Billy and Janice decided to expand their home to create a family center for their two daughters and four grandchildren to visit. “We wanted them to have the memories of going to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, like we did,” he writes. “Every time I left their house, I better understood my lineage and where I stood in the world.” So I asked Billy what he most wanted to pass on to his grandchildren, who are now 13, 10, 7 and almost 4. “We talk about the past, we share pictures of who came before … we honor the holidays and we explain why it’s important to celebrate with family,” he told me. Most important, he wants them to know the joy, wisdom and good feelings of being part of a happy family and a rich heritage. The current show brings Billy’s career full circle. He graduated from New York University, having majored in film and television directing with Martin Scorsese as one of his instructors. But initially he turned his attention to stand-up comedy in coffee houses and on TV. After appearing as Rob Reiner’s best friend in an episode of “All in the Family,” the two

Spend the Night with Billy Crystal WHAT Billy Crystal will “tell stories, show film clips and talk about my life and career and the world as I see it.” WHEN 7:30 pm, March 3 WHERE Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland TICKETS $65-125 at plus VIP packages available online: portland5.com/arlene-schnitzer-concert-hall

HAVURAH SHIR HADASH A Jewish Renewal Community in Ashland

became friends in real life, launching his fruitful film career. He appeared briefly in Reiner’s “This is Spinal Tap,” then accepted a short but very memorable role as Miracle Max in “The Princess Bride” when Reiner promised he could ad lib. His oft-quoted line, “Have fun storming the castle,” has become a catch phrase for saying goodbye. His most famous starring role opposite Meg Ryan in “When Harry Met Sally” was also directed by Reiner. Billy went on to write, direct and star in several movies (see box, page 33). He played a reluctant psychiatrist to mafia boss Robert De Niro in “Analyze This,” which won an American Comedy Award as funniest motion picture, and its sequel “Analyze That.” In 2004 he turned his attention back to the stage, taking his one-man show “700 Sundays” to a successful Broadway run, winning a Tony. Named for the approximately “700 Sundays” he had with his father before he died when Billy was 15, the play was also well received on its U.S. and Australian tours. While he performed the play based on an eight-page outline, he later turned the material into a book of the same name. He says his new tour gives him the opportunity to share his diverse career with his fans. “This show is unique. There’s stand up and ‘sit down,’ which gives me great freedom to tell stories, show film clips and talk about my life and career and the world as I see it,” says Billy. “It’s loose, unpredictable and intimate. The most fun I’ve had on stage in a long time.”

Look for your invitation in the mail for

The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation’s

Amazing

THIRD ANNUAL

Two Shabbaton Weekends in Ashland, OR this Spring

To thank you, and to honor and celebrate legacy giving in our community SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER

Amy Hirshberg Lederman

Neshama Carlebach April 7 & 8, 2017

Rabbi Art Green

May 26-28, 2017

www.havurahshirhadash.org to register or for more info, or call 541-488-7716

My Grandmother’s Candlesticks: Leaving a Legacy of Love and Values

Thursday, February 23, 2017

5:30-7:30 PM

Mittleman Jewish Community Center by invitation only to legacy donors. if you are not sure if you have made a legacy gift, please contact ojcf to confirm at 503.248.9328.

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 35

This year, Jewish Arts Month kicks off with kids with a panel discussion titled “Why Buy Art?” This Welcome to Jewish Arts “extraordinary story about an Month, the annual exhibit ordinary couple” shows how of paintings, fiber, beadwork, a retired postal worker and metals, glass, ceramics and librarian bought from then more co-sponsored by ORA: unknown artists to eventually Northwest Jewish Artists build a world class collection. and the Mittleman Jewish ORA President Esther Community Center. This Liberman will exhibit year’s show takes place in the beadwork. “I use ancient MJCC lobby from Sunday, techniques or materials in Feb. 26, through Friday, modern ways,” she says, March 31, and includes pointing out a beaded hamsa. rotating displays, an offbeat “For example, the hamsa’s film screening and a new netting style is from ancient opportunity for young artists Egypt, but the beads are throughout the area (see computer generated and from box). Japan.” “ORA has celebrated Esther includes antique Jewish Arts Month for at African trade beads, which least six years,” says pastearly European traders used as president Eddy Shuldman. currency. “I’ve seen charts with ORA President Esther Liberman uses ancient techniques in modern ways. “Last year we added beads sewn onto heavy paper – This hamsa combines an ancient Egyptian netting style with computer-generPortland Jewish Academy this one’s for sugar, this one for ated beads. Photo courtesy Esther Liberman students’ work. This year, oil, these for slaves,” she says. for the first time, we’re also “A class of blue Russian beads including middle-school was traded for fur.” students. They do not need to be affiliated with a Jewish Esther and other artists will be on hand to answer questions organization. We want to give kids who are more serious about and sometimes provide demonstrations. art an introduction to exhibiting and selling.” “By putting the exhibit in the MJCC lobby, people who Different sets of artists will display their work each week, may not have intended to look at art can have a wonderful beginning with middle-school students on Feb. 26 and ending discovery,” she says. “We’ll have four to six artists exhibiting with the PJA art program. Everything displayed is for sale. each week – paintings, beadwork, sterling silver jewelry, Proceeds from a special wall of $36 pieces will go toward a ceramics, glasswork, textiles and photography. It’s interesting scholarship fund for young artists. what shows up from year to year. People love to come look and The March 16 screening of “Herb and Dorothy” concludes talk to the artists.” By Polina Olsen

36 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

Feb. 12 is jury day for young artists

“We’re saying, ‘ORA welcomes you and wants you to use your passion,’ ” says past-president Eddy Shuldman about the middle-school art exhibit that kicks off Jewish Arts Month this year. The exhibit is open to young artists of all abilities in grades five through eight; it runs from Feb. 26 through March 4 in the MJCC lobby. Entrants to the Young Miles Smith looks forward to the Artists Show must complete Young Artist’s Show. Photo courtesy Chari Smith an application and may submit up to five pieces for jury consideration on Sunday, Feb. 12, between 10:30 am and noon at Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane, Portland, Room 105. “This is an opportunity to learn the ropes,” Eddy says. “We want kids to feel like they went through a process. They have to fill out an application, bring artwork dry and ready, and learn to talk about their art. During jurying, ORA members will offer specific encouraging comments, like ‘We want you to use a frame or mat board.’ ” Miles Smith, a seventh-grader at Jackson Middle School, looks forward to exhibiting his work. He hopes to become a conceptual or manga artist. “I’ve been drawing since I could hold a crayon,” he says. “My grandma taught me the basics, and I watched people paint on YouTube. “The show is a good opportunity to get out there, and it’s cool how they’re judging the artwork. It will be good to get constructive criticism – opinions on what I can fix. I have three pieces I’m thinking of submitting, and I’m working on a fourth – a mermaid.” Young artists must attend the reception, are encouraged to create a business card and may sell their art during the show. Prizes will be awarded. For more information and an application, visit northwestjewishartists.org or email YoungArtistsShow@ gmail.com.

JAM Exhibitors

Feb. 26-March 4 Juried student art show March 5-10 Sharon Segal Diane Fredgant Pearl Shapiro Diane Moeglein Diane Russell Ros Kane

March 12-17 David Katz Wendy Russell Brauna Ritchie Esther Liberman Joyce Shields March 19-25 Linda Zahavi Naomi Reinstein Abrams Joan Glebow

Martha Young Eddy Shuldman Boris Uan-Zoli March 26-31 Portland Jewish Academy students

50 YEARS AFTER

Recollections on the Six Day War WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 7:30pm at Mittleman Jewish Community Center 6651 SW Capitol Hwy Portland 97219

A CONVERSATION

with Rabbi Joshua Stampfer and Rabbi Emanuel Rose moderated by Rabbi Joshua Rose CO SPONSORED BY Congregations Neveh Shalom, Beth Israel and Shaarie Torah, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education and Mittleman Jewish Community Center

724 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 97209 | 503-226-3600 | www.ojmche.org

A R T I S T S R E P E R T O R Y T H E AT R E

WHAT WILL

YOU CHOOSE TO REMEMBER? by

Jordan Harrison Adriana Baer

directed by

STARTS FEB 7 artistsrep.org 503.241.1278 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 37

For want of heat, a home was remodeled By Deborah Moon

Home & ifestyle L

It all began with a desire to make their rural home warmer. Though they are avid mountain climbers, Leora Gregory and Jay Avery still felt their 1980s’ home on five acres that backs up to state forest land was too cold. Initially they just planned to install a high efficiency Carrier furnace and replace the aluminum windows with vinyl windows. They hired Bytwork Construction in Forest Grove to replace all 35 windows with Cascade Winpro Series windows with low-e glass to reduce heat loss. Installed from the outside, the custom windows slid into the existing frames with exterior trim the only change they planned. But the new furnace created a ripple of renovations. The 97% high efficiency furnace – Leora Gregory needed to vent the cool exhaust through PVC rather than the existing metal pipes in the walls. Replacing the metal exhaust pipes in the walls would have been unwieldy, so they had new PVC pipe run along the wall through the expansive laundry and utility room. “It gave me an excuse to finally get cabinets in there,” says Leora. “We put up cabinets to cover the pipes.” But the entire home has matching ash cabinets with finger pulls inset into the doors.

38 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

Leora and Jay called F&C Cabinets, which had built the original cabinets. The Forest Grove cabinetmaker has designed, fabricated and installed custom cabinets since 1959. Unfortunately, the type of finger pulls used in the original cabinets were no longer in stock. “Now cabinets use invisible finger pulls set into the bottom of the cabinet door,” says Leora. She wanted everything to match, so F&C’s Dave Davis went hunting. Once he found very similar pulls online, Dave says it was easy to match the rest of the cabinet design. “We had done the original cabinets,” he says, adding it’s not uncommon for F&C to get calls from customers wanting to match cabinets the company built 25 years ago. After the cabinets were installed, Bytwork returned to install the wood countertop to match the kitchen counters. Sitting in their warm and now cozy kitchen, Leora shared the story of her family’s arrival in the United States. Aaron Riman (a tailor) emigrated from Russia early last century. He worked to bring his five brothers and sisters to New York and then returned to Russia to bring his wife (Leora’s grandmother, Fruma Leah Rozanski). Leora’s mother (Gertrude Betty Riman, nicknamed Trudy), the last of five children, was born in New York in 1933. Trudy met Ralph Gregory while both were

“The topic was their escape out of Nazi Germany. I remember the biggest headache after the conversation. The topic was stressful, what they went through was horrific and I was translating in my head the entire time.”

attending the University of Michigan; they married and came up with a plan to prosper. “Education was definitely the way out of poverty,” says Leora. “My dad worked while my mom went to medical school. Then he went back to school and got his doctorate in chemical engineering.” Growing up in Michigan, Leora’s primary connection to her Jewish heritage was Israeli folk dancing, which the family did almost weekly. After her freshman year of college, she joined her parents for a trip to visit relatives in Israel. Her mom had spoken only Yiddish till she started school when she was 5, so she and her cousins spoke Yiddish while Leora struggled to follow the conversation using her college German. “The topic was their escape out of Nazi Germany,” says Leora. “I remember the biggest headache after the conversation. The topic was stressful, what they went through was horrific and I was translating in my head the entire time.” Leora’s parents have prospered in Michigan, while Leora moved to Oregon to work at Intel. She fell in love with the recreation opportunities of the Pacific Northwest and soon joined the Mazamas, Portland’s mountaineering organization. She met Jay climbing and the two married on the summit of Mount Hood almost two years ago.

The original kitchen cabinets the couple wanted to match. ••• The new cabinets made 30 years later are an almost perfect match.

Jay Avery, Leora Gregory and their Great Dane Dash in front of their new windows. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 39

"Kosher" conversations on fish and life in Côte d'Azur, France Story and photos by Murray Rosenbaum

Around three o'clock, just after the traditional two-hour lunch break, they would begin gathering in front of the Harbor Master's little office at the port, by the small fishing skiffs bobbing in the crystal-clear water of France's Côte d'Azur. One by one, this group of seven or eight pensioners – fishermen or shipbuilders since their youth, life-long residents of Villefranche-sur-Mer – would walk over to their stack of plastic chairs and set themselves up for the next couple of hours. Perfectly placed to watch all the comings and goings at the harbor, they took it all in, exchanged comments about boats, 40 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

fish, people, the human condition and about events, both present and past. And they told stories; not just stories, but truly an oral history of their town and their region. I sauntered by the first day I was in town and asked if I could sit for a while; I took a place when one or two nodded an OK. I kept silent and just listened to the flavor of their conversation. I wasn't unwelcome, but I wasn't welcomed either as they went on about their conversation. When I returned the following day, there were one or two nods of greeting. KOSHER CONVERSATIONS By the third day, I was in conversation with one of the guys as he was mending his fishing nets. We talked about the local

fish that appeared nightly on restaurant menus. The focus was on which fish were kosher, having both scales and fins, and which lacked one or the other. He was interested as I explained this law of kashrut and was eager to describe each of the local fish to me. By the fourth day, I was welcomed. The previous evening I had passed one of the group in a different part of the village. He raised his arm, smiled and greeted me with "Salut!" During the following five days, I learned a lot about the village, located seven miles east of Nice, and the Nicoise region. The region is distinctive, with its own customs, dialect and culture that are different from the heart of France. A generation ago, Nicoise was still being spoken among its residents. Situated close to the Italian border, there is historical Italian influence. This region became part of France only in 1860, ceded by the Royal House of Savoy, Kingdom of Piedmont, Sardinia and Sicily to France via a plebiscite in exchange for having Piedmont and Liguria remain as part of the newly declared kingdom of a united Italy.

THE HARBOR

"THE GUYS"

MEMORIES OF WORLD WAR II I brought up World War II and the fate of Villefranche's and the region's Jews. The discussion lasted two days. The emotions stirred from painful memories of living under German occupation as young children were evident. The talk turned to the local Resistance and of memories of going to school with Jewish classmates, several of whom one day disappeared. These old guys still remembered. I asked them to recount their memories to me of this time in Vichy France. "My father was a bus driver. He was in the Resistance. He would hide guns and ammunition in his bus and would transport them to his compatriots waiting in the next town to receive them. They would make their way, through several relays like this, to the fighters who were waiting for them up in the mountains above Nice and the towns along the Côte d'Azur." "My parents spoke in hushed tones – warning us children never to repeat a word – about the village priest, who received several Jewish children from villagers and protected them throughout the war. It was a secret shared and protected by the entire village." "I remember the Germans coming in in September, 1943, taking over the Italian occupation zones from their Italian allies after the Italians signed an armistice with the Allied armed forces. Then things, already bad, became much worse. The Gestapo command took over the hotel in the center of the village and made it their headquarters. The Gestapo officers took over luxe villas overlooking the village and harbor as their personal residences. As the bay of Villefranche was the deepest along the entire coast, their ships set anchor in the bay, and their comings and goings at the harbor were continuous." "I remember when the village and the coast were liberated by the Allies and seeing the reprisals against those who had collaborated with the Nazis. Several men were shot by Resistance fighters, and those women who had slept with Nazis and accepted their favors had their heads shorn as a badge of shame." "We lost many of our Jewish residents. When the Gestapo arrived, they were rounded up and shipped north near Paris to Drancy Internment Camp, the holding center for transit to Auschwitz for extermination. “Many of our Resistance fighters were, when captured, shot on OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 41

It’s time for

HAMENTASCHEN! The Shaarie Torah Sisterhood is selling it’s famous hamentaschen. Order your batch today! We’ve got three incredible flavors: Fruit, Apricot (nut-free) & Moen (poppy seed)

Visit shaarietorah.org to place your order! Orders must be received by March 7th

Congregation Shaarie Torah

920 NW 25th Ave. Portland, OR 97210 (503)226-6131 / www.shaarietorah.org

March 2017 Hamentaschen OJL Ad.indd 1

1/18/2017 4:08:10 PM

Selling your home in 2017?

Let me show you my

Concierge Services Plan

The best possible way to sell your home.

JOE MENASHE Principal Broker Serving Portland Metro area buyers and sellers for 25 years.

503-784-1855

JoeMenashe@RealtyTrust.com 42 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

the spot." Indeed, in walking through the narrow walkways of the village, one sees plaques on a house or in a square commemorating the site of a fallen local hero who bravely resisted against the Nazi machine. THE VILLAGE TODAY Those narrow, cobbled walkways remain today. The old center of the village is car-free and charming. The ancient houses display freshly washed clothing hanging on lines, gently blowing in the breeze, on narrow balconies that are centuries old. The sound of hammers hitting nails is everywhere, as renovation of these beautiful historic buildings is ongoing. Neighbors are seen chatting with each other and with shopkeepers in this village. If one follows the scent of freshly baked baguettes, it leads directly to a morning line at the boulangerie. It is difficult not to succumb. Beautiful croissants and fruit tarts also beckon from behind the glass case. Everything is easily reached by walking. The picturesque, finely pebbled swimming beach is populated with local families, children and visitors – both domestic and foreign. Postcard views are seen from every corner of this scenic village. Restaurants are plentiful and offer a variety of choices, together with pleasing local wines. Villefranche is also an ideal base from which to do daily excursions, either by train from the local station or by local bus, or with a rental car. By train, it is seven minutes to Nice. A half-hour further is Cannes. Both offer scenic seaside promenades and a wide range of activities. In the opposite direction, toward the Italian border, is an easy day's excursion to the Principality of Monaco. A fourth choice is Eze Village, a picturesque, ancient, mountain village with narrow and steep cobbled lanes, seemingly perched precariously among the clouds. For a taste of Italy, the pleasant town of San Remo beckons, just a few miles across the border, and offers an easy day's excursion. Nine days of combining the daily local rhythm of life in the village with day excursions from this convenient base to the surrounding area passed both enjoyably and much too quickly. On my last afternoon I walked down by the harbor to say goodbye to the guys, whose companionship I had enjoyed immensely. There was Frankie, mending his fishing nets, and Roger, Franco and the others. We shook hands all around, photos were promised, contacts exchanged. As I turned to leave Frankie, that wizened old fisherman who had spent his youth sailing the seven seas on merchant freighters rose up, approached me, gave me a hug and, as the French do with friends, gave me a kiss on both cheeks and looked me in the eye. "Come back soon,” he said. “We're waiting for you." Murray Rosenbaum is a veteran tourism-industry professional and a contracts attorney. He and his wife, Karen, have a 22-year-old daughter, Alex, who made aliyah in November 2016 with Nefesh b'Nefesh. His travel articles have appeared in the Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Milwaukee Journal. He can be reached at mrosenbaum1@cox.net.

SENIORS

Community comes together to support seniors March 4

While the entertainers will be dueling, supporters will come together to show their “Love, Honor, Respect” for the residents of Cedar Sinai Park. The March 4 benefit for the CSP residents will include hosted cocktails, appetizers, dinner and dessert. Entertainment for the evening is The Dueling Pianos of Jim Fischer and Kevin Guitron. The evening’s emcee will be David Lippoff, husband of CSP Board President Liz Rabiner Lippoff. Mother-daughter duo Beverly Eastern and Michelle Eastern Gradow reunite to chair this year’s benefit for the second year. “We have so many generous sponsors and supporters, and with their help we will continue our mission to honor our fathers and mothers,” says Bev of the annual celebration. Both co-chairs have a long history with Robison Home, the “legacy building” on the CSP campus, and with chairing the annual gala. Starting in the 1970s, Bev and her husband, Stan, chaired the annual gala for at least 15 years. Stan and Bev also both served as presidents of the Robison board. Michelle has hosted the event several times over the past nine years. But last year was the first time the two women joined forces. “When they asked my mom and me to do it together, it really made it special for me,” says Michelle, who is president of the Friends of Robison (formerly Sisterhood) and has served on the CSP board for many years. “The Robison Home has been part of our family for many, many years,” Bev explained before last year’s event. “I had a mother and an aunt residing at the home, and working for Robison has given all of us self-satisfaction in knowing that we have helped in some small way to improve the quality of care for our elderly.” Now Bev and Michelle are inviting the community to enjoy that same sense of satisfaction while also enjoying a great evening.

LOVE/HONOR/ RESPECT

WHEN: 6 pm, March 4 WHERE: Pavilion Ballroom in the Hilton Portland PRESENTED BY: the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation/Arlene Schnitzer and Jordan Schnitzer SPONSORSHIP: Contact Teri Patapoff at 503-5354360 or patapofft@cedarsinaipark.org TICKETS: $118 INFORMATION: cedarsinaipark.org/annualevent

The Dueling Pianos

LET US HELP YOU TAKE THE FIRST STEP Come visit Rose Schnitzer Manor and see what our community is all about. We at Rose Schnitzer Manor know it’s hard to make a move, that’s why we want to make it as easy as possible for you. Let us know by March 31, 2017, that you’re interested in making Rose Schnitzer Manor your home at a future date and we’ll help with your move-in costs. We think it’s a pretty special community here and would love to have you join us. Rose Schnitzer Manor is a senior community focused on promoting healthy living and meaningful relationships in a beautiful setting. Residents have their choice of: •

Studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments

• •

A range of services to support activities of daily living Approximately 75 weekly on-campus activities and community events

•

Programs to stimulate mind, body, and soul

Contact 503.535.4000 to schedule a tour. Cedar Sinai Park is a non-profit, Jewish-based continuing care organization offering a network of services designed and operated to serve the senior community and those in need regardless of faith.

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 43

SENIORS

Women’s Coffee meets at Prosperity Pie Shoppe in Multnomah Village each week. Bev Snow-Kuehn is by the window in the black shirt. Photo by Polina Olsen

Villages bring service and friendship to your door By Polina Olsen

Bev Snow-Kuehn’s passion is bringing people together. Retired librarian, Edith Fuller, loves bookbinding. But they and all the people who meet for coffee each week have something in common: a desire to remain in their own homes as they age. They’re part of the national Village Movement, which started in Boston a decade ago with the goal of enabling people to age at home by bringing needed services to them. Villages are nonprofit membership organizations, not real estate developments or retirement communities. They depend on grants, donations and yearly membership dues for finances and on recruiting intergenerational volunteers for services like helping seniors with shopping or transportation. Villages keep lists of vetted professionals that provide discounted home repairs. Perhaps most importantly, they build community through activities such as potlucks, educational outings and coffee clubs. More than 200 villages nationwide are open with another 150 in development according to vtvnetwork.org. Seven villages will be in the Portland Metropolitan area. They are connected under the umbrella Villages NW. “It’s knowing people to call when the power goes out,” says Edith, who plans to join Southwest Portland’s River West Village when it launches in October 2017. She and other potential 44 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

members meet at Prosperity Pie Shoppe in Multnomah Village each week. Several of them, including Chris Robinson, a retired market research expert, work on planning committees. Bev, who owns a project management business, develops colorful brochures and materials for the group. Anne Andler founded Villages NW and got it up and running before moving to Florida last year. With deep roots in Portland, she once served as president of Congregation P’nai Or and boasts that her son was the congregation’s first b’nai mitzvah. “I ended up in the Bay Area working for Jewish Family and Children’s Services,” she says. “I learned about senior services including the Village to Village Network. No place is more neighborhood-oriented than Portland, so I thought villages would already be here when I moved back. Well, not only were there no villages, nobody talked about them.” Anne soon collected interested people throughout the city. They settled on the model of a hub with spokes radiating from it. The central organization, Villages NW, gets the tax-exempt nonprofit status 501(c)3 and takes care of paperwork. Individual, self-governing villages throughout the area organize according to their unique requirements but remain connected to the hub. Each determines its own services, membership dues and activities.

To date, four area villages have launched: Viva in Beaverton, Village Without Walls serving Hillsboro and Western Washington County, Northeast PDX and Eastside Village PDX. Three more, North Star in North Portland, River West and Villages Clark County, are in development. Anne explains the village concept with a concrete example: “Imagine you are an adult child of an aging parent,” she says. “You go over and your mom says: ‘Drag in my patio furniture; get the ladder and change the lightbulb; grab the pressure cooker off the top shelf; please take me to the doctor; take me shopping every week for the next 10 years.’ ” Villages recruit volunteers to provide these services and often hire a few paid staff to handle paperwork. Many paying members also volunteer, but not all volunteers are paying members. Volunteers are recruited from the broader community and are often much younger. Planners envision an intergenerational team of “neighbors helping neighbors stay neighbors.” “The purpose is to enable people to age in their own homes as long as it is reasonable,” Anne says. “We research existing services and don’t reinvent the wheel. Members might need someone to get groceries or show them how to order online. It’s about finding the best way to solve the problem.” “As we get older we’re often in passive roles,” she adds. “In a village, the inmates run the asylum. Nobody will tell you to play balloon volleyball. You want a mah jongg group or you don’t. We encourage members to also volunteer, because almost everyone can do something. Even if you’re housebound, you can check on someone.” Mary Bedard has been involved in Eastside Village PDX since its inception. “I’ve made the most amazing friends,” she says. That’s why I stick around. It’s the people.” Eastside Village PDX launched in October 2015 with the slogan, “It’s not a place, it’s a plan for aging in place.” It offers two categories of membership – full service and social. Full-service members pay $540/individual, $780/couple per year for access to social and educational programs, plus a set number of service calls each month for things like home help or transportation. Social members pay $300/individual, $500/couple for access to social and educational programs, plus limited services like a temporary upgrade to full service during an illness. Volunteers who are not also members do not pay anything, of course. “We have about 50 memberships and 30 volunteers,” Mary says. “Nationwide, they find recruiting volunteers isn’t usually a problem, but sometimes it’s hard to keep them busy. All volunteers pass a background check and get training on how to work with seniors and the kinds of care we provide. We don’t do anything medical.” Coffee meet-ups are the most popular activity. Eastside Village PDX also offers a movie group, knit night and regular potlucks. Transportation accounts for 50% of the service requests. “Once no volunteer was available, so we suggested Ride Connection,” Mary says, referring to a local nonprofit. “Sometimes members need help moving furniture or setting up a computer. When a volunteer went out leaf raking, I asked him to note if the gutters needed cleaning. They did, but it was too high for a volunteer, so I provided referrals for professional

gutter cleaners. When I went on a trip, I called for pet care and a volunteer fed my cat for five days.” Although Southwest Portland’s River West won’t launch until October 2017, it offers free coffee meet-ups, a walking group and other events. Sharon Marcus chaired the coordinating team in 2013 and 2014. She’s lived in a Victorian in South Portland since the 1970s and taught weaving at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. “It takes time to get to the point where you can offer membership and services,” she says. “I was on the salon committee where we got together and discussed topics. We had a woman who sang protest songs, someone from Portland Storytellers Guild and a lecture on earthquake preparedness. I led a discussion on creativity. You meet great people who aren’t satisfied to sit back and let things happen to them. They’re activists and want to participate in their own future.” The Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., will host an informational meeting about River West Village on Feb. 9 at 1 pm. Contact Joan Glassel at jglassel@gmail.com for more information. Visit villagesnw.org to learn more about Villages NW. To attend a free monthly Villages 101 seminar, visit riverwestvillage.org and select calendar for details. Women’s Coffee and Men’s Coffee meet-ups are held at the Prosperity Pie Shoppe, 7814 SW Capitol Hwy., from 10 am to noon on Wednesdays (men) and Thursdays (women). All are invited. For more information on the Village to Village Network, visit vtvnetwork.org. Polina Olsen is a freelance writer and author of local history books including “Portland in the 1960s, Stories from the Counterculture.”

Embrace A New Adventure

We believe that at any age it is possible to make changes which truly improve the way you live. Discover the many diverse activities, social programs, and services here at Courtyard Village and embrace a wonderful lifestyle.

Active Independent Senior Living

503-297-5500

CourtyardVillage.com 4875 SW 78th Avenue in Portland (next to Fred Meyers Raleigh Hills) OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 45

FOOD

CORNER

A SPECIAL MEAL CAN KEEP THE LOVE ALIVE Story and photos by Lisa Glickman

Slow Roasted Duck leg and thigh plated with sliced breast, orange sauce and orange supreme

First comes love, then comes marriage. I have often said, tongue in cheek of course, that GETTING married is a lot more fun than BEING married. The excitement of planning a wedding is intoxicating. Newlyweds are bathed in the bliss of anticipating their new lives together. Marriage is what comes after the party is over. It can’t be planned or promised. It requires two people willing to compromise and support each other during the good times and the inevitable bad times, as well. When couples are asked for their secret to a long and loving marriage, we mostly hear that mutual respect, kindness and a

good sense of humor are at the top of the list. The ability to make an effort to laugh and be kind to each other can be hard when the going gets tough. When disagreements do occur, having the gift of negotiation is required and a knack for knowing what always brings a smile to your partner’s face goes a long way. My husband and I have been through many changes during our 22 years of marriage. There have been highs and there have been lows, but through it all we still look forward to what the future will bring. Our son will leave for college in just a couple of short years, and that will start a new chapter in our ever-

Lisa Glickman is a private chef and teacher who lives in Portland. She has made TV appearances on COTV in Central Oregon and appeared on the Cooking Channel’s “The Perfect Three.” She can be reached at lisa@lisaglickman.com. 46 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

changing lives. We still manage to have a lot of fun together. We both enjoy beautiful food, and my husband has an uncanny ability to discover new restaurants wherever we go. He gathers recommendations and studies reviews like a food critic, enabling him to home in on some really amazing places to eat. When reservations need to be made, he is usually the one in charge; thanks to his efforts, we can usually count on an exceptional meal. Sometimes just making an effort to do something special is all it takes to make someone feel loved and appreciated. Nothing makes me happier than having a special meal prepared just for me. Unfortunately, although he certainly knows what makes me happy, my husband was not gifted with my skill in the kitchen. However, he DOES do the dishes and that always brings a smile to my face. Whenever duck is on the menu, it’s my first choice. When cooked correctly it is delicious, and because it is usually accompanied with a sweet/savory sauce, it is always my favorite. This deconstructed Duck L’Orange recipe requires some patience and skill, but it is definitely worth the effort. Plan ahead because store-bought duck usually comes frozen and will need time to defrost.

Duck l’Orange Two Ways Serves 4 For the duck 2 whole ducks or 4 breast and 4 leg portions* Zest of 2 oranges Zest of 2 lemons 1-2 cups duck fat Salt and pepper For the sauce ½ cup red wine vinegar 3 tablespoons sugar 2 cups duck or chicken stock 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier liqueur Zest of 2 oranges candied (see accompanying recipe) 2 tablespoons margarine Juice of 1 lemon Juice of 1 orange 2 oranges peeled and segmented for garnish

Place duck legs in a baking dish large enough to hold them snuggly. Season with salt and pepper and grate zest of 1 lemon and 1 orange over all. Melt duck fat on the stove and pour over legs. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cover pan with foil and place in oven for 30 minutes. Turn oven down to 275 degrees and cook for an additional 1½ to 2 hours. Uncover pan and turn off oven. Allow legs to rest in the oven while preparing breasts and sauce. While legs are cooking, score skin of duck breasts and season with salt and pepper. Flip breast to meat side and sprinkle with the zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon. Set aside. Place vinegar and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until sugar is dissolved and the liquid has the consistency of a light caramel. Remove from the heat and add stock. Return to burner and allow to reduce by half. Place breasts in a large saute pan. Turn heat to medium

low to medium and allow breasts to slowly cook on one side until skin is deep golden brown and fat is almost completely rendered. Pour fat off of duck breast as you go, but save the fat to use later! When skin is rendered and nicely browned, turn breasts and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove breasts from pan and cover with foil to keep warm. Reheat pan to medium high, add Grand Marnier and ignite, scraping up browned bits from pan. Strain into sauce. Add margarine to sauce along with candied orange and juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange. Slice breast and plate along with one of the legs. Spoon sauce over and serve. *Duck can be purchased whole or in portions. If you have good butchering skills, you can break the duck down, carefully carving the breast and legs. By doing this you can save the back and wings to make duck stock and render the fat for use later.

Candied Orange Peel

2 oranges 1 cup water ½ cup sugar With a peeler remove the peel from the orange just getting the orange part and very little of the white. Cut into thin strips. Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the strips of zest and reduce to a simmer. Loosely cover the pan and let the liquid cook until reduced by half. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Strain the zest to use.

CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL PRESENTS

MARCH 19, 5 PM - 8 PM @ CASTAWAY 1900 NW 18th FEATURING MANY OF PORTLAND’S BEST RESTAURANTS, WINERIES, DISTILLERIES, AND BREWERIES Tickets $54/$72 after March 5th To buy your tickets, call 503.222.1069 www.bethisrael-pdx.org

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 47

NWNosh

Vegan Garlic Naan

New Indian restaurant offers tasty vegetarian menu By Kerry Politzer

Fans of the beloved Bombay Cricket Club were crestfallen to find that it had closed after 21 years. Diners loved the restaurant’s comprehensive menu of Indian and Middle Eastern specialties. Fortunately, the excellent Maruti Indian Restaurant has opened in the club’s place. And while Maruti may not boast the most extensive menu, its offerings are tasty, healthy and completely vegetarian – a bonus for those who want to keep their meat and dairy separate. Co-owner Rudra Parmar describes Maruti’s cuisine as “homecooked-style food for the public.” The London-born Parmar moved to the United States in 2011 and found something missing in the Indian restaurants on the West Coast. Together with his wife, restaurant founder Falguni Khanna, he resolved to create a restaurant that served “pure Indian food, how it should be.” He explains, “We don’t cut any corners. Our food is a blend of Gujarati and Punjabi cuisine, and we’ve created a menu where you don’t miss the meat.” Maruti’s menu consists of a selection of small plates, salads, 48 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

biryani dishes and main courses. Parmar is particularly proud of the restaurant’s bread. “We make the dough in-house and measure each one to make sure that it’s correct. A lot of restaurants just roll out the dough randomly, but we measure each one to make sure it’s perfect.” Vegan butter is available. Parmar recommends that a first-time customer start with an apple-avocado salad made with organic mixed greens and a plate of the paneer fritters. “(The fritters) are not heavy, the taste is amazing.” Then, diners can enjoy the paneer tikka masala, which is Indian cheese in a creamy tomato sauce, and a smoky eggplant dish known as baingan bharta. “We also have amazing cocktails,” says Parmar. Maruti offers traditional Indian desserts as well as two housemade raw vegan pies that are made with cashews and almonds. The restaurant owners, who are the parents of a 3-month-old girl, have also made sure to offer a kids’ menu. Everyone will find something to enjoy at Maruti Indian Restaurant. “You don’t have to be a vegetarian, just check us out. We cook with a lot of love into our food,” says Parmar. Maruti Indian Restaurant: 1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 503236-0714, maruti-restaurant.com. Closed Tuesdays.

Kosher treats for the Super Bowl Super Bowl LI (51) is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 5, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Abeles & Heymann and Koshermoms.com have gotten together to bring you some original winning recipes for Super Bowl Sunday and all year long. You can substitute regular Abeles & Heymann hot dogs with uncured, no nitrates/nitrites added, or their low fat and low sodium varieties.

Beer Battered Mini Franks with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Paneer pakora

1 package of Abeles and Heymann’s mini franks 1 gallon canola oil for frying 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for coating ½ cup corn starch 1 teaspoon kosher salt 3 teaspoon sugar 2 teaspoon baking powder 12 ounces your favorite beer Mix the flour, cornstarch, salt, sugar, baking powder and beer in a bowl, whisk together till a smooth batter forms, making sure to get all the lumps out. Refrigerate batter for 30 minutes. Heat oil in the deep fryer to 350 degrees (alternatively if you do not have a deep fryer, you may use a heavy bottom, deep pot on the stove). Lightly coat the mini franks in flour. Using a large skewer, dip the flour coated franks into the beer batter, then drop into the fryer. Using the skewer, flip the franks around in the oil so they do not stick to the bottom of the fryer. Only fry a few franks at a time, turn the franks in the oil occasionally to ensure they are cooked evenly. Repeat the process until the entire package is fried. Lay beer battered franks on paper towels to drain. Serve with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce (below).

Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce 1 part honey 1 part dark brown sugar 2 parts your favorite spicy brown mustard Mix together till combined

Baingan Bharta

Simple, Quick, Delicious Candied Corn Beef Salad

Slice A&H Corn Beef into strips Coat the strips in honey Heat in a hot pan until caramelized (this will happen fast, so be ready to flip) Scrape up the bits and immediately serve over crisp romaine lettuce Serve with your favorite dressing

Chipotle Frankfurter Wrapped in Guacamole

This frank has a delicious flavor with a spicy finish; the creamy guacamole cools it off. I wrapped them in a whole wheat wrap to round off the meal and make it super exciting for the kids! 1 Package of Abeles & Heymann Chipotle Franks cooked in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Guacamole 2 ripe Haas avocados Juice of half a lemon Sprinkling of garlic powder Salt and pepper to taste Mash the avocados and combine with the lemon juice and spices. Warm up the wraps in a hot pan. Spread the guacamole on each wrap, place the frank in the wrap and roll it up.

Paneer Tikka Masala

KosherMoms (koshermoms.com) is a new blog site dedicated to incredible family friendly food and lifestyle ideas. Abeles & Heymann (abelesheymann.com) products are gluten-free and certified glatt kosher by the Orthodox Union, Kehillah Kashrus and Rabbi Yecheil Babad. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 49

Kids & teens too

Delegates from the Portland area, part of United Synagogue Youth's (USY) Pinwheel region, pose for a group photo at USY's 66th International Convention, Dec. 25-29, in Dallas, TX. From left are (front): Pinwheel Regional Youth Director Rebecca Powazek, Regional President Hannah Glass, Izzy Levy and (back) Emma Hayward, Abby Glass, Maude Elovitz, Marissa Friedman and Mira Katz. Neveh Shalom Youth Director Rabbi Eve Posen (not pictured) accompanied the teens to Dallas. Photo by Adrian Baird, Endless Entertainment

Portland teens explore leadership at USY convention

Compiled by Deborah Moon

Eight Portlanders were among the nearly 1,000 Jewish teenagers, educators, professionals and alumni from United Synagogue Youth who gathered in Dallas, Dec. 25-29, for five days of Hanukkah celebrations, interactive learning and hands-on social action at USY’s 66th International Convention. A program of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, USY is America’s largest Conservative Jewish youth group. The contingent from Congregation Neveh Shalom included Pinwheel's Regional President Hannah Glass, who was attending her third convention. “My favorite part of convention every year is opening ses50 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

sion,” says Glass. Before it begins, the regions meet in separate rooms wearing matching shirts that represent their region. One by one, regions run into the main ballroom singing their song and cheering. I have never witnessed as much ruach (spirit) as I do at opening session, and this year did not disappoint.” As regional president, Hannah introduced the Pinwheel Region through a song on stage in front of the convention. When all the regions are in the ballroom, the teens sing and dance to Israeli pop music and Jewish songs. “One of the best parts is reuniting with friends who you hadn't seen yet in the middle of all the craziness,” says Hannah. “A room full of nearly 1,000 staff and USYers passionately singing Jewish songs is definitely an unforgettable and unique

Rabbi Eve Posen, her husband, Duncan Gilman, and their son, Matan, accompanied the Neveh Shalom teens to the USY convention.

Portland teens show their ruach during the Opening Session party at USY's International Convention. Photo by Adrian Baird

experience and an image that will stick with me.” “This was a wonderful opportunity for our teens from Portland to become a part of the larger Jewish world,” says Neveh Shalom Education Director Rabbi Eve Posen, who joined the teens at the convention. “They joined together with 600 other teens who are passionate about their Judaism and learned together, sang together and had a wonderful time building friendships that will last a lifetime.” This year’s conventions marked the creation of USY’s partnership with NOAM, its sister youth movement that reaches Masorti teens globally. USY hosted young adults from 10 countries including Israel, Argentina, Ukraine and Uganda to kick off a yearlong pairing of NOAM’s global chapters with USY regions. This new program will help foster lasting relationships among Jewish teens from diverse backgrounds, as well as global learning initiatives and social action projects.

The Pinwheel Region has been paired with the NOAM chapters in Madrid, Spain. “We are excited to bring together our teens to create global connections and discuss their shared future as leaders of Masorti/Conservative Judaism,” said Rabbi David Levy, USCJ’s senior director, teen learning. The convention focused on the theme Chazak, Chazak, v’Nitchazek, which translates to Be Strong, Be Strong, May We Be Strengthened. Through interactive educational programming, community service, and talks from peers and leading professionals, the convention built teens’ capacity as Jewish leaders, individuals and advocates. “USYers will leave feeling empowered to create positive change … and build a stronger future for themselves (and) their communities,” said teen co-chairs Noa Rose and Harrison Steier. “We will grow together and learn to overcome modern challenges in a Jewish context.” Convention guests included keynote speaker, CEO and President of Hillel Eric Fingerhut, a USY alumnus and past Central Region USY president, and former star wrestler/professional motivational speaker Rohan Murphy. Educational partners included Hillel, KESHET and Stand With Us with study sessions focusing on topics such as the Holocaust; modern day Judaism in America; Israeli history, politics, and culture; Judaism on the college campus; inclusion and the media. In conjunction with local agencies, the entire convention body participated in several hands-on social action projects with partners including Goodwill of Dallas, Hope Farm, ACH Child and Family Services, Congregation Ahavath Sholom, Christian Center of Fort Worth, North Texas Food Bank, Catholic Charities of Ft. Worth, Christian Community Action, Mission Arlington and Mission Metroplex. The teens took part in ongoing charitable activities over the course of the convention, collecting donations for local Dallas agencies. The convention also exposed teens to local Texas culture, which included visits to the Fort Worth Stockyards, a largescale kosher BBQ at “the World’s Largest Honky-Tonk,” Billy Bob’s Texas, and a private evening at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 51

K iednsstoo Events February & te

FEB. 12

MJCC SUMMER DAY CAMP INFO FAIR: 1- 3 pm at the

Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland. Learn about the MJCC Summer Day Camp programs, register and meet camp staff! Free. 503-535-3555 or oregonjcc.org

YOUNG ARTISTS SHOW SELECTION: See page 36.

FEB. 20

BB BREAKS (VACATION DAY CAMP): 9 am-5 pm at B'nai

B'rith Camp office, 9400 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy #200, Beaverton. amansfield@bbcamp.org or 503-496-7444 ext. 7015

RECURRING: NORTHEAST STORY HOUR WITH PJ LIBRARY: 9:30-10:15 am Sundays at New Seasons, 3445 N Williams Ave., Portland. Share in a weekly story hour for families with music and PJ Library Books. rachelr@ jewishportland.org or 503-892-7415

MONTHLY HEBREW STORY HOUR WITH PJ LIBRARY:

2:30 pm every second Sunday at the Hillsboro Public Library, 2850 NE Brookwood Pkwy., Hillsboro. rachelr@jewishportland.org or 503-892-7415 CHAI BABY + PJ LIBRARY INDOOR PLAYGROUND: 10 am-noon, every first Thursday at the MJCC, 6651 SW Capitol Hwy. For parents and their children up to 5 years old. Playing, running, meeting new and old friends, snacks. Free. 503-244-0111

PJ STORY HOUR YAD B'YAD: 9:30-10:15 am Fridays at Rose Schnitzer Manor, 6140 SW Boundary St., Portland. Share in a weekly story hour for young families with music and PJ Library books with the residents of Cedar Sinai Park. rachelr@jewishportland.org or 503-892-7415 KIDDUSH CLUB FOR K-2ND GRADE: 10:15-11:15 am, first and third Fridays. Congregation Neveh Shalom, 2900 SW Peaceful Lane, Portland. Join other young families for a special Saturday morning Tot Shabbat with singing, dancing, stories, indoor picnic-style lunch and Shabbat fun. Free. Rabbi Eve Posen 503-246-8831 A LITTLE SHABBAT: 5-6:30 pm every third Friday at Congregation

Shaarie Torah, 920 NW 25th Ave., Portland. 503-226-6131 FOURTH FRIDAYS WITH RABBI EVE POSEN: 5:15-7 pm, fourth Fridays. Join Rabbi Eve Posen for this fun Shabbat for young families! Welcome Shabbat with music and stories. Potluck dinner to follow. Co-sponsored by PJ Library. RSVP for more info and location: 503-246-8831 or eposen@ nevehshalom.org

TORAH TROOP FOR 3RD-5TH GRADERS: : 10:15 – 11:30

am. first and third Saturdays, Congregation Neveh Shalom. Meet in the main service for the beginning of the Torah service, and then come out with your friends for a fun and active lesson on the Torah portion (parsha) of the week. Return to the service to help lead Adon Olam, and join the community for lunch! Free. 503-246-8831

SHABBAT STORYTIME: 9:45-10:15 am, second Saturdays, at Congregation Shir Tikvah,7550 NE Irving St., Portland. Free. Shabbat gathering of toddlers and their caregivers. Best for kids up to age 5, although older siblings are welcome. Enjoy stories, songs and crafts that celebrate holidays and Jewish values. Stay afterwards for bagels and coffee with Rabbi Ariel Stone. 503-473-8227 TORAH YOGA: 10:30 am-noon every second Saturday at Congregation Shaarie Torah, 920 NW 25th Ave., Portland. 503-226-6131 TOT SHABBAT: 10-11 am every second Saturday at Congregation Kol

Ami, 7800 NE 119th St., Vancouver. Rabbi Elizabeth Dunsker leads a short Shabbat service with singing and story telling! Craft making based on the story and a short oneg follows the service. Ages 0 to 5. jewishvancouverusa. org

KESSER KIDS' TIME: 10:30 am-noon every second, fourth and last Saturday , 6698 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland. The program is geared for children age 2-11. 503-222-1239 52 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

L iving

TO LIFE!

My Grandmother’s Candlesticks: Lighting the way for others By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

I entered the classroom of 32 seventh graders at the worst time imaginable – seventh period on a Friday afternoon, the weekend before winter break. I knew the deck was stacked against me. I had been warned by the very enthusiastic teacher who asked me to read my short story as part of her unit on ethnic literature that this class was a “rowdy” group. I came prepared with two grocery bags, one filled with boxes of donuts and soda and the other with my copy of Chicken Soup for the Jewish Soul and my grandmother’s candlesticks. I knew one thing for certain: even if the students didn’t understand my story, they would appreciate the Jewish tradition that learning should be a sweet experience. Munching on donuts while listening to me read would capture their stomachs, if not their hearts. I scanned the overcrowded classroom: typical adolescents sporting pimples, nose rings, hair gel and Attitude. When the teacher introduced me as the local author who wrote a short story called “Grandmother’s Candlesticks,” eyes rolled, chairs tilted back and notebooks opened in preparation for some serious doodling. I would have given anything for my grandmother to be able to see what transpired in the classroom that day. For during a period of less than an hour, a multicultural group of boisterous teens came together in a rare moment of understanding, compassion and kinship. How did the story about a pair of brass candlesticks secretly brought over from Russia in the lining of a coat capture the minds and hearts of children who had never heard of a pogrom or of the Jewish Sabbath? Why did the image of my aging OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 53

L iving

grandmother struggling to remain central in the lives of her children touch their imaginations and their souls? And who would have imagined that as I read about my grandmother handing me the candlesticks with her blessing before she died, students would break down sobbing, remembering their own grandmothers, aunts, uncles and parents who had died too soon, leaving them with too little. When I finished reading, I passed the heavy brass candlesticks, covered in years of wax, up and down the rows of students. They seemed to feel the weight of tradition in their hands as they gently handed the candlesticks to one another. I asked if anyone wanted to share their feelings or ask me questions about what I wrote. At first no one spoke. Then a pale-looking girl stood and walked to the front of the room, sniffling and wiping her nose with the back of her sleeve. She asked if she could read a poem she had written for her father, who had died in the hospital less than three months before. She had been carrying it around with her since he died, but had never read it to anyone. In a child’s whisper, she spoke directly to her father in couplet form, without hesitation or fear. As she walked back to her seat, friends crowded around her hugging her small frame, handing her a Kleenex, offering her support. Then a tough-looking young man who had scribbled throughout my reading stood up and told his story. He didn’t have a grandmother or a grandfather, he said, or even a mother. They had all been killed by a drunk driver when he was 4. He wished he had something like the brass candlesticks, something they had shared together with old wax or fingerprints on it, because it was like having a piece of them with you forever. As child after child told of a “tia,” “abuela” or “nana” with whom they had lived, loved and lost, the classroom became a sanctuary for years of unspoken grief. The bell rang, but no one wanted to leave. I gathered my things, hugged a few of the students and said goodbye. I had almost reached my car when I heard someone call my name. Turning toward the voice, I stared into the face of Celeste, one of the students in the class who hadn’t said a word. “Would you please talk to my father?” she implored. “I really want to go to Phoenix … to the cemetery to see my grandpa … he died a while ago. I can’t get there by myself. I have to go, but he won’t take me.” Her words came out like choked staccato notes: short, sharp and pointed. “Well, honey, I could call him if you want but …” “You don’t have to,” she interrupted, “he’s sitting right over there in that pickup truck.” 54 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

I slowly turned my head and saw a very big truck across the parking lot. I walked toward it and awkwardly looked into the face of a man I had never met and told him how much it would mean to his daughter if she could visit her grandfather’s grave to have the chance to tell him what was on her mind and in her heart. He grunted, said he’d think about it and revved the engine, which was my signal that the conversation had ended. I felt bad, thinking that I hadn’t helped the situation much and that Celeste would never have the closure she so desperately needed with her grandfather. Weeks later I received a letter on notebook paper from Celeste. Tears filled my eyes when I read her words. Her father had taken her to Phoenix to visit her grandfather. She was lucky, she said, because now she could visit him whenever they went there. She had written me the letter so that I would have something permanent to keep by which to remember her. Not as nice as those candlesticks, she wrote, but something special just the same.

Columnist Amy Hirshberg Lederman speaks in Portland Feb. 23 The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation invites Legacy Supporters to the Third Annual Legacy Celebration to honor and celebrate legacy giving in the community. Amy Hirshberg Lederman, whose To Life columns appear periodically in Oregon Jewish Life, will be the featured speaker. Her topic for the day, “My Grandmother’s Candlesticks: Leaving a Legacy of Love and Values,” carries a powerful message. (See the adjacent column for the impact the story had on a group of rowdy seventh-graders.) Amy spent several years as a legacy consultant for the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. She has written more than 300 columns and essays that have been published nationwide. She is an author, Jewish educator, public speaker and attorney. OJCF’s third annual legacy gathering celebrates the community’s success in the Life & Legacy program. OJCF will acknowledge and thank legacy donors for their support of our shared Jewish community and will honor the 10 Life & Legacy partner organizations for their dedication to the program. The program will be 5:30-7:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, 6651 SW Capitol Highway, Portland. Wine and hors d’oeuvres at 5:30 will be followed by the presentation at 6 pm. The event is by invitation only to legacy donors. If you have made a legacy gift but did not receive an invitation by mail or are interested in learning more about legacy giving, contact OJCF at 503-248-9328. There is no cost for legacy donors to attend and there will be no fundraising.

Amy Hirshberg Lederman has written more than 300 columns and essays that have been published nationwide. amyhirshberglederman.com

PREVIEWS

Tu B'Shevat:

Jewish Arbor Day Teddy Weinberger

The almond tree is blooming And a golden sun does shine Birds from every rooftop Announce the festive time Tu B'Shevat is here – the festival of trees!

Above is the first stanza of the most well-known song for Tu B'Shevat (there are two other stanzas, both hardly known). Though the words to this song were written in the middle of the 20th century, they smacked of the stuff of myth to me while I was growing up. Living in New York City, I could not possibly tell you what an almond tree looked like, and the odds of seeing one blooming in early February seemed unimaginable as I walked through the city’s slush and cold. Only when I moved to Israel did the song make sense (another instance of aliyah making sense of my Jewish life). Because wouldn't you know it? Those trees blooming all around me in Givat Ze'ev at the beginning of February are almond trees. Israeli schools are open on Tu B'Shevat (although this year it falls on Saturday, Feb. 11). B'nei Akiva and other organizations provide children with an opportunity to plant trees on this day (or on the closest regular school day) as an alternative to school. Needless to say, even kids who are not particularly fond of youth movements sign up for this field trip. Besides planting trees, the other rite of the day consists of a Tu B'Shevat seder, which has been gaining in popularity in recent years thanks in part to my friend, Yaacov Maoz. Yaacov, who works for the Israel Association of Community Centers as a director for the Unit for Jewish Community Renewal, has over the last few years created guides for a number of Jewish holidays. These booklets are geared to the secular Israeli public and are especially intended for communal celebrations. Yaacov's "Four Season Seder for Tu B'Shevat" nicely combines traditional Jewish sources with modern Israeli culture. He includes the Talmudic discussion of the four New Years, with Tu B'Shevat being the New Year for Trees. Yaacov speaks of the spread of the holiday by the Kabbalists in Safed in the 17th century. It was this group that introduced the custom of the four cups of differently colored wine to the Tu B'Shevat seder, going from white, to rose, to light red, to dark red (symbolizing the ripening of the natural cycle). The booklet is divided among these four cups, and in each section there are modern Israeli songs and poetry; Judaic texts; and historical, traditional and scientific information on a number of plants, trees and fruits native to Israel: the date, the olive, the pomegranate and others. When I lived in the States, if Tu B'Shevat happened to fall on a Shabbat, we would invite people over and have a seder. Now that I'm in Israel, I feel less of an urge to celebrate the holiday, which as Yaacov writes, "symbolized the yearning for the Land of Israel, its scenery and fruits." My yearning came to a close in July of 1997. Still, as with jelly donuts before Hanukkah and dairy products before Shavuot, my local Israeli supermarket will make it hard to ignore the upcoming holiday. I will be tempted by many kinds of dates and several forms of almonds (roasted, salted, sugared), as well as all other possible kinds of nuts. Although interestingly, the fruit of the carob tree, aka St. John's Bread or "buxer" in Yiddish, which was always around to gross people out in the States on Tu B'Shevat – let's just say it's an acquired taste – is hard to find. Then there will be a huge assortment of dried fruit, ranging from the unusual etrog (citron), to apricots, prunes, bananas and figs. To be sure, much of this dried fruit will come from Turkey, but I guess that's close enough. Happy Tu B'Shevat.

PDX Jazz Presents Kerry Politzer & Idit Schner On Feb. 21 from 5 to 7 pm, pianist Kerry Politzer and saxophonist Idit Shner will perform at Portland Prime (121 SW Third Ave.) as part of the 2017 PDX Jazz Festival. The duo will play a variety of original jazz compositions as well as some Brazilian jazz favorites. Kerry Politzer The classically trained Shner has performed throughout the United States and Israel. She currently performs with her quartet in Portland and Eugene at the same time that she serves as an associate professor of saxophone and jazz studies at the University of Oregon. The saxophonist’s three recordings, which run the gamut from contemporary classical music to traditional Israeli themes, have been praised by such publications as The Washington Post. Politzer is a member of the jazz faculty at Portland State University. A Portland Idit Schner Jazz Composers Ensemble artist, she released her latest album, Below the Surface (PJCE Records), in 2014. Before moving to Portland, the pianist lived in New York, during which time she fell in love with the music of Brazil. Politzer’s love of the idiom informs many of the compositions on her six albums. Shner and Politzer are excited to share their diverse musical interests with Portland jazz listeners. For more information, call 503-223-6200.

A Humanistic View of Death: A Matter of Choice Dr. Martin Seidenfeld speaks about assisted suicide at Kol Shalom at 10:30 am, Feb. 5, at the Kol Shalom Center, 1509 SW Sunset Blvd., Ste. 1E, Portland. Dr. Martin Seidenfeld is a board member for the Final Exit Network (formerly the Hemlock Society) and serves as a guide for those choosing to hasten their death. He will describe the dilemmas facing us at the end of life and how the Final Exit Network works with individuals to make their ends come quickly and painlessly at a time of their own choosing. The Final Exit Network believes that mentally competent adults suffering major illness, intractable pain and loss of personal dignity have a basic human right to choose to end their lives. Dr. Seidenfeld is a clinical psychologist, organizational consultant, university professor and seminar presenter. Kol Shalom offers occasional Sunday Forums of general and/or Jewish interest. The forums are open to the public. For more information, call 503-459-4210. OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 55

L iving

FACES & PLACES

SAVE THE DATE! The 2017 Jewish Women’s Round Table Awards Brunch will be June 4. Last year’s honorees were: Front row: Sara Charney Cohen, Temple Beth Tikvah, Kalyn Culler Cohen of Congregation Shir Tikvah, Sherry Dunning of Temple Beth Sholom (Salem), Davida Jordan of Kol Shalom, Susan Lazareck of Havurah Shalom; Back row: Barbara Atlas, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, Susanna Perrin of Congregation Kesser Israel, Alison Rosenfeld of Portland Jewish Academy, Joan Levine of Congregation P’nai Or, Susan Marcus of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Dana Sirkin of Congregation Neveh Shalom, Karin Stolz of Beit Haverim, Margarita Wolf of Congregation Shaarie Torah Sisterhood; and not pictured: Susan Aronson of Beit Am (Corvallis) and Stephanie Siegel of Women of Reform Judaism/Beth Israel Sisterhood. The Song of Miriam Awards honor women who volunteer their time and energy to ensure the continuity and vibrancy of the Jewish community of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

MESSAGES OF HOPE – At Clark County's Community Hanukkah celebration, attendees filled in the panels of this Message Menorah with messages of hope and light. It was later displayed in Vancouver's City Hall for the duration of Chanukah. Pictured are Rabbi Shmulik Greenberg of the Chabad Jewish Center and Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt.

56 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

INTERGENERATIONAL CHALLAH BAKE – Maimonides Jewish Day School sixth and seventh-graders joined residents of Rose Schnitzer Manor (including Rita Spina, pictured with a student) to make challah. The Maimonides students visit the senior assisted living facility every week when school is in session for an intergenerational activity.

MENORAH MAKERS – 150 people showed up for a Hanukkah Menorah Building Workshop at Home Depot. This was coordinated by The Gan - Portland Jewish Preschool.

HANUKKAH IN BEND-More than 70 congregants braved the cold night in Central Oregon to celebrate the seventh night of Hanukkah Dec. 30. Above, standing from left are Camille Smith, Tina Rouhoff and son, Maxwell Friedman, Kathy Schindel, Jeanne Freeman, Zoe Hershenson, Evie Lerner and Rabbi Johanna Hershenson. At left, children participated in the mummy game by wrapping themselves in toilet paper.

DEFLATED BY SNOW–The Sportsplex bubble at Mittleman Jewish Community Center sunk on one end after the heavy snowfall Jan. 10-11. The bubble is held up by high pressure air and deflated somewhat because the pressure inside isn't sufficient to counter the weight of the snow. Activities were canceled during the storm (when the center was closed) and continued to be closed until the snow melted and the manufacturer could do any needed repairs. Photo by Deborah Moon

IN DECEMBER Gan–Portland Jewish Preschool families collected toys for children in Doernbecher's Children's Hospital, books for The Children's Book Bank and $140 and items for a family in need through the JFCS. At The Gan we value caring and giving and it is instilled through hands-on projects like these!

HANUKKAH GOODIES – Kesser Kids compete in a donut eating competition at Congregation Kesser Israel’s Hanukkah Extravaganza. At right, Shai Levy enjoys a latke at the party

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 57

FEBRUARY CALENDAR

Feb. 2

Feb. 22

Film: "The Flat." 7- 9:30 pm at MJCC. Arnon Goldfinger’s documentary follows long-buried family secrets. Then playwright Andrea Stolowitz discusses her play Berlin Diary to explore similar themes of national history and private lives. Free. 503-535-3555

50 Years After: Recollections on the Six Day War: A conversation with Rabbi Joshua Stampfer and Rabbi Emanuel Rose, moderated by Rabbi Joshua Rose. 7:30 pm at the MJCC. Co-sponsored by Neveh Shalom, Beth Israel, Shaarie Torah, Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, and MJCC. ojmche.org

Feb. 5

Feb. 23

Humanistic View of Death. See page 55

OJCF’s Third Annual Legacy Celebration. See page 54

Feb. 6 Return engagement of "Ahead of Time, The Extraordinary Journey of Ruth Gruber" with remarks by Executive Producer Patti Kenner. The documentary film was originally shown during OJMCHE’s exhibit, Ruth Gruber Photojournalist. For time / location: 503-226-3600

Feb. 7 Sephardic Film Festival: "The Long Way Home," an Academy Award-winning documentary. Films screen at 7 pm the first Tuesday of each month at Ahavath Achim, 3225 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland. David: 503-892- 6634, jewishfilmportland.org

Feb. 24 50 Years Later: What Does Jerusalem Mean in Our Lives? Shabbat dinner with Rabbi Ilan Feldman speaking on: What does it mean for the Jewish psyche that we control The Old City, The Temple Mount, The Tomb of the Patriarchs, Rachel’s Tomb for the first time in 2,000 years? 6 pm at the MJCC. 503-222-1239

Feb. 26-March 31 Jewish Arts Month at the MJCC. See page 36

March 1

Feb. 7-March 5 The Art of Aging: Artists Repertory Theatre & Geezer Gallery present “Marjorie Prime,” a play on aging and memory, and “It’s About Time,” the first art exhibit by 101-year-old artist Estelle Meadoff. 1515 SW Morrison, Portland. Gallery admission free. Play tickets: artistsrep.org, 503-241-1278

Feb. 9 Nosh and Drash with Rabbi Eve Posen. 1- 2 pm at the Cafe at the J (MJCC). Topic: Be Like a Tree: Texts on Tu B’shevat (New Year of the trees). Free. 503535-3555 Learn about River West Village, a plan for aging in place. See page 45

Feb. 10 Annual Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, presented by Temple Beth Tikvah. 7-9 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 230 NE Ninth St., Bend. An oneg will follow. Free. Diane Dober dobersbend@gmail.com, bethtikvahbend.org/calendar AC2: An Intimate Evening with Anderson Cooper & Andy Cohen. Join this duo for an unscripted, uncensored and unforgettable night of conversation at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall at 8 pm. Tickets: portland5.com, the Portland'5 Box Office, TicketsWest outlets or 800-273-1530

Feb. 18-19 Teacher training for Kidding Around Yoga at Yoga on Yamhill (124 SW Yamhill St., Portland). Adults learn to teach yoga and stress-management to children. Mention Oregon Jewish Life when you sign up and you will also receive the Yoga Yeladim program for free. info@kiddingaroundyoga.com, kiddingaroundyoga.com/yeladim/oyy/

Portland Hadassah presents author Letty Cottin Pogrebin speaking on How To Be a Friend to a Friend Who’s Sick. 7 pm at MJCC. Fundraising for Hadassah Marlene Greenebaum Breast Cancer Institute. $36, includes wine and refreshments. Diana Lindemann at 503-312-2530, Hadassah.org/ events/pdxhbc Screening of Outside the Frame’s documentary, “The Lost Boys of Portlandia,” and a panel discussion with youth who have experienced homelessness. 7- 8:30 pm at Havurah Shalom, 825 NW 18th Ave., Portland. Free. Nili Yosha, 503-664-8344 nili@otfpdx.org

March 3 Spend the Night with Billy Crystal. See page 35

March 3-4 Iris Erez performs “Local (not easy)” at 7 pm both nights at the Reed College Performing Arts Center, Massee Performance Lab (PAB128). Tickets: $10 general, $5 students/seniors; free for Reed students, faculty, staff; available at the door or online: events.reed.edu

March 4 Love, Honor, Respect: Benefit for residents of Cedar Sinai Park. See page 43

March 5 Friends of the Center Brunch featuring Yossi Abramowitz. See page 10

March 7

MJCC Authors series begins with presentation by Janis Cooke Newman: A Master Plan for Rescue. 7 pm at MJCC. Repeats March 14 (Jennifer K Armstrong: Seinfeldia) and 21 (Local Author Panel Discussion). Member/$5, Feb. 21 guest/$8; Series Pass: Member/$12; guest/$20. Register at oregonjcc. Jazz concert. See page 55 org/authorseries

Many events listed are at the MJCC, located at 6651 SW Capitol Hwy., Portland. 58 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017

Coming in March 2017

OFF TO CAMP

WANDER NO MORE

To advertise, please contact Debbie Taylor 503-892-7403 debbie.t@ojlife.com orjewishlife.com

OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017 59

strategic thinking about wealth Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has been helping ultra-high net worth individuals, their families and foundations plan for and grow their wealth for decades. Based in New York City, the Family Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management is a specialized team of interdisciplinary strategic advisors providing a full range of family office services to meet the complex needs of the UHNW marketplace. These services include financial & investment planning, estate & family succession planning, philanthropic advisory and administrative services. The Family Wealth Group is headed by Robert Stolar, a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor. Drawing on three decades of investment & financial planning experience, Robert has earned various distinctions within the wealth advisory community, including recognition by Barron’s as one of the top 100 advisors in the country for 2015. Robert Stolar

Managing Director Private Wealth Advisor 522 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 212-296-6704 robert.stolar@morganstanley.com Source: Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors,” April 20, 2015. Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, client retention reports, customer satisfaction, and more. Finwancial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, a division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Member SIPC. CRC1179133 04/15 8225582 PWM001 04/15 60 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2017