By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Elaine Cogan, z”l, a lifelong leader in the Jewish and broader Portland communities, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 at the age of 92.
Among other accomplishments, Cogan was the first woman elected president of Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland in 1978....

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Portland Jewish Academy is once again turning a day off from school into an opportunity for kids and families to make the world better.
Work for the World returns on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 20, from 10 am-1 pm at PJA – even bigger t...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Antisemitic political violence is, sadly, nothing new. In the world, in America, in Portland.
While Oregon is noted for its history as a haven for antisemitic extremists, that support looks to have run even deeper than previously imagined. It’s still a threat t...

By JESSICA ANDERSON
The news from this past week only reinforces our knowledge that things happen - anytime, anywhere. Our communities are well aware of the importance of safety. However, despite this, it’s not uncommon to encounter complacency or a lack of action when it comes to actually impl...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
In the depths of winter, the light of a Hanukkiah, the nine-armed menorah that is the focal point of Chanukah, is always appreciated.
This year, in particular, the candles will illuminate something of a calendar crunch, with the first of the holiday’s eight nig...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Volunteerism has been part of Merit Pinker’s life since before college. Now she is helping build volunteer efforts in Portland’s Jewish community as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. 
“We are excited to have Merit in t...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Tucked into a small storefront in Multnomah Village is one of Portland’s few kosher bakeries, and a spot that works for a good cause.
Sarah Bellum’s Bakery and Workshop was founded in 2016 by Rik Lemoncello, a professor of speech-language pathology (better kn...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
From their origins in the shtetls of Eastern Europe, nigunim have made their way around the world – including Portland, as a local group that gathers monthly to share these spiritual songs marks its first anniversary.
A nigun is a typically wordless melody that ...

By JESSICA ANDERSON
If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t given much thought to the lowly bollard. Truthfully, if you’re like most people, you probably don’t know what a bollard is. Unless you work in Jewish security, and then, of course, you definitely do! Bollards are the pos...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Debbie Plawner was looking to plan something special for her sister Kim Rosenberg’s birthday. The special something became a celebration for the whole community.
Plawner has been taking classes with Jewish educator, mentor and scholar Yiscah Smith online; when Ki...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
At the founding of the State of Israel, David Ben Gurion spoke of making the desert bloom. Today, Jewish National Fund is doing exactly that.
The organization hosted representatives from Wadi Attir for a pair of speaking engagements in Portland at Rose Schnitzer M...

By JENN DIRECTOR KNUDSEN
For The Jewish Review
It’s really a very Jewish story: 3,019 miles from Portland there is a building dedicated to rescued Yiddish books. It exists because of one man’s unquenchable passion. And its board chair is a Portland resident. 
The Yiddish Book Center in Amher...

By JESSICA ANDERSON
It’s been almost three years since I joined you as your Community Security Director. I love meaningful work, and this certainly fits the bill. There have been some changes to the program since I started – most significantly, I now officially cover the entire state of Orego...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Few things can cross divides like comedy.
“I grew up in Israel with two million Muslims and Arab Christians that I never really met,” Dotan Malach said. “We were supposed to be enemies, but I think we were all curious about each other.”
That curiosity le...

By ABIGAIL MINCH
For The Jewish Review
Portland local Adam Zucker, never thought that as a Water Resource Engineer, he would one day be manufacturing a game he created.
Over a decade ago, Zucker’s goal was to give the Chanukah dreidel game a “reboot” and create a fun game to bring his fam...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
Passing by the front of the Eastside Jewish Commons in Northeast Portland, you may notice a new look.
The popular Jewish communal space, once a rusty orange color, is now a bright, radiant blue and the pillars around its entryway bear a mural of pomegranates. The ...

By JESSICA ANDERSON
FREE MONEY!
I got your attention, didn’t I? With the costs of running organizations increasing, Executive Directors are always looking to find new sources of funding. Funding for security is a particular issue these days, and I’m here to share some information about two so...

By ROCKNE ROLL
The Jewish Review
“This is our Queen Esther moment.”
Dara Horn, the award-winning author of “People Love Dead Jews,” carried this messaged to a sold-out ballroom at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center Monday, Oct. 28 at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s Spotl...