Sometimes, when government fails, the Jewish community succeeds.

A lapse in federal appropriations by the United States Congress brought many government services to a halt for a record 43 days beginning in October. Nearly one million federal employees were furloughed, many others continued to work without pay, and funding to numerous programs was cut off, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as “food stamps,” which is administered by states but funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While resources were available for October, the federal government announced that benefits would be halved in November due to the government shutdown. While states and the Trump administration argued in court over how to manage the situation, the Jewish community in Portland acted.

During the COVID pandemic, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and the Oregon Board of Rabbis had joined together to distribute grocery store gift cards to those in need. JoAnn Bezodis, the OBR’s Administrator, said that reviving this program in the face of the current crisis came up in the OBR’s Oct. 28 meeting.

“I said, ‘let me reach out to Marc [Blattner, Federation’s President and CEO] and see if they have a plan,’” Bezodis recalled of that Tuesday.

By Wednesday, Blattner wrote back that he had secured a $10,000 donation from Barry and Sue Menashe to purchase grocery gift cards.

“The response was an immediate yes,” Blattner said of the call to the Menashes. “We are grateful to Barry and Sue Menashe for stepping forward in making this support possible.”

The grocery cards were split between the OBR and Jewish Family & Child Service in Portland.

“Anybody that has reached out during this time and let us know that they are not receiving their SNAP benefits, or there’s been a delay, or they’re just facing food insecurity in general, has been eligible to receive these gift cards,” Kennedy Pate, JFCS’s Intake and Resources Coordinator, explained.

Bezodis connected with leadership at area synagogues to assess how many cards, issued in $50 increments, needed to go where. Many were distributed by OBR directly, with Bezodis coordinating pickups from her office at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Northeast Portland – and a few deliveries.

“If you can’t pick them up, give me your address and I will bring them out to you over this weekend sometime,” she recalled saying.

Pate and Bezodis have also compiled lists of resources to supplement the grocery cards – a collection of resources is also available through the Oregon Department of Human Services.

“Unfortunately, because there’s such a big need, and because of just how expensive food is getting, helping people find resources is a big part of what we’re doing too,” Susan Greenberg, JFCS’s Executive Director added.

The recipients of these cards run the entire gamut of Jewish community in the area –

“We have folks all across the board who are asking,” Pate said. “I’ve had folks tell me that it’s the difference between their family having a Thanksgiving meal or not having a Thanksgiving meal. So it really, it does really mean the world to these folks.”

Bezodis said that the OBR has distributed its portion of the cards already. Pate said JFCS still has some available. With federal appropriations only approved through Jan. 30, 2026, as of press time, the possibility of another interruption in SNAP benefits looms over the new year. Blattner said in his Oct. 31 email to the community announcing the food card allocation that more resources could be made available if necessary.

“This is what it means to be part of a caring Jewish community,” he wrote. “It is what our Jewish Federation is here for: to take care of one another, to stand strong in uncertain times, and to make sure no family is ever alone.”