JR stories

Seniors celebrate renewed freedom at Cedar Sinai Park

This year Passover’s journey to freedom has been a viscerally joyous one for seniors living at Cedar Sinai Park. With most residents and staff fully vaccinated and COVID restrictions relaxing, the seniors are enjoying getting out of their apartments and rooms. Small group seders were…

OR/WA overnight camps get approval to open

Overnight camps in Oregon and Washington will be allowed to open this summer thanks in large part to the efforts of two Jewish camp leaders – B’nai B’rith Camp CEO Michelle Koplan and Camp Solomon Schechter Executive Director Zach Duitch.

Giving back through song

Broadway star, Billboard #1 recording artist and local treasure Shoshana Bean took a short break at the start of the pandemic but started thinking of ways she could give back. “It’s always important to me to pour back into the places that have poured into me,” says Shoshana. Two of…

Targeted fund boosts day school enrollment

A local family fund, a national day school consortium and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland joined forces to provide targeted funding to enable 15 students to attend Jewish day schools in Portland this year.

Maayan Torah principal plans temporary leave

At the end of June 2021, Maayan Torah Day School General Studies Principal Aviel Brodkin will begin a leave of absence – from the school she helped launch a decade ago – to grow professionally so she can be a more impactful leader in the school’s future.