JR stories

Weekly Wednesday Update kicks off slate of coming events

Weekly Wednesday Update: role of clergy; Renewal Shavuot; Virtual Career Expo for college students and grads; FamilySearch for genealogists; Peace advocate Yousef Bashir; Pride Unity Shabbat

Flexibility, creativity guide life-cycle events in pandemic

In our new reality, flexibility, creativity and compromise are the guiding forces in crafting life-cycle events. These events now follow tradition as much as possible while adhering firmly to pikuach nefesh – preserving life – a core principle that overrides almost every Jewish law.

Crisis fund increases but needs still growing

To date, the COVID-19 crisis campaign grants committee has granted $603,500 in funds to 32 different Jewish organizations in our community, with new grant requests arriving daily.

Israeli folk dancing expands in virtual world


Pre-pandemic, Israeli folk dancers in Portland could find dances several evenings a week at community centers and other venues around town. Now Portlanders can join a dance session on Facebook or Zoom at almost any hour of the day or night.
“All of the sudden the world opened up,” says …

Saving one life is akin to saving an entire world

Our sages teach that saving one life is akin to saving an entire world. The COVID-19 pandemic is a brutal reminder of the fragility of life. While many of us are not doctors or nurses, we can still save lives through kidney donation.