JR stories

Civil Rights Journey: Portlanders learn to see "an-other"

“Just talk to people. Those who don’t talk like you, don’t look like you, don’t think like you, don’t pray like you," Jewish Atlantan Billy Planer, the founder of Etgar 36: An American Journey, told his 39 charges from Portland during their recent three-day civil rights trip.

Trip reveals uncomfortable truths

When I look back on my so-called high school education, specifically my one and only U.S. history course, I feel cheated. Cheated because what I was taught at that time glossed over important – and uncomfortable – parts of American history, downplaying the ugly legacy of slavery and Jim…

Book, paintings bring Yiddish to life

Jessica Rehfield’s studies have led her to write and illustrate Mayn Kneydl, a new book about matzah ball soup that doubles as a Yiddish-English primer. The artist aims to spread awareness of the Yiddish language among younger generations while helping older generations reconnect with the…

Rabbi Cahana shares refugee woes

PHOTOS: Twenty-six Reform rabbis and cantors from across the United States and Israel traveled to Krakow, Poland, to bring assistance to Ukrainian refugees at the Krakow Jewish Commuinty Centre. They returned to their communities to share the refugees' stories. Below, Congregation Beth Israe…

Change the world and acquire peers, leadership skills & $350

Want to change the world? If you are ages 20 to 24, the Jewish Federations of North America have just the program for you. In 2020 a cohort of seven Portland-area young adults completed the three-week fellowship to become Jewish Changemakers.