Only two days away! I am so excited!! Do not miss the Portland Jewish Festival THIS Sunday at Zidell Yards on the waterfront. Gates open at 11:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. There are five great musical acts, activities for children, delicious food, beer and wine, art for sale, and so much more. Plus, the weather will be perfect! Get your tickets/parking passes here or purchase at the festival. And for those coming, please read the following guidelines and important information for the festival.

Who did not love Dolly Parton? Sadly, on Tuesday, the beloved “Queen of Country,” whose philanthropic efforts were as exceptional as her musical talent, passed away.

You know her story. She was born in a one-room cabin without electricity and plumbing along the Little Pigeon River in Pittman Center, Tennessee. She was the fourth of 12 children. Her father was a poor farmer and her parents often became the inspiration for her songs.

Dolly was one of the best-selling artists in history -- over 100 million records sold worldwide, recorded 49 albums, and had 26 number one hit singles (the most for any female artist in history). She also won 11 Grammys (with another 45 nominations), three Emmys, an honorary humanitarian Academy Award, five Golden Globe nominations, and a Tony nomination for 9 to 5: The Musical. And who can forget her movie debut in 9 to 5, with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, where the three women conspired to overthrow their sexist boss (played by Dabney Coleman).

Perhaps her greatest achievements were in the world of philanthropy. She did so much, but I want to focus on one program that also made an enormous impact in the Jewish world. Much of this has been written about in the Jewish press, but I think it is still worth highlighting.

Dolly Parton launched Imagination Library in 1995 in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee. The idea grew out of a deeply personal place -- her father never learned to read or write, and she wanted to create something that would help other children avoid the same fate. The program's premise is simple -- every child enrolled, from birth until age five, receives one specially selected, age-appropriate book in the mail each month, at no cost to the family. There is no income requirement and no obligation beyond enrollment.

What began as a local Tennessee initiative expanded dramatically. Through Parton's Dollywood Foundation, and later partnerships with local nonprofits, libraries, and government agencies across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland, the Imagination Library now mails well over two million books a month to children worldwide. The program has been credited with improving early literacy outcomes, boosting kindergarten readiness, and fostering a lifelong love of reading by making books a normal, expected part of a young child's home environment.

It was precisely this model -- free, universal, mailed directly to a child's home on a monthly basis -- that caught the attention of Harold Grinspoon, an incredible and generous philanthropist. Grinspoon had built his family foundation to support various charitable causes, including Jewish community life and Jewish continuity efforts. Looking for a way to strengthen Jewish identity and engagement among young families, Grinspoon recognized in Parton's Imagination Library a proven, scalable program. He, too, could bring meaningful Jewish books directly into homes on a monthly basis.

In 2005, Grinspoon founded PJ Library (the "PJ" stands for "pajamas" -- think of parents reading these books to children at bedtime). Much like Imagination Library, PJ Library mails free, age-appropriate books to children that reflect Jewish values, holidays, culture, and traditions. They are chosen by a panel of both literary and Jewish educational experts. The program has since grown to serve hundreds of thousands of Jewish families across North America, Israel, and beyond.

Both programs were founded by individuals moved by a personal or communal concern -- Parton's father's illiteracy, Grinspoon's interest in Jewish continuity -- and both concluded that the most effective solution was not a program families had to seek out, but one that came to them, consistently, in the mail, free of charge.

In 20 years, PJ Library has gifted more than 50 million books. This includes over 400,000 books here in the State of Oregon and SW Washington. The Jewish Federation, Mittleman Jewish Community Center, BB360, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, and the Jewish Federation of Lane County, in partnership with the Grinspoon Foundation and other funders, make PJ Library possible across our region. We know the positive impact PJ Library has in creating meaningful Jewish moments and connections, one story at a time. If you want more information about PJ Library or to enroll your children/grandchildren, please click here.

Dolly Parton was so sweet-hearted and would often say the most amazing things – and always with a big smile. Here are three “life lessons” from her that I appreciate:

You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow,
you gotta put up with the rain.

I thank God for my failures.
Maybe not at the time, but after some reflection.

May Dolly Parton's memory be for a blessing and her philanthropic work continue.

Now, about the title of this email. Here is my inappropriate fact of the week. In September, 1968, my parents were living in Atlanta and decided to go away the weekend before Rosh Hashanah. They drove to and stayed in a cabin in the small town of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which really had nothing then except for a small theme park called Goldrush Junction. That theme park eventually became the site of what is today Dollywood. According to my parents, and they were not shy in telling me, that trip to Pigeon Forge is where I was conceived.

I should also mention the passing of Tim Curry. Who remembers seeing the Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time?

Hard to believe that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is only two weeks away. We hope that everyone finds their place in the community to celebrate the holiday. For your reference, here is a calendar of High Holy Day services.

Shabbat shalom.