Yesterday we sponsored two interesting webinars. Listen to Herb Keinon from The Jerusalem Post speak about current events in the Middle East. In addition, listen to this webinar about the new tax legislation.

I have shared before that my wife is a teacher -- she is also a member of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest teacher's union. The organization recently held its annual conference in Portland and the members narrowly approved the following:

"NEA will not use, endorse, or publicize any materials from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), such as its curricular materials or its statistics. In addition, NEA will not participate in ADL programs or publicize ADL professional development offerings."

The ADL has provided public schools with materials about the Holocaust, anti-hate training, and antisemitism for four decades. Hear ADL's reaction by watching this video.

This resolution will now go to the NEA Executive Committee. If it adopts the ADL ban, schools can still use ADL materials, yet it sets up potential future showdowns with local NEA unions and school districts.

Much of this has to do with the ADL's position that anti-Zionism is antisemitism. You can agree or disagree with that statement. However, the ADL feels that anti-Israel members in the NEA have a "problem with the ADL's belief in the right of Israel to exist. Nothing less, nothing more."

The NEA (whose role is to support teachers in fighting overcrowded classrooms, inadequate school funding, stagnant teacher wages, etc.) is now potentially rejecting the ADL, which has been fighting bigotry in all forms since 1913. This is akin to banning the NAACP or GLAAD from supporting students in our schools.

Click here to tell the NEA Executive Committee members that it is unacceptable to deprive students of resources that can help them fight antisemitism, hate, and discrimination.

One of the most important things we do in our community is focus on security. We take this very seriously – and, to be frank, it is what keeps me up at night. We want every Jewish organization to be a safe place for you, as well as make sure each organization is doing what it can to be prepared, “hardened” (cameras, door locks, guards, etc.), and trained in case of an incident.

Our community security program is now almost seven years old. Jessica Anderson, our Director of Community Security, and Gene Moss prior, have been a positive benefit to our organizations. Jessica serves as our main contact to law enforcement, coordinates our communications, provides trainings, assists with security grant funding, works with each organization/congregation to develop risk assessments, and so much more. Her role is to help keep our community as safe as possible.

In full transparency, the cost for our security program (which covers the entire State of Oregon) is over $250,000 annually. This includes funding of the security position and our share of the costs for the Secure Community Network (SCN) operations in Chicago. Last year, we were notified that if we raised $750,000 (to be spent over three years) for security needs across the state, matching funds would be available to cover the costs of Jessica’s position and SCN. I am proud that last year we raised the full $750,000 with the help of individual donors, the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation Community Endowment Fund, and agency partners.

I am pleased to share that this past year we provided $250,000 in funding to 30 different organizations for security guards, door locks, panic buttons, alarm systems, fencing, PA system, software upgrades, etc. We also received a special grant of $90,000 from the Tepper Foundation to support security at eight Jewish pre-schools across the state.

I am proud that we are able to help so many organizations with their increasing security needs. We still have $500,000 available for grants over the next two years. We hope that every Jewish organization will take advantage.

I should add, unfortunately, a $5 million request to the State of Oregon to help with security was not funded. The Jewish Federation was a partner in the Oregon Coalition for Nonprofit Safety (OCNS), a group dedicated to establishing a state-funded nonprofit security grant program. This program would provide resources for Oregon nonprofits at risk of violence, hate, or bias crimes because of beliefs, mission, ideology, or the clientele served. We hope it will be considered again next year.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to our campaign to support victims of the central Texas floods. I was moved by one community member who shared this:

I’m really touched to see this. I grew up in Texas and spent two summers as a camper at Heart O’ the Hills Camp for Girls, just over a mile from Camp Mystic. I grew up swimming in the exact stretch of the Guadalupe River that flooded and camping in the bunks that were just washed away. The camp director, who had been involved with that camp for almost her entire life, died rescuing the counselors and staff on site. Thankfully that camp wasn’t yet in session so there were no campers there. I was probably the only Jewish camper in the whole place as a kid, but I felt totally welcome...Even though I haven’t been there in decades, it hits me hard and I’m moved that the Jewish Federation in Portland, even with all the needs of the Jewish community at home and abroad right now, is showing up for this. 

This is an example of why we provide opportunities for people to contribute when a natural disaster occurs. We never know who may have a connection and we recognize that many people just want to help others. You can still contribute to the flood relief efforts here.

On a lighter note, the new Superman movie is out. Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were Jewish children of immigrants, and the character’s story reflects many themes from their Jewish experience. Even his Kryptonian name, Kal-El, has Hebrew roots, meaning “voice of God.”

Did you know that, for the first time ever, Superman is being portrayed by a Jewish actor -- David Corenswet? The film also stars Rachel Brosnahan (not Jewish) as Lois Lane, known for her iconic Jewish role in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Jewish actor and Jewish day school alumnus, Skyler Gisondo, plays Jimmy Olsen.

Shabbat shalom and enjoy the beautiful summer.