Jewish Disability Advocacy Month — page 4 Trash, trees & Tu B'Shevat — page 10 50th anniversary — page 14 Jan. 20, 2021 / Shevat 7, 5781 Volume 56, Issue 3 COVID vaccine offers hope on CSP campus BY DEBORAH MOON county. But, she says, staff and residents are “Happy, glad and On Dec. 29, 114 people on absolutely hopeful.” the Cedar Sinai Park campus Mattox says that only those received their first dose of the with autoimmune issues who Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. are not recommended to receive Those receiving vaccines in- the vaccine declined it. In addi- cluded 65 CSP staff and 49 res- tion, a few residents could not idents in the four households of be vaccinated at the first clinic the Harold Schnitzer Center for because of the short timeline. Living and post-acute care pa- The pharmacy that contracts tients in Robison Jewish Health with Robison for services, Center. They received their sec- Consonus Pharmacy, told CSP ond dose Jan. 19. on Dec. 22 that a clinic could “It was like crossing a threshold be scheduled Dec. 29. Doses of having hope that things could must be administered within six get to a normal state,” says Robi- hours of being removed from son Administrator Krista Mattox. low temperature and mixed. “There is light,” is how CSP Mattox says that gave the CEO Kimberly Fuson describes facility one day to educate the new atmosphere. She adds residents on their decision so that even with the vaccine, in- they could provide consent in door family visits won’t resume time to schedule the first dose. immediately; those are depen- Tawny Souza (Director of Rehabilitation) was the first person at dent on metrics in the state and See VACCINE, page 6 Cedar Sinai Park to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Community support arises in wake of vandalism BY DEBORAH MOON Kitchen and Cocktails in Sa- Jones says stickers clearly the No Place for Hate sign in The convergence of the eco- lem. He adds that President identifiable as related to the his restaurant window was nomic and health crises caused Trump’s support of white su- Patriot Front were posted in spray-painted over. On New by COVID and the rise of ex- premacists makes “them feel the area around his restaurant Year’s Day, a crowd that in- tremism have pummeled local it’s OK.” Dec. 20. Earlier in the fall, cluded Proud Boys gathered restaurants and small business- at the state Capitol to protest es this year. In response, a Shop COVID restrictions. Far-right Local movement seeks to keep marchers from that gathering those businesses viable (see clashed with a group protecting box, page 3). his restaurant entrance. Jones Recent vandalism at three said he recognized a man in the Middle Eastern/Israeli-style crowd who had threatened him restaurants in Portland and a over the past few months. Black-owned restaurant in Sa- For businesses perceived as lem have exacerbated the hard- being connected to the Jewish ship for the eateries. community, threats come from “Generally, as the social jus- both far-right Neo-Nazi groups tice movement has risen, the and the far-left Boycott, Divest, pushback from hate groups has Sanction movement that targets been stronger,” says Jonathon Graffiti at Portland restaurants included these messages plus "Free Israel. Jones, who owns Epilogue Palestine," "Falafel is from Palestine," "Eat anywhere else" and others. See VANDALISM, page 3 OJMCHE fortifies Teach & Learn resources BY DEBORAH MOON The pandemic has made many aspects of education more dif- ficult this past year. But it gave Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education staff precious time to develop online resources to support Holocaust and genocide edu- cation, which Senate Bill 664 mandated to begin with the 2020-21 school year. Though the mandated educa- tion was set to launch last fall, “There is not the expectation to fulfill all learning standards during remote teaching,” says OJMCHE Director of Educa- tion Amanda Coven. “There OJMCHE has made one of its core permanent exhibits, “Discrimination and Resistance, An Oregon is a realization that emotional Primer,” available as a digital experience for schools around the state. support and well-being is a priority and with the combina- cessible to any educator, but es- tion, the digital experience pro- lessons they can share with tion of reduced class time and pecially those who never would vides students the opportunity students who want to enter the lessons just taking longer to have had the opportunity to to interact with the exhibition’s 2021 Jakob and Sala Kryszek do virtually, it’s impossible to visit the museum or memorial content in an engaging format. Art and Writing Competition. meet all learning standards.” with their students.” The museum is also creating On Jan. 27, educators can That delay in implementation The site features a virtual tour a digital experience of “The learn about and examine 40 of combined with the museum be- of the Oregon Holocaust Me- Holocaust, An Oregon Perspec- the more than 400 anti-Jewish ing closed during the pandemic morial in Washington Park, so tive,” which should be available decrees and regulations during has given OJMCHE time to de- teachers can now visit the me- later this year. the Holocaust and discuss how velop a robust Teach & Learn morial with their students from In the past week, four schools the legal system can perpetuate section on the museum’s website anywhere. The virtual tour can have requested the Discrimi- or prevent discrimination, perse- (ojmche.org). The website in- be engaged with as a class or nation and Resistance Digital cution and genocide. cludes resources and curriculum. explored independently. A free Experience, virtual tours of the This year’s prompt for the Writ- “I’d definitely say there is a teacher’s guide includes an- Oregon Holocaust Memorial, ing and Art Contest asks students silver lining to all of this,” says ticipatory questions, a graphic or virtual classroom visits in to reflect on Holocaust history Amanda. “If we had been open organizer for students, a class- which Amanda facilitates a les- and create a piece of writing or and facilitating tours, the edu- room discussion guide, and ex- son with students. work of visual art that considers cation department would not tension resources and lessons. Amanda says the pandemic’s the role that laws played in the have had the time to create the In addition, the museum’s core closure of the museum’s discrimination against and per- resources we just released and permanent exhibit, “Discrimi- indoor physical space “has secution and genocide of Jewish will continue to. The pandemic nation and Resistance, An Ore- given us the ability to expand people, and the importance of has provided us the opportunity gon Primer,” is now available as our outreach in meaningful civic responsibility and engage- to develop some really great a digital experience. Designed ways. I’m always delightfully ment. The competition is open materials and experiences ac- to mirror the physical exhibi- surprised when I see educators to middle and high school stu- registering for our professional dents. The submission deadline What OJMCHE means to educators: developments that work outside is March 19. Nathalia Parra, Portland Adventist Academy: OJMCHE of the Portland Metro area. “We adapted the contest means hope to me. Hope that our students will begin to be Fortunately, this seems to be last year due to COVID-19 taught in a more inclusive and honest way, that our bias and happening more and more!” and have done the same this comfortable views on the world can begin to shift in ourselves “We’ve done really well with year,” says Amanda. “We’re to then empower our students correctly. relevant professional develop- requesting entries be submitted John Cornet, Phoenix High School: We today see precondi- ment, so we’re going to con- digitally, but in the event that tions that could lead to genocidal thinking emerging around the tinue to offer those on a more technology is not available, stu- world … the museum shines a spotlight on that spread of intol- frequent and continuous basis,” dents can mail their work to the erance, allowing people to see where dangers may lurk rather says Amanda. “Many of the pro- museum.” than remaining blind to or subconsciously conforming to them. fessional developments in Feb- For details, visit ojmche.org/ Kassie Evans Halpin, Edison High School: The center is ruary-May are not posted yet.” teach-learn/sala-kryszek- able to address all aspects of prejudice, discrimination and fear One upcoming professional art-writing-competition/. due to age, disability, ethnicity, origin, political belief, race, reli- development workshop, Law OJMCHE will also host its first gion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, language, culture, abili- and (Dis)Order: Legalizing summer educator workshop and ties, neurodiversity and other individual factors. This education Discrimination and Civic Re- a series on human rights and is vital to acceptance of diversity. sponsibility, will give teachers justice in the classroom. 2 Jewish Review Jan. 20, 2021 (from page 1) Shop Local/Eat Local VANDALISM The Jewish Community Relations Council, as part of the United Aviv and two locations of not tolerate messages of hate in Spirit coalition, recently met with Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Shalom Y’all were vandalized or racism in any form.” to discuss ways the coalition’s faith-based and civic groups can with “Free Palestine” graffiti The Portland Police Bureau support the city. His message was quite simple and clear – shop Jan. 10-11. Both restaurants is investigating the incidents locally! The following organizations and websites provide infor- serve hummus, falafel and oth- as hate crimes and has also mation about small, local businesses that offer online options and er Middle Eastern foods often been in contact with the Port- in-store pickup, or local-owned restaurants offering takeout.