NOVEMBER 2013 SERVING OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON Olympic Hopeful Seth “The Dreidle” Hill Spins Toward Sochi 2014 Seniors Forging Connections Camps It Really is Time to Reserve Your Kid’s Bunk Hanukkah Thanksgivukkah Makes Rare Appearance SPECIAL SECTIONS Inside November 2013/Cheshvan-Kislev 5774 | Volume 2/Issue 10 SPECIAL SECTIONS 12-33 Hanukkah/Food Thanksgivukkah a once-in-a-lifetime holiday; Gift Guide; Jewish Book Month suggests give books; Oregon books just in time for Hanukkah; Jewish texts offer memorable characters; Check readers favorites for more book ideas; Homemade hostess gifts; Tired of fried, try sushi; Combat Hunger; New kosher options 42-47 Camps International staff expand campers’ horizons; Grants turn first-timers into Hanukkah/Food12-33 Happy Campers; Climbing to new heights; Tide pool fun 48-56 Seniors Remembering old neighborhood; Brain health; National Family Caregivers Month; Community concierge for seniors; Seniors celebrate Hanukkah FEATURES COVER STORY Seth “The Dreidel” Hill hopes to land Olympic slot ..................................... 34 UPFRONT/NONPROFITS Mompreneurs: The Presentation Company ..............................................................10 GUEST COLUMN We have a lot to worry about by Robert Horenstein ..................................................40 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Jason Alexander comes to Medford .........................................................................57 HISTORY Mysterious Images at OJM ......................................................................................58 ISRAEL Portland leading the way in Israel advocacy ............................................................60 IDF service eye-opening experience ........................................................................62 Israel’s customer service shines in comparison .......................................................63 Declasssified report brings reflections on war ......................................................... 64 Cover Story34 COLUMNS 23 Rabbinic Reflections by Rabbi Debra Kolodny 26 Chef’s Corner by Lisa Glickman 41 Fashionista by Kira Brown 63 Life on the Other Side by Anne Kleinberg 64 An Oregonian in Israel by Mylan Tanzer Cover photo: Seth Hill by Brandon 66 Ask Helen Huttenlocher CORRECTION: CONNECT An article in the October issue of Oregon 67 Happenings: Review & Preview Jewish Life about Oregon Jewish Museum’s 68 Happenings: Faces exhibit Bat Mitzvah Comes of Age included 70 Happenings: Calendar two errors. The first bat mitzvah in Oregon was Linda Potter Hochman, now of Chino Valley, AZ. She celebrated her bat mitzvah in 1953 at Congregation Neveh Shalom when the synagogue was on Southwest 13th Street, where Fay Schnitzer and Frances Olshen also celebrated their b’nai mitzvah. Additionally, the article misspelled the name of Karen Sue Sholkoff, who was the first Fritters26 recorded bat mitzvah at Congregation Beth Israel in 1956. 4 NOVEMBER 2013 | OREGON JEWISH LIFE EXPERIENCE AND SERVICE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE rdley A ortland NEW House P Heights ML#12507386 COMING ML#13591191 NEW NEW NEW MJ STEEN Principal Broker / Premier Director [email protected] ML#13354848 ML#13626966 ML#13347187 www.mjsteen.com 503-497-5199 Windermere Cronin & Caplan Realty Group, Inc. Family law and estate planning expertise to guide your sure and stable future. Steady OREGON | WASHINGTON 503.227.1515 | 360.823.0410 GevurtzMenashe.com ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE DOUBLE BILL! 2 COMEDIES 1 SHOW THE REASON FOR THE SEASON SHOW by directed ONE Matt Pelfrey by Rusty Tennant THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS SHOW by directed TWO Anthony Neilson by Louanne Moldovan NOV 26 - DEC 29 HOLIDAY DEBAUCHERY WORLD & NORTHWEST PREMIERE FOR MATURE (OR AT LEAST ADULT) AUDIENCES SEASON SPONSORS: RONNI LACROUTE 503.241.1278 artistsrep.org When you want to connect with your community, meet new people, help others to learn, and discover new ways to do good, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland is here for you. Connect with Caron Blau Rothstein Community Engagement Director [email protected] 503.245.6449. Together WE do extraordinary things 503.245.6219 | www.jewishportland.org ® THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. 6680 SW Capitol Highway | Portland, OR 97219 THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. JewishPDX ™ SERVING OREGON AND SW WASHINGTON Publishers Robert Philip and Cindy Saltzman Advertising and Editorial Director Cindy Saltzman Editor-In-Chief Deborah Moon Art Director Susan Garfield Copy Editors Susan Moon Sally Swire BUBELAH, Online Content Editor Kira Brown WHO DOESN’T LOVE Columnists Kira Brown, Lisa Glickman, Gloria Hammer, Robert Horenstein,Anne Kleinberg, Rabbi Debra Kolodny, FREE PIE? Kerry Politzer, Helen Rosenau, Mylan Tanzer and Christie Winkelman, N.D., M.A Contributing Writers Abra Cohen, Rich Geller, Suzye Kleiner, Joseph Lieberman, Liz Rabiner Lippoff, Jef Nobbe, Polina Olsen, Sura Rubenstein, Elizabeth Schwartz, Kathy Shayna Shocket If you’ve been considering a move this and Vanessa Van Edwards winter, now’s a very sweet time to give Advertising Sales us a look. Cynthia Klutznick 5RVH6FKQLW]HU0DQRULVWKHKDSSLHVW For your complimentary subscription, KHDOWKLHVW DQG VPDUWHVW UHWLUHPHQW go to www.ojlife.com FRPPXQLW\LQ2UHJRQ and click on subscriptions 6FKHGXOH D YLVLW LQ 1RYHPEHU DQG How to reach us: UHFHLYHDGHOLFLRXVSXPSNLQSLHIURP [email protected] | 503-892-7401 WKH 1HZ 6HDVRQV 0DUNHW EDNHU\ DV [email protected] | 503-892-7402 RXUJLIWMXVWIRUORRNLQJ [email protected] | 503-892-7401 Rose Schnitzer Manor — living anywhere else just wouldn’t be kosher. Oregon Jewish Life 6680 SW Capitol Hwy. Portland, Oregon 97219 www.ojlife.com RSM-035 OJL A Prince Hal Production Call (503) 535-4004 or visit (TGMR18) The content and opinions in Oregon Jewish Life do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, www.RoseSchnitzerManor.org staff or contractors. Articles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Oregon Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contractors will to schedule a visit today! not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reserve Pumpkin Pie promotion is good through November 27, 2013. the right to refuse any advertisement. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products or services. 6:%RXQGDU\6WUHHW3RUWODQG25 OREGON JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER 2013 7 Editor’s Letter Tradition (just ask Tevye) is intimately deep-fried turkey and pumpkin latkes topped with cranberry sauce intertwined with Judaism. Yet in Judaism in celebration of the joining of two holidays that are both long on tradition is always evolving and changing thankfulness. (again – ask Tevye!). While calculations on the next convergence vary, most agree it won’t In our Seniors special section this happen again for at least 70,000 years. So be sure to make the most of month, Golde Barde recalls the Old South it this year! To help you out, we have a wonderful !anksgivukkah feast Portland neighborhood where so many and celebration ideas in this issue. Jewish families lived. !e richness of that close-knit community was scattered across the metro area by urban renewal, and she laments that today’s youth don’t have the same experiences in a neighborhood full of MORE ON HEVRA KADISHA Jewish families. But, as our Camp section shows, young people can "nd those The Oregon Jewish Life Resource Guide (page 46) provided a listing of carefree summer days immersed in Jewish life at summer camp. Jewish burial societies in Oregon. Studies show Jewish campers become more involved with Judaism The coordinator of the Chevra Kavod Hamet (chevrakavodhamet@gmail. – being more likely to light Shabbat candles, give to charity and com) has provided the following information on two rituals that honor attend synagogue at least once a month. Parents who have attended the person who has died (the met or meta). Tahara, the ritual washing overnight camp want their children to have that same experience. and purification of the met/a, is followed by dressing the met/a in Dor l’ dor, generation to generation. tachrichim (shrouds), and is performed by a trained group of volunteers We all know that Hanukkah recalls two great traditions. !e who are not related to the met/a. Shmira, “watching” or “guarding,” great victory of the Maccabbees over the Greek/Syrian armies that can be performed by family members and friends or, upon request, by were far superior in numbers and weapons inspires soldiers in the members of the Jewish burial society. Israel Defense Forces to this day. !e miracle of the one-day supply Portland has two groups who provide these rituals, the Chevra Kavod of consecrated oil that burned for eight days reminds new genera- Hamet and the Portland Hevra, both of which are staffed by trained tions that miracles can happen. volunteers who provide these services respectfully and anonymously. !is year American Jews are creating new traditions to cel- ebrate “!anksgivukkah,” the rare convergence of Hanukkah and !anksgiving. Light your !anksgivukkah Menurkey and enjoy SUNDAY NIGHT FEVER 8 NOVEMBER 2013 | OREGON JEWISH LIFE Available at Observed by the kindling of lights, Chanukah celebrates the miracle at the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem following the Maccabee’s victory ame –for when a single day’s supply of consecrated olive oil fueled the eternal fl eight days lb CLUB PRICE ea Manischewitz or ® Elite Gold Streit’s Potato Lucerne