Chanukah — pages 4-7, 11-12 Get vaccinated: It's the (Jewish) law — page 10 Births — page 13 Dec. 9, 2020 / Kislev 23, 5781 Volume 55, Issue 22 8 Days of Giving: Spread the light A girl enjoys BY DEBORAH MOON Food Bank, Schoolhouse Supplies, Rapha- a Harry Potter el House and Ophelia’s Place. party at Oph- In recognition of the devastating impact “Chanukah is an opportunity to teach our elia’s Place, of the pandemic on nonprofits and the in- children and ourselves the power of giving a prevention- dividuals they serve, 8 Days of Giving to others,” says Rabbi Barry Cohen, com- based nonprofit enables the Jewish community to support munity chaplain. “Giving gifts to others, dedicated to worthwhile charities in the general com- especially to those in need, can be com- helping girls munity with dollars and time. pared to light.” ages 10-18 The Jewish Federation of Greater Port- Rabbi Cohen shares this teaching on light make healthy land has partnered with eight organizations from Rabbi Michael Strassfeld, founding life choices. to show that the Jewish community cares, chair of the National Havurah Committee: is impacted by these same issues and can Light gives of itself freely, filling all available do our part during this holiday season. space. It does not seek anything in return; Each day of Chanukah, Federation will it asks not whether you are friend or foe. It post photos, descriptions and quotes about gives of itself and is not thereby diminished. that day’s featured organization online at “When we give freely to others, we do not jewishportland.org/8daysofgiving and on diminish what we have,” concludes Rabbi social media. One hundred percent of the Cohen. “We only selflessly share our light, proceeds raised during the 8 Days of Giv- joy and hope.” ing campaign go directly to the nonprofits Celebrate the Festival of Lights by spread- Transition Projects is a leader in transition- featured each day. ing the light to a new organization each day. ing people from homelessness and living “The Jewish Federation of Greater Port- “8 Days of Giving started last year as an on the streets into housing in Portland. land is proud to partner with these eight opportunity for JFGP to elevate voices in Oregon important community organizations,” says our community and support those voices Humane JFGP President and CEO Marc Blattner. with our dollars,” says Nadine Menashe, Society finds “Each brings a high level of social service the JFGP staff person in charge of the pro- homes for expertise to their clients. Join me in sup- gram. “In 2019, we featured … Federation more than porting one or all of these organizations programs. This year, with the toll that the 11,000 pets during the eight days of Chanukah.” coronavirus pandemic has taken on our each year. The partner organizations are Dress for nonprofit community, we thought it was Success, Oregon Humane Society, Transi- important to show our secular community tion Projects, Portland Backpack, Oregon partners that they are supported.” Local firm with Israeli ties wins PitchFestNW HILOS won PitchfestNW, part of Tech- to have an incredible community support- FestNW, held online Dec. 2-4. HILOS ing us and where our vision for zero-waste co-founder and Chief Executive Elias Stahl footwear has really resonated. Together is a member of the Jewish Federation of with a few other exciting announcements Greater Portland's Israel Advocacy Com- we’ll be making over the next few weeks, mittee and Congregation Neveh Shalom's we’ve got the momentum, the team and the Israel360. infrastructure in place for an exciting com- HILOS creates made-to-order, digitally mercial debut. The way we make and buy manufactured shoes. will never be the same.” “Being awarded winner of TechfestNW’s More than 60 startups from around the Pitchfest competition by the most prom- world pitched their visions to a panel of inent and savvy investors in the PNW is venture capital judges, with HILOS an- an incredible honor,” says Elias. “It’s reaf- nounced as the winner Dec. 4. HILOS co-founders Elias Stahl and Gaia firmed why we’re so lucky to be building Gialadi show off the shoes that impressed HILOS in Portland, where we’re fortunate See HILOS, page 9 the venture capital judges at PitchFestNW. Connect on Super Sunday BY DEBORAH MOON Super Sunday is about connections – it connects people with each other, and it enables the community to connect people with the services they need. For at least half of its 100-year history, Final crisis the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland has used phonathons to help fund needed grants made services in the community. In about 1980, The final $17,000 from the Jewish com- UJA (now Jewish Federations of North munity COVID-19 assistance fund was America) created a nationwide Super Sun- allocated late last month. day when Federations hosted huge themed The Greater Portland Jewish Communi- parties, and volunteers called supporters ty COVID Emergency Fund was a joint the Sunday before the Super Bowl; now project of the Jewish Federation of Greater communities choose their own dates, often VIRTUAL SUPER SUNDAY Portland and the Oregon Jewish Communi- in December. Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 ty Foundation. Over the past eight months, “It connects people on so many levels,” 42 Jewish organizations across the State of says Laurie Rogoway, who was Federation Two Shifts: 10-11:30 am Oregon and SW Washington have received Campaign Director for nearly three decades & Noon-1:30 pm a total of $901,243. beginning about 1984. “It has importance The final grants went to: way beyond the dollars raised.” ANSWER THE CALL: Beit Am Mid-Willamette Jewish Com- Priscilla Kostiner, who chaired Portland’s Volunteer to make a difference munity (Corvallis) – $1,800 for technol- second Super Sunday in about 1982 with and be ready to make a gift! ogy needs her husband Tony, explains that Super Sun- Cedar Sinai Park – $4,200 for additional day gets people involved, educates them on Register here: personal protective equipment what Federation does, thanks them for their jewishportland.org/ Jewish Community of Central Oregon, past support, finds out if they are in need Congregation Shalom Bayit (Bend) – and raises essential funds for community growing-up-to-live-generously/ $1,000 for technology needs needs. ways-to-give/super-sunday Oregon Board of Rabbis – $10,000 to pro- Though Super Sunday reaches a large vide food gift cards to community mem- percentage of donors, it only raises a small Questions? Contact Campaign bers in need. percentage of the total campaign since most Director Wendy Kahn at “I am so proud of our community for not of the gifts are small. This year, the finan- only raising these needed funds, but also cial impact will get a boost from a generous [email protected] or for the leaders who volunteered their time donor, who will match dollar for dollar all 503-892-3015. to responsibly allocate them,” says JFGP increases of 10 percent or more over the President and CEO Marc Blattner. “Un- previous year’s gift. They will also double fortunately, as we all know, we are still match all increases of 20 percent or more. huge celebratory Super Sundays at the struggling with the pandemic. That is why “Make a gift that directly saves lives,” Mittleman Jewish Community Center and your support of the Jewish Federation’s says JFGP Campaign Director Wendy Portland State University. In both the early Campaign for Community Needs matters Kahn. “A gift to Federation will provide years and the past few years, Super Sunday so much at this time. That is how you can dignity for Holocaust survivors who are has been a bit smaller with callers gather- support our community agencies.” living in isolation by providing a meal, ing in donated office space or Federation’s You can make your pledge at jewishport- your gift will provide lifesaving funds for offices. land.org/donor2021. PPE and other support for seniors, access “We can’t come together now,” says Pris- to education and equipment to learn during cilla of this year’s gathering limitations due Women's Giving Circle the pandemic for schools, and build rela- to the pandemic. tionships through outreach with the Black, But Wendy, Campaign Chair Ted Nelson accepting grant requests Indigenous, Latinx communities in Greater and their team plan to bring the party at- The Women’s Giving Circle seeks to Portland and so much more.” mosphere of old into the Zoom room. This expand and improve opportunities and Priscilla has worked on Super Sunday as year’s Super Sunday will be different, but it choices in all aspects of Jewish women and both a volunteer and Federation profes- will still connect people, celebrate commu- girls’ lives through strategic and effective sional over the years. nity and raise important dollars for critical grant-making. She remembers the year Super Sunday’s needs. On Dec. 1, the Women’s Giving Circle be- outreach began by asking, “Are you OK?” “This year, we need it to be a Super day gan its 2021-2022 Grant-making Cycle and When callers took to the phones during the and it is easy,” says Wendy. “Everyone can is accepting applications for grants. Grant Willamette Valley flood of 1996, they first participate from home. Participation means submission deadline is Feb. 15, 2021. asked, “What do you need? before asking everyone can make a meaningful gift – you Grants will be announced June 7, 2021. In- What can you do for someone else?” don’t need to wait to be called.” dividual grants will be between $1,000 and “We were able to help a lot of people in So answer the call and make a gift, $5,000, with a total of $28,000 available.