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ART SHOW (continued from page 1) Life-cycle event

More than 20 ORA artists will exhibit ENGAGEMENT
artwork including paintings, drawings, Fischer-Solomon
metalwork, glass, fiber art, jewelry, Rabbi Tzvi and Esther Fischer are delighted to an-
pottery, sculpture, woodturning and nounce the engagement of their daughter, Rachelly,
photography. to Eli Solomon, son of Rabbi Yonah and Ellen (El-
“I’m looking forward to meeting the kie) Solomon of the Valley Village neighborhood of
ORA community in person and for the Los Angeles.
first time showing my work in a Jew- Rachelly, 21, lives with her family in Detroit and
ish context,” says new ORA member works as a benefits specialist for LTC, a medical
Zac Banik, who says ORA has helped benefits company in New Jersey. Eli, 24, lives in the
him build an understanding of himself New York area, where he attends the Woodlake Ye-
as a Jewish artist. “I’ve been longing shiva, a rabbinical yeshiva. A Jan. 26, 2023, wedding
to share my work with the community in Lakewood, NJ, is planned.
and hear Jewish perspectives on the The Fischer family lived in Portland from 2006 to
themes that my work deals with.” 2021, where Rabbi Fischer was head of the Portland
Eileen Millsap also joined ORA this Red Tulip is an acrylic painting by Ellen Kollel, and both Rabbi and Esther Fischer helped
year and found a place to share both Green. establish Maayan Torah Day School.
art and Jewish values.
“As I have been working in my studio Obituaries
on glass menorahs, challah plates and
other Judaica, I think about the fam-
ilies my work will be going to,” says LEONARD BERGSTEIN
Eileen. “I want everyone to have beau- Leonard Bergstein, z”l, passed away on Oct. 17,
tiful Jewish objects in their homes. 2022, at the age of 76. Leonard is survived by his
The Celebration of Art is the perfect wife of 38 years, Betsy Bergstein; children, David
place to share the art I love.” Bergstein, Mikhael (Evan) Romain and Danelle
Julia says that during the pandemic, (RD) Romain; four grandchildren; and brothers, Art
she missed the collective celebration and Zac Gordon.
of a creative community. Zac Banik’s Pavel Mezuzah Case is Bergstein was born in New York City on Nov. 13,
“Unlike an art gallery show where a blackened-steel mezuzah case de- 1945, to Theresa and Abraham Bergstein. He at-
you might be a singular or dual fea- signed in a Czech-Cubist style inspired tended Wesleyan University and earned his law de-
tured artist of the month, here it is a by the Heydukova Street Synagogue in gree from New York University School of Law. He
shared experience, which I always Bratislava. moved to Oregon in 1972.
found enriching and exciting,” says He was a veteran political consultant, lobbyist and
Julia. “As an artist, I appreciate ex- tion within my private inner world KGW commentator, who had been scheduled to pro-
periencing all of the inspiration and as a sanctuary in which I placed my vide on-air election night commentary on KGW next
the end product of other creatives in a energies to enrich. Consequently, my month.
shared event.” skies and garden landscapes became He was a legislative aide to Gov. Bob Straub and
Some of the artists met virtually as a wilder in the application of paint and was an aide to Neil Goldschmidt when Goldschmidt
support group during the dark days of brushstrokes, and I sought to bring out was mayor of Portland and later U.S. secretary of
the pandemic. more layering of colors and depth in transportation. Bergstein started his own consulting
“The pandemic was challenging due the work.” firm, Northwest Strategies, a leading political firm
to the extreme isolation,” says Ellen Before the pandemic, Ellen started a with primarily corporate clients for more than 40
Green. “Fortunately, I was an active series of meditation/art cards that were years. He was an adviser to Oregon Supreme Court
participant in my ORA art support inspired by Torah. She says the cards Justice Betty Roberts, Multnomah County Commis-
group. Once a month, we would dis- were well received at the Celebration sioner Gladys McCoy, City Commissioner Charles
cuss articles, books or other inspiring of Art in past years. This year, she Jordan and Mayor Vera Katz.
art activities as well as share our latest plans to show a wide variety of art she U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) paid tribute to
artwork. This art support group en- created during the past two years. Bergstein on Twitter: “Len was instrumental with
couraged and motivated me to create “I created an abundance of hand-print- my start in public life by helping me earn a place
new art. I am an optimist, and I need- ed cards with a variety of themes,” El- with Gov. Straub on Oregon’s board of nursing
ed to paint and print uplifting images len says. “My large paintings went from home administrators. I’m eternally grateful for his
during the last two years.” being on mixed media paper to canvas. presence in my life and will miss him greatly.”
Julia also enjoyed the support group: I played with ink and watercolors as I Bergstein was an enthusiastic Portland booster who
“This group kept my eyes and my listened to Torah study on Zoom.” advised local political campaigns and nonprofits,
heart open during this time.” Other artists participating in the show including, mostly recently, the Albina Vision Trust,
The isolation of the pandemic ulti- are Andrea Meyer, Annelie Thurin, which is seeking to revitalize Portland’s historically
mately added an energy to Julia’s work. Arlene Hirsch, Boris Uan-Zo-Li, Dan- Black Albina neighborhood that was divided by the
“Our NW Jewish arts group is called iel Bluestein, Eddy Shuldman, Edith construction of Interstate 5. He was actively working
ORA, which in Hebrew means light Crever, Glenn Decherd, Jack Liskear, to advance the trust’s work at the time of his death.
or illumination,” says Julia. “During Justin Carroll, Linda Bourne, Martha He was a member of Congregation Beth Israel. A
the pandemic, a very dark period of Decherd, Simcha Shields, Tom Gainer, private family funeral was held with a Celebration of
time for everyone, I found illumina- Victoria Epstein and Yana Goldberg. Life planned at a later date.
10 Jewish Review Oct. 26, 2022