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INSIDE

High Holiday
resources; Area
congregations – page 2

Growing kindness
– page 3
Sept. 15, 2021 / Tishri 9, 5782 Volume 56, Issue 20 Sukkot harvest &

A yearlong journey of kindness other events – page 3

BY DEBORAH MOON Parent ambassadors
In his first Rosh Hashanah ser- connect PJ Library
mon at Congregation Shaarie families – page 4
Torah, Rabbi Gary Ezra Oren
challenged congregants to per- PJA hires diversity
form 18,000 mitzvot or “regu-
lar acts of kindness” in 5782. consultant – page 4
“In our world, a little kindness
can really make someone’s day, BB Camp
and a lot of kindness can restore Congregation Shaarie Torah’s kindness webpage features videos concert
hope, joy and possibility,” says of President Joe Biden speaking about the need for acts of kind-
Rabbi Oren, who took the reins ness during a message about the High Holidays, and of Rabbi Gary and
of the 116-year-old Conserva- Owen issuing a kindness challenge to the congregation in his first barbecue
tive congregation July 1. Rosh Hashanah sermon since becoming Shaarie Torah rabbi. – page 5
“When I said 18,000 in 5782,
there was a ‘wow’ gasp in the the page. By Sept. 10, several COVID Corner: Hope,
sanctuary,” says the rabbi. “It’s Rabbi Stone also people had posted kindness
a lot, but it’s not that much for calls for kindness in acts. One teen picked up books required vaccines,
our whole community.” and supplies a schoolmate telehealth – page 6
The pandemic has limited dark times – page 11 dropped and said they could
in-person attendance at ser- tell that the person was having Shorts: Cafe at J
vices. On the first day of Rosh emailed all congregants. a really bad day, and it seemed
Hashanah, about 70 people The webpage notes: We’ve to help. Another congregant reopens; Restart
spread out in the sanctuary that all heard of Random Acts of smiled and complimented ev- kits for Afghans;
holds more than 700. About Kindness, but we want these eryone they saw in the grocery Survivor film talk;
315 streamed the services on to become part of the fabric of store. One person paid for the
the website with 150 clicking our everyday experience and coffee of the person in line be- Anti-Semitism Zoom
on the Facebook stream. So to to acknowledge the power of hind them at the drive-through. for teens – page 7
ensure all congregants know this work in the world, so we’re Rabbi Oren says he was in-
about the challenge, the con- choosing to call them Regu- spired to issue the challenge Grief Group – page 8
gregation is promoting it on its lar instead of Random.” because, “The world seems so
website at shaarietorah.org/reg- Everyone is encouraged to log uncertain and scary right now, History prize – page 8
ular-acts-of-kindness and has each regular act of kindness on See KINDNESS, page 3
Hillel and Repair the World team up Security Corner:
Time to prep for
BY DEBORAH MOON Oregon Hillel and PDX Hillel choice of six issue area-based emergencies – page 10
For the second year, Oregon both participated. This year, education cohorts – Environ-
Hillel will participate in the the program will support 150 mental Justice, Disability In- Rabbi's Corner: Rabbi
Repair Campus Corps Program college student corps members clusion/Justice, Racial Justice, Ariel Stone – page 11
from Repair the World and Hil- around the world to engage Food Justice, Housing Justice
lel International. their peers in service, civic en- and Education Justice. Starting Jobs board: Solomon
A press release notes that in gagement, Jewish learning and in October, each cohort will par-
year one, 100 Campus Corps social justice work during the ticipate in a four-part virtual ed- Schechter – page 12
Members from 96 local Hillels 2021-2022 school year. ucational series related to their
recruited 4,843 peers in service, Student Corps Members will issue area. The education series Obituaries: Cogan,
catalyzing 5,312 acts of service participate in a full-year cohort will introduce the topic and its Weinstein, Anchel,
and learning and contributing experience run by Hillel Interna- connection to Jewish values and
26,299 hours of service to part- tional with support from Repair Hersh – page 12
ner organizations. Last year, the World. Students will get their See CAMPUS CORPS, page 5