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Chaplain's Corner REOPENING (from page 1) Reed College profes-
sor Laura Leibman,
left, and Jewish
Buber to the Rescue shows that fully vaccinated people are unlikely to become Genealogical Society
infected or to spread COVID-19, which has led states,
of Oreon acting pres-
counties and businesses to lift their mask requirements –
ident Janice Sellers
BY RABBI BARRY COHEN We experience the “I-Thou” but those mask requirements have not been lifted across will present sessions
in relationships: with art, mu- the board, so it’s inevitable there will be some discomfort at 41st Annual IAJGS
When I was a congregational sic, nature, people … or any and confusion. Conference Aug. 1-5.
rabbi in the Chicago suburbs, combination. Now that Oregon no longer will require masks or social
our synagogue had a clearly Two locals tapped for international
Published biweekly by defined ritual within the bar/bat I primarily experience the distancing at all, it might feel hard to adjust back to “nor-
going maskless or feel judged for continuing to wear a Jewish genealogy conference
Jewish Federation of mitzvah ceremony: immediate- “I-Thou” through music. Some- mal” life. Ruth says that if you are still uncomfortable
Greater Portland ly after I shared personal words times, when I am listening to
9900 SW Greenburg Road, with the youth, the cantor and the melody and/or the lyrics mask, you should let yourself ease into things. Check in Reed College professor Laura Ar- Dr. Leibman will also speak on
with your loved ones about how they feel about masks at
Suite 220 I would seamlessly transition of Charles Mingus, Thelonius gatherings and stay open minded. nold Leibman has been selected to “Jews of Color in Early America”
Tigard, OR 97223 to Birkat Cohanim, the Priestly Monk, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, If you’re vaccinated, even if you do catch COVID-19, it present four talks for the 41st Annu- on Aug. 5. Two prerecorded ses-
B.B. King or Pearl Jam, there is
503-245-6219 Benediction. This blessing is “lost time.” I can only describe is unlikely that you’ll even show symptoms. al IAJGS International Conference sions will feature Professor Leib-
JewishPortland.org divided into three parts; after it that way because I remember Right now and in the near future, unvaccinated people on Jewish Genealogy. Janice M. man speaking on “Early Jewish
the cantor chanted each part, I I was following the music, but Rabbi Barry Cohen is the are the most vulnerable. Sellers, acting president of the Jew- Philadelphia” and “The Secret Lan-
Editor would offer a translation. then I become aware of a gap. Jewish community chaplain of A more transmissible variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, ish Genealogical Society of Oregon guage of Early Jewish American
and a professional genealogist, has Portraits.”
For each ceremony, I would
Deborah Moon ready myself for our call For no explainable reason, I the Greater Portland area. called Delta, has already appeared in Oregon. The Delta been selected to present two talks. A book award judge’s description
editor@jewishportland.org and response/Hebrew-English could not recall a few seconds awareness to what else could variant first appeared in India and has swept across the The 2021 International Associa- of Dr. Leibman’s award-wining
UK. Delta seems to be about 60% more transmissible than
503-892-7404 (message) interchange. I loved hearing of melody or a line of lyrics. be possible. I realize that my the variants we’ve seen before, and early data suggests it tion of Jewish Genealogical Soci- book, The Art of the Jewish Family:
the cantor’s voice, filled with At first when I became aware sensory, perceiving, thinking can cause more severe illness in unvaccinated people – or eties All-Virtual Conference will be A History of Women in Early New
Circulation emotion and passion. During of these gaps, I was concerned. and feeling existence is not my people who received only the first dose of either of the Aug. 1-5, 2021. York in Five Objects, can be found
To receive the Jewish one bar mitzvah, I experienced But then I looked forward to only possible existence. two-dose vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna. Dr. Leibman is the author of sev- on the Jewish Book Council web-
Review in your email inbox, something unexpected. As the them. When I learned of Martin One can relate the “I-Thou” It’s still too early to say how this new variant will affect eral books including The Art of the site, jewishbookcouncil.org.
email your name and email cantor chanted the first part of Buber’s theology, I even wel- to the afterlife. I try not to COVID-19 restrictions in Oregon, but one thing is clear: Jewish Family, which won three Sellers presents two on-demand re-
address to Birkat Cohanim, I went some- comed them. dwell too much on “the world unvaccinated people are more vulnerable to any variant National Jewish Book Awards, and corded talks: “But It Wasn’t a Foreign
editor@jewishportland.org where. I can’t describe it. I After I have an “I-Thou” to come.” I would rather direct of the COVID-19 virus. Recent reports show that the vast Once We Were Slaves: The Extraor- Language to Your Ancestors” and
cannot find words to capture experience, I am different. I my energy, time, creativity and majority of deaths from COVID-19 are among unvacci- dinary Journey of a Multi-Racial “Online Doesn’t Mean Free: Copy-
OPINIONS printed in the it. I did not return until after have gotten out of my crowd- emotions to the here and now. nated people. Jewish Family, forthcoming in Au- right Issues for Genealogy.”
ed head. I have escaped my
Jewish Review do not the cantor chanted the second needs. I have made some kind That being said, the fact that I If you have loved ones who are vaccine-hesitant, there gust of 2021. You can learn more The special tracks at this year’s
necessarily reflect those part of the blessing. I quickly of connection with that which have repeatedly experienced are ways to talk to them about getting vaccinated. about her work at lauraleibman.com. IAJGS Conference are Early Jewish
Sellers is related to actor Peter Settlers of the Americas, Innovative
of the Jewish Review realized I was back, offered the is beyond me, greater than me the “I-Thou” makes me curious “The most convincing thing to say is ‘I care about you, Sellers and John of Gaunt, son Methodology, Keepers of the Shoah
Committee, the Jewish translation and continued with and yet part of me. about what may exist beyond and I want you to be safe,’” Ruth says. of a king and father of a king. At Memory, Beginners Research, DNA
the fleeting, measurable, quan-
the ceremony.
Federation of Greater I had experienced what Martin Buber teaches that we ex- tifiable years that I call my life. If they have questions about the vaccine, help steer them least that’s what her grandparents Insights for Genealogy, and Heri-
Portland, its governing Buber would call an “I-Thou” perience “God” through the The “I-Thou” also helps me toward reliable sources such as the CDC or the Oregon told her. Unfortunately, they were tage and Cultural Materials.
board or the staffs of either relationship. Such relationships “I-Thou” relationship. For Bu- navigate everyday stresses, Health Authority, which has a lot of resources about vac- wrong, but that’s why she has re- Registration and conference pro-
cine safety.
the newspaper or the are beyond words, time, articu- ber, God is not some external, strains, worries and pains. I re- And if that doesn’t work, sometimes these situations searched her family for 46 years gram details are posted on the
Federation. lation or explanation. separated, independently exist- alize that this experience is not require an ultimatum, Ruth says. “Want to see the grand- and now is a professional genealo- conference website: iajgs2021.org.
The opposite of the “I-Thou” ing entity. Rather, God is in rela- the only possible experience. kids? Come to this party? You have to get vaccinated.” gist who helps others find the right Ongoing information and questions
tionship. Therefore, the experi-
Upcoming is the “I-It.” The latter is quanti- ence of God is dependent on our I realize that through relation- nation rate (preschoolers are too young to receive the vac- pieces to fit their genealogy puzzles. will also be posted on the IAJGS
Foundation School staff and parents have a good vacci-
She specializes in Jewish, Black conference discussion at facebook.
ships, there is an existence
fiable and explainable. Waiting
issues in line to purchase groceries is experience with the other. We beyond time, words or explana- cine currently). So for now, the preschool will continue to and dual citizenship research. You com/groups/IAJGS.
cannot experience God alone.
can read more on her website ances-
The IAJGS is an umbrella orga-
tion that is transformative and
an “I-It” experience. Making a
require masks indoors, Wilson says. She is optimistic that
In the aftermath of my having
Issue date Deadline doctor’s appointment is an “I- an “I-Thou” experience, I am transcendent. everyone will feel comfortable someday going maskless, traldiscoveries.com. nization of more than 93 Jewish
genealogical societies worldwide.
On Aug. 2, Dr. Leibman will pres-
It” experience.
The “I-Thou” reduces my
but she also understands that the transition period might
The “I-It” is transactional. a better person. I feel hopeful, stresses, worries and fears, be hard for some. ent the Lucille Gudis Memorial It coordinates and organizes activ-
July 21 July 15 The “I-Thou” is transcendent. grounded and secure, having and gives me resiliency, hope “We have real people, real children, and they’re showing Lecture, speaking on “The Art of ities such as its annual International
We need both to function in a escaped my rational, sensory, and reassurance. This definite- me that it’s not just the science that gets us out of this,” the Jewish Family.” Conference on Jewish Genealogy
and provides a unified voice as the
The conference will feature lives-
Aug. 4 July 29 society. But Buber would argue logical, feeling, perceiving ly has helped me navigate our Wilson says. tream presentations as well as more spokesperson on behalf of its mem-
that without the “I-Thou,” we self. Though these experienc-
pandemic and post-pandemic
Just like we came together to stave off the virus, we will
are not fully human. es are fleeting, they open my world. come together to get through the transition and move for- than 100 prerecorded, on-demand bers.
Aug. 18 Aug. 12 ward to a new normal. videos, both available for 60 days The IAJGS’s vision is of a world-
after the conference ends. Sessions wide network of Jewish genea-
Sept. 1 Aug. 26 Rabbi's Corner JoAnna Wendel is the lead communications consultant will cover virtually every aspect of logical research organizations and
The Jewish Review offers space for a Rabbi's Corner each issue. Our for the Congregation Neveh Shalom COVID-19 Outreach Jewish genealogy and research. partners working together as one
“Based on the successful full vir-
coherent, effective and respected
Submit news, photos community's rabbis are invited to share their thoughts on the week's parsha or and Services team. Funded by the Oregon Health Author- tual format last year as well as un- community, enabling people to suc-
ity, CNSCOS is tasked with helping limit the spread of
and obituaries by the current events. The Oregon Board of Rabbis organized the project. COVID-19 by providing services and timely information certainty with COVID, we are again ceed in researching Jewish ancestry
Rabbis are invited to schedule a date to submit a 500- to 600-word piece.
moving to an all-virtual conference and heritage. Find the IAJGS at
issue deadline to For more information or to schedule a column, email editor@jewishportland.org. to the Jewish communities of Multnomah, Washington and with many exciting interactive com- iajgs.org and facebook.com/
editor@jewishportland.org Clackamas counties. ponents,” says chair Judi Missel. iajgsjewishgenealogy.
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