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Rabbi’s corner FOUNTAINS (from page 1)

Shalom! (Goodbye/Hello) inside as sounds of gurgling wa- OJMCHE exhibit is dedicated
The feel of the outdoors comes moving landscape designs. The
BY RABBI thusiasm, I have ter flow through the space, and in her memory. See the video of
JOSHUA ROSE created an organi- wall hangings of water ripple as the talk at ojmche.org/calendar/
My role as Shaa- zation called Co/ the air moves through the room. recorded-events-2021.
rie Torah’s rabbi Lab: Growing “It hits the right chord with Anna also inspired Halprin’s
comes to an end Creative Jewish its ability to create wide open career choice, said Kenneth in
soon. With full Portland (www. space,” says OJMCHE Director a pre-opening tour of the exhib-
hearts, Channah colabpdx.org). Co/ Judy Margles. “We hope people it. Halprin was studying plant
and I can only say Lab will develop will come through and return to science when Anna took him
“thank you” to this events and conver- join a walking tour.” to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s
community and in sations that explore OJMCHE and AHC will offer studio and school Taliesin
particular the long- Rabbi Josh Rose the possibilities guided weekly walking tours East in Spring Grove, Wisc.
time and newer leads the Portland- of Jewish identity, of Portland’s first urban re- Two weeks later, Halprin was
members of Shaarie based Jewish startup foster creativity in newal project and the Halprin enrolled at Harvard studying
Torah for the way Co/Lab, set to launch the Jewish com- fountains in July and August landscape architecture.
you have supported in fall 2021. munity and prompt (tour dates and registration The exhibit includes a brief
us and our boys. engagement with will be posted at ojmche.org/ biography of Halprin, who
Rabbi Gary Oren significant issues of events/). Walking maps will was born in Brooklyn in 1916
will now lead my beloved, sto- public interest. We will do this also be available at the muse- and passed away in 2009. His
ried synagogue. A special rab- by sparking collaboration and um’s front desk for those who childhood was divided between
bi with a bright mind and big experimentation among Jewish want to explore on their own. New York and pre-state Israel,
heart, he brings us new energy Portlanders, artists, thinkers The fountains begin with The where he became a bar mitzvah
and ideas. Together with our and activists from across the Source, which evokes the ori- and helped found a kibbutz in
talented staff, headed by the city. Co/Lab will launch in late gin of a stream as it bubbles out the 1930s.
incredible Jemi Kostiner Man- summer/early fall, but you can of the ground before collecting But most of the exhibit focuses
sfield and a crop of young and go to the website now to learn and spilling over the “rocky” on Halprin’s relationship with
savvy leaders, Rabbi Oren will more and sign up for updates. slopes of the Lovejoy Foun- water and his inspirations for
lead Shaarie Torah into a prom- I join an already emerging tain. The terraced pools of the creating the Portland fountains.
ising future. Jewish world. The Eastside Ira Keller Forecourt Fountain The three large wall hangings
These past years were diffi- Jewish Commons has a fabu- invite people to cool their feet feature Halprin quotes about
cult for all of us: the virus, the lous site and a new executive in the water. water in cities. Halprin was
outrages of the Trump years, director, Cara Abrams; TischP- Guest curator Kenneth inspired by the great fountains
and national racial and political DX: Unaffiliated Jewish Lead- Helphand is the Philip H. of Europe and the public life
earthquakes. In my case, these ership Incubator, led by Eleyna Knight Professor of Landscape of Europe’s cities. The flow of
came together with profound Fugman, is lifting up the next Architecture Emeritus at the the fountains was inspired by
internal changes. I began to generation of Jewish leaders; University of Oregon. He says his hikes in mountains from the
feel that the person I needed to Rabbi Brian Mayer’s Religion his 45-year career in landscape Sierra Nevada to the Cascades
be and the work I needed to do Outside The Box connects architecture was inspired by and ranges in Europe.
couldn’t emerge while I was a people in new ways; and Shul- Halprin’s work. “Lovejoy Plaza is a place for
congregational rabbi. chanPDX, started by Rabbi “When I came to the North- events to happen,” says Ken-
Seeking an unbound, creative Steven Moskowitz, is injecting west in 1974, my first stop, neth. “He wanted people to en-
Jewish life, I was unsure exact- creativity and engagement into the first stop for any landscape gage with the fountains.”
ly what I was after. I reached the tradition. Finally, individu- architect, was the fountains,” Fortuitously, the city last
out to fellow travelers with a als all over the city are creating says Kenneth. “The fountains month turned on the water in the
similar yearning, meeting ulti- new modes of Jewish living – and open space project is the fountains in time for people to
mately with dozens of people. without asking this rabbi’s or project he is best known for; he enjoy this summer. Portland had
I asked each a question I had anyone else’s permission. is internationally known.” turned off the water to all public
asked myself: “What is the How special this Jewish com- The author of Lawrence Hal- fountains during the pandemic.
Jewish Portland you would munity is. Having grown up prin (part of the Masters of Kenneth is also the curator
make if you could wave a mag- here, I know we have what it Modern Landscape Design of the smaller exhibit in OJM-
ic wand?” These young, old, takes to tend to our roots while Series), Kenneth is considered CHE’s East Gallery. “Upon
gay, straight, queer folks, some new possibilities blossom. I one of the foremost authorities Thy Gates, The Elaine K. and
halachically Jewish, some not, hope you’ll join Co/Lab and on Halprin’s work. On May 25, Norman Winik Mezuzah Col-
some Jewish by association, others to seed our Jewish future, he presented a virtual lunch talk lection” debuted in the museum
made clear I was not alone, and even as we continue to support for the museum titled “Law- in 2018. Kenneth has converted
that Portland has an untapped our traditional institutions. rence Halprin: Touchstones and the exhibit to a traveling exhibit,
well of Jewish creativity. It is moving and fitting for me Innovation.” The morning of and the mounted mezuzot return
Where this would lead, I didn’t to close out life as a congrega- the talk, Halprin’s wife, chore- to OJMCHE June 23-Sept. 26.
know, but I kept hearing a voice tional rabbi in this city I love, ographer Anna Halprin, passed OJMCHE: ojmche.org, 724
saying, “I will not forgive you and profoundly exciting to join away. Kenneth says that you NW Davis St.
if you will not take the chance.” with you to discover what is to can see the choreographic in- Architectural Heritage Center:

Inspired by the ideas and en- come for all of us. See you soon! fluence Anna had on Halprin’s visitahc.org, 701 SE Grand Ave.
Jewish Review June 9, 2021 13