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Historic Intro to Judaism class goes hybrid

BY DEBORAH MOON er record-breaking term for enrollment,” in the Stampfer Chapel at Congregation
This fall’s 18-week Introduction to Juda- she adds. “I am preparing to offer classes Neveh Shalom. Rabbi Mel Young will
ism class taught by members of The Ore- in person while still retaining the Zoom teach The Hebrew Calendar on Aug. 26
gon Board of Rabbis will be offered as a option for those who need it. It’s going to and The High Holy Days: History and
hybrid class for the first time. The format take extra equipment to bring the Zoom Observance on Sept. 2. Rabbi Mel retired
offers the best of both worlds – in-per- option to in-person classes, as we meet at in 2010 after 36 years as a public-school
son connections and a virtual option that different synagogue locations each week. educator in southern California and then
eliminates geographic and transportation Of course, I’m keeping an eye on the news earned his master of rabbinic studies and
barriers. and feel prepared to return to virtual class- received ordination at the Academy for
Normally held at rotating Portland area es only should we return to lockdown (God Jewish Religion, California, in 2017. He
synagogues, the class shifted to Zoom on forbid!).” and his wife, Linda, relocated to Portland
March 19, 2020, to finish the spring semes- The collaboratively taught class has a long in March 2019. He taught the Hebrew Cal-
ter when the governor issued stay-home history in Portland. In the 1960s, Orthodox endar session in January 2020 but did not
orders in response to COVID. The class Rabbi Yonah Geller, z”l, of Congregation teach while the program was all virtual.
was held virtually for the fall 2020 and Shaarie Torah, Conservative Rabbi Josh- Rabbi Mel says he looks forward to the
spring 2021 terms – and enrollment soared. ua Stampfer, z”l, of Congregation Neveh hybrid format “so as many as possible can
Spring of 2021 had more students than had Shalom and Reform Rabbi Emanuel Rose, connect with the program.”
ever enrolled in the decades-old program. z”l, of Congregation Beth Israel formed the JoAnn says the hybrid model is very pop-
This fall, the OBR plans to offer classes in Oregon Board of Rabbis and established ular with students.
person and online via Zoom 7-9 pm, Thurs- the community “Introduction to Judaism” “Even prior to COVID, I had several re-
days, Aug. 26-Jan. 6. class for potential converts – both unusual quests for a remote option for students, but
“We are planning to meet in Stampfer examples of collaboration among different the OBR had resisted as Judaism is a rela-
Chapel, so long as indoor attendance streams of Judaism. tional community,” says JoAnn. “However,
safety guidelines do not change,” says The current 18-week course continues to with COVID, we didn’t get a choice. It was
OBR administrator and class facilitator be taught by OBR members representing a either virtual community or no community
JoAnn Bezodis. “I am expecting around variety of Jewish affiliations. While not a at all. Since having the virtual experience,
50 students to join in person, with up to conversion class, most OBR members still it’s going to be difficult, if not impossible,
30 joining online. We strongly encourage consider it a prerequisite for students be- to remove that option as expectations have
in-person attendance for new students, so ginning study for conversion. The carefully changed.”
most of the online students are returning constructed curriculum includes Jewish To join the class in person or virtually,
from a previous term, or they have oth- history, life-cycle events, holidays, ritual register online at oregonboardofrabbis.org/
er reasons keeping them from in-person and daily practice, theology, study of Torah introduction-to-judaism-class/ or con-
attendance.” and contemporary Jewish America. tact JoAnn at 971-248-5465 or by email
“So far, it looks like this fall will be anoth- The first two hybrid classes will be held at info@oregonboardofrabbis.org.

HALPRIN (from previous page)

Journal, “Halprin designed the Ida Crown Plaza at the
Israel Museum entrance and the entry promenade. His
desire was ‘to establish the same quality of stepping up
the hillside that the buildings of the museum accomplish
so successfully … (T)he water in the plaza should have
the quality of a source like a spring welling from a cave
(Notebook 16, 1966).’ Within the plaza, water appears and
disappears as it does in the mostly arid terrain of Israel.”
In honor of his mother who served two terms as pres-
ident of Hadassah, Halprin also worked on the master
plan, courtyards and a fountain for the Hadassah Medical
Center. The fountain was an elegant square of pink lime-
stone leading to broad steppingstones that flow into a large LAWRENCE HALPRIN, FOUNTAINS
square pool with a single jet of water (Halprin 1963, 157).
In the decades since, the institution has grown dramatical- “Lawrence Halprin, Fountains” celebrates Portland’s "Open Space Se-
ly, and little remains of his original design. quence," a reinvention of public space in the city’s first urban renewal
Kenneth says the connection between Halprin’s designs district. Most of the exhibit focuses on Halprin’s relationship with water
in Portland and Israel is how you respond to being in a and his inspirations for creating the Portland fountains. Guest curator
particular place. Kenneth Helphand is the Philip H. Knight Professor of Landscape Archi-
“The centerpiece of the Haas promenade is (that) it is tecture Emeritus at the University of Oregon.
a response to being in this extraordinary location,” says WHERE: Main Gallery of Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Ho-
Kenneth. It’s “one of the great views of the world” that locaust Education, 724 NW Davis St., Portland
people respond to irrespective if you have any religious WHEN: 11 am-4 pm, Wednesday-Saturday, through Sept. 26, 2021
connection but certainly “if you’re Jewish, Muslim or ADMISSION: Adults: $8; students and seniors: $5; members and chil-
Christian, you’re looking at the most sacred landscape for dren under 12: free
all three faiths.” INFORMATION: ojmche.org or info@ojmche.org
Jewish Review Aug. 4, 2021 3