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Portlander cycles Israel for Life-cycle event

co-existence, environment Arnold & Elaine Cogan
Anniversary

Arnold and Elaine Cogan celebrate their 70
th
BY DEBORAH MOON wedding anniversary on Dec. 21, 2022.
Portlander Alan Bacharach cy- The couple have
cled 342 miles in five days to raise three children, all
funds to support the work of the of whom live in
Arava Institute for Environmental Portland, Mark (and
Studies, the premier environmen- wife, PJ) Cogan,
tal academic and research institute Sue (and husband,
in the region, and Hazon. Bob) Van Brock-
The Israel Ride was founded in lin and Leonard
2003 by the Arava Institute and Cogan. They have
Hazon, a U.S.-based Jewish en- six grandchildren:
vironmental organization. On this Elizabeth, Kate,
year’s Nov. 1-7 ride, participants Meg, Joshua, Annabelle and Rodrigo; and two
rode from Jerusalem to Eilat, with great-grandchildren, Jovie and Remy.
routes for beginner to advanced Arnold was originally from Bath, Maine,
cyclists. Riders had a Shabbat rest and Elaine was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Both
day in Mitzpe Ramon in the Negev of their families moved to Oregon when they
Desert. were young.
Bacharach exceeded his goal “Arnold and I met when we were juniors in
of $4,200 and had raised $5,803 high school – he at Grant, I at Lincoln – and
for the two organizations as of were married when we were juniors at Oregon
Dec. 15. The 2022 Israel Ride also State,” says Elaine.
exceeded its goal of a million dol- Their wedding ceremony was held at Con-
lars, raising $1,010,076. gregation Tifereth Israel, which later merged
“The Arava Institute was far into the synagogue that became Congregation
more impactful than I envi- Neveh Shalom. Elaine was the first wom-
sioned,” says Bacharach. “They an president of Neveh Shalom, and Arnold
do environmental research with Portlander Alan Bacharach, foreground, cycles became president of the congregation a few
field implementation – that’s through the Negev desert as part of the Israel Ride years later.
their purpose. The far grander to raise funds for the environment and co-exis- Arnold was the first statewide Director of
byproduct is Arabs and Israelis tence in Israel. Land Use Planning under Governor Tom
collaborating in the institute and with Israel,” says Bacharach. McCall, was a member of the Environmental
afterward, peacefully and even joyfully.” Bacharach says his favorite Arava proj- Quality Commission, and served as the first
The small student body is one-third Arab, ect was a black water (sewage) filtration executive director of Oregon’s Land Conser-
one-third Israeli and one-third foreign, box. “It filtered the sewage into usable ir- vation and Development Commission. He was
many of whom are American. The Arab rigation water, with no byproduct; sludge also the first planning director of the Port of
and Israeli students meet weekly to share was eaten by algae,” he says. “It’s being Portland. He was honored as Planner of the
their backgrounds and perceptions of field-tested now in the West Bank, a Bed- Year by the Oregon Chapter of the American
their societies. Many students and alumni ouin village in the Negev and in Jordan. Planning Association.
supported the cyclists, driving vans and An American intern has some experience Elaine served as editor of the Portland Jew-
providing food and other support. The cy- in project management, and she’s using ish Review and as president of the League of
clists and students/alumni also interacted her economics background to see if the Women Voters. Elaine is the author of You
often throughout the week. box can be built more economically.” Can Talk to (Almost) Anyone about (almost)
“It’s clear the students were very close Bacharach is a member of Congregation Anything, a Speaking Guide for Business and
friends who cared about each other, and Kesser Israel, the Jewish Federation of Professional People. She wrote a weekly
many were continuing professionally Greater Portland’s Israel Advocacy Com- column for The Oregonian for 15 years and
at improving the broader environment mittee and Oregon Jewish Community provided political commentary on local TV
around them – some with science, some Foundation’s Advisors’ group. He is on for several years. She was a close advisor
with society,” says Bacharach. “It’s build- the board of Israel21c.org. to various elected officials. Mother’s Bistro
ing much more than better use of methane This was the last year that funds from the named her a Mother of the Month, during
from decomposing matter (another Arava ride also benefited Hazon, which this year which it shared some of her favorite recipes.
project).” merged with the Pearlstone Retreat Cen- In addition to their independent careers, the
two served many clients through the consult-
One of the alumni who spoke with cy- ter. While the new organization maintains ing firm they cofounded. Elaine and Arnold
clists was Dr. Amer Sweity, who was an a commitment to Israel, the Israel Ride is have always been very active in community
undergraduate at the Arava Institute and no longer a focus of Hazon’s ongoing ef- affairs through the Oregon Jewish Museum
then became the first Jordanian to receive forts to promote sustainability within the and Center for Holocaust Education and the
a doctorate from an Israeli university Jewish community. Portland City Club. Even in their retirement,
(Ben Gurion University). For more information on Arava, visit they remain engaged in community activities,
“He was working with the Jordanian arava.org/. Bacharach’s page for the ride and are patrons of the performing arts. Mazel
ministry of agriculture on a joint project is give.israelride.org/fundraiser/3644389. tov to the Cogans!
Jewish Review Dec. 21, 2022 7