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People and Arts & Culture, such as the ORA Chanukah Art Fair, offered in concert with national partners continue. And most up-
are returning to the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. But the coming cultural programs will offer a virtual option for those who
J is also drawing on lessons from pandemic life. Virtual programs live far away or who ar not comfortable with in-person interactions.
The future is in person, online and hybrid

BY DEBORAH MOON same name, “A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff.”
In-person arts and culture programs are returning to the Mittle- The pandemic has also emphasized the reality that the MJCC can
man Jewish Community Center, but the J continues to draw on the serve a much wider geographic area. As the only JCC between
pandemic’s lessons of virtual offerings and partnerships to expand Seattle and the Bay area, the MJCC is where people across Oregon
access to programs. and SW Washington look for Jewish cultural programs.
“A lot of national and international partnerships with JCCs have A grant of $5,000 from the Oregon Cultural Trust will help to
helped us bring tons of programs to our community,” says Arts and expand the MJCC’s Israel Film Series by bringing Israeli films to
Culture Manager Lenny Steinberg. “It’s allowed us access to pro- audiences across the state through onsite and virtual film screen-
grams and celebrities we could not have brought to our community ings and talkbacks with directors, actors and/or producers. The
even pre-pandemic.” film series will launch in February or March 2022 and present six
For instance, a “Book Fest in Your Living Room” presented in to eight films over eight months.
partnership with the JCC of Atlanta featured authors such as Mi- “We are looking to show films in Corvallis, Bend, Lincoln City,
chael J. Fox. The J still plans to offer an author series on cam- Ashland and Vancouver, Wash., as well as on the campus here,”
pus beginning in January, but it won’t be able to bring in such says Lenny. “Films will be showcased in one location but will be
high-profile celebrities. offered virtually, as well.”
He says virtual programs that have remained popular throughout “All this was possible two years ago, but most organizations
the pandemic include the “Still Traveling” series that offers guided didn’t use the technology and the ideas,” he says. “I have been
virtual tours around the world. A wine-tasting tour of Spain even in the JCC world over 10 years, and this is the most collaborative
included wine shipped to registrants before the program so they time between JCCs. This is what COVID has done for the better.”
could taste as well as see the wines. As a result of the worldwide JCC partnerships, Portlanders will
“Despite Zoom fatigue, there is still a lot of promise in this virtual be able to join Ukrainian Jews virtually for blessings, candle-light-
world,” says Lenny. “We are trying to move to a time when any ing and a short interactive program on the first night of Chanukah.
program we host on campus can also be attended virtually. We’ve The program will be Nov. 28 – 10:30 in the morning in Portland,
received a number of grants to create a seamless streaming model.” but on the first night of Chanukah in Ukraine.
So, when the MJCC hosts Portland poet, musician and Torah “This wouldn’t have happened a couple years ago,” says Lenny.
teacher Alicia Jo Rabins for a live event at 6:30 pm, Dec. 22, the For more information on the Chanukah program and other
J’s new technology will enable people to attend in person or virtu- in-person and virtual arts and culture programs, contact Lenny
ally. The talk and performance will include a 15-minute clip from at Lsteinberg@oregonjcc.org or visit oregonjcc.org/arts-culture/
the feature-length film based on Rabins’ one-woman show of the upcoming-events.

Find, create Jewish experiences with DIY Jewish Network

An ambitious new platform will curate just how deeply people want personally engaging partner content throughout the Net-
the vast array of online Jewish engagement meaningful Jewish experiences,” says Al- work. This will include customizable DIY
opportunities and provide user-friendly, iza Kline, President and CEO of OneTable, toolkits for Jewish rituals and other activities.
customizable toolkits so that Jewish ex- the national nonprofit whose tech platform • A series of topic sites managed by or-
periences are findable and accessible to helps people create and share powerful ganizational partners with expertise in that
anyone, anywhere. Led by Haggadot.com Shabbat gatherings. “Collaborating with area of Jewish life will offer curated and
in strategic partnership with OneTable, the Haggadot.com on the DIY Jewish Network developed content that best meets the needs
DIY Jewish Network will leverage the ex- unlocks vast possibilities to help more peo- of their audiences.
pertise and technological know-how of both ple both find what they want and customize • A series of local sites will provide this
organizations on a national scale to reach toolkits and rituals that are right for them technology for websites of small communi-
audiences and communities. The platform is and their communities.” ties such as synagogues, camps, JCCs and
supported with a Reset Grant from the Jew- The DIY Jewish Network will support Hillels, so clergy and educators can curate
ish Community Response and Impact Fund. people in three key ways: content for their local members in a more
“The innovations in the last 20 months • A central database will be a wayfinder, intimate setting.
affirmed the power of connections and curator, and promoter of the most exciting, Continued on next page
2 Jewish Review Nov. 24, 2021