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Chaplain's Corner

Face What We Feel

BY RABBI BARRY COHEN cerning how to feel and express
Part of being a chaplain is emotions. Children rarely learn
spending time with people who this skill from their parents or
Published biweekly by are experiencing pain. Each their teachers. I have spent de-
Jewish Federation of person’s story is unique, yet cades learning how to articulate
Greater Portland they all share a range of emo- what I feel and how to express
9900 SW Greenburg Road, tions, from the subtle to the my own emotions.
intense.
A healthier approach is to
Suite 220 Many people try to contex- strive to face our emotions di-
Tigard, OR 97223 tualize or relativize what they rectly. We can do this by hav-
503-245-6219 are feeling. They try to down- ing sincere conversations with
JewishPortland.org play their circumstances. Here someone we trust. Or we can Rabbi Barry Cohen is the
are some typical words people write out our emotions. We can
facebook.com/JewishPDX have shared with me: record what we feel. We can ex- Jewish community chaplain of
instagram.com/ “I know others are suffering press what we feel through art. the Greater Portland area.
jewishfederationpdx/ more than I am.” (We need not be “an artist” to chaplain@jewishportland.org
“Other people have it worse.” create art.)
“Thank goodness one of my We need to resist the urge to we are grateful for that day. Pe-
Editor parents is still alive.” compare what we are feeling riodically, we can return to our
Deborah Moon “I really shouldn’t complain with what others are feeling or journal or our recordings and
editor@jewishportland.org too much because of what other experiencing. What we feel is reflect on all that is good in our
people are going through.”
what we feel. Full stop.
lives.
“I have it easy compared with Contextualizing or relativiz- This practice is not meant to
Circulation (insert group here, whether ing our emotions is counter- contextualize or relativize what
To receive the Jewish geographically close to home productive. After all, we can we feel. Rather, we can do this
or half-way around the globe).”
almost always find others in as a two-pronged effort. First,
Review in your email inbox, “At least I have my health.” worse circumstances than we we can devote time and energy
email your name and email “I’ve got a roof over my are, but comparing our reality to expressing “I feel this.” Then
address to head.” with theirs does not help us we can develop the daily prac-
editor@jewishportland.org People share these words for process our emotions and heal. tice to document “I am grateful
a variety of reasons. They may Part of this healing process for that.”
OPINIONS printed in the not know how to express what requires us to take an additional Healing is not easy. We often
Jewish Review do not they are feeling. They may be step: expressing gratitude. De- must push beyond our comfort
necessarily reflect those afraid to express what they veloping a gratitude practice is zones. But acquiring the skills
of the Jewish Review, feel. They may believe they do a healthy skill. We can devote to articulate our emotions and
the Jewish Federation not have permission to express the same time of day to artic- document sources of gratitude
what they feel. They may feel ulate one thing we are grateful creates a sense of “muscle
of Greater Portland, its guilty for what is positive or for: after lunch, during an af- memory.” In time, it will get
governing board or the staffs enjoyable in their lives. ternoon break or before we go easier and easier to express
of either the newspaper or Our society is not good at pro- to bed. We can write or record what we feel and to celebrate
the Federation. viding models or guidance con- just one person or experience sources of gratitude.

Next issues Jobs board CSP seeks volunteers
Cedar Sinai Park is looking for adults and high
The Jewish Review publishes job opening
Issue date Deadline from Jewish agencies and congregations, as school students to volunteer this fall.
Adult volunteers are needed:
well as other opening of possible interest to • Sundays and Tuesdays at Rose Schnitzer Manor
OCT. 12 OCT. 6 community members. Submit job openings for calling Bingo, from 1:30 to 3 pm
this column to editor@jewishportland.org. • Sundays and Wednesdays at Robison Jewish
OCT. 26 OCT. 20 Health Center calling Bingo, from 10:30 am to
JEWISH CAREER HUB 12:30 pm.
NOV. 9 NOV. 3 The Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Other volunteer opportunities include outings
hosts a job board for the ongoing listing of such as concerts and restaurants, playing games
NOV. 23 NOV. 17 job opportunities in the Jewish community. and reading, weeding and pruning, singing with
The job board currently features 11 Jewish job residents, Shabbat services, and other activities for
Submit photos, news and openings. residents in assisted living and long-term care.
Hours are flexible depending on the day and task
See full descriptions for all of the openings
obituaries to or submit job openings at jewishportland.org/ in which volunteers are interested. Please call Kim
editor@jewishportland.org ourcommunity/jewish-jobs. Hughes at 503-535-4005.
16 Jewish Review Sept. 7, 2022