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Sign gun violence prevention petitions at home

Supporters are hopeful that an interfaith, After the high school shooting in Park- on gathering signatures at street fairs and
statewide drive will succeed in putting two land, Fla., in 2018, the group began work other large gatherings, which are still in
gun violence prevention initiatives on Ore- on an initiative petition to get gun violence short supply, as well as the need to send
gon’s November 2022 state ballot. prevention on the state ballot. But they people door to door.
About a decade ago, a group of Portland- didn’t have enough time to get on that To appear on the ballot, the petitions need
area clergy began to gather for prayer vigils year’s ballot, so they started again aiming about 140,000 signatures from registered
after mass shootings at schools, Clackamas for the 2020 ballot. Oregon voters by July 2022.
Mall, a theater, and other places. “Then the pandemic hit, and we paused,” These measures will (1) ban manufacture,
“I for one was getting angrier and angrier says Rabbi Cahana. “We did not want to sales, imports and transfers of semiauto-
with a sense of hopelessness that nothing put people in danger to collect signatures.” matic assault weapons and high-capacity
was changing,” says Congregation Beth Is- Now Rabbi Cahana is one of three chief magazines in Oregon; and (2) require a
rael Senior Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana. “We petitioners on the two gun violence preven- background check and safety training to
came to the conclusion that prayer vigils tion initiative petitions that are circulating be completed before a permit is issued to
were insufficient; we could not stand idly for possible inclusion on this fall’s ballot. purchase a gun.
by while our neighbors were bleeding. We Because of a new option for signing peti- Rabbi Cahana emphasizes signing the
had to take action.” tions, he is hopeful they will succeed. petition is NOT voting to support the mea-
“Lift Every Voice Oregon,” an interfaith Because of the pandemic, the secretary sures – it simply enables the initiative to
grassroots organization, grew out of that of state has allowed people to download a appear on the ballot and to allow it to be a
conviction. sign-from-home, single-signature petition. public conversation.
“We had connections with churches, syn- People can mail signed petitions to Lift The complete text of the initiatives and
agogues and mosques all over the state,” he Every Voice Oregon for inclusion in the sign-at-home instructions and forms are
says. signature count. That reduces the reliance available at lifteveryvoiceoregon.com.
Obituaries
Submit obituaries to: editor@jewishportland.org

HELEN A. BERNSTEIN (Charlotte) Tevet. She also is survived by (Doug Strohl) Buchwalter, Andrew (Kate
Helen Ann Bernstein, z”l, passed away her husband, Marty Rosenberg; sister Sarah Rowe) Buchwalter, and Charles (Lisa)
Feb. 17, 2022, at age 76, in Portland. (Ira) Korman; children, Eli (Amy), Alanna Buchwalter; eight grandchildren; and six
She is survived by her beloved son, Niall (Joe) and Joey (Maya); and grandchildren, great-grandchildren.
Monaghan; daughter-in-law, Coco Cioroiu; Mira, Aliza, Leor and Levi. The funeral was Feb. 20 at Ahavai Sha-
and grandson, Declan; sisters, Gertrude She was born April 13, 1952, in Portland lom Cemetery.
Bernstein, Shirley Bernstein and Joan Rea; to Albert and Alegre Tevet, Holocaust sur-
and a brother-in-law, Ed McVicker. Her vivors and part of a tiny remnant of the MARY KATHLEEN JOHNSTON
brother, Edmond Bernstein preceded her in Greek Jewish community that survived the Mary Kathleen Johnston, z”l, passed
death. She also leaves nieces and nephews Holocaust. away Feb. 16, 2022. Mary is loved and
in Seattle, Florida and Portland. Matilda went to Israel during the 1973 remembered by her husband of 50 years,
She was born April 3, 1945, in Philadel- Yom Kippur War to work on an agricultural Phil Johnston; and her three daughters and
phia to Minnie and Nathan Bernstein, the kibbutz while workers were off defending their families, Congregation Neveh Sha-
youngest of five children. She graduated Israel. After six months she traveled with lom members Anne Johnston and Sam Sil-
from Girls’ High in Philadelphia and West a longtime Portland friend to Crete, where verberg (Benny, Ella, Ava and Miles), and
Chester State College. She lived in Wash- they slept in a cave and were awaken by a Maura and Phil Bellaria (Mary Catherine,
ington, D.C.; Plainfield, N.J.; Korea; New herd of goats and their tinkling bells. Jaqueline and John), and Shannon Johnston
York City; and Portland. Upon her return, she met, fell in love and (Riley).
Her life in NYC was filled with work, married Marty. They settled in Kansas City. Burial is at Good Shepherd Cemetery in
friends, family, dance, theater and love. The funeral was Feb. 28. A shiva minyan Huntington Beach, Calif.
She moved to Portland in 1996. Hel- will be held via Zoom on March 6 at 5:30 BARRY HORWITZ
en’s work life was dedicated to seniors. pm. Contact Congregation Shaarie Torah Barry Horwitz, z”l, passed away Feb. 15,
In NYC she worked in the Senior Pro- for the Zoom link. 2022, at the age of 74, in Carpenteria, Ca-
grams at Marymount College and at the lif. He is loved and remembered by his sis-
92nd Street Y. In Portland, she was Ex- EGHBAL ROSTAMIAN ter, Congregation Neveh Shalom member
ecutive Director of Store to Door, a non- Eghbal Rostamian, z”l, passed away Addie (Bruce) Banasky.
profit that shops for and delivers food Feb. 21, 2022, at age 94. He is loved and
to seniors and people with disabilities. remembered by his wife, Behjat; children, Judaism's wisdom on death
Donations may be made to Store to Door, Congregation Neveh Shalom member Explore how Judaism provides a path
Cedar Sinai Park in Portland, or a place of Mojgan (Doug Edwards) Rostamian, Eli both for the person who is dying, and for
your choosing. Rostamian, Shahan Rostamian and Fariba those who love them: March 10: Jewish
(Mark) Mutschler; and four grandchildren. rituals to help us prepare ourselves and our
MATILDA ROSENBERG loved ones for death, Community Chaplain
Matilda Rosenberg, z”l, Mazel bat Avram, MARIANNE BUCHWALTER Rabbi Barry Cohen.
passed away Feb. 25, 2022, in Overland Marianne Buchwalter, z”l, passed away March 31: Jewish grieving & beliefs in the
Park, Kansas. She was the beloved sister of Feb. 17, 2022, at age 97. Marianne is loved afterlife, Rabbi Eve Posen, Neveh Shalom.
Congregation Shaarie Torah member Isaac and remembered by her children, Juliet Register: forms.gle/kVLgwJAgBzPpKgX68
16 Jewish Review March 2, 2022