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CSP’s Our Stories
During its celebration of 100 years of serving Jewish Portland’s
elders, Cedar Sinai Park is sharing 100 stories of people who live,
work and volunteer on the senior campus. The following excerpt
from the most recent story is about a teenage culinary server at
Rose Schnitzer Manor. cedarsinaipark.org/our-stories.
Thanking Miles Wells

BY ARLENE LAYTON first time he’s “shared connec-
Theodore Seuss Geisel (Dr. tions with elders,” as he puts
Suess) and our Rose Schnitzer it. Miles was extraordinarily
Manor Culinary Department close to his grandparents. Miles Kohanim Manny Cohen and Allen Kenner bless the community.
associate Miles Wells share has his heart set on becoming a
exuberant outlooks and imagi- professional therapist working Havurah Shir Hadash
native minds. Each exudes joy. with seniors.
Once you get be- Excerpt from Miles’ celebrates 36 years
yond the athletic stat- college application
ure, shining millenni- essay:
al hair and megawatt My job at Rose The Havurah Synagogue in
Tom Cruise smile, Schnitzer Manor has Ashland recently celebrated its
th
you realize this given me a second 36 anniversary as well as the
th
18-year-old is go- home in the past year. 25 anniversary of Rabbi David
ing somewhere and I’ve worked as a serv- Zaslow serving as the spiritual
already has a no- er for about 20 hours leader of the community.
tion of where he’ll a week since January “Twenty-five and 36 are sa-
land. He’s on his way as Seuss and worked full time in the cred numbers in Judaism,”
would say. summer. While working, my says Rabbi David. “It was 36
The seniors of RSM relish grandmother was battling ALS. years ago that Rabbi Aryeh Rabbi David Zaslow
interacting with Miles. Arthur This was both incredibly chal- Hirschfield, z”l, organized Ha-
Ginsburg cites the server for his lenging and transformative, but vurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, who turned into a rabbi.
calm. “Miles never gets excited, the experience of working at an which has since blossomed into Maggidah Cyrise and Stefan
and he’s very good at dealing assisted-living community was a 135-member synagogue.” Schachter added to the cele-
with people with cognitive or my saving grace. ALS took my July 16 was an extraordinary bration with song. The evening
other problems,” the 92-year-old grandma’s life and experienc- evening of sharing reflections culminated with Kohanim
says of the teen. “He’s always so ing her degeneration while see- and memories – and especially Manny Cohen and Allen Ken-
pleasant,” says Jane S. “He does ing the same thing happening honoring Rabbi Zaslow for all ner blessing Rabbi David, Jon-
a great job and is a pleasure to to some of the residents I loved he has given over these many nie and everyone present with
look at.” Sonia Liberman is at the Rose Schnitzer changed years and all that he continues the ancient Priestly Blessing
perhaps closest to Miles. “He’s my perspective. Instead of see- to give the community with his and a beautiful song written by
wonderful!” she declares. “I ing people who in some cases leadership, wisdom and teach- Maggid Jhos Singer based on
love this boy. He always has couldn’t get themselves out of ings. There were tears of joy that blessing.
time for a word or two.” bed or remember what their and laughter as one speaker af- “Reb Aryeh has given Oregon
Miles is now off to Illinois mother’s name was, I saw ter another shared what was in a special gift with his music, his
to enter Lake Forest College, beautiful lives tarnished by a their heart. presence and Jewish Renewal
a private liberal arts school. “I diagnosis like my grandma’s. Maggidah Ayala Zonnen- approach to deep spirituality,”
don’t want to be educated at This motivated me to treat all schein served as master of says Rabbi David, noting that
the loss of my heart,” he tells of the residents as I would have ceremonies for the evening. 10 years after founding Ha-
me. Rose Schnitzer is not the liked my grandma to be treated. Speakers included the mayor vurah Shir Hadash, the rabbi
of Ashland, Mayor Julie Akins; moved to Portland and founded
Beth Israel opens doors as cooling center Rabbi Julie of Temple Emek P’nai Or of Portland.
On Aug. 12, when temperatures reached 103, Congregation Beth Shalom in Ashland; Daniel “It was so special to celebrate
Israel hosted a cooling center for the guests of Rose Haven Day Greenblatt, founding member our 36th birthday with mem-
Shelter for Women and Children. Many of the women coming to and council president; and Jon- bers and friends of our com-
Rose Haven for assistance are unsheltered and live on the streets nie Zheutlin, long-time mem- munity, both in person (before
th
in NW Portland. The COVID pandemic has limited Rose Haven’s ber who celebrated her 95 the Delta variant hit us all) and
ability to provide indoor services. birthday in August and moved on Zoom,” he adds. “L’chaim,
Beth Israel opened Goodman Hall from 5 to to live with her daughter in to another 36, and then 36 be-
8 pm offering guests (including Candy Cane, Portland. It was a perfect op- yond that!”
pictured here) respite from the heat, cold drinks, portunity to honor Jonnie with It was an event that will live
a light supper and the opportunity to social- a beautiful blessing from Rab- long in the memories of all who
ize. COVID precautions were in place. bi David. Rebbitzen Devorah were part of it, both physically
Rose Haven, Community Organizations Action Zaslow shared a humorous es- and virtually. Part of the eve-
in Disaster Management, the Portland Bureau of say she wrote many years ago ning was captured on film and is
Emergency Management and Multnomah County supported this about being the wife of a jazz available on YouTube: youtube.
effort. Each had representatives on site to assist CBI volunteers. club owner/poet-in-the-schools com/watch?v=TNjs7KSp8RY
Jewish Review Sept. 1, 2021 5