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• Secret history of Jewish Portland revealed

  April 25, 2013 4:18pm

  Last weekend the Jewish community of Portland, Oregon threw itself a big party. The Food for Thought festival organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland sought to strengthen community identity, bring unaffiliated into the fold and collect food for the Oregon Food Bank, a local charity. It was also an opportunity to showcase the…

• The Birthright Israel flip side: Fewer high school students traveling to Israel

  April 17, 2013 3:47pm

  Birthright Israel has brought hundreds of thousands of young Jews to Israel, but some say the program’s adverse impact on longer-term trips for high schoolers to the Jewish state must be addressed. JTA’s Gil Shefler reports.

• Hillel head Wayne Firestone named president of Genesis Prize Foundation

  April 17, 2013 2:18pm

  Wayne Firestone, the head of Hillel, was named president of the Genesis Prize Foundation.

• In aftermath of Boston Marathon bombings, Israeli Independence Day fetes are toned down

  April 16, 2013 7:24pm

  Israeli Independence Day celebrations in Boston were muted and security was increased in the wake of bombings that left three dead and dozens injured at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

• Suburban N.Y. synagogue nixes Pamela Geller appearance

  April 11, 2013 5:08pm

  The Great Neck Synagogue in suburban New York canceled a planned appearance by Islam critic Pamela Geller, citing security concerns.

• Honoring Jimmy Carter proves to be no problem for Yeshiva U. journal

  April 11, 2013 5:02pm

  Former President Jimmy Carter accepted an award from the Yeshiva University law school’s journal, despite protests from pro-Israel supporters.

• Leonard Lauder gifting $1 billion in artwork to N.Y.’s Metropolitan Museum

  April 10, 2013 2:32pm

  Businessman Leonard Lauder donated a collection of paintings to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York valued at more than $1 billion.

• Western Wall rabbi ‘can live with’ plan for egalitarian prayer site

  April 10, 2013 11:02am

  The rabbi of the Western Wall said he “can live with” a plan presented by Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman Natan Sharansky for a permanent egalitarian prayer section at the Western Wall.

• On Birthright, building Jewish identity and finding love

  April 9, 2013 4:29pm

  Birthright Israel has helped thousands of Diaspora Jews reconnect with their Jewish identity. But for untold numbers of young singles, it also has provided a platform to form lasting partnerships.

• Ex-Doheny Market owner being sued in kosher meat scandal

  April 9, 2013 2:27pm

  Mike Engelman, who is suspected of selling non-kosher food from his Doheny Glatt Kosher Meat Market in Los Angeles, is being sued.