A Tragic Loss

This past Yom Kippur, I ventured out of my familiar little world, and attended services at Portland's Renewal congregation, P'nai Or. It was an amazing experience, full of music and meaning and heartfelt confessions. And they did this incredible thing with Unetaneh Tokef, intertwined with Leonard Cohen's song, "Who By Fire."

Of course, the heart of this congregation has been their Rabbi, Aryeh Hirschfield. His spirit and music and passion were irresistable, and inspiring. His charisma & strong sense of ethics reminded me of my departed father. The congregation loved him, and it was easy to see why.

So, today I was more than stunned by the news of Rabbi Aryeh's untimely drowning death yesterday. Like so many in our community, I am striving unsuccessfully to make sense of this tragedy. And the words of Unetaneh Tokef just keep running through my mind.... who shall perish by water....

Everybody ever touched by Rabbi Aryeh is grieving tonight. It is unbearably sad. But there is also a certain magnificence in the power of love that binds us together in our grief. May his righteous memory be for a blessing... zecher tzadik livracha.

Happy New Year!

From Eddy Shuldman:

Happy 2009 Everyone!

It seems like the logical question to ask this time of the year:
What is your "art" resolution for the new year?
I'll tell you mine if you tell us yours!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

How many artists struggle with trying to get great photos of their art work?

Getting good pictures for the web or for slide presentations seems to be a challenge, no matter what medium! Photos of two-dimensional work are often crooked and sometimes out of focus. Three-dimensional work is hard to capture accurately, hard to light, and don't even get me started on the challenges of photographing glass!

ORA is pleased to present two special workshops to learn about photographing your art work. The classes are open to any interested artists, but there is a limited class size, and ORA members and recent Celebration of Art guests will have first preference to sign up.

Wayne Welch, founder of Oregon Photo & Digital will be our instructor.

Class #1: Photography of 3-D art: Sunday, January 11, 1-3 pm at Oregon Photo & Digital in Tualatin.

Class #2: Photography of 2-D art: Wednesday, February 11, 1-3 pm at the home of Rosana Berdichevsky in Portland..

Cost is $15 per class. If you wish to take both classes, the total is $25.
Payment must be received no later than January 9 for Class #1, and February 8 for Class #2.

Please include the following registration information with your payment:
- Your name, medium, address, phone and e-mail
- Which class(es) you wish to take.

Pleae make checks payable to: ORA - Northwest Jewish Artists, and mail them to:
ORA - Northwest Jewish Artists
02 SW Canby St.
Portland, OR 97219

Addresses, directions and details will be provided after registration.

We hope to see you there!