››About P'nai Or

P'nai Or is a vibrant, egalitarian, Jewish Renewal congregation. We support each other in our spiritual practices, our studies, our children's education, and our lives. Through the practice of mitzvot (sacred deeds) and tikkun olam (progressive social/political action) we strive to heal ourselves and the world.

Our community is a place where a Jewish spiritual perspective can flourish. Our roots are in Torah, Kabbalah, and other classic Jewish sources; our intent is to make Jewish spirituality accessible. Our guide, teacher, and friend in this unfolding process is Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, whose insights, knowledge and humor guide us on our path. We are also affiliated nationally with ALEPH, founded by Reb Zalman Schacter-Shalomi.

P'nai Or services combine elements of traditional Judaism with joyful song and dance in a participatory environment. A diversity of Jewish experience and expression is reflected in our membership, and all are welcome as full participants in the community.

››P'nai Or Governance

As a relatively small religious, non-profit organization we are obliged to comply with State and IRS regulations. However, we try to organize around energy rather than with 'top down' plans. We spend much of our time and energy operating as a Council rather than as a Board of Directors. We organize primarily around the guiding principles of

  a) respecting the rights and individual beliefs and needs of each of our members; while
  b) protecting the health, security and sacred space of our community.

Our Council focus is on the development of support structures so that congregants will feel effective and fulfilled when they contribute their time and effort. The Council also serves as a control point for assuring the integrity of our budget, policies, communications, and religious practices, and is generally the starting point for being sure that religious and community events are initiated in a timely manner and are organized for success.

Our processes are becoming more and more relational and have taken on an organic quality, and our major challenge is probably one all congregations would like to have - growing gracefully.

››History of P'nai Or

The seeds for what would become P'nai Or of Portland were planted in the fall of 1991 when Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield led a workshop for the Portland community at Gesher (a Jewish outreach organization). Several attendees at the workshop met privately over the ensuing months and eventually invited Rabbi Aryeh to come monthly from his home in Ashland to lead Shabbat services.

The first services were held in private homes in SE Portland. The small group of 12-15 people quickly grew to 30-40 in the first year. During that year the rabbi began teaching Thursday night adult education classes in addition to Friday night and Saturday morning services. All events would be held in the living room of a home. A governing Council of 6 people was established to create by-laws and policies. In 1994 the group was too large for a living room and began renting community spaces (the Community Music Center, the S.M.I.L.E. center, the First United Methodist Church) for services. The rabbi came regularly once a month and the community gathered at lay-led services for the High Holidays and celebrations.

By 1995 it was clear that the congregation of 65 people had enough momentum to ask the rabbi to come twice a month. After several months of that, he and his wife and son moved to Portland. Volunteers from the community acted as administrative help for the rabbi. Rabbi Aryeh began a regular schedule of counseling congregants (he had been able to see a few people during each of his monthly visits and living in Portland allowed him to expand that to two weeks of sessions each month). Committees were created: a religious services committee to plan services, a religious practices committee to create policy for community services and events on matters of Halacha, an events committee, and a social action committee followed.

Madeleine Parish, in Northeast Portland was the regular meeting place from 1996-1998 although alternate spaces were also rented as needs arose. There were consistently between 30 and 60 people at Shabbat services and a membership of about 100 people. For the High Holiday services larger spaces were rented, from the Jewish Community Center or from churches because attendance would be between 250 and 400 people at those services.

A bi-weekly children's education program began in the fall of 1996, meeting in the homes of the children in the program on Sundays until 1998 when the congregation moved its services to the Koinoinia House of Portland State University. Then the children's class met on Saturdays during the service so that the rabbi could gather the children for singing and story-telling before services and classes began. By that time there were many weekday evening activities. Adult education, Hebrew classes, music and singing groups, meditation, and healing circles all met regularly.

In 2004 P'nai Or signed a contract with St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Southwest Portland. The congregation has been meeting there for services, celebrations and classes. The congregation has grown quickly at this location and now has over 110 families, a full-blown children's and adult education program with paid teachers and coordinator, many social and spiritual interest groups, several life passage events each year, and regular services every week.