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Remembering
Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield zt”l

Of Blessed Memory

Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield brought a luminous, transformative spirit to the Pacific Northwest, founding P’nai Or in 1991. He was a teacher, a composer, a bridge-builder, and a deeply beloved spiritual guide who wove music, storytelling, and holy joy into the very fabric of our community. Though he left this earthly plane in 2009, his melody continues to resonate in every prayer we share and every song we sing.

The Heart and Foundation of P’nai Or

In 1991, Rabbi Aryeh began gathering what would become the P'nai Or community, starting with a single inspired workshop in Ashland, followed by monthly visits to Portland where a small group met in private homes.

By 1995, this small group considerably grew, so he moved to Portland full-time to guide our blossoming congregation.

Under his spiritual leadership, P’nai Or expanded into a vibrant center for Jewish Renewal, anchored in Torah, Kabbalah, expressive prayer, and welcoming community. Rabbi Aryeh taught us to look for the Divine spark within everyone, a foundational principle that guides our egalitarian, open-hearted community to this day.

Rabbi Aryeh leads the celebration as Sari Telpner and Asha Slater arrive at PDX with the Torah loaned to P’nai Or by Congregation Beth Shalom in Sioux City Iowa.
Sept 8, 1997. Courtesy Robert Back/The Oregonian, 9/9/1997.

The Music & Discography
of Rabbi Aryeh

▶ Listen to Rabbi Aryeh’s Discography on Bandcamp

A Prayer for Peace

In 1979, long before founding P'nai Or, Rabbi Aryeh was already capturing the transcendent power of sacred music. Below is a reflection from his friend, Rabbi Alan Berg of Beit Haverim, upon listening to an archival rehearsal tape:

“… And there on that lost tape was Aryeh rehearsing, creating an entire accapella magnificence, both flawless and casual of, no less than the Kol Nidre. Oh my. As I listened, I knew it was, like everything that Aryeh sang, above all, a prayer for peace. Less for forgiveness, the traditional purpose of the Kol Nidre. Rather for peace. A kind of Sim Shalom…read more”

— Rabbi Alan Berg

Listen to the "lost" tape of Rabbi Aryeh rehearsing the Kol Nidre,
c. 1979.

Rehearsing the Kol Nidre, c. 1979.
Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield
Download

Special Memories

At Havurah Shir Hadash, 1989

January 22, 1989 - A concert organized by Aryeh Hirschfield z"l and David Zaslow celebrating Jewish music, poetry, and storytelling for Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, Oregon.

Featuring original melodies by Reb Aryeh, storytelling from Devorah Zaslow and Reb Aryeh, original poetry and songs from David Zaslow, Garett Miller z"l on bass, the vocals of Leona Mitchell, and singing from the Havurah choir led by Dave Marston z"l.

Rabbi Aryeh on Teaching

Video: Courtesy of Cathy Zheutlin

Wings of Peace by Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield z"l

Video: Courtesy of Rabbi David Zaslow

  • Purim with Rabbi Aryeh and Michael Sasnow

  • Rabbi Aryeh greets P'nai Or Torah

  • The “Purimer” Rebbe, Aryeh, celebrating Purim with his beloved Reb Zalman. Aryeh was born two days before Purim in Adar Bet. Photo by Edis Jurcys. Courtesy Beth Hirshfield, circa 2004

  • "The rabbi sings the blues" - The headline from the Ashland Daily Tidings, c. 1980s. Courtesy Reb David Zaslow