PORTLAND JEWISH ACADEMY At the Schnitzer Family Campus | Think for yourself. Work for the world. Summer 2026, 5786 | Exclusive updates for our donors and supporters.
Community Shavuot Program Brings PJA and Local Congregations Together PJA was delighted to host “Standing Together at Sinai: A Night of Learning for Our Whole Community,” a meaningful and joyful community Shavuot Program in collaboration with Congregation Neveh Shalom (CNS) and Congregation Shaarie Torah (CST). More than 100 individuals (families, students, congregants, and community members) attended the event, which began with children’s programming and a special dairy dinner for Shavuot, and extended into the night with a community service activity for teens, a communal tefillah, and several adult learning sessions. The evening featured teaching and leadership from educators and rabbis across the three partner institutions. PJA faculty members Jana Hopfinger, Kate Dickinson-Villaseñor, and Amy Katz led hands-on Shavuot-themed activities for children
while Merrill Hendin led a Shavuot story-time session. CNS staff included Rabbi April Villarreal, Meg Bernstein, Mel Berwin, Rabbi Eve Posen, and Rabbi Cantor Eyal Bitton. Congregation Shaarie Torah was represented by Rabbi Gary Oren. This collaboration helped create a rich and inclusive experience rooted in our shared values of limmud (study), zehut (identity), and kehillah (community). PJA is grateful to Congregation Neveh Shalom and Congregation Shaarie Torah for their partnership, and to all of the educators, rabbis, families, and community members who helped make the evening such a success. Hosting “Standing Together at Sinai” was an honor, and we look forward to future opportunities to gather, learn, and celebrate together.
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