Caring for the marginalized in Hebrew Scripture and tradition
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Senior Rabbi for Portland’s oldest synagogue, will give a free talk on Thursday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. at Catholic Charities of Oregon, 2740 SE Powell Boulevard in Portland. His timely topic will be care for the marginalized as found in Hebrew Scripture and tradition.
A key leader of Portland’s Jewish community, Rabbi Cahana has led a steady response to poverty in the region, including using the building where he works to host people experiencing homelessness when the weather turns dangerous.
“Hebrew teaching on welcoming the stranger and caring for the widow and orphan is the supporting structure for Western culture’s finest moments,” says Natalie Wood, executive director of Catholic Charities of Oregon. “We at Catholic Charities realize that our programs and advocacy must remain true to these foundational principles for our work to be effective.”
Rabbi Michael Cahana and Natalie Wood of Catholic Charities share lunch in Portland.
In 2006, Rabbi Cahana became the 18th Senior Rabbi for Congregation Beth Israel. He had led synagogues in the Midwest and the East Coast previously. His aim in each place has been to create vibrant and inclusive Jewish communities.
For years, he was part of an annual presentation on a faith topic given with the pastor of St. Mary Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the rector of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. His ideas and presentations were attractive to people of all those faiths. He sought to explain the distinctions between Judaism and Christianity and celebrated their convergences.
He serves on local inter-religious councils and is a past president of the Oregon Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Cahana is highly engaged in social action, embracing the concept of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) to make our community and nation better. He serves on the leadership team of Lift Every Voice Oregon, an interfaith movement to pass gun safety legislation in Oregon. He also is on the board of Cedar Sinai Park senior living and is an at-large member of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Rabbi Cahana’s academic interests include the interface of religion and science, including medical ethics.
Born in Houston, Texas, Rabbi Cahana comes from multiple generations of rabbis. He began with a career in theater, including acting, directing, and theatrical design. He earned a degree in architectural lighting before the family tradition of the rabbinic life called him, leading to his ordination in 1994.
Snacks will be served. A free will collection will be taken up and shared between the programs of Catholic Charities and the work of Congregation Beth Israel.
To join in person or online, register at https://www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org/events/upcoming/the-roots-of-care/
Son of a Holocaust survivor
In 1999, Rabbi Michael Cahana was featured, along with his family, in the critically acclaimed documentary “The Last Days.” The film tells the true stories of five Hungarian survivors of the Holocaust, including Rabbi Cahana’s mother – the renowned Holocaust artist Alice Lok Cahana. The film won the 1999 Academy Award for best documentary. In 2009, Rabbi Cahana accompanied his mother to Rome where one of her large-scale paintings became the first piece of Holocaust art on permanent display in the Vatican Museum.
Alice Lok Cahana