About

Oregon Jewish Culture Project

Established in 2016, the mission of the Oregon Jewish Culture Project (OJCP) is to offer unique Jewish cultural programming in strategic cooperation and collaboration with other Jewish community partners. The OJCP is located in Eugene, OR, and benefits residents of Lane County, the larger Oregon Jewish community and our allies and regional partners.

Founded by Co-Directors Rabbi Jonathan Seidel and Ahavah Oblak, OJCP has hosted successful events such as the “ Jewish Food Conference”, “Native American-Jewish Storytelling Day of Sharing”, a concert featuring Sephardic singer Michelle Alany & The Mystics and classes such as “Jewish Food and Culture in History (Ancient and Medieval)”, “Introduction to Talmud: Hebrew and Aramaic”, “Basic Music and Liturgy of Judaism”, “Kabbalah and Science in the Renaissance and Judaism” and “Science: Antiquity to the Renaissance”.

Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Seidel, a new Jersey native, UC Berkeley PhD (1996) ALEPH Ordination (2004) is an experienced Jewish educator, singer and academic who has published in the areas of Rabbinics, kabbalah, midrash, magic studies, interfaith, environmental issues, Jewish ethics, philosophy, and folklore. Jonathan teaches a variety of courses in text and Judaic studies at the University of Portland and in several Adult Education arenas and is currently the Spiritual Leader of Or haGan in Eugene and the Visiting Rabbi of the Aquarian Minyan of Berkeley . He is also the Rosh Yeshivah of a new online school of Jewish studies there and everywhere in cyberspace!. He also currently serves as the Vice President of the Eugene Interfaith organization IPSI. Dr. Seidel has also been instrumental in building a number of non-profits devoted to the Arts and Jewish culture and is delighted to be the Rabbinic director of the Oregon Jewish Culture Project. He is the father of Maya, Elah, and Daisy, as well as the grandson of Ilan (6 months) Jonathan currently lives in Eugene

Ahavah Oblak is a nonprofit activist--engaged in development work and grant writing for several Oregon/national nonprofit organizations. Currently residing in Eugene, OR, she is also a US/Israeli citizen.
Ms. Oblak possesses 30 years of experience working with small and large nonprofits, Jewish groups, Tribes, multicultural communities, alternative schools & educational programs, environmental and arts and cultural organizations.
Her academic background includes an MS in Folklore Studies from the University of Oregon (2012) where she was an integral part of the creation of the Oregon Folklife Network and the revival of Oregon's TAP Program while a Graduate Research Fellow. Other degrees include an M. Ed and a Minor in Native American Studies (Southern Oregon University) and a BS in Elementary Education with a Minor in Art History (University of Wisconsin-Madison).
Ahavah is Ima to Eva Rose, Ezra Zion, Raphael Etz Chaim and Tal Shalom, and Safta to Avi.

Oregon Jewish Culture Project

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