Looking Back: Anti-Semitism in the 70's in Portland, Oregon

Nadene Goldfoot                                              

In the 1970s, Portland’s Jewish community experienced a complex reality. Overt, violent acts of antisemitism were rare, but the community navigated systemic exclusion in exclusive social circles and the early rise of right-wing extremist groups in the broader Pacific Northwest While Portland had a long history of Jewish civic participation (including a Jewish mayor in the 19th century), social and athletic clubs maintained restrictive membership policies.  

Portland had a history of being welcoming to Jews at first.  Portland's first Jewish mayor in the 19th century was Bernard Goldsmith, who served as the city's 19th mayor from 1869 to 1871. He was an immigrant businessman originally from Bavaria. Goldsmith was succeeded two years later by another Jewish businessman and leader in the community, Philip Wasserman, who served as mayor from 1871 to 1873.  

So, While Portland itself was generally a safe haven, the broader Pacific Northwest became a targeted hub for white supremacist and neo-Nazi organizing in the 1970s and 80s. This era marked the transition of the White nationalist movement toward revolutionary ideologies that explicitly positioned Jews as the enemy. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and local watchdog groups like the Western States Center have documented how radical right-wing extremists used the era's cultural circles to freely spread their agendas across Oregon. 

Cars of the period that everyone wanted to drive:  

            1971 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible $21,298.  

The history of racism in Oregon began before the territory even became a U.S. state. The topic of race was heavily discussed during the convention where the Oregon Constitution was written in 1857. In 1859, Oregon became the only state to enter the Union with a black exclusion law, although there were many other states that had tried before, especially in the Midwest. 

By the same time that Jews experienced anti-Semitism, the Blacks  saw  organized white supremacy in Portland transitionizing from the overt Ku Klux Klan rallies of earlier decades into more localized, politically engaged, and anti-government paramilitary movements.  

Despite these subtle and creeping threats, the 1970s was a period of growth and advocacy for the Portland Jewish community.  Organizations like the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) helped facilitate the emigration of thousands of Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union to Portland to escape religious discrimination, but at least Portland's wasn't as lethal as what was happening to Russian Jews.  

Israeli folk dance formally began at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (MJCC) in 1972, but its roots go back to 1950s Portland.  At the same time, critical events were happening in Israel that affected Jews of Portland as well:  The 1970s in Israel was a defining decade marked by the conclusion of the War of Attrition, the devastating Yom Kippur War in 1973, and a major political shift in 1977 when the Likud party took power. The era also saw a rise in militant attacks and concluded with historic peace talks with Egypt with Sadat.

There is no exact census or demographic data available detailing how many Israelis entered Portland, OR in the 1970s. Historical records focus on the broader Jewish population, which hovered around 7,000 to 8,000 in the early 1970s and grew to 10,000 by the late 1970s. This demographic increase was largely driven by an influx of young, well-educated migrants from other parts of the United States who were drawn to Portland's progressiveness, rather than direct immigration from Israel. Nationwide, organized immigration from Israel to the U.S. was relatively small during this decade.

The primary figures and factions driving the hard-right and white supremacist scene in the area during this era included:

Walter Huss: A fundamentalist minister and vocal anti-communist who was actively tied to white nationalist groups. He maintained deep grassroots connections with the far-right in Oregon, ultimately serving as the chair of the Oregon Republican Party from 1978 to 1979.
The Posse Comitatus: A militant, anti-tax, and white supremacist organization that established roots in the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s. This group, which advocated for local vigilante justice and rejected federal authority, included former members of the pro-Nazi Silver Shirt movement. 
Christian Patriots: A network of religious extremists who advocated for white Christian supremacy and tied their ideology to anti-Semitism and anti-communism, often crossing paths with other far-right activist circles. 

The hard-right ecosystem in 1970s Oregon laid the groundwork for the violent neo-Nazi skinhead movements that became highly visible in Portland during the 1980s.

Resource:

Moment Magazine +4

Jewish Federation of Greater Portland +1

Values of American and Israelis and How They Differ Through Trump's Deal

 Nadene Goldfoot                                             

USA's Jewish newspaper:  In celebration of the Forward’s quasquicentennial year — that’s fancy talk for 125th anniversary — we decided to take a walk back through history. Instead of compiling our annual Forward 50 list of influential American Jews, we created the Forward 125, with one entry for each year of our existence. Starting, of course, with the man who made our lists possible: Ab Cahan, the visionary founding editor who launched the Forward in 1897 with a 50-person collective, declaring: “Let’s publish a good, popular newspaper, content-rich and interesting.”

Jewish people make up approximately 2.4% of the adult population in the United States, which equates to roughly 7.5 million people when including children. The US is home to one of the largest Jewish populations globally.

There are approximately 7.6 million Jewish people in the U.S. Among adults who identify with a specific denomination, the breakdown is: Reform (37%), Conservative (17%), and Orthodox (9%). The remainder (roughly one-third) are nondenominational or identify as "just Jewish". As you see, the largest segment are Reform Jews, Jews mostly belonging, I'd say, to the Democratic Party. 

 Israel is a diverse nation of roughly 9.8 million people. It is primarily a Jewish state, making up about 73-74% of the population, while Arabs (who are mainly Muslim, but also include Christian and Druze communities) make up about 21%. The remaining percentage includes various other minority groups and non-Arab/non-Jewish residents. Secular (Hiloni): Roughly 40% to 50% of Israeli Jews identify as secular. While they may observe certain cultural traditions, they generally do not strictly follow Orthodox religious law. Traditional (Masorti): About 23% to 30% identify as traditional. They occupy a broad middle ground between strictly Orthodox and entirely secular, observing many religious practices but having varying levels of strictness. The Conservative religious movement exists in Israel, but it is much smaller. The vast majority of Israeli Jews identify either as secular (Hiloni), traditional (Masorti), or Orthodox (Datim/Haredim).  Modern Orthodox / Religious Zionist (Dati): About 10% to 15% fall into this category. They blend observant, Orthodox lifestyles with active participation in modern life and the military/workforce. Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi): About 10% to 13% of the Jewish population belong to the ultra-Orthodox community. They lead strictly religious lifestyles, often residing in dedicated communities like Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, and prioritize intense study of the Torah. 

We learn that there aren't many Jews in the USA at all, but  many of the outspoken leaders happen to be Jewish. We're only 2.4% of the USA people.  It's interesting, though, that there aren't any Jewish ladies at the View's table, which tries to have both Democrats and Republicans. Barbara Walters, Jewish, was on from 1997 to 2014, and Michelle Collins from 2015 too 2016, but none that I know of recently.  

Looking at this demographics, it's understandable that the American public as a whole are neither aware or interested in Israel's problems.  They are engrossed in their rising gas prices, the fact that the USA keeps talking about "the war" when they were promised none of that, soccer games, coming elections, and Trump's 80th birthday party.   At this point in time, he is still planning on running for another term though illegal to USA rules.  Who bothers so far to follow rules, anyway!    

Jews of Israel worry about one thing;  Security;  because their security has been threatened by Iran whose goal is to wipe Israel off the maps.   

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 11, 2026. Daniel Heuer | Reuters

This all shows up for me to understand by TRUMP'S DEAL signed Monday, June 15th by Trump and Vance:   " President Trump has said the text of his agreement to end the Iran war won’t be released until it’s signed in person by Washington and Tehran on Friday,"  then Sunday night, the 14th. aid.

It consists, they say, of one page and a half leaving the central issues involving Iran in the lives of the USA and Israel  unresolved !!!

      August 11, 2025 after a shouting match:  Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu have shouting match over photos of starvation of Palestinians  in Gaza with explanation of food there-terrorists taking it.

Here, Trump had recently commented that Israel was the perfect ally, and then he f...king yells at Netanyahu in a terrible put-down way in front of Israel's new friends in the Middle East which is a terrible move for Israel.  

His  great DEAL gives lots of money back to Iran. "We know what they will do with that;  procure more arms for the terrorists.   He calls for a cease fire, meaning Israel putting an end to their defensive warfare shooting back at their attacker.  This deal contradicts the original deal made by Obama and Biden.  He can get away with this because Israel is unimportant to his constituents, except for a minority of religious American Christians.   Actually, Polls indicate that roughly eight-in-ten Americans are at least somewhat concerned about key events and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. However, only about 30% to 50% of U.S. adults report being deeply engaged or "extremely" or "very" concerned about the unfolding events.   So that's where Israelis stand.  

The reported 1.5-page memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran serves as a framework to negotiate an end to the Gulf war, featuring a 60-day ceasefire and measures to secure the Strait of Hormuz. It reportedly outlines a verifiable long-term nuclear commitment from Iran in exchange for significant sanctions relief and a potential $300 billion reconstruction fund. Read the full details at Fox 59.

Resource:

ILTV-Wednesday 6/17/26

https://www.hadassah.org/18women

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/14/us-iran-war-peace-deal.html

https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/15/world/live-news/iran-war-g7-summit

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5927787-trump-iran-agreement-details/

Who's Standing With Israel ?

 :Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

Here's a good example of Israel's youth and how they are expected to spend their time. Teens begin IDF training in high school: 'No one else will do it in our place.'  With demand for combat soldiers rising amid war, high schoolers are already training for their military service, describing the intense workouts, their drive to contribute and motivation sparked by October 7th.  

 Israeli teens undergo a rigorous preparation process for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). During high school, they participate in physical fitness boot camps and leadership programs, while many choose to postpone their enlistment after graduation to attend pre-military academies or perform a year of community service. During high school, Pre-Military Fitness Programs: Teens often join civilian or NGO-led fitness groups (e.g., Mechinot or local fitness clubs) that train several times a week. These simulate military tryouts to prepare students for the physical and mental rigors of elite commando, naval, or pilots' courses.Pre-Draft Screening (Tzav Rishon): Around age 17 (11th grade), teens receive their first draft notice. They undergo medical, psychological, and aptitude testing to determine their Profile (medical fitness) and Kaba (quality score).

The majority of Israelis enlist right after high school, but many opt to defer their service to participate in one of the following developmental programs:

• Pre-Military Academies (Mechinot): Highly competitive, 1-to-2-year residential programs. Students focus on Zionism, Jewish history, physical training, and community volunteering.
• Service Year (Shnat Sherut): Students defer their army service for one year to volunteer in underprivileged neighborhoods, youth movements, or agricultural communities and boarding schools.
• Hesder Yeshivas: Religious male students combine intense Torah study with military service. They typically serve a shortened active-duty period while dedicating a significant portion of their time to religious studies.
• Academic Reserves (Atuda): Teens accepted to university delay their enlistment to earn a bachelor's degree in highly technical or medical fields (such as engineering, computer science, or nursing). After graduating, they serve in the military utilizing their specialized degrees
  
  We have a saying:  Am Yisael Chi!  this means:  The people of Israel Live !  Israel's population now is:   approximately 10.2 million people. It is roughly comparable in size to the U.S. state of New Jersey or the country of El Salvador.
  The demographic breakdown of the population includes:
  • Jewish population: Approximately 75% to 76%.
  • Arab population: Approximately 21% to 22%.
  • Other minorities: Roughly 2% to 3% comprising non-Arab Christians, other religions, or those with no classified religion.

Who stands with Israel?  The United States is Israel's primary defender at the United Nations, consistently using its veto power on the Security Council to block resolutions opposed by Jerusalem. While a large majority of the UN General Assembly frequently votes in favor of Palestinian statehood and condemns Israeli occupation policies, a small bloc of nations regularly joins the U.S. and Israel in voting "no."

Countries that most frequently stand with Israel by opposing anti-Israel resolutions and declarations include:

• United States
• Argentina
• Hungary
• Czech Republic
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay 

Additionally, countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and India often abstain from these resolutions or issue votes aligned with more moderate stances, creating a diplomatic buffer.  This stands from March 27, 2024.  Since October 7, 2023, I'm not sure.  

For what reason was Israel created and born on May 14, 1948?  The modern State of Israel was established in 1948 primarily as a sovereign national homeland for the Jewish people. This was driven by the Zionist movement seeking to end centuries of persecution and was accelerated by the atrocities of the Holocaust, which highlighted the urgent need for a safe sanctuary.  The Holocaust took place from January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, to May 8, 1945, marking the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. 

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline/holocaust

Book:  The Holocaust, a history of the Jews of Europe during the second world war by Martin Gilbert, copyright 1985

https://wng.org/opinions/the-un-dithers-while-israel-stands-alone-1711502272