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A Jewish man prays during a morning service. Portland and the surrounding region offers a rich Jewish cultural history.
Celebrate the diversity of Jewish life in Portland.
7 min read
Marina Martinez-Bateman
Marina Martinez-Bateman (they/them) is an equity and communications consultant and ghost tour guide who moved to Portland in 2014. Read More
With more than 57,000 Jewish residents in and around Portland (according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland), their indelible stamp can be felt throughout the city. Visitors can explore rich history at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, practice solemn reflection at the outdoor Oregon Holocaust Memorial in Washington Park and find kosher-friendly eats all over the Rose City.
Jewish History in Portland
The history of the Jewish community in Portland is as old as the city itself. The first synagogue, Beth Israel, opened its doors in 1861, just 10 years after the city incorporated. Early Jewish residents, primarily men but also some women, tended to be independent-minded merchants and entrepreneurs who traded across the gold rush territories. Jewish Portlanders owned and operated general stores, held public office and invested in local philanthropy and the arts.
Over the last few decades, Portland’s Jewish community has experienced a growth spurt on Portland’s eastside, founding a new congregation at Shir Tikvah and a second community center at Eastside Jewish Commons, joining Mittleman Jewish Community Center in South Portland. Today, Jews comprise roughly 2% of the overall Portland population and live mainly in South and Southwest Portland.
Kosher-Friendly Restaurants in Portland
While there are not many kosher restaurants in Portland, there are several vegan or dairy-only establishments that many in the local Jewish community consider to be kosher-adjacent, even without official certification. We’ve broken them out into categories so you can make the best choice while you’re here.
Oregon Certified Kosher
Start your day off right with breakfast at Bowery Bagels. Their traditional NY-style vegan bagels are made fresh every day in their kosher bakery, and while only the uncut bagels are kosher, they offer a cashew-based vegan schmear and house-made gravlax that are both certified delicious. If you’re still craving those carbs by lunch, Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels offers whole, uncut kosher bagels and non-kosher traditional foods like their legendary lox bagel, whitefish bagel and matzo ball soup.
If you’re in the mood for Middle Eastern, Garbonzos is the place to be. According to legend, it was owner Allen Levin who introduced falafel to Portland in the ’90s with his chain of late-night falafel joints, also named Garbanzos. He brought it back in food truck form before finding a permanent home inside the Mittleman Jewish Community Center (be prepared: visiting guests have to show ID at the door). Garbonzos has a daily menu with kosher, vegan, halal and gluten-free options, and they also provide a special Shabbat takeout menu.
You can taste something good and do something good when you pick up a sweet treat from Sarah Bellum’s Bakery & Workshop, a nonprofit bakery that employs adults with acquired brain injuries. Their regular and mini cupcakes are the stars of the show, but they also offer a variety of cookies and other treats. Every item made in the workshop is certified kosher dairy (although pre-packaged items are not), and they receive high praise for their vegan and gluten-free treats, such as their banana chocolate chip cake. You can also pick up a “pupcake” for your pooch.
Sunny’s Legendary Frozen Yogurt is the only certified kosher frozen yogurt shop in Oregon, and its kosher toppings are kept separated from the non-kosher toppings. This is a kid favorite, but there’s also plenty here for adults with sophisticated flavors like pomegranate raspberry sorbet and mountain blackberry. It’s also just a 10-minute walk from Gabriel Park, so you can enjoy your fro-yo on the go before hitting the playground.
Vegan Delis and Other Options
Portland entrepreneur Justin King named Ben & Esther’s Vegan Delicatessen after his grandparents to honor the traditional Jewish flavors he grew up with, adapted to fit his plant-based lifestyle. Their bagel sandwiches, deli sandwiches, hot dogs and hoagies are all 100% vegan, and their classic Reuben is a crowd favorite.
If you just want a bit of a nosh and a nibble, stop by Food Fight! Vegan Grocery, a 100% vegan grocery and convenience store. They specialize in fun foods like snacks, candies and vegan deli options, and they offer made-to-order options like pizza and wings if you get hungry while browsing.
Jewish Eateries in Portland
Set in a converted warehouse, Shalom Y’all serves upscale Mediterranean fare. The portions are small, so it’s recommended that everyone order several plates and share family-style — the flavors of the hummus and spicy lamb merguez are worth it.
Credit: Aaron Lee, Travel Portland
Cooking traditional Belarusian recipes from her Jewish immigrant parents, James Beard Award-nominated chef and co-owner Bonnie Morales has created a cozy, vibrant space in Kachka, where shared plates are passed and devoured over laughter and community. For just $40 per seat, you can have the full-table prix fixe “Ruskie Zakuski Experience” tasting menu. Stop by the mezzanine above the dining room for some trendy merch and tasty certified kosher treats.
Catering
KashRootz Kosher Catering is a certified kosher caterer with Indigenous, Latinx and Sephardic roots. Email for catering options or pick up their Sunday takeout meals from the Congregation Kesser Israel kitchen. Elephant’s Delicatessen is not Jewish-owned and does not typically offer Jewish staples, but it does provide catering services for Passover and Hanukkah dinners.
Local Synagogues
- Congregation Beth Israel was established in the same year Oregon became a state. It has long been a pillar of Portland’s Jewish history and a leading voice of Reform Judaism in the state of Oregon.
- Congregation Shaarie Torah is one of two conservative synagogues in Portland. It seeks to balance traditional Judaism with contemporary viewpoints. The temple features a Shabbat elevator for those who observe Shabbat by abstaining from electronic use.
- Congregation Shir Tivkah is an independent organization that has provided an egalitarian space for over 20 years. Shabbat services include contributions from people of all genders, and they host queer Torah study on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Annual Events
Jewish Film Festival
Hosted by the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, the Jewish Film Festival is an opportunity to explore the complexity and diversity of Jewish life through the lens of Jewish filmmakers.
Portland Jewish Music Festival
Formerly the Bubbaville Portland Klezmer Festival, the Portland Jewish Music Festival at the Eastside Jewish Commons features two weekends of live performance, film, lectures and workshops celebrating the rich history and contemporary iterations of Jewish music.
Portland’s Menorah Lighting
Each night of Hanukkah, join the crowd in Pioneer Courthouse Square for the Menorah Lighting, celebrating the lighting of Portland’s giant public menorah.
The Oregon Board of Rabbis (OBR)
The Oregon Board of Rabbis supports the rabbis of Oregon and Southwest Washington, serving as an invaluable resource for visitors and newcomers seeking the right fit for their Jewish identity.
Eastside Jewish Commons
The Eastside Jewish Commons community center is home to Congregation Shir Tikva and several other organizations. The center hosts a variety of events seven days a week. Some are religious, like Havdalaha and queer Torah study, but many are more secular in nature. The center welcomes Jews from every denomination, as well as non-Jews who may be in interfaith marriages, are seeking to reconnect with their Jewish family history or are simply curious about Judaism.
A vital part of the greater Portland community for over a century, the Mittleman Jewish Community Center provides a gathering space not just for the local Jewish community, but for people of all faiths. They offer meeting spaces for community events and fitness facilities that support recreational activities such as swimming, sports and exercise classes for people of all ages.
Art/Lab (formerly Co/Lab)
Art/Lab invites you to “Reimagine Jewish” with learning labs, art workshops and other programs that examine issues of personal meaning and social change through a Jewish lens. Events are often hosted at the Eastside Jewish Commons and all over the city.
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