For over 15 years, all kinds of Jewish students at Lewis & Clark have turned to PDX Hillel to meet new people, make friends, find support, grow an idea, and explore their interests — Jewishly and beyond. The story of one of the largest and most inclusive groups on this campus starts way before that. We celebrate the Jewish history of Lewis & Clark and welcome you to join us and make your mark on this vibrant community!
1867: First begun outside of Portland as Albany Collegiate Institute in 1867, Lewis & Clark College gained its current name and beautiful campus in 1942 after the donation of the Fir Acres by the Frank family
1924: HERMAN BROOKMAN, acclaimed Jewish architect, designed the M. Lloyd Frank estate, now Lewis & Clark College, as well as Temple Beth Israel, Memorial Temple House as well as many landmark buildings in Portland.
1930s: THE FRANK FAMILY was Jewish and allowed the carriage circle by the gardens to be used for a Jewish meeting and market place since Jews were excluded from white community during the 1930s. This story is one of many that highlights the history of social justice that has always existed on the Portland campus.
1942: AARON FRANK was a successful businessman and officer of the Meier and Frank department store. In 1937, at Frank’s suggestion, Albany College leased Congregation Beth Israel’s Synagogue School building for a year. Then in 1942, with his assistance and the generosity of the Frank family, Fir Acres, the Lloyd Frank estate, became the college’s new home.
1976: JORDAN SCHNITZER, Oregon civic and business leader, received a JD from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1976 and was a founder and first board president of Greater Portland Hillel
1970s-1980s: RABBI EMANUEL ROSE of Temple Beth Israel served as a trustee of the college from 1970 to 1991, he served as board chair from 1988 to 1991, after which time he became a life trustee.
1990s: CHANA COX was a senior humanities lecturer at Lewis & Clark College during the 1990’s and authored several books and plays.
1993: ELIE WIESEL came to Lewis & Clark in March of 1993 to give the Chamberlin Lecture to around 2,000 people in the Pamplin Gymnasium.
2008: GREATER PORTLAND HILLEL is founded and Jewish students at Lewis & Clark create an inclusive, dynamic community. GERSHAM GOLDSTEIN taught tax law and served as a trustee for the college as well as served as a long-time board member of PDX Hillel. RABBI JONATHAN SEIDEL became Lewis & Clark’s first Jewish religious leader, joining the Chapel as adjunct Jewish chaplain.
2010: BARRY GLASSNER served as college president from 2010- 2017. He appointed the College’s first dean of diversity and inclusion, increased opportunities for faculty-student collaborations, and advanced the College’s sustainability rankings.
2013: LEWIS & CLARK is recognized as one of 20 campuses of excellence for Jewish life in this year’s Insider’s Guide to College Life published by the Union for Reform Judaism.
2014: DR. OREN KOSANSKY, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology launched Rabat Genizah Project, a digital archive of photographs and documents of Moroccan Jews from persecution in the 18th century to the mid-20th century
2019: GREATER PORTLAND HILLEL won Hillel International’s Outstanding Campus of the Year Award