Chabad of Oregon Expands to Capital

Salem, OR — A Midwestern couple became the latest rabbinic family to move to Oregon to open a Chabad Center.

Chabad of Oregon now has centers in five cities: Portland, Ashland, Eugene, Hillsboro and now Salem. All of the centers are non-judgmental and devoted to reaching out to all Jews regardless of their level of observance, said Chabad of Oregon Director Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm.

Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Perlstein and his wife Fruma moved to Salem at the end of February with their two children 17-month-old Tzvi and 2-month-old Chaya Mushka. The couple had been serving as program directors of the Chabad Center in Bayside, Wisc. The rabbi is originally from Chicago and his wife grew up in St. Paul, Minn.

“Both of us grew up living the life that trained us for the job we are doing now,” said Fruma Perlstein.

“One of Chabad’s main objectives is to unite the Jewish community,” said Rabbi Perlstein. “As much as I can, I would like to work along with everybody who has come before me.”

Since Perlstein had not yet met with representatives of Salem’s Temple Beth Sholom, he said he was not certain of all the programs the Salem Chabad Center will offer.

For now, the couple plan to host Shabbat dinners, distribute handmade shmura matzah for Pesach and network with the community to see what services and programs are needed.

The rebbetzin said she hopes to launch a women’s circle and Mommy and Me program for mothers with children under age 3.

“In Wisconsin they had a Jewish Women’s Circle geared to women only,” she said. “The programs they did and the lectures they had were very pertinent to women in today’s world. I think that it would be pertinent to start in Salem.”

She said that as the family was moving in to their new home, a Jewish family stopped by to help them. She said the family said they would come to Salem Chabad’s first event—a Purim party. When she also invited one of that family’s friends to come too, the friend said he was afraid he wasn’t Jewish enough.

“The level of Judaism doesn’t matter when it comes to Chabad,” she said.
“Stop by and say hello,” added the rabbi. “Our home is your home no matter what your level of observance.”

Rabbi Perlstein said he will post adult education classes on the Web site www.chabadsalem.com as soon as they are organized. He will also send out a weekly email with the week’s parsha and upcoming events to anyone who emails him at chabadofsalem@gmail.com.

The Salem Chabad Center is the Perlstein family home at 520 Tower Dr. NW, Salem 97304. The couple can be reached at 503-363-0522.