In 2023, the students in Rabbi Meir Goldstein’s course Oregon Jewish History wrote Lane County into that history for the first time. They were lucky to have a wonderful source: the oral history collection at the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education featuring interviews organized by the Lane County Jewish Federation. Student projects highlight interviews that range from a Jewish store owner in 1930s downtown Eugene to Jewish hippies who arrived in the 1970s-80s.

This work of this site belongs to the student authors and does not represent Rabbi Goldstein, the University of Oregon, the Oregon Jewish Museum, or any partner organizations who have generously donated their time and collections to making this project possible.

A Community Instituion: Hilda Geisen & Kaufman Bros. Department Store (1930s-1950s)

Home Grown Jewish Oregonian: Selma Loney (1940s-1940s)

By Isabelle Hock and Maya Vaakil