Lois Shenker

lois_shender_pinkLois Shenker is a teacher of adult classes on Judaism, and lecturer on Jewish parenting and Judaism. She is currently the teacher/facilitator for The Mothers' Circle program in Portland, Oregon, a national program for non-Jewish moms who are raising Jewish children. Immediately prior to writing her book, she was the facilitator/administrator for the Oregon Board of Rabbis' Introduction to Judaism course for 8 years. She has traveled extensively in Israel, where she has led family and inter-faith missions with her husband of 50 years. Ms. Shenker is the mother of three children, grandmother to ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren, all of whom have non-Jewish grandparents as well.

To learn more about Lois, visit www.welcometofamily.com

Doing Jewish

Doing Jewish for me is a direct reflection of who I am and my life experiences.

jewishIn addition to being a Life Coach with a Jewish focus, I am a Facilitator for the Mothers' Circle Program of the Jewish Outreach Institute. Professionally, I have been a speaker and writer on Judaism, Jewish parenting, and interfaith family issues. I am the former administrator and facilitator for the Oregon Board of Rabbis’ Introduction to Judaism Program, the Program Director, and Director of the Early Childhood Learning Center of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, author of the advice column, Letters to Lois, which appeared in the Anglo-Jewish press and dealt with issues of everyday Jewish life. I am probably best known for my book, Welcome to the Family: Opening Doors to the Jewish Experience, written primarily for the non-Jewish in-laws as a non-judgmental, non-threatening, and welcoming introduction to the Jewish family.
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Words To Live By

I always find quotations inspiring. Somehow, the way the words are put in a quotation says something to me with far more impact than “ordinary words” are able to.Here are some of my favorites.

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll still get run over if you just sit there."
—Will Rogers

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, either way, you are right.”
—Henry Ford

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter,and those who matter don't mind.”
—Dr. Seuss

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”
—George Eliot
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"If something terrible happens, God forbid, our non-Jewish daughter-in-law anguished to our son, What will I do? I've never been to a Jewish funeral! Our son was about to travel across the country for his father's bypass surgery. It was Debbie's discomfort in not knowing what to expect or what was expected of her that convinced me to write this book. I wrote it for her, for her family and friends, for my children's non-Jewish in-laws, and for all those with Jewish connections who want to understand and know more about the Jewish experience. Read more...