PNAI OR OF PORTLAND

What PNAI OR OF PORTLAND does

P'nai Or of Portland is a Jewish Renewal congregation founded in 1991 in Portland, Oregon, operating as an independent non-profit religious community rather than a technology business. Its core offerings are spiritual and educational rather than productized: weekly Shabbat services, monthly Torah study, life cycle events, holiday celebrations, chanting and meditation sessions, a book club, a Rosh Chodesh women's and nonbinary circle, the Tikkun Olam social justice committee, and the newer Holy Joy adult-education class series on Shabbat liturgy. The congregation serves Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith families, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Jews of color, explicitly positioning itself as an inclusive egalitarian community and citing inspiration from Torah, Kabbalah, Chassidic masters, and contemporary sources.

The underlying technology footprint is minimal and standard: a Squarespace-hosted website at pnaiorpdx.org for communications, event information, and newsletter signups, plus Zoom for virtual services, Torah study, book club, and Chantlings meditation. There is no proprietary software, no mobile application, and no AI/ML components. Service delivery relies on two physical Portland locations borrowed from partners (Eastside Jewish Commons at 2420 NE Sandy Blvd and St. Luke Lutheran Church at 4595 SW California St) plus remote Zoom participation, with a mailing address at PO Box 19525 and limited office hours (Tuesday-Thursday, 12-5pm).

Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The congregation is funded through recurring annual membership dues (specific amounts not listed publicly and collected via a Google Form), modest class and program fees ($18 per session for non-members in the Holy Joy series and Rosh Chodesh circle), book club and general donations accepted via PayPal, and Tzedakah contributions. Governance is non-hierarchical, with a Council elected by the membership every six months per the bylaws, including a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and additional Council members, supported by a Spiritual Leader (Student Rabbi Zmira Lovejoy, installed August 2024) and an Administrator handling newsletter, social media, and website operations.

Name

PNAI OR OF PORTLAND

Legal name

P'nai Or of Portland

Website

https://pnaiorpdx.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

P'nai Or of Portland is a Jewish Renewal congregation founded in 1991 that serves inclusive Jews-by-birth, Jews-by-choice, interfaith, and LGBTQ+ individuals and families in Portland, Oregon, through Shabbat services, Torah study, adult education, social justice programs, and community events funded by membership dues and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregation / Synagogue Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Jewish renewal congregation
• Religious community services
• Adult jewish education
• Shabbat worship services
• Social justice committees

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from congregants who join the congregation. Members receive benefits including free tuition for classes, access to services, holidays, Torah study, life cycle events, and weekly updates.
2. Class Tuition and Fees: Holy Joy class series: free for members, $18 per session for non-members. Full series registration includes lifetime access to video recordings.
3. Rosh Chodesh Circle Fees: Members attend free; visitors requested to donate $18 per meeting.
4. Donations and Tzedakah: Congregation accepts donations via PayPal. Members and community can contribute to support the congregation's operations and charitable activities.
5. Book Club: Free to P'nai Or members; donations from guests are appreciated.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

P'nai Or of Portland is a Jewish Renewal congregation that provides weekly Shabbat services, holiday observances, life cycle events, Torah study, and adult education programs (including the Holy Joy class series) to congregants and visitors. It also operates community programs such as a monthly chanting/meditation circle, a book club, the Rosh Chodesh women's circle, and a Tikkun Olam social-justice committee, sustained through membership dues, class fees, and donations.

Product overview

P'nai Or of Portland is a Jewish Renewal congregation offering a portfolio of spiritual, educational, and social programs rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include weekly Shabbat services and monthly Torah study led by Reb Zmira Lovejoy; the Holy Joy educational series exploring Shabbat liturgy; Chantlings meditation and chanting sessions with Zahavi; a monthly book club; Rosh Chodesh Circle for women's gatherings; and the Tikkun Olam committee for social justice initiatives. The congregation also provides weekly newsletter communications and inclusive membership services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Congregation Membership Inclusive annual membership program welcoming Jews by birth, Jews by choice, interfaith families, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Members receive access to services, holidays, Torah study, life cycle events, free class tuition, and weekly community updates.
• Holy Joy: Exploring the Shabbat Liturgy Class Series 12-session adult education series led by Reb Zmira Lovejoy exploring the prayers, history, music, and mystical teachings behind Shabbat liturgy. Free for members; $18 per session for non-members; full-series registration includes lifetime video access.
• Chantlings with Zahavi Monthly chanting and meditation sessions led by Zahavi, combining Buddhist meditation practice with Jewish liturgical chants and kavanot (intention-setting). Held on the last Sunday of each month over Zoom or in person.
• Torah Study with Reb Zmira Monthly Torah study sessions held on first Saturdays following morning services, led by Reb Zmira Lovejoy. Open to all regardless of membership status, with remote participation available.
• P'nai Or Book Club Monthly book club meeting on second Sundays that reads and discusses books reflecting the Jewish experience. Free to P'nai Or members; donations from guests appreciated. Held over Zoom.
• Rosh Chodesh Circle Monthly gathering for Jewish women and nonbinary persons to observe Rosh Chodesh (head of each month), combining traditional liturgy, discussion, and social action. Members attend free; visitors requested to donate $18 per meeting.
• Tikkun Olam Committee Committee focused on social and economic justice, political change, ecological renewal, peaceful coexistence, and human rights, selecting annual Tzedakah Partners for community support.
• Weekly Newsletter (This Week at P'nai Or) Weekly Wednesday newsletter providing news and updates about upcoming events and congregation activities, published based on Monday submission deadlines.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Congregation Beth Shalom (Sioux City, Iowa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 1997Historical partnership in 1997 when Congregation Beth Shalom in Sioux City loaned a Torah to P'nai Or. The Torah was transported to PDX by congregants Sari Telpner and Asha Slater.
• ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish RenewalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerP'nai Or is affiliated with ALEPH: The Alliance for Jewish Renewal, the organizing body founded by Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, z'l. This affiliation connects the congregation to the broader Jewish Renewal movement and provides spiritual and organizational support.
• Eastside Jewish CommonscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorP'nai Or's eastside services are held at the Eastside Jewish Commons two or more times per month. The EJCP provides venue space for the congregation's worship services and community events.
• St. Luke Lutheran ChurchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorP'nai Or's westside services are held at St. Luke Lutheran Church. The church provides venue space for Shabbat services and monthly Torah study.
• Jewish Community Relations CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCRC is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and represents the organized Jewish community of NW Oregon and SW Washington by sharing collective views on important public issues.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center of Washington CountyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2025-2026 Tzedakah Partner. Seeks to end domestic violence and abuse through trauma-informed and culturally appropriate wraparound services.
• Indivisible Civics OregonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2025-2026 Tzedakah Partner. Part of the Indivisible movement providing civic education, policy resources, and strategic guidance for progressive activism in Oregon.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IKAR: Los Angeles-based progressive Jewish community blending spiritual practice with social justice activism. Comparable to P'nai Or's integration of spiritual growth and Tikkun Olam-style community engagement.
• Romemu: New York City-based Jewish Renewal congregation offering contemplative, participatory services blending Judaism with mindfulness. Closest movement peer to P'nai Or, sharing ALEPH affiliation and a similar spiritual-but-egalitarian value proposition.
• Congregation Sha'ar Zahav: San Francisco LGBTQ+ affirming Jewish congregation rooted in progressive, inclusive Judaism. Comparable to P'nai Or in values, programming (Torah study, social justice), and demographic focus.
• Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST): NYC-based synagogue with a long-standing, well-known LGBTQ+ affirming identity. Directly comparable to P'nai Or's explicit inclusive positioning and serves as a benchmark for queer-affirming Jewish community in a major metro.
• B'nai Jeshurun: Innovative, progressive NYC synagogue known for participatory spiritual services and adult learning programs. Comparable to P'nai Or's emphasis on member-engaged worship and adult education offerings like Holy Joy.
• Congregation Kol Ami: LGBTQ+ affirming Jewish congregation serving a West Coast metro community. Comparable in inclusive positioning and Reform/renewal-adjacent orientation to P'nai Or.
• Havurah Shalom: Portland-based Jewish Renewal-affiliated congregation with a participatory, egalitarian model. Direct local peer sharing the same movement affiliation (ALEPH) and inclusive philosophical orientation as P'nai Or.
• Congregation Neveh Shalom: Larger Conservative synagogue in Portland serving the same regional Jewish population. Comparable as another Portland-area Jewish congregation competing for the same pool of congregants and donors.

Others

• ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal: Movement umbrella organization affiliated with P'nai Or. Functions as an enabling network providing rabbinic training, programmatic resources, and shared identity rather than a direct competitor.
• Eastside Jewish Commons: Portland Jewish community hub that hosts P'nai Or's services and serves other Jewish organizations. Ecosystem participant rather than competitor; venue partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pnai-or-of-portland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PNAI OR OF PORTLAND