It was an honor to welcome John and Amy Pregulman of KAVOD to Portland for two very special gatherings centered on honoring Holocaust Survivors and preserving their legacies. At a community reception hosted by JFCS, John and Amy shared the story of KAVOD and the meaningful work they do to support Holocaust Survivors with dignity and care and its impact on Survivors across the country.

The following day, at our Rosh Hashanah celebration, John continued another important part of his work: photographing Holocaust Survivors. The portraits you see below are of Survivors from our own community, captured as part of John’s ongoing portrait project to honor their lives and help preserve their stories and legacies for generations to come. We are so grateful to John and Amy for sharing their time, their work, and their hearts with our Portland community—and especially to the Survivors who chose to sit for these beautiful portraits.

KAVOD, a valued partner of JFCS and our Holocaust Survivor Services program, was founded in 2015 after John and Amy Israel Pregulman learned that thousands of Holocaust Survivors in the United States were struggling to meet basic needs. Today, recent studies estimate that approximately 31,000 Holocaust Survivors remain in the U.S., and more than 30% live at or near poverty. Through emergency financial assistance and partnerships with local agencies, KAVOD helps Survivors age with dignity, security, and independence. 100% of every dollar donated to KAVOD goes directly to Holocaust Survivors. 

In the Portland area, JFCS serves more than 70 Holocaust Survivors each year through case management, emergency financial assistance, homecare coordination, social connection, and other supportive services. KAVOD’s partnership helps JFCS respond when Survivors face unexpected financial emergencies that threaten their stability and well-being.

 To learn more about KAVOD, visit kavodensuringdignity.org