Some messages from our friends at the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland:
This is devastating news – I will be calling some of his congregation who are good friends first thing tomorrow just to acknowledge how important a friend he has been to so many of us – I am so very saddened by this news. How precious are those we’re in community with… Ann
My heart is breaking as I read the message you have shared. I have no other words at this moment.
Sadly
Helen
My heart was already boken with the events in Gaza, and then to receive this crushing news breaks my heart to a depth that is extremely difficult to fathom or communicate. Silence & tears is all I can produce in this “dark night of the soul. But our faiths all speak of Sun at Midnight. Rod
I can’t believe this news! Aryeh and I were just e-mailing. He was a dear and generous colleague and friend, who was most helpful in assisting me with my recent book, Shalom, Salaam, Peace, A Liberation Theology of Hope. It is as if a very talented, compassionate and brilliant song has ended abruptly. Blessings on his soul and upon his family, Constance
Our community has lost an articulate promoter and organizer of interfaith dialogue; and a fine singer of worshipful music. I only wish I had engaged him in longer conversations; but I will cherish his smiling face and attitude.
Jim Cavanaugh
Surely what a great loss for all of us in this city. I am deeply saddened with the sudden loss of one of our dignified religious leaders.
Rabbi Aryeh was a great human being that struggled internally and externally to live according to his belief values NOT worrying about What others will think of his “correct” or “incorrect” statements at time of crisis. We will never forget you Rabbi Aryeh . You will always remain in our mind. May God bless his soul & his family with the power to overcome this tragedy. May God give his family the mental strength to endure the sufferings
Indeed: “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”
Sincerely,
Wajdi Said
I am so sad to hear the tragic news about Rabbi Aryeh. He was a wonderful person–a spiritual mentor, a learned religious scholar, a loving father, a talented musician, and a creative, dedicated interfaith leader and advocate for peace and dialogue. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and congregation and grieving friends throughout the community.
In sorrow, Janet Leatherwood
I do not know what to say!
Aryeh was not only a friend but a dear brother.
He was so full of compassion and a desire to always reach out.
May God grant him peace and his family patience through this very difficult time!
Shahriar
To All of Aryeh’s Beloved Community,
A prophet has fallen, but, our faith compels us to know that Aryeh has been lifted up again in the presence of our God.
Let us surround his beloved family, his congregation, and his community with love, affection, and service, especially now
and also throughout the days and months to come.
A prophet has fallen, but his voice will continue to remind us of the work yet to be done, of the people still in need of
tender care, of peace yet to be realized in our world.
Aryeh has been and will continue to be, a beacon of light in the journey of interfaith life and ministry, we shall carry on
encouraged by Aryeh’s commitment and passion for all religious life.
Blessings,
Hector
I too am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield. Aryeh’s voice (both literal and spiritual) was heard and felt far beyond the Jewish community as evidenced by the sadness so poignantly expressed by so many of you. He will truly be missed.
Emily Georges Gottfried
Executive Director
Oregon Area Jewish Committee
I have searched all day for words…any words…that are in any way sufficient. The human vocabulary is simply inadequate to correctly represent the quality of admiration my congregation held for Rabbi Aryeh–or the combination of frustration and loss I feel personally at his passing.
Please accept our deepest commitment of support, and open-ended offer of assistance. ANYthing you need, please do not hesitate to ask it of us. With our highest regards,
Rev. Angie DeRouchie
Church of Scientology of Portland
When I spoke with my Mom in Portland this morning, she told me that Reb Aryeh had been remembered, and his family prayed for, at their church yesterday. They belong to Mission of the Atonement, a community of Lutherans and Catholics that is a member, with Reb Aryeh’s community P’Nai Or, of Oregon’s Community of Welcoming Congregations.
In years past, one of their members who knew Reb Aryeh quite well had invited him to sing at their church. My parents remember his wonderful voice. Another member with whom I am close had heard him sing and speak at a regional nursing convention, and wrote a note of condolence to me, because she remembered me speaking of him.
On Sunday, the Lutheran pastor gave a eulogy at the beginning of their service, and a retired priest, Father Matt, remembered him and his family in the closing prayer.
I was so touched to hear that this dear Rebbe was also held dear by my parents’ spiritual community. His neshamah shone out to them, and now their prayers join ours in lifting him into the Light.
Reb Aryeh agreed to teach a series on mystical Judaism at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. It was a crowded room, with a group that can be more than a little rambunctious. I remember being in absolute awe at his ability to be extemporaneous with such grace and humor, while discussing and singing about such abstract and difficult concepts. And he got us to sing, at a talk! Many speakers come to this group with prepared texts which they read. As one of the rambunctious ones, I understand why presenters choose to do that. Only the most evolved souls do well by winging it in this venue. Reb Aryeh was one of those evolved souls. I will always be grateful to have been there. My profound thanks, prayers, and blessings go to his family and to all those who were connected in life. I am consoled by a song he sang about The One To Which Each One is Joined and United. It is an amazingly comforting song when connections seem lost.
I have been thinking about adding my thoughts to this website every since Aryeh’s memorial, but something has always kept me away from even reading what others have written. Pastors, faith leaders, are not supposed to get angry with God, but I think that’s where I have been. None of us got to spend enough time with Aryeh, but most of you knew him better and longer than I did. I can only look back on a handful of conversations with Aryeh in the last five years since St Mark has shared their sacred space with P’nai Or. I feel cheated out of so much more insight and compassion with which Aryeh could and would have graced my life.
Last September, St Mark commissioned a large mural to be painted on the street side of our building. The young artist worked with people in our congregation on appropriate images for the mural. I hope you have seen it or will take a look soon. We now have our own “winged Aryeh” looking down over our faith communities and neighbors. The winged lion is the traditional symbol of St. Mark, but we also knew that “Aryeh” meant “lion.” Our “Aryeh” is fashioned after the NW Mountain Lions, however, in keeping with the other NW images in the mural, the eagle, an elk, a mountain, and rushing streams. In the center of the mural is the tree of life, another image our two faiths share. Under “Aryeh’s” one paw is an open book, symbolizing the word of God open to all people through Aryeh’s music and teaching. There are interfaith symbols on the horizontal beam under the open book. Our artist named his mural, “The Vigil of St. Mark.” (A name that some of us find quiet humbly and challenging!) I like to call it now, “The Vigil of Aryeh” and I have found great comfort in knowing that Aryeh is standing vigil just outside my office window!! “Well done! Good and faithful servant” we would say in our tradition. I miss you, Aryeh. And thank you, my P’nai Or brothers and sister, for the tears you helped me learn to cry.
Remembering Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield 
January 10, 2009 at 8:34 am
Some messages from our friends at the Interfaith Council of Greater Portland:
This is devastating news – I will be calling some of his congregation who are good friends first thing tomorrow just to acknowledge how important a friend he has been to so many of us – I am so very saddened by this news. How precious are those we’re in community with… Ann
My heart is breaking as I read the message you have shared. I have no other words at this moment.
Sadly
Helen
My heart was already boken with the events in Gaza, and then to receive this crushing news breaks my heart to a depth that is extremely difficult to fathom or communicate. Silence & tears is all I can produce in this “dark night of the soul. But our faiths all speak of Sun at Midnight. Rod
I can’t believe this news! Aryeh and I were just e-mailing. He was a dear and generous colleague and friend, who was most helpful in assisting me with my recent book, Shalom, Salaam, Peace, A Liberation Theology of Hope. It is as if a very talented, compassionate and brilliant song has ended abruptly. Blessings on his soul and upon his family, Constance
Our community has lost an articulate promoter and organizer of interfaith dialogue; and a fine singer of worshipful music. I only wish I had engaged him in longer conversations; but I will cherish his smiling face and attitude.
Jim Cavanaugh
Surely what a great loss for all of us in this city. I am deeply saddened with the sudden loss of one of our dignified religious leaders.
Rabbi Aryeh was a great human being that struggled internally and externally to live according to his belief values NOT worrying about What others will think of his “correct” or “incorrect” statements at time of crisis. We will never forget you Rabbi Aryeh . You will always remain in our mind. May God bless his soul & his family with the power to overcome this tragedy. May God give his family the mental strength to endure the sufferings
Indeed: “To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”
Sincerely,
Wajdi Said
I am so sad to hear the tragic news about Rabbi Aryeh. He was a wonderful person–a spiritual mentor, a learned religious scholar, a loving father, a talented musician, and a creative, dedicated interfaith leader and advocate for peace and dialogue. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and congregation and grieving friends throughout the community.
In sorrow, Janet Leatherwood
I do not know what to say!
Aryeh was not only a friend but a dear brother.
He was so full of compassion and a desire to always reach out.
May God grant him peace and his family patience through this very difficult time!
Shahriar
To All of Aryeh’s Beloved Community,
A prophet has fallen, but, our faith compels us to know that Aryeh has been lifted up again in the presence of our God.
Let us surround his beloved family, his congregation, and his community with love, affection, and service, especially now
and also throughout the days and months to come.
A prophet has fallen, but his voice will continue to remind us of the work yet to be done, of the people still in need of
tender care, of peace yet to be realized in our world.
Aryeh has been and will continue to be, a beacon of light in the journey of interfaith life and ministry, we shall carry on
encouraged by Aryeh’s commitment and passion for all religious life.
Blessings,
Hector
I too am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield. Aryeh’s voice (both literal and spiritual) was heard and felt far beyond the Jewish community as evidenced by the sadness so poignantly expressed by so many of you. He will truly be missed.
Emily Georges Gottfried
Executive Director
Oregon Area Jewish Committee
January 10, 2009 at 8:41 am
I have searched all day for words…any words…that are in any way sufficient. The human vocabulary is simply inadequate to correctly represent the quality of admiration my congregation held for Rabbi Aryeh–or the combination of frustration and loss I feel personally at his passing.
Please accept our deepest commitment of support, and open-ended offer of assistance. ANYthing you need, please do not hesitate to ask it of us. With our highest regards,
Rev. Angie DeRouchie
Church of Scientology of Portland
January 13, 2009 at 3:31 am
Dear Chevre,
When I spoke with my Mom in Portland this morning, she told me that Reb Aryeh had been remembered, and his family prayed for, at their church yesterday. They belong to Mission of the Atonement, a community of Lutherans and Catholics that is a member, with Reb Aryeh’s community P’Nai Or, of Oregon’s Community of Welcoming Congregations.
In years past, one of their members who knew Reb Aryeh quite well had invited him to sing at their church. My parents remember his wonderful voice. Another member with whom I am close had heard him sing and speak at a regional nursing convention, and wrote a note of condolence to me, because she remembered me speaking of him.
On Sunday, the Lutheran pastor gave a eulogy at the beginning of their service, and a retired priest, Father Matt, remembered him and his family in the closing prayer.
I was so touched to hear that this dear Rebbe was also held dear by my parents’ spiritual community. His neshamah shone out to them, and now their prayers join ours in lifting him into the Light.
B’Shalom
Annette
January 14, 2009 at 5:34 am
Reb Aryeh agreed to teach a series on mystical Judaism at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. It was a crowded room, with a group that can be more than a little rambunctious. I remember being in absolute awe at his ability to be extemporaneous with such grace and humor, while discussing and singing about such abstract and difficult concepts. And he got us to sing, at a talk! Many speakers come to this group with prepared texts which they read. As one of the rambunctious ones, I understand why presenters choose to do that. Only the most evolved souls do well by winging it in this venue. Reb Aryeh was one of those evolved souls. I will always be grateful to have been there. My profound thanks, prayers, and blessings go to his family and to all those who were connected in life. I am consoled by a song he sang about The One To Which Each One is Joined and United. It is an amazingly comforting song when connections seem lost.
March 2, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I have been thinking about adding my thoughts to this website every since Aryeh’s memorial, but something has always kept me away from even reading what others have written. Pastors, faith leaders, are not supposed to get angry with God, but I think that’s where I have been. None of us got to spend enough time with Aryeh, but most of you knew him better and longer than I did. I can only look back on a handful of conversations with Aryeh in the last five years since St Mark has shared their sacred space with P’nai Or. I feel cheated out of so much more insight and compassion with which Aryeh could and would have graced my life.
Last September, St Mark commissioned a large mural to be painted on the street side of our building. The young artist worked with people in our congregation on appropriate images for the mural. I hope you have seen it or will take a look soon. We now have our own “winged Aryeh” looking down over our faith communities and neighbors. The winged lion is the traditional symbol of St. Mark, but we also knew that “Aryeh” meant “lion.” Our “Aryeh” is fashioned after the NW Mountain Lions, however, in keeping with the other NW images in the mural, the eagle, an elk, a mountain, and rushing streams. In the center of the mural is the tree of life, another image our two faiths share. Under “Aryeh’s” one paw is an open book, symbolizing the word of God open to all people through Aryeh’s music and teaching. There are interfaith symbols on the horizontal beam under the open book. Our artist named his mural, “The Vigil of St. Mark.” (A name that some of us find quiet humbly and challenging!) I like to call it now, “The Vigil of Aryeh” and I have found great comfort in knowing that Aryeh is standing vigil just outside my office window!! “Well done! Good and faithful servant” we would say in our tradition. I miss you, Aryeh. And thank you, my P’nai Or brothers and sister, for the tears you helped me learn to cry.