John Moss faithfully serves West Linn

Once active in city politics, Moss now energizes the local Jewish community

By Nicole DeCosta

The West Linn Tidings, Jan 25, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Seated next to new members at the South Metro Jewish Congregation in West Linn, John Moss welcomed the guests at the worship gathering.

As Jewish prayer books were handed out, he turned and smiled at the guests. Moss said he felt calm and content – surrounded by his community.

Once a passionate city volunteer, Moss has been hard to find lately.

“It’s somebody else’s turn. I’ve gotten the fruits of it and I’m on my way. I’m doing fine,” said West Linn resident Moss, 52. “There is such great raw clay in this town where people can follow passions and do good things and be great examples for their children.”

Lately, Moss has followed his passions for the local Jewish community.

After forming South Metro Jewish Congregation years ago with other local families, he now enjoys sitting back to observe the meaning of community and tradition. And as executive director at The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation – a nonprofit community endowment organization based in Portland – Moss spreads his enthusiasm for community involvement throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.

He said his time in West Linn has molded him into the individual he is today, a man for others.

“I found who I really am in Oregon. Before, I was a salesman,” said Moss. “Oregon has brought out that I’m a citizen.”

Becoming a citizen

After growing up in a suburb of New York City and spending time in Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles, Moss said he is used to a fast pace.

Over the years he has worked at the CBS Radio Network and at Mutual Broadcasting as a sales manager for Dick Clark and Larry King’s syndicated programs nationwide. He also marketed Teleport, an Internet service provider, through its growth phase.

After researching cities up and down the West Coast, Moss opted to relocate to West Linn in 1989 to raise his growing family.

He soon became involved with city government, pioneering a broadband cable Internet connection to West Linn. He later served as a city council member with off-and-on terms with the planning commission, ending in 2003.

“John is an excellent leader and an excellent communicator. He really tries to get to a ‘win-win’ for the residents as well as the community,” said Mayor Norm King, who worked on the planning commission with Moss.

“John has always been very generous with his opinion but he also wants somebody else’s opinion and he respects it. There is a lot of value in diversity of opinions and beliefs, and John always promotes that and respects other people’s opinions.”

But still the adjustment to West Linn wasn’t easy. Feeling lonely and distant from extended family and friends Moss looked to reach out to his community.

In 1992, Moss collaborated with a few other local Jewish families in West Linn wanting to provide Jewish instruction to their kids. His sense of community expanded quickly.

“I’m a community builder. That’s what I am. That’s what I do,” said Moss. “That’s what I get my pleasure from. That’s my reason to exist without any hesitation or embarrassment.”

Starting a congregation

Moss said there are about 400 Jewish households in West Linn, according to the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. One hundred of those families worship at South Metro Jewish Congregation, which Moss helped form.

“It was all about the kids and (it) evolved with the adults,” said Roberta DiAsis, another founding member of SMJC. “John really believed in the growth of the congregation. … He’s given so much direction for philanthropy at the children’s level. It’s really been exciting to watch him develop and grow.”

Initiated by seven families, worship services began in local houses. As its popularity grew, SMJC secured a permanent space at Emmanuel Presbyterian on Willamette Drive. Each Friday night SMJC transforms the church into a reform-Jewish congregation. Religious school activities for children are held at Sunset Primary School.

“SMJC has been a place (where) we have been able to pass on spiritual and educational traditions to our kids,” said Mair and Jon Blatt of West Linn, members of the SMJC for 10 years. “We joined because of John.”

Another member credited Moss’s contributions.

“Without John, we would not probably exist today,” said Eve Miller, founding member of SMJC. “I truly believe we are a strong and established congregation largely due to his efforts and devotion.”

From Moss’ efforts the Jewish house of worship has become a self-sustaining community.

“There’s no question that John’s vision, impetus and energy as one of the founders of SMJC is very much at the core and heart of what SMJC is. But SMJC — thanks very much to John’s energy and the other founders — has really grown,” said Rabbi Annette Koch at SMJC. “We’re a community of very cooperative spirits.”

While Moss served as president and vice president for about 10 years, he said it’s great to see others “bask in the pleasure of ownership through involvement now.”

“South Metro is ever present in the back of my mind throughout the week. It takes up a lot of mental real estate, but not nearly as much as when I was one of the driving forces for the group,” he said.

Members said SMJC is a friendly environment.

“(I enjoy) the open, inviting nature of the members,” said Don Spear, SMJC member. “The majority of the families are in inter-faith marriages and all are accepted equally.”

While the church started at a grass-roots level, its now in it’s teen-age years and growing strong, said DeAsis.

“We have a plan and I would like to think that we’ll have our own building someday,” said DeAsis.

Following a foundation

Moss now concentrates his energies as executive director for the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, overseeing funds of the foundation. In 2005, the foundation administered approximately $40 million in permanent endowments, said Moss.

The OJCF is dedicated to creating, promoting and facilitating a culture of giving, and it serves as a permanent repository of funds available to safeguard the quality of Jewish communal life in Oregon and Southwest Washington, according to the mission statement.

“The slogan is, ‘how can we help you help?’ This is what I do for a living — helping other people. And I get paid to do this,” said Moss smiling and raising his eyebrows in amazement.

The OJCF is now taking an active role to create young philanthropists through the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation where students visit a Jewish and secular charity.

“I teach these kids that there is no reason they should be embracing impotence,” Moss said.

Soon, 1,200 Portland-area children ages 6 months to 5 years will receive Jewish books from the PJ Library. Standing for ‘pajama library,’ the PJ library is funded nationally in partnership with The Harold Grinspoon Foundation and local organizations such as the OJCF. These children who live with at least one Jewish parent will receive a Jewish-themed book each month to help create stronger Jewish homes, according to the official Web site.

Moss said this program seemed a natural fit for the OJCF.

“This is literacy and to create a Jewish tradition,” said Moss. “This is so that the special moment of reading to a child becomes a Jewish moment.”

Co-workers say they notice “Jewish moments” often at work.

“(Moss) walks the walk, doesn’t just talk the talk. To me, that’s far more important than anyone spouting religious doctrine; he lives it,” said Alicia Byerley, finance manager at OJCF. “John is a great guy to work with. Notice I said ‘work with’ and not ‘work for.’ We’re a team here.”

Moss described his way of life similar to a team effort — he can’t help others without others to help. He can’t try to bring people together on a community level if they are not willing. And he can’t communicate his core values without the help of others.

“I’m happy. I have a job now that I think is the greatest second-half-of-life job anyone can have,” said Moss. “I’m very pleased. I’m an extremely fortunate and lucky man. I love my wife. I love my children. I don’t have a horrible commute to work. And everyday I get to do something good as opposed to wondering, ‘what’s the value?’ ”

Moss said that his work with the foundation and congregation are rewarding each day.

“You should have passion. That’s the juice in life,” said Moss, “that you know you’re doing something. We should have something that sets off our endorphins. That makes for a life.”

At the end of any given Friday’s SMJC service, Moss and his wife Jo-Ann linger to catch up with other local families. Oftentimes the couple heads across the street to indulge in ice cream before heading home — a scenic drive through his favorite town in the world, West Linn.

For more information about South Metro Jewish Congregation, visit www.smjc.org.

For more information about The Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and the PJ Library, visit www.ojcf.org.