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 (3 Reader comments)

Vern Uyetake / West Linn Tidings

John Moss, founder of the South Metro Jewish Congregation and executive director of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, created a place in West Linn for parents to instruct the kids in the Jewish culture and religion. Each Friday night, the crosses at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church on Willamette Drive are covered and the Torah is brought out, transforming the church into a reform Jewish congregation.

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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.

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