The Jewish Review Podcast

On this special episode for the Jewish High Holy Days, host Rockne Roll visits with Rabbis Elizabeth Dunsker and Sara Abrams of Congregation Kol Ami in Vancouver, Wash. and Temple Beth Tikvah in Bend, Ore., respectively, about what makes Jewish life in their communities special and what's on their minds coming into the holiday season. Roll also speaks with Rabbi David Wolpe of Los Angeles, who recently visited Portland, about how he approaches the Holy Days and how to find joy and meaning in the holidays amid turbulent times. Check out all Jewish Portland has to offer this season at the Federation's High Holy Days Resources page at jewishportland.org/highholydayshappenings.Register online for Light in the Face of Darkness: Stories of Courage from October 7th at jewishportland.org/stories-of-courage.Learn more about the Federation's Global Travel Experiences program at jewishportland.org/jfgpglobaltravel.

On the Season Two Finale, host Rockne Roll speaks with Ahava Northwest co-founders Beni Henig and Whitney Jacobson on the history of Jewish matchmaking and the realities of modern Jewish dating. They discuss frustrations with dating apps, why dating in a Jewish context can be so complicated and ways to navigate those challenges. They also explore the holiday celebrating Jewish love, Tu B'Av. Learn more about Ahava Northwest's work and their upcoming Pints and Possibilities event at ahavanorthwest.com.Learn more about how the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's Gather Grants can help you do Jewish your way and apply for a grant for a fall event at Jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/gathergrants.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney, the lone Jewish member of Portland's recently-enlarged city council. They discuss how the changes brought on by the city's revised charter have gone, how her career in policy informs her outlook on her Judaism and whether all politics are still local.Roll also talks with Randy Kessler, the Northwest Regional Director of StandWithUs, about the NEA Representative Assembly's vote to cut ties with the Anti-Defamation League, how anti-Israel advocacy has become a part of conversations around education at the highest levels and how parents can get involved.Contact Kessler at northwest@standwithus.com Learn more about Jewish Free Loan of Oregon at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/jewish-free-loan.

In this final installment of a series of conversations with departing Portland clergy, host Rockne Roll visits Rabbi Ariel Stone of Congregation Shir Tikvah. They discuss the journey of founding the synagogue, the delight Rabbi Stone still finds in Torah study and her new summer hobby of llama-packing. Apply for the eighth cohort of PDX Pathways by Friday, July 11 at https://jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/young-adults/pdx-pathways

In the second of a series of interviews with departing longtime Portland clergy, host Rockne Roll welcomes Congregation Beth Israel Senior Cantor Ida Rae Cahana. They discuss the foundational role Jewish music has played in her life, the moments that have made her time at Beth Israel memorable, and what sets Jewish life in Portland apart.

On this first of a series of "exit interviews" for departing senior clergy in Portland, host Rockne Roll welcomes outgoing Congregation Neveh Shalom Senior Rabbi David Kosak. They discuss what brought Rabbi Kosak to Portland, the importance of serving the homeless and how inclusion has been a hallmark of his rabbinate.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll welcomes Mindy Zeitzer, the outgoing chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's Board of Directors. They discuss how much goes into being the volunteer chair of a community organization, the advice she’d go back and give herself when she took on this role and how her experiences in nursing education have impacted her outlook on her Judaism.Register for JFGP's 105th Annual Meeting at jewishportland.org/annual25.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Anouk Cohen and Ben Luria, Portland high school students who are participating in the inaugural Portland cohort of the Student to Student program. They talk about their experiences sharing their Jewish experiences with other students, many of whom have no prior experience with even meeting Jews, and what they hope to gain from the process. Additionally, Roll visits with author and speaker Dorice Horenstein about her forthcoming book, "Choose to Be Your Own Champion," and how the choices we make - and how we make them - affect who we are. Learn more about Student to Student and apply for next year's cohort at https://jewishportland.org/studenttostudent. Learn more about Horenstein's work and her new book at https://doricehorenstein.com.Learn about Dignity Grows and their upcoming packing party in Portland at https://jewishportland.org/dignitygrows.

On this episode, the name for which includes a Hebrew phrase which translates to "from generation to generation," host Rockne Roll talks with Sue Wendel, Debbi Montrose and Naomi Derner - all are descendants of Holocaust survivors. Each discusses their experience growing up in a survivor family, the idea of generational trauma and how the after effects of the Holocaust still show up in their lives. Learn more about Portland's Next Generations group at nextgenerationsgroup.wordpress.com. Learn more about 3GPNW at 3gpnw.org. Learn more about Dignity Grows and their upcoming Packing Party at jewishportland.org/dignitygrows.

On this Passover episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Noah Jacob, a luminary of Portland's Jewish culinary scene, about the makings of a top-tier seder dinner. They discuss how traditional seder dinner entrees came about, how to liven up the holiday meal and the secrets of the perfect roast chicken. Dr. Yosef Rosen also stops by to talk about how and - and why - to make your own matzah this year and ways to make your seder your own. Find a recording of Dr. Rosen's recent webinar on Seder hosting at jewishportland.org/pastevents. Check out Dr. Rosen's essay on homemade matzah in the Apr 2 edition of The Jewish Review at jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories/the-how-and-why-of-self-made-matzah.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll first speaks with Danielle Frandina, a curriculum developer at Facing History and Ourselves, about Facing History’s approach to teaching about contemporary antisemitism and how parents can get involved supporting their students. Later, Roll connects with Celia Janoff and Reuben Cohen from the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation about why philanthropy can also be a young person’s undertaking and why working together to support their community means so much more than going it alone.Frandina will be speaking at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland’s upcoming K-12 Parent Advocacy Night Monday, Apr. 7 at 7 pm at Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland. Registration is free and available at jewishportland.org/aprilparentadvocacynight.Learn more about Facing history and their work at facinghistory.org.Tickets for the OJCYF Benefit Dinner are available at ojcf.org/programs/benefit-event. Learn more about OJCYF at ojcf.org/programs/ojcyf.Sign up for JFGP’s free “How to Host a Passover Seder” webinar, scheduled for Thursday, Apr. 3 at 7 pm, at jewishportland.org/passoversederwebinar.Check out JFGP’s Passover Happenings page at jewishportland.org/passoverhappenings.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Volunteer Coordinator Merit Pinker. They discuss the centrality of volunteerism to both Jewish values and to Pinker's own personal experience, as well as some new opportunities to volunteer within the Jewish community here in Portland.Want to get involved? Complete the Federation's Volunteer Interest Form to get started!

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Arielle Goranson, the chair of Portland's chapter of Dignity Grows, a national Jewish organization working to alleviate period poverty. They discuss what period poverty is, what volunteering at one of Dignity Grows' packing parties is like, and why this problem is a Jewish issue. Learn more about Dignity Grows' work in Portland at jewishportland.org/dignitygrows. Nominations are now open for the 2025 Rogoway Award. Learn more and nominate a deserving Jewish professional at jewishportland.org/rogoway.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Pamela Barkley and Rabbi Daniel Brenner at Moving Traditions, a non-profit focused on improving Jewish teen wellbeing, about the challenges facing today's teenagers. They discuss how the reverberations of the COVID pandemic are still being felt, how big a stressor antisemitism is for today's Jewish teens, and what they need from the adults in their lives. Also, Dr. Yosef Rosen from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland presents a playlist of songs for celebrating Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees. Find Dr. Rosen's mix at tinyurl.com/tubshevattunes.Register for the Federation's upcoming Tu B'Shevat event Sunday, Feb. 23, at jewishportland.org/tubshevat.

Host Rockne Roll talks with Rebecca Caspi, the Jewish Federations of North America's Senior Vice President for Global Operations and Director-General of their Israel Office, about how Israel is responding to the ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Hezbollah. They discuss the mood in the country, how the recovery process is going for those hardest hit, and how JFNA's work in Pre-Oct. 7 Israel laid the foundation for their support of Israeli society today. Learn more at Jewishfederations.org. Check out JFGP's new Gather Grants program for support doing Judaism your way at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/gathergrants.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Oregon Jewish Community Foundation Director of Community Relations Noah Rosenberg. They discuss the history of Oregon's Jewish philanthropic resource, how the foundation works to support Jewish life throughout the area and why wealth isn't a prerequisite for philanthropy. Learn more at ojcf.org. Support wildfire relief in Los Angeles County through the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's Los Angeles Fires Relief Fund at jewishportland.org/lacountyfires.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Rabbi Eve Posen, Associate Rabbi of Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland and a former Rukin Rabbinic Fellow with 18 Doors, about how interfaith families can constructively approach multiple holiday traditions in the late stages of the year. They discuss the importance of communication, how Jewish institutions can support interfaith families, and the joys of Chanukah-themed pajamas. Learn more about the Rukin Fellowship and find resources for mixed-heritage Jewish families at 18doors.org. Find resources and events to celebrate Chanukah in Portland at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's Chanukah Happenings page at https://jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/chanukahresources24.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll goes over the basics of Kabbalah with Dr. Yosef Rosen, the recently-appointed Director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. They discuss the history of Jewish mysticism, where it can be found today and how to bring a small spark of the mystical into your Jewish practice. Reach Dr. Rosen by email at yosef@jewishportland.org. Check out the Federation's Chanukah Happenings page online at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/chanukahresources24.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with Naomi Malka, a long-time mikvah manager who consulted on the construction and operation of Rachel's Well Community Mikvah in Portland, Oregon. They discussed what makes a mikvah a mikvah, its many uses and why immersing in its sacred waters hast the potential to be a truly profound spiritual experience. Learn more about Rachel's Well in the Nov. 6 edition of The Jewish Review at https://jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories/rachels-well-celebrates-seven-years, and at the mikvah's website, https://jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/rachels-well-portland-mikvah.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with Professor Ellen Eisenberg, the Dwight & Margaret Lear Professor of American History at Willamette University, about the history of Jewish involvement in Oregon politics. They discuss the three distinct phases of Jewish participation in the state's elections and how Portland's progressive streak evolved hand-in-hand with Jewish community engagement in progressive causes.