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 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 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 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, 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 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 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.