The Jewish Review Podcast

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...

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...

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 j...

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. Che...

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 editi...

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 i...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Adinah Miller, a veteran Jewish educator and the program manager of Tivnu: Building Justice in Portland about the festival of Sukkot. They cover the basics, examine the connections between Tivnu's work and the messages of the holiday, and go over some ways to add meaning and richness to one's own Sukkot observance.

In this special episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Jewish Federations of North America President and CEO Eric Fingerhut on the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terror attacks and how they've reshaped, and continued to reshape, Jewish life in North America. They discuss the radicalization of college campuses, how conversations have shifted around Israel, and why community engagement is the crucial action...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Maddie Herrup, a rabbinic student and former Springboard Social Justice Fellow at Greater Portland Hillel, about the intersection of Jewish fast days and disordered eating. Herrup shares her personal story and offers insight and resources for those in similar circumstances, as well as discussing what draws her to pursuing life as a rabbi.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll explores the foundations of Jewish early childhood education with Dr. Tamar Andrews of American Jewish University's Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership. They discuss how Jewish communities got involved in preschool, why early childhood education is so valuable, and how to find the right preschool for your family. Learn more about AJU's programs traini...

On the Season Two Premier of The Jewish Review Podcast, host Rockne Roll talks with Rabbi Josh Rose of Co/Lab PDX about the meaning of the month of Elul, which leads into Judaism's High Holidays. They discuss practices to add significance to this time, texts that examine Elul's purpose and connection to Jewish spirituality, and why studying Jewish texts is so valuable even for the least religious...

On the season one finale of The Jewish Review Podcast, host Rockne Roll talks with Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Chief Development Officer Wendy Kahn and Campaign Co-Chair Jack Birnbach about their recent journey to Germany and Israel as part of the Jewish Federations of North America's FRD Leadership Mission. The pair visited work funded by contributions from Federation donors in both cou...

On the occasion of the 30th yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, z"l, known around the world as The Rebbe, host Rockne Roll talks to Chabad of Oregon's Rabbi Motti Wilhelm. They discuss the growth of Chabad, how The Rebbe's vision still shapes Chabad's work today, and the sense of urgency that is integral to everything Chabad does.

Host Rockne Roll talks with Rabbi Avi Orlow from the Foundation for Jewish Camp about how Jewish overnight camp took on its modern form, how essential the experience is to the Jewish community as a whole and how to address the barriers that keep kids from going to camp. Learn more about the Foundation for Jewish Camp at jewishcamp.org Check out local resources to help find the right camp and make...

On this Pride-themed episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Rabbi Rachel Joseph of Congregation Beth Israel in Portland about her experiences as a leader in Jewish and LGBTQ+ spaces. They look at the history of queer Jews in organized Jewish life and how important representation is in leadership roles, how far equal rights have come and what's left to be done. Get involved with Jewish Pride Greater...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll sits down with Jewish Federation of Greater Portland CEO Marc Blattner, who recently passed 30 years working in Jewish Federations in the United States. From Baltimore, Atlanta and Philadelphia to Portland, Marc discusses his career thus far, his ideas on Jewish community in the future, and the secret to the perfect corned beef sandwich. Read more on Marc's career...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Rabbi Meir Goldstein, Senior Jewish Educator at Oregon Hillel in Eugene, about the protest encampment that has popped up at the University of Oregon, how these occupations are impacting Jewish students and how they differ from protest movements of the past. Register for the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's 104th annual meeting today at jewishpor...

In this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Leora Troper, the librarian of the Feldstein Library at Portland's Congregation Neveh Shalom, about haggadot - the plural of haggadah , the book that lays out the events of a Passover seder. They discuss the history and diversity of haggadot , as well as ideas for personalizing a haggadah for your own seder. The Feldstein Library at Congregation Neveh S...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll digs into the nuts and bolts of b'nai mitzvah ceremonies and the work that goes into preparing for them. First, Cantor Rayna Green of Congregation Beth Israel talks about the history and process of becoming b'nai mitzvah. Then, Alicia Jo Rabins discusses her work as a b'nai mitzvah tutor and what becoming b'nai mitzvah outside of a synagogue looks like. Get ticket...

In this special episode, host Rockne Roll is joined by panelists Laura Jeser and David Fuks for a public radio-inspired Purim party. Check out all of Portland's Purim happenings at jewishportland.org/purim. David Fuks appears in Mask and Mirror Community Theater's "Inherit The Wind" through Mar. 17 - tickets at maskandmirror.com . His latest work, “True Life – A Shooter’s Story,” will appear at Po...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with Tali Greenfield, a senior at Lakeridge High School in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego and a member of the Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation board about the experience of philanthropy as a young adult and what's its like to be a Jewish teen in 2024. Learn more about OJCYF's work at ojcf.org/programs/ojcyf . For more information about OJCYF's up...

Host Rockne Roll talks to Jewish Free Loan of Oregon chair Les Gutfreund about the Torah's edict to lend without interest and how that has manifested as Jewish Free Loan programs in Portland and elsewhere. Learn more about Jewish Free Loan of Oregon at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/jewish-free-loan. Nominate a deserving Jewish professional in Portland for the 2024 Laurie Rogoway Outstanding Jewi...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with a delegation from Sharaka. With a name that means "partnership" in Arabic, Sharaka works to promote the Abraham Accords treaties as a model for a peaceful, prosperous Middle East. In part one, Ahmed Khuzaie, Naveen Elias and Dan Feferman discuss the political situation in the region. Later, Fatima Al Harbi and Youssef Elazhari talk about how social medi...

Host Rockne Roll discusses the New Year of the Trees with arborist and Moishe Pod West PDX co-leader David Stein. They dig into the origins of Tu B'Shevat and the opportunity to slow down and connect with nature. Check out David and his cousin, Sam, on Instagram at @moishepodwestpdx Need an arborist? Contact David's Tranquility Tree Care at tranquilitytreecare@gmail.com.

On this second of a two-part series about Antisemitism in post-Oct. 7 Oregon, host Rockne Roll chats with the executive directors of Oregon's Hillel chapters; Andy Gitelson of Oregon Hillel and Hannah Sherman from Greater Portland Hillel. Oregon Hillel serves the University of Oregon in Eugene and Oregon State University in Corvallis. Learn more at oregonhillel.org . Greater Portland Hillel serves...