Who The Folk?! Podcast

We are joined by Emma Dunn, the Twin Cities Young Adult Engagement Manager for the Minneapolis and St. Paul Jewish Federations. Emma and I talk about her journey to Judaism, what engagement means to her, and some upcoming Young Adult Leadership Action programs that she’s starting, on this week’s Who The Folk?! Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of...

We’re joined by St. Paul City Councilor Rebecca Noecker, who represents Ward 2 in the Capital City. Rebecca and I talk about why she got involved in politics, how Judaism and politics mix, and what her political aspirations are going forward. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmit...

We’re joined by Layah Shagalow, the assistant director of Shaarim. Layah tells us what it’s like to work for an organization that her mother founded and that she’s seen grow from the ground up, the opening of the Gateways Boutique Thrift Shop, and what it’s like to be back in Minnesota seven years later than she expected The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product...

This week we sit down with Ruth Hampton Olkon, the executive director of Jewish Family Service of St. Paul. We talk about what it’s like to come back to the agency after several years away, what she picked up while she was gone, and where she’s hoping to take JFS in the years ahead. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced...

What's it like to watch the trial of a former Nazi guard? St. Louis Park native Ben Cohen is just back from Germany where he represented his family at the trial a guard at the concentration camp his grandmother, Judy Meisel, survived. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If yo...

We are interviewing Katie Rosenberg, who is Herzl Camp's new Event Manager, to talk all about the upcoming Herzl In The City fundraiser on Nov. 16. Katie talks about her longstanding connection to Herzl Camp, why she loves event planning and why it's been something she's always wanted to in this week's Who The Folk and Hakshivu! Hakshivu! Podcast. http://herzlcamp.org/herzl-in-the-city/ The Who Th...

We are back from our high Holiday hiatus, and I'm joined by Stephanie Stillman, the volunteer coordinator at Second Harvest Heartland. We talk about food insecurity, her farming experience, and the meaning behind a very cool tattoo, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk e...

We sit down with Jess Braverman, the Legal Director at Gender Justice, a St. Paul-based non-profit legal and policy advocacy organization. We talk about what her organization does, what brought her to the advocacy law she has practiced, and how her Judaism impacts her work. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfol...

Today we talk travel and journalism with Lev Gringauz, whose work you've been reading on TC Jewfolk for a couple of years now, especially while he was in Israel and eastern Europe. Now he's back in Minnesota and launching a new project for TC Jewfolk – The Jews Are Tired. Lev explains what it is, and so much more, on this week's Who The Folk Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfo...

What brings people who have been life-long warm weather West Coast residents to Minnesota? Rabbi Jacob and Julie Rupp may be wondering the same thing in a few months. The Rupps are the new executive directors of Aish Minnesota. We talk about why the Rupps chose Minnesota, what led Jacob to the rabbinate, and the Jewish journey that brought the two of them to this point, on this week's Who The Folk...

This week we sit down with Rabbi Tobias Moss, the newest rabbi at Temple Israel. Rabbi Moss goes in-depth in the many forms of Judaism in his family, what drew him to Minnesota, and why he chose to tackle Yiddish (?!?!) on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief...

This week we're joined by Ross Fishman, a choir teacher, composer, and the founder of Barside Baby Music. We talk about his musical roots, how Barside Baby Music got started, and his process he goes through when he composes, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in...

Today I get the honor and pleasure of talking to Sara Bogomolny, my new co-worker at Jewfolk where she joined us last week as our new director of engagement. Sara talks about what brings her to the Twin Cities, how her theater background will help her in the job, and what creating a community means to her on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podc...

The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podcast Network, a product of Jewfolk, Inc. Episodes are produced by Jewfolk editor-in-chief Lonny Goldsmith. If you have questions, comments, or a guest to nominate, send an e-mail to editor@jewfolk.com. For more information, go to TCJewfolk.com/podcast

This week we sit down with Alex Fisher, who recently started a new job as the director of community education for the Hopkins School District. We talk about what community education is, how it's beneficial to the community – even empty nesters – and how the principles of community education apply to Judaism, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast. The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk P...

People have friends and family over brunch all the time. But for many years, Roni Falck and her family host brunches and dinners with a twist. Roni talks with us about the brunches that her and family host several times each year as a way to raise money for organizations and causes around the country. Roni tells us how these got started, how she uses them to teach her kids about tzedakah and tikku...

What brought a lifelong Wisconsinite to Minnesota? Zane Gayle saw nothing but opportunities. Gayle recently graduated with a master's in architecture degree from the University of Minnesota. His master's project focused on a theoretical redesigning of Minnesota Hillel's building, however he has also been involved in the very real process that Hillel is now going through to renovate its space. Zane...

As Cecil's Deli celebrates its 70th anniversary today, there is one person who has been involved since the beginning: Sheila Leventhal. As the daughter of the founders, Cecil and Faye Glickman, Sheila started as an 8-year-old helping around the market before the restaurant even opened 15 years later. Sheila reflects on a life shaping the family business and what it's like to have three generations...

Why, in the midst of working on your doctorate dissertation, would you go and write a book that has nothing to do with your dissertation topic? That's a question Noam Sienna wrestled with, but nonetheless went ahead and did it anyway. Noam talks about his book A Rainbow Thread: An Anthology of Queer Jewish Texts from the First Century to 1969, why he wrote it, some fascinating stories he learned i...

This week we sit down with newly inducted Jewish professional Hannah Gilfix, who's upgrading her longtime Jewish community involvement at Adath, USY and Herzl Camp with a new job at the Foundation for Jewish Camps. Hannah talks with us about being the leadership development fellow at the FJC, her ongoing work at Herzl Camp, and what it means to be a young Jewish professional, on this week's Who Th...

This week we were lucky enough to catch up with Congressman Dean Phillips. The representative of Minnesota's 3rd District was home on a brief Congregational recess, where we discussed the expectations of the job versus reality, the perpetual campaigning, and has mind changed on impeaching the president, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast.  The Who The Folk?! Podcast is part of the Jewfolk Podca...

How does a high school junior find time to act, sing, create art, start a business, and still up great grades? Sara Shiff says that she's still working on time management, but it's clear that she isn't daunted by a heavy workload. We talk to the Armstrong High School student about where she got her start, selling her beautiful artwork in an unsuspecting medium, and getting ready for Rimon's annual...

It's almost June, so this week we talk all things Pride with Jayce Koester, the J Pride program coordinator at Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis. Jayce reflects on their first year on the job, what new programs J Pride is running to celebrate Pride this coming month, and how the organization looks to connect with its constituency year-round, on this week's Who The Folk?! Podcast....

This week we sit down with Shari Aronson, the co-owner and co-creative director of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz, a non-profit arts group on a mission to delight children and adults with feats of imagination. Shari talks about how she and her husband started the organization, previews their next event which starts on June 1, and What's behind the name, in this week's Who The Folk?! podcast. https://zpuppe...

This week I get to sit down with Amir Kats. Amir is an award-winner conductor who currently is in his seventh season as conductor of the St. Paul JCC’s Symphony, fifth year as the orchestra and band teacher at Blake Middle School in Hopkins, and the first-year conductor of the Roseville String Ensemble. We talk about the importance of arts in schools, what it's like to lead one of the oldest commu...