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 camp more affordable at jewishportland.org/inclusion-camping. Read the first of The Jewish...

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 PDX - learn more at jewishportland.org/pdxjewishpride.

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 thus far in today's Jewish Review - online at jewishportland.org/jewishreview. Your gift to...

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 jewishportland.org/jfgpannual24.

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 Shalom is open to the public for a small membership fee. Learn more at...

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 tickets to Rabins' performance with the Camas High School Choir at Revolution Hall online at...

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 Portland's Fertile Ground Festival in April - tickets at fertilegroundpdx.org. Mar. 17 is Super...

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 upcoming annual benefit, check out today's edition of The Jewish Review at...

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 Jewish Professional Award at jewishportland.org/rogoway.

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 media affects perceptions within the Arab world. Read more about Sharaka's visit to Portland as part...

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 [email protected].

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 campuses throughout the Portland area, including Lewis and Clark College and Portland State...

Host Rockne Roll explores the onslaught of antisemitism with Bob Horenstein and Rachel Nelson from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. This is the first of a two-part series on antisemitism. Email Horenstein at [email protected] Email Nelson at [email protected] Learn more about the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's Working Definition of Antisemitism here.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks latkes (and more) with chef and writer Sonya Sanford, author of "Braids: Recipes from my Pacific Northwest Jewish kitchen." Sanford discusses her ideal latke, new twists on Chanukah's classic tastes and how cooking connects her with her Jewish roots. Pre-order "Braids" online at sonyasanford.com/book. Read about "Braids" in the Oct. 18 edition of The Jewish Review at jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories/braids-a-lifelong-dream-for-sanford

Host Rockne Roll talks with Portland's Jewish Community Chaplain, Rabbi Barry Cohen, about how loss and tragedy affects us and the importance of community and hope in difficult times. Rabbi Cohen's recent columns in The Jewish Review: "A time to embrace nuance" - from the Nov. 1, 2023 issue: https://jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories/embrace-nuance "An antidote to spiritual fatigue" from the Nov. 15, 2023 issue:...

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Aaron Henne, artistic director of theatre dybbuk. Based in Los Angeles, theatre dybbuk takes a unique approach to developing theatre, creative workshops and leadership training through a Jewish lens. Learn more about their work at theatredybbuk.org. Subscribe to The Jewish Review for FREE at jewishportland.org/subscribe. Questions, comments, or suggestions? Email [email protected]

On this episode, host Rockne Roll talks with Dr. Rick Hodes, the Medical Director in Ethiopia for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Dr. Hodes has changed countless lives in Ethiopia, treating scores of the world's worst spinal deformities. This conversation, recorded in September, is presented in hope of being an inspiration in challenging times. Learn more about JDC's work in over 70 countries at JDC.org. More about Dr. Hodes can be found at rickhodes.org.

On a holiday episode of The Jewish Review Podcast, host Rockne Roll talks with Scott McKinley, a prolific sukkah builder in Portland, about what makes his sukkot unique and what makes the holiday special for him. Hebrew words used in this episode: teshuvah - lit. "returning," often meaning repentance but also describing those coming into Judaism; sukkah - "booth" or "hut;" sukkot - the plural of sukkah, also the name of the seven-day festival in which Jews dwell in such structures.

On the very first Jewish Review Podcast, host Rockne Roll talks with Julie Platt, the board chair for the Jewish Federations of North America, about her family legacy in Jewish communal work, her favorite parts of the High Holidays, and having a family in show business. Hebrew words in this episode: shloshim -The 30-day period of mourning following the death of a close family member. simcha - literally "happiness," it also refers to celebration. Pesach - Passover.