On this episode, host Rockne Roll chats with Portland Ben Gurion Society Advisory Council members Whitney Kagan and Jeremy Greenberg about young adult leadership in Jewish communities. They discuss what the Ben Gurion Society is, their thoughts on the future of Jewish life and why putting their time, energy and money into Jewish community has been so richly rewarding.

Learn more about NextGen engagement opportunities within Portland's Jewish community at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/nextgen.

Check out the Federation's Chanukah Happenings page at jewishportland.org/ourcommunity/chanukahresources25.

On this episode, host Rockne Roll speaks with Dr. Dean Bell of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership about the challenges of community building in Jewish life. They discuss how polarization has affected efforts to create community across divides and what history can show us about this work. They also discuss looking at resilience as a developable skill and a tool for dealing with fast-paced change.

Learn more at Spertus.edu.

Check out the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland's young adult Israeli-style Friendsgiving at jewishportland.org/israelifriendsgiving.

On the Season Three Premiere, host Rockne Roll chats with Noam Schlanger of Dror Israel, an education nonprofit with projects throughout Israel. They discuss how the ceasefire and the return of hostages has affected Israeli society, how political polarization makes societal cohesion increasingly challenging and how Dror Israel's work has been affected - and continues to be affected - by the challenges Israel faces.

Learn more about Dror Israel's work at drorisrael.org.

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 [email protected]

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.