Jeremy Ben-Ami is the Founder and President of J Street, an American Pro-Israel and pro-peace lobby in Washington D.C.

J Street Portland and the World Affairs Council of Oregon co-sponsored an apearance by Mr. Ben-Ami October 23rd 2011, where he spoke on the themes of his new book A New Voice For Israel and also spoke on current events in the Middle East.

Mr. Ben-Ami is introduced by Rabbi Ariel Stone, and a question and answer session follows his remarks.

The Hon. Judge Michael H. Simon spoke during Kabbalat Shabbat services September 2nd, 2011 at Congregation Beth Israel in Portland Oregon. A former president of CBI, Oregon's newest Federal Judge gave a dvar Torah relating the Parsha Shoftim with his work as a judge, and with the new challenges of his new position.

CBI Rabbi Emeritus, Emanuel Rose introduces Judge Simon.

Part 2 of the program from May 17, 2011. The first questions are asked by moderator Bob Horenstein, then questions are taken from the audience.

On May 17, 2011 at the MJCC, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland Community Relations Comittee presented “Combating the Anti-Israel Boycott and Divestment Movement, Perspectives from the Left, Right and Center”. 

JFGP Community Relations Director Bob Horenstein moderated a panel including J Street Education Fund Vice President Rachel Lerner, Jewish Council for Public Affairs Senior Vice President and Israel Action Network chief Martin J. Raffel, and StandWithUs Regional Director Rob Jacobs.

This audio file (Part 1) contains introductory remarks, the audio from a short video shown to introduce the subject material, and the prepared remarks from the three panelists.

Liz Schwartz interviews Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, Founder and President of Uri L'Tzedek, the first Orthodox Jewish social justice organization, which is working to ensure fair labor practices for workers in kosher restaurants. This interview was from a radio program first aired May 1, 2011.

For more information on Uri L'Tzedek, go to www.utzedek.org

Jewish Review contributor Liz Schwartz interviews journalist and author Sue Fishkoff, about her latest book, Kosher Nation: why more and more of America's food answers to a higher authority.

This interview was originally broadcast on the Yidish Hour April 10, 2011.

On April 5th, 2011 The Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Portland presented Hannah Rosenthal, Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism. U.S. Department of State.

Ms. Rosenthal spoke at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center about her work representing the United States, in conversations with world leaders and governments regarding Anti-Semitism. Her remarks were followed by a question and answer session.

The Portland Chamber Orchestra will perform Grigori Frid's The Diary of Anne Frank on Friday April 8th, Saturday April 9th, and Sunday April 10th 2011 in Portland Oregon. Maestro Yaakov (Yaki) Bergman and Soprano Ani Maldjian discuss the music and libretto for this opera with Yiddish Hour host Ed Kraus.

Rabbi Steven Wernick, President of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism visted Portland two days before the release of a strategic plan for the future direction of the Conservative Movement. Rabbi Wernick spoke Feb 1st at Congregation Neveh Shalom and took questions from the audience.

Mark Rosenblum is an historian at Queens College where is is Director of the Michael Harrington Center and head of its Middle East Project. A founder of Americans for Peace Now, he has attended numerous peace conferences with leaders of Israel, Arab Countries and the PLO.

Professor Rosenblum was a guest of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland on January 13th, 2011 where he spoke for an hour on the current political moment in the Middle East.

These remarks were made before the most recent political developments of January 2011, where Ehud Barak left the Labor Party and Russia re-stated it's support (since 1988 by the USSR) for Palestine independence.