June 27, 2024 | 6pm – 7pm, Doors open at 5:30pm | Tickets at bottom of page
Join Rabbi Rachel Joseph of Congregation Beth Israel and Blair Denniberg of Tisch PDX for a conversation about queer Jewish identity. The panelists will discuss what it means to be a queer Jew, both historically and currently, and reflect on the future of Jewish LGBTQIA+ community in Oregon. This event is presented as part of Oregon Jews, A to Z.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds for this program. If this applies to you, please get in touch with akurson@ojmche.org.
Rabbi Rachel Joseph joined Congregation Beth Israel in July of 2012 bringing her passion, commitment, and leadership for community building. She is a leader in social and racial justice activism as well as in equity and inclusion efforts with the CBI and greater Portland communities. She serves on the boards of Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon, is a member of the National Clergy Advisory Board for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and has previously been on the board of TIVNU, the Jewish Gap Year Program and chair of the Oregon and SW Washington Board of Rabbis. Since becoming an Oregonian, Rabbi Joseph has steadily increased her collection of gear and love of outdoor adventures, but draws the line at sleeping on the ground. In her time away from the pulpit, Rabbi Joseph enjoys adventures with her wife Sara, and their blended family of children, Zia, Bennet, and Max; dog, Keshet, and two cats, Olga and Misha.
Blair Denniberg is an alumnus of TischPDX’s second cohort and a proud Jewish lesbian. She first joined the TischPDX board as secretary in 2021 and now serves as board co-chair. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of South Florida and a Master of Nonprofit Management degree from Florida Atlantic University. Blair started her career as an executive administrator at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) where she found a strong sense of purpose by supporting science education, equality, and anti-racism. She currently serves as the executive assistant to the CEO at Northwest Permanente. Outside of work, Blair is passionate about bringing Portland’s queer Jewish together through Shabbat dinners and queer mikvah gatherings. She is a member of Congregation Shir Tikvah and also serves as a volunteer contemporary mikvah guide at Rachel’s Well, the Portland community’s mikvah. In addition to her work in the queer Jewish community, Blair also serves as a member of the Five Oaks Museum Board. She lives in Southeast Portland with her wife Rebecca, and cats, Shmuly and Konami.