Mitzvah Expo Podcast

Rabbi Cantor Dr. Linda Bernstein, Producer, Writer and Host of Mitzvah Expo welcomes Karen Bloom, Region President of Hadassah's Central Pacific Coast Region, to explore the mission and impact of Hadassah: The Women's Zionist Organization of America. Bloom shares the story of founder Henrietta Szold, who sent two nurses to pre-state Israel in 1912 and laid the foundation for the country's healthcare system and for the Hadassah Medical Organization, a Jerusalem-based hospital system. Today, Hadassah hospitals in Israel provide care for more than 1 million people each year and pioneer medical research that has global impact. Hadassah also supports two youth Aliyah villages in Israel that set vulnerable youth on the path to a rewarding future. Hadassah brings women together to drive this life-changing work and effect change on such critical issues as ensuring a strong US-Israel relationship, combatting antisemitism and advancing women’s health. Bloom also discusses Hadassah's crisis response after October 7th, including the accelerated opening of the Gandel Rehabilitation Center for injured soldiers. Visit the Hadassah Showcase page at MitzvahExpo.org for links and more information on how to support Hadassah’s work by becoming a member and advocating with the organization.

Rabbi Cantor Dr. Linda Bernstein, Producer, Writer and Host of Mitzvah Expo (MitzvahExpo.org), the new Jewish organization showcase, sits down with Jackie Solomont, Senior Associate Regional Director for the ADL Central Pacific, to explore the Anti-Defamation League's mission, history, and evolving approach to fighting hate. Solomont breaks down the ADL's three core pillars, protect, advocate, and educate and explains how the organization tracks extremism online, responds to incidents on the ground, and builds tools to combat antisemitism that other organizations can use. They discuss the challenge of conflict-driven antisemitism, the role social media plays in spreading misinformation, and how the ADL is using its own AI model to help K-12 educators navigate difficult situations. Solomont also reflects on the ADL's proud history of standing alongside other communities in the fight for civil rights, from filing an amicus brief in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education advocating against school segregation, to marching on Washington, and why that cross-community solidarity still drives the work today.

Rabbi Cantor Dr. Linda Bernstein, producer, writer and host of Mitzvah Expo interviews Cindy Rogoway, Executive Director of Hebrew Free Loan Association of San Francisco to talk about the mission of this 129-year-old nonprofit organization that provides interest-free loans to help primarily Jewish individuals in Northern California to overcome financial challenges and pursue life dreams.  Hebrew Free Loan San Francisco is a founding member of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans. Learn about what the Hebrew Free Loan San Francisco does and be inspired to get involved. Cindy Rogoway has been with Hebrew Free Loan San Francisco for 23 years. She began as the agency’s first Development Director leading fundraising and marketing efforts and later went on to oversee the loan program. In 2014 she was named Executive Director, becoming  the first woman to lead the organization since its founding in 1897. Throughout her tenure Cindy has helped expand the agency’s impact enabling countless borrowers to achieve greater financial stability and pursue their goals. See the ⁠Showcase Page⁠ for more information.

In this second episode of Mitzvah Expo, the Jewish organization showcase, we feature the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Bay Area, the largest collective voice of Bay Area Jews, embracing and celebrating the rich diversity of Jewish identity and our broader community.

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > &nbsp; Our debut podcast of&nbsp;Mitzvah Expo&nbsp;with&nbsp;Producer, Writer and Host,&nbsp;Rabbi Cantor Dr. Linda Bernstein&nbsp;(Rabbi Linda)&nbsp;features&nbsp;Jewish National Fund USA.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rabbi Linda interviews Jewish National Fund-USA, CEO, Russell F. Robinson, considered one of the leading Zionist figures in the Diaspora, having shepherded&nbsp;this&nbsp;venerable organization&nbsp;into the 21st century as one of the most effective, trusted, and visionary organizations for the land and people of Israel.Listen to this compelling program and learn that Jewish National Fund-USA's work goes way beyond planting trees. They are&nbsp;planting the seeds for Israel's future in countless ways through their many meaningful and innovative initiatives.Among his boldest initiatives is his plan to develop the&nbsp;World Zionist Village, a 16 acre, $350 million hub for Zionist learning currently under construction in Beersheba.&nbsp;Under Robinson’s leadership, the organization is also securing Israel’s future by developing the most livable towns and cities in Israel’s North and South to attract 800,000 new residents, while linking learning, travel, and leadership so youth, families, and adults stay connected to Israel from generation to generation.&nbsp;

A new podcast celebrating the organizations and leaders strengthening Jewish life is on the way. Hosted by Rabbi Cantor Dr. Linda Bernstein, Mitzvah Expo will feature engaging conversations with people and initiatives making a meaningful difference in the Jewish community and beyond. Each episode will highlight opportunities to learn, connect, and get involved. Stay tuned as we prepare to launch and begin sharing these inspiring stories.&nbsp;