Stories From The Tribe: Cincinnati

This week's storyteller is Gabriella Scacchetti. Gabriella has worked in the nonprofit world for over a decade. She is the Principal Editor at Clever Crazes for Kids, a free educational enrichment resource for students across the country. Scacchetti is an advocate for hospice and palliative care, and she serves on fundraising committees for Hospice of Cincinnati and the Fernside Center for Grieving Children. A devoted arts enthusiast, she’ll rave about the Cincinnati Ballet to anyone who’ll listen.

This week's storyteller is Elyse Krause. Elyse is a Cincinnati native, serves as the Engagement Professional at Rockdale Temple. Passionate about exploring all aspects of Judaism, she recently chanted Torah for the first time, is learning to lead services, and is studying second-year Hebrew at the University of Cincinnati. When not working or studying, Elyse enjoys knitting on her balcony with her dog, Chickadee, an 11-year-old boxer mix who keeps her laughing with constant antics.

This week's storyteller, Susannah Roitman, is a Lexington-based stand-up comic serving up unapologetic laughs with a GenX twist. Self-branded as “50 & Fun-Sized,” Susannah mines her life for comedy gold—everything from bad perms, small-town childhoods, and awkward family traditions to the chaos of middle age. Her style is sharp, snarky, and a little raunchy, proving that funny doesn’t come with an expiration date. A regular at local venues like Comedy Off Broadway and beyond, she brings big energy in a small package.

This week's storyteller is Ali Cantor. Ali is an “older” mom of two slaying princesses (7 and 9) and one diva dog, Macki. By day she’s a financial advisor; by night she’s a Jewfolk writer, unpaid Uber for kids driver, sideline soccer/basketball coach, and travel planner extraordinaire—aka the unpaid CEO of Chaos. She loves the Bengals, theater, yoga, reading and travel, and is forever chasing the dream of finishing a matcha before someone yells “Mom!”

This week's storyteller is Ifat Lahyani. Ifat is a classically trained chef and Le Cordon Bleu graduate, founder of Koriela Kitchen, and the creative heart behind tables filled with flavor and unique style. After moving from Israel to Cincinnati with her husband and five children, she transformed her passion for food, culture, and community into a thriving business. A breast cancer survivor, Ifat believes food is a vessel for healing, connection, and joy. Her use of her parents’ vintage silverware is her way of honoring their memory and bringing their spirit into every celebration. She also writes a culinary column, sharing recipes, stories, and traditions.

This week's storyteller is Hadas Kaplan. Hadas is a therapist, bestselling Hebrew author, and jewelry artist. She is the author of “Doctor Potty,” “Everything’s Fine, Hili,” “Pitango in the Yard,” and “I Did Something Bad,” all of which became bestsellers in Israel. Living in Ohio while writing in Hebrew, she bridges cultures through stories that resonate across borders. In addition to writing, she teaches about boundaries, ease, positive body image, and helping people envision and pursue their dreams with vision boards. When she’s not working, she can be found dreaming of Iceland or fully immersed as a proud Swiftie.

Carly Sachs is a poet, writer, librarian, and yoga teacher whose work has appeared in The Best American Poetry and NPR’s Selected Shorts. She’s the author of the Steam Sequence and Descendants of Eve, and editor of the Why and Later. Originally from Northeast Ohio, she now lives in Lexington, KY, where she’s a Montessori school librarian and proud mom to a spirited seven-year-old. During the pandemic, she and her daughter began baking challah—find them on Instagram @challah_at_y_all. She loves good coffee, long hikes, and finding joy in the chaos.

This week's storyteller is Andrea Beck. Andrea has a Ph.D. in English Rhetoric. She is particularly interested in the rhetorics of Jewish American Women in the later 20th century to the present. When she isn’t over-mothering her exceptional daughter, dogs, and husband, or working in the family business, Andrea carves out time to write. She currently writes for Cincy Jewfolk and Cohosts the Kibbitz Podcast. Her favorite meal is soft-boiled eggs with toast and tea.

This week's storyteller is Sarah Weiss. Sarah is a visionary nonprofit leader and the Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She began her career with AmeriCorps’ Public Allies program and spent nearly two decades at the Holocaust & Humanity Center, where she served as executive director and CEO, expanding its reach and national partnerships—including leading its move to Union Terminal. She also directed the Jewish Community Relations Council and helped establish the Ohio Commission on Holocaust & Genocide Education. An active community leader, she serves on boards including Talbert House, the Mayerson JCC and the Freedom Center. She is a proud alum of the Chamber’s WE Lead and Leadership Cincinnati programs. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the FBI Director’s Leadership Award and Cincinnati Magazine’s 25 Women Driving Change.

Stories from the Tribe: Cincinnati — The Podcast takes you behind the scenes of the live show, with weekly episodes featuring each storyteller in conversation with Lonny Goldsmith, the Editor-in-Chief of Jewfolk, Inc., followed by a reading of her story.These are real stories about Jewish motherhood in Cincinnati — the highs and lows, the laughter and the tears — and the ways personal experiences shape broader community.New episodes will drop every Wednesday, right here and wherever you get your podcasts.