Prof. Roger Porter
Roger Porter has a BA from Amherst and a PhD from Yale. He taught English for over 50 years at Reed College (Portland, Oregon), where he was Professor of English and Humanities. He has also taught on Fulbright lectureships at universities in Greece and Hong Kong, and was a visiting Professor in Paris and in Cairo, and has lectured in over 20 countries abroad.
Prof. Porter is the author of two books of criticism on the subject of autobiography and memoir, Self-Same Songs: Autobiographical Performances and Reflections, and Bureau of Missing Persons: Writing the Secret Lives of Fathers. He recently published a co-edited volume: Eating Words: A Norton Anthology of Food Writing.
For many years Porter was a restaurant critic and food writer in Portland, nominated by the James Beard Foundation for "Best Restaurant Reviews." He has also directed many plays, and was co-founder of Portland Repertory Theater. At Reed he taught courses in Modern Interdisciplinary Humanities, Shakespeare, Film and Fiction, 20th Century Drama, American Novels, Travel Writing, Autobiography, and Jewish-American Writing.
Prof. Porter is the author of two books of criticism on the subject of autobiography and memoir, Self-Same Songs: Autobiographical Performances and Reflections, and Bureau of Missing Persons: Writing the Secret Lives of Fathers. He recently published a co-edited volume: Eating Words: A Norton Anthology of Food Writing.
For many years Porter was a restaurant critic and food writer in Portland, nominated by the James Beard Foundation for "Best Restaurant Reviews." He has also directed many plays, and was co-founder of Portland Repertory Theater. At Reed he taught courses in Modern Interdisciplinary Humanities, Shakespeare, Film and Fiction, 20th Century Drama, American Novels, Travel Writing, Autobiography, and Jewish-American Writing.
Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin
Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin became Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Beth Israel (Eugene, Oregon) in July of 2015. He served as Senior Rabbi from 2003 until 2015. His service to Temple Beth Israel began in 1975 when he served as Cantor. He served as TBI’s Rabbi from 1995. Rabbi Yitzhak was ordained as Baal Tefillah by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z'l, received his cantorial commission from the Cantors' Assembly of the United Synagogue of America, and his rabbinic ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi z’l.
Rabbi Yitzhak is the past chair of the Committee for Ethical Kashrut of OHALA: The Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal and currently serves on the Program Committee. He is an affiliate member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, a member of T’ruah, an associate of CLAL-National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a Hevraya member in the Institute for Jewish Spirituality-Rabbinic Leadership program and is a member of the rabbinic cabinet of J-Street as well as a member of the Oregon Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Yitzhak has a strong interest in social activism and interfaith dialogue which inform his rabbinic leadership. As a progressive Zionist, he has a particular passion for deepening his personal connection with Israel through his frequent travels there and his co-leadership of tours with his life partner Shonna Husbands-Hankin. Together they have introduced many community members to the beauty and challenges of Israel.
Rabbi Yitzhak is the past chair of the Committee for Ethical Kashrut of OHALA: The Association of Rabbis for Jewish Renewal and currently serves on the Program Committee. He is an affiliate member of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, a member of T’ruah, an associate of CLAL-National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, a Hevraya member in the Institute for Jewish Spirituality-Rabbinic Leadership program and is a member of the rabbinic cabinet of J-Street as well as a member of the Oregon Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Yitzhak has a strong interest in social activism and interfaith dialogue which inform his rabbinic leadership. As a progressive Zionist, he has a particular passion for deepening his personal connection with Israel through his frequent travels there and his co-leadership of tours with his life partner Shonna Husbands-Hankin. Together they have introduced many community members to the beauty and challenges of Israel.
