The Three Rabbis

Senior Rabbi Emanuel Rose, D.H.L., D.D.

Rabbi Rose came to Beth Israel in 1960 from Temple Emanu-El, New York. He graduated from Hebrew Union College with a B.H.L., M.A.H.L., D.H.L., received an Honorary D.D. from HUC-JIR, and a L.H.D. from Lewis and Clark College.

Widely recognized throughout Oregon for his ongoing involvement in social and political issues of significance to the citizens of the state, Rabbi Rose is a regular speaker at major civic events.

Visit the web site of Congregation Beth Israel here.

Rabbi Joshua Stampfer

Rabbi Stampfer was born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1921. At the age of two he and his family moved to the U.S. where his father served as a rabbi in communities throughout the Midwest. He graduated from the University of Chicago, received his M.S. from the University of Akron, his M.H.L. from the Jewish Theological Seminary, and his D.H.L. from the University of Judaism. He received an honorary doctorate from Pacific University in 1987.

In 1983, Rabbi Stampfer was one of the earliest visitors to Kaifeng, China, meeting with members of the ancient Jewish community there. Following his return, he helped to create the Sino-Judaic Institute and became its first vice president. After frequent visits to the community of secret Jews of Belmonte, Portugal, Rabbi Stampfer edited a history of the community, “The Last Crypto Jews of Portugal.”

He has developed major conferences under the auspices of the Institute for Judaic Studies, including Sephardic History and Culture, the Vienna of Freud and Herzl, the Teachings of Abraham Joshua Heschel, Interfaith Conference on Biblical Studies, From Powerlessness to Power – Israel and Japan – 1948-1988, as well as a number of single lectures in Judaica.

Rabbi Stampfer and his wife Goldie have five children and 19 grandchildren.

Visit the web site of Congregation Neveh Shalom here.

Rabbi Yonah H. Geller

Rabbi Geller was born and raised in Houston, Texas. After graduating high school, he enrolled in Yeshiva University in New York, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1940 and was ordained four years later. In 1948, he received his master’s degree from Texas A&I.

After his ordination, he assumed the pulpit of Congregation B’nai Israel in Corpus Christi, Texas. He also served as an auxiliary Chaplain at the U.S. Naval Base. In 1960, after serving the congregation for 16 years, he was called to assume the pulpit of Congregation Shaarie Torah in Portland, Oregon where he served as Senior Rabbi for 40 years.

As well as fulfilling the spiritual needs of his congregation, he continues to be active both in the Jewish and secular communities. He has served on several boards, and was a founder of the Oregon Board of Rabbis, and the Jewish Day School in Portland.

He and his wife Elizabeth have three children, and are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren.

Visit the web site of Congregation Shaarie Torah here.