Portland Rabbi Among "America's Most Inspiring"

Rabbi Joey Wolf of Congregation Havurah Shalom in Northwest Portland has been selected as one of the 32 most inspirational rabbis in America.

The selection - by Forward - was made after a nomination by Beth Harmon.

"Rabbi Joey — cerebral, deep, a bookaholic — has somehow managed to get this shpilkes-addled, not-so-erudite bike punk musician to care about Israel, strive to make a difference for the less fortunate in her own community and abroad, and dig deeper into a Torah that previously felt like it was shutting me out because of my orientation and gender — and to find my story and my place in it," she wrote.

"The only awful thing about Joey is that he will retire next year. I am grateful and blessed to call him my rabbi and my friend."

Rabbi Wolf is retiring next May. The Congregation is currently searching for a successor.