Temple Adath Israel Bulletin Mid‐June/July 2018 Tammuz/Av 5778 FROM Deborah Nelson installed THE RABBI’S as Temple’s 55th president STUDY David Wirtscha�er “RGB”: Bipartisan lessons from a highly Deborah Nelson spoke during the June 3 annual meeting. Seated from left are Mickey Hernandez, TAI secretary; Charlie Crouch, treasurer; and Rabbi David Wirtschafter. partisan film Just a few hours after our Deborah Nelson became the 55th person members Charlie Crouch, treasurer, and annual congregational to serve as president of Temple Adath Mickey Hernandez, secretary. The meeting, I found myself with Israel when she was installed during the position of second vice president, most my family at The Kentucky annual meeting on June 3. Nelson, who recently held by Lou Bograd, was Theatre watching the new had been vice president, replaced eliminated this year as part of bylaw Ruth Bader Ginsburg Jonathan Miller changes that were approved by the documentary. Truth be told, Joining her on the Executive Committee congregation in 2016. Those changes also I was more in the mood for for 2018-19 are Rick Clewett, newly reduced the overall number of board a mindless action movie, a installed vice president; returning See MEETING, Page 5 thriller or comedy, but I’m See RABBI, Page 9 Efforts under way for TAI’s 3rd Jewish Food It’s here! Festival; volunteers and sponsors needed Read more on Page 5 For the third consecutive year, TAI will present the Lexington Jewish Food Festival at the end of August. As before, volunteers are needed for cooking and baking, and to help in a variety of ways late June for the return of The Chew-ish on the day of the festival, Sunday, Aug. Times, a weekly newsletter devoted to 26. Previous volunteers will tell you how keeping you updated on the food festival much fun it is to be involved. If you’re as the event nears. interested in joining the food festival In the meantime, if you’re interested in crew, contact Samye Stith at being a festival sponsor, contact Ben [email protected]. Baker at [email protected]. We For more information about the appreciate financial donations of any size festival, including cooking and baking and/or in-kind donations of goods and schedules, check your email starting in services for festival use. Meet our new members Walter and Toby Troffkin Walter and Toby are both retired and have lived in Lexington since 2005. They have two sons and four grandchildren, who don’t live in Lexington. Walter was born in Brooklyn, graduated from Brooklyn College and SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. He specialized in child and adolescent psychiatry and was in private practice in the Philadelphia area for 35 years, treating children and adults. He also is an emeritus faculty member of the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute. Toby was born in Cincinnati and graduated from the University of Cincinnati. She majored in microbiology and later earned a master’s degree in child development at Bryn Mawr College. Her professional life was spent as a free-lance manuscript editor. Toby joined the newly formed Juliets group at Temple and then was welcomed as a new member family in March. Trey and Carly Conatser Trey and Carly moved to Lexington about 2 years ago when Trey began his career at the University of Kentucky working for the Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching. Carly is a published poet (author of the steam sequence and editor of the why and later) and teaches yoga in Lexington as well as serving as the editor of Shalom magazine. Together they love cooking, hiking, yoga, reading and writing. The Temple’s emphasis on social justice and inclusivity is what appealed most to them when they were thinking about what kind of community they wanted to raise their daughter in. Baby Girl Conatser arrives in August! Ellen Leichtman Ellen, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., moved to Kentucky in 2003 and was employed in the criminal justice department at Eastern Kentucky University. She also has a doctorate in world music. Ellen became familiar with the Temple through Zumba, the Caregivers Support Group and the Juliets, and decided to join. Volume 85, Issue 5 Page 2 needed a school, a FROM THE gathering place, a community and a rabbi: PRESIDENT’S We needed a temple. And what wonderful DESK rabbis we have had, each leaving a permanent mark on our family. I am grateful to call David Wirtschafter Rabbi. He is Deborah a scholarly, kind and Nelson ethical man who anchors our congregation with the strongest Jewish values. TAI was here to The Nelson family of six includes, from left, Bela, 15; Tess, 11; Deborah; Ruth, 17; and Abe, 14. Needing welcome our family because of the devotion a spiritual and commitment of Meet Deborah Nelson previous generations of Deborah Nelson didn’t take the direct route to becoming home, my Lexington Jews. Their president of Temple Adath Israel. time, their work and their She was born in Bangkok, and has lived in Moscow; family found financial commitment Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo; London, built and sustained this England; Washington, D.C.; New Haven, Conn.; Chicago; more at TAI place. TAI is thriving Boston and Philadelphia. because it welcomes each She and her husband, Pete, also spent a year traveling Upon arriving in new generation and makes around the world, spending most of their time at an NGO in Lexington 12 years ago, a place for all who seek it. Orissa, India. our family sought out Look no further than your So how did this daughter of foreign service officers end up Temple Adath Israel and Temple board, committee in Lexington, where she has lived longer than anywhere found a Jewish, spiritual chairs, staff and many else? The answer is a pretty common one. home that has made all the wonderful musicians to The Nelsons moved to Lexington from Philly in 2006 so difference to our lives in see an institution that is Pete could work at the University of Kentucky Sanders- Lexington and to our fueled by energy and Brown Center on Aging. He is an experimental children’s Jewish devotion from longtime neuropathologist who conducts research on dementia, identities. Our family’s and new congregants including Alzheimer’s disease. Deb is an education policy experience underscores a alike. researcher for the Legislative Research Commission of the truth that will fuel my With great enthusiasm Kentucky General Assembly, an interest that grew out of work as your Temple and faith, I look forward her work as a classroom teacher in high-poverty schools. president: institutional life to working with you to Since their arrival, the Nelson family has grown to include is critical for Judaism to make sure our Temple four children: Ruth, 17; Bela, 15; Abe 14; and Tess, 11. thrive from generation to continues to thrive. I know Her parents, now retired, live here, too. Deb’s mother, generation. this job will not always be Raised by Jewish Ellie Sutter, moved to Lexington when the Nelsons did and easy, but I am certain it lives down the block. Deb’s father, Will Sutter, moved to mothers who themselves presents more opportun- were reared in the heart of Lexington about 10 years ago. ities than challenges. The Nelsons joined TAI as soon as they moved to immigrant communities, Please keep in touch with my husband, Pete, and I Lexington, and Deb remembers that “congregants reached any special interests or out to us right away. I remember Rose Rita Wurmser absorbed Jewish identities. enthusiasms or ways the We were encouraged to presiding at the oneg table with a big, welcoming smile. Temple might grow to Jack Joffe was also a constant, beaming presence in our think for ourselves and to meet your spiritual needs. make our own choices as early days at the Temple.” Together we can do the Deb describes TAI as a “lifeline … a place where I know adults, so we chose: We work that will continue to I can find passionate, caring, lively people who also love are Jews. Our mothers make us worthy of calling Torah and kugel.” She is also grateful to TAI “for helping passed the flame to us, but ourselves a sacred me and Pete nurture positive Jewish identities in our we could not teach our community. children.” children in the same way With gratitude, our mothers taught us. We Deborah See NELSON, Page 6 Volume 85, Issue 5 Page 3 Leila Abou-Jaoudé, High School. She daughter of plans to attend the Drs. Walid University of Abou-Jaoudé and Pennsylvania in the Jacqueline fall. Sugarman, graduated Eliana Shapere, BAR MITZVAH May 31 from daughter of Al Shapere Aaron Yelowitz Lafayette High School. She plans and Beth Ellen Rosenbaum, and Beth Yelowitz to attend Princeton University in graduated June 1 from Tates Creek invite you to share in their New Jersey in the fall. High School. After taking a gap great happiness as their son Isabel Booker, daughter of year to work and travel, Eliana Bill and Debra Booker, graduated plans to attend Barnard College of WEXLER HARRY YELOWITZ June 1 from Bryan Station High Columbia University in New York is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah School. She plans to attend the City in fall 2019. University of Cincinnati in 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018 the fall. Travis at Temple Adath Israel Lily Kaufman, daughter of and Susan 124 North Ashland Avenue Micah and Mimi Kaufman, Voglesong graduated June 1 from Henry Clay welcomed Kiddush luncheon immediately High School.