xt7h445hf76f https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7h445hf76f/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 1995-10 Newspaper of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. Published ten times annually. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. This collection is part of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records, 2016ms010. newsletters 2016ms010 English Central Kentucky Jewish Federation Inc  Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Shalom, October 1995 text image Shalom, October 1995 1995 1995-10 2025 true xt7h445hf76f section xt7h445hf76f  
 

cam”

V

Newspaper of the Central Kentucky Jewish Federation

Shalom

cxifixJF

V

 

October 1995

 

Our New Americans

...Then and Now

More than four years
ago, in April of 1991, Central
Kentucky Jewish Federation wel-
comed their first sponsored fami—
ly from the former USSR. Sasha
and Zoya Orlov and their sons
Viktor and Lev walked off the
plane to a a warm welcome from
CKJF staff and supporters. Since
that time 18 additional families or

Mink-41 trainiliw h m' mmlo \in‘»

Some hit the ground run-
ning and never looked back, oth-
ers climbed mountains to achieve
their goals, and some are still
finding their way. However, all
share a common thread, to attain
a better life for each member of
their family.

This article is the first in
a series to feature information on
our new Americans. Each family
is unique. Spending time with
with our new American families
is the best way to get to know
them, however, this and the ensu-
ing articles shall serve as a short
introduction to these interesting
individuals.

The Shurs are
like many families in America,

when the phone rings it’s usually
for 15 year-old daughter Maiya,
they have two coffee pots because
Boris likes his coffee strong and

The Shurs

 

 

2%

 

 

 

 

Olga, Maiya & Boris Shur

Olga likes her’s weak.

Unlike most American
families, prior to May of 1991,
Boris, Olga and Maiya lived in a
one room apartment on a busy

street in downtown Kiev.

Today the Shurs have
succeeded in securing the
American dream of owning their
own home. They have also man-
aged to overcome the most diffi—
cult obstacle of acculturation,
obtaining professional jobs simi—
lar to those held before immigrat-
ing to the US. Boris is a Senior
Systems Analyst for a computer
" r at: inanewm 2.1132»th
oga is afiii‘ag‘ ‘ ” " '
company involved with clinical
research.

Is America what they
expected? “We didn’t have
expectations, we only had hope.
Yes, America is what we hoped
for.”

 

Maiya’s favorite thing
about America, “the shopping
malls, they’re fun!”

Work has been both the
easiest and most difficult adjust-
ment for Boris. Easy because,
“the computers are basically the
same”, and yet Boris says, “I’ve
never worked as hard in my life.”
He hopes to one day start his own
business.

continued on page 6...New

 

 

CKJF
340 Romany Road
Lexington, KY 40502

Carlisle, PA

 

 

 

Non-Profit Org.
US. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 719
Lexington, KY

 

 

 

17013

 

 

 

Yom Kippur
October 4

Sukkot
October 9 8* 10

Shemini Atzeret
October 16

Simchat Torah
October 17

 

’trora“"'

 

 

Tishri/Heshvan 5756

 

 

 

 

 

Our first families gather for a group photo in 1991. Shown
are the Rozenzhaks, Kaganovs, Shurs, Slepaks and Ortovs.

Resettlement Volunteers

Jerry Wurmser, and his
wife Rose Rita, are two very dedi-
cated resettlement volunteers.
They are the working hands that
turn hope into reality.

It all
starts with the
ringing of the
telephone - it’s
M o l l y e
Schwab from
the CKJ F
office with the
news that an
i 111 mi g r a n t
family will arrive on September
20th and it will be a family of

 

The Wurmsers

v 2»‘ ' “7* .- ’3 ' \ 7r , 3;?! by ' > f" """1J'Z’I.:“f';§‘rfii"£‘:?f,-l. _" g ‘
erry Wurmser ‘

five. We’ll get the key to the
apartment on Tuesday, September
12th. This time we’re lucky and
will have access to the apartment
several days before the expected
arrival - Rose Rita and I are
delighted, we haven’t had any
newcomers since the Alkhasov
family last October.

With us it’s feast or
famine. Either we don’t have
enough furnishings or else we
have more furniture than storage.
Since losing our large storeroom
a year or so ago, we’ve been

Continued on page 6....Resettlement

 

Resettlement
Welcomes Two

New Families

Khayna Mizun, and her
family have arrived in Lexington.
Family members include daugh-
ter Lyudmila Patskan, son-in-law
Vasiliy, grandson Viktor (17),
and granddaughter Yelena (7).

Also expected to arrive
are a daughter and aunt of the
Goloborodko family.

 

 

In This Issue

Calendar .......... 13
Editorial ............ 4
Financial Advisor . . . .7
Havurah ........... 12
Inside Israel ........ 10
OZS ............... 9
President’s Spot . . . . .2
Rabbi Adland ....... 3
TM ............... 11
Young Artist ........ 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

>~..

 

  

IIJ‘SI’ONES

 

Mazel Tov To:

David and Kathy
Feinberg
on the arrival of their son
Jonathan Raymond
Born August 17, 1995.

Michael Ravvin
°Elected President of the
Henry Clay High School

Senior Class.
°Elected Mazkir of
Central States Young J udea.
Elected to the National
Board of Young Judea.

Jeremy Popkin
Awarded the UK College of
Arts and Science’s highest
professional recognition,
Distinguished Professor.

 

 

 

Bum
Published by the
Central Kentucky Jewish
Federation, Inc.

cams?

Tomas Milch, H.
President

Joel Eizenstat
;i Exeeufive Director

1 .r' Pym

Holly Barnhill
Editor and Advertising Manager

Elena Domotov
Office Manager

Mollye Schwab
Jewish Family Services

Kim Slaton
Program Coordinator

Editorial Board Members
Michael Adelstein
_ Gloria Katz

Please send address changes to
CKJF
340 Romany Road
Lexington, KY 40502
(606) 268-0672
Fax (606) 268-0775

Theappearueeofmyadvertisinginthis
publicdiondoeanotrepreoemaknshmflt
endorsemntonflrepartofCKJForany

other-worm Shalomu

 

 

Condolences To:

Norma Allweiss and Pam
Allweiss, on the loss of
Norma’s sister and Pam’s
aunt, Elaine Zaitlen.

Monroe and Sonia
Moosnick, and Nora Rose
and Miriam Moosnick on

the loss of their
son and brother
Leslie “Les” Moosnick.

 

UK Jewish
Student/Hillel
Past President
Wins Race

Running cross country
or across town, Vadim Nemad is
a winner. The two time All
American, and University of
Kentucky senior, won
Lexington’s Midsummer Night’s
Run this past August. The 5K
race is a community event bene-
fitring Central Baptist Hospital.

Vadim, originally from
the former USSR, is an active
member of the UK Jewish
Student Organization/Hillel
Foundation. He has served as
president of that organization and
has been a solicitor for the CKJF
Super Sunday campaign.

 

CKJF Members
to Attend General
Assembly

Executive Director Joel
Eisenstat armounoed plans for CKJF
representation at the Council of
Federations annual General
Assembly, November 15 - 17. A
Small Cities Federation meeting, slat-
ed for November 14, will also be
attmded.

The Executive Director,
Program Coordinator Kim Slaton,
and Board President Team Nfikh H,
will be in Boston ft: the mtings.

Phrase call the CKJF oflioe,
(606) 268-0672 (1' 268-0775, if you
world like infatuation m the General

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new year has
come, and with it a whole new
office team, new officers, and
a new emphasis toward service
at your Central Kentucky
Jewish Federation.

Our office is now
headed by the youthful and
energetic Joel Eizenstat as
Executive Director. The new
Program Director is Kim
Slaton, who promises a whole
new set of programs delivered
with a smile.

Our Jewish Family
Service social worker, Mollye
Schwab, is busy with resettle-
ment of new Americans, the
needs of our senior citizens, in

 

by

The President’s Spot

Tomas Milch H.

addition to those who find
themselves in need in our
community. Holly Barnhill
brings her editorial skills and
boundless energy to our news-
paper. Elena Domotov, our
excellent office manager,
smoothes the flow of work for
all.

I am fortunate to have
excellent support from our
officers: Vice-presidents David
Feinberg and Evelyn Geller,
Secretary Mike Adelstein, and
Treasurer Ken Mayer. With
the advice and direction of the
Board of Directors we will all
work together to improve the
life of Jews not only in our
community, but everywhere.

We are committed to
support Israel; to assist in the
resettlement of all Jews fleeing
persecution and oppression;
and to make sure that the

needs in our own community
are addressed and met to the
best of our ability.

But the most profes-
sional staff and the most hard-
working set of officers are not
enough to assure success in
our endeavors. We need your
financial support, your volun-
teer work, and your ideas and
comments.

To be truly of service
to the central Kentucky and
worldwide Jewish community
you, my dear reader, must
help! In this new year open
your heart, lend a hand, share
your droughts. Together, and
only together, we will
improve our future.

 

Bone Marrow Donor Drive at TAI,

Bone marrow transplants
have increased survival rates for
patients with leukemia, aplastic
anemia and other life threatening
diseases. In these patients, bone
marrow has stopped producing
the correct amounts of blood
cells. (Marrow is responsible for
producing blood components
including red blood cells, white
blood cells and platelets.)

Twenty-five to thirty per
cent of the patients requiring bone
marrow transplants find a match
within their family. Other
patients contact The National
Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)
to search for an unrelated donor.
The best chance individuals have
of finding a match is from a
donor who is of the same racial or
ethnic background. There is a
shortage of minority donors regis-
tered with the NMDP.

Temple Adath Israel is

October 29

by Sarah Schrier

encouraging members of the
Jewish community to become
volunteer marrow donors. The
first step in becoming a volunteer
is to have a small amount of
blood drawn. The blood sample
is characterized by key tissue
types and this data is entered in
the NMDP data base.

If a volunteer appears to
match a patient, s/he is contacted
and if they agree, further tests are
performed to determine compati-
bility.

If the volunteer matches
after this point, then arrangements
are made to remove a small
amount of bone marrow (less than
five per cent). The marrow is
removed near the pelvic bone
while the volunteer is under gen-
eral or local anesthesia. The pro-
cedure takes about an hour. The
body naturally replaces the mar-
row within a few weeks. Aside

from some discomfort in the
lower back, there is very little risk
to the volunteer.

The Bone Marrow
Donor Drive will take place on
October 29, 1995 from 9:00 AM
to 1:00 PM at the Temple. If you
are between the ages of 18 and 55
and in good health you may
become a donor. If you are inter-
ested in helping in ways other
than donating marrow, volunteers
are needed to work at the drive.
Additionally, contributions are
needed to help cover the cost of
the tissue typing. (The approxi-
mate cost for tissue typing is
$45.) A federal grant covers half
of each fee and a Temple fund
and donations must cover the bal-
ance of the fees. -

Please contact Sarah
Schrier at 2174123 if you can
work at the donor drive or if you
have any questions.

 

 

 ‘IK

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Torah
This Month

Yom Kippur followed
five days later by the festival of
Sukkot. This is an interesting
contrast. We move from our holi-
est day of the year composed of
prayers petitioning God for for—
giveness of our sins, transgres-
sions, wrongdoings, to a festival
consisting of color, joy, and cele-
bration.

If we stop and think for a
few moments, then we recognize
that this is who we are as a peo-
ple. The Jewish people exist in
this circle of life, recognizing that
life goes on from birth to death
and back again. We move from
joy to sorrow and back again. We
move from deep serious medita-
tion, introspection, and self-real-
ization, to merriment, joy and
exal atiou. We don‘t become
in anyp ns orexe sve
joys, but we recognize that con-
tinuing the journey is most impor-
tant.

   
 

   

The most famous jour-
ney of the Jewish people was the
one from Egypt to Canaan.
Sukkot remembers this period of
the wandering in the desert by
commanding us to build non-per-
manent booths which can be dis-
mantled and reconstructed at a
later time.

This journey of the
Jewish people was a difficult one.
We endured harsh living condi-
tions, testing not only the faith of
this former slave people, but their
endurance as well. This wander-
ing people saw one generation die
out and a new generation of free
Jews grow in spirit and commit-
ment. Moses’ leadership was
tested time and again as his faith
in God strengthened with every

Rabbi Jon Adland

Commentary

 

 

step. Finally, the end of the jour-
ney through the desert arrived,
but a new adventure was already
in place: the conquest and settle-
ment of the promised land. These
40 years of wandering lasted a
generation of lifetimes.

We all are on a journey
we call life. This year, October is
an excellent time to stop and con-
sider our place on that journey.
As human beings, it is important
for us to take stock in our contri-
butions to this community and to
the world. We must ask our-
selves has another year passed
without my participation in mak-
ing the world a better place or
have I sought those who could
use my talents, time, and ability?
Am I a follower ambling slowly
forward without any destination
or am I fixed on attaining certain
goals and accomplishing achieve-
ments which I can hold up proud—

 

ing me to help?”

As a member of the
Jewish community, our journey
must involve our Jewish souls.
We are a community intricately
linked to time. On a horizontal
plane, we celebrate our holidays
and holy days based on a continu-
ing relationship with the moon
and sun. The holidays and holy
days come in certain seasons. We
walk the Jewish path in expecta-
tion of the next moment marking
time on our Jewish experience.
Whether it is the High Holy Days
in the fall with Sukkot, or Purim
and Pesach in the spring, these
signposts guide us on our journey.

But the Jewish commu-
nity also marks time on a vertical
plane; the plane of life. From the
ceremonies of birth to
Consecration, Bar/Bat Mitzvah,
Confirmation, marriage, and yes,
death, we ever forward, upward

in our Jewish journey.

Time is not our ally.
Our holiday and holy day celebra-
tions are bound by time, they
don’t continue infinitely. Our life
cycle events are bound by time
occurring at a certain moment in a
person’s life. Therefore, we must
find a way to use time to our best
advantage, maybe in the way God
intended for us to use it: to finish
God’s creation.

The festival of Sukkot is
an excellent opportunity to begin
to use time wisely. Sukkot is not
only the celebration of our jour-
ney through Sinai, it is also our
harvest festival. We celebrate the
bounty that the earth provides for
us and all living creatures to
enjoy. At Temple Adath Israel,
this means participating in the
God’s Pantry food drive. It can
also mean giving of the bounty of
your life to benefit those less for-

"hm.

The end of Sukkot gives
us Simchat Torah/Consecration.
This celebration concludes the
reading of the Torah and immedi-
ately begins it again. We are
reminded by this tradition that life
goes on, that endings allow for
new beginnings, and that begin-
nings allow us to start again and
to start over.

As we conclude the Holy
Day of Yom Kippur and prepare
for Sukkot, let us take this
moment of spiritual cleanliness to
look around and find a path for
the next journey on the road of
life. Let it become centered on
forging a stronger partnership
with God by being more cornmit—
ted to a strong Jewish community
and enhancing the entire commu-
nity in which we live.

 

 

 

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U.K. Jewish Student Organization / Hillel Foundation

Bowling at Southland Lanes
Sunday, October 8 - 5:00 PM

Call Dan Caruthers - (606) 252-0537 or Austin Cantor - (606) 278-2530

 

 

 

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Shalom...October 1995...

 

\
\

 

  

Yiddish
makes more

sense than
English

What’s with the
English language? We have
words and phrases that make
absolutely no sense. For exam-
ple, what in the world is a train-
ing bra? Imean I lmow what it
is, but why do we call it that.
Is it a training bra because you
wear it to get ready for push
ups? Then you move on to
being graded A, B, C, D, or
whatever, you get the picture.
Whew, I’m glad I got that off
my chest. Cross my heart, I’ll
never bring it up again.

Conversely, Yiddish
makes sense. The words, or at
least the few choice words I
know, even sound like what
they mean. For example, can
anybody really doubt that
shlock stands for anything
other than grungy. shoddy
stuff?

In anefforttokeepa
sensible language alive, follow-
ing are selected Yiddish words
and their meanings.

boo boo - mistake, wound

bubkes - nothing of conse-
quence

chutzpeh - tmabashed nerve,
incredible gall

gelt - money

gonif — thief

goyim - non-Jews

kibitz - talk, interfere

klutz - clumsy person

kvetch - whine, complain

macher - big shot

maven - expert

mazel tov - congratulations

mench - a person of virtue

meshugeh - crazy

by, my - oh, woe!

shames - private detective

shlemiel - a jerk

shlep - to lug or drag

shlock - shoddy merchandise

shmaliz - chicken fat, over sen-
timentality

shpiel - salespitch

shtick - a gag

watch - a gossip. busybody

zaflie - pleasantly plump

 

 

 

 

Being a Human Being; A Jewish Perspective
by Evelyn Dantzic Geller

The Lexington Jewish
community is growing! We have
and will be welcoming students,
immigrants from the former
Soviet Union, and other newcom—
ers to our midst. This is a mitz-
vah which derives from the direc-
tive found in Pirke Avot that bids
each of us to “Strive to be a per-

”

SOD.

You well may be asking
yourself how I arrived at this con-
clusion and what it has to do with
anything pertinent or particular.
My response is that personhood is
a major requisite for being
Jewish. The Torah states in
Leviticus 19:16, “You shall not
stand idly by the blood of your
brother.” That is, we Jews are
required to act to preserve the

integrity of another human being.

Another corroboration
comes from the Shulchan Auruch,
which defines and governs four
aspects of human behavior; ritu-
als, civic behavior, criminal
behavior, and domestic behavior.
It is a code that offers us assis-
tance in attaining personhood by
delineating both positive and neg-
ative precepts; by listing what is
needed for each of us to behave as
a human being ought to behave.

Hillel attempted to guide
human behavior with his ageless
words of wisdom. “If I am not
for myself, who will be?” implies
our responsibility for becoming
all we can become, for learning
all that we can learn; and for

improving ourselves throughout
our lifetimes. “IfI am for myself
alone, what am I?” is the injunc-
tion to use our capacities to help
others lest we liken ourselves to
selfish beasts. And “If not now,
when?” enjoins us to get on with
our lives and with our acts of
Tredakah now.

Are we capable of being
“Menschen”? Of course! Have
we not been created in the like-
ness of an almighty Being? This
image enables us to strive for ulti-
mate goodness; for virtue; for per-
fecting our relationships with
other people.

And so I say that what
we have done and will be doing
for the new members of our com-

munity is “Menschkiet” personi-
fied. We can be justifiably proud
of what we have done so far and
should be ever mindful of our
continued obligation to enable our
new compatriots to realize their
capacities for being “Menschen”.

In keeping with the
ideals of the Days of Awe, I have
tried to address briefly the con-
cepts of being human and of
humanity. Let us all strive to
accomplish the good of which we
are capable by reaching out to
those members of our community
who are in need of our humanitar-
ian endeavors.

 

O

 

Editon

Where

will we

shop?

 

The takeover of
Randall’s Food Stores by the
mega grocery store chain Krogers
has brought a reaction from the
Lexington community not seen
since Disney threatened the his-
torical battlefield of Manassas.
Lexingtonians are up in arms
about one store in particular, the
Randall’s on Romany Road.

by name and knows what’s going
on with their families. Walking
through the aisles with Walt, he
stops to greet a customer and tells
him how good it is to see him
again. “He’s been ill, I haven’t
seen him for three months,” Walt
informs me. Except for one inde-
pendent sole in produce, nobody
at the Krogers I frequent ever

 

 

  

 

 

The store carries a repu-
tation for providing the widest
array of products and the fi'iend-
liest service in town. Manager
Walt Barbour has spent 28 years
at this one store. It is the only
place he has ever worked. Walt

personally greets most customers

Walt Barbour and Randall’s, together 28 years.

offers a personal greeting or even
a smile. '

Randall’s on Romany
Road is like no other store, not
even-the other Randall’s. Walt
stocks the shelves with many spe-
ciality foods, including a wide

variety of kosher items. This
store acmally brings in a complete
line of foods for Passover.
Krogers, at the same time, has
been known to proudly display
boxes bearing the words, “Not for
use during Passover.” Will
Randall’s still supply the Jewish
community accordingly after the

proposed takeover in November?

“I would not anticipate
any changes in that. We use the
same suppliers. I think they
(Krogers) are very aware of those
needs, and if they are not, it
wouldn’t take very long for them
to find out. Krogers recognizes
and understands the unique mar-
ket and I would expect them to
maintain the integrity of the
store,” Walt speculates.

At the point of this inter-
view, Walt had not talked directly
to Krogers, however his conclu-
sions were drawn through infor-
mation received from a third
party. When asked about his per-
sonal feelings, Walt replied, “The
public support has been very,
very gratifying, it almost brings
tears to my eyes. There are no
words to explain it, it’s over-
whelming. The likelihood is that
I’ll stay, I’ve got a vested interest
in this store and a family to sup-

port.”

Walt Barbour has devel-
oped this grocery store into a
strong service oriented business,
providing not only for the Jewish
community, but for people with
special dietary requirements or
those simply needing a helping
hand. There is a group trying to
organize a co—op of investors to
buy the store and then hire Walt.
It is not likely they will succeed.
So unless somebody out there has
millions of dollars to spare and a
desire to own a grocery store, the
change is inevitable. Randall’s
will become Krogers in
November.

Perhaps the new owners
could soften the transition by
naming this particular store
Walt ’s Krogers. That would feel
more comfortable.

Please send letters
to the Editor:

cm
340 Romany Road
Lexington, KY 40502

All letters must be signed and
include your phone number. _
Please limit letters to 200 words.

 

n ...Shalom...0ctober 1995

 

  

  
  
  
 

Hi, my name
is Rudo
Greissworth
1 and I am

born in
: Zimbabwe,
Africa. I love to play all sports
and just hang out with my
friends. I go to Tates Creek
Middle School and I’m in sev-
enth grade.
I’m on the Spindletop
Swim Team and played softball
for the Blue Angels. I was also a
counselor-in-training at Camp
Shalom. There’s nothing amaz-
ing about my every day life...just
go to school, walk home and
occasionally save people from
near death situations. Ha! That’s
just a bit of stupid humor that
rubbed off from my Dad. I love
all animals and hope to be either
a zoologist, author-illustrator, or
an actor. I haven’t chosen which

W}, . .
beallof em. i ‘ "

Well, as my best friend
always says, have harmony in
your mind and love in your heart;
peace out.

 

Young ilrtists

 

October’s Artist:

RUDo GREISSWORTH

 

 

 

 

All artists, ages 8-18, submit your drawing for the next issue of Shalom!

 

   
 
  
     

(606) 23-FRESH

l

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by
Michael E. Adelstein
Contributing Editor

 

 

 

 

 
 
  
  
   

 

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Lexington, Kentucky
606.254.6897
Mon. — Sat. 10:30 — 5:30

Thursday 10:30 — 8:00 p.772.

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"What's a nice Jewish man
like you working in an auto repair
garage?" asks the mother of "my
son, the doctor." Lowell Nigofl‘s
response might be, "It's an
interesting business if you like
people, like to help them, and like
cars."

But Lowell didn't start out
as owner-manager of Lowell’s
Bluegrass Automotive, which
specializes in Toyota service and
repair. He came to it and Lexington
after a series of moves and jobs.

Born in Cleveland, Lowell
led to volunteer for military service,
spending four years as a
machinists mate aboard a destroyer
during the Vietnam war. Then he
took advantage of the GI Bill to
attend Ohio University, where he
graduated with a degree in
psychology.

Next came several jobs,
the first in Cincinnati with an
insurance company, working as an
adjustor. Realizing the lack of
opportunity there, he accepted a
position at Parker Seal in Berta,
working first as a supervisor, then
as a process control engineer.

Then he heard of an
attractive opening as service
manager of a Buick dealership in
Winchester, where he could indulge
his interest in cars and also pursue
his hobby of fixing up old ones.

Aware of the limited
future there, ambitious Lowell
decided to go in business for
himself. He found a garage in
downtown Lexington, started the
business with one mechanic and his
wife Betty, and now has twelve
employees and more business than
he can handle comfortably. But the
early years were a struggle with no
vacation, no free time, and no pay,
all the money being plowed back
into the business, while living
fi'ugally on savings.

But throughout these and

later years, Lowell contributed
much to the Jewish community. He
served on the Board of Temple
Adath Israel for three years, as
President of the Brotherhood, and is
currently co-chair of the Social
Action Committee. In addition, he
has coordinated the Temple‘s
volunteer work with the Hope
Center, organizing with June Lipton
the monthly Monday night feeding
of the homeless. In addition, Lowell
for seven years has worked there on
Sundays mornings, specializing in
cooking fried or scrambled eggs.

When he im’t working or
beating Rabbi Adland at racquetball
(only twice!), Lowell enjoys
reading, particularly literature about
the turn of the century, such as
Irving Howe's Lives of Our
Fathers. He also has a hobby of
collecting old photographs.

Because wife Betty WOrks
with him in the garage, Lowell often
is asked what's it like to have a 24—
hour wife? "It‘s great," he states,
"Betty does everything well except
work on cars." When she isn‘t
working, Betty serves as President
of the Bluegrass Runners’ Club.
She's a marathon runner and also
participates in tricathlons.

Their son Brian also
works in the garage as a service
adviser. Their daughter Amy, now
a senior at Lafayette High School,
has helped in the garage but
currently is working at Red Lobster.

Lowell's success story is
one in the American-Jewish
tradition of people starting fi‘om
scratch and succeeding through
hard and smart work. And he also.
serves as an example of the
American-Jewish tradition in
another way by caring about and
helping others, both fellow Jews
and fellow humans. We are all
honored by having Lowell Nigoff as
amember of our CKJF community.

 

Shalom...October 1995... n

 

 

 Resettlement...continued from page 1

crammed into two small mini-warehouses, each 10 x 30 feet. plus our
garage. We’re so jammed for space that we’re storing sofas on end so
as not to waste the cubic feet of space near the ceiling!

Priority #1 now is to line up our volunteers to help us move
the furniture from storage to the apartment. We first try for the
younger people, but always run into the problem of most
youngSters...they’re working during the day and most are not available
to us until after dinner.

Next on the list are
the ages 60 and over, and the
problem here is that in this
group, with a few exceptions,
the back problems and other
ailments make this a very
small group from which to
draw. These seniors pitch in
to the best of their ability, and
we use them for the pots and
pans and other not so heavy
items.

But when it comes to
moving heavy sofas, chests of
drawers, desks, and the rare
console model TV’s, the
strength and muscles of the 20
to fortyish group is an utmost
necessity. And remember, many apartments are on the second floor!

   

 

 

Lev Orlov, a member of CKJF’sfirst new
American family, helps new arrivals.

The response is always overwhelming, and we somehow
always end up with enough people to do the job. Time and again I ask
myself, “What motivates these volunteers to give of their time and tal-
ent to help us set up these apartments?” I feel that I speak for all of
them when I say that it gives you a great high to be able to help some-
one with a little lift in their time of need, and asking for nothing in
rem.

,_ Some of the younger volunteers are fortunate enough to be in
the position to take time off from their jobs during the day, and to these
few we are eternally grateful. Also I must not forget the recent
arrivals, who I call on time after time and they are always ready to
help. Just a few days ago, I called on one of the new Americans,
Yefim Tselnker, to lend a hand to pick up some furniture being donat-
ed by Stan and Phyllis Scher. Yefim apologized and said he was ill,
but to call him the next time. But guess what? At 6:30 the next
evening when I rendezvoused with the other volunteers, there he was.
His explanation, “ I just couldn’t let Jerry down.”

Another time I was so desperate for help, and this during nor-
mal working hours, so I was phoning only senior citizens. Jim
Levenson answered my pleas with, “Sure I’ll help. Where do you want
them, and I’ll send my two sons, Andy and Little Jim.” This is the
kind of spirit we need, and boy, they were a great help .

Another time I was so embarrassed to keep calling on the
same fellows from the Temple Brotherhood that I spoke to Mike Ades
after a softball game one night. The following Sunday morning Mike
showed up at the Bell Court donor’s house with about half of the
Synagogue’s softball team, and we were loaded and ready to go in
short order. Then the sky opened up with rain that made us think of
Noah, and by the time we unloaded, everyone was drenched...drenched
but laughing and stepping in the puddles. I was so' rattled that I didn’t
realize until after I returned home that I had left our new tarpaulin and
newer ropes lying in the alleyway.

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. It’s a mitz—
vah to volunteer your time, your muscles, and your money to help in
this worthy cause. And I mustn’t forget the ladies. How they pitch in,
and how the new apartments are stocked with food...the pantry is full.
therefrigeratorisloaded, andthe firstmealthatthenew arrivals will
eat in their new home is cooked and waiting for them.

One last note. The new families all know Rose Rita and me,
but for the most part, they have no idea who all the other vol