xt7wwp9t534t https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7wwp9t534t/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 2016-05 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 Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 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, May 2016 text image Shalom, May 2016 2016 2016-05 2025 true xt7wwp9t534t section xt7wwp9t534t _ ‘ Newspaper of
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' OF THE BLUEGRASS

Dissent Shouldn’t Mean Incivility
By Jerry Silverman

The language is painful to hear, particularly coming from
fellow Jews.

Knesset Member Moshe Gafni called Reform Jews “a
bunch of clowns who stick a knife in the holy Torah.”

MK Yisrael Eichler criticized an Israeli Supreme Court
decision allowing non—Orthodox Jews to use pub—

lic mikvaot, likening it to permitting a “mentally ill per—
son” to “come to the operating room and decide the rules
of medicine and force the hospital to have an operation by
whatever way works.”

Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin called Reform Jews
“a dying world” that would assimilate and disappear in
another two or three generations.

We’ve seen women who were holding liberal prayer
services at the Kotel pelted with rocks and debris, and the
police who tried to protect them called “Nazis.”

The scars of such invective are often longer-lasting than
physical wounds, searing into our consciousness.

The language also betrays something about the speakers
and provocateurs, that they seem to have forgotten Jewish
teachings about courtesy and civility, beginning with the
Torah commandments to “Love your neighbor as your-
self” (Lev. 19:18) and “You shall not hate your sibling in
your heart” (Lev. 19:17), and including the Pirkei Avot
guidance to “judge every person favorably” (1:6).

Rather than judging favorably, these critics of liberal
Judaism and its adherents are speaking harshly of oth—

ers without any true understanding themselves of non-
Orthodox Judaism; they ignore that even Jewish practice
as they know it has evolved throughout the centuries. As
just one example, look at photos of the Kotel in the 18005
and early 19005 — you’ll see no mechitza to separate men
from women. That was a later addition

Because of compromises that the non—Orthodox streams
of Judaism were willing to make, that mechitza will re-
main, and women’s and mixed prayer groups will have a
separate prayer space on the southern end of the Western
Wall, ensuring that the Kotel remains a symbol of Jewish
peoplehood, however individuals define that peoplehood.

But will we also be able to separate hate speech from
political speech?

Sadly, we saw similar, sometimes even harsher, vitriol
during the debate over the Iranian (continued p. 2)

Volume XV
Issue 4

Nisan/Iyyar
5776
May 2016

President’s Message
By Michael Grossman

When I became President of
the Jewish Federation three
years ago, my predecessors
warned me that the most dif—
ficult part of the job would not
be rallying the community,
planning events, coming up
with the budget or fundraising.
No, they said, it would be writ—
ing the President’s Mes—
sage. What they didn’t tell me was that it would also be
one of the most rewarding parts of the job. I feel so lucky
to have had this platform to express my thoughts, and I’ve
found, much to my surprise, that I have truly enjoyed writ-
ing these messages. There is so much to write about! In
preparing for this, my final column, I went back and read
all of the pieces I’ve written over the last three years.

I took much inspiration from the words of others, and
was happy to be able to share meaningful quotes in my
messages. Way back in early 2013, in my first message, I
quoted from that most famous of contemporary scholars,
fellow Kentuckian Muhammad Ali: “Service to others is
the rent you pay for your room here on... (continued p. 2)

CAMPAIGN NEWS

Supporting Our Jewish Community
By Judy Wortman

In the last issue of Shalom, we announced the Major Gifts
Champagne Brunch which will be held on Sunday, May
22, at 1 1:30 am. in a private home. The guest speaker is
Jerry Silverman, CEO of the Jewish Federations of North
America, JFB’s parent organization. Individuals giv-

ing a minimum of $500 and couples giving a minimum
of $1,000 to the 2016 annual campaign are invited. The
couvert for the brunch is $25 per person.

In addition to the annual campaign gift, there are other
means of supporting our Jewish community. You might
consider donating a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle. Fed-
eration can make the arrangements necessary to pick up
the vehicle. All the donors need to do is give us the title.

You might also want to give special contributions in
memory or in honor of a loved one. These tributes can be
in any amount of money, and we will notify the person to
be honored or the family of the person to be remembered.
These tributes will be printed in Shalom. (continued p. 3)

 

   

  

(Dissent, continued from p. 1) nuclear agreement, with
some Jews not even wanting to go to their local Shab—
bat services lest they get into an uncomfortable debate
on the accord.

Rabbis have shared that speaking about Israel from
the pulpit has become difficult due to the polarization
of congregants. In fact, a Jewish Council for Public
Affairs report found that nearly half of the 500 mostly
Conservative and Reform rabbis surveyed “hold views
on Israel that they won’t share publicly, many for fear
of endangering their reputation or their careers.”

Yehuda Kurtzer, president of the Shalom Hartman In-
stitute of North America, suggests in a recent flog that,
rather than being fearful of taking a stand on an impor-
tant political situation, Jewish leaders and organiza—
tions should instead take a position and — just as in
the Mishnah — also present an opposing View. “Very
simply,” Kurtzer writes, “Publish the dissent. Make
the decision, make the case for it, and then publish the
dissenting viewpoint or viewpoints.”

Publishing the dissent, he explains, “gives voice to the
losing arguments and to those articulating them, and
signals confidence, humility, and a wholesale embrace
of the dissenters, even in light of the failure of their
dissent to become policy.”

We need to be open to listening to one another no mat—
ter what background or opinions one has. I worry most
that we have lost the concept of “love they neighbor
as thyself” — that is unless you practice or you share
similar standings on issues.

A record 18,000 attended AIPAC’s recent policy con-
ference, more than half of them non-Orthodox. Would
the political parties and those speaking out against

the non—Orthodox movement rather those thousands
instead had stayed home?

I doubt it. Israel is a promise to all Jews, a gift for all
Jews everywhere, not based on where you reside or
what you think.

Many Orthodox movements understand this, and have
found great success in reaching out to non-Orthodox
Jews—discussing, sharing, debating and educating on
the big and small issues of the day.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yesh Atid party
leader Yair Lapid and too few Orthodox leaders have
condemned some of these remarks, but more needs to
be done.

We are too small a people for those unwilling to recog-
nize liberal Jews as part of the Jewish people to close
the shtetl gates to our love of Israel. We will come to
Israel, and we will continue to push to celebrate the
good and to be there in crisis.

To those who don’t want to listen and sling arrows, we

2

say: Put down your arrows, come to the Shabbat table
and have a dialogue. Let’s debate and argue, but let’s
stop with the awful tone.

Jerry Silverman is president & CEO of The Jewish
Federations of North America

 

(President 's Message, continued from p. l) earth.” Those
words resonate with me today as they did then. I went
on to quote Winston Churchill, “We make a living by
what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” I
can state without hesitation that serving as President of
the Federation benefitted me immensely, and I’m sure
I received much more than I gave. I ended my first
message with a quote from one of our sages, Hillel:
“Don’t separate yourself from the community.” As I
wrap up my tenure as President, I can assure you that
I will take Hillel’s advice and remain an active part of
our Bluegrass Jewish community.

Looking back at some of my messages over the past
three years also gives me insight into how I look at
things at ten thousand feet. Marking 50 years since

I became a bar mitzvah, I wrote about reconnecting
with my Jewish identity. My life is richer as a result
of studying Torah and Talmud at Shabbat services
each Saturday. Then there was Thanksgivvukah. Due
to a rare convergence of the calendar, I had the oppor—
tunity to write about the common theme of religious
freedom in Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. In so doing I
thought about what it means to be American, and what
it means to be Jewish. In a 2014 Message, I wrote of
my becoming a Jewish zealot, meaning one who is full
of zeal and passion for Judaism, and who volunteers
time and resources in support of our Jewish communi—
ty. I invited all of you, join me by putting your money
where your hearts are and make a charitable gift to the
Federation.

On too many occasions I wrote about shocking events
that were confronting us in our own country and
abroad, trying to make sense out of things that made
no sense. I tried to provide words of hope, and re-
minded my readers of some of my heroes in the quest
for peace and justice, such as Father Ted Hesburgh,
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the Multifaith Alli-
ance for Syrian Refugees.

JFB will soon welcome a new President, Evalyn
Block, and a new Executive Director, Tamara Ohayon.
Evalyn and Tami will make a great team. Please give
them your support and love as they lead us, and as
they work hard to enrich our Jewish community.

Thank you for letting me serve as your president, and
for giving me the chance to express myself.

L’hitraot.
Michael Grossman

 

 

 Temple Adath Israel Recognized for
Refugee Efforts

Last month at Kentucky
, Refugee Ministries’ an-
; nual breakfast Temple
Adath Israel received
special recognition as

a co-sponsoring faith

. ; community “that has
gone above and be—
yond”. We began our
discussions with KRM
last fall shortly after
Nancy Schoenberg and
Rosie Moosnick asked
special recognition award on be- Rabbi Winschafter if
half of Temple Adath Israel. the Refugee Crisis was
something we wanted to address as a congregation.
We had a family in the pipeline but no firm arrival
date beyond notification that they would be arriving in
Lexington sometime. At that time there were two fam-
ilies to choose from. One had a child struggling with
Cerebral Palsy and since a number of our members
here at TAI are personally or professionally familiar
with that condition we felt we could be a particularly
good fit for them.

As the months rolled along, there was no word about
the arrival of this family. Led by Bruce and Mary
Engel our congregation was gathering supplies and
furniture for an apartment, but it was a holding pattern
for the time being. KRM however had another family
that they knew would be arriving in January. So Dab-
ney Parker of KRM approached Nancy, Rosie, Bruce,
Mary and Rick Clewett to see if we would rather
‘switch’ our co-sponsorship for the family arriving in
January. These TAI Social Action leaders decided to
indeed, co—sponsor the “January family”, but that we
would like to also stay ‘in waiting’ for the original
family we had discussed. Ms. Parker says that “this
was a first in my time with KRM, for the last 7 years.”

    

 

 

vid Wirtschafteaccepts

Family #1 arrived at
the end of January

(the 28th) to a nicely
furnished apartment
and a group of folks
who have surrounded

» them with support and
caring. AND THEN...
arrival of #2 family had
a date! (early March!)
The second family has
arrived...about 5 1/2
weeks after family #1!
,A_ They too, were greeted

 
 
   
 

  

with a furnished home, and a group of people who are
supporting and caring for them!

We can be proud if the fact that our congregation and
many others here in Lexington have shown the gift of
hospitality by welcoming the stranger in our midst.

We are honored to be partners with KRM and are
grateful for the opportunity to play our part in alleviat-
ing this tremendous worldwide challenge.

 

(Campaign News, continued from p. I ) You might also
consider a special contribution to PJ Library or for our
scholarship fund to help families send their children
to Jewish overnight camps, to Camp Shalom, or for a
program in Israel.

Most importantly, we invite you to consider a legacy
gift. A legacy gift can provide programs for children
and families, support our elderly, and assure that
Jewish traditions will live on and flourish beyond our
lifetimes.

For information about any of these giving opportuni-
ties, please contact Judy Wortman at 268-0672.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass
Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 25 @ 7:00 pm.
1050 Chinoe Road
Nominations for Officers & Board Members, Awards

OFFICERS
President ...................................... Evalyn Block I
l Vice President ......................... Amy Faust Mayer
Secretary ..................................... Gayle Bourne
Treasurer ..................................... Dianne Bazell I
At Large Executive Committee .......... Seth Salomon
Michael Grossman
h BOARD MEMBERS
For an Addtl Term as Officers. . . ..Evalyn Block
Amy Faust Mayer
l For a 2nd Three Year Term. . . . .David Feinberg
Angie Omstein
For a lst Three Year Term ......... Lorne Dechtenberg
Paul Tillier
AWARDS
Volunteer of the Year ............................. Gayle Bourne
Young Leadership Award .......................... Jenn Garlin
President’s Award .................................... Hanna Smith I
Contact jfb@jewishlexington.org for information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ask A Rabbi: Rabbi Avroham Litvin

I hope everyone had a wonder—
ful and meaningful Passover.
Recently, I was asked why
there is a custom to light a can-
dle on the last day of Passover
in conjunction with the remem—
brance of dearly departed. (In
case you missed this on Satur-
day, April 30th, the next time
this is done is on the second
day of Shavuos - Monday, June
13). For that matter, it is also
traditional to light a candle on the day of a yartzeit
(anniversary of death) of a loved one, as well as during
the shivah period after one’s death. So the question I
was asked was:

 

Question: What is the association between a candle
and the passing of a person?

Answer: As early as the middle of the 12th century
the great sage Rabbi Asher of Lunel wrote as follows:
“On the eve of Yom Kippur it is customary for all
those that lost a parent, to kindle a candle near where
they will be praying in the synagogue”. The mitzvah
of lighting the synagogue would thus be directly at-
tributed to the merit of the deceased and bring them
blessing even after passing from this world.

In the book of Isaiah (24:15) it says, “With lights you
shall honor G-d.” The Medrash Tanchuma explains,

“G-d says light a candle before me, and I shall guard

over your souls, which are called candles”.

If all we were trying to do was perform a good deed to
merit the soul of our dearly departed, why not sing a
hymn of praise or help a poor person in need or do any
of the many hundreds of commandments which com-
prise Judaism? Why specifically do we light a candle
to seemingly “honor” the dead?

The answer can be gleaned by looking closely at the
words of the Medrash above. The soul is called a
candle because the two share many qualities. It is one
of the only things in our world that appear to naturally
climb upward. Most any item naturally falls down-
ward because of gravity, but hold a candle in any di-
rection and the flame will seek to soar upward, almost
as if it wishes to break away from its physical body
and disappear into the heavens. The soul’s natural de-
sire is for a spiritual world where it can transcend the
shackles of the body, but the soul recognizes the great
value of its earthly mission and wishes to see the great
fruits of its labor.

It might be comparable to a student who knows that
he or she must work very hard to prepare for a final
exam. Their entire future may depend on those re-

sults. They may study hard and try to memorize and
cram and do all they can for success although their
natural desire might be to just curl up in bed and
hibernate. Similarly, the natural desire of the soul is
to cleave to G-d and when a person passes away this
natural desire finds its complete expression.

For this reason, although any positive act done on
behalf of a loved one grants them atonement and merit
and blessing in their heavenly abode, there is a special
value to using a flame, for it most closely resembles
the soul of our loved ones.

Over time, this has also evolved to the custom of
lighting a candle during shivah in the home of the
deceased. This highlights the fact that we are thinking
of their soul and that we pledge to bring light into the
world on their behalf to help elevate that soul in the
heavenly realms.

May we all do acts of light and goodness to bring
blessings to ourselves, our loved ones, and the nation
of Israel, and may G—d reciprocate by bringing back
the light of the Holy Temple and the era of Messiah,
amen.

Have a question? Ask a rabbi.

The rabbis write wlumns in response to questions sub-
mittedbythercaders.Weencourageyoutosubmityom
queries on theology, morality, ethics, religious obser-
vanees, etc. forrcsponseby oneofourrabbis. Ifyouhave
anissueyouwouldliketoseeaddressedpleaseemailitto
slmlomfl’jewishlexingtonmg and put “Ask a Rabbi” in the
subject line of your email. (It may take quite a while until
yom'question is answeredoritmay neverbeanswered, if
norabbi selects it.) You willnotbe identifiedasthcwrimer
oftheqtnestiontoeiflrermbbisorreadcrsnorm‘llywbe
asked to specify which rabbi should answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Summer 2016

Camp Shalom Staff!
Seeking creative, responsible
teens and young adults for
2-week local day camp.
Click here to learn more.

 

 ASK JF S: Internet Safety with Children
By Mimi Kaufman

As partners of Prevent Child
Abuse Kentucky, it is impor-
tant for us to do our part as a
community to prevent child
abuse. April is the official
national month to raise aware-

ness to the issues surrounding
Child Abuse.

Being a parent has many trials
and tribulations. Sleepless

 

nights in infancy, toddlers melting down and mouthy
teenagers. You name the stage and there is a chal-
lenging issue. Now add in the possibility of poverty,
job loss, addiction, social isolation or limited educa-
tion and you may very well be at high risk for abusive
behaviors. Any one of these single problems may
increase a person’s risk for abusive behaviors.

So as we focus on prevention, let us take a look at
prevention strategies.

Let us take a look at what we can call protective fac-
tors. Protective factors are conditions in families and
communities that, when present, increase the health
and well being of children and families. These attri-
butes serve as buffers, helping parents to find resourc-
es, support or coping strategies. Methods that bolster
protective factors include: facilitation friendships and
support, strengthening parenting skills, responding to
families in crisis, linking families to services and op-
portunities.

So what can I do as an individual to help myself as
well as other parents?

One of the beauties of being involved in a community
is that you have an automatic support system thus low-
ering your risk as well as helping others lower theirs.
By virtue of reading Shalom articles you are part of

CA$Hor

HOME Q CONTENTS

 

call

  

the Jewish Community. What can you do within your

community? Whether it be your neighborhood, your

child’s school or wherever you spend time, it is really

not so hard.

Here are a few examples of pledges you can make to

do your part to help out:

- Offer to babysit a grandchild once in awhile to
give parents a needed break.

0 Run an errand or prepare a meal for a new mother
in your neighborhood.

' Let parents know when they are doing a good job.

0 Advocate for programs that provide families with
education and support.

0 Take part in activities where you can meet and
connect with other parents.

- Look for good role models.

0 Be a good role model; share ideas.

Good prevention programs will increase these pro—
tective factors as well as connect families to needed
resources. Let us all do what we can to ensure the
healthy development of our children.

JFS: At Your Service is a monthly column covering a wide
range of issues. If you have a problem or a concern that
you would like addressed in this Shalom column, please
send them either by mail to Jewish Family Services at 1050
Chinoe Road Suite 1 12, or by email to its @ie wish/ming—
ton.or0. You can also always call with your confidential
questions at (859) 269-8244.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE
Jewish Community

Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, June 15
8:00 pm.

at Temple Adath Israel
Dr. Jack Ukeles will share the results of our

recent Jewish Community Study, and offer his
recommendations for the future.

Contact jfb@jewishlexington.org
for more information.

 

 

 

JIM MISCHNER 806-1932

 

   

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion To Present Daniel Chejfec with the

Doctor of Jewish Nonprofit Management, honoris causa

Rabbi Aaron D. Panken, Ph.D.,
President of Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Re-
ligion (HUC-JIR), will award
Daniel Alberto Chejfec with
the Doctor of Jewish Nonprofit
Management at Graduation
Ceremonies in Los Angeles on
, May 16, 2016 at Temple
Emanuel of Beverly Hills. Daniel Chejfec, Executive
Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater El Paso,
will be honored for 25 years of distinguished profes—
sional service as an alumnus of HUC-J IR.

President Panken stated, “We honor Daniel Chejfec
for his dedicated service to the Jewish People and the
larger world by fostering learning, community, social
justice, and the continuous vitality of our heritage.”

 

Daniel Chejfec was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
where he was active as a professional in the Jewish
community, serving on the Board of the Argentinean
Association of Jewish Communal Workers. While still
in Argentina he earned Master degrees in Education
(JFK Argentine University) and Sociology (FLACSo —
Latin American School of Social Sciences). He came
to America in 1989, and upon graduating from the
Double Master Program on Social Work and Jewish
Communal Service at USC/HUC in Los Angeles, he
served in various capacities in the Federation system.

He first assumed the role of Executive Director in
1999 at the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, later
becoming Executive Director of the Jewish Federa—
tion of Dutchess County (NY). He assumed his current
position in El Paso (TX) in 2014

Daniel Chejfec added, “It is an honor for me to receive
this recognition from my American Alma Mater; I will
continue to do my best to be worthy of the honor and

of the trust deposited in me by the Jewish community”

Founded in 1875, HUC-JIR is North America’s lead—
ing institution of higher Jewish education and the
academic, spiritual, and professional leadership devel-
opment center of Reform Judaism. HUC—J IR educates
men and women for service to North American and
world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and non—
profit management professionals, and offers graduate
programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths.

HUC-JIR will bestow 125 degrees at Graduation and
Ordination Ceremonies in Cincinnati, Los Angeles,
and New York on the Class of 2016’s cadre of new
Jewish professional leaders for the Reform Movement.
Distinguished communal and civic leaders and alumni
will be awarded honorary degrees and prizes in rec-
ognition of their service to Reform congregations and
North American Jewry, and in honor of their humani—
tarian work. Click 1;c;c for further information about
2016 Graduation and Ordination Ceremonies.

J

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0"“? “mm “hrs a "M rience C3 '
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swam“ xmgtfi-fiwwlth 5:350:12}: staff and. p
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t o S 0N5 ' Shaun”
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now open!

 

For more information contact Director Tamara Ohagon
at (853) 298-0872 or camquewisHexingtonorg

or visit wwaewisHexingtonorg
Spud lg

 

OF THE BLUEGRASS

’ V I IA" Thejewish Federation

   

 

 

 An old family business story tells how
religious, cultural differences were bridged

By Tom Eblen

teblen@hera]d—1eader.com

Originally published in the Herald-Leader on March
13, 2016

   
   

Sarah, Abraham, Harry and Bess Goller posed outside the fam-
ily ’5 Jewish deli at East Fourth and North Upper Streets in the
early 19405. The business was saved by an unusual loan from
officials at Transylvania College during the Great Depression.
owner Photo Provided

I met two brothers last weekend at the Blue Grass
Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual Antiques &
Garden Show whose business is selling chunks of
minerals and ancient petrified wood as art objects and
home accessories.

I thought it might make an interesting column. But

while talking with Stuart and Michael Goller of Cin-
cinnati—based GeoRarities, they told me a much more
interesting family business story, based in Lexington.

In many ways, it was a typical immigrant story of
struggle and success. But in this time when so many
Americans fear and resent immigrants whose cultures
and religions are different from theirs, this story had
an enlightening twist.

As the storm clouds of World War I were gathering,
Russia’s Czar was persecuting Jews in Eastern Europe.
So Harry Goller left Lithuania for the United States in
search of a better life.

Harry, who spoke only Yiddish, made his way toAtlan—
ta, where a brother had immigrated and had become a
junk dealer.

“He would load up his pack with pots and pans and
whatever he could carry, and, speaking no English,
go out to sell in little towns that didn’t have a general
store,” Michael said of his grandfather.

After two years, Harry had earned enough money to
bring his wife, Sarah, and their children to America. In
about 1917, they moved to Lexington, because other
Jewish families from their village had settled here.

  

They had three more children in Lexington. The
youngest, Michael and Stuart’s father, Abraham, was
born in 1925.

The Gollers opened a Jewish deli at the comer of East
Fourth and North Upper streets. The family lived
upstairs, and in the basement they made corned beef,
pickles and sacramental wine.

Harry was a rabbi, and he sold kosher food and wine
to Central Kentucky’s small Jewish population. The
neighborhood surrounding the deli was then predomi—
nantly black, and many of Harry’s loyal customers
were Christian.

Harry’s corned beef and cold cuts attracted a wide
clientele, including the owner of Calumet farm and the
leadership of nearby Transylvania College. The busi-
ness prospered until the stock market crash of October
1929 ushered in the Great Depression.

“My grandfather had extended credit to all of his small
customers,” Michael said. “They couldn’t pay him,
and he couldn’t pay the meat suppliers, so they forced
him into bankruptcy.”

That is when one of Harry’s Christian customers
came to the rescue. It might have been Transylvania’s
president. But the brothers said their father, now 91,
thinks it was the president of Transylvania’s College
of the Bible, which later became Lexington Theologi-
cal Seminary.

“He liked to come by and chat and maybe discuss re-
ligion,” Michael said. “He found out they were going
bankrupt, so he arranged for the (continued, p. 8)

HADASSAH SELLING MACY’S CARDS FOR
YOUR GIFT SHOPPING

Make your gift giving easy,
plus enjoy saving on gas and
time while helping the Lex-
ington Chapter of Hadassah
raise funds for its valuable
programs here in the US and
in Israel, by purchasing Macy’s Gift Cards.

Macy’s Gift Cards are available in $25, $50 or $100
denomination. usable at any Macy’s stores nation-
wide. If you need a larger order, it can be done, just
contact me to special order the amount you need.

 

 

They may be purchased by check payable to Hadas-
sah. Send as gifts for all occasions or use yourself for
that shopping you’ll do anyway. There is no expira-
tion date on the Gift Cards.

Macy’s always has sales and discounts which you
will save money.

Contact Odette Kaplan for your Macy’s Gift Cards at
okmkaplan@ emailcom or 859-271-8332.

 

 

 

 

   

 

Michael, left, and Stuart Goller of Cincinnati are the grandsons
of Harry Goller, who ran a Jewish deli in Lexington for many
years. When the deli was threatened with bankruptcy during the
Great Depression, Christian leaders of Transylvania College and
its theology school provided an unusual loan that saved the fam-
ily business. Tom Eblen IchlenQI herald-leader.t'om

(Goller, continued from p. 7) college to make a loan to
save the business so he wouldn’t go under. And my
grandfather paid it all back.”

Abraham went on to graduate from Henry Clay High
School and, at the beginning of World War II, he be-
came an engineering student at the University of Ken-
tucky as part of the Army Specialized Training Pro-
gram. By 1943, the Army needed infantrymen more
than engineers. Abraham was drafted, fought with the
100th Infantry Division in France and was wounded.

After the war, Abraham earned his engineering degree
at UK on the GI Bill. He went on to a career with Pol-
lock Steel in Cincinnati, designing steel reinforcement
for bridges and power plants. Abraham and Ruth, his
wife of 60 years, also have a third son, Jeffrey, a phy-
sician in Charleston, SC.

The corner where the Gollers’ home and deli once
stood is now a vacant lot. Stuart said the building

was demolished three or four decades ago after a fire.
Sarah died in 1945; Harry in 1978. He left his grand-
sons with many fond memories and inspiring stories,
including several about how cultural and religious dif-
ferences were bridged.

For example, when young Abraham injured himself
while working with a knife, a prominent black doctor
who lived nearby rushed to his aid. And then there was
this funny story:

“At some point, the police came by and arrested Pops
for selling sacramental wine on Sunday because of the
blue laws,” Michael said, referring to laws that then
banned the sale of alcohol on Sunday.

“So they hauled him before court and he explained

in his accented English what was going on,” that the
Jewish Sabbath was Saturday, Michael said. “So the
judge said, ‘Release this man immediately. But if you
ever find him selling it on Saturday, I want him ar-
rested and brought back to court!”

 

14th Annual Emilie Szekely Holocaust

Awareness Writing Project
Winning Essays Read at the Community
Yom HaShoah Commemoration on Sunday, April 10
at Ohavay Zion Synagogue

    

Safe
Elementary School Winner, Puja Adhikari

Julius Marks Elementary, 4th Grade
Sponsoring teacher: Page Harman

I tossed and turned. “Would I be safe from the Nazis
here,” I thought to myself. I turned and turned again.
I will be fine, but what about Mom, Issac and Papa?
Would they be safe? Isaac was at Daniel’s families
house, but Mom and Papa were put in a place called
Auschwitz. I turned and looked at Ann. She would
never have to worry about the Nazis. She is Danish
not Jewish. I eventually closed my eyes and did not
worry about anything.

The next morning, I woke up with a start. I had the
most horrible dream, Mom and Papa were in a line to
go take a shower, and then, BOOM! The Nazi soldier
closed the door and shut them inside. Poisionous gas
fumes were coming out of the shower head.

I cleared my mind and I walked into the bathroom to
brush my teeth. As I turned the faucet on, I overheard
Ann talking to her mother. . .No I am sorry but our
family could suffer, just because of her. We h