1 10 305 https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/2e5168ce624b4150201f25febd29dd90.jpg 96349dd698ac8c9d9dc937958e41ab51 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Janice W. Fernheimer Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed Joel Gordon Interview Keyword Korean War, 1950-1953 University of Kentucky--Basketball United States. Army Air Forces Basketball players--Kentucky Small business--Ownership Small business--Kentucky Jewish businesspeople Entrepreneurship OHMS Object Text 5.2 2017oh387_jk060 Interview with Joel Gordon, June 21, 2017 2017oh387_jk060 jk Jewish Kentucky Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Family histories. Genealogy Jewish families. Jewish children Jews--Identity. Judaism. Religion Worship (Judaism) Crofton (Ky.) African Americans--Segregation Civil rights movements--United States Integration Race relations Nashville (Tenn.) Jewish leadership Korean War, 1950-1953 University of Kentucky--Basketball United States. Army Air Forces Basketball players--Kentucky Small business--Ownership Small business--Kentucky Jewish businesspeople Entrepreneurship Joel Gordon Janice W. Fernheimer 2017oh387_jk060_gordon_acc001.mp3 0 https://oralhistory.uky.edu/spokedbaudio/2017oh387_jk060_gordon_acc001.mp3 Other audio 0 Introduction and family background I think my background is quite different from other people that you’ve, you’ve interviewed. Joel Gordon discusses his birth and how he was delivered without the presence of a physician. Gordon enjoys talking about his hometown of Crofton, a town of about 600 people located in Christian County, Kentucky. He goes into detail explaining how his last name switched from Pieloskie to Gordon. Crofton (Ky.) ; Family names ; Gordon family ; Physicians ; Pieloskie family ; Smigelski family ; Stores ; Yiddish Christian County (Ky.) ; Families. ; Family histories. ; Genealogy ; Jewish families. 37.048, -87.483 17 Crofton, Kentucky 321 Father’s general store in Crofton, Kentucky during the 1930s and 1940s Where he got, uh, Kentucky, he had a brother that came over... Gordon discusses how his father ended up opening his general store in Crofton, Kentucky. His Aunt Leila was an important reason his father came to Crofton and eventually stayed. His father's store did business with many of the miners and farmers in Crofton. A big part of his father's business was bartering with the farmers, allowing for his father's store to continue business. &quot ; Jew stores&quot ; ; Bartering ; Coal ; Crofton (Ky.) ; Farmers ; Gordon family ; Hopkinsville (Ky.) ; Tobacco Christian County (Ky.) ; Entrepreneurship ; Families. ; Family histories. ; Genealogy ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish families. ; Small business--Kentucky ; Small business--Ownership 36.867, -87.488 17 Hopkinsville (Ky.) 585 African Americans in Crofton during the 1930s and 1940s Did, did the African American members of Crofton also shop at the Jew stores? Gordon discusses what the segregation in Crofton was like, beginning with the period of the 1930s. He recalls having good relations with the African American members of the community, as they were customers at his father's store, but this was not the case for the entire community in Crofton. One large-scale event that brought the black and white communities together was held on Emancipation Day. This event was a baseball game between an all-black team and an all-white team. African-Americans ; Baseball ; Crofton (Ky.) ; Emancipation Day ; Racism African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations--Kentucky 17 878 Segregation in Crofton How did the rest of the community think about that, since that was during the times when things weren't super integrated? Gordon recalls how the African Americans did not have separate but equal education during his time in grade school. Specifically during the 1940s and the war when there were no male teachers, the African Americans suffered. Gordon talks about how his family employed an African American domestic worker named Katie Grey. Katie was an integral part of his family as she stayed with them past Gordon's bar mitzvah. Domestic workers ; Education ; Hopkinsville (Ky.) ; Immigrants ; Katie Grey ; Wars African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations--Kentucky 17 1265 Family traditions growing up And your family, it sounds like, kept some traditions while they were in Crofton. Gordon recalls what it was like being Jewish in Crofton and how his family kept their Jewish traditions. He discusses the different things they did for Passover, such as storing food in the attic for the entire year and then eating it for Passover. Their synagogue was located in Hopkinsville and was the smallest in the country. A group of people from counties across Kentucky founded the synagogue and kept it running. The Rabbi was a man named Alex Cohen from Greenville, Kentucky. Bris ; Crofton (Ky.) ; Hopkinsville (Ky.) ; Kosher ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Orthodox ; Passover ; Rabbis ; Rosh Hashanah ; Synagogues Childhood ; Fasts and feasts--Judaism. ; Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 37.201, -87.178 17 Greenville (Ky.) 1554 Family Sabbath traditions growing up Yeah. And so, the store was open seven days a week. Gordon says his family did not celebrate Sabbath like a traditional Jewish family. Their faith was more traditional rather than religious, meaning the things they did were more out of tradition compared to the love of the religion. Holidays like Yom Kippur and Passover were celebrated merely out of tradition. When Gordon eventually started his own family, his children were much more religious than he was growing up and he discusses their Jewish education in comparison to his. The only thing his parents were insistent on was marrying a Jewish woman. Bar mitzvahs ; Celebrations ; Jewish education ; Passover ; Sabbath ; Yom Kippur Childhood ; Fasts and feasts--Judaism. ; Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 17 2041 Food and family Jewish values What was the food like? Gordon discusses the different types of food he ate growing up as a Jewish child. Sometimes it was his mother who cooked for him, and other times it was the domestic worker they employed, Katie. One of the main Jewish foods his mother would make was Kosher. Gordon also goes on to talk about the Jewish values that his family had and how that continued into his adult life. A main value his parents instilled into him early on was that nothing in life will be given to you. Domestic workers ; Faith ; Judaism ; Katie Grey ; Kosher ; Rabbis ; Tzimmes ; Values ; Yiddish Childhood ; Fasts and feasts--Judaism. ; Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 17 2418 Life as a basketball star in Crofton and at University of Kentucky Let's--can, can we talk a little bit about your, uh, life as a basketball star both in Crofton and then also at UK? Gordon goes into detail about what life was like as a basketball star growing up in Crofton and how it changed his reputation. People respected him due to his prowess as a basketball star in town. Once he arrived at the University of Kentucky it was similar. Everyone wanted to be friends with the basketball stars. This helped Gordon make new friends, though he already had a vibrant personality. All-Stars ; Basketball ; Fame ; Jewish ; Reputations ; Stars Basketball players--Kentucky ; College athletes ; College environment ; College sports. ; University of Kentucky--Basketball 38.042, -84.467 17 University of Kentucky 2716 Family's view of going to college Was that--was college something that your parents wanted for you? Gordon discusses his family view of going to college and how that changed throughout the years. No one in his father's family had gone to college so it was never something he imagined for Joel. His uncle played a large role in convincing him college was the right path. He recalls being in contact with Coach Rupp and being invited to Lexington for a tryout. After two years of being on the team, Gordon quit due to limited playing time and focusing on academics. Coach Adolph Rupp ; Coach Rupp ; Colleges ; First generation college students ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Recruitment ; Vanderbilt University Basketball players--Kentucky ; College athletes ; College athletes--Recruiting ; College environment ; College sports. ; University of Kentucky--Basketball 38.039, -84. 506 17 University of Kentucky 3052 Segregation at University of Kentucky during the 1940s U, U, UK was segregated long, long time. Gordon discusses how integration at the University of Kentucky came about. Adolph Rupp was very against integrating the basketball team. It was Ned Breathitt, the governor of Kentucky at the time, who came to Rupp with the idea of recruiting African Americans for the team. Gordon talks about how teams with black players were not able to schedule games against Kentucky because the city of Lexington would not let them stay in Lexington. Coach Adolph Rupp ; Coach Rupp ; Integration ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Ned Breathitt ; Recruitment African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Basketball players--Kentucky ; College athletes ; College athletes--Recruiting ; College environment ; College sports. ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations--Kentucky ; University of Kentucky--Basketball 38.04938, -84.50241 17 Rupp Arena 3307 Social life at the University of Kentucky during the 1940s I w, I was kinda interested in being involved in a lot of organizations with a lot of different kind of people. Gordon begins by talking about how he was introduced to his wife after graduating from UK and then jumps back to talking about UK. He says that finding a Jewish girl to take as your date was tough so they had to invite girls from cities near Lexington. Gordon would often get invited to parties at Sigma Nu where it was easier to find a date because the girl did not have to be Jewish. Outside of the Jewish world, Joel believes that basketball opened the most doors for him, even more than ZBT. Cincinnati (Ohio) ; Fraternities ; Fraternity ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Owensboro (Ky.) ; Sigma Nu ; Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) Basketball players--Kentucky ; College athletes ; College environment ; College sports. ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Jewish women--Kentucky--Lexington ; Jews--Identity. ; Universities and colleges. ; University of Kentucky--Basketball 38.039, -84. 506 17 University of Kentucky 3998 Lexington Jewish community and stores One from, uh, Lexington, what was her name? Family had a store... Gordon recounts social outings and parties with members of the Jewish community that he would attend with members of his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau. He also tells about the Jewish owned and operated stores in downtown Lexington, Kentucky such as Lowenthal’s, Statter’s, and Winnaker’s. These stores were the predominant businesses on Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky, except for hotels and movie theaters. Fraternity ; Jewish community ; Kentucky ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Lowenthal’s ; Statter’s ; Winnaker’s ; Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) Entrepreneurship ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish families. ; Small business--Kentucky ; Small business--Ownership 38.029722, -84.494722 17 Lexington (Ky.) http://www.zbt.org The official website of the Jewish fraternity Zeta Beta Tau. 4098 Synagogue services / Friends in Zeta Beta Tau Did you go out to the local--did you go to services at--while you were at University? Gordon recalls his time in college and his attendance at the Conservative synagogue in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. The synagogue was only three or four blocks away from the Student Union, where Gordon spent time. He remembers being well received at the synagogue, and members of the synagogue loved to see college students attending services. Gordon usually attended day services by himself, although some of his fraternity brothers went to the services at night. He begins to discuss some of his friends and fraternity brothers, including Norman Cline, a University of Kentucky football player. Football ; Fraternities ; Fraternity ; Norman Cline ; Students ; Synagogue services ; Synagogues ; University of Kentucky ; Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Religious life ; College students--Social conditions ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Religion ; Universities and colleges. ; Worship (Judaism) 38.0406, 84.5037 17 Lexington (Ky.) 4363 ROTC experiences and military service Well I was in ROTC. Throughout his time at the University of Kentucky, Gordon was a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, commonly referred to as ROTC. He participated in the Air Force of the ROTC, and was part of an organization called the Arnold Air Cadets. He describes his initial involvement in ROTC as a mandatory assignment, but he continued on after his mandatory two years. Upon graduating from the University of Kentucky, Gordon was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was assigned to Fort Knox, located in Kentucky. After Fort Knox, Gordon was sent to Europe, where he spent three years during the time of the Korean War (1950-1953). Air Force ; Arnold Air Cadets ; Europe ; Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) ; Second lieutenants ; Stationed ; University of Kentucky Fort Knox (Ky.) ; Korean War, 1950-1953 ; Military life. ; United States. Army Air Forces 37.92, -85.96 17 Fort Knox (Ky.) 4507 Early years at the University of Kentucky Again, basketball, University of Kentucky got me friendly with... Gordon recounts his first years at the University of Kentucky. Although he was seventeen when he began attending college, many of the students were twenty-three or twenty-four. He explains that at the time when many of the students would have left for college, they left to serve in World War II. Many of the older students were attending the University of Kentucky on the Government Issue (GI) Bill. Some of Gordon’s brothers in his fraternity, Zeta Beta Tau, were veterans of World War II returning and attending school. Gordon also became involved in the Student Union group, the Arnold Air Cadets, and an accounting and marketing organization at the University of Kentucky as well. Arnold Air Cadets ; G.I. Bill ; Government Issue Bill ; Student Union Group ; University of Kentucky ; World War II ; Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) College environment ; College students--Conduct of life. ; College students--Social conditions ; Universities and colleges. ; World War, 1939-1945--Veterans. 17 4795 Work experience / College major / Early married life Went back and went to work for my father. Gordon graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He applied for jobs upon graduation in different areas, and traveled for internships. Gordon describes meeting his wife, Bernice, on one such interview trip. Gordon was hired and began working at a store called Harvey’s, where he worked his way up in the company. Gordon’s name began to make its way around town, and stores were seeking to hire him from Harvey’s. Gordon also briefly discusses his experience as Jewish man working for a non-Jewish boss. Bernice Gordon ; Business management ; Businesses ; Harvey’s ; Lexington (Ky.) ; Marriage ; University of Kentucky ; Work experience Employment--Kentucky ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. 38.0406, -84.5037 17 Lexington (Ky.) 4985 Employment / Views on desegregation Well, got over there, started off doing too well, and the president of the store... During his employment under John Sloan at Cain-Sloan company, Gordon began to encounter different views on integration and the civil rights movement. Gordon’s employer was against desegregation, and Gordon had to listen to his opinions on the idea of integration. Gordon describes how Sloan’s opinions regarding segregation differed when it came to different minority groups. He then discusses his profession and his duties at the Cain-Sloan company, as well as his thirteen year career working for the business. Desegregation ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Perry Wallace ; Protests ; Vanderbilt University African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Civil rights movements--United States ; Integration ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism 36.166667, -86.783333 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 5207 Civil rights movement / Desegregation of Nashville schools To understand it all, you gotta be, be through it. Gordon recounts the year 1965, when he was working in a department store on Fifth Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville contained several segregated soda fountains, and segregated schools. Gordon recounts peaceful protestors, trained by Martin Luther King, Jr., who would march down the streets, and sit at the segregated soda fountains. He also describes their amazing resolve, as they were brutally treated but did not stop fighting for the desegregation of schools. He also describes Bobby Kennedy's work in the fight for desegregation, and recounts a time when Kennedy was beaten up for his attempts to end segregation. 1965 ; Bobby Kennedy ; Brutality ; Davis Society ; Desegregation ; Downtown ; Educational institutions ; Fifth Avenue ; Martin Luther King Jr. ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Non-violent protests ; Retail ; Segregation ; Soda fountains African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Civil rights movements--United States ; Integration ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism ; Segregation in education. 36.174465, -86.767960 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 5426 Jewish involvement the civil rights movement The first black athlete in the Southeastern Conference was a guy named Perry Wallace. Gordon knew Perry Wallace personally, and helped him get a job at the Jewish Community Center as a camp counselor. Many Jewish leaders in the community, and rabbis, including Rabbi Falk, were joining in the protest against segregation. Rabbi Falk was the rabbi at Ohabai Shalom Temple. Mr. Wallace became a close friend of the Gordon family, knowing first Joel Gordon, and then his sons through his camp counselor work at the Jewish Community Center. During Gordon's children’s time at school, the fight for desegregation was ongoing. The Gordon children participated in the fight for desegregation, and they were supported by their parents. Because many Jewish people were fighting for desegregation for African Americans, they too experienced threats and violence. Mr. Gordon recalls an attack on the Jewish Community Center in 1966-67, in which the attacker used dynamite to bomb the front of the building. Following the attack, the building had to hire security to protect them from threats and attacks. Attacks ; Desegregation ; High schools ; Integration ; Jewish Community Center (JCC) ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Non-violent protests ; Ohabai Shalom Temple ; Perry Wallace ; Private schools ; Public schools ; Rabbi Falk ; Violence African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Anti-Semitism ; Antisemitism ; Civil rights movements--United States ; Discrimination. ; Integration ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Rabbis ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations ; Racism 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 5912 Early married life / Involvement in the temple and the Jewish community But I want to sit a little bit with that early married life. Gordon tells the story of a rabbi he knew introducing him to his now-wife, Bernice. This rabbi ended up marrying Joel and Bernice Gordon, and they joined a conservative temple. Gordon was a large financial supporter of the temple, and he was also asked to be a member of the board. Gordon discusses his involvement in both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, including the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. He also received several awards, and was inducted into the Health Care Hall of Fame. Gordon was asked to be the president of the Temple, but he declined, and he was very involved in the Jewish Federation. Bernice Gordon ; Financial supporters ; Health Care Hall of Fame ; Jewish Federation ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Tennessee Performing Arts Center Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership ; Judaism. ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Rabbis ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) http://tnhealthcarehall.com Picture of Joel Gordon for his induction in the Tennessee Healthcare Hall of Fame. 6084 Temple and synagogue involvement and attendance After that I--most of my friends belonged to the temple. Gordon begins discussing his and his wife, Bernice's, involvement in the temple and the synagogue, which they joined after they were married. He discusses how they joined a temple, but attended different temples and synagogues for different holidays and religious days. Gordon also discusses his support of various Jewish temples and synagogues, as well as issues regarding membership and Gordon's influence in the Jewish community. He also discusses different rabbis and their views. Gordon also discusses his children's involvement in the Jewish community, including their time in Sunday school and attending camps and activities at the Jewish Community Center. Taking his children to the community center also made Gordon recognize his own appreciation and love for the center, and led him to start supporting it both financially and with volunteerism. Communities ; Community ; Financial support ; Involvement ; Jewish Community Center (JCC) ; Membership ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Synagogues ; Temples ; Volunteerism Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Rabbis ; Religion ; Volunteers ; Worship (Judaism) 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 6377 Support of the community and the importance of community involvement But I, I've stayed involved in the temple. Gordon has been extremely involved in giving children a chance to reach their goals through scholarships and athletic programs. He has also been a major fundraiser for the temple and the Jewish Community Center. Gordon was the leader of a campaign that raised twelve million dollars for the Jewish Community Center. Gordon describes his belief in the importance of being involved in and supporting one’s community. He believes that the only way to make a community grow is to nourish it and give it the support it needs. Athletics ; Fundraising ; Involvement ; Jewish Community Center (JCC) ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Scholarships ; Volunteerism Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership ; Nashville (Tenn.) 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 6460 Tribute to his parents What, what--was that something that your parents imparted in you? Joel Gordon's passion for leadership is illustrated by his participation and support of both the Jewish and non-Jewish community. Gordon discusses the importance of involvement, and why he is so involved. He also discusses his tribute to his family. Gordon financially supported a park in Crofton, Kentucky, where he was born. He wanted a plaque placed in the park in memory of his parents, but the park was named Gordon Park. Gordon wanted his parents to be remembered, and their Jewish identity to be remembered in Crofton. Gordon Park was opened in 1996. The park has received several awards for best small park. Athletic programs ; Athletics ; Community ; Crofton (Ky.) ; Crofton, Kentucky ; Gordon Park ; Jewish ; Non-Jewish ; Parents ; Parks Family histories. ; Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership--Kentucky ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. 37.0478, -87.4850 17 Crofton (Ky.) http://www.croftonky.com/gordon-park/park.html Official website of Gordon Park. 6679 Gordon's involvement and leadership And I say the second thing he'd say is &quot ; I got a son that I raised that's obviously got more money than he's got sense if he's up here giving it away.&quot ; Gordon resumes discussing the reasons behind his involvement and contribution to his community, through scholarship and athletic programs, as well as through his support of the Jewish Community Center and the temple. Gordon found a sense of responsibility from people he knew from the Gentile community that donated to the Jewish community. It also came from his own donations, that slowly grew and expanded over time, especially to the Jewish Federation. He also discusses that the true way to be involved and support the community is to take a leadership position and put in the work to truly make a difference. He also discusses efforts to help expand leadership throughout the community. Athletic programs ; Contributions ; Donations ; Education ; Gentile community ; Involvement ; Jewish community ; Jewish Community Center (JCC) ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Scholarship programs ; Support ; Synagogues ; Temples Jewish families. ; Jewish leadership ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Nashville (Tenn.) 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 6932 Jewish identity Let me ask you one or two more questions about this and then maybe we should stop for today-- Gordon reflects on how he felt about identifying himself as Jewish when he was young. He did not want to identify as Jewish when he was a teenager because he felt that he was denied opportunities because of his faith. He discusses his transition from not wanting to identify as Jewish, to being a major supporter of the Jewish community and the temple. One large contributor to this change was Gordon’s wife, Bernice. Gordon describes Bernice Gordon as having a more formal Jewish education, and she had a greater knowledge and appreciation of the faith. Gordon also explains how his children’s education was more similar to Mrs. Gordon, and their large community of friends were predominantly Jewish. Gordon also recalls his realization that his Jewish identity was important to him, and it did not restrict him like he felt it did in his earlier years. He discusses his experience being Jewish in business, and describes anti-Semitic and/or derogatory terms sometimes associated with being Jewish early in his business career. He also discusses his move from the retail industry into entrepreneurship, and the creation of several different businesses throughout his career. Bernice Gordon ; Businesses ; Communities ; Community ; Crofton (Ky.) ; Crofton, Kentucky ; Education ; Jewish community ; Opportunities ; Opportunity ; Synagogues ; Temples Anti-Semitism ; Antisemitism ; Childhood ; Discrimination. ; Entrepreneurship ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Religion ; Small business--Kentucky ; Small business--Ownership ; Worship (Judaism) 34.0478, -87.4850 17 Crofton (Ky.) 7270 Jewish education / Wife's family You mentioned that Bernice had a, a much better--or, in your words, uh, Jewish education... Gordon describes his wife, Bernice's, early Jewish education. He believes that his wife and children’s education was far more extensive than his own. He also recounts what being Jewish in business during the 1960s was like. Bernice’s father, Harry Wingart, was a tailor, and she had two sisters and a brother. Bernice's mother would do much of the tailoring work behind the scenes. Gordon also discusses class differences and attitudes during this time due to professions and income. During this segment, Gordon also takes a moment to tell a story about members of Bernice's extended family, and playing poker. Bernice Gordon ; Education ; Extended family ; Family ; Family history ; Harry Wingart ; Income levels ; Jewish education ; Nashville, Tennessee ; Personal background ; Poker (Card game) ; Tailors Entrepreneurship ; Families. ; Family histories. ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Nashville (Tenn.) ; Small business--Kentucky ; Small business--Ownership 36.1627, -86.7816 17 Nashville (Tenn.) 7724 Family history I ne, I never had the background. In the last part of his interview, Gordon begins to briefly discuss his family history. He mentions his father’s childhood in Europe, and that his father did not have a desire to return to Europe. Gordon’s father was from Poland and his mother was from Russia, and they came to live in Crofton, Kentucky. He has also had some friends look into his family history, and discusses his grandparents as well. This discussion leads to the end of the interview. Crofton (Ky.) ; Crofton, Kentucky ; Europe ; Family ; Family history ; Personal background ; Poland ; Russia Families. ; Family histories. ; Genealogy ; Jewish families. 37.0478, -87.4850 17 Crofton (Ky.) interview Joel Gordon was born on January 5, 1929, in Crofton, Kentucky. Both his mother and father were Jewish, and he was raised with a Jewish foundation. When Gordon was a child, his father owned and operated a general store. Gordon briefly describes his childhood in Crofton, and specifically his time spent playing basketball. In fact, his success as an athlete enabled him to attend the University of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. In addition to playing basketball at the University of Kentucky, Gordon was also a member of the Jewish fraternity Zeta Beta Tau, a marketing society, and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Gordon was also involved with the Student Union at the University of Kentucky, and he attended the synagogue while he was in college. He graduated from UK with a major in business management, and served in the United States Air Force in Europe during the Korean War. Upon returning to the States, Gordon began working in retail. He met his wife, Bernice, during this time and they later married. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon moved to Nashville, and Gordon recounts his experiences with the civil rights movement in Nashville, Tennessee. Gordon also describes his children, and his daughter Sheri’s involvement in the civil rights movement. Eventually, Gordon left the retail industry and pursued entrepreneurial interests in the elderly nursing care and the medical outpatient industries. He ends the interview by discussing his extended family as well as Bernice Gordon’s extended family. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. audio Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh387_jk060_gordon_ohm.xml 2017oh387_jk060_gordon_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7w6m33529z OHMS Object https://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh387_jk060_gordon_ohm.xml Interview Rights All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. Interview Usage Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Joel Gordon, June 21, 2017 Description An account of the resource Joel Gordon was born on January 5, 1929, in Crofton, Kentucky. Both his mother and father were Jewish, and he was raised with a Jewish foundation. When Gordon was a child, his father owned and operated a general store. Gordon briefly describes his childhood in Crofton, and specifically his time spent playing basketball. In fact, his success as an athlete enabled him to attend the University of Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. In addition to playing basketball at the University of Kentucky, Gordon was also a member of the Jewish fraternity Zeta Beta Tau, a marketing society, and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Gordon was also involved with the Student Union at the University of Kentucky, and he attended the synagogue while he was in college. He graduated from UK with a major in business management, and served in the United States Air Force in Europe during the Korean War. Upon returning to the States, Gordon began working in retail. He met his wife, Bernice, during this time and they later married. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon moved to Nashville, and Gordon recounts his experiences with the civil rights movement in Nashville, Tennessee. Gordon also describes his children, and his daughter Sheri’s involvement in the civil rights movement. Eventually, Gordon left the retail industry and pursued entrepreneurial interests in the elderly nursing care and the medical outpatient industries. He ends the interview by discussing his extended family as well as Bernice Gordon’s extended family. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh387_jk060 Subject The topic of the resource Family histories. Genealogy Jewish families. Jewish children Jews--Identity. Judaism. Religion Worship (Judaism) Crofton (Ky.) African Americans--Segregation Civil rights movements--United States Integration Race relations Nashville (Tenn.) Jewish leadership Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource audio https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/d3e5acba6c3ddcac2ac4630f346f3ef9.jpeg 44f94e74d48d78bfdf4ccdb585f59a3f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Oral Histories Oral History A resource containing historical information obtained in interviews with persons having firsthand knowledge. Interviewer The person(s) performing the interview Carol Ely Interviewee The person(s) being interviewed John Yarmuth Interview Keyword Emigration and immigration. Entrepreneurship Jewish businesspeople Family histories. Immigrants Education, Higher Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) Washington (D.C.) African Americans--Segregation Civil rights movements--United States OHMS Object Text 5.2 2017oh355_jk054 Interview with John Yarmuth, May 10, 2017 2017oh355_jk054 jk Jewish Kentucky Oral History Project Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries (Exhibit) Jewish children Jewish families. Jews--Identity. Judaism. Religion Worship (Judaism) Louisville (Ky.) Anti-Semitism Antisemitism Discrimination. Race discrimination. Race relations--Kentucky Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion Kentucky--Politics and government Politicians--Kentucky Emigration and immigration. Entrepreneurship Jewish businesspeople Family histories. Immigrants Education, Higher Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) Washington (D.C.) African Americans--Segregation Civil rights movements--United States John Yarmuth Carol Ely 0 Vimeo video &lt ; iframe allowFullScreen frameborder=&quot ; 0&quot ; height=&quot ; 564&quot ; mozallowfullscreen src=&quot ; https://player.vimeo.com/video/253249790&quot ; webkitAllowFullScreen width=&quot ; 640&quot ; &gt ; &lt ; /iframe&gt ; 2 Introduction and family background This is Carol Ely. I'm the Louisville liaison for the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Jewish Kentucky Oral History project. Yarmuth describes how his grandfather brought his family to America from Russia in the early 1900s. They settled first in New York, then later moved to New Jersey. Then in 1943, Yarmuth's father came to Fort Knox with the military and settled in Louisville, Kentucky. He briefly discusses his father's and uncle's entrepreneurial inclinations. He notes his Jewish background as more orthodox on his father's side and reform on his mother's. 1910s ; Bronx (N.Y.) ; Family ; Fort Knox (Ky.) ; Kosher ; Latvia ; Long Island (N.Y.) ; New Jersey ; New York ; Russia ; Sons of the American Revolution Emigration and immigration. ; Entrepreneurship ; Families. ; Family histories. ; Immigrants ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish families. 56.879, 24.603 17 Latvia http://www.hadassahmagazine.org/2006/05/11/jewish-traveler-louisville/ The Jewish Traveler: Louisville 449 Jewish experiences as a child in 1950s Louisville, Kentucky And, uh, so what, what kind of religious household, or not, did your, did your parents create? Yarmuth describes growing up more culturally than religiously Jewish and living in a primarily Jewish neighborhood, in the Outer Highlands. He became bar mitzvahed more for his grandfather's sake than his own, and his family also celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas, as a commercial holiday. He participated in sports and social clubs at the Jewish Community Center throughout his adolescence and consequently made many Jewish friends he met outside of Sunday school. Adath Jeshrun ; Atherton High School ; Bar Mitzvah ; Christmas ; Haftorah ; Jewish Community Center of Louisville ; Lakeside Swimming Club ; Pi Tau Pi ; Seder ; Seneca Golf Course ; Shabbat Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 38.225, -85.650 17 Jewish Community Center of Louisville https://jewishlouisville.org/the-j/ Jewish Community Center of Louisville Website 1104 Father's ventures in the car business from the 1950s to the 1970s And uh, your grandfather and your uncles and father were all involved in, uh, I believe initially in the car business, and that transitioned into banking into a Fortune 500 company. Can you, can you tell that story? Yarmuth describes how his grandfather on his mother's side, Sam Klein, started his successful businesses, such as the Royal Bank (later the Royal Bank of Louisville, eventually BB&amp ; T) and Humana. Yarmuth also talks about how his father started out working for Klein and eventually took over the car lot. His father expanded the business, opened an auto parts business and a finance company, eventually blooming into a conglomerate called National Industries that owned and centralized numerous varied smaller businesses. Bank of Louisville ; BB&amp ; T ; Fortune 500 Company ; Humana ; National Industries ; Oak Ridge Atom ; Royal Bank of Louisville ; United Jewish Communities ; Yellow Cab Company Entrepreneurship ; Families. ; Jewish businesspeople ; Jewish families. ; Louisville (Ky.) 38.246, -85.764 17 Corner of Eighth and Broadway https://www.bbt.com/ BB&amp ; T Website 1559 Jewish life and discrimination against Jews in Louisville during the 1950s-1960s So when you were growing up, were your parents active in the Jewish community? Yarmuth talks about playing golf at the Standard Club, a Jewish golf course, and Seneca Golf Course, a public golf course in his youth ; Jews weren't able to join any of the other country clubs in Louisville at the time. He also talks about how his parents were redlined from buying a house on River Hill Road, but ended up moving to Glenview, where they were welcomed by other families in the neighborhood. Audubon Country Club ; Big Spring Country Club ; Champion's Park ; Glenview ; Hunting Creek Country Club ; Louisville Country Club ; River Road Country Club ; Seneca Golf Course ; Standard Club Anti-Semitism ; Antisemitism ; Discrimination. ; Jewish families. ; Louisville (Ky.) 38.269, -85.711 17 Champion's Park http://www.standardclub.net/ Standard Club Website 1839 Race relations in Louisville during the 1950s-1960s So, uh, when you were growing up, were you really aware of racial segregation in Louisville and the civil rights movement was starting to happen? Yarmuth recounts significant racial segregation in his elementary, junior high, and high school years during the budding civil rights movement. He remembers only having one black student in his grade at a time. While segregation was the norm, his family was progressive. His father, although not very racially sensitive, frequently did business with the African American community, and his mother was a member of the Human Relations Commission in the area, an organization that worked against discrimination. African-Americans ; Atherton High School ; Belknap Elementary School ; Civil rights ; Highland Middle School ; Human Relations Commission ; National Jewish Council of Women African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Civil rights movements--United States ; Discrimination. ; Jewish families. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Race discrimination. ; Race relations--Kentucky ; Racism ; Segregation in education--Kentucky 38.223, -85.706 17 Highland Middle School https://louisville.edu/braden/oral-history-tours-exhibits/civil-rights-driving-tour Self-Guided Tour of Civil Rights Movement in Louisville, Kentucky 2072 Experiences at Atherton High School in Louisville Um, okay, let's, let's get to high school now. Yarmuth talks briefly about Kentucky Country Day, a private school in Louisville, the perception that students there were “problem children,” and why he never considered private schooling for himself. In high school at Atherton, Yarmuth talks about being involved with student government along with a large number of Jewish students, including his brother, Robert, at one point. Yarmuth even recalls that he was elected vice president and then became student body president. Atherton High School ; Behavior problems ; Jews ; Kentucky Country Day ; Parochial schools ; Private schools ; Public schools Education--Kentucky ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Louisville (Ky.) 38.214, -85.688 17 Atherton High School http://schools.jefferson.kyschools.us/High/Atherton/index.html Atherton High School Website 2225 Life at Yale University, 1965-1969 So, uh, then you left Louisville for a little while ; you went to college at, uh, Yale. Why Yale? Before considering going to college in Wisconsin, Yarmuth attended Yale with help from a recommendation from a family friend who used to be the assistant dean, J. Howard Marshall. Yarmuth notes no significant Jewish life on campus besides the Hillel Society, but he still had many Jewish friends. He joined Beta Theta Pi, a fraternity with more Jewish life than most, and eventually majored in American Studies. American studies ; Atherton High School ; Beta Theta Pi ; Eastern Time Zone ; Fraternities ; Hillel ; J. Howard Marshall ; Jewish student life ; Lake Mendota ; Madison (Wis.) ; New England ; New Haven (Conn.) ; Pi Tau Pi ; Robert Cook ; University of Wisconsin ; Yale University College students--Religious life ; Education, Higher ; Higher education ; Jews--Identity. 41.308, -72.927 17 New Haven (Conn.) https://www.slifkacenter.org/ Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale 2750 Anti-war protests at Yale during 1969 So you were there during the height of the Vietnam War protests and campus activism, were you involved at all in those movements? Yarmuth talks about how he and his friends were Republicans when they were in college, specifically during the Vietnam War. They did not support the protests, but didn't support the war either. Yarmuth mentions a shift in his political views that took place during his senior year ; there was a debate on campus in 1966 between William Sloane Coffey and William F. Buckley, Jr. The result surprised Yarmuth, Coffey beat Buckley, and made him consider a new perspective ; that perhaps the states' rights view on government intervention in civil rights may be flawed. 1969 ; Bill Scranton ; Campus activism ; George W. Bush ; Protests ; William F. Buckley Jr. ; William Sloane Coffey ; Yale University African Americans--Segregation ; African Americans--Social conditions. ; Civil rights movements--United States ; Politics and government ; Race discrimination. ; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements ; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion 41.316, -72.922 17 Yale University 3044 Start of his political career In, uh, late 1971--la, late 1970, I got a call from a guy named Mitch McConnell. Yarmuth recalls Mitch McConnell, upon his return to Kentucky, inviting him to go to Washington, D.C. to be Marlow Cook's legislative assistant, to which he agreed. After Cook lost his re-election, Yarmuth stayed in Louisville to create a publication, Louisville Today. While still running the paper, Yarmuth then ran and lost the race for district commissioner. Central High School ; John Heyburn ; Louisville Board of Aldermen ; Louisville Today ; Marlow Cook ; Mitch McConnell ; Republicans ; Rockefeller Republicans ; Roe v. Wade ; Vietnam ; Washington, D.C. ; Watergate Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; McConnell, Mitch ; Politicians--Kentucky ; Washington (D.C.) 38.907, -77.036 17 Washington, D.C. https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/ Mitch McConnell's website 3357 Religious influences and change in partisanship in the 1980s It was--that was basically--that's the year that Ronald Reagan became president. While still working on the paper, Louisville Today, Yarmuth says that he changed his political affiliation from Republican to Democrat. He mentions the specific reasons for the switch, specifically President Reagan, Evangelical influence on policy, and Jerry Falwell's disparaging of Desmond Tutu. He recalls that his family didn't oppose his change of party. 1980 ; Abortion ; Catholics ; Desmond Tutu ; Evangelicals ; Jerry Falwell ; Law schools ; Marlow Cook ; Political parties ; Ronald Reagan ; South Africa ; University of Louisville Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Newspapers--Kentucky. ; Politicians--Kentucky 30.559, 22.937 17 South Africa http://classroom.synonym.com/the-role-of-evangelism-christianity-in-the-reagan-era-12086832.html The Role of Evangelism &amp ; Christianity in the Reagan Era 3596 Family life And at point in all of this did you meet your wife Cathy? Yarmuth met his wife, Cathy, when he escorted her to the Hardscuffle Steeplechase, a charity event he attended in 1981 while running for county commissioner. She was Catholic, and when they married, they never discussed raising their children in a certain religion. They celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas a few times, and Yarmuth is currently a member of Temple Adath Jeshurun in Louisville. Yarmuth also talks about the difficulties of travelling back and forth from Washington to both spend time with his family and work as a congressman. 1983 ; Aaron Yarmuth ; Adath Jeshurun ; Air Force ; Birth of son ; Catholicism ; Cathy Yarmuth ; Children ; Christmas ; Hanukkah ; Hardscuffle Steeplechase ; Religious exposure ; Republicans ; Work schedules Holidays. ; Jewish children ; Jewish families. ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Religion ; Worship (Judaism) 17 https://www.adathjeshurun.com/ Adath Jeshurun Website 3910 Louisville Eccentric Observer So--alright, back, back to your work life, you founded another publication, the, uh, Louisville Eccentric Observer, known as the LEO, how did that come about? Yarmuth started the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO) when he noticed the success of alternative weeklies. He bought the Manly Messenger from its owner, Reiner Goldring, and created the City Paper. He eventually abandoned that and continued Louisville Today, which fell through a few years later due to a mistake in judgement, focusing on publishing the Louisville Today and not the City Paper tabloid they'd been publishing simultaneously. Yarmuth talks about the turning point being when the Courier was sold, and there was no alternative weekly or any local editorials. So he started the LEO on his own. And while he wrote progressive articles for LEO, he also had conservative writers on board. Alternative weeklies ; Boston Phoenix ; City Paper ; Gun laws ; LGBT rights ; Louisville Today ; Manly Messenger ; New York Magazine ; Rolling Stone ; Village Voice Louisville (Ky.) ; Newspapers--Kentucky. ; Publications. ; Publishers and publishing. 38.252, -85.758 17 Louisville (Ky.) https://www.leoweekly.com/ Louisville Eccentric Observer Website 4337 Re-entering politics in 2005 So you decided to re-enter politics. When Jack Conway decided he wasn't running against Anne Northup for Kentucky's 3rd district congressional seat in 2006, Yarmuth knew he needed to run. He ended up running against another Democratic candidate in a primary and won. The race between him and Northup was tight, but he won by picking up most of the undecided vote. 2005 ; 2006 ; Anne Northup ; Black churches ; Campaigning ; Courier Journal ; Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ; Jack Conway ; Jefferson County (Ky.) ; Jerry Abramson ; Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District ; Marc Murphy ; Political polls ; Suicide Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Politicians--Kentucky 38.252, -85.758 17 Kentucky's Third Congressional District https://yarmuth.house.gov/ Congressman John Yarmuth's website 4886 Work in Congress 2006-present So, uh, while you've been in Congress, you've, uh, been particularly involved with certain issues, one of them is healthcare--Medicare, Medicaid, women's health. How did your interest in that evolve? Yarmuth always intended to tackle campaign finance reform, universal healthcare, and gun law reform once in Congress. While healthcare is a long and arduous process, he does say that campaign finance reform is being solved, in part, by the role of social media in elections as a leveler. Yarmuth also mentions fighting against &quot ; religious freedom&quot ; extending to discrimination based on religious freedom, specifically concerning gay rights. Affordable Care Act (ACA) ; Citizens United ; Congress ; Freedom of religion ; Gun laws ; Medicaid ; Medicare ; Millennials ; Political ads ; Social media ; Supreme Court ; Universal healthcare ; Women's health Discrimination. ; Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Politicians--Kentucky 38.248, -85.762 17 Yarmuth's Louisville Office https://yarmuth.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=111&amp ; itemid=506 John Yarmuth and the Affordable Care Act 5171 Jewish caucus and stance on Israel Are you part of a Jewish caucus in Congress? Yarmuth is a member of the Jewish caucus in Congress, and they usually talk about issues in Israel and Palestine. While their opinions are divided, they're determined to “stay together” because the caucus is shrinking. Yarmuth personally talks about his dislike of Netanyahu, how he feels Netanyanhu has been costing Israel support in recent years. Yarmuth also talks about his own ambivalence about the administration in Israel. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ; American Jews ; Benjamin Netanyahu ; Congress ; Iran ; Israel ; J Street ; Jerusalem ; Jerusalem, Israel ; Jewish Caucus ; Jewish Community Center of Louisville ; United Nations ; United States of America Jewish leadership ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Politicians--Kentucky ; Religion 31.768, 35.213 17 Jerusalem (Israel) https://www.jta.org/2014/09/09/news-opinion/politics/amid-declining-jewish-caucus-in-congress-rising-concerns-over-communal-influence &quot ; Amid declining Jewish caucus in Congress, rising concerns over communal influence&quot ; 5396 Issues with Israel and Zionism in the United States, 2010s Do you hear a lot from your constituents about Israel issues? Is it something that Louisville Jews talk to you about? Yarmuth discusses how his constituents feel and communicate with him about issues related to Israel. He talks about holding a town hall with the Louisville Jewish community through the Jewish Community Center in 2015 to discuss the Iran nuclear deal and answer questions. He talks about how the meeting was productive, and how he gave them a fresh perspective on the deal because the people in attendance had only heard Netanyahu's side of the deal. Yarmuth also recalls explaining to then-President Obama how to better present the Iran nuclear deal to the public. American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ; Barack Obama ; Benjamin Netanyahu ; Iran ; Iran Nuclear Deal ; Israel ; J Street ; Jerusalem, Israel ; Jewish Community Center ; Louisville Jews ; Obama administration ; Steve Cohen ; Zionism Jewish leadership ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Politicians--Kentucky ; Religion 31.768, 35.213 17 Jerusalem (Israel) http://wkms.org/post/yarmuth-and-mcconnell-react-iran-nuclear-deal-changes Yarmuth and McConnell React to Iran Nuclear Deal Changes 5799 Anti-Semitism in modern-day America and problems facing the Jewish community So, um, in America, we've recently had a kind of resurgence in anti-Semitic speech, anti-Semitic acts, um, from the high levels to the public streets. Yarmuth discusses the current political climate, addressing aggressive attitudes towards immigrants, Jews, and other minorities. He proposes that finding a sense of commonality will help most in solving those problems. Yarmuth also discusses issues in the Jewish community, specifically assimilation ; Jews are marrying outside their religion and letting go of their Jewish heritage. He attributes the loss of Jewish heritage to the declining popularity of Jewish spaces like the Standard Club and the migration of Kentucky Jews to bigger cities. Assimilation ; Community ; Disenfranchisement ; Donald Trump ; Immigrants ; Jews ; Kentucky ; Standard Club ; Urbanization Anti-Semitism ; Antisemitism ; Discrimination. ; Jewish leadership ; Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Kentucky--Politics and government ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Politicians--Kentucky ; Religion 38.293, -85.597 17 Standard Club http://www.standardclub.net/ Standard Club Website 6055 Conclusion So is there anything I've missed asking that you'd like to talk about? Yarmuth speaks briefly on the &quot ; gravitational pull&quot ; between Jewish people, and the lasting bond he's had with the various Jewish people he's met through the years. Jewish friendships ; Steve Cohen ; Washington, D.C. ; Yale University Jews--Identity. ; Judaism. ; Louisville (Ky.) ; Washington (D.C.) 38.907, -77.036 17 Washington, D.C. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/john-yarmuth Jewish Virtual Library: John Yarmuth interview Yarmuth describes his family coming to America from Russia in the early 1900s. Immigration officials who greeted his family when they entered instructed them to change their name from Yarmuck to Yarmuth. They settled, initially, in New York in the early 1910s. Some of his family later moved to New Jersey in 1933, and then his father moved down to Fort Knox, bringing his family to Kentucky in 1943. Growing up, he lived in a primarily Jewish neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. While he celebrated his bar mitzvah and went to Sunday school, he was raised more culturally than religiously Jewish. In high school at Atheron during the budding civil rights movement, he was involved in student government along with several other Jewish kids. He attended Yale for 4 years, graduating in 1969 and majoring in American Studies. He spent a year as a stockbroker before becoming a legislative assistant to Republican Marlow Cook in D.C at the recommendation of Mitch McConnell. After Cook lost his reelection, Yarmuth decided to return to Louisville and get involved in publishing. He published the Louisville Times, City Paper, and after those publications went out of print, he created the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO), an alternative weekly that is still published today. In 2006, he ran for 3rd Congressional District against Ann Northup. He won the Democratic primary and, even though it was a tight race, eventually won the seat against Northup. While in office, Yarmuth has championed universal healthcare, campaign finance reform, and gun law reform. Yarmuth is also involved with the Jewish Caucus in Congress, where the topic of discussion is usually Israel. Yarmuth discusses his stance on Israel, including his distaste for Netanyahu and the direction he’s leading Israel. Yarmuth, lastly, talks briefly about the resurgence of antisemitism and xenophobia as a side effect of the 2016 election and current political climate, and concludes with a statement about the strength of friendships built between people in the Jewish community. No transcript. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. video Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries. 0 http://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh355_jk054_yarmuth_ohm.xml 2017oh355_jk054_yarmuth_ohm.xml https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt7w6m33529z OHMS Object https://www.nunncenter.net/ohms/render.php?cachefile=2017oh355_jk054_yarmuth_ohm.xml Interview Rights All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries. Interview Usage Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource John Yarmuth, May 10, 2017 Description An account of the resource Yarmuth describes his family coming to America from Russia in the early 1900s. Immigration officials who greeted his family when they entered instructed them to change their name from Yarmuck to Yarmuth. They settled, initially, in New York in the early 1910s. Some of his family later moved to New Jersey in 1933, and then his father moved down to Fort Knox, bringing his family to Kentucky in 1943. Growing up, he lived in a primarily Jewish neighborhood in Louisville, Kentucky. While he celebrated his bar mitzvah and went to Sunday school, he was raised more culturally than religiously Jewish. In high school at Atheron during the budding civil rights movement, he was involved in student government along with several other Jewish kids. He attended Yale for 4 years, graduating in 1969 and majoring in American Studies. He spent a year as a stockbroker before becoming a legislative assistant to Republican Marlow Cook in D.C at the recommendation of Mitch McConnell. After Cook lost his reelection, Yarmuth decided to return to Louisville and get involved in publishing. He published the Louisville Times, City Paper, and after those publications went out of print, he created the Louisville Eccentric Observer (LEO), an alternative weekly that is still published today. In 2006, he ran for 3rd Congressional District against Ann Northup. He won the Democratic primary and, even though it was a tight race, eventually won the seat against Northup. While in office, Yarmuth has championed universal healthcare, campaign finance reform, and gun law reform. Yarmuth is also involved with the Jewish Caucus in Congress, where the topic of discussion is usually Israel. Yarmuth discusses his stance on Israel, including his distaste for Netanyahu and the direction he’s leading Israel. Yarmuth, lastly, talks briefly about the resurgence of antisemitism and xenophobia as a side effect of the 2016 election and current political climate, and concludes with a statement about the strength of friendships built between people in the Jewish community. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 2017oh355_jk054 Subject The topic of the resource Jewish children Jewish families. Jews--Identity. Judaism. Religion Worship (Judaism) Louisville (Ky.) Anti-Semitism Antisemitism Discrimination. Race discrimination. Race relations--Kentucky Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion Kentucky--Politics and government Politicians--Kentucky Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource video https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/55c407eedf53c386bf351689cf1482ac.jpeg a4ee1ea94bf9ebf63e52e1398cbde419 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Morgan Weilbacher Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Hanged People," Holocaust Slide Subject The topic of the resource Hanged People; Holocaust Images; Holocaust Slides; Images found at Temple Adath Israel; Holocaust Remembrance Description An account of the resource This is one of 30 glass slides that are included in Temple Adath Israel's Holocaust collection. This slide features an image of an officer hanging two people during the Holocaust. The image depicts a young girl hanged and an officer tightening a noose around a young boy's neck. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Temple Adath Israel, 2017 ms 001, Box 18, Folder 18:6-- University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Temple Adath Israel Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource slides Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text JPEG https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/7d07185b1025af8140aa8911298167bf.jpg 0e12a5c397cbb1d7e22351fb342607c7 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Rosenblum, Matthew Johnson, Caitlin Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Ohava Zion Sunday School Gets Supervisor" Newsletter, 1951 Description An account of the resource This newsletter announces Louis Brown as the head of Ohavay Zion Congregation's Sunday School. It also details her background, plans for the Sunday School program, and when and how to register. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Lexington Synagogue News Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Ohavay Zion Synagogue Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1951-08-28 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource newsletters Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text JPEG Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Kentucky -- Lexington https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/7c9f48743047a651139e636e69a4242b.jpeg 4a7f0bceafe351985ecca52b18bf2fb9 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Morgan Weilbacher Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "On Way to Gas Chamber," Holocaust Slide Subject The topic of the resource Gas Chambers; Holocaust slides; Holocaust images; historical images; Temple Adath Israel Description An account of the resource This is one of 30 glass slides that are included in Temple Adath Israel's Holocaust collection. This one appears in box 18, folder 6, sheet 3 in the set. It depicts the backs of a figure and three small children on their way to a gas chamber. The unidentified author has captioned it with "On the way to Gas Chamber." Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived [Temple Adath Israel, Box 18, Folder 6] University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Temple Adath Israel Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource slides Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text JPEG https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/8dcb6b341c36cd2be4c942e2315bb1a0.jpeg 574ab64e6db92b71b469988d8877a33d Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Morgan Weilbacher Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Pictures of Officers," Holocaust Slide Subject The topic of the resource Pictures of officers; Holocaust Images; Temple Adath Israel; Lexington, KY; Holocaust Remembrance Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource slides Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text JPEG Description An account of the resource This is one of 30 glass slides that are included in Temple Adath Israel's Holocaust collection. This image is entitled "Pictures of Officers" which depicts four women officers. Language A language of the resource English Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Temple Adath Israel https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/356a3613e951c31a18845c4cb44df7d5.jpeg f6b1caa9d0f5d62a7b7f7f58ed341c00 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Morgan Weilbacher Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Prisoners," Holocaust Slide Subject The topic of the resource Prisoners; Holocaust photo; Temple Adath Israel; Holocaust Remembrance; Women at Concentration Camp Description An account of the resource This slide depicts four women prisoners at an unidentified concentration camp during the Holocaust. The women are huddled together, only wearing their undergarments. In the background, there is a pile of bodies. There are also officers depicted in the background. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Temple Adath Israel Collection--Box 18, Folder 18:6-- University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Temple Adath Israel Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource slides Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text JPEG https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/a1c5e9a43617aa83745ab10c8319caf3.jpeg 8e71ed24df17806282b4bb7c6e4610f2 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Rachel Peach Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Rally," Holocaust Slide Subject The topic of the resource nazi; World War II; Holocaust; Hitler; Description An account of the resource This is one of 30 glass slides that are included in Temple Adath Israel's Holocaust collection. This slide features an image of a Nazi Rally. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Temple Adath Israel, Photographs, Box 18, Folder 6, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource slides Type The nature or genre of the resource Still Image Text JPEG Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Language A language of the resource English Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Temple Adath Israel https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/7aea6690240bba6d6b9fde59a44c2c91.pdf 7e9f7a788985f33ebb7c187756aec6a5 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Rachel Peach Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource "Tired" by Josephine Henry, 1921 Subject The topic of the resource Poem; 1920s; tired; Josephine Henry; Moses Kaufman Description An account of the resource Josephine Henry, a leader in the women's suffrage movement from Versailles, KY, writes a poem to her friend, Moses Kaufman, describing feelings of tiredness. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Henry, Josephine Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Moses Kaufman Papers, Box 1, Folder 1; University of Kentucky Special Collections Resource Center Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1921-05-29 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource poems Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text PDF https://www.nunncenter.net/jewishkentucky/files/original/f7bf465bb709c85f30597eb654714d41.pdf 0de11233981b1b6881ef4130d5220c64 Jewish Kentucky Acknowledgement Name of student working on the record Rosenblum, Matthew Johnson, Caitlin Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Adath Israel Jewish Temple in Guide to Civilian Organizations: Christian County, Kentucky, 1942 Description An account of the resource On page one of <em>Guide to Civilian Organizations</em> is a description of Adath Israel Jewish Temple in Hopkinsville. The listing details Adath Israel Jewish Temple's number of members, the purpose of the organization, "civic activites," and "defense activities" in 1942. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource War Services Section Work Projects Administration In Kentucky Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Kentucky Works Progress Administration Publications Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available University of Kentucky Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1942-07 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource books Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Text PDF Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Kentucky -- Hopkinsville