Interview with Robin Michler, March 29, 2017

Partial Transcript: All right. So, tell us a little about yourself.

Segment Synopsis: Michler provides some general information about himself. He identifies as an alumnus of the University of Kentucky class of 2008, and also as the proprietor of a fifth-generation family business, Michler's Florist, and a native born-Lexingtonian. Robin details his ancestral history. His paternal relatives and also the side which founded the business, the Michler side, immigrated to the U.S. as early as 1870. His mother's side changed their last name, upon immigrating to the U.S., from Katz to Kane.

Keywords: 1870; 1871; Family businesses; Florists; Kane family; Katz family; Kentucky Native Cafe; Michler Family; Robin Michler; University of Kentucky

Subjects: Emigration and immigration.; Entrepreneurship; Families.; Family histories.; Immigrants--Kentucky; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish families.; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: What is your, um, job at the family business?

Segment Synopsis: After a brief interruption for water, Michler explains the role he plays in the family business. He typically doesn't do the work of a florist, except in emergency situations. Rather he does more executive duties. He explains that they are one of the few modern floristries to still have their own greenhouses and grow their own flowers. They have also added on a café and beer garden in order to capitalize on their location in a college town.

Keywords: Beer gardens; Business management; Cafes; Classical floristry; College towns; Contemporary floristry; Family businesses; Florists; Gardening; Greenhouses; Kentucky Native Café; Landscaping

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Families.; Family histories.; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish families.; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Can you describe your childhood and what it was like growing up?

Segment Synopsis: Michler spent much of his early years bouncing around from school to school. His parents were trying to find a school where he could succeed but Michler states that it was never the school but his own opposition to doing any work in middle school that caused him to fail out of so many options. His parents' house was on Maxwell Street near the family business and near the University of Kentucky, which he says made for a cool place to grow up as a kid.

Keywords: Bryan Station High School; Henry Clay High School; Homeschooling; Maxwell Elementary School; Maxwell Street; Montessori schools

Subjects: Childhood; Education--Kentucky; Families.

Partial Transcript: How would you describe your parents' relationship to Judaism?

Segment Synopsis: Michler describes what it was like growing up with parents who were somewhat involved with the Jewish community yet without any strong religious convictions. He feels drawn to different traditions, stating that he enjoyed going to Hebrew school at Ohavay Zion Synagogue. His family would keep Kosher inside the house in order to host dinners for family and other members of the Jewish community, however they did not keep kosher when eating out. Summer camp was a staple for kids in the Jewish community, which he describes as being what he calls a "typical summer camp experience."

Keywords: Central Christian Church; Community; Hebrew schools; Jewish family; Kosher food (see also Kashrut); Non-traditional; Ohavay Zion Synagogue; Religious schools; Shul; Summer camps; Zionism

Subjects: Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Did you ex--um--what is the most important aspect of your Judaism?

Segment Synopsis: Michler believes that community is one of the most important aspects of Judaism. It has allowed him to travel much of the world and still be able to find Jewish communities that share many values and cultural norms based off faith. Because Hebrew is the language used by most conservative synagogues, he doesn't have to worry about the language barrier to attend services in various foreign countries. Thus far, Michler has traveled to Germany, Holland, and Israel.

Keywords: Community; Cultural norms; Germany; Hebrew; Holland; Israel; Jewish traditions; Judaism internationally; New York; Religious community; Religious observance; Russia; Synagogues; Travel; Values; West Virginia

Subjects: Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: What was your time abroad like?

Segment Synopsis: Michler spent a year abroad in Munich, Germany during his senior year of high school, 2002-2003. As a recipient of UK’s prestigious Heidelberg Scholarship, he spent his sophomore year at UK in Heidelberg, Germany. Because Germany had no separation of church and state, he had the opportunity to take many classes on religion. He enjoyed this first academic exposure to Jewish studies, even though he was a geography major.

Keywords: Anti-Americanism; Geography; Higher education; Jewish studies; Munich, Germany; Scholarships; Study abroad; Tanach; Travel; University of Heidelberg; University of Kentucky; University of North Carolina

Subjects: Anti-Semitism; Antisemitism; College students--Religious life; Education, Higher; Munich (Germany)

Partial Transcript: Um, so you said you attended the University of Kentucky--

Segment Synopsis: Michler describes his experience at the University of Kentucky, starting with a boring freshman year. He attributes this ennui to easy classes which he felt were trivial. Much of his time as an undergraduate was spent abroad, studying in Heidelberg, Germany his sophomore year and Israel his first semester of senior year. The only club he mentions participating in was an environmental club: Greenthumb. His social circle revolved around this club and most of his lasting friendships were made through it as well.

Keywords: Clubs; Geography; Greenthumb Club; Seminars; Study abroad; University of Kentucky

Subjects: College environment; College students--Conduct of life.; College students--Social conditions; Lexington (Ky.); University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Can you tell us a little bit about your involvement in the Jewish community?

Segment Synopsis: Michler speaks about his involvement in various Jewish student organizations at UK as an alum. He focuses on his reviving of Hillel, an organization that helps bring together Jewish students, at UK. He describes how Hillel helps students connect with one another and celebrate traditional Jewish ceremonies and holidays together as they would do at home.

Keywords: Challahs; Community; Hillel; Jewish holidays; Jewish student groups; Jewish traditions; Jung and Judisch; Minyan; North Carolina; Shabbat (also Shabbos, Sabbath); Shabbos dinners

Subjects: College students--Religious life; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Do you have any vivid memories of Jewish life or Jewish rituals?

Segment Synopsis: Michler speaks about his experiences observing various Jewish traditions. He describes some of the more intriguing traditions, such as the role of the gabbai, which is to assist in the running of synagogue services, particularly during holidays, associated with various Jewish holidays. He also discusses the current political climate of the North American Jewish community, particularly with respect to the slow adaptation of egalitarianism in many congregations. He is also noticing changes in the Lexington Jewish community, particularly at the University of Kentucky. More and more Jewish students seem to be coming from out of state and he believes this is because it is becoming more common for Jewish residents of Lexington and Louisville to go out of state for college.

Keywords: Demographics; Egalitarianism; Gabbai; Gender roles; Hebrew; High holidays (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur); Israel; Jewish rituals; Shul; Torah; Yemenite

Subjects: College students--Religious life; College students--Social conditions; Holidays.; Jewish families.; Jewish women; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, so can you tell me a little bit more about how you think that the Lexington Jewish community is different than other Jewish communities, um, in the United States that you've been to and, I guess, uh, across the world too?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that a Jewish population's size in a given area impacts the way that Judaism is integrated into daily life. He explains that in places with large Jewish populations, such as Israel, religion is more likely to permeate every area of life. Alternatively, in places such as Lexington, Jewish life may orient itself largely around Hebrew schools or synagogues.

Keywords: Community; Culture; Differences; International; Israel; Jewish religion; Lexington, Kentucky; Religious schools; Synagogue

Subjects: Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, how do you think that your Jewishness is different from your parents' Jewishness? Um, and do you think it's changed through the years?

Segment Synopsis: Michler discusses how his religious commitment differs from that of his family members, noting that while his siblings dropped out of Hebrew school, he adored it and continued to pursue greater understanding of Jewish practice. He recounts preparing for and celebrating his Bar Mitzvah. Michler also discusses his parents' interfaith marriage and how they first met in Lexington after his mother moved there from New York.

Keywords: Bar mitzvahs; Family; Family values; Hebrew schools; Interfaith family; Interfaith marriages; Jewish; Jewish family life; Jewish traditions; Marriage; Observance; Shabbat (also Shabbos, Sabbath); Siblings; Traditions

Subjects: Families.; Family histories.; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, okay. And so you grew up in Lexington. So how do you think that that--growing up and living here, um, as an adult, has affected your relationship with Judaism?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that the Lexington Jewish community is both welcoming and diverse. He discusses his marriage to Penina Goldstein and how her family is one of the more observant Jewish families in Lexington. He explains that he wants to raise his own children in a "more Jewish household" than the one in which he was raised.

Keywords: Hebrew schools; Jewish traditions; Judaism; Lexington, Kentucky; Ohavay Zion Synagogue; Penina Goldstein

Subjects: Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: So you own Michler's Florist and Beer Garden and Café. Correct?

Segment Synopsis: Michler discusses his businesses, Michler's Florist and the Kentucky Native Cafe. He explains some of his business partnerships, and also his attempt to provide consistent, quality food and flowers for his customers. He acknowledges Reed Valley Orchard as a business partner that helps him provide local food to his customers.

Keywords: Beer; Family businesses; Floristry; Food; Imported; Kentucky Native Cafe; Local; Michler's Florist; Produce

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Families.; Family histories.; Jewish businesspeople; Jewish families.; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: So what inspired you to open up the café and beer garden?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that through his Kentucky Native Cafe he was able to blend the beer social scene with a family-friendly environment. He notes the dirt pile in particular, where kids get to play. He explains how the demographics of his clientele change throughout the day, from families earlier in the day to young adults in the evenings.

Keywords: Beer; Beer gardens; Children; Community; Demographics; Family; Kentucky Native Cafe; Kids; Local businesses; Social scenes

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Families.; Jewish businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Um, d, do you think that Michler's or your café helped you connect to other Jews in the community, or, or not?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains how his cafe offers an un-announced kosher menu, noting that he offers dairy meals. He also details that in the busy schedule of the Kentucky Native Cafe, he is rarely able to keep the Sabbath, explaining how his work-life balance varies throughout the year.

Keywords: Businesses; Community; Competing values; Dairy meals; Kosher food (see also Kashrut); Schedules; Shabbat (also Shabbos, Sabbath); Work-life balance

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: What is it like only working for a season, instead of the full year?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains his schedule and how it varies throughout the year. He also discusses his love of projects and his commitment to continually improving the business.

Keywords: Beer gardens; Building businesses; Florists; Jewish businesses; Kentucky Native Cafe; Management; Seasons; Work-life balance

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Jewish businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Is your wife involved in the business at all?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that his wife has a Masters degree and operates her own business as a consultant for parents of autistic children. He shares that she goes into their homes to help them fix unhealthy dynamics and incorporate better parenting practices. He also explains how sometimes parents of autistic children need help in order to meet their children's needs.

Keywords: Family consulting; Jewish businesses; Jobs; Parenting; Verbal behavior consulting; Wife

Subjects: Autism.; Education--Kentucky; Employment--Kentucky; Special education.

Partial Transcript: Um, what's your fondest memory of the business?

Segment Synopsis: Michler discusses particularly exciting and meaningful times of the year for his business, including Valentine's Day, Oktoberfest, and Sundays. He details how families come to the cafe and children get messy in the dirt pile. He also describes some of the challenges and adrenaline involved in running a business during busy holidays.

Keywords: Businesses; Kentucky Native Cafe; Memories; Michler's Florist; Oktoberfest; Seasonal; Valentine's Day

Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Families.; Jewish businesspeople; Lexington (Ky.); Small business--Kentucky; Small business--Ownership

Partial Transcript: Um, is there anything else you want to talk about, anything that we haven't touched on?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that he wrote his senior research thesis on the planning of Be'er Sheva in Israel. Be'er Sheva was planned by the government in stages, resulting in an eclectic area where few actually bought houses.

Keywords: Be'er Sheva; Ben Gurion University; City planning; Geography; History; Neighborhoods; Senior research thesis; Study abroad

Subjects: Beersheba (Israel); Israel.

Partial Transcript: Um, um, and, you know, you also learned--uh, I think I got a, uh, an early primer in, in, uh, a society and a culture that, uh, doesn't follow political correctness in terms of like, uh, you're not supposed to say racist things out loud, whether you think them or not.

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that during his time in Israel, he was exposed to blatantly racist rhetoric that was not acceptable in the United States at that time. He also notes that those kinds of racist statements have become more socially acceptable today in the United States, after the 2016 presidential election.

Keywords: Comparisons; Cultures; Israel; Political correctness; United States

Subjects: Race discrimination.; Race relations; Racism

Partial Transcript: You mentioned that a lot of the neighborhoods in Be'er Sheva were built with a lot of social baggage. What did you mean by that?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains how Europeans in Tel Aviv attempted to plan Be'er Sheva and use it to integrate diverse immigrants from European and Muslim-majority countries. He recounts various government attempts to integrate different people groups, including the attempt to organize a neighborhood around a movie theater and the attempt to eliminate cars from the neighborhood.

Keywords: Be'er Sheva; Communities; Community; Cultures; Government; History; Immigrants; Integration; Neighborhoods; Racism

Subjects: Beersheba (Israel); Israel.

Partial Transcript: Um, can I ask what your opinion is on Israel and Zionism?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains how he first understood the appeal of Zionism after encountering antagonism and poverty in Israel. He recounts a situation in which his Muslim roommates were antagonistic toward him and ultimately he moved out.

Keywords: Be'er Sheva; Dorms; Housing; Jewish friends; Muslims; Racism; Study abroad; Zionism

Subjects: Discrimination.; Israel.

Partial Transcript: You mentioned that you were much more likely to face anti-Americanism than anti-Semitism. Did you personally experience any anti-Americanism?

Segment Synopsis: Michler explains that it is difficult to create a democratic Jewish state when many of the citizens are Muslim rather than Jewish. He also recounts the anti-Americanism he encountered while he was in Germany, remembering when an angry student assaulted him in the cafeteria. Michler then notes that "something has changed," in the United States, and that antagonistic rhetoric is now more socially acceptable in America. He notes the dangers of the fact that bullying behaviors are now associated with "telling it as it is," and expresses concern over the lack of civil discourse.

Keywords: American; Anti-Americanism; Bullying; Democratic; Heidelburg; Intolerance; Iraq War; Jewish; Jewish state; Muslim

Subjects: Anti-Semitism; Antisemitism; Discrimination.