Interview with David Wirtschafter, March 30, 2017

Partial Transcript: Hello, our names are Thomas Hart--

Segment Synopsis: Thomas Hart, Amanda Holbrook, and Matthew Starks introduce themselves and state that they are students at the University of Kentucky who are conducting the interview for a WRD 112 class at the University of Kentucky and for the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence Jewish Kentucky Oral History Project. The date is stated as March 30th, 2017 and they are interviewing Rabbi D. Wirtschafter.

Keywords: Heritage; Jewish; Oral history projects; Rabbi D. Wirtschafter; Rabbis; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So I know we just introduced you, but for the record, could you tell us your full name at birth?

Segment Synopsis: Rabbi D. Wirtschafter states his full name as David Dine Wirtschafter. Rabbi D. Wirtschafter explains he was born in 1970 in the University of Kentucky Hospital. To the best of his knowledge, he is the first Lexington-born rabbi. He identifies his father as Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter and his mother as Carol Lavinstein Wirtschafter. He lists his four siblings: Jacob Daniel Wirtschafter, Benjamin Zoltan Wirtschafter, Joshua Schoen Wirtschafter, and Brooke Wirtschafter. Rabbi D. Wirtschafter states that he has two children, Zachariah and Emanuelle Wirtschafter. He discusses how the family name has remained fairly constant since his ancestors immigrated to the United States.

Keywords: David Dine Wirtschafter; Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter; Lexington (Ky.); Rabbi D. Wirtschafter; Rabbis; Siblings

Subjects: Emigration and immigration.; Families.; Family histories.; Genealogy; Immigrants; Jewish families.

Partial Transcript: Okay. So I have a few questions about growing up in Lexington, and more about your parents. Um, so where did you go to school growing up?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter talks about his early schooling at St. Peter Claver Montessori (2 years) and Cassidy Elementary (1 year). He distinguishes the old and new Picadome schools and talks about school size. He states that he left Lexington in 1978 at the age of 8 years old.

Keywords: Cassidy Elementary School; New Picadome; Old Picadome; Picadome Elementary School; Saint Peter Claver Montessori School; St. Peter Claver Montessori School

Subjects: Childhood; Education--Kentucky; Lexington (Ky.)

Partial Transcript: Um, so, about, like Judaish--um, Judaism in your family, what Jewish--or, like, even non-Jewish, traditions did your family follow?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says he never preferred spending time with Jewish people over non-Jewish people, neither as a child nor now. He discusses Jewish traditions that he grew up with, such as Chanukah, Sukkot, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, strict observance of the Sabbath, a disciplined approach to the prayer book, and stricter observance of dietary laws. When considering these traditions, he references the Passover story of the four sons. He explains that this made Judaism relatable to him because he had three brothers. He finds it difficult to differentiate time spent in Camp Shalom and congregation.

Keywords: Chanukah; Hanukkah; Jewish; Kosher; Passover; Rosh Hashanah; Sabbath; Sukkot; Yom Kippur

Subjects: Childhood; Fasts and feasts--Judaism.; Holidays.; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Jews--Identity.; Judaism.; Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, also, so do your children, um, attend the temple and the synagogue, or?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter discusses his children. Zachariah is said to be a teacher at Ohavay Zion Synagogue, with Emmanuelle being likely to do the same. He says both children attended a Jewish day school in Minneapolis, where they had Hebrew and Torah every day. Zachariah is described as the president of the Temple youth group. The competition between temple and synagogue is touched on by Rabbi D. Wirtschafter.

Keywords: Hebrew; Jewish; Ohavay Zion Synagogue; Synagogues; Temples; Torah; Youth groups

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, so, growing up, did you participate in, like, any clubs or organizations, like, related to the Jewish community?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says he participated in many Jewish organizations as a child. There were two different religious schools, a chapter of the Cub Scouts, the JCC, musicals in the Temple youth group, and the Temple Israel Minneapolis Youth Choir. He describes the gentile versus Jewish child proportion at the JCC of St. Louis Park in Greater Minneapolis.

Keywords: Cub Scouts; Jewish Community Center (JCC); Minneapolis Youth Choir; St. Louis Park; Temple Israel, Minneapolis (Minn.); Temple youth groups; Temples

Subjects: Childhood; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, so were you--um, you mentioned earlier, uh--I don't remember who it was, exactly--but you said something about confirmation--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter explains the differences between confirmation, bar mitzvah, and bat mitzvah. He explains the differences between Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism. He describes how all forms of Judaism must balance practicing religion with fitting in. Wirtschafter says that Reform got its start in the 1800s. He says that around World War II, Reform changed its approach and embraced more traditional Jewish practices. He says that Judaism became something to love not to hide. He also touches on the gender distinctions surrounding bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah, and how Reform embraced the bat mitzvah before Conservative Judaism did.

Keywords: Bar mitzvahs; Bat mitzvahs; Conservative; Conservative Judaism; Gender; Judaism; Orthodox Judaism; Reform; Reform Judaism; WW2; WWII; World War 2; World War II; World War Two

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

Partial Transcript: I just wanted to jump back a few minutes to where you mentioned, um, following the Holocaust, that--when, you said the Reform Jews kind of had a change of attitude--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that Jewish people may act "normal" on the outside, but on the inside they are very much rooted in Judaism. He states that with increased anti-Semitism since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, there has been an increase in anxiety within the Jewish community. He describes attacks on temples, synagogues, and JCCs throughout the beginning of 2017. He says that while none have directly occurred at Temple Adath Israel, they have had their Facebook page attacked by those that deny the Holocaust. Wirtschafter conveys that there has been an unacceptable step backward since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but it has at least created a renewed sense of urgency to respect one another (Muslims and Jews).

Keywords: 2016 U.S. election; 2016 United States election; 2016 election, United States; 2016 presidential election; Holocaust; Jewish; Muslim; Temple Adath Israel; Temples; U.S. election 2016; U.S. elections; United States elections

Subjects: Anti-Semitism; Antisemitism; Discrimination.; Jews--Identity.; Jews--Kentucky--Lexington.; Judaism.; Lexington (Ky.); Politics and government; Religion; Religion and politics

Partial Transcript: So I know you work a lot with--or at least you're very outspoken about the refugee problem--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter talks about the Syrian refugee crisis and Bluegrass values. He states that standing up to friends and utilizing social media and technology platforms are some of the most efficient ways to stop unacceptable and prejudiced behavior. He describes those who do not help a refugee when they have the ability as 'bystanders of death.'

Keywords: Bluegrass; Crisis; Jewish; Prejudice; Refugee crisis; Refugees; Social media

Subjects: Discrimination.; Emigration and immigration.; Immigrants; Politics and government

Partial Transcript: Um, so, I guess, on a bit of a lighter topic, um, so we know your father was an important figure in Lexington--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter states that his father, Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter, founded the Ophthalmology Department of the University of Kentucky Medical School. He says that his father was inducted on the Board of Trustees in the Temple. He describes family lore, stating that Adolph Rupp supposedly called Wirtschafter's father seeking medical help but Dr. Wirtschafter was not home.

Keywords: Adolph Rupp; Doctors; Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter; Family; Family lore; Ophthalmologists; Ophthalmology

Subjects: Families.; Family histories.; Jewish families.; Lexington (Ky.); Physicians--Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Um, so, I guess, are there any other, like, specific memories from your childhood growing up, that you'd like to share?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter reflects on his childhood and says that he appreciates his time at St. Peter Claver, as he began to strengthen his values and learned the importance of play. He says that play is how we can make sense of the world, and then states that the underlying question in religion is how one can make life meaningful. He recognizes his former violin teacher, Kay Collier McLaughlin, as well as the teacher that taught him to read, Ms. Angela Johnson at Cassidy Elementary.

Keywords: Angela Johnson; Cassidy Elementary School; Kay Collier McLaughlin; Saint Peter Claver; Saint Peter Claver Montessori School; St. Peter Claver; St. Peter Claver Montessori School; Teachers; Values

Subjects: Education--Kentucky; Jewish children; Religion

Partial Transcript: So, now that we've talked a lot about your childhood--(laughter)--um, I think we can move on to you leaving Lexington with your family.

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says he moved to Minneapolis in the year of 1978. He states that his father, Dr. Jonathan Wirtschafter, who had become tired of administrative responsibilities, got offered a position at the University of Minnesota. The position gave him more time in the operating room and more time to write, and his father remained in this position until the day he died. Rabbi D. Wirtschafter relays that he attended the University of Minnesota for a year before going to Brandeis University, influenced by its Jewish background. He explains how he had to leave home to finally grow up, and while at Brandeis he majored in English.

Keywords: 1978; Brandeis University; English majors; Jewish; Minneapolis (Minn.); Minnesota; University of Minnesota

Subjects: Childhood; Education; Education, Higher; Jewish children; Jewish families.; Physicians

Partial Transcript: So, did that ultimately, uh--how did you ultimately become wanting to be a, a rabbi?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says there were many reasons for becoming a rabbi. He lists Camp Shalom, the local Jewish summer day camp attended by many Jewish Lexingtonians' children; studying abroad in the Israeli city of Haifa during high school; the influence of current rabbis; Brandeis University; and a family who modeled Judaism, as important factors. He notes a moment in which a rabbi read a segment of "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller during a sermon. He stated that he found this cool and felt that he could indeed be a rabbi. The interleaving of modern literature with a sermon showed him that you can remind people what matters in life without the use of scripture.

Keywords: Arthur Miller; Camp Shalom; Death of a Salesman (Play); Haifa; Israel; Jewish; Sermons

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

Partial Transcript: So all these influences drew you to attend, uh, uh, the Union--Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute in New York--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that in attending the Institute, his first year of training was done in Jerusalem, while he then had the choice to go to either New York, Cincinnati, or Los Angeles. He explains that he chose New York, and depicts the city as dynamic, exhilarating, and historical. He then makes a reference to his age, 47, and how more of his teachers are beginning to die.

Keywords: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion; Jerusalem; Los Angeles (Calif.); New York; Schools

Subjects: College students--Religious life; Education, Higher; Judaism.; Rabbis; Religion

Partial Transcript: So, after you graduated from rabbinic school, where'd you begin your professional life as a rabbi?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that he began as an assistant rabbi for three years in Huntington, Long Island. He relays that the congregation was only about 470 members and that this was where his son Zachariah was born. He then says he was offered a position as associate rabbi at a bigger congregation of about 800 to 850 families in the Bay Area (Burlingame). He then states that he took on a position as senior rabbi at the Temple Beth Sholom of Orange County California (Santa Ana, living in Irvine). He says he eventually moved back to Minneapolis and was the rabbi in residence of a Jewish day school, as well as the rabbi in residence for the Catholic Church. He then explains that during this, he worked part time as a rabbi in Ames, Iowa. His transition between these communities was motivated by the ability to reach more people and job availability.

Keywords: Ames (Iowa); Bay Area (Calif.); Burlingame (Calif.); Congregations; Huntington (N.Y.); Irvine (Calif.); Jewish; Long Island (N.Y.); Minnesota; Orange County (Calif.); Orange County, California; Santa Ana (Calif.); Temple Beth Sholom

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

Partial Transcript: Uh, was there anything specific that influenced your decision to come back here?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that nostalgia was one reason for finally returning to Lexington, Kentucky in 2015, however, it wasn’t enough on its own. He states that he needed a congregation that shared his vision and values for the rabbinate and the community, and he found that at Temple Adath Israel. He describes how living in a smaller town in comparison to New York offers a greater appreciation of the Jewish community. He says that there is a lot to be gained, such as flexibility with planning and one-on-one with students, in comparison to larger areas. He also says that volunteers are vital.

Keywords: Congregations; Jewish; Lexington, Kentucky; New York; Temple Adath Israel; Volunteers

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

Partial Transcript: So, how would--uh, could you describe for us a few of the, say, like clubs, or organizations, or, you know, just activities that go on at the temple?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that the workings of a temple are very similar to the workings of a church. He states that stewardship is done by the Board of Trustees and that the rabbi provides the religious tone, helps young people, and helps with the social justice component. He says that in the temple there are high school and junior high youth groups who typically meet once a week on Sundays. He explains that there are programs for elders, and that a deli is opened one or two Sundays a year. He summarizes it as a multi-faceted operation.

Keywords: Churches; Jewish; Social justice; Stewardship; Sundays; Temple Adath Israel; Temples; Trustees

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

Partial Transcript: How would you say--as far as you kind of inheriting the temple, in a way, um, has that--has the activity increased, as you've come?

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter says that an interim rabbi before him assisted the congregation in becoming more accepting of the transition into him. He relays that he is not at liberty to compare himself to his predecessors, but he does think that there is generally more going on, as well as more involvement than when he started 18 months earlier. He states that while he wants the temple size to grow, he does not want that to change the values and goals of the temple. He says it’s about more than just numbers.

Keywords: Goals; Temple Adath Israel; Temples; Values

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

Partial Transcript: Okay, um, maybe we could ask a bit about, um, your wife.

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter explains that it is important to limit one’s work persona to just work. He says when at home he maintains his spouse and father role, and tries his best to limit any "leaking" between the two worlds to the best of his abilities. He states that his family undergoes democratic processes regarding how to practice and that they decide as a family. He also establishes that he can’t control his children as they get older, and that they will hopefully follow their conscience.

Keywords: Co-parenting; Coparenting; Democratic; Divisions; Fathers; Home roles; Jewish; Roles; Spouses; Work roles

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

Partial Transcript: Uh, we've mentioned your wife a few times, so--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter elaborates on his relationship with his wife Shana Lisa Sippy. He states that she is a professor of comparative religion at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and will soon be teaching at Centre College. He says she had a Hindu father and a Jewish mother and that she was raised Jewish with exposure to Hindu culture. Her parents met in Berkley in the 1960s. He says he and Shana met in New York during his gap year. He depicts his wife Shana as a good listener and as someone who is very dedicated to the temple. He states that she runs the Jewish women’s group.

Keywords: Berkley (Calif.); Carleton College; Centre College; Cultures; Hindu; Jewish; Minnesota; New York; Northfield (Minn.); Northfield, Minnesota; Shana Lisa Sippy

Subjects: Families.; Jewish families.; Jewish women; Judaism.; Marriage; Religion; Worship (Judaism)

Partial Transcript: Um, so, I guess a little bit about, um, like, generational changes--

Segment Synopsis: Wirtschafter explains the difference between being in a Jewish congregation in the 21st century in contrast to the 20th. He says there are still families who attend both temple and synagogue, but the number is certainly less. He states that the number of days in religious school a week has dropped from three to two. Wirtschafter also relays changes in how often families come to service, how much money they give, and who is on the Board of Trustees. Lastly, Wirtschafter explains the change in views of women in Judaism and the culture in general, and states that the Jewish community in Lexington is much smaller than it used to be proportionally.

Keywords: Congregations; Generational changes; Generations; Jewish; Lexington, Kentucky; Religious; Synagogues; Temples

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