“I Remember Mama” cont. from previous page Just preparing for the interview with Richard was a challenge. He had so much to offer the project because he fit so many of the project’s areas of interest. He grew up in Irvine, Kentucky where his family had a retail store. His parents, Sam and Helen Levy, were active in the synagogue and the Lexington Jewish community. Richard attended the University of Kentucky in the 1960s and the University of Louisville Medical School in the 1970s. And, he is considered an expert in Emergency Medicine. But Richard is my cousin, and once again, I struggled during the interview to keep my opinions, thoughts, and personal questions about our family to myself. Richard and I did a lot of reminiscing during the interview. We talked about walking home after the High Holidays from the old synagogue on Maxwell Street. During the holidays, Richard’s family stayed with his grandmother (Glicka Levy) who lived around the corner from my house. We talked about the caged monkeys at the Kimball house (on Limestone near Maxwell) that we would visit during the Yom Kippur service break. Richard didn’t remember that it was his fault that George the old monkey tore my new purple dress, but I remembered, and I shared. There were times during the interview that I found myself actually correcting his information about the family—not a cool thing for an interviewer, but I couldn’t help myself. Clearly, I have done way more research on our family history than he has. Although I knew of Richard’s downtime activities, like climbing the Himalayas, and I knew he was an ER doctor, I had no idea how professionally accomplished he
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was, or how challenging it was for him growing up Jewish with Orthodox parents in Estill County. I know that if I had stayed a bit more professional, the interview could have been more polished with a clearer focus on the project’s goals, but it was so amusing and pretty special for two cousins to reconnect and chat about old times after many years. There were moments during each interview when I wanted to know more than my prepared questions could allow, when my curiosity and personal history pushed me across the line of being just an interviewer. I found all their stories interesting, and I loved hearing about how Jewish immigrants came to this country, worked hard, and made beautiful lives for themselves. I celebrate the fact that peddlers’ families became store owners, doctors, lawyers, and teachers, and that Kentucky became their home. I found it fascinating that not everyone’s UK or school experiences were all that similar with regards to being Jewish. And, I so appreciate the community work done by those I interviewed. In fact, it was a wonderful opportunity for me to reconnect with family and friends. In essence, I believe the JHFE Jewish Kentucky Oral History Project was a gathering and a sharing of beautiful memories of people, places, and times gone by. However, I know the Project is so much more. It helped establish an accessible permanent record of colorful Jewish stories and Jewish information otherwise at risk of being lost and forgotten.
Grand opening of Tiny’s Jewelry Store on Limestone St., downtown Lexington. This store was owned by the Steinbergs ( Janice Crane’s parents). In photo (all Steinbergs) back row: Martha, Sid, Hilda; front row: unknown boy, Irving Photo courtesy of Janice Crane.