The Bluegrass Schmooze

Written by: Louisville Public Media
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  • Summary

  • When Shani Abramowitz and Ben Freed took their first jobs as rabbis in Lexington and Louisville, they got one question from their classmates and friends: There are Jews in Kentucky? The short answer is yes! The long answer is right here, in your podcast feed. Every month, you'll hear a deep dive into upcoming holidays and their meanings, and kibitz with a Jewish Kentuckian who has a great story. And each episode wraps up with a L'Chaim of the Month — a toast to a person or group making our world a better place (bourbon in a kosher dill jar optional... but strongly encouraged). Zei gezunt, y'all!
    © Louisville Public Media
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Judaism Social Sciences Spirituality
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Episodes
  • Tevet: A Jewish history of Lexington, Kentucky

    Tevet: A Jewish history of Lexington, Kentucky
    Jan 6 2025
    This month on the Schmooze, Ohavay Zion legend Mike Ades takes us on a deep dive into the history of Jews in Lexington, and how Jewish life changed and evolved along with the city itself. And Janice Crane paints Rabbi Shani a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up here and how special the community has always been. Plus, big BIG news from Rabbi Ben. Don't miss it!
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Kislev: Finding community on campus

    Kislev: Finding community on campus
    Dec 2 2024
    Going away to college is an exciting and sometimes scary time, especially for Jewish students at schools where there aren't large Jewish populations. This month, we reminisce about our own formative years in school. And we kibitz with Justin Sadle from the university of Kentucky about the value of helping Jewish students find and build community on campus.
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    52 mins
  • Cheshvan: If I am only for myself, what am I?

    Cheshvan: If I am only for myself, what am I?
    Nov 1 2024
    We’re nearing the finish line of an unpredictable election season in the United States, so this month, we’re talking about the importance of civic engagement, and why Jews are called to live out our values by participating fully and enthusiastically in democracy. Our guest, Kentucky State Senator Dr. Karen Berg, says her political work is bolstered by a famous quote from Rabbi Hillel the Elder, a Jewish leader from the first century BCE: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” November is also Transgender Awareness Month, and Dr. Berg shares memories of her son Henry, and what she learned from him. “He was willing to share himself and his identity because he thought it would help create a better world,” she says. She also reminisces about growing up Jewish in Louisville, describes what it’s like to have your baby teeth used in art, and pushes back very passionately against one of our lightning round questions! We hope you get as much from this conversation as much as we did… and we hope you vote! (To see a picture of Dr. Harold Berg's mosaic in Keneseth Israel, visit our instagram @bluegrassschmooze)
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    1 hr and 6 mins

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