Rediscovering Our Past: The Oral History Project
Our personal stories are what make us unique. They are what define each of us, and they also connect us to others. Sharing stories of our personal journeys is a powerful way to preserve our histories. It empowers us to leave a lasting legacy for future generations, helping others understand the richness of our experiences. This is exactly the mission of the JFCS Oral History Project.
The Oral History Project began in 2001 with a simple but profound goal: to capture and archive the stories of Louisville’s Jewish community, so that the community’s legacies would not be lost. Over the years, members of the community – from families with deep roots in Louisville to immigrants, all with diverse Jewish backgrounds – have documented a wide range of experiences. By 2017, JFCS had completed 207 interviews, all of which currently reside at the Filson Historical Society.
JFCS is excited to announce the relaunch of the Oral History Project this fall! This time, the project will be even more expansive, featuring a new partnership with the University of Louisville to craft meaningful interview questions that delve into Jewish identity, careers, family life, religious rituals, and even experiences with antisemitism. Our goal remains the same as it did back in 2001: to ensure that these stories not only preserve individual memories, but also serve as a resource to better understand the Jewish Community.
Through these efforts, we hope to capture the stories of more individuals in 2025, creating a vibrant tapestry of voices that will contribute to the larger understanding of Jewish life and identity in Louisville.
But this project isn’t just about collecting history; it’s also about connection. For our seniors, sharing personal stories can be a deeply meaningful experience, enhancing their senses of belonging and well-being. By aligning this project with the JFCS Klein Older Adult program, our goal is to provide a valuable outlet for older adults to reflect on their lives and share their wisdom with others.
Now we need your help! Whether you’re interested in becoming a volunteer or feel inspired to share your own story or that of a loved one, we invite you to join us in this important endeavor. In January, we will hold a volunteer training for anyone who would like to interview individuals and capture their stories. By participating, you’ll help us preserve the voices of the past and build a bridge to the future.
If you would like to volunteer or share your story, please reach out to us at cevans@jfcslouisville.org, or mklecner@jfcslouisville.org. Together, we can ensure that the legacy of Louisville’s Jewish community endures for generations to come.
Food insecurity is a harsh reality for many families, seniors, and individuals in our community. As we approach the High Holidays, JFCS is once again launching our annual “Feeding Families Food Drive,” a vital initiative that supports the JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry.
Beginning on Rosh Hashanah, local synagogues will begin collecting non-perishable food items at their locations. The drive culminates on October 20, when JFCS will be open for drop-off donations and will hold a special event. The Family Mitzvah Day will be an opportunity for families to come together to help process donations — sorting, weighing, and stocking the pantry shelves to serve our Louisville community.
The importance of food security cannot be overstated. When people don’t have reliable access to nutritious food, the effects can be devastating for the whole family. Children have difficulty focusing on schoolwork and retaining information. Seniors face worsening health issues, and families are sometimes forced to make an impossible choice between buying groceries or paying rent. The stress of not knowing where the next meal will come from can also lead to long-term mental health challenges.
The JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity in Greater Louisville. While the demand for all our services has never been higher, reflecting the growing need in our community (JFCS served over 2,300 people last year — a 20% increase from the previous year), our food pantry has seen exponential growth in requests for assistance. Last year, we distributed more than 74,000 pounds of food, a 50% increase over the last two years. Two years ago, in response to this rising demand, we expanded our food pantry by opening a satellite office at Shalom Towers, highlighting JFCS’ commitment of meeting the community where they are. But we need your help!
The JFCS Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry is unique in that it operates as a “choice pantry,” allowing clients to shop one-on-one with a JFCS staff member or dedicated volunteers and select items their families will enjoy. This model prioritizes the dignity of our clients, offering them the ability to choose foods that meet their health, cultural, and personal preferences, rather than receiving a pre-packed bag of items. By providing this choice, we ensure that the food we distribute not only nourishes but also empowers those we serve with dignity and purpose.
Our “Feeding Families Food Drive” is an opportunity for the entire community, not just members of the Jewish community, to come together and make a difference. You can participate by dropping off donations at any participating synagogue starting on October 2. Or, if you’re unable to make it to a synagogue, you can drop off donations at JFCS (2821 Klempner Way) on October 20 between 1pm and 3pm. We have a list of the most-needed items available here >.
In addition to donating food, we are also in need of volunteers on October 20 to help us in sorting, weighing, and stocking the donations that come in that day. Many of our supporters use this as another way of giving back, or a Family Mitzvah opportunity. Volunteering is a meaningful way to support the community, and we welcome individuals and families to join. If you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to Michelle Klecner at mklecner@jfcslouisville.org.
At JFCS, our vision is that all in Greater Louisville live with dignity and purpose. By ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the food they deserve, we help create a more just, compassionate, and supportive society.
Please join us in this important work. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of those who need it most.
During the past three years, JFCS has prioritized community partnership. We recognize that serving the community alongside other service agencies allows us to grow and strengthen as an organization. JFCS strives to holistically serve the people in need of our services for the benefit of everyone involved; our goal is collaboration, not competition. These principles of partnership and collaboration can be seen in multiple upcoming events.
On August 4, we are hosting an event titled Beyond the Bills: An Evening of Short Films Showing the Impact of Anti-LGBTQ Legislation in collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign. Held at the 21C Museum Hotel, it consists of the screening of three independent short films, each of which explores the impacts of anti-LGBTQ legislation on everyday lives in the US.
We will include individuals from the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, and Kentucky Health Justice Network, as well as state Sen. Karen Berg and other experts on the subject, to ensure that we – and those in attendance – will truly understand the full communal scope of the subject. The threat of discriminatory legislation affects a wide variety of people in a wide variety of ways, and it is our hope that JFCS can facilitate community collaboration that brings about lasting change.
Another event, the Republic Bank Players Challenge that will be held on August 12 at Standard Club, is also built around community partnership. In addition to facilitating networking across Louisville’s diverse industries and organizations, this day of golf, food, fun, and sprits is a collaboration with the Trager Family JCC.
It is important for Louisville to recognize that the Jewish community is working together towards important goals of the betterment of Louisville, the country, and the world. The Republic Bank Players Challenge is built around just the sort of partnership we strive to showcase.
The JFCS Community Chats were created out of the idea that community partnerships are a cornerstone of change. The next chat in our series – Making Your Dreams a Reality: Starting Your Own Business – is no exception. Free to the public on September 10, this chat focuses on the needs of small business owners in ensuring that their businesses successfully and ethically achieve their goals.
In keeping with the themes of community that our chats are built around, the event will be led by a panel of experts from Greater Louisville: Valecia Quinn, Navigate Director at JFCS; Dave Christopher, President & Founder of AMPED; Natalia Bishop, Founder of Story Louisville; and Alisia McClain, Founder & Executive Director of TECH-Nique Inc.
Even outside of our grand events, themes of community partnership can be felt at JFCS every day. Our Family Stability pilot program is the result of a collaboration with six organizations, ensuring that a wide range of clients’ needs can be understood and met. Meanwhile, we are engaging in an immigrant/refugee youth survey with six other nonprofits to assess the needs among immigrant youth.
One’s own perspective is rarely enough to truly understand an issue, particularly one affecting a vast array of people in a vast array of ways. JFCS seeks to ensure that the greater community always has a say in the issues we address. Through strong community partnership, JFCS is able to continue holistically serving our clients with dignity and purpose.
At Jewish Family & Career Services, we hold our history dear. For example, in the fall, JFCS will be relaunching the Oral History, which interviews Jewish individuals to capture their story, experiences, and ultimately their legacy. These rounds of interviews will focus on Jewish identity and how that has been shaped through the decades.
Recently, at our Annual Meeting, JFCS welcomed a new slate of community leaders to the JFCS Board of Directors and said goodbye to several others who are stepping down. When the board elected Mr. David Kohn as the new Board President, JFCS found itself at a unique juncture. This marks the first time in our history that a parent and child have served as the president for JFCS.
David’s mother, Marjorie Kohn, also led JFVS (before the name was changed to JFCS) as Board President. During her time, she created a powerful legacy, both professional and personally, that now bridges generations. Along with her strong leadership as President, Margie, and husband Robert, left an indelible mark on JFCS when they created the Marjorie and Robert Kohn Pledge 13 Endowment, establishing the Pledge 13 program. This program encourages Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to give a minimum of 13 hours of community service, instilling a volunteer mindset in youth at a critical age. Many youth who go through the program, continue to volunteer with JFCS.
In following his mother’s footsteps, David Kohn both honors this powerful legacy, while bringing a fresh perspective to the role of Board President. We look forward to his leadership and guidance as we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of social service needs in our community.
The generational connection between David and Margie serves as an example of how our history informs our future. JFCS’ Jewish roots continue to guide our mission and vision as an organization, and this new chapter will deepen those roots. David’s deep appreciation for the values that JFCS upholds make him an ideal leader as we continue to foster a more inclusive environment where everyone feels supported and empowered.
As we embrace this new chapter, we extend our deepest gratitude to Mike Fine, who has served JFCS as Board President for the past three years. Mike has demonstrated exceptional leadership, steering JFCS through significant milestones such as the transition of leadership to David Finke, the creation of a 3-year-strategic plan, and deepened our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and our overall growth in programs and services. Mike has truly helped set JFCS up for future success and we thank him for his invaluable contributions to JFCS and the greater Louisville community. We look forward to his continued involvement with JFCS.
We also want to acknowledge those who are rotating off the board and express our deepest gratitude for your service to JFCS and the Louisville Community. These individuals are:
- Robin Stratton
- Jordan Green
- Micah Jorrisch
- James Ensign
- Linda Shapiro
- Derwin Webb
At our annual meeting we reflected on the past year’s successes – our history – with an eye towards the future. JFCS is truly poised for a future filled with growth, innovation, and unwavering dedication to our community. We honor the legacy of those who, like Margie Kohn, Mike Fine and others, have helped build JFCS’ solid foundation. And we continue to embrace the fresh perspectives from those like David Kohn, and our new board members, that will guide us forward. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more compassionate community, rooted in the values that have always defined JFCS: Kavod (Respect), Chesed (Compassion), Kehilah (Community), Tzedek (Justice), and Avodah (Service). The journey ahead is one of hope, growth, and unwavering commitment to ALL in our community.