Submitted by The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
Interview by David Harris, Chief Development Officer, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
I invited four of the Kravetz family women for an interview about who their family is in relation to their Judaism. The Kravetz family is blessed with resilience and joy. Andrea Kravetz and her sister Pam Kravetz, their niece Bella Bryan, and their matriarch, their mother Reenie Kravetz, met with me. I felt honored to just be in the room. This interview showcases the Kravetz family’s commitment to their Jewish heritage, tradition, and giving back to the community. It serves as a shining example of how we can all make a positive impact. Their commitment to each other resonates for me with our Federation tagline, “Forward Together,” as we see these four women from three generations support each other and their community.
The interview started with generosity on the food level — they baked and provided shortbread and mandelbrot cookies and continued with generosity in their sharing of themselves. [This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.] — David Harris, Chief Development Officer, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati
David: I’m excited to see all of you. My first question is: as a family, how do you relate to your Jewishness?
Reenie: I am thinking about who I am. My identity comes from embracing and surrounding myself with family and tradition. I was inspired by my Bubbie and Mom who emigrated from Russia — and my Aunt Fay! Each one was a balabusta — incredible women who could bake delicious feasts, had integrity, and brought with them their religious traditions. They cherished family and were the glue that held the family together!
Andrea: They were a perfect example of ‘Women of Valor.’
Reenie: I spent my formative years at Ohav Shalom [now Etz Chaim], and became a bat mitzvah at Beth Am, which merged with Talmud Torah. Stanley and I became affiliated with Adath Israel where all five of our children went to Hebrew school. There, Andrea and Pam attended until 12th grade and Scott celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah. Todd and Kim observed their b’nai mitzvah by honoring two Soviet refusenik children who were denied permission to emigrate and were religiously persecuted.
From childhood on, tzedakah was always important to our family. The blue and white tin JNF [Jewish National Fund] tzedakah box was always on the table and we put money in it before saying the Shabbos prayers.
So, I’m very proud of my girls, my granddaughter, who are making their own traditions, while honoring our traditions.
Andrea: You can see that we grew up in a very traditional house. Every holiday was celebrated. Everybody went to Hebrew school.
David: How did you talk in your home about donating your time and money?
Andrea: That’s actually a great way to phrase it because I think tzedakah is more than just giving money [nods of agreement]. Society typically focuses on the money — and not everybody can give money. Pam demonstrates that on a daily basis, giving back to both the Jewish community and the community at large with her talents as an artist. She had a huge exhibit at the Weston Gallery on antisemitism. And I think something like that might have made a larger impact than her giving a dollar donation. I don’t have any artistic talents so I contribute to organizations that provide financial support throughout the community. I’m very fond of the Jewish National Fund. I’m a member of the Sapphire Society, and my husband Louis and I are part of the President’s Society. We hold Israel very dearly. I’m a Lion of Judah member with the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Louis and I are also very active with the Israeli Guide Dog Center for the Blind.
Reenie: I was very active at Adath Israel with the Hebrew school, worked with JCRC [Jewish Community Relations Council], and National Council of Jewish Women. In more recent years, I have worked with Luxottica’s “Gift of Sight” program, fitting and dispensing eyeglasses to the needy.
David: Why do you think that they had the tzedakah box out at dinner for Friday night?
Andrea: Because before you think about your family and eating and enjoying all the benefits, you remember that there are people who can’t enjoy these benefits [affirming nods]. And you have those obligations. I think it’s fundamental.
David: And left an impact, obviously.
Andrea: Definitely. I still have a box!
Pam: On a completely different note. Reenie’s our stepmom, we lost our mom when we were little. Reenie and our dad raised us to be our own people. She honored us. I’m very much the outlier child. And I have been supported and honored and celebrated in the way that I needed to be — and that goes for all five of us kids and all her grandchildren.
Because of the way that they raised us, I’ve never wavered in my Jewish beliefs. I’ve just had to do it in a different way.
Giving back in the Jewish community is just starting for me. I was on the board of ish. I created the large tile mural by the indoor swimming pool at the JCC. I got an honor from Hillel for what I do in the community. I help many organizations with fundraisers: HRC [Human Rights Campaign], Artworks of Cincinnati, Caracole, Visionaries and Voices, and Planned Parenthood.
David: You do your generous work through your art.
Reenie: She does. And every piece of her art has a significant story to tell!
Pam: The pieces at the Weston Gallery recently were about my dad, Stanley, being bullied, growing up in Kentucky. And that was really hard for me. I wanted to make sure that this story was told correctly because this is such a volatile time for Jews. And it was really important to honor my dad and my mom, their histories and their struggles.
Reenie: Stanley’s family came from Russia to Georgetown, Kentucky and they had a farm in Sadieville. I can’t even imagine how they kept a kosher home as they had no electricity, and water was from a cistern. As a child, he wore tzitzis — we framed them and they are hanging on the wall — memories!
Andrea: My dad attended a one-room schoolhouse and the teacher let him out a few minutes early each day as he would otherwise get roughed up by bullies on his way home.
Pam: We grew up with the idea of resilience and joy. My dad could have gone to a very dark place. He could have been a very mean person because of the way he was treated. But that’s what people need to see about the Jews and my family in particular. It’s the idea of resistance and joy, and forgiveness. And that’s how you fight hate and evil. You can’t let yourself become that [pause, nods of assent all around].
David: Bella, we want to hear a little bit about you! [laughter]
Bella: I definitely had a different perspective on life growing up. My families were different on my dad’s side versus my mom’s side. No matter what, they were very accepting and supportive with however I wanted my life to be. It wasn’t very religious for me, but more of a spiritual outlook. I always wanted to be someone who cared!
I think growing up in an environment with all these inspiring women definitely helped me imagine who I wanted to be. I wanted to be someone who gave back to the community. In college I got involved with campus activities. It helped me get my feet wet and become philanthropic. You never know, you can move worlds through philanthropy. Being part of the Federation [Bella is the Federation’s Young Adult Networking and Engagement Specialist] has inspired me to continue my involvement in Judaism and spirituality. I couldn’t thank everyone in my life more for having such a great outlook and helping me to succeed.
David: How do you feel, Bella, about these stories of the women in your family?
Bella: They are very encouraging! I value every one of these women very much. I am happy to follow in their footsteps, especially regarding family values, community, and philanthropy.
Reenie: And for us, l’dor v’dor means embracing our traditions and family. Bella, you give us all so much nachas, and our hearts are so full knowing how we inspired you!
David: If you had to create one, what would be your family motto around giving?
Pam: [Pause, Kravetz family members looking at each other]. Giving with your heart first, because that’s what we do.
