1 20 1 https://d1y502jg6fpugt.cloudfront.net/34455/archive/files/673e280476d25c2a04933c547adef040.pdf?Expires=1777507200&Signature=sPBhJ3iV%7ETd2t-CvXVYJi3myxK0L8jWOr1QVtyzEIZX9K3%7E601VqrnCI9mhy5s-bzA7rY%7E85m68va%7E9010hz7inYUzedkSlHvDMkty8PrrVzX3dwP3-g%7En-qKM83BKVLdAcMXR1opYwtALFmQcEN4TnpK4xr1kiUmf1uq47oXckHWIIqPURn8ApU4-4-9AoNzDGDK6SsQuFodC0DWt1Cx9E8GlqjC9N6rTEdyJe8XMFoVJRhhiGIkbpGIBUKIH3Or%7EQiK5scQTUNQpW2sFm%7E7%7E4W8ENwahERygVzJI9gySbs6I7Fj%7E4UfN8pbOQfToDm5svMmGSwUh350XcpRv%7EieQ__&Key-Pair-Id=K6UGZS9ZTDSZM 0bd88217189431e1ad0225b5a5b94b70 PDF Text Text QUESTIONAIRE FOR ORAL HISTORIES 1. lam with on Robert Friedman , I am conducting an interview Ronald Abrams for the JFVS archives October 2, 2001. 2. Can you tell me how and why your family originally came to this country and when? My mother and her father came to the United States when she was six months old. She was bom in Minsk, Russia or on the ship. She never knew her birthday, date, just the year of 1901. My dad was bom in the United States in New York in 1849. His father, from Lithuania came over in the 1880’s. 3. What were your parents’ names and where were they born? My mother, Dorothy Peterman Abromovitz Giller, was bom April 5, 1901 and died February 5, 1987. My father, Benjamin Abromovitz, was bom February 5, 1894 and died May 18, 1967. My name was always Abrams. 4. What is your birth date? What language(s) were spoken in your home? Where did you live then? Who lived in the same house with you Grandparents? Uncles/aunts? Brothers? Sisters? I was bom June 22, 1936. The languages spoken in my home were English and some Yiddish. My grandfather lived with us until I was 5 at which point he died. We lived in the same apartment until my mother died. My sister also lived there. She was 13 when I was bom, so she was only home for summers. 5. What was your neighborhood like? Were there other Jews living in the neighborhood? Did you walk to school? Sunday School? Temple? Was there a neighborhood grocery? Drug store? We lived in the upper west side of Manhattan, at 85 and West End Avenue. There were primarily Jewish families. I never though about being Jewish. I did not know in grade school or high school if my friends were Jewish or not. I went to high school in the Bronx. I went to Bronx High School of Science, a college prep high school. I walked to grade school and junior high. I took the subway to high school. There were several grocery stores and drug stores. We lived a block away from Broadway and I would go to Riverside Park. 6. How did the 1937 flood affect you and your family? Not asked on this interview. 7. If you wished to travel what kind of transportation did you use? Did you travel when you were young? If so, where? �I went camp every summer in Connecticut and up state New York for two months. There was one time I went to California by train with my family. We also went to Long Island to visit family. We went by car, and never flew. 8. Was your family involved in a synagogue / temple? No, but we were involved in Hebrew Kindergarten and Infants Home. My father founded it. 9. What holidays and rituals were observed? We did not observe holidays and rituals. 10. Did you attend religious school? Were you confirmed? Bar Mitzvah? I attended Sunday school for 3 years. I was Bar Mitzvahed but never learned Hebrew. We were never members of a congregation and I had no formal education. My firs Seder was in school at Vanderbilt University. 11.What is your educational background? What was your career? I received a BA in business from Vanderbilt University. I then went to Coopers and Lybrand as an accountant. I then spent 41 years at Yeager, Ford, and Warren. I am now retired, but I’m still involved with assisting start up companies. (Please see attached sheet.) 12. What brought you to Louisville and when did you come? Marie, because we were dating, and my business, brought me to Louisville. I was going to school at Vanderbilt University and came for a holiday weekend. While I was here inn Louisville, I talked to a CPA who said to graduate and get a CPA degree. 13. How did you meet your husband/wife? Where and when were you married? Did you have children? I met Marie at Vanderbilt.She was a Frat. Project. She was dating a ZBT When I went sophomore year she had broken up with the ZBT brother. I decided they were going to rush the Jewish girls. She always had dates with the 2 guys. I said I was serious so she stopped dating the other guy. We were married on February 2, 1958 in her parents’ living room. We had a choice of big wedding or small and cash was sparse to us. I had two children, Elizabeth Sue (Beth) Abrams Mitchell 5/11/62 and Marc Neil Abrams 5/19/64. 14. Tell about you involvement in the Jewish Community? Was you whole family involved? �My mother and father active in the temple, Shriners, and Oldhum Church. My mother was very active in NCSW but wouldn’t take presidency. When I joined she resigned. 15. How was your family affected by the World Wars? Wars in Israel? My brother-in-law was in the navy during WWII. My family was not affected by the wars in Israel. 16. What are your favorite spiritual memories? How did religion affect your life? I have no real spiritual memories in the religious sense. Family has made the difference. The march on Washington-Soviet Jewry. I believe in what we do here. Marie taught me how to be Jewish. 17. What interests do you have? The community, golf, and travel are my interests. Another interest of mine is to help young people start their business, not in a tax related way, but to help them raise money. 18. What are your favorite family memories? Trips before 1976. The 200th anniversary in 1975. The Seder where we took from two books (we would have other people over and Marie planned the service). 19. What is your legacy? How would you like to be remembered? What values would you like to pass on to those you leave behind? My legacy is community and general involvement. Our children are heavily involved in the community, which is a lovely change for us. Beth is involved in NCSW. I tried to do a good job in the community. JFVS/aj 10/17/02 Word.olderAdult.OralHistories.forms �Louis & Lee Roth Family Center Board of Directors Stephanie Speigel Executive Director Marjorie B. Kohn President Steven Shapiro President Elect/Treasurer Barbara Goldberg David Handmaker Lowell Katz Robert Riley Vice Presidents Gail Pohn Ex-officio President Mitchell Charney jane Goldstein Robert Levine Howard Markus Shirley Markus Lillian Seligman Jeffrey Weiss Past Presidents Lewis D. Cole Alexander Erlen Arthur Grossman Shelton R.Weber Honorary Directors TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I do hereby give my permission to record my life history through the Jewish Family and Vocational Service, 3587 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40205. My story will be kept in the JFVS library unless I choose to keep it myself. Mark Ament '>iane Bennett Jlyn Berman Joan Byer Howard L. Cantor Natalie Davis Jonathan Dubins Simon Fields Phyllis Florman Ann Friedman Bob German Rachel Greenberg Debbie Hyman Howard Kaplin Jay Klempner Benjamin Levitan Chuck O'Koon Jordan Pohn Suzy Post Mona Schramko Judy Shapira Julie Strull Susan Waterman Frank Weisberg Rabbi Avrohom Litvin Rabbi Stanley Miles Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks Rabbi Robert Slosberg Rabbi Bradley C.Tecktiel Date Signed JFVS/aj 5/14/01 Word.coununit.pennission.history Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agepcies International Association of Jewish Vocational Services Accredited by Council of Accreditation of Services for Families and Children. Inc. Jewish Family & Vocational Service 3587 Dutchmans Lane ■ Louisville, Kentucky 40205 • (502) 452-6341 • Fax (502) 452-6718 E-mail: jfvs@jfvs.com • Web: www.jfvs.com �BIOGRAPHY RONALD W. ABRAMS EDUCATION 1950- 1953 1953 - 1957 1957- 1958 Bronx High School of Science B.A., Vanderbilt University University of Louisville EMPLOYMENT 1957 - Present 1971 - Present 1977 - 1990 1990 - 1994 1994 - 1997 1998-1999 20012001- Coopers & Lybrand, Louisville, Kentucky (or its predecessor) Partner Partner in Charge of Taxes Executive Tax Partner Tax Market Leader Viperlink, International, CFO, Director T eledvance,LLC-Director Monty’s Plant Food-Director COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Adath Israel B’rith Sholom (B’rith Sholom) Treasurer 1967 - 1969 1969- 1971 Secretary 1971 - 1973 Second Vice President 1973 - 1975 First Vice President 1975 - 1977 President 1977-Present Board Member Jewish Community Federation 1974 - Present Board Member 1973 - Present Campaign - UJC 1977 - 1980 Chairman Community Relations Council 1982 Chairman Group & Social Services Subcommittee, Planning & Budgeting Committee 1982 - Present Endowment Fund 1983 - 1986 Treasurer 1986 - 1988 Vice President 1986 Co-Chairman of United Jewish Campaign 1988 - 1991 President 1991 - Present Executive Committee �1997 - Present Chair, Foundation �Metro United Way 1987 Portfolio Chairman 1991 Leadership Circle Chairman 1991 - 1995 Nominating Committee 1994 Endowment Committee 1994 Allen Society- Volunteer of the Year 1995 - Present Resource Development Cabinet 1997 - Present Board of Directors Louisville Chamber of Commerce Activities Economic Development Steering Committee Targeted Marketing Subcommittee Chairman Occupational Tax Task Force Entrepreneurial Conference Chairman, Tax Legislative Policy Subcommittee Government Affairs Committee OTHER 1971 - 1974 1973 1973 1968 1969 - 1971 1971 - 1973 1974 1974- 1982 1978 - 1979 1973 - 1975 1969- 1971 1974 1976- 1978 1976 - 1978 1981 - 1982 Community Action Committee, Louisville and Jefferson County Council on Religion and Race Board Bureau of Jewish Education Board B'nai Brith - Treasurer Actors Theatre Board Member Standard Country Club Board Member - Treasurer Young Leadership Award, Jewish Community Federation National Conference of Christians & Jews: Board Member Co-Chairman Member, Legislation Advisory Committee Kentucky Society of CPA's Chairman, Federal Taxation Committee Kentucky Society of CPA's Treasurer, Vote Yes for Transit Committee Governor's Economic Development Committee, Task Force-on Finance Board Member, Midwest Council, Union of American Hebrew Congregations Leadership Louisville, Louisville Chamber of Commerce National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council / Jewish Council for Public Affairs 1982 - 1986 Church State Commission 1982 - Present Equal Opportunity and Social Justice Task Force 1995 Chair, Budget and Finance Committee 1996- 2000 Treasurer 2000- Present Executive Com �1979- 1983 1984- 1990 1990 - Present 1987- 1993 1994- 1996 1989 - Present 1991 - 1993 1992 1994- 1996 Urban League - Board Member Jewish Hospital Board Jewish Hospital Healthcare Systems Board Fifteen Telecommunications (Public TV station): Chairman and Board Member, Finance Committee Chairman, Team One subsidiary board Regional Cancer Center Corporation Board Member Midwest United Jewish Appeal Major Gifts Committee Person of the Year - B’nai Brith Council on Peacemaking - Board Member Council of Jewish Federations - (National) 1991 - 1993 Board Member 1993 - 1996 Vice Chairman, Community Budgeting Council 1997 National Funding Council, Executive Committee 1995 - 1997 Strategic Planning Steering Committee 1995 - 1997 1998 - Present Task Force on Soviet Jewry AdvocacyBoard Member � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Jewish Family and Career Services interviews, 2001-2018 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Jewish Family and Career Services (Louisville, Ky.) Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/" target="_blank" title="In Copyright" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> Language A language of the resource eng heb Type The nature or genre of the resource Collection Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th century 21st century Description An account of the resource Summaries of 206 interviews with Jewish community members in Louisville, Kentucky, conducted by Jewish Family and Career Services volunteers. Originally started by Ann Friedman, Director of Klein Older Adult Services, the project sent volunteers to listen to seniors and summarize their stories. The volunteers used a standardized script to ask community members about their family’s immigration to the United States and move to Louisville; their family and religious life in Louisville; and what they hoped their legacy would be. Some of the interviews include supplemental material on the narrators, such as resumes, obituaries, and photographs. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource bulk 2001-2018 1930s-1950s 1980s-2018 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 024x6_abramsr Title A name given to the resource Interview with Ronald Abrams, 2001 Description An account of the resource Summary of an oral history interview conducted with Ronald Abrams (1936-) on October 2, 2001. The summary is accompanied by Ronald Abrams's resume. The interview was part of the Louisville Jewish Family and Career Services's project to document the lives of Jewish seniors in Louisville, Kentucky. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Abrams, Ronald W., 1936- Friedman, Robert Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2001-10-02 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Report Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Subject The topic of the resource Interviews Jewish families Jews Judaism Jefferson County (Ky.) Kentucky Louisville (Ky.) New York (N.Y.) Accountants Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant 20th century 21st century Language A language of the resource eng Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived 024x6 Jewish Family and Career Services interviews, The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ Property rights in the collection belong to The Filson Historical Society. The Filson Historical Society can provide high-resolution scans of original source materials from its holdings for non-commercial and commercial use. To learn about this process, visit https://filsonhistorical.org/collections/order-reproductions/ Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky Jewish Family and Career Services (Louisville, Ky.)