Interview with Betty Clarick
Q: Where did you grow up? Tell us about your family.
Betty: I grew up in New York and met Don when I was a student at Barnard and he at Columbia. We've been married for 49 years and are blessed with three wonderful children and their amazing spouses and the 6 grandchildren they have given us. We're a very close family despite the fact that they have never lived in Miami. Over the years we all have visited often and have spent many wonderful times together.
Q: How long have you lived in Miami?
Betty: We moved to Miami from New Jersey 20 years ago when the business that Don was with relocated to Miami Beach from New York.
Q: We are very fortunate that you decided to join our congregation. What drew you to Emanu-El?
Betty: We have always been affiliated with a Conservative synagogue so we were naturally drawn to Temple Emanu-El. We were able to enjoy several years under Rabbi Lehrman's leadership before he retired and have met so many terrific people through the Temple.
Q: What's your favorite activity or aspect of the congregation?
Betty: At the present time it is the services. We are enjoying Cantor George's music and Rabbi Geller's sermons. We also enjoyed the rabbi's Jewish history class this past year.
Q: Do you have a favorite Temple Emanu-El moment or memory?
Betty: On the first anniversary of 9-11, Don and I worked on producing a community wide Memorial Evening of Music, Writings, and Song. Michael Putney hosted the evening and about 1000 people filled the Sanctuary. We had videos prepared by students, a short Frank Sinatra film, participants read poetry, a scene from a play and letters that had been written regarding 9-11. A quartet from the New World Symphony played, the High School chorus sang, the city's police and fire color guard marched, and the outside of the building had a display of over 50 posters made by students. Participants in the program like Janet Reno, Mark Rosenberg, the Mayor and others were readers of materials we picked for the occasion. I will never forget the emotion of that evening and the satisfaction of bringing together so many groups from churches, synagogues and schools in our community. My other favorite memories are the incredible sermons we enjoyed when Rabbi Feldman was here as well as his classes which were much fun as well as very educational.
Q: You're involved with bringing Jewish films to our community. Please tell us more about that.
Betty: When we first moved to Miami, Joy Spill and I were very active in creating and working on a Miami Beach Jewish Film Festival at the JCC on the Beach. This was a very new thing in the late 1980's. When that JCC closed the Film Festival was taken over by CAJE and I remained very active working on it. I was Chairman of it for a number of years and I still serve on the Board of Advisors to it, and as Chairperson of the Film Society. It's amazing to have seen both the growth of this Festival, the growth of Festivals around the country (now probably 80 or more) and the wide array of "Jewish" film that is now being produced around the world.
Q: Which Jewish holiday do you find most meaningful?
Betty: Without a doubt, it's Pesach! We have always had big seders with the family and friends. Don has created our own Family Hagaddah and has added so many personal and meaningful items to it. Our grandkids love participating and we have a wonderful holiday. I do a lot of baking and cooking and we have a great time. It's such a perfect time to connect to our family history and our Jewish history.
Q: What do you consider a special or well-used piece of Judaica (Jewish materials/objects) you have at home?
Betty: We use a kiddush cup made by a grandson, a challah cover made by our daughter when she was 8, and challah plates made by our granddaughters. We have special candlesticks we only use on holidays that were Don's parents'. We also have a beautiful collection of silver havdalah boxes that we collected many years ago from various trips to Israel. My favorite one is a 19th century one from Austria, very intricate, delicate and beautiful.
Q: Do you have a favorite tzedakah project - through volunteering, contributions, or other support?
Betty: At the moment I'm organizing what I hope will be a great project for the Temple's Women's League. That is to prepare donation gift bags for both Shalom Bayit and for the Lotus House Women's Shelter in Overtown. They need bags of personal items at both and at Lotus House they also need baby items. I'm hoping that we can take this on as a regular project and that we can become strong supporters of both of these places. You'll hear more about it soon because I'm just in the process of talking to Lotus House about what we could do to help them.
Q: What is an area of Jewish learning you'd like to explore more?
Betty: I like Jewish history and hope that the rabbi will continue to teach that. If he has some other plan, that's alright too because I really enjoy learning with him.
Q: Do you have a Jewish figure or role-model whom you admire (contemporary or past)?
Betty: I have always admired Golda Meir. What a woman! Her history to me embodies the spirit of the settlers in Israel who did so much to create a country before 1948. They were so idealistic and so committed to the Jewish State before it was one. I admire that whole generation so much and especially Golda for her special wisdom and leadership.
Q: Where do you like to spend your free time?
Betty: First choice is, of course, with my grandkids. Then, my family has property on Lake Dunmore in Vermont and that is one of my favorite places to be. Unfortunately, my work schedule (I work full time as a Director at Primecard, a discount restaurant and travel charge card company here in Miami) doesn't allow me to spend as much time there as I would like. Here in Miami, I enjoy the beach, the pool and the kitchen where I love to cook! I'm an avid reader and always have a book by my bedside and a long list of orders at the library.
Q: What's something that most people don't know about you?
Betty: I love word games, Scrabble and crossword puzzles. Also, I am hooked on Jeopardy and watch it as much as I can!
Q: Any special talents or interesting trivia?
Betty: I like handcraft projects, particularly quilting.
Q: Your favorite food or beverage?
Betty: My kids introduced us to "Prosecca" at my last birthday party and now I love it! Favorite food is probably whatever I made for dinner last night! I love to try new recipes and am always finding a new favorite!
Q: And lastly, what idea or wish do you have for the congregation/community?
Betty: I hope that Temple Emanu-El will continue to grow and that we can grow as a "community" that does good things together. I'd like to see more activity of all sorts and more participation too.
Thank you, Betty!