Interview with Steve Cohen
Q: Where did you grow up? Tell us about your family.
Steve: I grew up at 255 Michigan Avenue in the heart of beautiful South Beach until I was 16 years old. I believe it was called “God's waiting room” back then! My late mother, Lucy Dassa Cohen, was born in Salonika, Greece and my late father, Sam Cohen, was born in Istanbul, Turkey – both via Spain a few centuries earlier! Rumor has it my great, great, great uncle Murray “Don’t Fall Off the Earth” Cohen sailed with Columbus to the states in the late 1400’s… but we lost his papers during the inquisition… so could not verify it. Yes, I am a hot blooded, passionate, Sephardic Jew!
Q: How long have you lived in Miami?
Steve: My mother Lucy and brother Joey Carr (guess he changed his name?) first came to Miami Beach via bus while she was pregnant with me in early 1952. They fell in love with Miami Beach and decided to move my family from Brooklyn, NY after I was born. So, sometime around December of 1952, my father Sam retired from the NYC sanitation department, left his second job driving a truck for Shapiro wine, and moved the “wild bunch” to the promised land.
Q: We are very fortunate that you decided to join our congregation. What drew you to Emanu-El?
Steve: My dear friend Jerry Jacobs invited me to a service. I enjoyed the service and clergy… was embraced by so many nice people in the congregation and the rest is history! (Yes, we do have some really nice people that are a part of this congregation.)
Q: What's your favorite activity or aspect at the congregation?
Steve: Being a member of the Temple Emanu-El family. And the wine after Friday night’s service!
What do you think?
Q: Do you have a favorite Temple Emanu-El moment or memory?
Steve: Being a “2nd floor” Jew (this is a private story between me and Jerry during the High Holidays a few years ago!)
Q: Which Jewish holiday do you find most meaningful?
Steve: All of them that involve food (I guess that means all of them)… to maintain my weight!
Q: Do you have a favorite tzedakah project -- through volunteering, contributions, or other support?
Steve: I coach under-privileged kids with the PAL before Friday night services to be able to make a difference in their lives… then I attend Friday night service. Does it get any better as a person?
Q: Is there an area of Jewish learning you'd like to explore more?
Steve: Wait… you're telling me that I’m Jewish?
Q: Do you have a Jewish figure or role-model whom you admire (contemporary or past)?
Steve: The spirit of the Jewish people as a whole! Through the almost 5000 year history of mankind as we know it, there is no group that has survived more horrors… yet achieved unparalleled greatness as much as the Jews have!
Q: Where do you like to spend your free time?
Steve: Anything that involves people…I really, really like people!
Q: Any special talents or interesting trivia?
Steve: I got the nickname “Bubba” in 1967 after Bubba Smith. So, let’s see how bright this group is...
* Which Bubba was the 6 foot 8 inch 280 pound football player - Smith or Cohen?
* Which Bubba was the 5 foot 8 inch 140 pound Jewish football player - Smith or Cohen?
* Rabbi, why did I get the nickname Bubba Cohen?
Q: What's something that most people don't know about you?
Steve: I am the only person in the great history of Beach High to be involved with the 2 greatest football teams in the school’s history! I was a 155 pound offensive tackle on the undefeated 1969-70 football team, and was offensive line coach for the 1974-75 championship team! I retired from coaching in 1975 at 22 after we lost the State Championship and never went back.
Q: Your favorite food or beverage?
Steve: Dr. Siegel Diet Cookies…love em. (Not!)
Thank you, Steve!