Q&A with Joel Hoppenstein
Q: Where did you grow up?
Joel: I grew up in Srings, outside Johannesburg, South Africa, and lived there for 21 years. It was an amazing experience.
Q: How long have you lived in Miami?
Joel: I've lived in Miami 10 years now. The climate brought me to Miami.... the tax climate! (no state tax!). Oh yeah, and the weather too.
Q: How long have you been a member at Temple Emanu-El?
Joel: I joined Temple Emanu-El soon after arriving in Miami.
Q: We are very fortunate that you decided to join our congregation. What originally drew you and now draws you to Emanu-El?
Joel: I was living on South Beach and, as most everyone knows, I like going to the morning minyan. I also knew Cantor Shifman from his days in Boca at my parents' temple. He used to come to the morning minyan. Temple Emanu-El was probably the closest minyan to where I was living at the time, south of fifth, so it all made for a natural fit. What drew me to the temple was the location, as described above, and its history. I had spent one high holidays in Miami and we had prayed at the Jackie Gleason theater. I think it was near the end of the Rabbi Lehrman era and it was a spectacular show. Cantor Shifman was the cantor and Rabbi Lehrman who had a fabulous voice was on the stage between the palms. I thought I was in the presence of Moshe Rabbainu! Of Of course, the building is beautiful, its location, on the best showbiz corner on South Beach makes it unique. Now with a hip chazan we can hopefully start creating a viable cultural and artistic space... a Jewish place filled with vibrancy and urgency.
Q: What's your favorite activity or aspect of the congregation?
Joel: I have always attended a shul service on Shabbat, either Friday night or Saturday morning throughout my life. In 1996 I had a bad car accident just after completing my work on the tobacco settlement. The deal happened and I recovered. It was a miracle. From being a half million dollars in debt, alone, with broken arms and legs etc., to being happily married and the father of four makes you religious! I would like to gradually see more members of the community, especially younger families, getting more spiritually, and just generally, more Jewishly involved. I would love to see members of the congregation adopting a day a week to come to minyan. We have a good time and are like a little family within a much larger family. We have Steve Goldman, Tibor Hollo and others who have adopted this approach, coming one day during the week. Needless to say, the morning minyan is my thing. I love it.
Q: Where do you spend your time (family, volunteering, occupation etc.)?
Joel: I am involved with LCDS (Lehrman Community Day School), the Federation on the beach, Temple Emanu-El, the Republican Jewish Coalition (although we can now go back to holding our board meetings in a phone booth,) and love being with my family, watching them play sports, act in plays; or, just going out to sports matches, to shows and movies together. My first job out of law school was for Columbia Pictures International, and, before I die I want to produce a movie, a Broadway show and a record album (that shows my age!)
Q: Do have have a favorite Temple Emanu-El moment or memory?
Joel: My favorite Temple Emanu-El memories are of our two daughters bat-mitzvahs. The b'nai mitzvahs at Temple Emanu-El are beautiful. George, Hector and now Rabbi Geller do a fantastic job. They are the best in the business.
Q: What would you say is your favorite Jewish holiday?
Joel: I like Channukah. Every year my family has a Channukah party. George and Hector always come and play and we have a great time. In the temple, I actually love Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Maybe I'm a little masochistic, but, I love the avodah - the spiritual heavy lifting!
Q: And lastly, what would be your one magic wish for the congregation/community?
Joel: My wife and I have a lot of history here and our children are third generation Emanuelites. So, we plan on sticking around. I like to sit around dreaming with my friend George Mordecai -- dreaming of how we are going to transform the temple, creating a fabulous Jewish cultural space... oh yeah, and a temple too, at the corner of Washington and 17th, on the best corner for entertainment and upliftment of a Jewish, spiritual or cultural nature on Miami Beach, in Miami, in the states and the world. Now, all we need is to turn those dreams into reality. We will need G-d's help and all of yours, too!
Thank you, Joel!