Q&A with Rick Wolfe
Q: Where did you grow up? Tell us a bit about your family.
Rick: I am a native of Kendall. I moved to Miami Beach over nine years ago for a more urban environment. I also moved to escape the mango blossoms that I am allergic to. My mom moved from upstate New York in 1945 to a small segregated city, this one. My father came from Patterson, New Jersey to go to the University of Miami. I am one of three boys.
Q: How long have you been a member of Emanu-El?
Rick: Since George [Mordecai] and Kliel [Rose] came onboard.
Q: We are very fortunate that you decided to join our congregation. What drew you to Emanu-El?
Rick: The participatory music in a wonderful space. The services are a delicate balance between pep rally and opera.
Q: What has been your favorite activity or aspect of the congregation?
Rick: Right now it is George, but I think with the Malachei Shabbat program (if expanded), this meet-the-member column, and some hard work, we can create a cohesive community.
Q: I know that you play several musical instruments. Can you tell us about that?
Rick: I am a third generation sax player. My grandfather played at the tail end of the vaudeville era. My father got a full music scholarship to the University of Miami. I was given rudimentary drum lessons and piano lessons during elementary school. I started sax in the 7th grade. I marched in high school and two years in the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami. I graduated after two years (long story!) I also played in jazz band in high school. Since 2000 I have been involved with a community band - the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble, which also has Jazz and Marching. It is part of an International Organization - the Lesbian and Gay Band Association. I was on the national board for four years. As part of this organization I have been able to perform in Sydney and Melbourne Australia, Montreal, Chicago, New York's Halloween Parade, Palm Springs, Denver, Atlanta, Vegas, Jacksonville, St. Pete, Key West, and most recently at the inauguration of President Obama in Washington D.C. I was active at Temple Beth Or in Kendall, and in the early 90's, the rabbi asked the congregation to drum along and get into chanting. Since then, drumming has been my expression of prayer.
Q: Do you have a favorite Temple Emanu-El moment or memory?
Rick: The first Channukah in the courtyard at Fisher Island.
Q: What would you say is your favorite Jewish holiday?
Rick: Simchat Torah, emphasizing that we never stop learning, and the music.
Q: Where do you like to spend your free time?
Rick: I am treasurer of the condo I live in (next door to the temple) and lately that is occupying way too much time. We are going thru a lot of issues between being a historic building adapting to new Florida Codes, at the same time our new lovely problem of investors paying their mortgages and not their condo fees. My work as a C.P.A. is seasonal and allows for travel other times of the year. I have invested and rehabilitated some lower income housing and other rental properties. I went through the city of Miami Beach leadership academy a few years ago and may put my hat in the ring for one of the boards. I have attended the tour school for the Miami Design Preservation league. I may train to offer the tour of our neighborhood on Sundays.
Q: You have experience with national Jewish projects and retreats. Can you give us an overview?
Rick: I have been at several either weekend or week long retreats: Elat Chayyim (Connecticut), the Aleph Kallah (at different college campuses every other year), and Queer Shabbaton (in Amsterdam and New York city). They all are based on intensive adult Jewish education with a creation of musical and other added events that create a shtetl like experience for the period you are there. Classes can be very diverse: I have taken Drumming, Dance Midrash, and Torah Trek just to mention a few. These are primarily based on the teachings of Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Shlomo Carlebach. They integrate more physicality into understanding of the Jewish practices. These retreats are hard to explain in this format; if you are interested, talk to me or go on the website: aleph.org.
Q: Any hobbies, special talents, or interesting trivia?
Rick: I used to do a lot of long distance bicycling. When spinning first came to the States, I trained as an instructor. I have met Johnny G (Goldberg) from South Africa – the inventor [of spinning]. I was in a bicycling accident and then became active in swimming.
Q: What's something that most people don't know about you?
Rick: I was one of the founding members of the gay and lesbian Havarah of Miami Dade County and brought to Rabbi Feldman the idea of offering programming (although it never went anywhere.) I also brought the idea of a pride seder to Florida after participating in one at B'nai Jeshurun [in NY] in 2000; Congressman Barney Frank from Massachusetts was the featured speaker.
Q: Your favorite food or beverage?
Rick: I have been veggie since the early 90's; most breads are my weakness.
Q: And lastly, what would be a couple of ideas or wishes you have for the congregation/community?
Rick: We have to go forward with what we have and not try to recreate what was once going on in our buildings. During high holiday this last year, an office that I had never seen was used as a green room for the musicians. It has not been touched since some time in the 1970's. We need to create a cohesive group by having a membership handbook, having people connected to events, and announcing events to the whole community. We also need to post the time, date, and place of all meetings – these meetings should be open to all members. We need to bring life to the sanctuary building in any way possible. How about asking Oprah to film there when she is in town...?
Thank you, Rick!