Q&A with Janet Wolk
Q: Where did you grow up? Tell us a bit about your family.
Janet: I grew up in Philadelphia. When I got married, my husband and I moved to Boston and later moved to Kingston, a little town near Plymouth whose population was 15,000 but only 6 families were Jewish. It was a Norman Rockwell kind of place that was wonderful for us to raise our 2 daughters. Now our older daughter lives in Israel with her husband and 3 children. Our younger daughter lives in Boston.
Q: How long have you lived in Miami? What brought you to Miami?
Janet: When our younger daughter graduated high school in 2000, we decided to leave the cold winters behind and came to Miami Beach.
Q: We are very fortunate that you decided to join our congregation. What drew you to Emanu-El?
Janet: From my very first Shabbat at Temple Emanu-El, I was drawn in. Frank Cholodofsky, who had a winning smile and loved people, told me that I should come to the Sunday morning minyan. So I did!
Q: You're a wonderful Torah reader! When did you begin chanting Torah?
Janet: I began chanting Torah about two years ago. Cantor Mordecai wanted to start a Torah reading class and I jumped at the chance. I already knew how to chant haftorah and thought that maybe this would be something I would like to learn. Yes, it takes time to study the weekly parsha but it is something that I have come to love. If anybody has the desire to learn to read from the Torah, I say "Do it!" (and I'll be happy to help you learn.)
Q: What's something that most people don't know about you?
Janet: People don't know that I can play the piano. But although I have a piano at our home in the Berkshires, I rarely take the time to practice or play anymore. I should remedy that!
Q: What would you say is your favorite Jewish holiday?
Janet: If I had to choose a favorite Jewish holiday, I would say that it is the 8 days of Sukkot. But, more likely, my favorite Jewish day is any one when hallel is chanted. Hallel melodies are my favorite.
Q: Any hobbies, special talents, or interesting trivia?
Janet: I volunteer as a docent at the Jewish Museum of Florida at 3rd and Washington. If you haven't been there, you should go. It is a wonderful museum which has recently expanded and now even has a kosher cafe.
Q: Your favorite food or beverage?
Janet: I don't really have a favorite food and, although my family likes my cooking, I think my mother's cooking was the all-time best!
Q: And lastly, what would be your one magic wish for the congregation?
Janet: My one magic wish for the congregation is that more people take the time to attend the daily minyan. You don't need to make a major commitment. There are several people who come just one day a week. Start slowly; even keep at it slowly. But when you attend the minyan, more than anything, you are insuring that someone will be able to say kaddish for a loved one. I started attending regularly (way back when) because I felt that I was needed to help insure that there would be 10 people. But I no longer look at myself as someone who is just needed to make a quorum; going to the minyan is the way I start my day. The people who attend are friends; we care about each other; we are sort of like a mini-community.