Miriam Cohen (Interviewer & Narrator)

Miriam Cohen joined Kolot in 2016 after having attended High Holiday services for several years.  She was drawn into the sacred space of Shabbat morning services by her broken heart; a space that can hold so much, including as many broken hearts as find themselves there.  Along with being a Shabbat regular, she attends and sometimes leads Torah Study and loves that learning is a way of celebrating and honoring Shabbos.  She is a member of the Oral History Design Team and the Membership Engagement Committee that promotes ways for the community to come together.   Away from Kolot, Miriam gardens (helps make things grow) and volunteers for Reading Partners, an organization whose mission is to help children become lifelong readers.  She is retired after a 40-year career in Nursing at the VA.

In this interview, Miriam Cohen recounts the evolution of her membership at Kolot. First a quiet participant, now an active and well-known member of the congregation, Miriam reflects on “her Kolot,” which provide the basis for a moving and memorable interview. Themes of loss, community, and Jewish identity are prominent in this interview. The dynamism of Miriam’s presence at Kolot is moving and vibrant, especially as interviewer Lana Povitz often remarks on her own appreciation of Miriam’s role in making new, young members feel welcome in the community. Miriam’s apparent warmth, intelligence, gratitude, and strength make this audio an active and engaging listen.

Listen to: Miriam’s interview with Lana Povitz

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