Interview with Susan Ezrine, November 9, 2017

Interview Summary

Susan Ezrine found a deeper connection to Judaism since moving to Lexington, Kentucky in 1977. Born in Jamaica, Queens, New York in the early 1950s, she grew up in a primarily Jewish community. She studied at the University of Maryland, where she met the man who later became her husband, Barry Ezrine. He motivated her to deepen her relationship to the Jewish faith. Barry’s work in the horse industry brought Sue to Lexington, where they have lived ever since. Sue has two children, Rachel and Benjamin. Sue raised her children Jewish but allowed them to follow their own faith paths. She explains how having children motivated her to become much more involved in her congregation. She actually became president of her congregation, Ohavay Zion Synagogue in the 1990s and still remains active. She advocates for more feminism within the synagogue and has been instrumental in creating ways for women to get involved, both in organizations and in the services themselves. Her feminism has rubbed off on her daughter, Rachel, who now practices Orthodox Judaism with her own family. Sue carries her feminist ideas through both her professional and personal lives and refuses to be bossed around by her male counterparts.

Interview Keyword

Anti-Semitism Antisemitism Discrimination. Ohavay Zion Synagogue Horse farms Horse industry--Kentucky Horse racing--Kentucky Horses Bat mitzvahs Feminism

Interview LC Subject

Jews--Identity. Judaism. Worship (Judaism) Lexington (Ky.) Jewish leadership Jewish women Families. Jewish children Jewish families.

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.