Interview with Lela Lyon, November 3, 2017

Interview Summary

Lela Lyon describes her parents and siblings. Lyon discusses growing up in Michigan and West Virginia before moving to Lexington, Kentucky for school at the University of Kentucky. Lyon discusses her synagogue involvement as a child and how her faith did not develop much until middle school when she was preparing for her bat mitzvah. In addition to comparing the Jewish communities in Michigan and West Virginia, Lyon also briefly discusses her experiences growing up as a Reform Jew. She discusses choosing to attend the University of Kentucky and talks about her major. This year, Lyon is the vice president of Hillel and lives in the Hillel house. She discusses some of the activities and events she goes to through Hillel as well as some of her responsibilities as vice president. Lyon discusses other aspects of Jewish life around Lexington, including how Lexington's Jewish community was so small that it was nearly impossible to find. Lyon describes her experience going to Israel on a Birthright trip. She compares the Lexington Jewish community with the community in Flint, Michigan. Lyon then describes some experiences she has had with anti-Semitism.

Interview Keyword

University of Kentucky. Libraries Families. Family histories. Jewish children Jewish families. Childhood Fasts and feasts--Judaism. Holidays.

Interview LC Subject

Worship (Judaism) Religion Jews--Identity. Lexington (Ky.) College students--Religious life College environment College students--Attitudes. College students--Conduct of life. College students--Social conditions Universities and colleges. Israel.

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.