Detail View: Winnipeg Jewish Renewal Oral History Collection: Interview with Shelley Faintuch, 17 November 2014

Collection Name: 
Winnipeg Jewish Renewal Oral History Collection
Title: 
Interview with Shelley Faintuch, 17 November 2014
Creator: 
Lewis, Justin Jaron, 1961-
Subject: 
Jewish renewal
Subject: 
Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman, 1924-2014
Description: 
Audio interview of Shelley Faintuch, born 1953, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis at the interviewee's office in Winnipeg. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 00:30 Justin asks Shelley to share her recollections of Reb Zalman and his family. She mentions she was a young girl when she realized that Rabbi Schachter was not just any old rabbi but a special person. She went to school with one of Zalman’s sons and knew his family; 02:30 Shelley explains Rabbi Schachter had an incredible stature, he stood tall, had a melodic and captivating voice, and was very youthful. She sensed he was a special person. She continues to talk about his teachings. She never attended any of Zalman’s teachings but heard great things about his gatherings as being intellectually stimulating; 06:15 Shelley states she lost track of Zalman but reconnected with him about 22 years ago at an event. She was very surprised to learn that Zalman still remembered who she was. 07:50 Shelley admits she did not understand how great of a man Zalman was until she started to read some of his writings and interpretations. She states it was a privilege to have known Reb Zalman Schachter; 08:44 Justin asks which son was in school with her. She states his son, Akiva was shy and continues to talk about Mrs. Schachter; 11:22 Justin asks Shelley about events and the “shul hopping” that happened in the north end of Winnipeg. He also asks whether those events continued after Zalman left; 12:40 Justin asks Shelley why Zalman looked different than most other men at the time. He asks if it had to do with Zalman’s beard. Shelley talks about the fact that Zalman had a bearing, or a strength in his spine, the fact that he was a Holocaust survivor, and his voice; 15:39 Shelley talks about the dynamic, rich life she had in Winnipeg when she was growing up there; 17:30 Shelley mentions that Zalman had an incredible way to connect with individuals. Justin asks if she had any personal conversations with Zalman and Shelley states she really didn’t. She wanted to see what the Jewish Renewal movement was all about; 19:00 Justin follows up with a question about why the Jewish Renewal movement was not as present in Winnipeg. Shelley believes Zalman was still developing his concepts in Winnipeg. He also was a rabbi and had a family to consider in Winnipeg; Justin asks Shelley how she referred to Zalman. She states she referred to him as Rabbi Schachter; 21:00 Justin asks if Shelley was a hippy at the time. She said she was a wannabe hippy; 22:00 Justin asks if Schachter would have been classified as a hippy. Shelley says he would have been classified as a hippy by the older generation; 22:29 Justin asks Shelley what her parents thought of Rabbi Schachter. She is not sure what they thought; 22:58 Justin asks about Mrs. Schachter and the type of gatherings the women had; 25:00 Justin thanks Shelley for her interview.
Contributor: 
Faintuch, Shelley
Date: 
2014-11-17
Type: 
Sound
Identifier: 
WinnipegShelleyFaintuch_17Nov2014.mp3
Identifier ARK: 
https://ark.colorado.edu/ark:/47540/5m3z7334t33f
Source: 
Rabbi Zalman Schachter's Years in Winnipeg
Language: 
English
Coverage: 
Winnipeg
Rights: 
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