Jewish Federation 2020 Annual Campaign Ambassador, Julie Strull, felt that her connection to Judaism has been reinvigorated by participating in the inaugural JWRP Momentum trip to Israel in 2016. Since returning to Louisville, her Jewish identity has been strengthened and she has become an avid challah baker and Federation volunteer. She has co-chaired the Federation’s Annual Challah Bake, an event in which almost 200 women gathered together to bake challah and learn. Serving as a Jewish Federation Ambassador is allowing her to “pay it forward” the generosity that was shown to her on her Momentum Israel trip and allowing her to support the mission of strengthening the Louisville Jewish community.
Julie loves learning about different Jewish traditions and is proud of Louisville’s diverse Jewish community. She and her husband, Greg, are raising sons Henry and Max to have strong Jewish identities. Celebrating Jewish holidays and observing Jewish traditions, as well as Jewish camps and teen tours to Israel, are all a meaningful part of her family. In fact, Greg just returned from his own Momentum trip to Israel, which has deepened the family’s commitment to the Jewish community and to Israel.
The rise in anti-Semitism at home and abroad is very concerning to Julie, specifically the overt, strong outspoken hate speech aimed at Jews and other minorities. She supports the Federation’s efforts to combat this alarming trend through JCRC and its community-building across Louisville.
Julie is excited to see the new J take shape with its increased services, low-barrier and inclusive features and believes the J will become the convening center for the community. She is especially pleased that The J will serve as a “home base” for seniors and unaffiliated younger adults pursuing health and wellness activities educational and cultural events and a forum for making their voices heard as Jews in Louisville.