Personal Stories
Lori Cooney
Children: Sean – 15 years old, Shannon – 12 years old, Ashlyn – 9 years old.
Lori Cooney and her three children, Sean, Shannon and Ashlyn hope to continue growing in Judaism after completing their last year of the Stepping Stones Family programming this spring. Throughout the past two years, Lori and her family have enjoyed learning more about the different Jewish holidays and how to apply them to her home and share with her family. They have begun to incorporate weekly Shabbat traditions into their family traditions and have also begun to celebrate many of the Jewish holidays as well.
At the end of the Stepping Stones Family program, Lori feels ready to take the next step with her children this summer and look into joining a synagogue congregation in the Denver area. So far they have attended Temple Emmanuel several times as well as Temple Sinai. By the end of the summer, it is their goal to find a new home in a congregation that they are excited about.
Ava and Bert Philippus
Children: Daniel - 11 years old
“Stepping Stones programs “give you a better base (in Judaism) from which to make a decision�?, Ava Philippus shared.
What stood out most to Ava Philippus during her time spent in Stepping Stones was the information she gained from the different guest speakers that came to various programs. Ava personally enjoyed exploring the different aspects of Judaism such as Shabbat and the Jewish calendar. From these speakers, Ava and Bert were able to develop a deeper understanding of Judaism, rituals and the meanings behind the actions that are done in Judaism.
Ava and Bert feel more confident in their knowledge about Judaism at the close of the Stepping Stones Family program this spring. Over the past two years, Ava has learned what characteristics are important to her in a temple congregation and what is not as significant. She feels that Stepping Stones has helped her family clarify their feelings about which religious denominations are closest to her family’s beliefs and needs. At this time, Ava and Bert are in the research phase of finding a temple to join in the Denver area. Ava and a few other Stepping Stones families would like to create a website that would bring together Jews in the Aurora area in the coming months. The website would serve as a resource for interfaith families looking for informal gatherings for a way for them to connect and share their faith together.
Max and Kim Wachtel
Children: Nico – 2 years old Simon – 1 month old.
One of the many things the Wachtel family gained from Stepping Stones was a great group of new friends who had a similar situation: they were also exploring the world of being interfaith. Since the program ended in early 2007, this group of four families has stayed in touch by getting together once a month and taking turns sharing Shabbat dinners in their different homes. They truly enjoyed the friendships they have gained as well as getting to know Jewish Denver through their exposure in Stepping Stones programs.
Before beginning the program, Max and Kim were unsure what resources were available to them in the Denver Jewish Community. Max was raised Jewish in a non-observant home since they were far from other Jews in their region of rural Wyoming. Kim was raised in a Methodist home where her family was not very religious. Overall, Max describes both of their upbringings as lacking spiritual guidance.
The impact of Stepping Stones on the Wachtel family has been great. After their completion of the programs a year ago, they have decided to raise their children as Jews. They have also become active members of Temple Micah. As for the future, Max says that he and Kim are still figuring out their family’s spiritual future. After the programs, Max feels confident to make these decisions with the good direction they received from Stepping Stones toward their religious future.
Kent and Valerie Berke
Children: Rachel – 6 years old.
Kent and Valerie Berke joined Temple Emanuel before beginning the Pebbles program in 2004. Valerie converted to Judaism and with Rabbi Steven Foster as her sponsor, the Berke’s were introduced to Stepping Stones, a place that would challenge and further clarify their religious identity.
Kent and Valerie Berke graduated from the Pebbles program in 2004 when their daughter Rachel was two years old. Since their graduation, they have continued to grow in Judaism.
After the programs ended, the Berke family has continued to attend Temple Emanuel and has sustained the dialogue that began in the Pebbles programming around interfaith issues that still are challenging today. “Everything is a process as we go through our day-to-day lives�?, Kent remarked. We still discuss and wonder about the decisions that lie ahead for our family.
In the Pebbles parent discussion groups, Stepping Stones brought up issues that normally the Berke family would not think about. In a safe and open environment, Kent and Valerie were able to make connections with other interfaith families that also faced similar issues and interfaith challenges. The Berke Family feels fortunate enough to have connected with Stepping Stones and the resources they have provided them with.
Joy and Brian Mason
Children: Ashley – 3 years old, Grace – 3 months old
As a family that is involved in the military, the Mason’s set an ultimate goal of what they would like to get out of the Pebbles program from the beginning. Their goal was set a strong foundation for Jewish traditions so that no matter where they may live in the future, they will always have their Jewish family traditions.
Joy was raised in a Jewish family with deaf parents who left the decision making up to their children as to how they would like to approach certain life events in the Judaism. “Judaism wasn’t really explained to us in detail as young children�? Joy remembers. It wasn’t until she was older did Joy realize how this impacted her and saw the other side of Judaism she had yet to experience. It left her with some unanswered questions. Brian was raised Lutheran, and when he and Joy joined Stepping Stones, it began to open his eyes to a viewing religion in a new way.
Brian and Joy joined the Pebbles program in 2006. It was then that they began to learn more about Jewish traditions and how they could incorporate Judaism in day to day life. “In my family growing up, I didn’t know about the smaller, but more specific holidays�?, Joy said. “Stepping Stones has helped our family realize the importance of giving back to the community and it has made us stronger as a family.�?
“Having our children learning these type of lessons now will benefit their kids in the future as adults�?, states Joy.
Lottie and Erik Nilsen
Children: Doug – age 4 ½
In 1987, at 14 years of age, Lottie and her three siblings took a bus ride to Temple Emanuel to enroll in Stepping Stones and to discover more about their Jewish identity. This moment would change her life. Lottie knew that her mother was Jewish, but she never really spoke of it or identified that way to her children and the rest of her family. Growing up, her family did not practice Judaism, yet Lottie and her siblings wanted to learn more about this faith. Lottie says that “enrolling in Stepping Stones changed the direction of her life and opened new doors�?. It also made options available to her that led her to Judaism and where she is today.
After completing the Stepping Stones program, Lottie taught the elementary school aged children in the Stepping Stones programs for eight years. She also went on to travel to Israel three times, two times as a camp counselor and one time as a camper. She is now living in Boca Raton, Florida with her husband Erik and young son Doug, who is currently attending Jewish preschool where Lottie actively participates. The Nilsen’s are expecting their second child that is due in November. Lottie is a Principal at one of the Judaica High Schools in her area and is very active in the Jewish community. She and Doug hope to join a temple in their area by the time Doug enters kindergarten.
