Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida), December 10, 2005, Saturday

Copyright 2005 Sun-Sentinel Company
All Rights Reserved
Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

December 10, 2005 Saturday
Broward Metro Edition

SECTION: LIFESTYLE; Pg. 11D


HEADLINE: IN PROFILE;
JOAN MILOWE

BYLINE: Tom Tracy

BODY:
Title: President of Reform Temple Shaarei Shalom in Boynton Beach, with
average weekend attendance of 300.

Other job experience: Former director of program development for New York
State Education Department; supervisor of instruction for Temple Beth Emeth in
Albany, N. Y.

Other community posts: Past president and divorce mediator, Albany Center
for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Education: Bachelor's degree in science, City College of New York; master's
in education from University at Albany/State University of New York;
certificate in labor from Cornell University in New York.

Personal: Born in Brooklyn. South Florida resident since 1971.

Family: Married to Harvey, a retired attorney. Children: David; Lawrence;
Elizabeth and six grandchildren.

Q. A distinctive feature of your religion?

A. Jews have maintained their covenant with God for 5,766 years in many
lands and places, and Judaism has evolved as a religion and a culture. Temple
Shaarei Shalom is 13 years old, originally functioning as an adult
congregation. It opened to families five years ago.

Q. What's religion for, in 25 words or less?

A. It is a path that brings together prayer, study and acts of loving
kindness.

Q. What are temple presidents supposed to do?

A. The president is the leader of the congregation, working with the board
to define and implement the policies. I work with the congregation, clergy and
community to make sure things happen.

Q. What book have you been recommending lately and why?

A. Anything by columnist Thomas Friedman. He has an ability to look at
politics and the way the world is changing in a very broad way. He can prepare
a reader for the changes taking place globally and locally.

Q. Written any books?

A. A curriculum for the state of New York.

Q. Favorite pastime?

A. Theater, movies, travel. I am on my way to Houston to attend a
conference of the Union for Reform Judaism, which is a chance to meet with
people from Reform congregations from throughout the United States.

Q. Favorite vacation spot?

A. Israel and the Middle East. That's where the roots are, and it
reinforces everything I have learned and studied.

Q. Favorite music? Favorite performer(s)?

A. Evita, West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein and Barbra Streisand.

Q. Do you have a hero?

A. Golda Meir, a woman who was intelligent, respected and capable. And she
was elected the leader of her adopted country at a time when women where not
normally put into positions of leadership. She served her country well.

Q. Favorite TV shows?

A. The West Wing. It is such a wonderful example of staffing and
coordination. I like the way they work together as a team, serving the
country.

Q. Your most memorable spiritual experience?

A. Giving birth to each of the children. It was the deepest, most awesome
experience -- the creation of something beyond myself.

Q. Something that only your best friends know about you?

A. I love dark chocolate.

Q. What does your faith say about other faiths?

A. That we each seek peace in our own way.

Q. What's the most important thing you've ever learned?

A. How easy it is to make war and how hard it is to maintain peace. We seem
to think it's a simple process. But it requires so much attention, and you
can't presume anything. You have to keep working at seeking peace. That is
also how you keep a good marriage.

Q. What person in history would you like most to meet?

A. Eleanor Roosevelt, because she helped so many people. She was a woman of
great social station and yet she became an independent person. She saw the
needs of others and reached out to them and accomplished a great deal of
social good. She had so much care and compassion and people responded to her.

Q. Motto, or favorite scripture verse?

A. Micah 4.3. "And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and
their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against
nation; neither shall they learn war anymore."

--Tom Tracy

Do you know someone we should profile? Tell Religion Editor James D. Davis
at 954-356-4730 or
jdavis@sun-sentinel.com
.

GRAPHIC: PHOTO
LEADER: Joan Milowe of Temple Shaarei Shalom admires Golda Meir, The West Wing and West Side Story. Staff photo/Carline Jean