Lauri Roth is a long-time Jewish community volunteer and now serves as the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Women’s Campaign Chair. She is married to Rob, a cardiologist. They have two children, Brandon, 32, and Eric, 29, both of whom graduated from the Milwaukee Jewish Day School and now live in Chicago.
Roth spoke recently with Stephanie Wagner, vice president of communications and strategy for the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Selected and edited excerpts of that conversation follow.
What is your professional background?
I’m a therapist by training. I have a Master of Social Work degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and I did advanced training in child, adolescent and family therapy at Tulane University.
How did you get involved in Milwaukee’s Jewish community?
When we moved to Milwaukee, we were concerned about finding a house in a community with good schools. Our lawyer, at the time, suggested that we look at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
Once we visited the school, we loved it and recognized the fabulous benefits of a Jewish education for our children.
I served on the board of MJDS for many years and was active in the PTO. I also had the pleasure of serving on the board of Jewish Family Services, was involved at Congregation Sinai and The Women of Sinai. I started becoming involved with MJF in the mid-1990s. I was enlightened and impressed by the valuable part MJF plays in our Jewish community.
What do you do with your free time?
I like to cook and bake and have friends over for meals. I love to make challah by hand using no electric appliances, except of course the oven. It’s very spiritual and grounding for me. I also love to garden.
Every Friday during the summer, I cut fresh flowers for our Shabbat table. Making my Shabbat table really special, with good food, flowers and challah gives me much happiness and comfort. Food shows love and appreciation, and it’s a great way to bring people together. Serving challah on Shabbat is the quintessential way of expressing gratitude for my blessings.
Why is gratitude so important to you?
I don’t want to live in an age of entitlement but in an age of gratitude. I wake up and say “Modeh ani” [the morning prayer that begins with the words, “I give thanks”]. I am thankful for everything — even when I turn on the water. I know that I’m blessed, and I am so grateful to be a Jewish woman living in the United States.
What makes you so passionate about the Jewish community?
Jewish organizations have always been my way to infiltrate the new community.
When Rob started his internship and residency in Chicago, I did not know a single person. I had a 5-week-old baby in tow, a husband that worked extremely long hours and slept at the hospital every third night. I knew that I needed to find a Jewish community center so that I could meet a friend.
I didn’t know the streets, so I went to AAA to get a map. I found the route to the Jewish community center. When I walked in the door with my 5-week-old son, a young woman asked me if I was there for the program for new moms.
I decided to go with her, and so began a most valuable and wonderful friendship with a mom in the group. Now, 32 years later, we have danced at each other’s children’s weddings. She is my dear and wonderful friend.
What is your role at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation?
I am thrilled and honored to be the Women’s Campaign Chair. I am the volunteer responsible for the women donors to MJF’s Annual Campaign. Women raise one of every three dollars for the campaign. This volunteer position takes a lot of time, but it’s a really important role for me.
I have had a blessed life, and it’s important for me to give back. I believe that there is a time and place for everything to happen in your life, never a perfect time, but a better time. For me, it’s the right time to take this on.
Why do you give to the MJF?
First, I have benefited from others’ generous gifts to federations in Milwaukee and in other cities.
When I moved to Chicago, I was able to make friends at the JCC. When I lived in Boston, my son was able to attend a Jewish preschool. When I moved to Milwaukee, my children were able to attend MJDS. All of this was possible because of generous people who came before me and supported the community. To have a viable Jewish community, we need to have a thriving federation.
Second, I want Milwaukee to attract the best and brightest young Jewish adults, and this means we need a vibrant Jewish community. When people consider moving here, they want to know they will have the programs and services they need — that we have good Jewish day schools, that we have a place for their parents when they become elderly, that we have a great JCC — that we have Jewish choices.
But most of all, I give because it feels good.
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