Touro holds fete for Kullmans
It’s been a remarkably good year for Ruth Kullman and it looks like it’s getting even better. Back in February she received the National Council of Jewish Women’s coveted Hannah Solomon Award for her many years of civic service.
And now, not wasting an opportunity, Touro Synagogue will further trumpet her talents and abilities on Sunday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m., when she will be honored at a L’Chayim Dinner at the synagogue.
This time, however, the wife, mother and Mitch Landrieu’s finance director for the past 10 years, will have to be content sharing the spotlight with her husband Larry as well. That’s because it is the two of them, both longtime members and former Touro presidents, whom the synagogue is honoring.
Both Kullmans were presidents a decade apart – Larry served from 1993-1995 and Ruth served in 2005 during the difficult period of recovery from Hurricane Katrina. This is the first time Touro Synagogue is simultaneously recognizing two past presidents who are husband and wife.
But the Kullman tradition for service to Touro goes back much further than Larry and Ruth’s own recent service. Larry’s mother, Majorie Kullman of blessed memory, served as Touro Sisterhood president in 1948 and was active supporting the Willow Wood Home and Longue Vue Gardens. Meanwwhile, her husband, like his son and daughter-in-law, was a former president of the congregation.
“It’s always been a very central part of our family life for all of us,” relates Larry. “I had two older brothers. All of us went to Sunday school, all of us got confirmed there and went to services there. It was very natural for me to continue to do that.”
Born in Tulsa, OK, Ruth Kullman also came naturally to service and commitment to the Jewish community first as a member of BBYO. “I was really very involved from high school on,” she admits.”My parents were very involved in my synagogue in Tulsa, which was a Conservative/Orthodox synagogue.”
She served as a regional officer and regional president of BBYO’s Texas/Oklahoma area along with her twin sister. “It was a big focus of our adolescence,” she quips.
The Kullman family. (Photo by Alan Smason)
It was while attending Newcomb College that Ruth met Larry, who was at that time enrolled in the Tulane School of Law. Following marriage and starting to raise the family, Larry was approached by Michael Berenson about becoming a Touro Board member. “I was happy to do it,” recalls Larry. “I wanted to get involved.”
Larry served in the Maurice “Moon” Landrieu administration and it was only natural that the Kullmans would become close with Moon and wife Verna and their family. Mayor Mitch Landrieu remembers growing up and knowing the Kullmans as very close members of his family. Both Mayor Landrieu and his wife Cheryl are expected to attend the affair with the mayor slated to give a short speech. Moon and Verna Landrieu have agreed to be honorary chairs of the event.
“It’s very special,” Kullman says, mulling over the Landrieu family’s participation. “We’re great friends and it’s very nice that they’ve agreed to be honorary chairs at this event.”
With all of his wife’s recent honors and ongoing work with the mayor, Larry, a successful attorney, has had to take a back seat. This dinner will be different, he says, jokingly. “Finally…finally I get a speaking role!”
The L’Chayim dinner tickets are being sold through Touro Synagogue, 4238 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115. Ticket prices start at $100 per person with patron level tickets beginnng at $250 per person and continuing at $500 and $1,000 as well. For more ticket information call 504-895-4843.
