Shepards receive L’Chayim Award at Touro
By JOSH AXELROD, CCJN Staff Reporter
Touro Synagogue honored husband and wife power duo Hal and Kathy Shepard with the presentation of the congregation’s annual L’Chayim Award on Sunday evening, January 29. The gala event held in the social hall was catered by Shaya, the Israeli restaurant named both by the James Beard Foundation and Esquire magazine as “the best new restaurant in America.”
Kathy and Hal Shepard, right, accept the L’Chayim Award from their children David and Rachel. (Photo by Josh Axelrod)
A lively crowd of approximately 170 community members were on hand, eager to honor the Shepards, both considered important synagogue leaders there.
“Kathy and Hal are synonymous with Touro Synagogue and perhaps the Greater New Orleans Jewish community as well,” said Touro president Susan Good. “To my knowledge, they do not know the word ‘no’ and for all of us that has been our good fortune.”
The Shepards’ long list of positions and accolades include Hal’s service as president of both Touro Synagogue and Brotherhood. He serves as the president of the Touro Foundation and is considered the temple’s expert on facilities, advising them on all roofing, construction and HVAC needs.
Currently a teacher at the JCC Nursery School, Kathy is a former president and current member of the JCC’s Board of Trustees, and a current co-chair of the 2017 Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ annual campaign.
Rabbi Alexis Berk began the evening with an introduction praising the couple for all their behind-the-scenes work at the synagogue.
“Kathy and Hal Shepherd, from the moment they arrived here, until this nigh…do the work that makes it so that each of us can enjoy the beautiful labor that a place like this requires, without barely even thinking about it,” said Berk.
The Shepard family (Photo by Josh Axelrod)
Touro Synagogue board secretary Gary Silbert gave a more personal reflection. “I’m delighted to be here tonight to honor mine and Nancy’s oldest friends, Hal and Kathy,” Silbert said.
He recounted their deep bond, adding personal anecdotes including mentioning how he and Hal first met, playing racquetball at the JCC. Kathy worked there as the receptionist.
Silbert commended Hal on his reliability as the temple’s structural guru.“This makes Hal a rare commodity,” Silbert quipped. “He’s a handy Jew.”
Silbert went on to honor Kathy for her service on every New Orleans Jewish organization imaginable and her supposed recipe for the best bundt cake in the world. “Kathy is a whirlwind of passion,” Silbert said.
“It is truly a privilege to celebrate Hal and Kathy, both of whom are so deserving of tonight’s L’Chayim Award,” Silbert said, “Not only are Hal and Kathy devoted to each other and their family, their love and devotion to the metro-New Orleans area Jewish community is very evident as well. Their values and integrity are exemplary.”
Hal and Kathys’ children, Rachel and David Shepard presented their parents with the award, which is an engraved and special designed glass Kiddush cup. Accepting the award Hal spoke fist, acknowledging the temple for the honor and humbly explaining their attitude towards community service.
“These were not chores we felt obliged to do, but opportunities to make a difference with people we truly cared about,” he said.
His wife spoke next, conveying the integral role Touro played throughout her Jewish upbringing and that of her children.
“Touro Synagogue has been a part of our families for our entire lives,” Kathy Shepard said. “From our own Sunday school experiences, to those of our children — we were married in this beautiful sanctuary, our children were b’nai mitzvahed here,” she ellaborated.
She ended the evening, expressing the stages of emotions associated with receiving such a distinguished award. “[I feel] amazement, appreciation, fear, excitement, gratitude, and now a determination to continue to work to earn this honor we have been given,” she concluded.
