Bruria Finkel

Bruria Finkel

Family friend, Artist

I met Ruth and her family in 1960, one year after my arrival in 1959 from the Bronx.  Our friendship lasted all this time. When I lived in Venice, I was introduced to some of the counterculture groups of poets and intellectuals living there. Both Ruth and Jack Hirschman became pivotal in my life as an artist.

When I met my husband, David Finkel, in 1963 our friendship broadened to include Jack and Ruth Hirschman and their children David and Celia, who were close in age to my daughters Melva and Wendie. 

Ruth and I used to see each other with the kids and take them places, to museums, parks, the beach and bookstores.  We called each other and spoke every day.

Ruth was the program director at KPFK and encouraged me to tell stories and create artist interviews when I went to sculpture conferences, and political month-long events as I traveled to Israel. 

David served on the KPFK board and became President of Pacifica Foundation nationwide. 

Ruth was unique in her ability to run a radio station when she moved to Santa Monica. She changed KCRW, which was a college station and made it into a worldwide phenomenon. 

When David was elected to the Santa Monica City Council, he helped create the city’s Public TV station, and with KCRW, they connected directly with the community by broadcasting and recording City Council meetings. Later other cities followed our example.

Ruth had an uncanny sense and understanding of world issues and l local news as well. Ruth would keep her privacy secured, untold and insured from most people she did not know. Ruth was a beauty to look at.