New Member Profile: Drew and Cansu Witkowsky

BASICS: What are your names and any nicknames?

Andrew (Drew), Cansu, Kylie, and Brooks Witkowsky

YOU: Tell us about you and your family.

Cansu and I [Drew] were introduced 12 years ago through a mutual friend while she was on a work/study exchange program. She was born in Istanbul and returned to Turkey after the exchange program ended. After several years apart, we reconnected through social media and I convinced her to come and visit me for the summer in 2019. We married in December 2019 and have been growing our family since. Our daughter Kylie was born in February 2022, and we welcomed our son Brooks this October. My parents, Mark Sonnen and Ellen Witkowsky, have been part of the Bet Shalom community for over 25 years. I had my bar mitzvah at Bet Shalom in 1998 and was in Bet Shalom’s confirmation class in 2000.

BELONG: What does belonging to a synagogue mean to you?

Becoming members of Bet Shalom allows our family the opportunity to be part of a larger Jewish community. It provides our family a place to grow spiritually. We feel the Temple's mission today and its vision for the future are things we are proud to be part of.

HERE: Why did you choose Bet Shalom?

We chose to join Bet Shalom because of its esteemed list of clergy both past and present. The Temple’s commitment to supporting social issues within our own community is in line with our family values. Bet Shalom has helped shape my personal Jewish identity and has served as a sanctuary for spiritual enlightenment. Our kids await their own spiritual journey, and it is our hope that the Bet Shalom Yeladim preschool classes will serve as an initial foundation that gives them opportunities to learn about why it’s so important to be part of a vibrant and thriving Jewish community here in the Twin Cities.