The Observer Vol. 88 No. 1 – January 2023

Vol. 88 No. 1 • January 2023

www.jewishobservernashville.org

8 Tevet – 9 Sh’vat 5783

Not the Same Four Walls: Rabbi Tamar Manasseh Brings Judaism into the Streets

By BARBARA DAB

O What’s In A Name And What Does It Have To Do With Your Bubbie?

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ntroducing the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville We are pleased to announce Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee has been renamed “Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville.” We have also adopted a new look, including a fresh logo. Our look isn’t the only refresh that will be happening in the new year.

Change is hard, but the Federation staff and board are up for the challenge, and we are confident that our community will also appreciate the updates coming our way.

As we enter 2023, you can expect to see new programming and initiatives, while we stay true to the Jewish Federation’s mission of helping those in need and building community. The new look of the Federation goes hand in hand with the overall refresh.

Why change things? Starting with the look; Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) just released a more contemporary-looking logo and offered this new logo formula to local Federations. Our marketing director, Jessica Cohen Banish, worked with JFNA to develop the logo and overall branding aesthetic. As part of those discussions, we wanted to address the fact that “Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee” is a mouthful! It impacts everything from space taken up in articles and ads to the amount of time taken in timed video segments.

This led us to explore what other Federations are doing, and further discussions with JFNA. It turns out that most Federations with integrated Continued on page 4 A Publication of the

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n the surface, Tamar Manasseh does not fit the Eurocentric image of a Jew, much less a rabbi. She is Black, born and bred on Chicago’s South Side.

Raised in a Conservative Jewish home, educated in Jewish Day School, and worships at Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. And last year, after 13 years, she became the first woman ordained through the Israelite Academy. “God doesn’t make mistakes,” she said in a recent phone interview. “And even though it wasn’t done in my time, in the time I wanted, I’m grateful it took the 13 years because I had to find myself. I had to find the kind of rabbi I wanted to be and the community I wanted to serve.”

It turns out, she was already serving

Rabbi Tamar Manasseh will be a visiting scholar in Nashville January 20-22.

her community. In 2015, after a young mother was shot and killed in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, Manasseh decided enough was enough. Herself the mother of two, she took a lawn chair to the corner of 75th Street and South Stewart Avenue, one of the roughest parts of town, and sat down. And she has been on that corner ever since, chatting with people, sharing food, and her Judaism. “This is how I solve problems. I found what works is applying very Jewish principles to a world that is not necessarily Jewish.”

Those Jewish principles are lived out not only though her presence as a Jew, but she also puts her Judaism into practice right there on the corner. “I think Judaism is going in this direction. We’re not going to be in four walls anymore. It Continued on page 6

Thirty Years After Nashville Bar Mitzvah Artur Livshyts is Working to Rebuild the Jewish Community in Belarus

By BARBARA DAB

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t was 30 years ago that an overwhelmed and exhausted 12-year-old Artur Livshyts arrived in Nashville from Minsk, Belarus, in the former Soviet Union. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” he said during a recent Zoom interview, “We took a night train to Moscow, then I flew to New York, then to Boston, and then to Nashville.”

Livshyts spent two years in Nashville, living with relatives. He also celebrated his Bar Mitzvah a mere three months after his arrival, thanks to encouragement and coaching from a beloved mentor. His time in Nashville helped him develop a deep and lasting connection to Judaism and provide a direction in life he never would have imagined.

The plan to bring Livshyts to the United States originated with his grandfather, who had maintained contact with his Nashville cousin, Noah Liff. “They stayed in touch all during the Soviet period, which was really quite dangerous.

But after perestroika, it became easier.” According to Jan Liff, Noah Liff’s daughter, her father visited the family in Minsk. “My father helped several people leave the former Soviet Union and settle in Israel and the United States.” Livshyts From Berditchev to Broadway: An evening with world renowned Tenor, Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz, page 3

Artur Livshyts today

says there were a couple of reasons his family wanted to send him to the United States. “The first was health. At that time, everyone considered children from Belarus and the former Soviet Union close to Chernobyl to be ill.” But there was also a much deeper reason his family wanted him to leave home. “The main reason was they wanted to infuse the Judaism back into my soul.”

Vanderbilt freshman receives leadership award for work in Holocaust education, page 12

Artur Livshyts Posner z”l

with

Rabbi

Zalman

And so, after that very long journey, Livshyts settled into life in Nashville with the Liff family, attending Akiva School and services at Sherith Israel. Jan Liff was in graduate school at Vanderbilt University at the time. But she remembers Livshyts’ arrival. “When he came here, he didn’t know anything about Continued on page 8 Simchas & Celebrations page 25

Providing Financial Assistance to Others

By JOHN P. DODD, CFP, CWS, CRPC, AAMS

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roviding financial assistance to others, while many times laudable, is fraught with peril. You want to help but don’t want to enable poor decision making or harm a relationship. Below is President Abraham Lincoln’s take on the matter: “You are now in need of some ready money; and what I propose is, that you shall go to work, “tooth and nail,” for somebody who will give you money for it… Now if you will do this, you will soon be out of debt, and what is better, you will have a habit that will keep you from getting in debt again. But if I should now clear you out, next year you will be

just as deep in as ever. You say you would almost give your place in Heaven for $70 or $80. Then you value your place in Heaven very cheaply, for I am sure you can … get the $70 or $80 for four or five months’ work.”

Can you identify with President Lincoln’s response? Relationally, it is a difficult situation. On one hand, a friend or family member is without, and you have resources to help. On the other hand, helping might harm. To avoid that, you might consider these questions: 1) Am I helping or enabling? Is the potential beneficiary in need because of laziness or fantasy, matters of their own making, or factors outside their control?

2) What is the least favorable outcome if I err on the side of lending/giving less? How serious is that? How likely is it to occur?

3) Is there an emotion driving my response? If so what emotion (guilt, pity, etc.)?

4) Have I been given excess resources forsuch a time as this?

5) Is a reluctance to respond a reflection of greed or self-righteousness, or is it truly what I believe to be best for the potential beneficiary?

6) Am I too close to the situation? Am I seeking wise outside counsel?

7) How will my response affect my relationship with the recipient?

8) Where might this lead the recipient

3-5 years from now?

9) Can I afford to provide the assistance?

10) Is this assistance best structured as a gift or a loan?

11) If a loan, are the repayment terms realistic?

12) If a loan, am I ready to forgive it in the event of default and treat the assistance as a gift?

13) How would I feel if I was never repaid?

14) Should I charge interest and if so at what rate? • John Dodd is an active member of the Jewish Federation Professional Advisory Council (PAC).

Dr. Mark Goldfarb to Establish a New Young Leadership Program in Partnership with Federation

By BARBARA DAB

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r. Mark Goldfarb is no stranger to the Nashville Jewish community. For 33 years, he lived and raised his family in town, and worked at St. Thomas Hospital.

He was on the Board of the Gordon Jewish Community Center where he also coached his children’s sports teams, and he was a Board member at both The Temple and Vanderbilt Hillel. Now remarried, semi-retired, and living in Park City, Utah, the cardiologist says his years in Nashville, and the friendships he made, inspired him to make a lasting contribution to the future of the community.

“Whenever I would enter the JCC and see the names Eugene and Madeline Pargh, and Joel and Bernice, I knew that someday I wanted to make a similar contribution.

They were very special role models for me.

They truly provided the infrastructure to ensure the vibrancy of the Nashville Jewish community,” he says.

As a result, The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is announcing a donation by Goldfarb to fund a Young Leadership Program. “The prior genera-

tion was so powerful and giving and led by example. I want to help the youger generation identify leaders to engage their peers. I think it is critically important to have knowledgeable and dynamic leaders who can relate to and motivate their generation to move us forward as a people. We face different challenges than we did 20 or 30 years ago, with the rise of antisemitism and the goal of keeping interfaith marriages invested in Judaism.”

The seven-month program is aimed at community members ranging from mid30s to mid-40s. Participants will meet regularly to listen to speakers on a range of topics designed to provide a deeper understanding of the local Jewish community and its needs. According to Michal Becker, Director of Engagement for The Federation, “The goal of this program is to provide potential leaders with the information and tools they will need to further their involvement. The program will enforce a sense of belonging among the participants to increase their motivation to do more to meet the community’s needs.”

At the completion of the program, the participants will be tasked with help-

ing to plan for the next year’s cohort.

The overall structure is like other civic leadership development organizations, and one Federation professionals believe is most effective. Scott O’Neal, Director of Development for The Federation says, “We are so pleased with, not only Mark Goldfarb’s tremendous gift, but also his vision for this program.” Plans for the first cohort will soon be underway and is expected to begin in October 2023.

In the process of setting up this fund, Goldfarb hopes that by being proactive, he will inspire others in his generation to become similarly involved.

As another example of his giving spirit, Goldfarb has also recently established an endowment at his alma mater, at the University of Michigan Hillel, for ongoing Shabbat programming for the academic year. He has commented that he remains constantly amazed at the passion of Jewish students who attend services during their busy school year.

Goldfarb had intended to return to Nashville on a regular basis to see his close friends and colleagues, but the Covid19 pandemic has limited his travel

to basically seeing his elderly parents, ages 98 and 94, in San Diego and his two children, Brittney and Eliot in Chicago.

He is now also the very proud grandfather of his daughter’s identical twin girls, Danielle and Olivia.

Not only has Goldfarb given financially, but he gives of his time as well.

He currently sees cardiac patients twice a month at a free medical clinic in Park City for those individuals without health insurance. He also volunteers at the National Ability Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit, working with individuals with significant physical, emotional or mental challenges. The team is still able to get candidates up skiing and biking on appropriate adaptive equipment.

Lastly, he volunteers as a Doc on the Mountain at Deer Valley Resort working closely with the Ski Patrol Team.

When not volunteering, he can be found on the slopes or mountains in the Park City area, skiing, mountain biking, hiking, swimming, or playing pickleball or golf. He says, “Life is incomplete without giving back. I feel I’ve had a wonderful balance of both.” •

Community Relations Committee Protecting the Dream: Confronting the Assaults

By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY

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anuary marks the time of year when we honor and celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, MLK week events and march in Nashville will be back in person this year. JCRC will return to the tradition of providing transportation to the program so we can represent our community as we can stand in solidarity with the greater Nashville community to honor Dr. King’s legacy and tireless work on behalf of justice, equity, and nonviolence.

At a time when African American and Jewish relationships have been strained through social media by the likes of Ye, formally known as Kanye West, this opportunity is especially important.

The convocation speaker this year will be Michael Eric Dyson, one of the nation’s most renowned professors. As a teacher who earned a PhD in Religion from Princeton University, he is presently Distinguished University Professor of

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African American and Diaspora Studies, College of Arts & Science, Distinguished University Professor of Ethics and Society, The Divinity School, and NEH Centennial Chair at Vanderbilt University.

In the weeks following the very public and disturbing comments by Ye and others resulting in increased focus and attention on the frayed relationship, Dr. Dyson penned an opinion piece for the New York Times titled, “Blacks and Jews, Again,” in which he reflects on the long and complicated relationship between the two communities. He writes, “We should remember the ways that our communities have historically passed the baton to each other in the long relay for justice. Until we see antisemitism as a toxic species of the white supremacy that threatens Black security and democracy’s future, none of us are truly safe.”

The relationship between Blacks and Jews is especially relevant as the diversity within the Jewish community shifts.

Based on the most recent Pew Research

Center survey, the U.S. Jewish population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Overall, 92% of Jewish adults identify as White (non-Hispanic), and 8% identify with all other categories combined. Among Jews ages 18 to 29, that figure rises to 15% and 17% of U.S. Jews surveyed live in households in which at least one child or adult is Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial.

We will explore and celebrate this diversity at the JCRC Social Justice Seder on March 30, 2023. Our special guest for the evening, Michael Twitty, represents the Black, Jewish and LGBTQ+ identities and is the author of the book, Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African American Jew. Twitty describes the book by sharing, “This is a book about a part of Black food that’s also Jewish food; this is a book about Jewish food that’s also Black food because it’s a book about Black people who are Jewish and Jewish people who are Black.”

During the seder, we will learn, share,

struggle and celebrate as we strengthen existing relationships and forge new and encouraging paths together. After several virtual versions of the program due to the pandemic, we look forward to being back in person for this award-winning event.

In the conclusion of his opinion piece, Dr. Dyson writes, “Ye, Irving and the rest of us would do well to remember that African Americans and Jews are passengers on the same ship facing the ferocious headwinds of bigotry and hatred.

The author and psychoanalyst Frantz Fanon said he learned to be “responsible in my body and soul for the fate reserved for my brother,” understanding that “the antisemite is inevitably a Negrophobe.”

That is a lesson we should all learn.

Please mark your calendar for both the MLK March and Convocation on January 16, and the JCRC Social Justice Seder on March 30, 2023. To get involved or learn more about the work of JCRC contact Deborah Oleshansky, Deborah@jewishnashville.org •

Newcomer’s Column

By EITAN SNYDER

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elcome to the Observer’s monthly Newcomer Column! Every month, we will be featuring one of our Nashville Jewish Newcomers so you can get to know them and their dynamic, engaging stories. One of my favorite parts of my job as the Federation’s Newcomer Engagement Associate is connecting with the newcomers and bringing them into Nashville’s Jewish community through our Newcomer Shabbat dinners, Newcomer Welcome Receptions, and connecting them with community members and organizations who can help them feel like they belong here. We hope you enjoy reading these and give every newcomer you meet a smile and a warm Nashville welcome!

If you would like to be part of the Federation’s work welcoming new Jewish Nashvillians to our community or have an idea of something else we could be doing, please let me know at eitan@jewishnashville.org or 615-354-1664.

Marla and Larry Ellis

Meet this month’s newcomers, Marla and Larry Ellis Tell us your story. Where are you from? How did you end up in Nashville?

Originally we are both from Chicago, but lived in the Los Angeles area for 45 years until our kids moved here four years

ago with our grandchildren. We drove cross country 3x during Covid with our beloved golden retriever, Ginger. With a lot of consideration, we decided to sell our home in Westlake Village, Ca. We found our new home in West Nashville, Charlotte Park a little over a year ago after being out bid on 10 other homes in the Brentwood/Franklin area.

What has your Jewish story been like up to this point? How did you get involved with Nashville’s Jewish community?

We were members of a wonderful reform temple, Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas for many years, where Marla was on the board of directors. We were very involved in the temple and went to Israel with our rabbi. Now I am the shuttle driver for Shalom Taxi at the JCC, ahh retirement is wonderful!

How has your experience been in Nashville so far? Any notable memories or experiences?

We have found people to be friendly and welcoming. We have had our friends

from Los Angeles here so often, we really haven’t been experiencing all there is to do!

What do you love about being Jewish?

We love the culture and the traditions and instilling Jewish values on our two sons, daughter-in-law and 5-year-old granddaughter Riley, and Mason, our 2-year-old grandson.

What do you love about being Jewish in Nashville?

It is interesting when we have workers come into our home and notice the Mezzuzahs on the doors and some Hebrew items in the house and they say they never met a Jew before.

What does the next year look like for you? Is there anything that you are still looking to do or experience in Nashville?

We hope the next year we will get even more comfortable living here and not regretting our decision to make the huge move here. Hope to meet more people we can relate to and start long term relationships with, like we had/have in California. •

From Berditchev to Broadway: An evening with world renowned Tenor, Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz

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antor Aryeh Hurwitz will be back in Nashville, for a musical performance and a live concert “From Berditchev to Broadway,” on Saturday night January 28, at 7:30 PM. Hurwitz sang in Nashville prior to covid to a sellout crowd and is back to kick off 2023 with a moving evening of c

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Publisher Jewish Federation Editor Barbara Dab Advertising Manager Carrie Mills Layout and Production Tim Gregory Editorial Board Frank Boehm (chair), Teena Cohen, Laura Thompson, Scott Rosenberg, Liz Feinberg Telephone 615/356-3242 Fax 615/352-0056 E-mail barbaradab@jewishnashville.org (ISSN 23315334) is published monthly for $25 per year by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205-4009.

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music from the Shtetel of Berditchev to the Stage of Broadway.

The tenor is a soloist and performer whose brilliant voice has been featured all over the world. From the United States to South Africa, his voice has shaken audiences and pierced hearts. His musical repertoire consists of many melodic genres and songs in a variety of languages, including traditional Hebrew liturgy, Yiddish folk songs, Opera, Broadway,

Corrections Policy The Jewish Observer is committed to making corrections and clarifications promptly. To request a correction or clarification, call Editor Barbara Dab at (615) 354-1653 or email her at barbaradab@jewishnashville.org

Editorial Submissions Policy and Deadlines The Jewish Observer welcomes the submission of information, news items, feature stories and photos about events relevant to the Jewish community of Greater Nashville. We prefer e-mailed submissions, which should be sent as Word documents to Editor Barbara Dab at barbaradab@jewishnashville.org.

Photos must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and should be attached as jpegs to the e-mail with the related news item or story. For material that cannot be e-mailed, submissions should be sent to Barbara Dab, The Jewish Observer, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville TN 37205. Photos and copy sent by regular mail will not be returned unless prior arrangement is made. Publication is at the discretion of The Observer, which reserves the right to edit submissions.

To ensure publication, submissions must arrive by the 15th of the month prior to the intended month of publication.

For advertising deadlines, contact Carrie Mills, advertising manager, at 615-354-1699, or by email at carrie@nashvillejcc.org.

Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz will return to Nashville for a performance on Saturday, January 28th.

Yiddish and contemporary styles.

Cantor Hurwitz is praised among his peers for his vocal range and performance style. He began his singing career as a cantor on Long Island and later in Johannesburg, South Africa, leading high-holiday and special occasion services. He has studied music theory and liturgical music with Maestro Cantor Joseph Malovany. His powerful voice

earned him a scholarship to the School of Jewish Music at the Yeshiva University.

FORWARD has ranked Hurwitz as one of top six “Jewish Voices That Move Us.” When Cantor Hurwitz was in Nashville several years back, he riveted the crowd with his masterful powerful operatic voice. “An evening with the cantor is a treat for the ear and nourishment for the Soul,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, from Chabad of Nashville.

Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz will lead a Special Havdalah ceremony and take the audience on a musical journey from the traditionally liturgical songs of Berditchev to the sounds of Broadway with a repertoire from his musical archive.

Cantor Hurwitz’s newly-released album Mezinke is a blend of traditional tunes with a modern dose of swing and jazz, and offers the authenticity of cantorial music and the interesting touch of Hurwitz’s signature creativity.

To RSVP and get tickets for this event, go to chabadnashville.com •

Update on CEO Search

By LESLIE KIRBY AND FRED ZIMMERMAN

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ince our last update to the community, the search process has taken shape and we have made notable progress. The search committee has met and begun its work and we are in the midst of finalizing a job description which will be posted in the near future.

Committee co-Chairs Leslie Kirby and Fred Zimmerman have met with major donors, and Leslie with agency leadership and clergy. Several key themes were clear, many dealing with the direction of the search, but also with the changing nature of the community and how those will intersect.

Early in the process, the Federation Board approved the engagement of a

search firm. After conducting several interviews, we have recommended, and the search committee has accepted, the hiring of Sageview Consulting. The committee has also heard the results of our community meetings and has delved into the themes that emerged.

Our intent is to provide as much insight into process and progress as we can, while still being mindful of our legal and ethical obligations of confidentiality in our deliberations. We believe that balancing respect for both our community’s and our candidates’ needs will give us the best possible outcome.

We will have further updates as we progress. In the meantime, if you have suggestions or feedback for the search committee, please feel free to email us at: nashvillejfedsearch@gmail.com. •

• January 2023

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Commentary Ten Easy Steps to Cheating Death and Living Forever

By RABBI YITZCHOK TIECHTEL

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hree months ago, on the Festival of Simchat Torah, we began reading the Book of Genesis. On the first weekend of January 2023, we conclude the Book of Genesis, with the story of our forefather Jacob who lived his final years in the Land of Egypt. The Torah tells us that despite Jacob’s passing at the age of 147 years old, Jacob never actually died. Since he bonded with G-d, and G-d doesn’t die, Jacob never really died. His body did, but he did not. Jacob’s life didn’t die.

Jacob’s life consisted of holy matters, holy thoughts and pursuits, and G-dly aspirations. His days and his nights were spent learning the Torah, observing the Mitzvot, and seeing how he could help the people around him. To him, that was life. Since those are all connected with G-d, who doesn’t die, Jacob’s life never died. It outlived his body and lived on in the world, specifically in his children.

One must choose carefully when selecting what one wants his or her life to consist of. If a person’s life consists of “perishables” like trends and indulgences, which are here and gone before you know it, then... But if a person’s life consists of non-perishables, matters having to do with G-d and Torah and service to others, death is no match for that life.

That kind of spirit cannot perish. And if that spirit carries on in the person’s children, then one remains alive, in the physical children, grandchildren, and descendants forever.

Taking this to the next level, I share here today, “Ten Easy Steps to Cheating Death and Living Forever.” Try incorporating them in your life, one at time.

Before you know it, your life will be filled with purpose, meaning and eternal living.

1. Recite the Modeh Ani prayer when you wake up each morning. Recognizing that G-d is the source of life, reminds you to attach your habits and routines to G-d throughout your day.

2. Whenever you can, whatever happens, say, “Baruch Hashem – Thank G-d.”

Thinking about G-d often, even briefly, has a giant impact on quality of life. Baruch Hashem! Thank G-d!

3. Give Tzedakah daily. Give a lot of Tzedakah. Nothing transforms perishable matter to non-perishable energy like giving hard-earned money to Tzedakah.

4. Study Torah every day, even for a few minutes (preferably for as long as you can) and when you learn something interesting and compelling, tell your kids (and/or grandchildren) about it.

They need to know that Yiddishkeit doesn’t only interest you, it excites you.

5. Bring Shabbat into your home starting on Thursday by baking Challah, cleaning, cooking, shopping or otherwise preparing. Start preparing for major holidays long before they come.

Don’t do it last second. Treat major Jewish days and dates the way NFL fans treat the Super Bowl: plan ahead, coordinate with friends and family, make it a thing!

6. Make sure your kids or grandchildren see you wearing Tefillin or lighting Shabbat candles. We’re in America people can see you being Jewish. And nothing implants Jewish feelings in the next generation - the ones who will keep you living forever - like the visuals and the memories of regular, predictable, consistent Mitzvot.

7. Treat trips and vacations like teachable moments. If in the thick of the thrill of a trip to Europe or an Alaskan cruise, your Judaism is on your mind and on the tip of your tongue - you remembered to bring Shabbat candles with you AND you know the candle-lighting time where you are - it means this is your life.

8. No matter how late it is or how much you drank, never, ever go to sleep without saying the Shema prayer.

That would be like hitting the jackpot and forgetting to cash out. Always

remember: Shema first, bed second.

9. Recognize tests when you see them.

These are the moments in life when you choose a side. Whenever your faith clashes with your schedule, remember what you want your life to consist of and choose your faith in G-d. It may hurt for a moment, but you will be proud of yourself for years and your quality of life will be nonperishable.

10. Since your life is busy and stressful, make sure you have reminders about all the above, like a nice Kosher Mezuzah on the doors of your residence and business, and fill your library with Jewish books.

That’s it. There’s more but that’s a great start.

Instead of being a miscellaneous person with Jewish moments, be a Jewish person with miscellaneous moments.

Live Yiddishkeit, breathe Yiddishkeit, laugh and cry Yiddishkeit, sleep Yiddishkeit and wake up Yiddishkeit, and you, my friend, together with your indomitable Jewish spirit and your non-perishable G-dly soul, will live forever. • Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel is the Rabbi at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, and the director of Chabad of Nashville.

Why does Nashville Need Jewish Schools?

By LIBBY WERTHAN

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grew up in Nashville, attended a Conservative religious afternoon and Sunday school. I attended a very good public high school, an excellent university for undergrad and received a master’s degree at Vanderbilt University.

Educationally speaking, I would probably be considered among the more educated people in the world. And yet, in spite of that, I found that, although I was Jewish, I could not carry on an intelligent conversation about Judaism. Sure, I knew what the holidays were, I could recite a few prayers, knew some songs and dances, knew about things like keeping kosher, eating matzo, Israel, the Holocaust, and antisemitism. I learned that you did stuff because that is what Jews did and it mattered not that you knew why.

As I got out into the real world, I learned for the first time that Judaism was an intellectual pursuit; one in which I was a big fat zero. I didn’t even know

Name Change Continued from page 1 Foundations have dropped “Foundation” from their title. And it further turns out that several Federations incorporating large metropolitan areas have dropped all but the focal city name from their official title, often adding “Greater” to the city name. Federations such as Atlanta, Chattanooga, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, Portland, and Washington, D.C. all use this naming structure.

We recognize that we serve a large geographic area, and we don’t want

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the terminology, never had heard the words hashem, halacha, neshama, zohar, or midrash. Even with 10 years of religious school behind me, my Hebrew skills only gave me the ability to know the alphabet and read on a very low level, not understanding the words I was reading. I was not taught any conversational Hebrew and spiritually, God was rarely mentioned.

I recognize, happily, that our present congregational religious schools are far more savvy and do a much better job. At the same time, they are limited in depth and Judaism is a very deep religion.

The dark clouds of antisemitism are gathering, and we are sending our young people out into the fray armed with pea shooters. They are lacking, for the most part, a firm foundation on what it really means to be Jewish. It makes them defenseless.

Our world is very confusing, very difficult to navigate. According to sources at Vanderbilt medical center, one in every three children today suffers from

anxiety disorder; not just occasional anxiety, but actual anxiety disorder. The ramifications of this are enormous. More and more our young people are engaging in self-harm, and we are now waking up to the fact that they are harming others as well. Consequently, we seek out safe environments for them as their emotional and physical well-being is of utmost importance to us.

We are very fortunate to have excellent Jewish day schools in our Nashville community; Akiva, grades K-6 with an all-Jewish student body of over 100 children has grown by 47 percent in the last 6 years and is nationally renowned. The Jewish Upper School is made up of the Jewish Middle School grades 5-8 and Kehillah High School grades 9-12, both including Jewish and non-Jewish students.

The middle school has been designed specifically to address the needs of this turbulent age group. Further, it intentionally strives to build the self-esteem of each child and fosters close contact with

parents to monitor progress. Spiritual awareness is addressed via two tracts of study: a Jewish studies curriculum for the Jewish students and soulful world curriculum for the non-Jewish students. The middle school is housed at Sherith Israel synagogue.Kehillah High School has just begun its inaugural year with grade 9 and is housed at The Temple. Kehilla emphasizes the personal development of each child and excellence in academics.

Nashville has become a major American city with many new families arriving daily. It is also home to some amazing clergy, teachers, and Jewish community professionals, who would not be here without Jewish schools for their children.

I continue to be proud of this community which always steps up to need. I am especially proud of its citizens, who have supported these schools in amazing ways. We have some precious jewels in our community whose lights will help insure a bright Jewish future. •

to lose that aspect in the title or in our messaging, but we did want to be more succinct with our title. This brought us to “Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville.” The change has been approved by the Federation board as well as JFNA and will be our official title going forward.

As our community grows, our needs grow and change. We are listening to you; our community members, and are creating fresh ways for people to connect, learn and volunteer. In 2023 will be introducing innovative ways to engage with our Jewish community and with the greater Nashville community while

making a larger impact in supporting those in need.

We have joked that we should add the slogan “Not your Bubbie’s Federation” to help portray the new refreshed feel of Jewish Federation of

Greater Nashville. We hope the new look and new offerings in the coming year will evoke a refreshed feeling of new beginnings and excitement for the future of Jewish Federation – without mentioning your Bubbie. •

Cheers to 2023!

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• January 2023

5

Save the Date for Big Night Out 2023!

The Gordon Jewish Community Center O

n Sunday February 5th, 2023, the Gordon Jewish Community Center will present its highly anticipated annual fundraising event Big Night Out. This year, we will be bringing Broadway performers to Nashville for a musical evening paying tribute to legendary Jewish Broadway composers and their mentees.

A star-studded cast of Broadway’s best

will perform selections from each of their legendary oeuvres, which includes Hamilton, In the Heights, Waitress, Spring Awakening, Oklahoma!, Cinderella, Carousel, West Side Story, Into the Woods, and more! Our evening will start with a silent auction, cocktail hour, dinner, and end with our Broadway Tribute Concert. Gordon JCC’s Big

Night Out 2023, will be a night you won’t want to miss! Further event details and additional performer information will be announced as the event approaches. For more information, please contact The JCC at 615.356.7170 or email leslie@ nashvillejcc.org or arielle@nashvillejcc. org. All proceeds benefit The Gordon Jewish Community Center. •

Free speech advocate to bring ‘unconventional approach’ to discussion of free speech: Ken Paulson will speak at the Gordon JCC on Jan. 19

By ZOE BELL

O

nly one in 50 Americans can name all five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, according to the Freedom Forum Institute. This statistic is part of why Ken Paulson dedicates his time to speaking nationally about the First Amendment and all that it entails.

Paulson, the director and founder of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, has taught about the First Amendment nationally for the past 25 years.

“Our overriding goal to have 330 million Americans treat the First Amendment with respect, and that, of course, is [a noble] goal,” Paulson said in a phone interview. “So I have to settle for conversations with groups about the importance of these five freedoms.”

Paulson, the former president and CEO of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, dean and professor emeritus of MTSU’s College and Media Entertainment and founder of “1 For All” — a national First Amendment campaign to improve free speech education for grades 1 to 12 — will speak at the Gordon Jewish Community Center

Rabbi Manasseh Continued from page 1 needs to be everywhere and everybody needs to see it and everybody needs to be able to access it, if we’re going to make changes in the world.” There have been Sukkot celebrations, Passover seders, and Tu B’shevat parties. Even the High Holidays are observed on the corner. “I do a thing called ‘Yom Kippur on the corner.’ I do the closing Ne’ila service for young people. Out in the open. Anybody driving or walking by can see what we’re doing and participate or not.” She says there are many people in the area who now know about Judaism and Jewish traditions. “They just learned it from the corner,” she says.

Manasseh’s work on the corner is changing the perception of what it means to be Jewish, and what it means to be Black. She relays the story of a teen in the neighborhood who was on house arrest. Manasseh had taught him to blow the shofar to close out Yom Kippur, but he needed to ask the Judge permission to leave his home. “This is Cook County. Judges see hundreds of Black men and boys come through every day,” she says. After an overnight recess,

6

January 2023 •

on Jan. 19, 2023 at 12:15 p.m.

“I think it would be fun and rewarding to actually talk about what the First Amendment means and where it came from,” Paulson said of his speaking events. “I do that in a highly interactive and hopefully engaging manner.”

He said he will discuss modern-day free speech in regards to antisemitism as well as the history of the First Amendment at the January event. In the era of Kanye West’s antisemitic comments and Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter, free speech and its regulation is at the forefront of national controversy.

Some federal officials warn that an uptick of hate speech and disinformation about the Jewish community on Twitter unites extremists and thus will contribute to increased antisemitic violence in the coming months, according to an article

by The Washington Post. Paulson said he does not think limiting freedom of speech is the solution.

“First of all, the way to curb hate crimes is to successfully prosecute [the perpetrators] of hate crimes,” Paulson said. “...It doesn’t matter if you think that antisemitic speech leads to antisemitic action because we have no alternative.

There’s no middle ground for this. You

either permit [the] government to limit speech or you don’t, and we should never as a nation consider that; that would be the destruction of our entire foundation.”

Restricting freedom of speech is dangerous to Paulson because he believes every American should have a right to say what they want to say. If the government limits the First Amendment, those in power get to decide what constitutes hate speech, Paulson said.

“You allow [the] government to limit hate speech in any way, people in power will be the ones defining what hate speech is,” Paulson said. “And I can guarantee you that there were people in Selma, Alabama, who thought when Martin Luther King [Jr.] called them racists and bigots, that was hateful speech.

You cannot allow people in power to decide what’s hateful and what isn’t, so all hate speech has to be protected.”

Instead, Paulson said he recommends people call out antisemitism when they see or hear it, especially when it is expressed by a high-profile person.

“We should address it,” Paulson said.

“We should address our outrage in a very visible and impactful manner. When a prominent performer, like Kanye West — Ye — posts a swastika on Twitter,

there should be widespread condemnation along with a widespread determination never to buy or stream any of his music in the future. If everyone in the world decided they’re not going to spend another dollar on a Ye concert, that would send a clear message about what speech is so horrific that it damages society as a whole.”

Boycotts are an effective alternative in addition to using one’s own First Amendment rights to counter hate speech. Paulson said the First Amendment is multi-faceted in this way in order to effectively help society advance, which he wants to illustrate to audiences who may not know the First Amendment’s full scope.

Paulson uses an interactive approach in some of his speaking events by quizzing the audience about their knowledge of the First Amendment. The interactive “game show” is called “Rights, Revolution and Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Paulson said he also travels with a band that plays previously censored songs to build understanding and support for the First Amendment.

“An unconventional approach gets people to sign up,” Paulson said. “...

That’s the kind of thing we do.” •

the Manasseh says the judge had a lot of questions. “It was, ‘How did you get into this?’ ‘What is it?’ You know, all the questions people have for someone who is Black and Jewish.” In the end, the judge allowed the teen to blow the shofar, and said he would try to be more open minded going forward.

In addressing the surge in antisemitism in the United States, Manasseh believes she, and other Black Jews, can be important in fighting back. “Black Jews should have been utilized years ago. Become the bridge between the white Jewish community and the Black Christian community. Right now, we need each other. Antisemitism and racism aren’t going anywhere. Right now, Black people in this country and Jewish people in this country have the same monster under the bed. And it’s white Christian nationalism.” She says right now, both Black people and Jews need allies, and says her corner is a nexus for building relationships. “You’re not coming to my house I’m not coming to yours. We’re meeting at a neutral place where we can hang out, get to know each other like human beings, and have a good time.”

Manasseh is also active in the Rabbis for Repro movement. “Even though [the

abortion ban] isn’t happening in Chicago yet, I had to get involved because representation matters.” She says parents who have children going off to colleges, Historically Black Universities, in states where there are abortion bans, are worried. “Things are constantly changing, and I want to make sure parents have information. That way if something happens, their child doesn’t risk going to jail for having an abortion or crossing state lines.” She also worries about the impact on HBCUs. “Now parents must worry about their daughter because she made a choice, or helped a friend get an abortion, and she could be prosecuted for that. So, they might stop sending their kids to those schools, which are already smaller. They could lose funding, which would put these institutions in a real hardship.” Her group now provides care packages for kids going off to college. The packages include things like condoms, pregnancy tests, and Plan B pills, so the students are prepared and do not have to access student health or other local clinics.

Manasseh’s work on that embattled street corner led to her creating a nonprofit, MASK, Mothers and Men Against Senseless Killings. She is the subject of a documentary titled, They Ain’t Ready for

Me.” She caught the attention of Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Sherith Israel, who is bringing her to Nashville the weekend of January 20-22, and she will be teaching at several area congregations. Rabbi Strosberg says he was drawn to Manasseh’s drive to live her Jewish values. “Certain movements have been taken over by ideals and that limits them. Her Judaism compels her to take action. She is saving lives and helping people to see that Jews are a light to the nations.” Manasseh says this will be her first time speaking to congregations in the south. “I want people to hear me over my complexion.”

She will begin the weekend at West End Synagogue on Friday, January 20th. Rabbi Joshua Kullock, of West End Synagogue, says, “Her story is very moving, and it is a great opportunity for us to learn from her journey and about her involvement in some of the wonderful things that she has been doing in the Chicago area. I’m looking forward to interviewing her when she comes to WES, on Jan. 20, after Shabbat services.” Rabbi Manasseh will also speak at Sherith Israel on Shabbat morning, January 21, and additionally at The Temple. For more information, consult those congregations’ websites. •

JOIN US FOR THE MLK DAY MARCH Monday, January 16th Bus transportation provided from Gordon JCC at 8:00am & Elmington Park at 8:15am.

Bus will depart the event at 10:30am.

Full details in link below.

All are welcome to join.

RSVP & Learn More:

jewishnashville.org/mlkmarch

“ ”

When I marched in Selma, I felt my legs were praying.

- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heshel

• January 2023

7

Artur Livshyts Continued from page 1 Judaism.” The transition was rocky at first because Livshyts did not speak English.

“Everything was in English, so I had to learn that and then I also had to learn Hebrew, and then Jewish traditions.”

Eventually, he connected with the person who would become his comfort, and his mentor. “Thanks to the late Rabbi Zalman Posner, who was really, really nice to me, he took me under his wing, and he checked up on me every day.”

Eventually, Livshyts adjusted to school, and it was then that Rabbi Posner decided he should have a Bar Mitzvah.

“I had to learn to read the Torah. And I had to learn all the things that they learned [about Judaism] by growing up in their families. I had nothing in my family.” Nevertheless, he forged ahead studying Hebrew, Torah, and Talmud.

He says that although he did not grow up with Jewish practice, he believes that his Jewish heritage helped fill in the gaps.

“I feel that as an Ashkenazi Jew, just by being in a Jewish society, you just start being Jewish. The language, the humor, wearing a kippah. It felt like I had been doing it all my life. It was very easy to take in.”

After living for two years in Nashville, Livshyts moved on to boarding school in Israel. The more he was immersed in Jewish life, the more he realized what needed to be done back home. He returned to Belarus to finish his education and study human rights law and began working towards rebuilding the Jewish community in in the country.

In 2009, he met Debra Brunner, who had created a sister city program with her congregation in London. “I went to Belarus to visit our twinned community in the north of the country, and it was very hard,” says Brunner, “The aid organization wanted us to just send money, but we wanted to build a relationship. I didn’t speak the language, and it was all quite frustrating.” Just after her return, she was introduced to Livshyts who hap-

Artur LIvshyts pictured in a Tennessean article about his Bar Mitzvah.

Artur Livshyts pictured with his Akiva teachers

pened to be in London. Brunner says, “We got on very well. I had so many questions, and he was always so nice and willing to explain everything to me.”

Brunner asked Livshyts to partner with her congregation and to be their eyes and ears in Belarus. “I didn’t realize that this work was part of his Jewish journey, and we invited him to become an overseas member of our congregation.”

During many visits to the sister city, Brunner learned about the depth and breadth of the remnants of Jewish life in Belarus. “I met survivors of the ghetto in Minsk who had never left. Artur kept showing me more and more. The more we explored Jewish Belarus, the more I realized this wasn’t just one small community that needs our support, this is a whole country that has a story that needs to be told.” This realization led Brunner and Livshyts to create a nonprofit, The Together Plan, specifically to support the rebuilding of Jewish communities throughout Belarus. “Creating the organization gave us a bigger platform to speak to more people about our work and offer them opportunities to support us.”

Today, The Together Plan has grown to become involved in a larger

organization in Europe and Brunner and Livshyts recently created a nonprofit registered in the United States. Brunner says Livshyts continues to inspire her.

“Here is this kid from the Soviet Union, who grew up with nothing in terms of Judaism. But Rabbi Posner kind of just poured it all back into him. He was like an empty vessel. I thought it was so fascinating that he went back to a country where there wasn’t an opportunity for him to use this. And he’s spending his life putting that back.”

The work of The Together Plan includes providing humanitarian aid to Jewish communities in Belarus, operating summer programs for youth, and plans are underway to build a Jewish heritage route throughout the country. “The core work right now is putting Jewish Belarus back on the world map,” says Brunner, “We are building heritage communities to tell the story of the Jews in Belarus.”

Currently there are audio tours in several communities, all offered in many languages. The long-term goal, according to Brunner, is to build sustainability for the heritage communities through tourism.

Recently, Livshyts was appointed Vice Chair of the Jewish Religious Union

of Belarus, a prestigious role that provides him with broader connection and support within the country. “I think it is important to learn about the Holocaust, but our history, the history of the Jewish people, does not begin and end there,” he says, “I want to remember the community from 200 years ago. How developed it was, how good it was, and how the Jews were so much a part of the town.”

Today, Livshyts is the father of an 18-year-old daughter who is a university student and is married for the second time. He says his family life is infused with the work he is doing and is grateful for the partnership with his wife. “I devote my time and efforts to the community. And my family helps me. My wife is very supportive of what I do and what we do with The Together Plan.”

But his time in Nashville is never far from his thoughts. “I always remember what Rabbi Posner told me. ‘Wherever you are in the world, whatever you’re doing, keep doing what you believe in, and you will be successful.’ Those words I have carried throughout my life.”

To learn more about The Together Plan, or to discover your family’s roots in Belarus, visit www.thetogetherplan. com. •

Soulful Summer Trip to Israel: For Every Age!

C

antor Josh Goldberg of Congregation Micah is thrilled to be leading a congregational trip to Israel this summer from June11-22. Cantor Goldberg says, “This is the first time we’ve been able to do this kind of trip since Covid, and I truly think it will be the trip of a lifetime, whether you have been to Israel many times or if this will be your first.

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Our itinerary nicely covers the breadth and depth of all the country has to offer, excursions to delight all the senses as well as the soul. From hiking Masada and kayaking down the Jordan river, to praying at the western wall and “digging up” pieces of our history at an archeological dig, I think there will be something for everyone.” We welcome you to join our

congregational family for this incredible experience. The name of the Israel adventure is “Summer Soulful Israel Trip” and it is intergenerational, meaning something for every age. Families, couples, singles-- all are welcome to sign up. Rabbi Laurie Rice notes, “Travelling to Israel is the most incredible thing one can do for their Jewish soul. It’s the

very best way to ignite or recharge one’s Jewish identity. Nothing can replace or replicate the experience of being in Israel and experiencing her magic first-hand.”

For more information on registration, itinerary and pricing, visit: https://www. congregationmicah.org/micah-adult-education or email Rabbi Laurie Rice: lrice@ congregationmicah.org. •

Mazel Tov Players Spring Auditions

By GORDON JCC

T

he Mazel Tov Players of the Gordon Jewish Community Center announces auditions for its March production, The Sisters Rosensweig. Auditions will be held at the Center (810 Warner Park Blvd)

January 15th at 1:00 PM. There are parts for 4 women, one should be a teenager or look like one, and 4 men. Rehearsals will be held on Monday and Thursday evenings and Saturday morning and Sunday afternoons. For more information, call Suzanne Burns at 615 373-1614. •

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615.281.9035

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615.279.5310

January 2023 •

Rabbi Fred Guttman Receives Distinguished Alumni Award from Montgomery Bell Academy

By BARBARA DAB

R

abbi Fred Guttman was honored as this year’s Distinguished Alum at Montgomery Bell Academy’s annual alumni breakfast. Guttman, who now resides in Israel, is the son of Jack and Retta Guttman. He grew up in Nashville and attended MBA and Vanderbilt University, before continuing his studies at Hebrew Union College in New York. Guttman is the first Jewish alum to receive this honor. In his remarks during the breakfast, Guttman said, “It is an honor which caught me totally by surprise and is one that historically, as far as MBA is concerned, is rather groundbreaking. You see, I do believe that I am the first Jewish alumnus to receive such an award.”

During his years at MBA, Guttman was one of two Jewish students in his class. In his remarks he talked about being excluded from weekend social activities, despite feeling welcome during

Rabbi Fred Guttman is the first Jewish alum to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from Montgomery Bell Academy.

the school week. He calls his former classmates, “bystanders,” who never stood up for him or called out the exclusion as antisemitic. He said that the climate at MBA today seems to be the reverse, with Jewish and minority students feeling fully included in school but facing bigotry in the outside world.

Guttman expressed concern for the rising antisemitism today. “A year ago, I could never have imagined coming to MBA to make a speech accepting this prestigious award. In addition, a year ago I would never have thought that in such a speech I would need to share with you just how concerned I am as a Jewish leader for the increase in antisemitism in our society…In addition, there is a lot of online hate, not only in the form of antisemitism but also hatred against minorities, immigrants, Asians, and African Americans.”

Referencing the rally in Charlottesville, the Tree of Life shooting, the recent littering of antisemitic fly-

ers, and antisemitic comments made by celebrities, Gutman said the following.

“After the Holocaust, the words ‘Never again’ were frequently heard.

Today for American Jews, ‘Never’ is now. And here is where you and MBA come in with a significant role to play.

Solidarity and togetherness are of critical importance. Together, let us stand against bigotry and hate in all its forms.”

He said current and future MBA students can help combat bigotry by calling it out when they see it, and by being kind, compassionate human beings.

In addition to the alumni breakfast, Rabbi Guttman taught five different classes to middle and high school students. His lessons included Elie Wiesel’s Night, and sessions on the Holocaust and Holocaust art, and America’s failure to bomb Auschwitz to AP Government classes. Of the students, he says, “I was impressed with the diversity of the student body. It was so much more so than when we were there.” •

Searching for Sunlight century’s safety standards. “What if you fell off of that?” one of the boys wondered. They also wanted to know where the body of the quarry worker believed to have been buried on the site was.

My niece did not want to explore the abandoned home made out of the concrete blocks, which was the major product from stone quarried there. But the boys did, and so in another first I wandered with them as we tried to guess which room was a kitchen or bedroom.

One benefit of going in the fall or winter is that you can better see the buildings, buried oil tanker, and all that’s left of the marble dance floor. We didn’t find sun, perhaps we will if we go back in the summer when the meadow is full of wildflowers and birds.

Bialik’s time spent in the woods while working in the timber industry inspired his poems about nature, and his traditional religious upbringing lent a mystical bent to poems such as “The Pond.” In the quiet spaces of Hidden Lake, I was reminded of his lyrical attempts to find light and return to the Garden of Eden. •

By MELISSA SOSTRIN

If ye, in search for sunlight, found but void, Go, fashion it from nought, Hew it from crags and quarry from the rocks, In cells of the heart be it sought.

Hayim Nachman Bialik

I

sought sunlight at Hidden Lake twice in late November - once with my niece Kyla, a college freshman, the second time with two boys L (8) and M (10).

Both days were overcast with a nip in the air, both explorations as different as one might expect given the hikers.

Hidden Lake, off McCrory Lane, is part of the Harpeth River State Park system which includes nine river access sites. The trails are not marked so print a map before you go or take a photo at the trail head, otherwise you might end up at some railroad tracks, as Kyla and I did, or on a path about which L soon concluded, “I don’t think this goes anywhere.”

All of us enjoyed the storybook trail with child-height panels of the beautifully illustrated “Miss Maple’s Seeds” by Eliza Wheeler. It’s part of a program of the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation and is one of 35 trails across the state that help promote nature and literacy.

The Hidden Lake trails differ in scenery and strenuousness. One trail goes around a wild flower meadow, while another goes through the woods and ends at the lake, and yet another takes you along the top of a ridge. At one point Kyla remarked that nature could be healing, and in almost the same spot M imagined, “This would be a great place for a Nerf war, lots of trees to hide behind!”

Kyla felt peaceful at the lake. The boys looked for flat rocks and started skipping them along the surface. That was my fifth time at the park and the first time I skipped rocks into the murky water. Thanks guys. It was hard to imagine such a quiet place, one where nature has taken back over, filled with water play and big band music. Then again, I have been accused of not having a good imagination.

I didn’t worry about my niece as we

climbed the rocky and root-filled ridge trail which skirts some possibly treacherous overlooks. I was not so serene when L and M wanted to creep as close to the edge as possible. The ridge trail is not for the faint of heart or children under five.

A sign along the trail gives the modern history of the area beginning

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with the first of multiple quarries dug there. There is only one natural lake in Tennessee and Hidden Lake is not it. It was the largest of the quarries and was abandoned when it flooded. In 1931 the area was bought, and it was made into a swim and recreation site which included a water slide that would never meet this

“I know a forest, and in the forest I know a hidden pool: In the density of the thicket, secluded from the world, In the shadow of a lofty oak, blessed of light and accustomed to storm, alone she dreams for herself a dream of an inverted world and quietly keeps for herself a golden fishand no one knows what is in her heart.”

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

www.aginginplaceservices.net 629-999-2477 MRJS@aginginplaceservices.net

• January 2023

9

Your Love Stories

By BARBARA DAB

L

ast month, we are featured Part 1 of Dr. Frank Boehm’s essay on love.

Frank wrote in detail about his beliefs about love and the difference between falling in love and nurturing a true and enduring love that lasts a lifetime. He also shared his love story with his wife, Julie. To gain further insights into how and why people fall in love and, more important, stay in love, he also interviewed five couples in different stages of life and from varied types of families.

Below are those stories. And now, we are asking for you, dear reader in love, to share your love story with The Observer.

Be brave, be vulnerable, and most of all, be loving. Send your submissions to Editor Barbara Dab at barbaradab@jewishnashville.org.

How Enduring Love Endures Dr. Frank H. Boehm “One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life. The word is love.”

Sophocles I wanted to listen to what a few others had to say about this complex emotion of love and what makes that love an enduring and true love, and so I chose to interview two couples who had long-term marriages, one couple with a shorter length marriage, a couple with a same sex marriage, and a couple who had experienced love and marriage later in life.

full of passion. Our physical attraction never ceased to amaze us, and it certainly enriched each day we were together.”

Pensive for a moment and with tears in her eyes, she said, “There was absolutely nothing about Jobe I did not like.”

But then tragedy struck! While celebrating Ann’s 65th birthday at a dinner, Jobe suffered a severe stroke which left him paralyzed and without the ability to speak for the rest of his life. “That changed our lives, but not our love for each other.

Jobe had only three short phrases he could speak after his stroke, one of which was “love you.” When he uttered those words to me, he would emphasize and prolong the word love. It was so incredibly special for me to hear him continue to express his love for me until the day he died 19 years after his stroke”.

“The intensity of our love continued after the stroke until his death, and it was that intensity that allowed for a marriage filled with true love. His stroke did not create emptiness in my life. I was truly blessed to have experienced that kind of intense love.” Ann and Jobe’s marriage took a major turn following Jobe’s stroke and life for both was never the same. Yet, Ann told me that her love was not affected in anyway. “I still loved him with all my heart, and I was always happiest when I was with him, even in his compromised condition. The love I felt for him has helped sustain me for these past 16 years since his death.” As the late Queen Elizabeth ll once said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

Ann and Jobe’s life together prove a point that obstacles of life, even severe ones, can be overcome with the power of true love. True love is not fragile. It is strong and nurturing and allows for joy to remain in life and as the Roman poet Virgil stated, “Love conquers all.”

Ann and Jobe Bernard were married for 65 years until his death

If love was to be placed on a spectrum, then the love Ann Bernard and her late husband, Jobe, had for each other would be on the extreme end of that spectrum, under the category of maximum true love. Sitting in her favorite lounge chaise in her Nashville bedroom, Ann, a lovely and spry 98-year-old, told me about the love affair she and Jobe shared in their marriage of 65 years.

Precocious, mature, and only 16 years old, Ann told me, “I was in love at an early age, or at least that is what I thought at that time, but then I met Jobe Bernard.

There was instant chemistry between the two of us and the feelings I had when we met were intense. I was young and evolving and suddenly had feelings I never had before. After our first date, that was it for me and we married three weeks after he returned from the war. I was only 19 years old and he 23”.

“Our love for each other was a love that was more than a love. While we had the usual disagreements, we never fought or said a cross word to each other. We had a beautiful marriage, one that was

Libby and Moshe Werthan have been together for 73 years, and married for 63

You could say that Moshe and Libby Werthan’s 73-year love affair was written in the stars, or as Jews would say, “bashert”, and if you said that, you would be right. Both were born at St. Thomas Hospital by the same obstetrician within months of each other in 1937 and both grew up in Nashville on the same street.

It was on a hayride at the age of twelve where Moshe first met Libby and noticed that he felt something suddenly stir within him. “She was really cute and had a ponytail and I knew I had to call her the very next day.”

Moshe and Libby talked for hours every day and on Hanukkah that year, Moshe had his family chauffeured driven car deliver a bottle of perfume to her home with a card that read, “Happy Hanukkah, Boo Werthan.” “It was so romantic, and I loved it,” Libby told

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10 January 2023 •

me the day I went to their home to ask for their definition of love. I wanted to know what they considered were the basic elements of making love a true and enduring one.

Over the next few years, Moshe and Libby’s friendship grew. At the insistence of their parents, they occasionally went out with others, but they held each other in their minds and hearts. Libby told me that Moshe needed a friend as he had a difficult childhood. “He was reserved and shy and needed someone he could trust, and I needed him as well. In some ways, we became co-dependent.” In Libby, Moshe found someone he could truly trust and that was so important to him. Moshe and Libby dated through high school, and even though they went to different colleges (Northwestern and Yale) they dated others, wrote letters every day and could not forget the friendship, bond, and trust they had developed over the years since they first met.

Then, once again, “bashert” happened. While both were on a vacation trip to Europe, not knowing the other was also in Europe, they surprisingly ran into each other at a watch store in Lucerne, Switzerland. Libby told me that, “We had some rocky moments during our college years and so it was a Hashem moment for me when we first saw each other at that store, and I realized how much I cared for him.” Moshe told me that while he also felt the bond he shared with Libby, he had some growing up to do and became insensitive to her needs and they did not communicate for nine months.

It was at the end of those nine months at a party in Nashville, when he was 22 and Libby 21, that they saw each other from across the room. Moshe walked over to her, took her by the hand leading her to a back room and without even kissing her, looked her in the eye and asked her to marry him. Libby did not hesitate. She said yes. They have now been married for 63 years and together for 73 years since that first encounter on that memorable hayride.

We finally got around to their definition of love. Moshe told me that, “it was chemistry at the hayride that made me realize that this was something more than just love at first sight. Clearly love involves a physical attraction that started at that hayride and persists to this very day.” He then added that, “Trust is a big, big issue for me and is based on the many experiences of our togetherness that over time helped convince me that I can trust and depend on Libby to do what is best and right for the two of us.

Love also involves liking each other and that has been a significant factor in our love. When we moved to Israel in 1990, we knew no one and began spending 24 hours a day, seven days a week together and this brought us even closer. We never grew apart, we just grew closer and learned how much we genuinely liked each other and while there have been obstacles in our lives, they never eroded the love we feel.”

Libby then added, “We are still madly in love with each other. In many ways we are like two sapling trees planted close together and whose roots are entwined beneath the soil, and so I do worry what will happen when one of us is no longer here. How will the other survive? We continue to learn new things together and that has been an important part of our relationship. Being different in many ways has helped us and has also

been a challenge.”

Enduring true love for Moshe and Libby started with chemistry at age 12 and slowly morphed into feelings of friendship. That stage of being in love resulted in a trusting and caring relationship that for them became a true and enduring love. At the end of our time together, Libby turned to me and with a warm and embracing smile said, “Overall, I can honestly say, we were made for each other.” After listening to their story, I absolutely agreed with her.

Frank Boehm’s daughter, Catherine, and her husband Eric have been married for 15 years.

I also wanted to hear from a couple who had not been married as long to hear what they had to say about love. I turned to my 41-year-old daughter, Catherine and her 42-year-old husband, Eric, to whom she has been married 13 years, for their thoughts and comments about love.

Catherine and Eric met on J Date, a Jewish site for meeting potential mates and both knew after only a few hours on the phone that there was a real possibility for finding love. They arranged a meeting several days later and realized when they met that they shared so many opinions and desires and had quite similar backgrounds. In addition, there was real chemistry in their feelings for each other, chemistry which to this day some, 15 years later, still exists and is stronger than ever. They have two young girls, Lucy, who is eleven and Eden who is seven. I sat down with them at their home in Deerfield, Illinois one spring day in 2022 and asked both to give me their definition of love.

Catherine emphasized that true and enduring love for her was a total feeling of trust, support, and security. It was not just a physical connection. “We get each other; can laugh together and at each other.” For Eric, love was a feeling of longing for Catherine as well as a feeling on internal connection. “I always feel connected to Catherine, and I am always thinking about how what I do impacts her. We have a wavelength that unites us. We work together as a team and as partners and we feel comfortable in each other’s presence.” Eric went on to say, “Love is a constant heartbeat for someone, and its foundation is about respect and a balance in who we are and how we treat each other.” Catherine stated that she was in total agreement with what Eric had just said.

Both also agreed that true love is not fragile but highly resistant to the many obstacles that life brings forth in any relationship. They agree that the word love has been diluted and needs to be more selective in its use. To listen to my daughter and son-in-law discuss their feelings of love for each other was quite reassuring for me since I love them both and am so happy that they have found in each other, a feeling of true love.

Continued on page 11

Your Love Stories Continued from page 10

Liza and Lori Dansky Star met in college and are now married, and the parents of four-year-old twin boys

Choosing a couple to interview about love in a same sex marriage was an easy one for me. Thirty-three years ago, I delivered a small bundle of joy named Liza Dansky and six years ago, I attended her marriage ceremony in Santa Fe, New Mexico to 29-year-old, Lori Star. The ceremony was utterly beautiful and so very meaningful (especially since the US Supreme Court had only one year earlier ruled that same sex marriage was legal).

Liza and Lori are the parents of fouryear-old twin boys, and both are active in the community. Liza works as an information security officer for a healthcare company and Lori is a nurse practitioner.

Neither one of these bright, energetic, outgoing, and wonderful young women thought of themselves as gay as they grew up. Both had had boyfriends, and both were living happy and fulfilling lives.

They met each other in college and a strong friendship evolved, which slowly turned into a relationship that was more than just a friendship. Lori was quick to state that, “It took a long time for both of us to understand what was happening.” They now have been together for 14 years and the bond of love is a strong and loving one.

I sat down with Lori and Liza in my home last spring and asked for their definition of love. Liza responded first.

“I felt more comfortable and safer with Lori than when I was dating regularly and that made me wonder what was happening and after college, we decided to live together. I soon understood that I had never experienced love before I met Lori and that I had never felt this way before.”

For seven years, however, neither shared with others their feelings nor that they were in a same sex relationship.

Lori told me that she felt, “Love is complex and complicated but that the one thing that felt most present was the feeling of desire. When I see Liza dancing, I feel desire and want to hold her in my arms. That desire, however, is not just physical, it is a desire to be with her each day and to experience life’s unfolding together. I want to be near her, to listen what she has to say, and to know that she is listening to me as well.” Lori also added that she, too, has a feeling of being safe with Liza. “She understands and accepts me in ways that only love can define.”

I asked both if they felt that love was fragile, and both said that it was not.

“When you love someone, you desire that person and no issue, small or large can easily erode or destroy that desire and love.” Lori added, “People use the word love all the time in quite frivolous ways and I believe that the type of love I feel for Liza should be reserved for the intense feelings we have for each other.”

That intense feeling of love often takes time to understand and realize. Both Liza and Lori told me that it took six months of their evolving relationship before they

said to each other, “I love you.” This is not hard to understand as it takes time for these three words to be spoken.

Liza and Lori both mentioned how important the feeling of safety was in their relationship. Liza told me, “The feeling of safety includes, but is not limited to, knowing that the person you love will act in ways that is not harmful to you or the relationship, and that the loved one will understand you, accept you, and not judge you negatively. The person you love and loves you back will watch over you, guide you, and be honest with you as you live your lives together.” Lori and Liza’s love for each other is emblematic of the axiom that the feeling of love does not ask what sex you prefer or whom to love. Love is a basic human emotion.

when true love is found, it is powerful, life altering and meaningful, and adds yet another layer to the joy of life.

For couples who have been married a long time, there are considerable similarities in their definitions of love, the first of these being the chemistry that they all felt when first meeting each other.

How does all this happen? Some call it lust, others pure chemistry of hormones and pheromones, a chemical substance produced and released into the environment by animals and humans alike, which affects the behavior or physiology of other animals or human beings.

Whatever the explanation, it is obvious to most of us that there is something magical about meeting someone who is special and interesting and arouses certain sexual desires.

As that state of being in love over time morphed into an enduring and true love, these married couples explained that the definition of love now con-

tained elements of dependability, safety, happiness, pride, respect, generosity, forgiveness, trust, contentment, acceptance, and peace, and maintained that they still found each other attractive and desirable.

As a young man, I once wrote, “Love is the selfless expression which manifested itself in the recognition of another’s ego. It is the tireless energy of existence and the tenderness of self and if not managed wisely, can cause immeasurable pain and anguish.” I remain steadfast in this definition of love now that I am in my eighties. A state of being in love that morphs in time into true and enduring love is a gift of life that can bring pleasure, joy, contentment, and peace to one’s life. Love is truly one of life’s wonders and should be handled with utmost care and concern. “I love you” are three sacred, non-fragile words that are the foundation of human evolution and existence and should be given the respect it demands. •

Tommy and Lucy Goldstein met later in life and are the parents of a five-year-old daughter

Finding true love late in life was something I also wanted to explore. My brother-in-law, Tommy Goldstein was someone I thought would never find a true love partner. Having reached the age of 59, Tommy had not experienced true love and was quite comfortable with his active life in New York City as a confirmed bachelor. But then, he met Lucy who was 40. Tommy told me, “We met by accident at an art opening in Brooklyn and later at a nearby café, where we unwittingly planted the seeds of a love neither of us had planned. Before we met, we had each traveled the world and lived as ex-pats abroad. We both had spent a lifetime single, but within a year, we would venture forth and explore the road ahead as newlyweds. Lucy and I were married in 2016 and it was a celebration of two lovers who were ready to embark on a new adventure and experience a new life together.” Less than a year later their daughter, Zoe was born. “Zoe fit right into our active life and travel plans.

Curious and preternaturally, empathic Zoe has been an easy child. Parenting is different later in life. Lucy and I have observed we are more relaxed than our younger counterparts.”

Responding to my question regarding their definition of love, Tommy told me, “In Lucy, I found love and adventure later in life, certainly later than most. I found someone who wanted what I wanted, saw the world as I saw it, cared about the things I cared about. I found a best friend who is my equal in every way. The experiences we have both enjoyed over the years have made for a more spirited and meaningful relationship. We have found that love is an act of generosity, whereby we give ourselves to the world and remain open to receiving what that world has to offer us.”

Tommy and Lucy represent those who find true love later in life than so many others, yet that love is no different from those who find it earlier. No matter

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11

Chanukah Around Town

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee hosted a Chanukah celebration for his staff at the State Capitol together with Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel from Chabad of Nashville. Governor Lee spoke about the power of light within each person and his friendship with the Jewish community. Rabbi Tiechtel presented Governor Lee with an LED Menorah and spoke about the role of each person to contribute to the world, and the impact we can have by making this world a better place, filled with the light of G-d. Many of the staff members experienced Chanukah for their very first time, and enjoyed the event greatly, and all went home with Chanukah donuts and treats.

Members of Nashville’s Jewish community joined with community leaders to light the menorah on the second night of Chanukah. The annual event began in 2003 with Mayor Bill Purcell, and every mayor since has participated in the lighting.

Participants included Scott O’Neal of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, Cindee Gold on behalf of the Gordon Jewish Community Center, and rabbis from each of the five local congregations. Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel of Chabad of Nashville lit the menorah alongside Mayor John Cooper, Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, and members of the Metro Council.

Vanderbilt freshman receives leadership award for work in Holocaust education

By ZOE BELL

M

ax Perry, the recipient of the StandWithUs 2022 “Leaders of Tomorrow” award, is used to being in the minority. He was the only Jewish student out of 2,200 students at his high school in Florence, Kentucky. His family’s nearest synagogue was across state lines in Cincinnati.

“I would drive 45 minutes with my parents to the synagogue just to be a part of the community,” Perry said in a Zoom interview. “While for some, this can be seen as a barrier, I thought, ‘How Jewish can we be while being separated spatially? How can I be a part of this community when it’s not particularly easy?’”

Perry, 18, described the “real-life challenges” of being the sole Jewish representation in middle and high school.

He said he experienced antisemitism and discrimination due to his religious identity.

“Growing up, my peers made Holocaust jokes, drew swastikas on my desk, did Nazi salutes at me in the halls,” Perry said.

It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that everything changed.

Perry said he was involved in the theater program, which put on a production of “Dark Road,” a narrative of the Holocaust from the perspective of a Nazi. The play tells the story of a young German girl who becomes a guard for a nearby women’s concentration camp, illustrating the “choices that allow evil to become ordinary,” according to its synopsis on Playscripts. Perry noted that there is a difference between shock value and education because he said “Dark Road” was meant to be shocking.

“After that, I began to kind of hide my Jewish identity,” Perry said. “I didn’t really want to be outwardly Jewish. This production was the catalyst for that. I eventually realized this wasn’t right; I can be who I am. …”

Perry said he began to reintegrate himself into the Jewish community. A year prior, he had joined his local BBYO chapter and StandWithUs, an interna-

12 January 2023 •

tional nonprofit Israel education organization. He first met Sami Steigmann, a Holocaust survivor, at a BBYO summer camp in July 2021.

“I knew that I was meeting living history,” Perry said. “Something I really admire about [Steigmann] is that he’s full of life. He’s 83 years old and smiling and laughing; the embodiment of true happiness in a person.”

The two went their separate ways after meeting. Perry said he encountered Steigmann again the following February and talked about the challenges of being Jewish in a predominantly non-Jewish town. Steigmann, a motivational speaker, said he wanted to speak at schools in northern Kentucky.

“I feel that Holocaust education is universal,” Perry said. “It teaches the story of some of the worst parts of humanity but also teaches us how to prevent future atrocities. …We wanted to teach about the Holocaust because it applies to everything else.”

He added that hatred is not unique to the Jewish community, but can affect any marginalized group, which is why it is crucial to foster diversity and inclusion in all aspects. Perry said he was drawn to Holocaust education and antisemitism after a research project revealed a lack of Holocaust education at his school.

“It wasn’t perfect, but I found that a significant portion of students, especially on the younger end, have reduced education of the Holocaust,” Perry said of his research.

His study included a question about how many Jews died in the Holocaust.

“The responses were remarkable,” Perry said. “There was a stark difference between the freshmen and sophomores and the juniors and seniors. The freshmen and sophomores’ responses [on Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust] were an average of about 20 percent less than the juniors’ and seniors.’” Perry said he attributes this disparity to Covid19, which disrupted students from the Holocaust unit in eighth grade history.

Wanting to make a difference in his community, Perry said he independent-

Vanderbilt Freshman Max Perry received the StandWithUs 2022 “Leaders of Tomorrow” award.

ly organized and managed a four-day speaking tour for Steigmann. Perry originally brought up the idea with his AP U.S. Government teacher, who was supportive, then consulted his school’s assistant principal, principal and eventually the superintendent of Boone County Schools. Perry said he emailed every school superintendent in a 30-mile radius to spread the message about the speaking tour.

Steigmann presented to more than 4,000 students across northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, sharing his story as a Holocaust survivor and educating about the stages leading up to genocide.

“He talks about how the Holocaust happened but interweaves his own story,” Perry said. “He talked about his own life.

You realize that Mr. Steigmann has not had it easy: he lost nearly every family member to the Holocaust, been homeless and lived below the poverty line, but he’s one of the happiest guys you’ll ever see. If this 83-year-old guy — who’s gone through everything he’s gone through — can be happy and talk about his story, students realized that they could, too.”

Perry said Steigmann’s willingness to share his life experiences was influential to audience members, especially for students at underserved schools. Teachers at these schools noticed that some previously withdrawn students had become more forthcoming with their emotions and personal stories following Steigmann’s presentation, said Perry.

“[Steigmann] is the real-life embodiment of happiness in the face of the most extreme circumstances possible,” Perry said.

Perry, who moderated the events and asked Steigmann questions throughout the events, was recognized for his work in Holocaust education with the “Leaders of Tomorrow” award. The award, presented to one high school student and one college student every year at the StandWithUs Midwest annual gala, recognizes students who have overcome a challenge in their lives related to their support of Israel or their Jewish identity and for going above and beyond in educating their peers and community about antisemitism.

Perry received the award on Nov. 6 in Chicago. “[I felt] absolute happiness,” Perry said of receiving the award. “It was a really amazing moment I got to share with my mom. We got to go to Chicago together. It was an amazing moment; the culmination of months of work and years of conversations. This is just the beginning.”

Perry, now a first-year student at Vanderbilt University, said he will continue his work in Holocaust education.

He is a board member of the school’s Holocaust Lecture Series and is active in Vanderbilt Hillel. Perry described the “vibrant Jewish community” at the university, a welcome change from his middle and high school experiences. Gone are the days of wanting to hide his identity.

“You decide to show up,” Perry said.

“Whether you are close or far from your Jewish community, you can be as Jewish as you want to be.” • Kol Hakavod to Max on this award and for his continued commitment to leadership roles in Vanderbilt Hillel and the Vanderbilt Holocaust Lecture Series. Having student voices as part of the lecture series planning committee is vital and valuable for us all, and it is inspiring to work with him to both plan and promote these programs. The Jewish Federation of Nashville is committed to supporting both Vanderbilt Hillel and the VHLS for both the campus and general community.

Welcome Gui & Diamond to the Gordon JCC Team

By RACHEL CLARK, GORDON JCC MARKETING DIRECTOR

A

s 2022 winds down, the Gordon JCC is excited to welcome two new staff members to our team - Assistant Aquatics Director Guilherme Passos (Gui), and Assistant Sports and Fitness Director, Diamond Battle.

Gui is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil where he swam competitively for 10 years and has represented the Brazilian Youth National Team. While in Brazil, he had the chance to practice with many Olympians such as Cesar Cielo and Bruno Fratus. In 2011, he moved to the U.S. to attend the University of Nevada Las Vegas,

where he received a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Hospitality.

During his collegiate swimming career, Gui helped the Rebels become the num- Guilherme Passos is ber one mid-ma- the new Assistant jor program in the Aquatics Director at country, and by the Gordon JCC his senior year, he achieved the status of NCAA Division I All-American. During the 14/15 season, Gui started his coach-

ing career as an Assistant Coach for the UNLV men’s and women’s swim teams under Head Coach Bobby Folan. The past seven years, Gui coached at Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club and Diamond Battle is the will be bringing new Assistant Sports his expertise to and Fitness Director our Tigersharks at the Gordon JCC. swim team!

Diamond is a Nashville native who began her sports and fitness journey at

the age of five by competing in various sports, mainly Track and Field. After graduating high school, she continued her athletic career by becoming a proud member of the Austin Peay State University Track and Field team. While at Austin Peay, Diamond studied and received her Bachelor’s in Health and Human Performances and decided to continue her education at the University of the Cumberlands, where she received her Master’s in Health and Human Performances.

Both of our new team members are acclimating to their roles here at the J, so be sure to stop by and say hello when you’re in the building! •

Winter Events with the Nashville Jewish Book Series

By SHARON BENUS, COMMUNITY WIDE PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

O

n Thursday, December 8, the Nashville Jewish Book Series hosted local award-winning journalist, Marissa Moss in conversation with writer and NPR music critic Ann Powers, to discuss her new book, Her Country. The event took place at 3Sirens recording studio and community space in East Nashville, which proved to be the perfect cozy atmosphere for the rainy-day weather.

Local singer/songwriter, Katie Schecter, welcomed guests in the warm setting with her ethereal voice and melod-

ic tunes. Guests mingled while enjoying small bites and cocktails prepared by the Jewish Cowboy. The Bookshop joined the evening selling copies of Her Country.

Attendees gathered in their seats to listen as the conversation began. Ann, prepared with questions, kicked off the discussion and the room quieted down as Marissa and Ann spoke. Topics covered the world of country music, the difficulties women and those from diverse backgrounds face in the industry, and how many women that have gone on to challenge the system in place and became successful. The main topic was the overarching feeling of being an “insider out-

sider” in the country music world as well as in the south.

The evening ended with wonderful questions from the audience as well as a meaningful conversation with Katie Schecter who shared her feelings about being a Jewish woman and musician living in the south.

After a break for the holidays, our events continue in January with two incredible writers. The first is a virtual event on Thursday, January 11 at 7pm with author Jai Chakrabarti, and his debut novel, A Play for the End of the World. January rounds out on Tuesday, January 31 at 7pm with an in-person

event with international food and travel writer Sylvie Bigar, and her food memoir, Cassoulet Confessions- Food, France, Family, and the Stew That Saved My Soul.

The Nashville Jewish Book Series aims to connect the local community with authors from around the globe, fostering conversations that could not happen anywhere else in the world. The NJBS runs from November 2022 to May 2023. You can find the whole schedule, with registration and ticketing information, at nashvillejcc.org/book or contact community-wide programs director Sharon Benus at sharonb@nashvillejcc. org or 615-354-1697. •

Hanukkah Fest 2022

H

anukkah Fest 2022 was a huge success! Over 300 guests made it to the J for fun games like menorah ring toss and gaga, crafts such as sand art and beeswax candle making, and of course, loads and loads of Bernie’s famous latkes! It was a wonderful time for the community to get together and celebrate the festival of lights. A huge thank you to the Gordon JCC staff and volunteers for making this event possible!

Happy Hanukkah from everyone at the Gordon JCC! •

Dressed to celebrate Hanukkah Fest 2022 is l. to r. Board member Matt Leff, Cindee Gold, and Andrew Fishman, Director of Camp Davis and Children’s

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville participated in this year’s Hannukah Fest at the Gordon JCC.

Bernie Pargh, pictured center, with his team of latke makers. Pictured l. to r.: Jordan Soblick, Franklin Pargh, Bernie Pargh, Carla Rosenthall, Alyssa Trachtman, and Emily May

Jackie Karr plays a fierce game of dreidel with two challengers.

• January 2023

13

Dores for Israel Hosts Zioness Founder Amanda Berman

By BRINA RATANGEE

D

ores for Israel, Vanderbilt’s on-campus Israel advocacy group, invited Amanda Berman to Hillel recently to speak about her experiences being at the intersection of “progressivism and Zionism.” Berman is the founder and executive director of Zioness, a national organization pushing for Zionist representation in activism and social justice movements.

“Our grassroots organization includes more than 30 chapters across the country that fight for the advancement of social, racial, economic and gender equality in America and for the inclusion of Zionists in social justice spaces,” the Zioness website reads.

Berman began her talk by validating the experiences of Jewish students, saying that one of her goals is to provide students with tools to help them address antisemitic situations if they arise. Her visit comes less than a week after Vanderbilt defensive backs coach Dan Jackson wrote a Facebook comment supporting Ye, who has been criticized in recent weeks for sharing antisemitic rhetoric in interviews and over social media.

“There are a lot of Jewish students that don’t have any of this [guidance], like they have a feeling and are looking for someone to put it into words and give them the language,” Berman said. “In that sense, I feel very proud to be able to do that to the extent that I am able to do that for people.”

Defining Zionism Per Berman, much of the opposition to including Zionism in social justice spaces comes from misconceptions about Zionism itself.

“For so long, people have been gaslit into thinking you can’t be a Zionist and a progressive, or you can’t be a Zionist and a feminist, as if there is something intrinsically disconnected between Zionism and progressive values or Zionism and feminism,” Berman said. “I am a Zionist because I am a progressive. I am a Zionist because I believe in the liberation of persecuted minority communities.”

Calling Zionism the “most successful decolonial movement in history,” Berman said that being Zionist has nothing to do with Palestinians or any other group of people; rather, it is about the liberation of Jews and the history of the Jewish people. Berman compared Zionists’ emphasis on Jewish rights to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement, noting that one group advocating for their rights does not imply that other groups do not deserve those same rights.

“When we say, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ it means a specific thing, and it’s not about anyone other than the descendants of enslaved people in America. If you try to make it about someone else, you are trying to deny the lived experience, the history, and the present opportunities for people in this particular group,” Berman said. “The same is true

Zioness founder Amanda Berman addresses students at Hillel.

for Zionism—we all get to define our movements of liberation, our forms of oppression, what persecution has meant and done to our people.”

She also criticized labels and binaries for their role in perpetuating the stigma surrounding Zionism, explaining that there is a clear distinction between Zionism and being “pro-Israel.” She added that she herself does not support the Israeli government.

“We can be Zionists who love the Israeli government or hate the Israeli government or are ambivalent to it. Or really, where most Jews are, we can be Zionists without knowing anything about the Israeli government,” Berman said. “And we don’t have to allow anyone to force us to pass that litmus test, to prove anything, to declare a position on the Israeli government in order to be confident in our identities as Jews and Zionists.”

A member of the audience submitted a question asking how to reconcile the seemingly conflicting goals of Zionists and Palestinians, given that both are fighting for their rights to self-determination in their ancestral homelands.

Berman responded by critiquing the view of Israelis and Palestinians as a binary and expressing her belief in the potential for both groups’ peaceful coexistence.

“For me, it’s absolutely not a binary.

Spain is sovereign, and so is France. Italy is sovereign and so is Germany. There’s no reason why Israel can’t be sovereign and so can Palestine,” Berman said.

“There is enough land, they’re all living there right now—they can just make a border, have two sovereign states, agree to respect each other’s sovereignty and stop fighting.”

Role of Zionism in social justice In recent years, Zionism has primarily been cast in a negative light in social justice spaces, per Berman. She referenced the 2016 platform of the Movement for Black Lives, which labeled Israel an

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14 January 2023 •

“apartheid state” that sanctions discrimination against Palestinians and called for the divestment of U.S. aid to Israel.

“This was really an upsetting moment for a lot of American Jews who really care deeply about and had been engaged in racial justice activism for decades. All of a sudden, this huge movement [M4BL] that was doing such critically important work in the wake of various police killings of young Black men in America was now talking about U.S. foreign aid to Israel and calling Israel an apartheid state. Many Jews were looking around, asking ‘Why? Of all the places in the world, why right now is M4BL focusing on Israel?’” Berman said.

Berman acknowledged that there is a lot of legitimate criticism of Israel but said that activists and organizations should not take a position on Israel.

She pointed to her own organization— Zioness—as an example of an organization that remains focused on its mission and does not take stances on Tibet or Ukraine, for example, despite her own positions on the topics.

Other examples of social justice or advocacy movements that have taken stances on or associated themselves with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are the Standing Rock Sioux protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline, the 2017 Women’s March and SlutWalk Chicago.

Berman also referenced an incident at the 2017 Chicago Dyke March, in which three Jewish participants were ejected from the demonstration for carrying pride flags containing the Star of David.

“I don’t want the women’s march to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, I don’t want our LGBTQ+ movements to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—it has no place there,” Berman said. “There are people who are having discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict who are scholars in the geopolitics of the Middle East. That’s who

should be talking about it.”

Berman referred to the Chicago Dyke March and the 2019 D.C. Dyke March as Zioness’ “biggest success” because the banning of the Jewish pride flag at these events was covered by numerous media outlets, garnering worldwide attention.

“Really, the victory of Zioness is trying to make the progressive movement understand that we all have foundation to protect the integrity of the spaces that we’re building and the coalitions that are supposed to be advancing social justice,” Berman said. “The real victory is when the progressive movement stops excluding Zionists.”

Reflections on the event Senior Tucker Apgar praised the event for providing him with a “novel” way of thinking about Zionism.

“Obviously as someone who is Jewish, I do identify as a Zionist, though I do have my hesitations about full-fledged support of Israel at the moment,” Apgar said. “But I think that the speaker gave us a good way to think about how we can express our identity as Zionists while also keeping in mind what it means to be in progressive spaces like college campuses.”

Sophomore and DFI executive board member Zander Schwartz said that this speaker is one of a string of recent diverse perspectives the organization has brought to campus, including the former U.S.Israel ambassador and a Palestinian-born, pro-Israel speaker last year. He called the speaker “inspirational” for her in-depth knowledge of and ability to confidently discuss the topic and hopes more students will make the effort to attend events like this one in the future.

“We were tabling and had a lot of friendly responses, but then occasionally we’d be like ‘free food and GME credit!’ People would look at the table, recognize our organization and then just walk away,” Schwartz said. “It was really tough because I’m not a bad person, other people here aren’t bad people. It is something that I think is just so misunderstood, and if people took the time to actually understand it, they would see there’s more to it.”

Junior and DFI president Nathan Appelbaum added that the organization tries to select speakers based on what would be most relevant to students on campus. He acknowledged that one speaker event is not enough for people to fully form opinions on the subject and hopes to host more events to foster discussion.

“There’s a lot of great speakers out there, but we’re tailoring it to ‘what do we want not only for our DFI members, but also what does the community need right now?’ A lot of people actually came into this space not knowing very much about it, and I’m excited to continue some conversations afterwards with those people especially,” Appelbaum said. • Brina Ratangee is a staff writer for Vanderbilt University’s Hustler newspaper.

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

Climbing Outside/ Climbing Inside

C

hildren at the Revere Jewish Montessori preschool enjoy their daily physical education, climbing on the indoor and outdoor jungle gym depend-

ing on the weather.

To inquire about reserving a spot for your child or to take a tour please call 615-646-5750. •

Attendees celebrate Jewish education in Nashville at the community wide Stronger Together dinner.

Stronger Together: Nashville Community Celebrates Jewish Education

By ELLY EBIN

T

he majority of the 900 Jewish Day Schools across the United States are in major cities with significant numbers of Jews; in places like New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Mid-size communities pride themselves in providing their children with Jewish education, though that education is generally confined to the elementary years. According to a census of Jewish Day Schools in the U.S. by the Avi Chai Foundation, of Community Day School students outside of the New York Metropolitan area, 76 percent are Kindergarten through eighth graders, while only 24 percent comprise high school students. A major contributing factor to this is that in many communities, there is simply no Jewish High School for students to attend.

Reasonably, a Jewish community the size of Nashville should fall into this category. In spite of this trend, the Nashville Jewish community prides itself in offering a strong and authentic Jewish education experience all the way from Kindergarten through high school.

Rabbi Saul Strosberg, founder of both the Jewish Middle School and Kehilla High School, relates that he, “never imagined we would have a K through 12 school option in this community. But the community understands that what Jewish schools provide truly sets up students for success in life.” Rabbi Strosberg adds that, “There is a certain amount of pride that our Jewish Community has in providing the resources to educate children Jewishly.” And that pride was certainly on display when the community turned out to celebrate the city’s Jewish schools at the Stronger Together Community Dinner on December 1st.

Parents, faculty, alumni, and community supporters enjoyed cocktails and

Akiva Supports Teacher Training in Collaboration with Vanderbilt

By ELLY EBIN

N

pictured l. to r. Jessica Roth, Pam Abromovitz, Eliza Griffin

music, a gourmet dinner, and a video showcasing the Stronger Together theme within Akiva, the Jewish Middle School, and Kehilla High School. Rabbi Laurie Rice, of hosting-synagogue Congregation Micah, praised the community’s, “tenacity, heart, and determination to ensure we can serve our Jewish students and fortify their identity to be the next generation of community leaders and builders.” Rabbi Laurie added that, “Hosting this dinner was truly an honor. It says a great deal about the commitment of our Nashville Jewish Community to education.”

While the Nashville Jewish community may be considered small, the schools are anything but. Akiva, JMS, and Kehilla are a dynamic force in strengthening Jewish identity and fostering Jewish values in the city, and they are the most critical factor in the continuity of the Jewish community. JMS Co-Head of School Rabbi Daniel Hoffman said it best, “Any time we want to establish a community, and keep that community going, education is key. And when we work on bringing our three institutions together, then the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts and we are truly stronger together.” •

pictured l. to r. Rabbi Daniel and Eliezah Hoffman, Elizabeth Cambridge, Jenny Lewis

ew teachers today are facing a professional landscape far different from teachers of past generations. Hardly any schools have escaped the teacher staffing shortage that afflicts the entire country. In Tennessee, the teacher shortage grows, and both public and independent schools are feeling the strain.

Last year, Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education graduated a cohort of graduate students, almost 90 percent of whom took positions in Metro Nashville Public Schools. For these teachers, and those currently training at Peabody, local public-school observations and practicums make up a vital and impactful part of their training. But the cutting-edge research and pedagogical approaches they study are often hard to observe in practice in the very classrooms most new teachers end up teaching in. With the national number of teachers dropping over 300,000 in the last few years, effective training for those still committed to the profession is critical.

Dr. Andrea Henrie has been training teachers at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College for 17 years. Dr. Henrie explained that as a teacher trainer she now must, “prepare teachers to be able to go into any classroom in any type of school - public or private - and implement best teaching practices, despite the curriculum handed to them.” But Dr. Henrie also recognizes the incongruity of expecting new teachers to successfully put best teaching methods into practice when they never see them in action. To mitigate the disconnect between training and classroom observations, Dr. Henrie turned to Rena Malkofsky-Berger, the Curriculum Coordinator at Akiva School. Best pedagogical methods and critical research into child learning and development shape the curriculum at Akiva, and are put into practice every day, in every classroom.

And so, after months of practicums and observations in local public schools, Dr. Henrie brought her students to Akiva.

Sarah Chopko is a graduate student at Peabody, and one of 14 to visit Akiva.

Chopko said that her time at Akiva was, “a really impressive example of student focused learning.” Chopko added that,

“Until I came to Akiva, there was a real disconnect between the pedagogical practices we were trained to implement and what we were seeing in classroom observations.” Paige Beede, a master’s student in the elementary education program at Peabody, echoed Chopko’s thoughts. Beede observed that, “Getting exposure to a school like Akiva is very powerful. The chance to see the innovation and integrated learning in the Akiva classrooms is exciting.” Beede was especially intrigued by Akiva’s approach to reading and writing, noting that, “Akiva has given us the opportunity to see a real celebration of learning. We are seeing the teaching methods we are learning about actually put in practice.”

For Akiva faculty, the chance to welcome Peabody students into their classrooms was a mutually beneficial partnership. While visiting Akiva, Peabody students spent time in classrooms, providing support to students in reading, writing and STEAM. Akiva faculty had the chance to share their experience and insight into teaching, which was an affirming opportunity to reflect on their own careers, educational practices, and appreciation for Akiva. Perhaps more critically, this collaboration created awareness about Akiva School and promoted Akiva as a potential employer for emerging teachers. In organizing this collaboration Malkofsky-Berger factored in the importance of calling attention to Akiva as a potential option for teachers. In a state with more than 2,000 teacher vacancies, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and in a school with growing enrollment and the need to hire additional faculty, this awareness is crucial to maintaining the high level of teaching faculty that Akiva has become so well-known for.

This collaborative experience was so successful that Dr. Henrie is looking to make Akiva observations part of her students’ mandatory requirements. Both Dr. Henrie and Malkofsky-Berger are hopeful that this developing partnership will help prepare future teachers to become leaders in education and advocates for educational advancement, hopefully at Akiva, and wherever else their careers may take them. •

• January 2023

15

Nashville Hadassah Represents at 100th National Convention in Israel A

Nashville’s 2022 Maccabi team in Del Mar, California

Register for JCC Maccabi Games 2023

By REBECCA MORIARTY

D

o you like sports? Do you like the beach? Do you like playing sports near the beach?

Great news – you are going to love the JCC Maccabi Games 2023 in Fort Lauderdale. You will get to showcase your athletic skills, hit the beach, do community service, and make friends from across the globe. What a great way to end the summer.

Join 1,800 Jewish teens from across North and South America, Israel, Europe, and beyond as they gather in Florida for an unforgettable week. The games will take place August 6th thru 11th where teens ages 12-16 will compete in a variety of sporting events. This year’s games include baseball, basket-

ball, ice hockey, girls’ volleyball, flag football, boys’ lacrosse, soccer, table tennis, tennis, star reporter, swimming, and dance.

Other highlights include: • Olympic-style sport competitions, including opening and closing ceremonies, and a tribute to the Munich 11 • Home hospitality with local Jewish host families • JCC Cares community service projects • Hangtime programming with Israeli schlichim • Evening social events The all-inclusive registration cost is $1,500 and includes travel, meals, social events, uniforms, and awesome swag!

Join Team Nashville by contacting Rebecca Moriarty at Rebecca@ NashvilleJCC.org or 662-202-6902. •

STRESS LESS!

Anxiety and Stress Reduction Program for Teens

By ASHLEY FRANKLIN

T

eens today are stressed! They are faced with more anxiety, schoolwork, stimulation, and distraction than ever before.

The American Psychological Association says teens have been reporting higher levels of stress than adults. In fact, an APA survey showed that teens reported higher levels of anxiety and depression than any other age groups. Social media has also contributed to the pressure and stress that adolescents face today.

In response to increased need for stress reduction resources, Jewish Family Service will be offering a free program for Jewish teenagers on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 9:15am-12:00pm at Akiva.

The religious schools will allow their students to attend the program in lieu of Sunday school that day. All Jewish teenagers in the community are welcome to join, even if they do not currently attend Sunday school.

The program will begin with a presentation by Courtney Grimes, LCSW. Courtney is a psychotherapist who founded The Collective, a treatment center focused on healing depression and anxiety through social health. Courtney has a “whole-istic” approach to healing is to help clients focus on their own strengths and abilities to overcome obstacles.

Following the presentation, the students will pick three stations where they will learn more about and practice each stress reduction technique. The five stations to choose from will focus on Therapeutic Art (Eileen Wallach, LMSW), Journaling: Real Life Writing Prompts (Elizabeth Workman), Mindful Meditation (Judy S. Itzkowitz,PhD), and Guided Imagery (Rebecca G. Townsend, LPC).

If you are interested in volunteering or registering your child for the program, please contact Ashley Franklin at JFS ashleyfranklin@jfsnashville.org or 615354-1662. •

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org

16 January 2023 •

ttending Hadassah’s 100th National Convention in Israel in November, were Deana Goldstein and Marsha Jaffa, current Nashville Hadassah president and past president respectively. Attendees visited Hadassah Hospital-Ein Kerem, home of the Chagall windows. Hadassah hospitals have a diverse staff of Jews, Christians and Arabs. This hospital is under renovation to add 300 beds, safe rooms for patients and staff, including underground ORs. Newsweek named Hadassah-Ein Kerem to its 2022 survey of the 250 Best Hospitals in the World. The Hadassah Hospitals treat all patients without discrimination. Early in the pandemic, a Palestinian woman with Covid gave birth to a baby who was also infected. This mother attended the conference to relate her experience and thank Hadassah for receiving excellent care.

Meir Shfeyah Youth Aliyah Village is the home of around 300 students.

Meir Shfeyah was established by Hadassah in 1923. This Village educates at risk students from all over the world. The Israeli Ministry of Education and Hadassah fund 35 students from Ukraine at Meir Shfeyah. Students have access to computer labs and stateof-the-art educational equipment and counseling services. Meir Shfeyah offers music education and the opportuni-

Marsha Jaffa and Deana Goldstein visit Meir Shfeyah Youth Aliyah Village as part of Hadassah’s 100th National Convention in Israel.

ty to perform in the youth orchestra.

Shabbat, and other Jewish values are introduced to the students. Many of the students go on to do a year of volunteer work to give back to Israel before going to the military and eventually perhaps college. You may support this humanitarian mission by joining Hadassah at www.hadassah.org. •

Dancing – a fun way to fulfill your fitness New Year’s Resolution!

L

ooking for a new way to get fit with good music and great camaraderie?

Come and try Israeli folk dancing, which includes music and dances not only from Israel, but from many other countries,

including Yemen, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Ireland, and others. Dancing is good for a healthy brain and a healthy body. Meet new friends at this no-cost, fun activity.

When and Where?

Wednesday evening in the all-purpose room at Akiva School 5:30 – 6:00 pm - Beginners (no experience necessary for the beginners’ session) 6:00 – 6:45 pm - intermediate and advanced Questions? Email Judy Given @ given223@bellsouth.net Friday morning in the JCC gym (you don’t have to be a JCC member to participate) 11:30 am – 12:45 pm Intermediate and Advanced Questions? Email Evelyn Koch @ kochevelyn@hotmail.com

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

West End Synagogue Sisterhood Celebrates Past Presidents W

est End Synagogue Sisterhood honored all the women who served as president through the years and the 2022 Torah Fund dinner. This year’s event also celebrated 80 years of supporting the rabbinical seminaries in

the United States, Israel, Argentina, and Germany. The evening also featured memorabilia collected through the years, as well as greetings from Women’s League of Conservative Judaism local and regional leaders. •

West End Sisterhood honored past presidents at its annual Torah Fund dinner.

Life Is Pitch-Perfect Imagine a senior living community that strikes just the right chord.

The Torah Fund dinner featured memorabilia collected during its 80 year history

Writers of the Lost Ark E

very month, members of Writers of the Lost Ark meet to discuss their work and often there’s a lively discussion about their inspiration. The November gathering was no exception when the topic of our flag and our country came up. This poem, started by Martin Sir with contributions by Ruth Thomas, Rise Tucker, and Nina Pacent, reflects that spirited discussion.

Go Ahead

I love my flag, my country, its people In all its colors, temples and steeples Olympic gold, school pledge Triangle fold to honor the dead Hand over heart we’ve bled Too many times A sign of distress when flown upside down Not all feel safe when this flag is around From Wounded Knee to bended knee Divided on what it means to be free Oh say can you see What we should do now?

How do we mend Old Glory, repair her tarnished past?

Too many lives have perished; her colors must hold fast To face our faults takes courage But we can’t let ourselves be hostage To mistakes we’ve made that will haunt us Unless we can move on As a nation we’ve been a beacon Rich in culture for a reason And we can be once again No, it doesn’t have to end So, go ahead, my friend, I’m listening.

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• January 2023

17

LET’S TALK RETIREMENT! (…because it’s not just about the money!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR and Happy Resolution Making!

By LORETTA SAFF

I

t’s 2023, and I’m hoping you are making some New Year’s resolutions. I’m also hoping that you’ve decided to put into action some of my suggestions for your plans for retirement.

Actually, whether the changes you want to make deal with retirement or transitions in life, I’ve found a two-part solution to help you succeed.

I’m excited about my research because I’m just as guilty as you are when it comes to keeping promises to self. Last year I sincerely and optimistically promised myself several things. Here’s a peek at whether I stuck to them: 1. No. 2. Nope.

3. Oops!

4. No way!

5. Ugh, maybe next year!

I’ve decided that one of the major problems with keeping resolutions is the word itself. It’s vague and offers very little motivation. Sure, it means ‘finding a solution to a conflict or a problem.’ But just knowing what the challenge is doesn’t really make you stick to your promises.

Right? Consider these: 1 – I’m going to lose weight and exercise more.

2 – I will spend time with friends outside of work.

3 – I will make time to do what I really enjoy doing.

And here’s how – after a week or two – you rationalized: 1 – “But I can’t go to the gym today – it’s raining!”

2 – “So what if I went to the game with Tony from HR – he’s funny!”

3 – “I know I used to like photography, but now it’s all electronic!”

Enter the Solution – Part One: Instead of calling these promises ‘New Year’s

Resolutions,’ let’s call them NEW YEAR’S GOALS. Think about it. GOALS are specific, and GOALS have a timeline that requires immediate attention!

But maybe you are thinking, how does just changing the name make me stick to my promises? The answer is Part Two: Make your New Year’s goals into S.M.A.R.T. goals.

The term “SMART goals” refers to the acronym developed by businessmen George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham in their 1981 article, “There’s a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management Goals and Objectives.”

Turning your resolutions into SMART goals will help you find the focus and motivation to follow through.

Here’s what the letters mean: S = SPECIFIC M = MEASURABLE A = ACHIEVEABLE R = REALISTIC T = TIMELY So, your New Year’s goals now will read: 1 – Starting Jan. 1st, I’m going to

lose five pounds in six weeks on the Weight Watcher’s diet.

2 – At least once a week, I’m going to make plans to get together with Fred and Emily, the Wilsons, or our new next-door neighbors.

3 – By the 15th I will begin guitar lessons once a week with Dave or Jonathan.

Since goals are specific, achievable, and realistic, you are already halfway there.

For the measurable part – keep a journal to track your progress along the way. And certainly, one of the most important considerations is timeliness. Choose a specific date by which you feel you can accomplish the challenge. Then, get started!

Apply this strategy to whatever problem or transition you want to work through, and you’ll achieve your goals – and maybe feel a little like a smart-y pants!

excerpts from Edna Ferber’s Fanny Herself; and The Yankee Talmud.

Before the next historical shift, the editors work in a slender section called “Jewish Humor,” including writing by Groucho Marx and Woody Allen, along with “A Scattering of Contemporary and Perennial Jewish Jokes.” Then we go “From Margin to Mainstream in Difficult Times, 1924-1945,” where writers explore the promises and problems of assimilation alongside increasing awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust.

Gertrude Stein and Clifford Odets opine on the ”Making of Americans” and why we do not always Awake and Sing!, while Muriel Rukeyser and Arthur Miller offer their own insightful perspectives.

This section is followed by the descriptively titled “Achievement and Ambivalence, 1945-1973.” Here, I made the acquaintance of Kadya Molodowsky and Malka Heifetz Tussman as I renewed my familiarity with such greats as Isaac Bashevis Singer, Tillie Olsen, Bernard Malamud, Grace Paley, Norman Mailer, and Allen Ginsberg. Also in this section, I found Cynthia Ozick, Elie Wiesel, and Philip Roth, reminding me of the vitality of Holocaust literature by Jewish Americans – both born and adopted.

Historical chronology is once more interrupted by “The Golden Age of Broadway Song,” where we find an introduction to Jewish Americans and Broadway along with a selection of lyrics

by Oscar Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Lorenz Hart, Frank Loesser, Stephen Sondheim, and Sheldon Harnick (perhaps least famous of the group, but instantly known by his work on Fiddler on the Roof). Considering the Jewish relevance of such songs as “God Bless America,” “Adelaide’s Lament” from Guys and Dolls, and “America” from West Side Story is a pleasure, especially with the helpful brief biographies for all the composers/lyricists – and every one of the other writers included in the book.

The contemporary section of the

anthology is titled “Wandering and Return: Literature Since 1973.” Chaim Potok and Adrienne Rich are its opening acts, while such luminaries as E. L. Doctorow, Marge Piercy, Art Spiegelman, and Allegra Goodman round it out. I was also personally thrilled to be introduced to second generation (survivor) writer Melvin Bukiet and Sephardic writer Miriam Israel Moses here. But this isn’t all! Before the Selected Bibliography and Index, a surprising international treasure appears in the editors’ inclusion of a group of “Jews Translating Jews,” which brings into the Jewish American fold (via translation) such writers as Heinrich Heine, Judah Halevi, Else Lasker-Schüler, Avraham Sutzkever, Primo Levi, and Paul Celan.

As this brief outline shows, Jewish American Literature: A Norton Anthology is a rich, broad volume to read and share.

Yet I must return to my one critique. I cannot help feeling frustrated by its stopping point, having been published more than 20 years ago. I honestly do not know the reason the volume has never been updated; I only wish it would be. I find myself pondering a new section, “Jews of the New Millennium,” where we can read the work of Michael Chabon, Dara Horn, Jonathan Safran Foer, and Nathan Englander – to take but four somewhat arbitrary examples. I also imagine joy at finding a sprinkling of newly discovered Sephardic and other writers for earlier sections, and ample updating of both Jewish humor and Broadway songs. In the end, even as I continue to hope to see a revision that achieves its post-millennial possibilities, I pen this review because I highly recommend this anthology and all it can offer us as “People of the Books.” •

Happy New Year, Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com

People of the Books Jewish American Literature: A Norton Anthology, edited by Jules Chametzsky, John Felstiner, Hilene Flanzbaum, and Katharyn Heller (2001).

Reviews by ELYCE RAE HELFORD

I

confess I am not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. Nonetheless, I do like to encourage myself to broaden my horizons at every opportunity.

Therefore, for this first column of 2023, I invite you to join me in deepening your knowledge of Jewish American literature. And I have just the book to help you do so.

I first discovered Jewish American Literature: A Norton Anthology in the early 2000s at Nashville’s gone-but-not-forgotten Davis-Kidd Bookstore. I was perusing a shelf of literary anthologies, and there it was. I looked over its lengthy table of contents, happy to recognize some names and delighted at so many others I did not. The collection soon became my go-to guide for Jewish American reading.

I found that as my knowledge and interests grew, the anthology was ready for me, supporting my development in such diverse themes as Jews in early America, sweatshop labor poetry, religious writing, the politics of assimilation, Jews on Broadway, Hebrew folklore, Holocaust literature, Jewish feminism, and the complexities of the contemporary Jewish American experience. Between the cov-

ers of the volume’s more than 1,000 helpfully footnoted pages, featuring 145 authors, I have discovered some of my favorite writing and writers. I have only one critique of this otherwise compelling tome: it has never been updated.

To tempt you to give a home to this anthology, let me offer a brief overview. It is organized mostly chronologically, with some overlap based on thematic sections.

After a thoughtful General Introduction, we begin with the “Literature of Arrival, 1654-1880,” incorporating addresses, letters, sermons, and poems, concluding with the work of Emma Lazarus, including “The New Colossus,” her Petrarchan sonnet written to support fundraising for the pedestal beneath the Statue of Liberty.

Next comes “The Great Tide, 18811924,” with the great literary outpouring from among the 2.5 million Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants, those “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Here we begin and end with newspaper editor extraordinaire Abraham Cahan. He leads us into the new century with his story “A Ghetto Wedding” and continues with a selection from The Forward’s “Bintl Briv” (“Bundle of Letters”), where Cahan gave practical advice in response to actual letters from Jewish immigrant readers.

Along the way, we find poet Yehoash decrying a lynching and facing down the Woolworth Building, a god of gold and iron; Mary Antin championing the sensitive Jewish immigrant child and the gentile teacher who together illustrate the possibilities of the American Dream;

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

18 January 2023 •

Elyce Rae Helford, PhD, is a professor of English and director of the Jewish and Holocaust Studies minor at Middle Tennessee State University. Reach her at elyce.helford@mtsu.edu.

Kvetch in the City WES Community Forum

By CARRIE MILLS

N

ew Year’s Day. Being one to revel in the festivities of secular holidays, specifically New Year’s Day, I tend to buy into the optimism of new beginnings and the idea of a new start. I mean, who doesn’t like a new start? I pretty much feel that way every morning when I wake up. A new day, a new start.

Maybe I’ll actually try not to get triggered every ten minutes by the news, or some careless thought or unconscious projection someone throws my way.

Like the Jewish New Year, I aspire to experience the more secular New Year celebration as a time of transition and an opportunity for self-reflection. “Who looks outside, dreams; Who looks inside, awakens.” — Carl Jung.

I tend to google and Wikipedia things as I write, or as I read the New York Times, or after watching documentaries and movies based on real life. I like to do more of a deep dive on subjects and people. I also love to google celebrity’s birthdays to figure out their astrological sign. I tend to Google a lot.

So, as I began to write about January 1st, I thought why not Google and see what comes up. While I did know that “January 1 is the first day of the civil year in the Gregorian calendar used by most countries,” little did I know that “Contrary to common belief in the west, the civil New Year of January 1 is itself a religious holiday, but that is because it is the feast of the circumcision of Christ (seven days after His birth), and a commemoration of saints.”

I had no idea that January 1st was observed because it had to do with a circumcision. Maybe it’s best not to Google. Kind of changes the tone of Happy New Year!

Speaking of things I can’t easily forget, January 1st happens to be my long-gone maternal Capricorn grandmother’s birthday.

Recently, I was leafing through the boxes and boxes of photographs I’ve held onto and lugged though several moves, yet never ever bother to look at.

Shoe box after shoe box was filled with family history and countless photos of my grandmother. It’s so funny to me the weird things that I remember most

about my grandmother. Like the one time, among many times, my sister and I stayed over at her house and it came time to wash up for bed, she pulled my hair back so tightly in a ponytail it hurt, and scrubbed my face so hard with the washcloth causing a loose tooth to actually fall out. I can almost still feel her scrubbing my face.

My grandmother always had dogs.

First there was Peppy, the large unruly standard black poodle who jumped out of our moving car when the window was open.

The dogs I truly bonded with though were her Boston Terriers, Mugsy and Lulu. I’m not surprised they had gangster names given that my grandmother used to hang out with gangsters. Her dogs set the tone for my life-long love of Boston’s…and now my son’s love of Boston’s as well. Though thankfully, I did not develop a fondness for gangsters, though I can’t say my mother escaped that fate.

As young children, we spent many a summer being shipped on a Pan Am flight from Brooklyn to my grandmother’s little garden apartment in North Miami Beach. While she was strict in many ways, she was still fun at the same time, and somehow and made summer exciting. She lived simply, though somewhere along the way accumulated some savings…probably from her second husband running numbers in the back of their Soda Fountain shop on Flatbush Ave. My condo here in Nashville is a direct line of inheritance left to my mom, who then bought property in South Beach, who then left that to me and my half-brother, which then enabled me to purchase my condo here in Nashville (which quite honestly, I have to admit, I wish was an apartment in Greenwich Village or Park Ave or Paris for that matter). For that small inheritance though, I am truly grateful, as I’ve lived a somewhat Bohemian / artist sort of existence, never pursuing money or wealth as an end game much to my accountants’ chagrin.

So, as I sit here taking stock of a new day and a New Year with introspection of all that brought me here to this moment in time, it isn’t lost on me that I still have the capacity to continue to shape whatever is left of my life, however I like.

That anything is still possible. It is truly a new day. And then I’ll take a moment to try and forget that January 1st is a day celebrated because of a circumcision. •

… because your memories matter 479 Myatt Drive, Madison, TN 37115-3024 615-712-9521 • rdschultz@schultzmonument.com

to Address Affordable Housing Crisis

By JUDITH SAKS

I

t’s been in the news for months.

Nashville is in an affordable housing crisis. Service workers, teachers, police officers, and firefighters are being forced to move out of Davidson County to find housing they can afford. Many of us have secure housing, yet are feeling the consequences through understaffed emergency services, reduced hours in restaurants and entertainment venues, teacher shortages and more.

West End Synagogue’s Social Action Committee will be holding a forum, open to all Nashvillians, “The Affordable Housing Crisis: It Affects Us All,” on Thursday, Feb. 2. at 7 p.m. at the synagogue, 3810 West End Avenue.

“It is not a simple cut-and-dry issue,” said Kitty Calhoon, WES Social Action Committee Chair, “The forum will give a clear picture of the need, what is being done and the challenges to moving forward. Attendees will receive takeaway suggestions for actions they can take to help improve the affordable housing outlook in Nashville.”

Charles Sisk, WPLN Radio News Director, will moderate a panel including: • Burkley Allen, Metro Councilperson at Large and member of the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force; • Kay Bowers, Chair of NOAH’s (Nashville Organized for Action

and Hope) Affordable Housing Task Force, a member of the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force and the former Executive Director of New Level Community Development Corp.; • Paulette Coleman, former Chair of NOAH’s Affordable Housing Task Force and member of various task forces and study groups on affordable housing, including the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force and Commissioner the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency.

At press time, confirmation from a leader in the hospitality industry is expected.

In addition, there will be personal stories from people who are facing the crisis head on.

Interfaith congregations, community organization members, real estate agents, Metro Council Members, state representatives and Davidson County residents are invited to attend. There will be ample time for questions to the panelists at the end of the program.

A dessert reception will follow the forum.

For additional information, contact Kitty Calhoon, Social Action Committee Chair, at kcalhoon103@aol.com; Judy Saks, committee member, at mountvu@ att.net; office@westendsyn.org; or www. westendsyn.org. •

Save the Dates Sunday, March 5, 2023 Comedian Avi Liberman Location - West End Synagogue - Born in Israel, raised in Texas, attended college in NY, living in LA now - Has appeared on TV, in comedy clubs nationwide, in festivals and commercials - Since 2001, has arranged stand-up comedy tours to Israel for Black & Latino comedians, to raise money for charity

Sunday, April 23, 2023 Dor L’Dor Not Your Father’s Klezmer Band Location - West End Synagogue Superb musicians and singers

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org

Multi-generational band Repertoire includes klezmer, jazz, gospel, Pop, instrumental and folk music

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

First major Nashville appearance

Ticket information, including sponsorships, will be coming soon.

• January 2023

19

At Our Congregations…

Nashville’s congregations Here are the websites for all five Nashville Jewish congregations, with information on services, upcoming events and more: Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, www.chabadnashville.com Congregation Micah, www.congregationmicah.org Congregation Sherith Israel, www.sherithisrael.com The Temple – Congregation Ohabai Sholom, www.templenashville.org West End Synagogue, www.westendsyn.org

@ Chabad /Congregation Beit Tefilah

2023 New Year Resolutions at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad Looking for a New Year’s Resolution, one filled with meaning and purpose?

Chabad of Nashville is offering various new and ongoing opportunities to nourish your Mind, Body and Soul. Pick one that suites your taste from this page, and make 2023 an even more meaningful year.

PARSHA PERSPECTIVES an All New Learning opportunity for 2023 Chabad of Nashville values a deep, rich learning experience and aims to provide this in an unequivocal way. Chabad presents an all new series of Parsha Perspectives, on Wednesday evenings in January and February 2023, Parsha Perspectives will be taught by Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, and will include a series of stimulating text and discussion based classes that take place on a weekly basis. The lessons will engage students in a multidimensional way by challenging them intellectually, spiritually and emotionally. These lessons will explore contemporary issues through a Torah perspective as well as tackling timeless questions in the Jewish tradition.

Each class introduces ideas and issues from the current weekly Torah portion and, through discussion and debate, creates a meaningful connection between the timeless wisdom of the Torah and modern-day living.

The purpose of Parsha Perspectives goes far beyond a mere discovery of knowledge. Every class creates an opportunity to truly understand how you can better your life today.

These classes are open to all, whatever your level of learning may be, and all are invited to participate. Register at chabadnashville.com

New Fall Course on Monday evening on Biblical Tales During the winter and spring of 2022 Chabad of Nashville offered a most successful course on the Biblical Book of Samuel that was attended by many students from a cross spectrum of the Nashville community. Due the great success of this course and by a great demand from many participants, Chabad will be presenting a new series of Biblical Tales of Kings, Warriors and Prophets, on the Book of Kings. This will take place on Monday evenings during the months of January and February of 2023, on Monday evenings, beginning January 9, at 7:30 PM. For more information or to register go to www.chabadnshville.com or call 615646-5750

Chabad to host two TGIS celebration in January Start your Shabbat off right with good friends, great conversation, and excellent kosher cuisine, all seasoned with the perfect amount of spirit and joy. TGIS is a Club Med Shabbat: An all-inclusive Shabbat experience. Enjoy a Friday night Shabbat dinner replete with traditional dishes. Blended with spirited singing, a Chasidic tale, and a chance to meet some wonderful new people.

TGIS will be held on Friday evening, January 13 and Friday, January 27, at 6:30 PM at Chabad of Nashville. There will be a special guest cantor for the weekend at January 27- 28, 2023. (See article in this Observer about Cantor Aryeh Hurwitz visit to Nashville.)

There is no cost to attend the TGIS Shabbat experience, however we kindly request that you RSVP by letting us know you will be attending at chabadnashville@ gmail.com

Torah and Tea- A Weekly Jewish Women’s Study Group The Five Books of Moses—the Torah—is quite simply the most widely-read,

20 January 2023 •

most influential literary work in all of human history. Since its first appearance in a blaze of Divine revelation on Mount Sinai over 3300 years ago, the Torah and its teachings have provoked inspired inquiry to discover its infinitely-layered designs and meanings.

Chabad of Nashville will host “Torah and Tea” an all women’s classical Jewish learning opportunity, in a series of clear and engaging weekly classes. Probing the ideas and issues related to the Jewish woman, these classes will offer timely lessons -from the most timeless of all texts.

Join Mrs. Esther Tiechtel together with fellow Jewish women in Nashville for inspiring Torah study, warm camaraderie, hot tea and delicious refreshments, on Shabbat afternoons at 1:00 PM, at Chabad of Nashville.

Enjoy a steaming cup of tea, a relevant Torah insight, inspired discussion and friendly interaction with Jewish women.

BLT – Bagels, Lox and Torah Join friends for a morning of Bagels, Lox and Torah on Sunday, January 8, at 10:00 AM, in the Bernard Ballroom at Chabad of Nashville.

Partake in a delicious spread of bagels, lox, cream cheese, and freshly brewed coffee as you learn Chasidic insights from the Book of the Tanya. Nourish your Mind, Body and Soul with BLT at Chabad of Nashville. RSVP at chabadnashville.com

Meet in Person for Storah Telling and Cholent Chabad of Nashville invites you to the Shabbat morning Storah-Telling.

Participants will learn the story of the weekly Torah reading, as Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel tells the story and shares relevant insights for day to day living.

The Storah-Telling is followed by followed by a hot cholent, freshly baked Challah, a gourmet buffet lunch, and a weekly farbrengen with some friendly L’Chaim.

Participants will go home with nourishments for their Mind, Body and Soul.

Join your friends on Shabbat morning at 10:30 AM at Chabad, for warmth and companionship that emanate from the Chabad of Nashville community.

A Coin in Charity a Day Brings Blessings Your Way It is a well-known Jewish tradition to give charity (Tzedakah) daily, as it draws down Divine energy of blessings and success in all of your endeavors.

Chabad of Nashville is offering a free Tzedakah box for your home or office, that can be used to fulfill the Mitzvah of giving Tzedakah daily.

The Tzedakah box is a free gift for the first 50 people to contact the Chabad of Nashville office at rabbi@chabadnashville.com

@ Micah Congregation Micah - an inclusive, innovative synagogue exploring and celebrating Jewish life - is committed to building community and repairing the world! We offer creative and diverse ways to live a Jewish life in Tennessee and beyond, using the rich beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism as our foundation. Visit our 30+ acre campus or access our virtual programs from our website, www.congregationmicah.org. Like us on socials: Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram @MicahNashville; sign up for our e-blasts; learn and pray with us in-person or on YouTube, Zoom, and our Livestream. In our tent, there is room for everyone!

Weekly Events Sanctuary Shabbat Services: Fridays at 6 PM

At Micah, we approach God in many ways: the inspiration of words, the beauty of sacred space, the authenticity of our intention, and through the power of music and song. Join us in-person or virtually for services this month that will be as diverse as they are engaging, and as moving as they are participatory. Come early and schmooze with us starting at 5:15! Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments served.

Saturday Morning Torah Study: Saturdays at 9 AM on Zoom

Deep conversations about the text with thoughtful and caring people led by the clergy.

Mah Jongg: Tuesdays from 12:30 PM- 3:30 PM

Join our players for an afternoon of fun in the social hall! For more information, contact Paula: pgkwn@comcast.net.

Schmooze & Views: Thursdays from 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM In-Person

At Micah, we keep politics off the pulpit but not out of the building. Share your views in a round-table discussion on current events facilitated by Rabbi Flip and Dr. Bob Smith.

Continued on page 21

At Our Congregations…

Continued from page 20

January Events: Micah Reads: Monday, January 9, and Monday, February 6 at 7 PM on Zoom

Education Director Julie Greenberg leads the discussion on the book Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson in January and What We Wish Were True by Tallu Schuyler Quinn in February. All are welcome.

Israel Mixer: Wednesday, January 11, at 6:30 PM on Zoom

Cantor Josh is leading a group on a Soulful Summer Israel Trip June 11-22, 2023. This intergenerational trip will immerse you in the rich history, culture, and sights of Israel.

Highlights of the trip include traveling to the Dead Sea & Masada, exploring the Western Wall Tunnel, an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves, visiting Yad Vashem (the national Holocaust memorial), and so much more! Want to learn more about the trip, or have you already committed and want to meet the other families going? Join Rabbi Laurie and Cantor Josh for a special virtual mixer. RSVP at www.congregationmicah.org/events.

Serving our Seniors: “Jewsical Theatre”: Thursday, January 12, at 11:45 AM In-Person

Jews have long had an affection for musical theatre. It’s no surprise that many of the greatest musical theatre composers, lyricists, and book writers happened to be Jewish! Cantor Goldberg will present a concert of classic Broadway songs written by Jewish composers. From Irving Berlin, Oscar Hammerstein, and Leonard Bernstein to Stephen Sondheim, Cantor Goldberg will give you a taste of all the greats! Lunch will be served at 11:45 AM. The concert will begin at 12:15 PM. RSVP at www. congregationmicah.org/events.

Sports Trivia: Tuesday, January 17, at 10:30 AM In-Person

Have you ever wondered who was on 3rd base when Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants hit “the shot heard ‘round the world” to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951? Find out the answer to this question and many more when you join Martin Light and other Micah members for an hour of sports trivia on the second Tuesday of every month. Questions? Contact Martin at martylight@aol.com.

Judaism for the Interfaith Couple: A 3-Part Series: Sunday Mornings, 10:30 AM, January 22, February 5, and February 12 In-Person

This 3-session course will focus on the subjects of Jewish ethics, practice, and peoplehood through the lens of the interfaith couple. Join Rabbi Laurie as we explore these topics through the study of Jewish text and conversation. No charge for members, $36/ person for guests. RSVP at www.congregationmicah.org/events.

@ Sherith Israel Sherith Israel has created an Inclusion Committee that aims to work with the community to be more inclusive of people with disabilities and special needs, with the broader goal of instilling a sense of belonging. To further our goal of accommodation and supporting our community, we have created an email address to which anyone can direct questions, comments, or specific ideas/needs: Inclusion@SherithIsrael.com

January 20-21 Winter Shabbaton On the weekend of Parshat Vaera, January 20-21, the Shul will be hosting a Shabbaton, featuring a dinner Friday night, with guest speaker, Rabbi Shlomo Kimche, of Efrat. Rabbi Kimche is the Founder of the Orot Yehuda Yeshiva HighSchool and is the Vice Chairman of the Bnei Akiva Educational Network. The title of his talk is: What is so special about the Kuzari that the Vilna Gaon and Rav Kook considered it the Holy of Holies? The dinner will begin at 5:30 pm and the talk will take place around 6:30 pm.

On Shabbat morning, the Shul will host Rabbi Tamar Manassah, who is the first woman ordained to the Hebrew Israelite rabbinate at Chicago’s Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. As a rabbi and activist, she fights against gang violence in Chicago’s south side. She will be speaking in Nashville about her Jewish journey, as well as the vital work she does to save young lives. Her talk will take place on Shabbat morning around 10:30 am.

And finally, Shabbat morning after services, will be the 7th annual Nashville cholent contest, featuring 5 teams competing for the tastiest cholent in the south, including one vegetarian team.

The community is invited for the entire weekend but reservations are required for the Friday night dinner program. Call the Shul office (615) 292 6614 or email office@ sherithisrael.com for more information.

@ The Temple January 2023 Events All programming can be accessed via thetemplehub.org unless noted to be in person

Pirkei Avot: Jewish Wisdom for Today’s World Every Friday from 5:00-5:40 PM

Get ready for Shabbat with a little text study! Each week we will study a piece of wisdom from Pirkei Avot, The Ethics of our Ancestors, an ancient Jewish text still relevant in our own times.

Available in person at The Temple and via zoom.

Zoom Room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81973096738

Shabbat Schedule for January

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple. You can also watch via zoom from thetemplehub.org.

Friday, January 6th ~ 6:00 PM Friday, January 13th~ 6:00 PM-SOCIAL ACTION SHABBAT CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE WORK OF REPAIRING THE WORLD. Friday, January 20th~6:00 PM- FAMILY SERVICE Friday, January 27th ~ 6:00 PM

Golden Lunch Bunch

Will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on January 3rd with entertainment by John England January 17th with entertainment by John Starbuck RSVP to Jamie Maresca at 615-354-1686 or via email at helpinghands@ jfsnashville.org

Chevrah Torah Study 9:30AM on Saturdays

Join us for our weekly Torah study on the portion of the week, led by the clergy.

You can join us in person at The Temple or via zoom from thetemplehub.org

Tot Shabbat- (for families with children up to age 5)

These opportunities offer families the chance to celebrate Shabbat with their young children in a creative way.

Saturday, January 7th ~ 4:00PM Our theme is Shabbat-PJ Havdallah

Women’s Torah Study January 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th 10:30 AM

Ongoing weekly women’s Torah study led by Patty Marks.

Available in person at The Temple and via zoom through thetemplehub.org

Lunch with the Rabbi January 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th Lunch at 11:30AM Program12:00-1:00 PM $15 per person for lunch

Engage with Rabbi Danziger and guests in a discussion of current and important issues from a Jewish perspective.

RSVP on thetemplehub.org or by calling the Temple at 615-352-7620 Available in person and via zoom.

Zoom Room: thetemplehub.org

Monday Morning Mah Jongg

Join Us for MAH JONGG Mondays at The Temple!

January 9th, 23rd, 30th from 10:00 AM - Noon+ Drop in for Mah Jongg. We’ll have coffee and water. Bring your friends, a card, and a set and have some fun. Mah Jongg cards and sets are available for purchase in The Temple Gift Shop.

Writers of the Lost Ark First Wednesday of the Month January 4th 7:00-8:00 PM

Are you looking for a creative outlet? Writers of the Lost Ark, our Temple writer’s group, meets the first Wednesday of each month currently via Zoom. This is a safe, supportive, and no pressure environment to share your creative ideas whether they be stories, songs, poems, or praise. The group is open to all regardless of how little or how long you’ve been writing. Those curious to find their creative side are welcome as well.

For more information, please contact ninapacent@bellsouth.net.

Continued on page 22

• January 2023

21

At Our Congregations… @ The Temple Continued from page 21

Leaving a Legacy: A Workshop on Writing Your Own Ethical Will with Rabbi Shana Mackler and Felice Apolinsky, LCSW Wednesdays ~ Noon-1:00 PM January 11, 18, 25

Women’s Torah Group (on Zoom) Join us on January 4, at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Joshua leads the study group. We are currently studying the closing chapters in the Book of Numbers.

Men’s Torah Group (in person)

Bring your own lunch Ethical wills are a way to share your values, achievements, blessings, life lessons, hopes and dreams for the future, love, and forgiveness with your family, friends, and community

Join us in January 12, at noon for our Torah class for men. We are currently reading Elijah’s stories in the First Book of Kings

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine Lectures

With Nachemya Rosenfeld on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. following morning minyan at 7:00 am.

Signs and Wonders – Biblical Miracles & Modern Meanings Tuesdays at 7:00 pm ~ In-Person at The Temple

Torah study Anniversary Kabbalat Shabbat

January 24-Miracles of Food – From Symbolism to Sustainability

Join us on January 6, at 6:00 p.m. for our special Shabbat celebrating all January wedding anniversaries. Services will be followed by a special Oneg. Everyone is invited!

January 31-Miracles of Healing – Health Care, Care Providers, and the Importance of Bodies

Newcomers Cookie Baking Event at WES

February 7-Miracles of Nature – From Stilling Storms to Natural Disaster Dr. Levine is the Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.

W.E.L.L. & Caring Connection Committee Stock the Freezer with Soup and Shmooze Tuesday, January 10, 2023 ~ Noon

Join us to stock our freezer with soup for congregants in need. You can bring your homemade soup to donate as well. We will cook, nosh, and discuss the meaningful memoir by Tallu Schuyler Quinn, “What We Wish Were True” *Some copies are available to borrow.

RSVP to doris@templenashville.org

@ West End For links to the following services or programs, please email office@westendsyn.org

Shacharit (in person) Join us for in-person morning minyan!

Sunday services will be at 9 a.m. and Monday-Friday will be at 7 a.m.

Maariv (on Zoom) Join us for daily Maariv at 6 p.m., Sunday-Friday on Zoom only.

Kabbalat Shabbat You are invited to join us for Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays in person at 6:00 p.m.

Morning Shabbat services You are invited to join us Saturday mornings in person at 9:30 a.m.

Talmud on Tuesdays Rabbi Joshua leads a lively Talmudic discussion at 7:30 a.m. every Tuesday, immediately after morning minyan. In January we will begin exploring a new tractate: Sotah.

Come and join us!

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

Join us Sunday, January 8 at 2:00 p.m. Contact Eitan Snyder at the Jewish Federation if you are interested in attending, eitan@jewishnashville.org.

Learn and Lunch with Sherri Holzer Wednesday, January 11, at 11:00 a.m. Reservations required, catered lunch following presentation.

TOT Shabbat and Shabbat dinner Friday Night January 13, 5:30-7:30 pm. For families with young children first grade and under.

Junior Congregation (for 2nd-7th graders) Saturday, January 14 10:30-11:30 a.m. Followed by a congregational Kiddush lunch. The main service begins at 9:30 a.m.

Young Professionals Shabbat Join us on January 20 for this new opportunity to meet friends and network.

Services begin at 6 p.m. with a special Oneg to follow.

Join USY and Gesher for a fun event on Saturday night, Jan 21 from 6:30 -9 pm at West End Synagogue.

Starting with Havdala, ending with fun, and snacks in between, you don’t want to miss out! This program is open to grades 6-12. RSVP to MTNUSY@gmail.com.

Learn and Lunch with Rabbi Daniel Hoffman Wednesday, January 25, at 11:00 a.m. Reservations required, catered lunch following presentation.

Birthday Shabbat Join us on January 28, for our special Birthday Shabbat celebrating all January birthdays. Services begin at 9:30 a.m. and a kiddush sponsored by the synagogue to follow. There will be free babysitting at this event.

Sisterhood Program on Kids’ Nutrition featuring Dani Lebovitz Sunday, January 29th from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Community Listings Hadassah Hadassah book club will meet Sunday, January 29th, 4pm over Zoom. The book we are reading is The Song of the Jade Lily by Kristy Manning.

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

22 January 2023 •

Lifecycles B’rit Mitzvah Abby, Ben, & Sam Bauman

Abby, Ben, & Sam Bauman will become b’nai mitzvah on Saturday, January 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah.

Hilary Fremont

Hilary Fremont will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, January 21, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. Hilary was born on October 2, 2009, in Nashville.

Her parents are Richard and Sarah Fremont.

Her grandparents are Kenneth and Joan Fremont of Loudon, Tenn., and Mel and Jane Richards of Ithaca, N.Y.

Hilary has yet to decide on her mitzvah project.

A ninth grader at Harding Academy Hilary enjoys soccer, basketball, track, and cross country.

Jacob and Matthew Johnson

Jacob and Matthew Johnson will become b’nai mitzvah on Saturday, January 28, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. Jacob and Matthew were born on March 8, 2010, in Nashville. Their parents are Treye and Rachel Johnson. Their grandparents are Katherine Johnson, Kenneth Kraft and Luci Crow, the late Earl Johnson Jr., and the late Tina Kraft, all of Nashville.

For their mitzvah project, Jacob and Matthew will be raising money for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Seventh graders at Montgomery Bell

Health and Wellness Corner The New 2023 Healthy Happiness Diet

By SHERRI HOLZER

I

am rolling into 2023 sharing my healthy happiness diet.

The most popular New Year’s resolution by far is weight loss. People kick-start every year on a new “detox” or fad diet with the hope of losing weight. And the media does us no favors, highlighting “the best diet to burn fat and carbs,” “how to lose 20 lbs in 20 days without exercise,” or, my favorite, the before and after photos of a dramatic body change in just 30 days. The list goes on and on, year after year, and generates billions of dollars for the weight loss industry.

I will never say that it’s all false advertising. When you start drinking manufactured shakes and microwaving your prepackaged low-calorie meals, you can and will lose weight. But at what cost? It’s not just the cost of investing in a program. There’s the price of your body adjusting to the energy depletion of an extreme calorie deficit, the cost of consuming “foods” that have anything but healthy ingredients. The expense of your mind being confused and frustrated when the quick fix ends and you’re back to square one.

How do you define healthy? What does happiness mean to you?

Feelings of happiness are associated with making choices and building habits around eating healthy foods, becoming more active, and sleeping better.

This is why 2023 is the year of healthy happiness. When you fuel your body and mind with better-for-you natural ingredients, express daily gratitude, move your body, connect with other like-minded people and become more mindful – your body will begin to estab-

lish a solid foundation that can be built upon throughout your life.

I don’t want anyone to keep waking up on January 1st with the same resolution they had last year. So, let’s try to be more realistic about becoming healthy and happy by: • Creating a strong foundation with new ways to move your body.

• Building up your awareness of better ingredients.

• Gathering insight into some healthier habits you can try out.

• Looking at cooking as self-care.

Remember that a quick fix is never as long-lasting as a solid foundation that keeps you steady for the long term.

This family treat has better for you ingredients. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip No Bake Blondie Ingredients 3/4 cup Rolled Oats 1/3 cup Almond Flour 1/3 cup Mini Dark Chocolate Chips 3 tbsps Ground Flaxseed 1/3 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut 3 tbsps Maple Syrup 1/3 cup Peanut Butter 3/4 tsp Vanilla Extract 1 Banana (mashed) Directions Add oats to a food processor and pulse a few times until finely chopped.

Add oats and remaining ingredients to a medium bowl and mix together with a spatula until well combined.

Pat down in a parchment lined 8x8 pan and refrigerate for 45 minutes..

Academy, Jacob really enjoys playing baseball, football, basketball and wrestling. He is naturally drawn to learning new technologies and enjoys traveling and hanging with friends. Matthew enjoys many different sports including football, wrestling, basketball and baseball. He also has a strong passion for art and travel.

Ava Posey

Ava Posey will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, January 28, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah. Ava is the child of Matthew and Jessica Posey, the sibling of Zachary Pose, and the grandchild of Marray and Sally Halperin of Boca Raton, Fla., and Timothy and Denice Posey of DeFuniak Springs, Fla. A seventh grader at Mill Creek Middle School, Ava enjoys musical theater, aerial silks, and reading. For a Mitzvah project, Ava is collecting instrument accessories for the students of W.O. Smith Middle School, a school that makes affordable,

quality music instruction available to children from low-income families.

Eli Shuster

Eli Shuster will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, February 4, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah. Eli is the child of Jason and Sarah Shuster, the sibling of Grant Shuster, and the grandchild of Ronnie Shuster of Nashville and Ed and Anne Verissimo of Acushnet, Mass.

A seventh grader at University School of Nashville, Eli is a multi-sport athlete involved in soccer, baseball, and basketball. He is also an avid reader and loves history. For a Mitzvah project, Eli is partnering with the Community Resource Center (CRC) to provide hygiene products for the unhoused community as well as conducting dignity drives for students in public schools who lack everyday resources that help them maintain their personal dignity.

Honor a Jewish Teen Who Is Making a Difference

E

very year, up to 15 Jewish teens from across the country are selected to receive the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award of $36,000 to honor their leadership and efforts to repair the world. Applications are open now through January 5.

Eligibility: The Awards recognize teens who are currently serving in a leadership role on a project that is making a difference in their community. Applicants must be 13-19 years old who self-identify as Jewish, are residents of the United States, and who are not receiving compensation for their work. Projects may focus on the Jewish or the community at large.

Project Criteria: • Application must focus on a single project • Candidates must have a leadership role - either in initial project creation or significant and impactful contribution • The project does not have to serve the Jewish community • The project must be able to demonstrate impact over time Evaluation Criteria: • Proven commitment to the value and practice of tikkun olam • Demonstration of vision and creativity • Effective development and implementation of a project or organization • Dedication to the project over time • Ability to impact a growing number

of individuals and/or engage a growing number of individuals in the project, either as partners, participants or beneficiaries • Ability to articulate in their own words the history, meaning and significance of the project, its goals, impact and potential to engage others • Note: Teens who have created and co-led projects with others are welcome to apply individually for the Tikkun Olam Award.

In such cases, each applicant will be considered and evaluated separately, and no more than one applicant will be chosen as an award recipient.

• Note: Teens are not eligible for the Award if they have a sibling who has received a Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award in the preceding five years.

Application: All candidates must fill out an online application focused on their volunteer leadership efforts.

For more information or to apply, to to www.dillerteenawards.org •

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

Visit the Community Calendar at www.jewishnashville. org

• January 2023

23

January in the Gordon JCC Galleries: March Art Exhibit featuring the work of Stacy Widelitz, Sandy Burr, and Kim Sanderson.

T

he Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the photography of Stacy Widelitz. Widelitz is both a composer and photographer. He started composing professionally at nineteen and came to prominence with the song “She’s Like the Wind,” co-written with Patrick Swayze and featured in Swayze’s blockbuster “Dirty Dancing.” As a photographer, Widelitz travels the world capturing emotional moments of human expression through the lens of his camera which will be the theme of his first exhibit at the J Galleries.

The JLMG2 Gallery will feature the photographic work of Sandy Burr. A transplant from Connecticut, Burr now calls Nashville home. For her work as a photographer, she draws on her skills as a former graphic designer. She has Lady of the Arcade, by Stacy Widelitz

Evening Clouds, by Sandy Burr

perfected an encaustic technique that requires soaking the images (printed on high-quality photo rag paper) with hot encaustic medium and then applying several coats of cold wax. The resulting image has the look and feel of fine leather.

The Sig Held Gallery will feature the work of Kim Sanderson. Sanderson is a graduate of O’More College of Design and a practicing interior designer. This

is her first exhibit at the Gordon JCC galleries and will consist of her collection of abstract paintings.

The Senior Lounge continues to feature the work of Marilynn Derwenskus.

The House gallery features the Under One Roof community collaborative exhibit.

An Artist Reception will be held on Wednesday, January 11th from 6 -8 pm.

It is free and open to the public.

Untitled, by Kim Sanderson

The Exhibition Dates are March 1 – 31st.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Any attendees will need to sign in at the front desk. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www. nashvillejcc.org. •

Heart of the Matter

By TONI JACOBSEN

CRAWFORD SERVICES “The Name You Can Trust” SM

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Providing Funeral Services Since 1985 (615) 254-8200 www.crawfordservices.com

24 January 2023 •

A

s a new year begins, so does a partnership with the staff of Jewish Family Service and The Observer. The staff will be sharing this new column focused on issues of humanity. We will share with you our thoughts, opinions, and experiences as we continue to support our community through life’s transitions.

Last fall, we worked with volunteers to create an interactive art project that consisted of sharing feelings and experiences in response to specific prompts.

We asked the community to participate by sharing personal information in a public space. I am pleased to report the community stood up, spoke up and shared their feelings and experiences.

We heard your hopes for peace, love, and happiness. We heard about you surviving addiction, domestic violence, suicide attempts and sexual assault. We heard about your grief for deceased family and friends. We heard you are resilient, survivors and grateful.

My hope is that everyone will continue to talk about issues related to mental health and feel supported. We all have insecurities, areas for improvement and moments of not feeling well.

Struggling with mental health does not

indicate a weakness. It takes a strong person to be vulnerable enough to share these feelings so if you are entrusted with such information, listen carefully, provide support and help the person get the attention it might require.

Not only is it important to be supportive of others in distress, let’s strive to be kind with our actions and words every day. One small act of kindness can change a person’s mood and you may literally save a life.

The more we share with each other, the more hope there is for a brighter tomorrow. • Jewish Family Service is an independent 501(C)(3) agency that provides an array of services that include counseling, adoption, financial assistance, educational programming, support groups, children’s programs and senior programs. They serve all ages and have programs and services for everyone. If you have a need or a question, contact Toni Jacobsen at 615-354-1672 or Ashley Franklin at 615-354-1662. We are always happy to hear community members.

Toni Jacobsen, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker and serves as the Clinical Director of the agency. You can reach Toni at tonijacobsen@jfsnashville.org or 615-354-1672.

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

ADVERTORIALS

SIMCHAS & CELEBRATIONS I S S U E JANUARY 2023

• January 2023

25

ADVERTORIALS

Belle Meade Cigar When considering a unique gift for a cigar aficionado, look no further than Belle Meade Premium Cigars and Gifts. This gem of a cigar shop is locally owned and sells the finest cigars, gifts, pipes, and tobacco related products in town! Swing by the Belle Meade Premium Cigars and Gift store today to purchase the finest tobacco in town... you don’t even have to leave the store to sample your purchase!

The store is complete with a smoking lounge where cigar connoisseurs relax, smoke, and enjoy themselves. Come to the Belle Meade Premium Cigars and Gifts store to enjoy the best smoking experience that Nashville has to offer! https://www. bellemeadecigars.com/about-us/

Sperry’s Whether you are dining out or cooking a feast at home, celebrate with Sperry’s this season. Sperry’s Restaurant has been a Nashville Tradition since 1974 and now the tradition can continue in your kitchen. With the click of a button, you can Shop Local, Shop Fresh and Shop Sperry’s Mercantile for premium meats, fresh seafood, scratch made salad dressings, prepared soups and the famous Sperry’s Seasonings. Create and cook your own delectable dishes from your home. Visit Sperry’s Mercantile at 5107 Harding Pike or order online and let us do the rest! Items can be shipped directly

to your home - whether your address is Nashville TN, Sarasota Florida or Scottsdale Arizona! With nationwide shipping you can always enjoy the great taste of Sperry’s.

These items make great gifts so send a little “Nashville tradition” to your friends and family for every special occasion. Shop now at sperrysmeats.com

Mazel Tov from Argent Trust Mazel Tov! Your daughter just gave birth to a healthy baby girl. You want to help her financially but are not sure of the best way to help. Outright gifts of cash for immediate needs, saving for future educational expenses through a 529 plan, creating a trust that can grow with your loved one – these are all great options but finding the right one takes planning. The staff at Argent Trust can help you decide how much to give to your children and grandchildren and when to give it to them.

Moments of joy, simchas, are to be celebrated. They are also a wonderful opportunity to review your financial plan. Argent Trust has assisted clients as they plan to celebrate a birth, bar/bat mitzvah, graduation, marriage, new home, sale of business, retirement, and more! Contact your CPA, Attorney or Argent Trust at mhirt@ argenttrust.com or (615) 385-2718 to start a conversation.

The Kupin Group The Kupin Group, founded by Jacob Kupin, has become a well-known name in the Nashville real estate market thanks to their unparalleled dedication to providing clients with world-class service. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an old hat at flipping properties, the Agents at The Kupin Group will be by your side, advising and supporting you as they execute personalized strategies to help you purchase your dream home or sell at the top market value. We are masters at structuring offers that compete with others on high demand properties and successfully getting top dollar for your home.

The Kupin Group was recently named Team of the Year by Bradford Real Estate and earned the Diamond Award from the Nashville Realtor’s Association. But more importantly, The Kupin Group’s incredible and resourceful team of Agents helped over 40 families sell their homes and over 60 others begin their journey into real estate in the last year, amassing almost $50 million in sales across Middle Tennessee, from Germantown to Auburntown and everywhere in between.

The Kupin Group motto is “We’ve Got Your Back! You can depend upon us to always be responsive, resourceful and act with integrity. One of the Team’s core values is making a positive difference in the community. You will find our team out and about, investing in the Nashville community through our partnerships with the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, NOWGEN, Gilda’s Club and many other local non-profit organizations.

WE SELL WHAT WE SERVE.

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615-777-0001 2324 Crestmoor Road Nashville, TN 37215 Behind the Mall at Green Hills www.nashgreenhillssuites.hamptoninn.com

26 January 2023 •

ADVERTORIALS

Jackie Karr Jackie is a mother, an entrepreneur, and has been a Nashvillian for most of her life.

As a wildly proud mother of her two sons, she knows all about Simchas and what they mean to the family! As a mother and second-generation real estate professional, Jackie knows how special the perfect home to host and celebrate with family can be.

Jackie’s family planted roots in Nashville in 1964 when her father, Pete Roth, brought Casual Corner stores to Belle Meade and Nashville. She gained experience in marketing and merchandising and entered the real estate industry nearly 20 years ago.

Today, Jackie is known as a seasoned, savvy, and respected REALTOR, recognized by Nashville Real Producers as being in the top 5% of REALTORS in sales volume.

Being of service and giving back to those in need is near and dear to her heart.

Jackie enjoyed the past 22 years volunteering as a Co-Chair for the Nashville Jewish Film Festival and she’s a donor to many non-profits. She is also a proud part of LIFE & LEGACY™, helping organizations sustain vital programs and services that support and encourage Jewish life throughout Nashville and Middle Tennessee, now and for generations to come.

Jackie is a proud member of Partners In Grimes: a Corcoran Reverie real estate team composed of real estate professionals with diverse experiences and perspectives. Empowered

by Corcoran’s cohesive international reach, Jackie’s strong negotiating and problem-solving skills can benefit a broader portfolio of clientele and properties than ever before.

Red Spirits As the calendar year of 2022 has come to a close our team at RED Spirits and Wine would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the Nashville JCC and all of our guests for the wonderful support that we have received during the 11 years since we first opened our doors in Bellevue. We hope that this holiday season has brough everyone in our community an opportunity to cherish special time with friends and family.

Mazel Tov! Being a local business, we feel extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful support base. In fact, we like to say that the “best thing” about RED is our fabulous customers! We look forward 2023 and hope to see a lot of familiar faces, along with some new ones too! Again, we wish that everyone reading this is blessed with health, happiness, love, and peace! Shalom.

Carrie Mills Designs: Customized art for your special occasion Carrie Mills, fashion designer, illustrator, and Parson School of Design alumna, creates customized art for your special occasions. How wonderful for a bride to own a one-of-a-kind illustration marking her once in a lifetime day, or a portrait of the happy Continued on page 28

The WINE Store REDEFINED 7066 Hwy 70 South . Nashville, TN 37221 . (615) 646-1400 www.redspirits.com • January 2023

27

ADVERTORIALS Continued from page 27

couple who just became engaged. What about the gift of a personalized mixed media beautiful collage forever commemorating a loved one’s life or a special occasion? Invite Carrie to create a piece of art in her unique and elegant style that will be celebrated in the moment and passed down for generations to come. Make your special day even more memorable with an original work of art highlighting your special moment or a loved ones’ life. It makes for a truly original great wedding, bar or bat mitzvah, anniversary or birthday gift. For more information please visit www.carriemills.org or call 615-210-5044.

Lorna Graff

It really is all about “YOU.” Whether you are purchasing a cup of coffee, a car, or a home – your needs and desires are the primary considerations. Everyone has noticed that businesses focus on offering “feel good” options for their customers. That is intentional. When you – the buyer – is happy, you will have a positive attitude about making your purchase. That combination is the key to a successful experience.

The housing market, and economy in general, are going through major changes.

Although interest rates are higher than they have been in the last few years, here are some good reasons to buy now: 1. Rates around 6% are in the historic low range.

2. Homes which were priced aggressively are now becoming more negotiable.

3. Inventory has significantly increased, which gives buyers more opportunities.

4. Purchasing continues to be a better financial choice, in the long run, than renting.

My personal commitment is to create a plan with clients, in order to achieve their goals. It is important for everyone to understand the entire process and to implement it together. Getting to know “YOU” and helping you find a “happy home” – while enjoying the experience, is my great pleasure.

PASSOVER ISSUE COMING MARCH 2023

A time for the Jewish Community to prepare special foods and celebrate this meaningful time of year.

Be sure to be a part of this annual issue.

Publication date March 1, 2023

Continued on page 29

Buying and selling Real Estate can be OVERWHELMING! But with my experience and dedication guiding you, it can be exciting and enjoyable. Your concerns and goals will be achieved – and with my personal touch.

LORNA M. GRAFF

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Office: Cell: E-mail: Web:

615.794.0833 615.351.5343 lorna.graff@zeitlin.com Lornagraff.com

Deadline for ads February 15, 2023

DUW IRU V

Contact Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager

615-354-1699 e-mail carrie@nashvillejcc.org fax 615-352-0056

28 January 2023 •

ADVERTORIALS

Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty is a local, woman–owned family business with a global reach through our affiliation with Sotheby’s International Realty. Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty was founded by Shirley Zeitlin in 1979. Originally named Shirley Zeitlin & Co., Realtors, the company’s mission was to build an organization of full–time professionals providing exceptional real estate representation. Today, the firm has three offices and more than 170 Realtors with an established record of providing first–class service, by combining local expertise with a world–renowned brand.

Additionally, the Sotheby’s International Realty network includes 24,000 sales associates in approximately 1,000 offices spanning 74 countries and territories with a total of $150 billion in global sales.

Deeply rooted in Middle Tennessee, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty is committed to helping develop and sustain the city’s unique culture and sense of community. With 100% of the agents contributing to the Zeitlin Charitable Fund, support is given to nonprofit organizations that assist thousands in need and those living in under-resourced areas in our region. We aim to continuously pay it forward.

Whether your definition of luxury is a beautiful view, a walkable lifestyle or the perfect entertaining space, our realtors are highly qualified to help you identify the lifestyle you desire. Equipped with a myriad of local and global resources, we provide the most current market information and prompt access to exclusive properties. When you are ready for your piece of luxury, we will help you find it.

Additionally, the Sotheby’s International Realty network includes 25,000 sales associates in approximately 1,000 offices spanning 81 countries and territories with a total of $204 billion in global sales. • Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know... you saw their ad here!

Mazel Tov! MAY YOUR CELEBRATIONS BE FILLED WITH JOY AND

KAROL FARAGALL I

L O R NA GR AF F

TO NY JACKSO N

HAPPINESS!

615.289.3359

615.351.5343

901.550.1347

karolfaragalli @gmail.com

lorna.graff @zeitlin.com

tony.jackson @zeitlin.com

HENRY J OHS

JAY L O W ENTHAL

NAN SPEL L ER

615.743.5049

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henry.johs @zeitlin.com

jay.lowenthal @zeitlin.com

nanspeller2014 @gmail.com

L E A D E R S H IP TE A M

J E S S I C A A V E RB U C H , C E O 615.294.9880 jessica@zeitlin.com

S A M A V E RB U C H , C O O SHELTER LENDING SERVICES MUSIC CITY TITLE & ESCROW 615.294.9887 | sam@zeitlin.com

JENNIE Z AGNO EV

JACKSO N Z EITL IN

615.838.2048

615.479.6461

jennie.zagnoev @zeitlin.com

jackson @zeitlin.com

Connect with our agents and explore our extraordinary properties at zeitlin.com

S H I RL E Y ZE I T L I N F OU N D E R/C H A I RM A N 615.383.0183 | shirley@zeitlin.com

NASHVILLE | 615.383.0183

FRANKLIN | 615.794.0833

• January 2023

29

Obituaries Blossom Averbuch

Condolences to the family of Blossom Averbuch, who died December 4 at age 95. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Michael; son, Mark Averbuch (Shelley); grandchildren, Brooke Michael (Will), Jeffrey Fuldauer, Kacey Millard (Anthony), Jared Averbuch (Mackenzie), Cutler Averbuch (Liza); and 13 great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Gerald Averbuch; parents, Herschel (Harry) and Matilda Davis; daughter, Helaine Averbuch Fuldauer; grandson, Adam Ramsay Michael; brothers, Daniel Davis, M.D., Captain Herbert Louis Davis, USMC, Martin Davis, M.D.; and son-in-law, Paul Ramsay Michael, M.D. Born in Atlanta, Ga., on February 7, 1927, Blossom grew up in Knoxville and attended Knoxville High School and subsequently the University of Michigan.

She married Gerald in 1946 and lived in Nashville, where they raised their family and Blossom assisted for many years with secretarial duties in their businesses.

After Gerald’s retirement they moved first to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and later to Amelia Island, Fla. She enjoyed traveling, tennis, golf and bridge.

Memorials may be made to the Gordon Jewish Community Center, Alive Hospice, Temple Ohabai Sholom or a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at a future date.

Burton Barnet

Condolences to the family of Burton Barnet, who died on November 18.

He was the stepfather of Erica Spinner Kimball (Bill); husband of Roberta Spinner Barnet; grandfather of Sophia and June Kimball. Donations may be made in Burton’s memory to Alive Hospice or Congregation Micah.

Stephen Harold Biller

Condolences to the family of Stephen

Harold Biller, who died on November 27.

He was husband of Margaret Ceitlin Biller; father of Daniel Biller (Tara), Caroline Biller Bernstein, Jonathan Biller; grandfather of Sophie Bernstein, Emily Bernstein, Andrew Biller, Jonah Biller, and Macie Biller. Donations may be made to Congregation Micah.

Sharon Doochin

Condolences to the family of Sharon Doochin of Atlanta, Ga., who died on November 27. She was predeceased by parents, Joe and Bess Doochin; brother, Steve Doochin; and brother-in-law Paul Goldstein. Sharon is survived by sister, Ellen Goldstein; sister-in-law, Cheryl Sandler; and devoted nieces and nephew, Robyn, Amy, Jamie and Brian.

Steven J. Eisen

Condolences to the family of Steven J. Eisen, died on December 6. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Gay Eisen of 34 years; his son, Jonathan (Lizzie); and two grandsons, Alexander and Elliott; parents Harvey and Ann; and brother, Lorne (Jodi); and nephews and nieces, Matthew Eisen (Mary-Patton) and Davis, Scott Eisen, Iris Levine (Aaron Pomerance) and Max Levine.

Steve was born on May 14, 1958, in Nashville. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy, where he was a national champion in debate and was an Eagle Scout.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Northwestern University and his JD and MBA from Vanderbilt University. Ask Steve what he cared about the most - his family, banking law, or the Chicago Cubs – he might be hard pressed to give an honest answer. He was passionate in the extreme about all three.

He was a zealous advocate for his business and banking clients at Baker Donelson for nearly 40 years. His intense organizational skills and expertise in governance made him invaluable to multiple charities, and if you dared ask about his son or wife, he would go on forever about their accomplishments.

The family requests that donations be made to The Family Center of Nashville, The Sports Fund of the Community

Foundation of Middle Tennessee, or a charity of your choosing.

Stephanie K. Freudenthal

Condolences to the family of Stephanie K. Freudenthal, who died on November 23 at age 93 years in Nashville.

Stephanie, or “Steffi” as many knew her, was born February 21, 1929, in Mannheim, Germany, and moved to New York City as a child. She attended the High School of Music & Art. She met her beloved “Shnooks,” Ernest G. Freudenthal, on his return from WWII at a wedding in New York (to which he had not been invited and she had been “dragged” by her parents). They married December 26, 1948, and it was a marriage for the ages until his passing on June 17, 2014. Together they traveled the world hiking and visiting their many friends. They hiked the Smokies well into their 70s, taking their daughters (and potential suitors) and later their grandchildren with them.

For years, she worked as a manager at Mills Bookstore helping many to find their best reads, and later as a personal shopper at Davis Kidd Booksellers.

She loved listening to classical music, playing bridge with her loyal group of friends, as well as volunteering at Luke 14:12. She enjoyed entertaining guests and was an excellent cook and baker, making schnecken and raspberry bars for her grandchildren whenever they visited.

She was known throughout the community as a caring, loving, and supportive friend. But more than anything she loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she always supported and in whom she instilled a love for reading and learning, and who always looked forward to seeing her (especially at birthdays and holidays).

She is predeceased by her husband, Ernest Freudenthal; parents, Karl and Hermine (neé Stammreich) Karlsruher; brothers, Gerhard Karlsruher and Hans Karlsruher; and granddaughter, Elizabeth Hausman.

She is survived by her daughters, Pamela Hausman (Charles) and Joan Fraifeld (Eduardo); grandchildren

Carolyn Robinson, Samuel Fraifeld (Andrea), Benjamin Fraifeld; and great grandchildren, Isabella, Seth and Eli Robinson.

Donations may be made to Temple Ohabai Sholom Caring Committee.

David Sam Oleshansky

Condolences to the family of David Sam Oleshansky, 65, of Nashville, who died on November 23. He was a passionately dedicated and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, friend, community member, and citizen. David is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Deborah, son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Christine Oleshansky; daughter and son-in-law, Bryna Oleshansky Mody and Perceus Mody; and daughter, Raeruth Oleshansky.

David loved nothing more than being with his family, preferably near water. He was an avid leader in the Knoxville, Tenn., community spending time as President of the Arnstein Jewish Community Center and as a Board Member of the Love Kitchen, a local food kitchen that supported the entire Knoxville community.

He was part of the Detroit Oleshansky family. He was predeceased by his father and mother, Nathan and Ruth Oleshansky; sister, Barbara Oleshansky; and brother, Marvin Oleshansky. David is survived by brother and sister-in-law, William and Marlene Oleshansky and family; the family of Marvin Oleshansky; and a loving community of family and friends. He was a graduate of Cranbrook High School, University of Michigan and American University.

Condolences and memorial contributions may be mailed to: Oleshansky Family, c/o Jewish Federation, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37221 Donations may also be made to Planned Parenthood, P.O. Box 3673, Ann Arbor, MI., or the Nashville Food Project, 5904 California Ave., Nashville, TN 37209.

Nancy Gene Riss

Condolences to the family of Nancy Gene Riss, who did on November 14.

The was the wife of the late Simon Riss (z”l); mother of Adam Riss (Szilvia) and David Riss; sister of Lucy Riss; grandmother of Samuel Riss, Zoe Riss, Emma Riss, Skye Riss, Remy Riss, and Graham Riss.

Donations may be made in Nancy’s memory to Congregation Micah.

Beverly Silverman

Condolences to the family of Beverly Silverman. She was the sister of the late Perry and Irving Silverman and is survived by her cousin, Leslie Stillman (Barry). •

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

30 January 2023 •

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS

OPTOMETRIST

CATHY WERTHAN, CPA

DR. MICHELE SONSINO Optique Eyecare & Eyewear 2817 West End Ave., Nashville 615-321-4EYE (4393)

401 Commerce Street, Suite 1250 Nashville, TN 37219 (615) 245-4070 • marcumllp.com

APPLIANCES

ELECTRONIC EXPRESS is a leader in top quality, brand-name electronics and appliances at exceptionally low prices. Stocking the latest items, Electronic Express takes pride in providing customers with products at prices to fit any budget. From televisions, appliances, smart devices and cameras to security systems, furniture and mattresses, Electronic Express has everything to take your home to the next level. Electronic Express offers special financing, delivery and installation options. We make it happen! Visit us at any of our 18 locations or online at www. electronicexpress.com

Lighting • Appliances • Hardware Kitchen • Plumbing • Accessories 615•843•3300 www.gohermitage.com

APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

At Emergest, we enable your business with cost-efficient digital applications – web, mobile, automation, design, strategy workshops. We partner with you to solve all your technology needs.

Find us at emergest.com, email boris@emergest.com, or call 615-473-3700.

ATTORNEY MARTIN SIR, ATTORNEY Family Law / Personal Injury / Probate Fifth Third Center 424 Church Street, Ste. 2250 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 (615) 256-5661 www.martinsirlaw.com

CARE GIVER

Custom senior care for active, healthy lifestyles. Affordable/no minimums.

Meals, meds, transportation & outings.

Memory loss and Hospital recovery.

Professional & screened care partners.

Locally owned. Call Moises for Free assessment: 615-678-9223 www.curaforcare.com

AROSA (formerly Family Staffing Solutions, Inc.) Integrated Care Management and Home Care Provider 2000 Glen Echo Road, Suite 104 Nashville, TN 37215 615-595-8929 143 Uptown Square Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-848-6774 768 N. Main Street Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-680-2771

DENTIST STEVEN R. HECKLIN, DMD DAVID M. SMILEY, DMD ABBY DILUZIO, DMD Cosmetic and Family Dentistry www.drhecklin.com 5606 Brookwood Place 615-356-7500

GASTROENTEROLOGISTS

DR. POINTER & DR. SHARMA Serving Hendersonville & Nashville 615-832-5530 or www.thegidocs.com

INSURANCE JAMES A. ROTHBERG ADAM ROTHBERG James A. Rothberg & Associates Office: 615-997-1833 Fax: 615-665-1300 2000 Glen Echo, Suite 208 Nashville, TN 37215 Email: jrothberg@jarinsurance.com info@jarinsurance.com ROBINS INSURANCE Bruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Marsha Jaffa, CIC; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 30 Burton Hills, Suite 300 Ph. 615-665-9200 • www.robinsins.com ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Michael Weinberger Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care, Identity Theft Protection 6213 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 615-356-1700 www.zanderins.com

INSURANCE/MEDICARE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE? Turning 65? Let us Assist you.

Jeffrey G. Brier CLU, ChFC, CASL jbrier@brier-brier.com. 401-751-2990 www.Brier-Brier.com

DR. JAMES W. KIRKCONNELL Bellevue Eye Center 7640 Hwy 70 S, Ste 102 Nashville 615-662-7588 www.bec2020.com

ORTHODONTISTS

GLUCK ORTHODONTICS Specialists in Orthodontics Dr. Joel Gluck DDS, MS Dr. Jonathan Gluck DDS, MSD 2002 Richard Jones Road A-200 615.269.5903 drgluck.com

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

DR. TODD A. RUBIN, M.D. Specializing in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics 615-342-6300

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT GHERTNER & COMPANY Homeowner Association and Condominium Management Full Service and Financial Management Property Management since 1968 615-255-8531 www.ghertner.com

PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING IRA HELDERMAN, PhD, LPC Psychotherapy for Individuals, Adolescents, Couples and Families nashvillepsychotherapyandcounseling. com Please contact: 615-473-4815 or ira.p.helderman@vanderbilt.edu

REAL ESTATE

FRANKLIN PARGH 615-351-7333 franklin.pargh@compass.com LANA PARGH 615-504-2685 lana.pargh@compass.com www.pargh.com Instagram: @theparghteam

JACOB KUPIN C - 615.440.6673 O - 615.279.5310 Jacob@TheKupinGroup.com We’ve got your back!

www.zeitlin.com Residential & Relocation Specialists

JESSICA AVERBUCH CEO, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty 615-383-0183 (bus.)

615-294-9880 (cell) jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.com www.jessicaaverbuch.com LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 615-794-0833 (bus.)

615-351-5343 (cell) lorna.graff@zeitlin.com www.lornagraff.com NAN SPELLER Broker, GRI, ABR 615-383-0183 (bus.)

615-973-1117 (cell) nanspeller2014@gmail.com JENNIE ZAGNOEV Affiliate Broker 615-383-0183 (bus.)

615-838-2048 (cell) jennie.zagnoev@zeitlin.com

Jackie Roth Karr, REALTOR® www.JackieKarr.com Jackie.Karr@corcorangroup.com Mobile: 615.330.9779 Office: 615.250.7880

SPORTING GOODS TEAM NASHVILLE Your Running/Walking Swimming Headquarters 3205 West End Ave. Nashville, TN 37203 615-383-0098

TRAVEL SERVICES Expredia Cruise Ship Centers A Full Service Travel Agency Alan Cooper: Office: 629-202-8945 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/AlanCooper 7081 B Hwy 70 S / Kroger Shopping Ctr.

TREE SERVICES

Preserving the Natural Beauty of Trees and Shrubs. Specializing in the care of shade and ornamental trees and shrubs for residential and commercial properties. Serving Nashville since 1978.

615-373-4342 www.druidtree.com

• January 2023

31

CAMPS COMING FEBRUARY 2023

We will be highlighting CAMPS. We know that you will want to be included in this issue.

For advertisers who contract a 1/8 page ad or larger we will be happy to contact you for articles pertaining to your business.

Deadline for ads is January 15, 2023 Contact: Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager 615-354-1699 or e-mail: carrie@nashvillejcc.org fax: 615-352-0056

32 January 2023 •