The Observer Vol. 86 No. 12 – December 2021 by Jewish Observer

the

bserver

Jewish

Vol. 86 No. 12 • December 2021

www.jewishobservernashville.org

27 Kislev - 27 Tevet 5782

New Jewish Community High School to Open Fall 2022 By BARBARA DAB

hen Carson Pounds starts high school next Fall, he will grab his backpack and head off to a brand-new Jewish Community High School on the grounds of The Temple. The still unnamed school is the result of a collaboration between Rabbi Mark Schiftan of The Temple, and Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Sherith Israel. At first glance, it may seem an unusual partnership between the Reform and Orthodox ideologies. But both Rabbis say the shared vision is a natural outcome as each is passionate about providing local students with high

Stand Against Antisemitism SAVE THE DATE: January 27, 2022

n the months that have followed since the sharp increase in antisemitism across this country and elsewhere around the world, the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee has responded on multiple fronts. One of our key initiatives in this regard is to educate the broader, general community. Please save the date to join us for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Thursday, January 27, 2022, in downtown Nashville at 5:00 pm. This gathering is to unite Tennesseans in the fight against the resurgence of antisemitism in our own time. Like the Righteous Among the Nations during the Holocaust, we are asking our non-Jewish neighbors to stand up and speak out against hate. Attendees will be empowered to make a difference by committing to educating themselves about antisemitism, personally avoid using antisemitic language/memes/tropes, and to speak out when they hear others doing so. This non-partisan event will focus on the evils of antisemitism and how learning from the past can protect the future for all of us. Invited speakers will include elected officials, civic/business/academic leaders, and special guests. • A Publication of the

WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG

quality education, tailored to the needs of the individual. Rabbi Schiftan says the school is also something he is proud to leave as a legacy following his retirement next summer. “It is one of the final things I want to accomplish. We are the oldest Reform congregation and partnering with a Jewish high school fulfills our mission of building bridges in the community.” The school will be housed, at least in the early years, at The Temple. Rabbi Strosberg says the location and the partnership is ideal for the community. “The Temple is extremely driven in its mission to serve the world. The congregation is focused on Jewish nurturing and lifting up families,” he says, “Plus, The Temple is a nice place. People respect the place, and it is a great location.” Bridget Pounds says her son, currently an eighth grader at Jewish Middle School, is excited to be part of the inaugural class of the new school. “I am very excited. I believe it is an honor for Carson to be one of the very first students involved in building what Continued on page 4

Rabbi Mark Schiftan of The Temple and Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Sherith Israel are founders of the New Jewish Community High School to open in Nashville in Fall 2022

2022 Annual Campaign Update By LESLIE KIRBY

reetings from the Federation 2022 Annual Campaign! For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Leslie Kirby Chair of this year’s Campaign. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, I came to Nashville to attend Vanderbilt as an undergraduate, and I’ve been here ever since. I received my Ph.D. in Psychology from Vanderbilt and spent 18 years on the faculty there. During COVID I decided to move on from that role and founded an independent research institute. I met my husband at Vanderbilt, and he’s also a professor there. We have two children, both now in college, so we are newly empty nesting. We are members at Congregation Micah, where I taught religious school for several years. I’ve been on the Boards of both Micah Children’s Academy and the Congregation. I came to the Federation through the Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) and just finished up a three-year term as Chair, and I continue to remain actively engaged. I am now Vice-President of the Federation and also Using DonorAdvised Funds to Reduce Your Tax Burden Today, page 6

2022 Campaign Chair Leslie Kirby, second from right, pictured with her daughter, Samara Kirith, husband, Craig Smith, and son, Eli Kirith.

Chair of our Task Force on Israel and Domestic Antisemitism. Following the past 18 months of the COVID19 pandemic, this year’s campaign is going to look a little different than in previous years. First, we’ve Vanderbilt Hillel Students Help Give the Gift of Life, page 8

pushed the calendar back, allowing us to resume some in-person events with waning COVID-19 rates. That will allow us to map the campaign better onto the calendar year and schedule events Continued on page 3

Back To School

Travel & Leisure Section, page 19

Community Relations Committee Shine a Light By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY, DIRECTOR OF THE JCRC

t the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee launched a local antisemitism reporting form in an ongoing effort to assist families and community members in addressing and responding to incidents of antisemitism, specifically those that occur in school settings.* We have already received eight reports representing three different school districts, with incidents at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. These reports have a consistent theme in which the Jewish student is confronted by a classmate with some form of Nazi imagery, Heil Hitler salute, swastikas drawn on desks, and other Nazi related threats and harassment. While we cannot accept anonymous reports, the form does allow students or parents to submit a form simply for data collection without requesting any specific action or follow up to the incident.

So far, most reports have requested our assistance in approaching the school to address the incident in a productive and effective way. Different school districts have different policies and take different approaches to addressing these situations, and for student privacy concerns, we are not always privy to the specific action taken by the school to hold the student accountable. The response must also consider what is age appropriate for the situation. An incident at the elementary school level is handled differently than an incident at the high school level. Many elected officials have wittingly or unwittingly fed this use of Nazi imagery in the public sphere by continuing to use it in relationship to COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Conflating health and safety protocols with the horror of Nazi medical experiments may not be intentionally antisemitic, but the impact does seem to embolden the use of this imagery in disturbing ways that can very easily slide into deliberate antisemitic activity. At Brentwood High School, a group

of Jewish students have taken a proactive, positive, and successful approach to helping their classmates understand more about Judaism in the hope that education will minimize negative actions. They organized a “Jewish Club” which meets on school grounds during lunch period open to all students. The group has become so popular that they outgrew the original classroom meeting space and had to move to a larger gathering point. This innovative approach highlights how student leaders can find creative solutions to a challenging situation. Jewish Federations of North America recently launched the Shine a Light campaign to engage everyone in the effort to address antisemitism. Hatred of Jews is not solely a Jewish problem. Antisemitism is a sign of an intolerant society and ignoring it grants society a broader license to hate. All individuals should care about antisemitism in order to build a world that is more compassionate, educated, and committed to the value of human dignity. Making hatred

of Jews socially unacceptable requires Jewish allies to be invested in creating a more compassionate and caring community. Information about the campaign can be found at www.shinealighton.com Jews have faced enemies and challenges throughout our history, and still we survive. As we enter the celebration of Hanukah, the story reminds us that though the Temple was destroyed, Jewish hope was not destroyed. We lost the building, but we keep the story, the memory and the light. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught, “So as you light the Chanukah candles remember this. The Jewish people kept the hope alive, and the hope kept the Jewish people alive. We are the voice of hope in the conversation of humankind.” • * The form is found on the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee website. For information, please contact Deborah Oleshansky, deborah@ jewishnashville.org

Nashville’s Jewish Community Joins Together to Provide Aid to Afghan Allies By BARBARA DAB

he United States is currently seeing tens of thousands of Afghans pour into the country as Humanitarian Parolees. After spending weeks or c

STAFF c

Publisher Eric Stillman 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 ‘The Jewish Observer’ (ISSN 23315334) is published monthly for $25 per year by the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205-4009. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE JEWISH OBSERVER, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205 This newspaper is made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. The Jewish Observer is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. While The Jewish Observer makes every possibly effort to accept only reputable advertisers of the highest quality, we cannot guarantee the Kasruth of their products. The Jewish Observer Founded in 1934 by J

months on military bases while awaiting processing, they are now in need of assistance, and Nashville’s Jewish community is coordinating efforts to do just that. Through the combined efforts of the organized Jewish community and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), funds are being

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.

raised to help resettle Afghan people in Nashville and to help them become acculturated in the United States. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee says, “The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is proud to partner with our congregations, agencies, and Jewish community organizations to participate in helping to resettle about 300 Afghan allies coming to Nashville from the approximately 50,000 Afghan allies who are coming to the US. Our Federation together with Jewish Family Service is leading a Jewish community volunteer effort to maximize our efficiency.” According to Pam Kelner, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee, there is greater strength in a collective effort rather than individual organizations working alone. “This is a coordinated Jewish

community response, and we are working with an established resettlement agency to make a bigger impact.” Kelner also says, “Many of the newly arrived Afghans assisted the United States government for a long time, and it is important to recognize their status as our allies, rather than refugees.” According to a recent update by NICE, Nashville will be receiving over 100 Afghan allies by year’s end. The goal, says Michal Becker, Engagement Director for the Jewish Federation, is to help everyone become comfortable in their new homes and new lives. Volunteers are needed to provide not just financial support, but also to help with basic day to day life skills. Things like learning about the monetary system, driving, language, and navigating the diverse cultural landscape of Nashville. Continued on page 4

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.

December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee appeared on Newschannel 5+ show Openline. He was interviewed by host Ben Hall about rising antisemitism in Nashville.

On Generosity By RABBI JOSHUA KULLOCK

mong the many different challenges facing contemporary American Judaism, I believe that our biggest threat is related to what we know as Jewish literacy. It is true that antisemitism is on the rise and that assimilation is growing as well. Although we live probably in the best of times to be Jewish and to explore, embrace and expand on our Jewish practice and knowledge, we also live in a world that competes for our relentless attention and, as a consequence of that, we sometimes fail at finding the time to bump up our personal learning. Going back to our core texts is essential to discover who we are as a people, and to shape our particular identities through the insights given to us by those who preceded us. As we reconnect with those ideas, we can strengthen the backbone of what makes our own commitment to amend the world something richer. We do the right work not only because we are good human beings but because that work lies at the heart of what Judaism teaches us. That is why I love teaching and that is why many of my classes are text based. We learn the texts without skipping. Instead of going for the greatest hits, I enjoy working our way through the challenging terrain that some of these books present. It is true that some of these “hits” can be a great entry point for people who are just starting to get acquainted with the material, but nothing compares to the experience of struggling and finding meaning in the “deep dives.” This whole concept is also behind the program called Daf Yomi, or the daily regimen of studying a page of Talmud a day. This program intends to get you through all the 2,711 pages of Talmud in around seven and a half years. One day at a time. I began that process more than eight years ago but then I had to stop. Last January, I resumed exactly where I left, and I’ve been reading my daily page of Talmud ever since. I guess that I cannot ask for a strong commitment in the learning of those willing to study with me if I am not ready to commit myself, right? I’m telling you all of this because, it was thanks to this kind of learning discipline that, a few weeks ago, I found a beautiful snippet of Talmud that I want to share with you today. In what is known as the Tractate of Beitza (Hebrew for egg), we read the following statement: “Rav Natan bar Abba said that Rav said: The wealthy Jews of Babylonia will descend to Gehenna (or Hell). Why? Shabbetai bar Marinus happened to come to Babylonia. He requested their participation in a business venture and they did not give him any money. Furthermore, when he

Campaign Update Continued from page 1 at times that have a lower risk of bad weather. There are two key examples of the ways the campaign is evolving. First, Girls’ Night Out is transitioning into a Jewish Women’s Philanthropy event that will take place at Wellspire (with both in person and virtual options to attend) on Sunday, December 12th with guest Tracy Walder, author of The Unexpected Spy. Second, Tzedakah Tzunday will also transition into a Community Day on April 3rd, with options for community service

asked them to sustain him with food, they likewise refused to sustain him.” After this short story, the Talmud concludes: “Anyone who has compassion for G-d’s creatures, it is known that he is of the descendants of Abraham, our father, and anyone who does not have compassion for G-d’s creatures, it is known that he is not of the descendants of Abraham, our father” (32b). There are so many layers to this short story that I won’t have the time (or the space) to deal with all of them. And, yet, I love the Talmud’s take on how our identity depends on traits like generosity and kindness. I don’t think that this story is designed to tear down the basic legal ways in which somebody is or can become Jewish. But the story is trying to offer us some insight in what makes for a meaningful Jewish identify. The Talmud knows, as the Biblical prophets knew, that wealth can be a source of blessings but also a potential danger. They knew that wealth can bring solutions but also create deeper gaps within any given society. And they knew that generosity is always at the root of our joint growth, that only a community that gives is capable of weathering storms and thrive even during challenging times. I am blessed with the opportunity to live in the midst of such a giving community. On a personal level, I have witnessed the generosity of all those who embraced us when we moved to Nashville eight years ago. As a congregational rabbi, I’ve seen it all along, and especially during these past couple of years, as members and non-members alike have kindly helped us in raising funds to renovate our building. And, as a community leader, I’ve felt it with the generosity of spirit of all those who have understood how hard it might be to lead organizations under a pandemic, with so many opposing views clashing on so many issues. If congregations and Jewish institutions are going to endure, it is going to be thanks to those who have been generous enough to be both flexible and understanding in the midst of such uncertain times. Those are the true heirs of Abraham and Sarah, and to those we should be really grateful. We just came together to celebrate Thanksgiving and are now in the middle of Hanukkah. As the days are getting shorter and the nights are longer and colder, both our American and Jewish identities are telling us one and the same thing: Let us be gracious, let us be thankful and let us continue bringing light into this world. Let us continue to learn from our past, so that we can make sure that we set the foundations for what we hope it is going to be a bright and inspiring future. Chag Urim Sameach! • and family activities in addition to making calls about the campaign. So, you will still hear from us, just slightly later than usual! Another significant change is that we’ve lifted the restrictions on agency and congregational fundraising during the month of February. We felt that times have changed and this “embargo month” is no longer necessary to the Federation’s campaign activities. It offers our agencies and congregations more flexibility in their internal programming and allows us to schedule campaign activities in a more practical way and to encourage greater community participation. Feedback from

Is the First Night Candle Lonely? By RABBI YITZCHOK TIECHTEL

t was late at night. The latkes were long gone. The kids were asleep. I went and sat down to do some studying and saw my little flame still going strong. (Yes, the large glasses of oil tend to outlast the candles). And then I stopped to think: There’s something about the LONELY FLAME on night #1 that always stood out. But it wasn’t until this year that I gave it much thought. The message was clear. One flame. Standing alone looking at all the other empty places on the Menorah. Hanukah 2021: How many people are spending Hanukah without friends or family this year? And even for those fortunate to have safe ways to see one another, we all know... it just isn’t just like before. And yet, there is also something powerful about that first flame? Look at the candle and allow it to talk to you. Does it have to feel lonely? How many large and impactful events in our history began with just one... In the story of Hanukah, after the Jews won the battle, they didn’t stop looking for oil until they found that tiny flask. Rather than dismissing its value (I can almost imagine the cynical folks who must have said, “What’s the point of lighting that measly amount of oil!”), the Maccabees believed that we must begin with whatever we have...and leave the rest to G-d. In fact, we celebrate the holiday, not on the day they won the war (the 24th of Kislev), and not on the day the oil lasted longer than it should have (the 26th of Kislev) but rather on the day they found the one bottle that started it all... Our entire People began with one visionary. Abraham, our forefather, literally stood alone. His beliefs and values were so different from anyone else on the planet that he was called, “ha-ivri” (the guy on the other side). We are all here as Jews today because of the faith and dedication of one person. The hero of the end of the Book of Genesis, which we read about in December 2021, is Joseph, who was as lonely as one could possibly imagine. He was sold by his own brothers to a band of Gypsies. He then ended up in prison in Egypt without committing any crime at all. He had every reason in the world to be depressed. But he didn’t sit in despair. He was going to be a single candle. Even in the darkest of dungeons. When he saw two other inmates appearthe agencies and congregations has been extremely positive. To date, the 2022 Campaign Cabinet has met and set the agenda for this year’s campaign. We’ve held an in-person outdoor reception for major donors and have recruited and trained solicitors for the Campaign. By the time you read this, we will have run an expanded Giving Tuesday effort, tying into the nationwide

ing especially sad one morning, he brightened up their day by asking how he could help. That led him to interpreting their dreams, and then the dreams of Pharaoh...and the rest is history. Joseph’s impact on the entire world all started, because he never succumbed to solitude, and believed in the power of a single flame. I’ve been blessed to have many meaningful Hanukah experiences. But most memorable is neither from my childhood nor from my married and Rabbinical years. As a 17 year old back in Yeshiva, we’d hit the streets on Chanukah, whether on foot or in a “Mitzvah Tank,” looking for Jews to whom we could give a Menorah or other holiday item. One particularly cold Hanukah night in New York City, my friend and I stood outside a subway station in Manhattan. Business wasn’t going too well. The station was quiet. After about 90 minutes of shivering, we were about to head home, our boxes of Hanukah supplies in our arms still as heavy as the moment we arrived. Suddenly, a young boy of 10 or 11 approached us. He explained to us how he lived with his mother in an apartment just above the station. He didn’t know much about his Judaism, but he would LOVE to have a Menorah. (Little did he know how happy he made us feel!) We followed him and his mom home and lit Menorah together. We stayed in touch, brought him into a Hebrew School, and eventually Jewish Summer camp. And today, there is another proud Jewish ambassador somewhere in the world...but that journey all began with some young men whose only success of the night was giving out one tin Menorah. ––– We wish you all an uplifting and joyous holiday. True, it can be challenging to stay inspired as a “lonely candle,” without being able to feed off the energy of the second or third candle standing nearby. As Hanukah concludes during the first week of December, I bless each member of our Nashville Jewish community with the strength, faith, and joy needed to be a lone candle! During those times that you feel most isolated, try closing your eyes and think of G-d speaking directly to you...lovingly telling you that “you can be a light that brings miracles into My world.” And then go out and be that miracle for someone else. Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad in Nashville social media campaigns to make donations to nonprofits on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. I’m excited to take on the challenge of chairing the Federation 2022 Annual Campaign, and extremely grateful for the advice I’ve gotten so far. I look forward to engaging with our community and thank you in advance for supporting the 2022 Campaign. •

Learn more about the Jewish community at www.jewishnashville.org The Jewish Observer • December 2021

New High School Continued from page 1 we hope becomes a full high school program and lasts for many years to come.” The goal of the new high school, according to both Rabbis is to teach the fundamentals of Judaism, to prepare students for college and for the world beyond. Much of the format will be similar to that of the Jewish Middle School, with a focus on diversity and an emphasis on teaching ethics and creating community. Ron Heady is an educator and a consultant who is helping develop the school’s academic programming. He says the school is organized around Jewish values but will not be structured like a traditional day school. “In discussing the educational approach, we focused on three primary Jewish values. Learning, building community and perseverance,” he says. While the school will have more structure than the middle school, the emphasis is on personalizing each student’s overall experience. “Many kids have been discouraged by their school experience,” says Heady, “We plan to provide each student with the resources and support they need to succeed after high school.” Bridget Pounds says the goals of the new school align perfectly with what she is wanting for her son, “I would love for my son to be able to continue receiving a stellar education experience while continuing to be provided the nourishing environment he has received through the middle school. I want him to continue being challenged through high school but to also continue being more self-aware and embraced for who he is and what he brings to the classroom.” Heady also says the location of the school is key to fulfilling the values of commu-

nity and learning. “Learning doesn’t take place in isolation. The Temple already has a community, and our goal is to maintain and protect that relationship.” Creating a Jewish high school represents a significant step forward for the local Jewish community, which has been growing for many years. In fact, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is supporting the new school with one of its Innovation Grants. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Federation, says, “The Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee gave an Innovation Grant of $10,000 for fiscal year 2021-2022 to help lay the groundwork for a Jewish High School because this is both an innovative and collaborative initiative to strengthen Jewish education in our community.” Moshe Werthan is a member on both the Executive Committee and the Board of the Jewish Middle School. He says, “Nashville has become a destination for Jewish families and until now, we haven’t had anything to offer in terms of a high school. This is a big step for us and can put Nashville on the map Jewishly.” Werthan and the rest of the JMS Board will become the Board for the high school for the first two years. Didi Biesman is the current JMS Board President. She says, “It is exciting to be in a community that works so well together. We are so thrilled and touched by The Temple Board’s response and support, the energy behind this. I am proud of our community.” Biesman also points out that the new high school will be financially accessible. According to Rabbi Schiftan, “We are aware that access to private school education is limited by cost and for many families, it’s not an option. Our goal is for the cost,

Carson Pounds will be part of the inaugural class of the New Jewish Community High School in Fall, 2022

with scholarship, to be about one-third that of other independent schools.” And Biesman says she is thrilled students will be able to receive a quality education without the high price tag. Perhaps the most significant hurdle, according to Rabbis Schiftan and Strosberg, was presenting the idea for the school and the partnership with The Temple to the congregation’s Board. Rabbi Schiftan says, “Back in October, [Rabbi] Saul came to The Temple’s Executive Committee and the Board. They were so impressed, there was unanimous approval for the school.” The Temple’s President, Jim Marks, says there was recognition that the school represented an important step for the future of the local Jewish community. “Everyone understood that this school is something the community needs.” He also says Nashville is unlike many other larger Jewish communities around the country.

Afghan Allies

Proudly Supporting Life & Legacy™

Howard Safer, CPA

Mindy Hirt, CFP®

At Argent Trust, we are proud to support Life & Legacy™, offering complimentary reviews for families evaluating their legacy plan. Argent offers comprehensive wealth management services from a dedicated staff of attorneys, CPAs, CFPs and CFAs. 2020 POWER LEADERS IN FINANCE 2016 WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2012 ADVISOR HALL OF FAME

Q E DC

December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

Continued from page 2 And Becker says those wanting to help need to manage expectations and be sensitive, “It is important for us to be welcoming, but also to recognize the tremendous trauma people are going through. Not all of them will be happy to be here.” Through four training sessions NICE will help volunteers learn ways to engage appropriately and to spot any issues that might need additional support. Becker also says the process will not be a quick one, “This will take a long-term commitment. Volunteers should be prepared to be involved for quite a while.” The road to arriving in Nashville is not an easy one, and there is urgency as the holidays approach. The Shapiro Foundation is a Boston based organization that has been working in the resettlement arena for the past five years. According to Larry Tobin, the organization’s Director, there are approximately 40,000 waiting on United States military bases to be resettled. Behind them are another 10,000 waiting on US bases overseas and about 1,000 on bases run by other countries. He says assistance by organizations like NICE and The Jewish Federation is critical to moving the resettlement process along. “The government goes very slowly. At the rate they move, it could take until Spring before everyone can get resettled. But the military wants everyone off their bases by the holidays, so we all need to step up and help.” The Shapiro Foundation is doing its part by matching, dollar for dollar, donations

“We are different from a lot of other places. Here there is no real separation between people based on where you go to services. Everyone feels the need to pitch in and help wherever it’s needed.” And while there are certainly some logistics that need to be worked through, Marks says he is confident in the congregation’s ability to adapt. “We are still in the early stages in identifying where the impacts will be. We are creating a committee to help plan out those details. We know some things like Internet infrastructure will need to be upgraded to accommodate remote learning at times.” The process of educating children is never easy for families. Decisions range from academic philosophy, to location, to cost, and more. Both Rabbis Schiftan and Strosberg, as well as everyone else involved in building the New Jewish Community High School, hopes to help alleviate that stress by providing a place that will inspire and nurture teens. Bridget Pounds’ son, Carson, is excited to be part of the future of education in Nashville and, as she says, “It’s almost as if he’s been asked to help set the bar.” She says choosing a high school was proving to be a daunting task since Carson was used to the structure of JMS, and the news of the new school was, for her family, a highlight of 2021. Pounds also says she is confident in Rabbi Strosberg’s leadership and ability to continue to build on that for the high school. “Partnering with The Temple just makes it better. You have two places and different leadership all on the same page with education for our children and it is difficult to think it will be anything other than a huge success! We are so happy and so excited to be a part of this endeavor.” • over an amount needed to support a family for six months. Nashville’s Jewish community has already raised enough for two families, meaning thanks to the matching grant, even more families will be receiving financial support. “We believe in the Jewish value of repairing the world. We work through Jewish Federations of North America to help any community that wants to welcome Afghans by assisting with co-sponsorships,” he says. To date, The Shapiro Foundation has helped 25 communities across the country with matching grants. “These community-based sponsorships have resulted in two dozen resettlements so far.” Nashville’s Jewish community is stepping up. According to Michal Becker, there are currently 45 volunteers waiting to welcome Afghan families. And JFS’s Pam Kelner says she is not surprised by the outpouring of support. “This notion of welcoming the stranger resonates with our community regardless of political persuasion or personal ideology. Everyone can be engaged around this.” The Jewish Federation’s Eric Stillman agrees and says helping immigrants is also part of the American heritage, “As Americans, many of our parents, grandparents, or even great-grandparents came to this country in need of just this sort of assistance, and we want to help our allies now that we have an opportunity to do so.” To learn more about this effort, or to volunteer, contact Michal Becker at michal@jewishnashville.org. The volunteer training with NICE will begin December 5th. All volunteers must participate in the training. •

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

Local experts in a global market: Your Nashville relocation specialists BaW_WOp BoO dK^WbU sd sVO sVObp dT sVO /dtsV _W^O bOyOo JOTdoOà 2VO oOB_ OpsBsO plBKO VBp bOyOo JOOb adoO KdalOsWsWyOà #to sOBa dT oOpWMObsWB_ oOB_ OpsBsO O{lOosp VByO B KdaJWbBsWdb dT ^bdz_OMUO sVBsĆp WbyB_tBJ_O sd dto K_WObsp zVd BoO bOz sd !BpVyW__Oà 9O VByO JOKdaO lodp Bs dTTOoWbU yWostB_ sdtop BbM JOWbU ădb sVO UodtbMĄ _WBWpdbp Tdo dto K_WObsp zVd BoO MdWbU sVOWo VdaO pOBoKV Toda BTBoà 9O MdbĆs ]tps VO_l Jt|Oop bM B VdaOÛ zO VO_l sVOa bM B _WTO Wb !BpVyW__O J| oOKdaaObMWbU pKVdd_p zWsV sVO BppWpsBbKO dT dto WbøVdtpO MtKBsWdbB_ dbpt_sBbsÛ Bp zO__ Bp MdKsdopÛ pB_dbpÛ U|apÛ lBo^pÛ BbM _dKB_ BaObWsWOpà 9VOb |dt oO_dKBsO zWsV 2VO +BoUV 2OBaÛ zO VO_l |dt bM sVO lW__Bop db zVWKV sd JtW_M sVO bO{s KVBlsOo dT |dto _WTOà

You can count on The Pargh Team to be your Nashville relocation experts. Let us guide you home.

oBb^_Wb +BoUV à à ToBb^_WbàlBoUVŒKdalBppàKda lBoUVàKda

ŒsVOlBoUVsOBa

BbB +BoUV à à _BbBàlBoUVŒKdalBppàKda

BaW_WOp dto sOBa VO_lOM oO_dKBsO sd !BpVyW__O Wb

.OpWMObsWB_ .OB_ psBsO O{lOosp oOBM| sd VO_l zWsV OyOo| BplOKs dT |dto oO_dKBsWdb

bøVdtpO MtKBsWdbB_ dbpt_sBbs sd VO_l bM sVO oWUVs pKVdd_ Tdo |dto KVW_MoOb

9dooWOp |dtĆ__ VByO zVOb |dt zdo^ zWsV 2VO +BoUV 2OBa

ŒlBoUVsOBa

2VO +BoUV 2OBa Wp B sOBa dT oOB_ OpsBsO _WKObpOOp BT _WBsOM zWsV dalBpp . Û B _WKObpOM oOB_ OpsBsO Jod^Oo BbM BJWMOp J| OntB_ VdtpWbU dlldostbWs| _Bzpà 2d oOBKV sVO dalBpp . dT KOÛ KB__ à à à

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Using Donor-Advised Funds to Reduce Your Tax Burden Today By MINDY HIRT

of donating 100 shares of a stock to 10 different charities, you can simply donate 1,000 shares to one place – your DAF – and get one tax letter to provide your CPA. The best assets to gift into a DAF are those that have been held for at least one year. Otherwise, the deduction may be limited to the original purchase price of the asset instead of the current market value.

ver the past few years, donor-advised funds (DAF) have grown in popularity and for good reason. They are an excellent way for benevolent individuals and families to make a longterm charitable impact and receive a tax benefit in the process. Good candidates for DAFs include: 1) Individuals with low basis assets SAVE ON CAPITAL 2) Donors with a large tax GAIN AND INCOME liability that would like TAXES to maximize deductions Selling the asset inside in the current year a DAF can eliminate capital 3) Anyone charitable that gain taxes. In addition, you likes to take advantage get an income tax deducMindy Hirt is Senior tion for your donation. of tax-free growth 4) Families who would like Vice President and Currently the IRS allows Advisor at to start a legacy giving Wealth a deduction up to 30% Argent Trust plan of adjusted gross income (AGI) for donations of appreciate assets. MORE THAN JUST TAXIf your AGI is $100,000 and you donate EFFICIENT $50,000 in stock to a DAF, you will For individuals with appreciated only be able to deduct $30,000 for that assets, DAFs are not only tax-efficient, taxable year. But don’t let that stop you but they also help simplify giving. Instead from donating the full $50,000. You can

Update on Aid to Haiti By BARBARA DAB

his past summer, on August 14th, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti, killing over 2,200 people. Over 12,000 people were injured, and 130,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. This disaster struck at a time when Haiti was already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, unparalleled economic hardship, and social and political unrest following the assassination of Haiti’s president in July. Haiti’s hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, and people were not able to get the medical care they desperately needed. An emergency donation from

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee played a critical role in helping the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to respond immediately with lifesaving medical care, food, water, and supplies to more than 7,000 people who were hardest hit by the earthquake. Eric Stillman, CEO of Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, says, “This demonstrates the power of the collective, as our Federation in Nashville worked together with other local Federations from across North America to partner with JDC in this humanitarian response.” •

REALTORS® who: • Act fast • Lead with honesty and integrity • Give to the community • Keep your best interests at heart That’s The Kupin Group. We’ve Got Your Back!

615.440.6673

615.279.5310

Learn more about the Jewish community at www.jewishnashville.org

December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

carryover the remaining $20,000 and use it over the next five years. DEDUCT NOW, GROW TAX-FREE AND GIVE LATER To further explain the benefits, let’s look at John and Jane’s situation. They give about $25,000 per year to various charities, frequently by just writing checks. Jane will receive a large bonus at year end that will throw them into a higher bracket. They also have $100,000 in highly appreciated stock that they would like to sell but do not want to incur additional tax liability this year. They already did most of their annual giving but would like to increase their deductions to offset the additional income. Funding a DAF this year with the $100,000 in stock would allow them to offset income and sell the stock without incurring the capital gains tax. Since their total adjusted gross income (AGI) is $350,000, they will be under the 30% AGI limit and be able to fully deduct the charitable gift this year. By frontloading multiple years’ worth of donations, they will have time to benefit from tax-free growth within the fund.

ORGANIZE, STRATEGIZE AND CREATE A LEGACY This gift will essentially allow John and Jane to make grant recommendations on their timeline. They can establish patterns of giving within their DAF and provide the next generation a roadmap to their charitable giving. Since DAFs can be set up to last more than one generation, they are a great way to engage the next generation and continue a family’s philanthropic mission. Please contact your professional advisors or a member of Federation’s PAC to discuss if a DAF is right for you. Mindy Hirt is Senior Vice President and Wealth Advisor at Argent Trust. She serves high net worth families with trust, investment, foundation, estate and family office services. She enjoys helping her clients find holistic solutions to their financial planning needs. She is a member of the Jewish Federation Professional Advisory Council (PAC). For more information about the PAC or upcoming seminars, please contact Shannon Small, Assistant FRD Director and Foundation Director at shannon@jewishnashville.org.

FBI Invites Jewish Federation onto Community Engagement Council By BARBARA DAB

s part of an ongoing effort to engage and educate communities across the country, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is expanding its Community Engagement Councils (CEC) and The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is now a part of that effort. Adam Bronstone, Director of Planning and Israel Partnerships for The Federation, will represent the local Jewish community on the council. “I am excited about the experience,” he says, “But most important, is the fact that they wanted to include us and to deepen the relationship with us.” The Council meets regularly and includes representatives from across the state. Doug Korneski, FBI Special Agent in Charge in the Memphis Field Office, says, “The Council helps improve the lines of communication between the FBI and the community. It is an opportunity to share what is going on in law enforcement and what we are concerned about.” Violent crime in Nashville and the surrounding area is a major concern for the FBI. According to Korneski, the 2020 Violent Crime Report (the most recent data available), puts Nashville at number 41 nationally. Also of concern are hate crimes and other civil rights crimes, cybersecurity issues, and elder targeted crimes. Korneski says the CEC is an important tool in helping to root out vulnerabilities in the local communities. “The CEC is an advisory group for me. They let me know the concerns of their communities.” The Council also provides an opportunity for education. For exam-

ple, Korneski says, it is important for people to know exactly what constitutes a hate crime. “I can clear up any misperceptions and about what constitutes a crime or a hate crime. The Council then can use their personal networks to help spread the word.” And most important, he says, is that if people become aware of a potential crime, regardless of type, they should report it. Adam Bronstone says that’s where the CEC can be particularly useful. “It’s important for the community so if there is an issue, you know who to call, and you’re not intimidated or afraid to make the call.” In addition to Adam Bronstone from The Jewish Federation, the CEC has members from other faith groups, HBCUs, and other multicultural groups. Bronstone says the diversity of the group is also its strength, “The whole community will benefit long-term. We’ll be able to share ideas with the other groups and learn how we can help each other.” In fact, says Bronstone, The Jewish Federation was not historically involved at this level with the FBI, but the rise in antisemitism in recent years has made it more important than ever to build that relationship. “After Pittsburgh, they wanted to build a stronger relationship with our agency and others in the Jewish community.” And Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation says Bronstone’s inclusion on the CEC shows a higher level of visibility by the Jewish community. “It’s wonderful for our community to have a seat at the table. It is a great recognition on the part of law enforcement that our Federation is a strong representative of our larger Jewish community.” •

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!

Jewish Family Service Working to Make Mental Health Matter By BARBARA DAB

recent report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses between May 2020 and April 2021. The finding highlights not only the growing opioid crisis, but also a crisis in mental health. And while the Biden administration is getting involved in the fight against opioid addiction, locally the Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee is working on the mental health front. According to Toni Jacobsen, Clinical Director of JFS, the COVID19 pandemic has served to bring conversations around mental health to the forefront. “Mental Health is often overlooked because it’s not something that can be easily seen, tested or measured.” She says it is important for people to recognize the many facets of mental health. “Mental health doesn’t always refer to an illness or someone with a diagnosis. Tending to our mental health might mean paying attention to the way we feel and manage our emotions in a healthy way.” And, through a yearlong initiative called Mental Health Matters JFS is presenting programs and offering resources designed to both destigmatize and educate about mental health. Pam Kelner, Executive Director of JFS, says the program aligns with one of the agency’s overarching goals, “We want to reduce stigma around mental health conversations and be inclusive while increasing awareness about the topic.” The initiative kicks off in January with a two-part Community Member Education and Enrichment seminar. JFS

Social Worker Ashley Franklin is the organizer of the program. She says the goal of the seminar is to educate people about what constitutes a mental health crisis, and to provide tools for dealing with one. “This type of information is always important, but especially during the pandemic. Everyone is suffering from trauma in some way as a result, and there is a whole new level of anxiety in everyday life.” She cites increased relapse rates for people with diagnoses and the need to gain greater understanding of how to deal with family members and loved ones who are struggling. “The seminar provides resources for everything from how to recognize a crisis, to knowing when and if to intervene, to knowing who to call.” The first program in the Mental Health Matters effort is being facilitated by the Blue Dove Foundation. The organization was founded in 2017 in Atlanta to help provide education about mental health through a Jewish lens. Gabby Spatt is the Founding Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer. She says the Foundation’s mission aligns with that of JFS. “Traditionally in the Jewish community there is a lot of shame around mental health. We use the value of Tikkun Olam to help educate and provide tools to help.” She says mental health is not a new topic, but it is typically approached from a clinical perspective, “We take a spiritual perspective to talk about it. We work with organizations and agencies to tailor a program for their specific community.” For example, in Nashville, Ashley Franklin says it is important for the seminar to be small where participants can gain trust in an intimate setting. “Even

though the class is virtual, we are limiting it to just 25 people.” In addition to the upcoming twopart program, JFS offers a wide array of resources and services designed to raise awareness, foster discussion, and provide outlets for creative self-expression. Jewish Family Service has a brandnew website describing and providing additional information about accessing all the resources in the Mental Health Matters initiative. Most important, says Toni Jacobsen, is continuing to provide a safe space for everyone in the commu-

nity. “It’s important to increase society’s comfort level for individuals with a mental health diagnosis. Often these individuals are the ones with the most need of a community but are often unintentionally excluded because of their behavior.” The two-part class will be held January 6th and 13th 6-8pm virtually. Space is limited, RSVP is required. Contact Ashley Franklin at ashleyfranklin@jfsnashville.org or 615-354-1662. For more information about Mental Health Matters, visit www.jfsnashville. org/mental-health-matters. • Rabbi Garmi spoke about the plight of the Jewish community of Iran. He shared that Iran is home to about 20,000 Jews, and the community’s roots and unique customs stretch back more than 2,500 years. Over the last 10 years, Rabbi Garmi has been busy overseeing a network of Jewish Schools, supervising Kosher food production for the entire country, and maintaining the local Mikvahs for family purity. Rabbi Garmi was in the US visiting various Persian Jewish communities on the East and West Coast. • Rabbi yitzchok Tiechtel from Chabad of Nashville, met with the Chief Rabbi or Iran, Rabbi Yehuda Garmi, at the International Conference of Chabad Rabbis in New York.

Wishing the Nashville Community a Joyous Chanukah and Happy New Year! Linda and Jay Stacey and Coby Michelle and Larry And our children and grandchildren

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Vanderbilt Hillel Students Help Give the Gift of Life

t the recent Nashville Predators #hockeyfightscancer game, through the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, over 20 student volunteers from Vanderbilt Hillel added more than 240 fans and attendees to the Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Hillel’s previous single night high at the Predators game was over 120 people added to the registry. So, it was a VERY big night for the organization. At the game, 12-year-old Randall met his donor. Randall, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Through the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, Randall was able to receive a second chance at life. His bone marrow donor, Cody, is from Columbus, Ohio. Cody played football at Ohio University. He joined the Gift of Life registry after an assistant coach was saved through a transplant. Brian Small, Assistant Executive Director of Vanderbilt Hillel says he is proud of the student volunteers and for their success. “Our dedicated team of student leaders, including and especially our Gift of Life Campus Ambassadors, did a wonderful job of recruiting, training, engaging peers to volunteer and swab those in attendance at the game. The students are committed to saving lives and have really gotten behind this amazing partnership with Gift of Life Bone Marrow Donor Registry and the Nashville Predators Foundation Empowered by Smile Direct club.” Small says he is also grateful for the partnership with the Nashville Preds.

“We can’t possibly thank the Nashville Predators Foundation Empowered by Smile Direct Club enough for providing us with space during the game on the concourse and featuring a donor / recipient meeting during a TV timeout. They have helped us raise awareness for this very important cause and continue to show why they are a beloved organization here in Nashville. We couldn’t ask for better partners and look forward to our next featured donor / recipient meeting at the game on Saturday, April 9.” •

Vanderbilt Hillel students helped give the gift of life at a recent Predators Hockey game.

Randall and Cody decked out in Preds gear.

Twelve-year-old bone marrow recipient, Randall, waits to meet his donor

Hillel students added Preds fans to the Gift of Life Marrow Registry

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

Bone marrow recipient, Randall, and his donor, former Ohio University football player, Cody, meet for the first time

December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

Happy Holidays and A Big Thank You To All Our Advertisers Who Support Us Throughout The Year!

The Observer Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Stillman Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Dab Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carrie Mills Graphic Design/Production . . . . . . . . Tim Gregory

Adventure Science Center Aging in Place Akiva Amsel Family Argent Arosa Care Barton House Battleground Academy Beit Miriam Belle Meade Cigar Belle Meade Jeweler Bellevue Eye Care BenJamin Entertainment Birthright Israel Blakeford Camp Davis Camp Livingston Cashville Gold & Silver Chabad Beit Tefilah Chabad Nashville Cindee Gold Clarendale at Bellevue Congregation Micah Congregation Sherith Israel CPA Cathy Werthan Crawford Mortuary Services CRC Creekside Garden Center Cura for Care Currey Ingram Cute & Comfy Shoes Dante De Miro Dessert Design Diamond Brokers Green Hills Jewelry & Loan

Dr. Daniel Goldstein Dr. Howard Rosenblum Dr. Joel Gluck Dr. Steve Hecklin Druid Tree Diskin Cider Electronic Express Embassy Suites Escape Day Spa Expedia Cruise Ships Family Staffing Solutions FLWR Shop Frank Boehm Frist Art Museum Ghertner Maintenance Gil Cohen Gold Skin Care Goldie Shepard Catering Gordon JCC ECLC Gordon Jewish Community Center Hadassah Hampton Inn Green Hills Hanai Family Harpeth Hall Heritage at Brentwood Hermitage HIYC Sail Camp Holocaust Commission Holocaust Lecture Series Home and Office Transitions Howard Rosenblum Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics Hunt Memorial

Indiana University - Borns Jewish Studies Ira Helderman Israel Bonds Jacob Kupin Jackie Roth Karr Jamie Rothberg Jane Snyder JBS JCRC Jennie Zagnoev Jessica Averbuch Jewish Family Service Jewish Federation and Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee JMS JNS Juniper Green Catering Katy’s Hallmark KC Kosher Co-op Kogan Family Let’s Get Moving Lorna Graff Lynch Tree Service Martin Sir Marum LLP Micah Children Academy Micah Religious School Nan Speller Nashville Jewish Film Festival Nashville Psych Nashville Symphony Nature Select Pet Food Delivery

NCJW Now Gen Optique Pathfinder Counseling LLC Patricia Strauss Porta Via Pressmaster Publix Red Spirits & Wine Robins Insurance Rodney Rosenblum Saint Elle Schultz Monument Spielberg Entertainment Sheps Deli Sperry’s Sprintz Furniture Team Nashville Temple Gift Shop Tennesse State Museum The Lipman Group /Jackie Roth Karr The Pargh Team The Temple The Temple Preschool TPAC Union Teller Deli Vanderbilt Jewish Studies Vanderbilt Office of Religious Life Watkins/Belmont WES Religious School West End Synagogue Zander Insurance Zeitlin & Co.

To All Our Readers, Please Show Your Appreciation By Patronizing These Businesses.

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Akiva Parents Inspired By Matching Grant Opportunity By ELLY EBIN

his fall, Akiva School launched a Parent Matching Campaign, with a one-to-one match for all new or increased donations by current Akiva parents. The match is supported by a generous grant from The Zalik Foundation Fund, co-founded by alumnus Helen Zalik (Class of 1991). According to the National Center for Family and Community Connections with Schools, schools with considerable parent engagement show increased academic performance, have the ability to offer more programming and opportunities, and more meaningful community outreach. Akiva believes that motivating parents to become active participants in the school’s growth and development is essential to its continued growth and success. To help encourage parents to get more involved, Akiva launched this incentive-based campaign, providing parents the chance to double the impact of their donation. Akiva’s parents swiftly and enthusi-

astically rose to the challenge. Within a few weeks, parents had met the $25,000 match, representing an 86% increase in parent donations from last year. Inspired by the parents’ commitment to Akiva, long time Akiva supporter Reva Heller upped the ante and offered an additional $10,000 to the matching challenge. Moshe Werthan, chair of Akiva’s Fundraising Committee, believes that “The generosity of our Akiva parents will serve as an inspiration to all those donors who support Akiva. Our parents have now stepped up to the plate in a significant and important way.” Parent support sets an important example to the community about its necessary role in supporting Nashville’s only Jewish Day School. Kristin KeiperBerneman is mom to Akiva second grader, Josie. Keiper-Berneman and her husband noted that they were, “happy to show [their] gratitude financially and be matched through this generous grant.” Keiper-Berneman also pointed out that, “The campaign was an opportunity to talk, as a family about giving back to the

Amy and Ben Rosenblum with their daughter Brie, who is in Kindergarten at Akiva, participated in the Parent Matching Campaign. They were thrilled to participate in the match and be able to support Akiva in such a meaningful way.

school and to teach our children about tzedakah.” The campaign success will directly

benefit Akiva students but will also serve as an enduring inspiration for increased parent engagement and support. •

is heavily focused on leadership and citizenship. Made up of positions like Community Service Representative and Environmental Officer, the student government will promote the belief that faculty, students, and the greater community can be of service to, and benefit from, each other. Eighth grader Aisha Sims is this year’s JMS Community Service Representative. Aisha believes that her role, “will show the community that we care about others, both inside and outside our school.” Community building has always been a hallmark of the Jewish Middle School. From its inception JMS has undertaken to create responsible, compassionate, and community-minded students. JMS

founder Rabbi Saul Strosberg says, “JMS helps foster community and build leadership traits in our students to prepare them to go out and make the world a better place.” While in-person community service became increasingly limited at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, planning and brainstorming never slowed. As part of their requisite Personal Service Projects, JMS students are reassessing the needs of their communities in light of the pandemic and rethinking how best to address those needs. Modeling Kohlberg’s Just Community philosophy, JMS students continue to actively participate in their communities in ways that are impactful, ethical, and contributory.

ZZZ DJLQJLQSODFHVHUYLFHV QHW 7EVE &IXL ;EVRI WF[EVRI$EKMRKMRTPEGIWIVZMGIW RIX

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!

A Just Community at JMS By ELLY EBIN

nspired by his time on a kibbutz, psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg pioneered the field of cognitive development theory and moral education. Combining democratic and collectivist values, Kohlberg established a Center for Moral Education at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and promoted a “Just Community” approach to education. This approach is two-fold: direct-partic-

ipatory democracy and a unified commitment to building community. At the Jewish Middle School, the idea that students can work in both a democratic and ethical manner is present in all aspects of student life. Kohlberg’s vision for direct-participatory democracy is most evident in JMS’s newly formed student government. Empowering students to become active within the school and greater community, the student government

EVER WONDER WHERE THE PEOPLE WITH ALL THE ANSWERS, GET ALL THE ANSWERS?

Ask MARCUM

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

marcumllp.com Cathy Werthan, CPA, Office Managing Partner

401 Commerce St., Suite 1250 • Nashville, TN 37219 615.245.4070 | cathy.werthan@marcumllp.com

10 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

HAPPY HANUKKAH

Gordon JCC Announces Exciting Lineup for the 2021-2022 Nashville Jewish Book Series

group of Nashville-based published authors, librarians, educators, and book-loving community members are proud to present The Gordon Jewish Community Center’s 2021-2022 Nashville Jewish Book Series. The Series, now in its sixth year, is a celebration of books, authors, and the power of the written word to educate, inspire and provoke thought. The annual events feature both secular work by Jewish authors as well as books featuring Jewish themes and topics. This year’s Series will be a hybrid event, with three events taking place via Zoom, and five in-person events around Nashville. The Gordon JCC will also be partnering with the Memphis and New Orleans JCCs on the virtual events. Spearheaded by event co-chairs Amy Goldstein and Margaret Littman, the literary-loving committee selected authors to speak at Series events. Several speakers were selected after pitching their books to the JCC and Jewish organizations across the country at the National Jewish Book Council’s Annual Conference. Standout speakers were invited to participate in the Series, in addition to authors not affiliated with the JBC, but whose work spoke to the committee. The series kicks off December 16 with a hilarious event in partnership with the local Third Coast Comedy Club. SNL and Curb Your Enthusiasm writer Alan Zweibel makes his return to our JCC alongside his friend and colleague Wayne Federman with his book The History of Standup. February 7 brings Melissa Gould, Widow-ish, and Zibby Owens, Moms Don’t Have Time to Have Kids, to the JCC for a panel on the trials and successes of parenting, moderated by Nashville’s Claire Gibson. Local interior and architectural photographer Alyssa Rosenheck joins us at the Bobby Hotel on February 16 for an evening of design and discussion. The series rounds out in the spring with two exciting in-person events: Louie Kemp, childhood friend of Bob Dylan and his book Dylan & Me on April 7, and the always enigmatic Jake Cohen and his incredible cookbook JEW-ish on May 15 at the Nashville Jewish Food Fest. Nashville photographer Phillip Fryman, known for his food photography

under the name “The Southern Fatty,” will join in on the Food Fest fun. All our In-person events will be held with current coronavirus precautions in mind and are subject to change. We are honored and excited to have three virtual events as part of this year’s Series. Award-winning novelist Francine Prose and her dazzling new book The Vixen on January 4, Qian Julie Wang and her moving story of an undocumented child living in poverty in America, Beautiful Country, on March 3, and on March 14, in conjunction with the Memphis JCC, Heather Cabot’s The New Chardonnay, The Unlikely Story of how Marijuana Went Mainstream. Sponsors for this year’s Series include Parnassus Books, the Vanderbilt University Asian Studies Department,

Third Coast Comedy Nashville, and The Porch. We are extremely appreciative of our Jewish Book Series Committee members Amy Goldstein, Margaret Littman, Amy Kammerman, Amy Katz, Miriam Leibowitz, Evan Nahmias, Nancy Riesman, Ellie Rosenbloom, Amelia Edelman, Freya Sachs, Lori Fishel, and Alex Heller of the JCC for their outstanding work.

The Nashville Jewish Book Series runs from December 2021 to May 2022. Find the full schedule, and ticketing information at nashvillejcc.org/book. Information on Chai Y’All, the membership book society, is also available online. For more information, please visit nashvillejcc.org/book, or contact Adult Programs Director, Alex Heller at alex@ nashvillejcc.org, or 615.354.1623. •

What do you value? When you invest in your values, your actions shape the world. At the Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, we are building a better world through Tikkun Olam.

Planning Your Jewish Legacy The market has been up this year. It’s a great time to donate marketable securities such as stock. There are other ways to support the organizations you care about at the Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. You can established a Named Endowment Fund through your will, trust, IRA, or life insurance to support all of the organizations you care about. Talk to us, there are lots of options.

Your values. Our expertise. For more information, you can contact us at shannon@jewishnashville.org. Learn more at jewishnashville.org/waystogive/foundation.

Tell us what you value. We’ll help you get there. HAPPY HANUKKAH The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Weismark named WES Social Revere Jewish Montessori Action Volunteer of the Year Preschool New Playscape

By JUDITH SAKS

e may be retired, but Rami Weismark is busy out in the Nashville community as a volunteer. His main focus is Meals on Wheels, cooking for the Nashville Food Project and helping out at the Red Cross. Weismark will be honored as West End Synagogue’s Social Action Volunteer of the Year during the synagogue’s December 4th Social Action Shabbat Service, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The award is presented annually to a WES member who serves as a volunteer in the broader Nashville community. The Michael Mehlman Social Action Fund allocates money in the volunteer’s name to the charity of the awardee’s choice. Why does he volunteer? “It’s a good feeling to help people and to get satisfaction by seeing people benefit” from his service. He recently had an experience while delivering Meals on Wheels to the projects in East Nashville. A woman opened the door and began crying “because we brought her a bag of canned food and beans. It was so emotional. That’s why I am doing it.” At the Food Project, Weismark works with a group of people cooking and baking foods that will be delivered to charities that serve the hungry. At other times, he works alone or with a partner taking meals to those in need. What would he tell others who may

Rami Weismark is being recognized as West End Synagogue’s Social Action Volunteer of the Year

be thinking of volunteering? “If you have the time, do it. You will benefit from it” as well as those receiving your help. An Israeli, Weismark moved to Nashville in 1976 when he married Janet (Stillman). They met in 1971 when Janet was on a Young Judaea Year Course in Israel, and she returned to Israel for several summers. The couple has three sons, now living in Atlanta, and three grandchildren. •

Children at play in the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool new Outdoor Playscape

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

12 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

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!

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Be a Part of the Federation Team Chabad of Nashville to present the 100k Challenge Engagement Associate N

ashville, TN — Chabad of Nashville will be hosting a very exciting yearend fundraising campaign, “We. Belong. Together. –100/100 Challenge” which will kick off Tuesday, December 7th, at 12:00 PM, and will continue until Thursday, December 9, at 2:00 PM. If $100,000 is raised in 50 hours, it will be matched by $100,000 from several generous matchers in Nashville. “Tzedakah (charity) is equal to all the other commandments combined.” This meaningful fundraising campaign will provide the Nashville community with 50 hours of tremendous opportunity to support the influential and far-reaching work of Chabad of Nashville and the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool. During the COVID19 era, Chabad has assisted hundreds of families with financial, emotional, and spiritual support, and helped many overcome challenges and obstacles. Chabad also assisted families with scholarship funding for children to receive a Jewish education at the Revere Jewish Montessori preschool. No child was left out in the cold, even when their parents lost their employment due to COVID19. “We. Belong. Together.” is the time for the Jewish community to unite efforts to strengthen Jewish life and build a bright future and to ensure Jewish continuity in Middle Tennessee. There is no better time than today to support the future of Jewish life in Nashville. The goal of the match-a-thon is to raise $100,000 in the campaign’s 50 hours.

For every dollar donated during the campaign, Chabad of Nashville will receive an additional dollar, meaning all donations will effectively double in value. Essentially, each $100 charitable donation will be doubled and will translate into $200. No donation is too small and each one, appreciated. This is the sixth year Chabad is holding its successful end of year matching campaign, yet this year is different, as there are more people than ever before being impacted by the work of Chabad, and your support will impact more people. The funds raised will also enable children to continue to receive scholarship grants and receive a Jewish education at the Revere Montessori Jewish Preschool. This year, gifts will be presented for donors of certain levels. Each $1800 donor will receive a beautiful glass Challah Cutting Board, and each $3600 donor will receive a gift of a custom tzedakah box, and each $5,000 donor will receive a beautiful silver Kiddush cup set. All names of participants in the Chabad of Nashville 100/100 End of Year campaign will be included in a special prayer that we will be recited on their behalf, for a year of good health and success in all their endeavors. For more information about the 100/100 Challenge and to learn about how you can make a difference, visit www.chabadnashville.com/match on Tuesday, December 7, at 12:00 PM, thru Thursday, December 11, at 2:00 PM, or call 615-646-5750. •

Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee seeks an engaging, dynamic, sociable and motivated professional for a part-time position as the Engagement Associate. The Associate will focus on increasing the organization’s engagement with Newcomers and under-engaged people in the Jewish community, to execute engagement programs, and work with community members on creating opportunities for people in the community to connect with each other. The Associate will work in partnership with both professional colleagues and volunteers to execute the organization’s engagement strategy, utilizing a strong work ethic and commitment to the mission and goals of the Federation. The Associate will report to the Engagement Director. The position is part time (20 hours a week) and includes some work on weekends and evenings in some circumstances. Essential Job Functions: • Manage the Federation’s Newcomers program. The associate will serve as the liaison for Newcomers in the community, manage the Welcome Ambassador programs, ensure the online visibility of information for newcomers, manage the newcomers’ data. • Work in collaboration with all the congregations, agencies, and organizations in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee Jewish community, and their membership coordinators, to ensure strong cooperation between the Federation and other organizations regarding Newcomers. • Carry out at least 5 newcomers’ programs throughout the year such as Newcomers receptions, Shabbat dinners, and more. • Initiate and manage adult outreach and engagement programs based on the Federation’s engagement strategy. • Work with community members on their program ideas. • Assist in the execution of Nashville Pride Jewish Community Booth and the Jewish community participation in Pride Parade. • Assist in creating volunteer programs for the community. Required Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Personal Characteristics • A passionate and optimistic individual who cares about the growth and progress of the Jewish community, and who inspires other team members to find opportunities to make improvements and strive for excellence. • A sociable person, who can engage with community member of all ages. A motivational communicator, both written and verbal, who is effective in 1-on-1 and group settings, able to engage with internal and external audiences. • Self-motivated and results driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills along with a high degree of detail orientation. • Knowledge of database systems, social media, and virtual meeting platform. • Strong knowledge of Jewish community, culture and practices. Passion for the mission of Federation and the Jewish community. • Experience managing and developing projects and budgets. Education, Training and/or Experience 1. Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required and advanced degree preferred or equivalent of professional experience. 2. A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in program coordination and/or community engagement. 3. Experience working with volunteers particularly in the non-profit sector, strongly preferred. 4. Hands-on experience with one or more database/software (RE NXT/Raiser’s Edge preferred), social media, and zoom/virtual meeting platform. Physical Demands/Working Conditions Whether temporarily working from home remotely or in the Federation offices, nature of work requires an ability to operate standard business office equipment and software. Ability to communicate and exchange information, collect, compile and prepare work documents, set-up and maintain work files, as well as sitting at a computer desk. Travel by automobile will be required at times. Work performed in a general office environment. The position requires availability for additional hours at various times and regular participation at organizational community events and meetings including nights and weekends. This position does not require lifting of heavy physical objects. This job announcement is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. With established personnel guidelines, Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee endeavors to provide accommodation for applicants of all abilities. Compensation: Commensurate with experience, education and previous related achievements. The position is part time exempt and offers limited benefits.

Join Jewish Federation at 5:00 pm for a complementary pre-concert reception to meet Nefesh Mountain. Limited space available.

To Apply Applicants must include a cover letter stating interest in the position, a list of three (3) recent professional references who only will be contacted in case of a candidate being interviewed, and a resume of educational and professional experience. Application should be sent via email to michal@jewishnashville.org. Please, no phone calls.

Registration required:

jewishnashville.org/NefeshVIP

14 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

Learn more about the Jewish community at www.jewishnashville.org

Teatime, by Keith Auerbach

Angels Trumpets, by Jo Fields

December in the Galleries: Featuring the Work of SNAP Photography and Charlie Keats T

he Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of the Society of Nashville’s Artistic Photographers (SNAP). SNAP has become known for its excellence in fine art photography, creating images that make the viewer smile, think, question, or wonder. Members’ work has been shown not only in local and regional exhibitions and collections, but also in national and international forums as well. The current exhibition at the Gordon JCC is curated by Chris Harris, from the MTSU Department of Media Arts. Harris has compiled a collection of 40 images that vary in technique, style, and viewpoints, showing that fine art photography may be both serious and playful. SNAP was formed in 2004 when a small group of Nashville photographers met to form an informal group that would concentrate on the creative aspect of photography. Today SNAP provides a forum for discussing the work of members

and notable photographers. Building on the advantage of being small and informal, SNAP enables members to have active conversations with each other as well as outside experts-- sharing wisdom, projects, and insights. In short, SNAP is dedicated to promoting fine art photography in Nashville. The Sig Held Gallery will feature the paintings of Charlie Keats. Charlie is a Nashville native and self-taught artist. He draws inspiration from surrealism and pop art inspired by abstract and familiar concepts of the human form and emotive expression. Charlie creates art while attending the University of Tennessee studying neuroscience. The House gallery will feature the 2021 Under One Roof community wide collaborative exhibit focusing on Hope and Resilience. The exhibition dates are December 1 -31. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Any attendees will need to wear masks and sign in at the

Board of Rabbis and Cantors Book Read Coming in the New Year

World Renowned Scholar Rabbi Manis Friedman Coming to Nashville

ashville’s Board of Rabbis and Cantors announce an upcoming Book Read featuring The Wandering Jew: Israel and the Search for Jewish Identity, by Micah Goodman. The event will take place early 2022 and is open to the entire community. Details will be announced at a later time. The book is available online and in local bookstores.

orld-renowned author, counselor, lecturer, movie producer and philosopher, Rabbi Manis Friedman will be hosting a very special event on the eighth night of Hanukah, Sunday, December 5th , 7pm at Chabad of Nashville. He will present a talk on “Healing the Past, Healing the Future.” According to Rabbi Manis Freidman, so much illness today come from the emotions of our past. Through processing our experiences, bringing out their greatest potential, we create the way of the future. Rabbi Freidman uses ancient wisdom and modern wit as he captivates audiences around the country and around the world. He hosts his own critically acclaimed cable television series, Torah Forum with Manis Friedman, syndicated throughout North America. Over 150,000 copies of his provocative yet entertaining audio and video CD’s and Mp3’s, have been sold. Rabbi Friedman’s first book, Doesn’t Anymore Blush Anymore?, published by Harper San Francisco, was widely praised by the media. Following the book’s publication, he was featured internationally

Faces, by Charlie Keats

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. •

in over 200 print articles, and interviewed on more than 50 television and radio talk shows. He has appeared on CNN, A&E Reviews, PBS, and BBC Worldwide, and has been the subject of articles in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Guideposts, Insight, Publisher’s Weekly and others. In an effort to empower women in Judaism, he founded the world’s first yeshiva exclusively for women, Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies in Minnesota, where he continues to serve as Dean. Since its opening in 1971, 22,000 women of all ages, backgrounds, and from all over the world attended the institute. Rabbi Friedman is a noted Biblical scholar, recognized for his sagacious grasp of Jewish mysticism. In 2018 Rabbi Friedman also published the best seller The Joy of Intimacy, and just recently released his latest book Creating a Life that Matters: How to Live and Love With Meaning and Purpose. Rabbi Friedman is a professionally ranked member of the National Speakers Association. His speaking tours take him to every part of this country as well as

Billboard/Vandal, by Wayne Thomas

Rabbi Manis Friedman coming to Nashville for Hanukah

Israel, England, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Canada, and Hong Kong. His lectures are known to enthuse each of his listeners and readers with a sense of purpose and definite direction. The event with Rabbi Friedman will include a Chanukah Menorah lighting ceremony, donuts and latkes, and a most inspiring spiritual evening. •

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

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

@ Micah Judaism at Micah continues to evolve with courage, compassion and creativity. Stay updated! Go to www.congregationmicah.org, like us on our socials: Facebook; 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! Access Micah’s programs – all free and open to the public - from the front page of our website. Want to take our relationship to the next level? Apply for membership! For more information contact Mindy Drongowski at mindy@congregationmicah.org.

Programming at Micah - December 2021 Sanctuary Shabbat Services - Fridays at 6:00 PM

@ Chabad /Congregation Beit Tefilah BLT – BAGELS, LOX AND TORAH Join friends for a morning of bagels, lox, and Tanya (Jewish mysticism) on the first Sunday of every month, beginning on Sunday, December 5, 2021, at 10:00 AM. Partake in a delicious spread of bagels, lox, cream cheese, and freshly brewed coffee as you learn the weekly Torah portion and its relevance to your personal life. There is no cost to attend, however kindly RSVP at Chabadnashville.com

Chillin over Cholent Are you seeking a different kind of Shabbat morning service? Have you felt lost during one, or are looking for a meaningful experience? Chabad of Nashville has just what you are seeking, as it hosts a unique Shabbat service every Shabbat morning at 10:00 AM. The Shabbat services at Chabad are a place where “Judaism, is Done Joyfully.” They are filled with song and joy, and are led by Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, and chanted by participants in the congregation. The highlight of the service is the Torah reading. The story of the weekly portion comes alive as Rabbi Tiechtel shares insights and wisdom as related to the participants in the service. The technique used is called, Storah Telling, where the rabbi teaches with stories and parables, and inspires the congregation to take the message to heart. According to Rabbi Tiechtel, “Each individual knows how he or she best communicates with G d, and at Chabad the language you use or the pace you set for yourself are not of paramount importance.” The prayer books are written in both Hebrew and English, and the page numbers are announced continuously so one may always catch up if they prefer to meditate at a slower speed. Participants connect with the day, and with G d, and with their own soul, in whatever personal manner suits them best. If you are seeking an enjoyable, meaningful, comprehensive, Shabbat Service, Chabad of Nashville is offering just that, every Shabbat morning, at 10:00 AM. Following the service all participants join a magnificent sit-down Shabbat lunch, replete with challah, cholent, salads, and a variety of Shabbat delicacies. It is a time for good conversation and great company—an opportunity to meet new people and make great friends!

Chabad to host two TGIS celebration in December 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 evenings, December 10, and 24, at 6:30 PM at Chabad of 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

Biblical Tales of Kings, Warriors and Prophets via Zoom Chabad will be presenting a fall course on Biblical Tales of Kings, Warriors and Prophets, on the Book of Samuel, beginning on Wednesday, December 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2021, at 7:00 PM. These lessons will be taught via Zoom, on six Wednesday evenings, during November and December. Participants will be immersed in the richness of the Jewish Scriptures and discover the hidden meanings that have been lost over centuries of translations, and delve into the fascinating world of the ancient prophets of Israel. This new learning opportunity explores the dramatic stories and powerful messages contained in the Book of Samuel II. For more information or to register go to www.chabadnshville.com or call 615646-5750

16 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

At Micah, we approach God in many ways: through the power of music and song, the inspiration of words, the beauty of sacred space, and the authenticity of our intention. To fully realize this core Jewish value, we invite you to join us for services that are as diverse as they are engaging, as moving as they are participatory.

Micah Reads - Monday, December 6 at 7:00 PM

All are welcome for a Zoom discussion on the book The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman. Join Education Director Julie Greenberg in conversation for this community event.

Sports Trivia - Tuesday, December 7 at 10:30 AM

Have you spent the last 25 years of your life wondering 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 to get into the world series in 1951? Answers to this question and many more of little importance when you join Martin Light and other Micah members for an hour of a sports trivia contest to be held in the Micah social hall on the first Tuesday of every month. All are welcome. Contact martylight@aol.com with any questions.

ReJEWvenation - December 7 & 14

A spiritual discipline focused on reNEWing and reJEWvenating the mind and heart with knowledge and understanding of Jewish traditions, theology, and history. Join us in a compassionate, virtual environment, and eradicate any inexperience, illiteracy, unfamiliarity, or complete obliviousness to Jewish customs and rituals. Be reminded of or learn traditions you never knew and, in the process, reJEWvenate your soul! This Introduction to Judaism class is a requirement for conversion at Micah. Meeting for 10 sessions, the course is virtual from 7:00 to 8:15 PM. $50 for Micah Members / $180 for non-members (includes all 10 sessions and the digital text).

Weekly Events Schmooze & Views - Thursday mornings at 10:30 AM

Keeping the politics off the pulpit but not out of the building, share your views in a round-table discussion on current events facilitated by the rabbi and Dr. Bob Smith. Attendance includes both in-person and virtual options.

Torah Study - Saturday Mornings at 9:00 AM

Deep conversations with thoughtful and caring people. Led by the rabbi on Zoom.

Mah Jongg - Tuesday Afternoons from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM

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

Chanukah at Micah: The 8-day Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the ancient Temple that stood in Jerusalem affirms that we can fix things that are broken, we can heal, and we can rebuild. Additionally, the essence of the holiday is to publicize the miraculous. At Micah we intend to radiate light and hope all eight days as an act of holy defiance against darkness. Watch for special services, songs, candle lightings, events, gifts, videos and more! See below for a few examples.

Holiday Oil Drive

We will be collecting cooking oil for the Nashville Food Project, for our monthly Social Action drive.

International Candle Lighting

Our progressive partner and sister congregation in the United Kingdom - The Ark Synagogue – will join us in a special across the pond candle lighting. Thursday, December 2 at 10:30 AM.

Shabbat Chanukah

Two sets of candles, two very different traditions, yet the result is the same: a match kindles a flame and darkness diminishes. Friday, December 3 at 6:00 PM.

Micah Minis: Chanukah Style!

Sing and dance in this family-friendly Shabbat experience, led by Education Director Julie Greenberg and Ms. Lisa Silver. Saturday, December 4 at 9:30 AM on Zoom only.

A Micah Movie: The Miracles of Chanukah - Sunday, December 5 at 5:00 PM

With an all-star cast of congregants and candles, music and marvels, stories and songs, this feature film will keep your toes tapping and inspire YOU to bring more light to the world.

At Our Congregations… @ Sherith Israel Sherith Israel will host a Melave Malka, a post Shabbat celebration, on Saturday night, December 11, at 7 pm. The evening will feature music with Cantor Dov Rosenblatt and friends, home made pizza, and games. All ages welcome. Cost per person $5. Email reservations to office@sherithisrael.com or call (615) 292 6614.

Jewish Songwriting Workshop w/ Cantor Dov Sunday, December 12th / 11am-12:15pm / Sherith Israel Sherith Israel’s Cantor-In-Residence, Dov Rosenblatt, has been a professional songwriter since his college band, Blue Fringe, and he has since written songs for tv & film projects as well as other artists. Come join an interactive workshop to create a song from scratch based on a source text from a Tefillah (prayer). Come ready to be collaborative and creative! No musical talent is necessary, only an open mind.

Cholet Cook-off By Yuri Livshitz On the holy day of Shabbat, on December 11th, Shul sanctity and neighborly love will be put to the test as fierce competition breaks out under the once-peaceful canopy of the Sherith Israel tent. After kiddush, four teams from the West-side of the shul will kick off the 3-month-long Cholent Competition. For those who don’t know, Cholent is the traditional stew for the Sabbath day, prepared on Friday and left to cook overnight. Customs vary from community to community and from family to family as to what ingredients are included in the perfect Cholent. The East-side tournament will follow in January, and the championship round, where winners of the two conferences go head-to-head, will go down in February. In the spirit of offending everyone, both meat and vegetarian masterpieces will be presented at each round. Beans will boil, spices and egos will simmer, and a Master of Cholent will be born. In addition to basking in the glory of their success, the winning team will get their names forever inscribed on the highly-vetted Trophy of Cholent. Come one, come all. Pray, eat, vote. December 11. It’s bound to be a hot mess.

@ The Temple 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. Zoom Room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81973096738

Lunch with the Rabbi Thursday, December 2nd, 9th, 16th from 12:00-1:00 PM

Bring your lunch and engage with Rabbi Schiftan and guests in a discussion of current and important issues from a Jewish perspective. And be sure to attend Thursday, December 2nd* at Noon with Nashville Metro Police Chief John Drake Zoom Room: thetemplehub.org

Women’s Torah Study Every Thursday from 12:00-1:00 PM

Ongoing weekly women’s Torah study led by Patty Marks. Zoom Room: thetemplehub.org

Shabbat Schedule for December

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple. Please reserve your spot via thetemplehub.org. You can also watch via zoom from thetemplehub.org. Friday, December 3rd ~ 6:00 PM Chanukah Service and New Member Recognition Friday, December 10th ~ 6:00 PM Friday, December 17th ~ 6:00 PM with Birthday Blessings Friday, December 24th ~ 6:00 PM Friday, December 31st ~ 4:00 PM- virtual only!

Chevrah Torah Study* 9:30a.m. on Saturdays via thetemplehub.org

Join us for our weekly Torah study on the portion of the week, led by the clergy. 9:30 am on Saturdays.

Tot Shabbat Chanukah Saturday, December 4th @ 10:00a.m.

(for families with children up to age 6) These opportunities offer families the chance to celebrate Shabbat with their young children in a creative way. For more information and to join in, please visit thetemplehub.org or www.templenashville.org

Hike & Havdalah at Percy Warner Presented by The Temple’s Worship and Music Committee December 18th

Where and When for the Hike? Meet at the top of the steps at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard at 2:45 PM with the hike of the 2.5-mile white trail to begin at 3:00 PM. If you are not hiking, please meet us for Havdalah at the stone gate entrance to the park at 4:30 PM. Who? All ages! Bring friends and family. Why? For the fresh air and exercise, for connecting with each other, and to enjoy nature’s God. For more information or questions, please contact Anne Davenport at adavlaw@ comcast.net

Are You Looking for a Creative Outlet? Join Writers of the Lost Ark!

“Writers of the Lost Ark” 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 prose. 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. Public Showcase of Members’ Work via Zoom Wednesday, December 1st ~ 7:00-8:00 pm For more information, please contact ninapacent@bellsouth.net. Go to thetemplehub.org for Zoom info.

W.E.L.L. Women Engaged in Living & Learning

December 2nd ~ 5:30 pm Bringing Light: Chanukah Get Together & Lighting of The Temple’s Outdoor Menorah at The Temple

Nefesh Mountain Concert

Thanks to Nefesh Mountain’s manager and The Temple’s own Neal Spielberg, we will be able to sit together as a Temple group. AFTER you’ve purchased your general admission ticket, please email Cantor Fishbein at cantorfishbein@templenashville.org to be added to our group section. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at http://bit.ly/TempleNefeshMtn City Winery requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination AND the wearing of masks when not eating or drinking to gain admission to any performance they are hosting.

Connect with your Temple family during this Chanukah season!

Chanukah will be filled with opportunities for fun, learning, music, and connection. Every night of Chanukah, join us at The Temple parking lot at 5:30 pm for a drive-in menorah lighting. Masks required and social distancing observed. We will kick off our Chanukah celebration on Sunday, November 28th at 4:30pm with an early candle lighting and special treats. From November 29-December 5th, join us nightly at 5:30 for our candle lighting. See thetemplehub.org for more information.

Musical Chanukah Opportunities

URJ Chanukah concert on Monday, November 29th @ 7:00pm via thetemplehub.org Dan Nichols Concert on Thursday, December 2nd @ 7:00pm via thetemplehub.org

Clergy in the Kitchen Virtual Chanukah Cooking Class Wednesday, December 1st at Noon via thetemplehub.org.

Jewish Learning on Your Own Schedule

Look for podcasts and videos prepared by musicians, scholars and clergy! 13 Attributes of God, Jewish Cooking Demos, Clergy Chats, Inside Israel and Jewish Music Sessions. Sessions will be posted on thetemplehub.org

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

Shacharit

Join us for in-person morning minyan! Sunday services will be at 9am and Monday-Friday will be at 7am

Daily Mincha (afternoon service) or Maariv (the evening service) depending on Daylight savings times Join us for daily Mincha/Maariv in person or on Zoom at 6:00 p.m.

Kabbalat Shabbat

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

Morning Shabbat services

You are invited to join us Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in person or by zoom. Continued on page 18

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

At Our Congregations… Continued from page 17

Talmud class on Tuesdays

Rabbi Joshua Kullock teaches a Talmud class on Tuesdays at 7:30am.

Torah class for Women

Join Rabbi Joshua on the first Wednesday of each month at 11am via Zoom (call for details)

Torah class for Men

Join Rabbi Joshua the second Thursday of each month at 12pm.

Miriam’s Torah Class

Wednesday, December 1 at Noon

Lunch & Learn is Back!

December 8th – Learn with WES, Director of Lifelong Learning, Sharon Paz December 22nd – Learn with Community Schlicha, Naom Harari Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm 12:00pm – 1:00pm Stay for lunch or take your lunch to go – Only $3.00!

Chabad of Nashville Hosts Chopstix Shabbat on December 24th W C

here will you find kosher Chinese on the eve of December 24 in Nashville? habad of Nashville will be hosting Chopstix Shabbat, a Chinese themed Shabbat celebration. The custom of Jewish families dining out at Chinese restaurants, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, has long been a joking matter. “According to the Jewish calendar, the year is 5780,” one quip goes, “According to the Chinese calendar, the year is 4718. That means for 1,064 years, the Jews went without Chinese food.” During Elena Kagan’s United States Supreme Court confirmation hearings of 2010, at a particularly contentious

moment, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham directed the discussion to the 2009 Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound airliner. Graham then asked the candidate where she was on Christmas Day. Justice Kagan famously answered, “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant.” Her comment provoked laughter and reduced the level of tension in the room. Recognizing that some in the room might be unfamiliar with the custom, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York then explained how Jews had a special affinity with eating out at Chinese restaurants on Christmas because they were the only restaurants open in New York City. The origin of this venerated Jewish tradition of eating out at Chinese restaurants dates to the end of the 19th century on the Lower East Side. Jews found such restaurants readily available in urban and suburban areas in America where both Jews and Chinese lived in proximity to each other. And what about eating Chinese food on Christmas? It dates at least as early as 1935 when The New York Times reported a certain restaurant owner named Eng Shee Chuck who brought chow mein on Christmas Day to the Jewish Children’s Home in Newark. Over the years, Jewish families and friends gather on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Chinese restaurants across the United States to socialize and to banter, to reinforce social and familiar bonds, and to engage in a favorite activity for Jews during the Christmas holiday. The Chinese restaurant has become a place where Jewish identity is made, remade, and announced. So, what do you do if you are looking for Kosher Chinese on December 24th on Christmas Eve, it is Shabbat and you are Nashville? Chabad of Nashville will be hosting Chopstix Shabbat, a Chinese themed Shabbat celebration. The evening will begin with a joyous and spirited Kabbalat Shabbat, and will be followed by a beautiful kosher, Shabbat Chinese Buffet Dinner, all served with Chopstix, all with Chinese traditions. Chopstix Shabbat will take place on Friday, December 24th, at 6:30 PM at Chabad of Nashville, at 95 Bellevue Road, in Bellevue. There is no cost to participate, however reservations are required, and can be made online by December 21, at www.chabadnashville.com. For more information please call 615-646-5750, or go to www.chabadnashville.com to make your dinner reservations. •

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!

18 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

ADVERTORIALS

Travel & Leisure I S S U E

DECEMBER 2021

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

ADVERTORIALS

Adventure Science Center All Aboard for Trains rolls into Adventure Science Center Thursday, December 15th! This longtime, fan-favorite exhibit features several complex tracks sprinkled with models of iconic Nashville buildings and surprise elements you’ll have to look closely to find. How many can you find? Immerse yourself in the wonders of winter and enjoy a locomotive experience while staying warm and cozy inside. Take a spin at the control board stations to activate a variety of elements like parachuters and ice skaters. And, finally, this is your train conductor letting you know not to forget to join us for our New Year’s Celebration, Happy Noon Year. Say goodbye to 2021 with a bang and still get your little ones to bed on time! Learn more by visiting adventuresci.org

Nashville Repertory Theatre

All Aboard for TRAINS Coming Thursday, December 16

Adventure Starts at AdventureSci.org

Nashville Repertory Theatre has been entertaining Nashville and middle Tennessee for almost 40 years. Named the Best Local Theatre by the Nashville Scene and the #1 Nonprofit Arts Organization in the city by the Nashville Business Journal, the Rep offers a variety of comedies, dramas, plays, and musicals at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center each year. In addition to its mainstage programming, Nashville Rep offers educational programs and special events throughout the year, including the Ingram New Works Festival and the Broadway Brunch. In December, the Rep will offer its perennially popular holiday show A Christmas Story. Regardless of your faith or traditions, you will delight at the tale of Ralphie and his quest for a Red Ryder BB Gun. Constant reprimands of “You’ll shoot your eye out,” a grouchy department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. The show was named the Best Family Holiday Tradition by the Nashville Scene. Following A Christmas Story, in February, Nashville Rep will offer one of the most popular new plays in the country right now, School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play. The company will then close its 2022 season with the family favorite Mary Poppins, a musical based on the Disney film and the books by P.L. Travers. More information about all the Rep’s programming can be found online at nashvillerep.org.

Carrie Mills

Customized art. When leisure time is rare, and you are searching for a unique and meaningful gift, why not commission a unique, personal, customized piece of art. Artist Carrie Mills specializes in creating exceptional pet portraits and customized special occasion art that will be celebrated in the moment and passed down for generations to come. Give yourself the gift of leisure time while gifting a unique piece of art created just for you or someone special in your life. For more information, please visit www. carriemills.com or call 615-210-5044.

There’s something for everyone. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is seeking a lovely new senior home. —Rick, Resident, Google 5-Star Review

Residents Love Life at Clarendale CALL 615-258-6364 TO SCHEDULE AN E X P E R I E N C E A N D S E E F O R YO U R S E L F.

IND EP END ENT LIVIN G | A SSISTED LIVIN G | MEMORY CA R E web ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com

7632 Highway 70 South | Nashville, TN 37221 5-21

20 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

ADVERTORIALS

Happy Rosh Hashanah

Green Hills Hampton Inn: Making your out-of-town guest feel at home Complete confidence that out-of-town guests will feel “right at home” is a primary concern for every host or hostess, no matter what the social event. The completely renovated Hampton Inn & Suites-Green Hills specializes in just that: making our home, their home-away-from-home while they attend your special event. We are a boutique-style select service hotel in the heart of Green Hills’ fantastic shopping, dining, and entertainment district. With our newly completed three-million-dollar renovation, we offer both comfortable standard rooms, spacious residential king suites with fully furnished kitchens, and so much more. We provide your guests with complimentary cost saving services and amenities that other hotels often add to their bills. Our rate includes free parking, internet access, local calls, and our highly praised daily breakfast buffet with hot items. The facility offers a computer center, fitness facility, and laundry services for the convenience of guests during their visit. The atrium-style sixth floor Belle Meade room offers a dynamic view of the Green Hills area, perfect for bridesmaid luncheons, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and birthday parties. To keep your visitors entertained during those free times of your special event, we are in walking distance of the Mall at Green Hills, 15 restaurants and a 16-screen cinema. Contact our sales department to learn how we can help relieve some of the responsibilities so you can better enjoy your next social event. Find out more at www. nashgreenhillssuites.hamptoninn.com

GREEN HILLS

Where Senior Living is Synonymous with Fun and Leisure Clarendale at Bellevue Place offers the freedom to live the life you want—and none of the hassles that throw a wrench in your agenda. Just imagine: housekeeping and maintenance chores are managed for you, offering more time for fitness classes, favorite pastimes, new hobbies, get-togethers and outings. Clarendale at Bellevue Place is a unique senior living community, combining the comforts of a private, homelike apartment with exceptional services and amenities just steps from your door. You won’t have to go far to look and feel your best—thanks to an on-site fitness center with professionally-led exercise classes and the latest strength and cardio equipment, as well as a full-service salon at Clarendale. Meeting friends for drinks and dinner is deliciously convenient with a restaurant-style dining room, casual bistro, and pub right down the hall. Residents enjoy an ever-changing menu of dining options, including nutritious and delicious meals to suit any taste and diet requirements. The Clarendale staff finds creative ways to keep a community of friends and neighbors entertained, enlightened, and engaged. From New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July to Hanukkah, national holidays and Jewish traditions are recognized and honored year-round. Why not schedule a virtual visit to the independent living, assisted living and memory care community that redefines senior living? Clarendale is located 13 miles southwest of downtown Nashville at the intersection of I-40 and US 70 South in One Bellevue Place. Call 615-271-5511 or go to ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com.

Jacob Kupin of The Kupin Group With the world starting to open up many of us are going on great vacations around the country. If you’ve ever thought of owning a vacation home, please reach out to us. We have a network of agents throughout the country that can help evaluate markets and make decisions on purchasing vacation homes. I hope everyone has some great trips coming up and look forward to talking to you soon! Jacob Kupin of The Kupin Group at Bradford Real Estate C - 615-440-6673 O - 615-279-5310

HAPPY HANUKKAH

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!

Business Card D i r e c t o r y YOUR GUIDE TO FINE BUSINESSES AND SERVICES AROUND MUSIC CITY. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS, THEY’RE THE BEST!

615.356.3242 EXT. 299

Organizing For Your Health ez organizing Consultant

Ellen R. Zucker

ez organizing Ellen R. Zucker

Consultant

Overwhelmed? Don’t know where to start? Motivational consultations, workshops and hands-on organizing will teach you how to simplify and organize your lifestyle and bring you peace of mind.

I look forward to working with you!

6 1 5 . 4 0 0 . 7 2 2 9 www.ezorganizing.com

Homes • Clothes Closets • Garage Sales

Homes Businesses

Businesses • Fundraising • Music Publishing Encouraging families to work together as a team Give the gift of organizing

Encouraging families to work together as a team Give the gift of organizing

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

Lifecycles B’nai Mitzvah Seth Ferguson

Seth Ferguson became Bar Mitzvah at West End Synagogue on Saturday, October 23. He is the son of Wayne and Lizzie Ferguson and brother of Elliot Ferguson. A ninth grader at E.B. Wilson Hybrid High School in Gallatin, he plays saxophone and is in a rock ’n roll band called the Cavaliers. For his Mitzvah project, Seth wanted to sponsor an underprivileged child to have a year’s worth of private music lessons. Seth achieved his $2,000 goal by being creative and coming up with a video editing business for YouTubers. The music lessons will be held at Ovation Music Studios in Gallatin and the pre-

sentation was given on November 20. A child will be chosen via an after school program that has agreed to transport the child to and from lessons. Seth continues to raise money and hopes that this will become an ongoing project. He hopes to provide instruments to children whose parents are unable to buy them.

Mazel Tov Dan Eisenstein

Dan Eisenstein has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from his colleagues, the State of Tennessee General Sessions Judges. He was surprised by being recognized at the annual state conference of the General Sessions Court Judges with this award. It reads: “Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to The Honorable Judge Daniel Eisenstein in appreciation and recognition as an outstanding leader and for your exceptional contributions and long term commitment to the Judiciary and the Tennessee General Sessions Court Judges’ Conference. October 6, 2021.”

Obituaries Delores Friedman

Condolences to the family of Delores Friedman. Delores was predeceased by her daughter Joan Marcy Friedman and her husband Harry Friedman. She is survived by her son Frank (Mimi) Friedman. and granddaughters Jodie and Jana Friedman whom she adored.

Anita Raye Head

Condolences to the family of Anita Raye Head who died on October 13. She is survived by her daughter and son-inlaw Christie and Titus Weimers, as well as her husband James Head, and daughters, Chantelle Schart and Michelle Neef. Memorial can be made in Anita’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Congregation Micah.

Alice Mann

Condolences to the family of Alice Mann who died on November 12. She is survived by her husband, Michael, her

son, Jesse (Mollie) and grandchildren, Eliza & Jacob

Janet Faye Neuman

Condolences to the family of Janet Faye Neuman, nee Ravick, 89, who died on October 20. She was the beloved wife of the late Arthur J. Neuman, devoted mother of Andrew (Ann) Neuman and Gregg (Yuka) Neuman, dear sister of the late Bernard and Phyllis Ravick, loving grandmother of Naomi and Jonah Neuman. Memorial contributions to be made to: Cincinnati Golden Gloves for Youth, Neuman Center for Learning in Over the Rhine, 2334 Boudinot Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45238.

Kay Simmons

Condolences to the family of Kay Simmons who died on November 12. She is survived by her sister, Pat Syder (Bobby Garfinkle).

Dr. Zohar Stark

Condolences to the family of Dr. Zohar Stark who died on October 27. He is survived by his daughter Leeron (Matthew) Resnick and grandchildren Blake and Reese.

Dear Esther Kvetch in the City Dear Esther, My grandson is exploring his gender identity and has asked me to use the pronouns they/them when referring to him. I love him dearly and will continue to love him regardless of his gender identity or sexual orientation but I don’t understand why we can’t just love each other as individuals and stop putting labels on everything. I am struggling to understand this. – Bubbe Dear Bubbe, Let me begin by saying your grandson is lucky to have a thoughtful, caring Bubbe like you. Acknowledging the internal struggle is a huge step to acceptance. You asked why can’t we just accept everyone for the individual they are and not put a label on it? My answer is that one day we will let go of the labels and see everyone as individuals, but we aren’t there yet. Society needs a period of time of questioning and having new labels in order to move towards a new, healthier norm. Consider a clock pendulum and visualize it being to one side and the goal is to land in the middle. The pendulum will need to swing to the other side before it can land in the middle. This is society’s growing pains so to speak. You and I will likely not see the pendulum rest in the middle in our lifetime, but we can do our part by loving and supporting the people in our lives who

are exploring their labels now. The best way to support your grandson is to love him by listening to his thoughts and feelings, educating yourself on gender identity and sexual orientation and possibly reach out to a local support group such as PFLAG. The most important thing to consider is keeping the conversations going and preserving your relationship with unconditional, non-judgmental Bubbe love. Use the pronouns he requested even if you don’t understand it and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your grandson will see that you are trying your best to support him and love you for it. – Esther Esther recently migrated to Nashville from New York and will be partnering with JFS on an advice column for The Observer. Esther is a retired Psychologist, veteran grandmother who brings a lifetime of experience including dysfunctional families, raising children, relationships, kosher cooking and even interfaith families. Esther is excited to be in Nashville and promoting her famous matzo ball soup that she believes heals just about anything. Please submit your questions to esther@jfsnashville.org on anything under the sun and watch for answers in her column. •

Classified Ads UNIQUE GIFTS Need any special and unique gifts? We have something for everyone, unique vintage items, Gorgeous 14kt and Sterling Silver Jewelry, Womens Bathing Suits, Various Archie Comic Digests,

Action Figures and more. If you see something you love and can’t live without please make us an offer and we will try to work with you, have fun shopping!!! Please visit our store/ closet on Poshmark.com The name of our store is called Ellen Z@ ezorganizing. Ellen 615-400-7229

22 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

By CARRIE MILLS

went to Target thinking I might find a menorah to bring to my son since I am going to visit him for Chanukah this year and thought it would be nice for him to have his own Carrie Mills Menorah for his new place in Manhattan. When I turned down the aisle towards the section that holds holiday decorations, pretty much all things Christmas, with a few Chanukah decor items thrown in, I was confused. Disoriented was more like it, since the aisles looked like they’d already been ransacked, as if everyone ran to Target and cleaned them out. I saw two Target employees coming towards me and I asked where the menorahs were. The young guy looked at me cross-eyed which made me realize he had no idea what a menorah was. I started to explain to him what a menorah was when the other more savvy Target employee chimed in and directed me back to another part of the store I had just come from. I asked why the shelves in the holiday section looked bare. He replied, “You know, the supply chain crisis.” Turns out, menorahs in Target are not the only thing affected by the supply chain crisis. How about my dating life? How about eligible single men who are interested in women of a certain age? Huh? What shelf are they on? Are they locked up in some shipping container marked dating material, sitting on some dock, waiting to be unloaded for all the woman over 50 hoping there’s something left? There’s definitely a dating supply chain crisis happening here. My dating life shelf has been empty for years. I can tell you it’s not for lack of being open. Astonishingly, a week and a

half before my surgery, out of the blue, I got asked out by a very eligible, age-appropriate man in the community from solid family lineage. The date had to be postponed due to his knee being out, and my needing a new hip. Right there I thought…perfect…at least we are both falling apart at the same time. Post-surgery, once I was on the mend, he said he’d like to cook for me. I was ecstatic! He had me at, “I can cook.” Well, to make, what turns out to be a very short story long, I pulled myself together though I could still barely tie my shoe, and arrived at his house, sexy cane in hand, enthusiastic about what I thought would be an evening with potential. We chatted for over three hours, and to my amazement and utter disappointment, he never once asked me one question about myself the entire evening. I began to wonder why he invited me at all since he clearly did not want to get to know anything about me. At one point I asked him why, out of the blue, he contacted me to “hang out” in the first place. He paused for a moment, then said, his mother was reading my column, and suggested it. Well that instantly and totally endeared me to his mother. We both had a laugh. Ultimately, it was apparent to me, his mother was more interested in me than he was. I made a comment that he may end up in my Kvetch column as I remember Dear Esther mentioning don’t talk about people in your column unless they know. He said he was okay with that. So here it is. Ultimately, to my dismay, just another empty shelf in my middle-aged dating life supply chain crisis. So, while I have no crystal ball to see an end in sight to the holiday items and eligible men dilemma, a Chanukah miracle did occur and I lucked out at the Gordon JCC Chanukah shop and found my son a menorah left over from last year. Who knows, maybe some other miracles are still in store.

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

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

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

DENTIST

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 Smart Home Products Low Price Guarantee 615•843•3300 www.gohermitage.com

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

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 208 Uptown Square Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-848-6774 768 N. Main Street Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-680-2771

Advertise in our Professional Services Directory Reach thousands of readers in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area by taking advantage of this cost-effective way to reach a loyal repeat audience! Call Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager, to place your professional listing. 615-354-1699 carrie@nashvillejcc.org

STEVEN R. HECKLIN DMD BRITTANY BURD, DMD Cosmetic and Family Dentistry www.drhecklin.com 5606 Brookwood Place 615-356-7500

EDUCATION SERVICES

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 Francine Schwartz M.A. LPC NCC Independent Educational Consultant Helping students and families find, apply to and pay for the right fit college 860-460-8829 fschwartz@pathfindercounselingllc.com www.pathfindercounselingllc.com

INSURANCE JAMES A. ROTHBERG ADAM ROTHBERG James A. Rothberg & Associates Office: 615-997-1833 Fax: 615-665-1300 1 Burton Hills Blvd. Suite 220 Email: jrothberg@jarinsurance.com info@jarinsurance.com

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

GIL COHEN / PERSONAL SHOPPER Partnering with Dillards 39 years Clothing / home decor / gifts Call or text 615-568-5187

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

PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING

Let us exceed your expectations! Pre/Post Move Organizing • Move Mgrs. Packing • Unpacking • Sr. Downsizing FREE CONSULTATION – 615.415.8920 www.HomeAndOfficeTransitions.com

OPHTHALMOLOGIST HOWARD ROSENBLUM, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Nashville Eye Center St. Thomas Hospital • Ph. 615-386-9200

JESSICA AVERBUCH, CEO 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

Local Expertise...Global Exposure! Jackie Roth Karr, REALTOR® www.JackieKarr.com JackieKarr@gmail.com Mobile: 615.330.9779 Office: 615.463.3333

PERSONAL SHOPPER

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

MOVING & STORAGE

www.zeitlin.com Residential & Relocation Specialists

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!

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

LYNCH TREE SERVICE Year Round, Complete Tree Care 615-444-4676 www.LynchTreeService.com

The Jewish Observer • December 2021

May the glow from the Festival of Lights bring you hope, happiness, love & health. Andrew May PRESIDENT

24 December 2021 • The Jewish Observer

Eric Stillman CEO