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Vol. 88 No. 2 • February 2023
10 Sh’vat - 7 Adar 5783
One Year After Russian Invasion, Ukrainians Remain Hopeful, Determined, Tired By BARBARA DAB
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n February 24, 2022, the world watched as Russian troops began invading Ukraine after Russian president Vladimir Putin announced what he called a “special military occupation” and called for the “denazification” of Ukraine. In the year since, tens of thousands have died, and millions more have fled leading to the largest refugee crisis since World War II. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become the face of his country. He has appeared in his signature brown sweatshirt on American television, at an in-person visit to the White House with President Joe Biden, and most recently, speaking via video conference to attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland where he urged the world to move faster in its responsive decision making. Locally in both May and August of 2022, The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville sent delegations to Poland, a key point of entry for Ukrainian refugees, where participants spent time volun-
The Krakow JCC provides food for about 500 people each day.
People begin to line up at the Krakow JCC before it opens at 9am.
teering and providing humanitarian aid. The earlier group also visited the Poland/ Ukraine border where refugees streamed across the checkpoints. Both groups
spent time in Warsaw visiting temporary offices of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), and in Krakow at the JCC. The JAFI offices in Warsaw are set
up in a hotel, where over 150 people were housed awaiting flights to make Aliyah (emigrate) to Israel. Among the services offered are medical care, Hebrew classes, and mental health counseling. Ksenia Reznichenko, herself a refugee from Ukraine, is one of the aid workers. In a recent email, she says the JAFI offices continue to process people applying to make Aliyah, and in fact, the numbers currently stand at approximately 200. And it appears the demand will continue for a while. “The pace has gone down, but it doesn’t stop. People keep coming. We have new headquarters and [have organized] all the work here.” Mission participants witnessed the need for basic personal items, something that also continues. “We also still provide humanitarian aid as it’s winter and people need some warm clothes and of course do not forget about medical care,” says Reznichenko. The mission participants visited with a few of the families awaiting their turn to board the long-awaited flight Continued on page 2
Belmont University to Begin Hiring Jewish Faculty By BARBARA DAB
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elmont University, which has a long history of employing exclusively Christian professors, is making what it says is the next logical step in furthering relations with the Jewish community. The university recently announced plans to hire Jewish faculty in its professional schools, which includes the law school, the college of pharmacy, and the soon-toopen medical school, possibly as soon as the spring semester. Plans are also underway to consider a similar decision on the undergraduate level. The announcement was met with mixed reactions from both the University community and the local Jewish community. President Greg Jones says while the move is viewed by many as historic, it is the result of long-term relationship building, “This is an important step for Belmont and for Judeo-Christian relationships in Nashville and beyond,” he says, “We have long-standing relationships with the Jewish community here, A Publication of the
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Pastor Jon Roebuck hosts panel in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Belmont University. Pictured l. to r. Joh Roebuck, Rabbi Mark Schiftan, Arlene Averbuch, Martin Sir, Rabbi Shana Mackler, Steve Riven.
and we see the value in it, particularly in a time of resurgence of antisemitism in America and the world.” As might be expected, there are critWest End Synagogue Mystery Solved!, page 13
ics on both sides. David Gregory, provost and executive vice president for academic excellence, says the faculty met before the holiday season to discuss the process, Health and Wellness Corner: “Healthy” Little Lies, page 18
“We are having uncomfortable conversations, which makes us stronger.” He says some are concerned about losing their identity as a Christ-centered institution, and others believe it is an expression of their faith. “Some say, ‘Shouldn’t that be who we are anyway?’ If we are strong in our identity, we can be more welcoming.” Jewish community leadership is taking a wait-and-see approach to the decision. As this first phase ramps up for the professional schools, the undergraduate faculty continues to be exclusively Christian. Leslie Kirby, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, says this is a good start. “This is an incredibly important program for the students and for the broader community. We look forward to partnering with Belmont in the future to make sure they have the infrastructure they need to support new faculty when they are hired.” She agrees with those who say the move will help combat antisemitism, “This is why we focus on building bridges. If we Continued on page 4 Camps Special Section page 21