the bserver inside: Jewish
Global Day of Jewish Learning returns on November 17
Building community with Jewish Foundation 2 From the Campaign Trail
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Women of the Wall event planned
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Fasting at Tisha B’Av can stir hunger for giving 6
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he Global Day of Jewish Learning returns to Nashville on Sunday, Nov. 17. The event, organized by the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee in cooperation with Nashville congregations and other local Jewish organizations, will be held at the Akiva School from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The theme of this year’s Global Day is “Creating Together” and Rabbi David Levin-Kruss, the director of Special Programs at the Jerusalem-
Sections Lifecycles
based Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, will be the featured keynote scholar. Rabbi Levin-Kruss’s participation at the Global Day is made possible through the generous support of Libby and Moshe Werthan. The day will also feature learning sessions with local Jewish clergy and other Jewish educators. The
Nashville Global Day of Jewish Learning is also supported by a grant from the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Rabbi David Nashville and Levin-Kruss Middle Tennessee. Look for additional information about the Global Day in upcoming issues of the Observer and at the Federation website at www.jewishnashville.org. c
Federation honors Eisenstein, Schwartz
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Robert Eisenstein (second from right) is joined by (from left) Ryan Hauber, Rachel Eisenstein Hauber, Judge Dan Eisenstein, Jill Eisenstein and Nan Speller at the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee Annual Meeting on June 19. At the meeting, Robert Eisenstein received the Federation’s President’s Award, recognizing significant achievement on behalf of the Jewish community of Nashville, to Israel and to worldwide Jewry. PHOTO: RICK MALKIN
Adam Landa (left), outgoing treasurer of the Jewish Federation of Nashville, his wife, Valerie Landa and Federation President Andrew May (right) congratulate David Schwartz on receiving the Federation’s Young Leadership Award. Schwartz, a founding co-chair of the Federation’s NowGen Division, serves on the Federation’s Annual Campaign Cabinet and on its Board of Directors. He has taken a key role in initiatives that have helped attract young adults to Federation activities. PHOTO: RICK MALKIN
Kosher Food Box program in 5th year
T www.jewishobservernashville.org
A Publication of
www.jewishnashville.org VOL.78 NO. 7 July 2013 23 Tammuz-24 AV 5773
he Kosher Food Box program of Jewish Family Service of Nashville is in its fifth year, having served more than 1,000 boxes of food since it began in 2009. Toni Jacobsen, a licensed clinical social worker at Jewish Family Service, identified the need for a kosher food program after helping Jewish families with emergency financial assistance and often wondering how they were able to financially support their families each month. “I knew there were individuals who were making a choice between their prescriptions and groceries,” she said. It was during the time Harriet Schiftan (currently the Jewish Federation of Nashville’s planning director) was interim director of JFS that the food pantry began. “I am so grateful to Harriet who allowed me the opportunity to put together a pilot program to see if there was a need in the community,” Jacobsen said.
She compiled a list of past financial-assistance clients along with seniors who live in subsidized housing. She contacted each potential foodbox recipient and provided them with a sample box of food. The food boxes were well-received, the need was established, initial funding from National Council of Jewish Women was secured and the program began. The food items are carefully chosen and approved by rabbis. Individuals or families receive nonperishable items such as peanut butter, pasta, cereal, crackers, milk, rice and beans along with a fresh loaf of bread, three frozen vegetables and a voucher for fresh produce to be redeemed at a local vegetable stand. In addition to the food items, each recipient gets a month’s worth of Shabbat candles decorated with a colorful note from Jewish children. The recipients love it when they receive such a personalized gift that reminds them that the community cares about them. The small touches of Shabbat can-
dles, the carefully chosen food items, the extra donations of toiletry items and the friendly smiles make the JFS Kosher Food Box Program so special. The program is more than a food pantry. It is about giving love and hope in a box of food. The Kosher Food Box Program is truly a community effort. Funding comes from NCJW, the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, local foundations and individual donors. It is not uncommon to find a box full of toiletry items that a community member picks up while shopping to give out as an “extra” to recipients. Over 30 different groups ranging from the GJCC Preschool to the Temple Social Action committee have volunteered to pack the boxes. Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects have focused on feeding the hungry with food being donated to the program. If you are interested in participating, please contact JFS at (615) 356-4234. c Article furnished by Jewish Family Service of Nashville