The Observer Vol. 90 No. 4 – April 2025

Jewish OBSERVER

Tennessee and Israel Forge Stronger Bonds with Historic Bipartisan Caucus

By BARBARA DAB

I

n an historic bipartisan move, the Tennessee Legislature last month agreed to create a Tennessee/Israel caucus designed to strengthen and further build upon their relationship. State representative Scott Cepicky (TN-District 64), one of the sponsors of the caucus bill welcomed the move and said the move was a big step forward for the state, “We will be able to do great things for the state of Tennessee and the people of Israel. This caucus will allow leaders more than 6,000 miles apart to strengthen political ties and promote economic growth through bilateral trade and investment opportunities that will help foster an environment of educational collaboration and cultural understanding.”

At a reception following the creation of the caucus in the senate chamber, Rabbi Saul Strosberg of Congregation Sherith Israel gave opening remarks. He reiterated President Ronald Reagan’s remarks, emphasizing the United States’

longstanding commitment to and friendship with the state of Israel. “The value of a connection between us and the people of Israel is even more essential today and we are grateful for the opportunities that the Tennessee-Israel Legislative Caucus will provide to strengthen and enhance

this important relationship.”

Israel’s Consul General for the Southeast Region, Anat Sultan-Dadon was present, and, in her remarks, she said establishment of the caucus reflects the unique friendship between the two states and noted that the relationship has been

cultivated over decades. “Israeli companies have collaborated with Tennessee business fostering innovation and technological advancements. In the academic realm our universities and research institutions have engaged in meaningful

Continued on page 23

Tennessee Jewish Communities Strengthen Security Amid Rising Antisemitism

By BARBARA DAB

According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents have soared to over 300% since October 7, 2023. But even prior to that date, Jewish communities throughout Tennessee experienced increasing antisemitic incidents in the form of fliers and Nazi grafitti. For the past several years, the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, along with the Jewish communities of Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Memphis have successfully pushed for increased security funding for houses of worship. The funding has grown from $500,000 to $750,000, and this year, there is a proposal to increase the funding to $1.3 million. These efforts began in 2018 when Rabbi Mark Schiftan, then head rabbi at The Temple, convened a meeting of Jewish community leaders. “I thought this was the primary issue the Federation should be taking the lead on in our com-

munity,” says Schiftan, “The most important issue is keeping Jewish lives safe.”

Schiftan says his concerns for the safety of local institutions came in the wake of the Tree of Life mass shooting in Pittsburgh. “That didn’t happen in Los Angeles, or New York, it happened right in the middle of the country. It was a recognition that all these facilities were going to have to arm in a very different way.”

Those early meetings and efforts to provide security funding came before federal homeland security grants and state level house of worship grants. Schiftan says his intention was for the Federation to include the funding in its annual campaign, rather than creating a special security campaign. “This could be a useful tool for the relevance of the Federation, but it shouldn’t be a separate campaign. It should be something the Federation is just doing.”

Following that meeting, Steve Hirsch who was the president of

From Moscow to Music City: Ada Pasternak’s Journey of Resilience, Music, and Advocacy, page

Federation at that time, said the decision was made to follow Schiftan’s proposal. “We made a commitment to the community by saying the first $200,000 of the annual campaign is going to go to local security. And we did it without cutting back too much on other grants, whether it be Israel or overseas.”

From that point, Hirsch says the effort was made to also take advantage of federal security programs. At that time, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program was administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “They were making dollars available for nonprofits for upgrading the security of facilities,” he says. What began as a federal allocation of $90 million was eventually increased to $180 million, and then Hirsch says it peaked at $300 million. He says the increases were due in part to lobbying efforts by the Jewish Federations of North America.

Hirsch created a security commit-

tee, with Lori Fishel as the first chair. Fishel says the first order of business was to include the Secure Community Network, an organization created in 2003 to provide security consulting to Jewish Federations around the country. “They visited all the organizations in Nashville, like Akiva, Hillel, JCC, and all the congregations. They just did a deep dive into the needs at each location.”

This type of visit is typical for SCN. The organization has been engaged in Nashville many times to help coordinate with the Federation on security issues, with law enforcement at the state and local level, as well as with federal partners. The idea is to identify areas that need improvement. And since the federal program only provided grants for hardening facilities, it soon became apparent that increases in security personnel were also necessary. Hirsch says eventually the state of Tennessee created

Continued on page 22

Community Relations Committee

I Am Not Your Pawn

By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY

I

n her sermon on March 8, Rabbi Sharon Brous, of IKAR in Los Angeles, eloquently and comprehensively outlined a concern that many of us in the Jewish community have been feeling. Brous, both a Columbia alumna and mother of a current Jewish student at Columbia, articulated the conundrum many of us feel as efforts to fight antisemitism on campus veer into authoritarian actions which ultimately make Jews less, not more, safe. She shares that she at first welcomed the government calling to task the university administrators who had given tacit permission to college protests which left Jewish students feeling threatened and intimidated. Finally, she writes, someone was conveying unequivocal condemnation of efforts to harass Jewish students.

But now, some of these efforts are causing a new concern. Rabbi Brous, and others, are beginning to see that these heavy-handed government responses could potentially be used as a wedge. They could ultimately serve to make Jews the scapegoats if authoritarian trends, diminishing rights and operating without due process, continue.

Rabbi Brous writes of these government efforts to penalize campuses:

“These hearings, the defunding, the threats of militarized campuses and rewritten curricula– these are extreme acts that may feel comforting to the Jewish community– finally someone is listening. But please hear me: these actions themselves constitute a form of antisemitism. What may feel, today, like a welcomed embrace is actually putting us at even greater danger. We, the Jews, are being used to advance a political agenda that will cause grave harm to the social fabric, and to the institutions that are best suited to protect Jews and all minorities.”

Jews thrive in free and open societies and suffer in authoritarian regimes. While addressing the very real and visceral concerns of antisemitism, we must also stay committed to the ideals of religious freedom, personal liberty and respect for free speech and due process.

There is genuine and legitimate concern about the sincerity of these actions designed to address antisemitism. While Columbia is being targeted and punished, the White House is simultaneously dismantling the

Department of Education. This action will only lead to more discrimination, threatening Jewish student safety at a moment of record-level antisemitism.

The Department of Education is the only government agency tasked with protecting student’s rights. Closing it means closing the Office of Civil Rights, a critical tool for protecting Jewish students on campus.

When discrimination against any community is allowed, Jews are unsafe. When discrimination against Jews is allowed, every community is unsafe. We should be putting more resources into fighting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, not damaging the very agencies on which we depend to protect us.

On a local level, we will continue to combat antisemitism to the best of our ability, by partnering with state and

local officials on policy and legislation. The efforts would be enhanced by federal support through the Department of Education.

JCRC March Activity:

• Tracking proposed bills drafted to address concerns expressed through meetings with city officials in response to hate group actions in Nashville last summer.

• Working with Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon, and her team to host a reception to recognize the establishment of a bipartisan Tennessee Israel Caucus in our state legislature.

• Working with MNPD leaders to facilitate a training video for all officers to educate about the Jewish community. The video will be filmed at the Gordon JCC in late April.

Upcoming Events:

• April 24: Community Yom HaShoah service hosted by Congregation Micah

• April 29: Community Yom HaZikaron Service

• May 18: Community Yom HaAtzmaut Event For details jewishnashville.org or contact Deborah Oleshansky, deborah@ jewishnashville.org •

The Struggle to Resettle: How Funding Cuts and Legal Challenges Are Impacting Refugee Assistance in Nashville

By BARBARA DAB

Nashville is home to hundreds of refugees from countries around the world, some of which are at war. Refugee status means these people are invitees of the United States and are entitled to a small amount of monetary assistance from the government to help them settle. The method and terms of resettlement and the legal definition of refugee was established in 1980 as the United States Refugee Admissions Program, which until recently, ran uninterrupted, and admitted approximately 3.1 million people.

The federal government tasks local agencies to help with the process of resettling refugees and administering the short-term assistance funding to cover rent, food, and other basic necessities, and mandated to cover their first 90 days. In Nashville, one such agency is Nashville International Center for Empowerment. To date, NICE is waiting reimbursement for approximately $1.1 million from the federal government. In addition, agencies like NICE are being left without the means to provide any further assistance.

Max Rykov is the former director of development and communications for NICE. He says, “The investment made in this program, in these individuals and families, has not only been a tremendous benefit morally and ethically, and culturally for the United States, but economically, too.”

Rykov says a recent study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found refugees and those seeking asylum have had generated $128.3 billion in net fiscal benefit to U.S. economy. “It’s an incredibly successful program from that perspective.”

Meanwhile agencies like NICE

are scrambling to continue their assistance for refugees. A recent emergency fundraiser was organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville in partnership with all the Jewish community’s congregations and agencies to quickly raise the needed funds to help NICE cover the continuing cost. To date, more than $29,000 has been raised, but the need continues.

Rabbi Michael Danziger, senior rabbi of The Temple, says supporting immigrants and refugees is a core Jewish value. “Helping immigrants is a no-brainer for Jews. Their story is our story - so many of us were in their exact places in recent generations or decades. It has been our story ever since Abraham left his land to start a new life.” He adds that many of our families worked hard to build a new life, and they also received important support from more established communities of neighbors and friends.

The recent funding freezes and dis-

mantling of United States Agency for International Development, USAID, has left agencies like NICE laying off staff and running short of critical funding to administer refugee assistance. So far, NICE has laid off 26 staffers and others have resigned because of the cuts.

Other local agencies are also struggling amidst staff layoffs. Inspiritus is an Atlanta based agency with offices throughout the Southeast providing a variety of social services to immigrants, including refugee resettlement. So far, 75 staff members have been laid off, over half its resettlement staff. Sarah Lonn is director of resettlement services. She says, “All three of our national agencies have been directly targeted to stop funding for programs there isn’t even a stop work order for.”

Additionally, Lonn says all their agencies have lost reception and placement funding and some have lost even more, including in Nashville. “That

means all of our employment and cash assistance programs, our preferred communities’ program, which offers intensive case management for our most vulnerable clients. And the entire Ukrainian, Cuban, and Haitian assistance programs.” She adds that for Inspiritus, all of those programs have ceased, and the staff has been laid off. Like NICE, Inspiritus received a donation to help cover rent and utilities for last month, but overall, they are scrambling from month to month.

One avenue available for relief from the federal government is the courts. Rykov cites a couple of court cases involving refugee organizations, including one that began in Seattle. “That resulted in the ruling that the funding should be unfrozen, and that the president does not have power to just immediately terminate the program.” But he says a couple of days later, the administration circumvented the ruling by terminating all the resettlement agency’s contracts.

Since what is happening could amount to a breach of contract by the government, Lonn says, “Our national agency, Global Refuge, is part of a lawsuit. Catholic Charities and Ethiopian Community Development Council are also a part of the lawsuit. In theory they’re supposed to pay us back, but I don’t think we’re going to see it. But in theory we should be getting it.”

Meanwhile, families are being impacted, some in dramatic ways. Funding streams that help bring refugees into the country has also dried up. Lonn says Inspiritus had several flights for February and March that were booked and then canceled, meaning no additional refugees are coming. One family is faced with a particularly harsh reality. “A family we are working with from Continued on page 22

Opinion

By SUSAN PANKOWSKY

S

ince the early 1980’s, when I went to Israel for the first time, my commitment to Israel and the people has grown stronger with every encounter. I am a fervent Zionist who has spent time exploring the country, volunteering, and learning more and more about our homeland.

Since moving to Nashville in the late 1990’s, there have been many opportunities to connect with our Israeli counterparts. My connections have been through hosting shlichim from the Jewish Agency; going to Israel on a West End Synagogue trip with Rabbi Roth; sending my kids to Ramah where there are Israeli shlichim; and sending my kids to Israel on either Ramah Seminar, Hadassah Young Judaea Year Course, Get Connected, or Birthright. All of these have brought me closer to Israel with every encounter. But the most significant part is the connection with friends in Israel who are like family. I was fortunate to meet these friends because of those connections in Nashville.

This past December, I was able to spend time in Israel with those friends. They brought me to their Kehillah (synagogue), where we davened together. We celebrated Hanukkah together, lighting candles and eating wonderful food. But the most impactful event was the “silent protest” on Shabbat. Every Saturday afternoon, people in South Jerusalem gather to show their support for the hostages and their families, as well as those soldiers who have been

Publisher Mark Freedman

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What can we do for Israel today?

killed. Everyone wears white. It was truly meaningful. As I left my friends that evening after Shabbat with my son, I saw a Hanukkiah next to an Israeli flag and the flag of one of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) units. The residents were waiting for their soldier to return.

It was a powerful reminder for me of how connected I am to Israel, and especially since October 7th. My daughter served as a reservist in the IDF 10 km from Gaza for almost three months. Two of my three children made Aliyah in the last decade. I have grandchildren there.

Although I had a personal reason for going to Israel, to see family, I also went on a World Zionist Organization leadership trip where I was to bear witness to what happened on October 7th. Visiting Kibbutz Kfar Aza, seeing the field where my daughter served, going to Hostage Square, hearing from Sharon Sharabi about his two brothers, Eli and Yossi, who were kidnapped from their homes. It was a difficult trip in many ways, but I was grateful for the opportunity to see with my own eyes the devastation, hear from those who were most affected, give back to the families in need, and even spend some money to help support the families of the hostages.

What can we do as American Jews?

First, you can visit. You will be welcomed with open arms, and your dollars will help struggling merchants. If you can’t visit, send money to legitimate charities in Israel, or donate through the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville.

And we do have a voice, as Jews

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. Letters to the editor must be no longer than 250 words, and op-eds must be no longer than 750 words. We prefer e-mailed submissions, which should be sent as Word documents to Editor Barbara Dab at barbaradab@ jewishnashville.org. Photos must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and should be attached as jpegs to the e-mail with the related news item or story. For material that cannot be e-mailed, submissions should be sent to Barbara Dab, The Jewish Observer, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville TN 37205. Photos and copy sent by regular mail will not be returned unless prior arrangement is made. Publication is at the discretion of The Observer, which reserves the right to edit submissions.

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

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not living in Israel and not voting in the Knesset elections. The World Zionist Congress has elections every five years, and Jews around the world who are 18 can vote by June 30, 2025. The World Zionist Congress (WZC) is the only democratic body with representatives of all world Jewry: all countries, all streams. At the Congress, Diaspora Jews not only have a voice, but a vote! The Congress shapes the leadership, activity, and spending of the Jewish Agency, KKL/ JNF, Keren Hayesod, and their many billions. The outcome of these elections

will determine how tens of millions of dollars are directed toward helping southern Israel rebuild, protecting democracy in Israel, strengthening our own Jewish communities and promoting pluralism in the Jewish state.

A good source for information is the website of Mercaz USA, the official party of the Conservative movement: mercazusa.org/votemercaz2025. •

Susan Pankowsky is the librarian and Mercaz captain at West End Synagogue. She lives in Nashville.

Editor’s Note

This is a busy time of year. Preparations are underway for Passover, the end of the school year is in sight, and summer plans are being made. In the midst of everything, this is also a reminder that submissions for the Observer’s 1st annual Creative Writing Contest are due by

Wednesday, April 15th. Click on the link in the image below for details, and if you still have questions, contact me! I wish you and yours a meaningful, festive, and delicious Pesach, and look forward to reading your children’s creative writing submissions. •

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

c c c c STAFF

Shlicha Corner

Hillel the Elder

By ZIV SHEMESH, COMMUNITY SHLICHA (EMISSARY)

The sage Hillel said:

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, when?”

These words, spoken thousands of years ago, remain deeply relevant today— especially as we approach Good Deeds Day. The day was founded in 2007 by businesswoman and philanthropist Shari Arison, with the aim of encouraging people to engage in positive actions and create change in the world through good deeds – both big and small. In 2011, the initiative expanded to the United States, and today, Good Deeds Day 2025 will take place on April 6th.

The initiative began in Israel, where thousands of people participated in the first day of activity, and over the years, it has expanded to dozens of countries. The idea is simple yet powerful: to dedicate one day a year in which every person performs a good deed – whether it’s volunteering, helping others, donating to the community, or even just offering a smile to someone in need.

and Good Deeds Day: The Power of Giving

Today, Good Deeds Day has become a global movement that brings together millions of people, organizations, and communities, all believing that every good deed, no matter how small, can make a difference and create a better world.

Good Deeds in JudaismJudaism views good deeds not only as a moral value but as a fundamental principle in the lives of individuals and communities. Over the centuries, the sages taught that Tzedakah (charity) and Gemilut Chasadim– acts of kindness such as visiting the sick, encouraging someone in distress, or providing help without expecting anything in return. are the cornerstones of a well-functioning society, and that every person can and should take part in building a better world. Especially when “One mitzvah leads to another” (Avot 4:2), meaning that one good deed can create positive ripples that affect the entire environment. The Torah explicitly commands us to care for the stranger, understanding that the people of Israel have a special responsibility toward those who are foreign among them because they, too,

were once strangers in Egypt. The idea of mutual responsibility is at the heart of Jewish existence, and it is expressed in the commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).

Taking Responsibility – “If I am not for myself, who will be for me?”

While Judaism teaches that good deeds should be a part of our routine, Good Deeds Day is an annual opportunity to pause for a moment, look around, and ask ourselves: How can we make the world a better place?

On Good Deeds Day, as in everyday life, we learn that change doesn’t start with “them,” “the government,” or “society” – it starts with us. Each of us carries the responsibility to act and contribute, even if it’s just with a small deed. If I don’t take the initiative to be good to others, who will do it in my place? Just as Hillel calls on each person to take responsibility for their own fate, so too on Good Deeds Day, we take responsibility for the world around us.

Contributing to the Community –“And when I am for myself alone, what am I?”

Much has been researched about

the essential effects of community and relationships for humans and Hillel reminds us that it is not enough to develop ourselves individually. The true meaning of life lies in the connections we make with others – not just in personal success. In this way, every person who receives inspiration and responds by helping others contributes to the greater good.

In a more straightforward way “Tzedakah saves from death” expresses the profound impact that giving has on the life of the giver, not just the recipient.

Acting Now – “And if not now, when?”

The final part of Hillel’s quote is a wake-up call, the best time to perform a good deed is right now. For us good deed day has turned into a week from April 6 until the 10th offering more opportunities for more people to get involved and make a difference. Each day will volunteer in a different organization and for a different purpose.

Follow Good Deeds Week on the Federation website to sign up for volunteer activities and see how you can contribute to those around you. •

The Resonating Power of Passover

By JESSE FELD

According to the Pew Research Center’s report, “Jewish Americans in 2020,” while only 20% of Jews go to synagogue monthly, more than three times that amount, 62% of Jews reportedly celebrate Passover by participating in a Seder. This statistic it has always resonated with me.

It first struck me because Passover is my favorite holiday. The fact that it is the most widely celebrated of the major Jewish holidays made me think that I must not be the only one who favors Pesach. It makes me think about what it is about the story of our Exodus of Egypt that is still so tangible today.

Upon my own reflection, here’s three main reasons why it still resonates so deeply for me, and I assume many others.

- Home hospitality: While you can

have a Seder pretty much anywhere, during my upbringing, the Seders I would attend were always home hosted. This inherently makes the celebration feel familial. You are around the table with friends, family, and part of Jewish tradition is encouraging us to invite new friends who have nowhere else to go, or folks who have not experienced a Seder before.

- Resilience and strength: The Passover story is one of bravery, leadership, and belief. These are tenets of the Jewish faith and peoplehood that have kept us together for so many years, and ones that we are proud to share with others. If you wanted to show someone what being Jewish was all about, the Seder is a great one stop shop to doing so.

- FUN: I don’t know about you, but the Seders I go to are always fun. And while the four glasses of wine

do help, I’d argue that it’s just as fun with glasses filled with Kedem grape juice rather than wine. Passover comes with storytelling, songs, and food! Some families go further with 10 plague charades or other fun games during the course of the Seder.

You may be wondering to yourself, OK Jesse, you’re the Executive Director of the Gordon JCC, we get you like Passover but how does this connect back to the J? Well, I’m so glad you asked! As Passover has resonated with our community over the past 3,000 years, our Gordon JCC has resonated similarly over the past 123 years – and the reasons are indistinguishable.

We strive to have create a home atmosphere for members here at the J. We’ve been referred to as “the living room for the Jewish community,” as well as folks referring it to their “home away from home.” And just like at a Passover

Seder, we aim for a familial setting where you can bring a friend and share your culture with them. As the Passover Seder displays our strength and resilience, so too does the J in instilling our Jewish values and culture daily in each of our programs. And of course, the fun. There is no limit to the fun being had here on the 52 acres on 801 Percy Warner Blvd. From laughing children at a Friday morning shabbat, to a hilarious comedic movie in our Nashville Jewish Film Festival, or even our bevy of TGIT programs, there is no doubt we do fun well here at the J. If you’re like me, and you feel the resonate power of Passover, you may find just as much joy in getting involved here at the Gordon JCC. I’m always here to help people get engaged with our programming, so please feel free to reach out to me at jesse@nashvillejcc.org when you’re ready to jump in! •

Building Community: A Gathering for Jewish Widows and Widowers in Nashville

By BARBARA DAB

A

fter Gil Fox’s wife Joyce died several years ago, he remembered a few things he’d heard from others who’d lost spouses. One was that after their spouses died, some of their best friends disappeared. The other was that people who were not close friends became their close friends. And there was one other thing Fox remembered hearing, “They also said they get invited to go out with a bunch of couples and they felt like a fifth wheel.”

Also, around that time, The Temple was creating what they called “tribes,” or affinity groups for members to gather in small settings with a shared interest. While filling out the questionnaire, Fox had the idea to create one of the tribes for people who had lost a spouse. “The initial idea was that we would do activities together. It wasn’t designed to be a meet or meat market. It was really so that everybody had the same thing in their background of what had happened to them.”

The group began getting together to go out to dinner or lunch, movies, theater, or to enjoy music. The first gathering was small, just eight Temple members. Over time the gatherings centered around monthly lunches since some people did not like driving at night.

Eventually the group wanted to broaden their reach. “We felt there was a need in the general Jewish community,” says Fox. He approached the Temple’s Rabbi Michael Danziger and The Jewish Federation of Greater

Nashville’s leadership to ask for support in promoting the group. Both agreed to help, and today the group has grown to approximately 23 regular members. “Membership is open to any Nashville Jewish widower or widow, regardless of congregational affiliation and those with no affiliation,” he adds.

The group meets on the second Monday of each month at various locations around town. To learn more or join the group, email Gil Fox at gsfox3@ comcast.net •

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Toni Jacobsen and Patty Marks will be honored at JFS annual Chesed Dinner on May 7, 2025

T

oni Jacobsen and Patty Marks are the recipients of Jewish Family Service’s 2025 Chesed Award, given each year to acknowledge the contributions the recipients have made to the Jewish and broader Nashville communities. This year’s dinner co-chairs are Meryl Kraft and Anna Sir. Chesed is Hebrew for “loving kindness,” and occurs when the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” is fulfilled. Toni and Patty are prime examples of what Chesed means in action. Please join JFS to honor them and be inspired by their accomplishments while learning about the impact the agency has on over 1900 clients in the community.

Born and raised in Florida, Toni moved to Nashville after high school graduation in 1986. She attended

Belmont College and received a double major in Social Work and Psychology and went on to earn a master’s in social work from the University of Tennessee.

Toni is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is the Clinical Director at Jewish Family Service (JFS). She began her career in the mental health field in 1989 facilitating abuse prevention groups for children. She has worked with abused/neglected teenagers in a group home through the YWCA, as a Child and Family Therapist for The Guidance Center and as a Clinical Director at Camelot Cares before coming to JFS.

Toni’s commitment to the community extends beyond her professional work. She volunteered for over a decade on the Williamson County Child Fatality Review Team and served on the board of First Steps.

She joined JFS in 2000 and provides a range of services to the Jewish and general community including counseling, family life education programs, financial assistance, adoption, support groups, senior programs, as well supervising the program staff and overseeing all the various programs at JFS including the school supply and Hanukkah gift programs.

Toni fell in love with the Jewish community and the work of the agency. She often refers to herself as having the “best job in the world.” Her passion for the community has resulted in the cultivation of meaningful relationships and is evident in the numerous programs developed under her guidance and leadership. Although Toni is not Jewish, she has been welcomed and integrated into the community as an honorary tribe member and functions as a full fledge member.

When asked about receiving the Chesed Award, Toni responded, “Receiving this year’s Chesed award is going to be one of the highlights of my life. Being honored with this award is like getting the Nobel Peace Prize and such an honor.” This is a very appropriate quote for Toni. As the Clinical Director of JFS, she sees an issue in the community, does lots of research and development and comes up with a program or service to implement in response to that issue. So, Toni is much like our very own Nobel Prize recipient for social services!

Patrice “Patty” Greener Marks was born in Memphis, TN, the second daughter of Sue and Eugene Greener, Jr. Raised at Temple Israel, then a Classical Reform congregation, Patty has always cherished her identity as a Southern Jew.

A Vanderbilt graduate, she met her husband, Jimmy, on a blind date arranged by their parents. Married in 1980, they have called Nashville home for most of their lives.

Patty’s deep love for her Jewish community is reflected in decades of service, especially at The Temple, Congregation Ohabi Shalom which she jokes is her Cheers, the only place that she wants people to know her name. She has held leadership roles including Board President (2008-2010), co-chair of the Cantor search and Leadership Temple, and helped found the Women’s Retreat. Her most treasured contribution is leading Women’s Torah Study for over 23 years, fostering a community that is curious, smart, kind and supportive of one another. Thursday at 10:30 in the library is truly sacred time.

Continued on page 10

Patty Marks

Toni Jacobsen

From Moscow to Music City: Ada Pasternak’s Journey of Resilience, Music, and Advocacy

By BARBARA DAB

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s annual report features a new type of cover model, and people are asking, “Who’s that girl?” Violin virtuoso turned fiddle player, Ada Pasternak, made her way to Nashville from Moscow via New York, Connecticut, and Los Angeles. The journey began when Pasternak was just six years old. “My parents decided to come to America because of religious persecution,” she says, “They wanted to be openly Jewish, and they wanted to give their kids a better life.”

As with many immigrants, the family struggled. “My parents were amazing,” says Pasternak, “I had no idea until I was an adult how hard it was for them, leaving everything behind including their own families.” Born into a musical family, Pasternak and her brother were immediately placed in music lessons. “That was my whole childhood,” she says.

And playing violin remained at the center of her life as she won competitions and played to large audiences, receiving standing ovations. Until her teen years when her budding career was sidelined by injury. “At the peak of my career as a classical violinist I developed overuse syndrome and tendonitis so my whole upper body went out and I couldn’t play.” Pastnerak was forced to put her violin

away and try to think about another path.

It was during high school, when friends were applying for college that

Pastnernak found her way back to music. “I didn’t think I would be going to college because we weren’t well off. I also didn’t know what I’d be doing because I hadn’t played violin in three years and I didn’t have any other skills or talents.” Or so she thought.

During this time, Pastnernak’s mother was taking a music therapy course at

Dr. Brad Krock

New School university in New York. This piqued her interest. “She would tell me about going to hospitals and playing her violin for people with dementia and how the music would completely transform them,” she says, “They would all of a sudden remember their lives and the names of family members.”

Pastnernak’s guidance counselor suggested she apply to Berklee College of Music, which has a music therapy program. The jazz-oriented school was an out of the box choice for the classically trained violinist, but at her mother’s urging, she applied. “It was like a movie. I applied seconds before the deadline,” she says.

At the point, she had not picked up a violin in three years. “I didn’t even know if I could play anymore.”

Nevertheless, she prepared her audition playing the Jewish niggun, Ba’al Shem Niggun. Her father drove her to Boston for the audition, accompanied her on the piano, and she was awarded a full scholarship, the Presidential scholarship only given to seven students per year.

Arriving at Berklee, Pasternak says it was a musical playground which musicians from all over the world. “It was so fun. Overwhelming, but in a good way. Because there’s jazz, there’s bluegrass. It was every genre of music. It was so exciting.”

everything for her. “I spent about eight months locked away in a beach cottage writing songs and trying to heal.”

Eventually, Pasternak came up for air and decided to explore Nashville. “Where is a place that has music opportunities that I haven’t lived in yet?” So, last summer she bought the proverbial one-way ticket to Music City and has not looked back.

Along the way, she developed her own technique for strumming the violin and singing. “It sort of became my thing,” she says. She now plays guitar and piano and continues her signature fiddle style. “The violin feels like home because I’ve been playing since I was six.”

She is now working on her first album, a concept album of songs written during and after the breakup. “It starts with a song called Ghost of You. And then there is healing and growth that happens.” This process includes exploring the world of indie music production and fundraising. It is a challenge she is very excited about. “I want to be in the studio six days a week right now because I have all these songs boiling inside of me. But I have to pay the producer, and the engineer, the musicians.” So, she is embarking on a campaign to raise the needed funds.

Since October 7th Pasternak says she feels more connected to Judaism than ever. “I saw that on October 7th people just didn’t care. And I saw on October 8th that people I knew, like from Los Angeles, women were posting that the rapes weren’t real. And I messaged them back saying, ‘How dare you? This could have been you.’”

The pain of that drove her to write what has become a trademark song, 100 Days. “I set up my phone and just did an improvisation and I posted it to an Instagram story.” She says she received over 100 Instagram messages asking her to make the post shareable. “I wrote the song and then took it into the studio and recorded it and I released it.”

Still suffering from her injury, Pastnernak stayed away from classical music, but experimented with everything else, including mariachi, rock, composition, and the music therapy that originally drew her there. “I was just exploring because I didn’t know what I would do.”

And during this exciting time, she found her first love. But as with many first relationships, after two years they broke up. “When we broke up it was really hard on me. I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Since October 7th, Pasternak says she has become dismayed at indifference from the non-Jewish world, and surprised that some people do not know about the attacks. She has experienced it both in person and online. “They don’t talk about it. I would say more than half the people I talk to haven’t heard about it.” To help inform, she printed out a fact sheet that she hands out at the weekly Run for Their Lives walks here in Nashville. “I just think it’s important to educate people. I have musician friends who still don’t know what happened.”

But the heartache led her in yet another direction. “I woke up one day and it was a beautiful day in Boston, and I wrote a song. It just came out of my mouth.”

Pasternak calls the moment life changing and one she will never forget. She called her songwriting friend and the two sat down in a practice room and wrote the song. “The next day I wrote another song, and then another song.”

After finishing school, she continued writing and playing music and found herself in Los Angeles where she also explored the world of modeling and acting. Then came yet another difficult breakup. This one, even more heartbreaking. “Valentines’ Day we were talking about getting married and two weeks later, he broke up.” She says it changed

She is also disappointed at her Jewish friends who remain largely silent. “I have Jewish musician friends who haven’t posted or said anything. I think they’re cowards.” She says it is important for the Jewish world to come together and show their outrage and unity. “I’m trying to inspire other Jewish artists to do that.”

So, as Pasternak continues to work on her album, perform at local venues, and keep writing, she also plans to become more involved in the Jewish community. And she never loses sight of how she came to be here, in the United States, in Nashville. “My parents left everything, including their own families behind to come to the States for religious freedom. How could I sleep at night if I don’t speak up.” •

Musician Ada Pasternak journeyed from Moscow to Nashville to make music and connect with Jewish community.

The girl on the cover.

Heart of the Matter

By PAM KELNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES

Every year at Purim, we tell the tale of a Jewish teenage girl who ascends to the throne of the Persian Empire by pretending not to be Jewish.

Last month, tween and teen girl participants in the JFS sponsored program, Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, explored two pressing questions:

“How should I act if I want to be accepted by my peers?”

“When can I stop acting that way and reveal who I truly am?”

In Persia’s capitol city, Esther must hide her true identity — that she is a Jewish girl named Hadassah — behind the mask of a beauty queen. When she arrives at the palace, Esther only does what Haggai, the guardian of the concubines, tells her to do. She bathes for six months in oil and six months in spices and learns to paint herself with cosmet-

ics. She changes to conform to the beauty standard of her day.

In these days of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, teens hide and mask their appearances in more ways than one. The pressure to appear “hot” for girls or “cool” for guys is felt countless times a day as photos are shared and commented on and ridiculed.

Eventually Esther — with the help of her uncle and mentor, Mordecai — finds the inner strength to remove her mask and reveal her Jewish identity.

On Purim, we dress up in costumes. But we are constantly costuming ourselves, sending messages about how we want to be perceived in the clothes we wear and the choices we make.

The girls made masks and considered the masks they wear and how and when they might take off those masks to let their true selves shine through.

Jewish teens need supportive communities of peers and mentors to wrestle with complex issues like these. JFS is grateful to provide these safe spaces for our teens. •

Nashville Holocaust Memorial Offers Tours in Observance of Yom HaShoah

By MARSHA RAIMI

Nashville’s Holocaust Memorial invites the entire community of Nashville for a docent-led tour during the week surrounding Yom HaShoah, which this year falls on Thursday, April 24th. The Memorial Committee has made many notable improvements to the sculpture garden in the past sixteen months, including: butterfly garden bed created as an Eagle Scout project by Ellis Prichard, new greeting sign crafted by Alex Limor, and stone benches that seat up to thirty (30) people.

Chesed Dinner

Continued from page 6

Beyond The Temple, Patty has been actively involved in the broader Jewish community, serving as Treasurer of NCJW and chairing the Playschool committee and the Main Event at the JCC.

Her unwavering dedication to Jewish Family Service (JFS) is especially meaningful. She has served on the board, co-chaired the Chesed Dinner, co-hosted fundraisers for Adoption Services, and eagerly supports initiatives from food boxes to the Chanukah Gift Drive. She

Each tour is unique because the docents include their personal connections to the Holocaust while sharing the story of the survivors and their families who live in Nashville. The dates, times, and docents are:

Wednesday, April 23, 10:00 am –Delilah Cohn – second-generation survivor

Thursday, April 24, 1:00 pm – Marsha Raimi – second-generation survivor

Friday, April 25, 10:00 am – Alex Limor – second-generation survivor and sculptor of all structures at the Memorial

and Jimmy are proud Life & Legacy donors. JFS is the only organization for which she is happy to solicit funds for the Annual Giving campaign.

Patty and Jimmy cherish their family: son Albert and Rabbi Rachel Marks, grandchildren George and Dena, and son Michael Marks, all of whom live in Chicago.

In her free time, Patty enjoys walking, needlepoint, playing bridge, mahjongg, and canasta. She is an avid reader, participating in Tri Arts, Classics Book Club and Jewish Book Club, and a proud member of G1, an interfaith group tack-

Saturday, April 26, 1:00 pm – Delilah Cohn Sunday, April 27, 11:30 am, following Hadassah Book Club discussion –Marsha Raimi

Wednesday, April 30, 10:00 am – Marisa Mayhan – former history teacher Nashville’s Holocaust Memorial, located on the grounds of the Gordon Jewish Community Center in Bellevue, is a sacred space for remembering those who suffered during the Holocaust.

The twelve Pillars of Remembrance contain names of family members who perished, as well as those who sur -

ling issues of faith, religious life, and antisemitism.

When reflecting on receiving the 2025 Chesed award, Patty says, “JFS gives me the opportunity to live my Jewish values and inspires me to be my best self. For me, the Chesed award is the greatest honor in the Jewish community (and general community!) that one can receive. I am deeply honored, humbled and grateful.”

Invitations are in the mail, so be on the lookout to RSVP. To learn more details about the dinner and honorees, and to RSVP or donate, visit jfsnashville.

vived and subsequently lived in the Nashville area.

Holocaust Memorial Committee Chair, Felicia Anchor, commented, “For many of us second- and third-generation survivors, there is no cemetery we can visit to remember and honor our loved ones lost in the Shoah. The Memorial was created for this purpose; as well as to educate future generations about the dangers of antisemitism and other forms of hatred.”

To reserve your space, or ask questions, email docent chair Marsha Raimi at raimim1101@gmail.com. •

org/ways-to-help/chesed-dinner/

The Chesed Dinner is the primary fundraiser for Jewish Family Services, one of Nashville’s oldest social service agencies. Last year JFS served over 1,900 individuals through its 21 services and programs in adoption, counseling, psychotherapy, financial assistance, senior services, information and referral, and family life and community enrichment.

For more information about JFS or the Chesed Dinner contact Pam Kelner, Executive Director, at (615) 354-1644 or visit the JFS Website at www.jfsnashville.org. •

YOM HASHOAH

date + time

Starting the Day with Purpose: The JMS Morning Minyan Experience

By ELLY EBIN

Each morning at the Jewish Middle School begins with a special time of purpose, reflection, and connection. Before the first class begins, students electively gather for the JMS Morning Minyan—a tefillah service that combines Orthodox tradition with personal growth and community. For many students, it is not just about spiritual practice; it is an essential part of what makes JMS so unique.

Founded and led by volunteer and JMS parent, Dr. Zack Ebin, the minyan offers students a structured tefillah experience as they reach an age where they desire more responsibility in their spiritual practice. “The minyan gives students the opportunity not only to daven meaningfully but also to take on leadership roles,” Dr. Ebin explains. He adds that his inspiration for starting the minyan came from, “observing students genuinely eager to deepen their connection to prayer and community.”

A highlight of the Morning Minyan is the chance for students to put on tefillin for the first time after becoming a Bar Mitzvah. This moment of personal connection to tradition is profound. Seventh grader Declan Roth, who became a Bar Mitzvah this month, reflected on his first experience with tefillin. “It made me feel more connected to God, more motivated in my davening, and just different, but in a good way,” he shared. His classmate, Lyla Banish, a regular minyan attendee, emphasized the importance of the minyan, “Being together for tefillah helps strengthen my bond with God and with the community.”

Another innovative aspect of the Morning Minyan is the student-led Divrei Torah, where students prepare, write, and record their insights on the weekly Parsha to share with the community. This initiative not only deepens their understanding of Jewish texts but also sharpens critical thinking, writing, and public speaking skills. Preparing these Divrei Torah helps students learn to analyze texts, incorporate commentaries, and articulate their insights thoughtfully and clearly—skills that lay the foundation for success in high school, college, and beyond.

The skills students develop in leading tefillah and crafting Divrei Torah extend into their academic work, enhancing their writing, presentations, and collaboration. By learning to express themselves confidently and lead with purpose, JMS students excel in their Jewish studies

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while becoming well-rounded leaders ready to make a meaningful impact on the world.

The Morning Minyan also fosters connections across grades and backgrounds, with community members joining in daily and modeling values like commitment and engagement. As JMS founder Rabbi Saul Strosberg aptly puts it, “The Morning Minyan creates a special space where students grow as leaders, connect with mentors, and strengthen their Jewish identity—values that carry through every aspect of their academic and personal lives.”

As the Jewish Middle School continues to grow, the Morning Minyan has become a cornerstone of the student

experience—an enriching blend of spiritual practice, personal reflection, and community-building that helps students cultivate a lifelong, meaningful connection to tefillah. •

Lyla shares a Dvar Torah on the Parsha, which she researched and wrote as part of the JMS Minyan’s volunteer Weekly Divrei Torah initiative.

L-R: Edwin, Zevi, Declan, Hirsch, Yoyo, and Eli put on Tefillin as part of their Morning Minyan service.

Purim Around Town…

Jewish Nashville’s young adults braved a late winter storm and became tourists for this year’s Purim Honky Tonk at Jackalope Brewery. There was line danc-

ing, refreshments, merch, and plenty of good times. There may have been thunder outside, but inside, there were plenty of laughs and good times. •

The Emoji Purim Party was celebrated at Chabad of Nashville with joy and

laughter, fun and happiness, by adults and children of all ages, and all walks of life. •

Vanderbilt Hillel Students Strengthen Ties with Nashville Jewish Community

By SHANNON SMALL

V

anderbilt Hillel students are tak-

ing their engagement with the local Jewish community to new heights, forging meaningful connections through two key initiatives aimed at fostering stronger ties between Vanderbilt Hillel and the broader Nashville Jewish community.

During the month of February, a group of dedicated students participated in a heartfelt “Thank-a-thon,” calling donors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville to express their gratitude for contributions to the Federation’s annual campaign. The students explained how the generous donations directly support programs at Vanderbilt Hillel, such as Passover Seders, Israel programs, senior student initiatives, and leadership development opportunities. By sharing these details, the students helped donors understand the tangible impact of their support on both individual students and the broader campus Jewish experience.

“I loved participating in the annual thank-a-thon because it was fun to talk to donors,” said Abby Hafner, class of 2027, “I am so thankful for all their donations and for making all my programming dreams come true. The donors were all so appreciative of the calls.”

And Emma Lenson, class of 2025, said, “I enjoyed explaining to donors the real impact they have on Jewish life at Vanderbilt.”

In addition to the Thank-a-thon, Vanderbilt Hillel students also partici-

pated in the second Sunday night dinner of the year, a program that invites students to visit local Jewish community members in their homes to share a meal and engage in meaningful conversation. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between Vanderbilt Hillel and the wider Nashville Jewish community, allowing students to connect with older generations and build relationships outside of the campus setting.

“I really enjoyed joining a local Nashville family for dinner on Sunday night with two of my good friends from Hillel. We had a great conversation

while enjoying a home cooked meal and got to know the family and their kids,” said Amanda Malnik, class of 2027

The Sunday night dinners provide an informal setting where students and community members can engage in discussions about Jewish life, current events, and shared experiences. For many stu-

dents, it is a rare opportunity to connect with local Jewish families in a way that fosters personal and spiritual growth. The combined efforts of the Thanka-thon and Sunday night dinners highlight the strong partnership between Vanderbilt Hillel and the local Jewish community. These initiatives not only give students a chance to express gratitude to donors but also offer a unique way to build lasting bonds with the broader Jewish community.

As the academic year progresses, Vanderbilt Hillel looks forward to continuing to engage students in more opportunities that connect them with the local Nashville Jewish community. In March, Vanderbilt Hillel is partnering with National Council of Jewish Women-Nashville Chapter (NCJW) in the “Shabbat and Challah Baking for a Cause” programs in which students and NCJW members will celebrate Shabbat together and bake challot to sell. The proceeds will go toward addressing food insecurity in the local community. With these programs, students are learning the importance of giving back, building relationships, and strengthening their sense of Jewish identity both on and off-campus. •

Passover at e Temple

Wednesday, Apr il 9 at 6:00PM Women’s Seder

S unday, Apr il 13 at 6:00PM 2nd Night Seder

Wednesday, Apr il 16 at 6:00PM LGBTQIA+ Seder

Saturday, Apr il 19 at 9:30AM Passover Shabbat Mor ning Study & Ser vice with Yizkor

Vanderbilt Hillel students and local family enjoying Sunday night dinner together. Photo credit: David Roffwarg

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

The Observer provides congregational listings of events and services as a complimentary service to the community. If your congregation is not listed, it is because we did not receive the information in time to meet our publication deadline. Please give your rabbi, executive director, or synagogue volunteer a gentle nudge.

@ Chabad /Congregation Beit Tefilah

An opportunity to experience Shabbat in the Heights

Imagine that the Shtetl of Europe has been frozen in time, transported to New York, and then unfrozen. Imagine walking down the main street and seeing the Judaica shops, hearing the sounds of yeshiva students studying the Talmud, smelling the aromas of the freshly baked Challah wafting from the local kosher bakeries, while seeing signs Hebrew and Yiddish and shuls at every corner, while the skyscrapers of Manhattan rise in the distance.

Chabad of Nashville invites the Nashville community to experience this at Shabbat in the Heights. This unique Shabbaton will take place May 2-4, 2024, and enables one to experience Chassidic life in a personal way.

Throughout Shabbat, guest lecturers and study groups provide opportunities to study Chassidic teachings and illuminating perspective on life and its purpose. A guided tour of the Chabad World Headquarters, a visit to the Rebbe’s synagogue, allows a glimpse into life with the Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, and insight into how he inspired his thousands of emissaries, leaders in their own right, in Jewish communities in every corner of the globe.

Nashville, Tennessee will be well-represented this year with a group led by Rabbi & Yitzchak and Esther Tiechtel, with Chabad of Nashville. “Living in Nashville and working in the community for the past 28 years makes Nashville home, but a big piece of my heart is always in Crown Heights where I grew up” says, Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel. “I can’t wait to share it with my friends from the Nashville community.”

The all-inclusive weekend feels like a retreat, complete with authentic Jewish cuisine, and eclectic Chasidic entertainment, providing a much-needed boost of spiritual energy, which she will carry over into her work, living of a more meaningful life.

To learn more about Shabbat in the Heights please go to www.shabbatintheheights. com or call Chabad at 615-646-5750.

Rabbi Tiechtel to complete Tractate of Talmud

There is an ancient and widespread custom for the firstborn to fast on the day before Passover. This fast commemorates G-d’s kindness towards the Israelite firstborn; when G-d slew all the Egyptian firstborn males He spared their Jewish counterparts.

This fast is treated leniently. Thus, if there is a festive meal held that relates to a mitzvah, for example, the celebration of a circumcision or of a siyum (the completion of a tractate of the Talmud) the firstborn son participates in the meal rather than fasting.

It is therefore customary to arrange for a Siyum, which is the completion of the study of a tractate of the Talmud to take place in the synagogue after morning prayers on the fourteenth of Nissan. The firstborn sons who are present (and anyone else who is interested in enjoying some refreshments...) participate in this festive meal and, having broken their fast, are free to eat for the rest of the day.

On Thursday morning, April 10, the morning before the Seder, Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel will be making a Siyum, celebrating the completion of 224 pages of the Talmud of Ketubot, following the morning service at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad. It will be followed by a light breakfast snack thus giving the firstborns the opportunity to partake in a meal of a Mitzvah and permitting them to break the fast of the first born.

For more information go to www.chabadnashville.com

A Cliff Note Family Seder at Chabad

Chabad of Nashville invites the Nashville Jewish community to its 28th annual Community Passover Seders, which will take place in the magnificent ballroom of the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life

On Saturday, April 12, at 8:00 PM, Chabad will host a A Cliff Notes Family Friendly Seder. It will be an interactive family Seder, a warm, fun and thought-provoking event, which includes a Passover Experience in a Royal setting, handmade Shmurah Matzah for each Seder participant, an abundance of exquisite wines for every palette, an elegant royal dinner, which will include authentic gefilte fish, Bubby’s Passover Brisket, and array of salad and side dishes, catered by one of Nashville’s premiere chefs.

Reservation can be made at chabadnashville.com

A Chassidic Seder for the Inquisitive Mind

On Sunday, April 13, at 8:00 PM, Chabad will host “A Chassidic Seder for the Inquisitive Mind.” This will be a full Chassidic Seder with many insights to the Haggadah and various Chassidic tales and melodies, and a exquisite Seder feast. This will be a learning Seder, where participants will delve into the deeper meaning and dimensions to the Passover Exodus and making it personal to their own lives.

This Seder will take place in the Bernard Ballroom at the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life, 95 Bellevue Road, and will be catered by one of Nashville’s premiere chefs

There will be a limited number of seats and first come first serve. Reservations can be made at chabadnashville.com/seder

Get your own personal Shmurah Matzah for your Seder

In honor of Passover, Chabad of Nashville is giving out a free Passover Shmurah Matzah for your Seder. All you need to do is email your name and contact information chabdnashville@gmail.com and you will receive your free Matzah gift box for your Seder. For more information call Chabad at 615-646-5750.

Sell your Chametz with Chabad for Passover 2025

According to Jewish Law during Passover all types of Chametz (leavend foods) are prohibited to be owned any one of the Jewish faith.

So what is one to do with all of the leavened food in their home during Passover? The rabbis in ancient biblical days have come up with a solution. One can authorize their rabbi before Passover to sell their Chametz to a non-Jew, who is permitted to own it during Passover. After the holiday is over, the Chametz is sold back to the rabbi, and one is permitted then to benefit from it.

Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel at Chabad of Nashville is offering to sell the Chametz of anyone wishing to fulfill this special tradition for Passover, thus taking Passover 2025 to the next level.

Go to chabadnashville.com/chametz by April 9, 2025 to fill out the online form to sell your Chametz for Passover.

Chabad to host the Moshiach Seudah

Passover begins with a meal and now ends with a meal. On the last night of Passover, on Thursday, April 20, at 7:00 PM, Chabad will host the Moshiach Seudah (the Messiah’s meal). All are invited for the traditional feast, inspirational stories, songs, matzah & four cups of wine. In anticipation of the future redemption with Moshiach.

Instituted by the Baal Shem Tov 300 years ago, the traditional Moshiach’s meal includes the eating matzah and the consumption of four glasses of wine, toasting to a futuristic era of redemption. The Baal Shemtov would make a festive meal at the close of the holiday, dedicated to the coming of Moshiach. Since then Jews throughout the world come together on the last day of Pesach to celebrate this unique custom.

For more information go to www.chabadnashville.com

Chabad to host a Post Passover TGIS celebrations in April

Start your Shabbat off right with good friends, great conversation, and excellent kosher cuisine, all seasoned with the perfect amount of spirit and joy. TGIS is a Club Med Shabbat: An all-inclusive Shabbat experience. Enjoy a Friday night Shabbat dinner replete with traditional dishes. Blended with spirited singing, a Chasidic tale, and a chance to meet some wonderful new people. TGIS will be held on Friday evening, April 25, 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

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@ Micah

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

Weekly Events

Sanctuary Shabbat Services: Fridays at 6 PM

At Micah, we approach God in many ways: the inspiration of words, the beauty of sacred space, the authenticity of our intentions, and through the power of music and song. Join us in-person or virtually for services this month that will be as diverse as they are engaging, as moving as they are participatory. Come early and schmooze with us starting at 5:30 PM! Light refreshments are served.

Saturday Morning Torah Study: 9 AM on Zoom

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

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

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

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

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

April Events

Second Night Passover Seder: Sunday, April 13 at 6 PM

Spend time with your clergy and community in this family-friendly experience. The deadline to register is Monday, April 7.

Micah Reads: Monday, April 21 at 7 PM on Zoom Education Director Julie Greenberg leads the discussion on “The Postcard” by Anne Berest.

Women’s Circle: Friday, April 25 at 12 PM

Rabbi Laurie engages your intellect and inspires conversation on a variety of Jewish topics. All are welcome. Bring a friend.

@ Sherith Israel

This Pesach, Sherith Israel is proud to present: ANNUAL COMMUNITY SEDERS

Saturday Night

April 12 at 8:00 PM

hosted by the Strosberg Family

Sunday Night

April 13 at 8:00 PM

hosted by the Rosenfeld Family

Prepared by Goldie Shepard

To RSVP, visit www. sherithisrael.com

$40 adults, $25 children (5-12) $140 families

After April 5, cost is $45 adults $30 children

At Our Congregations…

@ The Temple

All programming can be accessed via https://www.templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html unless noted to be in person only

Exploring the Prayerbook

Every Friday from 5:00-5:40 PM before Shabbat Services

Start Shabbat with a little study each week. We will explore the prayers of our Shabbat Service and discuss, and discover how these ancient Jewish texts still speak to us today.

Join us in person or via zoom at https://www.templenashville.org/virtualprogramming.html

Shabbat Schedule for April at The Temple

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple. You can also watch via zoom from https://www.templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

Friday, April 4th-6:00 PM

Friday, April 11th- 6:00 PM- 3-4 GRADE FAMILY SHABBAT & BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

Friday, April 18th-6:00 PM

Friday, April 25th-6:00 PM

Chevrah Torah Study

9:30AM on Saturdays

Join us for our weekly Torah study on the portion of the week, led by the clergy. You can join us in person at The Temple or via zoom from https://www. templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

Golden Lunch Bunch

Will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on

• Tuesday, April 1, 2025- Tantsova Grupa

• Tuesday, April 15, 2025-Dennis Scott

RSVP to Jewish Family Service at 615-354-1686 or via email at helpinghands@ jfsnashville.org

Women’s Torah Study

April 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

10:30 AM

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

Available in person at The Temple and via zoom through https://www. templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

Lunch with the Rabbi

April 3rd, 10th, 24th

Lunch at 11:30AM

Program12:00-1:00 PM

$15 per person for lunch

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

RSVP on templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html or by calling the Temple at 615-352-7620

Available in person and via zoom.

Monday Mah Jongg

Join Us for MAH JONGG Mondays at The Temple!

April 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th

1:00pm

Drop in for Mah Jongg. We’ll have coffee and water. Bring your friends, a card, and a set and have some fun. Mah Jongg cards and sets are available for purchase in The Temple Gift Shop.

Torah on Tap for NEXT Dor, young professionals

April 2nd

Tailgate Brewery Music Row

6:30pm

The first drink and snacks are on The Temple

Ask Rabbi Mackler any questions that come to mind.

For more information, reach out to Sheri Rosenberg at sheri@templenashville.org

Stories, Sips and Songs

Please join us for an afternoon of music and conversation featuring three of Temple’s own singer-songwriters, Risa Binder, Mary Beth Stone, and Becky Warren along with special guests, JB Somers and Kenny Sharp.

Sunday, April 6th at 3:00pm

For more information go https://www.templenashville.org/events

Interfaith Book Read

Recovering the Heart of Jewish Life- Judaism is about Love by Shai Held

Join Rabbi Mackler and Rev. Thomas Kleinert of Vine Street Christian Church as we bring congregants together for these important conversations

At Our Congregations…

@ The Temple

Continued from page 15

Beginning April 10th- Meeting Weekly on Thursdays at 5pm

For more information, contact Rabbi Mackler at rabbisgmackler@templenashville.org

Books may be ordered at Parnassus or on amazon.com

The Tennessee Holocaust Commission and The Temple invite you to join us to remember the Holocaust with guest speaker, Auschwitz survivor, Tova

Friedman

April 17th at 7:00pm

Doors Open at 6:30pm

The event will be followed by a book sale and signing and a light reception (Kosher for Passover)

Tova Friedman is an internationally acclaimed Holocaust speaker. A child survivor of the Holocaust, she is one of only five children from her hometown of Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland to have lived through the Shoah. Tova witnessed atrocities that she could never forget, and experienced numerous escapes from death. She recounts these experiences in her bestselling memoir, The Daughter of Auschwitz. Tova is committed to educating younger generations about the Holocaust and together with her grandson Aron Goodman, started TovaTok, a social media account that educates about the Holocaust. To date Tova has more than a half million followers and 100 million views.

RSVP at https://yomhashoahtovafriedman.eventbrite.com/

Sacred Simplicity-Jewish Wisdom on Consumption

Join The Temple’s Green Team in person at The Temple to engage virtually with our stimulating guest of honor on Earth Day. Discover how food-centric tradition aligns with today’s emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship with guest speaker: Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard, Director of Clergy Engagement for the Center of Jewish Food Ethics.

April 22nd at 7:00pm at The Temple RSVP at https://www.templenashville.org/form/SacredSimplicity

Hike and Havdalah

April 26th

Starting at the Edwin Warner Park Nature Center on HWY. 100. Plenty of parking! See the spring bloom! Bring friends! Meet at 3:45 PM for a family friendly walk on a paved trail followed by Havdalah at 5:30 PM. All ages! Bring friends and family.

For more information or questions, please contact Anne Davenport at adavlaw@ comcast.net

Temple Annual Fundraiser

Sunday, April 27th at 5:30pm

A “Toast” to The Temple Go to templenashville.org to purchase your ticket.

Passover at The Temple

https://www.templenashville.org/Passover2025

• Tot Shabbat

Passover theme-Saturday, March 29th at 10:00am

• Women’s Passover Seder on Wednesday, April 9th at 6:00pm at The Temple

• Congregational 2nd Night Seder on Sunday, April 13th 6:00pm. Led by our Temple Clergy.

$45 for adults • $15 for children (3-11) • $55 for all non-member guests. We hope you’ll join us for this festive, family-friendly evening. RSVP at templenashville. org/Passover2025 by Monday, April 7th or by mailing a check to The Temple.

• LGBTQ+ and Allies Seder on Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00pm. A fun, music-filled Seder experience for the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

$36.00 per person. Seder Led by The Temple Clergy. RSVP by Friday, April 11th, at templenashville.org/Passover2025 or by mailing a check to: The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205

• Passover Shabbat Morning Study and Service with Yizkor on Saturday, April 19th- 9:30am Study Session and 11:00am Service and Yizkor. Both In-Person at The Temple or virtually via templenashville.org/Passover2025

• Chai Society (65+ group) Post Passover Pizza Party & Game Night Saturday, April 19th

6:30pm

The Temple $10 per person

RSVP by April 16th

https://www.templenashville.org/form/ChaiPizza

For more information on all of our Passover programming & our updated Seder schedule, please visit templenashville.org/Passover2025

@ West End

For links to the following online services or programs, please email office@westendsyn.org or visit our website calendar for more information https://westendsyn.shulcloud.com/calendar

PESACH

at WES 5785

Schedule of Services

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

Shabbat Morning services 9: 30 a.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

Holiday Services 9:30-11:30 A.M. Communal Seder 7:30 p.m. 20s & 30s Seder 7:30 p.m. (RSVP REQUIRED FOR BOTH SEDERS)

MONDAY, APRIL 14

Holiday Services 9:30-11:30 A.M.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

Abbreviated Shabbat Evening Services at 6:00 P.M.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

Shabbat Morning services from 9:30-11:30 A.M.

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

Holiday services from 9:30-11:30 AM.

Yizkor will be around 10:30 A.M

There will be a kosher for Pesach Kiddush lunch following each morning service

4/13 – Communal Passover Seder

Join us at WES for our Community Seder the second night of Pesach, Sunday, April 13th, at 7:30 p.m. RSVP by checking out the QR code below or by going to tinyurl.com/communalpassoverseder.

Please RSVP by Monday, April 7th.

4/13 – 20s & 30s Passover Communal Seder

Sunday, April 13th, at 7:30 p.m. Join us for unique Passover Seder led by Marc Jacobs and catered by Goldie Shepard. RSVP at tinyurl.com/20sand30spassoverseder.

4/2 – The Sandi Goldstein Learn & Lunch Program for ages 60+ – 11:00 a.m.

Reservations required, catered lunch following the presentation. Speaker: Rabbi Mark Shiftan - Rabbi emeritus, the Temple; Rabbi in Residence, Belmont University; And Chair, Tennessee Holocaust Commission

Lunch catered by Goldie Shepard at 12:00 p.m. Cost: $5.00 RSVP 615-269-4592 ext. 11 or office@westendsyn.org.

4/2 - Sisterhood Book Club

7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Join Sisterhood as they discuss Ava and Shalom: A Sensational WWII Story About Jewish Twins Who Believe They Are German Until Sent to AuschwitzBirkenau by Kate Birkin and Mark Bornz. RSVP at bit.ly/MCSAprilBookClub to receive Zoom link.

4/3 – Men’s Torah Group (in person) –12:00 p.m.

Join us for our Torah class for men followed by a pizza lunch. We are currently reading the Book of Ezra

4/4 – Young Professionals Happy Hour –6:00 p.m.

Join West End Synagogue for Kabbalat Shabbat Services at 6:00p.m., followed by a taco bar, drinks, and lively conversation.

4/6 – Music & Me for Families with Young Children 3 and under - Sunday, 10:3011:30 a.m.

Continued on page 17

Continued from page 16

Inviting all parents and children 3 and under for a morning of music and movement with singer /song writer, Brett Fromson, on Sunday, April 6th, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. RSVP for Music & Me and to attend the model seder if your child is not enrolled in Beit Miriam to spaz@westendsyn.org.

4/6 – Beit Miriam Model Seder for Beit Miriam Pre K3 & Pk4 Young Kids

Model Seder for Kindergarten and 1st grade Social Action Day for teens (7th grade -11th grade)

4/6 – Social Action Day – 9:00 a.m.- noon

4/9 – Women’s Torah Group (on Zoom) –11:00 a.m.

Rabbi Joshua leads our Women’s study group. We are learning the book of Joshua.

4/9 – Model Seder for Students (2nd grade7th grade)

4/16 – The Sandi Goldstein Learn & Lunch Program for ages 60+ – 11:00 a.m.

Reservations required, kosher for Passover catered lunch following the presentation. Speaker: Tammy Gottlieb –Member of the World Zionist Organization’s Executive Committee & Vice Chairwoman of Women of the Wall Lunch catered by Goldie Shepard at 12:00 p.m. Cost: $5.00 RSVP 615-269-4592 ext. 11 or office@westendsyn.org.

4/12 – Kid’ish Club – 10:30 a.m.

Inviting all 2nd – 7th graders for Kid’ish Club Shabbat morning from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Kiddush lunch to follow.

4/25 – It’s Shabbat – 5:30 p.m.

Families with young children are invited to join us for Shabbos schmoozing, candle lighting, Kiddush blessing, HaMotzi, and Shabbat songs on Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Email spaz@westendsyn.org to RSVP.

4/25 – 4/27

Scholar in Residence Weekend with Rabbi Paul Plotkin

Friday night, after dinner: “Jewish Myth, Magic and Superstition.”

Saturday morning, after lunch: “Will antisemitism go away?”

Sunday morning: Talk on Rabbi Plotkin’s latest book, “Wisdom grows in my garden.”

4/26

–

5th Grade Read Torah on Shabbat

4/30 – The Sandi Goldstein Learn & Lunch Program for ages 60+ – 11:00 a.m.

Reservations required, catered lunch following the presentation.

Speaker: Jean Roseman

Lunch catered by Goldie Shepard at 12:00 p.m. Cost: $5.00 RSVP 615-269-4592 ext. 11 or office@westendsyn.org.

Learning Opportunities

Talmud on Tuesdays

Rabbi Joshua leads a lively Talmudic discussion at 7:30 a.m. in person and on Zoom every Tuesday, immediately after morning minyan. Come and join us!

Torah Study on Thursdays

Come join us for breakfast and Torah study at 7:40 a.m. following morning minyan Jewish Ethics on Fridays

Between Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv, every Friday we study together a portion of Pirkei Avot and we delve into the world of Jewish Ethics at 6:00 p.m.

Religious Services

Shacharit (in person)

Our minyanaires are always looking for more people to strengthen the only egalitarian minyan in town! Sunday services are at 9:00 a.m. and Monday-Friday at 7:00 a.m. Thursday minyan is followed by breakfast.

Mincha (on Zoom)

Join us for daily Mincha at 6:00 p.m., Sunday-Thursday.

Kabbalat Shabbat (in person)

You are invited to join us every Friday for Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 p.m.

Shabbat Morning services (In person and on Zoom)

Please join us every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Great davening, insightful learning of the Torah portion followed by a yummy (and nutritious!) kiddush lunch following services! •

Community Listings

East Side Tribe

East Side Tribe is a grassroots social and spiritual community fueled by Jewish values and rooted in East Nashville. All are welcome. Please find all our events and RSVP at eastsidetribe.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, April 2: Where does the Hagaddah come from? Join East Side Tribe’s Wandering Scholars as we learn about the origins of our seder and discuss Passover’s themes in small groups.

Thursday, April 3: L’Chaim Time! A very casual neighborhood happy hour with East Nashville’s meshuganah mishpachah. First drink is on us!

Sunday, April 13: Please join us for our annual family-friendly Passover celebration — a kid-friendly, deconstructed seder experience under our favorite picnic shelter, Windmill Hill in Shelby Park.

Hadassah:

Sunday, April 27th 10:30 a.m. at the Holocaust Memorial at the GJCC Join Hadassah as we engage in meaningful conversation about the book “A Daughter of Many Mothers” by Rena Quint. Come and learn about Ms. Rena’s life. Join Amanda Stein, Keri Ross, Maegan Greenspan, Ori Hart, and Pam Abromowitz who recently returned from Israel where they had the pleasure of having Shabbat lunch in Ms. Rena’s home in Jerusalem! She is a very special woman and we look forward to discussing her story with all of you!

To attend please contact Pam Abromowitz at 937-474-3796 •

A Rabbi and A Doctor Discuss God of the Runway

By RABBI MARK SCHIFTAN AND DR. FRANK BOEHM

Mark: When I was preparing for my rabbinic school interview, one of the questions I felt I would certainly be asked about was my belief in God and, the nature of that belief. I was prepared to be challenged on my belief, to gain a window into the depth and sincerity of that belief.

But the question never came up. How could that be? How could that query and its adequate response not be among the most critical of questions for determining my competency and readiness for a proper rabbinic seminary education?

To further the point, I was never asked any related questions regarding my belief in God by any of the various search committee interviews I experi-

enced throughout my thirty-six years in the congregational rabbinate. How could this be?

Nevertheless, I spent much of my career feeling as though I always needed to have one concise, cogent, and consistent answer, whenever or wherever the question might arise.

As the years went by, I realized the idea of just one answer or of one simple, unwavering response was no longer satisfactory to me, nor could it be after all I had learned and all I had witnessed as a rabbi, nor would it be an honest answer for them. I had developed many concepts of God, and as I grew more comfortable expressing a multiplicity of answers and beliefs, I felt it might open the possibilities of beliefs for others as well.

Here’s what I believe: I believe in the God that exists within each of us; I believe in the God that is found in the

relationships between us; I believe in the God that formed and sustains the world around us; and, at times, I even believe in the God above us, the most anthropomorphic God we acknowledge most through prayer. I call that version of God, the God of the Airplane Runway. Here is why: There are times in each of our lives when the rational explanations for things cease to work for us. For me, one of those times is when I am seated on an airplane waiting for takeoff at the edge of the airplane runway. At those moments, as I contemplate the unbelievable miracle of flight along with what it means to be propelled through the sky in a heavy metal tube, I believe in and pray to a very anthropomorphic type of deity, whom I call the God of the airplane runway. I take comfort in the image of the arms of my Creator, which lifts that plane and, defying the laws of gravity, carries it

across miles upon miles, and then sets it down, ever so gently, once again, often halfway across the world. To that God, I offer the same prayer before takeoff, taking great comfort in the belief and hope that my God of the airplane runway will listen and keep the plane aloft and keep me (and my other fellow passengers) safe. Frank, does anything about this make sense to you or resonate with you? Frank: Yes, Mark, that makes incredible sense to me and is what I believe works for me as well.

Jews often recite the Shema prayer before they die including Jewish martyrs who, throughout the ages made it their final profession of faith before being put to death. My parents told me when I was young that the Shema prayer was what they believed were the last words a dying Jew should recite and while this may not be an absolute Jewish law, it is one that I have embraced. “Hear O Israel: The Lord is our God the Lord is one. Praised be His name whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever,” are words I have recited in Hebrew and English many times in my life. I have recited them at religious services and at times that I needed spiritual courage, which for me, is just before I am put to sleep for a medical procedure or as you have explained so eloquently, just before the airplane, I am on is about to take off. These words comfort me and allow me to feel that if something untoward happens during surgery or my trip into the air, I will have fulfilled the act my parents told me was important to do. I am not sure that these words will protect me, however, I do know that they comfort me.

I am also comforted by the fact that the religious views you delve into are in so many ways the same as my scientific ones. Albert Einstein said it best, “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” •

Rabbi Mark Schiftan can be reached at mschiftan@aol.com

Dr. Frank Boehm can be reached at frank.boehm@vumc.org

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April in The Galleries: Featuring the work of Carrie Mills & Garrett Mills, Jen Lewis and Nadine Shillingford

The Janet Levine March Gallery will present the Fashion art and photography work of Carrie and Garrett Mills. Carrie and Garrett Mills are a mother and son fashion, art direction team. Carrie Mills, curator of the GJCC Galleries studied fashion design at Parson School of Design and spent almost twenty years in the fashion business as a designer and fashion illustrator until joining with her son, Garrett, a George Washington University graduate and fashion photographer. Together they have created a unique vision. They have been working for several years with fashion agencies and their work has been featured on Vogue Italia website and multiple editorial pieces.

The JLMG2 Gallery will feature the art of Nadine Shillingford. Shillingford is a Nashville-based artist who works

primarily with charcoal on paper but also enjoys creating mixed media pieces using mediums such as acrylic and reused materials. She was born on the island of Dominica but has considered Nashville her home since 2013. Shillingford has a doctoral degree in computer science and is a cybersecurity data analytics engineer. Her work can be seen in exhibits around the Nashville area and beyond. She is an author and teaches art classes on demand. Nadine also enjoys spending time with her daughter, Hailey and listening to audiobooks. This exhibit will display her fashion art.

The Sig Held Gallery will feature its annual exhibit honoring Yom HaShoah. This exhibit will feature the art of Jen Lewis’s Star of David Project. The goal of this project is to give a visual representation of the six million Jewish souls

Gordon JCC Adult Program Happenings:

TGIT – April 2025

April 3rd

Songwriter Steve Leslie.

Steve Leslie has had a professional songwriting career for more than twenty-five years with songs recorded by Kenny Rogers, Mark Chesnutt, George Strait, Darryl Worley, Rhonda Vincent, Neal McCoy, Ricky Skaggs, Darius Rucker, and more.

Along with multiple BMI awards, Steve received a Grammy Certificate for the title cut to Ricky Skaggs’ 2004 Best Bluegrass Album of the Year “Brand New Strings.

Lunch: Tomato soup, sandwiches, chips, Birthday cake and Ice Cream.

April 10

Senior Seder

No TGIT. If you’d like to sign up to attend Jewish Family’s Senior Seder that takes place instead in the Senior

Lounge at the Gordon JCC, contact: ToniJacobsen @jfsnashville.org

April 17

Laurie Kerr

Back by popular demand, Canadian singer/songwriter, Laurie Kerr, known for her powerful voice and soulful delivery, Laurie Kerr writes songs that move people.

Lunch: Salmon, salad, sides, dessert

April 24

Mason Solomon

Mason Solomon is a singer-songwriter from NYC currently living in Nashville, TN with his son Pouncey. His music blends an incredibly vast range of influences from James Taylor to The Barenaked Ladies, to name a few. In doing so, Mason has created his own unique style of vulnerable and engaging music that always remains emotionally accessible to all.

Lunch:

Chicken, salad, sides, dessert •

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

lost in the Holocaust. The exhibit will include a part of the 300, 11x17 works, each containing twenty thousand Stars of David, totaling six million when exhibited together. This exhibit will feature 40 pieces, representing the 800,000 Jews that died in the Ghettos from random shootings by the soldiers, lack of food, or rampant diseases.

The Senior Lounge Art Gallery will feature the art of Pamela Dove.

The House Gallery will feature the annual Under One Roof exhibit. Under

One Roof is a city wide, collaborative art project bringing together 30+ local organizations in Nashville to create an art exhibit based around a Judaic theme steeped in social unity and justice. The Artist Reception will be held on Wednesday, April 23 from 6 -8 pm. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Attendees will be asked to sign in.

For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org. •

Yves, by Carrie Mills

Stella Claire, by Garrett and Carrie Mills Fashion, by Nadine Shillingford Stars of David Project, by Jen Lewis

Chabad of Nashville to Offer Fascinating New Course on Colorful Profiles in Jewish History

This spring, Chabad of Nashville is excited to launch a new Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) course. Beginning Wednesday, May 7, at 7:00 PM, led by Rabbi Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, lead teacher of the Jewish Learning Institute in Nashville, Colorful Profiles brings stories to life of intriguing and lesser-known Jewish figures who showed remarkable courage throughout history. Participants will learn how these individuals navigated issues that continue to resonate today.

“Our past imparts critical life lessons, but history may sometimes come across as dry and boring,” says Rabbi Tiechtel. “This course is anything but that. The stories contained in this course bring the past to life in gripping sagas, many of which seem too impossible to believe—yet they are real.”

The four-session course is divided into four lessons and will delve into twelve

fascinating personalities that include high-profile hostages, savvy businesswomen, unlikely converts, and more. Through a Torah-centered approach, participants will gain a richer understanding of some of the historical challenges that people faced in living a Jewish life and how their stories resulted in enduring, impactful legacies.

“After learning about these Jewish heroes, attendees will come away with a greater sense of appreciation for their history and heritage,” says Tiechtel, “These stories are not defined by tragedy and suffering, but what it means to be a proud, resilient Jew.” He adds that participants will develop a deeper connection to those figures who bravely stood up for their beliefs.

Like all JLI courses, Colorful Profiles is open to adults of all ages and is geared toward every level of knowledge, including those who have no background in

Hebrew or Judaism. Participants need not be affiliated with a synagogue to attend. This course was developed by The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, which is the adult education arm of Chabad International, and its JLI classes are offered at over 1699 locations in more than 900 communities worldwide.

Chabad of Nashville is the local affiliate of the Jewish Learning Institute, and is dedicated to serving the Jewish community of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. It offers a wide range of educational, social, and spiritual programs for Jews of all backgrounds.

To register for this new course “Colorful Profiles,” go to myjli.com, and select the city of Nashville as the location you are seeking to take this groundbreaking course, For more information please call 615-646-5740 or go to chabadnashville.com •

SUPERL AT IVE

…so that it’s not just a fairy tale.

PASSOVER LAUGHTER

for your “HAPPILY

EVER AFTER”

(are they sort of the same?)

By LORETTA SAFF

If you look closely, leaving full-time work and facing your journey to “Happily Ever After” is a lot like Passover. Just think for a moment:

1. It’s not that matzah is called ‘the bread of affliction,’ (although it does conjure up memories of spending long hours in endless meetings at the office)

2. Nor is it the drinking of four cups of wine at the seder meal but you do remember that time the only way you could get through a client dinner was to order another bottle.

3. I don’t think it’s that imaginary guest at the door (and yet it always made me feel like ‘big brother is watching’ because the boss able to access my emails…)

4. Nope, not the ten plagues we enumerate with our pinkies in the wine (but there are a few work colleagues who do make me think of boils and frogs!)

5. But wait, I just thought of the four questions that actually respect individuals (I always was conscious that Stan and Judy needed a little more time with their assignments.)

I won’t go on because by now you’re probably humming “Dayenu” – thinking even if I just mentioned just one or two of those points, “that would have been enough.” So, I’ll get to my point. Here is how I think leaving full-time work and finding your “Happily Ever After” is similar to Passover:

• Leaving behind a routine:

Just as Passover involves removing leavened bread (chametz) from one’s home, symbolizing leaving behind old ways, retirement means leaving behind the daily grind of a job to embrace a new lifestyle.

• Celebrating with sumptuous food and shared memories at your retirement party!

Both Passover (with the Seder meal) and retirement’s farewell banquet often involve gatherings with family and friends to mark this significant transition.

But mainly for both you and the Jews leaving Egypt, the message focuses on

• NEW BEGINNINGS:

The holiday of Passover represents a new period with renewed hope, similar to how retirement signifies a chance to explore new hobbies, travel, or volunteer work. • Happy Passover, Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com

One more laugh for you: What did the afikomen say to the therapist? “This year I’d like to find myself!”

Opening Spring 2025

Jewish Observer’s Vintage Pages

Continuing our 90th anniversary celebrations of The Observer, we are including some archives from 1934.

A Creative Home: My Journey Teaching Oil Painting at the Gordon JCC

By RHONDA WERNICK, ARTIST & MPACC ART TEACHER

W

hen my family moved to Nashville in 1994, one of our first decisions was to join the Gordon Jewish Community Center. At the time, my professional life was filled with travel for my art business, leaving little time to fully immerse myself in the J’s vibrant community. However, I took advantage of the fitness center, working with trainers and taking classes whenever I could.

As my travels slowed, I felt a strong desire to return to something I had loved doing in my previous home in Oklahoma City: teaching oil painting. In 2006, I approached the director with my vision, and soon after, I began leading oil painting classes in the senior lounge. My teaching style was deeply influenced by my own mentor, Suzanne Rusconi Accetta. I focused on guiding students through the principles of color, composition, light, and shadow, all while allowing them to explore subjects that were personally meaningful.

My goal was never to impose my own artistic style but to nurture each student’s natural creativity, helping them refine their unique voice on the canvas.

The J quickly became more than just a teaching space—it became my second home. Over the years, I built meaningful relationships with students and members who, in turn, became lifelong friends. I also became deeply involved in the center’s broader community, serving on the board for six years and playing an active role in planning the Main Event, the annual fundraising gala.

Teaching at the J has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Beyond technique and artistic growth, the classes have provided a space for connection, conversation, and camaraderie. We have shared stories, celebrated milestones, and supported one anoth-

er through life’s ups and downs—all while painting side by side.

In 2013, I had the privilege of co-founding Art on the West Side with Meryl Kraft. Our goal was to bring together members and non-members alike to celebrate creativity and showcase the work of talented artists. The Gordon JCC has become a central hub for the Nashville art community, housing a thriving gallery with monthly openings, expertly curated by Carrie Mills.

One of my greatest dreams was to see a dedicated space for the arts at the J. In 2022, thanks to the generosity of the Pargh family, that dream became a reality with the opening of the Madeline Pargh Art and Craft Center. After years of teaching in various spaces—the senior lounge, the atrium, the auditorium lobby, and even a small office space—it is

incredibly fulfilling to finally have a permanent home for my class. Even more exciting is seeing the expansion of art programming at the J, from adult watercolor workshops to children’s classes, with pottery classes soon to come.

These classes are so much more than just lessons in technique; they are opportunities to learn, to grow, and to connect. Art has a way of bringing people together, offering both personal fulfillment and communal joy. Whether you are an experienced artist or someone picking up a paintbrush for the first time, the J provides a welcoming space to explore creativity, form friendships, and see the world through a new lens.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of this thriving artistic community and look forward to many more years of painting, teaching, and sharing the joy of creativity at the Gordon JCC.

Learn more about this class and all the other incredible classes in the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center at nashvillejcc.org/artsandcrafts •

Mah Jongg Madness and Mardi Gras Mayhem at the JCC!

By MICHELLE TISHLER

The tiles were flying, kings and queens were crowned, and prizes were won at the first Mah Jongg Day of Play at the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center. Over 65 women and 2 men

Resettle

Continued from page 1

Syria had a daughter who was supposed to be arriving in the United States two weeks after the stop work order, and they are just devastated that she won’t be able to come.”

Lonn adds she is concerned about Ukrainian refugees losing legal status and being forced to go back while the country is still at war. “Those are the clients we are getting the most questions from.” Rykov says the idea of sending people back to a war zone may even have farther reaching consequences. “The consideration by the Trump administration to revoke the legal status of Ukrainians who came here to flee the war, not only is perverse and immoral, but from my understanding is in violation of international law where you can’t deport people back to war zones.”

Also impacted is Catholic Charities which had 125 people qualify for the 90-day assistance beginning in January. As of March, the organization was still working its way through funding for those people. But as with the other agencies, Catholic Charities relies on private donations and grants and churches and congregations are helping to “adopt” families and help with expenses. Still, the need is overwhelming. Judy Orr is the executive director of Catholic Charities for the diocese of Nashville. She says, “For us, March rent for all the people we are taking care of was $42,000 in aggregate. That just gives you a sense of what $30,000 can’t do. And then you multiply that by all the other agencies.”

Security

Continued from page 1 the House of Worship grant program to address that need. “We were influential at that time. We used a firm to lobby the state legislature to get money included in the governor’s budget. And we eventually asked to use that grant for security personnel and that was very helpful because you couldn’t pay security guards with NSGP money.”

Mike Masters, CEO and national director of the SCN, says the hope is for the increase of federal funds will continue. “We hope it will continue to be as robust as it has in the past. And we continue to face the highest threat of any religious minority in the country.”

For institutional professionals and lay leaders, the increased focus on security needs is welcome. Debby Wiston is executive director at West End Synagogue. She says this year’s federal homeland

came together to share their love of the game, enjoying an afternoon of play on February 18. The fun continues at the JCC on Tuesday, May 6, where I will be hosting a “Mardi Gras in May” Mah Jongg Tournament. Sign up online or call the JCC. Space is limited. •

Like the other agencies, Catholic Charities is laying off staff and eliminating positions one by one. “We’re on pins and needs to see if the remainder of funding for our operations will dry up,” says Orr. And legally, much like the other resettlement agencies, Catholic Charities is waiting for reimbursement for money already spent.

Resettlement agencies each receive funding from a voluntary agency, or VOLAG. In this case that is the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Orr says USCCB did sue the federal government for reimbursement, but to no avail. And Orr says in the absence of reimbursement, they were told by USCCB they are not legally obligated to provide services. “I don’t really care.

We’re going to take care of these people. You can’t leave people who don’t speak

security grants have allowed the synagogue to upgrade the camera system throughout the entire building. “I can’t even describe how invaluable it’s been for bringing us into the 21st Century and making things secure. Being able to see every inch of our building.”

The synagogue has also received state house of worship grants twice, helping to cover the cost of security personnel. The impact of the grants was on full display last year when a Nazi group came to Nashville and set up a protest in front of West End. “I think I submitted the house of worship grant to the state three days before they showed up,” says Wiston, “And two hours after they left, we had a group of 100 camp teenagers coming to spend the night in the building.” Thanks to the grant, additional security guards were hired to protect the property.

The community’s collective efforts to beef up security, while successful, does not mean the threats and antisemitic

the language and don’t know the culture, and don’t know the city, and don’t have transportation to just fend for themselves.”

The cuts, layoffs, and lack of reimbursements mean agencies like Catholic Charities, Inspiritus, and NICE will not be able to continue resettlement efforts. Orr says she is not even including a line item for it in her upcoming budget.

Orr believes the resettlement program’s method for vetting immigrants is a good one and questions whether the administration’s remaking of it will meet the needs of the country. “It would make sense to me that after a pause, you would rethink, ‘What can we do with this resettlement program so that we’re attracting a workforce that we want and need for this era as opposed to when this was written back in 1980?’”

Orr adds that layoffs in industries like

incidents have stopped. “It is unfortunate that these are the times we live in,” says Wiston.

And Masters, from SCN, agrees. “We recognize that while we are under heightened threat, we are not singular in that threat.” As an example, he says the Jewish Federation in Charleston, South Carolina created a security initiative, hired a former chief of police to be their security director, and he works with the Jewish institutions in the community. “The real impetus for that program was the Mother Immanuel AME church shooting.”

Masters says that the church is a mere four or five blocks from KKBE, the oldest Jewish synagogue in the area, “The offender could just as easily have gone to KKBE as he did Mother Immanuel. And now over the years, we have worked to invite other faith-based groups in.” Today, SCN shares best practices and makes resources available. “I think that is a recognition of the shared threat we

hospitality, cleaning and adult care will leave many jobs available for people who are victims of government and corporate layoffs. But she says most Americans are not interested. “What we all know culturally is that Americans don’t want to do that work. That’s why immigrants are so valuable. They’re willing to just get their foot in the door and get started.”

The irony of the situation is not lost on resettlement workers. Rykov says the current situation basically amounts to a bait and switch. “The concept of allowing people to come into the country legally and then stripping them of their legal immigration status is completely unconscionable.” And Lonn says, “The immigrant story is the American story and that’s what is so disappointing. It just feels like a total discarding of American values.” •

are all under. It’s also a strong demonstration of our commitment as a community to support and work in partnership with others.”

And while there is still more work to do so local institutions keep pace with technology and personnel upgrades, the current funding streams to a long way toward keeping the community safe. Larry Hyatt is the current chair of the Federation’s security committee. He says, “Thanks to these grants; to the funds raised through security assessments by the synagogues, schools and JCC; and to allocations from Federation; our synagogues, schools and the JCC have made significant progress in hardening their physical infrastructure. While there will always be more work to do in this area, the Federation Security Committee in 2025 will focus on two areas; (1) emergency communications between organizations; and (2) training of employees on how to react during a security emergency.” •

Barbara Davis, Missy Friedenberg, Laura Schindler, Simone Meyerowitz, Stephanie Klein, Azita Yazdian, Nancy Jacobs, Karen Weil

Carol Katz, Kimbra Kraft, Mimi Klein Robbie Lasky

Bipartisan Caucus

Continued from page 2

exchanges, sharing knowledge in fields ranging from medicine to agriculture.”

Sultan-Dadon said that Israel continues to face challenges as the war with Hamas continues. “Hamas’ brutal terror attack against Israel was a part of their declared goal of destroying the state of Israel. But it was not only an attack on Israel. It was an attack on humanity, on peace, and on the belief that people can live alongside one another in mutual respect.” She said that defending against extremists is an imperative not only for Israel but for the entire free world, including the United States. She closed by reminding attendees that currently 59 hostages remain in Gaza and there should be no rest until they are all returned home.

All four of Tennessee’s Jewish Federations were represented at the reception celebrating the new caucus. Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville president Aron Karabel delivered closing remarks and recognized all of the representatives from Tennessee’s Jewish communities: Michael Dzik, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, Bryan Goldberg, immediate past president of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, and Sarah First, community relations director from the Memphis Jewish Federation.

Karabel said he looks forward to the collaboration between the two commu-

nities in Nashville and Israel. “Tennessee is one of the very few states who have successfully established a bipartisan caucus with both the House and Senate chambers.” He said the initiative, defined by caucus chairs representative Scott Cepicky and representative Torrey Harris seeks to enhance the bonds of friendship and collaboration between the state of Tennessee and the state of Israel, and that the relationship is built on shared values, mutual respect, and commitment to innovation and progress. “This is in essence the definition of tikkun olam, actively working to improve the world by fostering connection and unity between people and community.” •

Lifecycles

B’rit Mitzvah

Aidan Bailey Pinsly

Grete Glick

Aidan Bailey Pinsly will become a bar mitzvah at 11 a .m. on Saturday, April 5, at The Temple. He was born on April 23, 2012, in Nashville. His parents are Elliot and Jessica Pinsly. His grandparents are Gary and Sue Pinsly of Nashville, Linda and Michael Mossman of Edwards, Colo., and Gary and Druscilla Miller of Temple, Tex.

A seventh grader at Ensworth, Aiden loves video games, acting, soccer, swimming, comedy, and going to Camp Davis

For his mitzvah project, Aiden plans to help package and deliver food to people in need.

Abigail Maresca

Condolences to the family of Grete Glick, who died on March 18. She was the mother of Leslie Goldberg (Michael), Stephen Glick (Suzanne), Debbie Glick (Richard Kirschner) and Terry Glick (Michael Strauss); grandmother of Mack Goldberg (Townley), Perri and Jess Goldberg, Sarah Glick (Ryan Carvalho), Jeffrey Glick (Susan), Emily Glick, Adam Kirschner (Kate), Kayla Kirschner (James Dalton) and Seth Kirschner (Allyson); great grandmother of Monroe, Natalie, Andrew, Ethan, Connor, Eli, Simon and Olivia. Tributes may be made in Grete’s memory to Congregation Ahavath Israel (PO Box 892, Liberty, NY 12754) or Congregation Micah.

Rentell Hendry

Abigail Maresca will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, April 26, at 10:30 am. a Congregation Micah. Abbie is the child of Jamie and Michael Maresca, the sister of Ella Maresca, and the grandchild of Penny and Charles Sussman of Brentwood.

A seventh grader at Currey Ingram Academy, she is a straight A student who enjoys science and social studies.

Abbie is a figure skater and competes solo for the Scott Hamilton Skate Club and as a member of the Music City Marvels synchronized skating team. Also a budding artist. She loves drawing and photography. She even used her graphic design talents to make her own bat mitzvah logo.

For her mitzvah project, Abbie is hosting a series of volunteer days at Second Harvest Food Bank. She is volunteering her time and inspiring friends and family to volunteer with her.

Mitzvahs

Alexis Tischler

Mazel tov to singer/songwriter

Alexis Tischler. She recently released her new single, “I Wanna Marry My Best Friend.” She wrote the song after being inspired by her experience at a Jewish retreat in Key West, FL. The song is available on all streaming platforms. Alexis teaches Sunday School at West End Synagogue.

Obituaries

Charlene Rita Estrin

Condolences to the family of Charlene Rita Estrin, who died on March 10. She was the mother of David Estrin (Vicki) and Sam Estrin (z”l) (Terri); grandmother of Ryan Estrin and Michael Estrin; and brother of Melvin Goldman.

Tributes may be made in Charlene’s memory to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee or Congregation Micah.

Condolences to the family of Rentell Hendry who died on February 23. He was the husband of beloved Micah Academy teacher, Ms. LaShana. To support Ms. LaShana and her family, please reach out to the Congregation office at office@ congregationmicah.org or 615-377-9799 for information.

Richard Cristil Hiller

Condolences to the family of Richard Cristil Hiller, who died on March 6. He was the husband of Susan Young Hiller; father of Nathan Joseph Hiller and Matthew Benjamin Hiller; and brother of Roy Hiller (Charlene).

Tributes may be made in Richard’s memory to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Congregation Micah.

Robert “Bob” Lachman

Condolences to the family of Robert “Bob” Lachman, who died on March 5. He is survived by his wife, Deena; daughter, Anne Marsala (Andrew); grandchildren, Drew, George and Hannah Marsala; sister, Susie; nephews, Ben, Mike and David; and niece, Bridget.

Julio Ernesto Mejia Perez

Condolences to the family of Julio Ernesto Mejia Perez, who died on March 10. He was the father of Jorge Mejia (Taryn); and grandfather of Lily Mejia. Tributes may be made in Julio’s memory to Congregation Micah.

Gerald “Jerry” Emmett Newell

Condolences to the family of Gerald “Jerry” Emmett Newell who died on February 18. He was the husband of Rita Lyles Newell for over 58 years; father of son, Gerald Scott Newell (Amy); grandfather of Briley Jane Maurell (Arik), Casey Jacob Newell; great grandfather of Naama Leia Maurell and Lionel Avraham Maurell.

Robert Alan Oglander

Condolences to the family of Robert Alan Oglander who died on March 11. He was the husband of Mitzi Oglander for 72 years; father of Susan Chappell (Lindsay), Cindy Moskovitz (Scott), Gary Oglander (Eva); grandfather of Anna Eades (Cameron) and Lily Smith (Wilder), Andrew (Erin) and Lauren Moskovitz, and Daniel and Eric Oglander; and great-grandfather of Peyton, Ellis, Lennon, Asher and Turner Eades, and Octavia Moskovitz.

Tributes may be made in Robert’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Congregation Micah.

Does Your Loved One Show These Signs?

•Forgetting

•Struggling

•Feeling

To

Druid Tree Service

Springtime ushers in a time of rejuvenation; a new beginning. A wake up to the certainty that it’s time to again enjoy nature’s bountiful beauty of flowering trees, shrubs and flowers. Breathe in the scent of lilac and viburnum, allow the vibrant, pink cherry blossoms to transport you to, and take solace in the fact that spring, without fail, has sprung again.

At Druid Tree Service, we are specialists in preserving the natural beauty of your trees and shrubs. We believe your yard should be an oasis, deserving of the utmost care and attention. From specialty hand pruning of boxwoods, yews and ornamentals, to shade tree maintenance, our arborists offer professional care for landscapes of any size. As you spend more time at home, you may observe that your landscape could use an expert eye on the beautiful space you envision.

We can help you through our consulting arborist’s stewardship plans. Alleviate the worry of hazards in your trees, by having our consulting arborist conduct a hazard tree assessment. Spring is an important time to identify pests and nutritional deficiencies in your plants. At Druid, our consulting arborist conducts a plant pathology assessment to identify concerns and make recommendations for pest and fertility issues.

Druid has proven experience controlling specific pests and diseases, including the devastating Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), toinsure the health and wellbeing of your trees and shrubs. Druid is family owned and has been caring for trees and shrubs in the Nashville area since 1977.

We look forward to caring for your trees. Give us a call at 615-373-4342 or email us at office@druidtree.com.

The Kupin Group

Buying a home is just the beginning of your journey—and The Kupin Group is here to support you every step of the way. We know that moving in or out comes with projects, questions, and the need for trusted professionals. That’s why we provide ongoing resources and recommendations to make homeownership and selling seamless.

Dreaming of a DIY project? Need inspiration to personalize your space? We offer expert guides, reliable resources, and time-tested tips to bring your vision to life.

Looking for a skilled contractor, electrician, or plumber? Want a painter to refresh your space or a landscaper to enhance curb appeal? Our network of trusted vendors is ready to help, whether it’s a simple fix or a major renovation. From updating fixtures to organizing storage, we make it easy to turn your house into a home and get it ready to sell on the flipside.

And if life takes you in a new direction, we’ll help you prepare your home for sale and maximize your value.

At The Kupin Group, we don’t just help you find a house—we help you make it home. Whenever you need advice, recommendations, or support, reach out at 615-2819035 and info@thekupingroup.com. We’ve got your back!

Recover Faster After a Weekend of DIY Projects with Chiropractic Care

Senior Move Management Services

“Always the right move. ”

A long weekend spent tackling home improvement projects can be rewarding—but it can also take a toll on your body. Whether you’ve been painting, lifting heavy materials, bending over for hours, or working in awkward positions, it’s common to experience stiffness, soreness, or even acute pain after all that effort.

Chiropractic care can help your body recover faster and prevent minor aches from turning into long-term issues. When you overuse certain muscles or strain your back, joints can become misaligned, leading to discomfort and reduced mobility. Through spinal adjustments, spinal decompression and dry needling, I can restore alignment, relieve tension, and improve circulation—promoting faster healing and reducing inflammation.

Whether you’re dealing with back pain, sore shoulders, or stiff knees, a visit to the chiropractor can help you feel better and move more freely.

Don’t let aches and pains slow you down! If you’re feeling the effects of your home improvement efforts, call Dr. Brad Krock, D.C., MS today. Let’s get you back to feeling your best—so you’re ready for whatever project comes next!

Continued on page 27

Jackie Roth Karr

Jackie Roth Karr Did you know that this year alone, 93% of homeowners are planning home improvement projects in 2025, while 46% are looking ahead to large-scale projects over the next five years? Having recently gone through a total home renovation, Jackie Roth Karr can speak directly to the challenges that come with hiring industry professionals to bring the home you envision to life. In 2007, she bought her first condo in Wessex Towers (one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets with modern amenities and a prime in-town location). After 17 years in the building and a few select upgrades, Jackie sold and maximized her return on investment. Loving the building so much, she bought a second condo in 2023 and completely renovated it to fit both her lifestyle and personal taste. This experience reinforced her belief that the professionals you choose to work with matter. For Jackie’s entire life, Greater Nashville has been her home, where she raised her kids and built her community. Serving as a trusted REALTOR® for the last 20+ years, Jackie takes great pride in helping others discover the life they envision in the city she loves. With unmatched dedication, Jackie is focused on providing the resources her clients need to make their homeownership experience exceptional. Jackie is a member of the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS® with the following certifications: Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). If you want to discuss your real estate aspirations with a trusted professional, reach out to Jackie today! www.JackieKarr.com

Carrie Mills

It is undeniable that art adds immeasurable dynamics to a home. Whether its purpose is purely décor or immensely personal, art helps a home feel like a home. With that in mind, why not consider a custom, one of a kind, piece of art to add to not only your home, but to the life of your family. A piece of art that tells a story that you want to tell that can be passed on for generations! Contact Carrie Mills to create a piece of art made just for you. Visit her website at www.carriemills.com

Do You Need Another Pair of Hands?

Springtime is the perfect opportunity to begin all those projects you keep putting off! Is it time to reorganize the clutter in your garage? Do you need to sort through a lifetime of stuff in your attic before you move into a smaller home? Have holiday decorations or entertainment supplies just taken over your available storage space?

If you don’t know how to get started, expert professional help is available. Perhaps it’s time to ask Jane R. Snyder to help you meet your objectives. From Bellevue to Goodlettsville and Belle Meade to Franklin, she has helped busy clients declutter, organize, and even empty drawers, closets, file cabinets, garages, and storage lockers. Continued on page 28

Harding Place (615) 401-9183

after a 20+ I connecting

Utilizing a contractor plumber electrician etc you quality, sell professional

Do you find yourself dreaming of loving your space that much more aftera few home upgrades? Serving as Greater Nashville’s trusted resource for all things real estate for the last 20+ years,I have spent countless hours connecting with exceptional industry professionals who can help you transform your home into one that you truly love. Utilizinga vetted contractor, plumber, electrician, etc., ensures that you receive quality, reliable work that will make you money when you decide to sell. If you are interested in discussing your renovation ideas with a trusted professional, please contact me!

She can help you decide what will go with you, what needs to get tossed, and what can get donated to a good home or charity to benefit others.

50 &C O UNTIN G

Betty Dysart in Brentwood says, “Jane and I have worked together weekly for four years. She is the perfect working partner whatever your objective might be. For large or small projects, Jane always knows whom to call, where to get the right information, or how to accomplish each task on time and within my budget. She is what my daddy used to call a git-er-done kind of gal!”

New clients receive a 20% discount on their first 10 hours with a four-hour minimum. Jane offers a FREE one-hour consultation for large-scale projects. For more information or to book an appointment, you can contact her at: calljane@comcast.net or 615-557-6277.

Sperry’s

Whether you are busy renovating your home, or just want a fine dining experience to relax with friends and family. For half a century, Sperry’s has been Nashville’s go-to destination for unforgettable dining experiences. From quality steaks to fresh seafood, every dish tells a story of our dedication to excellence. But Sperry’s is more than just a restaurant – it’s a beloved gathering place where memories are made and friendships are forged. As we approach this significant milestone, we want to express our d epest gratitude to our cherished patrons. Your support and loyalty have been the driving force behind our success. So, to our valued guests, old and new, we extend a heartfelt thank you. Your continued patronage inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries in everything we do. We can’t wait to celebrate this incredible journey with you and create even more memories together in the years to come.

From all of us at Sperry’s, thank you for being a part of our story. Here’s to 50 years – and many more to come!

Zander Insurance

Zander Insurance, a trusted independent insurance broker, has been helping homeowners find the right coverage at the most affordable price for nearly 100 years. By partnering with top-rated insurance carriers, Zander provides a wide range of home insurance options tailored to meet individual needs. Whether purchasing a new home, refinancing, or seeking better coverage, homeowners benefit from Zander’s ability to compare policies and secure the best protection without the hassle of shopping around on their own.

With a focus on key coverages, Zander ensures homeowners are prepared for unexpected events like fire, storms, or theft. Their knowledgeable advisors provide clear, personalized guidance, simplifying complex policy details to help clients make informed

Continued on page 30

decisions. Homeowners can also save even more by bundling their home and auto coverage, taking advantage of additional discounts while streamlining their insurance policies. For almost a century, Zander has been committed to transparency, advocacy, and putting homeowners first. The company continually monitors market trends and policy changes, ensuring clients maintain the right level of protection as their needs evolve. By streamlining the insurance process, Zander Insurance makes securing home coverage easy and stress-free while maximizing savings.

Age-in-Place With LiveWell By Blakeford

LiveWell members (healthy, independent adults, 60 and older) enjoy exceptional benefits that allow them to maintain the independence they’ve earned. LiveWell offers a range of plans at different cost and coverage levels to best meet a senior’s future and budget. All plans include an essential package of services to make it possible for someone to be as healthy and independent as possible, at home, for a lifetime. Most plans include services at home and if necessary, in an assisted living or nursing care facility. Contact Livewell by Blakeford for more information. Here are some tips from Blakeford for creating a senior friendly kitchen without a major renovation. Optimizing your kitchen for safety and function is an essential to-do for aging in place. Here are 5 low and no-cost ways to make a kitchen a more senior-friendly place. 1. FLOORING: Choose wood, laminate, linoleum, or vinyl. They are easy to clean and allow mobility for wheelchairs and walkers. Apply a slip-resistant coating to tile. 2. LIGHTING: Increase the wattage in your light fixtures, and change to LED for energy savings. Consider under-cabinet or recessed lighting to supplement. 3. CABINET ACCESSIBILITY: Reorganize so items most used are easiest to reach. Keep heavy or breakable items on lower shelves. Pull-out shelving, drawer organizers, turntables, lazy susans, and utensil holders are also very effective. 4. SINK: Faucets need to be reachable, and sprayer attachments make many tasks easier. Turning down the temperature on the water heater can prevent scalds. 5. ACCESSORIES: A reaching stick and jar opener are inexpensive essentials. Cut-resistant gloves and manual food choppers can also make cutting vegetables and fruits safer.

Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty

Founded in 1979, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty is a legacy company built on integrity, expertise, and a deep commitment to our clients and community. Proudly owned and operated by Jessica and Sam Averbuch, we continue to honor our company’s rich history while evolving to meet the needs of today’s market.

Our firm is home to nearly 200 agents across two offices in Davidson and Williamson counties, and our agents live and work throughout Middle Tennessee, as well as in Chattanooga and Memphis. Their local expertise, combined with our global reach, ensures that our clients receive the highest level of service no matter where their real estate journey takes them.

Relocation remains a key driver of market activity, with continued inbound movement from Georgia, Florida, California, and Texas. In addition to our local clients, our firm proudly works with corporate clients, including AllianceBernstein, Genesco, and Mitsubishi, assisting with employee transitions to Middle Tennessee. To further support all of our clients, we offer a full-service experience with in-house mortgage and title partnerships, ensuring a seamless transaction from start to finish.

We are honored to be your trusted real estate partner and thank you for your continued trust.

Jessica Averbuch

CEO

| Broker | Owner •

Kvetch in the City

By CARRIE MILLS

Turns out there is another upside to my new purging routine. Besides all the space magically appearing in my home, turns out I’m so busy sorting through treasures and trash, I have less time to watch the news. Kinda goes along with that saying, “No news is good news.”

It’s occurred to me as I go through every nook and cranny of every corner in every room of my home, it appears in theory, that my home is a replica of a mini department store. I mean that makes sense. Department stores, after all, were created to buy everything you may ever need for any occasion, for every room in your home.

down the wooden escalators and out to the parking garage following throngs of shoppers. No cell phones back then with built in flashlights to lead the way. Just people lighting matches and store clerks shining flashlights as we collectively grasped our way through a metropolis as dark as midnight.

And lastly, A&S was where I appeared in my first ever fashion show representing my high school. I remember having to wear some disappointingly goofy outfit, while being in a goofy growth spurt of my own, but hey, I could now call myself a model.

And so it is, I have declared my home…” Carrie’s…For all you may ever need…minus one or two things.” Carrie’s home goods, fine furniture, jewels, women’s clothing, art supplies, electronics, toiletries. The only department missing at this point is men’s and oh, I’ll leave lingerie off the list as well. Those two things seemed tied together.

No matter, I must admit, I’ve always loved department stores. The A&S department store in downtown Brooklyn holds the strongest childhood memories. It was there where my father always took my sister and I for our back-to-school clothing wardrobe each year. I’d slave over Seventeen magazine, getting all worked up, knowing exactly what styles and pieces I wanted, and how I wanted to look, all neatly written down in a list I’d clutch excitedly sitting in the front seat of my dad’s light blue Ford or whatever model it was as we drove downtown on our yearly shopping excursion.

It is also where my sister, myself and my dad, all got stuck in said department store during one of these excursions, in the crazy black out of 1965. I remember gingerly walking through the pitch-black store, grasping my dad’s hand, walking

As I got older, the more sophisticated shops began to take precedent. Bloomingdales, was the first department store I could recall that had a restaurant dedicated to frozen yogurt, 40 Carrots, which I still visit to this day, and where my friend and I would traverse mass transit all the way from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side, just for the sake of a giant serving of frozen yogurt although I’d somehow manage to leave with a purchased dress on the side from saved babysitting earnings.

Henri Bendel’s, was the first department shop my friend, bandmate, and business partner at the time, and I went to at 19 years old, to try and sell our handmade eclectic designs we were creating and sewing from an apartment in Park Slope in between our gigs in a punk band called “The New Seeds.” Bendel’s said our designs were too fashion forward. While it was a disappointing outcome, with 20/20 hindsight, I believe the buyer was correct. Twenty years later I saw many of our design ideas from that day hit the pages of Vogue.

In those days Fifth Ave shopping seemed to officially start at 34th street with the elegant B. Altman’s, and then on to Lord & Taylors, Saks Fifth Ave, Bendel’s and of course Bergdorf Goodman’s. Walking up Fifth Ave at holiday time was pure delight. Magical windows decorated so imaginatively transported the throngs of viewers patiently waiting in block long lines for a glimpse. The holiday windows highlighted everything wonderful about New York City and that time of year.

So, as I drift down memory lane of my growing up years in Brooklyn and New York City while trying to stay focused on letting go of a lifetime of collecting, owning, and dragging around family heirlooms, I am doing my best to ignore the chaotic insanity/reality of the world outside my door.

Yes, it seems to me the world is going to hell in a handbasket. No need for a department store directory to find that. Just turn on the news. •

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PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY

ACCOUNTANTS

CATHY WERTHAN, CPA CBIZ 1221 Broadway, Suite 1925 Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 245-4070 • CBIZ.com

APPLIANCES

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

ATTORNEY

MARTIN SIR, ATTORNEY

Family Law / Personal Injury / Probate 3200 West End Avenue, Suite 500 Nashville, Tennessee 37203 615-256-5661 (phone) 615-256-5115 (fax) www.martinsirlaw.com

CARE GIVER

Custom senior care for active, healthy lifestyles. Affordable/no minimums. Meals, meds, transp., outings, dementia care & assist with hospital discharge. Professional trusted care partners. Locally owned. Call Moises for Free Assessment: 615-678-9223 www.curaforcare.com

In-Home Care & Engagement | Respite

Dementia Day & Early-Stage Programs Independent & Assisted Living Memory Support | Caregiver Resources 615.434.2160 | services@abesgarden.org

Elite Caregiving Services

Compassionate Care In Your Home

We offer aftercare from surgical procedures, part-time assistance, and 24 hour elderly care. 615-881-6528 Hannah@EliteCaregivingServices.com EliteCaregivingServices.com

CHIROPRACTIC CARE

DR. BRADLEY KROCK D.C.  Discover relief with Dr. Krock, DCExpert chiropractic care for pain, wellness, and injury recovery. Book your appointment today!   615-723-0201 www.krockchiropractic.com

DENTIST

STEVEN R. HECKLIN, DMD

DAVID M. SMILEY, DMD

ABBY DILUZIO, DMD Cosmetic and Family Dentistry www.drhecklin.com 5606 Brookwood Place 615-356-7500

INSURANCE

BILTMORE INSURANCE SERVICES

Greg Zagnoev, Agent 615-746-RISK (7475) Home, Auto, Business, and Life

JAMES A. ROTHBERG

ADAM ROTHBERG

James A. Rothberg & Associates Office:  615-997-1833 Fax: 615-665-1300 2000 Glen Echo, Suite 208 Nashville, TN 37215 Email: jrothberg@jarinsurance.com info@jarinsurance.com

ROBINS INSURANCE

Bruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 11 Music Circle S Ph. 615-665-9200 • www.robinsins.com

ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care, Identity Theft Protection 6213 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 615-356-1700 www.zanderins.com

M JAFFA HEALTH INSURANCE

Marsha Ross Jaffa, CIC, LUTCF 615-482-3860 Medicare, Health, Dental, and Life

OPTOMETRIST

DR. MICHELE SONSINO Optique Franklin 436 Main Street, Franklin 615-591-4191

DR. JAMES W. KIRKCONNELL Bellevue Eyecare Center 7640 Hwy 70 S, Ste 102 Nashville 615-662-7588 www.bec2

ORTHODONTISTS

Specialists in Orthodontics

Dr. Jonathan Gluck DDS, MSD

Dr. Joel Gluck DDS, MS 2002 Richard Jones Road A-200 615.269.5903 drgluck.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

GHERTNER & COMPANY

Homeowner Association and Condominium Management Full Service and Financial Management Property Management since 1968 615-255-8531 www.ghertner.com

PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING

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

REAL ESTATE

FRANKLIN PARGH

615-351-7333

franklin.pargh@compass.com

LANA PARGH 615-504-2685

lana.pargh@compass.com www.pargh.com Instagram: @theparghteam

JESSICA AVERBUCH Broker/ Owner Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty 615-294-9880 jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.com

KAROL FARAGALLI 615-289-3359 karolfaragalli@gmail.com

LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 615-351-5343 lorna.graff@zeitlin.com www.lornagraff.com

SETH HOFFMAN

Associate Broker 615-351-2150 seth@sethhoffmannashvillehomes.com

NAN SPELLER

Broker, GRI, ABR 615-973-1117 nanspeller2014@gmail.com

Nashville: 615.383.0183 Franklin: 615.794.0833 zeitlin.com

JACOB KUPIN, REALTOR HAYLEY LEVY KUPIN, REALTOR 615-281-9035

Jacob@TheKupinGroup.com Hayley@TheKupinGroup.com www.TheKupinGroup.com We’ve got your back!

GREG ANSEL, REALTOR® Phone/Text: 615-815-6405 Email: GregAnsel@kw.com “Let’s Get Moving!”

Jackie Roth Karr, REALTOR® ABR, CRS

JackieKarr@gmail.com

JackieKarr.com

Mobile: 615-330-9779 Office: 615-463-3333

SPORTING GOODS

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

TRAVEL SERVICES

Expedia Cruise Ship Centers A Full Service Travel Agency Alan Cooper: Office: 615-454-6439 www.expediacruises.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

Seniors and Post Hospital Care