The Observer Vol. 91 No. 6 – June 2026

Jewish OBSERVER

Jewish Leaders Encourage Congress to Increase Funding for Security Program, Introduce Jewish American Security Act

By ERIN WIDES

As news of the deadly shooting at the Islamic Center in San Diego was coming out, more than 400 Jewish leaders from across the country had just arrived in Washington, DC, to introduce a new bill and strongly encourage lawmakers to increase the nonprofit security grant funding to $1 billion. These funds would protect all houses of worship and faith-based institutions nationwide.

CEO Judy Alperin was in DC to represent Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville along with colleagues across Tennessee. They met with leaders and sat in on briefings.

“We came together to understand the rising and concerning threat environment in our country. We were reminded that while the Jewish community is par-

ticularly at risk, experiencing more than 55% of hate crimes, being just 2% of the population, this week’s horrific attack on the Islamic center in San Diego tells us that all faith communities do not enjoy what should be a basic right to live, learn and worship without fear,” Alperin said.

Jewish Federations of North America shared that leaders from 41 states, representing 82 different communities across the country had more than 200 meetings with key Congressional leadership. The new, bipartisan Jewish American Security Act was also introduced.

“This bill takes our priorities and translates them into actual federal policy: funding authorities, operational reforms, enforcement mechanisms, transparency requirements, and interagency and state and local coordination,” said Rachel

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Celebrating Leadership 615 Cohort Three Graduates

By ERIN WIDES

The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s Leadership 615 program celebrated its third cohort at a May graduation brunch. Surrounded by past participants, community leaders, and program sponsors, this year’s fellows shared their vision statements for the future of Jewish Nashville.

Hineni, a Jewish concept meaning “Here I am,” anchored the morning’s message. Though simple, it carries deep

meaning, said Michal Eskenazi Becker, the Federation’s chief impact officer and program coordinator.

“I learned that community is not a given, it’s practiced. It has to be chosen again and again,” Eskenazi Becker said. “Community only happens when people decide what matters. When they say, ‘This is worth my time, this is worth my attention.’”

In her opening remarks, Eskenazi Becker reminded fellows that they chose

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National Young Leadership Cabinet Returns from Greece

By MARLY BOEHM

This year’s National Young Leadership Cabinet recently returned from a mission trip to Greece, where they learned about its Jewish history and celebrated the Jewish community there today. This year’s mission trip included 126 Cabinet members in 37 Jewish communities across North America, according to the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA). Cabinet is a leadership program of JFNA, designed to empower and equip emerging leaders ages 30-45 in the Jewish community.

“The mission of the program is to accelerate the leadership capacity and trajectory of volunteer leaders,” said Ben Schindler, associate vice president of Cabinet. Members of Cabinet have the opportunity to attend retreats, national events, International Study Mission trips, and more. Cabinet’s 5-year program has upheld this mission of supporting emerging Jewish leaders since its founding in 1963.

“We support them to learn,” said Schindler. “We support them to build their skills, specifically on how to support and serve the Jewish community, and

we help them connect with each other, because it is a network that becomes of tremendous value.”

This past year, the Cabinet took a mission trip to Greece, a country bearing the deep memory of one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world.

“The trip was extraordinary,” said Rachel Whitney, a Cabinet member from Nashville on the Greece trip. “We started in Thessaloniki, then visited Athens, covering major monuments of Greek culture, learning about the Greek Jewish community, and the impact of the Holocaust and its aftermath.”

The group had the privilege of visiting a memorial at the train cars in Thessaloniki and participating in an impactful Yom HaShoah commemora-

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Members of the Tennessee delegation with Federation CEO, Judy Alperin, preparing to meet with Congressman Steve Cohen.

From the Federation’s CEO

By JUDY ALPERIN

I

n moments of challenge, we often learn what matters most. Today, as antisemitism rises in worrying and visible ways, we are called not only to stand against hate—but to stand firmly, proudly, and joyfully in who we are. Jewish identity is not defined by those who would diminish it. It is defined by our values, our traditions, and—perhaps most powerfully—our joy.

That joy is not abstract. It is lived. It is shared. It is something we create together.

Just recently, our community came together for Jewish Heritage Night at the Nashville Sounds, convened by the Jewish Federation. It was a shining example of what it looks like when pride, connection, and celebration meet. Families, friends, and neighbors filled the stands, wearing their Jewish identity with pride and delight. The evening was more than a game—it was

a statement: we are here, we belong, and we celebrate who we are together.

That sense of shared pride was strengthened by the incredible presence of our partner organizations, each of which helped bring Jewish life and learning into the experience. Their participation ensured that this was not just a moment, but a meaningful opportunity to connect, to learn, and to deepen our ties to one another.

And the joy has not stopped there.

We saw it shine at the JCC’s Big Night Out, where laughter, music, and generosity filled the room. We felt it deeply at Jewish Family Service’s Chesed Dinner, where acts of compassion and care were celebrated as the foundation of our communal strength. We experienced it across generations at our community-wide Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration—a powerful gathering that brought together Jews from every corner of Nashville to rejoice in Israel’s independence and our shared story. The

energy in those spaces was unmistakable: Jewish joy, vibrant and alive. Our congregations are brimming with that same spirit. We are blessed with inspiring and collaborative clergy who bring creativity, depth, and warmth into our communal life. They are not only nurturing joy within their own congregations but are also working together across our community to create meaningful, shared opportunities for learning and connection. As we just celebrated Shavuot, their collaboration reminds us that Torah, too, is received not alone, but together. In that togetherness, there is beauty—and there is joy. Joy, of course, is not naïve. It does not ignore the challenges we face. Rather, it is a deliberate and powerful response to them. To gather as Jews, to celebrate our traditions, to invest in our community, to show up for one another—these are acts of resilience. They are acts of strength. They are acts of hope.

Now, more than ever, we need each other.

We need to fill our community spaces, with our presence and participation. We need to support our institutions and the people who bring them to life. We need to show our children that being Jewish is something to cherish and to celebrate openly and proudly. And we need to remind one another that we are part of something enduring, something meaningful, something joyful.

So, I invite you: Come. Engage. Celebrate.

Come to our events. Learn with our clergy. Gather with friends old and new. Show up not just in moments of crisis, but in moments of joy. Because when we stand together—connected, proud, and joyful—we do more than respond to the world around us. We shape it.

Our joy is our strength. Our community is our home. Let’s continue to build it—together. •

Life & Legacy in Moment of Transition, what this Means for Nashville

After nine years, the LIFE & LEGACY™ program in Nashville has experienced many changes. One of the most recent changes occurred when the Harold Grinspoon Foundation introduced a new representative for our community, Nicole Caine.

Caine provides support for the Nashville community as we continue to implement the program locally. She recently visited Nashville and shared more about the program.

Observer: Can you tell us a little bit about your professional background?

Nicole: I’ve been working in philanthropy for over a decade, and about eight years ago, I started focusing more on Jewish fundraising. I earned my master’s in public administration with a concentration in nonprofit management, and during that time I took a course on faith-based philanthropy. That’s when it really clicked for me: Judaism, and the support and community I’ve experienced within the Jewish community throughout my life, have been an important part of shaping my values and who I am, so working in this space felt like a natural fit.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to give back to a community that has given so much to me personally, and to help others connect with the deep Jewish history and traditions that tie into the important of Jewish philanthropy today.

Observer: You recently joined the staff at the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, working on the Life & Legacy program. What appealed to you the most about working at HGF and on the L&L program?

Nicole: What really drew me to HGF is how closely the work aligns with my own Jewish values. The Foundation’s mission -- helping people connect to Jewish life and build vibrant communities -- is something I live in my daily life, so it feels deeply meaningful to be a part of it.

Before joining HGF, I saw Life & Legacy in action during my time working at a local Hillel. I watched how it helped donors reflect on the causes they care about, why they supported this particular Hillel, and the impact they wanted to make both now and in the future. By encouraging people to think about giving today and creating a legacy for tomorrow, the program made a real difference in our community.

Now, I have the honor of working with Jewish communities and organizations helping them build permanent endowments through current and after-lifetime giving so their communities will be strong and vibrant for generations to come.

Observer: Are you able to share any details about what our community should expect next?

Nicole: Life & Legacy is in a moment of transition and we are taking this opportunity to reimagine the program, to better support where Jewish communities are now in endowment work, and take what we’ve learned over these past 13 years to further grow the already incredible success they’ve achieved.

We’re maintaining our commitments to our current communities and leaning into the incredible accomplishment of having secured a future estimated value of more than $2 billion for the Jewish community nationwide. In Nashville alone, we’ve secured $29.3M in future commitments and $5M in realized commitments, through 886 gifts, after eight years of the program.

We’re also planning an incredible conference for the fall, starting our search for a new director, and gearing up towards the next phase of work in our communities, all while keeping up the momentum on endowment building to help secure the Jewish future.

Observer: In your brief time with HGF, have you seen common threads

in the communities for which you are a resource?

Nicole: There are several that can be grouped within one larger sentiment: Legacy work is cultural. It can take a long time to change culture to help ensure the organization is set up towards legacy success.

Sometimes this manifests as staff or lay-leader turnover, which can be high in nonprofits. With that level of leadership transition, it can be hard to sustain long-term plans. The flip side of that, though, is burnout and momentum loss. Jewish nonprofit employees wear so many hats. They often have so many responsibilities and not a lot of capacity to take on projects that are not thoroughly baked into the annual plan.

Volunteers, especially ones who have been leading legacy work in their respective organizations since the early years of Life & Legacy, can also face burnout as well. Many times, this is due to there not being a community plan to energize the lay leaders that help keep this work running.

That brings us to the next thread: Development goals are often not structured around long term or decade-long goals, but rather quick wins or specific campaigns. To further help secure the current and future stability of Jewish programming, organizations need to integrate legacy giving into their fundraising conversations and asks consistently, year-round.

Our partnership better supports executives and boards to lead with legacy in mind and integrate legacy giving into overall development strategy.

Observer: One of the L&L goals moving forward is to promote multigenerational philanthropy. Can you tell us more about how HGF views this goal and how HGF is approaching it?

Nicole: The work Life & Legacy is doing is unfolding amid a historic intergenerational wealth transfer—an esti-

mated $84 trillion expected to flow to charities in the coming decades as baby boomers pass away, and their philanthropic commitments are realized. Our goal is to help communities take advantage of endowment building through current and after-lifetime giving so that as this opportunity unfolds, organizations and communities are prepared to work together to ensure the money is being used towards the Jewish future.

Through our work, we also stress the importance of multigenerational philanthropy, providing skills and knowledge that help people at every age and income level understand the value of a legacy gift. What we’ve learned is that legacy giving is for everyone – major donors, smaller donors, young and old; anyone can make a legacy commitment at any time.

Observer: What advice would you give to individuals who are considering a career in the non-profit world (as a Jewish professional or more generally)?

Nicole: Go into it because you care. This is an incredibly purposeful and personal line of work, and in a moment of incredible upheaval in the world, it’s meaningful and gratifying to be able to make a difference through your job.

When thinking about an organization you may want to work for, make sure to prioritize organizations where you believe in the mission and vision, and feel connected to the impact you would be making.

Last, I recommend you meet as many people as you can. Network through in-person and online groups. Volunteer on boards and with organizations that are meaningful to you and get to know how nonprofits generally work and function. Reach out to people in roles you’re interested in. Ask them for a 30-minute informational interview, which will not only give you the opportunity to learn about their career path and the work they do, but also create a new connection for you in that field. •

Editor’s Note

My name is Erin Wides (pronounced ‘wide -s’) and I am the newest editor of the Jewish Observer. This is truly an honor, and I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I’ve been sitting with the fact that this is more than a role. It’s an incredible responsibility to share the stories of our community and connect with so many of you.

It’s moments like these where I think, wow, everything really does happen as it’s supposed to. I’d love to bring you up to speed on how I got here. At five years old, I was already shoving a camera in the faces of family and friends, asking questions and capturing our neighborhood plays, moments in the ball pit and backyard, or my sister’s gymnastics meets. It was that camcorder, and my determination to capture (or bother) people, that preserved so many memories we replayed for years.

In elementary school, I’d rush in from school, grab a snack and sit on the floor of our den watching the Oprah Winfrey Show. As I got older, I’d tune in for the 10 p.m. newscast, curious about what was happening in our city. I always loved journaling, and in high school I took broadcast technology and multicam classes that taught me the ins and outs of storyboarding, storytelling, and all things camera related. I learned how to interview people and had the pleasure of sharing the stories of so many incredible St. Louisans. Those classes ultimately guided my decision to study digital journalism and communications in college.

c c c c STAFF

Publisher Judy Alperin, CEO Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville

Editor Erin Wides

Editorial Assistant Reiley Zeitler

Editorial Intern Marly Boehm

Advertising Manager Carrie Mills

Layout and Production Tim Gregory

Editorial Board Frank Boehm (chair), Teena Cohen, Scott Rosenberg

Telephone 615-354-1643

E-mail erin@jewishnashville.org

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I couldn’t see out of my rear view window, and my blind spots were obstructed, but with some trust and mindful driving, I was headed to Warrensburg, Missouri, for my freshmen year of college. I took many writing, editing and film classes. At the University of Central Missouri, I was surrounded by incredibly wise and talented professors and peers. I got to write for an award-winning college newspaper (The Muleskinner) and learned even more about camera shots, lighting, audio, radio… you name it, they taught it.

After college, I chased the dream of broadcast journalism 650 miles south to Lufkin, Texas, in December 2019. I stepped into a small-town newsroom and hit the ground running, or so I thought. Just three months into my first big kid job, COVID-19 hit. I thought, what did I just get myself into? It was a hustle of a spring and summer trying to adapt to all new ways of getting interviews and b-roll, but I learned so much about the job, myself, and importance of community.

Once again, I was fortunate to have intelligent, patient, and caring mentors who helped shape me into the journalist I am today. Even now, when I begin a story, I still hear their advice in the back of my mind helping me stay centered and focused.

After three years in broadcast journalism, through COVID-19, Black Lives Matter protests, elections, severe weather, and so many meaningful moments in between, I decided to slow down a bit. That respite began in Nashville,

Corrections Policy

The Jewish Observer is committed to making corrections and clarifications promptly. To request a correction or clarificatin, call Editor Erin Wides at 615-354-1643 or email her at erin@ jewishnashville.org

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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 Erin Wides at erin@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.

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Tennessee, and this city and the people in it have changed me forever.

A few months after getting settled, I found a run club that I began going to weekly. I was meeting people and had a bit of a routine. Then October 7 happened. Unfortunately, things were being said by leaders of that run club that ultimately made me stop attending. As it goes, when one door closes, usually another opens. A few months later Nice Jewish Runners was introduced into my life and the rest if sort of history.

When I’m not writing, working with our tremendous women’s philanthropy

leadership, or listening to live music, I’m running, planning, and connecting with our community by foot. One of the best ways to get to know people and see our city. Fast forward through a communications job, October 7, and various opportunities, I had the chance to join the team at Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville. Now I’m experiencing the full-circle moment of returning to the writer’s seat to help tell the story of Nashville’s Jewish community, one that has already shaped me so deeply. I look forward to learning, meeting, and sharing so many of your stories. •

Reflection on Conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin

By RABBI LAURIE RICE

On April 28, Rachel Goldberg-Polin visited Nashville to discuss her new book, When We See You Again. Rabbi Laurie Rice, of Congregation Micah, moderated the conversation. The event was a collaboration between Vanderbilt University, Congregation Micah, Vanderbilt Hillel, Vanderbilt Chabad, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville. Below is Rabbi Rice’s reflection on the conversation.

Rachel Goldberg-Polin — a mother whose strength moved the world. After her son Hersh was taken on October 7 and later murdered in captivity, Rachel refused to let grief silence her. Instead, she carried her pain into the public square and became one of the most powerful voices fighting for the hostages and their families. With courage, dignity, and unwavering love, she spoke to leaders, communities, and the world, demanding humanity and the return of every captive. Even through unimaginable loss, she kept fighting — not only for Hersh, but for all the hostages and the families living through the same nightmare. Rachel reminds us of our matriarch Rachel — Rachel Imeinu — the mother who cries for her children and refuses to be comforted. A mother’s love that does not give up. A voice that the world cannot ignore.

Jon and Rachel Polin have become, for many, the personification of an entire nation’s pain. They didn’t want this. They surely didn’t ask for it. “We’re the manifestation of everybody’s worst

nightmare,” Rachel said. And yet, it is precisely that fact, coupled with the almost supernatural grace they brought to their international advocacy for Israel’s hostages, that helped make Hersh one of the most recognizable faces among the captives and why his death hit so hard. It’s also why so many of us have looked to them as exemplars of how to respond to one of the worst periods in Jewish history. Despite all they’ve gone through, and all they continue to endure, Hersh’s parents still see this as a moment of opportunity. I was so nervous to meet Rachel, and yet when she walked into the room behind the stage and we shook hands, she instantly put me at ease. Rachel and Jon are disarming. Their kindness walks into the room before they do. And yet, I couldn’t help but gaze at this woman, this mother, who had been through something unimaginable to me and remained so wise, so astute, so articulate—a north star for anyone navigating intense grief.

“Rachel… I think you are one of the 36,” I said to her in the moments before we stepped out onto the Langford stage. “No, I’m really not,” she said. “I wrote this book in part to show everyone that I am not the ‘golden calf Rachel Goldberg Polin,’ that I have all kinds of flaws.” To which I said, “That’s just it. We don’t see you as a golden calf. We see you as each of us. Every one of us could have been… could be you.”

So many things will stay with me forever about this incredible opportunity I had to meet and interview Rachel. Beyond that she is tiny in stature but

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PHOTO CREDITS: LARRY MCCORMACK

The Nashville Sounds Hit a Home Run with Jewish Heritage Night

By REILEY ZEITLER

Last month, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, the Nashville Sounds hosted the first ever Jewish Heritage Night at First Horizon Park. Many members of Nashville’s Jewish community attended the game, where they were celebrated and recognized for their contributions to the community. The Sounds strive to connect with different communities, making sure everyone knows that they’re welcome at First Horizon Park, according to Sounds General Manager and CEO Adam English.

“People want to be a part of something that brings the community together. And so, we’re really happy to be that vehicle,” English said.

Building on the annual success of Jewish community night with the Nashville Predators, Jewish Federation CEO Judy Alperin was inspired to pursue Jewish Heritage Night with the Nashville Sounds after successfully shepherding several such nights at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

“The Jewish Federation and our Jewish Community Relations Committee are proud to bring the community together for special moments like Jewish Heritage Night,” Alperin said.

To start off the evening, Cantor Josh Goldberg, with Congregation Micah, sang the national anthem. “I am honored and thrilled to represent the Jewish community,” he said.

The first pitch was thrown by a Jewish Family Service (JFS) representative. The organization was honored for its communitywide assistance during Winter Storm Fern earlier this year. Among

the leaders who shape JFS’s mission is Toni Jacobsen, clinical director, whose steady guidance most recently directed the agency’s comprehensive response to the Nashville ice storm. Her daughter, Anna Kate, threw out the first pitch. She grew up surrounded by the staff and community it serves.

During the 7th inning stretch, the Mazel Tones Youth Choir, directed by Dennis Scott and supported by The Temple’s Cantor Tracy Fishbein, sang their rendition of Take me Out to the ballgame.

“They put smiles on everyone’s faces, and it is so great to see so many local Jewish organizations represented,” said Goldberg.

Holy Smokes food truck, run by Rabbi Gavriel Isenberg, was parked on the concourse and featured a fully kosher menu.

“Every time there is an opportunity to be part of the larger Jewish community, we like to be a part of it. It is a good time for Jewish unity nowadays and all of us being together, especially a time of Jewish pride,” said Isenberg.

Throughout the evening various Jewish organizations had tables set up for visitors to come meet them and learn about their mission. Included in tabling were the Jewish Federation, JCC’s Camp Davis, Nashville’s National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Jewish Family Service, Hadassah, The Temple, Akiva School, and Kehillah Upper Day School.

Throughout the evening there were Jewish Heritage Night logos displayed on videoboards for everyone to see, a photo slideshow highlighting the many organizations that make up Jewish Nashville, and a Hit City Hero moment that honored Police Officer Natan Hicken.

English emphasized that they were happy to welcome Nashville’s Jewish community. “We welcome them into First Horizon Park, because we believe that this is a place for everybody,” English said. “This is a place for you to bring your family and friends, enjoy a meal, and

enjoy the beautiful sport of baseball.” Jewish Heritage Night at First Horizon Park showed that the ballpark can be a place where everyone feels included, and for many attendees, the night was a meaningful reminder of the power of coming together. •

Cantorial Commentary: How 20 Seconds of Singing at a Ballpark Can Build Jewish Foundation

By TRACY FISHBEIN

V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam” — from Deuteronomy and recited in the V’ahavtah — is often translated as: “And you shall teach these words diligently to your children.” Yet the Hebrew suggests something deeper. The rabbis note that “v’shinantam” shares a root with shein, “tooth.” Just as teeth leave an impression on anything they bite upon, so too are we commanded to leave a lasting impression on the next generation.

Music has always played a powerful role in that transmission of Jewish identity. Many of us learned the Hebrew alphabet through Debbie Friedman’s “Alef Bet.” (I still remember singing it repeatedly while organizing Hebrew vocabulary flashcards after college.) Children learn the melodies of Jewish prayer long before they can read Hebrew, simply by singing at services, camps, and religious school.

The songs we sing leave their mark. They teach us our Hebrew letters, connect us to our liturgy and Hebrew texts, and create memories of Jewish community and belonging. Combined with the power of collective singing — separate voices joining together as one — music becomes far more than pleasant sounds that fill our sanctuaries. It becomes a foundation for Jewish identity, memory, and joy.

That truth is never more apparent to me than when I sing with the children of our community.

This year, I once again had the priv-

ilege of working with our Temple Mazel Tones youth choir, made up of Temple Religious School students in kindergarten through fifth grade. I taught the music of our Friday night worship service alongside other beloved, important pieces of Jewish music. The choir is led by Grammy Award-winning musician Dennis Scott, and meets weekly to learn joyful, age-appropriate music from our Jewish tradition.

The 2025–2026 school year was extraordinary. The choir led nine Shabbat services, helped lead High Holy Day family worship before more than 400 people, welcomed visiting artists Elana Arian and Becky Mann, and sang at the Franklin Chanukah Festival. Week after week, they filled our school with joyful music.

One of the most memorable moments came on May 12, when the Mazel Tones sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at Jewish Heritage Night at a Nashville Sounds game.

What struck me most was not only the children’s excitement, but the way their families showed up. On a busy weeknight in May, during one of the busiest times of the school year, they came. Smiling, cheering, and sharing in the moment.

Accompanied by Dennis Scott, the Mazel Tones ran onto the field, energized by the crowd and the moment (and a lot of ice cream), on the biggest “stage” they’d ever experienced. They sang with enthusiasm, confidence, and pride. More than anything, they added to

the powerful sense of Jewish celebration already present throughout the stadium that night.

And that was the greatest gift of all – holding up the Jewish joy that continues to shine through in our Nashville Jewish community as we continue to show up, sing out, and create lasting bonds through music and friendship.

On the drive home, Dennis and I reflected on the evening. We realized that experiences like these are the ones that will keep our kids connected to their Judaism for the rest of their lives. Twenty seconds of singing at a baseball game may seem small, but moments like these become part of the Jewish foundation we build for our children. These

are the memories that help young people remain tied to Jewish life, community, and identity — not only during moments of joy, but also during times of challenge for the Jewish people. These joyful experiences, filled with song and community, are the ones that will undoubtedly play a role in how our children will teach their children to love and carry on the values of Jewish faith and community.

“V’shinantam l’vanecha v’dibarta bam.” May we continue to leave these lasting impressions on our children through music, community, and Jewish joy — and may those memories continue to strengthen both our children and our Nashville Jewish community for generations to come. •

Jewish Nashvillians Journey to Argentina to Learn, Explore and Engage

By BARBARA DAB

This spring 30 people, led by Rabbi Joshua Kullock of West End Synagogue, journeyed to Argentina. From the sprawling, bustling capital city of Buenos Aires to the majesty of Iguazu Falls National Park, the group experienced the sights, sounds, and culture of Rabbi Kullock’s native country.

The trip began with several days in Buenos Aires, a complex city patterned after the great European cities of Paris and Rome, but with the urban beat of New York City’s Manhattan. Thanks to knowledgeable guide and native Argentine, Alex del Aguila, the group learned about the country’s origins as a land of immigrants, mostly from Italy and Spain.

The first few days were filled with visits to both Jewish and civic historic sites. Among the highlights was a visit to the grand Palacio Bosch, home of the American ambassador to Argentina. The home is an example of the grandeur of many historic homes in Buenos Aires. The ambassador was not available as he was traveling to Israel, but the group met with one of the ambassador’s political advisors. During the meeting the group discussed an array of topics from day-today operations of the embassy to ways the ambassador is helping to address antisemitism in Argentina.

Another highlight was a briefing with Claudio Epelman, executive director of the Latin American Jewish Congress. Epelman, along with other local Jewish leaders, shared information about the demographics of the Latin American Jewish community and answered questions about Jewish life, antisemitism, and other issues.

There was also a visit to AMIA, Argentine Israelite Mutual Association, an organization similar to Jewish Federation. The current building sits on the site of a 1994 terrorist bomb that killed 85 people and wounded hundreds more. The organization continues to recover and rebuild in the wake of that traumatic incident, which also followed the bombing of the Israeli embassy two years before.

The group also visited the oldest synagogue in Buenos Aires, and enjoyed Shabbat services and dinner at Congregación Amijai. During the musical service, member of Nashville’s Jewish community joined with the local Jewish community in prayer, singing, and dancing in celebration of Shabbat.

Other cultural sites visited included the Teatro Colon, one of the world’s most renowned opera houses, and the Palacio Rosado, the Pink House where the Argentinian President works. Both buildings are examples of Argentina’s art and architecture that is influenced by its European roots.

The group winged its way two hours north to the Iguazu Falls National Park. The park borders Brazil, and the visit began there to experience a panoramic view of the largest waterfall system in the world, followed on the second day by entering the Argentinian side. It was there that visitors could get a close-up view, very close up for those who boarded a boat that took them right under a section of the falls.

The return to Buenos Aires coin-

cided with Yom Ha’atzmaut and a seat in one of the Broadway district’s large theaters for an evening of dance, songs, and celebrations in honor of Irael’s independence.

The nearly two-week sojourn was exciting, intense, exhausting, and memorable. Below are some reflections from participants, including Rabbi Kullock.

Rabbi Joshua Kullock:

I’ve been thinking a great deal about our time together in Argentina, and I want to thank each of you for making it such a meaningful, joyful, and memorable journey.

From the streets of Buenos Aires to the breathtaking beauty of Iguazú, what made the trip truly special was not only where we went, but how we traveled together. Your good spirits, your curiosity, and your willingness to explore, learn, and engage—with the images, the flavors, and the distinctive character of my hometown—meant more to me than I can fully express. You were troopers in every sense, and it was a privilege to share that experience with you.

Marsha Jaffa:

One of the interesting things about Argentina is finding out that they are as actively Jewish as we are. From going to The Latin American Jewish Congress, AMIA (Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina) to The Israeli Independence Day Celebration where 3,500 people attended with such love of Israel was very endearing. At The Latin American Jewish Congress, we got a deeper insight

about how they serve Argentina and the world. There was a great conversation on antisemitism and social media. When Israelis were murdered and captured by Hamas on October 7th, Hamas was ready to come out with antisemitic remarks about Israel and were ready to rally our college students.

We visited Temple Libertad, the oldest Jewish synagogue in Bueno Aires. It was built in 1932 and renovated in 1987. We heard about the history of the synagogue and took an interesting tour of

the museum. My favorite artwork was a mixed media piece of the menorah. We also visited the Latin American Jewish Congress. We got a deeper insight about how they serve Argentinian and the world.

We also went to AMIA, Association Mutual Israelita Argentina. Its mission is to improve life for young and old Jewish people. They are working for a better life for Argentina Jews. They work for inclusiveness and pluralism. They were bombed in 1994 and have been rebuilt. Continued on page 24

A Community of Memory: Students Create Butterfly Mosaic for Nashville Holocaust Memorial

By RABBI MICHAEL SHULMAN

In a moving expression of memory, creativity, and community, middle school students from across Nashville’s Jewish congregations came together in April to create more than 30 butterfly mosaics that will become part of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial.

Students from The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Congregation Micah, and West End Synagogue worked side by side, each contributing individual pieces to a larger collective work of art. What emerged was more than mosaics, it was a shared act of remembrance and connection.

Each butterfly, carefully designed with colorful glass tiles, reflects the creativity and intention of the student who made it. No two are alike, some bold and bright, others carefully patterned—but together they form a powerful visual statement about memory, individuality, and community.

Each piece also carries a name. Every butterfly was created in memory or in honor of someone with a connection to Nashville who was touched by the horrors of the Holocaust. Their names are written on the back of each butterfly, quietly, intentionally, ensuring that behind every work of art is a real person, a real story, and a lasting act of remembrance.

The butterfly, long a symbol associated with Holocaust memory, especially the lives of children who were lost, served as the centerpiece of the project. Inspired in part by the poem “The Butterfly,” written by Pavel Friedmann in a concentration camp, the imagery offers a way to engage with difficult history through beauty, reflection, and meaning.

“As one child remarks in a poem,

he wishes he was like the butterfly, so he could fly away and be free of the pain and suffering,” said seventh grader Rebecca Reiter. “This story inspired me and my community to make butterfly mosaics to honor the stories of the survivors. This particularly touched me, making me feel connected to my heritage, as I could have been one in that situation if this took place at a different time.”

The project was led by artist Michelle Trachtman, whose vision and thoughtful guidance helped bring both artistic excellence and emotional depth to the experience. Through her talents, students came to understand that their work was not only creative, but purposeful.

“As a local mosaic artist, I’m always drawn to opportunities where art can tell a deeper story, and this immediately spoke to me,” Trachtman said. “The idea of creating a butterfly for the Holocaust Memorial felt incredibly powerful. It was an opportunity to help bring history to life in a tangible and lasting way through art, and I felt deeply connected to that purpose.”

A particularly meaningful part of the program included personal storytelling shared by community members Felicia Anchor, Marsha Raimi, Alex Limor, and Delilah Cohn. Their voices grounded the experience, helping students connect history to lived experience and reminding all present that memory is carried through people as much as through places.

Teachers and volunteers, including Anne Ginsburg and Bekah Near, supported students throughout the process, helping them navigate both the artistic work and the emotional weight of the subject matter. Educators from each congregation worked together to create a space where students could reflect, ask questions, and engage deeply.

“This was not just an art project,” said Rabbi Michael Shulman of The Temple. “It was an opportunity for our students to understand that remembrance is something we build together. Each butterfly holds a name, a memory, and a responsibility.”

The collaboration itself was a

powerful statement. Bringing together students from multiple congregations reflected the strength of Nashville’s Jewish community and its shared commitment to honoring memory and educating the next generation.

“These butterflies mean a lot to me because I lost family in the Holocaust and feel very connected to the stories, alongside other survivors’ stories,” said seventh grader Marin Arnold. “They symbolize hope and the souls of people who unfortunately didn’t survive, which is beautiful.”

The project was made possible through the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, whose grant funding helped turn vision into reality.

When installed, the butterfly mosaics will become part of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial at the Gordon JCC offering a space for reflection, remembrance, and education for years to come. •

JFS announces “The Time Is Now” endowment campaign with 70% raised

By HAYLEY LEVY KUPIN, ENDOWMENT CONSULTANT

S

ince 1853, Jewish Family Service of Nashville has served the Nashville Jewish community and beyond. Its work has spanned moments of stability and crisis alike. Now, the organization is launching its first-ever endowment campaign to secure its future for generations to come.

The Time is Now campaign was publicly announced at JFS’s Chesed dinner by campaign co-chairs Teri Kasselberg and Harris Gilbert. The initiative aims to raise $2.5 million to create a permanent endowment.

“This is a pivotal moment,” Kasselberg told attendees. “We believe this is an opportunity to secure the future of JFS in a truly meaningful way.”

Campaign leaders highlighted three pillars of the effort: evolving community needs, responding in times of crisis, and sustaining the future.

First, evolving community needs. Since 2010, JFS has launched more than 11 new services to meet emerging needs in the community—from food assistance to teen programming and senior support.

Pam Kelner, JFS executive director, says the organization continues to grow and adapt as new community challenges arise.

Second, responding in times of crisis. Gilbert noted that the organization has played a critical role during emergencies ranging from local natural disasters to global crises such as the COVID19 pandemic.

“Whether supporting community members impacted by the events of the October 7 attack in Israel or the devastation of Nashville’s recent ice storm, JFS is always there in moments when people need help the most,” Gilbert said. “This campaign ensures the organization can continue responding with urgency, compassion, and care.”

Third, sustaining the future. This campaign will build a $2.5 million

endowment to help fund approximately 20% of JFS’s annual budget, to support and retain exceptional staff, and to address broader shifts in philanthropy, including changing giving patterns among younger generations.

The campaign has already gained substantial momentum during its quiet phase. According to organizers, approximately 40 donors have contributed early commitments, including full participa-

tion from the JFS Board of Directors. Pledges to date range from $2,500 to $250,000, payable over a 5-year period. Eight families have made leadership commitments of $100,000 or more. Kasselberg and Harris announced that early supporters have collectively pledged $1.7 million — nearly 70% of the organization’s overall fundraising goal.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Kasselberg said. “The generosity we’ve seen has validated just how important this effort is to our community.”

Contributions to the endowment campaign are being made in addition to donors’ annual support of JFS programming and operations.

In the coming months, JFS plans to expand public outreach efforts and invite broader community participation through meetings, events, and donor conversations.

“This effort will require our entire community coming together,” Kelner said. “We’re excited to continue building support for this endeavor.”

For additional information or to learn more, reach out to Pam Kelner at pgkelner@jfsnashville.org. •

Harris Gilbert and Teri Kasselberg, JFS Endowment co-chairs, speak to Chesed dinner attendees.

Nashville Author’s Book Nominated for Award in Jewish Literature

By ERIN WIDES

Alyssa Rosenheck is a Nashville based bestselling author, advocate, and one of Architectural Digest’s Top 50 Interior and Architectural Photographers in the United States.

Her most recent work, White. Blonde. Jew.: A Call to End Extremism, Speak Up, and Reclaim Center, is currently nominated for the Sophie Brody Medal by the American Library Association, given to encourage, recognize and commend outstanding achievement in Jewish literature.

Rosenheck said the process of writing and completing a book is a gift. It shows discipline and having a strong enough “why” to see the process through. “The nomination feels like something larger though,” she said. “Hopefully a sign that these stories, these questions, our history and Jewish lived experiences are finding their way into institutional spaces with care, clarity, and a sense of responsibility to what is being paved for the future.”

The Observer got a look into Rosenheck’s writing process, what she gained from this experience, and what she hopes readers take away.

Observer: What sparked the idea to write the book - was it a specific moment, was it to write a book or just get thoughts out?

Alyssa: I wrote the book in response to the global literary boycotts that followed October 7th against Jewish authors and Israeli publishers. I was in the process of writing my second book - a work centered on creativity in the nonfiction space - when everything shifted. After the second-largest massacre against Jewish bodies since the Holocaust, my focus changed immediately and it wasn’t really a choice. I stepped into using my platform for education around antisemitism and advocacy for the safety and security of the State of Israel.

Not long after that, the publisher moved the goal posts on my book, and the deal disappeared. I’m one of many authors within the creative and literary world who experienced this kind of sidelining - the loss of contracts, opportunities, clients, book deals, speaking engagements, and professional space simply for using our voice in a moment that demanded clarity and intellectual courage.

This was not a “sit down and decide

to write a book” moment. It was a “when they push you down, you double down in truth” moment.

Observer: What was the writing process like for you? What were the tough moments? Moments you’d call a win?

Alyssa: I tend to write in two states - deep inspiration or anger. Sometimes something feels so beautifully urgent it won’t leave me alone, and other times it feels like I’m screaming underwater and the words have to fight their way to the surface. In both states, I try to return to the work with honesty and clarity. I’m not interested in over-polishing emotions, I’m interested in telling the truth about what I’m seeing and feeling, while anchoring personal stories in facts, history, and lived experience.

White. Blonde. Jew. wrestles with what happens when identity becomes politicized, projected onto, or weaponized, but it is also deeply about bearing witness. I take readers with me into Israel, into diplomacy trips, into private conversations and deeply personal moments, while trying to bring the conversation back to something more grounded, human, and honest.

The hardest moments were never really about the writing itself - they were about what I witnessed and carried. Standing in a security room in Sderot watching a harrowing scene unfold. Hearing stories that stay in your body long after you leave the room. Being told by someone I once loved that they didn’t want Jewish children with me. The real responsibility was trying to honor survivors, history, and this moment with

Nashville’s JCC Delegation

Headed to Toronto for

Summer Maccabi Games

This summer, Nashville’s JCC Maccabi Games delegation is heading to Toronto, Canada to compete in various sports, including ice hockey and swimming. The JCC Maccabi Games is hosted by the JCCA every summer and aims to connect Jewish teens (ages 13-17), known as “athletes,” from around the world to their Jewish heritage through sports, friendship, volunteering, and Israeli content.

integrity when language felt painfully insufficient.

But there were wins too. Quiet ones. Moments when the writing stopped feeling forced and started feeling aligned. When I could write not only about grief, but about resilience, rebuilding, courage, and what it means to move forward with new allies. This book, in many ways, felt like a best friend to me. And when I finished it, I felt an enormous sense of gratitude - for the work, for the people who trusted me with their stories, and for the ability to turn pain into something that could still create community.

Observer: It sounds like it’s not just a book to be read - you incorporate prompts for each chapter. What was the intention with this?

Alyssa: This book was always meant to be read in community. I intentionally ended each chapter with book club prompts and ‘P.A.C.E.’ - an acronym I developed that stands for Pause, Analyze, Contemplate, and Engage - to encourage deeper conversation, reflection, and respectful disagreement.

We are living in a time where people are increasingly losing the ability to sit inside tension, complexity, or even simple disagreement without immediately trying to destroy one another over a topic. I wanted this book to create space for real dialogue. A space where people could ask deeper questions, challenge one another thoughtfully, listen with more intention, and remain human in the process.

Observer: What did you learn about yourself and your circles as you were writing?

Alyssa: I learned the difference between those who pursue life from a foundation of comfort and those who live from a foundation of responsibility. One requires truth, courage, and a tolerance for discomfort; the other often demands very little at all. Truth has a cost - and that when you choose to live that publicly, especially in polarizing times, circles may become smaller, but they also become far stronger and more honest.

One of my favorite quotes is from Jonathan Sacks, “If leadership is the solution, what’s the problem? The problem is a failure of responsibility.” True leadership requires individuals to defend truth irrespective of the personal cost. History has shown us, time and time again, that the greatest moral failures rarely begin with hatred alone, but with silence, avoidance, and the refusal to take responsibility when it matters most.

6.) What will the reader walk away with after reading White. Blonde. Jew. A Call to End Extremism, Speak Up, and Reclaim Center?

I wrote this book to inspire readers with the courage to be the one voice in rooms filled with silence. More than anything, I want people to remember that courage is contagious. History is not only shaped by the loudest voices, but by the individuals willing to speak with clarity, conviction, and moral courage when remaining silent would be easier. It only takes one voice to interrupt fear, challenge propaganda, push back against the BDS movement, and remind others of their humanity. That voice may be yours.•

Our athletes are ready to celebrate their Jewish culture, compete, make new friends, promote rachmanus (positive spirit), and take time to partake in tikkun olam. We wish them the best of luck this summer!

If you’re interested in your teen participating in next year’s JCC Maccabi Games and Access Games, or learning more about the program, please reach out to Alyssa at abrodie@bbyo.org •

PLAN YOUR

…so that it’s not just a fairy tale.

Don’t Let FOMO Get To You

By LORETTA SAFF

We’ve all felt it— FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out. Well, here’s the good news: one of the best ways to stay curious, capable, and confident into your HAPPILY EVER AFTER is surprisingly simple— learn a little about how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Some of you may think it’s necessary to sign up for a technology degree or ask your 10-year-old nephew for help. No, it’s not. In fact, learning the basics of AI may be the easiest new skill you pick up this year. Let’s get started:

STEP ONE: Pick Your AI “Helper.” Make a choice from the top four AI sites that follow and type its address into the search bar. For your information, in parentheses I’ve included the company that owns it.

• ChatGPT.com (OpenAI)

• Claude.com (Anthropic)

• Copilot.com (Microsoft)

• Gemini.com (Google)

Think of it like choosing a new personal assistant. They’re all smart and never get tired of your questions. All are (mostly) free right now, so enjoy that while it lasts. You may have to give an email address.

STEP TWO: Ask a question or make a request. Be specific—like you are talking with a real person. Here are some examples:

• “How to spend two days in Nashville on a tight budget?”

• “Please explain artificial intelligence to a learner like me.”

• “Plan a dinner party for six, including my picky mother-in-law.”

Press the arrow or ‘go’ symbol and suddenly it starts typing, full of ideas, methods, and suggestions. There’s no Step Three or Four or Five.

The ‘skill’ is in learning to ask better questions so it can help you make better decisions. AI can help you save time, spark ideas, and even remind you of things you already knew but forgot along the way.

Of course, AI isn’t perfect. It does make mistakes. Consider it a thinking partner, not a replacement for your own judgment. Read it, question it, and then tweak it. You’re still the boss.

Here’s a synopsis of my asking question #3: “Help me plan a dinner party for six, including my picky mother-in-law.” (quotes are AI)

AI started typing immediately: “Think elevated comfort food… nothing too adventurous… sauces on the side… let people customize.” Then, “A Day or two beforehand, casually ask: ‘Any foods you’re not loving these days?’” sounds thoughtful but it’s actually strategic.

I even asked for a few menu suggestions. AI will always remember your original question and stays ready for any follow up or new thoughts. The menu suggestions it added included:

• Lemon herb roasted chicken – familiar, comforting, but still feels elegant

• Filet with mashed potatoes

– the universal peace treaty of dinner parties

• Classic Caesar salad with optional add-ons

– because some people consider croutons “adventurous”

• Dessert: apple crisp, chocolate mousse, or vanilla ice cream with berries

– never underestimate the power of familiar desserts

And it closed with: Remember the Golden Hosting Rule: Serve one thing that feels safe, one thing that feels special, and wine that makes everyone kinder. Clever and comforting, right?

Now go ahead - try it with one of the other sample questions or make up a new one. Remember, the goal isn’t to become “techy.” It’s to stay engaged with a world that rewards people who remain curious just a little longer than everyone else.

As Mark Twain famously said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

You’re welcome, Bottom of Form

Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com

P.S. For fun, I asked AI to write a poem about the dinner party. Here it is:

“The chicken worked, the wine was poured No one looked even slightly bored. My mother-in-law took one small bite… then asked, “You made this? Well… it’s quite alright.”

She had seconds of the apple crisp, Complimented my napkins—twice, not missed.

And as she left, she gave a little grin: “Next month, dear… perhaps we’ll do this again.” •

… because your memories matter

479 Myatt Drive, Madison, TN 37115-3024 615-712-9521 • rdschultz@schultzmonument.com

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

Heart of the Matter

By PAM KELNER

This past weekend, I was reading the newspaper when a topic I’ve encountered too many times to count caught my eye. The article referenced the Surgeon General’s 2023 report Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation and the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. The health consequences are alarming—comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day—and include increased risks of depression, cognitive decline, heart disease, and premature death.

Do you care to guess which population is most affected? Older adults. Their risks grow as social networks shrink due to loss, mobility changes, or living alone.

At Jewish Family Service (JFS), we see this crisis daily. But we also see its antidote: human connection. Serving older adults has always been a cornerstone of our work. Our goal is simple—to create meaningful opportunities for older adults to feel seen, supported, and part of something larger.

Thankfully, we have two roadmaps to guide us: Jewish tradition and social work principles. Jewish values remind us that we are responsible for one another—Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. JFS brings this value to life through programs that strengthen relationships, the very solution the Surgeon General urges communities to prioritize. Social connection

thrives when people have opportunities to gather, supportive interactions, and meaningful, reliable relationships. Our programs intentionally build all three. Our twice-monthly lunches, in partnership with The Temple, offer much more than food. They provide routine, conversation, and a sense of belonging. For many participants, these gatherings are a highlight of their week and a vital counterweight to isolation. Holiday deliveries in partnership with NCJW at Rosh Hashanah and Akiva at Purim extend that connection to homebound older adults, ensuring everyone feels part of the community’s celebrations.

The Surgeon General calls for expanding volunteer programs that foster neighbor-to-neighbor connections. JFS’s Helping Hands Friendly Visitor Program does exactly that. Volunteers visit isolated seniors regularly, share conversation, accompany them on short walks, or simply sit together. These small interactions create powerful bonds and significantly reduce the emotional and physical risks of isolation.

JFS counseling services further support individuals and families navigating difficult transitions.

Loneliness may be widespread, but it is not inevitable. Through shared meals, caring volunteers, and a steadfast commitment to Jewish values, JFS is helping older adults stay connected and emotionally healthy.

Because in our community, we believe no one should age alone. •

Rabbi Laurie Rice and Rabbi Flip Rice Celebrate 25 Years In The Rabbinate

Congregation Micah is honored to announce that our beloved rabbis, Rabbi Laurie Rice and Rabbi Philip “Flip” Rice received their honorary doctor of divinity degrees in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, May 17th. While both rabbis began their rabbinical journey in Washington state,

Kehillah

Fthe Congregation Micah community has been blessed to learn from Rabbi Laurie and Rabbi Flip for the past twenty years. In that time, the rabbis have provided the Congregation Micah community, Jewish Nashville community, and wider Nashville community with the gifts of their wisdom, generosity, and Torah. •

Award 2026 Finalists

inalists have been selected for this year’s Kehillah Award. The Kehillah Award nominations, formally known as the Ralph Shepard Award, are for seniors in high school who have shown noticeable dedication and motivation both in the Jewish community, and in the greater Nashville community.

This year’s finalists include Madeline Krakauer, Griffin Stepakoff, Abby Bauman, Ben Bauman, and Micah Rosenbloom.

The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the Gordon JCC’s Annual Meeting on June 7th.

These teens have contributed locally, regionally, and globally; and have the intention to continue to spread

their enthusiasm and leadership as they embark on their next journeys to various universities. The winner receives a $1,000 gift, provided by Doyne Family Fund at the Jewish Foundation, to be used toward their education.

The teens are nominated by leaders in their Jewish community – either by their synagogue leaders, educational director, Rabbi, or youth group advisor. Nominated teens are asked to complete an application, answering various questions and an essay portion. The completed applications are then redacted, to keep them anonymous, and sent to all past Kehillah/Ralph Shepard Award winners, who review the applications and cast their vote. •

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

A Rabbi and a Doctor Discuss Abortion

By RABBI MARK SCHIFTAN AND DR. FRANK BOEHM

Frank: Regardless of whether you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life, I believe most would agree that anything that reduces the number of abortions performed each year in this country would be a positive step in the right direction. Well, there is data that shows that there is something that would help and that something is making contraception available and affordable for all individuals of reproductive age.

In 1970 our government under President Richard Nixon passed Title X which was dedicated to family planning and reproductive health. One study found that it prevented twenty million unintended pregnancies in just 20 years by providing women with free and low- cost birth control. Furthermore, while in 1957 one in ten teenage girls gave birth to a child, that figure is now one in one hundred. In addition, for every dollar spent on family planning, the government saves seven dollars in Medicaid costs.

More recently, a study reported in the October 2012 Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal noted that when 9,256 women who were considered at increased risk for an unintended pregnancy were provided free contraception, the abortion rates over the next four years were one half the regional and national rates. The authors concluded that providing no cost contraception reduces abortion rates.

It has been noted that half of all pregnancies in this country today are unintended and that 40% of these unintended pregnancies end up in abortions. Indeed, according to the Guttmacher Institute, yearly abortion procedures in this country rose 21% over the past five years to 1.12 million. Therefore, anything we, as a society, can do to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies will have the added benefit of reducing the number of abortions, help reduce child poverty and save our government money.

Now that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022 and sent the issue of abortion legality back to each of our fifty states resulting in significantly restricting the ability for women to obtain an abortion, I believe this issue of doing all we can to reduce the number of abortions in this country to be of prime importance.

Mark, since we are taught as Jews that all life is sacred and that we should do all we can to protect life, do you agree that a proposal to reduce the number of abortions by providing free or lowcost birth control to reduce the number of abortions performed each year is an extremely important societal and theological issue?

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Mark: Frank, the issue of abortion is among the most controversial and combative of all the challenges that affect the unity of the citizens of our nation. People of various faiths, and even specific denominations within each religious community, feel passionate about this issue. The questions surrounding abortion are, in many ways, central to the way religious traditions define the beginning of human life, the essential essence of human procreation, and to whom our bodies belong—whether to us or to our Creator. And accordingly, who has the ultimate vote, or veto, on the decision on if, and when, the termination of a pregnancy is warranted or permitted.

Different faiths have dramatically differing points of view on all of this. For some, abortion is akin to murder, the taking of a human life. For others, abortion is permitted in certain circumstances and under certain conditions. The same extends to views of birth control and the types and limitations of its use.

Judaism, in all its expressions of faith, whether traditional or liberal, has always distinguished between an actual life versus a potential life. Therefore, Judaism has always permitted abortion when the mother’s life is in danger. A fetus was only viewed as a full human life once the majority of the infant has emerged from its mother’s womb. More recently, some branches of Judaism now also consider the mother’s mental health as well as her physical wellbeing. Judaism does not seek to promote abortion. It does, however, certainly permit it.

Frank, your question now narrows the discussion to whether access to birth control would reduce the number of abortions, which the evidence you present seems to conclude. Here, again, different religious traditions, including our own, differ in their opinions on this. Therefore, the question, again, centers on to whom our bodies belong, to each of us or to God. For some, including more traditional Jews, birth control by any means other than abstinence is unacceptable. There are biblical verses as well as theological arguments that support this view, that we are not to interfere with the procreative process.

For others, including myself, any birth control measures that reduce the number of abortions would be a positive step forward. Any increased access to birth control should be welcomed,

permitted, and protected. I believe most Reform Jews would agree, trying to balance the right to abortion with a desire to reduce the number of those procedures as much as reasonably possible.

Frank, there are no simple answers to these complex issues of when life begins, or whose body it is, our or God’s. Our answers to those questions directly and profoundly impact our views on abortion and access to birth control.

Frank, I know how you feel and where you stand on these issues. Can you understand and respect those views that differ from your own? How do we continue to balance and respect those differences?

Frank: Mark, while I have maintained a pro-choice opinion since I was a young physician, I have always respected those individuals who have disagreed with me and who maintained a pro-life stance. If one considers abortion to be a procedure which ends life and should be forbidden, then that is their opinion and I need to respect that. What I have discovered over the years, however, is that there are four opinions regarding abortion and not just the two commonly quoted opinions of pro-life and pro-choice.

There are individuals who are against abortion for any reasons and who make up approximately 15% of Americans. At the other end of the spectrum, there is another 15% who believe that women should have the right to end a pregnancy no matter what the indications are

or at any gestational age. That leaves approximately 70% in what I refer to as the pro-choice “but” and pro-life “but” groups. Although they label themselves pro-choice or pro-life, there is often a “but” attached to their opinion. These Americans believe that there are conditions where they could support or deny a woman’s right for an abortion such as rape, incest, life of the mother, serious fetal anomalies, advanced gestational age, and other difficult and often complex situations. I consider myself to be in the pro-choice “but” group.

Regardless which of these groups one falls into, it would make common sense to be an advocate for making contraception readily available and affordable to all women of reproductive ages. I would also recommend to parents of teenage girls and boys that they educate them on the many issues surrounding sexual activity. We know all this will have the capability to reduce the number of abortions in America, which I believe 100% of people favor and would be a step in the right direction. With abortion restrictions becoming more prevalent throughout America we should concentrate our efforts in reducing the number of abortions in this country, it is the ethical, moral, and right thing to do. •

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

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

Nashville Community Members Honored During Yom Ha’atzmaut

By ZIV SHEMESH

Every year in Israel, a torch-lighting ceremony marks the transition from Yom Hazikaron to Yom Haazmaut. During this ceremony, twelve torches are lit, representing the Twelve Tribes, the sons of Jacob, who together form a whole.

During Nashville’s Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, twelve individuals from the community lit a torch, representing the many people and organizations that come together to form the Nashville community.

1. Melissa Zabriskie Alvarez

Melissa Alvarez is a member of The Temple. Melissa is a community leader and activist. She is the founder of the Tennessee Hispanic Action Network, a board member of Nashville Pride, AWAKE (Advocates for Women’s and Kids’ Equality), and the JCRC – Jewish Community Relations Committee. She advocates for gun violence prevention and for ensuring equitable access to opportunity for those from marginalized communities. She has been a vocal advocate for Israel and the Jewish community in the halls of government, combating proposed resolutions and false narratives that are harmful to Israel and to the Jewish community.

2. Susan Pankowsky

Susan Pankowsky is a member of West End Synagogue and serves as the captain of the World Jewish Congress election’s MERCAZ advocate for the Conservative Movement. In addition, she is the current Israeli liaison for the Southern Region of Women’s League of Conservative Judaism, where she educates and coordinates with Masorti Kehillot in our region. Locally, she has been on the Social Action Committee for many years, and next year will be co-chairing the committee with Judy Saks. She has two children who made Aliyah, including her daughter, Shirit,

who served during the war.

3. Amy Green

Amy Green is a member of Congregation Micah. For many years, Amy has served as a dedicated member of the medical response team, assisting those in need during High Holy Day services. A lifelong member of the congregation, alongside her husband Don and their children, Ailee and Brandon, she has volunteered in countless ways over the decades. Deeply connected to Israel, Judaism, and Congregation Micah, Amy’s compassion and commitment embody the spirit of community.

4. Avi Limor

Avi Limor is a member of Sherith Israel. In honor of Avi’s contributions and to all those who serve in the Israel Defense Forces—by sea, air, and land, to the first responders who work day and night to keep Israel and its people safe. Avi was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. After his studies, he joined the IDF and finished his tour of duty before returning to Nashville to join his father Alex Limor at Limor Steel, continuing a legacy of hard work and community involvement.

After October 7, Avi flew back to Israel immediately to join his unit in the fight against Hamas. Since October 7, he has been back to Israel six times, and has served both in Gaza as well as up North, answering the call to help defend Israel and its people during a time of ongoing conflict.

5. Kim Adkins and Steve Buttrey

Kim Adkins and Steve Buttrey were recognized for their dedicated advocacy for the Jewish community and their efforts to strengthen security, build partnerships, and ensure a vibrant Jewish future in Tennessee.

Kim is a leading advocate for the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, advancing the community’s priorities at the Tennessee State Capitol. Through

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

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

strong relationships and coalition building, she works to enhance security, protect Jewish institutions, and ensure Jewish concerns are heard by state leaders. Her work is marked by persistence, clarity, and deep commitment to the community.

Steve is a trusted legislative advisor, bringing decades of experience in Tennessee government. He plays a key role in educating lawmakers, tracking policy issues, and advancing priorities, like community safety and combating antisemitism.

6. Andy Neuman

Andy Neuman was recognized for his leadership in strengthening the Tennessee–Israel relationship and his efforts to combat antisemitism and promote meaningful partnerships.

Andy is a leading advocate for expanding economic, cultural, and strategic ties between Tennessee and Israel. Through strong relationships with legislators, he advances bipartisan collaboration and deepens cooperation between the two regions. He is also deeply involved in combating antisemitism and supporting hate crime legislation.

Andy is known for his persistence, clarity, and ability to bring people together. He plays a vital role in promoting understanding, strengthening international ties, and advancing policies that contribute to a safer and more connected Tennessee.

7. Representative John Ray Clemmons

Representative John Ray Clemmons was recognized for his partnership with the Jewish community and his leadership in confronting antisemitism.

Representative Clemmons has been a strong and reliable ally to Nashville’s Jewish community, using his voice to advance understanding and stand against antisemitism. He played a leading role in Tennessee House Joint Resolution 739, formally recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Tennessee. Known for his accessibility and moral clarity, he listens, leads, and advocates to help ensure dignity, safety, and stronger connections across communities.

8. Bill Schreiber

Bill Schreiber was recognized for his strong partnership and support for the community. Bill has been a valued member of Nashville’s Jewish community for many years. As owner of PrintNet USA,

he works closely with the Federation to bring its mission to life. From marketing materials to event programs, he always goes above and beyond, often at the last minute. Known for his reliability, generosity, and warm spirit, Bill is a true mensch whose care and commitment make a lasting difference in our community.

9. Leadership 615

Ayelet Berger and Michael Lavian represented Leadership 615, lighting a torch for the future leaders of our community. The Leadership 615 Program is a 6-month fellowship designed to develop strategic, knowledgeable, and effective community leaders.

A flourishing community depends on its leaders. Leadership 615 helps fellows explore Jewish identity and community assumptions, understand its diversity and challenges, and build the skills to address them.

10. B’nai Tzedek

Blake Resnick and Rena Zagnoev are members of the B’nai Tzedek Teen Philanthropy Board. They lit a torch for the youth and next generation of Jewish philanthropists. The B’nai Tzedek program empowers teens to create charitable funds in their own names, fostering responsibility, community involvement, and Jewish philanthropy. Participants identify their values, direct their tzedakah to meaningful causes, and connect with other Jewish teens.

11. Partnership2Gether:

P2G committee representatives Rabbi Lindsey Danziger and Claire Coleman lit a torch for our extended Jewish community in Israel’s Hadera–Eiron region, Jewish Nashville’s Partnership2Gether sister region. We honor their remarkable resilience and strength in the face of the unimaginable circumstances of war.

12. Matthew Hibdon

Matthew Hibdon lit a torch for the young adults in our community who step up, lead, and serve. Matthew is a familiar and welcoming presence at Federation events and Congregation Micah. He volunteers to any call to help and lead. He is a Sunday School teacher for 7th and 8th grade students at Micah, and active in NowGen and shlicha events.

Since 2016, he has co-directed Middle Tennessee State University’s study abroad program in Israel, where more than 120 participants have experienced Israel’s political, historical, religious, and cultural life firsthand. •

JCC Big Night Out 2026: A Night of Community, Celebration, and Success

On Sunday, April 19, the Gordon Jewish Community Center community came together for an unforgettable evening at Big Night Out: Jukebox Journey – Dancing Through the Decades. Thanks to the incredible support of our community, the night was a great success.

From the moment guests arrived in their decade-inspired outfits, the room was filled with energy and excitement. The disco themed evening celebrated music, community, and connection. The throwback hits and nonstop dancing made the event live up to its “Dancing Through the Decades” theme.

The silent auction was a big hit, featuring nearly 160 incredible items, experiences, and getaways. Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our supporters, the auction exceeded its ambitious $30,000 goal. Guests bid on everything from luxury travel packages and exclusive Nashville experiences to jewelry, entertainment, and one-of-a-kind items.

Most importantly, Big Night Out showcased the strength of our community. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, donors, volunteers, staff, committee members, partners, and every attendee who showed up ready to celebrate and support the J. Because of you, we not only exceeded our sponsorship and fundraising goals, but created a night full of joy, connection, and lasting memories.

The success of Big Night Out would not have been possible without the dedication of our outstanding leadership team, including BNO Co-Chairs Rachel Bernstein, Leslye Lapidus, and Tara Mittelberg; Auction Chair Abby Blechman; Sponsorship Chairs Cindee Gold, Steve Lapidus, and Karen Weil; and Decor Chairs Michelle Frohsin, Kim Lapidus, and Alexa Schankerman.

Thank you for showing up, supporting the Gordon JCC, and dancing the night away with us. •

Gordon JCC Annual Meeting 2026

T he community is invited to the Gordon JCC Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 7, from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

This year’s theme, “Where We Come Together,” reflects on the connection, growth, and sense of community that continue to define the Gordon JCC. During the meeting, leadership will share updates and vision for the next chapter of the organization, recognize outgoing and incoming board leadership, and honor the community members who help make the J such a special place.

The officers to be installed include Evan Nahmias, president; Aaron Epstein, president-elect; Joel Abramson, vice president; Kelly Unger, treasurer; and Jeremy Brook, past president.

The meeting will also include the presentation of the Kehillah Award for Teen Leadership. A light brunch will follow. Community members are encouraged to attend and celebrate the strength and spirit of the Gordon JCC.•

Leadership 615

Continued from page 1 to show up, on Sunday mornings and on Zoom calls after work, demonstrating that commitment.

For cohort member Becky Warren, who has been involved with The Temple, this program provided a way to expand her impact across the broader Jewish community. She especially valued opportunities to engage directly with local leaders.

“The thing I liked was they talked about some of the challenges they were facing in their organizations and then sat down with us, and we chatted it through with them. Asked them questions and gave them ideas,” Warren said. “It really clicked, they’re trusting us to be full participants and to come with our ideas and they’re taking us seriously.”

Alex Anhalt, who grew up in a large Jewish community in New Jersey, said he previously never felt the need to step into leadership.

“The community was so large, it supported everybody and did it all for us,” Anhalt said.

After moving to Nashville, he came across the program through a Federation email. As he and his wife began putting down roots, he said, “I just felt like this was the right place for me to find out more about how I could become more involved in the Jewish community and create the community I want to be a part of.”

After getting acquainted and building trust with fellows, being part of the 12 learning and practice sessions, then beginning to think about his vision statement, Anhalt was overwhelmed.

“I always have thought of myself as a great seer of the landscape, and if I can understand the landscape of something, I can come up with a solution,” he said. “I felt like coming out of the program that I didn’t actually have a good enough handle on the whole landscape of issues facing a Jewish community.”

With additional brainstorming and support from Eskenazi Becker, he refined his vision: creating a pipeline connecting graduates with leadership opportunities, board meetings, and real-time community challenges.

“Following graduation, voluntarily, cohort members could sign up to be a part of different boards in the city and sit on them without voting rights but really get some access to what we’re actually working on, as a way to figure

out where to best apply themselves next,” Anhalt said.

Ideas like this inspired program sponsors and supporters Dr. Mark Goldfarb and Beth Levine.

“I was thrilled about the enthusiasm in the room, all the individuals were very excited, they were appreciative, and I think many of them are very motivated to engage in the community, which is the whole purpose of what we’re trying to do,” Goldfarb said.

Leadership 615 was developed in partnership between Goldfarb and the Federation to provide training, connection, and growth opportunities for emerging Jewish leaders in Nashville.

“I think the prior generation were huge leaders. Financially, and motivating people to get involved in the community,” Goldfarb said. “And my perception, maybe it’s naive, I saw a drop off in my generation and the younger generation. I thought it was important to create something, to bridge that gap and take us into the future.”

Ayelet Berger, who has lived in Nashville since 2014, first heard about the program when it launched but said the timing never felt right, until this year.

“After October 7th, I started to become a lot more involved,” Berger said. “I always thought that Jewish leadership was like this elusive thing that I was like, how does one become a leader in the Jewish community? I just really didn’t understand it.”

Now, she does. Berger said her leadership journey began in BBYO, and when the opportunity to join Leadership 615 arose, she didn’t hesitate.

At graduation, three fellows presented vision statements developed through months of reflection, discussion, and community engagement. Their ideas ranged from building a stronger bridge between program graduates and leadership opportunities, to creating a community-funded medical expense support program, to expanding Jewish education to help preserve tradition.

Federation Board President Aron Karabel praised the practicality of their statements.

“This is what you want for future leaders, to be able to work through problems and come up with solutions that may or may not work but at least create a space for thought leaders,” Karabel said. “I was blown away by all of them. They’re leaders, this just enhanced it.” •

Security Program

Continued from page 1

Dembo, senior manager of government relations and engagement for JFNA.

The bill would strengthen and streamline the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, strengthen Title VI on college campuses protections, and provide for more safety and accountability against online hate.

Groups also lobbied for the Safeguarding Access to Congregations and

Goldberg-Polin

Continued from page 3

immense in wisdom and warmth, I will forever think of the Modeh Ani prayer a little differently. Rachel talks about the power of prayer as a tool she uses daily. Every day, she opens her eyes and immediately says the line that many Jewish people say upon waking, thanking God for giving her back her soul and saying that God has tremendous faith in her, and that’s why she woke up that particular morning. The idea that God has faith in us so we must get up and get moving. God has faith in US?

Rachel says, “When I go to do my morning prayers, it’s such a relief. It’s the best therapy. You know, Rabbi Nachman, the famous mystical Kabbalist, said, ‘Life makes warriors out of all of us, and the most potent weapon is prayer.’ And so, I say to people, use it. Everyone has their pain, and we have this toolkit accessible to us. I pour my soul out in the morning, and then I can start my day. How has it changed since Oct. 7? I think I use it more. I lean on it more. I think that it’s more transformative. All of us have a different idea of God. What is God? Nobody knows what God is. It’s very confusing. But I have this idea of God, and I’ve been in a relationship with this idea of God. I’m so thankful, because when Oct. 7 happened, I wasn’t approaching a stranger. I’m thankful that I still have that.”

I will be forever thankful to the wise words of Torah from my teacher, Rachel Goldberg Polin. I, like Rachel, feel eternally grateful for my faith and the words of our tradition to narrate and give meaning to my life. I imagine that those of you who have read her book and heard her speak undoubtedly feel the same.

Out of reverence for Rachel and Jon and the wisdom they continue to share with each of us, I offer these poetic words penned by my colleague, Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi, entitled “In Clusters”:

Religious Establishments from Disruption (SACRED) Act. The bill would make it a federal crime to intentionally intimidate, obstruct, or harass people exercising their right to religious worship within 100 feet of a place of worship.

“I am proud to share that our meetings with Tennessee legislative staff were extremely supportive,” Alperin said.

Jewish leaders are encouraging their communities to call their congress members and ask them to co-sponsor and support this legislation. •

Those grim walls saw everything, but we will never know:

Who played chess.

Who wrote in a journal.

Who was shot first.

Who lost courage.

Who brought comfort.

Who hummed a prayer.

All we do know is this: it was a blessing you six were together.

Together, tight just like grapes growing in clusters.

That’s why their sweet juice was chosen for kiddush.

To remind us that we too live and die and grow in community.

If we are worthy… Like each of you most certainly was.

Blessed are you six, precious fruits of the vine.

(Written during shloshim for Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh GoldbergPolin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, and Almog Sarusi, who were kidnapped during the October 7th attack, and brutally murdered in late August. On August 31, 2025, their bodies were found underground in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip and returned to Israel for burial.)

May the memory of Hersh be a blessing, and may the strength of mothers like Rachel continue to inspire us all. •

PHOTO CREDIT, JFNA

Congregation Micah’s Impactful Mitzvah Weekend

Congregation Micah hosted its first Mitzvah Weekend, April 25-26, with members spread out all over the community, demonstrating Tikkun Olam and what working together as a community can achieve.

When we step outside our own circles and engage in efforts to contribute to the whole, we become better neighbors and better informed about how we can create a more caring and compassionate city and world. Hopefully, this begins a new tradition within our congregation as we continue to increase our efforts to engage in social action and justice.

Ninety congregants, representing a variety of age groups and interests, volunteered with 10 non-profit organizations.

• We baked and sold cookies that raised $1,800 for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer to support research focused on non-toxic interventions for children with cancer.

• We planted and maintained two gardens across our community for Family Reconciliation Center and Micah Children’s Academy.

• We participated in Warner Park’s Clean Up Day, making hiking and biking trails safe and passable for Nashville’s citizens.

• We purchased and packed 60 packages of items for unhoused citizens in our city for distribution by Room in The Inn and Open Table.

• We packed approximately 200 packages of necessities for unhoused children for the MNPS H.E.R.O. program (Homeless Education Resource Office).

• We sorted and packaged 4,000 diapers for the Diaper Wrap program for families without means to purchase diapers for their babies.

• We organized and set up a library, a uniform room, and a kitchen at Akiva and Micah Children’s

Academy.

• We helped pack up offices for Love Helps for relocation to another office space.

The weekend was a collaboration between the Social Action/Justice Committee, Micah clergy and staff, local non-profits, site captains, and our volunteers.

In all, the best part of the weekend was hearing many volunteers say, “This felt so good! I think I will sign up to help this site throughout the year.” And that is one of the hopes of Mitzvah Weekend – that it will help Micah members learn the needs of our community and how they can help all year around.

Lynn Heady, Rebecca Millman, and Pat Halper Mitzvah Weekend Chairs, Social Action/Justice Committee •

Leader Who Leads by Serving

A Life of Faith, Family, and Five-Star Care.

Families have found peace at Clarendale West End, located just minutes from Nashville’s synagogues and Jewish communit y life

“The best decision we made was moving Mom to Clarendale. The team has made her feel at home, and gone above and beyond to make the transition smooth and wel coming.”

–C aroline and Jason, Family Members of Resident

“My mom’s needs were consistently met with professionalism, patience, and compassion. In my own interactions with sta , they have demonstrated a level of empathy beyond the requirements of their roles .” – Emily, Family Member of Resident

“The sta , from the minute you walk in the front door, makes this the most welcoming experience. This is a five-star senior living communit y!” – Bruce, Family Member of Resident Choosing a senior living communit y for a loved one is a significant milestone. At Clarendale West End, we don’t just become home; we become family

Lag B’Omer from Chabad

S

miles, laughter, Jewish pride, and beautiful community spirit filled the grounds of Chabad of Nashville as families, children, and adults from across the community came together for a joyful Lag B’Omer celebration. With bubbles floating through the air, a festive BBQ cookout, music, sports, and activities for all ages, the evening was filled with warmth, friendship, and uplifting energy. More than just a celebration, it was a beautiful expression of unity, connection, and the joy of being together as one community at Chabad of Nashville. •

Congregation Micah Celebrates Pride Month

Congregation Micah is excited to celebrate Pride Month throughout June.

Friday, June 5th – Shabbat services with Nashville in Harmony. NiH was founded in 2004 as Tennessee’s first musical arts organization specifically created for people of all sexual orientations. Shabbat service begins at 6 p.m. with Wine Down Oneg at 5:30 pm.

Saturday, June 6th - Tabling at Franklin Pride

Saturday, June 13th – Tabling at Rutherford County Pride

Monday, June 22nd - Micah-

Nections, young adults group, will be tie-dyeing swag that will be handed out at Nashville Pride.

Wednesday, June 24th - Rabbi Laurie will be participating in Nashville Pride Spirituality Night, where religious leaders come together in support of our LGBTQ+ community.

Friday, June 26th - SOJOURN will be speaking at Shabbat services at 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 27th - In partnership with SOJOURN, Congregation Micah will be tabling at Nashville Pride and be part of the Jewish community wide delegation marching in Nashville Pride. •

Senior Move Management Services

“Always

the right move. ”

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

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

West End Synagogue Honors Teachers & Students

By SHARON PAZ

West End Synagogue Honors Students

The 2026 11th grade graduation ceremony was held Friday evening, May 1st. Acknowledged were Iara Kullock, recipient of the Nathan Davis Award for the Outstanding Student in the Graduating Class and Lilly Lapidus, recipient of the Sandi and Bernie Goldstein Award for Outstanding Community Service

Mazal Tov to the Beit Miriam Graduating Class of 2026/5786

Jack Isaac Barocas, Iara Kullock, Lilly Samantha Lapidus, Gabe Levi Newman, Greta Rebekkah Nissenson, Samuel James Sparks, and Zachary Alexander Sterling

The Beit Miriam Closing Program was held Sunday, May 3rd at West End Synagogue. During the Awards’ Ceremony, Gwen Gordetsky was pre-

sented with the 2026 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew and Ellis Prichard was presented with Anna Isenstein Award for the Outstanding Teacher Aide.

Graduation Class awards:

2026 Nathan David Award for the Outstanding Student in the Graduation Class

Nathan Davis’ dream when he was President of the WES from 1931-1934 was that the religious school would

instill in the minds and hearts of its students the knowledge of our great Jewish heritage. His family honored his memory by establishing an award to encourage young people in this congregation to excel in Jewish studies, Jewish leadership and Jewish excellence. This award has been given every year since 1936, when there is a worthy recipient, and it is the oldest, continuous award in the Nashville Jewish Community.

This year’s recipient of the Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Student in the Graduation Class was Iara Kullock, daughter of Rabbi Joshua and Jessica Kullock

The winner of this award is selected by his or her teachers, the Professional staff and youth advisors. Iara has an excellent academic record, and a long list of leadership activities. She has lead services on Ramah Shabbat, USY Shabbat and on regular Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services at WES. She co-wrote Divrei Torah for Ramah and USY Shabbat events. She taught T’filah to our 7th graders and prepared her own Torah study lesson plans. She spent 8 years at Camp Ramah Darom and is going on the 2026 Ramah Summer Seminar to Poland and Israel. She is co-president of our USY Chapter. At Harpeth Hall School, Iara, along with a friend, created the Jewish Students’ Association to provide connection and build community among the Jewish students within the larger school environment. The goal was to create a safe space for all Jewish students to be themselves and talk about something they all share.

Aside from these activities, the comments from her teachers speak more to her person. One teacher noted that she consistently enriched discussions with thoughtful insights, careful sourcing and personal reflection. Her contributions modeled respect, curiosity and intellectual humility for the whole class. Another teacher noted that she has such a bright spirit and a lot to offer to the class. She brings enthusiasm, curiosity and ambition to the conversations. In class, she offers many thought-provoking ideas and is not afraid to dive into deeper questions. And finally, another teacher stated that she was one of the best and brightest students he has taught. He said she is always engaged and interested in the material, and she has become the cornerstone of the class experience. She loves asking deep questions about history, politics and Israel, and her devotion to constant intellectual growth makes her an ideal student and a clear leader.

2026 Sandi and Bernie Goldstein Award for Outstanding Community Service

In memory of Sandra and Bernie Goldstein, the Sandi and Bernie Goldstein Fund for Community Service was established with the hopes that this award would serve as an inspiration to Beit Miriam students and would instill in them the value that Tzedakah and community serve are obligations in Judaism. It was to be given to the graduating student who performed the most meaningful and active community service in both the Jewish Community and the non-Jewish community. In addition to the award, it offers a contribution to the recipient’s community service project.

This year’s award recipient was Lilly Lapidus, daughter of Brian and Kim Lapidus. Lilly wrote this about her community service: “The first time I served dinner at a homeless shelter, I thought I was going to help “the homeless.” It took one dinner to learn that’s not really how it works. You don’t serve a category of people. You serve a person who looks you in the eye and says thank you, and so on and so forth. What brings me joy about serving these people is the look on their faces when they receive the food. They are grateful and, most of all, happy.

Room in the Inn has had the most impact on me. I have been volunteering there since middle school, and it has been a core part of my life ever since I began. Through West End Synagogue, our group cooks dinner and then sits down with the guests while they eat. The conversations are what changed me for the better. People want to be heard as much as they want to be fed, and most days, nobody is listening. I love being that person who, once a week, they can truly talk to.

Urban Housing is where I got involved in community service at school. The Nashville organization brings volunteers together a few times a year to cook a meal and serve it at a shelter. I co-chaired the program during my freshman and sophomore years, and I’m still a regular at dinners. The work is simple. You shop for food, cook the meal, and then serve. Every person who got the food was thankful; the faces on every single person lit up with a smile when food was served to them.

Tzedakah isn’t charity handed down from above. The Hebrew word Tzedakah means justice, not pity or charity. It’s the work of seeing another person clearly and acting on what you see. Sandra Goldstein understood that, and it’s why her name is on this award.

That’s the part that has changed me. I notice things now that I used to walk past. I think differently about my own house and my own dinner table. And I know this work isn’t something you graduate from. It’s something you keep doing. One opportunity to another.”

2026 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award Recipient

At the Beit Miriam End of Year program, on May 3rd, Scott Ghertner, great-grandson of Simon Ghertner and grandson of Alven Ghertner, presented the Ghertner Award, now in its 81st consecutive year, to the outstanding 7th grader for excellence in Hebrew.

The Ghertner award places emphasis on the effort and skills mastered in preparation for becoming B’nai Mitzvah and takes into account Hebrew language skills. It comes with a gift from the Ghertner Family and the honor of chanting the Haftarah on Rosh HaShanah.

This year’s recipient was Gwen Gordetsky , daughter of Jennifer Gordetsky and Dan Walker

Sharon Paz shared these remarks about Gwen: “Gwen, you have always worked hard on your Hebrew and T’filah skills. Morah Miri was so proud of your work in 3rd grade Ivrit that I asked her for copies of the assignment for my files. You retained Hebrew vocabulary and you were very motivated to learn. At the

Continued on page 19

Lilly Lapidus Sandi & Bernie Goldstein Outstanding Community Service Award Recipient

Iara Kullock Nathan Davis Outstanding Student in the Graduating Class Award recipient

Beit Miriam Students

Ellis Prichard with caption: Sharon Paz presenting the Anna Isenstein Outstanding Teacher Aide award to Ellis Prichard

Gwen Gordetsky with caption: Scott Ghertner presenting the Simon and Alven Ghertner award to Gwen Gordetsky

Jewish Family Service Chesed Dinner 2026

J

ewish Family Service was thrilled to honor Anna Sir with the Chesed Award on May 7th. Pictured are past Chesed recipients who were in attendance. •

West End Synagogue Honors Teachers & Students

Continued from page 18

beginning of the 7th grade, you decided you wanted to learn Shacharit for your bat mitzvah and worked to master it. You led the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv Service, plus the Shabbat morning Shacharit, Torah service, and Musaf services, learned more than one Torah reading and your Haftarah. Post Bat Mitzvah, you continued to come to Shabbat services on a regular basis and to midweek Hebrew.

You continued learning other Torah readings to chant on other Shabbatot. You spent two great summers at Camp Ramah Darom and you blossomed there. We are so proud of your exceptional growth and excellence in Hebrew.”

Many thanks to Frank Ghertner and Dorothy Ghertner Miller who oversee this award on an annual basis.

Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Award Winner

West End Synagogue Beit Miriam high school senior, Ellis Harmon Prichard, son of Deena and Jonathan Prichard , was honored with the 2026 Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Appreciation Award

Linda Nathenson and Joel Isenstein established the Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Award Fund in memory of their daughter, Anna Michelle Isenstein in 2003, to encourage students to guide younger students as teachers’ aides after completing their formal religious school education at West End Synagogue. When Anna died, they learned that sometimes the most help for a student comes directly from another student.

The teacher aides (madrichim) in the religious school classrooms assist the teacher in a variety of tasks and serve as role models for younger students. The award recognizes a unique aide who exhibits the attributes the teachers need the most and models the behaviors parents respect the most, dependability, attentiveness, friendliness, and initiative. The annual award is $1,000, a cash gift for a college-bound teacher aide to assist in continuing their education.

About the award recipient, Paz shared, “this year’s recipient has proven to be a dependable and responsible school aide, whose consistent attendance and punctuality made him a valuable part of our program. He communicated appropriately when needed and could be relied upon to step in wherever help was required. He followed instructions carefully while also showing initiative, often anticipated needs without being asked. He demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and maintained a positive rapport with both staff and students. Throughout the year, he showed growth in confidence and reliability, and in his willingness to help wherever needed. We appreciated his strong work ethic and commitment to the school community.

Paz acknowledged and thanked the three madrichim who are graduating seniors this year: Ellis Prichard, Micah Rosenbloom, and Zev Wiston. “I loved having all three of you on staff at Beit Miriam this year. You have been fabulous role models for our students and I will miss you.”

Many thanks to Joel Isenstein and Linda Nathenson for creating this special recognition award and opportunity for our Teacher Aides.

The closing Ceremony included a shout out to all the Beit Miriam teachers, a video highlighting the year—a salute to Israel’s 78th Birthday and a Deli lunch for everyone, partially underwritten by a grant from WES Sisterhood.

Mazal Tov to our High School

Seniors - Graduating Class of 2026/5786

Jordan Schaen Brod-Glinter graduating University School of Nashville

Attending Lake Forest College with a golf scholarship

Son of Shawn Glinter & Nicole Brod

Micah Rijke-Epstein graduating from MLK Magnet High School

Gap year doing organic farming abroad

Attending Washington University in St. Louis

Son of David Epstein and Tasha Rijke-Epstein

Jacob MacBrair graduating Franklin High School

Attending PACE University Honors Program

Son of Mike and Heather MacBrair

Ellis Harmon Prichard graduating Brentwood High School

Attending University of Tennessee

Chattanooga School of Finance

Son of Jonathan & Deena Prichard

Micah Isaac Rosenbloom graduating Templeton Academy

Attending Indiana University

Son of Trent and Ellie Weiss Rosenbloom

Amari Cecilia Schneider graduating Harpeth Hall

Gap Year on Year Course in Israel

Attending Michigan State University

Daughter of Jordan and Rachel Schneider

Sawyer Benjamin Stein graduating Hillsboro High school

Attending Montana State University

Studying Environmental Landscape Design

Son of Danielle Stein and the late Brian Stein, z”l

Asher Sucre graduating Montgomery Bell Academy

Attending St. Andrews University in Scotland (Majoring in archaeology)

Son of Jennifer Sucre & Andrew Sucre

Zev Moshe Wiston graduating Hendersonville High School

Class Valedictorian

Gap year at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel

Attending Jewish Theological

Seminary & Columbia University

Son of Stuart & Debby Wiston

Emmanuelle (Emmie) Wolf-Dubin graduating Hume Fogg

Robertson Scholar at University of North Carolina

Daughter of Ari Dubin and Abbie Wolf

Mazal Tov our 2026 College

Graduates:

Dustin Averbuch graduating from New York University Tisch School of the Arts

Son of Sam and Jessica Averbuch

Abby Riva Cohen graduating from Indiana University

Daughter of Jon and Renee Cohen

Sydney Rebekkah Emeson graduating from the University of Hartford

Daughter of Ron and Martha Emeson

Carson Kirshner graduating from Indiana University

Son of Mike Kirshner and Bari Bettan

Abby Landa graduating from the University of Richmond

Will be working on an MA in American Government at Georgetown University

Daughter of Adam and Valerie Landa

Maia Prichard graduating from Oglethorpe University

Daughter of Jonathan and Deena Prichard

Adena Rachel Rosenbloom graduating from Belmont University

Daughter of Trent and Ellie Weiss Rosenbloom •

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

Chabad of Nashville to Host Special Tribute to the Rebbe

On Shabbat, June 13, Chabad of Nashville will host a heartfelt tribute lunch in honor of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of blessed memory, commemorating the 32nd anniversary of his passing.

For more than four decades, the Rebbe inspired a spiritual awakening that transformed Jewish life around the world. Emerging from the darkness that followed the Holocaust and the growing challenge of assimilation, the Rebbe reignited Jewish pride, purpose, and connection for millions of people.

More than anything, the Rebbe taught us the infinite value of every single Jew. He viewed the Jewish people as one family, where every individual is precious in the eyes of G-d, filled with unique purpose and unlimited potential to reach great spiritual heights. The Rebbe believed deeply that every Jew deserves to be embraced with love, warmth, dignity, and compassion as part of one united Jewish family.

The impact of the Rebbe’s vision continues to live on every day here in Middle Tennessee. Chabad of Nashville, Chabad of Williamson County, and Chabad at Vanderbilt were all established and built upon the Rebbe’s teachings and inspiration: to create welcoming

Jewish homes where every person feels valued, connected, and inspired to live Judaism joyfully and proudly.

More than thirty years after his passing, the Rebbe’s presence and influence continue to be felt stronger than ever. His teachings remain remarkably relevant and continue to inspire people of all backgrounds with hope, faith, kindness, and purpose. So many of us, in one way or another, have been touched by the Rebbe’s vision, guidance, and unwavering belief in the power of every individual to bring light into the world.

Join us on Saturday, June 13, as we invite the community together to celebrate the Rebbe’s life, legacy, and enduring message of goodness, unity, kindness, and love for every human being.

Shabbat morning services will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a special Kiddush luncheon and Chassidic Farbrengen in honor of the occasion, at 12:30 p.m. Guests will enjoy a delicious sit down Shabbat lunch featuring traditional delicacies, spirited L’Chaims, heartfelt Chassidic melodies, inspiring stories, and meaningful reflections on the Rebbe’s timeless teachings and extraordinary impact on our lives.

For more information, please contact Chabad of Nashville, at chabadnashville. com •

Registration Opens for the Bertram and Beatrice King Chabad Hebrew School

Registration is open for the upcoming school year at the Bertram and Beatrice King Chabad Hebrew School (CHS).

Directed by Mrs. Esther Tiechtel, CHS has earned a respected 28-year reputation of being an innovative and engaging Jewish educational program, where children grow in Hebrew reading, Jewish knowledge, love for Israel, and pride in their Jewish heritage.

Located at the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life, CHS meets weekly and welcomes students ages 6 through 13. The new academic year will begin in August 2026 with a special opening program introducing this year’s exciting theme: “Living Jewishly as a Community of One.”

At CHS, every child is embraced and valued exactly where they are in their personal Jewish journey.

“The Bertram and Beatrice King Chabad Hebrew School is built around the belief that Judaism should be meaningful, joyful, and exciting for every child,” said Tiechtel. “We strive to put the FUN in FUNdamentals by bringing Jewish traditions and values to life through creativity, warmth, and hands on experiences.”

CHS prides itself on fostering a strong sense of community among students, staff, and parents. Beyond academics, the school focuses on building friendships, confidence, character, and

A Communit y to Ca ll Home.

A Life to Enjoy.

At Clarendale at Bellev ue Place, each day is lived in comfor t, connection, and purpose. Our independent living lifest yle is maintenance-free, with engaging amenities and ac tivities to enjoy ever y day.

For families seeking memory care, our compassionate team provides specialized suppor t that honors each individual ’s stor y, while assisted living is available for those who need daily suppor t met with dignity and independence.

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a positive Jewish identity that children carry with them for years to come.

During classes focused on Jewish values, holidays, and traditions, students engage in meaningful discussions and hands on learning experiences that encourage them to think deeply, ask questions, and explore Jewish ideas. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on Emunah, faith in G-d, teaching children how Jewish values can guide and strengthen them throughout their lives.

Students also gain the skills and confidence to read Hebrew and participate in davening and synagogue services. The renowned Alef Champ Program has become famous for instilling both fluency and enthusiasm for Hebrew reading.

As students grow older, they begin preparing for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah, gaining a deeper understanding of Jewish traditions, prayer, leadership, and responsibility. The older divisions of CHS help students build confidence and pride as they prepare for this important milestone in Jewish life.

Students will also enjoy expanded Hebrew language enrichment through interactive vocabulary activities, Hebrew writing centers, and creative learning stations.

For more information or to request registration forms, please contact Chabad of Nashville at 615-646-5750 or email rabbi@chabadnashville.com. •

Schedule a visit today to experience our welcoming communit y. 615-258- 6364 | ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com

tel 615-258-6364 web ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com em LIFE@ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com 7632 Highway 70 South | Nashville, TN 37221

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 of Nashville

Chabad of Nashville is a warm and welcoming lighthouse of Judaism, embracing all who walk through its doors with love, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

While the summer months are often a bit quieter in the Nashville Jewish community, the doors of Chabad of Nashville remain wide open for all, offering refreshing nourishment for both body and soul. Whether through prayer, learning, meaningful conversations, uplifting gatherings, or simply sharing a warm smile and good company, Chabad is a place where every person can feel at home.

Below are several special events and programs taking place during June. We warmly invite you to stop by, participate in any of these gatherings, and reJEWvenate your mind, body, and soul with inspiration, connection, and Jewish pride.

Start Your Mornings with Starbucks, Community and Prayer

Chabad of Nashville hosts a daily morning minyan, bringing consistent communal prayer to the heart of Jewish life in Nashville. Each morning begins not only with prayer, but with warmth and hospitality. Fresh Starbucks coffee is served daily, creating a welcoming atmosphere as participants start their day together.

On Mondays and Thursdays, the experience is elevated even further with a delicious catered breakfast from Nova Market and Café, Nashville’s newest kosher market. The breakfast spread features freshly baked pastries, burekas, rugelach, poached eggs, Israeli salad, and a variety of other flavorful delicacies that make these mornings especially inviting.

The daily minyan schedule is as follows:

Sunday 9:00 AM

Monday and Thursday 8:15 AM

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 AM

Shabbat morning 10:00 AM

Community members who wish to stay informed and connected are invited to join the Minyan WhatsApp group by texting 615-480-4731.

All are welcome to join and experience the inspiration, camaraderie, and spiritual energy of beginning the day together in prayer as a unified community.

Fuel Your Week with Soul & Insight – All From Home

Start your Sunday morning with meaning, inspiration, and community.

Join Rabbi Levi Tiechtel every Sunday at 10:30 AM for a refreshing dose of Jewish wisdom drawn from the weekly Torah portion, timeless lessons that uplift, challenge, and empower.

From ancient truths to modern-day relevance, discover how the Parsha speaks to you, right now.

No RSVP, no pressure, just inspiration. Zoom in from wherever you are. Email chabadnashville@gmail.com for the link.

Presented by Chabad of Nashville: Because your week deserves a deeper start.

All Are Invited to the TGIS Shabbat Dinners in June

There’s nothing like welcoming Shabbat surrounded by friends, joy, and delicious food—and that’s exactly what TGIS (Thank G-d It’s Shabbat) is all about!

Join us for a warm, all-inclusive Shabbat experience filled with traditional dishes, uplifting singing, a heartwarming Chassidic story, and the kind of community connection that makes Friday night feel truly special.

Mark your calendar for two beautiful evenings: Friday, June 12, and Friday, June 26 at 6:30 PM, at Chabad of Nashville.

Whether you come with friends or on your own, you’ll leave feeling full—in every sense of the word. There’s no cost to attend, but we’d love to know you’re coming!

Kindly RSVP by emailing: chabadnashville@gmail.com

There is a seat waiting for you at our Shabbat table!

At Our Congregations…

Torah & Tea – For Women by Women

Take a moment for yourself each Shabbat to nourish your soul, your mind, and your spirit.

Torah & Tea is a weekly women’s-only Torah study group that gathers every Shabbat afternoon following the sit-down lunch at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, at 1:00 PM

Led by Rebbetzin Esther Tiechtel, these classes blend timeless Jewish wisdom with a fresh, engaging style, sprinkled with warmth, wit, and heartfelt connection.

Together, we’ll explore meaningful topics that speak to the modern Jewish woman, drawn from the most enduring source of all: the Torah.

Join a beautiful circle of Nashville women for:

– Inspiring Torah study

– Warm camaraderie

– Hot tea & delicious refreshments

Come as you are, and leave uplifted.

No RSVP necessary, just bring an open heart.

Your Saturday Morning, Elevated

Join us for an inspiring Shabbat experience at Chabad of Nashville.

Begin your morning at 10:00 AM with uplifting prayer, meaningful Torah reading, thoughtful learning, and an inspiring weekly message, all in an atmosphere of warmth, joy, and authentic community.

Following services, enjoy a beautifully prepared Kiddush featuring hot cholent, freshly baked challah, a gourmet buffet lunch, and a lively farbrengen with friendly L’Chaims and uplifting conversation.

Refined yet welcoming, meaningful yet relaxed, this is a Shabbat morning designed to nourish both soul and spirit.

Come experience Shabbat with depth, beauty, and connection.

Whether you are a regular or joining for the first time, you will find connection, inspiration, and community waiting for you.

A Coin of Charity Each Day Brings Blessings Along the Way

One of the most beautiful and time-honored Jewish traditions is the daily giving of Tzedakah, charity. For thousands of years, Jews have begun their mornings by placing a coin into a Tzedakah box before prayer, before work, or before beginning the day’s activities.

Our sages teach that Tzedakah is far more than an act of kindness. It is a powerful spiritual connection that opens channels of Divine blessing, protection, success, and goodness into our lives. Even the smallest coin given with sincerity has the ability to bring light into the world and transform both the giver and the receiver.

The Hebrew word Tzedakah does not simply mean charity. It comes from the word “Tzedek,” meaning righteousness and justice, reminding us that caring for another person is not only a kindness, but one of the core values of Jewish life.

The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of blessed memory, strongly encouraged the daily giving of Tzedakah for children and adults alike. He often spoke about how the simple act of placing a coin into a Tzedakah box each day fills a home and workplace with positive energy, holiness, compassion, and blessing.

A Tzedakah box placed in a visible location serves as a daily reminder that every person has the ability to make a difference. It teaches children the importance of generosity and sensitivity to others, and it helps create a home filled with warmth, gratitude, and acts of goodness.

Chabad of Nashville is pleased to offer a beautiful complimentary Tzedakah box for your home or office, helping individuals and families incorporate this meaningful daily Mitzvah into their lives.

This special gift is available free of charge to the first 50 people who contact the Chabad of Nashville office at rabbi@chabadnashville.com.

May the merit of giving Tzedakah bring you and your loved ones abundant blessings, good health, happiness, peace of mind, and success in all that you do. And may every coin placed into the Tzedakah box help bring more light, kindness, and redemption to our world.

@ Congregation Micah

Congregation Micah – an inclusive and innovative Reform synagogue dedicated to exploring and celebrating Jewish life – is deeply committed to building meaningful community and repairing the world. We offer creative, engaging, and diverse pathways to Jewish living in Tennessee and beyond, grounded in the rich beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism. Experience our beautiful 30+ acre campus in person or take part in our vibrant virtual programs anytime through our website, www.congregationmicah.org. Stay connected by following us on social media: Facebook and Instagram @ MicahNashville. Learn, pray, and celebrate with us in person, or livestream our services on our website or YouTube. In our tent, there truly is room for everyone.

Weekly Events

Sanctuary Shabbat Services: Fridays at 6 PM

Shabbat at Micah offers many pathways to the Divine through inspiring words, the beauty of sacred space, heartfelt intention, and the power of music and song. Each service is thoughtfully crafted to be welcoming, participatory, and spiritually uplifting. Services

Continued on page 22

At Our Congregations…

@ Micah

Continued from page 21

reflect the diversity of our community and invite you to engage in ways that feel meaningful to you. Come early to schmooze with old and new friends beginning at 5:30 PM, when light refreshments are served. Services are available in person and online.

Torah Study: Saturdays at 9 AM on Zoom

Begin your Saturday with rich conversation and learning as we explore the weekly Torah portion together. Led by our clergy, this group brings together thoughtful, curious, and caring participants for in-depth discussions, diverse perspectives, and meaningful connections with the text and one another.

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

Enjoy a lively and friendly afternoon of Mah Jongg in Micah’s social hall. Players of all levels are welcome for games, laughter, and connection. For more information, please contact Paula at pgkwn@comcast.net.

Storah Time: Tuesdays at 7 PM on Zoom

Storah Time is a reflective and accessible supplement to our weekly Torah Study. This evening gathering invites you into learning that blends story, interpretation, and spiritual exploration in a gentle, welcoming space designed to meet you exactly where you are.

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

At Micah, we keep politics off the pulpit but not out of the building. Schmooze & Views offers a respectful, engaging round-table discussion of current events, facilitated by Rabbi Flip and Dr. Bob Smith. Bring your thoughts, listen deeply, and enjoy thoughtful conversation in a welcoming community setting.

June Events

Son of a Seeker Screening: Thursday, June 4 at 6 PM

When Orthodox Judaism denies a young man his Jewish identity, he sets out to uncover the truth of who he is. Son of a Seeker is the filmmaker’s deeply personal journey about what it means to continue being Jewish in the 21st century. Featuring a Q & A with the director following the screening.

Micah Reads: Monday, June 15 at 7 PM on Zoom

Education Director Julie Greenberg guides an engaging and thoughtful discussion of The Last Dekrepitzer by Howard Langer. All are welcome to take part in a lively conversation, share insights, and explore the book together in a welcoming setting.

Hope For Justice - Why Human Trafficking is a Jewish Issue: Tuesday, 6/16 at Noon on Zoom

Come together for a conversation on human trafficking in partnership with Hope for Justice. Grounded in Jewish values of human dignity, freedom, and b’tzelem Elohim—that every person is created in the image of God—we’ll explore the realities of modern trafficking and our shared responsibility to confront exploitation and injustice.

Pride Shabbat: Friday, June 26 at 6 PM

Celebrate Pride with a joyful evening of music, reflection, and community as we honor and uplift our LGBTQ+ members, families, and friends. All are welcome for this meaningful Shabbat experience led by our clergy team. Our pre-neg begins at 5:30 PM, followed by services at 6:00 PM.

Book Talk - Rachel Goldberg-Polin’s When We See You Again: Monday, June 29 at 6:30

Discuss Rachel’s book When We See You Again with Rabbi Laurie and Education Director Julie Greenberg. This program follows a recent event Rabbi Laurie moderated featuring the author, which is sure to give her extra insight into the work and the writer.

@ Sherith Israel

Weekday Services

Monday/Thursday mornings: 6:25 a.m.

Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday mornings: 6:30 a.m.

Sunday morning: 8:00 a.m.

Weekday afternoons: 10 minutes before sunset

Shabbat Services

Friday evening: 5 minutes after sunset

Shabbat morning: 9:00 a.m.

Shabbat mincha: 5 minutes before sunset

@ The Temple

Visit templenashville.org for all updated event information

Shabbat Schedule for June at The Temple

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple at 6:00pm. You can also watch via zoom from https://www.templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

• June 5th- Shabbat

• June 12th- Sha-bonaroo Shabbat with Birthday Blessings

• June 19th- Shabbat

• June 26th- Pride & Blue Jean Shabbat

Sha-Bonnaroo Shabbat - June 12 at 6:00pm

Did you miss out on buying your ticket to this year’s sold-out Bonnaroo music festival?! Never fear, because The Temple is bringing Sha-Bonnaroo to you!

The Temple’s Sha-Bonnaroo has become one of our favorite Shabbat Services of the year! On Friday, June 12th, we’ll join together for a groovy Shabbat experience featuring upbeat, contemporary music, and some of our Temple’s own musical rock stars. Come ready to sing, dressed in tie-dye and prepared for a rockin’ good time! You can join us in person or via zoom templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

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

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

Our Golden Lunch Bunch will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on June 2 - Brooklyn Snow and Matthew Greenblatt | Golden Age Love Songs

June 16 - Craig Duncan | Fiddle, Mandolin

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

Women’s Torah Study - June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th

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/virtualprogramming.html

Lunch with the Rabbi –June Summer Session

June 11th

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 at https://www.templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

Monday Mah Jong

Join us for MAH JONG Mondays at The Temple!

June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th

1 pm

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.

Show Tunes & Opera Hits

June 7th at 4:00pm

The Temple

Join us for a 45-minute concert of golden age classical musical theater and opera hits with Soprano, Brooklyn Snow and Tenor Matthew Greenblatt. Visit templenashville. org for more information.

50’s & 60’s Social Club Sushi Making Class

Saturday, June 13th

6:30-8:30pm at Temple

$25 a person Email Sheri@templenashville.org to RSVP

Stop by The Temple Booth at the Franklin Pride or Nashville Pride Festivals and say, “Hi!”

Franklin- Saturday, June 7th at Harlinsdale Park

Nashville- Saturday, June 27th at the Bicentennial Mall

At Our Congregations…

Continued from page 22

@ West End Synagogue

For links to the following online services or programs, please scan the QR code for our LinkTree, email office@westendsyn.org, or visit our calendar on ShulCloud at https://westendsyn.shulcloud.com/calendar.

June Events

June 3 – Women’s Torah Class – 11:00 a.m. (on Zoom)

We continue to read the Book of Judges and learning about one of the most interesting times in Jewish history. Join us on Zoom.

June 11 – Men’s Torah Class – 12:00 p.m.

Join us as we continue studying the Book of Daniel—over pizza and in the company of great friends.

June 13 – Pride Shabbat – 9:30 a.m.

Join WES as we celebrate Pride Month with Torah service, learning, and a Kiddush lunch. All are welcome to join us as we celebrate our LGBTQ+ communities and allies. Please reach out to Char Cooper-Canter at ccooper@westendsyn.org to get involved with planning or taking an active role in the service.

June 27 – Birthday Shabbat – 9:30 a.m.

Celebrating all our West End June birthdays. Come join us for a special birthday treat!

Ongoing Religious Services and Learning Opportunities

Shacharit: In-Person Monday - Friday at 7:00 a.m. and Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

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 services at 7:00 a.m. Thursday minyan is followed by breakfast.

Talmud Class with Rabbi Joshua: In-person on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m.

Torah Study with Breakfast: In-person on Thursdays at 7:30 a.m.

Immediately after minyan on Thursdays, typically around 7:30 a.m.

Talmud for Young Professionals with Rabbi Joshua: In-person on Fridays at 9:00 a.m.

Mincha: On Zoom Sunday-Thursday at 6:00 p.m.

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

Kabbalat Shabbat: In-person on Fridays at 6:00 p.m.

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

Shabbat Morning Services: In-person and Zoom on Saturday Mornings at 9:30 a.m.

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.

Gordon JCC Adult Program Happenings:

TGIT – June 2026

June 4th – Peter Hodes

Back to start off our summer months, calm, cool and collected is our very own Tai Chi master, Peter Hodes. Come enjoy the benefits of an ancient tradition!

Lunch: tuna, egg salad sandwiches, salad, cole slaw, chips, birthday cake and ice cream.

June 11th – Jennifer Samardak

Still thinking of taking that summer road trip? Back with our Car Talk series, Jennifer Samardak to help keep you safe on the roads.

Lunch: Eggplant Parmagiana, salad, garlic bread, veggie, dessert.

June 18th – Holly Pomeranz

Holly Pomeranz (mom of one of our favorite performers, Alexis Tischler) will be presenting an afternoon luncheon of music featuring songs by Barbra Streisand, Karen Carpenter, Sara Bareilles, and selections from Grease

Lunch: Baked potatoes, sides, salad, veggie, dessert.

June 25th - Mark Hill

Mark Hill from Tandem Inc. returns with Part 2 of his series on home maintenance. His company specializes in maintenance for your home so you don’t have to worry. Mark will walk us through caring for your home and why it’s always great to have an expert on hand to help.

Lunch: Bagels, lox, sides, dessert. •

Community Listings

BBYO Female Advisor Position

Nashville’s BBYO female chapter, Music City BBG, is looking for an additional female advisor. The main role of the advisor is to bring “BBYO’s mission of more Jewish teens, more meaningful Jewish experiences to life” (bbyo.org). Being an advisor is a wonderful way to volunteer your time to instill confidence, encourage leadership, and inspire creativity, to Nashville’s Jewish teen community. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Alyssa at abrodie@bbyo.org

B’nai B’rith Social Unit

Bringing together both long-term members of the Nashville Jewish Community and people new to Nashville who are ages 50+ for monthly fun social, educational and service programs.

For more information, contact Joyce Levin at joylevin8@gmail.com or Gil Fox at gsfox3@comcast.net.

Jewish Genealogical Society of Nashville Guest Speaker

Emily H. Garber will be the Jewish Genealogical Society of Nashville’s guest speaker on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. CST, via Zoom.

Garber’s topic will be “Parsing the Ocean Voyage: Tracking Emigrants from Europe to the USA.” Her presentation will demonstrate how to gather and correlate information from passenger manifests and indexes to reconstruct an immigrant ancestor’s journey across land and over the ocean from Europe to America.

She specializes in Jewish genealogy and has researched both Eastern European and German Jewish families. She has been engaged in family history research since 2007. More information on Garber can be found here: https://extrayad.blogspot.com/p/about.html

The presentation is free to JGS Nashville members. The event is also open to nonmembers with a $5 suggested donation. RSVP here, nashvillejgs@gmail.com

Widowers & Widows Social Group

Group of Jewish widowers and widows who have lost his/her spouse either recently or in the distant past. This is not a dating service or a counselling or a meet/meat group, but it is a group of adult individuals who are interested in doing things with a group of people who have been through a similar loss as opposed to doing things by him/herself. We meet for lunch on the 2nd Friday every other month at various restaurants.

For more information, contact Gil Fox at gsfox3@comcast.net. •

Gordon JCC Summer Events

Summer at the Gordon Jewish Community Center is packed with family-friendly events, pool parties, live music and community celebrations all season long.

June 21 - Pirate Days of Summer, a pirate-themed pool party celebrating Father’s Day weekend with activities, food and poolside fun for the whole family.

June 25 - World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, for the second year in a row, promoting water safety with community swim lessons, a DJ and special guests including the Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders.

June 27 - Summer Solstice Yoga with Paper Moon Wellness, a ticketed evening event featuring yoga, relaxation and community connection by the pool.

July 18 - Songwriters Night, a ticketed evening showcasing live performances from talented local songwriters in an intimate summer setting.

July 5- Independence Day BBQ

July 12 - Mermaid Karaoke with Coral Koi

August 2 - Back-to-School Movie Night featuring Finding Dory September 7 - Labor Day Luau September 27 - Doggy Dip, where dogs are invited to splash and swim in the pool before it officially closes for the season.

Many of the events are free and open to the community, and summer membership specials are also available at the J. For a full list of summer events and tickets, visit nashvillejcc.org/summerevents. •

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

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

Argentina

Continued from page 6

My favorite Jewish Artist is Agam who does kinetic and optical art. It was nice seeing his art there. He has a museum in Israel in Rishon LeZion.

Lorna Graff:

“ So….guys “- and that was the way we started each morning with our incredible guide, Alex. Rabbi Kullock did an amazing job with his many “connections.” We saw special sights and learned a great deal about the history of Argentina. Rabbi made sure we had a great time, behaved ourselves and added to our understanding of his “homeland.”

Janet Weismark:

There are three meaningful holidays in the spring that we commemorate and celebrate. These three enriched our trip to Argentina and made it more than just another vacation. Our trip began on a somber note with a visit to the holocaust

memorial in Buenos Aires where Rabbi Kullock lit a memorial candle and talked about the loss of six million of our brethren.

On Yom Hazikaron we visited the site of the Israeli Embassy that was bombed in 1992 in which 29 people died and 242 were wounded. Rabbi addressed the loss of those who have lost their lives in bombings and terrorism and the young Israeli soldiers who have given their lives in the many wars that have been fought since 1948. Rabbi so beautifully sang El Malei Rachamim and we recited the mourner’s Kaddish and sang Hatikvah.

The highlight of the trip was celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut with 3200 Argentinians. A program replete with choreographed Israeli songs and dances entertained us for two hours. The crowd sang their national anthem with fervor followed by an emotional Hatikvah. The ruach and excitement in the room was palpable. The pride we felt in our Jewish

homeland was exhilarating. Travelling with Rabbi Kullock to his birthplace and being able to share meaningful Jewish moments was an experience we will carry with us for many years to come.

Barry Allen:

Going to Argentina was not on Heidi’s or my bucket list. However, at least three things convinced us that we should go. One, we knew almost everyone who was planning to attend. Second, we appreciated that having a native of Buenos Aires and our rabbi as the tour leader was a special opportunity. Lastly, we heard that dulce de leche and the gelato were not to be missed. The trip exceeded our expectations.

Everyone got along beautifully, and we got to spend quality time with people we didn’t always see outside of services or at a synagogue event. Our professional guide was exceptional, yet having Rabbi Kullock add his own personal knowl-

edge and experience - including food recommendations and his unwavering, enthusiastic support for the River Plate soccer team - did add significantly to what we learned about the history and culture of the city and country. And yes, the dulce de leche chocolate covered alfajores (“cookies”) and the gelato lived up to the hype.

Ruth Liebowitz:

One of the most unforgettable moments of the trip occurred during the Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration at the famed Gran Rex Theatre in Buenos Aires. The event, organized by the Argentine Zionist Organization, drew hundreds from the local Jewish community. Rabbi Kullock somehow managed to secure coveted tickets for our entire group.

The atmosphere inside the theater was electric. Nearly 600 people filled the auditorium with Israeli flags, music, cheering, and celebration. The performances of music and dance radiated joy and pride, creating a powerful expression of Jewish identity and Zionism. As Rabbi Kullock had written to us, it is “a meaningful and vibrant atmosphere celebrating heritage, identity, and unity.”

We experienced a variety of memorable activities. One evening introduced us to Argentina’s signature cultural art form: the tango. At a lively nightclub performance, the elegance and intensity of the dancers captivated us. Rabbi Kullock also arranged extraordinary access for our group, including private visits inside the iconic Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential palace, and the American Embassy—locations even our guide could not enter with us. We attended a moving musical Shabbat service in a remarkable partially open-air synagogue.

The trip also exposed us to some of Argentina’s darkest history. During the brutal military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983, approximately 30,000 people disappeared during what became known as the “Dirty War.”

Reading about historical events from afar can never compare to actually being where they occurred. Buenos Aires endured devastating acts of antisemitic terrorism when the Israeli Embassy was bombed in 1992, followed by the 1994 bombing of the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) building. The AMIA attack, carried out with a suicide car bomb, killed 85 people and injured more than 300, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. Visiting both memorial sites and hearing firsthand accounts from local residents was deeply moving.

Buenos Aires is often called the “Paris of South America,” and it is easy to understand why. The city is cosmopolitan, elegant, and remarkably clean. Argentine flags—three horizontal stripes of blue, white, and blue with a golden sun at the center—appear proudly throughout the city. Tree-lined boulevards, landscaped parks, historic neighborhoods, and magnificent architecture give Buenos Aires a distinctive charm. We visited an opulent opera house and an enormous bookstore that seemed almost cathedral-like in scale. The older neighborhoods especially fascinated me; I would gladly spend days wandering and lingering there.

Buenos Aires held many surprises for me. It is a sophisticated, vibrant city unlike any other Latin American destination I have visited, and I have traveled extensively throughout the region. This journey not only deepened my appreciation for Argentina and its Jewish community but also left me eager to return.•

Staycation Anyone?

G REEN H ILLS

June in the Galleries: Featuring the work of Steve Greenfield, and Marcus Anthony Pearson aka Markus Xcells

In June, the Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of Steve Greenfield. Steve was born and raised in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. His two grown children live in Tennessee and Florida. Steve has a Bachelor of Science in engineering technology with a Business Minor and a master’s degree in management. Steve worked at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for 25 years in different capacities and locations. He is currently retired and lives on Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin, TN with his fiancé Laurie.

Steve is a self-taught artist/painter who became interested in art after his kids were grown, approximately 20 years ago. He is intrigued by the workmanship, architecture, craftsmanship, and details of the old buildings in towns and cities. Always interested in nostalgia, Steve started painting cityscapes in Knoxville. He continued painting cityscapes while living in downtown Nashville. Now that Steve lives on the lake, he has begun dabbling in water scenes/landscapes. Oil acrylic, and pastel on canvas are the preferred media. This is the second art showing/exhibit being done by this artist.

This is Steve’s second showing of his work at the Gordon JCC galleries.

The JLMG2 Gallery will feature the art of Marcus Anthony Pearson aka Markus Xcells. He is a visual artist currently incarcerated in the Tennessee Department of Corrections. He was born in the Bronx, NY in the late 80s when Hip Hop was taking over the mainstream. His work pulses with that same loud, chaotic energy — a fusion of street culture, spiritual symbolism, and lived experience. Though he moved to Tennessee at a young age, the Bronx never left him. It shaped his eye, his edge, and his sense of urgency.

Markus began expressing himself through art at a young age, customizing clothing and sneakers with paint. But at 18, his life took a turn; incarceration interrupted his creative path for years. It wasn’t until recently, after more than a decade inside, that he picked up the brush again. As an untrained artist he used what he could find in the facility and formed his style as he went. What emerged was an outpouring of imagery: vivid, symbolic, and layered with meaning. Markus doesn’t just create art. He is Art. He believes that life is art–from capturing a moment and sharing it with others to looking at the bright side of things in dark times.

He believes art is making something out of nothing, and that is what he’s doing. Much of Markus’ work explores the journey from the lower self to one’s higher self, or the reverse—degradation. His pieces are deeply personal, rooted in transformation and consciousness, often centering feminine energy, even when unspoken.

In just a few years of painting, his work has already been featured in several projects including: the group exhibition Dreams & Nightmares, One Drop Ink Creative Suites, Nashville, TN 20242025); an estate sale, hosted by Cotton Row, Memphis, TN (2025); the Better Than Jails abolitionist album project, produced by Brian Hunt of Believe Entertainment Group, Kenny Greenburg, and Wally Wilson (2024); the group

exhibition, Under One Roof, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Nashville, TN (October 2025); and forthcoming is his curatorial debut, The Exit, Goodwyn Gallery, Memphis TN (May 2026).

The Sig Held Gallery will continue showing the Clint Searcy’s exhibit, ‘Light Bringer.”

The Senior Lounge will feature the work of Robbie Laskey.

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

The exhibition dates are June 130th. The artist reception will be held on June 10th from 6-8 p.m. and feature music by DJ Joseph Harris, and pop-up jewelry by Chandler Dezigns.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www.nashvillejcc.org. •

Untitled by Marcus Anthony Pearson

Old Hickory Lake by Steve Greenfield

Straw Hat by Marcus Anthony Pearson

Acme Feed & Seed by Steve Greenfield

Alicia, Light Bringer by Clint Searcy

Lifecycles

B’rit Mitzvah

Eli Calise

Eli Calise will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 6, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah. He is the child of Ashley and Timothy Calise, the brother of Olivia and Charlotte, and the grandson of Cheryl and Bob Canning of Cape Cod, Mass., and Madelaine and Ron Calise of Amelia Island, Fla.

A seventh grader at Brentwood Middle School, Eli has a passion for robotics, jiujitsu, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Eli has been assisting with the A/V and streaming during Micah’s Shabbat services. He has even run it on his own a time or two. He’s also helped in the sound booth during religious school when needed.

Delilah Rose Rashall

Survivors include his wife, Mimi Klein; children, Larry (Kathy) Klein, Gina (Craig) Jorasch and Risa (Drew) Klein Herzog; grandchildren, Sophie, Ethan and Olivia Jorasch, Nancy Gracen, Jack and Anne Lawrence Klein, Vivian and Tess Herzog.

Donald F. Mackler

Condolences to the family of Donald F. Mackler who died on April 21. Survivors include his son, James (Rabbi Shana) Mackler; granddaughters, Hannah and Sylvie Mackler; and their extended family.

Keith Mirman

Condolences to the family of Keith Mirman. Survivors include his wife, Candy Mirman; children, Brett Mirman and Stacy (Daniel) Mirman Cohen; grandchildren, Eli, Saige and Drew Mirman and Henry and Abe Cohen; his sister, Leslye (Steve) Lapidus; nephew, Brian (Kim) Lapidus; great nephew and niece, Max and Lilly Lapidus.

Marcia Jean Finkel Nemer

decades, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 86.

Mr. Foxman spent half a century working for the ADL, and from 1987 to 2015 was its chief executive. Whenever there was an incident that displayed hatred or hostility toward Jews — a synagogue firebombing, an unprovoked stabbing of a skullcap-wearing young man or a celebrity’s bigoted remark — Mr. Foxman would be called on for a public comment.

His well-earned indignation, a streetwise, sometimes pugnacious, voice and a gift for articulating the fine distinctions of an issue made his comments stand out from more diplomatic responses by leaders of other Jewish groups...

Abraham Foxman was born Avraham Chanoch Hanach Fuksman on May 1, 1940. His father, Joseph Fuksman, had been the editor of a Zionist publication in Warsaw; his mother, Helen (Radoshitzki) managed the home.

family immigrated to the United States in 1950. Starting in the seventh grade, Mr. Foxman attended the Yeshivah of Flatbush and stayed through the end of high school.

He then earned a B.A. in political science and history from the City College of New York and studied law at New York University, graduating in 1965. Promptly after passing the bar, he was hired as a legal assistant in the ADL’s international division. In 1987, he replaced the longtime national director, Nathan Perlmutter...

In addition to his son, Ariel, he is survived by his wife, Golda (Bauman), a retired public-school teacher whom he met in a Zionist summer camp in Wisconsin; a daughter, Michelle Foxman; and four grandchildren. He lived in Bergen County, N.J.

Delilah Rose Rashall will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on September 19, 2013, in California. Her parents are Rachel Rashall Moore, Timothy Ecord and Tayler Moore. Her grandparents are Wendy Rashall of Tennessee and Celeste Zibelli of Arizona.

A rising seventh grader at the Jewish Middle School (JMS), Delilah loves art, drama, traveling, playing badminton and spending time with friends.

For her mitzvah project, Delilah is volunteering at the Cheatham Animal Shelter.

Stone Harrison Scheideman

Condolences to the family of Marcia Jean Finkel Nemer who died on April 19. She is survived by her children, Sally Nemet Wheeler and Robert (Martha) Nemer; grandchildren, Sam Wheeler, Ben (Kristin) Wheeler, Jacob (April) Nemer, Matthew (Abigail) Nemer; great grandchildren, Izabel Wheeler, Jordan Wheeler, Marshall Wheeler, Henry Nemer, Laura Nemer and Robert Nemer.

Neil Roth

Condolences to the family of Neil Roth, husband of Adie, father of Adam (Jessica) and beloved grandfather of Wyatt, Charlotte, and Elliot.

Linda F. Schlanger

When the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, the Fuksmans fled east, giving birth to Avraham in Baranovichi, a small city in what is today Belarus, and winding up in Vilnius in what is today Lithuania but was then under Soviet occupation....

After four years in camps for displaced people run by the Allies, the

Mr. Foxman could laugh at himself and his work, for example, calling his redemption of celebrities who had made insensitive or bigoted statements a “kosher certification.” At his retirement party at the Waldorf Astoria, Mr. Foxman expressed how meaningful these absolution processes were to him.

“Some of my most satisfying moments as director of the ADL,” he said, “were in witnessing people who did bad things and said vile things turn around and become better people.” •

Kvetch in the City

By CARRIE MILLS

TFerragamo shoes for my son that I had seen online for this sale.

Stone Harrison Scheideman will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. He was born on June 26, 2013, in Nashville. His parents are Michael Scheideman and Marissa Moss. His grandparents are Kim and Frank Moss of East Orleans, Mass., Aileen and Alan Scheideman of Highland, Md., and Jane Moss of blessed memory.

A seventh grader at Meigs Middle, Stone loves soccer, saxophone, making and producing music and riding his electric scooter with his friends.

For his mitzvah project, Stone is raising money for the Jordan Thomas Foundation to help provide prosthetic devices to kids.

Obituaries

Mo Hasson

Condolences to the family of Mo Hasson. Survivors include his wife, Susan; his children, Kathryn Levy, Steven Hasson (Karen) of Houston and Mark Hasson (Karen) of Fairfax; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was a past president of West End Synagogue.

Jerome Seymour Klein

Condolences to the family of Jerome Seymour Klein who died on April 5.

Condolences to the family of Linda F. Schlanger, who died on April 26. She is survived by her daughter, Stephanie Schlanger (Eric Angus); son, Brian Schlanger; and brother, Harris Feinstein.

Florence Wittenstein

Condolences to the family of Florence Wittenstein. She is survived by her children, Lee (Deborah) Cohen, Mark (Pam) Cohen, Jay (Wyndi) Cohen and Lisa Cohen; grandchildren, Callie Cohen, Alan (Alexandra) Cohen, and Rachel Cohen; brother, Joe (Linda) Wittenstein; and niece and nephews, Vicki (Emerson) Stine, Edwin Wittenstein, Harrell Wittenstein, David Wittenstein and Michael Greenfield.

Tributes in Florence’s memory may be made to Alive Hospice, Sherith Israel, Nashville Humane Association, or Congregation Micah.

Brady Peter Worden

Condolences to the family of Brady Peter Worden, brother of Sarah (Jake) Roth.

Editor’s note:

Abraham (Abe) Foxman, long-serving national director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), recently died. Below is a portion of his obituary, originally published in The New York Times

Abraham H. Foxman, a hidden child of the Holocaust who became the chief warrior against antisemitism in the United States as national director of the Anti-Defamation League for almost three

he other day I set my alarm to wake up early. There was, what promised to be, a rare estate sale, a luxury home filled with luxury goods, all appearing practically brand new, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to miss it. God forbid. I clearly needed to get there as early as possible to satiate my somewhat problematic long running addiction.

On the way, in my swanky car, still half asleep and a bit grumpy, I passed a homeless person, barely standing, selling the Contributor on the corner for 2 bucks who seemed to appear more cheerful than me on most days. I couldn’t help but wonder, does that homeless person on the corner possess some inner something that I don’t have? How’s that for a wakeup call?

With that thought piercing my brain, I ambled forward, a few streets down and another world over. The stately Green Hills home was, yes, filled with luxury everything. I couldn’t help but wonder if the homeowner had died and the family just said, “Sell it all!” Or maybe, it was a terrible divorce and both partners scattered to the wind, leaving it all behind.

Turns out it was a wealthy builder and his wife who decided to up and move to LA and leave what looked like their entire estate and lake home, filled with practically everything designer in it, here in Nashville, for us estate sale vultures to pick over. You name it, all high end, art, furniture, clothing, chachkas. And, yes indeed, I was there, standing on a line way too early for my senses, waiting to get in to try and nab the Prada and

Once inside while scurrying like a mad woman amongst the insanity, my vision went blurry, I detected a slight headache and I panicked. Was I having a stroke? Was I going to drop dead right there? Would I inconveniently disrupt the madness? Would someone then say at my funeral, “Well, at least she died doing what she loved?”

Every time I have an ache or some unidentifiable pain, I immediately think, is this it? Is this the diagnosis waiting to take me down? This is no way to live. What’s happening to me? Have I become the hypochondriac I accused my ex of being? I mean, I do recognize myself to be a little bit on the anxious side, a little bit of a worrier, with, you know, little pockets of misery, reserved for good measure, stuck somewhere deep down inside, that all the therapy in the world somehow has not yet been able to clear up, and quite honestly, maybe shouldn’t. Maybe my own inner angst provides me some empathy for others in pain.

Or, I ask myself, are my pockets of inner angst and unsettledness, a response to the political idiocy and uncertainty of the world at large? Or, having watched this year’s Met Gala red carpet and feeling like I just witnessed the real-life version of the “Hunger Games”?

Or am I creating more angst for myself, walking around this huge home filled with countless people, me included, grabbing the remains of a life richly lived while homeless people are out on the corner selling the Contributor for a 1/3 the price of a Starbucks? How do I quell the anxiety? Do I just need a good vacation, time in nature, to remind myself of the beauty and rhythm of life outside of my

workaholic, materialistic oriented life?

Truth is, it’s a hard nut to crack, torn between the world of suffering and those who appear to have it all. Which is why I have found myself back in synagogue on Friday nights, once again searching inwardly for some clarity and peace.

And while I sometimes think a mil-

lion dollars is the answer, and I’m tempted to buy that lottery ticket cuz hey, “You gotta be in it to win it.” I try and remind myself, “You gotta be in life as it is to win it.”

Which is why instead of throwing that $2 down on a dream and a scheme, I take that two bucks and hand it to the homeless person out on the corner selling the paper and more than grateful to receive. •

Crawford Funeral Home

Young Leadership

Continued from page 1 tion. They also visited what was left of the old Jewish cemetery and learned about the work the city was doing on a new Holocaust museum, in addition to an established Jewish museum.

While in Athens, their group met with the local Jewish community and got to see firsthand the work their Federation does. Whitney talked more about institutions like the Warm House in Athens, and the services it provides for the seniors and children of their community.

There were also more lighthearted moments, including getting to play some games in the Olympic stadium with a few local Israelis.

“We sang lots of karaoke, broke some plates, and even got to run a mile around the Olympic track,” Whitney said. “Judaism was part of almost everything we did. Even an art tour we took was hosted by an Israeli art expert from Tel Aviv.”

Greece was chosen as this year’s destination because of the deep history of the Jewish people there.

“The Greek people we met with were clear, the Jews of Greece were not visitors, they were Greek and had been there for thousands of years. Greece was also a safe haven for the Sephardic Jews during the Inquisition,” Whitney shared. “This population growth led to Thessaloniki’s reputation as the Jerusalem of the Balkans, hosting the largest Jewish community in Western Europe with upwards of 70,000 members.”

Towards the end of WWII, the Nazis swept in and quickly devastated the Jewish population of Thessaloniki. Whitney described how the community bears witness to this difficult history. “We learned so much about how the Jewish and non-Jewish Greek community has come together around commemorating this difficult history and celebrating Jewish culture today.”

Cultivating a network of local and global connection within Jewish communities is a core focus of Cabinet. Cabinet Member and Nashville resident Erin Coleman described the relationships she made in Cabinet as a support system

she would continue to lean on after the program ends.

“For me, it’s the relationships that I’ve been able to cultivate that have been the most meaningful part of the experience,” said Coleman. “[Cabinet has been] one of the most formative things that I’ve done in my adult career—from a Jewish standpoint and a giving standpoint, with networking, exploring new friendships, and exploring the world.”

Similar to Coleman, the most impressive part of the Cabinet trip experience for Whitney was the relationships she made.

“From the Federation staff to my fellow cabinet members, this is such a unique, diverse group of smart and kind people who are committed to community and philanthropy,” Whitney concludes. “I’m so grateful to have been a part of this group and the Cabinet class of 2021.” •

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

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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

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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

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Elite Caregiving Services

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DR. BRADLEY KROCK D.C.

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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

HOME MAINTENANCE

Home Maintenance Concierge Semi-annual Guidance and Upkeep. Perfect for busy homeowners, Seniors, Snowbirds, Caregivers. In-person service and trusted advice. No sales pitches, pressure or mark-ups. Mark Hill 615-823-8033 m.hill@tandemrealty.com www.TandemRealty.com

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

ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

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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 Optique Nashville 2416 21st Ave. S., #104, Nashville 615-321-4393

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

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

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PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING

IRA HELDERMAN, PhD, LPC

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REAL ESTATE

LANA PARGH

615-504-2685

lana.pargh@compass.com

FRANKLIN PARGH 615-351-7333

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JACOB KUPIN, REALTOR

HAYLEY LEVY KUPIN, REALTOR 615-281-9035

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

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

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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

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

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