The Observer Vol. 91 No. 9 – September 2026

THE

Jewish

OBSERVER www.jewishobservernashville.org

Vol. 91 No. 9

Shana Tova 5787

SEPTEMBER 2026 19 Elul 5786 - 19 Tishrei 5787

SCN and Jewish Nashville Security Gatherings Focus on Community Connections, Preparedness By ERIN WIDES

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s Jewish communities across the country continue navigating a complex threat environment, security leaders are emphasizing a simple message, preparedness can’t wait for an emergency. That was the focus when Michael Masters, national director and CEO of Secure Community Network (SCN), recently visited Nashville for two days of meetings and events with Jewish community leaders, law enforcement partners and other stakeholders. The visit was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and included a community town hall, preparedness exercises

and the first regional law enforcement working group meeting. SCN was created in 2004 and serves as a safety and security organization for the Jewish community across North America. Masters said SCN has grown from a small organization into a national network of more than 130 team members. The organization works with Jewish institutions and law enforcement agencies while sharing threat intelligence with partners. “We have said for some time that we are facing the most complex and dynamic threat environment to ever face the Jewish community or the country in the nation’s history,” Masters said.

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SCN National Director and CEO Michael Masters addresses security town hall audience.

Orchestra Tikvah Creates Space for Jewish Musicians to Thrive By ERIN WIDES

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or young musicians, finding an orchestra that challenges them artistically can be difficult. For Jewish students who observe Shabbat, finding one that also accommodates their religious lives can be even harder. Orchestra Tikvah was created to bridge that gap, bringing together Jewish string musicians for a chamber orchestra experience where musical excellence and Jewish identity find harmony. The youth orchestra launched its first cohort in Nashville this summer, bringing together 13 students and two counselors from nine states. The musicians spent several days rehearsing, performing and building connections with one another and with the Nashville Jewish community. For Artistic Director Dr. Zack Ebin, the idea for Orchestra Tikvah began more than six years ago when he was thinking of what could be created for young Jewish musicians who observe Shabbat. Ebin, who has played violin since he was three and comes from a family of musicians, said many high-level opportunities for young classical musicians conflict with Shabbat. All-State orchestras can rehearse A Publication of the

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or perform on weekends, creating a barrier for observant Jewish students. The idea became even more urgent following Oct. 7, 2023, as antisemitism increased and Jewish students faced new questions about how proudly they could express their identity. “I’m concerned that if we as educators are trying to teach children to express themselves, what happens when part of their identity is something that the world is not so accepting of?” Ebin said. “But at the same time, if they’re a Jewish musician, they’re connected to a very rich heritage.” Orchestra Tikvah aims to give those students a place to be both serious musicians and proudly Jewish. They focus on music by Jewish composers and those who incorporated elements of their identity into their work. The program was made possible through an anonymous donation and support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville. Students were recruited through Jewish and music education networks and arrived in Nashville with their music in hand. The group began rehearsing on a Sunday and had to be ready to perform by NCJW Celebrates 125 Years, page 8

Orchestra Tikvah performing for seniors at the Gordon JCC.

Thursday. Through readings, rehearsals, and learning together, they were prepared to perform for the Nashville community. The first for a senior lunch at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, next for residents at Abe’s Garden, and the final at Congregation Sherith Israel. For 15-year-old violinist Meir Kleinhaus of Manhattan, the opportunity was unlike anything he had experienced before. “For me it’s an opportunity for a Dara Freiberg Named Chief Executive Officer of the Gordon JCC, page 10

Jewish string musician to be in a totally Jewish and Orthodox setting while playing advanced pieces,” he said. Kleinhaus said finding a serious orchestra that does not conflict with Shabbat can be difficult. His school does not have an orchestra, and although he participates in a weekly ensemble, he said it is not as advanced as ensembles that play on Shabbat. With Orchestra Tikvah, he was able

Rosh Hashanah Greetings, page 21

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At Our Congregations Including Holiday Schedules, page 26

From the Federation’s CEO The Cost of Silence, and the Case for Courage By JUDY ALPERIN, CEO, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE

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few weeks ago, right here in Nashville, an author’s book launch was canceled. Not because the book was inaccurate, not because the venue changed its mind, but because pressure and intimidation made it feel unsafe to hold. Alyssa Rosenheck wrote “White. Blonde. Jew.” — a book about identity, in part about the experience of antisemitism — and the response to it proved, in real time, exactly the point she was making. Bell Bird Books, the independent bookstore that simply wanted to give a local author a place to share her work, was put in an impossible position. There were two victims that day: a writer whose voice was silenced before her readers ever heard it, and a small business punished for the ordinary act of attempting to host a conversation. I keep coming back to that moment, because I don’t think it was an isolated one. I think it was a symptom. Across the country, we are watching a slow and steady narrowing of who feels safe to speak, and about what. Authors

are quietly disinvited. Exhibits are shelved rather than defended. Professors reconsider, mid-sentence, what they’re willing to say in their own classrooms. Institutions that would never say they’re making an exception for Jewish voices somehow keep finding reasons to make an exception for Jewish voices. It rarely announces itself as censorship. It shows up as a scheduling conflict, a security concern, a “let’s revisit this next season.” But the effect is the same: fewer people willing to say what they think, and a public square that gets a little smaller every time someone backs down. The arts are especially vulnerable to this, because the arts have always been where a society works out its hardest questions — and because artists, unlike institutions, rarely have a legal or communications team standing behind them. When a bookstore, a gallery, a theater, or a university decides that hosting a Jewish voice is more trouble than it’s worth, that’s not neutrality. That’s a decision, and it has a cost, paid first by the person being silenced and eventually by all of us. Here’s what I keep thinking about, though: none of this is inevitable, and

none of it is new. The freedoms being quietly eroded — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to gather and express an unpopular view without fear of reprisal — are not fragile ideas. They are written in the founding document of this country. They do not belong to any one community. They belong to everyone, which means defending them is everyone’s job. That’s why I don’t think this is a moment for Jewish leaders to simply speak up for ourselves, as important as that is. It’s a moment for leaders — period — to remember what their influence is for. Public officials who’ve built careers on defending the Constitution. University presidents who’ve built institutions on the premise of open inquiry. Clergy of every faith who’ve spent their lives teaching that human dignity isn’t conditional. Business leaders who understand, better than anyone, what happens to a community’s trust once its institutions stop standing for anything. Every one of them has a sphere of influence. Every one of them gets to decide whether to use it. I’m not asking anyone to agree with every position a Jewish organization or a

Jewish person holds. Disagreement, argued honestly and in the open, is exactly what a healthy civil society is supposed to look like. What I’m asking is harder and, I think, more important: that our leaders — in government, in academia, in faith communities, in business and each of us as individuals — treat the silencing of any voice, including ours, as everyone’s problem to solve, not just ours to survive. Bell Bird Books didn’t set out to become a test case for free expression. They just wanted to sell books. That they were forced into that position at all should bother every person who believes in the country we say we are. Reclaiming civil society doesn’t happen with one statement or one op-ed — it happens when enough people with real influence decide that a just, pluralistic public square is worth defending out loud, not just in principle. That’s the work ahead of us this fall, alongside everything else our community is building. I hope you’ll join me in it. From my family to yours, may we all enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous new year and may we find our way forward, together. •

SCN and Security Continued from page 1

For Nashville, being connected to a national network through a local security professional is part of the community’s preparedness strategy. John Curatolo, SCN regional security adviser for the Greater Nashville Area, serves as a liaison between Jewish Nashville and law enforcement. Curatolo, who has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience, said building those relationships before an incident occurs is essential. “There are pieces of the puzzle in police work,” Curatolo said. “You may have somebody who has done something in a threat capacity in one area, and then they show up at Nashville and they do the same thing. We want to make sure that we’re talking to police so they’re aware of what’s going on and better able to protect people,” he said. The regional law enforcement working group held during Masters’ visit brought out professionals from SCN, Metro Nashville and Mount Juliet police departments, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Fusion Center, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Meetings like these are expected to happen at least twice a year, according

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TBI Deputy Director Josh Melton shaking hands with a Tennessee Highway Patrol during regional law enforcement working group meeting.

to Curatolo. The goal is to strengthen information sharing among Jewish community security leaders and law enforcement agencies. Josh Melton, deputy director at the TBI, attended the working group and said the workshop provides an opportunity for local, state and federal agencies to collaborate. Adding that meetings like these represent a shift from just responding to incidents to proactively addressing potential threats. “TBI has spent a lot of time in the business of responding to violent incidents that have already happened. We’re reactive to those,” Melton said. “It’s really important to be able to be proactive in the space of providing a safe place

September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Tabletop exercises provided an opportunity for clergy and agency partners to practice responding to potential incidents.

for communities and getting ahead of incidents and threats, so that they never happen to begin with.” Federation CEO Judy Alperin echoed Melton’s thoughts on a broader scale. Gatherings like these strengthen the connective tissue between our synagogues, agencies, and schools. “Deepening our relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement, so they are not names on a card, but true partners,” Alperin said. “And widening our circle of allies, Jewish and non-Jewish, clergy and civic leaders, people of faith and people in public service. Those who stand with us not only when something happens, but every day before that.” Curatolo said training will be a major focus moving forward, including both in-person and virtual opportunities. He also encouraged community members to report suspicious activity, even when they are uncertain whether something rises to the level of an emergency. “They need to be reporting things on the website so that it comes to me. Nothing is too big, nothing’s too small.” The tabletop exercises hosted by

Congregation Micah were planned prior to Masters’ visit and provided an opportunity for clergy and agency partners to practice responding to potential incidents. Curatolo said the exercises are part of an effort to make preparedness a routine part of Jewish community life. Masters shared remarks from those who survived attacks at Jewish institutions in Pittsburgh, Colleyville, Michigan and elsewhere. “What they have shared is that the training and preparedness that happened before the incidents was what ensured that not just that people were safe, but that they stayed alive,” he said. Masters said Nashville’s investment in security is not intended to create fear, but to make it possible for Jewish life to continue without security becoming a barrier. He described preparedness as an investment in the future of the Jewish community. “Investing in security is a down payment on a Jewish future,” Masters said. “It’s like your car insurance. You can’t buy it the day after the accident.” To report an incident, visit www. jewishnashville.org/security. •

Focusing on the Future in Partnership with the Foundation By MINDY HIRT, CHAIR, STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL AND BARRY ALLEN, DIRECTOR OF PLANNED GIVING & ENDOWMENTS

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osh Hashanah is about the future” according to Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks of England in one of his High Holy Days sermons in 2020. He went on to say, “Children are the symbol of the Jewish future, and that is what we choose to read about on Rosh Hashanah. Then once we have prayed for the future and thought about the future and our responsibilities for it, then once we have secured the future, on Yom Kippur we can remember and lament the past.” For our present purposes, let’s explore how the Foundation focuses on the future. We can leave the lamenting for High Holiday services. The Foundation has two programs that fit neatly into Rabbi Sacks’ future-focused description. One is the B’nai Tzedek program, which is designed, at the outset, to offer 13-yearolds who are getting ready for their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs an early introduction to philanthropy. (Typically, families start a fund for their child around their 13th birthday, but a BT Fund can be started at any time.) The other is our Life & Legacy program. You can see from the description below that the B’nai Tzedek program is focused on helping children think about the future, and to help them grow into young adults who practice righteousness (the meaning of Tzedakah) through gifts

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Judy Alperin, CEO Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville Editor Erin Wides Editorial Intern Marly Boehm Advertising Manager Carrie Mills Layout and Production Tim Gregory Editorial Board Frank Boehm (chair), Teena Cohen, Scott Rosenberg Publisher

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The Jewish OBSERVER (ISSN 23315334) is published monthly for $36 per year by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205-4009. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE JEWISH OBSERVER, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205 This newspaper is made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. The Jewish OBSERVER is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. While The Jewish OBSERVER makes every possible effort to accept only reputable advertisers of the highest quality, we cannot guarantee the Kashrut of their products. The views and opinions expressed in The Jewish OBSERVER are not necessarily endorsed by Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville or its partners. The Jewish OBSERVER Founded in 1934 by

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to local, national and international charitable organizations. The future for these fundholders is linked to the future of the world around them. As described by Leeron Stark Resnick, our B’nai Tzedek coordinator, “With a tax-deductible contribution of $175 or more to the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, each teen’s gift is matched with $125 from the Al Feldman Memorial Fund and $250 from the Feldman/Hassenfeld Fund for B’nai Tzedek. This brings the fund’s starting balance to $550, exceeding the $500 minimum required to open a B’nai Tzedek Fund and begin making annual charitable recommendations. B’nai Tzedek fundholders recommend annual grants to eligible Jewish 501(c)(3) organizations, beginning with 5% of the fund’s value (a $25 minimum distribution). Once a fund reaches $1,500, holders may recommend up to 10% annually, provided the fund maintains a minimum balance of $500. If a fund reaches $5,000 before the fundholder turns 34 (and is at least 18 years old), it may be converted into a Donor Advised Fund in the fundholder’s name, allowing for lifetime charitable giving to Jewish and non-Jewish 501(c)(3) organizations.” Our second program that fits within Rabbi Sack’s focus on the future is Life & Legacy. Though people often think of a “legacy” as a past record of example or achievement, another type of legacy is the one that we create by planning now to make the future possible. We can

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

Editorial Submissions Policy and Deadlines The Jewish Observer welcomes the submission of information, news items, feature stories and photos about events relevant to the Jewish community of Greater Nashville. Letters to the editor must be no longer than 250 words, and op-eds must be no longer than 750 words. We prefer e-mailed submissions, which should be sent as Word documents to Editor 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 Erin Wides, The Jewish Observer, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville TN 37205. Photos and copy sent by regular mail will not be returned unless prior arrangement is made. Publication is at the discretion of The Observer, which reserves the right to edit submissions. To ensure publication, submissions must arrive by the 15th of the month prior to the intended month of publication. For advertising deadlines, contact Carrie Mills, advertising manager, at 615-354-1699, or by email at carrie@nashvillejcc.org.

provide for future gifts in our wills, or we can designate gifts to charitable organizations by setting aside all or parts of life insurance policies, retirement accounts, or other financial instruments. In the ten years of the Life & Legacy program, sponsored by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation (famous for its PJ Library program), Nashvillians have promised more than $28 million to multiple organizations, and more than $5 million has already been realized by those groups. Our coordinator for this program is Norma Shirk. The common denominator of both programs is securing the future. We can take action now to build a strong foundation (with a small “f”), for our children

and the broader community, by partnering with the Nashville Foundation (with a big “F”). Start, or contribute, to a B’nai Tzedek Fund, or make Life & Legacy plans, to build the future through intentional philanthropy. Don’t just pray for the future or think about it. Take concrete steps, as Rabbi Sacks suggested, to secure the future, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and going forward. For more information about the B’nai Tzedek program, contact Leeron Stark Resnick (leeron@jewishnashville. org). You can reach Norma Shirk (norma@jewishnashville.org) for more details about the Life & Legacy program. We wish all of you a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. •

Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville Welcomes Four New Staff Members T he Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is strengthening its team with the addition of four news staff members whose backgrounds span communications, community engagement, Jewish education, Israel programming, and financial leadership. Joining the Federation are Mario Flores as chief financial officer, Shaina Katz as director of marketing and communications, Marisa Baggett as engagement associate, and Bar Segev as Israel and overseas associate. Mario Flores joins as chief financial officer Flores brings nearly two decades of experience strengthening financial operations, governance, and long-term sustainability across nonprofit, healthcare, and logistics organizations. Originally from El Salvador, Flores says the values he learned growing up continue to shape his leadership approach today: hard work, integrity, responsibility, and service to others. Before joining the Federation, Flores served as financial director for the Tennessee Primary Care Association, where he led statewide financial operations and modernized systems to support long-term organizational health. He previously held CFO roles at Siloam Health, Share Ourselves Corporation, and Hope Family Health Services, helping organizations strengthen financial infrastructure and navigate periods of growth and change. Earlier in his career, Flores spent nearly 20 years with Macy’s Logistics. Known for his thoughtful and disciplined leadership style, Flores combines analytical expertise with a strong commitment to stewardship and service. He is passionate about helping mission-driven organizations build strong foundations necessary for long-term success.

Flores is excited to support the Federation’s mission and help ensure the financial strength that makes lasting community impact possible. Shaina Katz joins as director of marketing and communications Katz brings a professional background that spans communications, development and international affairs. Most recently, she worked at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy in New York, leading development efforts. Prior to that, she spent several years at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, serving as managing editor of communications, helping shape the institute’s communications strategy. She also worked with Fikra Forum, editing and publishing perspectives from across the Middle East for U.S. policymakers. Katz earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Arabic from Appalachian State University and was awarded the U.S. Department of State’s Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic in Morocco. Her studies and professional experiences have taken her abroad, including work at Tel Aviv University, the Embassy of Jordan, the Middle East Institute, and a prisoner rehabilitation hostel in Haifa. She later completed a master’s degree in media and international conflict at University College Dublin. Outside of work, Katz enjoys running, hiking, kayaking, art, photography, music, and exploring local record stores. Marisa Baggett focuses on community engagement Working alongside Chief Impact and Planning Officer Michal Eskenazi Becker, Baggett will focus on creating meaningful opportunities for people to connect with Jewish life throughout Nashville. Baggett and her husband moved to Continued on page 4

CORRECTIONS In the August 2026 issue of The Jewish Observer, Gluck Orthodontics “Building Confidence for Life’s Journey” highlight was left out. We apologize for this mistake and have included it in this month’s issue on page 9. In the August 2026 issue of The Jewish Observer, an incorrect photograph accompanied the announcement of Raegan Pounds’ upcoming bat mitzvah. We regret the error. The correct photograph appears in the Lifecycles section.

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The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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Women’s Philanthropy Mitzvah Evening

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ith the help of nearly 60 women from across our community, we packed 96 supply bags for Metro Nashville Public Schools teachers, braided 60 challahs for seniors in our commu-

nity and assembled dozens of safer-sex kits for Planned Parenthood to distribute. Thank you to every woman who came out and helped give back to our community! •

New Staff

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Nashville in 2024 after more than two decades in Memphis. During her time there, she served in a variety of communal roles, including as a Judaic programming specialist. She also founded and operated a kosher deli and catering company, experiences that helped her build relationships across many parts of the Jewish community. Her philosophy of engagement is rooted in the belief that there is no single path to meaningful Jewish connection. “Great engagement creates enough doors that people can find the ones that feel right for them,” Baggett said. Baggett is also a professionally trained sushi chef who has presented programs for organizations including the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and LimmudFest at Ramah Darom. She serves on the North American Board of the Union for Reform Judaism. Bar Segev strengthens Israel and overseas connections Segev brings extensive experience in Jewish education, Israel engagement and leadership development. Born and raised in Jerusalem, Segev

earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology, anthropology and education from Ariel University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Jewish professional studies through the Spertus Institute. Before joining the Federation, Segev served as the Jewish Agency Israel fellow at Vanderbilt Hillel, where she worked closely with students to deepen their connection to Israel and Jewish life through educational programming, leadership development, advocacy initiatives and immersive experiences. Her background also includes youth leadership and education roles in Israel, including serving as a youth coordinator with the Telem Youth Movement and as a unit head at URJ Greene Family Camp. Segev is passionate about building meaningful connections between people and Israel, strengthening Jewish communities and creating opportunities for learning and leadership. She brings both professional expertise and a deeply personal connection to Israel to her work. In her new role, Segev will help strengthen ties between Nashville’s Jewish community, Israel and global Jewish partners while supporting programs that foster engagement, education and connection.

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September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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Shlicha Corner What My Shlichut Taught Me About Judaism and Community By ZIV SHEMESH

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fter two years as a shlicha, I can say with certainty that these have been the most rewarding, challenging, transformative, and diverse two years of my life. As I prepare to leave, I want to put into words two lessons that I am taking with me: one about Judaism, and one about community. My shlichut has been a personal, professional, and an identity-shaping journey. Moving away from everything familiar and building a life in a different country, surrounded by a different culture, religion, and set of traditions, forced me to look closely at the foundations I had built for myself until then. The First Lesson: Being in a Jewish State vs. Being Jewish in the States One of the biggest identity questions I encountered during my shlichut was surprisingly simple: How do I express my Judaism here? I am secular. Being secular in Israel and being secular in America are two very different experiences. In Israel, Judaism exists all around you, whether you actively practice it or not. It is woven into the public sphere, the calendar, the streets, the school system, and the sounds of the weekend. You don’t necessarily have to make a conscious choice to participate in Jewish life. Here it is different. When Judaism is not naturally present in the public sphere, preserving it requires you to intentionally bring it into your life. And often, the most accessible way to do that is through religion: going to synagogue, celebrating religious holidays, praying, and participating in religious rituals.

Ziv Shemesh with members of the community on a monthly hike she hosted.

I did not grow up that way. I didn’t grow up going to synagogue. I don’t know all the prayers by heart. I don’t know the melodies that are familiar to many American Jewish communities. And at times, I found myself sitting in synagogue feeling like I didn’t quite belong. Partly because this simply isn’t how I have historically expressed my Judaism. And partly because even the things that were supposed to be familiar sounded unfamiliar when sung to a different melody. So, I had to go deeper and ask myself: What does my Judaism actually look like? Let me take you through my Friday in Israel. Imagine Friday morning. Most of the country is either off work or working a shorter day. Everyone is preparing for Shabbat—whatever Shabbat means to them. Students arrive at school dressed in white. Soldiers make their way home

Heart of the Matter By ASHLEY FRANKLIN, LCSW

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ast month, Jewish Family Service had the opportunity to offer a grief drum circle. I’ll admit, I was hesitant at first because I had never done a drum circle. I wondered what level of experience would be needed and whether I would feel comfortable participating. I was relieved to learn that no previous experience was necessary. As we began, I quickly realized that this experience had very little to do with skill. It was about community, connection, and having a space to process something we all shared: grief. Interestingly, no one explained what had brought them to the circle or what they were grieving. We didn’t need to know each other’s stories. We simply knew that everyone in the room was carrying some kind of grief. There was something incredibly comforting about that shared understanding. We could come exactly as we were, without having to explain or put words around our loss. As the drumming continued, I noticed how differently people responded to the experience. Some seemed to process through thought and reflection;

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others seemed to let go of that intellectual part of themselves and simply become engaged in the rhythm. There was something very natural and intuitive about it—just being present, listening, moving, and allowing the rhythm to move us. For me, that was one of the most meaningful parts of the experience. Our facilitator, Vanessa Davis, did an amazing job guiding us through each exercise. She created a space that felt welcoming and safe while helping us remain focused and connected to the process. I left the experience reminded that grief doesn’t always need words. Sometimes it needs space. Sometimes it needs movement, rhythm, community, and connection. And sometimes, knowing that other people are sitting beside you carrying their own grief can be enough. If you’re interested in our next grief drum circle, let us know! We will be offering another opportunity for grief processing, Beads of Courage, on September 15 from 4:30–5:30 p.m. This is an experience to make something tangible to remind you of your loved one. If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please reach out to me at ashleyfranklin@jfsnashville. org or 615-354-1662. We would love to have you join us. •

September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Volunteers who went to Israel on a trip coordinated by Shemesh.

on buses. The streets fill with people carrying flowers, groceries, challah, and food for Friday night dinner. You can feel it. The country slows down. There are fewer cars on the roads, fewer stores are open, and streets become quieter. An entire country collectively takes a breath. And you take that breath with it. My mom and I drive to Tel Aviv and walk along the beach. We sit by the water with a beer and some watermelon, talk heart-to-heart, and breathe. Then we continue to the Carmel Market, our favorite place, and buy everything we need for Friday night dinner. We go home and start cooking. My mom cooks, I clean. I cook, she cleans. We dance around the kitchen, Israeli music playing in the background, and somehow, without even realizing it, we reset from the week we’ve just had. And then comes Friday night dinner. Family, food, noise, laughter, and stories. No prayers but a lot of love. After dinner, we usually meet up with friends. That is my “Shabbat.” It is a time for deep conversations, cleaning, cooking, family, friends, and breathing. I realized that this is also Judaism. During my time here, I was introduced more to Conservative and Reform Judaism and came to understand how important these movements are in today’s changing Jewish landscape. As a secular Jew, I still don’t necessarily find my natural home inside a synagogue. But perhaps I would feel differently if I had grown up in an environment where these forms of Judaism were part of the mainstream. In Israel, many secular Jews grow up with an equation that feels almost automatic: Judaism = Orthodoxy = everything or nothing. But Judaism is so much bigger than that. Through understanding where I felt disconnected, and imagining the life and family I hope to build one day, I came to understand something I had never fully appreciated before: The enormous power in living in a Jewish state. The Second Lesson: Community For the first time in my life, I truly understood what it means to be part of a minority. And with that came a new understanding of how much community matters when it comes to preserving identity. One of the things that fascinated

me most was how easy it can be to find a connection. All it took was one question: “Are you Jewish?” You meet someone randomly at a bar, discover they were Jewish, the conversation would immediately turn into Jewish geography. Because of course, you probably know someone I know. And suddenly, we had a connection. People came to my Shakshuka nights every Wednesday regardless of whether they actively practiced Judaism or not. Whether they had a degree or not. Whether they were from the East or West Coast. Whether they were 20 or 30. Whether they even liked Shakshuka. They came because the community was there. They came because one important piece of identity already connected them. In Israel, we all share the broader identity of being Israeli. But because that commonality is so broad, we look for another layer of connection: Did we serve in the same military unit? Do we have the same hobbies? Do we work in the same field? Did we go to the same school? Do we share the same political or social interests? Here, I discovered friendships that I have never experienced in Israel. They were simple. They were warm. They were loving. There was something almost effortless about them. You are part of the family, and therefore you are my friend. I hope I can bring that simplicity back to Israel. To the Nashville Jewish community, thank you. I came to Nashville to bring pieces of Israel with me, but Nashville gave me pieces of itself in return. Thank you for giving me a place to grow personally and professionally. Thank you for trusting me with your stories, your questions, your celebrations, and your community. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion and love for Israel. I will carry Nashville with me wherever I go next. The people, friendships, laughter, Shakshuka and hikes, the questions, challenges, and moments changed me in ways I didn’t expect. When people ask me what I learned during my shlichut, my answer is always the same: I went to a university of life. So, as we say in Hebrew when we say goodbye, “Shmor al kesher” - Keep the knot. You’ve become a knot in the fabric of my life, one I’ll carry with me forever. •

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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NCJW Celebrates 125 Years By JENNIFER HOFFMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NCJW NASHVILLE

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he National Council of Jewish Women, Nashville Section (NCJW Nashville) is celebrating a huge milestone this year... we are turning 125! From our founding in 1901, today we celebrate 125 years of Jewish values, serving our community through elevating nonprofit work, leadership opportunities for our members, and fighting to improve the lives of women, children and families. NCJW Nashville has a long history of service to the Nashville community and is composed of community members of all ages, denominations, and life stages. On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the membership of NCJW Nashville will kick off our 125th programming year at our opening meeting. “The year ahead brings added excitement,” said NCJW Nashville President, Stephanie Korn. “In addition to providing leadership opportunities to our members, our esteemed organization continues to serve the women, children, and families of Nashville and Middle Tennessee through our service work and partnerships, known as Projects. We are also undergoing a period of strategic evaluation as we celebrate not only our past 125 years of impact but look to the future.” Projects developed and supported by NCJW Nashville serve both the Jewish and secular community and have become a part of the lives of many of the citizens of our city. On Wednesday, September 9,

Sheri Rosenberg (2024-2026 NCJW Nashville President) and Stephanie Korn (2025-2027 NCJW Nashville President)

at 7 p.m., we will kick off our programming year by making Rosh Hashanah baskets for Senior Friends and others in our community. Stephanie Kirschner and Laura Shmerling, chairs of Senior Friends Rosh Hashanah baskets share that, “These projects uphold the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, making the community we live in a better place. It brings us so much joy to gather together to honor and serve the seniors in our community by assembling and delivering Rosh Hashanah baskets to bring us all a little sweetness in the New Year.” Each year, returning or new Projects are invited to apply for support through a process called Study and Survey. After completing the application, projects are asked to attend an allocations meeting facilitated by our Study and Survey chairs and members of the committee. This

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September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

2026-2027 NCJW Nashville Board of Directors

past year’s chairs were Vice Presidents of Projects, Julie Galbierz and Abby Sparks. Following Study and Survey, the NCJW Nashville membership voted to fund the following Projects: • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), funded through the Fensterwald Fund held by NCJW Nashville • Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee’s children and teen programs • Kosher Food Box with Jewish Family Service • Kosher for Passover Food Boxes with Jewish Family Service • Renewal House • Senior Friends Rosh Hashanah baskets with Jewish Family Service • Snack Box Program with OUR KIDS • Vanderbilt’s REACH for Survivorship The committee also voted to explore three potential new projects serving Nashville through increasing literacy, addressing food insecurity, and meeting non-healthcare needs in a healthcare setting for children and their families. Abby Sparks, NCJW Nashville chair of Projects, adds, “Each of NCJW Nashville’s projects works to improve the lives of a different demographic, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We strive to bring them joy in addition to needed resources, and the knowledge that someone in the Jewish community cares about them.” The funding for NCJW Nashville Projects is achieved primarily through contributions at the annual Ways & Means fundraiser, though they are also supported through gifts from private philanthropic foundations, corporate grants, and bequests by members naming NCJW Nashville as a beneficiary in their wills such as through Life & Legacy. NCJW Nashville is also honored to announce that its Scholarship Loan program, led by co-chairs Marci Kleinrock and Amy Smith, which provides interest-free loans to Middle Tennessee students pursuing higher education, will provide a record 18 loans to deserving students this upcoming academic year. Applications for the 2027-2028 loan cycle will open in early February and close in mid-March. If you know of a student who would benefit, please contact nashvillencjw@gmail.com. The 2026 Ways and Means fundraiser will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 11 a.m. Phyllis Helderman will be honored with the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award in recognition of her years of leadership and service to NCJW Nashville. The Emerging Leader award, named in honor of Jamie Brook, Freya Sachs, and Erin Zagnoev, will be presented to Hayley Levy Kupin. Last

year’s Ways and Means saw over 140 NCJW Nashville members and community members celebrate our accomplishments and raised over $55,000 in individual donations and sponsorships. NCJW Nashville is beyond grateful to everyone who made last year’s event a success and encourages the Nashville Jewish community to join them at this celebration of service, leadership and community. NCJW Nashville is also honored to announce our 2026-2027 Board and Executive Committee: • Officers & Executive Committee: – Stephanie Korn, President – Harriet Workman, Vice President – Kim Lapidus, Treasurer – Julie Galbierz, Secretary – Bryna Oleshansky Mody, Chair of Advocacy – Megan Koller, Chair of Membership – Ariel Yazdian Sasson, Chair of Programming – Abby Sparks, Chair of Projects – Marci Kleinrock and Sheri Rosenberg, Immediate Past Presidents • Board: Felicia Abramson, Erin Coleman, Arielle Darvin Yazdian, Alyssa Hassenfeld, Olivia Heller, Sophie Kieffer, Marla Levine, Hayley Levy Kupin, Daphne Logan, Deena Prichard, Lindsey Rosen, and Penny Woody We offer sincere gratitude to Sheri Rosenberg who completed her role as President at the end of the 2026 term. Sheri brought a true passion for making our community better. Her contributions were, and will continue to be, vital to NCJW Nashville’s future. The 2026-2027 Board of Directors invites all members of our Nashville Jewish community to join NCJW Nashville at the Opening Meeting on Wednesday, September 16, and for Ways and Means on Sunday, November 15, where they will continue to demonstrate support for their projects and honor deserving leaders. “On behalf of NCJW Nashville, I would like to encourage the Nashville community to show your support for these impactful and important projects, and join us throughout the year,” Korn said. “We have so many different ways to get involved, so please sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.” To get involved or sign up for our newsletter, please contact Jennifer Hoffman, NCJW Nashville’s Executive Director at nashvillencjw@gmail.com. To register for upcoming programs, donate, become a member, or learn more about NCJW Nashville, visit www. ncjwnashville.org. •

PLAN YOUR

…so that it’s not just a fairy tale.

THE APPLES AND HONEY DEBATE By LORETTA SAFF

(Recently overheard at midnight in a local Publix…)

H

arvey the Honeycrisp Apple was bragging again – Yeah, I’m the star on Rosh Hashana. Never mind Wendy Wildflower Honey and her grumbling. It’s called Apples and Honey - Apples come first! And anyway, did you notice the word ‘HONEY’ is in my name? Honestly, with my crisp bite and sweet-tart flavor, I could deliver a perfectly sweet and fruitful year all by myself.” A chorus of cheers went up in the produce section. Fuji, Gala, and Pink Lady were swooning while Ryan Red Delicious clapped politely. Then, came a voice from Aisle 3. Wendy Wildflower waddled in with her two buddies, Clover and Orange Blossom. Wendy Wildflower Honey: Ok, Harvey, I think it’s time we settled this. You may be sweet, but you’re not complete without me. I’m the HONEY! This time the loud cheers and dancing came from Clover and Orange Blossom. (The cantaloupe and watermelon were uncomfortable because they don’t like arguing.) Ryan came forward. Ok, that’s enough. Every year at Rosh Hashana you

have the same argument. This year, we are going to have an official debate. Each of you gets two reasons why you deserve to be part of a sweet and fruitful year ahead. (This was amazing. Ryan Red Delicious was taking control and it made a lot of sense. The Look to the Future blessing always includes BOTH Apples and Honey.) Harvey went first. “In case you don’t know, apples have the mineral BORON. Boron supports bone growth and helps reduce inflammation. That means I can offer health, vitality and even longevity because apple trees often live to be 100! He paused and smiled. And remember, ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ How’s that for a sweet and fruitful future ahead! He sashayed back to his place, and the apple crowd went wild. Then Wendy stepped up. She took a deep breath and smiled. I’m naturally sweet and rich in antioxidants that can protect cells from damage. I also represent healing since some research has shown I can help curb severe coughing I’m often used for that extra hug. — Like when you say, ‘Have a great day, Honey!’ Oh - and don’t forget, Israel is known as “The Land of Milk and HONEY!” She looked straight at the apple crowd. I don’t spoil easily, and if I look cloudy, I just need a little warming. Since I stay good for a very, very long time, I bring a lot of optimism to that year ahead!” A couple of the apples nudged each other and looked impressed. Red came forward and thanked both participants. “Well, there you are. Neither of you is the star. It’s a partnership, and there’s a lesson for all who are toasting to a sweet and fruitful new year ahead:

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DON’T JUST WISH OR HOPE. To reach your goals you must PLAN AHEAD and strive to live longer. Like the apple surround yourself with friends, exercise regularly, and choose food wisely. Like the honey – guard against getting cloudy and boring by helping others look to the future with hope and optimism. Enjoy your APPLES AND HONEY. Together they bring you a meaningful blessing and a true path to your HAPPILY EVER AFTER! • Le Shana Tovah! LORETTA loretta@coachingwithloretta.com

Building Confidence for Life’s Journey As a parent, you want your child to feel confident—not just on picture day, but walking into school, smiling with friends, and stepping into every new stage of life. But when it comes to orthodontics, it can be hard to know where to start. Does my child need braces? Is age 7 really the right time for a first check-up? Should we wait? Are Invisalign or braces the better option? At Gluck Orthodontics, we make the process simple. For more than 40 years, our family-owned practice has proudly served Nashville families and the Jewish community with clinical excellence, warmth, and Legendary Customer Service. Led by Dr. Jonathan “Dr. Jono” Gluck and Dr. Joel Gluck, our team helps families understand exactly what their child needs—and just as importantly, what they don’t need yet. Whether your child is ready for a first orthodontic evaluation, your teen is considering braces or Invisalign, or you simply want peace of mind, we’ll guide you step by step with clarity, kindness, and no pressure. Our goal is simple: to create beautiful, healthy smiles while making the journey feel easy for your family. From the first visit to the final smile reveal, every detail is designed to help your child feel comfortable, cared for, and confident. Back-to-school season is the perfect time to take the first step. Schedule your complimentary consultation today at drgluck.com or call (615) 269-5903. Gluck Orthodontics — building confidence for life’s journey. •

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

9

102-Year-Old Holocaust Dara Freiberg Named Survivor and WWII Veteran Chief Executive Officer of Jack Boeki to Speak at the Gordon JCC Chabad of Nashville T C habad of Nashville will host a special evening with Jack Boeki, a 102-yearold Holocaust survivor, World War II veteran, and former secret agent, on Monday, September 28. Boeki will share his extraordinary life story, followed by a book signing. Born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in 1924, Boeki was a teenager living with his parents and two sisters when Nazi Germany invaded his homeland. His world was shattered by the Holocaust, and he ultimately became the sole survivor of his immediate family. Yet his story is not only one of unimaginable loss. It is a remarkable story of survival, courage, faith, and resilience. During the evening, Boeki will share his personal account of ten miraculous escapes during the war and the experiences that shaped the course of his life. From surviving the Holocaust to serving during World War II and working as a secret agent, his journey offers a rare opportunity to hear living history directly from someone who experienced it. “At 102 years old, Jack represents a generation whose voices we have a sacred responsibility to hear and preserve,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel of Chabad of Nashville. “When we hear his story firsthand, the Holocaust is no longer simply something we read about in a history book. It becomes personal. Jack’s courage and determination remind us of the

strength of the human spirit and of our responsibility to pass these stories on to the next generation.” The program comes at a time when the message of standing against antisemitism, hatred, and intolerance remains deeply relevant. Chabad of Nashville hopes the evening will bring together people from throughout the Nashville community to listen, remember, and carry Boeki’s story forward. The evening will conclude with an opportunity to meet Boeki and have his book personally signed. RSVP at ChabadNashville.com •

he Gordon Jewish Community Center Board of Directors has named Dara Freiberg the organization’s new chief executive officer following an extensive national search conducted with Kittleman & Associates. Freiberg, who previously served as the Gordon JCC’s interim executive director since January, stood out throughout the search process for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership and deep commitment to building community. In her new role, she will lead the organization as it continues serving individuals and families throughout Nashville, building on its more than 120-year history. “Dara brings the leadership, vision, and collaborative spirit that the Gordon JCC needs for this next chapter,” said Joel Abramson, chair of the search committee. “She understands that the J is much more than a facility. It is a place where people build relationships, families grow, and our community comes together. I am excited to see what we will accomplish together.” The selection included input from committee members, community leaders, stakeholders, and staff. As part of the transition, the Board also approved changing the organization’s chief executive title from executive director to CEO. The updated title better reflects the scope and complexity of the position while aligning the Gordon JCC with peer Jewish Community Centers across North America.

Dara Freiberg

Dara served as the membership and development director at the J from 20152022 and more recently as president of the Board of Directors before resigning from the position to take on the interim executive director role. Under Freiberg’s leadership, the Gordon JCC will continue its mission of creating a welcoming community where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect, grow and belong. Her appointment, along with the rollout of a new strategic plan, marks an exciting new chapter for the organization and the community it serves. •

The Temple invites you to Celebrate the High Holidays FREE — No Tickets Needed! All are Welcome! Friday, September 11, 2026

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Erev Rosh Hashanah Service, 7:30 PM

Kol Nidre Service, 7:30 PM

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Monday, September 21, 2026

Rosh Hashanah Service, 10:30 AM

Yom Kippur Service, 10:30 AM

Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Tot and Family Morning Services, 8:45 AM

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10 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Nashville Athletes Compete at the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games

M

ore than 2,000 Jewish teen athletes gathered in Toronto for the 2026 JCC Maccabi Games in early August. The week-long event welcomed athletes ages 13 to 17 from 55 delegations representing nine countries, including the United States, Canada, Israel, Argentina, Hungary, Great Britain, Ukraine, Moldova and Venezuela. Representing Nashville was Eli Cheng and Blake Resnick. Cheng earned a gold medal in the 400 freestyle relay and a silver medal in the 200 freestyle relay. Resnick competed in ice hockey and received a Midot Medal, which recognizes individuals who represent the six values of JCC Maccabi: Lev Tov (Big Hearted), Rinah (Joy), Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), Amiut Yehudit (Jewish Peoplehood), G’eavah (Pride) and Kavod (Respect). The honor is awarded to only a few hundred of the thousands of athletes, coaches and delegation heads who participate in the Games each year. While athletic competition is central to the JCC Maccabi Games, participants also engage in educational, cultural and service experiences. Through OJA Allstars, an experience created by the Ontario Jewish Archives in association with the Toronto Holocaust Museum, athletes explored an immersive recreation of a 1930s athletic locker room. They learned the stories of six Jewish athletes through photographs,

artifacts and personal belongings. The experience showed participants how antisemitism and the Holocaust affected the athletes’ lives and careers. It also encouraged them to reflect on Jewish identity, resilience, perseverance and the power of sports. Participants also gave back through JCC Cares. In partnership with UJA and Repair the World, athletes assembled backpacks and hygiene kits for children and families throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Each service session included Jewish learning and reflection that connected the volunteer experience to tikkun olam (repairing the world) and the responsibility to care for others. JCC Access athletes participated alongside other Maccabi athletes in an inclusive service experience, showing that meaningful volunteerism is accessible to athletes of all abilities. Outside of the competitions and service projects, athletes had many opportunities to spend time together and have fun. During the Opening Ceremony, former hostage Omer Wenkert spoke to the athletes, and Israeli Eurovision singer Yuval Raphael performed alongside a gospel choir. Other evening activities included a trip to Canada’s Wonderland, Host Family Night and a bar and bat mitzvah-style Closing Ceremony and party.

Alyssa Brodie, Gui Passos, Eli Cheng, and Blake Resnick represent the Nashville delegation upon arriving at the 2026 Maccabi Games at the Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Toronto, Canada.

More than 500 coaches, 750 host families, and 1,000 volunteers helped make the Games possible. By the end of the week, participants left with more than medals. The Games fostered lasting connections among Jewish teens from around the world while giving them an opportunity to proudly represent their communities.

The JCC Maccabi Games will return next summer with two locations. One will take place in Austin, Texas, from July 25 to 30. The second location and dates will be announced soon. Teens interested in representing Nashville at next summer’s JCC Maccabi Games can contact Alyssa Brodie at abrodie@bbyo.org for more information. •

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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Vanderbilt Hillel Welcomes Two New Israel Fellows By SHANNON SMALL

V

anderbilt Hillel welcomed two new Israeli fellows, Peleg Tshagr and Liron Toledano, to its staff in August. Through the Israel Fellows program, administered by the Jewish Agency for Israel, the two will help strengthen students’ connections to Israel while building relationships and supporting Jewish life on Vanderbilt University’s campus. Peleg brings a background in marketing, advertising, and community engagement. She earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing communications before completing a Master of Business Administration degree focused on entrepreneurship, strategy, and innovation. Before moving to Nashville, Peleg developed marketing campaigns, community programs and events designed

Liron Toledano

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to bring people together. At Vanderbilt Hillel, she will work with students from a variety of backgrounds to help them build connections and find community on campus. She also plans to share aspects of Israeli culture through food, music, traditions and personal experiences. Liron was born and raised in Kiryat Yam, a coastal city on Israel’s Mediterranean coast. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Gordon Academic College of Education and spent the past two years teaching English to middle and high school students in Kiryat Yam and Akko. Liron brings experience in education, mentorship, and relationship-building to her role. She said she looks forward to supporting Vanderbilt students as they explore their Jewish identities, engage with Israeli culture and build friendships. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, staying active, and listening to music. “We are so excited for both Peleg and Liron to start their roles on campus. We truly value all they bring to our Hillel and students. We know they will play a pivotal role in continuing to build Vanderbilt’s Jewish community and can’t wait to introduce them to our community,” said Ari Dubin, executive director of Vanderbilt Hillel. Throughout the year, the fellows will help lead educational programs, cultural events, holiday celebrations, and informal gatherings focused on conversation, learning and community. Members of the Nashville Jewish community will have opportunities to meet Peleg and Liron throughout the year at Vanderbilt Hillel programs and community events. •

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Vanderbilt Professor’s Book on Soviet Jewry Named Finalist for Prestigious Sami Rohr Prize By SHAINA KATZ

“T

hese were people who were regular people. It’s like you and me, and they really changed the world,” said Shaul Kelner, professor of Jewish Studies and Sociology at Vanderbilt University. That idea is at the heart of Kelner’s A Cold War Exodus: How American Activists Mobilized to Free Soviet Jews, which was recently named a finalist for the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, a highly selective honor recognizing emerging writers and the breadth and depth of Jewish storytelling. Unlike other literary awards, the Sami Rohr Prize does not accept submissions. Books are identified and vetted by the prize team before advancing to a panel of distinguished judges, making selection as a finalist a significant honor. Published by NYU Press in 2024, Kelner’s book examines how American Jews organized on behalf of roughly three million Jews living behind the Iron Curtain. Through grassroots organizing, they brought attention to the plight of Soviet Jews, mobilized American Jews and helped pressure political leaders to act. Kelner calls it “the largest political mobilization of American Jews in American Jewish history” and one of the few successful human rights campaigns. The recognition recently brought Kelner to Jerusalem, where he joined fellow finalists and past winners at the National Library of Israel for the award ceremony and a two-day institute. Finalists become part of an international commu-

nity of writers, scholars and thinkers who gather and learn from one another. For Kelner, the gathering offered a chance to connect with writers outside the world of academia. “It’s not been an easy time for Jewish writers,” Kelner said. He described the gathering as a place where writers could “exhale” and talk about their work. Kelner’s interest in Soviet Jewry goes back to his graduate school years, and he has worked on the book for more than a decade. “The more that I studied it, and the more that I spoke to activists, the more excited I got about the project,” he said. For many American Jews who grew up in the 1970s and ’80s, the Soviet Jewry movement was woven into everyday Jewish life. “You could not grow up Jewish in the ’70s and ’80s without being exposed to or involved in some way in the fight for Soviet Jews,” Kelner said. The movement was remarkable not only for its scale, but for its sense of community. “Three million Jews, you know, on the other side of the ocean during the Cold War, on the other side of the Iron Curtain, and yet we still felt a commitment,” Kelner said. He said the book also includes a few Nashville connections, giving local readers another reason to revisit this chapter of Jewish history. The movement’s unity and impact remain striking, especially today, and are part of what makes A Cold War Exodus a compelling read. •

Vanderbilt AEPi Earns Chapter of the Year Honor By IVAN ARONIN

A

lpha Epsilon Pi at Vanderbilt University has been named the Interfraternity Council’s 2026 Chapter of the Year. At the international Jewish fraternity’s annual convention in Phoenix in August, the chapter was also named Most Outstanding Colony and approved to recharter, with a Nashville ceremony planned for next spring. It is the second consecutive year the chapter has received a major Vanderbilt IFC award. In 2025, it was recognized for its community service and philanthropy programming. Members hosted a fundraiser this spring for the Gift of Life bone marrow registry and participated in the Rohr Chabad House student seder held at Vanderbilt’s football stadium. The chapter’s 34 members earned a combined 3.56 grade-point average during the spring semester. Fifteen members represented the chapter at an AEPi

Members of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at Vanderbilt celebrate a Passover seder last spring at the university’s football stadium.

regional event in Blacksburg, Virginia, last semester, and four members attended the fraternity’s international convention. The chapter has begun its 202627 rush program. Those who know Jewish male students who will be firstyear students at Vanderbilt or other colleges and are interested in joining the fraternity may send names and contact information to chapter adviser Ivan Aronin at ivanjaronin@yahoo.com. •

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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14 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

A Rabbi and a Doctor Discuss Genesis 12:3 By RABBI MARK SCHIFTAN AND DR. FRANK BOEHM

F

rank: There are many verses in the Hebrew Bible that are my favorite, however, one line stands out more than all the rest. That line is found in Genesis 12:3 where God speaks to Abraham saying, “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Jewish history confirms the validity of this biblical quote. From the two destructions of the Jewish Temples, the first in 586 BC by the Babylonians and the second in 70 AD by the Romans, to the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, pogroms of Russia and Poland, multiple expulsions of countries all over the globe, the numerous Middle East wars, and of course, the Holocaust, the Jewish people have survived while those who attempted to curse and destroy us have themselves in the long run been cursed with failure, demise, and irrelevance. Leo Tolstoy said it best when he wrote: “The nation which neither slaughter nor torture could exterminate, which neither fire nor sword of civilizations were able to erase from the face of the earth, the nation which first proclaimed the word of the Lord, the nation which preserved the prophecy for so long and passed it onto the rest of humanity, such a nation cannot vanish.” Mark, in a time of worldwide rising anti-Semitism and an Iranian commitment to wipe Israel off the face of the map, can we Jews remain hopeful that what God said to Abraham 4000 years ago remains true once again? Mark: Frank, two things can be true at the same time: On the one hand, the Jewish people survived and even thrived during two thousand years of exile from our ancestral homeland. The Babylonian Talmud and the prayer book were both created in the Diaspora. The institution of the synagogue, the single most innovative enduring enterprise in Jewish history, was born in exile. Jewish culture and community continued to be established in every land in which Jews were either permitted or required to enter and call home. And yet, on the other hand, Jews never forgot where they came from nor the place they called home. Wherever they prayed, they faced Jerusalem.

Whenever they prayed, their prayers included petitions and pleas for a return to their ancestral homeland. They observed their holidays according to the agricultural cycle of the pilgrimage festivals in the Land of Zion. The language they spoke inside the walls of their synagogues was the sacred vocabulary of the Hebrew Bible. In essence, we never forgot the land promised to our shared ancestor Abraham, to whom God gave to him and to his descendants the Land of Israel. It was, and is, a divine promise and an eternal inheritance. And the Jewish people, in return, never surrendered their connection to that homeland nor lost hope in someday returning to reclaim it as ours once again. As the Torah states: And there I will make you a great nation, and you shall be a blessing. Which brings us to the words of Genesis 12:3, the idea that those who bless us will be blessed, and those who curse us will be cursed. Frank, we live in a rare moment in history, one in which many evangelical Christians see the promise of a blessed life through their blessing of the Jewish people. They express the hope of being a branch grafted onto the Jewish tree. And they are incredibly supportive of the State of Israel and very strongly demonstrate their allegiance to the Jewish people. Frank, why do you think this is a relatively recent occurrence? Do you believe in the sincerity of these people? And how should we best respond to them and express our gratitude for their allegiance to us? Frank: Mark, you ask a few important questions. First, I agree that this evangelical viewpoint is a recent occurrence. It was fifteen years ago that I joined an evangelical men’s discussion group which met once a month at one of Nashville’s most respected and loved evangelical leader’s home. I joined Don Finto, also known as Papa Don, each month for over five years in prayer and discussion on a variety of religious subjects. I was one of two Jews to attend these two-hour morning meetings that usually was attended by approximately twenty evangelical Christian men. I learned at these meetings that these men were sincere in their commitment to God and the words in the Hebrew Bible that stated God’s promise

to Abraham. They genuinely believed that they were grafted on the roots of the Jewish tree and their support for Israel and the Jewish people was unwavering and sincere. I grew to admire and respect each of the men at these meetings. Second, because most Christians I meet do not believe in replacement theology also known as supersessionism, (a belief that because the Jew did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, God has rejected the Jew and made Christians the new chosen people,) I have embraced my fellow Christians with a feeling of respect and admiration and thanks for rejecting this replacement theology. We Jews should be thankful for those Christians who totally support the Jewish people and reveal to them a feeling of thanks and love. It was the Jewish people who introduced monotheism to the world as well as the ten commandments, the need for humankind to be free from slavery and the need to live a life that helps repair the world, love God, and the stranger among us. God’s blessing on the Jewish people, although at times questionable, eventually has been fulfilled. We have been blessed while those who have cursed us have themselves been cursed. I believe that will continue for all eternity.

Mark: Frank, I believe that your admiration for the sincerity of these evangelical Christians’ commitment to the strength and vitality of the Jewish people is warranted. While we may not agree with each other on every position regarding social values and ethical priorities, we can and should accept their embrace of our people, as the blessed nation through whom they hope to receive blessings upon themselves, by their blessing of our endeavors and our very existence. One final note: I also believe in the sincerity of their continuing and vigorous support for our Jewish homeland as a divine gift to the Jewish people as an inheritance for all time. Whatever their reasons, whatever their ultimate goal, Israel benefits from their support, which includes the lobbying efforts of several million American Christians who are members of Christians United for Israel. As they embrace us with open arms and open hearts, we would be wise to be more embracing in return, and more appreciative and expressive of our gratitude towards them. • Rabbi Mark Schiftan can be reached at mschiftan@aol.com Dr. Frank Boehm can be reached at frank.boehm@vumc.org

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The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

15

Love Your Jewish Neighbor event brings Nashville Christian and Jewish communities together By Erin Wides

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s antisemitism continues to rise around the world, a growing Christian movement is encouraging people to respond not only through advocacy, but through friendship. That message was at the heart of a recent Love Your Jewish Neighbor event, bringing members of Nashville’s Christian and Jewish communities together for an evening of education, reflection and solidarity. Love Your Jewish Neighbor Month is a global movement that encourages Christians to intentionally express friendship, support and solidarity with Jewish people and communities during July. For Jewish Federation’s JCRC Associate Adeline Ellison, who attended the Nashville gathering, the evening offered an opportunity to deepen understanding between the two faith communities. “One of the speakers, Dr. AmyJill Levine, challenged common antisemitic stereotypes by providing historical and religious context from Jewish and Christian texts,” Ellison said. “Through thoughtful examination of the scripture, she demonstrated how misunderstandings can take root when religious literature is removed from its original context, underscoring the importance of learning before making assumptions.” Dr. Frank Boehm addressed the resilience of the Jewish people throughout

history. According to Ellison, Boehm emphasized the responsibility individuals have to seek accurate information, confront misinformation and combat ignorance through meaningful dialogue. “His remarks served as a reminder that understanding begins with a willingness to learn,” Ellison said. The evening also included a deeply personal perspective on the consequences of antisemitism. Daniel Lischinsky, whose son Yaron Lischinsky was murdered alongside his girlfriend in the May 2025 antisemitic attack outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., shared his experience of loss. For Ellison, hearing Lischinsky speak brought the evening’s discussion of antisemitism into focus. “Hearing a father speak about profound loss was a sobering reminder that the consequences of hatred and violence are not abstract – they affect real families and communities,” she said. The Nashville gathering was part of a broader Love Your Jewish Neighbor initiative that has brought together churches, ministries, schools, organizations and individuals across the United States, and beyond. “In a time when antisemitism is rising worldwide, we believe one of the strongest responses is friendship. These gatherings are an opportunity for Christians and Jews to stand together as neighbors,” said local organizer, Bob Mendelsohn.

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For Ellison, the evening reinforced the role education, and relationships can play in confronting prejudice. “Education is one of the most pow-

erful tools for combating prejudice; and genuine relationships across faith communities can help build a more compassionate and informed society,” she said. •

Orchestra Tikvah group photo

Orchestra

Continued from page 1

to play challenging music and be among Jewish musicians who understood that experience. “I don’t often get to play with other Jewish string musicians, besides my sister,” Kleinhaus said. “It was interesting to see how they played and what their experience was like.” Kleinhaus said the first few days were demanding. “It was intensive, but Dr. Ebin made sure we had fun,” he said. “He always switched it up, it wasn’t the same thing all the time.” Twelve-year-old violinist Ayelet Presser had never heard of a Jewish orchestra camp before. “I was really excited to be part of the group and I knew I’d have an amazing time,” she said. “I wasn’t wrong at all.” For Presser, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was meeting other Jewish musicians. “It felt like we had so much in common, and it was such a fun experience to play beautiful music for the community,” she said. “The other musicians were very nice and everyone worked so well together.”

The community performances allowed the students to see the impact of their work beyond rehearsals. At the senior lunch, Sharon Solomon watched the musicians, tapping along to the music. “That was awesome,” she said. “I can’t play anything, but I love music and that was just awesome.” She was particularly impressed that the program brought together young musicians from across the country. “Music keeps people, especially Jewish people, together,” Solomon said. When not in rehearsals or performances, the students visited Nashville’s Station Inn, explored downtown and tried line dancing, and shared Shabbat dinner. This was more than just a week for music and connecting. Kleinhaus said the students have stayed in touch through group chats and have even started an Orchestra Tikvah fantasy football league. “It’s a really unique experience; there’s really nothing like it,” he said. “I thought the whole thing was amazing.” Ebin hopes to continue Orchestra Tikvah next year and replicate the rehearsals and community performances while expanding the program into a small Southeast tour, potentially including performances in Atlanta and Memphis. •

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Building Above the Ruins: A New Year, A New Beginning By Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel

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s the Jewish New Year approaches, I find myself thinking differently about what it means to begin again. A little over two months ago, I was struck by a car while crossing the street. In seconds, ordinary life changed. I suffered several broken bones in my hand, a dislocated finger, and an injury to my knee. A few days later, I underwent surgery, and the surgeon inserted five pins into my hand to rebuild what had been broken. Since then, recovery has become part of my daily life. Several weeks after surgery, I returned to my surgeon, hoping the X-rays would show enough healing for the pins to come out. When it was time to remove them, the first pin was not so bad. The second hurt more. The third was painful. The fourth was very painful. Then came the fifth pin. It was long, deep, and stubborn. Pain shot through my hand. I closed my eyes and quietly began to pray. All I could do was breathe, trust G-d, and hold on. With one final pull, it came free. Almost instantly, the pain was gone. As I left the doctor’s office, I realized this was about much more than removing five pieces of metal. It was teaching me something about pain, healing, and the meaning of Rosh Hashanah. I began to see that experience in a different way and it made me think of something else. Around the time of the doctor visits, I had just read about an archaeological discovery in Jerusalem. Archaeologists in the City of David uncovered wooden beams from the First Temple period, preserved beneath the ruins. When the Jewish people eventually returned to Jerusalem, they did not erase every reminder of the destruction. They built above it. We often imagine Rosh Hashanah as a clean page, a chance to leave yesterday behind. But life does not always work that way. We enter the New Year carrying the stories of what has broken us, built us, and blessed us in the months and years before. Judaism does not ask us to erase yes-

terday. It asks us to build above it. These past months have reminded me of that. Before my accident, I never thought about things like buttoning my shirt, holding a cup of coffee, shaking someone’s hand, hugging someone I love, or bending my fingers. Now, every movement feels like a gift. Sometimes we have to lose something or be tested, to appreciate what G-d has given us all along. Perhaps that is part of Rosh Hashanah. It asks us to stop and notice. To appreciate the people we love and treasure our health. To realize that

another year of life is itself an extraordinary blessing. Before leaving my surgeon’s office, I smiled and said, “When my hand heals completely, I’d like to return the favor. Let me help heal your hand by putting on tefillin together.” He smiled, hugged me, and said, “I’d be glad to.” Every one of us enters the New Year carrying something: a prayer to be answered. We cannot always choose what happens to us. But we can choose what comes from it, how we build on it. We all have that stubborn “fifth pin.” Maybe it is a reminder that some-

times the deepest pain comes just before the next stage of healing begins. When the shofar sounds this Rosh Hashanah, may we hear within its cry: Keep believing. Keep building. Keep moving forward. May this New Year bring healing where there is pain, light where there is darkness, hope where there is uncertainty, and new beginnings where we thought there were only endings. May we all be blessed with a good and sweet New Year, filled with health, happiness, peace, and the faith to know that whatever lies behind us, with G-d’s help, we can always build something beautiful ahead. •

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! 5787 The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

17

Vanderbilt University, ‘We Are Here’ Partner to Expand Holocaust Education through Music V

anderbilt University and We Are Here: Songs from the Holocaust have announced a new multi-year partnership that will use music, education and public dialogue to expand Holocaust education and encourage conversations about memory, antisemitism and the responsibility to confront hatred. The partnership builds on Vanderbilt’s nearly five decades of Holocaust education through its Holocaust Lecture Series and reflects the university’s founding mission of using education to help repair a fractured nation. The collaboration begins Nov. 4 with a performance at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. The concert is co-spon-

sored by Vanderbilt’s Holocaust Lecture Series and the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program. “We Are Here demonstrates how music, history and dialogue can preserve memory, deepen understanding and prepare future generations to confront difficult questions with humanity, courage and respect,” said Darren Reisberg, vice chancellor for Operations and the Campus Network at Vanderbilt. “This partnership reflects our belief that education remains one of society’s most powerful tools for building stronger communities.” According to Vanderbilt University, We Are Here features songs written in the ghettos and concentration camps in Nazi-occupied Europe, interwoven with the stories of the peo-

ple who created them. Composer and music producer Ira Antelis developed the production following the death of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, drawing inspiration from collections of Yiddish music preserved by survivors and passed from generation to generation. The production has been shared at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Salt Shed in Chicago, and Vanderbilt University. In January 2025, Vanderbilt became the first university to co-present the concert. Vanderbilt alumnus David Mendelson, BA’88, an executive producer of We Are Here, helped develop the relationship between the university and the production, with conversations starting several years ago about the con-

nection between Vanderbilt’s mission and the concert’s educational purpose. “From our earliest conversations, Vanderbilt stood apart because of its founding purpose and its belief that education can help bridge divides and strengthen communities,” said Rabbi Charles Savenor, executive producer of We Are Here and executive director of Civic Spirit. The Nov. 4 concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. The Southern California performance is the first under the new partnership. Vanderbilt and We Are Here expect to announce additional performances and educational initiatives as the collaboration develops. •

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BBYO special. Through engaging programs, meaningful traditions, and memorable experiences, teens will strengthen their connection to the Jewish community while having an incredible weekend filled with fun, learning, and personal growth. For more information, please contact Alyssa at abrodie@bbyo.org •

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BYO is the world’s leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement and now have digital gift cards available for lifetime membership. For a one-time fee of $249, family members, friends, and community supporters can gift a Jewish teen in grades 8–12

access to a global community centered on leadership, Jewish identity, and meaningful connections. Membership opens the door to local chapter experiences, regional conventions, travel programs, and exclusive summer leadership experiences. A BBYO membership gift card is a perfect gift for B’nai Mitzvot, birthdays, Hanukkah, or any special occasion worth celebrating. Gift cards are available at bbyo.org/giftcard. •

18 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

N

ovember 6-8, at Hillmont Camp The Delta Region will come together to reconnect with friends, build new relationships, develop leadership skills, and celebrate what makes

Congregation Micah Helps Teens and Parents Navigate a Complex World People Love Dead Jews, has become one of the most important contemporary voices examining antisemitism and the ways it manifests in both historical and modern contexts. Through the Tell Institute, she and her colleagues are developing new approaches to Jewish education that recognize the complexity of the world our young people inhabit and equip them to engage it thoughtfully. Facilitated by Rabbi Laurie Rice and JLAB teacher Matthew Hibdon, these sessions will not only engage learners but also generate feedback to help shape the program’s development for use in Jewish communities more broadly. This new curriculum comes at a particularly important moment. Our teenagers are encountering conversations about antisemitism, Israel, and Zionism in classrooms, on social media, in the news, and among their peers. These conversations are often complicated, emotionally charged, and lacking in historical

By Rabbi Laurie Rice

J

ewish clergy, teachers, and parents agree that one of the most important opportunities we can offer our young people is to engage seriously with the questions shaping the Jewish world around them. That goal requires creating spaces where difficult topics are not avoided, but explored with curiosity, knowledge, courage, and Jewish wisdom. Congregation Micah has been selected to pilot a groundbreaking new curriculum on antisemitism and antizionism this coming January. Created by acclaimed author Dara Horn and her Tell Institute, the eight-session program will bring together Micah’s teens—eighth grade and older—and their parents for an innovative learning experience designed to help families navigate some of the most challenging issues facing Jews today. Horn, author of the award-winning

context. Young people need more than talking points. They need intellectual and Jewish tools to understand what they are hearing, ask discerning questions, distinguish between ideas that are related but not synonymous, and develop their own informed perspectives. The chance to pilot this program reflects Congregation Micah’s commitment to thoughtful and relevant Jewish education. We are excited to help prepare the next generation to encounter the world as knowledgeable, thoughtful, and resilient Jews—and we want parents

to have the opportunity to grow alongside them. In keeping with Congregation Micah’s commitment to innovative Jewish education, we are excited to help prepare the next generation to understand antisemitism, engage thoughtfully with Israel and Zionism, and find their voices as Jews in an increasingly complicated world. This is what Jewish education at Congregation Micah looks like: timely, intellectually engaging, courageous, and deeply connected to the lives of our students and families. •

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The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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Embark Nashville Welcomes Interfaith Couples to Explore Jewish Life By Cantor Josh Goldberg

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

20 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

or many young interfaith couples, building a life together comes with important questions. Which traditions will become part of their home? How will they celebrate holidays? What might Shabbat look like? How can they honor different backgrounds while creating something meaningful together? This fall, Embark Nashville will offer couples a welcoming place to explore those questions. A program of Mem Global, Embark brings together interfaith couples in their 20s and 30s to learn about Jewish life, connect with other couples and consider which traditions and values feel meaningful to them. There is no pressure to convert and no expectation that couples arrive with a particular level of Jewish knowledge or observance. Cantor Josh Goldberg will facilitate the Nashville cohort, which will meet from September 29 through November 3, with weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., as well as a weekend retreat and Shabbat dinner. The small cohort of six to ten couples will explore topics including personal and family stories, Jewish diversity, holidays, mitzvot and belonging,

Shabbat, and building family rituals. An October 9 to 11 retreat will focus on collaboration, disagreement and values, and participants will celebrate a Shabbat dinner together on October 30. Embark is designed to be more than a class. The small-group setting gives couples an opportunity to meet others navigating similar experiences and to have open conversations about questions that can arise in interfaith relationships. How can two families’ traditions coexist? Which Jewish practices might become meaningful at home? What traditions might a couple eventually want to pass on to children? Couples do not need to have the answers before joining. Embark provides a supportive space to begin asking the questions and discovering what Jewish life might look like for their relationship. The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is proud to help support this program through an Emerging Needs Grant. Embark Nashville begins September 29 and runs through November 3. Each partner must register separately. Couples interested in participating can learn more and register through Mem Global’s Embark program, https://memglobal. org/embark/embark-nashville/ or email jgoldberg@congregationmicah.org •

HAPPY NEW YEAR 5

KEEP CALM KEEP CALM and HAVE a HEALTHY and HAPPY SHANA TOVA U’METUKAH

Rabbi Yitzchok and Esther Tiechtel Rabbi Berel and Tzivia, Mushka, Meni, Rafael, Eliyahu, Sima and Meir Namdar Rabbi Chaim and Bassie, Musya, Naomi and Meir Weitman Rabbi Levi and Mushka, and Menachem Tiechtel Rabbi Mendel and Chana, and Meir Baron and Sarah Tiechtel

7

8

7

May G-d bless us with peace, unity, and health. L’Shanah Tova!

Shanah tovah! Wishing you a happy and healthy 5787!

Meital, Abi, Iara, Jess & Rabbi Joshua Kullock

from Rabbis Michael & Lindsey Danziger, Ben, Aviva, & Noa

The clergy of Sherith Israel wish our entire Nashville Jewish community an uplifting, joyous and transformative High Holy Day season.

Chabad of Nashville wish you a sweet year of Good Health a Year of Love, Laughter, and Joy. L’Shana Tovah u’Metukah

May this year bring blessings of health, peace, purpose, and hope L’shanah Tovah! Rabbi Shana, James, Hannah and Sylvie Mackler

‫שנה טובה ומתןקה‬

May it be a sweet and healthy new year for all! Your Congregation Micah Clergy and Staff

The Members, Board of Trustees, Clergy and Staff of THE TEMPLE wish you

Shanah Tovah! We invite you to welcome 5787 with us!

We hope this New Year will be one of wholeness, happiness, good health and peace.

Shana Tova 5787

5015 Harding Pike ~ (615) 352-7620 www.templenashville.org

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

21

Shanah tovah! Wishing my extended Nashville family a year of joy, laughter, friendship, blessing, and MUSIC!

L’Shana Tova Tikateivu v’TichateimuMay 5787 bring us strength, resilience, security and peace.

Love, Cantor Josh Goldberg

The Parents, Faculty and Students of Beit Miriam @ WES

Have a happy, healthy New Year! MERYL & KEITH KRAFT

Have a Safe, Healthy and Happy New Year Jill and Dan Eisenstein

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Jamie and Nick, Alison and Chuck, Andrea, Kevin and Brayden and Leo, Leslie and Howard Kirshner

Wishing all our Friends in the Community a Happy and Healthy New Year Steven, Esther, Evan and Carolyn Remer, Jordan and Megan Remer

Wishing you a happy and healthy 5787! Looking forward to seeing you at the J! Gordon JCC President Evan Nahmias, Sandy, Elliott, Leeds and Noah

Le-Shanah Tovah Tikkatevu

Reva Heller

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year 22 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Shana Tova from my family to yours! May the New Year bring sweetness to your tables, joy to your homes, and peace and connection to our community.

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L’Shanah Tovah!

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With gratitude for the many years of love and support from our Nashville Jewish Community! Happy New Year to All! Carrie and Garrett Mills

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

SHANA TOVA! -

Congregation Sherith Israel wishes the community a sweet New Year!

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

23

Upstream But Not Alone By Marly Boehm

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ince fall of 2023 my freshman year, my college experience has been marked by a post-October 7 reality. I

found the tiny, new Jewish club on campus and joined its leadership board, where I still serve now in my senior year as its vice president. I studied, worked out, and cried to a soundtrack of Hebrew

Happy New Year From Goldie and Mark Shepard and Family

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24 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

pop in my AirPods. I tacked a giant Israeli flag to my dorm wall, wrote poetry about Israel, and I carried the ache of a war-torn country into my sleepy morning classrooms. I stood my ground as a Jew and Israel advocate in the face of apathy and TikTok slogans. But when you are fighting upstream for a cause you believe in, it’s easy to believe you’re alone. Although I wear my Jewish star on campus, I typically keep a low public profile as an Israel supporter, because students like me tend to be outshouted and outnumbered. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a National Leadership Summit in D.C., hosted by Israel on Campus Coalition. I walked into the beautiful hotel (only blocks away from the White House) and was met with the summit’s slogan, tacked to walls and pillars: “American. Zionist. Proud.” Over the next few days, I stood in a room of 800 student leaders across the country and listened to over 40 incredible speakers as they encouraged us in being pro-Israel leaders. We heard from politicians, activists, entrepreneurs, and influencers. I was impressed by the quality of the venue, the significance of the location, the credentials of each speaker, and the large number of attendees. Several sessions particularly stood out to me. In one of them, Noah Pollak, senior advisor for the Department of Education, and Jonathan Rauch, activist and author of nine books, debated with each other on stage. Their topic was on the constitutionality of both the post-October 7 antisemitic activity on college campuses, and the presidential administration’s campus crackdown. But more than the issue being debated, I was encouraged by the debate itself. Both men were highly educated and well-spoken, and both were friends. In a digitized era where algorithms cultivate polarization, I was struck with the healing power of respectful, educated debate. Rather than leaving me angry at

one side, the debate showed me that I was actually out-educated by both sides, and inspired me to do my own research. I also had the opportunity to meet some of the speakers. After one breakout session, I stood in line to meet Miri Eisin, a retired colonel in the IDF, and internationally recognized for her expertise in intelligence, security, and geopolitics. In another powerful breakout session, I met Daniel Rubenstein, Middle East analyst and former advisor to two Israeli Prime Ministers. In that session, his complex, rapid-fire answers to students’ questions inspired me to want to learn more about the landscape of the Middle East, including its geo-politics, histories, demographics, tensions, alliances, values, and resources. In another session, we heard from international hostage advocates Rachel Goldberg-Polin and her husband Jon, parents of Hersh, a young man taken hostage and eventually murdered by Hamas. I was haunted by the grief in Rachel’s eyes as she spoke, and struck by her strength—not only in bearing it, but in beautifully voicing the pain and wisdom of countless others silently wrestling with losing a loved one. In the last session, we heard from Omer Shem Tov, former hostage who was held in Gaza for 505 days. He described his vulnerability and surrender to G-d, and how G-d met him and showed him light, even 120 feet underground in a tiny dark cell. He reminded us that everything is a miracle, even sunshine. He also cheered us on as leaders on our campuses. Attending the ICC summit encouraged me to stand strong as a Jewish leader and Israel supporter. Hearing and meeting the experienced, intelligent speakers reminded me that I am not crazy or uneducated for being a proud Zionist. And standing in a room of hundreds of student leaders reminded me that yes, we are swimming upstream, but not by ourselves. We are part of a people. We are not alone. •

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Franklin Light Opera brings Jewish tradition, community to ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ By Erin Wides

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ranklin Light Opera’s upcoming production of “Fiddler on the Roof” is about more than putting on a beloved musical. It’s an opportunity to bring together a multigenerational cast, introduce audiences to Jewish traditions, and build community through theater. The production, directed by John Schultz, will feature a cast of 45 performers ranging in age from 8 to 70, making it the largest production Franklin Light Opera has done. The show will include a live six-piece orchestra and an actress-violinist playing the fiddler. For Karen Dumont, president of Franklin Light Opera, choosing this show is also personal. Shortly after college, she played Hodel in a community theater production in Rochester, New York. “We had all ages, and it was such a big cast and such a wonderful community experience. I’ve had that in the back of my mind for quite a long time,” Dumont said. She co-founded Franklin Light Opera in 2020 with a mission to create opportunities for local performers to bring classical musical theater to life in Franklin. The scale of “Fiddler” is a significant step for the organization. Previous Franklin Light Opera productions typically featured casts of 11 to 24 performers. For this production, 77 people auditioned, and the organization double cast several young roles to accommodate more performers. The cast also includes several parent-child pairs, including Dumont, her husband, and their son. “It’s really a thrill to be able to do something with your daughter, with your son, versus just dropping them off at rehearsal and going to see their show,” Dumont said. Schultz, a board member and director, has appeared in 185 shows and has directed about 80 productions in his lifetime. This will be his third time directing “Fiddler.” Schultz said it’s one of the most magical shows. The story explores themes that are still relevant today. “It’s not about a Jewish town in Russia. It is about that, but it’s about family and prejudice and getting along and the place of tradition in what we do,

and it’s timeless,” Schultz said. The production is taking special care to portray Jewish life accurately. Howard Snyder, who plays the rabbi, is also serving as the production’s dramaturg, researching the historical and cultural details represented on stage and helping educate the cast and production team. Snyder has worked on multiple productions of Fiddler and previously served as dramaturg for Belmont University’s 2017 production. His connection to the show is personal. He first saw the Broadway musical when he was 10 years old and has seen many productions since. His grandparents came to the United States from Russia around the same time depicted in the musical. “I love the music, it’s such a great musical, but it’s so much more than that. It’s my family,” Snyder said. “I’m invested in the show. I’m invested in theater that has Jewish content and representation and wanting to make sure that that is done correctly,” Snyder said. He’s helped with everything from pronunciation of Yiddish names to the details of Jewish rituals, including the Sabbath prayer and wedding ceremony. He also encouraged the inclusion of a mezuzah on Tevye’s home, a detail not specified in the script. “My main job is to help ensure that everything that the audience sees and hears on stage is accurate,” Snyder said. He was also part of helping adjust the show schedule to accommodate Jewish cast and audience members during the High Holy Days. After noticing that the original dates included a time that was close to conflicting with Yom Kippur, Snyder worked with Dumont and Schultz to adjust a performance time. The production aims to remind audiences that the story reflects real history. “It’s not just a piece of fun theater,” Schultz said. “It is fun theater, but there’s another message here that this is a little picture of something that really happened.” For Dumont, “I would say they’re (audience) going to see a powerful statement of what family and tradition means, and love and community.” The production will run at the Williamson County Performing Arts Center, Sept. 18-20. For more information or tickets, visit www.franklinlightopera.com. •

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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At Our Congregations… Nashville’s congregations Here are the websites for all five Nashville Jewish congregations, with information on services, upcoming events and more: Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, www.chabadnashville.com Congregation Micah, www.congregationmicah.org Congregation Sherith Israel, www.sherithisrael.com The Temple – Congregation Ohabai Sholom, www.templenashville.org West End Synagogue, www.westendsyn.org The Observer provides congregational listings of events and services as a complimentary service to the community. If your congregation is not listed, it is because we did not receive the information in time to meet our publication deadline. Please give your rabbi, executive director, or synagogue volunteer a gentle nudge.

Spend time with old friends, make new ones, and experience the warmth and beauty of this special holiday in a welcoming community atmosphere. Come hungry. Come happy. Bring the family. Chabad of Nashville 95 Bellevue Road, Nashville RSVP at ChabadNashville.com

TORAH & TEA For Women, By Women

Take a little time for yourself each Shabbat to nourish your mind, warm your heart, and uplift your soul. Join a beautiful circle of Nashville women every Shabbat afternoon at 1 PM, following the community lunch at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad. Led by Rebbetzin Esther Tiechtel, Torah & Tea brings timeless Jewish wisdom to life with warmth, insight, humor, and meaningful conversation. Together, we explore ideas from the Torah that speak to the heart and life of today’s Jewish woman. Enjoy inspiring Torah study, wonderful friendship, hot tea, and delicious refreshments in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Come as you are. Connect, learn, laugh, and leave uplifted. No RSVP necessary. Just bring yourself and an open heart.

START YOUR MORNING WITH STARBUCKS, COMMUNITY & PRAYER

@ Chabad of Nashville Chabad of Nashville is a warm and welcoming lighthouse of Judaism, embracing everyone with love, friendship, and a sense of belonging. As we enter the special season of the High Holidays, our doors are wide open with opportunities to reJEWvenate your mind, body, and soul through prayer, learning, celebration, friendship, and meaningful gatherings. Below are some of the special programs and events taking place during this meaningful season. Join us, connect, and welcome the New Year with inspiration, joy, and Jewish pride. Come as you are. Our doors are open, and we look forward to welcoming you!

WORDS MATTER Ancient Jewish Wisdom for Better Conversations The words we choose shape our relationships, our communities, and ourselves.

Join Dr. Michael Zemel for a powerful journey into the Jewish wisdom of speech, drawing on the teachings of the Chafetz Chaim and Chassidic thought. Learn practical tools to: • Speak with greater intention and sensitivity • Navigate difficult conversations • Build stronger relationships • Avoid the harm of careless words • Prepare for the High Holidays through meaningful teshuvah September 2 and 9 • 7 PM • Zoom Speak with Purpose. Connect More Deeply. Live More Jewishly. Register at ChabadNashville.com

Fuel Your Week with Soul & Insight — All from Home

Start your Tuesday morning with meaning, inspiration, and community. Join Rabbi Levi Tiechtel every Tuesday 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.

Shabbat Morning at Chabad of Nashville: Where Prayer Meets Community, and Cholent Warms the Soul

There’s something special happening every Shabbat morning at Chabad. It’s where friends gather, spirits are lifted, and hearts are full. Join us at 10 AM for a meaningful and joyful Shabbat service, filled with soulful prayer, heartfelt kavanah, beautiful singing, and words of Torah that inspire and uplift. After services, stay for a warm, home-cooked cholent, freshly baked challah, and a gourmet buffet lunch shared around a table of laughter, stories, and connection. And of course, a lively farbrengen with a friendly L’Chaim to top it all off. Whether you come every week or it’s your first time, there’s a seat for you at our table—and a place for you in our family. Come feel the warmth of Shabbat. We can’t wait to welcome you!

SHABBAT & SUKKOT DINNER UNDER THE STARS Celebrate Sukkot with Family, Friends & Community

Join Chabad of Nashville for a beautiful Shabbat and Sukkot Dinner under the stars in our community Sukkah. Friday, September 25 • 6:30 PM Enjoy a delicious holiday dinner, L’Chaims, singing, friendship, and the special joy of celebrating Sukkot together.

26 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Start your day with prayer, friendship, and fresh Starbucks coffee at Chabad of Nashville’s daily morning minyan. On Mondays and Thursdays, stay for a delicious catered breakfast from Nova Kosher Market, featuring fresh pastries, burekas, rugelach, eggs, Israeli salad, and more. Daily Minyan Schedule: Sunday • 9 AM Monday & Thursday • 8:15 AM Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday • 8:30 AM Shabbat • 10 AM Come pray, connect, enjoy a great cup of coffee, and start your day surrounded by community. To join the Minyan WhatsApp group, text 615-480-4731. Everyone is welcome.

High Holidays at Chabad of Nashville

During the High Holidays, the Doors to Heaven Are Open to All… So Are Ours! Chabad of Nashville warmly invites the entire community to join us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 5787, where everyone is welcomed with warmth, friendship, and a sense of belonging. Experience traditional High Holiday services filled with beautiful melodies, inspirational stories, and meaningful insights that bring the prayers to life. Services are conducted in both Hebrew and English, making them accessible and meaningful regardless of your background or level of observance. Bring the kids! A special children’s program for ages 4–12 offers fun and engaging activities, giving children their own joyful High Holiday experience while remaining close to their parents. No membership. No tickets. You don’t have to pay to pray. All services will take place at Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, 95 Bellevue Road, Nashville.

HIGH HOLIDAY 5787 SCHEDULE ROSH HASHANAH Friday, September 11 Eve of Rosh Hashanah

Cocktails & Toast to the New Year • 6 PM Candle Lighting & New Year’s Eve Service • 6:30 PM New Year’s Eve Dinner • 7 PM Saturday, September 12 First Day of Rosh Hashanah Morning Service • 9:30 AM Children’s Service • 11 AM Rabbi’s Sermon • 11:30 AM Priestly Blessing • 1:30 PM Sunday, September 13 Second Day of Rosh Hashanah Morning Service • 9:30 AM Children’s Service • 11 AM Rabbi’s Sermon • 11:30 AM Shofar Sounding • 12 PM Priestly Blessing • 1:30 PM

SHABBAT SHUVAH Saturday, September 19 The Shabbat Between Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur Morning Service • 10 AM Torah Reading • 11 AM Community Shabbat Lunch • 12:30 PM Jewish Women’s Roundtable • 1:30 PM Men’s Farbrengen • 1:30 PM

YOM KIPPUR

Sunday, September 20 Yom Kippur Eve Kol Nidrei Service • 6:15 PM Continued on page 27

At Our Congregations… @ Chabad of Nashville Continued from page 26

Monday, September 21 Yom Kippur Day Morning Service • 10 AM Children’s Service • 11:30 AM Yizkor Memorial Service & Rabbi’s Sermon • 12:15 PM Musaf Service • 1:30 PM Mincha Service • 4:30 PM Ne’ilah Closing Service • 5:45 PM Havdalah & Kamen Break Fast • 7:24 PM For information and reservations: 615-646-5750 • Rabbi@ChabadNashville.com • ChabadNashville.com

Chabad to Host Rosh Hashanah New Year’s Eve Dinner

The Jewish New Year is a time for prayer and reflection, but it is also a time for family, friendship, delicious food, and celebrating together. Chabad of Nashville invites the community to its Rosh Hashanah New Year’s Eve Dinner on Friday, September 11 at 6 PM, offering a warm and welcoming way to begin the New Year of 5787. The evening will open with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a festive toast for a happy and sweet New Year, followed by Rosh Hashanah evening services and a delicious gourmet holiday dinner. The menu will feature many of the traditional foods of Rosh Hashanah, each carrying a special wish for the year ahead. Guests will enjoy round challah, apples dipped in honey, sweet brisket, mashed potatoes, tzimmes, honey cake, and other holiday favorites prepared by Chabad’s executive chef. Rosh Hashanah reminds us that Jewish life is celebrated not only in the synagogue, but also around the table. Sharing a holiday meal transforms food into something meaningful, bringing together family, friends, tradition, and community. Whether you are a longtime member of the Nashville Jewish community, new to town, or simply looking for a welcoming place to celebrate, there is a seat at the table for you.

SHOFAR IN THE PARK ON ROSH HASHANAH

Chabad of Nashville invites you to Shofar in the Park on Sunday, September 13 at 5:45 PM at Edwin Warner Park, near Highway 100 and Old Hickory Boulevard. There is something special about hearing the sound of the shofar outdoors, surrounded by family, friends, and community. For thousands of years, the shofar has been at the heart of Rosh Hashanah. Its simple, powerful sound is a call to pause, reflect, reconnect, and welcome the New Year with hope and a fresh beginning. Come as you are and bring the whole family! Together we will hear the stirring sounds of the shofar, enjoy apples and honey for a sweet New Year, and join in the traditional Tashlich service. Free and open to everyone. Rain or shine. Children, singles, families, and friends are all welcome.

Cantor Duvid Erblich to Lead High Holiday Services at Chabad

Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad is pleased to welcome back Cantor Duvid Erblich to lead the High Holiday services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 5787. Cantor Erblich comes from a renowned family of cantors. Born in the United Kingdom to world famous Cantor Moshe Leib Erblich, he began singing at age four, joining his father on recordings and growing up surrounded by beautiful cantorial music. His late father composed the beloved “Ana Avda,” sung in synagogues around the world during the High Holiday season. Cantor Erblich has performed internationally and served for twenty years as cantor at Taylor Road Synagogue in Cleveland, as well as at the Jewish Community Center Synagogue in Dubai. Returning to Nashville for his sixth year, Cantor Erblich brings a unique warmth to the services, blending traditional cantorial prayer with soulful Chassidic melodies and familiar Jewish tunes. Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel will share stories and insights throughout the services, bringing greater meaning and understanding to the prayers. The entire community is invited. You don’t have to pay to pray. No membership or tickets are required. Services are held in Hebrew and English in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with special children’s programs each morning.

Bring the Mitzvah of Sukkot Home: Order Your Own Lulav & Etrog

There is something very special about having your own Lulav and Etrog to celebrate Sukkot with your family. Each day of Sukkot, we bring together the Four Kinds: the Lulav, Etrog, Hadassim and Aravot, shake them in all directions, and celebrate this beautiful mitzvah with joy. Chabad of Nashville is happy to make it easy for every family in our community to order a personal Lulav and Etrog set, imported from Israel. Whether this has been your family tradition for years or this will be your very first set, we invite you to bring this special Sukkot mitzvah into your home and make it part of your family’s celebration. Please place your order by Monday, September 14. Order at ChabadNashville.com and get ready to shake, celebrate, and enjoy the joy of Sukkot!

@ 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 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.

September Events Micah Reads: Monday, September 14 at 7 PM on Zoom

Education Director Julie Greenberg guides an engaging and thoughtful discussion of This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman. All are welcome to take part in a lively conversation, share insights, and explore the book together in a welcoming setting.

Canasta Club: Thursday, September 24 at 1 PM at Micah

Whether you’re a seasoned player or have never played before, join us for our Canasta Club! This program, beginning in September and ending in October, offers an afternoon of friendly competition, conversation, and community as we learn, play, and connect. All experience levels are welcome, and beginners are encouraged to join.

Women’s Circle with Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi: Friday, September 25 at 12 PM at Micah Rabbi Laurie warmly welcomes you to Women’s Circle, a relaxed and meaningful conversation group. All are welcome, and friends are always encouraged. Come as you are and enjoy thoughtful connection, a light meal, and community.

Torah Study with Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi: Saturday, September 26 at 9 AM at Micah and Online

This hybrid (in-person and online) Torah study offers an opportunity to read, converse, and learn with guest Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi. Rabbi Yerushalmi will connect her poetry to Torah text and invite us to explore the weekly portion in new ways.

Shabbaton with Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi: Saturday, September 26 at 11 AM at Micah

This special Sukkot Shabbaton invites us to discover our inner muse through experiential writing, spiritual reflection, and meaningful conversation. With Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi, we’ll explore resilience, connection, and hope—and consider how we want to walk into the new year. The morning will include meditative exercise and brunch.

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At Our Congregations… @ Micah

Continued from page 27

Have You Made Art About It? Sukkot: Wednesday, September 30 at 6 PM in Micah’s Sukkah We’ll come together to make art reflecting on Sukkot. Using the Jewish Studio Process – a unique methodology blending art therapy practices with a reimagined approach to Jewish learning and spirituality – we’ll make space for love through creative practice.

Micah-Nections’ Sukkot Brunch: Sunday, October 4 at noon in Micah’s Sukkah

Join us for the fifth annual Micah-Nections’ Sukkot Brunch! It’s a mitzvah to dwell in the sukkah, and it’s even more enjoyable to do so with good friends and delicious food.

HIGH HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

SELICHOT: The Power of Forgiveness Saturday, September 5 @ 8 PM Soul searching through beautiful music, penitential prayers, and touching tales from our tradition. Help change the covers on our Torah scrolls to symbolize that transformation is possible, as we communally renew our sense of wonder and purpose. EREV ROSH HASHANAH: The Audacity to Dream Friday, September 11 @ 7:30 PM Sing, read and chant along as we revisit the sounds, stories, and spirit of the season. Let the music ignite your ambitions as together we dream BIG and pray for a fruitful new year filled with growth, abundance, and blessings. ROSH HASHANAH: The Courage to Grow Saturday, September 12 @ 10 AM Experience a time of reflection and renewal. Come close to Torah. Hear the shofar sounded. Dip apples in honey to savor the sweetness of a new year. Cast off your sins at the back of our campus with the ancient custom that originated in the Book of Micah: Tashlich. ROSH HASHANAH RECHARGE: The Teen Experience Saturday, September 12 @ 10 AM Connect with fellow teenagers around the themes of the season. Special tashlich included. FAMILY SERVICE: Birthday Party for the World Tuesday, September 23 @ 3 PM Celebrate the season with the youthful energy of preschoolers and their families. Experience the music, messages, and magic of Micah on this holy day and then party like it’s 5786! Attend this one afternoon and your kids will come to understand what fresh starts and community all are about. SHABBAT SHUVAH: The Call to Return Friday, September 18 @ 6 PM Return. Reflect. Renew. Rejoice. Ponder the season’s many messages, while embracing all the joy that Shabbat has to offer. TORAH STUDY: The Love of Learning Saturday, September 19 @ 9 AM on ZOOM Glean insights from the Torah and other sacred scripture with a group of compassionate, inquisitive individuals. Sign on from the comfort of your own home and tickle your brain with the themes and stories of the holiday season. KEVER AVOT (Cemetery Service): The Strength to Remember Sunday, September 13 @ 10:30 AM Honor those in our past who inspire us to live more fully in the present and future. Held on the most sacred grounds on our campus, visit the graves of loved ones. KOL NIDRE: The Vulnerability to Forgive Sunday, September 20 @ 7:30 PM Cleanse your soul and feel a strong sense of peoplehood during the turmoil of these especially turbulent times in Jewish life. Search for wisdom, divine guidance and how to live a life aligned with Jewish values. Sing, pray, learn, repent, and fast! YOM KIPPUR: The Willingness to Atone Monday, September 21 @ 10 AM Seek forgiveness and atone for past missteps as we refrain from eating and drinking and engage in a morning of communal introspection. Be inspired by the music, the sermons, and the community. CRITICAL CONVERSATION: Immigration Monday, September 21 @ 1 PM Express your feelings and convictions as we dive into a difficult discussion in a safe space. Connect with those who feel similar as well as discover how to listen to, learn from, and respect the opinions of others. In the spirit of a compassionate community, we remain steadfast in our commitments to justice, mercy, and humility.

28 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

DRUM CIRCLE: Beat to Your Own Drum Monday, September 21 @ 1 PM This inclusive activity invites everyone, regardless of musical experience, to release stress and enhance your rhythm skills. This community building spiritual exercise connects people through the shared experience of drumming. Our facilitator is an expert. BOOK TALK: This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared Monday, September 21 @ 2 PM For Author Rabbi Alan Lew, the real purpose of the annual passage through Yom Kippur is for us to experience broken heartedness and open our heart to God. The practices and rituals of the Jewish High Holy Days guide us through heartbreak, contemplation, and re-birth. A death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis; the solid ground we disappear beneath our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken. Stumble back to faith. No, you don’t have to read the book in advance. SOUND BATH: The Chance to Relax Monday, September 21 @ 2 PM Listen to the sounds of instruments that promote emotional and physical well-being. Enjoy an ancient therapy that uses vibrations to nurture the mind and body, as you reduce stress, release emotions, and achieve a deeper consciousness through this meditative experience. FAMILY SERVICE: The Attempt to Apologize Monday, September 21 @ 3 PM Repent with preschoolers and their families. Teach your children to say, “sorry” and model it for them. Integrate faith into your family and strengthen Jewish communal bonds through this shared uplifting spiritual experience. SCHMOOZE & VIEWS: The Struggle to Discuss Monday, September 21 @ 4 PM An open mind and a sense of humor keep the temperature low as folks gather to talk politics. All opinions are welcomed at this lay-led spicy discussion. HEALING SERVICE: The Opportunity to Emote Monday, September 21 @ 4 PM Gather in an intimate circle to offer prayers of healing and participate in therapeutic exercises. The music and readings will afford you the chance to grieve and the inspiration to restore hope. YIZKOR: The Need to Remember Monday, September 21@ 5 PM Light candles, listen to beautiful music, and hear personal testimonies as we come together in the ancient ritual of remembering our loved ones. NEILAH: Calling it a Day! Following Yizkor/Memorial Service Close the gates on the day that bridges heaven and earth with this short, home stretch service. Havdalah on the bimah and a final blast of the shofar. Micah High Holiday Visitor information and registration:

@ Sherith Israel Weekday Services:

Monday/Thursday mornings: 6:25 a.m. Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday mornings: 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning: 8 a.m. Weekday afternoons: 10 minutes before sunset

Shabbat Services:

Friday evening: 5 minutes after sunset Shabbat morning: 9 a.m. Shabbat mincha: 5 minutes before sunset

High Holiday Service Times Friday, September 11 — Erev Rosh Hashanah 5:45 am — Selichot 6:30 am — Shacharit 6:43 pm — Yom Tov candles 6:50 pm — Mincha/Maariv

Saturday, September 12 — Rosh Hashanah Day 1

8:30 am — Main Minyan 12:30 pm — Community Luncheon (by reservation only) 6:25 pm — Mincha/Maariv 7:38 pm — Yom Tov candles

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At Our Congregations… @ Sherith Israel Continued from page 27

Sunday, September 13 — Rosh Hashanah Day 2 8:30 am — Main Minyan 6:40 pm — Mincha/Maariv 7:36 pm — Havdalah

Monday, September 14 — Tzom Gedaliah 6:00 am — Selichot & Shacharit 6:30 pm — Mincha/Maariv 7:24 pm — Fast ends

Sunday, September 20 — Kol Nidre 8:00 am — Selichot & Shacharit 2:00 pm — Early Mincha 6:29 pm — Candles 6:35 pm — Kol Nidre

Monday, September 21 — Yom Kippur

8:30 am — Main Minyan 4:35 pm — Mincha 6:05 pm — Neilah 7:24 pm — Shofar, Havdalah, and Break-Fast

Events & Announcements:

Tashlich — Second day of Rosh Hashanah, ~2:15 pm at the creek on Carden Avenue. Reading in English and Hebrew from a booklet, followed by casting breadcrumbs into the water. Annual Rosh HaShanah Luncheon — Shabbat, September 12, following services. Cost: $36 adults | $18 children (5–12) | $118 families RSVP by September 5: 615-292-6614 or www.sherithisrael.com Second Night Dinner — Saturday night, September 12, following evening services. Cost: $25 adults | $18 children (5–12) | $118 families RSVP by September 5: 615-292-6614 or www.sherithisrael.com

Lunch with the Rabbi

September 3 and 24 Lunch at 11:30 am Program 12-1 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! September 14 and 28 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.

The Art of Repair: A Selichot Conversation

Animated Jewish Wisdom on Drawing Closer Saturday, September 5, 2026 7 pm Join us for an evening of learning and discussion based on the animated series Jewish Food for Thought by Hanan Harchol. We will explore Jewish wisdom about repair, relationships, and what it means to draw closer as we prepare for the High Holy Days. Conclude the learning with a brief Selichot service as we begin the spiritual journey toward the High Holy Days. RSVP at https://www.templenashville.org/form/Selichot2026

Next Dor Rosh Hashanah Brunch

Ring in the New (Jewish) Year with Next Dor Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 10:30 am RSVP to Sheri at sheri@templenashville.org by September 10 Private Residence in West Nashville- Location to be provided upon RSVP Next Dor is Temple’s group for Young Professionals

Kever Avot- Cemetery Service

@ The Temple Visit templenashville.org for all updated event information

Shabbat Schedule for September 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 • September 4 – Shabbat Service • September 11– No Shabbat Service- Erev Rosh Hashanah Service at 7:30pm • September 18 – Shabbat Shuvah • September 25 – Sukkot Shabbat Service 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

September 13 at 1:30 p.m. The Temple Cemetery at 2001 15th Avenue North Nashville 37208

Yom Kippur Break the Fast

September 22 at around 5:15 p.m. Join us for a dairy meal following the final blast of the Yom Kippur Concluding Service. $30 for adults, $5 for children under 12. RSVP required and due on September 14. Register at templenashville.org/hhd

Murfreesboro Pride

Come see us at The Temple booth at ‘Boro Pride September 19 Noon to 6 pm at the Williamson Family Farm

50’s& 60’s Social Club and Chai Society (65+) Invite You For Dinner & Trivia in the Sukkah Friday, September 25 following Shabbat Services 7 pm $20 a person Register at https://www.templenashville.org/form/ChaiSukkah

Intro to Judaism- Conversion Conversations Led by Rabbi Shana Mackler

Opening Session- September 27 at 2 pm in The Temple Sukkah Join us for in-depth look at Jewish history, holidays, traditions, customs, and beliefs. Rabbi & Senior Scholar Shana Mackler leads these thought-provoking conversations about Judaism. There is no expectation of conversion upon completion of this class and syllabus, though many choose to do so. This is a great way to learn together and take the next steps towards living and leading a more meaningful Jewish life. Sign up at http://www.templenashville.org/form/Intro-to-Judaism

Golden Lunch Bunch

Our Golden Lunch Bunch will meet at Temple from 11:30-1 pm on • September 1, 2026 - The AltaRockers: MaryBeth Stone & Rick Kleiner Alt Rock/Singer-songwriter • September 15, 2026 - Eric Wong and Viola Students from the Blair School Classical Viola RSVP to Jewish Family Service at 615-354-1686 or via email at helpinghands@ jfsnashville.org

Women’s Torah Study

September 3, 10, 17, 24 10:30 am Ongoing weekly women’s Torah study led by Patty Marks. Available in person at The Temple and via zoom through https://www.templenashville.org/virtual-programming.html

High Holy Days at The Temple

For more information or to access our services, visit templenashville.org/hhd Services Date Time Notes Selichot Program & Dessert Reception September 5, 2026 7:00PM Evening Service

September 11, 2026 7:30 PM

Tot Rosh Hashanah

September 12, 2026 8:45 AM

Rosh Hashanah Family Service

September 12, 2026 8:45 AM

Live and Streamed

Live and Streamed Continued on page 30

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

29

At Our Congregations… @ The Temple

September 11 – Young Professionals Rosh Hashana Dinner – 7 p.m.

Continued from page 29

Rosh Hashanah Morning September 12, 2026 10:30 AM

Live and Streamed

Rosh Hashanah Reception

September 12, 2026 12:15 PM

Rosh Hashanah Tashlich

September 12, 2026 12:45 PM

Temple Creek

Ring in the New Year – Next Dor Brunch

September 13, 2026 11:00 AM

Offsite

Join us at West End Synagogue for a special first-night Rosh Hashanah dinner for young professionals! Celebrate the start of the new year with great food, meaningful conversation, and the warmth of our community. Whether you’re new to WES or a longtime member, come welcome the new year, meet new people, and enjoy a festive evening together. L’shanah Tovah Tikateivu!

September 12 – First Day of Rosh Hashana Services – 9:30 a.m.

Blessing of the babies born in 5786 will take place at roughly 10:00 a.m., our Families with Young Children service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Children’s services for 1st - 4th grade and 5th – 7th grade students will be at 11:30 a.m. Rabbi Joshua’s sermon will begin around 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by an optional learner’s minyan with Marc Jacobs.

Kever Avot – Cemetery Service September 13, 2026 1:30 PM The Temple Cemetery at 2001 15th Avenue North Nashville, TN 37208

Our Families with Young Children service will begin at 10:00 a.m. Children’s services for 1st - 4th grade and 5th – 7th grade students will be at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Joshua’s sermon will begin around 10:45 a.m. Tashlich will be held by the bridge at Carden & Roland Avenue at 4:45 p.m.

Shabbat Shuvah

September 20 – Kol Nidrei – 6 p.m.

September 18, 2026 6:00 PM

Live and Streamed

September 13 – Second Day of Rosh Hashana Services – 9:30 a.m.

Mincha followed by Kol Nidrei and the blessing of this year’s B’nai Mitzvah students. Rabbi Joshua’s sermon will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Yom Kippur Evening – Kol Nidre

September 20, 2026 7:30 PM

Tot Yom Kippur

September 21, 2026 8:45 AM

Yom Kippur Family Service

September 21, 2026 8:45 AM

Live and Streamed

Our Families with Young Children service will begin at 10 a.m. Children’s services for 1st - 4th grade and 5th – 7th grade students will be at 11:15 a.m. Rabbi Joshua’s sermon will begin around 11 a.m. before the recitation of Yizkor. Marc Jacobs will lead a study session at 4 p.m.

Yom Kippur Morning

September 21, 2026 10:30 AM

Live and Streamed

September 21 – Yom Kippur Mincha and Neila – 5 p.m.

Congregants’ Hour

September 21, 2026 12:30 PM

Live and Streamed

The Ark will be open for personal prayers before the fast ends at 7:23 p.m. Neila will be followed by Ma’ariv, Ramah style Havdalah, and the blowing of the shofar.

Afternoon Service

September 21, 2026 2:00 PM

Live and Streamed

September 21 – Congregational Break-The-Fast – 7:45 p.m.

Afternoon Experiences:

September 21, 2026 3:15 PM

Quiet Reflection

September 21, 2026 3:15 PM

Study Session

September 21, 2026 3:15 PM

Yizkor Memorial Service & Ne’ilah Concluding Service September 21, 2026 4:30 PM Break the Fast

September 21, 2026 5:45 PM

Sukkot Shabbat Service

September 25, 2026 6:00 PM

Live and Streamed

Please RSVP to join us for Break the Fast using the link in the QR code above.

September 25 – Kabbalat Shabbat and Oneg in the Sukkah – 6 p.m. September 26 – Birthday Shabbat – 9:30 a.m.

Celebrating all our West End September birthdays. Come join us for a special birthday treat followed by lunch in the Sukkah! Live and Streamed

Ongoing Religious Services and Learning Opportunities Shacharit: In-Person Monday-Friday at 7 a.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m.

Live and Streamed

Sukkot Yizkor Memorial Service October 2, 2026

5:00 PM

Live and Streamed

Simchat Torah Service & Festive Oneg

6:00 PM

Live and Streamed

October 2, 2026

September 21 – Yom Kippur Morning Services – 9:30 a.m.

Please see templenashville.org/hhd for updated schedule information

@ West End Synagogue

Our minyanaires are always looking for more people to strengthen the only egalitarian minyan in town! Sunday services are at 9 a.m. and Monday-Friday services at 7 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 7:40 a.m. Immediately after minyan on Thursdays, typically around 7:40 a.m.

Talmud for Young Professionals with Rabbi Joshua: In-person on Fridays at 9 a.m. Mincha: On Zoom Sunday-Thursday at 6 p.m.

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

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

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

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.

September 2026 Events

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. •

September 3 - Women’s Torah Class – 11 a.m. - Finalizing with the Book of Judges. On Zoom. September 5 - Selichot – 8 p.m. September 10 – Men’s Torah Class – 1 p.m.

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

September 11 – Erev Rosh Hashana Services – 6 p.m.

Join WES for Erev Rosh Hashana services and a sermon delivered by Professor Ed Cheng.

30 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Have a Happy and Healthy New Year! 5787

Community Listings Micah Birthday Party Nashville Holocaust Memorial 20th Anniversary Commemoration Sunday, October 25, 2026, 2 p.m. The Nashville Holocaust Memorial (NHM) Committee invites the community to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its founding. As a living memorial for future generations, NHM provides an outdoor space to remember, learn, and act. The event will remember the volunteers who created the memorial and honor the efforts of Shirley Zeitlin. Participants will learn about survivor, Dr. Mark Olsky, who was born on a train during the evacuation of Auschwitz at the end of World War II. Memorial Committee Chair, Felicia Anchor, will share the actions the Memorial is taking to fight antisemitism. Tours led by the memorial’s trained docents will be offered an hour before the ceremony. Registration is free and will open October 1st. Email nashvilleholocaustmemorial@ gmail.com for questions or to volunteer.

B’nai B’rith Social Unit Bringing together people (individuals and couples) 50+ who are either new to Nashville or long-term members of the Nashville Jewish community for monthly fun social, educational and service programs. Our next events will be our sponsorship of the film at the Jewish Film Festival on Aug. 29 and our annual picnic on Sept. 27. For more information, please contact Susan Simpson susandavsimp56@gmail.com or Gil Fox at gsfox3@comcast.net.

Widowers & Widows Social Group Group of Jewish widowers and widows who have lost his/her spouse 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 of each month at various restaurants. For more information, contact Gil Fox at gsfox3@comcast.net.

Nashville Israeli Folk Dancers Enjoy good music and great camaraderie while learning Israeli dancing at the GJCC. In addition to Israeli dances, you’ll learn dances from many other countries, including Yemen, Morocco, Greece, Spain, Ireland, and others. Dancing is good for a healthy brain and a healthy body. Meet new, welcoming friends at this no-cost, fun activity. Wednesday evening in the Group Fitness Studio at the GJCC (you don’t have to be a JCC member to participate) 5:45 - 6:15 p.m. Beginners/easy dancing – no experience needed 6:15 - 7:15 p.m. Intermediate/advanced dancing Questions? Email Judy Given @ given223@bellsouth.net Friday afternoon in the Group Fitness Studio at the GJCC (you don’t have to be a JCC member to participate) 2 - 3:15 p.m. Intermediate and advanced Questions? Email Evelyn Koch @ kochevelyn@hotmail.com

Gordon JCC Adult Program Happenings: TGIT – September 2026 September 3 Nashville Jewish Film Festival matinee – Noon in the Auditorium Ethan Bloom is many things: A fantastic, affecting coming-of-age film, a sometimes absurdist, sometimes straight comedy, and the story about how we struggle to navigate both the joy and tragedy of life. Thirteen-year-old Ethan is supposed to be preparing for his bar mitzvah, but despite his loving Jewish family, Ethan is convinced his spiritual calling is with the Catholic church under the guidance of Father Diaz. Lunch: Deli sandwich boxed lunch September 10 Sheldon Kahan Back by popular demand, Sheldon Kahan to keep us rocking and not in rocking chairs! Happy Rosh Hashanah!

for the World

O

n Tuesday, September 23 at 3 p.m., families are invited to gather for Rosh Hashanah: Birthday Party for the World, a special celebration of the Jewish New Year designed for young children. This family-friendly experience brings the spirit of the High Holy Days to life through music, meaningful messages, movement, and the magic of Congregation Micah. This family service offers parents and grandparents the opportunity to celebrate Rosh Hashanah

with their children while creating cherished family memories. What birthday celebration would be complete without a party? Families will have the opportunity to celebrate together and party like it’s 5786! Additional information can be found here, https://www.congregationmicah. org/5787-visitors Register here, https:// congregationmicah.shulcloud.com/ form/5787-high-holy-day-guestregistration •

Micah Shabbaton

C

ongregation Micah is hosting a special Shabbaton featuring Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi, whose powerful poetry and reflections have touched Jewish communities in the aftermath of October 7. During this three-hour Shabbaton on Saturday, September 26, Rabbi Yerushalmi will share her experiences as a rabbi, counselor and poet, offering participants an opportunity to explore Jewish identity, faith, grief, resilience and hope. Rabbi Yerushalmi’s poetry has emerged as an important voice for many Jews seeking words to express the com-

plex emotions of these challenging times. Her writing draws upon Jewish tradition, prayer and everyday Jewish life while addressing the profound impact of the events of October 7 and their aftermath. The Shabbaton will provide an opportunity for members of the community to come together in the spirit of Shabbat—to listen, reflect, learn and share. We invite members of the Nashville Jewish community to join us for this special Shabbaton with Rabbi Hanna Yerushalmi. Register here, https:// congregationmicah.shulcloud.com/form/ Shabbaton-Micah •

C ebrate a of Life’s Special O asions! Gifts for Birthdays, Bar & Bat Mitvzahs, Weddings, Babies, and everything in between

Lunch: Salmon, salad, sides, Honey Birthday cake and ice cream. September 17 Alan Cohen Musician, Alan Cohen returns to serenade us with song. Lunch: Eggplant parmigiano, garlic bread, salad and desert. September 24 Mark R. Cheathem – The Paper of Martin Van Buren, plus introducing the Israeli teens Project director and co-editor Mark R. Cheathem is professor of history at Cumberland University. The Papers of Martin Van Buren is a joint digital/print project that is making accessible approximately 14,000 documents belonging to the eighth president. The Israeli teens will stop by to introduce themselves and say hello. Lunch: Bagels, lox, cream cheese, kugel, dessert. •

Westgate Shopping Center 6033 Highway 100 Nashville, TN 37205 615.383.1422 KatysGifts.com

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The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

31

September in the Galleries: Featuring the work of the Tennessee Watercolor Society

I

n September, the Janet Levine March Gallery, the JLMG2 and Sig Held Gallery spaces will feature the work of the Tennessee Watercolor Society.. This

year’s presentation is titled, “Symphony of Color.” The Tennessee Watercolor Society (TnWS) is a 55-year-old, non-profit,

Crawford Funeral Home Mary Ellen in the garden, by Tamra Eddy

Chu C Ch hu hucckk & H Heid eiid eeid ide Craw ide raw ra awfor ffo orrd o

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Morning Stillness, by Iris Rotker

statewide organization. This exhibit is presented by 34 of their nearly 100 Middle TN members. The purpose of TnWS is to elevate the stature of watercolor and educate the public to the significance of watercolor as

an important, creative, permanent painting medium. TnWS works to further the interest of painters in all water-based-media by its programs, competitive exhibits and workshops to encourage the study of water media by students and others engaged in the Visual Arts. TnWS is open to artists and patrons 18 and older, that are residents of Tennessee. The Tennessee Watercolor Society has exhibited at the Gordon JCC galleries annually for over 15 years. The Senior Lounge will feature the work of the Peggy Snow. The Exhibition Dates are September 2 – 30. The artist reception will be held on September 9 from 6-8 p.m. and feature music by DJ Joseph Harris, and Fairy Hair additions by Sherry Tizzano. 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. •

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways! HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

32 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Make sure to let them know.. .you saw their ad here!

Lifecycles B’rit Mitzvah Vivian Charlotte Saterstrom

Vivian Charlotte Saterstrom will become a bat mitzvah on September 5, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on September 2, 2013 in Tucson, Arizona. Vivian’s parents are Julia and Noah Saterstrom. Vivian’s grandparents are Anna and Roger Saterstrom of Nashville, Tennessee and Linda and Joseph Gordon of Mount Vernon, New York. Vivian’s mitzvah project is crocheting blankets to donate to Project Linus, an organization that provides handmade blankets to children ages 0–18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Vivian comes from a family of crafters, knitters, sewers, and crocheters on both sides of their family tree. Vivian is in the eighth grade at Bellevue Middle School and loves musical theatre, crochet and social justice.

Ruby Margot Orley

Ruby Margot Orley will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, September 19, at 11 a.m. at the Temple. She was born on August 30, 2013, in New York, New York. Her parents are Laurel and Ethan Orley. Her grandparents are Nancy Kozeradsky of Cresskill, New Jersey, Klari Orley of Karkur, Israel and Paola and Geoffrey Orley of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. For her mitzvah project, Ruby chose

a project that is especially meaningful to her. Earlier this summer, her 12 year old cousin Maya was diagnosed with leukemia. Watching Maya begin treatment inspired Ruby to create Courage Kits- care packages filled with comforting and fun items for children going through leukemia treatment. Each kit will include things like games, crafts, cozy items, and handwritten notes of encouragement, with the hope of bringing a little comfort, hope, and a smile to a child on a difficult day. All the kits will go to the hospital in Detroit where Ruby’s cousin is getting treatment. Ruby is in the seventh grade at Harding Academy. She enjoys tennis, art, piano, soccer and music.

Spencer Marshall Katz

Spencer Marshall Katz will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, September 26, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. He was born on December 23, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents are Amy and Brian Katz. His grandparents are Nanette and Mel Cohen of Monroe, Louisiana and Cindy and Buz Katz of Memphis, Tennessee. For his mitzvah project, Spencer has been giving monthly piano performances for the residents at Abe’s Garden. Spencer is in the seventh grade at Montgomery Bell Academy. He enjoys reading, piano, Jacobs Camp, cross country, ultimate frisbee and basketball.

August Reruns Eden Cooper Clarke

Eden Cooper Clarke will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, August 29, at

Kvetch in the City

By CARRIE MILLS

W

hile a collective, disassociated insanity continues to shriek into the wind of a conjuring storm of what I can’t help but call America’s collusion of morons, I sit here and think, not only has America lost her moral compass, she has let herself go. She needs a major makeover and a good therapist. Easy enough to find these days on Instagram. My feed is filled with them. Face lift surgeons and self-proclaimed healers of all sorts. In reality, since all I can do at best, is try and help myself, I gratefully have a therapist to help me navigate the madness. And, oh yes, swimming. While movies and TV shows have always been my go-to for escapism, I’ve once again rediscovered the zen of swimming. After decades of don’t wanna mess up my hair, I took swimming back up this past summer. To heck with my hair, I declared to no one there. When it came down to a choice between keeping my sanity, or keeping my hair looking styled, I chose sanity, as in lap

swimming in the amazing Olympic sized outdoor pool at the J. However, one thing I realized while swimming this summer, besides appreciating old fashioned chivalrous men, which has nothing to do with nothing in this conversation, I’ve also kept my fondness for old fashioned clocks. Not the digital kind that feels like a ticker tape ticking down the time till doomsday, but the sort you hang on a nail embedded in the wall. One that has a long hand and a short hand and even sometimes a seconds hand. I’m just nostalgic that way. I noticed in many places where I frequent, the wall clocks are all gone. While I often find myself wondering metaphorically, where has the time gone? In this instance, literally, at the outdoor pool, where has the actual time telling wall clock gone? Have wall clocks gone the way of cursive handwriting? Can children even read a clock with hands anymore? While swimming my laps I have to strain my already aged and compromised eyes to read the digital clock that now sits at the end of the pool on a picnic table if the lifeguards remember to put it out or if it is not overheated because, oh yeah, climate change. I understand if you are in the Olympics and the win-

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11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on January 14, 2014, in Santa Monica, California. Her parents are Clare and Robin Clarke. Her grandparents are Carol and Henry Levy of Memphis, Tenn., Suzanne Clarke of Petaluma, Calif., and Jonathan Clarke of New York, N.Y. For her mitzvah project, Eden has been volunteering at MOVE Inclusive Dance, an organization that empowers individuals of all ability levels to develop life skills through dance. She has been assisting with dance classes for younger students and has also organized bake sales to raise funds in support of this wonderful program. Eden is in the seventh grade at University School of Nashville. Eden loves ballet, softball, soccer, volleyball, reading, drawing and URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp.

Raegan Marcenia Pounds

Raegan Marcenia Pounds will become a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, August 15, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on August 15, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee. Her parents are Bridget Pounds (Josh) and Zachary Pounds (Olivia). Her grandparents are Sissy and Joseph Lawson of Carthage, Tennessee and the late Linda and Britt Pounds. For her mitzvah project, Raegan is volunteering at the local animal shelter and collecting donations for the shelter. Raegan is in the seventh grade at EA Cox Middle School. She loves reading,

ning race comes down to a split second; a digital clock is what you are looking for. However, I just want to look up and see a simple clear as day teller of time to know when I need to get out of the pool. And for this old broad who couldn’t care less what people think of her wearing a two piece, is it too much to ask for the old-fashioned simple on the wall clock right by the snack stand where it used to reside for 25 years, please come back? Can some things remain? Well, apparently, yes, it is too much to ask. I found this out when I brought up the idea of placing a clock back on the wall in a staff meeting and was surprisingly greeted by a cockamamie story of how the clock blew off the wall in the wind. Have I just landed in OZ? I think not. That clock survived a multitude of tornadoes and high winds over the years. How did mankind manage to land a spaceship on the moon and yet a simple wall clock is apparently too much to ask to be properly secured on a wall? Well, here we are, and here I am. My little moment at a staff meeting asking for a simple, readable clock (not digital mind you) in a logical location to be riveted back on a wall in my mind revealed the much bigger problem of the status of this country in which we live. In a world that has dispensed of all logical, and reasonable requests for the betterment of mankind, you know, like peace on earth and lowering the price of staying alive

art, music, car shows and spending time with her friends and family.

Obituaries Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs

Condolences to the family of Rabbi Stephen Lewis Fuchs who died on July 26. Rabbi Fuchs served as senior rabbi of The Temple from 1986-1997 and touched countless lives through his teaching, loving care, and committed service to the Jewish people. He is survived by his wife, Victoria Fuchs; his children, Rabbi Leo Fuchs (Liz Goldman), Sarah Fuchs Downie (Clive Downie), and Benjamin Fuchs (Kristin Churila); and his grandchildren, Zachary Fuchs, Jeremy Fuchs, Micah Moskowitz, Noa Moskowitz, Tom Downie, Max Downie, Flora Fuchs, Logan Fuchs, and Layla Fuchs.

Marcia Gross Stewart

Condolences to the family of Marcia Gross Stewart who died on July 24. Marcia was a past executive director at West End Synagogue. Marcia is survived by her husband Lee, son Caleb (Tierney), niece Hara Dembowski and grandnieces and nephews Avi, Bella, and Jordan. She was predeceased by parents, Jeneane and Chuck Gross and sister, Illene Gross.

Andrea Jasper Thaler

Condolences to the family of Andrea Jasper Thaler who died on August 7. Andrea is survived by her husband Theodore (Ted); daughters’ Rebecca Busofsky (Jacob), and Laurie Pearson (Brian); brother Larry Jasper; and grandchildren Sydney. Avi, Benny and Brooklyn Busofsky and Zeeva and Adeena Pearson. •

on all levels are met with cockamamie tales of no can do, I’m beginning to see connecting correlations. Hey, I’ll bite the bullet if I’m the problem. An older person stuck in the past and in the way of progress. But what is progress these days when the world is at such odds? Sit in any staff meeting and the microcosm of the world will reveal itself in no time. So be it if a digital clock that one can’t read in the sun, sitting on a picnic table is the way of the future. Far be it from me to beat a dead horse with an old timey clock. Hey, I’m just trying to swim some laps to keep my sanity and get out of the pool in time to get home and watch the next episode of As the World Burns…I mean turns. One thing I do know though, is whether my request is fulfilled or not, only time will tell. •

Classified Ads Photographer Amber Beckham Photography Jewish events, family portraits & businesses 18 years experience References available upon request Amberbeckham.com 615-429-2722

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

33

Doctors & Lawyers ISSUE!

COMING OCTOBER 2026

Doctors & Lawyers! We know that you will want to be included in this issue. For advertisers who contract a 1/8 page ad or larger, we will be happy to contact you for articles pertaining to your business.

Publication date October 1, 2026 Deadline for ads September 15, 2026 Contact: Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager 615-354-1699 or e-mail: carrie@nashvillejcc.org fax: 615-352-0056

34 September 2026 • The Jewish OBSERVER

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS

DENTIST

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

STEVEN R. HECKLIN, DMD DAVID M. SMILEY, DMD ABBY DILUZIO, DMD Cosmetic and Family Dentistry www.drhecklin.com 5606 Brookwood Place 615-356-7500

APPLIANCES

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

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

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION PARTNER

Elite Caregiving Services Compassionate Care In Your Home We offer aftercare from surgical procedures, part-time assistance, and 24 hour elderly care. 615-881-6528 Hannah@EliteCaregivingServices.com EliteCaregivingServices.com

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

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 Digital, AI & Automation partner serving global enterprises from right here in Tennessee. Let’s build: www.trinetix.com Our Nashville office: 750 Old Hickory Blvd hello@trinetix.com 615-473-3700

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

CARE GIVER

Cura for Care is Joining the Abe’s Garden Family Offering personalized in-home care and engagement designed to help Middle Tennessee seniors live independently at home 615-292-8704 athome@abesgarden.org abesgarden.org/athome

OPTOMETRIST

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. Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care, Identity Theft Protection 6213 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 615-356-1700 www.zanderins.com M JAFFA HEALTH INSURANCE Marsha Ross Jaffa, CIC, LUTCF 615-482-3860 Medicare, Health, Dental, and Life

MOHEL RABBI DANIEL HOFFMAN CERTIFIED MOHEL A warm and safe bris for your son. Serving the whole community. Call or text 615-481-2831 www.nashvillemohel.net

Specialists in Orthodontics Dr. Jonathan Gluck DDS, MSD Dr. Joel Gluck DDS, MS 2002 Richard Jones Road A-200 615.269.5903 drgluck.com

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

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

REAL ESTATE

LANA PARGH 615-504-2685 lana.pargh@compass.com FRANKLIN PARGH 615-351-7333 franklin.pargh@compass.com www.pargh.com IG: @theparghteam | FB: ParghTeam

JESSICA AVERBUCH Broker/ Owner 615-294-9880 jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.com KAROL FARAGALLI 615-289-3359 karolfaragalli@gmail.com LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 615-351-5343 lorna.graff@zeitlin.com www.lornagraff.com SETH HOFFMAN Associate Broker 615-351-2150 seth@sethhoffmannashvillehomes.com NAN SPELLER Broker, GRI, ABR 615-973-1117 nanspeller2014@gmail.com _______________________________

Nashville: 615.383.0183 Franklin: 615.794.0833 zeitlin.com

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

JACOB KUPIN, REALTOR HAYLEY LEVY KUPIN, REALTOR 615-281-9035 Jacob@TheKupinGroup.com Hayley@TheKupinGroup.com www.TheKupinGroup.com We’ve got your back!

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!” NEW & RENEWING ADS ARE SHADED

The Jewish OBSERVER • September 2026

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