SJL New Orleans, January 2019

Southern Jewish Life INSIDE:

NEW ORLEANS EDITION

January 2019 Volume 29 Issue 1

Southern Jewish Life 3747 West Esplanade Ave., 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 Model of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, at Palestine Gardens near Lucedale, Miss.

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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shalom y’all Just after the last issue went to press, I headed to Israel for an International Jewish Media Conference. Held every other year, this time the conference had a major emphasis on “new media” of bloggers and social media.

About 160 delegates represented 30 countries.

In the coming weeks, we will publish many pieces about the trip, both in Southern Jewish Life and in our new publication, Israel InSight. Some will have to do with politics and history, others will be about unique connections from Israel to our region.

One topic will be about the security barrier, which is demonized by anti-Israel activists as an “apartheid wall.”

We spent a morning with the architect of the barrier, gaining insight as to how and why it was built, and how its existence dramatically cut terror attacks. Listening to him, it is clear that many of the activists are clueless.

It is important to get a frame of reference by being there. In the U.S., we see endless reports on the conflict and it is framed as whether Israel and the Palestinian leaders can make peace.

There, both on the trip and in my own exploration, the overwhelming opinion was that peace will come from the ground up, despite the leadership, through economic endeavors and joint ventures. Of course, the aforementioned activists are fighting that tooth and nail, not wanting to “normalize” Israel and Israelis.

This being Israel, there were many disagreements and heated exchanges, and most of us were mature enough to realize much of what was presented followed certain narratives, and it is up to us to form our own opinions. Regardless, it was a valuable experience, and we will be sharing more of it with you shortly.

Look for

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SJL Online: sjlmag.com

Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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MESSAGES Maccabi USA leader praises Birmingham Games I have had the honor of attending many Maccabi competitions around the world. From Israel to Australia to South America, Europe and the JCC Maccabi games around the United States and Canada, I have logged many miles seeing how sports can be a vehicle to help build Jewish identity, especially in our young.

I felt honored to come to Birmingham for the first time and fell in love with not just the city but the people. You have taken Southern hospitality to a new level with your kind and caring approach to the JCC Maccabi Games.

Led by the Sokol and Helds, your hard-working volunteers were wonderful. They partnered with your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a huge hit.

I want to take this opportunity as executive director of Maccabi USA to say thank you on behalf of everyone involved.

Photos courtesy Caitlyn Ridenour Photography

I had just returned from the 20th World Maccabiah games in Israel with a U.S. delegation of Touro Synagogue past presidents Hal Shepard, Susan Good, Paul Barron, Phyllis Alltmont, Lou over 1100, who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries. Back in July the eyes of the entire Good, Joyce Pulitzer, Rickie Nutik, Bill Norman, Walter Levy, Leon Rittenberg Jr., Scott Silbert, Jewish world were on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. This past month with 1000 athletes and Teri Hunter (current president) and Larry Kullman coaches from around the world being in Birmingham, you became the focal point.

Everyonehonors from the Jewish community and the community including a wonderful Touro Pulitzer, first femaleat large, president

police force, are to be commended. These games will go down in history as being a seminal On Dec. 1, Touro Synagogue presented the prestimoment for the Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish gious L’Chayim Award to Joyce Sameulson Pulitzer. The memories.

L’Chayim Award is given every other year to a person Jedpersons Margolis or for a history of support and a long-standing Executive Director,toMaccabi USA deep commitment the congregation.

A graduate of Isidore Newman School and Pine Manor Jr. College, and Loyola University New Orleans, supremacists Pulitwould like to see pushed back Onhas Charlottesville zer been involved in a myriad of organizations into in the a corner and made to feel lesser. We stand city and received numerous accolades for her work.

Sheand pray for the family of Heather Heyer, with Editor’s Thisfemale reaction to the events in Synagogue. was alsoNote: the first president of Touro who was there standing up to the face of this Charlottesville, written

by Jeremy Newman, She is also past president of Hermann Grimma/Gallier hate.

Master ofthe theJewish AlphaEndowment Epsilon Pi Theta Colony past chair Houses, Foundation, of at Auburn University, League, was shared AEPiwith WomenWe the Anti-Defamation andby active of recognize the essence of the American narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid National, calledand it “very and the Storm,which the SPCA, manyeloquent” other community boards. of such corners, and allow those in praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at She previously received the Torch of Liberty Awardourselves from them the seat at the table that they so deserve.

Auburn University and… the leadership they the Anti-Defamation League, and Outstanding Citizen It is the struggle to fulfill the promise of the displayfrom on their campus.Service ” award the Family of Greater New Orleans.

Declaration of Independence, that “all men are Pulitzer was a contributing playwrighter for “Cherries created Jubilee,” winner of the Big Easy “Best New Play 1999, ” equal… endowed by their Creator with White supremacy has been a cancer on certain and a writer and producer of the play, “Life, Liberty, and unalienable rights.” We know our work our country since its beginning, threatening is far from finished, butwith we know we will not Joyce Pulitzer husband Sidney Social Security”. its hopes, its values, and its better angels. move backwards.

The events that took place in Charlottesville When men and women, fully armed, take represented the worst of this nation. Those to the streets in droves with swastikas and who marched onto the streets with tiki torches other symbols of hate, it is a reminder of how and swastikas did so to provoke violence and relevant the issues of racism and anti-Semitism fear. Those who marched onto the streets did are today.

It is a wake-up call to the work that so to profess an ideology that harkens back to needs to be done to ensure a better, more a bleaker, more wretched time in our history. welcoming country.

But it should not come A time when men and women of many creeds, without a reflection on how far we’ve come. races, and religions were far from equal and far America was born a slave nation. A century from safe in our own borders. A time where into our history we engaged in a war in part Americans lived under a constant cloud of to ensure we would not continue as one. We racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The events that took place in Charlottesville served found ourselves confronted by the issue of civil rights, and embarked on a mission to ensure as a reminder of how painfully relevant these the fair treatment of all peoples no matter their issues are today. skin color. Although we’ve made great strides, Auburn’s Alpha Epsilon Pi stands with the it is a mission we’re still grappling with today.

Jewish community of Charlottesville, and with the Jewish people around the country and around the world. We also stand with the minorities who are targeted by the hate that was on display in Charlottesville. We stand with the minorities of whom these white

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

America was also born an immigrant country. As early as the pilgrims, many groups and families found in the country the opportunity to plant stakes, chase their future, and be themselves. Few were met with open

January 2019

Southern Jewish Life PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com V.P. SALES/MARKETING, NEW ORLEANS Jeff Pizzo jeff@sjlmag.com ADVERTISING SPECIALIST Annetta Dolowitz annetta@sjlmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com SOCIAL/WEB Emily Baldwein connect@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rivka Epstein, Louis Crawford, Tally Werthan, Stuart Derroff, Belle Freitag, Ted Gelber, E. Walter Katz, Doug Brook brookwrite.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 14 Office Park Circle #104 Birmingham, AL 35223 205/870.7889 NEW ORLEANS OFFICE 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 504/432-2561 TOLL-FREE 866/446.5894 FAX 866/392.7750 ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to 205/870.7889 for Lee Green, lee@sjlmag.com; Jeff Pizzo, jeff@sjlmag.com; or Annetta Dolowitz, annetta@sjlmag.com Media kit, rates available upon request SUBSCRIPTIONS It has always been our goal to provide a large-community quality publication to all communities of the South.

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agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events

In November, B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge did its 10th annual Turkey Train, delivering 124 donated turkeys to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for their Thanksgiving meal. This was their largest Turkey Train thus far.

Rabbi Alexis Berk leaving Touro for San Diego pulpit Three New Orleans congregations will now have new rabbinic leadership next year After 11 years leading Touro Synagogue in New Orleans, Rabbi Alexis Berk is leaving the congregation next summer to take the pulpit at what she describes as the only place she would leave New Orleans for.

Berk will become senior rabbi at Temple Solel in Cardiff by the Sea, in San Diego, Calif.

Berk said she grew up splitting time between Massachusetts and San Diego, where her father lived until he died in 2012. She and her husband, Bob, met while attending the University of California at San Diego, and they have traveled there several times a year.

Since arriving in 2008, Berk said, she has been “plainly smitten with Touro Synagogue” and describes her rabbinate there as “blissful, unshackled, creative, joyous, challenging, exciting, energizing.”

This was the only time in her 11 years at Touro that she has pursued another opportunity, exploring the possibility when the San Diego pulpit came open. “Our family’s extreme love for San Diego propelled this move,” she said. “It became clear that this is the right time and the right place for our family at this moment.”

Teri Hunter, Touro’s president, said Berk informed her about the move just after Thanks-

giving. Berk “has been an extraordinary Senior Rabbi for Touro Synagogue and has helped move our congregation from strength to new strength,” Hunter said.

Laura Levy has been appointed search committee chair and a committee is being formed, and the application to the Central Conference of American Rabbis is being completed.

“Together we will ensure that Touro remains robust and healthy during this current transition of Senior Rabbi leadership and beyond to our next chapter,” Hunter said. “As always, we will do this together.”

Berk becomes the third New Orleans rabbi to announce a departure this year. On Oct. 8, Beth Israel in Metairie announced that Rabbi Gabriel Greenberg asked that his contract not be renewed when it ends this coming summer, and on Oct. 24 Temple Sinai made a similar announcement regarding Rabbi Matthew Reimer.

In 2016, Berk was the youngster among the three Reform congregations on the South Shore, as Rabbi Edward Cohn was retiring after 29 years at Temple Sinai and Rabbi Robert Loewy had been at Gates of Prayer in Metairie since 1984. Next summer, Rabbi David Gerber, who was just installed at Gates of Prayer in Novem-

ber following Loewy’s retirement, will become the longest-tenured senior rabbi at a Reform congregation in the New Orleans area.

Coincidentally, Rabbi Adam Wright, associate rabbi at Temple Solel, was named senior rabbi at Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El, effective this summer.

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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agenda Skinned knees and self-reliance Local Jewish organizations are hosting a panel discussion based on the book, “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children,” by Wendy Mogel. The Feb. 3 program will be at 9:30 a.m. at Jewish Community Day School in Metairie.

A PJ Library Parent Choice selection, “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee” examines everyday parenting challenges through the lens of Jewish teachings. The panel brings together experts in the fields of child development, early education and family relationships.

Panelists will draw on Mogel’s writing as a springboard for discussion.

The panel features JCDS Head of School Sharon Pollin, Mark Sands and Nancy Timm, with Mike Wasserman moderating.

Pollin has extensive experience as an educator and will be speaking on supporting children’s developing independence. Sands, director of psychiatry at Mercy Family Center, consultant to Jewish Family Service and chair of the Jewish Children’s Regional Service Special Needs Program, will share insights and advice about emotional resiliency.

Timm, with more than 35 years of experience as a psychotherapist to patients of all ages, will address the pervasive issue of overscheduling, and ways to find balance between structured and free time. Wasserman will bring his 26 years as a pediatrician with Oschner Clinic Foundation, WWL-TV pediatric guest expert, immediate past president of JCDS and former Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans president, to his role as panel moderator.

Octavia Books will supply Mogel’s books, along with other parenting titles, for sale at the event. A light breakfast by Dvash Catering and childcare will be provided at no charge. Reservations must be made by January 31st to chardy@jcdsnola.org to ensure there is enough food prepared for everyone, and enough space designated for childcare.

The Jewish Parenting Panel is offered to the entire community through support from the Federation and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana.

The event is spearheaded by JCDS, JFS, PJ Library and JCDS, with support from Hadassah, Gates of Prayer Nursery School and the JCC Nursery School.

Hadassah Baton Rouge will host the Hadassah Southern Region’s board meeting and installation, and chapter members are welcome to join the delegates in celebrating two local officers. Marla Kameny will be installed as regional president, and Susan Smolinsky will become organization vice president. There will be a Havdalah and dinner installation on Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are $36. For those wishing to attend the board meeting and marketing training on Jan. 27, cost for the entire weekend is $75.

Jewish Community Day School in Metairie will have an open house for prospective students and families, Jan. 15 at 5:30 p.m. Head of School Sharon Pollin and members of the JCDS Parent Association will be on hand to answer questions. There will be a free pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by parent orientation in the cafeteria while child care is available in Kid Connection. Starting at 6:30 p.m., current Day School students will lead tours.

The New Orleans Jewish Community Center will hold its annual meeting on Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Uptown location.

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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agenda On Jan. 12, Shir Chadash will have a spe- event is $25 per family, up to five people. cial Kiddush in honor of Bruce Yaillen, who The next Old Fashioned Judaism for Beth stepped down at the end of 2018 after four Shalom in Baton Rouge will be Jan. 31 at 7:30 years as the congregation’s executive director. p.m., place to be announced.

The Kiddush will follow the 9:30 a.m. service.

The Jewish War Veterans will have its TALO There will be a talk by Leibel Mangel, conference in New Orleans the weekend of “From Auschwitz to the IDF,” on Jan. 30 at 7 Jan. 18. TALO includes Texas, Arkansas, Louip.m., hosted by Chabad of Baton Rouge, and siana and Oklahoma. On Jan. 19, they will be on Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. at the Uptown Chabad in hosted for Shabbat morning services at Shir New Orleans. The son of a Chabad rabbi and Chadash, with a luncheon following the 9:30 grandson of one of the youngest survivors of a.m. service.

Auschwitz, Mangel left Cincinnati at age 19 Also on the weekend of Jan. 18 at Shir Chaand enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. He served as a machine gunner in the Kfir Bri- dash, Sue Epstein will be the music scholar gade, where he took part in numerous high in residence. She has recorded five albums, profile anti-terror operations. Today, he advo- including the Parents’ Choice Award winner cates for Israel in mainstream and social me- “Cha Cha Chanukah” with The Shirettes. On dia, speaking throughout the U.S. He is also a Jan. 18 at 6:15 p.m. there will be Shabbat in the Round and a potluck dinner. On Jan. 19, Krav Maga instructor. there will be a Family Shabbat service at 10:30 The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton a.m., and at 6:30 at the rabbi’s home, Shiru Shir Rouge will have its annual meeting on Jan. 13 Chadash for parents and children, featuring at 3 p.m. at B’nai Israel. Speaker will be Lindsey Havdalah and music. On Jan. 20 at 9 a.m. she Friedmann, associate regional director of the will lead a Tu B’Shevat event at Shul School.

Anti-Defamation League.

The next Movie Day at the Uptown Jewish Israeli women’s rights activist Sagit Peretz Community Center features “Million Dollar Deri will speak at Touro Synagogue in New Arm,” the story of sports agent J.B. Bernstein, Orleans on Jan. 9 at 6 p.m. Her discussion will Jan. 31 at noon. In the film, the sports agent focus on lessons from her work promoting tries to rescue his failing business by launching greater inclusion of women and minorities in a reality show to find the best cricket players in traditional Jewish settings in Israel, as well as India, with the idea of turning them into proobservations about the similarities between fessional baseball players and signing them to religious minorities in Israel and minority lucrative Major League contracts. The screengroups in the United States. In 2014 she was ing is free, and movie snacks will be served. a founding member and chairwoman of the The next Early Childhood Development Womens’ Forum of the Bayit Hayehudi political party. Her visit is part of Amiel BaKehila, a Series program, coordinated by PJ Library program sponsored by the Jewish Federation and Slater Torah Academy, will be Jan. 13 at 10 of Greater New Orleans, to bring artists and a.m. Jennifer Dailey, founder of JD Sports, will activists to New Orleans to engage on similar lead “Gymnastics with Mom” at Slater Torah interests. New Orleans is one of five U.S. com- Academy. munities currently in the project.

“Coping with Loss: Finding Comfort from Tradition” will be held on Jan. 8 at Jewish At the next Morris Bart Lecture Series event at the Uptown Jewish Community Family Service in Metairie. Visiting Rabbi AarCenter, Danny Heitman, award-winning col- on Goldscheider will lead a group discussion umnist for The Advocate, discusses his latest about finding wisdom from Judaism in loss. book, “A Summer of Birds: John James Audu- The 4:30 p.m. event is free, and co-sponsored bon at Oakley House,” which chronicles how by the Jewish Federation of Greater New OrAudubon’s time in Louisiana made him into leans, Amiel BaKehila and the Clergy Council. a world-renowned bird artist. Lunch will be The President’s Award at B’nai Israel in Baavailable at the 11:45 a.m. event on Jan. 14 ton Rouge will be presented to Victor Sachse with a reservation by Jan. 10. No charge for at the Jan. 20 annual meeting. Sachse leads members, $10 for non-members. the Shabbat morning minyan and has served The New Orleans Jewish Community Center as cemetery chair for a long time. The meeting will have Summer Camp Reunions, Jan. 29 at will be at 5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. at the Uptown JCC and Feb. 10 at Rabbi Alexis Berk will lead an Israel Read1 p.m. in Metairie. There will be food served, ing Series in January, with “The Fragile Diacamp activities, singing and dancing, along logue: New Voices of Liberal Zionism,” showwith information about registration for this casing the many views progressives have coming summer. Admission to the Uptown continued on page 33 8

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

agenda Tired of Bama’s football dominance?

Blame the Jews After Alabama’ Iron Bowl 52-21 beatdown of Auburn on Nov. 24, a disgruntled Auburn fan came up with a new explanation for Alabama’s dominance in college football.

Actually, it is one of the oldest explanations for all sorts of global ills — Jewish Zionists.

On the Auburn Undercover Internet board, a fan calling himself “Auburnmanfromtn” accused Bama of buying players, then explained that the reason Alabama gets away with it is the influence of Jewish Zionists.

The post, which was later flagged and edited to remove Jewish references, apparently by board moderators, received widespread ridicule.

First, he called Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban a Jewish Zionist. Saban is actually a Catholic who attends mass before games, and the Catholic student center at Alabama is named in his honor.

The fan then said the last two commissioners of the Southeastern Conference “are Jewish Zionist,” along with the president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association. “They all take care of each other. They let Saban do anything he wants,” he wrote.

Mark Emmert, who he called Emminett, is NCAA president, and an online search doesn’t turn up any mention of his religion. He was formerly the chancellor of Louisiana State University, and it was during his tenure that Saban was hired at LSU. Currently, the SEC commissioner is Greg Sankey. He succeeded Mike Slive, who died earlier this year and was an active member of Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El. The poster added that “I may be wrong” but he heard the head of SEC officials “is one of them too.”

Steve Shaw, head of SEC officiating, is a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church and has been a board member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

To complete the conspiracy, the Auburn fan noted Alabama’s “good Journalist school” that “New York Jews” attend and then “go back to NY, they really support Bama football. Enough said?”

Alabama has had several notable Jewish players over the years, including Leroy Monsky and Harold Newman. There was also the legendary Fred Sington, who became Christian later in life.

There is a lot of Jewish history in the radio booth in Tuscaloosa, starting with one of the earliest voices of Crimson Tide football, Melvin Israel, who started broadcasting games in 1933 at age 20 while still in law school.

Israel later became Mel Allen, the Voice of the New York Yankees. Currently, Eli Gold does play-by-play on the Alabama Football Radio Network, which was created by Bert Bank, a radio pioneer who survived the Bataan Death March as a prisoner of war in World War II. Also, Robert Levin is the long-time voice of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band.

And of course, there’s the famous Alabama store in the very center of Zion itself, in the Old City of Jerusalem. Oops, that’s not a Jewish establishment, the owner is a Palestinian graduate of Alabama.

But “Auburnmanfromtn” has a couple of problems in rooting for Auburn — their head basketball coach is Bruce Pearl, who is very open about his Judaism and is a founding member of the Jewish Coaches Association. Also, as reported in this publication two years ago, the Auburn fight song, “War Eagle,” was written by two Jewish New Yorkers who are best known for writing the Christmas standard “Home for the Holidays.”

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agenda OFFICE OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

THIS IS AUBURN. “This wonderful country of ours allows us to gather together, to be Jewish and be free… I’m grateful I can be Jewish and a basketball coach in the SEC.”

— Auburn Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, at the 2017 JCC Maccabi Games Opening Ceremony

WE ARE COMMUNITY. Hillel, Auburn University’s Jewish student organization, was the recipient of the 2015 AU Student Involvement Award for Overcoming Adversity. diversity@auburn.edu www.auburn.edu/diversity

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Natchez concert benefits B’nai Israel The Natchez Festival of Music and the Goldring/ Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life are presenting Cabaret Under the Dome at historic Temple B’nai Israel in Natchez, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m.

This evening of Broadway and opera classics performed by singers from across the South supports the building’s restoration and celebrates Courtesy Historic Natchez Foundation the Jewish community’s important place in the his- Among the modifications at B’nai Israel in Natchez is an ADA-accessible ramp. tory of Natchez.

The artists performing in the cabaret are featured in the Natchez Festival of Music’s annual outreach program. They will share favorite songs from their repertoires in this benefit concert in the historic sanctuary of B’nai Israel.

Eric Botto, a Houston native, is a tenor currently pursuing a Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Mobile. Tennessee native Grace Denton is a Doctorate of Musical Arts student in Voice Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Mobile. Harlan Mapp is studying for his Master’s Degree in Conducting at the University of Southern Mississippi. Soprano Olivia Russell, a Gulfport native, has a resume of diverse roles in opera and musical theatre, which she continues to build as a student at the University of Mobile.

Collaborative pianist Julian Jones, a Louisiana native, is a Doctorate of Musical Arts Student in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Mobile.

“We’re excited to be bringing these incredible performers into Temple B’nai Israel’s sanctuary. The acoustics in the space are perfect for Broadway and opera music. We’re grateful for the Natchez Festival of Music’s support, and we look forward to many more events like this in the future,” said Nora Katz, ISJL Director of Heritage and Interpretation and co-chair of Temple B’nai Israel’s Board of Overseers.

The small Jewish community that remains in Natchez is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Jewish Natchez. In 1991, Temple B’nai Israel went into partnership with the ISJL as a way of preserving the temple into the future. The temple is now under the auspices of the ISJL’s Heritage and Interpretation Department, which interprets and shares the rich tradition of Jewish life in the American South through public programs, trips and tours, shared experiences, and more. In 2017, the Mississippi Heritage Trust named Temple B’nai Israel one of the Ten Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi.

The Natchez Jewish community and the ISJL are embarking on a renovation project that will enhance accessibility, restore the historic structure, and preserve the building in perpetuity. Once the multimillion-dollar restoration project is complete, the building will be consistently open as an event space, community arts hub, and museum telling the story of Jewish life in Natchez.

This preservation process will be accompanied by cultural offerings and dynamic experiences, making use of the space and bringing people together even while construction is still underway.

Tickets for the performance are $15, and all of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Temple B’nai Israel Restoration and Preservation Fund. A reception will follow.

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

In November, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant made his fourth trip to Israel in five years, leading a 20-member trade delegation and speaking at the third Jerusalem Leaders Summit.

Bryant was presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award for his efforts to strengthen the Israel-U.S. strategic partnership. A strong Israel advocate, Bryant’s emotions were on full display when he addressed the crowd. “We have so many friends around the world,” he said, “but none as close, and none that I love more than Israel. I am called to be here. Perhaps sometimes we cannot explain exactly why, but that call, that voice, is stronger than any other that we hear, to come to Israel, to Jerusalem, to do what I can to strengthen this relationship.”

The summit featured leading voices who articulated principled solutions in addressing the 21st-century’s economic concerns, global threats and security challenges. The parent organization — the International Leaders Summit, co-founded by Joel Anand Samy and Natasha Srdoc — brought together leaders from America, Britain, continental Europe, India and Israel to its inaugural Jerusalem Leaders Summit event in 2015, affirming the rule of law of civilization, based on shared principles and values.

This year’s summit focused on strengthening the rule of law, advancing economic freedom and free trade, and featuring contributions from the fields of innovation and technology that benefit individuals around the world.

Anand Samy told JNS “We are delighted that Governor Phil Bryant is here with a trade delegation… This is a practical approach that we are infusing into the Jerusalem Leaders summit. Bringing business leaders together who are looking into establishing economic partnerships, security partnerships through their endeavors working with government entities as well. So this is where we see the next level developing of us being involved as a team, as an organization, in facilitating these important gatherings.”

Also speaking at the Summit was Sampat Shivangi, a prominent Mississippi physician who was recently named to the ILS executive advisory board.

A member of Mississippi’s Hindu community, Shivangi was appointed a goodwill ambassador to Israel in 2005, working with the American Jewish Committee.

Shivangi was appointed as an advisor to the U.S. Health and Human Services committee by President George W. Bush. Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour appointed him to the Mississippi State Board of Health, then was appointed chair of the State Board of Mental Health,

by Bryant.

Also on schedule was Rev. Chris Edmonds of Tennessee, an ILS board member whose father, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations for saving the lives of American Jewish soldiers during the Holocaust when his unit was captured by the Nazis.

community Bryant told Israeli media that his first Israel visit in 2013 came when he saw that the U.S. administration “was weakening in our support of Israel,” so he wanted to come to Israel to reiterate that the heartland of America supports Israel.

Among those on the trip were Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr. and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Col. Greg Michel, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann and representatives of the Mississippi State Port Authority and the State Workforce Investment Board.

Israeli Consul General Lior Haiat from the Miami Consulate accompanied the Nov. 17 to 21 trip, which included a visit to the Elvis Inn, a restaurant and gas station near Jerusalem that is a shrine to the Mississippi-born King of Rock and Roll. “It kind of caught me by surprise,” Bryant said. “I walked in, there’s a guy singing ‘Jailhouse Rock.’ Sounded just like Elvis Presley.

And I’m in Jerusalem.”

On Nov. 20, Bryant met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called Bryant “a stalwart friend of Israel and a great champion of the Israeli-America alliance.”

Bryant brought greetings from President Donald Trump, “my dear friend, who called me on Sunday night at 02:00 Israeli time to make sure that I expressed our strong support of Israel, not only in Mississippi, but across the United States and his administration again for peace in our world and in our time, and you are doing so much to help us reach that and we thank you for that.”

Netanyahu responded, “We appreciate what President Trump is doing and his effort to contain Iranian aggression, which is the greatest danger to the peace of the world.”

In their meeting, they discussed cyber, fighting BDS and strengthening the alliance against “common enemies” and for “common challenges.”

In the JNS interview, Bryant also addressed anti-Israel boycott efforts. “That’s not going to happen,” he said adamantly.

“I was at a board meeting with Caterpillar, and they said they need to stop selling Caterpillars to the Jewish nation, and we said, ‘No! We’re not going to do that’,” Bryant said. “We have had success. We were able to pass a bill that said we will not invest, in the State of Mississippi, any of our dollars, whether education or retirement dollars, in any company that is helping threaten Israel, attack Israel, [or] supporting those nations and rogue organizations that are a threat to Israel.”

Bryant told JNS how he would suggest that people get to know the real Israel — not what they glean from the mainstream media.

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continued on page 37 January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

13

Mobile Jewish Film Festival

Tickets: $8, $6 for students and seniors, at mobilejewishfederation.org Thursday, Jan. 10, 1:30 and 6 p.m.

“The Invisibles” Mobile Museum of Art, free Sunday, Jan. 13, 3 p.m.

“The Boys” Ahavas Chesed. Dessert reception and singalong Tuesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.

“The Last Suit” Laidlaw Center, USA. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.

“The Cakemaker” Laidlaw Center, USA. Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.

“The Band’s Visit” Laidlaw Center, USA. Dessert reception follows.

Saturday, Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m.

“Humor Me” Springhill Avenue Temple. Optional deli dinner precedes ($15) Tuesday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m.

“The Interpreter” USA Fairhope campus. Reception follows.

Wednesday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m.

“A Bag of Marbles” Ben May Library.

Thursday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m.

“Inside The Mossad” Ahavas Chesed. Reception follows.

Sunday, Jan. 27, 3 p.m.

“Itzhak” Springhill Avenue Temple. Followed by mini-concert and dessert reception.

Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival Manship Theatre at Shaw Center Tickets: $8.50 at brjff.com Wednesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m.

“Big Sonia” Thursday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.

“Inside The Mossad” Saturday, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m.

“Itzhak” Sunday, Jan. 20, 3 p.m.

“Driver”

Jewish Cinema Mississippi

Malco Grandview Tickets: $10, or $35 for festival pass, at jewishcinemams.com Thursday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m.

“Bye Bye Germany” Saturday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.

“The Last Suit” Sunday, Jan. 27, 2 p.m.

“GI Jews” Tuesday, Jan. 29, 7 p.m.

“A Quiet Heart”

14

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Photo courtesy Greenwich Entertainment

Itzhak Perlman performing the National Anthem at Citi Field

January is Jewish Film Festival month Film Festival season has arrived, with the Mobile Jewish Film Festival celebrating its 18th anniversary with an ambitious lineup of 10 films over two weeks in January.

Organized in 2002, Jewish Cinema Mississippi in Jackson celebrates has its 17th season, while the Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival, which started in 2006, returns to the Manship Theatre.

In Mobile, the festival kicks off with a free film at the Mobile Museum of Art, “The Invisibles.” Though there is no charge, reservations to the Mobile Area Jewish Federation office are still required.

In addition to the regular festival, the Julien E. Marx Holocaust Student Film Series reaches about 2,500 students in the Mobile area.

The Baton Rouge festival also has an empha-

sis on Holocaust education. The festival provides funding for teachers in the area to attend the Belfer National Conference for Educators, an internationally renowned conference held yearly at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

There is also an annual Holocaust education program for junior high and high school students, with a Holocaust-themed film accompanied by a speaker who is a Holocaust survivor.

This year, the festival is also raising funds through T-shirt sales, using a quote by Rabbi Shmuel ben Nachman, “We Don’t See Things As They Are, We See Things As We Are.” The shirts are $29, of which $15 goes to the initiative.

A highlight of the Jackson festival is “G.I. Jews,” with free admission to veterans or current military with ID.

Mossad: Imperfect Spies Over the nearly seven decades of its existence, the Mossad has cultivated its image as a daring, all-powerful intelligence agency for which no ‘mission impossible’ exists, while remaining tight-lipped about its activities. “The Mossad: Imperfect Spies” brings to the screen for the first time the stories of 24 former spy-chiefs and operatives, and with them a first-person perspective of the personal and operational challenges they overcame, the ethical dilemmas they faced and the personal price they were forced to pay for the rest of their lives for their chosen career path.

Exploring missions past and present, successes such as the capture of Adolf Eichmann and the failures including a botched 1997 assassination attempt on a former Hamas leader are described in a wide exploration of Israeli history.

For filmmaker Duki Dror, it was a major challenge just getting into Mossad circles, let alone convincing the interviewees to sit down with him.

The film is a shorter version of a series that aired on Channel 8 in Israel in 2017.

Baton Rouge, Jan. 17; Mobile, Jan. 24 as the annual Reita Franco Memorial Film, with a reception following.

Itzhak “Itzhak” is an enchanting documentary about Itzhak Perlman, a polio survivor whose parents emigrated from Poland to Israel, who struggled to be taken seriously as a music student when others could not see past his disability. The film focuses on the mensch behind the music,

through archival footage, often-irreverent interviews and a lot of input from his wife, Toby.

Baton Rouge, Jan. 19. Mobile, Jan. 27, with violin and piano mini-concert and dessert reception following.

The Last Suit A winner of Audience Awards at numerous Jewish film festivals, “The Last Suit” is about 88-yearold Buenos Aires tailor Abraham Bursztein, whose kids are moving him into a retirement home. Instead, he plans a secret one-way trip to Poland, where he plans to fulfill a promise to find the Christian who saved him from certain death at Auschwitz.

Mobile, Jan. 15, with introduction by David Meola. Jackson, Jan. 26.

Where do babies come from?

Babies come from the swamp!

A Bag of Marbles The true story of brothers Joseph and Maurice, ages 10 and 12, who are forced to flee Nazi-occupied France in 1941, relying on each other to make their way to the demilitarized zone in a quest to reunite with their family. Mobile, Jan. 23.

The Band’s Visit The musical version of this film swept the Tony Awards last spring.

A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force arrives in the middle of the Israeli desert to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab Arts Center only to discover they have taken the wrong bus to the wrong destination. An exploration of how “enemies” are “ordinary people.” Mobile, Jan. 17, dessert reception follows.

Big Sonia In her 90s, Sonia Warshawski runs a tailor shop six days a week, the only thriving business in a mostly-abandoned Kansas City mall. She does it to keep busy, when she isn’t serving as the only Holocaust survivor in the community who speaks publicly about her experiences at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Baton Rouge, Jan. 16.

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story The writers of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Wan’na Be Like You” and “It’s A Small World (After All),” among others, brothers Robert Sherman and Richard Sherman defined Disney musicals for decades.

But this documentary shows that behind the facade, after some early success together, they cranked out a catalog of iconic songs while being completely estranged from each other and living separate lives. The acclaimed film includes a lot of their music and a wide range of interviews. Mobile, Jan. 13, followed by wine and cheese dessert reception and Disney singalong.

Bye Bye Germany In 1946 Germany, David Bermann and several Jewish friends have survived the Nazi regime and want to get to America as fast as possible — but how do they put together money to do that? They sell bed linens door to door, but questions from Bermann’s past start catching up to him.

Jackson, Jan. 24.

Tell her the truth.

Babies come from Touro.

We asked real Touro kids the age-old question, where do babies come from?

There’s one thing we know for sure, Touro babies grow up to be adorable kids!

Touro has delivered generations of New Orleanians and is proud to welcome the newest member of your Family.

touro.com/fbc

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

15

community The Cakemaker For mature audiences, “The Cakemaker” won Best Picture, best Director and Best Actress in the Israel Academy Awards. Thomas is a pastry chef in Berlin. After Oren, Thomas’s married business-traveler lover, dies in a car accident at home in Jerusalem, Thomas travels to see the life Oren left behind, assuming a false identity and infiltrating the life of Oren’s widow, Anat. Mobile, Jan. 16.

Driver Nahman Ruzumni lives on the fringes of the ultra-Orthodox community in B’nei Brak. As a “Driver” he takes beggars to wealthy people’s homes, and helps them find the right way to tell their story in order to inspire philanthropy. For his services he gets a cut of the money, and records their stories in his notebook. He spends the rest of his nights in makeshift casinos and dining halls where the more questionable members of this pious society spend their nights. But when his wife leaves suddenly, Ruzumni is faced with the responsibility of his nine year old daughter. Baton Rouge, Jan. 20

GI Jews “GI JEWS: Jewish Americans in World War II” tells the profound and unique story of the 550,000 Jewish men and women who served in World War II. Through the eyes of the servicemen and women, the film brings to life the little-known story of Jews in World War II, as active participants in the fight against Hitler, bigotry and intolerance. Jackson, Jan. 27

Humor Me Nate Kroll is an award-winning playwright who suddenly finds himself wifeless, jobless and homeless. With literally nothing else to lose, he moves in with his eccentric father, Bob, and gets a job at an old folks home where he helps the elders put on a new play. Stars Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould. Mobile, Jan. 19, with optional deli dinner preceding.

The Interpreter

I N D I V I D UA L P U R S U I T collective endeavor

An 80-year-old translator, armed with a pistol, sets off to Vienna to look for the SS man who may have killed his parents, but the only person he encounters is the man’s 70-year-old son Georg. Together they set out on a road trip through Slovakia, each with his own agenda, and each trying to come to terms with the past. Mobile, Jan. 22, reception follows.

The Invisibles In June 1943, Germany infamously declared Berlin “free of Jews.” But at that moment there were still 7,000 Jews living in the Nazi capital, of whom only 1700 made it to liberation. “The Invisibles” tells the stories of four survivors, bringing edge-of-the-seat suspense to their years spent underground. Mobile, Jan. 10, introduction by Deborah Velders of the Mobile Museum of Art. Reception follows.

A Quiet Heart Day & Boarding School | Grades 8-12 | IndianSprings.org 16

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

After failing to gain traction as a classical pianist, a secular Tel Aviv woman played by Ania Bukstein of “Game of Thrones” moves to a religious neighborhood in Jerusalem to discover herself. She meets an Orthodox boy from a neighboring family and a charismatic Italian monk, becoming embroiled in the religious-secular divide. Baton Rouge, Jan. 29

J Giving grows community

An Official Publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

THE

EWISH NEWSLETTER Vol. XIV No. 1

January 2019 | Tevet 5779

As we kick off the 2019 Jewish Federation Annual Campaign, we look back at the success of the 2018 Campaign and say thank you.

We cannot say it enough. The 2018 Campaign flourished in both amount and effect, by raising $100,000 more than it did in 2017!

While the impact this money will have on our community is incredible, we want to build on the momentum of last year’s Campaign.

We are asking you to make a commitment to the 2019 Annual Campaign, and to consider increasing the amount that you give. Why should you give and why should you give more? Last year your gift: • Served more than 1,100 meals to seniors at the Jewish Community Center • Funded resources to add a sixth grade class at the Jewish Community Day School, whose enrollment tripled this past year • Provided in-home care to 134 disabled and older adults through Jewish Family Service’s Homemaker Program • Powered Jewish student life on campus through Tulane Hillel, which engages 88% of the Jewish campus population • Allowed the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee to deliver food, medicine and heating supplies to 46,000 Jewish elderly in the Former Soviet Union • Brought 29,323 Jews from around the world to Israel by aliyah through the Jewish Agency for Israel These are just a few examples of how your gift to the Federation’s Campaign has grown community, whether here in greater New Orleans or across the globe. Please join us again as a donor to the Annual Campaign by making your pledge. Raising more dollars creates more impact, and we need your help to make this happen. You can pay online at www.jewishnola.com or call Brenda Montamat at 504-780-5605. Thank you! When you give to the Federation, your gift is matched because of our generous partners, the Goldring Family and Woldenberg Foundations. The increased portion is matched at 25%, making each dollar more powerful and transformative.

Thank you again for your continued support, and Happy New Year!

Jan Miller & Jonny Lake 2019 Annual Campaign Co-Chairs | Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

Sign up now for Super Sunday 2019

On Sunday, February 17, volunteers will come together between 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus in Metairie to support Super Sunday—can you lend a hand for at least 2 hours? Super Sunday is the phonathon to benefit the 2019 Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. We will reach out to members of our Jewish community to raise the dollars which support our agencies and organizations. It’s a longstanding tradition dating back decades in our Greater New Orleans Jewish community, attracting enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers and donors alike. How can you help?

1. Sign up to volunteer, on Super Sunday or for a clerical shift on the following Tuesday.

2. Answer the call from our friendly volunteers on Super Sunday!

3. Or make and/or pay your 2019 Annual Campaign pledge in advance at www.jewishnola.com.

4. Visit www.jewishnola.com/supersunday to sign up to volunteer or to make your pledge - or call Brenda at 504-780-5605.

Carrie Kanter, Nate Kanter, Dana Shepard, Hal Shepard & Kathy Shepard 2019 Super Sunday Co-Chairs January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

25

END OF YEAR UPDATE FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL On November 20, the Federation / JCRC launched its new annual Youth Civil Rights Trip. This day-long educational field trip gave nearly 100 Jewish and African-American middle school students and chaperones the opportunity to visit various sites in Alabama that were significant to the civil rights movement. The students visited the: Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma; the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham; and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; as well as the Anne Frank Tree in Birmingham.

The trip was made possible through the generosity of Jones Walker LLP, Emily Schoenbaum, and other members of our Jewish community. Participants reported that they enjoyed a wonderful and unique experience.

The Youth Civil Rights Trip is just one piece of the Federation's larger AfricanAmerican outreach initiative.

In October, the Federation/ JCRC launched a formal partnership with WBOK 1230AM to highlight and explore African-American/ Jewish relations, with a show co-hosted by Oliver Thomas and lay leader Lynne Wasserman entitled "Shalom: a Cross-Cultural Conversation." The second segment aired on November 14, and it featured Rabbi Emeritus Robert Loewy of Congregation Gates of Prayer and Reverend Mark Mitchell of New Hope Community Church. Please be on the lookout for our next show this January.

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January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

The Federation / JCRC, with philanthropist Emily Schoenbaum, recently entered into an exciting new partnership with historic St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. On December 12, the first annual Alex Schoenbaum Jewish Scholarship Fund ceremony was held, and three students were awarded a total of $2,500 towards their St. Augustine tuition. The award ceremony was accompanied by a wonderful assembly on Jewish/ African-American relations, led by faith leaders from both communities, including Rabbi Emeritus David Goldstein of Touro Synagogue.

Meanwhile, the Federation/ JCRC was proud to sign on to a letter to United States Senate and House leadership urging the timely passage of two important bills that combat the threat of international antiSemitism. The effort was led by ADL and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Please stay tuned for information on how to participate with the Jewish community and other faith communities in this year's City of New Orleans Martin Luther King Day march on the morning of Monday, January 21.

To learn more about JCRC, please contact Mithun Kamath at mithun@jewishnola.com.

FEDERATION STATEMENT ON THE PROPOSED DEPORTATION OF VIETNAMESE IMMIGRANTS The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans strongly disagrees with the Administration’s renewed effort to deport law-abiding Vietnamese immigrants from the United States in large numbers. The new proposal radically reverses course on a decade-old agreement that explicitly bars the deportation of Vietnamese people who arrived in the U.S. before July 12, 1995 – the date on which the U.S. and Vietnam re-established diplomatic relations following the Vietnam War. We specifically take issue with the Administration re-interpreting the 2008 agreement to exempt undocumented Vietnamese migrants who arrived before the above-mentioned date from its protections. The agreement has, from its inception, widely been accepted by all involved parties to shield such individuals from deportation. In fact, many of these Vietnamese immigrants – some of whom were just children – arrived in the U.S. as refugees fleeing the Vietnam War, and some even fought alongside the U.S. military during the war. Moreover, many of the individuals who may be targeted by the new policy have lived in the U.S. for years and have contributed substantially to the social, cultural, and economic life of our country.

This is especially true in Greater New Orleans, home to a thriving community of Vietnamese immigrants and their descendants dating back at least to 1975, when the Roman Catholic Church brought 2,100 refugees to the region after the fall of Saigon. The 2010 Census listed 15,800 people of Vietnamese descent living in the area. Coincidentally, it was also in 2008 that we became the first region to elect a Vietnamese-American to the U.S. Congress, a historic achievement of which the local Vietnamese community was and is rightfully proud.

The American people opened their arms to Vietnamese immigrants in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, and we should continue to support this community today. We feel fortunate to have the Vietnamese people of Greater New Orleans as our neighbors and partners.

Arnie D. Fielkow | Chief Executive Officer Bradley Bain | Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council

Jewish Newcomers Welcome Event The Federation hosted its annual Newcomers event on December 4. Morton and Carole Katz generously opened their Uptown home to over 60 newcomers and Federation board members. The event featured guests Alon and Emily Shaya, both Federation newcomers, and owners of local Israeli restaurant, Saba. The Shayas spoke to the group about why they decided to make New Orleans their home and encouraged the attending newcomers to do the same. The event was catered by Saba and kosher food was provided by Rimon. Since the event, several newcomers have asked to become more involved with Federation through its Katz-Phillips Leadership Development and JNOLA programs.

To learn more about the Jewish Newcomers Program, contact Michelle Neal at michelle@jewishnola.com or 504-780-5604.

January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

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THE LATEST NEWS FROM NEXT GEN JEWISH NEW ORLEANS JNOLA held its fun and fancy Light It Up Chanukah Gala at Generations Hall on Saturday, December 15. Attendees enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts from Saba, Casablanca Restaurant, Goldberg’s Fine Foods, Marjie’s Grill, Rimon, Tal’s Hummus, Pizza Delicious, and Kosher Cajun – all Jewish-owned restaurants. More than 100 gala guests enjoyed the open bar and danced the night away to live music from Eric Benny Bloom and the Oy Veys, a band comprised of local Jewish musicians. When guests weren’t busy busy with all that, they posed at a photo booth, ate a donut at the sufganiyot bar, and took a whack at fun dreidel pinatas!

The Light It Up Chanukah Gala was also a fundraiser for Second Harvest. For ever dollar donated, four meals were given to families in need—because of JNOLA over 2,000 meals were delivered! Thank you to everyone who attended. A special thank is owed to the JNOLA Social Committee, chaired by Malcolm Finkelstein and Sam Cohen.

Please visit jnola.com for more information or email Tana at tana@jewishnola.com if you have questions.

JNOLA is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, consisting of young Jewish adults between the ages of 21–39. This program hosts a wide variety of events, centering on community connection, professional networking, social action, and Jewish life in New Orleans. JNOLA is proudly sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2019-2021 KATZPHILLIPS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CLASS The Federation’s Katz-Phillips Leadership Development Program, formerly known as Lemann-Stern, has been in existence since 1960. The program is a year and a half in length. The class meets monthly, September-May the first year and September-December the second year, with Graduation in January. The sessions deal with Jewish American history, social action, leadership, and more. Graduates of the program have served on the boards of every Jewish agency, synagogue and organization in our community, and have used the knowledge gained from the program to benefit the wider New Orleans community as well. Please nominate worthy candidates, and note that self-nominations are accepted.

Learn more about the qualifications and download the application on our website by visiting jewishnola.com/youngleadership/leadership. All applications must be fully completed before submission and are due to Sherri Tarr at sherritarr@jewishnola.com by February 13, 2019.

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January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Jewish Community Center Learn the Story Behind the Legend The Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts series returns on Thursday, January 10 with a screening of “Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me.” Showing at 7 p.m. at the Uptown JCC, the film features new interviews with such luminaries as Billy Crystal, Norman Lear, Jerry Lewis, Whoopi Goldberg and Kim Novak, with never-before-seen photographs from Davis’ vast personal collection and excerpts from his electric performances in television, film and concert.

Sammy Davis, Jr. had the kind of career that was indisputably legendary, so vast and multi-faceted that it was dizzying in its scope and scale. And yet, his life was complex, complicated and contradictory.

“Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” shares the story behind the legend, examining not just his vast talent, but also his journey for identity through the shifting tides of civil rights and racial progress in 20th-century America.

Kicking for Kids Returns With A Twist!

The popular tournament is back with a fun, new format. Rather than kickball, teams will compete in footgolf, which is played on a golf course with a soccer ball. Players attempt to kick the ball into large holes, taking as few shots as possible. Prizes will be awarded to the teams with the lowest score.

The Kicking for Kids Footgolf Tournament will be held Sunday, Jan. 6 at Timberlane Country Club. All ages are welcome. Adult teams will kick off at 9:30 a.m. and family teams will follow at 12:30 p.m. No experience is required to play.

The cost is $200 per team (all walking) or $240 per team with one golf cart. A variety of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Proceeds from this event will provide scholarships for the New Orleans JCC’s Maccabi team.

Be part of the JCC’s inaugural footgolf tournament! Teams can register online at nojcc.org. Questions and sponsorship requests should be directed to Neal Alsop at (504) 897-0143 or neal@nojcc.org.

Compete in the JCC Maccabi Games

Jewish teens ages 12 to 16 are invited to be part of Team NOLA, the New Orleans JCC’s delegation at the Detroit Maccabi Games and ArtsFest, held August 4 to 9, 2019. Come have a blast at the largest This event is free and open to the community. Movie snacks will be Jewish youth event in the world. Teens participate in athletic activities or the arts experience, and then come together for social events, comserved. munity service and fun.

Register Today for Mah-Jongg Tournament

Athletes can compete in either individual or group sports. For the boys, team options include 14U and 16U baseball, basketball and soccer, and 16U flag football, ice hockey and lacrosse. Girls may parEnjoy a lovely catered lunch and an afternoon of mah jongg at ticipate in 16U basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Boys and girls of all the JCC’s annual Harriet Wainer Kugler Memorial Mah Jongg Tour- ages may compete in the following individual activities: dance, tennis, nament. Held on Sunday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the swimming, star reporter, table tennis, and track and field.

Uptown JCC, this fun, three-round tournament features separate diArtsFest teens may select one of the following specialties: Acting/ visions for beginners and experienced players. Beginners will play in Improv, Culinary Arts, Dance, Musical Theater, Rock Band, Social place while experienced participants will rotate seats. Cash and door Media Squad SMS, Visual Arts or Vocal Music. prizes will be awarded!

To register or to learn more about the New Orleans delegation, Tournament details and registration forms are available at the JCC please visit nojcc.org or contact Neal Alsop, Uptown Sports Director, front reception desks, at nojcc.org and by emailing judy@nojcc.org. at (504) 897-0143 or neal@nojcc.org.

January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

21

Jewish Endowment Foundation Guaranteed Lifetime Income With a Charitable Gift Annuity

Dear Friends, What a tremendous honor it has been for me to serve as President of the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana for the past two years.

As financial markets go up and down from one day to the next, many donors are turning to the Charitable Gift Annuity program at the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana as a dependable source of lifetime income. They know they will receive the same amount from a JEF charitable gift annuity every quarter, every year.

I’ve been very fortunate to work with dedicated, talented people, including our Executive Director Sandy Levy, JEF’s staff and our Board of Directors. My life has been enriched by getting to know so many wonderful, active supporters in our community who continually bring about change through their enormous generosity.

They like the other features too — attractive rates (up to 9.5%), payments that are partially tax-free, and the charitable deduction to claim on their income tax return. Most importantly, they like the fact that they are helping JEF and their Jewish community.

How It Works

When I began serving my term as president, JEF was celebrating 50 years of service and philanthropy to this community. We celebrated that milestone and undertook the enormous task of preparing the foundation for the future with new initiatives, goals, policies and more. It isn’t easy for me to leave this position, but I do so knowing that the tasks necessary to secure our community’s future will successfully continue in the very accomplished hands of JEF’s incoming President Larry Lehmann. And I look forward to continuing to help our foundation in my role as Immediate Past President.

For more than half of the first 50 years, JEF was skillfully and devotedly directed by Sandy Levy, who led our foundation to unprecedented growth. Although Sandy has retired, we are confident that our foundation is well positioned to continue to make a positive impact in our community under the wise and capable leadership of our new Executive Director Bobby Garon.

I’ve learned so much as President, not only about charitable giving vehicles, investment strategies, governance and more, but also about the fantastic, caring community that we live in. As has been attributed to Mahatma Gandhi: “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

Thank you for your friendship and confidence. Happy New Year!

Andrea (Andi) Lestelle Immediate Past President, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana

22

January 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Charitable Gift Annuities are available for married or single people with a minimum gift of $5,000. JEF can prepare a personalized gift illustration based on your age and the gift amount you are considering.

It will clearly show how much you will receive, what portion of the payment amounts will be tax-free, and the amount of your income tax charitable deduction. Payments are backed by the assets of JEF, so you can have complete confidence that your payments will be there for the rest of your life.

For more information, please call or email Patti Lengsfield (504-5244559/patti@jefno.org) for a confidential conversation.

Examples of Rates Based on Single-Life $20,000 Gift* *JEF uses rates currently recommended by the American Council on Gift Annuities.

AGE

RATE

ANNUAL INCOME

60

4.7%

$940

65

5.1%

$1,020

70

5.6%

$1,120

75

6.2%

$1,240

80

7.3%

$1,460

85

8.3%

$1,160

90 +

9.5%

$1,900

The material presented in this article is intended as general educational information on the topics discussed herein and should not be interpreted as legal, financial or tax advice. Please seek the specific advice of your tax advisor, attorney, and/or financial planner to discuss the application of these topics to your individual situation.

Jewish Family Service Become a Volunteer Educator with Teen Life Counts!

Start your year off by helping to end teen suicide

Lifeline Volunteer Callers Needed!

Volunteers are needed to make courtesy calls to subscribers on a monthly basis to assure that the equipment is working properly. The time commitment is about one hour per month.

The phone calls are made from your home during business hours, but at your convenience.

This personal touch is greatly appreciated by our subscribers, many of whom are homebound and glad to hear a friendly voice.

JFS is looking for volunteer educators for the Teen Life Counts program. This 30-year-old program relies on dozens of Volunteer Educators to teach an established suicide prevention and awareness program to students in the Greater New Orleans area. After Lifeline is a personal emergency response system that allows the elcompleting initial training, TLC volunteer educators are required to teach the TLC program in at least derly and disabled to call for help at the touch of a button worn around two area schools per semester and attend approximately two additional their neck or wrist. Being a Lifeline subscriber can mean the difference between continuing to live independently in their own home and havTLC educator support meetings over the course of the year. ing to move to an assisted living facility or nursing home.

Signing up is easy! Go to www.jfsneworleans.org/volunteer-with-tlc/ Interested in this fun, easy, and rewarding volunteer opportunity? to complete the volunteer educator application. Applicants must be at Or know someone that can benefit from Lifeline? Call Jan Miller at least 21 years or older, and must pass a background check. Interested, (504) 831-8475 ext. 126 but have questions? Email TLC Program Coordinator, Melissa Stewart, at melissa@jfsneworleans.org.

Because of TLC volunteer educators, this fun and impactful program has made a difference in many students lives. Will you be the next volunteer educator to make an impact in a teenager’s life?

Social Workers, Counselors, Mental Health Professionals:

Upcoming Continuing Education Workshops at Jewish Family Service Ethics in Supervision

Jan. 25, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Victoria Judge, LCSWBACS. Approved for 3 Ethics and Supervision hours (participants may choose whichever they need) by LCA and LABSWE*.

JFS now accepts MEDICARE, along with Aetna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Connect, Gilsbar, and Tricare insurance policies for Counseling Services.

Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups is a core community service of JFS. Licensed behavioral health professionals provide guidance and support on how to cope with interpersonal and family problems. Appointments are available. Fees are assessed on a sliding-fee scale based on household income. To make an appointment, call: (504) 831-8475.

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Feb. 15, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Christina James, LCSW, MPP. Approved for 3 General hours by LCA and LABSWE*.

*Approval pending Pricing varies. All events located at: 3300 W. Esplanade Ave. S., Suite 603, Metairie. For more information or to register, call (504) 831-8475, or visit the Workshops and Continuing Education page on the JFS website: http://www.jfsneworleans.org/ services/workshops-continuing-education/

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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Jewish Community Day School Chanukah Extravaganza 2018!

130 Grandparents, Special Friends and Parents all agree: JCDS children are so talented, creative, and brilliant, they are absolutely ready for Broadway… or perhaps the Yiddish Theater!

This year’s Chanukah Extravaganza featured students of all ages performing “Stories from the Shtetl,” three tales that brought the holiday to life. Songs featured familiar and new favorites. Pre-K and Kg joined 1st and 2nd graders on stage, and to everyone’s delight, belted out the

Master Educator and Friend of JCDS Linda Brownstein Returns Linda Brownstein, key in helping JCDS develop its outstanding language and literacy program, will return to the school at the end of January to once again provide individual professional development to General Studies teachers. Brownstein holds a Bachelors degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology, a Masters in Speech Pathology, M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Needs, has certification in autism spectrum education, and is a reading specialist.

“In other words,” says JCDS Head of School Sharon Pollin, “one of the most highly qualified, passionate and caring educators I know.”

Brownstein’s long career with children has allowed her to gain incredible insight into all aspects of learning and working with young children, and to support teachers to do the same. Ms. Brownstein recently made Aliyah to Israel and is now living in Jerusalem. “I just had to reconnect with the amazing teachers at JCDS before Sharon departs in June,” said Brownstein. “I am so proud of all they and their students have achieved and I know they will continue on as the wonderful educators they are.”

For additional information, or to schedule a time to meet with Linda, contact chardy@jcdsnola.org

song “Latkes” to the tune of “My Girl.”

It was hard to believe our 10 babies were not really dollops of Daisy sour cream!

The beauty of 6th grade twins Avery and Harry Hart’s menorah lighting was bittersweet — they have been JCDS students since Pre.K and this is their graduation year.

Guests enjoyed a traditional Chanukah feast of sufganiot and delicious latkes prepared by Linda Waknin of D’vash (400 latkes - gone in a flash!), followed by some competitive dreidel playing. Why is it that the grandchildren always win???

Thank you to our amazing teachers, Lauren Gisclair, Toby David, Hemda Hochman, and volunteer Debbie Schlackman, for such a Happy Chanukah celebration!

JCDS Welcomes Early Childhood Division Head Catherine Sarenac JCDS is thrilled to announce that Catherine Sarenac has been hired as the Early Childhood Division Head of its new Preschool. According to Head of School Sharon Pollin, Sarenac is uniquely qualified for the position. Catherine served as Director of Admission for The Phillips Brooks School, a K-5 independent school in Menlo Park, Calif. Located next to Stanford University, Brooks is known for its focus on emotional intelligence, STEM learning, and child-centered, play-based methods. “My young daughter and I had an incredible experience at Brooks that solidified my commitment to the Reggio Emilia approach,” notes Sarenac. Catherine speaks French fluently and has served as a STEM consultant and teacher for elementary school children. Most recently, she wrote and piloted a bilingual Montessori curriculum.

Catherine is a licensed K-12 teacher and holds a B.A. in English and a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York. She is married to Darko Sarenac, JCDS Director of Education Innovation and STEAM Learning. Together they are the parents of Chloe, a sophomore at Reed College in Portland, Ore. The community is invited to meet Ms. Sarenac, and learn more about the new Preschool, on January 27 from 10:30 to noon during an Early Childhood Play Date. RSVP to chardy@jcdsnola.org

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

summer camp an annual SJL special section

Taking the 50th

Jacobs Camp, Space Camp mark major milestones After years of efforts by small Jewish communities throughout the Deep South, 50 years ago the gates opened for the first summer at Henry S. Jacobs Camp.

Anna Herman, the camp’s director, said the Jacobs Camp team “can’t wait for another amazing summer in Utica,” made even more special with celebrations of the camp’s 50th anniversary.

Herman said registration for 2019 is “off the charts,” with the second session mostly wait-listed at this point, and session one filling fast.

One major change to this summer is the starting date. Traditionally, cars line up on Morrison Road on a Sunday to start the camp summer, but this year the traditional day to start camp is also Shavuot, so camp will begin on June 10 instead, a Monday. The change is only for this year.

Staff are still needed for the summer, and new programs will enhance the recruiting process. “We have refocused our Counselor-in-Training program to be a true leadership development program for high school seniors,” Herman said. There are also many positions beyond that of traditional counselors, offering real-world experience.

The camp has also established an internship program for additional real-world experiences. Staffers age 19 and older will have the opportunity to have an internship in May or August at area businesses, gaining career-oriented work experiences. Information is available at jacobscamp. org/internships.

Over the decades, the camp “continues to evolve our programs to meet the needs of our community,” Herman said. There will be more social justice programming for older campers. “These are the kids that will change the world. We want our campers to be the ones to stick up for people that don’t have anyone to stick up for them.”

Popular camp classes include robotics, wacky science, archery and gymnastics, along with classics such as sports, adventure and visual arts.

A new water trampoline debuts this summer, joining the blob, slide and obstacle course.

The 50th anniversary reunion and celebration will be the weekend of Nov. 1 in New Orleans, taking potential football schedules into account in selecting the dates. More details will be announced as the year progresses.

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Space Camp marking Apollo 11 anniversary Tara Sweeney came to Space Camp at age 14 because she wanted to meet people as excited about space exploration as she was. She didn’t know then that the experience would give her the confidence to pursue her passions and lead her to the U.S. Air Force Academy, a career as an Air Force officer and to running her own national defense and homeland security testing and evaluation company.

Before she came to Space Camp, “my parents had accommodated my interest in space exploration, aviation and service,” Sweeney said. After Space Camp, she knew she was on her path in life.

Thirty-two years later, Sweeney is back at the U.S. Space and Rocket CenJanuary 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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summer camp Paying The Way: Summer Camp Assistance Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience assists all first-time campers Thinking about sending your child to Jewish sleepaway camp for the first time in 2019?

The Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience Incentive Grant Program, which is administered by the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, offers a one-time grant of up to $1,500 per child for first-time campers. This program, which helps families provide their children with a first-time camping experience at a Jewish sleepaway camp, was established by JEF in 1999 and has been funded by the Goldring Family Foundation since 2001.

Since its inception, more than 1,400 children have received grants to attend Jewish summer camp.

“We are grateful to the Goldring Family Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and their commitment to making a Jewish camping experience available to so many children,” said JEF President Larry Lehmann. “This program benefits not only the individual campers, but our entire community.”

Experts agree that one of the most effective ways to develop children’s commitment to living Jewish lives is to expose them to a camp experience where they will meet other Jewish boys and girls and savor the precious heritage of Jewish traditions while enjoying wholesome summer fun and sports activities.

To be eligible, a child must be a first-time camper at a not-forprofit Jewish sleepaway camp; in grades 1 through 9 in the 2018-19 school year; and a resident of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or the Florida Panhandle.

Grants are not based on financial need. Both parents need not be Jewish. Neither temple nor synagogue affiliation is required.

The deadline for applications is March 31. Award notification will be made by May 31.

For more information and an application form, contact Ellen Abrams at (504) 524-4559 or ellen@jefno.org. The application can also be downloaded at www.jefno.org.

JCRS accepting applications for need-based summer camp aid Applications for need-based camp scholarship aid from Jewish Children’s Regional Service are now available online for summer 2018.

Last year, the New Orleans-based social service agency provided partial scholarship funding for over 300 Jewish youth in a seven-state region to attend a non-profit Jewish sleepaway camp.

Campers must be entering grades 3 to 12 in the fall of 2018, and must reside in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee or Texas. The priority consideration deadline is Feb. 15, and the application process is done entirely online at jcrs.org.

In addition to the online application, several documents need to be uploaded — a PDF of the most current Federal tax return for the parents or guardians, the most current W2s and 1099 forms and a copy of the final 2017 pay stub if the 2017 W-2 has not yet been received.

Financial information is required from all legal parents and guardians, and permission must be given for JCRS to work with other local organizations that give camp scholarship assistance.

Applications for siblings can be combined if all legal parents or guardians are the same. There is a different, shorter form for returning campers.

A similar procedure is in place for college aid, with around 140 students receiving an average award of $2,000 each year. The college application deadline is May 31.

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

ter in Huntsville, serving as vice president of Space Camp. It is an exciting time to be back, with record numbers of camp trainees and many changes to the curriculum.

It is also an exciting year to be at Space Camp, as this July, Huntsville and the Center will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11, the historic moon landing mission.

Space Camp students today are going on simulated missions to the International Space Station and learning about the important work NASA is doing with the Materials International Space Station Experiment, or MISSE, mission. For that, the Space Camp mission focuses on a Tara Sweeney as a spacewalk to expose materials to the atmosphere and en- Space Camp student vironment of space, much as the astronauts living and working on the ISS are doing.

Other missions are more about where we are going rather than where we are right now. An updated lunar mission includes a habitat where astronauts would live while doing the work of installing solar arrays and conducting surface experiments on the moon. They’re also learning about the challenges of living in a hostile environment with a new health screening simulation.

And beyond the moon is Mars, with major upgrades to the Space Camp Mars mission. The Mars component of the Space Camp training floor now contains two 16-foot-diameter domes where camp trainees learn about growing food in space and other aspects of living on the Red Planet. The domes will contain aeroponic towers where students will plant, nurture and harvest food that can be used in the Space Camp Crew Galley to help feed fellow Space Camp students.

The domes will also serve as the base to conduct experiments and operate rovers to inspect the Mars base and to do geological surveys.

While all this is lots of fun and immerses trainees into the concept of living and working in space, one of the most important aspects of Space Camp and its sister programs — Aviation Challenge, Space Camp Robotics and the new U.S. Cyber Camp — is showing the importance of teamwork for mission success.

That applies across all programs and all ages, whether it’s a 9-year-old attending on her own for the first time, a family coming to enjoy the experience together, or an adult living out a lifelong dream of attending Space Camp.

It’s a lesson Sweeney found applied in her military and civilian careers, and it’s one she is excited to reinforce now that she’s back in the place that meant so much to her as a child.

“Every position matters, no matter what you do in life,” she said. “It’s important to have passion, excitement and enthusiasm for what you want to do, and to ask people to help you get there.”

Sweeney is excited to be part of the mission that set her trajectory and one that she has carried with her for more than three decades. She has now come full circle, back to where she began, and she is pretty starry-eyed about it.

“I walk around here as my 14-year-old self with this thin veneer of professionalism,” she said.

Tikkun Olam, love for Israel at Camp Judaea Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, N.C., celebrated many successes in 2018, its 58th season. Enrollment from its two sessions combined reached a record high of 720 boys and girls. By Dec. 1, enrollment for 2019 summer had already reached 650 with about a 90 percent retention rate of eligible campers from last summer, which is a true testament to the high quality of programs and experiences provided in 2018. Camp Judaea continues to update its program and facilities as it gears up for its 59th summer season.

To help lead the way, Walter Synalovski, long-time camping professional and alumnus of Camp Judaea, returned as executive director, to continue leading CJ to new heights. Elana Pollack, a former CJ camper and veteran staff member, was recently named assistant director. The two are joined by longtime Judaean and Jewish camping professional Lori Zeligman as program director.

Camp Judaea’s core educational programming revolves around fostering a strong connection to and love for Israel. Every summer, the camp hires a significant number of Israeli staff who live in the cabins and work in activity areas, providing campers with immersive and experiential encounters with modern Israeli

summer camp

Doing Tikkun Olam in Columbia, S.C. culture. Camp Judaea offers a wide variety of activities, including horseback riding, swimming, sports, arts and crafts, ziplining and rock-climbing, archery, music, dance, cooking, and more.

In 2018, Camp Judaea launched a new program called Tikkun for rising 11th graders that revolves around the value of tikkun olam, repairing the world. The teen participants volunteered in Columbia, S.C. for five days, helping to rebuild damaged homes with the Saint Bernard Project, an organization that was founded in New Orleans after Katrina, as well as additional community service work within the Columbia, S.C. community.

Community service hours were earned for this program. It is very exciting for Camp Judaea to offer this opportunity for young leaders to make a difference for others.

The camp also recently launched a $5.7 million Let My People CAMPaign for improvements around the facility.

Enrollment is still open, and there is space in select units, including Tikkun.

Interested families should visit www.campjudaea.org or call (404) 6347883 for more information. Scholarship and tuition support opportunities are available.

Camp Barney Medintz the “Summer Place” Camp Barney Medintz, the summer overnight camp of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, is located on 540 acres surrounding two private lakes in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, just 70 miles north of Atlanta.

Since 1963, Camp Barney has attracted more than 1,200 boys and girls each summer throughout the Southeast, drawing from about 25 states from coast to coast, and several countries. They all consider Camp Barney their “Summer Place!”

Each summer, Camp Barney Jim Mittenthal said, the camp creates a meaningful and exciting community that is all about adventure, exhilarating activities, strengthening one’s connection to Israel and the global Jewish community, feeling knowledgeable and comfortable in the natural environment, and making lifelong friendships, all under the supervision of a mature, talented, and nurturing staff.

Every imaginable activity is offered at Camp Barney, including the “Hurricane” water slides, multiple lakefront adventures, water skiing, stand up paddleboards, rock climbing and several zip lines, horseback riding, tennis, mountain biking, all field and court sports, music, dance, theater, arts and crafts, film making, cooking, fencing, scuba, and much more.

Every year, Camp Barney is committed to building new additions and programming features to enhance its facility and experience for campers. In recent years, Camp Barney has built a second swimming pool with water slides, a cultural and performing arts complex, (Kosher) cooking school, film studios, martial arts center, Israeli culture center, and many new cabins for its campers.

In 2019, campers will be able to try another new zip line spanning 1000 feet across one of the lakes, as well as pedal boards, knockerball, brand new adventure trips, new menus, and more.

Mittenthal, who has been director for the past 26 years, said “It is so gratifying to see the power and impact of Camp Barney: campers and staff feeling accomplished because of their shared experiences in new or challenging moments, greater awareness and connection to our Jewish culture, elevated self-esteem and personal growth, and countless special and hilarious moments with friends, both during and in between summers at Camp Barney!”

For more information, and to register for Summer 2019, visit campbarney.org, or call (678) 812-3844.

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summer camp

Ramah Darom introduces lacrosse and rowing specialty tracks Camp Ramah Darom, an overnight summer camp serving Jewish children throughout the southeast, announced the opening of Athletic Edge, two specialty “camps within a camp” offering intensive Lacrosse and Rowing tracks.

Athletic Edge allows campers to pursue their sports passion while being part of Ramah Darom’s vibrant and inclusive Jewish summer camp.

This program is for athletes who want to be able to improve their skills and conditioning over the summer and still fully participate in the fun and social experience of traditional Jewish summer camp. The program will fill a gap in the Jewish camp world, providing the first-ever four-week, Jewish residential camp dedicated to lacrosse and rowing in the country.

Ramah Darom was one of two camps in North America to receive grant funding from the Gottesman Family Foundation and the Foundation for Jewish Camps under a new program called “Competitive Edge.”

“We see this grant as an opportunity to create a sacred space for athletes to pursue their passion and still fully participate in a traditional Jewish residential camp experience. Participants will hone their athletic skills, strengthen their minds and bodies, train with renowned coaches, and be immersed in a vibrant Jewish community filled with campers with diverse interests,” says Ramah Darom Director Geoff Menkowitz.

“Ramah Darom offers the best of both worlds and, in doing so, equips young people to navigate life experiences — whatever their interests and wherever their futures may take them — while maintaining a strong sense of Jewish identity and connectedness to Jewish community,” said Menkowitz.

“I never want kids to feel like they need to choose between a commitment to competitive athletics and a desire to engage with Jewish community.”

Ramah Darom’s campus in the North Georgia mountains is near Lake Burton, which offers a pristine location for rowing. Rowers will receive high-level coaching instruction to improve their technique and conditioning throughout the camp session. Similarly, lacrosse track campers will gain an edge by improving their individual stick skills and their capacity to be team leaders.

Participants in Athletic Edge will dedicate about three hours a day to their chosen sport. The rest of the day, athletes will be fully integrated into the Ramah Darom community and programs, giving them access to swimming, art, music, hiking and other camp favorites. Rowers and lacrosse players alike will experience Jewish living and learning at a place where being Jewish is fun and celebratory.

Nationally recognized for programmatic excellence in sports and arts and its innovative approach to Jewish education, Ramah Darom is part of the National Ramah Camping Movement. Ramah Darom’s traditional summer offerings, its two-, four-, and eight-week programs for children, and its family camps remain in high demand.

When the summer is over, the Kaplan Mitchell Retreat Center at Ramah Darom offers Jewish experiential programs for all ages, including adult, family and multi-generational retreats in a kosher setting. Ramah Darom’s 122-acre Clayton, Ga., campus, just two hours north of Atlanta, is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Jacobs holding Family Camp in March The Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica will host Family Camp, a weekend for new camp families as well as veterans, March 22 to 24. Registration is open for the weekend, which is geared to students in grades 1 to 5, but there will also be the National Federation of Temple Youth’s Junior Youth Weekend for grades 6 to 8 going on at the camp that weekend.

Registration is $125 per participant, free for ages 3 and under, and is available at the camp website.

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

education

an annual SJL special section

Shabbat 1000, held in March at Tulane University

Jewish enrollment, involvement continue to rise at the University of Alabama

by Lee J. Green The Alabama Crimson Tide football team continues to rise to new heights.

So too does Jewish student enrollment and involvement at the Capstone.

University of Alabama Hillel Director Lisa Besnoy said they were glad they started the fall semester with an expanded, enhanced Hillel facility as a part of a million-dollar renovation The newly-expanded Bloom Hillel at Alabama project.

“We’re even filling the new, larger space for some Last October, they held a candlelight vigil for events, Shabbat dinners and Sunday breakfasts,” the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. said Besnoy. “We’re seeing record participation They planned for 100 people but had close to 500 and we continue to add more programming. It’s participants. part of our comprehensive plan to meet the needs They also are involved with other groups, such of Jewish students at the University of Alabama.” as Habitat for Humanity and other charitable Usually more than 100 students attend every causes. “It’s tikkun olam,” said Besnoy. “We can Shabbat dinner. It is estimated that there are more repair the world.” than 1,000 Jewish students at the University.

Junior Leslie Bashuk, from Macon, serves as On Dec. 4, Hillel hosted a Chanukah Casino Hillel president. When making her decision on a Night and menorah-lighting event, both with re- university, she said Hillel was very pivotal for her. cord attendance.

“It is an amazing Jewish community here, and They will host three events — one per month I knew it would continue to grow,” said Bashuk. in January, February and March — as a part of an “Hillel is like a home away from home. I really program entitled, “What it Means to be a Jewish feel a sense of belonging here.”

Woman.”

She joined the Hillel board as a freshman and January will focus on women of the Torah and has held leadership roles in different areas. what they might say today. In February, a multi-gen“This gives us such a great opportunity to erational panel of women will discuss important connect with other Jewish students and to reach issues for and perspectives of Jewish women. out to future students at the University,” added In March they hope to bring in a prominent Is- Bashuk, who is majoring in marketing, and said raeli actress who is also a little person. If so, they she has learned much about how a successful orwill turn her visit into a campus-wide event. ganization is run as well as how to best promote “There are things can be learned that are not activities with a goal of increasing participation. just important to Jewish women, but all women,” “I know the friendships I have made here will said Besnoy. last a lifetime,” she said.

Along those lines, Hillel regularly partners Besnoy adds that like the Crimson Tide footwith other faith-based organizations as well as ball team, success takes a team effort. “We get student organizations for events and projects that much support from the University and Temple aid those in need.

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education

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl hosts an annual Auburn Hillel Chanukah party at his home

Hoops and Chanukah part of Auburn experience

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Thanks in part to the passionate involvement of Jewish Auburn Tigers Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, growth in Jewish student enrollment and activity is a slam-dunk.

As of press time, Pearl’s Tigers were in the Associated Press Top 10 college basketball poll, and the Jewish student presence continues to grow, with about 100 currently.

“Coach Pearl really cares about the Jewish community and the Auburn community,” said Cory Garfunkel, graduate student advisor for Auburn Hillel. “There’s no doubt his involvement has helped us recruit more Jewish students and make the current students here feel special.”

Pearl and his wife once again hosted the annual Chanukah Party at their house, which was a lot of fun and had record attendance, added Garfunkel.

This past fall, they also had a couple Bagels with Bruce events and are planning to get a big Hillel group, or what Pearl refers to as “the Jew Crew,” out for a few more basketball games during the upcoming semester.

Garfunkel said they also had high turnout for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. Hillel hosts weekly Shabbat dinners and special events including movie nights.

“We appreciate the good support we get from the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion, Temple Beth Shalom along with the University,” said Garfunkel, who is from Mobile and earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn in 2016.

He worked in Auburn for a couple of years and remained involved with Hillel activities before coming back this past August to pursue a

graduate degree in GIS Science. Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion advisor Ed Youngblood asked Garfunkel to serve as a graduate advisor.

In 2012, as a freshman he attended the Annual Bagel Brunch, the Hillel’s welcome to campus event each August. “It’s been exciting to see how our community has grown.”

Auburn Hillel Co-Presidents Jade Tate and Izzy Perling, both sophomores, both relished the opportunity to play leadership roles early in their collegiate careers.

Garfunkel said they are all working together to plan activities for the spring semester, including a Tu B’Shevat event, Passover celebrations and basketball games. They also are working on enhancing email communications to reach more Jewish students on campus directly regarding opportunities for participation.

Hillel also partners with Alpha Epsilon Pi at Auburn for joint activities. The Theta colony continues to grow in size and will become a fullfledged Jewish fraternity in 2019-20.

Taffye Benson Clayton, Auburn’s vice president and associate provost for inclusion and diversity, said “Auburn’s Hillel chapter and Theta Colony of Alpha Epsilon Pi are great points of pride for our campus. We are committed to providing opportunities that support the comprehensive wellbeing and vitality of all students.”

Clayton added that Auburn embraces “the idea that having students from a variety of different backgrounds, countries, cultures, faith beliefs, interests, perspectives and lived experiences contributes to the educational benefits that our students reap as a result of interactions with a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom.”

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by Lee J. Green The spotlight is on the arts at Millsaps College, with its co-hosting of Jewish Cinema Mississippi this month; becoming the theatre in residence at the Arts Center of Mississippi in downtown Jackson, and its new Windgate Visual Arts Center slated to open in a few months.

Millsaps’ Jewish Culture Organization co-hosts Jewish Cinema Mississippi with Jackson’s Beth Israel Congregation. The 2019 film schedule includes “Bye Bye Germany” Jan. 24, “The Last Suit” Jan. 26th, “GI Jews” Jan. 27 and “A Quiet Heart” Jan. 29. All films are at 7p and more information can be found at www.jewishcinemams.com.

Director of Communications John Sewell said,

education

“we appreciate our partnerships with the Jewish community, former graduates and greater Jackson. We had a progressive 2018 and we look forward to 2019.”

The JCO, a student organization dedicated to celebrating Jewish culture at Millsaps, coordinates programming ranging from special events to Shabbat and holiday observances.

Ties with the Jewish community also include the annual Rabbi Perry Nussbaum Lecture Series, named after the longtime Beth Israel rabbi who was known for his activism in the 1960s, during the heart of civil rights battles in the state.

In 2008, Dr. John Bower, renal pioneer and friend of the late Nussbaum, endowed the lecture series. It is dedicated to men and women who have stood against racial bigotry and religious prejudice. Nussbaum Laureates are honored for their contributions to the civil rights movement in Mississippi and beyond.

The Windgate Visual Arts Center will be located on the west side of campus and that gate will be re-opened. “This and our other business and community involvement will continue the development of the Midtown neighborhood on that side of campus,” said Sewell.

He also said Millsaps generated much positive media attention in the political arena for the privately-supported liberal arts college with close to 1,000 students, thanks to a partnership with a former student.

The partnership with Millsaps graduate and Rhodes Scholar Brad Chism established the college as a sought-after-resource with regards to politics and government.

In 2018, four different Millsaps College-Chism Strategies surveys covered a wide variety of topics from legislative priorities to electoral reform.

Celebrating Jewish life at LSU Now in its fourth year, Chabad at Louisiana State University continues to expand its offerings to Jewish students.

The fall semester included Rosh Hashanah dinner, Yom Kippur services, Shabbat dinners, challah baking, sukkot on campus, a Homecoming Shabbat dinner for students and families, and a Tikkun Olam project followed by lunch from Kosher Cajun in Metairie.

Chabad also offers Sinai Scholars classes, a course that includes study of classic Jewish texts, social programming and national networking opportunities, with a stipend at the conclusion of the series.

The semester ended on a high with a menorah lighting at the parade grounds.

Since Chanukah was early, it was a rare opportunity to celebrate while students were still around. Though it was finals Sinai Scholars week, LSU made an exception for the program. Jonathan Earles, dean of the Holors College, lit the menorah, LSU Vice President Kurt Keppler spoke, and there was a memorial to victims of the Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh.

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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education

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Hillels of Memphis expands to second campus, grows Jewish involvement Hillels of Memphis continues to foster the growth of Jewish student life at the University of Memphis, and in January 2018 launched a second chapter at Rhodes College.

The Hillel at the University of Memphis has been active for over 30 years, while Rhodes formerly had an informal presence. Each school has an estimated 60 to 70 Jewish students, according to Rabbi Jeremy Simons.

In 2016, Rhodes named its first Jewish Community Fellowship recipient, an annual scholarship presentation. Fellows attend monthly meetings and work to advance the Jewish community on campus.

At the Rhodes dedication, recently-installed Rhodes President Marjorie Hass, the school’s first Jewish president, said it was meaningful that Hillel’s arrival coincided with her first year there. “When they said to me ‘we’re bringing this organization, perhaps you’ve heard of it’, I was able to say ‘Yes, I know all about it’.”

The Jewish Student Union at Memphis was dedicated in 1984 after having several temporary locations since its founding in 1968.

Simons was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. After ordination, he was director of rabbinic services for the Goldring-Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, serving dozens of communities around the region.

Since taking over at Hillel in the summer of 2017, Simons has overseen programs at both campuses.

The Memphis Jewish Federation fully funds Hillels of Memphis, which Simons considers the best path. “Our Hillels are not just isolated islands populated with mysterious millennials. Our Hillels belong to all of us. And we, as Jewish Memphis, recognize we are responsible for them.”

Each spring, there is also a Yiddishe Cup miniature golf tournament as a fundraiser.

UAB surpasses ambitious campaign goal

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

The green and gold doesn’t just refer to the UAB Blazers’ historic football season in which they won 11 games, including their first bowl victory as well as Conference USA championship, just two years after the program was shut down.

It also refers to “The Campaign for UAB: Give Something, Change Everything,” which surpassed its $1 billion goal at the end of 2018.

The Campaign for UAB launched 10 years ago and was publically announced five years ago. Support for the Campaign resulted in substantial funds for each of UAB’s fundraising priorities — programmatic support, facilities, faculty, research and innovation, athletics as well as student support.

“Five years ago, we began the public phase of The Campaign for UAB, the largest and most comprehensive fundraising effort in UAB history, with the very ambitious goal of raising $1 billion,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts.

“In the five years that have followed, we have received overwhelming support and advocacy from donors, alumni, friends. The profound impact of their support and generosity is seen in every pillar of UAB’s mission as well as across our community, state and indeed around the world,” said Watts. “We can’t say ‘thank you’ enough to our friends, old and new, for their philanthropy.”

One of the significant milestones of the campaign includes the Collat School of Business. The first named school at UAB was made possible by the “longtime generosity” of Charles Collat and his late wife, Patsy. The new home of that school opened this past August.

Thanks in large part to record contributions for UAB athletics, with more than $50 million in support since 2015, UAB’s football program was brought back to life in 2017 after a two-year hiatus.

Other Campaign successes include 211 new endowed scholarships and 33 new endowed chairs as well as 59 new endowed professorships.

UAB also has enjoyed three consecutive years of record enrollment.

education

Tom Brannan, UAB vice president for advancement, said “UAB is grateful for the many donors that contributed to the Campaign for UAB to help us exceed our billion-dollar goal. The Birmingham Jewish community is well known for its efforts to strengthen our community and has been an important part of our Campaign’s success. All of us at UAB are extremely appreciative of the support, we received and continue to receive each day.

We are humbled and grateful to all our donors who help us fulfill our mission, in so many ways.”

A recent study concluded that UAB provides an economic impact of $7.15 billion in Alabama and supports more than 64,000 jobs in the state. With more than 23,000 employees, UAB is the state’s largest single employer.

Newman School enjoys long legacy while breaking new ground When financier and philanthropist Isidore Newman founded the Isidore Newman Manual Training School in 1903, he envisioned a superior education for the children of New Orleans and those of the Jewish Children’s Home. He wrote, “For years it has been the desire of my heart to do something for this city and State which have made me what I am. I have my reward in the school.” He hoped to provide skilled, competent, and welltrained labor to do the work that is necessary in a community.

Over the past 115 years, Mr. Newman’s school has developed into one of the nation’s finest college preparatory institutions. The curriculum has evolved into an academic program which today offers a full range of choices and rewarding challenges. From an opening enrollment of 125, the student body has grown to more than 1,000 in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Jefferson Building, where all early classes were held, now opens onto a campus of more than 11 acres and 16 buildings interspersed with playgrounds, patios, green spaces and an athletic playing field.

To serve Mr. Newman’s vision, the school has grown, adapted, evolved and often taken the lead in education. In 1913, Newman became the first school in Louisiana to earn accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Newman offered coeducation before any other school in New Orleans, and enrolled African-American students before any other local independent school.

Looking to the future, Newman is enriching its environment by reaching out to students of diverse backgrounds, teaching to different learning styles, offering unparalleled opportunities with technology, and continuing to maintain the relevance of the health and wellness curriculum.

As more is learned about children, the more Newman shapes its courses of study to nurture and respond to their abilities and appetites at each stage of their development, answering the needs of their minds, bodies, and spirits.

To learn more about Newman, contact Jennifer Rosen, Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management, (504) 896-6358.

>> Agenda

Advertise in Southern Jewish Life Call Jeff Pizzo, (504) 432-2561

continued from page 8

toward Zionism. The sessions will be on Jan. 9, 16 and 23 at Mautner Learning Center in Touro Synagogue, at 6 p.m. Bring a brown bag dinner, and one may attend one session or all three.

Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge will have an Israel Institute, discussing issues of the day, Feb. 3 at 11:30 a.m.

In honor of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of the Trees, NOLA Grannies will spend the afternoon of Jan. 17 working on a recycling project to bring support and comfort to asylum seekers passing through New Orleans. One of the most needed resources for families are bags to carry their few possessions, so the group will use old T-shirts to make carrier bags. There is no charge, but bringing old T-shirts is welcomed.

Bring a lunch; desserts and coffee will be served at the noon program at the Uptown Jewish Community Center.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will have a Tu B’Shevat Seder on Jan. 26 at 10 a.m., and Moishe House New Orleans will host a Tu B’Shevat dinner party, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

33

Thank You to All Our Partners in 2018…

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

New Orleans’ Hair Restoration of the South, led by fellowship-trained hair transplant surgeon and board-certified dermatologist Nicole Rogers, has produced hair-raising results in successfully treating hundreds of hair loss patients.

Rogers graduated with honors from Harvard University and came to New Orleans to attend Tulane Medical School. As a dermatology resident at Tulane, she was chief resident and helped rebuild the training program after Hurricane Katrina. She spent a year-long fellowship studying hair transplantation in Manhattan before returning to New Orleans to practice.

Rogers said that even since she has been practicing, hair restoration has advanced significantly.

“Hair transplantation especially has evolved so much in the past 10 years,” she said. “At first we were just doing hair plugs when I was in residency. Today transplantation and restoration are so much more sophisticated, producing effective and long-lasting results. There is so much more we can do today for our patients.”

Today, options for surgical and medical treatments of hair loss include contemporary techniques in hair transplantation, minoxidil, finasteride and the use of low-level light therapy for hair growth.

“For a lot of patients, we may incorporate a mixture of a few procedures and treatments,” said Rogers. “We have an initial consultation or two with each patient to determine the best plan for them. There is not one solution that is best for everyone.”

While the majority of patients at Hair Restoration of the South are middle-aged and older men, they do see a good amount of female and younger male patients.

“Women can be as good or even better candidates for hair transplantation,” she said. “Most women prefer to start with medical therapy and that can produce the results they want.” Rogers added that they also help women who want to lose unwanted facial hair.

As for young men, Rogers said they have started seeing some patients even in their teens and twenties.

“We look at family history, diet and nutrition, stress levels, age and amount of hair loss when they come in to determine the best path to take,” she said. “For younger men, something such as Propecia might be the first thing to try if the hair loss isn’t that significant yet.”

Rogers said she also sees patients in their 80s and 90s. “It’s a testament to how important hair is for one’s wellness and self-esteem.”

For those who go with hair transplantation, the hair is harvested from the back of the head and they do follicular-unit extractions in a way to produce the most minimal scarring.

The procedure is done in one day. Patients are awake under anesthesia.

“Most patients see a dramatic, permanent regrowth of hair in as little as six to 12 months,” said Rogers.

Hair Restoration of the South also advises its patients on which shampoos, conditioners as well as vitamins will provide them with the best scalp health, for maintenance and even hair-thickening.

Rogers has written and spoken extensively about surgical and medical treatments for hair loss. She has co-edited two textbooks on hair transplantation and has written numerous chapters for other textbooks on the subject.

She is an assistant clinical professor at Tulane’s Department of Dermatology, where she teaches residents about hair and scalp disorders. Rogers is also past president of the Louisiana Dermatologic Society.

“It’s important to me not just to treat and educate our patients, but to educate our future doctors,” said Rogers. “With clinical research and the continued advancement of technologies, the future of hair restoration looks even brighter.”

continued from page 38

>> Rear Pew Mirror “Marty, are you still there?”

“Moses. Yes.” “Moses. Sorry about that. But good news.

Your tablets can be replaced.”

“Well, that’s good news. When can I pick them up?”

“They’re not currently in stock.”

“Look, it took a very long time to get the first set. In fact, how long I was away picking them up kind of led to them getting smashed.

Any chance the replacements can be ready faster?”

“You’ll have to come in for them now, and we’ll try to expedite the replacement tablets as fast as we can.”

“Thank you.”

“We want to ensure the replacement process goes easily for you without any headaches, and we’ll follow up with you after pickup. So, when they’re ready, please take two tablets, and call me in the morning.”

Doug Brook is taking requests! If either of his readers has a topic you’d like to see in this column, let him know. It might even happen. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/.

For exclusive online content, like facebook. com/rearpewmirror.

>> Bryant

continued from page 13

“You have more people that come and visit.

You have more governors, more senators, more congressmen or more prime ministers. People from all over the world,” he said. “One of the things that we have in common is that people misunderstand Israel as much as they misunderstand Mississippi. That’s why we’re here. I tell people, ‘Once you’ve come here, you can go back as an advocate for Israel and say you need to go’.”

“Everyone I talk to says, ‘Oh, I wish I could go to Israel.’ Well, go! They’re flying planes out of New York and Atlanta every day… The more people that come here, I think the more they understand the reality that is Israel. It is the most remarkable place in the world,” gushed Bryant.

Why does Mississippi have an emphasis on Israel, with four missions in five years? Bryant said the state has a desire “to work with one of the most successful nations in the world.”

He explained, “We in Mississippi have to learn how to do remarkable things. We have to overachieve… that is what has been taking place here in Israel since 1947.”

The most remarkable thing about Israel, Bryant said, is that everyone he sees there “just wants peace.” With the threats and attacks from Israel’s neighbors, one would think Israelis would be angry and want to strike back, “and you could. But you just want peace.”

Coming soon…

from the team at Southern Jewish Life

A new magazine for Israel’s Christian friends January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

37

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January 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

rear pew mirror • doug brook

“Thank you for calling Technical Support. This conversation may be recorded for quality purposes.”

“Recorded? What’s that?”

“Can I have your name?”

“Moses.”

“Thank you, Moses. How is your day so far?”

“I’ve had better.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. What can we do to help make it better?”

“Well, I’m having some trouble here related to a tablet.”

“I see. What sort of trouble?”

“It’s broken.”

“I see. Please help me figure out the exact problem. Can you read anything that’s on the tablet?”

“No. Not at all.”

“I see. Is the tablet cracked?”

“Actually, it’s smashed. Very small pieces.”

“I see. That’s a little more serious. You weren’t kidding about your day. Do you know what caused it to break into so many small pieces?”

“I… dropped it.”

“It’s made of pretty solid material. Just dropping it shouldn’t be so…”

“I dropped it at a very rapid pace after raising it over my head and flinging my arms downward. Down the side of a mountain.”

“Wow.” “I bet you don’t hear that one often.”

“You’d be surprised. Any chance you have the serial number?”

“No.” “Well, let me look based on your name to see if I can find it in our records.”

“Two.” “Excuse me?”

“There were two of them. Two tablets.”

“Both smashed? Flung down the side of a mountain?”

“Yes.” Technical support “By accident?”

“It wasn’t pre-meditated, if that’s hasn’t changed what you mean.”

“Can you clarify the situation in thousands of around the mountain when you downyears… loaded the tablets from there?”

“There was a big, stupid party going on down there. A lot of dancing and… What does this matter?”

“Just trying to determine if the damage is covered by warranty.”

“I thought that the warranty on these tablets was a lifetime covenant.”

“Yes, but certain user activities and behaviors can break that… covenant, thus voiding the warranty.”

“So if I do something wrong the warranty is voided and the covenant is broken? But if you do something wrong… nothing happens?”

“If there’s something wrong from our end, we will do whatever is appropriate to fix the situation.”

“You got that right.”

“Can I put you on a brief hold while I speak to our supervisor?”

“Put me on a what?” <Forty days and forty nights later:> continued on previous page

January 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ Southern Jewish Life

55

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56

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January 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ Southern Jewish Life