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LimmudFest New Orleans postponed COVID-19 concerns prompt action, date sought for March 2021
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With increasing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, “out of an abundance of caution for the health and well-being of the New Orleans community,” LimmudFest New Orleans is being postponed. Held every two years, the “big tent” of Jewish learning was scheduled for the weekend of March 20 to 22 at Gates of Prayer in Metairie and the Uptown Jewish Community Center in New Orleans. In past years, about 400 have attended the weekend, with around 90 presenters from the local community and around the country teaching sessions on a range of topics. Dana Keren, chair of LimmudFest 2020, said the committee is working on picking a date in March 2021 to reschedule. “This decision was not easy,” Keren said in a note to presenters on March 9. “LimmudFest is an important Big Tent Jewish festival of learning, community and culture in New Orleans, and we have spent the last year planning and preparing for it.” Thanking those who had worked to plan the weekend, she added, “We are deeply disappoint-
ed to not have the opportunity to come together as a community at this time.” The New Orleans festival includes all of the community’s congregations having Shabbat services of different styles under one roof, then uniting for Shabbat meals. In the previous days, numerous congregations in the region sent out guidelines about public events and interacting with each other, in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. A death from COVID-19 was reported in Pensacola, but as of March 9 there had been no confirmed cases in Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama. The Louisiana Department of Health announced that there have been 11 individuals tested in Louisiana; all came back negative. Also on March 9, the AT&T building in downtown Nashville, known unofficially as the Batman Building, was closing for cleaning after a confirmed case of COVID-19 by an occupant. Israel also announced that all incoming passengers, regardless of their country of origin, were being asked to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, effectively shutting down tourism.
Hadassah Southern holds regional installation
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March 2020 • Southern Jewish Life
Hadassah Southern held their mid-Winter board meeting and celebration in Birmingham on Feb. 8 and 9. Dina Lipschultz of Washington was the guest lecturer and the new Southern Region Board was inducted by Past President Bonnie Boring of Knoxville. Marla Kameny of Baton Rouge was installed as president, and Susan Smolinsky, also of Baton Rouge, is organizational vice president. Hadassah Women of the Year were presented by Bettye Berlin of Memphis, and included Holly Mazer of Birmingham. Chapters represented at the meeting were Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Dothan, Huntsville, Knoxville, Memphis, Montgomery, Nashville and New Orleans.