Southern Jewish Life, New Orleans, April 2021

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

shalom y’all It was so easy when we knew what antisemitism was.

You just looked for the robe or the swastika, the sign that said “no Jews” or the restrictive covenant, and that was it.

But with the increasing demonization of Jews from the left, in addition to the traditional right-wing antisemitism, and poisoned atmospheres on many college campuses, it became time to have a definition of what is — and isn’t — antisemitism. The world’s foremost experts discussed at length and came up with the International Holocaust remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition on Antisemitism. Many countries have adopted it as a guide to look at, to determine what incidents may well fall under the umbrella. Universities are also adopting it.

But there has been pushback by anti-Israel groups, afraid that antisemitic demonization of Israel will be labeled as… well… antisemitism. They say their obsession against the world’s one Jewish state can’t be seen as… well… being anti-Jewish. They want the freedom to refer to the world’s Jewish haven as a Nazi regime, and not get called out for it.

They want the freedom to say about Israel and do to Jews what they dare not say or do to any other group.

It is a world where an attack on a European synagogue is not prosecuted as a hate crime, but is considered to be a political statement regarding Israel. Yet we’re told that anti-Zionism can’t be conflated with antisemitism. Or that Israel’s policies are the reason for antisemitism around the world, as if antisemitism is a brand-new phenomenon. In the name of freedom, they say a new definition of antisemitism is needed, designed by the foxes in the henhouse and given lofty names like The Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

The entire difference between IHRA and these “substitutes” is over criticism of Israel, because naturally, everyone acknowledges that antisemitism doesn’t come from the left, but is a right-wing phenomenon, and as such must be condemned. Why, these anti-Israel groups even condemn antisemitism and want to make alliances to fight against it… when continued on next page

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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commentary

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, Europesupremaand the JCCdifferent Maccabireasons. games around the United it comes from neo-Nazis and white Ask Home DepotStates or Chickand sports can be vehicle to helpofbuild Jewish cists.Canada, I have logged many miles seeing howFil-A about thea current state U.S. politics. identity, in our young.

Criticsespecially of IHRA falsely claim IHRA goes beHowever, the notion that the BDS movement yond to stifle criticism of for Israel, is merely a fell political against settleI feltantisemitism honored to come to Birmingham the first time and in lovestatement with not just the city though IHRA specifically says criticism Israel ments and level Israeli policies and presence but the people.

You have taken Southernofhospitality to a new with your kind and caringin the that is similar thatMaccabi of any other country can territories has long since left the station. It is approach to thetoJCC Games. not be considered antisemitism. clear by the words and actions of BDS activists Led by thethe Sokol and Helds, your volunteers partnered It’s when criticism moves to hard-working demoniza- and leaderswere thatwonderful. aren’t the They idealistic newcomwith your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a hugeIsrael, hit. tion, or the denial of national rights solely to ers that the goal of BDS isn’t to reform IJews wantamong to takethe thisworld’s opportunity as executive director ofto Maccabi thank peoples (while advobut replaceUSA Israelto—say from theyou riveron tobehalf the sea. of everyone involved. national rights, no less). cating for Palestinian When asked about singling out Israel, activThat’s it becomes antisemitism. ists deny saywith theya have to start someI hadwhen just returned from the 20th World Maccabiah gamesitinbut Israel U.S. delegation of In recent years, all the old antisemitic tropes in theBack great push over 1100, who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes fromwhere 80 countries. in July thefor eyesinternational of the entire — Jewish supremacy, Jews peace for some Jewish worldpower, were onJewish Jerusalem and the Maccabiah.

This and past understanding. month with 1000But athletes and reaharmingfrom or around ritually the killing Jews son, you the became activismthe that starts with Israel never coaches worldnon-Jews, being in Birmingham, focal point. controlling the world — have been adapted moves on to other countries. Repression of Everyone from the Jewish community and the community at large, including a wonderful to describe the world’s one Jewish nation. But the Palestinians by Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, police force, are to be commended. These games will go down in history as being a seminal hey, don’t consider that antisemitism, it’s part far worse than anything Israel is accused of, moment for the Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish of the “reasonable criticism” that opponents of gets ignored by the “pro-Palestinian” groups, memories.

IHRA say is being suppressed. because Israel can’t be blamed.

JedIt’s Margolis one thing to say that Israel should not Meanwhile, you’ll pass out holding your Executive Director, Maccabi USA because it breath waiting for them to say anything about build communities in the territories supposedly harms the prospect of peace with the modern-day concentration camps China the Palestinians. Reasonable people can dis- supremacists has for the Uyghur Muslims their back country, would like to see in pushed On agreeCharlottesville about that. It’s another thing to say that into and how theyand aremade usingtothem as slave a corner feel lesser.

Welabor standto the settlers are a bunch of bloodthirsty zealots with pick cotton.

Slaves picking cotton, in the 21st and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, Editor’s Note: This reaction to the events in trying to perpetrate a Palestinian genocide. century!

But you can’t say anything about who was there standing up to the face of this Charlottesville, Jeremy Newman, But, those written behindbythe new definitions hate. that, the Chinese market is far too important Master the Alpha Epsilonvoices Pi Theta explain,ofpro-Palestinian areColony being si- to the NBA and “woke” American companies, Wethey recognize the essence the American at Auburn University, assertion was sharedtobyanyone AEPi who and lenced.

A laughable don’t want to loseofout. narrative as a two-century old struggle ridEuNational, which called it “very eloquent” and has been paying the slightest attention. In the Eliminating the Jewish populationtoof ourselves of such corners, and allow those praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at zeal to protect freedom of expression, none rope through a governmental system ofinexthe seatcamps, at the table that they so deserve.

Auburn the leadership theyfree them of theseUniversity groups and… ever complain about termination that’s antisemitism.

Elimis the struggle fulfill the promise of the display their stifled campus. ” speechon being when their groups shut It inating the onetoJewish nation on the planet Independence, “all men are down pro-Israel speakers. For those groups, all Declaration and riddingof the region of that so-called white created equal… endowed by their Creator with criticism and all blame is on one side of the supremacist colonialist foreigners (that is, the White supremacy has been a cancer on certain rights. ” We know our work aisle — the Israeli side.

Jews) —unalienable that’s simply political discourse.

Can’t our country since its beginning, threatening farsee from but we know we will not Silencing pro-Israel speakers in the name is you thefinished, difference? its hopes, its values, and its better angels. of free expression? Of course! Can’t let those move Thebackwards.

Jerusalem Declaration even gives cover The events that took place in Charlottesville noxious Zionist (white European) supremacist to When those men who and make the “Israel the new women, fully isarmed, takeNazi represented the worst of this nation. Those ideas be spread to our students.

Germany” allegation and claim there is curto the streets in droves with swastikas and who marched onto the streets with tiki torches While there are numerous mainstream, if other rentlysymbols a “Palestinian Holocaust” going on.

Aside of hate, it is a reminder of how and swastikas did so to provoke violence and left-leaning, Jewish academics (such as, for relevant from being totally detached fromanti-Semitism reality, how is the issues of racism and fear. Those who marched onto the streets did example, Susannah Heschel) who signed are thattoday. assertion It is aanything wake-upother call tothan the antisemitic? work that so to profess an ideology that harkens back to on to the Jerusalem Declaration, there are needs Thetosad part is, efforts alike themore Jerusalem be done to ensure better, a bleaker, more wretched time in our history. many signatories who have themselves had a welcoming Declarationcountry. give a Jewish fig leafnot to come the most But it should A time when men and women of many creeds, troubled past in terms of anti-Israel criticism without hard-core anti-Israelonextremists. a reflection how far we’ve come. races, and religions were far from equal and far crossing the line into overt antisemitism, or We can’t be antisemitic, they say. After all, America was born a slave nation. A century from safe in our own borders. A time where defending those who traffic in antisemitic “the Jews” agree with us. into our history we engaged in a war in part Americans lived under a constant cloud of rhetoric. Those, in particular, are the anti-Israel As the writer for the “Unofficial Mossad” to ensure we would not continue as one. We racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The critics who want a free pass on antisemitism, Twitter account put it, “any Palestinian solievents that took place in Charlottesville served found ourselves confronted by the issue of civil and want it with a Jewish stamp of approval. darity group who opposes IHRA is effectively rights, and embarked on a mission to ensure as a reminder of how painfully relevant these It comes across like David Duke complaining saying they can’t function without comparing the fair treatment of all peoples no matter their issues are today. that he had no input in defining what counts as Israel to Nazi Germany, calling for the killing skin color. Although we’ve made great strides, Auburn’s Epsilon Piisstands with the racism.

The Alpha only difference that Duke revels of Jews, denying the Holocaust, or hold Jews it is a mission we’re still grappling with today.

Jewish community of Charlottesville, and in his label of being racist, while those on the collectively responsible for Israel’s actions.”

America was also born an immigrant with the Jewish people around theantisemite. country left take umbrage at the label of country. As early as the pilgrims, many and around the world.

We also says standthat withefforts the The Jerusalem Declaration minorities who areDivest targeted

by Sanction the hate that like the Boycott, and move- groups and families found in the country the opportunity to plant stakes, chase their future, was onare display stand ment not, inonCharlottesville. the face of it,Weantisemitic.

Lawrence Publisher/Editor FewBrook, were met with open with the minorities of whom these white Sure, people boycott all the time, for wildly and be themselves.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

January 2021 April 2021

Southern Jewish Life PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Richard Friedman richard@sjlmag.com V.P. SALES/MARKETING, NEW ORLEANS Jeff Pizzo jeff@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 2179 Highland Ave., Birmingham, AL 35205 205/870.7889 NEW ORLEANS OFFICE 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 504/249-6875 TOLL-FREE 888/613.YALL(9255) ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to 205/870.7889 for Lee Green, lee@sjlmag.com Jeff Pizzo, jeff@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 The Israeli Embassy’s celebration of Israel’s 73rd birthday has a Southern component. Wanda Howard Battle of Montgomery recorded the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah” on the bimah at Temple Beth Or, to be used during the April 14 virtual ceremony. Battle met Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan during his recent civil rights tour to Alabama, leading his visit to Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, where Erdan read excerpts of the “I Have A Dream” speech, and they sang “This Little Light of Mine” and “Oh Freedom.” A week later, the embassy called to invite her to sing the anthems. She was accompanied on violin by Clare Weil, a Temple Beth Or member who serves as president of the Montgomery County Board of Education and was in the Montgomery Symphony for 27 years.

New JLI class says a positive future “Can Happen” What is possible?

The new Rohr Jewish Learning Institute class explores that concept, by taking the notion that “this can never happen” and transforming it into “This Can Happen: A Credible Case for Feeling Good About the Future.”

The six-week course is being introduced at Chabad Centers nationwide this month, with many centers holding virtual classes that can be accessed by those who do not have a participating Chabad nearby.

Noting how believers for millennia have considered the possibility of a messianic age, the course starts with how in today’s world, society can be radically and rapidly transformed by the actions of a few — and why not use that fact for good? Why not develop a practical path toward the perfect world that Judaism strives toward?

The first class will examine current chaos and discord, diving into what is wrong — and right — with the world. Additional classes discuss the

On Our Cover: A couple that walks and bikes around New Orleans, stopping at random places to pray, recently decided to stop at the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial in Woldenberg Park.

idea of redemption and where it fits into Judaism and the story of creation, waiting for a messiah versus plowing forward with positive actions, four epochs in Jewish history that demonstrate the progress that has been made toward a good world, what the sources say about how redemption will come about, and what the end result will look like.

In Metairie, there will be a free trial standalone class on April 20, at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at the evening class. The course will continue on Tuesdays from April 20 to May 25, with the May 18 class moved to May 20 due to Shavuot. The 10:30 a.m. classes will be virtual, while the 7:30 p.m. classes have an in-person option. Registration is $70, $63 for returning students.

The Uptown Chabad in New Orleans will hold the class on Wednesdays from April 28 to June 2, virtually at 3 p.m. and in person at 7 p.m.

Registration is $70.

In Baton Rouge, the course is available in person at the Richmond Inn and Suites, or virtually, from April 28 to June 2, at 7 p.m. Registration is $89 with a 10 percent couples discount.

Beit Ariel Chabad in Birmingham will hold the class on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from April 21 to May 26. Registration is $89, with a 25 percent discount for dual registrations.

More information is at myjli.com.

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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Jewish organizations in the New Orleans area are once again gearing up for GiveNOLA Day, which will be held on May 4 this year.

All 17 organizations that took part last year are participating once again, among over 800 non-profits in the 24-hour online fundraiser.

An initiative of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, GiveNOLA raised over $7.1 million last year from over 50,000 donors across the country. This is the eighth year for GiveNOLA Day. While the main campaign is from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on May 4, gifts can also be pre-scheduled from April 20 to May 3.

Sponsors and donors contribute to the GiveNOLA Lagniappe Fund, which is divided proportionally among the participating non-profits based on how much they raise.

There are also hourly Rock Around the Clock bonuses of $1,000 all day, and any organization with a donation during that hour is eligible for the random drawing. Pre-scheduled gifts are not counted toward Rock Around the Clock.

The organizations with the most money raised gets a $7,500 bonus in the large, medium and small organization categories. Similar awards go to groups with the most individual donors. Bonuses are given through fifth place.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans has consistently been one of the top fundraisers, coming in first among small organizations for five years in a row, until the categories were restructured last year, moving the Federation to the large organization category. Despite the change, the Federation still ranked fourth among 834 organizations in 2020, raising $133,766 from 282 donors.

Each year, the Federation holds special programs in connection with GiveNOLA Day, including Power Hours where gifts are matched.

In all, the 17 Jewish community organizations raised over $236,000 last year. In addition to the Federation, this year’s participating organizations are Jewish Children’s Regional Service, the Jewish Community Day School, Jewish Family Service, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, National Council of Jewish Women, Northshore Jewish Congregation, the Anti-Defamation League, Avodah, Beth Israel, Gates of Prayer, the New Orleans Jewish Community Center, Shir Chadash, Slater Torah Academy, Tulane Hillel, Hadassah New Orleans and Temple Sinai.

Donations can be made at givenola.org, and can be made from anywhere around the world. The minimum donation is $10.

Regional panel discussing antisemitism with Bari Weiss

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The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Greater Nashville is organizing “Antisemitism Across America: An Evening with Bari Weiss,” the opinion writer at the New York Times who left last summer, speaking of a fundamental anti-Israel bias among the paper’s staff.

The panel includes Rabbi Adam Wright of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham, Rabbi Laurie Rice of Congregation Micah in Nashville, Rabbi David Gelfand of Temple Israel in New York and Rabbi David Locketz of Bet Shalom in Minneapolis. Professor Shaul Kelner of Vanderbilt University will be the moderator.

The zoom will be on May 4 at 7 p.m.

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Pearl to headline Nights to Honor Israel Events at churches in Mobile, Auburn Auburn Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl will be the keynote speaker for two Nights to Honor Israel and the Jewish People, coordinated by Israel Team Advocates International.

The first event will be on April 26 at 7 p.m. at Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile, co-sponsored by the Mobile Area Jewish Federation. The second event will be on April 29 at 7 p.m., at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn.

At each event, there will be a presentation by Fathers Joy Music, featuring Mark and Bridgett Moses, and remarks from Israel Team Advocates President Aaron Fruh.

In Mobile, Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Ahavas Chesed Rabbi Steve Silberman and Federation Vice President Jonathan Fratkin will attend. The Auburn event will feature Lakeview Baptist Church Pastor Al Jackson.

The first president of the Jewish Coaches Association, Pearl is an outspoken supporter of Israel and works to bring Christians and Jews together. He coached the U.S. national basketball team in the 2009 World Maccabiah in Israel, bringing home the gold medal.

He was the opening ceremonies speaker at the 2017 JCC Maccabi Games in Birmingham, and in 2019 was the speaker at the Alabama Holocaust Commemoration at the State Capitol.

Pearl contributed the foreword to “The Casualty of Contempt: The Alarming Rise of Antisemitism and What Can Be Done to Stop It,” a book with essays and stories on antisemitism from 16 authors, edited by Fruh.

Aaron Fruh served as the lead pastor of Knollwood Church and headmaster at Knollwood Christian School in Mobile for 24 years. He has authored three books about Israel and hosts the weekly “Israel And You” podcast.

The events are free and open to the community. Masks are requested, and will be available at the door. The Mobile event will be streamed on the church’s Facebook page.

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NCJW to explore the Mystique of Mah Jongg in online event The Mystique of Mah Jongg, the exotic game of tiles with bams, cracks, dots, dragons, winds, flowers, and the most coveted tile of all — the elusive joker — will be presented on Zoom by the National Council of Jewish Women’s Greater New Orleans Section on April 28 at 7 p.m.

Renee Zack, a local member of NCJW for the past 44 years and a Mah Jongg teacher at the Uptown JCC, is the featured speaker for the event, which is open to the community.

According to NCJW Membership Vice President Karen Sher, “This entertaining and educational program is designed to explain what it is about this more than two-centuries-old game first played in China that continues to fascinate and charm us.”

Saying she took on the event because of her passion for the game, Sher said the plan for the evening “is to engage Zoom participants in group discussion about their Mah Jongg experiences and to inform all on the joys and health benefits of Mah Jongg.”

One of Zack’s students, NCJW member Patty Barnett, exclaimed, “Renee was a wonderful Mah Jongg teacher and she is the reason why I love Mah Jongg so much!”

Sher added, “Renee exudes warmth and friendliness.”

Besides teaching Mah Jongg, Zack worked as a medical office manager for 35 years, and now has her own business called “Don’t Pay ‘til I Say.” Registration is available at ncjwneworleans.org.

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The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans announced the appointment of Kassie Kissinger Cosgrove as its new Chief Development Officer. Cosgrove previously served as the director of development for the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts and was responsible for major gift fundraising support for all SLA departments and programs in concert with the school’s strategic priorities and objectives.

The third program in the “Cross-Generational Issues for Women” series, “Work/Life Imbalance in the Age of Covid,” will be on May 13 at 7 p.m. The series of three programs is presented by National Council of Jewish Women, Greater New Orleans Section, Hadassah New Orleans and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana.

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Rabbi Gordon Tucker, vice chancellor for religious life and engagement at the Jewish Theological Seminary, will be the speaker for Masorti Shabbat at Shir Chadash in Metairie. He will discuss “Masorti: The Blooming of 100 Jewish Flowers” at 10:30 a.m. on April 18. The talk will be available on the congregation’s website.

On April 22 at 7 p.m., Hadassah New Orleans will have an Earth Day program on Zoom. Janeli Simpson, president of the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans, will speak about the importance of trees. Also speaking will be Consul General Gilad Katz of the Israeli Consulate in Houston, and Jewish National Fund lay leader Alan Lubel.

Lindsey Taylor-Guthartz will discuss the findings of her latest book, “Challenge & Conformity: The Religious Lives of Orthodox Jewish Women,” with Metairie’s Shir Chadash on April 25 at 10:30 a.m. She has been an affiliated or associated lecturer at the universities of Cambridge, Oxford, and Middlesex, and at Vassar College, New York. She is currently studying for rabbinic ordination at Yeshivat Maharat, New York.

The New Orleans Jewish Community Center will have an Israel Independence Day celebration with a virtual conversation with Ron Leshem, a renowned Israeli screenwriter, television producer and author.

Among his credits are “Valley of Tears,” “Euphoria” and “Incitement.” He will discuss the recent proliferation of Israeli shows worldwide. The Zoom is April 18 at 4 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge partnered with Albertson’s to host two vaccine clinics. The first one, held on Feb. 25 and March 25, vaccinated over 200 people, with another 100 vaccinated on March 17 and anticipating their second dose on April 14.

The monthly Baton Rouge joint Shabbat will be on April 16 at 6 p.m. in the B’nai Israel Zoom, with a tribute to Joyce Henry, who is retiring from the Alfred Rayner Learning Center after 15 years.

For this year’s gala, the New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women will have an in-person “elevated drive-in movie experience” at the Night Under the Stars gala. The event will be held the evening of April 17 at Gates of Prayer in Metairie. The New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute will provide dinner for in-vehicle dining. Attendees who are able to walk the lot with their masks on can pose in the photo stations, designed to look straight out of classic Hollywood films. They can also approach the bar to order a specialty cocktail, beer, or wine. Servers will also be available to hand deliver food and drinks to event Patrons, Sponsors, and those with mobility issues.

As the sun sets, “Dirty Dancing” will be screened. Covid restrictions will be based on the recommendations made by the city at that time.

Veteran journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter Anita Raghavan will share insights from her book, “The Billionaire’s Apprentice: The Rise of the Indian-American Elite and the Fall of the Galleon Hedge continued on page 41

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Capturing the Magic With no in-person Jazz Fest Shabbat this year, Touro Synagogue releasing 30th anniversary CD Since 1991, Touro Synagogue in New Orleans has marked the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in its own unique style every April, holding Jazz Fest Shabbat with the traditional Shabbat evening liturgy set to jazz tunes, with a noted musical guest.

Last year, as Jazz Fest was cancelled due to the rapidly-growing Covid pandemic, Jazz Fest Shabbat was also a casualty and was not held.

While the situation has not improved to the point of having a full sanctuary and performance this year, and with Jazz Fest itself shifting to October, Touro will mark the 30th anniversary of Jazz Fest with the release of “Celebrate! 30 Years of Shabbat Joy,” a CD of Jazz Fest Shabbat musical favorites.

Cantor Kevin Margolius said the Jazz Fest

Screenshot from Jazz Fest Shabbat 2017 Shabbat committee met last fall to decide what to do for the coming year as, in addition to being a unique, signature event for the congregation, it is also a major fundraiser for Touro.

He suggested that instead of just doing a Zoom event, they do something completely different and come out with an album, “something that would give us a way to honor this tradition” and capture some of the music.

Aaron Ahlquist, who is co-chairing this year’s effort with Ellen Kempner, said “we had to do something” to mark the 30th anniversary. Put-

ting out a CD “would bottle some of that magic” from a “unique and special celebration and experience that really doesn’t exist anywhere else.”

The result has been “a fabulous project, very different from anything we have done before,” Margolius said.

The album, which will be released at the 7:30 p.m. Shabbat service on April 30, will feature Margolius and the Panorama Jazz Band, with many past Jazz Fest Shabbat musical guests, including Kermit Ruffins, John Boutté, Sunpie Barnes, Dr. Michael White, and Grammy Award

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Southern Jewish Life We Are One

For years, “We Are One” was the slogan of the United Jewish Appeal (a forerunner of the Jewish Federations of North America).

Its meaning was clear. Despite variations in the ways we worship, where we live, what we think politically and even our ethnicities, we are one people, bound by our history, heritage and common future.

At Southern Jewish Life, we believe this message still stands — especially here in the Deep South. Jewish communities throughout our four-state coverage region (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, NW Florida) have much in common.

Most of us live similarly Jewish lives. We value the importance of strong Jewish communities in our region, feel connected to Israel, worry about antisemitism, and have close ties to friends and family in other parts of the region.

This is why at Southern Jewish Life we’re proud that our magazine and website play a major role in connecting Jews throughout our region. For 30 years, our national award-winning journalism has brought us closer to one another, making us collectively stronger.

Southern Jewish Life tells the stories of our region in a way no one else does — digging into trends, bringing to life personalities and personal stories, and keeping us informed of Jewish happenings.

More and more our voice is looked to by national Jewish and major secular media as the authoritative voice of Southern Jewry.

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Many people have responded generously. If you haven’t yet, we hope you would consider doing so.

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As Jews in the Deep South, “We Are One.” Your support of Southern Jewish Life makes our magazine, our region, and especially our collective future, even stronger.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

winners Louis and Andre Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Former Touro cantors Seth Warner, Billy Tiep, Jamie Marx and David Mintz are also taking part, along with the Touro Synagogue Dining choir. tdoor Oumusic ing Cater —guest Ouoftour “Some artists are— doing that they were part of when Take they were at Touro Jazzd Fest Shabbat, some ays of them we asked to do n Frid Chicke Sushi andforFrie new things,” Margolius said. ays, 10am-7pm; s-Thursdby dayproduced Mon Open is The album being Academy Award winner Donny Marm-3pmMarkowitz played bass for 10anative, daysYork and Sun kowitz, a Touro member.

A New Fridays Speedo and The Cadillacs, performing at numerous celebrated venues.

To You! Your Orde Heide co-wrote Award winning songr “I’ve Had the Time of Will Ship ans Area? We OrleAcademy the New the Outs My Life” from “Dirty Dancing.” He then moved to Los Angeles, where he wrote scores for film and television, including “Get Out,” “Crazy Stupid Love” and “The Muppets.”

In 2011, Markowitz moved to New Orleans, and works from Esplanade Studios in Treme. He produced “Decisions,” an album by Bobby Rush, which featured Dr. John on a song co-written by Markowitz and Carl Gustafson. The album was nominated for a Best Blues Album Grammy.

The recording sessions took place over three days. In selecting the musicians and pieces, Ahlquist said they emphasized “uplifting” past participants, as well as the Panorama Jazz Band, “when they are having a hard time” because Covid has taken away most opportunities to perform.

They all said “things are tough these days,” Margolius noted. “There aren’t many opportunities for musicians.” In all, over 40 musicians were involved in creating the album.

Having so many past cantors participate also shows “Jazz Fest Shabbat is much more than one person leading a prayer service,” Ahlquist said.

Jazz Fest Shabbat was born in 1991 when Cantor Steve Dubov invited guest musicians to take part in Shabbat The first year, the New Orleans The service fills services.

Klezmer All-Stars were featured. Ben the sanctuary Schenck, a founding member of that group, is now clarinetist and bandleader of the with joy and Panorama Jazz Band.

The service is held on the first Shabbat celebration of Jazz Fest, except on the rare occasion, as happened in 2016, when Passover began on that night. That year, Jazz Fest Shabbat was on the second weekend.

Explaining the service to someone who has not been there has always been a challenge. “You had to be there,” Margolius asserted. “We’ve had to do a lot of telling instead of showing,” and the CD will help people understand the blend of liturgical music with a New Orleans sound. Of course, the CD won’t come with the dancing in the sanctuary.

The headliner generally does a mini-concert in the middle of the service. In recent years, the headliners have been asked to take more of a role during the service itself. For example, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, who headlined the most recent in-person event in 2019, did a version of “Mi Chamocha” in Hebrew and French, to the tune of one of the tracks on their most recent album.

About 15 years ago, the Panorama Jazz Band became the house band for Jazz Fest Shabbat, and a core of regular jazz-infused liturgical pieces has been developed over the years.

Headliners have included Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Marcia Ball, John Boutte, Joe Krown, Walter Wolfman Washington, Russell Batiste Jr., the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen. James Andrews and the Crescent City Allstars were lined up for 2020, before Covid cancelled the weekend.

The Mardi Gras Indians came marching in one year to kick off the event. Another memorable moment came in 2010 when Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s band leader, was in attendance the year that Allen Toussaint was the featured artist. Toussaint called Shaffer up to perform with him, and he joined in on keyboards for “Adon Olam,” which is done to

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the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” There is usually a patron’s dinner before services. This year, patron levels include dinner and wine from Saba, picked up on April 30 for enjoyment at home. Patrons that signed up by mid-March are recognized in the liner notes.

They will receive a physical CD and a digital download, and the CD will also be available for all to purchase.

The CD will be “something we can be proud of, something we can use with our congregation for years to come,” Margolius said.

Ahlquist looks forward to the in-person event returning. He said the biggest crowds of the Jewish year generally are for the High Holidays, a somber time of introspection. Jazz Fest Shabbat is a rare contrast, which “fills that sanctuary to bursting at the seams with joy and celebration…

We don’t have many of those moments.”

In addition to the dancing, Ahlquist said being there shows “the power of the music moving people to tears.”

Jazz Fest itself has moved to Oct. 7 to 18 this year, figuring that by then it will be possible to have in-person festivals again. Touro hasn’t decided whether to have a fall Jazz Fest Shabbat, because it is a huge event that would be taking place right after the High Holy Days season.

When Margolius was interviewing for the position at Touro, he spoke to several of the congregation’s past cantors. “Every single one of them talked at length about Jazz Fest Shabbat, how they’d never seen anything like it, it’s such a gem,” and said “you’ll never get it until you see it once.” He recalled that “My first year here, it was really a special night.

“After two years off, we’re all really looking forward to celebrating like that again.”

For information about the album, go to jazzfestshabbat.com.

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The Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica has been selected by the Foundation for Jewish Camp for its third round of Yashar Initiative funding.

Thirteen camps nationally are receiving a combined $2.6 million to increase accessibility for campers and staffers with disabilities.

Part of a larger $12 million initiative funded by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, “Yashar” — the Hebrew word for both “level” and “integrity” — is responsible for significant improvements to accessibility and inclusion at camp, providing funds for capital improvements, professional development, staff training, research, and evaluation. Supporting a wide range of campers and staff, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, as well as those with intellectual, developmental, physical, and sensory disabilities; the Yashar Initiative aims to not only increase the quality of inclusion, but the quantity.

Each grant recipient has committed to increasing their total campers with disabilities to at least 5 percent of the total camper population.

Supporting camps as they strategically address major barriers for participation remains critical, especially as camps prepare to reopen in summer 2021. “The Yashar Initiative has been a catalyst for growth over the past two years and after a difficult year of social isolation and separation, we know that all children, teens, and youth need camp this summer more than ever,” said Jeremy Fingerman, FJC’s CEO. “FJC is excited to see the continued and growing interest in expanding efforts to serve campers with disabilities, especially during this very trying year. Camps continue to demonstrate their commitment and prioritization of this important work.”

In addition to funding for capital improvements, the camps will receive program grants totaling over $260,000 to help support efforts in staff training, program development, and evaluation.

Since the program launched in 2019, Foundation for Jewish Camp has awarded over $8 million in grants to 39 camps through the Yashar Initiative. Participating camps from all rounds are invited to participate in FJC’s Yashar trainings, which take place throughout the year.

Ramah Darom in Clayton, Ga., was in the first group of recipients, announced in April 2019. That December, Camp Barney Medintz in Georgia was in the second round. A fourth group will be announced this fall.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Last year, with the world shutting down for Covid, Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge did an immediate pivot for its corned beef sandwich sale. Rather than be stuck with a whole lot of corned beef, they offered bulk kits for pickup instead of individual lunches, and it was a success. This year, Beth Shalom had more time to prepare for a bulk sale, with kits that made five lunches. Once again, the kits sold out, with pickup on March 14.

community Decades later, longtime Louise Mayor Willie Sklar’s Legacy Lives On

By Richard Friedman He was a pioneer, a bit of a legend, a go-to guy, an honorable businessman and someone who understood the importance of Jews stepping forward to play leadership roles in small Mississippi towns.

His name was William (“Willie”) Sklar, and though decades have passed since he made his mark, he is remembered not only by his family but by historians as a unique and impressive figure in the annals of Mississippi Jewish history.

Willie lived in Louise, a tiny dot on the map in the Mississippi Delta which in his day had about 500 residents, and now has fewer than 200. He served his town in many roles over the years.

He was involved in numerous organizations dealing with farming, county government and community affairs.

Willie served as an alderman and then for 24 years as mayor of Louise.

In addition, he served as a member of the Advisory Committee of Planters Bank and Trust in Louise.

Pretty much everybody knew him.

“Folks in Louise and the adjacent area would often come to my grandfather for advice and guidance,” says his grandson, Brad Sklar, an attorney and civic leader in Birmingham.

Willie, who died in 1974, was a force in Louise for more than 50 years.

He owned a farm, a dry goods store and a furniture store.

Jerry Sklar, Willie’s son and Brad’s dad, who also lives in Birmingham, remembers, “My father was a ‘principled kind of guy.’ Dad had high principles. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke my sister and I listened, and so did a lot of the town’s people.”

What is especially significant about the Willie Sklar story is what he represented: A Jewish immigrant whose family migrated to rural Mississippi in the early 1900s from Eishishok, Lithuania, and built a life there that Jerry remembers with fondness to this day.

The Sklars, like many Jewish families in small towns throughout the Deep South, integrated into the larger civic culture, where they were fully accepted, in addition to maintaining their Jewish distinctiveness.

These Jewish pioneers were respected for their commitment to their faith and traditions and admired for their willingness to give of their time, talents and resources to benefit the overall communities in which they lived.

Willie’s wife Esther was a significant presence in Louise as well. Having grown up in nearby Yazoo City as a member of a well-respected Jewish family, she was ingrained in Louise socially and well-known throughout the area.

“My mother was a real active ‘town lady.’ She had a number of very close friends in Louise and chatted with them on a daily basis,” Jerry recalls. She also maintained a loving home for Willie; Jerry, whose wife is Jean Marcus Sklar from Vicksburg; and Jerry’s twin sister, Jean Harris, who now lives in Marion, Ala., with husband Gene.

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Remarkable Acceptance The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, based in Jackson, sees Willie as a seminal figure in the state’s Jewish history. He is featured prominently on the Institute’s website and his story is highlighted in its cataloguing of Jewish life in Mississippi during the middle of the 20th century.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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community The Institute’s Virtual Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish communities notes, “for the most part, Jews have enjoyed remarkable acceptance in Mississippi. Several Mississippi Jews have been elected to local office…

Willie Sklar was mayor of Louise for 24 years… This civic involvement was not unique to Mississippi, as Jews across the South were elected to public service positions. In each case, the vast majority of their votes came from non-Jews.

“One reason for this acceptance was that Jews assimilated to Southern culture. While remaining faithful to their unique religion and culture, Mississippi Jews have worked to lessen the barriers and differences between themselves and their gentile neighbors.”

Jerry’s upbringing in Louise was barrier-free when it came to him being Jewish.

In fact, in Yazoo City, his mother’s hometown, which was 15 miles away from Louise, his mother’s father — Nathan Ostrov, a successful businessman, was so well-respected that during the Holocaust one of Yazoo City’s non-Jewish citizens raised a very-substantial amount for the United Jewish Appeal. “This was done in honor of him to recognize what he had done for Yazoo City,” recalls Jerry.

Growing up in small-town, rural Mississippi in the late 1940s and 1950s, Jerry recalls hearing only one antisemitic remark. It came from an opposing player during a basketball game. That player apologized to Jerry the next day.

Now, on the brink of turning 85, Jerry speaks nostalgically of his unique upbringing. While others of his generation have small-town Deep South roots, what made his experience different was that not only were the Sklars the only Jews in town, but his father also was mayor.

For Jerry, growing up in Louise was idyllic; doors were left unlocked

at night, people cared about one another, friendships were made that endure to this day. As he talks about his small town upbringing, you can almost imagine a “Mayberry-Like” existence in his family’s small, tightly-knit Southern hamlet.

To this day, despite his own track record of business and civic success, and a career that took him to the presidency of major department stores in New Orleans and Birmingham, a successful and honored tenure as president of the Birmingham Stallions football team during the heyday of the now-defunct United States Football League, and a later career as an influential financial advisor, you can sense a touch of wistfulness when Jerry talks about Louise.

“As small as it was, I really enjoyed it. I don’t know that I would have chosen another childhood experience.”

There also were some lasting lessons.

“The best thing I learned from Dad is that hard work pays off. I know that is what he did. He expected me to work in the store. If I wanted to go out on Saturday night, I had to get permission because we stayed opened Saturday nights. He made it clear there were no free rides.”

High Honor Brad enjoys telling the story of how impressed he was that Jerry lettered in multiple varsity sports in high school.

Then one year Brad went with his dad to a high school reunion for Louise High, which had been shut down for many years. It was a great event, and it was there that he discovered that Jerry had only five senior male classmates, so pretty much everyone played every varsity sport.

Willie’s grandchildren — Brad, his sister Suzanne Blonder and their first cousin, Scott Harris — were all close to their grandfather and trea-

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

2/9/21 12:36 PM

community

Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

sured the times they were able to spend with him and their grandmother in Louise. Suzanne had friends from Louise visit her in Birmingham.

The grandchildren were especially impressed by one thing in particular: After serving multiple terms as mayor, the local Tastee Freez restaurant and ice cream parlor named a burger after their grandfather, the “Willie Burger,” a high honor for sure in the small town.

Before being elected mayor, Willie served on Louise’s school board for many years. Brad speaks about that with pride because today he is a member of the Mountain Brook school board, a parallel that has made an impact on him.

“I feel a connection to my grandfather and his commitment to education,” explains Brad. “I’ve also tried to reflect his belief that in addition to maintaining a strong commitment to Judaism, to look for ways to better the broader community.”

The stories, from Jerry’s varsity sports to Willie’s Tastee Freez burger, are fun — and important, because they help capture a bygone era.

What may be more important though are the broader takeaways from the Willie Sklar narrative.

The Sklars and other immigrant Jewish families worked hard, took risks and opened doors for their descendants, never taking America for granted and wearing their Judaism proudly.

Incumbent on Brad’s generation, he acknowledges, is the challenge of transmitting these legacies and lessons to their own children, in his case his daughter, who is now 19 and a freshman at college.

“Yes, this is a challenge, especially because they never knew the ‘pioneering generation’ that gave our family and so many other Southern Jewish families their start in America,” says Brad.

“In our family, we preserve and value the memories of Willie and Esther and what they stood for. We owe it to my grandparents to make sure their great-grandchildren know their stories, and never take the freedom and opportunities their generation enjoys for granted.”

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Magen David Adom, Israel’s paramedic and Red Cross service, has played a major role in this success. MDA has treated tens of thousands of stricken Israelis, administered Covid tests to more than 4 million, and vaccinated Israel’s most vulnerable populations, including all its nursing home residents.

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Marlin Gusman Orleans Parish Sheriff April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

At a Senate hearing on state-level election reform bills on March 24, Senator Cindy HydeSmith of Mississippi informed New York Sen. Chuck Schumer that the Sabbath is on Sunday.

As Senate majority leader, Schumer is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history.

The remark came as Senate Democrats were questioning an effort by Georgia Republicans to ban voting and other election activities on Sundays.

Speaking directly to Schumer, Hyde-Smith said “Georgia’s a Southern state just like Mississippi. I cannot speak for Georgia but I can speak for Mississippi on why we would never do that on a Sunday, or hold an election on a Sunday.”

Pulling out a dollar bill, she said it references “In God We Trust,” and “etched in stone in the Senate chamber is ‘In God We Trust’.”

She then quoted Exodus 20:18 as “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy,” though in the Hebrew it reads “to keep it holy.”

She concluded with “That is my response to Sen. Schumer.”

On March 25, Schumer responded on Fox News, saying “I don’t know where to begin other than reminding my colleagues of the separation of church and state,” and that for him and other Jews, the Sabbath is Saturday.

“She totally disregards the sabbath of Jews, Muslims and some Christians. I hope she will walk back these comments,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League.

Hyde-Smith’s office has not responded to this publication’s requests for comment.

Sunday voting is seen as popular among Black voters, who traditionally go vote after leaving church in what is referred to as “Souls to the Polls.” Democrats charge that the effort to ban Sunday voting is aimed at suppressing constituencies that traditionally vote for Democrats, while Republicans explain that not all counties can hold early voting on Sundays due to budgetary concerns, making the practice inequitable.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that the Sunday ban was being dropped by Republicans, in favor of a bill restricting ballot drop boxes to places where they could be supervised, but increasing weekend voting hours, requiring two voting days on Saturdays and making two Sundays optional during the three-week early voting period.

In some states, including Louisiana, election day is usually on Saturday.

Mississippi has a Jewish population of around 1,600.

Sabbath Changes The verse in Exodus cited by Hyde-Smith, part of the Ten Commandments, speak of the Sabbath as the seventh day, which in Judaism has always been from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

As Jews, Jesus and his early followers kept the Sabbath on Saturday. It was not until 321 C.E. when Constantine decreed that all people in the Roman Empire would observe a day of rest on Sunday, and prohibited abstaining from work on Saturday. Under Constantine, many pagan practices were reinterpreted and brought under the Christian umbrella to make it easier to convert pagans, and one of them was adopting their day of rest, the “Venerable Day of the Sun.” The switch to Sunday was also justified for Christians as Sunday was the day of Jesus’ resurrection. With rising anti-Jewish feelings in the church, there was also a prevailing sentiment to purge the church of anything that smacked of Jewish practice, including having the day of rest on Saturday, and establishing guidelines for the timing of Easter that did not rely on when Passover falls.

The Catholic Church decided that the solemnity of Saturday should be transferred to Sunday, and the Protestant churches that otherwise profess fealty to Biblical texts as written maintained that out of tradition, rather than switching back to Saturday, though some “Hebrew Roots” groups seeking to better understand Jesus in the Jewish context of the time are increasingly observing Saturday.

While Islam started out with observing Saturday as the Sabbath, it was soon changed to Friday, to commemorate the creation of human beings, and to distinguish Islam as different from Judaism and Christianity.

In Jewish circles, those changes have been historically seen as symbols of the everlasting validity of God’s covenant with the Jews, even when the other faiths considered themselves to have replaced the Jews in God’s covenant. The “Veshamru” prayer, Exodus 31:16-17, cites the observance of Shabbat as “an eternal sign of the covenant between Me and the people of Israel.”

As for “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency, the first instance was on the two-cent piece in 1864, the height of the Civil War. In 1873 Congress passed a law allowing but not mandating its use on coins. It did not appear on paper currency until 1957, after Congress mandated it during the Cold War as a statement against the atheist Soviet Union.

After A Year

Remembering the Toll of Covid in the Southern Jewish Community

By Richard Friedman A year along, the struggles of the Covid-19 pandemic are being felt by Jewish communities throughout the Deep South — from New Orleans to Birmingham and points in between, from individuals who have recovered from the virus, those who lost loved ones, and social service agencies helping community members deal with Ron Rich, center, with hi s four children everything from loss to isolation.

A year after Jack Zoller, a well-known New Orleans physician and Gary’s mom, Linda, died in 1994. Her ashes were scattered on a mouncommunity leader, died of Covid-19 complications, his son Gary reflect- tainside in Telluride. Jack wanted his scattered in the same place. Covid ed on his death. “I think the good news for me is that my dad didn’t die has put that on hold. alone in a hospital room like so many other people. Otherwise I might “When we will be able to do that as a family is still undetermined,” not have had the closure that I did.” said Gary. “Not being able to mourn loved ones properly is just one more Jack, who died on April 2, 2020 at the age of 91, lived at New Orleans’ struggle of pandemic life.”

Lambeth House, a continuing care retirement community, which at the start of the pandemic was a Covid hot spot. He became exposed after Pre-Positioned spending time with a friend. His symptoms at first were mild, mainly Jewish social service agencies have seen their caseloads increase drashortness of breath. matically the past year while they’ve re-tooled their agencies to provide Jack was hospitalized briefly but then discharged because it appeared much-needed services virtually. he was doing better. His downturn began shortly after returning to LamOne of those is Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans, acbeth House, where he had been living in an independent unit. cording to Executive Director Roselle Ungar. In the case of her agency, As his breathing worsened, he was moved to an assisted living unit, though, because of the legacy of Hurricane Katrina, it was able to shift which is where he died, alert until the end. into an emergency response mode almost immediGary was with him the day he died, still comforted ately after the Covid crisis erupted. a year later that his dad did not die alone. “The good There already was a playbook for working off-site part is that we got to be together.” and how to continue the work of a service-delivery Other family members, children and grandchilagency even after its hub offices shut down. The dren spread out from Los Angeles to Dallas to Tel biggest challenge was to set up a HIPAA compliant Aviv, all got the chance to say goodbye virtually. platform for “seeing” clients. This was accomplished Jack even whispered a joke into Gary’s ear an hour within a few days of closing the physical office. before he died. “He was fully there. Being there with Two immediate needs began to emerge as the him was a gift.” pandemic took hold: the need to respond to the Jack was an obstetrician and gynecologist for increased stress and disruption that the agency’s more than 35 years, delivering thousands of babies. current clients were experiencing, and new clients He also was a Jewish community volunteer leader. coming to JFS for help.

He became a Bar Mitzvah in his 80s. In addition to “We were fortunate that through a significant his New Orleans home, Jack had a home in Telluride, grant from the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Colorado. He loved fishing and skiing.

Louisiana we could set up a relief fund for members “He treated everyone with dignity and respect,” of the Jewish community affected by Covid. This insaid his obituary.”Wherever he went, he had a smile cluded providing housing assistance, help with utilion his face, always offering a kind word or gesture. ty bills, gift cards for food — helping people with the Jack made everyone feel as though he was their best Jack Zoller basic necessities.” friend.”

As Ungar noted, New Orleans, like Birmingham, is a smaller Jewish The national television show, CBS Sunday Morning, did a piece on the community, relatively speaking. “You are not going to see the massive New Orleans physician and his passing as the pandemic was erupting. number of people affected that you would see in a larger community.”

Despite the closure that Gary feels, the day to day closeness that he Nonetheless, the demand for increased services has grown significantenjoyed with his dad since moving back to New Orleans 17 years ago, ly. Since the pandemic started, her agency, which also serves the broader and being with him the day he died, one part of the saga remains an open community, has added 35 Jewish case management clients — a 30 percent wound for Gary. increase.

“Zoom shiva was unfulfilling for me. It was nice to hear stories. But I “These are not clients we would see on a regular basis. These are people missed family and friends being together.” new to the agency.”

There was no funeral.

Another regional community leader who has been on the front lines Jack chose to be cremated. His remains are in Gary’s living room. since day one is Lauren Schwartz. “Individual and collective losses have April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

17

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

community been enormous,” said Schwartz, executive director of Birmingham’s Collat Jewish Family Services.

“Some have lost loved ones and the ability to grieve in traditional ways, surrounded by community and support. Others have lost jobs and financial stability. And at some level, we all have lost the regular, social contact that makes us human.”

Though it’s hard to pinpoint the exact number of people who’ve died, many throughout the Jewish South know at least one person who has lost their life to Covid. And no one has escaped the impact of the pandemic or being forced to wrestle with once-unimaginable fears.

“In families the stress of managing work, school and home life has resulted in increasing anxiety and depression. This impact is reflected in the increased need we have seen for counseling services,” said Schwartz.

CJFS experienced a 41 percent increase in the number of active counseling clients from February 2020 to February 2021.

Participation in the agency’s support groups has grown significantly over the past year. Its group for caregivers went from meeting once a month to meeting online twice a week.

“For older adults, particularly those with memory disorders, research is showing that the pandemic has led to more rapid physical and cognitive decline. At CJFS we see this anecdotally in our CARES clients, some of whom have passed away during the pandemic or moved into memory care units.”

CARES is a memory care program that used to meet in person preCovid and provide socialization and activities, along with a respite for caregivers.

Fit and Energetic Like New Orleans and other Jewish communities throughout the Deep South, Birmingham has lost members of well-known Jewish families to Covid.

One of those was Ron Rich.

Those who knew Ron knew him as a fit and energetic guy with a fertile mind, talents ranging from music to mortgage banking, and restless ambition. He, like Jack Zoller, died early in the pandemic. Ron died of Covid on March 28, 2020, at the age of 65.

No one knew him better than his sister, Bobbye Seligman. They talked nearly every day, texted constantly, and enjoyed trading insights and those whimsical quips that uniquely bond siblings.

Then it all went dark when something few people understood at the time snatched Ron by the lungs and snuffed out his life. Ron contracted Covid in south Florida, where he had been living the past 10 years. Exactly when and where he was exposed is unclear.

“We were stunned and in disbelief. His downturn started with a simple cough that just wouldn’t go away,” recalled Bobbye. “How could this be happening?”

Bobbye watched helplessly from afar as the dreaded infection, which would claim the lives of more than 500,000 Americans over the next 12 months, took the life of her brother over a six-day span, ruthlessly and savagely.

Wrote Ron in one of his last texts to Bobbye, “I don’t even know one person from the next. My fever is so high I can’t think straight.” Bobbye believes Ron knew he was dying, frightened and alone in a south Florida hospital.

The funeral was in Birmingham. Three children living elsewhere, and their mother Rhonda, all spread out, were unable to be there because of the pandemic. The only child there was Ron’s oldest daughter, who lives in Alabama. Bobbye and her husband Michael also were there.

“No one was together. We couldn’t laugh, hug, talk about silly memories. My friends who wanted to do things for me couldn’t. You are alone with your grief through the entire process,” said Bobbye.

Ron’s death hovers over his sister every day. It struck her in a particu-

community lar way a few weeks ago on her way home from her second Covid vaccine.

“I cried the whole way home. Ronnie should have been getting his shot. That is maybe why it is so hard now that they have come out with the vaccine. He could be living life.”

“Kindness Personified” A conversation with Birmingham’s Honi Mazer Gottlieb about the loss of her sister to Covid is powerful and compelling, and lingers in the heart afterward for days.

Her sister, Davida Mazer Lasley, who lived most of her adult life in Atlanta, died of Covid on Feb. 24, 2021. She was 64.

Davida was the mother of two children, and a grandmother. “She was in the prime of life,” said Honi, who spoke to or texted with Davida 25 to 50 times a week. “To say we were close was an understatement.” Davida inspired Honi and many others with her singing talent and decorating skills.

For Honi, two words describe her sister. “Kindness personified.”

On a beautiful spring morning, sitting outside her suburban Birmingham home, Honi said that “Davida was fit and healthy with no underlying health issues. She and her husband David did everything right — they were super-careful when it came to the pandemic — double-masking before it was widespread, social distancing, washing packages.”

Yet in January they contracted Covid.

Honi believes it might have happened on a day they decided to go out and run some errands and visit several stores, though no one in the family is sure. “They would do this periodically just to get out, and always wore masks.”

Her brother-in-law’s brush with Covid was relatively mild, though he wound up in the hospital for a few days. Davida would suffer a far worse fate. Her downturn started at home in late January with headaches and coughing.

Then in early February she was hospitalized, where she would struggle for weeks with increasing difficulty breathing, sinking oxygen levels, blood clots in her lungs — and confusion, isolation and fear.

At around 6 in the morning after she was hospitalized, she called Honi to tell Davida Mazer Lasley her she was in the hospital.

“I told Davida she is going to be fine. I told her they will make her feel better, that she will get well and then get the vaccine. ‘We will all get to visit,’ I said. ‘It will be fabulous.’ That’s the last time I heard her voice. It never occurred to me she was going to die.“ This was included in Davida’s funeral announcement, which Honi asked to be included in this story: “In lieu of donations, the family requests an act that was extremely close to Davida’s heart: Please get your Covid-19 vaccination or reach out to others in your community and help them get vaccinated. Davida’s fondest wish was that everyone get vaccinated. We have the opportunity to help with this cause.”

New Orleans and Birmingham, while the largest Jewish communities in the region, are not the only ones that have lost people to Covid.

Pensacola’s Fred Levin, a famed trial attorney who was known nationally for taking down Big Tobacco, among many high profile cases, died unexpectedly on Jan. 12 at age 83, five days after showing symptoms of Covid-19 “despite receiving the most advanced and best treatment available in the United States,” as his obituary noted.

When he tested positive for Covid, he was asymptomatic for the first 10 days, but died on the day that he was originally scheduled to receive his first dose of the Covid vaccine.

In his obituary, he said “just wear a mask! It’s not too much to ask.”

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life 19

community Shir Chadash provided a jazzy online Passover Since large in-person gatherings were still discouraged because of Covid, Shir Chadash in Metairie made its annual All-Star New Orleans Jazz Seder available online for congregants and others around the world to enjoy as part of their individual Passover celebrations.

Held regularly since 2008 as the Conservative congregation’s second-night Seder, the Jazz Seder features a collection of local Jewish musicians accompanying popular songs from the Passover Seder including “Dayenu,” “Avadim Hayinu,” “Had Gadya” and other Seder favorites as well as other traditional songs from both the liturgy and the New Orleans Jazz playbook to enhance the obligatory annual retelling of the Passover story.

“For years, our musical Seder has been one of our most popular and highly anticipated events,” said Rabbi Deborah Silver. “We are sad we cannot be together in-person to celebrate the Seder just yet, but we hope that by offering a pre-recorded version our community and others worldwide will be able to heighten their spiritual experience and enjoy the incredible musical talent that we have in our congregation and community.”

The Jazz Seder, which comes in at a little over an hour, was posted on Shir Chadash’s Facebook and YouTube pages on March 23. Silver leads the ritual parts of the Seder, with the band doing musical selections to accompany. The congregation’s youth are also featured.

Local musicians in the Jazz Seder ensemble include Ben Schenk of the Panorama Jazz Band on clarinet; Rene Coman of The Iguanas on bass; Marc Stone on guitar; pianist Joe Krown; Hannah Krieger-Benson, who also works with the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans,

on trumpet and background vocals; Doug Garrison of The Iguanas on drums; Rick Perles on violin, and Meryl Zimmerman, who also serves as the synagogue’s education director, on lead vocals.

The musical component was recorded live on March 12, at the outdoor venue The Broadside, with video production by Nolafy LLC and sound engineering by Pete Winkler. Will Samuels is producer of the online program.

Where do babies come from?

Babies come from the swamp!

Tell her the truth. Babies come from Touro.

Whether you are thinking about starting a family or looking to add to it, Touro is here to deliver. Our team of OB/GYNs, midwives, and nurses will partner with you to create a personalized care plan that best fits you and your family. The Family Birthing Center at Touro has welcomed generations of New Orleanians and is proud to welcome the newest member of your krewe.

Learn more at touro.com/fbc

20

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

An Official Publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

THE

DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by Southern Jewish Life belong solely to the publisher. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of any other person; or the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, its constituent and beneficiary agencies, or any other entity.

JEWISH NEWSLETTER April 2021 | Nisan 5781

Vol. XVI No. 2

Together, but virtually.

Mark your calendar for GiveNOLA Day! GiveNOLA Day is on Tuesday, May 4, and we’re asking your help to grow our Greater New Orleans Jewish community! Here are two ways in which you can make a difference:

1. Pay your 2021 Annual Campaign pledge through the GiveNOLA website. (You can allocate funds from your donor advised fund at GNOF before April 15, 2021, too.) The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s (GNOF) Lagniappe Fund offers a special matching opportunity, and GiveNOLA Day prizes amplify the power of your pledge payment.

2. If you have already made your 2021 commitment, consider an additional gift to Federation on GiveNOLA Day. The Goldring Family and Woldenberg Foundations will generously match them at 25%!

Learn more at givenola.org/jeworleans, or contact Cait Gladow at cait@jewishnola.com. The 2021 Annual Campaign is co-chaired by Mara Force and Joshua Rubenstein.

April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

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With full-blown Brooklyn moxie, the young singer dismissed as too Jewish, too plain and too obstinate upended the celebrity pantheon by refusing to let anyone rain on her parade.

So what if she was born in Israel Zion Hospital and refused to pretend that Flatbush didn’t course through her veins? If she didn’t have a pert button nose or conform to anyone else’s view of femininity?

Barbra Streisand was too talented to be ignored. A force of nature, she not only parlayed her vocal prowess and unique style into international stardom; she redefined female celebrity, paving the way for a new generation of women performers — and millions of Jews — to unapologetically be themselves.

The arc of Barbra’s story unfolds on the gallery walls of Temple Emanu-El's Bernard Museum of Judaica in New York, providing a glimpse behind the scenes of her life.

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans for an exclusive virtual tour of the exhibit, led by curator, Warren Klein, on April 27 at 12:00 p.m. CT. This event is open to women who have made a minimum household gift of $5,000 to the 2021 Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Annual Campaign - and is made possible through the generosity of LCMC Health/Touro Infirmary and the Schoenbaum Family Foundation.

To learn more, contact Sherri Tarr at sherritarr@jewishnola.com.

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April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

Join the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans for a series of virtual missions this spring and summer, designed to help you explore Jewish stories around the world from the safety and comfort of your home over one-hour sessions on three Sunday mornings. There is no cost, and these missions are open to everyone. Zoom links will be sent to participants in advance.

Jewish Federation Virtual Mission to India | April 11 | 9:30 a.m.

Chef Moshe Shek grew up in India in a Jewish community. At the age of 20, after training to be a pilot, he took a year off and travelled to Israel, where he lived on a kibbutz and developed a passion for cooking. Upon returning to India after time spent working in London and Tel Aviv, he opened several successful restaurants before starting an organic farm and culinary school called A World Away in Alibaug.

Join Chef Moshe along with Jewish guide, Joshua, for a "Taste of India." Attendees will also learn about Jewish Indian history.

Jewish Federation Virtual Mission to Copenhagen | June 13 | 9:30 a.m.

Enjoy a LIVE virtual Jewish walking tour of Copenhagen with Charlotte, who will guide participants through the amazing story of Danish Jewry from their beginnings in 1622 when Jewish merchants were first invited by King Christian IV, all the way up to Jewish life in Denmark today.

Jewish Federation Virtual Mission to Budapest | August 8 | 9:30 a.m.

How are Tony Curtis, Theodor Herzl and the Rubik's cube related to Budapest? Guide, Agi, will take participants through the Jewish Quarter - once the Jewish ghetto which enclosed 70,000 Jews in a space less than a square mile. This captivating tour of what was one of the centers of Jewish life in Central Europe begins at the Dohany synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. Participants will admire the world-famous street art, including the famous Weeping Willow, Raoul Wallenberg Memorial Park and the Carl Lutz Memorial.

Please visit jewishnola.com to register. The Mission Committee Co-Chairs are Stacey Lutz and Ben Swig. Questions? Please contact Sherri Tarr at sherritarr@jewishnola.com.

Save the Date

Jewish Federation’s 108th Annual Meeting

October 6, 2021 | 7:00 p.m. | Audubon Tea Room April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

23

CJMA Update Four Questions with Executive Director Aaron Bloch + Upcoming Events The Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs (CJMA) is an in-house initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans that contains all of the Federation’s external relations programs and directly reaches out to the wider community, both Jewish and non-Jewish.

The Center is focusing on four primary outreach areas: African-American relations; LGBTQ relations, through the existing Jewish Pride New Orleans (JP NOLA) program; Latin-American relations; and multi-faith relations. With Passover still fresh on our minds, we decided to ask our own version of "the 4 Questions" with the newest member of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans family, CJMA Executive Director Aaron Bloch.

Q: Why is this Center different from all other Centers?

We are taking an integrative approach to our outreach and engagement by focusing on the New Orleans community at large, rather than solely on the Jewish community – not to say that the Jewish community will not benefit from our efforts. We believe that this approach will help the city of New Orleans as a whole, while simultaneously increasing the visibility of the Federation, engaging increasingly larger segments members of the Jewish community, and helping to counter the rising tide of anti-semitism.

Q: You’ve been on the job a month. What’s your impression of the CJMA so far?

It’s been an amazing experience to get to know all of the stakeholders who are so dedicated to our mission of outreach and fostering community. We have an incredible core network of individuals and organizations that are already involved in the CJMA and I’ve been getting to know them and hear their stories. There is a lot of excitement around the CJMA, and it doesn’t take long to see why.

Q: Are there any particular programs or initiatives that you are particularly excited about?

We have two public health initiatives right now that I’m particularly excited about. The first is a partnership with the Rhesa and Alden J. McDonald and Sue Ellen and Joseph Canizaro Diabetes Center at New Orleans East Hospital called “Get NOEH Fit: Healthy You, Healthy Me.” This program emphasizes prevention and care of diabetes and other diseases that disproportionately affect minority communities. Keep an eye out in the coming months because there will be some exciting announcements that involve a slew of well-known restaurants around town. The second initiative that will be announced in the coming weeks is a partnership related to COVID vaccine outreach and education in communities that are traditionally left behind due to the lack of access, myths, and limited availability of doses.

I am also looking forward to the first installment of our 2021 HBCU Speaker Series that will be hosted (virtually) by Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) on April 29. Rabbi Capers C. Funnye, Jr. will be joining us as the special guest speaker to discuss his experience as an African-American Rabbi, the history of Black Jews in the U.S. and Africa, Jews and Racial Justice, and much more.

Q: What is your vision for the CJMA moving forward?

I am truly lucky to be working with an Advisory Committee and Co-Chairs that are not only forward thinking, but completely in sync when it comes to building the CJMA into not just a Jewish community institution, but a New Orleans institution. My vision includes strengthening our existing partnerships and creating new ones until we have meaningful partnerships that span every neighborhood and community across New Orleans.

Upcoming CJMA Events

Thursday, April 15 | 8:00 a.m.

"Shalom: A Cross-Cultural Conversation" will air live on WBOK (1230AM). Co-hosted by Federation CEO Arnie Fielkow and Oliver Thomas, this hour long program will highlight and explore Jewish/African-American relations and welcome special guests.

Thursday, April 15 | 11:00 a.m.

The annual St. Augustine H.S. Scholarship Award Ceremony will be held in conjunction with a virtual assembly led by faith leaders from the AfricanAmerican and Jewish communities.

Sunday, April 18 | 12:00 p.m.

The Yiddish Book Center "Coming to America" Reading Group will be closing out the 4 part series with Motl the Cantor’s Son by Sholem Aleichem.

Thursday, April 29 | 7:00 p.m.

CJMA - HBCU Speaker Series hosted by Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) will welcome guest speaker Rabbi Capers Funnye for a virtual discussion on his experience as an African American Rabbi, the history of Black Jews in the US and Africa, Jews and Racial Justice, and much more.

Learn more about the CJMA by contacting Aaron Bloch at aaron@jewishnola.com or by visiting jewishnola.com/multicultural or facebook.com/cjmanola.

24 April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

Jewish Family Service

You said HINENI! Thanks to all our volunteers and donors who made our 2021 Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket program possible! Together, we brought approximately 300 people in the Greater New Orleans area to the global Seder table. JFS cherishes the opportunity to strengthen our communal bonds of shared faith and identity. We hope you and your family enjoyed a peaceful and meaningful Pesach!

Don’t miss our virtual CEU for May

April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

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Jewish Community Center Jump Into Summer with JCC Aquatics Between swim lessons, lap swimming and water fitness classes, the Uptown JCC’s pools are already hopping! The popular Aqua Fit group exercise class is currently offered 14 times a week, in both the outdoor heated lap pool and Buzzy’s Indoor Pool. Adult lap swimming is available daily by reservation, beginning as early as 5:30 a.m. on weekdays. Adult gold members may also reserve free swim time in the indoor pool for laps, water walking, therapy or personal training.

The JCC Swim School offers private and semi-private swim lessons to all ages, teaching beginning students how to swim and helping more experienced swimmers work on their strokes and breathing technique. Taught by Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors, lessons are available in both the outdoor and indoor pools. While regular small group lessons are not currently available, this April the aquatics department is offering Aqua (Re) fresh, a skills refresher course designed to help prepare students for the summer swim season.

Register Today for JCC Summer Camp Still looking for an awesome summer camp?

The Goldring-Woldenberg JCC – Metairie has availability for all camp units, ages 3 to grade 5. They offer an action-packed summer filled with swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Camp runs June 7 to July 30.

Applications and all payments are accepted online. Registration is customizable, allowing families to sign up for the weeks that best fit their needs. Campers must enroll in a minimum of four weeks, but those weeks do not need to be consecutive. Visit nojcc.org/camp to learn about all of the fun that awaits campers during a summer at the J!

In May, recreational swim returns as the family pools at both locations reopen, along able last summer due to COVID restrictions. with Metairie’s splash pad and Uptown’s A great summer by the pool is just around splash pool. Families are particularly excited the corner! Visit nojcc.org/aquatics for addifor the vortex waterslide, which was not avail- tional details and pool hours.

Now Offering Reformer Pilates Small group Reformer Pilates classes return to the Uptown fitness schedule with the inclusion of our new Multi-Level Reformer class.

Focusing on core development and total body control, Multi-level Reformer Pilates uses a challeng-ing variety of slow, controlled exercises and stretches to strengthen, lengthen and tone your entire body. Appropriate for beginners and intermediate students of all ages and fitness levels, this small group class offers individual attention balanced with the benefits of a group setting.

Instructors provide options to modify the movements, making them more or less challenging depending upon each client’s goals and experience level. Packages evening on Wednesday. Capacity is limited to and drop-in rates are available to JCC gold three participants and masks are required. members.

For those seeking an even more personalTo accommodate busy schedules, the class is ized experience, private sessions and duets can currently offered three times each week, in the also be scheduled with one of the JCC’s certimorning on Monday and Saturday, and in the fied Pilates instructors.

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April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

This year, Tulane Hillel’s Outdoor Yoga classes have provided students with a safe space to move their bodies and clear their minds.

Students come together each week — either via Zoom or outdoors in Audubon park — to practice yoga in any way they are comfortable. Julia Mattis, Student Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Engagement Manager and certified yoga instructor, teaches our low-barrier, free yoga flow accessible for people of all comfort levels.

We asked a few students who participate in the classes on a regular basis why specifically they enjoy attending the class, and how they got into yoga.

Senior student Michaela Brown has been an active yoga participant since early spring semester. She expressed that she eased into the yoga first via the Zoom option, where she felt more confident since she was able to partici-

Jewish Endowment Foundation Leveraging Your IRA for Charitable Giving in 2021 In December 2020, a third stimulus package was passed, extending year. If you are planning a large donation in 2021, this may be many of the charitable tax incentives enacted by the Coronavirus Aid, a smart strategy as long as you are above the age of 59½ and are Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. It also provides some adnot dependent on existing retirement funds. ditional provisions that may impact your charitable contributions in Are you itemizing? the 2021 tax year.

The AGI limit for cash contributions to qualifying public charities What is new for IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD)? remains increased for individual donors. For cash contributions • If you are over 70½, you can still utilize the IRA charitable rollmade in 2021, you can elect to deduct up to 100 percent of your over to transfer up to $100,000 each year from your retirement AGI. Remember, this deduction will return to 60 percent of your accounts directly to public charities. Your IRA rollover could AGI for the next tax year. benefit JEF’s General Fund, endow your annual gift to FederaNot itemizing? tion, or be used to create a designated fund to distribute annual • If you are filing single/separately, the provision allowing for an grants to one or more charitable organizations that are important additional, “above-the-line” deduction for charitable gifts made in to you. cash of up to $300 is extended into 2021.

• Required minimum distributions (RMDs) were suspended in • There is now an additional “above-the-line” deduction if you are 2020 but are now required for 2021, however, under the CARES married filing jointly. Joint filers who are not itemizing will be Act you can elect to deduct 100 percent of your Adjusted Gross allowed to take an above-the-line deduction of up to $600 in cash Income (AGI) for cash charitable contributions. contributions to charity this year.

If you are over 59½, this provides benefits similar to a QCD; Contact JEF Executive Director Bobby Garon (bobby@jefno.org) or you can make a taxable cash distribution directly from your Legacy Director Debbie Berins (debbie@jefno.org) at 504-524-4559 IRA and may offset tax attributable to the distribution by to speak with you and your financial advisor about these taxdonating an equal amount in cash to a public charity, taking savings strategies available only in 2021. a charitable deduction in an amount up to 100 percent of The JEF staff can help you with information about various tax-saving philyour AGI for the tax year. anthropic tools, but we urge you to meet with your professional advisors to • The maximum charitable deduction for contributions to public review your investment portfolio and consider tax, financial and charitable charities will return to 60 percent of your AGI in the 2022 tax giving strategies.

Tulane Hillel pate from the comfort of her own room. Michaela told us, “What I love most is the accepting, judge-free zone that yoga creates. It’s individualized to your body, and it places just as much emphasis on your mental well-being as your physical well-being… While there were some days when I did not feel up for it, I attended yoga every Tuesday, and I was always glad that I did. The concept of meeting with a group once a week has helped me hold myself accountable. I am so proud of myself for sticking to the yoga, and I feel myself improving with each week…

I feel stronger and more confident, but I’ve also learned to love and respect my body. Julia has created such a warm and accepting space, I now feel totally confident practicing, not only in front of my peers, but in the middle of Audubon Park!”

Another senior student, Olivia Corless, started doing yoga back in high school and was so excited to be able to continue in college. She echoed Michaela’s happiness and enjoyment of Tulane Hillel’s yoga experience. Olivia enjoys the yoga class as a sort of de-stressor, and an event to participate in to simply relax. Both students expressed that yoga provides them with a sense of community while being able to unwind, get outside, and breathe.

Despite the challenges this year has presented, we’re excited to have been able to continue yoga in an accessible and COVID-safe manner for our students. We encourage everyone to join us for an outdoor or Zoom yoga class to get out of their comfort zone and de-stress! Check out: www.tulanehillel.org/tulane-hillel-calendar or email jmattis@tulane.edu for more information.

April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

27

Jewish Community Day School A Different Kind of Pesach While “next year in Jerusalem” is a popular refrain from the Jewish people this time of year, this time last year, many of us were just hoping for “next year back on campus.” The team of Jewish Studies teacher Toby David, Rabbi Michael Cohen, Hebrew teacher Hemda Hochman, Coach Philip “PJ” Jones, and art teacher Abby Wetsman truly made our Pesach dreams come true with our biennial Passover Palooza celebration. Students rotated through stations (though the stations mostly came to the classroom) of Pesach activities to celebrate and learn about our Exodus from Egypt. Activities included making plague finger puppets, an Exodus-from-Egypt obstacle course, the creation of a Pesach-themed board game, “Passover Jeopardy,” and learning about and decorating one possible modern addition to the Seder plate, an orange.

all center around the importance of inclusion and accessibility. During this activity, students of all ages discussed the importance of helping everyone feel welcome, and they were asked to decorate the orange with anything that represents inclusion to them.

However a family may choose to honor the traditions of Pesach, it is a holiday centered around a family meal shared in the comfort of a home, surrounded by family and friends. Even in the days when the Temple was still standing, families would pool together to

Field Work for Project Build-A-Gogue

All year, third and fourth graders look forWhile there are a range of interpretations ward to their Build-a-Gogue project in Mr. Tuabout why some families choose to add this via’s Jewish Studies class. Using recycled and non-traditional food to the seder plate, they repurposed materials, students design and create synagogue models each as different and unique as the student-architects themselves.

They were visited by Daniel P. Weiner, an architect at the Wisznia Architecture firm in New Orleans. Mr. Weiner designed the chapel at Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation.

He spoke to students about his many inspirations for the project as well as the process of bringing a building from the design process all the way through construction. Next, students

JCDS Remembers Edward Gothard It is with great sadness that Jewish Community Day School mourns the loss of former Board President Edward Gothard, who passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 21 at the age of 60. In addition to his service on the Board of Trustees, Eddie had been a Day School parent, and he continued to support JCDS long after his formal relationship with the School ended. JCDS is very lucky to have had Eddie Gothard as a champion for Jewish education in this community. Former JCDS Head of School Bob Berk, who began at what was then New Orleans Jewish Day School when Eddie was Board President, described Eddie as “an amazing combination of somebody who just got things done and somebody who was so thoughtful. The depth of his passion for the Jewish Community could never be doubted.” Our hearts go out to his wife Blayne, his children Aimee (Arielle), Taylor (Georgia), and Ben, his grandchildren Jayden, August, and Magnolia, and to all of his siblings, nieces, and nephews. May his memory be a blessing.

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April 2021 • The Jewish Newsletter

buy a lamb that would serve as their Passover feast. While we are getting closer to being able to have Pesach together again, we’re not quite there yet, so we at JCDS worked hard to make sure that our students could bring new life and excitement to their seders, even if their seders are a little smaller than usual.

Families received resources supporting everything the students learned in school. This included familiar roles like how to recite the four questions and new ones like having hand motions and songs to go with the Seder’s table of contents, “Kadesh, Urchatz.”

walked down the street to Gates of Prayer to see a synagogue in person. Rabbi David Gerber gave a phenomenal tour and the students used observation journals to take notes.

Powerful Classroom Conversations Learning empathy is an important skill, both in studying history in literature and in preparing for adulthood. Recently, fifth and sixth graders had two very thoughtful class discussions. In English, they are reading a book that takes place in the 1930s called “Al Capone Does My Shirts,” in which one of the characters is a child with unspecified special needs.

Students were upset by the way this character is discussed and treated.

Their discussion included comparing and contrasting the differences for children with special needs then and now.

In their Holocaust unit, they learned about the Nuremberg Laws and Kristallnacht. Again, students made insightful and thought-provoking comments about society and compared racial and religious prejudices in the 1930’s and 1940’s to those of today. These were both difficult conversations, but the students understood the importance of having them.

community Israel hosting flag football qualifier for 2022 World Games

By Josh Hasten (JNS) — The International Federation of American Football has selected Israel to host the Flag Football World Championships at the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem from Dec. 6 to 8. The three-day tournament is expected to attract more than 40 teams from up to 30 countries competing for the world title and a spot in the World Games 2022.

The biannual tournament was originally scheduled to take place in Denmark in 2020 but was postponed due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. The Kraft Family Sports Campus hosted one of the most successful European Championships, in 2019.

The men’s and women’s teams that finish in the top eight in Israel respectively will go on to compete in the World Games in Birmingham in July 2022, when the flag football competition will fall under the auspicious of the National Football League.

The Israeli men’s team is currently ranked fifth in the world, while the women’s team is ranked 11th.

Steve Leibowitz, president of the Federation of American Football in Israel and chairman of the 2021 flag Football World Championships Local Organizing Committee, told JNS that “the past year has been very tough for all sports, including American football. Here in Israel, we have been mostly off the field until last week.

First, Denmark and then Spain withdrew from hosting the World Championships. Israel has a strong organization and the backing of the Kraft Family and other sponsors, and we saw an opportunity to host.”

He explained that Israel was slated to host the World Championships in 2014, but the Gaza war forced the IFAF to move the championships to Italy.

Now, he said, “we have an opportunity to showcase Israel and Jerusalem to the top echelons of the sport we love. We have two huge challenges at the same time — to host the biggest and best FFWC ever held, and to finish in the top eight and qualify the Israeli teams for the 2022 World Games.”

Kenny Zwiebel, a longtime flag-football player who is now the head coach of the Israeli Men’s National Flag Football team, told JNS that hosting the event “adds extra incentive for the team, which is already excited to compete for

a top finish and to do so in front of our home crowd. We look forward to showing the world delegations what Israel has to offer both on and off the field.”

Both the men’s and women’s national teams have had success in tournaments at venues worldwide in the past nearly two decades. At the 2019 Jerusalem European Championships, the men’s team just missed the podium, finishing in fourth place, while the women had a respectable sixth-place finish.

‘A destination for championshiplevel competition’ At the same time as Israel is being put on the international stage in flag football, Israel’s national tackle football team has two European matches coming up as the squad gets ready to host Spain at the Kraft Family Sports Campus in August with an away game versus Hungary this September.

Shana Sprung, the longtime women’s national team quarterback and one of the founders of the women’s flag football league in Israel (WAFI) back in 2004, told JNS that she is “simply in awe” that Israel was selected to hold this year’s world championships.

Sprung, who was also the European Championship’s most valuable player in the 2014 tournament held in Italy, said that “by hosting the European Championships, we proved what an amazing organization the AFI is, and how enjoyable it is to be in Jerusalem and in Israel.

Now we are ready for the rest of the world to see that as well.”

IFAF president Richard MacLean said “the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem is fast becoming an iconic venue for flag football.

I look forward to seeing the world’s finest flag football players coming together for what will undoubtedly be a great event. The competition is tremendous as teams compete to secure their place at the World Games, and only one team

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community will earn the honor of being crowned IFAF Flag Football World Champions.”

Robert Kraft, chairman and CEO of the Kraft Group, which owns the NFL’s six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots and has been the top supporter of football in Israel for nearly 20 years, along with his late wife Myra, said: “We love the game of American football and are so proud to see the sport’s popularity continue to grow internationally in its various

forms, including flag football.”

“When we invested in the Kraft Family Sports Campus,” he continued, “it was with the hope that it would not only provide a location for daily exercise and competition for all Israelis, but that it would also become a destination for championship-level competition for football leagues throughout the Middle East and Europe.

It was an investment in both Israel and American football — two of my greatest passions.”

Ben Gurion University presenting honorary doctorate to Dr. Ruth

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Conexx America Israel Business Connector, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and National Council of Jewish Women, Southern Jewish Life and Israel InSight magazines, and the Israeli Consulates General in Atlanta, Miami and Houston are among the sponsors of “Celebrating the Remarkable,” a virtual event by the American Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

The online event, which will be on April 25 at noon, will mark the first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university bestowed upon Ruth Westheimer. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz and Rector Prof. Chaim Hames will present the doctorate.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ruth has maintained her commitment to the Jewish people and Israel.

A kindertransport child, she was sent to Switzer-

land at the age of 10; she lost her entire family in the Holocaust. At 17, she went to then-Palestine where she fought for independence as a sniper in the Haganah. She later moved to Paris where she studied psychology at the Sorbonne.

In 1956, she immigrated to the United States and received a master’s in sociology from the New School for Social Research as well as a doctorate in education from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College.

In 2020, Dr. Ruth became an honorary board member of AABGU. Actress Noa Tishby, founder of the nonprofit “Act for Israel,” Israel’s first online advocacy organization, will host.

General admission is free, but there are numerous sponsorship categories. More information is at aabgu.org/events/celebrating-the-remarkable.

Tulane’s Horowitz receives prestigious Bancroft Prize for book about Katrina Andy Horowitz, an assistant professor of history at Tulane University, has won a 2021 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy for his book “Katrina: A History, 1915-2015,” published last year by Harvard University Press.

Columbia University Libraries announced the award March 22, calling it an “extraordinary and revelatory work of scholarship.”

In writing his book, Horowitz, who studies the history of disasters, goes back to 1915 to show how a largely forgotten hurricane and its consequences are linked to Katrina. The book is divided into two parts, the first covering 1915 to the years just prior to Katrina and including chapters on the rise of Louisiana’s oil industry and Hurricane Betsy’s impacts in the Lower Ninth Ward.

The second part covers Katrina and the following decade and includes everything from the levee failures and “inept” rescue operation to calls for New Orleans to be abandoned and a series of racist attacks on African Americans.

It also traces the development and implementation of policies that reshaped the greater New Orleans area after the storm.

“Horowitz transforms our understanding of the catastrophic 2005 New Orleans flood and its aftermath,” the judges wrote. “The author decenters the devastating hurricane and flooding to provide a richly researched environmental, social, urban and economic and political history of New Orleans, and of federal policy over the sweep of a century.

“Horowitz provides a masterful and gripping reconstruction of an unnatural disaster,” the judges wrote. “The book is brilliant, and it is also timely; it is a story of New Orleans history that is also the story of the nation and its possible future.”

“This recognition gives me the opportunity — and the responsibility — to continue to try to draw attention to the injustices that have shaped New Orleans and the United States, and the danger those injustices continue to pose,” said Horowitz, the Paul and Debra Gibbons Professor in the School of Liberal Arts at Tulane.

“This is an enormous honor, which I accept with humility and on behalf of the many people who helped me learn this history and supported me as I wrote this book.”

community

Simchas a semi-annual special section

The Latest News… www.sjlmag.com

Family expertise drives Fisher and Sons Jewelers The Fisher family enjoys being a part of families’ special celebrations with Fisher and Sons Jewelry— a gem in Metairie for 442 years.

“We get to know our customers and they become our friends,” said Chloe Fisher Bares, who co-owns Fisher and Sons with her brother, Craig. “When it comes to an engagement ring, wedding ring and other jewelry for important life events, we know it’s a big decision. We’re with them every step of the way to make sure they get something that is just perfect.”

After 31 years in the jewelry industry, Thomas Fisher opened Fisher and Sons in 1977. He brought in his wife, Chloe Sr., and son Craig into the business, teaching him all the old techniques as he learned them when he started training in 1946.

Their daughter, Chloe Fisher Bares joined the business in 1982, followed by her husband, Barry, in 1995.

Craig’s son, Ryan, joined Fisher and Sons in 2011.

That year, Thomas and Chloe Fisher turned over the business to their children. Ryan’s wife, Hannah, starting working with the company a year ago. “We’re all about family here,” said Fisher Bares.

Ryan Fisher handles jewelry designs as well as appraisals. He works on many custom pieces for customers using CAD software and 3D printing.

His father, Craig Fisher, does the benchwork on the new custom jewelry and repair work, incorporating a laser-welder. Using the laser welder enables him to work on antiques that can’t be heated.

Chloe Fisher Bares goes to market a couple of times a year to pick out new and unusual pieces, keeping an eye out for the fine pieces like her father used to make..

“We also do a lot of custom work,” said Fisher Bares. “We love working with customers to come up with something so unique. Our slogan is ‘where the unique is commonplace’.”

She said that rose gold and white gold are popular options today.

Fisher and Sons has created pearl engagement rings and incorporated the fleur de lis in custom jewelry, cufflinks for weddings as well as other special celebrations. They also have done stackable, thin wedding band custom designs.

“We’re also doing more custom wedding rings for customers with colored stones in them,” said Fisher Bares.

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31

simchas Young Rembrandts Classes Now Forming!

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Sign up now for in-person classes as well as live & on-demand classes and workshops Robin Corradi, Program Director Young Rembrandts Southeast Louisiana Robin.corradi@youngrembrandts.com Register online: www.youngrembrandts.com/selouisiana

Does your special event need that extra New Orleans touch?

Established in 2008, Backyard Printing is a locally owned and operated full service screen printing shop and embroidery facility located in Mandeville.

Backyard Printing offers a wide range of services, designing and screen printing T-shirts, and also offering one-of-akind heat transfer T-shirts. Custom koozies, caps, aprons, towels, sweats, bags and many more items are available with custom messages, logos or graphics.

Ready to dance? Black umbrellas and white umbrellas are available for custom screen printing. And a specialty is custom Second Line printed handkerchiefs.

Items can be color matched to weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvah themes, team or corporate colors. And Backyard Printing takes pride in its inhouse production — they don’t send jobs off for others to complete.

Orders can be placed online, or in person at the Mandeville location on Surgi Drive.

B&A Warehouse seeing more event activity in 2021

By Lee J. Green The B&A Warehouse has seen a significant upswing in the number of events being hosted and scheduled at the event facility located across from Birmingham’s Railroad Park.

“We’re encouraged by what we are seeing,” said B&A Marketing Director Haley Roebuck. “Our calendar is filling up for 2021.”

She said the B&A has for many years put their focus into making sure every detail of an event is just as the hosts have dreamt up. “We put that same attention into safety and cleanliness,” said Roebuck.

The entire facility can accommodate 800 people, so socially-distanced events are easy to facilitate in the space. The B&A has also catered some outdoor events in Railroad Park and elsewhere.

“It’s an open canvas, so people can really personalize it to fit with their celebration,” she said, adding, “We’ve really enjoyed working with our friends in the Jewish community to help make sure they have the most memorable events.”

Roebuck said they are working out the details for the June Bat Mitzvah of Belle Casey, daughter of Matt and Emily Casey. The event was rescheduled from last August.

Pre-Covid events included the Bar Mitzvah reception for Reed Nelson on Jan. 25, 2020, and on Leap Day Feb. 29, they welcomed 200 people for the Katie Hausman-Josh Grace wedding and reception.

The Hausman-Grace wedding menu featured a combination of Southern and Italian fare, including a dual carving station, grits bar as well as pasta station. The wedding was held under the skylight.

Chef Deborah Thomas specializes in Southern cuisine, but Roebuck said they are happy to do customized menus including kosher-style and even family recipes. They also can accommodate those who keep strict kosher and need meals brought into the facility.

“That’s one reason why the ‘food stations’ are so popular,” said Roebuck. “You can select what you want and go kosher-style.”

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

simchas

Mon Ami outfits kids for simchas

By Lee J. Green When Bar and Bat Mitzvah boys and girls are on the bimah doing their best, Mountain Brook’s Mon Ami kids clothing stores wants to help them look their best.

The clothing store for boys and girls sizes four through 18 recently added to its extensive collection of formal clothing.

“We have clothes that make kids and their parents happy,” said Farren Michel, who opened Mon Ami with her daughter, Aja Michael Powanda, in February 2019. “There are even a couple of lines we carry from companies that also make formal wear for adults.”

Michel said Mon Ami carries Johnnie-O, Leo & Zachary as well as Southern Point formal wear for boys. Their most popular line of fancy dresses for girls is Un Deux Trois.

She said the store also sells accessories and gifts for celebrations, including Bluetooth speakers, purses and puzzles/puzzle mats.

Powanda said they appreciate the support of the community and are happy to reach out to accommodate customers. “We do local delivery and pick-up on approvals for those who want to try things on at home,” added Powanda. Customers can also order online from www.monamibham.com.

A Birmingham native, Powanda worked for several years as a buyer at a high-end children’s clothing store in New York City. She and her husband wanted to raise their children — 8-year-old Farren, 6-year-old Mavis — in Birmingham, so they moved to the Magic City four years ago. “It was always my goal to open my own children’s clothing store here,” she said.

A Special Issue 30 Years in the Making SJL’s Guide is more than a listing of organizations, institutions and congregations… it is a portal to the history of the Jewish communities of the Deep South, and a guide to the present. And it will be mailed to every known Jewish household in the region.

It will also celebrate 30 years of award-winning, independent Southern Jewish journalism.

Be Part of This Keepsake Edition Reserve Your Ad or Greeting Space Today Deadline: June 1

r $975 Full Page r $725 2/3 page r $550 1/2 page

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Send us your requested size and your ad copy (or what you want in the ad and we will design it for you).

Thank you for supporting

Southern Jewish Life!

Mail to: P.O. Box 130052 • Birmingham, AL 35213 Call (888) 613-YALL or email your request to editor@sjlmag.com April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

33

simchas

Overlook the 18th hole at English Turn Once reserved for the exclusive use of its members, the Clubhouse and grounds at the renowned English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans are now available for private events for guests from all over the country. One does not have to be a member of the club or resident of the community to host events there.

The centrally-located English Turn, which has been part of the community for 30 years, is nestled on the westbank area just a few miles from the CBD and French Quarter, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The facility is the perfect place for luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties, corporate events — and of course, all manner of simchas.

There are many spaces for business meetings. The 40,000 square foot clubhouse includes a large ballroom with floor to ceiling windows, a glass ceiling atrium, and an impressive main dining room overlooking the 18th hole. It can hold seated dinners of up to 350 people, and wedding receptions for 500. The outdoor venue overlooks two fountains and the 18th green.

In the last 28 years, English Turn has hosted over 1600 weddings, and is part of The Knot’s Hall of Fame for wedding venues.

Something New at

Southern Jewish Life

We have a couple of new developments at Southern Jewish Life.

Of course, we greatly appreciate all of our supporters who have contributed to strengthening the magazine during the very uncertain times we have been through this past year, a time that led to many of our colleagues closing altogether or ending their print versions.

Naturally, the effort is ongoing, so please consider being part of our support team. Information is on page 42.

Another development is that we are going to start carrying obituaries in the magazine. We live in a region where everyone knows each other — either by being related, having gone to college together, summer camp, youth group… Southern Jewish Life is a way to get the word out to those who may not have heard, or who aren’t seeing obituaries in another community’s newspaper.

We are working with the major funeral homes in our region that work with the Jewish community so the option of running an obituary in Southern Jewish Life is a seamless part of the process. An obituary with the basic informaton, a couple biographical highlights and the survivors will be $125. For those who have written longer obituaries, cost will be based on length, and we will provide information directly in those cases. Check out page 43 to see what they will look like.

The obituaries will also be online, on our website, sjlmag.com.

The next development is that we will finally be publishing the Guide to Southern Jewish Communities, a listing and history of Jewish sites, past and present, in every community in our coverage area that has or had a Jewish presence. It will be the perfect companion for when you are traveling the region and wonder what’s Jewish in the next town.

The Guide will also mark our 30th anniversary. We invite everyone to place their ads in this annual keepsake by the end of May. More information is on page 33.

We thank you for your continued support of award-winning, independent Jewish journalism, as we continue to tell the stories of our communities.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

food and dining

Does Your CELEBRATION Have That NEW ORLEANS Flavor?

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Historian Edna Friedberg, Steven Fenves and Alon Shaya

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Memory through food: Re-creating pre-war family recipes for a Holocaust survivor Alon Shaya often speaks of the transformative power of food and cooking, and its ability to transport someone across time and around the world.

A recent project for the James Beard Award-winning New Orleans chef takes that philosophy to a new dimension.

Shaya visited Yad Vashem while he was on a culinary tour in Israel a decade ago and saw recipes from the Holocaust that were scribbled on the back of receipts or scraps of paper. “I was so moved by that. I was wondering what food meant to people in that horrific time, and what role food played in peoples survival or mental state, how they survived physically and mentally.”

A friend urged him to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, to see what they might have in their archives, and “they had a plethora of recipes that were rescued from the war.” He couldn’t read them, though, as they were in Hungarian, Polish or Russian.

Among the items was a book of family recipes, donated by Holocaust survivor Steven Fenves. Shaya was astonished to learn that Fenves lived nearby and was a regular volunteer at the museum. It was “an opportunity to reach out to Steve and get first-hand knowledge of his memories,” and “if I was really lucky, be able to cook a few of these recipes and taste the food” and make the recipes available for others to use.

“As a chef… I want to cook food that has meaning and stories to it,” Shaya said. “I think that adds to what I love so much about food.”

Fenves was a native of Subotica, Yugoslavia, where his father had a publishing house and his mother was a graphic designer, living an “upper middle class” life. The area was occupied by Hungary in April 1941, and a Hungarian officer took over the publishing house, kicking out Fenves’ father. The family had to let their help go, both because of financial reasons and because Jews were no longer allowed to have servants, and Hungarian officers occupied over half of their apartment.

Fenves said they survived by selling off their possessions, including his A page from the cookbook prized stamp collection.

He suffered “neglect and humiliation” after being one of only nine Jews out of 45 to be allowed to attend school, then in March 1944, when Fenves was 12, the Germans came in. His father was immediately sent to Auschwitz, while the rest of the family was sent to a ghetto before going to Auschwitz. As they were being deported, Maris, their former cook, was in a crowd outside, “competing with the vandals” who rushed in to loot the newly-abandoned apartment.

Maris, who he remembers as “a big strong woman, commanding great

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

respect from everybody,” went to the kitchen and picked up the recipe book his mother had written in Hungarian. She then “went to my parents’ bedroom and picked up a diary from our early childhood, then went into the former studio and took out a big paper folder and stuffed in it everything she could reach — lithographs, etchings, schoolwork.” He does not recall her last name, because nobody ever used it.

Fenves was liberated from Buchenwald in June 1945. A few weeks after he returned to his hometown, his sister showed up, liberated from Bergen-Belsen. Their father returned on a Soviet military hospital train, “totally broken physically and emotionally,” and he died four months later.

They were surprised to learn about the items Maris had rescued. But two years later, when they decided to escape Yugoslavia, they returned the recipe book and artwork to Maris, who took care of it until she was able to ship it to his sister in Chicago in the early 1960s.

In the ghetto, Maris had “brought us food occasionally,” Fenves said. “After the war, she and her husband helped us find an apartment.”

In meeting with Fenves, Shaya got “a glimpse into his life before the war and what life was like around the kitchen table.”

Through conversations, he “learned all sorts of stories of him going to the market with Maris and his mother, loading up on the seasonal vegetables,” bringing everything home to pickle and preserve.

Fenves set out to translate 13 of the 140 recipes, using high-resolutions scans of the cookbook, because the original is very fragile. Shaya was determined to bring some of Fenves’ childhood dishes back to life, 75 years later.

After Fenves translated the recipes, the battle was not over. “A lot of them are just a list of ingredients,” Shaya said. “There aren’t many directions on technique or oven temperature.”

As Shaya experimented in New Orleans, he packed the creations in dry ice and sent them to Fenves for critiques and feedback, “and I’ve been making adjustments.”

Fenves remembered the potato circles, which he said was always made for guests, not for the kids.

A favorite was a turkey dish where the meat was ground and then placed back on the bone and baked. There were also semolina sticks, which Fenves told Shaya were supposed to resemble fish sticks. Shaya said it was essentially a cream of wheat, cooked down, chilled, cut up and lightly fried. “It’s one of our favorite snacks around the house now,” Shaya said.

Fenves said Shaya’s re-creations of the turkey and semolina sticks were “very authentic.”

Another recipe that was selected was a walnut cream cake, which is actually acceptable for Passover and is gluten-free. When Shaya saw the recipe, “I was really blown away. Five cups of walnuts?” But in his research, he found out that walnuts play a large role in Hungarian cooking, and he recalled his Bulgarian grandmother grinding walnuts through a meat grinder. Shaya explained that it allows the cake to rise and have a lighter texture. “It was a technique from the cookbook that really resonated with my grandmother’s cooking,” he said.

During a recent online conversation hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Fenves sampled Shaya’s version of the cake.

While some of the dishes Shaya has made “were exactly duplicated as I remember,” Fenves could not “isolate the memory” of the walnut cake.

Fenves thanked Shaya “for your interest and persistence in reviving these recipes and reviving these memories.”

Museum historian Edna Friedberg said the recipe books show how many aspects of life were lost in the Holocaust, and efforts like this shine a light on the vibrant Jewish life that existed before the war in Europe.

Even in the darkest times, Fenves said, food was an inspiration. At the youth barracks in Auschwitz, “you stayed there until you died of starvation,” he said. They would remember foods that they had eaten and would make up stories of the meals they would order after being liberated.

Shaya said “this entire experience has not only inspired me, but so many of the chefs I work with.” He plans to feature some of the dishes on the menu at Saba, his Israeli-style restaurant in New Orleans, “as a Fenves family recipe, and be able to tell the story to our guests.”

Shaya said this project has been “one of the most gratifying and impactful things I’ve done in my career.”

food and dining

Nancy Pesses with one of her more traditional Challah Creations

Colorful Challah Creations by Nancy now adorning Shabbat tables Nancy Pesses didn’t plan on getting into the challah business when she returned to New Orleans last summer, but popular demand keeps the kitchen humming each week.

Challah Creations By Nancy has been putting out challahs and other holiday-themed Jewish baked goods each week, developing a following locally and around the country for her colorful and uniquely-flavored braids.

Her flavored challahs have included chocolate chip, pumpkin spice, raisin, Oreo, rainbow sprinkle, rosemary garlic, tie-dye, Nutella, Reese’s stuffed, everything but the bagel seasoned, chocolate dough, M&M, spinach artichoke and feta, and smores. Plain challahs, and challah knots by the dozen, are also available.

She also introduces New Orleans into her selections, with bourbon pecan praline and King cake challahs.

Among the special shapes she has done are turkey-shaped challahs for Thanksgiving, menorahs for Chanukah, trees, advocacy ribbons and “Previvor” ribbon challah to a cinnamon-sugar baby bottle chal- represent those with the BRCA gene mutation, with pink lah for a gender reveal party.

There is a definite chocolate for breast cancer and teal for emphasis because “my family and ovarian cancer. friends are definitely chocolate fiends,” she said.

She rotates the flavors, coming out with a menu every Monday. Orders can be picked up each week in Metairie, or shipped nationwide. To ensure freshness, the national orders go out on Mondays.

A veterinarian, Nancy had wanted to come back home to New Orleans after several years of advanced training. She went to Grenada for veterinarian school, finishing her fourth year at Louisiana State University.

She did a rotating internship in Tampa, then at LSU, then at Auburn for

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food and dining

another year in oncology.

Before she went home, her mother, Gail, sent her a copy of a cookbook, “The Modern Jewish Baker” by Shannon Sarna. “At that time, everybody and their mother was also baking” because of quarantines, she said.

In July she returned to New Orleans as her mother was recovering from Covid. After three years of being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Nancy planned to relax for a month or two.

She wanted to start baking as a way to unwind, but there was a national shortage of instant yeast, and she could not find it anywhere. Gail, who had wanted to do some baking but hadn’t yet, said she had bought some one-pound bags of yeast before the pandemic but hadn’t used any.

Nancy was off and running. “I first went through babka, pita, bagels, all of those were in the book.” She then turned to challah, and while it wasn’t as involved as many of the other recipes, “it was the right fit.” She started looking at how others on Facebook and Instagram were doing creative shapes and flavors, and figured “I have ideas, I could totally do this.”

By September she was making more bread than they could eat, so she started giving it to family and friends. “People were telling me in August and September that I should sell this… I don’t know anything about business, I’m a vet,” she said.

She decided to offer challah for Rosh Hashanah, and it was “huge.”

She spent three 10-hour days filling all the orders, with apple and honey, Oreo, pesto and goat cheese flavors, along with traditional challah.

“Everyone said keep doing this,” Nancy said, “so I took my experience and ran with it.” She officially launched Challah Creations By Nancy in October.

Immediately, she knew that she wanted to “do something more than bake and sell, I wanted to give back,” so she started a program where a portion of sales goes to a non-profit organization that she felt does great things, with a different organization each month. “I love working with all the different organizations,” she said.

In November, she donated to Sharsheret, an organization her mother knew about that supports Jewish women with breast or ovarian cancer.

She would soon learn a lot more about that organization, as not long after, Nancy found out that she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, which more common in Jewish women and leads to a much higher risk of breast cancer. This month, she is donating to BRCAStrong, “because they have supported me” through the process of learning about the mutation, the possibility of risk-reducing surgery and how to navigate the diagnosis.

“Outside the Jewish community, or if you don’t have a family member who has it, you don’t know what it is,” Nancy said. She plans to use her challah baking as a platform to educate others about BRCA1, and tell her story.

She has found that baking challah “has become one of those cathartic, stress relieving, anxiety relieving activities.”

When Purim approached, there was a demand for hamantaschen. As Passover came, she did homemade macaroons and other Passover desserts including chocolate-covered “matzah crack” — and then the week during Passover was very quiet.

Though there is nothing blatantly non-kosher in her products, the challahs are not under rabbinic supervision.

While spending a lot of time baking, she hasn’t left the animal world behind. Two or three days a week, she does “mostly relief veterinary work,” while running the challah business on social media and through her website, challahcreations.com. “I’ve found a nice balance… I like using my science side and my knowledge in helping pet owners, and I also like making people happy and making good food.”

SJL Online: sjlmag.com 38

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Spring Dining Guide

L’Auberge Baton Rouge

777 L’Auberge Ave. Baton Rouge lbatonrouge.com

Southern Jewish Life

Gita Pita

2530 Canal St. Inside RedZone (504) 766-6519

Limitless flavors await at L’Auberge Baton Rouge. Choose from our four dining experiences to satisfy your cravings — Red Lotus, 18 Steak, Bon Temps Buffet, and Stadium Sports Bar and Grill.

Gita Pita offers fresh, delicious and authentic Mediterranean cuisine in a fast casual setting. The homemade Saj bread sets Gita Pita apart from the others! Take out or dine in our 40-seat space.

English Tea Room

Acropolis on Freret

734 E. Rutland Street Historic Downtown Covington (985) 898-3988

The Windsor High Tea, comprising sandwiches, mini-savories, mini desserts, two chocolate dipped strawberries, two scones with house-made clotted cream, lemon curd or preserves.

4510 Freret Street (504) 309-0069

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

39

Southern Jewish Life

The Bright Star

Spring Dining Guide

Birmingham

304 19th Street North, Bessemer (205) 426-1861

Homewood Classic Wine Co. 1831 28th Avenue So., Ste 110, (205) 871-9463

Founded in 1907 in downtown Bessemer, the Bright Star is Alabama’s oldest family owned restaurant and is a James Beard American Classic, known for Greek-style seafood and great steaks.

A wine retail shop and wine bar in the heart of Homewood, with wines from all over the world and at all price points. Wine tastings held every Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and come see the new outdoor patio.

Bistro V

Pies and Pints

521 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia (205) 823-1505

Located in Vestavia, Bistro V serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, with a menu that includes fresh seafood and local and organic meats and vegetables, much of it with a New Orleans nod.

125 20th Street So., Birmingham 7216 Eastchase Parkway, Montgomery

Enjoy an array of craft beers on tap (including many Alabama selections), specialty pies, delicious salads and more. Our signature pizzas are hand-stretched and baked directly on a stone hearth.

Classic Wine Company brings cheer to customers

By Lee J. Green A fine wine gets better with age, and that is also true of the Classic Wine Company in Homewood.

“We listen to our customers and want to do anything we can to reach out to them,” said Owner Josh Terrell. “Together we’ve done a good job at navigating this new normal.”

Tony Meyer opened the Homewood store in 1988, and its SoHo Square location is its third. After working for more than four years as a wine buyer for Hop City, Terrell purchased Classic Wine Company in 2017.

When the pandemic hit last March, they started out providing just curbside service before re-opening the store for full service in May. They started out doing virtual tastings before returning to weekly in-person tastings a few months ago. “This is one of the safest places to shop,” said Terrell. “We are still happy to do curbside and we recently opened our new outdoor patio area for some outdoor tastings.”

Classic Wine Company offers a good selection of kosher-for-Passover wines and a few made in Israel. Terrell said they have 800 separate wines 40

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

in the store but have access to more than 6,000 wines that they can usually get in within a few days.

He also said that 80 percent of the wines sold at Classic Wine Company are natural wines, where no pesticides were sprayed on the vineyards.

“We have wines from around the world at all price points,” he said.

“Wine is so diverse. Not only are there so many different styles and varying flavor profiles within those styles, but you have wines such as chardonnays that can be drier or sweeter, red or white.”

Their California chardonnays have usually been the store’s top sellers, but Terrell has noticed a trend toward the French and Spanish wines.

“In the spring, we usually see a rise in sales of the crisp white and rose’ wines,” he said. Terrell added that they have also gotten in several new wines recently from importer Mary Taylor.

“I’ve sampled and learned about every wine we carry. We are always researching new wines and listening to our customers,” he said. “If they tell us they had a special wine when visiting another city that they haven’t been able to find here, we want to give them the opportunity to get it here.”

community

The Perfect Place… >> Agenda

continued from page 8

Fund,” on April 28 at 11 a.m. She will speak about how well-regarded and successful individuals so often slide into criminal behavior. The Zoom event is sponsored by the New Orleans Jewish Community Center and is open to all.

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life’s next Virtual Vacation will be held on April 20 at 11 a.m., with a virtual trip through the small Jewish communities of the Mississippi Delta. The programs, which are open to the community, are streamed on the ISJL Facebook page, and are also available later on the Virtual Vacation website.

Moishe House in New Orleans will celebrate Israel Independence Day with an Israeli food festival, featuring snacks and Israeli music, with Israeli dance performed by Serena. The backyard celebration will be April 18 from noon to 2 p.m., with reservations required.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Adath Yeshurun in Aiken, S.C., a second virtual history event will be held on April 18 at 4 p.m.

Central. The focus will be on the Aiken Jewish community from 1950 forward. The centennial celebration weekend will be held in March 2022. More details are available at asourceoflight.org.

Beth Israel in Metairie will have a Lag B’Omer program and picnic on April 29 at 7 p.m.

Beth Shalom in Baton Rouge will hold an Israeli-themed community Havdalah on the front lawn, April 17 at 6 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will have an outdoor, socially-distanced Lag B’Omer Shabbat Tailgate Service on April 30 at 6 p.m., followed by a bring-your-own dinner. The service will also be available over Zoom.

to say I do.

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Ben Gurion University presenting honorary doctorate to Dr. Ruth Conexx America Israel Business Connector, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and National Council of Jewish Women, Southern Jewish Life and Israel InSight magazines, and the Israeli Consulates General in Atlanta, Miami and Houston are among the sponsors of “Celebrating the Remarkable,” a virtual event by the American Associates of Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

The online event, which will be on April 25 at noon, will mark the first honorary doctorate from an Israeli university bestowed upon Ruth Westheimer. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz and Rector Prof. Chaim Hames will present the doctorate.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ruth has maintained her commitment to the Jewish people and Israel. A kindertransport child, she was sent to Switzerland at the age of 10; she lost her entire family in the Holocaust.

At 17, she went to then-Palestine where she fought for independence as a sniper in the Haganah. She later moved to Paris where she studied psychology at the Sorbonne.

In 1956, she immigrated to the United States and received a master’s in sociology from the New School for Social Research as well as a doctorate in education from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College.

In 2020, Dr. Ruth became an honorary board member of AABGU. Actress Noa Tishby, founder of the nonprofit “Act for Israel,” Israel’s first online advocacy organization, will host.

General admission is free, but there are numerous sponsorship categories. More information is at aabgu.org/events/celebrating-the-remarkable.

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

41

Celebrating 30 Years of Covering and Connecting Our Communities

Well-informed communities are stronger communities Help Strengthen Our Southern Jewish Communities — By Supporting Independent, Award-Winning Original Jewish Journalism!

By Gail Schuster, LICSW

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Decluttering is big business. Marie Kondo, the maven of “tidying up,” built a media empire out of it, and in every community, professional organizers make their livings, in part, by helping people purge unused belongings.

And no wonder. Most of us have a lovehate relationship with all our stuff. We collect it, we display it, we grow attached to it and we grow overwhelmed by it. When it’s time to move into a smaller space, or just clear out some space in our current home, we may grow paralyzed. We find it hard to part with “our things,” even things we don’t use, need or even like.

Perhaps we associate these objects with joyful times or treasured relationships. We may subconsciously feel that our “stuff ” represents what we’ve achieved in life. But most of us also know that if we can declutter our physical space, we’ll experience a different sense of achievement.

When we “tidy up,” we enter a new phase of life — not unlike what happens when we finally get in shape after a long period of inactivity. Letting go of clutter can make us feel light and free.

So, how to begin?

You don’t necessarily need to read a book, watch a TV series or hire a professional to declutter. Following a few common-sense guidelines can get you started.

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a monthly feature from Collat Jewish Family Services

I Want to “Tidy Up” — But How?

Southern Jewish Life tells our story, keeping our communities connected and informed!

City

counselor’s corner

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

Work small

As with any worthwhile endeavor, we must be prepared for some hard work. Start simple, with small goals and actions. Perhaps select one room or one section of a room. Once you see the change in a small space, it will be easier for you to continue.

Be neat

Make clear decisions about what stays and what goes, perhaps labeling several bags or boxes “To Donate,” to avoid confusion. Avoid amorphous piles. Keeping things clean and organized as you go will help keep you on track.

Dealing with feelings

Perhaps there is an item that you don’t really use, need or even like, but which you still want to keep because of a sentimental association. Or perhaps you feel this way about dozens of… or hundreds of items in your home. If one or two unneeded objects are too special to part with, then keep them — but commit to limit the number of such objects that you will keep. For other items that you want to remember, consider taking a photo. You can create a digital memory file, on a smartphone, tablet or computer, to enjoy whenever you wish. This goes for photo albums as well. Scanning photos and saving them on a hard drive takes up a lot less space than the bulky albums themselves.

The benefits of decluttering are numerous. Having less stuff around means less maintenance and cleaning, more time to do things you want to do. Your home may become safer, with fewer obstacles and trip hazards. Meanwhile, you’ll gain a visual environment that is calmer and more aesthetically pleasing — and what could be better than that?

Counseling can help you motivate yourself to meet your goals and learn new strategies for avoiding procrastination. To learn more, contact Clinical Director Marcy Morgenbesser, LICSW, marcy@cjfsbham.org or (205) 8793438.

remembrances Edward Gothard passed away, unexpectedly, on Feb. 21 at 60 years old. In his early legal career, he worked with a defense firm in New Orleans, where he met the love of his life, Blayne Rogers.

He eventually formed his own firm, and in 1997 merged his practice to form Nowalsky & Gothard, where he won numerous awards and recognitions. He served twice as president of Beth Israel and was instrumental in the post-Katrina rebuilding. He was also president of the New Orleans Jewish Day School. He was the son of Judge Sol and Jackie Gothard, and the second oldest of five siblings - Sander, Shayna, Andy and Yaacov. Words cannot even begin to describe how devoted he was to Blayne, his beloved bride of 27 years. They will forever serve as the example of a happy, beautiful marriage. Their legacy of love are 3 children – Aimee and spouse Arielle, Taylor and spouse Georgia, and Ben and significant other Bridget. Eddie was “Pee Paw” to his three grandchildren — Jayden, August and Magnolia and the favorite Uncle Paco to his adoring nieces and nephews. Services were held on Feb. 23 at Gates of Prayer. Memorials to the Eddie Gothard Memorial Fund at Beth Israel, or a charity of choice. Lake Lawn Metairie was in charge of arrangements.

Dr. Harry Charles Gross, DPM, died March 1 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Alexandria, La. Born in Philadelphia in 1953, he began his career in June of 1985 at The Pinecrest Development Center in Pineville. He also was able to maintain a private practice, in which he loved what he did for a career. Later he became a Podiatric Consultant for Central State Hospital in Pineville. In 2006, he created the Hilda and K. Kennard Gross Endowed Special Needs Scholarship Fund at Jewish Children’s Regional Ser-

vice, in honor of his parents, and to enhance the ability of JCRS to assist Jewish children and youth with special needs. Dr. Gross is survived by his wife, Mrs. Nancy Jo Eldridge Gross and his two stepchildren; Alan Wallace Stokes, Jr. and wife Angela, and Michael Eldridge Stokes and wife DeAnna; his brothers, Louis Joseph Gross and wife Marilyn, Martin Robert Gross and wife Kendra. His sister; Hannah Mae Gross. Step grandchildren; Briana Hailey Stokes, Zachary Elam Stokes, Hailey Elizabeth Stokes, and Ava Dawn Stokes. Nieces; Heather Gross Hanselman and husband Mark, Sarah Gross, Emily Gross. Great Nephew; Jack Hanselman. His cousins; Heida Marcus Moran and husband Peter, Robert Marcus and Mindy Sklarow and husband Mark. His goddaughter; Laura Elizabeth White and husband Jeffrey and their daughter, Clara. Graveside services were held March 2 at the B’nai Israel Cemetery in Pineville, Rabbi Yossie Nemes with the Chabad Jewish Center of Metairie officiating.

Memorials can be made to JCRS. Lee Unger Lichter, 69, of Birmingham, passed away on March 1. Lee was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, community member, volunteer, and former social worker. She began dating her high school sweetheart Steve Lichter in 10th grade and they were married for more than 48 years. Lee is pre-deceased by parents Robert and Dorothy Unger. Lee is survived by husband Steve Lichter; daughter, Jill Lichter Bomchel (husband Todd), Atlanta, Ga.; son Evan Lichter (wife Annette); grandsons, Max and Jacob Lichter; sister, Carolyn Unger of Atlanta, Ga.; brother, Charles Unger (wife Julie), Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.; brother in-law Murray Lichter; sister in-law, Sheri Lichter Schwartz (husband Mark), Atlanta, Ga.; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Service was held graveside on March 4, at Elmwood Cemetery in the presence of immediate family and attended virtually by many more. There will be no Shiva at this time but a possible memorial service at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lee’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to Temple Emanu-El Grafman En-

To Have Your Remembrance Included Here: Southern Jewish Life is now posting obituaries on its website, sjlmag.com, and offering them in print.

To have a basic remembrance in the print magazine, with the specifics, photo, a couple main biographical points and survivors, similar to the ones on this page (roughly 180220 words), the cost is $125. Longer remembrances are available, and are charged by length, contact editor@sjlmag.com or call our office for more information. Our toll-free number is (888) 613-YALL (9255).

dowment Fund.

Marshall Byron Oreck, 92, died on Feb. 26 in New Orleans. He served in the Coast Guard during the Korean War, becoming the official photographer for diplomats. In 1964 he and brother David started the Oreck Corporation, building the vacuum company into a national brand. He is survived by his wife Julie, his brother David Oreck (Jan), his children, James Oreck, Michael Oreck (Sue), Alden Oreck (Tiffany), Zoë Oreck (Hayter) and Sophie Oreck. His grandkids, Stephanie (Matt) Weiss, Allison (Phillip) Shatzman, and Millicent Oreck and his great grandson Blake Weiss. He is also survived by his beloved nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces. He was the son of the late Sheba and Abe Oreck, brother of the late Robert Oreck and uncle of the late Steven Oreck. A graveside service for immediate family only was held at Metairie Cemetery on Feb. 28, with Rabbi Katie Baumann and Rabbi David Goldstein officiating. Memorial to Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans or The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana preferred.

Max Steinmetz of Birmingham, 96 years young, and devoted husband, father of three, and grandfather of six, passed away peacefully on March 4, after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. Max Steinmetz was born in Romania on January 20, 1925. At the age of 17, Max and his family were taken into captivity by the Nazis and taken to the Nazi Concentration Camp Auschwitz, where his parents, Ilona and Louis Markowitz, and his sister, Esther, were immediately put to death in a gas chamber. His brother, Henry, died while imprisoned with Max at the Nazi Concentration Camp Dachau.

Max survived the Holocaust by escaping during a Death March out of Dachau and obtained a Visa to move to the U.S. in 1948.

Max is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his children, Stephen (Stephanie) Steinmetz, Lisa (Scott) Morchower, and Caren (Donnie) Fox; six grandchildren, Charlie and Jack Steinmetz, Erica and Elana Morchower, and Hannah and Rachel Fox, several nieces, grand-nieces, a grand-nephew, and many friends. Services were held on March 7 at Elmwood Cemetery. continued on page 45 April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

JFS, Lake Lawn partner for Five Wishes seminar When is the best time to discuss one’s preference for health care, comfort and funeral choices? The worst time is when an immediate decision is needed.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans and Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home are hosting “Five Wishes: Care and Comfort Planning,” a virtual discussion about care and comfort choices. Staff from JFS and Lake Lawn will speak about ways to ensure that one’s needs and preferences are met, and will take questions during the free virtual event.

The program will be on April 29 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. Participants can follow along in a Five Wishes booklet for documenting their plan.

The booklet is available upon registration at jfsneworleans.org, and registration by April 22 is encouraged to ensure that the booklet arrives in time.

In January 2020, JFS and Lake Lawn partnered on “The Conversation,” about pre-planning end-of-life needs.

Daley named to WRJ board Jennifer Daley was elected as a member of the North American Board of Women of Reform Judaism at their Legislative Body Meeting on March 18. Along with several new board members from around North America, Daley will serve on the WRJ North American board for a term of three years.

She will serve as the organization’s Marketing and Communications Chair, during her term.

Daley stated, “Women of Reform Judaism created a nurturing environment where I developed leadership skills, explored my potential, while engaging in the work of tikkun olam, repairing the world.”

Daley is the immediate past president of WRJ Southwest District. She is an active member and past president of Gates of Prayer Sisterhood in Metairie, since moving to New Orleans in 2014.

For WRJ Southwest District, Daley served as an area director, senior area director, first vice president and president. Daley also serves as the current programming chair for the Public Relations Society of America, New Orleans chapter.

Professionally, Daley is the director of Grants, Marketing and Communications for the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana. She and her husband Ken have two children, Eileen and Jacob.

community >> Rear Pew

continued from page 46

hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the tenth day of the Omer, the vacuum gave to me… matzah crumbs a’cleaning, failed online romancing, bread with more leavening, seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the eleventh day of Omer, the children gave to me… catch-up homework griping, failed online romancing, bread with more leavening, seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the twelfth day of the Omer, the quiet gave to me… latent Pesach humming, catch-up homework griping, failed online romancing, bread with more leavening, seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

And that’s where the fragment ends. No doubt, the rest will be found after further excavation. After all, as Rabbi Yosei the Galilean explained, if the 12 days of the Omer are the finger of the Big G, all the fingers from the whole hand of the Big G makes the days of the Omer fourfold. Plus one more day, for the almighty thumb.

Doug Brook believes the daily counting of the Omer should be done by Count von Count, brought to you by the letter Ayin. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, follow facebook. com/rearpewmirror

>> Remembrances

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continued from page 43

The family asks that any donations be made in Max’s honor to either the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center or to Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham.

Scott Whitehead, 61, of Nashville, passed away suddenly on March 12. Scott served eight years in the US Navy flying the F/A-18 Hornet including missions over Iraq. He is a graduate of the Naval Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun.) After his time in the military, Scott moved to Nashville to work creatively in the music business. Scott currently served as business manager for the Nashville based GrassRoots Promotion and their other venture, FanTheJam.com. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Rabbi Nancy Tunick of B’nai Israel in Florence, along with their teenage daughter and son, Sarah and Louis Whitehead (Nashville) and his adult son, Paul Whitehead (Michaela) and his grandchildren, Miriam, Isaac and Jonathan Whitehead (Huntsville) Scott is also survived by his parents, Fran and Don Whitehead (Wellsville, Mo.), his sister, Catherine Grow (Versailles, Ohio), his brother, Don Whitehead (Amy) (Dickson, Tenn.) and many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. No immediate funeral services are planned, but the family hopes to host a gathering to share memories of his remarkable life in the summer or fall when it is Covidsafe.

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April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

On the second night of Passover, nearly several Jews around the world began counting the Omer. The Omer is the period of 49 days beginning with the Exodus out of Egypt and culminating in the Torah being given at Mount Sinai, as commemorated on the holiday of Shavuot and recounted in Omer’s “The Odyssey.”

The idea of a weeks-long observance between two linked religious events was later lent to Christianity, earlier in the year and with a better marketing campaign.

The Omer gradually became a period of mourning for reasons lost to sleeping in history class, but presumably after eight days of matzah nobody felt like celebrating for a while. Haircuts typically don’t happen and, as a result, neither do weddings, at least until the 33rd day (Lag B’Omer) which commemorates the end of a plague which killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva’s students, once the remaining few were fully vaccinated. On this day, people picnic and throw a lag on the campfire to celebrate the restart of parties, music, and hope for the Mets by starting to think about next season.

Earlier this year, it was announced that more Dead Sea Scroll fragments were newly discovered. It was not announced that one of the parchment parts contained a Passover song, specifically about the Omer, that hasn’t been seen in a Haggadah for as long as anyone, dead or alive, can remember.

Its melody was similarly lent out to a better known, better marketed musical musing, but its words are both heretofore unknown and eerily familiar.

On the first night of the Omer, the seder gave to me… a retelling of our liberty.

On the second day of Omer, leftovers gave to me… two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the third day of the Omer, my fam’ly gave to me… three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the fourth day of the Omer, my TV gave to me… endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the fifth day of the Omer, my grandma gave to me… five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the sixth day of the Omer, my temple gave to me… six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the seventh day of Omer, my stomach gave to me… seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the eighth day of the Omer, the kitchen gave to me… bread with more leavening, seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother hens, two gefiltes, and a retelling of our liberty.

On the ninth day of the Omer, the JDate gave to me… failed online romancing, bread with more leavening, seven rounds of grumbling, six hours of praying, five cellphone rings, endless pizza ads, three mother

Good thing they found only a fragment…

continued on previous page

April 2021 • Southern Jewish Life

47

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