Southern Jewish Life, New Orleans, October 2019

Southern Jewish Life NEW ORLEANS EDITION

INSIDE:

MEGA CHALLAH BAKES FALL FOOD AND DINING FALL CELEBRATIONS October 2019

Volume 29 Issue 10

Southern Jewish Life 3747 West Esplanade Ave., 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 At the Baton Rouge Pink Mega Challah Bake. Story, page 20.

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

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

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

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

I had just returned from the 20th World Maccabiah games in Israel with a U.S. delegation of over 1100, who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries. Back in July the eyes of the entire Jewish world were on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. This past month with 1000 athletes and coaches from around the world being in Birmingham, you became the focal point.

Everyone from theturnout, Jewish community and the community at large, including a wonderful With a tremendous Jewish police force, are to be commended.

These Children’s Regional Service was able to games will go down in history as being a seminal moment Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish package for 225the Chanukah gift packages memories. for children in need throughout the agency’s seven-state region. The Oscar Jed Margolis J. Tolmas Chanukah Gift Program Executive Director, Maccabi USA wrapping event was held on Sept. 22 at the Goldring/Woldenberg Jewish supremacists would like to see pushed back Community Campus in Metairie, and On Charlottesville into a corner and made to feel lesser. We stand the turnout meant that the work was with and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, Editor’s Note: the ThisSaints reaction to the events in done before game kicked who was there standing up to the face of this Charlottesville, written by Jeremy Newman, off. hate.

Master of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Theta Colony We recognize the essence of the American atNED AuburnMARSHALL University, was sharedDESIGN

by AEPi narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid National, which called it “very eloquent” and ourselves of such corners, and allow those in praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at them the seat at the table that they so deserve.

Auburn University and… the leadership they It is the struggle to fulfill the promise of the display on their campus.”

Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal… endowed by their Creator with White supremacy has been a cancer on certain unalienable rights.” We know our work our country since its beginning, threatening is far from finished, but we know we will not its hopes, its values, and its better angels. move backwards.

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

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

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

Jewish community of Charlottesville, and

Interiors with the Jewish people around the country and around the world. We also stand with the Website Cell www.nedmarshallinteriors.com minorities who are targeted by the646.509.7889 hate that was on display in Charlottesville. We stand Email pastichellc@bellsouth.net with the minorities of whom these Nationwide white Based in New Orleans, Designing 4

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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

October April 20192019

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

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Documenting this community, a community we are members of and active within, is our passion.

We love what we do, and who we do it for.

shalom y’all One of our sister publications recently had a piece with the attention-grabbing headline “Don’t go to shul this Yom Kippur.” Quite a statement, given that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur have long been seen as the absolute “gotta show up” times on the Hebrew calendar.

The columnist, an Orthodox rebbitzin, basically said if someone is going to show up once or twice a year, it should be at a joyous occasion, such as Simchat Torah or Purim, not for a day where “guilt and fear” are the predominant emotions of the day. To make those emotions the main ones for a person’s relationship with God obscures “a loving God who’s your biggest cheerleader and who wants you to succeed.”

Come experience the parts of Judaism that make people happy, rather than guilty, add more such experiences, make it a bigger part of your life, and then incorporate the High Holy Days as part of a balanced cycle of the year, rather than as the year’s main focus.

It seems, looking at our sjlmag.com list of Sukkot activities in the region, that there is a much wider range of activities than in decades past, and more of these holidays — Sukkot, Purim, Chanukah — have been wrestled away from being the exclusive province of the religious school and transformed into adult celebrations.

Even the oft-neglected Shavuot is seeing more innovative programming.

We’ve said for years that while we focus a lot on antisemitism and what is wrong with the world, Judaism is supposed to be about the joys, not just the oys. Let’s keep that in the forefront for 5780.

Besides, with the divisive 2020 elections on the horizon, we’re going to need as many joys as we can get.

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in the center of this issue of Southern Jewish Life

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SJL Online: sjlmag.com

Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events

This summer, Gail Fenton Pesses hosted a surprise brunch honoring Barbara Kaplinsky for her two years as president of the New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women, with members of the two years’ boards in attendance. Kaplinsky was lured to Pesses’ home under the pretext of asking for marketing advice. Pictured here are (back row) June Leopold, Sarah Covert, Kathy Shepard, Susan Hess, Carol Newman, Dana Shepard, Gail Pesses, Barbara Kaplinsky, Ina Davis and Gail Chalew. In the front row: Tricia Kirschman, Susan Kierr and Barbara Greenberg.

Evening in the Garden touts Federation’s new programs, upcoming community study The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana had an Evening in the Garden at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters in City Park, where new ideas and initiatives were planted, along with recognizing the growth of recent additions to the community.

The combined campaign celebration and annual meeting began on a somber note, with the recognition that three past Federation presidents had died in recent months — Joan Berenson, Allan Bissinger and Lou Rippner.

Over the past year, Bobby Garon became head of JEF, following the retirement of Saundra Levy. Larry Lehmann, JEF president, said “the transition has been wonderful.”

Lehmann said there had been $110,000 in unrestricted funds grants from JEF in 2018, and $120,000 to date in 2019. “This is really important,” he said.

Allocations from Donor Advised Funds were $3.6 million to over 500 Jewish and non-Jewish agencies, and there are $28 million in Leave a Jewish Legacy promised gifts.

“We may not be a large Jewish community, but we provide a generous amount of philanthropy,” Lehmann noted.

He also called the death of Bissinger “a heartbreaking loss to our community,” and said he was vice president of JEF when he died. He “truly lived by the tenet of Tikkun Olam and his life stands as an example for all to follow.”

The Roger Bissinger Award was presented by Nancy Bissinger Timm to Richard Cahn. She thanked the community for their support following her brother’s death.

“There was a theme in the condolences we received,” she said, in that they sounded very similar to the condolences when their father, Roger, died. “A quiet leader, led by taking action, a man of not many words but when voicing his opinion, people listen.

“I believe Richard Cahn exemplifies the traits just described,” she said, detailing the many organizations Cahn has led.

Cahn said Roger Bissinger had installed a phone system at Dixie Mill

in the early 1980s, and called him not long after. “I was naïve enough to think the lunch was going to be about the new phone system,” but it was about the JCC renovation campaign. Photos on Though he hadn’t been there in years, he reluctantly Page 30 joined at Bissinger’s insistence. Soon, Cahn was active in JCC leadership, as well as playing basketball.

“I owe this honor to Roger, who was a catalyst for all my subsequent Jewish community work.”

Vincent Giardina, co-trustee of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, presented the inaugural Oscar J. Tolmas L’dor V’dor Award to Hal continued on page 57

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin returned to New Orleans to present “Five Teachings that Can Change Your Life Today: Practical Insights from the Rebbe’s Leadership,” Sept. 12 at the Chabad Jewish Center in Metairie.

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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Hadassah New Orleans will host a Family Fun Day at The Fly in Audubon Park on Oct. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event will include games and a tzedakah project for young families. Light refreshments will be provided, but families are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will host its Jewish Food Festival, Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Orders can be purchased to take out or dine in. Menu items include matzah ball soup, stuffed cabbage, blintzes, challahs, reuben sandwiches, brisket, noodle kugel and tune sandwiches. There will also be a large bake sale, and the gift shop will be open, with new items for Chanukah.

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Limmud New Orleans will have a preview event, “Ego and Leadership: A Crash Course in the Prophets,” on Nov. 7, 14 and 21 at 7 p.m., location to be announced. The mini-course, presented in cooperation with The Greater New Orleans Clergy Association and 929 North America, offers an innovative and interactive look at Kings Saul, David and Solomon. LimmudFest New Orleans is scheduled for March 20 to 22 at Gates of Prayer and the Uptown Jewish Community Center.

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Gates of Prayer in Metairie will have a Munchkin Minyan in the Pumpkin Patch for young families, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m.

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B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge is hosting “Lectures with Modern Scholars,” a monthly podcast series. On Oct. 23 at 7 p.m., Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi will lead “How to Critique and Rebuke,” and on Nov. 13, “Advocacy and Activism” will be led by Rabbi Jonah Pesner.

“The Green Book” will be screened at the Flossie Strug Kerner Memorial Luncheon at the Uptown Jewish Community Center in New Orleans on Oct. 31 at noon. Reservations are requested by Oct. 28, and movie snacks will be served. There is no charge for members and non-members.

New Orleans PJ Library families are invited to a PJ in the Garden Fall planting celebration, gathering in the Faubourg St. John Neighborhod Garden at North Dupre Street on Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. There will be planting, stories and singing, and families are encouraged to bring old PJ Library books for the Book Swap Box. All ages are welcome, the program is geared for ages 3 to 10. Space is limited and registration is required.

The New Orleans Moishe House will have a Voodoo Shabrunch, a bagel and lox brunch for those heading off to a day of music at Voodoo. The event will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 26.

On Sept. 23 at the Uptown JCC, NBA insiders Gabe Feldman, director of the Tulane Sports Law Program; NBA columnist Scott Kushner and Shane Kupperman, director of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, discussed “The Game Behind The Game” in the National Basketball Association. Arnie Fielkow, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and former president of the National Basketball Retired Players Association, served as moderator.

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Meridian’s Beth Israel to hold 150th anniversary service Though few in number now, the Jewish community of Meridian had a huge effect on Meridian as a whole, and Meridian has notable chapters in American Jewish history.

Congregation Beth Israel will celebrate this legacy with a 150th anniversary service on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., and a cocktail oneg following.

Before the Civil War, Meridian was a small outpost in the shadow of nearby Marion. But after the war, the railroad came to Meridian, establishing it as the hub of commerce for eastern Mississippi. The few Jewish families who had been in Marion as early as 1837 moved down the river, and were joined by many more, becoming an integral part of Meridian’s civic life.

In 1868, Beth Israel was established, and land for a cemetery was purchased. The congregation met in several temporary locations, growing from its original 10 families. In 1873, Rabbi David Burgheim became the congregation’s first rabbi.

With 50 members in 1878, the congregation built its first building, on 22nd Avenue. It was the first building in the city with gas lighting. In 1906, with over 80 members, a larger building was constructed at 11th Street and 24th Avenue. It had a fire during its first year, leading the congregation to meet temporarily at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

While Beth Israel was Reform from its beginning, as the Jewish community grew, some new immigrants wanted a more traditional alternative and established Ohel Jacob, an Orthodox congregation, in 1895. Unlike in many communities, the two congregations worked together, with Ohel

SJL File

Beth Israel in Meridian

Jacob ultimately disbanding in 1990 as their numbers dwindled.

Rabbi Judah Wechsler, who served Beth Israel in the 1880s, campaigned for African American education, and led a movement to construct the first brick public school building for African American students. The school was named for him and the building still stands.

In the late 1920s, the community peaked at 575, one of the largest Jewish communities in the state.

After serving in Natchez, Rabbi William Ackerman served as Beth Israel’s rabbi from 1926 until his death in 1950. The congregation offered his widow, Paula, the position of spiritual leader. Though she never took the title of rabbi, she was regarded as the first female spiritual leader of a Jewish community, though many news reports called her “America’s first lady rabbi.” She served until 1953.

Still many years before women were ordained as rabbis, she would assume that role again in her hometown of Pensacola in 1962, when Temple Beth El was between rabbis.

In 1964, Beth Israel decided to move to the suburbs, dedicating a new,

Consistency

for more than a century

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community smaller building. A Holocaust memorial was commissioned by three Christians and designed by a local Jewish artist.

In the 1960s, Meridian became a focus of the civil rights movement, as that is where civil rights workers Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman were based. They were killed in Neshoba County in 1964, along with Meridian native James Chaney.

Many in Meridian’s Jewish community worked to change the system of segregation. After the civil rights battles, a Klan group targeted Mississippi’s Jewish community, starting with Beth Israel in Jackson and the home of their rabbi, Perry Nussbum. Then, Beth Israel in Meridian was bombed. With funds from the Jackson and Meridian Jewish communities, the Federal Bureau of Investigation paid Klan informants, leading to a shootout when the Klan tried to bomb the home of Meyer Davidson in Meridian in 1968. One bomber, a female Kindergarten teacher, was killed, while the other, Tommy Tarrants, survived, had a jailhouse conversion and later became pastor of an interracial church.

In the 1970s, Al Rosenbaum was the two-term mayor of Meridian.

Today, many Jewish landmarks are still around, or have been repurposed. After being vacant for many years, the landmark Threefoot building is being renovated into a Courtyard by Marriott. The Marks Rothenberg Opera House has been restored and is a civic venue.

Highland Park was given to the city in 1906, and a plaque honoring the 10 donors shows that six were Jewish — I. Marks, H.M. and K. Threefoot, W. Rosenbaum, Levi Marks and Sam Rothenberg. A statue in the middle of the park honors I. Marks, who was president of the Park Commission.

Today, Beth Israel counts 28 members and has monthly services.

Ta-Nehisi Coates to speak at Temple Sinai in New Orleans Octavia Books will present An Evening with Ta-Nehisi Coates, in conversation with two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Temple Sinai in New Orleans. Each $30 general ticket admits one, and includes a copy of his debut novel, “The Water Dancer.”

Deluxe tickets, which are $47, also include Ward’s newest novel, “Sing, Unburied, Sing.”

Coates is the author of “The Beautiful Struggle,” “We Were Eight Years in Power” and “Between the World and Me,” which won the National Book Award in 2015. He is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship.

Ta-Nehisi lives in New York City with his wife and son.

Ward received her MFA from the University of Michigan and has received the MacArthur Genius Grant, a Stegner Fellowship, a John and Renee Grisham Writers Residency and the Strauss Living Prize. She is the winner of two National Book Awards for Fiction for “Sing, Unburied, Sing” and “Salvage the Bones.” She is also the author of the novel “Where the Line Bleeds” and the memoir “Men We Reaped,” which was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize and the Media for a Just Society Award. She is currently an associate professor of creative writing at Tulane University and lives in Mississippi.

Coates’ new book is an original vision of the world of slavery, and the American struggle to tell the truth.

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community

Photo courtesy JS Chamber of Commerce

Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives visited Hebron with Palestinian businessman Ashraf Jabari and Avi Zimmerman, founders of the Judea and Samaria Chamber of Commerce.

Restoring Lives in a Home Environment We treat more than the addiction.

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Pursuing a Grassroots Peace Reps. Byrne, Roe part of USIEA delegation visiting the territories to see economic cooperation In late August, four Congressional Representatives went to Israel to visit the territories and work to bring Israelis and Palestinians together through commerce.

Among the four were Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne and Tennessee Rep. Phil Roe, participating on a trip organized by the Birmingham-based US Israel Education Association, and coordinated with the Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce.

Their visit came a week after U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib made headlines after being denied entry to Israel. They had organized an “alternative” trip to Israel instead of going on an American Israel Public Affairs Committee visit in August with 72 of their Congressional colleagues, but Israel decided to deny the pair entry after their itinerary showed they were visiting exclusively with Palestinian groups and organizations hostile to Israel, and had not included any meetings with Israeli officials.

The USIEA delegation saw a completely different side of the conflict, spending two days in the heart of the territories and seeing cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians as they try to bypass the nonexistent peace process and create their own agreements.

The USIEA was founded by Heather Johnston of Birmingham, after working for several years with the city of Ariel, regarded as the capital of Samaria, to develop a national leadership center in Ariel.

The Congressional delegation was led by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, who serves as a Congressional representative to the United Nations General Assembly. She has been on USIEA trips before “and I am grateful for them leading these trips, especially behind the ‘Green Line’ into Judea and Samaria and taking members of Congress, both from the House and the Senate, Republicans and Democrats, to be able to see it for themselves.”

Typically, Congressional trips do not spend time in the territories, unless they are making a quick visit to Ramallah to visit Palestinian Authority officials, or perhaps seeing the religious sites in Bethlehem.

Roe said when he went to Israel with AIPAC a decade ago, his group met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.

When U.S. Ambassador David Friedman spoke at a forum organized in Ariel by USIEA and the Chamber in October 2018, it was the first official visit to the territories by a sitting U.S. ambassador.

The Judea Samaria Chamber of Commerce was founded in October

Legacy Heritage wishes a happy and healthy new year to all of our partners and fellows in your community

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ACCELERATE

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community

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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2017 and is led by Avi Zimmerman of Ariel and Sheik Ashraf Jabari, leader of a major Palestinian clan in Hebron. A grassroots effort to bring peace and prosperity to the territories, currently the chamber has 250 Israeli businessmen and 250 Palestinian businessmen.

In February, several months before the Bahrain business summit, the chamber held an unprecedented Palestinian-Israeli economic forum in Jerusalem, with Friedman as the keynote speaker. Attending the forum were dozens of Palestinian leaders and Israeli heads of local councils in the territories, all of whom came with the goal of promoting mutual cooperation on the local and municipal levels.

The delegation saw the Integrated Business Initiative, visiting the Barkan Business Park near Ariel, where they toured one of the large factories and met with company leadership and workers on the production floor.

At each level, there was a mixture of Israelis and Palestinians.

Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri said “We saw firsthand Israelis and Palestinians working together to promote peace and harmony… Many of the Palestinians were making between 3 and 4 times what they would otherwise earn if they did not have this opportunity to have this integrated business that we saw going on in Israel.”

General Charles Krulak, retired commandant of the U.S. Marines, was part of the delegation and said the workers “decried the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement, indicating that it did not just hurt Israel but also hurt the Palestinians,” and that “simply put, the Palestinians were overjoyed working with Israelis and wanted ‘their truth’ to be told… not the ‘media’s truth’.”

Byrne said what they saw completely undercuts arguments made by proponents of BDS. “Palestinians and Israelis are not just getting along but working together to improve each other’s lives.” He added that the Palestinians not only want to expand business ties with Israelis, but all over the world.

McMorris Rodgers said the cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis “is the untold story. It is a story about opportunity and hope at a time when too many despair.”

She added, “It was the Palestinian business leaders and workers who told us that BDS hurts their ability to work and to provide for their families. They want economic freedom, not boycotts.”

Wagner said “they were standing up to what I would call strong divisive forces that seek to vilify Israel and undermine its credibility as a force for peace,” she added.

As part of the trip, the delegation went into the Palestinian areas of Hebron, to meet at Jabari’s home, along with five prominent Palestinian business leaders. This was the first visit of its kind for a Congressional delegation.

It also comes at great risk for the Palestinians involved, as the Palestinian Authority seeks to thwart such business ties in an “anti-normalization” agenda. Roe said “The Palestinian Authority doesn’t speak for all Palestinians, I can flatly tell you that.”

Byrne said the Palestinian Authority is “clearly wrong. If they are interested in what’s good for the Palestinian people, they should grow business opportunities.

The group also visited the National Leadership Center in Ariel, seeing a group of Arab Christian Girl Scouts going through the training sessions and ropes courses. A day earlier, a group of Ethiopian Jewish students had done the same training. “You could tell it had special meaning” for the Girl Scouts they saw, Byrne said.

The delegation also met with Friedman for over two hours, for an overview of the current situation in the Middle East and an emphasis on business development between Israelis and Palestinians. A lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mostly focused on the threat posed by Iran.

In addition to seeing the spiritual sites in the Galilee and Jerusalem, the representatives saw many locations not on typical Congressional tours.

community They saw the situation on the Golan Heights next to Syria, and visited installations of Israel’s newest anti-missile defenses, Arrow III and David’s Sling. They also visited technology companies working on border security, cyber security and self-driving cars.

Roe and his wife also planted grape vines in Israel, through HaYovel, a Christian group founded in Tennessee to recruit U.S. volunteers to help Israeli grape farmers during planting and harvest seasons.

But the main focus of the trip was to witness “the unstoppable people’s business movement that is well underway and is not going away,” Johnston said.

Roe was deeply moved, saying “You saw people, not nations, working together to make life better for their community.” He intends to bolster these efforts and to help build on such cooperation by introducing both Israeli and Palestinian business leaders to various Chambers of Commerce in the U.S. Motivated and inspired by what they saw, McMorris Rodgers and the members of the delegation intend to approach the White House regarding the importance of making such a business model a key aspect in any peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians. “We need to be encouraging this economic opportunity as part of the peace solution,” and she encourages other members of Congress to “see first-hand” what is happening.

Byrne said “I hope that we in this country and we in this Congress do everything in our power to help these people grow economically in their businesses, but also to find that peace that only people-to-people actions can find for us all.”

He told Southern Jewish Life that Congress is working on several initiatives to support these efforts. “It’s important to Israel, important to the United States and important to the individual Palestinian people.”

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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Pastor Chris Edmonds says that “the difference between a regular person and a hero is two seconds,” and he hopes that the spreading of his father’s story inspires people to become that hero, should they be faced with such circumstances.

Edmonds is promoting “Roddie’s Code” through this month’s release of the book “No Surrender: A Father, A Son, and an Extraordinary Act of Heroism That Continues to Live On Today,” the story of how his father, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds, ultimately became the first U.S. serviceman to be honored

by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations for saving Jews during the Holocaust — and the only person recognized for saving American Jews.

Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority, made the designation on Dec. 2, 2015. He is only the fifth American so recognized, with Varian Fry, Waitstill and Martha Sharp, and Lois Gunden. The next month, there was a ceremony at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

Roddie Edmonds died in 1985, and it wasn’t until several years later that Chris Edmonds, pastor of Piney Grove Baptist Church in Maryville, Tenn., just outside of Knoxville, knew what his father had done — only those who were with him that day in Germany had the story.

In 2009, Chris Edmonds Googled his father’s name to see what he would find about his service. To his surprise, his father was mentioned in a 2008 New York Times article about Lester Tanner, a New York attorney who sold a home to President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, when nobody wanted the disgraced former president as a neighbor.

In the article, Tanner spoke about being a POW during World War II and how Roddie Edmonds had saved his life, and the lives of many others.

Astonished, Chris Edmonds got in touch with Tanner to find out what he was referring to.

Roddie Edmonds left Knoxville to join the Army in 1942, and trained troops. In late 1944 he was sent to the Ardennes Forest as part of the 422nd Regiment, 106th Infantry Division, in what was considered an easy posting — but instead, it was where the Germans launched a surprise attack on Dec. 16, leading to the Battle of the Bulge.

His regiment was captured on Dec. 19 and marched through brutal conditions to Bad Orb, a prisoner of war camp, arriving on Dec. 25.

A month later, he and the other noncommissioned officers were sent to Stalag IX-A with over 1200 other soldiers. He was the senior noncommissioned officer among them, so he assumed the leadership position.

On the first day, an order came out over the intercom — after roll call the next morning, only the Jewish prisoners were to fall out. It was well known that it was a death sentence to be a captured Jew — even a Jewish American soldier — in Europe, and some Jewish soldiers had swapped dog tags with dead comrades because of the identifying “H” for Hebrew.

Roddie Edmonds instructed his men that the next morning, everyone

community would fall out, saying that the Geneva Convention states they need give only name, rank and serial number.

The next morning, Jan. 27, 1945, all of the American soldiers were standing in front of the barracks. According to those close enough to witness the exchange, the German commander, Major Siegmann, angrily went to Roddie Edmonds and insisted, “All of you can’t be Jewish!”

Edmonds replied “We are all Jews here.”

The commander ordered him to have the Jewish soldiers step forward, but Edmonds replied that under the Geneva Convention he was not entitled to that information. Siegmann pressed his gun to Edmonds’ forehead and repeated his order, to which Edmonds answered that “If you shoot, you’ll have to kill all of us, and you will have to stand for war crimes after we win this war.”

Instead of shooting, the commander put his gun away and stormed off.

It is estimated that there were 200 Jewish soldiers among the prisoners, one of whom was Tanner.

Chris Edmonds has been able to meet some of the others, some of whom have since died.

Another of the captured soldiers was Sonny Fox, who became a frequent game show guest host and host of the children’s show “Wonderama” in the 1960s.

Paul Stern, who stood near Roddie Edmonds during the exchange, detailed the encounter to Yad Vashem.

This wasn’t the end of Roddie Edmonds’ heroism. As Allied troops neared, the Germans told the prisoners that the next day they would be leaving and marching further into Germany. With the prisoners near starvation, Edmonds instructed them that they would not leave with the Germans on a death march — act sick, get sick, run to the barracks, just do not go with them.

Despite being threatened with being shot, they followed Edmonds’ orders, until the Germans finally threw up their hands and left the Americans behind, taking the French and British prisoners with them.

Once the Americans were alone in the camp, Edmonds had to convince them not to leave, that they could not survive on their own beyond the gates.

The next day, they were liberated by the Third Army.

Since the story first came out a few years ago, there have been two documentaries by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, one of them a 14-minute piece that received Honorable Mention at the Academy Awards. It was narrated by Ted Koppel, and Chris Edmonds said “he was so gracious to be part of it.”

There is also interest in a major motion picture, he added, and efforts continue for Medal of Honor and Congressional Gold Medal recognition.

Chris Edmonds established Roddie’s Code as “a way to help me share Dad’s message and extend his legacy” by inspiring heroes everywhere.

Long before he knew of his father’s World War II heroism, Chris Edmonds said he knew his father had a strong moral code, including “doing what is right for others, opposing what’s wrong or evil, dignify life and humanity, express love for everyone.

“That’s years before I knew any of this. He just lived his life by that code.”

Tanner also spoke of Roddie Edmonds’ “very deeply held moral code,” based on “his spiritual walk with God and his understanding of God’s truth about how we should treat each other.”

In fact, Chris Edmonds related that Tanner told him his father’s code “is the code I’ve lived by since the day he did what he did.” As a New York lawyer, he added, that was difficult.

He summarizes it as “Do what’s right for others, regardless of the risk

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• October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

and regardless of the circumstances.”

While he has spoken at Yad Vashem and at the national gathering for Christians United for Israel, Chris Edmonds particularly enjoys speaking to student groups. “I’ve spoken to quite a few fifth grade groups, and they’re some of my best, in terms of attention.”

He was inspired by a fifth grader in Murfreesboro, Tenn., who stood up in April to protest classmates making Nazi salutes when their class was doing a Living History project, and one of the students had been assigned to portray Hitler.

“Why in the world are we having students pushed to be Hitler?” he wondered. “That would never cross my mind in teaching about World War II.” One recent speaking engagement was at Alumni Hall at the University of Tennessee, on Sept. 11. The film screening and talk was co-sponsored by a Christian group, the Campus House of Prayer, and the campus Hillel, with about 100 in attendance.

Later that night, someone vandalized The Rock, a central campus feature where messages are painted, posting a conspiracy theory about Israel’s supposed involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attack.

“That was horrible,” Chris Edmonds said. “That’s where I went to school. That’s not the heart of our student body. That’s not the heart of the campus.”

He said students “need to get courage in their hearts and report stuff like that” whenever they see it.

“We’ve got to take a stand against the blatant anti-Semitism that is happening across the country and around the world. Good people need to stand up and speak out,” Chris Edmonds said. “I hope Dad’s story will inspire lots of folks to do just that.”

By coming out with a book, he is able to tell “so much more of the story than we can share in short time slots,” including the story of the men who were with him.

Chris Edmonds took time off from speaking to finish the book, a process he described as “intense.”

While he was working on it, Harper Collins decided they also wanted a young readers’ version, “so I wound up writing two books.” There will be an audio version, and a CD edition for school libraries, he added.

“I had written hundreds of sermons, but that’s a different animal than writing a book,” he said. When looking for a co-author, he prayed for a Jewish writer to work with him, because “I felt like I really needed the Jewish voice and Jewish heart in the book. I would bring my father’s perspective and the Christian perspective.”

He found his partner in Douglas Century, a New York Times bestselling author whose works include “Brotherhood of Warriors,” about Aaron Cohen and his work in Isrrael’s Special Forces Duvdevan unit; “Barney Ross,” a biography of the Jewish boxing legend and World War II hero; and the biography of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Jack Jacobs, “If Not Now, When? Duty and Sacrifice in America’s Time of Need.”

Chris Edmonds said Century “was the guy. I felt God connected us.”

In addition to speaking to students, Chris Edmonds was invited to become the chaplain for the 106th Division veterans’ group. In August, they held a reunion in Providence, R.I., with eight World War II veterans in attendance. “It was wonderful to be able to spend time with these gentlemen, experience their stories, enjoy their personalities,” he said.

He reflected, “You think about what the world would have been like had we not won. It would have been very different, very ugly.”

He will have a book signing and talk on Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at BooksA-Million in Huntsville, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at Books-A-Million in Montgomery, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. at Square Books in Oxford, Oct. 29 at 4:30 p.m. at Lemuria Books in Jackson, and Oct. 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

17

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

The Santa Monica-based Jewish Women’s Theatre will launch a Southern tour in November, coordinated by the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson.

During the week-long tour of seven communities, the group will perform “The Matzo Ball Diaries” in most venues, and “The Art of Forgiveness” in Columbus, Ga. “We’re so excited to bring this incredible group to our region,” says Ann Zivitz Kientz, the ISJL’s director of cultural programming. “We’ve been working for over a year to make this historic southern tour a reality, and I think audiences are going to be wowed.”

The Jewish Women’s Theatre Group is a California-based collective whose mission is to “create, produce and preserve diverse contemporary Jewish stories that empower and educate individuals, inspire community and build cultural legacy.” It started with three women around a kitchen table in 2007, and debuted in the fall of 2008, to “welcome and encourage contemporary stories by Jewish women and to adapt them theatrically, giving them life in front of a live audience.”

From the beginning, they focused on the word and text, in the tradition of salons — culture that could be hosted in homes, without sets, costumes and props as a way of presenting powerful stories.

In 2014, the group opened its theatre, The Braid, as a home base, with an art gallery, classroom space and experiential Shabbat services.

The first production at The Braid, “Not That Jewish,” went on to open off-Broadway in 2016.

“The Matzo Ball Diaries” shares the secret stories of food and home, with comic and poignant stories about the power of food to nourish, heal or move people to action. From learning the secret to the best brisket to personal stories of eating disorders to the fascinating history of how the International House of Pancakes was started, the show explores myriad aspects of food, culture, and community — with plenty of humor throughout.

“The Art of Forgiveness” is a compilation of stories, plays, poems and performance art that asks what does it mean to forgive, and why is it so darn hard to do it? A mother and daughter finally resolve years of quiet mistrust. An American academic on a Fulbright in Germany must face a German national who has unexpected feelings about the war. A woman accidentally kills a man and must find a way to forgiveness.

The tour starts at Temple Israel in Columbus, Ga., on Nov. 10, then at Temple Israel in Tallahassee on Nov. 11. On Nov. 12, they will perform at Temple Beth El in Pensacola, co-sponsored by the Pensacola Jewish Federation and the B’nai Israel Kosher Kitchen.

On Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., they will be at Ahavas Chesed in Mobile, then at Shir Chadash in Metairie on Nov. 14 and Beth Israel in Jackson on Nov. 15. At Shir Chadash, tickets are $25, preferred sponsor seating is $72 and patron seating is $180. A dessert reception follows the 7:30 p.m. show.

The tour concludes at the Memphis Jewish Community Center on Nov. 16, then the group will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 17 appearance at Heska Amuna.

Ticket information will be forthcoming from the different venues.

Anne Frank statue unveiled at National World War II Museum Before helping unveil a new life-size statue of Anne Frank at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Holocaust survivor Anne Levy related how Frank’s story “has always been special to me.”

Many years ago, she and her husband visited the attic where Frank and her family hid during the Holocaust, but it was too close in time to her own survival and she had to leave because of a panic attack. When an exhibit about Frank came to New Orleans, Levy said, it was one of the first times she spoke to students about her own experiences.

“Thank you for letting me once again be part of a special day in the museum’s history,” she said.

Stephen Watson, president and CEO of the museum, said it was “meaningful to me personally” to have Levy participate in the ceremony.

The Sept. 12 unveiling took place after a program in the Stage Door Canteen. Levy, along with Vincent Giardina and Lisa Romano of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, removed the blue drape from the statue in the museum’s Founders Plaza.

The Tolmas Trust sponsored the statue, which is the second installation in the plaza, after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Several additional statues are planned.

It was noted that the Trust is also sponsoring three exhibitions in the upcoming Liberation Pavilion’s “And Then They Came For Me” gallery — “The Office,” “The Hiding Place” and “The Concentration Camp.”

Groundbreaking for the Liberation Pavilion would be on Oct. 17, it was announced.

Giardina said “this sponsorship will honor Mr. Tolmas’ Jewish heritage

Lisa Romano and Vincent Giardina from the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust and Holocaust survivior Anne Levy unveil the Anne Frank statue and his wartime service for our country.”

The statue stands next to a concrete bench with a quote from Frank’s diary, “Sometime this terrible war will be over. Surely the time will come when we are people again, and not just Jews.”

Ivan Schwartz, founder of StudioEIS, said it was a challenge to capture Frank as a young girl, and the statue is the result of “as many as 20 people working in concert.”

The portrayal balances her sense of innocence with the “barbarism surrounding her life.”

Robert Citino, senior historian at the museum, said it is rare for young people, especially young women, to have a statue made of them, but “young people can recognize the true nature of things with great clarity.”

For most Americans who read a book about the Holocaust, Frank’s diary is that book, and in it young readers “find a kindred spirit.”

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Women of Valor dedications in Baton Rouge

Making Challah Mega Challah Bakes held around the region

Challah on Shabbat and holidays is one of the most recognizable mitzvahs in Jewish life, and in communities across the region, large numbers of women are attending challah-making Mega Bakes, which are organized as evenings of “unity and inspiration” involving multiple Jewish women’s groups in each community, coordinated by the local Chabad.

In some communities, the Challah Bake is also tied to breast cancer awareness programs, while learning how to make challah together.

New Orleans and Birmingham will have programs in November, while Huntsville had a Mega Challah Bake 100 in May, and Baton Rouge had a Pink Mega Challah Bake on Oct. 6, involving Chabad of Baton Rouge, Hadassah Baton Rouge, Beth Shalom, B’nai Israel and Lafayette’s Temple Shalom.

Birmingham will hold a Pink Challah Bake on Nov. 10 at the Levite Jewish Community Center, from 4 to 6 p.m., a joint project of the LJCC, Chabad of Alabama, Myriad Women’s Health and The Shabbat Project.

To raise breast cancer awareness, starting at 3 p.m. Myriad will be offering educational resources. A local physician will be available for BRCA screening and testing, those who are interested should bring an insurance card.

There will also be a video montage for friends and family members who have been lost to breast cancer.

Reservations for the Birmingham event are $18. Seating is limited, and reservations are requested by Nov. 5.

In New Orleans, Chabad and Hadassah New Orleans are inviting women “to an evening of unity and inspiration” with the Women’s Mega Challah Bake 250, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Gates of Prayer in Metairie.

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

The 2017 Mega Challah Bake attracted 200 participants, so this year it is being expanded to 250 spaces, and Chaya Ceitlin said “we are expecting to be sold out this year well ahead of time based on how registration is going.”

Sisterhoods, synagogues and Jewish organizations from across the community are joining as community co-sponsors of the event, including the synagogues and/or Sisterhoods of Anshe Sfard, Beth Israel, Chabad Center of Metairie, Chabad House Uptown, Gates of Prayer, Northshore Jewish Congregation, Shir Chadash and Temple Sinai and the following community organizations of Chabad of Southern Mississippi, Cteen, National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Community Day School, JNOLA and Torah Academy.

This event will feature elegant refreshments, as well as a wine bar donated by Royal Wines. Each participant will be able to make her own dough for two challah loaves to be baked at home and will receive a personalized apron to commemorate the event.

Prior challah baking experience is not necessary, as it is for beginners and advanced challah bakers. This year there will be one designated table for teens ages 14 to 17.

Registration is $36 before Nov. 6, and is at www.nolamegachallah.com.

The 2017 event had a Woman of Valor dedication display. This year, women may honor their loved ones through the Tree of Life Sponsorship, starting at $118. Honorees may include moms, grandmothers, mentors, friends, students, children, grandchildren. Honorees’ names will be featured on a display composed of roots, branches and leaves woven together to create a Tree of Life.

Mega Challah Bakes in Huntsville (above) and Baton Rouge (below)

714 St. Peter • 600 Decatur • 334 Royal • 311 Bourbon

www.cafebeignet.com October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

21

New Orleans

Galatoire’s

Fall Dining Guide

209 Bourbon Street, New Orleans (504) 525-2021

M Bistro

921 Canal Street, New Orleans inside the Ritz-Carlton

A French Quarter fixture since 1905. An unforgettable experience filled with world-famous creole-inspired French fare, fresh local ingredients and stellar hospitality.

M bistro’s menu is an indigenous approach to the preparation of the finest meats, seafood and produce from growers in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.

Pete’s

Doson Noodle House

444 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans Inside the Intercontinental Hotel (504) 525-5566

135 N. Carrollton Ave. New Orleans (504) 309-7283

Located in the InterContinental Hotel, Pete’s offers a relaxed feel, set in classy chic décor with splashes of colorful murals and beautiful chandeliers throughout.

Since 1997, New Orleans’ best traditional Vietnamese food. Old world classics to creative new varieties, prepared with the freshest ingredients. We pride ourselves on excellent service.

Acropolis

The Columns

3841 Veterans Blvd, Metairie (504) 888-9046

Combining fresh, locally sourced products, pairing them with our Mediterranean roots and seasonal heritage to bring you an eclectic yet authentic menu, has always been our mission.

22

Southern Jewish Life

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

3811 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans (504) 899-9308

The Columns offers something for everyone — the perfect place for receptions, seated meals or special occasions, versatile rooms can host up to 300. Sunday Jazz Brunch available with reservations.

Southern Jewish Life

Cafe Beignet

New Orleans

Fall Dining Guide

Four locations in the French Quarter New Orleans

Kosher Cajun

3519 Severn Avenue, Metairie (504) 888-2010

A family-oriented restaurant, Cafe Beignet takes pride in beignets, coffee and food, striving to bring the best to customers. Locations on Decatur, Royal, St. Peter and Bourbon Streets.

Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery has authentic New York specialties — all Kosher certified. Enjoy classic eats like Reubens and matzah ball soup, plus kosher grocery staples too.

Josephine Estelle

English Tea Room

600 Carondelet Street Inside Ace Hotel (504) 930-3070

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

With an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and homemade pastas passed down from our Maw Maws, Josephine Estelle is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour.

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.

The Avenue Pub

Apolline

1732 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 586-9243

New Orleans’ leading American and European Craft Beer Bar, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 46+ draft selections and Cicerone certified staff. The New Orleans beer destination.

4729 Magazine Street, Uptown (504) 894-8881

Apolline features contemporary French cuisine with Creole influences and locally-grown ingredients. Confit Duck Bowl: Potato hash, peppers, poached eggs, cracklin and hollandaise October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

23

New Orleans/Birmingham

Fury’s

Fall Dining Guide

724 Martin Behrman Ave., Metairie (504) 834-5646

1 Clubhouse Drive, New Orleans (504) 392-2200

The Fury family has been in the restaurant business since 1967 and at its current Metairie location since 1983. We make all of our sauces inhouse from tomato to tartar, and every meal is freshly made to order.

English Turn Golf and Country Club offers contemporary American cuisine, such as Filet Oscar — 8 oz. filet mignon, jumbo-lump crabmeat with Béarnaise sauce. Dining is open to the public.

Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak

Seaworthy

215 Bourbon St. New Orleans (504) 335-3932

630 Carondelet Street, New Orleans Next to the Ace Hotel (504) 930-3071

The perfect setting in the Vieux Carre. The alluring atmosphere of Galatoire’s 33 brings to life New Orleans’ next great tradition, with the finest cocktails and traditional steakhouse fare.

Ace Hotel New Orleans’ cocktail and oyster bar. Set in a Creole cottage dated 1832, Seaworthy showcases bivalves accompanied by seasonal seafare and cocktails.

Taj India

The Bright Star

2226 Highland Avenue, Birmingham (205) 939-3805

Taj India, Birmingham’s original Tandoori Grill and Curry House, will remain in its current location through next summer, serving authentic Indian dishes with a lunch buffet and extensive dinner menu.

24

English Turn

Southern Jewish Life

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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

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.

2019 Center Celebration

The lights of Broadway will shine on the J in a star-studded tribute to Carole King and the many artists she inspired.

Hosted by film, television and Broadway star Bryan Batt, the evening features Tony Award nominated artists Anika Larsen and Liz Larsen, original castmates in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and the incredibly talented jazz and cabaret singer, Alix Paige.

Saturday, November 16 7:00 PM | Uptown JCC Learn more about our featured performers at nojcc.org/beautiful.

Bryan Batt

Alix Paige

Liz Larsen

Anika Larsen

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

25

community Join Us for Lunch and Dinner Brigtsen to headline

Latkes with a Twist

JCRS Chanukah party on Dec. 12

ONE STOP

Veal Parmesan

KOSHER FOOD SHOPPING Eat In — Take Out Catering Mon-Thu 10am-7pm Fri & Sun 10am-3pm (Closed Saturday)

3519 Severn, Metairie (504) 888-2010 www.koshercajun.com

Fried Seafood Platter

724 Martin BehrMan ave • Metairie (Half

block off

Veterans)

504-834-5646

www.furysrestaurant.com Gift CertifiCates availaBle

Frank Brigtsen, chef and owner of Brigtsen’s, will be the featured Latke master at this year’s Latkes with a Twist celebration.

Produced by the New Orleans-based Jewish Children’s Regional Service, the annual fundraiser has been named one of the top 10 Chanukah parties in the country by the Washington Post. This year’s event will be on Dec. 12 at Press Street Station in the historic Faubourg Marigny.

The evening will also feature live music by the Rubin-Wilson Folk/Blues Explosion, an open bar featuring a Vodka Latke Punch, a Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned Hanukkah Hi-Ball, courtesy of Sazerac Brands, wine and beer. There will also be a silent auction.

Brigtsen will be assisted by NOCCA culinary program students. Brigtsen said “my mother, of Scandinavian-German descent, made delicious potato pancakes with a special sauce I plan to recreate. I’m excited about this event.”

Tickets to the 7 p.m. event are $36 per person in advance, $42 at the door, and are available at (504) 828-6334 or online at https://jcrs.org/ events/latkes-with-a-twist/.

The social service agency, with roots dating back to 1855, provides need-based college scholarships, grants for Jewish summer camp experiences, special needs assistance, and other vital outreach programs. This year, JCRS will serve or fund over 1,700 Jewish children from a seven-state region, including 54 percent of the Jewish youth, ages 17 and under, in Greater New Orleans.

Traveling Shofar Dust off your denim and diamonds and join us for WYES LOUISIANA HAYRIDE presented by LCI Workers' Comp event at the historic home of Cathy and Rick Hood, 2441 Lakeshore Drive in Mandeville.

Patron 4PM | $150 General 5PM | $100 Cuisine: The Lakehouse Live music: Charley Rivers band

Tickets & Info: wyes.org or 504.486.5511 26

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

In preparation for his Bar Mitzvah at Shir Chadash in Metairie on Oct. 26, David Lazarus visited several homebound members on Rosh Hashanah, blowing the shofar so they could fulfill the mitzvah of hearing it. He now plans to do it every year.

Exhibit on Eichmann abduction opens at National WWII Museum The National World War II Museum in New Orleans is inaugurating its Hall of Democracy with “Operation Finale: The Capture and Trial of Adolf Eichmann.”

The exhibit uncovers the secret history of one of the 20th century’s most sensational events — the capture and trial of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann. As head of the Falsified Israeli passport in the name Nazis’ homicidal “Jewish of Zeev Zichroni, prepared for secretly Department,” Eichmann transporting Adolf Eichmann to Israel. zealously managed the (from Mossad archive) transport of millions of innocent people to death camps and vanished after World War II. Operation Finale — the code name of Israel’s effort to find Eichmann — reveals how agents of Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, located him in hiding in South America years after the war, then abducted and smuggled him out of the country to stand trial in Israel, where he was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, remaining the only time Israel has done a judicial execution. The exhibition features recently declassified materials, including 1960s-era artifacts, photographs, film, audio, contemporary design elements and interactive displays.

Visitors will be transported to the courtroom of Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem through an immersive video, complete with a replica of the iconic glass booth in which the accused sat as his courtroom drama was broadcast around the globe as a principal perpetrator of the Final Solution. Eichmann’s conviction and execution began a new chapter for Holocaust survivors to speak out about the atrocities they endured. The exhibition concludes with the legacy of the trial and how the mantra “Never Again” must ring out around the world.

“Operation Finale” is a coproduction of The Mossad: Israeli Secret Intelligence Service; Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People, Tel Aviv, Israel; and the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio.

Sponsorship for Operation Finale, which will be on view from Oct. 17 to Jan. 5, 2020, is provided by Perry and Marty Granoff.

Several ancillary programs will be announced during the exhibit’s run.

An opening reception was scheduled for Oct. 17, with presentations by the exhibition’s chief curator, Orit Shaham Gover, from the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot, and former Mossad agent and curator of the exhibition, Avner Avraham.

“Operation Finale” marks the debut of the Museum’s new special exhibition space, located on the first level of the Hall of Democracy pavilion.

$10 off when spending at least $25. Coupon valid $10 OFF! Receive at lunch and dinner. Not valid with any other offers or discounts.

135 N. Carrollton Ave (1 block off Canal), Mid-City, NOLA 504-309-7283 dosonnoodlehousela.com

Teaching the Holocaust workshop Oct. 28

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans will also have an Echoes and Reflections program, “Teaching the Holocaust, Empowering Students,” for middle and high school teachers. The workshop will be on Oct. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., in the classroom on the second level of the Hall of Democracy.

Developed by Yad Vashem, the Anti-Defamation League and the USC Shoah Foundation, the Echoes and Reflections program is the premier source for Holocaust educational materials and professional development.

Registration is free and all participants receive free curriculum materials.

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life 27

community NCJW adds four new initiatives to social activism

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While the New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women has a lengthy agenda of community activism, that isn’t stopping them from adding four new projects this year.

Silence Is Violence seeks a safer city and greater action against violence, and this year is advocating about the lack of witness protection programs in Louisiana.

The Section is partnering with the AntiDefamation League on “No Place for Hate,” which fights bullying and bias in schools. The self-directed program aims to improve the atmosphere in schools, and includes a regional art and poetry contest in the fall. At the end of the year, participating schools receive a No Place for Hate banner. Volunteers are needed to judge the contests and coordinate banner presentations.

Hosted at the New Orleans Public Library, the Literacy Alliance organizes high school graduations for adults who have completed their GED requirements, and promotes 100 percent literacy. In June, NCJW supported the 12th annual graduation ceremony, where about 125 adults received their certificates.

Lowernine.org rebuilds homes and stabilizes home ownership, which is still a pressing need 14 years after Katrina. The organization uses volunteer labor to reduce housing costs, and has rebuilt 88 homes since 2007, and repaired over 300 that had been unlivable or damaged by contractor fraud.

President Susan Hess said the new projects will require additional volunteers, and a priority this year will be to engage members who have not been active, and to grow membership.

The Section already is involved in advocating for women’s right, pay equity, gun violence, immigration, criminal justice reform and voter registration.

While the local Section did not have a CloseTheCamps event on Tisha B’Av, as part of the national initiative, members Steffani Bangel and Jessica Frankel wrote an op-ed for the New Orleans Advocate on Aug. 9, urging the closing of detention centers at the border.

The Section also has ongoing projects with the Fanily Justice Center, Girls on the Run, Courtwatch NOLA, the Center for Children’s Rights and Sisterhearts.

Odyssey 2019

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28

24-0819 Odyssey ad - Southern Jewish Life.indd 1

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

9/17/19 5:12 PM

An Official Publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

THE

JEWISH NEWSLETTER Nourish October 2019 | Tishrei 5780

Vol. XIV No. 7

A PROGRAM OF

COMMUNITY MITZVAH DAY Sunday, November 3 | Couturie Forest (City Park) The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans invites you to a community-wide multifaith service day on Sunday, November 3 (it’s the Saints’ bye week!) from 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at City Park.

Service opportunities are available for the whole family, including park beautification, tree planting, and bird house painting. The projects will be followed by a Mitzvah Fest, featuring food, music, and family crafts and games (led by BBYO). Additionally, volunteers will participate in a special ceremony commemorating one of the newly planted trees as the “Tree of Life” in memory of those who have been the victims of hate and discrimination.

Programming will be available for kids ages 4 and up. All volunteers will receive a free Nourish t-shirt. Vegetarian and cheese pizza, snacks, beverages and kosher food will be available. Join us for all or part of the day!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER NOW AT JEWISHNOLA.COM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

29

An106TH Evening in the Garden ANNUAL MEETING JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS’

To donate to the 2020 Annual Campaign, please visit jewishnola.com/give. Thank you!

30

October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Pictured

Top left: Joshua Force & Henry Miller Top right: Jonny Lake & Jan Miller Middle left: Steve & Nancy Timm, Hallie Timm, and Richard Cahn Middle right: Hal Shepard, Lisa Romano, and Vincent Giardina Bottom left: David Shepard & Bobby Garon Bottom right: Joshua Rubenstein & Mara Force

HBCU Speaker Series: Presented by Morris Bart returns with a discussion on the intersection of Black Nationalism and Zionism On Tuesday, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans HBCU Speaker Series: Presented by Morris Bart will return with a lecture at SUNO. The program will feature remarks from Stacey Aviva Flint on “The Origins of and Parallels Between Zionism and Black Nationalism.”

Stacey Aviva Flint is a Jew of Color, urban planner, and Masters candidate in Jewish Studies at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. Stacey began as the Policy Director for Chicago’s Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) which involves advocating for housing reform, criminal justice, and Jewish/AfricanAmerican dialogue. Stacey is passionate about Jewish African American relationship building and is a member of the Jewish Black Business Alliance, American Jewish Committee, JCRC of Chicago Jewish Federation, Chicago JCC Engagers, and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs. Stacey is currently Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at West Suburban Temple Har Zion in River Forest, Illinois.

This event is the third in a three-part series aimed at connecting the Jewish and African-American communities in the Greater New Orleans area on relevant topics of mutual interest. The past, present, and future of the Jewish/African-American relationship will continue to be explored in 2020 by different national and local experts, with the goal of engaging both Jews and African-Americans in the region.

The event will take place at SUNO’s Millie M. Charles School of Social Work. Free parking will be available in the lots surrounding the building. There is no charge for the event, but kindly RSVP at barthbcuseries.eventbrite.com. Questions? Contact Mithun Kamath at mithun@jewishnola.com.

Registration is now open for Federation’s Youth Civil Rights Trip The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is pleased to announce that our annual Youth Civil Rights Trip to Alabama will be taking place on November 26. Students in grades 6-8 are invited to attend. Trip participants will visit the following sites significant to the civil rights movement and to Jewish history: * Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma * Temple Mishkan Israel in Selma * Anne Frank Tree in Birmingham * Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham * Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Transportation, meals, and admission fees for all students and chaperones will be provided FREE OF CHARGE, thanks to our generous sponsors.

The deadline to enroll is October 25. For more information and to register your middle school student (first come, first served), visit jewishnola.com. Please contact Mithun Kamath at mithun@jewishnola.com or 504-780-5608 if you are interested in chaperoning your student/child.

October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

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Upcoming with JNOLA JNOLA, and the Jewish Federation Mentorship Program presented by Emily Schoenbaum and Jones Walker, are joining forces to give the Jewish community a combined networking and mentorship event on Thursday, November 21. Save the date for an evening of learning, connecting, and professional growth.

A little party never killed nobody so kick your heels up and join JNOLA on December 15 for our Roaring Twenties Bash at Generations Hall! JNOLA members are the cat’s meow and JNOLA is jazzed to celebrate you molls and dolls there at this year’s signature gala. More details to come!

JNOLA serves members of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community between the ages of 2139. To learn more, contact Tana Velen at tana@jewishnola.com.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is excited to announce the creation of JNEXT, for members of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community ages 40-55ish. JNEXT will be centered around a thoughtful series of cultural, educational, and social action events, led by JNEXT members. Partners and spouses, Jewish or non-Jewish, are welcome to be a part of JNEXT. A launch event featuring Saba’s Alon Shaya and Bellegarde Bakery’s Graison Gill is currently in the works for this fall - so stay tuned for more details!

To learn more or to sign up to receive JNEXT updates, visit jewishnola.com/jnext.

Join our Mentorship Program Sign up today to be matched with a successful local Jewish mentor! The Jewish Federation Mentorship Program offers a variety of ways for mentees to connect with mentors and grow their network.

The Federation is accepting applications through our website, jmentor.org, for Face to Face mentorship experiences and Micro Grants to help pay to renew a professional license, attend a seminar, and more.

Just register on the site to have access these features and more.

Questions? Contact tana@jewishnola.com.

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October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Jewish Endowment Foundation Don’t Let the IRS Tax Your IRA! If you have a traditional IRA and are 70½ or older, you are required by law to take an annual distribution, the Required Minimum Distribution, based on your age. This could lead to an increase in your taxes if added to your income.

The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana wants you to know that now you have a choice. You can donate up to $100,000 taxfree from your traditional IRA for charitable purposes. This provision is important because funds held in an IRA are subject to income tax when withdrawn during your lifetime or by your survivors.

The IRA charitable rollover provision is a win-win for you and allows you to make wonderful gifts for worthy causes. It ensures that your taxes will not increase when you choose to distribute your IRA funds to the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana or your favorite charity or charities. To qualify, you must direct your IRA manager to transfer funds directly to the charity (or charities) that you designate and the gift must be completed by Dec. 31.

Benefits of an IRA Charitable Rollover to JEF • Satisfy your required minimum distribution for the year.

• Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $100,000 from your IRA to JEF. • Reduce your taxable income, even if you do not itemize deductions.

• Make a gift that is not subject to the 50 percent deduction limits on charitable gifts.

annual grants to the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Community Day School, Tulane Hillel, or other nonprofits of your choice.

JEF is available to assist you or your financial advisor in any way possible. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Please contact Bobby Garon (bobby@jefno.org) or Patti Lengsfield (patti@jefno.org) at (504) 524-4559 with any questions you might have.

The ideal gift arrangement is to create a Designated Fund at JEF and The views expressed here are not intended, nor may they be relied roll over all or part of your IRA distribution to this fund. Your fund upon, as legal, accounting or other professional advice. Before making could benefit JEF, endow your annual gift to Federation, or distribute a gift decision, you should consult your own professional advisors.

Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience Goldring Family Foundation’s Generosity Helped 75 First-Time Campers The Jewish Summer Camp Experience program, funded by the Goldring Family Foundation and administered by the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, provides grants to families throughout the states of Lousiana, Mississippi and Alabama and from northwest Florida to help send their children to camp. This past summer, 75 children were each awarded $1,500 in scholarship money to attend 12 Jewish nonprofit sleepaway summer camps.

“JEF is grateful for the support of the Goldring Family Foundation for this important initiative that has helped families provide their children Henry S. Jacobs Camp file photo with a first-time Jewish camping experience,” said Larry Lehmann, JEF our entire community.” president. “We are proud to manage this program that has allowed The Goldring Family Foundation makes this camp program availso many young people to enjoy the fun, comradeship and culture of able to every Jewish child in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the attending a Jewish summer camp.”

Florida Panhandle by giving a one-time-only grant of up to $1,500 per Experts agree that one of the most effective ways to create positive Jewish identity and develop children’s commitment to living Jewish lives is to expose them to a camp experience where they will meet other Jewish boys and girls and savor the precious heritage of Jewish traditions while enjoying wholesome summer fun and sports activities.

child to attend a nonprofit Jewish summer camp. Programs costing less than $1,500 will be funded up to the amount of camp tuition. To meet the criteria for funding, children must be first-time campers at a nonprofit Jewish sleepaway camp, currently in grades 1 to 9, and a resident of the aforementioned states.

Established by JEF in 1999 and funded by the Goldring Family Foundation since 2001, more than 1,519 children have received grants to attend Jewish summer camp since the program’s introduction.

Grants are not based on financial need. Both parents need not be Jewish, and synagogue affiliation is not required.

“JEF is grateful for the extraordinary generosity of the Goldring Family Foundation and looks forward to continuing to work with them on this wonderful program,” said Bobby Garon, JEF executive director. “This program benefits not only the individual campers, but

The deadline for applications is March 31, and early application is strongly suggested. Award notification will be made by May 31. For more information and an application form, contact Debbie Berins at JEF at (504) 524-4559 or debbie@jefno.org. The application can also be downloaded at www.jefno.org.

October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

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Jewish Family Service Friends of JFS 2019: Your Support Ensures JFS Will Always Be There Sarah’s Story As a mother of two, Sarah went from housewife to sole supporter of her family in less than a week following the sudden and tragic death of her husband. Not only was his death difficult to bear, but the loss of their main source of income pushed the family into financial hardship.

With no living family around, Sarah faced a reality devoid of support. She put the house up for sale, sold most of their possessions, downgraded her vehicle, took on two part-time jobs, and struggled to find childcare.

One day while speaking with her friend, Joan*, at synagogue, Sarah broke down. Not only had she been dealing with the weight of keeping her family afloat, but she had yet to process her grief. With nowhere and no one to turn to, Sarah was supporting her family on the back of her depression.

Joan, having previously benefitted from family counseling at Jewish Family Service, referred Sarah to the agency. Sarah called JFS and scheduled an appointment with a case manager. At first, she had some hesitation on whether or not she could afford any kind of help, having given away most of her belongings to sustain her family. The Case Manager assured her that JFS could be of help, as they do for all members of the Jewish community.

During their first meeting, Sarah and the JFS Case Manager discussed her family’s most immediate needs and began putting together a plan. Her Case Manager helped find affordable childcare, assisted Sarah with locating full-time job prospects and helped her apply for the SNAP program. Through the JFS Financial Resource Center, Sarah was given a grant to put down a deposit for a small apartment.

Social Workers, Counselors, Mental Health Professionals:

Upcoming Continuing Education Workshops at Jewish Family Service FALL CEUs (September – December) Counseling Couples Using Attachment Theory

October 18, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Matt Morris, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S. Approved for 3 Diagnosis/Clinical hours

by LCA and LABSWE.

Therapy in the Trenches: Strategies for Treating Adult Trauma

November 15, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Michele Louviere, LMFT. Approved for 1.5 General hours and 1.5 Diagnosis hours by LCA and 3 Clinical hours by LABSWE.

Why Am I So Worried About Treating OCD?

December 6, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Gail Pesses, LCSW. Approved for 3 Diagnosis/Clinical hours by LCA and LABSWE. Pricing for CEUs: $70 pre-registration/$80 day of.

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

JFS Now Accepts Medicaid

JFS now accepts Medicaid from Aetna Better Health, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and United Healthcare.

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

Sarah and the children also began meeting with a JFS counselor to talk about the grief of losing their husband and father, as well as the Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups is a core community service of JFS. Licensed behavioral health professionals anxiety that they’ve experienced during this difficult transition. provide guidance and support on how to cope with interpersonal and Because of you, Jewish Family Service is able to provide high family problems. Appointments are available. Fees are assessed on a quality, professional guidance at affordable rates to vulnerable sliding-fee scale based on household income. community families and individuals in our community. Your To make an appointment, call (504) 831-8475. support of the annual Friends of JFS campaign impacts their lives and so many other people for the better, and allows JFS to offer our services on a sliding-fee scale based on household income. We cannot do it without YOUR help. Please make your caring contribution today. Visit our website www.jfsneworleans. org/ to learn more and to donate!

Upcoming Groups Girl Power

Catch-a-Cab helps Seniors looking for a lift JFS Catch-a-Cab is a discount transportation program for independent Jewish seniors, age 65 and older. Seniors can purchase up to $140 worth of coupons each quarter, which can be used with several local taxi companies. This service is made possible through the generosity of the Adele Cahn Catch-a-Cab Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation.

For more information or to fill out an application, call (504) 831-8475.

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October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Girl Power is a 6-session therapeutic group that promotes improved self-esteem, social skills, confidence, and stress reduction within girls ages 8-12.

Cost: $99 for all six weeks (includes initial assessment).

Contact Claire Kohne by phone (504) 831-8475 or email Claire@jfsneworleans.org.

Jewish Community Day School Green Carpet Event 2019 In the time since Susan and Howard Green have become active supporters of Jewish Community Day School, we have been humbled time and again by the graciousness of their support, counsel and advocacy. In 2019, the Greens made a significant gift to establish a leading-edge, research-based preschool rooted in Jewish values here at JCDS, and, in appreciation, Susan and Howard Green Preschool has been named in their honor. We’re celebrating the spirit and legacy of this wonderful couple with this year’s Gala theme, a “Green Carpet Event.”

In honor of such a glamorous “It” couple as Susan and Howard, a Hollywood-goes-green theme will take over our annual fundraising event. Paparazzi will be snapping away as we walk the Green Carpet into this year’s glitzy gala on the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus. Enjoy a Hollywood Highball and the fabulous fare of D’vash Catering while listening to the snazzy sounds of NJ Beats, Tulane’s first Jewish a cappella group!

Susan and Howard Green Preschool @JCDS honors two individuals who truly, as our sages teach, wear the crowns of a good name. From its earliest days, Judaism has placed great importance on the value of names. Names provide us with the opportunity to bring honor to those whose names we bear and ensure that those for whom we are named live on. Jewish Community Day School is privileged to honor the names of two such exemplary individuals as Susan and Howard Green.

Rochelle Adler Effron & Mark Effron | Lis & Hugo Kahn | Tracey & Henry Smith

Outdoor Classroom According to the Reggio Emilia philosophy, children have three teachers: adults, other children and their environment. If the environment is indeed the third teacher, then there is no better classroom than the outdoors.

Whether it’s scooping and pouring using a “water table,” chasing bubbles on Bart Field, catching worms in the garden, or making mud pies, our students love the endless potential of the outdoors.

With very special thanks to our event chairs:

For more information visit our website or contact Tiffany Cotlar: tcotlar@jcdsnola.org or 504.887.4091 ext. 112

Getting to the core of science It’s fall, and the JCDS wise apples of third and fourth grade had fun peeling and carving Granny Smiths and Honeycrisps to investigate the effects of oxidation and dehydration over a period of time on their Mummy Apples. Our room smells delicious, all fresh apples and lemon juice, a natural antioxidant!

The apples were all treated to a bath of lemon juice and salt to discourage mold and decay. Students will continue to make daily observations and weigh-ins as the holidays allow in their data journals until they are satisfied with the aesthetics of their mummies.

Tikkun olam, the Jewish value of caring for the earth, is a central theme of our outdoor classroom. We have flowers to water, herbs to smell, veggies to taste, and our very own compost so that we can give our plants the nutrient-rich soil they need to thrive. We love that our outdoor classroom allows our students to freely explore and engage with the world around them.

October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

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Jewish Community Center Moving Film Addresses How Judaism Became an American Religion Difficult Topics

SAVE THE DATE

Einat Admony and Alon Shaya

Historian and bestselling author Walter Talk Food Isaacson returns to the Uptown JCC on Oct. Tuesday, November 19 | 7 p.m.

23 to join his friend Steven R. Weisman for Come hear this outstanding duo share a discussion of Weisman’s new book, “The their culinary journey, their shared Chosen Wars: How Judaism Became an passions and her new book “SHUK: From American Religion.” In it, he tells the draMarket to Table, the Heart of Israeli Home matic history of how Judaism redefined itself Cooking.” in America in the 18th and 19th centuries — Community Chanukah the personalities that fought each other and Celebration with a shaped its evolution and, crucially, the force Performance by The Leevees of the American dynamic that transformed an Sunday, December 22 | 4 p.m. ancient religion. It is the story of how Judaism Celebrate the first night of Chanukah at enhanced America and how America inspired the JCC! We’ll light the menorah, nosh on Judaism. Beginning at 7 p.m. in the Uptown fried chicken and latkes, and enjoy a live JCC’s Mintz Auditorium, as part of the Cathy Based upon Dabah’s own life, “Extra In- and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series, concert by The LeeVees. nings” is a coming-of-age story set against the this event is free and open to the community.

Harriet W. Kugler Memorial enduring magic of the 1960s within a devout Mah Jongg Tournament Syrian Jewish family in Brooklyn. It tells the Sunday, January 26, 2020 | 11 a.m. story of a young baseball prodigy, David, Registration opens October 28 for this who is fighting for the opportunity to pursue fun afternoon of friendly competition. his dream. In a family afflicted with mental The lights of Broadway will shine on the health issues, baseball offers David an escape. JCC at this year’s Center Celebration: A But when tragedy strikes, David struggles to Beautiful Night at the J. A star-studded trib- starring roles on Broadway include “Beauty find a balance between his dream of playing ute to Carole King and the musicians she in- and the Beast,” “Saturday Night Fever” and baseball, his religion and his family. spired, this fun event will be held Nov. “Cats.” The live performance features Tony Award nominated artists AniThe film begins at 7 p.m. Dabah will speak 16 at the Uptown JCC. Beginning ka Larsen and Liz Larsen, original briefly and, along with professionals from poolside at 7 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, the party then castmates in “Beautiful: The CarJewish Family Service and Jewish Children’s moves indoors for a buffet dinner ole King Musical.” They will be Regional Service, will be available to answer and an evening of entertainment joined onstage by the incredibly questions after the screening. like no other. Film, television talented jazz and cabaret singer This event is free and open to the commuand Broadway star Bryan Batt Alix Paige. Tickets for this one-of-anity. However, due to the sensitive issues it will serve as master of ceremonies. kind event are available online at noaddresses, the evening is recommended for Best known for his award winning jcc.org/beautiful, as well as at the JCC ages 16 and up. role in the television series “Mad Men,” his reception desks.

Writer and director Albert Dabah will present his film “Extra Innings” at the Uptown JCC on Nov. 4 as part of a special event sponsored by the JCC, JFS, JCRS and The Greater New Orleans Jewish Clergy Council.

Center Celebration Features Broadway Stars

Tulane Hillel Executive Director and Rabbi Yonah Schiller has been busy sharing Tulane Hillel’s unique and successful engagement model nationwide.

Recently, Yonah traveled to Washington to present at the Hillel International offices to a dozen Campus Service Directors, and a handful of senior staff, on his work with the Organizational Design Lab. ODL teaches Hillels across the country and Canada how to replicate Tulane Hillel’s effective model and best practices. While in Washington, Yonah announced that ODL will be engaging even more Hillels this year, and will be welcoming their third cohort of universities and colleges.

Yonah was also invited to present to the Jewish Funders Network, a small but influential network of Jewish philanthropists and foundations, on new models for engagement and organizational impact and investment. To read more about Yonah’s impactful work with ODL, visit our website: www.tulanehillel.org/executive-summary, and stay tuned for upcoming news.

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October 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Simchas a semi-annual special section Photo by Leslie Hollingsworth Photography

The March 2019 wedding of Alexis Marcus and Chris Saville at B&A Warehouse in Birmingham

Diamonds Direct opens in Metairie Jeweler has 19 U.S. stores and roots in Israel The fastest growing jewelry store in the United States, with Israeli roots, Diamonds Direct has opened a new location in the New Orleans area.

The Metairie location on Severn Avenue is Diamonds Direct’s 19th store.

Diamonds Direct was founded by a family of diamond manufacturers based out of Tel Aviv, who had a reputation for diamond-cutting excellence dating back to the 1950s. They had a wholesale diamond business, selling diamonds to jewelry stores across the United States.

Settling in Charlotte, N.C., they decided to open a retail establishment there, but with a twist. With an office in the World Diamond Exchange in Tel Aviv, Diamonds Direct is involved in the entire lifecycle of the diamond, from the rough to cutting to the finished product, eliminating layers of middlemen and the accompanying markups. That way, Marketing and Merchandising Manager Allie Farlow said, “Diamonds Direct can provide tremendous value to the customer.”

Amit Berger, Diamonds Direct executive vice president, has worked in the wholesale diamond trade in the U.S. since 1997. An Israel native, he opened the second Diamonds Direct in Birmingham in 2008. His brother, Itay, opened the flagship location in Charlotte in 1995.

The two original locations quickly developed a reputation for quality and value, and a massive selection, and attracted customers from across the country. In the last four years, numerous additional locations have

Built in 1883 for Jewish merchant Simon Hernsheim, reflecting his love of large worldly splendor and small simple eloquence…

Reserve Your Simcha Today!

the “storied”

COLUMNS HOTEL Prime Location on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District Over 35 Years of Event Planning and Hosting Experience

Office/Business Functions, Birthdays and Anniversaries, Luncheons, Weddings and Rehearsal Dinners

Daily Happy Hour in the Victorian Lounge Sunday Jazz Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Diamonds Direct team and members of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting in late September.

3811 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70115 504.899.9308 www.TheColumns.com October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

37

simchas

opened, from Virginia Beach to Salt Lake City. Amit Berger moved to Texas to expand the company there, and is now over the New Orleans location as well.

“We can’t wait to welcome residents from the greater New Orleans area into our beautiful new showroom,” said Amit Berger.

Each location has loose and mounted diamonds, a multitude of engagement ring mountings by America’s top designers, diamond and gemstone fashion jewelry, wedding bands, pearls and much more. Diamonds Direct backs their products with industry leading guarantees and warranties, including their unprecedented 110 percent lifetime upgrade — customers can come back with a diamond they purchased at Diamonds Direct and trade it in for a different diamond, paying only the difference between the diamonds while receiving credit for 110 percent of the original purchase price.

The direct-to-consumer approach is accompanied by guidance, education and customer service, with a no-pressure atmosphere, teaching customers what to look for in diamonds so they can make educated decisions on what is one of the most significant purchases they will make.

Diamonds Direct also ensures all diamonds are ethically sourced via the Kimberly Process, and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars raised for philanthropies and cultural organizations in communities where the stores are located, including the new location’s partnership with Ochsner Hospital for Children.

B Street Benny band a labor of love

Federico’s FAMILY FLORIST

YOUR WEDDING. YOUR WAY. WE’LL HELP YOU PLAN TODAY! Bouquets • Bouquet Wraps • Boutonnieres

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815 Focis Street Metairie, LA 70005 504.837.6400 flowers@federicosflorist.com Larry Federico, Owner/President

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Kenny Thone, Co-Owner/Vice President

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Music brought Tanya (“TJ”) and Brad Lewis together. In March 2020 they will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, and they love making sure Jewish weddings (and other simchas) hit the right note.

“We are so happy to live a life playing music,” said TJ Lewis, who sings while her husband plays guitar and serves as musical director. “We’ve made it our career and lives. We’ve been able to balance our music with family and that is such a blessing.”

They’ve shared the stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival with Paul Simon, Dr. John, Vanilla Ice, Irma Thomas and Bow Wow Wow, to name a few. Their music and various projects together as well as with others brought them across the U.S. for years.

They started B Street Benny on Bourbon Street as a house band entertaining tourists 13 years ago. Then three-and-a-half years ago they started playing for private events on weekends, while still maintaining a fourday-a-week schedule on Bourbon Street.

“We’ve had the privilege of performing for a number of Jewish wedding receptions in the past three years,” said Lewis. “Our very first Jewish reception was also our very first groom-groom wedding,” Michael Musso and Mark Erickson. “It was such an amazing and beautiful reception.”

She said another memorable Jewish wedding they played for was for Jared Morganstein and Adrianne Gaudet. Adrianne is a New Orleans native who met her husband in New York. B Street Benny handled the music for the ceremony and then did their second line while they flipped the room to prepare for the reception.

Lewis said her favorite Jewish celebration they played for was the wedding of Andy Weile and Tiffany Carr, an event planner in California.

It was a New Orleans destination wedding. The rabbi performed the ceremony in Hebrew “so as participants we responded and sang in Hebrew as we were a part of just a beautiful celebration of joining two as one,” she said.

The bride designed a formal ceremony service, but early on Lewis pulled the couple aside and recommended that they “let loose” with a more New Orleans-style party playlist. They agreed.

“I told them there was a reason they came to New Orleans, so let’s bring New Orleans to this party and get your guests dancing,” she said. “We

simchas

completely threw out the prewritten set list and just threw the biggest party imaginable. Everyone was on his or her feet and it was just a remarkable evening. When ‘Hava Nagila’ goes for four or five rounds, you know it’s a joyous occasion.”

B Street Benny can play various types of music, from rock to funk to jazz to blues to klezmer and some traditional Jewish music. “We can do whatever they want to make sure they have the best entertainment for their special celebration,” said Lewis.

LET US CREATE tHE PERFECT SOUNDTRACK FOR THE BIGGEST NIGHT OF YOUR LIFE

Federico’s designs colorful events Since 1976, Federico’s Family Florist helps ensure New Orleans area simchas are in full bloom.

“We do whatever we can to please everyone, and have a wide range of options in floral,” said Kenny Thone, who co-owns Federico’s with Larry Federico. “We’re happy to do custom arrangements for any special celebration.

Thone said they regularly deliver flowers for and provide floral event decor at several New Orleans area congregations. Over the past 40-plus years they have done event floral work for Jewish weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other celebrations.

Federico’s also provides floral for several Mardi Gras krewes. “New Orleans is very artsy, very fun. We tend to do more colorful, festive arrangements,” said Thone. “Color schemes can vary, but big and beautiful is universal.”

Thone said they have been successful all these years because they treat their customers right. Federico’s also offers special discounts to non-profits.

“We pride ourselves on offering great service and giving customers their money’s worth,” he said.

for booking contact Tanya TJ Lewis

985-696-1147 bstreetbenny@gmail.com bstreetbenny.com @bstreetbenny facebook.com/bstreetbenny

Make Their First Words...

WHO DAT!

The Cannery can make your dreams happen Located in the heart of Mid-City, The Cannery is New Orleans’ Premiere Wedding and Special Events venue.

The Cannery is a multi-purpose venue offering 12,000 square feet of modern, unique space that can be customized for any occasion, with a flexible open floor plan that means the room never feels too large or too small. Flexible seating arrangements are offered, with a variety of furniture options included.

They have hosted bridal and couples showers, sit-down dinners, Mardi Gras balls, non-profit galas, silent auctions, fashion shows, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, wedding receptions and more.

The Cannery features Toulouse Gourmet Catering, which customizes every event’s menu.

To set the mood, The Cannery offers LED lighting sequences, projectors, screens, a large stage and a state-of-the-art sound system. The venue also has off-street parking.

The venue opened in 2012 in the space formerly used as a warehouse for the American Can Company, until it closed in 1988. After several years, Pel Hughes purchased it for their growing marketing company, then leased it to a convention service provider. They soon realized it was a perfect space for an event venue, so The Cannery was born.

At The Cannery, anything you can envision for your event can come to life.

5101 W. Esplanade Ave (at Chastant), Metairie

504-407-3532

This Week In Southern Jewish Life The South’s Most Comprehensive Weekly Jewish News Email

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simchas H E A RT I N TH E H E A RT O F DOW N T OW N Let love reign supreme in a sophisticated St. Charles location just steps from the Quarter. With elegant spaces for entertaining, sumptuously prepared menus, and luxurious accommodations for those on your wedding list, it’s love at first sight.

Passionately serving intimate gatherings to grand events of up to 700 guests. Let us create your dream celebration at (504) 585-4363.

Live the InterContinental® life.

444 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130 1 (800) 424-6835 www.icneworleans.com lindsey.rinaudo@icneworleans.com

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 from the public. 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 December, the Algiers Economic Development Foundation held its annual luncheon there, with Governor John Bel Edwards as the keynote speaker.

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.

Family expertise drives Fisher and Sons jewelry The Fisher family enjoys being a part of families’ special celebrations with Fisher and Sons Jewelry— a gem in Metairie for more than 42 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. 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. Chloe Fisher Bares goes to market a couple of times a year to pick out new and unusual pieces.

“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.

The family lost Thomas Fisher earlier this year but he is with them in spirit every day at the store.

“I know dad would be proud and we think about him with everything we do,” she said.

Special Section articles by Lee J. Green 40

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

simchas Ritz-Carlton getting ready to unveil the results of its enhancement project

Following the ceremony, they hosted a cocktail hour and seated dinner.

After the reception, the bride and groom led their guests on a traditional second line through the streets of New Orleans.

The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans hotel’s $40 million “redeux” renovation project will be unveiled in January, but they are all about wedding veils with the hosting of several Jewish weddings and receptions over the past few years.

The “crown jewel of Canal Street” began the project this past May to “energize the luxurious legacy of the historic Beaux Arts Maison Blanche building.”

That transformation included the guest rooms, suites and corridors. The colors and aesthetics employed as a part of the “redeux” mirrors “the elegance of the recently renovated event and meeting space.”

The Ritz-Carlton includes more than 35,000 square feet of meeting and celebration space. When planning a wedding, couples work side-by-side with a dedicated wedding planner to select a venue from the hotel’s indoor and outdoor spaces. The Courtyard is ideal for an intimate outdoor ceremony or a night of dancing, while the Grand Ballroom can host a seated reception for 770 guests.

Additional venues include the Lafayette Ballroom, Mercier Terrace and Courtyard, and the 12th-floor Crescent View overlooking the French Quarter and the Mississippi River bend.

The Ritz-Carlton offers customized culinary experiences and menus, from weddings to wine tastings The past May, the hotel was the setting for the Rosenthal wedding, attended by 174 guests.

The wedding ceremony took place in the Ritz-Carlton courtyard under a specially-designed chuppah. The couple wanted their dog to be included in the ceremony, so he was the ring bearer.

The Old No 77 Hotel and Chandlery brings history and art together Art and history converge at The Old No 77 Hotel and Chandlery, a boutique hotel just three blocks from the French Quarter.

Home to a rotating art gallery, Provenance Signature Amenities and Compère Lapin — rated as one of New Orleans’ top restaurants — the hotel is located in the Warehouse Arts District on Tchoupitoulas Street in a building that dates back to 1854, when it was used as a warehouse for the Port of Orleans.

They have hosted some small events in addition to hosting art exhibitions in a partnership with Where Y’art — a curated community of New Orleans artists, craftspeople and designers seeing to connect with buyers as well as each other.

The latest exhibit, “Building Blocks: The Architecture of New Orleans,” features French, Spanish and American styles of architecture found in New Orleans. Trapolin-Peer architect Gene Guidry curated the show with Where Y’art.

The Old No 77 Hotel and Chandlery also hosted a Three Hundred More event and exhibition prior to the current one. Three Hundred More illustrates “our commitment to continue to see New Orleans strive for another three centuries,” according to the hotel GM John Price.

“Three Hundred More will be a multi-faceted platform from which to continue the enthusiasm generated by the Tricentennial, while further deepening our connection to the community and delivering a compelling

DREAM, GIRL. You plan the fun stuff, leave the hotel details to us. Enjoy up to 25% off regular prices for your guests using your personalized rate plan.

No contracts, No Commitments. * Valid on 10 rooms or less. Blackout dates may apply.

535 Tchoupitoulas, New Orleans, Louisiana | old77hotel.com

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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simchas

offer to our guests,” said Price.

They are currently offering 10 percent off of their Flexible Rate and donating five percent of room night stay revenues to Restore the Mississippi River Delta as a part of the promotion, which has raised more than $10,000 for the cause as of Oct. 2.

The gallery exhibition celebrated South Louisiana’s coastal regions — heavy florals, wetlands and swamps.

Intercontinental a New Orleans experience The Intercontinental offers a true New Orleans experience for simchas and the guests attending them. Their flexible venues overlook St. Charles Avenue and are the perfect setting for receptions, wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners and other parties.

Every detail is handled, from the tablecloths and settings to event flow, unique meal planning, décor, lighting, even custom ice carvings.

The Intercontinental’s LaSalle Ballroom offers 21-foot ceilings, Lalique chandeliers, and floor-to-ceiling windows for panoramic views, It can seat up to 640, and numerous smaller spaces are also available.

After a $26 million rejuvenation, the four-diamond Intercontinental has 484 upgraded guest rooms. A favorite of business and leisure travelers, the Intercontinental is steps away from the French Quarter, as a rooftop pool with stunning city views and fine cuisine at Trenasse Restaurant.

The Intercontinental will host a Jewish wedding for 200 guests next February, and is the hotel for the Henry S. Jacobs Camp 50th reunion weekend in Nocember.

The InterContinental Hotel is also in the prime loction for Mardi Gras parades, with more than 30 passing directly in front of the hotel during the seaason. Reservations are now being taken for packages.

Ace Hotel: The Friendly Gathering Place Ace Hotel is holding all the cards when it comes to hosting great celebrations and providing accommodations for guests.

Ace Hotel Sales and Marketing Director Vicki Poplin said that they have

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

hosted Jewish weddings, movie premieres and “special events from eight people to 1,000 people. Our space is so flexible and plentiful. It can be transformed into anything.” Those themes for events have ranged from a New Orleans setting complete with a swamp to a Swedish garden to one that combined both Paris, France and Paris, Texas.

They also hosted a preview gathering for the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience.

The hotel includes the James Beard Award-winning Josephine Estelle Restaurant and Bar as well as the Alto Rooftop Bar and Grill.

She said the restaurant specializes in Italian with a Southern U.S. twist but “we can customize a menu for any event. We have done kosher-style, vegetarian and vegan,” said Poplin.

The Ace Hotel offers more than 6,000 square feet of space for events.

Part of the wedding package is a complimentary honeymoon suite for the bride and groom.

Located on 600 Carondelet Street in the Warehouse District, the 1928 art deco building housed Barnett’s Furniture Store until the 1970s.

The Columns’ Garden District elegance Now a 20-room hotel and event venue with the renowned Victorian Lounge and Front Gallery, The Columns was originally built as the residence of Jewish tobacco merchant Simon Hernsheim in 1883. With a prime Garden District location on St. Charles Avenue, it is the only remaining example of the large number of Italianate houses designed by Thomas Sully in the late 1880s.

Hernsheim, it is estimated, employed 1500 people and was the largest private employer in the state of Louisiana in his lifetime. The home is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Columns has over 35 years of event planning and hosting experience, able to accommodate receptions from 25 to over 300 people. Seated meals can be hosted for up to 90, and there are rooms for full-day or halfday meetings or retreats.

The Columns also has daily happy hour in the Victorian Lounge, and a Sunday jazz brunch.

2019 Impact Report October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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OuR MIssIOn

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans is a social service agency dedicated to preserving, strengthening, and enhancing the well-being and selfsufficiency of individuals and families at every stage of life.

Jewish Family Service is a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and a community impact partner of United Way Southeast Louisiana.

OuR HIstORy

Jewish Family Service (JFS) was initially created when the Jewish Children’s Home closed in 1948. JFS became a separate organization, with its own 501(c) (3) status granted in 1976, and opened its doors to people of all faiths in 1982.

JFS now serves everyone in Greater New Orleans regardless of race, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

Jewish Family Service is a “whole person environment.” JFS strengthens the community by helping families and individuals reach their full potential through various programs and services.

These include providing individual and group counseling, educating our young people about depression and suicide prevention, promoting independence for the elderly, providing case management, and assisting in adoption homestudies and therapeutic counseling.

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OuR BOaRd President

Betsy Threefoot Kaston First Vice President

second Vice President

David A. Dulitz, MD

Ashley Merlin Gold

treasurer

secretary

Bradley Bain

Debbie Pesses

immediate Past President

Laurence Manshel

Harriet Aguiar-Netto

Gail Pesses

Gilbert N. Braunig

Rabbi Matt Reimer

Lauren Bombet

Henry M. Rosenblat

Vivian Cahn

Julie Schwartz

Sue Daube

Louis Shepard

Rochelle Adler Effron

Rabbi Deborah Silver

Rachel Frank

Rabbi Todd Silverman

Joshua Friedmann

Ben Swig

Susan Green

Hallie Timm

Barbara B. Greenberg

Patty C. Ungar

Sara Kottle

Judge Miriam Waltzer

Allison Kupperman

Lynne Wasserman

Melinda Mintz

Arthur S. Waterman

Sanford Pailet, MD

Ian Zlatkiss, MD

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

LetteR FROM tHe PResIdent & eXeCutIVe dIReCtOR deaR FRIends, As we reflect upon the efforts to serve the greater New Orleans community over the past year, Jewish Family Service (JFS) is grateful to have received support from partners like you. This vital generosity allowed JFS to carry out our mission and assist almost 4,000 people in the Greater New Orleans area while keeping services affordable.

Whether teaching adolescents the skills to prevent teen suicide, providing guidance to individuals and families facing a crisis, or helping seniors to live independently, JFS is here to accommodate those in need with dignity and compassion - as we have for over 70 years.

This is a testament to the commitment and compassion of our financial supporters, our community partners, our volunteers, and our staff. It has not always been easy. We have had to adjust our processes and make hard decisions. We have asked more from our supporters than ever before. However, the result of all that effort is undeniable.

The question is, where do we go from here?

As this year’s Impact Report is going to press, the Board of Directors is completing a 5-year strategic plan that will encompass the communities vision for this agency moving forward. Through this strategic plan, the board and staff are evaluating our programs, keeping the community’s best interests at the forefront of our decision-making process. The goal is to serve even more people in our community through affordable relevant services. As always, Jewish values are our compass for creating this vision to move us forward.

JFS continues to focus on our core community services including Counseling, Case Management, Teen Life Counts (TLC), and Lifeline. In addition, JFS recently expanded the following: Acceptance of Medicare, Medicaid, and additional private pay insurance carriers along with offering counseling on a sliding –fee scale based on household income.

Consolidation of seniors services into one department in order to provide more seamless high-quality services to aging members of our community.

Initiating the development of an age-appropriate Teen Life Counts curriculum for elementary school children.

Together, we are building a community of stronger families and healthier lives at every age. Thank you!

With every good wish,

Betsy Threefoot Kaston

Roselle M. Ungar

PRESIDENT

ExECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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FInanCIaLs cHanGe in net assets Change in Net Assets

$(83,257)

Beginning of Year (1/1/2018)

$2,284,842

End of Year (12/31/2018)

$2,201,585

assets Cash and Cash Equivalents

$179,030

Accounts Receivable

$12,504

Grants Receivable

$65,769

Unconditional Promises to Give

$17,500

Prepaid Expenses

$16,213

Notes Receivable

$13,403

Funds Held by Jewish Endowment Foundation

$1,924,430

Israel Bonds

$6,000

Property and Equipment, Net

$12,780

TOTAL ASSETS

$2,247,629

3% United Way $37,239

35%

31%

Grant Income $514,936

Program Service Fees $451,631

reVenue & suPPort $1,459,851

10% Jewish Federation Allocations $150,300

20% Contributions $286,995

LiaBiLities and net assets

16%

Liabilities Accounts Payable

$7,782

Accrued Vacation

$24,859

Jewish Federation Loans Payable

$13,403

TOTAL LIABILITIES

$46,044

net assets Undesignated

$215,431

Board Designated

$1,924,430

General & Administrative $251,609

8% Fundraising $129,994

FunctionaL exPenses $1,540,488

TOTAL WITHOUT DONOR RESTRICTIONS $2,139,861

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TOTAL WITH DONOR RESTRICTIONS

$61,724

TOTAL NET ASSETS

$2,201,585

75%

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

$2,247,629

Program Services $1,158,885

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Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

IndIVIduaLs seRVed

4

Senior Care Planning

520

132

Case Management

Lifeline

2,264

84

TLC Students and Adult Gatekeepers

Homemakers

329

Counseling

14

Survivors of Human Trafficking and Refugees

222

247

Information & Referrals

CEU Workshop Participants

3,816 Total Number of People Served

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

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PROgRaMs & seRVICes adOPtIOn suPPORt seRVICes JFS provides adoption home studies, pre-adoption counseling, and postplacement studies. The service educates families about the adoption process and the special issues that adoptive families face. Services also include therapeutic counseling during the adoption process.

tHe BeHaVIORaL HeaLtH InteRn tRaInIng CenteR This training center allows JFS to serve additional clients by training masters-level Social Work and Counseling students from area universities. A full-time Intern Supervisor manages the program which trains between 3-7 interns per semester.

senior services Without JFS, I would be truly alone. With no family close by to help, JFS was there for me when I needed help finding an Assisted Living Facility to move into. They also paired me with a Bikur Chaverim volunteer who comes by twice a month. My volunteer, Sandra, and I play chess and talk about movies. I truly look forward to her visits. —David C.

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COntInuIng eduCatIOn WORksHOPs JFS offers high quality continuing education workshops on relevant and innovative topics for social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals in the community. These sessions are open but specifically offered for the benefit of colleagues and peers who are required to receive educational credit hours to stay apprised of current practices and modalities.

COunseLIng JFS has licensed, professional staff specialized in working with children, adolescents, adults, and couples. Counselors provide guidance and support on how to cope with interpersonal and family issues. Counseling services are offered in our office in Metairie. Certain Medicare and Medicaid plans are accepted along with private insurance. A sliding fee scale, based on household income, is also available. Services in Spanish are also available.

geneRaL Case ManageMent General Case Management staff assist clients and their families with medical, psychological, legal, financial, and crisis intervention issues.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

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PROgRaMs & seRVICes

(COntInued)

gROuPs JFS Counseling Groups provide support and education to attendees. JFS has expanded the variety and frequency of groups offered. Groups held this past year include Girl Power, Caregiver Support, and Bereavement.

JFS has also held Counselor-in-Training Sessions at the Jewish Community Center in Metairie.

HOMeMakeR The JFS Homemaker program provides in-home assistance for disabled or older adults. JFS homemakers help people with tasks of daily living, such as housekeeping and transportation. This program ensures both the safety and independence of individuals aging in their home. The cost for this service is on a sliding fee scale, based on household income.

InFORMatIOn and ReFeRRaLs JFS provides current information and referrals regarding a wide variety of mental health resources and social services available in our community.

LIFeLIne Lifeline is a personal emergency response system providing subscribers assistance 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. This system is easy to use and designed to reduce the risks of living alone. In the event of a fall or an emergency, immediate help is available at the push of a button. The subscriber is able to delegate initial points of contact (a neighbor, family member, friend) as opposed to immediately triggering EMS, avoiding unnecessary trips to the ER.

senIOR CaRe assessMents This service was launched to determine the unmet needs of senior clients and provide helpful information and referrals. Professional staff conducts assessments during on-site home visits which include a

Counseling I hadn’t considered counseling as an option. I thought it was financially out of reach, but since finding JFS, I now have access to an affordable and compassionate counseling service.

—Maria O.

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

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PROgRaMs & seRVICes

(COntInued)

questionnaire, discussion, and observation of a client’s ability to complete daily activities. Appropriate information and referrals are provided when a health or safety concern is identified.

senIOR CaRe PLannIng This program assists families with older adults who are facing transition and possibly in need of specialized care. Clients meet with a Senior Care Planner who provides information and resources for home-based services, caregiver support, financial planning, residential care options and more.

suRVIVORs OF HuMan tRaFFICkIng

teen Life Counts The Teen Life Counts program brings critical suicide prevention knowledge to our students and is delivered in a manner in which our students feel comfortable talking about suicide when they otherwise may never have the conversation.

—School Counselor, Edna Karr High School

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Free case management and counseling services are available for survivors of human trafficking, of all ages, living in the Greater New Orleans area. They are provided comprehensive case management including legal support, housing, clothing, food, safety, medical services, ESL, and counseling. This program is made possible with funding provided by Covenant House.

teen LIFe COunts Established in 1984, Teen Life Counts (TLC) is a school-based suicide prevention and awareness program. Experienced mental health professionals and trained volunteer educators teach students how to identify warning signs of depression and suicide, how to talk to a troubled friend, and where to go to get help. TLC goes into public, private, parochial, and charter schools in the Greater New Orleans area.

unaCCOMPanIed MInORs Post Release Service to Unaccompanied Minors. This program serves foreign-born children who are fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries and arrive in the United States as unaccompanied minors. Clients are referred by the US Committee for Refugees & Immigrants (USCRI) and are typically in need of services such as securing school placement, counseling, legal support, and caregiver evaluation. Program is available through funding from USCRI.

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

WORk In tHe JeWIsH COMMunIty Bikur ChaveriM

Meaning “visiting friends” Bikur Chaverim is a volunteer-based program designed to bring support and companionship to those who are isolated.

CaTCh-a-CaB

Through the generosity of the Adele Cahn Catch-a-Cab Designated Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation, the Catch-A-Cab program is designed to supplement the cost of transportation for members of the Jewish community who are 65 years of age or older. Participants receive discounted coupons for use with local taxi companies.

FinanCiaL reSourCe CenTer

Lifeline

The Jewish Family Service Financial Resource Center (JFSFRC) offers small grants to Jewish individuals and families in crisis.

JewiSh CoMMuniTy Day SChooL ParTnerShiP

Jewish Family Service offers workshops for parents, classroom sessions with students in all grade levels, one-on-one sessions with students, and consults with faculty and administration. Thanks to funding from the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust during this past year, a JFS part-time counselor was on-site at the school three days per week.

BruCe Levy MeMoriaL JFS PaSSover FooD BaSkeT PrograM

In celebration of Passover, JFS organizes the annual Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket packing and distribution event.

Dozens of eager JFS volunteers come together during this event to sort food items, pack boxes of kosher-for-Passover food, and deliver them to over 300 members-in-need in the Jewish community.

I had just come out of the hospital following another fall. I wanted to continue living on my own, but my son was nervous about leaving me alone. After doing some research, we found the Lifeline program at JFS. Even though I’d been hesitant to wear a help-button, Lifeline allows me to maintain my independent lifestyle while giving my son peace-of-mind.

We both know I’ll be safe in case of an emergency.

—Pam W.

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

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JFs PaRtneRs In CaRIng gIVIng sOCIety The JFS Partners in Caring Giving Society recognizes individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations whose cumulative generosity has made a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals and families at every stage of their life. This listing is based on donor records beginning in 1990.

VIsIOnaRy ($50,000+) The Bissinger-Timm Family Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation The Cahn Family Foundation; James & Marie Cahn, Richard & Vivian Cahn Adele K. Cahn*

Goldring Family Foundation Shirley and Robert B. Haspel Albert & Rea Hendler Charitable Trust Institute of Mental Hygiene Jewish Endowment Foundation

Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Pratt-Stanton Manor Fund Sara Matile Schwarz

United Way of Southeast Louisiana The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Woldenberg Foundation Lynell D. Zelenka Foundation

Bruce Levy Family for the Benefit of Jewish Family Service Donor Advised Fund Anne P. Lowenburg MAZON: a Jewish Response to Hunger John & Susie Meltzer Julie Grant Meyer

Max Nathan, Jr. Marshall & Julie Wise Oreck Sanford Pailet, M.D. Julie Schwartz & David Radlauer RosaMary Foundation Joshua L. Rubenstein Sara B. Stone*

Laura & Walter Levy Richard S. Margolin Jan & Henry Miller New Orleans Artists Against Hunger & Homelessness Dr. Bennie P. Nobles Sarah & Joe Pasternack, Jr. Percival Stern Foundation Henry & Susan Rosenblat Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation Madalyn & Robert Schenk Dana & Louis Shepard Jane & William Sizeler

Robert & Pamela Steeg The TJx Foundation, Inc Touro Infirmary Foundation UBS Financial Services Patty C. & Randy J. Ungar Bernard Van der Linden Harold Wainer Ellie & Bruce Wainer Judge Miriam Waltzer & Mr. Bruce Waltzer Art & Martie Waterman Guy & Dale Williams Carol B. Wise

CHaI guaRdIan ($18,000 - $49,999) Cathy & Morris Bart Burkenroad Foundation Adele Cahn Catch-a-Cab Designated Fund Sue & David Daube Ferber Family of Houma Foundation Deena Gerber

GPOA Foundation Hancock Whitney National Bank Dorothy S. Jacobs Judge Jacob & Vicki Karno Jeffrey & Betsy Kaston Fran & Jonathan Lake

BeneFaCtOR ($10,000 - $17,999) Anonymous Shelly & Benay Bernstein Burkdale Foundation Leslie & Jonathan Fawer Frances Sontheimer Wolff Alan & Diane Franco Ella West Freeman Foundation Jeffrey & Debbie Friedman Mike & Marcy Gertler Dr. Dov & Margery Glazer Howard & Susan Green Mr. & Mrs. Ricardo Guevara John Haspel & Amy Gainsburgh-Haspel

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Mrs. Sandra P. Heller Mrs. Jimmy Heymann* Dr. & Mrs Harris Hyman, III Julanne Isaacson The Estate of Irwin Isaacson Jefferson Parish Medical Society Jewish Federation of New Hampshire Lis & Hugo Kahn Jeno & Monica Kalozdi Scott Kisner Mr. & Mrs. Paul Kullman Andrea & Terrence Lestelle Renee & Rusty Levy

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

OuR 2018-2019 suPPORteRs $50,000 & aBOVe

Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants

$25,000 - $49,999

The Cahn Family Foundation Covenant House Goldring Family Foundation Woldenberg Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999

Bissinger-Timm for the Benefit of Jewish Family Service Donor Advised Fund Adele Cahn Catch-A-Cab Designated Fund Joe W. & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation GPOA Foundation Institute of Mental Hygiene Jewish Endowment Foundation Bruce Levy Family for the Benefit of Jewish Family Service Donor Advised Fund Pratt-Stanton Manor Fund Sara Matile Schwarz Louisiana Children’s Trust Fund

$5,000 - $9,999

Marjorie Bissinger La Societe Des Dames Hospitalieres Donor Advised Fund Ferber Family Foundation of Houma Dorothy S. Jacobs RosaMary Foundation Sherman Charitable Trust The Estate of Sharyn Robbins Silverstein Harold Wainer

$2,500 - $4,999

Burkenroad Foundation David & Sue Daube Howard & Susan Green Mrs. Robert B. Haspel Judge Jacob & Vicki Karno Jeffrey & Betsy Kaston NGCF Donor Advised Fund Sanford Pailet, M.D.

Julie Schwartz & David Radlauer Marilyn Rosenson Judge Miriam Waltzer & Mr. Bruce Waltzer

$1,000 - $2,499

Anonymous (2) Allan & Nikki Berger Burkedale Foundation Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston, Inc. Crescent Care David & Kristen Dulitz Mark & Rochelle Effron Marcy & Mike Gertler Cathy & Charles Glaser Margie & Dov Glazer Scott & Ashley Gold Sandra P. Heller Andrea & Jeffrey Huseman Dr. Harris and Barbara Hyman Steven Jacobson Hugo & Lis Kahn David Kerns Dr. & Mrs. Rene Koppel Jonathan & Fran Lake Betty & Harry Lazarus Renee & Rusty Levy Rabbi Robert & Lynn Loewy Frank & Annette Loria II Ellen & Stephen Manshel Mr. Richard S. Margolin John & Susie Meltzer Julie Grant Meyer Melinda & Morris Mintz Dr. & Mrs. Gary Reiss Joshua L. Rubenstein Madalyn & Robert Schenk Kathy & Hal Shepard Stephen & Nancy Timm Roselle & Stanley Ungar Bernard Van der Linden Art & Martie Waterman Mrs. Frances Wolff

$500 - $999

Anonymous (1) Diane Africk Cathy & Morris Bart Rabbi Alexis Berk - Touro Synagogue Allan* & Nancy Bissinger

Brandon Bissinger Sandra Burstein* Leslie & Jonathan Fawer Deena Y. Gerber Dr. & Mrs. Harley Ginsberg Barbara Greenberg Eric & Jillian Greenberg Susan & William Hess Julanne Isaacson Andrea & Terrence Lestelle Ruth & Joel Loeffelholz Lupo Family Charitable Fund Laurence & Elizabeth Manshel Mr. & Mrs. Sanford R. Maslansky Toby & Joel Mendler Jan & Henry Miller City of New Orleans Marshall & Julie Wise Oreck Sarah & Joe Pasternack, Jr. Jill & Louis Plotkin Dr. & Mrs. Gary Rich Edie & Paul Rosenblum Dana & Louis Shepard Ivan Morton Sherman Foundation Fund Dr. Ivan Sherman Rabbi Deborah Silver William & Jane Sizeler Robert & Pamela Steeg Rick & Ann Streiffer Ben Swig Dr. & Mrs. Henry Threefoot Patty & Randy Ungar Lynne & Michael Wasserman Marie & Robert Wolf Dr. Ian Zlatkiss

$250 - $499

Anonymous (3) Jack & Phyllis Alltmont Marvin & Marilyn Bernstein Shelly & Benay Bernstein Joe & Lee Blotner Joseph Bodenmiller Gilbert & Jody Braunig Dr. & Mrs. Aden A. Burka Emily & Evan Dvorin Fagan Family Charitable Fund Mark & Janet Fagan Drs. Leron & Julie Finger Dr. & Mrs. Elliot Finkelstein Leslie & Nathan Fischman Professor Robert Force Mr. and Mrs. Jacob M. Fried, Jr. Hon. Robin Giarrusso Mr. & Mrs. Alan Goodman Margaret Gripshover

Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Gutter Harriet Handelman John Haspel & Amy Gainsburgh-Haspel Lisa & Mike Herman Mitchell J. & Susan Hoffman Dr. Ross Hogan Dr. & Mrs. Morris Hyman Neal & Nancy Kaplan Richard & Lisa Karlin Ralph Katz Allison Kupperman Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Kupperman Marrero Land and Improvement Asociation Marjorie McCants Elaine Mendel-John Dr. & Mrs. Alvin Merlin Louis and Lillian Glazer Family Foundation Robert Mintz Max Nathan, Jr. Richard & Carole Neff Dr. Bennie P. Nobles Rochelle Pearl Debbie & Leon Pesses Mr. & Mrs. Randal Pick Sharon Pollin Sue & Fred Preis The Barber & Saul Fund Rabbi Todd Silverman Cory & Carol Sparks Hal & Lauren Ungar Mrs. Jenna Walsh Lorraine Lake Williams Carol Wise Moises & Martha Yoselevitz Marilyn Pailet Zackin Dr. Jack Zoller

$100- $249

Anonymous (11) Ms. Harriet Aguiar-Netto Sabina Altman Leslie Bahn Bradley & Daniela Bain Dawn Barrios Hertha Bart Brook Bissinger Bonnie & Harris Blackman Helaine & Bill Braunig Kelley & Guy Brenner Debra Bresler Caroline & Bob Brickman Daniel & Melanie Bronfin Dr. & Mrs. Alan Burshell Dr. Michael Chafetz

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

11

OuR suPPORteRs (COntInued) Dr. Marvin Clifford, PhD, LCSW Dr. Gerald Cohen Martin Drell, MD Congregation Gates of Prayer Myra Ungar Dunn Mr. & Mrs. Alan Emerman Mr. & Mrs. Chad Eriksen Dr. & Mrs. Israel Finger New Orleans Jewish Community Center Marc & Susan Friedman George & Laura Fuhrman Dr. Bruce Gandle Bobby Garon & Robin Levy Ana & Juan Gershanik Mr. John E. Gilcrease Mr. & Mrs. Jan Glade Dr. Leonard Glade Dr. & Mrs. Mel Gold Ned & Wendy Goldberg Kitzi Goldman William E. and Sandra Chass Goldsmith Rabbi & Mrs. David Goldstein Morris Gottesman Jeffrey & Linda Green Juliet Greenberg

Mr. & Mrs. William Mimeles Harry & Marion Mohre Andree K. Moss Sam Musso Susan Norwood Leon Greenblatt II Mr. & Mrs. Russell S. Palmer Mr. & Mrs. Doug Halprin Gail Fenton Pesses Devvie Harris Mrs. Toby Feibelman Daisy & Ron Heumann Mr. & Mrs. Joel Alan Picker Mrs. Roberta Hirsu, LCSW State of Israel Ministry of Finance John Pizer The Post Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Terry Jacobson Lisa Preminger Ms. Patty Joyce Joyce & Sidney Pulitzer Dr. & Mrs. Wynn Kapit National Council Of Jewish Women Ms. Kay Radlauer Dr. Gary Remer & Ms. Toni Weiss Celia L. Katz Cynthia N. & Leon Rittenberg, Jr. Charel W. Katz Mr. & Mrs. Steven Rittvo Ellen Katz Henry & Susan Rosenblat Bob Kennedy Mark K. Rosenbloom Ellen & Stan Kessler Meryl Rosenbloom Susan Kierr Candy & Wally Rosenblum Dr. Kenneth L. Klein Mr. & Mrs. Frank Royerre Steve & Pat Klein Andre & Robbie Rubenstein Ronda Kottle Laurence Rudman L. Spencer Krane Robert Salus Peter & Diane Labouisse, III Nita-Joan Sams Dr. & Mrs. Barry J. Leader Barbara Samuels June P. Lestelle Dr. Bruce Samuels Donald I. Levy Mr. & Mrs. David L. Schlakman Robert Levy Florence & Richard Schornstein Anna Manteil Stanley Schwam Mrs. Carol Marx

Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Shefsky Cathy Shepard Leopold & Karen Sher Mr. & Mrs. Harold Singer Betty & Ed Smith Randye Snyder Stephen & Caroline Sontheimer Erin Springer Edgar & Kay Starns Mr. Edgar Stein Dr. & Mrs. Louis H. Stern Jon B. Strauss Matthew & Sherri Tarr Hallie Timm Dr. Aron Toshav & Ms. Rebecca Friedman Jon & Sarah Villien Dr. & Mrs. Gregory Vorhoff Mrs. Beverly Wainer Henry Weber Mr. Donald Weil Dr. Karen Weissbecker Remer The Well-Hung Speakers Judge Jerome Winsberg Harrison Wool Elizabeth Yager Peter Zandan Gary Zoller & Lisa Pulitzer Rebecca Zwart * Deceased

sPeCIaL tHanks tO: AK7 Productions Alan & Diane Franco Audubon Nature Institute Betsy & Jeffrey Kaston Beyond the Bayou Tours Casablanca Restaurant Chateau Drugs Congregation Anshe Sfard Congregation Beth Israel Congregation Gates of Prayer Congregation Gates of Prayer Nursery School

Congregation Gates of Prayer Religious School Doris Metropolitan Fred Preis, Senior Partner, Labor/Employment Section, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP Hazelnut Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

Joshua Lee Photography Kayco Kosher & Beyond Kendra Scott Kosher Cajun Deli and Grocery Larry Manshel & ITC Promotions Mike Gertler, Gertler Law Firm National Council of Jewish Women New Orleans Jewish Community Center Northshore Jewish Congregation Religious School

Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group READ NOLA Rob Kopman and 30minute-Seder Sasnak Farms Shir Chadash Religious School Temple Sinai Religious School Thomas Mann Torah Academy Touro Synagogue Religious School

This list represents contributions of $100 and above to Jewish Family Service from July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019.

We regret any errors or omissions in this publication. Please contact the Development Office to update your records so that we may recognize you appropriately in the future.

tHank yOu tO aLL OuR JFs suPPORteRs! 54

12

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans I 2019 Impact RepORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Ways tO suPPORt JFs BeCOMe a FRIend OF JFs

Make a gIFt In HOnOR OF sOMeOne

You become a Friend when making a general or designated gift. Your contribution enables JFS to offer our sliding-fee scale, keeping our programs and services affordable and accessible to everyone. You may designate your gift to support: General/Unrestricted Fund Senior Services Children and Families Other programs as specified

You can make a difference for someone in our community with a meaningful gesture that will be appreciated by both the gift recipient and the person served by JFS.

gIVe a stOCk dOnatIOn OR IsRaeL BOnd dOnatIOn Updating your portfolio? Consider donating shares of stock or an Israel Bond to benefit JFS. Call 504-831-8475 for more information.

Make a gIFt In MeMORy OF sOMeOne Pay tribute to loved ones who were an important part of your life with a beautiful expression of remembrance.

dOnate yOuR VeHICLe Jewish Family Service accepts charitable donations of vehicles through CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services), with sale proceeds dedicated to support a variety of JFS programs. CARS will help you handle all of the details of your automobile (or other motor vehicle) donation. Receive a tax credit, and avoid the hassle of advertising or haggling with a car salesman. Visit the “Support Us� page on the JFS website to learn more.

aMazOnsMILe Make shopping meaningful by making your Amazon purchases through the AmazonSmile portal. Go to Smile.

Amazon.com and select Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans. Amazon will donate a portion of the proceeds from select purchases to JFS.

thank you Volunteers!

JFS recruits dedicated volunteers who work closely with staff to ensure the best care for the people we serve. Volunteer opportunities are available for the following programs: Lifeline, Teen Life Counts (TLC), Bikur Chaverim, and Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Baskets. interested in giving your time and talents?

Call (504) 831-8475 or send an email to jfs@jfsneworleans.org.

2019 Impact RepoRt I Jewish Family Service of Greater New orleans

13

OuR staFF eXeCutIVe staFF

LIFeLIne

Roselle M. Ungar, CFRE Executive Director

Jane Levine* Lifeline Community Liaison

Rachel Lazarus Eriksen, LCSW-BACS Director of Clinical Services

Jan Miller Lifeline Office Support Staff

Julie Finkelstein Steinhaus Director of Business Services

Kim Nonemacher Senior Services Manager

COunseLIng/Case ManageMent

Cortni Randazzo Senior Services Intake & Admissions Assistant

Desislava Altazova, LPC Therapist Stephanie Crowder, LPC, LMFT Licensed Therapist

Harrison Wool, RTA Lifeline Field Support Staff

teen LIFe COunts

Fran Dinehart, LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Case Manager

Dr. Katherine C. Godshall, LCSW-BACS Teen Life Counts Coordinator

Andrea Garcia, BA Bilingual Case Manager

Melissa R. Stewart, LMSW* Teen Life Counts Coordinator

Michelle Helmstetter, LCSW, MBA Intern Program Supervisor

gRants & COMMunICatIOn

Laura Kulick, LCSW* Licensed Clinical Social Worker Bethany Linville, BA, MA Bilingual Program Officer Mario Figueroa, BSW Bilingual Case Manager Andrea Garcia, BS Bilingual Case Manager Ruth E. Goldberg, LCSW-BACS, ACSW, BCD Bilingual Social Worker Natasha Ramer Resettlement Case Worker Candice Rosenblum, LCSW* Clinical Social Worker & Certified Parenting Coordinator Ludmila Talley Resettlement Case Worker Margaret Winston, LPC JCDS Therapist

56

*Former JFS Staff as of June 30, 2019

14

Lauren Rudzis, BA Communications and Development Coordinator

adMInIstRatIVe staFF Chase Alphonso Client and Donor Services Specialist Teri Conrad Administrative Assistant Erin Grauel, MFA* Administrative Assistant Sarah Villien, BA* Client and Donor Services Specialist

HOMeMakeRs Shirleen Jefferson Valerie Vaughn

2018-2019 BeHaVIORaL HeaLtH InteRn tRaInIng CenteR InteRns Ida Ansell, Angela Bacigalupo, Katherine Cantwell, Sean Comiskey, Madison Farmer, Jennifer Keith, Claire Kohne, Harter March, Cara Zajac

Jewish Family service of new Orleans I 2019 IMPaCt RePORt

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

community >> Federation

continued from page 7

Shepard. The award goes to “the unsung heroes of the New Orleans Jewish community,” he said.

“Oscar would have been thrilled by the first recipient of the award,” Giardina said. Shepard became active with the Touro Synagogue Brotherhood in 1985, eventually becoming president. He was on the synagogue board for 16 years, becoming president in 2009. While president of the Tulane Hillel board in 2004, he raised funds to create a development director position.

He also was an advisor for the 2015-17 KatzPhillips Leadership class, Super Sunday cochair for the last four years and on several other community committees.

Giardina said Shepard is most passionate about Krewe de VIP at Touro, which provides a platform in front of the synagogue for children with disabilities to enjoy the Mardi Gras parades.

“Everyone in this room does what they can for others, and someone showed us how,” Shepard said. We all worry how to teach the next generation to give of time and money. I think we can show by example.”

Bobby Garon presented the Herbert and Margot Garon Young Leadership Award to David Shepard. Garon said Shepard “began volunteering at age 3” at the National Council of Jewish Women’s annual clothing fundraiser.

When he returned to New Orleans, he was dedicated to improving public education. “What better place than New Orleans, an incubator for change,” Garon said.

He joined the JNOLA group, quickly becoming co-chair, and chair of the Amiel program bringing Israeli programming to the community. He is also in this year’s KatzPhillips class.

“Give our Federation credit,” Garon said, “they know how to hook the young good ones early on.”

Shepard said he saw his parents leading “so many organizations in the community,” and learned that “leadership wasn’t just about acting, it was about values.”

When he returned to the community, “people gave me the opportunity to lead” and “I feel very lucky to be in a community that sees young leadership as important.”

Federation President Henry Miller made a presentation to Campaign Co-chairs Jan Miller and Jonny Lake. The campaign hit $2.66 million from 1,318 households, including 50 new gifts and 290 increased gifts.

Miller reflected on his term as president, saying the role of Federation is to touch as many lives as possible. When he became president October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

57

community

NED

two years ago, he remarked that it would not be “your grandfather’s Federation.”

He mentioned two programs that were recently started by Federation, JPNola and the mentoring program, which are “are growing and flourishing.”

JPNola reaches out to the Jewish LGBTQ community, and Miller said for some, JPNola “was their first real organized contact with the New Orleans Jewish community.”

There were several battles, as well. After the vandalism last year at Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville, “We soon saw the entire community, Jews and non-Jews, come together to show the world that discrimination is not welcome in Louisiana.”

After the shooting at Tree of Life, the Federation continued its already-existing process of evaluating and strengthening community security, working with local and federal law enforcement, “even using the Federation building for active shooter drills.”

The Federation also has been fighting against the BDS movement, and Miller noted a key fighter against the Israel boycotters has been Governor John Bel Edwards, “not just in words but in action,” going on a mission to Israel and coming back with joint ventures and economic opportunities for Louisiana companies to partner with Israelis.

“The governor has promised another economic mission to Israel, to expand the economic ties” Miller said.

In his inaugural address, Force spoke of being on a recent mission, meeting with Jewish leaders in Uruguay and Argentina, hearing about the challenges those communities face. One of the participants said “what the eyes can’t see, the heart can’t feel,” an idea he brought home.

“It is essential to see and understand the needs and priorities of community for us to do our work, and to make the case to others to support the Jewish Federation,” Force said.

He called for a “full strategic planning and visioning process,” which has not taken place

since just after Katrina.

“Times have changed and our community has changed,” he said. “We have rebuilt the New Orleans Jewish community, and helped rebuild the greater New Orleans community as well.”

Many other issues will need to be addressed, especially community security.

Force mentioned that David Shepard will chair a new committee on Israel educational programming, to “provide a wide range of Israel programming that speaks to all segments of our community.” Continuing and expanding the Gift of Israel and Partnership2Gether efforts will be part of that.

He also spoke of the importance of young leadership, noting that the current Katz Phillips class is the largest since the 1980s, and how it is rare to see a community where young leaders are given as much opportunity to be involved on community boards and in leadership positions.

On a personal level, Federation CEO Arnie Fielkow said it had been a difficult year healthwise, but “I’m feeling strong and I appreciate so much all of your support.”

Fielkow said it is “striking how far we have come in a relatively short time” in the past two years, focusing on unifying the New Orleans Jewish community, and build relationships and bridges among organizations, institutions and congregations. “I’d like to believe Federation has become a more open and friendly organization,” he said.

He echoed the importance of the upcoming strategic planning process, and celebrated the annual campaign’s increase in 2018.

Sponsorships have also gone up with the Federation’s new Patrons Program, with Hancock Whitney Bank, Lakeside and Northshore Toyota, and Karl Bernard law firm.

The Federation will continue to expand its programming and its partnerships in the general community. Fielkow said “not everything that Federation does will appeal to all, but at least one thing the Federation does will appeal to everyone.”

Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival announces lineup

bespoke jewelry

646.509.7889 pastichellc@bellsouth.net 58 October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

The Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival returns in January with four films, from Jan. 15 to 19 at the Manship Theatre.

The festival starts with “The Museum” on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m., a documentary about life in Israel’s most important cultural institution, the Israel Museum. Kenneth Hoffman, executive director of the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, which will open next year, will be the guest speaker.

On Jan. 16 at 7 p.m., “The Unorthodox” is a dark comedy about an upstart Sephardic political party in Israel, showing how dysfunctional politics can be everywhere.

The Jan. 18 film, “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles” is the inside story on how a risky Broadway show with mixed reviews became a cultural icon, with a celebrated film adaptation and becoming the first Broadway musical to exceed 3,000 performances. It will be screened at 7:30 p.m.

The festival concludes with “Redemption,” on Jan 19 at 3 p.m., about a widower who is losing his young daughter to cancer. He reaches out to friends from the days before he was Hassidic, and they suggest getting their old band back together — but it isn’t as easy to go back to how they were.

{

FOOD Subtitled “A Highly Debatable List,” Alana Newhouse’s The 100 Most Jewish Foods is good fun.

Inside are submissions from Joan Nathan to Tom Colicchio (who proposed over a pastrami sandwich at Second Avenue Deli to his Jewish now-wife) of the obvious: babka, bagels, gefilte fish — to others that perhaps give one a little pause: Sweet’N Low, Bazooka Gum, Chinese food (well, okay, yeah.). As an aside, the mention of ‘mufleta’ had me first thinking City Grocery / Napoleon House / Nor Joe’s? But looking again, it was the buttery layered confection stuffed with sweet fillings that I’ve never yet had... with a big yet. A big plus here is that there are more than 60 recipes included, and a good mix of serious to light humor. A more academic study will be found with Global Jewish Foodways: A History, published by the University of Nebraska, on how our people have carried with them a very obvious set of rules and regulations on eating while exercising a tremendous amount of flexibility on picking up local flavors and practices. Included is Marcie Cohen Ferris’ “Dining in the Dixie Diaspora: A Meeting of Region and Religion,” which includes stories like the high-treyf 1886 New Orleans B’nai Brith fundraising supper for the Jewish Widows and Orphans Home that had on its menu turtle soup, oysters and soft shell crab, plus a tale of the meeting between Rabbi Tobias Geffen and Coca-Cola chemists in the 1930s that resulted in what we now consider “Passover Coke.” There’s a nice mention, too, of the great tradition of Southern Jews loading coolers in trunks to keep kosher foods fresh on trips back from Memphis and other bigcity markets. Amanda Ruben’s Feasting: A New Take on Jewish Cooking starts with interesting menus for holidays and special get-togethers, but what’s most endearing are the recipes for basics with a twist, like chopped liver with a cherry mostarda and crostini, roast chicken breast with lemon jam and crushed Jerusalem artichokes, and halva cheesecake. Millennial Kosher: Recipes Reinvented for the Modern Palate by Chanie Apfelbaum is a win with ideas like marble cake pancakes, ramen shakshuka, and chicken marsala hamentashen. So many of these are truly any-day-of-the-week easy and just different enough to be interesting. Nice.

GRAPHIC NOVEL

THE SOUTH

ANNE FRANK’S DIARY

SPYING ON THE SOUTH:

An Odyssey Across the American Divide

by Tony Horwitz

Over 20 years have passed since Horwitz wrote the best-selling “Confederates in the Attic,” and his distinct style and outlook seems very little changed here. The late author, who passed away suddenly this year while on a book tour, followed purposefully in the footsteps of Frederick Law Olmsted, who in the 1850s took on the task of being a correspondent for the New York Times, traveling south to explore whether Americans are more similar or different.

It was good to see Horwitz’ visit with Greenville, Mississippi’s Benjy Nelkin, who gives him a rundown on the town’s Jewish past (storekeepers, politicians, a country club president), as well as the observation that “This is the Bible Belt; if you’re Jewish and observant, Southerners respect that you adhere to a religious faith, even if it’s not theirs.”

It’s the author’s easy conversations with everyday people (some of whom will do you proud, others may provoke an audible groan of disdain), rather than his sometimes heavy-handed judgments and observations, that make the book worthwhile.

The Graphic Adaptation adapted by Ari Folman, illustrations by David Polonsky

It seems odd to describe “Anne Frank’s Diary” as a graphic novel, but indeed, putting it in this format is incredibly effective. Entries that perhaps didn’t particularly make more of an impression in text are certainly enhanced here; those one remembers so plainly become even more detailed. Passages included — Anne’s fantasies, depression, humor, courage, and vulnerabilities — are made all the more relatable by David Polonsky’s absolutely pitch-perfect illustrations.

CHILDREN • In the Land of Happy Tears: Yiddish Tales for Modern Times, collected and edited by David Stromberg, are here in English for the first time.

Perfect in length for bedtime, each story relates to one of four main principles: bravery, rebellion, justice, or wonder. They don’t necessarily end happily or particularly neatly, but can easily be used as a jumping-off point to discuss modern situations, or simply enjoyed on their own.

• What are You Doing, Benny? by Cary Fagan (who has won the Jewish Book Award), with pictures by Kady MacDonald Denton, is all about sibling relationships. Learning to give each other a little space makes for fun times closer together.

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life 59

Chateau Drugs & gifts “Worriers to Warriors” JLI class adds Uptown venue

Unexpected Elegance 3544 West Esplanade Ave., Metairie Between Severn and Hessmer Aves.

889-2300 • chateaudrugsrx.com

M-F 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm

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FREE GIFT WRAP

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

As the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute rolls out its new course, “From Worrier to Warrior: Jewish Secrets to Feeling Good However You Feel,” next month, there will be a new venue offering the six-part series.

Chabad Uptown in New Orleans has become a new affiliate of JLI, after years of classes being held in the New Orleans area at the Chabad in Metairie.

The course is also being offered by Chabad of Baton Rouge and at the Bais Ariel Chabad Center in Birmingham.

While people want to be happy and upbeat, there is often self-doubt and feeling of regret or failure. The course uses Torah teachings and contemporary psychology to approach the battle against bad feelings, providing realistic spiritual mechanisms for being upbeat no matter what happens.

The first session describes Achieving Authenticity, the tendency to downplay words of praise because of self-doubt. The other sessions deal with topics such as feelings of inadequacy, regret, the validity of emotional pain, inner peace and enthusiastic living, and refreshing healthy

relationships.

Nationally, JLI is partnering with the Continuing Education office at Albert Einstein Medical College to provide CE credits for the course. Einstein is accredited by the American Psychological Association and the AMA’s Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.

Doctors, psychologists and social workers in Louisiana will be able to earn up to 15 CE credits —nine credits for attendance, and additional credits for studying the supplemental reading.

In New Orleans, the first class will be open to the community at no charge, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Uptown and Nov. 12 at 7:15 p.m. in Metairie. continued on page 61

community >> Rear Pew Mirror

PLAN AHEAD for continued from page 62

The Big G gave Abraham the signal to sacrifice. As always when the Big G says to do something, Abraham steps up to the plate. At the last second, in swoops a subordinate like a first base coach waving off the sacrifice and pointing out a nearby ram offering a different chance to work his way around the horn.

Naturally, the Big G was mad and wouldn’t speak to him for the rest of the game. Also, ever since, the Angels have been cursed from ever winning the World Series.

peace of mind.

***** Mottled. Isn’t that the word describing what happened to Tzeitel? ***** I wonder how many people get it when I say Shanah Tovah Feldshuh. ***** After hearing the word “b’rito” in the service, how many people start craving Mexican food and don’t know why? ***** Fast of Gedalia explained: Gedalia was big. And fast. The morning after Rosh Hashanah, he won a race so convincingly that nobody else had an appetite the rest of the day. ***** Tonight I’m going to double-feature the classic Rosh Hashanah film, “To Shana Tova, thanks for everything! Jewie Newyear” and the classic Boothsploitation film, “I’m Gonna Git You, Sukkah.” ***** In the land flowing with milk and honey, do the two flow separately?

Otherwise, you can’t use the honey for classic Jewish dishes like honey walnut chicken, because milk. ***** People think that High Holy Day services are longer than services year round. That’s only because they are.

But the rabbis took some mercy. The Torah readings are actually much shorter. There’s no scientific evidence about whether the Torah readers are much shorter as well. ***** When studying classical music in high school, I wondered why Yom Kippur services aren’t chanted with atonal music. ***** I have no idea what to write for my October column.

Doug Brook figured out what to write for his October column. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, like facebook.com/rearpewmirror.

>> JLI

When you make your final arrangements in advance, you can plan a memorial that truly reflects your faith and passions. Whether planning for yourself or a loved one, rely on us to help you design a funeral that honors the customs and rituals you cherish. When you’re ready to get started, we’re here to help.

Stephen Sontheimer, Billy Henry and the professionals at Lake Lawn Metairie proudly serve the Jewish community at all Jewish cemeteries.

continued from page 60

Refreshments will be served; in Metairie it will be a Chinese dinner.

The Uptown class will continue on Wednesdays from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18, while Metairie will have the course at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., starting Nov. 12. Course fee is $70, with a 10 percent discount for couples or “bring a friend.”

Continuing education credits will be available for medical doctors, psychologists and social workers.

In Baton Rouge, the course begins on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Richmond Inn and Suites, and meets for six Mondays, through Dec. 9. Registration is $89, with a 15 percent couples discount.

To register, visit myjli.com.

A Dignity Memorial® Provider

504-486-6331 LakeLawnMetairie.com

October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

61

Experience the flavors of over 200 teas

rear pew mirror • doug brook

Second day musings Breakfast, Lunch and High Tea Served All Day, 9am-6pm

Catering Our food. Your Venue.

Celebrate and have your event with us!

English Tea Room and Eatery 734 East Rutland St

(In Historic Downtown Covington)

985-898-3988 englishtearoom.com

The second day of Rosh Hashanah. Second verse, same as the first. As a result, the mind can wander during services on the second day. That’s only because the mind also wanders on the first day.

The following are directions in which one mind wandered during Second Day Services. It has yet to return; authorities are continuing the search… ***** What do you call a Torah Reader who’s retiring soon?

A lein duck. ***** me (pointing to the Torah): How can you tell that this is the High Holy Day Torah? gabbai: How? me: It sounds different. ***** me (about to do the Chatzi Kaddish) rabbi: Don’t forget the extra “l’aila.” me: Of course. I’m a Clapton fan. ***** It took six days for the Big G to create the world and everything in it.

On the seventh day, He was done with it. ***** There are only eight more sinning days until Yom Kippur.

As they say on Yom Kippur morning: “Thanks, I’ll be here all day”…

***** Some day, somewhere, someone will have a daughter born on Rosh Hashanah and name her Shauna Tova. ***** Trying to plan having a child on the exact day of Rosh Hashanah is probably as difficult as it sounds.

***** Yom Kippur falls late this year. The Yiddish name for such an occurrence is Oktoberfast. It ends with a celebratory Tequila Gedola. ***** On Shabbat, we’re prohibited from carrying stuff. Put up an eruv around an area and you can carry within it. The Hebrew word for “visit” is “bikkur.”

This might sound like another rabbinic cop-out to let Jews do non-Shabbat things on Shabbat. But it comes straight from the Torah, which says several times when the Big G created the world, “vayehi eruv, vayehi bikkur.” ***** For centuries, rabbis have pondered why the story of Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac is read on Rosh Hashanah. Also, after giving Abraham the original command, why does He never talk to Abraham again in this story? Obviously, its purpose is so opaque expressly so rabbis would have hundreds of years worth of sermons to speculate about it.

However, it’s really very simple. This portion of Genesis is typically read after the baseball season is over, whereas Rosh Hashanah is still just before the playoffs. continued on previous page 62

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October 2019 • Southern Jewish Life