The Observer Vol. 88 No. 8 – August 2023 by Jewish Observer

Vol. 88 No. 8 • August 2023

www.jewishobservernashville.org

14 Av - 14 Elul 5783

Department of Homeland Security Identifies Nashville for Continuing Engagement By BARBARA DAB

Observer editor Barbara Dab won two Simon Rockower Awards for her news reporting in 2022.

The Jewish Observer Picks up Two Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism By LESLIE KIRBY, PRESIDENT, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE

e are proud to announce that our amazing editor, Barbara Dab, won two Simon Rockower Awards at last month’s American Jewish Press Association (AJPA) conference in New Orleans. The first award was in the category of Excellence in News Reporting for her story, “Adoption Lawsuit Raises Questions of Government Funded Discrimination,” from the February 2022 Observer. This article discusses the tragic story of a Jewish family being denied the ability to adopt by a state-funded Christian adoption agency. The second award was in the category Excellence in Covering Zionism, Aliyah and Israel, for her story, “Ethiopian National Project is Making an Impact from Israel to Nashville,” from the January 2022 Observer. Continued on page 7 A Publication of the

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he Biden administration recently released a report detailing a national strategy for combatting antisemitism. The report highlighted the fact that although Jews account for just over 2% of the U.S. population, they account for 63% of religiously motivated hate crimes. The report includes more than 100 steps the administration plans to take to raise awareness of antisemitism, to protect Jewish communities, and to build relationships with allies. It is against this backdrop that the Department of Homeland Security is including Nashville in its engagement with impacted communities across the country. DHS officials met last month with community leaders, clergy, school personnel, and staff of the Jewish Federation

of Greater Nashville as the first step in their efforts. Leslie Kirby, president of the Jewish Federation, says, “We’re very appreciative of the Biden administration’s efforts to tackle the alarming increase in antisemitism. It is a very positive sign that they are sending federal representatives to local Jewish communities to hear firsthand what people are experiencing.” According to Brenda Abdelall, Assistant Secretary of DHS in the Office of Partnership and Engagement, “We participated in listening sessions hosted by the White House to develop strategies for dealing with antisemitism. The strategies came from the close to, if not over, 1,000 participants.” Abdelall says that each community represented at the listening sessions presented different needs based on support and resources available. In Nashville,

concerns about the rise in antisemitism have escalated over the last year resulting from the distribution of antisemitic flyers in local neighborhoods, and the defacing of homes with swastikas and other racist tropes. Samantha Vinograd, Assistant Secretary of DHS in the office of Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention, says, “No one should be concerned about their safety because of their faith. We have seen an unacceptable rise in violent crime, including antisemitism. The strategy we published included, in our view, things necessary to protect the homeland from threats.” One of the neighborhoods targeted by the antisemitic flyers surrounds West End Synagogue. Board president Barry Allen attended the DHS meeting to both Continued on page 8

Jewish Family Service to Highlight Volunteers at Upcoming Event By BARBARA DAB

“H

ave a great day and better tomorrows.” According to Liat Zilberman, this simple phrase has encouraged her, sustained her, and inspired her. It was uttered by her friend Mario, one of the Golden Lunch Bunch participants she befriended as a Jewish Family Service volunteer. And this month, JFS is hosting a special event in appreciation of volunteers like Zilberman. According to Pam Kelner, executive director of JFS, “Each year, over 125 people give of their time and talent to reinforce and support the efforts of our staff. The time and compassion given by volunteers enhances the lives of our clients by helping them feel less isolated and more connected to the Jewish community.” Jamie Maresca is the program coordinator for Helping Hands. She says, “I am incredibly grateful for our volunteers. Without them, our programs would not be possible. As the Helping Hands program coordinator, I take care of the logistics, matching volunteers with older adults in the community, ordering food for lunches, coordinating Shabbat Service leaders, but the volunteers bring The Temple introduces first cantorial intern: Aspiring cantor Ayla Schwartz leads prayers, teaches Sunday school, page 4

Golden Lunch Bunch Purim Party. Pictured left to right: Beth Barnett, Jamie Maresca, Liat Zilberman.

the heart and soul into our programs.” The Helping Hands programs include Jacob’s Ladder that assists older adults with household tasks, the Golden Lunch Bunch, monthly Shabbat services, companion visits, and much more. Maresca Finding Jewish Identity, Adventure, and Connections in Israel, page 6

says the personal benefits extend both ways. “The volunteers make personal connections with the people they serve. This benefits both the volunteer and the older adult. The volunteer is expanding his or her roots within the Jewish community, and the older adult is not only getting a necessary task completed, but they are making a social connection as well.” Zilberman, for example, also volunteers as a buddy to another of the community’s seniors, and visits and calls throughout the month. She says she was already volunteering at another local organization but was also looking for opportunities within the Jewish community. “When I found JFS, I thought I could do something valuable within my community.” she says. Those who volunteer typically say they receive much more than they give. “My favorite Helping Hands stories are the ones that start with a volunteer and older adult being matched and end with a long-lasting friendship that goes beyond the Helping Hands program,” says Maresca. Zilberman, who is from Israel, says the time spent with her new Continued on page 7 All Things Seniors Special Section page 21

Community Relations Committee Remembering the March on Washington By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY

ugust 28, 2023, will mark the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The original march was conceived by civil rights activist and labor leader, A. Philip Randolph. Randolph started his organizing in the 1930’s when he led efforts to help end both racial discrimination in defense industries and segregation in the U.S. armed forces. He leveraged his long-standing civil rights activism to draw support from all factions of the civil rights movement to participate in and support the March on Washington. He had originally planned the march to focus on economic disparities and push for a federal jobs program and raising the minimum wage. Ultimately, the march

served to focus and spotlight the need for passage of the Civil Rights Act. The original march on Washington is also remembered for the famous “I have a Dream” speech delivered by civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. A little-known fact is this was not King’s prepared remarks which he abandoned. Instead, he extemporaneously launched into his soaring expression of his vision for his children and all chil-

dren. As he has famously said, “no one is free until all are free.” Dr. King’s wisdom continues to inform, inspire, and encourage the ongoing work to make his dream a reality for everyone. We cannot fight for the rights of some without fighting for the rights of all. We cannot address antisemitism or racism in a vacuum, and we cannot end hate directed at Jews without working with our partners to address bigotry and hate directed at others. That is why the ADL and other Jewish communal groups will be involved in the 60th anniversary March on Washington, in August of 2023. Jewish partners will join an array of other groups to demonstrate a strong show of support in the fight for democracy, social justice and equality, and civil rights.

JCRC is proud to continue our work locally to educate and advocate. Over the coming months, with cooperation from our local partners like Jewish Family Services, we will provide educational programs to learn about issues of concern and ways we can both protect ourselves and demand equal rights for all. These programs will begin shortly after the Jewish holidays and will include a program with the US Attorney’s office which will address how to identify and respond to hate crimes which may target us as the Jewish community, and other minority or marginalized communities. May justice ring – for all of us. For information about the work of JCRC please contact Deborah Oleshansky deborah@jewishnashville.org •

B’nai Tzedek Program Update By LEERON STARK RESNICK, JEWISH FEDERATION DONOR RELATIONS ASSOCIATE AND B’NAI TZEDEK PROGRAM COORDINATOR

here is a remarkable amount of enthusiasm for philanthropy among Jewish teens and young adults in Nashville. For the past 40 years, the B’nai Tzedek Program has given local teens the opportunity to explore what it means to be a Jewish philanthropic leader. The B’nai Tzedek Fund teaches young adults how to manage a fund and prioritize giving back to their Jewish community. Beginning at age 13, B’nai Tzedek members can create their own fund into which they can make annual donations with the goal of reaching a full Donor Advised fund of $5,000 by the age of 33. Initial donations are matched by gifts from the Feldman/Hassenfeld Fund for the B’nai Tzedek Program housed at the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville. Events are led by teen board members who also choose two organizations for an annual group gift using money gathered from individual funds. This year’s B’nai Tzedek board members include: Sydney Johnson, Batya Coleman, Micah Rosenbloom, Amari Schneider, Celia Wiston, Max Lapidus, Lilly Lapidus, and Carson Pounds. They selected Second Harvest and Jewish

Former B’nai Tzedek member, Ethan Hassenfeld, recently converted his B’nai Tzedek fund into a donor advised fund and looks forward to watching it grow through the years.

Family Service as the organizations B’nai Tzedek will give back to this year. Reaching the $5,000 mark by the age of 33 may seem like a challenge, but whether a B’nai Tzedek participant decides to give daily, weekly, monthly, or annually to their B’nai Tzedek Fund, it is possible to reach that number. The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville

Katie Shmerling Wayne recently converted her B’nai Tzedek fund into a donor advised fund and hopes to inspire her children to do the same.

is proud to feature Ethan Hassenfeld and Katie Shmerling Wayne as B’nai Tzedek success stories. They have both made the decision to continue giving back by turning their B’nai Tzedek Fund into a Donor Advised Fund. Ethan Hassenfeld says, “It is important for me to continue the giving that has been instilled in me. So now that I’m rolling out of the B’nai Tzedek fund and into a Donor Advised

Fund, I am looking forward to continuing a similar process and seeing this new fund grow through the years.” Katie learned to appreciate the importance of supporting her Jewish Community from a young age thanks to her family and the B’nai Tzedek program. Katie and her husband Adam are excited to help pave the path for philanthropy for their two daughters, “We believe in the importance of Tzedakah and giving back. We hope that this fund will inspire our daughters to continue this tradition and learn the same one day as B’nai Tzedeks themselves”. Becoming a B’nai Tzedek has never been easier. The new B’nai Tzedek web page, https://www.jewishnashville.org/ways-to-give/teen-philanthropy-bnai-tzedek, on the Jewish Federation website provides all the tools necessary to create, access and set up direct contributions to funds. If you are a current B’nai Tzedek teen, or are interested in becoming one, please join us at the Welcome Back Party on September 10th at the home of Abraham and Ruth Boehler. For more information about upcoming events or to learn more about opening a B’nai Tzedek Fund, please contact Leeron Stark Resnick at leeron@jewishnashville.org or visit www.jewishnashville.org. •

Letter to the Editor I

t’s very easy to focus on language as a distraction, especially when the data or truth is not in your favor. And certainly, that is how we have seen many social campaigns succeed. Mention “Permitless handgun carry with no training or background checks” and you probably won’t get far. But the second you say, “Constitutional Carry,” you have some slick branding. So rather than focus on language and branding, I’m going to stick with facts. In 2013, our TN Legislature began allowing loaded firearms in cars. In 2020, the Legislature began allowing permit-less carry (despite all major law enforcement organizations, the chiefs of police of

August 2023 •

Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Memphis, and 72% of surveyed citizens opposing it). In 2022 Tennessee became the number one state in the country for road rage murders. We also lead the nation in guns stolen from cars, many unlocked, which are used in subsequent crimes. There is no current penalty for unsafe storage of firearms in Tennessee. I know this all too well since in 2016, my little brother was shot to death in broad daylight on a busy road one block from the MNPD North Precinct. My brother made the mistake of honking at a bad driver; that person fired two shots at the intersection of Buchanan and Ed Temple, and simply drove away. Keep in

mind that three years earlier it would not have been legal to have a gun in the car; now it is normal. We never found out who did this, and my brother was one of eight people murdered in Nashville in a 10-day span by a firearm, not a hammer, a knife, or an anvil; it was a gun. Firearm deaths have now overtaken automobile accidents as the number one cause of death in the United States as of 2017. Of course, to drive an automobile, you must have a license, training, and insurance. Regrettably, that isn’t the case with firearms. Also, firearm deaths are now the number one cause of death for children 19 and under in the United States. An AR 15-style weapon is not a “sport-

ing gun,” it was a variant of the M16 that was designed to cause maximum damage to human bodies and win wars; it was never designed to be a civilian weapon. It doesn’t matter that it isn’t fully automatic, in fact, most military experts agree a semi-automatic weapon is better in certain tactical situations. No responsible hunter would use this style of weapon while stalking game; the damage it causes ruins the prey. But sadly, it has been the preferred weapon in the majority of mass shooting events, including the tragedy at Covenant. It is important to note that mass shootings only account for less than one percent of gun fatalities in in the United Continued on page 3

Commentary

Commentary: Nashville’s Jewish Community Continues to be Leader in LGBTQ+ Inclusion

By EITAN SNYDER, JEWISH FEDERATION COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

art of my job at the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is to coordinate the Jewish community’s efforts at Pride festivals in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. In the coming year, my goal is to expand those efforts to focus on year-round activities and initiatives beyond Pride to support LGBTQ+ people in Nashville. In the aftermath of Pride 2023 and despite whatever the national narrative may be about the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, I would like to share more thoroughly what Jewish Nashville’s efforts towards LGBTQ+ inclusion entail. It has little to do with familiar culture war tropes around drag queens and much more to do with our community’s fundamental values and priorities. When I think of our Pride efforts as they relate to Judaism and why it is important for the Jewish community to be involved in the work of LGBTQ+ inclusion, I see the answer as a fourfold one: • To show the LGBTQ+ members of our Jewish community that we support them and that our community is affirming of them (I am gay myself but using third person here since the “we” here refers to the Nashville Jewish community). • To show all our LGBTQ+ neighbors in Nashville and Middle Tennessee that we support them and that our community is affirming of them. c

STAFF c

Publisher Jewish Federation Editor Barbara Dab Advertising Manager Carrie Mills Layout and Production Tim Gregory Editorial Board Frank Boehm (chair), Teena Cohen, Laura Thompson, Scott Rosenberg, Liz Feinberg Telephone 615/356-3242 Fax 615/352-0056 E-mail barbaradab@jewishnashville.org (ISSN 23315334) is published monthly for $25 per year by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205-4009. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE JEWISH OBSERVER, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205 This newspaper is made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. While makes every possible effort to accept only reputable advertisers of the highest quality, we cannot guarantee the Kasruth of their products.

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• To create an opportunity for our LGBTQ+ Jewish community members to celebrate their joint identities within the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities. • To create an opportunity for the LGBTQ+ allies in the Jewish community an opportunity to live and promote their values in a Jewish way with other like-minded members of the Jewish community. To these ends, Michal Eskenazi Becker, Federation Director of Planning, and I have been conducting interviews with a diverse cohort of LGBTQ+ members of the Jewish community to find out more about what makes people feel at home in a community, Jewish or otherwise. Michal is currently working on a statistical analysis that we will use to develop a report of what our community is doing well in this area and what we can improve. We at the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville will also be using this data and our relationships to build a working group of LGBTQ+ and allied lay leaders that will develop more programming and initiatives. This group will work to broadcast our LGBTQ+ affirming stature to newcomers and people outside our community while continuing to support and deepen that stance inside our community. All of this is building on a strong foundation of work by people and institutions in our Jewish community who have been focused on this for a long time now. Pam Kelner and the whole team at Jewish Family Service have been offering adoption services for LGBTQ couples

Corrections Policy The Jewish Observer is committed to making corrections and clarifications promptly. To request a correction or clarification, call Editor Barbara Dab at (615) 354-1653 or email her at barbaradab@jewishnashville.org

Editorial Submissions Policy and Deadlines The Jewish Observer welcomes the submission of information, news items, feature stories and photos about events relevant to the Jewish community of Greater Nashville. We prefer e-mailed submissions, which should be sent as Word documents to Editor Barbara Dab at barbaradab@jewishnashville.org. Photos must be high resolution (at least 300 dpi) and should be attached as jpegs to the e-mail with the related news item or story. For material that cannot be e-mailed, submissions should be sent to Barbara Dab, The Jewish Observer, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville TN 37205. Photos and copy sent by regular mail will not be returned unless prior arrangement is made. Publication is at the discretion of The Observer, which reserves the right to edit submissions. To ensure publication, submissions must arrive by the 15th of the month prior to the intended month of publication. For advertising deadlines, contact Carrie Mills, advertising manager, at 615-354-1699, or by email at carrie@nashvillejcc.org.

since 2003, the first, and at the time, only adoption agency in the state to do so. Pam has also been doing exceptional work on the Nashville Pride board and now on the board of Inclusion Tennessee and was awarded Nashville Pride’s Ally of the Year award in 2022. One of my favorite things about tabling for Jewish Nashville at Nashville Pride is to have LGBTQ+ couples come up to us with their kids and say, “We did our home study with you,” or, “We just became parents for the first time because of you,” which really says everything about the difference they are making in people’s lives. To me, nothing says “faith and family values’’ more than Pam and the whole team at JFS who work diligently to find loving homes for children and build genuine, deeply connected families. The Temple has been tabling at Pride for longer than Jewish Nashville has and continues to wear its LGBTQ+ affirming nature on its institutional sleeve. They have also been doing all sorts of activities to connect LGBTQ+ Jews to the Jewish community through fun activities and outings like brunches and trips on the Drag Bus. Of course, they are not the only synagogue who is welcoming and affirming of LGBTQ+ people and families, but from the clergy to the staff to the lay leaders to the members of the community, The Temple has been and continues to be a leader in institutional LGBTQ+ inclusion in our community. In addition, there are so many individuals in our Nashville Jewish community who have been doing this work on an individual and communal level for decades, participating in Pride marches dating back to the 1970s, supporting gay people suffering from the AIDS cri-

sis, and using their voices in support of LGBTQ+ people, even when it was not a popular position. I know for a fact that if I even try to start listing people that I will get letters about names that I missed, but you know who you are and you know what you did and are continuing to do. It is deeply appreciated beyond what can be expressed into words. I am sure there may be some readers who feel disgruntled or confused by how much attention LGBTQ+ issues get when there are so many other issues of concern going on in our Jewish community. I can certainly understand that. What I hope will be clear and will continue to become clear from our efforts is that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, and people of all genders and sexual orientations just want the same thing as everybody else: the freedom to live authentic, meaningful lives with dignity and to feel like we fully belong in our communities, in our families, and in our country. I am grateful to the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and to all the Jewish organizations in our ecosystem who partner with us in this effort. It is not a given that a Jewish community would commit itself so thoroughly to LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts and it is deeply heartening to see that, no matter what our political leadership may say, the Jewish community of Nashville and Middle Tennessee will continue to live its values and be the warm, welcoming, and inclusive community that it is. If anyone else is interested in supporting this effort or getting more involved in LGBTQ+ inclusion work in the Nashville Jewish community, you can reach me at eitan@jewishnashville.org •

Letter to the Editor

Protection (ERPO) laws that are in place and effective in more than 20 states, including DC and Florida. Or universal background checks with a mandatory waiting period. Or bringing back required training and permits for carrying firearms. Or for requiring gun owners to store their weapons safely. None of these suggestions violate anyone’s rights and are supported by the majority of citizens. Ultimately, this is about an out-ofcontrol hobby that has superseded the rights of Americans to expect public safety. We legislated our way into this, and we can legislate our way back to common sense – just like the rest of the world.

Continued from page 2

States, no matter how horrific they are. Far more deaths result from domestic violence situations and more than half of gun deaths are the result of suicide. And Tennessee has some of the worst statistics in the country, certainly because of our endlessly eroding gun laws. Indeed, as our legislators rushed to flee without passing gun reforms last session, they did take the time to pass a bill that shields gun manufacturers from liability. There is hope though. The majority of the state, including the majority of gun owners, support common-sense gun reforms. Like the Extreme Risk Order of

Jason Sparks

… because your memories matter 479 Myatt Drive, Madison, TN 37115-3024 615-712-9521 • rdschultz@schultzmonument.com

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org • August 2023

The Temple introduces first cantorial intern: Aspiring cantor Ayla Schwartz leads prayers, teaches Sunday school By ZOE BELL

hen dyslexia made it challenging for Ayla Schwartz to learn Hebrew verses for her bat mitzvah, her Frenchtown, New Jersey cantor turned the Torah into melody, kindling her passion for Jewish music. Now, in Nashville, Schwartz is The Temple’s first cantorial intern. “I have been singing for as long as I can remember, …and it wasn’t until my bat mitzvah that I fell in love with Jewish music specifically, and then through that, fell in love with Judaism,” Schwartz told The Jewish Observer Nashville. “ …I fell in love with the religion and said that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” Internship at The Temple As cantorial intern, Schwartz, a senior at Belmont University, studies under Cantor Tracy Fishbein of The Temple. Schwartz’s responsibilities include teaching Sunday school, working with the rabbis at The Temple, learning how to teach Torah and Hebrew, helping tweens prepare for bar and bat mitzvahs, attending community members’ lifecycle events, singing liturgical music, and leading prayer in the synagogue. Schwartz said she has taken singing lessons and performed in vocal competitions. “I personally think music is the best way to feel close to God and being able to sing for services and to help people pray in the way that they want to pray through music is such a beautiful thing,” said Schwartz, who studies commercial music and business at Belmont.

On any weekday, Schwartz finds herself at The Temple practicing for Shabbat services, reviewing her prayers, learning Hebrew, or observing other congregations’ Shabbat services. She works 20 to 23 hours a week. Schwartz first connected with The Temple in 2020 when a freshman year professor asked students to write about someone in their field of study for an assignment. She reached out to several cantors across Nashville and Fishbein replied. In April 2022, Fishbein was featured in a Jewish music concert hosted by Belmont. Schwartz said they reconnected and Fishbein offered to mentor her. “[The Temple] is just so welcoming…” Schwartz said. “I didn’t even think I could intern as a cantor and [Fishbein] has offered to mentor me. She’s offered for me to be here. They offered me a teaching position. These weren’t things I necessarily asked for; they were just so excited to have someone and help them learn whatever they wanted to learn. I love that and I think that’s what Judaism is: being open and being there for the stranger…” Fishbein said she was excited to meet Schwartz in 2020, but the pandemic delayed her plans of helping Schwartz get involved with The Temple. “Ayla is strong in many ways,” Fishbein said. “She is a beautiful presence on the pulpit, always singing from her soul. She is also a compassionate and kind person who wants to be of service [to] the Jewish community.” For the past year, Schwartz has taught Israeli and Jewish history and geography to The Temple’s fifth grade

Belmont University student Ayla Schwartz is a cantorial intern at The Temple, hopes to attend Hebrew Union College for cantorial ordination.

Sunday school class. She began her cantorial internship in May for college credit at Belmont and will intern at The Temple for a year. Being Jewish at a Christ-centered school Schwartz is among the less than one percent of Jewish students enrolled at Belmont, a “Christ-centered private university,” according to the school’s website. “At first it was hard,” Schwartz said of being Jewish at Belmont. “It wasn’t so hard — they’re very open — but it is a Christian school. I knew that going into it. …When it came to my faith, it was awkward at times because they have this thing called WELL Core and part of it is going to chapel services. For me, it was helpful because if I’m going to go into the world of faith, I should be knowledgeable in what other religions do, but I know for other Jewish students, that can be very uncomfortable or awkward.” She added that some of her profes-

sors begin their classes with prayer. “Most were very good and wouldn’t specify Jesus, but some did,” Schwartz said of her professors. “And that could make a Jewish student uncomfortable. Other than that, though, Belmont is very accepting; a great school to go to.” Since Belmont does not currently have a Hillel organization on campus, Schwartz and other Jewish students at Belmont are involved with Vanderbilt University’s Hillel, where Schwartz served on the Jewish Life Committee. Schwartz said she also hosted High Holy day services in her dorm room or a friend’s room to help foster the Jewish community at Belmont. “[Meeting other Jewish students] was part of my job that I took on to help Jewish students find comfortability in being Jewish and find a place to go if they wanted for High Holy days or just a place to go to be comfortable being Jewish and who they are,” Schwartz said. Looking to the future Schwartz will graduate from Belmont next August, after a summer of taking three courses, one of which is the internship at The Temple. After her internship concludes in May 2024, Schwartz said she plans to apply to Hebrew Union College in New York to be ordained as a cantor. For now, Schwartz will continue showing up to The Temple on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, most of the day Fridays and some Saturday mornings. She will also teach on Sundays at the start of the school year. “I’m here all the time; I love it,” Schwartz said. •

West End Synagogue Searching for Long Lost Neighbors By BARBARA DAB

est End Synagogue has occupied its current site on West End Avenue since the cornerstone was laid in 1950. Through the years, many congregants and members of Nashville’s Jewish community have lived in the adjoining historic Whitland neighborhood. And now an effort is afoot to gather the names of those who have called the area home. Last month a group of congregants and friends manned a lemonade stand at the annual Whitland 4th of July parade, both to celebrate and hopefully to raise awareness of their quest. “We want to show that this was and still is a Jewish neighborhood,” says Mosh Koch, who helped spearhead the effort on behalf of West End Synagogue’s Social Action committee. Koch, like many of those he is hoping to reach, is a Nashville native. “I was born here, and both my parents and grandparents were born here,” he says. Koch cites the many immigrants from Eastern Europe who came to Nashville after World War II, many of whom spoke primarily German. Among those early immigrants were Dr. Frank Boehm’s parents. He has fond memories of growing up in the neighbor-

Rabbi Saul Strosberg mans the barbecue at Whitland Ave.’s 4th of July celebration.

hood. “When I was a kid, we lived on Crescent and I went to West End Junior High,” he says, “Twice a day I walked up and down Whitland and just loved it. In fact, I loved it so much when I returned to Nashville as a young married man, Whitland Avenue was the only place I wanted to live. So, with the help of Shirley

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org

August 2023 •

West End Synagogue’s Social Action committee is seeking former residents of the Whitland Ave. and surrounding neighborhoods.

Zeitlin, I bought my first home there.” Another lifelong resident is Rodney Rosenblum. He lived in the neighboring Sylvan Park area as a young child, but most days spent some time on Whitland Ave. “I walked to and from Ransom School most days,” he says, “Before I440, we’d stop along the way to play in the area. You name it, we did it.” Through the years, Rosenblum says his family moved a bit farther away to the suburbs, but he always longed for the old neigh-

borhood. “I still say I wish we hadn’t moved to the suburbs,” he says. Koch is hoping the effort to locate former residents of the Whitland neighborhood will provide opportunities for further engagement with both the Jewish community and West End Synagogue in particular. If you, or someone you know, is a one-time resident of Whitland Ave. and surrounding neighborhood, contact Mosh Koch at moshkosh@yahoo.com. •

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• August 2023

Finding Jewish Identity, Adventure, and Connections in Israel By ZOE BELL

achel Duben, a 15-year-old Nashville native, toured Israel with the Jewish Federation’s Get Connected, a program designed to help tenth and eleventh grade students foster a connection to their sense of Judaism, their peers in Nashville and to Israel and its people. Rachel and eight other teens spent two weeks in Israel, from June 6 to 19. Rachel’s answers were edited for clarity and length. Describe your Israel trip. When I first got there, we were pretty much exhausted [after] two days of sitting in an airplane doing nothing. We got to our hotel and essentially, we just crashed at that point. The next day, we met our hosts and we stayed with them for four days. Meeting them for the first time was a mix of so much excitement but also being nervous because previous to the trip, I’d only talked to my host one time and so it was really nice to meet everyone in person. It’s definitely cool because we did a lot of activities, just games to get to know each other. We helped garden at their community center, and we hung up ceramic butterflies on the walls and then we went home for the night. Next day, we went to Save A Child’s Heart. They’re a bunch of really cute kids that we got to hang out with and it was a really interesting experience. All the kids were there [because] they had to have some sort of surgery on their heart; a lot of them were from surrounding countries. It’s a nonprofit and they gave them heart surgeries and whatever they needed for survival. So we got to play with them and they were all really sweet and cute. After that, we walked around and went to a park and had a picnic lunch. And then we went to Dizengoff Center, which was the largest mall in the Middle East. That was really interesting; it was huge. I think it was over five stories. We went to a garden of some sort. It started raining while we were there, so we hid under a tree for five minutes until the rain cleared up. After that, we went to the aqueducts and did some exploring. The water was really cold because it was underground, and it was really deep; the water was up to my waist at the deepest part. We had Shabbat dinner with our hosts and I got to play games that I had brought with me. We were all very

Teens from Nashville’s Jewish community participated in the Get Connected program in Israel. This year marks the program’s return following the Covid-19 pandemic.

competitive, so that made it a whole lot of fun. The next day was a free day with [our] host and while everyone went to the beach, [my host and I] went exploring in a forest with a stream. We brought our swimsuits and went swimming. And then we went [back to the host’s house] and hung out. That was pretty much the time with our host; definitely didn’t feel like it was four days. After we left our host, we went to Tzfat, which was a really cool city because they paint the outside of buildings blue, so that you can always see the sky. We had lunch in Tzfat, we went shopping and we had a mini history lesson type thing. Then we went to the Lebanese border, which was really, really interesting. We went with a man from a kibbutz, and he took us to the border. We also met Lebanese soldiers on the border. They were really sweet. It was the first time I saw a gun that big and wasn’t scared of it because I knew I was safe. The soldiers got on a boat ride in the Kinneret and that was beautiful because on one side you have the city; on the other side, you have the mountains. It was really pretty. We went on a waterfall hike, which was pretty. It was a very short hike because for one part of it, it was just trees and flowers and bushes. And then the other part, you were on a wooden bridge over a waterfall. We went to Jerusalem and that was really, really cool. It was my first time in Israel and my first time in Jerusalem. It reminded me of New York City. It had the hustle and bustle of New York, but at the same time it had a stillness that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. The next day, we went to the

Western Wall. It was almost surreal because we did a tour of what’s underneath the wall, which is just more of a wall. Part of it was destroyed and the part that was destroyed was the closest part for a sacred rock. So we’re praying there, praying to the stone that is the closest stone you can get to talking to G-d. We all decided to explore the hotel and we went downstairs for dinner. I want to say it was a buffet, but it was bigger than I was expecting. There were a lot more options than what I was expecting. There was chicken, potatoes, noodle soup, a bunch of hummus, pita and there was a whole dessert table and a bunch of fruit. We went to a Bedouin village, and we rode camels. It wasn’t your typical riding camels in a circle. [We] got to ride them in the desert, which was really, really cool to see. The next morning, we woke up at four to go hiking and see the sunrise. There wasn’t anything like it; there’s nothing like that feeling because [I was] at the top of a mountain just watching the sun rise with nine people [I] just met a few weeks ago. And we were all together talking, taking pictures and watching the sunrise. We went to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea mud is like clay; I was expecting mud. We just completely covered ourselves in mud. We went to the Armenian Quarter, and we saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and there’s a ladder that can’t be moved, [the immovable ladder]. On the 18th, we went exploring one of the cities and they had a lot of flowers that I liked. They were all flowers that we don’t have here in the U.S. All the flora and fauna [were] really cool. What was it like sharing a space with nine other teens you’d just met? There was a bit of chaos, I’m not gonna lie. A bit of drama. But it wasn’t weird for me because I’ve been at summer camp my whole life, like Jewish sleepaway camp. So, for me, it wasn’t that strange. It could have been different for the other girls. What would you say was the most rewarding experience for you? Probably when we hiked the mountain because we were exhausted. We got rewarded with a beautiful view and just really crazy picture opportunities. And the archaeological dig because [we] were given a pickaxe and a flat shovel. One person found a coin and I found a bone. What would you tell other Nashville Jewish teens about Get Connected?

Would you recommend it? Why or why not? I would because it’s definitely a trip that you will remember. You don’t get another trip like this one. There is birthright, but I have a feeling it’s going to be different because it’s a lot more people. This one was definitely personalized in a way because — at least for me — I still talk to my hosts. You’re not going to be upset if you go. What did you learn about your Jewish identity? How did you grow as a person on this trip? For me, at least, I’ve always known that being Jewish is a part of what makes me special. I just didn’t know how special it made me until I went to Israel where we have our own area, we have our own space and it’s not strange; it’s not weird that you’re Jewish. Because, like, in Nashville, there’s maybe one to two Jews per class. And it’s really cool to see a space where there’s a lot of Jews, but there’s a lot of Jews of different types. You mentioned history lessons. Did you learn anything surprising about Israel? It was really interesting because one of the museums we went to was just of Jewish people in general. It was really interesting to see because I’ve always been a science person. Some of the scientists that I’ve learned about, when it came to biology, chemistry last year, it was really cool to see that they were actually Jewish. A lot of people know that, yes, Albert Einstein [was] Jewish, but it also turned out Niels Bohr and Rosalind Franklin were also Jewish, which really shocked me because typically when you research them, that’s not the first thing that pops up. It’s what they did. So Rosalind Franklin, for her it’s X-ray, and for Bohr, it’s the Bohr model of the atom. Do you see yourself going back to Israel? I mean, probably on birthright. Luckily that’s still an option as long as it’s before your 26th birthday. The trip was definitely something that if I had the chance to do again, I would, because it was very special. What would you tell other kids your age about Get Connected? It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You get one chance, so I’d say do it. Just go; you’ll have fun. I promise. It’s not going to be a trip that you’re going to forget in a month. zoe@jewishnashville.org

Picture Yourself Here: BBYO Looking to Add Advisor to the Team

BYO is looking for an advisor for the boys’ chapter, Athens of the South AZA. The current advisor is Matt Goldblatt, and he will continue to serve in that role. Ideally, each chapter should have at least two advisors. The BBYO programming term runs throughout the school year with breaks for winter and summer. An advisor guides the chapter and provides a listening ear and feedback regarding programming, recruitment, and

chapter leadership. BBYO is a teenled organization and Nashville has an incredible group of teens! This is a volunteer position, but there are paid opportunities for International Convention (IC) and summer programs. No previous BBYO experience required. We would love to have you join in the BBYO fun! If interested in volunteering or learning more, please contact Rebecca Moriarty at RMoriarty@bbyo.org •

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BBYO’s Athens of the South AZA is looking to hire an additional advisor.

August 2023 •

JFS Volunteers Continued from page 1

friends helps her to recharge and take a break from the normal routines of life by caring for others. “I share experiences from my life. I can talk about Israel. We have great conversations. They feel someone is interested in them, and so do I. It’s reciprocal.” Zilberman says another benefit is being able to show her teenage daughters the value of giving back to the Jewish community. “I talk to them about gratitude and show that even as teenagers they can have a connection.” Dr. Beth Barnett is a retired chiropractor. She began looking for ways to get involved as a member of The Temple and found the Golden Lunch Bunch. “It’s nice to socialize and interact with people,” she says. In fact, Barnett enjoyed her time volunteering so much, she also began leading Friday night Shabbat services once a month at Belmont Village Senior Living center. “Spiritually it’s uplifting for them and for me,” she says. Barnett brings in traditional Shabbat melodies and shares Torah commentary. “I put myself in their shoes. What would bring me peace at that time in my life.” Barnett credits JFS staff with creating opportunities for people interested in volunteering. “They make it so easy,” she says, “Every program is so well organized and put together.” She also urges people to consider volunteering in retirement. “It’s important to know that when you stop working, you start helping the community and spread joy.” Behind the scenes, there are many who volunteer in leadership capacities,

Rockower Awards Continued from page 1

Our division is for monthly newspapers and magazines and includes publications like Hadassah Magazine, B’nai Brith Magazine, Current Magazine, Lilith Magazine, and many other large and small publications. It is quite a thrill to be included among them. Mazel Tov to Barbara! Always gracious, Barbara said, “This is truly a community newspaper and winning awards would not be possible without all of you. I am grateful for your thoughtful feedback, constant support, and stellar contributions that help inform and engage our readers.” Incidentally, next year’s AJPA conference will be right here in Nashville!

Volunteering for JFS is an intergenerational opportunity.

helping Maresca and the rest of the staff manage the small but active organization. Steve Lapidus has served JFS for over 15 years in various ways, including being president of the Board. He says JFS has touched him and enriched his life because of the many services provided. “When I was asked to serve on the board, I was quick to say ‘yes.’ JFS is an organization that benefits others one hundred percent. There are plenty of roles for volunteers including time and financial support.” The upcoming volunteer appreciation event is the first since the Covid19 pandemic. Kelner says, “We felt it was especially important to show our gratitude to the many people who stepped forward during the challenging times of Covid19. We could not be more excited to be celebrating them in-person for the first time in several years.” Maresca We are excited and honored to be hosting our colleagues from around the country. We will be including many of our educators, rabbis, and leaders as presenters, panelists, and speakers. Be on the lookout in the coming months as we reach out for assistance in highlighting the very best of Nashville’s Jewish community. While we’re bragging on Barbara, we’d also like to announce that she has been promoted to Director of Communications for the Federation and will lead our communications/marketing department as a member of the senior staff. But don’t worry, she will still be the editor of the Observer, so we will all continue to benefit from her insightful news stories each month. •

JFS Senior Seder volunteers

says, “Our volunteers made sure that the older adults felt the community around them even if they could not be a part of it physically.”

The event is scheduled for August 29 at 8:30 in the JFS offices. For more information, contact Jamie Maresca at jamie@jfsnashville.org. •

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

This year’s Rockower Awards banquet was held at the World War II museum in New Orleans.

• August 2023

Vanderbilt Hillel Welcomes Three New Staff Members By SHANNON SMALL

anderbilt Hillel is excited to welcome three new staff members this month. Carly Payne, Bar Segev, and Malka Desale. The new additions bring diverse experiences and perspectives to the Hillel team. “I cannot wait to see how our campus communities are impacted by our new staff. They bring a brightness and energy to the team that I know will inspire students to connect with Hillel in unique and innovative ways,” says Ari Dubin, Executive Director of Vanderbilt Hillel. Below, meet the new staff. Carly Payne grew up in Fairport, New York, a small village in Upstate New York, attended the University of Miami (UM) and completed a degree in Political Science and Journalism. While in school, Payne connected with her faith and embraced her Jewish identity. After participating in Birthright she continued with Onward, an immersive internship program offering valuable experience in a variety of placements in Tel Aviv. Upon her return she continued to attend Hillel events and worked in the department of Student Activities and Student Organizations as the Chair of the Committee on Student Organizations to help students find their community on campus. From her experience in the Student Activities department, Payne decided she would like to pursue a career in higher education administration and joined the Springboard Fellowship Program through Hillel International. She will start her career as a Springboard Intrapreneurship Fellow at Vanderbilt Hillel for the upcoming school year. Veronica Grady, Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Hillel, says, “From her impressive campus involvement at Miami to her charm and charisma with student leaders, Carly is sure to make a ‘splash’ amongst our FYSH (First-Year Students of Hillel).

Homeland Security Continued from page 1

share the congregation’s experiences and fears, and to learn what the administration is doing to address them. “I read about the antisemitism policy and understood it to be an important document that intends to provide serious resources,” he says, “I am impressed that two assistant secretaries came to listen and are interested in following up with our community.” A chief concern among the participants in the session is how to keep schools

Carly Payne

Bar Segev

Malka Desale

I’m already eager to hear her program ideas and the ways she connects our students to Jewish life on campus.” Bar Segev is originally from Central Israel. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Ariel University in Education, Sociology, and Anthropology. Segev served two years in the Israeli Navy in the Special Operation Unit and as a guide in the National Memorial Hall. Her work experience includes a stint as a Youth Coordinator in the Telem Youth Movement where she was responsible for the education curriculum, management, and logistics operation of the branch and as a counselor at Heller High School in Tzuba, Nifty Israel-The Movement for Progressive Judaism in North America. In her counselor role, she taught Jewish and Israeli content to high school students from the United States and Canada who came to study in Israel. These diverse experiences gave her an opportunity to become more engaged in the informal aspect of Jewish education and Segev came to the realization that she wanted to facilitate strong connections to

Judaism and the land of Israel. She sees her role at Vanderbilt Hillel as an opportunity to nurture relationships with Israel and educate young people about the nuances impacting the next generation of Jewish leaders. Segev is excited to start at Vanderbilt Hillel as the Jewish Agency and Escoll Family Israel Fellow to Hillel for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Grady says, “Bar has brought an unparalleled enthusiasm since our very first conversation-I can’t imagine a student who connects with her and isn’t vying for a seat on her Birthright bus.” Malka Desale is from Central Israel. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy from Reichman University, and spent two years of her IDF service as a class commander and platoon sergeant. As a class commander, she designed and implemented training programs for newly enlisted soldiers in the IDF and as a platoon sergeant she supervised field days and ranges, the department’s logistics, and actively promoted the “Nitsanim” sergeant forum. Desale’s work experience

includes two years as a store manager at the Nally Market and one year in a law office where she managed the customer debt claims department against bankrupt companies and handled legal issues related to migrant workers, asylum seekers and disadvantaged populations. Desale views her new role at Vanderbilt Hillel as an opportunity to engage with diverse Jewish communities worldwide, to learn from them, and share her own Israeli story. As the daughter of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants, she comes from a small yet significant community within the country. She feels an obligation to share her family’s unique Israeli Jewish narrative. Desale is looking forward to starting at Vanderbilt Hillel as the Jewish Agency for Israel Fellow for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year. Dubin says, “Malka’s background and education have prepared her so well for campus work. Building relationships with non-Jewish communities at Vanderbilt and beyond is vital, and I can’t imagine someone better suited for this challenging role.” •

safe and protect students from antisemitism. Locally, students in Williamson County schools are experiencing threats, name calling, and in one case, physical violence. Deborah Oleshansky is director of the Jewish Community Relations Committee at the Federation. She says, “We continue to receive reports from students and parents in Williamson County and other local and private schools about antisemitic incidents. We are glad DHS and the administration are taking these issues seriously and will continue to partner with federal and state law enforcement in combatting antisemitism.” Daniella Pressner, head of school at Akiva School, says she is grateful DHS is taking the time to better understand the needs of the Jewish community. “It is clear from the discussion that there is work to be done in Nashville and the surrounding areas and I hope that our community can continue to be involved in efforts that lead the conversation to help support our city’s children and parents.” Another area of concern is providing safe spaces for the community to come together. Evan Nahmias is a board member of the Gordon Jewish Community Center. He says, “My major concerns for the J are providing a welcoming

home away from home for the Nashville area Jewish community, ensuring that JCC functions, such as the 8th annual Kosher Nashville Hot Chicken Festival and JAM Fest, scheduled for October 22, on the grounds of the JCC, encourage non-Jewish neighbor participation within a secure environment, and continuing to invest in the professional development of its staff and security by continued engagement with local, state, and federal law enforcement and positive community professionals.” As Nahmias pointed out, a top focus is developing relationships with those outside the Jewish community. Vinograd says education remains a key part of the administration’s plan. “There is a general push for education at the state level of Holocaust remembrance and awareness,” she says. Additionally, according to Jeremy Brook, chairman of the board of the Gordon JCC, “I think organizations like the JCC can play an important role in winning hearts and minds. There’s only so much law enforcement can do, and while we can and must rely on them, we should also do what we can, as a community, to positively influence culture in our city.” To that end, Abdelall says DHS provides resources for communities while at

the same time, providing education. “Our office continues to do everything we can to ensure Jewish communities and other impacted communities have everything they need.” Vinograd points out some of those resources. “First is to understand how to ask for help if and when an individual shows signs of violence. Second, we encourage community members to look at the range of grant proposals available to enhance physical security, such as the federal nonprofit security grants. And third, it is important to know where to get the most updated information on increasing threat awareness.” The DHS team is planning to return later this month for a follow up visit. Kirby says, “The key thing in situations like this is for the government officials to really listen to the local concerns, and they really did. They’ve already followed up with us after the meeting to answer questions that came up and to offer additional resources. I’m hopeful that the new policy will be useful in reducing incidents of antisemitism and providing a stronger response when incidents occur.” Resources can be found at:

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org

August 2023 •

Conversations and Culinary Connections: Connecting Interfaith Couples…New Cohort Starting in Fall! By SHERI ROSENBERG

ood brings people together…Holidays bring people together…combine them together to make a meaningful program! As a congregation, it is The Temple’s goal to create an inclusive and educational environment while also helping to create community. Through a generous grant from The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, The Temple brings together interfaith couples to celebrate and discuss both Jewish and Christian holidays. Through this initiative, young couples are given the chance to learn more about holiday traditions, as well as the opportunity to share their personal experiences and customs. While food is a connector and brings people together, quality and deep conversation has further enhanced the atmosphere of the program. Couples do not need to be Temple members to participate in this program. Married, engaged, and dating couples can join in on this meaningful experience. From Sukkot to Christmas to Tu B’Shevat, quality discussions and sharing about your own relationship is always on the menu. We end the year by cooking an Israeli themed dinner at The Temple

and discussing the couple’s relationship with Israel as an interfaith couple. Ross Schneiderman shares, “The food was great, but the company was even better. Having just moved to Nashville a little over two years ago during COVID, the interfaith dinners really helped me (and my wife) find a sense of community here.” This program has been occurring since 2021, with two cohorts that have completed the year of dinner programs. This coming month, there will be a meetup for the two previous cohorts to meet and connect with each other. Participant Kealy Moriarty says, “I loved the Interfaith Dinners over the past year. They were fun but also meaningful. Connecting with other couples who have the same conversations and run into the same issues was incredible. It made me feel so seen and welcomed by the community to know that my religious background and experiences are also celebrated. We are looking forward to our third year with new and exciting elements to enhance the experience. If you are interested in being part of the 2023-2024 cohort of Conversations and Culinary Connections session, please reach out to Sheri Rosenberg (sheri@ templenashville.org). •

Nashville Community Prepares to Welcome Third Torah Mitzion Shlichim Family By ELLY EBIN

n a notable development five years after the arrival of the first Torah Mitzion Shlichim (emissaries) in Nashville, the community is eagerly anticipating the arrival of its third consecutive family. Akiva School and Kehilla High School have joined forces to warmly welcome Moshe and Hadas Hovav, along with their two young children, to become integral members of the school faculties and the broader community. With their energy and extensive experience, the Hovavs are poised to make a profound impact on Jewish and Israel education within the schools and wider community programming. Torah Mitzion, committed to fortifying Torah study, empowering youth, and fostering robust connections to the State of Israel, has found ideal partners in the Hovavs. Hadas Hovav shares that her interest in

becoming a shlicha has been influenced by her childhood, and her parents’ constant interest in shlichut. Both Hadas and Moshe firmly believe that, “cultivating a strong bond with Israel and nurturing love for the Jewish homeland is incredibly important.” Moshe further expresses his hope to, “bring the essence of the Israel experience and its values to Nashville, while sharing them with the community.” Moshe, a psychologist, and a veteran of the Israeli Navy, and Hadas, a physiotherapist with a background in working with special needs children, are enthusiastic about applying their experience to their roles within the Jewish schools and community. In his ongoing pursuit to strengthen the bond between Diaspora Jewry and Israel, Rabbi Saul Strosberg played a pivotal role in bringing Torah Mitzion to Nashville. Rabbi Strosberg explains that, “One of the most effective means of

Moshe and Hadas Hovav, with their children Gilad and Noam.

bridging the gap is through the opportunity to form genuine relationships with families who embody the ideals of Israel. Shlichim have a profound impact on their communities and truly change the

lives of those they work with.” Upon their arrival, the Hovavs will receive invaluable support from Batya and Nechemya Rosenfeld, who arrived in Nashville on shlichut during the summer of 2019. The Rosenfelds will remain in Nashville for an additional year to ensure a smooth transition for the Hovavs and continue their impactful work. Batya Rosenfeld says, “We are incredibly excited to welcome the Hovavs to Nashville. Their arrival signals the community’s commitment to Torah Mitzion values and affirms its steadfast commitment to Jewish education, Israel, and Jewish identity.” The forthcoming arrival of the Hovav family represents a remarkable milestone for the Nashville community, solidifying its commitment to fostering Jewish education, deepening ties to Israel, and creating a vibrant and dynamic environment for its members. •

The Mazel Tov Players present Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite T he curtains rise in August on The Mazel Tov Players rendition of “Plaza Suite.” The Gordon JCC Mazel Tov Players invite you to book into Neil Simon’s hotel suite for the time of your life. Join us for “Plaza Suite,” an evening of one-acts set in the Plaza Hotel. Come prepared to laugh as we travel to New York for a stay at the elegant Plaza Hotel. You will meet a husband and wife who are celebrating their anni-

versary, maybe. Then there is the family preparing for the wedding of their only daughter, hopefully. The play stars Rich Strauss, Anne Ginsberg, Sarah Moore, James Arrington, Martina Doust and Patty Stelmaszak. The play is directed by Suzanne Burns with technical director and set designer Chip Weinstein. Purchase your tickets at the door. Performance dates are August 17 at 7pm and August 20, 26, & 27 at 2pm.•

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Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org • August 2023

Mazel Tov to the New Gordon JCC Officers and Board By RACHEL CLARK, GORDON JCC MARKETING DIRECTOR

he Gordon JCC’s 120th Annual Meeting took place on June 4, at the J. In a meeting that coincides with a changing of the leadership guard, we celebrated the achievements of the past two years under Cindee Gold’s leadership, which included revitalizing the aquatics program, making many needed facility improvements, and engaging the Jewish community in greater and meaningful ways. Community was a theme throughout the meeting. Leslie Sax presented a slideshow highlighting the many communities that exist separately and together at the J. Our Early Childhood and Camp Davis families, the water exercisers and adult basketball league, the Fitness Center users, and the seniors who meet weekly all enrich the life of the Gordon JCC. Our community-wide programs such as Under One Roof, Nashville Jewish Film Festival, Kosher Nashville Hot Chicken and JAM Fests, Hanukkah Festival, Art on the West Side, and the Jewish Food Festival provide opportunities for those of us who have lived here for a while and newcomers alike to explore Jewish culture and engage with one another. BBYO Regional Director and Teen Programs Director Rebecca Moriarty presented the Kehillah Award for teen leadership to community members Andrew Biller and Lily Marger. Both teens had

Mazel Tov to our Gordon JCC 2023 Board of Directors!

outstanding recommendations and the committee members felt they were both deserving of the prestigious award. Cindee Gold presented the slate of officers: Jeremy Brook, President; Dara Freiberg, President-Elect; Evan Nahmias, Vice-President; Scott Newman, Treasurer; and Kelly Unger as Secretary, and they were installed by Past-President Karen Weil. New board members Rachel Bernstein, Richard Cohen, Aaron Epstein, Rebecca Kaduru, Amy Braunstein McCoy, Polly Roffwarg, Jessica Roth, and Jeff Weiss were elected to join the board for their first Three Year Term. Beth Easter and Jessica Ginsberg

were elected to their second term, joining Joel Abramson, Greg Averbuch, Scott Ghertner, Stephanie Kirschner, April Nemer, Alan Perlman, Laura Shmerling, Greg Zagnoev, and Jackie Zigelsky. They are a diverse Board that represents a range of participation, age groups and synagogue affiliations. In his Presidential address, Jeremy spoke about the JCC as, “the hub, the watering hole, the Mah Jong table” of the Jewish community which partners with the congregations, Jewish Family Service, Akiva, and the Jewish Federation to create the vibrant Jewish community of Nashville.” Using the quote, “Jews are just like everybody else, only more

so,” Jeremy demonstrated that, “Jews are among the most generous, the most community-minded, the warmest, the most athletic—nope, not that one, the most innovative, and the most resilient people in Nashville. And likewise, the Gordon JCC is like the beating heart of our Jewish community—only more so. Our challenge is to understand the meaning of that ‘more so’ and continue to improve our programs, services, outreach, inclusivity, and physical surroundings to be the best living room of the community.” A light brunch followed the meeting and attendees enjoyed being able to come together. We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year brings! •

A Jewish guide to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup By JACOB GURVIS

(JTA) — The FIFA Women’s World Cup is underway, with 32 teams from around the globe competing in the quadrennial tournament, co-hosted this year by Australia and New Zealand. It has been an exciting year for Jews in men’s soccer: In the men’s World Cup in the winter, two Jewish players, goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender DeAndre Yedlin, played for the United States. And in the FIFA under-20 World Cup in May, Israel enjoyed a shocking run that ended with a third-place finish in its first appearance in the competition. Now it’s time for the women’s tournament. Here’s a Jewish guide to the Women’s World Cup, which started Thursday and concludes Aug. 20. Are there any Jewish players? Across 32 teams each with 23 players — a total of 736 women — there are no known Jewish players in this year’s Women’s World Cup. Israel has never competed in the tournament. For Yael Averbuch West, a former star player who is now the general manager of the National Women’s Soccer League’s NJ/NY Gotham FC, the lack of Jewish representation in professional women’s soccer is disheartening. “At the highest levels, there are

not a lot of elite Jewish women playing soccer,” Averbuch West told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Averbuch West said she is not aware of any Jewish players in the American NWSL, either. She and former teammate Camille Ashton (née Levin) are both general managers in the league, and the NWSL’s commissioner, Jessica Berman, is also Jewish. “I do think that representation is important,” Averbuch West said. “And because of the lack of representation, I think that that affects up-and-coming Jewish players. I’ve had people say to me, ‘oh my gosh, you’re my favorite player, because we’re Jewish and we don’t see any Jewish players out there.’” Averbuch West added that with the recent growth of the NWSL — which is up to 12 teams as of 2022 — the idea that there may be no Jewish players is “quite disturbing.” This hasn’t always been the case. When the U.S. team won the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Jewish defender Sarah Whalen was on the team. She would go on to win a silver medal with the team at the Olympics the following year. Andres Cantor and Sammy Sadovnik are back in the broadcast booth. Telemundo’s lead play-by-play voice, the Emmy award-winning Andres Cantor, is back in the booth for the

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10 August 2023 •

Women’s World Cup. The ArgentineJewish announcer is best known for popularizing long goal calls in the Englishspeaking world (including a memorable call when his country won the 2022 World Cup on home soil). Cantor will once again be joined by one of his mentees, two-time Emmy nominee Sammy Sadovnik, who has been with Telemundo since 2007 and covered sports since 1989. He’s a proud Jew from Peru who visits Israel every year. Despite this male tandem, networks are working to center the voices of women in soccer broadcasts at this World Cup. Doug Emhoff will be there, too. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president, is in New Zealand representing the United States. A self-described “soccer dad,” Emhoff will lead the U.S. delegation in the opening ceremony and will attend the team’s first match on Friday against Vietnam. While he’s there, Emhoff will also participate in a panel discussion on gender equity in sports. Along with former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Emhoff took part on Thursday in a roundtable on combating hate. Emhoff has put efforts to combat antisemitism at the center of his government portfolio.

Another prominent Jew could be cheering from the sidelines: basketball legend Sue Bird, who is engaged to Megan Rapinoe, a longtime star for the U.S. Women’s National Team, shared a photo from New Zealand on Instagram earlier this week. How many Jews live in Australia and New Zealand? Just under 100,000 Australians identified themselves as Jewish in the country’s 2021 census, which amounts to 0.04 percent of the population. Some estimates place the Jewish population above 200,000. A vast majority of Australian Jews live in Sydney and Melbourne. The Jewish presence in Australia dates back to Jan. 26, 1788, when approximately 16 Jews — 15 convicts and one baby — arrived in what is now Sydney Harbor. Today, Australia has the highest ratio of Holocaust survivors in overall population besides Israel, as over 8,000 made their way there to escape persecution in Europe between 1933 to 1945. The New York Times recently reported on how the country’s thriving Yiddish scene carries on their legacy. In New Zealand, around 5,000 Jews were identified in the country’s 2018 census; the total population is over 5 million. The first Jewish settlers in New Zealand were British traders. •

Visit The Jewish Observer’s website www.jewishobservernashville.org

National Council of Jewish Women Announces Fundraising and Program Successes By JENNIFER HOFFMAN

he Nashville Section of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) has a long history of service to the Nashville community. And now, more than 120 years since our founding, NCJW Nashville is thrilled to announce that they continue to be able to support our community projects. Projects developed and supported by the Section have become a part of the lives of many of the citizens of our city and help lift up women, children, and families in the Nashville Metropolitan area. The funding for all Section projects is achieved primarily through contributions at the Section’s annual fundraiser, called Ways and Means, though is also supported through gifts from private philanthropic foundations, corporate grants, and bequests by members naming the Section as a beneficiary in their wills. Each year, returning or new projects are invited to apply for support through a process called Study and Survey. After completing the application, projects are asked to attend an allocations meeting facilitated by our Study and Survey chairs and members of the committee. This past year’s chairs were Vice Presidents of Projects, Hayley Levy Kupin and April Nemer. Like many other organizations, NCJW Nashville is returning to in-person programming post-pandemic and evaluating how best to engage its membership and fulfill its mission to improve the lives of the women, children, and families of Middle Tennessee. The past few years has not only impacted NCJW’s ability to engage members through in-person programming, they have also prevented members from volunteering with projects in the same way; however, members and donors have continued to support this meaningful work. For the first time since 2019, the Ways and Means fundraiser, which funds the projects, was held in person. Nan Speller was honored with the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award in recognition of her years of leadership and service to NCJW Nashville. And the new Emerging Leader award, named in honor of Jamie Brook, Freya Sachs, and Erin Zagnoev, was presented to Felicia

Nan Speller, Hannah G. Solomon award winner, with her daughter Stephanie her niece.

Abramson. With 140 NCJW members and community members present, Ways and Means raised over $46,000 in individual donations and sponsorships. NCJW Nashville is grateful to members for continuing to show their support, not only to the section, but also to the women, children, and families in Middle Tennessee who will benefit. On Sunday, May 7, at NCJW, Nashville’s 2022-2023 Closing Meeting, the membership voted to fully fund the following project requests: • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), funded through the Fensterwald Fund held by NCJW Nashville • Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee’s children and teen programs • Kosher Food Box with Jewish Family Service • Kosher for Passover Food Boxes with Jewish Family Service • Renewal House • Senior Friends Rosh Hashannah baskets with Jewish Family Service • Snack Box Program with OUR KIDS • Vanderbilt’s REACH for Survivorship • Vanderbilt Hillel’s Shabbat Dinners Lastly, NCJW, Nashville Section is also honored to announce our 2023-2024 Executive Committee: • Stephanie Kirschner and Marci Kleinrock, Presidents • La Quita Martin, Sheri Rosenberg, Rachel Whitney and Harriet Workman, VPs, Advocacy

Belmont University student Ayla Schwartz is a cantorial intern at The Temple, hopes to attend Hebrew Union College for cantorial ordination.

• Felicia Abramson and Rachel Friedman, VPs, Membership • Rebecca Kaduru and Stephanie Korn, VPs, Programming • Julie Galbierz and Hayley Kupin, VPs, Projects • Kim Lapidus and Liza Star, Treasurers • Julie Fortune and April Nemer, Secretaries • Erin Coleman, Past President NCJW demonstrated appreciation to the 2022-2023 Executive Committee, and will miss those who rolled off of the board: • Amy R. Smith, Past President • Katie Wayne, VP, Membership • Tracey Leff, VP, Membership

• Mollie Perry, VP, Programming • Lauren Wachsman, VP, Programming The 2023-2024 Executive Committee invites all members of our Nashville Jewish community to join NCJW at the 2023 Opening Meeting on August 27 and for Ways and Means on November 19, where the Section will continue to demonstrate support for these projects. NCJW also encourages the Nashville community to show their support of these impactful and important projects. If you would like to volunteer or show your support for any of these projects, please contact Jennifer Hoffman, NCJW Nashville’s Executive Director at nashvillencjw@gmail.com. •

Start the Day with a Dip and a Drink

embers of the Gordon JCC begin their day with 50 minutes of invigorating water aerobics at 7:30am every

weekday. This Wednesday morning class was followed by a poolside potluck breakfast. Such a great way to start the day! •

• August 2023

The Dinner Winner at West End Synagogue By MARVIN KOCH

est End Synagogue (WES) seems to have a winner on its congregational hands with its popular Friday night Shabbat potluck dinners. At a recent dinner in June 30 people sent in RSVPs and 42 people showed up for the potluck. Fortunately, there was lots and lots of food, with numerous salads, appetizers, side dishes, main courses, and a whole table of fruit and desserts. Barry Allen, WES president, said the informal dinners are “a nice way to meet some people who don’t usually attend other events. For people we already know, the potlucks are a good way to socialize in a very informal setting.” Esther Lee said, “Stanley and I have thoroughly enjoyed the Shabbat pot-

lucks. They add an extra dimension to the joy of celebrating The Sabbath!” “I enjoyed going to [Shabbat] services and then having dinner with friends,” said Arlene Lapp. “I would be in favor of having [them] twice a month in the future.” Eitan Snyder, community engagement associate for The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, said “What I love about the potlucks is that they feel very casual and communal and don’t feel too put upon. [Organizer] Sharon [Paz] makes the potlucks feel more like friends and community members getting together than like an official program.” In an email from Argentina, Rabbi Joshua Kullock said, “I’m so glad to hear that the summer potlucks are a big hit. While I’m visiting family in Buenos

Aires, I’m inspired by what I see happening twice a month back in Nashville. My appreciation to Sharon and Debby for taking the lead and organizing these dinners and to everyone for attending. We are looking forward to joining more of these wonderful moments when we return home!” To Lorna Graff, the potluck dinners “add to the feeling of ‘community’ that most of us enjoy. It is a special opportunity to have a lovely dinner, especially for people who are on the way home from work and don’t have time to make a full meal. We pray together and share Shabbat dinner together. What a great way to celebrate Shabbat.” Sharon Paz, WES Director of Lifelong Learning, described some of the history of the informal Shabbat dinners.

Rosh Hashanah is Coming! A NEW YEAR! Your Ad/Greeting will reach the entire Jewish Community! Be sure to be a part of this special annual issue.

Publication date is September 2023 Deadline for ads is August 15, 2023 Contact: Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager 615-354-1699 e-mail: carrie@nashvillejcc.org fax 615-352-0056

“The potlucks were originally started in August 2015, [and were] geared towards families with kids. Debby Wiston [now Executive Director of the synagogue] came up with the idea to bring families together for Shabbat dinner at an affordable price. [It was] a less expensive way to have family congregational Shabbat dinners together to create a shabbat community.” The potluck dinner concept was that families would each bring a dish that was dairy or pareve to share with other families. Since not everyone in the congregations keeps kosher, we could not use the kitchen or bring food into the social hall. And based on popular demand, we plan to continue them once a month throughout the year,” Paz said. Rhoda Schulman, who recently moved to Nashville from New Jersey, said, “It was very nice to be included for a Shabbat service and dinner and meet other Jews involved in their synagogue. The food was good and very plentiful. A very positive activity for WES.” Ruth Pressman commented that the dinners are “a nice way to socialize with synagogue friends. Maybe it is bringing people together that might otherwise not come to services. [And I] enjoy the diversity of dishes. Makes it more interesting than the standard catered synagogue dinner.” Speaking of the food, Esther Lee mentioned that, “Participants have gone above and beyond and preparing delicious and nicely presented food.” Helen Crowley said she enjoys the dinners because “[they] give me a chance to socialize with friends and other congregants in a casual environment. Also, I love to try everyone’s recipes, with the added bonus that I only have to cook one dish.” Ruth Levitt Tobin said, “I love the informal feel of these dinners – [it’s] like a family reunion!” •

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

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways! Make sure to let them know... you saw their ad here!

12 August 2023 •

to your family, friends and the entire community in the September Observer

Ad Deadline - August 15

• August 2023

August in the Galleries: Featuring the Tennessee Art League and the Work of Beth LaPenna and Marla Faith

he Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of the Tennessee Art League (TAL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the visual arts in Nashville and beyond. The Tennessee Art League was founded in 1954 by a group of local artists who wanted to create a supportive and collaborative community for themselves and other artists in the area. Since then, TAL has grown to include hundreds of members and offers a variety of programs and services, such as exhibitions, workshops, classes, networking events, and community outreach. TAL’s mission is to foster art appreciation and participation among artists and patrons of all ages and backgrounds. The exhibit, called “Flora and Fauna,” will feature artworks by TAL members that explore the themes of nature, wildlife, plants, and flowers. The artists will showcase their diverse styles and mediums, from painting and photography to sculpture and mixed media. The exhibit aims to celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural world, as well as its challenges and threats. The Sig Held Gallery will feature the art of Beth LaPenna. Her artistic career began in the world of professional interior design. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of space, LaPenna spent 32 years transforming living environments into captivating works of art.

Road to Happiness, by Beth LaPenna

For Erica, by Katie Blake

However, a profound desire to express her own creativity led her to embark on a new path as a professional artist. Now fully immersed in the realm of fine art, LaPenna has discovered a profound love for the transformative power of acrylics, collage, glazes, ink, and handmade prints on canvas, paper and cradled wood. These versatile materials allow her to explore a wide range of techniques and to experiment with textures, colors, and forms. Her artistic process is driven by an unwavering curiosity and a thirst for connection and expression. Inspired by the fluidity and unpre-

Gluck Orthodontics Celebrates 40 Years of Transforming Smiles Please join us as we celebrate with our community at the Green Hills Park Festival on September 9th from 5-7. Stop by the Gluck Orthodontics tent for family friendly activities, food and fun! The festival is at Green Hills Park, adjacent to JT Moore Middle School.

Dr. Joel Gluck DDS, MS Dr. Jonathan Gluck DDS, MSD 2002 Richard Jones Road A-200 615.269.5903

drgluck.com

14 August 2023 •

Lola, by Nadine Shillingford

dictable nature of her chosen mediums, LaPenna creates captivating abstract pieces that evoke emotions and invite viewers on a journey of contemplation. Through a combination of bold brushstrokes, vibrant color palettes, and organic movements, she strives to capture the essence of energy and emotion in each painting. The Senior Lounge Art Gallery continues to show the art of Marla Faith. The House gallery will feature the Under One Roof collaborative exhibit.

Floating, by Robby Lasky

The exhibition runs August 1-29, with an artist reception on August 9 from 6-8pm. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Attendees will need sign in at the front desk. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www.nashvillejcc.org.

At Our Congregations… Nashville’s congregations Here are the websites for all five Nashville Jewish congregations, with information on services, upcoming events and more: Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, www.chabadnashville.com Congregation Micah, www.congregationmicah.org Congregation Sherith Israel, www.sherithisrael.com The Temple – Congregation Ohabai Sholom, www.templenashville.org West End Synagogue, www.westendsyn.org

@ Chabad /Congregation Beit Tefilah

Congregation Beit Tefilah to hold Tisha B’Av Memorial Service The Jewish Memorial Day, The Fast of the Ninth of the Jewish month of Av, Tisha b’Av marks the end of a three-week period of mourning during which our people remember the series of events that led to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of our people’s first Temple on that date in the year 586 BCE. Tisha B’Av is on July 27. The fast starts on sundown on July 26 at 7:58 PM, the eve of the ninth of Av, and lasts until the following nightfall, July 27 at 8:26 PM. During this time-period we fast, eschew pleasurable activities, and lament the destruction of the Holy Temple and our nation’s exile. On the eve of Tisha B’Av, we gather in the synagogue to read the Book of Lamentations. Tallit and Tefillin are not worn during the morning prayers. After the morning prayers we recite Kinot (elegies). We put on the Tallit and Tefillin for the afternoon prayers. To commemorate this day, Congregation Beit Tefilah will hold a Tisha B’Av Memorial Service with the reading of the Book of Lamentations, known as the Book of Eicha by candlelight. This will take place on July 26 at 8:45 PM. On Thursday, July 27, Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad will have a Tisha B’Av Mincha Service and Torah reading at 7:00 PM and will be followed by a light break fast after dark. For more information or to learn more about Tisha B’Av go to chabadnashville.com.

Meet in Person for Prayer and Cholent Chabad of Nashville is a happening place on Shabbat mornings. Join community and Friends for Shabbat morning services, replete with joyful prayer, kavanah, simcha and great energy. Join Chabad on Shabbat mornings at 10:00 AM for prayer and Torah reading, inspiring learning and a weekly sermon, followed by a hot cholent, freshly baked Challah, a gourmet buffet lunch, and a weekly farbrengen with some friendly L’Chaim.

Email rabbi@chbadnashville.com, with your name and email address, and include the topics and text that you would like to study, and we will set you up with a study partner that will add to your purpose and meaning in life.

@ Micah Congregation Micah - an inclusive, innovative synagogue exploring and celebrating Jewish life - is committed to building community and repairing the world! We offer creative and diverse ways to live a Jewish life in Tennessee and beyond, using the rich beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism as our foundation. Visit our 30+ acre campus or access our virtual programs from our website, www.congregationmicah.org. Like us on socials: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @MicahNashville; sign up for our e-blasts; learn and pray with us in person, or livestream our services on our website, YouTube, or Facebook. In our tent, there is room for everyone!

Weekly Events Sanctuary Shabbat Services: Fridays at 6 PM

At Micah, we approach God in many ways: the inspiration of words, the beauty of sacred space, the authenticity of our intentions, and through the power of music and song. Join us in-person or virtually for services this month that will be as diverse as they are engaging, as moving as they are participatory. Come early and schmooze with us starting at 5:30 PM! Light refreshments are served.

Saturday Morning Torah Study: 9 AM on Zoom

Deep conversations about the text with thoughtful and caring people led by the clergy.

Mah Jongg: Tuesdays from 12:30 PM- 3:30 PM

Join our players for an afternoon of fun in the social hall! For more information, contact Paula: pgkwn@comcast.net.

Schmooze & Views: Thursdays from 10:30 AM- 11:30 AM

At Micah, we keep politics off the pulpit but not out of the building. Share your views in a round-table discussion on current events facilitated by Rabbi Flip and Dr. Bob Smith.

August Events: Micah Reads: Monday, August 7, at 7 PM on Zoom

Education Director Julie Greenberg leads the discussion on Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro in August and Who by Fire by Leonard Cohen in September.

Back to Shul - Country Shabbat and Pickin’ Party: Friday, August 11, at 6 PM

Back by popular demand, Country Shabbat returns to Micah! Put on your finest boots, jeans, and cowboy hats, and join us as we sing through the Shabbat liturgy to the tunes of the greatest classic country melodies. After the service, stick around for dinner and a pickin’ party- bring your instruments and voices to sing, strum, and play along!

Micah Minis: Saturday, August 12, at 9:30 AM in person

Chabad to host two TGIS celebration in August

Sing and Dance with our clergy! This family friendly Shabbat experience is aimed at ages 7 and younger.

Start your Shabbat off right with good friends, great conversation, and excellent kosher cuisine, all seasoned with the perfect amount of spirit and joy. TGIS is a Club Med Shabbat: An all-inclusive Shabbat experience. Enjoy a Friday night Shabbat dinner replete with traditional dishes. Blended with spirited singing, a Chasidic tale, and a chance to meet some wonderful new people. TGIS will be held on Friday evening, August 11 and 25, at 6:30 PM at Chabad of Nashville. There is no cost to attend the TGIS Shabbat experience, however we kindly request that you RSVP by letting us know you will be attending at chabadnashville@ gmail.com

Rabbi Laurie engages your intellect and inspires conversation on a variety of Jewish topics. All are welcome. Bring a friend. RSVP on Micah’s event page.

Torah and Tea - for Women by Women Join an all-woman’s Torah and Tea leadership study group every Shabbat, following the sit down lunch, at congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad, at 1:00 PM. The study group is led by Rebetzen Esther Tiechtel, who teaches with wisdom and wit, and embraces each participant with warmth and friendship. Torah and Tea will bring you this tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of clear and engaging weekly classes. Probing the ideas and issues related to the modern Jewish woman, these classes will offer timely lessons -from the most timeless of all texts. Join with other women from the Nashville community, for inspiring Torah study, warm camaraderie, hot tea and delicious refreshments!

Looking for a Chavrutah study Partner? Looking for a study partner? Wanted to learn with someone but don’t know where to turn to? Call Chabad of Nashville and we will set you up with your own personal study partner, where you choose the topic and text, and reach great heights in your spiritual journey of life.

Women’s Circle: Friday, August 18 at Noon in person

Grief Group with Rabbi Laurie: Thursday, Aug 24, at 12 PM in person

We all have stories of loss. Maybe a loved one died, a marriage ended, a relationship went sideways, a job slipped through our fingertips. Loss is often accompanied by grief, and grief is best explored and moved through by the sharing of stories in community. Rabbi Laurie will convene a grief circle monthly beginning in August. All are welcome to attend. This offering is in-person only.

@ Sherith Israel August 20 Back to School Barbecue & Jam 5 pm - 8 pm $10 per person RSVP with the Shul office

August 26 Adults Open Mic Night at Shul 8:45 pm FREE and Open to the Community

Continued on page 16

• August 2023

At Our Congregations… Continued from page 15

@ The Temple Shabbat with East Side Tribe

East Side Tribe and The Temple invite you for Shabbat Morning Family Fun Saturday, August 19th Shelby Park-Picnic Shelter-Windmill Hill 10:30-11:30am Challah & Camp Snacks will be served All are welcome

Temple Together Progressive Dinner

Join Temple Together, the new group for people 35-50 for a Progressive Dinner on Saturday, August 19th at 6:00pm Appetizers at The Temple Dinner at a local restaurant in small groups Dessert at a member’s home The Temple provides appetizers and dessert, attendees pay for dinner Email sheri@templenashville.org by August 14th to reserve your seat.

Pirkei Avot: Jewish Wisdom for Today’s World Every Friday from 5:00-5:40 PM

Get ready for Shabbat with a little text study! Each week we will study a piece of wisdom from Pirkei Avot, The Ethics of our Ancestors, an ancient Jewish text still relevant in our own times. Available in person at The Temple and via zoom. Zoom Room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81973096738

Writers of the Lost Ark First Wednesday of the Month August 2nd 7:00-8:00 PM

Are you looking for a creative outlet? Writers of the Lost Ark, our Temple writer’s group, meets the first Wednesday of each month. This is a safe, supportive, and no pressure environment to share your creative ideas whether they be stories, songs, poems, or praise. The group is open to all regardless of how little or how long you’ve been writing. Those curious to find their creative side are welcome as well. For more information, please contact ninapacent@bellsouth.net.

@ West End For links to the following online services or programs, please email office@westendsyn.org

WES Annual Welcome Back Barbeque, Sunday, August 20. Bat Mitzvah of Ella Gribben, Saturday morning, August 5. Bar Mitzvah of Eli Cheng, Saturday morning, August 19.

Shabbat Schedule for August

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple. You can also watch via zoom from thetemplehub.org. Friday, August 4th ~ 6:00 PM Friday, August 11th~ 6:00 PM Friday, August 18th~6:00 PM- CAMP SHABBAT- FAMILY SERVICE WITH BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS Friday, August 25th ~ 6:00 PM – BLUE JEAN SHABBAT

Golden Lunch Bunch

Will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on August 1: The Faded Blue Jeans August 15: John England RSVP to Jamie Maresca at 615-354-1686 or via email at helpinghands@ jfsnashville.org

Chevrah Torah Study 9:30AM on Saturdays

Join us for our weekly Torah study on the portion of the week, led by the clergy. You can join us in person at The Temple or via zoom from thetemplehub.org Rabbi Rami Shapiro-Taste of Judaism –Rabbi Mackler to Provide Text July 11th, 18th, 25th 7:00pm

Women’s Torah Study August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st 10:30 AM

Ongoing weekly women’s Torah study led by Patty Marks. Available in person at The Temple and via zoom through thetemplehub.org

Lunch with the Rabbi August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st Lunch at 11:30AM Program12:00-1:00 PM $15 per person for lunch

Shabbat Potluck

Join us for a “Shabbat Potluck” Dairy/ Pareve Dinner on Friday, August 4 following Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv. Plan to bring food to share. RSVP to spaz@westendsyn.org.

Music and Me

Inviting all parents of infants and/or toddlers for an afternoon of music and movement on Sunday, August 13 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. RSVP by emailing spaz@westendsyn. org or harriet.workman@gmail.com.

It’s Shabbat

Families with young children, join us Friday, August 25 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for Shabbos schmoozing, candle lighting, Kiddush blessing, HaMotzi, and Shabbat songs. See you there!

Learn and Lunch with Rabbi Joshua Kullock

Learn and Lunch is back! Wednesday, August 30, at 11:00 a.m. Reservations required, catered lunch ($3) following the presentation.

Sisterhood TN State Museum Exhibit Outing

Join Music City Sisterhood on Wednesday, August 9th at the Tennessee State Museum for its second exhibit on the Rosenwald Schools, “Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee”. The community-focused exhibition highlights the work of descendants of students, Fisk University alumni, and various organizations to preserve the legacies of the 354 Rosenwald Schools across the state. We will meet at noon for lunch at Nashville Farmer’s Market and walk to the museum at 1:00 pm. The event is free and open to the entire community. Email President@MusicCitySisterhood.com with questions; RSVP via the Google form: https://forms.gle/b75rXNUbSjgexMsX8

Birthday Shabbat

Engage with Rabbi Danziger and guests in a discussion of current and important issues from a Jewish perspective. RSVP on thetemplehub.org or by calling the Temple at 615-352-7620 Available in person and via zoom. Zoom Room: thetemplehub.org

Join us on Shabbat morning, August 26, for a special celebration of our August birthdays. The main service begins at 9:30 a.m. and a kiddush sponsored by the synagogue will follow. Everyone is welcome.

Monday Mah Jongg with Canasta Join Us for MAH JONGG Mondays at The Temple! August 7th, 14th, 21st , 28th 1:00pm

Join us on August 9, at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Joshua leads our study of the book of Deuteronomy.

Drop in for Mah Jongg. We’ll have coffee and water. Bring your friends, a card, and a set and have some fun. Mah Jongg cards and sets are available for purchase in The Temple Gift Shop.

Women’s Torah Group (on Zoom) Men’s Torah Group (in person)

Join us on August 10, at noon for our Torah class for men. We are currently reading Elisha’s stories from the First Book of Kings and will be eating pizza. Continued on page 17

16 August 2023 •

At Our Congregations…

Heart of the Matter

Continued from page 16

By LESLIE KIRBY, CLINICAL DIRECTOR, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

Sisterhood Challah Sales made by Melissa Sostrin

Sign up on the Google form linked below or text Jessica Kullock at 615-881-4455 by WEDNESDAY AT 9:00 p.m. each week to pre-order for pickup Friday during synagogue office hours. Flavors: Plain, chocolate, cinnamon, cinnamon raisin, zaatar, poppy seeds, sesame, bag of 6 challah rolls. Plain is $8/each, all challah with seeds toppings are $8.50, and the rest are $9/each. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhQUa6iflZvg8gPsOaREXK8JNGloMceEBkuvUynahkVdt8A/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1jz_ oKOT8Df3E82W7iNu8TX_G70Nc3bOXOEJ25r73efxnvQT3ATFijvC0

Talmud on Tuesdays

Rabbi Joshua leads a lively Talmudic discussion at 7:30 a.m. in person and on Zoom every Tuesday, immediately after morning minyan. Come and join us!

Torah study

With Nechemya Rosenfeld every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. following morning minyan at 7:00 a.m.

Shacharit (in person)

Our minyanaires are always looking for more people to strengthen the only egalitarian minyan in town! Sunday services will be at 9:00 a.m. and Monday-Friday will be at 7:00 a.m. Monday and Thursday minyans to be followed by breakfast.

Mincha (on Zoom)

Join us for daily Mincha at 6:00 p.m., Sunday-Friday.

Kabbalat Shabbat

You are invited to join us for Kabbalat Shabbat on Fridays in person (or on Zoom) at 6:00 p.m.

or many years, I have facilitated the Caregiver Support Group at JFS. Support groups can be a wonderful thing with the right setting and the right combination of people. The logistical part of the job can be stressful, including preparing a space, ordering food, and sending out meeting reminders. Personally, choosing food is the most stressful part for me. I worry if there will be enough, will I remember to prepare it kosher style, will it be the right temperature and will it taste good. Lucky for me, I have co-workers that are much more comfortable choosing food and often help me with planning. We begin the group with introductions if we have new members and a review of the group rules including confidentiality. It is a safe place where caregivers can come together and share whatever is on their hearts and minds

without judgement. The members share their stories, express all emotions including sadness and anger, ask questions, learn from, and support each other. As the facilitator, my job is to bring the people together and provide a safe place for them to be vulnerable to each other. I am often amazed at how much they have in common and the lack of the need to explain their feelings to others. There is an unspoken connection between them that is beautiful to watch. I love to sit back quietly and watch the magic between them. New friendships are formed through a support group, and it is true that one’s emotional load becomes lighter just by sharing with a friend. The Caregiver Group in particular, feels like a family. Facilitating support groups is one of the perks of my job and I wouldn’t trade it. If you are interested in joining the JFS Caregiver or Grief Support group, contact Toni Jacobsen at 615-354-1672 or tonijacobsen@jfsnashville.org. A new Grief Support Group is starting in August, and I would love to see you there. •

Crawford Funeral Home

Morning Shabbat services

You are invited to join us on Saturday mornings in person or by Zoom at 9:30 a.m. Great davening, insightful learning of the Torah portion and a yummy (and nutritious!) kiddush lunch following services! •

Community Listings East Side Tribe Join us for a Shabbat on August 25th from 6:30 to 8:30 to meet new people and relax after a long week. RSVP on Eventbrite to receive the location. Email us if you’d like to be a future host, you don’t need to live on the East Side! We provide the food, wine and dessert and you provide the space! Our Shabbats are the last Friday of the month and we look forward to meeting you! Check us out on instagram @ eastsidetribenashville

Chu C Ch hu hucckk & H Heid eiide eeid iid de Craw raw ra awfor ffo orrd o

Nashville Jewish Film Festival NJFF announces dates and films for 2023 Nashville Jewish Film Festival October 18 marks the date of the Opening Night film for the 23rd annual Nashville Jewish Film Festival. With a gala opening night sponsor dinner at AB (directly across the street from The Belcourt Theater} catered by Corner Market we are proud to present a wonderful new film by Aviva Kempner, A POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES. The film is the firsthand story of Aviva’s mother and uncle, their survival during the Shoah and their successes in the United States. Told with love and humor this is a must-see new film. Continuing until November 2 the festival will feature such diverse films as GIMPEL THE FOOL RETURNS TO POLAND on October 26 at the Belcourt, HUMMUS, a bright new comedy about stolen trucks, gun-runners, florists and hummus makers, told with Israeli humor, SHTTL, on October 19 starring Saul Rubenik in an a brand-new all Yiddish film. The English subtitles make it possible for us to all enjoy the story of a Polish village on the eve of WW II. On October 21 at the AMC in Bellevue, Paris Boutique is a sexy, romantic comedy set in Jerusalem with mistaken identities and STAY WITH US on October 28 at the AMC is the real story of French comedian Gad Elimelech and his struggle to decide if he should remain a Jew or become Catholic. Told with humor and understanding Elimelech has turned his real-life struggle into an intriguing and funny story featuring his real family. These are just six of the 13 films that will be shown until November 2 at the Belcourt, the AMC in Bellevue and the GJCC. Watch your October Observer for more details and the complete festival guide. For more information or sponsorship details contact Fran Brumlik at fran@nashvillejcc.org. •

2714 Grandview Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37211

(615) 254-8200

www.crawfordservices.com Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org

• August 2023

LET’S TALK RETIREMENT! People of the Books (…because it’s not just about the money!) By LORETTA SAFF

Paul Simon was right, and there are at least 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER JOB! (to prepare for Retirement!) Are you struggling with the very idea of retiring? I often have people asking me questions like, ‘Should I?’ ‘When is the right time?’ and ‘How do I handle it?’ My best answer agrees with the transition advice given long ago to folksinger Paul Simon: “JUST MAKE A PLAN, STAN!” Ok, so maybe your name is not Stan, and maybe you don’t even love your job - just the paycheck. The advice regarding facing a transition is still strong. Retirement means the end of something – the end of having structure to your day, the end of the identity on your business card, and the end of that reason for getting up in the morning. The answer to “How do I handle it?” is simple. As with all transitions, making a written PLAN will help you ask yourself, “Who am I now?” and “What do I really want?”. (Of course, you can still do this if you have already retired and are questioning what to do.) It’s common sense – think about how very different you are now from that person who was just getting started in the working world. And, by the way, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE COY, ROY. Oh, that’s right, your name is not Roy. But…, being coy – shy or timid – will not help you figure out your next move. You need to be honest with yourself, and PLANNING is what will help you focus and stay on the track of not what you are leaving from, but what you are going to. When you become your own GPS,

you will feel much more confident, knowing when and where to spend your time. You’ll do things like committing to your fitness routine and researching some of those ideas and activities that have caught your attention. So, DON’T SLIP OUT THE BACK, JACK. (Geesh, too many guy names! I’ll have to do something about that.) With your PLAN in place, you’ll be up front with everyone, having answers for the ‘What are you going to do when you retire” question that co-workers always ask. In addition, knowing how you envision your retirement years will help avoid uncomfortable discussions later. Your partner and/or adult kids will hear and respect your thoughts and needs. (Like No, I’m not taking over all the babysitting responsibilities or Ok, I’ll try pickleball but just remember my guitar lessons are Tuesday at 11:00!) Now, make sure you DON’T SIT STILL, JILL! (You’re welcome, Ladies!) If you need a little help for how to get to know yourself better and what makes you feel satisfied and happy, check out https:// www.startofhappiness.com/wheel-of-lifea-self-assessment-tool/ . It’s a great tool for your goal setting and self-awareness. Like leaving a lover, leaving fulltime work requires planning. There may be more than 50 ways to do it, and with a little effort you will find yours. Then, at your retirement party you can JUST EAT YOUR CAKE, JAKE And really feel free! Good luck, whatever your name is, Loretta loretta@coachingwithloretta.com P.S. By the way, remember that the written plan for retirement can easily be changed if you have some new ideas. Your GPS will just recalculate! •

Kvetch in the City By CARRIE MILLS

ecently, I’ve been thinking about surviving. Surviving what, you may ask. I’ll get to that in a bit. First off, let me say, I’ve always prided myself as being thought of as a survivor. So, for this column’s sake, as I was writing, I googled the psychological definition of a survivor which read, “A survivor mentality is a frame of mind that promotes self-empowerment and a person’s ability to overcome a traumatic event. Focusing on the ability to survive rather than being a victim can help prevail over life’s challenges instead of being held back or defined by them.” And, I thought, that’s me. Then it went on to say, “Survivors are good troubleshooters because they are handy and creative and come up with easy solutions to difficult problems. They want and need things to work smoothly and easily, and they possess common sense to make it happen. Synergy is their primary motivation in life.” And again, I thought, yeah, that’s me.

18 August 2023 •

However, the next line canceled it all out, “Survivors are not prone to complaining.” Okay, so there’s that. Now to the reason I’ve been thinking about surviving lately, beside the extreme heat and climate change that is going to get us all, one way or another at this point, as we sit there thinking, just turn up the air conditioner, was the big front page news story that not too long ago rang across the world. Remember, June 14th, the headline of the four kids who survived a plane crash in the Amazon jungle? I’m gonna stop right there. Who, in real life, when they get on a plane and thinks of it crashing, ever, I mean ever, thinks they will actually survive. Which, I hate to admit, is the reason I barely watch the attendants when they give the mandatory life jacket spiel. Plus, I’ve lately taken to sitting by the emergency exit for what seems like more room and saying yes to opening the door in case of an emergency, as if. Truth is, unless your pilot’s nickname is Sully, and what are the chances of that happening a second time around, let’s just quote Hunger Games for a min-

By ELYCE RAE HELFORD

Sara Berman’s Closet, by Maira Kalman and Alex Kalman. HarperCollins, 2018.

efore discovering the short, poignant book of art and photographs entitled Sara Berman’s Closet, I’d never heard of Sara Berman. A quick internet search led me to two living Sara Bermans, one a British fashion designer and the other a philanthropist and former editor of The Forward. Neither is the titular figure of the book, the mother and grandmother of author/artist (and mother/son) team Maira and Alex Kalman. Their Sara was a Jewish woman from Belarus who emigrated first to Israel and then to New York. The Kalmans created their book to honor this woman, whose story is both common and remarkable. Common is her experience of life in a small European village as part of a large Jewish family. In plain prose paired with paintings and photos, the Kalmans describe Sara’s life. “Yes, there were pogroms. Yes, there was depravation. But life was not all bad.” Here we meet a blind goose-herder and “a grandfather with a sixfoot-long beard who never spoke.” Praise flows for the hard-working women of this family and for Sara and her older sister Shoshana’s proclivity for reading, eating cake, singing, and dancing. A touch of the remarkable appears when a cousin is hit by lightning while drinking a glass of tea. Again familiar in Jewish immigrant stories is the desire to be “free.” For 12-year-old Sara and her family, this involves sailing to Palestine. They settle into a shack near the beach, where Sara’s mother sews clothes for the girls copied from European fashion magazines, and the “Middle Eastern sun bleached the laundry a blinding white.” In this environment of poverty and freedom, Sara soon becomes an adult and marries Pesach, a “dapper” young man, despite misgivings. The two move to New York, have two daughters,

ute, “May the odds be ever in your favor,” God forbid one finds oneself in an actual plane crash. Okay, back to the news story. Not only did these 4 kids aged 13, 9, 4, and 1…yes 1, survive, they survived 40 days in the Amazon jungle. First let me say, may their mother rest in peace…and the other two grown-ups who did not survive…may they rest in peace. I can’t even comprehend the circumstances these kids found themselves in. However, me being the Jewish mom that I am, I actually thought, after reading the tragedy and miracle of this whole news story, was that, should my very smart son, and I love him beyond existence, should he ever find himself surviving a plane crash in the Amazon jungle, at any age, would most likely have minus zero, to zero survival skills to survive 40 days, let alone one. And then I thought, I have failed as a mother. My thought process continued to rationalizing that of course he wouldn’t survive 40 days in the Amazon jungle because he wasn’t born in the Amazon like those children. And that makes sense, right?

the daughters grow up and go to college, and Sara and Pesach move back to Israel. Another note of the unusual involves Pesach’s fall from their third-story window to a terrace on the second, from which he emerges uninjured. Only when Sara turns 60 and leaves Pesach for New York, taking only a single suitcase, does Sara’s life begin to shift to the remarkable. “It was a liberation,” we read, for in Greenwich Village Sara finds “a room of her own” and a schedule that meets her needs. Here she watches Fred Astaire movies and Jeopardy, writes weekly letters to her sister Shoshana, and eats pizza at the Museum of Modern Art every Wednesday. Then, in a “burst of inspiration,” she decides to wear only white. The remainder of the book is primarily devoted to Sara’s clothing, in a closet where she keeps all this whiteness washed, starched, and tidily folded. It seems a reflection of her sunny youth as well as her mature individualism as after divorce. When Sara dies, her children decide to keep everything from her closet, seeing it as a “work of art” they needed to preserve and someday share with the world. Ten years later, this goal is achieved as grandson Alex opens Mmuseumm and features “Sara’s Closet.” In time, the exhibit moves to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and eventually tours the world. Sarah’s Closet, the book’s authors declare, shares “a small and monumental story.” I cannot help but be charmed by the little volume’s delightful details, including its stylized paintings and many photos of Sara at various ages. As with all of us, it is the little things that make up a life, at once familiar and unique. Ultimately, I cherish the authors’ message that, like Sara and so many other brave, “common” individuals, we must have the courage to make mistakes, find meaning, and simply go on. • Elyce Rae Helford, Ph.D., is a professor of English and director of the Jewish and Holocaust Studies minor at Middle Tennessee State University. Reach her at elyce.helford@mtsu.edu.

Still, I couldn’t leave it at that. I started thinking how completely far removed from the natural world my son has been brought up in. I’ll never forget the look of terror on his face when I dropped him off at Camp Ramah Darom in the wilds of Georgia for a two-week stay in a Jewish sleep away camp. That’s like a four-star hotel glorified camping trip. When I went to drive off, he stood there paralyzed as if I actually dropped him off alone in the middle of the Amazon jungle. All that to say, what those fur Indigenous kids who survived that terrifying and tragic ordeal reminded me, was how awfully far away our “civilized” society is from being one with the natural world. Besides feeling absolute gratitude that they actually survived, their amazing real- life story gave me pause to think of how far we have grown from a connection to our planet and with it, our ability to survive…and yes, “may the odds be ever in our favor.” Last, but not least, not to worry, next time I get on a plane, I’m going to pay attention to the attendants as they demonstrate the life vests and read how to open the emergency exit door. •

Get Outside: Cedars of Lebanon By MELISSA SOSTRIN

The righteous bloom like a date-palm; they thrive like a cedar in Lebanon; – Psalm 92

edars of Lebanon State Park in Wilson County is named for the eastern red cedar trees which reminded early settlers of the cedar trees mentioned dozens of times in the bible. The cedar trees which once thrived across Mount Lebanon in the Mediterranean have suffered a serious decrease from centuries of over-forestation and climate change and now mostly grow there in a heavily protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The “cedars” of Lebanon, Tennessee are actually juniper trees, though that does not detract from the idyllic feeling of the 1,139-acre park. There are eight miles of trails which wind through the unique natural ecosystems called limestone glades. Limestone is so close to the surface that soil is thin or absent in these areas. Because the water and surface temperatures vary so much a desert-like habitat exists for the plant community. There are 19 rare and endangered species of plants that grow there and nowhere else in the world. The half-mile unpaved Cedar Glade Trail by the visitor center winds through

Lifecycles Engagement Aaron Rosen to Jamie Solomon

Ellen and Michael Rosen of Nashville are proud to announce the engagement of their son, Aaron, to Jamie Solomon, daughter of Ginny and Doug Solomon of Cleveland, Ohio. The groom-to-be is the grandson of Dr. Howard Rosen (and the late Betty Lee) and Ann Shavlan (and the late Gene). The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Helene and Sidney Kaufman, Charles Traeger, and Thelma and Joseph Solomon, and Goddaughter of the late Joanne and Al Grigsby. Aaron attended the University of Arizona where he received his bachelor’s degree in information science and currently works as a product manager for Optum in Chicago. Jamie attended The Ohio State University where she received her bachelor’s degree. She received her master’s degree in speech-language pathology from The University of Akron. She works as a speech-language pathologist in special education in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago. The couple live together in Chicago. A June 2024 wedding is planned in Cleveland.

B’rit Mitzvah Molly Lichtenstein

Molly Lichtenstein will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, at Congregation Micah. Molly is the child of Jimmy and Karen

meadows and woods. On a recent visit we saw butterflies flitting everywhere visiting the blooming echinacea and other native wild flowers. Signs along the way identify trees, flora, and fauna. Trails by the nature center have been paved which makes that area of the park much more accessible than when I visited several years ago. Intersecting these trails are looping trails through meadows. “The park’s goal is to rehabilitate these fields, promoting native grasses and forbs to foster quality bird and wildlife habitat and reproduce the open grassland phys-

iognomy likely found historically in the area,” according to Cedars of Lebanon Resource Management Plan. What is a “forb,” you ask? They are herbaceous, broad leaf plants that are not woody and are not grass-like. Puff balls, blackberry lilies, purple passion flowers, milkweed, and more flourish along the paths. Towering above the field are bat houses which provide nesting opportunities for bats which are great for pest control. The nature center has several live reptiles as well as animals which populate what my mother would call “the

Lichtenstein, the sibling of Samantha Lichtenstein, and the grandchild of Harriet Spirer of Naples, Fla., and Murray and Sharon Lichtenstein of Spring, Texas. A rising seventh grader at Page Middle School, Molly enjoys playing Lacrosse and hanging out with her friends. Molly has taken time to work with the Williamson County Animal Center as her Mitzvah Project, with the goal of improving the lives of animals through adoption, education, enforcement and pet population control.

Charles Kearns

Samantha Margolis

Samantha Margolis will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at 10#0 a.m. on Saturday, August 12, at Congregation Micah. Sam is the child of Jeff and Rachel Margolis, the sibling of Adam and Erin Margolis, and the grandchild of Robert and Temmie Margolis of Los Angeles, Calif., and Lloyd and Lynn Springmann of Mandeville, La. A rising seventh grader at Woodland Middle School, Sam enjoys playing the piano, drawing, and mathematics.

Eli Cheng

Eli Wai-Dak Cheng will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 19, at West End Synagogue. Eli is the son of Jenny and Edward Cheng of Nashville and the younger brother of Isaac and Aaron Cheng. He is the grandson of Ethel and Peter Diamond of Nashville and of Emy and Stanley Cheng of Wayne, N.J. Eli is in the seventh grade and is homeschooled. He is also a part-time student at the Jewish Middle School of Nashville. Eli plays the cello and loves swimming, basketball and cooking.

Charles (Mack) Kearns will be called to the Torah as a bar mitzvah at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, at Congregation Micah. Mack is the child of Sara Kantrow and Daniel Kearns, the sibling of Harry and Baker Kearns, and the grandchild of Lee and Gretchen Kantrow of Baton Rouge, La., and Barbara Kearns of Wynnewood, Pa.. A rising seventh grader at MBA, Mack enjoys “everything” which to him includes playing the piano and bass guitar, being in a rock band, theater, reading, science, math, tennis, and the boy scouts.

Rena Zagnoev

Rena Lily Zagnoev will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, at The Temple. Rena was born on August 27, 2010, in Atlanta, Ga. She is the daughter of Erin and Greg Zagnoev and the grandchild of Rae and Bruce Hirsch of Nashville and Noreen and Dudley Zagnoev of Studio City, Calif. A rising seventh grader at University School of Nashville, Rena loves cooking, going to overnight camp, beach travel, spending time with her sisters, cousins and friends. For her mitzvah project, Rena has completed a mitzvah a month supporting organizations and programs that are important to her such as Jewish Family Service’s Chanukah drive, The Temple’s Annual Giving campaign, the Nashville Diaper Connection, Jewish Family Service’s school supply program, the Caring for Covenant Fund, Tennessee Moms Demand Action and the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

dead zoo.” The taxidermy bird display has definitely seen better days. There is also a detailed explanation of the park’s karst topography which is created by the dissolving of the limestone. This causes sinkholes, underground rivers, and caves, as well as other topographical features. Close to the Nature Center, visitors can walk to the entrance of Jackson Cave, one of 18 in the park. Behind the center is a meticulously labeled native plant garden with dozens of samples, many of which are available at the annual Friends of Cedars of Lebanon native plant sale. The farmers who settled the area realized the soil was poor and relied on timber harvesting which worsened erosion. In 1935, as part of the New Deal, the federal government began to resettle farmers so the forests could recover. Farmers in the cedar flats were resettled by the government to new locations, and the Works Project Administration constructed forestry and recreational facilities and planted thousands of red cedar seedlings. The park’s recovery is still evolving with controlled burns and other restoration projects. It also has a playground, disc golf course, picnic tables and grills, and a free splash pad which makes it a great family destination even though it is a little farther than other parks this column has described. •

Obituaries Yetta Ruth Goldfine Cohen

Condolences to the family of Yetta Ruth Goldfine Cohen, who died on July 4 in Jackson, Tenn. She is predeceased by her husband, Larry Cohen and is survived by her daughter, Janet Sue (Susie) (Glenn) Smith and sister, Sandi Gordon.

Sylvan Ralph Gordon

Condolences to the family of Sylvan Ralph Gordon, who died on June 30. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Gordon, and sons, Rusty Gordon and Brad Gordon. Donations may be made in Ralph’s memory to Congregation Micah or Alive Hospice.

Joan Schwartz Harshman

Condolences to the family of Joan Schwartz Harshman, who died on July 1. She was the mother of Amy Harshman Green (Don), Dr. David Harshman (Carol), and Rachel Harshman (Michael Earley); grandmother to Ailie Green and Brandon Green, Chelsey Harshman, Lisa Harshman, Sidney Harshman-Earley, Shalva Harshman-Earley, and Simon Harshman-Earley. Donations may be made in Joan’s memory to Congregation Micah or “to something that makes the world a better place.” •

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

• August 2023

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS

INSURANCE/MEDICARE

CATHY WERTHAN, CPA

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICARE? Turning 65? Let us Assist you. Jeffrey G. Brier CLU, ChFC, CASL jbrier@brier-brier.com. 401-751-2990 www.Brier-Brier.com

401 Commerce Street, Suite 1250 Nashville, TN 37219 (615) 245-4070 • marcumllp.com

APPLIANCES

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

Lighting • Appliances • Hardware Plumbing • Accessories 615•843•3300 www.gohermitage.com

APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

At Emergest, we enable your business with cost-efficient digital applications – web, mobile, automation, design, strategy workshops. We partner with you to solve all your technology needs. Find us at emergest.com, email boris@emergest.com, or call 615-473-3700.

ATTORNEY MARTIN SIR, ATTORNEY Family Law / Personal Injury / Probate Fifth Third Center 424 Church Street, Ste. 2250 Nashville, Tennessee 37219 (615) 256-5661 www.martinsirlaw.com

CARE GIVER

Seniors and Post Hospital Care

Custom senior care for active, healthy lifestyles. Affordable/no minimums. Meals, meds, transp., outings, dementia care & assist with hospital discharge. Professional trusted care partners. Locally owned. Call Moises for Free Assessment: 615-678-9223 www.curaforcare.com

20 August 2023 •

AROSA (formerly Family Staffing Solutions, Inc.) Integrated Care Management and Home Care Provider 2000 Glen Echo Road, Suite 104 Nashville, TN 37215 615-595-8929 143 Uptown Square Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-848-6774 768 N. Main Street Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-680-2771

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

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

OPTOMETRIST DR. MICHELE SONSINO Optique Eyecare & Eyewear 2817 West End Ave., Nashville 615-321-4EYE (4393) DR. JAMES W. KIRKCONNELL Bellevue Eye Center 7640 Hwy 70 S, Ste 102 Nashville 615-662-7588 www.bec2020.com

ORTHODONTISTS

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

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

GASTROENTEROLOGISTS

DR. POINTER & DR. SHARMA Serving Hendersonville & Nashville 615-832-5530 or www.thegidocs.com

INSURANCE

BILTMORE INSURANCE SERVICES Greg Zagnoev, Agent 615-746-RISK (7475) Home, Auto, Business, and Life JAMES A. ROTHBERG ADAM ROTHBERG James A. Rothberg & Associates Office: 615-997-1833 Fax: 615-665-1300 2000 Glen Echo, Suite 208 Nashville, TN 37215 Email: jrothberg@jarinsurance.com info@jarinsurance.com

ROBINS INSURANCE Bruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Marsha Jaffa, CIC; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 11 Music Circle S Ph. 615-665-9200 • www.robinsins.com ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Michael Weinberger Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care, Identity Theft Protection 6213 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 615-356-1700 www.zanderins.com

JACOB KUPIN C - 615.440.6673 O - 615.279.5310 Jacob@TheKupinGroup.com We’ve got your back!

DR. TODD A. RUBIN, M.D. Specializing in Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery Hughston Clinic Orthopaedics 615-342-6300

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

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

REAL ESTATE

FRANKLIN PARGH 615-351-7333 franklin.pargh@compass.com LANA PARGH 615-504-2685 lana.pargh@compass.com www.pargh.com Instagram: @theparghteam

www.zeitlin.com Residential & Relocation Specialists

JESSICA AVERBUCH CEO, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty 615-383-0183 (bus.) 615-294-9880 (cell) jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.com www.jessicaaverbuch.com LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 615-794-0833 (bus.) 615-351-5343 (cell) lorna.graff@zeitlin.com www.lornagraff.com NAN SPELLER Broker, GRI, ABR 615-383-0183 (bus.) 615-973-1117 (cell) nanspeller2014@gmail.com JENNIE ZAGNOEV Affiliate Broker 615-383-0183 (bus.) 615-838-2048 (cell) jennie.zagnoev@zeitlin.com

Jackie Roth Karr, REALTOR® www.JackieKarr.com Jackie.Karr@corcorangroup.com Mobile: 615.330.9779 Office: 615.250.7880

SENIOR SERVICES In-Home Care & Engagement | Respite Dementia Program | Early-Stage Group Independent & Assisted Living Memory Support | Caregiver Resources 615.434.2160 | services@abesgarden.org

SPORTING GOODS TEAM NASHVILLE Your Running/Walking Swimming Headquarters 3205 West End Ave. Nashville, TN 37203 615-383-0098

TRAVEL SERVICES Expredia Cruise Ship Centers A Full Service Travel Agency Alan Cooper: Office: 629-202-8945 www.cruiseshipcenters.com/AlanCooper 7081 B Hwy 70 S / Kroger Shopping Ctr.

TREE SERVICES

Preserving the Natural Beauty of Trees and Shrubs. Specializing in the care of shade and ornamental trees and shrubs for residential and commercial properties. Serving Nashville since 1978. 615-373-4342 www.druidtree.com

ADVERTORIALS

All Things Seniors ISSUE

AUGUST 2023

• August 2023

ADVERTORIALS

B’nai B’rith “Together” is the operative word when describing who we are and what we do. Over 30 years ago, our B’nai B’rith unit was founded as a social group for empty nesters and those who were about to become empty nesters who were interested in a social connection as well as community involvement. Our chapter works hard to maintain its original strong sense of community, close friendship and family. Over the years, our members have attended more than 200 educational, social and cultural events together. Together we adhere to the ideals of Judaism and B’nai B’rith International. Together we support various community service projects, including delivering Meals on Wheels on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and collecting books for Book’Em, an organization that provides books to underprivileged children in the Nashville area. Together we learn about Jewish and secular topics from community leaders such as former Congressman Jim Cooper, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Metro Council member Fabian Bedne and our own Frances Cutler Hahn, all of whom have given informative and thought-provoking presentations to our members at our monthly programming events. Together we also enjoy social events such as potluck and Shabbat dinners, hosting a screening during the Nashville Jewish Film Festival and our annual December 24th theme party. We enjoy a camaraderie that results in a healthy exchange of ideas and ideals, support in times of need, and a sense of community.

We welcome new members to our chapter whether they are new to the Nashville area or longer-term residents of our community. How to join: Contact Lorna Graff, Membership VP, lorna.graff@zeitlinrealtors. com or 615-351-5343.

Aging in Place Services Offers Love and Support in Transitional Times As a company that helps seniors transition to new living spaces, Aging in Place Services (AIPS) comes highly recommended. Recently the AIPS Team helped the Paul’s move to Traditions of Mill Creek Senior Living Community. They had this to say: “We hired the company based on our relator’s recommendation. Since both my husband and I were emotionally fragile, AIPS took so much stress out of what turned out to be a big endeavor for us. The love, care, and professionalism of this company met all our every needs. They made the ‘unknown’ a pleasant and safe experience. From hanging pictures to making our bed, they continued to make our new life enjoyable. They were not only our movers, but our friends. Even after a month after the move, they continued caring for us and getting everything ‘just right’ in our new home. We have a special red sign that reads ‘Love You More!’ That saying was proved over and over by the staff at AIPS. They not only physically moved us, but emotionally soothed us when we were overwhelmed.” Leif Erlendsson, Director of Sales and Marketing for Vitality Senior Living for Traditions of Mill Creek Senior Living Community added: “Since working with the professionals at AIPS, all our comments from our many referrals have been full of praise and appreciation. From their detailed moves to their set up of each family once moved... every family has said that they were the best moving experience they have had.”

Elite Caregiving Services Elite Caregiving Services offer warm and compassionate care in your own home. Our skilled team includes Registered Nurses, Certified Nurse Technicians, Physical Therapists, Caregivers, Nail Technicians, Massage Therapist, Speech Therapist, Phlebotomist We offer everything from aftercare for surgical procedures, to part-time assistance, to 24 hour elderly care. We would love to help you. Hannah Page Owner “I began caregiving over 10 years ago, and quickly learned that caring for the elderly was where I belonged. I started this company with the desire to help more people and their families.” Continued on page 23

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22 August 2023 •

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Jewish Family Service: Sustaining Older Adults In Our Community Jewish Family Service provides a myriad of continuously evolving programs to assist older adults in our community. The Helping Hands Program serves Jewish older adults who live alone or in assisted/nursing communities. This program utilizes volunteers to provide services such as friendly visits, telephone reassurance, pen pals, Shabbat services at local assisted living facilities, and an annual Passover Seder. Jewish Family Service also facilitates the Temple’s Golden Lunch Bunch Program on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month for a nutritious lunch, entertainment, and socialization. Under the Helping Hands umbrella are two programs specifically designed for people living with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia. Musical Helping Hands utilizes trained professional musicians and the Helping Hands Art/OMA Program utilizes a trained art facilitator to provide one-on-one music and art visits for people with Alzheimer’s and/or dementia living in homes, assisted living communities, or nursing facilities. In offering music and art options, JFS recognizes that for some individuals’ meaningful engagement and positive interaction may be better supported through an artistic medium. Cyber Seniors matches computer savvy volunteers with older adults needing basic tech assistance. Especially critical during the pandemic, this program continues to be available for increasing confidence with such things as Zoom meetings, online grocery shopping, and staying in touch virtually with family and friends. The Jacob’s Ladder Program pairs volunteers with seniors who might need assistance with small tasks requiring the use of a ladder such as replacing batteries in smoke detectors, changing light bulbs, and setting clocks. The Low-vision Aid Program, in partnership with B’nai Brith Maimonides Lodge #46, serves those who find it difficult to engage in basic daily activities such as cooking, locating appropriate clothing, continuing hobbies, or reading the newspaper due to vision difficulties. To learn more about any of these programs or to volunteer, please contact Jamie Maresca, Helping Hands Program Coordinator, at Jewish Family Service at 615-3541686 or jamie@jfsnashville.org. In addition to offering extensive services for seniors in our community, Jewish Family Service also provides professional counseling services with our highly experienced social workers. Our social workers provide information and referral services to help individuals identify services that are available in the community, and may even facilitate access to these

services when necessary. The most common request for seniors is evaluating different living options such as– aging in place and evaluating independent/assisted living options. JFS provides various ongoing support groups including Caregiver and Grief Groups. JFS social workers also provide counseling -- professional assessment and treatment for individuals, couples, families, and groups of all ages. A sliding fee scale is available for those unable to pay full fee, ensuring access to mental health for all. To learn more about any of these programs, please contact Jewish Family Service 615-356-4234, www.jfsnashville.org

Get a trusted second opinion to help you with your estate planning “to do” list When it comes to estate planning, there is a well-known adage that families and individuals should heed: By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. For most people, estate planning and preparation do not rank high on a “to do” list. Rather than think of the hard work that must be done to create an estate plan, there is a better way to look at it: Estate planning is not about you. It’s about your family, heirs and other people and organizations you want to provide for. Without an estate plan or will, the courts (state law) will decide who gets your assets, and you lose control of how your hard-earned wealth will be distributed. Estate planning can be a challenging and emotional endeavor. But here are four tips to make it easier and to help you prepare for the future: 1| Work with an experienced estate planning attorney 2| Write a letter of instruction 3| Create an “end of life” file 4| Review estate planning documents annually Your friends at Argent Trust are here to help and can expand on these items. So do yourself and your family a favor - don’t procrastinate. Prepare for the future by having an estate plan in place that will help you support your loved ones. Contact Argent Trust at mhirt@argenttrust.com, hsafer@argenttrust.com or (615) 385-2718 to start a complimentary conversation.

Blakeford Senior Life In the more than two decades since we began, Blakeford Senior Life has become Nashville’s senior independent living lifestyle, healthcare, and services provider of choice for those who see life in retirement as a growth opportunity. Whether looking for a continuing care retirement community offering the finest in worry-free independent living with a full array of onsite rehabilitation and healthcare options or seeking a plan to support your desire to age in place in a long-time family Continued on page 25

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24 August 2023 •

ADVERTORIALS

Need Health Insurance?

home, Blakeford Senior Life has the solution to meet your needs. In 2023, Blakeford will be completing its exciting expansion and enhancement project. In addition to adding new independent living apartments, this project also includes a new Wellness Center including a pool, salon/spa, and a full-service fitness gym equipped with the latest in exercise equipment. The expansion also includes the addition of a new licensed, secured memory care neighborhood - Burton Court Memory Care at Blakeford - that is specifically designed to care for those living with dementia. Blakeford Senior Life also offers LiveWell, a revolutionary suite of benefits expertly managed and personally delivered to your home, so you can still live at home. Our progressive and highly personalized plan is designed for healthy and independent adults who are 60 and older. LiveWell members are empowered to feel strong, to be safe, and to sustain the independence they have earned. Contact us at 615-665-9505 and let us help support you during your journey.

Cura For Care The medical system in Nashville is changing, posing dangerous conditions to unsuspecting residents. Many assume care sectors are working in coordination, from hospital, to rehab, to physician. Unfortunately, this isn’t always true. Our home care agency received a call recently. The woman said, “My husband was discharged today, and I can’t get him out of the car.” This, not to mention other necessary arrangements, had not been considered when the facility declared it was time for him to go home. The situation extends beyond lack of ambulation. Medication mistakes are dangerous, especially when medications prescribed by doctors are updated or added to by hospitals and then again by rehab centers without any coordination between the three. Frequently we see a lack of home health arrangements, and even a lack of necessary supplies and equipment to facilitate a smooth transition home following hospitalization. Everyone needs a plan upon discharge to make sure every appointment is scheduled. To avoid out-of-pocket charges, make sure every piece of needed equipment is ordered before leaving the facility. All new prescriptions should be reviewed by a pharmacist to ensure any updated medications won’t introduce contraindications. Hospitalization and rehab are expensive enough without a bungled discharge process, mismanaged medications, disorientation, and a preventable fall restarting the whole process. Call for our NO-COST DISCHARGE PLANNING CONSULTATION. With proper planning we can help seniors live healthy, happy and safe at home. Call 615522-5265 also ask about Cura’s no-cost, no-obligation Recovery At Home services.

M Jaffa Health Insurance

Marsha Jaffa 615-482-3860 • mjaffahealthins@outlook.com 40 years experience Medicare Supplemental and Advantage Plans MarketPlace Insurance Licensed agent representing several companies

Navigating the Parkinson's Path Join Us For These Featured Presentations: Gocovri: Treating dyskinesia and OFF time without compromising on either Jill M. Giordano Farmer, DO, MPH, Director, Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Program Global Neurosciences Institute Parkinson's Disease Research Update Thomas Davis, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center Exercise as Medicine for Parkinson’s Disease: Evidence, Progress and Hope Daniel M. Corcos, PhD, Professor of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

This event is presented to the community at no charge thanks to the following:

Date: Saturday, August 12 Check-in: 8:00 AM Location: Gordon Jewish Community Center 801 Percy Warner Blvd. Nashville, TN 37205

Marsha Jaffa Need health insurance? I will do my best to make sure you are receiving the coverage you need for the lowest available price. I’ll work with you to find an individual, family or Medicare plan that fits your specific needs. I offer a free virtual or in person meeting to explain the Medicare process, and all the medical insurance options. The Marketplace can be overwhelming with all the deductibles, co-pays, networks, and companies to choose from. Sitting down with an experienced local insurance agent, like myself, ensures you understand your options, the pros and cons of each choice and helps you make this important healthcare decision for yourself or your family. Let me personally guide you through the maze of healthcare insurance plans and policies. I am passionate about matching the client to the best network of doctors and hospitals available while

HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Continued on page 26

• August 2023

ADVERTORIALS making sure the insured understands their chosen coverage. I represent an array of supplemental and advantage plans. I am a Nashville native with 40 year’s experience guiding clients through their insurance decision process and would like the opportunity to help you find health insurance. Please feel free to contact me at mjaffahealthins@outlook.com or 615-482-3860. If you leave me a message, I’ll call you back usually within 24 hours. Marsha

Abe’s Garden Community Offers Specialized Care and Engagement in Your Home, Whether It’s On- or OffCampus Abe’s Garden Community is a local – and global – resource for older adults and those on a dementia journey. Abram “Abe” Shmerling M.D.’s family was disheartened by the lack of quality services for those living with Alzheimer’s as they sought help for their father who was diagnosed in 1995. Abe’s son, Michael, assembled a team of professionals, including sister Judy Shmerling Given, and toured care communities considered top in the country to document the best services and programs with the goal to establish a one-of-a-kind memory care center of excellence in Nashville. Abe’s Garden Memory Support opened its doors to residents in 2015. It is internationally recognized as a groundbreaker in dementia design and serves families through community-based services including home care and engagement; a dementia day program; an early-stage dementia social and support group; and a free educational caregiving video series. Abe’s Garden Community is also home to independent and assisted living residents, who embrace their hassle-free lifestyle and appreciate our friendly, compassionate, and supportive staff. We are passionate about improving the quality of life for older adults through daily engagement. Our community-based and residential services focus on wellness, interests, purpose, and lifelong learning. We use the I’m Still Here® approach founded on best practices in older adult care and meaningful engagement. Contact us to discuss how we can help your family. Email services@abesgarden.org or call 615.434.2160.

The Peterson Foundation Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing (dopaminergic) neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. It is estimated that more than 6,400 people in Middle Tennessee are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. The progression of symptoms is often a bit different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. The cause remains largely unknown. Although there is no cure, treatment options vary and include medications and surgery. While Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious. The first step to living well with Parkinson’s disease is to understand the disease and the progression: It is possible to have a good to great quality of life with PD. Working with your doctor and following recommended therapies are essential in successfully treating symptoms by using dopaminergic medications. Discovering the right medications, complementary therapies, support and ways to stay independent can enhance your quality of life with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Peterson Foundation for Parkinson’s is a non-profit organization committed to providing support, educational information and programs for people affected with Parkinson’s. We understand a Parkinson’s diagnosis affects the entire family and PFP provides support for the individual living with Parkinson’s, care partners, spouses and family members. Contact us to learn more about PFP and how you can participate in any of the support groups. All group meetings and events can be found at www.petersonforparkinsons. org or call 615-269-5312.

Her Job is to Make Your Life Easier! If you’ve had your fill of Mahjong, pickleball, or Scrabble, it might be time to declutter, reorganize, and finish other chores that need attention in your life. If you are planning to downsize, how do you sort through a lifetime of possessions to “Keep,” “Give Away,” or “Donate” without breaking your heart? Who are the people you cherish? What are the things you’d like to bequeath them to remember you by once you’re gone? One widow, who had raised her family in an eleven-room, West Meade home, and lived there for 40 years, faced downsizing to a one-bedroom, assisted-living apartment. Making decisions, preparing for a garage sale, packing up, moving, and getting resettled was completed in just a matter of weeks with Jane’s expert help. Her client was happy— surrounded by all the things she cherished—for many years afterwards. Jane’s skill set runs the gamut. Whether you need help to balance a checkbook, find capable vendors, or plan a major family celebration, collaborating with her can eliminate your stress! She sees clients weekly, monthly, and many only when they require her assistance. Whatever your goal, she can help you achieve it—quickly, discreetly, and responsibly. Whatever you need, she has probably done it before! Want more information? “Just Call Jane!” or email her for a list of services. And, if you would like a FREE copy of her GROCERY CHECKLIST, she promises it will save you time at the store! Jane R. Snyder • calljane@comcast.net • 615-557-6277

The Kupin Group The Kupin Group, your trusted real estate partner in Nashville, Tennessee, is proud to showcase the exceptional housing options for seniors available in this thriving city. As Nashville experiences remarkable growth, our team understands the unique needs of senior citizens and is dedicated to finding you the perfect home. Nashville’s housing market offers an array of choices, and The Kupin Group is here to guide you through the process. We specialize in helping buyers find housing solutions that cater to their specific requirements, ensuring comfort, accessibility, and convenience. We are experts in helping clients list their homes with ease and downsize, ensuring a seamless transition to a more manageable living space as a senior. We also understand the financial aspect of housing. We have a deep knowledge of the various financial assistance programs, tax incentives, and subsidies available in Nashville. Our experienced team will guide you through these options, ensuring that you find an affordable and comfortable home without compromising on quality or location. Our commitment to community involvement extends beyond real estate, as we believe in fostering a sense of belonging and supporting local initiatives. At The Kupin Group, we actively support organizations such as Vanderbilt Hillel, Special Olympics, the Jewish Federation, and more. With The Kupin Group by your side, you can trust that we have your best interests at heart. Let us assist you in finding the perfect housing solution that caters to your needs, preferences, and budget. We’ve Got Your Back! •

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville at www.jewishnashville.org Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways! Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

26 August 2023 •

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Entertainment & Dining Out Issue OCTOBER 2023

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Reach the En ntire Jewish Community of Middle e Tenne essee We know that yo ou will want to be in ncluded in this issue. Advertisers who contra act an 1/8 page ad or larger can n contac ct us for in nclusion in articles pertaining g to your busine ess.

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At Clarendale at Bellevue Place, we’ll set the stage for success. All you have to do is continue living a vibrant life made for the spotlight. With unprecedented hospitality and endless opportunities to rock your retirement years, you’ll always be treated like a star. Our worry-free lifestyle offers: • An active social calendar • Resort-style amenities • Restaurants and shopping within walking distance at One Bellevue Place • Beautifully landscaped grounds and walking trails • Full-service, anytime dining with regionally inspired dishes always on the menu • Access to a continuum of care, if needed Learn more and experience what a showstopping future looks like when you schedule a visit. ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com | 615-258-6364 INDEPENDENT LIVING | ASSISTED LIVING | MEMORY CARE web ClarendaleAtBellevuePlace.com | 7632 Highway 70 South | Nashville, TN 37221

• August 2023

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Elite Caregiving Services IN HOME CAREGIVING

ECS In Home Caregiving www.EliteCaregivingServices.com Elite Caregiving Services is dedicated to providing exemplary care to our clients in the comfort of their own homes. We are a multifaceted team, with expertise in geriatric care. Our team ranges from - Multiple Registered Nurses on staff, - Certified Nurse Techs, - A Paramedic, - A Massage Therapist, - Multiple Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants, - A Personal Trainer, and - A Phlebotomist. Along with the expertise in their fields, our staff is dedicated to providing both compassionate and professional care while maintaining the dignity of our clients.

“Hannah and every one of her employees were a blessing to our entire family. During a time that is obviously emotional as we were dealing with an ailing parent Hannah made things easy. Everyone who helped us was so kind and truly became a part of our family. A true warm and personal touch during a very hard time. We could not have asked for our father to be treated with more compassion and dignity than he was, by every single person who came to help.”

“Hannah was always very efficient, caring, and trustworthy. Hannah will be a valuable able addition to any person that hires her and I would not hesitate to recommend her.”

Gail Jacobs

– Billy Eskind

28 August 2023 •

– Patricia Frist For years now, Hannah and her team have done an incredible job caring for elderly family and friends. She is incredibly patient and compassionate and I would recommend her unequivocally.

HANNAH PAGE Owner “I started caregiving over ten years ago and quickly learned that caring for the elderly was where I belonged. I started this company with the desire to provide compassionate care to more people and their families .”

Hannah and her team were extraordinary with our Parents, Anne and Jerry Gold. They were part of our family for over 4 years. We say family because it very much felt that way. They were professional, capable, and compassionate in every task they performed. We would not hesitate to recommend them. – Cindee and Michael Gold