STRONGER UNITED
Twosynagoguescome together to form one congregation
BY JANRISHER Staff writer
For the Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge,the last year has beenmonumental.The congregation was established in January 2022 with theunification of two long-time Baton Rouge congregations —Beth Shalom Synagogueand CongregationB’nai Israel.
After years of work, in March 2024, the unified congregationmovedinto its new sacred home, located at the previous site of B’nai Israel butina new synagogue createdbycombining architecturaland symbolic elements of both congregations with newfeatures thatfocusonlooking forward.
“Wehave aCzech Torah that was rescuedfrom the Holocaustondisplay and the oldeternal lights —and then you’ll walk into the new sanctuary space,and they were very muchwantingamodern look,”said RabbiSarah Smiley,who started herwork to lead theunified congregation July 1, 2022.
The new synagogueincludesmultiple references to the twoprevious congregations, including two sculpturesof Moses and stained glass windows from both synagogues
Gettingthe righttiming
Donna Sternberg hasbeen amember of the BatonRouge Jewishcongregation for57years.She was amember of the design committee of themerged congregation andsaysshe too believes that the congregation is stronger united “It’salso exciting to see thecommunitythriving on our new campus,”she added.
On Oct. 2, morethan300 people came together for the unified congregation’s first Rosh Hashanah service in its new sacred space.ThatfirstHighHoliday which welcomed the year 5785, has beenfollowed by YomKippur,Sukkot and Simchat Torah
In the weeks before the High Holidays started, Smiley,who movedto Louisiana to accept the rabbi position, indicated that she seems to have figured out much aboutthe ways thingswork in theBayou State.
“So the Friday night of YomKippur might be our biggest service. Typically Saturday is, but Iwill say it’s the LSU/Ole Miss game and the marking of 100 years in Death Valley,”she said.
At that point,Smiley was concerned thatthe game might be set for the morning, which couldhave abiggerimpact onattendance for the holiest day of the year for Jews.
“They haven’tannounced the game time yet, but I’m hoping, for my sake andthe sake of the Jewish community of Baton Rouge, I’m hoping it is an evening game,but we’llsee,”she said. “I think they’re going to put it in prime time, but you know maybe my connection to thething abovemewill help.” Things worked out all theway around for the YomKippur services (and the LSU/Ole Miss game too).
Thenew congregation is working
The congregation is working toward its mission of being “an inclusive Reform congregation seekingtoinspire apassionate commitmentto Jewish life,learning, community andspiritual growth.”
“The coming together of the two synagogues has been tremendous for the Jews of Baton Rouge,” saidmember Seth Kaplan.“We areso thankful for the history of theJews of Baton Rouge and we are excited to be part of the future.” Steve Cavalier,president of thecongregation’sboardofdirectors, said one of the benefits of mergingthe two congregations has been additional resources for worship, music, social, educational activities and more. Plus, there are are more children and youth involved in their religious school.
“It’sobviously wonderful to be to-
STAFF PHOTOSBYJAVIER GALLEGOS
Symbolic elements of both congregations were incorporated in the newUnified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rougesynagogue. The custom carveddoors are fromBeth Shalom Synagogue and the stained glassfrom Congregation B’nai Israel.
“The comingtogether of the two synagogues has been tremendous for the Jews of Baton Rouge.Weare so thankful for thehistoryofthe Jews of Baton Rougeand we areexcited to be partofthe future.”
SETH KAPLAN,congregation member
gether in one community,” he said “Even though people did know each other across congregational lines before, nowthat we’reone congregation, we’reable to gettoknoweach other better.”
Cavalier says that, after two years ofcareful planning, the dedication ceremony for the new building was meaningful, but it was the Rosh Hashanah service that gave him pause and provided achance to reflect on how well the new congregation is working.
“I was just blown away with the crowd wehad.Itwas the largest crowd we’ve had in anumberofyears,” he said. “It was such abeautiful service. We were solucky in finding Rabbi Smiley.I lookedaround andthought, ‘Wedid the right things.’”
Cavalier said there were all kinds of predictions when the congregations merged.
“Experts said we would lose 20% of our membership. Thathasn’t happened. We have alargermembership nowthan when we first merged. We have new memberswho weren’taffiliated with either congregationinthe past,” he said.
To everything,there is aseason
Cavalier says that despitesome differences in philosophy of worship beforethe merger,the congregation has come togetherbeautifully
“It’s been so gratifying to see that happen —and we love our building,”he said. “Itwas oneofthe legacy congregations,but we totally renovated it. It is essentially anew building.”
Cavalier attributesthe positive impactofmerging the congregations to thoughtfulness andcareful planning.
“People really realized thatthe Jew-
Rabbi Sarah Smileystands fora picture in front of the stained glasspaneled windows that were previously at Congregation B’nai Israel at UJCBR recently in Baton Rouge.
ish community is small and we would be stronger united,”hesaid. “Wespent alot of time in the process and looked in depth at everything that could be a problem— what kind of rabbi we wanted, what kind of music we wanted, what kind of facility we wanted.”
At the Rosh Hashanah service, which as Cavalier notedwas open to one and all, those in attendance prayed aseries of prayers, including this one:
To everythingthere is aseason, and atime forevery purpose under heaven.
This is the season of the soul —atime to rejoice,a time to reflect, atimetoreturn. atime to gatherround thetablewith lovedonesand friends, atimefor song and silence, for prayer and confession to openthe heart, atime to retreat to our sanctuaries within, atime to renew the life and spirit of our community
This is the seasonofattentiveness a time to noticewhat has unfolded and what has not, atime to regret, atimeto forgive, atime to remember cherished dreams and highideals erased by reality
Thisisa season of hope —like mist rising at sunset, like dew descending at dawn, ourhopes beautifyand nourish everything theytouch. Our hopes make uppartners in create, pursuers of peace, people who aspire to aworld of justice... This is the season of awe—when
ä See SYNOGOGUE, page 3G
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Thelast time we went to Frogtown
Four yearsago,two falls before my father died, on All Saints Day, we went to his family cemetery, calledFaulknerCemetery,inthe deep,pineywoodsofMississippi in aplace calledFrogtown. For the record, I’ve never seen afrog there,and it is farfrom atown, in everysense Frogtown is the kind of place thatIgrewupcalling a“community,” an area thatusually encompassestwo to three, maybe four square miles, andthe people in thatareadothe thing that people in communities do —they are there for each other. Theymay borrowsugar or milk. Theybabysit each other’s children. Sometimes, they pick up things for the other whenthey go “to town.” They help when there’s aleak or acow gets loose —things thatmay seem foreign to those who have neverlived in the country,but it is the way of those places My fathernever lived in Frogtown, but his dad grewupthere before he left to fight in the Pacific in World WarII. My grandfather andhis parents and their parents areburied there, along with dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins —mostofwhom I’ve neverbeen exactly clear on how we were related, but I’ve heard their namesall my life One of whom was awoman my dadreferredtoas“Aunt Bama.” Hername was Bama Chestnut, andthe story goes that she rode a water buffalo acrossthe TombigbeeRiveronher way fromAlabama to Mississippi. My dadremembered his Aunt Bama fondly from when he wasachild. As one might expect from awoman who once rode awater buffalo across amajor rivertomove from one state to another, she was, by all accounts, acharacter On ourlasttrip to Frogtown, my daddid as he always did aboutthe places he loved. He turnedinto atourguide, telling me what storieshehad heardor could rememberofthe people representedbyagedheadstones. Meanwhile, Itook pictures, trying to connect the names and the memories.
Though my father talked alot abouthis family androots, until thatday Ihad neverconsidered ancestors in the way Iknow those in many othercultures do —whichmostofushavelearned aboutinlarge part thanks to Disney movies like “Mulan” and “Coco.”
In “Mulan,”she sings, “Ancestors, hear my plea, help me not to make afool of me —and to not uproot my family tree.”
I’ve also heardthat“the veil is thinner” in these last days of Octoberand first ones of November.I’m not exactly sure what thatmeans, but Iknowonthat daythreeyearsago, it sure felt thinner.
As Iwalkedthrough the cemetery, Iworeasmall red leather purse.It’sa crossbody bag that Itypically barely even notice. However,onthatday,Iwas leaning here andthere and sometimescrawling on the ground, trying to getthe best photos of my dadand the headstones of our ancestors.
As Iwas listening to my dad andtrying to take photographs, my purse kept dangling and getting in the way.WhenIrealized thatitwas adistraction, Iwas standing right beside my greatgreat grandmother’sheadstone. Iknewa little abouther beyond
20th La.BookFestivalcelebratesreaders andwriters
BY SERENA PUANG Staff writer
Planningthe LouisianaBookFestival is like planning aMardiGras parade, the festival’sexecutive director Jim Davissaid. He’sbeen coordinating book festivalsfor 15 years. As soon as the festival is underway,heand his team have to startthinking about the next one.
The Louisiana Book Festival is in its 20th year, and according to Davis, it’sacelebration of readers, writers and books in Louisiana.
“Readers come first because that’sour focus,” he said. “Wetry to make our festival very relaxing and accessible. Ithink we createa really good environmentfor people who come to the bookfestival to have asomewhatintimate relationship with the authors who are presenting.”
On Friday,the day beforethe festival,attendees also have the opportunity to learn fromauthors in “WordShops” where select authors will be presenting ontopics ranging from the business of publishing to writing children’sbooks Thefestival schedule at aglance is coming soon, but until then, you cancheck louisianabookfestival org for more information
This year,poetDavidKirbyis receiving the LouisianaWriter Award. Many former awardrecipients will be returningaspresenters, and there is also special programming for childrensuch as face painting and storytelling. Costumedcharacters Waldo, Bruce the Bear and Zoom Squirrel willall be making aspecial appearance.
We caught up with Davisahead of the festival to chat aboutspecial programs, how to prepare and how books are selected. The Louisiana BookFestivalisscheduledfor 9a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday,Nov.2,in downtownBaton Rouge.
Tell us alittle bit about the festival. What can people expect?
It’sbeen held annuallysince 2002. There were afew years where we had to cancel it: after Katrina, and then during the pandemic, we had to cancel it one year
The next year,wehad to have an all virtual festival, but we were
able to goback livein2022.
The festival is afull dayofprogramming with authorspresentingtheir books, either on panels or solo. It’s designed for readers of allages. We have programs for adults, achildren’spavilion with children’sauthors, crafts that relate to thebooks that are being featured, ateenheadquarters, a cooking demo tent with folks who have abook outabout cooking and amusicstage.
We have abook tent where all of thefeatured books areavailable forpurchase through ourpartner, Cavalier House Books in Denham Springs. After each program, the authors are scheduledfor abook signing in the book tent, so youcan hear anauthorand then go to the book tent and get your book per-
sonally signed by theauthor
How are books/authors selected?
We have aselection committee within the library.It’skind of an informalprocess, and anybody can recommendabook to us to consider It’sanongoing process from one festival to another.Aswefind out aboutbooks,westart inviting authors continually throughout the year.Wetry to have something for everybody Partofour missionistobesupportive of Louisiana authorsand Louisianapublishers.
So, we always find out from Louisiana publishers what books they have coming out in the next year before the festival. We get those lists, get those copies and make decisions as we go. But Louisiana
readers don’tjust read Louisiana writers, and they don’tjust read books about Louisiana, so we’re looking at what’s being sold, what’s coming out nationally,and we try to getsomebig names from national best sellers.
Just when we thinkwe’ve completed our roster,wefind out about another book that we didn’t know wasout there, and we tryto squeeze another one in. It winds up that the festival’skind of bursting at the seams.
Is there anyspecial programming this year?
We have someone coming to the festival whoisaninternationally recognized expert on theBeatles, Bruce Spizer.He’sdone aseries of books on different albumsbythe Beatles
One thingspecial that we’re doing this year —this is aone-off, we always have live and in-person programs —James Lee Burke, a very nationalbestseller,popular author from Louisiana, doesn’t travel any more andhelivesin Montana, so we’re going to be able to do avirtual,live program with him
We have afull day of poetry too. The Louisiana Poet Laureate,
Allison Pelegrin, will be hosting two panels that feature Louisianapoets. The National Student Poetswillbewithus. Each year, five poetsare selected fromfive regions throughout the country and they’re all going to be with us. Ithink it’stheir only appearance this year outside of theceremony where they wereannounced. What advice do youhavefor people as they’re looking at the festival scheduleand deciding what to go to?
Work ahead of time. Print the schedule out and have your pen ready and make notes. Your source for finding out about those names and authors listed is the website because of thetwo wonderful resource pages for the festival: Featured Authors and Featured Books. So atitle or abookcover may catch your eye, and you can click on that book and it will take you to theauthor’spagewhere notonly do you find out about the author butreada descriptionofthe book that’sbeing featured.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity Email SerenaPuangatserena. puang@theadvocate.com.
Powering Progress
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STAFFFILE PHOTOBYMICHAEL JOHNSON
Newlyweds Alex and Christopher Anderson listen to apoem made for them by Cassandra de Albaatthe Poetry-to-Order booth at the Louisiana Book Festival at the State Capitol complex in 2023.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Jim Davis is the executive directorofthe Louisiana Center for the Book and theLouisiana Book Festival.
SYNOGOGUE
Continued from page1G
our eyes behold it, may we fell blessed. When we turn toward each other,let us feel strength. When we seek the Holy,may we find purpose, may we find courage, may we find love.
Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@theadvocate. com.
RISHER
Continued from page1G
the fact that she was born in 1834 and died in 1913. Iknew she had nine children, five of whom were born in the years just before her husband left to fight in the Civil War. I stoodthere near hergrave looking for aplace to put my purse.For whatever reasons, Iasked herifshe would mind holdingit. Ican’t fullyexplain the strange andunexpected connection Ifeltinthat moment with this woman who haddiedyears before evenmyfatherwas born, but Idid Since then,I’veconsidered my ancestorsmore.
In thelasttwo years since my father’sdeath, in the Mexican tradition, I’ve built small ofrendas in his and other ancestors’memories. I’ve long believed that even when we don’tunderstand thousands of years of cultural traditions, they are worth examining and exploring. As the characters repeatedly sang in “Coco:” “Remember me, though I have to say goodbye.Remember me. Don’tlet it make you cry. For even if I’m far away, Iholdyou in my heart Know that I’m with you theonlyway that Ican be. Until you’re in my arms again, remember me.”
Email Jan Risher at jan. risher@theadvocate.com.
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BatonRouge
The Louisiana Art&Science Museum, 100 S. River Road, BatonRouge,isdefined by the belief that the disciplines ofart and science shape and informone anotherand that interdisciplinaryexperiences enhance the audience’sability tomakeconnections and discovernew ways of seeingand thinking.
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STAFF PHOTO BY JANRISHER
Ancestors on aheadstone in Faulkner CemeteryinFrogtown, Miss.
Arecent look at the libraryat
Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge. UJCBR was established in January2022 with the unification of Beth Shalom Synagogue and Congregation B’nai Israel STAFFPHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
NonprofitoffersAcadianaresidents help
Thosefacing poverty get‘real’momentsof self-care, dignity
BY JOANNA BROWN Staff writer
For most people, dailylife involves alot of small tasks and errands that help keep things runningsmoothly. It’s easy to take “life admin”duties like doing laundry,getting ahaircut or restocking the pantry for granted —but these are precisely the kind of mundane activities that help peoplecreate structure and meet goals. And for people who are unhoused orexperiencing extreme poverty in Lafayette and Acadiana, tasks like this can be prohibitively difficult to accomplish.
Based out of The Lovewell Center at 1515 W. University Ave., The Hub ministries, a faith-based nonprofit, is set up to give people in need access to goods and services such as apantry,athrift shop, laundry facilities and prepared meals. Twice amonth, stylists fromThe HeadQuarters salon donate their services to shampoo, cut andstyle hair for The Hub clients.
Allofthese servicesare available on apoints system that executivedirector Teri Gore says is designed to increase dignity and agency for the population they support. Through helpingat thecenter,participating in classes andprograms such as Celebrate Recovery,oreven showing acheck stub with number of hours worked, clientscan earnpointstobe redeemed for goods and resources.
“Everything you see in the pantry,everything in the thrift store, even getting your hair cut or washing clothes it’sall done by points,” says Gore. “Where we really shine isasanempowerment program, and it’sanopportunity for people to really close the gap on expenses.”
Around adozen people gathered to wait their turn for ahaircut on Sept. 30,with stylists busy at the center’s fourcut andwashstations.
Taraneka Bush requested a fresh trimfor her mohawk, with linescut on the side and aquick eyebrow re-shape after
“That color looks really goodonyou,” said stylist Alexis Ortegoof Bush’sblue hair.“Next time, Ithink I’ll do purple,” Bush responded. “Try something different.”
Krystin Dupuis, co-owner of The HeadQuarters, said that she seized on the opportunity to help at The Hub because she loves their mission, and wantedtoencourage stylists to get involved.
“I love my job because I love people, and it’sreally important for me to be apart of our communityand be apart of change in our community,” she said. “I don’tthink alot of people even know about this place, andtheyhave an awesome way of doing things here.
“Not only that, but Ialso hire alot of stylists right out of school, and I’m able to use this as an opportunity to educate them—not just in cutting hair,but it also kind of teaches them how to ‘people,’ because this is as real as it gets.”
Gore says that they have a number of ways for community members to get involved at The Hub, whether that’s serving meals, donating items, or —ifyou’retrained —cutting hair.She also emphasizesthat theydon’t turn people away for services, no matter their circumstances.
“This isn’tabout people who are rich and who are poor,” says Gore.“This is about anyone who wants to come, who needs helpatany time. We have alot of college students that come. We are here for anyone.”
Email Joanna Brown at joanna.brown@theadvocate. com.
STAFF
PHOTOSBYLESLIE WESTBROOK
Stylists Olivia Thibodeaux, right, and Noah Lavergne givehaircuts recently to clients Lexx Thibodeaux, bottom right, and Susan Comeaux at The Lovewell Center in Lafayette.
ABOVE: ExecutiveDirector Teri Gore talks about the services offered at The Lovewell Center RIGHT: Stylist Jordan Arias finishes up with clientHarold Ben.