The Observer Vol. 88 No. 10 – October 2023

THE

Jewish

OBSERVER Vol. 88 No. 10

www.jewishobservernashville.org

OCTOBER 2023

16 Tishrei - 16 Cheshvan 5784

Sharsheret: Linking Nashville’s Jewish Women to Health Empowerment

By BARBARA DAB

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ina Gluck, 35, learned she was a carrier of the BRCA gene mutation, the gene mutation linked to breast cancer, by chance. Although she does not have an extensive history of breast cancer among the females in her family, her doctor wanted women to perform the test. “My biggest risk is that I am Jewish,” says Gluck. In fact, Gluck’s test was positive and additional testing confirmed it was her father who is the parent carrier. She also encouraged her three siblings get tested and in fact, they all have the BRCA gene mutation.

According to a recent study by BMJ Oncology, global cancer rates in people aged 50 and under have risen by approximately 79% in the last 20 years. And yet as Gluck says, most women her age have never been tested for cancer. “Ob/gyns don’t test during pregnancy, which is when they generally do genetic testing,” she says.

Ashkenazi Jews have an even higher risk, about one in 40, compared with 1

in 400 in the general population. “Breast cancer is not rare in young women,” says Gluck, “You have to know your risk.

Every Jewish woman should be tested.”

When faced with the news that she is positive for the BRCA gene mutation, a woman must decide a path forward. “I was so unprepared when I found out,” says Gluck, who ultimately decided to undergo a double mastectomy, and a possible removal of her fallopian tubes.

“I wanted to take action before I was on the back end with a cancer diagnosis,” she says. She sought out support from an organization called Sharsheret, that provides a full range of services and resources for people who have been diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.

Melissa Rosen is the director of training and education at Sharsheret. She says the organization is unique from other cancer support agencies because of its unique spiritual approach. “We are a proud Jewish organization that provides culturally meaningful resources.” Sharsheret does not provide formal religious or medical

Dina Gluck, pictured with her husband Dr. Jonathan Gluck, learned she carried the BRCA gene mutation.

guidance, but rather aims to connect someone recently diagnosed or in treatment with someone who has experienced a similar cancer journey. Sharsheret is the Hebrew word for “chain,” and peer counselors are called “links.” “We connect someone to a link based on diagnosis, stage of life, and relationship to Judaism,” says Rosen, “We have a peer support network that is 20,000 women strong.”

The cultural aspects of Sharsheret’s support resources are part of what distinguishes them from other cancer support groups. Rosen says, “The High Holidays, for example, can be different for so many reasons. From the practical, like someone not having enough energy, to the spiritual prayers dealing with ‘who shall live and who shall die.’” Gluck says, “It was so important to me to find someone with the same cultural understanding.”

Education is another pillar of the services Sharsheret provides. “Training health care providers to offer culturally appropriate care affects outcomes,” says Continued on page 4

STANDING TOGETHER:

Learning to Recognize and Respond to Hate Crimes

By BARBARA DAB

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ashville’s Jewish community is witnessing an increase in antisemitic activity, and it is not alone. According to a 2022 report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, crimes against the LGBTQ community doubled in the prior two years. The rise in these incidents has led many people to classify them as hate crimes, but legal statutes have a very specific definition for hate crimes.

Around the same time as the TBI report, the United States Department of Justice launched a nationwide United Against Hate initiative. The program is aimed at engagement and outreach by all 94 U.S. Attorney offices nationwide to help communities learn how they can combat hate crimes. Locally, The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is hosting a panel discussion, led by A Publication of the

WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG

Nani Gilkerson, the Assistant United States Attorney’s criminal and civil rights coordinator.

The Observer newspaper spoke with Gilkerson to learn more about how her office plans to roll out the United Against Hate initiative.

Observer: What is the motivation behind the initiative, and who is the leadership behind it in Middle Tennessee?

Gilkerson: The overall goal is to increase understanding and reporting of hate crimes. Middle Tennessee has a new U.S. Attorney, Henry Leventis.

He has a background in prosecuting civil rights cases, so he is focused on it along with building relationships with communities. The United Against Hate initiative is a good template for accomplishing that.

Observer: What can people expect when they attend the Federation’s event?

Where do your dollars go? Grants Committee Process, page 3

Gilkerson: First, we want to educate about what our office does. There are a huge number of crimes committed, but only a small number that fall into federal jurisdiction. There is often frustration around why we can’t do more. We plan to have representatives from the FBI, TBI, MNPD, and victims’ witness coordinators. We all work together and sometimes have overlapping jurisdictions.

Observer: What are some of the challenges your office faces in combatting hate crimes?

Gilkerson: First, law enforcement has limited tools at its disposal, and there are societal issues that can’t be fixed by law enforcement alone. There is important work to be done outside of law enforcement.

Observer: Can you elaborate on that?

Gilkerson: We want to help people understand the difference between a hate

Celebrating 70 Years of Akiva!, page 12

crime and a hate incident, so that’s a top priority. We also want people to feel like their concerns are taken seriously. We are here to listen, to help, and to enforce.

Observer: Why do you think we have seen this rise in antisemitism and other hate crimes?

Gilkerson: Personally, I think that’s a bigger philosophical question about who we are at this moment as a country.

Observer: It seems like you face an uphill battle all the time. How do you measure success in your work in terms of making progress?

Gilkerson: I take things one step at a time. I focus on the quality of our work, the integrity of our work, and on getting justice for people who have been victims. We have the pleasure of wearing the white hat and we do it regardless of who is President. And we do it the Continued on page 2

Entertainmnt & Dining Out Special Section page 21

Community Relations Committee The Challenge of the Eighth Decade

By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY

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e in the Jewish community of Nashville are blessed with a wide array of options for Jewish holiday observance and celebration. Our local congregations represent different branches of Judaism, from strictly observant to more modern interpretations and practice, with diverse viewpoints from clergy leaders. In addition to our local riches, a simple YouTube search results in access to online services and sermons from around the country, allowing us to learn from Rabbinic and Jewish thought leaders from even broader perspectives.

This year, on Rosh Hashana 5784, many of the sermons delivered, both locally and in other parts of the country, related to concerns about the current situation in Israel, from protests, to extremist politicians, to concern for how many of us as American Jews are viewed by some in the current Israeli government.

Several of these sermons included deep concern about the growing tension not only among and between Israeli citizens, but perhaps more concerning, the growing tension between Israelis and Jews in the United States. Of the current population of roughly 15 million Jews in the world, the vast majority live in either the U.S. or Israel, approximately seven million each, with the remaining one million throughout the rest of the world.

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of Central

Synagogue in New York, in her sermon erev Rosh Hashana, added a historic perspective to the growing divide between Jews, speaking of the curse of the eighth decade. She described the miracle of the modern State of Israel as only the third time in Jewish history in which we had Jewish sovereignty, the first being the Jewish state established by King David 3000 years ago, and the second being the Hasmonean dynasty of the Second Temple Era. “In both instances, internal strife in the eighth decade — Jew against Jew — precipitated our downfall and destruction,” Rabbi Buchdahl warned.

We are entering the eighth decade for the third time as the State of Israel, established May 14, 1948, turned 75 in May 2023.

The challenge of the eighth decade is not unique to Jewish history. The United States Civil War was also within the eighth decade of the country’s founding. Historians theorize that the vulnerability that emerges in the eighth decade relates to the emergence of the third generation within the country. The theory is that by the third generation, citizens are

Standing together: Learning to recognize and respond to Hate Crimes Learn how authorities determine what qualifies as a hate crime, and how to respond if you witness or experience this situation.

Monday, October 30 7-8:30pm Location: TBD upon registration Presented by: Henry Leventis US Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Nani M. Gilkerson Assistant United States Attorney United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Tennessee

no longer acutely aware of the sacrifice and responsibility required to protect the foundational values, and take the existence of the nation for granted, turning toward individual interests rather than steadfast focus on the common good.

As we enter the eighth decade of the modern State of Israel, we should reflect upon and learn from the lessons of the past. Will we as Jews step toward one another or turn away from one another?

With so many Jews too young to remember the establishment of Israel, too young to remember the unification of Jerusalem in 1967, with their entire lifetimes within the context of an Israel which includes disputed land, can we find a way to engage in a respectful dialogue rather than animosity toward the “other side” or worse, disengage completely? Most of us have never known a world without Israel. How would we feel if Israel was to no longer exist? Have we become so complacent that we take for granted the messy miracle of modern Israel, forgetting our responsibility to the generations yet to come?

In Rosh Hashana sermons, Rabbi Kullock of West End Synagogue in Nashville, along with other Rabbis across the country, offered ways to engage as Jews in the challenge to avoid the curse of Jew against Jew. The advice from many of the Rabbis included a call to listen to each other, specifically for U.S. Jews to listen to Israeli Jews, and try to broaden our individual perspectives to find places of commonality rather than division.

Many encourage us to learn more about the protest movement, who is protesting and why, by listening to podcasts and reading coverage from Israeli news sources, not only U.S. sources. Many expressed grave concerns about how some extremist religious and political leaders in Israel seek to define who is and is not a Jew, and regulate what form of Jewish practice is acceptable, and call upon us as the U.S. Jewish community to push back on the extreme views and reclaim our own sense of value and purpose in religious practice.

They urge us to seek to avoid the pitfalls of extremism, both in Israel and here at home, to promote democratic values of inclusion and pluralism, and to cultivate a “heart of many rooms.”

Below are some very local ways to be engaged in the conversation about the future of Israel and ultimately the Jewish people: 1. Learn about and participate in our P2G (Partnership Together) programs with Israeli partners in the Hadera Eiron region. This is the region that hosts our local high

school students when they are in Israel for Get Connected, and the families that send us their high school students who come as part of the Israel Summer Experience.

This past summer, we hosted seven amazing Israeli students, home hosted by an equally amazing group of local Nashville Jewish families.

Participating in P2G is even easier now that the Domestic Coordinator, Eitan Snyder, is based right here in Nashville (Yes, the same fantastic Eitan Snyder who coordinates our remarkable NowGen programming for young Jewish professionals.)

2. Join us for an educational program with journalist Yaron Deckel in November as he updates us from the ground in Israel and helps contextualize and better understand the existential crisis of our Jewish time.

His presentation will be followed by a local community conversation and what we want to see in our relationship with Israel.

3. Have a coffee meeting with our community Shaliach, Israeli Emissary, Omer Shabat. Omer has rebounded from significant health challenges last year and is back in Nashville for his second year and eager and ready to meet as many community members as possible. Omer will meet us one-on-one, face-to-face, to share about his personal perspective as an Israeli citizen and assist in finding resources to learn more.

So how will you face the challenge of the eighth decade? Will you step away or step up? Will you reach out to our Israeli brothers and sisters, or will you turn your back on them and the future of Israel?

Will you be part of the solution, or part of the problem?

Pirke Avot teaches us that it is not our duty to complete the task, but we are obligated not to abandon it. We are here to assist you to learn, engage, listen, and live up to our obligation to ourselves and the future of the Jewish people.

Upcoming JCRC Programs: October 30: Standing Together: Recognizing and Responding to Hate Crime November 30: Abortion is Healthcare: How the Tennessee abortion ban is impacting women’s health and well being January 25: Celebrating the Rosenwald Schools’ Legacy: Tennessee State Museum Exhibit To learn more about all JCRC programs and activities, contact Deborah Oleshansky, deborah@jewishnashville.org •

Standing Together

Jae Lim (Civil Civil Rights Coordinator, U.S. Attorney’s Office), John Hernandez (Victim Assistance Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office), Rich Baer (Supervisory Special Agent, FBI), Lucas McTaggart (Special Agent, Civil Rights, FBI), Lt. Jason Sharpe (MNPD SID). To register, scan the QR code. •

Continued from page 1

same way in every administration. I also remember that the vast majority of people are products of their upbringing and are human beings.

The event on October 30 is scheduled from 7-8:30pm. In addition to U.S. Attorney Nani Gilkerson, panelists will include: Henry Leventis (U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee),

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

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October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

When Things Happen

By NORMA SHIRK

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universal fear of everyone is the thought of losing control of our decision-making abilities and our independence. Most of these fears center around our financial and physical health. Will I save enough for a comfortable retirement?

What if my retirement nest egg runs out before I do? What if I have a major medical event that prevents me from consenting to my own medical treatment?

Some of these questions are answered in a new audio series called

“When Things Happen,” which will be available soon on the social media platforms and Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s social media platforms and YouTube channel.

This initial audio series features five members of the Professional Advisory Council (PAC). Michael Levine and Eva Pulley talk about the importance of saving consistently by joining an employer’s 401(k) plan or setting up an IRA. Mindy Hirt explains how an endowment fund, called a Donor Advised Fund, allows the donor to decide which chari-

table organization will receive a distribution from the fund.

Ralph Levy will introduce you to “Mort and Mabe,” fictional characters that demonstrate what happens to your will when it is filed in probate court. John Dodd explains what you should think about before agreeing to be an executor of a will or a trustee of a trust. He also debunks four myths about financial advisors.

The Professional Advisory Council (PAC) is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville as a service to the community. PAC mem-

bers are accountants, financial advisors, attorneys, and licensed insurance agents and membership is open to individuals with at least three years of professional experience in their area of expertise.

PAC members volunteer their time to answer general questions about estate planning and philanthropic giving at seminars, webinars, and now in the new audio series. PAC members are also available to assist individuals who wish to retain their professional services by entering into a client relationship with the PAC member. •

Where do your dollars go? Grants Committee Process

By LESLIE KIRBY, PRESIDENT JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE; DAVID BOCKIAN, CHAIRMAN GRANTS COMMITTEE; MICHAL BECKER, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NASHVILLE DIRECTOR OF IMPACT & PLANNING

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ave you ever wondered how the Federation decides where to invest the money you donate? We’ve made some changes recently to streamline the process and better ensure impact, all with an eye towards enhanced transparency and better communication with the community. So, here’s how it works: Each year we assemble a Grants Committee comprised of a representative cross-sample of our Nashville Jewish community, with geographic, demographic, and Jewish religious diversity, ensuring that many (and new) voices are heard. The Committee meets regularly over the course of the grant cycle to learn about the organizations which have submitted funding requests, and to evaluate those submissions. c

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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 The Jewish OBSERVER (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.

The Jewish OBSERVER is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

While The Jewish OBSERVER makes every possible effort to accept only reputable advertisers of the highest quality, we cannot guarantee the Kasruth of their products.

The Jewish OBSERVER Founded in 1934 by

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The amount of money available to grant each year is based largely on the results of the Federation’s annual campaign. Last year we distributed just over $2 million in grants. Many of those allocations are now distributed via “block grants” to long-term partners, with additional funds set aside for emerging community needs. This is a new approach for us and allows us to be much more flexible and nimbler with the way we respond to unanticipated community needs that inevitably come up during the year.

The organizations and projects which are granted communal dollars are accountable for using them responsibly, effectively, and impactfully. Under our new grants model, our Federation staff team partners with grant recipients to develop a program evaluation plan to ensure that our funds are having the desired impacts, both for our partners and for us.

In recent years, our Federation has allocated roughly 65% of our grant dollars to meeting our community’s needs here at home in Nashville, and roughly 35% of our grant dollars to supporting

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.

2024 Jewish Federation grants will allow for increased services to Nashville’s Jewish community.

Jews around the world via our Israel and Overseas grants.

The Federation Board has reviewed our communal needs and the impact of retaining a larger percentage of funds in the local community. We are facing significant increases in security needs, fighting antisemitism, larger numbers of elderly community members needing assistance, and dramatically increased mental health challenges in the community. Based on this review, the Board has directed this year’s Grants Committee to allocate 80% of the dollars granted to local Nashville organizations, and 20% to Israel and oversees. In addition to better meeting our local needs, this 80/20 split puts us very much in line with other Federations our size. Going forward, the split will be reevaluated by the Board of Directors annually.

The Grants Committee began meeting in September and will continue to meet through November. The committee will then make their recommendations to the Federation Board, which will approve and/or modify those recommendations at their November board meeting. Block Grant awards will be announced in December, with the dollars distributed throughout 2024.

Emerging Needs small grants are evaluated on an ongoing basis, avail-

able throughout the year so that we can respond quickly and effectively as needs arise. Based on our community needs assessment, our Emerging Needs priorities for 2024 are Mental Health, Promoting a Civil and Just Society, Young Families, and Single Adults.

Any community group can apply for an Emerging Needs grant; contact Michal Becker (michal@jewishnashville.org) for more information.

This is a time of renewal and growth for our Nashville Jewish community, with new leadership, energy, and excitement. Both through our own direct work and through our network of beneficiary agencies and partners, we can fulfill our mission of promoting the welfare, viability and cohesiveness of the Jewish community while working to ensure its continuity. As we move forward together into 2024 and beyond, we’re both humbled by and extremely proud of the essential and important work being done with your support. • *This is the first in what will be a series of articles aimed at transparently explaining where the Federation spends money, and how we make those decisions. For more information on our allocations, please see our annual report: https://issuu.com/jfednashville/docs/jfgn-impact_report-2023-final

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

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Real People, Real Stories: Event Aims to Educate and Upift Stories of Trans Community

By BARBARA DAB

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ccording to a recent study by UCLA Law School’s Williams Institute, Tennessee is home to more than 30,000 transgender people over the age of 13, amounting to just over 1.25% of the state’s total population. And last year’s legislative actions included passage of a law banning gender-affirming care for minors. After a temporary block, a federal appeals panel allowed the law to take effect in early July and Tennessee joined 20 states that have approved bans or restrictions on gender-affirming treatments.

For transgender people, and parents of trans children, the legislation was a major blow. In nearby St. Louis, Missouri, Maharat Rori Picker Neiss is experiencing the frustration and pain firsthand. As mother to a 12-year-old trans son, she has spent the last four years with him pacing the halls of the state Capital and testifying in legislative hearings. “When my son announced he was a boy, the difficult part was not just about us as parents and him as a person. We also had to consider that our government told us they knew better than we do about what is right for him,” she says.

In addition to being a mother, Picker Neiss is an ordained Orthodox rabbi, and she is also the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of St. Louis. On October 24, she will be the keynote speaker at a Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville event, Real People, Real Stories. The program aims to educate about the lives and experiences of trans people living in Nashville.

According to Michal Eskenazi Becker,

Rori Picker Neiss’ 12-year-old son meets President Joe Biden.

director of impact and planning for the Federation, it is by being open to listening where real understanding begins. “Our sages used to say that one can never learn if they are too shy to ask. And indeed, the willingness to discuss any topic and raise any kind of question is one of the most important values in Judaism. The Real People event is the best example of this— not only we will get to learn how real people are being affected by the recent legislation, hear their stories, and examine it through the Jewish lens, but we will also put a big emphasis on our questions. We are here to learn.”

Picker Neiss’ experiences have not always included being heard or understood. “I had a legislator say to my face that he loves my child more than I do,” she says, “I was frozen.” She says she and her son travel two hours each way to get to the State Capitol for hearings that begin at 8am and often end at 4pm. “We’ve gone and waited and waited and they cut off our testimony,” she says, “And you’re not allowed to be loud or upset. You have to be grateful for your 30 seconds.”

In telling his story, Picker Neiss’ son

Rori Picker Neiss with her son.

is hoping to show that the trans community is not a community to be afraid of. And that is also the point of the Federation’s event. Deborah Oleshansky is director of the Jewish Community Relations Committee. She says, “We believe that many in our community do not truly understand trans issues, and do not know what is involved in gender-affirming care. This program seeks to educate and humanize the issue from the personal perspective of an Orthodox family trying to support and protect their son. This issue affects Jewish families.”

As an Orthodox Jewish woman, Picker Neiss says she tries to always keep the focus where she believes it belongs most. “I’m not sure what people see when they see me. I introduce myself as a member of the clergy, the head of a Jewish organization in St. Louis, and as a mother.” She says reaction within the Orthodox movement has been mixed.

“Some people are not thrilled, but they have a different view of the issue if they have a personal connection.” Some peo-

Sharsheret

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Rosen, who also educates clergy, social workers, and other treatment providers. In Nashville, referrals often come from Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee (JFS). According to Pam Kelner, executive director of JFS, the agency receives over 500 calls every year for a variety of assistance. “When someone is diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer, they usually have a health care team, but need help navigating the social and emotional aspects,” she says, “And it is so important to know your genetics.

We want to help empower women.”

To further the mission of empowerment, the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville is partnering with JFS to bring awareness to importance of genetic testing and the options available to women who find out they have the BRCA gene mutation. On Nov. 4, as part of the Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy program, Rosen from Sharsheret will speak, along with a panel discussion where participants will hear from doctors and health care specialists. The event is being co-chaired by Gluck and Felice Apolinsky, a JFS board member.

Apolinsky is also the retired founding clinical program director of Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee. She says she witnessed firsthand the importance of health empowerment. “I believe the more

October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

ple question her about remaining in the Orthodox movement. “I did a lot of soul searching and realized I am Orthodox. It lines up with my theological views. For myself, this is who I am.”

Picker Neiss says her efforts are focused on educating rather than making any wholesale legislative changes. “We knew we wouldn’t defeat the legislation,” she says, “But we had the power to change hearts and minds.”

She says there are two main pieces of legislation that are problematic. One is the medical ban on gender-affirming care, and the other is a sports ban. “The sports one scares me more because it’s saying trans girls are not really girls,” she says. And standing up to the ban is also daunting. “One of the hardest things is that defending against these laws is outing yourself,” she says, “It requires someone to put themselves in a vulnerable position with people elected to represent them.”

From a Federation perspective, events like Real People, Real Stories are part of the organization’s mission to stand together with all types of marginalized communities. “The Federation has taken a very active stance in supporting the LGBTQ+ community — and as such, we need to support that entire community, not only the gay/lesbian community,” says Oleshansky, “We cannot fight hate in a vacuum. If we are serious about addressing antisemitism, we need to be just as active in addressing the demonization of others, including the trans community.”

The Real People, Real Stories event will be held on October 24 at the Gordon JCC at 6pm with dinner provided. Spots are very limited. For information, contact Michal Eskenazi Becker at michal@jewishnashville.org or Deborah Oleshansky at deborah@jewishnashville.org. • informed you are, the better equipped you become to make decisions that are best for you. Being educated about your health also helps foster a partnership with your medical team, especially in crucial decision-making moments. An additional benefit of feeling informed, and being an active partner in decision-making, is that it often results in a chaotic medical situation feeling much more controlled.”

This event is the first women’s philanthropy event of the Federation’s programming year. But for Gluck and Apolinsky, philanthropy is a familiar concept. “I’ve been giving back to BBYO for years,” says Gluck, “This is the first time I am passionate about the intersection of philanthropy and health.” Once she is further down the road in her recovery, Gluck hopes to become a Sharsheret peer counselor. And Apolinsky says both she and her husband have a core belief in the power of giving back. “It is something our parents modeled for us regardless of their financial means, whether helping one individual or the collective, it all makes a difference. Small acts of kindness can be as important, and sometimes even more so, than writing a large check. We volunteer our time and give financially to organizations and causes, that improve lives.”

Invitations to The Jewish Federation’s women’s philanthropy event will be arriving soon. For more information, contact Barbara Schwarcz at barbara@jewishnashville.org. •

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The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

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Jewish Federation Bids Farewell to Longtime Staffer Carolyn Hecklin Hyatt T he Jewish Federation hosted a pre-Rosh Hashanah reception, complete with honey cake and mini shofars for the kids. The event was a sweet farewell to Carolyn Hecklin Hyatt who, for the past eight years, has served in various

roles on the staff, most recently as the campaign director. Carolyn is moving on to a new role at the University School of Nashville, and the Federation staff and board showered her with flowers and lots of well wishes. •

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October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

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Around town for the holidays…

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Nashville young adults, newcomers and regulars, celebrated a joyous Rosh Hashanah dinner at the home of Becca Groner, host of local Moishe House Without Walls. For more info and to make sure you are in the picture, contact Becca at ragroner@gmail.com. •

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The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

7

A Rabbi and Doctor Discuss Israel’s Conundrum

By RABBI MARK SCHIFTAN AND DR. FRANK BOEHM

M

ark: Frank, what do you make of the current political situation in Israel?

You know, I love Israel. Its creation is the fulfillment of our people’s hopes and dreams. But lately, I worry about her future as a democratic state.

Frank: Mark, I totally agree with you and am also extremely worried about what Israel is doing in attempts to reform its Supreme Court.

By allowing the Knesset to override legislative objections issued by the Court, the extreme right-wing faction of the Knesset will make significant changes.

It would affect many activities of the secular Israeli population as well as Jews living outside of Israel who may want to make aliyah.

I am concerned that Israel’s democracy will revert to a theocracy and secular Jews in Israel and around the world will suffer the consequences. It has already been reported that studying Torah and Talmud will be equivalent to military

service and it has also been reported that Jews converted by non- Orthodox Rabbis may not be recognized as Jews, thereby preventing aliyah.

When Theodore Herzl urged the world to accept a country for Jews to be able to live without fear of discrimination and death, he did not define who was a Jew. He meant all Jews. I feel powerless to weigh in on this issue.

Mark: Frank, it is no longer hyperbole to suggest that there is a battle taking place for Israel’s soul and its character as a modern, democratic, and Jewish pluralistic nation.

The intersection and political combination of the ultra right-wingers, alongside the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community seek to make Israel a fundamentalist, exclusionary country, one far removed from the intent of its founders and its more inclusive and tolerant Israeli citizens.

The threat from this tilt towards extremism goes far beyond Israel’s borders.

It deeply affects the relationship between American Jews and the Jewish State.

The conundrum of Palestinian

human rights, coupled with the efforts at narrowing the definition and subsequent determination of Jewish identity, has already begun to erode and dilute the bonds between our American Jewish community and our ancestral homeland.

So, Frank, what should we do, what can we do, to relay our urgent concerns?

Many want to do something, but what exactly is something we can do with a substantial and enduring impact?

Frank: While I have, in the past, been supportive of Israel and its politics, I now feel as if Israel has crossed a red line and I must somehow protest what ultra right-wing Knesset members are trying to achieve.

However, the question is: what can I do to protest? I cannot march with Israelis on Saturdays. I cannot refuse to take part in military exercises. I cannot vote in Israel, and I certainly know that any letters I write to government officials will have no impart whatsoever. So, what can I do?

Mark: Frank, I can hear the mix of frustration, anger, and sadness in your

reflections. It is, without question, a particularly challenging time to be a devoted supporter of the State of Israel.

Is it becoming too controlled by the ultra-Orthodox?

Is it slowly but surely tipping away from its democratic system of government?

Is it moving towards religious fundamentalism, political extremism, and autocratic rule?

I have long argued, as have others, that the best way to support the state of Israel is by strengthening Jewish life in our own communities right here, in America. We need to reinvest some of the funds we send abroad right here, in Nashville, by strengthening Jewish education and through increasing local services and opportunities for engagement.

Frank: Mark, I know we both continue to love Israel as the land of our people’s highest aspirations. The goal now is to continue to support the Israel we love, • Rabbi Mark Schiftan: mschiftan@aol.com Dr. Frank Boehm: frank.boehm@vumc.org

The Kosher Nashville Hot Chicken Festival and Jewish Arts & Music Festival Return on October 22!

By MATT LEFF

T

wo of the most anticipated events on the Nashville/Middle Tennessee Jewish Community calendar return on October 22.

All are welcome to the 8th Annual Kosher Nashville Hot Chicken Festival PLUS 2nd Annual Jewish Arts & Music Festival taking place at the Gordon Jewish Community Center on October 22. The events occur simultaneously on the lower soccer field by the outdoor pool. Gates open at noon sharp, and if you are planning to come for the Kosher Hot Chicken, we recommend you arrive early as chicken will be available during the 12-3(ish) window, however the event will continue on beyond that. This year Hattie B’s Hot Chicken will be selling full portions with classic crinkle cut fries, plus there will be eight teams competing in a variety of categories. Tasting tickets will be needed for team samples, which can be purchased online or at the gates (there will be four

registers this year). Will The Temple maintain its win from 2022? We don’t know but need your help to decide!

On the live music front, JAM Festival has another impressive lineup of talent coming from Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Israel, and right here in Nashville.

Lineup • C Lanzbom & Noah Solomin of Soulfarm • Distant Cousins • Them Vibes • Jacob’s Ladder Bluegrass Band • Yair Levi • Jonathan Yudkin • YOSHA Beyond kosher hot chicken, we welcome Holy Smokes Kosher BBQ, Melissa & Sons Bakery, and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. Cold beer will also be flowing and feature a variety of local brews from Blackstone and Nashville Brewing Company. On the arts front, festival guests will be able to shop Judaica from both The Temple and West

Join the community for hot chicken, great music, and even shopping, on October 22.

End Synagogue, Jennifer Hinson Art, East Tasty Candy Company, Headdy Hardware, 32 Thoughts Boutique, Studio 316, Sweet Baby Flames Candles,

and more. Vendors will accept cash or cards, so come ready to shop! The kid zone will also expand with 3 inflatables, dedicated kid zone staff, arts & crafts, face painting, and the return of a chesed (kindness) project.

These events are made possible by dedicated volunteers who are passionate about this community, but we must thank our incredible donors who make it possible and FREE to attend.

Thanks go out to the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, Gordon JCC, Novick Law, Blackstone Brewing Co., Zander Insurance, Sherith Israel, The Temple, West End Synagogue, Congregation Micah, Tennessee Sign Company, Boon Legal, TN Premier Locksmith, The Kupin Group, Hattie B’s, and Rhizome Productions.

You can learn more about these events at www.nashjamfest.com and www.kosherhotchicken.com. See you Sunday, October 22. Bring out the entire family and invite all of your friends. L’Chaim! •

Get Outside: Take A Bath

By MELISSA SOSTRIN

Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you Leonard Cohen

N

o, not that kind of a bath. The Japanese kind — “shinrin yoku,” or forest bathing. The movement originated in Japan as a response to the tech boom and burnout of the 80s. While the idea of nature’s healing powers is not

new, it has gained renewed significance in today’s world, where our addiction to screens and binge-watching TV shows has confined us indoors for over 90% of our time. Now, more than ever, we need to get out and bathe. Back in the 1800s, doctors in Germany and New York set up sanatoriums in pine forests to help people with tuberculosis and found that the forest air made people feel better. They wondered if the pine trees were released something with healing powers.

Aharon Appelfeld’s painful novel,

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

8

October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

“Badenheim, 1939,” portrays the spa culture of European Jews enjoying their holiday until the impending forces of Nazism erode their spiritual and social worlds, turning their forest respites into prisons.

Japanese studies have shown that forest bathing has positive benefits on sleep quality, mood, stress levels, and the ability to focus. Chronic stress can affect our immune system, making it reasonable to think that a routine that includes 20 minutes of forest bathing each day can have mental and physical health benefits.

Dr. Qing Li, professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo and the president of the Japanese Society of Forest Medicine says his research shows that many of the benefits of forest bathing come when we inhale the phytoncides

that trees release into the air. They can reduce our stress hormones and increase our levels of anti-cancer proteins.

Research from the Global Wellness Institute found that forest environments promote lower pulse rates, blood pressure, and concentrations of cortisol. They also increase greater parasympathetic nerve activity and reduce sympathetic nerve activity more than a city environment and have been shown to lower blood pressure.

Fortunately, 53% of Tennessee is forested, and Nashville offers numerous green spaces and greenways where you can experience the benefits of a mindful walk in the woods. Consider exploring the grounds of the GJCC, which feature forested areas along its almost one-mile perimeter. See you out there! •

Sukkot Collaborative Art Exhibit at the GJCC

By SHARON BENUS, ADULT PROGRAM DIRECTOR, GORDON JCC

Honor Humanity: K’vod Ha’Briot EXHIBIT DATES: October 1-8, 2023 RECEPTION: October 5, 6-8pm

T

he theme for this year’s Under One Roof exhibit is Honor Humanity, K’vod Ha’Briot. To honor humanity is an intrinsic value in Judaism which emphasizes the inherent dignity and worth of every individual. It is also a value that transcends cultural, religious, and societal boundaries. It is vital that we

are mindful of how we treat one another. All human beings should be treated with kindness, compassion, and empathy.

When we acknowledge this, we respect our innate differences and see what every human being has to offer in this world.

By honoring humanity, we are pursuing justice, equality, and working towards a harmonious and inclusive society. We are grateful for all the Nashville organizations that have joined us to create a profound exhibit. Check out the list of participants at nashvillejcc.org/under one roof and stop by the J to view the exhibit in person. •

Leslie Sax bids farewell to Gordon JCC

By JEREMY BROOK, GORDON JCC BOARD PRESIDENT

I

n mid-October, just after the dedication of the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center, we will say goodbye to Leslie Sax, who has served as the Executive Director of the Gordon Jewish Community Center for the past decade. Leslie has accepted a position at the JCC in Hartford, CT so that she can be closer to her children and grandchildren who all now reside in the Northeast. In a time when organizational loyalty is at a low, how wonderful it is to have had the same very competent,

very dedicated captain at the helm of our ship for a decade.

While we are sorry to see Leslie go, we are grateful to her for leaving our Jewish Community Center, and by extension, our Jewish community, in a place of strength. Because of her tireless efforts and leadership, we have the opportunity now to build on the foundation laid by our departing director — a true blessing during this time of transition.

There can be no doubt that Leslie is leaving the Gordon JCC and Nashville itself better than she found it. In her tenure, Leslie has grown our endowment

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and commenced a successful annual fund campaign She oversaw the construction of the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center, the installation of the Adventure Park, and numerous facility upgrades, including essential security enhancements during a period when our community recognizes the need for increased safety measures. Leslie brought joy to this community by implementing popular programs like the Kosher Hot Chicken and JAM Festivals, the Jewish Food Festival, and Under One Roof Sukkot Collaborative Art Exhibit.

And, of course, she saw us through the Covid-19 pandemic with as much

grace and leadership as anyone could have asked for.

Even as she prepares for her next adventure, Leslie continues to work for the betterment of the Gordon Jewish Community Center. I hope you will join me in thanking Leslie for all she has done for our community as we see her off with a farewell gathering at the Under One Roof exhibit in the Pargh Auditorium of the Gordon JCC on October 3 from 5-7PM. And, of course, as Leslie is no stranger to Southern hospitality, she knows that she will always be welcomed home whenever she desires to visit. •

COMMUNITY RECEPTION HONORING LESLIE SAX, GORDON JCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR O C TO BER

TUESDAY

3

5-7PM

2023 Please join us to say goodbye to Leslie and thank her for her decade of leadership at the Gordon JCC.

marcumllp.com

GORDON JCC PARGH AUDITORIUM LIGHT REFRESHMENTS SERVED

Cathy Werthan, CPA, Office Managing Partner

401 Commerce St., Suite 1250 • Nashville, TN 37219 615.245.4070 | cathy.werthan@marcumllp.com

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

9

Thank you!

From Our Chairs As chairs of the Our Community. Our Future Capital Campaign, we wish to thank the Nashville community for their tremendous support as we approach completion of the campaign to transform the Gordon JCC into a warm, welcoming, and modern space. Throughout the past four years, we have been hard at work, raising money and spending it wisely to make the J an inviting place to gather, to celebrate, to learn, to exercise, and especially to connect.

We feel more secure with the new fence, the new cameras, and the new access control system. We are more comfortable with the new roof and HVAC. The new locker rooms and saunas make a shower after a workout more enjoyable. We are excited to offer Pilates in our new Mind Body Studio. Both Indoor and Outdoor pools have been refreshed. The auditorium has new lighting, carpeting, and chairs. And the beautiful new Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center welcomes you to our campus. We have accomplished so much, and we are not finished. We have more projects planned as pledged dollars are collected.

Everywhere you look, you can see positive changes. And that was made possible by this outstanding community!

Save the Date To celebrate the success of the Our Community. Our Future. Capital Campaign and the dedication of the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center

Thank you again for your support,

Billy Eskind

Frank Gordon

Howard Safer

Sunday, October 15, 2023 2pm Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center on the Gordon JCC Campus

With Your Support With the support of over 360 donors, we have pledges totaling almost $6.7 million, surpassing our original $6 million goal, and even our revised goal of $6.5M. We have put the dollars received to good use. Despite a global pandemic, supply chain issues and rising costs, we are proud to say that we have checked the following items off our “list.”

Phase 1: Enhance member experience and expand programming by building capacity Add new Camp Lodge and Arts Center to serve Camp Davis and our arts program Renovate our men’s and women’s locker rooms Add two family changing rooms Build a new mind body studio and renovate cycling studio Acquire new strength training equipment

Phase 2: Increase security and safety by investing in infrastructure Fit a new roof Install new HVAC system Repair and reseal parking lot Upgrade access control system Install new perimeter fencing Phase 3: Beautify our space through enhancements and efficiency Address lighting, audio-visual system in Auditorium Replace dated highway sign with electronic sign Replace outdoor pool surface Update indoor pool deck Address climate control issues in Auditorium Update flooring and furnishings, which have begun

It’s not too late to be a part of this campaign.

You can still purchase a brick or make a donation here

10 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

To our Donors...

Sondra Abanto Gus and Elaine Kuhn The Frist Foundation Pamela and Daniel Abramowitz Rabbi Joshua and Jessica Michelle and Stephen Frohsin Joel and Felicia Abramson Kullock Laura and George Fuhrman Heidi and Ron Addlestone Susan and Michael La Kier Julie and Andrew Galbierz Robert Doochin, Julie Doochin and Scott and Louise Garfinkel Adam and Valerie Landa Karen Vingelen, American Paper Jeremy and Diana Landa Robert and Pat Snyder Garfinkle and Twine Jeff and Mary Landman Barbara and Frank Ghertner Kenneth and Felicia Anchor Brian and Kim Lapidus Scott and Lynn Ghertner Kay Anderson Stephen and Leslye Lapidus Harris A. Gilbert, z”l Elizabeth and Garrett Asher Theresa Lapidus Harris N. and Danielle Gilbert Arlene Averbuch Dr. Stanley and Esther Lee Andrew and Jessica Ginsberg Dana and Greg Averbuch Matt and Tracey Leff Mark Glazer and Cynthia Stone Larry Averbuch Jay and Jennifer Lefkovitz Jonathan and Dina Gluck Dr. Mark and Shelley Averbuch Judy and Steve Lefkovitz Cindee and Michael Gold Sam and Jessica Averbuch Walt Lenard, z”l Nancy Gold Frank and Melanie Baker Ellen and Michael Levitt David Goldberg John and Marcie Baker Larry and Carolyn Levine Amy and Dan Goldstein Dr. Jeanne Ballinger and Irwin Michael and Sherrie Levine Randall and Gretchen Goldstein Venick Rae Levine Bob and Julie Gordon Jessica and Jeff Banish Honorable Gloria Dumas and Ken Frank and Gwen Gordon Lynn and David Barton Levitan Joel and Bernice Gordon Joseph and Nina Barwick Barbara Grossman Levy Gail Gordon Jacobs Steven and Trina Baum David and Ellen Levy Dr. and Mrs. Alan Graber Michal Eskenazi Becker Ralph and Randi Levy Lorna Graff David and Susan Berck Alan and Trisha Lewis Shari and Eric Green Amy and Robert Berger Kama Liberman Brad and Lisa Greenbaum Dr. Roy and Adele Berkon Terry Liebowitz Elliot and Alizah Greenberg April and Michael Berman Jan Liff Lauri and Greg Greenberg Ann Bernard Debbie Lundberg and Oley Atkins Mr. and Mrs. Martin Greenberg Andrea Bernstein Rose and David Lundberg Sharon and Scott Greenstein Seth and Toni Bernstein Diana, z”l and Sheldon Lutz Janene and Bruce Gronich Alex and Sarah Bick Rabbi Shana and James Mackler Michael Gryll Didi and Brian Biesman Maimonides Lodge #46 B'nai B'rith Griffith and Sherry Haber Tara and Daniel Biller Charles and Shannon Martin Shelia Hall Dr. David and Denise Birnbaum Alan and Leona Marx John and Heidi Hassenfeld Elizabeth and Bryan Bleecker Andrew May and Dr. Nancy Brown Steve and Sandra Hecklin Mark Bloom Ben and Kaaren May Dr. Hal and Phyllis Helderman Dr. Frank and Julie Boehm Jack May David and Geralyn Heller Joseph May Jeremy and Jamie Brook Reva Heller Ted and Barbara Mayden Gail Bowler Rae and Bruce Hirsch Martin and Ann McNamara Patricia Cerny Steve and Ellen Hirsch Patricia Meadows Alan and Teri Cohen Melanie and Doug Hirt Bernard and Nettie Medvedev Brad Cohen and Laura Jacobson Mindy and Kenny Hirt Sara and Daniel Melamed Gil Cohen Jan and Colman Hoffman Melkus Family Foundation Kim Cohen Dye, Ellinor and Manuel Jennifer Goldstein Hoffman Susan Michael Cohen Anita Howards Terry Minnen Dr. Mark and Mrs. Robin Cohen Dr. Robert and Jacqueline Hutton Tara and Adam Mittelberg Susan, Jeffrey and Cece Cole Carol and Larry Hyatt Michael Modic and Nancy Varley Erin Coleman Carolyn and Adam Hyatt Linda and Michael Mossman Bob and Beth Cooper Israeli Dance Group Evan and Sandy Nahmias Tim and Anne Conner Erica and Billy Jacobs Bob and Martha Nemer Michael and Lauren Cooper Jeff and Nicole Jacobs Jacob and April Nemer Lynne and June Dye Cushing Raymond and Nancy Jacobs Andy and Ann Neuman Ned Davis Tommy Jacobs Scott and Leslie Newman Norman and Melissa Davis Toni Jacobsen Susan Oliver Karen Dennis Marsha Jaffa Laurel and Ethan Orley Arielle Doochin Rachel and Treye Johnson Andrew Pargh Michael and Linda Doochin Mary Jones Bernie and Maria Pargh Dr. Mark and Rita Doyne Hillary and Mark Kaplan Lana and Franklin Pargh Jack Drapacz Irma Kaplan Sharon and Moises Paz Dr. Tommy and Beth Ducklo Batia and Aron Karabel Beth and Jim Easter Karr Family: Jackie, Price and MorganAmy and David Pearl Arthur and Lisa Perlen Gay and Steve,z”l, Eisen Teri and A.G. Kasselberg Alan Perlman and Lana Axelrod Judge Dan and Jill Eisenstein Lin and Jay Kayser Dr. Stewart and Suzy Perlman Annette Eskind Pam and Saul Kelner Mollie and Bobby Perry Dr. Jeff and Donna Eskind Eleanor and John Kennedy Elliot and Jessica Pinsly Richard Eskind Dr. Austin and Stephanie Melissa Pinsly Seth and Judy Eskind Kirschner Susan and Scott Portnoy Dr. Steve and Laurie Eskind Howard and Leslie Kirshner Stephen and Ellen Potash William and Jamie Eskind Michael Kirshner Mindy Merrell and Richard Quinn Andrea and Kevin Falik Dr. Jerry and Mimi Klein Jacob and Meg Rabinowitz Brad and Lori Fishel Marci and Jacob Kleinrock Sylvia Rapoport James and Royce Fishel Marvin and Evelyn Koch Steven and Esther Remer Jack and Daniella Fleischer Wilma Koenig Matthew and Leeron Resnick Nancy Flexer Barbara and Geoffrey Koslov Kay and Robert Reynolds Jenny Ford Jerry Kosten, z”l Rabbis Laurie and Philip Rice Gil and Joyce, z”l, Fox, III Keith and Meryl Kraft Steve and Anita Rich Gary and Carol Fradkin Luci Crow and Kenneth Kraft Stephen and Jan Riven Dara and Craig Freiberg Lee and Glenda Kraft Charles and Debi Robin Todd and Missi Friedenberg Dick and Janet Krebs Mark and Deborah Robin Amy and David Friedman Marilyn and Ted Krick Bruce and Norma Rogers Frank and Mimi Friedman Charles and Ilsa Krivcher Dr. Jean Roseman Joyce and Don Friedman

Ellen and Michael Rosen Trent and Ellie Rosenbloom Bernard and Terry Rosenblum Cathy and Howard Rosenblum Rodney and Lynne Rosenblum Mark and Carla Rosenthal Iris and Jon Rotker Cathy and Rick Rubenstein Marilyn Rubin Sarah and Todd Rubin Jonathan and Eileen Ruchman Ben and Marissa Russ Missy and Phil Russ Joseph and Anne Russell Larry and Jo Anne Sacks Howard and Arlene Safer Lori, Tracie and Mindy Safer Loretta and Ed Saff Judith Saks Milton and Sylvia Salomon Lauren and Chris Salvado Susan and Charlie Sand Michael Sanderson The Sandra Schatten Foundation Leslie Sax Karen Scharf Rabbi Mark and Harriet Schiftan Bernard Schklar Estate Molly and Richard Schneider Jimmy and Suzanne Schulman Lisa Schultz Amanda and David Schwartz Joshua and Quin Segall Lori and Seth Seigle Charlotte Seloff Lindsey Mossman Shaw Joan Shayne Goldie and Mark Shepard Sylvia Shepard Debbie and Jim Shmerling Laura and Phil Shmerling Michael and Lisa Shmerling Jack and Andrea Simon Luke and Susan Simons Glenn and Susan Simpson Anna and Martin Sir Nathaniel Sklaroff Doug and Bonnie Small Jimmy and Beverly Small Lisa and Steve Small Amy Smith Larry and Barbara Speller Nan Speller Shirley and Stuart Speyer Rachel and Avi Spielman Stephanie Spottswood Bruce and Carrie Sprintz Caroline and Lee Sprouse Staff of Gold Skin Care Michael and Rochelle Stahl Dr. Ira and Leslie Stein Patti and David Steine, Jr. Michael Stern and Isabel Cassen Marcia and Lee Stewart Eric Stillman and Rabbi Jessica Shimberg Andy and Patti Straus James and Elise Straus

Rabbi Saul Strosberg and Daniella Pressner Dana Strupp Cara Suvall and Joe Fishman Joe and Marilyn Swing Beth Tannenbaum and Carl Dreifuss Jacqueline Tepper The Sol Stern and Rose Stern Charitable Trust Rabbi Yitzchok and Esther Tiechtel Jamie Tiplitsky Family Steven and Michelle Tishler Alyssa Trachtman Michelle Trachtman Glenn Trommer Jessica Turk Lisa and Alan Turk Barbara Turner Dr. Jacob and Kelly Unger Joyce Vise David and Lauren Wachsman Katie and Adam Wayne Howard and Karen Weil Robyn and Michael Weiner Dan Wesiman and Lizzie Zuckerman Andrea and Dan Weiss Carol and Peter Weiss Moshe and Libby Werthan Janice West David Whelan and Rachel Sobel Beth and Jason Wolf Rachel and Michael Wolf Sally Wolkoff Bob and Barbara Woolf Richard and Sidney Wooten Afshin and Laura Yazdian Aaron, Ariel, David and Josh Yazdian Fred and Karen Yazdian Seth and Tal Yazdian Uzi Yemin Erin and Greg Zagnoev Jennie and Bradley Zagnoev, Polly and David Roffwarg Jeffrey and Elisha Zander Bruce Zeitlin Shirley Zeitlin Jack and Jackie Zigelsky Fred Zimmerman Raymond and Etta Zimmerman

Your support is our future!

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

11

Celebrating 70 Years of Akiva!

By ELLY EBIN

S

ince its establishment, Akiva School has stood as a beacon of education, shaping the minds of countless generations of Jews in Nashville. Founded in 1954 by Rabbi Zalman Posner of Congregation Sherith Israel, at a time when Nashville was home to a mere 2,700 Jews, Akiva emerged as a testament to the enduring thirst for knowledge within the Jewish community.

In a reflective piece published in The Nashville Tennessean Magazine in 1964, Rabbi Posner shed light on Akiva’s origins. He attributed the surge in demand for schools like Akiva across the United States to the aftermath of World War II, stating, “It was time for reassessing. There was an awareness of being Jewish. This generation was asking questions…they wanted to fill the gap.

There was only one way to provide it.”

Back then, only 300 similar schools existed in the United States. Today, nearly 1,000 Jewish day schools educate over 300,000 children nationwide.

Over seven decades, Akiva has striven to cultivate an environment where each student is embraced, nurtured, and supported on their path of social, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual growth.

At its core, the Akiva philosophy champions scholarship, critical thinking, and an enduring dedication to Jewish living.

Akiva School 1964

Rabbi Posner 1974

As the school approaches its 70th anniversary, it represents the vision of those who conceived the idea of a Jewish day school in Nashville, turning that vision into reality.

In the current academic year, Akiva warmly welcomed 114 students from kindergarten through sixth grade. Rabba Daniella Pressner, the current Head of School, expressed her enthusiasm for Akiva’s growth, noting, “The growth of the school is a testament to the past and present faculty and staff, families and community members who have believed in this school, nurtured it, and supported it for decades. We are so lucky to be living in a time when our children are learning to be knowledgeable and proud of who they are as Jews and especially in such a critical time in history.

Akiva remains a leader in innovation and academic excellence, with students placing in national math competitions and creative writing contests.

Beyond the classroom, they actively engage with the community, spearheading charity drives and participation in local projects.

As a community leader, Akiva fosters valuable partnerships with organizations such as The Collaborative for Spiritual Learning at Columbia University, the Nashville Symphony, and OZ Arts. Additionally, the school offers enriching community learning opportunities through its Courageous Parents Learning Series.

Akiva’s trajectory continues to shine brightly, evolving and expanding as a paradigm for Jewish day schools across

Current Head of School, Rabba Daniella, with an Akiva graduate and a new Kindergartener

Akiva students during the current school year

the nation. Akiva looks forward to joining together with the Nashville Jewish community in celebration throughout this coming year. Please mark your calendars for a momentous 70th anniversary gala on April 4th, 2024. Further details will be shared soon. •

Jewish Middle School’s Head of School Awarded Prestigious CDC Fellowship

By ELLY EBIN

T

his past summer, Alene Arnold, Head of School at the Jewish Middle School, secured a coveted position at the Center for Disease Control’s Summer Fellowship. This highly competitive program offers STEM educators a unique opportunity to delve into fundamental epidemiology and public health principles, while working closely with CDC professionals to craft STEM lesson plans centered around public health.

For the average middle schooler, and indeed, most individuals at large, public health rarely takes center stage in their daily thoughts until a crisis directly impacts their lives. The recent global pandemic has brought this reality sharply into focus, making the subject more relevant to our children than ever before.

The Jewish Middle School is seizing this educational opportunity. According to Arnold, “As educators, we now have the chance to impart public health knowledge in a way that truly resonates. Public

health is discernible for children today, and the significance of the CDC’s work is glaringly evident.” She added, “The job market for public health practitioners is in dire need of skilled professionals, and introducing students to this field at a young age paves the way for potential growth in this field in the future.”

During her week-long tenure at the CDC’s Atlanta lab, Arnold collaborated closely with epidemiologists, microbiologists, and frontline outbreak investigators. Together with experts and educators from across the nation, they developed comprehensive public health resources and curricula intended for use in schools nationwide.

Reflecting on her motivation to pursue this fellowship, Arnold emphasized the importance of contextual learning in science education. “It’s crucial for children to grasp that the concepts they learn in the classroom have tangible real-world applications,” she noted. The prospect of contributing to a nationally-recognized curriculum that accomplishes just that

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12 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Arnold, right, collaborating on curriculum development during her CDC Fellowship.

was incredibly appealing. Arnold shared, “When designing and refining curricula, it’s imperative to teach in context, with practical applications. Contextual learning underscores the relevance of scientific ideas, provides a basis for scientific inquiry, makes abstract scientific theories more tangible and understandable, and, most importantly, it sparks curiosity among students.”

Introducing this innovative curriculum at the Jewish Middle School is

a realization of a long-held aspiration for Arnold. “Virtually every standard we cover in middle school science can be addressed through this curriculum,” she explained. “By examining case studies or real-world data, students have the chance to approach problems or academic content from various scientific perspectives.

At times, we’ll scrutinize data as an epidemiologist would, or how a doctor might, and in certain cases, how a microbiologist would evaluate it. Students develop the skills to analyze data and convey information effectively—crucial aspects of science education that are often overlooked.”

Arnold stressed that the ultimate goal of scientific knowledge is to improve the world, a goal unattainable unless information is communicated effectively. With this in mind, the Jewish Middle School stands at the forefront of delivering an inventive and well-rounded science curriculum that surpasses national standards, equipping students with the tools to excel in critical thinking, scientific comprehension, and communication. •

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

New Classes at the Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center

By SHARON BENUS, ADULT PROGRAM DIRECTOR

W

e are thrilled to announce the launch of our art classes at the brand-new Madeline Pargh Arts and Crafts Center. Beginning Oct. 10 and running through Nov. 28, we invite you to embark on a creative journey with our talented instructors.

Artist Rhonda Polen Wernick will offer an oil painting class for artists of all levels who are looking to hone their painting skills. Rhonda will guide you in developing your unique style.

This immersive 3-hour class, held every Tuesday, will cover essential topics such as palette setup, color mixing, composition, contrast, and brushwork.

Discover the enchanting world of watercolors with artist Kim Lane. Running from Oct. 12 through Dec. 7, this 3-hour class on Thursdays will introduce you to the art of creating vibrant watercolor compositions. Throughout the course, we will explore the use of semi-moist and liquid watercolor pigments.

Artist Amie Pike invites you to embrace abstract art. Held on Monday evenings from Oct. 23 to Nov. 27 at 6-7PM, this class will guide you to explore various materials and learn new techniques and processes. Gain the confidence to develop your own abstract visual language and personal style using line, shape, and color to create visually stunning works. In addition to her adult class, Amie, an art teacher at St. Cecilia Academy, will be offering an exciting “Art Masters” class for children in grades 1-3 which will run on Thursdays, 4-5:15PM from Oct. 26 through Dec. 1.

This class will introduce young artists to the world of master artists, providing inspiration for their own art masterpiec-

es. Each class will focus on a different artist and teach various techniques using paint, watercolor, oil pastels, and collage.

To ensure a personalized learning experience, class sizes will be kept small, typically no more than eight students in a class. Keep an eye out for new classes as we continue to expand our offerings. For more information and to register, please visit nashvillejcc.org/ artsandcrafts. Join us in exploring your creativity and unleashing your artistic potential! Contact artcenter@nashvillejcc.org with any questions. •

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The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

13

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Whether you’re searching for your next real estate investment, a vacation property, or the home of your dreams, the new Zeitlin.com will help you find what’s next. Because when you find it, nothing compares.

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14 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Nothing compares to what’s next.

6615 Eudailey-Covington Rd | College Grove Listed by: Jessica Averbuch 615.294.9880 | Offered at $10,000,000

9600 Concord Road | Brentwood Listed by: Jessica Averbuch 615.294.9880 | Offered at $7,950,000

5904 Sedberry Road | Hillwood Estates Listed by: Missy Brower & Sara Ludlam 615.476.5455 | Offered at $7,400,000

113 Bellevue Drive S | Belle Meade Listed by: Shauna Brooks & Shawn Binkley 615.347.2550 | Offered at $4,995,000

309 Jocelyn Hollow Circle | West Meade Farms Listed by: Brooke Keane 615.397.4727 | Offered at $3,299,999

1419 Richland Woods Lane | Brentwood Listed by: Dorothy Curtis 615.479.0474 | Offered at $3,200,000

194 Moultrie Park | Sugartree Listed by: Ellen Christianson 615.300.7190 | Offered at $2,795,000

6631 Eudaily-Covington Rd | College Grove Listed by: Jessica Averbuch 615.294.8880 | Offered at $2,500,000

2000 Sweetbriar Avenue | Hillsboro Village Listed by: Stephanie Brooks & Annie Hickerson 615.479.6258 | Offered at $2,275,000

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4633 Mountain View Drive | Forest Hills Listed by: Lorna Graff 615.351.5343 | Offered at $725,000

666 Timber Lane | Regency Park Listed by: Jackson Zeitlin 615.479.6461 | Offered at $650,000

ZEITLIN SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY Nashville: 615.383.0813 | Williamson County: 615.794.0833 | Each office is independently owned and operated.

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

15

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 The Observer provides congregational listings of events and services as a complimentary service to the community. If your congregation is not listed, it is because we did not receive the information in time to meet our publication deadline. Please give your rabbi, executive director, or synagogue volunteer a gentle nudge.

@ 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 service 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.

October Events Adult Hebrew: Sundays, October 1, 15, 22, & 29, at 10:30 AM.

Guest instructor Ethan Levin is patient and personal as he teaches any and all who want to begin the journey of learning the Holy Tongue.

Micah Reads: Monday, October 2, at 7 PM on Zoom

Education Director Julie Greenberg leads the discussion on “Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai” by Matti Friedman on October 2 and “The Flight Portfolio” by Julie Orringer on November 6.

21st Century American Judaism: Tuesday, October 3, at 12:00 PM

What are the key factors contributing to and influencing a changing Jewish landscape in this country? What will it mean for our institutions, for political engagement, philanthropy and more? How does current tech/AI innovations affect todays Judaism, if at all? This Adult education opportunity is presented by Rabbis Laurie Rice and Shana Mackler, featuring guest Steven Windmueller.

Mussar Class with Karen Strock: Jewish Spiritual Ethics Wednesdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25

This Introduction to Mussar course is an invitation to enter 5784 with renewal, meaning, purpose, and hope. Join Rabbi Karen Strok, dear friend and rabbinic colleague to Rabbis Laurie and Flip, in a 4-week interactive Introduction to Mussar course, designed for beginners. We will cover the guiding principles of Mussar and spiritual practices that can make us even better versions of ourselves. Our text will be “Everyday Holiness” by Alan Morinis and we will have weekly reading assignments to enhance our learning.

16 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Simchat Torah: Friday, October 6, at 6 PM

Our clergy leads our celebration as we unwrap the Torah and wrap up the season on this magical night. Special Guest Michael Ochs joins us to play some classic melodies we all know and love. Our Pre-Neg begins at 5:30 with services starting promptly at 6 PM.

ReJewVenation: Tuesdays, October 10, 17, 24, & 31, at 6 PM.

Rabbi Laurie leads this educational opportunity to reconnect with you with your personal Judaism.

Broadway Shabbat: Friday, October 20, at 6 PM.

Wilkommen, bienvenue, and welcome to this special Broadway Shabbat Service.

Don’t worry, we won’t make you steal any bread for your food – you can join us for our pre-neg starting at 5:30 for light hors d’oeuvres. Put some of those millions of minutes to use worshipping a Shabbat filled with Broadway references you don’t want to miss.

Women’s Circle: Friday, October 20, at Noon

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.

Grief Group with Rabbi Laurie: Thursday, October 26, at 12 PM

“The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”

-Muriel Rukeyser, The Speed of Darkness We all have stories of loss. Maybe a loved one died, a marriage ended, a relationship went sideways, or 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.

Anti-Israel Expressions & Anti-semitic behaviors: Thursday, October 26, at 6:00 PM

So, why now? What are the driving features in connection with what we are experiencing? What ideas, individuals and institutions are shaping attacks on Israel, Jews and Judaism? This Adult education opportunity is presented by Rabbis Laurie Rice and Shana Mackler, featuring guest Steven Windmueller.

@ Sherith Israel Tefillah Workshop with Cantor Dov Sundays, October 15th & 29th 9:30am - 11:00am (Library) Dive into a deeper understanding of our prayers, through the lens of songwriting.

Daveners of all levels are welcome.

Coffee and refreshments will be served.

Torah will be shared.

Simchat Beit Hashoava October 5 Featuring the Music of Dveikus 6:30 pm

Simchat Torah Celebration and Festive Dinner Saturday Night, October 7 6:30 pm.

Nashville Pre-JAM Fest Shabbaton October 20 Friday Night Dinner and Program

Eat, Learn, Sing October 28 Community Seudah Shlishit, Learning, and Musical Havdallah With Cantor Dov, Moreh Nechemya, and Rabbi Saul Come learn with us in our Communal music city Bass Midrash.

On Wednesdays at Sherith Israel, between 8:00pm-9:30pm.

Drinks and Refreshments will be provided.

For any question please don’t hesitate to contact Nechemya Rosenfeld nechemya@ akivanashville.net

Continued on page 17

At Our Congregations…

Continued from page 16

@ The Temple 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

Shabbat Schedule for October

Our Shabbat Services will be held in person at The Temple. You can also watch via zoom from thetemplehub.org.

Friday, October 6th ~ 6:00 PM- Simchat Torah Service and Festive Oneg Friday, October 13th~ 6:00 PM Friday, October 20th~ 6:00 PM-Family Service and Birthday Blessings Friday, October 27th ~ 6:00 PM – Celebrate Mitzie Russell’s service to The Temple and Blue Jean Shabbat

Golden Lunch Bunch

Will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on October 3rd: Bill Sleeter October 17th: Bryan Cumming 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

Women’s Torah Study October 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th 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 October 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th Lunch at 11:30AM Program12:00-1:00 PM $15 per person for lunch

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

Monday Mah Jongg with Canasta Join Us for MAH JONGG Mondays at The Temple!

October 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 1:00pm

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.

Writers of the Lost Ark First Wednesday of the Month October 4th 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.

Join the Temple and Congregation Micah for a Zoom Adult Ed with Steven Windmueller, Ph.D. Interim Director of the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Tuesday, October 3 - Noon - 1:15 PM 21st Century American Judaism: What are the key factors contributing to and influencing a changing Jewish landscape in this country? What will it mean for our institutions, for political engagement, philanthropy and more? How does current tech/ AI innovations affect todays Judaism, if at all?

Thursday, October 26 - 6:00 PM Anti-Israel Expressions and anti-Semitic Behaviors For zoom access, please go to thetemplehub.org.

NowGen Nashville and Next Dor Young Professionals Network and Nosh October 19th from 6:00-8:00pm at The Temple RSVP to Sheri@templenashville.org Ages 21+

It’s a Knitzvah Crafternoon!

Sunday, October 1st 1:30 pm

The Temple’s W.E.L.L (Women Engaged in Living & Learning) is joining with the Crafternoon crew and invites all knitters, crocheters, and anyone who just wants to learn how to knit a simple scarf to provide for the homeless women who are a part of the Room in the Inn during the cold winter. Or bring a craft project of your own. We will be in the Sukkah at The Temple to enjoy the company of women engaged in living & learning. Refreshments will be served!

Please RSVP to Rabbi Mackler at rabbisgmackler@templenashville.org. For more information, please go to thetemplehub.org or templenashville.org

Celebrate with us in the Sukkah

• Intro to Judaism and Conversion Conversations Opening Gathering – Sunday, October 1st • Preschool Parent Committee-Monday, October 2nd • LGBTQ+ Dinner -Tuesday, October 3rd • Hebrew School Dinner -Wednesday, October 4th For more Information, see thetemplehub.org Sukkot Yizkor Service- October 6th at 5:00pm

Intro to Judaism-Conversion Conversations Led by Rabbi Shana Mackler Opening Gathering, Sunday, October 1 ~ 4:00 PM Online classes begin Tuesday October 10 @ 7:00 PM

Join us for in-depth look at Jewish history, holidays, traditions, customs, and beliefs.

Rabbi & Senior Scholar Shana Mackler leads these thought-provoking conversations about Judaism. There is no expectation of conversion upon completion of this class and syllabus, though many choose to do so. This is a great way to learn together and take the next steps towards living and leading a more meaningful Jewish life.

Register at Thetemplehub.org/learning

Temple’s W.E.L.L Group (Women Engaged in Living and Learning) is co-sponsoring the Monday Matinee film Sabotage of the Nashville Jewish Film Festival

Temple’s W.E.L.L Group (Women Engaged in Living and Learning) is co-sponsoring the Monday Matinee film Sabotage of the Nashville Jewish Film Festival on October 23rd at the the GJCC. Lunch is available starting at 11 and the film will be screened at noon. Go to https://www.nashvillejff.net/ for more information.

Family Pet Blessing at The Temple Sunday, October 1st from 11:30-12:30

on the Patio (Rain or Shine) All of God’s creatures are welcome!

Schedule: 11:30AM-12:00PM-Social Time and meet and greet with pets and pet parents 12:00PM- Blessing of the Pets by he clergy 12:15PM- Pet Contest All pets must be leashed or crated at all times.

Tot Shabbat Saturday, October 21st at 10:00AM

For families with children up to age 5 Tot Shabbat offers families the chance to celebrate Shabbat with their young children in a creative way!

Hello My Name Is….The Temple’s Adult Education Series

Learn Jewish History, Innovation, Culture, and Values through Famous Jews with Familiar Names.

Hello My Name is Ruth: 10/4, 10/11, 10/25 at 6:00pm at The Temple Our clergy will be leading these sessions. For more information, go to thetemplehub.org.

Hike & Havdallah at Percy Warner Presented by The Temple’s Worship and Music Committee Saturday, October 28th

Where and When for the Hike? Meet at the top of the steps at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard at 3:45 PM with the hike of the 2.5 mile white trail to begin at 4:00 PM. If you are not hiking, please meet us for Havdalah at the stone gate entrance to the park at 5:30 PM. Who? All ages! Bring friends and family.

For more information or questions, please contact Anne Davenport at adavlaw@ comcast.net

Shabbat Service and Oneg to honor Mitzie Russell’s service to The Temple Friday, October 27th at 6:00pm

We are so pleased to honor Mitzie Russell at Friday night services on Oct. 27th.

From her first day at Temple in 1996 until the present, Mitzie has worked tirelessly to make our congregation the best it can be. She has served in almost every administrative position and presently works part-time on special projects and the Cemetery.

Please come Friday, October 27 as we show our gratitude for all she has done for our Temple family.

Continued on page 18

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

17

At Our Congregations…

Continued from page 17

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

Bar Mitzvah of Yosef Prebus, Saturday Morning, October 28.

Music and Me Inviting all parents of infants and/or toddlers for an afternoon of music and movement on Sunday, October 1st from 10:30-11:30 a.m. RSVP by emailing spaz@ westendsyn.org or harriet.workman@gmail.com.

Beit Miriam Sukkot Program Sunday, October 1st. Sukkot Programming from 10:00-11:30 a.m. with lunch at 11:30 a.m. This will be in lieu of regular school.

Women’s Torah Group (on Zoom)

Men’s Torah Group (in person) Join us on October 12th, 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.

Sunday, October 15th – Sisterhood Bloody Mary Bar and Mexican-Themed Brunch 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. Suggested donation $5 per person. RSVP required https://forms.gle/ujj2vPhLKrVHqtDq9

Wednesday, October 18th - “Secrets of the Oy-Oy Sisterhood” Open board meeting of the Sisterhood Board, highlighting educational, ritual, and other resources of our parent organization. Snacks available for those attending in person. Registration needed to participate via Zoom https://forms.gle/yEKXR9bJ1wUsKmkq6. For more information on Sisterhood or Sisterhood events, see our website https://www.musiccitysisterhood.com/home or email sisterhoodwestendsynagogue@gmail.com

Sunday, October 22nd – Sisterhood Walk the Greenway

Join us on October 4th, at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Joshua leads our study of the book of Deuteronomy.

Co-hosted by Sisterhood and Beit Miriam Parent Committee. Meet in West End’s back parking lot at 9:15 a.m. Water, bananas and power bars provided. No RSVP needed.

Sisterhood Wednesday Wind Down

Learn and Lunch with Cathy Lewis

October 4th, 11th and 25th - Snacks and games in the Internet Cafe from 4:30 5:45 p.m. No RSVP needed.

Learn and Lunch is back! Wednesday, October 25, at 11:00 a.m. Reservations are required for the catered lunch. Lunch is ($3/person) following the presentation.

Beit Miriam School and “Pizza in the Hut”

Friday night, October 27th: Families with Young Children

Regular Midweek Hebrew Wednesday, October 4 from 4:15-5:30 p.m. followed by “Pizza in the Hut” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner open to Beit Miriam Families and Families with Young Children. RSVP to spaz@westendsyn.org.

RSVPs are required to know how many people to plan for! There is no charge for dinner.

Craft Beer Tasting led by Trent Rosenbloom Tuesday, October 4th at 7:30 p.m. Sample a curated assortment of barrel aged craft beers from Trent’s private collection. RSVPs are requested so we have the right amount of beer. Contact the WES office if you have any questions.

RSVP Here: https://westendsyn.shulcloud.com/event/craft-beer-tasting.html

Thursday, October 5th – WES Sisterhood “Radical Welcoming: Our Ancestors, the Stranger, Ourselves” Soup and salad dinner followed by an exploration of the concept of “Hachnasat Orchim” – “Welcoming Visitors”. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Synagogue Sukkah. Free for paid Sisterhood members, $20 for non-members. RSVP required https://forms.gle/ UDPrGToPLrQJHFoi6.

Friday, October 6 – Families With Young Children Join us for “It’s Shabbat” 5:30-6:30 pm in the Synagogue Sukkah

Sundaes in the Synagogue & Families with Young Children Potluck Seudah Shleesheet & Simchat Torah Service Saturday evening, October 7th, please join us for Simchat Torah.

Families with Young Children are invited for a Potluck (dairy or pareve) Seudah Shleesheet beginning at 6:00 p.m. followed by a family service. The regular service begins at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited for “Sundaes in the Synagogue” before Simchat Torah.

Learn and Lunch with Rabbi Saul Strosberg Learn and Lunch is back! Wednesday, October 11th, at 11:00 a.m.

Reservations required, catered lunch ($3) following the presentation.

18

Join us for “It’s Shabbat” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Celebrate Shabbos together with grape juice, challah and nosh!

Birthday Shabbat, Saturday morning, October 28 Join us on Shabbat morning, October 28th, for a special celebration of our October birthdays. We will be celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of Yosef Prebus. The main service begins at 9:30 a.m. and a kiddush sponsored by the Prebus family will follow. Everyone is welcome.

Sunday, October 29th - Sisterhood “Handmade” Judaic crafts club Begins at 9:30 a.m. Bring any project you’re working on. Adult coloring pictures and supplies will also be provided. Bagel breakfast. Suggested donation $5 per person.

No RSVP needed.

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/1FAIpQLScXxBd4BPSrddtYu_iOb5A5VRpIkbq8TulMqJPEhUFWeco57w/viewform

Ongoing Programs: 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!

Thursday 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.

Continued on page 19

October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

At Our Congregations… People of the Books

By ELYCE RAE HELFORD

Continued from page 18

Mincha (on Zoom)

David Baddiel, Jews Don’t Count: How Identity Politics Failed One Particular Identity. HarperCollins, 2021.

Kabbalat Shabbat

L

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

You are invited to join us every Friday for Kabbalat Shabbat in person or by Zoom at 6:00 p.m. As part of our Friday night services, we are currently studying Jewish ethics through an in-depth reading of Pirkei Avot.

Morning Shabbat services

You are invited to join us every Saturday morning 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 East Side Tribe is a grassroots social and spiritual community fueled by Jewish values and rooted in East Nashville. For more information, please visit eastsidetribe.org.

- Wednesday, Oct. 18 — Rosh Chodesh: We’ll explore energy, embodiment, and the soul. This monthly gathering is open to all who identify as women.

- Friday, Oct. 27 — Potluck Shabbat Dinner: Our monthly gathering. We’ll fill up our glasses, eat, and join together in community.

Hadassah Please join us at the JCC on Thursday October 19th at 12:15 pm for the 3rd of a three part series presented by Edria Ragosin; Women of Action, Past and Present. You may bring a bagged kosher style lunch and join us for lunch at 11:30 prior to the event.

A $36 donation is recommended for the series.

Nashville Jewish Film Festival Hadassah will sponsor the film Stay With Us Saturday October 28th 7pm Bellevue AMC Volunteer at Akiva!

Library volunteers and readers, Hebrew helpers, bakers and garden helpers needed.

Please email Judy Abromowitz for more information on how to register to volunteer.

JSAbromowitz@gmail.com

Heart of the Matter

By PAM KELNER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE

S

ukkot is my favorite Jewish holiday.

Every year our family chooses a different theme for our sukkah.

One year we built it to look like a maritime village, in honor of my mother’s (z”l) childhood in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Another year, we recreated the dining hall from Harry Potter.

It is a time to enjoy hosting friends and family. Z’man Simchateinu, the season of our joy.

Still, the sukkah is a fragile shelter.

It can be blown over with one swift wind.

Our time in the sukkah reminds us, even amidst our celebration, that we remain vulnerable. Life is fragile.

Over the past 14 years working at JFS, I have witnessed our staff walking with our community through moments of communal vulnerability and fragility—a flood, tornadoes, a global pandemic, the horror of a school shooting, resettlement of refugees forced from their homes. And I’ve witnessed them supporting community members through their moments of personal fragility—addictions, teenage pregnancies,

youth anxiety, elders with dementia.

JFS is here for individuals, for families, and for the community, day in and day out, helping to navigate vulnerable, fragile moments.

The Tennessean reported on September 13 that Metro Nashville has the second highest rate of overdose deaths in the U.S. The second highest!

(Only Baltimore fares worse.) Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, can help to reverse this grim statistic.

Jewish Family Service is partnering with Stars Nashville to provide training on the administration of Narcan on Thursday, October 5th from 8:30-10:00 under the Sukkah in the GJCC Auditorium. A light breakfast will be served.

We intentionally scheduled this event during Sukkot to show how fragile life can be, especially with the scourge of fentanyl. During the training, you will learn about the drug fentanyl, how to recognize overdose symptoms, and be trained on administering Narcan, the lifesaving drug. All participants will receive a life-saving kit containing Narcan.

This training is open to all agencies, synagogues, and individuals in the community concerned about someone at risk. Please RSVP to Toni Jacobsen at tonijacobsen@jfsnashville.org •

ast month, I reviewed Deborah Lipstadt’s Antisemitism: Here and Now, praising its accessibility and care for its audience’s sensibilities and commitments. This month, I take on a less comfortable book, one that I wouldn’t give out as an introduction to the topic…or (I realize as I type this sentence) to non-Jews.

I came to David Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count via a rather circuitous route. In the background of my life is ongoing contemplation of what it means to be Jewish in the U.S. of the 21st century. In the foreground, I was listening to an episode of the podcast Conspirituality, in which three (non-Jewish) white men discuss “the stories, cognitive dissonances, and cultic dynamics” of today’s wellness and new spirituality movements. Being somewhat exhausted by current conspiracy theories (from flat-earthers to QAnon) and phony gurus, I was particularly pleased to find the May 2023 episode “Why Does Every Conspiracy Theory Lead Back to Antisemitism,” featuring Ben Cohen (founder of The Banter, not the Ben and Jerry’s guy). I valued the discussion’s focus on attacks upon “globalists” (shorthand for Jews) and the increasingly visible promotion of white replacement theory, which argues that Jews control the world through funding anti-white interests and advocating for multiculturalism to erode the white majority. Also addressed was the left-toright swing of several public figures, and how this has included increasingly visible antisemitism. Mid-discussion, guest Cohen casually recommended David Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count.

I paused the podcast to look up the British-Jewish Baddiel and found his comedy, his many publications, his work in television, and his remarkable Twitter presence. I felt I should already have known about this man, this powerful Jewish voice against antisemitism and in support of Jews and Jewishness today.

But I didn’t know him, so I finished the podcast and then rectified my ignorance.

I read about his work via Wikipedia and IMDb, and then I screened his documentary on Holocaust denial. After this, I bought Jews Don’t Count as an e-book – thrilling at the high praise of both comedian Sarah Silverman and actor/ writer Stephen Fry, two of my favorite Jews – and dug in.

A self-classified polemic, the book runs a little over 100 pages and straightforwardly argues that Jews have been ignored as a genuine minority within an era of heightened awareness of minorities. Baddiel uses reasoning, personal experience, and dark humor to ask why not only the right but – even more importantly – the politically left fail to recognize and support Jews. Too many progressives today, he maintains, neglect to call out antisemitic jokes and use Jewish stereotypes while they quickly

denounce racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism.

At the book’s core is the claim that antisemitism is a form of racism and must be understood as such if Jews are to have true allies on the left. For those who consider themselves antiracists, he ponders, why is antisemitism seen as a much lesser threat? The author understands the problem of identifying Jews, as did Hitler, via race; however, to understand antisemitism is to understand how Jews have been identified as a race. In his words, “To fight antisemitism, you have to be aware of how the antisemites see Jewishness, which is a thing in your blood, not your spiritual soul.”

A central issue, claims Baddiel, is confusion of Jewishness and Judaism. To exemplify the problem, he brings up an experience I have faced several times: How do we identify ourselves when demographic data is collected, and Jewishness is missing? Checkboxes for race or ethnicity never include Jewishness. Judaism does show up under religion, but for the secular/atheist Jew, this is not a valuable option. “The religion, in terms of the discussion of how to fight antisemitism, is virtually irrelevant,” insists Baddiel.

Thus, we must ask, who are we as Jews if we are attacked as a race or ethnicity but not allowed to identify as such?

With this question come others, including those over the lack of Jewish allies, over antisemitism as forgivable when other forms of racism are not, and over the placement of Jews in a totalizing category of privilege. To be sure, Jews as a category are both privileged (if pale skinned by access to white privilege) and not (by virtue of antisemitic attacks), but a hierarchy of racism serves no one other than the dominant race. We must, therefore, insist on the validity of our minority identity and demand the support of progressives in our efforts to raise awareness of the way antisemitism both is and undergirds racism in our culture and worldwide, as it has for centuries.

A particularly strong feature of the book is the compelling variety of examples presented, from Twitter disasters to the hideous declarations of politicians and activists. Perhaps my favorite example is one of the first mentioned, two lines from T.S. Eliot’s poem “Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar”: “The rats are underneath the piles. / The Jew is underneath the lot.” I share Baddiel’s conviction that “the poetry does not redeem the hatred.” As Jews, we have a right to demand more and better today, especially from those who should recognize their importance as allies.

Baddiel’s book is not for everyone, I realize. Although it takes little time to read, it is demanding. There is no denying that Jews Don’t Count is less welcoming and less forgiving than Lipstadt’s Antisemitism, but I find value in both, taking equal places of prominence in my library and my mind. • Elyce Rae Helford, Ph.D., is a professor of English and director of the Jewish and Holocaust Studies minor at Middle Tennessee State University. She is author of What Price Hollywood?: Gender and Sex in the Films of George Cukor. She can be reached at elyce.helford@mtsu.edu.

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

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

19

October in the Gordon JCC Galleries: Works by SNAP Photography Group, The Nashville Artist Guild

T

hroughout the month of October, the Gordon Jewish Community Center Galleries will feature the work of SNAP Photography Group and The Nashville Artist Guild.

The Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the annual show from the SNAP photography group. Renowned for their fine art photography, the Society of Nashville’s Artistic Photographers (SNAP) creates images that make the viewer smile, think, question or wonder.

The members’ work has not only been featured in local and regional exhibitions and collections but has also garnered recognition in national and international forums. The current exhibition at the Gordon JCC is curated by Mike DuBose.

In 2004, a handful of Nashville photographers came together with a shared passion for the creative aspects of photography, forming what is now known as SNAP. Today, SNAP provides a forum for discussing the work of members and notable photographers. Its intimate size and informality enables members to engage in active conversations and invite external experts. In short, SNAP is dedicated to the promotion and creation of fine art photography in Nashville.

The Sig Held Gallery will feature the works of the Nashville Artist Guild.

Despite Nashville’s emergence as a hub for visual and performing arts, it wasn’t until 1950 that the city saw the establishment of a cohesive arts organization. That is the year Nashville Artist Guild was founded, created through collaboration between art

Art and Science, by J. Wayne Thomas Dreaming, by Stephanie Helmey

Fashion, Art, Architecture, by Carrie Mills Rampant Raiders, by Don Olea

After the Rain, by Diane Burgett

faculty from Vanderbilt University, WardBelmont College, Watkins Institute, and UT Extension School, talented students, and local professional artists.

Maintaining the legacy set by its founding artists, the Guild upholds high standards for membership. Prospective members must undergo a jury vote from its existing members, demonstrating a professional history of exhibits, juried shows, and in-person presentations of original works. The Guild was never intended to be an all-encompassing

serves as the curator for the Gordon JCC art galleries. Mills, an alumna of Parsons School of Design with a focus on Fashion Design and Art History, boasts an impressive career history, including design roles at Anne Klein Design Studios and extensive work in handbag design and product design for Leeds of Pittsburgh. Currently, she collaborates with her fashion photographer son, Garrett Mills, offering her expertise in styling, designing, and art direction while crafting model portfolios.

In addition, she conducts a successful Fashion Camp for Camp Davis during the summer at the J, among her various contributions to the Jewish Community.

The House gallery will feature the Under One Roof collaborative exhibit.

The Exhibition Dates are October 3rd – 30th. The Artist Reception is set for Wednesday, October 11th from 6 - 8 pm.

The exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www.nashvillejcc.org. •

Crawford Funeral Home

Barbershop, by Leslie Gill

umbrella group, but rather a space for artists deeply committed to their work.

This professional art group continues to honor its commitment to artistic excellence, ethnic diversity, art education, and the elevation of fine art. Current Guild members work across a range of mediums including oil, enamel, glass, encaustic, wood, marble, clay, photography, and digital media. Bringing together those who make art and those who love art, the Guild is alive and well today – thanks to the individual commitment of so many.

The Senior Lounge continues to feature the work of Carrie Mills, who also

Kvetch in the City

By CARRIE MILLS

L Chu C Ch hu hucckk & H Heid eiid eeid ide Craw ide raw ra awfor ffo orrd o

2714 Grandview Avenue Nashville, Tennessee 37211

(615) 254-8200

www.crawfordservices.com

20 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

et’s just say, I’m burning sage.

Let’s just say it would be appropriate to call the dating App Hinge “unhinged.”

Let’s just say, the app is no longer on my phone.

Let’s just say, I’ve come to the realization that dating someone for one and a half months at this age is the equivalent to dating one year in dog years which as everyone knows counts as seven.

Let’s just say, I fully surrender and consider myself done with the whole life strategy of dating mishigas.

As one of the seniors in the TGIT lunch program at the J said to me, she is praying for me for Bashert (she also suggested I need a big fish.) And this is why I love my work with the seniors at the GJCC. They have my back, only want me to be happy, and have my best

interest at heart.

Let’s just say, I’m exhausted from dating people I meet on apps, people I meet at friends’ holiday parties, people I meet from my work, and by “people I meet,” I mean men.

Let’s just say, I’d like to believe in men again. Men who are emotionally available, men who have their act together – mentally, physically, spiritually. Men who go to therapy and listen to their therapists, older men who know what they want and don’t play games, men who know how to be a mensch.

After all, the word “mensch” starts with “men.” Come on, guys!

Let’s just say, I’m exhausted from the endless search, it’s caused me way too much stress and now I need a facelift.

Let’s just say the real facelift I want is being happy with or without a man.

Let’s just say, I’ve hit the dating wall.

Let’s just say, after my last few dating experiences….

I’m burning sage. •

ADVERTORIALS

Entertainment & Dining Out Issue

OCTOBER 2023

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

21

ADVERTORIALS

Adventure Science Center Gear up for a new challenge at Adventure Science Center. Journey through nine unique climbing elements as you learn about the science that fuels exploration. Then, explore the science of music in soundBox, journey through the solar system in Space Chase, or see what you can dream up in our high-tech makerspace, i2.

We can’t wait to see you Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visit adventuresci.org to plan your adventure today and follow us on Instagram at @AdventureSci for real-time updates on everything happening at the science center.

Sperry’s Join us in commemorating a culinary institution that has delighted Nashville for half a century! We want to hear from you, our esteemed guests, about the moments that have made dining at Sperry’s truly exceptional. We invite you to share your most cherished memories, heartwarming stories, and anecdotes that capture the essence of your time spent with us.

Whether it’s a special celebration, a romantic proposal, a memorable family gathering, or simply a delightful dining experience, we want to celebrate the moments that have made a lasting impression. We encourage you to send in your stories, along with any photographs or videos you may have, showcasing the magic of Sperry’s. Selected

stories will be featured prominently throughout our 50th-anniversary celebration, and contributors will have a chance to be featured in our upcoming memoir.

Porta Via Ristorante Now approaching their 15th anniversary in Nashville’s Belle Meade neighborhood, Porta Via Ristorante serves Nashville’s finest authentic Italian cuisine; Tennessee’s only VPN-certified, wood-fired Neapolitan pizza (Certificato No. 350); delicious, house-made gelato; and an outstanding selection of fine wines, cocktails, and liqueurs.

Inside Porta Via, guests enjoy their quaint yet sophisticated Italian surrounds featuring Florentine plaster walls; a beautiful, cherry pergola; a full-service bar; and a classic, tiled fountain that accepts coins in exchange for wishes. What’s more, for the safety of their guests and staff, Porta Via features an advanced air filtration system that yields clean, fresh smelling indoor air. Ample seating is available to accommodate a daily crowd of regulars, first-time visitors, and enthusiastic tourists that placed this local favorite on their Nashville to-do list.

Porta Via’s dining room opens at 4pm daily for dinner service, and at 11am on Saturday and Sunday for their popular Italian Piano Brunch. Note that the restaurant does not take reservations, so arrive early for best seating. Porta Via also offers an appbased loyalty program that allows guests to earn cash rewards along with easy-to-use online ordering, take out service, and catering for social gatherings, parties, corporate events, and more.

Porta Via Ristorante is located at 21 White Bridge Rd, Suite 104. Order online by visiting www.eatatportavia.com or call 615.356.0001 today. For catering inquires, email catering@portavia.net.

The Kupin Group

GEAR UP FOR ADVENTURE

Kinetic Climber only at Adventure Science Center Nine Unique Challenges, Endless Bragging Rights

When you’re looking for a new home, The Kupin Group knows indoor and outdoor entertaining space can make a difference, as well as being in proximity to dining and entertainment options in nearby neighborhoods. That’s why the Kupin Group, founded

by Jacob Kupin alongside his wife Hayley Levy Kupin, has become a well-known name in the Nashville real estate market - thanks to our unparalleled dedication to providing world-class service.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or an old hat at flipping properties, The Kupin Group will be by your side, advising and supporting you as we execute personalized strategies to help you purchase your dream home or sell at the top market value. The Kupin Group was recently named Team of the Year by Bradford Real Estate and earned the Diamond Award from the Nashville Realtor’s Association. More importantly, The Kupin Group’s incredible and resourceful team helped over 40 families sell their homes and over 60 others begin their journey into real estate in the last year, amassing almost $50 million in sales across Middle Tennessee from Germantown to Auburntown and everywhere in between.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF TIMELESS DINING 015 H di

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Shop the Temple Gift Shop for all your one-stop shopping needs!

Passover Seder Plates, Greeting Cards, Mezuzahs, Tallits, Candle Holders, Mah Jongg Gifts and Cards

SHARE YOUR SPERRY'S MEMORIES If The Temple is Open…the Gift Shop is Open! (just stop by the front desk to ask for assistance)

AND BE ENTERED FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $500 SPERRY'S GIFT CARD! *SUBMISSIONS CLOSE 10/31/23

Questions email the thetemplegiftshop@gmail.com or call 615-352-7630

Visit www.sperrys.com/50th-anniversary/ (or scan the QR code) to share your most cherished memories, heartwarming stories, anecdotes and photos that capture the essence of your time spent with us.

The Temple • 5015 Harding Pike

Selected stories will be featured prominently throughout our 50thanniversary celebration, and contributors will have a chance to be featured in our upcoming memoir!

22 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

ADVERTORIALS The Kupin Group motto is “We’ve Got Your Back! You can depend on us to be responsive, resourceful, and act with integrity. If you’ve recently moved to a new neighborhood or want to uncover more of Nashville’s hidden gems, check out our Kupin Group Guide to Nashville: www.thekupingroup.com/guide-to-nashville

Making the Most of the Fall Foliage We’ve all been waiting for it. The daily high has dropped below 90°, and your backyard patio is finally going to get the dinner party it deserves. Underneath a beautiful canopy of fall foliage, nestled between azaleas and boxwoods, you and your guests will spend the evening enjoying the cool breeze and each other’s company.

Unfortunately, the winds of summer afternoon thunderstorms have taken a toll on your trees. Your backyard looks more like the set to a spooky movie rather than a potential cover of Better Homes and Gardens. You can’t possibly serve your neighbors that pumpkin inspired cocktail amongst a sea of deadwood and heat-stressed plants.

At Druid Tree Service, this is our specialty. No, not the cocktails. Our business is preserving the health and beauty of your trees by applying natural fertilizers like beneficial fungi, bacteria and tree growth hormones to the trees and their soil, and clearing

dangerous and unsightly deadwood from your gorgeous trees. Our services will make your backyard more vibrant and inviting than ever before. Your guests will admire the exquisite layering of a properly pruned Japanese Maple. Our dedicated and experienced team excels at hand pruning small topiary form trees, yews and boxwoods, as well as maintaining and illuminating the natural beauty of mature trees.

Don’t let your trees be the scariest Halloween decoration in your yard this fall.

Give us a call at (615) 373-4342 or email us at office@druidtree.com. We look forward to talking with you about your trees.

Continued on page 24

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The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

23

ADVERTORIALS

Are You Ready for Your Next Celebration?

What’s your next big event going to be—A milestone birthday? Anniversary of your family business? Bnai mitzvot for your talented twins? Fund-raiser for a cause near to your heart? If you aren’t sure how to start planning for a large celebration, consider asking Jane R. Snyder to lend a hand. She has organized events both large (million-dollar charity gala) and family-sized (90th birthday party). If you are simply overwhelmed by guests lists, invitations, entertainment, menus or even writing the perfect toast, Jane can provide all the help you need. Contact her at: 615-557-6277 or calljane@comcast.net

Marsha Jaffa As you prepare for a busy holiday season of entertaining and dining out with friends and family, please take time to think about your health insurance needs as important deadlines are coming up soon. Open enrollment for Medicare starts October 15th.

Open enrollment for Obamacare starts November 1st.

Portraits Carrie and Garrett Mills Mother / Son Team Stylist / Photographer Portraiture that brings out the beauty of you!

615-210-5044 csmills4@hotmail.com www.garrettmills.com www.carriemills.com

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 helps make sure you understand your options, the pros and cons of each choice and may guide you in making these difficult decisions. Let me personally guide you through the maze of the healthcare plans. I am passionate about matching each client to the best networks of doctors and hospitals available while making sure the insured understands aa their options and choices.

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.

I represent an array of supplemental and advantage plans. I am a Nashville native with 40 years’ 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.

Appreciate you! Marsha Jaffa

RED Spirits & Wine The Fall Season of 2023 will mark the 12-year anniversary that RED Spirits & Wine has been partnering with the Observer in our service to the Greater Nashville community. We have enjoyed the opportunity and appreciate the support of our guests throughout the years. We look forward to many more seasons of bringing the best variety of distilled spirits, beer, and wine in Bellevue. As many of the major holidays are approaching, we hope that we can continue to earn the favor of our patrons by providing a combination of service, selection, convenience, and value that reflects the top tier of our industry. We wish everyone a healthy, safe, and joyous remainder of 2023 and hope to see our many friends and neighbors soon at RED! Shalom.

Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty Your home is more than just where you live: it’s where you create lasting memories, celebrate life’s joys, and bond with those you love. So discover your next place to dine, entertain, and host with Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty, committed to helping you create the life of your dreams.

Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty’s agents are full-time, global real estate advisors who live and work throughout Middle Tennessee with an established record of providing first–class service by combining local expertise with a world–renowned Continued on page 25

24 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

Lifecycles B’rit Mitzvah Maytal Wiston

Maytal Shoshanna Wiston was called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on September 2, at West End Synagogue. Maytal was joined on the Bima by her parents, Stuart and Debby Wiston, her siblings, Leo, Celia and Zev Wiston, and her grandparents Barbara and Jay Wiston of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Ron Wolff of Hendersonville, Tenn.

An eighth grader at Merrol Hyde Magnet School in Hendersonville, Maytal is active in both club and school swimming as well as USY. She is also a devoted Camp Ramah Darom’nik.

In lieu of a more traditional Bat Mitzvah project, Maytal has opted to use the training she received to help tutor others at West End Synagogue for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs over the coming year.

Annika Rae Abramson

Annika Rae Abramson will be called to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah on October 7, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born on October 7, 2010, in Nashville.

She is the daughter of Vandana and Rick Abramson and the granddaughter of Myrna Abramson and the late Dr. Jerome H. Abramson of Atlanta, Ga., and Shashi and Ram Gupta of Sacramento, Calif.

A seventh grader at Harpeth Hall,

she enjoys reading, guitar, volleyball, and cats.

For her mitzvah project, Annika has written and published a children’s book entitled “Empty Dumpsters: Napkin and Sourdough’s Adventure in Smokeville.”

It will be available for purchase on Amazon, and all proceeds will be donated to the Nashville Humane Association to benefit animal welfare.

Milo Metzger

Milo Metzger will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on October 28 at 11 a.m. at The Temple. Milo was born on January 18, 2011, in Augusta, Ga. He is the son of Brian and Simone Metzger and the grandson of Martin and Jaclyn Metzger of Cranston, R.I. and the late Dian Saltzberg, Steve Kessler and John Silvestri of Pittsburgh, Pa. A seventh grader at West End Middle School, Milo enjoys comic books, unicycle (the vehicle), dogs (particularly his dog Boone), computers, climbing and art.

For Milo’s mitzvah project, he is taking leadership of the Unicycle collection for West End Middle School. He organizes and maintains the donation closet and spearheads the donation drives.

Milo has also volunteered his time at Unicycle’s central headquarters.

Obituaries Isabelle Lewis Cohen

Condolences to the family of Isabelle Lewis Cohen, who died at home on

ADVERTORIALS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 brand. The Sotheby’s International Realty® network includes 26,000 sales associates across 1,075 offices spanning 81 countries and territories with over $167 billion in annual global sales volume. Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty is a local, family– owned real estate brokerage that harnesses the power of this global reach to provide unprecedented luxury at every price point.

Deeply rooted in Middle Tennessee, Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty is committed to helping develop and sustain the city’s unique culture and sense of community.

Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty agents contribute to the Zeitlin Charitable Fund, which supports non–profit organizations in our community.

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Carrie and Garrett Mills If you’re one of those who dread having your photo taken, dread no longer! Carrie and Garrett Mills not only will make you look like a star, you will be thoroughly entertained in the process!

Carrie and Garrett Mills, a mother and son styling and photography team will save the day.

If you love having your photo taken and have always wished to look like a model in Italian Vogue, you’ve come to the right place. Or if you just need a straight on pro-fessional photo, look no further! Creative styling and high-end photography combined with fun!

Carrie and Garrett Mills. 615-2105044.

August 28. She was the daughter of Morris and Molly Lewis from El Dorado, Ark. Isabelle met the love of her life, Murray Cohen, by chance at a wedding.

Not long after, Isabelle and Murray were married. They opened Murray’s House of Fashion in Green Hills and stayed in business (at the same location) for 35 years. They were true partners in every sense.

Isabelle was the family matriarch and a calm and guiding force. She was smart, sweet, practical and stylish — a true lady.

She is survived by her daughters, Lauri Goldstein (David) and Jina Cohen (Sam Moore); grandchildren, Rachel McPherson (Joe) and Max Goldstein; sister-in-law Sylvia Weinberger; nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Isabelle’s family wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to all of her caregivers for their love and kindness and care.

Contributions in Isabelle’s memory may be made to The Temple.

Shirley Cohen Greenberg

Condolences to the family of Shirley Cohen Greenberg, 95, of Nashville, who died on August 28. She was born in Montreal, Canada on October 28, 1927, to Morris and Eva Cohen.

Shirley was a longtime resident of Nashville and a great supporter of the Nashville Jewish community. She was loved by all who knew her for her infectious smile and generous spirit.

Shirley was predeceased by her two loving husbands, J. B. Cohen and Max Greenberg.

Survivors include her four children: Larry Cohen, Kathy Cohen (Ronnie), Michael Cohen (Jan), Alan Cohen (Arlene Gold), and grandchildren: Time, Ben, Eric, Marcie and Heather.

Gus David Kuhn, III

Condolences to the family of Gus David Kuhn, III, 73, who died on September 7, from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Gus was born on June 14, 1950, in Nashville, the second son of three sons of the late Barbara Jacobs Kuhn and Gus D. Kuhn, Jr. Gus attended public schools in Nashville before entering Montgomery

Bell Academy. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College, where he graduated with the first class of men admitted to the school.

Following college, Gus studied grandscale puppetry and toured the world with the Bread and Puppet Theatre, then lived and studied in Japan before returning to the United States and beginning a career as an artisan His wooden toys, marketed as Lone Goose Toys, were works of joy and his whimsical finger puppets found homes in offices and homes around the globe.

Gus began his 41-year marriage to his beloved Elaine Raphael Kuhn in 1982. They settled briefly in Minneapolis, where they lived over their craft store, Southern Comforts. Minnesota winters brought them back to Nashville in 1985.

Gus had a keen eye for the art, not only of his fellow crafters, but also fellow visual artists. Over the years, Gus and Elaine collected many soulful contemporary abstract paintings and other works of art.

He shared his parents’ and grandparents’ passionate commitment to Reform Judaism and his congregation, Temple Ohabai Shalom, where he served as president from 2006-2008. He was also active in the Reform Jewish movement nationally, serving on the board of the Union for Reform Judaism and as president of the URJ Midwest Council.

While Gus was proud to be part of a family with a long Nashville history, he planted deep roots in the North Woods of Wisconsin. Gus started attending summer camp at Camp Horseshoe when he was 10 years old and his heart never left.

He and Elaine made a second home in Minong, Wis., where Gus spent as much time as he possibly could.

In addition to Elaine, Gus leaves behind his true pride and joys, his two children and their spouses, whom he loved as his own: daughter, Gina KuhnDeutscher (Gabriel Deutscher) of Berlin, Germany; and son David Kuhn (Melanie Kuhn) of Brooklyn. He will be deeply missed and always loved by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Rabbi William and Emily Kuhn of Philadelphia, and Irwin and Diane Kuhn of Nashville, as well as his many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, Continued on page 26

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The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

25

LET’S TALK RETIREMENT! (…because it’s not just about the money!)

By LORETTA SAFF

A HALLOWEEN GROUP HUG (Disclaimer: I’m aware that Halloween is not a Jewish holiday.

However, since there are occasions when people and decorations have the same problems, it’s important to share.)

I

t wasn’t long ago that I had several coaching requests that seemed to be related. To me, the logical answer was Halloween Group Coaching. Normally, all coaching sessions are confidential. But because there are lessons here that can help many, I obtained the necessary permission.

The five attendees were a little restless in their seats. They were: Wanda, the Witch Cornelia, the Candy Corn Casper, the Friendly ghost Terry, the Tarantula Peter, the Pumpkin I began by asking each in turn “What is going on?” Here, in order, are the answers: Wanda: “It’s becoming more and more common. You’ve seen it, and you’ve probably even laughed at it. Last week it happened to me.” I gave her a questioning look.

“I was on my broom and one of my earbuds fell out.

I looked down to retrieve it…, and SLAM! There I was, flat face into the tree.

And I heard people laughing! My radar should have warned me! Am I getting too old? Should I retire?”

We moved on.

Cornelia: (She spoke softly and made eye contact with each member of

the group.)

“Look, as early as the 1880s I became popular. My three colorful layers are attractive, and I’m small and easy to eat.” She teared up.

“At least I was easy to eat, and more fun by the handful! But thanks to Purell, Schmurell, people warn their kids to not eat anything with their hands!”

“Nobody buys me anymore. So, I’m going to have to retire – right?”

It’s ruining my self-image.” (He took a deep breath.)

“Yes, I crawl; I have long hairy legs, and I have eight eyes. But I’m harmless! My bite is no worse than a bee sting; look it up! Should I just retire and go live in the woods?

She started to sob.

Casper was next.

Casper: “Yeah, it’s not rocket science.

You all know me by my full name, ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost.’” He started to smile a little, and then the smile faded.

“Well, in comparison, maybe I’m the lucky one.

I’m the symbol for both Fall and Halloween, and it’s kind of a nice honor.

But now there are imitations - inflatables and plastic pumpkins that can be used year to year!

Even chips/pancakes/and coffee flavors use imitations! People don’t want the real thing anymore! I feel like a has been. I need a plan, a new direction. Should I just retire?”

“That’s right; I’m a non-conformist. I’d rather make friends than be scary. I’m not like the rest of the haunt team! But people just don’t respond anymore.

They like scary! Simply put, I’m a ghost who likes people. What should I do? Do I have to quit Halloween?

Wanda started to snicker and muttered, “Whoever heard of a friendly ghost?”

Then it was Terry’s turn.

Terry: (He looked around daring the others to challenge him) “Ha – you think you guys have issues? When I was a little tiny tarantula, my mama told me I was cute.

Then I found out about Halloween! Everywhere I look I see myself being used to scare people! TARANTULAS on bushes and crawling up the fronts of houses!

Wanda started muttering again.

“Anything with eight eyes is creepy!” she whispered.

I turned to the last member of the group. “Ok, Peter, it’s your turn.”

Peter: (He seemed a little uncomfortable.)

I let the air settle for a few minutes.

Group sessions are not easy. A person (or a pumpkin) can listen and feel their issue is not so bad. Or, the participant can take on everyone’s problems and go away feeling worse. I knew there was only

Obituaries

Continued from page 25

great-nephews, cousins and close friends.

His many caregivers, who allowed Gus to maintain the best possible quality of life as long as possible, deserve a lasting debt of gratitude. Most particularly, our love to Bradley Mckenzie, Gus’ constant, who, among many other things, took Gus on his final trip to the North Woods.

Contributions in Gus’s memory may

HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

26 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER

one answer, and it applied to the whole group.

“Well,” I said carefully, “The response I have for all of you is what I always tell my clients when wondering if they should retire: Decide what you really want.

Think of ways to reidentify yourself.

Find a new path to reach your goal.

Ask yourself important questions. For example: Wanda – “How much of who you are is your broom?”

Cornelia – “In what other ways can the world use candy corn?”

Casper & Terry – “Yes, it’s probably best you stay out of the spotlight.

How could you guys become an online presence to help others who are feeling unheard and rejected?”

Peter – “With a legacy like yours, there must be a book in your future! Do you know anyone that can help with the writing?”

Before I left the room, I looked around and smiled. “Of course,” I said, “If you want to talk more in depth about planning for the days and years ahead, give me a call!”

As the door shut, I heard Casper shout – “That was amazing! Ok, everybody, let’s have a Halloween Group Hug!” • Loretta Saff Loretta@coachingwithloretta.com

be made to The Kuhn Social Action Fund at the Temple Congregation Ohabai Shalom; 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, Tennessee 37215; or the Parkinson’s Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Ste 800, Miami, FL 33131, or the charity of your choice.

Jeffrey David Sterne

Condolences to the family of Jeffrey David Sterne, 33, who died after a more than three year battle with kidney cancer. He was the beloved son of Mark and Cari Sterne and older brother to Ryan, Michael, and Michael’s wife, Michelle.

Jeff recently achieved his dream job as an Enforcement Officer at the U.S. Treasury and demonstrated tremendous passion for music, guitars and government policy. He possessed a wealth of knowledge for his interests and could speak passionately about almost any topic related to music, politics or history.

Jeff was extremely compassionate, with an uncanny ability to see multiple perspectives and find common ground.

He was incredibly kind and treated every person with care.

Jeff was the first grandchild of his four loving grandparents, Martin and Shelley Shore of Del Ray Beach, Fla., and Judilee Tash Sterne and the late Harold Sterne of Sarasota, Fa.; the oldest nephew of five loving aunts and uncles, role model to nine cousins, and proud dog-father to Loki.

Throughout Jeff’s battle, he remained incredibly giving, and no matter the challenges he faced, his wishes were to support the fight against Kidney Cancer.

Donations can be made in his memory to Kidney Cancer research at https://kidneycan.org/donate-now/. •

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS CATHY WERTHAN, CPA

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

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.

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CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN

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.

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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

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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.

ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care, Identity Theft Protection 6213 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, TN 37209 615-356-1700 www.zanderins.com

Proudly serving your community in kitchen, bath, and turn-key remodeling.

Find us at www.DesignsByHermitage.com or call 615-988-5988

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

INSURANCE

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

www.zeitlin.com Residential & Relocation Specialists

JESSICA AVERBUCH Broker/ Owner Zeitlin Sotheby’s International Realty c: 615.294.9880 o: 615.383.0183 jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.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 Day & Early-Stage Programs 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 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; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 11 Music Circle S Ph. 615-665-9200 • www.robinsins.com

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

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

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

The Jewish OBSERVER • October 2023

27

The Observer’s Annual

Travel & Leisure I S S U E

Coming November 2023! esses n i s u All b ate to l e r t tha eisure L & l Trave % off 0 1 e ceiv will re st of o c e th ad. their

We will be highlighting travel products and services.

We know that you will want to be included in this issue. Advertisers who contract a 1/8 page ad or larger can contact us for inclusion in articles pertaining to your business of up to 250 words.

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

28 October 2023 • The Jewish OBSERVER