The Observer Vol. 87 No. 6 – June 2022

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Vol. 87 No. 6 • June 2022

www.jewishobservernashville.org

2 Sivan-1 Tamuz 5782

Mission to Poland participants pictured l. to r.: Fred Zimmerman, Jacob Kleinrock, Rabbi Joshua Kullock, Steve Hirsch, Deborah Oleshansky, Leslie Kirby.

Poland Refections

By STEVEN HIRSCH

During the week of May 2nd, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee sponsored a small delegation to Poland with the purpose of better understanding the refugee situation and providing some assistance to one particular group of Ukrainian refugees. One member of our group, Jacob Kleinrock, documented our progress with daily postings on Instagram. Rabbi Joshua Kullock, of West End Synagogue, also posted some material on Facebook along the way. Being the elder statesman of the group, I elected to do an old-fashioned journal and was able to write up a daily log of activities and observations. What follows is a summary of these journal entries in the form of my observations and lessons learned. Anyone who is interested in the full text of the journal is welcome to contact me and I will be happy to share.

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et’s be clear from the outset. There was nothing dangerous or heroic about our trip. Rather, it was the fulfillment of an obligation on behalf of our Nashville Jewish community to understand what is happening with Ukrainian refugees and what assistance could make a difference.

Personally, I had been feeling frustrated following the war news daily and not being able to do anything about it. When the opportunity to make this trip came along, I was grateful to be included. Here are my observations from the trip including some of the things that we learned along the way: • The refugee crisis will be with us for a long time.

People who have lost their homes, their material possessions and their livelihoods will need help to get back on their feet for years to come.

• According to Jonathan Ornstein, Director of the Krakow JCC, 97% of the refugees are women and children. Consequently, many of these families are looking to return to the Ukraine when it is safe to go back so that they can be reunited with husbands, fathers, and sons. Unlike other refugee situations where whole families are permanently resettled to other countries, many Continued on page 12 A Publication of the

WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG

By FRED ZIMMERMAN

By DEBORAH OLESHANSKY

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ake a moment to think about your Jewish story.

Think back to a time when your great-grandparents, or your grandparents, or parents (or maybe even yourself!) left behind the life they’d known in an instant and headed straight into the unknown.

Now imagine that happening to your mother, or your daughter, or your sister. And your siblings, cousins, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews…and imagine it happening right this minute, maybe with explosions and gunfire in the background.

Our Nashville group saw and heard those stories in Poland. We saw Ukrainian mothers and children lining up at the Krakow JCC food pantry, and we would have thought we were seeing a checkout line at our neighborhood grocery, were it not for the Ukrainian passports being shown instead of debit cards. These were not the bedraggled refugees of previous generations, they were in many ways a mirror image of our own society.

Over 5 million people have left Ukraine, and over 2 million more are internally displaced. Yet the numbers alone, staggering as they are, can’t convey the sheer horror of the situation. To truly grasp the scope, our group had to sit with people who fled their homes and their lives, and to listen to their stories. We had to see the shock and pain in their faces. We had to try to understand that two weeks of running and hiding and sheltering has changed these people in ways we can’t fully comprehend.

Yet for all the numbers and stories, it’s the small details that stand out. It’s the cracking voice of a Jewish Agency staff person, herself transplanted from Ukraine, who is helping refugees make their way to Israel, all while trying to stay in contact with her husband and parents who are still in Odessa.

It’s the faces of kindergarteners learning English, whose mothers haven’t heard from their husbands in weeks…and wonder if they ever will. It’s the thousand-yard stare of a woman who spent a week in a basement, listenContinued on page 13 Local Businessman Launches Nonprofit to Send Humanitarian Drones to Ukraine, page 3

Gordon JCC’s Dara Freiberg Says Goodbye, page 8

n early May I had the honor of joining a small delegation from Nashville traveling to Poland to witness and assist in relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees. At that time, Poland was assisting over two million refugees fleeing violence and mayhem caused by the unprovoked Russian invasion into Ukraine. The refugees, primarily women and children, fled to Poland to seek safe shelter in a place as close as possible to home, since all eligible men ages 18-65 are required to stay in Ukraine to fight.

Immediately as the war began in late February, Polish citizens took it upon themselves to drive to the Poland/ Ukraine border to take as many refugees as possible to safety. By the time we arrived, international and local Jewish organizations were fully engaged in the work and actively providing safe housing and other essential needs for these refugees, and we had the opportunity to see these efforts in action.

In the days leading to our departure, we put out a call for essential urgently needed items like diapers, hygiene products, and over the counter medications. In only three full days of collection, the Nashville Jewish community generously gave over 1500lbs. of donations items. Through a connection with Delta Airlines, we were able to secure permission to bring with us 22 large bags and boxes (roughly 1000 lbs.) of these donated items to give directly to the agencies on the ground assisting refugees. One of these large bags was filled with stuffed animals collected by Akiva students and given directly to refugee children in Krakow, in addition to notes and cards of support collected by students at several congregations and local schools.

There is something particularly engaging, inspiring and urgent about Ukraine – perhaps because of their brave, young and media savvy President and government leaders, perhaps because of the humanitarian crisis the Russians invasion caused by deliberately targeting civilian targets. Perhaps because that we can see ourselves Continued on page 13 Coupon Special Section, page 15

Legislative Report: Federations Efforts See Big Wins in Security, Education, and Combatting Antisemitism

By BARBARA DAB

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he 2021/22 state legislative cycle ended with some big wins for the Jewish community. The success is the result of ramped up efforts by the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, in collaboration with the three other Jewish Federations in the state. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation, says, “Through a concerted collective effort by the Jewish Federations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville, together with our professional lobbyists, we were able to make the case to the Administration and State Legislature of the urgency of these issues, especially given the sharp rise in antisemitism and antisemitic acts which are occurring.”

The various pieces of legislation saw broad support from both chambers of the State Legislature. And according to Senator Bo Watson (R-Hixson), involvement from the Jewish Federations was a key factor in gaining that support. “The engagement from the Jewish community was very important. The number one responsibility of our government is to provide a safe environment for our citizens,” he says. And on the House side, Rep. Ryan Williams (R-Cookeville), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, credits the Jewish community’s leadership with making a direct impact. “The Jewish community has always had a voice, but this time they really led the effort. As soon as the bill was filed, my phone began to ring with other legislators offering support.”

A top priority this year was securing an additional $500,000 in the state’s budget, to be allocated for security for houses of worship facing a demonstrated threat, something that also provided the biggest hurdle. Stillman says, “Among the biggest challenges was our need to educate the key TN decision-makers about the scope of the problem and the limitation of funding from the Federal government.” Adam Bronstone, Director

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Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

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of Planning and Israel Partnerships for The Federation, is the lead staff support for security for the Nashville Jewish community. He helped the congregations and other Jewish buildings, along with other partners like the NAACP Nashville Branch, in applying for and securing Federal nonprofit security grant funds.

The effort was so successful that those funds were exhausted locally, which is what led The Federation to push for the additional state funds. Bronstone says it was important to look to other communities for examples, “I saw the trends around the country in other similarly sized communities, and I thought we should pursue similar funding because it was clear Homeland Security funds will just never serve all the needs.” The state’s security amendment, drafted with assistance from Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), will provide grant funding, above and beyond Federal allocations, for things like increased security personnel. Briggs says he was motivated by the recent spate of shootings at faith-based institutions, in particular the Colleyville, Texas hostage-taking. “I wanted to support this amendment because our society has become so divisive, almost violent in nature.” Briggs said he was also influenced by his father who in his later years, shared his experiences in World War II as an infantryman in the squad that liberated the Dachau concentration camp. “I want to make sure things like that never happen again,” he says.

The budget amendment also provided $175,000 to be directed to the Tennessee Holocaust Commission for additional antisemitism education programs. Larry Liebowitz, the Commission’s Chair, says he is pleased with the increased allocation. “These funds will give us more flexibility for programming in the schools for next year. We will be able to bring in speakers and educators not only from Tennessee, but from throughout the United States, and even internationally,” he says. The Tennessee Holocaust Commission is a hybrid orga-

nization that is both a 501c3 charity, and a state funded agency. Most of its annual funding comes from the state’s budget. The Commission works with public and private schools, colleges, and universities, to provide Holocaust education. Liebowitz says, “The teachers of Tennessee work with our Commission to develop programming, lesson plans and other curriculum. You’d be hard pressed to find anything in the arena of Holocaust or Antisemitism education that we do not touch.”

Members of The Jewish Federation provided testimony supporting two other Bills. Senate Bill 2684 and its companion, House Bill 2673, adopting the definition of “Antisemitism,” as used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Senator Paul Rose (R-Shelby) is one of the sponsors of the bill. He says this bill makes an important statement about where Tennesseans stand on antisemitism. “Antisemitism is as strong as ever. This bill defines it, so people understand what it means.” The bill works to provide a specific definition for antisemitism, particularly for K-12 schools and Local Educational Agencies to help assess the motivation behind an antisemitic incident. Deborah Oleshansky, Director of Community Relations for The Jewish Federation, provided testimony in committee hearings about the importance of the bill. “This bill will be another tool in the tool box for combatting antisemitism.”

A second bill sponsored by Senator Watson and Rep. Williams, is yet another tool that serves to combat antisemitism.

SB1993 and its companion, HB2050, prohibits companies doing business with the State of Tennessee from participating in the boycott of Israel. An amendment adds language to include Israeli controlled territories. According to Watson, this bill makes a bold statement about Tennessee.

“People in Tennessee acknowledge Israel has a claim and a right to the territories, and we have an obligation to protect it. It is also in the best interests of the

United States to have a democratic ally in the Middle East.” Williams goes even further to suggest this bill draws a line in the sand for companies seeking government contracts in the state. “This is not just a model for other states, but it’s the strongest move so far in staving off antisemitism.” He says currently, Tennessee transacts approximately $71 million annually in Israel, and about $1.2 billion over 20 years. “Israel is the crossroads for industry, commerce, and research,” he says.

Both bills, and the new State Budget, take effect beginning July 1, 2022. The bills also received support from Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally and Governor Bill Lee. The Federation’s Eric Stillman says, “The four TN Jewish Federations are grateful to the Governor, Lt. Governor, and the General Assembly for providing both security and antisemitism education funding in the State of Tennessee budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023.”

While this year saw some significant successes, community leaders and Federation staff say there is still work to be done. Oleshansky says ongoing education will be at the top of next year’s list of priorities. “It is important to help elected officials understand that what they say has an impact on antisemitism.

We want to address this lack of education about antisemitic tropes, in particular calls from the floor of the state legislature around not just banning books but burning books.” She says The Federation hopes to conduct some educational programming this summer in the lead up to the next session. Still, she says this was a good year. “We learned that through state wide effort and coordination we can make some progress on issues of concern to the Jewish community, but we still have a long way to go. We hope that through ongoing and consistent interaction and increased educational opportunities for our elected leaders, we can use the momentum gained this year for even more positive impact next year.” •

Disability Inclusion Corner: Highlight on Tennessee Disability Coalition E very month we highlight one of the many partners that the Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee works with on disability inclusion. One of our community-wide partners is the Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC).

For over 30 years, the Tennessee Disability Coalition (TDC) has brought together organizations and individuals from across Tennessee to create a society that values, includes, and supports the 1.6 million of us experiencing some form of disability. Through programs, policy, and purpose; the TDC empowers Tennesseans to advocate for a more inclusive state. The impacts of equality and inclusion touches every inch of Tennessee, including through the cornfields and cow pastures, for both Tennesseans with and without disabilities. We work with advocates regardless of age or disability (e.g., Down Syndrome, diabetes, autism, depression).

At TDC, inclusion looks like peo-

June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

ple with disabilities having a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation. All disabilities may not be visible.

Invisible or “hidden” disabilities can be physical, mental, or neurological and include, autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, dementia, asthma, low vision, hearing loss, and brain injuries. Tennesseans with any form of a disability should be included as valuable members of and decision-makers in their communities.

So, who are these voices? Well, they’re moms, dads, spouses. Folks just like you who are speaking out and speaking up for people with disabilities. They advocate for independence, accessibility, education, voting access, and more. In coalition with over 40 organizations, TDC has worked to pass bills that protect and defend the rights of people with disabilities in Tennessee. Additionally, TDC works with individual disability advocates in many ways: empowering someone to write, call, or meet with their legislators; to share their story/struggles with the media; or to run for local office.

Advocacy is not done in a vacuum; the voices of our diverse community make Tennessee a more inclusive state.

To learn more about TDC inclusion or how to connect with other disability advocates and campaigns, visit www. tndisability.org, follow us on social media at @tndisability, or text TEAMWORK to 72690. •

Local Businessman Launches Nonprofit to Send Humanitarian Drones to Ukraine

By BARBARA DAB

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s the war in Ukraine rages on, the humanitarian crisis also continues to grow. And Nashville businessman, Joe Freedman, is working to address the mounting need for aid by launching a nonprofit organization that aims to send drones directly into the war’s hotspots.

The organization, called Drones for Good Worldwide, seeks to raise $1 million as quickly as possible. “If we’re successful, we will blanket the country with drones to assist with humanitarian efforts in every hotspot,” he says.

He explains that one of the corporate boards he sits on owns several drone subsidiaries. “We received a call from Ukrainian pilots pleading for American manufactured drones. They told us several pilots had been killed while flying Chinese drones manufactured by DJI. Most drones in Ukraine and in the world are manufactured by the Chinese drone company, DJI. When the war started, DJI disabled the GPS of all drones located in Ukraine. Before they re-enabled their flight capabilities, they gave the Russian military a device that broadcast the location and coordinates of every drone flown in Ukraine. Several pilots were killed because of their actions.” Last month, Freedman traveled to Poland carrying a dozen such drones. “The trip was centered around delivering 12 drones to Ukrainian pilots in Lviv, Ukraine. It was an incredible journey,” he says.

Freedman traveled with Chad Kapper, an executive with Red Cat Holdings, a company that provide drones and drone technology in various indusc

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tries. Kapper is an experienced drone hobbyist and trainer. When Freedman approached him about the initial donation of 12 drones, he said “yes,” and he offered to go along. “I wanted to know the delivery path,” says Kapper.

In what sounds like a cloak and dagger operation, Freedman says he and his team crossed the border into Ukraine.

“One of the most bizarre and extreme things I can recall. Never in my lifetime did I think I’d see something like this,” he says, “We met pilots and were taken to a crazy secret compound in Lviv Ukraine, spent the night, then made our way back across the border.” He describes an underground network of drone pilots who, in peacetime, race drones, and now they are training others to use them in the war.

“They work side by side with field artillery to adjust aim, scout tanks, etc. They are 3D mapping historic buildings so they can be rebuilt after they are destroyed, like when Notre Dame burned. They do humanitarian things and military things.

Some of them have been killed,” he says.

The use of drones has evolved from its earlier applications and today’s commercial grade drones can be used for much more than spying on the neighbors. Scott Zimmerman is Founder of Air Bears, a nonprofit membership group that provides volunteer drone pilots to local authorities for things like search and rescue and other types of reconnaissance. He says what is happening in Ukraine with drones is not surprising. “We started out as primarily a hobby organization. But once law enforcement and firefighters learned about us, they wanted to learn how to use drones to help in their work.” Zimmerman says drones can be used to locate missing people, to use infrared cameras to determine

the safety of a burning building, and for traffic surveillance. Zimmerman stresses that, unlike toy drones purchased at places like Best Buy, the Federal Aviation Association regulates the use of commercial drones. “Our drones are designated officially as aircraft and can only be used in coordination with local law enforcement,” he says.

Kapper and his group donated the same types of drones used by Air Bears.

They have about a half mile range and, most significantly, they are not traceable by the Russian military. “These drones are mainly for humanitarian use,” he says, “They are used for observation, to see what is coming, and they help people on the ground know when to evacuate.”

But right now, there just are not enough supplies on the ground to continue the efforts. Freedman says, “These guys are targeted deep into peaceful areas and are always moving locations and cobbling together parts and hardware.” It is notable that the drone pilots are not

military, but rather civilians. Freedman describes one harrowing near fatal experience. “Illya, the leader of drone unit, was outside Kiev when a military vehicle passed him off road to avoid traffic.

The military vehicle traveled roughly 20 meters in front of his car when it hit a landmine. Front windshield smashed, airbags deployed. He’s fine but said he has ringing in his ears.”

For more information about the organization, visit www.dronesforgoodworldwide.org. •

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.

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Scenes of destruction in Ukraine witnessed by Joe Freedman when he delivered donated drones for humanitarian aid.

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

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June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

Pam Kelner Honored with Nashville Pride’s 2022 Ally Award JFS does in the area of LGBTQ adopopened up possibilities for a whole new or nearly a decade, Pam Kelner has tion.” In those earlier days, JFS was the group of people who wouldn’t normally FLGBTQ been a tireless advocate for Nashville’s only local agency that would help gay think they could adopt.” community. She served on the Board of Nashville Pride for seven years, upgrading and improving the popular kid and family zone, making it a top destination during the annual Pride Festival. This year, Pam is being honored for her ongoing efforts with the 2022 Ally Award. “This is a very awesome honor,” she says. And, while Pam’s work does not go unnoticed, those who know her agree she is a dedicated advocate whose work is focused away from herself. Mac Huffington, President of Nashville Pride, says, “This is extremely special for her, and for us. Pam is someone who doesn’t typically like being the center of attention. But she makes an impact just by being herself.”

Pam first became involved in Nashville Pride as part of her work as Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee. She was also the organization’s first Jewish board member. “I thought it was important to be on the Board because of the work

people become parents. “It was a matter of principle for me,” she says, “People shouldn’t be denied becoming a parent as long as they can qualify based on a home study.” Patty Marks is a former JFS Board Member and a Pride volunteer. She says she is very proud of Pam and all that JFS has done on behalf of LGBTQ families.

“Pam really brought to the forefront how painful it was for potential parents to have doors shut in their face. She wanted to make sure everyone knew that JFS offered the LGBTQ community a pathway to adoption. The Jewish community is lucky to have her, and the gay community is lucky to have her, too.” Through the years, JFS has twice been honored by the Human Rights Campaign for its advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ families.

In 2011, it received the Equality Award for its work on gay adoption, and in 2020, JFS became the first child welfare agency in Tennessee to be certified as an “All

Pam Kelner, pictured with the Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, will receive the 2022 Nashville Pride Ally Award on June 25th.

Children, All Families,” agency.

Pam is no longer on the Board of Nashville Pride, but she continues to staff the Kid and Family Zone at the Festival. “It’s so fun to be there and see the families we helped create through adoption year after year. I love to see the kids grow up.” Pam’s impact on Nashville Pride continues in other ways, too. Mac Huffington says, “Early on she gave a presentation about LGBTQ adoption, and it

Pam says her passion for being an advocate for the LGBTQ community stems from her Jewish values. “We are taught, ‘Do not oppress the stranger for we were strangers.’ We know what it’s like to feel marginalized,” she says, “I want to create a world of acceptance. It’s much easier to be accepting than to hate.”

Nashville Pride will be held June 25-26th. The Parade is on Saturday, and Pam will accept her award on the main stage from the Grand Marshals. This year’s Grand Marshals are: TJ Osborn, Leslie Jordan, Greg Cason, Alberta Hardison.

According to Mac Huffington, this year’s attendance is expected to be close to 100,000. The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee are organizing a community booth on behalf of all participating congregations and agencies. For more information, visit www.nashvillepride.org •

Leadership2Gether Builds Bridges Between US and Israel

By BARBARA DAB

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eadership2Gether (L2G) is a sixmonth program which is part of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Partnership2Gether (P2G) initiative designed to connect Jews around the world with counterparts in Israel. After a two-year hiatus, the L2G group of Israelis from the Hadera-Eiron Region and American Jews from communities in our US Southeast Consortium were finally able to experience an in-person retreat.

During several fun filled days in Music City, followed by a few intense days in Charleston, South Carolina, magic happens. The participants from Israel gathered with their counterparts from Nashville and other Federations to learn, explore, and build strong bonds between the two similar, but very different worlds. The local P2G Chair is Christie

At a recent gathering in Nashville, six Israelis mixed and mingled with Jewish Nashville participants, enjoying good food and lots of laughs.

Wiemers. Shimrit Orgal is Coordinator for the Hadera-Eiron Partnership, and Adam Bronstone is Director of Planning and Israel Partnerships for The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. •

48 Hours of Learning with Scholars Rabbi Tuvia and Chaya Teldon

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nternationally acclaimed speakers, authors, and writers, Rabbi Tuvia and Chaya Teldon will be visiting as Scholars-in-Residence at Chabad of Nashville for the Festival of Shavuot, June 5-6, 2022. Throughout the two days of Shavuot there will be several lectures, opportunities for learning, and informal one-on-one study sessions with Rabbi Tuvia and Chaya Teldon.

Now a Chabad Rabbi for more than 40 years, Rabbi Tuvia Teldon was compelled to take his spiritual learning to a new level after his son’s death from Cystic Fibrosis in 1991. Thus began a 28-year journey that culminated with the publication of Eight Paths of Purpose, which seeks to help others understand the variety of ways we can fulfill our purpose, and how central this is to our core being.

Currently the executive director of 34 Chabad Centers on Long Island (New York), Rabbi Teldon regularly shares insights on his weekly Cablevision Long Island talk show, The Jewish Spotlight, on social media, and through his many classes and speaking engagements. He also presented a four-part course on Chabad.org (Your Path to Purpose), which had over 3,000 students globally.

Mrs. Teldon has lectured throughout the US, in Israel, Ireland, Australia, Canada, England, Argentina and South Africa. The New York Times called her the “Erma Bombeck” of Jewish Speakers.

A typical remark upon seeing a newly constructed ritual bath: “I must say, it could be featured in better homes and mikvahs!” Her humor and warmth, mixed with the Jewish wisdom of the ages, touches all ages and populations. Rabbi Tuvia and Chaya Teldon have impacted and changed thousands of lives, for the better. They live in Commack, Long Island near their five adult children and a growing family tree of grandchildren.

On Saturday, June 4, at 7:15 PM, Mrs. Chaya Teldon will usher in the Holiday of Shavuot with a Lecture, titled, “G-d in Love” – A Romantic View on the Purpose of the Universe. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What does G-d want from us? Sometimes the most rational approach is the one that makes no sense.

At 8:30 PM there will be a Festive Holiday Dinner (by RSVP at chabadnashville.com), followed by a presentation by Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, about his book Eight Paths of Purpose, which seeks

to help others understand the variety of ways we can fulfill our purpose, and how central this is to our core being. That will be followed by late night learning, with Torah Talks in a Ted Talk format by members of the Nashville community.

On Sunday June 5, the first day of Shavuot, at 5:30 PM is the Ten Commandments Ice Cream Party & Delightful Dairy Buffet. This event will include a reenactment of the original Ten Commandments, as it is read from the Torah under a Chuppah, in the presence of the children standing on the Bimah near the Torah. This will be followed by a dairy buffet dinner, just as the Jewish people enjoyed at Mt. Sinai, celebrating their becoming a nation.

At the dairy buffet dinner, Mrs. Chaya Teldon will share her story, on what it was like when the Oprah Winfrey Show wanted to understand the Jewish home and Jewish women, and they called upon the expertise of Chaya Teldon.

On Monday evening June 6, , the second day of Shavuot, at 7:00 PM, Mrs. Teldon will present a lecture on Are G-d’s Challenges Too Difficult? –The Highly Spiritual Art of Letting Go. Is it possible to become hooked on our own negative

Rabbi Tuvia and Chaya Teldon, visiting scholars at Chabad of Nashville on Shavuot.

thoughts? Can we become addicted to people and to unhealthy relationships?

Learn the spiritual art of freeing ourselves from these attachments so we can live the life that G-d is giving us.

These lectures and programs are open to all members of the Nashville community, and are free of charge, and will take place at the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life, 95 Bellevue Road. For more information go to www.chabadnashville. com, or call 615-646-5750. •

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

5

Perspective RETIREMENT Make Yours a Success!

By LORETTA SAFF

L

et me begin by saying that I think it would be a good idea to retire the word, ‘retirement.’ But I think we know that won’t happen; the word is just too ingrained in our vocabulary. And yet, its connotation is volatile – often causing varied reactions. Consider: At the Retirement Party, the word screams excitement!

“Lucky you! You’ve earned your FREEDOM.” “Now you can travel! Where will you go?”

“Ah, no schedule, no stress. What a relief.”

Standing around the water fountain, the word can bring ridicule: “He’s over the hill.”

“She’s incapable of anything new and fresh.”

“He’s a ‘has been’ and a ‘usta be!’

Obviously, most people want the excitement and success version after leaving the workplace. No more structured schedules, stressful office interactions, and long and boring meetings. But how to best prepare for what’s ahead?

Even though there is so much more to retirement than making sure you have enough money, make sure you have enough money. So, what is the best way to handle the non-financial retirement issues so that those next 25-30 years are all that you want them to be? Let’s look at the research.

California psychologist and gerontologist Dr. Ken Dychtwald and his group of the nation’s foremost researchers on aging have found there are four emotional stages of retirement: ANTICIPATION – around 5 years before retirement LIBERATION – The Retirement Party/The Honeymoon (first 6-12 months) FRUSTRATION – aka Disappointment REORIENTATION - Finding

your purpose and determining how to get there Those first two stages sound familiar and are looking pretty good, living up to the connotation of success in retirement.

But perhaps many of you know someone whose honeymoon is over, and now that person is feeling ‘over the hill” and keeps introducing themselves as a ‘usta be.’

With a little planning, you can turn those last two stages into ‘happiness’ and ‘satisfaction’ and not waste valuable time trying to figure it all out. Here is an easy two-step process.

Step One: Ask yourself, “Who Am I Now?” This will encourage you to take a good look at your wants, needs and priorities. As you get older, priorities change.

You don’t need to make more money or focus on career building. What do you really want to do now?

Would you really like to keep your job part time? Start asking questions.

How do you feel about volunteering?

Research non-profit options in areas that attract you. And that passion (hobby) you gave up years ago? Do you still have that guitar? Thinking about what you want now brings up many interesting possibilities for you to pursue.

Step Two: Consider these four main areas that are a checklist to help determine your success in retirement. People are living longer today, so you will want to be ready to enjoy the new-found time.

• THE PHYSICAL: Get in shape to be able to travel and play chase with the grandkids. If just beginning, start slowly. Go for walks, join a gym, or exercise class. You don’t have to run a marathon but if you would like to try, go ahead!

• THE MENTAL: Work on shifting your outlook to one of optimism and enjoyment of each day. Looking at the world with a glass half full will help you be able to better handle the inevitable bumps in the road.

• THE SOCIAL: Examine your social network. Now is the time to broaden

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

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

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June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

your friends to include people outside of work. Surround yourself with people who are fun and can teach you something new or share an existing passion.

• THE SPIRITUAL: This involves finding your purpose and doing something for the greater good. How can you help someone in need? Do you have skills, knowledge, or expertise that you have gained over the years that you can share? What will make you look forward to getting out of bed in the morning?

Following these two steps well in advance of retirement will get you on the road to being ‘happy’ and ‘successful.’ I know you are busy but consider this time an investment in a non-financial IRA for your future! Get a pen and paper and jot down how you will address each of these steps. And, if you have already retired, start working on these areas today.

Rescue yourself from any frustration or disappointment you may be feeling.

Finding purpose when you no longer have a full-time job dictating your schedule can be a real challenge. Create a curious list. Think about how you can reach out beyond yourself – learn some-

thing new, join a community effort, all the time looking for something that will make your feel satisfied and fulfilled. The beauty of your activities in retirement is that if what you’ve chosen is not quite the answer, you can easily move on to something else.

Your 401K may be nice to admire but it can’t go on travel adventures with you; your work team won’t want to meet every week for lunch, and your adult children will soon realize that you can’t always babysit because you are very busy with chairing your book club and playing pickleball.

Wishing you retirement happiness today and every day, Loretta By the way, instead of getting rid of the word RETIREMENT, I suggest adding a tag line. Something like

Commentary Plant Today, Reap Tomorrow

By RABBI YITZCHOK TIECHTEL

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ddressing high-ranking officials during his inaugural speech on May 19, 2019, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “I don’t want my portraits to hang in your offices, because the president is not an icon or an idol. Hang pictures of your children there and look them in the eyes before every decision.”

Reading these wise words, I was reminded of a beautiful account shared in the Midrash: When Israel stood to receive the Torah, the Holy One said to them, “I am prepared to give you my Torah. Present to me good guarantors that you will observe and study the Torah and I shall give it to you.”

They said: “Our ancestors are our guarantors.”

The Holy One said: “Your ancestors are not sufficient guarantors. Bring Me good guarantors, and I shall give you the Torah.”

They said: “Our prophets are our guarantors.”

The Holy One said: “The prophets are not sufficient guarantors. Bring Me good guarantors and I shall give you the Torah.”

They said: “Indeed, our children will be our guarantors.”

The Holy One said: “Your children are good guarantors. For their sake I give the Torah to you.”

A friend of mine who became more Jewishly observant later in life explained that his shift towards tradition was inspired by a statement he heard which resonated deeply, “More important than how Jewish

your grandparents were is the question of how Jewish your grandchildren will be.”

Success in any area of life demands careful and strategic planning. Without a mission statement and a business plan, any enterprise will inevitably flounder and fail. This is true of civilizations, countries, businesses, careers, relationships and personal fulfillment in life.

In the words of philosopher Thomas Merton: People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.

The festival of Shavuot, celebrated this year on June 5-6, 2022, is our annual reminder that the same is true when it comes to building a Jewish family and legacy as well. Nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to the single greatest blessing in life: Nachas from our loved ones.

Inspired by G-d’s message to the Israelites 3334 years ago, if you haven’t yet done so, I invite you sit down with your significant other and draft a family plan dedicated to answering the question - and creating a plan - for just how Jewish your grandchildren will grow up to be. This is the surest way to ensure that the family tree’s we cherish so deeply will continue to grow upward and outward, blooming and blossoming into fruitful generations to come.

As you are reading this, you might be thinking to yourself, ah, this is a nice thought, and you may go on to the next article. So, stop, grab a pen and paper and start planning today for your Jewish tomorrow. Plant today, and you shall reap tomorrow. •

Newcomer’s Column Newcomer Highlight

By EITAN SNYDER, NEWCOMER ENGAGEMENT ASSOCIATE

I

n my work as the Federation’s Newcomer Engagement Associate, I meet so many Jews who are moving or want to be moving to Nashville. They come from all sorts of places for all sorts of reasons, and we bring them into Nashville’s Jewish community through our monthly Newcomer Shabbat Dinners, our quarterly Newcomer Welcome Receptions, and by connecting them with community members and organizations who can help them find what they are looking for. One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to hear these newcomers’ dynamic, engaging stories, so we are starting this new monthly feature in the Observer so you can get to know some of them and their stories too. We hope you enjoy reading these and hope you will give every newcomer you meet a smile and a warm Nashville welcome!

This month, we are featuring Gail and Ron Rivlin, and their sons, Steven and Eric. When you see them around town, go up and say “Hi,” and tell them you read about them in The Observer!

Gail and Ron: Tell us your story. Where are you from? How did you end up in Nashville?

We are both from New Jersey. Ron is in the radio business and has been coming to Nashville on a regular basis for over 30 years. He started his own business five years ago. No longer commuting into New York City, we were able to move wherever we wanted. We chose Nashville because its location is good for his business, and we enjoy seeing live music.

Our sons, Steven and Eric, graduated college in May 2018 and we encouraged them to start their careers in a less hectic environment than NYC. Thankfully, they agreed to give Nashville a shot and we moved that August. Our daughter had already established her career in NJ. We wish she would move here too!

What has your Jewish story been like up to this point? How did you get involved with Nashville’s Jewish Community?

Gail: I was born to two Jewish parents, but religion was not part of my upbringing. After we were married, we made it a point to create a Jewish home.

Becoming a mother made me determined to provide my children with a Jewish education and to have them see by example how important it is to be part of a Jewish community.

Ron: Growing up we belonged to a Conservative synagogue. I became a Bar Mitzvah and was married there. We decided to join a Reform temple when our kids were young. I thought having a female Rabbi was a great role model for my young daughter. I also enjoyed the music during services.

How did you get involved with Nashville’s Jewish Community?

Gail and Ron: We owe so much to Jennie Zagnoev and her family. Jennie was our realtor and helped us immensely in so many ways. We closed on our home the morning of erev Yom Kippur. She invited us to sit with her at The Temple for services, and her family included us to break the fast at her grandmother’s house. It was such a kind and welcoming start to our Jewish life here.

Nashville newcomers Gail and Ron Rivlin and their three children

The Temple felt very similar to our NJ temple, and we quickly became members.

How has your experience been in Nashville so far?

Gail: The first year we were here, I had friends and family visiting almost every weekend. We became very good tour guides! Our sons moved out on their own and we became empty nesters.

Then the pandemic happened, and I realized I didn’t make enough of an effort to meet friends and get involved here in Nashville. I promised myself as soon as it was possible, I would get involved.

I started volunteering and have made wonderful friends. I feel very lucky to live in Nashville!

Ron: I was fortunate that I knew a lot of people here through my work.

But those that I considered colleagues or co-workers have turned into dear friends. I also met a lot of people through the Nashville Jewish Entertainment Professionals. The group was pretty active pre-Covid. It’s been dormant for a while.

Time to bring it back! Overall, my experience has been very positive. My worklife balance has improved immensely. I love it here!

Any notable memories or experiences?

Gail: On my first trip here to look at houses, we got backstage passes for the Grand Ole Opry. We got to see all the dressing rooms and watch the artists get ready for the show. We ended up sitting on the stage during the show.

Ron: Being on Broadway for the 2019 NFL Draft was a real highlight for me. It was jammed with 600,000 people but it was so much fun!

What do you love about being Jewish?

Gail: I love that Judaism allows you to question. I love that there are many ways to worship, to feel engaged, to carry on traditions, all through the Jewish lens that feels right for you. I love the connection I feel around other Jews, even if we practice our Judaism differently.

Ron: I love that we are one of the oldest nations in the world. I love that we are part of an eternal chain that includes great people like Abraham, Moses, Esther, Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel,

Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mel Brooks and so many others. Men and woman who have made so many contributions to the betterment of our world.

What do you love about being Jewish in Nashville?

Gail: The Jewish community in Nashville is very close-knit. Volunteering at the JCC each week with TGIT has been a highlight of my time here. I have met so many special people. The Jewish Federation and The Temple have so many opportunities to connect with the community.

Ron: I was told that although the Jewish community is much smaller than where I came from, it’s an active and vibrant community. And it’s absolutely true! I make it a point to take advantage of as many of the wonderful Federation and temple events as I can.

What does the next year look like for you?

Gail: I plan to continue volunteering at the JCC, and with the Jewish Newcomers. My dog, Danny, has recently passed his therapy dog test and we have started to visit nearby assisted living and memory care facilities through the organization, Love on a Leash. I hope to do that even more, as our visits bring so much happiness to the residents, Danny, and myself.

Ron: Work-wise, I expect my business to continue to grow. Now that things have opened up, we want to explore more of Tennessee. We haven’t been to Chattanooga, Knoxville, or Gatlinburg yet. Its’s a big state and we want to experience more of it.

Is there anything that you are still looking to do or experience in Nashville?

Gail: I’m always interested in discovering new bands and fun venues to see live music. I hope to get more familiar

with all the different neighborhoods in Nashville. One thing I’m not looking to do is pump my own gas! NJ is the only state that has gas attendants and I have never done it!

Ron: I’d like to go to a Preds game or Nashville Soccer Club game. And there are so many great restaurants to try.

We’re keeping a list.

Eric Rivlin: How has your experience been in Nashville so far? Any notable memories or experiences?

One of the most uniquely “Nashville” experiences I had was last year, just when the pandemic was dying down. My parents, who are massive Bruce Springsteen fans, took me to a Bruce cover band concert. I have to admit, I was getting a bit tired by the time the concert was winding down. But then, who should arrive on stage, surprise guest star and Nashville sweetheart, Charles Esten. I just about lost my mind. Stuff like that can only happen here.

What do you love about being Jewish in Nashville?

In my experience, Jewish people tend to be very nice and open. I know it’s a bit of a stereotype that people from the south are extremely friendly, but so far that seems to be true! So as you can imagine, being a Jew in the south means I’m often surrounded by a bunch of incredibly warm and kind people.

What do you love about being Jewish?

I feel like being Jewish, particularly Reform, has given me a lot of freedom.

My rabbi has always encouraged us to question things, and to allow us to interpret our faith in our own way.

Steve Rivlin: What has your Jewish story been like up to this point? How did you get involved with Nashville’s Jewish Community?

Growing up in New Jersey 90% of my friends were Jewish. I made it a point to meet Jewish friends in Nashville. I quickly got in touch with Jacob Kupin and got involved in NowGen and have been going to events to meet other Jewish professionals my age.

What do you love about being Jewish?

I love the tradition, the culture and the history. We are resilient people that have gone through unspeakable prejudice and distain towards us. Besides all that, we always seem to rise above and become stronger. I also love Israel, that fact they we have a homeland has great meaning. I hope to go back one day.

What do you love about being Jewish in Nashville?

I feel as though I am in a position to educate. Among my friends, I am the only Jewish person they have ever known, so I take pride in teaching them about our culture. It is also important to break down stereotypes and highlight the lies and biases that surround our culture and antisemites around the world. •

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The Jewish Observer • June 2022

7

Gordon JCC’s Dara Freiberg Says Goodbye

By RACHEL CLARK

T

he Gordon JCC is saying good-bye to Dara Freiberg, its Membership and Development Director for the past 7 years, as she leaves the J to spend more time with her family. “Dara is loved by our members and staff alike, and she will be missed by so many of us. I personally have loved working with her and I’m so happy that she will continue to be involved at the JCC,” remarked Leslie Sax, Executive Director.

Under Dara’s tenure, the Gordon JCC established its Annual Fund, to supplement the annual fundraiser, Big Night Out, which raises over $100,000 each year to support the JCC’s activities. In addition, Dara was instrumental in helping the JCC surpass its Capital Campaign goal of $6.5 million, which has given us

Gordon JCC Membership and Development Director, Dara Freiberg to step down, spend time with her family

so many renovations and upgrades. And, of course, we can’t forget seven Big Night Outs, including one Big Night “In” in 2021, that brought Second City, a hypnotist, a comedian, the Roaring 20’s, and the Olympics to the Gordon JCC. But these good-byes are not for long! Dara will be rejoining the Gordon JCC Board as Vice-President, filling a space left vacant after Sara Melamed moved to Denver. “While these circumstances weren’t planned, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Dara to this new leadership role. Her commitment to the JCC is unwavering and we are excited to have her on our Board as an Officer,” said Cindee Gold, President of the Gordon JCC Board.

Dara will be officially installed at the 119th Gordon JCC Annual Meeting on

Sunday, June 12th at 10:30 AM along with her fellow Officers: President Cindee Gold President-Elect Jeremy Brook Treasurer Scott Newman Secretary Evan Nahmias Joel Abramson, Greg Averbuch, Rose Lundberg and Jackie Zigelsky have been nominated for first three-year terms.

Aura Rosenblatt has been nominated to compete the final year of a three-year term and Alan Perlman has been nominated for a second term.

In addition to the Board elections and installations, the Kehillah Award will be presented to a deserving Jewish high school Senior.

The Annual Meeting is open to the public and will be followed by a light brunch. •

102 Year-Old Ben Ferencz speaks to a sellout crowd

O

ver 500 people gathered in person and on zoom to hear Benjamin Ferencz, the last living Nuremberg trial prosecutor, speak about his experiences during World War II and in the following months of prosecution of Nazi war criminals. This special event was produced and presented by Chabad of Nashville.

102-year-old Ferencz shared about his life growing up in New York City after he and his family immigrated to the United States from what is now Romania. Ferencz graduated from Harvard University’s Law School in 1943 before joining the U.S. Army in 1944 where he served in the most important battles of the European theater including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. In 1945 Ferencz took on what would be the beginning of his most important professional role, investigating war crimes as allied troops liberated numerous Nazi concentration camps that were scattered throughout Europe. Ferencz saw firsthand the atrocities of the Nazi’s systematic killing infrastructure that aimed to murder all of Europe’s Jewish population, along with other people considered by the Nazi government to be “undesirables,” in the Holocaust.

Ferencz described the traumatic scenes that he witnessed and detailed how he sought to preserve evidence inside and outside of the concentration camps, much of which were documents produced and kept by the Nazis that detailed their atrocities. “I probably didn’t realize it at the time, but the traumatic effect of what I had seen, the crematoriums still going, the

102-year-old Ben Ferencz pictured on the screen at Congregation Micah.

bodies burning, the inmates, some of them trying to fight back and being killed,” Ferencz said, “the horrors of the German plan and how it was being carried out successfully according to their side. That, of course, has remained with me.”

Ferencz continued his investigations after the end of the war, collecting more documents that would later serve as the central evidence that led to the conviction of all 22 defendants for the murder of more than 1 million people in the phase of the trials that Ferencz prosecuted. Thirteen of those 22 defendants were sentenced and put to death, the conclusion to the first case that Ferencz

Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel speaks with Holocaust survivor Anda Rosen and her son, Yoseph

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June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

ever prosecuted, which has since been known as the largest murder trial in world history. “People say, ‘Weren’t you nervous?’ No, because I didn’t kill anybody,” Ferencz said. “They were nervous, they’re the ones who did the killing and they knew that I knew it and that I could prove it. That’s where my story begins, not where it ends.” Ferencz received thunderous applause by the audience when he said, “Regarding the evidence of the Holocaust happening, nobody in my presence will tell me it didn’t happen.”

Following Ferencz’s work in the Nuremberg trials, he has spent the remainder of his life advocating for inter-

national peace, and for what he has argued is a key component of peace, an International Criminal Court which was formally established in 2002.

Following Benjamin Ferencz, Holocaust survivor and author Anda Rosen shared her story of survival, with a message to the younger generation of the power of the individual to choose life and see the blessings and silver lining bestowed upon us today, despite the challenges we face. “As the number of Holocaust survivors rapidly declines, it’s increasingly urgent for us to honor survivors’ stories, elevate their voices and heed their advice,” said Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, Executive Director of Chabad of Nashville. “It’s imperative to educate the younger generation, as there will come a day when there are no living survivors left to share first-hand accounts of these atrocities. The importance of this endeavor extends beyond communities of faith, as we all have a responsibility to educate ourselves to create a more peaceful world.”

Participants came from Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis across Middle Tennessee. A class of students from Baylor High School who were studying about the Holocaust came as a class trip with their school chaplain, and their only Jewish teacher, to meet a Holocaust survivor in person. This special event is part of an annual Chabad of Nashville’s annual Holocaust Lecture series, that has previously featured Holocaust survivors and has sought to educate younger, non-Jewish residents about combating antisemitism, and being a light in a dark world. •

Students from Baylor High School in Chattanooga attend the event as part of their Holocaust studies.

Beit Miriam@ West End Synagogue Honors Students & Teachers

A

t the Year End Closing Ceremony on Sunday, May 1st West End Synagogue’s Beit Miriam students, Sammy James Sparks and Iara Kullock were presented with the 2022 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew.

2022 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award Winner

((l to r) Iara Kullock, Frank Ghertner, and Sam Sparks. Frank presented the 2022 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award to Iara and Sam at the closing ceremony of Beit Miriam.

Samuel James Sparks, son of Jason and Abby Sparks and Iara Kullock, daughter of Rabbi Joshua and Jessica Kullock were chosen as the 2022 recipients of the prestigious Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew, now in its 77th year. Frank Ghertner, grandson of Simon Ghertner and son of Alven Ghernter, zichronam L’vracha, presented the awards in person this year! The Ghertner Award is a distinct award presented to the outstanding 7th grader each year and recognizes the importance of Hebrew reading proficiency for every generation of Jewish students. Among Jewish teens nations wide, few excel in Hebrew to the extent that our students do. We are so fortunate to have young people in our school and congregation who have ability and who work hard to excel in Hebrew language reading, including Torah, Haftarah and leading services for us.

Sharon Paz, Director of Lifelong Learning and Cantor Sarah Levine shared their observations of both Sammy and Iara. Cantor Sarah shared, “Sammy has been a wonderful leader among his peers at Beit Miriam. He mastered Torah and Haftarah trope with ease. He led Kabbalat Shabbat Maariv, Shacharit, the Torah Service and Musaf for his Bar Mitzvah. He came to several Thursday morning minyanim to feel comfortable with the daily minyan/Shacharit service where he laid T’fillin and wore a Tallit for the first time. Between lessons on zoom and in person, there was rarely a time he was unprepared. Sammy took on a Torah reading for the first day of Pesach this year and learned it basically on his own, with little help from me and without the use of any recordings.”

Paz added, “Sammy is eager to co-teach the T’filah class and is so supportive of his classmates. He has been a strong student in his Hebrew language class at Beit Miriam as well. Sammy strives for excellence, and has a positive attitude, is respectful of his peers and his teachers and enjoys learning. We are so proud

of the Hebrew language and davening skills he has mastered. About Iara, Cantor Sarah noted, “Iara is super comfortable on the bima, and makes davening and leading davening look easy. She flew through learning Shacharit and Friday night Ma’ariv. She also took on a Torah reading for the Thursday morning minyan of her Bat Mitzvah weekend.” Morah Paz shared, “Iara’s Hebrew language skills were honed at Akiva.

She could be found at the Synagogue every Shabbat, but a year before her Bat Mitzvah she was fully “present” and sat through the whole Shabbat morning service so she could learn. Iara is a wonderful davener and Shabbat service leader. She has led Kabbalat Shabbat and maariv services several times since becoming Bat Mitzvah earlier in the year. When we held junior congregation in person before Covid, she was already helping lead parts of the Shabbat morning service. We are so proud of both these students” This award places emphasis on the effort and skills mastered in preparation for becoming B’nai Mitzvah. The award comes with a gift from the Ghertner Family and the honor of chanting the Haftarah on Rosh HaShanah.

Many thanks to Frank Ghertner and Dorothy Ghertner Miller who oversee this award on an annual basis.

The Closing Ceremony included a video of the year’s programs—and the return to in person learning.

2022 Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Award Winner

West End Synagogue’s Beit Miriam’s high school senior, Sydney Emeson was recognized for her work this year as the outstanding Beit Miriam Religious School teacher’s aide.

Sydney Emeson, daughter of Martha and Ron Emeson was honored with the 2022 Anna Isenstein Teacher Aide Appreciation Award.

Joel Isenstein noted that the Anna Isenstein Award directs cash toward a college-bound teacher’s aide to assist in continuing their education. Isenstein shared the purpose of this fund with students, teachers, and parents, “We created this fund in memory of our daughter Anna Michelle Isenstein in 2003. During Anna’s short life, we learned that sometimes the most help for a child comes directly from another child. Our goal, by setting up this fund, was to encourage our students to guide younger students as teachers’ aides after completing their formal religious school education at West End Synagogue.”

The aides in the religious school classroom serve many roles. Not only does the aide assist the teacher in a variety of tasks, the aides (madrichim) also serve as role models in the classroom.

When creating this Award, we wanted to recognize a unique aide who exhibits the attributes the teachers need the most and models the behavior parents respect the most: dependability, attentiveness, friendliness, and initiative.

The award has grown steadily since its inception to $1000.00. We want to thank the people who have contributed to this fund.

This year’s recipient is to be commended for many things, work ethic, initiative, flexibility. But in addition to all that, we learned that this aide missed only one Sunday the entire year. In a year filled with college tours (Covid helped a little on this end), college prep,

difficult classes and social events, we are particularly impressed and appreciative of this aide’s dedication to our school.

This aide exemplifies everything we hoped for when we created this award.

Sharon Paz, Director of Lifelong Learning shared comments from the teachers who worked with Sydney. “She came early every Sunday morning and was the first teacher in the class to greet the three-year-old students when they arrived. Sydney helped with carpool both at drop off and during pick up on Sunday mornings. The little kids went right with her; we could count on her to take them to class and/or to be with them in the classroom as they arrived.

There were 12 three-year-olds this year. Sydney was the one consistent teacher. The lead teacher had to be out several times during the year and being able to count on Sydney’s consistency and maturity with such a large, young class made it possible. She helped students with tasks in the classroom; gave them independence and was always positive, cheerful, and kind. The children loved to take turns sitting in her lap during music and Hebrew time…the perfect teacher aide.

Sydney took direction well and never seemed to mind doing anything that was needed. We will all miss her next year. Sydney Emeson is graduating from USN and will be going to the Hartford University Hartt School, BFA Dance.

We salute all our 2022 high school teacher aides/teachers: Ethan Bengelsdorf, Sydney Emeson, Abby Landa and Leo Wiston.

Many thanks to Joel Isenstein and Linda Nathenson for creating this special recognition award and opportunity for our Teacher Aides.

Mazal Tov to the WES Class of 2022 Graduating High School Seniors Dustin Averbuch Son of Sam and Jessica Averbuch Graduating Hume Fogg Attending NYU ‘s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music Counselor at Ramah Darom this summer Abby Cohen Daughter of Jon and Renee Cohen Graduating Franklin High School Attending Indiana University Sydney Emeson Daughter of Ron and Martha Emeson Graduating USN Attending University of Hartford, The Hartt School, BFA Dance-planning a music history minor!

Jonah Hoffman Son of Elisha Hoffman and Nicole Hoffman Graduating from Nolensville High School Attending MTSU Abby Landa Daughter of adam and Valerie Landa Graduating Franklin High School Attending George Washington University, Washington DC Counselor at Ramah Darom this summer Jaden Levin Son of Daniel and Kristine Levin Graduating Franklin High School Attending University of Tennessee to study Chemical Engineering, Knoxville, TN Maia Prichard Daughter of Jonathan and Deena Prichard Graduating Brentwood High School Attending Ogelthorpe University

Mazal Tov to WES/Beit Miriam College Graduates 2022 Talia Barton Daughter of Kirk Barton and Nancy Lipsitz Graduating from New York University (NYU) Isaac Eskind Son of Billy Eskind and Amy Eskind Graduating from the University of Wisconsin Boaz Kelner Son of Shaul and Pam Kelner Graduating from Indiana University (IU) Marin Kirshner Daughter of Mike Kirshner and Bari Bettan Graduating from Indiana University (IU) Sydney Lewis Daughter of David and Jenny Lewis Graduating with a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania Zoe Lewis Daughter of David and Jenny Lewis Graduating from Elon University Elliot Tishler Son of Michelle and Steven Tishler Graduating from Miami University of Ohio Joseph Weil Son of Howie and Karen Weil Graduating University of Maryland •

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The Jewish Observer • June 2022

9

JMS Spends Spring Break in New Orleans

By ELLY EBIN

S

aturated with history, iconic musicians, and sweet beignets, New Orleans welcomes millions of tourists to their vibrant city every year. This spring,15 Jewish Middle School students can be counted amongst those lucky enough to visit the “Big Easy.” Eighth grade JMS students spent three days learning, exploring, and giving back to the New Orleans community. Students visited the National World War II Museum and Burnell’s Lower 9th Ward Market, and experienced the French Quarter, local French markets, and Mardi Gras World.

Co-Head of School Rabbi Daniel Hoffman reflected that, “As our students’ time at JMS comes to a close, New Orleans, a city so rich in both history and culture, was the perfect place to strengthen and solidify JMS values of community,

JMS students at Burnell’s Lower 9th Ward Market

learning, and integrity.” Rabbi Hoffman added, “The trip was an extremely positive experience for students and helped deepen relationships and foster a greater appreciation for one another and the greater JMS community.”

While on the trip, students had the opportunity to visit Burnell’s Lower 9th Ward Market, bringing food donations and helping to stock shelves. Army vet-

eran Burnell Cotlon opened his market after realizing that, for a full decade following the 9th Ward’s decimation by Hurricane Katrina, residents still had to take three buses just to get to the closest grocery store. Burnell’s provides essential items to all who live in the poverty-stricken neighborhood, whether they can pay or not. Students had the chance to meet Burnell, hear first-hand about the work he does in the community, and help in the market. Drew Lane, an eighth grader on the trip, was moved by Burnell’s mission and said, “It was meaningful to help out, even just a little bit, and hearing what Mr. Burnell had to say was really inspiring.” Lane added that her time at Burnell’s encourages her to find a way to give back to her own community in Nashville.

Students also spent time at the National World War II Museum, housed in New Orleans because it is the home

of the “Higgins Boat,” the vessel that brought American soldiers to shore in every major amphibious assault of World War II. Rabbi Hoffman said, “The museum was incredibly powerful. A lot of students didn’t realize the magnitude of World War II and the impact it had globally.” Students left the museum with a deeper understanding of the American experience during WWII, why it was fought, how it was won, and the impact it still has on the world today.

Over three days, JMS students immersed themselves in the rich history, culture, and character of New Orleans.

They came back inspired and eager to share about their experience. The trip gave students first-hand experience and relevance to their learning and interrelationships, and most importantly, it advanced and energized JMS students’ mission to become increasingly and positively engaged in their communities. •

From Ethiopia to Israel: Sharon Shalom Inspires Akiva Students

By ELLY EBIN

R

abbi Dr. Sharon Shalom first learned about Israel as a young child living in a small Ethiopian village. At the age of eight, Rabbi Dr. Shalom and his family set forth on a difficult and dangerous exodus from Ethiopia, making it to a refugee camp in Sudan. Rescued by Mossad agents during the covert Operation Moses, Rabbi Dr. Shalom was sent to Israel, apart from his family. He grew up in an orphanage in Afula, where he was even-

tually reunited with his family, whom he believed to have died in Sudan. This is the story Rabbi Dr. Shalom shared with Akiva students during his recent visit to Nashville. Rabbi Dr. Shalom, now a professor at Bar-Ilan University, and the leader of a community in Kiryat Gat, shared the account of his arduous journey, his experiences as an Ethiopian Jew in Israel, and his mission to unify Jewry worldwide.

When asked why he shares his story all over the world, Rabbi Dr. Shalom

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Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom (Wikimedia Commons)

Rabbi Dr. Shalom with Akiva students

clarified that he does not believe his experience is his story, “but rather a collective memory of the Jewish people.”

Rabbi Dr. Shalom explained, “In Judaism there is a distinction between history and zikaron/memory. We must keep this in our collective memory because it’s something all of us can identify with in our own way.”

For Rabbi Dr. Shalom, his experience is the experience of all Jewish people, in our past, present, and future.

He explained to students that “we have survived, as a people, because of our solidarity. Without focusing on what’s on the outside, and recognizing what’s on the inside, we have been able to survive in spite of everyone and everything that has sought to destroy us.” Fourth grader, Meital Kullock, was deeply affected by Rabbi Dr. Shalom’s message, remarking, “I was intrigued because he spoke about lots of things including loss, gain, worry, and learning.” Meital appreciated Rabbi Dr. Shalom’s exhortation that we can

never give up, adding that, “In the end, I was left in awe and I hope to never forget when he said ‘Go, go, and never stop going forward.’”

Akiva’s resident shlichim, Batya and Nechemya Rosenfeld, were instrumental in bringing Rabbi Dr. Shalom to Nashville. Batya Rosenfeld believed that, “For a school as diverse and welcoming as Akiva, it is important for students to understand the depth of diversity in the global Jewish community, and within Israel.” Nechemya Rosenfeld added that, “Rabbi Dr. Shalom presented a totally different life experience than students had ever heard. His unique perspective, and the immense gratitude he has for the State of Israel, was truly inspiring for students.”

To learn more about the incredible Jewish-Ethiopian experience and Operation Moses, check out Netflix’s Red Sea Diving Resort, in which Rabbi Dr. Shalom advised filmmakers on the events of the rescue, or read Rabbi Dr. Shalom’s book From Sinai to Ethiopia. •

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Please Join Us at the JEWISH FEDERATION & JEWISH FOUNDATION OF NASHVILLE AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE

86TH ANNUAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022

7:00PM @ CONGREGATION MICAH 2001 Old Hickory Blvd, Brentwood, TN 37027

HONORING ANNA STERN with the 2022 Sandy Averbuch Young Leadership Award Dessert Reception to Follow Slate of Officers: Leslie Kirby, President | Aron Karabel, Vice President Gary Fradkin, Treasurer | Jacob Kleinrock, Secretary

New Board Members Mary Cornelius | Anna Stern

Re-nominated Board members: ng

You ch u b r t Ave ipien dy c n re Sa rd 022 Awa 2 , n p ter shi a S ader n Le An

Amy Goldstein | Batia Karabel | Jacob Kupin Hayley Levy | Lana Pargh | Dan Weisman | Christie Wiemers Submitted by the 2022 Federation Nominating Committee: Steve Hirsch (Chair), Greg Averbuch, Alex Brown, Jacob Kupin, Ben Papa, and Cara Suvall

RSVP: jewishnashville.org/annualmeeting2022

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The Jewish Observer • June 2022

11

Steven Hirsch Reflections Continued from page 1 of these folks are in limbo for as long as the war lasts, which also raises the burden on the Poles who are hosting the refugees.

• The experience for the Ukrainians has been traumatic and life-altering.

Being treated with respect and compassion is an essential element of immediate aid. To the extent possible, this is happening. There are no refugee camps in Warsaw or Krakow, unlike some of the other European countries, refugees are being housed in hotels and in private homes.

• The Polish people, government, and NGOs have gone above and beyond in their efforts and deserve our respect and praise. To date, Poland has received 1.5 million refugees from the Ukraine. We heard many stories of how private citizens have opened their homes to refugees and how restaurants often provide meals at no charge.

• Two organizations that our Federation supports have been invaluable in dealing with this humanitarian crisis: o The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) anticipated the need and reserved hundreds of hotel rooms in advance of the war and was prepared for the rush of people seeking to make aliyah. Their staff evacuated their Kyiv offices and set up a functioning operations center in Warsaw immediately. They have processed hundreds of refugee applications and take care of people as they await transportation to Israel. o The American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) moved staff from other Eastern European locations to provide refugee support for those looking to relocate within Europe or who aspire to return to the Ukraine after the war is over. The care they provide is complete, from lodging to meals to social services and counseling.

If these two organizations did not exist, it would have been impossible to organize quickly enough to deal with the volume of refugees as well as they have done.

• The Nashville Jewish community responded with its usual generosity to the call for action. By the time our delegation left, nearly $100K in Ukraine designated gifts had been received and we are hopeful that the reporting that we have done will inspire additional gifts.

• Small miracles happen through the efforts of extraordinary people o Schmuel is the director of the Jewish Agency in the Ukraine who was forced to evacuate the agency office in Kyiv. Without missing a beat, he moved his staff from Kyiv and called on staffers from Budapest and other former FSU countries to set up JAFI operations for Poland in Warsaw. o Ohksana is Schmuel’s wife and not a JAFI employee, but she has jumped in as a volunteer to organize a clothing store from donated items to help people who have left the

country with little or no clothing. o Hannah is a JDC staff member who was on holiday with her husband and 10-month-old child when the war broke out. Unable to return home, she is now working with the Warsaw JDC operation to help organize housing and feeding hundreds of refugee families. o Katja is a JAFI staffer who was at a conference outside of Ukraine when the war started. She is not able to return to her home in Odessa where her husband and parents are still residing. Katja has worked tirelessly to help other refugees through the process of applying for aliyah to Israel. o Natalia is a Ukrainian who was evacuated to Krakow early in the war. She spends her days as a vol-

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

12 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

unteer at the JCC in Krakow as part of the crew working the store where refugee families come every day to get food for the next day.

What these people have in common is that they are all refugees themselves, being forced to leave their homes and in some cases their family members behind with no idea about when they might be able to return. Despite this, they choose to work long days on behalf of their fellow Ukrainians to help make their lives more bearable under very challenging conditions. They are demonstrating the same type of determination and bravery that their countrymen in the army show every day in confronting the Russian army.

• Jonathan Ornstein, Director of the Krakow JCC is a miracle worker in his own right. His efforts in community building in Krakow over the past 10 years has been nothing short of amazing. He has made the JCC the center of Jewish life in Krakow through his personal charisma and his ability to fund raise with an extensive North American donor network.

His decision to make the JCC a part of refugee relief has resulted in his organization taking care of housing, feeding, and providing social services to 250 refugee families. His organization is currently spending more than $20K per day on housing and food for these families. Ornstein points to the history of the Holocaust when no countries heard the cries of the Jewish people in their time of need. He says that we must respond to the needs of his Ukrainian neighbors in their time of need.

Perhaps other people from our community will choose to make a trip to Poland to volunteer their time for refugee relief. For any future trips, I would share the following lessons learned: • For any supplies brought from the US, smaller is better. I made the mistake of buying Costco-sized bottles of over-

the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen.These could not be distributed in the store. (They are going to be sent to a local pharmacy for breakdown and distribution). Small sized bottles/packets are better as they can go directly to people.

• Likewise large bottles of shampoo, body wash, etc., do not work as they need to be broken down into smaller portions. One of the shampoo bottles burst in-transit and made a mess of everything in that bag. Hotel sized amenities work much better.

• The best thing to bring and the easiest to pack is, of course, cash. The grocery shelves in Krakow are well stocked and the US dollar goes a long way in Poland.

• For those considering making the trip to volunteer, make sure that you have a local contact and a volunteer job that can add value. Anything working directly with Ukrainian refugees would require the ability to speak either Ukrainian or Russian.

Volunteers with these language skills are in great demand.

The experience of this trip has reinforced for me the importance of our Jewish Federation. Every year, we raise money in our Annual Campaign to support local agencies and overseas partners including JAFI and the JDC. The Federation shines the brightest in times of crisis because of the structures in place that allow rapid response at times like this. Like many of you, I am making a designated gift to support Ukraine relief in addition to the pledge to the campaign that I have already made.

I am grateful for the sponsorship of this trip by the Federation and for the work by Leslie Kirby and Deborah Oleshansky to pull the details together in such a short period of time. To my fellow travelers Jacob Kleinrock, Fred Zimmerman and Rabbi Kullock, it was my pleasure to be a part of the team. •

Deborah Oleshansky Reflections Continued from page 1 in the faces of the Ukrainians standing strong and proud in defense of their democracy and way of life in the face of Russian aggression designed to force Ukraine to give up on their quest for a free and fair elections. As I prepared for the trip, my Ukrainian inspired nail polish was uniformly welcomed positively by everyone I encountered, even the sales woman at Michael’s when I went looking for origami paper to bring with us for the children to make butterflies without needed scissors, glue, or markers. She was so upset that she did not have that paper in stock, she went out of her way to give me other options and ideas to share and even wanted to give me money to take to help the refugees.

We arrived first in Warsaw and after gathering all of our donation bags, we loaded the van to head to a meeting with American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) representatives at an ordinary looking hotel, literally around the corner from our own hotel. Remarkably, we quickly learned that these JDC staff were refugees themselves, having been displaced from their offices in Kiev to create a satellite operation on this Warsaw hotel. Even before the crisis began officially, JDC staff wisely began the effort to secure hotel rooms to house Jewish refugees fleeing Kiev and other cities in Ukraine. This was only possible because of the ongoing work that JDC has been doing for decades in the former Soviet Union that they could see the writing on the wall and the emergency needs that would be necessary.

In addition to JDC effort, we met with Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) staff working to help refugee families wanting to make Aliyah to Israel. The Israeli officials who, prior to this crisis did not have a presence in Warsaw, set up procedures and protocols to process these applications for Aliyah as quickly as possible, moving from an average of 20 application a day to 200 applications a day. The exhaustion on the faces of the staff was outmatched only by the determination and resolve to do as much as possible as quickly as possible. We met one family who had survived weeks without food or necessary medical attention. They were eventually rescued by JDC staff members who found them and brought them to Warsaw. When we met them, they were in the process of applying for Aliyah to join family in Israel.

After Warsaw, and observing the work of JDC and JAFI, we traveled to Krakow to witness and assist with relief efforts being delivered at the JCC Krakow. In addition to the donated items, the Jewish Federation Board approved $20,000 towards the direct service provided at the Krakow JCC or all refugees. In our planning calls before the trip, these staff members prepared us to be surprised that while Krakow, a city of about 800,000 people had committed to accepting over 100,000 refugees, we would not see anyone living on the street or even in tents.

All the refugees, primarily women and children, are being housed and cared for by a combination of efforts by groups like the JCC, private citizens, and Krakow government officials. It’s amazing what can be accomplished to help people when helping others becomes the focus instead of political grandstanding.

When we arrived at the JCC to meet with director, Jonathan Ornstein and his staff, we passed the long winding line of refugees making their way to the

makeshift store created inside the JCC. This store, filled with essential food and supplies, allows refugees the dignity to “shop” for items they choose rather than having to take what they are given. The store is open from 10-6pm, seven days a week. The line begins early in the morning and continues throughout the day while the store is open. Even more remarkably, the store is staffed by other Ukrainian refugees wanting to be as useful and helpful as possible in their uncertain and difficult circumstance. Each one has their own harrowing story of how they managed to escape the mayhem and destruction happening in Ukraine to find safety in Poland. Again, their pain and exhaustion lie just below the surface, but their strength and resolve to return home to a free Ukraine gives them the fortitude to persevere.

In our interactions with these families, we heard painful echoes of conversations with friends here in the US who have family in both Ukraine and Russia.

Some of these people have stopped engaging with Russian relatives because they refuse to believe the stories they are hearing. The people we met in Poland had fled Russian troops wreaking violent destruction on civilian spaces, homes, schools, and hospitals. When they speak to their family in Russia, they refuse to believe these stories, and can only parrot the Russian propaganda, in which it is illegal to even use the phrase, “Russian invasion.”

It was strange enough for those in the US to have these competing narratives between Ukrainian and Russian family and friends, but it was unimaginable to hear this from the refugees themselves who had personally witnessed and survived the Russian assaults.

Something about the situation in Ukraine has touched a very deep cord for many. Perhaps it is the images of primarily women and children running for their lives, perhaps it is the images of the vicious war crimes being perpetrated by the Russian army, perhaps it is the effectiveness of President Zelenskyy and his colleagues to present a clear message of courage, determination and resolve to protect their homes, their way of life and their democracy.

Since returning home from our trip, people are universally interested in hearing about it and even more, to know how they can help. First and foremost, we

need to remain focused on the situation and send monetary donations to groups serving refugees. The Jewish Federation’s Ukraine donations go solely to direct services for refugees though partners like the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Krakow Jewish Community Center. We must also encourage our elected officials to continue to provide military and humanitarian assistance on the ground in Ukraine, and to support the Ukrainian people and army in defending their country against the Russian aggression.

Finally, we must do all we can to protect our own United States democracy and democratic ideals of government by and for the people designed to serve the people, not partisan politicians. The people of Ukraine are suffering not only from the ravages of war, but also from propaganda spread by Putin and his cronies which keeps their family members in Russia from understanding and supporting them, instead denying the reality of the violent aggression.

We must put people over politics, and we must protect ourselves from the damaging propaganda designed to keep us attacking each other and which does not serve the actual problems that people face. We must take our obligation as concerned and informed citizens more seriously to protect our democracy which in turn will continue to support the front lines in Ukraine.

During out trip, we toured AuschwitzBirkenau death camp, a short drive from the center of Krakow where we worked.

It is chilling to remember that Hitler was elected by promoting propaganda

targeting the most primal fears and most base human instincts. He quickly moved to censor the free press, to enact laws to dehumanize Jews and other groups deemed unworthy of the German Aryan ideal, and to change the system to allow him to be in power beyond his term.

Propaganda based on hate and fear about the Jews and others fed the narrative necessary to enact the Final Solution, which came dangerously close to bringing a full end to Jewish life in Europe.

To support the on the ground, do-ordie efforts of Ukraine leaders and military to protect the free world from Putin’s propaganda filled violence, we must take our responsibility for our democracy far more seriously and deliberately. We must devote ourselves to taking the time and effort to dig beneath the deliberately misleading propaganda promoted on social media, and more frighteningly, by some elected officials. We must demand our elected leaders do everything possible to protect our democratic ideals of free and fair elections, strengthening our access to voting rights and engagement, and follow the rule of law in holding those seeking to damage our elections systems and sow fear and distrust in our system accountable for those actions.

It is our responsibility to educate ourselves and push back against partisan efforts to distract and distort our democratic system. If the Ukrainian people can maintain the courage and resolve to stand up for freedom and democracy while under shelling, bombing and military attack, certainly we can muster the courage to fight for our democracy here at home. •

Fred Zimmerman Reflections Continued from page 1 ing to bombs and rockets, before she was able to board a JDC-chartered bus for the Polish border.

I’ve been to Ukraine several times and have been involved with refugee relief efforts over the years. But the magnitude and scope this time were sobering and made some things crystal clear. Above all is our capability and commitment as a Jewish community.

I have never been so proud to be part of our Federation system and our overseas partners, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint

Distribution Committee. We should all be inspired by what we have built over the decades.

That said, it’s also clear that the task ahead of us is momentous and will take every resource we can muster. In the face of a refugee crisis not seen in Europe in over three generations, the Federation and its partners are saving lives daily. Our Jewish community has always led by example, and I’m confident that we will do more–and give more–than we thought possible and keep that life-saving work going through the difficult months ahead. •

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

13

Camp Davis is BACK!

By ANDREW FISHMAN, DIRECTOR OF CAMP DAVIS AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES

W

e know that so many of you are looking forward to Camp Davis this summer. And we are days away from the best summer ever. Camp begins on June 6, and we have a summer packed with fun and amazing upgrades to our already incredible camp experience. There will be a parent orientation on June 1 at 5pm for anyone who is interested in attending and learning more about their camper’s experience at Camp.

In our extensive planning, the focus has been on enhancing quality, increasing communication, and making all the needed plans for camp to run smoothly.

We have revamped specialty camps by adding outside professionals in certain areas to run them, and rebranded Brain Builders to STEM Camp. New positions have been created and staffed to help facilitate better communications. More unit heads have been added and the addition of a Program Director and Parent Engagement Specialist will round out our incredible leadership team. A more efficient pickup and drop off system in a new location is sure to streamline these processes, and we’ve added a new special event almost every week to bring our campers more fun!

Assistant Director Max O’Dell and myself are excited to share our vision for

Two-Course Lunch & Learn

Join us for an informative luncheon exploring senior living options.

Many seniors and families concerned about their aging loved ones have sidelined the discussion for more than 24 months. Come enjoy your choice of a grilled chicken salad or wrap and a smart senior living “catch-up.”

COURSE ONE:

DOWNSIZING JUMP START

Tuesday June 14th 11 a.m.

Camp Davis with our beloved families.

First and foremost, we want to present our new logo, shown above, that will reflect the new era of Camp Davis. We also want to introduce our Leadership team.

Inclusion Director Abby “AP” Pierron is returning and excited to help make camp accessible to all our campers.

Three other staff members are returning to camp but joining the leadership team for the first time: Sami Weinberg, Jordan Reeves, and Dylan Schuman. They are joined by three leaders coming to Camp Davis for the first time: Abigail Hardage, Imani Thomas, and Shannon Dilks. The whole leadership team is ready for an amazing summer leading staff to success, helping campers grow, and assisting our camp families with all needs.

Our Shlicha from Israel, Noa is very excited to join camp and already has some amazing plans to engage campers in the Israeli experience. We can’t wait for you to experience all that she has to offer.

There are still a few openings if you’re interested. Our Specialty Camps are very popular, but very limited spots are available in most of the camps. There is no guarantee that spots will be available later in the summer so sign up now if you are on the fence. The last week of camp is almost totally full (yay Maccabi games!) but there are still a few spaces for almost all ages for other weeks. For more information and to register head to campdavisnashvile.com! •

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hen you’re a working family with school-age children, finding reliable before- and after-school care can be hard to come by. Starting in August, the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool will be offering Before School care from 7:30 to 9:00 AM, and then After School Care from 3:00 to 5:30 PM. The before- and after-care programs support children in becoming the kindest, most capable, and most resilient version of themselves. That means giving each child the space, encouragement, and materials they need to follow their passions.

During the hours of 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, children participate in the program of the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool. Each classroom is equipped to meet the pre-academic, social-emotional, and developmental needs of each child we serve. Using an inclusive, child-centered Montessori curriculum focused on play and empathy-building, RJMP provides both children with an environment where all can thrive and become the best they can be.

As a Three Star childcare program, the highest rating available in the state of Tennessee, RJMP provides low teacher/child ratios, employs highly qualified teachers, and supports families throughout the preschool journey.

The Revere Jewish Montessori pre-

school will also be presenting a one-time offer of providing four scholarships of forty percent off the annual tuition, for new students between the ages of 36 months and five years old, for the fall of 2022. This scholarship funding is made possible thanks to the support of an anonymous donor. To register your child, and to apply for this scholarship, please call the Jewish Montessori preschool office at 615-646-5750. •

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Children at the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool learn to tell time with the handson Montessori method, while others play with the water table and learn to forge and create water paths and falls in the beautiful outdoor playscape.

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

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18 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

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Micah Children’s Academy celebrates Israel’s Independence Day

By THERESA LAPORE

Y

om Ha’atzmaut, or Israel Independence Day commemorates the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948. In Israel, Jewish people celebrate the day with fireworks, barbecues, and public concerts. Micah Children’s Academy celebrated the day by learning about the Israeli culture!

MCA students started the festivities by wearing blue and white outfits and parading through the halls of MCA and

Students explore an Israeli salt map

Micah students journey through the Red Sea

Congregation Micah all while waving their custom-made Israeli flags. They made their way outside to find the Israeli flag, then stopped to recite a prayer for Israel and proudly sang Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem.

The students continued their journey and came upon the Red Sea. They had no choice but to go through it to continue their way to Israel. They suddenly found themselves immersed in the Israeli culture. Melissa Sostrin, our enrichment coordinator, set up stations that gave each child an opportunity to experience part of this vibrant culture.

Classrooms were challenged by finding the Hebrew letter that corresponded with the station they were to visit. Once at their station, they were able to experience all things, Israel! Each classroom rotated to each station until they had completed their journey.

Students from Micah Children’s Academy celebrate Israel Independence Day

Students tasted Kadurei chocolates, smelled Israeli aromatics, explored an Israel salt map, and played Israeli games with Noam, our shilcha who is visiting from Israel. We also explored an ancient archeological dig, fished in the Sea of

Galilee, decorated a Hamsa and visited and painted the Western Wall. What a trip! Of course, we were exhausted from our trip, but we will never forget the hands-on learning experience this provided us. Happy 74th birthday, Israel! •

Yom Ha’Atzmaut Celebrates Israel’s Independence with Fun, Food, and Music F

or the first time, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennesssee partnered the community Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, celebration with the Gordon Jewish Community Center Jewish Food Festival – and the result was outstanding! Over 500 people, both established and new to Nashville, came to the fun filled event which included several different Jewish foods presented by professional chefs and local restaurants. Food was completely sold out by the end of the event. Community Shlicha, Noam Harari, organized all the Israeli themed activities which included music, dance and children’s activities.

The entire building was decorated for Israel, and the Pargh auditorium was filled with people enjoying the food while listening to live music. The children were thoroughly engaged and entertained with activities representing different cities in Israel, including sand art in Tel Aviv, Kotel art in Jerusalem, and fishing in the Kinneret, and Camp Davis staff were on hand to supervise the Gaga game! There was something for everyone. •

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

19

June in the GJCC Galleries: The work of Wendy Latimer, Martin Freeman, and The Turnip Green Creative Reuse Group

T

he Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of Wendy Latimer.

Wendy began her focus on watercolors in 1999. Textured and weathered subjects, floral subjects and her Animal series will be the focus of this current exhibit. Wendy has been exhibited in numerous regional and state juried art competitions, including the Tennessee Watercolor Society Exhibitions (for which she earned her Signature Status), Tennessee Art League’s Central South Art Exhibition, Local Juried Exhibits including Exhibits at Chromatics Photo Imaging Gallery in Nashville. Wendy is currently working with several Art groups developing opportunities for Visual Artists and to raise awareness and involvement with the Visual Arts of Williamson County and Middle TN. The JLMG2 Gallery will feature the work of Martin Freeman. Martin is a visual artist located here in Nashville.

He explores a variety of textures using charcoal, pastel, and watercolor. Martin focused on drawing as a young child.

Remembering Sanity, by Larkin Oakes

Rock is Dead, by Martin Freeman

Gina the Giraffe, by Wendy Latimer

There were times when his passion for the arts varied between the visual arts and music, but the visual arts have always been his highest calling. Martin returned to art four years ago with a passion that has not abated.

The Sig Held Gallery will feature the work of the Turnip Green Creative Reuse (TGCR). The Turnip Green Creative Reuse has served Nashville for over 10 years, by taking donated material from individuals, organizations, and businesses and providing a storefront where customers “name their price” for material. We believe everyone deserves access to education and materials, opportunities for creative experiences, and inspiration in a safe and welcoming community. Sustainability, education, and art are the cornerstones of TGCR, which also hosts monthly art exhibits featuring local artists, offers free

Ode to Ray Barbee, by Michael Mitchell

workshops to the public, and provides aftercare art programming to children at several metro public schools. Since its inception in 2011, TGCR has diverted over a million pounds from the landfill and into the hands of creative individuals. The current exhibit will feature current work by TGCR group members.

The House gallery features the Under One Roof collaborative exhibit.

The Senior Adult Gallery features the work of Robbie Lasky.

The Artist Reception will be held on Wednesday, June 1st from 6 -8 pm. Complimentary beverage and food,

Rhea, but Sara McLoud

along with music by DJ Joseph. The exhibitions are free and open to the public. Attendees will need to sign in at the front desk. For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.354-1699, Curator Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or go to www.nashvillejcc.org. •

WILD, WILD WEST END WRAP-UP

S

unday, May 1st, was a wild, wild night at West End Synagogue. Over 180 folks pulled out their finest cowboy hats and pulled on their best cowboy boots for a fantastic night filled with casino games, silent auction, and mouthwatering grub! There were fabulous deals on the more than 75 silent auction items, Winner’s Circle opportunities, smoked BBQ, and of course delicious dishes from Goldie Shepard.

Everyone who attended had a great time and enjoyed all the amazing food and drinks. “Three Amigos,” WES’s very first, signature private label whiskey was available for tastings and bottles were given to sponsors at the Joker’s Wild level and above. Members of the kiddush club came up with the idea and a small group led by Stuart Wiston and Evan Nahmias visited the Pennington Reserve Distillery to taste several barrels before settling on the perfect one.Then they came up with the creative name and label design.There are still a few bottles left of this exclusive whiskey and anyone interested in having one for their personal collection, can get one through the donation link on the WES website, but hurry they will not last long!

The brisket, chicken, and salmon smoked by Jason Sparks and his dedicated Pit Crew paired perfectly with the western themed delicacies made by Goldie

Rabbi Joshua and his wife, Jessica, get into the spirit of the Wild Wild West!

It was a wild, wild, night at West End Synagogue’s annual fundraiser.

Shepard. Attendees were seen going back to the buffet over and over because the food was just that good! There were signature cocktails available, and beer donated by Rhizome Productions.

The Silent Auction committee led

by Marsha Raimi managed to secure over 75 items ranging from a cabin in the mountains to personal experiences with members of the congregation like a guided hike or challah baking classes.

There were many patrons, sponsors, and participants who made the evening such a success. Special thanks to those corporate sponsors, at the Jackpot level were Electronics Express and Pinnacle Bank; High Roller sponsors ABE Electric Company, Mobile Fixtures, Pathway Lending, Wealth Management, Wieck Construction, and Zeitlin Realty; and Joker’s Wild sponsors Boon Legal, Hartert-Russell and Delek. So many oth-

20 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

The Three Amigos, a Special signature whiskey created by Pennington Reserve Distillery for the event.

ers supported the event and a complete listing can be found on the WES website.

Whether it was the food, the drinks, the games or the auction, there was truly something for everyone to enjoy! •

Health and Wellness Corner

By SHERRI HOLZER

M

y 28-year-old daughter Lauren stood at our kitchen island, chopping ten garlic cloves. Her big blue eyes smiled as she said, “This is such a great stress reliever, Mom. Chopping over and over again makes me feel like I’m meditating.” Cooking does have excellent therapeutic benefits.

I teach cooking as self-care. Let’s be honest, cooking has gotten a bit of a bad rap. It’s often positioned as a chore and therefore, people tend to think of it as complex, stressful and time-consuming.

Self-care is often presented as this “treatyour-self culture” where we justify indulgence as a form of self-care: buying and eating that thing or going to that place.

Don’t get me wrong, all of these things are lovely, and I think they can be forms of self-care, but I don’t think self-care needs to be a luxury. On the contrary, I think it is way simpler than that. Self-care is about showing up for yourself even when the going gets tough. Self-care is about prioritizing your needs over your wants to care for yourself on all levels, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Cooking has become my simplest and most basic form of self-care. It is how I show my body I care and give my body the energy to do the tasks I ask of it. It is one of the moments in my day when I am doing something for me. It is how I take control of my health and my favorite benefits of cooking are the memories created.

While cooking with Lauren, I realized my kitchen smelled like Shabbat at grandma’s house when I was a little girl. There are just some aromas that bring you back to a particular time and

place. Like the overpowering scent of hot oil that permeates into the cushions of the couch and the folds of the drapes from crispy potato latkes being fried for Hanukkah, or that heavenly chocolate wave that breezes past your nose the second you go into the kitchen and find your mom holding that old black rubber spatula she uses, moving the gooey chocolate chip cookies from the baking sheet and placing them on the chipped platter that says cookies made with love. My firstborn grabbed my hand and said, “Thank you, Mom, for introducing me to new flavors and foods and sharing the joy of cooking together in the kitchen.”

As Lauren and I continued chopping and stirring, my thoughts drifted back to my GG’s tiny San Francisco kitchen. I saw myself as a little girl standing on the avocado-colored linoleum floors, facing a giant white porcelain sink that always seemed to be filled with soapy water, ready to take on the remnants of my grandma’s cooking concoctions. I can still see the box of Lipton’s onion soup mix on the brown and yellow tiled counter resting next to one of the many cans of tomato sauce that grandma always had at the ready. On Sunday mornings at Grandma Shirley’s house, the two of us would read the comic strips and attempt the word search in the San Francisco Chronicle while sitting at the table in front of an open kitchen window, enjoying the crisp ocean breeze.

After laughing at the silly things Snoopy had to say, GG and I would each grab our own pair of scissors, sit together, and clip coupons. It was exciting to save five cents per can or buy one box of Jello and get another free, or an all-time favorite, buy four cans of cream of mushroom soup and get one for free with a recipe included!

I laugh now, but when I was 7, this domestic routine made me feel close to

YOM HAZIKARON 2022

By NOAM HARARI, COMMUNITY SHLICHA

A

fter two years of virtual programs, we came together to commemorate the fallen soldiers and victims of terror. At the event we had a powerful gallery made by students from Partnership2Gether Hadera-Eiron-SE Consortium thank you for the collaboration This was one of the most moving nights in my shlichut. And it is all because of this community. Thank you to Jewish Federation & Jewish Foundation of Nashville & Middle TN. And to everyone who helped making this event so meaningful. I’m grateful to be a part of this community. •

my grandmother. The canned goods were stored in neat rows in the garage, in a special food cabinet next to all the other frugal items purchased with her priceless coupon collection. I was put in charge of ensuring the new cans were put in the right place. In fact, when I stood in her garage, looking up at the rows and rows of canned goods lined up alphabetically, I believed my grandma had placed all her trust in little me to keep our family in order and our traditions in place. I knew my grandma wanted me to keep the custom of placing the canned black olives in Great Grandma Frieda’s vintage crystal bowl on the Seder table or placing the Campbell’s soup thanksgiving green bean casserole onto the rose trimmed platter from Great Grandma Ida’s trousseau,

and to arrange Nestle’s one bowl boxed brownies, cut into squares and sprinkled with powdered sugar, atop the gold and blue fluted edge cake stand brought into America by our Lithuanian relatives in the early 1900’s.

Last Sunday, the smell in my own kitchen was that of caramelized sweet onions, slow roasting for hours over a perfectly seared brisket simmering in my simple savory sauce. As it cooked, I made Lauren and myself a cup of tea and we snuggled up together watching a silly Netflix romantic comedy. Talk about cooking as self-care. I am grateful for the inspiration and memories that GG inspired me with, but no canned cream of mushroom soup or premade starter mixes in my kitchen! •

Simply Sherri Brisket Recipe INGREDIENTS • 3-4 lb brisket • 4 tbsp salted grass-fed butter • 4 sweet yellow onions sliced • Salt and pepper • 1 cup pureed organic tomato • 8 chopped garlic cloves • ½ cup organic worcestershire DIRECTIONS Meat should be out of the fridge for at least 15 minutes. I used a Le Creuset braiser with a lid. On medium heat, sauté onions in butter until translucent, about 12 min. Remove from the pan. Salt and pepper brisket on each side. Add to the pan. Cook 8-10 minutes per side until a nice brown

crust forms. Add broth and garlic, heat about 3 minutes to soften garlic, add, Worcestershire, tomato puree and all the onions. Place the lid on top and put it into the oven for around 3.5 hours. Remove meat and let it rest for 15 minutes. Using an electric knife, slice meat thinly and add right back into the gorgeous sauce and serve.

Serve with: • Cauliflower parsnip mash (email me for recipe) • Roasted broccolini and heirloom carrots (boil carrots, then roast with broccolini, olive oil and everything but bagel seasoning) • Challah

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The Jewish Observer • June 2022

21

Kvetch in the City

By CARRIE MILLS

L

ast night I watched an exciting video conference unveiling the first photograph of the Milky Way’s black hole that resides in our galaxy. This was apparently very big news, finally capturing a photo of the enormous and mysterious black hole that could lead to discoveries and possible answers about the origin of our universe. It got me thinking about black holes.

Speaking of which…

The other day while I was walking to my office, I happened upon my colleagues at work having lunch. One of them was just back from time off having had a deviated septum corrected. I asked how she was doing, which then blew the door wide open into a group discussion about Jewish women, big noses, and plastic surgery. Men and balding also got thrown into the conversation since there were men present and the undertone of the discussion hit on physical appearance and ultimately self-acceptance.

The discussion brought me back to my childhood growing up as a young girl with a classic, “Jewish nose.” In my family, self-acceptance somehow got skipped over. Nose jobs and Jewish girls was the equivalent to circumcisions and Jewish boys…like a ritual, it wasn’t questioned, it was something that was going to happen. In my case though it took 35 years, not the typical 16, like many of my peers. Big nose? Get rid of it as soon as possible. Throughout my life I struggled with the idea of it all. On one hand the idea of changing my face simply scared me. On the other hand, I would look at photos of myself and wonder what I would look like with the “perfect” nose it seemed all models at that time in the fashion magazines had. In private, using a black marker on photos, I’d redefine the contour of my profile, meanwhile

in reality, enduring endless comments about the size of my nose from whomever thought it okay to drop a careless remark.

Apparently, everyone had a say. And of course, my mom who had had a nose job back in the day and who never stopped encouraging me. I kept trying to follow the Barbara Streisand route, however, eventually I caved. It was too challenging always having my nose be a source of commentary.

And so, at age 35 I followed suit, and flew up to NYC and had my nose “done.”

He was a renowned plastic surgeon and did a great job as far as nose jobs go, very natural. In fact, so natural, nobody thought I had anything done. My new “natural looking” nose job should have been applauded. Instead, I, like all those who have tasted the addiction of plastic surgery decided that one nose job was not good enough. So yes, back I went dear friends. I went back for another. Truth be told, I messed up what was (hindsight being 20/20 ) my authentic and beautiful original face. I finally understood how Michael Jackson ended up looking like he did, and how Cher, like Benjamin Button, aged backwards with a face frozen in time. And of course, how Jocelyn Wildenstein (google plastic surgery cat woman) ended up looking like a creature from a sci fi movie gone terribly wrong.

I finally understood how once you start with plastic surgery, it’s hard to stop.

Plastic surgery, a societal black hole, only made worse by another black hole…the internet filled with celebrity’s plastic surgery selfies ad nauseum.

And so, while astronomers and physicists rejoice in finally capturing a historic photo years in the making, that could seemingly explain the origins of our vast universe, down here on planet Earth, I am personally committed to growing more in self-acceptance, aging gracefully and rejoicing in a scientific cosmic photo way more important than any selfie on Instagram could ever be. Well, that is after I get a neck lift… •

Dear Esther Dear Esther, Mother’s Day has been difficult for me for the past few years. I don’t have a great relationship with my mother and my children barely acknowledge it. I have good kids, but they are teenagers and self-centered at this point in their lives. I know this is typical for teens, but it still hurts. I couldn’t wait for the day to end. How can I approach Mother’s Day differently, so it doesn’t feel so depressing?

– Rebecka Dear Rebecka, Mother’s Day can be emotionally complicated. Nobody told us moms that the one day the world celebrates mothers would have expectations and pressures for perfection. At times we may not even enjoy this day, that is supposed to be all about us. There are many factors that might influence the day including but not limited to whether you have a good relationship with your mom, infertility, loss of a child, and what is going on in the lives of your children. Most moms just want some appreciation and acknowledgment that we’re important. But we also desire that on many days during the year- not just one in May. One contributing factor may be social media. When you see all the sentimental posts about mothers, you can’t help but compare. But keep in mind that social media posts are often deceiving and not necessarily reflective of what truly might be happening.

You are correct in that your children are supposed to be fully immersed in their own lives right now. However, that doesn’t mean it is acceptable. They still need guidance on socially appropriate responses to holidays. Do you have a husband, extended family member or

friend who can help them purchase a gift or plan an activity for the day?

Perhaps it would be helpful to depersonalize it a little and look at Mother’s Day as an opportunity to teach them how to recognize and appreciate others.

A little coaching about what you might like goes a long way. It also might help to remember their brains are not fully developed and they are still learning to navigate relationships. When they are older and potentially have their own families, they will look back and appreciate you in a way they are not capable of doing right now.

I am sorry Mother’s Day left you feeling underappreciated and depressed. I hope you took time for yourself that day to pamper yourself and honor your role as a mother. Remember, even in Biblical times mothers, and women in general, were often left out, unappreciated, and sometimes marginalized. But those brave women cared for each other and their communities and kept our people alive through some very tough times. They were brave and strong, and when your children get older, they will see strength and bravery in you, too.

– Esther Esther recently migrated to Nashville from New York and will be partnering with JFS on an advice column for The Observer. Esther is a retired Psychologist, veteran grandmother who brings a lifetime of experience including dysfunctional families, raising children, relationships, kosher cooking and even interfaith families. Esther is excited to be in Nashville and promoting her famous matzo ball soup that she believes heals just about anything.

Please submit your questions to esther@jfsnashville.org on anything under the sun and watch for answers in her column. •

The 2022 Yom Hashoah Service Remembers the Children of the Shoah, Dedicates New Sculpture T

his year’s community Yom HaShoah service was back in person on the grounds of the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Guest speaker, Joanna Sliwa, shared stories about the children of the Krakow Ghetto, and dedicated a tree sculpture designed by artist Alex Limor and installed on the grounds of the Nashville Holocaust Memorial. The tree will be the focal point for the Butterfly Project which will begin in the 2022-23 school year.

The Butterfly Project is a call to action through education and the arts, which teaches social justice through lessons of the Holocaust, educating participants about the dangers of hatred and bigotry to cultivate empathy and social responsibility. Nashville’s Jewish community will join other communities in

22 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

this effort to create 1.5 million butterflies to honor the memory of the 1.5 million Jewish children killed during the Holocaust. The program included Amalia Strosberg, Rabbi Saul Strosberg, Cantor Sarah Levine, and community students who lead us in Hatikvah at the close of the service. •

At Our Congregations…

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

@ Chabad /Congregation Beit Tefilah Celebrate the 3334th birthday of the Ten Commandments Have you ever been to a 3334th birthday celebration? Chabad of Nashville invites the Nashville Jewish community to celebrate the 3334 birthday of the Jewish nation on Shavuot 2022.

The Holiday of Shavuot celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai 3334 years ago, has become a celebration of fine dairy cuisine as well. Exquisite cheesecakes, pesto pastas, lasagna, soufflés and of course cheese blintzes all take center stage during this ancient celebration. Some suggest that this has contributed to the renewed popularity this holiday has seen.

On Shavuot, in the year 2448, the Jewish nation gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to receive the Torah from G-d, men women and children. Also present were the souls of all Jews of all generations to come. Every year on the Holiday of Shavuot this revelation is re-experienced during the reading of the Ten Commandments in the Synagogue. “It is a de ja vu experience for the soul, to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments, on the anniversary that it was given to our ancestors at Mt. Sinai, said Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, of Chabad of Nashville.”

It is of great importance for every family to attended Synagogue on Shavuot together with their children, to listen to the reading of the Ten Commandments, as the children played a critical role in our receiving the Torah. When G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He gave it on the condition that the young boys and girls will be the guarantors.

Shavuot will be celebrated this year, from the evening of June 4 through June 6.

The Ten Commandments will be read at Chabad of Nashville, at 95 Bellevue Road, on Sunday, June 5, at 5:30 PM Following the reading of the Ten Commandments, a delicious dairy buffet dinner will be served, including blintzes, pastas, pizzas, and a special Ten Commandments Ice Cream Party. All are welcome to come and celebrate as a community, and there is no charge to attend. For more information about Shavuot at Chabad please visit www. chabadnashville.com or call 615-646-5750.

Yizkor Memorial Service on Shavuot The Yizkor memorial prayer for the dearly departed, is recited in the synagogue four times a year: On the last day of Passover, on the second day of Shavuot, Yom Kippur and on Shmini Atzeret. Congregation Beit Tefilah Chabad will hold the Shavuot Yizkor Memorial Sevice, on Monday, June 6, at 11:15 AM in the Doochin Sanctuary at the Genesis Campus for Jewish Life.

Yizkor, in Hebrew, means “remember.” In this prayer, we implore G d to remember the souls of our loved ones who have passed on. When we recite Yizkor, we renew and strengthen the connection between us and our loves ones, bringing merit to the departed souls.

The recitation of Yizkor is also linked with the mitzvah of a pledge to charity (prior or following the holiday) in memory of the deceased. By giving charity, we are performing a positive physical deed on their behalf in this world, something that the departed can no longer do. The soul gains additional merit through the good deeds impacted through their memory.

YIZKOR is observed in three ways: 1) Light a Yahrtzeit (24-hour) candle in memory of your relatives who have passed away. Candles are available at Chabad if you need.

2) Give charity in memory of the person(s). How much should you give? As a general rule, think of an amount that you are comfortable giving, and then add $18. (In Jewish tradition, the number 18 symbolizes life.)

3) Remember your loved ones by mentioning their name(s) at the YIZKOR service.

If, for whatever reason, you cannot attend the Yizkor Memorial Service, you may e-mail the names of your loved ones to rabbi@chabadnashville.com and Chabad will mention the names on your behalf.

Meet in Person for Prayer and Cholent Chabad of Nashville is in full swing with Shabbat morning services, including joyful prayer, kavanah, simcha and great energy. Join us on Shabbat morning at 10:00 AM for prayer and Torah reading followed by a hot cholent, freshly baked Challah and some friendly L’Chaim.

Chabad to host two TGIS celebration in June Start your Shabbat off right with good friends, great conversation, and excellent kosher cuisine, all seasoned with the perfect amount of spirit and joy. TGIS is a Club Med Shabbat: An all-inclusive Shabbat experience. Enjoy a Friday night Shabbat dinner replete with traditional dishes. Blended with spirited singing, a Chasidic tale, and a chance to meet some wonderful new people. TGIS will be held on Friday evening, May 10 and 24, at 6:30 PM at Chabad of Nashville.

There is no cost to attend the TGIS Shabbat experience, however we kindly request that you RSVP by letting us know you will be attending at chabadnashville@ gmail.com

@ 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 on YouTube, Zoom, and our Livestream. In our tent, there is room for everyone!

Weekly Events 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 In-person

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.

Saturday Morning Torah Study: Saturdays at 9 AM on Zoom

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

Sanctuary Shabbat Services: Fridays at 6 PM

At Micah, we approach God in many ways: the inspiration of words, the beauty of sacred space, and the authenticity of our intention, and through the power of music and song. This spring, we feature Music Director and Cantorial Soloist Ms. Lisa Silver as she is set to retire this month. 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 5:15! Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

June Events Micah Reads: Monday, June 6th, and Monday, July 11th, at 7 PM on Zoom and In-Person

All are welcome for a Zoom discussion on the book The Perfume Thief by Timothy Schaffert in June and The Lost Shtetl by Max Gross in July. Education Director Julie Greenberg leads the conversation for this community-wide event. Kindly RSVP at congregationmicah.shulcloud.com/form/micahreads.

Sports Trivia: Tuesday, June 14th, at 10:30 AM In-Person

Have you ever wondered who was on 3rd base when Bobby Thompson of the New York Giants hit “the shot heard ‘round the world” to defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1951? Find out the answer to this question and many more when you join Martin Light and other Micah members for an hour of sports trivia on the second Tuesday of every month. Questions? Contact Martin at martylight@aol.com.

Mental Health Matters: Beads of Courage Strand for Strength and Remembrance Workshop: Wednesday, June 15th, at 12 PM

Join Rabbi Laurie and Toni Jacobsen in this creative arts program using symbolic beads that become metaphors of remembrance. For more information or to RSVP, email Toni at tonijacobsen@fjsnashville.org.

Grandparents Shabbat: Friday, June 10th, at 6 PM

We welcome grandparents and grandchildren for a special intergenerational service celebrating the grandparents in our community.

Board Installation Service: Friday, June 17th, at 6 PM

We install our newly-elected Board members and honor our outgoing, as well as award the recipients of the Micah Mensch award.

Pride Shabbat Service: Friday, June 24th, at 6 PM

Join us for a special Shabbat Service where we not only say farewell to Ms. Lisa Silver, but we also show our support for the LGBTQ+ community.

Continued on page 24

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

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At Our Congregations…

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@ Sherith Israel

Women’s Torah Study Every Thursday from 12:00-1:00 PM

Ongoing weekly women’s Torah study led by Patty Marks.

Available in person and via zoom through thetemplehub.org

Shabbat Schedule for June

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

Friday, June 3rd~ 6:00 PM - STEVE RIVEN WILL SPEAK AT SERVICE ABOUT THE JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS INITIATIVE AT BELMONT UNIVERSITY Friday, June 10th ~ 6:00 PM –HONOR NOAM HARARI FOR HER THREE YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND CONGREGATION Friday, June 17th ~ 6:00 PM- HONOR ANNA SIR AND SHA-BONNAROO SHABBAT SERVICE & MUSIC EXPERIENCE Friday, June 24th ~ 6:00 PM

Chevrah Torah Study 9:30a.m. 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 or via zoom from thetemplehub.org

Farewell to Noam Harari June 10th at 6:00pm.

Please join us as we say a fond farewell and express our gratitude to Noam Harari our community schlicha, emissary from Israel for her wonderful three years of service to our community and Temple during our Shabbat Service on June 10th.

You can join us in person or via zoom from thetemplehub.org

Sha-Bonnaroo- Shabbat Service and Music Experience & Help us Honor of Anna Sir June 17th at 6:00pm

Did you miss out on buying your ticket to this year’s sold-out Bonnaroo music festival?! Never fear, because The Temple is bringing Sha-Bonnaroo to you! Now in its 8th year, Sha-Bonaroo has become one of our favorite Shabbat services of the year! On Friday, June 17th, we’ll join together for a groovy Shabbat experience featuring upbeat, contemporary music, and some of our Temple’s own musical rock stars. Come dressed in tie-dye and prepare for a rockin’ good time!

At this Shabbat we will also honor Anna Sir, for her time with the Golden Lunch Bunch and the Jewish Family Service’s Senior Friends during our Sha-Bonnaroo Shabbat Services on Friday, June 17th and during a festive Oneg to follow.

You can join us in person or via zoom from thetemplehub.org

Shavuot & Yizkor Program Join us for Shavuot, where we will celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai with study, prayer and song….and cheesecake!

Sunday, June 5th

Weekday Minyans

Shacharit - 6:30 am Maariv - 7:00 pm

Shabbat Services

Kabbalat Shabat - 5 minutes before sunset Cantor’s Class - 8:00 am Shacharit - 9:00 am Babysitting and Groups - 9:15 am Kiddush Lunch - 11:15 am

Study Programs

Kids Cheder - Tuesdays at 4:00 pm Bass Medrish - Wednesday evenings at 8:00 pm Torah Class with Rabbi Saul - Thursday mornings at 9:00 am Visit www.sherithisrael.com for more information

@ The Temple All programming can be accessed via thetemplehub.org unless noted to be in person

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 and via zoom.

Zoom Room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81973096738

24 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

Shavuot Study Program from 9:30-10:30AM Shavuot Yizkor Service at 11:00AM followed by a festive brunch Please RSVP for brunch by Wednesday, June 1st at thetemplehub.org

Golden Lunch Bunch Will meet at Temple from 11:30-1:00pm on June 7th and June 21st June 7th Entertainment: Bill Sleeter June 21st Entertainment: Nancy & Larry Mechem

RSVP to Anna Sir at 615-354-1686 or via email at helpinghands@jfsnashville.org

Nashville Pride Saturday, June 25th at 11:00am & Sunday, June 26th at 11:00am

Stop by The Temple booth and say, “Hi!” at the Nashville Pride Festival at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park

Next Dor’s Torah on Tap June 1st at 6:00pm East Nashville Beer Works- 320 E. Trinity Lane

The young professionals group Next Dor’s next event will be “Torah on Tap” with Rabbi Mackler. This event will be a time to ask Rabbi any questions you have, connect with old and new friends, and learn something new! No RSVP Required! Snacks and your first beet are on The Temple!

Are You Looking for a Creative Outlet? Join Writers of the Lost Ark!

“Writers of the Lost Ark” meets the first Wednesday of each month currently via Zoom. This is a safe, supportive, and no pressure environment to share your creative ideas whether they be stories, songs, poems, or prose. 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.

Wednesday, June 1st~ 7:00-8:00 pm For more information, please contact ninapacent@bellsouth.net.

Go to thetemplehub.org for Zoom info.

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At Our Congregations…

Learn more about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee at www.jewishnashville.org

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

Shacharit

Join us for in-person morning minyan!

Sunday services will be at 9am and Monday-Friday will be at 7am

Please support the businesses that advertise in the Observer and help support our community in all ways!

Make sure to let them know...you saw their ad here!

Daily Mincha service depending on Daylight savings times Join us for daily Mincha on Zoom only.

Kabbalat Shabbat

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

Morning Shabbat services

You are invited to join us Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in person or by zoom.

Talmud class on Tuesdays

CRAWFORD SERVICES

Torah class for Women

“The Name You Can Trust” SM

Rabbi Joshua Kullock teaches a Talmud class on Tuesdays at 7:30am.

Join Rabbi Joshua on the first Wednesday of each month at 11am via Zoom (call for details)

Torah class for Men

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Join Rabbi Joshua the second Thursday of each month at 12pm.

Community Listings East Side Tribe East Side Tribe Shabbat will be hosting their monthly Shabbat in The Melrose area on June 24th from 6:308:30pm. All are welcome to join, regardless of where they live! This event will be indoors. Please email eastsidetribenasville@gmail.com to RSVP and for details!

Jewsic City Jewsic City creates a space for people to come together for Jewish musical experiences outside of traditional synagogues and denominations and in the style of Jewish summer camps. No matter if we gather for Friday night services, Havdalah campfires, song sessions, or other innovative programming, we are a thriving, growing group of young professionals who want to experience their own Judaism in a meaningful way through music, prayer, and community. Our next event will be the evening of Friday, July 8 at 6:30 p.m. The event is in person but also streamed live on Facebook. For details, join our mailing list by emailing jewsiccity@gmail.com or join our Facebook group (search “Jewsic City”).

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

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

Providing Funeral Services Since 1985 (615) 254-8200 www.crawfordservices.com The Jewish Observer • June 2022

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Arthur “Raymond” Orloff

Ava Sandberg

Lifecycles B’nai Mitzvah Stephen “Abe” Abraham Lasher

Stephen “Abe” Abraham Lasher will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 4,at 11 a.m. at The Temple.

He was born Dec. 5, 2008, in San Francisco to Melissa and Andrew Lasher. His grandparents are Ellen and Barry Wagenberg of Livingston, N.J., Patricia Lasher and Richard Jacobs of Baltimore, Md., and Janiece Longoria, wife of the late Stephen Lasher of Houston, Tex. A seventh grader at Montgomery Bell Academy, Abe loves hockey, hanging with this friends, shooting hoops with this sisters, Sydney and Rae, summers at Camp Winnebago, and napping with his dog, Gordie.

For Abe’s mitzvah project, he is collecting sports equipment for immigrant families via The Temple’s partnership with Nueva Vida Church. He recognizes how much he’s gained from athletics and how much his ancestors struggled to establish themselves when they were immigrants.

Anabel Hollis

Anabel Hollis will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 11, at 11 a.m. at The Temple. She was born June 8, 2009, in Gallatin, Tenn., to Ashley and Jeff Hollis.

Her grandparents are Linda and Gary Johnson of Maryville, Tenn., and Lane and Joe Hollis of Fernandina Beach, Fla. A seventh grader at Station Camp Middle School, Anabel enjoys crocheting, painting, aerial silks, dance and playing the piano.

For Anabel’s mitzvah project, she’s crocheting hats for the newborn babies at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin.

Ava Sandberg will become a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 11, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah.

Ava is the child of Judy and Eric Sandberg, the sibling of Gabby and Bella Sandberg, and the grandchild of Edith Sandberg of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Mary Green of Pleasanton, Calif.

A seventh grader at Brentwood Middle School, Ava enjoys math, reading, playing lacrosse, water polo, swimming, soccer and hanging out with friends.

For a Mitzvah project, Ava is volunteering with the Nashville Dolphins to help children and adults with special needs learn to swim and help coach more advanced swimmers for the Special Olympics.

David Lilly

David Lilly will become a bar mitzvah on Saturday, June 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Congregation Micah.

David is the child of Kala and Scott Lilly and the sibling of Emma Lilly.

A sixth grader at Providence Christian Academy, David loves playing sports, specifically soccer and baseball, and is currently in a spring flag football league.

David also participates in the school play every year. For a Mitzvah project (and thanks to a giving nature and kind heart), David has been collecting money for AbleGamers, an organization that combats social isolation for people with disabilities and fosters inclusive communities through the power of video games.

Mazel Tov Dr. Kenneth Anchor

Dr. Kenneth Anchor was the recipient of The Presidential Award from the American Board of Vocational Experts (ABVE) at the 2022 annual convention in Tampa as Founder of ABVE, a multidisciplinary credentialing organization, 40 years ago. One of his five books, The Disability Analysis Handbook, had five printings. He is a clinical psychologist in Nashville.

Obituaries Dorothy Roselyn Braderman

Condolences to the family of Dorothy Roselyn Braderman, 104, who died on April 2. She was the daughter of the late Martha (Goldberg) and the late Samuel Buchbinder of New York City, and the wife of the late Milton Braderman of Wilmington, Del. Survivors include her son, Robert (Sue); daughters, Joan (late Paul Bloomgarden) and Betsy (Richard Chalal); grandchildren, Michael, Daniel, Jessica (John Dunlop) and Jamie; and three great grandchildren.

Vickie Brod

Condolences to the family of Vickie Brod, who died on April 24. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Brod.

Survivors include her daughter, Nicole Brod (Shaun Glinter), grandson, Jordan Brod-Glinter, sister, Sherie Ganziger, as well a niece, nephew, grandniece and grandnephew.

Anetia Koch

Learn more about the Jewish community at www.jewishnashville.org

Condolences to the family of Anetia Koch, wife of Michael Koch. Michael is the son of the late Larry Koch and the nephew of Moshe and Evelyn Koch.

Monie Meyer

Condolences to the family of Monie Meyer, who died on March 29.

HUNT MEMORIALS, INC 4807 GALLATIN PIKE | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

26 June 2022 • The Jewish Observer

Condolences to the family of Arthur “Raymond” Orloff, who died on April 29, after a three-year battle with dementia. He was predeceased by his parents, Theodore and Helen (Gordon) Orloff and his beloved wife, Evelyn (Cohen) Orloff.

Born in Chicago in 1929, he came to Nashville when he was two years old.

After graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1948, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp/Air Force where he was an aircraft radio maintenance technician.

He met and married his wife, Evelyn, after his service and moved to Baltimore where he worked for Westinghouse and Glen Martin Aviation as a wiring technician on the “Vanguard” satellite project.

Five years later, he moved his family to Nashville where he worked for Temco Corporation which was involved in the third stage arming device for the “Jupiter C” rocket project. He then spent 18 years working for Electra Distributing Company and 18 years with Metro Nashville Schools.

A devoted family man, he was also a dog lover, a master model ship builder, and loved to talk to people around the world on amateur radio.

Raymond is survived by his children, Cheryl, Karen (Jimmie), and Michael; grandchildren, Rachel, Kelly and Valerie; great grandchildren, Jimmie and Rhett; and sister, Benita (Ron).

Donations may be made to Congregation Sherith Israel, Akiva School or the Nashville Humane Association.

Jay Rittenberg

Condolences to the family of Jay Rittenberg, who died on May 17. He is survived by his sons, Evan, Scott and Edward.

Howard Maurice Taradash

Condolences to the family of Howard Maurice Taradash, who died on May 13, surrounded by his family while listening to the music of his favorite singer, Frank Sinatra.

He was was born in Chattanooga on February 25, 1936, to Jean Schwartz Taradash, who immigrated to Nashville from Russia in 1914, and Nathaniel Leonard Taradash, born in Bayonne, N.J. Howard and his parents moved to Nashville when he was three years old.

A graduate of West End High School the University of Alabama, he served state-side for the United States Army, and worked with his parents at their pawn shop, N&S Hyman (now home to the Nashville honkey-tonk Legend’s Corner), where they sold fine estate jewelry and western wear. He received his law degree at the Nashville School of Law, and was added to the Tennessee State Bar Association in 1970. After a successful private law practice as a family and estate attorney, Howard served over 30 years as the longest standing Metro Nashville Night Court Judicial Commissioner to date.

Howard is survived by his wife of 48 years, Anita Freedman Taradash; his three children, Robin Grollnek Taradash Dillon (Fred) of Nashville, Michael Grollnek of Nashville and Lana Faye Taradash (Adam Scheiner) of Madison, N.J. “Pop” leaves behind five grandchildren, Lauren Dillon Hibbitt (Donavan), Joseph Dillon, Madeline Scheiner, Amelia Scheiner and Noah Scheiner.

Howard will always be remembered for having every item of his very extensive wardrobe monogramed with his initials “HMT,” his love for all things Mickey Mouse, Chicago Cubs, and Tennessee Titans, his appreciation for the Nashville Symphony (where his mother played violin in the first Nashville Symphony), and enjoying a fine scotch. •

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ORTHODONTISTS

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

Lighting • Appliances • Hardware Kitchen • Plumbing • Accessories Smart Home Products Low Price Guarantee 615•843•3300 www.gohermitage.com

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

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

Advertise in our Professional Services Directory Reach thousands of readers in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee area by taking advantage of this cost-effective way to reach a loyal repeat audience!

Call Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager, to place your professional listing.

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www.zeitlin.com Residential & Relocation Specialists

Custom senior care for active, healthy lifestyles. Affordable/no minimums.

Meals, meds, transportation & outings.

Memory loss and Hospital recovery.

Professional & screened care partners.

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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

DENTIST

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

STEVEN R. HECKLIN DMD BRITTANY BURD, DMD Cosmetic and Family Dentistry www.drhecklin.com 5606 Brookwood Place 615-356-7500

INSURANCE

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

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

GIL COHEN / PERSONAL SHOPPER Partnering with Dillards 39 years Clothing / home decor / gifts Call or text 615-568-5187

ROBINS INSURANCE Bruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Marsha Jaffa, CIC; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 30 Burton Hills, Suite 300 Ph. 615-665-9200 • www.robinsins.com

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

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

PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING

MOVING & STORAGE Let us exceed your expectations!

Pre/Post Move Organizing • Move Mgrs. Packing • Unpacking • Sr. Downsizing FREE CONSULTATION – 615.415.8920 www.HomeAndOfficeTransitions.com

OPTOMETRIST DR. MICHELE SONSINO Optique Eyecare & Eyewear 2817 West End Ave., Nashville 615-321-4EYE (4393)

PERSONAL SHOPPER

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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

JESSICA AVERBUCH, CEO 615-383-0183 (bus.)

615-294-9880 (cell) jessica.averbuch@zeitlin.com www.jessicaaverbuch.com LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 615-794-0833 (bus.)

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615-838-2048 (cell) jennie.zagnoev@zeitlin.com

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Jackie Roth Karr, REALTOR® www.JackieKarr.com JackieKarr@gmail.com Mobile: 615.330.9779 Office: 615.463.3333

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

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

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

DR. JAMES W. KIRKCONNELL Bellevue Eye Center 7640 Hwy 70 S, Ste 102 Nashville 615-662-7588 www.bec2020.com JACOB KUPIN C - 615.440.6673 O - 615.279.5310 Jacob@TheKupinGroup.com We’ve got your back!

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.

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LYNCH TREE SERVICE Year Round, Complete Tree Care 615-444-4676 www.LynchTreeService.com

The Jewish Observer • June 2022

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