Observer2 2014(camps)rev web by Jewish Observer

the bserver inside: Jewish

Couple still enjoys the camaraderie after a dozen Tzedakah Tzundays

Rabbi Falk remembered as moral icon and mentor 2 Chabad gala will celebrate 15 years in Nashville 6 GJCC jam-packed with events in February

Frist curator tours Israeli art scene

Column by local imam condemns terrorism

Regular features The Rabbis’ Corner Lifecycles Around the town

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CAMPS SECTION PAGE 9

By CHARLES BERNSEN

tephen and Ellen Potash have been Tzedakah Tzunday volunteers for so long they’re not even sure when they started. “It was 10 years ago,” Stephen said before agreeing with Ellen that it has been more like 12 or 13 years since their first Tzedakah Tzunday. But there’s no doubt about why they have continued to volunteer at the annual telethon, which typically accounts for about a fifth of the indi-

vidual gifts that help the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee fund more than 77 programs and projects for Jews in Nashville and around the world. “We felt it was important to support the Nashville Federation and Israel,” Stephen said. Tzedakah Tzunday is Feb. 9 at the Gordon Jewish Community Center. You can still volunteer to help staff three 2-and-a-half-hour shifts between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., plus a 2-hour follow-up shift from 7-9 p.m. See CampaignTrail on page 3

on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Each shift includes 30 minutes of training to prepare volunteer callers to speak with family and friends about the Nashville Federation and the programs it funds. Amy Seibold is only 21, but this will be her fourth year as a volunteer on Tzedakah Tzunday. It’s a family tradition. Her grandmother, Annette Ratkin, was a longtime volunteer as is her mother, Gail Seibold. “We go back generations doing Tzedakah Tzunday,” she said. Amy decided to continue the tradition after a two-week trip to Israel Continued on page 5

Israeli expert will be in Nashville to speak about how to be an effective advocate for Israel By CHARLES BERNSEN

avid Olesker has coached a lot of people on how to advocate in behalf of Israel, and his advice tends to focus much less on what to say than how to say it. “I focus on technique for two reasons,” says Olesker, director of the Jerusalem Center for Communication and Advocacy Training, which has been training advocates for Israel for three decades. “First, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. No supporter of Israel is short on information these days. A whole range of organizations in the U.S. and around the world are delivering first-rate information quickly and reliably to activists.”

David Olesker

More to the point, he says, information alone isn’t advocacy. “It's the building blocks that advocacy is made

out of. But technique tells you how to put the blocks together for a specific audience and medium -- television, a college campus debate, a lobbying session with elected officials.” Olesker will be in Nashville this month to conduct six presentations on how to advocate effectively for Israel. His visit is hosted by the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The main public event is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Jewish Community Center (GJCC), where Olesker will give an introductory primer on effective advocacy that will include role playing and cover topics such as how to frame the conversation to your Continued on page 5

IMPACT event to be held Feb. 5

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he Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is sponsoring a community-building event on Feb. 5 featuring Avraham Infeld, a well-known Jewish educator and outspoken advocate of pluralistic understandings of Jewish identity. IMPACT, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, is hosted by NowGen Nashville, the young professionals division of the Nashville Federation. The event, which includes a dessert reception, is free

and open to the entire community. Like the Our World’s Fair events of previous years, IMPACT aims to inspire Nashville area Jews to connect with each other and find fulfilling ways to express their Jewishness. Infeld, a native South African who immigrated to Israel in 1959, is widely recognized as a passionate, entertaining and thought-provoking speaker whose vision of Jewish peoplehood transcends religious, political and cultural boundaries. Those who attend IMPACT will also have an opportunity to make their gifts to the Nashville Federation’s annual campaign. c

Mission to Eastern Europe, see page 4 The Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is planning a “roots” mission to Eastern Europe this fall that will visit Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, whose capital Budapest sits along the upper Danube and is considered one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

Rabbi Falk remembered as a champion of social justice and inspiring teacher and mentor By CHARLES BERNSEN

abbi Randall Falk, rabbi emeritus of Nashville’s Congregation Ohabai Sholom, was remembered Wednesday, Jan. 22 as a relentless advocate for social justice, especially during the early years of the civil rights movement. But the seven colleagues who delivered remarks during his funeral service at The Temple also spoke movingly about Rabbi Falk’s less visible accomplishments as a mentor who had a profound influence on their personal as well as professional lives. “He was my rabbi – my confidant, teacher and friend,” said Rabbi Fred Guttman of Greensboro, NC, one of three Nashville natives who grew up as members of The Temple and were inspired by Rabbi Falk to enter the rabbinate Rabbi Falk, who served at The Temple from 1960 until his retirement in 1986, died Sunday, Jan. 19. He was 92. More than 500 people, including Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and former mayor Bill Purcell, attended the service, which was followed by burial at The Temple cemetery. The Temple’s senior rabbi, Mark Schiftan, opened the service by noting how fitting it was that Rabbi Falk died on the same weekend that the nation celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Having come to Nashville during the campaign by African-Americans to integrate the city’s lunch counter, he

joined in their sit-ins and Guttman, who is now chief urged his congregants to rabbi at Greensboro’s take up the civil rights Temple Emanuel and has cause as their own. He led served for 10 years on the civil rights marches and in Commission for Social 1965 became a founding Action for Reform Judaism. member of the Metro “He will continue to guide Human Relations me . . . and perhaps many of Commission. He also was you.” instrumental in the foundThe other two former ing of Alive Hospice. Nashvillians who grew up “He was an ambassador in The Temple under of the finest essence of our Rabbi Falk and later heritage,” Rabbi Schiftan became rabbis are Billy Rabbi Randall Falk told the mourners. “He held Kuhn, senior rabbi at up a mirror of morality to his congregaCongregation Rodeph Shalom in tion and the city at a time when others Philadelphia, and Rabbi M. Bruce Lustig, chose to sit in silence.” senior rabbi at Washington Hebrew But it was the personal, private Congregation. Although both were preremembrances of Rabbi Falk that were vented by a snowstorm from being at the most moving, including those of his four funeral, Rabbi Schiftan read remarks grandchildren, who recounted the easy from each. affection and humor of their saba (grandAside from being a professional father), the hours of fun playing cards inspiration and mentor, Rabbi Falk and with him, his huge grin that would grow his wife, Edna, introduced Rabbi Kuhn even wider when they rubbed his bald to the women he would eventually head, and his unflagging interest in their marry. “Although he has been a major lives even as he dealt with persistent part of my life,” Rabbi Kuhn said, “what health problems in his later years. I love him for most is what he did for Rabbi Guttman, a self-described you and our community. Through him cutup as a youth, remembered being sent we learned to love Judaism and to live regularly to Rabbi Falk’s study after being better lives. I love him for his courage thrown out of religious school class. to stand up for what is right and speak There would be the obligatory but brief for justice.” expression of disappointment, “and then Rabbi Lustig recounted the milehe always proceeded to teach me somestones in his life over which Rabbi Falk thing important about our heritage.” presided: his consecration, bar mitzvah, Rabbi Falk inspired him to become a confirmation, marriage and installation “nudnik for social action,” said Rabbi as a congregational rabbi. While people

may forget what you say and what you do, he said, “they will never forget how you make them feel. He made our congregation feel like a family.” Among others who spoke during the service was Cantor Peter Halpern of Temple Shalom in Newton, MA, who served at The Temple in Nashville for three years shortly after his father’s death and recalled how the Falks “took me in like a son.” Rabbi Ken Kanter, director of the Rabbinical School at Hebrew Union College and former assistant rabbi at The Temple, noted that Rabbi Falk’s legacy as a teacher includes rabbis around the world. And Rabbi Jan Brahms of Congregation Beth Shalom of the Woodlands, Texas, a former assistant rabbi at The Temple, described his mentor “a healer of souls and a warrior in the battle for social justice.” Born in Little Rock, Ark., Rabbi Falk was ordained at Hebrew Union College and served as the senior Rabbi of Temple Anshe Hesed in Erie, PA from 1947 to 1960 before coming to The Temple. During his years in Nashville, he also taught at the Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He was preceded in death by his son, USAF Brig. Gen. Randall Marc Falk. He is survived by his wife, Edna U. Falk; daughter, Heidi Falk Logan; son, Jonathan David Falk, and 4 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Falk Social Justice Fund at The Temple or to a charity of the donor’s choice. c

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February 2014 The Observer

From the Campaign Trail Call Me Maybe? By STEVE HIRSCH Federation Campaign Chairman

ast summer I attended a barbecue at a friend’s house here in town. I was introduced to a couple who had moved to Nashville a little more than a year earlier. After chatting for a while with the husband, let’s call him Adam, I learned that they had moved here for his work and that they had been very happy with their transition. Upon arriving, they were Steve Hirsch welcomed by the Jewish community, affiliated with a congregation and settled in quite nicely. As my conversations have a tendency to do lately, I talked about the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and my role with the annual campaign. That was apparently the wrong thing to do, as Adam proceeded to explain to me how, despite his being a supporter of campaigns elsewhere, no one from the Nashville Federation had contacted him during its most recent campaign. Further, while he had seen the promotion for Tzedakah Tzunday in The Observer, no one called him that day to ask him for a pledge. Miffed that he had not been contacted, he did not make a donation to last year’s campaign. Somewhat taken aback, I asked him if he had tried to call us at the Nashville Federation and I got a blank stare in return. Quickly recovering, I apologized for leaving him out and asked for his contact information so that we would not make the same mistake this year. Our professional staff and volunteer campaign workers are diligent about their efforts to contact every member of the Jewish community in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. But sometimes we are unable to locate all of the new arrivals in our community. If we have failed to contact you through one of our team ambassadors, I hope that we will be able to reach you on Sunday, Feb. 9 as our volunteers telephone everyone on our existing community database. But, heaven forbid, if you do not hear from us

on Tzedakah Tzunday, please feel free to reach out to us either by phone or through our website. Once you do that, I guarantee that we will record your information so that we will be sure to contact you in the future. *

If you are a new donor this year and not sure how much to pledge for the annual campaign, here is some information that might guide you: • A pledge of $365 (one dollar a day) can insure that a hungry child (yes, there are Jewish children in our com-

munity and in Israel who go hungry some days) will not have to go to bed without that peanut butter sandwich or something else healthy to eat. • An annual pledge of $180 will help fund a pre-K program here in Nashville or support our new Shalom Taxi program, which offers affordable transportation to seniors. • A $1,000 pledge will make you a member of the Bonim Society, the vital sustainers of our Jewish community. Further, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have made it possible for the Nashville Federation to underwrite 77 distinct programs here and around the world

Y O U R G N I S A S I N C R E L A T I O N I T Y R E

through local, national and international agencies. • And yes, even a $36 or $18 gift matters and will fulfill the obligation that we all have to help others in the form of tzedakah. *

Would you like to be part of the campaign as a volunteer on Tzedakah Tzunday this year? Contact Susan Pankowsky to sign up for two hours of work on Feb. 9. It will make you feel good -- and Naomi Limor Sedek, our campaign director, always has an unlimited supply of M&Ms for workers! c

I S R A E L

I Q

T T E E C O M M I

N C O M M U

Tools and Techniques: How To Become an Effective Advocate for Israel The Community Relations Committee Presents

David Olesker,

Founder and Director of the Jerusalem Center for Communication and Advocacy Training, a communications training and consulting service that specializes in serving the pro-Israel community. Each and every one of us can change public opinion by challenging anti-Israel opinions. If you would like to ﬁght for Israel in the arena of public opinion, you will need not only facts, but the skills to present Israel’s case in an impactful and persuasive way.

Monday, February 10 at 7 pm Gordon Jewish Community Center Q&A from audience encouraged Dessert reception following program

To RSVP, email Barbara Schwarcz at barbara@jewishnashville.org. For more information, email Abbie Wolf at abbie@jewishnashville.org or call (615) 354-1637. This program is funded from a New Initiatives Fund grant from the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

The Observer February 2014

Join a special Federation journey: Roots tour to Eastern Europe in October STAFF REPORT

he Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee will sponsor a special tour of Eastern European countries from Oct. 19-31, with an optional extension to Berlin from Oct. 31-Nov. 3. Participants will visit Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic, including the cities of Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest and Prague. “This is a journey that blends the difficult history of the Jewish experience with the extraordinary transitions that have taken place since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s,” said Jewish Federation Executive Director, Mark S. Freedman, who is organizing and leading the trip. “It provides the opportunity to both visit the places that remind and inform us of the tragedy of the Holocaust era and also to learn about the resurgence of Jewish life and culture, especially during the past two decades.” The journey begins in Warsaw, where the group will visit the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto, the incredible new Warsaw Jewish museum. There also will be a chance to interact with the emerging young Jewish community of Warsaw at an activity center supported by our local Federation campaign through the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). An overnight train ride will bring the

delegation to Krakow, where a tiny Jewish community remains today amid the remnants of a past vibrant Jewish life have been renovated and restored for visitors who want to learn about the Jewish experience there before the Holocaust. A short bus ride to Auschwitz/Birkeneau will be followed by a tour of the infamous facilities where more than two million Jews and other Nazi victims were exterminated. This portion of the visit will also include a tour of the extraordinary Salt Mines outside of Krakow and a special dinner with Dr. Jolanta AmbrosewiczJacobs, director of Holocaust Studies at Jagellionian University. Next the group will travel by bus onto Budapest. In addition to visiting the beautiful main tourist sights stretching along both banks of the Danube River, the group will attend Shabbat Services in Eastern Europe’s largest synagogue and later travel to Szentendre, site of the world’s smallest synagogue. This portion of the journey also includes a relaxing boat ride along the beautiful Danube from Szentendre back to Budapest. Once again, the delegation will have the opportunity to visit with Budapest’s very active Jewish community to learn first-hand the challenges facing them in the wake of rising antiSemitism in Hungary. The main part of the trip concludes in Prague, home to the Precious Legacy collection of Judaica housed in the heart of Prague’ ancient Jewish quarter.

Among the sites the mission will visit is the factory in Krakow where Oscar Schindler gave work to hundreds of Jews to save them from Nazi death camps.

Ample time will be provided for strolling through Prague’s magnificent Old Town Square and across the Charles Bridge. The next to last day of the tour will include a visit to the city of Terezin, site of the Theresienstadt detention center, the only concentration camp where the Nazi regime permitted a visit by the International Red Cross during World War II. Theresienstadt was a complicated place, different from other concentration camps constructed by the Nazis and our expert guide will explain in c

STAFF

Publisher Mark S. Freedman Editor Charles Bernsen Advertising Manager Carrie Mills Layout and Production Tim Gregory Editorial Board Frank Boehm (chair), Barbara Dab, Greg Goldberg, Scott Rosenberg, Liz Foster Telephone 615/356-3242 Fax 615/352-0056 E-mail charles@jewishnashville.org ‘The Jewish Observer’ (ISSN 8750-5290) is published monthly for $25 per year by the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205-4009. Periodicals postage paid at Nashville, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE JEWISH OBSERVER, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, TN 37205 This newspaper is made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. The Jewish Observer is a member of the American Jewish Press Association and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. While The Jewish Observer makes every possibly effort to accept only reputable advertisers of the highest quality, we cannot guarantee the Kasruth of their products. The Jewish Observer J

February 2014 The Observer

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detail the unique role the camp played during the war. The mission delegation will be staying at the Radisson Sobieski Hotel in Warsaw, the Golden Tulip Hotel in Krakow, the Sofitel Hotel in Budapest and the Grand Majestic Plaza Hotel in Prague. The cost of the mission includes five dinners and eight lunches and breakfast each morning. The approximate land cost of the trip is $4,000 per person based upon double occupancy. Pricing is not yet available for the Berlin extension. If there is enough interest, there is the possibility of arranging group airfares departing from Nashville and returning either from Prague or Berlin. For more information about this trip or to request a detailed itinerary, please contact Mark Freedman at 615-3541660 or at mark@jewishnashville.org. c

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 Charles Bernsen at charles@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 emailed, submissions should be sent to Charles Bernsen, The Jewish Observer, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Suite 102, Nashville TN 37205. Photos and copy sent by regular mail will not be returned unless prior arrangement is made. Publication is at the discretion of The Observer, which reserves the right to edit submissions. To ensure publication, submissions must arrive by the 15th of the month prior to the intended month of publication. For advertising deadlines, contact Carrie Mills, advertising manager, at 615-354-1699, or by email at carrie@nashvillejcc.org.

Israeli expert to speak about how to be an effective advocate for Israel Continued from page 1 benefit and how to advocate among peers through work, school and social organizations. Light refreshments will be served afterwards. Olesker also will make five presentations tailored to specific groups:  At a dinner with Tzedakah Tzunday volunteers, he will speak about the importance of Israel advocacy. The dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at the GJCC.  In a breakfast meeting with the NowGen Nashville lawyers group, he will address the issue of Israel’s claim to the land in the context of international law. The breakfast is on Feb. 11 at Congregation Sherith Israel. It begins at 7:30 a.m.  In a luncheon meeting with

rabbis and other leaders of community institutions, Olesker will speak about how to help guide conversations on controversial issues regarding Israel within congregations, in the media and in the context of interfaith relations. The lunch is at noon Feb. 11 at the GJCC.  In a session with teenagers in the Get Connected program, he will talk about Jewish rights to the land of Israel and how to advocate for Israel and respond to criticism they might encounter from other youths. The session is at 5 p.m. on Feb. 11 at GJCC.  His visit will conclude with a dinner and program with Vanderbilt Hillel students at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Vanderbilt’s Schulman Center for Jewish Life.

Olesker is careful to point out that advocating for Israel does not require that one agree with everything Israel does or refrain from criticizing Israel. Israelis themselves certainly aren’t afraid of criticizing each other or their government. Being an advocate does, however, entail embracing some fundamental views about Israel -- its right to the land, for example, and to exist within defensible boarders – even as you tolerate disagreement about how to achieve them, he said. “Israel has no problem with criticism; what it can't accept is de-legitimatization,” Olesker says. “When the supporter of Israel abroad is up against people like the BDS movement (to boycott, disinvest in and sanction Israel) who do not agree with those

basic consensus issues that unite Israelis, he or she is in the same position as an Israeli soldier trying to stop a terrorist attack; it doesn't matter if the soldier votes for the left or right in national elections, he fights to defend his country -- and then he goes home and argues about policy.” This is the same point he makes to religious and communal leaders about how to handle disagreement within their communities on controversial issues having to do with Israel. “The point is to focus on the key issues that unite supporters of Israel and separate us from enemies of Israel,” he said. “Beyond those parameters, we should welcome and embrace debate; it deepens involvement with, and attachment to, Israel.” c

Couple still enjoys the camaraderie Guard sentenced for defacing Torah after a dozen Tzedakah Tzundays JTA REPORT religious property and obstruction of reliContinued from page 1 through Get Connected made her more aware of her Jewish identity and the obligation to contribute to sustaining the community. “It’s also a good time for my mom and I to bond,” she said. Though making telephone calls to prospective donors might seem daunting to some teenagers, it wasn’t for Amy. Phone volunteers get a 30-minute tutorial to prepare them for speaking to fellow community members about the Nashville Federation and the programs it funds. Amy jumped right in to help staff the phone lines “and I did really well,” she said. Stephen Potash recalls the first time he and his wife volunteered at Tzedakah Tzunday. They were assigned to the phones, but “it turned out that doing the phone thing was not for us,” he said. That didn’t deter their desire to be a part of the annual fundraising event. There are other things volunteers can do on Tzedakah Tzunday – provide food for

volunteers, update phone numbers and write letters and thank you notes to donors. Stephen said he and Ellen “have found our niche” as Tzedakah Tzunday volunteers: They collect the pledge forms and keep track of the running tally of gifts. “We’re a real team,” he said, adding that they typically stay for the entire day, not just a single shift, enjoying the sense of camaraderie and purpose. “For us it’s fun. It’s a way of contributing and being part of the community.” The easiest way to volunteer is via the online form on the Nashville Federation’s website at http://tinyurl.com/2014tztzvol unteer. You can also contact Susan Pankowsky (call 615-354-1676 or email susan@jewishnashville.org) or Naomi Limor Sedek (call 615-354-1642 or email naomi@jewishnashville.org). There will be refreshments for volunteers as well as babysitting for those who register in advance by contacting Barbara Schwarcz at 615-354-1630 or barbara@jewishnashville.org. c

former hotel security guard was sentenced to 4 years in prison for defacing a Memphis Jewish school’s Torah scroll and prayer books. Justin Shawn Baker, 25, was sentenced Dec. 31 in Madison County Circuit Court, according to the Jackson Sun. Baker pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of students of the Margolin Hebrew Academy’s Cooper Yeshiva High School of Memphis. He also pleaded guilty to federal charges of damage to

gious belief. He will be sentenced on those charges in March. Baker was arrested in January after the school’s students and faculty showed up for a worship service in a conference room of the DoubleTree Hotel in Jackson and discovered the Torah scroll and prayer books damaged and covered with graffiti, including “Gentiles win, Jews lose” and “Submit to Satan.” Some 50 high school students and faculty from the school were spending the Sabbath at the hotel on their way to a ski trip in the Smoky Mountains. c

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The Observer February 2014

Chabad will honor 7 as it celebrates 15 years in Nashville with auction and awards dinner By CHARLES BERNSEN

ommy Bernard feels somewhat uncomfortable talking about himself and the fact that he will be one of seven people honored next month at an awards dinner and celebration marking the 15th anniversary of Chabad of Nashville. But he’s more than happy to talk about the impact that Chabad and its spiritual leader, Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, have had on his Jewish awareness and life. “He’s got me putting on tefillin,” Bernard said. “Before him, I didn’t even know what tefillin were.” Chabad’s third Gala Celebration and Community Awards Dinner will be held on Thursday, March 4 at its Genesis Campus for Jewish Life at 95 Bellevue Road. (The first two celebrated Chabad’s 5th and 10th anniversaries in Nashville.) The evening begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction. The awards banquet follows at 7 p.m. and will be emceed by the Jewish comedian Elan Gold. The cost is $125 a person. Reservations can be made at Chabad’s website at www.chabadnashville.com, and those planning to attend are encouraged to do so by Feb. 11. Bernard, president and CEO of a wine and spirits distributorship, will receive the Jewish Leadership Award for his role in ensuring the financial viability of Chabad. Other honorees are:  Linda and Michael Doochin, both past presidents of Chabad of

Nashville, who will receive the Baal Shem Tov Award.  Eva and Dan Marx, who are receiving the Gemilut Chesed Award for their important role in making Chabad a warm and family-friendly place.  Seth Yazdian, the CEO of a residential and commercial construction company, who is receiving the Young Leadership Award for his role in the design and construction of the Genesis Campus.  Jim Schmitz, president of Regions Bank of Middle Tennessee, who is receiving the Leadership Award in recognition of the banks role in financing the Genesis Campus project and its support of non-profits in general. Bernard’s involvement with Chabad dates to 2000 when it was housed in the basement of a Bellevue strip mall. Back then he was “that guy” whose involvement in things Jewish consisted pretty much of attending services on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “But Chabad and the rabbi have helped me discover ways to connect to my Jewishness more than once a year,” he said. Bernard, a fourth-generation Nashville native, emphasizes that this is not a knock against other Jewish religious and communal institution s, including The Temple, the synagogue in which he grew up and still maintains membership. “It’s just that people are different and need different ways to connect to Jewish life,” he said. “For me, Chabad and Rabbi Tiechtel have provided that connection.”

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I n d e e d , Bernard refers to Rabbi Tiechtel as his “broadband connection to God.” Though he is being honored for his financial support of Chabad (the gala will take Jim Schmitz place in the B e r n a r d Ballroom), he notes with a laugh that Rabbi Tiechtel “won’t let me get away with just writing checks. He makes sure I’m staying Tommy Bernard involved in Jewish life and learning.” Although Chabad has “grown by leaps and bounds” during its 15 years in Nashville, Rabbi Tiechtel said it is not “membership Seth Yazdian driven.” Like Bernard, many of those associated with Chabad, whether as official members of its congregation, Beit Tefilah, or simply occasional participants in services, communal meals or Jewish learning courses, maintain memberships at other synagogues (Dianne Berry, the chair of the gala, for example, is a longtime member of West End Synagogue). And that suits Rabbi Tiechtel just

Michael and Linda Doochin

Dan and Eva Marx

fine. Chabad’s goals – providing a gateway to spiritual growth, promoting Jewish awareness and identity and ensuring Jewish continuity -- are not a zerosum game. “We are here only to add, not take away,” he said. c

Chabad offers course “To Be a Jew in the Free World”

habad of Nashville will offer a six-week course beginning this month entitled “To Be a Jew in the Free World.” The course is offered through the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute and will be taught in Nashville by Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel at Chabad’s Genesis Campus for Jewish life, 95 Bellevue Road. Classes will meet on consecutive Sunday mornings from

10:30 a.m. to noon beginning on Feb. 9. The cost is $69.99 plus a $20 book fee. The course will cover topics such as the challenge of having multiple allegiances, the meaning of individual freedom and autonomy, the freedom to choose one’s Jewish identity, the lure of assimilation and Judaism’s role in the larger society. For more information visit www.myjli.com, call Chabad at (615) 646-5750 or email rabbi@chabadnashville.com. c

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February 2014 The Observer

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February at the GJCC Focus is on art February is a big month at the Gordon Jewish Community Center for anyone who enjoys art, whether creating it or viewing it. • On February 10, the GJCC is sponsor a tour and demonstration at the studio of popular Nashville artist Brian Nash, whose work was featured in January in the GJCC’s Janet Levine March Gallery. The tour will be from 12:302:30 p.m. • A series of three classes will teach you everything you need to know about color theory and color mixing for oil painting. They will be 10-11 a.m. on Feb. 4, 11 and 18 with artist extraordinaire Rhonda Wernick. The cost for GJCC members is $75 plus supplies ($100 for non-members plus supplies). • New York artist Nancie Keay will be the instructor for two jewelry-making classes on Feb. 13 and 14. The first, 79 p.m. on Feb. 13, will focus on earrings. The second, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 14, will be on necklaces. (You don’t have to register for both sessions.) The cost, $20 for members and $30 for non-members, includes materials. • Kim Phillips, owner and artist at www.hebrica.com, will lead a workshop from 1-3 p.m. on Feb. 16 on the art of hand-cutting paper, which dates back to 6th century China. Kim is a master paper cuter who will guide you as you create your own beautiful piece of art. The cost, including materials, is $20 for GJCC members and $30 for non-members. • The month of art will end the same way it began, with a tour and demonstration at the studio of popular painter Gary Oglander and his wife, potter Eva Marie Pappas, from 10 a.m.-noon on Feb. 28. They will demonstrate how they produce their beautiful pieces and answer uestions along the way. All the events require registration, which can be done at the GJCC or by contacting Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org or by phone at (615) 354-1699. The GJCC is located at 801 Percy Warner Blvd.

Luncheon program will honor veterans on Presidents Day The Gordon Jewish Community Center, along with host Gil Fox Jr., will hold a Veteran’s Appreciation Day Luncheon from noon-1:30 p.m. on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 17.. The cost is $10 per person. Reservations are requested and can be directed to Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org or (615) 3541699 by February 12. They can also be submitted to Meryl Kraft at meryl@nashvillejcc.org.

Mind and Zest has something for everyone The GJCC will offer a classes in February as part of its Mind and Zest Program that run the gamut from ballroom dancing to Spanish cooking, from

learning a foreign language to learning how to manage home repairs. • “Cover Your Assets: Home Repairs and Maintenance” will be held 7-8 p.m. on February 3 Led by Mark Hill, owner of Tandem Realty, it will take a look at what happens once you purchase a property. There is no charge for GJCC members. The cost for nonmembers is $10. • A six-week Spanish course will begin on Feb. 11 and continue every Tuesday through March 11. Mervyn CokeEnguidanos who will teach this muy caliente course. The one-hour classes will begin at 1:30 p..m. The fee for the series is $60 for GJCC members and $75 for non-members. • A ballroom dancing course led by Lisa Burghardt begins on Feb. 5 and continues every Wednesday through March 12, when there will be a party in conjunction with the reception for artists being exhibited in March in the GJCC galleries. You don’t need a partner to take part in the classes, which will be from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $75 a person for GJCC members and $90 for non-members. • On Feb. 19, you can learn how to leave your blessings, values and hopes with loved ones in the form of an ethical will. Led by artist and marketing guru, Kim Phillips, the class will be from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the GJCC. Cost is $18 for GJCC members and $36 for non-members. • February includes the popular Spanish Tapas class that has been sold out in past years. Led by Kevin Alexandroni of Sova Catering at his new catering kitchen, the class will be held from 69 p.m. on Feb. 24. • Personal coach Loretta Saff will lead a class called “Living Without Regret” 4rom 1-2 p.m. on Feb. 24. The class is free for GJCC members. The fee for non-members is $10. All classes are held at the GJCC, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., unless otherwise noted. To register for any of them email Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org, or call her at (615) 354-1639. Or you can pick up a registration form at the front desk of the GJCC.

Performance of play “Number the Stars” set for Feb. 23

Claire@nashvillejcc.org or by calling (615) 354-1625.

In response to drowning report, GJCC expands swim program and reduces group lesson prices The recent release of statistics on drowning in 2013 by the Water Safety Task Force at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital has inspired the GJCC Swim Academy to do more. GJCC Aquatics Director, Yvonne Hall, serves as a co-chair on this committee and is a strong advocate for swim instruction to all ages and abilities. To help provide more affordable opportunities, the GJCC Swim Academy has done the following: • Reduced group lesson prices for both JCC members and non-members. • Introduced Tadpoles, a new group for children ages 3 and 4 who are potty trained. • Increased lessons offered on weekends. • Introduced a Pre-Swim Team program for 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 202 children ages 1-14 drown in a swimming pool from Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2013. Of the victims, 143 were under the age of five. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional deaths among children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause among children 5-14. Tennessee ranked 8th- highest among the states in child drowning deaths. The most relevant information from this report shows that children who cannot swim are 70% more likely to drown. For information about the GJCC’s swim program email Hall at Yvonne@nashvillejcc.org or Swim Team Coordinator T.J. Carter at tjcarter@nashvillejcc.org or call (615) 354-1678.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro to speak on spiritual independence Author and storyteller Rabbi Rami

Shapiro will speak at the GJCC on Feb. 3 about spiritual independence, the fastest growing movement in religion today. The event begins at 10 a.m. and will include brunch. The spiritually independent are defined as those people who may come from a specific faith but refuse to have their quest for truth limited by any religion. Rabbi Shapiro will explore the nature of this movement and how it many impact the Jewish community. The brunch and the event are open to the public. The cost is $10 per person. RSVP’s can be sent to Carrie Mills at carrie@nashvillejcc.org or by calling (615) 354-1699.

February exhibits feature Lackey, Millward and Israel trip photos

February art exhibitions in the GJCC galleries will feature the portrait work of Craig Lackey, vehicle paintings of Rick Millward, and photography of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s recent mission trip to Israel. The reception for the artists and the official opening of the exhibit is from 79 p.m. on Feb. 12. Thee will be live music, complimentary food and wine. The GJCC’s three art galleries host shows of both local individual artists and group collectives. The curatorial department of the GJCC has just released a revised schedule for rotating exhibits through August, with the dates of receptions in parenthesis. • March: Elizabeth Pena, Charla Steele, and Rita Cortini Kennedy (March 12) • April: David Wasserman, Tiffany Dyer, and the Yom Hashoah Exhibit with work from Akiva School students (April 9) • May: Kristin Llamas, Lauren McCall and SNAP photography (May 7) • June: Yenny Walker, Norman Lerner and Florian Ceglarick (June 11) • July: The Sound of Many Waters, Jammie Williams and Kit Kite (July 9) • August: Tennessee Water Color Society, Larry Martin and Rhonda Wernick’s Oil Painting Class (Aug. 6) For more information, contact the GJCC at 615.356.7170, Curator Carrie Mills or go to www.nashvillejcc.org. c

The GJCC is partnering with the Nashville Children’s Theatre for an afternoon run of the play “Number the Stars” on Feb. 23. The event will include a reception before the performance and meet-and-greet with the cast afterwards. “Number the Stars” is Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award-winning juvenile novel set against the backdrop of the Danish Resistance’s efforts to smuggle seven thousand people – almost the entire Jewish population of Nazi-occupied Denmark – across the sea to Sweden and safety. The story’s protagonist, 10-yearold Annemarie Johansen, finds that she can’t sit by while these terrifying events unfold. The heroism of an entire nation is a reminder that pride and human decency existed even during a time of terror and war. The reception is at 1 p.m. and the play begins at 2 p.m. The meet and greet will follow the show. Tickets are $12. To register contact Claire Bernstein at

The Observer February 2014

Frist curator sees interesting, diverse contemporary art scene during tour of Israel By CHARLES BERNSEN

fter getting a first-hand look at the contemporary visual art scene in Israel, Mark Scala was impressed. “The Israeli artist and curators that we met are extremely sophisticated, well-trained and doing interesting work,” said Scala, the chief curator for Nashville’s Frist Center for the Visual Arts. He was one of seven curators and museum directors from the southeast invited on a government-sponsored tour of Israel last November. Hosted by Yonit Stern, the director of cultural affairs with the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast based in Atlanta, they spent five jam-packed days visiting Israeli museums and studios and meeting both well-known and emerging Israeli artists. The Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee underwrote Scala’s travel to Israel. Like any sophisticated fine arts community, Israel’s represents a diversity of techniques and themes that cannot be easily categorized, Scala said. That’s perhaps especially true of Israeli artists, many of whom were born or have lived elsewhere. As a result, he said, “their work often reflects a discourse between global perspectives and an Israeli experience.” Still, Scala did notice some recurring themes related to the land, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians, and the resulting concerns about physical security. “If you are an Israeli artist and you make an image of the land, you’re making a political statement,” he said. Indeed, this very situation is the subject of an unusual work Scala viewed at the Haifa Museum of Art. A group of artists who refer to themselves collectively as Art Espionage downloaded a map of Israel from Google, cut parts of it into 1,000 squares and photographed each square. Then they traveled to China, where they paid workers in a factory that mass produces art for Western markets to create 1,000 small oil-on-canvas paintings of the squares with no instructions and in any style they wished. The Haifa museum describes the project as “an attempt to detach the Israeli landscape from myths and ideological baggage . . . The sliced and fragmented Google landscape is supposed to represent neutral landscape, which is not sacred and is not political, is not in dispute and is not within the national con-

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

Israeli-born artist Roee Rosen describes the collection of images in Vladimir’s Night as a “hybrid of a children’s book, an exceedingly gory martyrdom and, perhaps, a twisted political treatise.” Rosen presents Vladimir’s Night as the creation of a fictitious character Efim Poplavsky, a paranoid Russian poet writing under the pseudonym KomarMyshkin. According to Rosen’s elaborate backstory, Poplavsky immigrated to Tel Aviv in the early 2000’s and founded the Buried Alive Group, a collective of ex-Soviet artists, writers and film makers who disavowed the culture around them and sought a zombielike artistic existence. Poplavsky believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has a personal vendetta against him, and Vladimir’s Night is a kind of artistic revenge in which the paranoid poet’s nemesis is eventually murdered. The caption for this image, which is paired with another depicting Vladimir having dinner at his summer mansion, reads: “With Vladimir is his best girlfriend. She loves him so much that she serves the meal dressed as a dog.”

sensus or outside of it. This is a landscape that is divided into arbitrary squares and painted by painters for whom the names of the places and their historical past carry no meaning.” Scala also visited the Museum on the Seam, a 15-year-old institution housed in an old military outpost in Jerusalem and whose curator and artistic director, Raphie Etgar, is a former Israeli tank commander. Still pockmarked with bullet holes and located on the old “green line” that divides Jerusalem’s Jewish and Palestinian neighborhoods, the building’s appearance and location provide an ironic counterpoint to the museum’s stated purpose: to present contemporary art “as a language with no boundaries in order to raise controversial social and political issues . . . and advance dialogue in the face of discord.” It also was one of the few museums Scala visited that shows the work of Palestinian artists.

One of the artists Frist Chief Curator Mark Scala met on his tour of Israel was Gal Weinstein, who has experimented with incorporating real life actions into his pieces. In this 2002 photo, Weinstein and an assistant are vacuuming one of his large installations of wall-to-wall carpet that represents a patch-work landscape. The photo, entitled Vacuuming the Land, underscores the physical and symbolic importance of the land to the people of Israel.

Scala’s tour also took him to the studio of Michal Rovner, a native Israeli who also has a studio in New York City. Rovner’s most well-known pieces are versions of a work called Makom, large structures constructed with the aid of Israeli and Palestinian masons using tons of uncut stones from various locations in Israel. They have been described as merger of art, architecture and archeology. On one hand, says Talia Page of the Village Voice, the mammoth pieces portray the land as a unifying force that transcends cultural differences. But the fact that the stones are held together so tenuously implies an “easy destruction [that is] purposeful,

obvious and disturbing.” While Scala was impressed with the contemporary Israeli art scene, his trip doesn’t mean an exhibition of Israeli art at the Frist is necessarily imminent. However, he said the visit introduced him to a fascinating cultural scene that he will continue to follow closely. “Our mandate [at the Frist] is to show the art of the world. You have to go see it to know it.” Like similar trips Scala has taken to Mexico, Canada and Brazil, the Israeli tour was informational. It is through such visits that Scala and other curators develop relationships with artists and museums that might one day result in an exhibition. c

It's Time to Call

Franklin Pargh Buying, Selling, or Investing Real Estate is What I do!

BY MARK SCALA, COURTESY OF THE HAIFA MUSEUM OF ART

This photo depicts four of the 1,000 small landscapes in the installation by Art Espionage, a group of Israeli artists that includes Lola Ben Alon, Sharon Yabo Ayalon, Keren Mor, Amit Matalon, Menashe Noy, Daniel Shoshan. The work is “an attempt to detach the Israeli landscape from myths and ideological baggage.”

Franklin Pargh BY MARK SCALA

The Museum on the Seam is located on a former military outpost on the dividing line between East and West Jerusalem. It exhibits contemporary art with social and political themes.

February 2014 The Observer

C: 615-351-7333 O: 615-371-2424

Synergy Realty Network franklinpargh.com

Camps Issue!

Camps Issue! February 2014

February 2014

The Observer February 2014

Harpeth Hall: Exceed your expectations Calling all artists, athletics, scientists, and more. Harpeth Hall offers another summer full of weeklong camps for girls ages 4 through high school. Experience Harpeth Hall this summer and go beyond your expectations. For more information or to register, visit Harpeth Hall’s website at www.harpethhall.org.

Watkins summer opportunities include youth camps, teen workshops and a pre-college program.

THEY SEE FREE SWIM. YOU SEE FRIENDSHIP. WE SEE ONE HAPPY CAMPER. Start your child’s “summer of a lifetime” at Jewish overnight camp. From ziplines to waterskiing to singing under the stars, at camp your child can discover who they are while having a total blast. Find your perfect Jewish camp today and you might be eligible for $1000 off when you enroll. The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is pleased to offer One Happy Camper incentive grants for qualified campers through the generosity of the Foundation for Jewish Camp and local donors Shelly and Trish Krizelman. For more information and to register go to www.onehappycamper.org. Questions? Call Harriet Schiftan at 615-354-1687 or harriet@jewishnashville.org

Through the Community Education program at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, children and teens can immerse themselves in art camps and workshops throughout the summer. In June, multi-arts camps provide an enriching opportunity for children ages 5-10 to work on unique projects in media including drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, printmaking, textiles and more. Children from 11 and up can focus on a specific medium, project, or theme in special topics camps ranging from comics to stop-motion animation to ceramics. Teen workshops invite high school students ages 14 and up to engage in intensive 1- and 2-day experiences centered on particular topics and media like silkscreen printmaking, sewing, mixed-media painting, and book arts. Camps and workshops run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and materials are included with tuition. Register by March 3 for early bird discounts, and be sure to check out the sibling discounts and scholarship opportunities as well. Dress for mess, pack a lunch, and take advantage of these opportunities for fun, stimulation and joy of making art in Watkins’ state-of-the- art studios. In July, Watkins offers a three-week pre-college program for motivated high school students who want to experience the life and culture of an art college. Students choose one of six concentrations (film production, film editing, drawing and painting, graphic design, interior design or photography) and earn college credit and even a scholarship to attend Watkins. Applications are due April 25. For details on these programs, go to watkins.edu/community.

MBA offers a variety of summer camps and leagues for sports, academics, enrichment

OneHappyCamper.org

Montgomery Bell Academy offers more than 100 different camps, classes, and sports leagues for rising kindergarteners through high school boys and girls. The All-Sports Camp, a one-week all-day camp for boys in 1st – 7th grades, highlights the summer season. At All-Sports Camp, children participate in a number of fun Continued on page 11

Frist Center for the Visual Arts

2014

Imagine! Create! Discover!

Discover a world of creativity at Frist Center Summer Art Camp! Sculpture, drawing, animation, photography, and so much more. Our weeklong, age-appropriate classes are designed to be fun and educational for kids ages 5 to 18. No art-making experience is necessary. Registration begins January 27 for Frist Center members and February 10 for non-members. Camps begin the week of June 9 and end the week of July 21.

Learn more at fristcenter.org/summerartcamp 919 BROADWAY

February 2014 The Observer

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Continued from page 10 sports throughout the day. Lunch is provided. MBA also offers weekly camps for: baseball, basketball, football, golf, dodge ball, lacrosse, wrestling, soccer, tennis, rifle, fishing, and more. In addition to sports camps, MBA offers a full summer of enrichment camps. Legos with Camp Brick along with Mr. Bond the Science Guy are two camps that are very well attended. Other popular enrichment camps include: LEAD, Ms. Biz Entrepreneurial, Summer Science Experience, Theater, Cooking, Music, Mathemagic, and Improv. MBA will host two sessions of Driver’s Ed on campus through Brentwood Driver Training. A great selection of Co-ed Academic Prep Classes returns with courses for debate, writing, math, language, and study skills. Finally, MBA will continue to host several fun summer sports leagues on campus. The premier lacrosse league in Nashville returns for another season in June and July. The 7-on-7 soccer leagues continues to grow with competitive players from both middle school and high school. And the 7-on-7 football league will return after a successful debut season. For more information, please visit www.montgomerybell.edu/camps.

Camp Davis at the GJCC: Getting kids dirty since 1930! Camp Davis at the GJCC is ready for another great summer of playing in the dirt and cooling off in the pool. With a huge variety of camp programs to offer, Camp Davis has something for everyone. Among the favorites that will return in the upcoming summer are Project Runway, Circus Camp, Lego Builders and Playground Palooza. New this year are Photography Camp, Green Thumbs Club, Camp Sababa and an exciting new partnership with Nashville Children’s Theatre for a new and improved theater camp. There are some exciting new changes with traditional camps as well as the ever popular chugs (choices) as new options are introduced as well as some wonderful new instructors. Check out the new and improved LIT (Leaders in Training) and CIT (Counselors in Training) programs led by BBYO and Asst. Camp Davis Director Sheri Rosenberg. With more leadership training and off-site trips each week, these programs will not only be a blast, they’re less expensive. You heard it right: The price has dropped. LIT is only $175/week and CIT is only $150/week. Sign up for the whole summer and have a blast becoming an amazing leader. Don’t miss the fun at Camp Davis this summer.

Frist summer camps encourage artistic expression and appreciation Are you the parent of an aspiring artist? Sign them up for the Frist Center’s Summer Art Camp where they will discover a world of inspiration and creativity. Our week-long, age-appropriate classes are designed to encourage artistic expression, art appreciation, understanding, and imagination for children ages 5 to 18. Campers will explore Frist Center exhibitions, interact with original works of art and try out fun new art processes in our various programs. Each camp session closes with a weekly art show in which campers exhibit their artwork at the Frist Center for all to enjoy. Camp sessions are directly supervised by one of our experienced museum educators. No previous art-making experience is necessary. From June 9–July 25, the Frist Center’s Summer Art Camp will present 11 individual week-long programs tailored for kids ranging from ages 5–7, 8–10, 11–13, and 14–18. The Frist Center is also pleased to offer a Pre & After Summer Art Camp Program for campers ages 5–13 at an additional cost. Registration for 2014 Summer Art Camp opens Monday, Jan. 27 for Frist Center members and Monday, Feb. 10 for non-members. Frist Center members receive a discount on enrollment fees. Enrollment in Summer Art Camp is limited and programs fill early, so register early to reserve a spot in your preferred camp session. Visit www.fristcenter.org/summerartcamp to see a complete schedule and description of the camps. Contact Quinton Creasy at 615-744-4912 or qcreasy@fristcenter.org with any questions. c

camp DAVIS THE BEST CAMP IN THE CITY

For more info please contact our Camp Director, Claire Bernstein claire@nashvillejcc.org or call 615.356.7170

See what’s happening in the community. Go to www.jewishnashville.org The Observer February 2014

Grant helps make Nashville girl One Happy Camper By CHARLES BERNSEN

ast year Adam Landa’s daughter Abby got a taste of what summer camp is like during an abbreviated introductory session at Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia. She had such a wonderful time that he and his wife, Valerie, committed to sending her back for a full month-long session this summer. So when Landa discovered that subsidies were available for Nashville area children attending a full session at a nonprofit Jewish overnight camp for the first time, “I became quite proactive.” The Landas are among nine families who have been awarded grants of up to $1,000 through the One Happy Camper program, which is being funded and administered locally for the first time by the Jewish Foundation of Nashville and

Middle Tennessee in conjunction with the program’s sponsor, the Foundation for Jewish Camps. “It’s not an insignificant cost to send a child to summer camp for a full month,” Landa said. But the benefits are worth it. Aside from the personal development and lifelong friendships Abby will make, the camp provides “a Jewish environment that she doesn’t necessarily experience at school,” Landa said. And that’s the purpose of the One Happy Camper program – to provide an immersive Jewish experience for children who have not already had one. To be eligible, children must be getting ready to enter grades 1-12 and be registered to attend one of more than 150 qualified Jewish camps for at least 19 consecutive days. Among the qualified camps are some of the most popular with Nashville area children, including Camp Barney Mednitz, Camp Livingston, URJ

Goldman Union Camp Institute, URJ Camp Jacobs, Camp Darom, Camp Ramah Darom and Young Judea. A full list of camps can be found on the FJC website www.OneHappyCamper.org. The grants are not need-based. Any family can apply, and grants are available for more than one child per family. Nor does a Happy Camper grant exclude children receiving scholarships from another source. There’s still time to apply for grants.

To so parents must first enroll their child in a qualified summer camp and then go to the online application system at www.onehappycamper.org. Once the child’s camp registration is confirmed and the grant application approved, funds will be paid directly to the camp. If the family cancels the child’s registration, the funds will be returned to the foundation and the Nashville Federation. While there is no deadline, families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible while funds are available. Confirmation of the grant approval could take up to four weeks. Because the program is aimed specifically for children who are not currently receiving an immersive Jewish experience, children who attend a Jewish day school or yeshiva are not eligible. However, many Jewish camps offer scholarships for day school students. Visit www.jewishcamp.org/scholarships or contact your camp to find out more. For more information or questions about One Happy Camper, contact Harriet Schiftan at 354-1687 or harriet@jewishnashville.org. c

Financial aid available for overnight Jewish summer camp

vernight Jewish camps are a wonderful way to introduce children to the joy and celebration of the Jewish traditions. As the stories, memories and friendships built year after year, the experience helps create and maintain community for a lifetime, not just for a summer. The Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee realizes the importance of camping in building Jewish life and makes financial assistance available on a need basis for students to attend Jewish summer camps.. To request information on summer camp opportunities or for a scholarship application, call Michelle Faulkner at the Jewish Federation office, 354-1624, or email her at michelle@jewish nashville.org. All inquiries are confidential. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 28. c

February 2014 The Observer

Yofi provides Jewish camping experience for special needs kids and their families By RENEE GHERT-ZAND

t the end of every summer, Camp Ramah Darom in Clayton, GA turns into Camp Yofi, where children with autism and their families can enjoy a week of Jewish camping fun and relaxation. “For our family, Camp Yofi at Ramah Darom is an oasis,” said Melissa Ringold, a single mother of two special needs children from Pittsburgh, PA. “During our time at Camp Yofi, all we have to focus on is having fun. There are no goals, no therapies, no standards to meet. There is simply acceptance of each individual for who they are, for the joy each brings.” The camp program is designed for families with children with autism between the ages of 6 and 13, and the one-to-one staff-camper ratio ensures a high level of attention and safety. The

Camp Yofi is “an oasis” for single mother Melissa Ringold and her two special needs children.

schedule at Camp Yofi is organized so that family members (including parents, siblings, and grandparents) spend time both together and apart over the course of the week. “Some of the families who join us at camp have not taken any other vacation since their kids were born,” said Sheri Baker, director of marketing and communications at Ramah Darom. Thanks to grants and donations, Camp Yofi tuition is only $750 per family. As special education doctoral programs and special needs teachers in Jewish schools, Camp Yofi staff members are aware of the sensory needs and communication differences of children with autism, and also of the need for routine and structure to be embedded in their day. “At Yofi, every single moment of the day and night, is structured to make sure that every participant is safe and happy,” says Ringold. “The supervised

playrooms after meals, allowing adults to finish eating and even have a conversation, are a blessing.” Camp Ramah has led the way in special needs Jewish camping since 1970, and Camp Yofi is one of 14 Ramah programs for campers with disabilities nationwide. For many families, attending Camp Yofi is the first opportunity they’ve had to be part of a Jewish community. Some children with autism, even non-verbal ones, have had their b’nai mitzvah ceremonies at camp. For these families, Camp Yofi is a much welcome summer respite from the year-round challenges they face. “It feels as if a world has been created that perfectly fits our kids with autism, rather than trying so desperately hard to have our kids with autism fit into the world,” says Ringold. Registration is underway for this year’s Camp Yofi, August 6-10, 2014, at ramahdarom.org/programs/camp-yofi. c

Camp Gan Israel planning 13th summer of fun in Nashville

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& Jewish Foundation

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Yom Ha’atzmaut 66th Israel Independence Day May 6 @ the GJCC 6:30 pm

he Israeli government plans to invest more than $1 billion over the next 20 years to strengthen Jewish identity among diaspora Jews. According to a report in the Jerusalem Post, the initiative is to be developed and implemented jointly with overseas Jewish communities. It was first announced in November, but government officials did not share dollar amounts or other details at the time. The initiative is aimed at Jews between the ages of 12 and 35 and will include programming in seven areas: immersive experiences, follow-up, Israel

and peoplehood education in formal institutions and informal settings, serving “the global good,” Jewish life and Israel engagement on college campuses, and the immigration of young professionals. Final recommendations by the committees composed of Israeli and diaspora members are to be ready by late February, and the budget framework is expected to be brought to the government for approval in a few months, The Post reported. Among the ideas being considered are a world Jewish peace corps, Hebrewlanguage courses in public schools in cities with large Jewish populations, the expansion of Birthright-like programs to younger age groups, and increasing financial support for Jewish summer camps. c

Yom Hazikaron Ceremony Day of Remembrance for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers May 4 @ Temple Ohabai Sholom 4:30 pm

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JTA REPORT

save the date

Israel to invest $1 billion to boost Jewish identity in diaspora

bring events to the children, such as magic shows, carnivals and pony rides – all taking place at the new Genesis Campus for Jewish Life. CGI Nashville will be offering two

reflect its theme. An example of this creative curriculum planning is the charity-themed week. Throughout the day, the children create little wooden charity boxes, enjoy a penny hunt, and bake edible charity boxes. Tiechtel attributes the camp’s success to a strategy of “creating an exciting environment, in which lessons come alive and kids have a great time.” The camp goes to enormous lengths to

one-week sessions this summer from July 21 through August 1.The camp offers scholarships, sibling discounts and hot lunches daily. Registration is now open. All those who apply before March 1 will receive a free Camp T-shirt. As part of the largest and fastest growing network of Jewish day camps in the world, CGI earned its reputation and popularity in Nashville for its creative, multi-faceted program and caring, enthusiastic staff members. The children at CGI Nashville experience amazing friendships, spirit, and happiness, and loads of wonderful memories. The children receive a truly enjoyable and unforgettable Jewish experience that strengthens their Jewish pride and identity. For more information or to register please visit www.chabadnashville.com, or call 615-646-5750. c

lthough the days are cold and short, Camp Gan Israel Nashville (CGI) is already planning for the warm and sunny days of summer and an exciting Jewish day camp experience for children in the Nashville Jewish community. CGI Nashville is celebrating its 13th year in Nashville as part of the largest network of Jewish damps, with over 500 locations worldwide. “Summer is a critical time in a child’s life, a successful summer camp experience is more than a break from studies to let loose, every activity is a major learning experience,” says Esther Tiechtel, director of CGI Nashville. “Our program is designed to let our camper’s minds run wild, enjoying nature, crafts, sports and water activities, while building character and responsibility in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.” Each day of camp has a theme, such as Shabbat or Israel. All of the activities during the course of that day

OF NASHVILLE AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE

details to follow; for questions contact hadar@jewishnashville.org

The Observer February 2014

OPINION The Rabbis’ Corner Right of marriage is for everyone By RABBI SHANA R. MACKLER

e are living in a remarkable time. Every day I am both heartened by the progress made across the globe for marriage equality and disheartened by the painful, hateful rhetoric against it. I believe in the separation of church and state, and that this does not have to be a religious issue at all. Americans have the option of a civil secular wedding. But this issue has been brought into the realm of religion. To be honest, I am tired of our texts being used to promote that which is anathema to our understanding of our faith. As a believer, I wish I had a pulpit big enough and a microphone loud enough to say to those who want traditional biblical marriage to be the law for all time: Really? The Bible describes marriages between not just a man and woman but also a man and women or concubines, an attacker and his victim, a soldier and a prisoner of war, and a man and his slave. We should be careful what we wish for. It is true that it takes matter from a male and a female to make a baby. What is understated is that it does not necessarily take a male and female to rear a baby. Many homosexual couples raise wonder-

ful stable children every single day. I should know. I am one of those children. But marriages are more than just coupling for the sake of procreRabbi Shana R. ation. There are social, economic and health Mackler benefits associated with that legalized, sanctified commitment. Not to mention love. Society will not fall apart if you recognize another’s rights, if you acknowledge that pushing boundaries does not dilute your faith but strengthens it. Marriage is not a commodity or value that diminishes when more people participate. Anti-gay sentiment is the last legitimate bigotry available, legislated and legalized. Children have died from this sort of bullying and painful hateful environment. Facing this struggle, my dear friend who is in a gay relationship, a father of an adopted child, responded: “Now I guess someone else has to sit in the back of the bus.” This is more than a religious issue. This is a civil rights issue. It is a civil rights issue primarily because people, all people who are consenting adults, should be afforded the civil secular right to marry the person they choose – and they should be afforded every benefit and responsibility there-

in. There is nothing more offensive than debasing an entire population by stereotype and fear. As a people, we are familiar with that kind of bigotry when fear rears its ugly head. I am personally and religiously offended by those who become fearmongers and disrupters for their own agendas, twisting the truth and allowing bigotry, hate and prejudice to pervert faith, religion, love and equality. If we truly believe each individual was created in the image of the Divine, we should know better than to disparage those walking breathing loving divine images. Rabbi Mark Schiftan and I had the honor of officiating at the first same-sex wedding held at The Temple. That was our right. If clergy feel pressure to officiate at these ceremonies, they should refuse. And, if clergy choose not to officiate at a same-sex marriage, so be it. If they want to declare religious ceremonies out-of-bounds, so be it. Inside their churches and synagogues and mosques, religious leaders can and should decide where they stand and how they practice. But to legislate this narrow religious view as civil law and license is an affront to those of us who are religious and who do not see the world and our fellow human beings as less than whole and deserving. Stripped of all religious sentiments

and concerns, no matter how one feels about homosexuality, we cannot deny the reality that these laws, these frightening amendments and propositions are systematically removing civil rights. And that is what needs to be fought. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves, and cannot long retain it.” Many people are discomfited by our changing and evolving world. The first Jew, Abraham, had to break from all that was familiar to him in order to be the father of a new nation. The basis of that new society was to be justice, compassion and social responsibility. Our whole faith is predicated on Abraham's evolving actions out in the world and in his own tent. Abraham took the first step on this journey, the journey we are still on, as the seed of a new people whose values are rooted in justice and righteousness. When we do this work for justice and righteousness personally and globally, all of our actions intertwined help us be that light, be that blessing we are called upon to be. c Shana R. Mackler is rabbi at The Temple (Congregation Ohabai Sholom). The Rabbis’ Corner is a regular monthly commentary on current events and Jewish values that rotates among the Nashville area’s congregational rabbis.

A Jewish education at Akiva is the right choice By BEN DOOCHIN

any might suspect that I joined the board of the Akiva School because Uzi Yemin, our board president, asked me, and he is a hard person to refuse. Uzi is indeed persuasive, but he is not Don Corleone. This was an offer that I could have refused. Fact is I was thrilled that he asked. I had recently finished a series of books, including Crash Course in Jewish History by Ken Spiro, Out of the Depths by Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and The Prime Ministers by Yehuda Avner, all of which hammered home what I had known all along but not fully acknowledged: There have been many Jews before me who paid a great price for the privilege of being Jewish and

educating their children in the ways of their forefathers. Nashville, in 2013, is a place and time in which we enjoy a level of religious tolerance that the main characBen Doochin ters in the aforementioned books could not have imagined. We don’t need to pay the great price paid by our grandparents and great-grandparents. All we need to do is make a commitment to teach our children. No one is threatening us, or worse, if we educate our children about Judaism, if we send them to Akiva School. We have many fears about the consequences of taking that step when, in fact, we should be overwhelmed by the benefits our children will reap from such a choice.

February 2014 The Observer

I’ve been as guilty as anyone else. My wife and I have three kids, ranging in age from 14 to 24. When my oldest was prekindergarten age, we looked at and were impressed by Akiva. But when our son was accepted to USN, we jumped. (I jumped. Tish was considering Akiva in a big way.) Kindergarten was the easiest entry point for admission at USN, and we weren’t going to chance non-admission down the road. So yes I’m a hypocrite. We can at least take that off the table. Let’s get to your objections, the first of which is the same as mine was when Arthur and Lisa Perlen asked me to consider Akiva for my son, Justin, 19 years ago. • “My child won’t get into USN/Ensworth/MBA/etc.” The truth is just the opposite. These schools love our kids. Talk to the headmasters. Talk to the admission counselors. They will tell you that Akiva kids are well prepared and that they love to have them at their schools. For the past few years, all of our graduates have been accepted to their school of choice. • “My child will be too Jewish/will know more than me/will bug me about keeping kosher, etc.” Akiva has families from all five Nashville congregations in this city. About a third of the students are not affiliated with any congregation. Our goal is to educate and perpetuate, not turn your kids against you. And besides, isn’t it pretty cool (and empowering for your child) when he or she teaches you something new? • It’s too expensive. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants. • I don’t want my child in a class

with fewer than 15 kids for socialization reasons. I’ll give you that one. But that concern is being aggressively addressed. The board and this administration have made strong commitments, financially and in other ways, to increase the number of students that could benefit from an Akiva education. The flip-side of this concern, of course, are the benefits associated with the individualized attention that your child will receive in this setting. Even as we continue to grow, we are committed to making sure that each child receives that same attention. I am very happy with the education that my children have received at USN. It prepares them well for college in a nurturing environment that fosters academic excellence, free-thinking and tolerance. The teachers are well-trained, caring, and committed. Akiva provides all of that with huge additional benefits. At the risk of starting an Akiva brag-athon, I will mention the proven advantages of being bilingual at a young age, the performance of the fourth- through sixthgraders who, as a group, scored in the 92nd percentile in math and reading standardized tests nationally last year, or my two memorable years at Akiva in the 1970’s before I began USN (then Peabody) in the eighth grade. If I’ve piqued your interest, take another look. You deserve to see it. Call Marci Rosenblum at Akiva School, 615432-2552, to schedule a tour for your child. c Ben Doochin is a native of Nashville and joined the Akiva School Board of Trustees in 2013.

OPINION “I condemn with the strongest language any act of terrorism” By IMAM OSSAMA MOHAMED BAHLOUL

s a result of my active social life, I have come across a variety of religious dialogues, most of which have been very valuable. I have been taught to approach these dialogues so that I might see the beneficial side of a question without being skewed by the person’s intention. Nor do I base my answer on whether it will make the inquirer happy or upset. I believe that without having an honest dialogue, we cannot achieve tranquility within ourselves or benefit from a society that promotes religious pluralism.

In the holy Quran (49:13), God says: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may one another. Imam Ossama know Indeed, the most noble Mohamed Bahloul of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Aware.” One of the questions that I often receive regards my position toward terrorism. It is a simple question to answer because speaking against terrorism is a religious duty. God summarized the mission of Prophet Mohamed by saying: And

Editorial board chair explains events that led to imam’s column By DR. FRANK H. BOEHM

ast October The Temple sponsored a trip with three busloads of its members and several other community members to the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. The purpose of the trip, as explained by Rabbi Mark Schiftan, was “to stand with those of another minority faith community whose First Amendment rights have been challenged on extremely xenophobic grounds.” When asked what was in it for our Jewish community, Rabbi Schiftan said, “What’s in it for us is the determination not to be silent, silenced or bullied or intimidated into doing nothing. What’s in it for us is a tangible measure of how we respond to hatred, even as applied to groups, whose views on the Middle East might differ from our own. What’s in it for us is the hope that others might do the same for us. And, perhaps, it will be the beginning point of some kind of friendship and relationship.” I believe Rabbi Schiftan made a bold and courageous commitment to the goal of showing support for the Muslim community and decided that I wanted to be one of the members of our congregation to go to Murfreesboro that October Sunday afternoon. I also decided that since there was to be a question and answer session, I wanted to ask one particular question. I carefully crafted my question so as to be exact and to the point. After opening statements by Imam Ossama Mohamed Bahloul and Rabbi Schiftan, questions were invited from our audience of approximately 200. I walked to the microphone. My question was as follows: “My parents left Germany to come to America in 1938 in order to escape Nazi Germany, and I was born and raised in Nashville. My father’s family perished in the Holocaust and so I am sensitive to the issue of speaking out before it is too late as occurred in Germany. Very few people were true Nazis. Many people enjoyed the return of German national pride and many others were just too busy to care. And before anyone knew it, the Nazis were so powerful they could not be stopped. “So, when I read about the many episodes of Muslims killing innocent Muslims with car-bombs or suicide belts because of sectarian dissent, I wonder: Why don’t we hear the voices of peace

loving Muslims speaking out more publically condemning this violence? Where is the moral outrage by the Muslim community openly challenging and condemning Muslims Dr. Frank H. killing innocent Boehm Muslims and where is this same moral outrage by peace-loving Muslim when Jews are killed merely because we are Jews?” Imam Bahloul responded by saying that Muslims have spoken out against this violence but that our Jewish community has just not heard them. Rabbi Schiftan responded to this statement by the imam by noting that I am chair of The Jewish Observer’s editorial board and suggesting that an opinion piece by the imam might be welcomed by the newspaper so that the Nashville Jewish community could hear his condemnation of terrorism. The imam began to work on his statement, which I received in late December. After careful review and discussion by the newspaper’s publisher, editor and the editorial board, the newspaper decided to publish Imam Bahloul’s statement and allow readers to express their opinions about it. In the spirit of honest dialogue and unity among people of all religions in our community, I appreciate Imam Bahloul’s thoughtful and forthright statement clearly condemning terrorism. There are, however, several issues and questions that arise from his condemnation of terrorism, some of which he refers to at the end of his statement. While I appreciate the seemingly strong condemnation of terrorism, I also believe that Imam Bahloul’s statement does allow for further questions. Therefore, his statement, while important, is only a beginning to forthright and intentional dialogue between our two religious communities. The Observer welcomes additional opinions and reactions from within our community in the hope that it will deepen the dialogue both within and beyond our Jewish community and, from a foundation of growing unity, forge healthy collaborations with others that strengthen our city and our collective futures. c

we have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a mercy for all mankind. In the Quran (8:61), God makes it clear that if we have a choice, peace is the answer: “But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it.” The Authentic Book of Sahih Bukhari 28 says, “Whoever has three qualities together will have gathered the faith: equity with yourself, offering peace to the world, and spending from small amounts.” Even in naming children, we are advised not to give a child the name Harb (war), although it was a very popular name at the time in Arabia. The prophet Mohamed said, “Name yourselves with the names of the Prophets … and the worst names are Harb (war) and Murrah (gloomy or bitter).” Islam even makes it clear that it is not acceptable to point a weapon in the direction of another human being even while joking. The Prophet said, "He who pointed a weapon towards his brother, the Angels will invoke a curse upon him.” This ruling is not only for human interaction but also for the relationships we have with any of God’s creations. A narration by Said bin Jubair says: “While I was with Ibn 'Umar, we passed by a group of young men who had tied a hen and started shooting at it. When they saw Ibn 'Umar, they dispersed, leaving it. On that Ibn 'Umar said, ‘Who has done this? The Prophet cursed the one who did so.’” Even when bitten by an insect, one is instructed to respond with ease: A narration by Abu Huraira in the Authentic Book of Sahih Bukhari (54: 536) says: “Allah's Apostle said, ‘Once while a prophet

amongst the prophets was taking a rest underneath a tree, an ant bit him. He therefore ordered that his luggage be taken away from underneath that tree and then ordered that the dwelling place of the ants should be set on fire. God sent him a revelation: ‘Wouldn't it have been sufficient to burn a single ant (that bit you)?’” God made the punishment for killing an innocent person so severe that if a person kills one innocent human being, he will receive the punishment equivalent to killing all of mankind. Likewise, if a person saves a soul, God will reward him as if he has saved all of mankind. Therefore, I condemn with the strongest language any terrorist act being carried out by a Muslim or non-Muslim. I find this vile and despicable act inexcusable and against what God has prescribed. I believe that there are some important questions or aspects on this topic that are rarely questioned or approached. Important questions like: How many Muslim scholars have spoken in support of a terrorist attack? What is the position or view on terrorism of the majority of the Muslim population that are interacting with society? Being realistic and practical, I believe terrorism is an unfortunate challenge that we are all facing. We must all stand together against it by drying up its resources such as ignorance, misunderstanding of religion, hopelessness, political extremism, financial struggles, isolation and the like. c Imam Ossama Mohamed Bahloul has been the spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro since 2008.

Dr. Frank H. Boehm is the chair of the editorial board of The Jewish Observer of Nashville.

The Observer February 2014

Nashville hosts teens for BBYO convention By SHERI ROSENBERG

ore than 240 teenagers from across the South were in Nashville Dec. 20-23 for a regional BBYO convention that focused on the use of social media. Athens of the South AZA of Nashville took home several programming awards as well as the award for Best Brotherhood Chapter during the banquet on the final day of the convention. Music City BBG of Nashville received a number of programming awards, including Chapter of the Year. Gracie Hoffman, a junior from Nashville, was named Member of the Year, and Mimi Hanai, a local senior, received the Leah Marks Award for her spirit and passion for BBYO.

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February 2014 The Observer

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The Cotton States Regional Convention brought together teens from chapters in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Birmingham, Huntsville and New Orleans. It began with a spirit night in which each of the 13 chapters performed a dance or song. Following Shabbat services and dinner, the delegates participated in a program about the positives and negatives of different social media applications. The convention’s keynote speaker was Rabbi Zalman Kravitz, educational director of Jews for Judaism. The teen steering committee and members of the community offered a number of sessions as well. Harriet Schiftan, planning director of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, led a session on Partnership 2000 cities and the “Get Connected” Israel program. Hadar Moskovitz, the Nashville Federations’ community schlicha, facilitated a session on advocating for Israel through the media. On Sunday the teens participated in Sports Day at the Franklin Field House, where the girls played volleyball and the boys played basketball. Both Nashville chapters came in second place. Also on Sunday regional presidents and Nashville locals, Devo Hanai and Sam Perlen, delivered State of the Region speeches. “This was my favorite convention because the programs were really revelant, and it was nice to say good-bye to all my senior friends from all over the region,” said Siona Kalil, 16 a junior at Ensworth School. Said Noah Geltzer, 15, a sophomore at Hillwood, “ I liked convention because I got to reunite with my friends from New Member Weekend last year and make new friends.” The convention also brought parents of the Nashville community together: Many helped stock the hospitality suite throughout the weekend and help run the barbecue lunch on Sports Day. Mark Freedman, executive director of the Nashville Federation; Leslie Sax, executive director of the Gordon Jewish Community Center, and Harriet Schiftan all attended the awards banquet and helped judge chapter scrapbooks. If you have any questions regarding BBYO please contact Sheri Rosenberg at sherirosenberg@bbyo.org or at 354-1659. c

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graph and one for his portfolio. The competition is part of a nationwide program of the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers that involves more than 75,000 students in grades 7-12.

B’nai Mitzvah Shoshana Kelner will be called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah on the weekend of Feb. 8 at Congregation Micah and Congregation Sherith Israel. She is the son of Pam and Shaul Kelner, the sister Shoshana of Boaz and grandKelner daughter of Gerry and Joan Ely, of Loveladies, NJ, and Rhoda and Mort Schulman of Tamarac, FL. Shoshana is a seventh grader at Ensworth School, a graduate of Akiva School, and a camper at Ramah Darom. She has a love for music and can be heard singing at every waking hour. She also is a swimmer. Shoshana was born on Tu B’Shevat (the new year for trees). For her mitzvah project she is planting trees with the Harpeth River Watershed. She is also helping to sell the Harpeth River Watershed’s specialty license plates. If you are interested in buying one, visit http://www.harpethriver.org. Shoshana also is a proud participant in the Jewish Foundation of Nashville’s B’nai Tzedek teen philanthropy program.

Births Isabella Brooke (Yaffa Bluma) Levin was born on Dec. 28 to Samantha Levin and Capt. Michael Levin in Clarksville, TN. She weighed 6 lbs.-4 oz. and was 19 inches long. Isabella is the first grandchild of Diane and Jeffrey Levin of Scarsdale, NY and Shira and Yoel Moskowitz of Lawrence, Long Island, NY. The Levins, members of Congregation Sherith Israel, live in Clarksville. Michael is a judge advocate general with the 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division of the U.S. Army at nearby Fort Campbell, KY. Samantha is a health promotion research assistant with the U.S. Army Health Command.

Mazel Tov . . . to Sharon Bell, who was recently honored with a Legacy Award by Women in Numbers (WIN), a non-partisan political organization established to engage, encourage and endorse women in elected public office. Bell, president of Four Square Creative, an editing and design firm for authors, was one of four from board members recognized last fall for their roles in the organization and the Nashville community. Aside from serving on more than 25 non-profit boards throughout her career, Bell was a founding member of WIN and served on the board for 19 years, making her the longest continuous member. Others receiving the Legacy Award were Connie Brookshire, Sherry Howell and Deborah Varallo, each of whom served more than 10 years on the WIN board. . . . to Garrett Mills, a 12th grade student at University School of Nashville, who won a Gold Key award for one of his photographs in the 2014 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Competition. He also won two honorable mentions, one for another photo-

Ira Stein dove for the University of Iowa three decades ago.

. . . to Ira Edward Stein, who was inducted into the Chattanooga Regional Jewish Hall of Fame by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga. Ira was honored for his dedication and excellence in the sport of diving in high school and college. He won the AAU National Championship for boys 14 and under on the 3-meter board and was fifth on 1-meter board in 1979. He was a high school All American in 1978, 1981, and 1982 at The McCallie School and eventually earned a scholarship to the University of Iowa, where he dove for four years. In 1985 he tried out for the U.S. Maccabi Team and was first alternate for the 12th Maccabiah. In his senior year at Iowa, he was 17th at NCAA Championships on the 1-meter board. Ira received his honor at a ceremony on Jan. 8 in the presence of his wife of 23 years, Leslie; his daughter Hannah, a freshman at the University of Maryland; his daughter Talia, a freshman at University School of Nashville, and other family members and friends. At the ceremony he spoke about how his participation in diving taught him the discipline and dedication to succeed in other endeavors, including the medical training that led to his current position as a gastroenterologist at the Frist Clinic at centennial Hospital.

Sympathy . . . to the family of Elaine Goldblatt, who died Nov. 22 at the age of 96. A native New Yorker, she lived the last few years of her life in Nashville with her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Robert Begtrup. She was an avid swimmer and reader and loved doing The New York Times crossword puzzles. Elaine also enjoyed doing hospital volunteer work and was honored for her years of service at Booth Memorial Hospital in Queens. She was a Life Member of Hadassah. A graduate of Hunter College in New York, she became a language translator and then a school teacher. She was the widow of Marvin Goldblatt of Denver, CO. In addition to her daughter Barbara, she is survived by two sons, Michael (Gloria) Goldblatt and William (Judy) Goldblatt; eight grandchildren, Eric and Mark Goldblatt, Armin, Mageina, Rebecca and Gavi Begtrup, and Alex and Marissa Goldblatt, and five great-grandchildren,

Sadie, Noah, Aurora, Eliana, and Delilah. Elaine was a grateful recipient of the elder music program started by Jewish Family Services of Nashville. . . . to the family of Lois Kuhn Fox, 90 died peacefully on Dec. 22 at her Nashville home. She was the beloved wife of Gilbert S. Fox, her devoted companion of 70 wonderful years. She is also survived by sons Gilbert S. Fox III (Joyce) of Nashville, Lee K. Fox (Rosalie) of Dorset, VT, and Kenneth H. Fox (Laurel) of Charleston, SC. She was the adored grandmother of Jenifer Fox Romps (Dennis) of Leesburg, VA.; Dana Fox and Karen Fox Elwell (Kenneth), both of Denver; Daniel Fox and Nathaniel (Gabriela) Fox, both of San Francisco, and Hilary Fox of Elmira, NY, and great-grandmother of Jason Romps and Zac Romps, both of Leesburg. She is also survived by her sister, Selma Kuhn Goldstein of Chicago. In addition to her parents, Theresa and Lee Kuhn, she was preceded in death by her sister, Miriam Kuhn Weinstein of Nashville. The family gratefully acknowledges the loving care provided by her companions, Rose Reffegee, Dorothy Dunn, Emma Biggs and Katrina Thomas in addition to the Alive Hospice personnel. Born on May 20, 1923, Mrs. Fox was a lifelong resident of Nashville. She attended Metro public schools, Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois. She gave generously of herself as a volunteer, mentor and philanthropist. Her values in life were justice, trust, individuality, courage and passion. She was an active volunteer with many important Davidson County non-profits, including the South Street Community Center, Grace M. Eaton Family Care Center, the Head School Day Care Center, the Salvation Army, Nashville Symphony, TNT, the Frist Center, League of Women Voters and Council on Aging. A lifetime member and religious school teacher at Temple Ohabai Sholom, Mrs. Fox took great pride in her Jewish faith and heritage. She was known as a hard worker on behalf of area and national organizations such as the National Women's United Jewish Appeal, Joint Distribution JDC, Jewish Education Services of North America, the National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, Jewish Welfare Fund, Akiva Day School, Hadassah, ORT, Gordon Jewish Community Center and Tri Arts Club. She was the recipient of the Sage Award presented by Council on Aging, the Chesed Award presented by Nashville Jewish Family Service and many others. An avid traveler, Mrs. Fox and her husband participated in more than 100 educational programs in the United States and around the globe sponsored by Elderhostel, the Jewish Welfare Board, the Tennessee Conference of Christians and Jews, and other centers of learning. She had a deep appreciation of diverse cultures, whether experiencing their varied traditions, marveling and collecting their exceptional art, appreciating their architecture, understanding their complex histories or sampling their unique cuisines. She loved Israel and she visited it under many auspices. While a citizen of the world, she was rooted in her cherished family, dear friends, and the larger Nashville community. Her several causes and interests included theater, music, golf, tennis and playing cards. Her life was full and she savored it

to the end. She enjoyed life and hoped the same for all those she loved. She filled our lives with love and joy and will be sadly missed. Funeral services were on Dec. 24 at The Temple with burial at The Temple cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lee and Theresa Kuhn Social Action Fund at The Temple or to Alive Hospice Nashville. . . . to the family of Stephen Howard Friedman, 70, of Brentwood, who died Dec. 17. He is survived by his daughters, Ali Friedman Zola and Melissa Friedman; grandchildren, Zackary, Joshua, Matthew, Julia and Emily; brother, Mark Friedman (Sandy), and sister, Lora Knee (Tom). The service was Dec. 20 at Congregation Micah. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.Lbda.org. . . . to the family of Jean Klein, 81, of Lebanon, TN, who died on Jan. 13. Born in Akron, Ohio, she graduated with honors from Oklahoma State University in English literature with continued graduate studies in library Science. She was honored for dedicated and conscientious public service by the town of Berwyn Heights, MD. Retired from the Prince Georges County library system in MD where she worked at the Laurel and Hyattsville branches. After retirement, she moved to Lebanon and continued as a volunteer for the Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro for 20 years. She also enjoyed solving advanced acrostic and crossword puzzles and playing serious Scrabble with numerous friends. Jean owned and piloted her own Cessna where she enjoyed introducing friends and family to flying. She was preceded in death by her son Michael Klein. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Alan, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel; son, David (Melissa); daughter, Diane (Zvi Manas); daughter-in-law, Jennifer Klein, and two grandsons, Jason, an Air Force airman first class, and Matthew. Per Jean's wishes her ashes will be spread from an antique biplane over the runway where she lived. The memorial date will be planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, Jean asked that donations be made to Linebaugh Public Library (105 W Vine St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130). . . . to the family of Arnold Lefkovitz, 84, who died on Jan. 20. He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly. Survivors include his children, Steve (Judy) Lefkovitz and Leslie (Howard) Kirshner, both of Nashville, and Marcie (Bobby) Bashuk of Atlanta, and grandchildren, Jay Lefkovitz, Marcy Lefkovitz, Alison (Chuck) Shindledecker, Andrea (Kevin) Falik, Jamie Kirshner, Mark Bashuk, Andrew Bashuk and Allie Bashuk. He is also survived by his sister, Phyllis (Ralph) Gordon of Nashville, and his friend and companion, Linda Bradley of Cookeville. Services were at The Temple with burial in West End Synagogue Cemetery. Donations may be made to the American Heart Association of Greater Nashville, the Nashville School of Law or the charity of the donors choice.

In Remembrance The unveiling for Lena Pritikin will be at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 16 at the West End Synagogue Cemetery.

The Observer February 2014

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around the town Gerstle leading book discussion at The Temple on racial justice in America The Temple’s Book Discussion Series continues this month with Dr. Gary Gerstle, the James G. Stahlman Professor of American History at Vanderbilt University. Gerstle’s three-session discussion, which began last month, is on Michelle Alexander’s New York Times bestseller The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. It explores the ties between Judaism, civic responsibility, and a new movement for racial justice in America. The last two discussion sessions are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13.

To access the Community Calendar, go to www.jewishnashville.org and click on “Calendar.” Every community event is listed for your convenience.

February 2014 The Observer

PJ Library planning two events this month PJ Library will hold a joint program this month with Sifriyat Pijama, its Hebrew-language counterpart, in celebration of Tu B’shevat. Often referred to as “the New Year for trees,” Tu B’shevat is associated with ecological awareness and tree planting. The PJ Library program, from 3-4 p.m. Feb. 2 at the GJCC, will include fun stories, crafts and, of course, snacks. On Saturday, Feb 8 please join us – in your pajamas - at 6:30 p.m. at The Temple for a Pajama Havdalah. We will close Shabbat with a beautiful service led by Rabbi Joshua Kullock and enjoy music with Lisa Silver, Cantor Tracy Fishbein and Rabbi Saul Strosberg. Call up your friends and plan to attend together. Sometimes all it takes is a little nudge from a friend to get out and have a great time. Wherever they are held, PJ Library events are always open to everyone. The PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation in partnership with local Jewish communities that mails free, high-quality Jewish children’s books and music to families on a monthly basis, helping them explore the timeless core values of Judaism. If you have an idea for an event or just want to get more involved, contact Sara Hanai at pjlibrary@nashvillejcc.org.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY ACCOUNTANTS

CARE GIVER

MUSICIANS AND DJs

Cathy Werthan, CPA, PFS CPA Consulting Group, PLLC Providing traditional tax and accounting services in a non-traditional way 109 Kenner Ave., Suite 100 (615) 322-1225 • www.cpacg.com

FAMILY STAFFING SOLUTIONS, INC Stay Independent*At Home*In Charge® ‘Personal Care Assistance At Its Best” 2000 Richard Jones Road Nashville, TN 37215 615-383-5656 208 Uptown Square Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-848-6774 119 McGrew Street, Suite A Shelbyville, TN 37160 931-680-2771 309 North Jackson St. Tullahoma, TN 37388 931-222-4080 109 Holiday Court, Suite C-8 Franklin, TN 37067 615-472-1563 www.familystaffing.com

BLUE TONE MUSIC Jewish Wedding Ceremonies The Nashville Blue Tones Party Band DJ Services. 615-352-6358 www.BlueToneMusicUSA.com

HOME COMPUTER REPAIR

ORTHODONTISTS

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APPLIANCES ELECTRONIC EXPRESS now carries a full line of home appliances as well as consumer electronics! We have the brands you know and trust: Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, General Electric, Frigidaire, and LG. Count on Electronic Express to help you make the best choice. Nobody beats our prices. Free basic delivery and pick-up of your old appliances with this ad. Available at any of our 16 stores. Visit us on the web at www.electronicexpress.com for a location near you. HERMITAGE LIGHTING GALLERY Lighting • Appliances • Hardware Custom Cabinetry and Baths We Light Up Your Life! 615-843-3300 www.hermitagelighting.com

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

A. JOEL GLUCK, DDS, MS Specialist in Orthodontics Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics Green Hills 269-5903 2002 Richard Jones Road, Ste. A-200 www.drgluck.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

YOUR HOME HANDYMAN Rich Adler, Small Job Specialists. Free estimates, Excellent references. 615-646-4900 or 615-972-3093 cell Natcheztrace100@aol.com

INSURANCE

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

FRIDRICH, PINSON & ROTHBERG Jamie Rothberg 3825 Bedford Ave. Suite 203 Ph 327-9105 Dir 277-1483 jrothberg@FPRinsurance.com

AUDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES AND HEARING AIDS TODAY Dr. Jina Scherer, Doctor of Audiology Specializes in hearing and hearing aid services. Specializing in the Lyric-extended wear device. 99 White Bridge Road, Ste. 106 615-354-8011 www.hearingaidstoday.com

HOWARD ROSENBLUM, M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Nashville Eye Center St. Thomas Hospital • Ph. 386-9200

YOUR PERSONAL COMPUTER TECHNICIAN Brian Coulam 615-266-4155 References Available brian.coulam@gmail.com

ATTORNEY

HEARING AID/ AUDIOLOGY SERVICES

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

MANAGED BENEFITS, INC. Rodney Rosenblum CLU - REBC - RHU Ruth Alexander Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Disability and Long Term Care Insurance 2000 Glen Echo Rd., Suite 113 Nashville, TN 37215 Ph. 615-371-2467 x3 • Mobile 615-300-6640 ROBINS INSURANCE Bruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Tom Loventhal; Marsha Jaffa, CIC; Van Robins, CIC Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business Insurance 30 Burton Hills, Suite 300 Ph. 665-9200 • www.robinsins.com

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

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE con’t

www.ZeitlinRealtors.com

Residential & Relocation Specialists JESSICA AVERBUCH Managing Broker, ABR, CRS, ePRO 383-0183 (bus.) • 294-9880 (cell) jessica.averbuch@zeitlinrealtors.com www.jessicaaverbuch.com LORNA M. GRAFF Broker, GRI, CRS, ABR 371-0185 (bus.) • 351-5343 (cell) lorna.graff@zeitlinrealtors.com www.lornagraff.com NAN SPELLER Broker, GRI, ABR 383-0183 (bus.)• 973-1117 (cell) nspeller@bellsouth.net

Franklin Pargh Synergy Realty Network FranklinPargh.com C. 615-351-7333

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

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

ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC. Julian “Bud” Zander, Jr., CIC Jeffrey J. Zander, CIC Michael Weinberger Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business, Long Term Care 212 Oceola, Nashville, TN 37209 356-1700 www.zanderins.com

Patricia Straus, Broker, MBA, CRS, CRS-Divorce, ABR Marketing Real Estate to a Global Clientele RE/MAX Elite www.PatriciaStraus.com pstraus@realtracs.com 615.661.4400 (o) 615.305.8465 (m)

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. Phone 615-354-1699 or e-mail carrie@nashvillejcc.org NEW & RENEWING ADS ARE SHADED

The Observer February 2014

There’s more than one way to answer the call. Not a fan of the phone? We hear you. You don’t have to pick up to donate on Tzedakah Tzunday, Sunday, February 9. It’s your call. 4 ways to give Give online at jewishnashville.org g

TText “2gether” to 51818

Stop by our community-wide fundraising event

Go old-school and pickk up the phone

& Jewish Foundation

OF NASHVILLE AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE

February 2014 The Observer