Southern Jewish Life, New Orleans, March 2023

Before my senior year of high school, I was in a summer program at Birmingham-Southern College, and one of the courses I decided to take was world religions, so I would know more about other belief systems, as I was especially curious to explore where the breaks occurred among Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Little did I know that one of the biggest gaps in my knowledge was in Judaism. Despite all my years of every Shabbat attendance, seven years at the Birmingham Jewish Day School, 12 years of religious school, five years of Jewish summer camp and two summers in Israel… it came as a shock when, in class, it was presented that we Jews refer to God as Yahweh.

Of course I knew there’s the Four Letter Name (the Tetragrammaton) that is generally regarded as having a pronunciation used by certain Witnesses, but for us, even attempting to pronounce it is a big taboo. Besides, we’re not really sure what the correct vowel sounds are — and “w” for the letter vav? Really? I had never seen the term spelled out that way. Certainly never heard that word spoken.

Nevertheless, in academia, it is commonplace, and I encountered it repeatedly while pursuing my religious studies degree at Virginia. Any professor with a bit of real-world experience would give the class a caveat that the term is, indeed, not used in the Jewish world, and if you ask someone Jewish about it, you’ll likely get a blank stare. And if you actually say it… well, we’d rather you didn’t.

But perhaps I went about it the wrong way. After all, there is a strong prohibition against saying That Name, and there’s no telling how many Jewish students are offended at it being tossed around so casually and, in a sense, erroneously. Perhaps I should have complained, and worked on getting that term removed from academia, not to mention what would happen to the professor who dared defy the taboo.

Of course, that would have been a massive overreaction, an easy target for ridicule. As stated, it’s the term used to describe the divine concept in Judaism, much as one

Southern Jewish Life is an independent Jewish periodical. Articles and columns do not necessarily reflect the views of any Jewish institutions, agencies or congregations in our region.

Maccabi USA leader praises Birmingham Games

I have had the honor of attending many Maccabi competitions around the world. From Israel to Australia to South America, Europe and the JCC Maccabi games around the United States and Canada, I have logged many miles seeing how sports can be a vehicle to help build Jewish identity, especially in our young.

would use the terms “trinity” for Christianity or “Allah” for Islam. The fact that we really don’t use the term is irrelevant. And academia isn’t generally interested in indulging those with taboos, it is about study and learning.

I felt honored to come to Birmingham for the first time and fell in love with not just the city but the people. You have taken Southern hospitality to a new level with your kind and caring approach to the JCC Maccabi Games.

All this came to mind as word came out recently about an art professor at Hamline University in Minnesota, who was fired for showing an artwork that depicted Mohammed.

the professor was let go without any hearing, because of her “Islamophobic” presentation (the term used by university officials). The academic presentation was labeled a bias and hate incident.

The school’s president co-signed an email saying that respect for Muslim students “should have superseded academic freedom.”

Led by the Sokol and Helds, your hard-working volunteers were wonderful. They partnered with your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a huge hit. I want to take this opportunity as executive director of Maccabi USA to say thank you on behalf of everyone involved.

Between the reaction to Salman Rushdie and the Charlie Hebdo cartoons, a lot of people think that it is taboo to depict Mohammed in any form, and for a lot of Muslims, that is the case. There is a general prohibition against depicting people in art, which is why mosques don’t have portraits or other artwork of people or animals, just geometric shapes and calligraphy.

A religion professor who teaches Islam wrote a piece for the student newspaper describing the historical context of the artwork and images of Mohammed; the essay was removed from the paper’s website after two days.

I had just returned from the 20th World Maccabiah games in Israel with a U.S. delegation of over 1100, who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes from 80 countries. Back in July the eyes of the entire Jewish world were on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. This past month with 1000 athletes and coaches from around the world being in Birmingham, you became the focal point. Everyone from the Jewish community and the community at large, including a wonderful police force, are to be commended. These games will go down in history as being a seminal moment for the Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish memories.

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On Charlottesville

That ban does not come from the Quran, but was instituted so Mohammed does not become an object of worship, as a reaction against how Christian icons were viewed. It is also a way to respect the Prophet. We have a similar tradition in not knowing where Moses is buried, lest it possibly become a shrine for worship.

When the controversy became public, many Muslim professors across the country who also use that image in class said they don’t bother to give any trigger warning in advance. Is this a case of university officials being, to use another religious metaphor, more Catholic than the Pope? Or is it a symptom of how so many universities are fearful of upsetting what they see as marginalized communities, for fear of the activist backlash that will follow?

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Editor’s Note: This reaction to the events in Charlottesville, written by Jeremy Newman, Master of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Theta Colony at Auburn University, was shared by AEPi National, which called it “very eloquent” and praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at Auburn University and… the leadership they display on their campus.”

The Jewish community used to have a similar ban on images. It is said that Moshe Chafetz (one of my ancestors) is the first person to have a portrait of the author in a Hebrew-language book, his 1710 work Malechet Machshavet. Tellingly, most extant copies of the first printing have that page ripped out.

But not only is the ban on images not universal in Islam today, it has not always been so historically. It is more prevalent among Sunnis than Shias, and there is a whole genre of Islamic art with such depictions.

supremacists would like to see pushed back into a corner and made to feel lesser. We stand with and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, who was there standing up to the face of this hate.

After all, this is the age of safe spaces, trigger warnings — as evidenced by where university officials rank academic freedom versus feelings for what ultimately wasn’t even a radical presentation.

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White supremacy has been a cancer on our country since its beginning, threatening its hopes, its values, and its better angels. The events that took place in Charlottesville represented the worst of this nation. Those who marched onto the streets with tiki torches and swastikas did so to provoke violence and fear. Those who marched onto the streets did so to profess an ideology that harkens back to a bleaker, more wretched time in our history. A time when men and women of many creeds, races, and religions were far from equal and far from safe in our own borders. A time where Americans lived under a constant cloud of racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The events that took place in Charlottesville served as a reminder of how painfully relevant these issues are today.

The artwork shown in the class was Persian, commissioned by a Muslim king in the 14th century and depicts Mohammed receiving the first revelation from Gabriel. It is regarded as an important work of Islamic art, certainly not in the same galaxy as a Charlie Hebdo cartoon.

Cognizant of potential controversy, the Hamline professor noted in the course description, which students supposedly read before signing up, that the course included art depicting Mohammed and Buddha. She also made that session of the online class optional, told the students when it was coming up, and minutes before showing it she gave a headsup so anyone who decided at the last minute that they did not want to be there to see and discuss it could turn off the presentation.

Auburn’s Alpha Epsilon Pi stands with the Jewish community of Charlottesville, and with the Jewish people around the country and around the world. We also stand with the minorities who are targeted by the hate that was on display in Charlottesville. We stand with the minorities of whom these white

We recognize the essence of the American narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid ourselves of such corners, and allow those in them the seat at the table that they so deserve. It is the struggle to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” We know our work is far from finished, but we know we will not move backwards.

Still, it is interesting to contrast this to how issues involving Jewish students are handled, or more often swept aside, when blatant antisemitism, Holocaust denial, blood libels and inflammatory falsehoods are leveled at Jews, often under the banner of “legitimate criticism of Israeli policies.”

A popular book in Jewish circles currently is “Jews Don’t Count,” by a left-wing Jewish atheist, David Baddiel, who writes about how unlike other groups, Jews get glossed over when it comes to our concerns, that we are trampled upon in ways that would not be tolerated when it comes to other groups.

When men and women, fully armed, take to the streets in droves with swastikas and other symbols of hate, it is a reminder of how relevant the issues of racism and anti-Semitism are today. It is a wake-up call to the work that needs to be done to ensure a better, more welcoming country. But it should not come without a reflection on how far we’ve come.

Admittedly, my personal example at the start of this piece is quite ridiculous. But many incidents involving other groups, which are taken quite seriously, are no less so.

America was born a slave nation. A century into our history we engaged in a war in part to ensure we would not continue as one. We found ourselves confronted by the issue of civil rights, and embarked on a mission to ensure the fair treatment of all peoples no matter their skin color. Although we’ve made great strides, it is a mission we’re still grappling with today.

It would be nice if we could get to the point where the “adults in the room” would have a little backbone in the face of petty grievances and not indulge such things, reserving outrage for things that truly deserve it — and conversely, if folks would stop explaining away and excusing the more egregious slights against the Jewish community, that would be nice too.

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And yet, the head of the Muslim Student Association, who was in the class, filed a complaint with her. She apologized to him, but did point out that she gave numerous opportunities to not see the image. Nevertheless, Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor

America was also born an immigrant country. As early as the pilgrims, many groups and families found in the country the opportunity to plant stakes, chase their future, and be themselves. Few were met with open

Documenting this community, a community we are members of and active within, is our passion. We love what we do, and who we do it for.

interesting bits & can’t miss events

Broadway to New Orleans: Musical Weekend at Gates of Prayer

Original Broadway Shabbat debuts March 31

Shabbat will go Broadway at Gates of Prayer in Metairie on March 31 as Cantorial Soloist Jordan Lawrence debuts her “Broadway Shabbat” service, blending show tunes with the Shabbat evening service.

She will be joined by the Gates of Prayer choir and the Shabband for the 8 p.m service.

Because of her musical theater background, “this is something I have been wanting to do since I was interviewing” for the position, but because of the pandemic “it has just been an idea.”

The concept is to match show tunes with Shabbat prayers, trying to find thematic complements between the two. “A lot of shows are represented,” Lawrence said, as she tried to use numerous genres of musical theater, but sticking with a lot of classical works.

She finally put together a spreadsheet of songs and prayers that would work together, and “in the last several months put it together” so it could be done this year.

The service will start with an opening medley. The prayer “Mah Yafeh Ha-Yom,” “How Good is the Day,” is set to the tune of “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin” from “Oklahoma.”

“Hashkiveinu,” about the shelter of peace, has the theme of “No One is Going to Harm You.” “Ma’ariv Aravim,” “who brings on evening,” is paired with “Some Enchanted Evening.”

One pair that isn’t thematic is “L’cha Dodi” to “Mama Mia” from ABBA. And there are some tunes that need no changes, like “Sabbath Prayer” from “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Other featured tunes come from “The Sound of Music,” “Hamilton,” “Grease,” “A Chorus Line,” “Les Mis” and “Wicked.”

After the debut, she can envision other congregations using the service. “I’m really looking forward to sharing this service with the community,” she said.

GatesFest returns on April 2

Marc Broussard, Cowboy Mouth and the Preservation Hall All-Stars have been announced as headliners for the third GatesFest Music and Arts Festival, which will be held on April 2 at Gates of Prayer in Metairie. Also featured will be the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Funk Monkey featuring Arsene DeLay, and Cap Carter, an Australian singer and songwriter making his U.S. debut.

Presented by the congregation in cooperation with Wells Fargo and Humana, the festival will feature food from top local restaurants, an Artist Village of over 20 local and regional artists, a Family Fest Area and a full day of music. Gates open at noon and the festival will continue until 7:30 p.m. Krewe of Gatesfest and Composer VIP packages provide guests with private 10x10 tents in prime viewing areas that include a wide range of amenities, and a fully catered VIP Party with an intimate performance from one of the featured GatesFest artists the night before.

General admission tickets are $25. Children under 12 are free. Tickets are available at gatesfest.org. Proceeds from the event support Congregation Gates of Prayer and the Gates Preschool.

The Gates of Prayer Preschool will also hold a Quack Attack Duck Derby. Rubber ducks can be purchased for $100, or two for $150, then decorated at GatesFest and placed into a duck pond. At 5 p.m., the ducks will “race,” with the owner of the winning duck taking half of the prize money. The other half will go to the preschool. The owner of the winning duck does not have to be present to win, or be in attendance at the festival.

Rabbi David Goldstein was honored during halftime of the Feb. 7 Tulane basketball game, an overtime win against Cincinnati. It was the second Jewish Heritage Night, sponsored by Tulane Hillel. Goldstein has been a professor at Tulane’s Jewish Studies department since the 1970s. More, page 27.

Janice Blumberg, Rabbi Edward Cohn in conversation for MSJE program

The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans is hosting a conversation with two “Southern Jewish icons,” Janice Rothschild Blumberg of Atlanta, and Rabbi Edward Cohn of New Orleans.

The free event will be on Zoom on April 13 at noon Central. “Southern Jewish Stories: Atlanta and New Orleans” will discuss the historical to the personal, touching on watershed moments in American history and the inner lives of Jewish leaders in two uniquely Southern landscapes.

Blumberg, who just turned 99, has been part of Southern Jewish history for over six decades. An Atlanta native, she entered the University of Georgia at age 15, then worked in the Panama Canal Zone during World War II for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Returning to Atlanta, she met and married the new rabbi at The Temple, Jacob Rothschild. They were a team for his 27 years on the pulpit, which included the 1958 bombing. They led plans for a 1965 dinner honoring Martin Luther King Jr. after he won the Nobel Peace Prize, the first public dinner where Blacks and whites dined together.

She became active in the arts, then went to Washington after Rabbi Rothschild died suddenly of a heart attack in 1973. She then married David Blumberg, president of B’nai B’rith in the 1970s, traveling the world for Jewish causes. He died in 1989, and she returned to Atlanta in 2009.

She has written several books, most recently her memoir, released in 2021, “What’s Next? Southern Dreams, Jewish Deeds and the Challenge of Looking Back While Moving Forward.”

Cohn is rabbi emeritus of Temple Sinai, having served there from 1987 to 2016, and has been intimately involved in Jewish life in the New Orleans region for over 30 years. He was founding chairman of the New

Orleans Human Relations Commission, president of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis and the Rabbinical Council of Greater New Orleans, and chair of the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial Project, along with numerous other roles.

In 2014, Cohn was honored with the National Urban League’s Living Legend Award, as well as with the Weiss Award from the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice. He also received a New Orleans Legend Award from Mayor Mitch Landrieu in 2017.

Bible Players bring their comedy to Metairie

Shir Chadash in Metairie will host The Bible Players for the weekend of April 14.

A Torah comedy team, the Bible Players are based out of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles, using theater and improv to bring comedy into Torah stories. They have performed in over 30 states since they were formed in 2011.

On April 14, they will lead a KabbaLOT of Laughs Shabbat at 6:15 p.m., followed by dinner and an improv workshop. Dinner reservations can be made on the Shir Chadash website.

On April 15, they will do a children’s “Feel the Tefillah” program at 10 a.m. In the main service, they will deliver a “silly sermon” around 11:30 a.m., and have a playshop after the luncheon.

At 7 p.m., there will be Cocktails, Cookies and “Unkosher” Comedy,” for ages 18 and up. Reservations are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

They will lead workshops for Shul School starting at 9 a.m. on April 16, and at 10:40 a.m. there will be a community-wide family comedy show.

“Becoming Evil” author speaking in New Orleans

Social psychologist James Waller, the inaugural Cohen Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College in New Hampshire, will be in New Orleans for programs around Yom HaShoah, speaking at Gates of Prayer in Metairie and at the community Holocaust memorial program.

Waller is director of academic programs for the Auschwitz Institute for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, and is the author of six books, most notably his award-winning “Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing.”

In 2017, he was the inaugural recipient of the Engaged Scholarship Prize from the International Association of Genocide Scholars in recognition of his exemplary engagement in advancing genocide awareness and prevention.

On April 14 at 6:30 p.m., he will speak at Gates of Prayer on “The Escalating Risk of Mass Violence in the U.S.” The presentation examines what happens when identity politics prevail over democracy, when a paralysis in governance leads to a political vacuum, when de facto social segregation becomes normalized, and when questions of who we are as a society become secondary to who we are not. The talk comes with the backdrop of escalating political violence, the erosion of democratic norms and growing distrust of peaceful political processes.

There will be a dinner at 6 p.m., and reservations are requested by April 11.

On April 16, the community Holocaust remembrance will be at the Uptown Jewish Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Waller will discuss the internal and external factors that can lead ordinary people to commit extraordinary acts of evil, as outlined in his groundbreaking book.

During the program, the Holocaust Educator of the Year Award will be presented to Cassady Cooper and Samantha Burleigh for their integration of Holocaust education into the curriculum at Belle Chasse High School.

NFTY Southern holding Kallah at Jacobs Camp

The National Federation of Temple Youth’s Southern Region will have its Spring Kallah, March 31 to April 2 at the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, for grades 8 to 12.

The 1960s-themed weekend will include teens from across the region, engaging in community buiding and environmental justice-themed topics.

NFTY Southern includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, western Tennessee, Alabama except Montgomery, and the Florida panhandle.

In the United States, disaster relief, ambulance, and blood services are handled by an array of organizations. In Israel, there’s one organization that does it all — Magen David Adom. As Passover approaches, whatever crises Israelis face — including terror or rocket attacks — MDA will be there to save lives.

Support Magen David Adom by donating today at afmda.org/give. Or for further information about giving opportunities, contact 561.835.0510 or southeast@afmda.org.

afmda.org/give

Take control of your health.

Rabbi Raina Siroty will be moving to Knoxville this summer to become the rabbi at Temple Beth El. For the past six years she has led Gemiluth Chassodim in Alexandria.

There will be a Kids’ Day at the Museum, April 9 at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans, themed to the current exhibit, “God, Goats, and Pickup Trucks: Maurice Schmidt’s Visions of Texas.” The free event from 3 to 4 p.m. includes an art scavenger hunt, goat-themed craft, and Passover “goat feed” snack. The event is primarily aimed at aged 2 to 7.

Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville has instituted Bagels and Blox, a musical, hands-on program for children younger than Kindergarten. The sessions include singing, movement and holiday-themed activities, and run from 10 to 11 a.m. Families are invited to morning services at 9:30 a.m., and the religious school’s whole-school activity at 11 a.m. The classes are open to members and non-members. Upcoming classes are Passover on March 26, and Celebrating Israel on April 30.

Israeli dancing has resumed, led by Elliott and Sandy Raisen, Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at the Starlight Ballroom in Metairie.

The Jewish Women’s Circle of Chabad of Baton Rouge will have a pre-Passover resin workshop, to create a tray or Seder plate, and discuss the role of women in the Passover story. The program will be on March 30 at 6:15 p.m. at BREC Jefferson Highway Park. Reservations are $35, sponsorships are $54.

Jewish Community Day School in Metairie will host a Chocolate Seder, designed for children in pre-Kindergarten through sixth grade, but siblings are welcome. The program, March 26 at 3 p.m., is co-sponsored by JNOLA, PJ Library and Prizmah. Registration is required.

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life’s next cultural program will be “Bless Our Road: Ellie Flier in Concert,” on Zoom on March 23, 7 p.m. Central. Based in Nashville, she co-founded and leads Jewsic City, a popular monthly musical service for young professionals. She has performed at the URJ Biennial conference and at communities around the United States, Israel and Europe. Individual registration is $5. Groups can do “house events” for $25, while community organizations can sponsor and provide a link for members.

The Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families will have a Plagues and Eggs interfaith celebration of Spring holidays, April 10 at 4 p.m. at Danneel Playground.

The Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge will hold its 23rd Magical Mitzvah Day on April 30. Projects include toiletries packages for the shelters at St. Vincent DePaul, making items for local dog rescue groups, Religious School Buddies projects around the building, and preparing lunch for the rest of the volunteers.

“The Best of Enemies” will be screened at the Uptown Jewish Community Center in March 30 at noon. Based on the true story of an attempt to integrate the schools in Durham, N.C., it is a timely drama that centers on an unlikely relationship between Ann Atwater, an outspoken civil rights activist, and C.P. Ellis, a local Ku Klux Klan leader, chairing a community summit in 1971. There is no charge, and the film is open to the community. Reserve by March 27.

Temple Sinai in New Orleans will have its Casino Night on the Avenue, March 26 from 4 to 6 p.m., with a 3 p.m. patron party preceding at the home of Walton and Jeffrey Goldring. The Gala will feature music by Harry Hardin’s quartet, casino games, silent auction and raffle, and food and beverages by Elysian Events Catering.

“Innovation Embassy” established between New Orleans, Ashdod ports

Ties forged during 2022 trade mission

An Innovation Embassy has been established between the Port of Ashdod in Israel and five business organizations in New Orleans, a result of last summer’s Louisiana trade mission to Israel.

A letter of intent was signed in February to formally begin the program, which will focus on nurturing startup technologies from both locations for modernizing the operations for the trade and logistics industry sector. There will be an exploration of opportunities to collaborate in innovative projects with a focus on knowledge sharing, joint business development and potential development of dual infrastructure.

“This partnership capitalizes on legacy industries that have driven each of these economies for centuries, while leaning into the growth opportunities that emerging technologies can create for the future,” said Michael Hecht, president and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “The participating Israeli and Louisiana startups will have a unique opportunity to work with global leaders in port operations, while being exposed to growth best practices from their counterparts and entrepreneurship ecosystem leadership. This collaboration is a direct result of the visit to Israel last summer, and demonstrates the value in exploring locations that pose mutual economic benefit for each other.”

The Port of New Orleans and Port of Ashdod are global leaders in trade and logistics, each handling millions of tons in cargo each year. The Port of New Orleans is a primary gateway for international trade and commerce for the country, connecting the United States with the world through its Mississippi River access and extensive rail and highway networks. It is one of the busiest ports in the country and plays a vital role in the economic development of the Greater New Orleans region.

Similarly, the Port of Ashdod in Israel is a major hub for international trade and commerce, connecting the Mediterranean region with the rest of the world. Both ports are substantial as they provide vital infrastructure and resources to support the growth of local businesses, industries, and the economy.

Visiting port officials and startups will be integrated into the regional business community by New Orleans Business Alliance and Greater New Orleans, Inc., who will each showcase the market as a great place to do business with a supportive commercial environment.

The Ashdod Port Accelerator Program will incorporate cutting-edge

Participants in the July 2022 Israel trade mission

technology into its partnership with the New Orleans coalition, focusing on driving growth within the maritime industry in Louisiana, support promising early-stage entrepreneurs, and maximizing efficiency on the lower Mississippi River. Israeli and Louisiana companies participating in the innovation embassy include startups with the mission of improving maritime operations.

“The Port of New Orleans welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with the Port of Ashdod and our Greater New Orleans area economic development partners,” said Brandy Christian, Port NOLA president and CEO. “We share common goals in maintaining and building state-of-theart infrastructure, continuing to innovate diverse supply chain solutions, and advancing technologies to strengthen our positions as vital gateways to international commerce.”

“Louisiana has a rich history of being a logistics leader and continues to offer unparalleled infrastructure for international trade,” said Harrison Crabtree, director of the World Trade Center New Orleans. “The partnership with the Port of Ashdod ensures that Louisiana will remain competitive on the global stage, fostering a robust international trade community that supports our state’s status as the ‘gateway to North America’.”

“NOLABA is thrilled to work in collaboration with other economic development organizations and local partners in support of this alliance with the Ashdod Port Accelerator Program,” said Lynnette White-Colin, Sr. vice president of Small Business Growth at New Orleans Business Alliance. “The creation of an innovation embassy will aid in substantially increasing global economic opportunities for Port NOLA. And most exciting are the opportunities for local startups to engage in developing technological advances that will drive accelerated growth in our maritime industry and more expansive operations for the Port of New Orleans.”

“This letter of intent represents the type of collaboration between larger industry and startups that we need to move our region forward as a world class innovation hub,” said Jon Atkinson, CEO of Idea Village. “We look forward to working with the port and the other signatories to develop the type of key infrastructure that allows startups to go from prototype to full scale commercialization here in the New Orleans region.”

Bill Hines, managing partner of Jones Walker, one of the 2022 mission’s main sponsors, said “this is exactly the kind of collaboration that we hoped would develop” from the trade mission. “The people of Israel share our zest for life and desire to advance our economy, and I am optimistic that this is only the beginning of many decades of cooperation and business opportunities between New Orleans and Israel.”

Jones Walker will be the local host for visiting participants from Ashdod.

“Our trade mission to Israel was a resounding success, showcasing the power of Israeli innovation and the boundless opportunities it presents,” said Aaron Bloch, executive director of the Goldring Family Foundation Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs at the Federation. “The connections that have been forged, as showcased most recently by the port innovation center, will undoubtedly prove to be a tremendous benefit to our region.”

This partnership marks the third location for the Port of Ashdod, which already has collaborated with the Port of Barcelona and New Jersey to bring Israeli innovation to Europe and the United States.

On Feb. 8, there was a virtual Startup Showcase with New Orleans representatives and executives from eight startup companies that are part of the Ashdod innovation center. Featured companies offer solutions in security from cyber attacks and malicious software, networking communication and surveillance equipment in ways that are not affected by salt and corrosion from the air at ports, databases that replace field technical manuals, automatic inspection and cleaning of hulls to prevent biofouling, streamlined cargo quoting, and ways to store green energy.

Pictured from left to right: Alan Weintraub, Financial Advisor, First Vice President-Investments, Bari Bridges, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Steven Wetzel, Financial Consultant, Linda Hodges, Senior Registered Client Associate, Jonathan Schlackman, Branch Manager, Senior Vice President-Investments, Alan

CFP®,

Branch

Ala.-Israel Task Force to honor Chief Justice Parker, Cherokee Chief Smith Gala to mark Israel’s 75th birthday

The Alabama-Israel Task Force will honor Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker and Chief Larry Smith of the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama at an Alabama-Israel Leadership Gala honoring Israel’s 75th birthday.

The event will also mark the 80th anniversary of the historic resolution passed by the Alabama Legislature in 1943, making Alabama the first state to call for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the land of Israel.

The event will be at The Epicenter in Tanner, just north of Decatur, on April 29 at 7 p.m.

Eeki Elner, founder and director of the Israel Leadership Institute in Sderot, will present the Israel Leadership Awards, which were selected by the AITF steering committee and the ILI board. The Institute identifies, recruits, trains, mentors and nurtures the future generation of Israeli leaders, integrating its graduates into leadership positions throughout society.

In announcing the event, the AITF said they nominated the honorees “having witnessed first-hand their exceptional work and leadership on behalf of the Alabama-Israel relationship” in the case of Parker, and Smith “in bringing two indigenous peoples together.”

There will also be a special presentation to Anat Sultan-Dadon, Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast, based in Atlanta.

Parker has been chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court since 2018, having served on the court since 2004. He has been active in the Alabama-Israel relationship for years, hosting events for visiting Israeli dignitaries in his judicial office. He and his wife, Dottie, were married in Israel, and in 1995 Dottie sang “Hatikvah” at the gubernatorial inauguration of her cousin, Fob James, accompanied by the Montgomery Symphony.

In 2021, Parker contacted AITF and Church for Israel to help encourage passage of a resolution supporting Israel and condemning Hamas rocket attacks.

In October 2021, the Northeast Alabama Cherokee held a ceremony recognizing Israel and its “eternal undivided capital” of Jerusalem. The initiative was started by Seth Penn, who first brought the idea to Smith.

Because the ceremony was during Sukkot, Sultan-Dadon was unable to attend, but AITF co-founder Laura King, former national chair of the Jewish Federations of North America’s Network of small Jewish communities, represented the Consulate. A couple months later,

Sultan-Dadon attended another event to meet the tribe.

During the October ceremony, Pastor Patrick Penn of the Dwelling Place in Huntsville and the father of Seth Penn, noted that as a Zoom call was taking place among tribal leaders to discuss the Israel resolution, Parker was in Oxford at a gathering of First Nations. As chief justice, the pastor said Parker “stood up and repented to the First Nation people for the decisions that were made” by the state in the past.

The gala will raise funds for the AITF’s Alabama-Israel Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Response initiative with the Israel Leadership Institute. Through the initiative, ILI has launched several initiatives from Sderot by Gaza to Kiryat Shmona on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.

Reservations are $75, with sponsorships available at the $500 and $1,000 level. The evening includes kosher heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and doors will open at 6 p.m. for photo opportunities with the honorees.

The AITF was established in 2014 with leadership from the Christian and Jewish communities “to provide a bridge and catalyst for broader cooperative efforts and help cultivate an even stronger and expanding state-to-state relationship between Alabama and Israel for the mutual benefit of their people.”

In 2017, the AITF presented the Israel Leadership Award to Governor Kay Ivey at an event marking the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification.

American Jewish Press Association holding convention in New Orleans

The American Jewish Press Association, the professional association for the English-language Jewish press in North America, will hold its annual convention in New Orleans.

The event, which will be from July 9 to 12, generally draws about 75 or so attendees from publications, wire services and organizations. The convention highlight is the presentation of the Simon J. Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism.

This year’s convention is co-hosted by Crescent City Jewish News and Southern Jewish Life. Alan Smason of CCJN is the current national president of AJPA. Sponsorships to support the convention are available, and volunteers are welcome.

Alexandria resumes Holocaust commemorations

Alexandria is resuming its community-wide Holocaust memorial events, centered around the Holocaust memorial downtown, after a Covid hiatus.

The April 17 ceremony will start at the memorial at 6 p.m., then there will be a walk to Emmanuel Baptist Church. Featured speaker will be Ira Forman, former U.S. State Department Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, who will discuss “The How and Why Behind the Resurgence of Antisemitism 80 years after the Holocaust.”

The event will also feature music by choirs from Alexandria Senior High School and Bolton High Conservatory, and Rabbi Judy Caplan Ginsburgh. Rabbi Raina Siroty of Gemiluth Chassodim and Meyer Kaplan of B’nai Israel, will participate as well.

Leona Tate from McDonough Three joins JCDS Memphis civil rights trip

Special to SJL

The school experience of Leona Tate, one of the original New Orleans Four who desegregated Orleans Parish Public Schools in 1960, was markedly different from that of the fifth and sixth grade students from Jewish Community Day School of Greater New Orleans. Nevertheless, they have endeavored to learn more about the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement throughout this school year, and Tate has been there to help.

The day after Mardi Gras, Tate, Tremaine Knighten-Riley and Sybil Reed caravanned up the Interstate from Metairie to Memphis with six students from JCDS and two chaperones, Head of School Brad Philipson and Director of Business and Operations Janna Jackson.

Knighten-Riley is program director at the Tate Etienne Prevost Center, named in honor of Tate and the other two members of the McDonough Three that were accompanied by U.S. Marshals over 60 years ago when they integrated the student body — Gail Etienne and Tessie Provost. The McDonough 19 building was recently renovated and renamed as the TEP Center, hosting it and other community nonprofit offices on the first floor, and senior housing on the top two floors. Reed is a TEP Center board member.

Upon arriving in Memphis, the group visited with friends from Bornblum Community School in Memphis, a peer Jewish day school. The next day, everyone embarked on a tour of the Stax Records Museum to learn about the role of popular music in social change, before moving on to the centerpiece of the visit, the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, a powerful learning experience built on the site of the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. There, much of what the students had learned from their work with teacher Eliza Kase throughout the school year was brought to life.

“We are thankful that our students were able to have this experience alongside someone who not only lived through these important moments in our nation’s history, but who also continues to play an important role in social justice in our local community,” Philipson said.

After the museum, Tate went to speak at Wooddale High School while the JCDS students visited the Belz Museum of Jewish and Asian Art in downtown Memphis. The next morning, Tate rejoined them at Bornblum to speak to the students there before the group headed home.

Primary funding for this trip came from a Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Constituent Agency Block Grant.

Tally Furlow, Leona Tate, Barrett Boad, and Benjamin Posternock as Tate sees for the first time where her name appears in the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel.

Official celebration held

Michael Cohen heads new initiative at Tulane for American Jewish studies

Michael R. Cohen was formally invested in the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Chair in the American Jewish Experience at Tulane University on Jan. 17. The event also honored the establishment of the Grant Center.

Cohen also chairs the Department of Jewish Studies at the School of Liberal Arts, where he holds a Sizeler Family Professorship in Judaic Studies.

“I am so humbled and honored to be leading the Grant Center and to be holding the Grant Chair,” Cohen said. “With the resources to support initiatives that I see as vital to the field of American Jewish studies, we have been able to develop scholarly programs that address the insularity of American Jewish history and expand its relevance.”

Cohen noted the Grant Center’s collaborative research groups, public programs, student fellowships and leadership courses.

“The Center that I envisioned would contribute richness to the field of American Jewish studies by supporting experimentative, collaborative and interdisciplinary programs and research, would cross boundaries between academic spaces and the wider ecology of the Jewish world, and would engage students in meaningful ways that would prepare them to be leaders of the future,” he said.

At the investiture, President Michael A. Fitts spoke of Tulane’s longstanding connection to Judaism and of the positive impact of the Jewish community on the history of New Orleans.

“There’s no institution in the Gulf South better suited to enhance the scholarship and teaching of the rich history, diversity and bright future of the American Jewish experience — specifically, the Southern Jewish experience,” said Fitts.

Fitts lauded the generosity of Stuart and Suzanne Grant in establishing the chair and the center as a world-class hub for exploring the varied and diverse nature of the American Jewish experience at Tulane. The Grants are dedicated Tulanians as parents of Sam, a 2019 graduate who is now a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. The couple are also members of Tulane’s National Campaign Council, and Suzanne Grant is a member of the Board of Tulane.

Along with Cohen and Fitts, Provost Robin Forman and School of Liberal Arts Dean Brian Edwards were on hand to celebrate the special moment and to express their gratitude to Stuart and Suzanne Grant for making such an impactful gift for the Department of Jewish Studies and the campus community as a whole.

Photo by Paula Burch-Celentano

(Left to right) President Michael A. Fitts and Stuart and Suzanne Grant honored the investiture of Tulane Professor Michael Cohen as the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Chair in the American Jewish Experience.

A Flower for Hadar

Hadar Cohen will never marry, have children or comfort her parents in their old ages. She was a heroic, 19-year-old Border Policewoman stationed at the Damascus Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem when she was murdered by terrorists, February 3rd of 2016. She and a partner had confronted two suspicious men and, in the ensuing gunfight, Hadar took down a bomb-laden terrorist. In the final seconds of her life, she also managed to save the life of her fellow Border Policewoman but gave up her life in doing so. No one can accurately estimate how many lives and injuries Hadar prevented by her heroic actions.

The firm policy of Israelis is to not honor individuals who commit heroic acts. They say that every life is precious, every martyr is a hero. They cannot honor just one out of the thousands that they have lost in the long struggle to establish a homeland for all of us.

When you travel around Israel, you’ll find almost no sites designated as tributes to individuals. It was truly astonishing when, three years ago, the City of Jerusalem decided to pay tribute to Hadar and another Policewoman, Hadas Malka, by putting their names on the steps down into the Damascus Gate. This has now been formally done and the Cohen family is comforted to know that in the memories of many thousands, worldwide, Hadar will not be forgotten.

We should not forget either. Alongside the cup of wine for Eliyahu, the cup of water for Miriam and the seder plate, I ask you to pay tribute to her heroism by placing a single flower on your seder table in her name and telling her story to the attendees, particularly the children.

In our home, we make this the 5th question, “Who was Hadar Cohen?” The flower is in her name but it represents all of those incredibly brave soldiers and civilians we have lost in Israel.

We suggest that you use this poignant letter as a reading, in explanation of the inclusion of the flower on your Seder table. It was written by Jewish author Naomi Ragen as a tribute to the heroism of Hadar Cohen.

https://www.naomiragen.com/my-dear-hadar/

May G-d bless you all and may G-d bless the State of Israel.

The Conn Family, Birmingham Alabama

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AEPi making return to Tulane

Alpha Epsilon Pi International Fraternity has returned to Tulane University’s campus.

Ten men from across the country comprise the initial re-founding father class. “I’m confident that we have a group of men who will make us proud and be a credit to our fraternity, our legacy at Tulane and to our Jewish community.” said Rob Derdiger, Alpha Epsilon Pi CEO. “

The Tulane chapter — the Tau Upsilon Chapter — was installed in 1951, at the historic St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans, and was the first fraternity to be chartered at Tulane in 15 years. The fraternity had first contemplated a chapter at Tulane in 1941, but with World War II in progress, the time was not ripe, and the project was postponed.

In 1949, three members of Mn Deuteron at Missouri interested Hans Feibelmann in the project, and Tau Upsilon was underway. By March 1950, the University Senate extended recognition and set a one-year probationary period as a local fraternity before nationalization was permitted.

In the fall of the 1951-52 academic year, the chapter moved into an old frame house at 7325 St. Charles. The following year, Herman Kohlman became Chapter Advisor, and Charles Hale transferred to Tau Upsilon from Phi Gamma at the University of Florida. In the following year, 1953 to 54, the chapter acquired one of its most beloved Advisors, “Uncle” Ben Lubel.

More recently, though, the chapter was deemed “in bad standing” by the university in 2016 amid hazing allegations.

A GoFundMe, organized by Ryan Orlov, was set up on Jan. 24 to help the relaunch and “to rebuild the once-acclaimed fraternity that dominated Greek life on campus and accomplish a foundation of Jewish values and brotherhood.” The founding fathers are committed “to demonstrating everyday acts of brotherhood, Tzedakah, social awareness, and support for Jewish communities and Israel.”

As of press time, the campaign was nearing $16,000 toward an $18,000 goal.

“Our fraternity’s mission is to develop the future leaders of the world’s Jewish communities. I look forward to watching our Tulane chapter grow and succeed in that mission,” said Derdiger.

AEPi has chapters on more than 150 college campuses in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Israel. Founded in 1913, AEPi has more than 110,000 living alumni.

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Eight of the ten founders of the new AEPi chapter at Tulane University, which has already grown to nearly 30 members. Pictured (from left to right): Ryan Orlov, Max Rosenberg, Simon Miller, Charlie Eckstein, Emmet Tanzar, Ben Gladstone, and Zach Sturza. Not pictured: Aaron Malamed and Nicholas Michalec

Taking responsibility to end racism

Head of Israel Justice Ministry’s anti-racism unit visits

Part of the original dream of Israel’s founders was to have a normal country, dealing with the same mundane problems every other country faces.

And yes, one of those problems is fighting racism and discrimination. Aweke Kobe Zena, who has been tasked with that responsibility as head of the Anti-Racism Unit of Israel’s Ministry of Justice, recently visited the United States, including a stop in Atlanta, to discuss how Israel is working on this age-old problem, and to learn insights from America’s struggles.

While the two countries have much to learn from each other, the backgrounds are different, he said. “We are a very young country” with an “exile heritage” and the dream of returning to Israel. The United States has a longer history that includes slavery and Jim Crow, so the experiences and dynamics differ.

He said his unit’s definition of racism is “unique” — racism is defined as the “harm to dignity, rights and opportunities on the basis of group affiliation,” whether biological or cultural.

The unit takes complaints from the public and works to find solutions or enact policy changes. The unit’s purview is governmental, “we don’t have jurisdiction to deal with private society, private business.” But Zena said that creating “fundamental change in the ministries and from government employees to treat everyone equally” will also influence the public sphere.

“The impact of racism or discrimination in government is very harmful to society,” he said.

He acknowledges that this is a difficult conversation to have with those outside of Israel who have a utopian image of the Jewish state, but in this respect, Israel is facing struggles similar to any other country on the planet.

But that notion is lost on anti-Israel groups, which try to tag Israel as a uniquely racist society, with the charge of Israel being “white supremacist” becoming more popular among those groups, even though Israel’s majority is from African and Middle Eastern countries. “I don’t accept an argument like that,” Zena said. Israel, like every country, deals with issues of racism, but that does not mean it is a racist entity. “There is a difference,” he said.

“We are trying, regardless of what others think about Israel, to create a better reality, especially to eradicate racism, to reduce discrimination,” he said.

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Aweke Kobe Zena, Manager of the Anti-Racism Unit, Israel Ministry of Justice (center-left), alongside Consul General Sultan-Dadon (centerright), Deputy Consul General Alex Gandler (second from left), and members of Georgia’s House of Representatives.

“We are trying to create a better reality… to eradicate racism”

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Just before his visit, Hamas tried to exacerbate a divide by releasing a video, purportedly of Avera Mengistu, an Israeli of Ethiopian descent being held captive in Gaza since 2014. Anti-Israel groups charged that Israel went to great lengths to free Gilad Shalit, who is of European descent, in a 2011 prisoner exchange, but have ignored an Ethiopian captive.

There is also the element of Israel’s constant battle against terrorism from the Palestinians, and threats from Iranian-backed groups.

While it is necessary to fight terrorism, Zena said, Israel can’t treat every Arab as a potential terrorist. It is a balancing act between fighting terror and “in the meantime to understand we should treat people equally and see every person as a human being. It’s a very big challenge.”

“Racism is everywhere,” Zena said. “The point is we have the duty to do more in Israel… because we know our history regarding antisemitism.”

“It’s our responsibility to live in a country where there is no racism or discrimination,” he added.

A native of Ethiopia, at age 9, he was a refugee in Sudan. “Many people died during that journey (to Israel), but no one thought to go back to Ethiopia.”

Zena was an officer in the Military Advocate General’s office of the Israel Defense Forces, then received his law degree from Tel Aviv University. He was a criminal lawyer in the Tel Aviv District Attorney’s office before following this different path.

In April 2015, an Ethiopian Israeli soldier, Damas Pakada, was beaten by police. A video of the incident went viral and the officers were fired, but thousands came out to protest.

In 2016, Zena explained, the Israeli government created a committee to investigate issues of race. “There is racism, and Israel must take responsibility to eradicate racism,” he said. The study showed that there wasn’t one place in the government that coordinated all anti-racism activity among agencies.

But it was an earlier incident that spurred Zena’s involvement. In January 2012, Israeli media reported that housing committees in Kiryat Malachi, a city that has one of the largest proportions of Ethiopian residents, had covenants barring the sale of apartments to Ethiopians. That practice drew widespread condemnation.

“It shocked me,” Zena said. He had become an attorney and assumed “I’m secure as long as I invest my time to develop a career, and also I represent the state,” but he found that this was not yet the case. He started to work in the field of anti-racism, and after the 2015 demonstrations “I realized I should do more (to) try and change the reality.”

After all, he has four children and “I want to

create a better reality for them.”

With the establishment of the Anti-Racism Unit, “society is more aware of the problem and has a main address to complain.”

Though the unit was formed in response to discrimination against Ethiopians, the unit fields complaints from a range of communities. According to a presentation to the Knesset’s Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs in early February, in 2022 there were 415 cases opened in 2022 following complaints of racism in the public sphere. Arabs filed 32 percent of the cases, 17 percent were Israelis of Ethiopian descent, 18 percent were Israelis from the former Soviet Union, 5 percent were from the Haredi sector and 5 percent were Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) Jews. Members of the LGBTQ community are also represented in the complaints. 19 percent of the complaints were related to discrimination in public service provision, 12 percent were related to discrimination in employment, and 11 percent of the complaints were related to expressions of racism in the public sphere.

The ultra-Orthodox, for example, had to deal with prejudice and discrimination over popular views of how that community was — or was not — dealing with the Covid pandemic.

One major goal “is establishing procedures to reduce conflicts between police and the community,” Zena said.

Shai Fredo, a noted Ethiopian Israeli actor who is spending the semester at Clark University in Atlanta, said that having Zena in that position gives young Ethiopians confidence that there is someone in the government who is listening to their concerns.

“Six years ago we didn’t have an answer to this question,” Zena said. “We are doing. Israel took responsibility to eradicate racism.”

He said that Jews outside Israel “should be aware of what is happening in Israel” and deliver a message that the Israeli government should do more to eradicate racism and promote equality.” That will reflect well on world Jewry, as “the state of Israel belongs to all of us and it is our responsibility to take care of it.”

While in Atlanta, Zena visited with students from Morehouse College and Emory University, toured the King Center, met with leaders in the Atlanta Jewish community and had a luncheon with state legislators at the Capitol.

In the New York area, he led a discussion with students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and met with a wide range of Jewish clergy from across the area.

Zena visited officials from human rights commissions in New York and New Jersey, New York City Police and the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.

He also met with the Philos Project, which works to build bridges among the Black and American Jewish communities and Israel.

New group plans Alabama Jewish culture and history symposium

A statewide effort to collaborate on Alabama Jewish history is being launched with a July symposium, under the auspices of the Alabama Folklife Association.

The first Alabama Jewish Culture and History Symposium will be held at Temple Beth Or in Montgomery on July 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., bringing laypeople and academics together to explore what historical resources are already available, and how communities can preserve the types of information that historians rely on.

The goal is to strengthen the documentation and preservation of Jewish life in Alabama.

The Symposium will include community and research project sharing, archives training, a musical performance by Dahlia Road, art and oral history exhibits, a Jewish book table, and open time for conversation.

A working group has been meeting online quarterly since last summer, to

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plan the Symposium and start compiling a list of Jewish Alabama archival resources in the state and around the country. Many large collections of Alabama Jewish history are in archives in Atlanta, Cincinnati and New York.

Part of the symposium will help congregational volunteers who collect historical materials focus on things that are of interest to historians, and not mistakenly toss items they think wouldn’t be relevant.

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the Alabama Folklife Association, Alabama State Council on the Arts, Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson, Old Dominion University, Southern Jewish Life magazine, Temple Beth-El in Birmingham, Temple Beth Or, Troy University, the University of Alabama and the University of South Alabama.

Registration for the symposium is $5, and is available at AJCHS. eventbrite.com.

NCJW is Painting With a Purpose

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NCJW ‘Artistes’ highlighting their finished products from Painting with a Purpose: (top, left to right) Daliah Bauer, Marilyn Bernstein, Killian Phillipson, Nancy Pesses, Gail Pesses, Lilli Geltman; (bottom, left to right) Eve Bauer, Gail Chalew, Joan Zaslow, Elizabeth Jacobs, Mindy Levitt, Sue Singer and Sheryl Title.

The second in the New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women’s “Knowledge is Power” series, “Painting With a Purpose,” took place in December 2022 at Painting with a Twist in Metairie. The series of events throughout the year focuses on mental health, cancer and genetics.

Daliah Bauer addressed some of the science behind mental health, as well as actionable ways to better daily mental health, and one of the methods is painting. Attendees participated in an interactive instructor-led painting class, where everyone started out with the same palette and colors for a floral painting. By the end of the event, everyone had a unique and wonderfully bright painting to bring home.

The third event in the “Knowledge is Power” series will be focused on bringing accessible and affordable cancer genetic screening and testing to the community.

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I Can’t Help Falling in Love...

Robert French, CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

I’m hooked – and the New Orleans Jewish community should be very proud. At the time of writing, I have been in my role as CEO for just 4 weeks, and I am besotted. The plethora of Jewish learning, family engagement, smiles, community collaboration, energy, outreach, the willingness to dialogue, and, of course, my very first Mardi Gras! makes this city an exciting and vibrant place to be.

When I first learned about the story about what happened on 9/11 at the town of Gander, Newfoundland, on which the musical Come From Away was based, I was very moved. 38 planes, carrying over 6,000 passengers (nearly 66% of the size of Gander’s entire population) were ordered to land there and were stranded for up to 6 days. Once permitted to disembark, they were embraced by the community and the result was a reminder of the human capacity for kindness even in the darkest of times, and the triumph of humanity over hate. I look at communities where I have resided and ask myself how we would have fared in such circumstances. Jewish New Orleans would undoubtedly have come through in every respect. My interactions with Touro Synagogue, Tulane Hillel, the Chabads, Slater Torah Academy, Beth Israel, Shir Chadash, the Jewish Community Day School, the JCC, the Jewish Endowment Foundation, LimmudFest, Temple Sinai, Jewish Family Service, Gates of Prayer, their leadership, clergy and community members have been warm, inviting and replete with enthused and caring conversations about the Jewish present and future.

The remarkable leadership at the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, ably led by Brian Katz, has embarked on a strategic plan that I am excited to help implement along with our gifted and talented Federation staff. You will read in these pages how our 20s/30s program, JNOLA, and the Sherry & Alan Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families have been actively engaging community members and partnering with local organizations, ensuring outreach to the next generation and to many that now feel more connected. Our Goldring Family Foundation Center for Jewish Multicultural Affairs has been instrumental in fomenting new partnerships between the Jewish community and the Black and Latino and Hispanic communities, raising

levels of awareness, increasing understanding and

Robert French addressing the 2023 Annual Campaign Opening Kickoff in February 2023

A planning meeting with the Federation staff, February 2023

(continued from previous page)

combatting antisemitism – the Xavier students’ TikTok videos and Instagram reels were fabulous. And in January, Dillard University President Rochelle Ford announced plans to relaunch the Dillard University National Center for Black-Jewish Relations, of which we are a partner. Additionally, the establishment of an Innovation Embassy between the Ports of Ashdod and New Orleans was just one outcome from the successful trade mission to Israel that our Federation led last summer – so, in spite of the disheartening news coming from Israel there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

We are busy planning and working hard for you, our community, and we have so much more to do. I will continue to be out and about in the community listening and learning and trying to be present as much as I can to understand the fabric of Jewish life, and I encourage you to reach out to me at robert@jewishnola.com so that I may get to know you as well. After all, I can’t help falling in love…

JNOLA has had a great 2023 thus far! We've offered the connecting experience of an Anti-Semitism Circle in partnership with Jewish Family Service, a well-attended JScreen educational event and testing clinic in partnership with Congregation Gates of Prayer’s Tribe, and a mask making craft night at NOLA Craft Culture. We had a great turnout for both Super Sunday and the Kids Challah Bake with Chabad on the same day—and then a great collaboration for Muses on the Avenue with Touro Synagogue. JNOLA participants continue to volunteer with the Federation’s monthly Nourish social action program at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Here’s what’s upcoming before Passover:

• 3/15 A JNetwork event for the healthcare professionals in our community

• 3/23 Creative Writers Workshop at Blue Cypress books

• 3/26 Chocolate Seder in partnership with PJ Library and the Jewish Community Day School

JNOLA is open to members of the Jewish community between the ages of 21-39, and is generously sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. Interested in learning more? Email Amanda Loflin at amanda@jewishnola.com.

The Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families kicked off 2023 with a fun -filled carnival season. We made delicious king cake challah with the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience and Serena Bakes Bread and celebrated Shabbati Gras with Touro Synagogue. As we head into the spring holiday season, we are excited about our Learning Seder at Saba on Monday, March 27 and our Backyard Community Seder on Tuesday, April 11. Stay tuned for registration details. We are also excited to be a part of LimmudFest and Gates Fest for festival season! Be sure to follow us on instagram at @interfaithnola for our most up to date program offerings.

The Sherry & Alan Leventhal Center for Interfaith Families creates safe, curious spaces for those interested in exploring Jewish identity and tradition. Interested in learning more? Email Chelsea Hylton at chelsea@jewishnola.com.

During the first quarter of 2023, the Goldring Center for JewishMulticultural Affairs hosted or participated in several programs that aimed to engage the community and promote its mission.

One of the highlights was a screening of the film “Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance,” which was presented as part of Dillard University's 2023 MLK Weekend Celebration. During the panel discussion which followed the film, Dillard President Dr. Rochelle Ford announced the relaunch of the University’s National Center on Black-Jewish Relations.

The CJMA’s monthly radio program on WBOK - “Stronger Together” - airs the last Thursday of the month. In February, CJMA Executive Director, Aaron Bloch, was joined by four Xavier University Exponential honors program students who are launching an initiative focused on promoting understanding between the Black and Jewish communities in light of a recent rise of AntiSemitic rhetoric from Black public figures. “Stronger Together: Conversations to inspire change in our communities,” airs live on WBOK 1230AM from 8-9am the last Thursday of the month. For more information or to listen to past episodes, visit www. jewishnola.com/multicultural/wbok

CJMA Executive Director, Aaron Bloch, was among the about 20 elected officials and community leaders invited to attend the White House’s “Communities in Action: Building a Better Louisiana” event on January 25. The program offered a unique opportunity to network with policymakers and community leaders, and to hear directly from prominent Biden administration aides.

The CJMA attended the City of New Orleans Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Commissions 37th Annual Commemorative Celebration at New Zion Baptist Church. The Center partnered with the Jewish Community Day School to provide busing for JCDS students to attend the celebration.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The CJMA is planning an open-house event for March 29, 2023 where community members can learn more about our many programs and initiatives. For more information, email cjma@ jewishnola.com or visit www.jewishnola.com/multicultural

The first Together New Orleans (TNO) quarterly Delegates Dinner will take place on March 16 at The City of Love Church, 8601 Palmetto Street. Together New Orleans is a broad-based non-partisan coalition of congregations and communitybased organizations in the greater New Orleans area, with the capacity to address community problems large and small. The coalition is deliberate about crossing the lines of race, religion, neighborhood, and political affiliation to work on issues affecting families and communities. If you would like to learn more about TNO and how you can participate through Jewish Federation, please contact Aaron Bloch at aaron@jewishnola.com.

SAVE THE DATE

JP NOLA’s annual Pride Passover Seder will take place on Tuesday, April 11 at Temple Sinai.

At the screening of Shared Legacies in January 2023

CJMA Executive Director, Aaron Bloch, at the White House on January 25, 2023

Super Sunday 2023

Super Sunday 2023, held in early February, was a tremendous success. Because of the efforts of our more than 90 volunteers, the Jewish Federation’s 2023 Annual Campaign raised $220,581 from 284 donor households. Thank to our volunteers, donors, and sponsors (Kosher Cajun, Rimon at Tulane Hillel, and Stein’s Deli). Next up? GiveNOLA Day!

Jewish Community Day School

Dough and Donate Challah Event

JCDS is Just Plane Awesome

JCDS students are on cloud nine after having the amazing opportunity to play pilot at the Parent Associations’ Just Plane Awesome event. Former Air Force Pilot Jay Taffet and his family were generous enough to let our students explore their Piper Arrow plane and have a once-in-a-lifetime, hands-on learning experience about aviation. Each guest took home a specially designed patch just for our students!

Our school cafeteria was packed for our first annual Dough & Donate challah bake! After instruction by guest baker Serena Deutch, students and their parents kneaded and braided and added such delicious mix-ins as sprinkles, chocolate chips, raisins and strawberry jam. Everyone took home their own challah, and additional challahs made were donated to Sunrise Assisted Living residents, along with beautiful handmade cards from students. Such a wonderful mitzvah! Special thanks to Serena Deutch, Lauren Gerber, and Cece Schneider-McBride, as well as to Linda Waknin (D’Vash Catering) for making the dough and letting us borrow her kitchen!

Tu B’Shevat Seder

In February we celebrated the birthday of trees with an in-person seder for the first time in three years! Pre-kindergarten all the way through sixth grade came together for a Tu B’Shevat celebration that focused on personal growth.

Drawing inspiration from the lifecycle of a tree, each student chose a goal for how they wanted to grow over the coming year. Some decided that they wanted to be more kind to their siblings. Others want-

Family Fun Fest 2023

The weather may have moved this annual event inside to the gym, but that didn’t stop Family Fun Fest 2023 from being a huge success! Over 200 guests gathered in the Goldring-Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus gymnasium for games, crafts, food, and fun. JCDS friends from Jacobs Camp, PJ Library and Shir Chadash helped make the day extra-special. Special thanks to Jamin Rothschild for the beautiful face-painting, and Linda Waknin for the delicious kosher food. Big thank you to all of our volunteers and to Art Teacher Goni Sondak. Students made beautiful cards at the Caring Committee station, too! Admissions Director Jessie Dowsakul oversaw each detail, making this such a special event for not just our families, but our whole community! Our FFF 2023 was one for the books!

ed to get better at math. Still others focused on how they could help the environment. Students took all of these goals and developed them from seeds (identifying the goal) through trunks (establishing a routine so that we live the change we want to see) to fruits (enjoying the results of making the change and starting all over again.)

Each of these stages were accompanied by actual seeds, fruits, and vegetables that students rearranged as a self-portrait at the end of the seder. The idea was that all these steps add up to the new you who is embodying the

change. Then, of course, everyone got to eat. What a beautiful chance for the whole school to come together, sing songs, learn, and enjoy the “fruits” of our labor. Here’s to another year of sustained growth!

Jewish Community Center

Register Today for JCC Summer Camp

Are you looking for an awesome summer camp? Held June 5 to July 28, JCC camps offer an action-packed summer filled with indoor and outdoor activities, including swimming, sports, arts and crafts, music, drama, Israeli fun, and so much more. The Uptown JCC currently has openings for campers entering grades 2 to 7, and Metairie has availability for ages three-years old through grade 5, though some weeks are filling quickly at both locations.

Families will receive an “early bird discount” if they register by March 15 for camp Uptown or by April 1 in Metairie. Summer is a special time for children to change their routine, expand their social circle, and advance swimming skills. The J’s dedicated and caring staff ensures that campers have opportunities to explore their interests, discover new ones, and develop meaningful friendships. Learn more at nojcc.org/camp. Take advantage of the discount and secure a spot for your child today!

Be A Lifeguard!

Lifeguarding is a great summer job. Get certified this spring in the JCC’s two-day Shallow Water Lifeguarding class so that you are eligible to work this summer. Participants will gain the entry-level skills they need to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies in shallow water up to 5-feet deep and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services personnel take over.

Taught part in the water and part online, this blended learning course requires 18 hours of in-person instruction and 7.5 hours online. In-person instruction will be offered at the Uptown JCC the weekend of April 1 and 2, and again April 15 and 16. Participants do not need to be JCC members, but must be at least 15 years old. For additional details and to register, visit nojcc.org/lifeguardcertifications.

Last Chance to Join Team NOLA

Come have a blast at the largest Jewish youth event in the world: the JCC Maccabi Games!

The deadline for the Games in Israel has passed, but your teen can still be part of Team NOLA — the New Orleans JCC’s delegation — at the Fort Lauderdale Maccabi Games and Access, which will be held August 6 to 11.

Teens will participate in athletic activities and then come together for social events, community service and fun. Athletes ages 12-16 can compete in either individual or

Coming Events

Learn more about these and other events coming to the JCC this spring at nojcc.org/events.

Sunday, April 16

Dr. James Waller, the inaugural Cohen Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College, will speak at this year’s community-wide Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Program.

Tuesday, April 25

group sports. Team sports include baseball, basketball, flag football, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer and volleyball. Individual athletic activities include competitive dance, tennis, table tennis, star reporter and swimming.

Participating in the JCC Maccabi Games is an opportunity of a lifetime. Teens not only build new connections with local peers, they also create new friendships with other Jewish youth.

To learn how your teen can be part of Team NOLA, please visit nojcc.org/maccabi or contact Uptown Sports Director Neal Alsop at (504) 897-0143 or neal@nojcc.org.

Celebrate Israel at 75 with delicious Israeli food and a live concert by Gili Yalo, an Ethiopian Israeli musician known for combining his Ethiopian roots with soul, reggae, funk, psychedelia and jazz, whose soulful voice has elicited comparisons to Bob Marley.

Thursday, April 27

The last film in this season’s Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series, “Code Name: Ayalon” tells the previously untold story of 45 young Jewish men and women who worked in a secret, underground bullet factory during World War II, playing a critical role in the statehood of Israel.

Tuesday, May 23

Come cook with Shannon Sarna, the “Queen of Challah” and editor of “The Nosher,” a popular food blog. She will share recipes from her new cookbook, “Modern Jewish Comfort Food: 100 Fresh Recipes for Classic Dishes from Kugel to Kreplach.”

What the New Legacy IRA Act Means for your Estate Planning

Due to new legislation beginning in 2023 called the Legacy IRA Act, you can now use your IRA to make a one-time distribution up to $50,000 into one or more Charitable Gift Annuities (CGAs) or Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs).

To avoid the tax liability that is created from the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), you are allowed to give directly to charity up to $100,000. This gifting is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).

But starting in 2023, in addition to making gifts through a QCD up to $100,000 a year directly to charitable organizations, you can also make a one-time distribution out of your IRA of up to $50,000 to create life income plans through CGAs and CRTs.

Tulane Hillel

Jewish Heritage and Hoops

It is important to know that that only the IRA owner and/or their spouse may receive the annual payments from the CGA or CRT funded by this QCD distribution. But each spouse can contribute up to $50,000 from their respective IRAs to a joint and survivor annuity or trust.

Bottom line: If you are over 70-½ and are already taking an RMD out of your IRA, you are allowed to use up to $50,000 in one year from your IRA to create a CGA or CRT, avoiding income tax on that withdrawal and enabling you and/or your spouse to receive income for life.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact Bobby Garon (bobby@ jefno.org) or Debbie Berins (debbie@jefno.org) at (504) 524-4559.

On Feb. 7, Tulane Hillel partnered with Tulane Men’s Basketball for our second annual Jewish Heritage Night, where students came out to celebrate Tulane’s vibrant Jewish community and honor Rabbi David Goldstein! The night was a complete success — students, friends and families cheered on the Green Wave in their big overtime win against Cincinnati as Rabbi Goldstein was recognized during halftime (see photo, page 5). Fans were treated to free hot dogs and hamburgers (catered by Hillel’s in-house kosher restaurant, Rimon), Jewish trivia and music played on the jumbotron during game breaks, a limited-edition heritage night T-shirt, and a celebration of their Jewish community on campus.

In the lead-up to the event, Hillel asked Rabbi Goldstein — who has been a professor at Tulane’s Jewish Studies Department since its inception in the 1970s — what the Tulane Jewish community meant to him. He responded that “teaching in the Jewish Studies Department is a privilege and a joy that almost defies language. My love and respect for my students is boundless. When Jewish Studies emerged [at Tulane], it represented a couple of courses. Today the Department boasts dozens.” Now, more than 40 years later, Rabbi Goldstein is truly a staple here at Tulane and brings a sense of love and humor to his students and Hillel each week.

Bonus: Rabbi Goldstein also shared his top Rimon recommendation (the Date Smoothie) and we learned of his excellent ping pong skills, which he attributed to his time at City College of New York as the assistant director of their Hillel!

To view more photos from this year’s Jewish Heritage Night, please visit: tulanehillel.org/jhn23, and to keep up with all things Tulane Hillel, follow us on Instagram @tuhillel.

Jewish Family Service

2023 Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket Program

For the past 37 years, generous donors like you helped ensure that everyone in our community had access to a Seder during Passover. Now, in the 38th year of the Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket Program, we are asking you to help us again. Mental health, mobility and financial challenges should never keep a member of our Jewish community from the Seder table. Can vulnerable members of our community, like Shira* and Aaron*, count on you?

The Impact of Your Gift: “It Meant I Wasn’t Alone.”

In January 2022, Shira* felt she was facing an insurmountable obstacle. Newly divorced and trying to return to the job market, she had nowhere to turn. “I kept missing job interviews because I couldn’t find anyone to watch Aaron*.” Her son, 4-year-old Aaron, was her motivation to keep moving forward. “I would finally make some progress, but then something would happen. It was one step forward, three steps backward.” Luckily, Shira was connected to JFS’s Case Management program. Her social worker helped her find stable employment and appropriate childcare. As a member of the Jewish community, Shira qualified to receive an emergency grant from our Financial Recourse Center to help with her overdue rent. When Passover rolled around in the spring, JFS included Shira and Aaron in the 2022 Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket Program.

“I cannot express the comfort and relief our Passover food basket brought me. My life felt like such a mess, but this small thing meant so much. It meant I wasn’t alone. It meant my community was there to help me.”

Many families and individuals in our community count on JFS and donors like you to help them feel loved and connected during Passover. Whether they face financial difficulties, mobility challenges, or a run of bad luck, vulnerable members of our community truly appreciate the connection and comfort a Passover Food Basket brings. Can they count on you? Join us as we bring everyone in our community to the Seder table in 2023.

*We use pseudonyms to protect client privacy.

Just $100 fills a basket for two people!

Donate to the Bruce Levy Memorial JFS Passover Food Basket Program: Mail: 3300 W. Esplanade Ave. S., Suite 603 Metairie, LA 70002

Note “PFB” in the memo Online: jfsneworleans.org/donate Phone: (504) 831-8475

Upcoming JFS CEU: Two-Part EMDR Basic Training

Part One: June 28-30 Part Two: July 26-28

JFS is partnering with Carol Miles, MSW, LCSW of Three Rivers Training Center to offer EMDR Basic Training this summer. Spots are limited for this inperson CEU taking place at the LSU School of Public Health. We strongly encourage interested participants to register early, as space is limited.

Participants must complete both Parts One & Two (all six days) to receive all 42 hours (LABSWE 42 clinical, LCA pending approval, APA pending approval) and EMDRIAs certificate of completion of Basic Training.

Held at the LSU School of Public Health, Medical Education Building: 1901 Perdido Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Visit our website to learn more and register!

Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans celebrates our 75th anniversary this year! Since 1948, JFS has provided holistic care, comfort and assistance to our community. From refugee resettlement to adoption services, mental health services to emergency assistance, JFS has worked with our community to help individuals and families enhance and strengthen their lives. We hope you will join us to celebrate all that our community has accomplished, and the lives we have positively impacted, over the last 75 years.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit jfsneworleans.org/75

Birmingham Times, SJL embark on historic journalistic partnership

By Richard Friedman and Keila Lawrence

The Birmingham Times, a historic newspaper serving Birmingham’s Black community; Southern Jewish Life magazine and its sister publication, Israel InSight magazine, and Miles College, an HBCU in Fairfield, have come together to create a joint journalism internship for a Miles student.

The purpose of this new internship is to provide an aspiring journalist with a premier educational experience while writing stories of interest to the Black and Jewish communities. The program began in December 2022. Kiara Dunlap, who is from Quartz Hill, Calif., is the first intern. Dunlap, a senior communications major, describes her experience: “It has been really great. I feel like I am learning a lot and appreciate the opportunities I have been given to grow. Learning more about the relationship between the Black and Jewish communities has been one of my favorite parts, especially gaining a deeper understanding of the Jewish community.”

She meets regularly with Barnett Wright, executive editor of The Birmingham Times Media Group; Richard Friedman, associate editor of Southern Jewish Life, and Keila Lawrence, a Miles graduate who is her peer mentor. Lawrence is an Assistant Account Executive with Clyde Group, a leading public relations and public affairs boutique agency in Washington. She has been at the forefront of building ties between young Black and Jewish leaders.

The Black and Jewish communities have supported each other in the past, and efforts to maintain these ties continue. Dunlap’s first story fo-

cused on a University of Alabama at Birmingham panel discussion about the current state of Black-Jewish relations.

Writing about the UAB program was a great experience, said Dunlap. “My mentors gave me great feedback. Every time I received additional edits, I would feel myself growing.”

The internship evolved from discussions between Wright and Southern Jewish Life Editor and Publisher Larry Brook. They felt it was important to strengthen ties between Jews and Blacks, which were strong during the Civil Rights Era but have waned since then and, even at times, become frayed.

Kiara Dunlap

“This project allows a deserving HBCU student to gain valuable journalistic experience from seasoned editors who work with the student on stories that are of value to the African American and Jewish communities,” said Wright. “These are often stories that are overlooked, but crucial given the long history that the two communities have had partnering to face respective challenges.”

“As one who has been involved in dialogue groups in Birmingham since the 1980s, I have always believed that knowing more about different

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people and communities is best for Birmingham as a whole,” added Brook. “I am excited about this new venture which can help readers of both publications become more familiar with each other. It also has been fantastic working with Miles College and one of their highly-talented students.”

Funds to underwrite the internship were raised from donors in the Black and Jewish communities. These include Lisa and Alan Engel, Dr. Jesse J. Lewis, Ronne and Donald Hess, Cathy and Paul Friedman, Ingrid and Steven Hairston, Hilary and Scott Gewant, Carole and Michael Pizitz and others who want to remain anonymous.

The Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States also is providing support. “We are proud to support this important and innovative project. The Consulate is committed to deepening ties and promoting mutual understanding between the Black and Jewish communities, and to enhancing knowledge about Israel in the Black community,” said Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon.

Dunlap will visit Israel this summer. The trip is sponsored by Philos Black, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to educating young Black leaders about Israel and strengthening ties between them and their Jewish counterparts. She will write stories about her trip for both publications.

As she continues to grow as a young journalist, Dunlap expresses her gratitude for the internship opportunity. “My mentors support and trust me and are always communicative and responsive. On my UAB story, my hand was held in a loving and helpful way. They have been very patient with me from beginning to end.”

Slater Torah Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

This Week In Southern Jewish Life

“Enigma of Torah” emerges from study group

A new play, “The Enigma of the Torah,” will debut at the Marigny Opera House in New Orleans on April 26 at 7 p.m.

Written by Helen Stone and Marion Freidstadt over the past 10 years, the play is based on their long-time experiences in being part of the Torah study class at Touro Synagogue. Through the class, they explore their Jewishness, contemporary issues and interpersonal conflicts. Through Torah study, the participants discover their own enigmas.

The cast of eight includes several members of the Torah study group, and is directed by Taylor Meng.

The first of the play’s three scenes was set to be done as a preview at LimmudFest New Orleans on March 19 at the Uptown Jewish Community Center.

On Feb. 10, the largest Shabbat dinner in Louisiana took place as Shabbat 1000 drew 1,500 students to a celebration of Jewish identity. The event is organized by Chabad at Tulane, with table leaders recruiting fellow students to the event.

Magnolia Burlap Door Hangar

community Going Through the Jewish Life Cycle

Earlier in the school year, fifth and sixth grade Jewish Studies students at Jewish Community Day School in Metairie created fictional characters who would perform Jewish lifecycle events throughout the year. Students had meaningful ceremonies for their “children,” which included traditions that would be found at an actual Jewish baby naming service and Bris.

Fast forward to February, and these children are now celebrating their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Each student read from the Torah and delivered a speech that they wrote about their Bar or Bat Mitzvah portion. The third and fourth graders were a captive audience for the celebration.

Everyone capped it all off with cookies, dancing, and of course, a ride in the air in a chair for the Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.

BSC’s 2022 Honors Day, the Hillel Jewish Student Group received the Dudley Long Leadership Award.

At 87, Stanley Erdreich Jr. breaking into the country music scene

By Richard Friedman

I took everything I wanted in my life Didn’t give a damn about no one Not even my wife

Filled my empty house with fancy things But none of that don’t mean a thing ‘cause I’d rather have a you and me

Eighty-seven-year-old Stanley Erdreich Jr. lights up when he hears these lyrics. They are from a newly-released country music song, “You and Me.”

There’s a reason they strike a chord — literally and figuratively. This long-time member of Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El wrote them.

Erdreich has always had creative interests. He wrote poetry in college and, over the years, short stories and screenplays.

Part of a well-known local family, Erdreich had a 60-year career in international banking, venture capital and real estate. He held appointments related to the Pacific Basin during three presidential administrations. His younger brother, Ben, represented Alabama’s Sixth District in Congress for a decade.

In a soft, Southern voice, marked by succinctness and simplicity of language – traits of a good songwriter – Erdreich, in a recent interview, talked about his latest endeavor.

Having grown up in Alabama, with Muscle Shoals as a music center and Nashville not far, Erdreich has always loved country music. Country music is in his creative DNA. All this, coupled with the monotony of the pandemic, set the stage for him to take a crack at writing songs. “I found that songs and poetry were similar. All I had to do was make the songs rhyme.”

Erdreich has written 10. Three were recorded in Nashville in July 2022. They are featured on his website and can be heard on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other streaming platforms.

He didn’t write them to make money. But he hopes they will be well received — for his own creative satisfaction and wanting others, especially friends and family, to enjoy them.

His lyrics are powerful and, at times, haunting, mixing sadness and hope. They tell tales of lonely people looking back on their lives and mistakes. The two others that have been recorded are “So Many Miles” and “Sing Me a Love Story.” Like all good songs they capture universal emotions, through simple lyrics framed by compelling, narrative-enhancing music.

“My songs are not about my own experiences. Rather they reflect my interest in the genre. I gravitate to classic country themes — pickup trucks, old dogs, rocking on the front porch, sexy women, bars, lonely motel rooms…”

Magical Experience

Those who have written songs know the joy that comes from writing lyrics never written before, playing and/or singing them yourself, or working with skilled musicians who bring your thoughts, emotions and words to life. “It is a magical experience,” said Erdreich. “It is surreal.”

The biggest challenge was learning how to compress core human truths

and emotions into simple, tight lyrics and how to structure a song — for example, creating an effective refrain.

His songs, to borrow a phrase from a Willie Nelson classic, are always on his mind. “When I get into something, I get into something. I find myself thinking about lyrics constantly, even in my sleep. When something strikes me — be it just a word or phrase — I jot it down on the yellow legal pad I keep handy.”

This octogenarian songwriter even sent some of his songs to Dolly Parton, who along with Nelson, is one of his favorite singers. “I’m an old

Waffles on Maple in Metairie closes

New Orleans has lost one of its kosher establishments. Waffles on Maple in Metairie announced that it was closing as of Feb. 26, as Belinda and Rotem Dahan embark on early retirement.

In the closing message, they thanked “our loyal employees that started this venture with us from day one. We appreciate all the hard work you put into Waffles on Maple. Also, each and every one of you for your loyal support over the past eight years.”

They plan to offer their gluten-free waffle and beignet batter commercially. “We understand the importance of being able to offer choices that accommodate gluten-free lifestyles,” they said.

The first Waffles on Maple opened Uptown on Maple Street in 2014, with the Metairie location following in 2017. The Uptown location closed in March 2020.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all of your patronage, loyalty and kindness over the years. It has meant so much to us and we have been so blessed to serve such an amazing community of people,” they added.

guy myself which, I guess, is part of the reason I like older country music artists.”

Getting recorded is not simple. It’s difficult to just take your songs and sell them. “I have a cousin in New York City in the music business. He connected me with Nashville. I had to pay to get them recorded but I retain the copyrights. Beyond that, the producers must like the songs.”

Once he had producers, one of whom was a five-time Grammy award winner, they reworked some of the words and phrases and lined up musicians. Erdreich spent three days in their Nashville recording studio. On his website video you’ll see him overwhelmed with emotion and excitement as he listens to the vocalists and musicians perform finished versions.

What’s next for this rookie lyricist as he eyes his 88th birthday this June? “I may just try to write a few more songs and see what comes of it.”

Of the 10 he has written, “You and Me” is his favorite. That’s because it reflects his love for his wife, Beverly, to whom he has been married for 61 years. “It is about the bond between a man and a woman and someone you truly love.”

The interview is over. His lyrics linger.

My fairweather friends

Always round my door

Draggin’ me to parties

And too much more

And all this runnin’ around, Is gonna put me in the ground Please tell me now, and set me free I’m not the man that I want to be I’d rather have a you and me

Passover Seders in the Deep South

Here are Seders around the region that we have information about as of press time. Contact the individual congregations or groups for reservations. In most cases, for those in need, financial arrangements can be made.

Alabama

Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El will have a Second Night Seder, April 6 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $36 for adults and $18 for children, bring your own wine or grape juice. Reservations are due by April 3.

Chabad of Alabama will have a community Seder, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are $50 for adults, $20 for children. Shmurah matzah is available for pickup on April 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $25 per box, and Passover catering is available, with orders needed by March 26.

Dothan’s Temple Emanu-El will hold a Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $30 for adults, $15 for kids.

B’nai Israel in Florence will have a Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m., catered by Odette. Reservations are $55 for adults, $27.50 for children.

Temple B’nai Sholom in Huntsville will have a Matzah Ball Soup competition and Seder on April 6. The competition will begin at 6 p.m., followed by the one-hour Seder at 6:30 p.m. There will not be a dinner, but potluck Passover dairy appetizers will be served. Reservations are due by March 31 and are $10 for members, or a dish to share. Non-members are $35 and will be placed on a wait list, to be notified on April 3. Update: The event is full.

Chabad of Huntsville will have a Seder on April 5 at 6:45 p.m. at Embassy Suites downtown. Reservations are $54 for adults, $18 for children, family maximum of $150.

Etz Chayim in Huntsville will have a community Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $45 for adults, $22 for ages 5 to 12.

Ahavas Chesed in Mobile will have a Seder for the first time in three years, on April 5. Reservations are $40 for members, $50 for non-members. Reservations must be received by March 23.

Springhill Avenue Temple in Mobile will have a Seder on April 6, led by Rabbi Edward Boraz and music director Mollie Adams. Reservations are due by March 27 and are $25 for members, $35 for guests, $15 for under 18, and free for children under six.

Temple Beth Or in Montgomery will have a second night Seder, April 6 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $25 for adults, $35 non-members, and $15 for ages 6 to 12. Deadline is March 31.

The University of Alabama Hillel in Tuscaloosa will have Seder both nights, April 5 and 6, at 5:30 p.m.

Florida Panhandle

Chabad Emerald Coast in Destin will have its Seder on April 5 at 7 p.m.

Beth Shalom in Fort Walton Beach will have its Seder on April 6, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and the service starting at 6 p.m. Reservations are open to members first, then will open to non-members on March 27.

Temple B’nai Israel in Panama City will have a Seder on April 7 at 6 p.m. as part of the ISJL Passover Pilgrimage. Reservations, due by March 10, are $40 for members, $18 for children; non-members are $50 and $20 respectively.

continued on page 38

Willie Mae’s

2401 St. Ann Street, New Orleans Pythian Market, New Orleans (504) 822-9503 williemaesnola.com

Willie Mae’s Scotch House started as a Treme bar in 1957, and is now home to “America’s Best Fried Chicken” and in 2005 was named a James Beard America’s Classic Restaurant.

M Bistro

921 Canal Street, New Orleans inside the Ritz-Carlton

M bistro’s menu is an indigenous approach to the preparation of the finest meats, seafood and produce from growers in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.

English Tea Room

734 E. Rutland Street

Historic Downtown Covington (985) 898-3988

The Windsor High Tea is comprised of sandwiches, mini-savories, mini desserts, two chocolate dipped strawberries, two scones with house-made clotted cream, lemon curd or preserves.

Kosher Cajun

3519 Severn Avenue, Metairie (504) 888-2010

Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery has authentic New York specialties — all Kosher certified. Enjoy classic eats like Reubens and matzah ball soup, plus kosher grocery staples too.

Galatoire’s

209 Bourbon Street (504) 525-2021

The grand dame of New Orleans’ time-honored restaurants, Galatoire’s is a 106-year-old, James Beard award winning restaurant located in the heart of the French Quarter.

Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak

215 Bourbon St. (504) 335-3932

The premier destination in the Vieux Carré for enjoying the finest cocktails and traditional steakhouse fare. Galatoire’s “33” Bar & Steak is New Orleans’ next great tradition in a restored historic building that begins a new chapter in Galatoire’s storied history.

Umami

2808

A wide variety of Sushi and unique Asian-inspired cuisine, with cold bites, hot bites, Asian-influenced tacos, using carefully selected ingredients intended to create a meticulously crafted flavor.

The Fish Market

612 22nd Street So., Birmingham (205) 322-3330

A Birmingham classic, The Fish Market on Southside offers the freshest seafood around, live music and an oyster bar. Private and semi-private dining available, along with catering.

Bistro V

521

Located in Vestavia, Bistro V serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, with a menu that includes fresh seafood and local and organic meats and vegetables, much of it with a New Orleans nod.

“Southern Jewish Life is a vital community asset”

Help Support Independent, Quality, Original Southern Jewish Journalism!

We thank you for your continued support as we tell our stories — the stories of Southern Jewish Life! www.supportSJL.com

Baja California Cantina

7701 Crestwood Blvd. Birmingham (205) 202-6226

Now open at Eastwood, Baja California serves traditional Mexican dishes with authentic flavors and a modern twist. Perfect for a quick bite or a special occasion.

Birmingham

>> Seders continued from page 35

Chabad of Panama City Beach will have a Seder on April 5 and April 6, at 7 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Pensacola will have its Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $40.

Temple Beth El in Pensacola will hold its Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $36, $15 for ages 8 and under, and are due by March 29.

Chabad in Pensacola will have a Seder on April 5 at 6:45 p.m., and April 6 at 7 p.m. Reservations are $36 for adults, $18 for children.

The new Sea Shul in Seaside will have its Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. at Assembly Hall. Reservations are $59 for adults, $23 for ages 4 to 10.

Louisiana

Alloy Thai

Birmingham alloythai.com

(205) 243-5660

Chef Josh Haynes studied in Thailand and brought back authentic flavors and specialties, with traditional family style servings. He caters events and private dinners, and does occasional popups.

The Bright Star

304 19th Street North, Bessemer (205) 426-1861

Founded in 1907 in downtown Bessemer, the Bright Star is Alabama’s oldest family owned restaurant and is a James Beard American Classic, known for Greek-style seafood and great steaks.

Zaza Trattoria

Serving

207

(205) 202-6207

Gemiluth Chassodim in Alexandria will have a Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m.

The Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge will have its Community Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $40 for adults, $18 for ages 6 to 13, no charge for 5 and under. Reservations due by March 31.

Chabad of Baton Rouge and LSU will have a Seder on April 5 at 7:30 p.m., and April 6 at 8:15 p.m.

Temple Shalom of Lafayette will have its Passover celebration on April 6.

Monroe’s B’nai Israel will have a community Seder on April 7. A grant from the North Louisiana Jewish Federation will allow any students attending area universities/colleges to attend the Seder at no cost. Reservations are required.

Agudath Achim in Shreveport will have a second night Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m. Reservations are $36 for ages 18 and up, $18 for ages 5 to 17, free for 4 and under. Reserve by March 23.

B’nai Zion in Shreveport will have a Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. Reservations, due on March 22, are $50 for adult members, $25 ages 5 to 12. Non-member adults are $60.

New Orleans Area

Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville will have a second night Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m.

Shir Chadash in Metairie will have a Passover Jazz Seder for second night, April 6, featuring Meryl Zimmerman as lead vocalist with the New Song Jazz Ensemble, led by Ben Schenck. Doors open at 6 p.m., Seder begins at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are $54, $27 for ages 7 to 13, free for ages 0 to 6. There is a $125 patron ticket available, and patron tables of 8 for $1,000. Registration is due by March 24.

Beth Israel, Metairie, will have a Second Night communal Seder on April 6.

Gates of Prayer in Metairie will have a second night Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m. Reservations, due by March 24, are $36 for adults, $18 for ages 6 to 12, free for 5 and under.

Temple Sinai in New Orleans will have its congregational Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m. Member adults are $36, non-members are $50. Kids and college students are $10, ages 13 and younger are free. An extra reservation sponsorship, a Seat for Elijah, is $36.

Tulane Chabad will have a Tulane Community Seder, April 5 at 8 p.m., and April 6 at 8:30 p.m. There will also be a Grad Students Passover Seder on April 5 at 7 p.m. and April 6 at 8 p.m. at the Rivkin home.

The New Orleans LGBTQ+ Community Seder will be on April 11 at 6 p.m. at Temple Sinai. Also co-sponsored by JP NOLA, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Goldring enter for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs, the event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required.

Touro Synagogue in New Orleans will have a Seder on April 6 at 5:30

20th Street North, Birmingham www.zazabham.com

Roman-style rectangular pizza since 2009, along with seasonally inspired salads, specials and soups, as well as traditional Roman pastas, and a famous weekend brunch.

p.m. in the Jacobs Social Hall. Reservations, due by April 3, are $36 for member adults, $18 for ages 3 to 12. For non-members, reservations are $72 and $36 respectively.

Mississippi

B’nai Israel in Columbus will have a Seder on April 5 at 6:30 p.m., with a maximum of 40 in attendance. Reservations are $36 for adults, $18 for students, and are due on March 27.

Hebrew Union Congregation in Greenville will have its Seder on April 7 at 6:30 p.m., following a brief Shabbat service at 6:15 p.m.

Beth Israel in Gulfport will have a community Seder on April 5 at 8 p.m. Registration is $36 for member adults, $54 non-members, $18 for children.

Beth Israel in Jackson will have its Seder on April 6 at 6 p.m. Adults are $15, students are $10 and pre-K is $5. Reservations are due by March 31.

The Jewish Community of Oxford will hold its Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. at Grit Restaurant in Taylor. Tickets are $36, $15 for ages 10 and under, and $10 for college students.

B’nai Israel in Tupelo will have its Seder on April 5 at 6 p.m. at Park Heights in Fairpark. Reservations are $45 for adults, $20 for ages 3 to 12, and are due by March 29. Reservations are limited to the first 50 guests.

ISJL gets safe workplace training grant

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson is one of eight organizations in the Jewish nonprofit sector to receive a grant from the SRE Network.

SRE Network is a Jewish network of nearly 160 organizations rooted in a shared commitment to safety, respect and equity-for all. It inspires meaningful change in workplaces and communal spaces by bringing people together to address gender-based harassment, discrimination, and inequity.

The $300,000 in grants announced on Feb. 21 will help the organizations build on their existing efforts to prevent harassment and discrimination and support safe, respectful and equitable workplaces and communal spaces. Through the award, grantees will have access to funding and expert-practitioners to support their unique efforts, each of which has the potential to scale.

“This was our first ever grant cycle where we invited SRE members to share with us how access to funding and expertise could be a gamechanger for their s, r, e initiatives,” says Elana Wien, executive director of SRE Network. “The response to this opportunity was tremendous, and our committee was charged with the difficult job of selecting those unique opportunities where an investment had the potential to serve as a model for the wider community and lead to replicable results.”

With its two-year grant, the ISJL will conduct an in-depth review of current policies and procedures in the area of cultivating respectful workplace and update materials with input from experts; will increase its communication of these policies and procedures to its staff, will provide respectful workplace training to all of its staff, and will incorporate s, r, e as a key strategic priority in its 2024 strategic plan.

Other recipients are ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, Footsteps, the Jewish Federations of North America, Mishkan Chicago, the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies, SketchPad and Yeshivat Maharat.

Mega Challah Bake

On Feb. 5, Camp Gan Israel of New Orleans and PJ Library held a Kids Mega Challah Bake and Tu B’Shevat festival at Slater Torah Academy in Metairie.

Over 90 children and their parents participated. While the dough was rising, counselors from Camp Gan Israel ran a game show for the children. After the dough completed rising, the children then braided their challahs, addeing toppings before taking them home to bake.

The event was co-sponsored by numerous organizations for the Year of Hakhel, a time to promote unity and bring Jews together. Participating organizations were Beth Israel, Chabad of Louisiana, Chabad of Metairie, Shir Chadash, Gates of Prayer, JNOLA, the Jewish Community Center of New Orleans and Slater Torah Academy.

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Photos by David Reece and Chaya Schechtman

Showing Love to an Older Adult

By LaBrena Friend, LBSW

On our calendars, we recently checked off Valentine’s Day — a day when the whole world seems focused on expressions of romantic love. But how do we show love to the older adults in our lives — the parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends who have meant so much in our lives, and whose own worlds may now be growing smaller?

For me, that question came front and center a few years ago when my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia. This was a difficult time for my family. But I knew that, above all, what I wanted my grandmother to feel was how loved she was. Since then, I have been spending more time with her — as much as I can. We talk, and I listen to her tell stories about her life. We hug a lot, and I always give her a kiss. We take pictures on my phone and look at them together. I can see that these simple moments bring my grandmother joy, and this is a comfort to me.

At the same time, I realized that my father’s three sisters — the aunts who have loved and cared for me all my life — are also getting older. So, I have set up a schedule for my “auntie time.” I phone each of them once a month, and we catch up. I ask how things are going in their lives, and I share my own news. They know I’m busy with my work and my own home life, and

they can feel that I want to share this time with them because I appreciate them. Like my grandmother, they can feel my love.

If you’d like to find simple ways to express your love to an older adult, here are a few ideas:

Listen —Ask your friend or loved one about their life. Listen to their stories, and seek their advice. Most likely, you will learn something, and they will appreciate being heard.

Spend quality time — Life is busy during our working years, but if you have time for a monthly phone call, then put that on your calendar, and you’ll be glad you did. If you can visit them, or take them out to lunch, even better.

Send a note — Receiving a note or card from you can mean the world to an older person.

Lend a hand — If you know your friend has trouble getting to the grocery store, offer to drive them, pick up what they need, or help them order through a delivery app. If they’re having trouble learning to use a new phone, see if you can help, or find someone who can.

Physical touch — I think sometimes we get scared to hug older people as their bodies grow frail. But holding someone’s hand, or offering a gentle hug, is a universal, wordless way to show affection.

CJFS supports older adults and their families as they navigate the journey of aging. Customized services include, but are not limited to, care management, emotional support, transportation and escorted medical visits. To learn more, call (205) 879-3438.

Museums hosting Mississippi Freedom Seder

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson will host the Mississippi Freedom Seder on March 28 at 6 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums.

Inspired by the 1969 Freedom Seder, where hundreds of people of all backgrounds gathered to explore and celebrate freedom in the context of the Civil Rights Movement, this communal event invites participants to the Passover table for an evening of commemoration, stories and community.

“We are pleased to co-host this Freedom Seder with our community partners,” said Katie Blount, MDAH director. “In doing so, we remember the courage of visiting Jewish Freedom Summer volunteers in 1964 and Jewish Mississippians who advocated for racial equality in the Civil Rights Movement.”

“Our Mississippi Freedom Seder in 2019 brought our communities together for conversation and reflection,” said Michele Schipper, CEO of the ISJL. “We are excited to co-host this event again and tell these Mississippi stories.”

This program will feature original music from Lapidus and Myles, a collaboration between Rabbi Micah Lapidus, director of Jewish studies at Davis Academy in Atlanta, and Clarksdale native Melvin K. Myles, who serves at the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

At the first Freedom Seder, held on April 4, 1969, more than 800 people gathered in a church in Washington to commemorate the first anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. Using the words of the traditional Passover Seder, calling for justice, peace, and liberation, the 1969 Freedom Seder strengthened Black and Jewish community relations and established a touchstone for contemporary Seders.

This participatory program will include a Passover meal. All are welcome. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for youth.

ISJL Passover Pilgrimage on the road for five communities

Five communities will welcome Rabbi Caroline Sim from the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life for this year’s Passover Pilgrimage.

For more than a decade, the annual ISJL Passover Pilgrimage has offered Seder celebrations across the South. The ISJL Passover Pilgrimage typically puts rabbis and cantors into communities across the region to lead Passover experiences. In 2020 and 2021, the ISJL had to shift from an in-person pilgrimage to an online alternative due to the pandemic.

Sim, director of rabbinical services at the Institute, will begin at B’nai Israel in Natchez. She will continue to Gates of Prayer in New Iberia, La., then B’nai Israel in Panama City on April 7, Beth Shalom in Auburn on April 8, and conclude at the Upper Cumberland Jewish Community in Crossville, Tenn. Information about each Seder is available from the individual congregations.

In addition to the five community visits, the Institute is offering free Passover resources at www.isjl.org/passover. These resources include a free downloadable Haggadah, a special reading also incorporated into the Passover Pilgrimage seder called “Through the Wilderness Together”; a video of the 2021 ISJL streaming seder, song sheets, and more. The online resources are already live and available to anyone planning their own seder celebration.

Touro Night in the Catskills

Touro Synagogue in New Orleans transformed to the Catskills on Feb. 5 for its annual gala.

The Catskills began in the 1920s as a retreat in upstate New York for Jewish families who wanted to escape New York City summers, but were not welcome at many hotels and resorts. The area took off in the 1940s, and in its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s the “Borscht Belt” had as many as 500 resorts catering to Jewish families.

Though the resorts offered numerous amenities, they were best known for their dining and entertainment, with an endless parade of famous entertainers making appearances, including Frank Sinatra, Mel Brooks, Milton Berle, Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Eydie Gorme, Ella Fitzgerald, Jerry Seinfeld, Jackie Mason, Jerry Lewis, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

Photos by Jeff Strout

>> Rear Pew

gest-tenured prime minister.

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There’s no better drink when floating on one’s back below sea level than a Dead Seagrams 7 and 7, mixing a traditional 7 and 7 with Dead Sea salt.

It might sound like a lot of effort to make, but a Be’er Shevadka Tonic uses normal tonic water and doesn’t require water produced from seven different wells in this ancient Negev city.

The list goes on and on, including such choice choices as a Rosh Ha-ayin and Tonic, Sidecaryat Shmona, Jaffazzy Navel, Golan Heightsball, Dirty Martinetanya, and Midorishon Letzion. Lastly, dessert in the desert

isn’t complete without a Chocolatinetivot.

Of course, it remains to be seen if any of these drinks will take off. None of them have the product placement of one of the best-known Jewish varietals: The last words of the Torah Service are “chadesh yameinu k’kedem,” which means “renew our days like Kedem (Wine).”

Doug Brook reminds you to always read responsibly. For nearly several more laughs, listen to the (STILL!) FIVE-star rated Rear Pew Mirror podcast at anchor.fm/rearpewmirror or on any major podcast platform. For past columns, visit http://rearpewmirror.com/

The Promised Liquor

When Tevye reached America, he starred in a series of liquor commercials, his bearded visage looking to the camera and famously saying, “I don’t always drink Schnapps, but when I do, I drink l’Chaim. To life, my friends.”

These ads were particularly popular around Purim, the Jewish holiday on the Ides of baseball Spring Training. The Talmud teaches that on Purim one is to get so drunk that they can no longer tell the difference between the good guys and the New York Y*nkees.

Purim is, sadly, just one day of the year. Because of that, it’s often followed by Post-Purim Depression — or is it really just a hangover? Either way, the best method for coping with it is probably not exploring all-new Israel-inspired cocktails. Nevertheless, that’s the subject at hand.

While the biblical prohibition against mixing wool and linen is called Shatnez, there’s fortunately no Shatnez for bartenders mixing shots of these heretofore unsipped concoctions.

First on the menu, one might think that Jerusalemoncello is a tribute to the holy city’s thousands of years of taking the lemons that history hands it and making lemonade. In truth, it’s just a limoncello variant that replaces lemon zest with etrog zest.

On Shabbat, various activities are considered a double mitzvah. So, drinking a Shulley Temple is a double toast to the synagogue where you drink it. With a cherry on top.

Whether shaken or stirred, when things are going south one can down an Eilatka Martini, which has a special ingredient that gets its drinker fried: potato vodka.

One can’t help but be moved to prayer after having a Western Wallbanger, which is made with the regional liqueur Galileeano.

Speaking of the Galilee, one can kick back on the western shore with a Long Island Iced Tiberias, with an added splash of Kinneret water.

When seized by the desert heat, cooling down is never better than with a Masada Mama, which differs from its Bahama counterpart by dropping the rum, in payback for the siege of Masada by the Romans.

One needs to call for a chauffeur after indulging in just one blast of a Tekiya Sunrise, staring slowly across the sky, saying goodbye (after seeing three stars).

The most traditional of people might not admit to imbibing on an Alabama Slammea Shearim, which can slam shut anyone’s gates because it’s made with Southern Comfort 100.

Anyone who’s looking for trouble better not get caught holding a Black Russhin Bet. It contains more than vodka and coffee liqueur, but the details are a matter of national security.

For people who find the world’s gotten too modern, there’s no need to visit one of Israel’s most ancient cities when one can instead drink that city’s namesake drink, an Old Fashkelon.

For a break in the middle of shopping in Jerusalem, including at the Alabama Shop on David Street, it’s sweetly refreshing to kick off one’s sandals and sip a Machane Yehudaiquiri.

A Cosmopolitanyahu is the perfect drink for either celebrating or drinking heavily, depending on one’s politics, due to the legacy of lon-

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