SJL New Orleans, April 2017

BB Literary Club Centennial

NCJW New Orleans 120th Anniversary

Southern Jewish Life NEW ORLEANS EDITION

INSIDE:

April 2017

Volume 27 Issue 4

Southern Jewish Life 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002

Happy Passover!

Largest selection of Wine, Cheese, Beer and Spirits in Louisiana

… and yes, Israeli wines too!

Now Open in Mandeville

Gourmet Cheeses • Walk-In Humidor Extensive Wine, Beer and Liquor Selection

Largest selection of Prime Beef in St. Tammany Parish Lowest Everyday Prices in St. Tammany Parish Plenty of Kosher products Locally Owned and Operated Since 1963

125 E. 21st Avenue • Historic Downtown Covington, www.acquistapaces.com • 985-893-0593 2 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

631 North Causeway Blvd. • Mandeville www.acquistapaces.com • 985-951-2501

shalom y’all shalom y’all shalom y’all Look for Toward the end of my days actively working with interfaith and intercultural dialogue groups, a new exercise became popular — the privilege exercise.

Everyone would line up side by side in a large space and close their eyes. A list of conditions would be read, and those for whom the statement applied would take a step forward or backward, depending on whether it was an advantage or disadvantage. For example, if you grew up in a house with more than 40 books, take a step forward. If your parents divorced, take a step backward. If your parents are college-educated, take a step forward.

At the end of the exercise, everyone would open their eyes and look around. In general, there would be a couple of people toward the front, a couple of people way back and most scattered in between.

Now, what do you do with that information? Sometimes, those in the back would tell everyone else not to feel sorry for them. Ones toward the front might express guilt for their advantages. To that, some would say the point isn’t to feel guilty for advantages, but work toward a society where more people can have those advantages (ah, but how?). And, of course, it’s all a matter of perspective — this was with Americans in the South. Imagine where the ones toward the back would be if there were a bunch of people from Third World countries in the mix.

That exercise prompted all manner of interesting dialogue. Unfortunately, the notion of privilege has gone from the individual results in this exercise to abstract assumptions based on groups among some.

In the world of intersectionality, the current fashionable idea among many activists and on college campuses, every struggle is the same, merely the different flavors of oppression. Feminism is LGBTQ rights is Black Lives Matter is the Palestinians is environmentalism. continued on page 60

in the center of this issue of Southern Jewish Life

Read SJL

Cover Image: Courtesy Haspel Anywhere Our digital Read SJLeditions are always available at Anywhere

SJLmag.com.

Our digital You may editions arealso choose to go paperless always availableand have month’s magazine ateach sjlmag.com. delivered to your inbox.

You may also choose to go paperless and have each month’s magazine delivered to your inbox.

sjlmag.com sjlmag.com /sjlmag

/sjlmag

@sjlmag /southern /sjlmag jewishlife

@sjlmag /southern /sjlmag sjlmag jewish sjlmag /sjlmag life

Larry Brook EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Larry Brook

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

Condé Nast #2 Top Hotels In New Orleans 535 Tchoupitoulas St | New Orleans, LA 70130 | 504.527.5271 | old77hotel.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 3

April 2017 April 2017

opinion

Southern Jewish Life

A Thank You to Hate (Editor’s note: This piece was written a couple of weeks before the arrest of a suspect in Israel who was accused of making the bmb threats.

A reflection written just after the arrest was announced on March 23 follows. The author is an alumnus and current parent at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School in Birmingham).

Dear Sir/Madam: I wanted to thank you for your recent service to me and to the Jewish community, both here in Birmingham and throughout the United States in recent weeks. Your efforts on my behalf have been outstanding. In the last six weeks, you have called in more than a hundred bomb threats, some targeting elementary schools and day care centers, and you have implemented a program of online intimidation as well as simple acts of random hate, like the carving of swastikas on car doors and walls, or the toppling of headstones in Jewish cemeteries. I congratulate you on the comprehensiveness of your work.

You have forced me to have conversations with my 5- and 7-year-old children about what a bomb threat is, and why someone would want to hurt them even though they have never done anything to that person. Even though they don’t even KNOW that person. My children now know how to evacuate during a hostage situation and how to flee terrorism. They don’t really understand why it is that they need to know this, but I’m sure that you will continue to help them learn throughout their lives.

Giving credit Thank you for the lovely article about Woldenberg Village highlighting the Snoezelen room (“Woldenberg Village only Louisiana location for Snoezelen therapy,” Feb. 2017). The room was made possible by donations from Albert and Rea Hendler.

Esther Hendler, trustee Albert and Rea Hendler Charitable Remainder Trust

What do you think?

Send your letters to editor@sjlmag.com, or mail to P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 4 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

You’ve helped me forget my day-to-day concerns about things like my job as I spend time at meetings about public safety and arguing about best practices. Sure, it’s been a little stressful at times, but any valuable relationship will have these moments. Overall, I’d say you’ve been quite busy.

In all seriousness, though, I have to thank you most of all for what you’ve done for me as a Jew. Boy, have you helped me with that. You see, for a long time, I’ve been what I’d call an “unaffiliated Jew.” I subscribe to the values and tenets of Judaism, but I pick and choose; I’m not terribly observant or particularly fastidious about details.

I’ve always seen my Judaism as a means to achieving my relationship with G-d, not as the goal itself. Because of this, at times I have felt my connections with Judaism loosen, and felt myself drifting away. I think that, in time, there’s a good chance that I would have become so secular as to no longer really think of Judaism as something I primarily identify with at all.

That’s where you came in. Like a hammer driving home a nail, you have secured my identity more effectively than I could have imagined. You came to my community and you declared “All of you must be hurt or hated because you are Jews.”

You didn’t care if I had lapsed in my faith. You didn’t concern yourself with my attendance at synagogue or my membership at the LJCC or with my choice of schools. You had no interest in my observance of kashrut or my ability to read the Torah. All that mattered to you was that I was a Jew. And thanks to you, more than ever, I am.

You’ve taken our community, which was arguably fractured along a number of lines, and you’ve united it in defiance of your threats.

You’ve taken members of the Christian and Muslim communities around us, and turned them from unknown neighbors or detractors to supporters and allies. You’ve made me resolute in my decision to continue to be a member at the LJCC, and to keep my children in their Jewish day school. You’ve made me increase my contributions to Jewish organizations across the board. In short, your work in six weeks has made me more confident and committed to my faith than I can remember being.

So thank you, hate. Thank you for being so blind and foolish. Thank you for thinking that we scatter when we are afraid, not realizing that we stand together when we are threatened.

Thank you for thinking we will abandon thousands of years of heritage to a few threats, when our ancestors stood before pogroms, armies, and worse and said “We will not move.” continued on page 59

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com SOCIAL/WEB Eugene Walter Katz eugene@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rivka Epstein, Paul Lewis, Tally Werthan, Bebe Hudson, Belle Freitag, Annabelle Fox, Doug Brook brookwrite.com BIRMINGHAM OFFICE P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 14 Office Park Circle #104 Birmingham, AL 35223 205/870.7889 NEW ORLEANS OFFICE 3747 West Esplanade, 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 504/780.5615 TOLL-FREE 866/446.5894 FAX 866/392.7750 connect@sjlmag.com ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to Lee Green, 205/870.7889 or lee@sjlmag.com Media kit, rates available upon request SUBSCRIPTIONS It has always been our goal to provide a large-community quality publication to all communities of the South.

To that end, our commitment includes mailing to every Jewish household in the region (AL, LA, MS, NW FL), without a subscription fee.

Outside the area, subscriptions are $25/year, $40/two years. Subscribe via sjlmag.com, call 205/870.7889 or mail payment to the address above.

Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher.

Views expressed in SJL are those of the respective contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff. SJL makes no claims as to the Kashrut of its advertisers, and retains the right to refuse any advertisement.

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.

agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events

Photo by Ashley Merlin

On March 19, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana held its 50th anniversary gala, honoring past presidents.

Pictured here are (front row, left to right) Max Nathan Jr., Richard Cahn, Sandy Maslansky, Leon Rittenberg Jr., Joe Pasternack Jr. Back row, Carole Cukell Neff, Joyce Pulitzer, Joel Mendler, Ellen Yellin, Rickie Nutik.

Not pictured were Charles A. (Rusty) Levy III, Linda B. Wiener and Carol Wise.

Federation, several other Jewish groups giving GiveNOLA a go this year Numerous Jewish organizations are participating in this year’s GiveNOLA Day, a 24-hour online giving event on May 2.

Last year, despite being marred by a national technical glitch, GiveNOLA attracted $4 million in gifts to about 700 non-profits in the area.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans placed 14th among small organizations in the number of gifts, with 119, and first among small organizations in the amount raised, $96,851, third among all organizations.

The overall effort, coordinated by the Greater New Orleans Foundation, includes raising funds from corporate sponsors for proportional “lagniappe” dollars, given to each non-profit in proportion to the amount they raised on their own during the day.

There are also prizes for the highest number of unique donors and for the highest amounts of funds raised. “Rock Around the Clock” bonuses of $1,000 are randomly done each hour among organizations that have at least one donation of $10 or more that hour. Northshore Jewish Congregation received one last year.

Throw Me Something Mister hours happen during three designated hours, with the small and large organizations with the most unique donors in that hour receiving $3,000.

The Federation is once again taking part. As of press time, they were lining up matching funds for Power Hours. Using the theme “Small is the New Big,” the Goldring Family and Woldenberg Foundations are matching additional gifts to the Federation of at least $10 and new gifts at 25 percent.

JNOLA will have a GiveNOLA Day event at Capdeville from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Jewish Community Day School, National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans Section, Tulane Hillel and Northshore Jewish Congregation are also taking part.

Louisiana’s largest Shabbat dinner was held on Feb. 10

Shabbat at Tulane with over 1,000 of your closest friends On Feb. 10, the largest Shabbat dinner in Louisiana was held on the Newcomb quad at Tulane University. The seventh Shabbat 1000 by Chabad at Tulane attracted about 1,100 students.

Student groups prepared the food, including Sigma Delta Tau, Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Epsilon Phi sororities, Zeta Beta Tau and Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternities. One of the preparation events involved sorority members making over 1,000 mini-challahs.

Over 100 table heads were recruited and asked to invite a dozen of their friends so the tent would be filled.

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 5

agenda New award to recognize outstanding Jewish educator

ExtErior DEsigns, inc.

By Beverly Katz

“Problem Yards Our Specialty” DRIVEWAYS POOLS LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

COURTYARDS PERGOLAS CARPENTRY/ PAINTING

(504) 866-0276

exteriordesignsbev.com 6 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

A new award will recognize an outstanding Jewish educator in the New Orleans area.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is partnering with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to launch the Marion B. Steeg – Harold Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

Michael Weil, Federation executive director, spoke of the importance of Jewish education in ensuring Jewish continuity. “By making this new award, we are expressing our priority for Jewish education and our desire to strive for excellence.

We also recognize that all the congregations and all the agencies in our community have a significant role to play in Jewish education.”

The Massachusetts-based Grinspoon Foundation, best known for PJ Library and the JCamp 180 support to Jewish summer camps, does a $500 match from local communities in establishing the award. The honoree receives $1,000 to be used toward future educational enrichment.

The Steeg Family Foundation is providing the local match.

The honoree receives a plaque from the Grinspoon Foundation, local and national publicity, listing on the Grinspoon website, an invitation to participate in an online community of practice, and a local award ceremony.

A diverse committee from across the community was formed to establish award criteria and the nomination process, and plan the celebratory event.

“We are so delighted that the Steeg family and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, working

with the Federation of Greater New Orleans, are providing us with the opportunity to highlight and honor outstanding Jewish educators in our community,” said Rabbi Robert Loewy, chair of the committee. “It is our hope that this award will both recognize and enhance the quality of Jewish education in Greater New Orleans.”

Nominated Jewish educators must be currently employed by a Jewish educational institution; have contact hours with the same group of students on a regular basis; exemplify innovative, creative thinking and implementation of teaching methods and materials; have demonstrated an ability to make a positive impact on their students’ lives; and teach Judaica or Hebrew in some format.

There is no required age range of the students being reached by the nominated educator. As a result, nursery schools, day schools, religious schools, Hebrew schools, Melton, and other Jewish educators that meet the criteria are eligible to be nominated.

Nominations for the award can be received from anyone in the community, and self-nomination is permitted. An educator who is nominated by someone else will be contacted to see if they are interested in continuing through the process, and offered an invitation to do so. If they agree, they will complete a secondary form and have the opportunity to share and submit some of their work as part of their application, if they wish to do so.

Nomination forms will be available on the Federation website at jewishnola.com/educator.

Torah academy’s Shining Stars on May 7 Alona and Barry Katz to be honored Torah Academy in Metairie has announced its second annual Shining Stars fundraiser will be held at the school on May 7 at 6 p.m. Alona and Barry Katz will be honored with the Torah Academy Lamplighters Award.

“Last year was our first event like this, and we couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome,” said Rivka Chesney, Director of Development. “Everyone had a great time, and we were able to raise money to help further our goals of providing a first-rate education for our students.”

Last year’s event raised $25,000 for the school, whose mission is to help students strive academically and spiritually. School officials are expecting an even bigger turnout this year.

The event will feature dinner and cocktails, entertainment, and a Chinese auction with prizes worth over $10,000.

The Chinese auction is similar to a silent auc-

tion but with elements of a raffle. Rather than writing bids as in a silent auction, participants in a Chinese auction place bids by adding one or more tickets to each prize item’s box. A winning ticket is then pulled from each box.

Reservations are $50 by May 1 and $65 after, and can be made and auction tickets can be purchased at torahauction.com. One need not be present to win.

JFS credentialed for more health insurance plans Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans announced they will soon start accepting Humana and Aetna insurance.

The social service agency currently accepts United Healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Connect, TRICARE and Gilsbar.

agenda JFS Rhythm and Soul Gala to honor Ellie Wainer, Teen Life Counts Ellie Wainer and the Teen Life Counts program will be honored at this year’s Jewish Family Service Rhythm and Soul Gala, May 21 at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans.

Every year, JFS recognizes a member of the community “who has given countless hours to advancing the common good in New Orleans.”

For over 25 years, Wainer has been JFS program coordinator for Teen Life Counts, which became the largest suicide awareness and prevention program in the state. “She has positively affected countless lives through her tireless pursuit to improve mental health support for thousands of students in the Greater New Orleans community,” said JFS Executive Director Roselle Ungar.

The program’s suicide prevention curriculum is conducted free of charge in approximately 40 public, private, parochial and charter schools per year; serving a diverse population of youth ages 12 to 18. During the 2015-2016 academic year, 2,704 students and 320 gatekeepers — adult, faculty, mental health professionals and parents — participated in TLC. Hundreds of students sought help for themselves or others.

Wainer recruits and trains the volunteers who serve as educators and ensures that participating schools have adequate mental health professionals available.

A portion of the proceeds raised at this year’s Gala will directly support the TLC program.

The jazz dinner program will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $125, or $75 for young professionals age 35 and under. A patron party will begin at 5 p.m.

Patron levels start at $250.

Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the JFS office.

Day School plans Israel Museum, U.N. reenactment for Independence Day

Bill Norman, JCDS board member, and his wife Doris brought home a Frank Meisler sculpture from their visit to Jaffa, Israel in June 2012. The piece is one of Meisler’s “Jewish Figures”.

For Israel’s 69th birthday, Jewish Community Day School in Metairie is planning an Israel Museum and United Nations vote reenactment.

In November 1947, the U.N. voted 33 to 13 for the establishment of Israel.

At the May 2 event, JCDS students will re-enact the vote. Each child will represent a country and, one by one, cast their vote.

The school also is looking for Israel artifacts so they can have an Israel museum. Community members are asked to loan an Israel-related family artifact — whether an item, a photo or a memory.

Items may be dropped off at the school, with a card describing the item and its significance. During the event, there will be self-guided tours to show how the Israel experience affects individuals in New Orleans.

The Grandparents and Special Friends day is open to the community and will include an Israeli feast, singing and dancing. It will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 7

agenda B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will hold its Art & Soul gala on April 27, with jazz and a silent and live auction. Bill Grimes and his quartet will be featured, along with vocalist Judy Davis.

The dressy casual event will begin at 6:30 p.m., featuring wine, signature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $50. A pair of diamond and pearl earrings from Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry is being raffled at $25 per ticket. Proceeds from Art & Soul benefit religious education programs.

Gates of Prayer Sisterhood in Metairie brings back Coach Bag Bingo, April 8 at 7 p.m., with 10 new Coach bag prizes. Wine, cheese and desserts will be served. Reservations are $25 for Sisterhood members, $30 for guests.

The next Shabbat Kumsitz at Touro Synagogue in New Orleans will be April 7 at 7:30 p.m., following the 6 p.m. service.

The AIPAC Louisiana annual event will be on April 24 at the National World War II Museum, with registration starting at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Individual tickets are $36 and are available at aipac.org/LouisianaAnnualEvent.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will have a Nature Shabbat, a stroll through the swamp, on April 8 at 10 a.m., at Bluebonnet Swamp.

The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana’s annual women’s event will be on April 27 at 11:30, at Five Happiness Imperial Room, featuring Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, author of “We Plan, God Laughs: What to Do When Life Hits You Over the Head.”

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will hold its annual Golf Classic, May 7 at The Island Golf Club in Plaquemine. The shotgun start will be at noon, and the $150 registration includes golf, cart, range balls, dinner and prizes.

The New Orleans Synagogue Softball League opened its season on March 26 at Mike Miley Playground.

Waived by the New Orleans Pelicans after injuring his thumb in his debut game, Israeli NBA player Omri Casspi signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

This Week In Southern Jewish Life The South’s Most Comprehensive Weekly Jewish News Email To Subscribe, send an email to subscribe@sjlmag.com 8 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

“Biloxi Blues,” the semi-autobiographical play by Neil Simon, is being performed this month at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Winner of the 1985 Tony Award for Best Play, “Biloxi Blues” depicts Jewish Brooklyn native Eugene Morris Jerome as he is drafted into World War II and is sent to basic training in Biloxi. Performances at BB’s Stage Door Canteen run through April 22, with evening performances on Thursdays to Saturdays, and a 1 p.m. show on Sundays. There are options for Mississippi-themed dinner or brunch before the shows, from The American Sector.

community Despite arrest in JCC bomb hoaxes, leaders say vigilance still warranted Though there was a sigh of relief at the news that an arrest has been made for most of the bomb threats called in to Jewish Community Centers and Jewish schools around the United States since mid-January, mixed with shock about who the suspect is, vigilance is still being recommended.

The shock came from where the calls reportedly originated. A 19-yearold resident of Ashkelon, with dual United States and Israeli citizenship, was arrested on suspicion of making the calls. His identity and possible motive were not immediately released after the March 23 arrest.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the arrest “is the culmination of a large-scale investigation spanning multiple continents for hate crimes against Jewish communities across our country.

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans and we will not tolerate the targeting of any community in this country on the basis of their religious beliefs,” Sessions said.

Israeli investigators first started looking at the unnamed suspect following a threat in New Zealand six months ago. His home had a large antenna and “unusual hardware,” using “complex methods” to keep from being identified. His father has also been detained and is being questioned as to how much he knew of his son’s activities.

Ynet reported that his attorney told the court he has been homeschooled since developing a brain tumor at age 14, and that the tumor has affected his behavior ever since. The Israel Defense Forces ruled him unfit for service.

In addition to over 100 calls to JCCs and Jewish schools in North America, the suspect is accused of threats in Europe and Australia, and causing an emergency landing by a Delta Airlines flight after a threatening call.

Birmingham’s Levite JCC and N.E. Miles Jewish Day School received a total of four bomb threats from mid-January to early March. The Uptown JCC in New Orleans received one threat.

The Jewish Community Center Association of North America President Doron Krakow said “we are gratified by the progress in this investigation, and applaud the commitment and leadership of the FBI and other federal agencies, Israeli law enforcement, and local law enforcement across the United States and Canada.”

He noted that “We are troubled to learn that the individual suspected… is reportedly Jewish.”

Jonathan Greenblatt, chairman of the Anti-Defamation League, said “even though it appears that the main culprit behind the majority of these attacks has allegedly been identified, anti-Semitism in the U.S. remains a very serious concern… JCCs and other institutions should not relax security measures or become less vigilant.”

That was echoed locally. Richard Friedman, executive director of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, said “It is important to remember that this person presumably had nothing to do with the rash of swastika paintings we have witnessed (nationally), the desecration of Jewish graves that have recently occurred, the distribution of anti-Semitic literature that has taken place in different parts of the country, and the firing of a bullet through a window at a synagogue in Evansville, Ind. Thus, all Jewish institutions and Jewish communities need to continue to remain vigilant.”

In a statement, Friedman and Donald Hess, chair of the Birmingham Federation’s campaign for Jewish community security, said the Federation is in touch with the national Jewish agencies regarding the latest developments, and will “assess what security enhancements are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of our Birmingham Jewish institutions, and we will communicate this information to our community in a timely and transparent way.”

A New Orleans Tradition

600 Decatur • 334 Royal • 311 Bourbon

www.cafebeignet.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 9

A Comprehensive Response

Representatives of law enforcement, political leadership attend forum at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center — and a fourth bomb threat followed the next morning

LJCC Executive Director Betzy Lynch moderates forum with Sergeant Heath Boackle, leader of the Birmingham Police Department K-9 unit; Captain David Thompson of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; David Hyche of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer; Birmingham Mayor William Bell; Birmingham Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hatcher; Captain Allen Treadway of the Birmingham Police Department’s East Precinct; Special Agent In Charge Roger Stanton of the FBI Birmingham Division; and Scott Bartle of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

10 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

There was a major show of political and legal force at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center on March 6, as the community was updated on security issues following three phoned bomb threats that were part of a national wave.

Among those on hand were Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Congressman Gary Palmer, along with representatives of the FBI, Alabama Bureau of Investigation, the ATF, Birmingham Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Department.

The next morning, 14 hours after the forum, the campus received its fourth bomb threat, this time at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School.

At least 12 JCCs and Jewish schools were threatened on March 7, including in Boston, Chicago, Syracuse, Toronto, Portland, Rochester, Davie, Fla., and Rockville, Md. Anti-Defamation League offices in New York, Boston, Atlanta and Washington were also threatened.

Almost half of the JCCs in the U.S. have received threats since the beginning of the year. The LJCC also received threats on Jan. 18 and Feb. 20, with the Day School receiving a threat on Feb. 27.

The March 6 forum filled the LJCC auditorium, with many wearing the blue and white ribbons distributed by the Parents of the LJCC group that emerged after the first threats.

One of the group’s organizers, Rebekah Weinberger, said “as a Jewish mother, I never thought my kids were going to have to deal with this.”

As the forum began, LJCC Executive Director Betzy Lynch thanked those who have been “key and integral in helping us through the difficult times we have faced for the last two months,” including the leaders of the campus partner agencies.

She also thanked the parents of the preschool and Day School parents, and said “the amount of support we’ve had in this community is second to none.”

Most of the questions came from concerned preschool and Day School parents, filled with praise for local law enforcement, Mayor Bell and Rep. Palmer, but with concerns about the national investigation’s status.

Bell noted that children are “the most precious responsibility you have,” and that is why they were on stage for the forum.

Lucas Gambino attended the meeting to offer support from the local Muslim community. ‘Our community is here to help in any way we can,” he said.

Lynch responded that “we stand with you against these things as well,” as the local mosque has received threats recently.

Sergeant Heath Boackle, who heads the K-9 unit for the Birmingham Police Department, urged members not to be alarmed if they see the K-9 unit in the building. “We are going to be doing some different things… in and around the facility.”

After the March 7 threat, he visited with the students to reassure them, and told them that the unit would be there on occasion when there isn’t a threat.

Captain David Thompson of the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office said a surveillance trailer that is monitored constantly was deployed in the LJCC parking lot.

David Hyche of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said “our agency was asked to provide security training to the staff here… the staff was very pro-active.”

He added, “We also have our intelligence people working closely” with city, county and state officials.

Last week, Bell had a meeting with leaders of the LJCC, Federation and Day School.

He said “In Birmingham, we will not tolerate any bigotry” and said he was at the event “to show my support and to represent the other citizens of Birmingham, to let you know we will do all we can.”

Birmingham Police Department Deputy Chief Alan Hatcher of the field operation bureau urged members to be vigilant and report anything that ever appears unusual.

Palmer echoed that, saying “don’t be afraid to do it, don’t be embarrassed.”

Officers are patrolling the LJCC during operating hours and during other times. Captain Allen Treadway of the Birmingham Police Department’s East Precinct said “All the officers you see here work for

community me, and we’ll keep that presence here as long as it is needed.”

Special Agent In Charge Roger Stanton of the FBI Birmingham Division spoke of the collaboration among agencies. “We are putting the full force of all our resources toward this threat so we can conduct a thorough and efficient investigation,” he said.

Stanton said one of the first calls he got after the threats began was from Palmer’s office, asking if the FBI needed anything. “He wanted to make sure this threat was our highest priority.”

As this is a national phenomenon, Stanton said FBI divisions nationwide are working on the case and “it’s got the attention of the director of the FBI… we are putting our full force behind this investigation,” and with their law enforcement partners “we will be successful.”

Scott Bartle of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency also participated in the forum, and Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington was in attendance.

Lynch announced the Birmingham Jewish Foundation had issued a “significant emergency grant” on March 5 to help pay for short-term and mid-term security needs.

Donald Hess is leading a task force to assess security needs in the community, not just on

the LJCC campus but in synagogues and other institutions, and explore the best way to fund those enhancements.

The ATF recently had a two-hour training session with LJCC and Day School staff to finetune bomb threat protocol after the first three experiences.

Several experts have toured the LJCC campus and made recommendations on physical enhancements and protocol changes, some of which have been implemented and others which will be done soon. Not all of the changes will be publicized.

One frequent recommendation was the permanent closing of the fitness center entrance.

Effective March 12, that will become an emergency exit only. Last year, the entrance was open just during the summer when the outdoor pool was operating, but that will no longer be the case, and everyone will need to enter through the main lobby. Many other exits, such as the gymnasium doors to the parking lot, will also become emergency exits only.

LJCC President Allison Weil said “we realize it’s going to make some people upset, but it’s another layer of security we have to do.”

Lynch noted that for 100 years, the LJCC has been a welcoming place for the entire commu-

nity, and “if we take away that warm, haimish feel… we will have lost a part of who we are.

That is not what we are trying to do” with the enhanced security procedures.

This summer, the LJCC is hosting the JCCA Maccabi Games, bringing about 800 Jewish teens from across the U.S. and around the world to Birmingham for a week of athletic competitions and service projects.

Lynch said law enforcement has been working with the LJCC even before the threats began, as strict security is already a large component of hosting the games. Those measures “would have happened regardless of this set of circumstances.”

The decision had already been made that competitions will not be held at the LJCC so the facility would be available for members. Several venues around Birmingham have already been announced as competition sites.

Lynch said the threats have “heightened the importance” of the Maccabi Games, the first ever to be hosted in Alabama. “This is our way of showing whoever is doing this to us that the continuity of Jewish life and our Jewish future is happening here in Alabama,” and showing solidarity “can be one of the most important things we can do.”

THE SUMMIT | 209 SUMMIT BLVD. BIRMINGHAM, AL | P:205-970-9758 MONDAY–SATURDAY 10AM–8PM SUNDAY 12–6PM

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 11

community

ONE STOP KOSHER FOOD SHOPPING Eat In — Take Out — Catering

Sushi and Fried Chicken Friday

-3pm (Closed Saturday) Mon-Thu 10am-7pm • Fri & Sun 10am

-2010

3519 Severn, Metairie • (504) 888 www.koshercajun.com

TAJ INDIA TANDOORI GRILL, CURRY HOUSE & BAR 2226 Highland Avenue S Birmingham 205.939.3805 TAJINDIA.NET Lunch M-F 11-2p, Sat & Sun 11:30-2:30p Dinner: M-Sa 5-10p, Sun 5-9p

MACHINE & CUTTING TOOLS Bringing The World Of Machine And Cutting Tool Technology To You

1-800-462-9519 H Quality Sales and Service Since 1917 H

12 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

The parents’ group is making sure the issue does not get swept under the rug.

Weinberger said after the forum that she was terrified by the first bomb threat, as she was in the building when it happened. After the second one, “I was frustrated, and that’s when we put together Parents of the LJCC.” When the third threat happened, “we were really ticked off.”

She called the office of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley to get him to say something about the situation and was “passed around for 20 minutes” before being told he wasn’t planning to say anything.

Once word spread among the parents’ group, they inundated Bentley’s office with calls, and later that day he issued a statement, saying “as the Governor of every person of Alabama, I will not tolerate targeted threats against any segment of the community.”

“We want to hold our legislators and our elected officials accountable,” Weinberger said.

On March 8, Alabama Attorney General Steven Marshall condemned the threats. “I join with all law-abiding Americans in expressing disgust at such cowardly threats and want to make it absolutely clear that my office, if called upon, will commit whatever resources and support our federal partners may require to apprehend and bring to justice those responsible. Laws have already been broken when these callers made terroristic threats and the guilty must be held to account.”

The JCC Association sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions expressing frustration with the “progress in resolving this situation.”

Praising local law enforcement across the country, the letter asks for Sessions to meet “to discuss specific steps that will be taken to deter further threats, discuss security needs, and seek justice,” and that the Department of Justice “treat this case with the utmost urgency it deserves.”

The letter was signed by 141 JCC movement leaders. The LJCC’s Lynch is not listed, as she was out sick when the letter was being circulated.

Friedman and Lynch met with the Birmingham Community Affairs Committee on March 6 to brief them, pointing out that with a membership that is two-thirds non-Jewish, attacks on the LJCC are “an attack on the broader Birmingham community.”

Another parents meeting was held on March 15 at 5:15 p.m., with a counselor to discuss how to speak to children about the current situation.

Grass-roots support The LJCC had a community-based Employee Appreciation Day on March 7, for those who have had to deal with the threats and the concerns that follow.

Chair massages, cookie cakes and other treats were provided to the staff. Hand In Paw brought some therapy dogs to hang out in the auditorium, members of the Alabama Symphony performed and Babe Ruff, the Birmingham Barons’ mascot, stopped by.

“We know we need to take care of them, because they are taking care of your kids,” Lynch said.

A group of parents did a surprise breakfast for teachers and staff at the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School on March 14.

Smith’s Variety in Crestline, not far from the LJCC, is donating blue and white mailbox ribbons for anyone who wants to show support to the LJCC, and has a donation bucket in the store with proceeds going to the LJCC. On March 8, South Highlands Presbyterian Church across from Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El invited the Jewish community to its Lenten dinner and service as part of its “Who is my neighbor” seasonal theme.

During the dinner, Lynch gave an overview of the situation.

And in an only-in-the-South show of support, part of the proceeds from the crawfish boil at Little Savannah Restaurant and Bar on March 11 was given to the LJCC to help with security costs.

community Campaign launched for Birmingham Jewish community security upgrades Christian neighbors taking major role An emergency fundraising campaign has been launched by the Birmingham Jewish Federation to enhance security at the Birmingham area’s Jewish institutions.

Chaired by Donald Hess, the campaign has a goal of up to $1 million and will focus in part on the community campus on Montclair Road, which contains the Levite Jewish Community Center, Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center, N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, and the Federation and Birmingham Jewish Foundation offices.

Area synagogues and other institutions will also receive funds to enhance their security.

The campus has received four bomb threats since mid-January as part of a national wave of phoned and emailed threats. Each time, local law enforcement authorities have swept the campus and found nothing. Of the over 100 incidents nationally, affecting about half of the JCCs in the United States, all have been hoaxes.

“Our Jewish community agencies and synagogues always have paid attention to security but this recent outbreak of anti-Jewish incidents has motivated us to enhance security throughout our Jewish community,” Hess said.

The campaign was authorized by the Federation board on March 15.

The Birmingham Jewish Foundation had already made a large emergency allocation for immediate security needs.

With two-thirds of the LJCC membership being not Jewish, the local Christian and Muslim communities have also rallied around the facility, including taking an active role in the security campaign.

A group of Christian leaders has been formed to ask their constituents to take part.

On March 9, Rick Burgess of the national Rick & Bubba radio show spoke about the situation in Birmingham and urged donations to the LJCC through a web page the National Christian Foundation of Alabama had set up, linking to it from their show’s web page.

On the air, he read a letter urging support, written by Pastor Harry Reeder of Briarwood Presbyterian Church.

Also taking part in the campaign are Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association, The Center for Executive Leadership, Lifework Leadership, Young Business Leaders, JH Ranch and Alliance Ministries. Numerous churches have made pledges to the campaign.

In an email to NCF members, Tom Bradford wrote “In the 1940s when the Nazis came after the Jews, most of the Christians remained silent. We don’t want that to be said of us. For over 50 years, Birmingham has been painted by the national media as a ‘city of hate.’ Perhaps this would send a message that we are a ‘city of brotherly love’.”

“We appreciate all those who have stepped forward to help and thank those who will be stepping forward,” Hess said. “We have great Jewish institutions in Birmingham and wonderful friends — and this frustrating saga has demonstrated all of this once again.”

Usually, a fundraising campaign includes specifics on how the money will be used, but in this case the appeal has to be vague.

Numerous security experts have visited the campus in recent weeks and made recommendations. Some are obvious and visible, such as the presence of off-duty police officers, a county sheriff ’s office surveillance truck and the closure of the Fitness Center entrance. Law enforcement has advised the LJCC not to publicize other aspects of the security enhancements, logistical plans and procedures, or recommendations. “They are necessary and all expenditures will be reviewed carefully,” Hess said.

The campaign will cover everything from immediate and short-term needs to long-term plans. Donations to the campaign can be made through the BJF website or by contacting the Federation office.

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 13

•

•

FREE CONSULTATION Medicare Supplement And Long Term Care

• Let me take the confusion out of deciding which Medicare Supplement Plan is right for you.

Find Out

• You could save premiums on your Medicare Supplement insurance with the same coverage.

The Louis Bar is the central focus of the Pizitz Food Hall

“A Game Changer”

• We can work with your existing plan or a new plan to save you money.

After years of planning, refurbished historic Pizitz building brings residences, food hall to downtown Birmingham

Milton Goldstein, CLTC

Certified Long Term Care Specialist Medicare Supplement Specialist

Cell: (205) 907-0670

E-mail: miltgold@bellsouth.net Licensed in 11 States

•

•

WEIGHT LOSS CAMP •

Lose 15-50 lbs.

•

Exciting Activities

•

Behavioral Therapy

•

Fun, Friends, Happiness

•

Boys & Girls 7-17

Lose Weight?

You Bet I Did! • Nutrition Education

49 YEARS

GEORGIA • TEXAS 914-271-4141

www.CampShane.com Additional camps in Arizona, California, Wisconsin, New York

Check Out Our ADULT WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM www.ShaneDietResorts.com 14 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

“Is this real?” David Silverstein asked.

On March 16, a 17-year project culminated in a dedication ceremony with Birmingham Mayor William Bell as the Pizitz building, vacant for three decades, had its official renaissance.

“After 17 years, it’s amazing,” said Silverstein, principal at Bayer Properties.

The seven-story Pizitz building, home to one of the iconic downtown Birmingham department stores and an important landmark in Birmingham’s Jewish history, had been vacant since 1988.

In 1998, the McWane Science Center opened in the old Loveman’s department store building across the street from the Pizitz. Silverstein and Jeffrey Bayer were at the opening of the Imax Theater at McWane.

“We looked across the street, there was this iconic structure,” and they said “why don’t we figure out what to do with it,” Silverstein recalled.

They spoke to the Pizitz family, and Bayer Properties bought the building in 2000 for $1.6 million, “never dreaming it would take 17 years” to put everything together to complete the project.

They knew they did not want to tear such an iconic structure down and replace it, and that eventually “our persistence was going to pay off.”

Still, the process was long and involved. Five years after Bayer bought the building, Dick Pizitz said he ran into Jeffrey Bayer, who said “I’ve got a building I’d like to sell you.”

At the dedication, Dick Pizitz said “Birmingham should be glad we said no, because this is a game changer.”

Financing the building “was extremely complex,” Silverstein said, calling it “a lawyer’s dream.”

Bayer is co-owner of the building with Wisznia Architecture + Development of New Orleans, and Stonehenge Capital of Baton Rouge.

Marcel Wisznia said when they went to the Housing and Urban Development office in Atlanta to work on the 221(d)(4) paperwork, they were told this was “the most complex real estate deal they’ve ever worked on.”

The actual $70 million renovation took two years. While the Food Hall has been open a few weeks, residents started moving into the apartments on the upper six floors in December.

The Residences at the Pizitz consist of 143 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 13,000 square feet of office space. Sidewalk Film Festival will have its offices in the Pizitz, along with two 100-seat theatres.

The Skyline, available to residents, is a rooftop pool, deck, sauna and steam room, also with an equipped workout space and an event room.

The Pizitz Food Hall has 13 stalls and two full-service restaurants with cuisines ranging from Ethiopian to Nepalese, Southern to Mexican, Hawaiian to Puerto Rican. The second location of Eli’s Jerusalem Grill, an Israeli restaurant, is also there. One of the stalls will be a restaurant incubator for a few months at a time, for up-and-coming chefs to test and

grow their concepts.

In the center of the Food Hall is a large bar, the Louis, named for founder Louis Pizitz. To make it family-friendly, it also serves milkshakes and has a rare vintage Pepsi fountain.

There is also a courtyard and an attached parking deck with over 300 spaces.

Retail offerings include Yellowhammer Creative and the first Alabama location for Warby Parker eyewear.

Tom Walker, vice president of development for Bayer Properties, noted Yellowhammer’s T-shirts, saying “they are actually selling clothes in the Pizitz building again.”

“We hope this project will be transformative for downtown Birmingham in the same way other projects before us have been, such as Regions Field and Railroad Park,” Silverstein said. “The revitalization of The Pizitz is just one of many extraordinary projects helping in the resurgence of the downtown area and we are thrilled to be a part of the momentum.”

He praised the mayor and city council for their support of the project.

The Pizitz renovation “doesn’t happen without the support of the city,” Silverstein said.

“This is truly a joyous occasion for the city, and a time to celebrate another of its’ landmarks coming back to life,” Mayor Bell said. “This project has generated a lot of excitement and adds another great destination point for all of us who live here and for visitors to the great city of Birmingham to enjoy.”

Michael Pizitz said “We’re just very excited that the building has come back to life,” and Bayer did “an amazing job.”

A few nights before, they spent two hours at the food court. “It was organized chaos, it was great,” he said.

David Silverstein addresses members of the Pizitz family Michael Pizitz said the offerings at the Food Hall are “much more diversified, much more exciting” than the Ponce City Market in Atlanta, one of the venues the Food Hall team visited when researching the project.

Bell said the building represents “Birmingham in its heyday,” adding that “we’ve got a new heyday coming.”

As part of the ceremony, there was the surprise unveiling of an antique Pizitz clock, the frame of which had been found hidden behind plaster and hadn’t been seen since probably the 1950s. No one in the family had been aware the clock still existed.

Local historian Tim Hollis, who wrote a book on the history of Pizitz, said even he had no idea the clock existed.

The clock was restored with new mechanisms and placed in a central location in the Food Hall, to be a point of reference much as generations

“One of the things that immediately made me want to attend Alabama was the campus and how friendly everyone was. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to come to Alabama or more thankful for the welcoming Jewish community and the friends I’ve made through Bama Hillel.”

–Lexi

Intern and Board Member, Bama Hillel

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 15

Senior Living Community

The Lifestyle you deserve at surprisingly affordable prices.

Independent Living Assisted Living

Short Term Rehabilitation Skilled Nursing

Greenbriar on Hanover a part of Greenbriar at the Altamont, will provide you or your loved one personalized care in a warm homelike environment.

Greenbriar on Hanover offers Memory Care Assisted Living, commonly referred to as Specialty Care Assisted Living (SCALF) and Assisted Living (ALF)

Noland Health Services offer your loved one a compassionate environment to help maintain both physical and mental independence for as long as possible.

Call Today

(205) 323-2724

www.greenbriaratthealtamont.com

16 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

in Birmingham similarly arranged for decades to “meet under the clock” outside Loveman’s across the street.

The project itself contained numerous challenges, not unusual for a 90-year-old building.

Jules Lagarde of Wisznia said the floor of the Food Hall, for example, has an 18-inch slope from one corner of the building diagonally to the other side, something which would never be permitted today.

The bridge from the parking deck to the corner of the building was permanently attached, something that “is a no-no in engineering,” because “it was actually tearing up the rear corner of the building” because there wasn’t any built-in flexibility to respond to changes in weather. The two western corners of the building had to be rebuilt.

All of the old wood-frame windows were replicated with metal-framed windows to current standards.

In the 1920s, terra cotta facades were stacked against the building; today it has to be attached and supported at each floor level, so they had to go in and retrofit it.

“That’s the nature of old buildings,” Lagarde said.

The Pizitz Legacy Louis Pizitz was born in Poland and came to the United States in 1889. He became a peddler, winding up in Georgia. In 1892 he started a small store in Swainsboro, Ga. In 1898 he moved to Birmingham, unsure about the prospects for success — but he was pleasantly surprised at the success at his first location and his business grew.

In 1899, he opened a new store in the current location.

In 1906, Louis Pizitz was one of the founders of Temple Beth-El, with the first meeting held in his home. He would be the congregation’s president twice, just after it moved to Highland Avenue in 1927.

He also was a “founding father” of the reorganized Young Men’s Hebrew Association, serving as president in the 1910s.

The Louis Pizitz Dry Goods Company building as it stands today was built in two phases, in 1923 and 1925, at a total cost of over $1.5 million, and was the state’s largest department store.

In 1924, Isadore Pizitz, Louis’ son, was appointed president. As the Depression hit, the firm struggled, but after a couple of years the firm was profitable again and was able to pay down debts.

Though the Pizitz store was struggling, others had it much worse, and Louis Pizitz did what he could for the community. Every Thanksgiving, he held a meal for the needy at the store. When Alabama could not pay schoolteachers and issued scrip, he bucked the view of others and accepted the scrip as payment, gambling that the state would eventually be able to pay them off.

He also bought textbooks for the county and city when the school systems could not afford them.

The Depression aid was nothing new for him. In 1908 he sent truckloads of food and clothing to striking coal miners. When mines were closing in 1909, he rescued the miners’ jobs by buying some mines and selling the coal at cost. He would do that again during the Depression.

When cotton was 11 cents a pound in 1914 and farmers were struggling, he bought the cotton at 15 cents a pound, storing the cotton and promising the farmers that anything he eventually got for it above 15 cents a pound, he would give to them. The price of cotton soon soared, during World War I. Louis Pizitz was active in numerous African-American causes, including the establishment of an African-American hospital in Ensley, a YMCA and swimming pool. He also laid the cornerstone for the

ow s Bert knv s) (and lo aem!

Birminginhg a home:

find It’s more thang the right home. it’s findin ining & more. ks, d Schools, par t can help you find Ber t. the perfect fi

More Southern

all of Ser ving am and Birmingh areas g in d n u o surr

16+ years REALTOR ber, Life mem xcellence E f o b Clu Broker Associate esidential CertifiedstR(CRS) Speciali

Bert Siegel

205-960-0645 bsiegel@realtysouth.com www.BertSiegel.com

Life online at www.sjlmag.com!

Check our Website for updates between issues

Hillel building at the University of Alabama in 1950.

Part of his estate in Vestavia was eventually donated to the city, and a section became the Louis Pizitz Middle School.

After World War II, Pizitz store flourished, with many inventive promotions. The actor who played Hopalong Cassidy visited in 1951, with the crowd-counting machine breaking down at 15,000.

A three-story building next door was purchased in 1950 and converted into the Pizitz Store for Men. A Bessemer store opened in 1956, and in 1959, a $1 million renovation of the downtown store was announced.

Louis Pizitz died on June 22, 1959, and a few months later, a third store — the first as part of a mall — was announced for Roebuck.

During the civil rights tensions of 1963, Pizitz had several bomb threats, and was part of a group of downtown merchants to simultaneously remove segregation signs from water fountains and open their restaurants to everyone. A Huntsville store opened that year.

In 1964, the Enchanted Forest made its debut. Still fondly recalled throughout the city, the forest was a walk-through display during the holiday season, with a Talking Christmas Tree as the centerpiece. It was an anticipated attraction until it ended in 1981.

A seven-story parking garage was completed in 1965, with a bridge taking customers across the alley to the third floor.

Pizitz continued to expand, with most stores having the Pizitz Bake Shop.

Isidore Pizitz died in 1985. In December 1986, Jackson-based McRae’s took over Pizitz, and in 1988 the downtown store was closed.

For many, the building conjures up a wide array of memories. Bell related going there as a child and seeing “Isidore Pizitz at the escalator, greeting people.”

Silverstein said after they bought the building, they hosted an event for long-time employees and customers. “It was extraordinary to hear the stories.”

City Councilor Valerie Abbott, who said she has been waiting for 16 years for this moment, said she has “the most wonderful memories of this building” with her parents and grandparents, at a time when one still dressed up to go shopping downtown.

Councilor Jay Roberson, as a younger member of the council, does not have similar memories of Pizitz, but said “I’m a foodie” and looks forward to the international flavors at the Food Hall. “It is places like this that bring people from all walks of life together.”

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 17

Happy Passover

Do you have peace of mind?

Lisa Finn, an Estate Planning Attorney in Southeastern Louisiana since 2004, and member of the New Orleans Jewish community, helps families daily with estate planning techniques which take into account all the important life and death decisions, including: asset protection, incapacity planning, tax consequences, near death considerations, and postmortem financial planning.

Licensed in Louisiana and Florida.

Master of Laws in Estate Planning.

Call Today to Schedule a Complimentary Consultation

3000 18th Street, Metairie, Louisiana 70002 Office: 504-518-4126 Email: lisa@louisianapeaceofmind.com www.louisianapeaceofmind.com

18 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

community Nola’s Wisznia played major role in completing the Pizitz project For New Orleans’ Marcel Wisznia, there are three goals when considering a new development project: To be transformative, be in an iconic building and have the renovation be “catalytic” for the area, beyond just the property lines.

The Pizitz Building in Birmingham fit that description for his first venture into the Birmingham market.

Birmingham is “catching up quickly” in downtown living, he said, and has a built-in benefit in that process.

Some cities that cleared out vast swaths of their downtowns for new construction “lost more than they gained,” Wisznia said. While most of the old buildings in New Orleans have been spoken for, in Birmingham there is “a wealth of old buildings that are unused or underused, and we see that as an opportunity” for the community.

The goal for developments like the Pizitz, he said, is to have a place where people can live and walk or bicycle to work, and have a place like the food hall “to come and relax and socialize after work.”

Though there was a complicated funding structure to get the project completed, he said it still could not have been possible without the historic property tax credits authorized by the Alabama Legislature — which were allowed to expire last year without being extended by the Legislature, and are being debated in this year’s session.

He said the Alabama credits were “anemic” with very low caps.

Louisiana never put caps on their credits, he said.

“Alabama needs to figure it out and reimplement it,” he said, “hopefully” without the restrictions. “With that will come billions of dollars of new construction and downtown improvements.”

Wisznia is a second-generation architect. His father, Walter, grew up in Vienna, fleeing with his family to France when Austria was no longer safe before World War II. He was sent to England for school and was accepted into the Columbia University School of Architecture. “The whole family immigrated to the U.S. because of that,” he said.

His father’s sister would marry Houston native Rabbi Yonah Geller, who was the first rabbi of B’nai Israel in Corpus Christi. While on a visit to his sister, Walter Wisznia decided to stick around and practiced as an architect in Corpus Christi for 58 years.

Wisznia went to Tulane to study architecture and did not want to go back to Corpus Christi to be “the boss’ son” so he opened his own firm in New Orleans right after graduating. About 10 years later he did start collaborating with his father on projects in New Mexico.

Around the year 2000, Wisznia realized he enjoyed the process of being a developer, so his architecture firm is now in an unusual position. “We don’t have any outside work. We have no clients but ourselves,” on historic projects the development side has.

In New Orleans, the firm has recently done the Union Lofts in the old Western Union Telegraph building, the Maritime building, and the Saratoga, built in 1956.

The Maritime, built in 1893, was regarded as New Orleans’ first skyscraper, and was known for a time as the Latter & Blum building. The project, which converted the building into 105 luxury apartments, won the inaugural Tony Goldman Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2013.

Wisznia cautions, though, that “we’re not preservationists. We’re modern architects working in historic buildings,” respecting the past while looking toward the future with modern amenities.

About four years ago, a colleague in Birmingham introduced them to Bayer Properties, resulting in the Pizitz collaboration.

Karen Kahn Weinberg does the first reading from the Pine Bluff Torah at Adat Israel in Guatemala

From Arkansas to Guatemala Torah from Pine Bluff congregation finds enthusiastic new home

Serving Our Community by creating personalized, comprehensive financial plans

H. Todd Doobrow

Certified Financial Planner® Retirement Income Certified Planner® Registered Representative 205-440-4619 tdoobrow@financialguide.com MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. Todd Doobrow is a registered representative of and offers securities through MSI Financial Services, Inc., Member SIPC. OSJ: 3800 Colonnade Pkwy, Suite 600, Birmingham, AL 35243. 205.970.9782.

20 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

Last summer, a chapter of Southern Jewish history closed in Arkansas with the deconsecrating of Anshe Emeth in Pine Bluff. Eight months later, a new chapter started a bit further south, as a Torah scroll from Anshe Emeth was dedicated at Adat Israel, a new Reform congregation in Guatemala City.

After 150 years, Anshe Emeth held its final service on June 11 in the chapel of First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff, where the congregation had met since selling its final building in 2003.

Rabbi Eugene Levy of Little Rock, who officiated at Anshe Emeth in its final years, accompanied the Torah to Guatemala for the Feb. 25 ceremony, along with Karen Kahn Weinberg, a third-generation Anshe Emeth member now living in Atlanta.

They met up with Rabbi Elyse Goldstein of Toronto, who visits and mentors the Guatemalan congregation.

In 2008, Adrienne Rosen, Goldstein’s best friend, started the Guatemalan Children’s Fund and asked her to be on the board — but Goldstein had to visit Guatemala first as part of a delegation. While there, she wanted to find a Jewish community for Shabbat services, and found three — Chabad, an Orthodox congregation and a small group meeting in homes.

Figuring the small group was likely closest to the delegation’s orientation, they visited, not knowing what to expect.

Jeannette Orantes, president of Adat Israel, said the group of a couple dozen was formed in 2005 and is made up mostly of people who have converted to Judaism, many claiming hidden Jewish ancestry dating back to the exile from the Spanish Inquisition, though only one could definitively trace it.

Goldstein said she “fell in love” with the group and became their volunteer rabbi, helping guide them in their Jewish journey. She visits once a year and does Skype sessions during other times. She also arranges for other rabbis to visit.

In 2013, she helped officiate a formal conversion ceremony for 19

community members, followed by three Jewish wedding ceremonies that night.

Orantes said “One of the main purposes of Adat Israel is to receive other Jews, any color, any orientation, by choice, etc. to celebrate together our very special Jewish moments.”

The congregation had a borrowed Torah that they were eager to return to its owner after a misunderstanding over whether it had been donated or loaned to them. Goldstein helped them apply to the World Union for Progressive Judaism and become a recognized Reform congregation. The World Union also facilitates Torah transfers, and when the Pine Bluff Torah became available, the match was made.

At the dedication weekend, Rabbi Joseph Edelheit represented the World Union in the transfer of the Torah.

After the Pine Bluff ceremony, Levy arranged to have a crate built for shipping the Torah, which was insured through Lloyd’s of London as an antiquity. When asked by the agent how old the Torah is, he remarked that it was given to Moses at Mount Sinai.

Two days before the flight, he went to the airport in Little Rock to check the logistics with the airline. “They were very accommodating” and did not charge for transporting it.

In Guatemala, Orantes led a delegation that met them at the airport and took the Torah to the Temple.

Before the Shabbat evening service on Feb. 24, they had an informal ceremony to open the crate. “It was like the arrival of a new child, a Bar Mitzvah or a wedding. They were so excited to get the Torah,” Levy said.

They took the Pine Bluff cover off the scroll and put on the one they had been using on the previous Torah, which they immediately prepared for shipping back.

The actual dedication took place at the morning service on Feb. 25. During the service, Goldstein spoke of living the Torah, not just having it in the ark.

When there are guests, congregants who are fluent in English translate Spanish messages, and English messages, such as Goldstein’s remarks, are translated into Spanish.

Weinberg was struck by the passion among the congregants. Growing up in Pine Bluff, “it was pretty good,” but there was the occasional “stinging moment” of anti-Semitism. She said it was fascinating “to see people choosing to be Jewish in a Protestant evangelical country” like Guatemala. “These people just embrace Judaism like nothing I have ever seen,” she said.

Referring to their weekend guests, Orantes commented that “For us was an honor to have all of them to share this very, transcendental moment. Saying thanks is too short. But there is no other words to express: We just can say Toda Raba.”

Community.

All this & so much more in a weekly email delivered straight to your inbox.

This week in

Southern Jewish Life Email subscribe@sjlmag.com to receive the most interesting and clever bits from our community and around the world.

Nowadays, it’s a shortage of blood that’s really a plague.

Nothing is more important than saving a life, so it’s essential that Israel have an ample supply of blood for all its people. That’s where Magen David Adom comes in — collecting, testing, and distributing Israel’s blood supply for civilians and the Israel Defense Forces. And to protect Israel’s blood supply in the future, we’re building a new blood center for Israel, one that will be reinforced against rocket or other terrorist attacks. You can support MDA’s lifesaving blood services.

Make a gift today. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

AFMDA Southeast Region 3300 PGA Blvd., Suite 970 Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 561.835.0510 • southeast@afmda.org www.afmda.org

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 21

Named “Best Fertility Practice in Florida” and Top 5% Nationwide by FindTheBest.com

“…go forth and multiply” But if performing this mitzvah is taking too long, call the baby mavens at NewLIFE Since 1994, providing lower-cost and patient-friendly fertility care while relaxing at the beach Barry A. Ripps, MD Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

To learn more, call 850.857.3733 or visit:

www.FertilityLeaders.com

Pensacola • Panama City • Tallahassee • Mobile • Dothan

22 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

community Weinberg did the first reading from the Torah in Guatemala, and members of the congregation did the other readings, after which the Adat Israel officers were called up to officially accept the scroll. A celebratory lunch followed.

Adding to the weekend, Adat Israel had its first baby naming with the Torah, Zahava bat Tikva.

Weinberg, who generally does a Torah reading every few weeks in Atlanta, always prefers to do the first reading in tribute to her family’s heritage as Kohanim.

Even though her father wasn’t that ritually observant, “he knew he was a Kohen.”

Doing that aliyah meant she Unpacking the Torah was the first one to read from the Torah in Guatemala, but she was more focused on the fulfillment of a long-time dream to chant Torah in a Spanish-speaking country.

At last summer’s deconsecration, she saw in the program that the Torah would be going to Guatemala, so she told Levy she was going to the dedication. Levy told her “if you’re going, I’m going.”

When she was a teen, her sister applied for the American Institute for Foreign Study. Her first choice of Austria was full, so she went to her second choice, Spain. When their father pointed out that there was a discount for a sibling to attend, Weinberg decided to go, though “I had taken only one year of Spanish.”

During the program, she discovered “this profound connection to Spain” and ended up majoring in Spanish at Newcomb College at Tulane, as well as doing a year abroad in Madrid.

“A certified Daughter of the Confederacy,” she married a kosher-keeping guy from Brooklyn. Her mother-in-law was surprised at her love for Spain, given the history of Jews in Spain. “All I knew is I loved it and felt a strong connection.”

A few years ago, she had her genetic profile done, and her mother’s side showed connections to the Iberian peninsula.

Weinberg started chanting Torah after being paralyzed in a car wreck 18 years ago, crediting her years of competitive tennis, including on the women’s team at Tulane, for building up her muscles to be able to come back from it.

She had a “burning desire” to chant Torah in a Spanish-speaking country to show that “Iberia belonged to us too. It was part of our story.”

Ten years ago she was supposed to fulfill that dream on a congregational trip to Honduras with Or Hadash of Atlanta, but she had to cancel when her mother was ill.

Being able to chant in Guatemala was “like closing a circle for me,” especially doing it from a Torah that had been at the congregation for three generations of her family.

At the Shabbat evening service, it also suddenly occurred to her that on the secular calendar it was the one-year anniversary of her father’s passing. Her mother had died four months after that, three days before the ceremony in Pine Bluff. “That was extremely powerful,” she said.

It was also an emotional time for Levy, for a different reason. A couple of days before the trip, his four-year-old grandson in California was diagnosed with lymphoma. After Shabbat, he cut short the visit so he could be with family. His grandson left the hospital after about three weeks.

Reflecting on Anshe Emeth’s legacy, Levy said “Even though the congregation is closed, the Torah lives on in Guatemala.”

Closing the doors at last Jewish store in Lexington A chapter of Mississippi’s Jewish history is closing with the retirement sale now underway at Cohen’s in downtown Lexington, the last Jewish merchant in a town that was once filled with them.

Phil Cohen, owner of the 109-year-old retail business, said it is “one of the hardest things I’ve had to do,” but “I’ll be 80 years old later this year.”

Aside from it being time to retire, Phil said they are feeling the same effects as major retailers. On-line shopping is one factor, as is deep discounting by struggling major retailers “because there are too many of them.”

Some suppliers are catering more to the bigbox stores, he said, but some are getting into direct online sales themselves, getting a bigger return on direct sales than those through retail outlets. In cases like that, “my biggest competitor is my supplier,” Phil said.

“Small towns all over the country are suffering with declining populations as more people move to the suburbs of big cities,” he said. The overall population of Holmes County today is just half of what it was in the 1940s.

Phil Cohen is the third generation to run the 109-year-old store At one point there were 89 members at Lexington’s Temple Beth-El, now it is just the Cohens. There were 13 Jewish businesses on the town square, theirs is the last one.

The Lexington Jewish community dates to the late 1830s, starting with Jacob Sontheimer.

Established at the turn of the century, the Lewis-Herrman Company became a grocery hub, leading to the establishment of Lewis Grocer Company, which became the Sunflower Food Stores still in existence across the state.

The Herrman sons, Gus and Cecil, took inspiration from a 1940s visit to Lexington by student rabbi James Wax, who later led Temple Israel in Memphis for many years.

Wax suggested that if the boys grew up to be successful, they consider donating to Hebrew

Neal Auction

Union College. They did, leaving $10 million to HUC after their deaths in 1994 and 2002, then the largest bequests in HUC history.

In 2009, the four remaining Jews then in Lexington closed the doors on Beth-El. The building was given to the Lexington Foundation to maintain, with the understanding that members would have access to it for lifecycle events. There is also some discussion on the feasibility of moving the Beth-El building to Oxford to serve the Jewish community around the University of Mississippi.

Phil’s grandfather, Samuel, came to the U.S. from Lithuania in 1881 at age 19. After some time in Pennsylvania, he moved to Memphis in the late 1880s, opening R. Cohen, a store in the Pinch, the historic Jewish area.

Spring Estates Auction April 22 & 23, 2017

Period Antiques, Fine Paintings & Decorative Arts

1. Le Pho (1907-2001), “Composition,” o/c, 35 1/2 x 46 in., Prov.: Wally Findlay, NY, c. 1970. 2. Pr. George III Derbyshire Spar Blue John Candlesticks, h. 14 1/2 in. 3. Pr. French Art Deco Lucite and Bronze Lounge Chairs, c. 1939, zebra hide, h. 32 in., Prov.: Nan Wier, New Orleans. 4. Rare and Early Newcomb Pottery High Glaze Vase, c. 1896-97, Katherine Kopman, h. 7 in. 5. Adele Lemm (1897-1977), “Untitled #66,” o/linen, 29 x 38 in.

4038 Magazine Street • New Orleans, LA • 504.899.5329 • www.nealauction.com The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyer’s premium in the amount of 25% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. LA Auc. Lic., Neal Auction Co. #AB-107, Alford #797, LeBlanc #1514

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 23

community

This Passover, Invest in the Promised Land.

INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS israelbonds.com

Development Corporation for Israel 3525 Piedmont Road, Building 6, Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30305 atlanta@israelbonds.com • 404.817.3500

24 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

Invest in Israel Bonds israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus.

Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA

There was already a store named S. Cohen in the area, so he named it for his wife, Rosa.

Samuel suffered from ulcers, and Phil said “they didn’t have Maalox or any of that good stuff in 1900.” Spring water was seen as a natural remedy, so he set off for the natural springs of Holmes County. A legendary story is that Samuel met some Jews on the train, thrilled to find someone else who spoke Yiddish and played pinochle, and they convinced him to move to Tchula.

Phil says that’s partly right, but he did not meet them on the train. The train had to stop in Tchula overnight for refueling. When Samuel asked around for a place to stay, he was asked by someone who noticed his accent if he were Jewish, then that person said there were several Jewish merchants in town, and took him to meet them.

After a few days, he hadn’t reboarded the train to get to his destination, as the merchants said they would help Samuel establish a business in Tchula — and the water was helping his condition. He returned to Memphis to pack up his family and move their store to Mississippi.

They were convinced to move a few miles away, to Lexington, in 1908.

Tchula had a small school with one room and one teacher for up to eighth grade. The older Cohen children were sent to Memphis to live with relatives and go to high school.

In 1908, Henry Rosenthal of Lexington sold the Cohens on the new modern school that was just finished, as well as the presence of Temple Beth-El, which was built in 1905. Rosenthal also had a building on Lexington’s square that he needed to rent out, and that is where Cohen’s has been for 109 years.

Rabbi Abram Brill of Hebrew Union Congregation in Greenville had served the Lexington community monthly, and convinced them to establish Beth-El. The congregation also served families in Yazoo City, Pickens, Kosciusko.

In 1921, Rosenthal died, and his only son, by then living in Virginia, sold the other three store spaces in the building to Samuel.

The next-to-youngest of Samuel’s seven children, Ephraim, was offered a track scholarship to Ole Miss but decided to open a store with a cousin in Tchula. When Samuel became ill, he moved back to Lexington to take over the store and opened The Economy Store. He later combined them as E. Cohen’s Dry Goods and the Economy Store, later selling The Economy Store to a nephew.

Ephraim, Phil’s father, would later change the store’s name to Cohen’s.

Phil went to college at Tulane, returned to Lexington for a while and “then Uncle Sam needed my services” in the early 1960s. Unsure what he wanted to do after his service, he moved to New York and became a stock broker, then moved to San Antonio and was a stock broker there for 10 years.

With both parents in and out of the hospital, Phil came back to Lexington in 1975 to take over the store for what he figured would be a brief time, but he met his wife, Sally Stein of Greenville, “we started having kids and we’re still here.”

He has been president of the Lexington Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, the Holmes County Country Club and Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the Mississippi Retail Association.

Their children are now in New Orleans, Charlotte and Tel Aviv. All three had the first Bar and Bat Mitzvahs at Beth-El, as Confirmation used to be the rite of passage for Lexington teens. The three all attended the Henry S. Jacobs Camp, and in 2005, daughter Sarah organized about 200 students from Indiana University to spend Winter Break rebuilding New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The retirement sale began on March 2 and will last 6 to 8 weeks, he said. “At the end of that time, if I’m really lucky, I’ll find someone who wants to buy a building.”

He said it is difficult to sell a business in a small town, though there have been a couple such sales on the square in recent months — after those businesses were on the market for years.

When you accidentally boil more than just craWfish touro taKes care of it touro.com/emergency

CHAG PESACH SAMEACH WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A HAPPY PASSOVER

Sirote & Permutt, P.C. is a full-service law firm with long-standing core competencies in business, litigation, real estate, tax, and estate planning law. Its focus is providing clients with counsel from highly qualified, integrated teams of lawyers for projects large and small, simple and complex. Sirote’s 115 attorneys handle corporate and real estate transactions, business and financial services, estate planning, and litigation on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals. For almost 70 years, Sirote has approached service with uncompromising values and a deep understanding of clients, their businesses and industries. Whatever the challenges of the matter, the audacity of the goal or the amount of time required, it is our commitment to be there, always.

community NOLA’s Jeremy Bleich pitched for Israel’s miracle team in World Baseball Classic New Orleans native Jeremy Bleich made what many would have figured to be an unexpected trip to Tokyo, as part of Team Israel that stunned everyone at the World Baseball Classic.

Israel swept Pool A, a four-team round-robin in Korea, in early March, advancing to the second round in Japan.

Ranked 41st in the world and as the final team to qualify for the 16-team tournament, Israel wasn’t expected to do much with a group mostly of Jewish Americans, mostly with minor-league experience. Every other team in the tournament was in the top 20 in world rankings.

Players are eligible to compete for a country if they are eligible for citizenship; with Israel’s Law of Return, that makes any Jewish player in the world eligible.

Former Louisiana State University star Alex Bregman, now with the Houston Astros, was heavily wooed by Team Israel but decided to play for Team USA, which won the Classic for the first time, defeating Puerto Rico in the final.

Even before the tournament began, the novelty of Israel’s first appearance in the Classic l

was fodder for a wide range of stories.

ESPN called Israel the “Jamaican Bobsled Team” of the tournament, and the 3-0 start was seen as the stuff of miracles.

An alumnus of the Isidore Newman School, Bleich attended Stanford and was drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees in 2008. He has played with the Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations, including the last three seasons at the Triple-A level.

Last season, he was a reliever for the Somerset, N.J., Patriots. In February, he signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks’ new AA affiliate is the Jackson Generals.

Bleich is the son of Caron and the late Stan Bleich.

In interviews, Bleich has spoken of the opportunity to play for Team Israel in the context of honoring his grandparents, who were Holocaust survivors.

In January, 10 of the team members visited

U.S. News & World Report

This icon is not the official U.S. News & World Report best hospitals emblem.

2016-17

BEST CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

Israel. Bleich was one of only two who had visited Israel before and was a “go-to guy” for the others when they had questions. While there, the group took part in a groundbreaking ceremony for a Jewish National Fund sponsored baseball field in Beit Shemesh.

In February, Bleich was the featured speaker

Children’s of Alabama is ... l The

third largest pediatric hospital in the United States

l Licensed l The

for 332 beds & 48 NICU bassinets

first LEED-certified hospital building in Alabama

l One

of the Top 20 employers in Alabama with more than 4,700 employees across the state

l The

pediatric teaching hospital for the School of Medicine at UAB

l Home

to the Pediatric & Congenital Heart Center of Alabama, where more than 450 cardiac surgeries are performed annually

l Site

Russell Campus

of the only pediatric kidney dialysis program in the state — one of the largest in the country

1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233

Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children Lowder Building McWane Building Children’s on Third Outpatient Center Children’s Park Place

Children’s South

205.638.9100

1601 5th Avenue South 1600 7th Avenue South 1600 7th Avenue South 1208 3rd Avenue South 1600 5th Avenue South

1940 Elmer J. Bissell Road, Birmingham, AL 35243 205.638.4800

Outpatient surgery services, Pediatric Imaging Center, laboratory services, specialty care clincis and After Hours care

l Home

to one of the largest burn units in the Southeast

l One

of the largest pediatric rheumatology programs in the nation and the only one in Alabama

l Provides

care for more than 90 percent of Alabama children with cancer and blood disorders

Pediatric Practice Solutions Primary Care Locations Alabaster (Greenvale Pediatrics) Bessemer (Pediatrics West) Birmingham (Midtown Pediatrics) Brook Highland (Greenvale Pediatrics) Clay/Chalkville (Pediatrics East-Deerfoot) Homewood (Mayfair Medical Group) Hoover (Greenvale Pediatrics)

26 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

McAdory (Pediatrics West) Montgomery (Physicians to Children /Central Alabama Children’s Specialists) Mountain Brook (Over the Mountain Pediatrics) Pell City (Pell City Pediatrics) Trussville (Pediatrics East) Vestavia (Vestavia Pediatrics)

www.ChildrensAL.org

community at a Boston JNF Tu B’Shevat event that also marked the dedication of a field in Ra’anana in memory of Ezra Schwartz of Massachusetts, who was killed in a terror attack near the Gush Etzion junction in November 2015.

On March 6, Israel opened the tournament by stunning their hosts, South Korea, 2-1 in 10 innings.

The 5th inning began with Zack Thornton allowing a walk and then hitting a batter, prompting Bleich to be called from the bullpen.

After a called strikeout, Bleich gave up a single to Geonchang Seo, allowing Kyoung-min Hur to score the only run for South Korea. The next two batters fouled out to end the inning.

Bleich started the 6th inning by giving up a single to Ah-seop Son, after which Gabe Creamer came in.

Bleich did not play in Game 2 later that day.

Israel jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st inning and never looked back, taking a 15-7 win over Chinese Taipei.

South Korea and Taipei, neither of which advanced, were both ranked in the top 5.

In Game 3 against the ninth-ranked Netherlands on March 8, Israel again stormed to the lead, 3-0, in the 1st inning, and made it last, winning 4-2.

Up 4-1 going into the 8th, Bleich came in and got the first out, then Sharlon Schoop reached on a throwing error. After walking Xander Bogaerts, Bleich was replaced by Josh Zeid, who gave up a walk to load the bases. After a forceout and a throwing error, Schoop scored the unearned run, making it 4-2.

In a widely-praised move, as team members removed their baseball caps before each game for Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” they sported blue yarmulkes.

Pool E began with Israel facing Cuba on March 12, and after a pregame Purim megillah reading in the dugout, the magic continued.

This time, Israel came from behind to win, 4-1.

That was as far as the miracle went, as the Netherlands got revenge on March 13, coasting to an 8-0 lead before winning 12-2. This was the only time Bleich pitched in Group E, lasting one inning and giving up three hits, two runs and striking out one.

After Corey Baker gave up two runs in the 2nd inning, he started off the third giving up a single and a walk. Bleich then came in from the bullpen. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Wladimir Balentien hit a single, scoring both runners.

Balentien would score as the next batter, Didi Gregorius, hit a double. After Bleich struck out the next batter, Shawn Zarraga doubled, scoring Gregorius. A groundout ended the inning, with the Netherlands scoring four runs.

On March 15, Japan bounced Israel out of the tournament, 8-3.

It’s Time to LOVE What You Drive

Over 800 new and used cars in inventory

Chag Pesach Sameach!

www.jackingram.com Eastern Blvd. Montgomery

334-277-5700 April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 27

community

Tulane Hillel crowns Nice Jewish Boy

Sanders Painting Residential Repaint Specialist • Interior/Exterior Painting • Wood, Plaster, & Sheet Rock Repair Family Owned and Operated

205/608-1116 cell: 205/563-9037 Involved Members of Birmingham’s Jewish Community

On March 19, over 230 students attended the highly anticipated second annual Nice Jewish Boy Pageant at Tulane’s Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life. Fifteen young men battled it out to win the golden yarmulke and be crowned Tulane’s Nicest Jewish Boy. The contestants competed in three rounds: business wear, talent and a question and answer session. As each participant strolled down the runway showing off his business attire, the crowd listened to the narration of a letter written by the contestant’s mother, explaining why her son should be recognized as Tulane’s Nicest Jewish Boy. Highlights of the night included a choreo-

Vanderbilt University Hillel Program Director Lauren Silverman passed out funfetti hamantaschen on campus from the back of a golf cart

28 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

graphed dance by all 15 contestants to “It’s Raining Men,” a lip-sync to “I’m Jewish and I know it,” a cooking lesson demonstrating how to make challah bread pudding, and an original song written about Tulane Hillel.

The pageant was judged by two New Orleans community leaders, Casey Kaplan and Michael Finkelstein, as well as last year’s winner, Micah Bernhard. While the judges deliberated, there was a special performance by Tulane’s a capella group, The NJBeats.

Danny Beckerman, Grayson Levien and Spencer Olesky were crowned with the bronze, silver and golden yarmulkes, respectively.

A 1917 photo of the ballroom at the BB Club in Vicksburg. Part of the evening was replicating this photo in a 2017 version, as seen on the cover. The new photo will be placed in the foyer next to the 1917 photo.

B’nai B’rith Literary Club building in Vicksburg turns 100

I am here to help families find the home of their dreams in the Birmingham area, or make downsizing an easy process http://bridgetsikora.realtysouth.com (205) 910-0594 bsikora@realtysouth.com

30 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

A Vicksburg Jewish landmark that has hosted many stylish events over the decades hosted a centennial celebration in grand style.

A black tie optional gala attracted about 120 guests on March 25 at the B’nai B’rith Literary Club, commemorating the 100th anniversary of its March 1917 dedication and featuring the 24-piece Capitol City Stage Band.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation.

Stan Kline, president of Vicksburg’s Temple, Anshe Chesed, said the evening “wouldn’t be much of a gala with our 10 people” remaining in the Vicksburg Jewish community.

At the beginning of the dance, he gave a brief history of the Vicksburg Jewish community. “How does one condense 175 years” into two minutes, he asked.

Dan Fordice, who owns the building, spoke of the building’s history and read from the club’s bylaws, saying it was formed “for the improvement of the intellectual, moral, social and physical condition of its members.”

Fordice said the anniversary was an opportunity “to rededicate this structure to the entire community of Vicksburg, as a monument to the Jewish community of Vicksburg and what they have contributed to the city.”

The facility hosts a wide range of events, including a large number of weddings each year.

The B’nai B’rith Literary Club was established in 1871 as the Young Men’s Hebrew Benevolent Association “for the intellectual and social advancement of its members.”

It met in private homes before establishing its first location at Cherry and Crawford Streets in 1887, shortly after changing the name to the B’nai B’rith Literary Stock Company.

The original building, built Stan Kline speaks about Vicksburg’s in 1905, burned around 1915. Jewish history as Dan Fordice watches

community

SJL

goes anywhere

The current building at 721 Clay Street, with marble stairs and a carved limestone exterior, was dedicated in 1917, and Kline said at the time there were 650 members.

“This time it wasn’t going to be one mae primarily of a flammable material,” like the previous wooden structure, Fordice said.

A large ballroom is on the top floor, and in the basement was the first indoor swimming pool in Vicksburg. The pool had separate hours for men and women because the men did not wear swimsuits.

Being able to view the pool was a major attraction, as it is generally closed off. After the building was renovated and started hosting events, the sheriff came to Fordice and told him he needed to build a wall downstairs.

Before, Fordice explained, when one got off the elevator, the pool was right there.

After numerous instances of drunken party guests being found skinny-dipping, the sheriff “basically demanded” the wall to close off the pool. Access is also restricted for liability reasons.

Meta Klaus said the pool did not have a filtration system at first — when the water went bad, the pool was drained and refilled. It has a filtration system now, and after the event Fordice planned to drain the pool so they could find some small leaks.

During its years as the club, the building’s amenities included a poker room and a restaurant.

As the Jewish community dwindled and Anshe Chesed moved to a smaller facility away from downtown, the B.B. Club was sold to the

digital editions at ISSUU.COM/SJLMAG

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 31

community city in 1967, which used it as a police station, covering up the ballroom and carving typical offices out of the space.

The city installed paneling over the mahogany walls. The ballroom had an eight-foot drop ceiling and fluorescent lights installed, but Kline said they miraculously did not damage the ornate qualities of the building in covering everything up.

The pool was boarded over, and the evidence room was next to where the pool was.

The city moved out in 1996 when a new police headquarters was completed, and in 1999 the building was purchased and returned to its former grandeur by Laurence Leyens, with then brother-in-law Fordice.

The renovation process cost about $1.3 million.

Leyens’ family had been in Vicksburg since around 1860, establishing a candy store that was later sold to the Biedenharn family, later becoming the first place where Coca-Cola was bottled.

His father sold the Valley Dry Goods Store shortly before Leyens graduated from Millsaps, so he moved to California and sold insurance.

Upon hearing that the city planned to tear down the BB Club for “another parking lot” he and Fordice stepped in and bought the building.

“We weren’t thinking straight,” Fordice quipped.

He said after the city’s adaptations were removed, police officers who had worked in the building for years were stunned to see what had been hidden.

Leyens then successfully ran for mayor in 2001, serving two terms.

Kline worked on a historical display in the library on the first floor, with much of the information coming from two boxes of memorabilia on loan from the Institute of Southern Jewish Life’s archives, including handwritten club ledgers from the early days.

Additional material came from a display Anshe Chesed did 15 years ago for the congregation’s 160th anniversary.

Storycook Favorites has its catering business in the building and is the in-house caterer for events there.

Story Stamm Ebersole, daughter of the Vicksburg Post’s longtime former food editor, quit her accounting business and went into business doing ready-made meals and famous cheese straws out of Hotel Vicksburg.

In 2005, she moved down the block to the BB Club, becoming the exclusive caterer when Fordice purchased Leyens’ share of the building.

When guests entered for the gala, a photo normally hanging in the foyer was displayed, showing the ballroom filled with dancers at the March 8, 1917 dedication. The main thing Fordice wanted to accomplish was replicating that photo at the beginning of the dance, so the 2017 picture could join the 1917 photo on the wall.

Being able to view the basement swimming pool was a major draw 32 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

April 2017 • The Jewish Newsletter 33

34 The Jewish Newsletter • April 2017

April 2017 • The Jewish Newsletter 35

36 The Jewish Newsletter • April 2017

Jewish Community Center Summer Fun Starts at The J! Still looking for an awesome summer camp? The Goldring-Woldenberg JCC in Metairie has availability for all camp units, ages 3–13.

They offer an action-packed summer filled with swimming, field trips, sports, arts and crafts, and more.

Camp runs June 5 to July 28 and both applications and deposits are accepted online. Registration is customizable, allowing families to sign up for the weeks that best fit their needs.

Early Childhood and General Day Campers must enroll in a minimum of four weeks, but those weeks do not need to be consecutive.

Register before April 14 to receive the “early bird Join the New Orleans JCC’s delegation to the Birmingham Macdiscount.” Teens who register for four or more weeks cabi Games, held July 30 to August 4, 2017! Spaces remain on Team receive $100 off their total NOLA, but registration is closing very soon. The Games offer Jewish teens ages 13–16 a unique opportunity to come together for athletic tuition. competition, community service, social activities and serious fun at the Visit www.nojcc.org/ largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world. camp to learn more about all Participants can compete in either individual or group sports. For of the fun that awaits campers during a summer at the J! the boys, team options include 14U and 16U baseball, basketball and soccer, and 16U flag football. Girls may participate in 16U basketball, soccer and volleyball. Boys and girls of all ages may compete in the following individual activities: dance, golf, tennis, swimming, star reWhat a treat! James Beard award-winners porter, table tennis, and track and field.

Joan Nathan and Alon Shaya are teaming up To register or to learn more about the New Orleans delegation, for a delicious evening as they present her please visit www.nojcc.org or contact J. Morgan, Director of Sports newest cookbook, “King Solomon’s Table: and Wellness, at (504) 897-0143 or jmorgan@nojcc.org.

A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from Around the World.”

Be Part Of Team NOLA

Meet The Chefs

Foodies and fans alike will not want to miss this tasty event, which will be held Tuesday, April 25 at 7 p.m. at the Uptown JCC. Chef Alon Shaya will provide samples of one of his signature dishes, which is featured in her book along with classic recipes from around the world.

Holocaust Memorial Program A dialogue between Holocaust survivor Martin Weiss (right) and Sarah Cramson, professor of Jewish studies at Tulane University, highlights this year’s community-wide Yom HaShoah program.

Held on Sunday, April 23 at the Uptown JCC, the memorial program remembers and honors local survivors while educating the public about the Holocaust and teaching the importance of tolerance. During the program, the 12th Annual Educator of the Year award will be presented to Mandeville High School history teachers Christy Nelson and Nichole Sidlovsky for the outstanding work they have done integrating Holocaust education into their curriculum through the creation of a virtual Holocaust museum open to students and the community.

Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut at the Uptown JCC

On May 1, join us to honor the fallen and then celebrate independence with the flavors of Israel and a screening of the delightful film “In Search of Israeli Cuisine.”

A lush and beautiful feature-length documentary, “In Search of Israeli Cuisine” is a portrait of the Israeli people told through food. It puts a face on the culture of Israel, profiling chefs, home cooks, vintners, and cheese-makers drawn from the more than one hundred cultures that make up Israel today — Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian, Druze.

While exploring the country’s dynamic food scene, a rich and human story of the people emerges. A light snack of various Israeli foods will be served.

The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Uptown JCC’s Grant Board Room with a Yom HaZikaron ceremony led by the Jewish Clergy Council of New Orleans. It then moves to the Mintz Auditorium for the film screening.

The final event in the Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series, this Israel Independence Day Celebration is free and open to Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the memorial program is free and open to the community. Visit www.nojcc.org for additional details and to view the trailer. the community.

April 2017 •The Jewish Newsletter 37

Jewish Family Service 32nd annual Passover Food Basket Distribution

Current and upcoming Community Groups

Each year, JFS strives to make Passover meaningful by reaching as many individuals and families as possible through its Passover Food Basket Distribution program. This year, the event takes place on Sunday, April 9.

Event co-chairs Betsy Threefoot Kaston and Julie Koppman will join volunteers, donors, staff, board members, synagogues and other New Orleans-area Jewish agencies to prepare and deliver Passover food and ritual objects to hundreds of members of the local Jewish community. Many of the recipients are elderly or people with disabilities. This is the only contact some have with other members of the Jewish community all year long.

JFS runs therapeutic, support and social skills groups periodically to meet the needs of the community. Register now by calling (504) 831-8475.

Please consider supporting this event by making a Passover contribution. $100 fills a basket for 2 people. Contributions in other amounts are welcomed. Please visit our website http://jfsneworleans. org/services/passover/ or call (504) 831-8475 for more information.

Social Workers, Counselors, Mental Health Professionals:

Register Today for the 2017 Spring Continuing Education Series at JFS • Working with At-Risk Adolescents, presented by Marvin W. Cliffors, PhD, LCSW. May 19, 8:45 a.m.-noon Participants will receive 3 CEUs. Pricing: $60. All events located at: 3300 W. Esplanade Ave. S., Suite 603, Metairie.

For more information, call (504) 831-8475, or visit http://www. jfsneworleans.org/events/

JFS offers numerous services for the Jewish Community • In celebration of Passover, JFS organizes an annual Passover Food Basket Distribution event to bring dozens of eager volunteers together to sort items, pack boxes of kosher-for-Passover food, and deliver them to hundreds of people in need in our community. This year’s event takes place April 9, and is detailed above.

• The JFS Financial Resource Center offers small grants and loans to Jewish individuals and families.

Girl Power

Wednesdays: April 19 – May 24, 4:30pm – 6:00pm (Metairie) A self-esteem and social skills group which helps foster positive feelings of self-worth in girls ages 8-13. Activities are designed to give participants increased self-confidence, skills to deal with stress and anxiety, build positive friendships, communicate feelings, handle peer pressure and bullying, and make positive choices. Cost: $240 (sliding-scale fee available.) Register now by calling (504) 831-8475.

Pre-Adoption Support Group Wednesdays: April 26 – May 24, 8:30am – 9:45am (Metairie) Interested in adoption? Confused about the process? Need support or information? This group is for families and individuals interested in adopting. Discuss common challenges and hopes for adoption. Receive educational resources, tools, and support. Cost: $40 per person/ couple. Register now by calling (504) 831-8475.

Additional ongoing Support Groups offered by JFS include: • Caregiver Support Group • Teen Girls • Women in Transition • Support for families of individuals with disabilities Group dates and registration are found on our website: http://jfsneworleans.org/services/groups/

Adoption Services Jewish Family Service has provided comprehensive and compassionate adoption services to families in the Greater New Orleans region for decades. We offer pre-placement home studies, home study updates, and post-placement reports at an exceptionally affordable rate. JFS educates families about the adoption process and the special issues they may face. To learn more about JFS adoption services, call Laura Kulick, LCSW at (504) 831-8475 ext. 155, or email laura@jfsneworleans.org.

Clear out your garage!

Donate your car to JFS

• The Catch-a-Cab program is designed to supplement the cost of transportation for members of the Jewish community who are 65 years of age or older. Participants receive discounted coupons for use with Are you ready to clean out your garage? Free up room in your drivelocal taxi companies. There is no financial prerequisite to participate. way or yard? Please consider donating your unused, unwanted or prob• Bikur Chaverim which literally means “Visiting Friends,” is a vol- lematic car, boat, motorcycle or camper to JFS. Donating a vehicle will unteer-based program designed to bring support and companionship help JFS and will not cost you a dime. Your donation will make such to those who are alone. The program is dedicated to adults who are an impact on the lives of others. partially or fully home-bound.

Simply call 877-JFS-4CAR (877-537-4227) or check out the special For more information on these programs, call (504)-831-8475, or JFS car donation page http://jfsneworleans.org/vehicle-donation/ visit http://jfsneworleans.org/service-type/jewish-community/ and we’ll do the rest!

38 The Jewish Newsletter • April 2017

Jewish Community Day School Mazel Tov! JCDS loves to celebrate and, with two very special milestones in March, they did just that: Sharon Pollin, the Jewish Community Day School Oscar J. Tolmas Head of School Chair, has earned the title of DOCTOR! On March 13 Pollin successfully defended her dissertation and earned her well-deserved title of Dr. Pollin. She was granted her Ed.D in Education Leadership from Northeastern University (Boston, Mass.) and an Advanced Certificate in Jewish Education Leadership from Hebrew College (Newton, Mass.).

Lis and Hugo Kahn, past presidents, board members and dear friends to JCDS, celebrated a double anniversary; the 25th Silver Wedding Anniversary of Lis and Hugo and the 72nd Anniversary of twin brothers Hugo and Joe’s B’nai Mitzvah. Family traveled from all over the world to share in the momentous weekend. Several of the Kahns’ close friends honored their Silver Anniversary by donating a beautiful Torah cover to JCDS. Donors

included, Sue Rae and Ken Bishop, Sandra Burstein, Lisa and Elliot Finkelstein, Ellen and Stanley Kessler, Sandy and Elliot Lassen, Bill Mexic, Madilyn and Alvin Samuels, Shirley and Ralph Seelig, and Janice and Louis Stern. The Torah cover, beautifully embroidered in silver thread, was revealed during Thursday morning Torah reading in a surprise ceremony with JCDS students singing and parading in celebration of this meaningful gift.

Presenting the gorgeous gift, long time Kahn friend Madilyn Samuels said, “For years and years to come, children at JCDS will ask about the names inscribed on their Torah cover and learn all about the two amazing individuals that made such a remarkable difference to their school.”

Eureka!

Help Support JCDS on

The Grand Opening of the JCDS Rainforest Café was a roaring success! Pre-Science Fair diners raved over the delectable offerings created by Pre.K to 2nd grade student chefs. The banana-cocoa muffins were a big hit, as was the sliced fruit served in real coconut bowls. All Café proceeds are earmarked to purchase land in the rainforests, protecting and preserving it forever. “I’m really happy that we can help save rainforest land for the animals that need it,” said one JCDS first grader. “Yes,” chimed in a kindergartener. “I researched the Red-Eyed Tree Frog and they need the rainforest so they can stay alive!”

A crowd of customers delighted over their student-created menu, and loved that proceeds would be used for Tikkun Olam – making the world a better place. JCDS Head of School, Dr. Pollin, is committed to authentic learning, where children acquire the academic prowess they need to solve problems in our world. “I love how motivated my students are when they realize that they have the power to learn something they hadn’t known just a few weeks ago,” said first and second grade teacher Maggie Madere.

Essential Questions guiding student learning were: What Plants and Animals live in the rainforests? Are rainforests important to the whole world? How can I help to take care of rainforests? Veteran Pre-K/K teacher, Judy Fried, says she learns something new each time her students dive into the rainforests. “I just love how excited every single child gets! Their planning and building our classroom rainforest is amazing – just like them.”

Academic Highlights Each Pre-K/K student chose an animal for a deep study. They shared their learning by creating a visual representation of their chosen animal, such as a shoebox diorama, painting, drawing, or model; then made an oral presentation to their classmates.

1st and 2nd graders dove into their roles as researchers to answer their own questions about the rainforests. Using online data and texts, they compiled their results to create a collaborative non-fiction book. Next quarter they will use these facts to create a fiction story to write a screen play, and then, a movie!

April 2017 • The Jewish Newsletter 39

Jewish Endowment Foundation A Great Year for JEF and Our Jewish Community Thank you for making 2016 a great year for JEF and our Jewish community. Contributions for the year totaled nearly $6.5 million — our second record-breaking year in a row! Our overall assets are $52 million and our General Fund has grown to over $4 million. Generous donors established donor advised and donor designated funds, a custodial fund, and a charitable gift annuity. Our new Donor Advised Incentive initiative has proven to be a great success.

There were many gifts to JEF’s General Fund, which are greatly appreciated and enable us to provide grants to Jewish agencies and projects. Our donors recommended over 1,500 grants to nonprofit agencies totaling over $3 million in 2016.

Not only was 2016 a great year, but 2017 — JEF’s 50th anniversary — is off to a great start!

Leon Rittenberg Jr., through the Rittenberg Family Foundation, offered JEF a challenge grant of $50,000 to raise money for JEF’s General Fund and you — our donors — met the challenge. A total of $62,700 was raised and Mr. Rittenberg gave JEF $51,000, increasing our General Fund by more than $100,000.

On March 19, we held our Annual Event, celebrating our 50th anniversary and honoring our past presidents.

As we look to the future, we are here for you. Whether you would like personal and confidential assistance in developing a legacy plan or help in making a donation to our General Fund in honor or in memory of a loved one, we are always available to help. Please call Sandy Levy, Executive Director, or Patti Lengsfield, Legacy Director, or any member of our staff for assistance.

Again, thank you to the Jewish community for your ongoing confi-

dence in and support of JEF. The JEF Board and staff are devoted to our Jewish community and Jewish values. We want to thank you, our donors, for making so much possible in 2016 and getting 2017 off to a great start.

JEF Women’s Event — Save The Date Featuring Rabbi Sherre Hirsch Sherre Hirsch is a rabbi, author and spiritual life consultant. After eight years in the pulpit, Rabbi Hirsch left Sinai Temple, Los Angeles’s largest and oldest Conservative synagogue, in 2006. Since then, she has published “We Plan, God Laughs: What to Do When Life Hits You Over the Head” and “Thresholds: How to Thrive Through Life’s Transitions to Live Fearlessly and Regret-Free.” Rabbi Hirsch has appeared on a variety of national media outlets from “The Today Show” to “Extra!” She serves as the Spiritual Life consultant for Canyon Ranch Properties, where she organizes retreats and leads workshops focused on coping with grief and the healing process. Her mission is to empower individuals to be their own spiritual guides.

Thursday, April 27 Noon • reception at 11:30 a.m.

Five Happiness Imperial Room • 3511 S. Carrollton Ave. $25/person Please join us for a great opportunity to hear a wonderful speaker.

This event is underwritten in part by the Linda Malkin Zoller Memorial Fund. For more information or to make a reservation, please call Patti Lengsfield (patti@jefno.org) or Ellen Abrams (ellen@jefno. org) at (504) 524-4559.

Purim with Temple Sinai Kids @ Hillel

Katz-Phillips Dine Around

This past month, Tulane Hillel welcomed students from Temple Sinai on a beautiful Sunday morning for a Purim Party. The kids joined the Tulane Jewish Leaders in arts and crafts, as well as other fun Purim activities! They decorated masks and T-shirts, dressed up as Purim characters, and learned more about the history and the story of Purim.

Tulane students had the opportunity to dine in the homes of Jewish professionals throughout the New Orleans community. In partnership with the Jewish Federation’s Katz-Phillips program, participants hosted and cooked for 70 enthusiastic students looking to connect with Jewish leaders in the city. It was a well-attended night full of great conversation, delicious food, and even some networking!

Greenwave Community Market Tulane Hillel’s last community market of the school year is coming up soon! Stop by The Mintz Center, located at 912 Broadway, on April 23 between noon and 3 p.m., to enjoy a beautiful Sunday perusing goods from local vendors one last time!

40 The Jewish Newsletter • April 2017

community

A dozen decades of service

New Orleans NCJW celebrates history, looks to the future A traditional Jewish expression of good wishes is “until 120,” that one may merit a life of as many years as Moses lived.

This month, the Greater New Orleans Section of the National Council of Jewish Women is turning 120, with an eye toward serving the community for at least another 120 years.

The Section will celebrate 120 years of service, social justice and advocacy at “A Dozen Decade of Dedicated Service,” an anniversary dinner and dance on April 22 at the Metairie Country Club, starting at 7 p.m. Angela Hill, who became the first female news anchor at WWL-TV in 1975, will emcee the seated dinner, with music by the Yat Pack and a silent auction.

A patron’s party will start at 6 p.m. and feature Rhodes Spedale and Live Jazz Group.

The evening will honor the Section’s achievements through the decades, and the women who have led the organization.

The New Orleans Section has been important on the national stage, originating an evening group and providing three national presidents — Ida Friend from 1926 to 1932, Gladys Cahn from 1955 to 1959 and Joan Bronk from 1990 to 1993.

Nationally, NCJW was formed during the Chicago World’s Fair.

Hannah Solomon of Chicago was asked to organize the participation of Jewish women at the Parliament of World Religions, an attempt at global interfaith dialogue, in conjunction with the World’s Fair.

Solomon and her volunteers soon discovered that the women’s “participation” would be serving coffee and other hostess duties, so they walked out. Building on her history of volunteer work and social action, by the end of the fair the women had established NCJW “to do work on behalf of women, children and families, said Dana Shepard, who was president of the New Orleans Section in the 1990s.

Solomon “approached women around the country to form Sections in their communities, and in 1897 we were one of the very early Sections to develop,” she said.

A group of 17 women established the New Orleans Section, with Hattie Wolff as the first president. Their first initiatives were giving housekeeping lessons to immigrants through the Kitchen Garden. In 1903, the garden evolved into the Industrial School for Girls, becoming the Young Women’s Hebrew Association in 1915.

A Sabbath School was established for those unaffiliated with a synagogue, and teachers were provided to help immigrants learn English.

In 1903, the Section awarded its first scholarships to promising Jewish students, establishing a program that continues to this day as the Irma Isaacson Scholarship Fund. Shepard said those scholarships were things like $5 toward attending typing school or sewing classes. “Those were the things that were important at the time.” Today, the funds help local students attend college, and there is also a book fund.

Funds continue to be established, recently one was named the Sara Stone Fund, in honor of Stone’s 100th birthday. Stone was Section president in 1951 and 1952.

During World War II, the Section established Teen Town, to help with rising juvenile delinquency during the war. The need was recognized, and the initiative led to the formation of New Orleans Recreation Development.

After World War II, NCJW volunteers were at the Port of New Orleans to greet immigrants from Europe, feeding them and transporting them to their new destinations.

Many years later, Stone was at a national NCJW conference when she was approached by a young woman who said she was two months old when her family arrived, and that her mother had repeatedly told the

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 41

story of how they were helped by NCJW in New Orleans.

Opportunities for seniors and children have always been a priority. Magic Land was a cultural enrichment program for disadvantaged preschoolers and was a forerunner to Head Start, which began in 1966.

The Section has also been involved with the New Orleans Museum of Art, Crisis Care Center and the Zoomobile.

Loel Samuel, who was president from 2000 to 2002, said the Section is especially proud of its advocacy work. In 1914, the women were urged to write the Louisiana Legislature, promoting the establishment of a “home for incurables.”

Samuel said “we are not writing letters as much as we are doing emails, but we are still doing advocacy.”

Schornstein said the group has been “front and center” on equal rights legislation. “We were in Baton Rouge, we were in Washington, in New York, in New Orleans,” wherever they needed to go, and “we were very effective.”

The group’s mission is to “strive for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families, and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.”

Greenberg said as a non-profit, the group “is not allowed to support candidates, but we can

42 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

NCJW advocacy: The New Orleans delegation visits Capitol Hill during the March 2016 Washington Institute take a stand and advocate.”

Flo Schornstein became president in 1968, when civil rights was the primary avenue of involvement. “Our Section was very involved in the leadership of the civil rights movement,” and it was there that many of them met and worked with members of the African-American community for the first time, developing relationships that endure.

They worked on the integration of schools that had been whites-only. “That was a major undertaking, and it was a courageous undertaking,” Schornstein said. She recalls a

meeting in a home where all the lights were off and their presence had to be a secret “for our own safety.”

But Schornstein said it was important for them to show their children “that their parents were on the right side of things.”

Her experience leading NCJW led to her involvement in the community after her term, because she had been exposed to so many opportunities in the community. “All the successes I’ve had since derive from that,” she said.

Last year, Sisters Chaverot, a group founded

simchas community in 2010 to bring together professional African American women and professional Jewish women, became part of NCJW. The Section also partners with the New Orleans Jewish Community Center on Alzheimer’s Care and Enrichment.

One of the most visible programs is Fox 8 Defenders on WVUE-TV. Established by Babs Isaacson in 1995, it started at WDSUTV (Channel 6) as “6 On Your Side Problem Solvers.”

About a dozen volunteers from NCJW take phone calls on Mondays through Wednesdays from individuals who run into consumer problems they can’t solve themselves. Through contacts with groups like the Better Business Bureau, City Hall and Entergy, they endeavor to solve the problems, some of which “go away” when the television news gets involved.

After Katrina, the Problem Solvers had plenty to do. A recent push for the Defenders has been preventing contractor fraud following the tornado in New Orleans East.

In 2010, the program was discontinued by WDSU and Isaacson brought it to Fox 8, where anchor Lee Zurik had just moved from WWLTV (Channel 4).

In 2011, Fox 8 Defenders received its first Emmy nomination for a story that evolved from a call to the hotline. In six years, Fox 8 Defenders fielded over 10,000 calls and saved consumers $2.5 million, and serves as a consumer education resource.

NCJW also partners with other organizations to coordinate televised candidate forums, such as mayoral debates. The Section also furnished the children’s area at the New Orleans Family Justice Center.

In 1987, New Orleans NCJW brought the Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters to the city. Developed in 1969 at the NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education at Hebrew University, HIPPY is a home-based intervention program that was created for parents who aren’t confident in their own educational abilities to give their preschool kids the necessary tools to succeed in school and later in life.

After NCJW introduced the program in New Orleans, the New Orleans School Board supported the program with funds and volunteer efforts. In 1988, HIPPY USA was established in Little Rock with major support from Hillary Clinton.

Samuel said the program is recognized by the state but is “in a transitional stage in Orleans Parish,” with hopes to reinvigorate it.

Television and education intersected early for NCJW, with “Magic Tree.” Storytelling Committee Chair Helene Baginsky started a storytelling program at the New Orleans Public Library in 1946. In 1951, she and the committee

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 43

community

New & Antique Chandeliers and Mirrors / Restoration 601 S Galvez 504/309.8983 classicchandelierandmirror.com

KID GLOVES INC

FULL-SERVICE MOVING SINCE 1981 Locally owned No job too big, too small, too complicated Local and nationwide moving ser vices Home, office, large-scale installation Careful attention to antiques & specialt y items MOVING & DELIVERY SERVICES

(504) 224-5738 lakidgloves.com 44 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

approached WDSU with the idea of turning it into a children’s television show, and “Magic Tree” began. In 1958, it became “Let’s Tell a Story” and was one of the first color shows on the station.

“Let’s Tell A Story” ran until 1975.

Joan Berenson, who received the Section’s Hannah Solomon Award in 2011, said her first volunteer job was through NCJW, at the Well Baby Clinic at Touro Infirmary, where her mother worked once a week. Later she folded bandages at the Red Cross headquarters and knit squares that would be sewn together as blankets for soldiers.

She said NCJW has a reputation “of getting things done, and done well.”

Schornstein echoed that, saying her presidency gave her a “remarkable understanding on how to run an organization.” Though the initiatives are run by volunteers, they are done professionally and with forethought and research. “Our standards remain high, our work remains professional.”

Over the years, the nature of volunteering has changed. In 1973, the Section started Moonlighters. “The world was changing” with a large proportion of women in the work force “and the pool was shrinking on who was available to do daytime volunteer work,” said Barbara Greenberg.

A group of women with careers started meeting in the evening, and Greenberg became the first president of the new Moonlighters group. “It gave us a social outlet and we met a lot of people.”

They would have a wide range of speakers, from Mildred Covert teaching how to make kugel, to a visit from Mayor Moon Landrieu.

She recalls working on Tay Sachs testing and helping with the resettlement of Jews from the Soviet Union. “I remember going to Lake Avenue where they were setting up apartments” for the newcomers.

“We were able to do things even though we worked,” Greenberg said, and within a year the Moonlighters had over 100 members. Much of the recent Section leadership has been from Moonlighter veterans.

The New Orleans group was the first Moonlighters in the country, so Greenberg went to Pensacola, communities in Georgia and elsewhere to tell them how to start similar groups.

Eventually, she said, “the whole Section was turning into Moonlighters” so it ceased functioning as a separate entity in 1999.

In 2013, the Section introduced a new program to develop future leadership, NCJW Way: Learning to Lead. A group of women who are new to NCJW are selected for the program, which is an intensive yearlong leadership training seminar culminating in a trip to the national NCJW convention. Participants commit to a two-year board term on completion of the program.

NCJW Way is sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust. This year’s participants are Victoria Coy, Alysse Fuchs, Emily Good, Heather Kahn, Alanna Rosenberg and Hannah Udell.

Though the nature of volunteering has changed, the Section remains active, with about 900 members. Whatever form the volunteerism takes, there is still much to be done, they said.

Shepard said “the needs are still there to advocate for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

“The problems are still the problems, the solutions still require a great deal of work,” Schornstein said. “We must look to the future with a fresh and wondrous eye, meeting those community needs that fall within our mission; making it possible for women of today to participate while at the same time, maintaining the standards of excellence which have been NCJW’s hallmark.”

Greenberg added, “I’m proud that after 120 years we are still vibrant, giving to the community, fighting for rights.”

Samuel said “to be a past president with this group of women is something words can’t express.”

Tickets to the gala are $120, with patron levels starting at $250.

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 45

30 Years on 30A

Experienced in sales of second homes and investment properties

Alice J. Forrester - Mickey Whitaker Brokers/Owners

45 Sugar Sand Lane, Suite D Seagrove Beach, Fl 32459

850-231-5030 • 30Arealty.com

Rediscover…

HAPPY PASSOVER New Ownership • New Menu Catering

Host your reunions, birthdays, anniversaries and special gatherings at Michael’s Mon-Thu 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sat 4 p.m.-11 p.m.

Closed Sunday Except for Special Events

1903 29th Avenue South Homewood, AL 205.871-9525 Michaelssteakandseafood.com #rediscoverMichael’s

46 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

community Two dozen communities on Passover Pilgrimage With almost two dozen communities on the schedule, the Jackson-based Institute of Southern Jewish Life is sending out three rabbis for the 2017 Passover Pilgrimage.

Rabbi Jeremy Simons, ISJL director of rabbinic services; Rabbi Matthew Dreffin, associate director of education; and rabbinic intern Student Rabbi Rob Friedman will take to the road for the seventh year of the pilgrimage, hitting eight states in just over a week.

Rabbis Simons, Dreffin, and Friedman will each conduct services, lead celebratory Passover Seder meals, offer educational programs, do home visits, facilitate dialogue and more.

Last year, the ISJL created a freedom-themed reading, written specifically for the Passover Pilgrimage but appropriate for all Seder celebrations.

Another new reading has been created for this year, and will soon be available on the ISJL’s website and social media platforms. Sharing in these words will be one more way that all of the communities participating in the Passover Pilgrimage will have a connected, shared experience.

This year, Passover begins at sunset on April 10, but the pilgrimage starts on April 6 as Simons visits Ahavath Rayim in Greenwood. He will be at B’nai Israel in Natchez on April 7, ANshe Chesed in Vicksburg on April 10, B’nai Israel Traditional Synagogue in Alexandria on April 11 and Temple Emanu-El in Longview, Tex., on April 12.

On April 13 he will start at B’nai Israel in Tupelo and then head to B’nai Israel in Jackson, Tenn. On April 14 and 15 he will be at United Hebrew Congregation in Fort Smith, Ark., followed by Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas in Fayetteville on April 15 and 16.

Friedman will set out on April 8 for an event at B’nai Israel in Natchez, followed by a program at St. Philips Episcopal Church in Jackson. On April 10 he will be at B’nai Israel in Hattiesburg, followed by the Upper Cumberland Jewish Community in Crossville, Tenn., on April 12, the Blacksburg Jewish Community Center in Virginia on April 13 and Congregation Emanuel in Statesville, N.C. on April 14.

Dreffin will start at Mishkan Israel in Selma on April 10, followed by Shomrei Torah in Tallahassee on April 11, Beth Shalom in Auburn on April 12 and B’nai Israel in Panama City on April 13.

On April 14, he will be at B’nai Israel in Fayetteville, Ga., then Rodeph Sholom in Rome, Ga., on April 15, and Shalom B’Harim in Dahlonega and Camp Coleman on April 16.

On April 16 at 4 p.m., Dreffin will speak at the Skeptics and Believers Show, at Experience Community in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

PURIM PICS 1

1

3

4 2

2

4 6

8

7

5

4 8

9

7 7

10

12 13 14 11

14

14

15

14

1: Joint Birmingham Celebration 2: Beth Israel, Metairie 3: Pensacola 4: Chabad Birmingham 5: Chabad Baton Rouge 6: Temple Sinai, NOLA 7: Chabad NOLA 8: Chabad Mobile 9: B’nai Israel, Hattiesburg 10: B’nai Israel, Monroe 11: NOLA JCC 12: Chabad LSU 14: Springhill Avenue Temple, Mobile 14: Metairie Chabad 15: Beth Israel, Jackson

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 47

explore experience

excel At BSC, we prepare the professionals of tomorrow by giving our students every opportunity to apply what they learn to the real world.

Whether it’s an internship, study abroad, research partnership, or service, you’ll find your passion and learn from the very best.

That’s the pathway to success.

are you ready?

BSC

Birmingham-Southern College

48 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

CJFS Presents

Hands Up Together 2017 Honoring

Sherri & David Romanoff

Tuesday, May 16, 7pm Alabama School of Fine Arts Entertainment by Kristi Tingle Higginbotham & Jan Hunter

Order your tickets today 205.879.3438 or www.cjfsbham.org

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 49

BENEFITTING

THE PREMIER AMERICA ISRAEL BUSINESS CONNECTOR PRESENTS THE

CELEBRATING THE YEAR’S RESULTS AS YOUR BRIDGE TO OPPORTUNITY

TWELVE HOTEL, ATLANTIC STATION • MAY 3, 2017 • 6:00 – 9:00 PM

Sponsors to Date: PLATINUM

Outlined type:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2017 6:00 – 9:00 PM

GOLD

Dinner and Program (dietary laws observed) Connect with Top Business Influencers from the Southeast and Israel

SILVER

HOSTED BY

Twelve Hotel Atlantic Station 361 17th Street NW Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Atlanta Knee & Sports Medicine Institute, Inc

Emcee Stephanie Abrams, Meteorologist Weather Channel

BRONZE

RAFFLE SPONSORS

MEDIA

Judy and Shai Robkin

For more information visit www.conexxgala.com

AMERICA ISRAEL BUSINESS CONNECTOR

Stellar service and a deep-rooted passion for flowers!

521 Palisades Drive B’ham 205.533.9006 www.sproutflower.market

50 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

community Passover Popup a new twist on Seder Popups are a current trend, and one in New Orleans is a new twist on a tradition over three millennia old.

My House Social is organizing a Passover popup dinner on April 11 at 7 p.m., at Pret A Fete.

Barrie Schwartz, founder of My House Social, said she worked with Laura Sugerman of Sugerman’s Bagels on a Passover popup at Good Eggs three years ago. “It was amazing, it sold out immediately,” Schwartz said.

In New Orleans, Schwartz said, most people have Seder at home. Alon Shaya does a Passover menu, “but there aren’t many things open to the public,” she said.

This year, they are joined by Shaya’s wife, Emily, owner of Pret a Fete event rentals, who will be hosting the dinner at her warehouse.

The Seder is traditionally-inspired, though there isn’t a traditional Seder plate. On the menu, “everything represents the Seder plate,” she said.

The family-style meal will feature housemade olive oil matzah. Dishes that are reminiscent of the Seder plate include horseradish deviled eggs, bitter herbs salad and Charoset truffles. Also on the menu are matzah ball soup, wine braised brisket with tart cherries and coconut macaroon sandwiches with lime curd.

When they announced the event in March, they had space for 35. Tickets are $40.

Schwartz moved to New Orleans in 2011 from Ann Arbor, working as a waitress at Coquette.

She started hosting dinner parties with friends in her house, Eventually they started charging to cover costs, then a bit more, and the demand continued to grow, leading her to form

community My House NOLA, which recently was renamed My House Social.

She noticed the proliferation of food trucks and festivals, and soon realized that “there is an event planning corporate world” and the world of up-and-coming chefs, and they were existing in separate worlds.

Rather than have conventions rely on the same two caterers, she set out to match events with chefs, creating “customized creative food” and “something different” while making everyone’s lives easier.

“We work with chefs and vendors and customize proposals for weddings, corporate events, conventions,” she said.

For three years, she has teamed with Danielle Lee, a San Francisco native who attended Tulane. They met on an airplane over a copy of “Bon Appetit.”

They organized food trucks for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week in March, and coordinated the chefs for the Grand Tasting at the New Orleans Bourbon Festival.

On April 4 and May 2 they are organizing food trucks for Eatmoor in Broadmoor at the Rosa Keller Library.

The Seder, Schwartz said, will be “a special night at Pret a Fete’s super-cool space in Central City.”

Hadassah’s regional honors

Please look for our new Irish Stout 6-pack cans

coming to stores this month

In February, Hadassah Southern held its winter board meeting in Birmingham. Chapter of the Year awards were presented, along with Women of the Year of each chapter. Accepting awards for their chapters (above) are: Back row, Gwen Cooper-Simon, Auburn; Laura Floyd, Knoxville; Bonnie Boring, Knoxville; Bettye Berlin, Memphis; Ruth Katzen, Baton Rouge; Kortney Kropp, Dothan; Catherine Braunstein, Oak Ridge. Front row, Nili Freedman, Nashville; Charisse Sands, New Orleans; Mindy Cohen, Birmingham; Judith Sachsman, Chattanooga.

Women of the Year (below) were Ami Abel Epstein, Birmingham; Cathryn Cohen, Chattanooga; Andrea Cone, Knoxville; Robbie Lasky, Nashville; and Joy Feldman, New Orleans. Also pictured are Bettye Berlin, presenter; and Bonnie Boring, Southern region president.

Hadassah New Orleans was named Star of the Region.

Located on the historic Continental Gin campus, Cahaba Brewing Co. offers a unique and memorable experience perfect for your next event.

For availability and rental information, please visit cahababrewing.com/ event-rentals.

4500 5th Avenue South Building C Birmingham, AL 35222

cahababrewing.com Whether you’re planning a celebration, fundraiser, business meeting or wedding reception, we think you’ll find our taproom to be the perfect venue.

Photos by Mason Fischer

@cahababrewing

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 51

{

WWII Their Promised Land by Ian Buruma is the account of a German-Jewish

émigré family, deeply invested in assimilating in England during the darkest years, cognizant of the complicated relationship between religion and nationality.

Dancing on a Powder Keg are the letters and poems of widely-celebrated Czech author of songs and books for children, Ilse Weber. She had been sent to work in the children’s infirmary at Terezin where she lovingly entertained her patients, then made the heartbreaking decision not to leave them when they were transported to Auschwitz, where she and a son were ultimately murdered.

Imprisoned: Drawings from Nazi Concentration Camps by Arturo Benvenuti is the work in pencil, ink, and charcoal of almost 100 Survivors, starkly accompanied here with only name, nationality, subject, and where imprisoned.

Why? Explaining the Holocaust by Peter Hayes answers in straightforward fashion eight impossible questions laypeople and scholars alike have the most trouble understanding.

TWENTY-SIX SECONDS:

A Personal History of the Zapruder Film

by Alexadra Zapruder

The Brother Haggadah: A Medieval Sephardi Masterpiece in Facsimile Commissioned by wealthy patrons and created by Sephardi artists and scribes in Catalonia in the 14th century, this generously sized version presented in its own heavy sleeve makes for an elegant, thoughtful gift for the Pesach host.

Redemption, Then and Now Yeshiva University Professor Rabbi Benjamin Blech makes two books in one here. The English side opens to a series of 23 accessible essays about symbolism and meanings in Passover, and explorations of the Jewish past and future, while the Hebrew side contains a complete Hagaddah.

{

PASSOVER BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

• Sammy Spider’s Passover Shapes by Sylvia A. Rouss: Sammy’s spinning his webs in the likenesses of afikomen and seder plates in this board book.

• Passover Scavenger Hunt by Shanna Silva: This year, Rachel takes (or does she?) Uncle Harry’s job of hiding the afikomen and leads the other kids with a series of fun hints on how to find it.

• A Different Kind of Passover by Linda LeopoldStrauss: Grandpa’s just gotten home from the hospital and isn’t as strong as usual, but even under the circumstances, helps make this holiday just as special.

It’s one thing to have a famous last name. It’s quite another to have a name that is linked to a traumatic event in U.S. history and is bandied about by conspiracy theorists.

Zapruder has made a name for herself as an educator with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, writing about teen experiences during the Holocaust and speaking at numerous venues in our region.

In 1963, her grandfather, Abraham, who had escaped Czarist Russia as a teen, decided to film the motorcade of President John Kennedy as it passed by his office in Dallas. He managed to capture the assassination of Kennedy, in an age before “citizen journalism” where everyone has a cell phone camera, let alone a cell phone, so it became a key piece of evidence and coverage.

While a reporter interviewed him immediately after the event and urged him to make the film available to the press, he insisted on turning it over to the government. Finally, three prints were made, with two going to the Secret Service and the original to Life magazine, which he figured would be least likely to exploit the film. The film footage has been hotly debated, especially by conspiracy theorists who, upon having claims debunked by more recent technological advances now claim the film itself is a forgery, but it wasn’t discussed within the family while she was growing up.

In this book, Zapruder recounts how being linked to the footage affected her family as “a legacy we never asked for,” explores questions of copyright and ownership, especially the moral aspect as the courts ruled the family was entitled to $16 million from the government’s “forced acquisition” of the film in the 1990s.

REVOLUTIONARY YIDDISHLAND: A History of Jewish Radicalism

by Alain Brossat and Sylvie Klingberg

From the trials and tribulations of literary characters like Tevye to the masses committed to communist parties by name and other proletariat causes, Revolutionary Yiddishland — Yiddishland here being that area from the Baltic Sea to the western edge of Russia, encompassing hundreds of Jewish communities — examines the breaking out of those molded by tradition in religion and culture to find their collective paradise by means of activism.

This isn’t only about the marches and the uprisings for better conditions and fairness and against industrial exploitation (though, yes, all of that) but further, how aspirations took hold: how those building Israel in the early years of statehood shaped and were shaped by Zionism. Here, not just Zionism, but what they were endeavoring in the first place — whether that be the place Israel or the idea Israel, the utopian communities (the Soviet-planned Jewish Autonomous Region Birobidzhan, the agricultural experimental societies and so on), the optimism that landed them to fight in wars that weren’t their own for causes that aligned with their own dreams.

The Panorama Jazz Band at Chabad of Louisiana’s Purim in the Big Apple, at Torah Academy on March 12

A Panorama of Jewish involvement in New Orleans Jazz Fest

by Lee J. Green There are many Jewish connections in the 37th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

This year’s Jazz Fest features headliners including Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5 and Jewish lead singer Adam Levine, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Dave Matthews, Harry Connick Jr., Lorde, Snoop Dogg, the Alabama Shakes as well as Earth, Wind and Fire, and runs from April 28 to May 7.

Jazz Fest Marketing/PR Director Matthew Goldman is Jewish, as is Ben Ellman with Galactic and Ben Jaffe of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Some of the deepest musical ties come from the Panorama Jazz Band, which will perform at noon on May 6 at the New Orleans Fairgrounds on the Jazz and Heritage Stage.

Founding member and leader/clarinetist Ben Schenck is not Jewish but has been claimed as a “surrogate member of the tribe” since they are the “go-to” Klezmer and Jewish music band for New Orleans and the region, especially for weddings and community events.

“We don’t need electricity, we create our own. We don’t need to plug in.

Just give us some chairs and we can play,” said Schenck, who grew up in Maryland and studied at Bennington College in Vermont. He referenced being inspired by great Jewish jazz clarinetist Benny Goodman. “The music creates a celebratory spirit. For me, that’s what it’s all about.”

Schenck would find his way down to New Orleans in 1988 and a few years later was a founding member of the Klezmer All-Stars. In 1995, after Schenck left the All-Stars, the Panorama Jazz Band took shape when a friend asked Schenck to organize a combo for her wedding. Originally a trio, the group evolved by 2006 to include seven players.

They also now have the Panorama Brass Band for parades and large events. That line-up includes Jewish F helicon player Mark Rubin.

Clarinets are prominent in klezmer music, jazz and Creole music. Panorama also plays Balkan, Latin American and other flavors of music.

Since his first Jazz Fest Shabbat at Touro Synagogue 26 years ago with the Klezmer All-Stars, Schenck and Panorama have been an integral part of the service.

“I grew up as a Quaker in Maryland and I moved to New Orleans to play Jewish music. It might not make sense on paper but there was a strong connection and calling to the music as well as the people” in New Orleans and in the Jewish community, he said.

Through Jazzfest Shabbat, Schenck got to play with two of his musical idols — Irma Thomas and the late Alain Toussaint.

“Those are two artists who, when you were in their presence, you quickly realized they were on another level,” Schenck said. “They were so nice and they just lit up the stage every time.”

Schenck is also Panorama’s manager and says they are adapting to the changing music industry. On their website they have a Song of the Month

Uptown Convenience for Bar/Bat Mitzvot, Weddings and any celebration Named one of the 44 Best New Hotels of the World by Travel + Leisure - 2017

The Pontchartrain Hotel | 2031 St. Charles Avenue | New Orleans, LA 70130

504-323-1400 | customerservice@thepontchartrainhotel.com | www.thepontchartrainhotel.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 53

culture

Outdoor Dining (weather permitting) Expanded Dining Room — Perfect for Private Parties

Check out our Seasonal Menu!

Shrimp and Grits • Seafood • Local Organic Produce and Meats

Contact us for your catering needs!

Open for Lunch and Dinner

www.bistro-v.com

Mon-Sat 11a-2p & 5-9p

521 Montgomery Hwy, Suite 113 Vestavia Hills (205) 54 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

823-1505

club, $3 per month to access their newest music. “Now we actually have the money up front when we go into the recording studio,” he said. Ninety-five percent of their music is public domain, but he gets composer royalties from his arrangements.

The 52-year-old Rubin serves as Panorama’s “cultural interpreter.” He grew up in a musical family but around very few other Jews in Stillwater, Okla.

“We would sometimes travel two hours to a synagogue to be with just a few Jewish families, and we stopped keeping kosher when the kosher butcher gave us bad meat,” he said. “We were very proud of being Jewish but at the time in Oklahoma there were a lot of issues with anti-Semitism and racism.”

Rubin’s father is originally from Cuba, and within his family tree there are Orthodox Jewish refugees from Belarus. His parents met while playing in the University of Arizona marching band.

His father become involved with B’nai Brith leadership, and after college landed a job at the Oklahoma State University Hillel.

“My dad wanted me to experience many different cultures out there.

Because music ran deep in our family, we would go on trips regularly to New Orleans when I was growing up,” he said, adding that his father played baritone horn and he played tuba growing up. “I quickly developed a love for New Orleans and the music,” said Rubin.

When Mark was 14, his father passed away. The New Orleans-based Jewish Children’s Regional Service reached out to help him, his mother and two younger siblings.

“Ironically, my case worker back then was Ned Goldberg, who is now JCRS’s executive director. They helped us out so much and we are forever indebted. That is one of the greatest examples of Tikkun Olam ever,” he said.

In Oklahoma in the mid 1980s, Rubin turned his musical interests to the American punk rock scene. He would go on to serve as a tour manager for punk bands, and acts such as Husker Du, Black Flag, the Meat Puppets and The Flaming Lips would stay with Rubin when they came to Oklahoma.

“At that time I realized that I didn’t just want to be a part of the music scene, I wanted to be a musician,” he said. Rubin got a string bass and moved to Dallas.

In the late 1980s he moved to Austin and caught on with the Sugar Hill bluegrass label. He formed a band called The Bad Livers in the mid 1990s and even made the soundtrack for two Richard Linklater films.

“Understanding how bluegrass and country music ties into cultures as well as beliefs, with people saying how the music fills them up with the holy spirit, it awoke something in me — a desire to learn more about and play music that is part of my soul, identify and religion — Jewish Klezmer music,” said Rubin.

He went to KlezKamp in the Catskills, which shut its doors two years ago, and dove into many teachings through books, recordings, conversations as well as immersing himself in musical performances.

Rubin’s journey into performing and teaching Klezmer and Jewish music would take him across the world. He said there was great interest in countries such as Poland, Germany and Austria.

“I was so well-received. I would teach them of our Yiddish culture. I went to places in which our Jewish ancestors were murdered in the Holocaust and they were even more embracing of what I had to share with them than here in the U.S., it seemed,” he said.

In the 2000s, Rubin would get to know and sometimes play with some New Orleans jazz musicians, including Schenck and Panorama. After Katrina, Schenck and his very pregnant wife stayed with Rubin in Austin, where their son was born.

Rubin moved to New Orleans in 2014 and continues to make music with Panorama, as well as collaborating with others and playing solo gigs.

Rubin said he is always teaching and always learning.

“I continue to learn more about the Jewish community here in New Orleans and the rich history of the Jews here,” he said. “I want to continue to get more involved and feel even more connected.”

April 28 PowerSharesSeries.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 55

VANDERBILT

DUKE

EMORY

MILLSAPS COLLEGE

AUBURN

U OF FLORIDA RICE

TULANE

— FORBES.COM —

Delicious Flickr WWW.MILLSAPS.EDU

Delicious

Flickr DeliciousFacebook Twitter Flickr

Twitter

MySpaceRetweet TwitterStumbleUpon

Retweet

Digg Retweet

Does your security system need an update?

Facebook

Slash Dot Mixx MySpace StumbleUpon Facebook MySpace

Slash Dot

Mixx Slash DotReddit Skype Mixx

Reddit

Newsvine SlideShare Google FriendFeed YouTube LinkedIn Reddit FriendFeed YouTube

Google Talk LinkedIn

Newsvine

Yahoo Google Yahoo Buzz Netvibes SlideShare Google Talk Newsvine SlideShare Google

AOL Google Talk

Yahoo

Microsoft MSN Yahoo Buzz Netvibes Yahoo Yahoo Buzz

AOL

Microsoft

MSN

App Store

Qik Amazon App Store

Qik

Vimeo

Tumblr

WordPerss

App Store Apple Microsoft MSN

Last.fm

Behance

Design Float

Friendster

Bebo

Friendster

Bebo

Design Float

Squidoo

Bebo

Email

Digg Technorati

LinkedIn Technorati

Deviant Art

Blogger

Design Bump Squidoo

Deviant Art

MobileMe

Mister Wong MobileMe

Virb Mister Wong

Blogger

Viddler

Design Float Posterous

Friendster Deviant Art

RSS

Apple Netvibes

WordPerss Virb

WordPerss

Behance

AOL

AmazonMobileMe Last.fm Apple

Vimeo

BehanceBlogger

Tumblr

Skype StumbleUpon

Vimeo Mister Wong Viddler Amazon Last.fm

Tumblr Viddler

Qik

Digg

FriendFeed Technorati Skype YouTube

Posterous

Virb

Design Bump

Posterous

Share This

Design Bump

Share This

Squidoo

Share This

Alscan’s new network-based security systems can be monitored and controlled from anywhere, so you can hold down the fort wherever you go RSS

Email

RSS

Email

Now available! Israeli-developed employee integrity testing

Our Business is Minding YoursTM CCTV

ACCESS CONTROL PERIMETER PROTECTION Atlanta Birmingham www.alscaninc.com • 800-951-0051

56 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

culture Touro goes Zydeco for Jazz Fest Shabbat Touro Synagogue Cantor David Mintz doesn’t think there has ever been Zydeco music composed for a Shabbat service. That bit of history will be made at the New Orleans congregation’s 26th annual Jazz Fest Shabbat, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots will headline the service, which also features Mintz, the Panorama Jazz Band and the Touro Synagogue choir.

Held the first Friday night of Jazz Fest, the service has become a must-stop for Jewish jazz enthusiasts, and the service generally has a packed house.

For the last three years, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots Mintz has commissioned New York composer Toby Singer to do an original work for the service. A former High Holy Days music coordinator for Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, Singer is doing a Zydeco version of “Shiru L’Adonai Shir Chadash,” “Sing Unto the Lord a New Song.”

Mintz said “This would indeed be a new song, and we’re really excited about it.”

In planning for Jazz Fest Shabbat, a frequent debate is whether to stick with local artists or go for national figures. “To go Zydeco goes to our Louisiana roots,” Mintz said.

JazzFest Shabbat began in 1991 with Cantor Steve Dubov, with the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars as the first guests.

Headliners in recent years include Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Marcia Ball, John Boutte, Joe Krown, Walter Wolfman Washington and Russell Batiste Jr. Last year, Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen were the guest artists.

A veteran New Orleans musician, Bruce Sunpie Barnes worked for 30 years as a park ranger with the National Park Service. Born in Benton, Ark., he dreamed in Creole as a child. He was an All-American college football player for Henderson State and played for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He turned down an opportunity to continue in the Canadian Football League so he could play music and be in nature.

He got a job with the Park Service at Jean Lafitte National Park, arriving in New Orleans in 1987 not knowing what to expect.

His Delta harmonica style got him noticed, and he quickly made a name for himself. After having dreams of playing an accordion, he saw the accordion from his dream in a store, taught himself how to play it and immediately landed a job that enabled him to pay off the instrument.

By 1991, he formed Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, taking his name from Little Sunpie, what an aunt called him as a child when he hung around a musical uncle called Sunpie. His band was one of just a few Zydeco bands in the area.

A current member of the Paul Simon Band, he recently did a 58-city arena tour, Paul Simon and Sting Together.

In 2015 he authored “Talk That Music Talk,” and he is Big Chief of the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, one of the oldest black Carnival groups.

Jazz Fest Shabbat is free and open to the public, and will also be livestreamed online. Jazz Fest Shabbat Patrons will have a dinner at 6 p.m., receive VIP seats for the service and have an exclusive concert with Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots during dinner.

culture Young courage Anne Frank among featured stories in Baton Rouge film series “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be part of a three-film series in conjunction with “The Power of Children: Making a Difference,” at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White will be featured in the exhibit, which will be displayed from April 6 to May 25. Their stories teach about overcoming obstacles and making a positive difference in the world.

“The Ryan White Story” will be screened on April 25 at 7 p.m. In the early 1980s, White contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion. The AIDS crisis was in its early stages and little was known about the mysterious disease, leading to fear and misinformation that White had to face.

A world-wide movement arose out of his simple desire to be allowed to attend school.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” will be shown on May 2 at 7 p.m. The 1980 adaptation of the stage play stars Melissa Gilbert. Brendan Karch, history professor at Louisiana State University, will lead a discussion after the film.

“Ruby Bridges,” on May 6 at 1 p.m., is based on the story of one of the first four black firstgrade students to attend previously all-white public schools in New Orleans. She was the only black student at William Frantz Public School.

A discussion after the film will be moderated by Lori Martin, LSU sociology professor.

Each film has been chosen as family friendly, but parental guidance is recommended because of sensitive subject matter.

The films will be shown in a large-screen format in the House of Representatives room, and the exhibit will be available for viewing before each film.

The Capitol is open Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are available for large groups.

Jewish groups partner for anti-bullying forum Hadassah Birmingham, the Levite Jewish Community Center and SOJOURN are partnering with numerous local organizations for a forum on homophobic bullying, April 20 at 6 p.m. at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. The panel discussion will include students, parents and school officials and will include information on what is happening in schools and the community to combat homophobic bullying.

Co-sponsors include the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition, Birmingham Gay and Lesbian Parenting Group, City of Birmingham, Birmingham Mayor’s office, Magic City Acceptance Project, PFLAG, United Way of Central Alabama and YWCA.

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 57

ASK

BUBBA MEYER Q: Bubba, I was told there is a Southern Jewish connection to the Teddy Bear.

NAGHI’S Diamonds Platinum 14k & 18k Gold Antiques Estate Judaica

633 Royal St • (504) 586-8373

State of the Art Medical Imaging for Women, by Women Same-Day Mammography Results for Everyone Face-to-Face Conversations with our Doctor

Now offering genetic testing Mammogram • Ultrasound DEXA • Breast Biopsies

Camellia Women’s Imaging 2068 Valleydale Road, Hoover 205/544.2828 almammogram.com 58 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

Is that right?

Morris suggested that Rose make a stuffed bear to honor the story. They put the “Teddy’s When I first heard the question, Bear” in their store window, and customers I thought about my old college immediately started asking to buy it. They sent buddy, Teddy Bayer, who is as the original to the White House, requesting Southern and Jewish as Manischewitz in a ma- the president’s permission to use his name and son jar. But, what you’re talking about? Well… make more, and Roosevelt agreed, though he There actually is a Southern connection to added that his name probably wouldn’t be of the Teddy Bear, and a Jewish connection. If you much help in selling them. want to call it a Southern Jewish connection, The demand was so great, the Michtoms feel free, but technically it wouldn’t quite be couldn’t keep up. They closed the candy shop accurate. and went into Teddy Bears full-time. It became The Teddy Bear, of course, is named after the Republican symbol of the 1904 election and Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, who besides was displayed at the White House. being president was also known as a huge In 1907 Michtom founded the Ideal Novelty hunting enthusiast. In November 1902, he was and Toy Company. After World War II, Ideal on a bear hunting trip in Mississippi, at the was the largest doll-making company in the invitation of Governor Andrew Longino. It was country. In 1951, Ideal partnered with a comalso an official trip to settle a dispute over the petitor to establish the United States-Israeli Toy border between Mississippi and Louisiana. and Plastic Corporation, to manufacture toys Among the hunters was future Louisiana in Israel. Ideal’s last huge hit wasn’t a doll — it governor John Parker, John McIlhenny of was the Rubik’s Cube. The company eventually Tabasco fame, and Mississippi Senator Huger merged with Mattel.

Foote, grandfather of Shelby Foote.

The original Teddy Bear is now at the SmithWhile it was a successful hunt for most in sonian. the group, the president had an uncharacterisThe hunt took place near the town of Ontically rough time, without a single success over ward, about half an hour north of Vicksburg. five days. Roosevelt’s assistants, not wanting Today, the Onward Store is part country store, him to leave empty-handed, cornered a black part restaurant and part shrine to the Teddy bear and tied it to a tree for Roosevelt to shoot. Bear legacy.

He refused, saying it was unsportsmanlike — The Teddy Bear is also the official toy of though he did instruct for the bear, which was Mississippi, and every October the Great Delta wounded and dazed from the capture, to be put Bear Affair is held in Rolling Fork, where a difout of its misery. ferent commemorative bear is sold annually.

News of the incident spread, and a political So, if you say the Teddy Bear has Southern cartoonist in the Washington Post, Clifford Jewish roots, you “missed it by that much.”

Berryman, did a cartoon about it, which many Speaking of which, the Michtoms’ daughter, interpreted as having anti-lynching overtones. also named Rose, was in over 40 episodes of In Brooklyn, candy shop owner Morris “Get Smart” as Aunt Rose, and was Mrs. KolMichtom saw the publicity. A Russian Jewish check in “Laverne and Shirley.” immigrant who came to the U.S. in 1887, he Have a question for Bubba? and his wife Rose made stuffed animals at Send it to bubba@sjlmag.com. night, after the candy store closed.

A:

opinion >> Thank You to Hate

Continued from page 4

Thank you for making me talk to my neighbors and community members about what we do, what we will do, and what we need to keep doing in the future to ensure that our Jewish community continues to thrive.

Thank you for your help. I only wish I had never needed it to begin with.

Sincerely, Joshua Rutsky Jew. (This follow-up was written just after the March 23 arrest) Now news is breaking out of Israel that the suspect is a 19-year-old Jew with dual US-Israeli citizenship and possible mental issues.

Needless to say, this is a moment of great shame for Jews everywhere, but the shame is not in the words I shared. The shame is that we had a Jew among us who was as filled with hate as many of the Anti-Semites out there. That is a shame, but not a surprise. Hate is everywhere. No community is free of it. It is an infection that cannot be rooted out in any simple or consistent way, and it comes back again and again.

In the next few days, I expect that the way this is going to play out is going to be very unpleasant for us. Those people who have been Holocaust deniers, those who said “the Jews rigged 9/11” and those who claimed in online forums that this was a typical Jewish manipulation of the media and a callous, self-inflicted act designed to earn political capital are going to claim that their viewpoints have proven justified. It will be very difficult for us to argue that the exception does not prove the rule, because of how strongly the community reacted to this ongoing series of threats. Even among ourselves, we are going to begin doubting.

To this, I can only say that I do not regret or withdraw a single word of what I said. Hate is hate. Hate is destructive from within and without.

Hate is hurtful no matter the source. Hate is not limited to a political, social, or religious point of view. Hate is hate.

While it distresses me to no end that this particular source of hate came from our own ranks, it does not change the overall scheme of things. That 19 year old didn’t deface cemeteries in several countries. That 19 year old wasn’t the one who carved swastikas or painted them on walls and doors.

That 19 year old didn’t deface the New York subway system with swastikas. That 19 year old didn’t spray paint “F** yall Jews” on suburban Chicago homes, or on a synagogue in Seattle. He didn’t attack Jewish men in Paris with a hacksaw, shouting “dirty Jews.” He didn’t join the chanting in hallways at a Dutch school graduation party and at soccer matches of the words “Together we’ll burn Jews, because Jews burn the best.”

That 19 year old is one point on a very, very large graph. He will be the point that many people would like to focus on for some time, but he is only one point. Ignoring that is like ignoring 100 measurements in a study because you like the 101st better than all the others.

I sincerely hope that Israel convicts this person and sentences him to a long, long time in prison. I hope that after that, he is extradited back to the U.S., and he serves even more prison time here. But most of all, I hope that this doesn’t become another tool in the toolbox that has been used to attack the Jews again and again. I fear it will, but unlike some people, I don’t think we have ourselves to blame. I think we have this one sick person to blame.

This Week In Southern Jewish Life The South’s Most Comprehensive Weekly Jewish News Email To Subscribe, send an email to subscribe@sjlmag.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 59

opinion >> From the Editor Continued from page 3

Candy2Creation specializes in CUSTOM candy bouquets, party favors, candy cakes, candy centerpieces & more.

We offer creative concepts with snacks or personal products, and we’re sugar-free friendly too!

B’ham Area Delivery Available Shipping anywhere in US!

205/757.0793 candy2creation.com 60 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

The bludgeon of intersectionality is privilege — if you have it, you need to “check” it before you are permitted to participate. If you are part of what is viewed as a privileged group — whites, males and heterosexuals are generally seen as the top of the privilege chart, which is actually a racist and sexist notion — you need to acknowledge and repent your esteemed status, not that you’d truly understand the struggles of the downtrodden anyway.

When certain groups are called out as being privileged, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that eventually, the virus of Western civilization isn’t far behind. And sure enough, at a university in Illinois last month, flyers were distributed talking about how it isn’t really “white” privilege, because such a large proportion of the mythic white 1 percent that controls everything is… Jews. Ending white privilege, the flyer asserted, starts with ending Jewish privilege.

This turn of events should not come as much of a surprise, given that it has become more difficult for Jews to be part of these increasingly-extreme coalitions. Black Lives Matter nationally issued anti-Israel planks in its platform.

One of the organizers of the women’s strike in early March is a woman who was convicted of being part of a plot to bomb a Jerusalem grocery store in 1969, killing two college students. Faced with the posibility of being kicked out of the U.S. because she lied about never being in jail, she is now the victim and has become a celebrity of the left, even speaking at the national conference of the misleadingly-named Jewish Voice for Peace. And the women’s strike platform also contained a plank calling for Israel’s destruction.

Over the last couple of weeks there has been a huge public debate on whether Jewish women who think Israel has a right to exist can call themselves feminists, with Linda Sarsour, one of the Women’s March on Washington organizers claiming it is impossible. Actress Mayim Bialik publicly countered her, but many liberal Jewish women are stunned at how they are being kicked to the curb by their former home in the feminist movement.

It is bizarre that the group consistently ranked highest on the receiving end of bias crimes is viewed by these groups as too privileged and not welcome in their advocacy.

It is especially perverse given the horrible track record of the Palestinian leadership, not to mention much of the Arab world, on women’s rights — such as they are.

In recent months, particularly with the waves of bomb threats and anti-Semitic vandalism across the country, there has been a huge outpouring of support from the non-Jewish community. There has been a lot of interfaith coalition building, and likely more common cause made between American Jews and Muslims than at any time in recent memory.

It is incumbent on these groups and mainstream coalitions to not allow intersectionalism to seep in and start excluding people of good will based on a lack of adherence to a laundry list of ideologies.

This world needs more coalition building and less grievance building, more dialogue and compromise, and fewer litmus tests.

President Trump may want to build a physical wall, but intersectionalism is building its own dangerous rhetorical wall.

Larry Brook EDITOR/PUBLISHER

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

nosh

jewish deep south: bagels, biscuits, beignets

Herbed gefilte fish from The Gefilte Manifesto. Image: Lauren Volo

COOKBOOKS

The Gefilte Manifesto:

New Recipes for Old World Jewish Foods

by Jeffrey Yoskowitz & Liz Alpern The authors, co-founders of The Gefilteria, write that their plan is to “bring our foods out of the jar and to the street, to the pushcarts where we began, to the flavors of the people” but that doesn’t necessarily mean that those tastes are preserved in amber, either. Take for instance the recipe for Ashkenazi Kimchi, which was inspired by melding the idea behind the Korean staple with what we know so well, sauerkraut. And as a Southerner, it’s good to see sweet pickled watermelon rind included here.

As expected, there are several riffs on gefilte fish, from the kind that mom would feel comfortable adorning with a carrot coin and leaf of romaine to the “Old World Stuffed Gefilte Fish” which would surely evoke admiration of effort and be the centerpiece of most any table.

Andy Adelman took over Casablanca last summer There are traditional takes on the standards, and surprises, like cholent deviled eggs. Smart little throw-backs (why did we ever stop making KOSHER NEW ORLEANS hamantaschen with pastry dough?), and origin stories (where did black & whites come from anyway?) make for really enjoyable new connections.

Casablanca

SWEET NOSHINGS:

New Twists on Traditional Jewish Desserts

by Amy Kritzer

When the opening page of a cookbook involves a golden unicorn atop a bed of sprinkles, you just know that the sugary goodness inside is going to be par-taaay.

Here, Amy Kritzer gives mandel bread the espressocherry treatment. Her rugelach is studded with pecans and the chocolate filling gets dusted with a little cayenne. You know those weird cake squares with the rainbow colors at any supermarket bakery with a kosher section? Amy takes them ombre (and true, the world is over ombre, but these little numbers beat those fake stacked bits any day).

The Passover chapter includes “Brown Butter Charoset and Salted Manischewitz Caramel” and — before you put that bottle back down — another for Manischewitz Ice Cream.

Sweet Noshings is a little kooky but 100 percent fun, and as it turns out, completely delish.

New owner making a few changes, slowly Last year, when Andy Adelman stopped by Casablanca restaurant in Metairie, he wound up with something extra with his meal — the restaurant itself.

While he was dining, owner Linda Waknin asked him to call her later without explaining why. It turned out that after 21 years, “she was looking to sell the restaurant and really wanted to keep it in the community and make sure it stayed kosher,” he said.

Waknin, whose family is from Morocco, moved to New Orleans from Israel in 1979. In 1995, she started Casablanca, featuring her family’s Moroccan recipes. At the time, dishes like homemade couscous, lamb tagine, chicken bastila and fish tagine were new flavors for New Orleans.

After the restaurant was damaged in the post-Katrina flooding, they reopened as quickly as possible, partly to help try and bring the Jewish community back to the area. Having a large number of Jewish volunteers from around the country come to New Orleans to help rebuild the city also boosted business.

While Adelman “had thought about” owning a restaurant, he hadn’t continued on the next page seriously considered it. “It was always kind of a dream.”

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 61

nosh While Adelman “had thought about” owning a restaurant, he hadn’t seriously considered it. “It was always kind of a dream.”

Before long, that dream came true, and Adelman took over on August 15.

Rather than make immediate changes, he sat back and “gave it some time” to see what he “could not take off the menu.” He soon discovered that “everyone has their thing” that they insist has to stay on the menu, and pretty much the entire menu falls into Fish Tagine that category.

Some people said they were looking forward to him changing the whole menu while others insisted he should not change a thing.

His task now is “finding the balance of changing some things but keeping the place people love and are attached to.” He said some upcoming additions will include shakshuka, a brisket sandwich and sabich sandwich.

While he will do catering for Passover, the restaurant itself will be closed.

Adelman grew up in Indiana. He studied in Israel, where his wife to be, Aleeza, was on a two year Pardes Educators Program rogram through the Avi Chai Foundation. Part of the deal was that she had to commit to three years of teaching at a Jewish Day School.

After she was hired at the Jewish Community Day School in Metairie, they moved to New Orleans in 2010, took part in the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ newcomers program, and he started doing programming at Tulane Hillel. “We thought we’d come here for a couple of years, then go to a larger city with more Jews,” he said. Instead, they are still in the New Orleans area with “a house, two kids and a restaurant,” and she became the Director of Jewish Enrichment for BBYO in 2015, and will co-chair the 2018 Limmud New Orleans.

How did Adelman go from education to the restaurant business? A few years ago, Shir Chadash did a Shabbat retreat at the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica. As the Reform camp does not have a kosher kitchen, he was on a committee that planned and prepared the Conservative congregation’s meals beforehand at Shir Chadash and brought everything to the camp.

The food got rave reviews, and “I thought that was it.” About five months later, he got a request to cater an 80th birthday lunch with a “very extravagant menu.” Again, he thought that was the last of his experiences in the food business. Then there was a request for a bar mitzvah.

“The next thing I knew I had my own catering business,” he said, adding that it came about through word of mouth.

He started providing catering for events at synagogues and the Jewish Community Center, then rented the kitchen at the Goldring/Woldenberg Jewish Community Campus in Metairie for his business, also doing the lunch program at Jewish Community Day School.

He also had a startup business, Bayou BBQ Cleaners, which deepcleaned barbecue grills.

He has made a few changes at Casablanca to enhance business, including going on the OpenTable website to offer online reservations. To ease the transition, his goal was to keep the staff together, including having Waknin’s daughter, Aline, continue with the restaurant.

Adelman noted that roughly 60 percent of Casablanca’s clientele is not Jewish.

A lot of the visitors also aren’t from the area. “I never knew how many kosher tourists came through New Orleans until I was here,” he commented.

The restaurant is under the supervision of the Louisiana Kashrut Committee.

62 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 63

nosh

l Israeorgia e l p Tem bus, Ge Colum Deli Day 6 April-2p 11a

Jewish Food and Cultural Festival Little Rock • April 30 War Memorial Stadium 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Temple Emanu-El, Tuscaloosa Annual Jewish Food Festival April 2, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The festival will include traditional Jewish foods: corned beef sandwiches, kosher hot dogs, cabbage rolls, blintzes, kugel and more, as well as homemade Jewish Box lunches range from $10 to $12, treats including rugelach, babka, and have brisket, a corned beef challah, and chocolate-covered sandwich or falafel. matzah. Israeli dishes, such as falafel, The food sampler bar, which hummus, and Israeli salad, will also be available. enables one to purchase four tickets for $5 and sample numerous Jewish There will be numerous booths on dishes, will be back, with items Jewish and Israeli culture and art, the popular Ask-the-Rabbi booth, a including black and white cookies, replica of the Western Wall for leaving sweet kugel, knishes, matzah ball notes, and a Jewish music stage. soup, stuffed grape leaves, bagel and schmear, blintzes, baklava, rugelach, TEMPLE SIN and hamantashen.

AI LAKE CHARLES Seating will be at the Bloom Hillel Center next door.

ANNUAL CORNED BEEF SALE

APRIL 24

Dothan Deli Day May 4 Nearly 2,000 bag lunches prepared each year Robert Goldsmith says this will be his last Deli Day before his wife retires as the congregation’s rabbi this summer, and that this sale should hit 16,000 lunches during his “corned beef king” tenure.

The $12 bag includes a quarterpound sandwich on Atlanta Bread Company Jewish rye, a kosher dill pickle, bag of potato chips and a Sweet and Sassy huge chocolate chip cookie.

Are your special memories so 20th century?

30 Years In Business

All Services Done In-House

Still holding onto last century’s media? VHS, Video 8, slides, film reels?

We can safely restore your precious family memories and convert them to digital, preserving them for generations to come. Dig that old box out of the closet and let the special memories come alive again!

10

$

any video

OFF tape transfer

IMAGE HIVE • 205-942-9460 With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 4-30-2017

20

$

film OFF transfer

IMAGE HIVE • 205-942-9460 With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 4-30-2017

20

$

studio

OFF rental

IMAGE HIVE • 205-942-9460 With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 4-30-2017

Studio Rental • Educational Workshops • Photo and Video Production/Editing

212 41st Street South • Birmingham • 205-942-9460 Monday-Friday 9-5 • www.MyImageHive.com Co-owned by community member Steven Antselevich

64 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

25

$

any

OFF workshop

IMAGE HIVE • 205-942-9460 With this coupon. Not valid with other offers or prior purchases. Expires 4-30-2017

Happy Passover

to my friends and supporters in the Jewish community Chief Judge Sidney H. Cates, IV Orleans Civil Court Division C

Photo by Oscar Rajo

simchas an annual SJL special section

Oscar Rajo brings years of experience to wedding, simcha photography

by Lee J. Green If a picture is worth a thousand words and every picture tells a story, then New Orleans photographer Oscar Rajo has volumes of novels worth of memories and emotions to share.

For more than 25 years Oscar Rajo has used his expert camera eye to photograph many Jewish weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs as well as other celebrations.

“I have a high level of experience photographing Jewish weddings and events in our great city of New Orleans. We are fortunate to have such a wide variety of incredible and beautiful locations for weddings and events,” said Rajo.

He said he starting taking an interest in the visual arts when he was young. “I have always been artistically inclined. To be an artist was a goal since childhood,” he said. “I discovered photography and it was love at first sight. Pho-

tography for me is a way of life rather than a job.”

Rajo said in addition to the more formal images associated with weddings, he loves the idea of capturing images that show the realness of the wedding day.

“I look for those little, unique moments that show the emotion and interactions,” he said. “A couple’s wedding day is such an important day in the lives of both families. It is truly an honor when a couple has asked me to record this big step in their lives.”

He said the advancement in technology and digital photography have greatly expanded what he can do for clients. “As a very candid photographer, my equipment has to be fast, accurate, reliable and able to perform in very low-light environments. Digital technology has allowed me to deliver a much better product to my clients. I have total control of the end result, unlike the days of film,” said Rajo.

Best Wishes for a Happy Passover!

The Honorable Erroll G. Williams Orleans Parish Assessor’s Office www.nolaassessor.com

Shalom, y’all!

Symmetry the place for original hand-made jewelry When Symmetry was founded in 1975, it was an original idea ahead of its time — a gallery with the concept of returning jewelry to its rightful place among the art forms.

Tom Mathis was one of the pioneers in this venture. His unique style of using his graphic arts background, combined with his emerging talent as a hand engraver, made for one of the most popular collections in the fledgling gallery.

Multi-colored gold fantasy pieces, along with

more classical art nouveau styles, were collected by people from around the country who were able to visit this French Quarter shop in its infancy.

The early years cemented Symmetry’s reputation as the place to see original hand-made jewelry. Local, national and international collections by talented and emerging jewelry artists were featured as wearable art. Many of the international designers were shown at Symme

Warmest wishes for a Happy Passover!

Judge Desiree M. Charbonnet City of New Orleans Municipal Court April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 65

simchas

3

www.schollnickadvertising.com

(504) 838-9615

We Are A Full-Service Advertising Agency In addition to radio, television and print, we offer the following services:

Web Site Creation and Hosting

• Design and Host your website • Provide you with complete access • Can create a design on your existing branding • Online ordering, shopping carts, other interactive features • Complete hosting support ready for all your needs

SEO Services

• Ensure a strong Web presence • Make your code easy for search engines to find • Blog posts about your business or the topics of your choice • Social media companion management • Online marketing through social forums such as YouTube, Reddit, Digg and other entertainment websites

Facebook

• Contests, campaigns, blogging, social posts • Stay in contact with your customers • Generate Likes and increase traffic

www.schollnickadvertising.com

(504) 838-9615

info@schollnickadvertising.com 66 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

try before their debuts in the larger markets of New York and California.

These collections were displayed, as they still are today, in the Hampson Street gallery in an interesting non-traditional fashion. A visit into the Riverbend showroom is a change from a visit to almost any other jewelry store.

Symmetry still features the works of almost 100 artisans. These contemporary collections are complemented by a rotating collection of antique and estate jewelry.

The most popular feature of Symmetry is still the custom work of “inhouse” artist, designer and master hand engraver Tom Mathis. Using the latest in computer-aided design, Symmetry is creating even more unique and cutting edge jewelry than ever before. The last few years have seen the custom wedding and engagement ring business become the largest segment of Mathis’ creative genius. Couples from all over the world are enjoying having something as unique as their love, created for the special occasion. The Internet and an attractive website have contributed to this success.

A visit to Symmetry is a chance to shop at the region’s most extensive collection of handmade, affordable creations.

community

Charter Transportation Services

Cotton, Steeg honorees at Avodah Partners in Justice Awards The New Orleans location of Avodah: The Jewish Service Corps will honor Deborah Cotton and Pamela Steeg at this year’s Partners in Justice jazz brunch, April 23 at 11 a.m., at Temple Sinai.

The brunch was established to honor “individuals who emulate our vision of a Jewish community in which members devote themselves to building a more just world.”

Founded in 1998, Avodah is a network of Jewish leaders who fight domestic poverty and promote social justice. A group of young adults make a one-year commitment to Avodah, where they are paired with non-profit agencies in the city, boosting those non-profits’ ability to serve.

In New Orleans, Avodah has partnered with 30 local agencies on a wide range of issues, from women’s advocacy to disaster recovery, and continues to work closely with organizations like the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center and MacArthur Justice Center.

Over half of the Avodah alumni have remained in the area, many continuing to work at the agencies where they were paired while in Avodah.

The participants live together and have weekly educational programs to explore their work through a Jewish lens.

The New Orleans Avodah house was established in 2008 to contribute to the long-term recovery after Katrina. Other Avodah communities are Chicago, New York and Washington.

Cotton is a New Orleans-based writer, videographer and activist who covers indigenous street culture, such as second line parades, brass bands and Mardi Gras Indians. She also covers criminal justice reform and advocacy and is known as “Big Red Cotton.”

A self-published author and an award-winning freelance writer who moved to New Orleans just before Katrina, Cotton was one of the 19 victims of the Mother’s Day second line parade shooting on May 12, 2013. She is now a prominent and often unique voice for victim’s rights and restorative justice in New Orleans.

Steeg currently serves as chair of the Planned Parenthood LA Leadership Advisory Council, and sits on the Oschner Health Foundation board and Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast board. She has also served as the board chair of the Oschner Clinic Foundation Pediatric Board of Councilors, a board member and board treasurer of Agenda for Children, a member of the Women of the Storm delegation to Congress, and Mayor Landrieu’s Task Force on Youth and Families.

Tickets to the brunch are $60, $36 for age 35 and under. Sponsorship levels that include a listing in the program book start at $100, reserved tables are $1,000. Reservations can be made at avodah.net/nolajazzbrunch.

The kosher brunch will include a jazz performance and silent auction.

"Gray Line’s experience makes your experience …the best experience!”

Corporate School Synagogues Conventions Weddings Mardi Gras Groups

600 Decatur St., Suite 308 New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 226-2277 | buscharters@glnosc.com

Wishing all my friends and supporters in the Jewish community an especially happy Passover!

PFLAG meets at Gates of Prayer Gates of Prayer in Metairie hosts the monthly meetings of PFLAG on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

Monthly meetings are a way for parents, family, and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people as well as members of the LGBT community to meet in a loving, non-judgmental, confidential and understanding environment. Anyone in the community is welcome to attend.

Judge Candice Bates-Anderson Juvenile Court, Section C

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 67

Across from East Jefferson Hospital Emergency

Providing long-term care services and short-term rehab and therapy in an atmosphere of caring and compassion

METAIRIE’S PREMIER SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

Medicare Skilled Planned Activities Tours Offered Daily Short Term Rehab & Therapy Three Home-Cooked Meals Daily Private Pay Options Social Services Dept

4312 Ithaca Street (504) 887-6414

Basic Gefilte Fish 1 onion, sliced 1 carrot, peeled ¼ to 1/3 cup sugar ½ tbsp. salt

www.colonialoaksliving.com

Jayne Gurtler, MD • Laura A Brinz, MD & Janet A Burroff, MD

For best results, pour out water soon after fish finishes cooking and let cool, dry.

Welcome to the Practice

To serve, slice fish into approximately 10 pieces. Slice cooked carrot and put a carrot slice on each piece of fish.

Dr. Melanie Sheen, MD

KOSHER RECIPE

Specializing in breast cancer treatment, genetic breast cancer risk counseling and treatment options

Kosher Cajun

by Lee J. Green

3939 Houma Blvd Bldg 2, Ste 6 Metairie, LA 70006 504-885-0577

Home Cooking always pleases…

724 MARTIN BEHRMAN AVE METAIRIE • 504-834-5646 www.furysrestaurant.com

68 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

½ tsp. white pepper Enough water to cover fish 1 roll gefilte fish (frozen)

Boil all ingredients together. When boiling, add the gefilte fish with plastic off but paper on. When it reaches boiling again, lower flame and cook for 1 hour. If cooking two or more rolls of fish, cook 1-1/2 hours.

Metairie Oncologists

Casual dining Specializing in Italian cuisine and seafood

3519 Severn Ave. Metairie 504.888.2010 koshercajun.com

OPEN

Monday-Friday 11am-9pm Saturday 4:30-9pm

Kosher Cajun can provide kosher meals for a festive oc-Cajun in New Orleans or ship kosher meals around the world.

The Metairie restaurant, grocery store and caterer continues to get visitors from across the U.S. and the globe excited to experience everything from the traditional, kosher-for-Passover wines, kosher meats, to the unique with a Cajun/Creole flavor, such as kosher “shrimp” po boys made with pollock and special Cajun seasoning.

“The numbers of people who want good kosher meals continues to grow, especially those outside of the Jewish community who want to eat kosher for dietary reasons or halal,” said Kosher Cajun owner Joel Brown.

“It’s exciting to see our customer base grow and we’ve seen an increase in the orders we are getting for meals outside of the New Orleans area.”

Earlier this month, Kosher Cajun hosted an event at Beth Israel featuring Yarden wines from Israel. There was a special screening of the series “America Undiscovered: Jews in the South.” The first two episodes featured the stories of Kosher Cajun and Bill Goldring.

As April approached, Kosher Cajun was deep into planning for Passover. Brown estimates they deliver and provide for pick-up hundreds of kosher meals. Kosher Cajun will also be open during much of Passover.

“We will have a full menu during Passover. People can get everything they need from a complete Seder plate to a box of matzah,” said Brown.

New items featured at Kosher Cajun include pita bread and hamburger/hot dog buns that are kosher for Passover. They also have a sushi chef that comes most every Friday morning to make kosher sushi. For Passover, Kosher Cajun uses quinoa as a substitute for rice. Their website has 10 pages worth of items that can be ordered for Passover.

Brown said with gluten-free becoming such a big phenomenon, Kosher Cajun has increased its already-extensive list of gluten-free items at the restaurant and store. They also have plenty of options for those who are lactose intolerant as well as those who have seafood allergies.

Continued from page 70

to the masses.

What makes their stories so relevant? The people of Chelm are blissfully ignorant of their ignorance, while believing they’re the wisest people in the land.

If that’s not enough, the people of Chelm stumbled into problems, only to endearingly stumble out of them in the end. They’d take the wrong course to get to the right answer. Or, at least, one that just can’t be argued with.

They brought a glimmer of hope and a smile to the faces of people living in similar villages, facing all-too-real versions of the same problems. Whether in Eastern European villages a century ago, or wherever this is read today, the need for that is a truth that can really be held self-evident.

Doug Brook’s stage career began under duress, appearing as a narrator in “How the Bagel Saved Chelm.” It went mostly downhill from there. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/.

For exclusive online content, like facebook.com/ rearpewmirror.

> > Kosher Cajun

“We’re even working with several grocery stores to help them to expand their kosher selections. We want kosher options more widely available to those of us who keep kosher,” he said.

February was huge for Kosher Cajun and New Orleans, between Carnival season and the NBA All-Star game.

Brown said it was a unique treat to again ride with the Orpheus krewe — Kosher Cajun is their official kosher caterer. Singer Harry Connick, Jr. started the krewe 21 years ago.

Kosher Cajun also catered some kosher events for the NBA All-Star Game, including one for the owners. One of the things they prepared was a sushi platter that spelled out NBA in orange-colored sushi.

Brown said that for those who can’t make it to Kosher Cajun, they have a local “Uber Eats” delivery service and have taken larger catering orders to places such as Memphis and Pensacola. Even if the destination is outside of the Southeast U.S., they can still ship anywhere.

The restaurant/store has also become somewhat of a tourist attraction for those coming to New Orleans. While Kosher Cajun has an extensive, diverse menu, most visitors want to try kosher versions of some Cajun/Creole staples.

“People in New York City can get deli on every other street corner but usually visitors from out of town want some New Orleans favorites,” said Brown. “We substitute Alaskan pollock for the shrimp and all-beef polish sausage for the sausage in jambalaya and gumbo, for example.

It’s all about using the right seasonings and sauces to really bring out the taste.”

General Dentistry Cosmetic Restorative Implant

Timothy Delcambre, DDS, MHA

Advertise in Southern Jewish Life Email lee@sjlmag.com Toll Free: (866) 446-5894

3426 Coliseum St. New Orleans

504.895.6657 www.yourneworleansdentist.com

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 69

rear pew mirror • doug brook

Taking the Chelm

Proud to be part of the New Orleans Jewish Community Nobody does local coverage like

Southern Jewish Life

Soon after The Beginning, as the story goes, the Big G sent out an angel with two sacks. One full of wisdom, one full of foolishness. The mission: to spread them both equally throughout the world.

However, the bag of foolishness was heavier and tore, depositing all the foolishness into one place.

In recent months, people have had strong opinions about exactly which city that was. However, originally, it was the village of Chelm.

Long before Neil Simon decided to write a play inspired by their stories — it was “Fools,” which premiered in 1981 — the wise men of Chelm were the fodder of folktales for generations of Eastern European Jews.

Sigmund Freud once said, “The occurrence of self-criticism as a determinant may explain how it is that a number of the most apt jokes… have grown up on the soil of the Jewish popular life.

“They are stories created by Jews and directed against Jewish characteristics,” Freud added. “I do not know whether there are many other instances of a people making fun to such a degree of its own character.”

Freud’s lesser-known brother, Schaden, used to laugh at his brother’s frustration at being known less for quotes like that and more for a particular brand of envy.

Known throughout the world as THE STORIES the fools of Chelm, the village’s serene OF CHELM ARE populace considered themselves the wise men of Chelm. In one of the greatest TIMELESS… examples of ignorance being bliss, they UNFORTUNATELY couldn’t understand why the rest of the world didn’t understand their thoughtful insights.

The best place to look at the wise men’s wisdom is with the wisest man of all — the rabbi. For example, one day a girl asked the village rabbi which is more important, the sun or the moon. He answered that the moon is more important. It shines at night when it’s needed, and the sun shines during the day when it’s already light out.

Interestingly, the judicial system in Chelm set some interesting legal precedents with as much sense as some of today’s court rulings.

One day, a man in Chelm bought a fish to cook. He put the live fish in his coat. The fish slapped his face with its tail. The man went to the court of Chelm to file charges against the fish, which was sentenced to death by drowning.

Of course, their unique wisdom blended into everyday life. This included married life, because the people of Chelm would wake up every day and usually remember that they were married.

In Chelm, one man’s wife ordered him around constantly. One day, she had several friends over, and wanted to show off her total control of her husband.

She ordered him to crawl under the table and, to the great amazement and delight of her friends, he did. She then ordered him to come out. He refused, angrily declaring from under the table, “I’ll show you I’m still master of this house!”

Numerous writers have captured the folktales about the people of Chelm. Prominent among them is Isaac Bashevis Singer.

The son of a Hasidic rabbi, a leader of the 20th century’s Yiddish literary movement, and winner of the Nobel Prize for inventing a popular brand of sewing machine, Singer helped bring the logical illogic of Chelm continued on previous page

70 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017

The National Council of Jewish Women Greater New Orleans Section Requests your Presence at the Celebration of

A DOZEN DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017 Patron Party 6:00 pm Seated Dinner/Dance 7:00 pm–11:00 pm

A Featuring Mistress of Ceremonies Angela Hill A A Musical Entertainment & Dancing with the Yat Pack A A Open bar A Silent Auction A Metairie Country Club 580 Woodvine Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana 70005 Valet Service Available

Black Tie Optional

NCJW Major Sponsors Sara Stone

Patrick F. Taylor Foundation

Marjorie Bissinger Capital One Eugenie and Joseph Jones Family Foundation Franco Family Fund Gardner Realtors Louis A. & Lillian L. Glazer Family Foundation Jones Walker, LLC Betty Kohn MPress Postlethwaite & Netterville Pamela and Robert Steeg Paulette and Frank Stewart Whitney Bank

NCJW Special Contributor Beje Wholesale Jewelers/Fine Jewelers NCJW is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action.

Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

To order tickets, visit www.ncjwneworleans.org or call (504) 861-7788

April 2017 • Southern Jewish Life 63

48 Southern Jewish Life • April 2017