Southern Jewish Life, New Orleans, August 2019

Southern Jewish Life NEW ORLEANS EDITION RESTORING SELMA’S MISHKAN ISRAEL

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Aug./Sept. 2019 Volume 29 Issue 8

Southern Jewish Life 3747 West Esplanade Ave., 3rd Floor Metairie, LA 70002 Mishkan Israel, Selma

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

shalom y’all Some inside baseball…

With the rise in anti-Jewish incidents of late, a lot of energy has been expended on defining anti-Semitism.

The gold standard seems to be the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s, which has been adopted by numerous bodies.

According to the IHRA, manifestations “might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.”

On our new website, Israel InSight, we report on how this year’s Washington Summit for Christians United for Israel had a strong emphasis on fighting anti-Semitism, and its afternoon of lobbying focused on the U.S. Department of Education adopting the IHRA definition when it comes to assaults and intimidation on college campuses.

With all this, the point of this column might seem silly, but in reality, it comes after a lot of reflection — how to spell the term.

Every publication of any level of professionalism has a stylebook. That is to keep usage and spellings consistent throughout a publication. For example, we use 6 p.m. (the correct style) and not 6:00 PM (even typing that was painful).

For most publications, the Associated Press stylebook holds sway, then one adapts to individual items. We spell it Chanukah. We generally refer to “the territories” in the Middle East, “westbank” is part of New Orleans.

Since we began publishing almost 30 years ago, anti-Semitism has been the

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>> Commentary

MESSAGES

Maccabi USA leader praises Birmingham Games I have had the honor of attending many Maccabi competitions around the world. From Israel to Australiaspelling. to SouthIt’s America, and JCCSpellcheck Maccabi games around the United States preferred even theEurope default onthe many programs. andThe Canada, I have logged Lipstadt’s many milesrecent seeingbook howon sports beprefer a vehicle help build Jewish IHRA and Deborah the can topic theto spelling “antisemitism” identity, ourhenceforth, young. without especially a hyphen.inAnd that will be the spelling we use. all, whattoiscome this “Semitism” that “anti-Semitism” IAfter felt honored to Birmingham for the first timeopposes? and fell in love with not just the city a memo the topic, theSouthern IHRA says the hyphenated “not only legitimizes a form butInthe people.on You have taken hospitality to a newspelling level with your kind and caring of pseudo-scientific racial classification that was thoroughly discredited by association with approach to the JCC Maccabi Games.

Nazi ideology” but also divides the term as relating specifically to Jews.

Led by in thethe Sokol and Helds, yourhave hard-working volunteers were wonderful.

They partnered Those pro-Israel spheres heard countless examples of Palestinian activists saying with your outstanding staff, led by Betzy Lynch, to make the 2017 JCC Maccabi games a huge hit. they can’t be antisemites, because they are also Semitic.

I want to take thisto opportunity executive director of Maccabi tocan say imply thank you on behalf Semitic refers a family ofasMiddle Eastern languages, so USA “anti-” coverage of all of everyone involved. those who speak Semitic languages. antisemitism in 1879 by a German to specifically describe IThe hadterm just returned fromwas the coined 20th World Maccabiah gamesjournalist in Israel with a U.S. delegation ofanti-Jewish in a pseudoscientific way. Infrom most80languages, wasthe never over 1100,hatred who joined 10,000 Jewish athletes countries. the Backterm in July eyeshyphenated. of the entire The world IHRA said should be read as This a unified term so that theathletes meaning Jewish were“Antisemitism on Jerusalem and the Maccabiah. past month with 1000 andof the generic from term around for modern Jew-hatred is clear.

At a timeyou of increased violence and rhetoric aimed coaches the world being in Birmingham, became the focal point. towards Jews, it is urgent that there is clarity and no room for confusion or obfuscation when Everyone from the Jewish community and the community at large, including a wonderful dealing with antisemitism.” police force, are to be commended. These games will go down in history as being a seminal There is another term that also deserves to catch on. In a recent talk to the Jewish graduation moment for the Jewish community as we build to the future by providing such wonderful Jewish ceremony (a topic for a whole other column) at UCLA, Judea Pearl — whose son, journalist Danmemories. iel Pearl, was beheaded by Al-Qaeda — said the proper “fighting word” should be Zionophobia, Jed “theMargolis irrational fear of a homeland for the Jewish people.”

Executive Maccabi USA submissive begging for protection,” while Zionophobe places He said Director, antisemitism “connotes the onus on the perpetrator, as irrational, illogical and unacceptable, just as anyone would be who supremacists would like to see pushed back On Charlottesville is considered a homophobe, Islamophobe, xenointo a corner and made to feel lesser. We stand phobe, and so forth. with and pray for the family of Heather Heyer, Editor’s Thisproblem. reaction The to thehaters eventsare. in We’reNote: not the Lawrence Brook, who was there standing up to Publisher/Editor the face of this Charlottesville, written by Jeremy Newman, hate.

Master of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Theta Colony at Auburn University, was shared by AEPi National, which called it “very eloquent” and praised “our brothers at AEPi Theta Colony at Auburn University and… the leadership they display on their campus.”

White supremacy has been a cancer on our country since its beginning, threatening its hopes, its values, and its better angels.

The events that took place in Charlottesville represented the worst of this nation. Those who marched onto the streets with tiki torches and swastikas did so to provoke violence and fear. Those who marched onto the streets did so to profess an ideology that harkens back to a bleaker, more wretched time in our history.

A time when men and women of many creeds, races, and religions were far from equal and far from safe in our own borders. A time where Americans lived under a constant cloud of racism, anti-Semitism and pervasive hate. The events that took place in Charlottesville served as a reminder of how painfully relevant these issues are today.

We recognize the essence of the American narrative as a two-century old struggle to rid ourselves of such corners, and allow those in them the seat at the table that they so deserve.

It is the struggle to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal… endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” We know our work is far from finished, but we know we will not move backwards.

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

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

Nationally Funded by: America was also born an immigrant country. As early as the pilgrims, many L.E. Phillips groups and families found in the country the FamilytoFoundation opportunity plant stakes, chase their future, and be themselves. Few were met with open

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Auburn’s Alpha Epsilon Pi stands with the Jewish community of Charlottesville, and with the Jewish people around the country and around the world. We also stand with the minorities who are targeted by the hate that was on display in Charlottesville. We stand with the minorities of whom these white 4

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

August 2019 April 2019

Southern Jewish Life PUBLISHER/EDITOR Lawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com V.P. SALES/MARKETING, NEW ORLEANS Jeff Pizzo jeff@sjlmag.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com SOCIAL/WEB Emily Baldwein connect@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rivka Epstein, Louis Crawford, Tally Werthan, Stuart Derroff, Belle Freitag, Ted Gelber, E. Walter Katz, 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 504/432-2561 TOLL-FREE 866/446.5894 FAX 866/392.7750 ADVERTISING Advertising inquiries to 205/870.7889 for Lee Green, lee@sjlmag.com; Jeff Pizzo, jeff@sjlmag.com; or Annetta Dolowitz, annetta@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.

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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

Participants in this year’s class of Operation Understanding DC visited Adath Israel in Cleveland, Miss., where congregational president Nancy Chiz spoke to the group. The year-long program for Jewish and African-American teens in Washington includes a three week summer journey, visiting civil rights sites in the South and also exploring the Southern Jewish experience. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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agenda “Transformational gift” to make Tulane a national leader in Jewish studies

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

The largest-ever gift to the Tulane University Department of Jewish Studies is seen as putting Tulane on the path to be a leader in studying the American Jewish experience.

The gift from Stuart and Suzanne Grant of Wilmington, Del., to establish the Stuart and Suzanne Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience, was announced on Aug. 7. It is among the largest gifts to the Tulane School of Liberal Arts.

The gift from the Grants’ I Could Do Great Things Foundation will double the number Photo courtesy Grant family of research faculty in the Jewish Stuart and Suzanne Grant, with son Studies department. It provides funding for a new endowed Sam, a 2019 Tulane graduate chair that will allow the department to recruit a senior scholar, as well as to launch a national search for a junior faculty position. It will also provide operating support for the Center that will bear their name.

The Grants’ son Sam graduated from Tulane in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He is now a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

“With this visionary gift, Tulane is poised to become a national leader in the study of the American Jewish experience, with a particular, unique and interdisciplinary focus on the history of Jews in the Gulf South and the region more generally,” Tulane President Mike Fitts said. “We are so grateful to the Grants for their support which will position Tulane as a hub of excellence and the global leader in the study of the American Jewish experience.”

Michael Cohen, Sizeler Professor of Jewish Studies and chair of the Department of Jewish Studies, said the Grants’ gift will strengthen the department as well as reshape the field of American Jewish Studies.

“Creating new intellectual connections, the Grant Center will transform the field by practicing across disciplinary and subfield boundaries, emphasizing the global orientation of the American Jewish experience,” Cohen said. “Through the Grant Center, we will become the academic leader for the innovative and holistic study of American Jewry.”

“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of Stuart and Suzanne Grant, we will build a world class faculty and implement a dynamic and innovative slate of programming,” Cohen said.

School of Liberal Arts Dean Brian Edwards said the gift will enhance what is already one of the school’s most popular departments and place Tulane at the forefront of American Jewish studies.

“There is great interest in Jewish studies among our students,” Edwards said. “In the last few years, nearly one in four undergraduates enrolled in a Jewish Studies course while at Tulane. This gift allows us to expand the faculty dramatically, which will provide students with the opportunity to study with professors whose research is setting the direction of the field.”

He added, “At a moment when the need to understand American Jewish history has never been more vital, the importance of establishing a center dedicated to the American Jewish experience cannot be overstated.”

The Grants hope their lead gift will inspire more people to support Jewish Studies at Tulane.

agenda The Grants formed the I Could Do Great Things Foundation in 2009 to support a range of social initiatives related to education, Jewish causes and projects that strengthen communities, primarily in Delaware. The Grants also provided an initial gift to an initiative at Tulane University that fosters academic collaboration between U.S. and Israeli universities to address shared energy challenges.

Stuart Grant is the co-founder of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., a world-renowned law firm. He recently retired from the firm to devote more time to Bench Walk Advisors, a litigation finance hedge fund he co-founded.

Suzanne Barton Grant is an accomplished businesswoman and philanthropist. A former senior vice president at Smith Barney, she currently serves as the chair of the board of the Delaware State Pension Fund. Suzanne is former president of the Jewish Federation of Delaware and the immediate past national campaign chair for Jewish Federations of North America.

Restoring Lives in a Home Environment We treat more than the addiction.

We treat the entire person.

Registration opens for Jacobs Camp 50th anniversary weekend The 50th summer is winding down at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, and registration for the “50 Years of Jacobs Magic” anniversary weekend is now open.

The Mississippi camp, a haven for Jewish students from smaller Southern communities, will celebrate its history the weekend of Nov. 1 in New Orleans.

Events will begin on Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. at Touro Synagogue, with a welcome reception. Shabbat services will start at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner at 7:30 p.m. and a song session at 8:30. An after-party is planned for 9:30 p.m., with details to be announced.

On Nov. 2, activities move to the Uptown Jewish Community Center, with camp-style Shabbat morning services at 9 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., camp activities will begin, including basketball in the gym, inflatable Gaga, kickball on the field, lanyard making, a bounce house and art activities.

Ultimate Frisbee will take over the field at 11:30 a.m. Lunch and snowballs will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a song session at 12:30 p.m. A Jewish tour of New Orleans will be available at 1 p.m.

The evening gala will be at the National World War II Museum, for ages 21 and up. There will be cocktails starting at 7 p.m., with dinner at 7:45 p.m. and dancing to follow. Havdalah and a friendship circle will be at 10:30 p.m.

Registration is $180 for adults, $90 for ages 21 to 25, and both include the entire weekend. Registration for ages 8 to 20 is $50, and ages 1 to 7 is $25, and includes the Friday night and Saturday daytime activities. Sponsors have subsidized the cost, but those still unable to pay the registration fee can contact Jacob Fijman through the website to ensure attendance.

Registration is requested by Sept. 15. A special group rate is available at the Hotel Intercontinental.

Jackson’s Beth Israel holding musical gala Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson will hold a night of cabaret, community, and cuisine for its musical fundraiser, Sept. 7 at the Fairview Inn. The evening will welcome the congregation’s new rabbi, Joseph Rosen, and celebrate the congregation with the community at large. The evening will include a cash bar, seated three-course dinner with complimentary wine, and a series of musical performances. Cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m., followed by Havdalah at 7 p.m. and dinner.

Proceeds benefit Beth Israel, “so we can continue to grow our community and support the greater Jackson area.” Tickets are $100. Sponsorships start at $180, and due to limited space, should be purchased by Aug. 23.

For tickets, go to bethisraelms.org.

RHODES. FULBRIGHT. TRUMAN. GOLDWATER. COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. In the past three years, Millsaps Collegehas claimed all five with two Rhodes Scholars, four Fulbright Scholars, a Truman Scholar, a Goldwater Scholar, and a College Football Hall of Fame inductee.

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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Allan Sherman tribute show in NOLA In the 1960s, Allan Sherman defied all odds and expectations and became a pop culture sensation with a series of comedy albums with overtly Jewish themes, with his ode to summer camp, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” hitting No. 2 on the Billboard charts.

This month, Monkey Hill in New Orleans will host “Hello Muddahs: The Wacky World of Allan Sherman.”

Four performers — Becky Allen, Alden Hagardorn, Phil Melancon and Larry Beron — will pay tribute to “My Son, the Folk Singer” and Sherman’s other albums, on Aug. 25, and Sept. 1 and 8.

Melancon said it is a “simple show” where they will take turns singing the songs as the other three provide the music. “We will tell a bit of Sherman’s story, which I got from his autobiography, but the focus is on his songs.”

Tickets to the 7 p.m. shows are $20, and reservations can be made by emailing melonsongs@gmail.com.

The initial meeting of the Jewishgen.org genealogy group in New Orleans will be at the Uptown Jewish Community Center, Aug. 18 at 10 a.m.

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Gates of Prayer Brotherhood in Metairie will have its opening dinner and wine tasting, “An Evening with Rabbi Lexi Erdheim,” on Aug. 24.

Havdalah will be at 6 p.m., followed by a wine and cheese tasting, and dinner at 7:15 p.m. Reservations are $36. Wine is $18 per bottle or $5 per glass. Reserve by Aug. 16.

The special meeting for members of Congregation Ahavas Scholem in New Orleans has been rescheduled to Sept. 19 at 7 p.m., at Beth Israel in Metairie. The meeting is to consider a proposal for amending the articles of incorporation to extend the life of the corporation.

The July “Celebrating Shabbat Together” in Baton Rouge that was rained out by the tropical storm has been rescheduled for Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Beth Shalom will host the service, with Rabbi Jordan Goldson of B’nai Israel giving the sermon. A potluck dinner will follow.

Shir Chadash and Gates of Prayer in Metairie are presenting “Foundations of Judaism,” a three-section learning experience over the course of the year. The second section starts at 7 pm. on Aug. 21 and goes through Sept. 25, with classes alternating between the congregations.

This section deals with life cycles, High Holy Days and Biblical history.

Moishe House New Orleans will have an End of Summer Shabbat with the new Moishe House crew, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m., with favorite Shabbat recipes. On Aug. 25, there will be a summer camp themed campfire in the backyard, with singing, games and s’mores, from 4 to 6 p.m.

B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge will host “Lectures with Modern Scholars,” a monthly podcast series. On Aug. 21 at 7 p.m., Rabbi David Ellenson, chancellor emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, will discuss “What Makes Me A Reform Jew.” On Sept. 18, Rabbi Michael Marmur will lead “How We Talk About God.” The PJ Library “Little Mensches” will hold a salute to local firefighters on Sept. 11 at 3:30 p.m., at Fire Station No. 18 in Metairie. Designed for children ages 3 to 10, this program includes culinary and artistic treats for the firefighters, along with a tour of the fire station. The group will meet at Executive Tower for crafts, and then walk to the engine house.

The Uptown Jewish Community Center will hold a movie day on Aug. 29, with “Amazing Grace,” an historical drama about William Wilberforce, an 18th-century English politician who launched an aggressive campaign to abolish British slavery, despite staunch opposition.

There is no charge for members or non-members, and movie snacks will be served at the noon screening.

community At Maccabi Pan Am Games, Fielkow brings gold back to New Orleans As a senior at Ben Franklin High School, Yana Fielkow is preparing for her final high school soccer season while going over options as college soccer programs recruit her.

Having an international gold medal on the resume certainly won’t hurt.

Fielkow was part of the gold-winning U.S. national Juniors Girls Soccer team at the Maccabi Pan Am Games in Mexico City, which took place July 5 to 15. The Games attracted 2,500 Jewish athletes from 19 countries, participating in 24 different sports.

For Fielkow, a highlight was “getting to know different people from all over South America” and “just talking to them.” She added, “I’ve never been around that many Jewish people in my life.”

Fielkow started playing soccer at age 6, shortly after coming to the United States after being adopted from Ukraine. She started playing as a forward, then shifted to defense. At age 10, she tried being a goalie, and has been in front of the net ever since. Being 5-foot-10 certainly helps in that endeavor.

It wasn’t necessary in terms of game action in Mexico City, however.

Because the U.S. team was so dominant, “the other goalie and I really didn’t have to do much,” as the team “played most of the game on the other half ” of the field.

The team plowed through the competition, going 3-0 in pool play, with a 23-to-1 scoring advantage.

In the semi-finals, the U.S. beat Brazil, 5-0, and then played a Mexican club team, Mexico Invitado, beating them, 7-2, for the gold.

“I’m totally fine with that,” she commented. But she said “everybody on the team wished it was a little more competitive.”

Regardless, “it’s always nice to win gold.”

For the past two years, she played for the Mandeville Lakers, but this year is switching to the Louisiana Fire in New Orleans, a youth club of the Major League Soccer Chicago Fire. Last year, she was named first team all-state and all-metro. Last year, Mandeville won the Southern Regional Championships and advanced to the U.S. Soccer Nationals. She was named the top goalkeeper at the Southern Regional Championships and the Golden Gloves winner.

She also competes on Ben Franklin’s volleyball team.

While this was her first Maccabi experience, her family is quite experienced with the games. Her father, Arnie Fielkow, was part of the silver medal U.S. Masters basketball team in the 1997 Maccabiah in Israel, and is currently a national vice president for Maccabi USA. Brother Steven was on the gold medal U.S. baseball team at the 2009 Maccabiah in Israel, and sister Svetlana was on the New Orleans soccer team for the JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit in early August.

Fielkow said she would love to pursue competing in the World Maccabiah in Israel in 2021. At the games in Mexico City, “it was special to represent the U.S. and win.”

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METAIRIE 605 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005 504.309.8778 | @hemlinemetairie

OFFICE OF INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

THIS IS AUBURN. “This wonderful country of ours allows us to gather together, to be Jewish and be free… I’m grateful I can be Jewish and a basketball coach in the SEC.”

— Auburn Head Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, at the 2017 JCC Maccabi Games Opening Ceremony

WE ARE COMMUNITY. Hillel, Auburn University’s Jewish student organization, was the recipient of the 2015 AU Student Involvement Award for Overcoming Adversity. diversity@auburn.edu www.auburn.edu/diversity

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

Amy Milligan (center) with the four remaining members of Mishkan Israel, at a screening of the congregation’s short documentary.

Campaign launched to preserve Selma’s Mishkan Israel It’s a common concern for synagogues that are in historic buildings — keeping the roof in good condition, and running the occasional capital campaign when repairs are necessary.

But in Selma, where Ronnie Leet goes to Mishkan Israel’s 120-year-old building after every rain — just to make sure — the historic Jewish community is holding on with just four remaining members.

Nevertheless, with assistance from a professor at Old Dominion University who had no previous ties to Selma, and a regional filmmaker, Mishkan Israel is embarking on a major campaign to raise money to stabilize the structure, then turn the building into a combined synagogue, event space and historical resource for one of the epicenters of the civil rights struggles from the 1960s.

As part of the effort, a GoFundMe page has been set up with a goal of $800,000, which would finally deal with the building’s original roof and update the original 1899 wiring, a far-outdated knob and tube system.

After that is accomplished, the total campaign will total at least $7 million to create the Jewish Legacy center, including an endowment component.

“If we can get the roof replaced and the electrical updated, that will buy us time,” Leet said. The ultimate goal is “complete restoration, setting up a museum for our artifacts and a Jewish cultural center to tell our story.”

The museum component will be in a house next door that the congregation purchased when it became available a few years ago.

Leet said “we’ve been talking about it since 1997,” when the Barton family in Nashville organized a Selma Jewish reunion, Home for the Holidays, to spur interest among those with Selma roots in helping the congregation. A second Home for the Holidays took place over Rosh Hashanah 1999, with the Extended Family Congregation holding a centennial celebration for the building.

Fundraising from those reunions enabled the congregation to deal with a leak that produced mold and mildew on a wall about six years ago.

“You can’t let that stuff go,” Leet said.

Had it not been for the money from the reunions, “the building might have fallen in by now, because of the roof,” Leet said.

A few years ago, two brothers in Maryland whose families have Selma

community roots decided to have their Bar Mitzvahs in the building, and raise funds for restoration.

In 2015, when Selma was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday events, a major event filled the Mishkan Israel sanctuary.

Among the speakers was Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who said when he accompanied Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Selma to Montgomery march, it was “as if my feet were praying.”

“They do a lot,” said Amy Milligan. “It’s amazing for such a small congregation.”

Milligan is the Batten Endowed Assistant Professor in Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies and the director of Old Dominion University’s Institute of Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding. While much of her work focuses on gender studies and the LGBTQ community, she is also interested in small Jewish communities — and by small, she means fewer than 25.

Two years ago, a former colleague did a civil rights tour to Selma, and Milligan challenged her to find the few Jews of Selma.

Her friend met Leet and Hannah Berger, then texted her from inside Mishkan Israel — “You need to come visit… you need to see this Temple.” She visited and was immediately captivated by the small congregation with the large historic building. “There was an immediate click…

Selma has a little magic in it.”

“Two years later, here we are,” Milligan said.

She is working on a book about the Jewish history of Selma and advising with the preservation effort.

Milligan “has kicked me into getting this restoration project moving forward,” Leet said. “I just never knew where to start.” The congregation now has a social media presence, the online fundraiser and plans to go after grants and large donations.

They are working with an architectural firm to do renderings of the sanctuary and see what it will take to do a restoration. Leet said potential donors want to see concrete information, and “we don’t have that in presentation form yet.”

After the roof and electrical, some additional work would be needed to update the building. The sanctuary is not air conditioned, leading to very warm conditions in the summer. The sole one-person bathroom isn’t up to accessibility standards.

The room behind the sanctuary is air conditioned, and is where receptions take place. There is also a collection of Selma’s Jewish history for visitors to peruse.

With Selma’s events around Alabama’s bicentennial, more pieces for the project started falling into place.

In April, Milligan visited to assist on a shoot with Blue Magnolia Films, which was producing a short film about Mishkan Israel. In late May, “Selma200: Stories of Revitalization” debuted, with a series of short films, including the one about Mishkan Israel. A downtown walking tour of public art regarding each of the film subjects was also unveiled.

Most Jewish visitors to Selma are there to see the city’s civil rights legacy, often inspired by the iconic photo of Heschel and King at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Sometimes Jewish groups go through Selma, taking their bus to the bridge, and when they pass Mishkan Israel, they say “my goodness, is that a synagogue?”

On occasion, groups plan a visit that is much more involved than the usual couple of hours. Over Martin Luther King Weekend in January 2017, Ohev Shalom, the National Synagogue in Washington, spent Shabbat in Selma.

That was a logistical challenge, as the Orthodox congregation came to the Reform congregation, bringing their own mechitza, kosher catering and prayerbooks. The nearest hotel was over a mile away, with the group walking back and forth over Shabbat.

Nevertheless, Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld said the weekend was “one of the

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3519 Severn, Metairie (504) 888-2010 www.koshercajun.com

most powerful, intense and emotional experiences of my life,” recommended the experience to other congregations and said “every Jewish Day School in the country should take their classes to Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham.”

Leet is fine with that concept, but noted that with only four members serving as volunteers, there is a limit to what they can currently accomplish logistically. In his 60s, he is the youngest member of Mishkan Israel, and gave about 17 presentations to visiting groups last year.

Just before Thanksgiving last year, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans brought a group of African-American and Jewish students on a day trip to Selma and Birmingham.

But Leet said civil rights is just a small part of the rich Jewish legacy in Selma. The Jewish community began in the 1830s and grew swiftly, with three waves of immigration in the 19th century. At its height, there was a Jewish social club and an Orthodox congregation, in addition to Mishkan Israel, which was founded in 1870.

Three of Selma’s early mayors were Jewish — Simon Maas, who served from 1887 to 1889; Marcus Meyer, from 1895 to 1899; and Louis Benish, from 1915 to 1920. It was said that during that era, on the High Holy Days one could roll a bowling ball down Broad Street and not hit anyone, because so many of the stores were Jewish-owned and all were closed.

Mishkan Israel’s membership peaked at 104 around 1940, but the next generation began to depart for larger communities after college.

Leet said they still have occasional services, usually drawing 30 to 40 people. Naturally, that mostly comes from non-Jewish friends, many of whom remember accompanying their Jewish classmates to Shabbat services years earlier.

He added that Selma has a long legacy of close relations between the Jewish and Christian communities. In appreciation for their assistance, Mishkan Israel presented the Methodist church with a baptismal font in 1899, which they still use today, Leet said.

Another major piece of Selma Jewish history deals with the Zemurray family. Sam Zemurray, who became a powerful banana importer in New Orleans and controlled central American countries, had been in Selma, brought there by his uncle. Leet said June and Seymour Cohn used to talk about how Zemurray used to hang bananas in the basement of their store before moving on and becoming famous.

Leet said he routinely watches as visitors to Mishkan Israel are astonished at the beauty of the building. “I can’t imagine this project not being successful and this not being here,” he said. Mishkan Israel can be “part of the future success of Selma… it just needs to happen.”

The GoFundMe page can be found at https:// www.gofundme.com/f/temple-mishkan-israel

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August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

An Official Publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans

THE

August 2019 | Av 5779

Vol. XIV No. 5

JEWISH NEWSLETTER JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS’

An Evening in the Garden 106TH ANNUAL MEETING

The pleasure of your company is requested at the Jewish Federation's 106th Annual Event - An Evening in the Garden. The event will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at City Park's Pavilion of the Two Sisters. This event will include the annual meeting and election of board members and officers, and will honor the 2019 Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Jan Miller and Jonny Lake, as well as the 2019 award winners, Richard Cahn, David Shepard, and Hal Shepard. The Jewish Endowment Foundation will present a report. Following the business meeting portion of the evening, a seated kosher dinner will be served, with piano music provided by Tom Worrell.

The annual event is open to all members of the Jewish Federation who made a gift at any level to the 2019 Annual Campaign. Please consider attending as an Angel for $180 - the regular admission price does not cover the full cost of the evening, and we want to make An Evening in the Garden as accessible as possible to our community. If you are a Federation member and would like to attend, but are unable to do so for financial reasons - or wish to only attend the election portion of the evening - please contact Sherri Tarr at sherritarr@jewishnola.com.

Kindly RSVP by Monday, September 9, as seating is extremely limited. Dress is business casual, and parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

For more information on An Evening in the Garden and to RSVP, visit picatic.com/garden.

Thank you to our partners and sponsors A proud member of the Dignity Memorial® network

August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

13

2019 Nominating Committee Reports JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS In accordance with Article VI, Section 5 of its bylaws, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans hereby publishes the slate of Officers and Board Members for the coming two years. Federation nominees will be formally elected during the Annual Event on September 18, 2019 at the Pavilion of Two Sisters at City Park.

Joshua S. Force, Board Chair • Brian D. Katz, Vice-Board Chair • Jonny Lake, Vice-Board Chair Melinda Mintz, Vice-Board Chair • Marc Behar, Secretary • Kathy Shepard, Treasurer Board Members: Julie Green • Lisa Heller • Mark Mintz • Shea Soll Respectfully Submitted, Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Nominating Committee Eddie Soll, Chair Those with completed terms: Michael Finkelstein • Seth Levine • Stacey Lutz • Amy Malish We thank them for their service to the Federation Board of Trustees.

JEWISH ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION OF LOUISIANA To be elected to a two-year term starting January 1, 2020 and ending December 31, 2021: Joan Brooks Cox • Cathy Glaser • Shellie Jacobson • Hirsh Katzen Austin Marks • Morris Mintz • Ellie Wainer To be re-elected to a two-year term starting January 1, 2020 and ending December 31, 2021: Jack C. Benjamin Jr. • Jay Corenswet • Alan Franco • Morton H. Katz • Michael L. Stern The following members are serving terms which will expire on December 31, 2020: Robert B. Brickman • Robin M. Giarrusso • John L. Haspel • Howard Hirsch • Jill Israel Keith Katz • Harry P. Lowenburg • Julie Wise Oreck • Sidney C. (Copey) Pulitzer Jr. • Dana Shepard Rose S. Sher • James M. Spiro • Mark S. Stein The following members have been appointed to serve as representatives of constituent agencies: Mara Baumgarten Force – Jewish Community Center | Susan Hess – Tulane Hillel Laurence Manshel – Jewish Family Service | William D. Norman Jr. – Jewish Community Day School The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana elects its own officers. The following individuals are serving terms that expire on December 31, 2020 or until their successors are duly elected and qualified: Lawrence M. Lehmann – President | Robert B. Brickman – Vice President | Alan Franco – Vice President Morton H. Katz – Vice President | James M. Spiro – Treasurer | Michael L. Stern – Assistant Treasurer Rose S. Sher – Secretary | Dana Shepard – Assistant Secretary Andrea S. Lestelle serves as Immediate Past President.

Respectfully submitted, The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Nominating Committee Jill Israel, Chair 14

August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

HBCU Speaker Series: Presented by Morris Bart returns with a discussion on the Rosenwald Schools

On Tuesday, September 24 at 6:30 p.m., the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans HBCU Speaker Series: Presented by Morris Bartwill return with a lecture at Dillard University. The program will feature remarks from Robert G. Stanton, the former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and former director of the National Park Services. Joined by Stephanie Deutsch, the author of You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South.

This event is the second of a three-part series aimed at connecting the Jewish and AfricanAmerican communities in the Greater New Orleans area on relevant topics of mutual interest. The past, present, and future of the Jewish/African-American relationship will be explored by different national and local experts, with the goal of engaging both Jews and African-Americans in the region.

Robert G. Stanton is a former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the U. S. Department of the Interior and former director of the National Park Service, is an Expert Member of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to which he was appointed by President Obama in October 2014. As Senior Advisor to the Interior Secretary from 2010 to 2014, Stanton served as a key senior analyst and provided executive level advice and support to the Secretary on a wide range of environmental, educational, organizational and management issues. Stanton was unanimously confirmed in 1997 as the 15th Director of the National Park Service. He served in this position from 1997 to 2001, and was the first only African American to serve in this position. He has been nationally recognized through awards and citations for outstanding public service and leadership in conservation, historic preservation, youth programs, government relations and diversity in employment and public programs. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from HustonTillotson University, did his graduate work at Boston University and received five honorary doctorates.

Stephanie Deutsch is the author of You Need a Schoolhouse, Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South. She was a speaker at the two national Rosenwald school conferences sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has visited more than two dozen Rosenwald schools, and has shared the story with alumni of the schools, church groups and high school students. Her husband, David Deutsch, is the great-grandson of Julius Rosenwald. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Master’s degree (in Soviet Union Area Studies) from Harvard. Stephanie has lived on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. since 1975 and has for fifteen years served as chairman of the grants committee of the Capitol Hill Community Foundation.

RSVP now at picatic.com/dillard. Questions? Contact Mithun Kamath at mithun@jewishnola.com.

August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

15

JNOLA’s Chai Society looks to the future The Chai Society is JNOLA’s leadership giving level for those under the age of 45 who have donated $180 individually or $360 as a household to the Jewish Federation’s 2019 Annual Campaign. Every year we thank our Chai Society donors with an appreciation event, and this year we’re inviting Chai Society members to learn about the future of Federation on Thursday, August 22! Over specially selected wine and hors d’oeuvres, guests will hear from incoming Federation Board Chair, Joshua Force and incoming 2020 Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Mara Force and Josh Rubenstein. But they won’t be the only ones looking ahead…joining are two fortunetellers who have traveled great distances to show those who dare if fortune really does favor the bold!

If you have any questions, would like to become a member (monthly payment options available!), or are already a member of the Chai Society and want to RSVP, please email Tana Velen at tana@jewishnola.com.

JNOLA is open to members of the New Orleans Jewish community between the ages of 21-45, and the Chai Society is open to JNOLA members who make an individual gift of $180 to the Federation Annual Campaign (or a $360 household gift).

JNOLA is part of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, consisting of young Jewish adults between the ages of 21 – 45. This program hosts a wide variety of events, centering on community connection, professional networking, social action, and Jewish life in New Orleans. JNOLA is proudly sponsored by the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust.

The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans is excited to announce the creation of JNEXT, for members of the Greater New Orleans Jewish community ages 40-55ish.

JNEXT will be centered around a thoughtful series of cultural, educational, and social action events, led by JNEXT members.

Partners and spouses, Jewish or non-Jewish, are welcome to be a part of JNEXT.

Save the date for JNEXT’s launch on Thursday, September 12! Event information will follow shortly. To learn more or to sign up to receive JNEXT updates, visit

jewishnola.com/jnext.

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August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

WHERE YOUR CHILD’S JEWISH EDUCATION BEGINS

Green Preschool Susan

&

Howard

at Jewish Community Day School

Exciting things are happening in our inaugural year as Green Preschool @JCDS! Green Preschool now offers weekly enrichment classes including Hebrew, STEAM, Art, Music, and Living Skills, all facilitated by loving professionals.We can’t wait to share these new classes with your children!

MEET OUR PRESCHOOL HEAD Along with the additions to our programing, we are thrilled to welcome Avery Loss as our new Head of Green Preschool! Ms. Loss is a native New Orleanian has taught in Early Childhood and Elementary programs in Little Rock, Arkansas and New Orleans, including McGehee’s Little Gate Early Childhood Program and St. Andrew’s School.

Passionate and hands-on about Reggio-inspired early childhood education, Avery is also a multi-talented artist and writer.

We care for the whole child and ensure that each individual is seen, heard, nurtured, and loved for exactly who they are. Our passion is to ignite the child’s innate love of learning to last a lifetime.

Our educators believe children should be active participants in their classrooms and learning. They seek to scaffold children’s innate creativity, confidence, intelligence, and energy. Green Preschool celebrates play as the primary vehicle through which children learn!

• • • •

WHY GREEN PRESCHOOL?

Reggio Emilia inspired Environment as the third teacher Communication and partnership with families Rich foundation of Jewish Values

• • • •

Child-centered learning Outdoor education Enrichment classes Play-base

NOW enrolling 2019-2020. Schedule your personal tour today: chardy@jcdsnola.org or 504.887.4091. Learn more about Green Preschool @JCDS at jcdsnola.org.

Jewish Family Service Seniors, are you looking for a lift?

Catch-a-Cab can help!

JFS Catch-a-Cab is a discount transportation program for independent Jewish seniors, age 65 and older. Seniors can purchase up to $140 worth of coupons each quarter, which can be used with several local taxi companies.

Upcoming Continuing Education Workshops at Jewish Family Service SUMMER CEUs (July - August)

Counseling Young Children

This service is made possible through the generosity of the Adele Cahn Catch-a-Cab Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation. For more information or to fill out an application, call (504) 831-8475.

Upcoming Groups We’re currently in the process of forming three groups for the upcoming fall season:

Social Workers, Counselors, Mental Health Professionals:

Girl Power Caregiver Bereavement

Interested in our upcoming groups? Contact Rachel Lazarus Eriksen at rachel@jfsneworleans.org for more details.

JFS Now Accepts Medicaid JFS now accepts Medicaid from Aetna Better Health, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, and United Healthcare.

JFS also accepts MEDICARE, along with Aetna, United Healthcare, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Connect, Gilsbar and Tricare insurance policies for Counseling Services.

Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups is a core community service of JFS. Licensed behavioral health professionals provide guidance and support on how to cope with interpersonal and family problems. Appointments are available. Fees are assessed on a sliding-fee scale based on household income. To make an appointment, call (504) 831-8475.

August 30, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, Ph. D. Approved for 3 Diagnosis/Clinical hours

by LCA and LABSWE.

FALL CEUs (September – December) Suicide Prevention and Effective Safety Planning

September 27, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Victoria Judge, LCSW-BACS. Approved for 3 General hours by LCA and 3 Clinical hours by LABSWE.

Counseling Couples Using Attachment Theory

October 18, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Matt Morris, PhD, LPC-S, LMFT-S. Approved for 3 Diagnosis/Clinical hours

by LCA and LABSWE.

Therapy in the Trenches: Strategies for Treating Adult Trauma

November 15, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Michele Louviere, LMFT. Approved for 1.5 General hours and 1.5 Diagnosis hours by LCA and 3 Clinical hours by LABSWE.

Why Am I So Worried About Treating OCD?

December 6, 8:45 a.m. to noon. Presented by Gail Pesses, LCSW. Approved for 3 Diagnosis/Clinical hours by LCA and LABSWE. Pricing for CEUs: $70 pre-registration/$80 day of.

All events located at: 3300 W. Esplanade Ave. S., Suite 603, Metairie. For more information or to register, call (504) 831-8475, or visit the Workshops and Continuing Education page on the JFS website: http://www.jfsneworleans.org/

Tulane Hillel

Rimon’s Tuna Tartare With Pineapple Salsa 18

August 2019 • The Jewish Newsletter

Rimon is located inside the Hillel building on Tulane’s campus and is a popular gathering place for the university community. Rimon’s eclectic, meat kosher menu features cuisine from all over the world, focusing on Israeli and Korean flavors. Dishes at Rimon are made using pasture-raised beef and lamb, responsibly raised poultry, local gulf fish, and freshly baked bread and pastries.

For more information about the restaurant or catering, please visit www.rimontulanehillel.com.

This recipe is a popular item on Rimon’s catering menu and is great for summer parties. Fresh, high quality tuna is the perfect complement to a fruity salsa. It is surprisingly simple to make and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. We serve ours in hand-made taro tacos, but a root vegetable chip will work great. Recipe serves 4.

Jewish Endowment Foundation Top 10 Reasons To Open A Donor Advised Fund at the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana

1

Fewer Charitable Receipts

For any charitable contribution over $250, the IRS requires that you obtain — and retain — a receipt containing the right kind of language. With a donor advised fund, there’s no need for you to handle individual receipts to charities. You receive one receipt from JEF for contributions to your fund; that is sufficient for the IRS.

2

Avoid Capital Gains Taxes on Appreciated Securities

An appreciated security is simply a stock or bond that is worth more now than when you bought it. When you donate an appreciated security, you can avoid the tax on capital gains. With a donor advised fund at JEF, just have your broker follow our stock transfer instructions. We will sell the stock immediately, add the proceeds to your fund, and you can recommend donations to various worthy causes whenever you choose.

there is no problem. You can decide to be anonymous on all distributions or on a case-by-case basis.

7

Flexibility of Contributions

In light of the standard deduction having been significantly increased, it may be beneficial to bundle contributions to your fund in certain years. With a donor advised fund, you can make contributions to your fund — or forego them — as you wish. Yet you can still recommend distributions even in years when little or no money is added to your fund.

8

Availability of Advice and Assistance

Most people are not experts at determining what causes are worthy. At JEF, we deal with nonprofit organizations every day, and are happy to supply guidance and support as requested. We work with donors and their advisors to maximize satisfaction with grants made from advised funds.

3

9

4 5

10

Donations Continue to Grow

Donor advised funds have different investment options depending on the fund balance. If the balance is more than $25,000, you can select JEF’s Mixed Income Pool which is invested in 60% equities/40% bonds. If it’s under $25,000, the fund is invested in our Fixed Income Pool. There are other options for funds with over $40,000.

Fund Growth is Tax Free

As a 501(c)(3) organization, JEF pays no income tax. All growth in your donor advised fund is completely tax-free.

Use the Fund to Make a Difference in Perpetuity

A donor advised fund offers various options after your lifetime. You can specify what charitable organizations and/or interests to fund in the future or you can name a successor advisor to take over the responsibility of recommending future distributions. JEF has been here for over 50 years and we have built a reputation as a place you can trust to honor your charitable intent in perpetuity.

6

Ability to Distribute Funds Anonymously

If you would like your contributions to be given anonymously,

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. tuna, diced 1 cup pineapple, small diced 1 cup mango, small diced ¼ cup red onion, small diced 2 Tablespoons fresh red chile, minced (optional) ½ cup lime juice ½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped Salt and pepper

Easy to Get Started

Starting a donor advised fund is simple. You may open one with as little as $500 and start recommending grants when the fund balance reaches $5,000. Once the fund has reached $5,000, the balance does not have to be maintained in order to make distributions. To start, just sign a fund agreement and send it with your money or appreciated securities. You can then send distribution recommendations by mail, fax, email, or by using our online portal. To get started, contact Bobby Garon (bobby@jefno.org) or Patti Lengsfield (patti@jefno.org) at (504) 524-4559.

Legacy

Your donations will be branded as Jewish philanthropy, linking you to the generations-long tradition of tzedakah.

And as an extra incentive…

If you contribute $4,000 to establish a new donor advised fund, JEF will add $1,000 to your fund under the Cahn-Tolmas Donor Advised Fund Incentive.* That’s extra money for you to give away! Where else can you find that kind of return? *Incentive available to residents of Louisiana.

Dice the pineapple, mango, and onion. Try to keep pieces no bigger than ¼ inch. Add to large mixing bowl.

Mince the chile as small as you can get it, add to bowl.

Juice the limes into the bowl, typically 3-4 limes for ½ cup of juice.

Chop the cilantro and add to bowl. Finally, add salt and pepper to taste and mix everything together.

Toss with the diced tuna and serve.

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

19

Jewish Community Center November 16: Save The Date for Center Celebration Center Celebration 2019 promises a spectacularly “beautiful” evening at the J! Held Saturday, Nov. 16 at the Uptown JCC, this fun party features an incredible live performance by Broadway favorites Anika Larsen (right) and Liz Larsen, who both starred in the Tony award-winning show “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

They will be joined on stage by silver-voiced jazz and cabaret chanteuse Alix Paige (above left). Invitations will be mailed early September and sponsorship opportunities are available. Watch your mail for more information about this exciting evening.

Creative Painting with Adrian Deckbar Expand your skills and artistry in Creative Painting! Adrian Deckbar has taught painting and drawing at universities and workshops around the country. Locally, in addition to the JCC, she has taught at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts for 10 years.

King Bibi: The Life and Performances of Benjamin Netanyahu The Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series returns with a timely presentation of the documentary “King Bibi” on Sept. 16, the eve of the Israeli election.

“King Bibi” explores Benjamin Netanyahu’s rise to power, relying solely on archival footage of his media performances over the years: from his days as a popular guest expert on American TV, through his public confession of adultery, and his mastery of the art of social media.

Adrian enjoys working with beginners as well as more advanced students.

She encourages all styles of art from Photorealism to Abstraction and everything in between, like Impressionism.

From one studio to another, “Bibi” evolved from Israel’s great political hope, to a controversial figure whom some perceive as Israel’s savior, and others as a cynical politician who will stop at nothing to retain his power.

This is an ongoing class which meets Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To learn more about Adrian and to view her works, visit adriandeckbar. com. Additional class details and registration links may be found at nojcc. org.

Beginning at 7 p.m. in the Uptown JCC’s Mintz Auditorium, this event is free and open to the community. Movie snacks will be served.

BASICZ™ Mash-Up with Thomas Mann

The Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series 2019-2020 A Celebration of Jewish Authors, Cinema and Music

A pioneer of the art jewelry movement and creator of the Techno-Romantic style, Thomas Mann’s whimsical pieces are easily recognizable.

Come learn metalsmithing and jewelry-making from the master and then be challenged (in a fun way) to apply your new skills to the design and fabrication of finished piece of jewelry.

Beginning Sept. 3 at the Uptown JCC, this three week series meets two days a week, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, for Basicz demos and practices. The course plan includes the following topics: De-Mystifying the Jeweler’s Saw, FASTENation – a cold-connections exploration, Introduction to the Potential of the Flexible Shaft Machine and Soldering 101 with the Micro-Torch. Visit nojcc.org for additional details and to register.

20

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

September 16 “King Bibi” [documentary] October 23 “The Chosen Wars: How Judaism Became an American Religion,” Steven R. Weisman in conversation with Walter Isaacson November 19 “Shuk,” Einat Admony in conversation with Alon Shaya December 22 Community Chanukah Celebration featuring music by The LeeVees January 21

“Tel Aviv on Fire” [comedy, romance]

February 11

“Shoelaces” [drama]

March 31 “A Field Guide to the Jewish People,” Dave Barry, Adam Mansbach and Alan Zweibel May 6

“Golda’s Balcony, The Film” [bio]

community

McKenzie Enterprises, Inc. Your Tree Specialist

Tulane Architecture receives $2 million Mintz gift for global research studio The Tulane School of Architecture has received a $2 million gift to establish the Saul A. Mintz Global Research Studios, a new program that will give students an opportunity to work internationally on critical global issues.

The gift from Jean Strauss Mintz, a 1955 graduate of Newcomb College, is in memory of her husband Saul Mintz, a native New Orleanian who graduated from the Tulane School of Architecture in 1953.

Saul and Jean Mintz The gift establishes an endowed fund to be used for travel expenses, research and other expenses of faculty and students associated with international research through design studios, which will include teams of students and a faculty member who will work in a lab on innovative solutions, including traveling abroad to do field work.

“I wanted to honor Saul in a manner that would reflect his life’s interests and passions,” Jean Mintz said. “He held Tulane and its stellar architecture program in high esteem throughout his lifetime and believed that Tulane always should be amongst the country’s most highly respected and innovative universities.”

She said the Global Research Studios is an “innovative and forward-looking program that complements Saul’s desires to keep Tulane one step ahead.”

Mintz made the gift in collaboration with her children Carolyn Kaplan, a 1978 graduate of Newcomb College; Sally M. Mann, a 1984 graduate of Newcomb; and Morris F. Mintz, along with their spouses and the Mintz’s 10 grandchildren.

Until his death in 2012, Saul Mintz actively supported the School of Architecture, where he served on the Dean’s Advisory Council. He established a successful business in Monroe, where he and his wife raised their family and served the community through numerous civic organizations and endeavors. He and Jean Mintz were also instrumental in funding Tulane Hillel’s Goldie and Morris Mintz Center for Jewish Life, which is named for Saul Mintz’s parents.

“This gift advances magnificently the Tulane School of Architecture’s goal of becoming an international leader in design that enhances and enriches human life, especially in the world’s most challenged regions,” Tulane President Mike Fitts said.

The program is part of a network of upper level research studios that will address a relevant topic for several years in order to produce knowledge and expand the field of architecture in that particular area.

“The impact will be doubled,” said Iñaki Alday, dean of the Tulane School of Architecture. “On the one hand, the Global Research Studios will contribute to the solutions of critical problems and expand Tulane’s international networks. On the other, every year 42 students will have very intense international academic experience at the research level.”

“Every graduating student of the Tulane School of Architecture will have this international high-level exposure, which will help them to understand the cultural nuances of international practice and research and allow them to be effective when working in different countries,” Alday said. “As architectural practice evolves and becomes more and more global, this is an essential quality that our students need to possess.”

We Are Rooted in the New Orleans / Metro Community • Family owned & operated since 1989 • Licensed and Insured • Member of the Better Business Bureau • Trees Trimmed, Thinned and Aerated to decrease impacts from wind resistance, removal, fertilization •30 years experience in storm clean up •30 years experience in Tree Preservation

McKenzie Enterprises, Inc.

Jim, John, and Trisha McKenzie 504/456-1300 phone • 504/432-3543 cell trishmckenzie@aol.com

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

1-800-462-9519 Experience the flavors of over 200 teas

Breakfast, Lunch and High Tea Served All Day, 9am-6pm

Catering Our food. Your Venue.

Celebrate and have your event with us!

English Tea Room and Eatery 734 East Rutland St

(In Historic Downtown Covington)

985-898-3988 englishtearoom.com August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

21

women in business McKenzie Tree Service New Orleans Area • (504) 456-1300 John McKenzie Sr. started McKenzie Tree Service in 1989. It is now owned and operated by his children John Jr., James and Patricia McKenzie. They have lived in this community all of their lives and are proud to call New Orleans their home.

Patricia McKenzie joined the family business in 1998 after graduating from Loyola University in New Orleans. Initially, Patricia joined her family’s business while continuing her education at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. However, she became excited by her interactions with the clients, the daily operations of running a business and enjoyed working with her family.

She applied to Loyola University Business Col-

lege, and in 2004 obtained her Master’s Degree.

While it was a career path that she had never considered, it was a wise investment in her future and the future of this family-owned and operated business that will pass to future generations.

McKenzie offers a wide variety of services, including tree removal, trimming, pruning and shaping, fertilization and stump grinding.

McKenzie fully insured and licensed, offers emergency services, and is on the approved list of tree companies for both the Orleans and Jefferson Parish Parkway Commissions.

Discounts are offered for senior citizens, veterans, policemen and firemen, and repeat customers.

Alabama Goods 2933 18th St. So, Homewood • (205) 803-3900 • alabamagoods.com As Alabama celebrates its bicentennial in 2019, those who want to buy made-in-Alabama products ranging from art to clothes to food know they can count on a special shop in “Sweet Homewood Alabama.”

Alabama Goods opened in March 2010 on the strip in Homewood, and doubled its retail space two years ago. They also have an operations center and warehouse in west Homewood, at which they primarily do high-volume corporate gift basket orders.

“We take great pride in sharing our love of our home state and the great products made here,” said Sherri Hartley, co-owner with Beth Staula. “We get visitors and orders from all over the world. It’s great to share that bond with them.”

More than 12 years ago, Staula and Hartley were working on the same committee with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. A company was asking for custom gift baskets filled with products made in Alabama.

“That’s when we came up with the idea that would become Alabama Goods,” said Staula. “It started as a website, but we knew we needed a storefront so people could see all the products.”

Hartley and Staula would travel across the state to visit craft shows and Alabama product-makers.

“After we had been doing this for a little while, people would start coming to us… and we continued to expand what we were offering,” added Hartley.

Alabama Goods sells a wide variety of Alabama-made products, including art, clothes, foods, pottery, jewelry and other gift items.

Some of the more popular items include Alabama-shaped coasters made from carpet, Vulcan-themed gifts, barbecue sauces and bi22

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

centennial T-shirts, such as “200 looks good on you, Alabama.” Alabama Goods also sells some compiled gift baskets and customers can make their own custom gift basket.

Staula said they sell products from 50 of the 67 Alabama counties. They hope to open up an Alabama Goods store in Huntsville next year.

Hartley and Staula said the recipe for success involves hard work, dedication and an investment in their employees.

“We are creating a unique shopping experience,” said Hartley. “To do that takes great products, but much more than that, it takes great people working together for the same goal — to make our customers happy.”

Serendipity Boutique 3124 Heights Village, Cahaba Heights 5457 Patrick Way #109, Trussville (205) 970-2398 • serendipityofbham.com Samantha Jones, owner of Serendipity Boutique and a certified retail consultant, knows that the phrase “one size does not fit all” pertains not just to the stylish outfits sold at her Cahaba Heights and Trussville stores, but also to advising other businesses on how to attain success.

“Every person who comes into the store is different, and we work with them to put together a look that shows off their style, their personality,” said Jones, who first opened Serendipity in a 500-square-foot space of an interiors store in 2004.

“It’s the same thing when I advise a (retail) business,” she added. “I can share with them some things that have worked for me, but you have to look at customized solutions that fit with an individual business.”

Some recommendations are universal, though.

“Invest in your people. You’re only as good as your team,” said Jones. “If they are happy and love what they are doing, then they will make your customers happy. It’s not about transactions, it’s about building relationships.” She adds “business owners should be in the store as much as possible working alongside your people and getting to know your customers.”

Serendipity would move into its own location in Trussville, and then the owner of Cahaba Heights Plaza, Raymond Gottlieb, encouraged the Vestavia High School graduate to relocate there in 2009.

She became a licensed retail consultant in 2011, and in November 2017, re-opened in the Trussville area on Highway 11. That Serendipity location also includes a Dipity Deux store-within-a-store for teens and tweens.

Jones has traveled the globe with her consulting work, and to seek new fashions for Serendipity.

“It seems that Europe, New York and L.A. are always a couple of years ahead of Alabama,” she said. “We want to change that by being trendsetters, not followers.”

Serendipity launched its new website earlier this year, allowing for enhanced e-commerce. But Jones said she and the Serendipity team know that the focus remains on what they can do to enhance the brick-and-mortar store experience.

“We want to do even more in-store events, fashion shows and parties,” she said. “It’s about creating an unrivaled experience at the stores. It’s about making shopping fun. This is retail therapy.”

community THE SEASON IS HERE! Helping Ethiopian Israelis prosper

WHO DAT!

Head of Ethiopian National Project visits Jewish communities that have been supportive About 36 years ago, a donkey led Roni Akale from Ethiopia to Sudan, from where he realized a 2,500-year-old dream of returning to the land of Israel.

Recently, Akale toured Southern communities as director-general of the Ethiopian National Project, helping those in Israel’s Ethiopian community who came after him to succeed in a modern, high-tech society.

Two major waves of Ethiopian Jews came to Israel since the early 1980s.

In 1984, Operation Moses was a clandestine effort during a civil war and famine to bring Jews from the remote Ethiopian areas of Gondar to Israel via Sudan, even though Sudan was hostile to Israel. About 8,000 Ethiopian Jews were rescued before the airlift was shut down due to publicity.

In 1991, amidst political turmoil in Ethiopia, Israel embarked on Operation Solomon, a continuous 35-hour airlift that brought over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Since then, there have been additional, smaller airlifts.

Akale said there were “a lot of challenges” for Ethiopian Jews, as “most of us lived in the village” in Ethiopia and cultivated the land, as “we were not in educational areas.”

When they arrived in Israel, “we started our lives from zero” in a place with a different language and culture.

“We narrowed the gap of 2,500 years in 13 years,” but there is still a “very large” gap that can be narrowed further through education.

Today, many Ethiopians are in high-tech, or are lawyers, doctors, diplomats and judges. “We are everywhere,” he said.

In 2004, the Ethiopian National Project was launched to continue facilitating the adjustment of Ethiopians into Israeli society. While it is a partnership of the Jewish Federations of North America, the Government of Israel, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Israel and Keren Hayesod-UIA, Akale said it was created “with the Ethiopian community taking the leading role” because they knew what the community truly needed.

Akale was born in a remote Ethiopian village that had no electricity. At age 12, he went by himself to Gondar to pursue an education, and started working for the government.

In 1983, his best friend told him it was a good time to go to Jerusalem, and he had friends who led people to Sudan, and from there to Israel.

“We had waited 2,000 years for the vision to become real,” he said.

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Roni Akale, director general of the Ethiopian National Project, and Grace Rodnitzki, director of international relations, visited communities in the region earlier this summer.

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

“Though separated 2500 years ago, we didn’t forget how to be a Jew. We kept our religion very strictly.”

He set out on the 500-mile journey with a group of six. In the middle of the hazardous trek —an estimated 4,000 Ethiopian Jews did not survive the journey or the Sudanese refugee camp — the guide told them he was leaving them with his son and donkey to go the rest of the way, and “we believed him.” The problem was, the son did not know how to get to Sudan — but the donkey had been there before and “the donkey was now our GPS.” in the middle of the jungle, robbers came and took everything, but they continued. Without any weaponry, they had to be careful of lions and other predators — especially regarding the donkey, who was the only one who knew where they were going.

Five days after the robbery, they arrived at the border, where he was surprised to see his younger brother, who had also left the village to make the journey.

In Sudan, “we didn’t have anything” and the refugee camp was “very bad,” but “we were lucky” as some Ethiopian youth had already been working with the Mossad, Israel’s clandestine agency.

He was in the refugee camp for a couple of months, but said many stayed for up to four years. He was able to get to Khartoum, where he was flown to Paris, then to Israel, arriving “with nothing” in 1983 after a four and one-half month odyssey.

After learning Hebrew, he went to the university to get a degree in social work, after which he went into the army and became a mental health officer.

While in the army, he participated in Operation Solomon, welcoming fellow Ethiopian Jews to Israel.

Today, there are about 150,000 Ethiopian-Israelis, with 110,000 under the age of 40.

Akale said the children want to learn and be like other Israelis, “to compete with Israeli society and to be at the highest level.” But because the majority live in low-income areas, opportunities often aren’t there.

The ENP developed SPACE, School Performance and Community Empowerment, which promotes academic growth and provides supplemental scholastic assistance, along with leadership skills and a greater connection to their heritage.

The “Bridges” program boosts English proficiency, providing a competitive benefit and enabling greater connection to the world Jewish community as emissaries.

Grace Rodnitzki, director of international relations for ENP, said they currently serve just over 5,000 children in 28 communities across Israel, but they have identified many more.

The project was created as a shared initiative with global Jewry and support from Israel, as a “way to forge a stronger bond” with Israel, she said. Every dollar raised is matched by the Israeli government.

Her path to Israel was far different than Akale’s. “All I had to do was leave the King of Prussia Mall and move to Israel” after graduating from Brandeis just months before Operation Solomon. A newcomer herself, she started helping the Ethiopians adjust at a makeshift absorption center at the Diplomat Hotel. “It was unbelievable… the word I would use was euphoria.”

Now, she is working to help make sure that every child that needs to get into the ENP programs is able to, “so they can be the engineers, the lawyers, the physicians” and be “absolutely, undeniably successful.”

“Our community is a motivated community,” Akale said. He pointed with pride to the national general matriculation exam, which 71 percent of Israeli students pass. Among Ethiopians, he said, it is 82 percent.

“That’s the work we’re doing, child by child, family by family, city by city,” he said. “You must do to change the reality to a good reality, and you must work day and night… you must dream, you must think, you must do a lot to change your abilities and your life.”

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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community “Sinners and Saints” on Rosh Hashanah Alternate service for those who can’t miss the game Football is religion in the South, and few places have a higher concentration of faithful devotees than New Orleans, where even the team name has religious overtones. That can lead to the occasional religious conflict — this year, the Superdome matchup between the Saints and the Dallas Cowboys is on the first evening of Rosh Hashanah, Sept.

29. With a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

While Gates of Prayer in Metairie is having its usual service at 8 p.m. and Rabbi David Gerber “assumes” everyone will be there instead of at the game… just in case there are some who will be religiously conflicted, Gates of Prayer will offer a “Sinners and Saints” Rosh Hashanah service at 5 p.m., on the terrace at Stone Pigman law firm, about three blocks from the Superdome — walking distance, as would be traditional.

Gerber said he started getting calls immediately after the Saints schedule for the season was released, with the usual question being “am I a bad Jew if I go the Saints game instead of services?” followed by a promise to attend the next morning or do “extra atonement on Yom Kippur.”

There was no thought given to changing the service time because “Rosh Hashanah was scheduled before the NFL,” Gerber said, “but we decided we could meet people where they are.”

The full Gates of Prayer clergy will lead the service, which will include blowing the shofar, and “apples (cider) and honey (lager).” Those attending the service can dress for the game.

Tickets are free, but very limited due to space. A waitlist will be created if needed, with Gates of Prayer members receiving priority.

A similar conundrum occurred in 2013, when the “Game of the Century” revenge match of the University of Alabama at Texas A&M fell on Yom Kippur. Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El made national headlines for declaring the congregation a “football-free zone” for the day in deference to those who were taping the game for after the holy day.

Mike Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, did not attend the highly-hyped game, electing to attend services at Emanu-El.

Rosh Hashanah dinner at Jackson’s in Pensacola Jackson’s in Pensacola will be hosting its annual Rosh Hashanah dinner, Sept. 29 starting at 5 p.m.

In addition to the regular dinner menu, Chef Irv Miller does a Rosh Hashanah dinner, starting with challah, and red and golden delicious apples with tupelo honey; then a first course of Yukon gold and potato latkes with roasted acorn squash, sour cream and fresh chives, finishing with house-smoked and slow-roasted beef brisket with caramelized onions and aged-balsamic glaze, Mom’s kugel, glazed carrots and roasted Brussels sprouts. The Rosh Hashanah dinner is $29 per person.

Sukkot retreat at Ramah Darom Several smaller-community congregations will hold a Southern Schmooze Shabbaton at Ramah Darom in Georgia over the Shabbat during Sukkot, Oct. 18 to 20.

The Conservative congregations in Chattanooga, Greensboro, Asheville, Birmingham, Nashville, Greenville and Columbia are currently signed up for the weekend, which will include services, children’s programming, kosher meals and recreational activities.

More information is available at the Ramah Darom website.

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

community NED MARSHALL DESIGN Anne Frank statue coming to National WWII Museum Community invited to Sept. 12 dedication A life-size statue of Anne Frank will be unveiled at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on Sept. 12, as part of an ongoing installation at the museum’s Founder’s Plaza.

Two years ago, the first statue and bench in the plaza were unveiled, featuring a life-sized Franklin Roosevelt. The Anne Frank statue will be the plaza’s second installation, and more will be added as funding is available.

Dedicated in January 2017, Founder’s Plaza spans Andrew Higgins Drive between Camp and Magazine Streets. The plaza is the entryway to the institution’s grounds, providing safe passage for guests, and a setting for rest and reflection as part of the visitor experience.

Large Nuttall oak trees line the plaza, providing color in the fall and shade in the summer, and historic-style street lights assist with nighttime pedestrian access and safety. An 80foot American flag and six service flags of the U.S. armed forces are also featured in the plaza, along with sections of Hitler’s Atlantic wall and German sentry shelters.

The museum hopes to eventually have around 10 sculptures in the plaza. While some specific individuals are under consideration, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower, others are more symbolic of different groups, such as a World War II nurse, a war dog and his handler, and a Red Ball Express supply driver.

Clem Goldberger of the museum said “we are thrilled Anne Frank was the second one that was funded.” The Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust is underwriting the Anne Frank statue.

Goldberger said a large proportion of museum visitors want to take their picture with Roosevelt, “and Anne Frank will be equally popular, especially with young people,” as so many students read her diary in school.

The Anne Frank bench and sculpture will be to the right of the flagpole in the plaza.

Designing the sculpture was a long process, with decisions needed for every detail. Historians pored over numerous photos as they decided what age the depiction should be, what she should wear, how to pose.

Goldberger said that while Roosevelt is seated, they decided Frank would stand next to her bench, looking upwards while holding her diary to her chest. “She’s looking up, with a hopeful look on her face,” she said.

A clay version was sculpted before the statue was cast in bronze. “The detail in the sculpture is phenomenal,” she added.

The statue was sculpted by SudioEIS in Brooklyn, which specializes in historical figures.

The 10 a.m. ceremony will begin with a brief presentation outside by the bench, and then

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proceed to the Stage Door Canteen, where there will be refreshments and remarks about the statue, and news about the forthcoming Liberation Pavilion.

Three significant exhibitions in the Liberation Pavilion’s “And Then They Came For Me” gallery are also being sponsored by the Tolmas Trust — “The Office,” “The Hiding Place” and “The Concentration Camp.”

In a statement, the Tolmas Trust said “We are proud to honor Oscar J. Tolmas’ legacy by underwriting the Anne Frank Sculpture Bench” and the three Liberation Pavilion exhibits. “We believe the combination of these sponsorships create a beautiful and profound opportunity to honor Mr. Tolmas’ Jewish heritage and his wartime service for our country.”

The Sept. 12 ceremony is open to the community.

August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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community Lynne Wasserman to head national board of Avodah For the first time, Avodah’s national board is led by a New Orleanian.

The announcement that Lynne Wasserman was elected board chair was made on July 11.

She has served on Avodah’s national board since 2014.

Wasserman has held numerous leadership roles within Avodah, most recently as board vice chair and chair of the New Orleans Advisory Council. She also serves on Avodah’s development committee and several task force initiatives.

Wasserman joined Avodah’s inaugural advisory council in New Orleans soon after Hurricane Katrina, with the goal of making a lasting impact during a time of urgent need and beyond. The New Orleans location opened in 2008, with around 10 residents per year who work for local social justice and anti-poverty non-profit agencies.

Wasserman is also past president of Gates of Prayer in Metairie, and past co-chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans Annual Campaign and Limmud New Orleans.

Wasserman succeeds Benetta Mansfield, who served as board chair for four years during unprecedented growth and innovation.

“Avodah is deeply grateful for Benetta Mansfield’s tremendous work and leadership. She left behind large shoes to fill and there is no one better suited to carry on in her footsteps than Lynne Wasserman, whose guidance and enthusiasm has helped make Avodah what it is today. Was-

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serman’s dedication is felt in New Orleans and across the entire Avodah community. We are inspired by her energy and vision and look forward to learning from her for many years to come,” Avodah Executive Director Cheryl Cook said.

Wasserman said “I have had the immense privilege of watching Avodah grow and expand its reach to five cities and more than 1,200 alumni who have made tangible change for hundreds of thousands of people across the nation. I am excited to continue to see Avodah grow and deepen its commitment to field of Jewish social justice leadership and I look forward to this next chapter.”

Moishe House welcomes new residents Moishe House New Orleans welcomed three new residents this month.

The international organization provides a rent subsidy and programming budget so year-long residents in their 20s can turn the home into a Jewish communal space.

Sasha Somers is a Los Angeles native who is staying in New Orleans after four years at Tulane University. Somers will be teaching middle school science in Jefferson Parish.

Eric Malamud is from Denver and has been in New Orleans for the past year as a Venture for America Fellow, working in the innovation branch at Ochsner.

Serena Deutch grew up in South Florida, went to college in Nashville and came to New Orleans last year as a Venture for America Fellow with Launch Pad.

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

community >> Rear Pew Mirror

continued from page 30

Speaking of animated, think about Bugs Bunny. Where do you think he really got the smarts to always outwit Elmer Fudd. From carrots?

“Any other examples you want to draw on?”

Don’t tell the rabitzen, but I wouldn’t mind drawing on Jessica Rabbit.

She converted, you know. It gives me paws.

“Anyway… What is the biggest thing about Jewish holidays for rabbits?”

High Holey Days is the real spelling. They’re named that because every Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we worship in the highest rabbit holes in the land, to be closer to heaven.

“Are we really supposed to believe that all rabbits are Jewish?”

Go up to any rabbit and ask them if they’re Jewish. See how many say no.

“Okay. But, really?”

Most rabbits are like most other Jews. Think about it. They don’t show up for minyan. They don’t have separate dishes for meat and dairy. You don’t see many rabbits in the sanctuary at the start of services. They have no real connection to Easter but can’t avoid being inundated by it every year. You’ll never catch a rabbit answering the phone on Super Sunday.

And what we wear never mixes wool and linen.

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Doug Brook expects an irate call from the ASPCA, PETA or Peter Rabbit. To read past columns, visit http://brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, like facebook.com/rearpewmirror.

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

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rear pew mirror • doug brook

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The Rabbitic Assembly Many moons ago, this column brought in a guest expert from the clergy to answer timely questions. Due to a small contractual mishap, the world-renowned authority on Jewish law and custom was not quite as expected. Nevertheless, after a long absence, here’s the next installment of Ask the Rabbit.

Lettuce begin.

It’s an honor to return to you after several years. As almost both of you know, I just finished a term as chair of the Rabbitic Assembly, the international Jewish organization for rabbits. It was a wonderful experience not only for myself but for my wife, the rabbitzen.

During my years in charge we faced many hare-raising episodes, some of which I’ll relate as I answer questions sent in by you, the reader. Or by you, the other reader.

“How do rabbits relate to Judaism?”

This is one of the most common questions we face in the Rabbitic Assembly today. There are many ways to answer this, but instead I’ll say this.

Rabbits are very close to the angels.

It’s more than the adorable face, innocent eyes and soft fur. Look at the amidah. In the kedushah everyone is standing, with feet together, and there are three times where everyone briefly goes up and down on their toes. This is commonly taught as trying to resemble angels, which is true.

However, the angels were trying to be like rabbits in the first place. Look at how people hop in the kedushah. Now imagine it without the siddur in their hands but their hands still held out in front of them. It now looks like a bunny hop.

“We know you as Ask the Rabbit. Do you have a name?”

As Tevye said, all creatures on earth have a name. In fact, every Jewish rabbit has its own name. Unlike Jewish deer, for example.

“Jewish deer? They all have the same name?”

Yes. People unfortunately refer to deer meat as venison, but it comes from the last name of all Jewish deer: ben Ison.

After a long

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life

absence, Ask the Rabbit returns…

“Uh huh. And you say that Jewish rabbits all have their own names?”

Absolutely. One of the most famous Jewish rabbits in the mid-20th Century was Harvey the Rabbit. He was larger than life in his day, but also managed to work out of sight to most people.

In past centuries, great scholars were given names that were acronyms, like Rambam (Maimonides), Ramban, (Nachmanides), Rashi (Rashi), and Ringo. It’s rare in modern times, which shows how great a scholar was Harvey, whose name is a shortening of HaRav (the rabbi) and bunny (bunny).

“Are you saying that all rabbits are rabbitic scholars?”

What other kind would we be?

“But you’re saying that rabbits have high intelligence?”

Of course. Think about the gerund that’s most commonly associated with being like rabbits.

“You sound very animated about this.” continued on previous page

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August 2019 • Southern Jewish Life