SJL New Orleans, October 2014

Southern Jewish Life NEW ORLEANS EDITION

A MONTH OF GALA EVENTS IN NEW ORLEANS NOLA FEDERATION CELEBRATES CAMPAIGN SUCCESS MORE IRON DOME FOR HUNTSVILLE? CELEBRATION IN ALEXANDRIA EXPLORING JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS IN MOBILE MAKING PEACE IN JACKSON AT “SALAD SUMMIT” NASHVILLE AND BATON ROUGE JEWISH FILM FESTIVALS

Wrapped in Maroon and White: Remembering Jack Cristil

NOW INSIDE:

October 2014 Volume 24 Issue 10

SouthernJewish JewishLife Life Southern 3747 WestEsplanade, Esplanade,3rd 3rdFloor Floor 3747 West Metairie,LA LA70002 70002 Metairie,

PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID IWS 33764

2

October 2014

Southern Jewish Life

shalom y’all shalom y’all One aspect of running a Jewish news magazine in the Deep South is that you never really know what the day is going to bring, but it isn’t only journalists for whom that is true.

When Rabbi Ted Riter decided to take a lunch break from his Rosh Hashanah preparations in Jackson less than 36 hours before the Holy Day began, he never expected to become the subject of national news coverage that afternoon, but a chance run-in with a restaurant owner took care of it.

Cover Image: Courtesy Haspel Cover Image: Courtesy Haspel Read SJL

Anywhere Read SJL Our digital Anywhere editions are

The story of that encounter is in this issue and has been on our website. The restaurant owner’s remarks to the rabbi quickly became a hot story, going viral instantly. Starting withe local media, the story quickly spread to JTA, the Forward, Huffington Post and beyond, even to Israel.

always available Our digital at sjlmag.com. editions are You may also always available choose to go at sjlmag.com. paperless and You may also have each choose to gomonth’s magazineand delivered paperless to your inbox. have each month’s magazine delivered to your inbox.

As Riter pointed out, the story isn’t so much the offensive remarks, but how the people of Jackson, in the Jewish and general communities, rallied to his side and expressed outrage, saying such bigotry had no place there.

Unfortunately, the fears of many in Jackson came true — the story would be used to cast aspersions on Mississippi. A standard rule online is don’t read the comments below articles — they are often incendiary and filled with invective.

sjlmag.com sjlmag.com

Sure enough, many shrugged the story off with “It’s Mississippi, what do you expect?” Just another example of those yokels not knowing how to get along.

Many Mississippians pointed out just how rare this actually is (and that the restaurant owner “ain’t from around these parts”). Rabbi Valerie Cohen, who for the last 11 years served the Jackson congregation where Riter is the interim rabbi this year, said she never had any-

/sjlmag /sjlmag

®

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

SUPERMARKET

Larry Brook EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Larry Brook

EDITOR/PUBLISHER

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

®

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 3

commentary

Cover Image: Courtesy Haspel

Read SJL October 2014 Anywhere

Southern Jewish Life

Our digital editions are always available thing like that happen when she was in Mississippi. Many Jewish natives also were amazed that at sjlmag.com.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR something like this took place.

You may alsoLawrence M. Brook editor@sjlmag.com And really, the lunch-time incident pales in comparison to what we read in Jewish papers choose to go from elsewhere in the U.S. As a reminder of that, on Rosh Hashanah someone yelling “Jews, paperless and ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ADVERTISING have each month’s Jews, Jews” fired shots from his car in the general direction of a group of men walking on the Lee J. Green lee@sjlmag.com magazine delivered street in Baltimore. to your inbox.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Compared to that, having a business owner make ignorant remarks isn’t as big of a deal, Ginger Brook ginger@sjlmag.com

though it may be disappointing and annoying.

sjlmag.com

It also isn’t commonplace — “even” in much-maligned Mississippi. If it were, it would not have been such a big story, as news is about what is not the norm.

Both the rabbi and the restaurant owner saw how the buzz-saw of media coverage can mushroom instantly, thanks to our social media society.

WEB EDITOR Eugene Walter Katz eugene@sjlmag.com PHOTOGRAPHER-AT-LARGE Rabbi Barry C. Altmark deepsouthrabbi.com

@sjlmag /southern /sjlmag Three days later they met for a few minutes to clear the air. What /sjlmag repercussions remain will jewish be up to the marketplace, and perhaps this incident can be used to further dialogue and unlife derstanding.

It certainly is a lesson for everyone on how careless talk can become an instant nightmare. In this High Holy Day season, that’s an important lesson to keep in mind.

Larry Brook EDITOR/PUBLISHER

EDITOR@SJLMAG.COM

We invite your feedback! Send your letters to editor@sjlmag.com, or mail to P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Doug Brook brookwrite.com

BIRMINGHAM OFFICE P.O. Box 130052, Birmingham, AL 35213 13 Office Park Circle #6 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 2014. 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.

NOLA

4 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

agenda interesting bits & can’t miss events

Students from the Jewish Community Day School visited the home of Lis and Hugo Kahn for Tashlich on Sept. 24.

Federation celebrates campaign, holds off on non-Jewish member vote Campaign success and the definition of membership as it pertains to non-Jewish donors were two hot topics at the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ annual meeting on Sept. 16.

Held at the Uptown Jewish Community Center, the meeting drew about 150, many of whom were there to be part of the discussion on a controversial amendment to the Federation’s articles of incorporation.

The change, which would expand the definition of membership to include tightly-drawn parameters for non-Jewish members of Jewish households, was discussed but was not voted upon. Federation President Morton Katz said that with the level of discussion in the community and the need for more input, it was decided before the meeting that there would be a special meeting on Dec. 17 at the Jewish Community Campus in Metairie to vote on the proposal.

Currently, one is a member of the Federation if one is Jewish, abides by the mission of the Federation and is a donor.

The membership article’s new wording, proposed at the meeting, was “All persons of the Jewish faith and members or former members of their households who are over the age of majority, support the mission of the (Federation), and who contribute to the Annual Campaign shall be Members” through the end of the following fiscal year.

For example, this would include non-Jewish spouses or partners, former spouses or partners, or non-Jewish widows or widowers of Jewish

community members.

Many in the audience had issues with the amendment’s wording, especially the definition of household, noting the wide range of households. Another possibility mentioned was someone who converts out of Judaism, and one speaker suggested the issue could lead to litigation.

The change would not open membership to donors who are not in any form of a Jewish household.

There will be further discussion to “get the wording right,” but with a requirement of advance notice to the community, that might push the vote back further.

Katz said New Orleans now has a much younger Jewish community, with many interfaith couples. ”We have to welcome them because they have welcomed us. They want to be a part of our Jewish community and they were a big part of our increased campaign” this past year.

Of the 20 Lemann-Stern Young Leadership participants, there are “three or four couples who are intermarried,” and “we have to be inclusive to those people.” That isn’t just his opinion, he noted, but of the Federation board.

Katz noted that there are many communities where the Federations have non-Jewish board members, “but this by-law change does not address that,” and there has been a lot of misinformation going around about that.

He noted that one has to be nominated to the board, and then the slate is approved by the membership. The nominating committee is

100 percent Jewish, and to be nominated to the board “you have to do some good things for our Jewish community… and then you might get nominated.”

After several people raised concerns about the amendment’s wording, Temple Sinai Rabbi

Susan Good and Brian Katz make presentation to Valerie Marcus and Juan Gershanik Edward Paul Cohn concluded that part of the meeting by thanking the board for taking on the issue.

Earlier in the evening, the Federation’s annual campaign success was celebrated, with a special presentation to co-chairs Brian Katz and Susan Good.

Morton Katz said they did “a bang-up job” and the campaign had increased to $2.7 million.

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 5

agenda There were 95 new gifts and 366 increased gifts.

Good said the success “was the work of our community,” not two people.

Part of the campaign push this year was to ask donors for an 18 percent increase. Morton Katz said the increase came after several years of campaigns in the $2.5 million range, and he hoped to see $3 million in the coming year. He noted good results in approaching the corporate community for support, and while there was some success in reaching non-Jewish donors, more can be done with additional manpower.

Good and Brian Katz presented the Anne Goldsmith Hanaw and J. Jerome Hanaw Tikkun Olam Award to Valerie Marcus and Juan Gershanik for their work on behalf of the campaign. Good noted that Marcus hosted the Lion of Judah event, for women who contribute at least $5,000 per year to the campaign.

Bobby Garon presents award to Gary Zoller Brian Katz said Gershanik “is always willing to do anything that is asked of him.”

Joking about his accent, Gershanik said it usually took him less than an hour to convince donors. “Of course, they didn’t understand the first 55 minutes.”

Carol Wise also reported good results on behalf of the Jewish Endowment Foundation. The evening also served as the JEF annual meeting.

She noted that the foundation has $48 million in 450 funds, up $4 million from last year. Over $2.7 million was allocated by JEF. “We’re not a large Jewish community, yet we provide an impressive amount to our Jewish community and other organizations,” she said.

There are also $9 million in promised bequests through Create a Jewish Legacy.

Bobby Garon presented the Herbert J. and Margaret Garon Young Leadership Award to Gary Zoller. Garon said “it is uncanny how much we have in common.” Zoller “completed Lemann-Stern in 2009 and has not looked back,” Garon noted.

Zoller said he was grateful for the example his parents set for him, and is “proud with my wife to set that example again, for our child and for the future of our community.”

Rabbi Brad Hirschfield Federation Executive Director Michael Weil spoke about four main areas for Federation in the coming year.

One emphasis is young leadership, through endowing Lemann-Stern and providing more educational content to JNOLA, and to “widen the tent” of inclusivity.

In fundraising, the Federation will work to continue widening the donor base, especially among the young. He said the Chai Society for young donors attracted 800 households.

Strategic allocation is also on the agenda, spending money more efficiently and moving away from the traditional allocation process.

The Federation will also emphasize connections with the global Jewish community. There will be an emphasis on encouraging young people to visit Israel, deepen relations with Rosh Ha’Ayin and expand ties between Israel and the greater New Orleans community.

He also announced plans for a New Orleans “mega-mission to Israel” in June 2017. “We expect every single one of you to be with us,” he said.

Guest speaker for the evening was Rabbi Brad Hirschfield of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. He noted that “saying Happy New Year is not so easy this year” given events in the Middle East and people citing the Pew Report on the state of the American Jewish community. In the last year “I heard from more people invoking the Pew study, most of whom had never read it.”

He said “there has never been a time in our 3,000-plus year history that Jews have lived in the world as we live in the United States and in Israel,” with “the power to create the world of our dreams.”

Rabbi Gabe Greenberg of Beth Israel noted that though the High Holy Days are a time when God is judging the world, “when we come together as a congregation, our prayers can tear up the divine decree.”

That teaches that “when we come together as a community, there is nothing that our collective aspirations can not accomplish, even in the divine realm.”

Open Monday-Thursday 7 am-6 pm, Friday 7 am-5 pm and Saturday 8 am-3 pm.

6 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

NOLA

agenda NOLA calendar full of major events With the High Holy Days and festival season concluding, the calendar is filled with other activities. In the New Orleans area, that means gala fundraisers and annual events.

The season kicked off on Oct. 11 with the Touro Infirmary Foundation holding its Touro Society event honoring Harris Hyman III and Salvador Caputo. Also that night, the Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville held its Taste of Art and Jazz with the St. Tammany Art Association.

On Oct. 19, the Jewish Community Day School is holding “Some Enchanted Evening,” which will pay tribute to the founding parents and community members who began the school in 1996. The 5 p.m. event will be at Shir Chadash and features a live auction, raffle auction and musical entertainment from local singing trio Bon Operatit!

Dinner will be catered by Kosher Chef Andy Adelman who also provides hot lunches five days a week for students at JCDS. New Orleans Hadassah holds its second annual Bra-Veaux event in conjunction with breast cancer awareness month. Billed “Ordinary Women + Artists = Extraordinary Strides in Cancer Research,” BraVeaux! will be held on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at the newly restored and renovated Lakefront Airport Terminal.

The event will feature a luxury live auction of art brassieres and “uplifting” works of art by scores of professional artists. The artists include Ally Burguieres, Hannah Chalew, Karen Edmunds, Jennifer Weinberg Graver, Aidi Kansas, Suzy Lazarus, George Long, Caren Nowak, Terrance Osborne, Josh Pailet, Andrew Jackson Pollack, Josephine Sacabo, Reda Scher, Beth Slater, Tim Trapolin, Casey Willems, Lynn Zakem and many more. The items will be auctioned off by Adam Lambert and Jonny Lake.

Additionally, 25 pieces of art donated by Douglas Gitter of Gitter Galleries will also be auctioned off. There will also be a silent auction featuring a range of items.

Messina’s Catering is providing kosher-style buffet house specialties, assorted passed hors d’oeuvres, smoked salmon presentation, chef ’s live pasta station and select wines, champagne, domestic light and regular beer, sodas and bottled water. The Siren Sisters are being brought back by popular demand.

During the evening, the chapter will honor the memory of Pearl Daube, who held many positions in the chapter. In 1997 she was honored for her invaluable commitment to Hadassah by being selected as that year’s Woman of Valor.

On Oct. 26, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana holds its annual awards event at the Hilton Riverside, starting at 11:30 a.m.

Karen and Eddie Soll will receive the Tzedakah Award, which is given for exceptional, meaningful service to the community.

Andrea (Andi) Lestelle will receive the Young Family Award for Professional Excellence. Morton Katz will receive the JFNA Endowment Achievement Award for his promotion of planned giving and endowments.

Ellie Wainer will also be honored with the Helen A. Mervis Jewish Community Professional Award. Wainer recently retired from Jewish Family Service after 25 years of building the Teen Life Counts suicide prevention program.

Keynote speaker will be Aaron David Miller, vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

On Nov. 1, the Lupin Foundation and the New Orleans Jewish Community Center present “Center Celebration: One Singular Sensation,” an evening of dining and entertainment highlighted by The Broadway Boys, a collection of some of the most talented young male voices working on the New York stage today. They will perform much-loved Broadway tunes performed with added elements of funk, rock, jazz and folk music.

A live auction will follow the performance.

The event will be at the Uptown JCC, starting at 7 p.m.

Vote November 4

Early Voting Oct. 21-28 #

90

Unsurpassed EXPERIENCE and DEDICATION to Juvenile Law. A good judge knows the law:

H SIXTEEN cases to the Louisiana Supreme Court on Juvenile Law and WON 13.

H Numerous other appeals, legal research and writing in Juvenile Law.

A good judge practiced the law:

H A 23 YEAR career dedicated to Juvenile Law & courtroom trial practice.

H THOUSANDS of juvenile court hearings, hundreds of juvenile court trials.

H FORMER PROSECUTOR, JUVENILE DIVISION, Orleans Parish.

A good judge has compassion:

H FORMER CHILDREN’S ATTORNEY and Parent’s INDIGENT DEFENDER.

Family History

Cynthia Samuel is the great-granddaughter of Jacob B. Samuel and Caroline Marx.

Jacob B. Samuel is the son of Henry Samuel and Delphine Cahn. Jacob B. is brother to Rose D. Samuel. Caroline Marx is the daughter of Alphonse Marx and Rosalie Fietel.

(504) 460-7502 • CynthiaDSamuel.com

Endorsed By:

P.O. Box 24417 • New Orleans, LA 70184

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Cynthia D. Samuel

donna matherne

For babies, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Sweet Sixteens, Weddings, seniors and more, Face to Face Photography is your local photography studio for all of life’s photo memories.

event photography - weddings - bar/bat mitzvahs - sweet sixteens - debutante balls

school photography senior photography professional portraiture modeling portfolios and more!

Call today for pricing and more information!

a. 9029 jefferson hwy suite h, river ridge la 70123 p. 504.738.3008 e. f2ffoto@bellsouth.net w. face-to-face-photography.com

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 7

Russell

agenda

Saluto

FOR JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 2nd Justice Court, Jefferson Parish

H H H H H H H H H

H H H H H H H H H

The Justice of the Peace Court is available for citizens with smaller claims and specific legal problems that are resolved through a simple and quick process. Russell Saluto has over 30 years experience successfully running a business, finding solutions and developing strategies that benefit people and their needs. He brings the perfect background to this Court.

You have the power to elect a man that is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. His record of service for the community is exemplary and will continue as your Justice of the Peace by donating $20,000 of his salary to: Boys and Girls Club (West Bank Chapter), Cafe Hope, CASA (Court Apointed Special Advocate for Children) and Children’s Hospital (Cardiac Department).

Thank you for your support.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Russell Saluto 2071 Paxton Street, Harvey, LA 70058

504.231.3328 • rsaluto@scsenterprisesinc.net

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

633 Royal St. • (504) 586-8373

Proud to be part of the New Orleans Jewish Community Nobody does local coverage like

Southern Jewish Life

Chabad at Tulane and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority are holding a Pink Shabbat on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for Sharsheret. Sponsors pledge either a flat amount or a per-attendee amount to encourage as many people as possible to attend. In previous years, attendance has been between 150 and 250 students. Sharsheret is a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer.

Temple Sinai in New Orleans will have a Hebrew Reading Crash Course, a nine-week class starting on Oct. 22 at 6:15 p.m. The course will meet at Starbucks at 7700 Maple Street. No prior knowledge of Hebrew is needed and the course is free, open to the community. The coffee is also Temple Sinai’s treat. A Level 2 course will start in January. For registration information contact Ann Zivitz Kientz.

Shir Chadash in Metairie decided to permanently close its gift shop at the end of the year.

Merchandise has already been reduced. Hours are Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment.

Gates of Prayer in Metairie will have several adult education offerings this month. Phil Gaethe will lead an adult Hebrew class on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., starting Oct. 22. Rabbi Robert Loewy will lead a Jewish ethics class based on “A Code of Jewish Ethics” by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, starting Oct. 23 and then on the first and third Thursdays of most months.

Loewy will also lead a three-part “You’re not the first to deal with that issue” Talmud class, Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. The Oct. 22 topic will be “You think you have a temper? So does God. Time to deal with it.” On Oct. 29 the topic will be “Why does life seem to be filled with suffering,” and the Nov. 5 session will be on finding a balance in life.

Touro Synagogue Rabbi Alexis Berk is launching a series on Jewish ethics for professionals on Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. The first session will be on physicians and health care providers, discussing current ethical issues. Participants are welcome to submit topics for discussion.

Future groups will include attorneys and judges, and educators and school leaders.

Anshe Sfard in New Orleans continues its series of speakers following Shabbat morning services. On Oct. 18, Sharon Pollin, head of school at the Jewish Community Day School, will speak following the 9:30 a.m. service. A luncheon will follow. On Nov. 15, Gary Remer, professor of Political Science at Tulane University, will speak about “The Relationship Between Biblical Prophet and Roman Orator: The Limits of Preaching and Prudence.”

8 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

NOLA

agenda Women’s Shabbat retreat in Baton Rouge The Baton Rouge community will host a Shabbat Retreat for Women, featuring Rabbi Yael Levy of Congregation Mishkan Shalom in Philadelphia. Levy is director of “A Way In: Jewish Mindfulness Center” and author of books on the Omer and Chanukah. She was also named by the Forward as one of America’s most inspiring rabbis.

The retreat, held at The Red Shoes, will begin on Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. with “Welcoming Shabbat with Gratitude and Awareness.” The weekend continues on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with “Calling Forth the Teachings of the Torah.” The week’s portion describes women who embody strength, vision, generosity, kindness and courage, and the legacy of their stories will be explored.

The weekend is sponsored by Beth Shalom Sisterhood, B’nai Israel Sisterhood, Hadassah Baton Rouge, Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana, The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge and The Rosenson Family Foundation.

Registration is a minimum donation of $36 and includes Shabbat dinner and lunch. Reservations can be sent to Hadassah Baton Rouge, 8021 Owens, Baton Rouge 70809, or email BatonRougeHadassah@gmail.com.

Noam Shalit to speak in Alexandria Central Louisiana United Jewish Communities will host “An Evening with Noam Shalit” on Oct. 21 at Bistro on the Bayou. The free event starts at 6 p.m. with heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

Shalit is the father of Gilad Shalit, who was captured in June 2006 when Hamas operatives dug under the border with Gaza and infiltrated into Israel, then attacked Gilad Shalit’s patrol tank. The Shalit family launched a campaign to keep pressure on Hamas to release their son. On the third anniversary of his captivity, Gilad Shalit was made an honorary citizen of New Orleans by the New Orleans City Council.

On Oct. 11, 2011, Netanyahu announced an exchange deal had been reached, where Israel would release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. On Oct. 18, 2011, he returned home after over five years in captivity.

Reservations should be sent to co-chair Tommy Wahlder, twahlder@ aol.com.

“Our Summer Place” est. 1963 …Where more and more kids from BIRMINGHAM are swimming, horseback riding, climbing, skiing, biking, boating, zipping, acting, and “blobbing” beneath a million stars each and every summer!

For a 2015 application, information about our Family Camps, staff opportunities and details about “the most meaningful and exciting Jewish overnight camping adventure of your life,” email us at summer@campbarney.org or call the CAMP BARNEY MEDINTZ office in Atlanta at (770) 395-2554, or our Birmingham Parent Representative, Susan Lapidus, at (205) 930-9185.

Seeing “Through Soviet Jewish Eyes”

The Hilliard University Art Museum at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is featuring an exhibit of over 60 images documented during World War II by Jewish Russian photojournalists. Titled “Through Soviet Jewish Eyes: Photography, War, and the Holocaust,” this exhibition lends Jewish Soviet perspective to the World War II narrative, bringing to focus the many challenges that Russian aesthetics faced during the Second Great War. - PRESENTATION The exhibit features a number of striking wartime images surround- DATE: Thursday, November 6, 2014 ing Soviet-Nazi conflicts, including the first documented liberation of TIME: 7:00 P.M. prisoners from Nazi atrocity sites.

PLACE: Levite Jewish Community Center These artists, by providing a Soviet Jewish voice to photojournalism, 3960 Montclair Rd, Birmingham (205) 879-0411 tell a visual story that is entirely unique in its contribution.

Summer Resident Camp of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta The exhibit is organized by the CU Art Museum at the University of Accredited by the American Camp Association Colorado. It will be in Lafayette through Dec. 13.

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 9

Would you want a well-trained doctor to treat you?

Would you want a knowledgeable attorney to help you on a case?

Of course… so we should also have a certified auditor in the state auditor’s office!

Certified Internal Auditor Certified Risk Management Assurance Banking, Public Accounting, Taxation and Auditing Industry Experience

Vote For The Only Certified Auditor On The Ballot

agenda Saying a virtual Kaddish An episode of the 1990s television show “Northern Exposure” was about searching the back roads of Alaska for 10 Jews so one could say the Mourner’s Kaddish at a public service. Now, Birmingham’s Temple BethEl is making that easier for those who are isolated or otherwise unable to find a minyan.

During the High Holy Days, the congregation started live-streaming services and shortly will start live-streaming its daily minyan.

The Conservative congregation has minyan twice every day, the only one in the state to have such a regular schedule.

One of the daily minyan’s important functions is allowing those who need to say Kaddish to do so, whether in the 11 months following a loved one’s death or on the actual anniversary each year. Many non-members attend the minyan at Beth-El for that purpose.

Because the Kaddish is seen as a public prayer, there is the requirement to say it at a public service.

According to a ruling by the Conservative movement’s Committee on Law and Standards, a minyan may not count a “virtual” participant as part of the quorum — there still have to be 10 or more physically present at the same location. Once that is done, however, anyone can join in via remote and say Kaddish as if they were present, even if they are by themselves thousands of miles away.

Beth-El initiated the live-streaming to benefit elderly community members who could not travel to services, and those in isolated small communities who would not otherwise have access to a service.

Beth-El’s minyan is at 7 a.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. on Sundays and secular holidays, and at 5:30 p.m. Services are accessible through the congregation’s website, templebeth-el.net.

Jewish Education Night planned for Pelicans game MARY ROONEY INTERIOR DIMENSIONS 205.305.1915 www.maryrooneyinteriors.com

Success Team Tuning Management Development Employee Engagement

Success is built by clear purpose and good planning.

Start anew to do and be the best you can in all ways.

Let RPS coaching help you build that plan.

Radiant Professional Services, LLC

Business Coach for Managers and Leaders

We make your light shine brighter

(205) 919-2359 http://radproserv.com coach@radproserv.com 10 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

The Jewish Community Day School in Metairie has teamed with the New Orleans Pelicans for a Jewish Education Night during Chanukah.

Details are still being worked out, but the Dec. 16 home game against the Utah Jazz will feature students from the community singing the National Anthem. Head of School Sharon Pollin said the Pelicans will be printing Hebrew Pelicans shirts, and she hopes to have permission to light a Chanukah menorah on the concourse at halftime.

As part of the evening, the Pelicans would make a contribution for every ticket purchased through the school, $10 for lower level seating and $5 for upper level.

Pollin said she hopes to expand it community-wide and share proceeds with any other Jewish educational institution that wants to participate.

Details about ticket sales and participating institutions will be announced later. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Baton Rouge resumes its Terrific Tuesdays lunch and learning for older adults on Oct. 21 at 11:30 a.m., at Beth Shalom. There will be a presentation on bone health, from osteoporosis to preventing falls and fractures. Reservations are requested by Oct. 17.

The Beth Shalom Sisterhood in Baton Rouge will have its second annual Nearly New Sale on Nov. 7 and 9, and Nov. 14 and 16. Items will be accepted for the sale following Sukkot.

More Iron Dome work expected for Huntsville On Sept. 30, Raytheon Company announced it had received a contract award from Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. valued at $149.3 million to provide products for the Tamir interceptor used in the defensive Iron Dome Weapon System.

While the company did not give specifics about which Raytheon facilities would be involved in Iron Dome work, analysts expect that the work will take place in Huntsville and Tucson, Ariz.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama said there will be “significant work” in Huntsville under the contract. “Alabama’s defense industrial base is second to none. Our workforce is highly skilled and our citizens deeply support our military and our troops. Whether it’s building tanks at Anniston Army Depot or Iron Dome rocket parts for Israel’s defense in Huntsville, Alabama knows what it takes to help keep our military strong.”

Raytheon will utilize its extensive technology resources and supplier network to provide a second source of supply for essential Iron Dome interceptor components. With more than 1,000 successful intercepts, Tamir is the only combat proven counter rocket, artillery, and mortar interceptor available for U.S. and coalition partners today. It was a key component in protecting Israelis and Palestinians from random Hamas rockets from Gaza this past summer.

“Iron Dome has proven itself time and again by protecting Israel’s population from incoming rockets, artillery and mortars,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “The sourcing of Tamir interceptor components in the U.S. will go a long way to ensuring sufficient volumes of available Tamir missiles for Israel’s defense.”

The award builds upon a co-marketing agreement the two companies have had in place for Iron Dome since 2011. In appropriating funding for Iron Dome, Congress required that much of the aid be spent by Israel in the United States.

“We must always work to help defend Israel and her people, and this announcement comes as further proof of our commitment to that mission, while also helping provide more good-paying jobs here in the U.S.,” Rogers said.

“The partnership between the Missile Defense Agency and the Israeli Missile Defense Organization has been extraordinary,” said DiDi Yaari, chief executive officer of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. “We’re very appreciative of the U.S.’s support for this life-saving system. Maintaining Iron Dome’s supply gives Israelis great peace of mind.”

Confused About Hearing Aids?

Don’t be behind the 8-ball…

There is a better way to hear!

Don’t buy hearing aids!

Save money and buy a Better Hearing Membership at HearLab. Never Buy Hearing Aids Again!

Did you know we loan hearing aids for FREE? How can we do that? Call us to schedule an appointment today and learn more about our Membership Plan.

Join HearLab in its “A New Year, New You” commitment. Let us prove to you the value of better hearing with less expense in 2014. Call today!

205.978.5881 • 1651 Independence Court #151, Homewood

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana met with Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, in early September. Scalise said “we must and will continue to stand with our nation’s trusted ally and friend.”

Hearing aids may not meet the needs of all hearing impaired individuals.

Your hearing instrument specialist reserves the right to contraindicate at any time.

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 11

community Mobile hosting national JewishChristian relations conference

What would it be like to be an American Hebrew Academy student?

Join us for a weekend to find out!

Prospective Student Weekend November 7-9, 2014 Reserve your space today. Student housing is limited.

Experience classes, a campus tour, Shabbat and what it is like to be a part of the Academy community.

Special programs for prosepctive students and parents will take place throughout the weekend.

Registration Deadline: October 30 For schedule, hotel information and registration forms, please visit www.americanhebrewacademy.org/psw For additional information, contact a member of the Admissions Team.

American Hebrew Academy

An International Jewish College Prep Boarding School

4334 Hobbs (Tanger) Road Greensboro, North Carolina 27410 tel 336.217.7100 • toll-free 855.855.4334 • fax 336.217.7011 admissions@americanhebrewacademy.org www.americanhebrewacademy.org

12 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

In 1974, Mary and Paul Filben were asked by Bishop John May to start a dialogue group between the Catholic Church of Mobile and the local Jewish community. Self-described “post-Holocaust Catholics,” the Filbens, who have both died in recent years, built the Mobile Christian-Jewish Dialogue into a major part of interfaith life in the city.

Based on that reputation, the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations is holding its annual national meeting in Mobile this month, with Ahavas Chesed hosting some of the events.

The council is an association of centers and institutes in the United States and Canada devoted to enhancing mutual understanding between Jews and Christians. It is dedicated to research, publication, educational programming, and interreligious dialogue that respect the religious integrity and self-understanding of the various strands of the Jewish and Christian traditions. Long-time Dialogue participants Rickie and Larry Voit have attended CCJR events for years.

Mobile’s Dialogue continues under the auspices of Spring Hill College.

Ahavas Chesed Rabbi Steve Silberman said “This is a significant feather in the cap of Mobile, this congregation and Spring Hill College “ The convention will be housed at the Mobile Marriott. After registration, the first event will be Shabbat services and dinner at Ahavas Chesed on Oct. 24, starting at 6 p.m. They will also attend Shabbat morning services on Oct. 25, starting at 9:30, followed by lunch and an afternoon of dialogue with the leadership of the Dialogue. The day will wrap up with Havdalah.

On Oct. 26, the day begins with Catholic Mass, followed by a Christian liturgy at 9:15 a.m., both at the hotel.

After a bus tour of Mobile, there will be panels at Spring Hill College. A 2 p.m. panel for conventioneers will discuss Pope Francis and the future of dialogue.

At 4 p.m. there will be a public panel, “Beyond Intolerance and Hate: Interreligious Relationships in the South.” Panelists will include Scott Douglas III, executive director of Greater Birmingham Ministries; author Roy Hoffman, who has written extensively about the Southern Jewish experience; and Mark Potok, Senior Fellow at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

That evening’s dinner includes the organization’s Shevet Achim Award ceremony, with Mary C. Boys as the honoree. A long-time advocate of Christian-Jewish dialogue, she is Dean of Academic Affairs and Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, and an adjunct faculty member of the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she received one of her many honorary doctorates.

On Oct. 27, the final panel will be on “American Catholic, Jewish and Protestant Interactions over Middle East Issues, at the Marriott at 10:15 a.m. Speakers include Adam Gregerman of Saint Joseph’s University, Peter Pettit of Muhlenberg College and Emily Soloff, associate director of interreligious and intergroup relations at the American Jewish Committee.

While overall registration for the weekend was due by Sept. 15, additional information on the events can be found at ccjr.us/annual-meeting.

BR Hadassah holds Sukkot fundraiser Baton Rouge Hadassah is holding its big fundraiser for 2014, Dinner in the Sukkah Under The Stars, on Oct. 12 at the home of Liz Chubb, Mitch and Abby Raynor. The gourmet event will feature recipes from the Jerusalem Cookbook. Tickets are $36 in advance. For information, email BatonRougeHadassah@gmail.com.

Marking the occasion

Alexandria congregation dedicates National Historic Register sign, celebrates 155th On Sept. 21, Gemiluth Chassodim, known as the Jewish Temple in Alexandria, celebrated two milestones just before Rosh Hashanah — the congregation’s 155th anniversary and its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

The national recognition is for the congregation’s current building, which was built in the 1950s and is seen as an “outstanding example” of “Mid Century Modern” architecture.

The event started outdoors with the unveiling of a historic marker. Harry Silver and Myron Wellan, two surviving members of the building committee, participated in the ceremony.

Also participating was Jerry Heinberg, son of the building’s architect, Max Heinberg. The elder Heinberg had served as congregational president.

Current president Art Williams welcomed the crowd, which assembled under a giant

live oak tree that had been planted by the congregation in 1950.

After the marker was dedicated, the event moved indoors, where the shofar was sounded. Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy gave remarks and reminisced about the congregation, as did Silver and Heinberg.

Historical Preservation consultant Paul Smith, who worked on obtaining historic status for the building, says that when examining the building closely “one begins to realize the genius of design that combines extraordinary functionality with artistic sensitivity and even subtle symbolism.”

He noted “the division of sacred from secular,” including the light well of the Ark area, which brings in the natural light from above. He Judy and Rabbi Arnold Task said it “directs the sounds of worship within toward the source of that light.”

The building, he said, “is an extraordinarily well executed expression

BIRMINGHAM THE SUMMIT | 209 SUMMIT BLVD. | BIRMINGHAM, AL | P: 205-970-9758

209 SUMMIT BLVD, STE 100 | 205.970.9758

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 13

community

ATree Service

L

N

T IO N A

Experience Matters

Trust the care of your trees to the professionals Specializing in Commercial & Residential Dangerous Tree Removal • Tree Trimming • Crane Work Stump Grinding • Lot Clearing • Bobcat Work Over 40 Years Experience Free Estimates 24 Hour Emergency Services

205.956.3000 nationaltreeservice.com

14 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

of faith, hope and optimism, in the all-too-often rigid medium of architecture.”

The design incorporated elements closely associated with Frank Lloyd Wright, and reflects an architectural style embraced by Percival Goodman and Eric Mendelsohn in the mid-20th century that envisioned synagogues as “temples of light.”

Built by congregant Barnet Brezner, the original part of the building in 1952 included the social hall, kitchen and classrooms. The sanctuary, officJerry Heinberg, es, additional classrooms and interior Howard Oppenheimer and courtyard were built in 1960. It feaRobin Freedman tures floor-to-ceiling art glass panels that create a stained-glass effect in a non-traditional way.

As part of the anniversary celebration, a portrait of Rabbi Emeritus Arnold Task was unveiled. Task served the congregation from 1989 to 2011, and the portrait will hang in the Task Garden Room.

A reception was held in Hinchin Social Hall, named for Rabbi Emeritus Martin Hinchin, who was rabbi at Gemiluth Chassodim from 1956 to 1988. Last year, Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman became the 25th rabbi to lead the congregation.

The congregation began as the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Rapides in October 1859. Fundraising for the first building, at Third and Fisk Streets, began in 1870, and in 1873 the congregation became one of the original congregations forming the Reform movement.

The congregation’s second building was completed around 1908 at Fourth and Fisk Streets.

Jewish studies program now at Arkansas The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas announced the formation of a new program in Jewish studies.

Launched by an ambitious interdisciplinary group of scholars, the Jewish Studies Program has already received external funding from the Jewish Federation of Arkansas and has sponsored a repertoire of lectures and programs for the university and wider community ranging from Yiddish cinema, biblical women and biblical archaeology, to the history of Jews in Arkansas.

The Jewish Federation of Arkansas awarded the 2014 Tikkun Olam prize to Jennifer Hoyer, a faculty member of the Jewish Studies Program, in recognition of her pioneering work in Jewish studies. Marianne Tettlebaum, director of the Federation, said “a Jewish Studies Program will enrich not only the intellectual and cultural life of the university, but also Jewish life in Arkansas, by raising awareness of Judaism and Jewish life here and thereby helping to attract those interested in Judaism and Jewish culture to Arkansas.”

Several years ago, Jacob Adler, who teaches philosophy, and Hoyer, who teaches world languages, literatures and cultures, began exploring the potential for consolidating Jewish studies interests across campus and creating an articulated, degree-granting program that would allow Arkansas students access to Judaism and Jewish cultures, histories, and lifeways as an academic discipline.

In an effort to raise awareness of the relevance for Jewish studies as an area studies program at the University of Arkansas as well as the long-standing presence of Jewish life in Arkansas, Adler and Hoyer began exploring potential grants that would support opportunities to offer courses and create public outreach events.

A roundtable on “Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Diversity in Jewish Studies” was scheduled for Oct. 1, and additional programs are in the works.

Rosh Hashanah in the Region Right, Rosh Hashanah morning services at Adath Israel in Cleveland, Miss.

Katherine Levingston of Clarksdale led the congregation in Oseh Shalom. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Jon Levingston, and is one of the NFTY Southern Region song leaders for 2014-2015. She is pictured with Rabbi Harry Danziger.

Below, students from Hillel at LSU have Rosh Hashanah dinner at DeAngelo’s.

They also attended services at B’nai Israel in Baton Rouge.

Above, Rabbi Levi Weinbaum from Chabad of Alabama brought the Shofar Factory to Montgomery. Below, Chabad of Louisiana has a Shofar Factory for Young Jewish Professionals.

Tashlich at Emerald Lake in Dothan

James Futterman, Kyle Weber, Josh Becker, Andrew Dubin and Justin Franco were among the 160 students having Rosh Hashanah dinner at the University of Alabama’s Bloom Hillel.

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 15

16 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

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

Mississippi State Bulldogs remember legendary announcer Jack Cristil Jacob Sanford “Jack” Cristil, the long-time voice of Mississippi State University athletics, died on Sept. 7 at the age of 88.

“As a lifelong Bulldog, my heart is heavy at learning of the passing of legendary MSU broadcaster Jack Cristil,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Jack’s deep love of this university was always evident in his words and in his deeds. He was a tireless ambassador for Mississippi State and he brought great honor and distinction to our university as one of the most revered radio announcers in American history.”

When he retired in 2011 because of health concerns, his 58 years as the radio broadcaster for Mississippi State was the second-longest in the nation. He announced his retirement in the post-game show following the basketball team’s 84-82 loss to LSU, saying his medical treatments would not permit him to represent the university “the way it should be represented.”

He was known for his on-air quips, especially in games where the Bulldogs were being trounced. Victories were hailed with his signature “You can wrap this one in maroon and white.”

Cristil’s love for broadcasting came at an early age.

Cristil noted years ago that his parents spoke Russian, Hebrew and Yiddish but allowed only English to be spoken in the house. His mother was a Russian revolutionary who escaped the czar’s forces.

When he was six years old, his parents bought the family’s first radio and he discovered sports broadcasting. The idea that he could be sitting at home in Memphis and hear someone in a stadium far away telling him about a game “enthralled” him and he knew that would be the path he would eventually take.

He started bouncing a ball in the street outside his home and doing play-by-play of imaginary games.

After graduating high school, he served in World War II, as an aircraft engine mechanic in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He then briefly studied broadcast journalism at the University of Minnesota before returning to Tennessee and starting as the radio announcer for the minor league baseball team in Jackson, Tenn. He would announce baseball for teams in Anniston, Memphis and Clarksdale, joking that he worked his way up to Double-A baseball.

While in Clarksdale he sent audition tapes to then-Mississippi State Director of Athletics C.R. “Dudy” Noble, having never been to Starkville.

His announcing career for the Bulldogs began with a 34-6 win over then-Memphis State in his Tennessee birthplace on Sept. 19, 1953.

Cristil called 636 football games since 1953, or roughly 60 percent of the football games played in the history of the institution. He was in his 54th season as the men’s basketball play-by-play voice, having described the action of almost 55 percent of all the men’s basketball games played at the school.

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

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 17

community

Closeout Pricing on the new Mazda 3 for 2014!

New Skyactiv engine delivers the best fuel economy in its class!

Bobby Bloomston SALES & LEASING

Member of the Mazda President’s Club and Selected to the Council of Automobile Sales Excellence for 10 Years

Med Center

80 Drivers Way • Pelham • Just off I-65 exit 246 • www.medcentermazda.com ALA TOLL FREE 1-800-749-0929 •

205-222-6444

Come experience tasty “Mexinese” sushi soy wrap burritos, sushi tacos and more.

Many kosher-style menu options.

Please call us about catering/trays for your Simchas.

4120 3rd Avenue South • Birmingham • (205) 703-8891 www.wasabijuan.com • 11-9 Tue-Thu, 11-10 Fri-Sat, 11-6 Sun

Keeping You Covered…

Home • Auto • Business • Life Jimmy Quinn

205-655-8040 800 Watterson Curve #206 • Trussville jimmy@centralalabamains.com www.centralalabamainsurance.com 18 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

In all, Cristil delivered game descriptions to Mississippi State fans across the Magnolia State and around the world for more than 1,500 collegiate contests.

“Jack Cristil connected with generations of Bulldog fans and remains an icon for all who love the Maroon and White,” MSU Director of Athletics Scott Stricklin said. “No school’s broadcaster was as synonymous with their institution as Jack Cristil was with Mississippi State. Jack’s passing leaves a large void, but I think all Mississippians appreciated his dedication and talent, and Jack will always be the Voice of the Bulldogs.”

Cristil was most recently presented the Lindsey Nelson Award, given annually to the nation’s premier sports broadcaster. He was honored with the prestigious College Football Foundation Chris Schenkel Award in 1997 for excellence in college sports broadcasting. Nelson and Schenkel were longtime national award-winning broadcasters.

In 1992, Cristil received the Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Sportscasters and Sportswriters.

That same year, he was also the first non-coach/non-athlete to ever be inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Cristil was inducted into the Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

A winner of the Mississippi Sportscaster of the Year Award a record 21 times, Cristil was named the Southeastern Conference’s Broadcaster of the Year in 1988.

In a tribute to Cristil on the Senate floor in 2011, Sen. Thad Cochran noted that the university’s basketball team ignored an unwritten state rule in the 1963 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which forbade any state university team from playing integrated teams. The team snuck out of town in the middle of the night to play Loyola in Michigan. “This was a significant blow to segregationist sentiment in Mississippi. Jack was right there with the team as it defied its own Governor to help move our State forward,” Cochran noted.

After his retirement, Cristil participated in the production of a biography called “Jack Cristil: Voice of the MSU Bulldogs.” The book, written

by MSU journalist in residence Sid Salter with a foreword by author and MSU alumnus John Grisham, sold 10,500 copies and raised over $170,000 for the Jacob S. “Jack” Cristil Scholarship in Journalism at MSU. Earlier, Jack and Mavis Cristil had established a need-based scholarship in their name to benefit Lee County students at MSU with academic talent who needed help with tuition, books and fees.

“Jack Cristil was a courageous, tenacious man possessed of a great love for Mississippi State University,” said MSU Chief Communications Officer and Cristil’s biographer Sid Salter. “His tired body finally failed Jack, but his keen mind and that great staccato baritone voice never failed him.

I count his friendship as a tremendous gift to me and to my family. We all loved him.”

It wasn’t just the broadcast field that enjoyed his vocal talents. He frequently was lay leader of Shabbat services at Temple B’nai Israel in Tupelo.

In June 2011, a stretch of U.S. Highway 82 in Starkville was named the Jack Cristil Highway, along the route he would take to Starkville from his Tupelo home.

On April 28, that home was damaged as a tornado went through Tupelo.

Learfield Sports put together a tribute by radio voices from around the Southeastern Conference and played it on the pregame show for the Sept.

13 game against South Alabama. The team also sported helmet stickers with a large radio microphone in tribute.

Cristil is survived by daughters Kay Cristil Clouatre of Baton Rouge, and Rebecca Cristil Nelson (Andrew) of Tupelo; grandchildren Jake Clouatre of Baton Rouge, and Lindsey Newhall of Tupelo. He is also survived by two sisters, Zelda Cristil Esgro of St Louis, and Miriam “Mimi” Cristil Lapides of West Palm Beach, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Cristil was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Mavis Kelly Cristil, in 1988. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Mollie Kabakoff Cristil and Benjamin Herman Cristil of Memphis, by a sister, Charlotte Cristil Hiller, and by brothers Harold Cristil and Stanley Cristil.

community

“Salad summit” attempts to defuse jarring situation Jackson rabbi reported being thrown out of restaurant amid anti-Jewish slurs While Rabbi Ted Riter said the Jewish and greater communities in Jackson have given him a “great welcome” since he arrived in July, he was “caught off guard” at lunch on Sept. 23 when he was thrown out of a local restaurant after the owner used an anti-Jewish slur.

On Sept. 26, he and the owner sat down together for a brief meeting to clear the air, during which Wraps owner John Ellis said the rabbi had misunderstood him.

Riter said he was ordering a lunch special and a Greek salad to go at the small Greek-style restaurant not far from Beth Israel Congregation and the Institute of Southern Jewish Life office.

The person taking the order, who Riter figured was the owner, asked if he wanted a “full size or a Jewish size.” Riter, who had not identified himself as Jewish, asked what that meant. “It’s small. Jews are cheap and small, everybody knows that” he was told.

When Riter, in disbelief, asked if the person had really just said that, he was asked, “What, are you a Jew?” When Riter said yes, he said the owner “used a lot of F-bombs and a lot of expletives and told me to get out. So I did.”

Ellis said he did have a Jewish salad, with potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese, and other ingredients. The salad was not listed on the menu, though. He stated that the rabbi must have misunderstood when he mentioned the Jewish salad, and that he did not know that Riter was Jewish or a rabbi.

Ellis had said that when Riter was there on Sept. 23, the restaurant was very busy and Riter was “indecisive.” He also told local media outlets that Riter had disrespected the restaurant.

Riter posted the exchange to his Facebook page, not mentioning the name of the restaurant until other commenters identified Wraps.

Riter noted that there is anti-Semitism in the world, and then there are phrases that have simply become “parts of speech for some people.” Often when someone uses that phrase in front of a Jewish person, they don’t realize the offensive nature and background.

“But this was really pointed” in that rather than apologize or try to minimize it, the owner told him to leave. He added. “I don’t know what to make of it.”

Every so often, the phrase “Jew down” or some variant makes the news.

Its roots are in an anti-Jewish stereotype of being cheap, though many who are caught saying it state they never made that connection to actual Jews.

In 1987, Alabama Governor Guy Hunt was criticized for a speech to the Chilton County peach farmers where he noted that he never tried to “Jew with them.”

In July 2013 a commissioner in Franklin County, in the Florida panhandle, tried to end a debate by saying the council should “not to be up here Jewing over somebody’s pay.”

Reviews on the Eat Jackson website refer to Wraps’ owner as “Jackson’s equivalent to Seinfeld’s ‘Soup Nazi’.” Many commenting on the rabbi’s Facebook post said the owner has a reputation of being difficult.

Conversely, a worker at the restaurant told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger that the owner “has no racial problems” but “has his own sense of humor.”

When Southern Jewish Life contacted the restaurant, we were told that a comment about the incident “was not going to happen” and the man who answered the phone hung up.

ready for college, prepared for the world.

Indian Springs School Grades 8-12 • Open House Nov. 11 • ExperienceSprings.org

Family Owned and Operated Providing chemical management of lawns and shrubs to over 1400 accounts in the greater Birmingham area Our Team Has Over 50 Years Experience Our small size gives you successful services because of our experience and the consistency of having the same tech working on your lawn

Trust us to ensure you have the best possible lawn!

Fertilization Weed & Vegetation Control Lime Insecticide Fungicides Fire Ant Control Aeration Tree and Shrub

(205) 683-6933 • 5703 Shadow Lake Drive • Pinson

Come See Our New Bar and Expanded Dining Room community Perfect for private parties and other simchas

Enjoy the nice weather by dining on our patio!

Shrimp and Grits Seafood Local Organic Produce and Meats Contact us for your catering needs!

Now Open on Mondays!

Open for Lunch and Dinner Mon-Sat 11a-2p & 5-9p www.bistro-v.com

521 Montgomery Hwy, Suite 113 Vestavia Hills (205)

823-1505

Riter said the incident was a “disappointment,” especially given that it happened the day before Rosh Hashanah begins. “We’re thinking about teshuvah, thinking about forgiveness of others, we are digging so deep, and certainly that is where my mind is right now” in preparing for High Holy Day services. “Going somewhere to simply get a lunch and to be blindsided by that was certainly a surprise.”

The incident has not colored his view of Jackson, where he is serving as interim rabbi at Beth Israel this year. And many life-long Jews in Mississippi told him they have never encountered an incident like that, and some have already started posting negative comments about Wraps on restaurant review sites.

Riter and Ellis met the day after Rosh Hashanah, where Ellis asserted that he had been misunderstood, and apologized.

“Sometimes we are under a lot of stress... I work by myself primarily, and speed is of the essence, and maybe that’s what my problem sometimes is,” Ellis said. “My sincere apologies.” He also wished Riter a happy new year.

Ellis offered to name a salad after Riter, but Riter said he did not want that. That day, “Miriam’s Jewish Salad — with kosher pickles” was on the menu board.

After the meeting, Riter said “I didn’t change the world today, but perhaps we took one small step toward healing, wholeness and peace.”

News of the encounter spread across the country and to Israel. Jackson Clarion-Ledger cartoonist Marshall Ramsey did a drawing that had Obama referring to the incident in his speech before the United Nations.

Southern Jewish panel among Tulane speakers Tulane University’s Jewish Studies Department has several speakers lined up in the coming months.

On Oct. 17, Steve Whitfield of Brandeis University opens the season with “Franz Boas and the Struggle Against Racism.” Boas is regarded as the “Father of American Anthropology,” arguing against theories of racial distinction among humans and culminating in his theory of relativism, that discredited the notion that Western civilization is superior to simpler societies. He will speak at 7 p.m. in the Jewish Studies conference room.

On Oct. 29, there will be a panel discussion on Jewish life in the Mississippi Delta, featuring Tulane’s Michael Cohen, author Carol Mills and Anny Bloch-Raymond of the University of Toulouse.

Cohen teaches American Jewish history, with current research focusing on Jewish merchants in the Gulf South after the Civil War. Mills is author of “The Forgotten Jews of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana.” Bloch-Raymond is author of “Des Berges du Rhin aux Rives du Mississippi,” about the Jews from Alsace-Lorraine who settled in small towns along the Mississippi River in Louisiana during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The 7 p.m. panel will be at LBC Stibbs, room 203.

On Nov. 4, Michael Stanislawski of Columbia University will speak on “The Jewish and Muslim Enlightenments in Imperial Russia: A Comparison.” Co-sponsored by the history department, his address is this year’s Byron Strug Memorial Lecture. His presentation will be in the Jewish Studies conference room at 7 p.m.

Rosh Ha’Ayin Torah returning to Day School In advance of Simchat Torah, Birmingham’s N.E. Miles Jewish Day School will have a homecoming for the Birmingham community Torah.

In 1983, shortly after the Birmingham Jewish community was paired with Rosh Ha’Ayin under Israel’s Project renewal, the Yemenite development town presented Birmingham’s Jewish community with a Yemenite Torah. For most of the time since then, the Torah has been housed at the Day School.

This summer, with major renovations taking place at the school, the Torah was removed for safekeeping. On Oct. 15 it will return with a parade from the Levite Jewish Community Center lobby to the school, starting at 11 a.m.

20 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

October 2014 • The Jewish Newsletter 1

2 The Jewish Newsletter • October 2014

From the New Orleans Jewish Community Center Melton Returns to the Uptown JCC

Harriet Kugler Memorial Mah Jongg Tournament

Described as “Adult Learning for the Wondering Jew,” the Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning offers a well-rounded and comprehensive course of study in a user-friendly format. In a relaxed setting, without homework, tests or prerequisites, this pluralistic, interactive program provides spirited dialogue and meaningful study, leading to a deeper appreciation for Judaism — past, present and future.

Registration is now open for the New Orleans JCC’s fall mah jongg tournament, which will be held on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Uptown JCC. Following a different format than previous tournaments, check in begins at 10:30 a.m., followed by a delicious brunch and brief talk by Gregg Swain, author of “Mah Jongg: The Art of the Game.” The tournament features open seating and participants are encouraged to bring a friend or even their entire game. Both rounds of play will be played in place, without rotating seats. Cash and door prizes will be awarded. Tournament details and registration forms are available at www.nojcc.org.

Beginning October 28, classes will be held on Tuesday evenings at the Uptown JCC. The first year curriculum focuses upon the “Rhythms of Jewish Living” and the “Purposes of Jewish Living.” Additionally, a semester long course, “Foundations for Jewish Family Living,” will be taught on Tuesday mornings, offering a thought-provoking encounter with core values of Judaism and providing an opportunity for students to bring the Jewish conversation home to share with their children.

Downtown Lunch and Learn Because it can be hard to get away at lunch hour, the JCC is bringing its popular Lunch & Learn series to the CBD. Beginning on Oct. 15 with Rabbi Ethan Linden of Shir Chadash, the series features local rabbis leading discussions on varied topics close to their hearts. Typically held from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, the Downtown Lunch & Learn is free and open to the community. No need to RSVP, simply bring a lunch, a desire for Jewish learning and an appetite for self-growth to Energy Center, Suite 1502, 1100 Poydras Street.

For additional details, visit www.nojcc.org or contact Liba Kornfeld, Director of Jewish Family Life, at (504) 897-0143, or liba@nojcc.org. Students may register online at www.events. org/MeltonNewOrleans.

SAVE THE DATE! November 1 – The Lupin Foundation and the JCC present Center Celebration: One Singular Sensation, an outstanding evening of dining and entertainment highlighted by The Broadway Boys, a collection of some of the most talented young male voices working on the New York stage today, featuring much-loved Broadway tunes performed with added elements of funk, rock, jazz and folk music.

November 9 to December 14 – Big names are coming to the J! The Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Month features a wide range of events including book talks by Ari Shavit, Eric Kimmel, Walter Isaacson and Tova Mirvis, a performance by musician David Broza, and a screening of the film “Run Boy Run.” December 14 – Israeli superstar David Broza brings his unique sound to the Uptown JCC for the annual Community-wide Chanukah Celebration, generously sponsored by Cathy and Morris Bart, the Jewish Endowment Foundation and the Feil Family Foundation.

All ages will enjoy the dynamic performance of this popular singer-songwriter, as he blends modern pop and Spanish music with his famous guitar playing.

October 2014 • The Jewish Newsletter 3

From Jewish Community Day School A Gala Evening to benefit the Jewish Community Day School will be held Sunday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. at Congregation Shir Chadash in Metairie. This year’s gala, “Some Enchanted Evening,” will pay tribute to the founding parents and community members who began the school in 1996.

Honorees are Carol Asher, Barri Bronston, Joel Brown, Heidi Vizelberg, Shula Fuchs, George and Laura Fuhrman, Bobby Garon, Edward Gothard, Linda Greenbaum, Cindy Isaacs, Hugo and Lis Kahn, Lee Kansas, Mark Kaplinsky, Richard Katz, Bob Kutcher, Marilyn Kullman, Saundra Levy, Rabbi Bob and Lynn Loewy, Bill Norman, David Reiss, Stephen Sabludowsky, Madilyn Samuels, Dr. Mark and Charisse Sands, Carol Schiller, Eli Skora, Rabbi Geoffrey Spector, Paul Sterbcow, Lance Turkish, Carol Wise, Marcel Wisznia and, posthumously, Natalie Brown, Rosalie Cohen, Rosalie Levin and Patti Samuels.

The event will also feature a live auction, raffle auction and musical entertainment from local singing trio Bon Operatit!

Lauren Mouney Gisclair, the JCDS Music Instructor, is a member of the trio. Dinner will be catered by locally renowned Kosher Chef Andy Adelman who also provides hot lunches five days a week for students at JCDS. The Annual Auction and Gala is chaired by JCDS Parent Shanee Holmes. Her committee includes Michele Allen-Hart,

Lis Kahn, Jack Gross, Lauren Ungar and JCDS Faculty Sharon Pollin, Deb Marsh and Barbara Kaplinsky.

“We invite all of our supporters and those interested in learning more about our terrific school to attend and enjoy this enchanted evening of fun, great entertainment and food,” Holmes said.

Major Gala patrons include The Franco Family Fund, Lis and Hugo Kahn, Dashka Roth and Larry Lehmann, Joan and Gerald Berenson, Rene Lehmann, Doris and William Norman, Karen W. Remer and Madilyn and Alvin Samuels. Other patrons include Cathy and Morris Bart, Susan and Howard Green, Michele Allen-Hart and Jody Hart, Shanee and Stephen Holmes, Julie Grant Meyer and Michael Meyer, Carole and Richard Neff, Harold Pollin, Sharon Pollin, Debbie and Jonathan Schlackman, Louis Velez, Lynne and Michael Wasserman, Nancy Ross-Ascuitto and Robert Ascuitto, Rabbi Alexis and Bob Berk, Nancy and Allan Bissinger, Caroline and Robert Brickman, Sandy Burstein, Vivian and Richard Cahn, Gail and Stuart Chalew, Robin Levy and Bobby Garon, Congregation Gates of Prayer, Jack Gross, Susan and Bill Hess, Barbara and Mark Kaplinsky, Michael Katz, Anne Zoller Kiefer, Chein Lam, Saundra K. Levy, Rabbi Ethan Linden, Lynn and Rabbi Bob Loewy, The Peacebaker LLC, Sandy and Elliot Raisen, Karen and Leopold Sher, Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation, Evette Ungar and Judge Miriam and Bruce Waltzer To purchase a ticket or make a donation to the auctions, visit www.jcdsnola.com. Click on “2014 Fall Gala.” All dollars raised will go to support the JCDS Student Scholarship Fund.

Jewish Community Day School, an independent school for boys and girls in grades Pre-K through 5th grade, is the Jewish day school of greater New Orleans. Its mission is to instill a strong ethical foundation rooted in Judaism and a love of learning, invigorated by academic excellence. JCDS welcomes families of all backgrounds and prepares children to be engaged, compassionate leaders.

Jewish Book Event with Eric Kimmel Jewish Community Day School welcomes acclaimed children’s author Eric Kimmel (“Herschel and the Hanukah Goblins,” “Gershon’s Monster”) to two community-wide events on Sunday, Nov. 23. Kimmel will discuss his wonderful children’s novel, “A Horn for Louis,” with all religious school and day school students in grades 2-5 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Metairie Jewish Community Center. The book highlights the story of young Louis Armstrong, the Karnofsky family and Old New Orleans. Special guests are Vicki Karno of the Karnofsky family, and jazz musicians from NOCAA. At 2 p.m. the younger set will meet at Octavia books for book talks, signings and snacks with Eric. This free program is brought to you by JCDS, the Karno family, PJ Library, Octavia Books and the Jewish Community Center. Reader’s Guides available from JCDS at no charge. Visit jcdsnola.org.

4 The Jewish Newsletter • October 2014

From Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans Rhythm and Soul 2014, honoring Max Nathan, Jr.

JFS to Release New Wireless Home Monitoring Technology

Thank you to everyone who both supported and attended Rhythm and Soul 2014, honoring Max Nathan, Jr.! The evening at the Audubon Tea Room was a lovely affair with touching tributes and heartfelt sentiment for this past president who is still making a meaningful impact in the community. All proceeds will benefit programs and services at Jewish Family Service.

Jewish Family Service has expanded its Lifeline personal emergency response system technology by introducing two new wireless models. The new wireless technology is available as a basic unit (HomeSafe Wireless), and as an advanced unit (HomeSafe Wireless with AutoAlert). The advanced unit can automatically call for help if a fall is detected and the user is unable to push the “Help” button. Both products allow JFS Special appreciation goes to The Nathan Family and to Ses- to provide options for homes without landlines. sions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, LLC. Call Lifeline at JFS for more information, (504) 831-8475.

Stay tuned to our Facebook page for pictures of the event.

JFS offers counseling services across the metro area

Become a Volunteer “Visiting Friend”

“Bikur Chaverim” is a program which arranges home visits for homebound or partially-homebound seniors with a focus Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups is on creating lasting relationships built upon shared interests. one JFS’s core programs. Services are provided by licensed behavioral health professionals and fees are assessed on a sliding Visitor-volunteers for Bikur Chaverim are paired with new scale basis. We have expanded our counseling services at our friends, with whom they facilitate conversation in order to Uptown offices as well as on the Northshore. share ideas and life experiences. The program is designed so Please call us to set up an appointment: (504) 831-8475, that both parties feel purpose and meaning through being together. Many paired friends have remained friends for life.

Metairie and Uptown; (985) 253-1619, Northshore.

Please contact Fran Dinehart (504) 831-8475 ext. 134 if you are interested in participating in this fulfilling program.

From Tulane Hillel Uber, AirBnB and The Big Issue You may have heard about the controversy surrounding new services like AirBnB and Uber, which assert themselves as alternatives to traditional corporate structures.

The next installment of The Big Issue seeks to address the implementation of The Sharing Economy in New Orleans by asking such questions as: Is it good to empower the individual at the cost of tax-paying businesses? And what cost are we willing to pay for modernity? Join us in our quest for answers on Oct. 28 at The Mintz Center. Doors and bar open at 7 p.m., and the event starts at 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy Homecoming with Hillel Tulane’s Homecoming Weekend will be particularly special this year now that “the boys are back Uptown!” Since the opening of Yulman Stadium on Sept. 6, Tulanians have enjoyed a renaissance of tailgating and football culture that had been missing from the University.

Alumni, parents, and friends are all invited to kick off their weekend of revelry with Tulane Hillel’s annual Homecoming Cocktail Hour on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 14 at the Mintz Center. Hillel’s Kitchen will be catering, so come enjoy some tasty hors d’oeuvres and drinks galore!

October 2014 • The Jewish Newsletter 5

From the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Annual Event celebrates outstanding community leaders The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana will honor Karen and Eddie Soll with the Tzedakah Award, Andrea (Andi) Lestelle with the Young Family Award for Professional Excellence, and Morton Katz with the JFNA Endowment Achievement Award at its 2014 Annual Event on Sunday, Oct. 26.

The event will be held at the Hilton Hotel Riverside in the Grand Ballroom. There will be a reception at 11:30 a.m. followed by a kosher-style dairy brunch at 12 p.m.

Ellie Wainer will also be honored with the Helen A. Mervis Jewish Community Professional Award (see announcement below).

JEF president Carol Wise said, “We are truly fortunate to have such dedicated community members. They have graced us with their leadership, vision and generosity. We are pleased to honor their contributions.”

Andrea Lestelle, above.

Morton Katz, left.

Eddie and Karen Soll, below.

The keynote speaker will be Aaron David Miller, Vice President for New Initiatives and a Distinguished Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “We anticipate that Mr. Miller’s informed and timely presentation will provide insight into the situation in the Middle East. His talk, along with the awards presentations, makes for an event that no one in our community will want to miss,” said Annual Event Chair Bob Brickman.

Reservations for the event are $55 per person and $550 for a table of 10. Please plan to join us for this special occasion. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Ellen Abrams at (504) 524-4559 or ellen@jefno.org.

JEF honors Ellie Wainer The Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana is pleased to announce that the Helen A. Mervis Jewish Community Professional Award will be presented to Ellie Wainer. This award, named in memory of JEF’s former Executive Director, is given annually to an outstanding professional employee of a Greater New Orleans Jewish community organization.

Ellie, who recently retired from Jewish Family Service, spent 25 years building and sustaining Teen Life Counts (TLC), a school-based suicide prevention and awareness program that targets 9th and 10th grade students and teaches them how to identify the warning signs of depression and suicide, how to talk to a troubled 6 The Jewish Newsletter • October 2014

friend, the importance of breaking a secret to save a life, and where to go and who to call to get help. The program also offers educational services to parents, school personnel, and community-based mental health professionals.

Under Ellie’s leadership, TLC became the largest program of its kind in Louisiana. The program is now established in over 50 public, private and parochial schools in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany and Plaquemines Parishes. “Ellie’s work exemplifies the compassion and concern that the Jewish community has for the communities in which we live and the sacred value that Jews place on human life,” said JFS Executive Director Michael Steiner.

Ellie Wainer

October 2014 • The Jewish Newsletter 7

8 The Jewish Newsletter • October 2014

BIRMINGHAM 5287 Highway 280 205-995-9440

ELMWOOD Elmwood Shopping Ctr 504-733-7599

MOBILE 300 E Azalea Road • 251-342-0003

1615 Montgomery Hwy 205-824-0750

MOBILE (SPANISH FORT) 10200 Eastern Shore Blvd.

251-626-1617

1608 Montclair Road 205-957-2111

MONTGOMERY 2759 Eastern Blvd. • 334-409-0901

HUNTSVILLE Valley Bend Shopping Ctr • 256-650-0707

BATON ROUGE, LA 9681 Airline Hwy • 225-927-1020

Westside Center • 256-971-0111

7054 Siegan Lane • 225-296-5522

HARVEY 1600 Westbank Expwy.

504-362-8008 MANDEVILLE 3371 Hwy 190 • 985-626-5950 SLIDELL 61119 Airport Road • 985-781-7273

KENNER 3424 Williams Blvd • 504-443-7622 METAIRIE 3009 Veterans Mem. • 504-831-9944 GULFPORT, MS 15224 Crossroads Pkwy 228-539-4476 FT. WALTON, FL 99 Eglin Pkwy • 850-243-2075

OPEN 7 DAYS AND 6 NIGHTS October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 21

simchas Houston Hadassah honoring B’ham sisters

ExtErior DEsigns, inc.

By Beverly Katz

Landscape Planning and Design • Custom Carpentry Partyscape • Courtyards • Pool Designs Landscape Refurbishing After Storms

(504) 866-0276

www.exteriordesignsbev.com

Holiday Chocolates Event Favors • Party Trays Kosher Chocolates Shipping Available

5707 Magazine Street • New Orleans www.bluefrogchocolates.com 504-269-5707 22 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

Birmingham natives Lolly Friedman Miller and Tracy Stein will be honored this month at the 10th annual Houston Hadassah Women of Courage Awards.

The daughters of Karl Friedman and the late Gladys Friedman, Miller and Stein will be recognized for their leadership in numerous organizations and how they “have courageously faced their own individual challenges with breast cancer.”

The award recognizes women “who have focused on important issues in the community and gone the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of others.” The timing of the luncheon during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month also is a reminder of Hadassah Medical Organization’s “groundbreaking work in discovering the mutation which triggers breast cancer and the development of the blood test which reveals its presence.”

Miller became involved with Hadassah as a pre-teen member of Young Judaea in Birmingham. She has been recognized with the Houston Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Award, the ADL’s first Young Leadership Award, and National ADL’s Daniel R. Ginsberg Leadership Award.

Currently, she sits on M.D. Anderson’s Cancer Survivorship Steering Committee and its Clinical Care Workgroup, which have created and are continuing to develop the hospital’s system for delivering medical care and support to the ever-growing cancer survivor population.

Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994 and underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. The next year she had a stem cell transplant and a prophylactic hysterectomy a few years later when she tested positive for the BRCA-2 mutation.

Stein was by her side the whole time. With a family history of breast cancer and her sister’s diagnosis she opted for prophylactic mastectomies.

Stein has been active in Federation, ADL, Vanderbilt Hillel and the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Agency of Harris County. She was president of the American Jewish Committee in Houston and is currently on its national Board of Governors and Board of Project Interchange. She also started the annual campaign for Beth Yeshurun Day School and cochaired the first Collage Luncheon with Miller and her in-laws.

The luncheon will be at the Houston Westin on Oct. 19, with a silent auction starting at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $118 with patron levels starting at $500.

Charlie Gamarski of Dothan was presented with an Associates Degree from Troy University at Dothan.

Gamarski had returned to school to earn a social work degree so he could become a counselor, but after two years of study he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Treatment was ineffective and he had to discontinue his studies. After Gamarski’s condition was determined to be terminal, his advisor at Troy, Jeff Waller, arranged for a two-year degree and dressed in full academic regalia presented it to Gamarski, who died a week later.

Waller and Gamarski are pictured here with Gamarski’s partner, Chela Kaplan. Rabbi Lynne Goldsmith of Dothan’s Temple Emanu-El said Waller’s actions showed “there are indeed angels, and these angels are human beings doing God’s work.”

health & wellness an annual SJL special section

The Joy to Life Foundation’s Walk of Life in Montgomery

Battling colitis, Huntsville’s Shapira pushes expanding CBD oil legalization On April 1, after a major public push, Governor Robert Bentley signed what is known as “Carly’s Law,” allowing the use of cannabidiol, known as CBD oil, a derivative of the plant that marijuana comes from, in treating children with “debilitating” epileptic seizures.

While that was going on, Huntsville’s Itamar Shapira was dealing with his own debilitating condition, one that could have been helped by CBD oil, but because he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, not epilepsy, he could not legally obtain the substance.

Now he is looking to draw attention to other uses for CBD and push for its legalization, even though his condition has deteriorated beyond the point where CBD would have helped.

Shapira was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease last September, just after Rosh Hashanah. By January he had ulcerative colitis, a painful disorder which produces ulcers in the colon that make it difficult for the body to absorb food.

It is one of the genetic diseases that is common to Jews of Eastern European descent. Shapira, now 21, moved to Huntsville from Israel with his family when he was two.

Shapira was a cross-country runner at Grissom High School, but his condition has made it difficult for him to get around.

He studied biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt, finishing his degree in three years because “I wanted to go out and do something with my life.” Instead, his diagnosis was “a big blow… instead of doing what I wanted, I came back home to be sick.”

With his background, he knew that his early treatments would not be effective. He researched his condition during the school year

and came across information on CBD oil in treating colitis. Research on CBD has been taking place in Israel for decades, showing a reduction of inflammation in the colon with no side effects, and a beneficial effect on other drugs used to treat the condition. The research “was very impressive,” he said.

The oil is derived from a variety of the cannabis plant, generally hemp, but has no psychoactive properties. He said while medical marijuana contains CBD, CBD “unto itself does not contain any medical marijuana.”

Because marijuana can contain CBD, access to CBD oil is less important in states where marijuana is legal.

Ironically, one can currently buy CBD as a non-medical nutritional supplement. Shapira said he can buy hemp oil online, but while it contains CBD it is in a very low concentration and as such is not practical for his needs.

The problem is that “the legal status is so murky, it’s not about what the law is but how it is enforced.” He could get stopped and arrested for having CBD, depending on prevailing attitudes in the jurisdiction.

Carly’s Law set up a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, through which children with debilitating epileptic seizures can obtain the oil. The law expires in five years, and the study is set to begin this fall after UAB gets Federal approval. Until then, no CBD oil can be distributed to any of the children who have signed up.

The bill also states that parents and caregivers of children in the study can not be prosecuted for possession of CBD oil, but that protection is not extended to anyone else.

While the bill is a start, Shapira said the study

is not “an academic pursuit, it is a political tool” to “get these kids CBD. “The research is out there,” Shapira said. “Alabama does not need to start researching CBD.”

When Carly’s Law was being debated, Dustin Chandler, father of the girl for whom the law was named, said “With UAB behind this study there is no doubt they will find CBD oil to be useful not only in epilepsy, but other disorders as well. There is still work to be done even if the bill passes. This is a bigger step in the right direction than anyone believed could happen.”

With Alabama being in the heart of the Bible Belt, many thought the chances of any law allowing for any medical use of cannabis would be impossible. Chandler noted “Carly’s Law is better than anyone could have imagined not only for the people wanting to use CBD oil, but October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 23

health

You can relax…

Alscan’s new network-based security systems can be monitored and controlled from anywhere

Our Business is Minding YoursTM CCTV

ACCESS CONTROL Atlanta

PERIMETER PROTECTION Birmingham

www.alscaninc.com • 800-951-0051

24 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

also for the state. Alabama can lead the way in finding many uses of this true medicine.”

Rep. Mike Ball, who fought to get the law passed, has said the bill’s scope had to be narrowed to get anything passed, and he hasn’t seen a good reason why CBD should be illegal.

Shapira said at this point, use of CBD oil is probably too late for him.

“This treatment takes a long time,” and while he is currently doing better thanks to a new antibiotic, he has been told the effect is likely temporary and in a couple of months he will face surgery.

Shapira is continuing the CBD fight because “there are other people with IBD, MS, even epilepsy. Children who don’t qualify for the study can’t get access to this. And that’s ridiculous.”

Shapira has tried to get meetings with Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange, unsuccessfully thus far.

“If Moses can argue with God, why should I not argue with the governor?” Shapira asked.

While he wants to see the legislature expand legal availability of CBD oil — preferably by allowing doctors to prescribe it — “if I do nothing else with this, I want to show people the face of one person who could have benefited from this.”

Cellular therapy as a viable alternative to surgery

by Lee J. Green Kevin F. Darr, M.D., of Covington Orthopedic is one of the region’s leaders in Combined Cellular Therapy, which utilizes cells from different parts of one’s own body to decrease pain and inflammation in joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. CCT has been utilized to treat a variety of tendon and ligament injuries in lieu of surgery and also as a biological augmentation post-surgery, such as with rotator cuff tears.

“I got interested in this a few years ago. What led to my interest was the lack of conservative treatment options in these musculoskeletal, orthopedic cases,” said Darr. “The only other option was surgery with a long and difficult recovery process.”

Darr has had much success helping patients through combined cellular therapy since beginning the treatment just over a year ago. “What sets us apart from others who might be doing combined cellular therapy is that we track all of our results,” he said. “We’ve had a very high level of satisfaction.”

“Grade 2-4 osteoarthritis sufferers would be good potential candidates for CCT, with knee, shoulder and hip joints being most common,” said Dr. Darr. “In milder cases of tendonitis and arthritis, I might recommend platelet-rich plasma therapy.”

He said that the cells used are the patient’s own natural cells. Cells from animals or any harmful chemicals are never used in combined cellular therapy or PRP. “The procedure has very few risks and has shown to be effective,” said Dr. Darr. “Patients can potentially avoid the prolonged recovery that surgery often requires.”

For those patients for whom surgery is the best or only option, they can rest assured that Darr is board certified in Sports Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Darr earned his medical doctorate in Orthopedic Surgery from Louisiana State University. He has been practicing orthopedic medicine for more than 20 years.

“We can customize a treatment to best suit the patient,” said Darr. “At Covington Orthopedic, we take a comprehensive approach to musculoskeletal care.”

health Should all Ashkenazi women get routine BRCA screenings?

Many found to have breast cancer gene mutation A new study recommends that all women of Ashkenazi backgrounds receive routine screenings for the BRCA mutation that causes breast cancer.

Until now, Ashkenazi women have only been tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes if a close blood relative developed breast or ovarian cancer, or was identified as a carrier of the gene.

Professor Ephrat Levy-Lahad, director of the Fuld Family Department of Genetics at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, was the senior author of the study, which was published on Sept. 5 in the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.”

“This should be offered as a universal screening test,” said Levy-Lahad.

“We should be testing people who are still healthy at a stage when we can prevent the disease.” Many of the women identified by the researchers in Israel would never have known they were mutation carriers, if they had not received screenings as part of the study.

But leading oncologist Prof. Tamar Peretz, director of Hadassah’s Sharett Institute of Oncology in Israel, rejects universal testing. “Jewish women without a family history of breast and ovarian cancer should not feel pressured to undergo the BRCA test for breast and ovarian cancer.

The implications of the BRCA test are complex. Many women will get results without being able to discuss them with a qualified clinician. I fear that without using discretion in administering this test, and without coupling it with genetic counseling by an experienced health professional, the search for BRCA gene mutations can harm more lives than it saves.”

Touro program provides support for cancer survivors beyond treatment There are many things that will likely be on a patient’s mind after finishing cancer treatment. Emotional and psychological concerns often surface following treatment.

Cancer survivors may find themselves unprepared to deal with such concerns, therefore it is important for them to contact their doctor to get the help they need. It’s important to be prepared for what life may be like after cancer treatment.

Tips to cope with challenges after cancer treatment include: • Take time for yourself as you try to get your daily routine back on track.

• Participate in activities that you enjoy.

• If experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, it is important to get the help needed from a medical professional.

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are keys to successfully overcoming these mental health conditions.

• Focus on taking care of your body and keeping yourself healthy by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet and limiting alcohol use.

• Attend a support group — share your thoughts and feelings and hear from others who are going through a similar experience.

Near the end of cancer treatment, it is normal to feel many emotions ranging from hope to happiness to uncertainty and fear. With the Cancer Survivorship Program at Touro, the patient’s health and wellbeing are the main focus when moving forward into the survivor stage of their cancer journey. Patients get the chance to meet one-on-one with the survivorship nurse and will receive an individualized survivorship care plan and treatment summary.

The survivorship appointment will include a treatment summary, needs assessment and personalized care plan.

To learn more about the Cancer Survivorship Program at Touro, or to schedule an appointment, contact Paula Harrelson, RN, at (504) 897-8970.

Happy Health & Wellness Month!

“At Total Skin & Beauty Dermatology Center, our mission is to provide you with the most comprehensive skin care services available. We work with people who have skin conditions or concerns about their appearance that can be helped through modern dermatologic techniques.

Most importantly, our physicians and staff located in Birmingham, Alabama work with you one-on-one to ensure you’ll have healthy skin for life.”

!

205.933.0987

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 25

health •

• FREE CONSULTATION Medicare Supplement And Long Term Care • What long-term care is, and why you and your loved ones are at high risk for needing care at home or in a facility

Find Out

• Why the limited benefits from Government (Medicare or Medicaid) are not a good choice for your long-term care needs

Taking a holistic approach to pain

• At what age should you consider buying longterm care insurance. You will be surprised to know why and how buying at a younger age is better for you.

by Lee J. Green

• Compare different Medicare Plans and determine which is best for you • Find which company offers the most competitive rates for the plan you want.

Milton Goldstein, CLTC

Certified Long Term Care Specialist

Cell: (205) 907-0670 E-mail: miltgold@bellsouth.net Visit My Website www.goldsteinltc.com

•

Licensed in 11 States

•

Integrated Pain and Neuroscience, with six clinics in the New Orleans, including a recently opened one in Metairie, takes a holistic and multi-specialty approach to helping patients rid themselves of pain.

“Our model makes us unique. We are a multi-specialty clinic with professionals in neurology, psychology, anesthesiology, medical acupuncture, counseling and soon weight loss, nutrition and yoga,” said Eric Royster, who started IPN at its Uptown location in April 2013 after serving as a director over the pain management programs at a local hospital. “This multi-disciplinary, holistic approach allows us to provide real solutions to our patients.”

While IPN has made great advancements and helped patients with pain management and alleviation in various areas, the most common are with spine and lower back pain, fibromyalgia and treating migraine headaches, said Royster.

He also said acupuncture has been successful where other therapies and treatments have failed to eliminate the pain. Aaron Friedman leads IPN’s acupuncture programs.

“About the only thing we don’t offer here is physical therapy, but we do work with some patients who weren’t progressing with physical therapy and we help them to alleviate their pain so they can get back on track with their recovery,” he said.

Royster graduated from medical school at the University of Arkansas and first moved to New Orleans for his residency specializing in pain management at Ochsner Medical Center.

As for pro-active measures people can take, he advised keeping one’s weight down and eating right, including a lot of fruits and vegetables as well as stretching before exercise.

“Some injuries and pain just happen. It can’t be prevented. But there are various treatments available. No one should have to just live with the pain,” he said.

Don’t self-diagnose or just “live with” incontinence The key to treating urinary continence issues in women is to first identify the type of incontinence and the root causes, said Margie Kahn, the Section Head of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at Tulane Medical Center.

“There are several different categories for incontinence in women and once we can identify which one a patient falls into, we can work out the most effective treatment protocol,” said Kahn.

Some people think “stress incontinence” is caused by stress. But it is named for the stress that is placed on the bladder with physical activity — leakage that may occur during coughing, laughing and lifting or with running, jumping or hitting a ball.

“Urge incontinence” is a type of overactive bladder accompanied by leak. Those who suffer from it worry about making it to the bathroom in time. They may suffer “key-in-lock” incontinence, running to the bath26 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

health room as soon as they enter the house.

For some women, the bladder does not empty all the way when urinating so there is not as much reserve in the bladder, causing an “overflow incontinence” and perhaps urinary frequency.

Some debilitated women can suffer from “functional incontinence.”

The issue might not be with the bladder, but other medical conditions that make it more difficult to make it to the bathroom in time such as arthritis or dementia.

Menopause may cause or worsen incontinence. “Estrogen increases the blood flow to the anterior vagina, urethra and base of the bladder; the tissue becomes healthier and thicker. With the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause comes a higher likelihood of irritation and women feeling that they haven’t emptied their bladder each time,” said Kahn. Vaginal estrogen reverses these changes.

She said patients don’t have to self-diagnose, though. Tell your doctor.

She said several prescription medications have proven to be effective as well as kegel exercises along with physical therapy. A mid urethral sling for stress incontinence can be performed as a 20-minute outpatient operation.

If primary care treatment fails, doctors who are board-certified in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery can help. First, reversible causes such as urinary tract infections or uncontrolled diabetes are identified and treated. Pressure studies of the bladder called Urodynamics can give a more precise diagnosis for tailoring treatment.

“Most importantly, women don’t have to live with incontinence. Women should be able to enjoy a normal life without fear or leaking through clothing or having to map the location of the closest bathroom. They can communicate anything to me and we will help them in any way we can,” she said.

HE ONCE MADE INSTANT PUDDING ALL BY HIMSELF, HID HALF OF IT IN A LAUNDRY HAMPER AND THEN PROCLAIMED HIMSELF “A BIG BOY.”

Eye Do touts contact lens “breakthrough”

by Lee J. Green The words “I Do” signify a vow in marriage and are almost always accompanied with tears of joy. Those tears of joy could also come from patients of Eye Do who get monthly-wear contact lenses that provide eyes with the “best moisture and breathability together on the market.”

“I have been on research committees for contact lenses and have recommended them to my patients for years and I can say (Ultra by Bausch and Lomb) are the best lenses that have been made in 20 years,” said Eye Do Optometrist/Owner Ami Abel Epstein. Earlier this year she moved her practice to Sunview Drive in Cahaba Heights, just south of Birmingham.

She said Ultra contact lenses are made from long and short chain silicon along with PVP, creating the MoistureSeal technology. The lenses keep one’s eyes hydrated, especially for those who tend to get dry eyes more frequently, and are “super breathable. These lenses are unusual in that you feel better with them in your eyes than without lenses in” as far as moisture levels go.

Over the next two years there are plans to release the Ultra contact lenses in multi-focal and a toric. Currently they are available just to correct farsightedness and nearsightedness. Eye Do does offer multi-focal, toric and daily disposable contact lenses.

Epstein said Eye Do’s expanded new location has given them more space to bring in more designer eyewear. Recently added to the roster of stylish eyeglasses and sunglasses include BMW, Robert Graham, Badgley Mischka, Eddie Bauer and Matisse.

She said that with so many eyewear and contact lens options available to consumers, Eye Do can custom fit its patients with eyewear or a combination of eyewear that best fits their lifestyles.

“We have some people that want to wear glasses some of the time but then contact lenses for sports, such as for tennis. Or they can wear two different lenses — one for playing sports (that get dirtier but are worn less) and one for more regular wear,” said Epstein. “We can offer them whatever works best for them.”

C H I L D R E N A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.

1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org

SouthernJewishLife_COA_HeadlineAd.indd 1

9/8/14 1:50 PM

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 27

health

How bad is it when your child has a fever?

Photo by Laura Taylor, Creative Commons license

Advice from Children’s Hospital of Alabama Many parents have experienced waking in the middle of the night to find a child flushed, hot and sweaty. His or her forehead feels warm.

One immediately suspects a fever, but is unsure of what to do next.

Should one get out the thermometer? Call the doctor? Visit an emergency room?

Fever occurs when the body’s internal “thermostat” raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in the part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

In kids, fevers usually don’t indicate anything serious. Although it can be frightening when one’s child’s temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it’s often the body’s way of fighting infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make a child uncomfortable and worsen problems such as dehydration.

“Fevers are the number one reason parents bring their child to the emergency room,” said Mark Baker, an emergency medicine physician at Children’s of Alabama and Assistant Professor at UAB. “They account for 20 percent of all patient visits, and typically, can be treated at home.”

So how should a child’s fever be treated? When is it appropriate to seek medical attention? Here are three recommendations:

1 – Simply monitor a child at home

Inline Lighting INLINE

Huntsville, AL Pelham, AL Cullman, AL 256-533-2021 205-982-7511 256-734-5670 Montgomery, AL Auburn, AL 334-277-5705 334-821-9747 InlineLighting.com 28 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102 degrees often don’t require medication unless they’re uncomfortable. There’s one important exception to this rule: If a parent has an infant three months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, call a doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in young infants.

The illness is probably not serious if your child: • is still interested in playing; eating and drinking well • is alert and smiling • has a normal skin color • looks well when his or her temperature comes down And don’t worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn’t want to eat. This is common with infections that cause fever. For kids who still drink and urinate normally, not eating as much as usual is okay.

2 - Contact a physician or visit an emergency room In the past, doctors advised treating a fever on the basis of temperature alone. But now they recommend considering both the temperature and a child’s overall condition.

If a child is between three months and three years old and has a fever

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 29

health

of 102.2 degrees or higher, call a doctor to see if he or she needs to see your child. For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account.

Watching how one’s child behaves will give you a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor, says Baker.

Sometimes kids with fever breathe faster and may have a higher heart rate. A parent should call the doctor if your child is having difficulty breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or continues to breathe fast after the fever comes down.

The exact temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on the age of the child, the illness, and whether there are other symptoms with the fever.

3 - Visit an Emergency Room

sjlmag.com

Seek emergency care if your child shows any of these signs: • inconsolable crying • lethargy and difficulty waking • rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before the child got sick) • blue lips, tongue, or nails • stiff neck and or severe headache • difficulty breathing that doesn’t get better when the nose is cleared • seizure • abdominal pain For more information on this or other health and safety topics, visit www.childrensal.org.

Your dentist can help you sleep better

by Lee J. Green New Orleans dentist Tim Delcambre can help patients to sleep better in two ways — through working with patients who have sleep apnea issues and through medical and cosmetic dental procedures that will help them feel more rested and confident.

Delcambre, who has 30 years of experience in the dental field and has owned his own practice in New Orleans since 2000, said “sleep dentistry” has been around for several years but recently its important role in helping those with sleep disorders has come more into focus.

“We can help by moving one’s jaw forward and with altering the alignment of the teeth to open up the pharynx more to allow patients to breathe more easily while sleeping,” said Delcambre. “Through research, more effective treatments have been uncovered and have been widely successful.”

In addition to improving a patient’s sleep issues, altering the alignment of their teeth has another benefit. “Aesthetic improvement is a fantastic by-product of a medical procedure such as this. If teeth are crowded together, they are harder to keep clean and one could run the risk of getting gum disease,” said Delcambre.

He advises patients with sleep disorders to first see their primary care physician. A polysomnogram can determine if the problem is neurological or obstructive. If it is obstructive and mild to moderate, Delcambre can help.

Delcambre graduated with a Masters of Health Administration from Tulane University and after dental school did a two-year residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans with a concentration on dentistry for the medically complex patient. He was also a professor for 10 years with the LSU School of Dentistry, primarily out of Charity Hospital.

“I work with patients who have medically complex situations — special needs patients, those who have had neck and head cancers, diabetics, those with liver issues… though I see all types of patients, including those without pre-existing conditions,” he said.

30 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

culture art • books • apps • music • television • film • theatre

“The Sturgeon Queens” is in the Nashville and Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival lineups

Nashville holds annual Jewish Film Festival in November

Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival announces 2015 lineup

For the 14th year, the Nashville Jewish Film Festival will present a range of movies depicting the broad scope of Jewish experience.

A program of the Gordon Jewish Community Center, the festival brings educational, entertaining and thought-provoking Jewish-themed films to the Nashville Community and the region. Along with special guests, panels, and Opening and Closing Night celebrations, the festival is an annual event dedicated to the awareness and celebration of Jewish life in contemporary society.

Through the screening of both feature films and documentaries at several venues over an 8-day period the festival attracts an audience of over 1000 people.

The festival also has a student film competition for short films. Finalists for the $1,000 cash prize will be screened at the festival and the winner will be screened at the Nashville Film Festival in April 2015.

Screenings are at the Belcourt Theatre in downtown Nashville, the Noah Liff Opera Center and the GJCC, and the Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin.

Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors and $5 for students with ID. An all-festival pass is $200 and is good for all films and special events. Tickets may be purchased at belcourt.org and franklintheatre.com.

This year’s festival begins on Nov. 5 with “Return of the Violin” at the Noah Liff Opera Center at 7:30 p.m. An opening night cocktail supper is at 6 p.m., and is $75 per person or $140 per couple.

The film details the story of a Stradivarius violin that was stolen from musical prodigy and Israeli Philharmonic founder Bronislaw Huberman in 1936 from Carnegie Hall. It was rediscovered in 1985. Disturbed that such an instrument would remain silent, virtuoso Joshua Bell purchased the Huberman Stradivarius and now plays it during his concerts.

On Nov. 6 at noon, “Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love” will screen at the GJCC. With exclusive access to Hamlisch’s personal archival treasure trove and complete cooperation from his family, Dramatic Forces and THIRTEEN’s American Masters explore his prolific life and career. The film debuted on PBS last December.

On Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., “Aftermath” screens at the Belcourt. The 2013 Polish film is the story of brothers who are sons of a poor farmer. In the 1980s, one of them immigrated to the United States and cut off all ties with his family, returning only when his brother’s wife shows up. He discovers his brother has been ostracized from the community and threatened, and they eventual

The ninth annual Baton Rouge Jewish Film Festival announced its lineup for the 2015 season. Held at the Manship Theatre, the festival will be Jan. 14 to 18. Mobile will have its Jewish Film Festival from Jan. 11 to 22, with the lineup of eight films to be announced. Jewish Cinema Mississippi will be Jan. 21 to 25 in Jackson.

Four of the six films will also be screened at the Nashville Jewish Film Festival — “The Sturgeon Queens,” “The Lady in Number 6,” “Quality Balls” and “Under the Same Sun” (film profiles are in the accompanying article).

“Sturgeon Queens” will be the opening night film on Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. Guest speaker will be Louisiana native Susan Rosenbaum, who moved to New York in 1989 and conducts Enthusiastic Gourmet Food Tours.

The Jan. 15 double feature includes “The Lady in Number 6” and “Hitler’s Children.” The latter is a documentary of how family members descended from high-ranking Nazi officers of Hitler’s inner circle struggle with the last names they carry, such as Goering, Himmler and Hoess.

On Jan. 14 and 15 there will be student screenings of “50 Children: The Rescue Mission of Mr. and Mrs. Kraus,” a Jewish couple from Philadelphia who traveled to Vienna in 1939 and rescued the single-largest group of children allowed into the U.S. during that time. The screenings will be at Independence Park Theater.

On Jan. 17, “The Wonders” is about a slacker, a private investigator and a femme fatale who join forces to rescue an abducted holy man. The film, which explores the idea of messianic cults that misuse funds finagled from followers, uses hand-drawn animation to show the protagonist’s overactive imagination with Jerusalem as a Wonderland.

The festival concludes on Jan. 18 with a double feature of “Quality Balls” and “Under the Same Sun.” Tickets are $8.50, available online or at the Manship Theatre box office.

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 31

culture

General Dentistry Cosmetic Restorative Implant

Timothy Delcambre, DDS, MHA 504.895.6657 3426 Coliseum Street New Orleans www.yourneworleansdentist.com

INTEGRATED PAIN AND NEUROSCIENCE IS PlEASED TO wElCOmE

DOmENICK GRIESHABER, mD AND ANDREA O’lEARY, mD

ERIC I. ROYSTER, MD BOARD CERTIFIED PAIN MEDICINE AND ANESTHESIOLOGY

AARON J. FRIEDMAN, MD DOMINICK GRIESHABER, MD NEUROLOGY AND ACUPUNCTURE

PAIN MEDICINE AND ANESTHESIOLOGY

ANDREA O’LEARY, MD ADULT AND CHILD PSYCHIATRY

504-300-9020

www.PainIsaPuzzle.com Clinic Locations: 2801 Napoleon Avenue, New Orleans, LA | 8050 W. Judge Perez Dr. Suite 2900, Chalmette, LA 1849 Barataria Blvd. Suite C, Marrero, LA | 2965 Gause Blvd. Suite A, Slidell LA 1972 Ormond Blvd. Suite A, Destrehan, LA

Now Offering Same Day Access and Saturday Appointments!

32 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

ly uncover a dark secret about their family and hometown.

The film won the Yad Vashem Chairman’s Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. Polish nationals have accused the film of being anti-Polish propaganda, as well as a distortion of a sensitive piece of Polish history, leading the film to be banned in some Polish cinemas.

On Nov. 8 there will be two films at the Belcourt — “It Happened in Saint Tropez” at 6 p.m. and “Peace After Marriage” at 8:10 p.m. “Saint Tropez” is “a veritable chocolate box of family dysfunction,” opening with a wedding and a fu-

Tulane holding Israel Film Festival The Jewish Studies Department at Tulane University and the Stacy Mandel Palagye and Keith Palagye Program for Middle East Peace will hold an Israeli Film Festival at Tulane on Oct. 26 and 27.

Shai Ginsburg, the Andrew Mellon Assistant Professor for Hebrew and Jewish Studies at Duke University, will be the main speaker. His field is in Israeli and Jewish cinema.

The festival begins with “Life in Stills” at 5 p.m. and “The Hangman” at 7 p.m. Both films will be in LBC Stibbs, room 203.

“Life in Stills” is about a 96-year-old woman in Israel and how she joined with her grandson in an attempt to save her late husband’s life work — about one million negatives depicting Israel’s defining moments — when “The Photo House” was slated for demolition. It won Best Film at the Israeli Films Competition in 2011.

“The Hangman” is the story of Shalom, a Sephardi prison warden who was the hangman for Adolf Eichmann following the Nazi officer’s conviction. He later became a ritual slaughterer, but continued to carry “a national burden that dramatically shaped his life.”

“The Garden of Eden” will be screened at noon on Oct. 27, followed by “Life Sentences” at 2 p.m. Both films will be in the Jewish Studies conference room.

“The Garden of Eden” is a 2012 film about the Sakhne, one of the largest and most-visited parks in Israel. The film progresses through a year of season changes and looks at the wide range of Israeli society through the stories of people who work there and who visit.

“Life Sentences” won Best Documentary at the 2013 Jerusalem Film Festival. It is about an Arab man who marries a Jewish woman, living quietly with their children. It is later discovered that he was behind numerous mysterious terror attacks in the late 1960s, prompting the woman to flee with their young children, eventually landing in Montreal’s Orthodox community. The film centers on identity and the son’s eventual journey back to Israel and shedding of all labels.

culture neral, as well as an extreme case of sibling rivalry between austere religious violinist Zef and his brother Roni, a lapsed Jew and hedonistic gem mogul.

“Peace After Marriage” is an ethnic comedy about a Palestinian in Brooklyn who bargains his U.S. citizenship into a marriage with a woman looking for a green card, never expecting that he would wind up marrying an Israeli.

The festival’s religious school screening will be “The Other Son,” about two young men, one Israeli and one Palestinian, who discover as the Israeli prepares to go into his military service that they were switched at birth. Which is more disturbing to the families — that their sons were raised by the enemy or that they were raised in a different religion? The screening will be at the Belcourt at 9 a.m. on Nov. 9.

At 4:30 p.m., “Go Go Boys” will be screened. It is the story of two Israeli-born cousins who produced over 300 films and became the most controlling independent film company in the world, Cannon Films.

At 7 p.m., “The Jewish Cardinal” tells the story of Jean-Marie Lustinger, the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants who converted to Catholicism and eventually became Archbishop of Paris, while maintaining a Jewish cultural identity. He wound up being a mediator between the communities when a group of Carmelite nuns wanted to build a convent at Auschwitz.

The Monday Matinee Box Lunch on Nov. 10 precedes a 12:15 p.m. double-feature of “The Lady in Number 6” and “The Sturgeon Queens” at the Belcourt. The $25 admission includes both films and a box lunch from Jason’s Deli at 11:30 a.m.

“Number 6” is an Oscar-winning documentary about Alice Herz Sommer, a 109-year-old Holocaust survivor and the world’s oldest pianist, discussing her story on how to achieve a long and happy life.

“Sturgeon Queens” is about four generations of a Jewish immigrant family and how they maintain Russ and Daughters, a Lower East Side lox and herring emporium.

At 7 p.m., “Under the Same Sun” will screen at the Belcourt. It follows a Palestinian businessman and an Israeli businessman as they try to forge a business relationship, dealing with unique personal and political challenges in a society where there is a strong stigma about working with “the other.”

“Magic Men,” at the Belcourt on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., is about the journey of a 78 year old man and his religious Chasidic rapper son to Greece, searching for an old magician who saved the father’s life.

On Nov. 12, the Belcourt will screen “Little White Lie” at 7 p.m. Lacey Schwartz grew up in a typical Jewish home in New York though often was asked how she had such dark skin. At 18 she found out it wasn’t because of a Sicilian grandfather but because her mother had an affair with a black man.

After her biological father dies, she starts to try and reconcile her identities.

“Above and Beyond: The Birth of the Israeli Air Force” will screen at the Franklin Theatre on Nov. 12 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Belcourt. The documentary details how Jewish American pilots smuggled planes from the U.S., trained in Czechoslovakia and flew to Israel to fight in the 1948 War of Independence. Producer Nancy Speilberg will be at both screenings.

The closing night film will be Nov. 15 at the GJCC. A supper and wine bar will be available at 6 p.m., with admission at $35 per person Transforming a Nazi fighter plane including the film.

“Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story” will screen at 7:30 p.m.

Steinberg directed some of the most successful situation comedies of the last 20 years, including “Seinfeld,” “Mad About You,” “Golden Girls” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Backstage stories are told by Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, Larry Charles, David Bianculli, Bob Einstein and others.

Registration for the dinners and the box lunch are required by Oct. 28.

Home Cooking always pleases…

Casual dining Specializing in Italian cuisine and seafood

OPEN

Monday-Friday 11am-9pm Saturday 4:30-9pm

724 MARTIN BEHRMAN AVE METAIRIE • 504-834-5646 www.furysrestaurant.com

Colonial Oaks Living Center Across from East Jefferson Hospital Emergency

Providing long-term care services in an atmosphere of caring and compassion

METAIRIE’S PREMIER SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

Medicare Skilled Planned Activities Tours Offered Daily Private Pay Social Worker On Staff Three Home-Cooked Meals Daily

4312 Ithaca Street • (504) 887-6414

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 33

culture BOOKS

TRADITION! The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-toHollywood Story of Fiddler on the Roof, the World’s Most Beloved Musical

Barbara Isenberg (St. Martin’s Press)

Since it first opened on Broadway in September 1964, “Fiddler on the Roof ” has constantly been onstage. Barbara Isenberg interviewed the men and women behind the original production, the film and significant revivals – Harold Prince, Sheldon Harnick, Joseph Stein, Austin Pendleton, Joanna Merlin, Norman Jewison, Topol, Harvey Fierstein and more – to produce a lively, popular chronicle of the making of Fiddler.

GATEWAY TO SHEMITTAH:

A COMPREHENSIVE AND PRACTICAL GUIDE Rabbi Dovid Marchant (Feldheim Publishers)

With this being a Shemittah year, this work represents the first practical and comprehensive guide to the laws of Shemittah for the English-speaking public. Rabbi Dovid Marchant explains the laws related to the pre-Shemittah, Shemittah and post-Shemittah years with halachic decisions rendered by contemporary Gedolim, a section on the reasons behind the halachos, extensive source references, and more.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

CHIK CHAK SHABBAT

by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker (Candlewick Press)

When Goldie Simcha doesn’t joyfully throw open her door to welcome everyone in to her apartment for a meal of her famous cholent, her neighbors wonder what could be wrong. Little Lali Omar knocks on the door to 5-A, only to learn that Goldie was feeling too sick on Friday to cook, and everyone knows you can’t make cholent in a hurry, right away, chik chak! But it just isn’t Shabbat without cholent. What can her neighbors do to save the day? In an uplifting story that warms more than your heart, Chik Chak Shabbat offers a cholent recipe that keeps Goldie’s sharing spirit alive.

RABBI BENJAMIN’S BUTTONS

by Alice B. McGinty, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Charlesbridge)

As a sign of affection for their warm-hearted rabbi, the families of the congregation make Rabbi Benjamin a special holiday vest, complete with four shiny silver buttons. Throughout the year — Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, and Passover — the rabbi celebrates with his congregation, unable to resist their delicious homecooked food. But with each holiday his vest grows tight, tighter, until... POP! 34 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

NOLA

nosh

jewish deep south: bagels, biscuits, beignets

{Big Idea}

Matzah ball soup bar Provide selection of add-ins (sugar snap peas, celery, pasta, mushrooms, carrots, onions) to give everyone the opportunity to make their own custom bowl.

KOSHER

Friedman Family Foundation Jewish Food Festival This year, the annual Friedman Family Foundation Jewish Food Festival at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center moves outdoors to Levite Field and expands into more of a fall festival. The usual lineup of items such as brisket, noodle kugel, stuffed cabbage, matzoh ball soup, corned beef sandwiches, white fish salad, falafel sandwiches, potato burekas, Israeli salad and more will still be available.

There will be local craft vendors, the Owls Hollow Market, a pumpkin patch with pumpkin decorating, pony rides and children’s activities. Challah from Ricki’s Bakery in Memphis will be sold, and the Ori Naftaly Band, a soul/blues band from Memphis will perform. There will also be a cornhole tournament open to the public. The festival will be Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

COOKBOOK

THE GEFILTEFEST COOKBOOK: Recipes from the World’s Best Loved Jewish Cooks Gefiltefest founding patron, the renowned cookbook writer Claudia Roden, penned the foreword here in support of the British food charity that aims to “celebrate, promote and revive worldwide Jewish culinary traditions.” More than 65 chefs around the world, including Tori Avey, Claire Berson, Poopa Dweck, Sue Fishkoff, Jamie Geller, Faye Levy, Gil Marks, Joan Nathan, Denise Phillips, Michael Ruhlman, Paula Shoyer and Tina Wasserman contributed recipes for this, the organization’s first cookbook. Among the offerings, Simi Goldberg’s Iraqi culture influences her recipe for a roasted paprika chicken, and Silvia Nacamulli’s Italian heritage gives us Pollo Ezechiele — the prophet Ezekiel’s chicken.

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 35

JFS honors Max Nathan, Jr.

POLICEMAN NOT A POLITICIAN “Experience you can count on”

ELECTHHH Russell

HHH

BLANCHARD CONSTABLE

3 #11 Jefferson Parish 2nd Justice Court

Photo by Donna Matherne

Max Nathan, Jr., who was president of Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans in 1973 and 1974, was honored by the social service agency at this year’s Rhythm and Soul gala. The gala was held on Sept. 14 to a full house at the Audubon Tea Room.

A founding partner of the New Orleans-based law firm of Sessions, Fishman, Nathan & Israel, LLC, Nathan has served as president of the Jewish Endowment Foundation, the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial Project and the New Orleans Anti-Defamation League, and as a board member for the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and Temple Sinai. He has been recognized for his contributions to the Jewish community and has been the recipient of the Tzedakah Award from JEF and the Torch of Liberty Award from the ADL.

Upcoming Events Saturday, October 11

Saturday, October 25

Touro Society Gala Harris Hyman III, honoree Mardi Gras World, 6 p.m.

New Orleans Hadassah BraVeaux Lakefront Airport Terminal, 7 p.m.

Taste of Art and Jazz Northshore Jewish Congregation St. Tammany Association Art House, 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 26

Tuesday, October 14 Live from the 92nd Street Y Alan Alda, Jane Pauley, Fred Newman Temple Sinai

Wednesday, October 15 Erev Shemini Atzeret

Israel Film Festival LBC Stibbs 203, Tulane, 5 p.m.

Monday, October 27 Israel Film Festival Jewish Studies conference room, Tulane, noon

Tuesday, October 28

Shemini Atzeret

The Big Issue: The Sharing Economy Tulane Hillel, 7 p.m.

Friday, October 17

Wednesday, October 29

Simchat Torah

Panel on Jewish Life in the Mississippi Delta Tulane Jewish Studies, LBC Stibbs 203, 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 16

National Urban League Living Legend Award to Rabbi Edward Paul Cohn Temple Sinai, 6:15 p.m.

Saturday, November 1

Installation of Cantor David Mintz Touro Synagogue, 6 p.m.

Center Celebration: One Singular Sensation Gala Uptown JCC, 7 p.m.

Pink Shabbat. Tulane Chabad and AEPhi. 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 2

Sunday, October 19 Some Enchanted Evening Jewish Community Day School Gala Shir Chadash, 5 p.m.

Harriet Kugler Memorial Mah Jongg Tournament Uptown JCC, 10:30 a.m.

36 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

JEF Annual Event Hilton Riverside, 11:30 a.m.

Installation of Beth Israel Rabbi Gabe Greenberg Audubon Tea Room, 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, November 5 Genetic Factors and Breast Cancer (NOLA Hadassah) Center for Restorative Breast Surgery, 5:30 p.m.

NOLA

Continued from page 38

The Sukkah name shows that Jabba was destined to be important, yet nothing more than a temporary obstacle.

But you have to admit that there’s nothing overtly Jewish in any of the films.

There is, in a way. The Jawas, the local traders, were an homage to the local Jewish traders living and working in the desert. They were portrayed as a relatively inoffensive, nomadic people, speaking in a quick language that nobody understands. But, unfortunately, they were also portrayed as scrawny and devious, so we don’t like to talk about it very much.

HEBREW READING CRASH COURSE Free and Open to the Public

LEVEL 1: No prior knowledge of Hebrew is needed to take this 9-week crash course.

Wednesday evenings, 6:15 to 7:15 Class starts on Oct. 22 NEW LOCATION: Starbucks at 7700 Maple Street. The coffee is a treat from Temple Sinai!

LEVEL 2: Will follow, starting in January, for those who wish to continue the learning.

Well, thank you for your time. I have just one more question for you.

I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

FOR MORE INFORMATION or to sign up: Contact Temple Sinai Educator Ann Zivitz Kientz AZK1007@aol.com or (504) 669-7339

What words do you have for the Jewish people if we never find peace in the Middle East?

Hopefully, we will find peace. But if not, isn’t it obvious? The wars will be with you… always.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF TEMPLE SINAI’S FREE ADULT PROGRAMMING contact Ann, and visit our Sukkah Under the Stars, Saturday October 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Refreshments for the body and mind!

Doug Brook is a writer in Silicon Valley who once bulls-eyed a womp rat in his T-16 back home. They’re not much bigger than two meters.

His Genesis satire, “Original Synergy,” premieres this month at Theatre Chevruta. For past columns, other writings, and more, visit http:// brookwrite.com/. For exclusive online content, follow facebook.com/the.beholders.eye.

BUY ONE SANDWICH, GET ONE FREE VALUE OF EQUAL OR LESSER

Value With Coupon, Dine-In Only, Up To $6.95 SJ Coupon Good Through 11-14-14

NOW SERVING PIZZA EVERY WEDNESDAY

Sushi Thursday • Fried Chicken Friday

ONE STOP KOSHER FOOD SHOPPING Eat In — Take Out — Catering -3pm Mon-Thu 10am-7pm • Fri & Sun 10am (Closed Saturday)

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

NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 37

the beholder’s eye • doug brook

Rebbe Wan Kenobi

18

This is Your Chai Interview An Exclusive

In the beginning, there was a question. A short time ago, in a Starbucks not far, far away…

It was warm, sunny, …it awas realized thatsummer Starbuck, being a central character in BatShabbat when an a mixing of franchises. So, the short tlestar morning, Galactica, was causing unsuspecting time agowoman moved to awas Peet’s, slightly less far, far away... approached in the a synagogue parking andfranchise, asked theObi-Wan question that … where elder statesman of anlot, iconic would launch thousand Kenobi, sata down for aquips. cup of coffee, and for a major revelation…

“Do you think you know four rabbis who would prefer people sleeping through the sermon, than talking it?”quite She asaid, Thank you for takingrather the time.

Might I say,during you have glow“probably. about you.”

From headline, I getthat thatcame a lot the these days. “Rabbis prefer sleeping during sermon.”

In that first fateful column, 18 years ago, her innocuous “probably” Let’s rightoftothe it. scientific What’s your major revelation? was theget basis assertion that four out of five rabbis prefer Billions of people have operated decades a false assumption. sleeping during a sermon. From for where cameunder the fifth rabbi?

Simple: The Jedi Order that is so well-known, is actually The Rabbi Order.

When was the last time five rabbis agreed on anything? Thus, four out of Excuse five. me?

Of I believe it’s pastand the investigative counter, second door on the right.there Thecourse. journalistic integrity skills demonstrated could easily led to a prestigious career today in covering the Middle Howhave is this possible?

East most major news the outlets.

Buthave instead, this from column labored Forfor thousands of years, Rabbis suffered things beingevery lost month (exceptIt’sfor ones that were missed), and sometimes twice in translation. an the all too common mistake. monthly, to bring almost several laughs to its almost several readers.

You’re that, inwaves a galaxy far, far away, there are though, rabbis who run It rodesaying the sound of The Southern Shofar despite around in cloaks, wielding lightsabers to keep order? contractual stipulation, never rode in the seat behind a Southern Yes. Except thespoke lightsabers Shabbat no electricity.

That prohibiChauffeur.

It for then in itsonown Deep—South Jewish Voice, before tion does cause some problems — pretty easy to know when to gang upthe on settling in to Southern Jewish Life‘s hind end — unless you read us.

But, on the positive side, religious school classes are much more orderly. magazine right to left, which does not make most of the news today make So, itorwasn’t the Jedi who were wiped out, but all the rabbis? more, less, sense.

Another Of course, there the havewisdom been times history Over theexaggeration. years, this column presented of theinrecentlywhen rabbislong-lost were targeted.

After one particularly bad instance in time, discovered, Mishnah tractate Bava Gump which, among otherI went into hiding.

I changed my name and went into a self-imposed exile things, teaches how shrimp can be kosher. until time was rightthe to return.

Thethecolumn retold legendary adventures of the beloved young kabbalist, Harry Plotzer, and his adventures You didn’t change your name very much. with The Sanhedrin’s Stone, through The Chamber of Shpielkis, The Prisoner Ashkenaz It was enough, though, wasn’t it? Iand waswith never found untilofI wanted to andfound.

The Gabbai of Fire, though not yet getting to The Deadly Challahs. be You should like the name change — it’s the strongest evidence Occasionally there were guests, such as the recurring one due to a hareof my roots. brained rabbinical typo, Ask the Rabbit, as well as Gurb the Caveman How and do you Rabbi, themean? occasional special report from The Oynion.

IExplored simply went the name of Ben Kenobi — son ofand Kenobi. wereby calendar anomalies and events, real surreal, such as So, the stories from the six films so far aren’t entirely accurate to what Thanksnukah, Mezuzapalooza, Kol Nidre the 13th, Purover, Chrisnukah, actually happened?

Yomtober, and the pirated Rosh Hashaarrrnah and Day of Aarrrtonement.

That’s correct. aren’t theRun drash you’re for…was sung, the The chorus of These “Bubbe’s Been Over Bylooking a Reindeer” Rebbe at the his bell rung, and the Grinch who hated Jew-ville Can you giveBat angot example? had his hatred unstrung.

Luke’s original training isn’t at all what I intended. I was simply telling Intocase it wasn’t apparent, this is the 18th anniversary of this space him attend Yom Kippur services. not being for rent. In honor of this Chai anniversary, it would seem How is that even possible? appropriate to toast it with some chai tea.

Common misconception. I didn’t say to him, “You will go to the DagoExcept that chai tea has baffled rabbinic scholars for hundreds of bah system. There you will learn from Yoda…” I said, “You will go to the seconds. (“Should we have seconds? Is one cup enough? Let’s drink on Day of Atonement service. There you will learn from Yonah…” it.”) After all, chai is not pronounced like Chai, though a cup of chai Are you saying the biblical prophet Jonahsay was a tiny green guy makes it easier tothat pronounce Chai.

And some that chai little has properties who sounded like Miss Piggy with a chest cold? that help to extend one’s life, one’s Chai.

Not He started out six-foot-five andIced blond.

SeeIshow you looka Andoriginally. what is chai tea’s relationship to Thai Tea? there such and sound after three days insideis,a are whale. thing as Thai Chai Tea? If there its effects best described as tai chi forAnything the digestive system? else lost in the translation?

These are to ponder during Day season, Plenty.

For questions example, Jabba the Hutt was this reallyHigh JabbaHoly the Sukkah.

The though perhapstheir notname late to afternoon Yom Kippur.

This column films translated be betteron understood by mass audiences. continued continued on on theprevious previous page 38 Southern Jewish Life • October 2014

NOLA

presented by THE LUPIN FOUNDATION

one SINGULAR

SENSATION featuring THE BROADWAY BOYS

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 7:00 PM | NEW ORLEANS JCC SEATED DINNER CATERED BY CHEF ROMMEL LIVE AUCTION WITH LEE ZURIK A BROADWAY MUSICAL REVUE NOLA

October 2014 • Southern Jewish Life 39