“Three Figures and Four Benches” by George Segal, at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans. Story, page 30
As this issue was wrapping, we saw a video that had been posted by the Tulane chapter of Students Supporting Israel. Apparently, various anti-Israel groups decided to have a “study-in” at the Tulane library. Their students showed up wearing keffiyehs and had signs on the lids of their laptops with everything from “ceasefire now” to “our tuition funds genocide” to “while we are reading, Gaza is bleeding.”
From what the videos showed, they were generally studying quietly at tables throughout the room, and were taking up most of the seats. There were some pro-Israel students, including one who wore a T-shirt about the hostages, and the sign on her laptop noted that “most of the signs around me are lies.”
When this video hit some of the online message boards about campus antisemitism, there was a huge amount of negative reaction, as one might expect. Some called for the police to intervene, some asked where the administration is in all of this, and others spoke of the intimidating atmosphere that the kefiyyeh-clad students were making.
There have been numerous incidents over the course of the past year that have been blown out of proportion. Somebody goes into a store and sees an employee wearing the a pin of the Palestinian flag, and they spread it around, outraged, and vowing to make things difficult for that store. Or an anti-Israel speaker is invited to campus for an event, and the immediate reaction is “how do we get this cancelled.”
In cases like where a bookstore cancels an event with a “Zionist” author, outrage is justified. An employee wearing a pin? If pins are allowed as part of the company uniform, that’s really not a big deal.
This is not the route to take. We can’t wave a magic wand and make all the anti-Israel demonstrators, speakers or activists disappear. Nor should we. As long as everybody behaves themselves, everybody has the right to express their opinion. And we have the right, one-on-one, to approve or disapprove and act accordingly.
But when every slight against us is met with demands for cancellation, every sighting
Southern Jewish Life is an independent Jewish periodical. Articles and columns do not necessarily reflect the views of any Jewish institutions, agencies or congregations in our region.
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of a Palestinian flag is made to be a major incident, it does a couple of things. First, it makes us seem reactionary, that we can’t handle people with differing viewpoints. That we are insecure.
Don’t think that this is referring to activists who promote the destruction of Israel, however. That is outside the bounds of civilized discourse, let alone the oft-cited “legitimate criticism of Israeli policy.”
So many of us have yellow ribbons promoting awareness of the hostages. While we may not like it, a Palestinian flag pin promotes awareness from the other side. We can’t expect our views to be permitted and theirs to be disallowed.
Second, attempts to have events cancelled play directly into the martyrdom complex that anti-Israel activists love to adopt. They can’t wait to complain that these all powerful Zionists (meaning the Jews who control everything, of course) are throwing their power around to silence them. Anti-Israel activists and groups have long marched through the streets and on campuses shouting about how their point of view is being silenced. They do so blissfully unaware of the irony.
As long as events like the study-in remain
peaceful and nobody bothers students who do not subscribe to their opinion, there should be no problem letting events like that go on. We may not like it, but just as the antidote for bad speech is more speech, pro-Israel students need to make their presence felt and not just stand back and let the other side take over the public square.
Even if the anti-Israel students flooded the library and took all available seats, well, libraries are open to everyone. Even if they are purposely filling all the seats so nobody else can use them, as long as they are not causing a disturbance they have every right to be there.
If they are intimidating other students or disrupting the atmosphere of the library, that is something completely different.
This, of course, applies to campuses where it is still safe to have reasonable discourse. There are numerous campuses, especially up north, and especially at elite institutions, where anti-Israel actions turn into near riots, and in those cases the safety of Jewish students is definitely in question and the administration has to take a more active role, including shutting down the offending events.
We need to pick our battles. We can’t let the
continued on page 36
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interesting bits & can’t miss events
On Sept. 7, Israeli Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon was at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa to see Alabama take on South Florida, as the university honored retired coach Nick Saban. During her visit, she spoke to Temple Emanu-El and students at Hillel, and spoke to the School of Law and the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership. She watched the game with University President Stuart Bell and Rep. Mike Rogers. “At a time when too many universities are sadly getting it wrong, UA is setting a beautiful example of how to get it right,” Sultan-Dadon said. “These are difficult times for Israel, and it was so heartwarming and appreciated to be among so many friends and supporters. “
Battle of the Billboards
A billboard war between Palestinian groups and pro-Israel advocates in Birmingham received a surprise entrant on Oct. 7.
In May, a billboard by the “Young Palestinians of Birmingham” appeared off Interstate 65 near downtown, displaying a Palestinian flag with the words “Stand with humanity, stand with freedom, stand with Palestine.”
In response, a small group in the local Jewish community started Birmingham Friends of Israel, raising funds for a billboard that had an Israeli flag with the message “Hamas and Terrorism are your problems too,” and was tagged with #StandUpToAllHate. After raising over $4,000, the cost to have the billboard produced, it went up along Interstate 65, also by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The Palestinian group responded by placing its billboard again in early September, this time along the Red Mountain Expressway around 4th Avenue South.
The Palestinian group has since updated its billboard with a couple images of Palestinian men holding wounded or dead children, with the caption “This didn’t start on October 7th. Stop Israel now.”
The Friends of Israel group was already working on fundraising for its second billboard, this time with an American flag and the message “Stand Up to Antisemitism.”
Then on Oct. 7, the one year anniversary of the Hamas invasion of Israel, several electronic billboards started displaying a “Stand with Israel” message with an Israeli flag and a yellow ribbon for the hostages in Gaza — paid for by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s campaign. One of those billboards is directly across the Red Mountain Expressway from the Palestinian billboard.
Marshall said he placed his billboards in response to the Palestinian messages, and felt it was important to reiterate the
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support for Israel in Alabama. He had visited Israel one month before the Oct. 7 atrocities, including a stop at one of the border communities with Gaza, where residents spoke about their hopes for peace.
Hamza Abu-Hamdeh, president of the Young Palestinians of Birmingham, told al.com that Marshall should focus on Alabama instead of supporting a foreign entity. Usually, anti-Israel activists have focused on City Councils, urging them to pass ceasefire resolutions aimed at Israel.
Organizers of the Birmingham pro-Israel billboards were surprised to see Marshall’s billboards, and welcomed the support. “Perhaps other AGs throughout the nation will take note of this,” Mark Goldstone said.
Over the past couple of years, a coalition of state attorneys general have probed Unilever and Morningstar to ascertain whether the companies had policies that went against state laws against boycotting Israel. Last December, Marshall was among 13 colleagues who called on media organizations to cut ties with freelancers who were connected to Hamas.
The Friends of Israel billboard project is continuing their efforts, and can be reached at P.O. Box 26027, Birmingham 35244, or at birminghamfriendsofisrael@gmail.com.
New Orleans billboards
Over the summer, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans put up several billboards in the area with a silhouette of city landmarks and the message “No Hate in Our Home.” That message was then reinforced with a New Orleans Statement of Peace, which was signed by many leaders in the Jewish and non-Jewish communities, and affirmed by the City Council on Aug. 8.
The local chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, which charges the Federation with supporting genocide, posted online that it had “fixed” the billboards, showing instead the message “Zionism is Racism.”
In Chicago, several electronic billboards were hacked on Oct. 16 to display a Palestinian flag with the messages “F--- Israel” or “Death to Israel.” The company that owns the billboards shut them off completely about an hour and a half after they were first reported. Police are investigating.
A popular YouTuber in Chicago was referenced on the hacked billboards as having paid for them. He denied any connection and issued a statement that he immediately contacted the billboard company and his attorneys to have them removed.
A similar hack was done on electronic road construction signs in Arizona.
Birmingham Friends of Israel is fundraising to post this billboard
Just business… or ideology?
AHEC announces Kristallnacht lecture at UAB
The Alabama Holocaust Education Center welcomes Peter Hayes for the annual Kristallnacht Commemorative Lecture, a preview of his forthcoming “Profits and Persecution: German Big Business in the Nazi Economy and the Holocaust.” The event will be at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Hulsey Auditorium on Nov. 7 with a reception at 5:30 p.m. and the talk at 6 p.m. The talk is in partnership with the UAB Department of History.
Hayes, longtime professor in history and German at Northwestern University, was chair of the academic committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
In his new book, Hayes explores whether German businesses were active collaborators with the Nazis, or just doing business. He discusses how businesses became involved with the Nazi persecution, exploitation, and murder of the Jewish people, using intimidation and temptation. Very few of the businesses were ever brought to justice, another topic explored in the book.
Hayes will also be one of the speakers at an AHEC teacher’s workshop on Nov. 6, held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the AHEC. The workshop is free, and a substitute teacher reimbursement is available.
At the workshop, Hayes will identify eight myths and misconceptions about the Holocaust. UAB Professor of History Jonathan Wiesen will discuss everyday life under the Nazi regime, and AHEC applied researcher Ann Mollengarden will discuss popular myths about Kristallnacht.
The center’s Taking Action Together series continues on Nov. 20 at noon, online, with Irmtraud Kauschat of the Marshall Rosenberg Center for Nonviolent Communication addressing the issue of rising antisemitism in “Empathy in Action: Tools for Combatting Antisemitism and Hatred.”
On Dec. 11 at noon, the series continues with “The Mischlinge Expose,” with Carolyn Enger. Her recent essay on the subject was included in the book “Women Defying Hitler: Rescue and Resistance Under the Nazis,” and she is working on a documentary film. A noted classical pianist, Enger is the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. She uses her family story to show the struggles of mixed-race people in the Holocaust, as the Mischlinge, a derogatory term used by the Nazis, were neither fully Jewish nor fully Aryan, not receiving the full brunt of Nazi persecution but unable to escape it.
JEF of Louisiana announces Camp grants for Summer 2025
For the summer of 2025, the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana will once again administer two incentive programs for Jewish sleepaway summer camp.
The Goldring Jewish Summer Camp Experience, funded by the Goldring Family Foundation, offers grants of up to $1,500 to help families send first-time campers to nonprofit Jewish sleepaway camps. Sponsored by the Goldring Family Foundation since 1999, this program has distributed grants enabling more than 1,800 children to attend Jewish summer camp for their first summer.
Children in grades one through nine who reside in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle are eligible to apply.
The RoseMary and Saul Brooks Fund for Jewish Youth Engagement assists children from small towns within Louisiana that are geographically distanced from a Jewish community to attend Jewish sleepaway camp. The fund provides grants of minimally $550 per camper for up to 10 Jewish children each year.
Applications for both programs are open as of Oct. 15, and will be accepted through March 1. Families will receive award notifications by mid-April.
More details on eligibility requirements for both programs are available by clicking the “Youth & Camping” tab on the JEF website (jefno.
Fielkow, Grant launch “elevated” talk show
Arnie Fielkow, former CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and past president of the New Orleans City Council, and Cary Grant, former assistant chief administrative officer for the city of New Orleans, announced the launch of their new radio show, “Elevated Conversations: The Arnie and Cary Show.”
The show airs Tuesdays through Thursdays from 6 to 7 p.m. on WBOK1230AM, and debuted on Oct. 8.
“Elevated Conversations” will delve into a variety of topics, including national and local politics, current events, international affairs, sports and more. With a commitment to fostering unity and civility, the show will serve as a “No Hate Zone,” encouraging respectful dialogue among co-hosts and the listening audience alike.
“I am extremely excited to join with my respected colleague, Cary Grant, in launching this new show on WBOK,” said Fielkow. “It is my objective that the two of us, together with the listening audience, can tackle the many important issues of the day emanating from New Orleans, as well as from around the nation and globe. I hope this can be accomplished through a respectful dialogue with and between the co-hosts and the listening audience — something much-needed in today’s divisive environment. Many thanks to the station ownership for inviting us to join the WBOK family.”
Grant added, “I believe this show will be a platform for constructive conversations that inspire our community. Together, Arnie and I aim to bridge gaps and elevate discussions that matter to our listeners. We look forward to engaging with our audience and hearing their perspectives.”
In 2018, during Fielkow’s time as CEO, the Federation launched a monthly “Cross-Cultural Conversation” show on WBOK with Oliver Thomas, exploring Black/Jewish relations. Under the banner of the Federation’s Goldring Family Foundation Center for Jewish-Multicultural Affairs, launched in 2020, the show continued as “Stronger Together.”
During Covid, he co-hosted the Maccabi USA @Home Sports Show with Donna Orender, featuring Jewish athletes and the World Maccabi Games.
Montclair Run set for Nov. 28
The annual Sam Lapidus Montclair Run will take to the streets outside Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center on Nov. 28.
The Thanksgiving tradition that began in 1976 is a 10-kilometer event celebrating the life of Sam Lapidus while raising funds for the LJCC and the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. There is also a 5-kilometer run and a one-mile fun run. About 1,500 runners take part each year, with over 1,000 spectators along the way.
Lapidus grew up at the LJCC, working out or doing sports, even after he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. He died in 2008, just before his 15th birthday after a six-year battle with the cancer. The event was renamed in his memory in 2009.
Advance registration through Nov. 3 is $36 for the 5-kilometer or $42 for the 10-kilometer races, both of which start at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 28. Registration prices increase on Nov. 4. There is also a $36 “Friends of Sam” absentee registration for those who want to support the event. The one-mile fun run, which begins at 10 a.m., is $18. From each registration, $5 goes to the Cancer Center. Packets can be picked up at the LJCC lobby during the day on Nov. 27, or starting at 7 a.m. on Nov. 28.
Runners can establish fundraising pages, and there will be awards for the highest fundraiser for the Center for Childhood Cancer, and for the LJCC. With costumes welcome, there will also be a “best dressed” award for a team or individual. Dogs and strollers are welcome.
The 10K and 5K races start in front of the LJCC, heading west on Montclair Road to Memory Lane, then turning the other direction. The 5K turnaround is just past the entrance to St. Francis Xavier, while the 10K goes to Putnam Middle School near Eastwood, then back.
Jewish Children’s Regional Service in New Orleans announced its annual Latkes with a Twist events. In New Orleans, Alon Shaya of Saba will be the featured chef, on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Press Street Station. In Houston, the Dec. 15 event at 6 p.m. at Beth Israel will feature Kenny and Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen. Proceeds from the event benefit the social service agency’s programs, which provide Jewish sleepaway camp scholarships and college assistance, as well as special needs assistance to Jewish youth in a seven-state region.
The Partnership2Gether among Birmingham, New Orleans and Rosh Ha’Ayin is holding a series of Zooms about the current situation in Israel. On Dec. 1 at noon, Gabi Cohen, deputy commander of the Rosh Ha’Ayin Emergency Squad, will discuss the challenges, dangers and essential role the volunteers play in safeguarding the community. Registration links are available through the community Federations, or on the Partnership Facebook page.
During Simchat Torah services on Oct. 25 at B’nai Israel in Pensacola, there was a special Rabbi’s Hakafah of Jewish Unity, as Rabbi Joel Fleekop of Temple Beth El joined B’nai Israel Rabbi Yehoshua Mizrahi to dance with the Torahs.
Kibbitz and Konnect will have a 50s-plus singles happy hour, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. Eastern at Under the Cork Tree in Atlanta. Tickets are $20 by Nov. 14, higher after. Space is limited. There will be appetizers and a cash bar. A free drink is available to those who bring someone who has not been to a Kibbitz and Konnect event.
Deep South
Rabbi Judy Caplan-Ginsburgh will lead her annual Introduction to Judaism on Nov. 2 at Gemiluth Chassodim in Alexandria, from 1 to 4 p.m. The class is free and open to the public, supported by the National Center to Encourage Judaism. Over 100 attended the last class in April. Registration is required.
Beth Israel in Jackson will have a fall rummage sale on Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hillel at Ole Miss is hosting “How Colleges Should Address Anti-Semitism and Hate,” with Rabbi Micah Greenstein of Temple Israel in Memphis, Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. at Paris-Yates Chapel.
The Birmingham Jewish Federation is holding a men’s event for the annual campaign, Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Pine Tree Country Club. Speakers will be John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute at
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MSJE set to open Southern Jewish Family Research Center
Three years after opening its doors in New Orleans, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience will cut the ribbon on its first major expansion, on Nov. 7.
The Southern Jewish Family Research Center will be located on the museum’s third floor. The 2,500 square foot center will have five distinct spaces devoted to different aspects of family history.
The reference library will be a repository for materials donated to the research collection, including published works, reference materials, individual family genealogies and community histories. The archive will house the most sensitive items, making them accessible to researchers and the public.
The conservation room will be where museum staff will conserve, catalogue, digitize and prepare archival material for exhibition and online accessibility.
The oral history studio will be for preserving interviews, and also serve as a distance learning studio to videoconference with classrooms all over the country.
A special exhibition gallery will house changing exhibits and traveling exhibits.
The Center is the realization of the MSJE’s vision for the museum’s expansion. “Since we opened the museum three years ago, countless people have asked us to help them discover more about their Southern Jewish family history,” said Executive Director Kenneth Hoffman. “The programs and services that we offer in this new Center will help us do just that.”
Several families across the South supported the project financially.
The preservation and digitization suite is made possible through the Perlin Family Foundation, led by Rabbi Amy and Gary Perlin. Rabbi Perlin is featured in the museum as the first female rabbi in the United States to start her own congregation, Temple B’nai Shalom, in Fairfax Station, Va., in 1986. The family has previously provided major museum and archival support to the American Jewish Archives of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, most recently funding the acquisition of American Jewish portraits. “As proud Virginians, we feel it is important to preserve and share the 370 year old American Jewish story,” says Rabbi Perlin.
The Center’s goal is to fully digitize its archival collection, eventually making it available to researchers and the public online.
The reading room and library has been named for Ben May (18891972), a son of Alsatian Jewish immigrants who became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Mobile. May’s philanthropy included funding Mobile’s main library, the Ben May Department for Cancer Research at the University of Chicago, and even funding Sir Alexander Fleming’s research on penicillin. “As one of the museum’s earliest supporters, the Ben May Charitable Trust is proud to be part of this exciting expansion, and to help keep the legacy of Ben May’s Southern Jewish experience alive,” says Ben May Trustee Lynette Perlman Koppel.
Besides books and journals on Southern Jewish history and culture, the library features a large collection of Southern Jewish congregational cookbooks and a growing collection of family genealogies, previously unavailable to the public.
Additional key support for the project came from Joanne Fried of Metairie and Ivan Sherman of New Orleans.
“Jews have been an important, but lesser known part of Southern history from colonial times up to the present day,” says Hoffman. “The
community
museum, and now the Southern Jewish Family Research Center, is part of our on-going conversation with those who came before us and those who will come after. Ultimately, that conversation can expand our understanding of what it means to be an American.”
A temporary exhibit, “Greetings from Main Street – Southern Jewish Postcards from Our Collection,” will be on view in a new special exhibition gallery, adjacent to the Center. It will feature postcards from many of the 13 states the museum covers, spanning most of the 20th century and showing the variety of ways Southerners encountered the Jewish presence in their communities on a daily basis.
The museum was first established in 1986 at the Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Miss. It expanded into the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in 2000, which provides Judaic services to Jewish communities in a 13-state region.
The museum closed in 2012 as the camp needed the space, and the museum was largely inaccessible for larger levels of tourism. It was spun off by the Institute into a separate entity, and New Orleans was eventually selected as the new home. In 2019, the museum’s collection made its way from Mississippi to New Orleans, and the museum opened in 2021 after a Covid delay.
The ribbon cutting celebration will be on Nov. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations are required.
MSJE hosting talk on Southern synagogue architecture
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans will host a talk by Sam Gruber about synagogue architecture in the South. The 6 p.m. program on Nov. 14 is in person and available online.
The talk is based on his research for the online exhibition “Synagogues of South,” created by the College of Charleston. Using postcards and other imagery and a wide array of documentary sources, Gruber presents a continuously evolving array of buildings reflecting changing Jewish practice and Jewish-American identities.
With the religious and cultural pluralism of America, synagogue construction has involved an unprecedented variety, starting with traditional trends but, especially in recent years, evolving into new forms and styles.
Gruber was founding director of the Jewish Heritage Program of World Monuments Fund and research director of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. He is currently director of Gruber Heritage Global, a cultural resource consulting firm, and is president of the not-for-profit International Survey of Jewish Monuments. He also teaches as part-time faculty at Syracuse University, in art history and Jewish studies.
Baton Rouge’s Jewish community unites in new synagogue building
As Rosh Hashanah approached, Rabbi Sarah Smiley reflected on what would be her third High Holidays with the Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge, ushering in a sense of permanence after two years of moving around.
The congregation, which reunited two years ago after separate lives since 1945 as B’nai Israel and Beth Shalom, completed a renovation and expansion of its Kleinert Avenue facility, dedicating the new unified space over Purim.
Two years ago, she was the new rabbi in town, the first for the combined congregation after the two “legacy” Reform congregations each had an interim rabbi to guide them through the reunion process. Work was beginning on Kleinert Avenue, so they were meeting at the former Beth Shalom location on Jefferson Highway. Being new, and with the merger having just happened, she tried to do everything the way both congregations had done it, and the services were too long.
Last year, they were still at Jefferson Avenue, but she “struck a balance” and had a different cantorial soloist than the previous year.
This year, it was the same cantorial soloist, but the congregation is now in its new home, with a wide range of innovations and technology to incorporate into services — and it is time to settle in for the congregation’s new phase.
“It is a great space,” said James Bullman, the congregation’s vice president. “Every few weeks, we are finding a better and more meaningful way of using it.”
Smiley said they tried to incorporate aspects of both congregations into the new facility, which had been the home of B’nai Israel. There was a concerted effort to ensure that there wasn’t a feeling of Beth Shalom moving into B’nai Israel’s space, but a fresh beginning for the entire community, a new space in a familiar location.
The overall campaign raised $5.64 million in pledges, and the unified congregation reports 300 family memberships.
The existing B’nai Israel space was mainly repurposed, and a new wing was added with the new sanctuary and kitchen. The religious school wing is now the home of the Rayner School, a preschool that had been at Beth Shalom. The congregation also had its inaugural summer day camp this year, with 22 campers.
What was the sanctuary in the previous building was turned into a community living room, with couches and a coffee maker. The room leads to the offices, a Judaica shop, and a library where the old ark is still embedded in the wall, enabling the space to be used as a chapel.
One space that remained mostly the same, the old social hall, now has the large mosaic that was created at Beth Shalom for its 75th anniversary.
Moving that mosaic from Jefferson was a major logistical feat.
In another example of blending the congregations, the entrance to the social hall now has B’nai Israel’s iconic semicircle stained glass window that had been on the pulpit placed over the entrance doors, which were the doors to the sanctuary at Beth Shalom.
They even found hidden connections between the congregations during the renovation. It turns out that the eternal light at the former B’nai Israel was created by the family of a former Beth Shalom president, “but it hung at the former B’nai Israel, and it is a beautiful symbol,” Bullman said.
Outside the new sanctuary, that light is displayed over a Sephardic Torah from Beth Shalom, while the former Beth Shalom eternal light is displayed over the Holocaust Torah that had been displayed at B’nai Israel.
The corridor leading to the sanctuary contains displays of congregational artifacts, such as Torah covers and silver. At the bottom of one section there are a few unusual wooden pieces — from the original B’nai Israel organ. The congregation now uses a grand piano, and with the plummeting use of organs at religious institutions, they could not interest anyone in taking the old organ.
The sanctuary was built for flexibility, with movable walls on both sides for expanded areas for seating, and there are no fixed pews, so the space can be used for a variety of styles of programming.
The space was used for a Purim party during the dedication weekend, and for a Passover Seder. For the religious school, a Passover program in the space included a parent dressing up as Pharoah and the kids throwing the Ten Plagues at him. “This space has allowed us to do some really great Judaic programming.”
It also has allowed for innovative approaches to Shabbat and festival services. A large projection screen has video presentations and the various prayers projected during the service, controlled from an iPad.
Bullman admitted he was skeptical and had to get used to the screen. There were also concerns that the screen would replace having individual prayer books, but that was not the case.
Smiley noted that she sees her role “as facilitating prayer for a group of people,” and there is more connection and energy when she sees faces rather than the tops of heads of people looking at their books.
Smiley said that because of the screen, some congregants say they are able to follow the Hebrew better. She is always adding and changing material so the service does not become static. The Seder, she added, was very interactive with the help of the slides.
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The system also brings music into the religious school, as they do not have a music teacher.
The ark is reminiscent of the mishkan, with gold leaf inside. The design is simple, with a nature theme, as the back of the pulpit has large windows open to a courtyard. The ark doors have a tree branch motif.
The new eternal light is also not a traditional design — and sometimes, visitors mistakenly think they forgot to install one. On top of the ark, there is a lit blown glass sculpture, continuing the tree branch design.
There is also interplay with light coming from the old stained glass windows, which are set in the wall above the foyer behind the sanctuary, on the western side of the building, opposite the pulpit. Bullman said the setting sun comes through those windows. “For every service, they change colors and you can see it dancing across the sanctuary.”
Another non-traditional touch is the yahrzeit tablet. Instead of the traditional row of brass slabs holding nameplates and individual memorial bulbs, there is an interactive digital board in the foyer with the week’s memorials. Even if it is not the week of an individual’s yahrzeit, there is a search function to locate everyone in the system, and they have been working on short biographies and photos of past members. Instead of a series of plaques, they see this system as a repository for the history of Baton Rouge’s Jewish community.
Of course, in today’s world, the building was designed with an eye toward security, from the property perimeter to the pulpit. “There is a lot you don’t see,” Smiley said.
The idea was to create a campus in a community that does not have a Jewish Community Center. The property includes a pickleball court, multiple playgrounds, an outdoor patio for functions and tree-covered spaces.
Bullman said an important part of having this sort of building was to grow the religious school, and this year there are about 80 students.
The faculty is mainly comprised of students from Louisiana State University, and Smiley said they want to be a home for the university students as well.
The congregation sent 25 students to Henry S. Jacobs Camp this summer, along with three counselors.
Smiley said she has noticed a shift among congregants in the past two years. “The community is in a very different place,” she observed. For quite a while, people would introduce themselves and say which of the “legacy congregations” they were from. “Now we are a community” and that rarely happens.
Bullman said that having the new unified space “really helped the process.”
Currently, there is a discussion about what the name for the unified congregation should become, and an announcement is anticipated in January after an open process and discussion.
Now, the focus is on being a home for all Jews in the Baton Rouge area, with the congregation providing “a lot of different on-ramps to being Jewish, collectively,” Smiley said.
— Carol Ann Hobby
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Anti-rocket science
Developer of Iron Dome describes how the lifesaving system became a reality, with boosts from Alabama
Since 1991, by day, rocket scientist Ari Sacher’s job has been to build missiles, most recently the defensive missiles Israel uses to respond to rocket attacks from around the region. By night, since 2017 he has worked with the Birmingham-based U.S. Israel Education Association.
“They are both meaningful in different ways — they both are for the protection of the Jewish people,” he told a gathering at the Bais Ariel Chabad Center in Birmingham on July 11.
In introducing the evening, Rabbi Yossi Friedman from Chabad of Alabama said USIEA is “an amazing organization that works so hard to protect the state of Israel.”
John Mejia, a USIEA board member, said “What we do is very simple. We educate Congress.” The organization has built deep relations with high-level leaders through tours “that go from A to Z. They see everything,” including “the places they aren’t supposed to go to.” Most tours do not go into the territories because of political sensitivities, but USIEA believes that without seeing those areas, representatives are missing vital information needed for understanding the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
The organization has also been involved with building economic ties between Israelis in the territories and Palestinian business leaders, and with a recent effort to “friendshore” medical manufacturing away from China to the Abraham Accords countries, to further cooperation throughout the region. In September, USIEA issued a paper on the necessity of reforming the education system in Gaza, so schoolchildren will learn something other than the demonization of Israel that has been pervasive in the curriculum over the past couple decades.
In 2011, Sacher was a senior engineer in the Iron Dome team at Rafael. Every couple of years, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee would bring a delegation to see the latest defense systems. The AIPAC trips specialize in newly-elected representatives, while USIEA focuses on veterans who are highly placed in relevant committees.
This visit was a couple months after Iron Dome demonstrated its initial operational capability. None of the company senior staff was available for the presentation, so Sacher wound up doing it.
He explained that the delegation had been on the road since leaving Jerusalem at 6 a.m. and this was their last stop of the day. It was also the first major heat wave of the year, so “the last thing they wanted to do was hear a rocket scientist talk about rocket science.”
He had some fun with the delegation, by assuming a thick Israeli accent and slow delivery to start with, unlike his fast-paced witty talk in Birmingham. He soon adopted his normal persona and explained Iron Dome to the delegation, and since then over the years he has spoken to well over 400 representatives about Iron Dome. He says it resonated, and the U.S. has provided a great deal of funding toward the system’s development. He said support for Iron Dome has been “almost visceral.”
A few months after the AIPAC visit, Heather Johnston, founder of USIEA, brought a delegation of high-ranking members from the House Armed Services Committee. Johnston had met Sacher on one of the AIPAC trips.
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Johnston asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declassify Iron Dome enough so the Congressional delegation could see it, and he agreed. That, and a visit to a hilltop overlooking Ashkelon and the Mediterranean, where it was evident to the representatives just how small Israel actually is, prompted them to substantially increase U.S. funding for Iron Dome development when they returned to Washington.
When Israel found itself battling Hamas 15 months later in 2014, there were many Iron Dome batteries in key locations, with a success rate of over 90 percent.
Developing the Dome
The summer of 2006, he said, was “horrific” because Hezbollah fired 4500 rockets at Israel. By comparison, he reminded that Hamas fired about 4500 rockets at Israel in the first week of the current war that began after Oct. 7. But 2006 was the first large volume of rocket fire launched into Israel.
“We understood we had a problem,” he said. There was a meeting in Tel Aviv to discuss Operation Sunfish, a laser-based system to deal with incoming rockets. “Everybody loved the idea of a laser,” Sacher said, and scoffed at his system for developing a missile that would shoot down incoming missiles. The feeling was that lasers “are cool,” and an officer told him “we don’t do bullets,” which was the officer’s dismissive description of the defense missiles.
While lasers may be cool, Sacher reminded them, they don’t work in the rain. “If we can convince our enemies to hold their fire on rainy evenings, then a laser is a pretty good solution. We have not convinced our enemies to do this.”
United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan brought in the best defense system at the time, Vulcan Phalanx, which he described as “essentially a cannon” for the 21st century. It explodes into a cloud of “uranium knives” that shred an incoming missile “about 25 percent of the time.”
Aside from the very low effectiveness, “what goes up must come down,” and clouds of depleted uranium knives were falling everywhere. Also, 10 percent of the shells were not exploding in the air, leaving dangerous debris.
Additionally, that sort of system for protecting a military base is not suited for protecting a population center, because of the shrapnel.
By December 2007, Iron Dome was a PowerPoint presentation with six slides. “Two and one-half years later, we had a system protecting the state of Israel.”
As soon as an incoming rocket breaks the horizon, which takes a couple milliseconds, it is picked up on radar. Some of the rockets are the length of three footballs, he said. The system starts plotting algorithms. “We’re rocket scientists, this is how we enjoy ourselves,” he said. The
algorithm determines if the rocket’s trajectory is toward a populated area, as they do not have a guidance system. “Most fall in areas we don’t need to protect,” he said. In those cases, roughly 75 percent of the time, they let the rocket go because “we don’t want to burn a $100,000 interceptor.”
If an interceptor is sent up, it goes alongside the incoming rocket and has a proximity fuse that detonates, destroying the incoming rocket next to it. That is why intercepts have two explosions.
On the ground, civilian readiness is still vital, because while most intercepts are over open areas, the debris still comes down. The rule is to wait at least 10 minutes after the last alarm before leaving a shelter or protected space.
Because of the expense, he said it would be really nice if lasers were an option, and a laser-based system was unveiled in February that can hit in the diameter of a coin at over 6 miles. It is not expected to be operational until next year, and there are still ways to foil a laser-based system. Also, a laser must remain locked on to its target for several seconds for enough energy to build up to destroy the threat.
But still, it is attractive to have a far less expensive option. “Incoming missile? $1.99. Another missile? $1.99…” he said, mimicking pressing a button repeatedly.
In recent months, there has been more of an emphasis on northern Israel with Iron Dome because Hamas capabilities have been mostly eliminated, but “Hezbollah has taken up the slack,” launching thousands of missiles from Lebanon over the last several months. Many of those missiles have started large forest fires throughout northern Israel, even when they are intercepted by Iron Dome.
A naval version of Iron Dome, called C-Dome, was recently deployed, and in April made its first intercept over the Red Sea on an object fired
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toward Eilat from the Houthi in Yemen.
Sacher asked, “Want to know what the miracle of Iron Dome is?” He said it is a success rate of over 95 percent.
While one might think other countries would be lining up to buy the system, Sacher said it is not useful in all situations, such as covering large areas. He likened it to having “a fur sink. It’s very interesting to have — in someone else’s house.”
President Donald Trump recently told the Republican National Convention that he would have an Iron Dome over the U.S., but Iron Dome batteries protect about 150 square miles from short-range missiles, which is not something the 3.7 million square mile U.S. has dealt with.
The Iron Dome, which response to short-range threats, is just one layer of Israel’s missile defense. David’s Sling covers ballistic missiles from 60 to 130 miles away, along with aircraft and drones. The Arrow 2 and 3 intercept long-range missiles above the earth’s atmosphere.
Partnerships with the U.S. also means that components of Israel’s missile defense systems are made in 26 or 27 different states. In February, Raytheon and Rafael announced construction of a missile factory in Arkansas for Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptors. Testing of the Arrow 3 interceptors took place in Alaska.
Over the years, Sacher has visited defense manufacturers in the Huntsville area numerous times during the system’s development and implementation.
Sacher closed the presentation with a slide he recently showed on Capitol Hill — an outdoor photo from his nephew’s wedding. Far in the background, there is an Iron Dome interceptor reaching its target.
“All an Israeli needs to continue living is a sense of security,” he said. “The children of Israel live, and that is what we plan to continue doing.”
CHRISTY LYNCH #9
U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana’s Second Congressional District
My campaign is grounded in the Constitution and driven by diligence, excellence and integrity. Together, we can secure our border, beat inflation, create economic opportunity, improve our education system and provide federal dollars for excellent policing. Let’s end federal taxation on Social Security recipients.
My Republican credentials include:
• President and Founder (October 2021)
Greater New Orleans Republican Women
• Governor Jeff Landry’s Appointee to the Orleans Parish Board of Election Supervisors
• Republican State Central Committee for District 7B
• Audit Committee, Republican State Central Committee
• Orleans Parish Republican Executive Committee for District C
• President of the Huntlee Village Neighborhood Association
As a businesswoman, I am an inactive CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner. I have also been an Accounting Professor, having taught at Tulane, UNO, Our Lady of Holy Cross University and Delgado Community College.
Goods to receive Judah Touro Society Award
The Touro Infirmary Foundation in New Orleans announced that Susan and Lou Good will receive this year’s Judah Touro Society Award at the Foundation’s annual gala, Nov. 14 at the Audubon Tea Room.
The award is Touro’s most prestigious honor, recognizing an individual or family whose continued support of Touro strengthens the community and inspires others through outstanding service. The award is presented annually by the members of the Judah Touro Society to honor exceptional contributions to Touro.
The Goods have a multiple generation legacy at Touro, and one could say that Lou was born into it, as he was born at Touro. Lou’s grandfather oversaw the expansion of the Touro campus in the 1960s. His mother served as president of the Touro Auxiliary, and when he and Susan were married, the family gave her life membership in the Auxiliary, and she went on to serve as treasurer.
Lou’s father was board chair of Touro, and after 12 years on the board, Lou also rose to that position.
They are long-standing members of the Judah Touro Society and co-chaired the 2022 award dinner. Both of their children, Jennifer and Jeffrey, were born at Touro, as were their four grandchildren, Ellie and Megan Zurik, and Benjy and Claire Good.
This isn’t the first Touro to honor the Goods — in 2015, Touro Synagogue honored them with the L’Chayim Award. Lou is a past president of the synagogue, and chaired the camp committee at Henry S. Jacobs Camp for four years just after Katrina. In 2014, Susan was co-chair of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ Annual Campaign.
The gala will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14, with a patron cocktail hour at 6 p.m. Individual tickets are $200, with a reserved table of eight for $2500. Sponsorships range from $2500 to $20,000.
Society members contribute at least $1500 annually, and receive two tickets to the gala and patron cocktail hour, as well as invitations to special events throughout the year.
Proceeds raised through the Judah Touro Society Gala benefit the Touro Fund, which supports the hospital in areas of greatest need.
NOAI festival to include sessions on Jewish philanthropy
The 11:11 Philosophers Group will have a series of talks on Jewish philanthropy as part of its NOAI festival of arts and ideas, “Creativity and Science Converges,” Nov. 9 to 11 at the Jazz Museum in New Orleans.
On Nov. 11 at 11:30 a.m., there will be a keynote conversation with Ruth Messinger, who led the American Jewish World Service from 1998 to 2016, during which the organization made over $270 million in grants to promote human rights worldwide, and large contributions to New Orleans after Katrina.
At 2 p.m. there will be a presentation on the “colorful history and future of Jewish philanthropy in New Orleans.” At 4 p.m., Morris Bart will speak with Blake Bertuccelli-Booth on making philanthropy work for business, especially his longstanding support of Jazz Fest.
The conference will end at 5 p.m. with a Giving Game, where participants suggest causes and the group selects 11 recipients on the Sunday before the conference. Those in attendance at the final session will then determine percentages for each of the 11 groups as the organization empties its bank account of all profits. Tickets for the three-day event are $33.
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Sarah Gotlieb and Bobby Garon
Looking at Year-End Charitable Giving and Tax Planning
As community members start thinking about year-end financial planning, the Birmingham Jewish Foundation and the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana are sharing ideas that one may consider. They caution that this article should not be considered tax advice, and encourage everyone to consult with their tax advisor to receive optimal tax advantages and guidance.
As the end of the year approaches, they note it is helpful to reflect on how donors can use specific charitable giving strategies to maximize the support they can provide to the organizations they care about while also potentially reducing overall tax liability.
Key Year-End Charitable Giving Strategies
Gift Appreciated Assets: Charitable gifts of appreciated assets (stock donations) remain a best practice, and with the rise in stock market values over the last 12 to 18 months, you may have experienced significant growth in your investment portfolio. Such gifts can provide you with a deduction for the full current value of the asset, but also avoid the capital gains tax that would apply if the assets were sold. Conversely, assets with built-in losses generally should be sold (generating a tax loss) with the resulting cash proceeds donated, if desired. Note that, as in previous years, up to $3,000 of capital losses may be used to offset ordinary income.
Donate to a Donor Advised Fund: If you are considering making a significant donation to charity over time or just want the ability to plan your charitable grants over a period of years, but want a deduction today, consider opening a DAF or adding funds to an existing DAF.
“Bunching” Charitable Gifts Can Magnify Tax Benefits: Another favorable benefit to opening a DAF is the ability to “bunch” or “bundle” your charitable contribution in any given year, enabling you to exceed the standard deduction but distribute money held in your DAF over time. You can enhance your tax savings by “bunching” multiple years of contributions this year. The larger contribution can create a bigger tax benefit this year and then provide a fund from which distributions can be made over several years to satisfy your anticipated charitable giving. This approach is especially helpful for donors who might not otherwise be eligible to itemize their deductions. Both BJF and JEF offer donor advised funds and are happy to assist.
Utilize IRA Charitable Rollovers: If you or your spouse are over age 70-½, the IRA charitable rollover is an attractive option that permits you to transfer up to $105,000 this year (the amount is indexed for inflation) from each of your individual retirement accounts directly to a charity, free of any income tax. In addition, such rollovers help satisfy the IRA required minimum distribution if you’ve reached the age where such distributions must be taken into income (generally when you reach age 73). The rollover also removes these retirement assets from any potential estate tax exposure. Additionally, Congress recently expanded the rollover to allow for a one-time up-to-$53,000 distribution to fund a charity gift annuity that can pay you a fixed amount of money each year for life. Your BJF or JEF endowment professional can provide you with more information on this option.
However, please note that rollovers cannot be made to a Donor Advised Fund but can be made to a Designated Fund (which JEF can create for you) or directly to a charity. BJF is not able to accept such gifts, but charitable distributions may be made directly to Federations, synagogues, and other partner agencies.
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Accelerating Non-Charitable Family Giving: The current unified estate and gift tax credit of $13.61 million currently is scheduled to automatically reduce to around $7 million beginning in 2026. Accordingly, if you intend to make significant family gifts (either during your lifetime or in your will), you may want to consider accelerating some or all of those gifts earlier, as your resources permit.
As with any significant tax and charitable planning, it is always advisable that you carefully consider potential changes in the context of your complete financial portfolio and consult with your tax and financial advisors.
The agencies also have a reminder about this year’s deadlines for year-end giving:
Online until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31;
By mail with a postmark no later than Dec. 31; or,
Hand-deliver your gift directly to our office before 12 p.m. on Dec. 31.
To make a grant recommendation from a DAF, submit the request no later than Friday, December 13.
Additionally, securities may be donated by Friday, December 13.
For more information, contact Sarah Gotli eb (sarahg@bjf.org) at the Birmingham Jewish Foundation at (205) 803-1519 or Bobby Garon (bobby@jefno.org) at the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana at (504) 524-4559.
Disclaimer: BJF and JEF do not provide tax advice. Please consult with your professional ad visor before taking any action.
Torah in Space
Jewish astronaut’s documentarian will speak in Metairie
In 1996, Jeffrey Hoffman became the first Jewish astronaut to go to space, on the Space Shuttle Columbia. He took a small Torah scroll with him on the journey, and on Nov. 7, his documentarian, Rachel Raz, will speak on “Space Torah” at Gates of Prayer in Metairie.
The 7 p.m. event will include a screening of a 25-minute film about the Torah’s journey.
The event is sponsored by Jewish Community Day School and its Parents Association, Gates of Prayer, and Tulane University Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience.
During the program, there will be an alternate event for JCDS students who would have already seen the film during her visit to the school earlier in the day.
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To learn about volunteering at CARES, email lise@cjfsbham.org or call 205.879.3438
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19
4:30-7PM | WYES | 916 NAVARRE AVENUE
Shopping / Crafts / WYES & PBS Gift Ideas Kid-Friendly / Festive Music / Food Trucks
At 5:30pm, enjoy an excerpt of Peggy Scott Laborde ' s 2006 WYES documentary CHRISTMAS IN NEW ORLEANS. Laborde will interview puppeteer Jeff Kent who will bring a vintage Mr. Bi ngle marionette that was once displayed in Maison Blanche's front window s on Canal Street.
Chabad of Alabama dedicates Torah in memory of Snir Lalum
Bais Ariel Chabad celebrated the dedication of Snir’s Torah, Sept. 29 at 4 p.m., with a parade down Overton Road starting at the Overton Park tennis courts.
The scroll was started at a ceremony last year on Nov. 19, in memory of Snir Lalum, 44, an Israeli living in Birmingham, who was murdered on Aug. 24, 2023, early in the morning at his business, the Insta-Movers warehouse.
At the park, supporters were able to sit with the scribe as the last letters were filled in. The last two letters were filled in as Lalum’s wife and son, Karin and Yarin, sat by the scroll (see photo, right)
While the completion of a Torah is a celebration, Rabbi Levi Weinbaum said “we dance today with a broken heart.”
Chabad presented Karin with a duplicate of the Torah cover, to take back to Israel, “to remember… that the community of Birmingham will always stand strong and be together with you.”
As it was a couple days before Rosh Hashanah, the shofar was sounded, and there was a prayer for the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
On March 8, Sebastian Ross, 24, and Jaquies Hoffman, 21, were indicted on capital murder charges. Ross reportedly had approached some of Lalum’s workers at a nearby Circle K, looking for work, and followed them to the warehouse, where he spoke with Lalum.
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Unsuccessful, Ross left in a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Hoover the night before, then returned with Hoffman, who got out of the vehicle and went into the warehouse, where a shot was heard, after which Ross and Hoffman fled.
Ross was arrested on Aug. 25, 2023, and Hoffman was arrested on Oct. 4, 2023 in Tallassee. Both were being held at the Jefferson County jail with no bond.
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>> Agenda continued from page 9
West Point, and Birmingham’s Asaf Stein, who served as an IDF Lone Soldier.
The monthly Torah on Tap with Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El will be in conjunction with Temple Emanu-El, with Rabbi Steven Henkin and Cantor Robby Wittner, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Back Forty. First round is complimentary.
The Jewish War Veterans Post 608 in Birmingham will have Veterans Shabbat on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, and Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Temple Beth-El. On Nov. 11, the Post will participate in Birmingham’s Veterans Day parade, the nation’s largest, after missing last year due to Shabbat.
The Beth-El Civil Rights Experience in Birmingham will have community tours on Nov. 1 at 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., with lunch available at 12:30 p.m., or Nov. 10 with lunch at noon and the tour at 1 p.m. Reserve through Beth-El.
The Unknown Child Foundation will celebrate 15 years with A Night to Shine, Dec. 16 at The Landers Center in Southaven, Miss. Priscilla Presley will be the guest speaker. The foundation is an outgrowth of a Horn Lake Middle School effort in 2009 to collect 1.5 million pennies to visualize the 1.5 million Jewish children murdered in the Holocaust. An exhibit about the effort is displayed at the DeSoto County Museum, and there are plans for a children’s Holocaust memorial at the Circle G Ranch, which was Elvis Presley’s retreat.
The Jewish Federation of Central Alabama will have its annual meeting on Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem in Montgomery.
Members of Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El will sponsor and serve Thanksgiving and Christmas lunch for those in need, on Nov. 28 and Dec. 25 at Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn. Volunteers and cash donations are needed for this longstanding tradition in the Birmingham Jewish Community. Community Kitchens, which hosts these meals, has instituted a strict policy that all volunteers must be 15 or older due to safety concerns.
Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El will have Foundation Shabbat on Nov. 2 at the 9:30 a.m. service, with a Team Foundation theme, encouraging those attending to wear a favorite team’s jersey. A “tailgate kiddush lunch” will follow.
The Levite Jewish Community Center will have a Family Fun Day on Nov. 3, free and open to the public. There will be food trucks, group fitness classes, a mini summer camp for
kids, a large inflatable in the indoor pool, free T-shirts, door prizes and more. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The annual Turkey Train at Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge will be on Nov. 17.
The next Southern Jewish Voices at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center will be on Nov. 20, with Robert Levin. The collaborative effort between the LJCC and Temple Beth-El presents stories about Jewish life in Birmingham and around the South. The program is at noon and lunch is included, with advance reservation.
New Orleans
Rabbi Raphael Zarum will return to New Orleans to speak about his new book, “Questioning Belief: Torah and Tradition in an Age of Doubt,” Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at the Uptown Jewish Community Center. Zarum is dean of the London School of Jewish Studies, holding the Rabbi Sacks Chair of Modern Jewish Thought. His book is a finalist in this year’s Yeshiva University Rabbi Sacks Book Prize. The book explores many of the most challenging questions of belief, science and ethics, based on Torah and tradition. His visit is part of the Cathy and Morris Bart Jewish Cultural Arts Series.
The four “Jewish corridor” synagogues on West Esplanade in Metairie are collecting turkeys for Second Harvest Food Bank this Thanksgiving. The Gates of Prayer Brotherhood has set a goal of at least 300 turkeys from Gates of Prayer, Shir Chadash, Beth Israel and Chabad. On Nov. 17 starting at 11 a.m., volunteers will load turkeys on the Second Harvest truck in the horseshoe drive at Gates of Prayer. Participants are asked to bring one or more turkeys, or make a do -
nation to the Food Bank referencing the Turkey Drive. Those helping load the turkeys should bring gloves to handle the frozen birds, and children are encouraged to participate.
As Bayou Bagel prepares to open a brick and mortar location on Prytania Street, members of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans’ JNEXT group for community members in their 40s and 50s will get a sneak peek. On Nov. 24 at noon, owner Howie Kaplan will lead a session on the secrets of making the perfect bagel. There will be a brunch spread, and reservations are $18.
Gates of Prayer in Metairie will have its annual Veterans Service on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m., reading the names of fallen Jewish service members, and hosting a Missing Man table at the oneg. On Nov. 11, there will be a special Veteran’s Day service at 7 p.m., honoring the Zoller family.
Over the past year, the stained glass windows at Temple Sinai in New Orleans have been restored. On Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m., the congregation’s historian, Cliff Kern, will lead “Legacy of Sinai’s Stained Glass Windows,” discussing the background of the windows.
The next Mental Health Professional Workshop at Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans will be on Nov. 15 at 8:45 a.m. Thomas Maestri will lead “Psychopharmacology Review: Common Psychiatric Drug Mechanisms and Side Effects.” He is one of four board certified psychiatric clinical pharmacy specialists in Louisiana. The presentation, which is already sold out, will review the mechanism of action and adverse effects of common medications used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The session is eligible for three diagnosis hours with LCA and three clinical hours for LABSWE.
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Barbara Kaplinsky
Participate in Pledge to Vote Campaign
Last year, only about 36 percent of registered voters cast ballots in October’s primary election, marking the lowest turnout in a Louisiana gubernatorial primary since 2011. The general election in November saw an even lower turnout, when only 23 percent of registered voters made it to the polls. So, we are not a Blue State or a Red State. We are a Non-Voting State.
To counter this apathy and a lack of engagement among voters, Together Louisiana has been developing a voting strategy over the last three years, and it really works. It is called Pledge to Vote and we’ve seen that in prior elections pledge to vote campaigns increased voter turnout by 54 percent among occasional voters.
The National Council of Jewish Women — Greater New Orleans Section, Hadassah, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans and the Congregations of Touro and Sinai have signed on to Pledge to Vote and join with hundreds of organizations throughout the state who are participating. Visit https://pledgetovote.la/ It will take you to a website where you can pledge online. It should take less than one minute to complete. If you pledge to vote in the name of NCJW-GNO, we will follow up with you and remind you to vote.
Let’s DO SOMETHING to make sure that people who are registered take the step of voting. Let’s rebuild a culture of voting in our non-voting state.
Barbara Kaplinsky is the Together New Orleans/NCJW Pledge to Vote chair.
New JLI course explores relationships
The new Jewish Learning Institute series kicks off in November with an exploration of relationships and how to build better connections in all relationships.
The six session course will be offered through Chabads in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Birmingham. It will explore classic Jewish texts to uncover knowledge and skills for practicing empathy, active listening, agreeable disagreement, interpersonal optimism, constructive criticism, and effective relationship repair.
In Baton Rouge, the classes will meet on Mondays from Nov. 4 to Dec. 16, skipping Dec. 2. Classes are in person at 11 a.m. at the main library on Goodwood, or on Zoom at 7 p.m. Registration is $98, including the textbook, with a 10 percent discount for returning students or couples.
In New Orleans, the Chabad Center in Metairie will have a free standalone class with the first session, “The Art of Empathy,” on Nov. 12 at 10:30 a.m. or 7:30 p.m. For the morning session there will be a bagel and lox brunch, at the evening session there will be a meat charcuterie board dinner. Classes will continue on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Registration is $89, including the textbook, and there is a 20 percent discount for couples or returning students. An online option is also available.
The Uptown Chabad will offer the class on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from Nov. 13 to Dec. 18. Registration is $89 with a 10 percent discount for returning students or multiple registrations.
As of press time, there was no information about the Birmingham sessions. The course also qualifies in most states for continuing education requirements for medical doctors, psychologists, social workers, LMFTs and LMHC/LPCs.
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The Touro Infirmary Foundation presents
Judah Touro Society Gala
Thursday, November 14
7-9 pm Gala
Audubon Tea Room
Honoring Susan and Louis K. Good III as the 2024 Judah Touro Society Award Recipients.
Visit touro.com/gala to purchase tickets.
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New Orleans Museum of Art events mark 20th anniversary of Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Two decades ago, Walda and Sydney Besthoff gave a gift to the people of New Orleans. This year, the New Orleans Museum of Art — itself the result of a Jewish gift, by Isaac Delgado in 1910 — is celebrating the gift that became the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden with a series of events, culminating in the Visionaries Gala and Garden Party on Nov. 7 and 8.
“What started as a small collection of sculpture has turned into something momentous with endless collaboration from my late husband Sydney, myself, and NOMA,” said Walda Besthoff, who is a current NOMA Trustee. “Twenty years ago, 20 works were placed in a landscaped setting on five acres adjacent to the museum — which has grown to 100 works of art from the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries on nearly 12 acres. The garden is notable not only for its natural beauty, but also for the breadth and quality of the work it contains.”
“The Besthoff Sculpture Garden perfectly expresses the museum’s mission to provide a welcoming space where visitors of all backgrounds can connect with works created by artists from around the world,” said Susan Taylor, The Montine McDaniel Freeman Director of NOMA. “This anniversary offers an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on the garden’s first 20 years and en-
“Overflow” by Jaume Plensa
New! VIP Preview Party
Monday, December 2 from 6 - 8 PM
Preview Party is age 21 and up. Tickets include sips, snacks and fun extras.
Holly Jolly Market
Tuesday, December 3 from 5 - 8 PM
Academy of the Sacred Heart 4521 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70115 S C A N
community
vision its future as a defining art experience in our city and a destination for visitors from near and far.”
The Besthoffs started collecting art in the 1970s, while also being active with the Contemporary Arts Center. They established the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation to encourage public interest in the arts, especially contemporary sculpture. They placed some of the large sculptures outside the K&B corporate offices at what was Lee Circle. In 1997, they sold the 186-store pharmacy chain to Rite-Aid.
After the acquisition, they started discussing what to do with their sculpture collection. Sydney Besthoff had been on the NOMA board since 1992, and he started discussions with Museum Director Emeritus E. John Bullard about what would eventually become the sculpture garden.
The Besthoffs donated their outdoor sculptures, which had a valuation of about $25 million at the time, and provided cornerstone funding for the landscaping and lighting of the garden. In November 2003, the garden opened with a range of works from the late 19th and 20th centuries.
Works included Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE, a huge diaper pin by Claes Oldenberg, the gravity-defying “Virlane Tower” by Kenneth Snelson, an Ida Kohlmeyer creation, and a George Rodrigue Blue Dog sculpture, “We Stand Together.”
Not even two years after it opened, the garden was dealt a massive blow, as was the rest of the city, with the levee failure following Hurricane Katrina. For almost three weeks, four to six feet of water from Lake Pontchartrain covered 95 percent of City Park. The sculpture garden had to be cleaned, repaired and restored.
In 2017, work began on a $17 million expan-
sion to double the garden’s size to 12 acres. To get around the problem of a road that separated the two sections, a “canal link bridge” was created underneath the road, with a concrete walkway bordered on one side by the lagoon, which goes up to chest level of those walking next to it.
For the new section, numerous pieces were commissioned by noted artists specifically for the garden. The expansion opened in 2019 with 27 new works, an amphitheater and a 5,000-square-foot indoor pavilion.
Two new works were unveiled this year — Sarah Sze’s “Fallen Sky,” a spherical cavity embedded into the landscape with mirrored stainless steel, and “Maybe (Not)” by the duo Elmgreen and Dragset. That piece, an 18-foot diving board towering over the edge of the lagoon with two figures on top, is featured on banners promoting the anniversary.
The expansion also features a chrome bear by Frank Gehry, and a map of the Mississippi River in green marbles by Maya Lin.
The last piece that was acquired before Sydney died in 2002 was “Crocodylus” by Wangechi Mutu.
From the very beginning, the garden was intended to be a gift to the city, so admission has always been free, though donations are welcomed.
The sculptures and landscaping complement each other, evoking Louisiana’s natural features, from the lagoon to the live oaks and indigenous vegetation. The role of water plays a prominent theme.
In 2022, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden was named the top sculpture park in the country in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice poll. The New York Times featured the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in its latest 36 Hours in New Orleans travel itinerary, and the sculpture garden has been included in recent features in numerous magazines.
The 20th anniversary year started last December with a free family day. A complementary exhibition at the museum of works by Kenyan-American artist Wangechi Mutu opened in January; two of her works are permanently in the garden.
Additional artists featured in the garden include Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore, Louise Bourgeois, Sean Scully, Do Ho Suh, Ugo Rondinone, Hank Willis Thomas, and many others.
A new book about the history of the garden and its works is being published by Monacelli, a leading publisher of illustrated books.
The garden is open daily except major holidays starting at 10 a.m., closing at 6 p.m. from April to September, and 5 p.m. the rest of the year.
“We invite everyone to join us in celebrating 20 years of this place of respite, beauty, and discovery for visitors,” Taylor said.
Celebrating the Garden
The November galas will raise funds to support the garden and musem.
“For the Visionaries Gala Dinner and Garden Party, guests from near and far will come together to honor the contributions of Sydney and Walda Besthoff to NOMA and to our city,” said Taylor. “Celebrating one of the most important destinations in New Orleans, this singular event will reflect on the past two decades, while looking forward to the garden’s vibrant future.”
The Nov. 7 gala at 6 p.m. will be a seated dinner in the garden, with several musical acts, highlighted by three-time Grammy winner The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet. The “creative black tie” event is open to Fellows supporters, which is a giving level of $2,000.
The Nov. 8 garden party at 7 p.m. will be a larger event, with music by C’est Funk and The Rumble, dancing, drinks and casual fare. Patron tickets are $150, $125 for museum members.
The garden celebrations are in place of the museum’s usual annual fundraising events, LOVE in the Garden and the Odyssey gala.
For kids like Gwen •
Because Gwen came to Children’s for the diagnosis and treatment of her blood disorder, she received the best care available thanks to ground-breaking research made possible by clinical trials for cancers and blood disorders. The research happening today will lead to future cures, and it is happening here at Children’s of Alabama.
2023/24
Israel Relief Campaign Roll of Honor
The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans thanks the following donors to the 2023/2024 Israel Relief Campaign for their generosity in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023. The Jewish Federations of North America has raised over $850 million nationwide to support victims of terror, help rebuild damaged infrastructure, and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by this horrific attack.
$100,000+
Goldring Family Foundation
Lupin Family Foundation
$50,000 - $99,999
Cathy & Morris Bart
Alan & Diane Franco
Stan & Ellen Kessler
$25,000 - $49,999
Cahn Family Foundation
Kurt & Alice Gitter
Maury Herman
Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana
Hugo & Lis Kahn
John Meltzer
Jean Mintz
Morris & Melinda Mintz
Madalyn & Robert Schenk
Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust
$10,000 - $24,999
Gerald Cohen
Richard Gitter
Dov & Marge Glazer
Howard & Susan Green
Robert & Shirley Haspel Fund
Linda Jacobs
Brian & Lisa Katz
Alan Meltzer
Joel & Toby Mendler
Peter Newhouse
Sanford Pailet
Sidney & Joyce Pulitzer
Leopold & Karen Sher
Billy & Jane Sizeler
Michael & Lynne Wasserman
Currently, the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans has raised almost $2.4 million. This is a continuing crisis, but funds from the New Orleans Jewish community have had a tremendous impact.
$5,000 - $9,999
Bob & Caroline Brickman
Thomas Elder
Carla & Louis Fishman
Richard & Linda Friedman
Juan & Ana Gershanik
Jane Goldring
Fred & Amanda Herman
Bill & Susan Hess
Morton & Carole Katz
Kirschman Health & Education Foundation
Jonathan Lake
Dr. & Mrs. Julius L. Levy, Jr.
Janis Rabin
Leon H. Rittenberg, Jr. Family
Joshua Rubenstein & Shawna Jones
Louis & Dana Shepard
Kenneth & Tara Weiss Fund
Anonymous (2)
$2,500 - $4,999
Dora Ferber Family Foundation
Sarah Lustig
Dan & Jackie Silverman
Edward Soll
Luther and Zita Templeton Foundation
Robert & Marie Wolf
$1,000 - $2,499
Kenneth & Bebe Adatto
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Robert Force
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Scott Goldin
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Russ Herman
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Pythian Noah
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Esther Shefsky
Judith Steinberg
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Janice Stern
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$500 - $999
Jerry & Joan Album
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Rick & Ina Davis
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Rick & Kyna Epstein
Arnie & Susan Fielkow
Rachelle Hirsch
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Josh Mayer
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Scott & Julie Silbert
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$250 - $499
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First New Testament Church
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$100 - $249
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Alan Director
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J David Forsyth
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Milton Grishman
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Anonymous (1)
$1 - $99
Lazelle Alexander
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Timothy Kurtz
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Richard Latner
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Ellen Levy
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Jeffrey Malfatti
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Rabbi Barbara Metzinger
Noel & Brenda Montamat
Betty Bloch Moore
Gerald & Judy Newman
Alexandra Perez
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Sandra Rhein
Larry & Loel Samuel
Ashley Saven
Neil & Jennifer Schneider
Arielle Schwartz
Maya Sheinfield-Kandel
David Shepard & Lesley Lucas
Janna Sherman
Sara Shull
Gary & Nancy Silbert
Alessandro & Julie Steinhaus
Ellen Kempner & Lee Sucherman
Aran Toshav & Rebecca Friedman
Ricardo & Marcela Totah
Shelly Tyler
Heidi Vizelberg
Lorraine Williams
Anonymous (1)
SJL columnist launching Rear Pew II book
At the 1986 BBYO regional convention in New Orleans, Doug Brook scored the first touchdown for Mesch AZA in a decade, on a frozen field at the JCC.
He makes his return to New Orleans to launch “Rear Pew Mirror II: The Wrath of Columns,” a second anthology of columns from his years on the inside back page of Southern Jewish Life. The program will be at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., with an online option available.
An Alabama native, Brook has been in Silicon Valley since 1995. His column debuted in 1996 and he hopes that if either of his two readers are in New Orleans, they will come meet him.
He is also an actor, playing Lazer Wolf in a “Fiddler” production in November, and a playwright, with Gates of Prayer in Metairie having done his “Gonzo Megillah” a few years ago.
For more about the book, see page 46.
>> Opinion
continued from page 4
sight of every single Palestinian flag upset us or set us off. Even though the kefiyyeh is worn by much larger numbers of individuals than even two years ago (especially by people with no ties to the Middle East except for their activism), and a lot of people wear them to intentionally provoke, not unlike those who would wave the Confederate flag, we cannot let every appearance of a kefiyyeh drive us nuts.
As we have seen repeatedly over the past year, these activists routinely not just step over the line but bulldoze it. The more ridiculous they become, the more they inconvenience people with no stake in this dispute, the fewer friends they make in the general public. So it’s not entirely bad to let them have their excesses and alienate people. By doing so, they also let us know who the haters are so that we can keep an eye on them.
Remember that October 7 happened on Simchat Torah in 2023. During that holiday, as we finish the Torah cycle for the year, we sing “be strong be strong and let us strengthen each other.”
The anti-Israel activists are not going away anytime soon. So as they demonstrate and threaten, let us strengthen each other, and let us not get caught up in reacting to every single appearance that they make. And let’s have positive demonstrations of our views.
Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor
Southern Jewish Simchas
Full steam ahead for simchas
Newly-renovated Steamboat Natchez ready to host
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the authentic Steamboat Natchez is fresh from an $11.4 million renovation. The historic vessel gleams from bow to stern with a long list of cosmetic renovations true to her elegant Victorian styling. The legendary steamer is synonymous with Southern hospitality and a spirit of adventure, offering daily brunch, lunch and dinner cruises with live jazz and captain’s narration.
The Steamboat Natchez has hosted numerous bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, receptions and farewell brunches over the last 50 years. The vessel is often an iconic backdrop and an integral part of New Orleans riverfront festivals and major sporting events such as Super Bowls, Sugar Bowls and Final Four Games.
While many of the recent upgrades are structural, navigational and mechanical and may go unnoticed by passengers, guests are encouraged to take a peek at the boiler room and tour the fully labeled engine room, where an engineer welcomes questions about anything related to steamboat operations.
The Steamboat Natchez typically goes into an annual layup for a few weeks, at which time Coast Guard inspections are done and maintenance and renovation projects are completed. “We are usually very limited in what projects we can do between cruises and in layup,” said Matt Dow, director of marine operations. “This time our new Riverboat City of New Orleans ran our daily jazz cruises so the Natchez was finally able to relax and take the very long spa day she deserved.”
Her sister ship, the Riverboat City of New Orleans will return to the riverfront in January. The City also features elegant Victorian styling, but with more modern, sophisticated amenities such as a large kitchen capable of serving different menus on each of the three interior decks. With state-of-the-art zoned audio/visual, an elevator and a fourth rooftop deck, it was built for entertaining.
The Natchez and Riverboat City of New Orleans both offer stunning panoramic backdrops of the Mississippi River and city skyline for family and corporate events of all sizes. Rent a salon, a deck or the full boats. The covered Toulouse Street Wharf as well as the adjacent pavilion and greenspace at Woldenberg Park can be incorporated for larger events. Inclusive pricing and turnkey service make it easy to plan the event of your dreams, including a Second Line Parade to get guests to or from in style.
The New Orleans Steamboat family of companies includes the Steamboat Natchez, Riverboat City of New Orleans, Gray Line Tours and Transportation, and Visit New Orleans Destination Management Company.
Gray Maddox and Ashley Turner, owners
Our Menus
Experience the flavors of over 200 teas
Haven not just a venue for private events
Haven has hosted several celebrations for members of the Jewish community since opening its southside Birmingham location eight years ago. Now it’s adding parties and events everyone can attend.
“We offer some cocktail making classes and reaching out to local bands to play for some open house concert events during the week when the space is not booked,” said Events at Haven Marketing Director Heather Wood-Roberts. “We thought opening to the public was a great way to show people all that we could do with the space. It’s a great way to show off our diversity.”
Haven opened 2016 in a restored 1924 building that originally housed the Mack Truck Company. It was started by Milo’s Tea CEO Tricia Wallwork and her husband Troy, the CEO of DataPerk. “Troy and Tricia were born and raised here. They wanted a place that Birmingham could be proud of. This is their gift to the Birmingham community,” said Roberts-Wood. Haven’s 20,000-square-foot space is versatile and can be arranged to accommodate up to 1,500 people in a standing-room celebration or a 900-patron seated dinner.
They hosted the Sydney and Nathan Black wedding a few years ago, with a chuppah, a 16-piece band and more than 300 guests.
Haven has hosted many community and non-profit events including those for Mitchell’s Place, Crohns and Colitis of Birmingham, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, the Women’s Fund, Girls Inc. and the 25th annual Sidewalk Film Festival 10K Raffle Fundraiser.
They also provided the bar services for the Birmingham Folk Festival.
A series of live jazz performances by Dr. Warren Ertle’s Corpse Revivers is open to the community, on Nov. 12 and 19, and Dec. 10 and 17 at 6:30 p.m., with tickets available at the door.
“We can do events of any size and provide some services for off-site events too,” said Roberts-Wood. For more information and upcoming public events and classes go to www.eventsathaven.com.
Ritz-Carlton New Orleans debuts Maison Orleans
With the opening of its exclusive Maison Orleans Club, the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has completed a multiphase enhancement of the historic property.
Often referred to as a hotel within a hotel, the Maison Orleans combines intimacy, comfort and exclusivity with The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans’ legendary personalized service, providing an unparalleled stay within the destination.
With Joanna Kerr Design at the helm, classical interior architecture is enhanced by contemporary accents including an eclectic mix of furniture, art and accessories throughout the accommodations and Club Lounge. Honoring the layered heritage and expressive artistry of New Orleans, cultural insights help shape the design story found throughout each renovated space.
The fresh interiors weave playful and whimsical elements, much like the French Quarter that awaits outside the Maison Orleans guest windows. Alongside an elevated design, guests can expect the hotel’s signature Club Lounge amenities including dedicated concierge and culinary offerings throughout the day to be an integral part of the Maison Orleans experience.
A standout element of the transformation is The Ritz-Carlton Suite, as this premier accommodation emerges as an enclave that harmoniously celebrates contemporary luxury while embracing a timeless classical aesthetic and charm found within the historic Garden District.
Nestled at the top of the hotel, the suite features an expansive great room adorned with plush seating and billiards for entertaining, and a decadent dining space to gather, with furnishings designed to capture the essence of multi-generational furniture and art collections that have graced the neighborhood’s grand estates for generations. This is evident in the intricate details thoughtfully woven throughout the space. Step outside to a private terrace that unveils sweeping vistas of the enchanting French Quarter and the majestic Mississippi River.
The Maison Orleans and Ritz-Carlton Suite join the recent debut of the Residence Suite and luxury spa renewal. The Residence boasts over 6,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor space high above the French Quarter. Available as an elegant suite for overnight stays, or as a venue for private events of up to 100 people, The Residence made its debut in late 2021.
Special Section articles by Lee J. Green
New owners enhance Workplay
For those who want to be the stars of their shows, the concert and event venue Workplay provides an ideal backdrop for celebrations of all sizes.
Co-Owner Josh Williams and his partners purchased the southside space in late 2023 and made several enhancements, most notably the open-space, upscale Harmonic bar, before re-opening in February.
“We like to think of Workplay as a creative playground,” said Williams. “We’ve got public shows, private events, workspaces and recording studios here. It’s about offering that immersive experience for music lovers.”
Workplay can accommodate simchas ranging from 50 to 900 guests. Private event spaces include the expansive, 5,000-square-foot Soundstage; The Canteen – an elegant hallway for up to 300 guests, and the Theatre, with a capacity of 500 people.
Earlier this year, Workplay hosted the Madison Goldberg Bat Mitzvah. The theme was “Mad World” and they hosted more than 400 people.
This past August, Workplay hosted the Sidewalk Film Festival Saturday afterparty, which included an opportunity to be a part of a scene in an action movie.
To find out more about Workplay private events and to see its concert calendar, go to www.workplay.com.
BAMA Casino brings excitement of Vegas to events throughout region
Founded by Danny Brewer, BAMA Casino Company has been delivering unmatched entertainment as part of the Feel The Beat family since 2003. Starting with just a few tables, BAMA Casino Company now offers everything from a single table setup to a dazzling 100-table experience, adding excitement and class to events of all sizes.
Specializing in corporate gatherings, holiday parties, birthday celebrations, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, galas, and fundraisers, they provide a custom-tailored casino atmosphere that keeps guests engaged and having a blast.
Options include photo booths, roaming photographers, DJs, video booths, uplighting and a red carpet entrance.
What sets BAMA Casino Company apart is their dedication to creating the feel of a real casino, complete with authentic decor, immersive lighting, and an unmatched level of fun—without the use of real money. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a large corporate event, BAMA Casino Company ensures everyone feels like a high roller, leaving guests with unforgettable memories and an experience like no other.
BAMA Casino Company serves communities throughout Alabama, Mississippi, the Florida panhandle, Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana.
Alabama is one of three states who currently have an ovarian cancer car tag. The Drive Out Ovarian Cancer car tag raises money for research in hopes that one day, doctors will discover an early detection test for ovarian cancer, so that women will be tested for this insidious disease at their annual checkups just like cervical and breast cancers.
The mission of the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation (NLOCF) is to raise funds for ovarian cancer research and to increase awareness about the risks, symptoms and treatments of this disease.
The net proceeds of the $50.00 are distributed to the NLOCF to be used for ovarian cancer research at the UAB hospital. The Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. Your $50 contribution is tax-deductible.
culture
Chicago comes to Birmingham Nov. 19 Tour
also scheduled for Louisiana
By Lee J. Green
Broadway’s longest-running musical, “Chicago,” makes its first 202425 national tour stop in Birmingham from Nov. 19 to 24, presented by American Theatre Guild, and Jewish cast member Eliza Levy can’t wait to realize her dream in the Magic City.
“I’ve been dancing and doing theatre since I was three years old,” said Eliza Levy, who plays Liz and is an understudy for Velma Kelly and Roxy Hart. “This is my first national travelling production and to do that in one of the most iconic, and my favorite, shows is the biggest dream of my life realized.”
The classic show by Fred Ebb, John Kander and Bob Fosse debuted in 1975. This universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz returned to Broadway in 1996 and won six Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival. It has been running on Broadway and touring nationally ever since.
“I’ve been training in the Fosse dance style since I was 12. I did two productions of ‘Chicago’ when I was in high school,” said Levy, adding that this production hasn’t changed much over the years. “The beauty of ‘Chicago’ is the legacy. We want to honor that in what we do every night.”
The 22-year-old actress grew up in Stuart, Fla., just north of Boca Raton. Her father was on the board that opened Temple Beit HaYam.
Her parents instilled in her a love of Judaism and musical theatre. Levy’s father plays the piano and her mother has always shared her love of classic musicals with Levy and her sisters.
“Culture and religion have always been very important to our family. I think music plays a big role in that as well,” she said. Levy added that another dream of hers would be to have her Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall on a Birthright Israel trip.
This past May, Levy graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Shortly afterward she earned the role of Tzeitel in a professional theatre production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in Lexington, Ky.
“Fiddler is also one of my favorite shows. My family and I feel very connected to it. I still have my ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ music box I got as a child,” she said. Coincidentally, Levy has four sisters, though she is the youngest.
While working on “Fiddler,” she auditioned for the “Chicago” national tour and was cast this past August. The production has been at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Ft. Myers home base since Sept. 23, workshopping and doing shows.
“My parents moved to Atlanta, but they have come to see the show along with family and friends,” said Levy. “I know they will be there for opening night in Birmingham.”
She said the actress playing Velma Kelly is Jewish and the two celebrated the High Holy Days together. “It’s nice being able to share that with her. I’ve also learned so much from her about playing Velma and her process.”
Levy is looking forward to her first national tour, which also comes to Lafayette on Dec. 17, Baton Rouge on Dec. 18, and New Orleans from June 10 to 15.
“It’s a great opportunity to be in a show I love so much and to also have the opportunity to travel across North America. The show also goes to Mexico and Canada. It will be in Dayton near where I went to college and it plays at the Arch Theatre in Miami,” she said. “I remember going to shows there when I was young, so that will be a big full circle moment.”
Levy said the majority of her castmates are in their 20s, younger than most previous productions of Chicago. “Many of us are fresh out of college and it’s our first national tour. Going in we have so many mutual friends and similar experiences we could share,” she said. “It’s truly a wonderful, thoughtful, loving cast and crew. I could not be more blessed.”
The Ovarian Cancer Research Tag may be purchased for private passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, motorcycles, and pleasure motor vehicles (i.e., recreational vehicles).
Take a piece of Commander’s Palace home
By Lee J. Green
One of New Orleans’ most famous, historic restaurants has expanded next door with a new café — and to homes across the country.
Commander’s Palace, the go-to destination for haute Creole cuisine and whimsical charm since 1893, has launched its webstore of branded products. This follows the opening this past January of the more-casual café Le Petit Bleu next to the landmark restaurant on Washington Avenue, Uptown.
“Early on in the pandemic when we reopened Commander’s Palace, we started doing orders to-go. This planted the seed for the idea of bringing Commander’s Palace to people outside of the restaurant and allow families to create that experience at home,” said co-owner Ti Martin, whose mother Ella Brennan took over the restaurant with family in 1969 and did its signature “Commander’s blue” makeover a few years later.
Martin said she had wanted to open up a creperie for several years. During Covid she and her cousin – co-owner Lally Brennan – started
to develop the idea for Le Petit Blue and a shop in the next door space.
“We’d see people walking around the neighborhood in their casual outfits and we wanted to give them the opportunity for a come-as-they-are dining experience,” said Martin. It’s the flavor, color and panache of Commander’s Palace without the dress code, she adds.
The menu at Commander’s Palace changes daily and weekly, with many unique creations from Chef Meg Bickford. The Larose, La., native calls her culinary approach “new haute Creole cuisine” – bringing a respect for the past together with a passion for pushing forward.
Some of her signature, kosher-style creations include Beet Crusted Gulf Fish, Butternut Squash Velouté and the Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake.
Bickford is also the chef for Le Petit Blue and worked closely with Martin to create a menu that is a fitting complement – brie grilled cheese,
chow chow chicken salad, gumbo and of course, crepes. They’ve also had a Matzah Ball Soup special a few times in 2024. The café is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
Martin said Le Petit Blue offers to-go for its food and is home to the Commander’s Palace shop. They’ve developed an online store, which
Commander’s opened Le Petit Bleu earlier this year
is expected to be expanded this month at shop.commanderspalace.com.
“Some of the more exciting products include cocktail books, Commander’s coffee, art towels, umbrellas, bananas foster candies and of course our signature banana-leaf plates,” she said. “We’ve worked with local artists… and we’ve made sure every product we sell has a connection with us.”
Martin added that they’ve also given Commander’s “a little facelift” with some enhancements to the event rooms, wallpaper on the stairs, a new chef’s table in the bar, and a bar off the patio in the garden.
She said they take a lot of pride in the neighborhood they grew up in. As a kid, she went to the New Orleans Jewish Community Center all the time and graduated from Isidore Newman School.
“We’ve been grateful to the Jewish community for their support,” said
Commander’s Palace Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake
Makes 8 Servings
Find this recipe and more classic Commander’s Palace recipes in the Commander’s Kitchen Cookbook.
INGREDIENTS
Crust
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
½ cup sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted
Filling
2½ pounds softened cream cheese
(store-bought is fine)
1¼ cups Creole Cream Cheese
1¼ cups sugar
3 medium eggs
Topping
¾ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
For Serving (optional)
Caramel Sauce, macerated strawberries or blueberry compote
A spectacular dessert plate
INSTRUCTIONS
Make the crust by combining the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly by hand and press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9 x 3-inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
To make the filling, use the large bowl of a mixer with the paddle attachment to combine the softened cream cheese and sugar. Mix until smooth, occasionally scraping the bowl with a spatula. Add the Creole cream cheese and mix until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping the bowl with a spatula and mixing until smooth after each addition. Pour the batter into the prepared crust and bake for 2 hours, until the center of the cake is firm to the touch. Let the cake cool while you make the topping.
Combine the sour cream and sugar and, when the cake is almost at room temperature, spread the mixture over the top with a spatula. Refrigerate until completely chilled, preferably overnight.
To serve, release the sides of the springform pan, and cut the cake with a long knife dipped in very hot water and wiped with a clean towel after each slice. Smooth the sides of each piece with the knife. Place on a serving plate. If you wish, drizzle caramel or fruit over the top and down the sides of the cake.
community
Martin. “I know we’ve celebrated many special (simchas) and community events over the years.”
They also are proud to support local causes and want to help foster the next generation of culinary artists. In 2019, they opened the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute in a 93,000-square-foot building on Howard Ave.
“We really want to shine a light on up-andcoming chefs,” said Martin. “It’s our hope that they go through NOCHI and open up their own places.
When asked about the balance of tradition with taking things in new directions, Martin (who came in 1997) said there are a few things “we will never change that have become our signatures.”
“But honestly I don’t give a hoot about tradition. We change constantly. We’re always evolving and trying to be on the leading edge with our cuisine as well as the unique products we sell,” she said. “We just want to have fun with everything we do and want our customers to always feel that way.”
>> Rear Pew Mirror
continued from page 46
How dare you not have me lol-ing by paragraph one!” – a non-bribed reader
“It arrived without an autograph. How dare you.” – another satisfied customer
“There were actually some things I didn’t have to Google.” – an unbiased reader
“Oh, shoot. I should really read Doug’s book.” – a potentially eventual reader
“His sessions were always fun, thanks to his appalling sense of humor.” – a bat mitzvah student’s speech
Of course, this new volume extends the triple-threat nature of Rear Pew Mirror. There are now two books, the column which has been prodigiously published since 1996, and the podcast.
Yes, Rear Pew Mirror has also been a podcast since 2021. Available on all major platforms, this podcast – still five-star rated – is based on columns past and present. But it’s more than just listening to a column. Each episode includes sound effects to great effect, and extra bits that didn’t make the original column due to limited space and unlimited good taste.
Doug Brook will launch “Rear Pew Mirror II: The Wrath of Columns” at the otherwise respectable Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans on Nov. 19. The program can be attended in person or online, and he will be availble afterward (for those in person) to inscribe what passes for a signature. To acquire the books, read other past columns, or listen to the FIVEstar rated Rear Pew Mirror podcast, visit http:// rearpewmirror.com/
Olive Jars • Turkish Pillows
Ceramics
Handmade Terra Cotta Urns and Pots
GEORGE SARRIS’ THE FISH MARKET SOUTHSIDE
Problem Yards Our Specialty
The New Book Says
One year ago was the triumphant release of “Rear Pew Mirror: Reflections From the Back of the Sanctuary.”
Destined to surpass its predecessor on its journey toward the New York Times Best Seller list, the ink is drying on volume two, Rear Pew Mirror II: The Wrath of Columns.
It’s never too early for Chanukah shopping. After giving copies of this new book to everyone on the first night, there’s enough time to fulfill their resulting demands by getting them volume one for the eighth night.
The second collection based on this column is available in paperback and Kindle. “Rear Pew Mirror II: The Wrath of Columns” contains 32 past columns, all updated with more never-before-read laughs and fewer typos to be, on average, 34.7 percent funnier than before.
This volume includes freshly updated columns about religious symbols, sports, Star Trek, government and elections, teachings from a caveman rabbi, the nearly rabbinic “Ask the Rabbit” feature, and more.
Volume two also includes a glossary for those readers who need a little help to understand exactly how hilarious it all is. Including the glossary itself.
The earliest of readers can relive a deep dive into the myriad species of bumperfish that once inundated the backs of many cars. The earliest that readers can revisit is the antediluvian wisdom of Gurb the Caveman Rabbi.
Latter day readers can rejoice in an allusion to the Saints, among accounts of various Judaic sporting events.
These days everyone could use a good, clean laugh. This book arrives without any dirt on it and, what’s more, payments for it might potentially be laundered.
The sequel both of you have been demanding…
Perhaps most timely to its release are segments about the Electorah College or the Electoral Yeshiva. There’s reporting on an ancient press briefing with the Cairo Virus Task Force after eight consecutive plagues, including quotes such as, “I drained the Nile” and “He said, ‘Sire,’ they call me Sire. ‘Sire, we just don’t have any pyramids.”
The governmentality section is introduced by quotes from historic Jewish leaders. For instance, Thomas Jefferstein once said, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Daniel (Quayle) opined, “The future will be better tomorrow.”
Southern readers can enjoy the convergence of Jewish tradition, the Vulcan statue that keeps a watchful eye over Birmingham and a watchful something-else over Homewood, and the first aliens to visit from another world.
One needn’t be a sports fan to get a guffaw from recaps of Jewish Heritage Night games from various teams, from sea to shining sea. One needn’t be a romantic to react to the original February 14th holiday, named for the esteemed Rabbi Wallenstein.
The following is high praise – from real, actual people – for last year’s daring first volume:
“I’m on paragraph two of the introduction and I’m laughing out loud.
