Southern Jewish Life
Blanketed by the historic January snowfall (starting top left): Shir Chadash in Metairie, New Orleans Jewish Community Center Uptown, Beth Israel, Gulfport, Chabad of Panama City Beach, Chabad of Pensacola
In general, one is loath to criticize a beloved institution like the Red Cross. Currently, the humanitarian organization is meeting needs of the Los Angeles fire victims. For decades, summer camps have done their swim lessons based on the Red Cross system. And of course, there are the ever-present blood drives.
But these days, whenever we see a Jewish organization partnering with the Red Cross on a blood drive or other effort, there is a nagging question of why we would do so, given the egregious conduct of the Red Cross during Israel’s hostage crisis in Gaza — just the latest outrage in a long history of anti-Jewish activities by the esteemed organization.
The complete failure of the Red Cross regarding Jews during the Holocaust is well documented, especially the “happy face” report following an orchestrated “inspection” of the Theresienstadt concentration camp.
In 1930, Magen David Adom was founded as the Jewish equivalent of Red Cross, and has been a vital organization in Israel since before independence. It tried to gain admittance to the Red Cross movement as early as the 1930s, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement admitted MDA as an affiliate. One of the excuses for barring MDA was that the Star of David was a religious symbol. Yes, that was an explanation by the Red Cross
The Red Cross symbol was adopted from the neutral Swiss flag, but Muslim countries associated the symbol with the Crusades, and insisted on using a Red Crescent instead. After that, for decades the organization refused to consider the use of any other symbol.
As part of admitting MDA, the organization admitted the Palestine Red Crescent Society at the same time — for which they had to change their own rules that stipulated societies had to be part of a sovereign state, which Palestine has never been.
The Hamas invasion of Oct. 7, 2023, brought back all those memories, as the Red Cross did not visit any of the 251 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. Though that is one of their
continued on page 43
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U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson from Louisiana met in Washington with relatives of captives held by Hamas in Gaza, Dec. 11, 2024. Participating in the meeting were the families of American hostages Keith Siegel, Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel Chen, Itay Chen, Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gad Haggai, and of their fellow hostages Karina Ariev, Romi Gonen and Naama Levy. Johnson reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to “take the hostages out from Hamas’s tunnels of death as quickly as possible.”
LJCC annual meeting highlights role in broader community
Agency welcomes many outside groups, and Israel’s Consul General notes importance in post-Oct. 7 world
Two main tenets of Judaism are welcoming the stranger and rescuing the captive, and both themes were emphasized at the annual meeting of Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center on Jan. 30.
Center CEO Brooke Bowles spoke of how the LJCC has continued its outreach to the general community and partnership with other non-profits, and Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon of the Southeastern Consulate to the U.S. in Atlanta was interviewed by LJCC Director of Special Projects Zoe Weil about the current situation in the Middle East. Part of her talk included the unique role JCCs can play during the conflict.
Bowles said the LJCC is “healthier financially than we have been in decades.” Operational revenue increased last year, making the loss of $1 million in pandemic-related funding from 2023 easier to handle.
Through a partnership with Veterans Affairs, 157 veterans did aqua therapy at the LJCC, and over 100 students at i3 Academy learned how to swim.
Last year, they instituted a program that enabled 11 special needs kids to attend the traditional J summer camp, and they expect more participation this year. On Feb. 6, they are launching inclusive tai chi and art programs, in partnership with United Ability.
In terms of facilities, the LJCC spent $900,000 on roofing, the HVAC system and new indoor pool equipment. This year, plans include remodeling the restrooms and the locker room showers, and creating a courtyard patio outside the Hess library. The tennis courts will be resurfaced, and an outdoor pickleball space will be created.
The LJCC also announced that it was restructuring the leadership team, with Bowles becoming CEO instead of executive director. Maureen Scardino was named chief financial officer. Barbara Traweek is chief pro-
grams officer, supervising the Cohn Early Childhood Learning Center, the camp program, athletics and aquatics.
Robert Scott moves from facilities director to chief operating officer, overseeing the facility, security, event planning and food services. Shannon Brasovan, formerly coordinator of Jewish programs, is now chief experience officer, which encompasses membership, the Office of Jewish Life, fitness and marketing.
As part of the annual meeting, longtime personal trainer Marilynn Leeds was given the Legacy of Strength Award, and historian Zachary Dembo received the L’Dor V’Dor Award.
Sultan-Dadon started her remarks by noting the recent release of hostages by Hamas, saying while there is joy and relief at seeing images of
Photo courtesy of the Hostage and Missing Families Forum Headquarters.
Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon is interviewed by Zoe Weil
hostages being freed, “it is heartbreaking to know that today is day 482 since Oct. 7. We still have 82 hostages in captivity and the sad reality is that we should not be here. The war should not have lasted this long, we should not still have hostages in captivity.”
Weiss to be new consul general in Atlanta
Israel’s cabinet approved Eitan Weiss as the next Consul General to the Southeastern United States, based in Atlanta. He will succeed Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon, who will have served six years in that position. She will conclude her Atlanta posting in July.
The appointment was part of a group of ambassadors and consuls that were approved on Jan. 12, including a new ambassador to Bahrain.
The Atlanta consulate serves seven states, including Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.
Weiss is currently director of export control in Jerusalem, and previously was creator and head of the Metaverse project for Israel. He previously served as deputy chief of mission at the consulate in Los Angeles, and had roles at the Israeli embassies in Ottawa and Moscow. He also served for a year as an international spokesperson for Israel in Jerusalem.
Before entering the foreign ministry, he spent almost two years as a customer service manager at Orange in Rosh Ha’Ayin, Birmingham’s sister city in Israel.
He has a degree in international relations and political science from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and a master’s in conflict resolution from Tel Aviv University. He also served in Army Intelligence in the Israel Defense Forces.
Sultan-Dadon said if the international community had spoken “with a clear voice since day one, demanding of Hamas to surrender and release the hostages, we would not be in day 482. So much suffering would have been spared. So many innocent lives taken would have been spared.”
She added that “by not pointing the finger at the terror organization that caused immeasurable suffering to Israelis, to Palestinians, they are only prolonging the suffering in the region.”
Weil asked Sultan-Dadon about the role of JCCs after Oct. 7, to which she responded that Jewish people felt more of a need to come together, and it was an “opportunity for these centers to not only provide people a space for coming together, but also provide opportunities for education,” because many “may be confused about what is going on.”
She said for many, fostering a strong Jewish identity has not been a priority during the “decades of living comfortably” in the U.S. “October 7 changed Israel, but it also changed the landscape outside of Israel, and we are all living in a new reality” with a resurgence of antisemitism.
Jewish holidays are about what we have overcome as a people, she said, and it is important to remind young people that there was not always a Jewish state as a safe haven. “For millennia, we were at the mercy of others.”
She said there needs to be education about Jewish pride, because without an awareness of history, it is easier to internalize accusations from others. “There is so much to be proud of… only through reminding ourselves of who we are, of our history, why it is we must be proud and hold our heads high. That is the only way to preserve and ensure the future for our children.”
JCCs, she said are “positioned to provide this balance” of fun and a respite from war, “while still dealing with the conflict we don’t have the privilege of not dealing with.”
The consulate’s work in building bridges to other communities is similar to the JCC’s openness to the greater community. “It’s a necessity,” Sultan-Dadon said. “We are always going to be heavily outnumbered. We are always going to rely heavily on the relationships we forge and maintain with others in society.”
After Oct. 7, she noted, “not all those other communities were open to engaging. They were not all reaching out saying we are here, what can we do.”
While relationships with others are important, she said it must be clear what the Jewish community expects from them. “It’s not just about us. It’s about standing on the right side of history, for the values we all share.” One can’t claim to support the values “and then turn a blind eye to the Jewish state and the Jewish people.”
She said “there are many non-Jewish friends out there who do want to do the right thing. They pray for Israel, but they don’t necessarily know what it is they can do at this time to support Israel, to support the Jewish community,” and JCCs can play that role. “They want to know what they can do to help,” and they number in the millions.
As an example, she said, one can fight misinformation in social media and mainstream media. “Media outlets should be held accountable when they are spreading lies. When they are being used in the service of a terror
organization. There is no other case where media organizations around the world take a terror organization at its word,” just Hamas in its accusations against Israel.
“There are millions of voices out there that should be holding the media accountable” for strengthening Hamas, and the media’s unquestioning parroting of Hamas talking points “does a grave disservice.”
Soldier from Rosh Ha’Ayin killed in Jenin
An Israeli soldier from Rosh Ha’Ayin was killed in combat and four others were wounded on Jan. 30 during a firefight with terrorists in Jenin in Samaria, the Israel Defense Forces said. Staff Sgt. Liam Hazi, 20, of the Kfir Brigade’s Haruv reconnaissance unit became the first casualty of Operation Iron Wall, Israel’s operation against terrorist networks in Judea and Samaria, which began on Jan. 21.
Of the four wounded, one was severely hurt, and the three others sustained light wounds, according to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
Hazi’s unit was conducting house searches when it encountered a group of armed terrorists who opened fire on the troops at close range, the report said. The terrorists escaped.
Rosh Ha’ayin is the sister city of Birmingham, and Partnership2Gether community for Birmingham and New Orleans.
Temple Beth Or in Montgomery will have its annual Jewish Food Festival and Treasure Market on Feb. 23, starting at 10 a.m.
Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center debuted a monthly Havdalah and Parents Night Out. There is a wine and cheese reception with a Havdalah service, after which parents of children ages 6 to 13 can leave them at the LJCC for the evening. Havdalah is at 6:30 p.m., child care is from 7 to 9 p.m. and is $10, with a pizza dinner included. The next night is March 1.
Hebrew Union Congregation in Greenville will have its Old Fashioned Corned Beef Deli Luncheon on March 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meals are $15.
B’nai Israel in Pensacola will have a St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef Sandwich Lunch, March 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Packages are $20 and include a sandwich, chips, pickle and cookie. Free delivery is available for orders of more than 10, and only 500 will be available.
Bais Ariel Chabad in Birmingham will have its last Falafel Sunday until August, March 2 at noon, with all you can eat falafel, pita, Israeli salads and more.
On March 9 at 3 p.m., the Carrefour Collaborative Music Project will present music and poetry of the Jewish and Arab Diaspora performed by the NSU Octet and a chamber orchestra, at Holy Cross Church in Shreveport.
Bais Ariel Chabad in Birmingham will hold PurimPalooza, March 14 from 4 to 6 p.m., with music, a Purim feast, megillah reading, open bar, petting zoo and more.
Chabad of Huntsville will have Purim at the Shuk, March 14 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Yellowhammer Brewing.
The Chaminade Music Club will present a vocal recital of songs from stage and screen by Jewish composers, March 5 at 3 p.m., at Beth Israel in Jackson. The free concert will feature soprano Sherrie Glass, baritone George Glass and pianist Josh Wiener.
The Youth Theater at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center will present “The Wizard of Oz,” March 6 at 6 p.m., a school performance on March 7 at noon, at 7 p.m. on March 8 and at noon on March 9.
LeRoy H. Paris Il will present “Jewish Roots in Southern Soil: Stories from the Paris Family,” Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Paris Yates Chapel at the University of Mississippi. Paris is managing partner of Meadowbrook Capital and serves in business development for Wellspring and Associates in Atlanta. He has been a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson and former director of the Children’s Scholarship Fund of Jackson, and many civic boards. He is currently chairman of the board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Ole Miss. The Paris family was instrumental in getting the chapel built at Ole Miss in 1999, and part of the motivation came from his parents’ wedding, as they could not find a space that would welcome an interfaith wedding and wanted to be sure nobody else faced that issue. The chapel’s stained glass window, with a Star of David and a cross, is symbolic of the marriage of Henry and Rose Paris.
The Sisterhood at Sea Shul on 30A will have a Queen for the Day event, making hamantaschen for the Kesher Kids Purim carnival. The baking will be on March 2 at 1 p.m., location given upon registration. It is open to all women in the community, and participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for a local children’s food bank.
Instead of the usual Friday lunch and Shabbat service, “Honor Our
MSJE gets major gift to name the Chapman Family Research Center
Museum expansion opened in November
In November, the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans cut the ribbon to open a major expansion. Now, that expansion has a new name, thanks to a major gift.
The naming is the result of a $1.25 million gift from Dave and Amy Chapman Fulton, and honors Amy Chapman’s Southern Jewish ancestors.
The Chapman Family Research Center is located on the museum’s third floor and is a center to give scholars, historians, and people seeking to research their Southern Jewish roots a new home for exploration and discovery.
The center includes spaces devoted to artifact conservation and digitization, a secure vault to hold the museum’s growing archival collection, an oral history and distance learning studio, and a reading room and reference library, where center staff have already begun offering genealogy and artifact preservation workshops.
“While I was mostly inspired by my dad for his love of family and passion for tracing our family tree,” she said, “our gift is meant to honor the entire Chapman family — my Bubby (Mollie) and Zadie (Nathan), who immigrated from Russia in the early 1900s, and my dad (Norman) and his four brothers (Jake, Harold, Milton, and Julius) who all grew up in Shreveport, La. My cousins and I would not be the people we are today without the example they set with their love of family and close ties to Judaism.”
“Since we opened in 2021, countless people have asked us to help them learn more about their Southern Jewish history,” said Museum Executive Director Kenneth Hoffman. “The Chapman Family Research Center is now an important part of the Museum’s mission to expand their understanding of what it can mean to be a Southerner, a Southern Jew, and ultimately, an American.”
Along with the gift from the Fultons, the museum received financial support from people across the South, particularly the leadership giving of the Perlin Family Foundation, of Fairfax Station, Va., the Ben May Charitable Trust, of Mobile, Joanne B. Fried, of Metairie, and Dr. Ivan Sherman, of New Orleans.
The Museum will host a naming ceremony recognizing the Fultons and
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their support for the Chapman Family Research Center at a date to be announced.
Dave Fulton, a native of Eugene, Oregon, received his Ph.D. in mathematical statistics from the University of Connecticut, in 1970. During his academic career, he performed professionally with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as a violinist. He then founded the Department of Computer Science at Bowling Green State University, serving as its professor and chairman for 10 years. While there, he co-founded Fox Software, which became internationally known for its database management application, FoxPro. Following the sale of Fox Software to Microsoft in 1992, Dave served as Microsoft’s Vice President for Database Products until his retirement in 1994.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Amy graduated from Bowling Green in 1979 with a degree in computer science, and took a job at Dacor, Dave’s software consulting firm, where she worked several years developing database software.
While she worked there, Amy and Dave married and she would bring their children to the office. When Microsoft purchased Fox, she continued as a software engineer. They retired in 1994.
After retiring, they assembled one of the world’s premier collections of stringed instruments, and Dave has played string quartets with three Seattle Symphony members weekly for 16 years. As part of the collecting process, they became friends with many leading violinists, including Isaac Stern, Itzhak Perlman and James Ehnes.
With Amy’s help, he also produced documentary films, including “Homage” and “Violin Masters: Two Gentlemen of Cremona.”
In 2018, they donated their instrument collection to the David and Amy Fulton Foundation, which uses proceeds from their sale to help numerous charitable organizations, with an emphasis on musical causes, medical research and Jewish organizations.
Southern Jewish Historical Society conference announced for New Orleans
The Southern Jewish Historical Society will hold its annual conference in New Orleans this October.
The 49th annual event, held in Louisville this past year, will be from Oct. 17 to 19, in partnership with Tulane University’s Stuart and Suzanne Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience. The conference will take place at the two historic synagogues along St. Charles Avenue: Touro Synagogue on Friday and Sunday, and Temple Sinai on Saturday, along with activities at the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience.
Touro Synagogue, which is closing in on its 200th anniversary, is the oldest Jewish congregation outside the original 13 colonies.
The conference, which will be themed “New Orleans: Tradition, Resilience and Reinvention,” will also mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Conferences generally include a Jewish history tour of the host city, that is being planned for Oct. 16.
Requests for proposed papers, panels and roundtables have gone out, with an April 1 deadline. Graduate students, independent scholars, fiction writers, and artists are encouraged to apply. Recommended topics include explorations of the Jewish history of New Orleans and broader themes of Southern Jewish life illustrated by the city.
More information about the conference will be announced soon. The society will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Atlanta in 2026.
David and Amy Fulton
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Two Israelis among the injured in Nola New Year’s Day terror attack
From JNS and SJL reports
In an interview, Israeli Hagai Levin described the impact of the injuries sustained by his son Adi, a member of the IDF Armored Corps, during the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans by an ISIS-inspired terrorist who murdered 14 people and wounded 57 others. The terrorist also died.
“His state fluctuates, but I’m optimistic. I’ll bring my son home. His life will change — he’ll have metal rods in his arms and legs, an open head wound and part of his skull is missing,” Hagai said. The interview was two weeks after the attack.
“There are still injuries we’ll fully understand only in a month when we begin the head rehabilitation process. But he’ll return to us, and for that, we’re moving our home from the Golan Heights to Tel Aviv to be closer to Tel HaShomer Hospital [Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan].”
Adi remained bedridden, as does his friend and fellow IDF soldier Y. (who chooses to remain anonymous out of safety concerns). “I miss everyone terribly and am deeply grateful to the Jewish community here for their support,” Y. said. Both Israelis are 23.
The pair’s visit to New Orleans was part of a planned three-month road trip that took them from Nebraska to Los Angeles and then on to Texas and Louisiana, after two tours of reserve duty in Gaza and one in Lebanon. They did not make it to their planned destination of Florida.
Having seen the security camera video of the attack, Hagai said that the vehicle driven by Shamsud-Din Jabbar “hit Adi head-on, crushing his legs and head, dragging him along the road, and pushing his friend to the side.”
Jabbar, who lived in the Houston area, drove a pickup truck around barricades on Bourbon Street at Canal around 3:15 a.m., plowing into crowds on Bourbon Street, which is a pedestrian area at that time of night.
“After hitting the crowd, he exited the vehicle and fired upon local law enforcement. Law enforcement returned fire, and the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene,” the FBI stated. “Two law enforcement officers were injured and transported to a local hospital.”
Among those killed was Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama, who was Muslim and from Baton Rouge.
An ISIS flag was flying from the truck, and investigators found weapons and improvised explosive devices in the vehicle.
Jabbar also planted two bombs using the
powerful explosive RDX, but due to his inexperience in building a bomb, they failed to detonate. Experts said that if they had gone off, shrapnel could have been sprayed for hundreds of yards, and potential fatalities would have been in the hundreds. RDX is often used by terrorists in the Middle East, but is much more rare in the U.S.
On Jan. 2, Rabbi Levi Partouche, a chaplain at New Orleans hospitals, posted that “I spent the latter part of the night in the hospital, with families and individuals, including Israelis who were injured in the attack. Together, amidst pain and uncertainty, we lit the last candle of Chanukah. In that small flame, we found a glimmer of strength—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, light can persevere.”
At first following the attack, Adi was listed as missing, until the local Chabad located him at the hospital and identified him through his credit cards. His phone and passport are still missing. The Jewish community also arranged for an apartment near the hospital for family members.
According to Rabbi Mendel Rivkin from Chabad of Louisiana, Chabad and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans are partnering to assist the Israelis and their families, including fundraising for their needs. “Food is brought to the hospital several times a day. Streams of people from the Jewish community visit the patients and their families. Visitation rotation has been set up and the support has been amazing.”
Chabad in Metairie held a blood drive to help those injured in the attack, and the drive is dedicated in honor of the two Israelis.
While praising the hospital as operating at an “incredible standard” and saying that “we are receiving exceptional care,” Hagai said that “despite their travel insurance, a single day of hospitalization here costs roughly the equivalent of the entire annual budget of Israel’s healthcare system combined. The expenses will exceed a million dollars.
and a police officer at a blocked off street, a block from Bourbon Street in New Orleans after an ISIS supporter killed 14 people and wounded at least 35 others early on Jan. 1, 2025.
“We are facing a long recovery ahead. He’s spent two weeks in the emergency room and will need several months in rehabilitation with complex surgeries. We won’t return to Israel before April.” Hagai said.
The family hopes Adi and Y. will be classified as victims of a terror attack, opening up resources from the Israeli government.
In the interview with Ynet, Hagai said Adi has lapses of concentration and often falls into deep sleep, but he surprised him a couple days earlier by asking “how did he do?” It turned out Adi was referring to Israeli NBA
Photo by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images.
National Guardsmen
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player Deni Avdija, whose Portland Trail Blazers had defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in New Orleans on Jan. 8, 119-100. For the record, Avdija had 26 points in just 27 minutes to lead all scorers, with six rebounds and two assists.
In remarks to Ynet, Israeli Consul to the Southwest United States Elad Shoshan linked the attack to the extreme anti-Israel rhetoric that has been seen in demonstrations throughout the world, including in New Orleans, and in Houston, where the attacker is from. “The rhetoric of a ‘global intifada’ has grown more extreme, words turned into actions and those actions evolved into acts of terror targeting innocent people—precisely like the attack in New Orleans.”
Shoshan visited shortly after the attack. He said “I am truly inspired and proud of how the local Jewish community in New Orleans has come together in response to the recent tragedy. They have shown incredible support and kindness, offering help, resources and companionship to make sure that the victims and their families don’t feel alone during this tough time.”
“In moments of deep sorrow, the Jewish community truly stands together and cares for one another,” he added. “The consulate is in continuous communication with local and federal authorities, as well as the families of the victims, to ensure all necessary assistance is provided.”
Yaakov Selevan, deputy governor of the Golan Regional Council, sent a video message to New Orleans saying they were “shocked and devastated by the horrible, murderous terror attack” on New Year’s Day. “This is not just an attack on our joint values of freedom and democracy, but also we feel a blood connection” since Adi is from that area.
Selevan thanked the New Orleans community for “embracing our wounded resident, and we pray for the full recovery of all of the wounded.”
His region has suffered over 2,000 drone and missile attacks from Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Iraq in the past few months.
Masjid Bilal, the local Houston mosque near the home of Jabbar, posted on its social media, “If anyone is contacted by the media, it is very important that you do not respond. If approached by the FBI and a response is necessary, please refer to CAIR and ISGH. It is crucial that we stay united at this time as we condemn these terrible acts. Please stay safe.” (JNS sought comment from the mosque. ISGH appears to be a reference to the Islamic Society Greater Houston.)
The Middle East Media Research Institute osted a video of Eiad Soudan, Imam of Masjid Bilal, at a November 2023 youth committee program at the Islamic Center of Greater Houston.
Referring to Jews as “Israelites,” he said that they “like to take control of the economy. Everywhere they go, whatever is the rule, as long as they get to the goal, the means don’t matter.”
He asserted that “Hitler hated the Israelites so bad because of the economy thing, they were in control of the economy, but not only that, they used to consider them a lower level of citizens.” But otherwise, he said, there was nothing unique about the Jews under Nazi rule. “Those who say that only the Israelites paid the price [in WWII] – everybody paid the price, they say thousands of Muslims were killed.”
South Florida Friends
Among the injured was a Jewish student from south Florida. Steele Idelson, 19, was visiting New Orleans with her friend, Elle Eisele, a student at the University of Georgia. The teens played soccer together at Canterbury School in Fort Meyers, Fla., where they were among the first middle school students to play for the varsity team, and both would become team captains.
Idelson is the granddaughter of former Lee and Charlotte Counties Jewish Federation President Charles Idelson. On Jan. 5, he posted a photo of his granddaughter reunited with her friend, holding hands in adjoining beds in the hospital.
Idelson attends San Diego State University.
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Opera Birmingham to perform “The Diary of Anne Frank”
By Lee J. Green
The beloved self-portrait of a young Jewish girl and her unending hope for freedom during the Holocaust will be presented in operatic form as Opera Birmingham brings “The Diary of Anne Frank” to the Alabama School of Fine Arts Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre on April 5 and 6, in its Southeast premier.
Russian composer Grigory Frid created the opera in 1968, based on the text of Anne Frank’s original diary, written between 1942 and 1944 while hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. The opera’s music director, Lester Seigel, said he understands the significance of project and the lessons of the Holocaust that must still be taught today.
“The story of Anne Frank is tragic, but within her words there is much humor, beauty and innocence,” said Seigel, who was a music director at Birmingham-Southern College before retiring last May. “The music enhances the story and makes it more dramatic.”
Seigel has also been the organist and choirmaster at Canterbury United Methodist Church since 1989, and in the 1980s and 1990s was music director and organist at Temple Emanu-El.
Soprano Kathleen Farrar Buccleugh. who is from Huntsville, plays Anne Frank, backed by a group of chamber musicians from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.
“It’s called a mono-drama opera,” said Seigel. “We see, hear and feel everything through Anne’s perspective. It’s a tour-de-force and shows the power opera has in telling the story.”
Opera Birmingham Executive Director Lynne Hutton the concert is part of their “Birmingham Speaks – Where Art and Life Intersect” series, featuring performances and community conversations that reflect part of Birmingham’s diverse community.
“We want to highlight communities working together to improve Birmingham,” said Hutton. “Birmingham is home to the state’s largest Jewish community. Jewish leaders joined with black clergy and leaders in the 1950s and 1960s in the fight for racial justice.”
Hutton said they are in discussion with the Alabama Holocaust Education Center, the Levite Jewish Community Center and the Birmingham Jewish Federation to develop a series of conversations about the history and lessons of the Holocaust.
“We want to have some events prior to engage the communities, and we’ll have a talkback following every performance,” she said.
Seigel has directed the music for several other Opera Birmingham productions, including most recently “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart. But he said he has never been more excited to lead the music for a production. “This is a story that is so important to me and my family,” said Seigel. “I’m so lucky that I get to do what I love every day and be a part of something that is so impactful.”
Among our recent stories on sjlmag.com:
Texas-style kosher BBQ is hot in New York?
Tennessee man in Goyim Defense League arrested after trying to get into Nashville JCC in an Orthodox rabbi disguise Nashville school shooter had antisemitic manifesto
Celebrating the release of a North Carolina native held hostage in Gaza
Protestors try to disrupt menorah lighting ceremony in Little Rock
Dealing with the weaponization of university conduct officers against Zionist students at Tulane
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Lis & Hugo Kahn
Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust
YAD $10,000-$35,999
SAC Foundation, Richard M. Cahn
Lassen Family Foundation
Dashka Roth Lehmann & Larry Lehmann
Tracy & George Loss
Tracey Fodor Smith (z”l) & Henry Smith
Lynne & Michael Wasserman
MENORAH $5,400-$9,999
Cathy & Morris Bart
Linda & Richard Friedman
Lisa & Brian Katz
Anna M. Mantell
Carole & Richard Neff
Carol & Dale Newman
Lynn & Arthur Penn
RIMON $3,600-$5,399
Karen Galland & Roger Cohen
Jack Gross
Susan & William Hess
Heymann-Wolf Foundation
Ilana & Robert Horwitz
Laura & David Kulick
Nita-Joan Sams
Debbie & Jonathan Schlackman
Ashley & Michael Zabalaoui
PAROCHET $1,800-$3,599
Anonymous
Rabbi Anne Brener
Lara Crigger & George Brown
Sarah & Sandy Cohen
Keren Gesund
Edward Soll
Leslie & Sanford Krilov
Josefina Mendez-Rosa & Troy Perez
Marjory Greenberg Palkama
Laura & Stephen Philipson
Sarah Pusateri & Michael Robinson
PAROCHET $1,800-$3,599 cont.
Madilyn Samuels
Sessions, Fishman, & Nathan LLC
Laurie & Paul Sterbcow
MEZUZAH $1,080-$1,799
Abby Gaunt & Gabe Feldman
Cathy & Charles Glaser
Kim & Reggie Glass
Marge & Dov Glazer
Ann & Steven Harris
Deborah & Wayne Magee
Jan & Henry Miller
Melinda & Morris Mintz
Karen Weissbecker Remer
Anna Cohen Rosenblum & Rabbi Michael Cohen
Kathryn & Jeffrey Singer
Debra & Robert Staples
STAR $540-$1,079
Angela & Marc Beerman
Alexis Cates & David Staples
Tiffany Cotlar & Tommy Furlow
Ina & Richard Davis
Ana & Juan Gershanik
Stephanie Green & Zeke Vanderhoek
Maury Herman
Kit & Timothy Hollis
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
Barbara & Mark Kaplinsky
Carole & Morton Katz
Ellen & Stanley Kessler
Ashley & Michael Kirschman
Andrea & Terrence Lestelle
Janis Gissel Letourneau
Robin Levy & Bobby Garon
Avery Loss & Ben Greenberg
Rebecca & Adam Miller
Sanford Pailet
Steven Pearl
Killian & Brad Philipson
Ann & Larry Rabin
Ginger Rogers & Alvin Cotlar
Shir Chadash Conservative
Congregation
Pamela & Rob Steeg
Sherri & Matthew Tarr
STAR cont. $540-$1,079
Van Der Linden Foundation
Eileen Wallen
Marcia & Ken Weiss
Lorenza & Maxwell Zwain
CHAVERIM $360-$539
Diane Katz Africk
Michele Allen-Hart
Marc Behar
Mery Beit-Halahmi & Stephen Blitz
Elissa & Edward Bluth
Marie & James Cahn
Gail & Stuart Chalew
Michael Davidson
Terrence Dugas & Carl DeAbate
Emily & Evan Dvorin
Susan & Arnie Fielkow
Lisa & Elliot Finkelstein
Robert French
Judy & David Fried
Amy Gainsburgh & John L. Haspel
Celia Katz
Nicole Katz & Chris Wootten
Stephen Katz
Carole & David Kushner
Jonathan Lake
Anne Teague Landis & Cuyler Boad
Bina & Harold Lefkowitz
Janis Lehtinen & David Bruce
Renee Levine & Michael Brown
Judy & Glenn Lieberman
Nathan Family Foundation
Doris & William Norman
Paige & Joseph Pailet
Marie & Paul Pechon
Debbie & Leon Pesses
Carole & Lyle Philipson
Gale & Randy Pick
Sharon Pollin
Janis Rabin
Heather & Leon Rittenberg
Lisa & DJ Romano
Ronald Rothschild
Madalyn & Robert Schenk
Reda & Charles Scher
Mimi & Claude Schlesinger
Karen & Leopold Sher
Darby Shields
CHAVERIM $360-$539 cont.
Judy Silberner & Haim Erder
Betty & Gregory Speyrer
Karen Glaser Stein
Patty & Randy Ungar
Roselle & Stanley Ungar
Miriam & Bruce Waltzer
Ashley Weiss & Brandon Nelson
Ginny Wise Wilkins & Kevin Wilkins
Alice Yelen & Kurt Gitter
YEDIDIM $180-$359
Rochelle Adler Effron & Mark Effron
Nancy & Danny Arana
Jessica Bach & Matt Farah
Barri Marsh Bronston
Sue Rae Brown & Ken Bishop
Klara B. Cvitanovich
Efrat & Noa David Ella
Mara & Joshua Force
Lauren & Rabbi David Gerber
N’Ann & Jan Glade
Louise Glickman
Sandra Chass Goldsmith
Caroline & Jeffrey Good
Marsha Halteman
Robert Hammer
Prentice Jones
Vicki & Jacob Karno
Benjamin Karp
Stella Baty Landis
Renee & Charles Levy III
Lynn & Rabbi Bob Loewy
Chelsea & Chandler Nutik
Julie Wise Oreck
Paige Royer
Stephen Sontheimer
Jackie & Chuck Stern
Janice Stern
Tifferney White
Vera White
Rachel Zoller & Jacob Lipsman
REYIM up to $179
Scott Aertker
Paula & Cornelius Apffel
Bonnie & Jay Aronson
Daniela & Bradley Bain
Jaymi & Mark Baum
REYIM up to $179 cont.
Chelsea & Nolan Beaver
Radhakrishnamurthy Bhandaru
Lee & Joe Blotner
Ronna Burger & Robert Berman
Jennifer Buuck
Ann Cates
Ellen Cohen
Lisa & Robert Conescu
Alexa & Robert Craig
Amanda Glinky & Aaron Croy
Jacqueline Dallimore
Lauren & Matthew Davis
Serena Deutch
Fran & Benjamin Dinehart
Melanie & Kenneth Ehrlich
Michal Erder & Isaac Yurco
Rabbi Alexis Erdheim & Charlie Cox
Sigal Eyni
Jolayne & John Faherty
Anna Fesmire
Laurie & Ike Fesmire
Sylvia & Israel Finger
Julie Finkelstein & Allesandro Steinhaus
Kristen & Gavriel Fleischman
Catina & Daniel Forman
Kathryn Frankola
Elaine & Shaun Gallagher
Lauren & JP Gisclair
Wendy Goldberg
Greenberg Law Firm
Lisa & Michael Herman
Gayle Carp Hill
Hemda & Jeffrey Hochman
Teri & Jonathan Hunter
Maricris Izahola
Janna Jackson
Philip Jones
Teri Kahn
Carrie & Nathan Kanter
Abra & Rabbi Phil Kaplan
Eliza & Jaryd Kase
Marilyn & Joseph Kline
Rise P. Kulick
Marilyn & Paul Kullman
Gary Lazarus
Amanda & Michael Loflin
Ann Lupo
Deborah Marsh
REYIM up to $179 cont.
Genesis Mata
Ondina & Robert Mendoza
Jamie Miller
Betty B Moore
Tammy Nguyen & Garrett Moore
Joel Nitzkin
Elena & Ethan Penn
Lisa Pulitzer & Gary Zoller
Moriah Richie & Jay Taffet
Janie & Billy Rippner
Staci Rosenberg
Rochelle Sackett
Hila & Daniel Savoie
Jennifer & Neil Schneider
Rabbi Daniel Sherman
Katelyn & John Sileo
Temple Sinai
Jessica & Steve Sintes
Federico Steinhaus
Carol Stone
Ellie Streiffer & Ben Horwitz
Mark Sulkes
J’annine Sullivan
Jonnie & Ford Sutter
Sheryl & Peter Title
Heidi Vizelberg
Margaret Winston
Lisa & David Wurtzel
Liz Yager
Serena Deutch
Ninoshka Friedman
Susan & Howard Green
Ben Greenberg
Camille Greenberg
Avery Hart & Harry Hart
John Hereford
Lynne Kullman
Tracy & George Loss
Cathy Mouney
Leslie Rau
Jamin Rothschild
Kathryn & John Singer
Patty Ungar
Abby Wetsman
OTHER GIVING
(GRANTS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND RESTRICTED REVENUE)
Security Grant
Franco Family Fund
Monthly Core Allocations
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
Restricted Gifts for Security
Cathy & Morris Bart
Alexis Cates & David Staples
The Sarah and Sandy Cohen Family Fund
Dov & Margie Glazer
Gulf Coast Housing Partnership
Laura & David Kulick
Jewish Endowment Foundation
Josefina Mendez-Rosa & Troy Perez
Adam & Rebecca Miller
Carole & Richard Neff
Carol & Dale Newman
Jonathan & Debbie Schlackman
Sherri & Dr Matt Tarr
Wilson School Reunion Dinner | Bonnie Levine
Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana Annual Distributions
Jewish Day School Scholarship Designated Fund
Esther Sinauer Scholarship Fund for Jewish Education
Neil and Albert Hyman Scholarship Designated Fund
Maurice and Harriet Handelman Donor Advised Fund
Restricted/Unrestricted Grants & Restricted Revenue
Jewish Endowment Foundation Block Grant
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
Vivian and Richard Cahn Joint Program Partnership with JCDS & Slater Torah Academy
Ferber Family of Houma Foundation
Louisiana Department of Education Prizmah
Endowment Distributions
Zucker Jewish Community Day School Custodial Fund
Howard and Susan Green Jewish Community Day School
Permanent Charitable Fund
Photo by Sophia Germer | The Times-Picayune
294
DONORS
(19% were new donors)
$277,954
$1853
$27,746
BOARD GIFTS (up 17% over last year)
AVERAGE GIFT SIZE (up 51% over last year)
$433,000
Raised during GIVENOLA
#39 out of a total of 1,025 organizations participating in GiveNOLA
#3 out of 32 Jefferson Parish organizations categorized under education. In this category, we also ranked #2 for unique donors (123)
#10 out of 229 organizations in all parishes categorized under education
THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER, a Jazz Brunch honoring Vivian and Richard Cahn.
The following categories played a significant role in JCDS achieving its highest revenue total in our organization's history, as is appropriate for our record growth.
Annual Campaign Efforts | Individual donors (spreading from our own community across the country) support the Day School and its mission throughout the year, including the Annual Event, GiveNOLA, and general donations.
Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans | Support includes monthly allocations and targeted grant funding. Endowment | Distributions from the Charles Zucker Fund and the Susan and Howard Green Fund support school operations and scholarship funds for those who otherwise would not be able to attend JCDS Designated Funds | JCDS receives annual draws from several funds administered by the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Louisiana.
Grants | Jewish Community Day School receives grant monies from several sources.
Tuition | Our share of revenue coming from tuition continues to grow, which is a sign of fiscal health. Board Contributions | Especially significant is the way in which our board members continue to increase their contributions
Photo by Sophia Germer | The Times-Picayune
To be a leader, you do not need a crown or robes of office All you need to do is to write your chapter in the story, do deeds that heal some of the pain of this world, and act so that others become a little better for having known you. Live so that, through you, our ancient covenant with God is renewed in the only way that matters: in life
During the most difficult of times, much of what gives us hope and propels us forward is the unity of the Jewish community We are lucky enough in New Orleans to have strong leaders who reach across organizations and draw disparate groups together, and few such leaders are as ubiquitous as Vivian and Richard Cahn We are very appreciative that Richard and Vivan allowed us to honor them at this year’s Jazz Brunch supporting the JCDS Annual Campaign on April 7.
Whenever Jews celebrate in New Orleans, the Cahns are there When Jews face challenges and draw together for strength, the Cahns are there They are friends to so many of us, and their support for Jewish Community Day School has been enriching our students’ experience for many years. Not only do they support the school, but they push us to venture out and connect with the broader Jewish community. Given the opportunity to honor Richard and Vivian’s commitment, support came from all corners of the community as we gathered for an uplifting brunch at the Higgins Hotel of the National World War II Museum We are incredibly grateful for the difference Vivian and Richard have made in the lives of our students, as well as the difference they will continue to make in the future
The Cahns have made possible many collaborative programs between JCDS and Slater Torah Academy, and Children’s Choice Week is a major highlight of the school year. During this magical week, both campuses are offered a kaleidoscope of experiences on myriad topics taught by visiting instructors who are experts in their field. Students shape clay pots in Ceramics, explore the magic of chemistry in Mad Science, perfect their cartwheels in Gymnastics, and so much more! The week culminates with a celebratory lunch uniting the two schools We are deeply grateful to Vivian and Richard Cahn for funding these week-long enrichment courses in our community
DR. BRAD PHILIPSON
Oscar J Tolmas Head of School
The purpose of this annual letter is to celebrate our accomplishments. Reflections upon this school year, inclusive of its many joys and achievement, nevertheless dwell in the shadow of the tragic events of October 7th, the subsequent war, and our continued hope for the return of hostages In these difficult times, the role of Jewish day schools in perpetuating Jewish continuity is more important than ever
Transgenerational or intergenerational trauma refers to the effects of a traumatic event
occurring before one’s birth. The importance, we, as Jews, place on Jewish continuity is, at least in part, perpetuated by the stories of the Shoah, of pogroms that took place before we were born, and of thousands of years of existential threats to the Jewish people. Because so many have told us we don’t have a right to exist, the continuity of our culture, beliefs, and observances takes on urgency It is something that could so easily be lost were we to take it for granted
Not all feel that urgency. In the eyes of many, the term Jew refers to someone's religious beliefs rather than their peoplehood. The events giving rise to our intergenerational trauma, however, present evidence to the contrary. Jewishness isn’t merely something we believe; it is who we are The victims of October 7th weren’t killed, brutalized, and taken hostage for their beliefs They were targeted for being Jews In a matter of hours, our transgenerational trauma was a mere foundation upon which a fresh trauma was built, one that will yet haunt even those who had not been born on October 7, 2023.
There was and continues to be so much darkness surrounding those terrorist attacks and the subsequent war The lines between humanitarianism and anti-semitism have been inexplicably blurred Never in my career would I have expected to have to make decisions about field trips that take into account the likelihood of encountering antisemitic rhetoric.
Jewish day school education is at the center of that continuity, teaching Jewish children and the children of families choosing to stand with us about what it means to be Jewish, about the joys and the meaningfulness of daily Jewish existence.
And yet we persevere. Rather than shrink from our Jewishness, we celebrate it We double down on our commitment to Jewish continuity, because that is what the survival of our peoplehood requires We come together to mourn the lives lost and pray for the safe return of those who are still hostages. For those of us born after the Shoah, our response to the threats against Jewish continuity are more important than they have ever been before Jewish day school education is at the center of that continuity, teaching Jewish children and the children of families choosing to stand with us about what it means to be Jewish, about the joys and the meaningfulness of daily Jewish existence. We teach them to think critically about the world and about Jewishness because that, too, is part of who we are as Jews
Your support of our school has never been more meaningful or more impactful. Thank you for commitment to Jewish continuity and for your shared belief in the bright light that our students emanate out during very dark times
SUSAN GREEN
Board Chair
As I write my last contribution to the JCDS Annual Report, I am given pause to reflect on what it has meant to me and the impact on my life and our community Now, more than ever, JCDS and day schools across the world are essential not only to Jewish continuity, but to affirming what our Jewish identity means We are not merely a people of shared beliefs, but a people of shared history, a history rich with accomplishments, customs, and celebrations. Judaism is not something we do, but who we are, and the sanctity of that legacy can be too easily lost in a turbulent world. Our school, led by Dr. Brad Philipson and an impressive team of teachers, staff, and parents, prepares our students for a life of meaning and purpose, but it also cultivates future Jewish leaders. JCDS instills in our students a sense of global citizenship, encouraging them to be informed, compassionate, and stewards of Israel and the world They carry with them the joyful duty of Jewish continuity, and in so doing, they are better prepared to navigate the world writ large By supporting JCDS, we become part of something much bigger than we could ever dream of: a strong, vibrant community day school from which will emanate a new generation of achievement. Support our school and be rewarded with a lifetime of nachas.
T O L M A S S C H O L A R S P R O G R A M
A special thank you this summer goes to the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust, whose recent gift will sponsor six need-based tuition assistance packages to JCDS students in 2024-2025, establishing a cohort of Tolmas Scholars here at JCDS This program is the product of the thoughtfulness of the leaders of the Trust, Vincent Giardina and Lisa Romano, who, after listening thoughtfully to the needs of the School and the importance of financial sustainability, honed in on the most impactful way to support the JCDS mission. We are very lucky to be the beneficiaries of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust’s generosity and the insight of its Trustees.
D R B R A D P H I L I P S O N
R A B B I M I C H A E L C O H E N
T I F F A N Y C O T L A R
T A Y L O R C O O K E
J E S S I E D O W S A K U L
L A U R E N G E R B E R
L A U R E N G I S C L A I R
J A N N A J A C K S O N
A V E R Y L O S S
Oscar J Tolmas Head of School School Rabbi
Director of Advancement
Green Preschool Assistant Administrator
Director of Admissions
Interim Director of Admissions
Music Teacher/Administrative Support
Director of Business & Operations
Green Preschool Director
Rimonim Teacher
Perachim Teacher
Devorim Teacher
Perachim Teacher
S A R A M O U J I R
Devorim Teacher
S A B R I N A R O U B I O N
A M A N D A R U H L M A N
T A N Y A T R A N C H I N A
L I Z A M O S S
3rd & 4th Grade Teacher
P A U L A A P F F E L M A L I A B A T I S T E
B R I T T A N Y
1st & 2nd Grade Teacher
Science Teacher
PK/K Assistant Teacher Torah Study
Librarian
Kindergarten Teacher
H E M D A H O C H M A N
P J J O N E S
G
Hebrew & Jewish Studies Teacher
Physical Education Teacher
5th & 6th Grade Teacher
Prekindergarten Teacher Torah Study
Librarian Emeritus
3rd & 4th Grade Teacher
Art, Hebrew, & Jewish Studies Teacher
School Counselor
Nitzanim Teacher
Rimonim Teacher
Nitzanim Teacher
Photo
M E E T O U R T E A M
E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E
S U S A N G R E E N
L I S A K A T Z
Board Chair
Secretary
A D A M M I L L E R
C A R O L E N E F F
G A B E F E L D M A N
Treasurer
Immediate Past President
M I C H A E L W A S S E R M A N
M A X Z W A I N
D R B R A D P H I L I P S O N
Oscar J Tolmas Head of School (ex officio)
P A S T P R E S I D E N T S
G E O R G E F U H R M A N
E D W A R D G O T H A R D , Z " L
H U G O K A H N
L I S K A H N
M A R I L Y N K U L L M A N
D A S H K A R O T H L E H M A N N
R A B B I B O B L O E W Y
C A R O L E N E F F
K A R E N R E M E R
C H A R L E S S T E R N
M I C H A E L W A S S E R M A N
T R U S T E E S
M I C H E L E A L L E N - H A R T
A N G E L A B E E R M A N
B A R R I B R O N S T O N
L A R A C R I G G E R
L A U R A F U H R M A N
L A U R E N G E R B E R
H O W A R D G R E E N
A N N H A R R I S
W I L L I A M H E S S
H U G O K A H N
L I S K A H N
B E N K A R P
A N D R E A L E S T E L L E
C A R O L N E W M A N
W I L L I A M N O R M A N
K A R E N W R E M E R
D A S H K A R O T H L E H M A N N
M A D I L Y N S A M U E L S
L A U R I E S T E R B C O W
T H E S H I N I N G S T A R O F J C D S
When JCDS opened its doors as New Orleans Jewish Day School in 1996, an immediate shining star on the faculty was a young woman from Texas named Judy Fried. While she took a few years off when her two children were young, Judy has been with us ever since She sent her children to the school, and she and her husband David have been constants at every fundraiser we’ve held To watch her teach is to watch a master artist at work, her warm demeanor belying a calculating purposefulness in every action and word. Children learn numeracy, patterns, and phonics joyfully, with play and encouragement integrated into every activity She is a supportive colleague and a tireless worker We will greatly miss Judy in her retirement, but we are incredibly grateful for her lifetime of dedication and service to JCDS and her heart of gold
A Heart of Gold plaque campaign honoring our beloved Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Judy Fried raised well over our $5,000 goal. Over sixty families will be included on our permanent plaque which will be hung in the school this fall.
S I M C H A S
We are shepping nachas for our JCDS alums!
Josh and Anne Stein and daughter Georgia welcomed Anderson in December 2023
Jordan Miller and Benjamin Smith are engaged to be married in October 2024
Ashley (Sterbcow) Gulick and Jonathan Gulick welcomed son Brooks in June 2024
Nick and Taylor May welcomed son Theo in September 2023
Ezra Remer and Maeve Holler are engaged with plans to marry after Ezra completes graduate school!
Adam Goldberg and Rachel Hirschhorn are engaged to be married in May 2025
Mica (Loewy) & Jasjit Singh, and daughter Eden welcomed Noa in May 2024
Eli Sterbcow and Dr Aryn Jackson Sterbcow were Married in January 27, 2024
H O U S T O N S C I E N C E T R I P
In May, JCDS fifth and sixth grade traveled to the Houston Space Center in culmination of their studies of the Solar System. Upon arrival on Wednesday, they joined students at Houston’s Beth Yeshurun Day School (BYDS) to play games, have popsicles, and tour the school. After a kosher dinner, bowling, and a night at the hotel, they returned to Beth Yshurun for a Tefilah service in the chapel of the world’s largest Conservative synagogue before heading to NASA and the Houston Space Center.
They started with a tram tour of Rocket Park, which holds the Saturn V from the Apollo program, followed by a private tour of the Spaceship Gallery, where they viewed and learned about both authentic and replicated spacecrafts. Students then participated in a classroom STEM activity, where they built and launched their own rockets.
The JCDS group ended the visit with a short film that featured first-hand accounts of astronauts They talked about how incredible it is to see earth from space, all the vivid colors, and the views They also touched on the idea that, from space, there are no borders Instead of countries fighting and political divisiveness and hostility, there's just one community: humankind Lastly, the astronauts discussed how fragile earth seems from afar. It's our home, and we need to take care of it.
While a weather event cut off evening plans and a planned visit to the Judaica museum at Beth Yeshurun the next morning, the trip was more than worthwhile. The students learned a great deal not only from the museum, but about their own independence and their ability to connect with Jewish kids just like them. It was a resounding success thanks to funding from the Jewish Endowment Foundation (JEF).
E X P A N D E D S C I E N C E P R O G R A M
As JCDS continues to grow and evolve, an important step forward this year was creating a dedicated full-time science teaching position, as well as adopting a formal (as opposed to selfcreated) science curriculum. With the help of funding from the Jewish Endowment Foundation, this year we implemented PhD Science in grades PK through fifth and Amplify Science in sixth grade Both are classified as Tier I science curricula by the Louisiana Department of Education To provide the needed lab materials, we partnered with the STEM Library, who made weekly delivery of whatever materials we needed for the accompanying handson learning. The full-time science teaching role was fulfilled by Malia Batiste, who has earned degrees from Xavier University and Touro University. Malia previously taught at Harlem Children’s Village while earning her Masters. Thank you JEF, for your support of this expanded program!
C A L E N D A R H I G H L I G H T S
JCDS PK-6 visisted the home of Hugo and Lis Kahn for the Tashlich ceremony. Traditionally, people throw bread or rocks into a natural body of water as a symbol of throwing away our sins of the past year, but JCDS students use dissolvable paper as a more wildlife friendly alternative
JCDS students channeled all their love for Israel into colorful and unique works of art! The final product of "Art from the Heart," an Israel solidarity program sponsored by the Parents Association, was revealed at the Chanukah Extravaganza and then installed permanently in the school cafeteria
JCDS families braved the chilly temperatures to attend the third annual Celebration of the Trees at Longue Vue Gardens. Participants measured tree growth, planted a camellia bush, explored the Discovery Garden to complete a scavenger hunt, planted parsley, created flower crowns, and more!
Alan Newman, AI Software Extraordinaire and JCDS Dad, captivated Ms. Liz's third and fourth graders with a discussion about the rapid advancements made in the field of artificial intelligence over the past decade. This topic sparked further discussion of advantages and even some risks associated with AI
Students visited the Museum of Southern Jewish Experience for a private tour of the museum's core exhibitions as well as an on-site classroom activity exploring the museum's current exhibit on the Rosenwald Schools After their visit, fifth and sixth graders wrote letters to Congressperson Troy Carter detailing why they support the campaign to create a Rosenwald Schools National Park
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day, members of the JCDS community met at City Park's Magnolia Playground Everyone joined in to pick up trash in the park, helping to make the world a little better for those with whom we share it.
Marlene Trestman, author of Most Fortunate Unfortunates: The Jewish Orphans’ Home of New Orleans (LSU Press) spoke to students about the history of the Jewish Children's Home and its legacy in New Orleans. After the program, Marlene joined students in the cafeteria, where Army Lt Col Carol Berman led the students through a "Missing Soldier Table" ceremony in honor of Veterans Day
JCDS students were so proud to see IDF soldiers holding their drawings and notes of support sent all the way from Metairie, LA. Items like these remind the brave soldiers what they are fighting for Am Y'Israel Chai!
Structural Engineer NASA Ninoshka Friedman led an engaging educational program about this year’s solar eclipse. The program was covered by Fox 8, WDSU (NBC), and WGNO (ABC)!
In February, Israeli Educator Elhanan Brown visited JCDS to speak to students about the war in Israel and about achdut (unity). Elhanan shared examples of ways in which Israelis are uniting and supporting one another and talked about ways in which we can support each other and the Jewish community here in the United States
Over 200 guests attended the 2023 JCDS Annual Chanukah Extravaganza, Schmanukah! Through modern renditions of Broadway classics, students learned the true meaning of Chanukah.
C
The fifth and sixth graders had an amazing opportunity to hear a book talk by author Ruth Behar at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane Dr Behar inspired the students to write down their own stories and to listen to their elders, emphasizing the value of connecting to family and cultural history
Green Preschoolers had a BEE-autiful Kabbalat Shabbat in the shade of the sukkah where they sang songs, blew the shofar, and got to sample sweet treats like apples and honey, grape juice, and round challah This joyful celebration was one of Green Preschool’s monthly themedShabbats
JCDS celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut 2024 with an IDF theme Students did tons of activities and ended the special day with an Israeli song and dance party.
The Green Preschool community gathered to celebrate Chanukah at the inaugural Festival of Lights sponsored by Susan and Howard Green Children lit the menorah, sang songs, then ran around an illuminated Bart Field (made possible by thousands of multicolored lights) with flashlights, glow sticks, and headlamps The magical activities included enjoying beignets and hot cocoa!
Sixth graders joined students from several other Jewish day schools for our annual Civil Rights trip to Selma, Birmingham, and Montgomery, Alabama The transformative experience included The Civil Rights Memorial Center in Montgomery
Moon Fest has become a tradition that Green Preschoolers (and their teachers!) look forward to each year, and the 2024 event, sponsored by Tracy and George Loss, did not disappoint. Children were dazzled by such out-of-this-world activities as galactic playdough, a rocket ship building launch pad, sensational sensory bins, and Big Dipper bubbles Green Preschoolers rocked out to live music, enjoyed snoballs, and watched rocket launch videos with real NASA scientists.
With special thanks to friends from Tulane Hillel, JCDS now proudly features a gorgeous sukkah designed by the Tulane School of Architecture
This year’s JCDS Talent Show included singers, dancers, piano and ukelele players, magic, comedy, and even a karate act! Students brought down the house with the finale song, "Am Y'Israel Chai."
Following the Talent Show, students--along with many guests--danced in their costumes to jazz tunes from Greg Hicks and Friends during the annual Purim Parade
In Jewish Studies, students produced a movie dramatizing a trial of characters from The Garden of Eden. Ultimately, Eve was convicted of two counts; eating from the forbidden fruit and sharing contraband Interestingly, the snake was acquitted of all charges Someone had a great defense attorney
Students were thrilled to have Israeli artist Hanoch Piven visit JCDS Children listened intently to Piven discuss his history and his process in creating his world-reknowned art. Students then used what they learned to create their own self-portraits while Piven went from room to room, offering advice.
The community came together to celebrate all things ROYGBIV! Keshet (the Hebrew word for rainbow) featured activities led by Longue Vue Gardens and Mess Arts In lieu of an admission fee, attendees brought glass items to be recycled by local organization Glass Half Full Sponsors included the JCDS Parents Association, PJ Library, and Prizmah.
WITH DEEPEST GRATITUDE
Larry Brook, Editor at Southern Jewish Life Magazine
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JCDS Mission Statement
The mission of Jewish Community Day School (JCDS) is to instill a love of learning invigorated by academic excellence JCDS is grounded in Jewish tradition, fostering spirituality (emunah), dedication to repair our world (tikkun olam), and commitment to the entire Jewish people (k’lal Yisrael) JCDS is a nurturing school where families of all backgrounds are welcomed and children are prepared to be engaged compassionate leaders
At JCDS we ensure that:
Students become inquiring, capable youth who are passionate lifelong learners
Teachers are dedicated to best educational practices
Families are engaged in their children’s academic achievement and holistic development. Ethics and morals of our students are nurtured through commitment to Jewish values
Positive connections to the language, land, culture and people of the State of Israel are created
Children are primed for full participation in our global society.
JCDS considers all applicants for employment and admission without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, citizenship, or any other protected status
Registration open for ISJL’s Southern and Jewish conference
The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson has opened registration for this year’s Southern and Jewish conference, which will be held June 22 to 24 at the Sheraton in Flowood.
Last year, the Institute broadened the conference focus from educators to anyone with an interest in Southern Judaism. Previously, the conference focused on the standardized Judaic school curriculum the Institute had developed, with participating congregations sending educators.
This year’s conference theme is “To Creativity and Beyond,” exploring how creativity can shape Southern Jewish communities.
According to the Institute, the conference is for clergy, lay leaders, educators, parents, synagogue board members, folks who chose Judaism and/or are raising Jewish children. It draws from across the Institute’s 13-state coverage area for networking opportunities, and attracts national educators as speakers and session leaders.
In the past, the conference programming has been divided into tracks and wildcard sessions. Now, there will be themed learning blocks for a variety of audiences. This year’s themes center on creativity with communication, community building, spirituality, programming , and “beyond the building.” There will also be a “choose your challenge” with a selection of challenging topics.
In addition to the conference, there are new optional opportunities to explore Jackson before and after the conference. On June 21, there will be a Shabbat experience with Rabbi Salem Pearce, the Institute’s director of spirituality. That will be followed by a trip to the Museum of Mississippi History. On the afternoon of June 24, there will be a visit to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum with Institute staff.
There is no registration fee for the conference, just the cost of room and meals. Early registration for the conference by April 1 is $500 double occupancy, $600 for a single, and additional night options on June 20, 21 or 24 are $162 each.
MSJE steps into time machine for middle school essay contest
If you lived 100 years ago and did a time capsule for your descendants with three items and a letter, what would you say? And if you came back to the present to do a similar time capsule that would go back 100 years, what would you respond?
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans is asking those questions to middle school students throughout the South for its annual Middle School Writing Contest.
The contest is open to all students in grades 5 to 8 from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. There is a $500 prize for first place, with $250 for second place and $100 for third place. Winning entries will be posyted on the MSJE website.
Submissions will consist of two letters, one from the point of view of a past relative, and one from the student’s current perspective. While the museum recommends doing family tree research and figuring out who would be “sending” the first letter, the submissions are not research papers or summaries of history.
Both letters should have some biographical information and an explanation of the three items showing what the writer values within family or community. Personal examples and experiences are ideal. The two letters combined must be no more than 600 words.
Additional information on the specifications for the submissions is on the MSJE website. The deadline is April 16.
One of many sample Ten Commandments posters that Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said is constitutional
Appeals court hears arguments over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law community
By Andrew Bernard of JNS, and SJL reports
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in Roake v. Brumley on Jan. 23 over a Louisiana bill mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in the state’s public schools.
The plaintiffs in the case, a group of public school parents represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that the three-judge appeals court panel should uphold an injunction against the bill on the grounds that it violates the religious establishment clause of the First Amendment.
“We have Christians, we have Jews, and they are all—those who chose to bring this case—united in the concern that their children will be coerced,” said Jonathan Youngwood, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. “Many of our clients believe in the Ten Commandments, but they believe it’s their job to teach their children about the Ten Commandments, not the job of the state.
There are three Jewish families among the nine plaintiffs, and among their arguments is that the Ten Commandments version mandated by the law is at odds with the Jewish version, which could confuse Jewish students as to which version is correct, and makes the Christian version de facto established by the state.
In June, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, signed H.B.71 into law. The law made Louisiana the first state to mandate posting the Ten Commandments in all K-12 classrooms, as well as at universities that receive public funding. The display must be poster-sized and be in a “large, easily readable font,” and is to be funded through donations, not through public funds.
The posters are to be accompanied by a four-paragraph explanation of how the Ten Commandments were part of public education for almost three centuries.
In November, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana agreed with the plaintiffs to place an injunction on the law.
Earlier this month, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill gave guidance to schools and universities on how to comply with the new law, which was slated to go into effect on Jan. 1. In a news release, she said the law “is plainly constitutional because there are constitutionally sound ways to implement it.”
She calls on schools to display one of four posters, alongside other educational displays, such as the Declaration of Independence, Mayflower
commandments mandated by H.B.71 is distinctly Protestant, with additional changes to address Catholic sensitivities.
The bill prescribes one specific English translation that divides the Ten Commandments into 12. The version includes “Thou shalt not kill,” a translation popular among Christians, but the original Hebrew references “murder.”
Most of the longer commandments are abridged, though the commandment about honoring parents continues, “that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”
The bill’s version “does not match any version or translation found in the Jewish tradition,” the original complaint reads.
“The version of the Ten Commandments mandated in H.B.71 omits key language and context that is included in the version set forth in the Torah,” it states. “For example, it is missing the important message in the Jewish story about God bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery to freedom. It also summarizes other commandments instead of including the text
As such, one of the plaintiffs noted, it takes a sacred foundational document of Judaism and reduces it to a broad statement of civic morality, erasing the Jewish significance.
In the November order, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana Judge John deGravelles said the families opposing the law had “easily established a likelihood of success” in their case.
At the Jan. 23 hearing, Judge Catharina Haynes said she respects the Ten Commandments, but expressed skepticism as to why they have to be in every classroom in the state. Haynes also remarked that it was clear state representatives had a religious purpose in mind when passing the bill.
During the law’s passage, Representative Dodie Horton, the primary sponsor of H.B.71, said the law would “have a display of God’s law in the classroom for children to see what He says is right and what He says is wrong.”
Rep. Sylvia Taylor stated that “A lot of people, their children, are not attending churches or whatever… So what I’m saying is, we need to do something in the schools to bring people back
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to where they need to be.”
Rep. Roger Wilder, a co-author of the bill, said opponents are “waging a war on Christianity,” and bemoaned that if his wife were a teacher “she would be asked to teach evolution which is in complete contradiction with the theory of creation that we believe out of the Bible.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has made differing rulings about the state displaying the Ten Commandments.
In 1980, the court ruled in Stone v. Graham that a Kentucky law similar to H.B.71 mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional because it lacked a “secular legislative purpose” as required by the 1971 ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman.
In a pair of 2005 cases, the high court reached differing conclusions about the legality of displaying the Ten Commandments, holding that it was allowed if placed in a historical and social context and forbidden if displayed in isolation or for a religious purpose.
According to Becket, a decision in the case is expected by the spring. The judges indicated they understand the need to have a decision soon.
Coach Pearl keeps focus on No. 1 team, and Israel
By Lee J. Green
Even with his laser focus on coaching the No. 1 NCAA men’s basketball team, Bruce Pearl always takes time to voice his support for Israel and Jewish communities across the South.
Pearl, who last month became the all-time winningest basketball coach on The Plains, spoke on Jan. 20 to the Birmingham Tip-Off Club.
“It’s an honor to be here and to speak on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. All that he did was so important in giving every man and woman the chance to live in freedom and equality,” said Pearl, adding that “you don’t think a Jewish coach in Auburn, Alabama doesn’t realize what a great country this is and how much we appreciate those who came before us to give us these opportunities?”
Pearl said he also speaks out in support of Israel and his pride in his Jewishness any chance that he gets. His grandfather escaped the Holocaust at age 11 and “this country welcomed him with open arms. I love my country and my Jewish homeland.”
He said he feels there needs to be more education about the current state of affairs in Gaza
and Israel. “I’ve been to Israel eight times and I’ve been to the Gaza strip. I know the situation over there. Our complete focus and support need to be for the release of every hostage and the eradication of Hamas,” said Pearl.
In the summer of 2022, Pearl took his Tigers “on a trip of a lifetime” to Israel to play some exhibition games and to learn about the history and culture of the land.
“It was such an incredible, moving experience for all of us. It brought us closer as a team.”
Pearl grew up in Boston and played basketball in high school. He was a team manager for the Boston College Golden Eagles under legendary coach Tom Davis, and in the 1981 NCAA tournament, Pearl was asked to take over as the school’s mascot.
“The student playing the mascot was sick so I took one for the team,” he said. “I’m so passionate about the game and the fans, but I realized perhaps wasn’t suited to be a mascot. I kept accidentally hitting the broadcast mic in the suit and making loud noises during the broadcast. I almost got kicked out of the game.”
Pearl would follow Davis to Stanford and Iowa before earning his first head coaching gig in 1992 at Southern Indiana. He would go on to coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and then the University of Tennessee from
Rabbi Shalom Posner helps Coach Bruce Pearl put on tefillin on the Auburn basketball court
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In 2014 he was named Auburn’s head coach, and in 2019 he took the Tigers to the Final Four. Earlier this season, he became Auburn’s winningest coach of all time and as of press time, his 20-1 Tigers were ranked number one in the nation, with three consecutive weeks as the unanimous top pick.
When asked what’s special about this team and his 2019 Final Four team, Pearl said “when everyone is focused on playing unselfishly and doing anything they can to help the team win, you can achieve great things. We look for players who have strong character and understand the importance of always trying to improve.”
Teamwork and adventure at Space Camp
How do you bring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math subjects to life? You give them hands-on activities and real-world (and off-world) scenarios. That’s the formula for the longest running and largest STEM camp program in the world – Space Camp.
Starting in 1982 at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., Space Camp has shown young people how a fascination with space can become a career. The spark of interest in a 10-year-old can ignite a passion to become an engineer, a scientist and even an astronaut. Take Christina Koch, who attended Space Camp five times as a child. She studied electrical engineering and physics and is now set to orbit the moon on the Artemis II flight scheduled for later this year.
Three other STEM programs fall under the Space Camp umbrella: Aviation Challenge, Space Camp Robotics and U.S. Cyber Camp. The programs emphasize teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking skills to engage students. Aviation Challenge began in 1990, applying Top Gun-style training to interest kids in careers in the military and aviation. Space Camp Robotics followed in 2014 to emphasize the engineering and entrepreneurial aspects of space exploration, and U.S. Cyber Camp formed in 2017 with an emphasis on cyber security.
So how do you get kids engaged in STEM subjects in a camp setting? You make it fun. From the get-go, campers are immersed in their activities as members of a team. They make friends, laugh a lot, and experience new things. They learn the importance of leadership and how each person’s performance contributes to the success of their team. They gain confidence and independence.
Those are lessons that apply when they get back to the classroom and wherever life takes them.
For more information on Space Camp and its sister programs, visit rocketcenter.com. 2005 to 2011.
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Crossing the Bridge
Jewish groups will gather for 60th anniversary of Selma march
Sixty years after a large number of Jewish activists from across the country descended on Selma for the Selma to Montgomery March for civil rights, Jewish groups are planning to gather in the city for the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
The National Council of Jewish Women and Workers Circle are planning weekend events around the Selma Jubilee, and other Jewish organizations are invited to a late-morning event on March 9 at Mishkan Israel, Selma’s historic synagogue. Specific timing for the events will be announced the week before.
Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham will also meet up at the Mishkan Israel event. The Jewish Federation of Central Alabama also plans to march.
Noelle Damico, director of social justice for the Workers Circle, said they are bringing a group of young activists to Selma to be trained on history and organizing skills, “to keep fighting some of these very basic freedoms… that are apparently still up for grabs.”
As they have been exploring their history and archives, they found that Workers Circle members had been in Selma in 1965.
During the “year of racial justice reckoning” in 2020, the Workers Circle did a “deep dive” into what it meant for them to fight systemic racism. One important factor was “to be invested over the long haul in building solidarity with groups on the ground working for today’s civil rights and voting rights, and democracy issues.”
They partnered with Black-led organizations on the grassroots level, and in 2021 worked with Black Voters Matter and “we were all getting arrested together in front of the White House.”
In 2022, Workers Circle co-sponsored the annual Selma march, and “each year we have returned.” Damico said they continue to go because it is part of their history, but also because of the current societal challenges. “Selma is an incredible place to learn, to continue to build our connection on the ground” so they can be strengthened nationally.
Rachel Faulkner, NCJW senior director of national campaigns and partnerships, said their trip will “dive into what the relationship between Blacks and Jews looked like during the Civil Rights movement.” She said the story is usually told from the viewpoint of northern activists, and “it’s important for us that the Southern story is told, and that story we know is a bit more complicated.”
They will also explore what it means to be in-
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volved in social justice today, and when “coalitions are harder for Jews to be in” because of anti-Israel activism by many traditional allies. “What is my place in the movement right now” in the fight for reproductive rights, civil rights, the LBGTQ community, gun violence “all the things we work on across the country,” Faulkner said.
While the Black and Jewish communities are generally thought of as distinct from each other, Faulkner said that as a reminder of how communities intersect, they will have many Jewish women of color in the delegation, including herself. This will “honor the way the communities are already bridged.”
Among other participating groups are the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, T’ruah, Keshet, Bend the Arc, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Women of Reform Judaism, Mishkan Chicago, the Jewish Women’s Archive and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
The Workers Circle delegation will arrive on March 6, with scholars in residence including Lilliane Kshensky Baxter, senior non-violence trainer at the King Center for Non-Violence; Josh Parshall, former director of history at the ISJL; and Anthony Russell, consultant to Workers Circle.
The NCJW visit begins on March 7 with optional visits to civil rights sites in Birmingham, including the new Beth-El Civil Rights Experience. The weekend officially begins with a Shabbat dinner. On March 8, there will be a day trip to Montgomery, with visits to the civil rights museums and sites, along with a visit to Agudath Israel-Etz Ahayem.
The group will then travel to Selma on the morning of March 9 for the event at Mishkan Israel and the Bridge Crossing.
At the 50th anniversary in 2015, Mishkan Israel hosted hundreds at a commemoration that included Susannah Heschel, daughter of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a close friend of Martin Luther King Jr. who marched with him in Selma; David Goodman, brother of Andrew Goodman, who was murdered by the Klan in Mississippi in 1964 while working for voting rights; Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism; and North Carolina NAACP leader Rev. William Barber.
A surprise guest was Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul & Mary, who went there specifically to sing “Blowing in the Wind” in that venue.
Three attempts to march
At the start of 1965, Blacks in Dallas County pushed back against public officials who made it almost impossible for Blacks to register to vote. There were numerous demonstrations, but the restrictions remained.
On Feb. 18, a march took place in Marion, but they were attacked by a mob. State troopers shot and killed Jimmie Lee Jackson, leading to daily vigils for him in Selma. A march to Montgomery was proposed to protest his death and call for enforcement of voting rights.
Governor George Wallace then issued a declaration that the march, planned for March 7, “cannot and will not be tolerated” and ordered state troopers to do whatever they needed to prevent it.
After morning services at Brown Chapel on March 7, about 600 marchers lined up behind SCLC’s Hosea Williams and SNCC President John Lewis to head to the Edmund Pettus Bridge over the Alabama River, for the trek along U.S. 80 to Montgomery.
On the county side of the bridge the demonstrators were ordered to turn around, so they knelt as planned. The troopers surged forward, swinging their clubs and firing tear gas and a free-for-all ensued as the troopers chased the demonstrators back through downtown Selma. Roughly 100 of the 600 marchers were injured. The events of “Bloody Sunday” were immediately broadcast worldwide.
A second march, on March 9, drew from around the country, but was postponed by King due to ongoing Federal litigation. The third march, which successfully went from Selma to Montgomery, began on March 21 with 8,000 demonstrators protected by 2,000 troops.
On April 18, a Federal court struck down Selma’s voting registration restrictions. The Voting Rights Act was signed into law on Aug. 6, 1965.
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Riva Hirsch, seated center-right, with fellow residents of Brookdale University Park visiting the Alabama Holocaust Education Center
Hirsch thrives as an ambassador at Brookdale University Park
By Lee J. Green
Some call her bubbe. Many call her friend, a mensch, a hero.
For Holocaust survivor Riva Hirsch, sharing that feeling of community and family is so important at the place she calls home – Brookdale Senior Living.
“This place and the people here are so special,” said the 91-year-old Hirsch. “Brookdale has been my home for almost 10 years and want all my friends who are here to have just the most beautiful experiences.”
She and her late husband, Aisic, used to volunteer at the community when they were younger. When she came to Brookdale to live, she knew she wanted to help coordinate activities, holiday celebrations and be a welcoming ambassador for new residents.
“I feel a real sense of belonging here,” said Hirsch, who helps organize Bridge, poker, holiday celebrations, the knitting circle where members knit scarves for First Light to give to those in need. Her daughter, Sheryl, teaches Mah Jongg.
Hirsch has spoken at Brookdale, across Birmingham and the region about her Holocaust survival experiences. She organized a Jan. 27 visit to the Alabama Holocaust Education Center, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
She calls the staff at Brookdale “wonderful angels” and said they have always been so supportive of the residents. “Everything we need we know we can get it here,” said Hirsch. “I said I wanted to throw a Chanukah party and they took care of everything. We had (Rabbi Steven Henken) and more than 100 people celebrating.”
Hirsch also helps to organize an annual bingo fundraiser. Last year they raised more than $2,000 for the American Heart Association and will plan another event in the spring to benefit another charity important to the community.
Brookdale Resident Engagement Director Elizabeth Vise said they engage with residents about programs they would want, speakers and outings.
“We have some very talented residents here who have stories to share… or who sing or play music or do theatre. We even have a master gardener,” said Vise. “Some of the best programs we can have here are ones that are led (or taught) by our friends who live here.”
She said Brookdale has regular movies, concerts, a readers’ theatre, senior fitness and even a putting green in the courtyard. They also coordinate excursions to local theatres, the Alabama Symphony and are planning a group to see Opera Birmingham’s “The Diary of Anne Frank” at the Alabama School of Fine Arts’ Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre.
Vise said residents can enjoy delicious cuisine from the dining hall. A few months ago, the bistro opened at Brookdale for breakfast and lunch –serving sandwiches, coffee, muffins.
She said Brookdale University Park also includes a beauty salon, fitness
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center, a library, transportation and is pet friendly. It is one of more than 700 Brookdale communities across the United States.
Hirsch’s story inspires
In 1941, the Germans occupied 7-year-old Riva’s village in Romania. Her family attempted to flee but were captured by the Nazis.
She was separated from her parents and two brothers at a concentration camp in Luchinetz. Riva survived torture, hunger and disease before being liberated in 1945.
In 1948, she finally made it to Israel, where she met Aisic Hirsch. They married in 1950 and had two children. The Hirschs came to New York in 1962 and 30 years later moved to Birmingham to be close to their children and grandchildren.
“It is up to us to tell the stories,” said Hirsch. “We need to teach it to our kids, grandkids and great-grandkids so they will understand and will always remember.”
Lakeshore Foundation golf tournament raises green for Futures Fund
By Lee J. Green
The Lakeshore Foundation’s third-annual Spring Swing Golf Outing will drive more support to its Futures Fund, supporting youth, club and Paralympic Game teams.
Taking place April 7 at the Greystone Golf and Country Club, the event is open to 80 participants in teams of four. In 2023 and 2024, the tournament raised more than $200,000.
“This is our big fundraiser for the spring. We welcome sponsors and golfers who want to help us help our teams,” said Lakeshore Foundation Director of Development Edward Reynolds.
Reynolds said the Futures Fund targets initiatives that allow athletes access to specialized equipment, competition travel and research projects aimed at improving performance as well as understanding the needs of the disabled athletes.
“We want our athletes on every level to be able to take advantage of these opportunities and raise awareness about the resources they need,” said Reynolds.
Lakeshore Foundation Marketing Director Terry Schrimscher said it’s facility in Homewood is the training headquarters for the US paralympic rugby team, which won silver at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
“This is also the home for the national paralympic weightlifting team and we’ve recently added boccia,” said Schrimscher. “I don’t think most people realize that a specialized rugby wheelchair can cost more than $30,000 and even a set of boccia balls costs $1,300. The travel cost for our youth and national teams are extensive.”
He added that they are also trying to provide more resources to their recently-launched Sports Science and Performance Center.
The SSPC provided disabled athletes an unrivaled training experience by combining science-driven sports performance services with expert knowledge, nutrition, strength and conditioning, online resources and cutting-edge facilities.
“This allows participants to design a program to meet their performance needs and goals,” said Schrimscher. “It can be anything they want it to be.”
Lakeshore Foundation also offers youth camps starting in June and registration is currently open. For more information go to www.lakeshore.org
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main functions worldwide, and they have been able to visit hostages and prisoners under the most challenging of circumstances, they simply wrung their hands and said “Hamas won’t let us,” and stated that any public pressure would be unhelpful. Given that they still have not visited a single hostage — they have only been a glorified Uber service upon their release — how less helpful could it have been?
Representatives of ICRC were pressed to try and visit the hostages, and were even given medicines to deliver to the hostages. The package was later discovered on a shelf in one of the Gaza hospitals, unused. During one encounter, when a hostage family was pressing an ICRC representative, the response was that they, the family members of a hostage in Gaza, should think of what the Palestinians were going through.
In December 2023, the Tennessee-based Christian organization Proclaiming Justice to the Nations, which actively fights antisemitism, called on churches to withhold financial support from the Red Cross because of how it “utterly failed in its mission” in Gaza.
When the first group of hostages was released in 2023, the Red Cross informed MDA about their condition right after they were handed over and before they returned to Israel. Starting with the second round, it no longer did that, leading the CEO of MDA to angrily accuse the ICRC, “you are not neutral.” Eli Bin added, “if all your concern is for the murderers and the family members of terrorists who carried out attacks in Israel, then your role is completely non-essential.”
While acting that way regarding the hostages, the ICRC delegation head in Israel was pressing Israel about the conditions for Arab terrorists in Israeli prisons.
In 2024, Palestinian Media Watch revealed that when the Red Cross visits Palestinian prisoners in Israel, it facilitates paperwork needed by the Palestinian Authority as part of its “pay to slay” program that rewards terrorists with monthly stipends. The proof of imprisonment forms state that the sole purpose of the form is to prove eligibility for those payments. The Red Cross makes sure those forms are signed and delivered, and the Palestinian Prisoner Affairs Authority head called the Red Cross “an essential partner.”
The paperwork has to be filed every three months — which explains why the Red Cross visits Palestinian prisoners far more frequently than any others in the world.
Some might argue that the PA is merely taking care of families whose breadwinners are imprisoned, a form of welfare. But if that were the case, there wouldn’t be a sliding scale that rises based on the number of Israelis killed or wounded, rather than the size of the prisoner’s family. And it wouldn’t be so much higher than the typical household income in Palestinian areas.
As is commonly noted in economics, to get more of a certain activity, subsidize it. Including terrorism.
The ICRC responded that it provides an Attestation of Detention, as is done in many parts of the world, but is not involved in any stipend program of the PA. Well, yes, but it does enable the process. Without protest.
In demanding that the ICRC stop facilitating the documents, the Simon Wiesenthal Center noted how “During World War II, the International Red Cross completely ignored the murder of Jews in Nazi concentration camps. To date, the Red Cross has not visited Israeli hostages in Gaza.”
In April 2024, the ICRC welcomed a new director general, Pierre Krahenbuhl. His former job? He was chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Administration — the UN agency responsible for perpetuating the Palestinians as refugees. The same organization that has been infiltrated by Hamas operatives, many of whom tok part in Oct. 7, and whose schools teach hatred of Jews and martyrdom in the service of liberating Palestine. He was forced to resign from UNRWA in 2019 due
opinion
to corruption, abuse of power and ethics violations.
Surely he would treat Israel fairly in his neutral ICRC role, right?
When the Gaza ceasefire was announced in January, everyone expected the Red Cross to take part in their Uber role and look like they were actually doing something. Little did anyone anticipate what that “doing something” would entail, as Hamas turned the hostage handovers into massive public spectacles — itself a war crime — including mock “graduation” ceremonies with backdrops filled with slogans about the coming destruction of Israel. The hapless Red Cross representatives on hand took part in the dog and pony show, co-signing the Hamas certificates that were then presented to the hostages.
Rather than facilitating a quiet, easy handover, they simply watched as the hostages were forced to do a long walk toward them as they were mocked, jeered and jostled by an angry crowd of Hamas fighters who were in uniforms that they never wore during the actual war, when they were trying to blend in as civilians (another war crime).
Despite meekly taking part in the Hamas “Pallywood” productions, the ICRC somehow found their voice and had the chutzpah to condemn Israel for photographing Palestinian prisoners being released as the other part of the deal. Israel does the photos as verification to prevent lies about the prisoners’ condition or how they are released.
The crowning outrage comes from Gadi Moses, the 80-year-old hostage who was released on Jan. 30. He reported that one time during his 482 days of captivity, when he was being transported to a different location, he was locked in a sweltering pickup truck for 12 hours, under a Red Cross office in Gaza, and thought he would die of heat exhaustion. One might be tempted to cynically say that since the Red Cross wouldn’t go out to visit the hostages, Hamas brought one to them. There is no indication the Red Cross knew he was there, but the irony…
The ICRC is fully aware of the controversy, its website has a “frequently asked questions” page devoted to answering criticism of its actions, where they state that they have continuously called for the unconditional release of the hostages and defend their low-key approach.
Lawrence Brook, Publisher/Editor
Now, the American Red Cross has generally had a good record despite all this, and for years advocated for MDA to be included in the international system. But as a whole, the ICRC has repeatedly demonstrated that it is no friend of Israel or the Jewish people. So even though the U.S. affiliate may be okay, a message has to be sent that we are simply not going to sit back and take it. There are plenty of other partners out there for blood drives and disaster relief.
some kind of arm impairment. After all, it’s well known that he defeated Goliath with his sling.
David was denied the chance at a House that David Built, an honor which went to his son who built what some call Solomon’s Temple. David did get his own star, however, a few thousand years before the creation of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Centuries later, Jeremiah became one of the major prophets. He started out as a bullfrog but was a good friend of mine. Good enough that he received a deal for one book bearing his name, and he also ghost wrote Lamentations and both books of Kings. All this after being born on a rare Middle Eastern three dog night.
Doug Brook has been hired over the decades by a diverse group of employers, sometimes inclusive of equity. It was enough for him. To acquire both FIVEstar rated Rear Pew Mirror books, read other past columns, or listen to the FIVE-star rated Rear Pew Mirror podcast, visit http://rearpewmirror.com/
Parents” at Birmingham’s Levite Jewish Community Center will have a Tuesday field trip on March 11 at 10:30 a.m. at the Alabama Holocaust Education Center. There will be a guided tour, followed by a “Dimensions in Testimony” experience. Reservations can be made to Collat Jewish Family Services.
The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in New Orleans will have a virtual program with Melissa Klapper, co-editor of “The Civil War Diary of Emma Mordecai,” who was “a staunch defender of Judaism, and an ardent Confederate nationalist and slaveowner,” demonstrating the messiness of history and the ambiguous place of Jews in the antebellum South. The program will be on March 12 at 6 p.m.
B’nai Israel in Columbus will have a Shabbat Across America service on March 7 at 6:30 p.m.
B’nai Israel in Monroe will have a Shabbat Across America on March 7, with a special Oneg following.
Across America event on March 7, with a traditional Shabbat dinner.
The annual community Purim carnival in Shreveport will be on March 9 at 11 a.m. at B’nai Zion.
The Pensacola Jewish Federation is hosting a community Purim carnival, March 9 at 12:15 p.m. at Creative Learning Academy.
The Jewish Federation of Central Alabama will have its Annual Campaign kickoff on March 2 at 2 p.m., place to be announced. Guest speaker will be Gal Cohen-Solal from Faces of October 7. He is from Kibbutz Re’im, on the Gaza border. He was at home with his wife and three young children when terrorists attacked on Oct. 7, one week after they had moved there.
Cohen-Solal will also speak for the Pensacola Jewish Federation, on March 3, with a 6 p.m. reception and 6:30 p.m. talk at Temple Beth El.
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B’nai Israel in Tupelo will host a Shabbat
Chabad Emerald Coast in Destin is introducing a new monthly pop-up, an Israeli-style lunch by Chef Yaron, on the first Thursday of
the month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Lunches are available for eat-in or takeout.
The annual poker tournament at Temple Beth El in Pensacola will be on March 8. Cost of entry is $100, and reservations are already being taken. Doors open at 4:15 p.m., and play begins at 5 p.m. There are rebuys to 7 p.m., and a one-time add-on at 7:15 p.m. There will be non-cash prizes for the top nine finishers.
Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El will host the Ein Gedi subregional convention of United Synagogue Youth, Feb. 28 to March 2.
The Alabama Holocaust Education Center’s Taking Action Together series continues with Jake Newsome, founder of the Pink Triangles Legacies Project presenting “The Holocaust’s Lessons for Identifying and Confronting Homophobia Today” on Zoom, March 12 at noon. He will share 10 key lessons for understanding the Nazi persecution of LGBTQ+ people and its relevance for today. Attendees will also be equipped with resources that will help them confront homophobia and transphobia in their own communities. The Zoom event is free but requires registration in advance.
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.
DEI-aynu
Throughout the Bible, the Jewish people had a diverse mix of leaders. Some were hesitant to lead. None were perfect leaders. Each came to their role with unique backgrounds, none of which would satisfy people’s widely varying expectations for what makes someone qualified.
For example, Moses had a lifelong disability related to a particularly important part of leadership. “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue,” he semi-intelligibly said.
Moses was also a reluctant leader. “Who am I to go to the king and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” Moses didn’t seek the job, didn’t apply for the job, and kept trying to get out of the job.
Despite all that, Moses ended up leading his people to freedom and through an entire generation in the wilderness without a GPS or tranquilizers. And he ended up getting a five-book deal that turned into an all-time bestseller.
Joshua was one of the 12 spies that Moses sent to scout The Promised Land. Upon their return, 10 of the spies engaged in fear-mongering and lies to try to sway popular opinion among their nation.
Joshua was one of only two who spoke factually, which helped keep his nation on course toward the ideology and destiny that had always defined them.
He eventually succeeded Moses in leading the Israelites and, while he got only a one-book deal, but was also immortalized in the name of an iconic tree which itself became the name of an epic rock album by U2.
Looking earlier, Joseph took great pride in his rainbow-colored coat. While happily sporting it out and about he was attacked by his 11 brothers, who ultimately threw him into a pit and sold him.
Jewish history has a diverse group of leaders
Joseph had a mental condition which made him unique relative to everyone around him: the ability to interpret dreams. He was also a foreigner brought to Egypt against his will from another land and sold into slavery.
Nonetheless, Joseph’s rare ability helped elevate him into a position of great prominence from which he helped avert the impact of a heavy famine, demonstrating intellectual skills that nobody around him possessed.
Unlike his brothers, Joseph didn’t get an Israelite tribe named after him, but he got his own Broadway musical – even though he had to share top billing with his coat.
Jumping ahead in time, Ruth joined the ranks of the most notable from Jewish history, during a time when very few women were even mentioned.
As if that weren’t unusual enough for biblical times, Ruth was not born Jewish. She became a Jew by choice, which is not a practice that many would expect to exist in those days.
Ruth was one of only two women to get her own book deal in the Bible, but was also immortalized in the nickname of an iconic stadium (albeit for a team that’s not to be mentioned in polite company): The House that Ruth Built.
Three generations later, Ruth’s great-grandson rose to become the second monarch of the biblical kingdom of Israel. As a youth, David was adept with a lyre but at least he was honest about it.
It’s unclear what David’s specific physical handicap was, but he had
