The Observer Vol. 78 No. 4 – April 2012

bserver

VOL.78 NO. 4April 201321 Nissan - 20 Iyar 5773

theJewish

inside:J-Serve gives teens chance to help 2

Jerusalem Post journalist explains Knesset vote 3

Remembering those slain in the Holocaust 5

Gorenberg: Israel faces crisis as a democracy 12

SectionsLifecycles 13Around the town 14

A Publication of

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Home and Garden issue 7

him regularly to engage their mem-bers about Israel and Jewish identity.Drawing from his own experiencesas an American living in Israel,Benji’s background in informalJewish education, summer camps,and Israel programs lets him easilyconnect with all audiences, regard-less of age or background.

His standup comedy has beenseen in person and online by viewersin Israel, the US, and around theworld, and his improvised videos andblog entries have been featured inpublications such as the Times ofIsrael, the Jerusalem Post, Ynet,

As the frost slowlywears off and the52-acre campus ofthe Gordon JewishCommunity Centerblossoms into

springtime, a full weekend of festivi-ties is being planned to bring Israelto Nashville.

The Jewish Federation ofNashville and Middle Tennessee andthe GJCC partner once again to cel-ebrate Israel’s statehood, but this yearthings are a little different.“Israel@65” isn’t just a party in thename of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’snational Independence Day – it’s afull weekend of one-of-a-kind cultur-al events that begins with dinner andcocktails and concludes in a commu-nity-wide picnic.

The event kicks off at 8:15 p.m.on Saturday, April 27, at the GJCCwith performances by Israeli comedi-an and writer Benji Lovitt and Israelirecording artist Daddo.

Lovitt’s lifelong involvementwith Jewish education combinedwith his unique perspective towardsIsrael create a wealth of humor.Major Jewish organizations call on

PresenTense Magazine, the JewishDaily Forward and Israel21c.

Singer and star of the IsraeliNational Theatre, Habima, Daddofrequently appears on theatrical andmusical stages as well as on TV.

Winner of the America-IsraelCultural Foundation scholarship for1999-2000, Daddo is constantlycrossing the globe for tours. Hermusic has garnered rave reviewsworldwide, and significant airtime onIsrael’s radio.

Born in the small Israeli town ofAcre (Akko), near the Lebanese

Continued on page 16

Nashville celebrates Israel@65with music, comedy, family fun

Nashville's John Ford Coley (left) and Israeli recording artist Daddo will be featuredin separate performances for Israel@65.

By MARK S. FREEDMANExecutive DirectorJewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee

A41-member delega-tion representing theJewish Federation ofNashville and MiddleTennessee recentlyreturned from a six-

day humanitarian mission to Cuba.The primary purpose of the missionwas to visit with Cuba’s Jewish com-munity, which numbers about 1,500.Most Cuban Jews live in Havana butsmaller Jewish communities exist inother parts of the island, including thetown of Santa Clara, which theNashville delegation also visited.

Mission participants met withofficials of the American Jewish JointDistribution Committee (JDC), abeneficiary of the Federation’s annualcampaign. The JDC supports a varietyof programs for Cuba’s Jewish commu-nity including Jewish education initia-tives, transportation services, Jewish

identity-building summer camps,youth programs and health services.

The Nashville delegation trav-eled to Cuba with a variety of sup-plies urgently needed by the CubanJewish community. Items includedclothing, school supplies, religiousmaterials and medical supplies. Morethan $30,000 of donated over-the-counter and prescription medicines

were brought to Cuba by the delega-tion. These items were distributed tothe Patronato Jewish Center, to theSephardic congregation in Havanaand to the Jewish community inSanta Clara.

Members of the delegation alsocelebrated Kabbalat Shabbat servicesand joined in a community-wide

Continued on page 2

Humanitarian mission buildsbridges with Cuban Jews

Federation Executive Director Mark S.Freedman with David PrinsteinSenorans, first vice president of thePatronato Jewish Community Center inHavana.

Rabbi Mark Schiftan holding the Torah atCongregation Beth Sholom in Havana.

2 April 2013 The Observer

OF NASHVILLE AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE& Jewish Foundation

Nashville humanitarian mission builds bridges to CubaContinued from page 1Shabbat dinner at Patronato and visitedJewish cemeteries in Havana and SantaClara. All members of the Nashville con-tingent contributed to a special fund andduring the mission determined that thefunds will be used to support three pro-grams operated by the JDC in Havanaand Santa Clara including transportationservices, home repair projects and thesummer camp Jewish identity program.

This is just a sampling of the missionhighlights and experiences. More person-al accounts and photographs from themission will be included in the May issueof the Observer.

Federation Executive Director MarkS. Freedman, who led the mission alongwith Federation Campaign DirectorNaomi Limor Sedek, said, “I want tothank all of the mission members fortheir participation and their generosity.

Their willingness to secure supplies forthe Cuban Jewish community and tobring them to Cuba and their outreach

Jimmy Schulman offers a reading during a service at the Holocaust Memorial in Santa Clara,Cuba.

Members of the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee delegation at RevolutionSquare in Havana.

Jewish teenscan help community with J-Serve 2013

Like to cook, garden or spiffup a room with a fresh coatof paint? Then J-Serve 2013has something for you.

J-Serve is a communityday of service that takes

place on Sunday, April 14. If you’reJewish and in high school or middleschool (6th grade through 12th grade),there’s time to sign up to participate.

There’s no cost to attend the pro-gram and you need not be a BBYO mem-ber to participate, but you must registerby Friday, April 5. Lunch will be provid-ed. J-Serve is sponsored in Nashville byBBYO, the Jewish Federation ofNashville and Middle Tennessee,Congregation Micah, CongregationSherith Israel, The Temple and WestEnd Synagogue.

Participants can choose from fiveactivities:

• Ronald McDonald House –help prepare meals at the Gordon JewishCommunity Center, deliver them to thefacility and get a tour;

• Jewish Family Service – sortfood for families in need, learn what JFSdoes, make peanut butter and jelly sand-wiches that will be donated to theNashville Rescue Mission;

• Blakeford (senior living apart-ments) – talk and play games with peo-ple from a different generation;

• Renewal House – help plant intheir garden and clean up around theproperty; and

• Shelby Park CommunityCenter – help clean up and paint differ-ent areas

For registration forms and informa-tion, contact Sheri Rosenberg, programassociate, Nashville BBYO, [email protected], or at (615)354-1659. c

to the members of the Cuban Jewishcommunity is vitally important in pre-serving and strengthening Jewish life inCuba. It represents an act of deep com-passion and caring for our Jewishbrethren in Cuba. I also want to add spe-cial words of thanks to St. ThomasHospital, Kingsway Charities, and theDispensary of Hope for their generousdonations of medical supplies and pre-scription drugs.” c

The Observer April 2013 3

By KATHY CARLSON

January’s Knesset elections sig-naled a fundamental change inIsraeli politics because voters fol-lowed their economic rather thannational security interests, TheJerusalem Post’s chief politicalcorrespondent told a Nashvilleaudience.

Gil Hoffman spoke to about 100people at the Gordon JewishCommunity Center on March 14 aspart of the “Increase Your Israel IQ”speaker series sponsored by theCommunity Relations Committee ofthe Jewish Federation of Nashville.His talk covered not only the Israelielections, but also trends in Israelisociety and the evolving relationshipbetween Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu and PresidentBarack Obama. Hoffman was raised inChicago and now lives in Jerusalemwith his wife and two children.

Before the Jan. 22 Knesset elections,he said, many in the international pressexpected Israeli voters to move to theright. At the time of the election, 65Knesset members were considered on thepolitical right and 55 on the left. Whenthe polls closed, there were 61 on theright and 59 leaning left. The result did-n’t surprise Hoffman.

“It happened in part because ourelection was different than electionswe’ve had before in Israel. Two issues theelection wasn’t about (were) war andpeace. … Israel is so much more thanwar and peace,” he said.

Three trends in Israeli society helpexplain the election.

Socioeconomic trends moved to thetop of most Israeli voters’ concerns, hesaid, pointing to 2011’s protests oversocial justice issues, high prices and alarge gap between rich and poor (third inthe world, he said, after Mexico and theUnited States). In prior elections, hesaid, Israelis “were voting the opposite ofwhat was economically beneficial forthem,” with the rich voting for the leftand the poor voting for the right.

“This election was different,” hesaid. Voters “held their nose and votedfor a party they disagreed with on thePalestinian issue but made more sense fortheir wallets.”

Matters of religion and state alsoplayed a role. Nine percent of Israelisidentify themselves as ultra-Orthodox,he said, and the 91 percent who don’tidentify that way wanted the ultra-Orthodox to contribute more to socie-ty. Consequently, the government ismore likely to deal with issues of elec-tion reform and religious pluralism.

Israeli voters demonstrated theirfrustration with politicians, a thirdtrend. The surprise runner-up in theJanuary elections, the Yesh Atid party,had no career politicians on its list ofcandidates, he continued. “This gov-ernment will be very different from thegovernment we had before.”Netanyahu’s old coalition included fivein the center-left, but the new govern-ment will include more.

The new government will be in abetter position to move toward peacewith the Palestinians in part becauseTzipi Livni, of the Hatnuah party, joinedNetanyahu’s coalition government. She

has been a behind-the-scenes negotiatorwith Palestinians, Hoffman said. Livniwill serve as Minister of Justice and willbe Israel’s lead negotiator with the

Jerusalem Post journalist explains why center gained in Knesset vote

Additional coverage from Jewish news organizations of IsraeliPrime Minister Netanyahu’scoalition government and

President Obama’s visit to Israelis available online,

jewishobservernashville.org.

Gil Hoffman of the Jerusalem Post chats withReva Heller after speaking at the GJCC.

Gil Hoffman uses the map to make a pointafter talking at the GJCC about the recentKnesset elections.

Palestinians if talks resume.Hoffman said he hoped Obama’s

visit to Israel and with Netanyahu goeswell. “We appreciate the unprecedentedsecurity cooperation” between the

United States and Israel. “Israel is pray-ing for Obama’s success and that Obamaand Bibi start out on the right foot.”

The two leaders “have no choice(but to get along); they’re stuck togetherfor another four years,” Hoffman said.“For the United States and Israel tothrive together the key is for the two ofthem to get along. Both need to swallowtheir pride and get along.” c

See what’s happening in the community. Go to www.jewishnashville.org


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letterTo the editor:

It’s not enough we have to put upwith Israel bashing in the international,national, and local media; one sidedcriticism of Israel has invaded our own

community. Nashville J Street recentlysponsored an event that featuredGershom Gorenberg. He presentedhimself as a “scholar” representing nei-ther left nor right.

Gorenberg blames the entire con-

flict on the post 1967 settlements; andthe reign of Benjamin Netanyahu. Agreewith him or not, his views are clearly farleft of center with regards to any conver-sation about Israel.

According to the speaker, threethings must occur to solve the conflictthat has been thus far insolvable:

First, he says, Israel must separate“state and synagogue.” Israel's status as aJewish State means “it’s OK to beJewish.” There is no requirement to beJewish to be a citizen. Contrast this tothe treatment of non-Muslims in landscontrolled by Islamists.

It is ironic that Gorenberg ignores

the absence of such a separation on thepart of the Islamists. The institutional,faith based Jew hatred espoused byHamas, Hezbollah, and other Islamistspredates the establishment of the Stateof Israel in 1948; and certainly predatesany post-1967 settlements.

The second requirement is for Israelto give up land for peace.

We have all heard this one before. Ifand when negotiations do come about,Israel must be assured they are not dupedinto a deal that leads to her destruction.

Gorenberg’s third point is establish-ing a policy aimed at a two state solution.

Benjamin Netanyahu has articulat-ed a willingness to discuss a two statesolution since 2009. The major obstacleto a two state solution today is the lackof a Palestinian partner; a realityGorenberg dismisses as ignorance about“today’s PA”.

Our community has decided to wel-come diverse viewpoints in discussingthis difficult issue. It is only natural thatsuch a policy will invite respectful criti-cism as well.

Michael DobrinNCJA Nashville

JFS Chesed Dinner marks agency’s160th birthday, tells story of service

In 1853, Jewish Family Servicebegan serving the Nashville as aHebrew/Jewish relief society, dis-tributing clothing and assisting inrent payments. Fast forward 160years and Jewish Family Service

today continues to meet the needs of ourcommunity as well as to grow in the serv-ices and programs it provides. The agencycelebrates its 160th birthday during theannual Jewish Family Service ChesedDinner on Thursday, April 18, at 6:30p.m. at the Gordon Jewish CommunityCenter. JFS welcomes the community tojoin in celebrating this milestone.

At the dinner, community membersToni Heller and Steve Lapidus will be

honored for their years of volunteer serv-ice to JFS with the Chesed Award.

The evening will also feature musi-cians who will describe some of JFS’ serv-ices through song. Lisa Silver, cantorialsoloist of Congregation Micah, will per-form a song she wrote about adoption.Additionally, musicians James Haymerand Carrie Mills, who visit with Jewishindividuals living with Alzheimer’s orother dementias, will debut a song theyco-wrote for the Chesed Dinner abouttheir experiences in these visits.

Pam Kelner, director of JFS, says,“This is such a big anniversary year, andwe want to show not only how over thepast 160 years we have evolved, but we

have also remained committed to ourmission of serving every generationthrough life’s transitions – from birththrough end of life. I am very excited toshare this multimedia experience withthe community. We promise you will bemoved and inspired to support the cru-cial programs and service that the agencyprovides for the community.”

From building families throughadoption to providing counseling,emergency financial assistance, infor-mation and referral services, supportgroups, older-adult services including avolunteer match initiative, Jewish fam-ily life programming, kosher foodboxes, Chanukah gift program and

more, Jewish Family Service has helpedthousands since its establishment in1853. This year alone, JFS served morethan 1,700 persons. The ChesedDinner is a critical funding tool toenable Jewish Family Service to pro-vide social services from Jewish per-spectives for families and individuals.

This year’s Chesed Dinner chairs areErin Coleman and Karen Weil. They areworking diligently with their committeesto ensure a meaningful and celebratoryevent. For more information about theChesed Dinner or one of the many pro-grams or services of JFS, please call PamKelner at (615) 354-1644 or visitwww.jfsnashville.org. c


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This year’s commemorationof Yom HaShoah,Holocaust RemembranceDay, includes events at theState Capitol as well as acommunitywide service to

be held at Congregation Micah. YomHaShoah begins this year on the eveningof Sunday, April 7, and concludes on theevening of Monday, April 8.

Congregation MicahOn April 7 from 3-4:30 p.m., the

community will gather at CongregationMicah for a service with the theme Lightout of Darkness. The afternoon willencompass testimony, music and read-ings and will include a time of reflectionin the Memorial Garden. Those leading

the service will be accompanied byMichael Samis on cello. Local rabbinicand cantorial leaders will join in thecommemoration as we honor the pastand elevate the present, to pull the lightout of darkness.

Tennessee HolocaustCommission ceremony

The Tennessee HolocaustCommission will host the annual Day ofRemembrance Ceremony to commemo-rate the six million Jews who were mur-dered in the Holocaust, as well as themillions of other victims of Nazi persecu-tion. The ceremony will take place atthe Legislative Plaza in the Capitol indowntown Nashville, Room LP12, onApril 8 at 3 p.m.

This year’s theme, Never Again:Heeding The Warning Signs, willinclude recitation of the traditionalJewish prayer of remembrance forthose who died, and reflections fromTennessee students from DyersburgMiddle School, Middle TennesseeState University, and Cleveland HighSchool. Winners of the 2013 Belz-Lipman Holocaust Educator of theYear Award will be recognized. Theyare: Anita Puckett, DeKalb MiddleSchool, Smithville; Julie Kinder,Robertsville Middle School, OakRidge; Noelle Smith, South GreeneHigh School, Greeneville; andRebecca Hasselle, Dyersburg MiddleSchool, Dyersburg.

The observance will conclude with

the lighting of the six memorial candles.Images from the Tennessee HolocaustCommission’s Living On exhibit will beshown in the main hallway of the StateLegislature from April 8-12. The cere-mony is open to the public.

The Tennessee HolocaustCommission in cooperation with theState Legislature, holds an annual Day ofRemembrance, which remains a testa-ment to the commitment of allTennesseans to “never forget” those whoperished in the Holocaust.

For more information, please con-tact Danielle Kahane-Kaminsky at TheTennessee Holocaust Commission, (615)343-1171; cell, (615) 499-0047; andemail, [email protected] . c

Nashville remembers, honors those slain in the Holocaust

Jewish Family Service ofNashville recognized its manyvolunteers with a VolunteerAppreciation Lunch on March 3.Over the past two years, 125 per-sons have volunteered to helpJFS serve the community. In thelast year alone, JFS has served

more than 1,700 persons through 17 dif-ferent programs and services.

At the luncheon, VolunteerCoordinator Anna Sir thanked the vol-unteers for their contributions, includ-ing, “…visiting with an isolated senioradult to play cards, stuffing envelopes forour Chesed dinner, assembling kosherfood boxes, serving on our Board, organ-izing our first fundraiser in the LGBTcommunity.” There are many other vol-unteer opportunities as well, with vary-ing volunteer commitments. What eachof them does call for, Sir reminded thegroup, “is a generous spirit – and that iswhat we recognize in all of you. It wouldsimply be impossible for us to serve thecommunity without your assistance.”

JFS also presented this year’sVolunteer of the Year Award to ElaineParker. Elaine approached JFS with theidea of creating a Low-Vision Aid Closet

for Jewish seniors. The program provideslow-vision aids to seniors so they canmaintain their independence. It is apartnership between JFS and B’nai B’rithMaimonides Lodge #46, which providesfunding for these aids. Without Elaine’sinitiative and dedication, this programwould not exist.

JFS also recognized Elaine’s long his-tory of involvement with the agencygoing back to the 1980s, when she start-ed classes for Jewish Russian familieswho immigrated to Nashville. Shetaught many practical skills includinghow to interview, write resumes andapply for jobs. Elaine also accompaniedthe new families to supermarkets to helpthem learn about American foods and

how to read instructions.Elaine earned a master’s degree in

education for the blind from HarvardGraduate School, and Helen Keller pre-sented her diploma to her with aninstruction to “not let this go to waste.”Elaine has taken this instruction to heartand has worked tirelessly for over 60years supporting programs for the blind.

JFS was honored to set aside anafternoon to acknowledge the manyaccomplishments of its volunteers andwas grateful to have an opportunity tosimply say thank you.

There are many ways to volunteeryour time with JFS. Please contact AnnaSir at 354-1686 or [email protected] to find out more. c

JFS honors Elaine Parker as its volunteer of the year

Toni Jacobsen (left), JFS Volunteer of theYear Elaine Parker and Pam Kelner


As of March 31, the 2013 Campaign needs

our goal of $2.35 million.

TOGETHER WE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY TODAY

Please pledge online today at www.jewishnashville.org

or call 354-1642.

FAMILIES IN CRISIS:JFS Relief Services on a Sliding Scale

Emergency Financial Assistance

Kosher Food Boxes

ISRAEL:

Birthright IsraelPartnership 2Gether

w/Hadera-Eiron

JEWISH IDENTITY BUILDING:

Summer Camp ScholarshipsBBYO ConnectGet Connected

SERVICES FOR SENIORS:

Hot Kosher MealsCompanionship

Exercise

JEWISH EDUCATION:

BBYOHillel

PJ Library

OUTREACH &

ENGAGEMENT:Community

Holocaust Remembrance

NowGen Programming

OF NASHVILLE AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE& Jewish Foundation

April showers community with GJCC adult classes

The Gordon JewishCommunity Center willoffer a variety of adultclasses in April, fromopera to current events tofashion and nature. The

classes are open to the community.Anyone interested in getting an

inside view of an opera performance willwant to attend The Magic Flute, aNashville Opera Dress Rehearsal and

Talk on Wednesday, April 3, at the NoahLiff Opera Center. There will be a pres-entation on the Mozart opera as well as adress rehearsal performance for theNashville Opera production that will beheld at The Tennessee Performing ArtsCenter on April 11 and 13.

Fashionistas will have two classes toaddress their interests. On Friday, April5, Kara Meyer, author of two fashionblogs, will present The History of

Fashion from 11 a.m. to noon at theGJCC. She will offer a retrospective onwhat makes fashion. This class will beheld during Nashville Fashion Week.Follow Meyer’s blogs at www.frockpaper-scissors.blogspot.com and www.the-frenchteacup.blogspot.com. There is asmall charge for non-GJCC members.

The second fashion-forward classis Shoe Decorating on Tuesday, April23, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the GJCC.

Rhonda Wernick, a professional artist,will show participants how to turn anold pair of shoes into shoes that willmake other people green with envy.There is a fee for supplies. For moreinformation, e-mail Wernick [email protected].

On Earth Day, Monday, April 22,nature reigns during the NashvilleGreenway Walk and Talk, from 10:30a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at a local greenway tobe announced. Participants will learnabout the greenway expansion on the1.5-mile stroll. There is a small chargefor non-GJCC members. Learn moreabout the greenways at www.green-waysfornashville.org.

Current Events: What’s Happeningin Israel? on Wednesday, April 24, fromnoon to 1 p.m., will keep news buffs upto date. Hadar Moskovitz, Israel Shlicha(representative) with the JewishFederation of Nashville, will present themost recent facts and information aboutevents in Israel. There is a small chargefor lunch.

For a complete list of adult classesthat are open to the public, go towww.nashvillejcc.org or call (615) 354-1623. Most classes take place, unless oth-erwise noted, at the Gordon JewishCommunity Center located nearBellevue at 801 Percy Warner Blvd.

GJCC classes are underwritten bythe Sol Stern & Rose Stern Adult Fund,the Jewish Federation, the Leah RoseWerthan Designated Fund of the JewishFoundation, the Meryl KraftDiscretionary Fund and the GJCC. c

The community is invitedto the 9th annualTemple Arts Festival(TAF), an exhibitionand sale of original fineart, on Saturday, April

20, from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday,April 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At this gallery-style show are orig-inal works of glass, ceramic, wood andmetal sculpture, paintings, photogra-phy, fiber and jewelry made by over 50master artists and craftsmen from 22states. Art is available in a broadrange of prices. Highlighted artiststhis year include Nashville’s ownHunter Armistead, John Guider,Myles Maillie, and Rusty Wolfe as wellas such widely recognized talents as

Thomas Hoadley and DuncanMcClellan.

You can be among the first tobrowse the exhibit on Saturday andenjoy drinks, hors d'oeuvres anddinner at a pre-opening party bybuying advance purchase certifi-cates. All certificates include thedinner party and may be appliedwholly to purchases; a percentage ofthe purchase price may qualify as acharitable contribution on your taxreturn. (Please consult your taxadvisor.) The deadline for purchas-ing a certificate is Thursday, April18. Contact Mitzi at 352-7620 forinformation and/or an invitation.

A gallery-opening late party withelegant desserts and drinks begins at

8 p.m. on Saturday; there’s a chargeto attend.

On Sunday, the show opens at 10a.m. with a host of activities andthere’s no charge for admission.Beginning at 11 a.m., food trucksincluding the Grilled Cheeserie, HotSpot, and Hit and Miss Ice Cream willbe on site. A fourth truck will beannounced later.

Attendees also can collaborate onthe Myles Maillie art project. Thenoted Nashville artist will create theoutlines of a 3D art piece that commu-nity members, artists and aspiring orwannabe artists can complete underhis guidance.

And beginning at noon onSunday, Betsy Hoffman will supervise

K-4 art activities for drop-ins whileparents and grandparents browse theshow. No advance reservations neces-sary but there’s a maximum of 30 chil-dren at any one time.

As a juried show, prizes will beawarded for Best of Show, 1st Place in2-Dimensional Art and 1st Place in 3-Dimensional Art. The prizes will benamed in memory of world-renownedceramist Sylvia Hyman to honor herlongtime participation and commit-ment to the show. This year’s judgewill be Jochen Wierich, curator of artfor Cheekwood Museum of Art.

For more information, check out ourwebsite, www.templeartsfestival.com,phone the Temple at (615) 352-7620 oremail us at [email protected]. c

Temple Arts Festival to be held on April 20-21

Ehud Barak atVU on April 7

Former Israeli Prime MinisterEhud Barak will speak atVanderbilt University onSunday, April 7 at 7 p.m. Histalk, part of Vanderbilt’s 2013Impact Symposium, will be

held in Langford Auditorium. Barakoriginally was to speak on March 18 buthad to postpone his appearance. Patronsshould retain their ticket stubs from theMarch 18 event to gain admittance toBarak’s lecture. c



He comes by his soulfulness natu-rally as the son of Stax Recordssongwriter Bettye Crutcher.

Perri Crutcher of OSHi Flowers hasbeen designing for many years all over theworld. He returned home to Tennesseeafter decorating from such diverse loca-tions as New York, London, Paris,Istanbul and Asheville, North Carolina.

To understand the unique quality ofJapanese floral décor, Perri studied underthe watchful eye of Setuo Kitono, Masterof Ikebana and tea flower design. Alongwith Setuo, Perri’s creative designinstincts were honed under the tutelageof other top international floral design-

ers, including Ronaldo Maia, RobertIsabel and Christian Tortu.

Perri has cultivated a unique styleof design, tradition and purpose usingnatural materials, creating a fusion ofcraft and cultivated treasures. He spe-cializes in the creation of client-specificoriginal floral compositions and theplanning and installation of corporateand event décor.

With two studio locations in theheart of downtown Nashville, Perri andhis extraordinary team work well intothe night to create his brilliant cultivat-ed treasures. OSHi ... A sure place forhealing, forgiveness and dreams. c

OSHi’s Crutcher blends floral elements from around the world

Stephen Wells talks about the per-spectives he brings to projects:

My design experiences arewide-ranging. I lived in New York Cityand the Hudson Valley for many years.While in the city I designed custom fur-niture and interiors for multinationalcorporations. On the weekends in theHudson Valley, I restored 19th centuryhouses for myself and for clients. It wasalso in that beautiful setting that Ibecame interested in the relationshipbetween architecture and the support-ing landscape.

After moving home to Nashville Iopened a boutique garden store,Botanica, and began providing garden

design services. As that client base grew,I slowly began to provide architecturaldesign services again.

In the recent past, we have designeda sculpture garden, redesigned a sprawling1955 ranch house, completed a 9,000-square-foot family house along withnumerous gardens and several other reno-vations. Today we are working on threenew family houses and a renovation of a190-year-old Greek revival farmhousethat began life as a two-room log cabin.

The goal for me has always been tounderstand the context of a project anddesign something that is appropriate.This frees me from “style,” per se, andallows every project to be unique. c

Wells Design Associates bringsspecial touch to homes, gardens

www.wellsdesignassociates.com

To revitalize cabinets, counters and more, turn to E-Z Kitchens

Earl Zei of E-Z Kitchens talks abouthis company:

E-Z Kitchens has been turningold kitchens into dream kitchens forover 25 years in the Nashville area. Wehave completed over 2,300 jobs. We dototal cabinet replacement with both cus-tom and stock cabinets, custom cabinetrefacing, entertainment centers, homeoffices, built-ins, custom closets, butler’spantries and more! We also install coun-tertops, offering laminate, granite,quartz, solid surface and concrete.

I started out working in cabinetshops in the Chicago area and wound upbeing a finish carpenter and eventually arefacing installer. Friends in Nashvillekept telling us what a great city it is, andhow much building and remodeling was

going on. After visiting and discoveringthat there was no one doing refacing, wedecided to start our own shop and movedhere in 1987.

I worked out of our Inglewood homefor the first year until finding the shop inMadison that we are still in to this day.

My wife, Gayle, joined the team andhas been our designer and consultant forover 20 years. Her official title is “ProblemSolver” – it’s actually on her card!

We build our cabinets out of solidwoods and plywoods (no particleboard)and do beautiful custom finishes – trulycustom whether all new or a reface.

Please call to set up a free consulta-tion. Mention our ad in the Observer andenjoy a 15% discount on your project. Wewould love to be your cabinet company! c


Invisible Fence dealer helps keeppets happy and close to home

After 30 years of sales and opera-tions management experience incorporate America, and the

extensive travel that coincides, BobMoody, owner of Invisible Fence decidedit was time to get closer to home and focushis energy on a project closer to his heart.

“I was tired of traveling and wantedto enjoy being at home,” Moody said.Moody, who is known for being an ani-mal lover, wanted to have a business thatwould provide safety and security for thewell-being of dogs and cats.

Moody purchased the InvisibleFence dealership in 1997. InvisibleFence Brand is the industry leader in thepatented electronic containment of dogsand cats. They provide installation,service as well as training for the animalsusing the product.

“Our products keep dogs and cats safe

within their owner's yard, and teachesthem their boundaries,” said Moody. “Iwas drawn to the dealership, as it has asolid, stable reputation. I’ve also spent agreat deal of time developing and imple-menting a proactive customer follow-upprogram, which our customers love. It’swhy we have a 99.6 percent success ratewith our customers and their pets.”

That customer follow-up can meanvisiting customers homes and makingnecessary adjustments to the system, aswell as working with the owner and pettogether. “I like solving problems onthe front end,” Moody said. “Every cus-tomer and their pets have differentneeds. If a problem is every detected, acertified trainer returns to the home tocorrect it immediately.”

Visit us today at www.midtenn.invisiblefence.com. c

Join Arbor Day Foundation,receive trees to plant

National Arbor Day is Friday,April 26 this year, and the ArborDay Foundation is making it easy

for anyone to celebrate the annual tree-planting holiday. Join the Foundation inApril and receive 10 free shade trees, theorganization said in a news release.

By joining the Foundation in April,new members receive the followingtrees: red oak, sugar maple, weeping wil-low, bald cypress, thornless honey locust,pin oak, river birch, tulip tree, silvermaple and red maple.

The free trees are part of theFoundation’s Trees for America campaign.

“These trees provide shade in thesummer and gorgeous colors throughoutthe fall,” said John Rosenow, founder

and chief executive of the Arbor DayFoundation. “By the simple act of plant-ing trees, one person helps create ahealthier and more beautiful planet forall of us.”

The trees will be shipped postpaidat the right time for planting in April orMay with enclosed planting instruc-tions. The 6- to 12-inch trees are guar-anteed to grow or they will be replacedfree of charge.

To become a member of theFoundation and receive the free trees,send a $10 contribution to TEN FREESHADE TREES, Arbor DayFoundation, 100 Arbor Avenue,Nebraska City, Neb. 68410, by April 30,or visit arborday.org/april. c

When it comes to eating local, kosher consumers are splitBy CHAVIE LIEBER

NEW YORK (JTA) – The sun wasshining over the Union Square farmersmarket on a chilly morning as ChrisMitchell, a 34-year-old chef at the fash-ionable kosher eatery Jezebel, loomedover a table of Jerusalem artichokes. Thesix-foot-something Georgia native care-fully inspected the exterior of the rootvegetable before buying a handful toserve as dried chips.

Mitchell comes to the Manhattanmarket every morning to buy Jezebel’s pro-duce as part of the restaurant’s commit-ment to purchase locally produced food.

“If you care about what you’re eat-ing, and who you are feeding your foodto, you’ll want to know where it comesfrom,” said Mitchell. “That’s the beautyof buying locally.”

The locavore movement has becomeone of the hottest food trends in recentyears, propelled by advocates who see it asa conscientious and environmentallyfriendly alternative to industrial foodtrucked in over long distances. Producefrom local sources often keeps longer andhelps keep dollars in the local economy.

But for many kosher consumers,both individuals and restaurants, limit-ing themselves to local food makes nei-ther practical nor financial sense.

“It seems to me like another layer ofworry I have to tack onto my food shop-ping,” said Erin Reichner, a Brooklynmother of seven. “The price of keepingkosher means I want to pay less for my pro-duce. I buy plenty of fruit for my children,and I don’t care where it comes from.”

Such declarations aside, interest inlocal food has exploded in recent years.

According to the U.S. Departmentof Agriculture, the number of farmersmarkets in the country has more thanquadrupled since 1994 and grew by near-ly 10 percent in 2012 alone. That's inaddition to the growth of CommunitySupported Agriculture programs, orCSAs, in which consumers purchase afarm share for a fixed price in the springand receive a weekly box of produce dur-ing the season. Practically none of theseexisted in the United States in the early1980s; today there are estimated to bemore than 6,000.

“The best way to cook is to have thefarm dictate what your menu should be

by buying local produce that’s in season,”said Gabriel Garcia, the chef at TierraSur, a renowned kosher restaraunt at theHerzog Winery in California that pur-chases all its produce and meat fromlocal sources.

Garcia said his restaurant’s NewYear’s resolution is to procure all its foodfrom suppliers within 200 miles.

“Food tastes better if it’s naturallyavailable,” he said. “Why would you eatberries in the winter from a grocerystore when they are not in season if thewinter veggies are hearty, delicious andavailable?”

In the Jewish world, the trend ismanifest in the growth of Jewish CSAsover the past eight years, 58 of whichhad sprung up across the country as oflate 2012, diverting $7 million in Jewishpurchasing power from grocery stores tolocal farmers, according to the Jewishenvironmental group Hazon.

“Our traditional laws can inspireus to think how we want to approachagriculture,” Hazon’s Daniel Infeldsaid. “The root of kosher means ‘fit toeat,’ and eating locally should coin-cide with kashrut.”

Most kosher restaurants, however,are not on board with the move towardlocal suppliers. A Chicago restaurateursaid he was struggling enough to coverrent, kosher certification and the premi-um necessary to buy organic producethat adding the additional limitation oflocal just wasn’t in the cards.

“I’ve been told that local producelasts longer, but I can get a much betterprice if I’m buying in bulk from othercountries,” said the owner, who askedthat his name not be used. “Plus, I’m inthat category of local businesses and Ineed to take care of myself. I’m not inthe position to spend that extra moneyright now.”

Others say the issue is the hassle.With all the additional requirements ofrunning a kosher eatery, local food is seenas an unnecessary headache. Moreover,kosher meat from local sources isn’t read-ily available in many places.

“It’s just not a realistic ideal,” saidMoshe Wendel, the chef at the celebrat-ed kosher restaurant Pardes in Brooklyn.“It’s not a feasible thing to do, and Iwould never recommend it to anyonewho keeps kosher because it’s a hasslewhen you have so many other things toworry about.”

For many locavores, the impulse toshun national brands goes beyond mereenvironmental considerations. Consum-ers are increasingly conscious of theirfood's provenance and knowing the grow-er is often the most straightforward way toensure that what they put in their mouthscomes from a trusted source.

“If you are already keeping kosher,then you know strict discipline fordietary customs,” said Jezebel's Mitchell.“So why not aim for the best quality? Ifyou care about kosher and organic, youshould care about local.” c

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Deadline for ads is April 15, 2013Contact: Carrie Mills, Advertising Manager615-354-1699e-mail: [email protected]: 615-352-0056

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Health & Beauty Issue is Coming!May 2013

CKids comes to Middle Tennessee

Do you ever have theSaturday morning dilem-ma, what do I do with mykids today? Shopping,sports, playing videogames?

Chabad of Nashville, in a newsrelease, has described the solution, calledCKids, and it’s coming to MiddleTennessee. CKids is a new internationalkids club that welcomes and unitesJewish children, ages 3-12.

CKids, an interactive, socially moti-vated educational system, ensures everyJewish child’s enthusiasm and commit-ment to our heritage, to our future, andto the eternal chain of Torah-true values.

CKids offers comprehensive, inno-vative Shabbat and holiday programsdesigned to attract, teach, and entertainJewish children of diverse backgroundsand needs, while giving them a sense ofbelonging. Regional events, exclusivegear, and an exciting incentive system

make Judaism fun and cool, and childrenare guaranteed to keep coming and bringtheir friends.

CKids Nashville is led and directedby educator Mrs. Esther Tiechtel andmeets every Shabbat morning at 10:45a.m. for an hour.

Every CKids meeting includes les-sons from the weekly Parsha and holi-days that relate to kids’ own lives. Thereare exciting stories that will keep kids onthe edges of their seats, fun songs andgames that bring the lessons to life, andmuch more.

With CKids, your children willlearn about their Jewish heritage in a funand interactive way while meeting otherJewish kids like them. No backgroundknowledge necessary to join.

Register today by sending your nameand info to [email protected],and get started on an unforgettableJewish journey. For more informationplease call (615) 646-5750. c


By KATHY CARLSON

Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-DayWar, in which it gained territoriesthat were part of Biblical Israel,has along with other social factorsimperiled Israel as a democracy,historian and journalist Gershom

Gorenberg said in a lecture sponsored byJ Street Nashville.

The American-born Gorenberg hasspecialized in the politics of the MiddleEast and has written on the intersectionof religion and politics. His most recentbook, “The Unmaking of Israel,” waspublished in late 2011.

Gorenberg, speaking to about 100

people at the Gordon Jewish CommunityCenter in March, told the group he triesto write an objective history – as factualan account as he’s able to write – based ondocumentary records and supplementedby interviews. He offered his take on thehistory of Israel as a democratic state, thecrisis it faces as a democracy and what canbe done about it.

One of Gorenberg’s main con-tentions is that at Israel’s birth as a mod-ern nation, “We chose a Jewish statewithout all the land, not the land withouta Jewish state.” When Israel’s borderswere set in the spring of 1949 after anarmistice, Israel deliberately chose againstincluding the mostly Arab West Bank –

Biblical Judea and Samaria – and in favorof being a democratic Jewish state.

Israel chose to be a democraticJewish state when its first prime minister,David Ben-Gurion, insisted that armsobtained by the pre-statehood militarygroup Irgun be turned over to the con-solidated Israeli army, he said. The Irgunhad made the deal for the arms beforestatehood was declared but the muni-tions didn’t arrive until after statehood.The Irgun wanted the arms to go only toits division within the IDF, but Ben-Gurion wanted them for the IDF as awhole. The action meant that the gov-ernment of Israel, not factions within it,controlled the military, he said.

Israel also chose democracy when itssupreme court upheld freedom of thepress after the Israeli government, citinga need to maintain public order – shutdown two newspapers in 1953,Gorenberg said.

Fourteen years later, in the Six-DayWar, Israel unexpectedly found itselfconquering Sinai, Gaza, the West Bankand the Golan Heights. Gorenberg said

the Israeli government couldn’t decidewhat to do with the conquered territory,and the indecision emboldened some totake steps that he says undermineddemocracy. The green line of pre-1967boundaries was erased from maps ofIsrael, he said. Israel had the legal rightto establish military outposts in the con-quered territories, he said, but the gov-ernment covertly supported and funded akibbutz in the Golan that it called a mil-itary outpost.

Two other developments threatendemocracy, he said. Haredi Jewish malesdon’t have to work but receive supportfrom the state, and ultra-Orthodox rab-bis dominate a state-funded rabbinate.

For Israel to return to its democraticroots, Gorenberg recommends separa-tion of state and synagogue, guarantee-ing full equality under the law for theArab minority, and working toward atwo-state solution in which Israel givesup West Bank land.

“We need to give up land to preservea democratic state,” he said. “We needpeace to give up the land safely.” c

Israel faces crisis as a democracy, author Gorenberg says


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B’nai MitzvahCarter Levy Koch will be called to

the Torah as a BarMitzvah at Congrega-tion Micah on Saturday,April 6, at 10:30 a.m.Carter is the son ofRachel and Jack L.Koch Jr. and the broth-er of Eleanor. Hisgrandparents are Sandiand the late Jack L.Koch Sr. of Prattville, Ala., and Sarahand David Carter of Gulfport, Miss.

Carter has been assisting with Roomin the Inn at various locations aroundNashville, most often CongregationMicah. He helped raise several hundreddollars for the Bellevue Food Bankthrough a penny drive that correlated withhis violin practice and Maureen Riley’sBellevue Violin Program. One of his mostmeaningful mitzvot was playing the violinfor Shabbat service at the BlakefordAssisted Living Home. He plans to con-tinue with all of these programs.

A sixth-grader at Harding Academy,Carter enjoys English and mathematicsand participating in Harding’s stringsensemble. An avid musician, Carter hasplayed the violin for many years and hasrecently taken up guitar. He loves play-ing soccer as well as lacrosse, ultimatefrisbee, and disc golf. Carter regularlyparticipates in the theater program as anactor, musician and/or stage crew mem-ber. He enjoys reading science fictionand dystopian literature. Carter’s long-standing passion for building, disassem-bling and rebuilding various items hasnaturally led him to be a fan of steam-punk. He spends his spare time gamingand hanging out with friends and family.

Daniel Padgett Saul will be calledto the Torah as a BarMitzvah on Saturday,April 27, at 10:30 a.m.at Congregation Micah.Daniel is the son ofLaura and Andy Sauland big brother to hissister Sydney. He is thegrandson of Jim and AnnPadgett of Hartfield, Va.,and the late Phyllis Tenenbaum Cohenand Ralph Saul of Atlanta.

Daniel is a seventh-grader atGrassland Middle School where he is an

A student and competes on the lacrosseteam. Daniel has excelled at runningback, receiver and safety for the lastthree years for the Grassland Eagles foot-ball team as well as playing GrasslandAthletics basketball. Daniel also enjoysswim team, tennis, snow skiing and avariety of water sports including waterskiing, wake boarding, wake surfing andfishing in addition to earning his boater’slicense last year. Daniel loves spendinghis summers on the lake and looks for-ward to his time at Camp BarneyMedintz with friends.

Daniel loves sports and spendingtime outside. For his service project, hehopes to volunteer in an after-schoolmentoring program to spread his enthu-siasm for sports and outdoor activitieswith less-fortunate kids.

Mazel tov… to Sara Fried, owner of Fête

Nashville Weddings & Events, who hasbeen selected as a 2013 winner in TheKnot Best of Weddings, in The Knot mag-azine and on theknot.com, an online wed-ding resource. It’s the second year FêteNashville been voted Best WeddingPlanner for The Knot Best of Weddings. Inaddition, Fête Nashville placed 2nd for thestate and twelfth worldwide in the weddingplanner category of the 2012 internationalWedding Industry Experts Awards.

… to Congregation Micah’s sev-enth-grade religious school class, taughtby Rachel Tawil Kenyon. Their “Fill theBackpacks” mitzvah project, stuffingbackpacks with school supplies for chil-dren in need, was featured in a Tabletmagazine article titled “Doing MitzvahProjects Right.” Tablet, www.tablet-mag.com, is a daily online magazine ofJewish news, ideas and culture.

Sympathy… to the family of Peggy D.

Smirnow, who died on March 12 at age85. She was preceded in death by herhusband, Edwin Smirnow. Survived bydaughters Teri Sogol and Dana (Harold)Rubin; son Jack (Terri) Raymon; grand-children Brian Sogol, Freda Rubin(Moshe) Sanders, Michael (Tasha)Raymon and Michelle (Chris) Johnston;and five great-grandchildren. In lieu ofcustomary remembrances, contributionsmay be made to: Jewish Family Service,801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville37205; Hadassah, 1113 Chickering ParkDr., Nashville, TN 37215; or to the char-ity of your choice .

… Rose Parnes Goldstein, whodied on March 8. Mrs. Goldstein wasborn in 1921 in Przemysl, Poland. Shewas married to the late WilliamGoldstein for more than 50 years. Shesurvived the Holocaust and was forevergrateful to the American soldiers whorescued survivors and to her adoptedcountry. She loved her family and son-in-law dearly. She is survived by her son,Mark; daughters Geraldine Miller andKaren Dean; son-in-law James W.Thomas, and three grandchildren. Mrs.Goldstein’s family thanks the caregiversat Belvedere Commons who cared forher with love and understanding.Memorials may be made to the JewishFoundation for the Righteous or a chari-ty of your choice.

Learn about B’nai Tzedek program

Do a mitzvah for your B’naiMitzvah…Join B’nai Tzedek,a program of the Jewish

Foundation.It’s the beginning of a giving

future, incorporating the mitzvah oftzedakah into everyday lives throughsocial action and giving.

For information or to join, pleasecontact Risa Klein Herzog at 354-1651 or [email protected] c

Daniel PadgettSaul

Carter LevyKoch

… Patricia Ann Elbaz, who died onFeb. 28 at age 63. She is survived by hergrandsons, Evan and Ben Elbaz.

April features photographic andHolocaust-related art at GJCC

Throughout April, theGordon JewishCommunity Center willbe exhibiting works frommembers of the Society ofNashville Artistic

Photographers (SNAP), along with aYom Hashoah exhibit commemoratingthe Holocaust.

It will SNAP’s third annual photo-graphic show at the GJCC. The groupbegan in 2004, when a small group ofNashville photographers met to start aninformal group that would concentrateon the creative aspects of photography.SNAP provides a forum for presentingand discussing members’ work.Members foster artistic growth throughan open dialogue and insightful criti-cism and feedback.

The works of more than 20 SNAPmembers will be on display in the JanetLevine March Gallery and the JLMG2Gallery of the GJCC.

The Yom HaShoah exhibit growsfrom a request to community artists forwork relating to the Holocaust. Theexhibit will be a mixed media showingin the Sig Held Gallery at the GJCC.

Participants include Kaaren Engel,Leslie J. Klein, Reesha Leone, KaraMeyer, Carrie Mills, Judit Pap, KimPhillips, Rebekah Pope and NinaSzymoszek. c

"Uncle Mengele's Gingerbread House," byLeslie J. Klein, is part of the Yom HaShoahexhibit.

Students at the Tennessee School forthe Blind participated in the sixthannual Braille Challenge, sponsoredby B’nai B’rith Maimonides Lodge#46. The event is designed to helpmotivate students to improve Braillereading skills essential to their futuresuccess. This year the lodge also spon-sored the second AcademicChallenge at the school. This eventwas for students who are not Braillereaders, but participated in four areasof academics. In the photographabove, Academic Challenge studentsplay a game of bingo as a reward.


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By JENNA EGELSTONAkiva School Art Instructor

What do you get when youtake two classrooms that arethousands of miles apart and

give them each a webcam? You getsome incredible art and a few changedlives! Let me explain.

Last summer, I was asked to be apart of a collaborative art project witha group of students in Israel. I had noidea what this situation entailed but myinterest had been piqued. I replied tothe email with a quick and simple“Sure!” and went about my afternoon.Now, almost a year later, I am thrilledto share with you an exciting journey ofart, language, friendship, and learning.

In August, the fourth grade atAkiva School partnered with a fourth-grade group from the Central Aravaarea in Israel to create amazing art proj-ects through a completely technologicalexchange system. I’ve dubbed it “TheArava Project.” Morah Dganit Eldar(one of Akiva’s talented JudaicStudies/Ivrit staff members) and I havecome together with Arava instructorCelia Yitzhak to lead several art projectscompletely focused on communicatingthrough Hebrew language skills and art.

Under the umbrella of The AravaProject, there are four projectsthroughout the year: two exchangewriting/illustration projects, one thatbegins with illustration and the otherwith writing, and two Skype meetings.The first project required the studentsto each draw a picture around thetheme of “What I see outside my win-dow.” Celia and I scanned theseimages into our computers and tradedone group’s art for another. (We alsoemailed each other photos of the stu-dents so that the classes could begingetting acquainted.) The kids were soexcited to see each other’s work!

Since winter break was on thehorizon, Celia and I decided to skipahead and begin preparing stories forour first Skype meeting. In art, theAkiva fourth-graders and I came upwith a great story about a snake namedSnow who lived in the Akiva sciencelab. Morah Dganit worked closelywith the students to refine their writ-ings and practice their lines while

sharing her own stories and memoriesof Israel with the kids. In January, aftermuch practice and anticipation, theArava students and the Akiva stu-dents logged onto Skype (a computervideo chat system) and met “in per-son” for the first time!

Since the Arava students do notspeak any English, the entire meetingwas conducted in Hebrew. MorahDganit facilitated the discussion fromour end and Celia on her end, whileboth groups listened, giggled, shared,smiled and laughed. The Arava studentshad written and illustrated a story abouta baby bird that was blown out of its nestduring a windstorm and was later res-cued. Each group leaned forward towardsthe computer screen, watching and lis-tening intently to their newfoundfriends. After a question and answer peri-od where we talked about the weather,our favorite hobbies and vacation spots,we bid each other goodbye until nexttime and logged off. Morah Dganit, Ms.Pollack (4th-grade teacher) and Icheered! The kids cheered! Everyonehad done their best to be a part of theconversation and each student did abeautiful job presenting their parts of thestory. The kids chattered about it all dayand Morah Dganit said it would besomething none of us would ever forget.

The next phase of our projectinvolves the students writing aboutwhat they love to do in their sparetime. We’ll trade and each group willillustrate the writings. The anticipa-tion will begin building soon enoughfor our next story and Skype meetingat the end of the school year.

This incredible project has beensuch a wonderful journey for everyoneinvolved. Morah Dganit and I invite youto come to Akiva School and see thework our students have done and thework that has been shared with them. c

Students meet, learn online

around the townWES Class of ’13graduates on April 27

West End Synagogue will be cele-brating the culmination of 13 years ofJewish learning with the graduationclass of 2013 on Saturday, April 27, at8:15 p.m. at the synagogue.

The community is invited to join usfor Ma’a’riv services, Havdalah and aprogram written by our students: “WhatBeing Jewish Means To Me.” The serv-ices and the program will be led by the11th-grade students. There will be adessert reception hosted by the parentsof our graduates.

The graduates are: BenjaminSamuel Barton, son of Kirk Barton andNancy Lipsitz; Samuel Herman, son ofSanford and Barbara Herman; StanleyKarr, son of Stephen and Carol Karr;Simon Lowen, son of Peter and DeborahLowen; Jacob Andrew McCoy, son ofGreg and Amy McCoy; Samuel Perlen,son of Joe and Maxine Perlen; JoshuaEric Rotker, son of Jonathan and IrisRotker; Hannah Elise Stein, daughter ofRichard and Renee Stein; MicahNathaniel Stotsky, son of Linda Stotsky;and Shayna Tishler, daughter of Stevenand Michelle Tishler.

J Street VP to speakat Temple April 3

Alan Elsner, vice president for com-munications at J Street, will be the JStreet speaker at Temple on Wednesday,April 3, at 7 p.m. He will speak on thetopic of “Time to Lead: How AmericanJews Can Advance the Peace Process.”

Elsner joined J Street last December.Before that, he had been with The IsraelProject. A veteran journalist, Elsner wasthe State Department and later WhiteHouse correspondent for Reuters NewsAgency. He also was Reuters’ chief

writer in covering the terrorist attacks onAmerica on Sept. 11, 2001 and theiraftermath.

Israeli folk dancingon Thursdays

The Nashville Israeli Folk Dancersmeet every Thursday evening at theSchulman Center for Jewish Life (acrossfrom Memorial Gym) at VanderbiltUniversity. Warmup and beginnersdances are from 7:30-8:30 p.m.Intermediate-advanced dancing andrequests are from 8:30-10 p.m.

Come join us for evenings of fun,music, great exercise and new friends!You can stay for all or part of the time,and attend any or all of the sessions. Noprevious dance experience is required.Everyone is welcome to participate.

For more information please contact:Carol Rubin 352-9447 ([email protected]) or Sharon Morrow 662-4881 ([email protected])or visit our web site atwww.vanderbilt.edu/israelidance/

Israeli film atNashville Film Fest

Nashville Jewish Film Festival will besponsoring the 2012 Israeli film, “TheBallad of the Weeping Spring,” during theNashville Film Festival on Mondayevening, April 22. The film, a musical,was shot in Israel and has been describedas a stylized homage to spaghetti Westernsand Samurai epics. It tells the story ofJosef Tawila (played by Uri Gavriel), aformer band leader who has become arecluse in the wake of a terrible accident.He brings together his old musician bud-dies to grant the last wishes of a dyingfriend while healing his own soul.

Check for more information atwww.nashvillefilmfestival.org.

To access the Community Calendar,

go to www.jewishnashville.org and click on “Calendar.”

Every community event is listed for your convenience.

View from Nofar's house

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INSURANCEFRIDRICH, PINSON & ROTHBERG

Jamie Rothberg3825 Bedford Ave. Suite 203Ph 327-9105 Dir 277-1483

[email protected]

MANAGED BENEFITS, INC.Rodney RosenblumCLU - REBC - RHU

Ruth AlexanderLife Insurance, Health Insurance,

Disability and Long Term Care Insurance 2000 Glen Echo Rd., Suite 113

Nashville, TN 37215Ph. 615-371-2467 x3 • Mobile 615-300-6640

ROBINS INSURANCEBruce Robins, CPCU, CIC, ARM; Tom Loventhal; Marsha Jaffa, CIC;

Van Robins, CICAuto, Home, Life, Health,

Business Insurance30 Burton Hills, Suite 300

Ph. 665-9200 • www.robinsins.com

ZANDER INSURANCE GROUP, INC.Julian “Bud” Zander, Jr., CIC

Jeffrey J. Zander, CICMichael Weinberger

Auto, Home, Life, Health, Business,Long Term Care

212 Oceola, Nashville, TN 37209356-1700 www.zanderins.com

MUSICIANS AND DJsBLUE TONE MUSIC

Jewish Wedding CeremoniesThe Nashville Blue Tones Party Band

DJ Services. 615-352-6358www.BlueToneMusicUSA.com

OPHTHALMOLOGISTHOWARD ROSENBLUM, M.D.

Eye Physician & SurgeonNashville Eye Center

St. Thomas Hospital • Ph. 386-9200

OPTOMETRISTDR. MICHELE SONSINOOptique Eyecare & Eyewear

2817 West End Ave., Nashville615-321-4EYE (4393)

ACCOUNTANTSCathy Werthan, CPA, PFS

CPA Consulting Group, PLLCProviding traditional tax and accounting

services in a non-traditional way109 Kenner Ave., Suite 100

(615) 322-1225 • www.cpacg.com

ADVERTISINGThe Observer Carrie MillsThe best use of your advertising dollar.

801 Percy Warner Blvd. 356-3242 x299

APPLIANCESELECTRONIC EXPRESS now

carries a full line of home appliances aswell as consumer electronics! We have

the brands you know and trust:Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag,

General Electric, Frigidaire, and LG.Count on Electronic Express to help

you make the best choice. Nobody beatsour prices. Free basic delivery and

pick-up of your old appliances with this ad. Available at any of our 16

stores. Visit us on the web at www.electronicexpress.com

for a location near you.

HERMITAGE LIGHTING GALLERY Lighting • Appliances • Hardware

Custom Cabinetry and BathsWe Light Up Your Life!

615-843-3300www.hermitagelighting.com

ATTORNEYMARTIN SIR, ATTORNEY

Family Law / Personal Injury / ProbateFifth Third Center

424 Church Street, Ste. 2250Nashville, Tennessee 37219

(615) 256-5661www.martinsirlaw.com

HEARING AID/AUDIOLOGY SERVICESAUDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES AND

HEARING AIDS TODAYDr. Jina Scherer, Doctor of Audiology

Specializes in hearing and hearing aid services.

Specializing in the Lyric-extended wear device.

99 White Bridge Road, Ste. 106 615-354-8011

www.hearingaidstoday.com

BALLOON DECORPARTY ANIMALS

Balloon Decor & Entertainment615-941-3177

www.PartyAnimalsTN.com

CARE GIVERFAMILY STAFFING SOLUTIONS, INCStay Independent*At Home*In Charge®

‘Personal Care Assistance At Its Best”2000 Richard Jones Road

Nashville, TN 37215615-383-5656

208 Uptown SquareMurfreesboro, TN 37129

615-848-6774119 McGrew Street, Suite A

Shelbyville, TN 37160931-680-2771

www.familystaffing.com


Nashville celebrates Israel@65 with music, comedy, family funContinued from page 1border, Daddo was exposed tothe rich traditions of theLadino language and culture.Together with a fruitful part-nership with multi-talentedmusician Yuval Keidar,Daddo’s musical projects spanfrom ethnically tinged elec-tronic dance music, to power-ful original ballads, to worldmusic recordings celebratingthe unique musical tradition ofSephardic Jews.

Saturday night’s event, an adult-only party, begins at 8:15 and includesdinner and cocktails. There is a chargefor tickets; to RSVP for this event, go tohttp://goo.gl/RbCvA.

Sunday, April 28, features a commu-nity picnic and concert for the whole fam-ily. Stretch a blanket out on the GJCC’slush fields and enjoy music from Daddoand from Nashville’s own John Ford Coley.Sunday’s event begins at 12:30 p.m. withperformances beginning at 1 p.m.

There are songs you hear in your lifethat transport you to a certain time periodor give you a special feeling. You associatethose good times to the group that madethem famous. Songs like “I’d Really LoveTo See You Tonight,” “Nights Are ForeverWithout You” and “Love Is The Answer”have that effect on people. Those songs,and numerous others, have made John

Ford Coley a singing legend. John is most revered as

half of the Grammy nominat-ed duo England Dan and JohnFord Coley. He continues withan active roster performing theplatinum and gold record hitsfor audiences around theworld. Classically trained onpiano and an avid guitarist,John loves the craft and enjoysevery audience he encounters.

With double platinumand gold records behind him, John hasalso produced other artists. Most recent-ly, he co-produced several sides on EddieMoney. Country musician Vince Gilladded vocals along with John to give thesessions a country feel. Additionally,John has produced CD’s on country artistTom Wurth and another talent, LynnBryant.

John also has a very strong love ofIsrael, where he has traveled on severaloccasions.

In addition to musical entertainment,there will also be activities for kids includ-ing a bounce house, dunk tank, henna,scavenger hunt and more. Bring your ownpicnic or order lunch for the family.

To RSVP for Sunday and selectlunch options, go tohttps://goo.gl/hIZ1H. There is a suggest-ed donation for the event. For moreinformation, call (615) 356-7170. c

Benji Lovitt

In new JLI course, ancient tales revealanswers to life’s greatest mysteries

Nashville’s JewishLearning Institute pres-ents an all-new course,“Curious Tales of theTalmud: FindingYourself in the Legends

of Our Sages.” It’s a six-session springcourse that will begin during the lastweek of April, JLI said in a news release.

Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel of Chabadof Nashville will conduct the six coursesessions at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays,starting April 24, at Chabad ofNashville.

“We’ll explore the mystical dimen-sion of the Talmud called the Aggadah,to uncover profound wisdom from someof the zaniest and most epic legendsyou’ll ever encounter,” said Tiechtel,Nashville’s JLI instructor. “This is achance for the public to unravel layers ofpersonal meaning from texts not usuallyavailable to non-scholars.”

In Curious Tales of the Talmud, par-ticipants will encounter legends of gar-gantuan sea monsters, impossible feats,anthropomorphisms, and riddles thatchallenge the foundations of the Jewish

faith. In deciphering the meaningbehind these strange episodes, studentswill discover secrets containing profoundinsights into the meaning of life.

“Whether you are fascinated by theTalmud and Jewish mysticism, orwhether you are seeking a fun and mean-ingful experience, you won’t want tomiss this course,” he said. “The materialis as relevant as ever, promising to deep-en the way we understand ourselves, ouruniverse, and our relationships with thepeople we love.”

Like all JLI programs, Curious Talesof the Talmud is designed to appeal topeople at all levels of Jewish knowledge,including those without any prior expe-rience or background in Jewish learning.All JLI courses are open to the public,and attendees need not be affiliated witha particular synagogue, temple, or otherhouse of worship.

Interested students may call (615)646-5750 or visit www.myJLI.com forregistration and other course-relatedinformation. JLI courses are presented inNashville in conjunction with Chabadof Nashville. c

Read the Observeronline at www.jewish observernashville.org

The Observer Vol. 78 No. 4 – April 2012

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Transcript of The Observer Vol. 78 No. 4 – April 2012