By Kathy Carlson
Hey, were you at Our World’s Fair?
It took place on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 29, at the Gordon Jewish Community Center to kick off the Jewish Federation of Nashville’s 2012 annual fundraising campaign. Community members told five different stories about their personal journeys to Nashville from challenging circumstances – such as living in the Former Soviet Union or picking up the pieces after the 2010 Nashville floods. They described how they’ve rebuilt their homes and lives in Nashville, and how Federation connects them with the rest of the Jewish community both here and around the world. An original performance by actor Jon Adam Ross that he created especially for Our World’s Fair tied it all together with warmth and humor.
Attendees also connected with eight of the world’s Jewish communities – Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran and more – by sampling their cuisines at stations set up for the World’s Fair. Kevin Alexandroni, Bobbie Limor and Goldie Shepard donated their time and catered the event.
More than 300 people from across Nashville’s Jewish community participated and chose to support the work of Federation here, around the world and in Israel through their generous pledges. Karen Yazdian and Brad Fishel co-chaired the event, with assists from throughout the community. Remember, it takes one to make a world of difference. It takes us as a community to do a world of good.
Here’s what fellow community members had to say about the event:
Amy Paige: “We’re good friends of Amanda and David (Schwartz). … We’ve just embraced this community. It’s not hard to embrace a community like this because it’s so open.”
David Friedman: “The Jewish population was larger in Washington. Nashville is smaller and tighter. Because it’s such a tight community…we’ve made a lot of friends.”
Amy: “As much as we’re involved in music, this (Nashville’s Jewish community) is kind of another epicenter (of our lives. People) can be as involved as they want to be. … This feels like people have roots. Here people want to give. … It’s a warmer community here. …”
Jacob Geltser
Jacob Geltzer, sophomore at Martin Luther King Magnet School, and Noah Geltzer, eighth grader at Bellevue Middle School
Jacob: “At the BBYO Brother-hood Dinner on Thursday night, I talked about the World’s Fair and handed out pamphlets. Everybody said they’d try to attend.”
Jay and Judy Lefkovitz
Judy Lefkovitz: “Jon Adam Ross did an incredible story that captured the essence of Jewish heritage.”
Jay Lefkovitz: “I thought it was really insightful and showed the role that the Jewish Federation plays.”
Sharece Phelps
Sharece Phelps: “I was surprised knowing how diverse people are in the community and not knowing their stories. The performer was great, (bringing the audience) from ancient history to the present.”
Robbie Lasky
Robbie Lasky: “It was wonderful. It brought the community together to learn more about what Federation does for people in our community as well as around the world.”
Reva Heller: “It was a very informative and engaging program with something for everyone in the community. There was food for everyone and food for the brain. I was surprised to see the faces of flood survivors; I didn’t know those particular folks. It just brings it close to home.”
Gene Heller: “It was great. I’m not surprised when the Federation does something that’s great.” Ross’s performance and the videos of community members’ stories were “very good. … Not only that, I’ve known (some of) them for years and didn’t know their stories.”
Lee Becker: “It’s very informative because normally we don’t realize all that Federation does and how they reach out to different countries and different people. … It’s important for us to know where our money goes.”