After Gil Fox’s wife Joyce died several years ago, he remembered a few things he’d heard from others who’d lost spouses. One was that after their spouses died, some of their best friends disappeared. The other was that people who were not close friends became their close friends. And there was one other thing Fox remembered hearing, “They also said they get invited to go out with a bunch of couples and they felt like a fifth wheel.”
Also, around that time, The Temple was creating what they called “tribes,” or affinity groups for members to gather in small settings with a shared interest. While filling out the questionnaire, Fox had the idea to create one of the tribes for people who had lost a spouse. “The initial idea was that we would do activities together. It wasn’t designed to be a meet or meat market. It was really so that everybody had the same thing in their background of what had happened to them.”
The group began getting together to go out to dinner or lunch, movies, theater, or to enjoy music. The first gathering was small, just eight Temple members. Over time the gatherings centered around monthly lunches since some people did not like driving at night.
Eventually the group wanted to broaden their reach. “We felt there was a need in the general Jewish community,” says Fox. He approached the Temple’s Rabbi Michael Danziger and The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s leadership to ask for support in promoting the group. Both agreed to help, and today the group has grown to approximately 23 regular members. “Membership is open to any Nashville Jewish widower or widow, regardless of congregational affiliation and those with no affiliation,” he adds.
The group meets on the second Monday of each month at various locations around town. To learn more or join the group, email Gil Fox at gsfox3@comcast.net
The Jewish Observer is published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville and made possible by funds raised in the Jewish Federation Annual Campaign. Become a supporter today.
