Nashville’s Jewish Community to Help Provide Aid to Afghan Allies

The United States is currently seeing tens of thousands of Afghans pour into the country as Humanitarian Parolees. After spending weeks or months on military bases while awaiting processing, they are now in need of assistance, and Nashville’s Jewish community is coordinating efforts to do just that. Through the combined efforts of the organized Jewish community and the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), funds are being raised to help resettle Afghan people in Nashville and to help them become acculturated in the United States. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee says, “The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is proud to partner with our congregations, agencies, and Jewish community organizations to participate in helping to resettle about 300 Afghan allies coming to Nashville from the approximately 50,000 Afghans allies who are coming to the US.  Our Federation together with Jewish Family Service is leading a Jewish community volunteer effort to maximize our efficiency.” According to Pam Kelner, Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Middle Tennessee, there is greater strength in a collective effort rather than individual organizations working alone. “This is a coordinated Jewish community response, and we are working with an established resettlement agency to make a bigger impact.” Kelner also says, “Many of the newly arrived Afghans assisted the United States government for a long time, and it is important to recognize their status as our allies, rather than refugees.” 

Federation CEO Eric Still On Newschannel 5

FBI Invites Jewish Federation onto Community Engagement Council

As part of an ongoing effort to engage and educate communities across the country, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is expanding its Community Engagement Councils (CEC) and The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is now a part of that effort. Adam Bronstone, Director of Planning and Israel Partnerships for The Federation, will represent the local Jewish community on the council. “I am excited about the experience,” he says, “But most important, is the fact that they wanted to include us and to deepen the relationship with us.” The Council meets regularly and includes representatives from across the state. Doug Korneski, FBI Special Agent in Charge in the Memphis Field Office, says, “The Council helps improve the lines of communication between the FBI and the community. It is an opportunity to share what is going on in law enforcement and what we are concerned about.” 

Save the Date

Stand Against Antisemitism 

Shine a Light

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee launched a local antisemitism reporting form in an ongoing effort to assist families and community members in addressing and responding to incidents of antisemitism, specifically those that occur in school settings.* We have already received eight reports representing three different school districts, with incidents at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. These reports have a consistent theme in which the Jewish student is confronted by a classmate with some form of Nazi imagery, Heil Hitler salute, swastikas drawn on desks, and other Nazi related threats and harassment. 

Campaign 2022 Update

Greetings from the Federation 2022 Annual Campaign! 

Dear Esther December 2021

DEAR ESTHER, 

Jewish Federation: Be a Part of the Team

Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee seeks an engaging, dynamic, sociable and motivated professional for a part-time position as the Engagement Associate. The Associate will focus on increasing the organization’s engagement with Newcomers and under-engaged people in the Jewish community, to execute engagement programs, and work with community members on creating opportunities for people in the community to connect with each other.

Kvetch in the City December 2021

USING DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS TO REDUCE YOUR TAX BURDEN TODAY

Update on Federation Aid to Haiti

This past summer, on August 14th, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Haiti, killing over 2,200 people. Over 12,000 people were injured, and 130,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. This disaster struck at a time when Haiti was already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, unparalleled economic hardship, and social and political unrest following the assassination of Haiti’s president in July. Haiti’s hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, and people were not able to get the medical care they desperately needed.  

Young Adults PAC Followup

New Tax Laws 2021

Kvetch in the City November 2021

Welcoming the Stranger

Faith-based organizations are often among the first responders to help refugees fleeing their home during war and political upheaval, and the current crisis in Afghanistan is no exception.  Perhaps it is because of the over 30 references in the Torah, also referred to as the Old Testament in Christian tradition, to “welcoming the stranger.”  We Jews know only too well the pain, fear, and confusion of fleeing our homeland in search of a new more peaceful, secure, and hopeful future for ourselves and our children.  The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) which helped welcome, support and acculturate many of our ancestors, now has a religiously diverse staff and network working to resettle refuges of all faiths from around the globe.

Noa Tishby in Nashville

Akiva and Jewish Middle School Receive COVID Funds from Jewish Federation

The ongoing COVID19 pandemic means big changes for local Jewish day schools, and The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s Human Services Relief Matching Fund is there to help. Resources from the fund are providing Akiva School and Jewish Middle School adapt to create safer, healthier learning environments for their students. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation, says, “Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee earned a matching gift from the Jewish Federations of North America’s Human Service Relief Matching Fund specifically to assist local Jewish organizations faced with extra costs because of the pandemic. When Akiva School and Jewish Middle School learned of the opportunity to apply for funding through our Federation, both schools were able to identify specifically those additional expenses which they are facing this academic year as a result of COVID.  We are proud to partner with Akiva and JMS to help the schools provide a safe and meaningful learning environment for their students.”

Mezuzah Hanging Puts Finishing Touch on Moishe House

Dear Esther November 2021

Dear Esther,

5782; Shofar So Good