Thou Shalt not Hate

At the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, we launched a tool to help community members report local incidents of antisemitism, primarily designed for use by parents and students experiencing issues of antisemitism in school settings. This form, created through the efforts of JCRC members and concerned parents, is available on the Jewish Federation website:  Israel & Antisemitism | Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee (jewishnashville.org) 

October 2021 Notes from Noam...

Noa Tishby’s Guide to Understanding Israel Breaks It All Down

There is a story Noa Tishby tells about the moment she knew she had to write a book about Israel. A well-known Hollywood actress, upon learning Noa is Israeli, approached her to ask if her parents were upset she no longer wears a hijab. In fact, the incident was the culmination of many similar situations in which she found herself being asked to voice her opinions and explain about Israel. “Every time I was confronted or questioned about Israel, I was asked if there was a book that explains what the country is, how it came to be, in simple terms,” she says, “That book didn’t exist, so I decided to write it myself.” The result is Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth. She describes it as a “step one,” a jumping off point to begin to understand the complexities of the country and the challenges it faces.  

Kvetch in the City October 2021

On my most recent trip to NYC I found myself daily indulging in a big way in Italian food and vegan ice cream…in ways that seemed comparable to Robert DeNiro preparing for his 60lb weight gain role in Raging Bull. While tripping out on the endless selection of fine NYC restaurants would seem somewhat normal while on vacation in the Big Apple, knowing myself, I realized a big portion of my diving into eating was due to unchecked emotions about my upcoming hip replacement surgery. I’ve never had major surgery, and never thought I would. Wrapping my head around it all seemed to be eating away at my nerves while I was eating my way through lemon pasta and Italian bread dipped in olive oil to cope. 

Jewish Federation Joins National Support for New Orleans Hurricane Victims

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee recently made an emergency distribution of $5,000 from the disaster relief fund through the Jewish Federations of North America to assist with the Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Arnie Fielkow, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, says he is grateful to JFNA for both the initial $50K allocation to fund the emergency grant program, and the opening of the national mailbox, which will be needed for the long-term plans. He reports that as people return to town, community leadership discussions will begin regarding longer-term strategy and assessment of needs. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee says, “Here in the Nashville and Middle Tennessee Jewish community, we know how important it is to help people in need following a severe weather event.  Coming from New Orleans, I personally understand the extent of this situation after having led that Federation through Hurricane Katrina.” 

FBI Encouraging the Community to Report Hate Crimes

The FBI is launching a nationwide effort to enlist the help of local communities in its efforts to educate and combat hate crimes. Hate crimes are part of the Civil Rights Division of the FBI and are its highest priority. Rich Bauer is the Supervisory Special Agent for the Nashville area. He says it is important to identify and report these crimes because they are so damaging to communities. “People look to the FBI to lead these investigations because they deal with threats of violence,” he says, “A hate crime is anything that physically threatens someone and must be motivated by bias against protected classes.” The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.” Currently, Bauer says they are seeing an uptick in hate crimes against faith-based groups, Asian-Pacific Islanders and the Black community. 

Dear Esther October 2021

Dear Esther,    The adult son of my close friend recently overdosed. It was such a surprise as no one knew he had relapsed. I feel bad for not seeing what was happening. What could I have done differently? How did I miss this? I find myself worrying about all my friends in recovery now. What do I need to look for and what can I do if I suspect a friend has relapsed? 

Introducing…Moishe House

Jewish Federation’s National Young Leadership Cabinet Kicks Off New Year

How will proposed changes in federal tax laws affect charitable giving?

Young Leader’s Cabinet Focused on Fighting Antisemtism Through Advocacy

Alarmed by the uptick in antisemitism both domestically and around the world, young Jewish leaders are setting an agenda focused on advocacy and mobilization. The Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet gathered recently in Washington, DC to urge elected officials to make the fight against domestic terrorism and antisemitism a high priority. Included in Nashville’s delegation were current and former members of NYLC, and co-Chair Aron Karabel. “The event was really the beginning of what we want to do in the coming year, which is a three-pronged approach,” says Karabel, “First is the need to educate leaders about antisemitism and how it manifests itself in the United States. The second step is to continue to raise awareness about the ongoing acts. And third, is to mobilize leaders to action.” He says it is incumbent on the young generation of leaders to carry forward what was started at the event.

Moving Forward in Uncertainty

When President Trump launched Operation Warp Speed in May 2020, many breathed a tentative sigh of relief knowing that a safe, effective vaccine was our best hope in the battle against the COVID-19 virus, which had affected every aspect of our lives. Schools and businesses closed, travel all but completely terminated, celebrations postponed. Perhaps most tragically, those sick with the virus who were hospitalized were terrified and alone. Almost everyone is aware of at least one family member, friend or neighbor who had to sit helpless as a loved one died alone in the hospital without being able to say goodbye or even have a proper funeral. In the face of this tragedy, President Trump used all his executive power to position the United States to be a leader in the fight against the deadly coronavirus.

Jewish Federation Provides Emergency Aid to Haiti Earthquake Victims

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, through our overseas partner the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), provided aid to victims of the recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti. The quake killed more than 1,300 people and injured thousands more. The JDC activated its emergency response team, along with its longstanding network of local partners, to deliver emergency aid. This is part of JDC’s longstanding commitment to Haiti, with its disaster response to the 2010 earthquake, and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.  According to Federation CEO Eric Stillman, “The emergency funding from our local Federation continues the tradition of providing aid in the case of a natural disaster such as this to help repair the world.”

Jewish Federation Introduces the use of New Inclusion Badge

As part of its ongoing commitment to make Nashville’s Jewish community more open and inclusive of people with disabilities, The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is providing local congregations and agencies with a visual aid in the form of a graphic badge. The badge will be added to websites, flyers, and buildings to let people know accommodations can be made to aid in their participation in services, programs and other events. The use of the badge is also designed to educate and raise awareness in the community about grants and services that are available. Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation, says, “The badge will hopefully give people the comfort level to know that the organization or agency using it is open and willing to find ways to accommodate various disability needs.”

The Israel Conundrum

By Dr. Frank Boehm

September 2021 Kvetch in the City

I recently happened upon an article that busted the myth that we only use 10% of our brains.

Title - Life Insurance confuses me. How do I know if I need it?

By Mike Levine

Jewish Federation’ Professional Advisory Council's New Direction

By Shannon Small

Jewish Pride and Unity: Stronger together

National and international headlines continue to report far too many stories about antisemitic incidents and attacks.  Locally we have been relatively fortunate so far, but we are not immune from these concerns.  The inherent danger of this Jew hating monster cannot be underestimated as it can rear itself suddenly and without warning.  Current statistics reveal a disturbing climb in the problem, but the hatred itself is as old as time.  The Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee has been active in providing education, resources, and programming to create productive response to the growing problem.  We are now joined in the work to address the current crisis by the Task Force on Israel and Domestic Antisemitism chaired by Leslie Kirby. 

August 2021 Notes from Noam…

By Noam Harari, Community Shlicha