Three Minutes: A Lengthening Explores Precious Moments Before the Holocaust
David and Tamar Sheinberg were engaged during Chanukah of 2019, with plans to marry on March 30th, 2020. But their plans were upended right after Purim that year when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, and the Israeli government started implementing limits on crowds. Taking no chances, the couple quickly moved to hold the wedding as soon as possible while they still could. They asked their friends to stay home and held a small but beautiful celebration for family only. As they sat down to enjoy the wedding feast, the celebration came to a halt when David’s brother-in-law ran into the hall to tell everyone that the police were outside and were about to come and shut the wedding down.
Vanderbilt Hillel celebrates its 20th Building Anniversary on October 13, 2022. To commemorate this date, Hillel will host a special small group dinner on October 13 for those who have been deeply involved with Hillel and its mission of engaging the next generation of Jewish leaders. Hillel will also celebrate its anniversary on Friday, October 7th from 2:30-5:30 p.m. with its alumni during Vanderbilt University’s Reunion weekend. There will be a special photo slideshow with pictures commemorating Jewish involvement at Vanderbilt University that will include historical photos from Vanderbilt University’s photo archive. Alumni will also enjoy special “Throwback” stations with vintage materials and flyers from the last 20 years of Hillel’s programming. The last 20th Building Anniversary event will be with the local community at the annual Taste of Hillel Fundraiser on Sunday, February 26th.
Over the years the Nashville community has joined the Nashville Jewish Film Festival to support the 15 film festival by hosting screenings. We have grown from a handful of groups to a full schedule of hosts, and we are proud to list and thank them for their financial support of the 22nd Annual NJFF.
Summer at the Gordon JCC came to a close on Labor Day with the closing of the Outdoor Pool for the season. We hope everyone had a wonderful summer enjoying our newly updated space, thanks to the generous donors to the Our Community. Our Future. Capital Campaign. We look forward to many more summers in this wonderful space!
The work of the Middle Tennessee Region of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and Marilyn Johnson.
“Three Minutes: A Lengthening,” which won the inaugural award from Yad Vashem for Cinematic Excellence in a Holocaust Documentary earlier this year, will screen at The Belcourt Theater on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 7:00 pm, followed by Q&A with author Glenn Kurtz. The film is narrated by Helena Bonham Carter and co-produced by Steve McQueen (“12 Years a Slave”).
While the fun and ruach of Camp Davis Summer 2022 is over, there is much to celebrate as we head into the Fall. The new Camp Davis Leadership -- Camp Director Andrew Fishman and Assistant Director Max O'Dell -- took camp in a new and exciting direction, much to the delight of the campers and their families.
The Gordon JCC and Nashville Public Television invite the community to a special preview of THE U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST, a new documentary by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick & Sarah Botstein, on Wednesday, September 14 at 7PM in the Gordon JCC’s Pargh Auditorium. In addition to the preview, the event will include a screening of Our American Family: The Mays. This story about the local May family, who many know as running the May Hosiery Mill in Wedgewood-Houston, also tells how the Mays were instrumental in helping hundreds of Jews escape to America before World War II began. The program is free and open to the public.
Congregation Beit Tefilah is honored and pleased to welcome Cantor Duvid Erblich to lead the High Holiday services during the High Holiday season of 5783.
As High Holidays 5783 will roll around very soon, many are deciding where they plan to attend services. Yet, there is another aspect to this special season. Just as spiritual preparation is needed as we approach the High Holy Days, holiday meal preparation also remains an important feature of our traditions. Jewish people are known to be major foodies (our friends and neighbors still can’t believe that we prepare Thanksgiving-worthy meals every week for Shabbat!), and we wear our chef badges with pride.
The Jewish people have been blowing the Shofar, a simple hollowed out ram's horn, for thousands of years in celebration of Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the Jewish New Year – also known as the birthday of humanity. According to Jewish law, one must hear the blasts directly from the shofar itself. No other medium will do — not a microphone, not a computer, not even a slight echo.
Study after study confirm the vital role that Jewish schools play in the continuity and survival of the Jewish people. Here in Nashville, we have outstanding models of those educational institutions, all committed towards achieving that end.
Is it Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah or…
Middle Tennessee State University’s Biannual Holocaust Studies Conference returns September 22nd and 23rd. This year’s conference is the first since Covid interrupted plans in 2020. The event draws scholars from around the world from diverse disciplines to share their research with other academics, the university’s students, and the general public. The theme is Teaching the Holocaust Today, but papers will be presented on a wide range of topics related to the Holocaust. Dr. Elyce Helford is a Professor of English, Director of Jewish and Holocaust Studies Minor, and Co-chair of the conference. She says, “Learning about the Holocaust provides a vital touchstone for understanding why it is important to remember the genocide of millions of people. Interest combined with lack of knowledge can lead to denialism, misinformation, and more hatred.”
