The National Council of Jewish Women, Nashville Section (NCJW Nashville) is celebrating a huge milestone this year... we are turning 125! From our founding in 1901, today we celebrate 125 years of Jewish values, serving our community through elevating nonprofit work, leadership opportunities for our members, and fighting to improve the lives of women, children and families.
NCJW Nashville has a long history of service to the Nashville community and is composed of community members of all ages, denominations, and life stages. On Wednesday, September 16, 2026, the membership of NCJW Nashville will kick off our 125th programming year at our opening meeting.
“The year ahead brings added excitement,” said NCJW Nashville President, Stephanie Korn. “In addition to providing leadership opportunities to our members, our esteemed organization continues to serve the women, children, and families of Nashville and Middle Tennessee through our service work and partnerships, known as Projects. We are also undergoing a period of strategic evaluation as we celebrate not only our past 125 years of impact but look to the future.”
Projects developed and supported by NCJW Nashville serve both the Jewish and secular community and have become a part of the lives of many of the citizens of our city. On Wednesday, September 9, at 7 p.m., we will kick off our programming year by making Rosh Hashanah baskets for Senior Friends and others in our community.
Stephanie Kirschner and Laura Shmerling, chairs of Senior Friends Rosh Hashanah baskets share that, “These projects uphold the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam, making the community we live in a better place. It brings us so much joy to gather together to honor and serve the seniors in our community by assembling and delivering Rosh Hashanah baskets to bring us all a little sweetness in the New Year.”
Each year, returning or new Projects are invited to apply for support through a process called Study and Survey. After completing the application, projects are asked to attend an allocations meeting facilitated by our Study and Survey chairs and members of the committee. This past year’s chairs were Vice Presidents of Projects, Julie Galbierz and Abby Sparks.
Following Study and Survey, the NCJW Nashville membership voted to fund the following Projects:
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), funded through the Fensterwald Fund held by NCJW Nashville
- Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee’s children and teen programs
- Kosher Food Box with Jewish Family Service
- Kosher for Passover Food Boxes with Jewish Family Service
- Renewal House
- Senior Friends Rosh Hashanah baskets with Jewish Family Service
- Snack Box Program with OUR KIDS
- Vanderbilt’s REACH for Survivorship
The committee also voted to explore three potential new projects serving Nashville through increasing literacy, addressing food insecurity, and meeting non-healthcare needs in a healthcare setting for children and their families.
Abby Sparks, NCJW Nashville chair of Projects, adds, “Each of NCJW Nashville’s projects works to improve the lives of a different demographic, both Jewish and non-Jewish. We strive to bring them joy in addition to needed resources, and the knowledge that someone in the Jewish community cares about them.”
The funding for NCJW Nashville Projects is achieved primarily through contributions at the annual Ways & Means fundraiser, though they are also supported through gifts from private philanthropic foundations, corporate grants, and bequests by members naming NCJW Nashville as a beneficiary in their wills such as through Life & Legacy.
NCJW Nashville is also honored to announce that its Scholarship Loan program, led by co-chairs Marci Kleinrock and Amy Smith, which provides interest-free loans to Middle Tennessee students pursuing higher education, will provide a record 18 loans to deserving students this upcoming academic year. Applications for the 2027-2028 loan cycle will open in early February and close in mid-March. If you know of a student who would benefit, please contact nashvillencjw@gmail.com.
The 2026 Ways and Means fundraiser will be held on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 11 a.m. Phyllis Helderman will be honored with the prestigious Hannah G. Solomon award in recognition of her years of leadership and service to NCJW Nashville. The Emerging Leader award, named in honor of Jamie Brook, Freya Sachs, and Erin Zagnoev, will be presented to Hayley Levy Kupin. Last year’s Ways and Means saw over 140 NCJW Nashville members and community members celebrate our accomplishments and raised over $55,000 in individual donations and sponsorships. NCJW Nashville is beyond grateful to everyone who made last year’s event a success and encourages the Nashville Jewish community to join them at this celebration of service, leadership and community.
NCJW Nashville is also honored to announce our 2026-2027 Board and Executive Committee:
- Officers & Executive Committee:
- Stephanie Korn, President
- Harriet Workman, Vice President
- Kim Lapidus, Treasurer
- Julie Galbierz, Secretary
- Bryna Oleshansky Mody, Chair of Advocacy
- Megan Koller, Chair of Membership
- Ariel Yazdian Sasson, Chair of Programming
- Abby Sparks, Chair of Projects
- Marci Kleinrock and Sheri Rosenberg, Immediate Past Presidents
- Board: Felicia Abramson, Erin Coleman, Arielle Darvin Yazdian, Alyssa Hassenfeld, Olivia Heller, Sophie Kieffer, Marla Levine, Hayley Levy Kupin, Daphne Logan, Deena Prichard, Lindsey Rosen, and Penny Woody
We offer sincere gratitude to Sheri Rosenberg who completed her role as President at the end of the 2026 term. Sheri brought a true passion for making our community better. Her contributions were, and will continue to be, vital to NCJW Nashville’s future.
The 2026-2027 Board of Directors invites all members of our Nashville Jewish community to join NCJW Nashville at the Opening Meeting on Wednesday, September 16, and for Ways and Means on Sunday, November 15, where they will continue to demonstrate support for their projects and honor deserving leaders.
“On behalf of NCJW Nashville, I would like to encourage the Nashville community to show your support for these impactful and important projects, and join us throughout the year," Korn said. "We have so many different ways to get involved, so please sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.”
To get involved or sign up for our newsletter, please contact Jennifer Hoffman, NCJW Nashville’s Executive Director at nashvillencjw@gmail.com. To register for upcoming programs, donate, become a member, or learn more about NCJW Nashville, visit www.ncjwnashville.org.
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