The Jewish Observer
News from Middle Tennessee's Jewish Community | Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
The Jewish Observer
Federation Features
The Jewish Observer

Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade, What’s Next for Jews in Tennessee?

July 27

The United States Supreme Court made the unprecedented move in late June to take away the federal right to abortion granted 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade. In its majority opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Justice Samuel Alito said, “The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives…The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.” The functional result of the Dobbs decision will be to place the legislation of abortion squarely in the hands of the states. And while some states will continue to keep abortion legal, others, including Tennessee, have trigger laws that will quickly make abortion illegal in any case. 

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Letter For The Jewish Community Of Nashville

July 27

Three years ago, I left everything I knew and went on a plane to Nashville. Never imagined that I would stay here for 3 incredible years, meet the most amazing people, and have the most meaningful time of my life!  

The Jewish Observer

Leslie Kirby Remarks

July 1

We raise money, we give money away. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that phrase this past year, I’m not sure we’d need an annual campaign!

The Jewish Observer

JCRC Update

June 30

We seem to be living in interesting times, which can be interpreted as either a curse or a blessing depending on your perspective. Only time will tell how the eyes of history will view the current events confronting us. We are struggling through the grief of consecutive mass murders committed by 18-year-old young men using military assault weapons – one at a grocery store in Buffalo NY and one at an elementary school in Uvalde TX. We are awaiting a ruling by the US Supreme Court that could potentially change the health, privacy, self-determination, and well-being of women across our country. We are experiencing an uncertain economy and levels of inflation not seen in over 40 years. We are witness to public hearings presenting evidence that our faith and trust in our system of free and fair elections may have been deliberately undermined and damaged by those at the highest level of government. And we are continuing to witness the elaborate and relentless propaganda campaign designed to wreak havoc and sow distrust of all future elections.

The Jewish Observer

Editor's Note July 2022

June 30

Hello friends. I hope you all are enjoying the start of summer and looking forward to the longer days and hopefully, a vacation. As of this writing, I am preparing to attend my first in-person American Jewish Press Association conference, to be held in Atlanta. Fingers crossed my flights remain on schedule!

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Federation Announces 2022/23 Grants, Sees Increased Fundraising Dollars

June 30

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee plans to distribute over two million dollars in grants to both local and overseas organizations, individuals, congregations, and partners for the 2022/23 fiscal year. This year’s grants are reflective of the growth of the local community, and a successful Annual Campaign. Eric Stillman, CEO of the Jewish Federation, says, “With increased dollars available to distribute in this year’s Grants cycle, the Federation was able to put even greater emphasis on outreach and engagement beyond our geographic core, with interfaith couples and families, and those who are in their 20’s and 30’s.”

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Poland Mission Reflections: People, Politics and Propaganda

June 1

In early May I had the honor of joining a small delegation from Nashville traveling to Poland to witness and assist in relief efforts for Ukrainian refugees. At that time, Poland was assisting over two million refugees fleeing violence and mayhem caused by the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine. The refugees, primarily women, and children fled to Poland to seek safe shelter in a place as close as possible to home since all eligible men ages 18-65 are required to stay in Ukraine to fight. Immediately as the war began in late February, Polish citizens took it upon themselves to drive to the Poland/Ukraine border to take as many refugees as possible to safety. By the time we arrived, international and local Jewish organizations were fully engaged in the work and actively providing safe housing and other essential needs for these refugees, and we had the opportunity to see these efforts in action. 

The Jewish Observer Nashville