News from Middle Tennessee's Jewish Community |
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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)
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.
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.
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.”
