West End Synagogue Honors Students & Teachers

In a cheerful and enthusiastic End of the Year Closing Ceremony on Sunday, May 7th West End Synagogue’s Beit Miriam student, Abi Kullock was presented with the 2023 Simon and Alven Ghertner Award for Excellence in Hebrew.

Donors Make the Difference

Three quarters of a million dollars. That is the amount received during the past six years by the fourteen local Jewish organizations participating in the LIFE & LEGACY™ program.

Kehillah Award Finalists Announced

The Kehillah Award, formerly known as the Ralph Shepard Award, is given annually to a Jewish Nashville high school senior who exemplifies the characteristics of outstanding Jewish youth. This year’s finalists are Andrew Biller, son of Daniel and Tara and Biller, and Lily Marger, daughter of Brian and Victoria Marger.

Are You Religious?

I have often pondered the question of what constitutes a religious person and have never felt satisfied with the responses I have heard others give when asked this very personal question. This question usually comes up when someone inquiries about another’s religius affiliation and the response is frequently, “I am Jewish and a member of our Temple, but I really do not believe I am a religious person.” Other common responses include, “I am more of a spiritual person than a religious one,” and, “I am more a secular Jew than a religious one.” So, the big question, is what exactly one has to do to consider themselves a religious person

Community Listings June 2023

East Side Tribe

Nashville BBYO Wins Big at Convention

Add Your Family’s Names to the Nashville Holocaust Memorial

Mah Jongg Tournament Raises Funds for Alzheimer’s

A recent Mah Jongg tournament raised much needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of Middle Tennessee. Forty players participated in the tournament at the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Alongside the 39 women players was Howard Pink, the lone gentleman, who celebrated his 80th birthday at the tournament. During the lunch, catered by Goldie Shepard, tournament organizer Michelle Tishler presented Pink with a celebratory cookie cake. This year’s event also showcased Pink’s progress in the game over the last 17 years. Tishler says, “Howard participated in my very first tournament in 2006, where he placed last. I honored him with a prize of a ‘Crying Towel.’ In this tournament, he placed first in his division.” During the fun filled afternoon, participants boned in the “tossing of the tiles,” meeting new players and enjoying the game of Mah Jongg.

Get Outside: Finding Awe

Jewish Federation Commemorates Yom Hashoah

This year’s Yom Hashoah event featured music, speeches, and candle lighting to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The event included memorial certificates from Remember Us, a Holocaust B’nai Mitzvah project that invites children preparing for Bar or Bat Mitzvah to remember a child who was lost in the Holocaust. There was also artwork from the Butterfly Project. Through the painting of ceramic butterflies, described as a symbol of hope and resilience, people will remember the 1.5 million children who also died.

Becca Groner to Receive 2023 Sandy Averbuch Young Leadership Award

MAZEL TOV TO THE AKIVA CLASS OF 2023!

Akiva School celebrated its 2023 Graduation Ceremony on May 24th, honoring eight graduates and their families. As they prepared to leave Akiva, the graduating class could not help but feel a bittersweet sense of farewell as they stood ready to embark on the next phase of their educational journey. Looking back on their time at Akiva, graduate Lyla Banish reflected that, “One of the best things about being at Akiva is how I’ve made awesome friendships with my classmates, teachers, and even students from other grades. At Akiva, it’s really like everyone is part of a big family, your grade or age doesn’t matter.” Her fellow graduates unanimously share this sentiment, adding that “we will miss the strong friends we have made here, but know those friendships will continue to grow and be strong.”

We will miss you, Renee!

Gordon Jewish Community Center Annual Meeting Scheduled for June 4

JMS Caps Off Incredible Year with Community Art Show

Young Leaders Council Provides Tools for Success in the Nonprofit World

Jumpstart Your Child's Jewish Life with a free gift from Chabad

As expectant women approach their due dates, a variety of emotions tend to surface. Some women are filled with excitement, anxiously anticipating the day that they will meet their baby face to face. Others get the jitters, nervous about the upcoming hours of labor. All women pray to G-d for a healthy baby. Many Jewish women would be thrilled to know that there is one special prayer that has been customary for centuries in our tradition to safeguard both the mother and the baby. This prayer is the Shir Hamalot (Song of Ascents, Psalms: 121). The verses of this psalm declare our dependence upon the Creator for our safety and wellbeing and His commitment to guard us at all times.

Chabad of Nashville celebrates Lag B’Omer

Friends of the Chabad of Nashville community celebrated Lag B’Omer with a beautiful outdoor celebration for children and adults from all walks of Nashville community. It was an event of true Jewish pride, celebrated in the spirit of Lag B’Omer camaraderie and friendship.

Dara Horn Discussed Antisemitism, Jewish Heritage, and Holocaust Education

MY REBBE, YOUR REBBE, OUR REBBE

Imagine if we could carry out the following experiment.