Jewish Federation CEO Eric Stillman Selected for Leadership Nashville

Eric Stillman, CEO of The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, is joining the 2021/22 Leadership Nashville class. Stillman joins 43 other executives who represent a diverse cross section of Nashville’s civic life. Now in its 44th year, Leadership Nashville seeks to provide local leaders with a three dimensional view of the city and its growth potential. Through a series classes and hands-on visits participants gain unique insights into areas impacting Nashville, such as government, criminal justice, education, social services, the arts and more. Stillman says, “I feel honored to have been selected for the Leadership Nashville class of 2021-2022. I know my participation will deepen my knowledge of the broader general community in Nashville.” 

Domestic and Local Antisemitism Leads to Creation of New Task Force

The recent crisis in Israel, combined with the spike in domestic antisemitic activity, sparked concerns among local clergy and lay leaders who are urging Nashville’s organized Jewish community to create both a centralized process for reporting incidents and a unified response to address them. The Task Force on Israel and Domestic Antisemitism, created by The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, aims to build on the work of the Jewish Community Relations Security, and Planning Committees with a multi-faceted approach to outreach and streamlining avenues for community engagement. The Task Force includes a diverse group of individuals from throughout the local Jewish community, many of whom have not already been involved in The Federation. Leslie Kirby, Task Force Chair, says they are working on two specific fronts, “We are working hard to provide educational resources, working with the educators at the local synagogues as well as Akiva to meet needs around Israel and antisemitism education; and we are working to address communal needs, providing resources and programming for adults.” 

Congregations July 2021

Jewish Federation Announces 2021/22 Grants

The Jewish Federation and Jewish Foundation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee is distributing about $2 million to organizations, congregations and agencies throughout the local Jewish community here in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The grants are the single largest infusion of funds that support services and programs locally each year and represent approximately 85% of the total funds raised by The Jewish Federation annual campaign. Jewish Federation CEO Eric Stillman says, “We are pleased to be able to provide assistance to every single agency and congregation in our community. And this year we once again were impressed by the applications for Innovation Grants.” And according to Grants Committee Co-Chair Gary Fradkin, the recent Pew Study report provided insights in how best to engage and support the community. “We looked at the implications of the study results and knew we had to continue to support creative programming and involve untraditional populations, particularly young people who are not yet involved in a big way,” he says. 

Pew Study Finds US Jewry is Shifting Profoundly and Chabad is on Rise 

The recent Pew Jewish Population Study finds Chabad involvement is growing. Some 40% of American Jews have some involvement with Chabad, and the younger the demographic, the higher the number. Previously, the study organizers did not look at Chabad as a demographic, but this year it figures prominently in terms of its significant and growing impact on American Jewry. 

Jewish Federation Elects Andrew May New President at 2021 Annual Meeting

Kvetch in the City July 2021

I would be remiss to even think of writing this month’s reflections, I mean kvetches, without first sending a loving virtual hug to Dear Esther for so generously dedicating her valuable Observer realty to indulge my musings last month. I so appreciate her insight, clarity, knowing she has my back, and of course, her shout out to all available men, the extroverts at least, to look my way.

Defending The State of Israel From Afar

Let’s be clear from the start: The defense of the State of Israel, at all times, is the sacred responsibility of every single member of the Jewish people. This does not mean that every action or policy of the Jewish State is perfect, flawless, and therefore, beyond disagreement, debate or constructive dialogue.  

Jewsic City and Camp Davis’ Emily Groff Releases EP

Emily Groff is no stranger to Nashville’s Jewish community. An active member of Jewsic City and song leader at Camp Davis, the Nashville-based singer/songwriter is bursting onto the national Jewish music scene with her energetic new EP Breathe. 

Understanding the Progressive Movement and Israel

The recent surge of antisemitic attacks, anti-Israel rhetoric, and violence in Israel and Gaza leaves many Jews feeling vulnerable, uncertain, and even in fear for personal safety.  Synagogues have been vandalized and for the first time in their lives, some American Jews are afraid to wear Jewish symbols in public.  This topic came up theoretically during our program with Bari Weiss, and at that time she was encouraging Jews to be front and center, countering antisemitism with loud and proud Jewish pride and visibility.   

Dear Esther

What the Media Gets Wrong About Israel and Water

By Toby Irenshtain

July 2021 Hadassah Happenings

Hadassah and The Inquirers Book Club will honor our beloved past president  Victoria Cohen-Crumpton, who has moved to Brasstown, North Carolina,  on Sunday, July 11 @ 4pm via Zoom. Victoria was president of Nashville Hadassah from 2009-2012.. She was also the president of The Inquirer's Book Club which is in it's 71st year. It is the second oldest Jewish Women's book club in Nashville. The Inquirer's Book Club, which was started in 1950,  is a spin-off of the Magazine Circle, which  began in 1898.   Victoria was president of The Inquirers from 2017-2019. Please rsvp by 7/9 to Sarah Ruden @ spm5222@gmail.com or to Deana Goldstein @ 615-438-5225.

Congregation Micah Offers Comprehensive Religious School Programming

Congregation Micah’s Religious School is the home and heart of joyous and progressive Jewish education, bringing the best of formal and informal study to our families.  Our weekly family service fills our sanctuary with music, prayer and playful participation in the ever-present and unfolding Jewish story. 

NCJW, Nashville Section, Has Productive Year Despite Pandemic

By Jennifer Goldstein

The First Event in Forever

By Marisa Rubin

July in the Gordon JCC Galleries

The Janet Levine March Gallery will feature the work of Lauren Karp. Lauren is a nature photographer who specializes in artistic wildlife photos. Raised in the bucolic countryside of Pennsylvania, Lauren spent her childhood in lush fields, meandering creeks and scenic farmlands. Amid this backdrop, she pursued many forms of creative expression including painting, calligraphy and clothing design. Her artistic journey continued as an art director for an international print and poster company. Having been inspired by world-renowned photographers, she combined her love of art and nature with a passion for photography. Exploring with her camera at her side, Lauren now travels extensively, capturing her vision of the beauty in the natural world. Her images capture a snapshot in time, giving viewers a quiet moment of emotive contemplation.   

A Line in the Sand: Use of Nazi Star Sparks Outrage, Prompts Reflection

The most recent Pew Study of American Jews reports that the vast majority, more than 75%,  believe that remembering the Holocaust is essential to being Jewish. Additionally, more than half of those surveyed report experiencing antisemitism in the last year, either by seeing some sort of anti-Jewish graffiti, being harassed online, being personally attacked or some other sort of discrimination. It is the intersection of those two experiences that sparked an outpouring of shock and anger after a Nashville hat vendor used a yellow Star of David with the words, “Not Vaccinated,” in the middle to protest what she believes is government overreach in fighting the COVID19 pandemic. The incident centers around a social media post by HatWRKS shop owner Gigi Gaskins who says she was selling the patches as a means of expressing solidarity with the Jewish victims in Nazi Germany who were marked for deportation to concentration camps and forced to wear the yellow star. “I did not make it up,” she says, “I saw videos of protests in Israel and other countries using the star to protest the vaccines, so there is precedent there. I am on the side of those who experienced the atrocities.” 

In Our Own Backyard

The Secret of Chabad

One day, my phone rang.