“Gauge a country’s (community’s) prosperity by its treatment of the aged.” – Rabbi Nachman of Breslav If we were to apply this measure to the Nashville Jewish community, I’d say we’re doing quite well. On the Thursday before Rosh Hashana, I had the privilege of ...
When I was a teenager, my father and I had a major disagreement that left us both hurt and stubbornly silent. For weeks, we tiptoed around each other, each waiting for the other to speak first. We weren’t a family that unpacked our problems, we just hoped they would fade with time. It was a different ...
Every year at Purim, we tell the tale of a Jewish teenage girl who ascends to the throne of the Persian Empire by pretending not to be Jewish. Last month, tween and teen girl participants in the JFS sponsored program, Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing, explored two pressing questions: “How ...
As we gather to celebrate Tu B'Shevat, the Jewish New Year for trees, I am reminded of a cherished family tradition. Each year, on our daughter Shoshana Ella's Hebrew birthday, which coincides with Tu B'Shevat, we would prepare a special dessert: chocolate pudding layered with crumbled Oreo cookies ...
Last year at this season, I wrote a Heart of the Matter about the duality of Sukkot- how it is a time where we are commanded to be joyful- Zman Simchatenu, yet it is also a reminder that with one swift wind, our sukkah can be blown over. Our time in the sukkah reminds us, even amidst our celebration, ...
As the Executive Director of Jewish Family Service of Nashville, I have had a front-row seat for the past 14 years to witness the incredible impact of our organization’s services on individuals and families. Since breaking my ankle two weeks ago I have become a recipient of the very services our agency ...
I’m sure many of you have read reports pointing to the fact that volunteerism is on the decline, especially post-COVID. I am here to tell you that that is not true here in Nashville. On Tuesday, August 29 Jewish Family Service had the opportunity to shower our appreciation over 125 volunteers who ...
To the Nashville Jewish Community, The massacre in Israel and the ongoing crisis affects us directly here in Nashville. We want to help you understand how your Jewish Family Service is responding—meeting people’s immediate needs with love, dignity, and care. What is JFS? JFS ...
Sukkot is my favorite Jewish holiday. Every year our family chooses a different theme for our sukkah. One year we built it to look like a maritime village, in honor of my mother’s (z”l) childhood in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Another year, we recreated the dining hall from Harry Potter. It is a time ...
