THE
Jewish
OBSERVER www.jewishobservernashville.org
Vol. 90 No. 2
FEBRUARY 2025 1 Sh’vat - 30 Sh’vat 5785
Federation 2024 Annual Campaign Surpasses Goal by Over $100,000 By JASON SPARKS
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ow. Jewish Nashville is amazing. We did it. On December 31st, 2024, at 11:59pm, we hit the highest campaign goal we have had in years, over $2.47 million, zooming past our goal of $2.35 million and taking in over 1,250 gifts, more than we have had since 2018. It really was a team effort and would never have happened without the extra efforts of the Board of Directors of Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, some key community members that joined in to help, and all the professional staff at Federation. And of course, the most important element that made it happen was everyone who generously contributed to our Annual Campaign. As Nashville has grown so rapidly over the last decade, I think what we all saw with the 2024 annual campaign was the beginning of Jewish Nashville catching up philanthropically. And we have a long way to go until we get to where we would like to be. Across the
OVER $2.47 MILLION OVER 1,250 GIFTS
country, there has been a surge in interest in Jewish life and connections. And we have seen that as well in Nashville. Many of the agencies and organizations we support saw growth far beyond what they expected. People who have lived here for several years suddenly found a reason to find a synagogue or religious school for their children. We have been helping groups like East Side Tribe and Franklin Jewish Social scale up and find their voices in our greater community. We have been providing a home and purpose for younger people with our NowGen program and by supporting organizations like Hillel and Moshe House. And of course, there is the amazing work that the team at Jewish Family Service does to make sure that nobody is left behind. Participation at Vanderbilt’s Hillel is at
an all-time high and we continue to see more interest in our preschool programs and day schools. And the beautiful thing about federated giving is that we were able to be there to meet people wherever they showed up; regardless of level of observance, age, demographics, or political persuasion, we were able to help steward those community members when they needed it (and sometimes when they didn’t realize they needed it). And all of you who contributed to our campaign or volunteered were a part of that. It is the highest level of kindness to give to the community and trust that your gift would be put to good use by someone who needed it. And not only does your gift help our community, but you can also rest assured that it is being used
efficiently; Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville has a 4-star rating with Charity Navigator and a Platinum Transparency Rating with Candid. The power of communal giving has become more important than ever. There were countless times that Jewish Federation rose as the voice of our community thisyear.. When we were faced with white supremacists in the streets, behind the scenes we were meeting with the mayor’s office, Metro Council, our state leaders, and Metro Police to build strategies to handle the current situations and plan for the future. We were able to partner with our colleagues at the Anti-Defamation League, and the Secure Communities Network to get ahead of any threats that were coming our way. Our Jewish Community Relations Committee team was relentless in responding to situations impacting students at public and private schools and in the fall. Several of us had a great series of meetings with Metro Nashville Continued on page 22
IDF Soldiers Journey of Healing: Transforming Lives at Camp Ramah Darom By BARBARA DAB
“I slept through the night without nightmares for the first time in four years.” “I am back in school, working towards a degree that will help me make a living.” “Before this Journey, I could not sit through a class.” “For the first time, I spoke with my wife for three hours after the kids went to sleep, about our Journey of Healing, and about the true reasons I took it.” - Soldier participants in B’shvil Hamachar program
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ucked into the North Georgia mountains, Camp Ramah Darom has been a haven, and a “happy place,” for scores of Jewish children and teens for over two decades. In addition, as part of the Conservative movement’s Ramah camps, Darom opens its doors throughout the year to Jewish men’s and women’s weekends, United Synagogue Youth convenA Publication of the
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tions, and family holiday retreats. And now, for traumatized IDF soldiers, Darom is a place for serenity and healing. The Friends of B’shvil Hamachar program will bring about a dozen IDF soldiers to camp, along with therapists, to help them deal with the traumas experienced during their service. The program, which began in Israel as B’shvil Hamachar , or Path for Tomorrow, 20 years ago, uses outdoor settings like ranches and camps to conduct therapy sessions and provide a safe space for soldiers to share their deepest traumas. Eli Zablud is one of the people responsible for bringing the program to the United States. His sister, Anat Samson-Joffe, is one of the original founders. He says, “You cannot heal one hundred percent from a trauma that happened to you during combat or military service. But you can definitely learn how to deal with what you went through and how to live with it.” Zablud is a member of B’nai Vail, Creating Connections: The Impact of Jewish Summer Camp and One Happy Camper Grants, page 4
Participants in B’svhil Hamachar in Vail, Colorado
a congregation in Vail, Colorado. B’nai Vail is the first organization in the US to participate in B’shvil Hamachar. Zablud says he was inspired to bring the program in 2014. “In the first Gaza war I knew somebody who was very badly wounded there. After talking with my sister in Tel Aviv, I knew I wanted to do something connected to the organization that she created.” When he returned to the US, he decided to bring groups to Vail Valley. A Whole Lotta Lights: Hanukkah Celebrations Around the Region, page 13
The next step was to propose the idea to Rabbi Joel Newman of B’nai Vail. Newman’s wife Janet says they immediately jumped on board and brought the first group to Vail, along with two psychologists. “They do a process that was unique at the time and now has been duplicated by others. It is IDF approved and endorsed process of helping people share their experience in a group setting. They tell their story, they have the support of the group, and the psychologists help them work through their feelings,” she says. The result is that the soldiers no longer feel alone and have a community of people with shared experiences they can turn to. Newman says the experiences of welcoming the soldiers is powerful for congregants as well and lasting friendships are formed. A highlight is a mountaintop Shabbat service that. “We have 700 people that come to the top of Vail Mountain. Continued on page 22 Camps Special Section, page 25