THE
Jewish
OBSERVER Vol. 89 No. 3
www.jewishobservernashville.org
MARCH 2024 21 Adar I - 21 Adar II 5784
Metro Council Passes Resolution March Mitzvah Denouncing Nazi March Madness is Coming, L Join the Team By BARBARA DAB
By ETHAN LEVIN
E
ver since I started at the Federation, I have heard wonderful things about the spirit of volunteerism of Jewish Nashville (as befits the capital city of the Volunteer State). I have been told about these remarkably executed events called “Tzedakah Tzunday,” where community members would come together to reach out and lock in support for another year for our Annual Campaign. Due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and changing staff leadership at the Federation, major volunteer opportunities like this haven’t been possible in recent years. To help sustain our community into the future, we are bringing back the Tzedakah Tzunday model in a renewed form. On March 17th from 9am to 4pm at the Gordon JCC, we will be hosting March Mitzvah Madness, a volunteer driven phone-a-thon to get a jump start on the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s 2024 Annual Campaign. We hope those who have volunteered in the past will join us again to reach out to our community and ensure their support for the upcoming year. We also hope to attract a new generation of volunteers who are passionate about calling on their community to show up and be counted. As Maimonides says, those who collect charity on behalf of the community shine bright like the stars in the sky! And yes, there will be a basketball theme to this event. Taking Continued on page 4 A Publication of the
WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG
ast month, Nazis took to the streets of downtown Nashville, waving swastikas and chanting anti-immigrant, antisemitic, and racist speech. It was the latest in a rising tide of antisemitic and hate incidents sweeping Nashville and the country. Tennessee lawmakers denounced the incident, with one, Rep. Justin Jones (TN 52), holding a press conference in the immediate aftermath. Speaking at the press conference were metro council members Jacob Kupin of District 19, and Sheri Weiner of District 22. Kupin said, “When youcome for one of us, you come for all of us. We’re here again, and again, and again, and we’ll keep coming here again, Continued on page 16
Metro Council member Jacob Kupin introduces the resolution denouncing and condemning the nazis who marched through downtown Nashville.
Jewish Community Members Meet and Welcome Israeli Hostage Families By BARBARA DAB
I
t all started with a tweet. Last month Tennessee Governor Bill Lee tweeted a message denouncing antisemitism and Nazism. The response from Israeli Moshe Lavi was seen by Leslie Kirby, president of The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville. Lavi, whose family members were captured by Hamas, and family members of other hostages, planned to come to town to raise awareness about the plight of those still being held captive. Kirby quickly arranged a meeting, and two days later, the Israelis met in Nashville with representatives from The Jewish Federation and the local Jewish community. In attendance were Federation board members, congregants from local synagogues and religious schools, and Metro council members. The families described the horrors of October 7, and talked about their fears for their loved ones. They also asked for support in calling for the release of all the remaining hostages. Below are reflections from some of those who attended the meeting. Just Jewish: Federation CEO Rabbi Dan Horwitz to Discuss His New Book, page 3
Members of Israeli hostage families met with representatives of Nashville’s Jewish community, elected officials and the press.
Leslie Kirby, president of Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville: We met with two members of hostage member families. The primary one was Moshe Emilio Lavi, who is the brothFederation Major Donors Share Laughs at Appreciation Event, page 7
er-in-law of hostage Omri Moran. The other’s name was Effie, the sister of one of the hostages. Effie did not want to be filmed. They both spoke of vibrant, Continued on page 16 D.I.Y. & Home Improvement Section, page 21