THE
Jewish
OBSERVER Vol. 89 No. 4
www.jewishobservernashville.org
APRIL 2024 22 Adar II - 22 Nisan 5784
Rabbi Tamar Manasseh to Lead Social Justice Seder and Focus on Building Resilient Communities By BARBARA DAB The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s Jason Sparks and Ethan Levin score big wins at March Mitzvah Madness campaign 2024 kickoff
Campaign Update: March Mitzvah Madness Scores Big! By JASON SPARKS
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n Sunday, March 17, the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville held its kickoff to the 2024 Annual Campaign – a NCAA March Madness-themed event called “March Mitzvah Madness.” I have been fortunate enough to participate in manning the phones for Tzedakah Tzunday for years, but it was a completely different situation experiencing a fundraising event like this from “the other side.” I always enjoyed hearing each solicitor strike up a conversation with our donors and tell the story of all the good that the Federation does for our community. And it was lovely seeing those moments come back after so many years. I was certainly impressed by all the folks who came out to support the Federation – it was truly a multi-generational effort, and just like my family many years ago, some of our callers brought in spouses and children. I’ll never forget the first time our kids got to join us manning Continued on page 12 A Publication of the
WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG
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abbi Tamar Manasseh knows something about resilience. It took her 13 years to become an ordained rabbi, and in fact, she was the first woman ever ordained through the Israelite Academy. During those years, and in the years since, she founded an organization, Mothers/Men Against Senseless Killings (MASK), that combats violent crime in her home community of Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, one of the roughest parts of town. Over the years, MASK has evolved into a valuable asset for the community by helping the community gain access to various community services and assistance programs. Rabbi Manasseh’s work, which began by simply showing up on the street
corner with a folding chair, is the inspiration for this year’s Social Justice Seder, presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville’s Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC) and centered on the theme of “Building Resilient Communities.” Deborah Oleshansky, director of the Jewish Community Relations Committee, says, “She is a tour de force. Her primary work is outreach to the community and being on the street. Being out in the community is the best tool we have addressing anti-Judaism.” Manasseh will lead the seder, which includes a Haggadah, or seder prayer book, created especially for this year’s program. There will be the traditional ritual foods on the table, and music Continued on page 6
Rabbi Tamar Manasseh will lead this year’s JCRC Social Justice Seder on April 11.
Local Grassroots Groups Keep Focus on Israel and Hostages By BARBARA DAB
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n the chaotic aftermath of the October 7th terrorist attacks in Israel, Nechama Brand-Schuman did what many Israeli Americans did, she tried to figure out how to help her family and friends who were impacted by tragedy. “Both my parents made aliya and I grew up in Israel. When it happened, everyone was figuring out what was going on and what was needed.” What Brand-Schuman learned was that the wives of soldiers who were killed were under tremendous stress. She began to send Shabbat care packages to these women to help bring some comfort to them. “It was hard for them to suddenly be on their own,” she says, “So I found some flowers, cake, chocolates, whatever was available in Israel.” Brand-Schuman focused on impacted communities and utilized woman-owned businesses. The feedback for the effort, known as Israeli Women of Valor, was swift and Continued on page 13 Update from P2G, page 2
Tennessee Stands with Israel helped organized a solidarity rally in Legislative Plaza. Pictured l. is Leeron Resnick, and r. is David Zilberman Nashville Holocaust Memorial Honors Sculptor Alex Limor, page 4
Guilt and Gratitude: A Ukrainian in Nashville Continues to Adapt, page 8
The Gordon JCC’s Annual Big Night Out was a Huge Success, page 15