THE
Jewish
OBSERVER www.jewishobservernashville.org
Vol. 90 No. 3
PASSOVER ISSUE
MARCH 2025 1 Adar - 2 Nisan 5785
“Love Thy Neighbor, The Rest is Commentary” – Exploring Mentorship and Social Justice at the JCRC Seder By BARBARA DAB
“T
hat which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah, all the rest is commentary.” So says Rabbi Hillel, famously, upon being asked by a student to teach the whole Torah while standing on one foot. This year’s Jewish Community Relations Committee’s Social Justice Seder will take a deeper dive into that notion of loving your neighbor and looking out for others in the community. The concept is one shared by both Jewish and Christian texts, and this year’s speaker will be Sloan Luckie, a teacher, community leader, and youth mentor in his hometown of Chicago. Luckie’s connection to Nashville began in Israel in 2018 when he embarked on what he says was a lifechanging pil-
grimage. It was then that he says he gained a deeper appreciation for the Jewish roots of his faith. “I do believe that there’s a westernized Christianity that’s been Mentor and educator birthed out of Sloan Luckie will be the America and featured speaker at the Europe. And Jewish Federation’s unfortunately, 2025 Social Justice I believe that Seder more westernized version of Christianity hasn’t only obliterated these beautiful Jewish roots, but it’s been weaponized.”
It was then he decided to learn Hebrew so he could study the text in its original form. “I took a class called ‘The Dream Team,’ and one of the teachers is named Abigail Hazony.” Hazony’s brother Danny Goldberg, lives in Nashville and is one of the seder’s co-chairs. He is involved in the local food bank community. Goldberg was looking for a midwestern connection and during a conversation with his sister, Luckie’s name came up. “Abby sent him a video of me blowing a shofar. And he said, ‘That’s my guy.’” Goldberg says the connection between him and Luckie was instant. “We’re chosen family now. And one thing that really made the time we spent together so worthy of celebrating was he is absolutely devoted to understanding as precisely as he can, what the Torah says in Hebrew.”
The budding friendship blossomed into something richer and Luckie even stayed in Nashville at Goldberg’s home during the celebration of Goldberg’s father’s 93rd birthday. That visit included a trip to Shabbat services at Sherith Israel. “I think the thing that Abby and Danny appreciate is not only my appreciation for the Jewish roots, but my passion to disclose to the members at my church how the Tanach (Old Testament) and the B’rit Chadashah (New Testament) fit together like a hand and glove.” Luckie’s work in his church is built around two main themes, both of which he plans to share at the Social Justice seder. “One is the importance of mentorship. I was mentored, but there just aren’t enough for young men and because of that, they don’t have enough Continued on page 4
Focus on Jewish Day School Education in Nashville New Task Force Explores Expansion for Akiva and JMS By BARBARA DAB
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nterest in Jewish day school education is rising across the US as parents found new options to deal with the COVID19 pandemic and grapple with the aftermath of October 7th. In Nashville, enrollment in Jewish day schools is accelerating and increasing demand. At the Akiva School, which serves grades K-6, enrollment grew steadily over the past few years leading local leaders to begin considering plans for a unique expansion. Rabba Daniella Pressner, head of school at Akiva, says, “We have a unique opportunity in this world to engage, enrich and enliven our children’s Jewish identities and souls and there is no greater place to do it than a city that has been so deeply committed to Jewish education for the past 70 years.” The Jewish Middle School (JMS), created in 2013 to serve grades 5-8, has A Publication of the
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seen steady growth. JMS continues to operate in area congregations, currently residing at Congregation Sherith Israel. And just three years ago, the community welcomed the addition of another school, Kehilla High School, serving grades 9-11. These decade long developments have seen enrollment in Nashville’s Jewish day schools grow from fewer than 60 students to over 170 across grades K-11. With Kehilla ready to graduate its first senior class in 2026 and Akiva School’s long track record, community leaders felt it was time to enrich and broaden the city’s K-12 Jewish educational experience. Rabbi Saul Strosberg, head of school and founder of JMS, says, “The merger of Nashville’s community Jewish day-schools will allow us to leverage our most talented faculty, fiscal resources, and the programs themselves to better Continued on page 26 Jewish Federation 89th Annual Meeting Highlights, page 8
Tamim Academy Comes to Nashville By HOLLY COHEN AND BARBARA DAB
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ince the start of the Israel Hamas war, Jewish day schools across the country report a notable increase in enrollment inquiries. That is according to a December 2023 study by Prizmah, center for Jewish day schools. The study represents a snapshot of 110 schools in the U.S and Canada. Some of the reasons reported include parents’ fear of antisemitism, response from the current schools about the war, and wanting their children to be in a Jewish environment. At Chabad of Nashville’s Revere Montessori preschool, director Esther Tiechtel reports this surge in interest was even growing before the war. “We’ve been discussing how we might expand our preschool program for quite some time. However, we were seeking a partner with many years of experience in Jewish Federation Grants Support Vibrant Senior Programming, page 13
building first class elementary schools, to give children the best of both worlds, a high-quality academic education, alongside a superior Jewish education, ensuring the future of our people, raising children to be the Jewish leaders of tomorrow.” The Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool was established seven years ago and has grown steadily. Tiechtel reports several parents and families have loved the preschool experience so much, there have been requests for it to continue to kindergarten and beyond. “People come to the Revere Jewish Montessori Preschool because they are drawn to authentic Judaism, shared with warmth and without pressure or judgment. Partnering with Tamim Academy, we’re confident we can bring all of that and more to Tamim Academy of Nashville,” said Tiechtel, “Our preschool
Nashville Sings! Concert Raises Funds for LA’s Wildfire Victims, page 17
Continued on page 27 Togetherness in pews and planks, page 26