THE
Jewish
OBSERVER www.jewishobservernashville.org
Vol. 91 No. 3
PASSOVER ISSUE
MARCH 2026 12 Adar - 13 Nisan 5786
Shared Works, Shared World: Nashville Seder Celebrates Six Decades of Catholic–Jewish Dialogue By BARBARA DAB
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his year’s Jewish Community Relations Committee Social Justice seder, scheduled for March 26th, will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the historic document resulting from the second Vatican council held 1962-1965. The purpose of the council was to modernize the church and to promote interfaith dialogue, notably the relationship with the Jewish community. Amy-Jill Levine is professor emerita of New Testament and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She
says there are three essential points in Nostra Aetate. “First, it affirms what is ‘true and holy’ in non-Catholic religions, with explicit mentions of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Second, it rejects ‘any discrimination’ based on ‘race, color, condition of life, or religion.’ Third, and taking up almost half of the document, Nostra Aetate emphasizes, ‘the bond of spirituality’ that ties Catholics to Jews, that the Church ‘decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone,’ that Jesus’s death ‘cannot be charged against all Jews,’ and that in Catholic
preaching and teaching ‘the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God.’” It is in this spirit that this year’s JCRC seder will welcome Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville Catholic diocese as a featured guest. Spalding says he is excited about the church’s participation the seder once again since the last celebration 10 years ago. “The document was an opening of a great relationship. And seeing the Jewish people and the wonderful faith that they have and hold and rejoice in, they are a community that can help us as we journey through life and
appreciate the kinship we have.” The theme of this year’s seder is “Shared Works, Shared World,” reflecting the common vision both faiths share to repair the world. Spalding says, “One of the key parts is our teaching around the corporal works of mercy to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the imprisoned, to visit the homebound and those who are sick. Those are core teachings and we try to live by them.” The seder will be led by Rabbi Joshua Kullock of West End Synagogue. He says it is important for the Jewish community Continued on page 14
In the Ice and Darkness, Nashville’s Jewish Community Showed Up for One Another By BARBARA DAB
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he new year began with an ice storm that swept through Nashville bringing with it downed trees, burst pipes, and prolonged power outages. The event marked the first of its kind in 40 years, came during the coldest days of the season, and sent thousands fleeing to hotels and community warming centers. Nashville’s Jewish community, led by Jewish Family Service, sprang into action assessing the needs and providing assistance. According to Toni Jacobsen, clinical director for JFS, unlike previous disasters, this time the struggles hit close to home. “This is the first time this was our emergency, too,” she says, “We had to put the oxygen mask on ourselves first because we didn’t know if the power would be back in eight hours or longer.” Once it became apparent the situation would continue for a while, and with temperatures dropping, JFS mobilized its staff and network of volunteers. “When we realized this would be more long term, we knew what to do. And what we did first was call the seniors who didn’t live in a facility, that lived at home, had no family, and then just kept broadening out from that.” A Publication of the
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As the temperature dropped, Jacobsen her team identified who was in distress and needed a place to stay. The challenge, she says, was needs kept evolving. “What we found was some people who said they were fine, were not fine a few days later. Their situation changed.” Her team helped find hotel stays for people who could not otherwise afford it. “For those who needed it, it was lifesaving,” she says. Some of the hotels did not provide meals, which also necessitated problem solving. Jacobsen said. In addition to sending snacks and other items through Shipt, JFS partnered with The Temple, and Sherith Israel, and the JFS board to ensure everyone had at least one hot meal a day. Jacobsen said one of the challenges was the wholesale loss of power, meaning the volunteer pool was smaller than usual. At The Temple, Rabbi Michael Shulman, says he was one of the lucky ones who had power along with a couple of others. “We were trying to be the point people because all of the other staff of The Temple, the clergy were all affected.” Rabbi Shulman contacted as many people as possible, using his own Israel in Focus: Col. Miri Eisin Discussed the Shifting Middle East in Nashville, page 4
Rabbi Itzchok Tiechtel of Chabad of Nashville pictured delivering food during the recent ice storm. Similar scenes played out around town coordinated by Jewish Family Service.
cell phone, to find volunteers and about a dozen answered the call. The Temple’s group coordinated with Jacobsen, collecting food, snacks, clothes, toiletries, and arranging transportation and made deliveries to those staying in hotels. “It was good because we were itching to do something and wanted to help in any way we could.” Shulman says it was gratifying to see people coming together to help each other. He says in one instance, the older Showing Up, Together: Reflections from Tikkun2Gether, a Volunteer Trip to Israel, page 8
children of a couple who was out of town braved the icy roads. “They went to Target to shop for some things for someone who was displaced and who basically left without anything. They delivered to someone they don’t even know.” Down the road, Sherith Israel’s power returned quickly, and Rabbi Saul Strosberg welcomed people in for meals, a place to charge devices, to sleep, and in some instances, to shower in the synagogue’s Mikvah. “Close to 30 people slept at the shul that week,” says Strosberg who was himself without power at his home, “There were a lot of families and people came and cooked. You’ve heard of too many chefs in the kitchen, we had every chef.” Strosberg created a sort of resort atmosphere, complete with a ping pong table, movie nights, and slumber parties. And they also answered Jacobsen’s call for help. “Toni called and gave us the opportunity to send some meals to people in hotels.” In the midst of all the activity, Strosberg says a highlight was Friday night Shabbat dinner. “That was beautiful on Friday watching all the different
Dara Freiberg Steps Into Interim Executive Director Role, page 13
Continued on page 14 NowGen Celebrates Tu Bishvat A Festival for the Trees, page 17