the Jewish bserver Nashville to have prominent role inside: on Global Day of Jewish Learning West End's new "rabino" ashville will have a welcomes cultural starring role in the Global Day of challenge 4 Jewish Learning on Nov. 17 when the Federation campaign hits keynote session the road -- to Israel 5 hereN is streamed live over the Web to quality of the pro- Global Learning sites. Jewish audiences around the world. gram we are offering In conjunction with Global Day, Thanksgivukkah: Fun The presentation by Rabbi on November 17. Jewish Family Services is inviting David Levin-Kruss of the Pardes We are looking for- teenagers in grades 8-12 to a discus- holiday mashup provides Institute of Jewish Studies in ward to an out- sion at the Gordon Jewish spiritual opportunities too 19 Jerusalem will kick off a local sched- standing learning Community Center from 9:30-11:30 ule of Jewish learning that includes session from Rabbi a.m. about the dangers of impaired or Grants available for twelve breakout sessions led by local Levin-Kruss and distracted driving. first-time Jewish campers 21 clergy and scholars, a panel discus- Rabbi David from all the session The Global Day of Jewish sion involving local rabbis and a pres- Levin-Kruss leaders at the Learning is funded by the Jewish entation of Jewish studies projects by Global Day.” Federation and Jewish Foundation of Sections two Vanderbilt Hillel students. Rabbi Levin-Kruss is Nashville Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Lifecycles 23 “We are thrilled to have been community’s scholar in residence for The appearance of Rabbi David selected by the conveners of the the fourth annual Global Day of Levin-Kruss is made possible through Around the town 24 Global Day by having our opening Jewish Learning, a worldwide event the generosity of Libby and Moshe session Webcast live around the initiated by the Aleph Society in Werthan. c world,” said Mark S. Freedman, exec- which Jews in more than 400 com- utive director of the Jewish munities around the world come A full schedule of Global Day Federation of Nashville and Middle together to study their religious her- events in Nashville is on Page 3. Tennessee, which is funding the local itage and sacred texts. His presenta- Participants can register for spe- Global Day events at the Akiva tion -- “What Price Pluralism? cific breakout sessions and reserve School, 809 Percy Warner Blvd. Creating Unity while a complimentary lunch on the Freedman added, “Tapping Nashville Acknowledging What Separates Us” Jewish Federation website at for the Webcast of Rabbi Levin- -- will be one of just 24 streamed live http://tinyurl.com/13nashglobal Kruss’s presentation speaks to the around the world each hour to all the jewishday. Local leaders respond to Pew survey of U.S. Jews By CHARLES BERNSEN exclusivity,” dynamics of extended families and is almost cer- communal connections.” here wasn’t much in the tainly a Some Jews who describe them- new survey of U.S. Jews function of selves as not religious nevertheless that surprised Shaul living in a have family, friends and colleagues Kelner, associate profes- society who are. As a result of these connec- sor of sociology and where inter- tions, they may engage in certain reli- Jewish studies at marriage and gious activities – attending a Passover TVanderbilt University. The results multi-cultur- seder or a bar mitzvah ceremony, for show a continuation of a trend that had al identities example. They may even maintain a been apparent in previous surveys: are common. membership at a synagogue or study American Jewish society is diverse and Likewise, the religious texts. On the other hand, has an increasingly secular component. Shaul Kelner fact that some Jews who describe themselves Roundup of local holiday “The survey tells us where we more than as Jews by religion, particularly if they events on Page 15 are, more than where we are going.” 20 percent of U.S. Jews (and about a are young, may not be affiliated with said Kelner, an expert in American third of Jewish millennials) describe a synagogue and rarely engage in Jewish society and institutions. themselves as secular is not surpris- activity that might be characterized Ultimately its importance will be ing given that American society a as religious. www.jewishobservernashville.org whether and how it informs Jewish whole is becoming more secular. Kelner also pointed out that it is communal policies and programs. Still, Kelner was somewhat difficult to apply the results of a A Publication of To some extent the attitudes of skeptical of the survey’s characteri- national poll to local Jewish commu- American Jews revealed in the sur- zation of American Jews as falling nities like Nashville, which vary vey by the Pew survey are shaped into two distinct categories: Those widely across the country. Because the dynamics of the larger society in it identifies as “Jews by religion” they live in the South, where reli- which they live, Kelner said. More and those it identifies as “Jews of gious affiliation is high, Nashville’s than a third of the survey respon- no religion.” Jews are probably less secular than dents, for example, agreed that a “I think the notion that there are American Jews as a whole. This kind www.jewishnashville.org person can be Jewish even if he or two distinct kinds of Jewish experi- of local variation “limits the extent she “believes that Jesus was the mes- ence, one religious and the other sec- to which we can use the poll in VOL.78 NO. 11 siah.” This view, which Kelner said ular, is an oversimplification,” he shaping policy here,” he said. “To do November 2013 indicates a decline in “theological said. “It doesn’t take into account the Continued on page 8 28 Cheshvan - 27 Kislev 5774 2 November 2013 The Observer Rabbi who “caught” Helen Thomas to speak at Chabad this month abbi David Nesenoff will be at Chabad of Nashville GLOBAL DAY OF JEWISH LEARNING-NASHVILLE on Wednesday Nov. 20 to speak about his video SUNDAY, NOV. 17, 2013 interview with Helen AKIVA SCHOOL Thomas in which the leg- Rendary White House correspondent made “CREATING TOGETHER” comments condemned as anti-semitic. A filmmaker, musician and author Arrival and Check-in .....................................................................9:30-9:45 a.m. known for life-changing messages deliv- ered with a belly-laugh-invoking humor, Welcome and Opening Comments................................................9:45-10:00 a.m. Rabbi Nesenoff’s appearance in Plenary Session:.........................................................................10:00-11:00 a.m. Nashville is part of a worldwide tour that Rabbi David Levin-Kruss: What Price Pluralism: Creating Unity While Acknowledging includes North America, Israel, Europe, What Separates Us Australia and South Africa. In his pres- NOTE: During the Plenary Session a concurrent PJLibrary program will be held entation, “To Catch an Anti-Semite,” for pre-school children and their parents. Rabbi Nesenoff will cover topics that include Israel, anti-Semitism, his person- 1st Round of Breakout Sessions: ......................................11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. al spiritual journey and relationship with Creating Friendship: Acquire for Yourself a Friend (Led by Daniella Pressner) the Divine as well as his interview with Thomas. It is a story of cyber-hatred, dan- Creating the Amidah: How our Defining Prayer Came into Being (Led by Rabbi ger and, oddly enough, incredible humor. Rabbi David Nesenoff Joshua Barton) In 2010 Nesenoff was at the White treated fairly, and Rabbi Nesenoff has Creation and Creativity (Led by Rabbi Joshua Kullock) House for a reception honoring Jewish said he received tens of thousands of American Heritage Month when he pieces of hate mail. Creativity and Torah Study (Led by Evan Rosenzweig) conducted a brief video interview of Rabbi Nesenoff is a graduate of Creating Shabbat: Rest as a Creative Act (Led by Shaul Kelner) Thomas in which she said Jews should Yeshiva University who describes him- Wicked-pedia: Bezalel as a Model for Dealing Creatively with the Democratization “get the hell out of Palestine . and go self as a “recovering Conservative rabbi.” of Knowledge (Led by Rabbi David Levin-Kruss) home . to Poland and Germany” The His talk, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at the video went viral after he posted it on his Chabad Campus at 95 Bellevue Road, is Luncheon and Rabbi’s Panel Discussion: ........................12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Web site, and Thomas resigned 10 days made possible by a grant from the Jewish Creating CommUNITY: Striving for the Ideal While Living it for Real later. The events sparked some contro- Federation of Nashville and Middle c Panelists: Rabbi Joshua Kullock, West End Synagogue; Rabbi Laurie Rice, versy about whether Thomas had been Tennessee. Congregation Micah; Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein, Vanderbilt Chabad; Rabbi Mark Schiftan, The Temple-Congregation Ohabai Sholom; Rabbi Saul Strosberg, Congregation Sherith Israel; Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel, Congregation Beth Tefilah Chabad. Moderated by Mark Freedman, Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee Micah 2nd Round of Breakout Sessions:......................................1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. When Bad Things Happen to Good Friendships: Creating Bonds and Mending Children’s Them When Necessary (Led by Rabbi David Levin-Kruss) Creating the Amidah: How our Defining Prayer Came into Being (Led by Rabbi Academy Joshua Barton) Creation and Creativity (Led by Rabbi Joshua Kullock) Creativity and Torah Study (Led by Rabbi Shana Goldstein Mackler and Cantor Tracy Fishbein) “Look! Here Creating Shabbat: Rest as a Creative Act (Led by Rabbi Shlomo Rothstein) Bezalel’s Creativity: Art as an Expression of the Divine (Led by Evan Rosenzweig) comes Concluding Session:...........................................................2:30 p.m.