the Jewish bserver Federation stands with Israel nside: By ANDY MAY and i MARK S. FREEDMAN Rabbi Posner remembered n this month of May are two as inspirational leader 3 very important dates that are at the core of our community’s Meeting campaign goal love and support for the State of Israel. First, on May 4, is strate our solidarity with the people We live under the aura of a miracle of $2.5 million crucial Yom Hazikaron, when we pay and the nation of Israel. that carries with it distant voices of for next phase of Best Ihomage to Israel’s fallen soldiers. We will continue to work dili- past generations that could only Jewish Nashville 5 Soon after the conclusion of that gently to defend the State of Israel to dream of the extraordinary reality we somber ceremony comes Yom the best of our ability, not as its foot are experiencing. Picnic planned to honor Ha’atzmaut on May 6, when we cele- soldiers but rather as its caring part- At the Jewish Federation of brate with great joy and pride the ners. We will respond forcefully to Nashville and Middle Tennessee, we Lynda Gutcheon for 30 66th anniversary of the declaration those who attempt to delegitimize view our ongoing involvement and years as Temple educator 6 and founding of the modern inde- the State of Israel. We will combat engagement with Israel as a precious pendent State of Israel. misguided efforts to boycott Israeli inheritance that we must handle with Gilead Shalit’s father will These events underscore the goods and services. We will oppose utmost care and responsibility. Our very essence of what our Jewish any movement to impose economic, commitment to the community is that be in Nashville to recount Federation stands for. In our minds, political or diplomatic sanctions the actions we take and the policies we family’s ordeal 7 in our hearts, and through our upon Israel. And we will actively follow will be guided by our deep love actions, we are united in our support respond to those who attempt to con- for Israel, by our fervent wish that Israel of Israel as the eternal homeland for vince corporate or institutional will remain forever a safe haven for all Regular features the Jewish people. We are apprecia- investors to divest from Israel. Jewish people and that future genera- tive and humbled by the sacrifices As Israel celebrates its 66th tions will be able to share in the mira- The Rabbis’ Corner 17 the Israeli people have made to build anniversary as a modern state, at the cle of Jewish peoplehood which has at Lifecycles 21 a safe and secure Jewish homeland, a Jewish Federation we think of Israel’s its sacred center the land of Israel. Around the town 22 struggle that continues to this day. existence in a much broader context Am Yisrael Chai! c This Jewish Federation will do every- — as a nation that has endured for thing it can, through our annual cam- more than three millennia. We are Andy May is president and Mark HEALTH & BEAUTY PAGE 11 paign, through our local Israel advo- among the fortunate few who have S. Freedman is executive director of the cacy and education, and through our witnessed the rebirth of the modern Jewish Federation of Nashville and Israel missions program to demon- State of Israel during our lifetimes. Middle Tennessee. Vandy MBA class helping Israeli businesses break into U.S. market By CHARLES BERNSEN f you or a loved one is someday saved by the respiratory moni- toring device developed by the Israeli start-up, BreatheVision Ltd., it might be due to the work this spring of Vanderbilt IMBA student Jameson K. Norton. He and 27 other students are tak- ing a seminar called “Doing Business in Israel” in which they conduct research for Israeli companies hoping to introduce a product in the United States or other large foreign markets. www.jewishobservernashville.org The group recently returned from a spring-break trip to Israel, where they A Publication of met with their clients and learned more about the country’s entrepre- Taking a little time off from their busy work schedule in Israel, these Vanderbilt stu- neurial business climate. dents relax at bar in Tel Aviv. From left are Ella Teferici, Kenny Takahashi, Emily Hassel, “I have been amazed at the inno- Arturo Garza-Alanis, Anjelica Amable, Sam Lockard, Becky Murphy, Casey Smyth, and Jameson Norton. They are among 28 students who traveled to Israel over spring vation and initiative within the break to meet with business clients as part of their course “Doing Business in Israel” Israeli business environment,” said at the Owen Graduate School of Management. Norton, leader of the four-student consulting team for BreatheVision, doing more with less is a necessity in provide a promising foundation for www.jewishnashville.org which hopes to market its respiratory Israel,” Norton said. “The combina- any [Israeli] start-up business.” monitoring device for post-operative tion of the valuable resources and Accompanying the students to VOL.79 NO. 5 hospital patients in the United States. market in the United States together Israel was their instructor, Mark May 2014 “Given constrained resources, with Israeli innovation and initiative Continued on page 4 1 Iyar - 2 Sivan 5774 Join us for this free event An Israeli Soldier in a War Against The Delegitimization of Israel Hen Mazzig Israeli Representative Monday and Campus Coordinator May 5, Stand With Us 2014 Northwest at 7:00 PM Gordon JCC 801 Percy Warner Blvd Seating Is Limited. Please register at: henmazzig.event brite.com We would like to thank The Gordon Jewish Community Center for providing us the use of its facilities on a rental basis for this program. The views and opinions expressed by the program’s sponsors and the program’s content do not necessarily represent the views of the Gordon Jewish Community Center nor is it responsible for the content of this program. 2 May 2014 The Observer Communitywide observances of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut to begin on May 4 n the space of two days this The 2 ½-hour event, hosted by the 2. Evelyn and Marvin Koch, in honor families, in honor of their participa- month, the Jewish community Jewish Federation, begins at 6:30 p.m. on of their Israel advocacy work. tion in The Same Moon project at will undertake the somber com- May 6 and will include a dinner and 3. Carol Hyatt, as a representative of Akiva creating links with Israeli memoration of Israel’s war dead torch-lighting ceremony honoring mem- the 22 participants on this year’s families. and the joyful celebration of its bers of the Nashville community who Community Mission to Israel. 11. Lorna Graff, representing partici- creation. have devoted their time and services to 4. Mark and Robin Cohen, in honor of pants in the “Sounds of Many IThe communitywide observance of creating a stronger connection to Israel. their trip to Israel with students Waters” project. Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, Advance tickets are $18 for adults from Vanderbilt’s Owen School of 12. Mark S. Freedman, in honor of his will begin at 4:30 p.m. on May 4 at The and $5 for children under 12 and can be Management. work as the executive director of the Temple. In Israel, Yom Hazikaron reserved at http://bit.ly/1meseBd or by 5. Leslie Klein, in honor of her work Nashville Federation and recogni- includes two moments of silence when emailing Hadar Moskovitz at with Hadassah. tion of his 75th trip to Israel last the entire national comes to a standstill [email protected]. Tickets at 6. Rabbi Laurie Rice, in honor of her November. to remember the soldiers and civilians the door will be $25 for adults and $8 for work as head of the board of rabbis Also in connection with Yom who gave their lives in defense of the children under 12. and representing the contributions Ha’atzmaut, Sifriyat Pijama B’America nation. The service is sponsored by the The torch-lighting ceremony began of Nashville’s rabbis. and PJ Library will hold a storywalk for Jewish Federation of Nashville and last year and is modeled after the one 7. Uzi Yemin, in honor of his leader- children on May 18. Participants will Middle Tennessee along with the city’s that takes place in Israel every Yom ship as board president of Akiva gather at 3 p.m. at the main entrance of five Jewish congregations. Ha’atzmaut when citizens who have con- School. the GJCC. They will “walk” to Israel, On May 6 comes Yom Ha’atzmaut, tributed to Israeli society are given the 8. Rabbi Joshua Barton and Lawrence where they will get their passports Israel’s Independence Day, when Jews in honor of lighting 12 torches on Mount Tobin, in honor of their work with stamped, visit the wall, go on an archeo- Israel and around the world celebrate the Hertzl symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. Vanderbilt Hillel’s Taglit-Birthright logical dig, and enjoy delicious Israeli nation’s birth in 1948. In Nashville, the This year the torches in the trips to Israel. treats. The Storywalk exhibit will 66th anniversary of Israel founding will Nashville ceremony will be lit by: 9. Fred Zimmerman, in honor of his remain up throughout the summer, but celebrated at the Gordon Jewish 1. Sam Perlen, in honor of his work leadership on the Jewish Agency for we’d love to see you at its opening.