the Jewish bserver Federation event aims to produce inside: big IMPACT on community solidarity Sherith Israel getting By CHARLES BERNSEN Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennesse. Like the Our first new Torah scroll ou can find Avraham World’s Fair events of previous years, in 50 years 14 Infeld on Facebook, IMPACT aims to inspire Nashville Twitter and YouTube, area Jews to connect with each other The Rabbis’ Corner, new where he likes to refer to and find fulfilling venues for express- himself as a “Judaic car- ing their Jewish identities. monthly opinion column 17 penter” and describes IMPACT is hosted by NowGen YJewish peoplehood as resting on a “5- Nashville, the young professionals Two examples of legged table” -- memory, family, division of the Nashville Jewish olives and Jewish covenant, the land of Israel and the Federation. The event is scheduled community- Hebrew language. Jews must preserve outspoken advocate of pluralistic for 7 p.m. on Feb. 5 at the Gordon as many of the table’s legs as possible, understandings of Jewish identity, Jewish Community Center. Free and building 19 he says, or their sense of peoplehood will be the featured guest at open to the entire community, the will fray and the table will topple over. IMPACT, a community-building event will include a desert reception. Israeli author creates Infeld, a Jewish educator and event on Feb. 5 sponsored by the Continued on page 4 comic book hero for kids with cancer 24 Tzedakah Tzunday volunteers needed Regular features he Jewish Federation of Federation funds also go to support The easiest way to volunteer is via Lifecycles 21 Nashville and Middle dozens of programs and services for the online form on the Nashville Around the town 22 Tennessee is looking for Jews in Israel and around the globe. Federation’s website at http://tinyurl.com/ a few good volunteers – Tzedakah Tzunday is on Feb. 9 at 2014tztzvolunteer. You can also con- well, actually, more the Gordon Jewish Community tact Susan Pankowsky (call 615-354- than 100 volunteers – Center. Volunteers are needed to staff 1676 or email her at susan@jewish- Tto staff the phones next month for three 2-and-a-half-hour shifts between nashville.org) or Naomi Limor Sedek SIMCHAS & Tzedakah Tzunday, the local commu- 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., plus a 2-hour (call 615-354-1642 or email her at CELEBRATIONS SECTION nity’s largest fundraising event. follow- up shift from 7-9 p.m. on [email protected]). PAGE 7 The daylong annual phone-a- Tuesday, Feb. 18. Each shift includes There will be refreshments for thon typically reaches about 1,000 30 minutes of training to prepare vol- volunteers as well as babysitting for people and accounts for about 22 per- unteer callers to speak with family those who register in advance by con- cent of the individual gifts that help and friends about the Nashville tacting Barbara Schwarcz at 615-354- the Nashville Federation fund more Federation and the programs it funds. 1630 or [email protected]. than 67 unique projects including There are other ways to help on By volunteering a few hours of scholarships for Jewish day school stu- Tzedakah Tzunday as well – provid- time, you can make a big difference dents, the Buz a Bus service for seniors, ing food for volunteers, and or serv- in the Jewish community locally and counseling and adopting services ing in limited clerical spots sorting globally. c through Jewish Family Service, pro- pledge cards, updating phone num- gramming at local synagogues and the bers and writing letters and thank See CampaignTrail on page 3 Gordon Jewish Community Center. you notes to donors. Nashville artist gathers “virtual choir” to record new candle blessing melody By CHARLES BERNSEN hree years ago Stacy Beyer composed a new melody for the traditional Shabbat candle www.jewishobservernashville.org blessing. As she was preparing to record it, the Nashville Jewish recording and touring artist had a thought: Why not recruit some of her A Publication of colleagues in the contemporary Jewish music Tscene to participate in the recording? So she asked, and they responded – in a very big way. The result is the Candle Blessing Project, a recording of Beyer’s melody by a “virtual choir” of 66 voices, including many luminaries of contemporary Jewish music. Released last month, the recording is for sale digitally for $2.99 at www.jewishnashville.org www.urjbooksandmusic.com. All proceeds from both digital down loads and the sale of sheet music benefit the Stacy Beyer has dedicated the Candle Blessing Project to her VOL.79 NO. 1 Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. mother-in-law, Evelyn Beyer, whom she calls “a true light in the January 2014 Continued on page 3 world.” 29 Tevet - 30 Sh’vat 5774 off as Rabbi of West End Synagogue 2:00 p.m. Sunday, February 2, 2014 Special Guest: Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University The West End Synagogue Community welcomes you to a reception immediately following the installation. For information: email [email protected]@westendsyn or call 615 269-4592 Westst EndEnd SynagogueSynagoguSynago 3810 West Endd AAve.ve. - NashvilNashville,l TN 37205 2 January 2014 The Observer From the Financial aid available for Campaign Trail overnight Jewish summer camp hat was it about An Easy New Year’s Resolution those weeks spent at summer camp By STEVE HIRSCH Wednesday, Feb. 5 at the Gordon Jewish year after year that Federation Campaign Chairman Community Center. This event, organ- inspired your con- ized and hosted by NowGen Nashville, nection to t looks like we have survived one features inspirational speaker Avraham WJudaism? Was it the spirited singing after and Middle Tennessee realizes the impor- more holiday season, with its non- Infeld, president emeritus of Hillel. Infeld dinner or havdalah on the edge of the tance of building Jewish life and makes stop barrage of holiday shopping, will discuss the topic, “What does being lake at sunset? The Jewish summer camp financial assistance available on a need special sales, Jewish mean to you?” This talk will experience creates community for life, basis for students to attend Jewish sum- greeting cards inform and challenge us at the same time not just for a summer. mer camps. If you know someone who and all of those to make an impact on our Jewish commu- Year after year our children return could benefit from this information, Iimportant bowl nity. Admission to this event is free and home from camp filled with stories, mem- please share it. To request information on games. Imagine the all members of our community are invited ories, and friendships. For many children summer camp opportunities or for a schol- joy of the Vanderbilt by the NowGen group to attend. it could be the first time they’re surround- arship application, please call Michelle players having had Step two in this plan is to volunteer ed by all things Jewish. Overnight Jewish Faulkner at the Jewish Federation office, the once-in-a-life- for two-and-a-half hours at the Nashville camping is wonderful way to introduce 354-1624, or email her at michelle@jew- time experience of Steve Hirsch Federation’s Tzedakah Tzunday phone- children to the joy and celebration of the ishnashville.org. All inquiries are confi- participating in the a-thon. A key part of our annual cam- Jewish traditions. dential. The deadline for submitting BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham. paign, Tzedakah Tzunday is the day that The Jewish Federation of Nashville applications is Feb. 28. c So we turn the page on 2013 and we reach out to our neighbors in the face the new year with renewed hope community and ask for their support for and expectations. This is the time of our campaign. This once-a-year appeal year when people usually establish reso- will support a wide variety of grants for YOU CAN DO IT... LET US HELP lutions and goals for the new year. local and national agencies who work Unfortunately, the idea of New Year’s with children, young adults, families, resolutions has become a punch line for seniors in our Nashville Jewish commu- Stay Independent, At Home, In Charge® promises that we know we will fail to nity and in the global Jewish community keep. This year I will lose those 20 of which we are a part. Quality Attendants, Companions And Sitters pounds, or this is the year I will quit Every year we rely on over 100 vol- Bonded & Insured, State Licensed smoking or eat healthier and exercise unteers to make certain that we reach Excellent References more. These resolutions have a way of every member of the Nashville and disappearing before too much time has Middle Tennessee Jewish Community Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence elapsed in the new year. and give them the opportunity of the Personal Care Assistance At Its Best Well, being the generous, communi- mitzvah associated with helping the Thinking about your parents...We can be there when you cannot. ty-minded fellow that I have resolved to most vulnerable and those in need be this year, I am going to help you with a among our extended Jewish family. 2000 Richard Jones Road 119 McGrew Street 109 Holiday Court, Suite C-8 resolution that you will able to “knock Tzedakah Tzunday is on Feb. 9, and Nashville, TN 37215 Shelbyville, TN 37160 Franklin, TN 37067 615-383-5656 931-680-2771 615-472-1563 out of the park.” This very simple resolu- we are looking for people to be involved tion is to be more involved with the 208 Uptown Square 309 N.