December 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

KJA Ha’Kol KJA Last Call……...... 2 KJA Proposed Slate/Bylaws...... 3 Friendshippers....……...... 4 AJCC Preschool News……….....4 You’re invited to attend the Sundown in Sukkah...………..….5 Knoxville Jewish Alliance Temple Beth El Times 2019 Annual Meeting Rabbi’ Message....………..……10

Sunday, December 8 — 1:00 p.. President’s Remarks...... …….11 Religious School News...... 12 Arnstein Jewish Community Center, 6800 Deane Hill Drive Hanukkah Dinner……...... 13 New Members....…….….….……14 Learn about KJA activities and programs, then KJA members Contributions…..…….….….……16 will vote to elect 2020-21 officers (see page 3) Light refreshments will be served. Heska Amuna HaShofar Rabbi’s Remarks………...... 18 Chanukah Brunch.……….……...18 The Schwarzbart Art Gallery Committee invites the community to enjoy President’s Remarks....………...19

The Art and Sculptures of Israeli Religious School News….....…..21 Artist Aharon Bezalel, ’ Lights & L’Chaim Dinner...... 22-23

The exhibit opens January 18, 2020. Find times and details in the Community News January Ha’Kol. KJCFF……………………..…..…25

Jewish Congregation/OR….….26 Born in Afghanistan, Aharon Bezalel, z’l, lived and worked in Jerusalem. His sculptures - works of Chabad of Knoxville…...... …28 wood, bronze, aluminum, Plexiglas - can be seen Hadassah Highlights…...... ….30 in many public places, both in Israel and worldwide. Knoxville Jewish Day School..34 In 1950 he founded the arts department at the Seligsberg Vocational School in Jerusalem where Community Calendar………....….7 he taught for 20 years. In 1962, Bezalel’s exhibits Happenings………...…...…...….8-9 garnered worldwide attention. He also wrote an autobiography and two art books.

6800 Deane Hill Drive  Knoxville, TN 37919  865.690.6343  www.jewishknoxville.org Knoxville Jewish Alliance

Ha’Ha’Kol Kol Last Call December 2019 By Chip Rayman, KJA President

 The Knoxville Jewish Alliance initiated a #KnoxvilleAgainstHate Campaign. In con- KJA Ha’Kol junction with LAMAR Advertising, the KJA created a billboard currently located at I-40 KJA Last Call……...... 2 and James White Parkway. Our theme features the well-recognized COEXIST poster. KJA was awarded a $1,000 grant for this effort to support diversity within our KJA Proposed Slate/Bylaws...... 3 community by The East Tennessee Foundation. Friendshippers....……...... 4  The KJA has been working with outgoing Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and the AJCC Preschool News……….....4 Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation to erect a marker to honor Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds, a Knoxville native who saved 200 Jewish prisoners of war by Sundown in Sukkah...………..….5 refusing to give them up to a Nazi commandant who pressed a pistol against his temple. His declaration, “We are all Jews here,” will resonate forever with me.  In a speech to President Randy Boyd and Chancellor Donde Plowman of the University of Tennessee, I thanked the Chancellor for her immediate, condem- nation response to the anti-Semitic graffiti on The Rock. (Our Hillel at UTK students met with the Chancellor immediately after the rock incident and appreciate her quick response.) I further provided her with history and con- nections between the university and the Jewish community.  We represented Knoxville at the State of Tennessee Legislative Resolution in Nashville, expressing support for Israel.  Rabbi Erin Boxt and I met with Knox County Board of Education represent- atives concerning Knox County Schools scheduling the city-wide band jambo- ree on Rosh Hashanah.  Our Milton Collins Day Camp achieved a five-year high camp attendance.  We hosted four Israeli teens as part of our P2G Israel Partnership this summer.  The KJA hosted a Seeds of Abraham summer camp coordinated with the Seeds of Abraham program and attended by approximately 20 Muslim, Jewish, and Christian teens.  Our Smokin’ Salmon swim team had 112 swimmers, a five year high, and won its category at the GKAISA championship swim meet.  Our AJCC Preschool is at an all time high in enrollment and remains a Three-Star rated preschool (state’s highest rating). Our addition of infant care services has been very well received. The State of Tennessee is raising the standards needed to earn a 3 Star rating and we plan to comply although it will cost us some money. There will not be a tuition increase in 2020.  Thanks to Adam and Angie Brown and family’s generous matching donation to our Project Playground campaign, we raised almost $95,000 to expand our AJCC Preschool playground and replace aging playground equipment. A memorial area honors Logan Brown.  Our girls BBYO Weinstein Chapter won best chapter at the BBYO Regional Convention.  We hosted another successful Knoshville event thanks to our community partners.  We partnered with Temple Beth El, Heska Amuna Synagogue, and UT Judaic Studies to host scholars and lecturers.  The Yom HaShoah’s The Suitcase presentation was well attended and more than 50 percent of attendees were not Jewish.  Twenty-five of our seniors are in independent or assisted living. Our Jewish Family Services visits monthly and each major holiday. Our Friendshippers program entertains seniors once a month with plays, lectures, tours, music, and trivia.  The Knoxville Jewish Alliance has been awarded three significant grants. Under Rabbi Yossi’s guidance, the major institutions with buildings came together under the Knoxville Jewish Alliance and will share a community security grant of $100,000. PJ Library was awarded an $8,000 grant from the Grinspoon Foundation. The East Tennessee Foundation awarded the KJA a $1,000 grant for our #Knoxville Against Hate billboard campaign.

Think about how the KJA serves you and represents the Jewish community in Knoxville. Put a value on it. What are we worth to you? $18? $180? $1,800? Decide, then send us a check and do your part! LAST CALL!

6800 Deane Hill Drive  Knoxville, TN 37919  865.690.6343  www.jewishknoxville.org Knoxville Jewish Alliance Ha’Kol  December 2019 2

Knoxville Jewish Alliance Annual Meeting Sunday, December 8 — 1:00 p.m. — AJCC Caller Auditorium Members will learn about KJA activities and projects and elect the 2020 KJA Board of Directors. Light refreshments will be served Reminder:  Camp - Jonathan Branton board members (delete subsection To vote at the KJA Annual Meeting,  Community Relations Committee- and rename the subsequent subsec- you must be a member in good Arnold Cohen tions)—the congregations have repre- standing. KJA members include KJA  Cultural Arts Chair - Raphe Panitz sentation through their board chairs annual campaign donors and AJCC  Israel Partnership - Dr. Renee' Hyatt  In current subsection , renamed members. To be a member in good  Jewish Family Services and subsection B, change “chief elected standing, one shall be current in their Friendshippers - Nancy Becker officer” to “chief officer (volunteer)” payment of fees, dues and other assess-  UTK Hillel - Dr. Greg Kaplan and include Chabad of Knoxville and ments. (Fees paid for services, such as  Long Range Planning - the Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge those paid for classes, preschool, or Stephanie Kodish in the list. The new subsection would MCDC are not considered a contribution  Membership - Lev Comstock read as follows: to the KJA annual campaign.)  Missions - Lee Wertheim Chief officer (volunteer) of Heska  Personnel - Melissa Feinbaum Amuna Synagogue, Temple Beth El, 2010 Board of Directors Slate  Publications- Jean Begue Chabad of Knoxville, the Jewish (term ends at the annual meeting Congregation of Oak Ridge, and the AUTOMATIC BOARD MEMBERS of the year indicated) Knoxville Chapter of Hadassah; by virtue of community position President of the Board of Directors of EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (2 Year Term)  Jeff Becker, Chairman of the Board, the Knoxville Jewish Day School; and  President: Chip Rayman (2020) Heska Amuna Synagogue the President of the Knoxville Jewish  President Elect: Bryan Goldberg  Steve Lewis, President, Community Family of Funds  Interim Vice President-Campaign: Temple Beth El (“KJCFF”), if not already elected Chip Rayman  Gloria Greenfield, President, members of the Board.  Vice President-Administration: Knoxville Jewish Day School  Add Archives (current subsection , Wes Johnson (2021)  Andrea Cone, President, Hadassah renamed subsection C) to the list of  Vice President-Children & Youth:  Stephen Rosen, President, committee chairs that are automatic Martha Iroff (2021) Knoxville Jewish Community Family board members  Vice President-Education & Culture: of Funds (as of January 1, 2020)  Change “Jewish Student Center” to Shannon Martindale (2021)  Mary Beth Leibowitz, “Hillel at UTK” in the list of committee  Vice President-Jewish Community JFNA Board of Trustees chairs that are automatic board mem- Services: Bryan Goldberg (2020) bers (list is alphabetized, so the place-  Vice President-Public Relations: Breakdown of amendments ment would move) Sarah Frankel (2021) to the KJA bylaws to be voted on Article VIII (Committees)  Secretary: Debbie Abrams-Cohen at the KJA Annual Meeting:  Section 3, Subsection (Vice (2020) President of Jewish Community  Treasurer: Bernard Bendriem (2020) Article IV (Meetings), Section 1 Services) 2, rename “Jewish Student  Immediate Past President: Adam Change the notice requirement for Center” to “Hillel at UTK” and change Brown annual meetings to 30 days “the JSC” to “Hillel at UTK” (instead of 15) BOARD MEMBERS AT-LARGE Article VII, Section 3A calls for the slate  Section 3, Subsection F, add (2 Year Term) of officers to be presented in writing 5. Archives: Plans and oversees the  Brad Holtz (2021) with 30 days’ notice. Because the slate programs of the Barbara Winick Bern-  Rachel Milford (2021) of officers usually goes out with the stein Archives of Knoxville and the  Britt Sturm (2021) annual meeting notice, this change will Jewish Community of East Tennessee  Michael Zemel (2021) provide the same notice requirement to  Change Section 5 to Section 4,

both. as there is no Section 4 BOARD MEMBERS  Allocations- Jill Weinstein Article (Board of Directors), Section 2 Current KJA Bylaws can be viewed at  Budget - Bernard Bendriem  Remove the rabbis as automatic www.jewishknoxville.org/about-us/ kja-mission 4 Knoxville Jewish Alliance Ha’Kol  December 2019

KJA Donations As of September 26, 2019 Whether supporting Jewish cultural programming, youth, services for seniors, community relations, or your Knoxville Jewish community, there’s great programs that need your support!

All are welcome to join us. You don’ have to be 55 and up. Donate online at www.jewishknoxville.org, call in a

credit card, or mail a check. BOOGIE BINGO AJCC Preschool Wednesday, December 11 In honor of the birth of the Wilhelm’s new son and Mendel’s mitzvah Join the Friendshippers for some pre-Hanukkah fun! Lisa Rentenbach Stephen and Rosalie Nagler from Senior Helps and Mary Lynn Payne from Avenir will lead us in play- ing Boogie Bingo. Boogie Bingo combines Name That Tune and Bingo. Jewish Family Services Numbers on a standard Bingo card have been replaced by songs from Sam Balloff yesteryear. When you hear a song from our playlist, mark it off if it’s on your card! Program location: Sherrill Hills Retirement Community, 271 Donations to KJA funds can be made to Moss Grove Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37922 celebrate lifecycle events, remember or honor someone, or to support programs The luncheon begins at noon and the program begins at 1:00 p.m. Lunch is $8. of interest. There is no cost for attending the program alone. Transportation is available up- on request—please have your ride requests in by the Friday morning before the To find a fund you want to support, con- program. For more information, please contact Laura Berry at 690-6343, ext. 18 tact the KJA office at (865) 690-6343 or or [email protected]. [email protected].

Friendshippers is a program made possible through Please call (865) 690-6343 or visit Your contributions to the KJA Annual Campaign and www.jewishknoxville.org today and make the Sam & Esther Rosen Friendshipper Fund. a donation in honor or memory of a friend or family member, or to support a cause dear to you.

Upcoming 2019 KJA Holiday Closings

December - January AJCC Preschool – Friday, December 20 the preschool closes at 3:00 p.m. with no aftercare) AJCC Preschool – Winter Break (Monday, December 23, 2019 – January 1, 2020) AJCC Preschool – Winter Break Program (January 2 – 3, 2020) for those who registered in November.

KJA Office – December 25-26, 2019 Cleaning Closets KJA Office – January 1, 2020 & Garages?

Please donate your gently-used children’s toys, games, and clothing AJCC Preschool (all sizes welcome, from Inclement Weather Policy infant to young adult sizes) to the AJCC Preschool. The AJCC Preschool DOES NOT follow Knox Items are sold at a consignment event County schools for weather related school with proceeds benefitting our closures. The AJCC Preschool will make an AJCC Preschool. independent decision case by case for weather- related events. For Weather Related Closings, re- Collection bins are located fer to www.wbir.com or www.wate.com. in the AJCC Gym. Thank you! Knoxville Jewish Alliance Ha’Kol  December 2019 5

Sundown in the Sukkah 2019

Homemade queso and chips, lots of veggies, and cheese, salsa and more were hits at the AJCC’s Sundown in the Sukkah celebration. Thanks to KJA Program Director Lauren Javors for planning such a fun event.

Whether dining outside under the sukkah or eating inside the AJCC Gym, families and friends enjoy a relaxing evening celebration of Sukkot at the Arnstein Jewish Community Center. Events like these are made possible through contributions to the KJA Annual Campaign. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible. 6 Knoxville Jewish Alliance Ha’Kol  December 2019

Volume 11, Issue 9, December 2019 Published 11 times per year by the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, Inc. 6800 Deane Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37919-5943

KJA Officers Chip Rayman President & Interim VP Campaign Debbie Abrams-Cohen Secretary The Arnstein Jewish Community Center Bernard Bendriem Treasurer Adam Brown Immediate is YOUR community center Past President Wes Johnson VP Administration IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO Martha Iroff VP Children & Youth Shannon Martindale VP Education  become an AJCC member & Culture Bryan Goldberg VP Jewish  make a donation to the Community Services Knoxville Jewish Alliance Sarah Frankel VP Public Relations

 volunteer to help Committee board members with a project or event Jill Weinstein...... …Allocations Adam Brown...... …...... ……...... …Budget Stephanie Kodish……..Long-Range Planning Support YOUR community. Melissa Feinbaum...... Personnel Raphe Panitz...... Cultural Arts www.jewishknoxville.org Renee’ Hyatt…...... Israel Partnership Nancy Becker…...... Jewish Family Services Greg Kaplan/Helene Sinnreich...Hillel at UTK Arnold Cohen….…...... Community Relations Lee Werthiem…...... …...... ……...... Missions Jacqui Pearl…....Leadership Jewish Knoxville Jean Begue…...... …...... Publications Jonathan Branton…...... Camp

Community Board Members Alon Ferency...... Rabbi, Heska Amuna Jeff Becker...... Chair, Heska Amuna Erin Boxt...... Rabbi, Temple Beth El Steve Lewis…...... President, Temple Beth El Andrea Cone...... President, Hadassah Abraham Brietstein...... President, KJCFF KJA President Chip Rayman attends Gloria Z. Greenfield,...... President, KJDS a talk by Sonja DuBois, who survived Mary Beth Leibowitz……….…JFNA Board of the Holocaust -- but with a new Trustees name and a foster family. Board Members at-Large DuBois discussed her autobiography, Brad Holtz, Stephen Rosen, Finding Schifrah: The Journey of a Britt Sturm, Michael Zemel Dutch Holocaust Child Survivor, at a recent lecture and book signing at Ha’Kol Publication Staff the East Tennessee History Center. Joyce York, Editor and Graphic Designer Chip Rayman, Publisher Knoxville Jewish Community Calendar  December 2019 7 December 2019

S u Mo n T u Wed T hu F i S at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9:30a Morning Minyan-HA 7a Morning Noon Executive 9:30-11a Tai Chi-Orwitz Rm 7a Morning Minyan-HA 5:03p 6:03p 10:30-noon Tai Chi-Orwitz Minyan-HA Mafgash Manhigim- 4p Religious School-HA 11a Adult Ed/Torah Study- 4:30p Jewish 9:30a-noon Shabbat Service- Room 9:30a Tai Chi-JCOR TBE 4:30-6p Midweek Hebrew- TBE Family Services HA 11a Israeli dancing-JCOR 6-9:30p Fencing- 6-9:30p Fencing-Gym TBE 6p Community Safety Shabbat-Sherrill 9:30a Shabbat Service-JCOR AJCC Gym 5:30p Beginning Hebrew-HA Awareness mtg-AJCC Hills 10:30a Alternative Service- 7p History of Zionnism 6:30p Wed Minyan-HA 6p Conversational 6:30p Sunset Min- HA -HA 6:30-8:30p Tai Chi-AJCC Hebrew-HA yan & Oneg-HA 8p Tennessee Schmaltz Orwitz Rm 7:30p Israeli dancing- 7p Shabbat Service Hanukkah Concert 7p Board mtg-HA AJCC Gym -TBE Laurel Theater (page 8) 7p Talmud Class-HA 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 9:30a Morning Minyan-HA 7a Morning 6-9:30p Fencing-Gym 9:30-11a Tai Chi-Orwitz Rm 7a Morning Minyan-HA 5:04p 6:05p 9:30-noon Religious Sch-TBE Minyan-HA Noon Friendshippers-Sherrill 11a Adult Ed/Torah Study- 7p Shabbat Service 9:30a-noon Shabbat Service- 9:30a HARS-HA 9:30a Tai Chi-JCOR Hills Retirement Center TBE -TBE HA 10a YOUYiddish-HA 6-9:30p Fencing- 4p Religious School-HA 6p Conversational 9:30a Shabbat Service-JCOR 10:30-noon Tai Chi-Orwitz Rm AJCC Gym 4:30-6p Midweek Hebrew- Hebrew-HA 11a Jewish Genetics-HA 7p History of Zionnism TBE 7:30p Israeli dancing- 11a Israeli dancing-JCOR -HA 5:30p Beginning Hebrew-HA AJCC Gym 1p KJA Annual Meeting- 6:30p Wed Minyan-HA AJCC Caller Auditorium 6:30-8:30p Tai Chi-AJCC 6:30p Board mtg-TBE 7p Talmud Class-HA 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:30a Morning Minyan-HA 7a Morning 6-9:30p Fencing-Gym 9:30-11a Tai Chi-Orwitz Rm 7a Morning Minyan-HA 5:07p 6:07p 9:30-noon Religious Sch-TBE Minyan-HA 7:30p Hadassah Book Noon-1:30p Israeli Lunch 11a Adult Ed/Torah Study- AJCC Pajama Day/ 9:30a-noon Shabbat Service- 9:30a HARS-HA 9:30a Tai Chi-JCOR Club-Barnes & Noble Special Friends-KJDS TBE Read-In-AJCC HA 10a YOUYiddish, Judaism 101 6-9:30p Fencing- Booksellers 5:30p Beginning Hebrew-HA 6p Conversational 9-11:30a New 9:30a Shabbat Service-JCOR -HA AJCC Gym 6:30p Wed Minyan-HA Hebrew-HA Year’s Around the TBD Hadassah Hanukkah 10-11:30a B’Yachad Carnival- 7p History of Zionism- 6:30-8:30p Tai Chi-AJCC 7p Hadassah Ladies World-KJDS Bubbies Brigade Bowling KJDS HA Orwitz Rm Night Out-TBD 3p AJCC Party-Strike & Spare 10:30-noon Tai Chi-Orwitz Rm 7p Talmud Class-HA 7:30p Israeli dancing- Preschool closes- 11a Jewish Genetics-HA 7p Hadassah Brd-AJCC AJCC Gym no aftercare 11a Israeli dancing-JCOR Archives Room 6p Hannukah 3-6p Lights & L’Chaim Latke Dinner/ Music & Nosh-The Shabbat Service- Foundry TBE

22 23Hanukkah 24Hanukkah 25Hanukkah 26Hanukkah 27Hanukkah 28 9:30a Morning Minyan-HA AJCC Preschool AJCC Preschool KJA & AJCC closed KJA & AJCC closed 5:11p 6:16p 10:30-noon Tai Chi-Orwitz Winter Break Winter Break HA & TBE offices closed 7a Morning Minyan-HA 7p Shabbat Service 9:30a-noon Shabbat Service- Room 7a Morning 11a Adult Ed/Torah Study- -TBE HA 11a Israeli dancing-JCOR Minyan-HA TBE 9:30a Shabbat Service-JCOR 5:30p Chanukah Celebration- 9:30a Tai Chi-JCOR 7:35p Jewish Heritage JCOR 6-9:30p Fencing- Night at Knoxville Ice 5-7p Chanukkah Dinner-HA AJCC Gym Bears Hockey Game- 4p Light Up the Night Knoxville Coliseum -Market Square 7p History of Zionism- HA 29Hanukkah 30Hanukkah 31 1New Year’s Day 9:30a Morning Minyan-HA AJCC Preschool AJCC Preschool KJA & AJCC closed 10:30-noon Tai Chi-Orwitz Winter Break Winter Break HA & TBE offices closed Room 7a Morning 11a Israeli dancing-JCOR Minyan-HA 9:30a Tai Chi-JCOR 6-9:30p Fencing- AJCC Gym 7p History of Zionism- HA

No matter how you spell it, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance wishes our community a Happy Chanukkah/Hanukkah/Chanukah 8 Knoxville Jewish Community Happenings  December 2019

Invite your friends & family to this informative discussion, hosted at the AJCC Knoxville Jewish Community Happenings  December 2019 9

Take a Look! University of Tennessee Introduces Live Streaming of “The Rock” View at https://therock.utk.edu/

The University of Tennessee is live streaming The Rock, its iconic campus "bulletin board." While initiated as a means for the campus community to help watch for hateful graffiti such as the anti- Semitic remarks scrawled on September 11, the live stream will enable all to also enjoy the artsy murals, goofy birthday wishes, and event notices more typically painted on The Rock. Kudos to the UT Administration and to our Hillel at UTK stu- dents, director, and other Jewish staff and community members for being advocates against hate. “HIllel at UTK is so excited about the new livestream on the rock! We hope it will help shed light on all our volunteer pride The Greater Knoxville Jewish Men’s Club enjoyed bowling at and amazing art and spread more love! GO VOLS,” said Paige Strike & Spare. Motley, Hillel at UTK President. December 2019 Shalom ’all! 3 Kislev– 3 Tevet 5780 By Rabbi Erin Boxt

The end of 2019 is coming fast. It seems that the older Temple Beth El Times I get, the faster the years go. In 2019, we welcomed a Rabbi’s Message....………..…..…10 record number of new families to the Temple Beth El President’s Remarks...... …..….11 family. If you have not had the chance to engage with our new families, you have missed out! Our Religious School, Religious School News...... 12 under the amazing direction of Norma James, is full of Hanukkah Dinner……...... 13 smiling and happy students eager to learn and be together. New Members....…….…...….……14 And, I would be remiss to not thank all of the teachers and parent volunteers that make our TBE Religious School so Contributions…..…….…...….……16 awesome! The summer of 2019 saw almost 20 of our students attend overnight summer camps. As 2020 comes into focus, let us celebrate our success in 2019 and get excited for what will happen in the year to come. The winter is now upon us so perhaps we could turn our gazes to the greater Knoxville community. There are many in our city that are in need - whether it be clothing, food or shelter. Our Sisterhood has done an outstanding job raising money and collecting food and clothing for those less fortunate. Kudos to our wonderful sisterhood for their dedication and determination. There have been some scary moments in the past year, here in Knoxville and outside of our great city. We have come together as a community to support each other. The security of our Kehillah Kedosha is of utmost importance. Thank you to our local and state law enforcement for their wisdom and attention to our needs. Thank you, also, to those in our community who have sent in donations to our new security fund. The safety of our children is a #1 concern for all of us. If you would like to make a donation to our security fund or if you have any questions, please let me know. Remember - if there is anything I can do for you, please know my door is always open. I look forward to working with all of you to make the Temple Beth El and the greater Knoxville Jewish community the most amazing family it can be!

Mah Jongg Madness Tournament Draws a Crowd By Karen Smith, Sandy Parker, and Beverly Schultz, Mah Jongg Madness Tournament Committee

Temple Beth El was the place to be on Sunday, October 20, for Sisterhood’s annual Mah Jongg Madness Tournament! Just ask some 44 Mah Jongg players who enjoyed food, conversation, and of course, Mah Jongg. Eight of the Mah Jongg players were at the “for fun” tables. No scoring, no timing, just Mah Jongg. New this year were bonus hands for the first game of Rounds 1, 3, and 5. Minki Feigerle was the first winner of a bonus hand. For the first time in the history of the tournament we welcomed a male player. Thanks to Alan Smuckler for registering, playing Mah Jongg, and for being a good sport. Congratulations to our winners:  Highest score—Barbara Zurl  2nd highest score—() Sandy Parker and Jill Weinstein  3rd highest score—(tie) Patti Johnson and Bobbi Thompson  Lowest score—Bonnie Boring Todah rabah/thanks to everyone who helped to make the event a success. Whether you brought a food item, helped at either the set up or during the tournament, or contributed items to either the “take a chance” or silent auction, Sisterhood thanks you. Watch for a save the date for next year’s tournament.

3037 Kingston Pike  Knoxville, TN 37919  865.524.3521  www.tbeknox.org Temple Beth El Times  December 2019 11

TBE President’s Remarks By Steve Lewis, TBE President

Looking ahead to December, I am excited; I will be attending the URJ Biennial in Chicago -- an opportunity to re-connect with old friends and to make new ones (and they’re actually letting me sing in the choir!). The Biennial is also a time to learn from other congregations -- people who face many of the same challenges we do -- and to bring back ideas that will help TBE continue to go “from strength to strength.” On Friday, December 20, we will host our annual Chanukah Latke Dinner and Shabbat service, a time to eat one of my favorite foods (and yours, I hope!) and to celebrate one of our most popular festivals. On Saturday, December 21, we’ll have another of our TBE favorites, the monthly Tot Shabbat. The next week brings Winter Break. If you are planning to travel with your family and/or to visit family that lives far away, I hope your travels are safe, and that they bring you joy and a chance to “recharge your batteries.” If you are staying in town, please join us for Shabbat services and Adult Ed/Torah study. If traditional weather patterns hold true, our cold winter weather can start hitting for real in December. (FYI, the Farmer’s Almanac calls for a cold, and very wet, winter.) All the more reason to seek out the warmth of our congregation. If it’s a cold, dreary Friday afternoon, brighten the evening by participating in services. If you have family or friends visiting you from out of town, bring them with you -- they will be welcomed. If you need a winter pick-me-up during the week, why not drop by at 11:00 on a Thursday and learn a little Torah! Bottom line: TBE is always here for you. That’s what a Kehillah Kedoshah -- a sacred community -- does; it welcomes you; it opens its arms and wraps you in its warmth, it gives your life new meaning. And the really neat thing is, the more you seek it out, the more it gives you.

SAVE THE DATE!

Leaping into Trivia!

February 29, 2020 6:30-9:00 p.m. (time subject to change) Temple Beth El

Enjoy dinner, dessert, and trivia

Contact Phyllis Hirsh 865-307-0015 or Amy Rosenberg 865-356-6830 to volunteer

Additional information to follow. 12 Temple Beth El Times  December 2019

Temple Beth El Religious School December 2019 Update By Norma James, TBE Education Director, [email protected]

There is NO RS on Sunday, December 1 (Thanksgiving weekend). There WILL BE Midweek Hebrew December 4.

December 8 is our 18th Annual Maccabiah! For many of our new families, you may not be familiar with our Maccabiah. Norma started it 18 years ago based on summer camp Maccabiah (Mac). Our entire school is divided into four teams (Shin, Hay, Gimmel, and Nun) that prepare all morning for the wacky competitions. Siblings are always on the same team. Students dress in team colors. Parents serve our teams a latke lunch before the games begin. Parents and grandparents gather to watch the competition. The winning team is awarded the tro- phy. It is as much fun to watch as it is to participate. We need parents to help us with the latke luncheon and to be an audience for the Maccabiah. We welcome our entire congregation to come at 11:15 to watch the fun. Attending the Maccabiah is a great way to see our students in action. NOTE: School will extend until 12:30 p.m. on this day, and lunch is included.

Norma James, Steve Lewis, and Rabbi Erin Boxt will attend the Union for Reform Judaism (UJR) Biennial in Chicago. The URJ Biennial is a gathering of 6,000 Reform Jews from North America. Steve and Norma will also have the opportunity to be a part of the Biennial choir. We will bring back new music and new ideas to share with our congregation.

Attention Families! Don’t miss our Chanukah Dinner and special Pre-Chanukah Shabbat service Friday December 20. Join us for a joyous latke dinner with songs and menorah lighting. This is a great opportunity to have a fun meetup with your new TBE friends. We are happy to reserve you a table. We can reserve a table just for our teens, too.

Religious School Winter Break

Wednesday, December 18 - Sunday, January 5. Religious school starts back on Wednesday, January 8 with Midweek Hebrew.

The Temple Beth El Religious School staff wishes everyone a Happy Chanukah and a joyous New Year!

TBE Oneg Schedule for December

Sheila & Richard Jacobstein December 6 Deborah Roberts & Don Mossman

Grace & Steve Lewis December 13 Meredith Jaffe

December NO ONEG - Chanukah 20

Wilma Weinstein-Lomax & December 27 John Lomax; Emma & David Fleischmann Temple Beth El Times  December 2019 13

14 Temple Beth El Times December 2019

A Warm Welcome to NewTemple Beth El Members and Religious School Students By Missy Noon, Membership Chairman

 Eric and Alison Pasternak, with their 10-year-old twin sons, Alex and Jason. Eric is the president and owner of R & E Ventures, LLC, a residential contracting company. Alison is a preschool teacher. They moved to Knox- ville from Fort Myers, FL in 2013.

 The Foxes (Dimasse, Steve, and Michael) are an interfaith, multicultur- al, and international family that moved to Knoxville due to Hurricane Maria. The medical school where Steve worked temporarily relocated to Knoxville following Hurricane Maria. The Foxes decided to put down roots in this lovely community and he remained in Knoxville after the medical school moved permanently to the island of Barbados. Becoming members of Temple Beth El really helps to strengthen those roots. The Pasternak family

 Alex Goldberg and Emily McCutcheon have two boys, Jacob (7th grade) and Simon (5th grade). The family has lived in Knoxville for almost 20 years and enjoy outdoor activities such as running, cycling, soccer and kayaking. Both boys attended the AJCC Preschool and the family are AJCC mem- bers. They are happy to be part of the community.

 Laurence (Larry) and Rise Tucker recent- ly moved to Knoxville from Nashville after The Goldberg family Larry retired from 42 years in the music busi- ness as an artist manager and artistic administrator for symphony orches- Dimasse, Steve & Michael Fox tras across the US. In retirement, Larry continues to support musical en- deavors through his consulting work with the new McKnight Center of the Performing Arts at Oklahoma State University. His love for music and dedication to the art is shared by Rise, who has led Rhythm Band workshops in assisted living, memory care, and health center communities for the past 15 years, and is continuing to help seniors connect to each other through the joy of making music as a band here in Knoxville. Additionally, both share an interest in reading, museums, concerts and the theatre, exploring Knoxville and the Smokies, and spending time with their young grandsons. Larry and Rise are happy to be new members of Temple Beth El where they enjoy the peaceful and inspiring Shabbat services led by Rabbi Erin Boxt and the Temple’s wonderful choir. They appreciate the warm and friendly wel- coming from their fellow congregants whose outreach has helped make Knox- ville feel like home.

 The Miller/Park Family is Dustin Park, Sarah Miller, Asher (11), Elliott (9) and Dinah (6). They moved to Maryville in June 2016. Dustin and Sarah both work for Jupiter Entertainment in Knoxville. As an interfaith family, there has been a mix of Catholicism and Judaism from Sarah and Dustin's wedding (yes, there was both a priest and a rabbi) to now, including religious education for the kids. This is the first year all three kids are attending religious school at Temple Beth El and the family is excited to officially join as new members. The kids have also attended the MCDC camp for the past three summers and they love that pool! They look forward to continuing to grow with the Jewish community in East Tennessee! Sarah Miller, Dustin, Asher, Elliott Larry and Rise Tucker, with family and Dinah Park Temple Beth El Times  December 2019 15

Temple Beth El Sisterhood will be in the kitchen again on Sunday, December 15! 10:00 a.m. Temple Beth El Kitchen

This time we will explore different ways to prepare potato latkes. No experience necessary. Bring an apron and join us.

Please let us know if you plan to participate. Contact: [email protected] or (865) 296-3017

Please remember to bring non-perishable foods for the Second Harvest Food Bank when you visit the Arnstein Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth El, or Heska Amuna Synagogue.

Thank you! 16 Temple Beth El Times  December 2019

Contributions to the Funds of Temple Beth El Donations listed were received as of October 18, 2019

CARING COMMITTEE FUND & P SECURITY In memory of Yolanda Del Moro Donation by: Angelyn and By: Rob and Honerlin Del Moro William Bennett In honor of HHD Honors/Aliyah Rabbi Erin Boxt CLARENCE STRASBURGER Donation by: Frank and Karen Cyzick [email protected] MUSIC FUND Donation by: Harold and Shirley Steve Lewis, President In honor of the beautiful music during Freedman [email protected] the High Holy Days Donation by: Ralph Freeman By: Paula Folkman In memory of Steve Lewis’ Aunt Beverly Norma James, DIRECTORY ADVERTISEMENT Short and for Ed Weintraub’s continued Religious School Director By: Dr. & Mrs. Aaron Margulies good health [email protected] By: Knoxville Jewish Alliance By: Bennett and Reba Herzfeld Tina Fleeman By: Dr. Robert Freeman In memory of Stanley & Marilyn Temple Beth El Office Staff Cosmetic & General Dentistry Hookman [email protected] By: Waypoint Financial Partners, LLC – By: Lawrence and Kim Hookman Donation by: Richard and Jacki Imbrey Richard and Jacki Imbrey TBE Office Phone: Donation by: Leslie Krakauer By: Dunn, MacDonald & Reynolds – (865) 524-3521 In honor of Rabbi Boxt for leading a Arnold Cohen Fax: (865) 525-6030 By: Mortgage Investors Group – memorable & safe trip to Israel Gary Sturm Donation by: Steve and Ellen Markman Temple Office Hours: By: Raymond James and Associates, Donation by: Lisa Caroline Miller Monday - Thursday: Inc. – Kenneth Supman Donation by: Joyce and Hank Feldman 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. By: Dr. Christopher ’Rourke Donation by: Jonathan H Leiner Friday: Donation by: David and Heather By: Rose Mortuary 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. By: Greater Knoxville Ear Nose & Sandberg Throat - Dr. Allan Rosenbaum Donation by: Dan Smith Our Mission By: Webb School Donation by: Lynn Sutherland To inspire individuals to know, live, By: Bible Harris Smith, P.C. Donation by: Ann Wayburn and shape our Jewish legacy. By: Morris Coupling Company – Donation by: Catherine Wayburn Howard Pollock In memory of Paula & Alexander Zaitlin In fulfilling our mission, we value our By: The Peddler Steakhouse & The and Lillie & William Haas place in the chain of traditions, the Park Grill – Geoff and Pat Wolpert By: Wilbur and Joani Wilson diversity of those who seek to join us By: Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry Donation by: Larry and Barbara in our venture, and the kindness - of Tennessee – Dr. Adam Wohl Winston sential to a sacred community. By: Low and Tritt HERMINA BEILER FLORAL FUND ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Evan Brody www.tbeknox.org By: Robert Jacobs By: Buzz and Sondra Brody In memory of Ruth Sherman In memory of Dorothy Levy Licht By: Barry and Brenda Sherman By: Richard Licht and Shirley McGuire PRESERVATION FUND In memory of Frances Alper Sturm, In memory of Bessie Factor & ERMA GERSON COMMUNITY FUND Beatrice & Louis Henry Sturm In memory of Bernice Gerson Samuel L. Gassel By: Melvin, Evan, Gary and Tamara By: Liz Gassel and Michael Pardee By: Martin Gerson and family Sturm

FRIBOURG-BRUNSCHWIG HOLO- In memory of Pam Feldman RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND CAUST MEM.EDU./OBSERV. FUND By: Howard, Janice, Sophie & In memory of Dina Shklyarov In memory of Mordecai . Heiser Leo Pollock By: Boris and Bella Budik In memory of Kennard Gross By: Gilya Schmidt LICHT YOUTH FUND By: Lou Gross and Marilyn Kallet GENERAL FUND In honor of Genesis 12:3 By: Judy Kelly By: James Murph In memory of David Feldman In honor of Rabbi Boxt By: Boris and Bella Budik PATIO AND GROUNDS FUND By: Ilya and Bella Safro By: Frank and Karen Cyzick In memory of Nicole Shenkman In memory of Lester & Sara Hirsh SISTERHOOD TRIBUTE FUND By: Michael and Laura Shenkman In honor of High Holy Days Honors By: Ken and Phyllis Hirsh By: Karen Cyzick Donation by: Susan Millman

Temple Beth El Times  December 2019 17

Temple Beth El wishes everyone a Happy Chanukah! December 2019 Ecosystems 3 Kislev– 3 Tevet 5780 By Rabbi Alon C. Ferency

Sitting in Cherokee Park, across from the massive cliffs and caves INSIDE THIS ISSUE overlooking the meandering Tennessee River, I felt a sense of scale. An Rabbi’s Remarks……….....18 experience of my own smallness amid ancient trees and vast banks. I felt unimportant, almost trivial, a speck in the grand scheme of things. Chanukah Brunch….……...18 As Stephen Crane said: President’s Remarks....…..19 A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!” Religious School News.…..21 “However,” replied the universe, Lights & L’Chaim……....22-23 “The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation.” Yet, perhaps insignificance does not have overmuch spiritual value; it’s merely a misplaced humility. Chassidic master Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1765-1827) was to have said: “Everyone must have two pockets, with a note in each pocket, so that he can reach into the one or the other, depending on the need. When feeling lowly and depressed, discouraged or disconsolate, one should reach into the right pocket, and, there, find the words: ‘For my sake was the world created.’ [Talmud Sanhedrin 37a] But when feeling high and mighty one should reach into the left pocket and find the words: ‘I am but dust and ashes.’ [Genesis 18:27]” Or, Rabbi Bradley Artson suggested that instead of feeling small, maybe one ought to feel significant as a part of the life of God. We are each important parts of a larger system. A lesson of playing a team sport or acting in a play is that even small parts have meaning and that small roles matter: What would my team be without me playing the unglamorous position of left-defender? Likewise, we all exist in multiple ecosystems. Though we are no longer predator nor prey – mercifully and blissfully almost entirely outside of the food chain – we yet exist in the ecosystem of our family of origin, and in the ecosystem of our faith community. (Much research has been done about such “family systems.”) We exist in the ecosystem of our work, and in the ecosystems of our religious and civic communities. By living within multiple ecosystems we are given the opportunity to do great things. We become capable of participating in the great successes of a society. I feel very blessed to be a part of the Knoxville ecosystem – we are players in the great drama of an unfolding Knoxville history. Let’s make history and illumine God in our shared ecosystem.

3811 Kingston Pike  Knoxville, TN 37919  865.522.0701  www.heskaamuna.org Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019 19

President’s Report By Markus Eisenbach, Co-President

December is the month with the shortest days and longest nights of the year. Around this time when the trend of shortening days reverses and their length starts to gradually increase again, many cultures and religions since ancient times have some celebration of light. We are no exception with the Chanukah celebrations that will occur towards the end of this month. This is a holiday that invites many complex interpretations and has taken on a prominence and public visibility that is surprisingly at odds with the fact that it is not represented at all in the He- brew bible. (The books of the Maccabees are only part of the canon of some Christian denomina- tions.) So what and why are we celebrating? We are all familiar with the story of the miracle of the single flask of oil that lasted for eight days after the rededication of the temple once it had been liberated by the Maccabees from the Greeks. Yet the story of this miracle might have been a later addition. Some scholars suggest that we are commemorating the cel- ebration of Sukkot that was delayed by Greek occupation of Jerusalem. While both these interpretations center around the victory against the Seleucids, there is also a layer of the celebration of the winter solstice that is presented in the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 8a). In this story, Adam observes that the days are getting shorter and shorter and he interprets this as di- vine punishment for his own sins and transgressions. Thus he fasted and prayed for eight days until he realized that the length of days starts to in- crease again as part of the natural order. Once Adam understood this, he subsequently celebrated the recurrence of the eight days of his original fast by a festival. So with Chanukah we have a festival that allows us to celebrate three different aspects: the divine presence in the world, as represented by the miracle of the oil; our power to change the conditions under which we live, as represented by the victory against oppression; and finally our capacity for reason to understand the world, as outlined in the story about Adam encountering the solstice. But history also tells an additional story that is linked to the victory against the Greeks commemorated at Chanukah. The Hasmonean dynasty, established by the Maccabees, combined the office of high priest and king in one person – something that was clearly divinely forbidden – and engaged in a countless number of family intrigues, ultimately leading to civil war and Roman occupation. Here, hubris in view of a victory against a powerful enemy lead to destruction. The lesson of this downfall expands the teaching of Chanukah to include humility and a reflection of the consequences of our successes in every celebration. So when we light our Chanukah candles, in addition to publicly affirming our Jewish identity, we can be enlightened by seeing both divine and human action and reason in the world. With this my Co-President Jeannie Bobroff and I wish you Chanuka Sameach and a happy secular new year. 20 Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019

High Holiday Appeal Highly Successful By Ted Besmann, Vice Chair of Development & Fundraising

This year’s High Holy Day appeal was remarkably successful due to the great generosity of our members and friends. We well surpassed our goal. Our Malachim (Angels) helped make this possible by not only pledging to the Appeal, but also of- fering to match any member’s pledge increase of 10 percent or more over last year, making those donations go that much further. The Malachim who stepped up with matching funds were

Barbara and Bernie Bernstein Martha and Marty Iroff Margy and Mitch Goldman Nancy and Jeff Becker Natalie Robinson Wendy and Ted Besmann

The High Holy Day appeal pledges from our Heska Amuna family were generously offered by the individuals and families listed below. We especially want to recognize those who stepped up and increased their amount by 10% or more over last year noted with an (*) next to their name. Of the 83 families pledging to the Appeal, over half, 47, increased their donation by at least 10%. Finally, Heska Amuna expresses its tremendous gratitude to Marty Iroff who led the High Holy Day Appeal again this year with tremendous results. Judi & Martin Abrams * Janet Gurwitch * Doris & Steve Raskin Debbie & Jeff Abrams-Cohen Mark Harris * Judy Rattner * Heidi & Barry Allen Shelly & Jeff Hecht Karen, Pace, & Natalie Robinson* Linda Anderson Kimberly & Joshua Hedrick Jenny & Carlos Pfeffer-Rodriquez Sandy Parker & Steve Beber * Peggy & Gale Hedrick * Kim & Stephen Rosen * Nancy & Jeff Becker * Manny Herz * Lesley & Bernie Rosenblatt Susan & Jerry Becker * Heather Hirshfeld * Gilya Schmidt * Anne & Bernard Bendriem Carol & Morris Ickowitz The Scott Family * Judith & Jack Benhayon Jackie & Richard Imbrey Betty & Mark Siegel * Ellen & Bill Berez Martha & Marty Iroff * Susan & Harold Silber * Barbara and Bernie Bernstein* Stella Iroff Anita Kay & Joe Sitver * Laura Berry Anna & Jared Iroff-Bailey * Dahlia Smith Wendy & Ted Besmann * Lisa & Jeff Jacobson * Andrea Cartwright & Alan Solomon * Jeannie Bobroff Marian Jay Melissa Sturm* Judy & Abraham Brietstein * Yelena Kaminsky Mel Sturm * Angie & Adam Brown Virginia & Lawrence Kessler * Jill and Douglas Weinstein* Robin Brown * Dina & Andy Kramer * David and Bella Wolitz Marilyn Burnett Judy & Mike Levy * Michael Burnett* Marilyn & Harvey Liberman * Plus 5 donors who wished to remain anony- Jill & Stuart Chasan Peggy & Mark Littmann * mous Bonnie & Gerald Cohen * Ann & Hal Manas * Harriet Cooper * Carole & Bob Martin *Donors who increased their pledges Scott Dreyer Anita Merlin by 10 percent or more over last year. Markus Eisenbach * Mary Ann & Bryan Merrell * Mary Beth Leibowitz & Michael Eisenstadt * Shuli & Gabe Mesa & family Alice Farkas Sarah & Bob Milford Ferency Family * Anita & Jeff Miller * Laura & Frank Floyd * Jenifer & Evan Ohriner * Marc Forman Susette & Raphael Panitz * Barb Levin & Josh Gettinger Sharon & Michael Poore Pam & Ernie Gross & Family * Lo, Halen, & Ansel Presser* Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019 21

Heska Amuna Religious School (HARS) News Kudos to Our Religious School Staff

Mary Ann Merrell (Torah and Pray- er), Jeannie Bobroff (Second Break- fast Facilitator for Hebrew High), Andrea Cone (Limmud Learner’s Teacher), Thomas Scott (Madrich), Hallie Boring (Madricha), Shuli Mesa (Director), Marth Iroff (Limmud Learner’s Teacher), Celia Adlin (Madricha), Vanessa Rodriguez (Gan Gadol Teacher)

Not in picture; Lev Comstock (Music and Celebrations Instructor), Marion Bayer (Art Instructor), Rachel Milford (Art and Theater Special Instructor), Rabbi Ferency (Tefilah and Holidays)

Lev Smolianski, a junior at UTK and Martha Iroff leads a Safety Training for the HARS faculty. The safety and wellbeing of our Madrich (guide) children is of utmost importance at HARS. 22 Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019

Sunday, December 15; 3:00-6:00 p.m. at The Foundry

It was the encore-of-all-encores when Knoxville’s Kelle Jolly sang Hallelujah to close last year’s Lights & L’Chaim. We are delighted that Kelle and her husband, jazz saxophonist Will Boyd, will return this year to lend their tal- ents to a spectacular holiday program along with Dor L’Dor; (and yes, Rachel Brown and Stella Galanti will be back, too!) And as a very special addition, we welcome Ellie Wood, a delightfully talented student from the Heska Amuna Religious School.

Our Purpose Lights & L’Chaim is a holiday celebration with purpose– recognizing our synagogue’s diversity and its Common Ground with our larger community. Proceeds form this event will benefit the religious school and adult education to provide scholar-in-residence and other programs. Funding also will support community out- reach to begin in 2020 to re-envision the inspirational “traveling trunk” created by Gene Rosenberg, of blessed memory. Gene filled trunks with artifacts gathered from hate crimes – leg irons and shackles, a charred cross, barbed wire, a piece of the Berlin wall – and traveled across the country to speak with students, adults, and com- munity groups to encourage dialogue on addressing our personal responsibilities for promoting equity, equality, and tolerance for all people. Funds from this year’s event will enable Heska Amuna to provide stipends for educators, beginning in 2020, to re-envision and create a program to once again impart the lessons that Gene’s travel- ing trunk provided.

Lights & L’Chaim is also a perfect opportunity to highlight the efforts of those who “light up” our community and who work tirelessly for our collective well-being. We are so very pleased to recognize this year’s Honorary Chairs Bernard & Barbara Bernstein who truly exemplify a life-long commitment to human rights, working towards equality, and creating a flourishing community within and beyond Heska Amuna Synagogue. Instrumental leaders at Heska Amuna, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance, Hadassah, and our local Jewish programs and institutions, their efforts are equally evidenced across our region from medical centers to museums – and beyond. We are delighted to honor them this year. Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019 23

Lights & L’Chaim: Our Program

Experience the excitement of Knoxville's own inter-generational Klezmer Band at a delightfully live perfor- mance. This year’s program will highlight favorites in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English and will include middle eastern melodies, African-American spirituals, and gospel, too. Dor L'Dor, born in 1999 to Ken and Susan Shorr Brown, originally consisted of Ken (clarinet/saxophone); Susan (piano/ arrangements); children (Michael, euphonium and trombone; Daniel, bass; Rachel, tambourine, and eventually vocals). And Ken's brother, Steve, long-time drummer with the Hector Qirko Band. Over time, other musicians joined the group, including exceptional trombone players from UT's trombone studio. An occupational hazard of a "family band" is that the kids leave home. But one of the joys is that they come back - as grown-ups with highly-developed technical and musical skills who are willing to contribute their own ideas to the group. In keeping with its name (Dor L'Dor means "generation to generation" in Hebrew), Dor L'Dor continues to pass on this rich musical tradition to a new generation, beautifully represented on this program by Stella Galanti and Ellie Wood. It is always a pleasure to hear young performers in the Dor L’Dor family. Stella is 12 years old and a 7th grader at The Davis Academy in Atlanta. She is on the softball team, participates in the school choir, and is an International Thespian Society member. She spent six wonderful years in Knoxville before relocating with her family to Atlanta, hence the Knoxville Jewish community will always hold a special place in her heart. Ellie is a graduate of the Knoxville Jewish Day School and is currently a 6th grader at Clayton Bradley Academy. She loves singing with Dor L’Dor and is so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this new generation of the band. In addition to her music, she also loves art and gymnastics (and we are guess- ing she will be a great cook one day, with her bubbe Sandy Parker and mom Jenny Wood’s guidance). Stella and Ellie will be joining in on favorite Yiddish melodies such as Oifn Pripitchik as well as Susan Brown’s delightful arrangement of Lights. Kelle will be featured on several jazz and gospel songs in- cluding Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho and, of course, Hallelujah. And, amidst her busy life in New York, Rachel returns as lead vocalist to assure many audience favorites, including Fiddler in Rumania, will be on this year’s playlist. A Nosh or Two The chefs at the Foundry will be making latkes, latkes, and more latkes with delectable toppings, falafel in pita pockets with tzatziki sauce, Israeli salad, and more. And of course, sufganiyot (Hanukkah’s sweet contribution to the world of jelly donuts) along with a divine array of traditional Southern-style desserts.

Tickets and Sponsorships Tickets are available online at www.heskaamuna.org. General admission tickets are $45 (adults) and $10 (children, 12 and under). We have just a few VIP ticket packages left ($250) which includes two tickets, valet parking, and reserved seating for the concert and dining. We also invite you to consider sponsorships which also offer valet parking, reserved seating, and recognitions throughout the year for your support. For more information on anything Lights & L’Chaim, contact event co-chairs Kim Hedrick and Frank Floyd at [email protected]. 24 Heska Amuna Synagogue HaShofar  December 2019

Celebrate December Birthdays & Anniversaries

Don’t let the lights of Hanukah overshadow your special day! Join us for Shabbat on December 14 and help us celebrate our Decem-

ber birthdays with a special prayer, “Adom Olam” Rabbi Alon C. Ferency to a special Lights & L’Chaim melody, and of [email protected] course, treats at kiddush! Wishing a spectacular year ahead to those Chair of the Board celebrating special days this month: Carol Abeles, Jeff Becker Shelly Abrams, Wendy Bach, Rachel Bonano- [email protected]

Karlin, Stuart Brotman, Michael Burnett, Co-Presidents Harold Diftler, Michael Eisenstadt, Adin Ferency, Avishai Ferency, Laura Floyd, Jeannie Bobroff & Markus Eisenbach Neil Foster, Harriet Glasman, Jeffrey Hecht, Gale Hedrick, Joshua Hedrick, David [email protected] Hull, Martha Iroff, Elise Jacobs, Junie Belle Jordan, Richard Kaplan, Susie Kaplar, Frank Lawhead, Sandi Licht, Mark Littmann, Shannon Martindale, Sarah Milford, Education Director Jeffrey Miller, Karen Robinson, Lesley Rosenblatt, Ellen Schnoll, Eleanor Sturm, Shuli Mesa David Weinstein, and Jenny Wood. [email protected]

Operations & Administrative Director Beverly Wilcox [email protected]

Contributions by Caring People Kitchen Director Kimberly Ault Donations received through October 22, 2019 [email protected]

Women’s League President Change for the Future In memory of Mordecai G. Heiser Lisa Jacobson Judith Rattner Gilya Schmidt [email protected] In memory of Peter Dreyer General Fund Trudy Dreyer Heska Amuna Synagogue Thank you to Marilyn Burnett & In memory of Max Diamond [email protected] Pat Rosenberg for preparing a plate for Marie & Charles Perelman

Shiva In memory of Decia Bendriem Alice Farkas Anne & Bernard Bendriem Permanent Schedule In honor of Simchat Torah Bride & In memory of Gert Weinstein Friday Night Services...... …...Varies Groom Jill & Douglas Weinstein Saturday Morning Service...... 9:30 a.m. Anita & Jeffrey Miller In memory of Rebecca Mazur Sunday Minyan...... 9:30 a.m. Mari & Eytan Klausner Jill & Douglas Weinstein Wednesday Minyan...... 6:30 p.m. In memory of Bruce Kingsley Mon. & Thurs. Minyanim……..….7:00 a.m. Prayer Book Fund Jill & Douglas Weinstein In memory of Phyllis Levine In memory of Myra Weinstein Evening minyanim for members Kenneth Levine Jill & Douglas Weinstein can be arranged by contacting the In memory of Jacob Corkland President one week before. Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund Jill & Douglas Weinstein Dr. Ira Lapides In memory of Norbert Slovis Thank you for your support during a Linda Gray-Slovis difficult time In memory of Leo Vogel For a list of Heska Amuna’s Alice Farkas Nancy & Jeffrey Becker services, events, and information, In honor of Simchat Torah Bride In memory of Nathan Nisenson please visit & Groom Linda Effron & Rachel Effron www.heskaamuna.org Pat Rosenberg Sharma (865) 522-0701 Yahrzeit In memory of Rhea Silber Susan & Harold Silber Heska Amuna Synagogue In memory of Carol Krosin is an affiliate of The United Synagogue Susan & Marc Forman of Conservative Judaism.

Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Funds  December 2019 25

Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Funds A Supporting Organization of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance and the East Tennessee Foundation to preserve and strengthen the Jewish Community of Knoxville Judaism and Climate Change By Abraham Brietstein, PhD, KJCFF President

While some, including our current president, attempt to deny man’s contribution to the devastating effects of climate change, most of us are increasingly concerned about the very real dangers posed by climate change and the threat of environmental catastrophe to future generations. But what does this have to do with Judaism and what does our faith have to say about the sacredness of our environment? Beginning in the book of Genesis, the Torah teaches us that man’s origin is in the “Garden of Eden,” which can be seen as a metaphor for the earth in its original, most unspoiled state. The Torah also teaches that God grants man dominion over the plants and animals of the earth, while at the same time teaching that the earth is a sacred space, which man through the concept of justice must also protect. In addition, the Torah introduces the concept of the Shmita, or sabbatical year, thousands of years before governments began to enact environmental laws. As the Torah teaches (Leviticus 25:2-7), during the Shmita, or seventh year, the residents of the Land of Israel, are prohibited from planting, harvesting or pruning their crops so as to protect the land from depletion and degradation, thereby foreshadowing the need for protecting the environment. Furthermore, the Torah warns that if the Israelites disobeyed these laws, “Your land shall become desolation and your cities a ruin,” and “I will scatter you among the nations…then shall the land rest (Leviticus 26:33-34).” Thus, Shmita will take place one way or the other, either on man’s terms, through choice, or on God’s terms, through punishment or cause and effect. While some of us may initially escape the cost of not embracing Shmita, or the need for environmental protection, the threat of environmental collapse ultimately affects all of us, especially those who are most vulnerable, the poor or less fortunate, whomwe are especially obligated to protect. So, if this issue speaks to you, one way to embrace the laws of Shmita is to start a fund with KJCFF for the purpose of protecting the environment. Please consider doing so is we begin the New Year.

Donations salaries for religious school staff, the Heska Amuna Educa- EAR Fund tional Enrichment Fund to partially support the Ori Soltes Sondra Markoff scholar-in-residence weekend, and the Heska Amuna 2019

Pat and Gene Rosenberg Fund Fund to provide a parsonage allowance to the Rabbi as per In Memory of Lisa Skelly and for Gene’s Yahrzeit his contract.

Rosalie and Steve Nagler The Allen, Leibowitz, Pearson Family Fund made a grant to the Congregation B’nai Israel for the High Holiday Appeal. Grants The Bernard E. & Barbara W. Bernstein Charitable Fund Heska Amuna Synagogue received grants from the made a grant to Heska Amuna Synagogue for general Heska Amuna Educators Supplement Fund to supplement support.

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY FAMILY OF FUNDS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Abraham Brietstein, President; Jacki Imbrey, Secretary/Treasurer; Stephen Rosen, President-Elect; Carole Martin, Past President; Jeff Becker; Bernard Bernstein; Arnold Cohen; Robert Goodfriend; Scott Hahn, Richard Jacobstein; Bryan Merrell, Rosalie Nagler; Jenifer Ohriner; Howard Pollock; Pace Robinson; Bernard Rosenblatt; Laura Berry, Administrative Director

The Board of Directors of the Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Funds thanks the Knoxville Jewish community, the Knoxville Jewish Alliance staff, and the East Tennessee Foundation for their support and encouragement. The KJCFF encourages you to help insure the healthy future of our Knoxville Jewish community by including a commitment to the KJCFF in your financial and estate planning.

To learn more about KJCFF philanthropic opportunities, call 690-6343 or visit www.jewishknoxville.org/kjcff From the Communications Corner By Ronnie Bogard

I had been thinking about the anniversary of the Tree of Life mur- ders in Pittsburgh, and how to acknowledge the loss in some mean- ingful way as a congregation. The nice surprise was that Jeannette Gilbert acknowledged and honored this tragedy as a prelude to her discussion of Jewish art at our Sisterhood observance of Rosh Hodesh. Jeannette has a connection to Pittsburgh having lived there and she had traveled to visit friends over the first anniversary week- end. What she described was something we could relate to, and re- minded me of what I personally experienced last year on a smaller scale in our own synagogue. While there, Jeannette was surrounded by symbols of immense support from the Interfaith community, and from the City of Pittsburgh at large. There were messages against hate, messages of support to the Jewish community, a Presbyterian service she attended talked about Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) and they stood together and said Kaddish. This was in a church, not in a synagogue. This is just what I needed to hear in these times of in- creasing hate and prejudice. Jeannette described a community build- ing relationships with each other, Jacob Stealing Esau’s Blessing by Rembrandt lifting each other up, and looking out for each other. Jeannette moved us not only with her description of her experience in Pittsburgh but also with her love and passion for art. She used the artwork of Rembrandt and Chagall to show us the power of art, how it speaks to us, and to truth. It remind- ed me of the passion I have had for good literature- searching for the meaning and intent of the author, and the search for the meaning and intent in my own life. I would talk about it with other literature enthu- siasts and we would have in depth L-R: Jeanette Gilbert gives an art lecture. Picture in honor of Tree of Life Synagogue. discussions that brought us closer together. All good artists in any me- dium have the same impact. Jeannette took us through the lives of these two famous artists and how their experiences impacted what they would include in their paintings. The colors, the content, the contours- it was brought to life. Of particular interest was their religious art. The discussion of the various paintings of Jesus on the cross was from a Jewish perspective- a picture of suffer- ing of all kinds and across all peoples. It also represented Jewish persecution, something we have experienced so often under the guise of Christianity or Islam. Art can expose right and wrong, truth and lies, and also the beauty in our existence. As Jeannette related, it can speak to us, and help us see within ourselves. As we look back over the year since the Pittsburgh murders - building strong personal relationships, building strong alliances with the larger community, and finding support in the Interfaith community are important ways to sustain us. Thank you Jean- nette for bringing us to together to share in something you love, and for educating and increasing our awareness. The Rembrandt pictured is of Jacob receiving his blessing from Isaac, an act filled with both goodness and deceit. The picture is worth a thousand words, an adage meaning that a picture often illustrates great complexity with no words at all. Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge  December 2019 27

Sunday, December 22 -- 5:30 p.m. Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Tuesday, December 17

Join us for Chanukah Lights, Dinner, Music, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. and Fun for all ages Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge Dessert and Discussion

Lincoln and the Jews: A History, by Jonathan JCOR December Program Sarna and Benjamin

December 14, 2019 Shappell, provides readers both with a captivating nar- Jewish Film Series: 7 p.m. rative of his interactions Late Marriage with Jews, and with the op- Israel, 2001, NR,1hr 40m portunity to immerse them- Director Dover Koshashvili's debut selves in rare manuscripts feature is a funny and sometimes pain- ful account of one man's late journey and images, many from the of self-discovery. Zaza, a 31-year-old Shapell Lincoln Collection, grad student, must endure his parents' that show Lincoln in a way many attempts to arrange a marriage he has never been seen for him -- and their antagonism when they discover he's before. been dating an older divorcee with a child.

Donations to JCOR JCOR Hosts and Hostesses Yahrzeits: December 7 Tracey Cato, Bruce Tomkins  David Sencer from Roberta Steiner  Mike Silverman from Roberta Limor December 14 Judi & Len Gray, Sarah & David Stuart  Chester Tomkins from Bruce Tomkins December 21 Carol & Jonas Kover, Debbie Bowman Donations: December 28 Reeva Abraham, Ronnie & Jim Bogard  General donations: Geoffrey Laing. Tracey Cato, Deborah Hess, Doris Gove January 4 Linda & Zane Bell, Becky & Charles George  In Memory of Mira Kimmelman from Karen Bamberger and Kent Meyer January 11 Catherine Braunstein, Jeannette Gilbert  In Memory of Julian Stein from Sarah & David Stuart  In Memory of Jeff Kramer from Roz, Richard, & January 18 Hilary Shreter, Monty Lewis Laura Squires (Koch)  In Honor of Ben & Roz Squires from Pam & Richard January 25 Alice Feldman & Albert Good, Squires Brenda & Sig Mosko

101 W. Madison Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 JEWISH CONGREGATION (Mail) P.O. Box 5434, Oak Ridge, TN 37831 OF OAK RIDGE JCOR’s Saturday morning service begins at 9:30 a.m.  Rabbi Victor Rashkovsky—[email protected] For the Friday evening service schedule, please  Ronnie Bogard, President—rhondabogard@.com contact JCOR at [email protected] or call (865) 483-3581.

 Becky Charles, Sisterhood President—[email protected] www.JCOR.info Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JewishOakRidge/ CHABAD OF KNOXVILLE

ב"ה What a joyous time celebrating Mendel’s Bar Mitzvah This is the argument that took place at the first with our community. With Mendel’s permission we Bar Mitzvah. When Og was making fun of Avraham are printing his Bar Mitzvah speech. and Sara’s childlessness he was talking about what he thought was Avraham’s “naï ve and idealistic lifestyle”. 4,000 years ago at a party very similar to ours - another bar Og was saying, “that may work for you - but c’mon - that’s not mitzvah was being celebrated. In a fancy tent, instead of a hall - going to last! What chance does this G-d - spirituality have against with a different Bar Mitzvah boy - dignitaries from many nations my power and wealth!?” Og was certain that Avraham would leave gathered to celebrate the very first Bar Mitzvah ever. no legacy – Avraham would be the first and last Jew. The Bar Mitzvah Boy was Yitzchak, Isaac the son of Abraham, Sitting at Yitzchok’s bar mitzvah, seeing a future to Avraham’s Avraham. One of the guests of honor at the party was the famous legacy - the guests questioned Og’s predictions. They said, “look. King of Bashan whose name was Og. here is Yitzchok continuing in his father’s ways. He will continue In the midst of the party – just as the DJ was about to kick off - Avraham’s mission forward. Avraham’s ways are not lost at all.” some of the guests began to taunt the mighty Og. “Og”, they said,” Og’s response was, “with one finger I can crush him.” you spent years ridiculing Avraham , claiming he would never have He was saying – Life is easy now. Yitzchok is in his father’s children. Yet here we sit and celebrate his son’s Bar Mitzvah." Og home, he’s protected in a Jewish environment. Just wait until he is shrugged off their challenge and pointed at Isaac with contempt. “under my finger” - he steps into my world – where he’s far away “Him? You think this youngster is worth anything? With one finger, from a Jewish environment – wait and see how the Jews will assim- I could crush him!” ilate and drop any Jewish affiliation – then we will see how his G- The Midrash tells us that at that moment the voice of G-d called dly ideals hold up to my material might and power. Og believed out to Og from the Heavens “You belittle Yitzchok? I swear you will that when faced with challenges, future generations would not see thousands of myriads of his descendants and in the end you identify as Jews. will fall by their hands.” Og’s challenge at Yitzchom’s Bar Mitzvah presents itself one way Really!? what’s going on here? Why do the party guests taunt Og or another in every generation. The Egyptians, Syrians, Babyloni- about Avraham having a child, now, thirteen years after Yitzchok’s ans, Greeks, Romans and in the most recent generation the Third birth? And what about Og’s response? He threatens to “crush” the Reich all stood on the world stage and invoked the Og philosophy, Bar Mitzvah boy – even while sitting at Yitzchok’s party? That’s a and schemed to obliterate Av raham’s tradition. In the face of every little overboard - even for a dude who goes by the name “Og”. Fur- such challenge the results are always the same. thermore, we don’t know what Avraham, Sarah or even Yitzchok The Og of each generation fades away and the Jewish people said at the Bar Mitzvah The Midrash only recorded Og’s seemingly remain strong. ridiculous rant. Why? Think of the classic Jewish holiday foods. On Chanukah we eat In a letter to a Bar Mitzvah Boy, The Lubavitcher Rebbe shares a jelly donuts and latkes to commemorate the Greek Empire – who moving and profound answer. Why does the Midrash record this are now a few pages in a history book. On Purim we feast on pas- argument? The Rebbe says, This debate between Og and the other tries named after our enemy Haman. The Persian empire is long guests at Yitzchok’s bar mitzvah, was a significant and defining gone and we Jews are still eating Hamantaschen. Each one of these moment in Jewish history. mighty empires has tried to destroy us and what do we do? Eat Og was a mighty man. He was a giant. He believed that our abil- some food to remember them or at best name a cookie after them. ity to be successful is dependent on our physical strength. He be- What is the secret of the Jewish people? How do we survive? lieved, that the greatness of a person is measured by their material The answer can be summed up in two words: Bar Mitzvah. And I success - their wealth and their strength. Avraham’s philosophy don’t mean the party. When Jewish boys, and girls like myself and was the exact opposite. Avraham did not worship power or money. my friends, enter adulthood and take the teaching and the tradi- Avrohom believed in a G-d, who is the source of life. He believed tions of Torah into our hearts and take the responsibility of Juda- in the oneness of G-d and that G-d is compassionate and caring. He ism onto our shoulders - we become the miracle of Jewish immor- believed in a G-d who listens to our hopes and answers our pray- tality. ers. At every single bar mitzvah the heavenly voice from Yitzchok’s Avraham and Sarah understood that Jews would flourish, not be- Bar Mitzvah repeats itself. It is a voice that calls out to us, in this cause of their might and their numbers, but because of their loyalty room today: “I swear that you will live to see thousands and myri- to G-d, their values, their good deeds, their commitment to build a ads of his descendants.” G-d promises that when we do our job of society on justice and compassion, and because of their courage to educating the next generation than the children of Avraham will stay true to their heritage while working to make this world a bet- not be defeated by the forces of Og. Am Yisroel Chai, the people of ter place. That is how Avraham and Sarah believed Judaism would Israel live and will continue to be strong. not only survive —but thrive.

7148 Wellington Drive  Knoxville, TN 37919  www.chabadknoxville.org Knoxville Jewish Community Ha’ Kol  December 2019 29

December 7 Harry Becker ♦ Lois Boiarsky ♦ Mattie Corkland ♦ Fanny Diamond ♦ Rose Diftler ♦ Mike Gettinger ♦ Sadye Jacobs ♦ Buzy Kaplar ♦ Lillian Liberman ♦ Charles Margolies ♦ Helen Presser ♦ Sol Richer ♦ Bea Russotto ♦ Milton Shaw ♦ Dora Shersky ♦ Ida Siegal ♦ Nathan Slovis ♦ Eva Sturm

December 14 Sigmund Bank ♦ Eleanor Belaief ♦ Rafael Benhayon ♦ Arthur Brown ♦ Rose R. Busch ♦ Isaac Chazen ♦ Rachel Chazen ♦ Charles Davis ♦ Max Gabler ♦ Irene Hershey ♦ William Hershey ♦ Bessie Hite ♦ George Kramer ♦ Bertha Lamstein ♦ Bella Leeds ♦ David Liberman ♦ Meyer Linke ♦ Isidor Lippner ♦ Eddie McCoy ♦ Meyer Miller ♦ Norman Nadler ♦ Raye Panitz ♦ Morris Panitz ♦ Alexander Sanders ♦ Toby Schwartz ♦ Murray Schwartz ♦ Thelma Weisberg ♦ Irvin Wolf

December 21 Betty Abrams ♦ Vander Blue ♦ Gustave Deitch ♦ Benjamin Geller ♦ Eli Goldstein ♦ Sadye Goldstein ♦ Mordechai Golinkin ♦ Sigmund Green ♦ Sarah Green ♦ Eugene Gross ♦ Carol Harris ♦ H. Waugh ♦ Gertrude Weiner ♦ Fannie Werner ♦ Harold Winston

December 28 Helaine Jacobs ♦ James Kutsubos Sr. ♦ Louis Levin ♦ Norman Licht ♦ Madelyn Millen ♦ Mitchell Robinson ♦ Sophie Rosenthal ♦ Joseph Shamitz ♦ Moe Slovis ♦ Max Wolf

December 31 Frances August ♦ Helen Billig ♦ Alvin Ellin ♦ Ida Glazer ♦ Louis Glazer ♦ Idell Harris, David Mandell ♦ Elsie Meyerhoff ♦ Samuel Rosen ♦ Florence Woolf ♦ Benjamin Zwick

December 6 Ben Altshuler ♦ Shiela Belensen ♦ Harold Bernard ♦ Claire L Boxt ♦ Gladys Caller ♦ Loretta Cohn ♦ Bessie Gelber ♦ Ella Heart ♦ Arlene Karklin ♦ Iris Anita Kenton ♦ Belar Koptiva ♦ Elise Levy ♦ Werner Mangold ♦ David Rayman ♦ Eva Landsman Sturm

December 13 Nachum Barkan ♦ Sondra Bressler ♦ Ruth Brown ♦ Louis Cohen ♦ Mary Ellen Epstein ♦ Slava Feldman ♦ Anna Gassel ♦ Matilda Goodfriend ♦ Lillian Herrmann ♦ Harry L. Jaffe ♦ Emmett Ledbetter ♦ Jennie Coons Levitt ♦ Edwin E. Miller ♦ Robert Ford Nelson ♦ Jacob Pais ♦ Pearl Salky ♦ Zakhar Sapozhnikov ♦ Isadore Shey ♦ Jacob Victor ♦ Meyer Weintraub

December 20 Frances P Brody ♦ Gersh Dolgonos ♦ Esther Feldman ♦ James Friedman ♦ Abraham Garber ♦ Minnie Goldberger ♦ Elise R. Guthman ♦ Lillie Haas ♦ Edith R Hecht ♦ Emily Keisler ♦ Charles Manis ♦ Jack Misner ♦ Frances "Faigeh" Pfeffer ♦ Louis Pollock ♦ William Rockmaker ♦ Benjamin Slate ♦ Harold Winston ♦ Allen Wolinsky ♦ Naftule Zauber

December 27 Terry Bain ♦ Lena Loveman Bloom ♦ Eugene Cohn ♦ Barbara Dillon ♦ Leah Freeman ♦ Florence Straus Gerson ♦ Sigmund Green ♦ Risel Kronick ♦ Ann Lieberman ♦ Abraham Markman ♦ Jacob Nechamkin ♦ Ted Pais ♦ Charles R Robinson ♦ Samuel H. Robinson ♦ Bennie Salky ♦ Sam Salky ♦ Gertrude Tucker ♦ Lena Walowitz ♦ Bessie Weinstein 5 Ways to Support Your Hadassah Directory

1) When you see them, thank our advertisers for placing ads. 2) Sell an ad or two. 3) Not a fan of soliciting advertisers? Give us the contact and we’ll reach out to them on your behalf. 4) Remember your loved ones with a memorial listing. 5) Meet the December 6 deadline for submissions.

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6800 Deane Hill Drive  Knoxville, TN 37919  www.knoxville.hadassah.org Hadassah Highlights  December 2019 31

Get involved with EVOLVE, Hadassah young SIP AND BE SOCIAL with a Latke Bar women’s network of Hadassah. Our vision is to December Thursday, December 19 connect a new generation of Jewish women who want to DO! New and old 30 + years old connects 19, Details in Hadassah weekly newsletter with women who are changing the world. 2019 Contact Andrea Cone at [email protected] for information 32 Hadassah Highlights  December 2019

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Get your 2020 Mahj Card and Benefit HADASSAH KNOXVILLE

Mahj card money is due at the National Mahj Jongg League office by February 1, 2020 Cards are $8.00 for Standard; $9.00 for Large Print

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Hadassah Book Club News Knoxville Chapter

of Hadassah All Jewish women of the greater Knoxville area (and friends) are welcome to join us Executive Board

Hope to see everyone for our Tuesday, December 19 Andrea Cone President Hadassah Book Club meeting. We will meet at 7:30 p.m., in [email protected] the coffee shop area of the Barnes and Noble Book Store on Jenny Pfeffer Treasurer Kingston Pike. We will discuss This is How it Always Is by [email protected] Laurie Frankel Shuli Mesa V.P. Programming This is how a family keeps a secret…and how that secret [email protected] ends up keeping them. This is how a family lives happily Revital Ganzi V.P. Education ever after…until happily ever after becomes complicated. [email protected] Claude is five years old, the youngest of five brothers, and Harriet Glasman Recording Secretary loves peanut butter sandwiches. He also loves wearing a dress, and dreams of [email protected] being a princess. When he grows up, Claude says, he wants to be a girl. Rosie Mary Ann Merrell Corresponding Secretary and Penn want Claude to be whoever Claude wants to be. They’re just not [email protected] sure they’re ready to share that with the world. Soon the entire family is Laura Floyd Advisor keeping Claude’s secret. Until one day it explodes. This Is How It Always Is [email protected] is a novel about revelations, transformations, fairy tales, and family.

Next Read: January: Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris General Board Arrangements Debra Ellis Questions? Please check the webpage for Hadassah at Book Club & JNF Program Peggy Littmann https://jewishknoxville.org/hadassah or contact Bulletin/Ha’Kol Harriet Glasman Peggy Littmann at [email protected] or (865) 776-1013 Condolence Cards Betty Golub Directory Bookkeeper Jenny Pfeffer Directory Chair Jill Weinstein Celebrate Motherhood with a Hadassah Layette Directory Specialty Pages Mary Evars-Goan By Batya Boxt Greeting Cards Brenda Sherman Historian/Yearbook Mary Evars-Goan Hadassah sends layettes to women who have a new HMO Luncheon vacant baby or grandbaby. A layette is a card from of all us con- HUB Advisor Bonnie Boring gratulating them on the new baby! JNF Tree & Water Certificates Joyce York When I receive information about a future Hadassah Large Certificates Mary Ann Merrell member’s arrival, I will email all of you. If you are inter- Layettes Batya Boxt ested in having your name included on the layette, please Leadership Development Mary Linda email me back and let me know. Schwarzbart If you don’t have a layette account, please send me a Membership Nancy Britcher check to set that up. I’d recommend $25 to start. If you need to replenish Parliamentarian Marian Jay your account, please send that check to me as well. So that my address isn’t PRAZE Harriet Cooper distributed publicly, please email me to request my address. Let me know Records Administrator Barbara Mintz how much money you’d like to donate to the layette and I’ll deduct that Sunshine Correspondence Betty Golub amount from your layette account. When the account is low (around $5), Social Media Jean Begue I’ll email you so you can refill it. Youth Aliyah vacant Please contact me at [email protected].

Buy a Tree or Water Certificate and Perform a Double Mitzvah! What better way to celebrate a birthday or special occasion than by purchasing a certificate to plant a tree in Israel? One Tree $18 or Ten Trees $150 (Circle of Trees) You may designate a name for certificates in memory of someone, sending get well wishes, honor a birthday, anniversary, birth, marriage, engagement or simply support Israel’s reforestation and water purification projects. Contact Joyce York at [email protected] today! -1 Exploration

A new classroom ‘center’ called Shades of Meaning is an example of the crea- tive and critical thinking skills students are developing during their center work. Students explore the relationship between similar words and build vocab- ulary by giving personal opinions and reconciling them collaboratively. Students rank and sort similar words in order as they justify the order in which they were placed. If students’ opinions don’t match up they have tools to discuss the various opinions and reasons so that all voices in the group are heard and con- sensus on word meaning and order are reached. Students are evaluating and analyzing the response of their peers, while expressing empathy towards their classmates' responses and feelings. One student takes on the job of facilitator, and once the facilitator has wrapped up the discussion and the ordering of the words, students will then complete an independent sort on their own using the sorted words. After practicing for several weeks, with Mrs. Haskins modeling the role of facilitator and participant, first grade currently works to complete this center on a weekly basis in small groups of three or more students. The cen- ter is led by Mrs. Lusk in small groups for the kindergarten class. Singapore Math teachers make math purposeful, interesting, and relevant using a layered curriculum founded on students developing a solid number sense and concrete, pictorial, and abstract computational strategies. Number sense and place value instruction are the basis for Singapore Math. Students These students enjoy the discussion part of this have been busy building number sense in the K/1 classroom! center. They are learning to present their ideas What is number sense? Number sense is a person’s ability to understand, and to listen to each other's opinions. relate, and connect numbers. For example, when thinking about the number four, the student relates it to four tires on a car, four legs to a chair, 2+2, 3+1 etc. Working with various mediums to develop the correct number formations and finding different ways to represent Kindergartners are having fun as they ex- plore numbers and develop a strong number sense. Students learn to 'subitize', or quickly read numbers, on ten frames, patterns on dice and cards, tally marks, pictures, and read fingers. Both grades celebrated the 50th day of school with special math games, treats, and other 50-numbered activities. First graders have been building their number sense by exploring place value. Stu- dents are learning to represent numbers as tens and ones. Through using base ten blocks and place value discs, students are building a strong foundation that will allow them to add and subtract into the thousands in second grade! Students love using the hands-on ap- Our teachers use a variety of methods when Students build fundamentals proach and exploring through collaboration to presenting math skills. They use traditional with place value practice. Daily understand, relate, and make connections with and unusual manipulatives. Students are con- lessons are filled with move- numbers! tinuously challenged while enjoying the pro- ment, group work and inde- cess. pendent work.

1529 Downtown West Blvd  Knoxville, TN 37919  865.560.9922  www.kjds.org Knoxville Jewish Day School  December 2019 35

Where Are They Now? Heidi Sturm

Heidi Sturm, a KJDS graduate, is currently a superstar sophomore attending the Webb School of Knox- ville. She is enrolled in five honors classes and loves to be challenged academically. In addition to being an exemplary student, Heidi is in her fourth year of playing soccer for Webb and she plays trumpet in the school band. Heidi is also a leader in her school community, serving as an active member of the school’s Out- doors Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions. Heidi is proud of her strong Jew- ish identity and she is very active in Jewish life in Knoxville. As a mem- ber of Temple Beth El, she gloriously celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in December of 2016. She is also ac- tively engaged in both BBYO and CTEEN and is always eager to volunteer to help her alma mater, KJDS. 36 Knoxville Jewish Day School  December 2019

2019 Sukkah Hop

Our KJDS annual Sukkah Hop was a huge success thanks to our community members. Students enjoyed visiting all Jewish organizations as they EXPLORED sukkahs of all shapes, materials and sizes. A little rain did not stop our students from having a JOYOUS time celebrating Sukkot with a favorite KJDS traditions. Shaking the Lulav and snacking at the Becker, Chavin and Wilhelm sukkah, singing with the Daled We played a sukkot-related relay race with Rabbi Boxt at Temple Beth El. class at the AJCC sukkah, Sukkot relay races with Rabbi Boxt at the Temple Beth El, and A with Rabbi Ferency at Heska Amuna, and as the weathered miraculously cleared we enjoyed a delicious lunch in the Chabad Sukkah.

Visiting family sukkahs is always a treat. Thank Students enjoyed their Q & A session with We love visiting the you to the Beckers, Dr. Chavin, and Wilhelms. Alon Rabbi Ferency at Heska Amuna. AJCC Sukkah. Knoxville Jewish Day School  December 2019 37

KJDS Staff and Board

Miriam Esther Wilhelm Head of School Louise Lindsay Innovation Coach Joelle and Norman with their two children. Both Layna and Aidan have a Ann Ely love of learning and a proud Jewish identity thanks to KJDS. Director of Operations Jenny Parker Wood What Parents Are Saying Director of Admissions An Unforgettable School Brooke Haskins By Joelle Adajian Katie Lusk My experience with The Knoxville Jewish Day School is long and amazingly K-1st Grade Teachers positive. The school has brought so many good things into my life, the lives of Rebecca Blanchard my children, and the Knoxville community, too. My son, Aidan, started school at 2-3rd Grade Teacher KJDS in 2009. He was a shy, skinny kindergartener with the typical wide eyes. But it took only a day for him to feel comfortable and happy at the school, and Fran Julien this lasted from that first day until the day he graduated. 4-5th Grade Teacher This feeling of being accepted and happy is intentional. It’s a core part of the Revital Ganzi-Sagiv KJDS philosophy. The staff believes strongly that the kids should feel loved and Hebrew Instruction Consultant accepted. The result is children who develop a deep love of learning, meaningful relationships, a feeling of having a “second home,” and a proud understanding of Dana Maman their Jewish heritage. All of this I’ve seen happen with my son, and I am current- Hebrew Teacher ly seeing happen with my daughter, Layna, who is a third grader. Julia Stark The Jewish component is very meaningful for me. I am a secular Jew. My hus- Drama Teacher band is not Jewish. We do not keep kosher. We don’t go to synagogue. I grew up in Los Angeles where I was surrounded by Jews, so my Jewish identity was easi- Chris Quinn PE Coach ly absorbed. We celebrated Hanukkah and Passover with family, of course. But Sukkot? What’s that? Rosh Hashanah? That has something to do with a horn, Lev Gross Comstock right? Being transplanted to Knoxville, I worried about how I would instill a Jew- Music Teacher ish identity in my kids when my own knowledge of Judaism was so spotty. But Amy Broady KJDS takes care of that! They teach the children Jewish holidays and values. They Art Teacher teach them Hebrew. They have Shabbat parties every Friday with traditional songs and dancing! It’s amazing and fun and it takes the responsibility off my shoulders in a way I feel great about. Board of Directors

So how is Aidan doing now? Aidan transitioned into middle school seamlessly Gloria Z. Greenfield, President with an academic background that made coursework a breeze and with social Dr. Michael Zemel, Vice President skills that enabled him to make friends easily. He gets excellent grades every Judith Rosenberg, year, and he works hard for them! At middle school graduation, he received Immediate Past President many honors (National Junior Honor Society member, best research project, a Dr. Michael Zemel, Treasurer community service award, a Spanish award, an outstanding history student Dr. Jeff Becker, Secretary award). He is now in public high school and he’s on the honor roll, participates in Youth in Government (where he received an Outstanding Statesman award). Nancy Becker, Bernard Bendriem, He won an award for Outstanding Science and French Student in his freshman Odysseus Bostick, Judy Brietstein, year. Awards are nice, but what’s most important to me is that the love of learn- David Hull, Anna Iroff-Bailey, ing he acquired at KJDS has continued all these years. It’s a part of him and I find Ellen Markman, Sandy Parker, that to be priceless. Susan Silber, Tamara Sturm, KJDS is such a wonderful place. It’s a place that your children will truly never Rabbi Yossi Wilhelm forget- for all the right reasons. . Arnold G. Cohen, Attorney at Law Imbrey & Associates is now Tax & Business Planning • Contracts • Real Estate Knoxville, Nashville, IRS & State Tax Disputes • Estate Planning • Probate Memphis, Clarkesville and Conservatorship • Guardianship Cleveland/Chattanooga 865-524-0510 • [email protected] Dunn, MacDonald & Reynolds, PC Jacki S. Imbrey, CLU,ChFC, CFP® RICP® 6204 Baum Drive • Knoxville, Tennessee 37919 www.avvo.com Richard M. Imbrey, CLU, ChFC, CFP® David H. Jeffries, CFP®, RICP®

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The Jewish Community Archives of Knoxville and East Tennessee

The Way We Were in 2015

Five KJA Presidents

At the Knoxville Jewish Alliance’s annual meeting on December 13, 2015, five KJA presidents took a moment to be publicly acknowledged. Left to right: Stephen Rosen, Scott Hahn, incoming president Adam Brown, Manny Herz, Reneé Hyatt (chronologically Scott, followed by Stephen, Reneé, and Manny). All continue to be members of our community.

The KJA Archives needs your photographs!

Send your photos of "The Way We Were" (identifying who, what, when, where) to [email protected], or contact the archivist at (865) 690-6343.