A Taste of Judaism with Rabbi Rami Shapiro
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The Temple SUMMER 2021 ~ WWW.TEMPLENASHVILLE.ORG ~ VOLUME 95: ISSUE 6 Please Join Us via Zoom with Dr. Richard Elliot Friedman Author of “Who Wrote the Bible” Richard Friedman is the Wednesdays ~ 6:00-7:00 PM Ann & Jay Davis Professor th of Jewish Studies, viewMay 12 ~ “Who Wrote the Bible?” University of Georgia, & th the Katzin Professor of May 19 ~ “From the Exodus to the Jewish Civilization Emeritus, Treatment of Aliens” University of California, th San Diego May 26 ~ “The Birth of Monotheism: Graciously funded by the What Happened to the Gods?” Marks Family in honor of Patty Marks’ Special Birthday Check thetemplehub.org or templenashville.org for Zoom info 2021 Annual Meeting of The Temple, Congregation Ohabai Sholom, Friday, May 7, 2021 at 5:00 PM conducted from The Temple and broadcast virtually via Zoom Bios of the Nominees for 2021-2024 Temple Board of Trustees are on page 7. A Taste of Judaism with Rabbi Rami Shapiro Join Rabbi Shapiro online and learn everything you always wanted to know about Judaism in three easy lessons on the following Tuesdays in July. July 6th • July 13th • July 20th at 6:00 PM Check thetemplehub.org or templenashville.org for Zoom info The Temple The Post-Covid Congregation: One Rabbi’s Vision 5015 Harding Pike The congregation of the future is here. We are on the eve Nashville, TN 37205 of a new, golden age of the synagogue, massive in scope of potential, Phone: 615-352-7620 positive change, not only resilient in strength but in its accrual of Fax: 615-352-9365 newfound energy, creativity, innovation, and inclusion. www.templenashville.org We have the ability, despite consistent and continuing challenges regarding its alleged imminent decline, to enter Executive Staff a period of transformational growth, evolution, and substantial change. And the resounding truth is that we are Mark Schiftan already there, right at the front doorstep of an incredible moment of Senior Rabbi .................................... ext. 224 Rabbi Schiftan dramatic institutional pivoting to a new era of renewed and Shana Goldstein Mackler enhanced meaning and opportunity for the role of The American Synagogue. Rabbi ...................................................ext. 221 Here are 10 reasons why I believe this to be true, but only if we seize this extraordinary moment in time. Rabbi Michael Shulman, RJE 1. The weather forecast will absolutely no longer make any difference in our Director of Education & program and service delivery. Ever. Think about this: No more cancellations of Next Generation Programs ....... ext. 233 events, no more questioning, neither from synagogue professionals nor congregants, as to Tracy Fishbein whether it is too unsafe to go out, too dark, too rainy, too stormy, too hot, too cold, too Cantor ................................................ ext. 226 overbearing, too undesirable. Virtual program delivery and availability will make meteorological concerns a thing of the past. Bernard Gutcheon .....Cantor Emeritus 2. There will be no such thing as before, and after, the virus; no return to either/ Don Anderson or as our only options. There will be both and with regards to congregational Director of Finance & Operations ............ offerings and organizational life. There will always be those who choose and prefer ....................... ..................................... ext. 230 gathering in person, within reach of the physical presence and proximity of other human beings; but there will also be increasing numbers of those with opposite needs, desires, Moon Bishop and availabilities, who prefer the access via virtual routes and options. I believe we can Acting Preschool Director ........... ext. 253 serve both and serve them well. The numbers who participate will increase, perhaps even Sheri Rosenberg increasing dramatically. Director of Membership & Inclusion ....... 3. Religious Services will continue to grow in attendance, though that attendance ....................... ..................................... ext. 230 may be measured in total viewership and engagement, both in-person and in virtual attendance. In our congregation, the virtual numbers over this past year of Erin Zagnoev Director of Administration & isolation and quarantine, have been consistent equal to, and often larger, than our solely Advancement .................................. ext. 227 in-person offerings, which were already strong in number. 4. Religious School education will expand its scope; in fact, it already has. This may be particularly true for mid-week Hebrew School, which may continue Office Staff to be offered entirely on-line. Permanently. Families, whether we prefer it or not, have more calendar-filled days than ever before, with competing schedules and Mitzie Russell commitments. Combined with a prioritization and valuation of those commitments and Executive Assistant to the Clergy & Office Manager .............................. ext. 292 obligations, an honest assessment would place the Religious School as a lesser of these priorities, some place after academic and athletic choices, opportunities and options. Mark Shepard We may not like this, nor prefer to accept it easily or readily, but with rare exception, it Facility Manager ............................ ext. 235 remains true. The virtual option, especially during the school week, may significantly assist us in recruitment and retention efforts to reach and retain these families and their Marjorie Zager children. Senior Services Coordinator ...... ext. 237 5. The interest and opportunities to invite new individuals into leadership roles may enjoy a substantial and sustainable increase, through the Officers reduction or entire elimination of evening meetings, which will no longer require our physical presence. Think about this: We are now able to make these Jimmy Marks .............................President board and committee meetings accessible from the convenience of our offices or the Judy Lefkovitz.........Vice Pres./Treasurer comfort of our homes. It is a tremendous new opportunity to reinvigorate the lifeblood of our religious institutions. Alyssa Trachtman ................. Secretary 6. Our next, immediate, perhaps even urgent hires, should be Information Technologists, Software Specialists, and Social Media Marketing professionals. These individuals will be the next vital positions that synagogues will demand, deserve, and SCHIFTAN, continued on page 6 page 2 ~ Summer 2021 - www.templenashville.org - 615-352-7620 A Message from The Temple’s President Mid-point Thoughts about Serving During a Pandemic With the completion of my first year as Temple president, I am reminded of the adage – “Man plans and God laughs.” We accountant-types are always mapping out the future with our budgets and forecasts. In reality, we are just creating scenarios we know will never happen. There is always a “Plan B.” For the past year, we have been constantly operating in Plan B mode, responding to the changes brought on by the pandemic. But, I think it is important not to lose sight of the progress we made in areas which will have long term benefit to our congregation: 1. The completion of the new Pre-School Outdoor Learning Environment will be enjoyed by our children for years to come. We are indebted to Corye Nelson, Lisa Shmerling, Fred Yazdian, our Temple Staff, donors, and the many volunteers who made this dream a reality. 2. We continued to strengthen the security of our facility with the installation of landscaping and Jimmy Marks cameras. We appreciate the financial support we received from the Jewish Federation to help fund these necessary safeguards. 3. The Religious School launched the new ISJL curriculum. This was a challenging year to introduce a new curriculum. But, we look forward to working with ISJL to provide an enriching experience for our children. We appreciate the support we received from our ISJL Fellow, Rena Lubin, who worked closely with us to make the launch successful despite the difficulties created by remote classes. 4. We discovered that a sacred community is not tied to a space but lives through connection. Connecting our congregants through technology has been a major lesson for all of us. A big thank you to Rabbi (aka Zoom Master) Shulman for not only creating our social media platform but providing meaningful content for services and programs. 5. Despite the challenges of the past year, we did not furlough any staff or teachers. Corye Nelson and Don Anderson helped us access grants and funding which allowed us to maintain our staffing. As an institution, we felt it was a moral obligation to support those who are a part of our Temple family. I have been blessed to have Officers and an Executive Committee who provided me support and wise counsel. It has been a pleasure to work with our clergy and staff. I am so proud of the way they responded to the challenges of the past year with creativity and resiliency. We look forward to a different year ahead. A year of re-connecting and gratitude. Summer 2021 - www.templenashville.org - 615-352-7620 ~ page 3 Sharing Our Lives New Members Bar Mitzvah Welcome to the following new members. Carson Brittain Pounds We are so glad you joined our Temple family! Saturday, May 1st at 11:00 AM Irina & Lev Averbukh Carson was born May 20, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. He is the son of Bridget and Zachary Pounds. His grandparents are Linda Pounds and the Congregational News late Britt Pounds of Nashville, Tennessee, Mazel Tov to . and Joseph and Sissy Lawson of Carthage, Tennessee. Sarah Wiesen & Aaron Harper who welcomed their For Carson’s mitzvah project, he worked to collect items son, Murray Benjamin Harper, on April 1st. and donations for the Humane Society of Dickson, Tennessee. He is in the 7th grade at Jewish Middle School of Nashville Julia Eisen and Josh Whitfield on their wedding and enjoys gaming, reading, biking, swimming, and comedy. Friday, March 26th. Julia is the daughter of Anna Pepper and Michael Eisen. Sincere Sympathy Emma and Matthew Saul, along with big brother, The Temple mourns the loss of the following Harrison, who welcomed their members and extends condolences to our daughter and sister, Annie Lillian Saul, on March 25th.