Published by the Jewish Community of Louisville, Inc. www.jewishlouisville.org B’nai Mitzvah Section, Pages 16-17 INSIDE Grossman’s new novel a gripper STORY ON PG. 25 New round of bomb threats nationwide STORY ON PG. 26 Communit■ ■ y FRIDAY VOL. 42, NO. 5 28 SHEVAT 5777 FEBRUARY 24, 2017 Jews, Muslims, Christians express support with ‘Circles of Love’ By Lee Chottiner Interim Editor Holding hands, praying for peace, parading in frigid temperatures, more than 50 of Louisville’s faith-based lead- ers, including several Jews, gathered at the Louisville Islamic Center on Friday, February 3 — the Muslim sabbath — to form a “circle of love” at the religious site and to show their support for wor- shippers inside the mosque. It was one of two such circles of love that day. By sundown — the start of the Jewish sabbath — Muslim lead- ers, including members of the Muslim Americans for Compassion (MAC), and Christians, held hands inside the sanc- tuary at Temple Shalom, ringing the congregation as it remained seated. One Cantor David Lipp accompanies the Community Choir on the keyboard during the 46th annual Adath Jeshurun Music Festival. As many as by one, they each expressed a personal Joyful noises 250 people watched as Jewish a cappella groups Staam (Washington University of St. Louis) and Hooshir (Indiana University) made their prayer for peace as the Jews watched the second appearances at the festival. Vocalist Jennifer Diamond (foreground) also appeared. See gallery, page 24. (photo by Jerry Wolff) remarkable gesture. Temple Shalom, along with Keneseth Israel Congregation, were victims of Super Sunday, other projects, move Campaign forward hate calls the previous Friday — Inter- national Holocaust Remembrance Day. By Benji Berlow der to do meaningful outreach. isville Shabbat Project and Jewish and Dr. Mohammed Babar, president of For Community We convened several gatherings this Arab women from Israel speaking about the MAC, later addressed the congrega- year to connect with you, our donors building bridges. tion from the bima. While noting that Donors are the focus of the 2017 and to help you connect with the wider In February, we hosted our fourth Jews and Muslims have political differ- Federation Campaign, as we provide Jewish community in Louisville. These and final program this season in our ences — he specifically mentioned the thoughtful stewardship, exceptional have included Rabbi Irwin Kula speak- Women’s Philanthropy Connecting Se- Israel-Palestine conflict — Babar said donor experiences and personalized in- ing about embracing change, more than ries. More than 30 women connected there is more that unites the two peo- teractions. We strive to gather feedback 100 community members coming to- with theatre, gathering for a pre-show ples than divides them. from you and adjust accordingly in or- gether to bake challah at the first Lou- See CAMPAIGN on page 27 “Your lives are as sacred, and your security and wellbeing as important, as the lives, security and wellbeing of our Silverman to talk adoption, Kotel – maybe Holot – at AJ own … families,” Babar said. “We are one human family.” By Lee Chottiner or two about refugees. She’s met them. her home in Israel. “Our government is The gathering at the Islamic Center, Interim Editor The American–born rabbi has trav- far from stepping up. We’ve processed organized by the Kentucky Council of Rabbi Susan Silverman knows a thing eled to Holot, the Israeli detention cen- almost nobody in Churches, came after President Trump’s ter in the northern Negev for Eritrean terms of finding issuance of an executive order ban- and Sudanese refugees; she has sat with out if they’re le- ning people from seven mostly Muslim them and listened to their stories. gitimate refugees, countries from entering the country. It Sadly, she says there’s little the Unit- and that’s inten- also came after a mass shooting at one ed States can learn from Israel when it tional [because] mosque in Quebec City, Quebec, and the comes to dealing with refugees. once we do that, burning of another in Victoria, Texas. “I’m afraid Israel is no beacon of light we are obligated As they did at Temple Shalom, partici- when it comes to asylum seekers; we are under internation- pants at the Islamic Center joined hands POSTAGE KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE also failing,” she told Community from al law” to provide — outside the mosque in this case — PERIODICALS asylum so that while taking turns uttering prayers for they can live and peace. Rabbi Susan Silverman work in the coun- Rabbi Beth Jacowitz Chottiner, of INDEX try legally. Temple Shalom, chanted Od Yavo Sha- Matt Goldberg .............................. 2 The government doesn’t want to do lom Aleinu. that, she said, even though many Israelis Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport of The Tem- Sara Klein Wagner ........................ 2 support it. ple, said Osey Shalom. Calendar of Events ....................... 5 Silverman is coming to Louisville. And Rabbi Gaylia R. Rooks, also of Nadia Siritsky ............................... 9 She will be the guest speaker at Congre- The Temple, invoked a verse by the late Picture This .....................14, 18, 24 gation Adath Jeshurun during a shab- Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, saying that baton, Friday, March 17, and Saturday, when people choose war they should JFCS Calendar ............................15 March 18. Silverman’s visit is made have to turn their plowshares back into B’nai Mitzvah Section ............16-17 possible through support from the Jew- swords. Newsmakers ................................19 ish Federation of Louisville, Adath Je- Three times the people paraded Around Town .............................. 20 shurun and the Jewish Family & Career around the mosque in a circle of love D’var Torah ................................. 23 Services. before entering the building, taking off A board member of Women at the their shoes and walking upstairs to the Purim Around Town .................... 23 See SILVERMAN on page 27 sanctuary where the service was Lifecycle ................................ 21-23 See CIRCLES on page 27 2 Community Y FEBRUARY 24, 2017 Y 28 SHEVAT 5777 Communit y Community is published monthly by the Jewish FORUM Community of Louisville, Inc., 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY 40205-3216. USPS #020-068 at Louisville, KY. Ben Gurion’s dream is still coming true in Israel The Jewish Community of Louisville is By Sara Klein Wagner My mother and her friends volunteered is the Federation’s role today to ensure a nonprofit organization. $26 of your pledge For Community for Hadassah, as did my grandmother every Jew in Louisville has an opportu- is for a subscription for Community. even before the state’s creation. nity to connect with Israel and Israelis, For more information, call On May 14, 1948 at the Tel Aviv Art I had Israeli teachers, hosted teens to delve into Israeli life today and under- 502-459-0660, fax 502-238-2724, Museum, David Ben Gurion declared Is- from our Project Renewal community stand the significance of the country’s e-mail [email protected] or check out the website www.jewishlouisville.org. rael a Jewish homeland for all Jews, im- and traveled to Israel for the first time past and future. ploring Jews of the diaspora to support with BBYO. The priorities of our Federation must POSTMASTER – Send address changes to the immigration and up-building of the The Israel I include providing resources, educating Community, 3600 Dutchmans Lane, Louisville, KY 40205-3216. state. connect with to- and advocating for Israel. Annual cam- For 69 years, Israel has welcomed day still generates paign dollars make this happen. both refugees and immigrants from pride and ahavat We should celebrate Israel’s success COMMUNITY DEADLINES around the world. We in the diaspora Israel. This recent Deadlines for the next two issues of Community in technology, business, environmental for copy and ads are: March 15 for publication on have shared in the collective responsibil- visit only renewed protection, medicine and the arts. She March 24 and April 19 for publication on April 28. ity of this ingathering and the remark- my commitment has accomplished so much. able building of the nation. to the leadership But Israel also has a real problem with Community publishes Newsmakers and Around Town items at no charge. Items must be I just returned from Israel with a role of our Feder- poverty. One in three children in Israel submitted in writing. Please include your name group of Jewish Federation executives, ation; it must en- live under the poverty line. Funds con- and a daytime telephone number where you delving into the complexities and signifi- gage our commu- tributed by North American donors help can be contacted in the event that questions cance of Israel since Ben Gurion’s decla- Sara Klein Wagner nity with Israel. the most vulnerable there along with the arise. Community reserves the right to edit all ration fulfilled the Zionist dream. Generations of support to the JDC, which cares for op- submissions to conform to style and length As a child, I learned that Israel was North American Jews shared in the mas- pressed Jews in over 70 other countries. requirements. the spiritual center of the Jewish people. sive ingathering of exiles and building See WAGNER on page 27 We needed Israel and Israel needed us. the state that Ben Gurion envisioned. It ADVERTISING INFORMATION To advertise, please contact our sales representative at 502-418-5845 or e-mail [email protected]. Building community consensus has many steps The appearance of advertising in Community does not represent a kashruth endorsement. By Matt Goldberg with other groups. Our committee is as diverse as we can For Community But this process is important to un- make it. Political views, gender, Jewish EDITORIAL POLICY derstand. denominations, age are all factors in the Community accepts letters to the editor When important events occur – in Is- What constitutes a consensus? I am makeup of our JCRC.