the Jewish bserver inside: CHECK IT OUT: The Observer is now online! You can find the latest issue, past issues, plus streaming news updates and links to Jewish organizations at www.jewishobservernashville.org Now you have a choice: Read the print edition or read us online. And please send your feedback to [email protected]. Our Web presence is thanks to a grant from the Jewish Federation. You can also access the Observer from the Jewish Federation website: www.jewishnashville.org A Publication of Happy Chanukah VOL.76 NO. 22 December 2, 2011 6 Kislev 5772 He’s watching and learning. How you walk to temple together, rain or shine. The way you speak gently to Aunt Ruth. And your gift for making the holidays feel miraculous. Best wishes for a happy Chanuka. Life is a Miracle. 2 December 2, 2011 The Observer Major Gifts donors thanked for generous gifts at initial 2012 Annual Campaign event he Jewish Federation nities of Cuba and St. Petersburg, Russia. launched its 2012 Annual The evening also highlighted the Campaign with an event vital programs and services that enhance hosted by Phyllis Alper. the Nashville community through part- Sandy Averbuch, nership with our local agencies, such as Campaign chair, and Ellen caring for the elderly, dedication to TLevitt, Major Gifts vice chair, thanked building our Jewish community, and sup- the 55 guests for their generous gifts and porting Jewish education. “The lives highlighted the many reasons why touched through our important work, Federation giving is an important part of locally, in Israel and around the world their yearly philanthropy. make it my privilege to lead this effort,” Guests were inspired by next gener- Averbuch said. ation leaders Sara Hanai and Freya Barbara and Larry Speller, co-chairs Sacks, who traveled on Federation-fund- for Major Gifts, said, “We are so pleased Sandy Averbuch, Annual Campaign chair ed missions to Israel and Moldova to that the launch of the 2012 Campaign Photos: Barbara Schwarcz connect with Jews globally. has inspired increased gifts and we are Joshua Fogelson, director of strategic confident that this momentum will carry development for the American Jewish us forward.” c Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), Joshua Fogelson and Phyllis Alper inspired the crowd with his first hand accounts of the vital work of the JDC, Federation’s overseas partner in helping Jews throughout the world. He recently returned from visits to the Jewish commu- From left: Mark Freedman, Dan Heller and Gil Fox and Steve Hirsch Sarah Hanai From left: Joshua Fogelson, Ellen Levitt Gene Heller and Fred Zimmerman and Steve Riven The Observer December 2, 2011 3 Best Jewish Nashville summons the best in each of us By Mark S. Freedman Jewish Federation institution in Nashville or with nation- social and business networking pro- took a long hard al Jewish organizations, are addressing grams, Shabbat dinner outreach gather- his is my first column in look at its funding each of the three priority areas identi- ings and by participation in social The Observer since model and decided fied by BJN and they are having impacts action projects. We are reaching more becoming the executive it could do better. on multiple levels. families than ever before through the director of the Jewish Neither the More Jewish clients are being highly successful PJ Library program Federation of Nashville Federation donors, served, more volunteers are engaged in and we are serving more seniors through and Middle Tennessee on the beneficiary assisting in the implementation of the the GJCC, the Jewish Family Service TOct. 1. That being the case, I want to agencies or the various programs and projects, a new and through our local congregations. offer special words of thanks to everyone annual campaign cadre of lay volunteers participates in the We have direct partnerships with for the extremely warm welcome that my Mark S. Freedman volunteers who ask grant process and program outcomes are Vanderbilt Hillel, and we are blessed to wife, Leslie Klein, and I have received for contributions were satisfied with sim- measureable and tangible, leading to have not one, but two Israel emissaries following our arrival here in Nashville. ply funding deficits and settling for greater accountability to the Federation’s in our community this year. We are extremely appreciative to across-the-board increases (or cuts) donors and prospective donors. We are confident that we are on the the many members of the Nashville depending upon whether the Campaign With all the progress that has been right track with Best Jewish Nashville. Jewish community who have reached out was up or down. made, we are still fine-tuning the BJN Its origins are firmly rooted in the past to us and made us feel that we are now Everyone sensed that a more cre- process. We hope and expect that the achievements and proud history of the living in the best Jewish community of ative approach was called for to energize inter-institutional partnerships that are Nashville Jewish community which all. We look forward to being an integral volunteers, empower agencies and being forged will lead to greater levels of understood that our collective success part of Jewish life in Nashville for many account to the Federation’s legion of gen- innovation and experimentation. We was only as strong as each individual years to come. erous donors. After an exhaustive study, know that there will be challenges along who played a part in making it happen. And in this first column (and I the BJN committee identified three areas the way and we are working hard to tem- Now more than ever, the Federation promise to resist writing in every issue of of future and unmet needs including per the unexpected with patience and stands ready to engage with every mem- the Observer because as the publisher of engaging the “Next Generation,” perseverance. ber of our community, for it is in each the paper I want to hear and read many increasing services to seniors and devel- The bottom line we see thus far Jewish soul that we will continue to find different Jewish voices on these pages) I oping quality programming to enhance represents far more than the dollars and the Best Jewish Nashville. would like to reflect on the Best Jewish Israel education and advocacy. the volunteer time invested in the BJN I want to close by wishing each of Nashville (BJN) project. On the center One year into BJN, it appears the process. We are seeing more interest in you a Happy Chanukah filled with light pages of this issue of the Observer you Federation has hit a home run. Israel-related programming and with and with joy. c will find a special feature that details the Fourteen separate programs operated trips and missions to Israel. We see accomplishments of Best Jewish either individually or in partnerships more young people from the “Next Mark S. Freedman is executive director Nashville as the initiative enters its sec- and collaborations with every Jewish Generation” joining our ranks through of the Jewish Federation of Nashville. ond year of operations. When I recall my initial visit to Nashville to interview for the position I Jeremy Ben-Ami, national president of now hold, I was so impressed with the extraordinary effort that went into creat- ing Best Jewish Nashville. It was a coura- J Street, will speak in Nashville on Dec. 12 geous and bold step taken by both the eremy Ben-Ami, the founder and is an urgent need leadership and a broad swath of the been profiled in The Atlantic, The president of J Street and a former for a pro-Israel Nashville Jewish community to effect Washington Post, and CQ Weekly. policy advisor to President Bill agenda that real change in a world of Jewish philan- He was one of “50 People of the Clinton, will discuss his new includes compro- thropy that is awash in change that has Decade” selected by Ha’Aretz, the book, A New Voice for Israel at mise and engage- had a profound impact on many Jewish influential Israeli daily newspaper, and Loews Vanderbilt Hotel on Mon., ment with the communities across the United States. The Jerusalem Post included him in its JDec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. The event Palestinians. list of the “50 Most Influential Jews in Under the leadership of Stephen is free and open to the public. Ben-Ami has Riven and his BJN committee, the Jeremy Ben-Ami the World.” c In his book, Ben-Ami, whose grandparents were first-generation Zionists and founders of Tel Aviv, argues c c c c Shirley Zeitlin chosen as winner of STAFF for why Israel needs an alternative Jewish voice in Washington to reform Stevie Award for Women in Business Publisher Mark S. Freedman American Mideast policy and bring Editor Judith A. Saks about a two-state solution to the Israeli- By Kathy Carlson dent and CEO of WomenOnBusiness. Advertising Manager Carrie Mills Palestinian stalemate. com and the president and CEO of Staff Writer Kathy Carlson Ben-Ami argues that current U.S. t was just a regular weekend KeySplash Creative Inc. Layout and Production Tim Gregory policies toward Israel do not hold up morning. Then, last month, Palos told Zeitlin against the current realities, and there Nashville Realtor and commu- she had won. There were winners in 78 nity member Shirley Zeitlin was categories, chosen from more than 1,300 Telephone 615/356-3242 brushing her teeth when the phone nominees from around the world. The Fax 615/352-0056 rang. When she picked up and got official announcement was made on Nov.