the Jewish bserver www.jewishobservernashville.org Vol. 81 No. 6 • June 2016 24 Iyar-24 Sivan 5776 Federation to elect new board, honor Hyatt and outgoing leaders at annual meeting on June 15 Batia and Aron Karabel will receive Young Leadership Award By CHARLES BERNSEN In her final column as Federation lot has been accom- president, Carol Hyatt recalls high plished during Carol lights from the past two years. Hyatt’s two-year ten- Page 7 ure as president of the Jewish Federation of the Welcoming Ambassadors Program, of Hyatt’s sensitivity to communal needs Batia and Aron Karabel. Nashville and Middle a new initiative conceived by Hyatt and zeal to address them. The meeting, which will be followed ATennessee. herself that has recruited more than 30 “The very first time I met Carol, by a dessert reception, is open to the The Federation completed the first volunteers who help ease the transition now almost five years ago, I sensed that entire community. Those who plan to comprehensive study of the local Jewish of Jewish newcomers to Nashville and her passion for enhancing and enriching attend are asked to RSVP to Federation community in more than a decade, pro- reach out to others who have been here Jewish life in Nashville would translate Events Coordinator Barbara Schwarcz at ducing a raft of demographic data that for a while and want to become more into strong and innovative leadership,” [email protected] or (615) will help Jewish institutions and agen- connected to the Jewish community. Freedman said. “She certainly proved 354-1630. cies better meet the needs of their con- “It is gratifying that the response me right.” Among officers to be honored at stituencies. It also sponsored a unique to this new program has been so over- The Federation will hold its 80th the meeting is Lisa Perlen, who has trip to Israel last March that involved whelmingly positive, and that so many annual meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, chaired the Federation’s 2016 annual members and leaders from all five con- people have stepped up to volunteer,” June 15 when it will elect a new board campaign and is expected to be elected gregations. With more than 80 partic- said Hyatt, who was herself a newcomer and officers, honor Hyatt and other its 42nd president. ipants, it was the largest Federation- to Nashville 11 years ago. board members and officers for their ser- Perlen, a tax and bankruptcy attor- sponsored trip ever. Federation Executive Director Mark vice over the past two years, and present ney who serves as the executive director But Hyatt said she is most proud of Freedman said the program is an example the annual Young Leadership award to Continued on pages 7 With sun shining, Jewish Nashville steps outside to celebrate Israel Story by Charles Bernsen Photos by Rick Malkin undreds of people attended the Nashville Jewish com- munity’s commemoration of Yom Hazikaron and cel- ebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut on Sunday, May 15, the first time the local event marking Israel’s Memorial Day and Independence Day had been away from the Gordon Jewish Community Center. HIt’s fair to say that the fair weather – sunny skies with unusually cool temperatures and little humidity – contributed to the big crowd in Bellevue’s Red Caboose Park. So did the decision to hold the event in a public park and actively publicize it to the non-Jewish community. But as special guest Ron Brummer, deputy consul general of Israel to U.S Southeast, noted in his remarks to the crowd, Jewish Nashville enjoys celebrating Israel whatever the location and weather conditions. “In the past three years I have visited 30 Jewish communities in the Southeast,” said Brummer, whose term as the top Israeli diplomat in the region ends this month. “And the Jewish community in Nashville is a role model to all the others when it comes to Zionism and support of Israel.” The three-hour event was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee in conjunction with the Gordon Jewish Community Center. Moving it from the GJCC outside to a public venue was intended to The Nashville Israeli folk dancers lead a lively line dance in Bellevue’s Red Caboose Park as part of the Continued on pages 2-3 celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. A Publication of the Fifth New food truck Couon issue installment brings kosher page 11 looks at meat to Vandy attitudes page 24 about Israel and anti-Semistism page 6 WWW.JEWISHNASHVILLE.ORG COUPON ISSUE on guitar. Celebration “I love the fact that it’s more pub- Continued from page 1 lic,” said Roy Hiller, a former GJCC make it more inviting to the entire board member who was involved in Nashville community and to give it the organizing the event in the past. “It’s casual feel of a fair rather than a staged more accessible to the community and event, said Liron Finkelstein, community an educational experience for non-Jews.” shlicha (Israel emissary), the Federation Among those attracted by the new staff member who was the main liaison venue were Kim and Alan Kaplan and with the organizing committee head by their young sons, Jake, 3, and Ethan, Moises Paz. 6, a student at Akiva School. They Kids romped on the grassy lawn and were attending the Yom Hazikaron/Yom dogs strained at their leashes while many Ha’atzmaut celebration for the first time in attendance dined on kosher treats since moving to Nashville more than provided by venders SOVA Catering, three years ago. Sweets Melissa & Sons, a Ben & Jerry’s “It’s neat to see such a great turnout ice cream stand, and Aryeh’s Kitchen, – everyone coming together,” said Kim a new kosher food truck based at Kaplan. Vanderbilt University. Nashville’s Jewish community Ten Jewish organizations set up includes a small but active group of tables, where representatives passed out Israelis for whom the annual commem- informational brochures, tiny Israeli flags oration of their twin national holidays is Moises Paz (from left), chair of the committee that organized the community celebra- and other items. Children and adults especially important. tion of Yom Ha’atzmaut and Yom Hazikaron, along with volunteers Ruthie Alexander, “visited” different parts of Israel on a “It reminds me of home,” said Joan Mehlman, Rabbi Saul Strosberg, Joe Perlen and Victoria Crumpton Cohen. huge plastic map laid out on the grass. Israeli Danny Lemkin, who has lived tion of the U.S. and Israeli flags by a in English by Erin Coleman – of “The Nearby, Jack Simon, director of chil- in Nashville for more than decade and color guard from the Hunters Lane High Silver Platter,” a poem by Israeli Nathan dren’s programming at the GJCC, orga- was attending the event with his wife, School Jr. ROTC and was followed by a Alterman often read at Yom Hazikaron nized kids activities. Andrea, and their three children. Baha’i choral group led by Eric Dozier. events. Playing softly in the background And there was plenty of live music Indeed, as the hundreds of people in Their spiritual-infused performance was a recording of a melody composed from the featured performers, a trio led the park observed a moment of silence included a song based on Isaiah 11, the and performed especially for the occasion by popular New York musician and band- in remembrance of Israel’s fallen soldiers biblical chapter referring to a coming age by singer-songwriter Jerry Kimbrough. leader Johnathan Rimberg. Playing on a and victims of terrorism, a loudspeaker of peace that is particularly important to Following a yizkor prayer led by stage festooned with blue and white Israel carried a recording of the actual sirens the Baha’i tradition, an egalitarian faith Cantor George Lieberman of Sherith flags, they were joined for a time by Rabbi that wailed during the annual two-min- founded in the 19th century and whose Israel, Silver performed “Yesh Saul Strosberg of Congregation Sherith ute observance on Yom Hazikaron when world headquarters is in Haifa, Israel. Kochavim,” (There are Stars), a poem by Israel on the trumpet and Lisa Silver, the the entire nation of Israel comes to halt. The somber 15-minute memorial the Jewish World War II hero and poet cantorial soloist at Congregation Micah, The event began with a presenta- remembrance of Israel’s fallen began with Hannah Szenes. a reading – in Hebrew by Finkelstein and As the moment of silence ended, Paz declared the transition to the cele- bratory phase, noting that as the 68th Yom Ha’atzmaut is taking place, Israel’s latest population estimates now surpass 8.5 million. As Hatikva, the Israel national anthem, and other Israeli tunes played over the loudspeakers, children from Akiva performed a dance routine. They were followed by the Nashville Israeli Folk Dancers, joined by more than a few children, who performed several lines dances to the accompaniment of the Rimberg trio. As has become a tradition, the local Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration ended with a ceremony honoring 12 individuals or groups for their efforts to strengthen ties between Nashville and Israel. Modeled after one in Israel, the honorees lit torch- es symbolizing the 12 tribes of ancient As part of an effort to expand the celebration beyond the Jewish community, a Baha’i Israel. The honorees were: chorale led by Eric Dozier was invited to perform. • Celia Goldstein, a member of the Federation’s Community Relations Yael Coleman, daughter of Erin and Continued on page 3 Micah Coleman, enjoys her ice cream. Isaac Hanai, a future IDF solider, and Talia Ramon, a former IDF soldier, were among those who were given the honor of lighting torches in recognition of their contribu- Akiva School students perform a choreographed dance presentation to recorded tions to strengthening the relationship between Nashville and Israel.