Fixing the broken world.

March 30, 2023

8 Nissan 5783

This has been a heartbreaking week, with the Covenant School tragedy, the fracture and protests in Israel, and the death of our beloved community leader, Joel Gordon. In these times, the continuity and connection of our caring community have never been more important. Our hearts are heavy as the vigils and funerals of the Covenant victims and our dear friend continue. We pray for blessings of refuah sheleimah (healing) for all of the Covenant School families, the Gordon family, and our entire community.

Nashville’s Jewish community members join forces to reunite a man with his family despite the tremendous odds against him.

Renee Kasman and Ruth Thomas are members of The Temple team that worked tirelessly alongside other volunteers and Federation staff to help reunite Javid with his family in Nashville. Renee and Ruth share a piece of their journey helping our Afghan ally friends.

"With this project, Temple congregants, in partnership with the Jewish Federation, welcomed the stranger and made them family. Initially, our volunteer team believed our sole task would be to help Afghan refugees adjust to their new life in Nashville. The Jewish community generously gave enough money to sponsor 3 families through the resettlement agency NICE, Nashville International Center for Empowerment. We all gathered donated items such as bedding, and clothing, assisted in enrolling children in school, and escorted them to doctor’s appointments. This project became much more to our Temple Team and the family we were assigned.

This became a story about family reunification and a year-long group effort to bring one person to the US through the legal immigration system. It took Clergy, volunteer legal teams, affidavits from doctors, intervention from Senatorial staff, and hours of emailing the required documentation to bring Javid to his family. As his brother Abdullah says in the video it was “magic” for all of us to come together. This was truly an education about what is involved in refugee resettlement. The experience leaves us wondering what happens to the separated families who do not have an army of volunteers to work on their behalf."

Stand Up To Jewish Hate

We are joining Stand Up To Jewish Hate, a new campaign to educate all Americans about the rise of antisemitism at alarming rates in the United States. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans do not believe “antisemitism is a big problem”.

Here are a couple of actions you can take to #StandUptoJewishHate and join this national movement:

Post and share #🟦 - an emoji already available on most mobile devices - on your social media channels, email signatures, and text messages, alongside a message of support against hate and intolerance.
Speak up and share your personal story with antisemitism

Together, we can educate and empower more Americans to join us in the fight to Stand Up to Jewish Hate.

Shining a Light on Global Antisemitism with Luciana Berger

April 17 at 7 PM

Noah Liff Opera Center

Join a discussion with former Member of the British Parliament, Luciana Berger. Luciana will share her journey of standing up to antisemitism, and what ultimately led her to resign.

Marriage & Money Panel

April 10th at 6:30 PM

West End Synagogue

Join financial advisor and PAC (The Federation's Professional Advisory Committee) member, John Dodd and his wife Kathleen for an hour of fun as they help couples identify problem areas and steps they can take to decrease relational friction and increase financial intimacy. Doors open at 6:30 pm, and the main program begins at 7:00 pm.

Kosher for Passover dinner will be served.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration & The Butterfly Project

April 23rd at 2 PM

Join us for the Yom HaShoah Commemoration service at the Gordon JCC as we mourn and remember the people who were murdered in the Holocaust and unveil the first Butterfly Project butterflies painted locally.

Akiva 6th graders and Jewish Middle School students were the first to participate locally in The Butterfly Project which honors the 1.5 million children who were murdered in the Holocaust. Each Butterfly Project participant paints a ceramic butterfly in memory of a specific child who was murdered. The butterflies painted locally will be part of an art installation at the Nashville Holocaust Memorial on the JCC Campus. Email Deborah Oleshansky to learn more.

Please Note:

Federation offices will be closed April 6, 7, 12, & 13

in observance of Passover.

FEDERATION CALENDAR OF EVENTS & PROGRAMS

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Tzedakah is the cornerstone of our Jewish community. Sometimes we give; sometimes we need to receive. It's okay to ask for help. We are here with confidential resources to lend a hand. Reach out for assistance HERE.

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