6800 Deane Hill DriveKnoxville, TN 37919

p 865.690.6343f 865.694.4861

www.jewishknoxville.org

Volume 69 • Issue 8 • October 2007

By Nancy Britcher, MSW, LCSW, Jewish Family Services Director

Jewish Family Services’ volunteers and board members met to honor Evan Sturm, JFS’sVolunteer Coordinator, as Volunteer of the Year. Evan has organized our volunteers’ visits to arealong-term care facilities, recorded all of our visitation data and has even had time to recruit manynew volunteers! Evan was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a gift certificate. We metat Elmcroft of Knoxville in their Harold’s Deli Room, (created to honor Knoxville’s own HaroldShersky, a resident at Elmcroft). A delicious brunch was provided by our JFS committee members.Attendees were also given a volunteer handbook and assorted tokens of appreciation. Pat

Rosenberg, current JFS Chair, welcomed everyone and introduced Evan.Nancy Britcher, JFS Director, discussed the role of our volunteers and howthe handbook’s material could help those making visits, and presentedEvan with his certificate.

Many thanks are given to all who contributed food, decorations, and

JFS Honors Evan Sturm as Volunteer of the Year KJA CampaignStatisticsTotal: $414,375Increase from 2006: $19,000Donor families: 289Increased gifts from 2006: 138New gifts: 21

It’s not too late to make apledge. Contact Ed Hunter at 690-6343 orehunter@jewishknoxville.org.

What’s InsidePage

2 GANews

4 Hillel/Jewish Student Center

5 AJCC Sukkah Raising

6 Campaign contributions

11 KJCFF

AL=Adult LoungeBR=Board RoomHA=Heska AmunaTBE=Temple Beth El

For the most updated information, visitwww.jewishknoxville.org.

152:15-KINDERDANCE-AJCC-GYM7:30p-Israeli Dancing-Gym

1610:30a-Friendshippers Steering Com-AL4:00-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC7p-Rit & Wor Committee-TBE7:30p-Rabbi & Rel Serv Committee-HA

17NO HARS-HESKAAMUNAHARS STAFF IN-SERVICE-HESKAAMUNA4:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6:30 HADASSAH FALL PROGRAM-AJCC-AL6:30 p.m.-PRIVATE BASKETBALL-GYM-AJCC

18NOON-FRIENDSHIPPER PROGRAMGYM-AJCC1:00 p.m. Friendshipper Card Game4:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6p.m.-Garza BB-GYM

19BBYO NEW MEMBER WEEKEND-CAMP COSBY, ALABAMATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS6:30 p.m. Services-HA8p-Shabbat services-TBE

20BBYO NEW MEMBER WEEKEND-CAMP COSBY, ALABAMATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS9:30a-Services-HA10:15 a.m.-Junior CongregationTorah study following Kiddush-HA

21BBYO NEW MEMBER WEEKEND-CAMP COSBY, ALABAMAKnox County School Break-HANO TALMUD STUDY-NO HARS-HESKAAMUNATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS9:45a-Minyan-HA

22Knox County School Break-HANO TALMUD STUDY-NO HARS-HESKAAMUNATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS2:15-KINDERDANCE-AJCC-GYM

23Knox County School Break-HANO TALMUD STUDY-NO HARS-HESKAAMUNATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS

11:00 a.m.-Hazak-HA4:00-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6p.m.-Garza BB-GYM

24Knox County School Break-HANO HARS-HESKAAMUNATEEN SERVICE TRIP TO NEWORLEANS4:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC7:30 P.M.-PATHWAYS class begins-HA6:30 p.m.-PRIVATE BASKETBALL-GYM-AJCC

254:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6:30 p.m. Parent Awareness Meeting-AJCC

26NO SERVICE-HESKAAMUNA8p-Shabbat services-TBE

27Lindsay Wright & Chad Parizman Auruf-HA9:30a-Services-HATorah study following Kiddush-HA

289a-Talmud study-HA9:45a-Minyan-HA10:15 a.m. Sisterhood Board Meeting-HA12:00-3:00pm-Torah CompletionCeremony

299:00 a.m.-4:00p.m.-Archive Work Session-BR2:15-KINDERDANCE-AJCC-GYM4p-A Dessel private use-BBYO Room5:30 – 7:00-UT-Hillel Faculty Event

3012:30-5:00 pm.-Opera Practice-StringOrchestra-GYM4:00-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC

31PAJAMA DAY-WEAR PJS TO SCHOOL-AJCC PRE-K4:00-9:00 pm-Opera Practice-FullOrchestra-AJCC6:30 p.m.-PRIVATE BASKETBALL-GYM-AJCC7:30 p.m.-Pathways Class-HA

14:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6p.m.-Garza BB-GYM

26p-Zack Messing Bar Mitzvah-HA8p-Shabbat services-TBE

39:30a-Services-HAZack Messing Bar Mitzvah-HATorah study following Kiddush-HA

4BBYO-BBG DARFUR DINNER-AJCCDAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS9a-Talmud study-HA9:45a-Minyan-HA10:00 a.m.-Bagel Cafe-HARS PJ’S &Sisterhood Book11a-Jewish Book Month at Borders

510-11:30 Archive Committee Meeting-AJCC Board R2:15-KINDERDANCE-AJCC-GYM7:30p-Israeli Dancing-Gym-AJCC

6Celebrate At a South American JewishWedding1:30p-Friendshipper Book Group-AL-KJA4:00-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC6p-Executive Committee-TBE7:30-Executive Committee-HA

74:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCCNoon - Friendshipper - Gym4:30 p.m.-Education Committee Meeting-HA6:30 p.m.-PRIVATE BASKETBALL-GYM-AJCC7:30 PM.-PATHWAYS CLASS-HA

84:00 P.M.-PRIVATE USE BBYO ROOM-AJCC5:30 P.M.-PARENT COMMITTEEMEETING-AJCC6p.m.-Garza BB-GYM

9Aleph through Hey Retreat-HA8p-Shabbat services-TBE

10Aleph through Hey Retreat-HApm-Sisterhood Rosh Chodesh event-HA9:30a-Services-HA10a-Torah Study-TBETorah study following Kiddush-HA

11Veterans DayRosh Chodesh KislevAleph through Hey Retreat-HAUJC General Assembly (national)9a-Talmud study-HA9:45a-Minyan-HA

KJACommunityEventsCalendar

6800 Deane Hill DriveKnoxville, TN 37919

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDKnoxville, TN

Permit No. 106

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY voice12

Sunday, November 4 features music, booksignings, and art at both local Bordersbookstores as part of Knoxville’s celebrationof Jewish Book Month. The event featuresthe following authors and entertainment.

Borders on Morrell - Music and Cafe -11 a.m. - 3 p.m.• Charlene Gubitz will sing and play guitar• Dor L Dor (local klezmer band) will perform

from 1 – 3 p.m.• Rabbi Beth Schwartz will sign copies of

“The Woman’s Haftarah Commentary” • Shirley Johnson, author of “A Soldier’s

Promise” (till 2 p.m.)

• Sylvia Skrmetta, author of “Giovanna:Angels in Hell” (till 2 p.m.)

• Noon – 3 p.m. - Marilyn Kallet, author of“Jack the Healing Cat” A story for childrenages 4-6 about a rescued cat that helps afamily

• Flora Rosefsky —spiritual collage artist whodraws with scissors - will present herartwork. For a preview, visitwww.florageart.com..

Borders at Turkey Creek - 3 - 5 p.m. • Tennessee Schmaltz (local klezmer band)

will perform from 3 -5 p.m.• Dr. Gilya Schmidt, UT Department Head,

Religious Studies and • Mira Kimmelman - editor and author of “Life

Beyond the Holocaust” and “Echoes fromthe Holocaust”

• Shirley Johnson, author of “A Soldier’sPromise”

• Sylvia Skrmetta, author of “Giovanna:Angels in Hell”

• Flora Rosefsky —spiritual collage artist whodraws with scissors – will present herartwork. For a preview, visitwww.florageart.com.

On December 2, Jewish Book Month willpresent Yitzahk Buxbaum.

November 4 Kicks Off Jewish Book Month

Evan Sturm washonored as the JewishFamily ServicesVolunteer of the Year.He receives acertificate from JFSDirector NancyBritcher.

JFS volunteers and board members met at Elmcroft ofKnoxville’s Harold’s Deli Room.

continued on page 3

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY voice2

Identification StatementIssue Number 8, Volume 69Issue Date: October 2007

published eight times per year by theKnoxville Jewish Alliance, Inc.

6800 Deane Hill Drive • Knoxville, TN 37919phone (865) 690-6343 • fax (865) 694-4861

website: www.jewishknoxville.orge-mail: voice@jewishknoxville.org

OfficersScott B. Hahn PresidentStephen Rosen President Elect Stephen Rosen Vice President - CampaignMark Harris TreasurerRenee Hyatt SecretarySeth Schweitzer Vice President - Children & YouthEllen Kern Vice President

Human Resources & Development Marilyn Wohl Vice President

Jewish Community Services Jane Cohen Vice President - Public RelationsDr. Ellen Schnoll Immediate Past PresidentJeff Gubitz Executive Director

Board Members at LargeJustin Bell, Marilyn Liberman, Rosalie Nagler,

Jill Weinstein, Barbara Bernstein, Dr. Caren Gallaher,Dan Smith, Paul Steinfield

Automatic Board MembersHeska Amuna Congregation Rabbi Louis ZivicTemple Beth El Congregation Rabbi Beth SchwartzHeska Amuna Board Chairperson Ted BesmannTemple Beth El President Stephen EisenKnox County Hadassah President Bonnie Boring BBYO Advisory Board Chairperson Karen RobinsonKJCFF, Inc. President Pace Robinson

Chairperson, Men’s Division Campaign; Chairperson,Women’s Division, Campaign; Chairperson, YouthDivision Campaign; and Executive Director, KJA, Inc. (exofficio), and chairpersons of these committees: MelissaFeinbaum, Allocations; Budget; Event Fundraising; Long-Range Planning; Pace Robinson, Facilities; Pace Robinson,Personnel; Camp; Children’s Programs; Cultural Arts;Manny Herz, Institute for Jewish Studies; Ellen Kern,Leadership: Jewish Knoxville; AJCC Membership; SusanCohen, Adult Recreation and Wellness; Marilyn Burnett,Jewish Family Services; J.P. Dessel, Jewish StudentCenter; Bernie Shorr, Seniors/Friendshippers; ArnoldCohen, Community Relations Committee and Jane Cohen,Publications.

The KJA strives to serve Jewish life by providing thedemocratic forum, the organizational structure, thephysical home, and financial means to support and

promote the cultural, intellectual, and general welfare ofthe entire Jewish Community of Knoxville and theJewish community across the world. The KJA is

affiliated with the United Jewish Communities. TheAJCC, a division of KJA, is a beneficiary of the United

Way of Greater Knoxville. It is affiliated with the(JCCA) Jewish Community Center Association.

Knoxville Jewish Community Voice StaffEditor: Joyce York • Staff: Wilma WeinsteinPublications Committee Chair: Eleanor Shorr

United Way

11October 2007

Where can you rub shoulders withleaders, tap your feet to tunes from topsongwriters, feed your brain with up-to-the-minute information, and catch up withold friends?

Thanks to teams of volunteers acrossTennessee who are working with ourstate’s four Jewish federations, you cando all that at the TN G.A., the UnitedJewish Communities General Assembly,taking place in Nashville this November11-13.

The G.A., the largest gathering ofJewish leadership in the world, will bringan estimated 4,000 Jews from aroundthe world to Nashville’s Gaylord OprylandHotel Resort and Convention Center. It’sbeen called the Super Bowl of Jewishevents, and it’s a first for the state ofTennessee.

“We are the smallest Jewishcommunity to be the site of a G.A., atleast in my history of the past 34 G.A.’s;consequently, we extended an invitationto the other Tennessee communities,”said Steve Edelstein, executive directorof the Jewish Federation of Nashville. Asa result, all four federations are hostingthe event. “Together, our strength isformidable,” Edelstein said.

All of the federations’ executivedirectors have been promoting the TNG.A. in their own communities and havebeen involved in joint decision-making.They’ve been lining up corporatesponsors, recruiting volunteers, andhelping develop an exhibit, titled “Bagelsand Barbecue,” that illustrates the historyof Jews in the Volunteer State.

Here are a few illustrations of thestatewide commitment to host the G.A.:

• International co-chairs Jack Belz andAndy Groveman are from Memphis;

• University of Tennessee men’sbasketball coach Bruce Pearl – afavorite in his hometown of Knoxvilleand across the state - will appear atthe opening plenary session;

• Nashville-based singers andsongwriters will entertain G.A.delegates; and

• Chattanooga-area middle schoolprincipal Linda Hooper, nationallyrecognized for teaching studentsabout the Holocaust, will speak at theG.A.’s Women’s Philanthropy Lunch. Before the UJC picked Tennessee for

the 2007 G.A., the four executivedirectors had kept in touch and met

periodically. “The GA in a sense gave aproject to work on – a large project,” saidMichael Dzik, executive director of theJewish Community Federation of GreaterChattanooga. “It’s been wonderful.”

Having four smaller Jewishcommunities collaborate on the UJC’spremier event should benefit the largerorganization, which represents andserves 155 Jewish federations and 400independent Jewish communities acrossNorth America. Knoxville JewishFederation Executive Director Jeff Gubitzput it this way: “There are many smallcommunities that often feel out of touchwith the UJC, yet smaller communitieslike Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashvilleand Memphis make up nearly 85 percentof the overall constituency.”

All four executive directors urgemembers of the state’s Jewishcommunity to attend the G.A., either as adelegate or a volunteer. Volunteers mayattend G.A. events on the days theywork, and Tennessee residents areeligible for discounts on registrationfees..

“This is a great opportunity to be partof the larger Jewish world without havingto travel far. For Knoxville, it is a pleasanttwo-and-a-half hour drive to the OprylandHotel site,” Gubitz noted.

“This general assembly has been inthe works for several years,” said JeffFeld, executive director of the MemphisJewish Federation. “It’s in our backyard.We’re never going to have this again. It’sa once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Tennessee G.A. volunteers also havea unique opportunity to tell delegatesfrom across the country, “We’re a vibrantJewish community and we’re proud tohave you here,” They can showdelegates from larger Jewishcommunities what it’s like to be part of asmaller one. “We’ve always beencommitted to our community,” Nashvillevolunteer committee member SandraHecklin said at a recent meeting of G.A.committee members. “Other Jewishcommunities throughout the UnitedStates don’t realize how important ourcommunity is to us.”

It’s important to attend,Chattanooga’s Dzik said. Next year’sG.A. will be held in Israel, but the 2007event is “in our backyard, with top-notchspeakers and programming. There’s alittle something for everyone at the G.A.”

GA Offers Something for Everyone

Knoxville Jewish Community Family of FundsA Supporting Foundation of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance and the East Tennessee

Foundation to preserve and strengthen the Jewish Community of Knoxville

IRA RolloverDon’t Miss Out!The IRA Rollover Provisionends this year!

Donate up to $100,000annually from your IRA TaxFree to charity.

The money is excluded from your taxableincome so it is just like getting a tax deductionfor the gift. A few things about the IRA Rollover:

• Taxpayers must be at least 701/2 to take advantage of the provision.

• It only applies to gifts made in tax years2006 and 2007.

• The maximum amount that can be rolledover tax-free is $100,000.

• The provision only allows for direct, cashgifts to a qualified, nonprofit institution (i.e.,a 501(c)(3) charitable organization).

If you are interested in making a specialIRA rollover donation, please give me a call:584-9090 or e-mail me atpacer@modernsupply.com. Looking forward totalking to you about this opportunity, — PaceRobinson.

Here’s a list of our current funds. • Jeff and Nancy Becker Community

Enrichment Fund

• Bernard E. and Barbara W. BernsteinCharitable Fund

• Sylvia Greenberg Family Fund

• Heska Amuna Educators Supplement Fund

• Jewish Family Service Fund

• David and Deborah Oleshansky Family Fund

• Ted and Dolly Reback Knoxville Youth Fund

• Natalie and Mitchell Robinson CommunityEnrichment Fund

• Sam and Esther Rosen CommunityEnrichment Fund - AJCC

• Sam and Esther Rosen CommunityEnrichment Fund – Heska Amuna

• Sam and Esther Rosen CommunityEnrichment Fund - Federation

• Stephen and Kim Rosen Donor AdvisedFund

• Bradley Sturm Memorial Fund

• Goldstein/Tygum Family Fund

• Frances Sturm Cultural Fund of the JewishCongregation of Oak Ridge

• Arnstein Community Center EndowmentFund

• Alliance Opportunity Fund

• David Blumberg Youth Leadership AwardFund

• B’nai Tzedek Funds (more than 30)

• Abe Collins Cultural Fund

• Milton Collins Cultural Fund

• Sam and Esther Rosen Friendshippers ClubFund

• Gordon Brown Youth Recreation Fund

• Sam and Millie Gelber Fund for JewishImmigrants

• Allen Rosen Education Fund

• Miles and Zelda Siegel Fund for Knoxville’sJewish Elderly

• Zionist Organization Fund

• Ben and Pearl Zwick Fund

• Rosenthal Environmental Fund

• Sylvia Robinson Memorial Fund• William “Bill” Brody Fund

• Dr. Bernard S. Rosenblatt Fund

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY FAMILY OF FUNDS BOARD OF DIRECTORSPace Robinson, President • Richard Jacobstein, Vice President • Bernie Rosenblatt, Secretary/Treasurer • Jeff Becker, Bernard Bernstein, Arnold Cohen,

Bobby Goodfriend, Scott Hahn, Herb Jacobs • Harold Markman, Alexandra Rosen, Mary Linda Schwarzbart, Mel Sturm • Jeff Gubitz, Ex-Officio

The Board of Directors of the Knoxville Jewish Community Family of Fundsthanks the Knoxville Jewish Community, the staff of the Knoxville Jewish Alliance and the East Tennessee Foundation for their support

and encouragement. The KJCFF encourages you to help insure the healthy future of our Knoxville Jewish community by including a commitmentto the KJCFF in your financial and estate planning.

To learn more about KJCFF philanthropic opportunities, call 690-6343 or visit our website at www.jewishknoxville.org

DonationsB’nai Tzedek Fund of Leah Pearl

• Sybil Joffe in honor of her Bat Mitzvah• Gilya Schmidt in honor or her Bat Mitzvah• Mary Linda and Arnold Schwarzbart in

honor of her Bat Mitzvah

B’nai Tzedek Fund of Andrew Messing• Arnold and Mary Linda Schwarzbart in

honor of his Bar Mitzvah

B’nai Tzedek Fund of StephaniePfeffer-Rodriguez

• Arnold and Mary Linda Schwarzbart inhonor of her Bat Mitzvah

B’nai Tzedek Fund of Talia Dessel• Arnold and Mary Linda Schwarzbart in

honor of her Bat Mitzvah

B’nai Tzedek Fund of Brit Sturm• Leon Hasden in memory of Dale Hasden

B’nai Tzedek Fund of Jennie Frost• Gilya Schmidt in honor of her Bat Mitzvah

B’nai Tzedek Fund of Noah Erwin• Renee Hyatt and Paul Erwin• Mary Linda and Arnold Schwarzbart in

honor of his Bar Mitzvah

Ted and Dolly Reback Youth Fund• R. Robinson Raphael• Bruce Zucker

AJCC Endowment Fund• Arnold and Susan Cohen with thanks to

their friends for their well wishes on theirmarriage.

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY voice10

BBG: Weinstein Back in ActionWeinstein has not stopped for one

second since the beginning of the summer.We have been working and playing andswimming and dancing all summer. Westarted our summer with our HUGE springfundraiser Boogie-for-Buck dance-a-thon. Allof the members of Weinstein recruitedsponsors and then danced their tails off allnight long.

During the hot summer days everyonewas off doing something different. Threemembers of Weinstein went to a BBYOleadership conference for two weeks, fourmembers participated in an exchangeprogram in Israel this summer, and manymembers used this summer to relax andhang out by the pool.

At the end of the summer we said good-bye to our graduated seniors with twodifferent fun filled programs. One was SeniorAppreciation in which we took our threeseniors out to dinner and then went back toAlex Galvin’s house and watched movies,ate cake, and partied like rock stars. After

Senior Appreciation we had LIFE which isthe last program the seniors attended. At thisprogram the seniors said their final words toeveryone in the chapter, gave advice, andshed a few tears.

After summer, Weinstein hit the groundrunning. Our first program after schoolstarted was board bonding. This was achance for the new board to get acquaintedwith each other and plan an awesome term.The new board for this term is Anna Kern asPresident, Megan Weiss as Vice President,Alex Galvin and Hannah Kline as MIT Moms,Bryna Oleshansky as Secretary, Mara Hahnas Treasurer, and Emma Silver-Alford asJewish Programming Chairwoman.

Since board bonding we have had manyunique programs. We have had WeinsteinWorks Out where we played volleyball, didjazzercise with Richard Simmons, andprepared a healthy dinner. We have alsoparticipated in a clean-up at the preschoolplayground. Recently many of the membersof Weinstein attended a regional program in

Nashville called Fall Kallah. There welearned about inter-marriage, abortion, andmany other topics; the Jewish view on thesetopics; and we expressed our views on thesubjects. This was a great learningexperience for all who attended.

The weekend of September 15 and 16we had two great programs. One was aculture night where we learned aboutcultures from all over the world and the otherwas Brunch with Bubbies. At this programwe ate, talked, and laughed with many of the“Bubbie” aged women in our community. Wealso collected recipes to start our nextfundraiser which will be a Weinsteincookbook.

We have many programs coming up inthe near future. Two other major programscoming up are a Sex and the City program inOctober and our much awaited Darfur Dinnerin November.

Weinstein is off to a great start this yearand we hope that we can make this the bestyear ever.

Well I have the clothes,now maybe it’s time tolearn…..

Periodically this summer I have made mywalk on the AJCC grounds and could swear Isaw Gordy Brown playing tennis with thegang. A wishful memory and longing fordays gone by.

Well Gordy is a fond memory for manyfor us, but the glory days of the AJCC tenniscourts are back! Look behind the pool andyou will see a bright green fence and a newlyrefurbished tennis court.

Thanks to the generosity of ananonymous donor, the AJCC tenniscourts will be revitalizedand should become adestination point formany of us in thecommunity. The fenceshave been fixed, paintedand the courts resurfaced.New nets are in place.The only thing lacking isyou!

Come and play anduse our great facility.

October 2007

KJA President’s ReportBy Scott B. Hahn

One of the mostperplexing issues thathas faced late 20thcentury, early 21stcentury Judaism is whatis the best way totransmit Jewish values tofuture generations.

Education is often seen as a possible solution.However, as we all know, high educationalachievement and morality can be mutuallyexclusive. One exciting program that theKnoxville Jewish Alliance has initiated to helpconfront this issue is our B’nai Tzedek teenphilanthropy program run by its director,Deborah Oleshansky.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with

the program, Knoxville was fortunate to receivea grant from the Harold Grinspoon foundationfor three years. The Grinspoon Foundation hasestablished various teen philanthropy programsthroughout the U.S. Members of the KnoxvilleJewish Community have voluntarily matchedthis grant. Upon entering the program, the teenparticipants put $125.00 into the account. Thisis matched with $125.00 from eachcongregation or individual family and $250.00from the KJCFF. These individual funds arethen invested through the East TennesseeFoundation where they generate interest.

The participants then meet on a regularbasis and make allocations to various Jewishcharities. To date, there are 30 participants inthis program. This is a fantastic percentage of

the Jewish teen population in East Tennessee.What is remarkable about the program is thatthe participants learn about the world of Jewishgiving in an educational and fun forum. Theteens also get into the habit of giving to Jewishcharities on a regular basis. We all know thatwhen you get into the habit of doing activities ata young age, the more likely you are tocontinue the same activities in the future. I canthink of no finer method to transmit Jewishvalues than through teaching young people ahands on approach to giving tzedekah. If youor your family is interested in learning moreabout this dynamic and innovative program,please contact Deborah Oleshansky at the KJAoffice.

favors. We thank everyone who shares someof their valuable time to make others lives alittle brighter. If you would like to be involvedas a JFS volunteer, please contact NancyBritcher at the JFS office, 693-5837 and wewill gladly connect you with Evan Sturm.

Jewish Family Services:On Any Given Day

On any given day in our community,people may find themselves in need ofJewish Family Services. It may be a need forindividual or family counseling, communityresource information or services for anelderly family member or friend. It could bean emergency situation where utilities are cutoff or a special medication is needed butcosts more than planned. In these and othersituations, the JFS Emergency Fund may bean option.

Jewish Family Services invites you tolearn more about our Emergency Fund,available to any community member in needwith an assessment made by a licensedsocial worker. Please call JFS at the KJAoffices at 690-6343 for further information.

We also strongly encourage individualsand families to consider a charitablecontribution to this fund so that it cancontinue to grow and help meet a person’sneeds in a crucial situation.

JFS High Holiday LuncheonOn Tuesday, September 11, 2007, a

beautiful and delicious High HolidayLuncheon program was held at ElmcroftAssisted Living for Knoxville area residents ofall assisted living facilities and retirementcenters. People attended from Elmcroft, EchoRidge, Atria Weston Place, NHC Cavett Hill

and from individual homes. A delicious lunchprepared by our volunteers included stuffedcabbage, vegetable kugel, potato kugel,challah, apples dipped in honey and applecake and assorted desserts. Rabbi BethSchwartz opened our program along withblessings for our meal and for the holidays,Rabbi Louis Zivic discussed importantmeanings of our High Holidays, and RabbiYossi Wilhelm blew the shofar in order for usto “wake up” to the sounds of the New Year.Our entertainment was provided by CharleneGubitz who sang wonderful songsaccompanying herself with her guitar.Everyone joined in with the singing and allagreed that it was a wonderful experience toget together to celebrate the coming NewYear.

“Thank You’s” from JewishFamily Services

Many thanks go out to numerous peoplefor their continuing help with Jewish FamilyServices programs. Eleanor and BernieShorr and Marilyn Presser for our wonderful“Chai” Holiday Bags and decorations, JoanCohn for the beautiful challah, Pat and GeneRosenberg, Marilyn Burnett, Evan Sturm,Nancy Becker and Trudy Dreyer forhomecooked food and help, LesleyRosenblatt for apples and honey and MarilynWohl for her mini-challahs. Also, thanks toZilla Weininger for transportation. Manythanks also to Rabbis’ Schwartz, Wilhelm andZivic for participating in our program, and toCharlene Gubitz for her beautiful voice andwarm presence. Thanks also to Ken Brown,Rabbi Zivic and Rabbi Wilhelm for deliveringadditional Chai bags and blowing shofar forALL of our assisted living and nursing

residents throughout the community. What amitzvah all of you perform when you showhow much you care for the older adults in ourcommunity.

JFS coordinates “Chai“ Bagsfor Special Visits

Jewish Family Services Volunteers treatresidents in community assisted living andnursing homes with our famous “Chai” bags.These bags enable volunteers to bring a littlegift with them when they visit those confinedto nursing homes or other long-term carefacilities. They contain assorted toiletries andpersonal care items with separate bagsdesigned for men and women. If you wouldlike to know more about our “Chai “ bagprogram or volunteer some time to visit ourolder adults in assisted living and nursinghomes, please call Nancy Britcher, JFS, at693-5837 or contact our VolunteerCoordinator, Evan Sturm.

3

JFS Honors Evan Sturm as Volunteer of the Year continued from page 1

SAVE THE DATE!!

Temple Beth El SisterhoodInfo: Ruth Sherrill 690-5015

Sunday, November 18, 2007

By Bryna Oleshansky

For the latest

in news and

KJA events,

visit

www.jewishknoxville.org

KNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY voice4

UT Hillel/Jewish Student Center A Very Busy Fall SemesterBy Deborah Oleshansky, JSC/Hille Director

UT Hillel has been busy so far this fall with socialprograms, holiday celebrations and campus wideevents – and it’s still only September!

Over 30 new students joined returning students atthe opening program in August, including Knoxvillenatives Benjamin Heller and Miriam Kramer. CoachBruce Pearl and Steven Pearl came by to meet thenew students and to share some stories of their tripwith the UT Men’s Basketball team to Europe thissummer. In addition to basketball tournament play, thetrip included a visit to a memorial for those killed at theTerezin concentration camp during World War II.Steven spoke of the impact the visit had on him andsome of the strong and emotional reactions of his teammates. The

full trip experience has ledto a shared common bondamong the players andhas raisedunderstandings amongthem.

In early September,UT students partneredwith the InternationalHouse on campus topresent Jewish CultureNight. The event washeld on a Wednesdayevening at theInternational House andincluded food and

information about Jewish culture around the world. Hillel President,Elyse Messing, organized some fun question/answer activities andwith the help of Hillel student leaders presented a wide variety ofinformation. The program was open to the entire campus and over130 people attended. In fact, we had to stop selling food ticketsbecause the room was overflowing! SPECIAL THANKS to MarilynBurnett and Marilyn Wohl for their help preparing food for 130 people!

Thank you to Temple Beth El and Heska Amuna Synagogue forallowing UT students to attend Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

services. New andreturning studentsenjoyed a group RoshHashana lunch afterservices, hosted by Davidand Deborah Oleshansky.Students were joined byUT faculty and staffmembers Andy Kramer,Rob Heller and BrucePearl, who all attendedwith their families. Thefamily atmosphere helpedto create a welcomingexperience for newstudents celebrating away from home for the first time. HillelPresident Elyse Messing also attended with her parents, Pat andNora Messing. Thank you to Nora Messing, Dina Kramer, andMelissa Sturm for supplying the delicious desserts! Studentsgathered again to celebrate Sukkot on Friday, September 28 andSunday, September 30. Watch for pictures in the next Voice!

We are in the process of completing the Shabbat Dinner schedulefor the remainder of Fall Semester. If you are interested in hostingUT students for Shabbat dinner in your home, please contactDeborah Oleshansky at 690-6343 or d. You can also keep currentwith Hillel scheduling by visiting our website at: w.

9October 2007

Aaron Ameen, Noah Kess and ZanRosenthal enjoy the opening Hillelprogram held at the CopperCellar.

Coach Bruce Pearl chats withstudents at the opening Hillelprogram.

New students Rebekah Zeitlin andTownley White meet returningstudent Jessica Bogach.

Senior Seth Schklar welcomes newstudents Jake Baron, JohnReinhardt and Spencer Glaser.

Children get to seeshofars as part ofthe focus on Rosh

Hashanah asRabbit Yossi

Wilhelm explains.

Carolyn Silver-Alford of Heska Amuna Religious School showspreschoolers a lulav under the AJCC sukkah.

The JewishCommunity Archivesof Knoxville andEast Tennessee

The Way We WereSisters Rose Kate Lippner and Mary Lippner

nnSixth Annual Day of Learning

Covers Environmental ThemeBy Wilma Weinstein

Why does God take six days to create the world rather thancreating it in an instant? That was just one of the questions discussedin our program Sunday, August 26 at The Day of Learning. Thesessions were led by Melissa Simon and Nati Passow who are staffmembers of Teva Learning Center. The Teva Learning Center isNorth America’s foremost Jewish Environmental Education Institute.

Thousands of years ago our ancestors lived with a keenawareness of their dependence on the natural systems that supportlife. Through their daily interactions with soil, water, and air, theydeveloped a great respect for the Earth and sensed the presence ofthe Divine within all of Creation. Today, although many Jews todayhave lost this connection, our ancient relationship with nature isnevertheless reflected in Jewish law, in our prayers, in the celebrationof our holidays, and in the core values of our tradition.

The Teva Learning Center exists to renew the ecological wisdominherent in Judaism. By immersing participants in the natural worldand providing structured activities which sensitize them to nature’srhythms, we help them develop a more meaningful relationship withnature and their own Jewish practices. This process also facilitatespersonal growth, community building, and a genuine commitment totikkun olam, healing the world. All Teva programs are built on athematic progression - from Awareness to Interconnectedness toResponsibility.

A special thank you to The Day of Learning Committee: JoaniLeeds, Nancy Becker, Rabbi Beth Schwartz, Rabbi Louis Zivic, JeffGubitz, Larry Bayer, and Evan Ohriner. Thank you to Hogan’s Bakery,Starbucks, Dippin’ Dots and Nature’s Pantry for their donations.

Buy Your Chanukah StampsThe 2007 Chanukah

stamp will be released onOctober 26. It should beavailable at all post officesno later than October 27.The 41 cent Chanukahstamp will be the samedreidel design that has beenused since 2004. Despitethe nearly annual revision ofthe Christmas stamp, theUnited States PostalService has been reluctantto change the Chanukahstamp design even when

there is a rate change. The dreidel is only the second designused in 12 years. The Menorah design was used for 8 years.The dreidel design is now 4 years old.

Please buy Chanukah stamps as soon as they are available.Ask your postal clerk to order more when they run out. Usethem throughout the holiday season. Buy extras and use themall year long.

Leaving Knoxville for a warmer climate?

Please caall the KJA office and make sure your

mail follows you. It only takes a minute and that

minute saves the KJA money and frustration.

Call Robin at 690-6343 or e-mail

rvaughan@jewishknoxville.org.

5October 2007

Sukkah Raising a SuccessKNOXVILLE JEWISH COMMUNITY voice8

Kim Rosen helps daughter Tifannie create a glitter gourd asArielle works on one of her own. The gourds will helpdecorate the sukkah.

Jeff Gabitz and Rick Ely build a support beam.

Keaton Noon and Noah Erwin attach the siding withbindings.

Andrew Messing, David Floyd, Seth Shuman, and LoganBrown take turns with the power tools as the sukkah projectgets underway.

JakeRosenberghelpsconstructthe AJCCsukkah.

Families spent a beautiful fall Sunday building a sukkah on theAJCC grounds. Children designed colorful arts and crafts, asadults built the sukkah. Seventh and eighth graders from theTeen Connection also helped. Everyone enjoyed a pizzaluncheon as the project unfolded.

Logan Browndrills the supportbeam as MarcMargolis looks on.

Friendshippers - Where life Begins at 55!Chair: Bernie Shorr , Program Director: Wilma Weinstein

The Friendshippers are active adults age 55 and over who meetregularly at the AJCC for an array of luncheon speaker programs.

Monthly speakers include members of the Jewish community,local celebrities and programs given by visiting guest speakers.

Topics include book reviews, travelogues, humorous or musicalprograms, Jewish holiday celebrations, discussions of current events,our “Growing Up Jewish Around the World” series and more!

Friendshipper Book Group meets the first Tuesday of the month at1:30 p.m. New members welcome!

• Spend time with old and new friends!• Enjoy great meals from area restaurants & caterers!• Enjoy a free meal in the month of your birthday!• Learn something new while enjoying entertaining programs! New participants always welcome!!!Rides available to all programs!!

For more information, contact Wilma Weinstein at the AJCC,690-6343 x 16

UPCOMING FRIENDSHIPPER PROGRAMSCome have fun with us at these upcoming events!

Thursday, October 18: Rob Heller’s presentation on the openingof his exhibit, “Living On” in Warsaw and photos and discussionof his trip to Poland. Catered luncheon at $8.00 per person fromOlive Garden; no charge for program alone. Luncheon sponsored byManorhouse.

Wednesday, October 24: Rabbi Louis Zivic will discuss,”Whatwill the Judaism of 2050 be like?” Catered luncheon at $8.00 perperson; no charge for program alone.

Wednesday, November 7: “Dear Diary…” Barbara Bernstein willshare diary entries from generations of her family who havebeen GROWING UP JEWISH IN KNOXVILLE since 1895. Fromthese intimate writings, you can get a glimpse of Knoxville fromeach of her parents’ viewpoints as teenagers and young adultsduring the “Roaring 20s”…and from Barbara’s own journals as ateenager in post World War II Knoxville. Catered lunch at $8.00 perperson; no charge for program alone. Also special guest MayorRagsdale will update us on Knox County senior initiatives.

Thursday, December 13: Annual Chanukah Musical and Sing-a-long featuring Susan Shorr-Brown. Catered lunch, including latkes,at $8.00 per person; no charge for program alone. Luncheonsponsored by Elmcroft.

Friday, January 11, 2008: Maestro Brian Salesky will present aprogram about the Knoxville Opera with selected talent. Cateredlunch at $8.00 per person; no charge for program alone.

Wednesday, February 20: Wendel Werner and the UT Singers willentertain us! Catered lunch at $8.00 per person; no charge forprogram alone.

Wednesday, March 12: Growing Up Jewish Around the World,featuring Dr. Gilya Schmidt. Catered lunch at $8.00 per person; nocharge for program alone.

Wednesday, April 16: Bob Faulkner with the Knox CountySheriffs Office will present Identify theft, fraud and scams. Morethan 10 million Americans have their identities stolen every year.Identity theft and fraud is the prime focus of organized crimeand you could be the next victim. Catered lunch at $8.00 perperson; no charge for program alone.

Shorrlines: Prayer, Peace and Maybe a Few Triumphs

The huge lighted blowup figure of Smoky, the Vols’ canine mascot,stood tall and bright, welcoming invited guests to the neighborhoodbackyard tailgate party for the kickoff game of the new season.

The miserable summer heat had abated somewhat and the hugeborrowed fan kept us comfortable until sundown. California timelapse allowed us to have two hours of drinking and noshing until thegame actually began. and boy! did we. The enormous six footsandwiches were cut into manageable size, the wings and drumstickswere devoured, as well as the ubiquitous southern desserts, bananapudding and chocolate cake. We gossiped and schmoozed while themen strutted their plumage in Vol orange shirts - after all, we do livein Big Orange country.

Finally, the cheer that rose to the sky over the Golden Gate Bridgefrom Berkeley, was the clarion call echoing from the two television setsthat had been set up out of doors. The first football game of theseason had begun. It was a darn good game even if the Vols did lose.There were lots of touchdowns on both sides, great playing on bothteams and even if the stadium crowd of California rooters made noise,hey – the orange section gave as good as they got. No one can matchthe enthusiasm and racket and noise from Neyland Stadium. Whyeven those still here in Knoxville could have been heard.

Our enthusiasm reached all the way to the mountains of NewJersey and the desert of Arizona. Earlier our sister gleefully watchedRutgers win handily and then the later loss for the Vols. The Arizonabranch called Sunday afternoon after realizing that we did not get tosleep until much much after midnight. We must say that thecondolences were rather lukewarm. We told them that you gotta behere to realize big orange football mania.

So now we have to settle down to the real and important issues inour lives. Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot – these are vital to ourwell being. We cannot enjoy a football game without realizing the we,as Jews, have come once more to that time of the year when prayer,repentance, renewal and tzedakah are the backbone of our existence.When the shofar blows, we stand to be judged. We pray that ouryear will be filled with health and happiness and, maybe, if it isn’t tootrivial, a winning basketball team for our much loved Bruce Pearl.

By Eleanor Shorr