Jewish Scene Magazine January 2008

Transcription

Jewish Scene Magazine January 2008
January 2008
RIVER FRONT CONDO • UNCOVERING SOUTHERN JEWISH COMMUNITIES
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VISIT O
U R N E W W E B S I T E www.jewishscenemagazine.com
AT :
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ZINE.COM
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T H E
P E R F E C T
S E T T I N G
FOR YOUR SPARKLING MEMORY
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Contents
4
HOME & GARDEN:
Majestic Mississippi is Magnet for
Downtown Condo
28
29
10
TRAVEL: The Art of Travel
Silversea Leads the Way
30
11
BESHERT: Meeting
12
AGENCY HIGHLIGHT:
United Jewish Communities
General Assembly
16
18
FROM THE KITCHEN OF:
Super Bowl Israeli Style
L’CHAYIM: Winter is a Great Time
to Visit Napa Valley
20
FEATURE: Jewish Involvement
Sparks Commitment
22
ON THE SIDELINES:
A Horse - A Women’s Best Friend
31
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
Reviews
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
The Kugel Report
TEEN SCENE:
BBYO/MeFTY/ Dollars for Darfur
THE SCRIBBLER: Tu B’Shevat;
Still as Trendy as a Gucci Handbag
32
AGENCY/ADVERTISER LISTING
33
COMING ATTRACTIONS
SCRAPBOOKS
8
9
15
19
21
25
27
BSSS, Memphis
Jewish Foundation of Memphis
Plough Towers, Memphis
Beth Sholom, Memphis
Young Israel, Memphis
Etz Chaim, Bentonville, Ark.
Memphis Scene
Memphis Jewish Home
MHA/FYOS, Memphis
24
FEATURE: Uncovering the History of
Southern Jewish Communities
29
25
IN FASHION: Your Link to the
Perfect Accessory
On the cover:
Tennessee Jewish Federation volunteers
welcomed 4,000 plus GA attendees
26
DOLLARS & SENSE: The Power of
Dividends in a Portfolio
Susan C. Nieman
Art Director
Dustin Green
Art Assistant
David Miller
Rebecca Miller
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Jennifer Lefkowitz
Calendar & Scrapbook Editor
Linda Schlesinger
Editorial Contributors
Lawson Arney
Gary Burhop
Shoshana Cenker
Jennifer Edelson
Seth Feibelman
Chris Arpe Gang
Mark Hayden
Julie Lansky
Jennifer Lefkowitz
Ted Roberts
Debbie Rosenthal
Harry Samuels
Amy Slovis
Account Executives
Bob Drake
Bari Eiseman
Larry Nieman
Chief Financial Officer
Don Heitner
Business Manager
Alice Drake
Editorial Assistants
Jewish Scene is dedicated to creating awareness among the Jewish community; and promoting and supporting the
religious, educational, social and fundraising efforts of Jewish agencies and organizations throughout the South.
22
Editor/Publisher
4
Bettye Berlin
Emily Bernhardt
Alice Drake
Volume 2 Number 4
January 2008
Tevet/Shevat 5768
Jewish Scene magazine must give permission for any
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publication of any advertisement in this issue does not
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or services by this publication.
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Send name and address with check to:
12
Jewish Living of the South, Inc. dba Jewish Scene
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Phone: 901.624.4896
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Email: susan@jewishscenemagazine.com
www.jewishscenemagazine.com
From the
EDITOR
Dear Readers,
By the time you receive this issue, Chanukah
will be over, the kids will be back in school
and things will have settled down from the
holiday parties.
But since the deadline for this issue was
before Chanukah ended, we will all have to
wait until the next issue to see the photos
from your fabulous Chanukah celebrations.
Our new Web site www.jewishscenemagazine.com
is up and running! There is much to see and
still more to come. View the latest issue and
all past issues, subscribe or change your
address, view and download our media kit.
You can even look up or link to your
local Jewish organizations and our Jewish
Scene advertisers.
Our online Calendar of Events is now
available to ALL NONPROFIT organizations
– Jewish and secular. There is plenty of room
on this calendar, which is associated with
Google; you may even download all of our
listings into your own Google calendar.
This issue is full of interesting people and
events. Maybe you’ll even see some of the
new friends you made at the UJC’s General
Assembly. The Opryland Hotel was beautiful;
the speakers were fantastic and everyone’s
spirits soaring. It was a job well done
Tennessee Federations!
Turn
Back Time.
Titan & Genesis
®
When you visit our advertisers, please tell
them you saw their ad in Jewish Scene
magazine. It is with the continued support
and loyalty of these advertisers that
Jewish Scene is printed and mailed to
you each month.
A d d aP e a r l
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and now
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fo r w r i n k l e s .
A n o t h e r f i r s t , yo u r C o l l a ge n t h i c ke n e d
and skin cleared in just one treatment
Please visit jewishscenemagazine.com often.
Happy New Year!
Shalom,
Susan C. Nieman - Publisher/Editor
T h e r m a l L i f t a n d T h e r m a l M i c ro Pe e l r e s u l t s i n o n e v i s i t .
S k i n T i g h t e n i n g • P h o t o Re j u ve n a t i o n • L a s e r H a i r Re d u c t i o n
L a s e r d e r m o l o gy fo r C e l l u l i t e • B o t ox ® - Re s t y l a n e - Pe r l a n e & n ew l y a p p ro ve d J u v e d e r m
Robert D. Wallace, MD - Medical Consultant • Mona Sappenfield - Aesthetic Director
Memphis, TN 901.683.0048
Germantown, TN 901.756.7945
www.monaspaandlaser.com
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
3
HOME & GARDEN
Majestic Mississippi Is The Magnet
Photos: Susan Nieman
For Downtown Condo Purchase
M
By Christine Gang
eryl Rosen’s contemporary condo would exude its
In explaining her attraction to all things contemporary,
funky charm no matter where it was located.
Rosen says: “I just like color.”
But when you factor in a wall of windows framing one of
She and interior designer Kenneth Cummins
the city’s most stunning views of the Mississippi, it becomes i n jected bold colors throughout the space, except
an extraordinary place.
in the bedroom, which has a more
“I love the view,” said Rosen, who has
restful ambiance.
owned the condo on the twelfth floor of
The inspiration for the color came
the River Tower at South Bluffs (formerly
from one of Rosen’s favorite works of art, a
the Rivermont hotel) for a little more
large piece of a fused glass by Seattle artist
than a year. “It changes with the seasons
Carmen Vetter. It features circular
and the water levels go up and down.”
forms of bright contemporary colors.
For now, the condo is a pied-a-terre for
“We pulled all of the colors for the
entertaining away from her primary home
interior from the piece,” said Rosen,
in East Memphis.
who loves and collects glass art. She’s
“My plan has always been to sell the
been attracted to it ever since she saw
house and have a condo downtown and
a Dale Chihuly show at Dixon Gallery
another vacation condo someplace else,”
and Gardens in 1997. She now owns two
Rosen said. Now that her children, Scott,
examples of his work as well as those of
24 and Elizabeth, 21, are grown, the plan
other contemporary glass artists.
is gradually being put into place.
One of her prized pieces is a ChihulyShe fell in love with the view and the
esque chandelier made by Arkansas
building during a downtown Vesta Home
artist Ed Pennebaker. Now in the foyer of
Show she attended almost two years ago.
her East Memphis home, it will someday
GLASS PIECE BY CARMEN VETTER be installed in the downtown condo.
She chose a one-bedroom unit with a
double living room.
The Vetter piece hangs in the foyer above an unusual
While her East Memphis home also has contemporary wood console with geometric embellishments. The console,
pieces blended with traditional furnishings, the condo made by a shop teacher at Christian Brothers High School,
offered a fresh opportunity for expressing her avant- was purchased at a school auction.
garde tastes.
In planning the furniture placement in the main living
4
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
HOME & GARDEN
Y
CM
MY
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CMY
K
buffet-server and also as a sofa table.
A curvy wood cabinet in the dining
area houses candles and other pieces
for entertaining.
In the bow of one of the two huge
exterior windows are three great finds
– a pair of contemporary chairs and
an ottoman covered in thousands of
rubber tube segments that give them a
shaggy dog look.
Rosen spied the comfortable chairs at a contemporary
furniture show in New York and had to have them for the condo.
19th, 7 p.m. / 20th, 2 p.m.
M
ORPHEUM THEATRE
C
Under The Sea APRIL
space, she and Cummins worked to maximize
the view for visitors.
Instead of placing the glass dining
table and chairs in an interior alcove
designated for it, they gave it a spot where
the river is always in sight.
The table, which was designed by
Cummins and made at Glassical, Inc.,
is surrounded by six parsons chairs each
with its own
slipcover. Four12/4/07
are bright
solids in red, purple,
BLM_ABN_AD_JWSH.pdf
11:40:50 AM
blue and lime. Two are multi-colored.
Nearby, a glass and steel console functions as a
AbunDANCE
ORPHEUM THEATRE
A
maze yourself with the diversity and tradition of the world’s
great religions with this choreographed jubilee. The performance
will include Trey McIntyre’s gospel-infused Grace, Julia Adam’s
work set to ancient Jewish choral music, and two fabulous
pieces honoring the Muslim and Eastern religions.
FEBRUARY
9th, 8 p.m. /10th, 2 p.m.
balletmemphis.org · 901.737.7322
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
5
HOME & GARDEN
Near the chairs is the largest piece of art in the condo – a
colorful abstract work featuring wide diagonal stripes and
other geometric shapes. It was painted by Rosen’s daughter
who is studying art at Christian Brothers University.
“Elizabeth had done a small painting that was similar
and I told her I’d love a big one like it for the condo,” Rosen
said. They shopped for the biggest canvas they could find
and Elizabeth got to work.
A replica of Mickey Mouse, a gift from her children, is
placed in front of the painting.
In the other bow is a round glass table surrounded by four
clear polycarbonate “Ghost” chairs designed by Louis Ghost.
Because all of the materials are clear, nothing blocks the
view or adds weight to the space.
“I love reading the paper at the table,” she said. It’s a
great place for dinner for two or a game of mahjong.
A black chenille sofa, two overstuffed arm chairs
c o vered in a gold fabric with red, blue and purple
ovals and a multi-colored striped ottoman form the primary
conversation area.
It’s also the place for viewing the television set tucked
away in an entertainment center painted red, blue and
yellow and designed with unexpected curves and angles.
On top is a decorative plate with the words: “Be Nice or Leave.”
In what was supposed to be the dining area, Rosen
created a den-like alcove with an off-white sofa-sleeper
accented with yellow, blue, red and green pillows. Walls of
custom shelves and cabinetry display books and pieces of
art glass, pottery and other collectibles.
One of them is a ceramic menorah featuring candleholding flowers in yellow, purple, green and orange.
“My aunt gave me the menorah,” Rosen said. “She said
it was me.”
jennifer.lefkowitz@crye-leike.com
6
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
HOME & GARDEN
Rosen feels fortunate to own two black and white
photographs taken by Ernest Withers who died just a few
months ago. One features Elvis and B.B. King; the other is a
shot of a march by sanitation workers carrying “I Am a Man”
placards. It is autographed by Withers.
“I had a long talk with him at his studio,” she said.
The kitchen is also modern with dark wood cabinetry, black
counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
In the only bedroom, Rosen sought a serene décor that
is almost cottage-like. The bed is covered in white-on-white
linens and has a white upholstered headboard.
Two Italian pieces, a desk and a chest, are painted with a
light aqua background and shell motif. Aqua is also the color
of a modern wicker chair positioned for seeing the view from
another large window.
Although she loves contemporary art, Rosen is still smitten
with a traditional pastel done by Susan Inman featuring
a peacock in a garden. She purchased it in 1977.
Rosen, who works part-time at a ret a i l home
furnishings store, is a widow. Her husband, Saul Rosen,
was aboard Pan Am Flight 103 when it was shot down over
Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988.
He was working for a software company in Cambridge,
England at the time of his death. The family had been living
in New Jersey.
Afterwards Rosen and her children, then 2 and 5,
came home to Memphis where her family has lived for
four generations. She is active in Women of Reform
Judaism-Temple Israel Sisterhood, Hadassah and the
National Council of Jewish Women.
Her parents were the late Leon and Sue Shahun. Her sister
Connie Sherman and brother Greg Shahun also live in Memphis.
Their other sister, Leslie Parish, lives in Florida. Continued on page 8
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
7
HOME & GARDEN (continued)
Rosen said her grandmother always dreamed of living on the river.
With a wave of her arm toward her windows and its fabulous view,
she said, “She died before all this started.”
Now Rosen is fulfilling two dreams with the downtown condo:
her’s and her grandmother’s.
Chris Arpe Gang was a feature writer at The Commercial Appeal
for 33 years. Retired from full-time work, she is now a freelance
writer. Her weekly gardening column, Green Thumb, appears
Fridays in The Com mercial Appeal and she has recently
created a Web site, midsouthgardens.com, a comprehensive source
of information for area gardeners. She and her husband, Gregory,
daughter, Madelyn, dog and cat live in Germantown.
Stacking cups for the Guinness Book of
World Records
First grade art
Science students dissected starfish
Student Council coin drive raised $800+
8
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
New building construction in progress
SCRAPBOOK
To celebrate the opening of its new
offices inside the Jewish Community
Center, the Jewish Foundation of
Memphis held a mezuzah hanging
ceremony and Chanukah Open
House. Congregational rabbis from
Memphis congregations were asked
to hang a mezuzah.
143 Beale Street • Memphis TN, 38103 • 901 578 3031
Mention this ad from Jewish Scene
and receive 20% off your first visit
Foundation donor advised fund and
business manager Sheri Gadberry and
Sigmund Hiller
Rabbi Aaron Rubenstein (Beth Sholom,
Rabbi Joel Finkelstein (ASBEE), Rabbi
Shai Finkelstein (Baron Hirsch) Rabbi
Micah Greenstein (Temple Israel)
Jerome Makowsky, Rabbi Shai
Finkelstein, Leslie Landau, board
president Nat Landau, Laura Linder,
treasurer Marlin Graber.
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
9
TRAVEL: SPONSORED by CRUISEONE
The Art of Travel; Silversea Leads The Way
Debbie
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Hear fascinating lectures about the places you will go, and
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BESHERT
BESHERT: True Stories of Connection
A
Meeting
By Alvin and Elaine Gordon
fter her graduation from Queens College in New York
City, Elaine was seeking a job as a speech therapist. A
professor at the college erroneously told one of her
classmates that Elaine had been hired by Bellevue Hospital.
When the classmate called to congratulate her, Elaine was
surprised since she had not applied for the position and was not
aware of the opening. That call did induce her to contact Bellevue
to see if a position were available. The person who answered
her call at Bellevue said the job opening had been filled
by someone who had recently worked at the Columbia
Presbyterian Hospital. Elaine thanked her and called Columbia
Presbyterian, assuming there might now be an opening at that
institution. She was correct and was immediately hired for the
position that had just been vacated.
Elaine had been working at Columbia Presbyterian for
several years when, in July 1959, a co-worker told her that she
had two vacation days remaining that were going to expire on
July 31. She could not understand why this co-worker kept
a record of her vacation days, but since she was an avid tennis
player, she decided to use her time for a long weekend at Green
Mansions, a tennis resort in the Adirondack Mountains. She
asked a girlfriend to accompany her.
Meanwhile, in Memphis, Tennessee, Alvin Gordon, a young
single attorney, was invited to the same location. He had
repeatedly been invited and had repeatedly rejected the idea
of vacationing with his friend Bentley and two others at Green
Mansions. That year Bentley persisted and sent the resort a
check for Alvin’s reservation without telling him. The resort sent
Alvin an acknowledgment of his reservation. Although he had
never played tennis, Alvin then felt obligated to vacation that
year with his persistent friend.
Arriving at Green Mansions, Bentley and two of his friends
were housed together, as they usually were each year. Alvin was
to share an adjoining cabin with two other men. When he
started to unpack, Alvin discovered women’s personal effects in
his cabin. It seems that Elaine and her friend had been housed
there for two days while their accommodations were being
repaired. It was understood that the girls would move upon the
arrival of the male occupants to whom the cabin had previously
been assigned. Elaine met Alvin for the first time when she and
her friend returned to see if the new occupants had arrived. That
is how Elaine and Alvin began the fulfillment of their synchronistic
first meeting, which so far has resulted in forty-three happy years
of marriage.
Why do you suppose Elaine’s co-worker at Columbia Presbyterian
Hospital had tallied her unused vacation time? Recognizing the many
achievements of this remarkable couple, that co-worker has had a
positive impact on numerous lives in Memphis and around the world.
Harry Samuels is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and has
devoted many years to volunteerism in Memphis, Tennessee. He and his wife, Flora,
have been married for 46 years and are the parents of Martin,
William and the late David Samuels. Proceeds from the sale of his
books go to charity.
Beshert and Mr. Samuels newest book, Crossroads: “Chance or
Destiny?” are available in Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Amazon.com and
Iuniverse.com. Beshert is also available at Barnes and Noble,
Borders, Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Memphis Jewish Community Center.
Eagle Medical Staffing has available nonmedical assistance to help you with:
• With light housekeeping
• With shopping, errands,
transportation
• With bathing and dressing
• With companionship
• With meal preparation
• With laundry
• With medical reminders
And more. . . . .
We can help hourly, daily, weekly, over-night. Eagle professionals
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January 2008 I Jewish Scene
11
AGENCY HIGHLIGHT
Tennessee Jewish Federation
volunteers welcomed 4,000
plus GA attendees from
throughout the United States
and Israel
12
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
AGENCY HIGHLIGHT
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
13
AGENCY HIGHLIGHT continued
14
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
SCRAPBOOK
Jewish Senior Resource Fair
Plough Towers
<< booth
Annie Prager and
Carol Samuels
>>
Irina Sigal &
<< Yelena Gindina
Fall Party
<<
Esther Meyers and
Toby Wilkowsky
Bea Volozin, Ruth
Diamond,Tatyana
Golberg and
Sylvia Spiegel
>>
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
15
FROM THE KITCHEN OF EXTREME EVENTS
BY SETH FEIBELMAN
Hummus
Directions
Ingredients
Rinse and bring canned chickpeas to a boil
for one minute. Combine chickpeas and
all other ingredients except olive oil in a
food processor. As the ingredients blend
together, add olive oil until desired consistency is reached.
1 can of chickpeas
2 Tbsp. tahini
1 clove of garlic
Juice of 1 small lemon
1/4 chopped red onion (optional)
Sea salt, to taste
Extra virgin olive oil
Tzatziki
Ingredients
1 container (16 oz.) plain low fat yogurt
1/2 cucumber, seeded but not peeled
1/1-2 teaspoons salt
1 to 2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 Tbsp. chopped dill
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. red wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
Directions
Spoon yogurt into sieve lined with cheesecloth or coffee filter set over bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight. Transfer drained yogurt
to medium bowl and discard liquid.
Meanwhile, add cucumber to food processor with 1 teaspoon salt. Pulse until finely chopped. In batches, wrap chopped cucumber in kitchen towel
or cheesecloth and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible. Pat dry with paper towels, then add to bowl with yogurt.
With flat side of chef’s knife, mash garlic to a paste with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add garlic, chopped dill, oil, vinegar, and pepper to
yogurt and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 or up to 4 hours.
nother year has passed
and football fans are
preparing for Super Bowl
XLII. Thousands of fans from all
over the country will flock to the
parking lot of the University of
Phoenix stadium in Arizona for the
ultimate tailgate party. Millions of
others will watch the game at a bar,
Super Bowl party or from the comfort
of their home. Although there is
some debate as to the teams that will
16
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
compete for the championship, there
is as much discussion on what to eat
on the upcoming Sunday. I have chosen
a menu that can be served hot or cold,
as a buffet spread or consolidated for
those on the run. This year, I will be
serving falafel at my Super Bowl Party.
The trick to a good falafel
sandwich is the “fixins.” I like my
falafel with hummus, Israeli salad,
lettuce, tzatziki and French fries.
Each ingredient can stand on its
own but they are magnificent when
stuffed together in a pita. That is
the beautiful thing about this menu.
You can prepare a sandwich any way
you like it and take it with you to
the tailgate party or eat the items
separately while enjoying those
multi-million dollar commercials.
To prepare the falafel, purchase
a mix from the international aisle
at your local grocery store. Your
alternative is spending days peeling
FROM THE KITCHEN
Israeli Salad
Ingredients
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
1⁄4 cup small red onion, finely
chopped
Juice from 1 lemon
4 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. vinegar
Salt
Pepper
Directions
In a serving bowl, combine chopped
vegetables. Toss gently. In a separate
bowl, combine lemon juice, olive
oil, vinegar and salt and pepper (to
taste). Drizzle over vegetables and
toss. Serve immediately or cover and
refrigerate for up to 2 days.
and soaking beans. While at the
store you should pick up the pita
bread and crinkle cut French
fries. Follow the instructions on
the box of falafel mix and the fries
during the pre-game. The rest can
be prepared up to two days ahead
of time. Here are some recipes for
the remaining sides.
Seth Feibelman lives in Memphis with his
wife Sylwia and their dog, Czarny. He is
the food and beverage
director for Mud
Island Riverpark as
well as the General
Manager for Extreme
Events Catering.
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
17
W
inter is a Great Time to Visit Napa Valley
H
By Gary Burhop
as any wine drinker, sipping a Napa Cabernet
Sauvignon with its intense flavors of black currants
and subtle smoky undertones, not dreamed of visiting
the Napa Valley?
As the first and ultimate destination for most U.S. wine
drinkers. It is a remarkable combination of state-of-the-art
agriculture, appealing surroundings, high-end tourism,
world-class restaurants and small-town living.
And, winter is a great time to visit. Vineyard and
winery activity has slowed. Traffic and tourism numbers are
diminished. Restaurants are easier to book.
Napa Valley is Compact
Napa Valley generally runs north from San Francisco
Bay to Calistoga. Highway 29 runs through the town of
Vallejo, skirts the City of Napa and continues along the
west side of the valley to Calistoga. The Silverado Trail
roughly parallels Highway 29 on the eastern side of the
valley. From the City of Napa, on the north, is the wine
drinkers’ version of paradise. In fact, there is a 2-acre
Pinot Noir vineyard completely surrounded by the
City’s expansion that is suitably named “Valhalla.”
Driving north on Highway 29 one will see every
recognizable, high-quality Napa winery name. Ditto along
the Silverado Trail. Most of the wineries post tasting hours
and can be visited at your convenience. Winter and early
spring hours tend to be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Others are open
by appointment only. Winery Web sites make it easy to
book appointments, but be aware, most now have some
charge to taste.
How to plan a trip
Napa Valley may be relatively small but it is packed
with wineries, tasting rooms and merchants. Accept the
fact that you cannot visit all. And, understand that trying
to schedule multiple winery tours a day can make your trip
seem like a death march.
Anchor each day with one or two pre-planned events,
be they tastings, a tour or a luncheon. If your goal is to
tour two wineries, try and schedule the first relatively early
in the morning and the other somewhat later in the
afternoon, leaving time for a casual lunch, a picnic or a
spontaneous stop. Dinner can be as elaborate or as casual
as you want, but even during the winter months, reservations
are a must for all but the most casual spots.
First-time visitors should plan on a visit, tour and tasting at
Robert Mondavi Winery. The namesake truly is the founder
and patron of the industry, as we know it today.
Domaine Chandon, on the outskirts of the City of
Napa, continues to produce excellent sparkling wines, has
a ‘champagne-basic’ tour and a restaurant.
On Highway 29, at Rutherford Road is the winery and
tasting room of Beaulieu or BV for short. Through the
years BV has truly been on the cutting edge of viticulture
in Napa. They are still learning and experimenting with
practices, techniques and grape varieties in the quest for
the best Napa can produce, and often these unusual varieties
and experiments are offered for sale.
Across the road in place of the one-time doublewide
trailer is the modern facility of Grigich Hills. Owner Mike,
made the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that won
‘The Judgement of Paris’ tasting in 1976. His organic
vineyards produce some of the most compelling wines
in the valley.
In the town of St. Helena is the old Beringer house and
winery. Head winemaker Ed Sbraga, an honored winemaker
for the ‘Art of Good Taste’ event benefiting the Brooks Museum
of Art, is testament to the fact that ever-larger, multinational corporate ownership does not necessarily mean a
corresponding decrease in wine quality. He produced the
first Beringer Private Reserve Napa Cabernet in 1977, and
in a recent tasting of all vintages, he proved he is among
the legendary Napa Cabernet Sauvignon winemakers.
One final destination is a must – Hagafen Cellars.
Located at 4160 Silverado Trail just north of the City of
Napa, Hagafen is the only kosher wine producer in Napa
Valley. A sales room is open daily. Tours are given at 11
a.m. daily, but reservations are required. Reservations can
be made through their Web site www.hagafen.com. Check
out the Web site to see how many wines have won medals
and awards for quality.
Next Trip
The change in Napa Valley is dynamic and on going.
There is no right, wrong or only way to visit. Go enjoy,
explore and discover something new. On my last visit, I
visited nearly every wine shop from Napa to Calistoga,
tasting more than two dozen wines I had never seen or
heard of before, and found over 100 more labels unknown
to me.
Hagafen wines are available for purchase at Great
Wines & Spirits and include Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
and Riesling.
Gary Burhop is owner of Great Wines & Spirits, 6150
Poplar Avenue in Regalia, Memphis, TN, 38119, phone
901.682.1333, and is available to help with any wine or
spirits question.
SCRAPBOOK
In October, Religious School students helped Rabbi
Aaron Rubinstein and Cantor David Julian bury the
synagogue’s genizah contents (unusable books, scrolls,
or papers containing God’s name) at the Beth Sholom
Memorial Gardens.
Shalom & Sandy Hazen with Chef Spencer McMillin
First Class Linen Route Salesman George McClanton
and Sales Manager James Teat
not pictured Don “Rip” McCoy Head Pastry Chief
901.969.0121 w 601.899.9206 w 888.619.9482
Owned and Operated by the Rubinsky and Jacobs Families
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
19
FEATURE
SPARKS COMMITMENT
Story by Shoshana Cenker
hile Arkansas-born Jerry Tanenbaum has had
much success in his professional life, he’s found
that being involved and giving back through
Jewish organizations is the most rewarding.
After graduating from Tulane University in 1956 with
an economics degree, Jerry worked at Dante’s Department
store, the family business started by his grandfather in 1897.
“I did whatever was needed,” explains Jerry.
In the late 1950s Dante’s branched out to open United
Dollar Stores of which in the 1960s
Jerry became its CEO. About 10
years later they sold their 300
stores to Dollar General Corp.
“We actually sold because of
Wal-Mart,” says Jerry. “I saw the
evolution of where retail was going.”
The company sold only its retail
division, retaining some international conglomerates including its real
estate housing and development.
It was around that time Jerry
received a call that eventually led
to his volunteerism with Jewish
organizations.
“It’s quite unusual how I
became involved,” says Jerry. “A
friend asked me to help raise funds
to build a Reform Jewish Camp in
Mississippi.”
Four synagogues had teamed up Jerry Tanenbaum
to buy the land, and they needed
$500,000 to build the camp. So Jerry called 20 Jewish
suppliers from his company, and in two weeks, he personally
raised $50,000. Jerry was elected vice chair of the Camp
Association for Southern Temples (CAST). CAST eventually
became known as Henry S. Jacobs Camp and Jerry served as its
chairman for nine years.
Its first session opened in 1970. “The camp means a lot
20
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
Photo Bobby Jines, BW’s Studio
to the South,” says Jerry. “It’s a premier Jewish institution.”
Since then Jerry has served on countless boards,
including the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s Board
of Trustees. “It’s an umbrella organization that operates
in 40 countries including Aruba; London, England;
Jerusalem, Israel; Moscow, the former Soviet Union; and
the United States,” explains Jerry. “It’s truly global in its
coverage and work.”
He served as president of the Southwest Council for
the Union for Reform Judaism
(URJ), on the Hebrew Union
College’s board and is a member
of Hot Springs Leo N. Levi Hospital
Board of Trustees.
Jerry can’t say enough about
his wife’s influence on him. “Pat
encouraged me to get involved in
Jewish organizations,” Jerry says
beaming about Pat’s motivation.
“She continues to support me.”
They met at Tulane and have
been married for 52 years. They
moved to Hot Springs in 1991
with their two sons. Jay now lives
in Atlanta; Al in Chevy Chase,
Maryland. Jerry and Pat have four
grandchildren.
Pat has some history making
honors as well. She was the first
woman president of two synagogues,
Congregation Meir Chayim in
Dumas/McGehee, Arkansas, in the 1960s and in the 1980s
at Congregation House of Israel in Hot Springs.
J e r r y is a past president of House of Israel and serves
on its board.
As part of their involvement in the URJ, Jerry and Pat
founded a task force dedicated to donating Sefar Torahs
to congregations around the world.
FEATURE
“The essence of Judaism is the
Torah,” says Jerry. “A Torah is essential
to a congregation’s growth.”
They’ve traveled to Russia, Israel,
Sao Paulo, Singapore, Cape Town,
Chile and elsewhere personally
presenting Torahs.
“It’s the most fulfilling and gratifying
thing I’ve done,” says Jerry.
“It’s very special to be apart of
(this mitzvah),” adds Pat.
Jerry gives the URJ lots of credit
for “perpetuating Judaic organizations
for posterity,” as he puts it.
“URJ has a modern intelligent
interpretation of Judaism, which
really speaks to people,” he explains.
“It’s their recognition of outreach for
progressive Jews, which shows all are
entitled to be Jews and worship in a
way relevant to them.”
Through URJ, Jerry also spearheaded a program that makes small
congregations a big part of the work
of Reform Judaism. “Today it’s a solid
foundation of the URJ,” says Jerry.
“That makes me proud, because you
can see how small-town Jews have
maintained their Judaism, despite the
fact that they could have assimilated.”
As far as what’s to come, “at my
age, you take it one day at a time,” Jerry
jokes. “But as long as I can contribute
to Jewish organizations in a meaningful
way, I’ll stay involved.”
First Place Winners
Second Place Winners
Third Place Winners
Shoshana Cenker was born and raised in
Memphis, graduated from White Station High
School in 1998 and from Indiana University in
Bloomington in 2002 with a B.A. in Broadcast
Journalism and a minor in
Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
She studied abroad in Israel
for a semester at H ebrew
University of Jerusalem.
She is news writer/producer
for the ABC Affiliate News
Station, WSB TV in Atlanta.
Trivia Contest
Young Couples
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
21
ON THE SIDELINES
A
Horse
a Women’s Best Friend
T
he art of competitive
horse riding isn’t as easy
as it appears. The goal of
the rider is to make the sport look
graceful, but it doesn’t always start out
that way. It can be a lot of work that
begins with a personal bond between
horse and owner.
“I’ve owned horses for threefourths of my life,” Mindy Wurzburg
said about one of her passions.
Growing up she shared her first pony
with sister Cheryl Rubenstein. Now
she owns five horses – two have retired
from showing – while 12-year-old Leo
serves as her main show horse.
Both sisters attended the same
horse camp as kids – a camp which
rewarded five-year campers with a
pony. That’s before the reward changed
to $175. “My money went to a saddle,”
Rubenstein said. A pony came next for
the family.
“My sister rode that pony for three
years; then I took lessons and he
became mine,” said Wurzburg. “Now,
horses are in my blood; it’s become a
way of life.
“When I began to ride, it was
a little-girl-loves-horses kind of thing;
but as I’ve continued on into my adult
life, I’ve come to love the horses, love
the competition, and I hope I can
say, that I would have owned horses
Reisling’s
name in lights
22
Jewish Scene
By Mark Hayden
whether I competed or not. The
friendships you make, the friendships
with the horse are worthwhile.
“People don’t realize it but you can
attribute more human or dog-like
characteristics to them than anyone
would ever imagine,” she continued.
“Each one has a fun and unique
personality. Riding is hard work
though; it’s physical and there’s a mental
Lindsey Belz and Highland’s Castle
Lindsey Belz and her medium pony,
Highland’s Castle, competed for the first
time at the Pennsylvania National Horse
Show against the top 30 ponies in the
nation. She qualified her pony with 3,400
points throughout the show season and
won 8th place.
aspect to it like any competition.”
Wurzburg’s and Leo’s hard work
paid dividends a few months ago when
they placed in the top 10 in both the
national and international hunter
association competition. There were
100 qualifiers, pared down to 30 and
Cheryl Rubenstein and Riesling
Photo: Blair Parker
I January 2008
Photo: Blair Parker
Mindy Wurzburg and Overseas
then 12 before she won her ribbon in a
competition that attracted horse-rider
teams from as far away as California.
“The course is pretty standard for
us,” said Wurzburg. “It’s not hard to
remember but it’s challenging in that
you’ve got an animal that is unpredictable
and has a sense of what it wants to do.
Hopefully, the two of us click at the
same time and our exercise comes out
looking elegant and pretty.”
High school senior and Memphian
Laura Kaplan has a similar story. One
of her friends introduced her to the
sport and now she and her 11-year-old
buddy, Chester, have a top 10 finish in
the children’s hunter division among
their achievements. As an 18-year-old
she now competes in the adult division.
“My horse and I are moving up to
the next height,” said Kaplan. “We’ve
been working towards this. It’s definitely
going to be a challenge for us, but my
horse has a great heart. I think we’re
ready for it.
“Horse racing is a popular sport in
Memphis,” she continued. “We have a
fairly good number of barns and a lot of
Laura Kaplan
and Chester
ON THE SIDELINES
local shows. There is a substantial horse-riding community.”
Kaplan will continue showing this year and next summer,
but she hasn’t decided what she is going to do when she goes
off to school. “Most of the schools I’m applying to have equestrian
programs so I’ll have that opportunity,” she said.
Among those are Virginia Tech, Kansas, Arizona, Maryland,
Georgia, Emory, Boston University and Texas-Austin.
“We haven’t decided whether we’re going to sell my horse
or not after this year,” said Kaplan. “I can’t imagine my life
without my horse. My dad says either I can go to college or my
horse can go to college: but not both. So we’ll see.”
Rubenstein, who now lives in Houston, Texas, has five
horses – Austin is her main horse, probably her favorite and
the one she rode in the nationals and internationals.
“Both the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and the
Washington International Horse Show attract riders from
outside the United States, but it does turn out that they are
largely the two super bowls for our sport in our discipline,”
said Rubenstein.
“There is a definite bond between the horse and rider,”
she said. “I’m very close to them, and we have special little
things between us – whether it’s the way I call their name,
knowing where they like to be scratched or how they react to
me when they hear me come into the barn. My horses are my
children and I’d do anything in the world for them.
“Like humans they have their own set of quirks,” she added.
“We’ll joke that Austin knows how to tell time because at
about 5 p.m. each day he’ll start banging his feed bucket on
the wall of his stall for dinner.
“He’s not foolproof,” she laughs. “He gets a bit confused
when we change time zones or to daylight saving times.”
Mark Hayden has written about Memphis sports
for a variety of magazines. He works at HYC
Logistics. For story ideas please contact Mark at
marktn58@aol.com.
“
“
It was an honor to be chosen
to participate in a show that
accepts the top 30 ponies. I
loved every minute of it.
Lindsey Belz
901.201.4447
www.leaddogweb.com
FREE HOSTING FOR 1 YEAR
With Website Design. Mention this ad. Expires 2/28/08.
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
23
FEATURE
UNCOVERING THE HISTORY
of Southern Jewish Communities
By Shoshana Cenker
Dr. Stuart Rockoff
W
e’ve all probably dabbled
a little in researching our
own family history. But one
Jewish Southerner took his interest and
turned it into a career.
“I became interested in wanting to
learn more about my family’s roots and
experiences,” explains Dr. Stuart Rockoff,
director of the history department at
the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of
Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) in Jackson,
Mississippi. “My own family’s stories
drew me in.”
Stuart was born in Fort Worth,
Texas, but grew up in Houston.
He attended Wesleyan University in
Connecticut, graduating in 1991 with
BA in history. It was then on to graduate
school at the University of Texas at
Austin. In 2000, he received his Ph.D.
in U.S. history with specialties in Jewish
history and immigration. He taught at
UT Austin for a couple years before he
was hired by the ISJL in 2002.
His charge: to collect information
about every Southern Jewish community
that ever existed! Stuart took it upon
himself to interpret the history and
write short biographies about the
communities, which are available on
ISJL’s Web site, www.isjl.org.
“From time to time I get e-mails
from people who’ve seen the Web site,”
explains Stuart. “Sometimes they want
to add something to our write up about
the community.”
So far, he and his small team of
historians, researchers and writers have
24
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
completed three states, Arkansas,
Louisiana and Mississippi. “I challenge
myself to find what’s unique about each
community,” says Stuart. “I want to tell
the larger story of the community.”
And Stuart’s decided on a very
ambitious goal to complete the rest
of the Southern state’s histories. “We
want to finish Tennessee, Georgia,
Oklahoma, South Carolina and
Alabama by next year!”
Stuart’s job, however, is not at all
limited to collecting Southern Jewish
communities’ histories. “I travel across
the United States speaking about the
history of Southern Jewish communities,”
says Stuart. “I also field calls and
e-mails from Southern Jews who are
doing their own family’s history;
they ask me for help researching their
family’s genealogy.”
In the midst of his research,
Stuart did uncover information about
his own family. “I found personal
information about some of my family
members, people that my family knew
very little about,” says Stuart, a married
father of two, Ella, 6, and Zoey, 3. He
and Susan, his wife of nearly 10 years,
attend Beth Israel Temple. Susan is the
director of Beth Israel’s pre-school.
ISJL h a s a n o n l i n e d i g i t a l
ar chive project. And the museum has
created a special project in response
to Hurricane Katrina called ‘Katrina’s
Jewish Voices.’
“We’ve collected interviews from
Katrina victims,” says Stuart. “It’s a
way for us to document the impact
Katrina had on Jews living there.”
ISJL has a big internship program.
“Some outstanding interns come
through here,” says Stuart. “The institute
has really grown and progressed in the
five years I’ve been here.”
The Institute for Southern
Jewish Life first opened on the site of
Henry S. Jacobs Camp in 1989.
“We now have other smaller
museum branches in Mississippi
(Jackson and Natchez),” says Stuart. “And
we plan on opening more in Mississippi
and Alabama.” A diverse crowd visits
the museum exhibits, “from Jews to
Gentiles to school groups,” says Stuart.
“I have to be an expert in Southern
Jewish history,” explains Stuart. “My
job allows me to be just that. If I find a
topic that interests me, I can research
it and do a paper or write an article.
My job gives me great freedom!”
Shoshana Cenker was born and raised in
Memphis, graduated from White Station High
School in 1998 and from Indiana University in
Bloomington in 2002 with a B.A. in Broadcast
Journalism and a minor in
Hebrew and Jewish Studies.
She studied abroad in Israel
for a semester at Hebrew
University of Jerusalem. She
is news writer/producer for
the ABC Affiliate News
Station, WSB TV in Atlanta.
IN FASHION
YO UR LINK
Cufflinks can say a lot about a person so choosing
wisely from the thousands of types of cufflinks is important.
Whether it’s antique, designer, precious metals, sets,
sports teams or fraternal organizations, picking a cufflink
can share so much about one’s personality.
Cufflinks are not ordinary fashion accessories.
A step above the utilitarian button, a cufflink
evokes a more elegant era, a time when beauty
rather than convenience was the prevailing rule
of attire.
A cufflinks’ wearer expresses a greater
awareness of the nuances of style, an
appreciation of more formal or traditional
apparel, or simply a desire to stand out
from the crowd. Whatever statement
you’re making with cufflinks, it’s
important that such a bold statement
be made correctly.
If you’re wearing a watch, make sure to match the
band. For example, with a silver watch, you should match
silver cufflinks. With a black or brown watchband, you
can wear silver, leather or gold cufflinks.
Dressing up a level doesn’t have to be like wearing
a rigid uniform. There’s been a growing trend to wear
cufflinks without suits. Make sure your shirt is pressed
and you’ll look good with your own unique cufflinks.
IN FASHION
BY JULIE LANSKY
TO THE PERFECT ACCESSORY
Cufflinks can also be wearable art. For example,
Paris-born designer Robin Rotenier has a passion for fine
craftsmanship and original design that is fueled by his desire
to create uniquely handcrafted cufflinks. His chic collection,
produced in 18K gold and sterling silver show off his
talents as a storyteller. He personally carves
every model and then each piece is finished
by hand. Each one of his cufflink sets has a
different theme. His Electric Guitar
cufflinks have a music note as its closure.
You can keep your cufflinks in pristine
condition by polishing them using specific
cloths or other jewelry cleaners. The best
way to keep your collection valuable
and looking great is to store them after
use in a safe place. Now that you’re in
the know about cufflinks, go ahead and
start finding some cufflinks and dress in style!
Julie Lansky graduated from University of Colorado,
Boulder with a degree from the School of JournalismAdvertising. Julie is a third-generation Lansky in the
family business, and currently serves as buyer
for Lansky 126 and manages its Web presence
www.lanskybros.com.
Etz Chaim hosted a Rick Recht concert, Nov. 3. Before the concert, congregants had a chance to
meet the artist and hear the stories and inspiration behind his popular blends of Jewish music. At
the close of Shabbat, Recht led a moving Havdallah service. This was the first concert in the
Etz Chaim Arts Alive program.
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
25
DOLLARS AND SENSE
spONSORED BY MORGAN KEEGAN
THE POWER OF DIVIDENDS IN A PORTFOLIO
Provided by Lawson Arney, financial advisor, Morgan Keegan
I
t wasn’t so long ago that many investors regarded
dividends as roughly the financial equivalent of a record
turntable at a gathering of MP3 users – a throwback to an
earlier era, irrelevant to the real action.
dividends. In June 2007, the number of companies offering
dividends was 3% higher than the year before, according to
S&P, though increases in the amounts paid have been slowing
in recent years.
But fast-forward a few years, and things look a little
different. Since 2003, when the top federal income tax rate
on qualified dividends was reduced to 15% from a
maximum of 38.6%, dividends have acquired renewed
respect. Favorable tax treatment isn’t the only reason,
either; the ability of dividends to provide income and
potentially help mitigate market volatility also is attractive to
investors. As baby boomers approach retirement and begin
to focus on income-producing investments, the demand for
high-quality, reliable dividends are likely to increase.
Dividends are by no means guaranteed; a company’s
board of directors can decide to reduce or even eliminate
them. However, a steady and increasing dividend is generally
regarded as one sign of a company’s ongoing health and
stability. For that reason, most corporate boards are reluctant
to send negative signals by cutting dividends.
Why consider dividends?
Dividend income has represented roughly one-third of
the monthly total return on the Standard and Poor’s 500
since 1926. According to S&P, the portion of total return
attributable to dividends has ranged from a high of 53%
during the 1940s – in other words, more than half that decade’s
return resulted from dividends – to a low of 14% during the
1990s, when investors tended to focus on growth.
If dividends are reinvested, their impact over time
becomes even more dramatic. S&P calculates that $1
invested in the Standard and Poor’s 500 in December 1929
would have grown to $57 by September 2005. However,
when coupled with reinvested dividends, that same $1
investment would have resulted in $1,353. (Bear in mind
that past performance is no guarantee of future results, and
taxes were not factored into the calculations.)
Dividends can be especially attractive if the market is
producing relatively low or mediocre returns. If a stock’s
price rises 8% a year, even a 2.5% dividend yield can push
its total return into the double-digit range; in some cases,
dividends could also help turn a negative return positive.
Also, many dividend-paying stocks represent large,
established companies that may have significant resources
to weather an economic downturn.
The corporate incentive
Financial and utility companies have been traditional
mainstays for investors interested in dividends, but other
sectors of the market also are beginning to offer them. For
example, investors are stepping up pressure on cash- rich
technology companies to distribute some of their profits as
26 Jewish Scene I January 2008
Look before you leap
Investing in dividend-paying stocks isn’t as simple as just
picking the highest yield. Some dividends, such as those paid
by real estate investment trusts (REITS) and master limited
partnerships, don’t qualify for the 15% maximum tax rate,
and a portion may be taxed as ordinary income. If you’re
investing for income, consider whether the company’s cash flow
can sustain its dividend. Also, the 15% rate is scheduled to
expire at the end of 2010, and there is no guarantee
dividends will continue to receive favorable tax treatment.
If you’re interested in a dividend-focused investing style,
look for terms such as “equity income,” “dividend income,”
or “growth and income.” Also, some exchange-traded funds
(ETFs) track an index comprised of dividend-paying stocks,
or that is based on dividend yield; be sure to check the
prospectus for information about expenses, fees and potential
risks, and consider them carefully before you invest. A
financial professional can evaluate the role dividends might
play in your portfolio.
Disclosure Information – Important – Please Review
This information is for illustrative and discussion purposes only. Morgan
Keegan does not provide legal or tax advice. You need to contact your legal
and tax advisors for additional information and advice before making any
investment decisions.
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
Members New York Stock Exchange, SIPC
Securities are not bank guaranteed, not FDIC insured, and may lose value.
Copyright 2006 Forefield Inc. All rights reserved.
Lawson Arney is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and works as a
financial advisor at Morgan Keegan with his uncle, Elkan Scheidt. Lawson and
his team work with their clients to provide comprehensive custom solutions for
their financial and investment needs.
SCRAPBOOK
MEMPHIS SCENE
Subsidium Carrousel of Shoppes
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- Comprehensive financial and retirement planning
- Estate planning
Lorraine Wilson and Annie Dragutsky Jeff Kay and Shelly Ostrow
Association of Fundraising Professional
honored Paula Jacobson of Methodist
Healthcare Foundation with the Outstanding
Fundraising Executive
- Stocks, bonds, mutual funds and ETFs
- Managed futures and alternative investments
- College savings accounts
- Annuities and life insurance
- Money market funds and CDs
Lawson Arney, Financial Advisor
50 North Front Street, 17th Floor
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
901.529.5320 • 800.366.7426
Fax 901.579.4276
lawson.arney@morgankeegan.com
Cindy Katz, Paula Jacobson, Judy Edelson, Barb Gelb
Memphis Jewish Home’s 80th Birthday
Celebration
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
27
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: REVIEWS By: Jennifer Lefkowitz (JenniferLefkowitz.com)
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT >> Clare Burson - Thieves, 2007 ASCAP
Photo: Ted Barron
Clare Burson had a new idea on her
second full-length album, Thieves. The
album was recorded in a friend’s Brooklyn
brownstone with the windows left open.
Vocals are lyrically quaint while metaphorical,
plus subtle layers of ambient sound are
added into the mix. “We didn’t want to filter
out the noise, and, we recorded a few tracks
outside.” When asked, “How many
takes before you were interrupted with
a siren, or something?” Burson replied,
“There actually weren’t any sirens.”
(Something surprising for Brooklyn,
NY.) Thieves is inspired by her move
from Nashville to Brooklyn.The album
is a fusion of Indie rock, Folk and Blues.
This nine-track record reflects ending
relationships, cultural and personal.
Undertones of organic sound create
a soundscape of familiar dialogue. An
unpretentious and offshore car ends
a track to begin another. From
2001-2005 Burson was actively involved in
a tight-knit group of Nashville producers,
players and writers, whose credits include
Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin, John Prine,
Matthew Ryan, Josh Rouse and Allison
Kraus. Thieves includes an authentic reverb
and banjo-esque remake of the Rock classic,
“These Boots Are Made For Walkin,” by
Nancy Sinatra. Burson’s music has been
featured on the ABC drama, “Six Degrees”
as well as the WB’s “Dawson’s Creek.” Most
recently, Clare was awarded a two-year “Six
Points Fellowship.” The fellowship supports
individual artists in the New York area who
want to develop new projects with a Jewish
focus, theme or element.When Clare is not
in the recording studio or performing her
music, she can be found in the classroom.
Burson is an elementary school teacher at
St. Anne’s in Brooklyn, NY. Clare Burson’s
Thieves is now available in record stores
and online. For more information visit
www.clareburson.com.
LIVE In-Studio Interview(s):
MySpace.com/NowThisInterview
Featured Artist:
Clare Burson, Thieves
“If you listen closely, you hear a big mack truck driving by, or a dog... We didn’t let those
ambient noises get in the way, we just recorded through them.” – Clare Burson
EASY LISTENING: MUSIC REVIEWS
Clare Burson
Thieves
Clare Burson (ASCAP)
Indie artist and Tennessee native Clare
Burson is definitely not just another
singer / songwriter. On Burson’s second
full-length album, Thieves, musical
compositions
sitions and arrangements play like poetry journals wrapped
in bows. Riffs, tunes and vocal harmonies are comparable to ‘high-rise’
Indie artists, “Yo La Tengo” and “PJ Harvey.” Thieves follows her
critically acclaimed 2003 release,The In-Between, and her two previous
EPs, Undone and Idaho. Thieves is inspired by Burson’s relocation
from Nashville to Brooklyn. Clare says, “I’ve always leaned
towards poetic simplicity and subtlety in my music – wanting to
express as much as I can with the fewest possible words and
musical flourishes.” Thieves is a collection of heartbreaking love
songs, characterized by wispy imagery and metaphors. Thieves is
the perfect antidote for what I call ‘The Newness and Undiscovered
‘Yeah’ Album Experience.’
NOW READING: BOOK REVIEWS
The Golem & the Wondrous Deeds of the Maharal of Prague
Yudl Rosenberg, Edited & Translated by Curt Leviant
Yale University Press
The Golem is a collection of interrelated
stories about a 16th century Prague Rabbi
and the Golem he created. It is the first English
translation by Curt Laviant, prize-winning
author
thor and translator. Laviant translates the original Hebrew of the
Kabbalastically laced golem stories by Yudl Rosenberg. The Golem
is full of Jewish folklore. The creature of clay (Golem) is the
protector of the Jewish people. The Golem is filled with adventure,
surprises, magic, romance, suspense, Kabbalah, Jewish pride and
detective thriller motifs; The Golem fits like a Disney production.
The Golem is a definite coffee table keep.
Rating Scale:
Ouy
Not bad
Good
Mazel-Tov, Outstanding!!!
Note: Challa @ Cha!
JS wants to know what you make of these ‘precious items!’ Mail: Jennifer Lefkowitz, MusicForAFilm@aol.com, TODAY!
28
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: REVIEWS
THE KUGEL REPORT
{the u takes on an i sound in eastern
European Yiddish}
By Jennifer Lefkowitz
Not One, but Two Coreys
Horizons Poetry Contest winners
Thanksgiving Luncheon
The Two Coreys (c)2007 AETN
Photo: Andrew Eccles
T
een icons of the 80s are back! Well, duh. Corey
Haim and Corey Feldman. Season One of the
A&E TV show “The Two Coreys” proved to be rad
– totally. Reality TV has gone to extremes in a ‘once
popular celebrity way.’ The Coreys star together
on-screen in the so-called ‘Real-Life Series.’ Feldman
is married, successful and a neat freak, while Haim is
single, actively searching for his soul mate and
unstable; a product of past drug use. Not to mention,
he’s terribly sloppy. Haim’s moving in with the Feldmans
to help get his life on course and to relaunch “The
Two Coreys” brand. (Cologne, perhaps.) Somewhere
in-between watching nine Episodes of Season One
you’ll flashback “The Two Coreys” from the films,
License To Drive, (a personal favorite) Dream A Little
Dream and The Lost Boys. FYI: The Coreys just aren’t
the same ‘swank dudes’ anymore. Like, Duh.
Jennifer Lefkowitz is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and
graduate from Academy of Art University, Motion Pictures
& Tele v i s i o n , S c re e n w r i t i n g i n S a n Fr a n c i s c o , C A .
Jennife rLefkowitz.com
<< 6th grade girls
Three little Pre-K-3
Indians, Aaron Kahn, Sara
Weinstein, Rena Wogan
>>
5th graders Motti Klein,
<< Yonatan Cooper and Avi Katz
5th graders Racheli
Brakha, Naomi Kolsky
and Devora Milevsky
>>
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
29
MEFTY UPDATE
BBYO UPDATE
TEEN SCENE:
cancelled due to unfavorable weather
and was rescheduled for December.
At Kriger’s semi-formal, Harvest
Moon, Sam Thomas was re-elected as
Beau. Congratulations Sam
Between multiple programming
with increasing attendance and formals
and semi-formals, Memphis BBYO has
grown tighter during the first semester.
River City hosted a Memphis-wide
program. Every chapter has done an
excellent job holding weekly programs
and meetings. Calendars are filled with
Saturday night folds, Sunday meetings
and even nightly programs. In short,
active members engage in BBYO
happenings “Eight Days a Week”!
During the Thanksgiving weekend,
Okeon held its annual Okeon alumni
game. Peres hosted their successful
annual charity play, “Harvest Hop,”
where they said goodbye to their
wonderful two-term sweetheart, Elle
Lazarov, and welcomed new winter/
spring term sweetheart, Camille Harris.
Congratulations Camille!
The annual Peres vs. Okeon
“Turkey Bowl” football game was
Mission trips to Israel often spark
interest among donors and help raise
awareness about needed services. It is
amazing when those donors are teens.
On a 2007 summer family mission,
Memphis Federation of Temple Youth
(MeFTY) members Michael Eisenstatt
and Jennifer Edelson were so inspired
during their visit to Bet Elazraki Children Home, they returned home determined to make a difference. As they
toured the facility and discussed rais-
ing funds for a playground, fellow
trip members Shirley and Alfred
Wexner decided that their fashion
store, Joseph, would be interested in
partnering with the youth group.
Their success – The Night of
Fashion Makeovers, which raised more
than $7,800 for new playground
equipment for the Bet Elazraki.
The 125 guests enjoyed music,
hors d’ oeuvres and wine, hair styling
by Rod Henson and makeovers by
Joseph make-up artists. Larry Moss
auctioned designer accessories,
cosmetics and clothes to help
raise additional funds, while Charles
Plesofsky photographed the ladies’
new looks.
The fashion show featured Joseph’s
apparel, the spring designs of Diane
Von Furstenberg and models Jennifer
Edelson, Cara Greenstein, Amy
Schweig and Karen Stein. MeFTY
president Michael Eisenstatt welcomed
guests, thanked the hosts
and explained the event’s
purpose prior to viewing a
short video about the Bet
Elazraki Children’s Home.
Program
sponsors
thank those who supported
the cause and made this
dream a reality.
cotton states region
DOLLARS FOR DARFUR
MeFTY President Michael
Eisenstatt
Camille Harris receives a
makeover
Tired of waiting for others to take
the lead, friends and classmates Alex
Alpert and Samantha Notowich
decided to hold their second Dollars for
Darfur campaign.
“After studying about the Holocaust,”
said Samantha, “I asked myself how
could something like this happen again
in my lifetime?”
Last year, the two raised more than
$3,000 to benefit the people of Darfur
BSSS students made Dollars for Darfur posters
30
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
Jennifer Edelson is a 16year-old junior at White
Station High School. She is
the past vice president (a.k.a.
S’ganit) of River City BBG
#2054 and a Hebrew teacher
at Temple Israel in Memphis.
Models: (from L to R) Amy Schweig, Cara Greenstein,
Jennifer Edelson, Karen Stein
who are being starved, raped and murdered
by the Sudanese government backed
militia called Janjaweed.
This year they set their goals even
higher. Held at three premier Memphis
Starbucks locations, volunteers handed
out informational fliers and told people
how they can help.
“I want to make a difference,” said
Alex. “In preparing for my Bar Mitzvah
this seemed like the best place to start.”
Joining Alex and Samantha were
classmates at Bornblum Solomon
Schechter School. Congressman Steve
Cohen came to the school to read a
proclamation in honor of Alex and
Samantha and the BSSS students.
Funds are sent to the Sudan Relief
& Advocacy Fund of AJWS (American
Jewish World Service).
Congressman Cohen w/ BSSS upper grade students
Congressman Steve Cohen w/ Dollars
for Darfur chairs Alex Alpert and
Samantha Notowich
THE SCRIBBLER
r
e
l
b
b
i
Scr
THE
ON THE ROOF
Tu B’shevat; Still As Trendy As A Gucci Handbag
M
By Ted Roberts
e and my good friend, Herb, had run out of our
usual intellectual themes: like why tomatoes should be
thinly sliced on a tongue and rye and why the mayo should
only be on the top slice of bread.
He took a large swallow of his coffee followed by a bite
of his bagel that only left about 60% of it intact – the 60%
without cream cheese. He was silent – meditative. I could
tell by the way his jaws worked on that wad of cream cheese
and bagel.
“You know, Tu B’Shevat’s coming,” he finally said, “and
lemme tell you,” he continued after a sip of coffee, “if this
minor league holiday hadda been around in 1000 BC, we’d
never have had a temple.”
Another theological revelation from Herb! If the Talmud
hadn’t been officially closed a couple millennia ago, there’d
be a thick tractate entitled, “The Wisdom of Herb.”
But I didn’t say that, since my pal was subsidizing our
breakfast – an event as rare as a kosher deli in Baghdad. But
I did say, “Uh, why no temple, Herb?”
“Because Tu B’Shevat – ever since it was proclaimed by
the Sierra Club in the late 1960s – has protected the only
life form that’s larger than Tyrannosaurus Rex, inhabited
by squirrels, grubs, and birds and has no voice.” In the
language of Herb, that means trees.
“So?” I replied. “What’s that got to do with Solomon’s
Temple?”
“No Cedars of Lebanon, no temple,” roared my pal who
usually prefers the Sports Section to Perkei Avot. (The “Ethics
of our fathers” to you fellow Sports Section devotees.)
Well, Herb the Rebbe is half right. Tu B’Shevat does
teach a reverence for life forms: living things, that unlike
us don’t subsist on kosher dills and thick pastrami stacked
on rye. Our holy books – all five of them – are full of trees.
We’re talking BAC - Before Air Conditioning – in a land
that’s half rock and sand dunes under a broiler called the
sun.
Miami Beach without an oceanfront room.
And if you’ve got a nice little two-bedroom cottage in
Judea with a shade tree in the yard, you don’t cut it down
for kindling. Like the kids say “Trees are cool” – in more
ways than one.
The Humash teaches respect for animals, too. There
are plenty of rules about their humane treatment. Again,
Tu B’Shevat’s a lot of fun
Lot of fun for you and me
Especially if you’re a Sycamore
And I’m a Maple Tree.
practical necessity rears its head. An ox, a donkey, a sheep,
a goat – these are valuable assets like that other woody life
form that shades your house and deflects the rain and winter
wind. So naturally, our oral and written tradition – laced
with rules and ethics – has a lot to say about trees and the
beasts of the field.
But when the author of that tradition, be he divine or
only divinely inspired, surveys the pyramid of creation, he
sees man at the pinnacle.
On Tu B’Shevat, it’s proper to pack a couple of peanut
butter sandwiches and escort your kids on a brief tour of a
neighboring woods – or maybe your own back yard will do.
You don’t need a nature reserve. Point out the trees and
other wildlife, like squirrels, bugs and birds. Inform your
peanut butter-eating offspring that they all spring from the
one mighty source who the Chasids say is HIMSELF, the
universe. Yes, all forms of life have the divine spark – but
only man has a soul.
If Solomon wants to denude the hillsides of Lebanon
(tough job with a bronze age ax) to build a temple, that’s
OK. Or if Samson ties torches to foxes and thereby burns
the Philistines’ cornfields, along with a few foxes, that’s OK,
too. That was then – this is now.
But let’s say you assemble a hotel full of Judaic scholars;
and let’s say you give each scholar his own Chumash and
Talmud in the unlikely event he hasn’t memorized it. And
then you put to them the question of the Brazilian Rain
Forest. The classic ecologic tradeoff; jobs and relative
prosperity vs. an ecological misfortune. (You might also try
the question on a Brazilian villager who used to trap jaguars
or collect locusts for supper before the Lumber Products
Corporation came to town.)
Wonder how the Talmudic scholars would vote? I
dunno. In the finest Yiddish tradition I pose questions, not
answers. Ask your Rabbi.
Ted Roberts is a syndicate columnist whose work appears
frequently in the Jewish press.
Ted Roberts (“The Scribbler on the Roof”}
Website: http://www.wonderwordworks.com
Blogsite: http://www.scribblerontheroof.typepad.com
te11d@hiwaay.net
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
31
AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, SYNAGOGUES
ADVERTISERS
ARKANSAS
B’nai B’rith Youth Oranization
6560 Poplar Avenue, 38138,
901.767.7440
Acura of Memphis
page 3
901.365.6565
Sancor
page 7
901.388.3100 / 800.825.6369
Bornblum Judaic Studies
301 Mitchell Hall, University of
Memphis, 38152 901.678.2919
Ballet Memphis
page 5
901.737.7322
State of Israel Bonds
page 17
727.539.6445 / 800.622.8017
Comfort Keepers
page 15
901.752.1515
VistaCare Health Services
page 11
901.373.8831
BENTONVILLE
Congregation Etz Chaim
P.O. Box 477, 72712, 474.464.8001
HOT SPRINGS
Congregation House of Israel
300 Quapaw Ave., 71901-5203,
501.623.5821
LITTLE ROCK
Congregation Agudath Achim
7901 West 5th St., 72205,
501.225.1683
Congregation B’nai Israel
3700 N. Rodney Parham Rd.,
72212, 501.225.9700
MISSISSIPPI
GREENVILLE
Hebrew Union Congregation
504 Main St., 38701, 662.332.4153
JACKSON
Congregation Beth Israel
5315 Old Canton Rd., 39211,
601.956.6215
Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of
Southern Jewish Life
PO Box 16528, 39236, 601.362.6357
TUPELO
Temple B’nai Israel
1301 Marshall St., 38802,
662.842.9169
UTICA (Serving AL, AR, LA, MS, W. Tenn)
URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp
601.885.6042
TENNESSEE
CHATTANOOGA
Jewish Community Federation of
Greater Chattanooga
P.O. Box 8947, 37414, 423.493.0270
CORDOVA
Memphis Jewish Home
36 Bazeberry, 38018, 901.758.0036
KNOXVILLE
Knoxville Jewish Alliance
6800 Deane Hill Dr., 37919,
865.690.6343
MEMPHIS
Anshei Sphard Beth-El Emeth
Congregation (ASBEE)
120 East Yates Rd. North, 38120,
901.682.1611
Baron Hirsch Synagogue
400 S. Yates, 38120, 901.683.7485
Beth Sholom Synagogue
6675 Humphreys Blvd., 38120,
901.683.3591
32
Jewish Scene
I January 2008
Bornblum Solomon
Schechter School
6641 Humphreys Blvd., 38120,
901.747.2665
Chabad Lubavitch of
Tennessee
6629 Massey Ln., 38120,
901.766.1800
CruiseOne
page 10
901.682.5600
Crye-Leike Jennifer Lefkowitz
page 6
901.334.6959 / 901.757.2500
Hadassah Memphis Chapter
422 Miracle Pt., 38120,
901.683.0727
Eagle Medical Staffing
page 11
901.737.3990
Hillel of Memphis
3581 Midland, 38111, 901.452.2453
Esplanade
page 1
901.753.3333
Jewish Family Service
6560 Poplar Ave., 38138,
901.767.8511
Jewish Foundation of Memphis
5118 Park Ave. #308, 38117,
901.374.0400
Margolin Hebrew Academy/
Feinstone Yeshiva of the South
390 S. White Station Rd., 38117,
901.682.2409
Memphis Jewish
Community Center
6560 Poplar Ave.,
38138, 901.761.0810
First Class Linen
page 19
901.969.0121 / 601.899.9206
888.619.9482
Great Wines & Spirits
page 17
901.682.1333
Harkavy,Shainberg
Kaplan & Dunstan PLC
Back cover
901.761.1263
Itta Bena
page 9
901.578.3031
Memphis Jewish Federation
6560 Poplar Ave., 38138,
901.767.7100
Jason’s Deli
page 23
901.685.3333 / 901.844.1840,
901.324.3181 / 731.660.0594
Memphis Jewish High School
1203 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Ctr.,
Suite 203, 38119, 901.767.4818
Ken Cummins Interior Design
page 7
901.278.1987
Plough Towers
6580 Poplar Ave., 38138,
901.767.1910
Lead Dog Web Design
page 23
901.861.6146
Temple Israel
1376 East Massey Rd., 38120,
901.761.3130
Torah MiTzion
390 S. White Station Rd., 38117,
901.606.7059
Young Israel
531 S. Yates, 38120, 901.761.2352
NASHVILLE
Jewish Federation of Nashville &
Middle Tennessee
801 Percy Warner Blvd., 37205,
615.356.3242
Ménage
page 9
901.683.6809
Mona Spa & Laser Center
page 3
901.683.0048 / 901.756.7945
Morgan Keegan / Lawson Arney
page 27
901.529.5320 / 800.366.7426
Patrick’s Steaks & Spirits
page 19
901.682.2853
JANUARY 2008
WEEKLY MEETINGS & EVENTS
MONDAY
Noon Beth Sholom Lunch & Learn, bring a dairy or pareve lunch,
Rabbi Rubinstein
TUESDAY
9:00 a.m. Baron Hirsch Torah One on One Learning (T.O.O.L.) Dafna Kannai
Noon Baron Hirsch “Call Torah,” call-in-class, Rabbi Shai Finkelstein, toll
free 1-866-266-3378, at prompt enter conference ID# 9016837485
Noon Young Israel Lunch & Learn/Finance for Life, 5350 Poplar Avenue
#550, Development of Jewish Law and History
7 p.m. Hillel Sip and Schmooze (bi-weekly)
7 p.m. Baron Hirsch Living Jewish, Rabbi Shai Finkelstein
WEDNESDAY
10:30 a.m. Baron Hirsch Ladies Parsha Class, Rabbi Shai Finkelstein
11 a.m. Young Israel Parsha (weekly Torah portion) for women
Noon Baron Hirsch Reframing the Parsha, Amit Foox, at B.A. Framer,
1905 Troyer
1 p.m. Temple Israel Women’s Minyan, Rabbi Tara Feldman
7 p.m. Baron Hirsch Jewish History, Rabbi David Radinsky
7:30 p.m. Beth Sholom Limmud class, Rabbi Rubinstein
THURSDAY
9:15 a.m. Temple Israel Early Learning Center “Mommy and Me.”
Noon Lunch & Learn, w/Temple Israel Rabbi Meir Feldman, at Grove Grille
1:30 p.m. Temple Israel Mother Bear Project for African children
with HIV/AIDS
8 p.m. ASBEE Exclusive Telecast of Rabbi Frand on the portion of the week
SATURDAY
8:45 a.m. Temple Israel Torah Study
8:45 a.m. Temple Israel Exploring Judaism w/Rabbis & Cantor,
901.761.3130 to register, fee $40
1-1/2 hours before sundown, ASBEE Portion-of-the-week class/
Dovid Menachem Brown Talmud Class
SUNDAY
After morning service, Young Israel class w/ breakfast, “Yoreh Deah,”
Practical Jewish Law for men
8:30 a.m. Baron Hirsch Talmud Class, Rabbi Shai Finkelstein
8:30 a.m. Chabad Lubavitch Bagels, Lox & Tefillin. Minyan, breakfast,
“Living Torah” video, Torah discussion
9 a.m. Beth Sholom Yiddish w/Cantor David Julian
9:15 a.m. Baron Hirsch IE Hanover Lecture on World Events, Rabbi
Shai Finkelstein
9:30 a.m. Temple Israel Jewish Literature w/Leo Bearman
10 a.m. Temple Israel beginning Hebrew/5758-59 Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Program, fee $25, Carol Geller 901.761.3130
10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Temple Israel Advanced Hebrew
11 a.m. Temple Israel Intermediate Hebrew, fee $25
11 a.m. Temple Israel Elijah the Prophet w/Dr. Joe Levy
8 p.m. Baron Hirsch Shoah & Tkuma Class, Tzili & Amit Foox (for
10th-11th graders)
arkansas
FRIDAY
4:30, 5:30 & 6 p.m. Congregation House of Israel Hot Springs,
Torah Study, Oneg, Services
SUNDAY
9:30 a.m. Congregation House of Israel Hot Springs, Hebrew School
mississippi
COMING ATTRACTIONS
MEMPHIS
Jan. 3
12:15 p.m. ASBEE Sisterhood Study Group. $3 for lunch, RSVP
901.682.1611
7:30 p.m. Rosh Chodesh /Pirkei Ima-ot: Ethics of the
mothers, Sally Rosenberg’s, 6729 Corsica, Memphis, Bring your
curiosity! jeffsal1@comcast.net
Jan. 5
9:15 a.m. Beth Sholom Sisterhood Shabbat
Jan. 6
3 p.m. Jewish Community Night Memphis Grizzlies vs. Miami HEAT
ASBEE Chili after the Grizzlies game, RSVP 901.682.1611
Jan. 13
10 a.m. Plough Towers Annual Meeting
10:30 a.m. Beth Sholom Annual Meeting
Jan. 18
10 a.m. Beth Sholom B’nai Mitzvah class
6 p.m. Beth Sholom Tot Shabbat and Family Dinner, RSVP
901.683.3591
Jan. 21
6 p.m. ASBEE Tu B’shevat Seder
Jan. 26
9:15 a.m. Beth Sholom Services and Board Installation followed
by Kiddush lunch
7 p.m. Beth Sholom Reel Torah, call 901.683.3591 for location
and film title
Feb. 21
1:30 pm. ASBEE Sisterhood sponsors the February birthday party
at the Memphis Jewish Home
Feb. 24
Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the
South PTA/LA Annual Auction. For more information, call
901.682.2400
FRIDAY
6:15 p.m. Beth Israel Jackson, Shabbat Services.The Shirim Choir first Fridays
SATURDAY
9 a.m. Beth Israel Jackson, Services, 10:15 a.m. Talmud study
January 2008 I Jewish Scene
33