editor - Jewish Scene Magazine

OCTOBER 2007 

Formerly Jewish Living of the South • Artist Ascending Series • ASBEE BBQ

SCRAPBOOK

Contents 

14 

4 HOME & GARDEN 

Sandra Wurzburg 

10 TRAVEL 

Disney Resort & Cruise Line 

11 BESHERT 

The Disappointment 

12 SENIOR LIVING 

Are You a Part of Your 

Healthcare Team? 

14 FEATURE 

Ascending Artist 

16 DINING OUT 

Marc Lazar of Patrick’s 

Steak & Spirits 

18 FROM THE KITCHEN OF... 

Seth Feibelman: On the Grill 

22 AGENCY HIGHLIGHT 

ASBEE-KROGER BBQ 

24 ON THE SIDELINES 

A Bar Above the Rest 

25 L’CHAYIM 

Blind Tastings Produce 

Pleasant Surprises 

26 TEEN TALK 

28 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

No Strings Attached 

30 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Reviews / Artist Spotlight 

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8 Memphis Jewish HS 

9 BSSS 

13 Plough Towers 

15 Memphis Jewish Home 

17 MHA/FYOS 

20 Around the South 

26 Temple Israel 

ON THE COVER: The Sukkah of 

Dr. Lawrence and Diane Wruble 

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. 

2 2 Jewish Jewish Scene Scene I I October October 2007 

2007 

4 

24 

Editor/Publisher 

Susan C. Nieman 

Art Director 

Mollie Baker 

Art Assistant 

David Miller 

Rebecca Miller 

Arts & Entertainment Editor 

Jennifer Lefkowitz 

Editorial Contributors 

Bob Bernstein 

Regina Bryant 

Gary Burhop 

Jennifer Edelson 

Seth Feibelman 

Chris Arpe Gang 

Mark Hayden 

Jennifer Lefkowitz 

Ted Roberts 

Harry Samuels 

Shoshana Yaffe 

Account Executives 

Bob Drake 

Bari Eiseman 

Larry Nieman 

Chief Financial Offi cer 

Don Heitner 

Business Manager 

Alice Drake 

Editorial Assistants 

Bettye Berlin 

Emily Bernhardt 

Alice Drake 

Volume 2, Number 2 

October 2007 

Tishrei/Cheshvan 5768 

Jewish Scene magazine must give permission for 

any material contained herein to be copied or 

reproduced in any manner. Manuscripts and 

photographs submitted for publication are 

welcome by Jewish Scene, but no responsibility can 

be taken for them while in transit or in the office 

of the publication. Editorial content does not 

necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion, nor can 

the publisher be held responsible for errors. The 

publication of any advertisement in this issue does 

not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser’s 

product or services by this publication. 

Jewish Scene is published monthly by Jewish Living 

of the South, Inc. and mailed free to members 

of requesting congregations and organizations. 

Subscriptions are available for $18 a year. Free 

copies are available in Memphis Jewish agencies, 

Borders Bookstore, Davis-Kidd Booksellers. Public 

libraries and other retail outlets. 

Jewish Scene 

1703 Tamhaven Court 

Cordova, TN 38016 

Phone: 901.624.4896 

Fax: 901.754.7822 

jewishliving@comcast.net 

www.jewishlivingofthesouth.com

From the 

EDITOR 

Dear Readers, 

Fall is really here and by the time you receive 

this magazine, Sukkot may already be over. But 

this photo that I took several years ago tells the 

reader a little bit about what this magazine is 

all about, what it has always been about and 

what it will continue to be. 

Although the name of the magazine has 

changed, Jewish Scene will remain 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. 

Jewish Living of the South, Inc. of which I 

am the president and owner, will continue to 

reach out to new areas – connecting Jewish 

communities. 

I am always amazed, and feel grateful for the 

number of calls I receive from people around 

the country requesting copies of the magazine 

because a friend or family member was featured 

in the latest issue. 

Thank you for reading and believing in Jewish 

Living of the South, in me, and in Jewish 

Scene. Happy reading; and please keep sending 

me your photos, calendars and story ideas. 

Shalom, 

Susan C. Nieman 

For corrections and omissions see page 32 

Subscriptions: Jewish Living of the South 

1703 Tamhaven Court, Cordova, TN 38016 

Subscription Rate: Free to members of requesting 

congregations and organizations in Tennessee, Mississippi 

and Arkansas. Others $18.00 per year. 

Name: _________________________ 

______________________________ 

Address: _________________________ 

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Zip: ___________________________ 

Email Address: ____________________ 

FROM THE EDITOR 

October 2007 I Jewish Scene 3

HOME & GARDEN 

By Chris Gang 

4 Jewish Scene I October 2007 

Sandra Wurzburg was the first resident at the Lexington, a 

condo development at White Station and Sanderlin in the 

heart of East Memphis, Tennessee. 

“I love it here,” said Wurzburg, who downsized from a large 

traditional home into the 2,000-square foot condo with a 

spacious, modern feel. 

Sandra, the widow of Warren Wurzburg Sr., thought she 

might like a zero-lot line home. 

“My daughters talked me into this place because it is so secure 

and convenient,” she said. All four of her daughters 

– Rhonda Saslawsky, Laurie Smith, Suzanne Baum and Teri 

Graber – live within two miles. 

The property, designed by Looney Rick Kiss Architects, features 

a gated entrance, key-card elevator access and reserved 

garage parking for residents. 

“The security here can’t be beat,” said Wurzburg, who 

moved in May. 

The elevator opens into the foyer of her third-floor condo. 

She loves the views of the treetops above White Station 

through the wide slats of her crisp white plantation shutters. 

Wurzburg and interior designer Archie Wolfe created an 

eclectic and comfortable new space by blending select furnishings 

from her previous home with a few acquisitions 

from daughters who are redecorating their own homes. 

“I’m a purple girl,” she said as she leads a visitor into her 

master bedroom, which is painted in a lavender hue of her 

favorite color. 

“Anyone who knows my mom knows she will be happy with 

any gift that is purple,” said daughter Rhonda. Rhonda and 

her husband Dr. Mark Saslawsky help Sandra refine the décor 

by performing various chores like hanging a stainless steel pot 

rack with lights over the stovetop island in the kitchen. 

A bed with antique metal frame is flanked by a French side 

table and a round table covered with purple underskirt and 

an ecru topper crocheted by her grandmother. 

An afghan knitted by her mother in various shades of purple 

is lovingly folded and placed at the foot of the bed. 

A collection of miniature shoes is displayed in a shelf on 

the wall. 

“I like little shoes and big ones,” she said.

The adjoining bath is painted in true purple. An English 

painting of a seaside scene is the room’s focal point. 

Two plush sofas – one covered in a purple fabric and the other 

in gold – are placed at a 90-degree angle to provide the seating 

in the living room. Underneath a glassed topped coffee table is 

a Tibetan area rug with geometric shapes in turquoise, purple 

and gold, which sets the tone for the décor of the entire space. 

On a table behind the purple sofa is a statue of a boy and girl 

kissing. 

“I gave it to my husband on our second anniversary,” said Sandra, 

who was married to Warren Wurzburg Sr. three and a half 

years before his death in 2004. 

The living room’s light gold walls make it warm and cozy and 

complement a pair of antique iron console tables. 

The light colored wood of the entertainment center, a gift from 

daughter Suzanne and her husband Dr. Scott Baum, melds perfectly 

into the setting. 

Sandra is planning to turn an interior space into a library and 

game room for her mahjong group. 

HOME & GARDEN 


HOME & GARDEN (continued from page 5) 

She is awaiting a walnut dining table with modern chairs 

from daughter Teri and her husband Larry who are in the 

midst of redecorating their dining room. Sandra covered the 

bed with a patchwork comforter in shades of burgundy and 

turquoise. The same colors are repeated in a contemporary 

chair and ottoman in a corner of the room. 

Sandra chose a bold raspberry color for the walls in the kitchen 

and dining area. She has breakfast at a metal table with 

two matching chairs that had been outdoor furniture at her 

previous home. 

When the weather is nice, Sandra retreats to her inviting 

screened porch. It’s furnished with a white wicker chair upholstered 

in a pink and purple print and a white wood garden 

bench with a colorful cushion. 


The walnut dining table with modern chairs is from daughter 

Teri and her husband Larry, who just redecorated their 

dining room. 

Moving to the condo was a huge job, Sandra said. 

“My daughters came and got me packed and then in one 

day’s time they got me moved in,” she said. “It’s been 

wonderful.” 

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 Commercial 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.


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MJHS students gather with Dean of Jewish 

Studies, Avi Gellman in the Beit Midrash. 

Chemistry teacher Sonya Fleck and sophomores are ready for 

experiment in new chemistry lab. 

Hannah Coulter and Jessica 

Rubin on the fi rst day of their 

sophomore year. 

Freshmen Morgan Wank and 

Elana Malkin with big sister 

sophomore Courtney Thomas. 

Logan Belz and mom, Bonnie, explore his computer on the fi rst 

day of school.

2nd Kaballat Shabbat 

Construction begins at Schechter 

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TRAVEL: SPONSORED SECTION 

Walt Disney World® Resort and Disney Cruise Line® 

By Regina Bryant 

W 

alt Disney Travel has been making Dream Vacations for 

35 years. In addition to hotel and theme park tickets, you 

can include dining, show tickets, airline tickets and more. 

“Magic Your Way Packages” may be more affordable than you 

think. Disney has very economical to luxury resort packages to 

suit your family’s Disney experience. 

Don’t think Disney is just for kids. 

There are many exciting activities for adults such as five championship 

golf courses. Home to the annual PGA TOUR event, The 

Disney Classic, the Walt Disney World Resort® was acclaimed 

a Gold Medal Resort by Golf Magazine for the fifth time and 

named as one of America’s top 75 resorts by Golf Digest. There 

is also horseback riding, biking, boating, fishing, and more. 

For families with kids there’s… 

Magic Kingdom Where the storybook comes alive with Disney 

fantasies. One of the new attractions, “Monster of Ceremonies” 

hosts a funny interactive show called Monster’s Inc. 

Love Disney animated musicals? Take in the 3-D musical, 

“Mickey’s Philhar Magic.” 

Blast off the Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder 

Mountain Railroad. 


Epcot Explore the culture and 

cuisine of 11 nations around 

the world. Fill the excitement of 

space travel on a journey to Mars. 

Have fun at the newest wonder in 

Disney’s “Finding Nemo.” 

MGM Big-screen thrills and sensational 

shows come together in 

the many attractions for all ages. 

Lightning McQueen, Kim Possible, 

Power Rangers, The Incredibles, 

and of course, Mickey Mouse and the Gang will delight 

kids and parents too! 

Animal Kingdom Fun and excitement never stop. Experience the 

newest high-speed thrills found on the Expedition Everest Legend 

of the Forbidden Mountain train trek through the treacherous 

Himalayan unknown, guarded by the Yeti. Set off on your 

safari through 110 acres of African-style savannah to encounter 

free-roaming wildlife. Take in Disney’s musical, Festival of the 

Lion King. View the world through bug-colored glasses in the 

3D It’s Tough to be a Bug®. 

Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon Water parks are a must when 

looking for fun in the sun. Blizzard Beach is based on a ski resort 

theme. Ride the 120-foot Summit Plummet or take in the 

Typhoon Lagoon with its tropical theme including Crush ‘N’ 

Gusher, a gravity-defying uphill water coaster. 

Disney Cruise Line® Double your fun and excitement with a Disney 

at Sea adventure. Book a Disney Cruise along with your 

Disney World Vacation or book your cruise alone. The Disney 

Cruise Line® is your ship where wishes come true. 

With wonderful ports on trips as short as three to four days, to 

endless possibilities on a seven-day cruise, parents and grandparents 

alike will enjoy the effortless ease of combining a Disney 

World Package and a Disney Cruise. 

From the moment you arrive at the Orlando Airport, you are 

completely taken care of by Disney, from round-trip shuttle 

transfers, to hotel, port and back to your flight on your return 

home. Yes, you do have to go home eventually! 

Disney World packages start with three nights with a value resort 

and a Magic Your Way base pass for four days at $356 per adult 

and $181 per child ages 3-9. Disney Cruises start at $1311.43 for 

a family of three for a three-day cruise. 

Call me to create your family excitement. 

Regina Bryant has been in the travel industry for 15 years. 

She specializes in international vacation planning throughout 

the world and group travel. She has traveled extensively, 

and would love to help you plan the perfect vacation. She 

may be reached at Carlson Wagonlit Travel 901.761.1708.

A 

BESHERT: True Stories of Connection 

t the beginning of World War 

II, Bert Bornblum joined the 

United States Army Air Corps. He was 

born and reared in Warsaw, Poland, 

and had only recently come to the 

United States. He tried very diligently 

to speak English correctly, but it was 

difficult since he had the handicap of 

a strong Yiddish accent. 

An intelligence test was given to all 

new recruits in order to determine 

the job for which they would be best 

suited. He scored well on all the tests 

that were administered, and the Army 

placed him in the signal corps. Bert 

excelled in mastering all of the nonverbal 

skills required, but when he was 

given verbal communication tasks, the 

men to whom he attempted to speak 

couldn’t understand him. They complained 

of his inability to communicate 

properly. Some thought he was 

a German soldier who had infiltrated 

their outfit. 

He was disappointed when he was 

transferred from his unit, but he had 

no choice in the matter. Bert was reassigned 

to another unit in which it was 

felt his talents might be better used and 

in which his accent would not prove to 

be such a barrier. As time progressed, 

he was eventually sent to the European 

Theater of Operations while everyone 

in his former unit was sent to the Pacific 

Theater. 

After the war, he met a friend who had 

served in the South Pacific and had 

been in touch with Bert’s former outfit. 

It was then that he learned that not 

a single member of his former group 

had survived the war. 

Perhaps he was saved by his Jewish accent, 

not such a handicap after all! 

Bert and his brother David, of blessed memory, 

settled in Memphis, Tennessee. There, 

through years of diligent effort, they achieved 

financial success in the retail business. Both 

have expressed gratitude for their good fortune 

BESHERT 

and have attempted to repay society in various 

ways. They established significant endowments 

in several non-profit foundations of the city, including 

one at the University of Memphis. 

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 Memphis 

at Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Amazon.com 

and Iuniverse.com and the Memphis Jewish 

Community Center. 


SENIOR LIVING 

One of the single-most important ways a senior adult can stay 

healthy is to take an active part in their own health care. If being 

cared for by an informal caregiver such as spouse, elder child or 

loved one, it is also important that they should be part of this 

health care team. 

Positive outcomes from this approach are: decrease in stress, better 

care for the patient, more efficient use of your doctor’s time, 

a cut in costs for our health care system and basically an increase 

in satisfaction for all involved. 

It is extremely important for the designated patient to find and 

use information and take an active role in all of the decisions 

made about their care. 

Senior adults are usually very dedicated to their doctors, having 

built up a long-standing relationship throughout the years. 

Research has shown that patients who have good relationships 

with their doctors usually tend to be more satisfied with their 

care and even experience better results. 

Quality medical care is so important as we age. Everyday we read 

about the positives and negatives of our health care system. However, 

our system is still the best in the world. Everyday we discover 

new technologies and benefits to enhance the quality of life. 

You are the only person that can rate your doctor on a scale of 

1 – 10 by asking: Is he/she responsive and accessible? Does 


ARE YOU A PART 

OF YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM? 

Here are some tips to help you and your 

doctor become “teammates” in improving 

your health care. 

1. Be open and honest with your doctor. Give information, don’t 

wait to be asked. Discuss “personal” information – even if it makes 

you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. 

2. Prior to your doctor’s appointment, write down areas you want 

to discuss. Be organized. You know your body, you know your symptoms, 

you know how you feel – share this information – your doctor 

is great, but I bet he still can’t read your mind. 

3. Don’t forget to bring a written health history with you. Keep this 

health history up to date for each visit. Remember your family is 

part of your health care team; share your history with them too. 

Your health, or should I say, “good health” is of great concern to 

your loved ones. 

he/she understand and treat you with dignity? 

In the past few years I have had to rely on and utilize our health 

care system in some serious instances – on a scale of 1-10, they 

were a rousing “10,” Why? 

According to retired Memphis physician Dr. Maury Bronstein, 

“A good physician practices with a sound philosophy including 

being available to your patients, not putting folks off and being 

nice to people. 

“Doctors have their own ways of getting information,” he continued. 

“Patients need to be prepared. Many times the patient 

feels they are imposing on the doctor’s time. But most doctors 

are delighted to take the time with their patients.” 

In listening to Dr. Bronstein I really began to understand why I 

had such good health care. 

You too can experience quality health care and be an integral 

part of your health care team. 

Bob Bernstein is a Master Level Licensed Social Worker in Memphis, 

TN. Through his company, Geriatric Consultants, LLC he works with 

seniors and their families and consults agencies, organizations, senior 

living facilities and hospitals in developing senior adult services and 

programs. His TV program, “The Time of my Life,” appears on local 

Memphis Comcast Cable Channel 17 every Wednesday at 2 and 9 

p.m. Bob can be reached at 901.374.0707. 

By Bob Bernstein 

4. Bring your medicines or a list of the medicines you take and how 

often you take them. Include all over-the-counter drugs you may be 

taking. Tell the doctor how your meds effect you. For example, do 

they make you drowsy, nauseas, dizzy or cause an allergic reaction? 

Want to save money? Always ask your doctor for samples. 

5. Bring other medical information with you such as test results, 

x-rays and other medical records. If you have seen other doctors, 

make sure they are forwarding their records to your “primary or internal 

medicine physician,” who should be coordinating your care. 

6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Write down your questions and 

bring them with you to your appointment. If you don’t ask, your 

doctor may assume that you have understood everything he/she has 

said. Write down the answers if that helps you remember. You don’t 

want to second guess yourself after you leave your doctor’s offi ce. 

7. Bring a member of your health team to your appointment. Two 

heads are better than one; we all need support and caring.

Karen Wener, granddaughter, 

Olivia Fox, Rena Rosenberg 

& Bea Volozin at MJCC 

Theatre Camp performance 

Annie Prager and family enjoy National Night Out 

JCC Theater campers perform “Grease” 

Edith Linkon & Mary Frances Johnson 

enjoy National Cheesecake Day! 

Christine Smith & Claudia Klutts celebrate 

National Night Out 

Sylvia Gattas and Israeli Scouts make peanut 

butter & banana sandwiches for Elvis Party 

SCRAPBOOKS 


FEATURE 


16-YEAR-OLD VIOLIN PRODIGY 

PERFORMS AT ARTISTS 

ASCENDING CONCERT SERIES 

H 

aving traveled the world to display his musical talent, 16year-old 

violinist Jeremy Stein Cushman will bring the 

spotlight to Memphis on October 14, as the opening artist of the 

41st Belz-Parker Artists Ascending Concert Series. 

Cushman’s performance will be accompanied by the University 

of Memphis Rudi Scheidt School of Music Chamber Orchestra 

under the direction of Conductor 

Dr. Pu-Qi Jiang. Piano accompaniment 

will be provided by In 

Sun Suh. A native of Korea, she 

is a graduate student at the Juilliard 

School where she is pursuing 

a master of music degree in 

collaborative piano. 

“After the retirement of Dr. Joseph 

Parker, the Founder and long-time 

chairman of the Artists Ascending 

Concert Series, Leonid Saharovici, 

our dear friend and associate in 

many community endeavors, enthusiastically agreed to become the 

chairman of the Artists Ascending Concert Series. He and his life 

partner, Fredrica, have worked with their usual boundless energy 

on the artists and programs. As a result, we feel that the upcoming 

concert series will be among the best that we have ever been able to 

present,” said Belz Enterprises CEO Jack Belz. 

A child prodigy, Jeremy Cushman made his solo orchestral debut 

at age 8 and one year later was featured on the nationally televised 

CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel. In the few short years since 

his appearance on the national stage, Jeremy has performed at 

The White House, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden 

and Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall for the celebration of the 

50th anniversary of the State of Israel in New York before Governor 

George Pataki and Mayor Rudy Giuliani. 

At age 5, Jeremy began studying violin under teacher Yukako Tarumi. 

He currently studies violin with Juilliard professor Shirley 

Givens, viola with Sheila Reinhold and both composition and 

conducting with Michael Dadap. He has been coached on violin 

by Boris Garlitsky, Kyu-Young Kim, Arnold Markov, and Yuval 

Waldman, and in chamber music (in both violinist and violist) by 

Yeon-Cheng Ma, Daedalus Quartet, the Cassatt Quartet and the 

Pierrot Consort. Jeremy is the concertmaster of both the Young 

Symphonic Ensemble and the Elite String Ensemble of the Children’s 

Orchestra Society. 

An international attraction, Cushman has performed in more 

than 10 countries on four continents throughout the world in-

cluding Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, England, Scotland, Spain, 

Switzerland, France, Argentina and the United States. 

For more than 40 years the Artists Ascending Concert Series has 

brought to Memphis some of the world’s most promising young 

classical musicians most of whom have gone on to achieve international 

recognition including Yitzhak Pearlman, Gill Shaham, conductor 

and pianist Daniel Barenboim, pianist Misha Dichter, opera 

singer Roberta Peters, clarinetist Jonathan Bliss and many others. 

“The Artists Ascending Concert Series is dedicated to the memory 

of Philip Belz, a visionary leader and builder whose love of 

G-d and music is expressed by the performances of the young artists 

who have participated in the concert series,” said Saharovici. 

“Philip, a philanthropist with a warm heart and infectious smile 

had a great musical talent and magnificent voice. His love of his 

faith and synagogue make it appropriate to have the series at Baron 

Hirsch Congregation, where his memory generates the faith 

and song that he loved so much.” 

The Artists Ascending Concert Series is sponsored by the Belz 

Family. 

Free to the public, the concert will be held at 7:45 p.m. in the Belz 

Sanctuary of the Baron Hirsch Congregation, 400 S. Yates Road, 

Memphis, TN. For more information, contact Leonid Saharovici 

at 901.751.2036. 

Vintage Ford and John 

Deere Tractor Visit 

SCRAPBOOK 


DINING OUT 


Marc Lazar and partner create 

a winning formula at Patrick’s 

By Chris Gang 

M 

arc Lazar decided he 

wanted to be in the restaurant 

business when he was just 15 

years old. 

His “aha” moment came after spending a few weeks in the 

kitchen of Henry S. Jacobs Camp, a summer camp for Reform 

Jewish youth in Utica, Mississippi. 

“I was responsible for meals for the camp’s kibbutz program,” 

said Lazar, co-owner of Patrick’s Steak & Spirits, a busy sports bar 

and family restaurant at 4972 Park, in Memphis, Tennessee. 

His partner, Mike Miller, bought into the restaurant about two 

years ago. Lazar bought in to it about 28 months ago. 

They had worked together to open the Half Shell on Winchester. 

Lazar was the kitchen manager and Mike was general 

manager. 

Afterwards we were looking for a new opportunity and knew 

the owner of Patrick’s wanted to retire,” Lazar said. 

They kept most of the original menu items but changed a lot of 

recipes and upgraded the quality of meats and other ingredients. 

“I like the home cooking and family atmosphere here,” 

Lazar said. 

Customers apparently do, too. At peak times during lunch and 

dinner everyday, there is usually a wait for tables. On game 

nights, customers reserve places near the television screens. 

“We’ve got a lot of regulars here,” said Lazar, who estimates 

that about 35 percent of customers eat or drink at Patrick’s 

four times a week or more. 

Jews are a big part of the customer base. 

“We joke that we could have a minyan here every afternoon 

around 5,” Lazar said. 

The partners, who compete in the Memphis in May World 

Championship Barbecue Contest, added beef brisket and other 

barbecue items to the menu. 

Daily specials include fried chicken on Tuesday, turkey and 

dressing on Thursday and salmon croquettes on Friday. 

They also have weekly specials such as the fried peanut butter and 

banana sandwich served during Elvis Tribute Week in August. 

Steaks – sirloin, filet mignon and rib eyes – are custom-cut in 

the kitchen. On Friday and Saturday nights prime rib dinners 

are available. 

The restaurant, which also has a catering department, participates 

in the Zoo Rendezvous and a charity golf tournament 

benefiting Le Bonheur. 

Like most restaurant owners, Lazar puts in lots of hours and 

often works on weekends. The restaurant is open seven days a 

week for lunch and dinner. The bar closes at 2 a.m. 

“It’s nice to be off on a weekday when everyone else is working,” 

he said. His schedule alternates between the opening shift 

that starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. and the afternoon shift 

that begins about 11 a.m. and typically ends by 9 p.m. 

Lazar, the son of Dr. Edward and Marxann Lazar, grew up at 

Baron Hirsch Congregation, became bar mitzvah at Beth Sholom 

and graduated from Temple Israel’s high school program. 

Now he and his wife of one year, Leslie Mendelson, are members 

of Baron Hirsch. 

Because of their busy schedules, he and Leslie, a nurse at Le 

Bonheur, don’t do a lot of cooking at home. 

“We eat a lot of home cooking from Patrick’s,” he said. 

While still a student at Ridgeway High, he had part-time jobs at 

the Pig & Whistle, Corky’s and Café Max. After high school he 

attended the University of Montana and spent time in Australia 

and New Zealand. Then he enrolled in Johnson & Wales University 

in Providence, Rhode Island where he earned degrees in 

culinary arts and restaurant and institutional management. 

He returned to Memphis for a job as general manager of Café 

Max. He also worked at Corky’s and the Pig & Whistle. 

Last fall Lazar and his partner added a patio in front of the 

restaurant. Now they are thinking about expanding with another 

location, either further east or in Midtown, depending 

on where they get the best lease. 

Stay tuned.

SCRAPBOOK 


FROM THE KITCHEN OF 

SETH FEIBELMAN: ON THE GRILL 

ast October my wife gave me a Weber grill for my birthday. 

From that day on I have prepared frequent meals outdoors. 

For weeks we remodeled our kitchen and the only 

home-cooked meals we could enjoy were prepared on the grill. 

The more frequently one cooks over an open flame, the more 

comfortable it becomes. 

There are a few necessities for successful outdoor cooking. 

First, determine if you prefer gas or charcoal. Cooking on a 

gas grill is quick and effective. Charcoal takes longer to prepare 

and maintain but the flavor comes out in the food. 

Once you have chosen the grill for you, you must then invest 

in utensils. Most outdoor grill sets come with a grill brush, 

tongs, spatula and a fork. If you are a true enthusiast, I suggest 

buying these items separately because although you may save 

money buying them as a set, you get what you pay for. A grill 

brush should be sturdy so that it does not bend while cleaning 

the grate. The tongs and spatula need to be long enough so 

that your hand does not reach over the flame. You do want 

to keep all of the hair on your fingers. As for the fork, I never 

stab meat on the grill. This releases the juices and turns your 

meat dry. Forks should only be used for carving after the meat 

Filet with Genesis Ale Marinade (Serves 4) 


Ingredients 

1 bottle Hebrew Genesis 

Ale Beer 

½ cup honey 

3 Tbsp. cider vinegar 

1 Tbsp. chopped garlic 

1 tsp red pepper flakes 

4 sprigs thyme 

1 bay leaf 

4 beef tenderloin filets 

Pinch of salt 

Pinch of pepper 

has been removed from the heat and it has rested. Allowing 

the meat to sit for a few minutes allows the juices to spread 

throughout it and will make your dinner tenderer. 

Another grill necessity is an all-metal pot. I suggest investing 

$3 in a pot you only use on the grill. After using it on an open 

flame it becomes difficult to return to kitchen use. Oven mitts 

are also useful when grilling. However, keep a bucket of water 

nearby because you may inadvertently catch your hand on 

fire and not realize it until it is too late (trust me I have gone 

through countless oven mitts). 

Now that you have the right tools it is time to make a complete 

outdoor meal. One of my favorites is Grilled Vegetables 

with Balsamic Reduction, Filet with a Genesis Ale Marinade 

and Southwest Potato Hobo Packs. 

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. 

Directions 

Mix first six ingredients together. 

Season the filets with salt and pepper 

then place in Ziploc bag. Pour marinade 

in bag ensuring that all the meat 

is covered. Seal bag and insert into 

larger Ziploc bag and seal. Refrigerate 

for up to 24 hours. Remove filets 

from bag and discard marinade. Grill 

over open flame. You can determine 

how well done a steak is with a meat 

thermometer. 120 degrees is rare, 130 

is medium and 140 and over is well 

done. Once you remove the meat 

from the grill, wait 3-5 minutes before 

serving.

Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Reduction (Serves 4) 

Ingredients 

2 yellow squash 

2 zucchini squash 

1 red onion 

1 Tbsp chopped garlic 

¹∕ ³ cup olive oil 

Pinch of salt 

Pinch of pepper 

2 cups Balsamic vinegar 

Directions 

Cut squash and onion into large pieces so they will not slip 

through the grate of the grill. Toss pieces with garlic, salt, pepper 

and olive oil. Add Balsamic vinegar to a pot and place on 

grill. Simmer until the liquid is thick enough to coat the back 

of a spoon. Grill vegetable pieces until desired tenderness. 

Present vegetables on a plate with the Balsamic Reduction 

drizzled over the top. 

Southwest Potato Hobo Packs (Serves 4) 

Ingredients 

6 red bliss potatoes 

1 green pepper 

1 red pepper 

1 Tbsp. garlic 

1 Tbsp. rosemary 

1 tsp salt 

1 tsp pepper 

¹∕ ³ cup olive oil 

Aluminum foil 

Directions 

Quarter the potatoes and cut the peppers into wedges. Toss 

with remaining ingredients. Fold the foil to create a pouch 

that will hold 5 pieces of potato and a couple of pepper 

wedges. Seal foil pouch so that no liquid can escape. Place 

foil pouches directly on the fire. Cook for 15 minutes and 

flip pouches over. Cook for another 10 minutes. Remove 

from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Carefully open pouches 

and serve. 

FROM THE KITCHEN OF 


SCRAPBOOKS 

ALZHEIMER’S DAY SERVICES 

GARAGE BAND REUNION 

1 

2 

3 


AROUND THE SOUTH 

BETH ISRAEL 

JACKSON, MS 

Photo by Lou Shornick 

Sharon Kunitz, Cantorial Intern for 

the Institute for Southern Jewish 

Life, performs at Beth Israel before 

returning to finish her fourth year at 

HUC in New York. She was accompanied 

by Josh Wiener on the piano. 

1. Immediate Past President Steve Silver, with Bernsteins at Checkin 

2. Hugh & Bettye Dilley, Bob & Sharon Bernstein 3. Alice & Bob 

Drake, Larry Nieman 4. David Fleischman introduces honoree George 

Klein 5. Denis Freiden & Lisa Tanner 6. Don Heitner & Kelly Trim 

4 

5 

6 

OLSWANGER FUND 

Marty Olswanger Memorial Fund presents 

donation to MJCC to mark the 10th anniversary 

of Marty’s death. A reception for friends and 

family followed.

SCRAPBOOK 


AGENCY HIGHLIGHT 

MEMPHIS JEWS LOVE 

n October 21 Anshei Sphard 

Beth El Emeth (ASBEE) Orthodox 

Synagogue will hold their 19th Annual 

Kosher cook-off – the only kosher 

barbecue contest on planet earth or even 

the Milky Way galaxy as far as we know. 

To understand what goes on at Anshei 

Sphard Synagogue in Memphis, my 

home town, you must have some familiarity 

with the culinary themes of our 

Chumash. Also, you must be aware of 

the Memphis fascination with vinegary, 

peppery barbecue sauce. And you must 

remember that ASBEE sits squat in the 

middle of Memphis, Tennessee, the 

swine-loving capital of gustatory USA, 

where non-barbecuing is as popular 

as celibacy in Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Memphis, at the infancy of this third 

millennium, is the Capital of Barbecue 

like Athens, Greece, was the capital of 

culture around the birth of the first 

millennium. 

Christian lovers of charcoaled chickens, 

brisket and you-know-what-else kneel by 

their grills and face Memphis to pray. It’s 

a city where the inquiry; “what’s the best 

you ever had?” can be addressed without 

blush to man, woman or child. 

It means only barbecue. 


It is this tradition that brings us to the 

smoky jubilee of the 21st of October. 

The ASBEE contest is an ecumenical 

affair. The judges are a mixed crew of 

local celebs and pitmeisters with smoke 

in their eyes, charcoal fires in their 

hearts and sauce on their breath. They 

are steeped in the sacrosanct Memphis 

tradition of vinegar-based sauce. 

(According to my concordance, our 

Tanach mentions “vinegar” six times. 

“Tomato”? Not once.) 

It all began with the larger Memphis 

madness called Memphis in May that 

sizzles annually alongside the Mississippi 

River. A World Championship 

barbecue contest. Bags of money and 

fame await the Grand Champion. The 

sauced-up main course is naturally a pig 

with a curly tail, little squinty eyes, cloven 

hoof and a mouth that, sadly, does 

not chew cud and therefore, forbidden 

to the palates of Jews. You can read all 

about it in Deuteronomy – the prohibitions 

against pork, I mean, not Memphis 

in May. 

Well, the thoughtful, food-obsessed 

members of Anshei Sphard watched 

this mania with wonder in their eyes 

and hands over their nostrils lest the 

2006 ASBEE BBQ – Photos Susan Nieman 

porky haze that hangs over Memphis 

enter therein – especially the Shul president 

Ira Weinstein. Ira’s Jewish Kup 

was calculating like a PC. Why not, he 

asked. . . why not. . . a KOSHER barbecue 

contest? 

Pigs-Schmigs. What’s wrong with beef 

ribs and beef brisket from an animal 

mercifully dispatched according to ritual? 

The original theme was fun raising, 

not fund raising. Only 12 teams competed. 

But like that pinky thing they 

cook at Memphis is May – it continued 

to fatten up. This year we’ll have about 

35 teams. 

Food is a noble and ancient Jewish obsession, 

since we’re the People of the 

Plate as well as the People of the Book. 

The Chumash is full of kitchens, cooks, 

blue plate specials and barbecues. Early 

on, in Exodus, quails pour down on 

the hungry Israelites. “What good are 

quails without a little vinegar and hot 

pepper?” it probably says somewhere in 

the libraries of Jewish lore. 

And didn’t Boaz snatch the heart of 

Ruth, the great grandmother of King 

David and evidently a sauce lover, 

with homemade bread and a bowl of 

“vinegar,” which obviously is barbecue

BARBECUE 

By Ted Roberts 

dipping sauce. Consider among the great “Ifs” of history; no 

sauce – no marriage – NO KING DAVID! 

And therefore no Messiah – then or now. Theologians and 

skeptics, check Ruth 2:14. 

Then there’s Jacob, for the meager price of a venison stew 

(probably pulled not chopped) snatches his inheritance from 

greedy Esau. 

So, in a way, a barbecue contest is a natural for a Memphis, 

Orthodox synagogue. It’s a cook-off just like Memphis in 

May, except that the three little pigs could attend as guests 

with no fear of ending up on the wrong side of the grill. 

The basic idea is the same every year. Why gild the lily? The 

events are Brisket, Beef Ribs, Barbecued Beans, Chicken, 

Best Decorated Booth and Best Team Name. And there’s a 

pickle-eating contest and games for the kids. The Sisterhood 

cooks their heart out. 

Come and watch, plus enjoy a spicy lunch. 

The whole procedure is run with a fine-tuned sensitivity to 

the holy rules that govern Orthodox food preparation. The 

competitors don’t even provide their own sauce or rub ingredients. 

They present a secret list of herbs and spices, which 

the event managers review and provide. 

Heaven forbid – I mean literally – that a violation occurs. 

The meat, too, as well as the grill are handed to the contestant. 

Now with the raw product, stove and spices to blend 

distinctively into his sauces, Mr. or Ms. Cook is ready to light 

the coals of joy. 

This is the biggest Jewish food news since manna drifted 

from the heavens into the open mouths of our starving Israelite 

ancestors. And if manna makes your stomach sing a 

song, wait’ll you have a barbecue beef sandwich with slaw 

and sauce. At Anshei you’ll hear La Boheme. 

Better yet, maybe, Hatikvah. I’ll see you there around lunch 

time. 

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 

AGENCY HIGHLIGHT 


ON THE SIDELINES 

A BAR ABOVE THE RESTBy Mark Hayden 

he Linder family of Memphis, Tennessee, may be a runof-the-mill 

family, but 12-year-old Jonah hopes to change 

that one day. 

“I took a gymnastic class when I was 2-years-old,” said Jonah, 

“I was the only person who could climb a rope and ring the 

bell at the top. Nobody could make it up there.” 

That is how it all started. 

Today Jonah dreams of being an 

Olympic gymnast – by his own 

count he should be ready for the 

challenge by the 2012 or 2016 

Games. 

“I’ve been working real hard,” he 

said. As his skills have matured 

he’s taken on tougher challenges. 

Jonah attends Woodland Presbyterian 

School, then practices 

for up to three hours a day four 

times a week at Wimbledon 

Gymnastics and still maintains 

an A/B average. 

“I’ve got algebra this year – math is 

my favorite subject,” added Jonah. 

His parents, Jimmy an ophthalmologist 

and Laura, executive 

director of the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, are very supportive 

and juggle their schedules to take him to practice and 

to competitions across the South. 

But sooner or later the constant practice can leave its mark 

on anyone. 

“With anything as intense as this, there are days when Jonah 

really doesn’t feel like going to practice,” said Laura. “It happens 

every once in awhile, but I don’t think that it’s unique 

to sports. If your child is going to be serious about any sport 

today, it’s going to take a big-time commitment.” 

As a mother of two gymnasts – Jonah and younger sister Elie 

– she realizes that her son might have one advantage over his 

10-year old sibling. 

“The lifespan of a male gymnast is longer – you see guys hit 


Jonah Linder in gymnastics competion. Photos johnnwolfe@comcast.net 

their peak in their mid to late 20s. You don’t see women 

Olympians at that age.” 

Add Wimbledon coach Bob Murphy to Jonah’s side, too. 

“Like with any goal it’ll take a lot of work on his part, but he 

has a legitimate chance. We don’t really push that here; we 

prefer that they develop one level at a time. Kids should have 

fun with gymnastics. 

“Physically, he’s strong,” Murphy 

continued. “He’s agile, quick and 

he’s got pretty good air sense about 

him. He pretty well knows where 

he is at all times – things can get 

really scary if you don’t have a feel 

for where you are, because you really 

can’t see where you are.” 

Jonah has a good idea about his 

future – a future after Woodland 

Presbyterian. He knows where 

he’s going to high school, college 

and even after his gymnastic career 

ends. Well, at age 12 he has 

plenty of time to dream. 

For college he wants to go to William 

& Mary. Why? 

“It’s a real good gymnastics 

school,” he said. 

“He’s been talking about going there for years,” added Laura. 

Jonah recently began playing golf and sometimes plays with 

his dad on Sundays. 

“I like golf too,” he said. 

For Jonah, he has plenty of time to see where that game fits 

into his future, just give him time to fulfill his gymnastics 

goals first. 

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.

Blind Tastings 

Produce Pleasant Surprises 

Vermentino, Chardonnay and a blend are favored whites. Cabernets and an Aussie blend rule the reds. By Gary Burhop 

reat Wines & 

Spirits hosted 

our 6th Annual summer 

Customer Choice ‘blind’ wine tastings, 

beginning in July. Each Saturday 

featured different varietals, poured with 

their identity concealed. Participating 

tasters were then asked to vote for their 

two favorite reds and two favorite whites. 

After the tasting, votes were tabulated by 

scoring two points for a ‘Favorite’ vote 

and one point for a ‘Second Favorite’ 

ballot. The top-two scoring wines were 

then declared to be ‘Weekly Winners’ 

and reentered into two tastings of those 

weekly winners. Participation ranged 

from having 65 ballots cast one week to 

a high of 105, making the results quite 

representative and deserving of the title 

‘Customer Choices.’ 

Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio led off. 

Vidussi Pinot Grigio, a brightly fruited, 

crisp offering from the Collio region 

of Italy was the favorite. Robert Mondavi 

Private Selection Pinot Noir surprised 

the field. This everyday $12 wine 

trounced wines that cost three times as 

much. 

Week 2 featured Red Zinfandel and 

Rieslings. McWilliams Hanwood Estate 

Riesling from southeast Australia 

at $11 was the crowd pleaser. Rodney 

Strong Knotty Vine Zinfandel ($18) 

was the runaway favorite red. 

Week 3 was ‘other’ white varietals and 

red blends. Fools Bay Dirty Bliss Grenache-Shiraz 

was the best red. Camp 

al Mare Vermentino from Tuscany was 

the top white. Both are $18. 

Week 4 saw Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc 

($19) as the top Sauvignon Blanc. 

Charles Krug Napa Cabernet ($27) tied 

with BR Cohn Silver Label Cabernet 

Sauvignon ($23) for favorite red. 

Chardonnay and Merlot were featured 

in Week 5. Frank Family Napa Chardonnay 

($30) and Columbia Crest Grand 

Estate Merlot ($12) came out on top. 

Week 6 was blended white wines and 

Shiraz or Syrah. An everyday $11 white 

blend of Chardonnay, Moscato and 

Chenin Blanc with the saucy name Menage 

a Trois White won. Jip Jip Rocks 

($17), a Limestone Coast, Australia Shiraz 

was the top red. 

The taste-off participants, numbering 

nearly 100 at each session, picked Campo 

al Mare Vermentino and Menage 

a Trois White as their favorite whites. 

Runners-up were Ferrari-Carano Fume 

Blanc and Frank Family Chardonnay. 

Reds saw Charles Krug Napa Cabernet 

and Fools Bay Dirty Bliss Grenache-Shiraz 

come out on top. BR Cohn Silver 

label Cabernet Sauvignon and Rodney 

Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel were 

runners-up reds. 

Gary Burhop is the owner of 

Great Wines & Spirits located at 

6150 Poplar Avenue in Regalia, 

Memphis, Tenn. Great Wines & 

Spirits carry a large and varied 

selection of kosher wines. 


SCRAPBOOKS 

TEMPLE ISRAEL 

Summer 2007 Family and Adult Mission Trips to Israel 

“The creation of positive and transformative Jewish memories is so much what Temple is 

about,” says Rabbi Greenstein, “and there’s no more powerful, emotional and compelling 

way to be touched Jewishly than to travel to Israel with your synagogue family. These pictures 

refl ect some of the moments and activities during the Temple Israel summer trips to 

Israel. However, the spiritual components cannot be seen even though they were deeply 

felt by the 70 participants in the June and July trips.” 

Individuals, entire families spanning three generations, sisters-in-law, grandparents traveling 

with their grandchildren and leaders from every facet of Temple life attended these two 

trips. Trey Strobel and Alec Johnson, became B’nai Mitzvah at Hebrew Union College-Jewish 

Institute of Religion, overlooking the walls of the Old City. 


TEEN TALK 

By Jennifer Edelson 

WELCOME 

BACK TO 

s summer ended, Memphis Jewish teens 

gathered for a back to BBYO poolside party, 

welcoming new members and reuniting with 

friends. After that, the Intake process began. 

Each chapter hosted an “Intake” program to introduce 

freshman to BBYO in the hopes of them 

joining their chapter. At Chapter Choice, about 

60 freshmen chose their chapter. The new Members/Alephs 

in training, A.K.A., MITs and AITs 

are ready to learn how to successfully participate 

in and run a chapter, while making new friends 

and enjoying being Jewish teens. 

On Labor Day weekend, sophomores, juniors and 

seniors enjoyed Camp Hillmont near Nashville for 

Cotton States Region annual Fall Kallah. It was a 

good break from the beginning of the school year 

to reunite with out-of-town friends! Cotton States 

will reconvene again in December for Convention 

in Birmingham! 

Jennifer Edelson is a 16-year-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.

MeFTY 

ore than 60 MeFTY teens including 

30 new freshmen enjoyed the Freshman 

Kidnap and High School Kickoff, with 

swimming, sliding down a huge water slide, 

eating grilled food and catching up from 

the summer. Jennifer Edelson organized a 

pool-side Shabbat service, while Cara Greenstein 

planned freshmen activities and Amy 

Schweig was in charge of programming. A 

New Year introduction was organized by 

all MeFTY board members including Evan 

Kline, Amy Fenton, Katie Strasberg, Abby 

Durham, Josh Ellis, Karen Stein and Michael 

Eisenstatt. The party was generously hosted 

by the Scheidt Family! 

TEEN TALK 


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

NO STRINGS ATTACHED By Shoshana Yaffe 

fter more than 36 years of experience 

on stage and in television 

as a puppeteer, producer 

and director, it was inevitable that puppeteer 

Peter Zapletal would eventually take 

on “Pinocchio.” 

“As old as the story is, it still offers valid 

messages to children,” said Peter. “Doing 

what is easy rather than doing what is 

right, telling lies, falling to peer pressure, 

not fitting in, being different and being 

selfish, are all difficult matters for young 

children to deal with. Pinocchio has a 

hard time with these too, and the story 

presents examples of where this kind of 

behavior can lead.” 

Peter, the artistic director for Puppet Arts 

Theatre, a professional touring puppet 

theatre company, offers an exciting variety 

of programs that introduce children 

of all ages to classical music, theatre and 

puppetry. 

A graduate of the Academy of Performing 

Arts in Prague, Czech Republic, with 

a master’s degree in puppetry, Peter’s 

award-winning instructional programs 

with puppets, puppet specials and other 

special programs produced for Mississippi 

Educational Television between 1971 

and 2003 are distributed nationally. 

He has received numerous special recognitions 

and awards for his television 

work, the most coveted, a Silver Circle 

Award from the National Academy of 

Television Arts and Sciences for 25 years 

of excellence in television puppetry – the 

only National Emmy received by a Mississippi 

broadcaster. 

Born in Poland in 1945, to a mother 

who had survived a concentration camp, 

Peter’s family moved to America in 1967. 

“It took three long years,” he remembers. 

“But we finally got our passports.” 

Jarmila, who Peter had dated while living 


The National Emmy 

Award is the only 

National Emmy 

received by a Mississippi 

broadcaster. 

in Slovakia after the war, soon joined him 

in New York. They married in 1968 and 

together established Empire State Puppet 

Theatre. The couple toured New York 

City schools with their educational program. 

Jarmila is also responsible for all 

the costuming on all the puppets created 

for Mississippi Educational Television, 

the company and commercials during 

their 40 years in the United States. 

In 1971, Peter, Jarmila and their two children 

moved to Jackson, Mississippi. Audrey 

is now 30, David is 25. 

“Rooms in our house serve as practice space 

for productions,” says Peter. “There’s one 

where Jarmila creates costumes, and our 

living room has a stage.” A small outdoor 

building holds a workshop. 

The company tours mainly in Mississippi 

schools and synagogues and has 

performed at the three-day Mobile International 

Festival in Alabama. The Mississippi 

Arts Commission helps the schools 

by providing grants for half of the company’s 

fee. 

Puppet Arts Theatre mainly casts regulars, 

but last year hired a couple of new members 

and plans to do so this year. “One of 

our cast members has been working with 

me for more than 20 years,” said Peter. 

Peter’s personal production favorite is 

“The Golem.” With help from the Millsaps 

Players of Millsaps College in Jackson, 

that production opened in April 

2006. 

“I like ‘The Golem’ partly because it takes 

place in Prague, my favorite city and is 

where Jarmila comes from,” he said. “I 

also wanted to do a show for a mature 

audience.” 

In the famous Jewish-Czech Golem stories 

set in 16th century Prague, the Golem is 

brought to life by putting the Kabalistic 

symbol for the name of Hashem in his 

mouth. His purpose was to protect Jews 

from blood libels; never sleeping, always 

patrolling the streets. When blood libels 

began decreasing, his creator the Maharal, 

decided the Golem was no longer 

needed. He took the name of Hashem 

out of his mouth, destroying him. 

“The Golem” was a full stage production

featuring a live narrator, three-dimensional rod puppets, two-dimensional 

shadow puppets, video projections and animations. 

It included a cast of seventeen performers. 

The show had amazing reviews, explained Peter. One person 

wrote “‘The Golem’ was one of the most visually cool shows I’ve 

seen…so many elements, so many types of puppets; an excellent 

set!” “Eye-popping,” said another. 

“The technical presentation of Pinocchio will pick up where 

our production of ‘The Golem’ left off,” explained Peter. “Most 

of the puppet companies have it in their repertoire, but until 

we staged ‘The Golem,’ I could not figure out the production 

style for the play. Now we are able to move seamlessly from one 

setting to another, so the show can have its needed flow.” 

Peter recently performed “The Princess and the Pea” at Jackson’s 

Beth Israel Temple, where he’s a member. Children from 

the audience were invited to take part. 

“Puppets are a great teaching tool,” said Peter “And performing 

in school settings opens discussions in classrooms.” 

Peter Zapletal received numerous special recognitions 

and awards for his television work. Southern Educational 

Communication Association (SECA) Most Creative 

Production Awards for “Peter and the Wolf,” “Beauty and 

the Beast” and “John Butler’s “Othello,” Best Instructional 

Design for the “Measuring Show” and “The Magic Place,” 

nominated for Regional Emmy Awards for “Marie Hull: 

Her Changing Canvas” and “Funnybones” and received 

four Regional and one National Emmy Award from the 

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for 

“Ticktock Minutes,” a series of health promotional spots 

for children. He received the Puppeteers of America 

Board of Trustees Award for his outstanding service to 

the organization and a coveted Silver Circle Award from 

the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for 

25 years of excellence in television puppetry. 

Shoshana Yaffe 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. 




EASY LISTENING MUSIC REVIEWS By Jennifer Lefkowitz jenniferlefkowitz.com 


YURI LANE - HUMAN BEATBOX 

[Modular Moods] 

Vocal percussionist Yuri Lane’s debut 

album Human Beatbox is not one for 

categorizing. This range of human sound 

is accompanied by few instruments; i.e. harmonica and minimalist 

beats. Single track songs: “Breath Control” and “Quickbox.” 

Human Beatbox features spoken word poet Witness, 

Jazz bassist Lorin Cohen, MC Prob Cause and DJ Grimmace. 

Way Back When: The urban kid from San Francisco (Yuri) 

knew he was onto something when his grade school teacher 

ordered him to “turn off the radio.” But what she meant to 

say, “…Human Beatbox.” 

NOW READING BOOK REVIEWS 

GUILT AND PLEASURE QUARTERLY 

Making Jews Talk More 

REBOOT 

Guilt & Pleasure Quarterly ‘grapples’ with 

questions of Jewish identity and meaning 

on its’ own terms. Guilt & Pleasure Quarterly is made possible 

by the Andrea & Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, an 

organization funding projects that bring together Israeli and 

Diaspora Jewish communities and that enhance their sense 

of identity and belonging. GPQ is revolutionary, and similarly, 

extremist; a bundle way beyond boundaries. Spring and Summer 

07 topics include: “20 Takes On The World In General, 

Israel and the Middle East in particular,” and “Snowbirds Of 

Paradise: The Last Seniors Of South Beach.” Go forth! The 

condition is sweeping. 

RASHANIM - SHALOSH 

[Tzadik Records] 

This Brooklyn-based band pegged as 

‘Power Trio’ has returned for their third 

release on Tzadik. Shalosh is power rock 

coupled with spontaneity and improvisation; from dream-like 

soundscapes and psychedelica, to classic 70s-inspired selections. 

Front man and lead guitarist/composer Jon Madof showcases 

material in an instrumental facade to the now Jewishthemed 

releases. Madof explains, “Rashanim are ‘groggers’ used 

to make noise during the Jewish holiday of Purim. The noise makers.” 

Rashanim includes Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, (Yo-Yo Ma 

Anthony Braxton) on bass and Mathias Kunzli (Lauryn Hill) on 

drums and percussion. Shalosh is radical, fresh and dynamic. 

SINGLE MOM SEEKING - Playdates, Blind Dates 

And Other Dispatches From The Dating World 

RACHEL SARAH - Seal Press 

Rachel Sarah’s memoir, Single Mom Seeking 

chronicles life as a late-20s, early-30s single 

mom in the high-tech dating pool. Good 

dates, bad dates and dating disasters are coupled with parenting 

responsibilities. J Dates and other dates follow. Rachel 

writes, “I’m a good mom, but I also have some bad girl moments.” 

“Are you an honest, big-hearted man with no addictions, 

except coffee?” Single Mom Seeking is a brave and honest 

account of single parenthood. A journalist as well as a single 

mom, “A Jewish Carrie Bradshaw with a kid.” Rachel Sarah’s 

Single Mom Seeking is intelligent, edgy, delightfully funny and 

real. 

Rating Scale Ouy Not bad Good Mazel-Tov, Outstanding!!! 

Jennifer Lefkowitz is a native of Memphis, Tennessee and graduate of Academy 

of Art University, Motion Pictures & Television, Screenwriting in San Francisco, 

California. Jennifer is partial to fairy-tales.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: JON MADOF, GUITARIST - RASHANIM 

“Everything has to come from the music. Everything that you do, everyone 

whom you meet, everyone of who you associate yourself with; everything has to 

come from the music. You have to be completely dedicated to exploring, fi nding 

and perfecting your own sound.” - Jon Madof, Guitarist, Rashanim 

Rashanim is a mixture of classic rock, blues 

and experimental and contemporary sound. 

The band is referred to as Brooklyn, NY’s 

‘Jewish Power Trio.’ “It all started with this 

amplifi er that I hooked my guitar into,” says 

Jon Madof, guitarist of 

Rashanim. “I just hit one note and I didn’t 

know I had been looking for that the whole time.” According to 

Madof, the early 1990s presented Rashanim alongside groups who 

were infl uenced by Eastern European and North African melodies. 

All of that changed after a move to New York and I do (marriage). 

Jon began a tradition of Judaism and embarked on his modern 

band as opposed to classic Klezmer arrangements. He says, “It all 

happened between the years 1998-2000.” Rashanim, Shalosh is the 

second album signed to Tzadik, a record label owned and operated 

by renowned composer and saxophonist John Zorn. For more 

information on Rashanim / Jon Madof, visit JonMadof.com. 

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: RACHEL SARAH, AUTHOR- SINGLE MOM SEEKING 

“When you have a child the stakes are so much higher. I come fi rst, my 

daughter comes fi rst; and it’s not just about getting out there and fi nding the 

man.” - Rachel Sarah, Author, Single Mom Seeking 

Rachel Sarah, author of Single Mom Seeking, 

learned the hard way about fi rst dates, online 

dating and planning; as in long dinner 

dates. “You could just be miserable,” Rachel 

says. She continues, “You have this threehour-long 

date with somebody and you’re clearly not going to hit it 

off.” Instead she recommends what she calls, ‘quick coffee’ on a fi rst 

encounter. “If we hit it off in half an hour on a coffee date, we could 

have dinner,” she says. Rachel sums it up: “No long fi rst dates.” 

Rachel states that there are safety rules to follow. “You can really 

get to know someone from a 10-minute telephone conversation 

to rule out any wackos.” She jokes, “Don’t go out in the woods 

with anyone on a fi rst date.” Rachel is solely a mom dedicated to 

her daughter. She is also an author and romance columnist for J 

Magazine, San Francisco’s Jewish weekly. Rachel hosts workshops 

in the Bay Area for singles. “I’m really a mom; that’s 99 percent 

of my life, and that’s the chunk of my life.” Rachel adds, “The best 

part is that I hear from single parents – all over the country and 

recently divorced moms are getting back out there. That’s been 

really inspirational. It’s so crucial for single parents to get support.” 

For more information on Single Mom Seeking / Rachel Sarah, visit 

SingleMomSeeking.com. 

LIVE In-Studio Interview: MySpace.com/NowThisInterview 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT (continued) 

Dear Tennessee Jewish Federation Supporters, 

It’s a fi rst for Tennessee, a fi rst for Jewish Scene magazine 

and it could be a fi rst for you too. 

United Jewish Communities (UJC) 2007 annual General 

Assembly is being hosted by the four Tennessee Jewish 

Federations at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN, this 

November. Jewish Scene has been invited to place our 

November 2007 issue in the goody bags given to GA 

participants. Copies will be available in the hospitality 

room too! 

This special issue will highlight the Federations of Memphis, 

Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga and other highprofi 

le stories. 

Be the fi rst to join us in extending a warm Tennessee 

welcome to these delegates from around the world. 

To include your family name or business logo on our 

special welcome pages please reserve your space by 

September 30. The cost is $50 for family names and $250 

for company name and logo. 

Please include my family and/or business in 

Jewish Scene magazine November 2007 issue 

Mail, Fax or E-mail no later than September 30, 2007 

Your name as you would like it printed 

_________________________________________ 

Company Name 

_________________________________________ 

____ Yes, I would like to include a company logo, and 

will e-mail logo to jewishliving@comcast.net 

Family $50 • Company $250 

Please make checks payable to: 

Jewish Living of the South, Inc. 

1703 Tamhaven Court, Cordova, TN 38016 

Phone: 901-624-4896 • Fax: 901-754-7822 

E-mail: jewishliving@comcast.net 


AGENCY / ADVERTISER LISTING 

AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, SYNAGOGUES ADVERTISERS 

ARKANSAS 

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 

URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp 

601.885.6042 

TENNESSEE 

CORDOVA 

Memphis Jewish Home 

36 Bazeberry, 38018, 901.758.0036 

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 

B’nai B’rith Youth Oranization 

6560 Poplar Avenue, 38138, 

901.767.7440 

Bornblum Judaic Studies 

301 Mitchell Hall, University of 

Memphis, 38152 901.678.2919 


Bornblum Solomon 

Schechter School 

6641 Humphreys Blvd., 38120, 

901.747.2665 

Chabad Lubavitch of 

Tennessee 

6629 Massey Ln., 38120, 

901.766.1800 

Hadassah Memphis Chapter 

422 Miracle Pt., 38120, 

901.683.0727 

Hillel of Memphis 

3581 Midland, 38111, 901.452.2453 

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 

Memphis Jewish Federation 

6560 Poplar Ave., 38138, 

901.767.7100 

Memphis Jewish High School 

1203 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Ctr., 

Suite 203, 38119, 901.767.4818 

Plough Towers 

6580 Poplar Ave., 38138, 

901.767.1910 

TEAM (Torah Education 

Association of Memphis) 

5350 Poplar Ave. Suite 550, 

38119, 901.685.8322 

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 

Acura of Memphis 

page 3 

901.365.6565 

Bella Viaggia 

page 3 

901.685.0011 

Belz-Parker Ascending 

Artist Series 

page 29 

901.683.7485 

Carlson Wagonlit-Garner Travel 

page 10 

901.761.1708, 800.624.6579 

Carriage Court 

page 11 

901.763.3232 

Comfort Keepers 

page 15 

901.752.1515 

Crye-Leike/Jennifer Lefkowitz 

page 21 

901.334.6959, 901.757.2500 

David Coleman Custom 

Builders 

page 23 

870.633.6756 

Designer Baths & Kitchens 

page 23 

901.756.6217 

Esplanade 

back cover 

901.753.3333 

First Class Linen 

page 17 

901.969.0121, 601.899.9206 

888.619.9482 

Gastrointestinal 

Specialists, PC 

page 13 

901.761.3900 

Great Wines & Spirits 

page 25 

901.682.1333 

Harkavy,Shainberg 

Kaplan & Dunstan PLC 

inside front cover 

901.761.1263 

ICON Builders 

page 7 

901.596.2431 

Jewish Family Service 

Senior Resource Fair 

page 14 

901.767.8511, 

901.761.0810 

Jewish Foundation of Memphis 

page 27 

901.374.0400 

Kirby Pines 

page 13 

901.369.7340 

Kitchen Solutions 

page 7 

901.624.5331,662.893.9820 

Lexus of Memphis 

page 1 

901.362.8833 

Loni’s Fashions 

page 17 

901.850.3380 

One Beale 

page 5 

901.271.BEALE 

Paragon National Bank 

page 9 

901.273.2900 

Renasant Bank 

page 19 

901.684.0670, 662.349.2855 

Sancor 

page 8 

901.388.3100, 800.825.6369 

State of Israel Bonds 

page 27 

727.539.6445, 800.622.8017 

The Accessory Collection 

page 19 

901.761.5527 

The Fairview Inn 

page 21 

601.948.3429, 888.948.1908 

VistaCare Health Services 

page 15 

901.373.8831 

Dr. Ed Wiener 

page 8 

901.756.1151 

Corrections 

& Omissions

OCTOBER 2007 

WEEKLY MEETINGS & EVENTS COMING ATTRACTIONS 

MONDAY 

Noon Beth Sholom Mphs. Lunch and Learn with Rabbi 

Rubinstein, bring your own dairy or pareve lunch. 

7:30 p.m. Beth Sholom Mphs. Limmud class w/Rabbi 

Rubinstein. 

TUESDAY 

Noon Young Israel Lunch & Learn/Finance For Life, 5350 

Poplar Avenue #550, Mphs. development of Jewish law and history. 

7:00 p.m. Hillel Mphs. Sip and Schmooze (bi-weekly) 

901.452.2453. 

WEDNESDAY 

11:00 a.m. Young Israel of Mphs. Parsha (weekly Torah 

portion) for women 

1:00 p.m. Temple Israel Mphs. Women’s Minyan w/Temple 

Israel Rabbi Tara Feldman. 

THURSDAY 

Noon Lunch & Learn w/Temple Israel Rabbi Meir Feldman, 

Grove Grille, Mphs. 

1:30 p.m. Temple Israel Mphs. Mother Bear Project for 

African children with HIV/AIDS. 

8:00 p.m. ASBEE Mphs. Exclusive Telecast of Rabbi Frand 

on the portion of the week. 

FRIDAY 

4:30, 5:30 & 6 p.m. Congregation House of Israel 

Hot Springs, Torah Study, Oneg, Services. 

6:15 p.m. Beth Israel Jackson, MS. Shabbat Services. The 

Shirim Choir fi rst Fridays. 

SATURDAY 

8:45 a.m. Temple Israel Mphs. Torah Study. 

8:45 a.m. Temple Israel Mphs. Exploring Judaism w/ 

Rabbis & Cantor, 901.761.3130 to register, fee $40. 

9 a.m. Beth Israel Jackson, MS. Services, 10:15 a.m. Talmud study. 

Hour and a half before sundown, ASBEE Mphs. 

Portion-of-the-week class/Dovid Menachem Brown Talmud Class. 

SUNDAY 

After morning service, Young Israel Mphs. Class w/ 

breakfast, “Yoreh Deah,” practical Jewish law for men. 

8:30 a.m. Chabad Lubavitch Mphs. Bagels, Lox & Tefi llin. 

Minyan, breakfast, “Living Torah” video, Torah discussion. 

9:00 a.m. Beth Sholom Mphs. Yiddish w/Cantor David Julian 

9:30 a.m. Congregation House of Israel Hot Springs, 

Hebrew School. 

10:00 a.m. Beth Sholom Mphs. Artful Torah class w/Rabbi 

Rubinstein. 

10:00 a.m. Temple Israel Mphs. 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 Mphs. 

Advanced Hebrew 

11:00 a.m. Temple Israel Mphs. Intermediate Hebrew, 

fee $25. 

11:00 a.m. Temple Israel Mphs. beginning Oct. 14, Elijah 

the Prophet w/Dr. Joe Levy. 

OCT. 1 7:00 a.m. Beth Sholom Mphs. Minyan/Breakfast in Sukkah. 

6:30 p.m. Beth Sholom Mphs. Men’s Club/Sisterhood 

Poker/Mah Jongg Night in Sukkah, bring dairy or pareve 

brown bag dinner. 

OCT. 2 1:00 p.m. Baron Hirsch’s Annual Chol HaMoed 

Youth Day Putt Putt, Go-karts, batting range, bumper 

boats, games, crafts, refreshments, $12 per person. RSVP 

901.683.7485. 

OCT. 5 1:15 p.m. Baron Hirsch Simchat Torah Luncheon, $5 

per person, under 5 free. RSVP 901.683.7485. 

OCT. 11 12:15 p.m. ASBEE Mphs. Lena R. Katz Sisterhood lunch 

& study group. 

OCT. UJC Network’s First Women’s Philanthropy 

13-14 Conference, Atlanta. Sat. 7 p.m. Dinner w/ Israel 

Ambassador Mansour, Sun. 9a.m.-4pm. 

OCT. 14 3-5:00 p.m. Hadassah/Public Issues Forum- 

Separation of Church and State, w/Rob Boston, asst. 

director, Communications for Americans United for 

Separation of Church and State. Free to the public. 

Baron Hirsch Café Simcha RSVP 901.683.7485. 

7:45 p.m. Belz Sanctuary at Baron Hirsch. Artists 

Ascending Concert, violinist Jeremy Stein Cushman. 

Free, open to the public. 

OCT. 20 11:00 a.m. Baron Hirsch Synaplex Program. 

OCT. 21 9:00 a.m-4:00 p.m. Jewish Food Festival 

Little Rock, downtown River Market Pavilions, Leah 

Elenzweig 501.666.8358. 

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. ASBEE Mphs. Annual 

BBQ Contest. 

OCT. 23 Israeli Dance Workshop, Beth Sholom Mphs. 

7:00 p.m. Beginners, 8:00 p.m. General 

OCT. 25 7:30 p.m. Temple Israel University Mphs. 

Lecture Series, Rabbi Harry K. Danziger 

OCT. 28 Noon JCA/JFS 6th Annual Senior Resource Fair 

Beth Sholom Mphs. “Reel Torah” fi lm & discussion 

w/Rabbi Rubinstein. 

WRJ Temple Israel Sisterhood Mphs. Paid-up 

Membership Brunch. 

Baron Hirsch Savor the Flavor, food tasting, casino 

games & auction, $36 RSVP 901.683.7485. 

NOV. 3 6:30 p.m. Congregation Etz Chaim Bentonville, AR 

Rick Recht Concert 479.271.9630

editor - Jewish Scene Magazine

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