-
His handful of professional staffers includes new
program director Lynette Allen. An experienced
Jewish communal programmer, she is planning the
annual Southern States Jewish Film Festival to bring
Jewish-themed movies to small- and medium-sized
Jewish communities in November. Seven communi-
ties — Augusta, Ga.; Little Rock, Ark.; Meridian,
Miss.; Montgomery, Ala.; Monroe, La.; Nashville,
Tenn.; and Tulsa, Okla. — are on board.
Allen also is organizing the Southern Jewish Literary
Series, which beginning this summer will sponsor .
periodic talks by Jewish authors in communities that
otherwise never would see them. The authors also will
meet local Jewish book groups now being organized.
Hart's next step is to hire an itinerant educator to
implement a model program in Mississippi, Arkansas
and Louisiana. Beginning in the fall, Hart says, the
educator will gather local religious school teachers in
regional meetings and "give them the lessons, lesson
plans, software" they need to teach basic Jewish and
Hebrew literacy.
The teachers will apply the lessons, and speak with
the ISJL educator during the week about fine-tuning
the curriculum and any other concerns. The educa-
tor will visit a different community every other
weekend to lead a Shabbat experience, including
adult education, and teach in the religious school.
"At the end of the first semester, we'll bring the
teachers back and give them materials for the second
semester. At the end of the semester, we'll have raised
Jewish literacy in some sort of fashion in all of these
communities," Hart says.
Hart hopes eventually to hire six educators to serve
communities in the 12 southern states ISJL has targeted.
Rabbinic Influence
ISJL also will hire an itinerant rabbi, most likely
newly ordained, to work among the smaller commu-
nities, such as Natchez, that now can afford only
occasional rabbinic services.
That would be a blessing, says Krouse who, at 60,
is B'nai Israel's youngest congregant. Now the serv-
ice, when it's held, lasts about a half-hour, including
Krouse's summary of the Torah portion, which he
researches on the Internet.
Once a month, a student rabbi visits to lead the
service and an adult discussion. Hart 'says an itiner-
ant rabbi will "face every rabbinic experience,"
including lifecycle ceremonies, public speaking, lead-
ing services, counseling, working with children, com-
munity involvement and interfaith work. Hart
intends to pay a competitive salary for a job that he
contends will be far more interesting than working as
an assistant at a large congregation.
Another hope is to hire Jewish art students to work
as artists-in-residence at local synagogues and in the
public schools.
The ISJL agenda "has been in place since 1986,"
when the museum was founded, according to Hart.
"We just need the money to do the programs." ISJL
has raised $6 million toward a $13 million goal.
Southern Jews who know Hart — and an astonish-
ing number of them do — predict that he'll succeed.
"Mary's just very persuasive," says Shirley Orlansky
of Greenville, Miss. "He knows how to work with
people and how to accomplish his goals." ❑
Housewarming
Six happy residents appreciate their grand new JARC home.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
Mr
1 ith the weather participating fault-
lessly, six West Bloomfield residents
spent a lovely June 24 afternoon
showing off their digs at the dedica-
tion of the house they call their JARC group home.
The Evelyn and Salman Grand Home, pur-
chased with a gift from Nancy and Stephen
Grand of Bloomfield Hills, in memory of
Stephen's parents, is the 19th such home in
metro Detroit. Nearly 100 guests came to cele-
brate, tour and look on as Temple Israel Rabbi
Marla Hornsten affixed the mezuzah on the
front door of the ranch-style house. "The impact
of Steve and Nancy Grand's kindness and gen-
erosity extends to our entire community and we
are thrilled and honored to have them as part of
the JARC family," said Jim Zack, Jewish
Association for Residential Care president, at the
gathering.
❑
Above: Nancy Grand speaks, while Rabbi Marla
Hornsten, Stephen Granch Jim Zack and Joyce Keller,
JARC executive director, look on.
Top: Alan Bider shows off his bedroom in the
Evelyn and Salman Grand Home.
7/6
2001
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