JGA SEPT-OCT 08 - The Jewish Georgian

Transcription

Happy Chanukah
THE
Jewish Georgian
Volume 21, Number 1
Atlanta, Georgia
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008
What’s Inside
A modern circuit-riding rabbi
supports Georgia congregations
The Sound of
Music
T
Sit back and enjoy this holiday classic
at Center TheatreÑor, if you prefer,
dress up and sing along.
Page 25
Larger than Life
Whether living here or in Jerusalem,
Ben Rabinowitz has been a vital part of
AtlantaÕs Jewish community for
decades.
By Leon Socol
Page 16
Exploring Your Past
The field of Jewish genealogy barely
existed 20 years ago; now, finding your
ancestors has never been easier.
By Howard Margol
Page 18
City Smarts
As Atlanta keeps growing and reinventing itself, and so has its Jewish community.
By Bruce Beeber
Page 20
A Beautiful,
Startling Find
A visitor to the Breman Museum brings
a remarkable gift.
Page 8
All Those Years Ago
The Jewish Educational Alliance is
planning its 60th reunion. Will you be
there?
By Gene Asher
Page 15
wo hundred years ago, circuit-riding
ministers
traversed
GeorgiaÕs
uneven country roads on horseback,
preaching, teaching, and leading services
for religious groups across the state. Those
old roads have long since turned into pavement and the horses traded in for automobiles, but the spirit of the circuit rider lives
on in Rabbi Batsheva Appel, a modern day,
circuit-riding rabbi.
Rabbi Appel works for the
Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern
Jewish Life, based in Jackson, Mississippi.
In 2008, Rabbi Appel has traveled in seven
states across the South to Jewish communities that cannot support fulltime rabbis of
their own. Rabbi Appel covers a territory
stretching from Texas to the Eastern
Seaboard, leading services, teaching classes, and conducting lifecycle events.
The ISJL enhances every aspect of
Jewish life in Jewish communities across a
FREE
thirteen-state
S o u t h e r n
region. In addition to the
Rabbinic
Services
Department,
the ISJL supports congregational religious
schools and maintains a satellite
museum system.
The History and
C u l t u r a l
Rabbi Appel packs the car for her holPrograms departiday season visits.
ments celebrate
every Georgia city and town during the
the SouthÕs rich Jewish
legacy and bring exciting literary events, days when the original circuit riders still
film festivals, and performances to made their rounds. Some of these congreSouthern congregations.
See RABBI, page 5
Jewish communities existed in nearly
Book fans flock to MJCCA for annual book festival
B
ook lovers can meet some of todayÕs
most acclaimed writers at the 17th
Annual Book Festival of the
MJCCA, one of the SouthÕs premiere literary
events,
now
through
November 22.
Among the 33 award-winning,
critically acclaimed, and bestselling
writers at this yearÕs festival are
crime novelist Robert Tanenbaum,
Bye Bye Birdie composer Charles
Strouse, Atlanta-born Benyamin
Cohen, CNN Senoir Legal Analyst
Jeffrey Toobin, novelist and shortstory writer Amy Bloom, and The
Last Lecture co-author Jeffrey
Zaslow.
The festival includes a showcase
of rising literary stars; engaging speaker programs; author meet-and-greets;
book signings; panel discussions; the
6th annual Get Caught Reading
Storytelling
Festival;
the
annual
Community Read, and more. This year, the
MJCCA is also partnering with presenting
sponsor Creative Loafing.
Robert K. Tanenbaum (November 10,
8:00 p.m.) is the author of Escape, a rivet-
ing crime story and courtroom drama that
shines light on the Òinsanity of the insanity
defense.Ó In addition to his career as a bestselling
novelist,
Tanenbaum is also
one of the countryÕs
most
successful
trial lawyers and a
former two-term
mayor of Beverly
Hills. Admission
is $15 for the general public, $10
for
MJCCA
members.
On November
13, 7:30 p.m.,
enjoy a rare
evening with
Broadway legend Charles
Strouse, who has penned
some of the most unforgettable music in
Broadway history, including Annie and Bye
Bye Birdie; he also wrote the film score for
Bonnie and Clyde and the iconic theme
song for All in the Family; he has been sampled by one of todayÕs biggest rap stars,
Jay-Z, in the Grammy-winning ÒHard
Knock Life,Ó and his songs have been sung
by musical greats from Frank Sinatra to
Barbra Streisand. StrouseÕs entertaining
memoir, Put On A Happy Face, offers an
insiderÕs glimpse of Broadway, Hollywood,
and beyond. Admission is $15 for the general public, $10 for members.
Benyamin Cohen (November 16, 3:00
p.m.) is the author of My Jesus Year: A
RabbiÕs Son Wanders the Bible Belt in
Search of His Own Faith. Raised as an
Orthodox Jew in Atlanta, Cohen became
obsessed with the church across the street
from his childhood homeÑa home where
his father, a rabbi, often held Orthodox
services. Struck by a crisis of faith, Cohen
decided to see if Jesus could lead him back
to Judaism. Each week, mere hours after
celebrating the Jewish Sabbath, Cohen
would attend Sunday services, visiting
numerous churches over the course of a
year. In My Jesus Year, Cohen deftly
weaves a tale of guilt, longing, surprise,
wonder, and, of course, humor as he chronSee BOOK FESTIVAL, page 6
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 2
November-December 2008
The Temple bombing
O
ctober 12, 2008, marked the fiftieth
anniversary of the bombing of The
Temple in Atlanta, an event of cowardice and attempted intimidation.
The Leo Frank tragic miscarriage of justice, which resulted in his lynching in 1915,
and the bombing, which took place in 1958,
are the twentieth-century seminal events
affecting the Jewish community in Georgia
and, in many ways, the entire country. There
is nothing that can be said of the incidents
other than to describe them as wanton acts of
individuals with warped, bigoted, inhuman
minds, who had no understanding of or concern for the people against whom these acts
were perpetrated.
What is different, however, is the reaction and effect that each of these events elicited from both the non-Jewish and the Jewish
communities. Janus, the Roman god with two
faces, one facing behind him and the other
facing in front of him, often is used to represent change and transition from the past to the
future. What we saw in 1958 was the rearlooking face peering at the egregious acts and
base inhumanity of the Frank case that had
engulfed the populace, while the forwardlooking face saw the bombing and its small
cadre of players as a non-representative, misguided act of a band of warped individuals.
Because of the poisoned political and
sociocultural atmosphere resulting from the
Frank case, some families, fearing physical
THE
Jewish Georgian
The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is
written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians.
Publisher
Co-Publisher
Editor
Managing Editor
Assignment Editor
Consulting Editor
Associate Editor
Copy Editor
Assistant Copy Editor
Makeup Editor
Production Coordinator
Medical Editor
Photographic Staff
Graphic Art Consultant
Columnist
Special Assignments
Advertising
Sam Appel
Jane Axelrod
Gil Bachman
Asher Benator
Marvin Botnick
Sam Appel
Marvin Botnick
Marsha C. LaBeaume
Carolyn Gold
Gene Asher
Barbara Schreiber
Ray Tapley
Arnold Friedman
Terri Christian
Terri Christian
Morris E. Brown, M.D.
Allan Scher, Phil Slotin, Phil Shapiro
Karen Paz
Andi Arnovitz (Israel),Gene Asher,
Jonathan Barach,
Janice Rothschild Blumberg (Washington),
Marvin Botnick,
Shirley Friedman, Carolyn Gold,
Jonathan Goldstein, George Jordan,
Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine,
Marsha Liebowitz, Howard Margol,
Bubba Meisa, Erin OÕShinsky,
Ben Rabinowitz (Israel),
Lew Regenstein, Roberta Scher,
Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol,
Rabbi Reuven Stein,
Hannah Vahaba, Cecile Waronker,
Evie Wolfe
Susan Kahn, Lyons Joel
Michael Pelot
Marsha C. LaBeaume
Bill Sonenshine
Editorial Advisory Board Members
Rabbi Alvin Sugarman
Sam Massell
Albert Maslia
William Rothschild
Michael H. Mescon
Marilyn Shubin
Paul Muldawer
Doug Teper
8495 Dunwoody Place, Building 9, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30350
(404) 236-8911 ¥ FAX (404) 236-8913
[email protected]
www.jewishgeorgian.com
The Jewish Georgian '2008
BY Marvin
Botnick
danger, sent members of their families out of
the city; other families permanently moved
out of Atlanta. An example of the latter was
the Samuel Boorstin family. Mr. Boorstin, the
son of immigrants, was born in Georgia and
attended the University of Georgia, including
its law school, from which he graduated at the
age of 21 and subsequently was admitted to
the Georgia Bar. At that time, he was the
youngest person ever admitted to the Bar. He
was associated with John Slaton, the governor of Georgia at the time of the Frank case,
and served as Governor SlatonÕs secretary.
During the Frank trial, he became part of the
legal defense team; however, because of the
hostile, threatening atmosphere towards Jews
resulting from the indictment, trial and subsequent commutation of FrankÕs sentence from
death to life in prison, Boorstin permanently
moved his family to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Samuel BoorstinÕs son, Daniel, was born in
Atlanta two years prior to the familyÕs migration to Tulsa. Daniel Boorstin became a
Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a highly
respected professor, and ultimately the
Librarian of Congress. It is ironic that the
actions of a hate-filled, bigoted mob, who, to
a large extent, were semi-literate and who
made little contribution to the betterment of
society could have driven such a person from
his home.
Acrid, bias prejudice is a social malady
that can change, but usually such change is
slow and not easily identifiable. When I
moved to Atlanta in 1956 after my graduation
from college, I came as a trainee with The
First National Bank of Atlanta. Prior to my
employment, there were no Jewish commercial bankers working for any of the banks,
and my hiring was a decision that had been
made by the board of directors. While this
decision by the bank certainly represented a
movement away from what had been, my
application to rent an apartment was rejected
because I was Jewish. Change had occurred;
however, more was still needed. The almost
subliminal change of feeling and perception
was imperceptible to most of the Jewish and
non-Jewish communities.
This ended in the early morning hours of
October 12, 1958, when a group of men, hiding behind the darkness of the night, slithered
up to The Temple to plant and ignite 50 sticks
of dynamite to rip through the bricks and
mortar serving as the outer wall of the structure. The explosion, which was meant to send
a message of intimidation to the Jewish community and a warning to everyone of retribution against those who supported integration,
did destroy the masonry at which it was
directed.
But that was not the only explosion.
Instead of intimidating, the bombing galvanized the congregation behind its rabbi in his
support of justice and equality for all people.
In addition, the hole that was created in the
wall was as if a communal dam of goodwill
was breached releasing a swell of moral,
financial, and brotherly support from the atlarge population. The pall of uncertainty,
rejection, exclusion, and fear that had spread
over the Jewish community as a result of all
that happened, directly and indirectly,
because of the Frank matter was blown away
by the explosion. Truly, what followed was a
common understanding that we were all
Atlantans
and
that
what
happened to one affected the other.
So, as we, like Janus, look back over the
last fifty years and forward at the coming
years, the change and transition is clear.
Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Rabbi Jacob
RothschildÕs widow, designated it ÒThe
Bomb That Healed.Ó How right she is.
Hinei mah tov umah naÕim shevet achim
gam yachad
ÒBehold, how good and how pleasant it
is for brethren to dwell together in unityÓ.
Peachtree Corners Roofing
David Staley
Your neighbor in Peachtree Corners
Repair Specialist • All Roof Types
New Gutters/Repairs • Gutter Covers
770-715-9475
[email protected]
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
What’s
HAPPENING
W
hat a column we have for you
this issue! Marty AltermanÕs fabulous new line of clothes; Ann
TitlemanÕs trip to the Emmys; CPA Jay
StarkmanÕs new book on taxes, which is
finally out and available; Susan KaplanÕs
family featured in a new movie on the
Holocaust; Bobi DimondÕs new photographs; Lisa FrankÕs momÕs art; and much,
much more.
MARTYÕS NEW DESIGNER LINE. The
charming and delightful Marty Alterman
has been hugely successful in organizing
charity events for good causes. Now she is
running a company she hopes will be forprofit instead of non-profit. It is a snazzy
and much-needed line of clothing for
women Òfrom the age of 16 to 65,Ó who she
says are Òwearing our clothes and loving
them.Ó
Marty started the company because ÒI
had nothing to run in. Everything available
was made for the young and very thin.
People over 40 need something to hide their
loose skin, even if they are thin. So we
designed a skirt with attached tights, and I
was off running around Chastain Park. Then
we made different style skirts with attached
tights, and everyone fell in love with them.
Juli Bauman and Lynn Halpern [they own
Tassels] are wearing them with their Chanel
Jackets. We now have the skirts with
attached tights, leggings, jackets, shirts, and
tunics.Ó
Marty named the company ÒJane
Darling by MEÓ after her best friend Jane
Darling Lefco, who died earlier this year,
Òto keep her memory alive through the
clothing line.Ó MartyÕs indispensable and
brilliant partner is Emily Mak, who owns
Shanghai Alterations in Sandy Springs;
Marty gives her much of the credit for the
huge success the line is enjoying.
You can get the clothes at Shanghai
Alterations, 222A Johnson Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30328. Or call Marty Alterman,
404-316-4500, or Emily Mak, 404-2524363.
MartyÕs next project is to try and get
Marty Alterman (center) and friends
in Chicago after seeing Oprah
BY Reg
Regenstein
husband Richard to start sporting some stylish outfits instead of those old high school
duds he usually wears.
ATLANTANS AT THE EMMYS.
Renaissance Woman About Town Ann
Titleman flew out to Hollywood to drop in
on the Emmy Awards and check out all the
celebs, although there are none as lovely
and exciting as she is. Also in attendance
was Atlanta Super Lawyer Darryl Cohen,
and with all those paparazzi setting off
flashbulbs in your face, who knows when
you might need legal help. Ann sets off
flashbulbs in our head whenever we see her,
but thatÕs another story.
Ann tells us that Darryl was treated like
a real star, being a big shot in the National
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
(NATAS). They had great seats, up front,
right there along with NBCÕs Tom Brokaw
and Brian Williams, CBSÕ Bob Schieffer,
and author Ken Burns. They probably
bragged about being seated near her.
Ann remembered some of the folks
from Sony exec Howard StringerÕs London
birthday party at Cliveden Palace a few
years back, where she was the guest of publisher Mort Zuckerman and chatted with the
likes of Barbara Walters, Alan Alda, and
Steven Spielberg.
The day after the Primetime Emmys in
L.A., Ann and Darryl flew to the News &
Documentary Emmys in New York, just
another drop-by for our jet-set friends.
Darryl is the 1st vice chair of NATAS, and
here in Atlanta specializes in entertainment
law, criminal defense, DUI, and domestic
violence, being considered one of the best
guys to keepÑor getÑyou out of trouble.
AnnÕs used to rubbing shoulders with
the glitterati, but for someone so gorgeous
Renaissance Woman Ann Titleman
and sought after, she remains amazingly
modest and nice — especially to animals,
having spent three months in New Orleans
after Hurricane Katrina, saving hundreds of
trapped and lost dogs and cats. Ann now
works as a real estate broker, discreetly handling exclusive properties here and in New
York.
HOW TAXES HAVE SHAPED WORLD
HISTORY. Atlanta
CPA
Jay
StarkmanÕs fascinating new book
on how taxes have
so
profoundly
affected the course
of historyÑand
the fate of the
Jewish peopleÑis
now available on
Amazon.com.
Author & CPA
ThereÕs also a
Jay Starkman
w e b s i t e ,
www.starkman.com/hippo, where excerpts
from The Sex of a
Hippopotamus,
additional tax stories, and tax songs
can be found.
The book, which
is full of interesting and littleknown facts and
stories,
would
make a great gift
for your accountant, lawyer, or anyJayÕs book,
one who enjoys a
The Sex of a
great read.
Hippopotamus
PHOTOGRAPHER BOBI DIMOND. One
person whoÕs used to dealing with the Rich
and the Famous is celebrated Atlanta photographer Bobi Dimond, who has shot
numerous celebrities, political leaders, and
other renowned figures such as Mikhail
Baryshnikov and Sylvester StalloneÑand
has their photos on her wall to prove it. She
recently snagged a photo of Alan Alda, who
was speaking at the Atlanta Press Club.
Later, Bobi went to see Barbara Walters at
the APC, an event that had a strict Òno-photographsÓ rule. That didnÕt stop the
resourceful BD, who asked Babwa for a
photo as a birthday gift for herself, and she
even got it autographed later by the ABC
veteran.
Earlier, Bobi ran into ABC News
anchor Charlie Gibson at the Anchorage
Airport, of all places, and got a picture of
Photographer Bobi Dimond with
Barbara Walters
Page 3
the two of them together.
Our policy on photographs is that anyone can take one of us any time, but no one
ever does.
Most recently, Bobi has been showing
her collection of photographs at
Worthmore, Harris and Geri BotnickÕs new
and magnificent jewelry store and gallery
on the Square in Decatur.
HEROES OF THE HOLOCAUST. Sandy
SpringsÕ Susan Candell Kaplan tells us
exclusively that Defiance, a movie about
some of her legendary family members, the
Bielskis, is set to open in theaters in
December.
There was a preview screening of the
film at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in
New York recently, which was the subject
of a great article by Adam Gopnik in the
October 27 issue of The New Yorker.
Relatives of the Bielskis watched the movie
depicting how, in 1941, when the German
execution squads began the mass shooting
of Jews, the Bielski brothers, Asael, Tuvia,
and Zus, escaped from their Polish homeland into the forests of Belarus.
For three years, the brothers gathered
and hid Jews in their wooded sanctuary, in
encampments that, naturally enough for
Jews, contained, libraries, medical clinics,
and nurseries. By the end of the war, some
1,200 Jews had been sheltered and saved.
The two surviving brothers emigrated
to Brooklyn, where they owned cabs and
drove trucks Ñ Òa small nest of heroes in
the middle of Midwood,Ó as Gopnik puts it.
As reported by Gopnik, Producer
Edward ZwickÑwho likened being in a cab
with one of the brothers to perhaps finding
oneself being driven down Broadway by a
MaccabeeÑasked in his pre-screening
speech about Òthe moral source of unexampled heroism, what made the Bielskis act so
bravely at a time when everyone else was
helpless or in despair?Ó
Writes Gopnik: ÒOne look at the surviving Bielskis helped explain [how] the
second and third generations of the Bielski
men are, as their fathers must have been,
what are technically called shtarkers: a
Yiddish word meaning extremely tough
See HAPPENING, page 4
Susan Kaplan with grandson Aidan
Jacob Bell, whose Hebrew name is
Asael, after his great uncle, the
heroic resistance fighter
Page 4
Happening
From page 3
guys. Beetle-browed and wide of body,
raspy of voice, direct of gaze, the Bielski
men strained the shoulders of their sports
coats as they filed into the theater.Ó
Yes, you had to be pretty tough to survive in those times. We are looking forward
to seeing this movie, which tells a proud
and important story about a sad chapter of
Jewish history.
LUNCH AT THE WHITE HOUSE. We
picked up the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
the other day, and there, on the front page,
was a picture of Spring and Tom Asher and
Michael Golden and his wife, Juliet Asher,
dining at BuckheadÕs popular White House
restaurant, being served by one of our
favorite waitresses, Debbie Jones.
The photo, unfortunately, showed
TomÕs face and the back of SpringÕs head,
though we wouldÕve preferred the other
way around, since she is much better looking than he is.
We always enjoy breakfast and lunch at
the White House, where the food is fabulous, the service impeccable, the conversation witty, the repartee brilliant, and we
always see lots of folks we know from the
community. The corn muffins, green beans,
okra, Greek salad, and rutabaga are
unequalled anywhere in Atlanta.
SHIRLEEÕS TEMPLE. PR exec Lisa
FrankÕs lovely mother, Shirlee, passed away
in October, but a few days earlier, they had
a great reception and art showing at Barbara
Archer Gallery in Inman Park featuring
ShirleeÕs paintings, sculptures, and other
works.
The gallery was filled with what Lisa
calls ÒShirleeÕs bold and powerful watercolors, etchings, and dynamic, hand-built
ceramics, and ShirleeÕs original ceramic
masks.Ó Their friend Brian Fulford called
the display ÒShirleeÕs Temple.Ó
Since Shirlee was in the final stages of
lung cancer, Lisa says, ÒWe didnÕt know
until the last minute if Mom was strong
enough to be there. But thanks to neighbor
Leslie Okin, who delivered Shirlee to the
gallery in a wheelchair with portable oxy-
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
gen, Shirlee received a standing ovation
when she was wheeled in.Ó
Some 35 pieces were sold, bringing in
$4,000. Lisa has dedicated the basement of
her Buckhead home to ShirleeÕs art, which
she will be selling for years to come. To
make an appointment to see it, contact Lisa
at [email protected].
AT THE BREMAN. Lois Blonder,
Margaret Weiller, and Beth Arogeti chaired
the 10th Marvelous Monday for The
Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust
Museum in mid-September.
Owen Halpern and Lawrence Pritchart
hosted 65 people in their beautiful historic
home and garden. They shared their knowledge and spoke of the preservation of this
unique 1935 gem on Habersham Road.
With so many great old homes being torn
down all over Atlanta, it is good to know of
one that is, thankfully, being preserved.
The Breman Museum also hosted the
opening event of the 33rd annual Southern
Jewish Historical Society Conference on
November 1, featuring a wonderful talk by
Jenna Weissman Joselit, of Princeton
University, who spoke on ÒWhen Moses
Came Down from the Mountain and
Headed South: The Americanization of the
Ten Commandments.Ó Attendees were able
to view two of the BremanÕs most
acclaimed exhibitions: ÒSeeking Justice:
The Leo Frank Case RevisitedÓ and
ÒCreating Community: The Jews of Atlanta
from 1845 to the Present.Ó
MAMA SOOSÕ GREAT MIDDLE EASTERN FARE. We have just discovered a
wonderful
new
restaurant serving
d e l i c i o u s
Mediterranean
foodÑhummus,
falafals, kebabs,
gyros,
tabouli,
wraps, pasta, grape
leaves, baklava and
other
authentic
Middle
Eastern
dishes
from
Tunisia, the native
Riadh Kaffel
land of proprietor
Riadh Kaffel, skillfully prepared by chef Edward Karp.
They also specialize in catering bat/bar
mitzvahs, weddings, and any such event or
party, and they also deliver. Riadh says that
when you come in for a meal, ÒyouÕre not
just a customer, youÕre a friend.Ó And he
means it; we have never seen such friendly
and personalized service.
Riadh says that when students graduate
in Tunisia, they must be able to speak seven
languages. His were Arabic, English,
French, Russian, Spanish, Italian, and
German.
Mama Soos is tucked inconspicuously
behind Chipotle Mexican restaurant at 3420
Piedmont Road (between Peachtree and
Roswell), where the 400/Lenox Road connector comes in. ThereÕs plenty of parking
available if you turn at Carson. Call 404477-2800,
or
visit
www.mamasooscafe.com. They are working on their kosher certification.
did you ever think youÕd see the day when
Jerry would have better credit than General
Motors?
NEXT ISSUE: The World War II Pacific
Theater combat exploits of 96-year-old former paratrooper and infantrymanÑand
now educatorÑSeymour Levine.
HOLIDAY GIFT POLICY. With the holidays coming up, many readers have asked
about our policy on accepting gifts here at
the JG. We checked with our Standards
Department, and, once again, determined
that we have no standards.
So, again this year, tipping of the
columnists is not only permitted, but
encouraged. Gifts are allowed, and cash is
preferred.
WOULD YOU BELIEVE.... To all those
folks who have loaned Jerry Farber money
over the years and never been paid back:
HISTORIAN MEL YOUNG. AmericaÕs
foremost Jewish military historian, Mel
Young of Chattanooga, has a new book,
Uriah, about the distinguished U.S. Naval
Commodore
Uriah Phillips
Levy
(17921862). Despite
persistent antiSemitism, he
attained
the
rank of commodore,
the
NavyÕs highest
rank at the time,
and led the
effort to abolish
flogging in the
Navy. A distant relative of ours, according
to Mel, Levy and his family even bought,
restored, and saved Monticello, the home
of our nationÕs third president, Thomas
Jefferson.
A 1952 graduate of the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point and an infantry
officer in the Korean War, Mel has spent
InterContinental BuckheadÕs Martha
Jo Katz (right) at 98.5 FMÕs Steve and
Vikki Show
25 years studying old newspapers, books,
and historical records and writing about
Jewish military heroes from the
Revolutionary War through the War
Between the States and the two World
Wars.
His best known book, Last Order of
the Lost Cause, is the amazing story of our
ancestor Major Raphael Jacob Moses,
who attended the Last Meeting and carried
out the Last Order of the Confederate
Government. His first book, Where They
Lie, tells the story of over 600 Jewish soldiers in the Civil War, where they fought,
how they were killed, and where they are
buried.
Mel is responsible for keeping alive
the stories and memories of countless
Jewish war heroes, whose legacy would
otherwise be forgotten and remain
unknown to future generations. He is one
of the greatest Jewish historians of our
time, and we thank him for his invaluable
contributions to our community.
ÑReg Regenstein
Rabbi
From page 1
gations have since closed or are dwindling,
while others continue to thrive. The ISJLÕs
philosophy is that every Jewish community,
regardless of size or geographic location,
deserves a full, complete Jewish life,
including rabbinic services, religious
school education, and history and cultural
programs.
Recently, Rabbi Appel has scheduled a
number of visits to congregations in
Georgia. From November 14-16, she was
scholar-in-residence for Temple BÕnai
Israel in Albany. During her visit, Rabbi
Appel delivered special presentations to the
entire community and worked closely with
the temple board on strategic planning. On
Tuesday, November 25, Rabbi Appel will
deliver a presentation to the Hadassah
group in Athens, sharing her experiences as
a traveling rabbi.
Whenever possible, the ISJL seeks
opportunities to promote regional cooperation, encouraging communities to Òthink
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
beyond their ZIP code.Ó The ISJL Rabbinic
Services Department facilitates a
Synagogue Partnering program, which
develops partnerships between large urban
congregations and smaller neighboring
communities. Georgia congregations have
enthusiastically joined the program: for two
years, The Temple in Atlanta has partnered
with Congregation Beth El in LaGrange,
and AtlantaÕs Temple Sinai has joined with
Congregation Beth Shalom in Auburn,
Alabama. These mutual partnerships allow
both parties to share resources and organize
joint programs.
News of the synagogue partnering program is traveling fast. Rabbi Appel will
visit Atlanta congregations at the end of
November, meeting with additional congregations interested in joining the program.
Next fall, members from every partnering
synagogue will join in Atlanta for a celebratory concert featuring a Jewish-bluegrass ÒJewgrassÓ group Lucky Break.
In the meantime, Rabbi Appel has a lot
of miles to cover and many stops ahead.
For more information, visit isjl.org.
Page 5
Wishing You and Your Family
a Happy Hanukkah
Rabbi Appel with the confirmation class at Congregation Beth Shalom in
Auburn, Alabama
4455 Roswell Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30342
404-255-4312
www.presstine.com
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 6
Ñ
Book Fair
From page 1
icles his spiritual
journey.
Admission is
free.
A m y
B l o o m
(November 18,
noon) is the
author of celebrated novels
and short story
collections that
have won her a
devoted readership and wide
Amy Bloom
critical acclaim.
Filled with rare
humor, insight,
grace, and eloquence, many
have
become
instant classics
in
modern
American literature,
making
Bloom one of
todayÕs
most
popular
and
highly anticipated
authors.
Chosen by the
Los Angeles Times as one of the top ten
books of 2007, BloomÕs Away also has
appeared on more than 10 other ÒBest of
2007Ó lists, including those of The
Washington Post, Newsday, and The
Chicago Tribune. Admission is $12 for the
general public, $7 for members.
As the Emmy Award-winning legal
analyst for CNN Worldwide, Jeffrey Toobin
(November 18,
7:30 p.m.) is a
familiar
face.
With his latest
book, The Nine:
Inside the Secret
World of the
Supreme Court,
Toobin
once
again
proves
himself a deft
storyteller, skillfully distilling
Jeffrey Toobin (photo the issues of the
credit Art Streiber, Supreme Court
Cable Network, Time from the Reagan
Warner)
administration
onward, as the
justices wrestled
with abortion,
affirmative
action, the death
penalty,
gay
rights,
and
church-state sepa r a t i o n .
Admission
is
$15 for the general public, $10
for members.
For a different festival experience, join
pop-culture icons Michael Ian Black, Brian
Frazer, and Stephanie Klein for ÒBrew HaHa,Ó November 20, 7:30 p.m., at Park
Tavern, 500 10th Street, NE. The moderator
is one of AtlantaÕs own pop-culture icons,
Hollis Gillespie. Admission is $22 for the
Comedian and cable superstar Michael
Ian Black is the author of My Custom Van
and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that
Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face;
Brain FrazerÕs caustically funny HyperChondriac recounts his lifelong battle with
anxiety, rage, and various ailments and his
entertaining road to wellness. In Moose: A
Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
shares the intimate details of her life as an
overweight child, including taunts of classmates, her fatherÕs off-color remarks, and
her thin motherÕs compulsive dissatisfaction with her own body.
Ñ
The festival closes on November 22,
7:30 p.m., with Jeffrey Zaslow, who coauthored Randy PauschÕs remarkable The
Last Lecture. Many professors are asked to
give Òlast lectures,Ó to consider their own
demise and to relate what is important to
them. When Carnegie Mellon Computer
Science Professor Randy Pausch was asked
to give his last lecture, few knew he had
Jeffrey Zaslow and Randy Pausch
just
been
diagnosed
with terminal pancreatic cancer.
But the last
lecture he
gave
was
not
about
dying at all;
in fact, it
was a summation of
everything
he had come
to believe in life: the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of
others, of seizing every moment, and, most
importantly, of living.
An amazing author for Jewish Book Festival
BY Reg
Regenstein
O
ne of the most interesting authors
to be featured at the 17th Annual
Book Festival of the MJCCA,
November 822, is Robert
Ta n e n b a u m .
Appearing at
8:00 p.m., on
M o n d a y,
November 10,
the New York
Times
bestselling author
has a new and
riveting crime
and courtroom
drama, Escape
Robert Tanenbaum
(published by
Vanguard Press), his 20th book, focusing
on the absurdity of the widely-abused
insanity defense.
As a prosecutor in New York City,
Tanenbaum never lost a felony case.
Serving as Homicide Bureau chief for the
New York District AttorneyÕs Office, he
prosecuted cases against organized crime
kingpins; members of the Black Liberation
Army, which was plotting to shoot police
officers all over the country, and other such
dangerous and unsavory characters. Robert
had responsibility for the criminal court
system at a time when New York was experiencing one or two killings a day. His
courts were trying 150 cases a day between
8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., then another 100
from 7:00 at night until 1:00 in the morning. The rest of the time he had off.
After moving to Los Angeles, where
he is a practicing attorney, he even served
two terms as mayor of Beverly Hills.
Escape has received rave reviews
from several best-selling authors. Linda
Fairstein (Bad Blood) calls the book, Òa
story that grabs you by the throat at the
outset and keeps you turning pages till late
into the night. TanenbaumÕs tour de force is
a stunning read.Ó And James Rollins ( The
Judas Strain) writes that ÒIt is a rare novel
that both thrills and cuts you to the
bone....Escape slices even deeper, chilling
down to the marrow....It will leave you
breathless.Ó
Yes, Robert is not your average Nice
Jewish Boy who had a successful career.
And most amazing of all, he did all these
things without the help of e-mail, which he
does not use!
November 10 is your chance to meet
and hear and talk with, in person, one of
the most interesting and accomplished
authors ever to visit Atlanta.
In what can only be regarded as a
Herculean feat of viral marketing, the video
of PauschÕs last lecture suddenly became
one of the most viewed videos on
youtube.com. An Oprah appearance solidified PauschÕs place in the hearts of all
Americans as an inspiration to both young
and old. Author Jeffrey Zaslow spent the
last months of PauschÕs life (Pausch succumbed to cancer in July 2008) co-writing
a book about The Last Lecture, giving it an
indelible form. Admission is $15 for the
There will be a free screening of The
Last Lecture at 5:30 p.m.
Ñ
Most festival events take place at
MJCCAÕs Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill
Road, Dunwoody. Babysitting is available
for select events with a three-day advance
reservation. Throughout the festival, the
MJCCA Community Service Department is
collecting gently used adult books and new
childrenÕs books, which will be donated to
libraries at local Atlanta shelters; collection
bins are located at the customer service
desk.
For a complete schedule, tickets, and
other information, visit atlantajcc.org, or
call the Book Festival Hotline at 678-8124005.
MJCCA
NEWS
CRAFT SHOW AND SALE. The 2008
Craft Show and Sale is on view at the Fine
Family Art Gallery of the MJCCA through
December 31. Curated by Susanne Katz,
this show features the innovative craftsmanship of regional artists Maury Fradkin,
David Goldhagen, Amy Leff, Barbara
Rucket, and Marsha Vrono.
Maury Fradkin is a retired physician
who has lived in Atlanta most of his adult
life. He has studied color theory, oil and
watercolor painting, drawing, and other
artistic mediums. While studying painting,
Fradkin became fascinated not only by
color, but also by the texture of the surface. He began designing and knitting
scarves five years ago. His work has been
represented in four local galleries, as well
as one in Denver, Colorado.
David GoldhagenÕs sculptural forms
and massive hand-blown glass platters are
distinguished by a unique style. His
painterly approach to art glass combines
bold colors with brilliant, clear crystal in a
clean, modern style. In addition to sculptural art glass, Goldhagen produces functional pieces, including tables, candlesticks, perfume bottles, menorahs, and
ornaments. GoldhagenÕs work is in numerous permanent collections, including those
See MJCCA NEWS, page 7
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Happy days are here again
F
irst, there was my anniversary at my
company. Then, there was a milestone birthday, with visits from family and Rabbi Berg at The Temple saying a
blessing over me. So many people were
doing really kind things that my cup did
runneth over.
Best of all, I got a new nephew! I
went to see him when he was just two or
three days old, and do you know what he
did? He actually took my finger in his little bitty hand and held it. I was amazed,
and he got hold of my heart right then and
there.
Then, it got to be September, and I
was still swimming outside because the
weather was so nice. And I could look forward to the High Holidays and the New
MJCCA News
From page 6
of the CocaC o l a
Company,
Merrill Lynch,
Disney,
the
North Carolina
Museum
of
History, North
Carolina State
U n i v e r s i t y,
City of Winter
Park
Public
L i b r a r y,
Asheville Art
Art glass by David
M u s e u m ,
Goldhagen
T u c s o n
Museum of Art, Albany Museum of Art,
and Philips Arena.
Amy Leff began Throwing Stars
Jewelry by making jewelry with beads and
Jewelry by Amy Leff
selling at farmers markets in Vail,
Colorado. Her love of beading quickly led
her to metalsmithing. Her current jewelry
designs include mostly silver and goldfilled wire with accents of semi-precious
stones. She is now exploring copper and
BY Marice
Katz
Year.
And now, I offer best wishes to all for
a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year
and a Happy Chanukah.
Maybe, just maybe, to cap all this
good stuff, I will win the lottery, or the
market will start looking better and have
more up days than down ones. Or, maybe,
IÕll just say thank you to G_d, because IÕm
such a lucky girl.
quickly adding it to her line. What began
as a hobby at her dining room table has
become a mainstay of Atlanta boutiques.
Barbara Rucket combines metal, precious stones, and lampworked beads to
make bracelets and necklaces; uses small
seed beads to embellish mixed-media
pieces; and creates jewelry and articles for
the home. She creates diverse effects by
using different-sized beads, which she crochets or sews together using a variety of
stitches, threads, and fabrics. Rucket says,
ÒAs a fiber artist, I create in various other
mixed-media including weaving, knitting,
needlework, and art quilts. I have stitched
mixed media pieces based on Jewish
themes, needlepointed tallit bags and kippot, woven tallism, and beaded mezuzahs,
mizrachs, tzedakah boxes, and chamsas.Ó
Marsha Vrono is the founder of IdaÕs
Charms Jewelry Designs. She named the
company for her late mother, whom she
describes as Òthe greatest charm of all.Ó
Vrono adds, ÒI use crystals in every piece.
Also, I believe in wearing an all-crystal
necklace with a pair of jeans and perhaps
wearing the same necklace with a cocktail
dress. A treat for me is finding an antique
piece of crystal or stone to work around.Ó
VronoÕs jewelry is sold at several boutiques and galleries in Atlanta and around
the South. She also sells independently
and makes custom jewelry for many of her
clients.
The Fine Family Art Gallery is located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road,
Dunwoody. Gallery hours are TuesdayThursday, 1:00-9:00 p.m., and Sunday,
1:00-6:00 p.m. Admission is free. For
more information, contact Arts & Culture
Director Kim Goodfriend at 678-8124071or [email protected].
Page 7
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 8
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Just a few minutes from anywhere in Buckhead, Midtown, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs
Mary PhaganÕs baby clothes circa 1899
S
o much has been written about The
BremanÕs
current
exhibition,
ÒSeeking Justice: The Leo Frank Case
Revisited,ÓÑwho would have guessed that
there is still more to see? Yet that is what
has just occurred. As if they were in an
episode of the TV show ÒHistory
Detectives,Ó which follows the twists and
turns of a story to its conclusion, Breman
staff members continue to feel like detectives with every new addition to this 95year-old story.
After leading a Sunday afternoon tour
for a group of history buffs organized by a
retired Georgia State professor, volunteer
museum educator Doris Goldstein was curious when a young woman on the tour said,
ÒI have something in my car that you may
be interested in.Ó The woman retrieved a
small shoebox, handed it to Doris, and said,
ÒInside this box are Mary PhaganÕs baby
clothes.Ó
DorisÑand everyone else who has
subsequently heard this storyÑgot goose
bumps.
It turns out that the young womanÕs
grandparents owned a bar in Marietta. One
of their regulars was a woman named
Margaret, who was married to Mary
PhaganÕs second cousin. Margaret did not
have the cash to pay her bar tab, and the
owners never charged her. Years later, as a
Òthank youÓ for this earlier kindness,
Margaret gave them the baby clothes. Until
this young woman brought them to The
Breman, the clothes had been kept in her
grandparentsÕ home in their original boxes.
The clothes, in beautiful condition,
have been framed in a shadowbox and are
now on display as part of ÒSeeking Justice,Ó
which will remain at The Breman until
December 31. It will then travel to the
Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery
Park, New York, where it will be on display
in March. Even if you have seen the exhibition, come back to see this wonderful discovery and poignant addition.
For more information, visit thebreman.org.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Army dismisses recruit who attacked
Jewish soldier at Fort Benning
T
he U.S. Army has acted decisively to
punish a Fort Benning recruit who
assaulted Pvt. Michael Handman in
a barracks laundry room in October. The
Army announced that the soldier was Òpunished under Article 15 of the Uniform Code
of Military Justice and administratively
separated for misconduct.Ó
ADL worked with the Army to resolve
two incidents involving Handman. First, he
was the subject of anti-Semitic taunts by
two drill sergeants, who forced him to
remove his yarmulke during dinner. The
drill sergeants were reprimanded and sent
to a program that teaches respect for diversity; they will now teach the lessons of that
program to other soldiers. In the other incident, Handman was attacked and sent to the
hospital with a concussion.
News of the termination came on
November 1, when ADL Southeast
Regional Director Bill Nigut attended a
series of meetings with Army officials at
Fort Benning. The meetings included the
ArmyÕs Chief of Chaplains Major General
Douglas Carver, Senior Army Rabbi Jacob
Goldstein, and Col. Chuck Durr, Fort
Benning chief of staff.
ÒADLÕs top concern in dealing with the
Handman case has been to make sure the
Army sends a strong message that it will
punish acts of bigotry and bullying severely,Ó said Nigut. ÒWe applaud them for terminating the recruit who attacked Pvt.
Handman and for disciplining the two drill
sergeants who taunted him.Ó
Army officials insist that their investigation showed the attack was not related to
HandmanÕs religion. ADL continues to
believe that the previous anti-Semitic slurs
directed at Handman may have resulted in
him being singled out for the beating.
Nigut said that the meetings were a
good opportunity to discuss how Fort
Benning officials can improve efforts to
promote respect for religious diversity. ÒIt
was gratifying to learn that Rabbi Goldstein
has spent two days at Fort Benning assessing the climate for Jewish soldiers there,
and that he plans to develop a set of recommendations for giving soldiers at the base a
better sense of Jewish religious practices
and customs.Ó
Army officials reported that Pvt.
Handman continues to be housed in a
secure location at Fort Benning. He was
moved there after ADL expressed concern
for his safety following the attack.
Page 9
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 10
The Blumberg Report: Chanukah in Washington
D
eadlines can be cruel taskmasters.
Meeting this one for The Jewish
Georgian is even more so for me,
because my attention, and presumably
yours, is fixed on something thatÑas of this
writingÑwonÕt happen for another two
weeks. It could arguably be the most significant election of our lifetime. Whatever the
result, its implications will concern us more
than anything else by the time this issue hits
the stands. The one certainty is that you and
I and whoever wins the White House will
have to dedicate ourselves to improvement.
Something like what the Maccabees did
when they defeated the idolaters and
cleansed the temple. So letÕs talk about the
Jewish observance of dedicationÑor, in
Hebrew, ÒChanukah.Ó
Even that will be a difficult segue
because, as I write this, weÕre still in the
middle of Sukkoth. The timing isnÕt as farfetched as it might seem, however, since
scholars tell us that Chanukah celebrations
actually originated as compensation for the
Sukkoth observances that Maccabeans
missed for three years while they were off
in the hills fighting to free Jerusalem. I was
poignantly reminded of those freedom
fighters while visiting Israeli troops on the
Golan Heights during Chanukah some thirty years ago. As part of their observance,
these Jewish soldiers embedded eight oil
containers in the ground atop the highest
hill, forming a Chanukah menorah whose
glow could be detected as far away as
BY Janice Rothschild
Blumberg
Damascus. Thus did the lights of Chanukah
proclaim freedom to IsraelÕs neighbors,
sending an unmistakable message that the
Jews meant to preserve their own freedom
as well as project hope that others might be
similarly blessed. Also a very American
concept, but thatÕs no surprise.
What does surprise me is the apparently ubiquitous American practice of equating
Chanukah, a minor Jewish holiday that celebrates a military victory, with Christmas, a
singularly important Christian holiday celebrating peace. I know, of course, that we do
it for our children. Helps to keep them from
feeling left out of all the fun during the
Christian festivities.
Still, IÕve never felt comfortable, when
invited to tell the story publicly, giving
equal time to Chanukah for religiously
diverse groups as we approach the
Christmas season. I did it only reluctantly
when asked by my childrenÕs teachers at E.
Rivers School some fifty-five years ago and
repeated it no less reluctantly when invited
to do so recently in the large, Washington,
D.C., condominium building where I live.
This predominantly Christian community
MIDAS OF SANDY SPRINGS
Happy Chanukah
Pictured (back row): Reed Bell, Chris Adams, Patty Conway,
Mark Ritzer, Mike Doherty. (Front row): Jessie Swieter,
Damien Gordon, George Hall, Les Walker, Mark Hoover
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includes a minority of Jews, Muslims, nonbelievers, and believers in other faiths, people of every race and innumerable cultures
from around the world.
While not arguing for or against the
elaborate Christmas tree that regularly
dominates our lobby at this time of year, I
fail to understand how the addition of a candle-lighting ceremony and glowing menorah for eight days serves its intended purpose of equal recognition in such a religiously and ethnically diverse neighborhood. Back in the nineties, when the
National Jewish Museum at BÕnai BÕrith
was operative, we celebrated by inviting
public school classes for a Chanukah observance, giving equal time to Christmas and
Kwaanza. I donÕt know enough about Islam
to suggest a similar program with the addition of Ramadan, but you get the idea. ItÕs
nice to include everybody, but where do we
stop? My answer would be to have stopped
before we ever started.
Before assigning me to the ranks of a
Mrs. Scrooge for diminishing Chanukah, be
assured that I do enjoy the holiday and did
everything I could think of to make it meaningful to my children as they were growing
up. Back in those days (not quite the dark
ages, but close if you were Jewish in
Buckhead) we couldnÕt go to a nearby mall
and find decorations, wrapping paper, dreidls, chocolate gelt, and candy menorahs, so
we really had to be creative. When one of
my children came home asking for a sugar
plum tree, I figured out how to make a
menorah with gum drops of different shapes
and colors, held together with tooth picks
and ÒlightedÓ with candy corn for flames.
Instead of adding one ÒflameÓ each day, the
children were permitted to eat one. We
threw dietary caution to the winds on the
last night and let them eat the rest of it.
We made a big deal of gift giving, too,
another adaptation to surroundings. Only
much later did I learn that Purim, not
Chanukah, was the traditional time for Jews
to exchange gifts, and that even among
Christians, until recent times, the gifting
was not centered around Christmas. That
day was strictly religious.
So much for Santa Claus. He may
share a niche in mythology opposite our
Jewish miracle of one dayÕs measure of oil
burning for the eight days necessary to
receive a replacement. Historians say it
never happened. They also find no documentary evidence that either holiday, both
of which feature light, had any connection
with compensating for darkness as the days
shortened.
Never mind the naysayers. The good
news is that this year the 25th of Kislev
comes very close to the 25th of December,
and hopefully all of us will have reason to
celebrate in anticipation of what will happen on January 20. May that day augur
rededication and peace for all, especially
for whoever moves into 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue.
Hag sameach, you all.
Davis Academy and Weber School forge a partnership
T
he boards of The Alfred & Adele
Davis Academy and The Doris &
Alex Weber Jewish Community
High School have approved a partnership
agreement giving students the option of a
continuous educational experience from
Kindergarten through 12th grade.
The move establishes a level of cooperation that will enhance each school and
better serve students. The Davis Academy
is a kindergarten through grade 8 Reform
Jewish day school. Weber is a Jewish
community high school for students in
grades 9-12.
Unchanged by this agreement is each
schoolÕs commitment to its mission, constituents, and student population.
While the two schools will continue
to operate independently, the new partnership will call for Davis and Weber staff
and faculty to work closely together to
ensure that academic and enrichment curricula are aligned, that students of various
ages share learning experiences, and that
certain resources are shared in order to
enhance the overall K-12 program. In
addition, the partnership creates a unique
preferential process for the admission of
graduating Davis students, allowing them
to benefit from a seamless transition to
Weber as their high school of choice.
ÒWe think this innovative partnership
is a win for both schools and for Jewish
education in Atlanta,Ó says Davis
Academy Head of School Sidney
Kirschner. ÒWe are looking forward to
building great relationships between
Weber and Davis students, families, and
faculty.Ó
Weber SchoolÕs Head of School Sim
Pearl adds: ÒWe hope that this groundbreaking and forward-thinking endeavor
will be a model for other institutions to
follow.Ó
Established in 1992 as AtlantaÕs
Reform Jewish day school, The Davis
Academy enrolls 700 students in its
Lower and Middle schools on campuses
located in Sandy Springs. With triple
accreditation, The Davis AcademyÕs outstanding curriculum integrates general
and Jewish studies that prepare students to
succeed in the secular world as informed
and committed Jews.
With a current enrollment of 218, The
Weber School seeks to prepare students to
become knowledgeable, thinking, responsible Jewish adults. Founded as New
Atlanta Jewish Community High School
in 1995, the school built and moved into
its new Sandy Springs campus at the corner of Roswell and Abernathy roads in
September, 2006.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 11
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 12
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Page 14
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 15
Remembering the Jewish Educational Alliance
T
he Jewish Educational Alliance will
hold a reunion in early 2009 at the
Marcus Jewish Community Center of
Atlanta.
My memories of the Alliance are
glad and sad.
Glad because of the great basketball
team we had in our Jewish Triangle Club
(JTC), AZA 460. Everyone on our starting five was a high school all-city, all-state, or both.
There was Commercial High SchoolÕs David Eisenberg, the Atlanta city prep scoring
champion.
There were Julie Silverman, Asher Edelstein, and Alvin Halpern, three of the best
players Atlanta BoysÕ High ever had, and Henry Moses (Hank) Levinson, a mighty mite
at 5-5. He stole the ball from Lanier HighÕs 6-7 Jim Nolan and drove in for a game-winning lay-up and a state tournament win.
And the backups were almost as good as the starting five. There was Carl (Chubby)
Zwerner, whose shooting and rebounding led Tech High to upset victories over Boys High
and Columbus High, and Ben (Deadeye) Edelstein and Phil Foug, the pride of
Commercial High.
This JTC team was a team of all-stars, among the best the Alliance ever saw.
But they had trouble with AZA 134 with Clyde Rodbell, Charles Spielberger, and
Leonard Diamond.
They also had difficulty with AZA 518 with Donald and Billy Wender, Alvin Saul,
and Sylvan Chagage. But, on a given night, this JTC team could and did beat any team in
the Alliance.
Other Alliance stars were Leon and Bobby Tuck. This brother act, along with Herb
Mendel, a rebounder deluxe, helped make Smith High School a perennial city title contender.
One of the best all-round athletes at the Alliance was JTCÕs Sidney Stein, before he
left to defend his country in World War II.
There was sadness the night JTCÕs Alvin Cohen failed to show up for basketball practice. The next day, we learned he had been killed in an automobile accident. He was 16
years old, and life in the JTC was never the same. We also were saddened by the injuries
Harold (Baby) Mizell suffered in an auto accident.
There was the day Mendel Sapperstein nailed me to the wall after I had been voted
sweetheart of the TNL sorority.
There was joy in my coaching year with TNL with Pauline Bregman, Irene Smiley,
and Dee Moltak leading the way to the Alliance girlÕs championship.
And the upset of the year was when Charleston (SC) Alliance came to town and beat
the Atlanta All-Stars. Charleston was led by Merv Rabinowitz and The Jewish GeorgianÕs
own Sam Appel.
There were the dances with Naomi Nocks, Sarah Belle Edelstein, and Lee Gilner, and
there was the talented Freddie Miller and his ÒShow of Shows.Ó
There was the 1949 Georgia State Golden Gloves tournament, when among the Open
Division winners were Asher Benator, myself, and Hal Rosenthal, and one of the Novice
Division winners was heavyweight champion Archie Merlin, the driving force behind the
upcoming reunion.
Sixty years have passed, but they were as yesterday.
BY Gene
Asher
Sons of Zionism members at an annual banquet (top row, from left) Paul
Miller, Murray Asher, Bert Sweet, Herbert Mendel, Lee Newhouse (advisor),
Kenneth Levensteim, Bobby Tuck, Ted Frankel; (bottom row, from left)
Harry Socolic, Morton Gilner, Paul Baker, Murray Kahn, Joe Arnold, Arthur
Merlin, Nat Goldwasser, Carl Vitner, Irving Hartman, Dave Hudson,
Lawrence Gordon, and Eddie Krys, circa late 1940s
At an annual banquet (top row, from left) Lee Newhouse (Advisor), David
Hudson, Kenneth Levensteim, Murray Kahn, Murray Asher, Joe Arnold,
Eddie Krys, Harry Socolic, Irving Hartman, Bert Sweet, Ted Frankel, Nat
Goldwasser, Bobby Tuck, Arthur Merlin, Lawrence Gordon, Paul Baker, Carl
Vitner, and Herbert Mendel; (front row, from left) Mrs. Newhouse, unknown,
Dale Lawrence, Babs Hillman, unknown, Corrine Shulman, Estelle Flax,
Sheila Lafkowitz, Jean Dwoskin, Phyllis Gershon, Sydell Simmons, Marsha
Glen, Rosalie Baronovitz, Irene Vrono, Sheila Felton, Fran Feldman, Elsie
Tuck, and Elinor Carl, circa late 1940s
I
f you ever came to the Jewish Educational Alliance on Capitol Avenue for a meeting of AZA, BBG, Young Judea, the Scouts or any other group, make room on
your calendar for a reunion on February 22, 2009.
All who met; danced; played basketball, carom, or ping pong; or just hung out
will get together with old friends to reminisce and swap memories.
You must be at least 60 years old, as the Alliance closed in the early 1950s. (Just
kidding.)
To be kept up to date, please send name, address(es), phone number(s), and email address to [email protected], or mail to JEA
Capitol Avenue, c/o Sam Pinsky, 1874 Volberg Street NW, Atlanta GA, 30318 or call
404-259-4338.
The Jewish Educational Alliance, 318 Capitol Avenue (top row, from left)
Lawrence Gordon, Carl Vitner, Irving Hartman, Ted Frankel, Bert Sweet,
Morton Gilner, Eddie Chris, David Hudson; (middle row, from left) Joe
Arnold, Bobby Tuck, Murray Asher, Nat Goldwasser, Marshall Sweet, Paul
Miller; (bottom row, from left) Harry Socolic, Herbert Mendel, Archie Merlin,
Kenneth Levensteim, Murray Kahn, and Werner Sultan, circa 1949
Page 16
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
A man of compassion and Jewish values
I
t takes a huge heart and body to encompass the passion Ben Rabinowitz has for
people, both Jewish and non-Jewish.
Over the years, Ben grew from a tall, slim
youth with an athletic body to a big, loving
teddy bear of a man. Ben had to be a big
man, not because of genes, but in order to
hold the love heÕs given and the deeds heÕs
done for so many others.
Ben was born into a deeply observant
family in Charleston, South Carolina, in
1927. His parents, like so many other
Eastern European Jews, were part of the
huge immigration wave of the first three
decades of the 20th century. It was only natural that Ben would adopt a Jewish lifestyle
in the close-knit Charleston community. He
received his Jewish education at home and
in school, and he became a good athlete.
His signature sport was basketball, at which
he excelled both in high school and at The
Citadel. He had an athletic scholarship at
The Citadel that didnÕt cover much except
his laundry, but that didnÕt matter. He loved
playing basketball.
It wasnÕt just fun and games for Ben.
He became involved in all the Jewish youth
organizations, from AZA to the Brandeis
Youth Club. He wasnÕt just a card-carrying
member, either. He became a leader of
whatever organization he joined. That was
to be his mission for the rest of his life. HeÕs
led so many organizations, it would take a
BY Leon
Socol
book to list them all.
Near the end of World War II, before
he could complete his college education,
Ben was inducted into the U.S. Army Air
Corps. He was moved around to several
stateside bases. Just as he was about to take
basic training, Ben met an Army captain
who was a Citadel graduate. When the officer found out Ben was a Citadel man, too,
he told Ben that he didnÕt have to take basic
training, because he already knew more
than most of the recruits.
Ben was placed in charge of a group of
trainees. When he first addressed the raw
recruits, they sized him up as a Yankee Jew.
Ben told the group right off that he was
from Charleston, and he was the meanest,
toughest soldier the recruits would ever
meet. To prove it, he said he would fight
any man among them. No one accepted the
challenge, except a big muscular lad from
Arkansas, who was taller than Ben. The
challenger stepped forward, and Ben asked
his name. Then Ben turned to his trainees
and said, ÒThis is Pvt. John Jones. HeÕs my
new second in command, and anyone who
Irvin, Barry,
Rabinowitz
David,
and
Hal
wants to challenge me will have to fight
John first.Ó That won over the group, and
Ben was readily accepted as the soldier in
charge.
After his military service, Ben returned
to Charleston and finished his education.
He was introduced to Sonya Abelson, a
lovely young lady from Atlanta. They hit it
off immediately and were married soon
after. This was undoubtedly the best thing
that happened to Ben. They loved each
other dearly, and he relied on her as his
guiding force and support for the rest of her
life.
From Charleston, the Rabinowitzes
moved to Atlanta, where Ben entered the
hotel business with his father-in-law. After
many years in the hotel business, Ben
opened a print shop in Toco Hill, which his
son, Hal, still operates. In addition to Hal,
Ben and Sonya had three other sons: CPAs
Irvin and Barry and stockbroker David. Ben
is a good father and has inspired his sons to
be involved in the community. Ben is very
proud of his sons and considers them his
major achievement in life.
Ben became involved in every aspect
of the Atlanta Jewish community and was
president of such organizations as
Congregation Beth Jacob, Atlanta Lodge of
BÕnai BÕrith, Georgia State BÕnai BÕrith,
Atlanta Bureau of Jewish Education, and
Yeshiva High School. He has also served on
the board of The Hebrew Academy and volunteered with the Atlanta Jewish
Federation. Ben has been honored as man
of the year by many organizations and
received numerous citations and awards for
his involvement in everything Jewish.
Ben has also worked for various service organizations such as the U.S.O. He has
been recognized for meritorious service by
the U.S. Veterans Administration and
received citations from the American
Legion and the Atlanta veterans hospital.
Ben made his first trip to Israel in 1968
with Hadassah, and he and Sonya fell in
love with the Jewish state. In 1974, they
bought a one-bedroom apartment in
Jerusalem and stayed in Israel a few months
every year, until they decided to make
aliyah in 1991. Their little apartment
became the destination for many of
AtlantaÕs Jews traveling to Israel. Ben and
Sonya hosted many visitors, and they
attended simchas and other celebrations
Ben and Sonya Rabinowitz
In Atlanta recently, Ben Rabinowitz
visits with Rabbi Yossi New
with them. They toured the entire Jewish
state with their Atlanta visitors.
Ben wrote a regular Jewish Georgian
column, ÒA Jewish Georgian in Jerusalem,Ó
which included photos of Ben and SonyaÕs
many visitors; it ran for years and was one
of the paperÕs most popular features. Ben
was also a regular letter writer to the
Jerusalem Post and continues to follow the
news from Israel.
Ben joined a group of retirees in Israel,
who undertook projects such as helping
resettle Russian and Ethiopian Jews in
Israel. Ben recalled the time that he and his
9-year-old granddaughter went to the BenGurion Airport to welcome an incoming
flight of Russian immigrants. When one
family came down the ramp, BenÕs granddaughter ran up to an elderly woman, took
her hand, and greeted her with a resounding
ÒShalom.Ó She proceeded to lead the
woman and her family to an area where
refreshments awaited the new arrivals. Ben
said heÕll never forget that scene.
Ben first became involved with the
plight of the Russian Jews early in 1980.
With a group of Atlanta men, he spent two
weeks in Russia, visiting and encouraging
dissidents who were being harassed by the
Russians. The group smuggled in expensive
camera lenses and left them with the dissidents to sell on the black market so they
could sustain themselves, since they
received no help from the Russians. Had
they been caught, they could have been
arrested or imprisoned for this daring act.
In all his efforts, Ben had the unwavering support of his wife, Sonya. They were
blessed with nine grandchildren and three
great grandchildren.
In 2005, Sonya died in Israel. Ben
See RABINOWITZ, page 17
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 17
Athens student participates in prestigious science institute in Israel
Y
ihe Dong, a recent high school graduate from Athens, Georgia, and a current student at Princeton University, was among 20 American scientists chosen to participate in the 40th annual Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science
Institute (ISSI). Dong joined 72 students from around the world for four weeks of intensive scientific exploration at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, one of
the worldÕs foremost centers of scientific research and graduate study.
Dong was excited about the opportunity to participate in the prestigious program and
visit Israel. ÒI met amazing people and gained knowledge about science and research, but
also learned about IsraelÕs geography, culture, and religion,Ó explained Dong.
ÒI not only learned new research techniques, but I also realized the importance of having a positive scientific attitude,Ó she reflected. ÒI discovered that fresh research ideas seldom materialize the first time. Conceptualizing new ideas requires much thought, trialand-error, and an indefatigable interest in the research.Ó
The program, conducted in English, affords students the opportunity to work in small
groups with world-renowned scientists and graduate students, conducting actual, ongoing
research. Program eligibility is based on the candidatesÕ abilities, grades, achievements,
and demonstrated interest in experimental science.
ÒThe American students joined future scientists from around the world in experiencing the challenges and rewards of working alongside top, professional scientific
researchers at one of the worldÕs leading basic science research centers,Ó said Mr. Sussman.
ÒAt the same time, they also learned about life in Israel.Ó
ÒLife in Israel is very different from the image portrayed in the media, which often
reports bloodshed, violence, and terrorist attacks,Ó said Dong. ÒFrom what I saw in the
places we visited in Israel, peopleÕs lives in Israel are similar to those in the U.S.Ó
American participants in the ISSI receive full scholarships, including travel to and
from Israel.
Yihe Dong (top row, second from left) with other American participants in the
Dr. Bessie F. Lawrence International Summer Science Institute
Oak GroveMarket
Meat Market & Deli
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DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rabinowitz
From page 16
remained in the country for about a year
and then came back to Atlanta to be with
his four sons and their families. Ben and
Sonya were a loving team for over 45
years, and Ben took her passing very hard.
He knew life had to go on, and there were
many things he could do for the community.
I realized BenÕs impact on the Atlanta
community when I had lunch with him at a
restaurant recently. We were hardly able to
talk more than a few minutes at a time
without being greeted by people wanting to
schmooze or ask BenÕs advice on a variety
of matters.
At our parting, I asked Ben about his
current community involvement. He smiled
and told me he was working to raise money
for a fund the state of Georgia has for students who wish to attend parochial schools.
He said he had already enlisted the participation of the Hebrew Academy, Yeshiva
High School, and the Jewish Federation.
There definitely is no grass growing
under the feet of Ben Rabinowitz. He is still
active and going strong at age 81.
Soups & Stews
Salads
Sandwiches
Hot Items
Desserts
Monday – Saturday
7:30 AM to 6:00 PM
2757 LaVista Road, Decatur, GA
404.315.9831
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 18
Genealogy Corner: Jewish genealogy—what a difference 20 years makes
BY Howard
Margol
I
n the early 1980s, Rabbi Malcolm Stern
of New York pioneered the field of
Jewish genealogical research. The next
logical step was to use the Internet, fairly
new at the time, to further interest in Jewish
genealogy.
In the late 1980s, Susan King of
Houston, Texas, started a Jewish genealogy
bulletin board on the Internet. While
SusanÕs bulletin board allowed researchers
to communicate with one another, obtaining
records remained a slow, painstaking
process. A researcher had to visit a national
or regional archive, a state or local facility
where records were stored, or a local courthouse or library. If the records were in a distant facility, a researcher had to send letters
pleading for copies. In the effort to obtain
records of oneÕs ancestors, occasional successes compensated for many failures.
If the archive was in a foreign country,
obtaining copies of records was even more
problematical, often taking months and
sometimes years. Records from archives in
Eastern Europe, under the control of the
Soviet Union, were not available. And orig-
Howard Margol examines records at the ITS Archive in in Bad Arolsen,
Germany
inal records in foreign languages presented
additional problems.
After 1991, with the downfall of the
Soviet Union, a new avenue of genealogical
research opened up. Records from previously inaccessible archives in Poland, the
Baltics, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and
Moldova were now available.
In the meantime, Susan KingÕs bulletin
board had evolved from a site for the
exchange of messages into Jewishgen, a
depository for translated records. With individuals coming together to form research
groups and obtain English translations of
records in foreign archives, Jewishgen
became the logical place for these records
to be stored in searchable databases. Now,
anyone, anywhere in the world, with an
internet connection could access the records
on Jewishgen.
Since the late 1990s, tremendous
progress has been made. Jewishgen now
contains millions of records in searchable
databases. National archives in the United
States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
have made many records available on the
internet. Many U.S. states have made vital
records available on the Internet. It is no
longer necessary to travel or write to the
various facilities where records are stored.
Today, researchers can sit at home and
bring up on their computer screens numerous records pertaining to their ancestors.
To get started on your genealogical
research, visit www.jewishgen.org, and see
the many things that are offered. You will
have to register, but it is free. In fact, everything on Jewishgen is free.
In Atlanta, the Jewish Genealogical
Society of Georgia (JGSG) offers workshops and mentoring sessions to help those
new to genealogical research or people who
have hit a brick wall in their research. To
join
the
JGSG,
contact
[email protected]. You will find lots
of friendly advice to help speed your ancestral research.
Manoah family provides matching
funds for Community Campaign
D
onors to the Community Campaign 2009 of the Jewish Federation of Greater
Atlanta (JFGA) can leverage their giving and maximize their impact on the
Jewish community, thanks to a generous matching grant from the Manoah
family.
ÒThe family of brothers Ron, Avi, and Moshe Manoah, founders and principals of
Atlanta-based NRI Construction, Inc., have long been avid supporters of various
Jewish causes, both locally and in their homeland of Israel,Ó said Campaign Chair
Gerald R. Benjamin. ÒThis wonderful demonstration of leadership and generosity
serves as a fabulous catalyst to kick off the 2009 Community Campaign.Ó
The Manoahs currently reside in Dunwoody.
All new or increased gifts to the campaign will be matched up to $1 million,
Benjamin announced. The Community Campaign is JFGAÕs annual fundraising campaign and the organizationÕs primary effort to raise funds for a wide array of philanthropic causes.
Gifts to Community Campaign 2009 support JFGAÕs 19 affiliate agencies in
greater Atlanta and around the world. The agencies support human services, Jewish
identity, education and culture in Atlanta, and charitable work overseas and in Israel.
The campaign also funds five initiativesÑcalled OutcomesÑthat address unmet
needs in local and overseas Jewish communities. These include programs for Jewish
youth identity, interfaith families and newcomers, and caregivers in Atlanta; for youth
and elderly in the Former Soviet Union; and for at-risk populations in YokneamMegiddo, Israel.
ÒThe Community Campaign is the only way Atlantans can touch the lives of Jews
everywhere with a single gift,Ó Benjamin said.
The Community Campaign 2008 raised $18 million.
To make your contribution to Community Campaign 2009, call Susan Moray at
404-873-1661, or visit www.shalomatlanta.org/page.aspx?id=182894.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 19
This bud’s for you
This piece originally appeared in the
November-December 1998 issue of The
Jewish Georgian.
T
hose of you who have had karate or
similar self-defense instruction just
might be able to protect yourselves
against the Great Phantom Intruder who
will strike before the first cool day of fall.
But the rest of you, who are untrained, will
have to live by your wiles; and letÕs hope
where thereÕs a wile, thereÕs a way, for you
will surely be innocent prey for these annual transplanters.
The truth is that you canÕt tell who the
offenders are. They donÕt dress in a certain
way or wear a banner. They are fine,
upstanding citizens. They could be anyone
or everyone. The game is that they will
soon have to take their plants in for the
winter, and they donÕt have room for them
and the rest of the family. Although itÕs a
toss-up, they choose the kids. And since
theyÕre not really murderers, they have to
find a suitable home for the greenery. They
are cunning and conniving and make
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer seem like a home
movie group compared to the saga they create to make you adopt one of these doomed
potted plants.
They even invite you to dinner, weaken you with carbohydrates until your blood
sugar is high and your resistance is low;
and as you are leaving their porch, you suddenly find your arms locked around a huge
fern they Òthink you would enjoy.Ó After
you get home and the intoxication of the
double strawberry fluff wears off, you wonder where the heck youÕre going to put the
thing. You walk from room to room. ÒNo
sun here.Ó ÒToo near the bed.Ó ÒRuin the
carpet.Ó ÒBreak the glass table.Ó ÒThe bathroom? Naaah.Ó You finally decide that
tomorrow youÕll give away the begonia to
someone dumb, like a new bride, and thatÕll
make room for the fern.
You simply must be fortified. You cannot walk blithely around like a blooming
idiot. YouÕll just have more blooms than
BY Shirley
Friedman
you can manage. It is happening now. It is
going on all around you. TheyÕll pretend
they thought you were sick and unload a
pot of Swedish ivy, and when you tell them
youÕre well, theyÕll say, ÒWell keep it, you
might get sick.Ó TheyÕll bring them to a
meeting to Òhelp you decorate,Ó then abandon them. Your own mother will call and
tell you sheÕs bringing over the large palm
youÕve always admired. You canÕt trust
anyone.
DonÕt let children answer the doorbell.
These people will hand them a plant and
run. And cover all of your tables with brica-brac, or theyÕll tell you they have something that would look pretty in that spot.
Tell them youÕre subtracting a room from
your house and youÕre crowded.
Where were all these super-potters
during the summer, when your patio could
have used a little green life and your porch
was aching for color? IÕll tell you where
they wereÑthey were digging and mixing
and transferring just as fast as their green
little thumbs could manipulate. Then they
were all bragging about and enjoying the
scenery they had created. But, oh, when
yon wind blows, they will not bury these
offspring of their gluttonous over-productivity in PotterÕs Field or drag the weeping,
shedding, curling flora into their well-composed homes. The romance is over, and
they expect you to catch their plants on the
rebound and give them a winter haven.
And, as they are handed to you, they seem
to utter to their natural parents, ÒI know I
am but summer to your heart, and not the
full four seasons of the year.Ó
And if youÕre not careful, soon you
wonÕt see the forest for the trees.
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404.303.6600
6510 Roswell Road
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
Page 20
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Gaon with the Wind: a breezy history of Jewish Atlanta
By Bruce Beeber
Albert Einstein is the obvious modern example of
genius. Thomas Edison gave a rather grudging definition of
genius, describing it as Òone percent inspiration, ninetynine percent perspiration.Ó Singular genius is acknowledged within Jewish scholarship, and the encomium gaon
(genius), has been applied to various great Jewish minds
throughout the ages. The Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Eliyahu of
Vilna, who lived from 1720-1797, committed to memory
the entire Tanach by age three and the entire Talmud by
eleven. The Saadiah Gaon (882-942), yet another example,
led the learning academy at Sura in Babylonia, compiled
the ten meanings for why the shofar is sounded, and translated the Bible into Arabic.
Is there genius, however, in the nature of a town?
Could one anthropomorphize Atlanta, with its growth and
aspirations, by saying that there is Ògenius in the placeÓ?
Atlanta, though, is like neither Charleston, whose citizenry
once called their habitat Òour own Jerusalem,Ó nor Vilnius,
the self-styled ÒJerusalem of Lithuania.Ó Atlanta is more a
town of reinvention, of rebirth, actually offering the
phoenix as its civic symbol. Atlanta, which grows without
borders; AtlantaÑthere is genius in the place.
In the beginning, railroad entrepreneurs decided to
drop a track from outside Chattanooga southward, to a
topographic point where the hills came to finally flatten. At
that end rail site, situated near an old border between native
Creek and Cherokee tribes, a settlement called Terminus
began in 1837. The zero mile post marking that ÒterminusÓ
was moved and is presently found in what is now
Underground Atlanta. A population confluence called Five
Points soon emerged at the intersection of Peachtree,
Marietta, Edgewood, Decatur, and Whitehall streets.
In 1843, the town was incorporated as Marthasville.
Within two years, this enterprising hub changed its name to
Atlanta. At that time, among the approximately 200 inhabitants were Jacob Haas and Henry Levi (or Levy), AtlantaÕs
first Jews.
Ñ
A timeline from the local Jewish Federation, developed by Mark Bauman, current editor of the Southern
Jewish Historical SocietyÕs journal Southern Jewish
History, and Doris Goldstein, shows dates connected to this
early Jewish community. By 1860, Atlanta had 9,550
inhabitants, including at least eleven recognized Jewish
family name units comprising about 50 people. Petitioning
to meet an anticipated need, representatives of the Hebrew
Benevolent Society were deeded six lots within a municipal burial area eventually called Oakland Cemetery.
Over the next five years, spanning wartime, at least ten
Jewish residents of Atlanta performed roles in service to the
Confederate States of America. During the Civil War, the
number of Jewish families nearly tripled. During those four
war years, sometimes called the Òpresent unpleasantries,Ó
the City of Atlanta endured siege; battle capture; and, to a
large extent, destruction by fire. The Hebrew Benevolent
Society evolved and was chartered in 1867 as the Hebrew
Benevolent Congregation, which we now know today as
The Temple.
In the months before this congregation formally coalesced, many of the same men came together as the
Concordia Association. The association had 33 members
and six executive officers. Among the early members were
Wm. Rich, S. Weil, E. Loveman, and four Steinheimers.
The Concordia Association provided a social outlet for
AtlantaÕs Jews, who were living in a barely twenty-yearold, war-ravaged, rough-hewn community. Its direct successor, the Standard Club, was founded in 1905.
Whitehall was ÒtheÓ street of Jewish Atlanta in those
very early days. From the 200 block on down, most stores
Rabbi Tobias
Geffen served on
the pulpit at
Congregation
Shearith Israel
between 19201957. (Photo
courtesy of Leon
and Frieda
Socol)
INTERIOR OF WASHINGTON STREET SYNAGOGUE, THANKSGIVING SERVICE 1954. Seated,
from left to right: Dr. David Marx, rabbi emeritus,
The Temple; Arnold Heisler, assistant rabbi,
Shearith Israel; Ralph DeKoven, assistant rabbi,
Ahavath Achim; Rabbi Jacob M. Rothschild, The
Temple; Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, Congregation
Beth Jacob; and Rabbi Tobias Geffen,
Congregation Shearith Israel. Standing at the pulpit: Rabbi Harry H. Epstein and, in the center facing the Holy Ark, Cantor Joseph Schwartzman
and the Ahavath Achim choir. (From A History of
the Ahavath Achim Congregation, 1887-1977 by
Kenneth Stein; reprinted with permission of the
author)
were Jewish owned (including numbers 11, 21, 22, 23, 24,
32, 50, 53, 55, 74, and 76, based upon data from the City
Directory of 1876). The ÒJewish synagogueÓ was listed at
142 Whitehall; the Concordia AssociationÕs early location
was 92 Whitehall.
Turning left from Whitehall onto Lower Alabama
Street would put one at the heart of the old German Jewish
neighborhood. Steinheimer Bros. Clothiers was found at
Alabama and Hunter.
Passing Broad, taking another left, one would see what
is generally considered the most famous, successful, and
largest of these Jewish owned businesses: Wm. Rich and
Co., at 74 S. Forsyth. This address was to be the retail heart
of the company for the next century.
Eastern European Jewish immigrants arrived in
Atlanta beginning in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and, by 1887, had established their own congregation,
Ahavath Achim. Within twenty years, two other ÒEastern
EuropeanÓ congregations were founded: Shearith Israel and
Anshi SÕfard. An opening for emigration from the Ottoman
Empire brought Jewish people from Turkey, particularly
the Isle of Rhodes; over time, these mostly Sephardic Jews
combined their congregations to form the present day Or
VeShalom.
From Whitehall Street, the community grew to include
nearby Washington Street and environs. The old joke in
Atlanta JewryÑbarely an overstatementÑwas that when
the Atlanta Braves built their first stadium, each base
Rabbis Tobias Geffen of Congregation Shearith
Israel (signing) and Joseph Cohen of
Congregation Or VeShalom at the wedding of
Leon and Frieda Socol, September 29, 1949.
Holding the brideÕs book is Fran Feldman Landau.
(Photo courtesy of Leon and Frieda Socol)
marked the site of one of those early congregations.
According to demographic surveys from the Jewish
Federation of Greater Atlanta, there are now over 120,000
Jews in Metro Atlanta. While studies can differ in how they
measure Jewish populations, numbers from the recent
American Jewish Yearbook suggest that Atlanta is somewhere between the 8th and 11th most populous Jewish city
in this country and the 16th worldwide. If Atlanta were a
separate country, it would have the 8th largest Jewish community of any nation, surpassed only by Israel, the U. S.,
France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, and
Argentina. With the worldwide Jewish population estimated at 13+ million, Atlanta now accounts for just slightly
under 1% of worldwide Jewry.
While the larger Jewish world was forced to endure
economic depression, world wars, and the horrors of the
Shoah, AtlantaÕs Jewry benefited from a notable degree of
stability and constancy. Five distinguished rabbisÑTobias
Geffen (1920-1957), Harry Epstein (1928-1982), Joseph
Cohen (1934-1968), Jacob Rothschild (1946-1973), and
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Emanuel Feldman (1952-1991)—served separate congregations. And even earlierÑbeginning in 1895Ñand extending some fifty years, there was the consistent leadership of
Rabbi David Marx at The Temple. And at the Ôlittle schuleÕ of Anshi SÕfard, Rabbi Nathan
Katz was the spiritual heart for over forty years, until nearly the end of the twentieth century.
Ironically, bookending this continuity and steady growth were two tragic, defining
events in AtlantaÕs Jewish history. Further, these traumas, in an odd sense, seemed to share
reverberating themes. In 1915, Brooklyn-born Leo Frank was lynched just beyond the city
limits. Any sense of belonging and acceptance that the Jews thought they had achieved was
sorely tested. Just over fifty years later, a visible, physical attack was perpetrated on one
of AtlantaÕs oldest Jewish congregations by forces from the outside community: The
Temple was bombed. Both of these strikes hit hard at the Atlanta Jewish community, raising doubt as to whether, in fact, this place truly reflected its civic motto: ÒThe City Too
Busy to Hate.Ó
Ñ
Six years after its founding in 1948, the modern State of Israel established a consulate
in Atlanta, serving the Southeastern United States. (There was a Zionist Society in Atlanta
as early as 1897.) Today, non-stop flights connect Israel directly to Atlanta. Surveys of the
Jews of Atlanta report that 40% have visited Israel. High-tech, agricultural, and other commerce; official purchase of Israel Bonds; and Israelis settling in Atlanta (and, to a lesser
extent, Atlantans settling in Israel) have all helped cement the relationship between the
ÒGate CityÓ and the Jewish state.
Today, there are more than thirty Jewish congregations in an area covering at least
seven counties. Among these are six separate Chabad sites; a congregation whose website
says that it was Òfounded by gays and lesbians and now enthusiastically serves all JewsÓ;
as well as scattered Òchaverot,Ó Hillels, and various denominational, non-denominational,
and shifting-denominational groups.
Though both are now out of office, Sam Massell, AtlantaÕs ÒJewish mayor,Ó and
Elliott Levitas, U. S. Representative from GeorgiaÕs 4th Congressional District, still live
in the area. At least three men who have built businesses now traded on the New York
Stock Exchange remain very active in the philanthropy of contemporary Jewish Atlanta.
There are four Jewish high schools and five Jewish elementary schools. Jews live in
tight communities (most notably the traditional worshipers congregated in the Toco Hill
area), and Jews also live just about everywhere else. The ZIP code with the largest Jewish
population is 30327.
Within very recent memory, Jewish people here have conducted the symphony, directed the art museum, built an aquarium, owned a professional sports team, formed a learnersÕ kollel, expanded facilities for the elderly, established a Jewish museum and Holocaust
center, and been both appointed and elected judges. While scattered across the economic
and work spectrum (and although 14% of surveyed households reported annual income
under $35,000), Jews remain disproportionately represented among accountants, software
programmers, lawyers, architects, teachers, and doctorsÑand, as my daughter Amira said
this spring at her graduation from Yeshiva Atlanta High School, are Òpart of every other
stereotypically Jewish profession.Ó
A 2006 survey conducted under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Greater
Atlanta reports that only 19% of Jews in Atlanta can be considered Atlanta or Georgia
natives; 31% are from New York. Sizable international communities are found here, too,
comprising Jews from Argentina, South Africa, Iran, Russia, Israel, France, and other
locales.
Another aspect of the growing Jewish community are young singles, many of whom
have come here for work or school. Not surprisingly, many do not have formal community affiliations; about 33% of AtlantaÕs surveyed Jewish households report membership in
a synagogue or temple. However, there is a particularly active social networking scene for
the areaÕs Jews. Jewish singles have their own hiking clubs and various other meeting
opportunities, from PurimÕs ÒThe Grateful YidÓ to Kosher Day with the Atlanta Braves, to
lively performing arts venues.
Trends for the future: as Atlanta gains population, Jewish enclaves will scatter farther
and farther outward. Perhaps some day, as metro AtlantaÕs Jewish population grows,
Jewish health, legal, and other professionals will make their livelihoods in GeorgiaÕs
smaller towns. Kosher/Israeli/traditional food options will probably increase, as economic realities make food service a viable livelihood. Turmoil in the greater Jewish world
could make Atlanta, with its strong infrastructure, historical presence, and economic vitality, an attractive option. Cities like Atlanta will be where the great experiments in Jewish
life will continue to take place, in the context of a changing population and religious trends
within the Jewish world itself.
And there will be peaches on automobile license plates, mountains to the north and
ocean to the east, hot summers, polyglot populations, and, as far as my eye can see, a sense
of optimism and Òcan-doÓ (tempered, in its special way, by the flavor of the South, in this
Empire City of the South).
Jewish Atlanta is a brilliant city, with a brilliant past, present, and future: going, going,
gaon.
Or, as Rhett Butler might have said of Jewish Atlanta, ÒFrankly, my dear, we do give
a d___.Ó
Page 21
Page 22
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
From hoops to The Home,
Kendrick still shines
T
hat lovable giant who walks through
the halls of The Jewish Home, never
without an ear-to-ear grin on his
face, is Willard Kendrick, Jr.
Now, you might ask, who is Willard
Kendrick, Jr.? I will tell youÑhe was one
of the great basketball players the state of
Georgia has turned out. Maybe not the
greatest, but certainly one of the great ones.
At 6-5, 210, he dominated the backboards for Southeastern State College in
the Ô70s, averaging 33 points and 15
rebounds per game. He transferred to
DeKalb College, where he was a honorable
mention junior college All-American, averaging 22 points and 18 rebounds per game.
At South Fulton High School, he was
all-everything: all-city, all-state, prep allAmerica.
He graduated from North Georgia
Technical School, a direction he took after
failing to make it with the Atlanta Hawks.
But he will be remembered as being the
state of GeorgiaÕs Player of The Year at
DeKalb for the 69-70 season.
He was recommended for employment
at The Jewish Home by another great athlete, Beryl Weiner, the attorney and star
tennis player, a product of GeorgiaÕs Dan
Magill.
Willard has one son, Dwayn, age 37.
If you walk through the halls of The
Home, you canÕt miss WillardÑeither his
size or his smile. He is housekeeping
deluxe.
BY Gene
Asher
***
IF YOU MISSED the Aurora TheatreÕs
production of Damn Yankees, you missed
the finest production of a Broadway musical I have ever seen.
The trip back to Atlanta from
Lawrenceville was short as we sang Ò(You
Gotta Have) Heart,Ó ÒShoeless Joe from
Hannibal, Mo,Ó ÒThe Game,Ó and other
memorable songs from the show.
The entire cast of Damn Yankees was
superb, but especially outstanding were
Rachel Miller, Justin Tanner, Jennifer
Levison, and Bruce Taylor. Taylor had a
bright future as a U. S Marine Corps officer, but his heart belongs to the stage. But
he is still a MarineÑonce a Marine, always
a Marine.
Almost as good as Damn Yankees was
the Cathedral PlayersÕ production of Hello,
Dolly! It was held at the Cathedral of Christ
the King. I donÕt know what kind of sermon
Reverend Monsignor Thomas Kenny gives,
but he put together a stellar cast for Dolly.
Our hats go off to the Aurora Theatre
and the Cathedral Players.
JELF awards record $639,000
T
he Jewish Educational Loan Fund
(JELF) has awarded more than
$639,000 in interest-free loans to
132 Jewish students throughout the
Southeast for the 2008-2009 academic
year. This is a record amount for the nonprofit organization, which serves Jewish
students pursuing higher education from
communities in Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
ÒJELF experienced a significant
increase in applications this year,Ó said
Rob Smulian, president of the organization. ÒWith students and their families
facing skyrocketing education costs and a
challenging economy, JELFÕs mission to
provide last-dollar, interest-free loans to
Jewish students proved more important
than at any time in our history.Ó
Before JELFÕs interest-free loans are
awarded, students must demonstrate that
they have sought funding through other
sources, including loans, scholarships,
and grants, and have come up short in
meeting their needs. Students also must
maintain a minimum grade-point average
to continue to receive loan proceeds.
While JELF currently administers
approximately $2.4 million in outstanding
loans, it maintains an impressive 98 percent repayment rate. Applications for the
2009-2010 academic year will be available on JELFÕs website at www.jelf.org,
in February of 2009.
For additional information, contact
JELF Executive Director Lara Dorfman at
770-396-3080, or visit www.jelf.org.
The Jewish Educational Loan Fund, a
non-profit organization based in Atlanta,
grants interest-free loans to Jewish students from communities in Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
and Virginia for post-secondary study at
accredited institutions. JELF loans are
Òlast dollar,Ó meaning they supply the
final funds that a student needs to attend
school. These loans can be used for study
at a college or university, graduate school,
or professional/vocational school that
leads to a degree or certificate.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 23
Page 24
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
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1570 Mansell Road • Alpharetta
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE
Page 25
Happy Chanukah
Jewish Georgian
Kosher Affairs
By Roberta Scher
F
ulfill your chocolate craving at
Schakolad Chocolate Factory, 1100
Hammond Drive (near Publix). How
sweet it is that this retail store is now AKCcertified kosher dairy. Franchise owners
Craig and Sheree DÕEgidio offer rich handmade chocolate, chocolate gifts, corporate
specialties, and party favors. Parve chocolates are also available by special order.
Visit schakolad.com, or call 770-730-9770.
And diagonally across the street, at
1155 Hammond, comes OUFORYOU, a
new AKC-certified dairy restaurant slated
to open in November. OUFORYOUÕs
owner, Alon Pinhasi, plans to offer full
made-to-order breakfasts, along with a
lunch menu that includes Mediterraneanstyle soups, salads, and sandwiches. Call
770-396-5533 to confirm opening date.
Ñ
Kosher Eye on AtlantaÑnew product discoveries:
I’m Black. But could I be Jewish, too?
average, I mean not knowing my real
father, living on welfare, and having no
abbi and N. Scherman in his book religious foundation. In time, God
The Chumash writes the follow- revealed to me Judaism.
I am a descendent of a Sephardic Jew
ing: ÒThe hidden [sins] are for
Hashem. Lest Israel retort that it cannot by the name of Dr. Samuel Nunez.
Originally from Portugal, Dr. Nunez
be held responsible for sinners
helped
establish
SavannahÕs
about whom it has no knowlCongregation Mickve Israel, the
edge, Moses reassures the
third-oldest synagogue in America.
nation that hidden sins are
My journey began one night
the province of God alone,
while talking with my wife. She
and He holds no one
suggested I read the Bible, so I
responsible but the sinners
picked it up. How amazing it was!
themselves. But everyone is
I started telling everyone about the
obligated to safeguard the
great stories that I was reading,
integrity of Israel against
and they seemed happy that I
openly committed sins.Õ
found something that
ÒRamban adds that the
sparked an interest.
verse refers also to sins that
During my reading, my
are hidden from the perpetrawife, son, and I were in
tor himself, for it often hapsearch of a good church.
pens that people sin out of
I wanted to share my
ignorance of the law or
happiness with others.
the fact of a situation.
One night, while readSuch sins belong to
ing about this God, this
God, in the sense that
Craig A. Johnson
covenant, and these
He does not hold
special people who
them against the sinner. The verse also alludes to the fate of accepted this covenant, something came
Jews who became so assimilated that to me and said, ÒYou need to know where
their Jewish origins were forgotten. When you come from.Ó At the time, I ignored it.
the final redemption comes, these hidden While reading about the twelve tribes of
ones known only to God will be reunited Israel, though, the thought came to me
with the rest of the nation and be restored again: ÒYou need to know where you
to the status of their forefathers.Ó
come from.Ó
I began to search, starting with my
My whole life, I was under the
impression that I was your average,
See JOHNSON, page 28
underprivileged African American. By
By Craig A. Johnson
R
¥ SamÕs Club at Clairmont: several varieties
of Empire Kosher chicken; Crystal
Canyon sparkling merlot grape juice
by Kedem
¥ Costco at Peachtree Dunwoody:
bulk jars of OU-certified Sun Pix
Hearts of Palm
¥ Wal-Mart at Chamblee
Tucker: CattlemenÕs Gold
Barbecue Sauce, a Carolinastyle sweet mustard barbecue
sauce; Wal-Mart brand chocolate syrup, parve; Mia Foods
ready-made pizza crust with
sauce
¥ Return to Eden: French
cheeses, including Brie, Roquefort, and
Camembert; Kof-k parve cheeses by
Follow Your Heart, including mozzarella,
Cheddar and Jack
¥ Trader JoeÕs: Joe-JoeÕs vanilla crme
sandwich (highly recommended by my
husband, Allan, my own private cookie
maven) and, coming in December,
the return of candy cane Joe-JoeÕs;
all certified OU dairy
Ñ
SPEAKING OF SWEETS. Try the
new certified organic Boulevards
Hot Chocolate instant mixes. The
See KOSHER, page 27
Center Theatre is alive with The Sound of Music
C
enter Theatre, AtlantaÕs newest professional theater, presents the musical classic The Sound of Music,
November 28-December 28, at the Morris
& Rae Frank Theatre, located at the
MJCCA, 5342 Tilly
Mill
Road,
Dunwoody.
This
holiday spectacular
will be directed by
Bo Cecil, with
musical direction by
Annie Cook and
choreography by
Robert Egizio.
Ticket are $2435, with discounts for MJCCA members,
seniors, students, and children under 12.
This story of a governess who gains the
trust of seven children and captures the
heart of their father, a widowed naval captain, has delighted audiences of all ages,
from Broadway to theaters around the
country, for years. The familyÕs narrow
escape from the Nazis provides a thrilling
and
inspirational
finale.
The Sound of
Music, which features music by
Richard Rodgers,
lyrics by Oscar
Hammerstein II, and
a book by Howard
Lindsay and Russel
Crouse, is based on
Maria von TrappÕs memoir, The Story of the
Trapp Family Singers. The score includes
See THEATRE, page 29
"Give my regards to
Broadway!
Remember me to
Herald Square!"
See Run a Marathon Page 31
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 26
NOW
ENROLLING
CHILDREN
AGES 21/2 - 6
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• Fully integrated secular and Jewish Montessori
environment
• Supports the child on his path to independence
• Fosters character development
• Provides individual academic achievement
• AMI certified Primary Teacher
Allows the Jewish child to find his
unique place within the Jewish community
For information visit
derecheretzmontessori.com or call 404-538-6545
"The child is both hope and a promise for mankind"
- Dr. Maria Montessori
Atlant
t
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B st in • Nova Lox & Bagel
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Breakown
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• Fresh Brisket
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• Corned Beef & Pastrami Reuben
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• Old-Fashioned Stuffed Cabbage
• Where Traditional Matzo Ball Soup
is Made Fresh Everyday
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Kosher
From page 25
three varieties include sweet dark, dairyfree, and a unique sugar-free/dairy-free
product.
Order
online
at
blvdsorganics.com.
AND THE WINNER IS.... Some of our
readers participated in a survey rating
AtlantaÕs kosher restaurants and food sellers. To view the final report for AtlantaÕs
first kosher community survey, visit
kosher-community-surveys.com/3.html,
and click on Atlanta.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
done and served with barnaise sauce. My
husband, Allan, and his friend Bernie
Wilker (Georgia Tech fraternity brother,
Phi Ep class of Ô65) enjoyed their huge
hamburgers, each cooked to order. And,
believe it or not, my New Jersey transplant
friend, Simone Broome Wilker (Emory
sorority sister, class of Ô66, born and bred in
Savannah), raved about the fresh-from-thefryer, hot and juicy Southern fried chicken.
Entrees ranged in price from $13.50
for the hamburger to $27.50 for the steak.
And they were all served with French fries
or salad. For dessert, we shared a
Portuguese specialty, rich chocolate ÒsalamiÓ accompanied by a glass of port wine.
What a meal!
Clubhouse Caf is in Midtown, at 155
West 46th Street, convenient for a pre-theater dinner. It is also open for lunch. The
menu includes salads and sandwiches. For
more information, visit clubhousecafe.net,
or call 212-354-3838. If you go, be sure to
say hello to Chef Meirelles.
A WINE NOTE. In our last issue, White by
W was pictured correctly, but misidentified
as a red wine. One of Weinstock CellarsÕ
two new California introductions, it is Òa
pleasant white table wine, with peach and
grapefruit notesÓÑa value at only $10.99.
Page 27
Contact us! WhatÕs cooking?
This column is meant to provide the reader
with current trends and developments in the
kosher marketplace and lifestyle. Since
standards of kashruth certification vary,
check with the AKC or your local kashruth
authority to confirm reliability. If you are
searching for a hard-to-find kosher ingredient, need help with a kosher substitution, or
have a kosher food question, please contact
us, and we will do our best to find the
answer. Also, we ask that you share your
discoveries with us and look forward to
hearing
from
you.
E-mail
[email protected].
COOK OFF. The Third Annual Simply
Manischewitz Cook-Off Competition
includes a grand prize package, valued at
$25,000, that includes GE Profile kitchen
appliances. For official contest details and
registration, visit www.manischewitz.com.
Entrees must be received by December 31.
EMUNAH OF AMERICA has introduced
an exciting 256-page cookbook, ChefsÕ
Confidential, edited by professional chef
Michele RB Friedman. The book features a
collection of
100 favorite
recipes adapted for the
kosher cook
and developed
by renowned
chefs, including famous
names such as
Ina Garten,
Giada
de
Laurentiis, Jeffrey Nathan, and Daniel
Boulud. It is simply a gorgeous cookbook;
recipes are accompanied by the beautiful
photos of John Uher. What a great
Chanukah gift! All profits from the sale of
this book benefit EmunahÕs 250 social welfare and educational facilities in Israel. The
book is available locally at Chosen
Treasures or directly from Emunah at emunah.org.
A NEW-NEW YORK NOSH. ItÕs hip, itÕs
delicious, itÕs casual, itÕs kosher, and itÕs
reasonably priced for a Manhattan restaurant. This describes my dinner experience
at Chef Jose MeirellesÕ newest New York
restaurant, Clubhouse Caf. My grass-fed
and aged 12-ounce steak was perfectly
Recipes: Lotsa Latkes
Cauliflower Latkes
Adapted from a recipe by Eileen
Goltz/oukosher.org
(For a collection of over 2,400 recipes,
visit oukosher.org, and click on Òrecipes.Ó)
4 cups cauliflower, cooked/drained
4 tablespoons matzo meal
4 eggs
salt and pepper
oil for frying
In a bowl, mash the cooked cauliflower. Add the matzo meal, eggs, salt,
and pepper. Mix well.
Heat the oil in a skillet.
Form the mixture into patties. Fry for
2 to 3 minutes on each side, until golden.
Drain on paper towels.
Serve immediately with non-fat or
low-fat sour cream or strawberry preserves.
Ñ
Zucchini Latkes
Adapted from a recipe by Eileen
Goltz/oukosher.org
1 lb. zucchini
salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup matzo meal
oil for frying
applesauce (optional)
Wash zucchini and cut off ends, but
do not peel. Grate into a bowl, sprinkle
with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and set aside for 10
minutes. Drain or squeeze out the liquid.
In a large bowl, mix zucchini, eggs,
sugar, baking powder, matzo meal, and 1
tablespoon oil, blending well. Add salt to
taste.
Heat oil in skillet and drop zucchini
mixture by tablespoonfuls into pan.
Brown on both sides. Serve with applesauce, if desired.
Ñ
Dixie Corn Dollars
Adapted from a recipe by Renee Chernin,
formerly of Atlanta, now residing in
Jerusalem. Renee says, ÒWe can all use a
few more dollars right now.Ó
Makes 70-80 latkes
8 eggs
4 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
and drained
1 onion, minced
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 additional cup frozen corn, thawed and
drained
1/4 cup canola oil
honey-mustard sauce, optional (recipe
below)
In a food processor, mix first 8 ingredients until combined; gently stir in additional cup of corn.
Heat oil to medium high. Drop batter
by tablespoons into hot oil; flip once when
golden; drain on paper towels. Serve with
honey-mustard sauce, if desired.
Honey mustard sauce: Whisk together 1 cup honey, 1/8 cup water, 1/4 cup
apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt. Slowly whisk in
1/4 cup vegetable oil.
Ñ
And with the latkes....
Flanken Mushroom Barley Soup
Adapted from a recipe by Chef David
Cooper, ChefsÕ Confidential
1 pound flanken
salt, pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 pound onions, diced
10 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
10 ounces shitake mushrooms, sliced,
stems removed
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/3 cup pearl barley, rinsed
3 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
1 1/2 quarts beef or chicken broth*
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons fresh, chopped parsley,
divided
Season flanken and brown both sides
in heated oil. Remove from pot and set
aside.
In the same pot, saut onions until
golden. Add mushrooms, and saut about
3 minutes. Add garlic, barley, thyme; saut
3 minutes more. Add broth and scrape bottom of pot.
Place the flanken back into the pot;
add 2 tablespoons of parsley and the bay
leaf. Bring to boil. Lower heat, and simmer about 90 minutes.
Remove flanken, and cut meat from
bones. Cut the meat into small pieces, and
put back in soup. Simmer 15 more minutes. Discard bay leaf.
Garnish with parsley when serving.
This soup can be prepared in
advance; when reheating, adjust consistency by adding additional broth.
*For recipes calling for broth, I often use
Imagine FoodsÕ no-chicken or vegetable
broth.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 28
Johnson
From page 25
great grandmother Eva Gould, whom I had
known and with whom IÕd had a good relationship. I googled ÒGould,Ó and, to my surprise, learned that it was a Jewish name. I
said to myself, ÒGod, you have pulled a fast
one on me.Ó
At this point, I became interested in my
family and our origins. My main sources of
information were my great uncle Leroy,
EvaÕs son; my mother, Wanda; my grandmother Minnie; census records; and the
Savannah Jewish Archives. Family members said we were Native American. But
where did that Jewish last name come
from? My mother said that Eva had a
Jewish background, but I never acknowledged the comment. Other family members
said that Eva had an arranged marriage,
which she didnÕt want, to a man named
Leopold Allen. Her best friends were Jews;
some of them even called Eva by the nickname ÒSister.Ó Eva did not eat pork; Leroy
said all her sons were circumcised.
African American families are rooted
in the church, but we did not go to church
regularly. Growing up, I always wondered
why.
My research revealed that EvaÕs father
was named Richard Gould, and his father
was named Bristol Gould. From my understanding, they were from Georgia. Richard
Gould died in 1927, when Eva was only 11
years old. LeroyÕs mother told him that she
was raised by Jews. EvaÕs mother, Anna
Gould, had one brother and one sister; to
the best of my knowledge, their names were
Rena Cohen and Alexander Beasley. Their
mother was Miranda Nunez. MirandaÕs
father was Alexander Nunez. AlexanderÕs
parents were Moses Nunez and Mulatto
Rose. Moses NunezÕ father was Dr. Samuel
Nunez.
Dr. Samuel Nunez and family were
from Portugal, where he was the grand
inquisitorÕs personal physician. They were
crypto-Jews, meaning they converted to
Christianity, but secretly practiced Judaism.
Despite his status, Dr. Nunez couldnÕt protect his family from the inquisition in
Portugal. When it was discovered that Dr.
Nunez and his family secretly practiced
Judaism, they were forced to flee. They
boarded a boat with a guest, telling the
guest that they were going out to sea and
that the boat would be heading back to
Lisbon. But the Nunez family headed for
England. When they arrived, Samuel Nunez
and his wife were married according to
Jewish customs. He and his sons, Moses
and Daniel, were circumcised in London.
The family attended Bevis Marks, the
oldest synagogue in London and the one
that would eventually sponsor their trip to
the New World. After the family learned
about the new colony of Georgia, they
decided to come here and plant a commercial vineyard to help reduce EnglandÕs
dependence on Portugal and France for
wine.
The colony of Georgia was established
in February 1733 by a group of Britons,
under the leadership of James Oglethorpe,
who were sent from London to create a
buffer zone between South Carolina and
Spanish-held Florida.
Five months later, on July 11, 1733,
forty-one Jews sailed up the Savannah
River on a ship named the William and
Sarah. These Jews were sent by Bevis
Marks to establish a congregation in
Savannah. The original party consisted of
forty-two individuals Ñ thirty-four
Sephardim and eight AshkenazimÑbut one
child died onboard. They brought with them
a Torah scroll on deerskin and a circumcision box, which is on display at Mickve
Israel today.
By the time the group made it to
Savannah, though, there was a yellow fever
outbreak, and Oglethorpe was reluctant to
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let them land. Dr. Nunez explained that he
was an infectious disease doctor and could
help contain the epidemic. He brought the
epidemic under control, and Oglethorpe let
the Jewish immigrants remain. The Nunez
family stayed for a short while, but as the
Spanish came north from Florida toward
the colony of Georgia, they, along with the
other Sephardim, left town.
The family relocated to Charleston,
South Carolina, where Samuel Nunez
would later die. His sons, Moses (from
whom I am directly descended) and Daniel,
came back to Georgia and became prominent businessmen. MosesÕ first wife was a
Jewish woman, Rebecca Abrahams. They
had one son, Samuel Nunez. MosesÕ second
wife was his former slave, Rose, also
known as Mulatto Rose. From this union
came Robert, James, Alexander, and
Frances, whom Moses acknowledged as his
children in his will. (See sidebar.)
Alexander Nunez was said to have lived his
life as a Native American, being that his
mother, Rose, was half Native American
and half African American. Little is know
about this Nunez line, but I am so proud of
my 9th great grandfather, Samuel Nunez,
GeorgiaÕs first hero. If not for him, the
young colony of Georgia would not have
survived. Due to Samuel Nunez, the third
oldest synagogue was established under the
leadership of the Sheftall families.
I now attend the Chabad Enrichment
Center of Gwinnett. I take my sons with
me, and we learn Torah. Now I understand
my purpose and the purpose of my children.
I must never forget why Samuel Nunez left
Portugal. In essence, ÒHe will bring you
together again from all the people where the
Lord your God has scattered you. Even if
your outcast are at the ends of the earth,
from there He will fetch you. And the Lord
your God will bring you to the land that
your fathers possessed and you shall possess it; and he will make you more numerous than your fathers.Ó Deuteronomy 30:3-6
Ñ
References
Brecker, N. 2008. Our Legacy: 275 Years of
Congregation Mickve Israel and Jewish
Life in Savannah 1733-2008. (J. Lebos,
Ed.)
Scherman, Rabbi Nossi. 2004. The
Chumash (Stone Edition ed.). Brooklyn:
Mesorah Publication, Ltd.
Will of Moses Nunez, Savannah
14 October 1785
In the name of God, Amen. I, Moses Nunez of Savannah in the County of Chatham and
State of Georgia; Gentleman, being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God,
tho weak in body, yet of a sound and perfect understanding and memory, do constitute
this my last Will and Testament, and desire it may be received by all as such: As for
my burial, I desire it may be with out pomp or state, at the discretion of my Executors
hereafter named, the persons to attend the same shall by my family, children and slaves,
and the funeral service to be performed by my friend David Montaigut, Esquire. As to
my worldly estate, I will and positively order: That all my debts shall be paid as soon
as possible and convenient, if I donÕt live to pay them myself.
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my son, Samuel Nunez, and to my son Robert
Nunez, the son of Mulatto Rose, a tract of six hundred acres of land in Burke County
to be equally divided between them; Item I give and bequeath into my two other sons,
James Nunez, and Alexander Nunez, also the sons of Mulatto Rose, a tract of five hundred acres of land on the south side of the Great Ogeeche River; Item I further order
and confirm and do give unto the above-mentioned Mulatto Rose and her three sons
James, Robert and Alexander Nunez and her daughter Frances Galphin being all my
issue a full and perfect freedom from all slavery and servitude in reward as an acknowledgment of the faithful conduct and behavior of the said Mulatto Rose towards me and
my children. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Nunez, three Negroes
named Flemming, Joe, Cacarico. Item I give and bequeath all my house furniture and
wearing apparel to Mulatto Rose, and my three sons, James, Robert, and AlexanderThe remainder of my estate after my legacies are discharged and paid-shall be equally
divided between my four sons, Samuel, James, Robert and Alexander Nunez. And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint Samuel Nunez, James Nunez, my sons, and
George Galphin Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and Seal at Savannah aforesaid the 14th day of October Ñ
Ñone thousand seven hundred and eighty-five and in the tenth year of American
Independence.Ñ-
Sealed Published and Declared
by the above named Moses MOSES NUNEZ
Nunez for his last Will and Testament, in the Presence of us David Montaigut
Joseph Abrahams
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
returns for 9th year
Page 29
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Darren Katz (2009 AJFF co-chair), Kenny Blank (executive director, AJFF),
Judy Marx (executive director, American Jewish Committee, Atlanta
Chapter), Matthew Bernstein (chair, Emory Film Studies)
T
he largest film festival in Atlanta
returns in January for 12 days of
screenings, guest appearances, and
related events.
The 9th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film
Festival (AJFF) will take place January 1425. This cinematic examination of Jewish
life, culture, and history seeks to use the
power of film and video to both entertain
and educate, while challenging conventional perspectives on complex issues facing
the Jewish community and the world alike.
Founded in 2000, AJFF now attracts an
audience of 15,000 and showcases some 50
international works that examine various
Theatre
From page 25
some of the most memorable songs ever
performed on the musical stage, including
My ÒFavorite Things,Ó ÒDo-Re-Mi,Ó
ÒEdelweiss,Ó ÒClimb Every Mountain,Ó
ÒSixteen Going On Seventeen,Ó ÒThe
Lonely Goatherd,Ó and, of course, the glorious title song.
In addition to the regular performances, Sound of Music fans are invited to join
Center Theatre for sing-along performances on December 7, 14, 21, 28, at 7:00 p.m.;
December 24, at 2:00 p.m.; and December
26, at 2:00 p.m. Blake Hall, Center
TheatreÕs producing artistic director, says,
ÒThese extremely popular sing-along performances are essentially karaoke on a
grand scale, and longtime fans take songs
from The Sound of Music very seriously.
You can be sure that people from all across
the community will come dressed in costume, and everyone enjoys the many
chances to sing along with the cast.Ó Hall
aspects of Jewish life. Moviegoers cast ballots for the best narrative and best documentary film of the festival, with winners
receiving the AJFF Audience Award.
Films will be screened at Lefont Sandy
Springs, Regal Atlantic Station, and Regal
Medlock Crossing.
The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is
presented by the Atlanta Chapter of the
American Jewish Committee and is made
possible with the generous support of corporate, foundation, government, and individual sponsors.
Tickets go on sale December 9. For
more information, visit www.ajff.org.
adds, ÒBut, donÕt let it stop you if youÕre
not sure of all the words to these classic
songsÑall of the lyrics will be projected on
a screen.Ó
For ticket information and purchase,
call
678-812-4002,
or
visit
www.CenterTheatreAtlanta.org.
weddings • bar/bat mitzvah • corporate
f{tÜÉÇ Y|á{xÜ
275 Spalding Springs Lane
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
[email protected]
tel. 770.395.1094
cell 678.637.2030
fax 770.396.8844
Page 30
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Schwartz on Sports
MEMORABILIA MEMORIES
I
Õve had this football since 1967. ItÕs a
1967 MacGregor All-American ball,
signed by 21 players on the Kodak AllAmerican football team, including O.J.
Simpson, Larry Csonka, Ted Hendricks,
Leroy Keyes, Gary Beban, Adrian Young,
Tim Rossovich, and Ron Yary.
Atlanta hosted the All-Star game in
1967, and Citizens Jewelry Company was
involved in the promotion. My father-inlaw, Joe Feldman, managed the camera
department at Citizens and somehow got
that ball for me. ItÕs been sitting on top of a
bookcase all this time. A few years ago, I
looked into seeing how valuable it might
be.
I knew one person, Dean Zindler, who
was in the business of sports collectibles.
IÕve known Dean since he was a little boy.
My wife, Nancy, worked for DeanÕs father,
Warren, at Computer Software Inc., and
DeanÕs mother, Ellyse, and I both worked
as educators in the DeKalb County School
System. Nancy and Ellyse became friends
through ORT in the Ô70s. Dean was always
interested in sports, and now he was making a profession out of it. I also have
enjoyed reading his column, ÒZindlerÕs
Memory Lane,Ó in I.J. RosenbergÕs weekly
publication, Score Atlanta.
Dean agreed to take the football on
BY Jerry
Schwartz
consignment. After a few months, there
were no takers, so the football is back on
top of the bookcase again.
That experience made me curious
about the sports collectibles industry, so I
called Dean with some additional questions
about the business. Dean first started collecting baseball cards when he was six or
seven years old. Remember ToppsÕ baseball
cards? I never was much of a collector
myself and usually just bought those cards
for the bubble gum. No telling what that
1954 Ralph Kiner card would be worth
today. Dean said he had Willie Mays,
Mickey Mantle, and Sandy Koufax cards.
His most valuable one is a 1955 Warren
Spahn, a Hall of Fame pitcher for the
Boston and Milwaukee Braves. Remember
the classic quote?ÑÒSpahn and Sain and
pray for rain.Ó
Dean started his business, ZindlerÕs
Sports Collectibles, 18 years ago. He said
that sports memorabilia is a billion-dollar
industry. Privately owned companies like
his, auction houses, major-league sports,
and the Internet have had a big influence on
it worldwide.
Because of the Internet, there is not as
much interest in card shows as there was in
the Ô80s and Ô90s. I recently read that you
have to be careful with eBay, because you
are at the mercy of the seller and have to
trust his or her description of the items. Be
certain to verify that a third-party authenticator has examined the item.
One of the most interesting items that
Dean has bought or sold is a coachÕs 1977
YankeesÕ World Series ring. He also said
that one-of-a-kind items are the most valuable. The most expensive item heÕs handled
was an original Napoleon Lajoie baseball
card, which went for $50,000. Lajoie
played for the Cleveland Indians in the
1930s. The card was so expensive because
it was left out of the original set of cards in
1934, so that made it a one-of-a-kind. That
was a big surprise for me. I figured a Babe
Ruth or Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb would
be more valuable.
Baseball is the sport that has the most
collectors, in part because it has been
around the longest; cards, programs, tickets, autographed hats, and jerseys are popular items. College football memorabilia has
also become very popular. Dean said that
thereÕs not a whole lot of interest in Falcons
memorabilia now, so you can forget about
cashing in on your Michael Vick jersey.
I thanked Dean for the Memorabilia
101 course and reminded him that I still
have that 1967 MacGregor All-American
football. I am ready to sell if the price is
right.
MORE MEMORABILIA
My son, Michael, attended a gigantic
sports show at the World Congress Center
in 1992. His friend Gil Michelson works
for a sporting goods shop, so Michael got in
with Gil. Every major sporting goods company was there, along with some top sports
stars.
Later that evening, Michael showed up
at the house with an inflatable Pitt Panther
football helmet, signed by Dan Marino
wishing me a happy 50th birthday. Michael
also got autographed pictures from Terry
Pendleton, Art Monk, Jimmy Conners, and
the Penthouse Playmate of the Year.
Michael said he didnÕt mind waiting in line
for an hour for that last one. He even got
her to include a message saying how ÒhotÓ
I was. Boy, did my wife get a laugh out of
that one.
So, for a guy who didnÕt even collect
and keep baseball cards as a kid, IÕve had
an opportunity to acquire a lot of sports
memorabilia. I never thought it would all
lead to a ÒSchwartz on SportsÓ column.
BEING THANKFUL
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on
everything thatÕs important in our lives and
for which we are thankful. IÕve always
enjoyed reading Atlanta JournalConstitution sportswriter Furman BisherÕs
list. IÕve been reading it for over 40 years,
and itÕs always poignant, funny, and nostalgicÑand sometimes surprising. I had a
chance to meet Furman at his AJC office a
year ago, and heÕs still going strong. So, I
thought it would be fun to make up my own
list as it relates to the Jewish Georgia sports
scene.
I am thankful for:
¥ getting through another Sunday morning
basketball pickup game in one piece.
¥ watching my grandchildren develop a
love for sports and making it a part of their
lives.
¥ knowing my wife, Nancy, can still keep
up with those 30- and 40-year-old women
in her step class.
¥ getting on the stationary bike and having
the TV tuned to ESPN and not the soaps.
¥ knowing that the MJCCA is keeping one
racquetball court available for players.
¥ watching my daughters, Mindy and
Cathy, staying active and healthy through
regular exercise.
¥ Waking up in the morning and knowing
that whatever is hurting will feel better after
some Tylenol and Icy Hot.
¥ talking Georgia football with my son,
Michael; Philadelphia EaglesÕ football with
my son-in-law Marc; and tennis with my
son-in-law Gary.
¥ forty years of memories of games and
guys I played with in the JCC sports league.
¥ having the opportunity to share my experiences through The Jewish Georgian.
So until next time, drive for the bucket
and score.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 31
He fulfilled his commitment to run a marathon
I
almost missed the deadline to get this
article in this issue of the paper. You
see, my momma believed that you
always waited till after an event to recognize it: if not, kein ayin hora, you could be
inviting the Òevil eye.Ó And if my momma
said it, it had to be correct.
Well, he did it. At seventy-nine,
Shmuel ben Avaraham cruised into
Metropolis, slipped into a telephone booth,
donned his Superrunner outfit, and emerged
as one of the 37,000 competitors in the 38th
New York Marathon, the largest of all the
major marathons. More importantly, he finished the course still standing and alive.
HeÕs my hero!
There were many doubters, me included. Being an attorney and knowing that
there would be those who may not believe
him, Sammy had his two sons, Adam Appel
and Jack Cohen, together with his grandsons, Jake Cohen and Aaron Appel, accompany him to New York to witness the event.
After the completion, the four of them
BY Marvin
Botnick
signed an affidavit attesting to the accomplishment, which documentary verification
we required before publishing these results.
After all, Sam, as the co-publisher of The
Jewish Georgian and representing the
Kalushine Society of Charleston, had to live
up to the demanding requirements of these
weighty responsibilities. I am happy to say
that he did fulfill the criterion, and, as a
result of his accomplishment, he now holds
the Kalushine Society of CharlestonÕs
world record in the 75-80 age classification,
a record which may never be broken.
The Sunday of the race was the day on
which the time went from standard to daylight-saving time. Sam had logged many
AND THEY WILL ATTEST TO IT. Sam Appel (center) with grandsons Jake
Cohen and Aaron Appel on the left and sons Jack Cohen and Adam Appel
on the right
ÒLook Ma, IÕm on top of the world.Ó Grandsons Aaron Appel and Jake Cohen
with Sam (center) at the end of the race
miles of running trying to get in shape for
the marathon, and it is possible that these
prolonged periods of jarring to the body and
brain may have temporarily addled his
thought process. For whatever reason, when
he set his alarm clock, he did not adjust it
for the hour difference resulting from this
change to daylight time and, as a result, got
up an hour early. He said he wondered why
there was not a crowd at the assembly spot
on Staten Island when he got there at about
5:00 a.m. But always looking at a situation
from the positive side, Sam, who loves to
visit with people, decided this would just
mean he could talk with more people. He
did say one of the problems that he did have
in visiting with the people was that so many
spoke languages other than the one in
which he was conversant. Participants were
from all over, and very few of them spoke
Gullah.
As you can imagine, the more than 26
miles of the course wandered through many
sections and neighborhood. It was on one
of these streets that he came up on a crowd
of people standing outside a church cheering on the participants. When he got in front
of them, he stopped, raised his arms
upwards, and repeatedly shouted in a loud
voice, ÒSTOP! STOP! STOP!Ó When they
finally quieted down, Sam, again in a loud
voice, said: ÒPlease go back inside the
church and pray for me. I need all the help
I can get.Ó
When SamÕs group left the starting
point at 10:20 a.m., he said the police had
all of the roads along the course blocked,
and the participants were able to run over
on roadbeds, which he said was wonderful.
Later on, he said he noticed that the roads
had been reopened and that he had to run on
the sidewalks. He did not mind doing that,
but it was a little disconcerting when he
started passing other participants heading in
the other direction. I asked him what the
time was when he finished, he and said he
really did not know, because it was so dark.
While his legs began giving out at
about the 18-mile marker, he said that his
voice remained strong, and he was able to
talk with the fans all the way to the finish.
Others may have run faster, but no one
talked with more people.
Participating in and finishing a
marathon is a singular event in anyoneÕs
life, even more so at the age of 79. But Sam
says that the most important motivation to
him was that when he takes his final trip
and stands before God, he can answer that
he fulfilled his commitment to run a
marathon.
Page 32
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
My own Thanksgiving
T
his is the perfect time for giving
thanks for all GodÕs blessings to us
and our loved onesÑThanksgiving.
I am thankful for the dairy farmer
whoÕs up before dawn, milking his cows, so
we can enjoy milk, butter, and cheese; the
other farmers and their produce, chickens,
goats, and cattle; beekeepers with their
honeyÑand all I have to do is go to my
favorite grocery store, at my leisure, to buy
all of it.
IÕm so grateful to all the teachers, especially those kind, gentle, first-grade ladies
who accept low salaries to teach our little
ones their ABCs and to hug them and dry
their tears after boo-boos on the playground. (It may not be PC to do the latter
anymore, IÕm told, but politically correct or
not, IÕm sorry that youngsters are missing
out on a lot of TLC.)
IÕm so thankful for the young people
who study so diligently for yearsÑdoctors,
dentists, clergy, attorneys, pharmacists, and
many other professionals who have made
my life easier over the years. Sure, theyÕve
all been paid for their goods and services,
but can I ever put a price on my surgeonÑ
Dr. ÒGreenie,Ó of blessed memoryÑwho
did my cancer surgery almost 36 years ago?
Yes, IÕm a cancer survivor, thank God.
My parents, Frieda and Jacob Friend,
fled the repressive Tsarist pogroms in
Russia, coming to the far-off, strange land
of China, to Shanghai, where I was born.
Foreigners in a land of foreigners, they had
to learn English from square one and
enough Chinese to get by with the locals.
They had the foresight to send me through
the British public school systemÑactually
a private school with a multinational student bodyÑwhere I received a wonderful
education, winning many prizes for academic excellence.
BY Balfoura Friend
Levine
Fortunately for me, my uncle Louis
Friend, of Eastman, Georgia, sent me passage money, with a transfer from St. JohnÕs
University in Shanghai to the University of
Georgia, after World War II. (Go Dawgs!)
And now, wonder of wonders, I could
and I did vote again for the next president
of the United States. I am truly grateful for
this very special privilege.
I thank God for my three healthy children and three wonderful grandchildrenÑ
all good citizens and loving, happy people.
I have an article about a 62-year-old
woman whoÕs been a caretaker from day
one for her now 32-year-old daughter, who
is physically and developmentally disabled.
This exhausted mother feeds her child,
brushes her teeth and hair, and lifts her into
the bathtub as if she were an infant instead
of a 90-pound woman. I grieve for this
mother while thanking God for my own
good fortune of having healthy loved ones.
Some days, I grouch about getting
older and wish for things I donÕt have; but I
quickly bring out this newspaper clipping,
read about this brave mother, take a few
deep breaths, and say a fervent Shecheyanu
(prayer of thanks).
To all of youÑHappy Thanksgiving!
p.s.ÑI give thanks for all my good friends
as wellÑand a Òbless-your-heartÓ wish to
the few rude, mean-spirited ones as well.
Perhaps someday youÕll see the light, mend
your ways, and become the kind, loving
people you could be.
New Jewish networking group
T
he Jewish Networking Alliance, a
Jewish business networking group,
meets each Wednesday morning at
7:00 a.m. in Sandy Springs to foster business relationships and trade business leads
among professionals.
Started by Katherine Fein, who founded Sandy Springs Community, an online
marketing firm for Sandy Springs businesses, the Jewish Networking Alliance allows
only one professional per industry in the
group, so there is no competition among
members. Members help one another make
new business contacts, meet potential partners, and increase sales. Each week, members learn about the businesses of their
peers and how those businesses might be
able to help fellow members or someone
they know. At the end of the meeting, members share leads and agree to make introductions to others who might benefit from
working with a member of the group.
ÒThere are groups out there like this
for the general public and for other religious groups, like Presbyterians and
Methodists,Ó said Fein, Òand I thought there
should be a Jewish group, so I started one.
I want to assist business owners and nonprofits in referral marketing by enlarging
their networks.Ó
Thus far, the group includes a web
marketer, a financial planner, an interior
designer, the owner of a home remodeling
company, a publicist, a business coach, and
a mediator. For more information, visit
www.jewishnetworkingalliance.com.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Thought You’d Like to Know
By Jonathan Barach
www.yith.org/programs/learndaypatriot.pdf.
B
GET
WET.
Teen
ConnectionÕs
ThankSwimming Pool Party is Wednesday,
November 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at MJCCA
Zaban ParkÕs Indoor Pool. Need to get out of
the house and away from all the pre-holiday
madness? Teen Connection is throwing a huge
pool party that will include food, music, and
plenty of fun for tweens in grades 6-8. The fee
is $10. Register by November 25 at
www.atlantajcc.org/teensandtweens, or call
678-812-3978.
OOKS BOOKS BOOKS. The Marcus
Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
is presenting the 17th Annual Book
Festival of the MJCCA through November 22.
The festival features 33 acclaimed writers and
includes a showcase of rising literary stars,
engaging speaker programs, author meet-andgreets, book signings, panel discussions, the
6th annual Get Caught Reading Storytelling
Festival, the annual Community Read, and
more. For a complete schedule, tickets, and
other information, visit atlantajcc.org, or call
the Book Festival Hotline at 678-812-4005.
ART FAIR. Artisans@TheEtz, Congregation
Etz ChaimÕs 2nd annual juried art fair, is
November 16, 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Over 40
artists will sell unique works, including jewelry, ceramics, glass, wood, metal, fabric, and
paintings. The event includes raffle items, and
food will be available for purchase.
Admission is free. Congregation Etz Chaim is
located at 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, in
Marietta. For more information, call Linda
Diamond at 678-560-8275 or Pam Ziskend at
770-645-7763.
ISRAEL BEYOND THE HEADLINES.
IsraelÕs Next 60 Years: Her Challenges and
Triumphs is the Consulate General of Israel to
the SoutheastÕs annual student conference.
This event, November 16, 11:00 a.m.-7:00
p.m., at the Westin Hotel Buckhead, lets students from around the Southeast see behind
the scenes and learn about Israel from the
countryÕs insiders. Past speakers have included Octavia Nasr of CNN, Israeli Ambassador
Reda Mansour, and South Carolina State
Senator Bakari Sellers. Registration begins at
10:30 a.m. Attendees will receive free gift
bags, meals, and snacks. For more information, contact Director of Academic Affairs
Shelley Gavriel, 404-487-6504 or [email protected].
GET THAT JOB. Jewish Family & Career
Services (JF&CS) is offering an innovative
Interviewing Skills Workshop. Admission is
free, but registration is required. For the
November 19 workshop at JF&CS in Cobb,
1501 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 100, contact
Judy at 770-933-0081 or [email protected]. For the November 20 workshop at
JF&CS, 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road,
call 770-677-9358.
COMMUNITY DAY OF LEARNING. On
November 23, 9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Yeshiva
University presents a free Community Day of
Learning, hosted by Young Israel of Toco
Hills, 2074 LaVista Road. The program,
ÒJews and American Patriotism,Ó features
Rabbi Yosef Blau, Mashgiach Ruchani
Guidance Counselor at Yeshiva University
and the National President of Religious
Zionists of America, and Dr. Jeffrey S.
Gurock, Libby M. Klaperman Professor of
Jewish History at Yeshiva University. Free
babysitting is available for children ages 2 and
up. For details, call 404-315-1417, or visit
COPING WITH TOUGH TIMES. Rabbi Jeff
Salkin, director of Kol Echad: Making
Judaism Matter, is offering a three-week series
on how to cope with the economic crisis. The
text is Harold KushnerÕs Overcoming LifeÕs
Disappointments. Rabbi Salkin will discuss
how Judaism opens us up to new possibilities,
even as it forces us to confront the sources of
our own brokenness. The class will take place
December 1, 8, and 15, 7:00 p.m., at Winter
Company, 1330 Spring Street, fifth floor (next
to Nan). For more information, call 770-4382926, or e-mail [email protected].
LETÕS TALK BOOKS. ÒNeighbors: The
World Next DoorÓ is a free book discussion
series conducted by Sarah Stein of Emory
University. Upcoming discussions are
Bernard MalamudÕs The Assistant, December
1; and Gish JenÕs Mona in the Promised Land,
January 5. The series is funded by a grant
from the American Library Association and
Nextbook. Participants are invited to pick up a
free book at the library to read before the sessions. All programs are 6:00 p.m. and take
place at the Peachtree Branch, Atlanta-Fulton
County Public Library, 1315 Peachtree Street.
For information, contact Mary Silver at 404885-7830.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR. The Augusta Jewish
Community Book Fair & Chanukah Bazaar
takes place December 7, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Browse and buy books, pottery, Judaica,
drawings, portraits, jewelry, candy, handmade
soaps, and more. Parents can sign up for free
books for their children. There will also be a
bake sale, childrenÕs activities (RSVP requested), Israeli dancers, and appearances by
authors. Lunch is available for $5/adult,
$3/children; please RSVP. Call 706-288-3636
for information or to RSVP.
MOCHA AND MIDRASH. Rabbi Pamela
Gottfried offers a lively look at biblical characters and the way their stories affect our
lives. The class meets Wednesday mornings at
Borders, The Avenue East Cobb, 4475
Roswell Rd., 9:45 a.m.-11:00 a.m., December
10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April
22, and May 13. Classes are $10 per session,
and include all the coffee you can drink.
Mocha and Midrash is presented by Kol
Echad: Making Judaism Matter. For more
information, call 770-438-2926, or e-mail
[email protected].
PICTURE THIS. Celebrated photographer
Annie Leibovitz makes an appearance at the
MJCCA, Zaban Park, December 10, 7:30
p.m., to discuss her new book, Annie Leibovitz
at Work. Tickets are $25 for members, $35 for
the general public, and $65 for premier seats.
For more information, contact Amy Schaaf,
678-812-4005, or visit www.atlantajcc.org.
HAPPY CHANUKAH. Join the Augusta JCC
for the first night of Chanukah, December 21,
5:30 p.m. Bring your own menorah and candles, or contact the AJCC if you need a menorah. Enjoy latkes, salmon, sides, drinks, and
dessert, as well as gelt and dreidels for the
children. Admission for members is
$10/adults, $6/children 4-12, free for children
3 and under, and $30/family maximum; guests
are $12/adults, $8/ children 4-12, free for children 3 and under, and $45/family maximum.
Call 706-288-3636 for information or to
RSVP.
BRIGHT LIGHTS. Chabad Intown invites
everyone to Chanukah Menorah Lightings,
December 21, in Virginia-Highland, and
December 22, in Avondale Estates. Enjoy live
music, doughnuts, dreidels, Chanukah gelt,
face painting, and more. For information, contact Chabad Intown at 404-898-0434 or
[email protected],
or
visit
www.chabadintown.org.
HAVING A (MATZO) BALL. The Matzo
Ball, the ultimate Jewish singles event of the
year, has finally come to Atlanta. Join the fun
on December 24, 9:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m., at
Page 33
Tongue and Groove, 2420 Piedmont Road.
For
information,
e-mail
[email protected],
or
visit
www.matzoball.org.
ON THE BIG SCREEN. The 9th Annual
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) is
January 14-25. Films will be screened at
Lefont Sandy Springs, Regal Atlantic Station,
and Regal Medlock Crossing. Tickets go on
sale December 9. For more information, visit
www.ajff.org.
SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS. In collaboration with the AlzheimerÕs Association of
Georgia, JF&CS offers an AlzheimerÕs
Caregiver Support Group. It meets the 3rd
Thursday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m., at
JF&CS North Metro, 3159 Royal Drive, Suite
330, Alpharetta. Sessions are free; first-time
attendees should contact Mandy at 770-6779392
or
[email protected].
Individual counseling for caregivers of older
adults is also available at the JF&CS North
Metro office on Thursdays and Fridays.
Contact Barbara Rosenberg at 770-677-9302
for details.
JF&CS SUPPORT GROUPS. The Survivors
of Suicide Support Group meets the last
Monday of every month at JF&CS, 4549
Chamblee Dunwoody Road. Sessions are free,
but RSVPs are required; the meeting time will
given at RSVP. Contact Cantor Donna Faye
Marcus at [email protected] or 770677-9352.
Page 34
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Kosher Korner
AKC
Approved
NEW 2008 AKC FACILITIES
¥ OUFORYOU is a new kosher, dairy,
vegetarian restaurant at 1155 Hammond
Drive, Sandy Springs 30328. Call 770396-5533. Hrs: 7:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
¥ AliÕs Cookies features innovative cookie
ideas. Call 770-971-8566.
¥ Avenue K Catering, a division of
Saratoga Event Group, operates out of
Chabad of Cobb and does Glatt kosher
events. Contact David Covell at 770-5781110.
¥ Broadway Caf will soon be at its
expanded new location at the old
Pizza Palace, 2157 Briarcliff Road.
Call 404-329-0888.
¥ Fitness Feasts by Elegant
Essen Catering offers wholesome, flavorful meals delivered fresh to your home or
office. Call 770-451-3065, or
visit www.fitnessfeasts.com.
¥ SimoneÕs Bakery (formerly
Simcha Bakery) offers coffee and gift
baskets. They now carry fresh homemade
salads from the Goodfriend Company,
including B Red Potato Salad, The
ChazanÕs Gehake Herring (Isaac
GoodfriendÕs secret recipe), Salsa a Mano
(Mexican salsa), Southern Style Coleslaw,
Tuna Salad, and Egg Salad. Sandwiches
are coming soon. The salads are pareve,
but they are made in a meat facility. Call
404-321-5180,
or
visit
simonesbakery.com.
¥ The AKC office is now open from 9:00
a.m.-5:00 p.m. Call 404-634-4063.
KOSHER ALERTS
¥ The Cake Company, 2191-B Briarcliff
Road, Atlanta 30329, is in the process of
relocating and opening a non-kosher caf.
The AKC discontinued certification of the
Cake Company on November 1.
¥ Pita House, 4639D N. Shallowford,
Atlanta 30338, is no longer under AKC
supervision and is not continuing as a
kosher restaurant. This is not to be confused with Pita Palace at 1658 LaVista
Road, which remains under AKC supervision.
¥ Twelve-ounce bags of Kroger Value
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips with a sell-
BY Rabbi Reuven
Stein
by date of May 30, 2010 (UPC:
0111108650) may contain some milk
chocolate chips. Contact OK Kosher
Certification at 718-756-7500 if you have
one of these bags.
¥ ArdenÕs GardenÕs juices are not certified
kosher. Many juice products can be used
without a hechsher, but the ingredients must be checked first. One
of ArdenÕs juices, for example, contains royal jelly,
which is not kosher.
¥ The AKC does not recommend the KORC certification. Lettuce products
with this certification have
been found to have insects and
require additional washing and checking.
EVEN THOUGH IT SAYS ÒKOSHER,Ó
ITÕS NOT. Many stands, such as hot dog
stands found in stadiums and wholesale
clubs, advertise that all-kosher beef is
used in their hot dogs. This is very misleading.
Even if the product was originally
kosher, once it is cooked on shared equipment with non-kosher products, it is rendered non-kosher. In addition, the buns
and condiments may not be kosher. There
is also no guarantee that the brand advertised on the sign is the one being served.
Many of the commonly advertised
kosher brands are actually not kosher.
Some people think that such advertising is
prohibited by law, but unfortunately it is
not. The only true guarantee of a product
being kosher is a reliable certification.
Visit www.crcweb.org for a list of acceptable certifications.
Rabbi Reuven Stein is director of supervision for the Atlanta Kashruth
Commission, a non-profit organization
dedicated to promoting kashruth through
education, research, and supervision.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
MISH MASH
By Erin OÕShinskey
P
LAY BALL. For his bar mitzvah
project, Micah Benveniste organized
a baseball game to benefit L.E.A.D.
(Launch Expose Advise Direct), an Atlantabased organization that provides inner-city
teens with the resources to play baseball
and learn leadership skills. The countryÕs
first instructional baseball league for innercity teens, L.E.A.D. was started by former
Chicago Cubs outfielder C.J. Stewart.
Micah choose L.E.A.D., in part, because it
has no financial backing and to share his
love of baseball with those less fortunate.
The October 19 pick-up game was coached
by Stewart and took place at St. Francis
High School, in Alpharetta.
GIVING BACK. At the Amit ProgramÕs
September board meeting, Connor Samsky,
a 3rd-grader in the Garinim classroom,
donated over $100 from his own tzedakah
box. He decided to donate his money to
Amit because he said it helped him to be a
better student. Moved by ConnorÕs presentation, board members passed the box
around the room and made additional donations. The Amit Program provides services
to ensure that children, regardless of ability,
can maximize their potential and participation in all aspects of Jewish education. The
Garinim School of the Amit Program is a
SACS-accredited school.
Amit Program Executive Director
Linda Zimmerman, Connor Samsky,
and Michelle Simon
NEW CO-CHAIRS. The Georgia
Commission on the Holocaust has
announced its new Advisory Board cochairs. Herbert Kohn escaped Germany in
1939, served in Germany in the United
States Army, then worked in the home-construction industry. He is a past president of
Jewish Family Services and past co-chair
and current member of the Breman
Museum/A.J. Weinberg Holocaust CenterÕs
Speakers Council. Deborah Spector, president of Creative Solutions and Innovations,
chaired the DeKalb County Community
Relations Commission, served on the
Atlanta Regional Commission, was Atlanta
president of Women in Communications,
and serves on the board of the American
Jewish Committee, Atlanta chapter.
ANNE FRANK TOUR AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. The acclaimed
ÒAnne Frank in the WorldÓ and ÒWilliam A.
Scott III, Witness to the HolocaustÓ exhibitions continue Tuesdays-Saturdays at the
historic courthouse on the square in downtown Decatur. Free docent-led tours for
social and community groups are available
with advance reservations. In addition, volunteers are being sought for greeter or
docent positions; training and free parking
are provided, and a four-hour-per-month
commitment is required. For information
on tours or volunteering, call Sandra Craine
or Frances Little at 404-370-3056.
BROTHER HELPING BROTHERS.
Bruce H. Weinstein, CLU, has been elected
to the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation Board of
Directors. During his first year out of college, Weinstein (Psi, Alabama Õ70) accepted a year-long assignment with the national
fraternity as a field secretary, traveling to
chapters around the country. He then
moved to Atlanta, where he began a career
in the financial-services industry. His company, Professional Planning Services, specializes in estate, retirement, and legacy
planning and is an affiliate of
AXA/Equitable Financial, which honored
him as National Man of the Year in 20062007.
BUCKHEAD PLAZA SHOE SERVICE
Tradition, Quality & Craftsmanship
Shoe repair by skilled artisans
One Buckhead Plaza
3060 Peachtree Road, NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
Awarded In The Spotlight,
Best of Citysearch, 2008
404-266-8727
DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD. Jewish Family
& Career Services is seeking volunteers for
several programs. Meals on Wheels needs
drivers to deliver meals to the Jewish Tower
on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and back-up
drivers for Midtown, Buckhead, and
Briarcliff routes. The Ben Massell Dental
Clinic needs weekday front desk volunteers
to help with reception and administrative
duties. PACT (Partnering Active Citizens
Together) is seeking individuals to spend
time
with
Zimmerman-Horowitz
Independent Living Program participants.
For information on these and other opportunities, contact Volunteer Coordinator
Denise Deitchman at [email protected].
TASTE OF ATLANTA 2008. Aaron
Becker, owner of Bhojanic, is preparing some of his famous North Indian
fare. Bhojanic serves award-winning fusion, home-style Indian cuisine, and is located in Decatur at
1363 Clairmont Road, 404-633-9233.
Citysearch, Creative Loafing and
The Sunday Paper have named
Bhojanic ÒBest Indian RestaurantÓ in
Atlanta. Entertainment is featured
every Wednesday and Friday nights.
Page 39
Page 40
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Shaw, Peyton Coolik, Greg Berman (back
to camera), and Ilan Bagel (back to camera)
By Belle Klavonsky
programs to fit each childÕs needs. Pictured:
4th grader Matthew Margow
GOOD SPORTS. GHAÕs soccer teams,
coached by Bob Meyer, did wonderfully
this season. The A Team was undefeated
during the regular season with a 6-win, 1-tie
record. They lost to Epstein in the finals in
an incredible effort. The B Team ended up
with a 4-win, 1-loss, 1-tie record and took
2nd place. Both teams grew as a unit and
developed in all aspects on and off the field.
THINKING THROUGH SCIENCE.
Greenfield Hebrew Academy is part of a
pilot science program developed by
Georgia Institute of Technology, the
University of Michigan, and Northwestern
University researchers. The cutting-edge
curriculum provides a foundation in reasoning skills, science content, and science
processes that ready the students for more
advanced science, as well as help them connect science to their everyday lives. In the
Project-Based Inquiry Method, teachers
present students with opportunities to
explore questions and build their own
understanding of content. Through Inquiry
Learning, students learn the science content
deeply. Pictured: 7th-grader Matthew Stark
with teacher Debra Tenenbaum
LARSON MATH. GHA 3rd-8th graders are
using an enriching math program called
Larson Math. Teachers use this computerbased program to reinforce, extend, and
assess student learning. The program is
designed to ensure that students master and
apply math skills and problem-solving
strategies. The interactive program allows
students to work through a variety of skill
building and problem presentations and
understand mathÕs real-life applications.
Teachers can also tailor the instructional
GHA ON STAGE. A cast of GHA 7th-and
8th-graders, alumni, faculty, and parents
(pictured) put on a fantastic performance
September 23, called Atonement. Audience
members said that this meaningful production inspired them just in time for the High
Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur. More than 200 people were in
attendance.
CREATING
INCLUSIVE
CLASSROOMS. GHA is now using the
Developmental Designs approach to teaching. Integrating the teaching of social and
academic skills throughout the day, this
approach fosters classroom communities in
which students are engaged in learning and
feel included and safe. Students develop
social skills, take responsibility for their
environment, and learn to solve social and
academic problems. Pictured: teacher Stella
Gordon (far left) with 7th-graders Joshua
Weissmann, Benjamin Valenta, Rachel
Freeman, Carly Berlin, Sarah Katz, Noam
Gal, Rachel Topper, Sophia Wilder, Joshua
A PEACEFUL PLACE TO LEARN. On
September 12, friends and family came to
The Epstein School to attend a dedication
ceremony for LeahÕs Pond, created in loving memory of Laura Rosenthal (zÓl), Class
of 2003. LeahÕs Pond is the first step in the
creation of a biblical garden, where students
will learn about their biblical past, study
science, and simply enjoy the environment.
At the dedication, friends and Class of 2003
members spoke as tears filled their eyes.
Pictured: (from left) LauraÕs brother Ben
Rosenthal, grandparents Julius and Beverly
Rosenthal, mother Anne Rosenthal, father
David Rosenthal, and brother Nate
Rosenthal
REMEMBERING LAURA. At the dedication of LeahÕs Pond, Laura RosenthalÕs
father, David Rosenthal, made a moving
statement, saying that the last place he
wanted to be was at a ceremony in memory
of his daughter, but that he also realized that
Epstein was the only place it should be. At
the end of the dedication ceremony, goldfish were released into the pond. Beverly
Witkin, Elyse Shaw, Sharon Levison, and
their committee worked selflessly to build
this meaningful memorial. Pictured: David
Rosenthal releasing goldfish into LeahÕs
Pond
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HATE. After
The Epstein School was confronted by a
hateful act of vandalismÑspray-painted
swastikas near the schoolÑhundreds of
heartfelt letters poured in from all over
Georgia, from children of all faiths. The
messages overwhelmingly expressed deep
sadness over the incident but also indicated
that it was being used as an opportunity for
learning and discussion. On September 17,
Bill Nigut, regional director of the AntiDefamation League, delivered more letters
from Atlanta-area students, and Donna
Lowry of 11-Alive News came to the
school to interview Mr. Nigut and students.
Pictured: Donna Lowry and Epstein 7thgraders
LETTERS TO AFGHANISTAN. Epstein
3rd-graders in Jennifer SobolÕs and Jennifer
HochmanÕs class recently wrote letters to
American soldiers stationed in Afghanistan,
to provide encouragement and express their
gratitude to the soldiers for their efforts in
defending freedom and democracy. These
particular soldiers were brought to the
schoolÕs attention by 3rd-grader Jenna
FriedmanÕs family. After a discussion about
the soldiers and what they are doing in
Afghanistan, the children began their writing. Many letters included drawings of the
American flag and symbols of peace and
love. Pictured: (from left) Eli Meyers,
Jenna Friedman, and Stephanie Rinzler
EPSTEIN VISITS FOX 5 NEWS. The
Epstein SchoolÕs Broadcast Academy
recently visited Fox 5 News for an insiderÕs
view of the world of broadcast news.
Executive Producer of News Broadcasts
Mark Shavin gave the students a behindthe-scenes tour, enabling them to witness a
live broadcast being produced. In addition,
the ÒGood Morning EpsteinÓ crew recorded
its weekly broadcast from the Fox 5 studios,
with special guest appearances by Fox 5
News Anchors Russ Spencer and Lisa
Rayam. Pictured: Fox 5 News AtlantaÕs
Suchita Vadlamani with students Jamie
Shatz, Rachel Schwartz, Asher Berman,
Jack Schneider, Alon Fischer, and Adam
Shapiro
MATH MATTERS. Weber School Math
Department Chair Beth Hart (pictured) is
now serving on the Georgia Mathematics
Education Advisory Board, a consulting
group through which schools can have
input on GeorgiaÕs new math curriculum.
The boardÕs only
private school representative, Hart is
in a unique position to evaluate the
effectiveness of
the new curriculum
and
any
impact it might
have on Weber.
Currently, no private high schools in Atlanta, including
Weber, use the curriculum. Weber will continue to give rigorous placement tests to
incoming 9th-graders to ensure that they
are placed in appropriate math courses and
levels.
NATIONAL MERIT SEMI-FINALISTS.
Weber School students Rachel Capouya
(pictured)
and
Maxwell Hellmann
(pictured)
have
been
named
National
Merit
semifinalists. Over
1.5 million high
school
juniors
entered the 2009
National
Merit
Program by taking
the
2007
P S AT / N a t i o n a l
Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test.
Semifinalists, who
represent less than
1% of U.S. high
school
seniors,
include the highest
scoring entrants in
each state. To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic
record, be recommended by the high school
principal, earn high SAT scores, and submit
an application including an essay and information about leadership and community
activities.
ON THE ROAD TO COLLEGE. Weber
seniors are currently busy completing college applications, while juniors are beginning the college search process. To help
them with these efforts, Sharon Karpel,
WeberÕs college counselor, has arranged for
admissions representatives from several
universities to visit the Weber campus and
talk with interested students. Admissions
officers from Stanford, Brandeis, Emory,
Indiana, and Vanderbilt universities;
Georgia Tech; the University of Maryland;
and Davidson College have visited recently
or are scheduled to visit in the coming
weeks.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS. Jason
Baustin, Weber Class of 2002, is a producer for the Discovery Channel in
Washington, D.C.; he is a graduate of
American University. Andrea Cooper, Class
of 2004, is currently working in marketing
for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta; she is a
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
recent graduate of Washington University.
Brittany Tenenbaum, Class of 2004, is
working in Internet sales for WSB; she is a
recent graduate of Indiana University.
Page 41
they made. Pictured: Alon Rogow (left) and
Jacob Mott
new country or stay loyal to Britain.
Pictured: (from left) teacher Matthew
Barry, Jake Greenberg, and Chase
Rosenberg
OPERATION ISAIAH. Seventy Davis
Academy 2nd-graders toured the Atlanta
Community Food Bank (ACFB) on
September 16 and 17 to learn about hunger
in their own community. This is the 12th
year that Davis 2nd-graders have partnered
with the ACFB to help alleviate hunger by
collecting food items for Operation Isaiah
at school. This yearÕs goal was 4,500
pounds of food, approximately equivalent
to the studentsÕ collective weight. Pictured:
ACFB Hunger 101 Coordinator Lindy
Wood reads a story to Davis students that
explains how food banks work in a community.
TEA FOR FELICITY. Integrating the
social-studies curriculum and theater studies, Davis Academy students in Kimsey
SilverboardÕs 4th-grade class worked with
theater teacher Kendrick Phillips, celebrating the colonial days by putting on the play
Tea For Felicity. The students worked on
their speaking skills and stage presence in
preparation for an October 16 performance
for parents and classmates. Pictured: (from
left) Lindsay Lopp, Melanie Sandler, Abby
Shutzberg, and Sophie Stepakoff
A SWEET SUKKOT. Davis Academy
Mechina (five-year-old, pre-K) students
enjoy lunch inside the classroom Sukkah
HONORING THE TORAH. The morning
of Monday, October 20, was a joyous time
for the entire Davis Academy. Two Torah
scrolls were unrolled all the way around the
gym and held by Middle School students.
From one Torah, the last portion was read;
from the second scroll, the beginning was
read, starting anew. Lower School students
inspired everyone with songs. Pictured:
(from left) Shayna Lopp, Elana Eisenberg,
Jenna Perlman, Dana Levey, Marissa
Rubin, and Nicola Ludwig
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. The calendar may have read October 7, 2008, but 8thgrade Davis Academy students were reliving the year 1775 with a re-enactment of the
Second Continental Congress. Students
made social studies come alive by dressing
as delegates and debating whether to form a
ALL ABOARD! Davis Academy 6th-grade
students journeyed to points South, including the Okefenokee Swamp and St.
Augustine, Florida, on their three-day class
trip in September. The trip integrated science and social studies curricula. Pictured:
(from left) Hannah Young, Breanna West,
Zoey Weissman, Alison Shutzberg, Dani
Kuly, and Jordan Horwitz enjoy a boat trip
to Cumberland Island.
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 42
BUSINESS BITS
By Marsha Leibowitz
K
EEPING US SAFE. Professor of
Criminal Justice and Distinguished
Chair of Public Safety Partnerships
Robert Friedmann, Ph.D., received the 2008
GovernorÕs Public Safety Award (GPSA) for
his contributions to the profession. Through
the Georgia International Law Enforcement
Exchange (GILEE), Friedmann has provided
workshops, training sessions, and intensive
hands-on education in anti-terrorism strate-
Dr. Robert Friedmann
earned a law degree from Yale Law School
and a bachelorÕs degree in history from Yale
College. He lives in Sandy Springs with his
family and is a member of Congregation Beth
Shalom.
gies to over 490 top law-enforcement officials. The annual GPSA program began in
1998 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and commitment of GeorgiaÕs
public safety community.
PARADIES IN WINNIPEG. The Winnipeg
Airports Authority has selected The Paradies
Shops and SSP Canada to lease, develop, and
operate concessions for the new air terminal
under construction at Winnipeg James
Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
The Paradies Shops will operate the retail program, and SSP will operate the food and beverage program. Named ÒBest Airport
RetailerÓ for the past 13 consecutive years by
Airport Revenue News, and ÒRetailer with the
Highest Regard for Customer ServiceÓ for 12
years, The Paradies Shops operates more than
450 stores in over 70 airports across the
United States and Canada.
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESSES. Matthew
A. Lieberman has joined Multiple Benefit
Services Inc., a group benefits consulting
firm. In his new role, Lieberman will work
with businesses across the country to provide
quality, comprehensive benefit solutions for
employees at the best value. Lieberman previously headed Greenfield Hebrew Academy
and continues to serve as a senior advisor to
his father, Senator Joe Lieberman. Lieberman
and Boca Raton, Florida, Jackie studied fashion
merchandising
at
Miami-Dade
Community College. She belongs to the
Cherokee Association of Realtors, the
Georgia Association of Realtors, and the
National Association of Realtors.
Matthew A. Lieberman
Jackie Harman
HARMAN AT PRUDENTIAL. Jackie
Harman has joined the Prudential Georgia
Realty sales team. She is based out of the
Towne Lake office, 220 Cinema View Drive,
Woodstock. Formerly with RE/MAX
Communities, Harman has 10 years of real
estate experience. An East Cobb resident for
the last 17 years, she specializes in residential
real estate, condos, townhomes, and first-time
homebuyers in the Cobb and Cherokee
County regions. Originally from New Orleans
ONE MORE MAKES IT EVEN WORTHMORE. Worthmore Jewelers has just added a
new notch in its belt of accolades. Harris
Botnick, owner, has just learned that the store
has been named as ÒBest in AtlantaÓ by a
fourth publication. For 2008, Worthmore is
listed by Creative Loafing, The Sunday Paper,
Southern Voice, and now INsite in this category. Congratulations, Worthmore! There must
be something in a name.
Atlanta’s Intown Reform Synagogue
Monday, December 1 ¥ 7:00 pm
From Generation to Generation:
A Conversation with Two Generations
of Temple Rabbis
Is Conscience Dying?
Tough Jewish Choices in TodayÕs World
Join Rabbi Alvin Sugarman and
Rabbi Peter Berg for a
discussion on the future of social justice.
This program will be completed in time for the
92nd Street Y Live Broadcast
&
92nd Street Y Live Broadcast
Radical Islam and the Nuclear Bomb:
Understanding Contemporary
Genocidal Anti-Semitism
Coffee & Sweets ¥ 8:00 pm
Broadcast ¥ 8:15 pm
Dr. Charles Small & Brett Stephens
The Temple, the only synagogue in Atlanta with
access to this satellite program,
is proud to host the 92nd Street Y broadcasts
for our community
How toÉ.A Guide to the Jewish Holidays
Chanukah — with Rabbi Lapidus
Sunday, December 7¥ 9:30 am
WerenÕt raised Jewish but youÕre expected to put
on a Chanukah celebration that canÕt be beat?
Or perhaps youÕve always been Jewish but want to
fill in some of the rituals? This class is the answer.
Men’s Club
Sunday, December 14 • 10:00 am
Dave Cohen, the longtime basketball voice of
Ga. State, will be discussing basketball and his
new book on Jewish baseball players
Chanukah Festival
Sunday, December 7 • 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Something for Everyone!
Personalized Gifts • Jewelry
American Girl Doll Clothes
Home accessories • Belts
Purses & lots more
Food & Dessert
Kids Zone – Games & More Games
Face painting, tattoos, Fish pond,
“Toss the latke”
3 and under from 10:30 – Noon
Religious School Students
from Noon – 1:00 pm
$5/ticket if purchased by December 1
Lunch and Learn
The Extraordinary Relationship Between
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln
with the Jewish Community
Instructor: Rabbi Peter Berg
Wednesdays, January 14, 21 & 28 • Noon
Martin Luther King, Jr. Shabbat
Friday, January 16, 2008
Introduction to Judaism 101
Tuesdays • 7:30 pm
This class is an overview of Jewish living.
Topics covered include holidays, history, God,
and other themes of basic Judaism.
An 18-week class beginning in January
For Reservations & Costs Call 404-873-1731
Join
Our
Family
1589 Peachtree Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-873-1731
www.the-temple.org
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Page 43
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 45
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
Page 47
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THE JEWISH GEORGIAN
May your home be filled
with the light and
with happy memories
at Chanukah.
Your friends at Kroger

JGA SEPT-OCT 08 - The Jewish Georgian

Transcription

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