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DIVERSE TECH
Our back-to-school section features Davis tech, Epstein tzedakah, an AJA teacher’s travels, day school sports, the North Springs Jewish club, Scouts, youth groups, homework tips and more. Pages 15-27
Atlanta VOL. XC NO. 28
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Eizenstat Speaker Will Be Biden
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The head of Amdocs Nazareth talks about bringing his fellow Israeli Arabs into the high-tech fold. Page 13
SHOAH INSIGHT
On Tisha B’Av, Emory professor Deborah Lipstadt details America’s changing views on the Holocaust from 1945 to 1978. Page 3
imaginations go to explore. Georgia Aquarium is a not-for-profit organization, inspiring awareness and conservation of aquatic animals.
JULY 31, 2015 | 15 AV, 5775
Reform Community Combines
V
ice President Joe Biden will speak at Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Sept. 3, in the 27th Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Annual Lecture. The vice president’s topic will be “Challenges Facing the U.S. and the World in the 21st Century” when he speaks at the free, public event. The 72-year-old was first elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware in 1972 when he was 29 and was re-elected six times before resigning to serve as vice president in 2009. Biden, who first flirted with a run for president in 1988, has not ruled out a 2016 Democratic presidential campaign. One previous Eizenstat Lecture speaker is in the 2016 race: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Other Eizenstat lecturers have included former U.S. presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton; former vice president, Al Gore; former Israeli prime ministers, Shimon Peres and Ehud Olmert; two other former secretaries of state, Henry Kissinger and Madeleine Albright; and Supreme Court justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Last year’s speaker was New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. ■
where
A
Tribe of Many Colors
Photo by Logan C. Ritchie
Norvin Bey Israel, a Jewish resident of Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood who has worked and studied with ModernTribe owner Jennie Rivlin Roberts since being drawn to her store by the sight of Hebrew, is one of the presenters at the free Twelve Tribes diversity event Sunday, Aug. 2, at the store. Story, Page 6
FRONT-LINE FIGHT
A Congregation Etz Chaim member explains what happened when a synagogue group arrived in Vienna to find the Iran deal near. Page 12
INSIDE
Calendar 2 Education 15 Candle Lighting
2 Simchas 28
Israel 9 Obituaries 29 Opinion 10 Crossword 30 Business 13 Marketplace 31 Arts 14 Sports 32
ll of the Atlanta-area Reform congregations, along with the Reform movement’s Davis Academy and Camp Coleman, are coming together July 31, for a communal celebration of Shabbat at Temple Sinai. The service will include the community’s welcome for new Reform clergy in the Atlanta area: • Rabbi Spike Anderson of Temple Emanu-El. • Rabbi David Katz, the interim spiritual leader of Congregation Dor Tamid. • Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner of Temple Beth Tikvah. • Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, who has been the rabbi in residence with Be’chol Lashon in San Francisco and brought her mission to town with husband, David, the new head of school at the Epstein School. • Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer of Temple Sinai. The full range of clergy from the area’s nine Reform congregations will participate in the service, and all of the synagogues other than Sinai will be dark for the night in what has become an annual event. The cantors will use new and old tunes to highlight the spirit of the Reform movement, and rabbis will take turns providing brief thoughts. The evening will begin with a Kabbalat Panim (wine and cheese reception) at 5:30. The Shabbat service will start at 6:30 and will be followed by a festive oneg. Temple Sinai is at 5645 Dupree Drive in Sandy Springs. ■
CALENDAR
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CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES
Parshah Va’etchanan Friday, July 31, light candles at 8:21 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, Shabbat ends at 9:19 p.m. Parshah Eikev Friday, Aug. 7, light candles at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, Shabbat ends at 9:12 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 30
Time for love. Young Jewish Professionals Midtown celebrates the Tu B’Av, the Jewish Valentine’s Day, with the White Party at the Trolley Barn, 963 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta, at 8 p.m. Tickets at the door are $40; www.yjpmidtownatlanta.com/events/whiteparty.
FRIDAY, JULY 31
Reform community Shabbat. The Atlanta Reform congregations hold their annual joint Shabbat service at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs.
SUNDAY, AUG. 2
Jewish diversity celebration. ModernTribe, 171 Auburn Ave., Suite G, downtown Atlanta, hosts “Twelve Tribes: Celebrating Jews of All Colors” from 1 to 4 p.m. with food, art, music, and learning led by Norvin Bey Israel and Rabbi Efraim Davidson. Free; www. moderntribe.com or www.facebook. com/events/488908497945244.
MONDAY, AUG. 3
Leo Frank lecture. Former Breman archivist Sandy Berman talks about the Frank lynching a century later in the first of a two-part lecture series delivered at Georgia State University and televised by Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters at 9:30 a.m. Part 2 will be shown Monday, Aug. 10, at 9:30 a.m. For additional showings, visit www.aibtv.com.
THURSDAY, AUG. 6
FRIDAY, AUG. 7
Dive into Shabbat. The Marcus Jewish Community Center invites the community to celebrate the approach of Shabbat from 5 to 7 p.m. at the outdoor pool at 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.atlantajcc.org/pldb-live/26037 or 678-812-4161.
SUNDAY, AUG. 9
Back-to-shul cookout. Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Morningside, welcomes interim Rabbi Melvin Sirner to Atlanta and helps kick off the school year with food, Israeli dancing and Atlanta Jewish Music Festival music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free; RSVP by Aug. 3 to 404-873-1743.
THURSDAY, AUG. 13
Love story. Author Jennifer Weiner discusses her novel “Who Do You Love” with Holly Firfer at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $24 for JCC members, $29 for nonmembers, and include a signed book and a glass of wine; www.atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4002. Leo Frank discussion. Steve Oney, author of “And the Dead Shall Rise,” and Georgia Historical Society senior historian Stan Deaton discuss “The Ghosts of Leo Frank” at 8 p.m. at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 North Park Square, Marietta. Free; georgiahistory.com.
FRIDAY, AUG. 14
A spoonful of sugar. The musical “Mary Poppins” opens at 8 p.m. at the Marcus Jewish Community Center’s Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, and runs through Aug. 16 for seven performances. Tickets are $15 to $28; www.atlantajcc.org/boxoffice or 678-812-4002.
Dive into Shabbat. The Marcus JCC, Congregations Shearith Israel and Bet Haverim, Jewish Kids Groups, and PJ Library invite the community to celebrate Shabbat from 5 to 7 p.m. at the outdoor pool at the Emory Student Activity & Academic Center, 1946 Starvine Way, Atlanta. Free; www.atlantajcc.org/ pldb-live/26038 or 678-812-4161.
FIDF talk. George Birnbaum speaks to the Friends of the IDF Young Leadership group about the challenges of supporting Israel at 7 p.m. at Hudson Grille, 942 Peachtree St., Midtown. Admission, including one drink and free parking, is $18. RSVP required; www. fidf.org/birnbaum806 or 678-250-9027.
Shabbat in the park. Congregation Etz Chaim holds its annual musical Shabbat service, starting with fun and games at 5:30 p.m. and a grilled meal at 6:15 in East Cobb Park. Admission is $5 per person or $20 per family; RSVP at www.etzchaim.net/SITP by Aug. 10.
Send items for the calendar to submissions@atljewishtimes.com.
LOCAL NEWS
Lipstadt Traces Changes In Holocaust Views By Benjamin Kweskin
publications, TV shows and movies indirectly dealt with the Holocaust as a or many Jews, June 11, 1967, rep- Jewish tragedy, and the messages were resented the real end of the Holo- intended to reach a wider, non-Jewish caust, Deborah Lipstadt said. The audience with the hope of universalizIsraeli victory in the Six-Day War was a ing the message and conveying the sufwatershed not only for Israel, but also fering while remaining aligned with contemporary American society. for Diaspora Jewry. “Exodus” was published in 1958, Many Jews had feared that Israel was politically and militarily weak and and the movie came out in 1960. That would cease to exist if the Arab armies work clearly linked the Holocaust and the state of Israel, a danwon the war, but instead gerous connection to fosIsrael claimed a quick ter, Lipstadt said. victory and captured exShe cited several intensive territory, includfluential movies, plays ing the remaining parts and books written by Jewof Jerusalem. ish people in the 1950s and Right before the early 1960s that started mournful commemorato shift the conversation. tion of Tisha B’Av came Betty Friedan’s “The Femito a close Sunday, July 26, nist Mystique,” Sidney Young Israel of Toco Hills Lumet’s “Pawnbroker,” hosted the annual lecture Deborah Lipstadt Sylvia Plath’s “Holocaust given by Lipstadt, the Poems,” Arthur Miller’s well-known professor of modern Jewish and Holocaust studies “After the Fall” and Stanley Kubrick’s at Emory University who will soon be “Dr. Strangelove” used Jewish motifs, portrayed by Hillary Swank in a movie and within those iconic works were based on her book “History on Trial: metaphors and analogies regarding the My Day in Court With a Holocaust De- Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Political and societal changes were nier.” Titled “America After the Shoah happening in America during the 1960s 1945-1978: A Time for Talk or a Time and 1970s. Whereas 1950s America for Silence?” Lipstadt’s hour-long pre- yielded to McCarthyism and a unified sentation to about 70 people made the sense of Americanness, the next two case that the postwar discussion about decades were more culturally and eththe Holocaust was not black and white. nically self-aware because of the civil Lipstadt argued that the period of rights movement, women’s liberation, 1945 to 1965 was tenuous, given that Latino rights and so on. The 1960s, Lipstadt said, embraced the trauma and the social and political ramifications of the Holocaust “ethnic America.” The baby boomers were still fresh. She said there were were proud to be different and deno Holocaust studies departments or manded an America more reflective museums, and the media did not cover and inclusive of differences and idenwhat happened nearly as much as to- tities. The Jewish community became day. People did not even know what to stronger, louder, prouder and increascall it: “Holocaust” was used sparingly, ingly defiant of its detractors, especialand “a holocaust” was used in place of ly given that Soviet Jewry was suffering the current “the Holocaust.” Even sur- behind the Iron Curtain. Lipstadt concluded that in many vivors did not have a term to describe respects, the Holocaust has become a what had happened to them. Popular media only tangentially perennial symbol of human suffering touched on the Holocaust and anti- and a way to elicit action on contempoSemitism. “Gentlemen’s Agreement” rary genocides and massacres. Asked about the ramifications for in 1947 was one of the first Hollywood movies to even vaguely reference the Holocaust education and awareness, Shoah, and several New York Times Lipstadt said it is much better to be best sellers that year dealt with anti- aware of and educated about the HoSemitism and the Holocaust. In 1950 locaust, but there is a real danger of “The Diary of Anne Frank” became overusing the term, as PETA and some known to the world, and the Broadway pro-life advocates reference the Holocaust for political ends, thus draining play premiered a few years later. Lipstadt said the diary and related the Holocaust of its power. ■
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LOCAL NEWS
Remember When 10 Years Ago July 29, 2005 ■ Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue will make his first trip to Israel from Nov. 4 to 11. “We expect this mission will generate new economic activity in Georgia and enhance our state’s positions as one of Israel’s primary business centers in North America,” said Perdue, who will take business leaders and officials from the Department of Economic Development with him. His venture will coincide with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s mission.
Sunday, August 9
10:00 am - 12:00 pm, Temple Sinai Temple Sinai – a dynamic congregation affiliated with the Reform movement – will host a Prospective Member Brunch on Sunday, August 9th.
If you or someone that you know is looking for a synagogue home, this family-friendly event is perfect for you! Join us and learn how you can become involved in our lifelong Jewish learning opportunities, warm community, and active participation in Jewish life. Our clergy, lay leaders and staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have, give tours of the building and provide you with information regarding membership.
Please RSVP to Simone Kallett, Member Services Manager at membership@templesinaiatlanta.org as soon as possible. If you know anyone else who might be interested in attending, please call the Temple Sinai office at 404.252.3073.
Our clergy & staff, not always dressed in character, look forward to meeting you at brunch!
25 Years Ago Aug. 3, 1990 ■ A Clayton County firebombing gutted the NAACP office July 24. Officials want to create a human relations council that would include 15 to 21 members with various racial and religious backgrounds. No one was injured in the attack on the NAACP, but the event marked the 18th racial incident in Clay-
■ Nancy and Gary Resman of Atlanta announce the birth of a son, Evan Jordan, on May 25, 1990. 50 Years Ago July 30, 1965 ■ Two more synagogue fires broke out in London on Saturday, the 21st and 22nd fires in London synagogues since last fall. The first broke out at the Ilford Synagogue, severely damaging the floor and woodwork; the synagogue also was vandalized with slogans such as “Heil Hitler!” A few hours later, a fire broke out in a synagogue on Lea Bridge Road, Clapton. Some synagogue rabbis have requested that Jewish young men form a self-defense corps. ■ Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Isaac Gershon of Atlanta announce the marriage of daughter Susan Gershon to Sidney Ralph Tourial, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph S. Tourial of Atlanta. The ceremony took place July 11 at Ahavath Achim Synagogue.
Atlanta History Center Film Screening and Conversation with Christian Delage Monday, August 24, 2015 J 7:00
pm
An evening with director Christian Delage, historian, curator of Filming the Camps - John Ford, Samuel Fuller, George Stevens: From Hollywood to Nuremberg exhibition, and filmmaker whose earlier credits include the documentary Nuremberg, The Nazis Facing Their Crimes.
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Admission is $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. Reservations required, call 404.814.4150 or visit online.
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5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30327
www.templesinaiatlanta.org
AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Lectures
Stevens and his crew filming in France, n.d. © Courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, CA
Prospective Member Brunch
■ Howard Sharfstein and Mary Francell-Sharfstein of Alpharetta celebrate the bat mitzvah ceremony of daughter Emily Sharfstein on May 28, 2005, at Temple Emanu-El.
ton County over the past year. Congregation B’nai Israel, present in Clayton, expects to have a representative involved in the HRC and thinks it can be an important presence on the council.
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LOCAL NEWS
A Store of Diversity
‘Moorish’ Jewish intern inspires ModernTribe event By Logan C. Ritchie lritchie@atljewishtimes.com
I
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
n the shadows of Georgia State University and the Connector, Auburn Avenue is a quiet street on a Tuesday morning. As I walk into ModernTribe, a fluffy pup named Sammy greets me with shop owner Jennie Rivlin Roberts. Minutes later enters 50-year-old Norvin Bey Israel, advocate and student of Judaism, with a backpack full of books. Israel’s face is soft and friendly. We make small talk about his job at the Marriott Marquis and the Sweet Auburn neighborhood in which he lives. ModernTribe, a one-stop shop for all things hip and Jewish, is in the center of this historically black neighborhood. Roberts’ online business experienced a boom during Thanksgivukkah in fall 2013. She could no longer house her staff and inventory in her Candler Park home, and ModernTribe had its first pop-up shop in Inman Park. After a short stint back home, Roberts set up the Sweet Auburn store a year ago. The three of us settle in. Israel is wearing tzitzit, an Ethiopian Lion of Judah pin on his black vest, a crisp white shirt and black pants. Some would call Israel black or African-American; he prefers “Moorish,” meaning that his people come from Africa and are descendants of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Israel recalls first meeting Roberts.
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Photo by Logan C. Ritchie
ModernTribe owner Jennie Rivlin Roberts and summer intern and Sweet Auburn neighbor Norvin Bey Israel debate, discuss and read about Judaism and lesser-known Jewish populations.
He was eating at Mangos Caribbean Restaurant across the street from ModernTribe. He and his friend recognized Hebrew on the sign. “I came into the store and told Jennie, ‘I’m Jewish!’ ” “It turned out he knows more Hebrew than I do,” Roberts said. “Norvin comes (at Judaism) from a different perspective. I don’t study gematria (Jewish numerology), but he is very passionate about it. I am learning a lot. He has motivated me to read about the diversity of Jewish people.” Roberts hired Israel as a summer
intern. They debate, discuss and read together about lesser-known Jewish populations. This dialogue has led to an event Roberts describes as righteous. Roberts said the idea was sparked by Israel’s dedication. “This is his passion. We don’t always agree. Norvin says everybody’s Jewish, but I don’t believe that’s true. It can’t be that all people are Jewish.” Such different perspectives could draw an eclectic audience to ModernTribe’s exploration of Judaism and race, “Twelve Tribes: Celebrating Jews of All Colors,” on Sunday, Aug. 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. “There is a lot to Judaism that people don’t know,” Roberts said. “There are a lot of African-American, African and dark-skinned people that have Jewish roots and don’t know it. If you’re interested in Judaism and want to learn about your roots, come in. We encourage studying; it is good for Jews.” What makes Israel an expert on the 12 Tribes? His passion cannot be denied; that heavy backpack contains books on Rastafarians, Egyptology, Be’chol Lashon (in every tongue), race, ethnic diversity and how all of those subjects relate to Judaism. Israel’s family tree spreads from the West Indies to Ethiopia to rural North Carolina to the boroughs of New York. His Ethiopian father and Moroccan mother met on a shidduch, a date arranged by an Orthodox matchmaker. His family kept kosher in Harlem. He attended Jewish study groups and synagogue on Saturday, then went to church on Sunday to fit in with the
neighborhood culture. “My mother always said two things,” he said with a smile. “Always remember you’re Jewish. I don’t care what you do or study, but always remember you’re Jewish. And, when you get in a bind, go back to your Jewish culture. Take refuge in it.” Israel studied Malcolm X (“more so than Martin Luther King”), Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism and Hinduism. In college he identified with the Jewish Student Union and Rastafarians but felt resistance from others. Disbelievers told Israel, “You’re drunk on that stuff.” He was labeled troublesome and zealous. As a self-proclaimed ambassador, Israel drowns out the noise. He wants to teach people to delve deeper into the past. “What are the symbols of the 12 Tribes? What does it mean for your vocation? Why are you a Christian? Maybe you’re a Jew,” he said. “People talk about putting together pieces of a puzzle. It’s not like that. It’s like putting back together a broken glass — some tiny parts are going to be missing. That’s what we need to figure out.” ■
A Colorful Celebration Previous ModernTribe events centered on Israeli goods and food. Owner Jennie Rivlin Roberts has hosted events featuring chocolate matzah, caramel apples and pickling. But “Twelve Tribes: Celebrating Jews of All Colors” will be something more. The event runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at the shop at 171 Auburn Ave., Suite G. It is free to all, and no RSVP is required. Roberts engaged the Jewish community and her Sweet Auburn neighbors to create the lineup. The event features: •
Paintings of the 12 Tribes by Sandy Springs artist Lynette Joel.
•
Communal art making by the Interact Art Museum of Atlanta.
•
Hip-hop music by Savannah’s Prodezra Beats (Reuben Formey).
•
Talks by Norvin Bey Israel about the lore of the 12 Tribes and their ancient association with constellations, the Hebrew calendar and vocations and by Rabbi Efraim Davidson about the ties among Judaism, agriculture and the land.
•
Food from neighboring Mangos Caribbean Restaurant.
LOCAL NEWS
Out of Africa
Counselors from Uganda enjoy experience, inclusion at Coleman By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
ing Judaism. He embraced the religion, and a Jewish community was born. Community members later went ara Nabagalaa and Shoshana through the formal steps of conversion Nambi aren’t your typical Camp by a beit din (Jewish court), but NabagaColeman counselors. laa said they saw that process as more Nabagalaa, 24, is working with of an affirmation than a conversion be10-year-olds in Coleman’s second ses- cause they were already Jewish. sion after having The Aba8- and 9-yearyudaya Jews olds in the first went through four weeks. She tough times in soon will graduthe 1970s when ate from law Idi Amin was in school on her power because way to a career he outlawed as a human Judaism. Much rights lawyer like Jews living after growing Roman Photo by Michael Jacobs under up on a family Sara Nabagalaa and Shoshana Nambi are enjoying occupation cenfarm, where her their first summer in the North Georgia mountains. turies earlier, father grew corn the Ugandan and beans and raised livestock. Jews had to worship in caves and take Nambi, 26, who has been friends other steps to hide their Judaism. with Nabagalaa most of her life, Today, Nabagalaa and Nambi said, worked with the 10-year-olds in the their community is thriving while pracfirst session and has 11-year-olds this ticing Conservative Judaism. A new session. She was raised by her grand- synagogue is being built, and the two parents on a coffee farm and works as Jewish day schools are strong enough an HIV counselor. to draw non-Jewish families. “They are doing a great job,” said The two women have been to the their boss for the summer, Coleman Di- United States before, including a USY rector Bobby Harris. convention in 2009, but they owe their Their ages and professions alone summer in Georgia to the recommenwould set them apart from most camp dation of a friend who worked at a counselors, but they also are providing camp in Connecticut last summer. Harcampers and co-workers a glimpse into riet Bograd, the president of Kulanu, a one of the world’s lesser-known Jewish nonprofit organization that supports groups: the Abayudaya community in scattered Jewish groups around the Uganda. world, connected Nabagalaa and NamThe two women are among 1,500 bi with Harris. to 2,000 Jews who live in rural villages “I have been very happy being with and small towns. Their hometown is the children,” said Nabagalaa. “They Mbale. give you all the love and attention.” Unlike the Jewish community to Nambi agreed about the pleasure the northeast in Ethiopia, the Abayu- of working with children. “They ask daya (“People of Judah”) community me questions, and they always want knows it does not descend from one to know. We’re very comfortable with of the lost tribes of Israel. Instead, the each other.” Ugandan Jews’ story goes back a little Coleman has been special for more than 100 years. them in part because of the opportuA tribal leader, Semei Kakungulu, nity to see so many Jews of different was working with the British colonial backgrounds in one place, and that exauthorities and began reading the ample of inclusion is important, NabaBible. Nabagalaa said he didn’t have galaa said. much use for the New Testament, but “People don’t care whatever you he found the Old Testament appealing are. They just include everybody. That and began to live according to its te- is something I would like to take back,” nets, including converting 3,000 men she said, noting that women and LGBT through circumcision. people face discrimination in Uganda. Eventually, a Jewish merchant inBoth women hope to return to formed Kakungulu that he was practic- Coleman next summer. ■
S
100th Anniversary, Leo Frank Exoneration Memorial Service Sunday, August 16, 2 pm (Place TBA) Rabbi Steven Lebow Founder and Chair
Timothy and Joanne Cole Associate Chairs
Guests: Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court, Hugh S.Thompson (Retired) Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court, Norman Fletcher (Retired) Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court, Leah Sears Senior Assistant Attorney General of Georgia, Van Pearlberg Chief Judge, Cobb Superior Court, J. Stephen Schuster Chair, Cobb Commission, Tim Lee State Representative, Michael Smith Counsel, Anti-Defamation League, Dale Schwartz And many, many others...
“In this ‘Newer South’, in Marietta, we are prepared to remember a difficult past in order to affirm a better future...”
Rabbi Steven Lebow Ravlebow@aol.com Face Book: Rabbi Lebow: “Leo Frank: Falsely Accused, Wrongly Convicted...”
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Rabbi Steven Lebow
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LOCAL NEWS
Booking Teamwork
Summer Smiles
Participants in the Jewish Family & Career Services TeamWORKS program recently placed dedication labels into the 3,500 new Mishkan HaNefesh High Holiday prayer books donated to Temple Sinai by the children and grandchildren of Eva and George Stern. ■
Photos by Jon Marks habad of Cobb wrapped up four weeks of its Camp Gan Israel on Friday, July 24. The day camp drew 130 kids per week and a total of 470 kids over the four weekly sessions.
C
Top down: Ariana Williams is happy with Gan Israel. Natanya Naturman (left) provides guidance to Chana Wolf. Yisroel Silverman, son of Chabad of Cobb Rabbi Ephraim Silverman, and Liam Shemesh strike a pose. Campers have good, clean fun at a kiddie carwash. Campers in one bunk take a break.
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ISRAEL
Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home New anti-inflammatory protein. Two researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and one from the University of Colorado have engineered an anti-inflammatory protein that activates only when it finds inflammation. Current treatments suppress the immune system and risk infections. Saving children in Tanzania. A delegation of 20 doctors, nurses and medical technicians from Israel’s Save a Child’s Heart has performed lifesaving heart surgery on more than 10 children in Tanzania and examined hundreds more with congenital heart defects. Processing power of 150,000. Some 150,000 members of the IBM World Community Grid donated processing power to help researchers at Tel Aviv University figure out how water interacts with nanotubes. The results could help lower the cost of water purification and develop better ways of delivering medicines into the bloodstream. Ethiopian-born professor. Anbessa Teferra, an expert in Semitic linguistics at Tel Aviv University, is the first Ethiopian Israeli to be appointed a senior lecturer at an Israeli university. Teferra immigrated to Israel in 1990 after completing his master’s degree in Ethiopia.
New wastewater recycling system. MIGAL Galilee Research Institute and Israel Chemicals have completed a yearlong pilot of a method to help lower wastewater pollution levels so that the water can be reused for irrigation. Cannabis in Israeli pharmacies. Medical marijuana will be prescribed and supervised like other medications classified as narcotics, said Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who announced Monday, July 27, that pharmacies will be stocked with medical marijuana to ease the bureaucratic process. Catching online thieves. LogDog is an Israeli-developed app that checks logins across several platforms and devices to catch hackers who try to log in to secure online accounts with stolen user names and passwords. The Tel Aviv-based startup has raised $3.5 million to enhance its product. Microsoft’s 10th. Microsoft is acquiring startup Adallom, based in Tel Aviv and Palo Alto, Calif., for about $320 million, Microsoft’s 10th and most expensive Israeli purchase. Adallom will
become Microsoft’s cybersecurity development headquarters in Israel. Booming trade. British trade with Israel reached a record £5.1 billion last year; the United Kingdom is Israel’s No. 2 trading partner, after the United States. The reasons for the growing
trade include innovative Israeli products, British-Israeli partnerships, and the quality and year-round availability of Israeli produce. Compiled courtesy of verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com, israel21c.org and other news sources.
Israel Photo of the Week
IDF’s Young Friends
Photo by Oren Cohen
Dan Haskell (right), the national young leadership director of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, meets with Col. Yair, the commander of the IDS’s 401st Armor Brigade, during the FIDF Young Leadership Mission to Israel from July 2 to 11. The FIDF leaders heard from Gaza Division infantry soldiers, toured the Ashdod naval base and visited historic sites.
Israel third in innovation. Israel ranked third on the World Economic Forum’s annual Global Competitiveness Report, which evaluates 144 of the world’s economies on various measures of innovation. The measures include the quality of scientific research institutions and spending on research and development.
A better tractor. An Israeli team from the Technion won two categories of the International Quarter-Scale Tractor Student Design Competition, the world’s biggest engineering and design contest for farm vehicles. Said the judges of the Technion team: “Never has a team in its first appearance in the competition shown such professionalism and originality.”
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Keeping autistic kids safe. The Israeli tracker device AngelSense is attached to the clothing of children who are at risk of wandering and contains a GPS chip, cellular network connection, camera and microphone. Parents using the device can receive notifications on their smartphones telling them exactly where their children are at any time.
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OPINION
Our View
Mounting Trouble
T
he observance of Tisha B’Av, the day that marks the destruction of both Temples, brought new reminders about how far Jerusalem is from peace. Riots broke out on the Temple Mount on Sunday, July 26. Maybe they were sparked by an Israeli woman — one woman — being filmed three days earlier saying that the Prophet Muhammad was a pig. Maybe they were sparked by a visit by hundreds of Jews, including Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel, to the Temple Mount — just visiting, not demonstrating or, horror of horrors, praying. But most likely the Palestinian rioters were just looking for an excuse to disrupt a Jewish day of mourning by reasserting their claims to the holiest of grounds. After all, they had a stockpile of Molotov cocktails, firecrackers and other makeshift weapons inside Al-Aqsa Mosque, and they were going to use them, either against the security forces that rushed to quell the violence or against the worshippers below at the foot of the Western Wall. To add insult to injury, an Arab member of the Knesset, Masud Ganaim, then went on Israeli radio to criticize the Jewish provocations and deny that any Jewish Temple ever existed on the mount, despite ample archaeological and documentary evidence. It wasn’t the first time and won’t be the last time that an Arab leader who knows better has chosen to keep trouble simmering by denying the history of the Temple Mount, a site Israel allows the Muslim Waqf to control. Muslims have free access to worship
as they please, while Jews who ascend to the top are barred by security forces from whispering the briefest prayer. The Chief Rabbinate has ruled since 1921 that Jews should not walk atop the Temple Mount for fear of stepping into an area that requires unattainable ritual purity. Those who choose to ignore that ruling have the support of court decisions if they then decide to pray on the Temple Mount, but security forces have consistently stopped non-Muslim prayers to avoid Arab rioting. As we saw yet again on Tisha B’Av, the slightest perceived provocation is
used as an excuse for such riots — the Second Intifada, for example, began when Ariel Sharon dared to visit the Temple Mount in September 2000 — with the result that Jews are treated as second-class citizens on our holiest site. (We’re not sure how this particular unequal treatment fits into the slanderous claims of Israeli apartheid.) Critics love to blame Israel for the lack of progress toward a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians, and many Israeli governments have made mistakes in the 67 years since gaining independence, 48 years since uniting Jerusalem, 36 years since making peace
with Egypt and 22 years since signing the Oslo Accords with Yasser Arafat. But the fundamental barrier to peace remains the widespread denial of reality among the Palestinian leadership — the reality that the Jewish people have continuously lived and worshipped in the land of Israel for more than 3,000 years and the reality that the nation of Israel exists today and is not going away. A site universally seen as holy ought to be the easiest place to establish peaceful coexistence. That it remains a source of strife just adds to the sorrows for which we mourn each Tisha B’Av. ■
HA&W welcomes
Davi Kutner, CFP
®
as Director of HA&W Wealth Management, LLC
Atlantans Make Chicago List
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Last year the AJT recognized 40 Under 40 in Jewish Atlanta. We didn’t repeat the list this summer, but we note with pride that two native Atlantans, 33-year-olds Avi Levine and David Perkel, have earned places on Chicago’s equivalent 36 Under 36 list, created by Oy!Chicago and the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Levine started and sold a plugin for email programs called PhilterIt and is the executive director of the Digital Professional Institute. Rabbi Perkel is a commercial real estate lawyer who also leads Orthodox davening and teaches Torah at Congrega10 tion Ezras Israel. Mazel tov. ■
AJT
Davi Kutner, CFP®
davi.kutner@hawcpa.com 770-353-5919 Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-892-9651 ¢ www.hawcpa.com
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OPINION
Have You Lost Your Way? allow myself to say that he is a Jew,” Azoulai told Israel Army Radio. In Israeli terms, “Reform Jew” broadly means non-Orthodox. He later modified his comment:
From Where I Sit By Dave Schechter dschechter@atljewishtimes.com
“These are Jews who have lost their way, and we must ensure that every Jew returns to the fold of Judaism and accept everyone with love and joy.” Those of you who belong to Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist congregations: Do you feel that you have lost your way as a Jew? I didn’t think so. “I have spoken with Minister Azoulai to remind him that Israel is a home for all Jews and that as minister of religious affairs, he serves all of Israel’s citizens,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
That’s nice, but it was Netanyahu who cut a deal with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party to form his government and put the Religious Services Ministry — responsible for matters of birth, death, marriage, conversion and other issues — in Azoulai’s hands. Lost in Azoulai’s insults (and he is not alone in such utterances) is the concept of Klal Yisrael, with its focus on what unites rather than divides us. It no longer astonishes that a Cabinet minister will demean nonOrthodox Jews or that the government will find it politically expedient to promulgate discriminatory policies and then turn to the non-Orthodox (particularly American) Diaspora for political and fundraising support. If you are offended by Azoulai’s comments, consider supporting organizations that promote religious pluralism in Israel and seek to put all Jews on equal footing. As a student of history, Netanyahu understands that in slaughtering 6 million Jews, the Nazis did not discriminate based on the religiosity of their victims. Nor do those who today
bastardize Islam as a justification to threaten Jewish lives. No, it is the self-righteous among us — in this case, a government minister — who declare (to borrow from George Orwell) that all Jews are created equal, but some are more equal than others. My father lived with integrity as a Jew in the modern world (as a member of Reform and Conservative congregations). My brother the (Conservative) rabbi is likewise confident of his identity. I am not bothered that Minister Azoulai would consider me one of those “lost” Jews. I’ll soon travel to the wedding of a nephew to an impressive young woman. She is a Reform Jew — and a rabbinical student. I find her pending ordination and my brother’s career and the passion with which my father engaged Judaism the perfect antidote to the likes of Minister Azoulai and the tolerance he receives from the prime minister who appointed him. ■
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M
y father davened every morning. He observed kashrut. He wore a tallis and a kippah in synagogue. He took pride in being a Kohen. “My Judaism envelops my entire life and is not something to be recalled only at isolated moments,” he wrote. In his view, Reform Judaism offered the choice not of whether, but of how to observe mitzvot, and his observance grew over the years. My father did this as a member and president of a Reform congregation. As a member of the Reform movement’s executive committee. As a progenitor of the Reform movement’s current prayer book. He was accepting of the varying approaches his five children took to Jewish life. That many Diaspora Jews choose whether or how to observe apparently confounds Israeli Minister of Religious Services David Azoulai. “A Reform Jew, from the moment he stops following Jewish law, I cannot
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OPINION
A Journey Into History
F
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
atefully we arrived in Vienna on July 13, the last full day of the P5+1 Iran nuclear talks. Our Congregation Etz Chaim group had spent the previous week in Warsaw and Krakow, Poland — the images after our visit to the death factories of Auschwitz and the ghettos of Warsaw and Krakow freshly etched in our memory. After Poland and just before Vienna, we spent the weekend in Budapest, where we learned about the equally dismal plight of Hungarian Jews as the Nazis escalated their timeline to kill as many Jews as possible before their assured loss to the Allied powers during the war’s final days. While we were in Budapest learning about the Nazis’ Jewish genocide, Iranians were celebrating Quds Day. Quds Day is held the last Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan as an international day of struggle against Israel and for the liberation of Jerusalem. Israeli and U.S. flags are burned as the Iranian crowds chant their alltoo-familiar “Death to America, death to Israel.” The Nazis’ systematic final solution to the Jewish question had resulted in two-thirds of Europe’s 8.8 million Jews being slaughtered. Even today, the worldwide Jewish population is not at the level it was before World War II. Never again! Arriving in Vienna, I appreciated the significance of the Iran nuclear talks and thought about the Munich Conference of 1938. Hitler’s Germany was appeased. Neville Chamberlain proclaimed, “Peace for our time.” More recently, in 1994, I remember President Bill Clinton triumphantly hailing the
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1994 nuclear deal with North Korea: “Today … we have completed an agreement that will make the United States, the Korean peninsula and the world safer. Under the agreement, North Korea has agreed to freeze its existing nuclear program and to accept international inspection of all existing facilities.”
Guest Column By Mark A. Schwartz
Sadly, neither of these agreements resulted in their intended objective — at least for the negotiating party I was aligned with. During the contentious, extended Iran nuclear negotiations, we read reports indicating that the United States had capitulated on many of its original core positions. Some suggested that President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry were determined to get a deal done, even if it meant going against stated principles, for the sake of their legacy. They should be reminded that Neville Chamberlain also has a legacy. Our synagogue group, 34 of us in all, was small in number but loud in voice. We felt compelled to let our feelings about the nuclear talks be known. We gathered outside the Palais Coburg, the venue of the final meetings, and chanted, “No deal, no deal.” The prodigious media assembly approached us. We shared our concerns, and an Iranian blogger tweeted about our protest. Not surprisingly, his tweet was answered with anti-Semitic comments
about us. The next day, the deal was finalized, and the text of the agreement was made public. Many of the terms were even worse than what we had anticipated. Iranians celebrated the agreement as supreme leader Ali Khamenei vowed to defy American policies in a speech punctuated by chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Kerry said the speech was “very disturbing … very troubling,” seemingly surprised at the rhetoric. I’m not surprised. History has a way of teaching us — if we Photos by Mark A. Schwartz let it. Rabbi Shalom Lewis and Congregation Etz As our trip wound Chaim members demonstrate their opposition down, we were griefto the Iran nuclear deal in Vienna. stricken after visiting so many relics of forming a ring, and sang the Havdalah Nazi evil and destruction. We were prayers. dismayed that American leadership We felt safe. There were no antibelieves that the Iranian deal will stop Semitic rants. The rounding up of Jews the spread of nuclear weapons in the on these streets only a few generations region and make the world safer. We ago seemed incomprehensible. wanted to believe. Toward the end of Havdalah, two It was Saturday night, July 18, the young women from Germany, walklast night of our two-week sojourn. We ing by, stopped and joined our ring, were in Prague. After a group dinner, concluding the service with us. The we gathered outside the restaurant at irony that they were German was not a busy intersection. Our rabbi led us lost on me. in Havdalah — the Jewish ceremony We finished our prayers, brought that marks the symbolic end of Shabin the new week and met our new bat and ushers in a new week. The friends. We wanted to believe. Havdalah candle was lighted, and For now, anyway, there is hope. ■ we joined one another, arm in arm,
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BUSINESS
Strength in Diversity
Ihab Atalla helps integrate Israeli Arabs into Startup Nation
A
rab citizens make up 21 percent of Israelis but contribute just 8 percent to the GDP. The Arab minority has a poverty rate nearly three times that of the Jewish population. It’s estimated that the Israeli economy annually loses 31 billion shekels ($8.1 billion) from not realizing the potential of the 1.7 million Israeli Arabs. In 2013, Israeli-founded technology company Amdocs, which has a large office in Alpharetta, opened a branch in Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city. Now Amdocs Nazareth is at the forefront of an Israeli revolution to bring Arab citizens into the high-tech fold. Ihab Atalla, who heads Amdocs Nazareth, visited Atlanta on Thursday, July 23, to speak about his mission to integrate the Israeli high-tech sector. The event was organized by the InterAgency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues and Conexx: America Israel Business Connector. He sat down with the AJT after his presentation to talk about Amdocs’ workplace in Nazareth. AJT: Can you tell me about your presentation today and how you came to be in Atlanta? Atalla: First, I am vacationing [laughs]. I used to live in the States for about 10 years and moved back to Israel four years ago. It was important for me to come here and talk about the story of our office in Nazareth and also to expose people to the idea of having more Arabs working in the software arena. AJT: Why is it so important to get Arabs involved in the tech sector? Atalla: Because I do believe that it can help Israel as a state and improve the economy. I also believe in coexistence, and programs like this can definitely help. The model can work. AJT: You have Muslims, Jews and Christians all working together at your Nazareth office. Was that something you were prepared for when the office opened? Atalla: Diversity is an outcome; it’s something we found ourselves having. We found that good diversity is actually a strength. We wanted to have an office that would provide 24/7 support and operations support. To be open 24/7, you need to be open all days, including the weekend. On Saturday, which is
very religious for Jewish people, Muslims or Christians can work. Sunday is a holy day for Christians, but Jews can work. Diversity is very important to us. AJT: So what’s the biggest thing you want to get across to people here? Atalla: OK, so two things. First, as a business you can see that the diversity is working. We have had very strong results. Second, the opportunities for Arab Israelis are now there, but they need to grow more outside of Amdocs. AJT: What is the Israeli government doing to promote Arab inclusion in the workforce?
Atalla: There are a few programs out there right now. The president of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, is trying to bring more opportunities because he believes in it. It’s something that really everyone benefits from. The government is pleased with the example Amdocs is setting since advanced employment for Arabs is a major goal for them. More activities and opportunities will definitely establish a stronger foundation. Now we can see that more Arabs are talking about careers, international experiences and learning all the languages. You can see that the engine is turned on already. ■
Photo by David R. Cohen
Ihab Atalla (center) stands with Conexx Vice President Barry Swartz and Liron Shoham of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues.
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ART
‘Midnight’ in a Europe of Evil Pre-war spy thriller conquers continent By Ariel Pinsky
F
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
ishing out a stimulating yet substantive summer novel from the sea of fluff out there can be difficult. “Midnight in Europe,” the latest installment in Alan Furst’s series of World War II espionage thrillers, will narrow your search for a quality summer read while offering an alluring
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look into the ominous, glamorous, prewar Parisian society. A master of historical spy fiction, Furst delivers another fast-paced and intriguing set of intertwined stories taking place from 1937 to 1938 across Europe, including Paris, Madrid, Istanbul, Munich and Odessa. Furst focuses on Christian Ferrar, a brilliant and respected lawyer working for the
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Courdet International Law Firm in Paris as a Spanish émigré. As civil war rages in Spain between Franco’s Fascist forces and the Army of the Republic, Ferrar is summoned by the Spanish Embassy in Paris to join the mission of the Oficina Tecnica in helping to supply crucial weapons and ammunitions to the weakening republic. As Ferrar and partner Max de Lyon, a Jewish gangster, are faced with constant challenges on their quest for illegal weapons, the reader is thrust into multiple exotic environments and situations, all with one common element: an inescapable pre-war tension so thick you can feel it on the page. For a moment Furst makes you forget that Spain will fall to Fascist Franco, France will be overrun by the Nazis, and Jewish Europeans like Max de Lyon will fight to stay out of the camps and ghettos. As the darkness creeps through all corners of Europe, Furst instills fear and anxiety in the reader, making us question, just for a moment, “What will be of Europe?” But, alas, history ensures you are brutally reminded. Some problems lie in the book’s outrageous supply of details. Because Furst does not provide clues as to which are significant to the story, the reader must decide which names, hotels, roads, restaurants and facts to remember. And the influx of characters and places becomes dizzying as new ones are introduced nearly every page. However, the array of distinct and colorful people and places also helps Furst paint his complex and vibrant picture of pre-World War II Europe. He humanizes a world war by giving a story to each character, each road, each hotel and each town. Though a particularly captivating read for history buffs and fans of the classic spy novel, “Midnight in Europe” will appeal to any reader’s sense of romance, danger and mystery. ■
Seven Good Stories By Zach Itzkovitz
E
tgar Keret’s “The Seven Good Years” resembles most of his work in that it is offered in small pieces — seven chapters, or “years,” each with four to seven brief memories. The memoir reads like a collection of fictional short stories because of Keret’s ability to cherry-pick memories and mold them into a thematically consistent whole. As a lecturer at Ben-Gurion University, Keret understands that it’s not always what you say, but what you don’t say that holds the most weight. “The Seven Good Years” is a series of teases — stories charged with brevity. The title refers to the seven years between the birth of Keret’s son, Lev, and the death of his father, Ephraim. It may also refer to the seven years separating Keret from his older brother, described in a story titled “Idol Worship.” The stories are complemented by Keret’s sly wit. His signature style produces hybrids that are at once philosophical and colloquial, laugh-out-loud funny and disturbing. It would be apparent to anyone who reads “The Seven Good Years” that Keret could write a dramatic and profound masterpiece about drying paint, filing taxes or the silence of loneliness. His keen eye to metaphor, sensory image and what’s relatable is likely the result of excessive empathy and introspection on Keret’s part. The book’s cover is bright yellow with an illustration of a slingshot loaded with a dove bearing an olive branch. This paradox is amusing, even kind of funny, in its absurdity. It does, however, hide the book’s inherent cover art: simply a pair of shoes etched white in a black background. It reflects the content of a story titled “In My Father’s Footsteps” in the book’s final chapter. I know only because I read it. But to folks opening the book for the first time, the shoes are merely shoes; they could mean anything. This ambiguity between the symbolic and literal is the engine on which “The Seven Good Years” runs and may be Keret’s most natural source of writing. I hope his heart-warming paradoxes continue to see the light of day. ■
Midnight in Europe
The Seven Good Years
By Alan Furst
By Etgar Keret
Random House, 272 pages, $16
Riverhead Books, 192 pages, $26.95
EDUCATION
Epstein Set to Connect Community to Service units.” The hope is that exposing whole he Epstein School is hosting a families to service projects will lead day of service open to the entire the families to incorporate service into their ongoing activities rather than just community Sunday, Nov. 1. Service, an integral part of Epstein spend one day a year doing service. Epstein’s new head of school, Davalues, has brought families together in the past, but Yom Tzedakah this vid Abusch-Magder, has been involved year will be the first time that Epstein with the program planning and is exhas opened the event to everyone to cited to showcase Epstein’s commitexpand the impact and showcase the ment to volunteering and to Jewish values. Conservative day “I am happy school’s dedicato be a part of a tion to service to community that the community. values character Epstein is education and hoping for 550 to giving back to 600 participants. the greater comEpstein has munity … and arranged 25 projam excited to ects and is workparticipate in a ing on adding a wonderful volunfew more. There teer program like are projects for Yom Tzedakah,” people of all ages, he said. “Comskills and abilimunity volunteer ties. The options programs are an range from makimportant part ing cards for Chilof helping our dren’s Healthcare students develop of Atlanta and Photos by Coleen Lou good character planting trees for Epstein School students show their and a giving spirTrees Atlanta to commitment to service by participating it. Modeling that packing shelves in a Tu B’Shevat project in which a behavior for our for the Atlanta Kesher Garden was planted at the Sandy Springs school and in Israel. students is a key Community Food to successfully Bank and visiting raising children to become engaged seniors at Insignia of Sandy Springs. Each project corresponds to vari- and caring adults who recognize their ous Jewish values, and a Jewish frame- responsibility to make the world a betwork discussion about each site will ter place,” the value of tikkun olam. Epstein’s leadership team is lookkick off the day. Each grade at Epstein has a theme ing for volunteers to be site captains. of Jewish values that the students learn Site captains relay information beabout. Yom Tzedakah reflects those tween the staff at a project site and the themes and gives students and other Yom Tzedakah volunteers. They take participants another dimension of photos at the sites and submit evaluations of how the projects went. learning. Anyone in the community may be “I think it is meant to teach everybody,” volunteer coordinator Laura a site captain. The online registration portal for Blaskett said. “It is not just about Epstein kids, but it teaches everybody the volunteering will be open to the public values of giving themselves to a project. in September. The registration form … It is opening eyes to areas and oppor- allows you to submit first, second and tunities and events in the community third choices of projects. Some locations have age minimums or capacity that perhaps they don’t normally see.” Outreach coordinator Robyn Fain- limits, but the goal is for each registrant tich said: “A big point of clarification to get one of those top three choices. To register your interest before the is the teacher in fifth grade is not taking the fifth-grade class to a site. We registration page goes live, to keep up are really committed to the roles that with the event or to learn more about volunteers can play as families, so we the projects, go to www.facebook.com/ really want people to register as family events/460793990752849. ■
American Heroes PORTRAITS OF SERVICE
T
Photography By Thomas Sanders
Exhibit opening and receptions Belmont Village Johns Creek 4315 Johns Creek Parkway Tuesday, August 4, 2015 4:00 PM: appetizers and seated dinner 6:00 PM: special champagne exhibit opening RSVP to Leslie Sowders at (770) 813-9505 Belmont Village Buckhead 5455 Glenridge Drive NE Wednesday, August 5, 2015 4:00 PM: cocktails and hors d’oeuvres 6:00 PM: champagne and desserts RSVP to Suzanne Foshee at (404) 252-6271
Larry Nosco, U.S. Coast Guard
P
lease join us as we show our appreciation to our veterans through the work of photographer Thomas Sanders. This new exhibit, opening as we approach the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII, is a tribute to Belmont Village’s resident veterans and all who have served. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
In 2010, Welcome Books published The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of WWII, an award-winning collection of Thomas Sanders’ photos of WWII Veterans.To view photos from this collection, please visit www.belmontvillage.com.
GENEVA ROAD JULY 31 ▪ 2015
By Sophie Zelony
Belmont Village cordially invites you to join us for
belmontvillage.com
©2015 Belmont Village, L.P. PCH Lic 8034, 8036 | buckhead.belmontvillage.com | johnscreek.belmontvillage.com
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EDUCATION
North Springs Club Provides Jewish Continuity Adviser/founder Sauer sets dedicated example for students By Benjamin Kweskin
V
arda Cheskis Sauer resisted forming a Jewish-oriented club at North Springs Charter High School when students approached her about the idea nearly a decade ago. She didn’t know many of the students and was unsure how to bring sensitive religious issues into a secular public school. Then as now, she said, many of the interested students came from Jewish day schools such as Davis Academy and had a “thirst for Jewish continuity” that they were missing in their new, nonsectarian surroundings. Sauer recognized a genuine need to bring quality Jewish programming to the school and eventually relented to found and advise North Springs’ Jewish Culture Club, which has become one of the most successful student clubs in the Atlanta area. As the club organizer, she was recently listed as one of 25 Atlanta Jewish nonprofit innovators. The only sponsor/adviser, Sauer works with six student officers to make sure programs run smoothly. Unlike
some student groups, the Jewish Culture Club does not meet just for snacks and social time: All programs are academic in nature and provide substantial educational content. Now that the club is in its ninth year, Sauer said she knows what works and what doesn’t. She is vigilant about keeping religious observance out of the public school. There are no prayers before or after students eat, and G-d is not discussed as a topic. Sauer vets speakers and makes sure they address what was agreed to — she has been burned in the past. Recently, a pro-Israel group asked to speak about a subject, and she decided against it as too controversial. The organization, which she declined to identify, ended up speaking about a different topic. Speakers are required to be engaging, clear, concise and “not boring.” They are not allowed to sell anything because “it’s a club for students, not a business opportunity.” Presenters do discuss holidays and Jewish cultural traditions. Frequent
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“We feel comfortable to talk about discussions include the similarities and differences within Jewish traditions issues; we speak about our concerns. (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), poli- The club has helped my Jewish awaretics, and Israel. Students must stay for ness and self-confidence. My family is the full program and are encouraged to not so religious, so the club makes me feel connected,” she said. “In college engage with the guest speaker. A frequent presenter is Rabbi Da- I’ll be able to bring these experiences vid Silverman of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, who has been involved with the club since the beginning. Like many highschoolers, North Springs students are overprogrammed and overcommitted to studies and extracurricular activities. As a result, many do not have time for Jewish activities afVarda Cheskis Sauer and the 2014-15 North Springs Jewish ter school or even on Culture Club pose for an official photo in March. the weekends. So the club meets during the rotating 30-minute lunch periods, allowing students with me. I love this club and wouldn’t to participate without missing out on be able to dedicate my time to others.” Winter, a 2015-16 junior who also classes or other activities. Though the club is roughly split is a Davis alum, spoke about the imbetween students who attended day portance of the club. “It is successful school and other Jewish students, because students are always engaged. many from largely unaffiliated fami- It has strengthened my Jewish identity lies, a dozen or so of the 150 club mem- and awareness, and I am always with bers are not Jewish but are curious my friends — people who share the because they have many friends in the same beliefs — and we have open disclub. Each member pays an annual fee cussions about issues and topics. I am of $20, which keeps other costs low and very excited for the upcoming year.” Sauer worries what will happen keeps the pizza coming. Sauer said all club members regu- to the club when she eventually retires larly participate in what may be the (it is her 24th year at North Springs). most popular club at North Springs. She will need to mentor someone who Parents are often as enthusiastic about understands the dedication required the club as their children but are un- to maintain the club’s success and momentum because in addition to leadable to attend programs and events. In learning about the Jewish Cul- ing the internship program at North ture Club and speaking to Sauer and Springs, she devotes dozens of hours a two student officers, Nicole Webb and week outside school hours to the club. Other schools have attempted to Max Winter, three words kept coming up: “empowered,” “comfortable” and start similar clubs, she said, but “they are nowhere near as successful and not “safe.” The club enables students to let nearly as organized.” Sauer and her officers maintain their guard down and share the comfort of not having to explain certain an ever-changing email distribution traditions, experiences and cultural list and put on gatherings such as pool norms. While the Jewish feel safe at the parties that engage parents as well as Sandy Springs school, they may feel students. Such events ease transitions and familiarize incoming freshmen even safer in the Jewish Culture Club. Webb, an effusive incoming co- and other students who are new to the president and senior, said she felt cul- club. Sauer said, “If students or parents ture shock at entering a diverse, nonJewish public school after attending need me for anything outside of the club, I am there for them.” ■ Davis.
EDUCATION
Organize for Homework paper, graph paper, notebook paper, a dictionary and a thesaurus, rulers, paper clips, a stapler, and file and pocket folders (two or three of each). • Put the first box aside and leave the second box empty. • Get the book bag and empty the entire contents into Box 2. • Set out the items in Box 1 in a
Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team DEBBIE SONENSHINE STAR NEWMAN KATIE GALLOW Top 1% of Coldwell Banker Internationally Certified Negotiator, Luxury, New Homes and Corporate Relocation Specialist #1 Sales Associate in Sandy Springs Office Voted Favorite Jewish Realtor in AJT, Best of Jewish Atlanta
#1 Team Coldwell Banker Atlanta Guest Column By Susan N. Schriber Orloff
Move-In Ready Home in Great Friendly Neighborhood! public place away from the TV but not far from family life. If you eat in the kitchen, set up in the dining room. • Make the items easily accessible for your child. • Put Box 2 on one side of your child’s chair and the book bag on the other. • Have your child select one item that needs to get done from Box 2 and put it into the book bag as it is completed. Continue until Box 2 is empty. • Put all the stuff from Box 1 back into the box. • Store both boxes near the selected work area until the next day. The benefits of this plan are straightforward. The child is not isolated and can easily ask for help. Parents can peek to see whether help is needed and can monitor breaks. Homework should be done at the same time every night if possible. Your child gets a rhythm and a ritual to fulfill obligations, solve problems, control frustration and manage time. Siblings can support each other if homework snags arise and encourage each other because they are in the same boat. For an only child, doing homework while you answer the mail, do bills or read can be equally supportive. (Do not talk on the phone while sitting in the homework area or have your child work in front of the TV.) Most of all, remember that it is your child’s homework, not yours. Your child is practicing skills that, if properly learned, will support them throughout their lives. ■ Occupational therapist Susan N. Schriber Orloff is the CEO/executive director of Children’s Special Services. She can be reached through www.childrensservices.com or at susanorloff@childrensservices.com.
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JULY 31 ▪ 2015
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he last of your vacation pictures are uploaded. The book bag is purchased. The contents are new and in good order. The clothes are crisp. The after-school activities are signed up and paid for. The carpools are organized. Life is good. So what is the source of the tension at home? Homework! It gets in the way of chilling. It is cumbersome. It seems unending. It is an infringement on personal space and time. And it is scary — very, very scary. Inside the book bag the parent sees science, math and spelling; the child sees a disorganized jumble of expectations and a confrontation with personal shortcomings and potential failure. Why would any intelligent person want to open up that Target-purchased, ego-busting monster? The issue, from a parent’s and an occupational therapist’s viewpoint, is not how to get your child to do homework, but what are the obstacles to approaching the task in the first place. Are our children that different from us in avoiding situations that are uncomfortable? If we are answering honestly, the response is often no. After years of helping my own and other children with the homework crisis, I know that the most common denominator in this drama is organization. With the tasks properly organized, the question is no longer “How much should I help my child with his/ her homework?” but “How can I support my child through this inescapable and sometimes painful process?” The first step is to open that carefully selected, color-coordinated health hazard you constantly trip over as you enter your home: the book bag. I have presented the following suggestions at Learning Disabilities Association meetings, PTA events and occupational therapy seminars and in my book “Learning RE-Enabled”: • Get two nice-size boxes (liquor stores, office supply stores, etc.). They do not need lids. • Select with your child two contact paper rolls. • Ask your child to cover each box, using one contact paper design per box in a public room in your house (not a bedroom). • Go “shopping” around the house. Fill one box with No. 2 pencils, a pencil sharpener, pens, markers, colored pencils, Wite-Out, tape, glue sticks, plain
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EDUCATION
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AJT 18
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I’m a New Student, Too
N
ot long ago, I participated in my first acting class at the Alliance Theatre. As I entered the classroom environment, I was reminded of all that it means to be a new student: the excitement, the nerves, the eagerness to learn, and the concern about how I will stack up compared with my classmates. I also had a couple of other things on my mind that were somewhat unusual to my situation. Because I had my kippah on, I wondered whether everyone would assume that I represented all observant Jews. Because I am recovering from toe surgery, I worried that my movement and participation would be hampered and/or painful. Finally, because this class is for working adults, it is fairly late in the evening, which I know is not my best time in terms of concentration. The truth is that I signed up for this class for two primary reasons: • Because I am passionate about the theater and performing. • Because it’s important that, as a key leader at Atlanta Jewish Academy, I know firsthand what it’s like to be a student. It’s especially relevant to be a student in an area where I do not already excel, as this is the situation our children find themselves in with some regularity. As Wendy Mogel explains in “The Blessing of a Skinned Knee,” high school is really the last time we expect expertise in every area. Even though we would not ask our accountant questions about cell division or our doctor questions about integration by parts, we expect our children to excel across the board. Sometimes it’s just not that simple, as I was reminded again at my acting class. Every student brings his or her own baggage (“My toe hurts. It’s late at night, and I am tired. Are my classmates professional actors? Boy, am I nervous!”) and sometimes questions his or her own abilities. It’s too easy to sit back and say of our students, “He could do better if he only would.” In fact, as Ross Greene of Harvard Medical School reminds us, it’s usually the other way around: “He would do
better if he only could” (Carol Ann Tomlinson, “Rising to the Challenge of Challenging Behavior,” Educational Leadership, October 2012). As Mel Levine also reminds us in his book with the self-explanatory title “The Myth of Laziness,” students want to please and do their best, and stu-
Guest Column By Dr. Paul Oberman
dents have a natural curiosity about things, so it’s too easy to simply say “s/ heis lazy.” All of which brings me back to my acting class. I was by no means the best, not even close. But the teacher singled me out briefly for kind words, and that made a difference. For that moment, it felt as if the teacher understood that I was trying, that it didn’t necessarily come naturally, but that I was doing it. It reminded me yet again that “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care” (Theodore Roosevelt and others; italics mine). I also got some nice feedback from classmates and was able to reciprocate as we worked together to learn something new. By the time the school year starts, I will be able to reflect back on this class and the lessons I have learned anew about being a student. And don’t worry: I already have plans for my next class. I’m enrolled in a class on stand-up comedy and will be coming soon to an open mic near you. ■ Paul Oberman is the associate head of the Atlanta Jewish Academy Upper School. He came to Yeshiva Atlanta in 2010 as principal, became the head of school in 2011, and continued in his position after the merger of Yeshiva Atlanta and Greenfield Hebrew Academy into AJA. He has been a teacher and administrator at many schools, including Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut, Paideia School in Atlanta (where he was assistant junior high coordinator) and Pace Academy in Atlanta (where he was head of middle school). He believes in student ownership of education and is thrilled to be working with the wonderful educators at AJA.
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
EDUCATION
Back to School Means Back to Collaboration Youth movements look for ways to expand cooperation
T
he school year is about to begin, and that means Atlanta’s youth movements are ready to get back into full swing. Leaving behind summer programs, trips to Israel and camps, teens and adult youth leaders are eager to start the school year by working together in the spirit of February’s Coalition of Jewish Teens. Adam Griff, co-adviser for NFTY’s HOTTY chapter at Temple Beth Tikvah, said he and David Hoffman, the BBYO director at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, are planning to include a NFTY team in BBYO’s AZA winter basketball league for boys. The league will play nine regular-season games plus playoffs from Dec. 6 to March 27. Griff is excited for the basketball league partnership but said HOTTY has no other collaboration planned. “We don’t do much in terms of planning during the summer. Most of it takes place during our board retreat, which would be in August,” Griff said.
“I think there’s definitely an appetite for that and an interest in doing more, but there’s nothing planned yet.” Many local NFTY chapters have not had the chance to meet yet about programming because several Reform synagogues have new youth directors. Griff is hopeful for more collaboration among the youth movements this school year and would like to see more joint leadership opportunities. “I look forward to there hopefully being more conversations and more partnerships in the future,” he said. “I still think that there’s relatively little of that happening in Atlanta.” Atlanta Council BBYO has plans to collaborate with NFTY and USY this school year with communitywide events. Stacie Graff, the BBYO operations director at the Marcus JCC, said the youth movements have kept in contact this summer. “We have a listserv that we communicate with them. We talk with our colleagues in NFTY and USY on a regular basis, and currently our plans are
not solidified yet,” Graff said. She said BBYO is in the midst of planning a fall Shabbat for all the youth movements but has not decided on a date. BBYO is also planning Atlanta’s JServe day, which will be a large communitywide event. The International Day of Jewish Youth Service will take place March 6. “We feel that it’s really important for the teens to work together even though they might be part of different youth movements,” Graff said. “We’re all working towards developing the teens and helping them become the next generation of strong Jewish leaders.” That attitude motivated the gathering of the Coalition of Jewish Teens before BBYO’s International Convention and the NFTY Convention in midFebruary. The coalition brought together leaders from BBYO, NFTY, USY, NCSY and Young Judaea. “On a national level, USY, BBYO and NFTY are looking at ways to partner together in the immediate future,”
said Lisa Alter Krule, USY’s director of regional engagement and director of the International Convention. “USY’s International Convention is being held in Baltimore this December, and BBYO’s IC will be held in Baltimore in February. We have been discussing ways to keep the momentum going and to complement each other’s work, specifically in the area of community service. The professional staff communicates often, and we are working with our teen leadership to further our efforts/collaboration.” NFTY’s convention is biennial; this is an off-year for the Reform youth movement. Regardless of which movement teens or adult youth leaders identify with, they have a common goal in Atlanta to work together. “Every youth movement has so much they can offer each other,” Graff said, “so we’re really excited about partnerships that we can build this year for us as staff and then also for our teens to build community partnerships.” ■
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
By April Basler abasler@atljewishtimes.com
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EDUCATION
AJA’s Stanhope Enjoys No Summer Slowdown By Leah Levy llevy@atljewishacademy.org
She uses art from a different culture to help students separate themselves from the situation. “The identlanta Jewish Academy Up- tity politics of 18th-century New Spain per School humanities teacher that lurk beneath the casta paintings Sally Stanhope has had a busy of that time touch upon many of the summer. issues that present-day debates over She took off to Fort Wayne, Ind., race and privilege raise yet are safely on June 21 for a little more than a week entrenched in the past,” she said. Such to attend a Passport to Innovative Edu- a lesson “exemplifies how social studcation Summit. She colies can prepare students to laborated with experts in read texts critically.” character education and As for her final sumteachers from around the mer stop, the seminar on country to develop lessons Mediterranean history, that infuse character eduStanhope said: “Because cation into the curriculum. we’re a Jewish school and On June 30, she was Israel is so close to my stuoff again to the World Hisdents’ hearts, I am delighttory Association’s annual ed to learn more about the conference in Savannah, region without the filter of where she gave a presentamedia bias.” Sally Stanhope tion on “The Intersection “Sally takes profesof Identity Politics of the sional development very Past and Present.” Stanhope was one seriously,” said Joel Rojek, the general of two teachers who received the 2015 studies principal at AJA Upper School. William H. McNeill Scholarship for the “Every summer she has attended at conference. least one national summer conference With one day between programs or similar opportunity to learn about for the second time this summer, she trends in history and to meet other edleft for three weeks at the University of ucators from across the country. … KuDenver. Stanhope was chosen as a Na- dos to Sally for seeking these out and tional Endowment for the Humanities pursuing them.” summer scholar and participated in a This school year Stanhope is Summer Institute for Teachers course teaching three levels of world history titled “Teaching Connected Histories of (college prep, honors and Advanced the Mediterranean.” Placement), college-prep U.S. history, “The truth is, I didn’t realize how and a new class she developed called busy I was until now,” she said during “History of the Human Body: Perspecthe Denver course. tives of the Body in the Nineteenth and The first program she attended, Early Twentieth Centuries.” the Passport to Innovative Education That new course will highlight the Summit, addressed a topic that has social values placed on different bodies long been important to Stanhope and and how closer global interrelationa big part of AJA’s educational vision. “I ships led to an idealization of certain became interested in character educa- attributes. Topics include politics betion in a graduate school history class, hind the dress code in Manchu China and I’m particularly interested in how and fitness in American culture. to teach students grit, a word I would Stanhope developed the class afuse to describe how to recover from ter polling AJA Upper School students failure.” about which of five possible classes Stanhope has been a member of they would most like to take. the WHA since 2009, but this summer Rojek said Stanhope is much more was only her second time attending the than an innovative teacher. She is the annual conference. grade dean for this year’s sophomores “My presentation addresses the and the sponsor of the National Honor topic of how teachers can use the past Society and No Place for Hate club. to encourage students to discuss issues “Students enjoy her energetic and of white privilege and institutional rac- upbeat demeanor, and they respect her ism without bringing up feelings of work ethic,” Rojek said. “They can tell defensive guilt, frustration and silent she cares about them not only as stuanger,” Stanhope said. dents, but as individuals.” ■
A
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JULY 31 ▪ 2015
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AJT 20
Contact Steven W. Cook, PhD swc@collegebridge.net or 404.983.4573
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
EDUCATION
Davis Delves Into Education for the Future to experiment with programming and invention using tools such as Lego Robotics, Sphero Balls and laptops. Although #MakerMonday is offered during recess, many students opt to participate because it allows them to pursue their creative passions while guiding their learning with the help of the latest educational technology.
Top left: Davis Academy Lower School students shoot video against the green screen in the Idea Lab. Top right: Rising fifth-graders Jack Anderson and Carson Wolf took home first place for their robotics project at the North Atlanta Jewish Technology Fair in January.
Guest Column By Drew Frank
Brown reports that students are so excited by all the possibilities of programming and invention. Some come up with complex robotic projects. The Davis Academy also provides students with innovative learning spaces. The Lower and Middle School Idea Labs, for example, are equipped with green-screen walls for video and broadcasting projects and erasable surfaces for writing and brainstorming. Other environments, such as the
new Nature Sanctuary, are not high tech at all. The sanctuary is a garden and amphitheater that promotes a quieter imaginative process, spirituality and appreciation of the natural world. Davis teachers are continually immersed in continuing education. Professional development includes not only traditional curriculum topics, but also best practices from one another and other experts around the world. Teachers build personal learning networks through Twitter, RSS feeds and professional conferences. In the past
year, 15 percent of Davis faculty presented at local and national conferences on topics such as storytelling, feedback, and visualizing and verbalizing. Ultimately, the Davis Academy’s vision is guided by our goal for our students: to enable them to become confident individuals who have a strong sense of identity and community, are excited about learning and discovery, and aren’t afraid to think differently. ■ Drew Frank is the Davis Academy’s associate head of school and principal.
SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL Providing an exceptional college preparatory program
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JULY 31 ▪ 2015
T
wenty-first-century learning, technology integration, blended learning, virtual classrooms, distance learning and mobile classrooms have been buzzwords in education for a decade. All of these terms recognize the growing roles of technology and connectedness in the world today’s students are growing in, as well as in the world of their future. Schools must harness the opportunities technology can provide when such tools open doors to deeper learning, enable avenues for creativity and content creation, and connect students with the global network of learners and teachers. It is equally important that the technology not be the goal of the learning but rather the tool that enhances and magnifies it. This learning-focused integration is the basis for the educational approach at the Davis Academy, which is empowering students to become active learners, problem solvers and contributors to a global knowledge base. Convertible tablets and laptops, iPads, Hummingbirds, Lego EV3s, Lego NXTs and Spheros are among the tools Davis is investing in while working to enhance learning. The use of social media to connect our classrooms with primary source learning and our participation with a global audience have become integrated into the curriculum and culture of the school. Davis is the largest Reform Jewish day school in the country. Whether our kindergartners are engaged in math problem-solving challenges with students in New Zealand, our third-graders are sharing in daily grammar learning with a class in Manitoba, our fifth-grade entrepreneurs are connecting with industry leaders as research for their own business plans, or our eighth-graders are livestreaming a re-enactment of the 1775 Continental Congress with six classes across America and Britain, this approach creates heightened levels of engagement, enhances retention, and affords opportunities for future connections and exploration. Davis thus unleashes imaginations and facilitates collaborative and self-directed learning regardless of technological trends. Students love it. Last year, Davis Academy 21stcentury learning coordinator Stacy Brown started a monthly event called #MakerMonday in which Lower School students drop by the Idea Lab
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EDUCATION
Inspiring students from 18 months to 8th grade
Southeast Embraces ADL’s No Place for Hate By Benjamin Kweskin
I quench my thirst for answers. Welcome to Springmont. springmont.com 404.252.3910
n response to real and perceived rising levels of intolerance in public and private schools, the Anti-Defamation League initiated the No Place for Hate program nationally. Community-driven and frequently student-led, the campaign seeks to strengthen students’ resolve and provides tools and language to combat intolerance while providing school administrators, counselors, principals, teachers and parents the means to handle all aspects of intolerance. According to the ADL, many schools are ill equipped to deal with certain situations. As such, No Place for Hate-affiliated programs can affect positive results for a safer learning environment and empower students. Among its programs, the campaign focuses on cyber bullying for parents, general bullying, and different types of prejudice and stereotyping and reaches students from kindergarten through high school.
experience EPSTEIN.
We’re way more than you imagined.
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
We look forward to seeing you on our campus. Schedule a tour at THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL www.EpsteinAtlanta.org/tour. Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta
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AJT
THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL
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Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta 4819 AJT adN.indd 1
7/28/15 2:01 PM
THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL
The ADL says the rate of bullying has steadily declined in the five years of the program. Erin Beacham, the education project director for the ADL’s Southeast Region, said No Place for Hate assists communities in general and is not limited to affecting school campuses. The Southeast Region — Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina — has 300 schools in No Place for Hate; over half have completed all steps to be certified as designated No Place for Hate schools. Among the main steps toward certification, schools must fill out an assessment and coalition form that includes every student’s affirmation of participation from that school. Students must then sign a “resolution of respect” and pledge to uphold standards of tolerance. When bullying occurs, No Place for Hate schools use the terms “target,” “aggressor,” “bystander” and “ally,” Beacham said. In response to such incidents, counselors and other school liaisons provide additional resources and training. Beacham said students and counselors tell aggressors that “this is a No Place for Hate school and that language or action is unacceptable here.” Among changes for the new school year are plans to make online resources more user-friendly, to send out monthly newsletters, and to expand outreach to specific districts in the Southeast. Word of mouth has been the main way for schools and administrators to learn about the campaign, but the ADL does limited outreach to communities and interested schools. More information is at atlanta.adl.org/npfh_/npfh. All resources and materials come through the ADL, and everyone associated with a school may participate. The student-parent-administration-community coalition makes plans to implement at least three activities during the school year. These activities must affect the majority of students. In a few elementary schools, students have linked arms with one another, parents and community members in an act of solidarity. In a high school, students put on a poetry slam that encouraged tolerance and respect. Other activities have included assemblies, videos and plays. The campaign encourages students to be involved. All efforts are coordinated through administrators with younger students getting direction from counselors and parents. ■
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
C
oming soon to a synagogue, religious school or day school near you for the High Holidays: an allnew Shofar Factory from JCrafts, the Chabad-backed organization whose holiday highlights also include an olive press for oil at Chanukah and a matzah-making factory at Passover. Rabbi Levi Mentz, who heads JCrafts in Georgia, said that compared with last year’s version, the new Shofar Factory includes better costumes and the addition of music. “This is much better,” he said. “You gotta keep things fresh and innovative.” The Shofar Factory demonstrates the entire process that turns a ram’s horn into a shofar. It includes a brief history of the shofar and an exploration of which horns can and can’t be used. It’s hands-on education: Each child gets a raw shofar and uses machinery to extract the cartilage, drill a hole and create a mouthpiece. The shofars-to-be then ride a conveyor belt into a machine that strips off the coarse outer layers of the horns and prepares them for shellacking. Participants finish painting their shofars, then learn to blow them before taking them home. “The kids love it,” Rabbi Mentz said. “The dads love it possibly more than the kids.” The workshop lasts about an hour and is free for participants. Although JCrafts offers the demonstration to preschoolers, children who are going to use the machinery should be at least 9, the rabbi said. The Shofar Factory will pop up at five Home Depot stores outside the Atlanta area in cities such as Macon and Columbus, Rabbi Mentz said. But unlike JCrafts’ Passover presentation, which included the Home Depot in Buckhead, the High Holiday learning experience within the metro area will appear only at Jewish institutions. ■
The Weber School educates and empowers students from all Jewish backgrounds. Our innovative program and advanced academic offerings include: ▶ 20 AP courses available for 9th-12 grades ▶ Jewish and General Studies interdisciplinary courses ▶ Pre-professional Fine and Performing Arts program with Fall and Spring theatre productions ▶ 13 Athletic Teams plus Co-ed Intramural Sports and Fitness program ▶ Opportunities for Student Enrichment and Support built into the daily schedule
VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.WEBERSCHOOL.ORG Schedule a visit with Ms. Rise Arkin, Director of Admissions, at 404-917-2500 x101 or email risearkin@weberschool.org
Be Amazed. From Hello.
The moment students walk through the doors of The Davis Academy, they begin a unique experience—one that’s tailored to the individual child. An experience that’s not just about academics but about how a child develops, grows and learns. About becoming the best they can be.
But don’t take our word for it. Come for a visit and see for yourself! RSVP for our upcoming Parent Information Session by calling 678-527-3300 or register online at davisacademy.org/visit.
A proud member of:
8105 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350 | 770-671-0085 | davisacademy.org
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Make Your Own Shofar With JCrafts
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Rabbi Spike Anderson
Exciting Things Are Happening At Temple Emanu-El! Come meet our new rabbi and become part of our warm, vibrant community.
Join us at one of our prospective member events Prospective Member Shabbat Services August 14 & 21 | 7:30 pm Dunwoody/Sandy Springs Prospective Member Wine and Cheese August 25 | 7:30 pm Alpharetta Prospective Member Wine and Cheese August 26 | 7:30 pm
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
For more information and to RSVP for events, call us at 770-395-1340 and visit us at templeemanuelatlanta.org
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EDUCATION
Day Schools Ready To Kick Off Fall Sport By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com
S
tudent athletes at Davis Academy, Atlanta Jewish Academy, the Weber School and the Epstein School are anticipating the opportunity to get out on the field, court and track for the 2015 fall season. Below are some highlights of what to watch for at some of Atlanta’s Jewish day schools.
high that she is excited to see what the A and B squads can do. Under Eisenstein, the AJA Middle School volleyball team has an overall record of 264-51, and the A team finished second in its division last season. The AJA Middle School soccer and basketball teams both look to repeat last year’s first-place division finishes.
Epstein School The fall sports season at Epstein starts Aug. 10 and continues through October. Competing in Davis Academy the MAAC, Epstein will The boys and field boys soccer A and B girls tennis teams at teams, a girls fast-pitch Davis won the Metro softball team, girls volleyWeber junior Becky Arbiv Atlanta Athletic Conball A and B team, boys will be the No. 1 seeded poleference championships vaulter at nationals July 29-31. and girls cross country last year and look to reteams, and, new this year, peat in 2015-16. The 2015 Davis athletes ultimate Frisbee. of the year were Jake Rubin (soccer, Last fall the boys soccer team finbasketball, track) and Abby Goldberg ished second in the MAAC to Ridgeview (cross country, basketball, soccer). Charter School. The boys track team hopes to build off last year’s second-place finish in the Weber School MAAC. Rubin won the pole vault with Rising Weber junior Becky Arbiv a jump of 10 feet 8 inches, the second- has captured top finishes in national highest in conference history, which and state track and field events all ranked him in the top 30 nationally summer. On June 13, she finished first for middle school boys. Teammate Sam in the Southeast Regional Pole Vault Mahle placed second in the shotput Championships at Emory with a jump with a throw of 33 feet 10 inches and of 13 feet 1.5 inches (4 meters). On July took third place in the mile. 18, Arbiv made her highest leap to date The girls team was led by Katy Sul- at the Georgia Games at 13 feet 3.5 inchlivan, who won the high jump at 5 feet es (4.08 meters). She heads to nationals even and the 300-meter hurdles in 55.24 July 29 to 31 as the No. 1 seed. seconds. Sullivan also placed second in Becky’s sister, incoming Weber the 400 meters and joined Olivia Sid- freshman Ariel Arbiv, has cleared 9 feet man, Hailey Rubin and Emma Tessler 2 inches in the pole vault and is also to finish third on the 4-by-400-meter seeded in the top 10. relay team. Varsity volleyball at Weber is gearing up for a big season as the defending Atlanta Jewish Academy 1-AAA region champions. AJA approaches the fall volleyball The cross country team is anticiseason having lost six seniors from pating a strong fall season — Coach last year’s Upper School squad, but the Kristan Moses expects another top Lady Jaguars look to field a competi- four finish and a trip to the Georgia tive team under the direction of Coach Independent School Association state Lesley Thompson and returning ath- meet. The team will be led by Zoe Bagel letes Abby Stein, Danielle Sokol and and Kyle Rabinowitz, who aim to finish Brooke Ratner. The season starts Aug. in the top 15 in the state. The first meet 11 against Elite Scholars Academy. will be Aug. 27 at Garrard Landing Park The AJA Middle School volleyball in Roswell. team also has high hopes for the seaWeber is fielding its first girls son. Coach Penny Eisenstein said the fast-pitch softball team this fall under player turnout at tryouts has been so Coach Scott Seagraves. ■
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EDUCATION panel of investors and launch real companies. The program is offered in more than 100 communities as either an after-school enrichment program that meets weekly between November and May or as an in-school elective. “We are very interested in bringing the program to Atlanta because it is already a hub of innovation and economic growth,” said Gayle Jagel, the founder and CEO of YEA! Avi likes blue best for his Havdalah spice box. Startup funds are available from Sam’s Club through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for Hadassah Preschool Program communities interested in launching Begins Aug. 30 Hadassah invites children ages YEA! Applications are being accepted 3 to 5 and their parents to participate at www.uschamberfoundation.org/yea in the opening session of its Training Wheels/Al Galgalim Jewish family education program at no charge. The Rosh Hashanah-themed program Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. to noon is the first of nine Sunday morning sessions scheduled around Jewish holidays throughout the school year. Trained Hadassah volunteers lead the sessions. Activities include songs, stories, crafts, games and holiday foods so that parents and preschoolers can share the pleasures of celebrating Shabbat, Sukkot, Chanukah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover Yom HaAtzmaut and Shavuot in addition to Rosh Hashanah. After the first session, the program carries a few. Reservations are required for the Aug. 30 session. Visit www.hadassah. org/atlanta, or contact the Greater Atlanta Hadassah office at 678-443-2961 or atlanta@hadassah.org. YEA! Seeks Atlanta Start Riley Benner, 16, of Rochester, N.Y., employs refugees to hand-sew reversible, high-end, silk ties for his business, Phoenix Haberdashery. Rachel Zietz, 15, of Boca Raton, Fla., the CEO of Gladiator Lacrosse, is on track to make her first million this year. Brandon Boynton, 18, of Pendleton, Ind., is saving hundreds of students nationwide from bullying with his app, The Bully Box, an anonymous reporting tool for school districts. All of them are alumni of the nonprofit Young Entrepreneurs Academy. YEA! transforms middle and high school students into entrepreneurs through a 30-week, hands-on program. YEA! teaches students how to generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a
through Aug. 31. C2 Tutoring Essay Contest The new C2 Education center in Dunwoody is celebrating its opening with a contest to win 30 hours of tutoring services. The center will name two winners in each of three age groups: first to fifth grade; sixth to eighth grade; and ninth to 12th grade. An elementary school student entering the contest should draw a picture of his or her hero and explain why that person is the hero. Students entering the middle school level should write an essay of at least 150 words on one of these two topics: • Why and how is education im-
portant to you? • Think back to a favorite class or educator (teacher/coach/director/principal). How did this person make a positive impact in your life? High-schoolers should write at least 200 words on one of these two topics: • Why and how is education important to you? • Sometimes people do things over and over again before they are successful. Write about how you succeeded because you kept trying. Entries are due Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. and may be submitted by email to dunwoody@c2educate.com or delivered to the center at 1400 Dunwoody Village Parkway, Suite 1402B, Dunwoody.
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Education Briefs
AJT 25
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
YOUTH
AJT 26
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EDUCATION
Scouting With a Jewish Twist More boys wanted for Pack and Troop 1818
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single mother of two boys found a good way for her family to fit in and make friends after moving to Atlanta from Melbourne, Fla. Janet Simmerman signed up Austin, now 9, and Matthew, 11, to become Cub Scouts with Pack 1818, one of two Jewish Boy and Cub Scout troops in the Atlanta area. She then promptly became committee chair for the organization and made herself indispensable. “I do all the behind-the-scenes organizing and facilitating, the calendar and scheduling for our events, supporting the cub master, doing popcorn sales, and making camping arrangements,” she said. “I just can’t explain how my sons have grown. To be in the great outdoors, to have different experiences, be with other people, with the philosophies of being respectful, of being responsible, being courteous,” Simmerman said. “Pack 1818 was a godsend to us.” Atlanta’s other Jewish Boy and Cub Scout troop is at Torah Day School, Simmerman said, and is more religious than 1818. “We have Jewish themes. We say a small prayer at the top after hiking. We have a Chanukah party as opposed to a Christmas party. When we’re camping, we do a short Shabbat service. So it’s not over the top.” Pack 1818 is recruiting boys to join the group and is holding a special event Aug. 16 at Garrard Landing Park in Alpharetta to attract new Scouts. “We want to concentrate on the boys that are first grade to fifth grade but hope to attract some older ones also to fortify the troop,” Simmerman said. The pack and the troop — for sixthgraders and up — each have about 16
members. “We don’t want to be humongous, but we cer- Top left: Cub Scouts in Pack 1818 tend to the tainly want to bring more American flag during people into the fold.” a camping trip. Paul Carling is the Boy Top right: Members of Scout troop leader and used Pack 1818 learn about the to lead the Cub Scout pack. space shuttle program. “What I get out of it Bottom left: A Pack 1818 first and foremost is playing Scout practices on a rock-climbing wall. time with my son, Ronnie, who is 13,” Carling said. “We Bottom right: Scouting do things we’d never get to activities include model boat races. experience unless we were in Boy Scouts, such as going on an overnight campout, sleeping in a cave, rappelling down a they are cliff or whitewater rafting. Unless it’s more in tune organized and put into a group, you’re with what never going to have the opportunity Scouting is with your son.” all about. Seeing Ronnie and the others They are fobecome responsible young men who cusing more can take care of themselves is another on the Scouting itself, on brotherhood bonus for Carling. “Learning skills and what it means to be Jewish.” makes them mature, helps them grow Carling summed up the benefits of up, become more thoughtful,” he said. becoming a Boy Scout: “It’s just a cool “There’s an actual agenda they must thing. It’s organized, it’s safe, it’s well follow in order to advance, especially if thought out, and it’s fun.” ■ they want to become an Eagle Scout.” Pack/Troop 1818 falls under the auspices of the Marcus Jewish Community Center; similar groups are usually organized by a church or school. Troop 1818 and Pack 1818 “are special because they decided to focus on Judaism and Scouting and how they go together. That’s an interesting twist,” said Tony Rosenberg, Jewish representative for the Boy Scouts’ Atlanta Area Council Religious Relations Committee. “The charter organization looks out for the unit, from an administrative standpoint. JCC is a charter organization on behalf of 1818. That’s unique.” He added: “These boys don’t all go to church or school together, so I think
Who: Jewish Boy and Cub Scout Troop 1818 What: Recruitment and opening day Where: Garrard Landing Park, 8000 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta When: 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16
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AJT 27
SIMCHAS
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en and Glenda Alexander of Atlanta celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Israel this spring. The couple married at the Progress Club on Techwood Drive in April 1965. They are the parents of Leon and Scott Alexander and the grandparents of Brandon, Meghan, Caleb and Owen Alexander.■
Engagement Goldberg-Gabriel
C
ydney and Martin Goldberg of Marietta announce the engagement of their daughter, Summer Long Goldberg, to John David Gabriel, son of Carolyn and David Gabriel of Charleston, S.C. Summer is the granddaughter of A. Ervin Goldberg of Atlanta and the late Esther Goldberg. Summer graduated from Washington and Lee University with a double major in business administration and Spanish and earned a juris doctor degree from the Charleston School of Law. She is a trust administrator for The Private Bank in Chicago. John graduated from Clemson University with a degree in business management (supply chain and logistics) and a minor in Spanish. He is an account manager for Kapstone Container Corp. in Chicago. An October wedding is planned in Charleston at the Lowndes Grove Plantation.■
7/20/15 3:15 PM
OBITUARIES
Dave Ben Zion Grossman 87, Sandy Springs
Dave Ben Zion Grossman, 87, of Sandy Springs passed away peacefully Friday, May 29, 2015. He was born in Jacksonville, Fla., to Dora and Harry Grossman, both of blessed memory. Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Sylvia, and his grandson Jay Richer. He is survived by his daughters, Karen Richer (Ronald) and Barbara Lauter; a son, Paul (Harriet); grandchildren Rachel Saraga, Dara Richer, Steven and Emily Lauter, and Melissa Hill; great-grandchildren Kylee Saraga and Adelaide Hill; sister Eileen Servos; and brother Sheldon (Gail). Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Graveside services were held Sunday, May 31, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Jack W. Shemaria 93, Atlanta
Jack W. Shemaria, age 93, of Atlanta died peacefully on Saturday, July 25, 2015. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, whom he loved dearly, Rachel Benbenisty Shemaria; son Merrill Shemaria; sons and daughters-in-law Barry and Nancy Shemaria and Mark and Gwen Shemaria; brothers and sisters-in-law Hymie and Sukey Shemaria and Louie and Iris Shemaria; sister-in-law Emily Amato; brother-in-law Dr. Milton Krainin; and grandchildren Brooke, Justin, Margo, Natalie and Jacqueline. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Matilda Shemaria. Jack was born in Atlanta and grew up on Pryor Street. He was a graduate of Commercial High School and enlisted in the Army seven months before Pearl Harbor. He obtained the rank of sergeant, served in the Machine Records Unit, where he worked with early IBM punch card machines, and was stationed in England leading up to D-Day. After that he served in the Pacific. After his service he opened Jack’s shoe repair on Peachtree and 10th streets and later moved to Edgewood Avenue. In 1970 he joined his brothers at Bennie’s Shoes at Broadview Plaza. Jack was a gentle, caring soul who loved everyone, and everyone loved him. The family would like to thank all of his full-time caregivers during the past three years, especially Sadiq Parker and George Mphande, for all of their compassionate work. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Graveside services were held Monday, July 27, at Greenwood Cemetery with Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bennie and Matilda Shemaria Fund at Congregation Or VeShalom or Jewish National Fund. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Harriet Littman Cohen, 66, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., mother of Temple Kol Emeth member Amy Merlin, on June 30. Edwin Ehrenhalt, 90, of Alpharetta, Temple Kol Emeth member and father of Lou Ehrenhalt and Evan Ehrenhalt, on July 25. Rosalyn Hosenball of Sandy Springs on July 2. Harold Kaplan of LaGrange on July 21. Jesse Rolnick, 102, of Atlanta, father of Temple Sinai member Alan Rolnick, on July 22. Rosalin Samet of Roswell on July 24. Miriam Schein of Sandy Springs on July 23. James Sturrock Sr., 70, of Espanola, N.M., father of James Sturrock Jr., Genevieve Lancaster and Lochlin Sturrock, on July 24. Herbert Weinstein, 89, of Delray Beach, Fla., father of Congregation Beth Shalom member Laurie Besmertnik, on July 8.
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
Death Notices
AJT 29
CLOSING THOUGHTS OBITUARIES – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING
Going Back to School
M
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
y husband, Zvi, and I were having dinner, discussing (as usual) the tribulations of the Jewish people, so I decided to lighten the mood. It seemed the perfect time to broach the subject of my evolving lifestyle. I announced that I’m ready for the next Big Thing. I am a former high school teacher, with 12 years’ experience in classrooms of young adults; however, to do something new, significant and extremely challenging, I am about to help out in a local elementary school. Let me repeat: elementary school. My husband usually supports my decisions. I once bought a fuzzy orange rug that did nothing but clash and shed. I prepaid a worker to paint our kitchen. He left town, supposedly to help his grandmother move into a trailer, and never came back. Of those and countless other errors of judgment, Zvi was wonderfully understanding, but my desire to work with schoolchildren met with disapproval. “Chana, you know how unpleasant you are when you get sick,” he stated. “Do you want to put yourself in the breeding ground of contamination? You’ll be sick all the time.” I decided to disregard his use of the word “unpleasant” and stay focused. It’s true that, thanks to our children and grandchildren, I have suffered and kvetched through strep throat, the flu, conjunctivitis and head lice, all presumably contracted by them at school. The first was so unpleasant that, to this day, a grandchild’s momentary hoarseness causes my own throat to sizzle. The last was so unbearable that I still check my hair thrice daily. (It’s harder than you think. If you had my hair, you’d understand. See the photo above.) In the past, men and women my age were considered fortunate, no longer obsessing about office rivalries or rising at dawn to rinse out one’s only intact pair of pantyhose. There was a time when retirees took up bonsai, watched “The Doctors” or slept late. Retirees took long, leisurely walks in the middle of the week and stopped without guilt for ice cream and dough30 nuts.
AJT
Retirees went to an 11 a.m. movie and caught a second film that same afternoon. That’s how it used to be, but not anymore. Now it’s not only unhealthy to sit in a chair, reading thrillers while drinking bucketfuls of coffee, but it’s absolutely shameful. The right kind
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
CROSSWORD “Misdirection”
By David Steinberg Editor: DavidBenkof@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Moderate
Chana’s Corner By Chana Shapiro cshapiro@atljewishtimes.com
of people over 65 are the ones who “do something.” The latest issue of the AARP magazine featured golden-agers who rope broncos and climb mountains. I just heard about a 92-year-old who wrestles with his grandson’s team. This fellow’s wife cross-trains with him. The modern senior citizen can’t stand downtime. Deep in my heart, I knew that only working at an elementary school would put me in the category of meaningfully engaged old person. It would take every ounce of energy, creativity, patience and moxie I possess, and, moreover, I would have to amp up my immunizations. Fortunately, I like children, and I’m willing to engage the assistance of experts when I need them. With a bit of prodding, I received the following advice from a sampling of fourth- and fifth-graders: Watch out for kids who are sneaky or mean (how will I know until it’s too late?). Find out where all the bathrooms are. Don’t joke around because either kids won’t get it or they’ll think you’re a loser who’s trying too hard. Wear “normal” clothes; however, crazy socks are OK. If a kid speaks Spanish, don’t embarrass yourself by speaking Spanish back. If a kid does something stupid, leave him alone, pretend you didn’t see it, and don’t try to make him feel better. If a good kid asks to borrow money, you can lend it, but only once, and not more than a dollar. Now I’m good to go! It’s back-toschool time, and I wish for all of us, students, teachers and parents, a year of great learning and, of course, no pink eye or nits! ■
ACROSS 1 “Feh, pick one boyfriend!” 8 Impose a plague on 12 What tensions in the Middle East will ideally do 16 1913’s “Cohen Saves the Flag,” for one 17 Third 31-Across book 19 Fourth 31-Across book 20 Preparing to dispose of, as a chocolate gelt wrapper 21 Temple membership charge 22 Golden Globe winner Dinah 24 Made dough at a bagel shop? 25 Former ambassador Moshe 26 Course for Israeli immigrants to the U.S.: Abbr. 27 Landed via El Al 31 It’s written from right-to-left, like each Across entry in this puzzle 34 Jewish religion et al. 36 31-Across form, often 38 Have the effect of matzo ball soup on the soul 40 Nat ___ (“Shadow Soldiers: Israel” network, informally) 42 Israel’s third-largest trading partner 43 Israel began sending one to the Olympics in 1952 44 Present time? 48 Noshes on 49 Fifth 31-Across book 52 Menorah mishap residue 55 Only method for producing kosher meat 56 ___ Yar 60 Jerusalem Biblical Zoo heavyweight 62 Tree mentioned in Isaiah 63 She can’t remarry 65 Second 36-Across book 67 Job for Ginsburg 70 Main 31-Across character 71 Israel’s is around $228 billion 72 Abbr. once seen in kosher markets 74 Goldman Sachs closes them 76 Its eruption caused a tsunami that submerged Atlit Yam 78 Plotz sounds 79 Challah ingredient 82 Boxer and Franken, at times 86 First 31-Across book 88 31-Across locale, sometimes
89 Shylock quality 90 Encyclopaedia Judaica, e.g. 91 Technion hurdle 92 Einstein’s collection DOWN 1 “Give me children, or ___ I die”: Rachel 2 Nearly bubkes 3 Red Sea formation 4 Peeper, to Emma Lazarus 5 Souvenir, as from a Birthright trip 6 Harden, Job-style 7 President’s Medal and others 8 JDate exchange, for short 9 Compete in the Jerusalem Marathon 10 Post-Pesach digestion aids 11 Jewish campus group 12 Churchill who supported the Zionist movement 13 Hebrew form of Abe 14 2013 Spike Jonze film 15 Bubbe’s specialty 18 Baer vs. Schmeling outcome, 1933 23 Japheth’s brother 25 Full of schmutz 26 One needing real gelt to pay off a mortgage 28 Flowery Hebrew name 29 Lech-___ 30 “The Nazarene” author 31 Ralph Lauren line? 32 “Found the afikoman!” 33 Ayalon Highway, for instance: Abbr. 35 Jerusalem Post informants 37 Spike, as grape juice 39 Used an Uzi 41 Philistine city 45 ___ zemirot, Shabbat prayer 46 Theologian Kaufmann 47 Service admonition 50 “On the Jewish Question” essayist Karl 51 Enjoyed kugel 52 Barbara
Walters is one 53 Display chutzpah 54 Knesset assistant 57 Vehicle that doesn’t operate during Shabbat in Tel Aviv 58 In biblical days 59 Sound of klutzes colliding 61 Lower Galilee boarding school 64 Sanitary state, as at the Ichilov Hospital 66 Gradually drives meshuga 68 Pharaonic symbol 69 Where rabbinical robes hang 73 Brandeis bigwigs 75 Walker known for antiSemitism 77 Emulate a concerned Jewish mother 78 Part of William S. Paley’s CBS, briefly 79 The Talmud considers it an example of the weak who cast terror on the strong 80 Jezreel Valley kibbutz 81 Old-style “Oy vey!” 82 Take in, as light 83 Drink that’s Hebrew for “be exalted” 84 Goliath’s was big 85 Body part equivalent to itself, biblically 87 Sandy Koufax stat
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AJT 31
SPORTS OBITUARIES – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING Israel’s Path to Russia ’18 Runs Through Spain, Italy
, lASER & AESTHETICS CENTER
Even as Israeli soccer’s hopes to qualify for the 2016 European Championship have faded with three consecutive losses, a FIFA draw has created a monumental challenge to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Israel was drawn into European Group G with 2010 champion Spain, four-time champion Italy, Albania, Macedonia and Liechtenstein. Qualifiers will be played from September 2016 to November 2017. Only the group winner automatically qualifies for the World Cup. It would be a huge surprise if Israel finished higher than third. Meanwhile, Israel sits in a tie for third in Group B of European Championship qualifying with four games left. Israel’s next game is Sept. 3 at home against Andorra.
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Softball Winners Set
Sunday, July 26, wrapped up the regular season for the B and C divisions of the Atlanta Men’s Synagogue Softball League. Temple Kol Emeth, which went 2-0 on the day, clinched the C division over Congregation Or Hadash in an 8-6 game. Kol Emeth and B winner Congregation Ariel, which clinched July 19, have the No. 1 seeds for their divisions’ double-elimination tournaments, starting Sunday, Aug. 2. In the A division, Congregation B’nai Torah clinched first place with wins over Temple 1 and Congregation Or VeShalom. Five regular-season A games are left to be played Aug. 2.
Week 8 Softball Standings
*Clinched Division
A Division
W 8
0
Or VeShalom
6
3
Sinai 1
5
4
Temple 1
4
5
Dor Tamid 1
4
5
Beth Tefillah
3
4
Ahavath Achim
3
6
Chabad
1
JULY 31 ▪ 2015
B Division
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L
B’nai Torah*
L
Ariel*
8
2
Young Israel
8
2
Beth Tikvah 1
6
4
Emanu-El
6
4
Gesher L’Torah
5
5
Etz Chaim
3
7
Dor Tamid 2
2
8
Beth Shalom
2
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C Division
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Before
T
Kol Emeth*
7
3
Or Hadash
7
3
Beth Jacob
6
3
1
Beth Tikvah 2
5
4
1
Sinai 2
4
6
Temple 2
3
7
Bet Haverim
2
8
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