Atlanta Jewish Times, No 49, December 13, 2013

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DECEMBER 13, 2013 –December 19, 2013

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CLOSING OUT CHANUKAH WITH THE HAWKS PAGE 12

HIP-HOP END TO CHANUKAH PAGE 15

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ISRAEL

Saluting the Legends of the IDF

OPOERATION ENTEBBE VETERANS SHANI AND SHELLY M. HONORED

T

he Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Southeast Region hosted the Legends and Heroes of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Operation Entebbe, on Dec. 2 at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

This donor appreciation event hosted over 200 FIDF supporters and community leaders from across Georgia and featured Brigadier General (Ret.) Joshua Shani, C-130 Squad Commander and Lead Pilot for Operation Entebbe, who offered personal insight into this historic mission.

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

On July 4, 1976, as Americans celebrated the bicentennial, four Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules transport aircrafts secretly flew to Entebbe Airport at midnight without being detected. Then Lt. Col., Joshua Shani who was the lead pilot, transported a 29-man assault unit led by the late Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, brother

of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with a black Mercedes that looked like President Idi Amin’s vehicle and Land Rovers that usually accompanied Amin’s Mercedes.

This force was composed entirely of commandos from the IDF unit Sayeret Matkal, and was given the primary task of assaulting the old terminal and rescuing the Israeli hostages.

Other featured speakers included FIDF National Director and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon and 2nd Lieutenant Shelly M., who is a reconnaissance combat officer in the Combat Intelligence Corps.

2nd Lt. Shelly M. was the only female soldier, among 20 men, in her professional training unit and completed this training with honors.

This marked the first time in the history of the IDF that a female sol-

dier received this award in a combat intelligence course.

Second Lt. Shelly M. is also the recipient of the President’s Award of Excellence, presented to her by Israel’s President, Shimon Peres.

FIDF Southeast Chairman, Garry Sobel stated, “This evening, we honored an IDF legend in Brigadier General Joshua Shani, for his involvement in Operation Entebbe.

As General Shani stated Top: Brigadier General (Ret.) Joshua Shani himself, “The IDF is now in the Bottom: Garry Sobel, Chairman, FIDF Southeast Region job of saving the lives of Jews – no matter where you are in the world.”

His remarks embolden the mission of FIDF; Their job is to look after Israel. Ours is to look after them.

“Tonight, we honored the brave men and women that serve in the IDF, both the legends, like General Shani and the heroes, like Lt. Shelly M. Both, in their own unique way, are contributing to the safety and security of Israel.

In return, we honor them, we support them and we offer them the comfort in knowing that they are not alone – we will look after them,” said Seth Baron, Executive Director, FIDF Southeast Region.

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Israeli Pride

GOOD NEWS MADE IN THE JEWISH STATE THIS PAST WEEK

ANEMONE VOTED ISRAEL’S NATIONAL FLOWER. The bright red calaniot (anemones) that cover the country’s southern fields each spring have now become Israel’s national flower. In an online election campaign held by the Society for the Protection of Nature (SPNI) and Ynet, the anemone attracted 28 percent of the vote.

WORLD’S LARGEST HANUKKIAH. On the last (eighth) day of the Jewish festival of Hanukah, Israel Electric Corporation switched on the eighth candle on the largest Chanukah candelabra in the world. It is made from nine aerial platforms, reaching a height of 28 meters and can be seen from all over Tel Aviv.

NEW TREATMENT FOR ADD. Israeli start-up Alcobra set out to develop a pill that would reduce blood alcohol but instead came up with a treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder.

Alcobra claims metadoxine has all the benefits of Ritalin, Concerta, and Strattera without their drawbacks.

ISRAEL WINS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S RIGHTS PRIZE. The Women in Parliament Global Forum awarded Israel with its prize for progress at the European Parliament in Brussels. According to the OECD, Israel is among a minority of 9 percent of developed countries with gendersensitive institutions in the seat of government.

ISRAEL AIDING SYRIA. Israel has been sending water and baby food to besieged Syrian villages. The IDF has also been using its groundbreaking freeze-dried plasma innovation in its field hospitals - to save wounded Syrians from blood loss.

GEOTHERMAL POWER FOR HONDURAS. Israel’s Ormat Industries is to build and operate the first-ever geothermal power plant in Honduras.

The 18-megawatt renewable energy plant will begin operations in 2016.

ISRAELI WINS BOOK PRIZE. The Japan Cultural Institute has awarded Professor Ben-Ami Shillony of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem its annual prize for promoting the understanding between cultures. The JCI’s Foundation for Furtherance of International Cultural Ties selected Prof Ben-Ami’s book “The Secret of Japan’s Strength” (recently translated into Japanese) ahead of 74 other works in Japanese.

REGULATING PROTEINS IN THE BRAIN. In May, Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that too much of the “bad” protein Tomosyn led to Alzheimer’s disease in mice. Now they have identified lists of microRNA molecules that regulate proteins that are either good or bad for brain performance.

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APPLE BUYS PRIMESENSE. After 18 months of talks, Apple Inc confirmed that it has acquired Israel’s PrimeSense for $350 million.

PrimeSense’s gesture recognition hardware and software is embedded in Microsoft’s Kinect system used in Xbox 360 game consoles.

WORLD’S OLDEST WINE CELLAR. Archaeologists have discovered a 3700-year-old wine cellar in Tel Kabri, in the Galilee. Forty intact jars were found in the cellar, which dates to 1700 BCE. Each of the jars would have held 50 liters. The cellar is estimated to have held 2000 liters of the strong sweet wine.

HASMONEAN-ERA HOUSE DISCOVERED. For the first time ever, the remains of a Hasmonean building are being excavated in Jerusalem. Coins found in the ruins of the house date the building to the 2nd Century BCE - the time of War of the Maccabees against the Syrian-Greek rulers that led to the Jewish festival of Chanukah.

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CHEMICAL STOPS BRAIN FROM AGING. Researchers at the Hebrew university of Jerusalem and Israeli startup TyrNovo have discovered that a unique compound, named NT219, selectively inhibits the process of aging in order to protect the brain from neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.

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AJT E

LETTER from the publisher

very week, I receive at least a couple compliments or complaints about something in the Atlanta Jewish Times. While most people leave anonymous voice mail messages, some people are brave enough to put their thoughts in writing. Unless expressly told not to print them, those letters are published as Letters to the Editor in the AJT. One such letter, written by Lisa Siegal, regarding Chana Shapiro’s Oct. 25, 2013 column has spawned not only the highest volume, but also the most emotional comments.

To put things into perspective, Chana writes a piece every other week.

This is her column, based upon her experiences and her opinions. The focus of Chana’s Oct. 25 column is her perception that today’s children (and their parents) are rude, insensitive, and selfish.

Chana criticized children at a neighborhood restaurant who complained about their french fries in loud piercing voices; their younger siblings who walked around the restaurant in socks; and their parents who Chana perceived as unwilling to make their children behave. Near the end of her column, Chana asks, “Am I hopelessly ‘out of it’ and fatally old fashioned?”

Ms. Siegal wrote in, explaining in very passionate terms why she felt that Chana is “out of it” and why Chana reacted improperly. Siegal pointed out that Chana knew nothing about that family, other person’s story that annoyed her.

Siegal posited that there may have been medical, emotional, or financial reasons why the family acted that way, and that life is too short to complain about minor inconveniences, when we should be grateful for every moment that G-d gives us. Siegal explained that a dear friend of hers died prematurely and that those piercing voices of children are really a blessing.

I know firsthand what Siegal is saying. My sister’s son, Caleb, has severe autism. He looks normal, but he does not act normally. He may sit on the floor and start rocking and crying, or he might start throwing things, or yelling random words. Because of this, my sister rarely takes him out in public.

Sometimes, though, she has no choice, and like the parent about whom Chana complained, my sister takes him to a neighborhood sandwich shop or grocery store, but never to a quiet, upscale, or adult place.

When Caleb acts out for attention, one way to curb the behavior is to ignore it, and it will often stop after a few minutes. Yelling or arguing prolongs the fun. My nephew is not a bad child. My sister is not a bad mother.

Although Siegal certainly made several good points in her letter, people complained that I should not have printed Siegal’s letter (or I should have edited it,) because it was mean and insulting toward Chana.

Siegal did resort to a little name calling, but words like “fussbudget” and “curmudgeon” are hardly the types of vulgarities that need redacting like the “n” word or the “f” word.

If Siegal’s letter merely insulted Chana, without any editorial critique behind it, then I would not have published the letter.

Also, I treated this letter in the same fashion as letters to the editor that basically attacked other columnists, such as implying Arlene Applerouth is a heretic, or Eden Farber is ignorant and divisive, or Dr. Eugen Schoenfeld uninformed.

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

None of them were all that offended when they had unflattering letters written about them. I did not think this would be any different.

Columnists write to be entertaining and provocative. Chana asked for readers to tell her what they thought. Chana is a warm, kind, caring, and deeply religious woman. She is a loving mother and grandmother.

Perhaps Chana, but more so those complaining in her defense, should follow Siegal’s advice: be appreciate for your family – they are a blessing; don’t sweat the small stuff; and don’t judge other people unless you have walked a mile in their shoes.

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Other people’s thoughts are printed in the Letters to the Editor.

AJT

LETTERs to the editor

Dear Editor, Well, that was quite the tirade as rebuttal to Chana Shapiro’s concern about rudeness. My take on the original article is that Chana was not bothered over a ketchup argument, but about children infringing on other diners through their inappropriate behavior, including running around in stocking feet. I wouldn’t allow my children or grandchildren to take off their shoes in a public area, much less control the place.

And, as a former teacher, my students were instructed how to behave.

If we took a field trip, it was to learn.

A field trip without supervision or instruction perfectly exemplifies today’s quality issues in education.

Compare that described school outing to what I recently observed at The Epstein School. Students sat attentively and responded appropriately as two classmates performed the Thursday morning service in anticipation of their upcoming Bar/Bat Mitzvahs.

Afterwards, these children were given specific instructions as to proper behavior during the upcoming Sabbath services. A teacher attended with them. Each child not only behaved during services, but during the open lunch following.

Disciplined? Absolutely. Adults provided instruction and expectations. “Entitlement” attitudes are destructive, both in the moment and to society’s future.

The word “parent,” used as a verb, is defined as “to raise and nurture with both love and discipline.”

Permissive parents do their children no favors by allowing run-amuck behavior. Some hotels and clubs won’t host Bar/Bat Mitzvah parties because the attendees are wild and destructive to the property. Even a Shabbat Kiddush can be dangerous. Whether their child is touching every cookie, dropping food and plates without picking up, or playing tag through the crowd, parents pay no attention.

Discipline, control, expectations, obedience and authority are not bad words. Children can understand them and still “enjoy” life and childhood.

Boundaries are positive, not punitive.

I stand with Chana.

Marsha Londe Dear Editor, Thanks for publishing my letter.

I have had some great responses. I understand some people think I was overly harsh. But the crowd of moth-

ers and teachers out there who appear to be an oppressed majority have been sending me high fives all week.

Some people have suggested that if I knew Chana Shapiro, I would not have written that letter. I might equally point out if Chana had known that family of four sitting in the restaurant, she might not have tried to have them thrown out.

Of course, that family of four was just minding their own business. Chana, however, was writing a column in a newspaper with a nice subscription base. And when you write an article about tossing people out of restaurants, you are perhaps inviting someone out there to call you a fussbudget and a curmudgeon.

I am sorry if Chana got her feelings hurt. But if you are going to be a columnist, and you write something atrocious, people will respond.

For all I know, the next edition will be a backlash of angry folks writing about me. I won’t take it personally.

And neither should Chana. She got a good conversation going and that is the aim of a writer I presume.

As to any suggestion that you censor letters so that people all say nice things, I don’t think that is the job of an editor either. I hope not anyway.

That certainly isn’t why I read journalism.

I don’t think I would think much of your paper if you had called me up to suggest I write a “nice” letter – one less offensive, that didn’t use words like “fussbudget”.”

Oh, by the way, one other person did let me know he didn’t like my letter. He thought it was too long. It is a Twitter world out there I guess.

Lisa Siegel Dear Editor, Just to let you know- I was very disturbed that you allowed a letter writer to bash Chana Shapiro like that.

I would think you should censor letters more carefully and not allow people bashing, especially when one of your seasoned writers is targeted, though it wouldn’t have been okay to do that to anyone.

Chana is an older lady, a very sweet, kind, and sensitive one at thatI wish you would have protected her from the pain she surely suffered as a result of that cruel and vicious attack.

Rachel Stein

atlanta

CLIFF WEISS

I actually sit in an interesting position with regard to the letter to the editor

by Lisa Siegel about Chana Shapiro, with regard to her latest essay. I know and like both women.

After I read Lisa’s letter to the editor, I called Lisa to vouch for Chana’s good character. My guess was that Lisa had no idea who Chana was, and if she did, she never would have written her letter quite like she did to the editor.

Lisa did not know who Chana was, nor did she understand that Chana writes many of her essays tongue and cheek. After talking with Lisa, I could tell that she had had a bad day when she wrote the letter.

I spoke with Chana today and told her that I had called Lisa.

I have learned a number of things from this event. I have re-learned that you have to be very careful what you write. I have also learned that sadly the Atlanta Jewish community has grown so large that not everyone knows each other.

There was a time, when we first moved to Atlanta 22 years ago, that we knew most everyone, including Chana Shapiro.

In thinking about how to fix this hurt, with both Lisa and Chana, you as editor can do something going forward.

When and if you receive a letter like Lisa’s again, that goes to the heart of a person’s character, rather than to the heart of the issues Chana raised, I recommend you give that person a call and suggest that they re-write the letter raising the issues rather than hurting a person’s character.

I totally believe in the right to free speech, but I don’t believe there is anything wrong with an editor contacting the letter writer.

We live in an age where at the click of a button we can send out something and regret it, and it’s there in cyberspace forever.

You, as an editor, can make a difference by seeing through an angry letter and giving the letter writer a chance to think about what they wrote before it’s published. We’ve all been there and I believe we all would take a chance to make things right if we could.

Sincerely, Pam Williams

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community

Inaugural Frank Family Leadership Institute LOCAL LEADERS’ INTERNATIONAL TOUR SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

L

ast week seven young leaders from across the country participated in the inaugural Frank Family Leadership Institute.

The vision and inspiration of Lois and Larry Frank, the Institute seeks to identify emerging local leadership to prepare them to lead their JCRCs and the JCPA. Hailing from communities large and small in the east, west, south and Midwest, the group began their journey together with a visit to Krakow, Poland. They visited the Jewish ghetto, the Rama synagogue, and spent a day at Auschwitz and Birkenau.

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But their trip was not only about the past. The group had an inspiring lunch with Jonathan Orenstein, director of the JCC in Krakow, where they learned about the resurgence of Jewish life in Krakow.

After a whirlwind trip, the leaders flew to Israel to join the JCPA Leadership Mission, meeting with high-level Israeli, American and Palestinian officials, and addressing pressing concerns of the Jewish state.

DECEMBER 13 â–Ş 2013

The leadership group gathers under the famous entrance way to Auschwitz.

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Inspiring Feminism in the Orthodox FROM THE ANNUAL JOFA CONFERENCE

By Eden Farber

AJT contributor

“I

sn’t it difficult,” said the man sitting next to me on the airplane, “to reconcile modern feminism with Orthodox Judaism? Like, they don’t really go together.”

He brought this up having noticed my JOFA (Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance) bag and notepad; I was flying home from their 8th International Conference.

“Sure it is.” I replied. “That’s what JOFA is for.”

My conversation with the unaffiliated Jewish man who happened to sit next to me on the airplane is just a glimpse of the seemingly paradoxical goal that JOFA has.

Judaism and feminism. Tradition and innovation. Halacha (Jewish law) and modern culture. This is the world in which I live—and it’s a confusing one.

Luckily, it’s also a world full of strong and inspirational Jewish leaders, and I had the amazing privilege of spending a weekend with them all.

The JOFA Conference was buzzing with excitement. It began with a Saturday night arts festival entitled “Wine, Women and Song.” Based on the conference’s theme, “Voices of Change,” all the performances were about women’s voice being heard.

The night began with myself and some other high schoolers performing our own poetry at an Open Mic—a very empowering experience.

A band sang about misunderstood women like Lilith; Jewish A Cappella groups performed beautifully; Ofir Ben Sheetrit, a religious girl who was suspended from her school in Israel for singing, performed and had a Q&A. Her story, which I wrote about in a previous column, was extremely powerful.

“Everyone needs to follow their passions,” she responded, when asked if she felt like she was betraying her community by performing, “and mine is music.”

With the Saturday night arts fes-

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It was a day I’ll never forget.

The conference began with an Opening Plenary with speakers from all different levels of affiliation with JOFA—current leaders, founding members, college fellows, and more.

It would be silly to characterize the panel as perfect, but no other word comes to mind.

Every speaker spoke with power and conviction and the room roared with excitement. We have done so much; we have so much to do.

Walking out of that room, I felt on top of the world, surrounded by leaders and role models I felt like an ant but the biggest, strongest, most courageous ant you’d ever seen – a part of something huge and worldshaking.

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Sessions varied from topics of halachic innovation to social justice.

Some key titles were: “Fertility and Jewish Law,” “Green is the New Black: Women and Money,” “Breaking the Chains: Making a Difference in the Agunah Fight,” “Here, Queer, and Machmir: Orthodox Life in the LGBTQ Community,” “Feminist Influences on Halacha,” and many, many more.

It was easy to see that every person, conversation and session was going to shape the very future of religious progressive life. This is a community that came together from every corner of the world to have these conversations about change.

With these conversations often happening so far away, it’s sometimes hard to be so passionately committed to them. But now I feel rejuvenated, recommitted and re-energized to the goals of Orthodox feminism.

JOFA Conference 2015. See you there.

Atlanta’s Eden Farber, 16, was recognized in the Jewish Heritage National Poetry Contest of 2010 and has published op-eds and poetry in Modern Hippie Magazine and the NY Jewish Week’s Fresh Ink for Teens section.

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

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eden’s garden

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oNe maN’s opiNioN

A Quest for a New Jewish Identity

THE EVER-CHANGING MEANING OF JUDAISIM AND HOW TO COPE

BY EUGEN SCHOENFELD AJT Contributor

I

n the last 64 years – that is, since I arrived on the shores of this country – a frequently repeated Jewish mantra has been this: “Jewish people are losing their identity.”

We no longer attend services, we no longer consider ourselves to be a part of “kelal yisrael,” the Jewish community. All of this occurs in the decades after the Holocaust.

For years, we confessed a belief in “echod,” that Judaism, like the Torah and G-d, is one and indivisible. However, the reality remains that for the last two centuries Judaism has become fragmented.

I would like to comment on this observation. But before I do, I must declare the following caveat: in the history of Judaism there was but one Hillel who was capable of reducing the essentiality of Judaism to one sentence.

I do not have this capability, and yet I have chosen this topic – one so complex that volumes could be written on the subject. But I feel the need to examine the break down in Jewish homogeneity and the rise of heterogeneity so that we can find a common denominator that will unify us.

One fundamental tenet in the Jewish religious perspective of the last two millennia is the eternality of G-d and the Torah.

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

As we celebrate Shevuoth, the time when the Torah was given to all the Jews, it reminds me of a rabbinic legend. On the sixth day of Sivan when we stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, all Jews – those of the past, present and future were united and in unison Jews declared “naase v’nishmah:” we shall obey and listen.

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While all religions proclaim that some things are eternal, the fact remains that the world changes and that includes our view of G-d.

There remains a difference between proclaimed, eternal ideals and reality.

In Jacob Neusner’s book, “The Death and Births of Judaism,” he reinforces this view and writes that throughout its long existence, Judaism has evolved and assumed many different forms.

Some forms of Judaism disappeared and new forms were born. As Judaism changes the requirements for identity, the beliefs and behavior required to retain one’s membership in the collective must also change.

Let me enumerate some of the changes that Judaism has undergone.

Judaism began as a cultic religion consisting of practices that centered around a Temple. In this religion the man – G-d relationship was believed to be achievable through sacrificial offerings; Josephus commented that long before one could see Jerusalem, one became aware of the odors of burnt offerings.

All the while, the prophets began making exceptions to sacrifices and challenged its validity and efficacy.

From an anthropological perspective, sacrifice was a practice designed on the principle of reciprocity. Through sacrificial offering, similar to gift giving, people sought both to please and at the same time to control G-d.

The idea was that if I give G-d a gift and I please him, he surely is beholden to me until He repays the gift.

In 348 B.C.E, when some of the exiled Jews returned to Israel, under the leadership of Ezra the Scribe, and began to rebuild the destroyed temple, they also brought along a new religious institution developed in Babylon: the “Beth Haknesseth” or the synagogue.

With these words, we accepted the yoke of the Torah. But of course, the Torah is subject to interpretation, thus insuring that it would be relevant not only for the past, but for all times and conditions.

The synagogue was developed in Babylon to substitute the Temple that was destroyed. In this manner, Judaism started transforming into a prayer centered religion rather than a cultic one.

To Jews, both G-d and His Torah were and are considered the universal and unchanging teaching. Of course it also led us to proclaim that Judaism is eternal – what was true then is also true now.

By the year 70 C.E., with the destruction of the second Temple, Judaism as a cultic religion ceased to exist.

There is an interesting legend regarding this change.

Contrary to the dictum expounded by the author of Ecclesiastics, “there is nothing new under the sun,” both the social and the physical worlds are constantly changing.

Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai, who was considered by some as the savior of Judaism, walked with one of his students amidst the rubble of the destroyed Jerusalem. The student was greatly distressed.

“Now that the Temple is destroyed, where will we find atonement for our sins?” he lamented.

To which Rabbi Yochanan responded: “Do not be despondent, we have something even far more efficacious than sacrifices – we have charity.”

Even one century before the destruction of the second Temple a new form of Judaism arose: Rabbinic Judaism.

From the first through the third century, the Talmud accompanied by the Oral Law and its collateral interpretive literature, such as the Sifre , Sifra, and Mekhilta, defined Judaism as a systematized belief and behavior governed by pre and proscriptions. Together with the various legends, the Talmud became the source-book that determined Jewish life.

For popular use, these laws and associated customs (minhagim) were condensed into the books of Yoreh Deah, which was further abbreviated in the Kitzur Shulchan Aaruch, a book that became the guide for being Jewish, used by and large to ascertain what behavior is and is not permissible.

The content of faith was summarized in Maimonides’ 13 principles that became the Jewish catechism. To be a Jew – that is, for a person to define himself as a Jew and to be accepted into the Jewish community – one had to accept and be committed to Jewish laws, rituals and faith. The Jewish people existed as a homogenous people with little or no deviation permitted.

In the late 1700s, significant changes in Europe began to affect Jewish life. Ghetto life, with its demand of Jewish-Christian segregation, was ending. One of the largest ghettoes, the Frankfurt Ghetto, opened its gates in 1796 and the Jews of the city began to migrate to the great business and cultural centers of Germany.

The social forces that brought these changes to Jewish life were industrialization and the French Revolution, particularly the impact of Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte was the first European monarch to grant citizenship, and to some degree, autonomy to Jews.

This does not mean that anti-Semitism disappeared. One merely has to examine the history of the Dreyfus Affair to see the impact anti-Semitism continued to have.

However, because of increased and unfettered interaction among people of

different religions and education, Jewish life and, collaterally, Jewish identity changed. These conditions broke down the high degree of Jewish homogeneity that characterized ghetto and shtetl life.

In contrast, as interaction increased between various cultures, interaction between Jews and non-Jews, via intra-Jewish heterogeneity increased.

Jewish people began to adopt perspectives and behavior of the people with whom they lived. They began to see that goodness and truth is not limited to Judaism alone.

The second force that changed Judaism and Jewish identity was education, which led to increased secularization. The degree to which Jewish laws and customs affected behavior had not only lessened, but in many instances became immaterial.

Life was no longer guided by the Halachah. In short, Jewish commonality became fractured, which led to ever increasing differences among Jews.

In the 1930s in my shtetl, there were five distinct Jewish groups: The Mithnagdim, the Chassidim, Liberal Jews, Assimilated Jews and the Zionists. We lost the golden chain that for millennia held us together and was served as the foundation for our identity.

The significant question today is: Can we find another force that will bring back our commonality and with it, our unity?

In this regard, I agree with Professor Isaiah Berlin. In a world that is generally becoming more secular, religion is losing meaning and no longer provides answers to existential questions that people seek.

Instead, he proposes that “all Jews who are at all conscious of their identity as Jews are steeped in history.” The single most powerful factor that unites Jews and makes the rest of the world recognize Jews as a people is their “historical sense, a sense of continuity with the past.”

It is therefore most important that we change the primacy of being Jewish from religion and invest it into the teaching of history that is, the sense of our historical continuity.

Eugen Schoenfeld, a professor and chair emeritus at Georgia State University and a survivor of the Holocaust, speaks at Shema Yisrael during the High Holidays.

AJT

CHANA’s CORNER

The Shapiro Family Tries to Do a Mitzvah IS IT TRUE THAT NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED? AJT contributor

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hen the Pinkus family down the street moved to Israel, we had a chance to do an easy mitzvah – my favorite kind. I know we should joyfully do the hard stuff, like harvesting bamboo for community sukkahs or driving vans of preteens to out-of-town conventions and chaperoning them over the weekend, but we’re only human.

Personally, I’m more the painless mitzvah type. So, given the chance to gain some serious spiritual points while doing very little, I offered to continue a practice the Pinkus family had started.

They had created a shady rest stop for the many pedestrians on their way home from one of the neighborhood synagogues. This oasis consisted of a wrought iron bench, resting curbside under a tree. Beside the bench was a cooler containing bottled water for thirsty walkers.

A welcoming sign proclaimed, “Shabbat Shalom,” and (increasing the mitzvah component of this setup) a small wire wastebasket for the empties was secured to the bench.

Strolling down our street on a hot Shabbat or a Yom Tov afternoon, people appreciated the Pinkus gift, which had the added benefit of increasing socialization among congregants of many synagogues that stopped at the setup.

Rabbi Pinkus claimed that this mini-retreat was a cinch to manage, once the essential bench and cooler had been obtained.

Friday afternoon before Shabbat, a dozen bottles of water were immersed in ice in the cooler, ready for the Saturday crowd. The “Shabbat Shalom” sign was added to the mix, the wastebasket was secured, and a potential community center was born.

When we learned that the Pinkus family was making aliyah, we offered to buy the bench. We were told that if we continued the Shabbat ritual, they’d give us the bench and its accessories. They moved the heavy bench curbside under our trees.

Over the course of a month, my husband bought bottled water and we filled the cooler with ice we’d collected and bagged in the freezer all week.

Setting up the “Shabbat Rest Stop” became a natural part of Friday afternoon, just like putting candles in the candlesticks and setting the table with a challah board and kiddish cups.

It was great seeing people sitting on the bench or picking up a drink.

We were especially delighted when we cleaned the ice chest Sunday morning and found it empty with discarded water bottles in the wastebasket.

One particularly hot Saturday morning, around 9:30 a.m., I checked the cooler to see if anyone had taken water on their way to synagogue.

There was no water because there was no cooler. Good grief!

Would people, now deprived of liquid refreshment, stop using the bench?

I considered the possibility that a misguided, very thirsty individual, (perhaps just returning from years in Afghanistan with a dozen waterdeprived comrades), happened by our little setup and had no choice but to filch the bottles.

But the cooler? Unforgivable!

Would the day’s pedestrians think that we had abandoned our community service? Would they shun us after this single mishap?

We borrowed a cooler, and the next week we were back in business. The cooler was smaller, holding only six bottles, but the weather was changing. Unbelievably, it happened again.

There was a cooler-water bottle thief afoot. A family council was convened (my husband, one daughter, one grandchild and I), and it was unanimous.

Why invite criminality? We would keep only the bench and the sign.

Two weeks later, the sign was decimated by a Friday night storm. The only thing left was the bench.

Tuesday is a trash pickup day in our area. There are giant piles of garbage out there, among which many good things are conveniently placed for someone with a pickup truck and muscles. That’s the reason that just such trucks and drivers are seen roaming the streets early Tuesday morning. I’ve learned that the most valuable items are those made of metal.

You guessed it: two Tuesdays ago, my husband and I, setting out for a walk, saw that our bench was gone, along with the attached wastebasket.

It was too much, and I wasn’t going to take it anymore.

This week, I got up early and positioned myself at the head of the block, poised to spot pickup trucks. Sure enough, at eight o’clock, a white truck, with no logo on its sides, turned onto our street.

With the bravery of the fellow who stood in front of the tank in Tianan-

men Square, I stepped squarely in front of him, making it impossible to pass. As the driver pulled over, I wrote down his license number.

“Do you pick up metal things left in the garbage?” I asked. Probably thinking that I had old lawn furniture waiting for him, he answered in the affirmative.

“And are you in the habit of driving down this street on Tuesday mornings, looking for those things?” I asked, in a Perry Mason tone.

Another positive response, but with hesitation. What was I up to?

“I live on this street,” I gestured forward. “You may have mistakenly removed a bench we had near the curb in front of our house.”

The man made a move to pull away, but he knew I had his plate number.

“If you took the bench, I assume it was a mistake,” I cooed. “We need that bench. I hope you won’t have to buy us a new one.”

He and I both knew that the purloined bench, whoever pinched it, was now scrap metal. We also knew that I was never going to receive a replacement.

I moved away from his truck. The driver, out there to make a few bucks from other people’s discards, may or may not have taken something that was not garbage. But he’d definitely tell the story to other metal gatherers he knew, and he’d be careful in the future. The rest doesn’t matter.

Chana happily reports that an intact Shabbat setup, with cooler, drinks and sign (but no bench) is hosted by the Paley family. She notes that her bench was close to the street, yet far away from the garbage. She assures her readers that the Shapiros remain resolute: they’ll try again in the spring. A bench donation will be gladly accepted.

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DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

By Chana Shapiro

REtiRE iN st ylE. youR st ylE. 9

AJT

COMMUNITY

BBYO Crowns King and Queen WINTER FORMAL DRAWS IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS

ANNUAL CHANUKAH PARTY BRIGHTENS THE NIGHT

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

BYO held its annual winter formal dance on Sat., Dec. 7 at Temple Emanu-El. More than 250 teens in attendance danced the night away with music provided by VIBE Entertainment. Teens voted on the 2013 Atlanta Council King and Queen, and Zachary Fram (senior at Walton High School), and Bianca Levy (senior at Johns Creek High School) were crowned with the honor. The evening was a blast and the teens had a great time.

Editor’s note: to learn more about BBYO, contact the office at bbyo@atlantajcc.org.

Ketura Hadassah Celebrates with Huntcliff Residents

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n collaboration with the staff at Huntcliff Summit, the Ketura Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah held its annual Chanukah party for the residents of Huntcliff Summit on Dec. 1.

Lively Chanukah music along with Broadway and Jewish favorites presented by songstress, Hani Stempler, and accompanist, Judy Boehm, entertained the guests.

Of course, the occasion would not have been complete without the lighting of the candles followed by refreshments, which included latkes and jelly donut holes.

Bianca Levy and Zachary Fram

1: Happy Couple Frances Goodman and Gerald Scheidt, Huntcliff residents, enjoy Hanukkah together.

2: Annie Kohut, co-president of Ketura Hadassah, with a smile as bright as the Hanukkah candles.

3: Suzy Wilner, Ketura Hadassah Life Member, prepares to serve Huntcliff guests.

4: Hani Stempler brightens the Huntcliff Hanukkah celebration with song.

Photography courtesy of Sorrell Roth.

5: Ketura Hadassah volunteers at Huntcliff Summit Hanukkah party gather around Menorah.

L-R Kimberly Caras, Marcy Caras, Edie Friedman, Sheila Dalmat, Suzy Wilner, Judy Greenberg, Sylvia Rosenberg, Annie Kohut, Rhea Resnick, Joan Solomon, Rita Goldstein.

Not shown: Ellen Frank, Karen Keeter, Cindy Siegler.

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AJT

community

Preschool Participates in Prestigious Early Childhood Initiatives THE MJCCA’S SUNSHINE SCHOOL TRAINs TO BETTER CHILDHOOD CARE SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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he Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s (MJCCA) award-winning East Cobb preschool, the Sunshine School, recently participated in several prestigious early childhood conferences:

ing better infant/toddler child care and that the top childcare providers were selected to participate.

Donna and Debbie Present the Georgia’s Infant Toddler Mentor Program

About The Sunshine School The Sunshine School, one of the MJCCA’s two preschools, is located at Temple Kol Emeth, in Marietta.

It has more than 60 years of expertise in early childhood learning; and

a nationally-acclaimed, pluralistic, Jewish values curriculum, “An Ethical Start™”.

Editor’s note: for information, call Raye Lynn Banks at (678) 812-3714, or visit online at www.atlantajcc.org.

Following their training, Donna Feller and Debbie Seiden were asked to present the Georgia Infant Toddler Mentor Program on two occasions: • Debbie and Donna were asked to be on a panel to present the Mentor Program at the South Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC) conference in Columbia, S.C. on Oct. 5;

Georgia’s Infant Toddler Mentor Program Child care in Georgia is getting a boost from a new program to expand expertise through a network of well-seasoned caregivers. Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Georgia Program for Infant/Toddler Care (GPITC) has been working in partnership with the South Carolina Program for Infant/Toddler Care to develop a team of mentors who can share their experience with other childcare professionals.

The MJCCA’s Sunshine School recently participated in mentor training in Atlanta, conducted by Quality Assist (a training firm that provides approaches that raise the quality of early childhood care and education).

Participants, in total 16 from South Carolina and 13 from Georgia, attended 60 hours of classroom training geared toward helping them be effective mentors to other infant/toddler teachers.

Among those participating in Georgia were Sunshine School toddler teachers Donna Feller and Debbie Seiden.

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) Commissioner Bobby Cagle said the mentor training is essential for develop-

Bright from the Start’s Jacquice Jones said, “We were so pleased that Debbie and Donna had presented with us at the SCAEYC and GAYC conferences because they are amazing at what they do, and are a true resource to other preschool teachers that can benefit from their training and expertise.”

3 Star Quality Rated Leadership Conference.

Additionally, Raye Lynn Banks, Sunshine School Director; and Denise Shub, Sunshine School Teacher recently attended a 3 Star Quality Rated Leadership Conference. This conference was a unique opportunity to recognize and sharpen the leadership skills of those who are “Leading the Way to Excellence in Georgia.”

Gail Luxenberg, MJCCA CEO explains, “We are so proud that the Sunshine School has participated in these prestigious programs. The awards that were given to our teachers are a testament to the high standards that the MJCCA preschools embody.”

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

Debbie Seiden and Donner Feller

• Debbie and Donna presented the Mentor Program at the Georgia Association of Young Children (GAYC) conference in Atlanta on Oct. 12. Sunshine School teacher Lisa Mallis was also at the GAYC conference with Debbie and Donna. (Donna and Lisa were able to attend the conference through a scholarship from Quality Rated for being a 3 Star Program.) Donna and Lisa accepted awards on behalf of the Sunshine School for being a 3 Star Quality Rated Program, and for both the MJCCA’s Sunshine School and Weinstein School for being NAEYC accredited.

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AJT

community

Closing Out Chanukah with the Atlanta Hawks CHABAD OF GEORGIA SENDS OFF THE HOLIDAY IN STYLE SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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ednesday night, a group of more than 300 converged on the court at Philips Arena following the Hawks game to light the Grand Menorah. The group danced, sang traditional Chanukah tunes, and celebrated an Atlanta Hawks win over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers.

The group was joined by owner of the Atlanta Hawks, Bruce Levenson, who lit the first candle of the Grand Menorah and joined in the dancing and songs of the group.

“Well for me, Chanukah brings back all those joyous memories of childhood,” said Levenson after the lighting. “It’s when we celebrated as a family and remember the story of Chanukah.”

Much in the same way that the Maccabees defeated the Greeks in

the story of Chanukah, the Atlanta Hawks felled the invading Los Angeles Clippers 107-97. For the Clippers, the loss sent them to 12-7 with a 1-6 mark in their last 7 contests.

Atlanta moves to 10-10 with the victory heading into Friday’s game against Cleveland.

The night’s festivities were enjoyed by members of congregations from across Atlanta. Representatives from Yeshiva, Epstein and the Weber school lit candles along with various Chabad congregants.

According to event coordinator, Rabbi Isser New, the event was suggested by the National Chabad.

“This event was actually part of a national push from Chabad throughout various cities like Miami, New York and Boston,” said Rabbi New. “We want to help spread the miracle of Chanukah and the message of the

Torah, so we brought it here to Atlanta.”

The Hawks won the game handily over the Clippers led by Paul Milsap, Al Horford and Kyle Korver’s combined 69 points. Still the Rabbi says the team had some extra help.

night’s game.

“Chanukah is a holiday about good fortune,” said Levensen. “We had good fortune tonight to get the win and we had good fortune to have all our Jewish fans here tonight rooting for us.”

“I think the Hawks played an inspired game,” said Rabbi New, “It definitely helped that they had around five or six hundred people praying and cheering them on to victory.

I think they might have been infused with a little Maccabee magic.”

Bruce Levensen doesn’t put as much stock in “Maccabee magic,” but he was quick to draw a parallel between the holiday and the

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

REMEMBER us when you are ready to get moving!

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Top: Bruce Levensen with thumbs up.

Middle: Rabbi Isser New on the micorphone.

Bottom: Ethan Ooziel lights the candles.

AJT

Community

JWFA Raises Money for Hungry Atlantans

FOOD AID, CHANGING THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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he Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta (JWFA) collected and distributed nearly $3,000 to Jewish families in need of food aid on the evening of Dec. 5.

insecurity among Jewish women and girls.

Editor’s note: women interested in JWFA can learn more online at www. jewishatlanta.org/jwfa. For more information, please contact Rachel Wasserman at (678) 222-3716.

Nearly 50 women participated in pooling their resources to help fight hunger in the Jewish community.

JWFA partnered with Jewish Family and Career Services, who will identify the families in need and provide them with the donated resources.

The Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta is dedicated to changing the lives of Jewish women and girls. The Fund is comprised of Jewish women of all ages and backgrounds who use the power of collective giving to find longterm solutions to problems and issues that impact Jewish women and girls.

On Feb. 6, JWFA will host a seminar to further explore the issue of food

From left to right: Lisa Greenberg, Laura Soshnik and Sara Franco

Giving Without Expecting Anyting in Return JF&CS HANUKAH GIFT PROGRAM HELPS OVER 50 LOCAL FAMILIES

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT hroughout the holidays it is common to hear people say that the best gift one can give is to help those in need.

Now in its 18th or “Chai” year, Jewish Family & Jody Reichel Career Services’ (JF&CS) Hanukah Gift Program provides daily necessities and presents to Jewish families who are in need during the holiday season.

“Giving is a very personal act. Our giving reflects what we value most in our lives, who our friends are and how we want our world to be. I look forward to the Hanukah Gift Program each year because it is a way for myself and others to give without expecting anything in return,” says Jody Reichel, the founder of the Hanukah Gift Program.

This year an impressive $7,821.36 was raised, in addition to hundreds of gift cards and items purchased. These efforts helped make a memorable holiday for 54 families in the Atlanta Jewish community.

All of these families are clients of JF&CS and each are working with a clinician who personally knows the hardships they are experiencing.

“Thank you to Jody for spearheading this program and allowing me and so many families in our community the opportunity to help those in need,” says Denise Deitchman, Manager of Volunteer Development at JF&CS. “I’ve been working with Jody for eight years and I am so proud of the ways that we are able to support families that really need help. That in itself is a wonderful gift.”

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DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

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AJT

arts & life

GHA Hosts Play from Israel

“SIMON’S SHOES” TOUR HELPS RECONNECT TO the holy land

BY LEAH BRAUNSTEIN LEVY SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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he Greenfield Hebrew Academy was delighted to host a two-man show performed completely in Hebrew and starring Elad Mizrahi and Keren Meiri of the Orna Porat Theater for Children and Youth, based in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The performance, called “Mr. Simon’s Shoes,” was a play within a play that explored children’s feelings about old and new, familiar and strange, within the framework of the story of an American girl who moves to Israel and finds it hard to feel at home.

GHA invited the Epstein School to join them for the performance. The actors were so vivid and entertaining that even those with limited Hebrew skills enjoyed it.

“The kids were great—it was nice to see American children so engaged in a play in Hebrew,” said Mr. Mizrahi.

“Israel is ours,” Ms. Meiri added, “but the U.S. is something else. They laughed in all the right places!”

“Theater is an international language,” said Mr. Mizrahi.

The Hebrew language teachers at GHA also enjoyed the show. Rinat Porat-Cohen approached the stage

to tell the actors how moving she found their portrayal of an American girl trying to find her place in Israel.

“I had tears in my eyes,” she said.

Interim Head of School Leah Summers elaborated, “Our love for Israel is at the heart of the GHA mission. We are so grateful to the Israeli Consulate for bringing us such a wonderful way to connect to life in Israel—and to exercise our Ivrit!

It’s so important to us that our students get an authentic experience of the Hebrew language.”

Atlanta was only the first stop for “Mr. Simon’s Shoes.” Mr. Mizrahi and Ms. Meiri will be taking their show to Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco,

H A P PY H O L I DAYS DYER & DYER

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

from yours friends at

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Elad Mizrahi and Keren Meiri in “Mr. Simon’s Shoes.”

and Los Angeles, carrying all the scenery, costumes and props with them.

“Three bags for the show, two for us, and our carry-on luggage,” explained Mr. Mizrahi.

The tour was arranged by the Israeli House, a joint project of Israel’s Ministry of Immigration and Absorp-

tion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Its purpose is to maintain and strengthen the link between the State of Israel and Israelis living abroad, and the Israeli House provides the community with cultural events, children’s activities, and holiday celebrations, all in Hebrew.

AJT

in the moment

A Hip-Hop End to Chanukah PRODEZRA BEATS AT THRASHER PARK

AJT contributor

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hen you think rap, usually the last thing that comes to mind is orthodox Judaism, but there is a short list of Chassidic rappers lining the country, and even fewer of them are black.

While many of you were lighting your eighth candle, Chabad of Gwinett was ending Thanksgivvukah with a bang at Thrasher Park in historic Norcross featuring the only black Orthodox hip-hop artist I know of residing in Savannah Georgia.

Hailing from such company as Matisyahu, Shyne (AKA Moshe Levi) and Nissim Black, Prodezra Beats LeSHEM SHAMAYIM (his full performing name) was born Reuben Formey who started making beats as a hobby in early high school with just an old Casio board and computer.

After high school, he attended college in Atlanta and soon fell in with a bad crowd. Through what he describes as “little miracles” he found his way back to his Jewish roots and took an orthodox path to rediscover his Judaism by attending Yeshiva in both New Jersey and Jerusalem.

Prodezra and I first met at Limmud

He wants listeners to feel his music within their soul, and labels it a subgenre of hip-hop he notes as conscious and spiritual rap. One of the only orthodox rappers with a foundation in Southern Bump, Prodezra as a producer reaches into many genres to find and create his own beats.

He noted onstage last Wednesday that one of his closing tracks was more of a pop track than hip-hop and he has been known to produce tunes with a gracious touch of country, jazz and rock.

Now, if you thought the orthodox community in Atlanta is not hip, check yourself.

All of this was brought to the general public from the Chabad of Gwinett free of charge when you RSVP’d online or a mere $4 donation when you arrived on site. Included with your Chassidic beats was a full taste of Chanukah affair including latkes with apple sauce, homemade donuts, hot chocolate and one more Chanukah present for all in attendance, a copy of Prodezra’s full length album “Connection Revealed.”

Led by Rabbi Yossi and Esther Lerman, they did it right by ending the night with a full candle lighting and group song.

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You can recite a prayer or you can be the prayer, Yossi and Prodezra are truly the latter.

South when we both sat on a panel about the status of Jewish music in the industry. Pulling from his ChabadLubavitch teachings, he won’t take the credit for the music himself. To him, he is blessed from G-d to be a vessel of deliverance for his powerful yet positive sounds and lyircs - taking his full moniker “L’Shem Shamayim” very seriously – which means “for the sake of Heaven.”

I have attended Chabad services before. Chabad as an organization has amazing outreach programs for anyone to come and experience Orthodox Judaism, and are very welcoming. Before we ever affiliated with a synagogue we commonly vacated Chabad houses, especially during the high holidays when it was no longer easy to drive all the way downtown for the mixed denomination service held on Emory campus.

As a board member of The Altanta Jewish Music Festival

Bram Bessoff is a drummer and musician. When not onstage, Bram is a performance coach and music industry entrepreneur helping artists get the most out of their live shows and chart on Billboard. He sits on the board of directors as VP for The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival. Follow Bram’s experiences on, off and backstage @bram_rocks. Interact with him at #InItForTheMoment to share thoughts, comments and ideas about this column.

1 and columnist for this paper, I felt it was my responsibility to attend this event and report to the greater Atlanta Jewish Community that you can mix your music and religion to great effect.

The crowd was an excellent mix of young and old, black and white, international and all American, Jewish and non, all bound together by the true universal language of music.

And although Prodezra’s beats are killer, his lyrics are very meaningful and his swagger is truly as urban as you can get while wearing tzi-tzi and a yamakah, the most impactful moment of the night was when Rabbi Yossi was lighting the eight foot menorah atop a ladder.

1 -- Rabbi Yossi leads the crowd in celebrating the final night of Thanksgivukkah 2013 2 – Latke, hot chocolate and homemade donuts for all in attendance thanks to Chanbad of Gwinnet 3 -- Prodezra Beats raps Jewish life lessons to all in attendance at Thrasher Park, historic Norcross 4 -- Rabbi Yossi lights the final candle of Thanksgivukkah 2013 5 -- Bram & Prodezra beats reunite for first time in two years at Thrasher Park, Historic Norcorss for Chabad of Gwinnet Hip-Hop Chanukah Concert

Even in a precarious and uncomfortable position he took his time to recite the prayer. It could have been rushed, sang hastily and done while lighting the candles - but instead, he showed the prayer and G-d ultimate respect by singing a slow and caring hymn.

He took time to not only pronounce the words but added trills, melody and vocalizations to extend the length of each word in the prayer to bring its fullest meaning to light.

I usually rush through my prayers, but that night I saw the significance of giving Adonai our love and admiration by taking our time to recite the prayer. This used to drive me nuts as a kid, wondering why in my conservative synagogue things had to be repeated three and four times in slow tempos, but now I get it.

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DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

BY BRAM BESSOFF

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AJT

SIMCHAS

JEWS MAKING NEWS Compiled by elizabeth friedly

Adam Brody to Wed

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dam Brody, of “The O.C.” fame, recently became engaged to girlfriend, actress Leighton Meester (formerly of “Gossip Girl”). The couple, who met on the set of their film, “The Oranges,” celebrated earlier last month with a party in Los Angeles.

Brody and Meester have been together publically since 2011. The two are billed to act opposite each other once more in the upcoming comedy, “Life Partners.”

But for fans who can’t wait for “Partners,” Brody will be returning to the small screen in early 2014. The Hollywood Reporter announced that the actor would be guest starring on Fox’s “New Girl” as a hip, stay-athome father and ex-boyfriend of Zooey Deschanel’s character, Jess.

Brody was born to Valerie Siefman and Mark Brody, both of whom are Jewish. Brody became a Bar Mitzvah, along with his younger brothers, Sean and Matt Brody.

He left school at the age of 19 to pursue acting, and landed an array of smaller cameos before being cast as Seth Cohen on “The O.C.”

Israel’s Gadot to Play Wonder Woman

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

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sraeli actress, Gal Gadot has been announced as the new Wonder Woman in the upcoming “Batman vs. Superman,” sequel to 2013’s “Man of Steel.”

Her appearance will mark the feature film debut of Wonder Woman, the iconic comic book character who has been in existence since 1941.

Gadot is set to star alongside Henry Cavill (Superman) and Ben Affleck (Batman) in the Zack Snyder directed film.

Former Miss Israel, Gadot originally began working as a model, but is best known in Hollywood for her role as Gisele in the “Fast & Furious” films, including the two most recent installments.

Gadot was born and raised in Rosh Ha’Ayin, Israel to two Israeli parents, both sabras. Her extended family originated from Austria, Germany and Eastern Europe. The year she turned 19, she joined the Israeli Defense Force as well as won Miss Israel.

The actress has one daughter with husband Yaron Varsano. Gadot and Varsano also own a hotel in Tel Aviv.

Bat Mitzvah

Audrey Rose Kaye

A

udrey Rose Kaye, will celebrate her Bat Mitzvah at Temple Sinai on Jan. 4, 2014. She is the daughter of Stacey and Steven Kaye of Sandy Springs, older sister of Margo Kaye, and the granddaughter of Rita and Arthur Steinglass of Wayne, N.J. and Boynton Beach, Fla. Audrey is currently in seventh grade at Davis Academy.

For her Mitzvah project, Audrey will be collecting purses, handbags, shoes and accessories for Dress for Success Atlanta which promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire and career development support to help women thrive in work and in life.

She traveled to Israel during the summer of 2013 and became a Bat Mitzvah on Masada. Audrey is also active in the local performing arts and will be cast as Violet in Davis Academy’s Spring 2014 Musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Birth

Shane Levitt

J

essica and Alex Kalish welcome Shane Levitt born on Nov. 20, 2013. He weighed 10 pounds and 5 ounces, and was 22 inches long. Shane is the grandson of Claire Peck of Sandy Springs, Stan Kalish of Atlanta, and Marc and Janet Broad of Marietta.

Great-grandmothers are Ruth Etkin of Boca Raton and Roslyn Goldberg of Sandy Springs.

Wedding

Archer & Perkins

M

azel Tov to Aminah Archer and John Perkins Jr. on their recent marriage, held Oct. 13 at The Lake House at Avondale Estates. Aminah is the daughter of Louis and Susan Archer of White Plains, N.Y., and John is the son of John Perkins Sr. and Sandra Cary of Hampton, Va. For their honeymoon, the couple planned a cruise to the Caribbean.

AJT

MATZAH BALL SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Life in Haran vs. Life at University

LOOKING PAST THE TRIALS OF NOW AND FOCUSING ON OUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE AJT CONTRIBUTOR

J

ust yesterday, my suitemate, sitting curled up on our purple arm chair, let out a long sigh and said, “Man, my sleep schedule is just way off right now.”

And how did we respond? With a slightly sarcastic, “You have a sleep schedule? Wait, I thought you were in college.”

As laughable and light-hearted as the response was, it also spoke to a lot of truths about this little microcosm that is college. The day a freshman starts his first day at a university, he forfeits all the norms he spent his whole life learning and growing accustomed to.

Here, we don’t have sleep schedules or eating schedules. The words “breakfast,” “lunch,” and “dinner,” are entirely obsolete and having chicken fingers, fries, and eggs at 2 a.m. is entirely acceptable.

We don’t have “hobbies” or “interests”—we have homework and graduation requirements. Our weekends start on Thursdays (or sometimes even Wednesdays) and our birthdays are national holidays.

In our world, rinsing is the same as cleaning, chatting is the same as venting, and the term “dirty clothes” is always up for debate.

And all of it—the atmosphere, the rules, the change in priorities—it’s all funny and silly and exciting; but it’s also the only method we all have for coping with the far more significant aspect of the college microcosm: work.

I see these four years as being very similar to a baby’s first year of speaking—on day one you know nothing, and somehow, by the end, you’re a master.

The average college student probably reads at least 10 textbooks cover-to-cover and probably learns at least 200 new words while in school.

We spend four years in a constant cycle: learn, study, take a test, learn study, take a test. And what’s most unfortunate about the whole process is watching a friend or classmate lose interest in a subject, simply because they are struggling to succeed in specific class.

You want to help them, but it’s difficult to encourage someone to pursue something when they’re struggling so hard with it.

not forsake you until I have done what I have spoken concerning you” (Genesis 28:14-15).

was reminded of his destiny, I too, walk around campus here at WashU and am reminded of what I can become.

This week, we finish the book of Genesis and as such, we read about the death of the patriarch, Jacob. But instead of talking about the Jacob’s death, I would prefer, instead, to talk about his life.

And from then on, Jacob persevered. He fathered the men who eventually grew to be the 12 tribes of Israel, he remained faithful to G-d even after his son was taken from him, and he gathered his family in Egypt where he grew to be prosperous.

College life is full of reading and testing and stress. It’s a strange microcosm with strange rules, but it’s just that—a microcosm. It’s just one period of life.

Jacob and his twin brother, Esau, were born to Isaac and Rebecca after 20 years of infertility. They were both blessings to the world, but Jacob was special in that he, the righteous one, received the birthright blessing from his father.

He lived 77 peaceful years in his homeland before fleeing to Haran.

Once in Haran, Jacob spent a total of 14 years working for his right to marry Rachel because he had been deceived after the first seven.

He then endured years of infertility with Rachel and subsequent years of mourning for his favorite son, Joseph’s, supposed death. Jacob and his family made their final move when they went down to Egypt.

Nachmanides, in his commentary on the Book of Genesis, writes, “Everything that happened to the Patriarchs is a signpost for their children.

This is why the Torah elaborates its account of their journeys. These all come as an instruction for the future: for when something happens to one of the three Patriarchs, one understands from it what is decreed to occur to his descendants.”

We, too, can do it. Just as Jacob

We aren’t just working to work; we’re all working to become something.

Rachel LaVictoire (rlavictoire@wustl. edu) is a graduate of the Davis Academy and Westminster High School, recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Elliott Merit scholarships at Washington University of St. Louis and an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

She was recently named to the board of St. Louis Hillel.

There, Jacob “dwelt in the land of Goshen, and acquired property in it, and they were prolific and multiplied greatly” (Genesis 47:27).

Through the life of Jacob, we see three stages: the calm, the difficult, and the prosperous. In his homeland, Jacob encountered little to no trouble. He was calm. He was a pious man who “dwelt in the tents,” and lived a happy life as such.

His life in Haran, though, was difficult. Yes, it was there that he fathered many of his children, but this was after years of labor, deception, and prayer. He was able to persevere, though. He knew he would become a great nation. G-d had come to him in a dream and said, “Your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall gain strength westward and eastward and northward and southward; and through you shall be blessed all the families of the earth and through your seed. And behold, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will restore you to this land, for I will

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

BY RACHEL LAVICTOIRE

17

AJT

what’s happening

Fri., Dec. 13

“Native Towns” Lecture, bring your lunch and enjoy a program on the Native American towns, settlements, and trails of the Metro Atlanta Area, with Alice Graybill, of Georgia State University. Part of the Friends of Georgia Archives and History’s Lunch & Learn lecture series.

Fri., Dec. 13, 12 p.m. Free. Georgia Archives, www.georgiaarchives.org

Sat., Dec. 21

Bat Mitzvah Celebration, join Etz Aviv Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah in celebrating its Bat Mitzvah year with dinner, dancing and a candle lighting ceremony. Sat., Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. $18/person. Hilton Garden Inn, Kennesaw. Info, marshamike@comcast.net

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Post-Chanukah Blues Shopping, join our community, with And Thou Shalt Read for schmoozing, crafts for the kids, refreshments and 18 percent off all blue items in store or online.

Mon., Dec. 5, 10 a.m. And Thou Shalt Read. (770) 993-5432.

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Thurs., Jan. 26 “The Geller Girls” Performance, come see “The Geller Girls,” written by Janece Shaffer at a discounted price from the CSI Sisterhood. Thurs., Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. $39.38. (until Jan. 2). Alliance Theater. Contact, (404) 733-4604.

Sun., Jan. 29 Sun., Jan. 5

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Wed., Dec. 25

Holocaust Survivor Speaker, Elizabeth Ungar Lefkovitz, a Holocaust survivor from Hungary, will speak about how she survived Auschwitz, as well as a death march, through cunning, strength and unwavering faith in G-d. Sun., Jan. 5, 2 p.m. Breman Museum.

Fri., Jan. 10

“Underutilized and Underappreciated” Lecture, bring your lunch and enjoy a program on the underutilized and underappreciated records at the Georgia Archives and what we can learn from them. Fri., Jan. 10, 12 p.m. Free. Georgia Archives, www. georgiaarchives.org

Community Book Club Meeting, gather together to discuss the novel “Defending Jacob,” by William Landay. Sun., Jan. 29. Info, pgrad@att. net or (404) 876-2199.

Sun., Feb. 2

A Musical Tribute to Judy Tager, featuring pianist Benjamin Warsaw.

Beginning with a “Greet & Eat” dessert reception with Tager and Warsaw, followed by the performance.

Sun., Feb. 2, 3 p.m. $25/advance, $30/ door. Under 12 years free. Congregation Shearith Israel.

1150 Grimes Bridge Road, Ste 500, Roswell, Ga 30075 770 993-5428 dlombrozo@teamlogicit.com www.TeamLogicIT.com/RoswellGA Over 30 years of experience!

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• Basement is Perfect for Office, Gym or Media Room • Main Level Walkout to the Pool, Waterfall, Outdoor Kitchen, Tranquility •Garden and Play Area New Roof, Water Heater, Furnace, A/C Compressor • You Will Be Amazed at How Much Love and Care the Owner’s Have & Added Attic Insulation Put into this Home • Large, Flat Backyard with Plenty of Room for Pets, • Fantastic Private Location, Yet Close to Hospitals, Shops, Schools and Kids, Friends or Family!

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Ongoing

Sat., Feb. 22

Sisterhood Shabbat, Congregation Shearith Israel. Contact Betsy Stein if you are interested in participating. Sat., Feb. 22. Info, Betsy Stein at brsiegel@msn.com or (404) 315-0984.

Volunteer tutoring opportunity with the Atlanta Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Min. 30 minutes one-on-one per week, beginning this fall. Nine metro area elementary schools. (404) 843-9600.

Shabbat Candle Lighting Times shabbat blessings

Sun., March 2

Blessing for the Candles Baruch Arah A-do-nai,El-o-hei-nu Melech Haolam Asher Kid-shanu b’mitzvotav V’zivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat

“Return to Rich’s” Private Tour, a privately booked look at the Breman Museum’s “Return to Rich’s: The Story Behind the Store,” which has received rave reviews. Sun., March 2, 2 p.m. $15/members, $25/ non-members. the Breman Museum.

RSVP, hbrill@bellsouth.net or (404) 376-1931.

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of time and space.

You hallow us with Your mitzvot and command us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.

Blessing for the Wine Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Meelech Haolam, Borei p’ri hagafen Praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessing for the Bread (Challah) Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Melech haolam, Hamotzi Lechem min haaretz.

Corrections

Our Praise to You Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

Please take note of the following corrections to Marcia Jaffe’s piece “My Daddy’s President…What Does Your Daddy Do?” which appeared in the Dec. 6 issue of the Atlanta Jewish Times. Sherri Parman’s photo is incorrectly identified as Sherry Frank, whose photo was omitted.

Sherry Frank is pictured here in a hardhat. David Price’s photo was also omitted.

David Price

Fri., Dec. 13 5:11 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 14 6:10 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 20 5:14 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 21 6:13 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 27 5:17 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 28 6:17 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 3 5:23 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 4 6:22 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 10 5:28 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 11 6:27 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 17 5:35 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 18 6:34 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 24 5:42 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 25 6:40 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 32 5:48 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 1 6:46 p.m.

Sherry Frank

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AJT

may their memories be a blessing

Norman Cain

62, Powder Springs It comes with much sadness to announce the Dec. 2 passing of Norman Andrew Cain at the age of 62. Cain was a great supporter of Israel and the Jewish Community. The Cain family is widely known for their commitment to Pro-Israel public relations. Norman and Janet Cain coordinated many trips to Washington D.C. to advocate on behalf of Israel, as well as to educate and chaperone congressmen and senators from all over the United States, to better share the importance of Israel. Norman was a lifelong resident of Georgia. He was employed with the Ford Motor Company for 26 years before the Hapeville Plant closed, and was currently employed with the City of Atlanta as an electrician in Watershed Management. He and his wife, Janet were charter members of Trinity Chapel Church of God. He was a loving husband, father and devoted papa to his grandchildren. Norman’s dry wit and kindness will be greatly missed. Norman is preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Inez Cain and sisters: Janice Etheridge, Jean Daniel and Fay Re-

gin. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Janet Cain of Powder Springs; children: Michelle Cain-Washington of Marietta; Zachry (She`Na) Cain of Dallas, Jessica (Josh) Samanie of Powder Springs and Nicole (Josh) Lance of Powder Springs; sisters: Virginia Bennett of Union City, Runette Padgett of Union City, Eddie Laster of Tyrone and grandchildren: Rebecca Riley Washington, Ella Grace and Marshall Paul Samanie, Lucas Gene and Logan McKenzie Lance. Funeral Services were held at Trinity Chapel Church of God, and interment followed at Kennesaw Memorial Park, Marietta. Memorial Donations may be made in Norman Cain’s memory at The Center for JewishChristian Understanding & Cooperation at www.ohrtorahstone.org/ cjcuc/donate.php

Dora Berger 88, Atlanta

Dora Berger, 88, of Atlanta, passed away Dec. 4, 2013. Survivors include her loving husband of 65 years, Edwin Berger; daughter and son-in-law, Iris Berger Silver and Jerry Silver, Atlanta; four grandchildren and their spouses : Brian and Mara Silver, Michael Silver, Jodi and Jason Loar and Jordan Silver along with five great-grandchildren: Emily, Isaac and Erin Silver and Noah and Jonah Loar.

Mrs. Berger was Valedictorian of her high school, graduating a year early. She then attended the University of Alabama and finally graduated from Brawns Business School in Atlanta. Above all, she was involved with her family. Sign an online guest book at www.edressler. com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Congregation Etz Chaim, the American Lung Association or American Heart Association. A graveside service was held Dec. 6, 2013 at 10 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Shalom Lewis officiating. Arrangements

by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 451-4999

Esther Serwitz 103, Atlanta

Esther O. Serwitz, age 103, of Atlanta, died Dec. 7. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rubin Serwitz, of blessed memory.

Survivors include her sons: Arthur (Joyce) Serwitz, DVM of Birmingham, Ala. and Dr. Morrie Serwitz, Atlanta; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. Serwitz was the oldest living member of Congregation Shema Yisrael. Sign an online guest book at www. jewishfuneralcare.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Shema Yisrael, The Open Synagogue, 6065 Roswell Road, NE #3018, Atlanta, GA 30328. A graveside service was held Tues., Dec. 10, 2013 at Arlington Memorial Park with Bob Bahr, president of Congregation Shema Yisrael, officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 451-4999.

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

Gail Paller

20

65, Atlanta

Gail Paller, age 65, of Atlanta, died Nov. 15, 2013. She was a friend to all. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Jennifer Paller of Atlanta, and two grandchildren. A memorial service was held Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. at the home of Matthew and Jennifer Paller.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 4514999

AJT

may their memories be a blessing

Elliot Shoenthal 55, Decatur

Gerald Shuman 71, Atlanta

Gerald “Gerry” Shuman, a most wonderful son, husband, father, zadye, brother, uncle, and friend died on Dec. 2, 2013 following a lengthy illness. He was born on Jan. 1, 1942 and raised in Atlanta. He was a graduate of Grady High School and Georgia State University, served in the U.S. Marine Corp, and practiced both public and private accounting in Atlanta for 35 years. Devoted to his family, he is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mona Sorkin Shuman; children, Eileen Shuman, and Amy and Jeremy Rosenberg, all of Atlanta; brother to Robert and Joyce Shuman, Greensboro, N.C. and Sheila and Robert Landau, Atlanta; grandchildren, Sarah and Hailey Rosenberg; nieces and nephews, Brian Shuman and Jilian Gersten, Steven and Jacquelyn Shuman, Michael D. Shuman, Meredith and Geoffrey Gartner, and David and Allison Lazarus; and great nieces and nephew, Talia and Gracie Shuman, Joseph Shuman and Claire Lazarus. Sign an online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Graveside services were held Dec. 4 at 1:30 p.m. at Arlington Cemetery with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation B’nai

Torah, 700 Mt Vernon Hwy, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, The Greenfield Hebrew Academy, 5200 Northland Drive, Atlanta, GA 30342, and the Davis Academy, 8105 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, (770) 451-4999.

Kurt Elkan 92, Marietta

Kurt Max Elkan, born in Nuremberg, Germany, July 31, 1921, died at the age of 92, on Dec. 4 in Marietta. He was predeceased by his wife, Inge, and son, Marc. Kurt is survived by his daughter, Sandra Cummings and her husband Stephen; and daughter-in-law, Mindy Elkan.

He was loved and will be remembered by his grandchildren: Michelle and Ben Needle, Rabbi Shlomo and Devorah Elkan, Jeffrey and Carly Cummings, and Lisa and Issac Burger. He was very fortunate to have 12 great grandchildren: Alexis, Max, Maizy, and Remy Needle; Hadassah, Yanky, Menachem and Yosef Elkan; Riley and Payton Burger; and Gavin and Tyler Cummings. An online guestbook is available at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Graveside service was held 11 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 8 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, with Rabbi Shlomo Elkan officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, (770) 451-4999.

Serving Atlanta’s Jewish Community with Sensitivity and Respect Edward Dressler, President

770.451.4999

www.JewishFuneralCare.com David Boring Michael Braswell Allen Guertin Jonathan Miller

Licensed Funeral Directors

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

The Honorable Elliott A. Shoenthal, 55, passed away on Dec. 1, 2013.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years Fran, daughters Rachel and Rebecca, and sister, Barbara Dolin and faithful dog, Tess. Elliott was a native of Greensboro, N.C. He was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University School of Law. Elliott had just been reappointed for an additional four-year term as a full-time Judge of the DeKalb County Juvenile Court. He began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Glynn County, Georgia. He then served as a staff attorney at the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. Next he worked as an Assistant Solicitor for the Solicitor’s Office of DeKalb County. After that he worked for the Law Offices of Brian Wertheim in Decatur, Georgia as an Associate Attorney. Eventually Elliott opened his own law firm in Decatur. While practicing privately, he also worked part-time as an Associate Magistrate Court Judge in DeKalb County. Previously, he served as President of Decatur-DeKalb Bar Association. He was also involved with Leadership DeKalb. He was a guest lecturer at Emory University and served as a member of the First Lady’s Initiative for the Governors Office for Children and Families Forum on the Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee. He was an avid sports fan and athlete and participated in numerous sports as a player, spectator and coach.

He was a dedicated CrossFitter, and he enjoyed his workouts at the CrossFit gym in Decatur. He served as Soccer Commissioner at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. He served as a volunteer usher and was past president of the Brotherhood of Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs. He was a Commission Member of the Georgia Commission on Interpreters and a frequent speaker on the subject to ensure the rights of non-English speaking persons in the courts. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to DeKalb County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) www.dekalbcasa. org. Their mission is to recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in DeKalb County. Judge Shoenthal was an avid supporter of the CASA program and a mentor to CASA volunteers. He respected their work, and he was appreciated by many. Sign an online guestbook at www.edressler.com. A memorial service will was held Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Manuel Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030, with Rabbi Joseph Prass of Temple Emanu-El officiating.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 4514999.

21

JEWISH PUZZLER

by David Benkof

Across 1. Treble or bass 5. Place for a bagel and a schmear 9. ___ Diego (home of former mayor Bob Filner) 12. Tush 13. German-Jewish hockey player Kaufmann 14. Kind of surgery 16. “Gentleman’s ___” (1947 film about Antisemitism) 18. “The ___ They Are A-Changin’”: Dylan 19. Dance with sharp turns 20. Masada features where pigeons were housed 22. “Driving ___ Daisy” (1989) 24. “Stripes” director Reitman 25. “Power Rangers” producer Haim 28. “Truly God is good to Israel, to ___ who have a clean heart.” (Ps. 73:1) 31. Creatures in a 1982 Spielberg classic 34. He said “The Palestinians never miss a opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

35. Uzi or Galil 36. Jewish Agency org.

37. Songwriting duo Kander and ___ 38. ___ Green (London area with many Jews)

39. A-U linkup 40. Charles E. Smith Jewish ___ School 41. Some E-mailers 42. Crown Heights ___ (1991 event) 43. Chic monogram 44. Capital of Tibet 45. Pottery furnaces 46. Hebrew Union College’s first campus location 48. Saxophonist Getz 50. “Skedaddle!”

54. Bearlike 58. Inventor Berliner 59. Decorate a tallit bag, perhaps 61. ___ Adumim (suburb of Jerusalem) 62. Edible root 63. “___ East Report” (AIPAC’s in-house publication) 64. Advice columnist ___ Landers 65. “Miriam was leprous, as white as ___” (Num. 12:10) 66. Ladies, to Li’l Abner

6. Abel’s mother 7. Arrive at Ben-Gurion 8. “For You have cast me ___ the deep...” (Jonah 2:3) 9. “Waiting for God” philosopher 10. Work without ___ 11. ___ Ziona (Israeli city) 14. Kagan replaced him on the Supreme Court 15. Font selection 17. Fashion model Heatherton 21. Parts of baseball caps

23. ___ Adler Conservatory of Acting 25. Like rye, usually 26. He’s also known as Abu Mazen 27. One kind of Talmud 29. It’s hell 30. “The Golem” and “The Dybbuk” 32. “Ayin L’___ Tzofiah” (Hatikvah lyric)

33. ___-Yiddish (Onetime Lowlands language) 35. Hurray!

38. Region of Acre and Tiberias 42. “Mayim Achronim” (Finger ___ after a meal” 45. Rabbi Joseph ___ (Shulchan Arukh author) 47. Jewish Sports ___ of Fame 49. “Presumed Innocent” author Scott 50. Jewish legalist from Cracow 51. Rosh Hashana pilgrimage site in Ukraine 52. They were once the main way to catch fish in the Kinneret 53. Role for Zimbalist Jr. 55. Something very valued in the Start-up Nation 56. “Jewball” author Pollack 57. Calls Hadera Gadera 60. Harpo to Groucho

Last week’s answers

Down 1. Zodiac animal 2. Block letters?

3. Benjamin Disraeli, e.g.

4. “Driving Miss Daisy” co-star 5. Submissions to music execs

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THE BARCLAY - #5A 3 Bedrooms or 2 bedrooms and Den 2 full baths--Walk-in shower and Jacuzzi Betsy Teplis 404-233-4417- Seen by appointment only Email: bbteplis@bellsouth.net

TOP QUALITY FLOORS. ROCK BOTTOM PRICES. flooranddecor.com

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

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WellStar Medical Group Proudly serving East Cobb

ALLERGY & ASTHMA Grace Chiang, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30062 770-333-2027

CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE Mindy Gentry, M.D. Michael Hardee, M.D. Harvey Sacks, M.D. 1010 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30068 770-321-3490

ENDOCRINOLOGY Sona Patel, M.D. Reshma Shah, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road Suite 110 Marietta, GA 30062 678-403-4300

FAMILY MEDICINE & GERIATRIC MEDICINE

DECEMBER 13 ▪ 2013

Whitney Denton, M.D. Shravantika Reddy, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 240 Marietta, GA 30062 678-403-4660

FAMILY MEDICINE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE — PEDIATRICS Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP Megan Bowles, M.D Travis Bowles, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30062 770-973-2272

PEDIATRICS

Amy Cooper, M.D., MPH, MS Eva Montgomery-McGuire, M.D., FAAP 3939 Roswell Road Marietta GA 30062 770-578-2868

PEDIATRICS

Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP 1523 Johnson Ferry Road | Suite 150 Marietta GA 30062 770-509-1234

PULMONARY MEDICINE Morohunfolu Akinnusi, M.D. Mark Schlosberg, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 110 Marietta, GA 30062 770-422-1372

All practices accepting new patients and most insurance plans.

770-956-STAR

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