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Israel

Israeli Pride

GOOD NEWS MADE IN THE JEWISH STATE THIS PAST WEEK Surgery soothes shaking. For the first time in 10 years, Canadian Tony Lightfoot’s uncontrollable tremors stopped. It followed four hours of noninvasive treatment on his brain, using focused ultrasound from Israel’s InSightec. Tony is the fifth patient at Toronto’s Western Hospital to have the life-changing Israeli treatment. Season of good will celebrated. Israel issued 20,000 permits to allow Christians to visit sites in Judea and Samaria during the Christmas holiday; this included 500 for Palestinian Christians from Gaza. The Tourism Ministry also provided free transportation by shuttle bus between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. An intelligent learning system debuts. The new educational platform from Israel’s Mindojo will allow individuals or companies to create an online course that will automatically adapt to

each student’s needs and learning style. Guy Zaslavsky’s system uses artificial intelligence and can be used for any subject that’s textbook-based. Efficient trucking achieved in Canada. Winnipeg businessmen Michel Aziza and Hans Peper have set up the North American headquarters of Israel’s Traffilog, which makes an on-board system that provides real-time feedback to the driver and fleet operator on driver safety, fuel consumption, vehicle performance and vehicle health. Meanwhile, back in Israel, Traffilog’s systems are being installed in every Volvo and Scania truck.

destrian subway from the Jerusalem Bus Station to the Convention Centre. They removed all the garbage and graffiti and repaired the lighting, and they also commissioned My Dog Sighs, a UK street artist visiting Israel, to paint murals in the tunnel. Festival attendees “get the picture.” The Israeli Cartoon Museum is currently hosting the fifth-annual Animix International Animation Comics & Caricature Festival. “Punch, 2012 Harvest” incorporates 200 caricatures depicting social protest, economic crisis, religion, Israel and the Arab world, revolutions, refugees and the Iranian threat.

A digital library of the world’s oldest biblical manuscripts hits the web. The Israel Antiquities Authority has published its full online library of the high-resolution images of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Google’s advanced imaging and web technologies enable free public access to one of the greatest textual discoveries of all time.

Israel funds transplant after PA refuses. A two-year-old Palestinian Arab boy underwent a bone marrow transplant at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv. The Israeli Government funded the procedure in order to save the boy’s life, after the Palestinian Authority declined the family’s request to pay for it.

Israeli kids volunteer for beautification. A group of Jerusalem schoolchildren have renovated the pe-

El Al goes from paper to iPad. El Al Israel Airlines is starting a trial that

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plans to convert all flight manuals for its Boeing 777s into digital format for iPad computers. This will save up to $560,000 per year and 40 kg of paper per flight. Fatty sewage treated locally. Israel’s Negev Ecology has inaugurated a plant near Kibbutz Mishmar Hanegev that will treat “fatty” waste – sewage containing fats, organic matter and minerals. The site, located in Harov, is the first of its kind in the region. It will receive waste from gas stations, garages, food manufacturers and army bases. Muslim Member of Parliament: After Britain, Israel is best. Sajid Javid, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and MP for Bromsgrove, described himself as a “proud British-born Muslim” and announced that if he had to leave Britain to live in the Middle East, then he would choose Israel as home. Only there, he said, would his children feel the “warm embrace of freedom and liberty.” This list courtesy Michael Ordman and verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com.

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Chana’s Corner

Drugstore Drama A SURREAL EPISODE WITH PERFUME By Chana Shapiro

AJT Columnist

’m a big fan of holiday deals, so when I noticed a special perfume offer at a local drugstore, I girded my loins to brave the crowds.

It was the Friday before Christmas, and I expected the aisles to be overflowing with red bows, string lights and poinsettia-decorated tablecloths. What I didn’t anticipate was a run on cheap perfume.

My cheap perfume, to be exact.

It was understandable, of course. All perfumes were half-off for the second bottle of the same scent. However, I don’t personally know anyone who wears Tabu, so I was surprised to discover that there are, indeed, many other people in the world who smell like me. I was almost too late: There were only two bottles left. They were differ-

ent sizes, and only one was a spray bottle, but I decided I’d have to settle because a bargain is a bargain, and these were the very last ones. A salesman unlocked the glass case, and I grabbed the mismatched pair. In my zeal, I didn’t know that I was being watched. A tall, well-dressed woman who had apparently observed my select-and-snatch action followed me to the checkout line. “What perfume did you buy?” she boldly asked me. She had one of those voices that carries, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. Did I know her? She looked vaguely familiar, but I wasn’t sure. She spoke with a northeastern accent, similar to many women who live in my neighborhood. I quickly gave her a superficial fullbody scan, from her coiffed head to her polished shoes, checking for clues to

her identity. Her beautiful tweed suit did look familiar, and she had on a very nice pair of earrings, which matched her brooch.

gherkins at Sam’s Club and opened the box with the spray bottle inside. Mrs. Brooch extended her wrist, I sprayed, and she sniffed.

I knew that brooch! It had been on that very same suit on that very same woman, who I recalled had sat across from me at a recent Shabbat lunch. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember her name, but fortunately, I remembered the brooch.

The other three customers and the cashier were waiting, politely. I made a general offer: “Hold out your hands.”

“Oh,” I answered, now that I understood her assumed familiarity. “I’m buying the same perfume I’ve been wearing my whole life. I started wearing it when I was a teenager.” I said this to explain why I wear cheap perfume.

“What is it?” the woman asked.

She could easily take a good look into my basket to find the answer, I thought, but apparently she wanted something more. So I took the two small boxes out of my cart and turned them toward her to display the name. I felt like I was doing a commercial.

“It’s Tabu,” I said.

“How does it smell?” the woman asked.

I couldn’t believe her cheekiness.

“You want to smell it?” I asked, with a smirk, having put the perfume boxes back into my cart. “Yes, I’d like to smell it,” she answered.

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Talk about chutzpah. There were three other people in line ahead of me, listening to all this. I knew two of them, and the third seemed to be a friend of theirs.

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

The perfume interchange had caught their attention, and they were waiting to see how I’d handle this nervy woman, whom we shall now call “Mrs. Brooch.”

When I offered Mrs. Brooch a sniff, the people ahead of me nodded. I wondered if every one of them also wanted to smell my perfume. And that’s not all: The cashier was straining to look at me, circumventing the three customers who were ahead of me. She, too, was nodding; apparently, she, too, wanted to smell my perfume. So, I pulled my shopping cart out of the checkout line, turned to face my audience, assumed the position of one of those people who demonstrate cocktail

They did. I sprayed, and they sniffed. “It’s too strong!” Mrs. Brooch declared. “I think I over-sprayed you,” I explained. I turned to the others. I had been more judicious with their spritzes. All three said they liked it. I went up to the cashier and sprayed her extended wrist. “Hmm!” she said. “It doesn’t smell cheap at all!” I put the bottle back into its box and resumed my place in line. But Mrs. Brooch wasn’t finished with me. “My daughter gave me perfume that cost more than $90,” she said. “I decided that yours smells almost as good!” Hearing this, the other customers smiled, amused that she knew the cost of her daughter’s gift and pleased that she approved of my Tabu after all. Then, when I got to the register, the cashier asked about the pushy woman. I told her we’d met once before, but we weren’t friends. The cashier reached under the counter for a “rain check coupon” and wrote “half-price Tabu spray perfume 1.8 oz.” on it. “You deserve this,” she laughed, “for being nice to that lady and for giving everybody a free sample.” There’s a Jewish concept, mitzvah goreret mitzvah, meaning that one good deed leads to a reciprocal one. If I ever meet Mrs. Brooch again, I’ll have to thank her for setting in motion the well-received spray-fest that led to my half-price rain check reward. Chana Shapiro is an educator, writer, editor and illustrator whose work has appeared in journals, newspapers and magazines.

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If You Ask Me

An American Regression THE OLD WESTERN

By Eugen Schoenfeld AJT Contributor

was on a cruise, trying to enjoy the warmth offered by the Caribbean Sea, when the news of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn. hit the airwaves. Again, the people of this country were faced with what seems to have become a routine event in the U.S.: the wanton destruction of precious lives and the vociferous and trite declarations by the representatives of gun-lovers and gun manufacturers:

“Guns do not kill – people do.”

In response, I must reiterate a question I posed in an article published in the Oct. 5 edition of the AJT: Why do so many citizens in this country – the country that I believed to be a great advocator of moral and civilized values – maintain their love and veneration for an instrument that has no other raison d’être but to kill? Has the gun become our nation’s “Viagra,” our restorer of virility and of manhood? Or perhaps have we reached the zenith of our moral and ideological progress and now begun our downward slide? In my childhood, the image of great human depravity was the image of an Indian or Malaysian native running amok. Today, I wonder: Are we succumbing to that uncivilized weakness? Are there among us persons overtaken by a possessor, an evil spirit wielding a weapon who seeks to kill and maim people in a highly populated area?

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

Personally, I believe that we are facing a great national problem of moral decline. We are regressing into a moral state that in Judaism is symbolized with Sodom and Gomorrah. It is a state of waging constant war; the mindset of bellum omnia contra omnes; and the rejection of personal, familial and national peace. It is the elevation of the belief of the “supremacy of the I” and that which is mine as well as the downplaying of the collective interest residing in the principles of justice and righteousness.

We are becoming a nation of Johnny Roccos, so many of us emulating the gangster so beautifully depicted by E. 6 G. Robinson in the movie “Key Largo.”

We are becoming a mass of individuals who want more – just more. And the recent unreasonableness of our leaders shows that they forget Isaiah’s great advice for the achievement of a humane state:

the meaning of guns and education. They cannot seem to understand the central tenet of education, the wisdom that leads to peace and security; nor can they see that the essence of guns is generally anathema to these ideals.

Education seeks to solve problems without resorting to guns and violence. For proof, look to Rabbi Elazar, who – in quoting Rabbi Haninah – proclaimed that scholars increase peace throughout the world, that learning

“Come, let us reason together.”

Imagining Right Was Left I love the prophets, the group of people whose ideals we have cherished and thus declared to be universal and eternal values. The writers of the books of wisdom of the Bible were morally progressive individuals who sought the roots of human wellbeing. They rejected the magic of rituals and instead sought not so much technological but moral improvement.

In contrast, Rabbi Akibah joined Bar Kochbah in an utterly failed attempt to gain freedom through use of guns and was thereby almost successful in destroying Judaism. I am a Jew, a survivor of the German camps. Hence, it is quite understandable that it is my firm conviction that human advancement is directly related to learning and wisdom and inversely to power. To me, the use of power reflects one’s inability to reason or solve problems intellectually.

“We are becoming a nation of Johnny Roccos, so many of us emulating the gangster so beautifully depicted by E. G. Robinson in the movie “Key Largo.” We are becoming a mass of individuals who want more – just more.”

Their motto can be summarized with the words “peace,” “justice” and the “welfare of all.” Seek the right, relieve the oppressed and plead for the powerless, they said, and many of us have tried to follow.

Similarly, reason, the search for the collective well-being and the rejection of evil – namely, that which is against the public’s well-being – were also central to the ideas of Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln. They sought to make the United States into a country that values empathy, justice and righteousness. But would we have honored Isaiah and Micah had their visions been inverted, had they declared that we should turn our plowshares into swords and pruning-hooks into spears? And would we venerate the Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation if their writers had championed oppression and violence? There are people in this country, many of them influenced and led by the NRA, who force us to juxtapose

brings abundant harmony and that students are the builders of goodwill and the source of our strength. A Genre Past Its Prime I have often confronted myself in trying to decide which of the two rabbis was the most meritorious for having contributed to Jewish survival: Rabbi Jochanan ben Zakkai or Rabbi Akibah. No doubt, both were great scholars, but they had different visions. Rabbi ben Zakkai, in 68 C.E., violated the Zealots’ decree of fighting the Romans until death and left Jerusalem in stealth to request of Vespasian, the Roman general in charge of the siege of Jerusalem, permission to establish a school in Yavneh. It was from this school, subsequently built by ben Zakkai, that the rabbis and sages who gave us the wisdom and direction for the Diaspora hailed.

On the other hand, many of the gun lovers attach themselves to the mystical notion of their “G-d-given” and unalienable right to bear arms. The extremists would even have us believe that the solution to all problems – especially to gun-induced tragedies – is having and dispensing more guns among the population.

While I am not against the Second Amendment to the Constitution, the fact remains nonetheless: The love of guns leads us to regress to the days of the past – to the days when guns ruled. It seems to me that gun-lovers would like this country to return to the days of the Wild West, when justice was dispensed by those who had and used the fastest and biggest firearms. But we are being duped by romanticism if we think we were better off as a nation all strapped with a trusty six-shooter. In that world, we would swagger down the dusty road to face the villain only to find that the villain resides in us. Eugen Schoenfeld is a professor and chair emeritus at Georgia State University and a Holocaust survivor.

AJT

If You Ask Me

Our Flags Held High GAINING DESPITE AN UNIMAGINABLE LOSS For the Atlanta Jewish Times

he Mayan calendar indicated that, around this time, the world would end.

Well, the were right: The world that we knew has been shattered. We have, unfortunately, suffered a great loss; many refer to this as the Sandy Hook incident.

Mayans

We move forward with the pain; we remember the emptiness, the void that can be left in the wake of evil. We remember what great pain can be caused by another person’s emptiness. And although our flags were flown at half-staff, we must remain optimists in the future and realize that, even in the darkest times, our banners are still there. Our flags are still waving, reminding us all that our strength is in our unity.

But what happened in Newtown, Conn. is more than a loss and more than an incident. It’s a tragic outcry of pain coming from the body and souls of all who have heard of the tragedy. The massacre is the bleak reality of what can happen when a person decides to go down the dark path of evil. We have suffered, we have cried, we have prayed and we have lost; we have held our heads low and placed our flags at half-staff. We have looked for reasons, explanations, excuses for the inexcusable and ways to stop the unstoppable. In late December, the last of the 26 beautiful lives that were taken from us set off on their journey to their final resting places. So what do we do now? The pain is still here, the loss is still felt, and the repercussions from the actions of that day – good and bad – will be felt for an indeterminable length of time. The families of the victims will never be the same. They will never again feel the full extent of the warmth or comfort that so many of us take for granted every day. Still, we all must move on, and we all must grow. But we also must somehow not lose sight of what has happened. Otherwise, all is lost. We ask: How do we go forward with such mixed emotions, with such hardship and pain? The answer is in the question.

derstand His will.

Even if we have not met the families of the victims, we all feel their pain. We will grow together, and we will become more responsive to one another’s pain. We will learn to appreciate our relationship with the Holy One, blessed be He who gives us both the good and the better, even when we don’t un-

And we will appreciate our relationship with our family, friends, neighbors and community. This is how we move on by not forgetting what has happened; by using our pain and the pain of others to improve the world around us; to teach us to be kinder, softer-hearted people. Remember that, no matter what Congress or any government says or does, we can never stop pain from entering this world. But we can work on loving one another and caring for each other, and thus perhaps minimize the pain around us and make the world a better place. Even though their travels on the path of life was cut short, maybe by improving our prayers and character, we will help the victims of Sandy Hook complete their journey. I offer this wish with all my sorrow and all my love. Editor’s note: Rabbi Shlomo Pinkus is a rabbinic field representative for the Atlanta Kashruth Commission.

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If You Ask Me

Amidst the Talk of the Second Amendment TAKE NOTE OF ANOTHER LIST OF TEN BY RABBI MICHAEL BERNSTEIN

the image of G-d.

In our public discourse, we often hear similar words. But in our country, “Pro-Life” has become code for one side of a particular issue, and the rhetoric of “G-d’s presence or absence” is often applied only to specific social causes, such as gay marriage or maintaining the wall of Church and State.

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

well-known statement by the author and playwright Anton Chekhov maintains that if a gun is hanging on the wall in Act I, it must be taken off and fired at some point by the end of the play. In a way, one could say that the Second Amendment of the Constitution, which provides for the right of Americans to keep and bear arms, is like Chekhov’s gun. And, it’s that gun – the Second Amendment – that is now at center stage.

Less emphasized is the significance of the preciousness and fragility of human life, especially as it relates to

thality of their products and virility of their users. For example, the weapon that was used by the shooter in Newtown – a Bushmaster .223 semi-automatic rifle – is described on one website as a way to “renew one’s man card” after such humiliations as being seen “carrying a handbag” or being unable to “face down a fifth grader.” As acutely unfunny as these plugs become after a rampage like Newtown,

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

Among our deepest-held principles is the commitment to the liberty of each individual within a nation whose very formation recognizes the necessity to band together in order to achieve the common good. From a Jewish perspective, however, I believe that while the Second Amendment provides an important expression of the right to selfdefense, it is the Second Commandment that should take precedent.

The Second Commandment forbids the worship of any object that denigrates the dignity and wellbeing of all of us created in G-d’s image. Indeed, Jewish tradition as a whole focuses on the infinite value of human life as an 8 incalculable currency stamped with

Ironically, this ruling is not applied to someone carrying a weapon on Shabbat who is doing so out of selfdefense – or on active duty, as many must today in Israel. It seems the rabbis were not unrealistic about the need to deal with the world’s threats and understood that they could not trade in all their swords for ploughshares just yet.

Still, they allowed the vivid prophetic dream of peace to color their ultimate assessment of the weapons in their midst as unpleasant necessities rather than instruments to be glorified. What’s more, this attitude can still be felt in modern Israeli society, where there are plenty of guns, but also plenty of gun laws. Israel has no Second Amendment, but Israelis are allowed to bear arms within certain limits: There are restrictive laws that include mandatory licensing and registration.

For some, the Second Amendment is a relic, speaking of militias and minutemen armed with muskets and gunpowder. For others, the Second Amendment is nothing less than the enforcement of America’s promise, the surrendering of ultimate sovereignty by those who govern to the people governed. But in the wake of the devastating carnage left by the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a growing number of citizens demand action and want the government to address the ubiquity of weapons capable of dealing mass death. Amid the tension within this vital conversation rests the greatness and the challenge of the United States.

learn war anymore (2: 3-4).”

what is at stake in making sure guns are taken seriously, owned responsibly and regulated sensibly. Among our most important obligations are the admonitions in the holiness code of Leviticus that we not stand idly by the blood of a neighbor and that we not place a stumbling block before the blind. In other words, we can’t simply watch as people are actively being harmed and we can’t shirk responsibility for what happens when high capacity, high velocity weapons are made easily available to those who are likely to seek opportunities for violence. The gun owners I know take very seriously the responsibility that goes with their weaponry. They train diligently and take pains to make sure their weapons are never misused. However, this doesn’t mean that the gun industry and gun enthusiasts always emphasize such responsibility over more atavistic appeals to the le-

they never should have passed muster under any measure of maintaining respect for either the power of firearms or the dignity of human beings. After all, almost two thousand years before the adoption of the Constitution, the Sages whose words are recorded in the Mishna dealt with these underlying issues. In the discussion of what a person is permitted to carry publicly on Shabbat, two opinions are detailed regarding weapons. One allows weapons to be worn as a form of ornament or decoration. The second, the majority opinion, forbids carrying a sword as a decoration because, ultimately, we see weapons not as stylish accessories but as instruments whose purpose “makes them unpleasant.” The proof text for this assertion is the iconic vision from Isaiah “…They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they

Consider also that while many Israelis of age 18 or older will serve in the armed forces and many (though not all) will qualify for gun ownership, very few have any desire to own or collect the type of weapons used in the many mass killings in our country. As we react to the Newtown shootings and struggle with the Second Amendment and gun control, there is room for debate about which weapons lend themselves to fostering selfdefense of life, liberty and property. However, to be truly mindful of the Second Commandment, we also must stop idolizing and glorifying weapons as cultural ornaments and markers of identity. They are instruments of serious purpose and lethal power that might be necessary now. But we pray – and it is my hope – that one day such weapons will be beaten into ploughshares and pruning hooks. Editor’s note: Rabbi Michael Bernstein is the spiritual leader of Congregation Gesher L’Torah.

AJT

From the Editor

Life, Death and Noah Pozner A WALK THAT MADE ME REMEMBER Web Editor

was out and about on a recent Sunday morning, walking on a trail that snuggled up closely to the Chattahoochee River just west of Roswell Road in North Atlanta. The sky was a cloudless, achingly beautiful deep blue, and a stiff wind had me hunched over, pulling the collar of my jacket up around my neck and ears to stay warm. My daughter Lauren was at my side. Now that she’s married, work-

Noah Pozner, 6, was among those lost to the shooting in Newtown, Conn. on Dec. 14, 2012.

ing and staying busy with the large and small stuff of life, we don’t have as much time to spend together as we once did. That’s not to say we don’t see one another. There are family meals and holidays gatherings; day trips and occasional shared vacations; phone calls, e-mails and – when the weather is reasonably nice and our schedules mesh – walks along the river. It was during our most recent stroll, as we wandered past joggers and bikers, couples and families, that I started thinking about Noah. The thoughts were troubling and, for a moment or so, the morning grew dark and melancholy. Noah Pozner, as some of you may know, was the youngest of the 26 victims killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Conn. late last year. He had just turned 6 years old in November and, like all of the other children murdered at the school, was in the first grade. All these youngsters were precious souls; innocent girls and boys filled with laughter, life and endless potential. But there was something special about Noah, something familiar that had him resting uneasily in my mind. After all, he was Jewish.

As the horror played out endlessly

on television, across the web on news sites and in my daily paper, I spotted a few men with kippot, some wearing tzitzit, black hats and other such garb. One of the first people on the scene offering comfort and a few details of the tragedy was Rabbi Shaul Praver of Temple Adath Israel in Newtown. It would later turn out that the Pozners were members of his congregation.

ings to the poets and philosophers among us. This much, however, I know is true: At least part of Noah’s soul now rests in the hearts of all those who loved him. The rest, I like to think, is making its way to a place where pain and misery don’t exist, light and love

fill the world and innocent children spend their time laughing and chasing butterflies across lush green meadows. Zikh-ronah liv-rakha…may Noah’s memory be for a blessing. Amen.

And, of course, as the funerals began, Noah was one of the first to be buried. Yet again there was a sense of the familiar hovering about the cemetery as stunned family and friends observed the ancient rituals of Judaism and said their goodbyes. “I told the mother that was grieving that I personally believe in the eternity of the soul, and I believe that she will see her son again,” Praver told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). He added that he isn’t focusing too much on the cosmic and grand these days; that mostly he thinks it important to show compassion, to hold and hug and cry with the bereaved. The compassion and hugging and crying were all part of the scene as I watched the final moments of the funeral unfold on TV. There seemed to be a collective wail and sigh when the chazzan offered up the anguished words of El Malei Rachamim: “O G-d, full of mercy…grant proper rest on the wings of the Divine Presence…for the soul of Noah!” It was the melancholy tune and words of the memorial prayer that seemed to be on an endless loop in my mind as I walked with my own precious daughter the other day. You see, what I was having trouble pushing aside was the painful reality that the Pozner family wouldn’t be spending time with Noah ever again. There would be no family meals, holiday gatherings, day trips or vacations with the bright and active youngster; no watching him grow and mature; no tomorrows. As Noah’s small casket was lowered into the ground, the veil we know little about was being slowly pulled aside. One journey was ending. Another was beginning. Just a few days earlier and a few miles away in a small schoolhouse in a little village in Connecticut, there had been 26 gentle souls that now seem lost and gone. But where have they gone?

I’ll leave such metaphysical mus-

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

BY RON FEINBERG

AJT

COVER STORY

Why Go To Israel? SUPPORT APPRECIATED NOW MORE THAN EVER BY RON FEINBERG Web Editor

epending on the ups and downs of the economy in the coming year and the soaring cost of airfares, I might be returning to Israel yet again in early summer. If all goes according to plan, this would be my third trip to the country in the last three years, and my fifth trip since 2003.

To explain my fascination with

“So, dude, you’re going to Israel again? Why?”

nessmen in coats and ties and tourists in Eddie Bauer-chic!

Given the time, I’d give him these 28 reasons:

3. Because halfway across the Atlantic, as the sun starts to peek over the distant horizon, a group of men magically show up in the rear of the plane wearing tallis and tefillin, offering mumbled words of prayer to G-d.

1. Because I love the whole airport adventure – arriving early, checking in, being hassled by security guards, then being handed a boarding pass with Tel Aviv stamped across the top. 2. Because I’m fascinated by my fellow travelers – students with

4. Because after 12 hours or so in the air, when I reach that toxic point of being way too tired, sore and bored, the pilot finally announces that we will be entering Israeli airspace in 30 minutes. 5. Because I love the palpable sense of energy and anticipation that fills the plane as the blue waters of the Mediterranean give way to the white beaches of Tel Aviv and then the soaring skyline of the city. 6. Because people still applaud when the plane touches down at Ben Gurion International airport. 7. Because on Friday evenings I can walk along Frishman Street in the heart of Tel Aviv, from Rabin Square to my hotel, while enjoying a fresh, cool breeze blowing in from the Mediterranean.

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

Israel, I’d probably need to bore you with selected details about my childhood and growing up a Jew in the South. I’m sure I’d end up mentioning the Holocaust and the miraculous transition of the Jewish people from victims to victors.

At some point, I’d need to explore the importance of cultural identity and my still-developing sense of faith, belief and wonder. Then I’d have to tackle the sticky political issues of the day – Palestinian statehood and refugee camps, suicide bombers and pistol-packing settlers, feckless European intellectuals, anti-Semitism and the “right of return.”

8. Because I’m Jewish, and this is a city filled with Jews, a happening place where I can hear the laughter of friends and family gathered together enjoying Shabbat dinner with one another in nearby flats.

TOP: Not far from the Old City of Jerusalem is this Arab village. TOP RIGHT: The city of Jaffa is filled with mundane things – like this door – that have been transformed with beauty. ABOVE: Rabbi Shalom Lewis of Congregation Etz Chaim leads an informal havdalah service on a Tel Aviv beach. PHOTOS/Gary Feinberg

In short, it would be easy to turn what is essentially an emotional response into an intellectual exercise. And still I would fall short. So instead, I will simply try to answer the question a friend asked recently when I announced I was returning to Israel:

backpacks, visiting the Jewish homeland for the first time; Orthodox families, modestly dressed, the women in long skirts, the men all in black, tzitzit dangling from their hips; busi-

9. Because in this vibrant, exotic city, I can feast on shawarma, hummus, filet mignon, risotto, sushi, hot dogs or hamburgers – all tasty, reasonably priced and kosher.

10. Because I can hop on a sherut and for only a few shekels make my way to Jerusalem – a short 45-minute ride to the east. 11. Because on Shabbat I can attend services at the Great Synagogue

and listen to a world-class choir, then walk a block to Moreshet Yisrael, a synagogue that is part of the Fuchsberg Center for Conservative Judaism. 12. Because I can safely walk the streets of this magical place before the sun rises, find my way to Marzipan in Mahane Yehuda and buy a few pieces of the world’s best rugelach – warm, oozing with chocolate and delicious! 13. Because as I enjoy my snack I can take a few minutes – or hours – and wander about the market, a remarkable place filled with kiosks, restaurants, stalls and vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, spices and nuts; and the air is thick with the smells of all these goods, euphonically blended with the sights, sounds and energy of a city coming alive. 14. Because just a few blocks away, I can sit on a bench on Ben Yehuda Street and watch the Jewish world pass by – young soldiers with weapons slung casually over their shoulders; Orthodox boys, sporting kippot and tzitzit; beautiful sabra women in designer dresses; preppy-looking yeshiva students; tourists in flowery shirts and jeans; shop keepers, street cleaners and bus drivers; cabbies, cops and politicians; musicians and street performers; rabbis, prophets and beggars. 15. Because when I get my fill of people-watching, I can join the crowd of shoppers and purchase tchotchkes and any sort of Judaica imaginable – a hand-decorated tallis or kippot; bejeweled menorah, mezuzah or Shabbat candlesticks; golden Magen David or diamond-filled hamsa; pictures, paintings and enough jewelry to take care of every friend and relative on my shopping list. 16. Because at the heart of this fresh new day is a colorful old city, filled with cobblestone streets and serpentine alleys, a place of spiritual energy and ancient secrets. 17. Because at the center of this place is the Kotel, that soaring, sunbleached wall of profound historical and religious import and a magnet for Jews from around the world searching for meaning and connection to a belief that traces its roots back thousands of years. 18. Because, given the time, I can visit Yad Vashem, the worldContinued on the next page

AJT

Community

Kol Emeth to Install Rabbi Boxt Jan. 12 RABBI LEBOW, CONGREGATION, AND FORMER TEACHER CANTOR SHORE CELEBRATE Continued from previous page

class Holocaust museum that details in unique and compelling fashion the premeditated murder of 6 million Jews during World War II; and then turn my attention to Mount Herzl, the national cemetery where many of Israel’s leaders – Herzl, Rabin, Meir – and military heroes are buried. 19. Because, even if I tire of visiting museums and ancient sites, I can simply stroll in any direction, knowing that I’m treading the same ground that my ancient ancestors walked thousands of years ago. 20. Because on Friday nights I can visit Mea Shearim, the Jerusalem neighborhood where the ultra-Orthodox gather with their rebbes at a festive meal and spiritual happening – a Tisch – that is at once other-worldly, bizarre and deeply satisfying. 21. Because I have only a vague sense of the worth of the shekel, so I spend expansively, think good thoughts and don’t worry about the tab – until I return home.

From Temple Kol Emeth

For the Atlanta Jewish Times emple Kol Emeth will formally embrace Rabbi Erin Boxt as the congregation’s second rabbi during a special installation celebration Jan. 11 and 12. Rabbi Boxt has invited one of his teachers from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Cantor Yvon Shore, to install him. “This is someone who is so energetic, and within all that energy is the momentum and the ability to do so many things,” Cantor Shore, who taught Rabbi Boxt for four years at the Union for Reform Judaism’s seminary and worked with him almost daily for two years while he served on the student-elected Va’ad Beit HaKnesset, beamed. Rabbi Boxt joined longtime Kol Emeth leader Rabbi Steven Lebow in serving the East Cobb congregation’s spiritual needs in mid-June after his graduation from HUC-JIR. His formal installation will take place

on the evening of Jan. 12, immediately after a Havdalah service that will start at 7:30 p.m. A free dessert reception, sponsored by Temple Kol Emeth’s chapter of the Women of Reform Judaism, will follow the installation. “We feel like we hit a home run with Rabbi Boxt,” Temple Kol Emeth President Sherri Parman said. “We look to him as someone who is excited about his Judaism and is passionate about passing it on to congregants of all ages – preschoolers, teenagers, college kids, young singles and couples. He can preach from the bima on Friday night, teach Torah on Saturday morning and share pastoral duties with Rabbi Lebow.” Cantor Shore will join Rabbi Lebow, Rabbi Boxt and the congregation for a Shabbat dinner on Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m., and Shabbat services will follow. The entire community is invited to join the clergy and congregants at the dinner (register for the event at rabbiboxtdinner.eventbrite.com; cost is $22 for adults and $14 for chil-

Rabbi Steven Lebow and Rabbi Erin Boxt PHOTO/courtesy Temple Kol Emeth

dren 5 and older). Rabbi Boxt and his wife Batya have one daughter, Carlie, who was a baby when he started rabbinical school. While he was at HUC-JIR, Cantor Shore said, Rabbi Boxt came into his own, developing confidence, ease in front of a congregation and an authentic voice from the pulpit. “I cannot wait to see the congregation. I cannot wait to see the community,” the cantor added. “I am so excited to see the clergy, the community, everyone who’s there, to see what it is that he’s part of now.”

22. Because I can rent a car or hop on a tour bus and, in a day or two – if I’m in a hurry – crisscross this tiny country that’s the size of New Jersey. 23. Because of the cosmopolitan vibe of Tel Aviv, breath-taking beauty of Haifa and spiritual depth and richness of Jerusalem and Sfat. 24. Because of the Mediterranean, Kinneret and Dead seas. 25. Because of the Jordan River, the trickling link between the desolate landscape of the Judean Desert and lush richness of the Hula Valley.

27. Because I’ve met people who’ve traveled to Israel and had bad moments, but never met anyone who had a bad trip. 28. Because I’m Jewish, and this place, in some inexplicable way, is my spiritual home, filled with my mispucha and links to my distant past.

JANUARY 25-31 • At the FOX THEATRE

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

26. Because many of the iconic places I’ve been lucky enough to visit around the world are often beautiful and always interesting but ultimately “just places,” while the cities, sites and attractions in Israel – Masada and Caesarea, Haifa and Sfat, the tunnels beneath the Kotel in Jerusalem and the Palmach Museum in Tel Aviv – all manage in some fashion to touch my soul.

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AJT

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Jewish Interest-Free Loan Partnership Investment Advice: Helps Graduate Student Back To The Future JIFLA & PHOENIX’S JFL PARTNER TO HELP “JONAH” From the Jewish Interest-Free Loan of Atlanta

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

collaborative effort between the Jewish Free Loan in Phoenix, Ariz. and the Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA) has enabled a young graduate student at Emory University to continue his studies after other sources of financial support were exhausted. Jonah P.* contacted JIFLA once he learned of the organization from Emory law professor Rabbi Michael J. Broyde. After discussion with Dr. Morton Barr, President of JIFLA, it was determined that Jonah didn’t meet the residency requirements in Atlanta, so he could not qualify for an interest-free loan from that organization nor from Atlanta’s Jewish Educational Loan Fund. But there was hope: Although studying in Atlanta, Jonah was still a resident of Arizona, and therefore could qualify as a candidate in Phoenix. Thus, he submitted an application to Phoenix’s Jewish Free Loan, spoke with Phoenix JFL Executive Director Tina Sheinbein, went through an interview process with representatives from the JFL Board of Directors and then received a $5,000 interest-free loan to help offset the high costs beyond tuition including living expenses, textbooks

and study materials. “This loan is paying for my books and study aids for (graduate) school, which are very expensive,” Jonah P. explained. “Having this extra money allowed me to not worry about [funds] and focus on my studies. “Today, law school – and education in general – is very expensive, and graduate students often are not eligible for subsidized loans. Even with a partial scholarship, I will have a large sum of debt with interest to repay after I graduate. “The additional funding that Jewish Free Loan provides is very important to students like me, and, in the long-run, borrowing an interest-free loan eases the burden of debt we face.” This success story is a direct result of both JFL’s and JIFLA’s membership in the International Association of Jewish Free Loans, a network of more than 40 interest-free lending agencies around the world. * Name changed to protect borrower privacy. Editor’s note: Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity established to provide short-term, non-educational assistance to Jewish individuals and families in the state of Georgia through interest-free loans.

JOHN PAUL GETTY STILL WORTH STUDYING TODAY By Al Shams

AJT Columnist ery few stock market observers have a full understanding of the stock market and financial history. I, for one, think a historical understanding offers a great deal of perspective during these uncertain times. For example: What were the hot stocks of the 1950s, the 1960s and 1970s? What concepts drove their prices higher, and what led to their huge price declines? For serious students of investing, the following names should have some meaning: Polaroid, Digital Equipment, Teledyne, LTV Corp, Kodak, Simplicity Pattern, Fairchild Camera, Control Data, University Computing, National Student Marketing, The Mates Fund, Fred Carr, The Enterprise Fund, James Ling and, finally, Recognition Equipment. There’s a story and important lesson behind each of these names. I suggest serious investors take some time to research these businesses and corporations. And speaking of lessons, there is one more name that our young readers – those who have yet to reach 50 – will probably not recognize, but perhaps should take note of.

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

During the 1960s, John Paul Getty was widely considered to be the world’s richest individual. Getty made the bulk of his wealth in the oil industry as an independent oil producer. Unsurprisingly, his advice on money matters was widely sought, and as a result, he decided to write the book “How to be Rich,” in which he included a section on the “Art of Investment” through Wall Street.

In that section, Getty detailed several of his investment experiences as well as some of the basic principles he used in purchasing common stocks. Summarized here are a few of his most important ideas:

www.kolemeth.net

• Don’t approach the stock market as a source of quick and/or easy profits. • Stock certificates represent an ownership interest in a business enterprise, not betting slips.

• Buy sound, quality companies with high inherent value – companies with high per-share assets and/or good potential earning power. • Buy when everyone else is selling and hold until everyone else is buying. • Remember that during depressed markets, the stocks of many quality companies sell at a fraction of their per-share liquidation value. • Look with an objective eye for bargains in growth stocks that can be held to reap handsome profits over a period of years. The following direct quote could very well summarize Getty’s investment approach: “Sound stocks purchased for investment, when their prices are low and [they are] held for the long pull, are very likely to produce high profits through dividends and increases in value.” Getty’s approach seems very similar to that of other investment greats: John Templeton, Warren Buffett, Ben Graham, etc. It’s a very interesting comparison when you consider Getty approached the market as a businessman, whereas Templeton and Buffett approached it as outside investors. It’s also interesting to note that much of Getty’s stock market investments were made in the 1930s and 1940s – a period of depressed values, similar to our current period. Finally, consider that another oil man, Boone Pickens, approached the stock market in the 1980s in the same manner as Getty. He strongly believed he could buy oil cheaper by acquiring the shares of major oil companies than by drilling for oil. It’s curious how history seems to repeat itself. Many people have a memory of what has transpired during the last 10 years, but few have an understanding of investment trends 30 to 40 years ago. That insight is invaluable. Al Shams is a Sandy Springs resident, a former CPA and an investment professional with more than 35 years industry experience.

AJT

From the JCC

MJCCA Offers Biggest Loser Challenge PARTICPANT CASSIE HARRISON STRIVES TO LOSE 100 POUNDS

he Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) and The Biggest Loser have partnered in The Biggest Loser Challenge. This program is for adults who would like to make a positive lifestyle change and become fitter and healthier under the coaching of a professional trainer. As part of this partnership, MJCCA preschool teacher Cassie Harrison has made a commitment to the Biggest Loser program. “I am participating in the Biggest Loser to take me deeper in my weight loss journey,” Harrison said. “I had recently lost 70-plus pounds by changing my eating habits and enjoying light cardio a couple of days a week. [Now,] I am looking for the Biggest Loser program to help me push myself physically as well as help me control crazy cravings. “I hope to lose more than 100 pounds in the next year, and I am sure the Biggest Loser program will help me reach my goal!” From Jan. 8 through March 7, a Biggest Loser Pro will equip participants like Harrison with expert training on proper workout routines, nutrition and weight management. This nine-week program includes two sessions per week. Each session consists of a thirty-minute workout and a fifteenminute educational session.

The program also includes:

• Tracking your diet and exercise progress to see how your activity and food habits impact your ability to reach your goals;

challenge,” Johnson said. “That person will be honored as the MJCCA’s Biggest Loser, and will receive the grand prize of a two-night stay at the King and Prince Resort on St. Simon’s Island. “The Biggest Loser program has changed many lives for the better,” she continued. “We have many people who have signed up, ready to make these changes in their eating habits, exercise, and lifestyle.” Editor’s note: For more information (including program schedule and fees), contact Laura Johnson at (678) 812-4024 or laura. johnson@atlantajcc.org.

LEFT: Laura Johnson, MJCCA Sports Performance Coordinator and Biggest Loser Pro, will facilitate the MJCCA’s Biggest Loser Challenge. RIGHT: MJCCA Biggest Loser participants Nora Brown, Cassie Harrison and Gary Alworth get in the “losing spirit.”

GOING OUT OF TOWN?

• Assessing your exercise and food habits with the help of a Certified Pro Trainer; • Setting personalized goals based on your height and weight, so you won’t be left hungry; • Making better food and exercise choices with tons of recipes, meal ideas, exercise demonstrations, and more. Facilitating the program will be Laura Johnson, MJCCA Sports Performance Coordinator and AFAA Certified as a Biggest Loser Pro (registered at BiggestLoserPro.com). “The winner of the MJCCA’s Biggest Loser Challenge will be the person who has the largest percentage of pounds lost during the nine-week

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

AJT

Arts & Life

Kosher Movies: Hachi – A Dog’s Tale (2009) LOYALTY AND GRATITUDE OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND

My friend’s attitude towards dogs resonated as I watched “Hachi,” the story of a remarkable dog who feels a special bond with its owner.

Several months ago, one of the dogs died, and my friend went through a genuine grieving experience. He was depressed, very mellow instead of his usual upbeat self and generally quiet as he processed his loss.

Soon, though, the professor forms an attachment with Hachi and keeps him – much to the dismay of his wife Cate, who doesn’t want a dog in the house. Cate relents, however, and soon the dog feels at home in the Wilson household.

When I spoke to him, I felt that his pet was not just a dog to him, but functioned like a human friend. It was always there with him in times of trouble to comfort him and provide a beacon of light in dark times. The dog was a real companion that made his life happier, more positive and fulfilling.

Hachi follows Parker to the train station one morning and, remembering the way, returns in the afternoon by himself. There he greets his master as he disembarks after a day at work, and this becomes a ritual that repeats on a daily basis for a very long time – until Parker suffers a sudden fatal heart attack.

BY RABBI HERBERT COHEN AJT Contributor friend of mine has two dogs. Whenever he and his wife go on vacation, they place the dogs in what is essentially a dog hotel where they will be fed, walked, and cared for while they enjoy their time off from work.

Sent as a gift in a cage from Japan, the dog is left alone and in danger when his container falls off a baggage cart. Professor Parker Wilson finds him and tries to locate its owner but to no avail.

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The Wilson house is sold, Cate moves away and Parker’s daughter Andy and her husband Michael take Hachi to live with them. The dog, however, finds a way to return to his original home and then to the train station, where he waits patiently for Parker for the next nine years, fed by local vendors who remember his devotion to Professor Parker. “Hachi” is the story of a dog, but it is more than that. Like Aesop’s fables, animal stories are a metaphor for the human experience; “Hachi” reminds us to be intensely aware of the gratitude that we should show towards friends and family. Hachi is a foundling, and Parker rescues him. That act of kindness has a ripple effect, remembered by the dog for the rest of his life and celebrated by the many people who witnessed this act of loyalty and devotion by a friend. The Talmud makes a similar point when it tells us that if someone teaches us only a single letter or a single verse, we must give that person honor. We are indebted to all those who are benevolent towards us. In Judaism, the training ground for the nurturing of kindness is the home. It is here that the kindnesses that spouses show for each other and the kindnesses that parents show for children are locked into the family’s DNA. It is here that acts of kindness happen in the moment, but also that they transcend the moment and establish a psychological bank account for generations. The changing of a diaper, the emergency trip to the hospital, the act of giving birth all create emotional connections that are unbreakable. At the heart of “Hachi” is the message that kindness needs to be remembered and perhaps even memorialized. It is a dog story that tells us how important and meaningful it is to treasure the kind acts of others. Rabbi Cohen, former principal of Yeshiva Atlanta, now resides in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Visit koshermovies.com for more of his Torah-themed film reviews.

AJT

Arts & Life

Sunday School Pals Steal the Stage Fans Push to Make “Hebrew TEMPLE STUDENTS STAR IN “ALICE IN WONDERLAND, JR.” Hammer” Sequel $35,000 IN TWO WEEKS FOR “HAMMER VS. HITLER” uriouser and curiouser!

That’s how two third-grade girls felt as they entered the wacked-out world of “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” and took to the stage in the Nov. 16-18 production at Fabrefaction Theatre in Midtown. Franki Kimche-Gilstrap, 9, and Rachel Doman, 8, are Sunday School

lives. Franki, the daughter of Daryl Kimche and Kelly Gilstrap, attends the Lovett School and enjoys playing soccer and basketball as well as singing and playing the piano and the guitar. And although she doesn’t begin midweek Hebrew School until next year, Franki has already been absorbing the melodies that her 13-year-old sister Gabi had mastered for her bat mitzvah at the Temple in November. Rachel, the daughter of Laura and Alex Doman, is a born actress who in her spare time attends Trinity School and loves creating art, writing stories, competing on her school’s chess and math teams and teasing her 15-year-old brother Josh.

She has also enjoyed playing lead parts in LEFT: Rachel Doman as the Mad Hatter plays produced at TrinRIGHT: Franki Kimche-Gilstrap as Tweedledee ity School by The Actors friends at the Temple who were at first Scene training company, but cites her quite surprised to find themselves au- role as Cruella de Vil in Fabrefaction’s ditioning together for Fabrefaction’s “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians Kids” as her summer camps and educational series favorite yet. productions. The girls discovered that “Rachel has found a second home at they share a passion for acting, singing Fabrefaction,” Laura said. “The direcand dancing, and since have been cast tors and staff are wonderful with the together in four Fabrefaction shows kids, [and they] respond so enthusiastiover the past 18 months. cally on stage to their love and care. The pair have even carpooled together on Sunday afternoons as they segued from Judaic and Hebrew lessons at the Temple to learning new songs at “Alice” rehearsals!

“The poise, confidence, stage presence and public speaking skills that they are developing now will be a benefit to them throughout their lives.”

The production featured 19 kids, ranging in age from 6 to 12, from schools all over the Atlanta area. Franki and Rachel auditioned for the musical in August, rehearsed twice weekly from September through November and performed in four shows over the three-day run that culminated with a cast party that celebrated each child’s work and performance.

“I have been so impressed with Fabrefaction’s seasoned professional artists, their management, the shows they choose to produce,” she said. “The casting, costumes and productions are just outstanding! They are true professionals and operate the theater that way, as well.

Franki loved playing Tweedledee, a funny and odd character that she specifically asked for at her audition, and Rachel donned a kaleidoscopic top hat and tails as the Mad Hatter, and had great fun playing a demented, mischievous prankster. Both girls adored the outrageous costuming and high-spirited elements of the show. When they’re not busy strutting their stuff on stage, the girls lead very active

Kelly concurs:

“They have as high an expectation of the children actors as they do of the adult actors, and I think that is great for Franki.” Editor’s note: For more information about Fabrefaction and their educational programming, please visit the theater’s website at fabrefaction.org.

Staff Report early 10 years after the cult classic comedy “The Hebrew Hammer” premiered, its controversial sequel will begin filming after an innovative crowdfunding campaign brought in tens of thousands of dollars in its first two weeks. “The Hebrew Hammer Vs. Hitler” is set to get underway in Spring 2013. The original was a “Jewxsploitation” laugh riot, playing on ‘70s Blaxploitation film tropes, pushing racial and cultural buttons, making a significant impact on Jewish culture and encouraging Jewish empowerment. In the new film, the titular hero (Adam Goldberg) is now married and enjoying the good life in suburbia, but he’s forced to dust off his black leather couture to confront a new menace: A time-traveling Hitler, intent on altering key moments in Jewish history to the detriment of the Jews. “The ascendency of Mordechai Jefferson Carver, aka the Hebrew Hammer, was never intended to be told in one movie,” director Jonathan Kesselman said. “Not even two; more like eighteen. But two is a good start.” The “Hammer Vs. Hitler” campaign began on crowdfunding platform Jewcer in December 2012 and raised nearly $35,000 in the first few days. The filmmakers aim to raise $200,000 by the end of January 2013, and because of the momentum of the campaign, several key investors have already begun pledging support to make the movie happen. Editor’s note: See jewcer.com/HebrewHammer for more info or to contribute.

A MEMOIR BY SAM GENIRBERG

18 year old Sasha flees from German occupied Dubno ghetto days before SS commandos massacre the remaining 5,000 Jewish men, women, and children. He poses as a gentile and lives in plain sight, in the very heart of Hitler's Germany, among his enemies for three years. Sasha's quick wit and twists of fate, allow him to survive day by day. Meeting no other Jews, after liberation, Sasha fears he may be the only Jewish person alive in Europe.

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JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

Staff Report

AJT

Out & About

Welcome to “The Experiment” HOPING FOR A CHUPPAH From Dr. Janet Page For the Atlanta Jewish Times

s I’ve told my clients in my private practice, as well as the participants in my workshops and classes that I’ve taught at Emory: Love does not drop from your living room ceiling, and hope is not a strategy. There is no time or age limit on love, but when you want it today and are doing next to nothing about fulfilling that need, it can feel like and even become a path to circumstantial depression.

Action is the best medicine, and that’s what I express in “Get Married This Year.” Thus, when the AJT came to me with an experiment – have two singles read my book and follow my advice, with the end goal being just what’s in the title – I was eager to let my theories be put into practice. So, without further ado, here are my two friends, Ellen and Andrew.

Meet Ellen…

…and Andrew

BREAKING HER OWN RULE

READY FOR THE ADVENTURE

By Ellen Mazelman AJT Columnist

By Andrew Singleman AJT Columnist

et married in 365 days…can you only imagine my fear? Let me first say that, like Taylor Swift, I had come up with a mantra: “I will never, ever, ever get married again.” Not because I am bitter or angry; I actually chose to become single again.

One of the many reasons is because I have been on all ends of step-families, and although I have strong relationships with all, it is not always easy. Why would I subject my children to that? Further, since I am not having more children in the future, what would be the point in marrying again? I live a full life with two great kids, a cute dog, a beautiful home, incredible family and friends and a great job; I’m, in general, enjoying life. Actually, sometimes, life is too busy, and thus, I didn’t really think anything was missing. So you might wonder why I have agreed to go on this journey. Honestly, I am not sure. When the AJT powers-that-be approached me with the idea, I told them my mantra and they replied, “Maybe if you met the right guy, it would be different.” Maybe they’re right. But I didn’t want to go down this path alone (especially if I was going to be anonymous) and thought that, if I found a male counterpart, it would keep things fun and interesting. I knew exactly who I wanted to tag team this with and it wasn’t even hard to convince him! So let me introduce myself – let’s see if my friends can figure out who I am (and if you do, let’s keep it between us)! First, I’ve chose the pseudonym of Ellen Mazelman, mostly because I am going to need a lot of luck along this journey (and, maybe by the end of 2013, you will all be wishing me a mazel tov).

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

I am a 53-year-old single mom of two fantastic kids, who are both in college. Yes, I became an empty-nester this year; I guess the timing of this little project lined up and came at the right time in my life.

I have been single for three years and really intended to stay that way. When I shared what I was doing with my parents, they gave me that look that asks, “Really? What are you thinking?’ But now, I think that – secretly – they are hoping and wishing this all works out, that maybe I can find that special someone who could convince me to walk down the aisle again. In the end, I guess the Carrie Bradshaw in me couldn’t resist.

’ll be honest with you; if I were reading this column right now, I’d be wondering a few things myself.

“Is this for real? Who is this guy? Why should I believe him, and why in the world would someone be willing to write a public column about his private dating life?” I’ll address these questions right now. First, yes, this is for real. I am not a journalist, nor am I getting paid to write this column. I actually volunteered to participate in this project. As I read Dr. Page’s book, “Get Married This Year,” I will write about my dating life as it relates to the advice and program she outlines. While I am not entering this process looking to get engaged or be married by the end of the year, if I find that special someone, who knows? Second, I am writing under the pseudonym Andrew Singleman so that I can be 100 percent honest throughout this process. In addition to a degree of privacy for myself, whomever I take out deserves the same, so I will not be publishing actual names of any women involved. By the way, you can also find and follow Andrew Singleman on Facebook. Now, to tell you a bit about myself: I’m 45 years old, divorced, and the father of two (an 11-year-old daughter and an eight-yearold son). The divorce was final January 2012. I’m an independent computer-programming consultant, though I am considering a career change. I’ve just put my home in Marietta up for sale and expect to move closer to Dunwoody once it’s sold. I’m also not a native Atlantan; I’m originally from the Northeast and moved here in 2000. I’m either just like you or someone you know – a single, basic, nice Jewish boy. I want a social life and would like to meet people, make friends, date and eventually get remarried. You should believe me because I’m real, open, and honest. What may make me a little different from most people is my willingness to write about my life vis-à-vis this book. I believe that life is about experiences and that you should live life to its fullest. As a friend of mine says, “Go big or go home.” So that’s why I decided to participate. Yes, I’m nervous. Who wouldn’t be? But I’ve got an opportunity to take a hard look within, improve both myself and the quality of my life and take you on that journey with me. How could I NOT do this? Please join me every month over the next year as I find both myself, and hopefully, my bashert.

what’s happening

Sun., Jan. 6 Bearing Witness Series, “Unforgettable Stories” with speaker Eva Friedlander, Holocaust survivor. Sun., Jan. 6, 2 p.m. Free for members. $12/adults, $8/seniors, $6/students. The Breman Museum. (678) 222-3700. High Museum Trip, “Fast Forward: Modern Moments” exhibit. Docent-guided tour through exhibit followed by drinks at Shout. Sun., Jan. 6, 3 p.m. $30/MJCCA members, $35/non-members. High Museum. (678) 812-4079. Tues., Jan. 8 “The Soul, Heaven and Afterlife,” latest in the Women’s Torah Study Series. Tuesday mornings, 9:30 a.m., beginning Jan. 8. Chabad of Cobb. chabadofcobb. com. Wed., Jan. 9 Film screening, “David,” and discussion with director Joel Fendelman. Wed., Jan. 9, 5 p.m. Congregation Or Hadash. (404) 250-3338. Thurs., Jan. 10 Preschool Place Pre-K open house, come meet excellent educators and experience CDT’s quality pre-K program. Walk-ins welcome, RSVP preferred. Congregation Dor Tamid. (770) 623-8849. Congregation Ariel Sisterhood Hat Decoration, a “Derby-style” Rosh Chodesh event. Thurs., Jan. 10, 7 p.m. Congregation Ariel. (770) 390-9071. Mon., Jan. 12 Mt. Scopus Musical Soiree, an evening featuring concert pianist Elena Boguslavsky; proceeds go towards genetic research at Hadassah Hospital. Mon., Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. $25/person. Private residence. RSVP by Jan. 5. For info, (404) 325-0340 or embarr1@bellsouth.net. Sun., Jan. 13 MJCCA Day Camp Online Registration, with a variety of new options for children ages 5 to 14. Sun., Jan. 13. atlantajcc.org/camps. Yiddish Lovers Club Meeting, once a month meetings. Sun., Jan. 13, 11 a.m. Beth Jacob Synagogue. (404) 6330551. From the SS to the IDF, with guest lecturer Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger. Sun., Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Tefillah. (404) 843-2464. Wed., Jan. 16 Thinking Inside the Box, “Framing Women’s Lives” shadowboxing created by Weber School students. Wed., Jan. 16, 7 p.m. The Weber School. RSVP brosenblit@weberschool.org “To Catch An Anti-Semite,” with guest speaker David Nesenoff, on the viral video of White House correspondent Helen Thomas. Wed., Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m. $12/ person for RSVP’s by Jan. 10. $15/per-

son at door. RSVP, (770) 565-4412 or chabadofcobb.com. Sat., Jan. 19 Cancer Transitions Workshop, sixweek workshop to aide in active to post treatment. Sat., Jan. 19, 10 a.m. Free. Cancer Support Community. (404) 8431880. Sun., Jan. 20 A Night at the Races, dinner in honor of Harold & Lora Schroeder and Dr. Jason and Leanne Kaplan, featuring games and music and more. Sun., Jan. 20. Congregation Ariel. (770) 390-9071. Tues., Jan. 22 Challah Baking Evening with Chabad Women’s Circle. Tues., Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. $12. Chabad of Cobb. chabadofcobb.com. Wed., Jan. 23 Famous Jewish Women You’ve Never Heard Of, event of Mt. Scopus Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah with presenter Barbara Rosenblit. Wed., Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m. Congregation Or VeShalom. RSVP to (404) 636-8582 or suzytib@bellsouth. net. Sat., Jan. 26 Family Concert, Mr. Greg’s Musical Madness. Sat., Jan. 26, 11 a.m. $10/ person. The Punchline Comedy Club. Tickets at punchline.com. Sun., Jan. 27 Mahjong Tournament, Benefitting Etz Chaim Preschool. Bring 2012 Mahjong card. Prizes awarded. Beginners seminar available. Sun., Jan. 27, 12:45 p.m. $25/person. Congregation Etz Chaim. http://www.etzchaim.net/preschool_ events_registration.aspx

Wed., Feb. 6 Moving Atlanta to Higher Ground, how religion inspires positive change, interfaith panel event sponsored by Georgia State University Department of Religious Studies, with Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, Rev. Joanna Adams, Imam Plemon El-Amin and Rev. Joseph Roberts. Wed., Feb. 6, 5 p.m. Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. (404) 949-3777.

member,$50/ non members. Sip Wine. Registration required: (678) 812-4079.

MDE Open House, school for special needs students, individual attention. Wed., Feb. 6, 7 p.m. The Motivation, Dedication, Excellence School in Marietta. RSVP by Feb. 1, (770) 977-9457 or (770) 971-4633.

Thurs., March 21 Coffee House speakers series with sweet treats and deep discussion. Thurs., March 21, 7:30 p.m. $10/members, $15/non-members. Registration required. MJCCA. (678) 812-4079.

Sat., Feb. 9 Scout Shabbat, Saturday morning services and a celebration of Scoutmaster Josiah V. Benator’s 78 years of scouting. Sat., Feb. 9, 9:15 a.m. Congregation Or VeShalom. jvbenator@juno.com

Ongoing Dunwoody Sunday Cycle, bike ride for all ages (10+) and abilities. First Sunday of each month (next on Jan. 6), 2:30 p.m. Meet in front of Bruster’s in Dunwoody Village Parking Lot. dr_barbara@ bellsouth.net or (770)604-3803.

Gala Dinner & Auction, Chabad of Cobb with honorees: Nava & Ron Alkalay, Sherry Kornheiser, Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott, and Hollee & Steven Parker. Chabad of Cobb. Sat., Feb. 9. (770) 565-4412.

Jewish Alcoholics Chemically Dependent Persons And Significant Others Meeting, calling all Jewish persons with a desire to get help with their own addiction or with a loved one’s addiction. First and third Tuesdays, 7 p.m. Congregation Etz Chaim. (770) 928-2523 or georgiatraveler@att.net.

Couples & Cocktails, enjoy tapas and wine while making new friends. Tapas and one glass of wine included in price, per couple. Sun., Feb. 17,6:30 p.m. $40/

Live Music

“Living with Integrity - Navigating Everyday Ethical Dilemmas,” the new JLI course. Six weeks beginning Wed., Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. Various metro Chabad houses. myJLI.com.

Sun., Feb. 3 Congregation Dor Tamid Adult Enrichment Program, features different speakers each week on varying social and Jewish topics. Begins Sun., Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m. (nine sessions). The Monarch School. lindadickson1@gmail.com or (678) 7777099.

Sober Shabbat, dinners held on the first Friday of every month, sponsored by the JF&CS HAMSA. JF&CS offices. For information: (770) 677-9318 or addiction@jfcs-atlanta.org.

Sun., Feb. 17 Singles Happy Hour, mingle and discuss future MJCCA singles programs. Sun., Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. $18/members, $20/non members. Sip Wine, Milton. Registration required: (678) 812-4079.

Israel Trip Info Meeting, for upcoming MJCCA trip, June 12-25. Sun., Jan. 27, 12 p.m. Zaban Park. Information and application forms, (678) 812-4161 or brian. glusman@atlantajcc.org.

Fri., Feb. 1 Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman, speaking on “Judaism for Busy Lives.” Begins with Shabbat service on Fri., Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m., with more events on Sat. and Sun. Temple Sinai. templesinaiatlanta.org.

Thurs., March 14 4th-annual Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, three days of music from emerging Jewish artists. Thurs., March 14 through Sat., March 16 (full schedule TBA). Various downtown venues. atlantajewishmusicfestival.org.

Join us Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013 8:00pm

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AJT

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AJT

MATZAH BALL SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Having Faith, Not Regrets KNOWING HE IS WITH YOU, EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO BURNING BUSH By Rachel LaVictoire

AJT Contributor y grandma is sick. I say this with overwhelming blatancy because when someone close to you falls ill, you can’t beat around the bush with your emotions or be comforted by euphemisms. Just four months ago, she was dressing herself in high heels and sequined tops to meet up with friends she had just seen on the tennis courts. Then, three months ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Today, we sit as a family and reminisce. She tells us her favorite stories, and we try to take over with longer ones when we hear her voice begin to weaken. As with everything else in life, our time right now is both a blessing and a curse. Each time she lets out a groan, her pain seems to leak out and hit everyone in the room. Seeing in distress the woman who used to crash into my bumper boat with her teeth shining through a smile…well, it just doesn’t seem right.

Still, I can’t help but be thankful for this warning signal from G-d. He could have taken her whenever He so pleased, but instead G-d is telling us, “Hey, so, I miss her up here. I’ll be taking her soon to be with me, so it’s time to say good-bye.” Never in a million years would I have thought I’d be saying good-bye to her now, with me at 18 years old, but that is what G-d has planned for me. So that’s what we’ve all been doing – sitting close to her and touching her hands and listening to every word she has to say. For the first time in my life, I don’t know what to say.

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 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.

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

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

1:16).”

“The midwives, however, feared G-d; so they did not do as the king of Egypt had spoken to them, but they enabled the boys to live (Exodus 1:17).”

Take the Leap Today, though, my grandma said something fantastic. It’s what you’d expect anyone in her position to say, but because the words came from her lips… I finally understood.

There are no words.

My brother mentioned the possibility of renting a motorcycle during his upcoming trip to Ireland. An “absolutely not!” leapt from my mother’s lips, and a “why not” jumped right back from my brother. Grandma quieted the room. She whispered:

My grandma says that she knows I’ve gotten involved in religion, and she asks me what will come after this life. I don’t know. I don’t know, and I’m scared of being wrong or painting a picture of a heaven she won’t find comfort in. I muster up a few words about peace and happiness and being worry-free and connecting with G-d, and then I go silent.

“No, I don’t necessarily want him on a motorcycle, but I want him to have adventure. When he gets to my age, I want him to know that he’s done it all. If that means riding a motorcycle, then so be it.” My mom nodded, trying to hide fear behind her brown eyes. But she understood, too; we can’t let fear control our lives.

I’m scared, and she’s scared, and we’re both trying to control our faces so they don’t show the fear that’s swal-

This week’s Torah portion, Shemot, tells the famous story of the burning bush, of G-d calling to Moses to free the slaves of Egypt. What could bring more fear than a promise to G-d that you will free thousands of slaves from an unrelenting Pharaoh?

Shabbat Candle Lighting Times shabbat blessings

lowing all the words we’ve ever learned, leaving us speechless.

Friday, January 4, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:23 pm Shabbat, January 5, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:22 pm Friday, January 11, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:29 pm Shabbat, January 12, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:28 pm Friday, January 18, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:35 pm Shabbat, January 19, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:34 pm Friday, January 25, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:42 pm Shabbat, January 26, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:40 pm

And yet, Moses agreed to do so. One might argue that, “of course Moses could do this, G-d called on him to do so,” and this is a good point. G-d said directly to Moses: “For I will be with you, and this is the sign for you that it was I Who sent you (Exodus 3:12).” But this begs the question that many will ask: If I don’t know that G-d is with me and will protect me, why should I embark on any adventure that scares me? Basically, would Moses have tried to free the slaves had G-d not specifically called on him to do so? This is why I find other stories in Shemot to be somewhat more powerful. For example: In the very first chapter of Exodus, Pharaoh says to the two Hebrew midwives: “When you deliver the Hebrew women, and you see on the birth stool, if it is a son, you shall put him to death, but if it is a daughter, she may live (Exodus

But the very next line reads:

Then, later in the parsha, the Hebrew women are instructed to throw all newborn sons into the Nile River. Again, they rebel: “A [Hebrew] woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw him that he was good, she hid him for three months. When she could no longer hide him, she took for him a reed basket, smeared it with clay and pitch, placed the child into it, and put it into the marsh at the Nile’s edge (Exodus 2:2-3).” These incredibly courageous acts were done with no divine instruction, no burning bush, just an inherent love for G-d and a belief that everything would eventually work out. Yes, it would be nice if G-d came to me, and told me just what Heaven was like so that I might comfort my grandma. And yes, my mom could benefit from a “your kids are going to be OK” from G-d every now and then. However, the absence of those divine interventions isn’t an excuse for living in fear. Just imagine: When those first two midwives, Shifrah and Puah, reached their old age, they had no regrets. Without direct instruction from G-d, they’d broken the law, done things that could have gotten them killed, and did what they felt was right. Whether it’s introducing yourself to that cute barista, seeing a new country, standing up for what you believe in or just riding a motorcycle, do it. G-d may not send instructions, but He’ll watch over you, and when you’re in your old age, you’ll be able to say you’ve “done it all.” 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.

AJT

D’VAR TORAH

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Parashat Shemot

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A TEST WITHIN A TEST Temple Emanu-El and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association

n this week’s Torah portion, Shemot, the text quickly sets the stage for all the important events to come in the remainder of the Torah. We see that the happy and positive conclusion of Genesis, in which the sons of Jacob were living a pleasant and protected life in Goshen, has been replaced with servitude. The current Pharaoh fears the Israelites and seeks to wipe them out through harsh labor. Then, along comes Moses. He’s brought into the palace of Pharaoh only to flee for his life shortly thereafter, having killed an Egyptian to protect a Hebrew slave. And so, just three chapters into Exodus, the focus is on Moses tending sheep in the wilderness for his father-in-law Jethro. As we encounter Moses in the wilderness, he is not yet the leader that is ready to liberate the Jews from slavery; he is simply a fugitive from the wrath of Pharaoh and a lowly shepherd. He is still a young man who is unsure of himself. It is in the encounter at Mount Horeb that we begin to see the transformation that will create “Moshe Rabbenu,” Moses our teacher. The Torah states: “Now Moses, tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, drove the flock into the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of G-d. An angel of Go-d appeared to him in a blazing fire out of a bush. He gazed, and there was a bush all aflame, yet the bush was not consumed. Moses said, ‘I must turn aside to look at this marvelous sight; why doesn’t the bush burn up?’ When G-d saw that he had turned aside to look, G-d called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ He answered, ‘Here I am’ (Exodus 3:1-4).” This is the first instance of Moses experiencing an encounter with G-d. The

revelation begins with the subtlest of signs: a burning bush. But, for many commentators, this revelation was also a test. What was the test?

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Think how long one must look at a fire to notice if the fuel is being consumed. It may take several minutes, and many of us don’t have the patience while we are in the midst of other tasks to spend time examining a mundane occurrence. Moses not only noticed the bush and the fact that it did not consume its fuel, but he also showed the intelligence and the curiosity to turn aside and investigate further. Thus, he passed an initial test – one of observation and inquiry – and was subjected to the greater. Once Moses turned aside, G-d called out to him just as He had to Abraham: with a simple call of his name. Like Abraham before him, Moses responded with a simple heneini – Here I am.

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In this moment, Moses acknowledges his presence. But heneini is more than the the old-school roll call response – it has also come to be an affirmation of agreement within our sacred text. So, in this context, it can also be understood that he is ready to enter into a special relationship with G-d and the responsibilities that will be detailed later. Though Moses continues to be tested in the verses to come, it is in these initial moments of his encounter with G-d that he shows the qualities that will distinguish him as our leader, teacher and prophet: He has patience, insight, intelligence and a desire to respond to the call when needed. As we proceed through our days, my hope is that we all can draw from the inspiration of Moses, that we learn patience and have the insight and intelligence to respond to our community when we get the “call.” Editor’s note: Rabbi Joseph W. Prass is the senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El and a member of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

JANUARY 4 ▪ 2013

BY RABBI JOSEPH PRASS

Atlanta Synagogue Directory