No. 5 February 1 The Atlanta Jewish Times

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Israel

Israeli Pride

GOOD NEWS MADE IN THE JEWISH STATE THIS PAST WEEK

OXYGEN ENRICHMENT HELPS TREAT STROKES. Dr. Shai Efrati of Tel Aviv University tested his theory on 72 stroke victims. Even those treated three years after their strokes showed significantly increased neuronal activity following a two-month course of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

HADASSAH BREAKTHROUGH SAVES FOUR CHILDREN. Doctors at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem have discovered the reason for – and a medication to cure – peripheral neuropathy, a genetic brain disease that causes paralysis in children. Three infants suffering from the disease are already showing signs of improvement.

IT’S OFFICIAL: ISRAEL’S THE ONLY FREE STATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. The U.S.based Freedom House’s annual report entitled “Freedom in the World 2013” stated, “Israel remains the region’s [the Middle East’s] only free country,” with

“free” defined as having open political competition, a climate of respect for civil liberties, significant independent civic life and independent media.

ITALIAN MUSLIM LEADER IS PRO-ISRAEL. Sheikh Abdul Hadi Palazzi, the secretary general of the Italian Muslim Assembly and the Khalifa for Europe’s Qadiri Sufi Order, is a strong supporter of Israel’s right to exist, as well as Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem, based on his interpretation of Islam.

LIFE’S A BEACH IN TEL AVIV. The travel guide “Lonely Planet” ranks Tel Aviv’s beach as the seventh-best in the world, rated after that of Barcelona, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney – but ahead of those of Dubai and Miami.

FLIGHTS FROM FINLAND TO TEL AVIV TO BEGIN. Finnair, the national airline of Finland, will start flights from Hel-

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sinki to Tel Aviv on June 7. The flights will run twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, and are likely to have a great impact on increasing tourism to Israel from Finland during the summer months.

U.S. DOCTORS GET AUTOMATIC ISRAELI LICENSE. U.S. physicians who have passed American M.D. exams (USMLE) in the past 10 years and want to settle and work in Israel will receive exemption from the local licensing exam. This is the first time that Israeli health authorities have accepted foreign test results for an M.D. license.

U.K. AND ISRAEL PARTNER FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH. British Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) will grant NIS 25 million over five years for seven joint Israel-U.K. stem cell research programs.

WHAT ABOUT A TWIZY? The Israeli city of Kfar Saba is to trial the Renault Twizy – a two-seater car with an electric motor powered by a rechargeable lithium battery. The 2.3-meter-long Twizy carries its pair of passengers one behind the other. A more powerful model sports a 17 brake horsepower engine and can travel 100 kilometers at up to 80 kilometers an hour.

FREE TRANSLATION EARNS MORE MONEY. Israeli translation company Babylon has seen its revenue double to $121 million thanks to moving from a paid to a free service with advertising. Net profit has tripled, and Babylon intends to list on NASDAQ during 2013.

This list courtesy Michael Ordman and verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com.

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from the editor

Hey, Barry, This One’s for You! A TRIP BACK IN TIME

BY Ron Feinberg Web Editor

I

f, as the aging Borscht Belt joke suggests, one of the smallest books in the world is a compilation of Jewish sports stars, then I imagine one of the largest would be the tome focusing on Jewish entertainers.

For a moment, forget about all the “members of the tribe” who are producers, directors and actors; TV personalities and broadcasters; comics, impressionists and clowns. Even push aside all the iconic Jewish composers and musicians – from Berlin and Bernstein to Heifetz and Perlman – and focus on that tiny group of talented entertainers labeled as singer/songwriters.

Add the sub-category of pop culture to the mix, and we’ve now whittled our list down to a toe-tapping group of mega-stars that would have to include Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Bob Dylan, Cass Elliot, Bette Midler, David Lee Roth, Gene Simmons, Neil Diamond and Billy Joel. That’s the short list – the very short list!

I mention all this as a long and rambling way to share a recent adventure my wife Wendy and I had in New York. We like to visit the Big Apple in the winter, when the temperature is frigid and the smell of roasting chestnuts and hot pastrami fills the air. We stayed busy this trip eating our way through several delis, taking a special food tour of Chelsea Market and the Meatpacking District and purchasing a few babkas at Zabar’s on the Upper West Side.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Yes, food is a big part of all our trips north, but we also generally manage to make it to one or two shows on Broadway, and this time around was no exception. In search of something a little different, we took a chance on the Tony-winning musical “Once,” a bittersweet story filled with boisterous production numbers and melancholy ballads. It was splendid!

Then, there was Barry Manilow.

He’s the entertainer that I think might be found snuggled up between Simon and Garfunkel and Bob Dylan in the mega-star list mentioned earlier, and – it just so happened – he’s playing Broadway once again after a 23-year absence.

Manilow is what you get if you 4 stir together equal portions of pop

music, pop culture and a little twist of yiddishkeit. He’s sold over 80 million records, and in the years between 1975 and 1983, the kid from Brooklyn had two dozen top-40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Mandy,” “Could It Be Magic,” “Looks Like We Made It” and “I Write the Songs.”

Those are exactly the tunes – along with a dozen or so more – he offered up for me, Wendy and the 1,700 other fans packed into the St. James Theater, just around the corner from Times Square.

Given the mega-sound systems and pyrotechnics at the heart of most concerts these days, I’m pretty sure Manilow seems a bit of a snoozer these days to many folks.

But I’m also pretty certain that the people rocking out in the aisles, waving light sticks and screeching like they were at a Taylor Swift concert, weren’t asleep. From the moment the lights lowered and Manilow stepped onto center stage, the St. James became a joyful, riotous celebration. For people of a certain age, the songs he sang are the songs of our lives, melodies inextricably linked to first loves and first heartbreaks.

Time, well, boogied to a stop, and – for a moment – we were all kids again, swaying and cheering and singing along to the aging memories that filled the theater. After all, many of us once had the same disco hair and disco duds that a youngish Manilow sported on album covers

GOING OUT OF TOWN?

(which were incorporated into the show via a giant screen – just one additional way to sweep away the years).

Much of the show’s magic, in fact, was lingering in the past. That became clear when Manilow slowed things down a bit and offered up a few warm memories of his yiddishe grandfather, the man he credits with first recognizing his musical potential. He used a scratchy old recording that he and his grandfather produced decades ago, along with a little video of a man and child walking together and a lot of sentimental schmaltz, to euphonically blend it all together.

Then it was back to the waving and swaying; singing, dancing and cheering. It took Manilow himself to help it all make sense when he shouted out to the crowd, bathed in their loving adulation, that, gosh, “I was the Justin Bieber of the 1970s!”

I’m guessing that’s a good thing.

What Do You Think?

I

t is a lesson that we’ve learned time and time again and will continue to learn, over and over.

It’s not that we forget the lesson or doubt its veracity; it is simply the journalist’s lot in life to hear, see and experience into perpetuity: You can’t please everyone at the same time.

Last week, we juxtaposed two pieces on Rabbi David Nesenoff’s recent appearances in Atlanta; one was a simple story by managing editor John McCurdy, while the other was a column by web editor Ron Feinberg (see pages 4 and 5 of the Jan. 25 edition of the AJT).

The latter raised an “admittedly petulant” but completely reasonable question – why is Rabbi Nesenoff still talking about Helen Thomas and her comments on the White House lawn three years ago? – while the former attempted to provide an answer by conveying the facts and message presented on Jan. 15 at Chabad Intown.

We chose to run these articles side-by-side to illustrate two different viewpoints, two different ways of looking at the recent lectures. Surely others wondered the same thing Ron did (“Is 92-year-old Helen Thomas and her misguided and ridiculous comment really what we should be focusing on in the here and now?”).

At the same time, many others were fascinated to hear the story and the greater meaning gleaned by Rabbi Nesenoff (as evidenced by the excellent turnout at each of his events).

As it ends up, Rabbi Nesenoff disagreed with our choice to print Ron Feinberg’s column. We heard from him personally during a long and spirited phone call that he felt it was improper to question his turning a single incident into an entire career.

What about you – did the same question that came to Ron’s mind come to yours? If so, did the two articles running together help to illuminate two of the angles from which this debate can be seen?

Let us know via submissions@ atljewishtimes.com!

from our readers

Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt

Dear Editor:

First, I am a veteran, and I know that assault weapons are for one purpose – killing, not recreation. Second, I have known Harold Kirtz for more than 30 years. As a result, I found the condescending tone of the letter by Eugene Kaplan (“Keep America Manly,” Jan. 11 edition of the AJT) to be both inappropriate and unpersuasive.

What’s more, some of Mr. Kaplan’s comments were downright inaccurate. No one – liberals, centrists or conservatives – is suggesting the disarming of law-abiding gun owners. Gutting the Second Amendment is also not the goal.

Such FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) comments are typical of people full of smack-talk but short on insight.

Consider that Americans are seeking to end senseless bloodshed at the hand of assault weapons, which are defined in various statutes that Mr. Kaplan has not bothered to read. [And to another point, addressed both by Kirtz and Kaplan], high-capacity magazines (more than 10 bullets) make no sense in a civil society. Similarly, closing the gun show loophole is justified, as are universal background checks. These steps are adjustments, not an abrogation, of the Second Amendment.

We Americans have many rights – like free speech and access to automobiles, to name a few. Yet those rights also have boundaries. We can’t falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theatre. We are obliged to refrain from smoking while refueling our cars. We have speed limits that mean that we can’t legally drive 110 miles per hour on Interstate 285.

But despite those boundaries, there is still widespread exercise of free speech and freedom of movement.

Clearly, legislation alone won’t be a panacea. Granted, providing greater mental health services is needed, though in the current economic climate, that will be difficult to achieve. Also, having guns get into the hands of criminals remains a problem. Sadly, the latter will continue; only diligent law enforcement can minimize its impact.

Finally, Mr. Kaplan wonders how this is a Jewish value.

According to Jewish tradition, someone who saves another person is to be regarded as one who saved the world.

The message is clear: What we need are not more crocodile tears from NRA leadership or disingenuous solutions (armed guards at all schools when expenditures on education have been declining). Instead, we need meaningful action. Courageous action.

Will it happen? Only time will tell, but for now, we know who the FUDites and obstructionists in our midst are.

Apples and Oranges

Sincerely, Rich Lapin Dunwoody, Ga.

Dear Editor and Eugen Schoenfeld:

Eugen Schoenfeld [in his column “Absolutism vs. Relativism, Part I,” in the Jan. 25 edition of the AJT] makes two mistakes – one of fact, and another of logic.

The mistake of fact is that shatnez applies not to the mixture of two different natural materials (as he states), but only to cloth woven from linen and sheep’s wool together. More serious is his mistake that “ideals of rationality and modernity” are contradictory to Jewish laws and customs or that those Jewish practices need rational explanations.

The laws of the Torah are for achieving spiritual (religious) purity. This needs no rational basis; indeed is, ipso facto, not rational. This is a concept that adherents of most religions would find quite explicable, as most religions are concerned with purification of the soul and oneness with G-d.

Now, in an academic milieu, rationality is considered the paramount value. But arguing whether rationality or spirituality is more important is similar to arguing whether Spanish or German is a superior language for communication.

Considering the wide variation of religious practice between various streams of Judaism over the ages continuing to the present day, it is a serious error to state that Jewish religion is absolutist. Furthermore, Judaism has always maintained that halakhah applies only to Jews and not to adherents of other religions.

Finally, I would like to test your everyday rationality: Do you shake hands with people you meet? Do you really think they might be carrying a sword or knife (which is the origin of the custom of handshaking)?

Would you sunbathe nude at the beach? Why not? Is there any rational basis to our custom of wearing bathing suits at the beach?

Do you root for your city’s sports team?

How tribal! How irrational!

“Blame the Teachers!”

Sincerely, Alan O. Feingold, MD, MBA

Dear Editor and Eden Farber:

There is no conflict between an “A,” a good college, a good job and living a complete and fulfilling life. The problem is not that students work too hard, but that they do not work smart.

Almost anybody without a learning disability can earn straight “A’s” if they learn to work efficiently and organize their time. The basic problem is that many people never learn these important life skills.

Teachers and schools should spend more time on teaching students how to learn, how to organize and how to use time efficiently. Unfortunately, most teachers are still trying to “fill vessels” and not “light a fire under the vessel.”

Learning facts is self-defeating and almost useless: That is what Google and Wikipedia are for. Learning how to learn, learning concepts and problem solving skills is what should be emphasized in schools. Any teacher that tests her students on what year such-and-such happened or which general won the battle of somewhere is part of the problem and not part of the solution.

So Eden: Do not castigate your friends; blame the teachers!

Sincerely, Alan O. Feingold, MD, MBA and elementary school science teacher

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AJT

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AJT

chana’s corner

Stop That Fighting!

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO END AN ARGUMENT

BY CHANA SHAPIRO AJT Columnist

I

recently spent many hours sitting in the emergency room while someone I had accompanied was undergoing tests. I’d brought along magazines and crossword puzzles to deal with the endless hours, but my attention was completely diverted by the events unfolding on the other side of the wall.

The patients in ER cubicles have the impression of privacy, but the opposite is true. The thin walls and/or curtains; the indiscreet, audible comments of coming and going staff and visitors; and doors which are often ajar – these factors make intimacy impossible. This communal experience of stress and uncertainty definitely isn’t the kind of sharing even the most social-minded person would crave.

That’s how it came to pass that,

even though I couldn’t actually see the residents of the room next door, I heard almost every single word they spoke. The patient seemed to be an elderly woman, accompanied by two men and a younger woman.

From their too-loud conversation, I pictured the patient’s husband, daughter and son-in-law. They were comforting the mostly-silent matriarch with playful gossip and upbeat plans for the future.

Then, suddenly, the cheerful chatting stopped. Fearful that something dreadful had happened, I opened my own door and went into the hall to call for assistance. There, I saw the woman’s original three visitors standing by her door, silently glaring at a new set of visitors.

I went back into the room in which I was waiting. Then, through the wall, I heard loud, angry voices

join the first ones. It sounded like the recent arrivals, possibly another daughter and her spouse, were furious with the earlier visitors, accusing them of negligence and avarice.

stop their argument, so I got into my car to wait for them to stop fighting. I didn’t turn on the radio, and I didn’t check my messages. I sat, watched and listened.

Yes, in the presence of the sick woman, an all-out screaming fight raged, with each group loudly and graphically accusing the other group of hastening the demise of the patient in order to get her money.

Something had happened at a sports event at their children’s school. Kids had been kicked out of the game, suspended or expelled, and each side accused the other of lying and cheating.

I couldn’t believe their lack of propriety and respect. The patient made no sound, so it was possible that she was either too sick or too “out of it” to respond. The mixed accusations were hurtling back and forth, and I wasn’t the only witness to the battle. One of the ER staff interrupted the brawl, demanding that they quiet down.

This brought the group to their senses, and the volume lowered.

The women were oblivious to my presence, and it was getting late. I got out of my blocked-in car to look for the patrolling security officer.

The officer told them to move out of the public space. They were still fuming, but they stopped shouting.

Eventually, a doctor entered their room. I couldn’t hear what he told the group, but their response was immediate and, to me, awesome.

One of the daughters began to quietly sing a Christian spiritual, and the others joined in. Then another voice rang out, “Heal this woman, Jesus! Bring peace to our beloved mother. Bless all of us, G-d our Father, and let us say, ‘amen.’”

A collective “amen!” followed.

Confused and fascinated by this complete reversal of emotion, I again went into the hall and watched as everyone left, only the father staying with his ailing wife.

Later, the person for whom I was waiting was discharged. I was grateful and relieved that we were able to go home, but I continued thinking about the “religious” ER experience I had witnessed.

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Déjà Vu, All Over Again

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Not long after that incident, I was shopping at a neighborhood supermarket. Returning to my car, I found two groups of women hurling insults and allegations at each other. Their yelling was accentuated by dramatic arm-waving and lots of finger-poking.

They were standing in the middle of the lane in which I was parked, and they were planted directly behind my car.

I’m no fool: I wasn’t about to try to

Then, I was stunned when the ER experience was repeated right there in the Kroger parking lot. Before leaving, one of the women reached out to the nearest adversary and grabbed her hand.

“Let us pray,” she said. It was automatic.

Taking the cue, the women from both groups joined hands and bowed their heads. The prayer was recited quietly, but the officer and I both heard the “amen.” As the group disbursed and went to their cars, I felt that, once again, I’d been given a useful insight.

How many times have I taken part in arguing, challenging, criticizing and heated debating? How frequently have my comments been divisive, inappropriate and misguided? How many petty arguments have I had with family members and friends?

How often have I spoken too soon or jumped to conclusions? I admit that I can maintain a disagreement for ages, until I’m exhausted. I forget the reason for the quarrel, avoid my adversary or – once in a while – finally agree to disagree.

I witnessed two incidents of abruptly closing a fight with a shared prayer. It does create a hiatus, but does it heal the rift?

I’ve never considered reaching out to jointly end a dispute by praying together. Do Jews do that? It’s something to think about.

Chana Shapiro is an educator, writer, editor and illustrator whose work has appeared in journals, newspapers and magazines.

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AJT

home & abroad

Goulash Runs in My Veins MY HOME, HUNGARY

BY ESTHER TURAN For the Atlanta Jewish Times

This is the first in an ongoing series. Here, our author – visiting the U.S. from Hungary – shares the beauty of her birthplace.

I

’m Hungarian, a native of one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. I was born and raised in the capital, Budapest, one of the most picturesque cities in Europe.

To set the scene, the city is split into two unique parts: Buda, where I live, is lush and hilly; Pest is the industrial part of the region, has an expansive and impressive downtown and, notably, is where Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism, was born.

Buda and Pest are divided by the

Blue Danube, which, truth to tell, isn’t all that blue anymore. It’s still lovely, however, and is spanned by a number of majestic bridges.

Those are some facts about Hungary. Now, for some of the many reasons I love the country…

of the country’s socialist regime. People were naïve, and many dreamed about life in the “West.” Still, we all considered Hungary to be the “happiest bunk” in the socialist block.

“Such mixed emotion is simply part of our culture. There’s an old saying: ‘The Hungarian frolics while crying.’”

A Wonderful Childhood My parents and family are all Hungarian, and they filled my childhood with lots of love, care, joy, fun and wisdom.

I studied at an awesome neighborhood school during the last days

F o r instance, I was able to visit the U.S. - something that wouldn’t have been possible if I lived in one of the other communist countries in Eastern Europe – when I was 11.

Growing up, many of my friends weren’t Jewish; it simply wasn’t an issue. I didn’t attend a Jewish day school and didn’t pick my friends based on their religion.

My friends and I spend hours having deep, meaningful conversations.

We also have our share of arguments when we are discussing these deep beliefs, but that’s what friends do.

Finally, it’s important to mention that no one – let me be clear here, no one – parties like Hungarians. When we go out, fun is guaranteed. Hungarians know how to drink and, well, go crazy.

All of this partying is fun and filled with laughs. Okay, there are also hangovers – but they come with some great memories.

Rich, Vibrant Culture Hungarian cuisine is earthy, robust and tasty. Our meals are filled with the likes of goulash soup (it runs through my veins), halaszle (an amazing fish soup), chicken paprikash with dumplings and cucumber salads.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

We also use tons of paprika and onions with, well, more onions – sorry, that’s a joke that only Hungarians will understand.

8

Then, there’s goose liver; and all this goodness finished off with somloi galuska, a chocolate-vanilla sponge cake. Delicious!

Just as important as the food, the country is filled with writers, poets, filmmakers and photographers. Unfortunately, Hungary remains somewhat isolated these days and doesn’t

receive the recognition it deserves in the arts.

But it’s worth noting that the country’s theater – real theater – is outstanding. Its filmmakers and photographers are also world-class and, believe it or not, it was Hungarian Jews who actually helped make Hollywood the success it is today.

Laughter and Tears Hungarian humor – especially that with a decidedly Jewish accent – is simply unbeatable. I find myself crying from laughter every time I watch old clips featuring certain comedians.

Truth to tell, however, there’s a melancholy that fills the country.

Hungarians can be a pessimistic people, even flat-out negative at times.

But it’s this melancholy vibe, I think, that fuels the country’s artists.

A perfect example of this bizarre synergy is the suicidal song “Gloomy Sunday,” composed in 1933 by Rezso Seress. The tune was a major hit all over the world, but it also tragically played a part in many people’s suicide.

Such mixed emotion is simply part of our culture. There’s an old saying: “The Hungarian frolics while crying.”

One final example of this overarching feeling: Hungarian director Michael Curtiz, a genius in his own right, used the melancholy that is part of Hungary to create the classic film “Casablanca.” A movie that’s filled with laughter and tears, it is – in my opinion – an American movie with a distinctly Hungarian atmosphere.

Needless to say, my home country remains a special place in my heart, the land where I was born and a place that continues to inform my life.

Editor’s note: Esther Turan is a film producer at Moviebar Productions (movie-bar.net); additional input for this column provided by Julie Turan.

Next week, Esther continues her remembrance of Hungary with a loving look at her grandfather and the role anti-Semitism had – and continues to have – in her homeland.

AJT

noga reports

The Columbia Disaster – 10 Years Later LOSS OF A HERO

BY NOGA GUR-ARIEH AJT Contributor

O

very well. I grew up with his son, Tal, as both families lived in a familyresidence next to an Air Force base.

Both our dads were officers in the Air Force and worked together.

a symbol of national and worldwide pride and an inspiration.

May they all rest in peace.

Noga Gur-Arieh visited the U.S. to work at Camp Coleman after finishing her military service in the IDF. She is now back in Israel, working as a journalist.

Tal and I were good friends in kindergarten, but went our separate ways at 6 years old, when my family and I moved back to the city. A few years later, I remember my dad asking me if I remembered Tal’s father, saying that he might become an astronaut.

Since space was my main interest at that time, my dad said that maybe someday I could meet with Ilan and he would tell me all about space.

In memoriam: Ilan Ramon (far right) and six other heros were lost on Feb. 1, 2003.

I n

n Feb. 1, 2003 at 4:30 p.m., my family and I were all riding in the car, on our way to visit long distance relatives. Besides our travel, this was supposed to be a big day: Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut and an old family friend, was supposed to land at Cape Canaveral along with six fellow astronauts.

We all saw him as a symbol of Israeli achievement. He was the one we all believed in, the one we were all united in admiring. We had all been waiting for this day, when Ramon would step out of the space shuttle, wave to the cheering crowd, hug his wife and kids and return home a hero.

Even while on the road, we did not want to miss the historic moment, so my father turned on the radio for the broadcast. I will never forget that moment when we realized something had gone wrong.

I remember my mother starting to cry, and my father catching his breath. I remember asking what had happened and slowly gaining the understanding that Ilan Ramon would not step outside of the shuttle. He would not be reunited with his family.

I don’t remember the man himself

the meantime, the Ramons moved to the U.S., and our families drifted apart. But even though I hadn’t spoken to Tal in years, when the Columbia left the atmosphere, I bragged to the entire school that the father of one of my closest childhood friends was up there.

When Ilan Ramon boarded that shuttle, he became an Israeli hero; a symbol of success beyond imagination, a realization of a dream. Feb. 1, 2003 was meant to be an historic day for the state of Israel. That day was meant to be written as the day Israel stepped out of its borders and left a mark on the world’s history.

That day did become an historic day, but it is one we would rather erase. In that moment, when the countdown ended and the clock started counting back up, that day turned from a day of excitement into a day of grief.

It’s been 10 years now, and Ilan Ramon’s smile is still in our hearts.

He and the six other astronauts that assembled the Columbia team are all heroes. They will always be a symbol of achievement beyond imagination,

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Ramon’s voyage to space was the most talkedabout topic in the Israeli media at the time.

We all followed Ilan and his family – from the moment of takeoff through his videos from space and the romantic song his wife dedicated to him – from millions of miles away.

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AJT

if you ask me

I Miss My Father BUT I FOUND MY FEELINGS

by CLIFF MAZER

AJT Contributor

A

friend of mine from high school died recently. She was 60 years old.

I feel very sad and kind of confused. Judy was not the first person I know to pass away, and I was by no means a very close or intimate friend of hers. Nevertheless, I got to see her at a 40th high school reunion, and she was as sweet and kind-hearted as I remembered her back in 1971.

It’s not easy to process something as final and as inevitable as a death.

There is still a kind of mental denial and social taboo about it. You find yourself thinking, “Wait, that’s impossible! She’s my age!” and “But she’s my Facebook friend! I saw she just had her 60th birthday!”

I feel tears in my eyes, but my head is having trouble grasping this kind of raw emotion and new reality.

Judy Levey Stein passed away; I almost feel like I have to slow down, repeat it and let my mind catch up to my feelings.

In this time of “instant everything” – instant coffee, instant fast food, instant matzah ball soup and instant communication – it’s important to realize that many good things come from “slow.” Like Bubbe’s Crock-Pot brisket, for instance.

And beyond that, there is a lot of meaning and significance that comes from the more slowly emerging and often very painful processes: losing a friend, losing a job, getting a divorce or having a baby.

Sure, I know that it’s easy for me as a guy to say that about pregnancy and giving birth; but still, wasn’t it worth it in the end? On that topic, another friend from high school’s son and daughter-in-law actually just had a baby, making my fun-crazy friend Bennett a first-time grandpa.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Now, when we feel bad, anxious, frightened, nervous, sad or just “not right,” we’re conditioned to reach for the Klonopin, Prozac, Xanax, Welbutrin or WebMD app on our iPhone for more symptom information. We don’t slow down and ask ourselves what our being is trying to communicate.

“I’m just sad for Judy and her family, and I’m happy for Bennett and his family. That doesn’t make me crazy or bipolar; I’m just full of different kinds of feelings.”

In this case, I’m just sad for Judy and her family, and I’m happy for Bennett and his family. That doesn’t make me crazy or bipolar; I’m just full of different kinds of feelings.

None of us is completely crazy or stupid, though some are pretty darn close. We know we are consciously or unconsciously engaged over our lifetime – and maybe longer than that – in a process of body-mind integration.

It’s just like our crazy dreams, which are trying to sort out what is important from what is mental “garbage” and emotional detritus. Just remember: Do not leave the televangelist cable channel on when you fall asleep.

Our bodies and brains are constantly trying to “process” our childhood traumas, our teenage angst, our adult successes and miserable Titanic-sized failures and losses. It’s all a huge and never-ending psychospiritual puzzle, like an internal and eternal “Hoarders” episode.

Life and death. Quite a concept.

It’s not something you can sort out in one or two sittings; or with a primal scream; or via three therapy sessions; or on a train ride to work while feverishly trying to finish the New York Times crossword puzzle.

It’s a slow process and we have to allow it to occur.

More to the point and less to the labor pains: We are so used to demonizing our raw emotions and deadening our anxiety and pain with drugs, drink and addictive cultural distractions like “Honey Boo Boo,” the internet or Facebook. It is a universe of on-demand gratification and lightning-quick digital entertain-

Our bodies, minds and lives in general give us various subtle or notso-subtle hints or clues and throw us various symbols, symptoms, poetic metaphors and synchronistic coincidences. Feeling anxious or tense, having a bad dream or a rumbly-inthe-tumbly stomachache (in absence of the flu, a definitive medical prob-

10

ment.

lem or an uber-spicy Indian meal the night before) or even a moment of sadness can mean that something important wants to be recognized and processed.

For the more neurotic or imaginative among us, let me say that this doesn’t always mean we have been sexually abused in childhood and need to acknowledge it or go shoot the perpetrator on the courtroom steps, like in an episode of “Law and Order: SVU.” But certainly, child abuse and neglect happen a lot, and we need to embrace the truth about such traumas in our lives, as well as other repressed feelings, including our lingering guilt regarding our worst “not seen on TV” moments as lousy spouses or well-meaning but completely overwhelmed parents.

It sucks to admit that you were – even if only for a second – a screwedup parent to your own kids; I really hate when that happens. Sometimes, however, it just means that you are sad about the death of a high school friend, happy for another and, in

my case, also come to realize I miss someone I have never fully acknowledged in my life as being all that important.

I was only 2 years old when he died, and he disappeared like the ghost in the night. Like in Shel Silverstein’s book “The Missing Piece,” that missing part has rolled around in my subconscious for nearly 57 years. The wheel of life still goes round, but when I listen closely, I can hear it go bumpity-bump when it rolls over that hidden sore spot and the symbolic – as well as real – void within.

But I don’t think I need to up my Lexapro or start on a new mood stabilizer. Instead, I want to honor all my seemingly disparate feelings. I want to be genuinely happy for Bennett and his family, sad about Judy and thankful for life and good health.

I also want to do one or two things – maybe it’s lighting a candle, saying the Kaddish and taking out the few dusty Polaroid pictures from the bottom of my overcrowded sock drawer – to express and commemorate the loss of two very sweet and decent human beings. I miss my biological father, Lawrence Hiken, and I miss my ex-wife, Rona Hertz Mazer.

Judy: You were a good person and had a wonderful and genuine smile.

Bennett, Justin and Crissy: L’chaim, and – as the Fiddler shouted out to the stars and heaven above, “to life!”

Cliff Mazer, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist who lives in Sandy Springs and has a thing for pirates.

AJT

new moon meditations

Welcoming a Month of Joy REVEALING AND REVELLING

BY Dr. Terry Segal AJT Contributor

A

dar is the month to rejoice!

How wonderful that this is built into our traditions.

On Feb. 10, we will observe Rosh Chodesh and usher in a new month on the Hebrew calendar.

The sages teach that when we enter the month of Adar, our joy increases; it is a time to celebrate!

Important days in Adar include:

• The 7th, which marks Moses’ birthday as well as the date that he died.

• The Shabbat before Purim, when we read the parsha portion of Zachor, which descirbes how the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites – ancestors of Haman – after the Exodus from Egypt • The 13th, which is the Fast of Esther.

• The 14th, when we celebrate Pu-

According to the story of Purim, Haman had selected the day that he would kill the Jews of Persia by drawing “lots” (which is what purim means in Hebrew). The heroine of the day is Esther, who saves the Jewish people with her intelligence, courage and secrecy – her real name was Hadassah, but she used Esther (from the Hebrew word for hiddenness, seter) to conceal her Jewish heritage.

Is this not the story of our people? There are atrocities, we emerge victorious through the blessings of Hashem, and then we drink wine and eat!

In order to celebrate Purim, we are to: 1. Read the Megillah (Book of Esther). You’ll have 54 chances to make

2. Be festive. Traditionally, Jews celebrated Purim with so much wine that we blurred the difference between the phrases “blessed is Mordecai” and “cursed is Haman.”

Considering many partake in Sober Shabbatot and other sober celebrations, why don’t we consider dancing and singing in order to bring ourselves to that level of joy?

3. Send mishloach manot – gifts of food for friends. If you’re the only Jewish household in your neighborhood, you could host a little Purim block party and share the meaning of the holiday. And bake some hamantashen with the kids.

4. Give matanot l’evyonim – gifts to the poor. This doesn’t just refer to the homeless strangers on skid row; there are families within our own community that are hungry. We can donate food to local food banks, give grocery gift cards to the caring committees or donate to MAZON: The Jewish Response to Hunger.

And finally, there’s one last tradition: On Purim, we dress up in masks and costumes.

In everyday life, we sometimes use make-up, clothes, cars or jobs to “mask” ourselves and hide who we really are. Do you tell others that you are Jewish? Do you share your political views, opinions about gay rights or women’s issues?

While sometimes it’s wise to stay hidden – like Esther – at other times, we should speak up.

Meditation Focus What “masks” and “costumes” do you wear that keep you hidden? What do you reveal about yourself? How will you celebrate Purim this year?

Dr. Terry Segal is a licensed marriage & family therapist, Ph.D. in energy medicine, hypnotherapist and author of “The Enchanted Journey: Finding the Key that Unlocks You.”

“Big Apple Circus - a Top Ten pick for the New Year”

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FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

rim and the rescue of the Jewish people from death at the hands of Haman and King Ahashuerus.

noise when Haman’s name is read.

Added bonus: Groggers can be great stress reducers! If you can’t attend, then read about Purim online.

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AJT

outreach

Thanks to the 2012 Pinch Hitters!

HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE From Harry Lutz, Pinch Hitter Program Chairman

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

A

chim/Gate City Lodge of B’nai B’rith extends its sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers who participated in the Pinch Hitter Program on Christmas Day 2012, and a special yasher koach goes to our volunteer hospital coordinators, without whom the Pinch Hitter Program would have been impossible to produce.

Heartfelt thanks go also to our sponsors: Publix Supermarkets Charities; Bennie’s Shoes; Sarlin Wellness Way; the Atlanta Jewish Times; Aarons, Grant & Habif, LLC; Kessler and Solomiany, PC; Northwestern Mutual – William G. Loventhal, III; Co-Create a Website; and Toco Instant Printing.

Ray Boorstin Analia Bortz Cecelia Branhut Amy Braunstein Bob Brenner Dara Brenner Jaron Brenner Sam Brenner Lauren Brooks Susan Caller Denise Cartier Audrey Clayman Cliff Cohen Jody Cohen Richard Cohen Robert Cohen Lyndsie Collins Bonnie Cook Jonathan Coplon Milton Crane Caroline Cranman Katherine Cranman Kevin Cranman Sheila Cranman

Brooke Adler Donna Adler Jacob Adler Jason Adler Deena Altman Matthew Altman Nina Altman Danielle Amdur Linda Bachmann Mark Bachmann Joshua Barzilay Natalie Bauer Sanford Bauman Mark Beck Tova Beeber Zev Beeber Mark Benator Margie Berinhout Caryn Bern Andi Blades Adam Blaiss Irma Bloch Barbara Bogartz

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Corinne Davis Dorothy Davis Gary Dichtenberg Julie Dichtenberg Wendy Dichtenberg Liza Dolensky Carol Draisen Sam Draisen Janet Duncan Gwenda Easley Preston Epstein Bob Fedder Karen Fedder Carl Feigenbaum David Feldman Robert Feldman Sheri Feldman Abe Fine Ann Fine Hal Fine Mindy Fine Paula Fine Linda Flinn Alan Friedman Charles Friedman Andrew Gaynor Debbie Gaynor Jenna Gaynor Mark Gaynor Allen Gerber Jillian Gerson Shelley Gerson Fred Glusman Barbara Goldin Haley Goldman Ken Goldman Susan Goldman David Goldwasser Judith Golick Jeff Goodman Paula Gorlin Larry Greenberg Adam Griff Bobbee S Griff Harriet Grossman Stacy Hackner Don Halstead Judith Hodara Yael Hodara Larry Holtzman Toby Holtzman Jim Hoover Gary Jackson Matthew Kaler Jeff Kalwerisky Adina Karpuj Joseph Katz Steve Kaufman Ellen Keith Scott Kenith Aiden Kluger Dani Kluger Lee Kluger Sherryl Kluger Ann Kohut Melanie Kohut David Kolodkin Margo Kolodkin Melissa Kornfeld Jerry Kravitz Lois Kravitz Michael Kurland Ralph Kurland Susie Lazenga Jamie Leaf Wendy Leaf Zachary Leaf Lilli Lefkoff Bennett Lefkowitz Camille Lefkowitz Francie Lefkowitz Jake Lefkowitz Leah Lefkowitz Vicky Legaspi Eric Lehman Myrtle Lewin Art Link Corinne Mateyak Ellen Mazer Maya Memling Klara Menaker Mark Merlin Mickie Merlin Janet Mills Tony Mills Richard Mindel

Barry Minkoff Ashley Mirsky Kim Mirsky Lisa Mirsky Frank Moiger Lorrie Nadler Stephen Osheroff Jerry Pepper Susan Pepper Maria Pico-Slavin Arthur Povlot Dara Povlot Ethan Povlot Micah Povlot Andrea Price David Price Rebecca Price Brian Price Katherine Price Leslie Price Seth Price Ethan Rabman Doug Radman Linda Radman Sarah Radman Seth Radman Cherryl Redmond Connor Redmond Dan Redmond Emma Ripps Jacob Ripps Robyn Ripps Scott Ripps Abigail Rockey Jonathan Rosen Mitchell Rosen Sophia Rosen Lou Rosengarten David Rosenthal Milton Rosenthal Sandy Sarlin Art Saul Alex Savitz Philiip Savrin Joyce Schechter Marsha Schechtman Steve Schneiderman Toby Schonfield Alex Schulman Jenna Schulman Marci Schulman Seth Schulman Andy Segal Debra Segal Felice Seligmann Bennett Shapiro Beth Shapiro Joshua Shapiro Maxwell Shapiro Sadie Shapiro Stacey Shapiro Steven Shapiro Zoe Shapiro Alyssa Sheinbaum Steve Sheinbaum Gillian Sher Ralph Sher Barry Simon Kayle Simon Rachelle Simon Herb Simonoff Margie Simonoff Alex Smith Hillary Smith Ivan Smith Michelle Smith Kaethe Solomon Bennett Stark Aryeh Stein Betsy Stein Denise Stein Lisa Sturt Leslie Swichkow Stacey Tenenbaum Erin Thaler Elisa Torres Cindy Tracy Mitchell Tracy Patrick Tracy Aissa Umaru Erin Walker Stephen Walker Toni M. Walker Sue Walter Bruce Weinstein Germaine Weinstein Frances Weiss Terri Westerman Douglas Wexler Alan Wind Joel Wine Aubrey Wolf Leah Wolf Betty Yaschik Harvey Yaschik Ronald Zell Cindy Zwerner Mark Zwerner

AJT

outreach

Challah for Hunger HELPING THE HOMELESS, ONE LOAF AT A TIME

BY JAMIE GOTTLIEB

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

O

ne loaf of challah does m o r e than you think.

Nooromid said students don’t need to be Jewish to get involved in the organization.

“It doesn’t matter [participants’ religion],” she said. “We’re just a group of students giving back to our community.”

University of Georgia students in Challah for Hunger, a student-run nonprofit organization, raise money for the Athens Area Homeless Shelter through baking and selling challah.

The bread comes in three flavors: plain, chocolate chip and cinnamon sugar. Arielle Nooromid, a junior at the University of Georgia and co-director of Challah for Hunger, said the organization bakes about 80 challahs per week to sell on campus.

educating their peers.

“Not many people know what challah is – that it’s a staple of Jew-

ish culture,” Golderman said of people’s reactions during sales at the Tate Student Center on campus.

Jamie Gottlieb is an Honors Program student at the University of Georgia (Class of ’15), social media editor at The Red & Black and a core team member of TEDxUGA.

“We sell until we run out,” she said. “Some mornings we run out, and there are some mornings where we don’t sell as many as we think.”

Each loaf of challah costs $4, and by selling every loaf, Challah for Hunger earns $320 every week.

They donate about $1,280 to homeless shelters every month.

Molly Golderman, UGA sophomore, said baking challah and using the money to give back to the Athens community is rewarding, especially within the Jewish community.

“Because challah is a staple of Jewish meals and Shabbat, making challah with other Jewish people and giving back to the community seems like a mitzvah,” she said.

“You put your heart into it, and I like putting my all into something, especially when I see how it affects the community I live in,” she said. “I wanted to help it grow, have people involved and see how much they could help.”

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Nooromid said she joined Challah for Hunger because she wanted to feel dedicated to a charity organization. People are buying challah that students bake, but the group is more than that.

Besides donating money to the Athens Area Homeless Shelter, the students of Challah for Hunger are

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www.aplusinc.net Peyton Alexander 404-373-plus (7587) sales@aplusinc.net

AJT

real estate

The Heebs Among Us CAREFUL WHO YOU HIRE!

BY RON FEINBERG Web Editor

E

xactly a year ago, my wife and I were deep into home remodeling mode. Our collective wish list at the time included updating the kitchen, adding crown molding in the living and dining rooms, ripping down wallpaper in the foyer and breakfast nook and adding a few fresh coats of paint from, well, here to there.

, inc. manufactures plaster mantels in

We also planned to replace the wooden siding that had lovingly caressed our castle with a happening new covering – HardiePlank.

It was a move, we were hoping, that would add value to our home while protecting us from the elements for years to come.

I mentioned that I had lived in metro Atlanta for decades, but grew up a hundred miles south of here in a little village nestled along the Chattahoochee River just this side of the Alabama border. “Didn’t know there were any heebs around these parts,� he said.

FEBRUARY 1 â–Ş 2013

He then spent a few moments talking up the merits of his company, wished me a grand day and said goodbye. Five minutes after he’d left, all I recalled of the visit was his belief that there weren’t any heebs living in Dixie.

For the next hour, I tried to make sense of what he’d said. Did he really say what I thought I’d heard? Was he serious? Was he joking? Was he a raving antiSemite h i d ing out in the burbs?

Was he serious? Was he joking? Was he a raving antiSemite hiding out in the burbs?

And so it was, in the midst of all this planning, that a salesman from one of those mega-home construction firms came knocking at my door. He was big, burly and filled with good cheer. He introduced himself, made a little small talk about the Falcons and Braves, then asked where I was from.

14

and played around with a calculator in his van before presenting me with a formal bid.

Ah, right. Check please!

For a moment, I felt like I had tumbled down Alice’s rabbit hole in some sort of alternative universe where up was down and down was up. We both continued talking, the sales guy detailing the merits of HardiePlank, me mostly nodding my noggin in a distracted fashion.

The anti-Semitic blip continued to echo in the background as we walked around the house, checking out gutters and soffits, discussing various options for updating and beautifying the house. Mr. Sales Guy took a few measurements, called for a timeout

Then, I spent another hour playing out how I should have responded. That conversation usually began with “beg your pardon� and ended with me showing him the door!

Finally, I simply picked up the phone and called him. I explained there was something he’d said when we first met that was troubling me, and then I outlined the bit of small talk we shared. When I asked if he recalled his comment after I mentioned growing up in the South, there was a moment of dead silence, then a whispered “oops!�

What was the heeb thing all about, I asked, and Mr. Sales Guy revealed that, well, ah, he was also Jewish!

Strained laughter followed, then he offered a rush of words – silly, stupid, unprofessional, strange sense of humor, sorry.

We both chuckled, then played a little Jewish geography before he apologized yet again. Just after saying our goodbyes and just before hanging up the phone, Mr. Sales Guy-itz added, “Happy New Year.�

And so it was – then and now! As a footnote: Apology aside, the whole heeb thing freaked me out a bit, so I ended up going with one of the other contractors who bid on the project.

The good news is that our house is now covered in HardiePlank and the doltish presentation from Mr. Sales Guy-itz is a fading memory.

AJT

real estate

Improved Market for Age 55Plus Communities ACTIVE ADULT HOUSING ON THE RISE

BY Mitchell J. Block For the Atlanta Jewish Times

A

irport delays, c o l d weather, crowds, traffic: some of the most “fondest” memories when grandparents and families get together over the holiday season.

While many singles and young couples having relocated to metro Atlanta since the 1980s, the demand for “active adult age preferred” neighborhoods has also grown at an astounding rate.

The explanation is simple: Seniors living outside of the Atlanta area want to relocate to Atlanta to be closer to their children and grandchildren, and local retirees are looking divest themselves of their large, older homes in exchange for smaller, more energy-efficient homes with floorplans and features best suited to their needs.

Oftentimes, these communities offer an improved social component as well as clubhouses, pools, exercise facilities and social directors.

Prior to the real estate collapse of 2008, approximately 25 percent of all new home sales in the “active adult” segment involved buyers from outside Georgia; in other words, local buyers dominated the market.

However, due to the downturn in the Atlanta used home market, the ratio of out-of-town buyers to local buyers has since pretty much flipped.

This change is not so much a result of an increase in out-of-state buyers but moreso the decline in the

local market, prohibiting prospective local purchasers from selling their current home (which would enable them to purchase new). It’s a frustrating experience, to say the least, but there is good news.

The Atlanta resale market has improved drastically since the beginning of 2012; prices have stabilized as the availability of foreclosed and troubled properties has greatly diminished. Many retirees and seniors who faced difficulty in selling their homes have now found much greater success.

What I can offer you?

Staging your home gets the results you want.

And even though the prices being achieved in the resale of their existing home may not be as high as these sellers might like, pricing on the new home side has become more competitive as well. All in all, it is a good time to sell and an even better time to buy.

So, whether you are living in the metro area now or have family here and are considering a relocation, seeking out the many “active adult” communities all over Atlanta would be a wise decision.

Editor’s note: Mitchell J. Block is the sales & marketing director for The Orchards Group; visit orchardsgroup.com for more information.

4 hours of complimentary staging when you list your home with me!

That’s a Recipe for Success!

ROBYN G. ZIMMERMAN Office Phone: 770-394-2131 Cell Phone: 404-219-2191 robyn.zimmerman@harrynorman.com www.harrynorman.com If your home is currently listed, this is not a solicitation.

Jewish Times - 2013.indd 1

S

The

1/25/2013 3:29:28 PM

JON HAPIRO G

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O

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Your G o LLC

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Every Home. Every Time.

Direct: 404-845-3050

Office: 404-252-7500 Website: www.jonshapiro.com

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to Sp ecia list

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

All too often, these wonderful family times are difficult (at best) with the stresses of holiday travel becoming the norm.

But when grandparents and grandchildren live hundreds – if not thousands – of miles apart, there is often very little choice.

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FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

AJT

real estate

How Important is Home Performance?

SEAL THE DEAL

BY STACY ALEXANDER MORRIS For the Atlanta Jewish Times

“H

ome performance� is a whole-house approach to ensuring energy efficiency, comfort and lower utility bills. This is achieved by prioritizing energy improvements: insulation, air sealing, heating and air upgrades, duct sealing, Energy Star appliances, energyefficient lighting, energy-efficient water heaters, programmable thermostats, better indoor air quality and water conservation.

At a plus, inc., we’ve been in the home performance/energy efficiency industry for more than 25 years.

We are a registered contractor with Georgia Power – who offers rebates up to $2,200 for home energy improvements – and we can help you get these rebates by handling improvements and all paperwork!

For this reason, if it were up to us, every home in America would be blower door-tested. It is truly an eye-opening experience for any homeowner!

Plus, the law is on our side. With the implementation of the new energy codes on Jan. 1, 2011, Duct and Envelope Tightness (DET) verification, blower door testing and duct blaster testing www.aplusinc.net became mandatoryPeyton for all Alexander new residential build- (7587) 404-373-plus ing permits issales@aplusinc.net sued on or after July 1, 2011 (as well as some remodel projects). In other words, you cannot move into a new home without making sure it is sealed properly!

Your garage door can cause you problems and money if they are old, uninsulated and poorly maintained.

Our primary goal is to help homeowners, builders and remodelers achieve a safe, energy-efficient home by completing Building Performance Institute home energy assessments and providing a comprehensive plan for energy improvements. We are gratified when we make improvements and help a homeowner feel comfortable for the first time in decades.

Diagnostics typically include blower door testing, duct testing and combustion safety testing. Energy improvements to possibly undertake are air sealing, attic insulation, basement or crawl insulation with a ground cover, duct sealing and replacement CFL bulbs.

The blower door test is designed to give a quantitative measure of how leaky a house really is. Simply explained, a powerful blower fan is placed in the frame of an exterior door; then, when the fan is turned on, it depressurizes the house – it’s as though a 20 mile-per-hour wind were flowing through – and air outside the building envelope comes in through any cracks and holes in the exterior of the home.

You can literally walk through the home and feel where all the air has been escaping from the home. Often, it is the equivalent of one to four windows being left open 24 hours a day!

Do You Feel a Draft?

Often times, a homeowner is perplexed as to why certain rooms are never comfortable (or why the cooling bill is $500). The cause will usually be air leakage, improper insulation, poor insulation installation or a combination of the three.

are in essence heating and cooling these areas instead of the inside of the house!

So, how important is home performance? Very!

Editor’s note: For more information, visit the website aplusinc.net or call (404) 373-7587.

FEBRUARY 1 â–Ş 2013

Duct blaster testing is similar in a plus, inc.

Amarr how garage doors that thatinstalls it is measuring leaky the actual heating and air system is. Un

fortunately, results often show that those old heavy wooden doors.

We also the ductwork located in crawl spaces and attics is leaking so badly (likely repair and maintain existing doors. due to improper sealing) that they

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Atlanta Synagogue Directory

Sponsored by:

CHABAD Chabad Intown 928 Ponce De Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.chabadintown.org 404.898.0434

Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Rd. Atlanta, GA 30360 www.bshalom.net 770.399.5300

Guardians of the Torah P.O. Box 767981 Roswell, GA 30076 www.guardiansofthetorah.org 770.286.3477

The Kehilla of Sandy Springs 5075 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.thekehilla.org 404.913.6131

Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 www.bethtikvah.com 770.642.0434

Chabad Israel Center 5188 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30324 www.cicatlanta.com 404.252.9508

Congregation B’nai Torah 700 Mount Vernon Hwy. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.bnaitorah.org 404.257.0537

Young Israel of Toco Hills 2074 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.yith.org 404.315.1417

Temple Emanu-El 1580 Spalding Dr. Atlanta, GA 30350 www.templeemanuelatlanta.org 770.395.1340

Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Rd. Suite 120 Kennesaw, GA 30144 www.jewishwestcobb.com 678.460.7702

Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy Marietta, GA 30068 www.etzchaim.net 770.973.0137

Nediv Lev: the Free Synagogue of Atlanta 3791 Mill Creek Ct. Atlanta, GA 30341 My.att.net/p/PWP-NedivLev 770.335.2311 Shalom B’harim 150 Warwick Street Dahlonega, GA 30533 www.shalombharim.org 706.864.0801

Reconstructionist Congregation Bet Haverim 2676 Clairmont Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.congregationbethaverim.org 404.315.6446

Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St. Roswell, GA 30075 www.kehillatchaim.org 770.641.8630

Orthodox

Reform

Anshi S’Fard Congregation 1324 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.anshisfard.com 404.874.4513

Congregation B’nai Israel 1633 Hwy 54 E Jonesboro, GA 30238 www.bnai-israel.net 678.817.7162

Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 www.congariel.org 770.390.9071

Congregation Dor Tamid 11165 Parsons Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 www.dortamid.org 770.623.8860

Congregation Beth Jacob 1855 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.bethjacobatlanta.org 404.633.0551

Congregation Ner Tamid 176 West Sandtown Rd. Marietta, GA 30064 www.nertamidonline.com 678.264.8575

Congregation Beth Yitzhak 5054 Singleton Rd. Norcross, GA 30093 770.931.4567 Email: anatoliy@bjca.com

Congregation Rodeph Sholom 406 East 1st Street Rome, GA 30161 www.rodephsholomga.org (706) 291-6315

Congregation Ner Hamizrach 1858 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.nerhamizrach.org 404.315.9020

Temple Beth David 1885 Mcgee Rd. Snellville, GA 30078 www.gwinnetttemple.com 770.978.3916

Chabad of Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 www.chabadofcobb.com 770.565.4412 Chabad of Gwinnett 3855 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 770 Norcross, GA 30092 www.chabadofgwinnett.org 678.595.0196 Chabad of North Fulton 10180 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.chabadnf.org 770.410.9000 Congregation Beth Tefillah 5065 High Point Rd. Atlanta, GA 30342 www.chabadga.com 404.257.9306 Conservative

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. Atlanta, GA 30327 www.aasynagogue.org 404.355.5222

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Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.gltorah.org 770.777.4009 Congregation Or Hadash 6751 Roswell Rd. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.or-hadash.org 404.250.3338 Congregation Shearith Israel 1180 University Dr. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.shearithisrael.com 404.873.1743 Non-denominational Atlanta Chevre Minyan Druid Forest Clubhouse North Crossing Dr. Atlanta, GA 30305 www.atlantachevreminya.org Congregation Kehillat HaShem 315 Cotton Court Johns Creek, GA 30022 rabbiatlanta.com 770.218.8094 Congregation Shema Yisrael 6065 Roswell Rd., #3018 Atlanta, GA 30328 www.shemaweb.org 404.943.1100

Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30062 www.kolemeth.net 770.973.3533 Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30327 www.templesinatlanta.org 404.252.3073 The Temple 1589 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309 www.the-temple.org 404.873.1731 SEPHARDIC Congregation Or VeShalom 1681 North Druid Hills Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 www.orveshalom.org 404.633.1737 Traditional Congregation Shaarei Shamayim 1810 Briarcliff Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.shaareishamayeim.com 404.417.0472

AJT

community

Mah Jongg Madness!

CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM HOSTS TOURNAMENT the game.

T

rock, mah jongg is a game of chance and skill similar to gin rummy. Each of four players is dealt either 13 or 16 pictographic tiles of different suits; the players then take turns drawing and discarding tiles, with a goal of making four or five combinations of tiles, or “melds,” and one pair, or “head.” Got that?

Judy Dressler, who’s been playing since she was 15, concurs. She says she just “loves” the game and, like

“We draw people from across Atlanta, all ages,” said Sherrie Epstein, one of the tourney’s co-chairs. It turns out the hugely successful program is a fun and entertaining way to raise funds for Etz Chaim’s preschool program.

Mah jongg also been called “the game of a hundred intelligences,” “the gift of heaven,” and, in an era of doubt during World War II, “the new yellow peril.” The game was introduced in the United States around 1920 by the American businessman Joseph P. Babcock, who had lived in China and was fascinated with the exotic world that mah jongg represented.

he shuffling and clicking of tiles – a colorful assortment of rectangles covered in Oriental pictographs – filled the social hall at Congregation Etz Chaim late last month. It was a noisy yet comforting sound, and all part of the 3rd-annual Etz Chaim Mah Jongg Tournament.

For those who have been in a coma the last 100 years or living under a

“I learned how to play from my mother,” said tournament participant Candy Frank. “I play for the social aspect; it’s just fun to be with friends.”

Apparently, it’s really fun. She’s been playing for nearly 40 years.

But don’t tell that to Ray Knapp, one of two men taking part in the Jan. 27 tourney. He’s been playing for four years and, like the women, enjoys the opportunity to spend time with others who enjoy the game.

There’s just one problem.

“They’re pretty good,” he said of the competition, “and they generally beat me.”

The rest is mostly history. Millions of people – many of them Jewish – continue to be fascinated with

Candy Frank (top left photo in black sweater) was among 60 or so people taking part in 3rd annual Etz Chaim Mah-Jongg tournament. Players from across Atlanta took part in the event that benefits the synagogue’s pre-school.

PHOTOS/Gary Feinberg

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Staff Report

Frank, “thinks it’s a great way to get together” with the ladies.

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AJT

education

Motivated & Dedicated to All Students’ Excellence MDE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE ON FEB. 6

by JOHN MCCURDY

MANAGING EDITOR

measuring success vary.

A

“Some parents will tell you that they never thought their child would read, but now he or she is,” Elkan said. “Other children came to us not saying a single word, and now they’re speaking.”

t the Motivation, Dedication, Excellence (MDE) School for children who learn differently, ownerdirector Mindy Elkan is proud that she’s kept her promise to parents by maintaining a four-to-one staff-tostudent ratio.

February 10, 2013 1-4 pm Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta 5750 Windward Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30005

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

From the bimah to the ballroom to the invitation and the celebration, our extraordinary expo experts will show you everything there is to know about lucky number 13!

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But in the end, it isn’t the faculty’s numbers – nor their excellent qualifications – that truly sets them apart.

“Forget all their credentials, they’re just an amazing, compassionate group,” Elkan said.

“They’re not doing this for the money; they’re doing it for the love of the kids.

They wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

The expansion of programs (not to mention student body, from 7 to 21) has allowed for improvement upon an already-excellent methodology. By incorporating art therapy and an improvisational social skills course alongside the music therapy, occupational therapy, physical education and traditional offerThe MDE School’s Lindsey Valenly works subject ings, it is really closely with a student. the whole child that is nurtured, and not just one particular facet.

And with the accreditation process complete, MDE and the edu Elkan, cation it bea speechstows qualify language just like any pathologist, others in founded the the state of Individual attention is key for Brittany Helton MDE School Georgia. In and the rest of the MDE School staff. in 2009 in other words, memory of should the her late husfit be right, band, Marc David Elkan. The mis- special needs children – whether sion from the institution’s inception displaced by the Amit Program’s rehas been to serve students within a cent closing or simply not served adspectrum of learning disabilities and equately by another public or private differences by providing a truly com- school – can find a home here. plete curriculum in a supportive, car “These kids are a family among ing environment. themselves, and our parents become Four years in, the formula has a family, and the school itself is a proven extremely effective. Attend- family,” Elkan smiled. ees – both those at MDE for all four years and those new – show remarkTo find out if the MDE School is right able gains. for your child, come to the upcoming “We’ve seen incredible progress Open House on Wed., Feb. 6, 7 p.m., with all of our children,” Elkan said. to be held at the school (1000 John“Academically, socially – which is son Ferry Rd., Suite A100). Parents just as important in this world – each can also visit mdeschool.com or call one of them has come a long way.”

(770) 971-4633 for more information.

Just as each child is different, the staff’s approach and the method for

AJT

education

Author Blackmon Visits Yeshiva Local Early Childhood Atlanta Educators at National PULITZER-PRIZE WINNER SPEAKS WITH HIGH SCHOOL Conference STUDENTS

From Yeshiva Atlanta

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

D

ouglas A. Blackmon, the PulitzerPrize winning author of “Slavery

by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II” and co-executive producer of the acclaimed PBS documentary of the same name, was recently at Yeshiva Atlanta to speak with students about his work.

“We were so excited that Mr. Blackmon Douglas A. Blackmon agreed to speak with our students,” said Rabbi Reuven Travis, who teaches two sections of American history at Yeshiva Atlanta. “My classes watched his documentary as part of our lessons on Reconstruction and the years leading up to advent of the Civil Rights movement.

The students were both moved by the power of the stories in the documentary and shocked by the extreme injustices perpetrated against African-Americans during this era.”

In his presentation, Blackmon discussed how whites throughout the South, by denying freedom through arrests on trumped-up charges, exploited the labor of black men for profits in farming, mining and other industrial endeavors. Blackmon’s exposition also touched upon gang labor and the failure of the Justice Department to prosecute violations of the rights of black men for decades after the Civil War and continuing through World War II.

SUMMERFIELD, EPSTEIN COME HOME ENERGIZED From ECE-RJ

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

E

dye Summerfield and Carol Epstein, two of Atlanta’s Early Childhood Directors, shared an exceptional few days of professional and personal growth at the 13th-annual Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ) conference. This year’s conference – “Revolutions in Early Childhood: Technology, Testing, Teaching and Torah” – was held in Morristown, N.J. from Jan. 17 to 19.

Summerfield (director of The Temple’s From left to right, Edye SumEarly Learning Center) and Epstein (dimerfield, Rabbi Rick Jacobs and rector at Temple Sinai preschool) were imCarol Epstein mersed in focused-topic workshops, netPHOTO/courtesy Edye Summerworking and creative worship with more field than 400 colleagues, directors, teachers, lay leaders, clergy and specialists from URJ congregations across North America. A highlight of the conference was an address by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).

Steinfeld Named Pace Academy STAR Student MEMBER OF THE TEMPLE ACHIEVES HIGH ACADEMIC HONOR From Pace Academy

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

Z

ach Steinfeld, son of Shayna and Bruce Steinfeld of DeKalb, is Pace Academy’s 2013 STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) Student.

Among his many other honors are the Frank Zach Steinfeld Smith Woodling Community Service Award and the Columbia University Book Award. He also has been recognized as a national finalist for the Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel.

Sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educations Foundation, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Education, the STAR program requires nominees to have achieved the top SAT score on a single test date and to be in the top 10 percent of their senior class.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

At Pace, Steinfeld plays baseball, runs crosscountry, is a member of the swimming-anddiving team and participates in chorus, theatre, Student Advisory Board, Model United Nations, peer leadership and Knights Capitol Club. Outside of school, he is a member of the Temple and serves as a trope reader during Shabbat services.

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AJT

arts & life

“Hammer” Sequel to Be Filmed Thanks to Fans DIRECTOR: “FANS OWN THIS MOVIE” staff report

L

ess than two months after the launch of the fundraising campaign to make the sequel to the 2003 comedy film “The Hebrew Hammer,” fans from across the world have donated nearly $50,000 on crowd-funding platform website Jewcer.com to make sure “Hammer vs.

Hitler” is made this year.

Speaking about the phenomenal outpouring of support for the sequel to be made, writer and director of the franchise Jonathan Kesselman is hugely grateful.

“This movie belongs to the fans; they own this movie,” he said. “They are making this happen.”

Kesselman describes “Hammer vs. Hitler” as “bigger, better and funnier than the original.” Earlier this month, the stars of the first film – Adam Goldberg and Judy Greer – agreed to star in the sequel, and the former recently teased a tidbit from the plot.

“It’s implicit that if we are going to take on Hitler, there’s a time-travel element,” Goldberg said. “So, once that widened the scope infinitely,

I thought it was important that we hook up with the other big Jew in history – Jesus.”

When asked about crowd-funding as an option for filmmakers, Kesselman said that it was the obvious step in a world where the independent departments of movie studios are going out of business. He gives the example of music, which has already been “crowd-funded” for nearly a decade and has enjoyed adequate fan support.

“The cult status of the first movie attracted millions of fans around the world, making crowd-funding a viable option,” said Kesselman.

“Funding is now in the hands of fans, who can help make the movies they want to see. People can get what they want when they want it; media is being democratized.”

The “Hammer vs. Hitler” online fundraising campaign was launched via Jewcer.com on Dec. 3, 2012, and

by Jan. 22, had raised $45,900. Several key investors have since stepped in to guarantee that the movie will be made, and filming is set to begin in May 2013.

“A Bottle in the Gaza Sea” AJFF REVIEW

BY DEBBIE DIAMOND For the Atlanta Jewish Times

“A

Bottle in the Gaza Sea” offers a glimmer of hope regarding the continuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

While some may find the situation in the Middle East hopeless, this movie emphasizes the possibility that distrust can give way to friendship – one personal relationship at a time.

The film opens with darkness; only the sounds of a bustling Israeli café are heard.

The conversations and laughter end abruptly as the sounds of a bomb’s detonation are heard. After a deafening silence, the only sounds heard are those of cries and sirens.

Cut to 17-yearold Tal Levin, a recent French émigré to Israel, lying awake on her bed and contemplating what happened. Deeply affected, Tal writes a letter expressing her amazement that a person can strap explosives to his body, walk into a crowded café and destroy people’s lives.

In the letter, she asks, “Who are you?” and implores whoever finds the letter in Gaza to write to tell her.

Then, after she carefully places the letter in a bottle, her brother – Eytan, an Israeli soldier – throws the note out to sea for young Tal.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

The bottle is discovered sometime later in the Mediterranean Sea by a group of young Palestinian men living in Gaza, and the note is read and ridiculed for its simplicity and, in turn, Tal’s naiveté. In time, though, one of the young men – Naim, or “Gazaman” as he calls himself in emails – begins corresponding with Tal.

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As the emails go back and forth, their friendship deepens. As Naim learns more about Tal’s French background, he becomes fascinated with all things French. In fact, he delves so deeply into the French language and culture that he finds himself studying at the French Cultural Center in Gaza, a move essential to

the unfolding plot and a pivotal decision that will affect his future.

The Cultural Center proves to be an oasis of tranquility in Naim’s otherwise chaotic environment. There, he is able to relax and use the Center’s computers to send emails to Tal, a back-and-forth through which the two forge a genuinely empathetic and caring relationship.

As the Gaza conflict intensifies, both Tal and Naim ask important questions of each other and provide personal perspectives on the difficulties encountered by each side.

Part of the film’s beauty is the concern Tal and Naim express about the other’s safety and well-being.

In this way, “A Bottle in the Gaza Sea” provides a glimpse into the heads of otherwise ordinary Israelis and Palestinians as they try to navigate their lives against the backdrop of bombs, distrust and fear. As the Gaza conflict escalates, bigger existential questions come to mind as life is seen through the eyes of Tal and Naim.

Why are innocent Israelis killed as they meet friends for coffee or simply walk through the Jerusalem streets?

Why should Palestinian families huddle in overcrowded homes praying for their lives as bombs rain down on them?

While plausible, factual reasons exist, the movie proffers several “what ifs,” primarily: “What if there was greater understanding from both sides?”

The letter sent in a bottle across the sea begins, “Who are you and who am I? That is all that matters.”

By the end of the film, viewers may be asking themselves the same question as they strive for a better understanding of the complicated Middle East situation and feel the pain of ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

AJT

arts & life

Kosher Movies: Winged Migration (2001) KEEP MOVING FORWARD

BY RABBI HERBERT COHEN AJT Contributor

I no longer feel motivated to learn facts about specific tourist sites. I just want to travel to new locales and observe. I want to see natural landscapes and soak up the ambiance of the place. I do not want information. I want to feel connected to the universe. I want to see and hear the quiet energy that lies beneath the surface of everyday life.

It is a different kind of experience that I seek now.

That’s probably why I enjoyed “Winged Migration,� an unusual documentary about the yearly migration of birds; a similar sensation came over me as I watched.

The film tracks a number of species of migratory birds over a span of four years. Some travel over 1,000 miles to find food each year, and then – when food runs out at their destination – they return the same distance to their point of origin. Miraculously, they always fly the same route, using the stars and familiar landmarks to locate food sources and travel back home.

Familiarity helps them survive, just as it helps us navigate difficult moments in life: In moments of crisis, we can return to our old routines and derive some stability in a stressful environment or situation.

Using in-flight cameras, the bulk

“All of us want to survive and thrive in life, in spite of the adversities and challenges we all face. Like the bird, we have to keep moving and not allow challenges and occasional failures to cripple us.�

You are with them in the cold snow of the Arctic regions, you are with them when they escape a powerful avalanche, and you are with them in the bloom of summer with trees and flowers all around.

The terrain, seen from the perspective of the birds, is breathtaking.

The film truly is a visual work of art.

Also, there is almost no narration in the film. There are just scenes of different species of birds traveling thousands of miles, crossing continents and oceans in search of food.

the bird, we have to keep moving and not allow challenges and occasional failures to cripple us. The biblical metaphor which captures this Jewish approach to confronting life’s challenges is the ramp upon which the priest walks when he approaches the altar to offer sacrifices.

The priest does not climb steps;

rather, he traverses an incline, which has no natural place to stop or rest. The message to the priest and for all men (as the priest represents all of us) is to constantly strive and to not give up in the face of adversity; and further, the sages of the Talmud suggest that a successful life requires constant forward progress, constant movement and activity.

The birds in “Winged Migration� teach us this lesson.

Rabbi Cohen, former principal of Yeshiva Atlanta, now resides in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Visit koshermovies. com for more of his Torah-themed film reviews.

Because you’ve had enough gefilte fish.

And of course, there is no conventional plot. Instead, there are extraordinary images of birds flying from one country to another, the key theme unifying all these migrations being survival. The birds cannot survive if they stay where they are; movement is critical for survival.

In the end, the dominant visual in “Winged Migration� is a bird desperately flapping its wings to stay airborne on its long journey. For me, it was a metaphor of the human journey through life.

All of us want to survive and thrive in life, in spite of the adversities and challenges we all face. Like

FEBRUARY 1 â–Ş 2013

T

here was a time when my vacations would be spent traveling to historical points of interest, exploring museums and art galleries and learning everything I could about the place I was visiting. But in recent years, my downtime is spent differently.

of footage used in the documentary consists of birds flying in the air.

You can hear the air move under their wings, and you have the sensation that you are flying alongside the birds.

23

AJT

out & about

“The Experiment”: Only 11 Months Left to Get Hitched!

FOLLOWING DR. JANET PAGE’S “GET MARRIED THIS YEAR”

A Difficult but Determined Start

Early Promise

BY ELLEN MAZELMAN

BY ANDREW SINGLEMAN

AJT COLUMNIST

AJT COLUMNIST

H

appy 2013, and here’s to making many changes!

But first, I have a few confessions, milestones and obstacles to share with you.

As I rolled into the New Year, I lost someone very near and dear to me – my mom. As I’ve been grieving this loss, I haven’t gotten to read Dr. Page’s book (it’s a project for this week), and I didn’t get to her workshop.

On the other hand, I know my mom would want me to push through and get going on this journey, so I am doing just that.

Also, readers should know that this week marks four years since my divorce was finalized. As I said last month, I haven’t dated a lot, but have led a very full life with kids, family and friends; I just didn’t think I was missing the “dating thing.” I have dabbled on JDate and Match. com, but was horrible with the follow-through.

I realize I haven’t really been fair to those who have reached out to me, but I am really not good with the emails back and forth. I consider myself to be much more of a phone person, but those first conversations are always awkward, regardless, and so I tend to avoid them.

I’m just being honest with you, as well as myself.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

I did take advantage of meeting with Dr. Page one-on-one. She asked me a lot of questions, which I answered very honestly. In just our short conversation, she assessed my situation very quickly and gave me some great advice and first moves.

She suggested that I immediately revamp my online dating profiles (another project for this week).

She also realized very quickly that I am one of those strong women who “takes care of everything” and “never needs help from anyone”; she quickly suggested that I relinquish this burden and instead occasionally ask for help. I am definitely going to implement this one.

And despite everything, I still have managed to “put myself out there” the last two weekends! I have 24 wonderful friends who are trying to

keep me busy and get me out and active, and yes, I have followed their lead instead of mine!

Two weekends ago, I went away with a single girlfriend, and we painted the town red. There was a lot of “retail therapy” involved, but I also ventured out two nights in a row and vowed to myself to be friendly and talk to a new person each time.

I ended up doing that more than once each night, and I found out that there is single life out there. Not necessarily the men I would want to get involved with, but I was brave, and I conquered! I met different people from all walks of life and enjoyed every excruciating moment of it. It was actually fun.

Then, this past weekend, my best college friend of more than 35 years came to Atlanta. Again, there was a lot of retail therapy, and I continued to be outgoing. What awaited me was an eye-opening epiphany.

There is a place I go to regularly, and the same guy is always there.

We flirt, but he never actually asks me out. I figure, it’s fun and good practice, but I think I have come to realize that although we are both interested, he is probably more interested in dating a woman much younger than me. This is my reality and, I am sure, that of many others my age.

So I continue my path and the journey. I have much more homework to do. Tune in next month – I will have read the book, and though I won’t have had a chance to attend a workshop of Dr. Page’s, I’ll continue putting myself out there. The plans are set!

Signed, The Fiftysomething Carrie Bradshaw

P.S. If you’ve figured out who I am, remember, it is between me and you!

I

am now officially three weeks into this journey. While I noted in my opening column that I am not looking specifically to get married or engaged this year, neither am I a “player” or “serial dater.”

I’d like a healthy relationship with long-term potential; marriage isn’t completely off the table, it’s just not my primary goal for 2013.

So, where and how to start? It is cliché, but the best place to start is at the beginning. Actually, I’ll start before that – if I want a great and healthy relationship going forward, I need to first understand what I have been doing. I don’t want to repeat mistakes.

After reviewing my dating history, two things stand out. First, my longest, most serious relationships were with women who pursued me and asked me out. Second, it looks like I preferred strong-willed women.

While I am more relaxed and laid back, I ended up being attracted to and even marrying a “Type A” personality. To quote Dr. Phil:

“How’s that working out for you?”

Obviously, not well.

Now, instead of looking for a “Type B,” I’ve become a Type A myself as a result of my divorce – I’m more proactive and organized, a gogetter and leader of sorts. I no longer want a take-charge woman to make decisions, allowing me to play it safe.

Since I am now much more secure and self-confident, I’d rather be with a woman with whom I can feel relaxed and just be myself.

But that’s all about me; since the whole point is to follow Dr. Page’s advice and program, I next need to identify what I’m looking for in a woman.

After meeting one-on-one with Dr. Page, my homework assignment was to put together lists of “Must-Have” and “Can’t-Have” characteristics.

I did, plus I threw in a few “Niceto-Haves.” The highlights from my lists are: 1. She must be Jewish, family-oriented, adventurous and affectionate and have a good sense of humor.

2. She can’t be judgmental or bossy, nor can she be a smoker, a homebody, or someone with a history of infidelity.

3. It would be nice if she’s a good cook and a football fan.

Great. My shopping list is complete. But where do I find my dream girl?

While there is a plethora of online dating options, there are far fewer options for “in-person” opportunities to meet Jewish women in my desired age range (late 30s to late 40s).

Divorced a year, I’ve been an active member of JDate for more than six months. I also dabbled for brief periods of time with eHarmony, Match.com, OKCupid and Plenty of Fish prior to starting this process.

I had high hopes and great expectations for JDate; unfortunately, it was a complete waste of time and money, despite my honest and concise profile and recent photographs.

My search for “in-person” opportunities brought me to the Atlanta Jewish Singles Meetup group, which – like other groups with shared interests on the site – uses the meetup. com webpage to arrange get-togethers, events and programs where members can actually meet in real life.

And guess what? Through that, I met someone! This woman – let’s call her Rachel, based on she of the Torah, since they both love animals – and I have been out a few times.

We get along well and are getting to know each other. So far, so good.

And did I mention Rachel makes a great chicken soup?

Come back next month to hear how things are going. You can also follow me on Facebook for more regular updates.

AJT

out & about

The General Muir: Modern Day Deli GRAND OPENING THIS MONTH

BY ELIZABETH FRIEDLY ASSISTANT EDITOR

L

it by the early morning sun reaching to its high raftered ceiling, The General Muir’s sparkling green-and-white tiled dining room is awaiting its grand opening. The name is painted on the large glass window, the tables and chairs are readied along the walls.

Now they just have to stomach another examination from the fire inspector.

The opening of their newest deliinspired endeavor has already created quite the buzz. And yet, there’s no evading opening day jitters.

“I think there’s always a level of nervousness,” says Ginsberg, sitting a few doors down from the pandemonium of fresh paint and construction that is The General Muir’s finishing touches.

“The thing is, you take that nervousness and channel that into more productive things,” adds Johnson.

“We realize we’re marrying two separate traditions. We’ve got the appetizing [element] for your fish, and the delicatessen has your meats.”

The General Muir will feature a full-service dining room in addition to a separate counter-service area focusing on the traditional imaginings of deli. This smaller, cozier option is set off to the side, an empty glass showcase to be supplied with hand-rolled kettle-boiled bagels, lox, sandwiches and more.

The General Muir will straddle both the customary, beloved aspects of deli food at the counter and more adventurous notions in the dining room with Ginsberg’s signature enthusiasm and flare. Everything is to be done in-house, down to the source of the coffee beans and the neverstore-bought pastrami.

“It’s taking everything you’ve grown up with, that I grew up with

The General Muir’s take on the classic lox-on-a-bagel.

PHOTOS/courtesy The General Muir in New Jersey and New York, just done really, really well,” says Ginsberg. But he is also quick to point out that the menu doesn’t stop there.

“I think if you put us in a box, then it’s not as good of a menu,” says Ginsberg before illustrating with an example. “I have a French background [and] I have a French technique, but I’m cooking in America and I have a Jewish background, so what does that make me? I don’t know, but that’s not modern Jewish food.

“I think it’s just a tribute to the food we grew up eating, more so than defining us. It’s a tribute.”

Regardless of the label, The General Muir staff’s exhilaration for their subject matter is readily apparent when a sample of one of the breads is brought in. Ginsberg cradles the sheet, holding it up to his face as the crowd gathered around him gasps, peering admiringly.

Such love for the cuisine – shared

by Ginsberg and Johnson – stems from both meals at home and noshes from the local eatery. For example, a version of Ginsberg’s own childhood favorite will be featured at the deli counter: the “sloppy joe.”

It’s a loving homage to his father’s recipe of corn beef, a Thousand Island dressing and coleslaw.

“It’ll never be as good as Bubbie’s,” jokes Ginsberg, echoed by Johnson.

“But that’s OK.”

The restaurant does in fact pay

Todd Ginsberg

tribute to family and collective heritage, and in more ways than just food. Johnson named the restaurant after the ship that brought her mother and grandparents, Holocaust survivors, to New York following World War II. “It’s very weighty [the name].

It had a certain gravitas, a certain weight to it,” says Johnson. “I hope this is something important we’re doing for ourselves and for the community.”

“Speaking of community,” Ginsberg chimes in, “They also brought all these recipes with them on these ships. It was their new beginning.

Some of these [recipes] have been lost, and I think what we’re trying to bring back to this community is a sense of what they brought over 50 or 60 years ago.”

Over the years, Ginsberg and Johnson have watched as delis became scarcer and scarcer in the Atlanta area. Meanwhile, many of the delis that had managed to stick around, in the South or otherwise, seemed to have transformed into mega-diners with nearly unrecognizable menus.

“We’re trying to bring it back to center, to the core or our version of the core things you think of when you think ‘deli,’” says Johnson.

Formerly a lawyer, she decided several years ago on pursuing a second career in food. At first, Johnson questioned just how meaningful her move had been.

Jennifer Johnson

She wondered if she was doing something that made a difference in people’s lives and helped change the world in her own small way.

“But then I started seeing people in restaurants,” recalls Johnson, “and they’re having meetings and doing great things together, because you’ve fueled them in some way.

A great meal or a great server can make something special, and I realized, ya know, I actually do feel like it is life changing to people.”

Ginsberg shares Johnson’s sentiments on the power of a truly good meal and its ability to take on a larger significance in people’s lives.

“It’s hard for me to remember when I’m cooking for people that they might carry this memory for 10 years, a few months or just a few days,” says Ginsberg. “It’s a very special feeling. There’s a lot of trust when people are eating in your restaurant.”

The General Muir staff is just as enthused about the community, citing their Emory Point location as their top choice in all of Atlanta.

Ginsberg hopes the neighborhood will accept their classic bagels as well as their inventive three-course meals.

“We’re truly happy to be here,” says Ginsberg, “and for the community to embrace us for the next 25 to 30 years.”

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

With years of experience (and subsequent success) in the restaurant business, this isn’t new territory for either Jennifer Johnson or Todd Ginsberg. Owner of the West Egg Café and former head chef of Bocado, respectively, these two have already established an impressive presence in the Atlanta culinary scene.

25

AJT

MATZAH BALL SOUP FOR THE SOUL

Piecing Together the Whole Picture DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS

BY RACHEL LAVICTOIRE AJT Columnist

R

eading the Torah portions every week has become an extremely humbling experience. When I originally pitched this column to the Atlanta Jewish Times, I was sure I could find a way to take what I learned through my Jewish day school education and teach something to my audience.

“I certainly don’t know the Torah cover to cover,” I thought, “but I have a good background.”

However, as the weeks have progressed, I’ve started to realize an incredible difference between learning about the Torah and reading verses in the Torah.

Growing up, the text had always been relayed to me, broken down into pictures or skits. Important sections were emphasized while mundane narratives were completely disregarded. But reading the passages on my own is entirely different.

Imagine if someone tried to teach you art history by handing you three squares that had been cut out of Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night” painting. The squares included what your teacher thought to be the main parts – the city in the background, the

curious green figure, and the swirling sky. So much would be missing, though, and you wouldn’t even know it.

I would imagine that this week’s parshah, Yitro, often falls victim to similar “summarization.” Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, comes from Midian and notices Moses’ great responsibility. The former advises the latter to appoint capable men as chiefs in order to delegate the work.

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.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Blessing for the Wine Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Meelech Haolam, Borei p’ri hagafen

26

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.

Now that I have read it for myself, though, I have so much more to share. Take, for example ,the very beginning of Yitro: “[Jethro] sent word to Moses, ‘I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons’ (Exodus 18:6).”

“Imagine if someone tried to teach you art history by handing you three squares that had been cut out of Van Gogh’s famous ‘Starry Night’ painting…”

Then, Jethro leaves, and Moses brings the Israelites to the wilderness of Sinai, where they make camp. On the third day, Moses brings the people to the foot of Mt. Sinai and ascends alone; it is at the top of the mountain that G-d delivers to Moses the Ten Commandments.

That moment on Mt. Sinai is a landmark in the Judaic timeline, so it’s simple to equate Parashat Yitro

Shabbat Candle Lighting Times shabbat blessings

with the story of Moses receiving the Commandments. And that’s exactly what I had done.

Friday, February 1, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:49 pm Shabbat, February 2, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:47 pm Friday, February 8, 2013 Light Candles at: 5:56 pm Shabbat, February 9, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 6:53 pm

Friday, February 15, 2013 Light Candles at: 6:03 pm Shabbat, February 16, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 7:00 pm Friday, February 22, 2013 Light Candles at: 6:09 pm Shabbat, February 23, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 7:06 pm

Jethro proceeds to come and then gives his advice regarding delegation. The next paragraph states:

“Moses heeded his fatherin-law and did just as he had said…Then Moses bade his father-in-law farewell (Exodus 18:24-27).”

Notice that in his message, Jethro introduced himself to Moses – clearly a sign of a distant relationship. And yet, only a few lines later, Moses entirely rearranges his line of authority based on Jethro’s input.

Although only a minor contextual observation, I see it as incredibly telling of Moses’ character. It takes patience to allow family – much less a distant father-in-law – to critique and adjust your way of doing things.

But Moses did it without any reservations.

Then, there’s another overlooked section; it comes directly after the Israelites receive the Ten Commandments. It reads: “All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the blare of the horn and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they fell back and stood at a distance. ‘You speak to us,’ they said to Moses, ‘and we will obey; but let not G-d speak to us, lest we die.’ Moses answered the people, ‘Be not afraid; for G-d has come only in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may be ever with you, so that you do not go astray’ (Exodus 20:15-17).”

These verses stunned me. Sure, I know that a fear of consequences keeps people from breaking rules.

It’s why we devote the time during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to repent – we are supposed to fear Gd’s power.

I found it unsettling, though, the extent to which the Israelites feared G-d. This is a G-d who created man, who once gave life to a barren woman and who just parted a sea to save these people from slavery. It seemed out of place for the Israelites to respond to the Ten Commandments with, “let not G-d speak to us, lest we die.”

It wasn’t until I read this passage a second and third time that I realized the conversation actually sets up a sort of family dynamic. Think about the fear and shame that pulse through you whenever your parents set out strict rules or get angry with you for breaking old ones; think about the classic mantra, “we just won’t tell your mother/father about this one.”

Sometimes I like to think it’s the same way with G-d: He’s hard on us because He loves us. Like my dad (and probably many others), G-d has to seem scarier than He really is in order to teach us.

I’ll conclude by taking us back to the very beginning – to the three square cut-outs. For those who have never read Yitro, I’ve just handed you its squares: the milestone of receiving the commandments, Moses’ respect for Jethro and the Israelites’ fear of G-d. Now, it’s your turn to look at the whole picture.

I am assigning all of my readers with homework: Exodus 18:1 through 20:23. I can almost assure you that, regardless of your familiarity with the Torah, you’ll learn something from the text itself that no one would have been able to teach you.

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 Yitro

BORN IN DUNWOODY

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GIVING AND RECEIVING CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Orange —

Congregation Shearith Israel and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association

I

n this post-inauguration and post-election period for the United States and Israel, respectively, we are well aware that leadership styles, models and talents can vary greatly between individuals.

In Parashat Yitro specifically, we are witness to the fact that the ability to listen, to hear and to convey ideas effectively are all traits of outstanding leadership.

In the chapters that precede the description of G-d’s revelation at Sinai, we read about Moses’ fatherin-law and the instrumental role he played in establishing the legal system for the Jewish people in the wilderness. We are introduced to Yitro after he hears about all the things that “G-d had done for Moses and for Israel His people (Exodus 18:1).”

Yitro then brings Zipporah, Gershom and Eliezer back to Moses, and father-in-law and son-in-law soon reconnect as Moses recounts to Yitro the story of G-d’s power and the Exodus from Egypt. Finally – less than a day after being reunited – the unsolicited advice from elder to younger pours out.

In these moments, we see the mutual respect each has for the other and a model for great leadership.

Yitro witnesses Moses serving as the lone judge for the people, hearing their disputes and then rendering his decisions. Then, no more than a verse passes within the text before Yitro intercedes, listens to Moses’ reasoning and then offers his own perspective.

He says, “This is not a good thing you are doing,” a gentle way of telling him that the whole manner in which Moses is going about this procedure is completely wrong (Exodus 18:17).

It is not that his rulings or warnings to people are incorrect, as says the Midrash Sechel Tov (12th-century commentary), but rather that the system is untenable both for Moses and the people.

Thus, Moses develops a new system – based on Yitro’s feedback – in

the new blu

which the responsibility is shared with other individuals and only the major disputes come before Moses.

Yitro’s suggestions are not earthshattering; what is most impressive about this scene is his ability to witness the pitfalls of the current structure and to share practical solutions in a way that Moses can hear them.

At the same time, Moses’ ability to place his ego aside, to listen to the perspective of an “outsider” and to implement changes based on that input show his dedication to doing what is best for the people and not to making his own name great.

Indeed, after having recently returned from a conference for the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the value of having genuine leaders who both listen to and share feedback has been on my mind a good deal. I had the fortune to work with educators of varied backgrounds, skill sets and professions (all leaders in their own right) as we modeled educational programs, critiqued one another and internalized the comments that were being offered.

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In this small group of Jewish leaders, I perceived Yitro’s ability to diagnose a potential problem and Moses’ ability to listen to feedback, both in group sessions and in individual conversations. Most impressively, at the core of all of these conversations was the commitment to creating outstanding experiences and training programs for others – even if it meant rethinking, refining or changing one’s own program.

Leadership manifests itself in different ways, and thus it is hard to define one style, model or talent as the most beneficial. But as we learn from Parashat Yitro, the ability to listen, to hear and to convey ideas effectively cannot be overlooked in the conversation. These talents have the power to inspire and to bring about real change in the world.

Editor’s note: Rabbi Marshall Lesack is the director of education at Congregation Shearith Israel and a member of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

BY Rabbi Marshall Lesack

27

AJT

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING

Rose Profis Cooper 89, OF ATLANTA

Rose Profis Cooper, 89, passed away Sun., Jan. 20, 2013. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 58 years, Bernard Cooper. Rose was born in Romania on March 16, 1923. In 1941, she fled her home when the Germans arrived. After being captured, she was put to work in a camp in the Olgopol Ghetto. In 1948, she traveled to Cuba, where she met her husband. They lived a wonderful life in Cuba until 1962 and fled to Milwaukee, Wisc. during the Castro regime. She moved to Atlanta in 1965 and lived there until her death.

Survivors include: son, Victor Cooper, and his wife Jane; daughter, Clare Cooper Habif, and her husband Robert; and adoring grandchildren, Kristen Cooper Lord and her husband Will; David Cooper and his wife Katie; and Jonathan Habif, Michael Habif and Lindsey Habif. Sign online guest book at edressler.com. Donations may be made to Congregation Or VeShalom or The William Breman Jewish Home. A graveside service was held Tues., Jan. 22, 2013 at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery with Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Arline D’Agostino

79, WIFE TO JOSEPH D’AGOSTINO Arline D’Agostino, age 79, died Jan. 19, 2013. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Joseph D’Agostino; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Lisa D’Agostino; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Lynn D’Agostino; son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Jennifer D’Agostino; brother and sisterin-law, Rodney and Priscilla Finegold; brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Kathleen Finegold; grandchildren: Malory, Ilana, Shira, Adrianna and Justin; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Davis; and numerous nieces and nephews. It should be known that Arline’s entire world revolved around her family. She was loving and doting on grandchildren, children and husband alike.

A natural caregiver, her favorite times were large family functions at which she could tend to and take care of the whole family all at once. Quick to smile and quicker to laugh, she walked through life with a brilliant vibrancy and more love than one heart should be able to hold. She is loved dearly and will be missed greatly. Sign online guestbook at edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Arline’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. A graveside service was held Wed., Jan. 23, 2013 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park at 2 p.m. with Rabbi Paul Kerbel officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Cliffe Lane Gort 63, OF ATLANTA

Cliffe Lane Gort, age 63, of Atlanta, died Jan. 23, 2013, surrounded by his family. He was born Oct. 27, 1949 in New York City. He graduated from Hewlett High School in 1967 and enrolled at Marietta College in Ohio, where he graduated with honors. Cliffe then moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University School of Law. He graduated in 1974 with honors and never left the city. Cliffe was admitted to the bar in Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C. and New York. For 39-plus years, he was a vigorous advocate who had a keen ability to structure effective defenses. He clerked for the honorable Judge Jack Etheridge before beginning a practice in domestic relations and criminal law. He developed a specialty in cases involving Medicare fraud. He avoided press for himself saying that it never serves the best interest of his clients. Cliffe was a sought-after speaker and published many papers on a variety of criminal and domestic relations topics. He established the Urgent Legal Matters seminar for ICLE and the State Bar of Georgia. In November 2012, ICLE honored Cliffe as Outstanding Program Chair and for his 25-plus years of service. He loved the practice of law and the opportunity to work with lawyers with various practices. Cliffe was honored among the top-rated attorneys in America in 2011 and 2012. Cliffe believed in giving back to the community and started Jewish Family & Career Services’ Legal Committee.

He was honored many times for his 25-plus years of service to the organization. Cliffe ended his correspondence with selah, Hebrew for accentuating the magnitude and importance of what has been said, often used as a substitute for “amen.” He was emphasizing that what he had to say was important. Cliffe was a devoted family man. Traveling and taking cruises with his family was one of his great pleasures. He was actively involved in his sons’ lives, including coaching many of their soccer teams. Always a competitor, Cliffe was a talented tennis player and captained many of his USTA and ALTA teams. He and his tennis teams have won numerous division and city championships. One of the things that he was proud of and enjoyed most was being able to play on teams with his two sons. Cliffe was preceded in death by his grandparents, William and Hilda Gort and Max and Birdie Gordon; and in-laws, Helen and Emanuel Herman. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Sylvia Herman Gort; their sons, Bryan and Matthew (MJ); sister, Barbara Gort Saunders, Boston; brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Hedy Gort, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Weinstein Hospice; Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta, Inc.; The Temple; or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (pancan.org). Sign online guest book at edressler.com. A graveside service was held Fri., Jan. 25, 2013 at 1 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Peter Berg officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Ruth Lutzky

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

86, OF ATLANTA

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Ruth Lutzky of Atlanta died Jan. 18, 2013 at the age of 86. She was born Oct. 6, 1926 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry Lutzky, of blessed memory. Mrs. Lutzky graduated with a B.A. from Brooklyn College and an M.A. from Hofstra University. In 1955, she moved with her husband to Oceanside, N.Y., where she raised her four children. She was involved in many volunteer organizations, including Hadassah, where she served two terms of presidency. She and her husband moved in 1998 to Atlanta, where they became active members at Ahavath Achim Synagogue and Lifespan. Her intellectual curiosity was reflected in her lifelong love of reading, attendance in classes and participation in civic and religious events.

She is survived by her children: Barbara and Stuart Packer, Ira and Paula Lutzky, Paula and David Coplon and Linda and Ed Lopez. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Mitchell (Carrie), Rachel (Jason), Ben (Georgia), David, Jessica, Andra, Michael, Molly, Cheryl, Jonathan, Daniel, Andrew and Eric; as well as her three great-granddaughters: Charlotte, Madison and Alexandra. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hadassah, Oceanside, 430 De Mott Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. Sign online guest book at edressler.com. A graveside service was held Mon., Jan. 21, 2013 at 11 a.m. at New Montefiore Cemetery, West Babylon, N.Y. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Harry Silverstein 89, OF AUGUSTA

Harry Silverstein, 89, passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2013 at Westwood Nursing Home in Evans, Ga. He is survived and will be greatly missed by his brother, Bernie Silverstein of Augusta, Ga.; his sister, Flo Doctrow of Los Angeles; nieces Lynn Silverstein Jackson of Destin, Fla., Mary Silverstein of Decatur, Ga., Mollie Doctrow of Sebring, Fla. and Marley Rogers of Atlanta; and nephews, Louis Silverstein of Augusta, Ga., Steven Doctrow of Los Angeles, and Howard Silverstein of Alpharetta. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Mollie Silverstein; and his late brother, Marty Silverstein, who lived in Augusta, Ga. Harry was born in the Bronx, N.Y. and lived in Anniston, Ala. before making his home in Augusta, Ga. and North Augusta, S.C. with family, long-time great friends Floyd and Martha Thompson and long-time companion Bessie Bone. He loved to make friends and keep friends and was nicknamed “Friendly.” Harry served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman with the First Marines Division before he was honorably discharged. Harry enjoyed playing pool and cards and loved gambling in his favorite city, Las Vegas, N.V. He was a life member of Adas Yeshurun Synagogue. Funeral arrangements were handled by Elliott Sons Funeral Home, 1134 Telfair St., and the service was held at Westover Memorial Park, 2601 Wheeler Rd., Augusta, Ga. at 12 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2013 with Rabbi David Sirull officiating. Memorial contributions in honor of Harry may be made and sent to Adas Yeshurun Synagogue, 935 Johns Rd., Augusta, GA 30904.

what’s happening

FFri., 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.

Sat., Feb. 2 Pianist Yefim Bronfman Concert, celebrating Schwartz Center’s 10th anniversary. Sat., Feb. 2, 8 p.m. Emory Schwartz Center for the Arts. For tickets, visit arts.emory.edu/bronfman.

Sun., Feb. 3

6:30 p.m. Congregation Dor Tamid.

RSVP by Feb. 6 to religiousschool@ dortamid.com.

CNT Scout Shabbat Awarding, patches will be given to all registered Scouts and Scouters; please wear uniforms.

Fri., Feb. 8, 7 p.m. Congregation Ner Tamid. Registration info TBA. info@ mynertamid.org.

Sat., Feb. 9 OVS 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.

Blood Drive, make a donation appointment. Walk-ins welcome but appointments have priority. Sun., Feb. 3, 9 a.m. Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Make appointments at redcrossblood.org.

Havdalah for the Sole with the MJCCA and the Total Health Fitness Department; an evening of foot massage, fun, and friends. Sat., Feb. 9, 7 p.m. $30/person. Treat Your Feet on Buford Highway. lora.sommer@ atlantajcc.org.

Congregation Dor Tamid Adult Enrichment Program, nine-week series with different speakers each week on varying social and Jewish topics.

First session Sun., Feb. 3, 9:30 a.m.

The Monarch School. lindadickson1@ gmail.com or (678) 777-7099.

GHA 60th Birthday Bash, with performer Avner the Eccentric, comedy and mime entertainment; dessert served afterwards. Sat., Feb. 9, 8 p.m. $18/adults, $10/children, free for ages 5 and under. tickets.ghacademy.org.

Wed., Feb. 6

Gala Dinner & Auction with honorees Nava & Ron Alkalay, Sherry Kornheiser, Cobb County Commissioner Bob Ott and Hollee & Steven Parker.

Sat., Feb. 9. Chabad of Cobb. (770) 565-4412.

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) 9493777.

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 to (770) 977-9457 or (770) 971-4633.

“Why Did I Do That?” Personality Lecture, identify your unique style of behavior with instructor Benjamin Pargman. Part of the Chabad lecture series. Wed., Feb. 6, 8 p.m. Chabad Enrichment Center of Gwinnett.

(678) 595-0196.

Fri., Feb. 8 Splash into Shabbat, at MJCCA’s indoor pool; children will meet the swim teachers, play games and create a Shabbat craft. Fri., Feb. 8, 5 p.m. Free. MJCCA’s Zaban Park. brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org.

CDT Fourth Grade Shabbat Dinner, all fourth grade students and parents with clergy. Bring side item of vegetable, dessert or drink. Fri., Feb. 8,

Sun., Feb. 10 Arts and Crafts Fair, 10 percent of all purchases donated to Hadassah.

Sun., Feb. 10, 12 p.m. Decatur Market and Gallery. For info, (404) 3250340 or mtscopushadassah@aol.com.

Etz Aviv Hadassah’s Crazy Hats and Gloves Brunch, prizes for the wildest attire. Sun., Feb. 10, 12:30 p.m. $10 couvert. Private residence. (770) 3167076.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah Expo, resource connecting parents with vendors. Sun., Feb. 10, 1 p.m. Alpharetta Marriott.

Info at atlantapartyconnection.com.

“God’s Children” Film Viewing, purchase tickets for sold-out movie with the Ketura Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah. Sun., Feb. 10, 8 p.m. $12/ person. LeFont Theater. For info or tickets, email sfparks@emory.edu.

Tues., Feb. 12 “Got A Middle School Student?” learn about ALEF Fund Scholarships at an informal coffee chat for Dor Tamid parents. Tues., Feb. 12, 7 p.m.

Private residence. RSVP to (404) 917-2500, ext. 117 or rosearkin@weberschool.org.

Wed., Feb. 13

Sun., Feb. 17

“The Last of the Ethiopian Jews” Lecture, ‘Reaching Their Dream of Living in the Holy Land’ by exhibition artist Ilan Ossendryver. Wed., Feb. 13, 7 p.m. $5/person. Free for ages under 12 or members. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art. museum. ogelthorpe.edu.

URJ Mitzvah Day, community wide day of service. Sun., Feb. 17, 9 a.m.

More details available at your synagogue. urj.org

Tenenbaum Lecture, with speaker Professor Norman Stillman,“When Arabic was a Jewish Language.”

Wed., Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. Free to public. Michael C. Carlos Museum reception hall. (404) 633-1737.

Thur., Feb. 14 Job Networking Meeting, with speaker Judi Adams. Thurs., Feb. 14, 7 p.m.

Congregation Beth Shalom. (770) 399-5300.

Fri., Feb. 15 Shabbat Ethnic Dinner, Greek style dishes following evening services.

Fri., Feb. 15, 6:45. $18/members, $20/non-members, $10/children under 13. Congregation Or VeShalom.

RSVP by Feb. 11 to (404) 633-1737 or office@orveshalom.org Sat., Feb. 16 Purim Off Ponce Masquerade & Honoring of Sylvia Gross, honored by the Rainbow Center. Sat., Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. $50/person (in advance), $36/ ages under 30, $75/person (at the door). Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Purchase tickets at purimoffponce. com.

Join us Friday, February 15th, 2013 8:00pm

22nd-Annual Atlanta Purim Parade and Festival, rides, food and marketplace and prizes for costumes. Rain or shine. Sun., Feb. 17, 11 a.m. Congregation Beth Jacob. (678) 244-6665 or Kyaschik@bethjacobatlanta.org.

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

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/MJCCA member, $50/non-members. Sip Wine in Milton. Registration required: (678) 8124079.

Mon., Feb. 18 Dinner of Honor, with honoree Steven Merlin. Mon., Feb. 18. Congregation Shearith Israel. For info, call (404) 503-9905 or email nstacer@ shearithisrael.com.

Zayin Adar Seudah Gathering, dinner for members of the Chevra Kadisha, in observance of the yahrzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu; includes dairy buffet and discussion with speaker Rabbi Yechezkel Freundlich. Mon., Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m. Congregation Shearith Israel. RSVP to fredglus@comcast. net.

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FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

AJT

29

JEWISH PUZZLER

by David Benkof

Across 1. Key with three sharps: Abbr.

5. New Orleans athlete 10. Ayn of “The Fountainhead” 14. Checks-and-balances option 15. “... not ___? When it’s ajar.”

16. Pin ___ on (incriminate) 17. Bar-___ University 18. Neighbor of Maui 19. Bernstein ensemble work 20. 18th century Yemenite rabbi and Kabbalist 23. Breaks a commandment 24. His wife turned into a pillar of salt 25. Dances energetically 28. Shulchan Aruch codifier Joseph 30. Enjoy blintzes 33. “Get ___ of that!”

34. It’s near 18-Across 35. Trig ratio 36. American pop artist who died in 1997 39. Drink flavored like 31-Down 40. Steven’s Oskar 41. Bank robbery 42. “Good” cholesterol, initially 43. A billion years, in astronomy 44. “Hogan’s ___” (comedy set in a German prison camp) 45. Former umbrella charity for federations 46. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-___) 47. “Mr. ___” (1992 Billy Crystal film)

53. Trucker’s vehicle 54. Backspace, often 55. Battery for small devices 57. “AIPAC is not ___” (frequently heard DC clarification) 58. Essenes and Saducees 59. Strike-monitoring agcy.

60. More, in adspeak 61. Unexpected turn 62. “A Few ___ Men” (1992 Rob Reiner film)

survivors 21. Rabbi Schneur Zalman of ___ 22. Joey 25. Comic Silverman (“Jesus is Magic”) 26. “...___ among wits”: S. Johnson 27. Like man’s best friend

28. Word with Tallit or Purim 29. “Can I say something?”

30. “Old MacDonald had a farm” follower 31. See 39-Across 32. “How goodly are thy ___, O Jacob” (Num. 24:5)

34. Howard Metzenbaum’s state 35. Pre-statehood extremist Zionist group 37. Least obscure 38. Adar ___ (leap month) 43. It used to be the UJ 44. “No foolin’!”

45. City on the Erie Canal 46. Dermatologists’ concerns 47. Rosh Hashana mo., sometimes 48. Moroccan-born singer Jo 49. Emulated Ben Shahn 50. English speaker’s Zionist org.

51. Ring around the moon 52. Plant sometimes called elephant’s-ear 53. Kenny G’s instrument 56. Nearly a Ph.D.

Last week’s answers

Down 1. ___ Chai Foundation 2. Restaurant where Linda Lavin’s sitcom character worked 3. “Baruch ___...”

4. Vaccine pioneer and virologist 5. Discussion places, historically many hosted by Jewish women 6. Czerniakow and Sandler 7. They’re charged and can be exchanged 8. Genesis skipper?

9. Testing procedure 10. ___ Gan, city near Tel Aviv 11. Gamal Abdel Nasser, e.g.

12. Mishnah redactor Rabbi Judah Ha-___ 13. Many Holocaust

by Kathi Handler (bookssss@aol.com)

Chess Puzzle of the Week

by Jon Hochberg

Challenge: White to move: Checkmate in 2 moves

Last puzzle’s solution.

1) Bc1, B x Bc1 2) Qc1#

Jon Hochberg is a chess instructor who has been teaching in the Atlanta area for the last 6 years.

Currently, Jon runs after school chess programs at several Atlanta schools. He always welcomes new students, and enjoys working with children who have no prior chess knowledge. Jon can be reached at Jonhochberg@gmail.com to schedule private lessons.

CARE GIVER CNA cert. seeking elderly or childcare pos. 20 yrs of exp incl. kosher hit. Excellent, reputable ref. within Jewish community. Call Kim 404-771-7114

FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013

Certified CNA w/ 12 yrs experience caring for elderly.

Excellent references available.

Melanie Roberts 678-683-7050

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Nurse’s-Aid/Sitter, qualified in various skills, avail. night or day. Excellent references- Drives.

Call Barbara 770-709-1875

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LEGAL NOTICE TO DEBTORS AND CREDITORS GEORGIA, FULTON COUNTY All creditors of the Estate of Muriel Louise Ray, late of Fulton County, Georgia, deceased, are hereby notified to render in their demands to the undersigned according to law, and all persons indebted to said Estate are required to make immediate payment Articles of Incorporation Notice is given that the Articles of Incorporation which wil incorporate Worldshop USA, Inc. will be delivered to the Secretary of State for filing in accordance with the Georgia Business Corporation Code (O.C.G.A. 14-2-202). The initial registered office of the corporation will be 3650 Ashford Dunwoody Rd., Unit #128, Atlanta, GA. 30319. and its initial registered agent is Eliad Shwartz

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FEBRUARY 1 ▪ 2013