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Want to sample Atlanta’s shul diversity? You’ll want our pullout directory. Pages 15-18
Fresh faces include new executive directors at Or Hadash and Or VeShalom. Pages 19, 21
RETIRING?
Becoming rabbi emeritus means different things at different congregations. Page 20
Atlanta
www.LeeBrant.com INSIDE Calendar �����������������������������������4 Candle Lighting ���������������������� 5 Israel News ������������������������������6 Opinion ������������������������������������8 Synagogue Guide ������������������ 13 Local News �����������������������������22 Business ���������������������������������25 Home ��������������������������������������26 Marketplace ��������������������������28 Cartoon �����������������������������������28 Obituaries ������������������������������29 Crossword ������������������������������ 31
VOL. XCI NO. 32
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
Troop Down To 2 Scouts By Kevin Madigan
PAULSEN FOR POTUS
Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis longs for a candidate we could trust to lie to us. Page 12
FAITH IN POLICE
Rabbi Hillel Norry joins a call for a plan of action to unite police and citizens within faith communities. Page 23
LEFT OUT
Dennis Prager doesn’t hold back on his criticism of liberalism. Page 24
COOKING JUDAICA
ModernTribe’s new owner developed her business sense blogging and baking with her bubbe’s recipes. Page 25
AUGUST 19, 2016 | 15 AV 5776
Fest Flies Into Danger Zone The presidential election campaign figures to drive people into the danger zone, so the organizers of the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center decided to cut loose in November. Singer Kenny Loggins is opening the festival Nov. 5, three days before the election. He’ll talk about his new children’s book, “Footloose,” featuring dancing zoo animals, and he’ll play four or five songs. His appearance will be one of several lighthearted events at the 25th festival: • Hollywood agent Shep Gordon will present his memoir, “They Call Me Supermensch,” after a screening of the documentary about him, “Supermensch.”
• Carson Kressley of “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” fame will appear with “Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big?” • Bravo’s Andy Cohen will close the festival Nov. 20 with memoir “Superficial.” The fest won’t be all fun and games. The nonfiction includes “Transitions,” the memoir of Moshe Dayan’s daughter, Yael, and Peter Bergen’s work on homegrown terrorists, “United States of Jihad.” Fiction highlights include Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Here I Am” and Alice Hoffman’s “Faithful.” Atlantajewishtimes.com has the full lineup. Individual tickets and series passes go on sale Sept. 1 at atlantajcc.org. ■
Boy Scout Troop 73, based at Congregation Or VeShalom, is down to two members, putting the group’s future in jeopardy after 66 years in existence. But the troop’s leader, 94-year-old Josiah Benator, marking his 81st anniversary in Scouting, is not giving up. “The problem is that most of the 12-to-13-age youths are overburdened with other activities,” Benator said. He cited the Internet and other pastimes. And “our Jewish youth at that age are already involved with bar mitzvah preparation activities,” he said. “I haven’t had any new boys for the last two or three years,” Benator said. Five boys are required for the troop’s annual registration; the deadline is December. The troop started in 1950, and the Brookhaven synagogue has been its home since 1958. Most of the members have been Jews, Benator said, but a few Christians have been in Troop 73. A total of 50 boys from the troop have earned Eagle rank. “We have an excellent program working with our Scouts in their advancement,” Benator said. Steps are being taken to boost the ranks, he said. “We have put signs up at our synagogue and contacted the Sunday school program at OVS for possible candidates. Our weekly bulletin includes an invitation for joining our troop. We have contacted the two Cub packs in our neighborhood for boys reaching 11 to visit our troop, with no responses. We will contact them again.” ■
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AUGUST 19 â–ª 2016
MA TOVU
His Sister’s Wedding
Love Your Sister Provided that the wedding is not on Shabbat or in a church, I would urge the young man to attend the ceremony to show support and unconditional love for his sister on one of the most important days of her life. It is not condoning what she is doing; it is showing brotherly love. Although he has religious standards for himself, which is commendable, he should not impose them on others, especially family. He would not love his sister less and withdraw support if she committed a civil crime, so why should he do it in this instance? Maybe one day she will correct the sin that he so abhors, but he will never be able to undo the fact that he missed her special day. — Avrum Mendel Simple Ignorance An ignorant side of Judaism was displayed in this article. This is not the faith community I know. — Joe Sterling Follow Convictions If your religious convictions prohibit you from attending a wedding between a Jew and a nonconverted gentile, of course you cannot attend. My wife and I had an Orthodox Jewish wedding, and a few nonreligious relatives said they would not attend because we were having a mechitza with separate seating and dancing. We felt bad they chose not to come, but we were not about to alter our religious convictions to placate other people — life doesn’t work that way. Respecting someone’s religious lifestyle means complete acceptance without conditions. Good luck to you; my wife and I are proud of you. — Pesach-Yonah Malevitz Family Love Bear in mind the words your rabbi and teachers spoke to you: “Live peacefully with your family. Show plenty of respect and love.” Go to the wedding out of love and respect. Attending is not showing your approval
of the marriage. It is simply an act to bridge your family. Going will not change how you feel, nor will it be disrespectful to G-d. — Robin Nelson Don’t Go This is a difficult dilemma. I think when you choose to be Orthodox, you have to follow your belief system.
Shared Spirit Moderated By Rachel Stein rachels83@gmail.com
I once hosted an Orthodox relative and made sure to serve him foods with reliable kosher certification. I couldn’t have lived with myself otherwise. That’s what families do: Show respect and love for each other’s choices. You cannot and should not attend the wedding. However, make it clear to your sister that your love for her remains. Ultimately, when caring and respect are shown from both sides, a loving relationship will prevail. — Zhenia Gresczes Go to the Wedding My sister died of cancer at 32. She never had a Jewish family. She missed so much I wish I could have celebrated with her. Would her religion have mattered? It’s your sister. Show your moral superiority by going to the wedding. — Michael Halpin BT Blunder As a woman who was Reform, then baal teshuvah for 11 years, and now is just Jewish, I find this maddening. There is no reason he cannot go. He isn’t marrying a non-Jew; she is. He reminds me of all new BTs. Consumed with wanting to be religious, they forget what is important: family, love and respect. When his zealousness wears off in a few years (and it will), the damage he causes his family will be repairable only if they don’t follow his example. So sad. — Chava Canales Matter of Survival I know how tough it is not to be able to attend a close relative’s wedding. But if we accept intermarriage, we might as well give up on Judaism. The newest Pew report states that 71 percent of non-Orthodox Jews intermarry. What is to become of us? — R.G.
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AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
The following are responses to the Aug. 5 Shared Spirit column, “Bowing Out of My Sister’s Wedding,” in which a young man, with his rabbi’s advice, decided he could not attend his sister’s wedding because she was marrying a non-Jew. Look for more responses in an upcoming issue of the AJT.
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FRIDAY, AUG. 19
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SATURDAY, AUG. 20
Divorce boot camp. A crash course for women considering or going through divorce, including legal, financial and emotional information and support, is offered at 10 a.m. at the Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta. Free; registration and information through Debbie Dorman, 770-377-4941.
SUNDAY, AUG. 21
Blood drive. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, holds a blood drive from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register at redcrossblood.org (sponsor code “bethshalom”), or call 800-733-2767.
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AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
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POSTMASTER send address changes to The Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2016 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24
Prager speech. Columnist and radio host Dennis Prager talks about whether G-d belongs in America at 8 p.m. at Congregation Beth Tefillah, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs. Tickets are $25; www.bethtefillah.org.
THURSDAY, AUG. 25
Black-Jewish discussion. The Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition meets at 7 p.m. at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland Ave., Midtown, to discuss issues including Black Lives Matter and Israel. Free; RSVP to mitchellb@ajc.org.
SATURDAY, AUG. 27
Big event. Birthright Israel Atlanta and Federation hold the Signature Event at 9:15 p.m. at the Fernbank Museum, 767 Clifton Road, Atlanta. Tickets are $18 in
Kitchen Tour Aug. 28
The Mount Scopus Group of Hadassah Greater Atlanta is hosting the fifth annual Toco Hills Tour of Terrific Kitchens on Sunday, Aug. 28. What began as a tour of homes became a kitchen tour the next year after one of the hosts revealed that her house also was a stop on the Junior League’s kitchen tour. The Toco Hills area is home to half a dozen synagogues, several day schools and thousands of Jews. New families are moving in all the time: Young families are attracted by the vibrancy of the area, and older couples want to be near their grandchildren. To spice up the tour, the Mount Scopus Group has added tour sponsorships by suppliers, designers, builders and community supporters, as well as door prizes, a silent auction and snacks from some of Atlanta’s kosher caterers. This year Caesarstone is a diamond sponsor. Publix and the Athletic Club Northeast are silver sponsors. Kroger is a bronze sponsor. Community sponsors are the Georgia Aquarium, Tall Tales Bookshop, Lips Home Services, Black Tie Builders, Home Depot, Farmer D, Krispy Kreme, For All Occasions and More, Kosher Gourmet, Broadway Cafe and the Spicy Peach. Participating in the tour of eight new and renovated kitchens is a way to support Hadassah’s efforts to help Israel and the world. Proceeds are earmarked for the medical research being conducted by Hadassah doctors in such areas as ALS, diabetes, macular degeneration and Parkinson’s disease. The price of the tour is $20 if paid by Aug. 25 or $25 at the door. Pay by credit card at www.hadassah.org/events/kitchentour or by check, payable to Hadassah, mailed to Barbara Fisher, 1229 Arborvista Road, Atlanta, GA 30329. The tour will begin at 10 a.m. at 1306 Breezy Lane and end at 2 p.m. For more information, email bladinfisher@gmail.com. advance, $25 at the door; jewishatlanta. org/signature-event.
SUNDAY, AUG. 28
Bar & Bat Mitzvah Expo. Atlanta Party Connection links b’nai mitzvah families with vendors from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North, 7 Concourse Parkway, Sandy Springs. The event includes a consignment sale of bat mitzvah dresses. Free registration; atlantapartyconnection.com/bar-andbat-mitzvah-expo. JWCA kickoff. Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta starts the year with inspirational speaker Ruchi Koval addressing the power of change at 2 p.m. at event chair Carrla Goldstein’s house.
Registration is $18 in advance, $25 at the door; www.jwcatlanta.org.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
Football fundraiser. BBQ, Booze & Buffalo Dip at 7 p.m. at Sweetwater Brewing, 195 Ottley Drive, Buckhead, is a fundraiser for the Elizabeth Zweigel Health Trust, which pays medical expenses of the Temple Sinai member who recently became a quadrilateral amputee because of sepsis. Must be 21 or older. Tickets are $75 in advance or $85 at the door; bit.ly/2aUmBYx.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7
Book event. Steve Spurrier talks about his memoir, “Head Ball Coach,” and signs copies purchased at the Prologue
Send items for the calendar to submissions@atljewishtimes.com. Find more events at atlantajewishtimes.com/events-calendar.
Remember When
10 years ago Aug. 18, 2006 ■ Four day schools are sharing a grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. The Epstein School, Davis Academy, Greenfield Hebrew Academy and Torah Day School of Atlanta were awarded the grant to help them attract more Jewish preschoolers who might otherwise choose secular schools. ■ Jay and Natalie Kaiman of Marietta announce the marriage of their son, Ari, and Emily Green, daughter of David and Barbara Green of St. Louis. The ceremony took place June 18 in St. Louis. 25 Years Ago Aug. 23, 1991 ■ Norman’s, a Buckhead clothing store, has closed after
37 years in the area. Owner Bernie Bass said she decided to close because she had worked “37 years in one room, and you want to enjoy life.” ■ Brothers Brad Lawrence and Hal Justin Abramson will celebrate becoming b’nai mitzvah Saturday, Aug. 31, at Temple Emanu-El. They are the sons of Lois and Shelly Abramson of Marietta. 50 Years Ago Aug. 19, 1966 ■ Israel shot down two Syrian jets and bombarded fortifications deep inside Syria after the Arab nation launched a miniature war by shelling Israeli coast guard vessels escorting fishing boats in Lake Tiberias, which is located wholly within Israeli territory. Five Israelis were wounded, none of them seriously. ■ Betty Allison Shimberg was born to Mr. and Mrs. Mendell Shimberg of Tampa, Fla., on Friday, Aug. 5. She was named for her late great-grandmother.
CALENDAR CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES
Va’etchanan Friday, Aug. 19, light candles at 8:01 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, Shabbat ends at 8:56 p.m. Eikev Friday, Aug. 26, light candles at 7:52 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, Shabbat ends at 8:47 p.m.
to the Book Festival event at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival or 678-812-4005.
10:30 a.m. and play at 11. The cost is $25; RSVP by Sept. 12 at cbshalom.wufoo. com/forms/mah-jongg-madness.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 11
Book event. “Razor Girl” author Carl Hiaasen discusses the novel in a Prologue to the Book Festival event at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for others; 678-812-4005 or www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 13
Book event. “Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS” author Joby Warrick discusses his Pulitzer Prize-winning book in a Prologue to the Book Festival event at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for others; 678-812-4005 or www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 18
Righteous Filipinos. Congregation Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Road, Sandy Springs, hosts a screening and discussion of the film “An Open Door,” about the rescue of Jews in the Philippines during World War II, at 10:30 a.m. Free; dlee@or-hadash.org. Mah-jongg. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, and ORT Atlanta host MahJongg Madness, with registration at
SUNDAY, SEPT. 25
Kosher barbecue. The Atlanta Kosher BBQ Competition & Festival is 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. Admission is free; food and drinks are for sale. Team sign-up for $550 is open now at www.theatlantakosherbbq.com. Or VeShalom benefit. Jonathan Wolff, who created the music for 75 primetime TV series, including “Seinfeld,” performs and speaks at 7 p.m. at the Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth St., Atlanta, in a benefit for Congregation Or VeShalom. Tickets are $41, $63 or $112; bit.ly/2aJB10Q or 404-413-9849. VIP tickets, including a reception and parking, are $350 for two; 404-633-1737 or Adam.Kofinas@orveshalom.org. Book event. “The Nightingale” author Kristin Hannah talks with Greg Chang non in a Prologue to the Book Festival event at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for others; 678-812-4005 or www.atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival.
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Camp fun. PJ Library and the camping initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta hold a family fun day and an expo for overnight and day camps from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. Pre-registered families could win $250 toward camp tuition. Admission is $18 per family and includes pizza; bit.ly/2bhGOwA. Details from Nathan Brodsky, 404-870-1870 or pjlibraryatlanta@jewishatlanta.org.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 22
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ISRAEL NEWS
Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home Just a good ol’ Israeli boy. Alon Day became the first Israeli driver to compete in a national NASCAR racing circuit, starting 22nd out of 40 drivers and finishing 13th in the Xfinity Series’ rainsoaked Mid-Ohio Challenge on a road course in Lexington, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 13. Day is also the first driver from outside North America selected for the NASCAR Next driver development program. His next race on the Xfinity circuit, NASCAR’s No. 2 series, is set for Aug. 27 at Road America in Wisconsin. Two Olympic medals for Israel. Two Israeli judokas won bronze medals at the Rio Olympics, the first Olympic medals for Israel since 2008. Yarden Gerbi won bronze for women under 63 kilograms (139 pounds). Or Sasson won bronze among men over 100 kilograms (220 pounds). Sasson also overcame the insult of an Egyptian opponent refusing to shake his hand after their match. Countering brain bleeding. Nazarethbased biotech Pambio is developing a treatment that prevents bleeding and subsequent damage from brain hemorrhages. No treatment exists.
Prawns against parasites. Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are studying how to use male prawns in Africa to kill the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis (bilharzia). The disease affects 200 million people worldwide and is second only to malaria in the devastation it causes. The secrets of anti-social behavior. Scientists at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot have discovered in laboratory tests that the molecule urocortin-3 acts as a social switch. High concentrations increase social interactivity. Blocking the molecule makes a person reclusive. Wonder Woman empowering women. Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress who plays Wonder Woman in this year’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and forthcoming films in the DC Comics universe, is the star of a campaign to highlight the talents and uniqueness of Israeli women. The video also features an Israel Defense Forces pilot, a businesswoman, a doctor and a surfer. A perfectly sweet watermelon. Salah Abd Alhalem, Adam Garah and Ayman
Sarha’an from Haifa’s Technion have invented a device that correlates a watermelon’s appearance and taste. Using three pictures of the melon at different angles, an algorithm determines its taste rating with perfect accuracy. Alternative fuels. Tel Aviv will host the fourth annual Fuel Choices Summit on Nov. 2 and 3. It will explore innovation in alternative fuels and smart mobility. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will award the 2016 Samson Prize for a major breakthrough in alternative fuel for transportation. Two medals at Chemistry Olympiad. High school students Ron Solan and Rina Svotianov won a silver and a bronze at the International Chemistry Olympiad in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. The competition involved 264 students from 66 countries. Santana’s amazing concert. Carlos Santana performed in front of 25,000 fans in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park in late July. Israellycool has published dozens of video clips. Santana’s encore included “Exodus” and “Hava Nagila.”
Stoudemire to play in Israel. Former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire has signed to play for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team for two years. “My family and I are excited to start a new journey in Israel, a country I have grown to love,” he said. Stoudemire, 33, retired from the NBA after a 14-year career. Big Russian Birthright celebration. Some 1,000 Russian-speaking Birthright Israel participants celebrated Israel as a land of diversity and opportunity at the Wohl Center in Ramat Gan. Around 45,000 Russian-speaking young adults from the former Soviet Union have experienced Israel through Taglit-Birthright the past 16 years. Against the odds. Tzvika Cohen returned home from the hospital 5½ months after being brutally attacked by an ax-wielding Arab terrorist. Doctors had said Cohen, who was comatose for three weeks, might never wake up or might be paralyzed for life. He now can walk and shower on his own. Compiled courtesy of verygoodnewsisrael. blogspot.com and other news sources.
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND AMHSI ATLANTA IMPACT FUND IN MEMORY OF SHIRLYE KAUFMAN BIRNBREY APPLY NOW TO BE AN AMHSI 2017 SPRING IMPACT FELLOW!
The transformational semester abroad experience for Atlanta high school students in Israel! Study the AMHSI flagship core curriculum, an engaging review of Israel over 4,000 years of Jewish history, with students from North America and across the globe. Discover and explore your own link within the chain of Jewish continuity while you immerse yourself in the culture, history, language and land of Israel. The Impact Fellowship is more than just a trip to Israel – it is an opportunity for students to gain skills in independent living, engage in deep, personal growth and form lasting memories and friendships while having the experience of a lifetime!
The Impact Fellowship includes:
• All AMHSI tuition • Round trip Airfare from NY - JFK Airport to Israel • On-campus housing • All meals • Educational materials • The structure, resources, and support you need to make this YOUR semester in Israel
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
The AMHSI Atlanta Impact Fund in Memory of Shirlye Kaufman Birnbrey provides Atlanta area Jewish students in the 11th grade with the extraordinary opportunity to connect to the Jewish people and the land of Israel. Through the generous support of Shirlye Kaufman Birnbrey’s family, two Atlanta high school juniors will be selected to experience a transformational 18-week Spring Semester session in Israel as AMHSI Impact Fellows.
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Atlanta high school students entering their junior year in the fall of 2016 are eligible. Applications are now being accepted through August 31, 2016.
For more information and to apply, visit AMHSI.org For more information, contact Alicia Press at apress@amhsi.org or 954.817.7108.
Apply now to be an AMHSI Impact Fellow!
ISRAEL NEWS Today in Israeli History
Daily items of interest provided by the Center for Israel Education (www. israeled.org), where you can find details about these people and things. Aug. 19, 1856: Scholar Michah Joseph Berdichevski is born in Ukraine. Descended from a line of Hasidic rabbis, Berdichevski was drawn to the Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, and straddled the Jewish and secular worlds in his writing. Aug. 20, 1920: The first issue of the first Hebrew-language medical journal in the yishuv (Jewish settlement) in Palestine is published. Harefuah (Medicine) is edited by Aryeh Feigenbum, an ophthalmologist from Lvov, Poland, who immigrated to Palestine in 1913. Aug. 21, 1982: The evacuation of PLO troops from Beirut begins under the supervision of American, French and Italian troops. The departure of 14,000 fighters, including PLO head Yasser Arafat, is completed Sept. 1, accomplishing one of Israel’s goals for its invasion of Lebanon. Aug. 22, 1952: The Development Corporation of Israel (Israel Bonds) begins its first mission to Israel of bonds champions — 25 American Jewish leaders responsible for selling Israel Bonds. Aug. 23, 1903: The Sixth Zion-
ist Congress, the last presided over by Theodor Herzl, convenes in Basel, Switzerland. The major issue is the Uganda Proposal, a British offer of an autonomous Jewish settlement in East Africa as an interim measure. With Herzl’s support, the congress decides to send a delegation to Uganda to investigate. Aug. 24, 1954: On a 55-0 vote, the Knesset passes the law creating the Bank of Israel, effective Dec. 1, 1954. The bank is allocated 10 million British pounds as its starting capital. Aug. 25, 1918: Composer Leonard Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Mass. Bernstein begins to play piano at age 10, is deeply influenced by the music of his Boston congregation, and works to pay for his own music lessons. Photo by Al Ravenna
Composer Leonard Bernstein, born Aug. 25, 1918, works on his music in 1955.
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OPINION
Letters To The Editor Pay Education Forward
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
As the president of ORT Atlanta, I want to thank the AJT for your excellent article about ORT in your Back to School issue (“ORT Reclaims Past to Revive Its Future,” Aug. 5). The article reminds Atlantans how crucial ORT’s work has been to the Jewish community worldwide for over 100 years. Atlanta is fortunate to have many exceptional Jewish day schools housed in beautiful facilities. ORT’s mission is to provide that kind of education to children around the world, including the Israeli at-risk teens at Hodayot. I ask all your readers to consider how your Jewish education enabled you and your children to succeed in life, then pay that forward to a young person without the advantages you enjoyed. Hodayot, the youth village and school that ORT Atlanta has made our focus, has already been transformed thanks to so many in this community who have made generous gifts. You mentioned several large gifts we have received but did not mention one of the most significant, a gift that
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transformed the school’s science lab from Johnny Benator and his family. There is much more to do. Your article and the attention you have given Hodayot will continue to help us fulfill our mission. Thank you. — Harvey Spiegel, Roswell, president, Atlanta Region, ORT America
A Zombie in Congress
Ten years ago, I was thrilled when Hank Johnson won election to the U.S. House, replacing the anti-Semitic Cynthia McKinney. The voters had woken up to the fact that McKinney in reality was representing Gaza, not Lithonia. Now Mr. Johnson seems to have become a zombie taken over by McKinney (“I Do Not Seek to Blame Israel … for Every Problem,” Aug. 12). He didn’t anticipate that calling Jewish settlements the equivalent of termites would be problematic. He claimed not to know that the Quakers’ American Friends Service Committee supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. A U.S. representative is supposed to know these things, but a zombie might not know them. The citizens of the 4th District of Georgia deserve better than to be represented by the spirit of Cynthia McKinney and by someone who will focus on
DeKalb and Rockdale counties rather than Gaza City and Hebron. — Herbert Kaine, Berkeley, Calif.
from his commitment to (Palestinian) human rights. — Ilise Cohen, Decatur
Johnson Shows Leadership
Johnson Has Courage
I appreciate Congressman Hank Johnson’s message about Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank (“Johnson Seeks Peace in Mideast, With Jewish Community,” online Aug. 5), expressing a position in line with the U.S. government. Showing bold leadership, he addresses injustices and barriers to a peaceful Israel/Palestine resolution. As a Jewish Atlantan, I’m angered that Jewish community members took his statements out of context rather than focus on the 49-year Israeli occupation. Living in Israel, I watched settlements expand and saw their impact on Palestinian communities. Unlike Johnson’s delegation in May, most Jewish delegations to Israel don’t meet Palestinians or see occupation realities, such as settlements and child detention. Unfortunately, these attacks on Johnson prevent Americans from having open, meaningful conversations and actions to end Israeli human rights violations. May we embrace Johnson’s urgent call to action to preserve the possibility of peace rather than divert attention
Congressman Hank Johnson has shown great courage in visiting the West Bank and speaking out about what he witnessed. Very few Americans and even fewer of our representatives have personally seen the effects of Israeli settlements (which the U.S. government has consistently termed obstacles to peace) on the daily lives of Palestinians, who have lived under Israeli occupation for almost 50 years. Some who feel threatened by Johnson’s message highlighting the growth of the settlements have decided to attack the messenger rather than address the core problems of this conflict. As a member of the Atlanta Jewish community, I feel proud that an American official has taken steps to demand a more hopeful future by continuing to educate himself and others and to expand the conversation in a way that is necessary for a just peace. — Daniel Rice, Decatur
Clinton’s Bad Backers
Laura Silverman is scared of Donald Trump supporters because some are anti-Semitic (“Trump Backers’ AntiSemitic Taunts and Threats,” Aug. 5). She does not allege that they have done anything; she just alleges that they are anti-Semitic. She also alleges that some of them are anti-LGBT. So she supports Hillary Clinton. Clinton supporters include people who support the Muslim Brotherhood financially. Donors to the Clinton Foundation and her 2012 presidential run include people who support Palestinian terrorism, execute LGBT people, support executing Christians, and in some cases support honor killings. There are many reasons to oppose Clinton. But I would like to understand how Silverman can support her. I also would point out that one of Clinton’s financial supporters is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Were Silverman to appear in Mecca dressed the way she is dressed in her picture, she would be executed with the support of Clinton’s donors. — Yaakov “Jim” Watkins, Denver
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AUGUST 19 â–ª 2016
OPINION
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Our View
Ugly in Rio
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
The Summer Olympics in Rio have largely achieved what we want to see at this quadrennial display of the world’s best athletes: record-setting performances, nail-biting competition, the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, lots of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt and American Final Five gymnasts. The fears of Rio becoming a disaster have for the most part appeared unjustified. Sure, the diving pool turned green, and American swimmer Ryan Lochte and a few teammates were robbed, and a Belgian sailing competitor blamed a poor performance on dysentery caused by raw sewage on the Brazilian coast. While we won’t know whether these games contribute to the spread of the Zika virus until the athletes and fans go home, the science seems encouraging. The positives in Rio make one particular negative stand out: the expression of Arab hatred of Israel. It started on the way to the opening ceremonies Aug. 5. Someone at the International Olympic Committee naively or optimistically scheduled the delegations from Lebanon and Israel to share a bus. But the official leading the Lebanese team blocked the door, supporting athletes who refused to ride with Israelis, and the Israeli team was force to find another ride. That Lebanese official, Saleem al-Haj Nacoula, reportedly was hailed as a hero in Lebanon even while being reprimanded by the IOC. Two days after the bus brouhaha, the story of anti-Israel sentiment spread to the judo mats, one of the strongest arenas for the Israeli team. A Saudi competitor, facing the prospect of a second-round match against Israeli Gili Cohen, forfeited her opening match. Israeli media reported that Joud Fahmy quit to avoid Cohen, although the Saudi team said injuries forced her to drop out. There’s no mistaking what happened Aug. 12 when Or Sasson defeated Egyptian Islam El-Shahaby in the first round of the heavyweight judo competition. Sasson tried to show good sportsmanship by shaking El-Shahaby’s hand; the Egyptian backed away, avoided Sasson’s hand, refused to bow and was rewarded with a cascade of boos from the crowd. Losing to an Israeli was traumatic enough that El-Shahaby said he is quitting judo. Sasson went on to win a bronze, matching the achievement of Israeli Yarden Gerbi in the lightest women’s weight class. Politics, of course, has no place at the Olympics. If the modern games copied the ancient Greek model more closely, athletes would compete on their own merits and without the team uniforms, flags and anthems that raise nationalist fervor along with national pride. But then most of us wouldn’t watch. It’s sad that some athletes look across the mat or stare out a bus window and focus on the uniforms that make them enemies instead of the competitive spirit that makes them so alike. We can only hope that someday the world’s athletes take these words from the IOC to heart: “The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friend10 ship, solidarity and fair play.” ■
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Cartoon by Paresh Nath, The Khaleej Times, UAE
Paradise by the Pokemon Light On Saturday night, Aug. 13, while many of us “Pokemon Go.” were turning to the Book of Lamentations for Tisha The smartphone game has been a pop-culture B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, people phenomenon, and it has received more than its in Milwaukee seemed intent on adding to the list of share of know-nothing jokes, criticism and harsorrows with protests that boiled over into riots. rumphing from those (like me) who don’t play and A black man was killed by police, and this sumdon’t understand the excitement of seeing an anime mer no other details, such as the fact that the man creature pop up in a virtual representation of your was armed and that the cop who killed him is black, kitchen or front yard or swimming pool. make any difference. The U.S. HoloYoung black people uncaust Memorial Muleashed their anger and frustraseum and Arlington Editor’s Notebook tion on property, police and National Cemetery By Michael Jacobs reporters. Shots were fired. Fires are among the solmjacobs@atljewishtimes.com were set. Nasty things were said emn sites that have about beating white people. complained about Some 24 hours earlier, alpeople wandering most 700 miles south of Milwauaround with their kee, my family and I were out for an after-dinner faces in their phones, causing disruptions. stroll to get a feel for downtown Huntsville, Ala. The Washington Post just reported on OccoMidnight approached as we followed the sounds quan, Va., a quaint colonial river city south of the naof people down a set of stone stairs and found tion’s capital that is overrun by players at all hours ourselves wandering into Big Spring Park. In this because it has a rare concentration of Pokemon. summer of anger and violence, we might as well Good news for small business; a bummer for people have been walking into paradise. who like to sleep at night. Families, couples and singles, from toddlers to But here’s the thing: The augmented reality of retirees, representing a mix of races, ethnicities and “Pokemon Go” has no room for the dark side of our probably religions, congregated near the spring. actual reality. There’s no racism or sexism or other Some sat. Some wandered. Some, tired from helping discrimination. There’s no crime or death. Anyone a college freshman move into his dorm that aftercan play and enjoy the game. noon, found a quiet place to lie down and stare at And while toddlers, teens, young adults and notthe stars (or perhaps take a nap). so-young adults have their faces in their smartphone I’m told that the park, built around the city’s screens — overlooking the same hazards as people original water source, is the usual place to hang out texting or streaming videos while walking — they in Huntsville, and maybe it’s just one of those areas don’t have the chance to notice whether the other where people always come together in peace, harplayers are Hispanic or Asian, black or white. mony and good cheer, regardless of the anger and “Pokemon Go” might be silly and obsessive, but turmoil roiling other cities’ streets. it’s also a positive force in society. At a time when But on this night it wasn’t Southern friendlitoo many activists and would-be leaders want to ness that enabled black and white and everything emphasize what divides us, Pikachu, Charmander in between to coexist in a downtown park; it was and friends can bring us all together. ■
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
OPINION
Do Democrats Really Like Jews? I realize that the majority of Jewish voters poll for the Democratic Party. It was not until Bill Clinton defaced the Oval Office and changed the definition of sex that I even considered voting Republican. But it’s time for Jews to acknowledge truths about whether our people are wanted by the Democrats or are taken for granted. On the state level, the first Republican governor, Sonny Perdue (elected in 2002), made the first official Georgia visit to Israel. Gov. Nathan Deal has repeated the trip the past two years. Both Republicans brought back business and technology agreements. Similarly, it took a Republicandominated General Assembly for Georgia to buy and buy and buy again Israel Bonds for the state pension plan. This same Republican-led legislature divested from Iranian investments and shunned companies that
support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. The national Democratic Party
Guest Column By Jeff Kunkes
has mistreated and worked against the democratic government of Israel. Who keeps the leader of the country’s best ally waiting for hours for a meeting, as President Barack Obama did to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu? And Obama has tried to cut support to Israel, only to have Congress restore the aid on a bipartisan basis. Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledges that Iran’s windfall of over $100 billion from the nuclear deal will help arm Hezbollah and Hamas, and there is nothing we can do about
Iran’s ballistic missile trials. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz gave a tearful (crocodile) plea for the Iran deal even though she knew the truth about the lack of checks and balances in it and even though AIPAC, which has made sure she has been financially supported, was against it. We know now she sold out her fellow Jews not for what was best for America, but for what was best for her, her position with the Democratic National Committee, and her position with Hillary Clinton and Obama. Even when she was discredited and booed off the floor of the Democratic National Convention, she found a golden parachute with the Clinton campaign. But most disturbing are my fellow Jews who give the Democrats a pass for what happened in late July. When the hacked emails came to light, it was clear that the DNC had discussed a conspiracy to trash Bernie Sanders as either a Jew or a nonbelieving Jew, depending on which story
would help Clinton more. That is a cynical thing to do to your supporters. Then Congressman Hank Johnson spoke to an anti-Israel group and likened Jewish settlers to termites trying to destroy the Palestinian home. He apologized, but as we were taught when we took the college boards, your first gut answer is usually the right one. What is more damaging to the psyche of Democratic-voting Jews is the lack of response by Rep. John Lewis and other leaders of the Georgia Democratic Party. Where are the protests by Jason Carter and Michelle Nunn? I think it is high time we hold our leaders accountable. Our country’s relationship with Israel is at an all-time low. Polls show that only 47 percent of Democrats hold favorable views of Israel (33 percent view the Palestinians favorably), compared with over 75 percent of Republicans and independents. It may be time to trade in the old car that brought us this far in America and kick the tires on a new vehicle. ■
When the Zionist Dream Meets Israel’s Reality even a majority, living elsewhere. Zionists posed the question of what Israel’s function should be for Jews living in other countries. That was a major problem for Asher Ginsberg, who wrote under the name Ahad Ha’am. Unlike the religious perspective, in which all problems are solved
One Man’s Opinion By Eugen Schoenfeld
by G-d, he as a Zionist was concerned with solving real problems, such as the Jewish-Arab interrelationship and poverty among Jews in Israel. Israeli Jews, in his view, had to realize that independent Israel could not exist merely as a country of refuge to Jews abused in other lands. Israel also had to place importance on spiritual and cultural Judaism and on Judaism’s transition into modern times. His concern lay in a national revitalization of Judaism within and outside Israel. Jews living in Israel needed to help infuse into Jews and Judaism a humanistic ethical perspective that he called ruchani ha muchlat. In short, he advocated, as did
Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan, the enhancement of Judaism as a civilization that included secular moral teachings as well as a more modern religion. During the period between the two world wars, Judaism developed a humanistic social and political perspective, a relationship between owners of the workplace and the workers, and thus presented a Jewish moral perspective of the new nonreligious spiritual movement. That became the perspective of the Halutzim, who developed the kibbutz movement, within which the ancient biblical religious practices became social symbols. On Shavuot, farmers from the kibbutzim dressed in white and brought baskets of fruit to the kibbutz headquarters, a new way to thank G-d for their bounty. In 1948 the ancient dream of a free and independent Jewish country was realized. In the beginning, while the old Zionist leaders were still alive, Israel began absorbing the hundreds of thousands of Holocaust survivors as well as the Jews of the East who were survivors of Muslim anti-Jewish laws. At the same time, the Israel we dreamed about, the ideal of a good and moral country, started to give way to the political and security issues of a real country. The economic problems of absorbing a large immigrant
population and the problem of defense began to erode the idealistic Zionism of the mid-20th century. At one time, Theodor Herzl proposed that we only had to wish it and Israel would become a reality. But the real Israel’s survival issues eroded our dreamlike vision of the country. This change brought a schism between Israeli and non-Israeli Jews. Non-Israeli Jews continued to emphasize Israel as the ideal state of 2,000 years of dreams, while Israeli Jews were concerned with safety and survival. Will world Jewry be able to live with the problems inherent in the reality of Israel? Can Israel become the ideal that will constantly bring pride to all Jews? Can Israel assume the mantle of spiritual leadership that will solve the issues of being Jewish in and out of Israel? We must accept the reality that American Jews and Israeli Jews face different issues. We stand at a historic crossroads: A nation of the past is becoming diversified and choosing different paths to follow. I see no clear answer because we non-Israeli Jews are subject to different social, economic and political forces than Israelis. Our immediate needs as Jews differ, and we might not 11 remain united. ■ AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
This is the last of a four-part series examining the Jewish people’s eternal longing for Israel. Beginning with the First Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, our vision of Israel began to change. Zionists began to see Israel as a secular homeland. The hope to rebuild the Temple and return to the old cultic service was discarded, and instead we looked at Israel as a historical entity, a country reflecting the moral responsibility taught by the prophets. We did not discard the rabbinical teachings — the study of the Talmud. Most of the Zionist leaders were steeped in Talmudic knowledge, and they used this knowledge not for the sake of obedience to the law, but as a way for us to understand our historical legacy. The Zionists saw Israel as our country of refuge, where Jews would not have to hide their identity or be punished for it, but they discarded Maimonides’ 12th and 13th principles of faith: the belief in the coming of the Messiah and the revival of the dead when we are redeemed by the Messiah. It was evident to everyone that a country as small as Israel could not absorb all the Jews of the world, so there would always be Jews, perhaps
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OPINION
The Clear Choice: Pat Paulsen for President
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Do you remember Pat Paulsen? He was the comedian who ran for president almost every four years from 1968 till 1996. He challenged Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. When approached by the Smothers Brothers with the idea of running for president in 1968, he said: “Why not? I can’t dance. Besides, the job has a good pension plan, and I’ll get a lot of money when I retire.” His notable campaigns remarks, according to Wikipedia, include: • “All the problems we face in the United States today can be traced to an unenlightened immigration policy on the part of the American Indian.” • “Why should we tell kidnappers, murderers and embezzlers their rights? If they don’t know their rights, they shouldn’t be in the business.” • “If elected, I will win.” • “Marijuana should be licensed and kept out of the hands of teenagers. It’s too good for them.” Paulsen used obvious lies, double-talk and tongue-in-cheek at-
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tacks on the major candidates, and he responded to all criticism with his catchphrase: “Picky, picky, picky.” After watching the Republican and Democratic conventions, I’ve concluded that I’d rather vote for Pat Paulsen. This is the greatest nation on Earth, and we can do better than either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
Guest Column By Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis
Politics aside, I would like to comment on something else that struck me during the conventions. It seemed as if tens of thousands of people were coming together, cheering and chanting. There is great power and energy in such large crowds. I was reminded of a wonderful bracha that Jewish law tells us to recite when seeing 600,000 or more Jews: “Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, wise in secrets.” At such a gathering, why focus
on secrets? Focus on G-d the Creator of the world or G-d the most powerful or G-d the Redeemer who brings Jews together. Why G-d wise in secrets? Isn’t it the size of the crowd that is truly impressive? Or the fact that the number of Jews standing around the foot of Mount Sinai was 600,000, so that such a crowd today is a re-enactment of Sinai? Why focus on secrets? I’ve had the privilege to serve four synagogues as a rabbi. The first three times I came to a new shul, as I looked out during the High Holidays, my overwhelming impression of a sanctuary full of people was their identity as a group — members of the congregation. I had not yet gotten to know them as individuals. Now when I stand in front of my congregation on the High Holidays, it’s impressive even in a small congregation like ours — hundreds of Jews standing together. But when I look at the faces, having been truly privileged to be intimately involved in most of their lives at one time or another, I see the death of a spouse here, a marital problem there, a baby naming here, a wedding there, a job loss here, depression there, a graduation here, a 50th wedding anniversary there. I now see each person as an individual — each one is unique. When Moses discusses the choice of his successor with G-d (Numbers 27:16), he addresses G-d as Elokey Haruchot kol basar (G-d of the spirits of all flesh). Why the plural “spirits” and not just the “spirit of all flesh”? The Midrash (Tanchuma 10) teaches that this refers to “G-d who knows the importance of appreciating the uniqueness of the spirit of each individual” — the G-d of each spirit. Yes, G-d knows that each of us is a unique, holy soul. And just as G-d responds differently to each soul based
on its experience and abilities, so must a leader of Israel, and so must we all. All of us do a dance of emotions — from bliss to sorrow, from depression and sadness to joy and contentment. Sometimes when the dance brings us so low, we get stuck and can’t get up. But if we don’t dance alone, if we hold each other’s hand as we’re thrown this way and that way, we can find a marvelous strength to get up and face what life throws at us and fully take in the joy when it comes. Communities, families, friendships and even governments would do well to remember this truth that Moses hints at and the rabbis of the Midrash made explicit. Everyone is different, and those differences must be cherished, nurtured and cultivated. What was so moving to me watching the conventions was that while the halls were filled with people with so many differences, all were Americans. The diversity was remarkable. I believe with all my heart that the United States is a holy country unlike any other. Unlike most countries, whose people have a homogeneous culture, language and history, America is a microcosm of the whole world, a place where people come in freedom and contribute their unique perspectives and talents. It is the diversity of America that gives it its strength. Rather than feel threatened by this diversity, we should embrace it and celebrate it as a sign of G-d’s presence in our midst, infusing us with passion, energy, wonder and life. The leaders of both parties need to learn this lesson, for each speaks to increasingly narrow constituencies. It will be fascinating, frustrating, even entertaining to watch the election. So who am I going to vote for in November? I think it’ll probably be Pat Paulsen, may he rest in peace. Amen. ■
SYNAGOGUE GUIDE
Chew on Bigger NoshFest After skipping 2015, Temple Kol Emeth’s NoshFest is coming back this Labor Day weekend with more food vendors than ever and a variety of entertainment, including cooking demonstrations. The festival is being held Sunday and Monday, Sept. 4 and 5, at the East Cobb Reform synagogue on Old Canton Road. It features 35 to 40 food vendors serving samples of Jewish and nonJewish foods, including pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, matzah ball soup, Nathan’s hot dogs, fried green tomatoes, barbecue brisket, Bruster’s ice cream, pasta, blintzes, bagels, fried Oreos, tiramisu, and baklava. For Hal Schlenger, who has been involved in planning NoshFest since its inception six years ago, the food tasting is the best part of the event. “I like to explore and try different things,” Schlenger said. “There are different kugels that are there, and there are different ways that people make things, so my favorite part is the sampling. When we created the festival, we asked vendors to sell small portions of things. You can taste a knish without being full. The idea is to get people to sample things.” The entertainment lineup includes DJs who play b’nai mitzvah, bands, Israeli dancing and a krav maga demonstration. Two chefs are conducting cooking demonstrations, something new for the festival. Chef Robert Velazquez of the General Muir is teaching how to make latkes three ways on Sunday afternoon, and Chef Matt Marcus of Portofino is demonstrating on Monday how to make gravlax, a Nordic salmon dish. “We’re looking for something to
make it bigger and better every year,” said Lon Goodman, a NoshFest cochair. “We thought that going out and getting chefs from key restaurants would open it up to people who would hesitate to come or keep them there.” Another entertaining addition to the festival is a bagel eating contest. The entrance fee is $20, and each participant gets a $20 Bagelicious gift card. The person who eats the most bagels in five minutes takes home the $500 grand prize. In the past six years, Schlenger said, he has seen the festival evolve to include more Jewish foods and more appealing entertainment, such as DJs who perform at Jewish simchas. “By doing that, we had entertainment that was more engaging,” he said. “They might do a dance and get the crowd more involved.” Event planners hope the introduction to Jewish food, tours of Kol Emeth and entertainment draw in non-Jewish members of the community to see what the Jewish faith is all about. “We hope that if you are Jewish, you would bring a non-Jewish friend with you,” Schlenger said. “Yes, you can go to certain restaurants and get a pastrami sandwich, but maybe you haven’t had some of the other foods. In my family, we try to invite someone who’s not Jewish over for seder. (It’s) the idea of Jewish food in an environment that’s really friendly to the nonJewish community so we can show off together that it’s fun being Jewish.” While the festival is popular, it’s not the only way Temple Kol Emeth reaches out to the public. The synagogue hosts an ecumenical Thanksgiving celebration in November. “It’s great to see how well we all get along,” Schlenger said. “We’re past (coexisting). We don’t think that’s enough. We’re at respect and appreciate.” ■
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
By Cady Schulman cschulman@atljewishtimes.com
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SYNAGOGUE GUIDE
Local artist Rosanne Kauss created the piece on the right, depicting the seven days of creation, more than a decade ago, and Or VeShalom went back to her and commissioned the work on the left, showing seven important holidays, as part of the renovations.
The new OVS lobby is lighter and more spacious than its predecessor.
A dedication board commemorates the various phases of the building’s construction and expansion.
New Lobby Refreshes Space for Or VeShalom By Eddie Samuels
Congregation Ariel
Something special is happening in Dunwoody! Come and meet us - we are an Orthodox Synagogue and a Community for every Jew.
Daily SERVCES • CLASSES and ONE-ON-ONE LEARNING Events for WOMEN • YOUTH groups • TOT Shabbat TEEN barbeques • FATHER/SON learning • ERUV and MIKVAH
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Join us for High Holidays, come for a Shabbat kiddush, attend one of our many classes, meet the Rabbis and make new friends.
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We look forward to welcoming you!
Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338 www.congariel.org | shuloffice@congariel.org Phone: 770-390-9071
With the busiest season for synagogues approaching, Congregation Or VeShalom is putting the finishing touches on renovations for its Brookhaven building. The expansion is immediately noticeable: A new entrance, featuring large wooden doors and a domed roof, highlights the project. Inside sits the new lobby, a circular, naturally lighted room. The aesthetic is modern, with open spaces and fresh paintings from local artist Rosanne Kauss, ranging from justcommissioned pieces to work over 10 years old. The differences with the old lobby are enough to make it hard to believe they’re parts of the same synagogue. Previously, dark carpeting and brass plaques greeted congregants. Now, white floors and artwork await. “What’s most amazing is that you have this bright space when you first walk in,” new OVS Executive Director Adam Kofinas said, “instead of seeing this heavy wood board covered in plaques. It’s very welcoming. It facilitates all different kinds of events here. It’s an important reminder of what it looks like to be welcoming.” He said the renovations are “all about continuing to innovate. We’ve aimed for the stars, and if we hit the atmosphere, we think we’ve done a
pretty good job.” Of utmost importance to Kofinas in the project was finding out what congregants wanted out of the space. “You tell us what you want, and we’re going to make it happen.” The new space features far more standing room and open, well-lighted passages into different parts of the synagogue. It also connects to the chapel that was built just a year ago. One advantage for Or VeShalom in the renovations is its history of more than a century: The congregation has dealt with many of the same vendors and contractors for decades. “We’ve really been lucky,” Kofinas said. “For many of our vendors, this is the third building they’ve worked on with us. It wouldn’t surprise me if some of these vendors — eight generations ago — worked on the original building.” While the goal is to modernize the lobby, the history of the congregation is not going to be forgotten, with artifacts supplied by various congregants on prominent display. “Most synagogues don’t have things that are 150 years old,” Kofinas said. The whole congregation has thrown its weight behind the renovations, and Kofinas said reactions to the modern look have been overwhelmingly positive. “The one word I’ve heard more than any other: wow.” ■
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Atlanta Synagogue Directory Chabad
Chabad Enrichment Center Of Gwinnett 3855 Holcomb Bridge Road Suite 770 Norcross, GA 30092 www.chabadofgwinnett.org 678-595-0196 Rabbi Yossi Lerman Chabad Intown, Atlanta 928 Ponce de Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.chabadintown.org 404-898-0434 Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman Rabbi Ari Sollish Chabad Intown, Atlanta, provides opportunities year-round to all, regardless of background, affiliation or spiritual inclination, to learn about and experience our rich Jewish tradition and heritage. We do this through programs for all ages, including the Intown Jewish Preschool, Intown Hebrew School, Intown Jewish Academy, and YJP — Young Jewish Professionals, Atlanta. All of our offerings are presented in quality format and are always uplifting and inspiring. We
look forward to welcoming you to one of our programs or events soon.
Chabad Jewish Center 1480 Shiloh Road Suite 500 Kennesaw, GA 30144 www.jewishwestcobb.com 678-460-7702 Rabbi Zalman Charytan
Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz Chabad of North Fulton is a welcoming, dynamic and vibrant community that offers a wide range of educational and outreach services to all Jews, regardless of religious background or affiliation. We offer a full-service synagogue, adult education, lifecycle events, year-round programming for all ages, summer camp, community outreach, counseling, and, most important, direct and easy access to the rabbi for any personal assistance you might need. Construction is currently underway for our brandnew educational campus, which will help us serve you even better.
Chabad of Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30068 www.chabadofcobb.com 770-565-4412 Rabbi Ephraim Silverman
Chabad of Peachtree City 632 Dogwood Trail Tyrone, GA 30290 www.chabadsouthside.com 678-595-0199 Rabbi Yossi Lew
Chabad of North Fulton 10180 Jones Bridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.chabadnf.org 770-410-9000
Congregation Beth Israel — South Forsyth 600 Peachtree Parkway Suite 100 Cumming, GA 30041
Chabad Israeli Center Atlanta 4276 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road Chamblee, GA 30341 www.cicatlanta.com 404-252-9508 Rabbi Mendy Gurary
Jewishforsyth.org 404-954-2092 Rabbi Levi Mentz We are a warm, vibrant and inviting community in North Georgia. Experience our uplifting and inspiring events, programs and services with wonderful families just like yours. Congregation Beth Tefillah 5065 High Point Road Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.bethtefillah.org 404-843-2464 Rabbi Yossi New Rabbi Ari Karp Rabbi Isser New Campus Director Barry Herman President Trevor Horwitz
Orthodox
Congregation Anshi S’fard 1324 North Highland Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.anshisfard.org 404-969-6763 Rabbi Mayer Freedman President Jean Alhadeff Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Road Dunwoody, GA 30338
Continued on the next page
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
SYNAGOGUE GUIDE
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SYNAGOGUE GUIDE www.congariel.org 770-390-9071 Rabbi Binyomin Friedman Youth Director Rabbi Mordy Birnbaum Executive Director Debbie Kalwerisky President Jason Kaplan The Ariel family welcomes Jews of all ages, stages and backgrounds with daily minyanim, classes with the rabbis, one-on-one learning, events for women, youth groups, a modern sanctuary and social hall, an eruv and a mikvah, and fun, learning and growth. Congregation Beit Yitzhak 6030 Goodwood Boulevard Norcross, GA 30093 770-931-4567 Congregation Beit Yitzhak offers catering for all your needs under AKC supervision. Call 678-200-8897. Congregation Beth Jacob 1855 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 www.bethjacobatlanta.org 404-633-0551 Rabbi Ilan Feldman Rabbi Emeritus Emanuel Feldman Executive Director Yitzchok Tendler President Larry Beck Beth Jacob Atlanta is the Orthodox synagogue for all Jews. Beth Jacob aims to inspire and motivate individuals and families at all levels of observance to strengthen their Jewish connection. We welcome Jews of all backgrounds. On Shabbat and holidays, our synagogue is home to several concurrent services for young children, teens and beginners. Congregation Ner Hamizrach 1858 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 www.nerhamizrach.org 404-315-9020 Rabbi Shmuel Khoshkerman Congregation Netzach Yisrael 1528 Sheffield Drive Atlanta, GA 30329
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
The Kehilla of Sandy Springs 5075 Roswell Road Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.thekehilla.org 404-913-6131 Rabbi Karmi David Ingber Administrator Effie Ross President Malcolm Joel The Kehilla is a place for all Jews, where everyone is welcomed and accepted for who they are, whatever their level of Jewish observance. Our congregation is one of the most diverse in Atlanta. Our mission is to 16 inspire people to make themselves and
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their lives better through the wisdom of the Torah. We follow Orthodox practices. New Toco Shul 2003 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 newtocoshul.com 770-765-7485 Young Israel of Toco Hills 2056 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 www.yith.org 404-315-1417 Rabbi Adam Starr Office Manager Leslie Mallard President Davi Kutner Our warm Modern Orthodox community celebrates a commitment to traditional practice and observance coupled with a profound engagement and openness to the world around us. We are a proudly religious Zionist congregation that loves the people and land of Israel and believes that the establishment of the state of Israel is of great religious significance. We also cherish partnering and participating with the broader Atlanta Jewish community in the spirit of Klal Yisrael. Under the dynamic leadership of Rabbi Adam Starr, our synagogue has grown significantly and completed a spectacular new spiritual home in September 2014.
Conservative
Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue Atlanta, GA 30327 www.aasynagogue.org 404-355-5222 Rabbi Neil Sandler Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Executive Director Manuel Mesa President Rob Wildstein Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Road Dunwoody, GA 30360 www.bethshalomatlanta.org 770-399-5300 Rabbi Mark Zimmerman Executive Director Loli Gross President Howard Fish Beth Shalom is an egalitarian, Conservative synagogue committed to creating meaningful and lasting Jewish experiences for our members and their families. We are an inclusive, spiritual Jewish community providing a warm, nurturing environment where we pray, learn, educate, and perpetuate Torah and Jewish values. We are a shul with a strong culture of welcoming. Shabbat and holiday services are a special time at Beth
Shalom. We are committed to sharing the joys of our simchas and supporting one another during life’s challenges. We encourage our members to support the Jewish community, the state of Israel and world Jewry and engage in tikkun olam. We are a true community built on lasting relationships. Congregation B’nai Torah 700 Mount Vernon Highway Atlanta, GA 30328 www.bnaitorah.org 404-257-0537 Rabbi Joshua Heller Rabbi Hillel Konigsburg Executive Director Natalie Sarnat President Alan Smirin Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Parkway Marietta, GA 30068 www.etzchaim.net 770-973-0137 Rabbi Daniel L. Dorsch Rabbi Shalom J. Lewis Executive Director Robert L. Bachrach President Todd H. Surden As Congregation Etz Chaim begins its 42nd year, our programming kicks off with our signature Lilmode adult education offering on Nov. 15 with Brendan Murphy, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust’s distinguished educator of 2016. In March, Dr. Daniel Matt, one of the world’s leading authorities on Kabbalah, will be our weekend scholar in residence, sponsored by the Ramie A. Tritt Family Foundation. These are but two of the exciting events being offered in the months ahead. All programs are open to the public and free of charge. Check our website for all the specifics. Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Ridge Road Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.gltorah.org 770-777-4009 Rabbi Michael Bernstein Executive Director Doug Konkel President Mitch Hershkowitz Congregation Or Hadash 7460 Trowbridge Road Sandy Springs, GA 30328 www.or-hadash.org 404-250-3338 Rabbi Mario Karpuj Rabbi Analia Bortz Executive Director Erica Hruby President Marc Medwed Congregation Or Hadash, an egalitarian Conservative synagogue located in Sandy Springs, is dedicated to providing a warm and welcoming Jewish environment for build-
ing spiritual and social connections through prayer, learning, music and tikkun olam. We believe that a caring community is a kehillah kedoshah (holy community). We are excited to be celebrating our 13th year with many special events and invite you to visit us and experience the warmth of our congregation. Congregation Shearith Israel 1180 University Drive Atlanta, GA 30306 www.shearithisrael.com 404-873-1743 Rabbi Ari Kaiman Business Director Jodi Kadison President Josh D’Agostino With more than 110 years of history, Congregation Shearith Israel has entered its next chapter. Under new leadership with Rabbi Ari Kaiman, our egalitarian, Conservative synagogue is growing and will continue to provide a rich environment for pursuing Jewish spirituality, learning and community. Our congregants lead prayers, chant Torah and Haftarah, and share duties throughout our lay-led service. Our Machaneh Shai educational program (which our children actually love) offers a rich, engaging experience for kindergarten through seventh grade. Throughout the year, our members have countless opportunities to participate in social, cultural, spiritual, educational and community service programs. Check us out.
Traditional
Congregation Shaarei Shamayim 1810 Briarcliff Road Atlanta, GA 30329 www.shaareishamayim.com 404-417-0472 Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis Office Manager/Treasurer David Krombach President David Fink Congregation Shaarei Shamayim is the boutique intown traditional shul. It’s a place of inspiration, comfort, companionship and healing. To break down the artificial barriers and labels that separate our people, the principle of Ahavat Yisrael, love of our fellow Jew, takes center stage, and all are welcome. That is why we offer both separate (machitza) and mixed seating for men and women. We are an intimate, active congregation. We have Shabbat and holiday services, weekly educational activities, social activities, and a religious school — all focused on inspiring a thirst for G-d and Jewish life.
Sephardic
Congregation Or VeShalom
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1681 North Druid Hills Road Brookhaven, GA 30319 www.orveshalom.org 404-633-1737 Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla Executive Director Adam Kofinas Brookhaven Bayit@OVS Director Sim Pearl President Richard Maslia Congregation Or VeShalom (OVS) is a Sephardic synagogue in Brookhaven. At 400 families strong, we are dedicated to the spiritual and intellectual growth of our members. Building upon over 100 years of tradition, we embrace our history and envision a strong future with innovative programming. B@OVS, a second-year program, is rethinking how young adults (individuals and families) connect with community, Judaism and OVS. We welcome you to experience the Sephardic warmth, culture and welcoming community.
Reform
Congregation B’nai Israel 1633 Highway 54 East Jonesboro, GA 30237 Mail: P.O. Box 142481 Fayetteville, GA 30214 www.bnai-israel.net 678-817-7162
Rabbi Rick Harkavy Cantorial Soloist Susan Burden Administrator Angela Ellis President David Rosenberg Congregation Dor Tamid 11165 Parsons Road Johns Creek, GA 30097 www.dortamid.org 770-623-8860 Rabbi David Katz Cantorial Soloist Mike Zuspan Temple Administrator Kerry Sbat President Rob Lederman Congregation Ner Tamid 1349 Old Highway 41 Suite 220 Marietta, GA 30060 678-264-8575 www.mynertamid.org Rabbi Joseph Prass President Kristine Goldstein The Temple 1589 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30309 www.the-temple.org 404-873-1731 Senior Rabbi Peter Berg Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus Rabbi David Spinrad Rabbi Steven Rau
Rabbi Lydia Medwin Rabbi Emeritus Alvin Sugarman Cantor Deborah Hartman Executive Director Mark Jacobson President Lauren Grien The Temple, founded in 1867, blends tradition with innovation to create a vibrant and warm atmosphere that is inviting to all who walk through the famous red doors on Peachtree Street. In addition to upholding The Temple’s deep-seated roots within the greater Atlanta community, The Temple’s clergy and staff have dedicated themselves to engaging with each and every congregant. Everyone from young professionals and new families to those who have called Atlanta home for generations find The Temple to be a place of solace, celebration and friendship. Temple Beth David 1885 McGee Road Snellville, GA 30078 www.gwinnetttemple.com 770-978-3916 President Barry Abis Temple Beth David (TBD) began in 1981 as the first formal Jewish presence in Gwinnett County. TBD provides a continued spirit of worship and service that does not sacrifice the family
closeness. TBD offers weekly services, holiday celebrations, lifecycle events and educational programs. TBD hopes to remain and grow as an integral part of the Gwinnett and Atlanta communities. It also is our hope that other interested families will become active in our future. Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Road Roswell, GA 30075 www.bethtikvah.com 770-642-0434 Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner Rabbi Emeritus Donald Tam Cantor Nancy Kassel President Harlan Graiser Temple Emanu-El 1580 Spalding Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30350 www.templeemanuelatlanta.org 770-395-1340 Rabbi Spike Anderson Rabbi Scott E. Colbert Rabbi Emeritus Stanley Davids Cantor Lauren Furman Adesnik Executive Director Mark Flaxer Co-Presidents Arthur Katz and Noah Rosner
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SYNAGOGUE GUIDE
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SYNAGOGUE GUIDE Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green Street Roswell, GA 30075 www.kehillatchaim.org 770-641-8630 Rabbi Harvey Winokur Cantor Barbara Margulis President Lori Dreffin Temple Kehillat Chaim, located in Roswell, draws from a five-county area. We are a friendly, inclusive synagogue that welcomes all types of families. We have programs for tots through senior adults. Our religious school is held only on Sundays. It features the unique ISJL curriculum that engages students’ imaginations as they gain Jewish values. Our families are given their own bar/bat mitzvah date. This allows for maximum participation on Shabbat eve and morning. Our Brotherhood, Sisterhood and youth groups are actively involved in the temple and community. Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Road Marietta, GA 30062 www.kolemeth.net 770-973-3533 Rabbi Steven Lebow Rabbi Erin Boxt Cantorial Soloist Blake Singer
Senior Administrator Denise Jacobs President Ben Singer Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30327 www.templesinaiatlanta.org 404-252-3073 Senior Rabbi Ron Segal Associate Rabbi Brad Levenberg Associate Rabbi Samantha Shabman Rabbi Emeritus Philip Kranz Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair Beth Schafer Executive Director Jack Feldman President Marcia Nuffer Temple Sinai is a vibrant Reform congregation in Sandy Springs that values lifelong Jewish learning, a warm spirit of community, a sense of inclusivity and active participation in Jewish life. Our community serves as a center of Jewish life and as an extended, caring family for whom we provide a Jewish context for life experiences. Our congregation offers many avenues for involvement, welcomes participation in our leadership and continually challenges itself to meet the needs of our members. We welcome all who wish to participate, regardless of age, marital status, sexual orientation or financial means.
Reconstructionist
Congregation Bet Haverim 2074 LaVista Road Atlanta, GA 30329 www.congregationbethaverim.org 404-315-6446 Rabbi Josh Lesser Executive Director Amy Robertson President Shoshana Ben-Yoar Congregation Bet Haverim is a Reconstructionist synagogue founded by lesbians and gay men, embracing all Jews and loved ones. Shabbat services include Erev Shabbat with music from our chorus, Tot Shabbat for little ones, a chant service and a monthly Shabbat dinner. We also offer Parent ’n’ Me and Sing ’n’ Play programs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.
Nondenominational
Congregation Shema Yisrael 6065 Roswell Road, No. 3018 Atlanta, GA 30328 Services at Unity 3597 Parkway Lane Norcross, GA 30092 www.shemaweb.org 404-943-1100 Cantor Herb Cole Bob Bahr Eugen Schoenfeld
Guardians of the Torah P.O. Box 767981 Roswell, GA 30076 guardiansofthetorah.com 770-286-3477 Rabbi Richard Baroff Guardians of the Torah is a congregation without walls that is open to all. Guardians of the Torah is also an organization that supports police and other public safety officers and first responders in need of spiritual support. We profess our devotion to G-d, our commitment to studying Torah, our steadfast support for the people and the state of Israel, and our love of the United States of America. We are funded through the generous contributions of our followers. There are no dues and no other assessments. Kehillat HaShem 640 Stone House Lane NW Marietta, GA 30064 www.rabbiatlanta.com 770-218-8094 Rabbi Jeffery Feinstein Shabbat services are held on the second Shabbat of each month at 10:30 a.m. Bar and bat mitzvah tutoring, weddings, baby namings and other lifecycle services may be scheduled directly with Rabbi Feinstein.
Congregation Or VeShalom (OVS) is a Sephardic synagogue with over 100 years of located in the heart of Brookhaven. At 400 families strong, we are dedicated to spiritual and Congregation Or growth VeShalom is a Sephardic synagogue with of over 100 years of located intellectual of our(OVS) members. Building upon over 100 years tradition, we embrace in the our heart of Brookhaven. 400future families strong, weprogramming. are dedicated to spiritual and history and envision a At strong with innovative AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
intellectual growth of our members. Building upon over 100 years of tradition, we embrace B@OVS, a second-year program, is rethinking how young adults (individuals, couples, and our history andconnect envision a strong future with innovative programming. families) with community, Judaism and OVS. We welcome you to experience the
Sephardic warmth,program, culture andiswelcoming of our community. B@OVS, a second-year rethinkingnature how young adults (individuals, couples, and 1681 North Druid Hillscommunity, Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30319 404-633-1737 office@orveshalom.org families) connect with Judaism and OVS. We welcome you to experience the AJT 18 Sephardic warmth, culture and welcoming nature of our community. 1681 North Druid Hills Rd. N.E., Atlanta, GA 30319
404-633-1737
office@orveshalom.org
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Executive Director Finds Family at Or Hadash When Erica Hruby became the executive director of Congregation Or Hadash in January, she felt as if she was coming home, and not just because Atlanta is where she began her professional career and started a family while living here for a decade. It was also because she knew she was being welcomed into a congregational family at the Conservative Sandy Springs synagogue. The key moment came when an email from Fred Wachter, who was the synagogue president, hit her inbox Dec. 23 while she waited to hear whether the Or Hadash board would approve her hiring. She opened the message to find a photo of the board members holding “Welcome Erica!” signs. “When I saw this picture, I’m like ‘Yes, that’s the kind of place who will value me, who will appreciate me and where I will be able to make a real difference as a person and as a professional,” Hruby said in an interview several months ago. “I loved it.” She said the photo reflected the warmth, kindness, heart and soul of the congregation. Months later, she still got goosebumps looking at the picture. When Hruby, who grew up in the Orlando area, first moved to Atlanta in 1995, she was working on a master’s in clinical psychology at what is now Argosy University, and she got her first taste of Jewish communal work with the religious school at Temple Beth Tikvah. She taught preschoolers, substituted for other classes and served as the synagogue’s assistant education director. She also taught in the now-defunct community Hebrew high school program, Tichon Atlanta, and gave birth to two daughters before she and husband Matt, her high school sweetheart, moved the family back to Florida. Bitten by the Jewish communal bug, she worked as the regional BBYO director and oversaw the Hebrew high school program run by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando, for which she also did some programming. Then it was off to Greensboro, N.C., for four years as the dean of students of the American Hebrew Academy. “As I always say, when you’ve spent four years in a Jewish boarding high school, pretty much any other job is a piece of cake,” Hruby said, breaking into the joyful laughter that punc-
Erica Hruby never took a job in the field of her master’s degree, clinical psychology, but she says with a laugh that she uses that degree every day in Jewish communal work.
tuates a conversation with her. Having worked with students from preschool through high school, Hruby moved on to college with a stint as the assistant director of Central Florida Hillel, which serves half a dozen schools. Now she has graduated to Or Hadash, and she sees that extensive educational background as a benefit to the congregation. “A lot of synagogue executive directors come from the business world. Some are Jewish; some are not. But they’re coming from one sort of domain. That I could bring in the Jewish educational domain, and I could also bring in the Jewish administrative experience, created a better opportunity for the synagogue,” Hruby said. “I’m able to support the educational staff. I’m able to have conversations about Judaism and Jewish concepts with the rabbis, with congregants. I’m not just here to serve a fiscal role. I’m not just here for the physical plant. But I can actually engage with the congregation because I’m one of the congregation. And I also have the background of working in the community.” Hruby, who describes herself as down to earth, appreciates the chance to work with the engaged, committed lay leadership of Or Hadash and to be part of the dynamic congregational environment. “Yes, you have young people. Yes, there are older people. There are high-schoolers. There are college students. There are young couples. There are singles. There are divorcees. … It’s refreshing to be able to serve a lot of different communities while working in one community.” She sees herself as a community builder given an opportunity to “reach out to Atlantans who have yet to discover us and who, once they do, will fall in love and really enjoy everything
She wants to see membership grow from 375 to 500 families by connecting with people who don’t know about Or Hadash and Rabbis Analia Bortz and Mario Karpuj and by re-engaging with former members. “Understanding that we’re in our 13th When Erica Hruby saw this photo, she knew that year and it’s really our “this is absolutely the place I want to be.” blossoming, blooming year, we can take that opportunity also that we have to offer.” to grow membership and grow who we Growth and opportunity are words Hruby used over and over again are to be more of a staple in the Atlanta in describing her job at Or Hadash and community.” Hruby’s family also has opportuniher decision to take it on. “This was really an opportunity ties in the Atlanta community. Her older daughter transferred for me to step up and take the lead and share my experience and share my to Kennesaw State this semester after leadership skills and share everything I spending her freshman year at Central have learned over the years with a shul Florida, and Hruby’s younger daughthat is warm and haimish and kind and ter is in high school. Her husband has really looking for someone to come close relatives in the area. Now the four of them are part of in and continue their vision and help move them from a little bit of a plateau the Or Hadash family, Hruby said. “We over the last few years to the next phase can sort of bring together the family of membership growth and congregant part and we can bring together the professional part into one place.” ■ involvement,” she said.
AT THE ORTHODOX SYNAGOGUE FOR ALL JEWS, WE'RE BREAKING DOWN
WALLS AND BUILDING COMMUNITY.
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
AJT 1855 LAVISTAROAD, ROAD,ATLANTA, ATLANTA,GA GA30329 30329| |404.633.0551 404.633.0551 || WWW.BETHJACOBATLANTA.ORG WWW.BETHJACOBATLANTA.ORG | |FACEBOOK.COM/BETHJACOBATLANTA 1855 LAVISTA FACEBOOK.COM/BETHJACOBATLANTA
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Rabbis, Congregations Customize Emeritus Role By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
At Congregation Etz Chaim in East Cobb, a change is underway. Rabbi Daniel Dorsch began his tenure at the Conservative synagogue in July and will eventually take over for Rabbi Shalom Lewis, who has served as senior rabbi since the founding of the congregation in 1975. Rabbi Lewis will move to an emeritus role at a date to be determined. Until then he will remain the senior rabbi. “Rabbi Dorsch is here to carry the torch forward, and I am stepping back over the next couple of years,” Rabbi Lewis said. “I’m not moving away. I care deeply for this congregation and will serve, regardless of my official title as a rabbi, and keep Etz Chaim a place of Torah, a place of learning, a place of inspiration, and work with Rabbi Dorsch in that capacity.” He added, “Emeritus and retirement are not synonyms.” But the actual duties of a rabbi emeritus vary with the people who hold the title and the congregations they serve. Look around Atlanta, and
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Rabbi Shalom Lewis
Rabbi Melvin Sirner
you’ll find different interpretations of the role. Some rabbis move away, some step back, and some remain active at their congregations. After helping found Temple Beth Tikvah in 1987 and serving as the senior rabbi until 2004, Rabbi Donald Tam remains active as the Reform congregation’s rabbi emeritus. He teaches and provides spiritual guidance for the Roswell synagogue alongside Senior Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner. “Being an emeritus is to be present and supportive of the new rabbi and the congregation,” Rabbi Tam said. “Whatever they do, it’s with the approval of the new senior rabbi. The best thing to
do is stay out of the senior rabbi’s way. It’s not always an easy thing to do, but it’s the right thing to do.” At Temple Sinai, Rabbi Philip Kranz, who served as the senior rabbi from 1980 to 2006, has interpreted his role as rabbi emeritus in much the same way. He continues to live here and remains active with the Reform congregation in Sandy Springs in a mostly teaching and writing role. Rabbi Alvin Sugarman transitioned to an emeritus role at The Temple in 2004 after serving as senior rabbi since 1974. Over the next few years, Sugarman took the pulpit for stints as the interim Rabbi at Congregations in California and South Carolina. Upon returning to Atlanta, he served on various regional and national boards, including time logged as the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association and national Treasurer of the CCAR. Other rabbis have used the emeritus designation as a way to maintain a connection while moving away and letting a new senior rabbi make the congregation his or her own. After serving as the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 1982 to 2002, Rabbi Arnold Goodman moved to Jerusalem, where in his emeritus role he continues to study and write. He has a weekend as scholar in residence at the Buckhead Conservative congregation each year. In the same vein, Congregation Beth Jacob’s Rabbi Emanuel Feldman and Temple Emanu-El’s Rabbi Stanley Davids have split time between Israel and the United States since they transitioned to emeritus status in 1991 and 2004, respectively. Rabbi Davids saw the transition as a time to realize his dream of becoming an Israeli citizen. He and his wife, Resa, made aliyah in 2004 and lived in Jerusalem until 2014, when they moved to Santa Monica, Calif., to be closer to family. Rabbi Davids returns once a year to speak and study at the Reform congregation in Sandy Springs and to re-
connect with old friends. He maintains strong connections with former congregants. “One of the most difficult things for an emeritus to confront is when they see the congregation that he or she built is declining,” Rabbi Davids said. “People sometimes don’t understand the emotional investment that the rabbi emeritus has in the future success of the congregation. I have known colleagues who have suffered as they watched parts of their life work dissipate. I’m very fortunate that Rabbi Spike Anderson is fabulous, and Emanu-El is flourishing mightily. But the emotional attachment doesn’t go away when a rabbi retires.” In its Code of Ethics for Rabbis, the Central Conference of American Rabbis states that because emotional ties between rabbi and congregation strengthen with time and continue beyond retirement, “each congregation requires a single rabbi who has the responsibility of guiding it.” At Etz Chaim, Rabbi Dorsch performed his first bar mitzvah ceremony Aug. 6. He came to Atlanta after serving as an assistant rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston, N.J., and knows he has a big act to follow in Rabbi Lewis. Thus far, he said, the switch has gone smoothly. “Rabbi Lewis told me that the role of an emeritus is to be the proud zaide, smiling from the back of the congregation,” Rabbi Dorsch said. “So far, it’s been a very natural transition. Rabbi Lewis sees it as his primary mission to make sure that I succeed. It’s part of his legacy, and he’s been doing a fabulous job helping me integrate.” Rabbi Melvin Sirner knows what Rabbi Lewis has ahead of him. Rabbi Sirner came to Atlanta last year to serve as Congregation Shearith Israel’s interim rabbi. But he also is rabbi emeritus at Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, N.Y., where he spent his entire career before Atlanta, including serving as senior rabbi from 1976 to 2015. Rabbi Sirner said the transition to an emeritus title involves mutual respect and taking a step back. “I think emeritus can mean a lot of things,” he said. “Those of us who are emeritus held the senior rabbi position for many years. But when we’re not the senior rabbi anymore, it involves a measure of letting go. I think a successful transition requires the respect, cooperation and mutual regard of the rabbi emeritus and the new rabbi.” ■
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SYNAGOGUE GUIDE
OVS Director Targets Next Generation Now in his fourth month at Congregation Or VeShalom, Executive Director Adam Kofinas finds himself engrossed in Atlanta’s Jewish community. “I’m very impressed,” said Kofinas, who succeeded Lynne Balaban after she retired. “There are four-plus generations in this synagogue. I think that’s pretty unique, especially since the Atlanta Jewish community is relatively young. The one thing that really surprised me about Atlanta is how many transplants there are.” Coming from New York, Kofinas worked at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for over nine years. “I was working with their events, programming and running their offices,” Kofinas said. “I was really hoping to work more directly with people; sometimes when you’re in an office all day, it’s hard to see the fruits of your labor.” Kofinas credits his time with the national Conservative organization with preparing him for his new position at Atlanta’s oldest Sephardi congregation. “It taught me to work with all different kinds of people and about the importance of community,” he said. “I want it to be like the bar in ‘Cheers,’ where everybody knows your name.” Kofinas grew up with ties to the Sephardi and Conservative Ashkenazi worlds. His father came from the Greek Romaniote Jewish community, while his mother descended from Eastern European Jews. He attended Conservative and Sephardic synagogues and went to one of the Conservative movement’s Solomon Schechter day schools. One of Kofinas’ focuses for the upcoming year is examining elements of synagogue life that haven’t changed in decades. “How do we define involvement?” Kofinas said. “For the previous generation, it meant showing up for services Saturday mornings, but that may not be what it means to this generation. We need to engage them in different ways.” As a result, Kofinas wants to spend the year examining the struggles of the younger members of the Brookhaven congregation. He believes that by discovering and meeting the needs of youths and young adults, Or VeShalom will be a more welcoming place and appeal to a new generation. “I want them to feel comfortable letting me know what they want to see,” Kofinas said. “I want to create a dialogue and have it be a back and forth.
It’s up to them to determine what we want to see in our synagogue in two years, in five years, in 10 years.” He added: “We need those people involved. We should be tailoring our offerings to the group we’re trying to reach.” While Kofinas said he and his family were welcomed in the spring, and the environment surrounding the congregation is inviting, one of his goals is to become even more welcoming. “It’s all about what we can learn from others and adapt them to fit our community. We can always be improving.” The final major goal for Kofinas is to expand the reach of Or VeShalom’s
marketing and events beyond the immediate community. “Everyone here knows about our (Chanukah) bazaar, but my job is to figure out how we can make that an even more well-known and widely marketed event.” Despite the massive change involved in moving from New York to Georgia, Kofinas said he feels at home in his new community. “Everybody here has been incredible,” he said. “They all want to show me their favorite spots; I’ve probably been given advice to try more things here than I could in the next decade. It’s been three months, but it feels like it’s been three years.” ■
OVS Executive Director Adam Kofinas
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
By Eddie Samuels
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LOCAL NEWS
The refurbished athletic fields at the Marcus JCC will be covered with young athletes Aug. 28.
JCC Ready to Play Ball The Marcus Jewish Community Center’s renovated athletic fields are ready for action, and the community is invited to see them and celebrate the start of the fall sports season from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. Work on the multipurpose grass fields at Zaban Park, 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody, began in mid-November and carried through the winter, spring and summer as part of the JCC’s Framework for the Future capital campaign. The fields were tilled, leveled, resurfaced and equipped with an improved drainage system. New fencing, updated dugouts with new benches, and shade awnings were added. Indoor restrooms were built near the upper and lower fields. “We are excited to kick off the fall
sports season at our Arthur M. Blank Family Sports Complex,” Marcus JCC CEO Jared Powers said. “We strive to deliver the highest standard of programs and services, and we are proud to provide our members and the community with stellar facilities.” Players at the celebration will practice to music provided by a DJ from Vibe Entertainment. The Atlanta Hawks have a variety of activities planned, and a Kona Ice truck will provide refreshment near the fields. Visitors checking out the improved fields also are invited to swim at the Sherwin Glass Aquatic Center or take a kayak, canoe or bumper boat out on the lake. For details, contact Stephanie McCormick at 678-812-4065 or stephanie. mccormick@atlantajcc.org. ■
Women’s Connection Seeks Power in Change
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
By Eddie Samuels
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The Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta is celebrating its third annual kickoff event Sunday, Aug. 28, with guest speaker Ruchi Koval. The event, hosted by Carrla Goldstein, starts at 2 p.m. “The kickoff event really sets the tone for the year,” said Helen Zalik, a co-president of JWCA, which operates under the auspices of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel. “It gets us back into our routines and gets us ready and excited for the year ahead.” The mission of JWCA, according to JWCAtlanta.org, “is to connect women through friendship, learning and Jewish values that transform and impact them, their families and the community.” Koval is a native of Cleveland, the co-founder and associate director of the Jewish Family Experience, and the author of “Conversations With G-d:
Prayers for Jewish Women.” The topic of her speech is “The Power of Change: Old Dog, New Tricks.” “Every year we bring in a speaker to bring out the best in us,” Zalik said. “Ruchi is really incredible. She’s funny, inspirational and engaging, and we look forward to hearing her new perspective on some of the same old problems we’re always facing.” The group expects more than 100 women to attend the kickoff event, which is open to Jewish women throughout Atlanta. The goal of the event, Zalik said, is to connect Jewish women regardless of denomination or level of observance. “It encourages friendships and connection with other like-minded women while addressing our universal concerns and offering practical and spiritual solutions.” Space is limited. You can RSVP at www.jwcatlanta.org/events. Admission is $18 in advance or $25 at the door. ■
LOCAL NEWS
Faith Leaders Target Safety With Police Ties By Benjamin Kweskin
Photo by Benjamin Kweskin
Rabbi Hillel Norry closes the program at Berean Christian Church on Aug. 11.
DeKalb deputy chief operating officer of public safety, was one of 10 officers selected by President Barack Obama to create actionable policies for the National Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Released in May 2015, the report offers nearly 60 recommendations. Obama used an executive order to put the plan into effect, and several departments have adopted it. Officers spoke in quick succession about the plan of action, including Robert Ford, the president of the NOBLE Georgia Chapter, and interim DeKalb Police Chief James Conroy. Each focused on certain segments of the plan: increased civic engagement, education, informal and formal relationships, and mandatory cultural diversity training. A key element is that officers receive consistent psych evaluations to ensure they can fulfill their duties. Sherry Gaither of Stronghold Christian Church in Lithonia spoke about the need for civic engagement. She concluded by paraphrasing Pirke Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): “You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” Pastor Marlin Harris of New Life Baptist Church in Decatur emphasized that law enforcement and the community want the same things: “justice, fairness and equity.” “You (police) want respect and deserve it,” he said, “and we (community members) want respect and deserve it.” To end the program, Rabbi Hillel Norry, a DeKalb jail chaplain and former Congregation Shearith Israel spiritual leader, led the “Corporate Prayer.” Rabbi Norry said: “The Jewish community cares about law enforcement; you are us. And the Jewish community cares about the black community; you are part of our community. We either rise together or not at all.” He ended: “Ribbo shel olam, Master of the universe, bless us with strength, courage and wisdom. And let us say amen.” ■
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain hosted an emotional meeting Thursday, Aug. 11, attended by law enforcement officials, religious leaders and others who are tired of just going to meetings and want a plan of action to make their communities safer and to forge better police-citizen relations. Spearheaded by the Georgia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the meeting’s objective was to provide a plan for police and faith communities to interact more purposefully and with better communication. DeKalb is Georgia’s first county to implement such an action plan, partially because of a strong willingness among community leaders and partially because it is the most diverse county in the state. DeKalb’s policies will spread to other metro Atlanta counties and ultimately throughout Georgia. Elder Robert Pierce of New Mercies Christian Church in Lilburn, originally from the Bronx, N.Y., said the police shootings of unarmed AfricanAmericans and the retaliatory shootings of police officers have shifted the focus on how the groups interact. “We all care about the community and recognize that the majority of police officers are good. They don’t like bad officers either. In fact,” he said, “the majority of complaints about police officers come from other police officers.” Comparing the local policing model and that in New York, Pierce said: “This is a much better model. NYPD often uses strong-arm tactics, instilling fear. I was personally stopped and frisked for no reason many times, and these polices haven’t changed.” DeKalb Solicitor General Sherry Boston spoke about the “widening gaps in the community,” a sentiment reiterated in a five-minute video titled “We Are Human, Too.” Local law enforcement officials were interviewed for that video, including DeKalb Chief Deputy Sheriff Reginald Scandrett, who acknowledged that trust in law enforcement has decreased. Pastor Troy Bush of Rehoboth Baptist Church said, “We are not here for celebration, for there are cracks in our foundation.” He also recognized that while there are bad police officers, “there are also bad systems.” Cedric Alexander, a former national president of NOBLE and current
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LOCAL NEWS
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Prager Searches for Faith By Marcia Caller Jaffe One of the clearest voices that has served as a beacon for America and Jewish Americans for decades, Dennis Prager, will speak at Congregation Beth Tefillah on Wednesday night, Aug. 24. Prager, on radio since 1982, is a syndicated columnist and author of six books, including some written with Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. A yeshiva product and native of Flatbush, Brooklyn, who now lives in Los Angeles, he has not shied away from controversy, such as opposing the use of the Koran in place of the Bible for congressional swearing-ins. He doesn’t apologize for supporting this year’s Republican presidential ticket. Jaffe: Flesh out your topic, “G-d in America.” Does that relate to right-wing conservatism or prayer in schools? Prager: Just as Christianity has a trinity, so does America. It’s found on every American coin: “Liberty,” “In G-d We Trust” and “E Pluribus Unum” (one from many). Liberty is being replaced by equality. “In G-d we trust” is being replaced by secularism and atheism, and e pluribus unum by multiculturalism — an emphasis on every national, ethnic and racial identity other than American. Every American founder, including Jefferson and Franklin, who were not orthodox Christians, understood that without G-d and religion, the American experiment would fail. John Adams said so explicitly, writing in 1798: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” The role American Jews have played in helping rid America of G-d is a tragedy that will prove to be as harmful to American Jews and to Israel as to America. Jaffe: Both presidential candidates have been only slightly warm toward Israel. Do you see a real difference between Trump and Clinton on this? Prager: Regarding Israel, the candidates are not the primary issues here. It is the parties that differ greatly on Israel. The Democratic Party is increasingly hostile to Israel (despite the fact that the great majority of Jews vote
Democratic), and the Republican Party is overwhelmingly pro-Israel (despite the lack of Jewish support for Republicans). At the Republican National Convention, the only foreign country both Trump and Pence cited for special mention of support was Israel, and the delegates cheered wildly. Jaffe: Do you think American Jews are leaning even more left during this election because of distaste for Trump? Prager: Yes. But Jews are leaning left because they are already on the left. American Jews would vote Democrat even if the Republicans had nominated two female Jews for president and vice president and even if the Democrats had nominated Bernie Sanders, the most hostile-to-Israel presidential candidate since Israel’s creation. Most American Jews’ ethnicity is Jewish, but their religion is essentially liberalism/leftism. Jaffe: What can we do about the dangerous liberalism on college campuses? Is it just the way the generations relate, or something more deep and dramatic? Prager: Universities throughout the Western world are the West’s most anti-Israel and anti-American mainstream institutions. What can we do? First, do not send your child to college right after high school. Send him/her to Israel first. And have them work as a waiter or waitress the rest of the year (any job that forces you to smile even when you are in a bad mood makes you a better person). The more they know about life, the less they will be easily indoctrinated at college. Second, have them watch and rewatch every video course at PragerUniversity.com. They are all free, and each is only five minutes long. In the first six months of this year we have over 100 million views; it is probably the largest nonleft video Internet site in the English-speaking world. It undoes much of the moral and intellectual damage the universities do five minutes at a time. Third, make it as clear as possible to your child that the university has substituted indoctrination for education and that pro-American, pro-Israeli and pro-religion (unless the religion is Islam) voices are rarely allowed to be heard there. ■
Who: Dennis Prager speaking on “Does G-d Belong in America” Where: Congregation Beth Tefillah, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs When: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 Tickets: $18 Beth Tefillah members, $25 general public; RSVP at www.bethtefillah.org by Friday, Aug. 19, or call 404-843-2464
BUSINESS
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most retailers know that the holidays are when people are buying the most gifts, so we’re working on some to-beannounced, really unique Chanukah products.” One of Kritzer’s goals is to grow sales for the rest of the year. She said that while Chanukah and Passover will always be key, she wants to expand in other areas, such as wedding products, and make items that appeal during the summer, when shopping for Judaica isn’t often a priority. ModernTribe’s products range from classic Judaica, such as necklaces and dreidels, to funny and innovative ideas within the Pop Judaica section. Featured items include a shirt depicting bottles of Manischewitz with the words “Purple Drank” above them and tallit and kippah options for the family pet. With the acquisition of the business, Kritzer also bought the inventory, meaning that favorite items aren’t going anywhere soon. Rivlin Roberts will work with Kritzer for the next year to ensure a smooth transition. “Judaica doesn’t have to just be in antique shops,” Kritzer said. “Jewish products can be as diverse as Jewish people. There is definitely an audience and a market for the classics, but there are also people who want rainbow glittery menorahs.” ■
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AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
A few weeks after announcing her intent to sell her online Judaica store, ModernTribe, Jennie Rivlin Roberts has found a buyer. Amy Kritzer, chef, cookbook author and founder of the food blog What Jew Wanna Eat, is taking the reins and looking to build on Rivlin Roberts’ success. “I do modern takes on classic Jewish recipes,” Kritzer said, “matzah ball soup, brisket, all those things. I really appreciate that modern aspect, and ModernTribe seemed like a natural fit.” Kritzer, who lives in Austin, Texas, and studied international business at Emory University, also said the store presents a new spin on Judaica, which is often simply thought of as a facet of antique stores. “I loved all the unique products. They fit my lifestyle: funny Tshirts, cool menorahs and seder plates — products I actually wanted to purchase and use.” Rivlin Roberts initially sent an email to all the subscribers to the ModernTribe newsletter, informing them that the store was for sale in the hope of appealing to someone familiar with the business. Kritzer saw the email and contacted her brother Andrew, who has a background in technology and analytics, and the two decided this would be a good project to work on together. “We contacted Jennie and set up some video calls with her,” Kritzer said. “I know we weren’t the only ones interested, so I was really excited when she decided to go with us.” Rivlin Roberts said she fielded calls from dozens of potential buyers, but Kritzer was best positioned to advance the ModernTribe brand. “She’s passionate, creative and squarely representative of the core customer base. She’s the perfect fit.” Serving as president and CEO, respectively, as of Aug. 2, Amy and Andrew know that ModernTribe boasts a loyal following, and they intend to keep the store’s unique feel. “We want to make sure we offer things our customers are interested in, things that are different from the norm,” Kritzer said. “We want people on their toes, wondering what kinds of crazy products we can come up with next.” Kritzer said that while all Jewish holidays are big for ModernTribe, Chanukah is the biggest for sales. “I think
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Sculptor Balances Eclectic Collection With Whimsy In the Robkin household in Sandy Springs, small details make a big difference. The space is warm and alive as the wood, expert fiber crafting and the artist’s own sculpture speak of informed design. It is neither static nor solid, but breathing with movement and spirit of place. Judy Robkin started creating later in life and bounces off her whimsical vision of finely crafted clay with a grandmotherly touch. She taught art for 15 years at the John C. Campbell folk school in Murphy, N.C., as well as at the Weber School. Jaffe: I see a lot of fine and substantial wood flourishes. How did you employ Cubanborn Israel Peljovich? Robkin: Peljovich is a major local talent, master craftsman, and happens to be married to my cousin Lidia. Look at the detail in this custom dining table and buffet. In the kitchen we have more of his maple bookshelves and a breakfast nook table set. We renovated the kitchen, enjoy entertaining and consider 20 guests for dinner nothing for me. We often have two or three events a week here. Peljovich: I am excited when a client like Judy gets deeply involved. We put our two heads together and came up with the intricate mahogany bowties and zebra wood in the dining room. I also created a moving showroom for her. Jaffe: What is your own artistic vision, and from where did it stem? Robkin: I remember as a child, my father (Henry Birnbrey) always encouraged me to learn how to make and fix things on my own. Even plumbing repairs I try to figure out. He had a wood workshop and taught me to be fearless and challenge my mind to conquer the task. My sister, Anita Stein, is a talented pastel artist who does landscapes en plein air settings. Actually, I started sculpting in my late 30s, rather late in life.
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Jaffe: You’re a Jewish Grandma Moses. What happens here in your workshop? Robkin: I start with flat slabs of clay and begin rolling it. It just happens. Each piece is fired at least three times for around seven to 10 hours each. My clay figures are hand-built, one-of-a-kind ladies with depth and 26 detail of hidden openings of antique
AJT
photos, vintage tin types or artifacts. They are individually named like this “Rebecca.” My favorite texturizing tool is the inside of an old-fashioned pencil sharpener. Before this series, I worked in raku, the Japanese smoke-firing technique requiring firing to 2,000 degrees and careful removal from the kiln while they are still hot and glow-
Chai-Style Homes By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
ing. I find that Atlanta is a traditional, conservative art scene, and I prefer to show in fine art shows around the South or Northeast, anywhere I can load up a U-Haul. Things sell pretty quickly. Jaffe: This is a multigenerational household. How does that work? Robkin: My daughter, her husband and their two children live in our lower level. We are almost kibbutzlike, sharing cooking and child care. My daughter, who works for Emory Global Health Institute and is engaged in research funded by the Gates Foundation, travels to far-off places like Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa. Their goal is to study childhood mortality. Jaffe: Explain your affinity for texture and often whimsy. Robkin: I buy what I like — that which is interesting and fun. I treasure this 25-year-old mirror by Sticks from the New Morning Gallery in North Carolina. You spin the dial to select dream, share, accept change, be in love, see the world, etc. “Life is a banquet and your wishes too” is scripted at the bottom. Some of my other favorites are the pastel quilt made out of panty hose in the family room, a vibrant textile by John Gunther contrasting the original Chippendale desk in our great room, and the embroidery designed by a Jewish Ethiopian fashion designer in New York, Hiroots Yoseph, and embroidered by her sister, Maritu Enyew, who sat at her mother’s feet as a young girl to learn the craft. Jaffe: What are the origins of your favorite pieces?
A Robkin: Ah, too numerous to count. Rio, Montevideo, China and Dubrovnik. But mostly I’d say Israel. In the dining room, see the eclectic folk primitive triptych of blessings by French Israeli Eliyahu Sidi; the blessings are bitter herbs, the bridal chuppah and miracles. The drawing by David Schneuer and the dyed wool bird fabric are both Israeli. In the kitchen we have Genesis: “Seven Days of Creation” by Moshe Monzon. Heading up the stairs is an acrylic, “The Sea of Galilee,” by Israeli artist Amram Ebgi. Jaffe: Your daughter’s wall-sized chuppah is a major wow. How did you
create it? Robkin: I wanted to express her affinity for Africa and also incorporate the scarves (see the tiny leaves) from her four grandmothers. It took three months to complete, and I consulted a mathematician to design the spokes of the circle to be symmetrical. By the way, their wedding was on an organic farm in Israel with a Balkan marching band. Jaffe: Being in an observant and tactile home like this gave photographer Duane Stork and me the chutzpah to ask whether we could be on the guest list for homemade challah and Shabbos dinner. ■
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AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Photos by Duane Stork
A: Judy Robkin sculpts one of her female figures. B: The wood pieces by Israel Peljovich in the dining room highlight Judy Robkin’s pottery figures (inset) and offset the textile bird painting by Johanan Herson. C: The kitchen nook displays a textile by Israeli Moshe Monzon near iron men climbing the wall, while the cutouts display art in the kitchen and den. D: The chairs, purchased at a flea market 25 years ago, and the Sticks mirror, with spinning options for fortunetelling, reflect Judy Robkin’s whimsy. E: Hiroots Yoseph designed this picture, embroidered by her sister, Maritu Enyew. F: Judy Robkin worked for three months on the chuppah for her daughter’s wedding. She used a grandmother’s scarves and consulted a mathematician. G: Marty painted the oil pastel with bleeding edges. H: This pastel quilt is made with panty hose. I: French Israeli artist Eliyahu Sidi painted “Mystical Blessings” (foreground). A gourd from Kenya sits on a stand created by Israel Peljovich in front of a watercolor by Israeli David Schneuer. J: Judy Robkin says the Gunther textile breathes life into this room, which also features an authentic Chippendale desk and a watercolor by her sister, Anita Stein.
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Hirsch Bressler 79, Atlanta
Hirsch Bressler, age 79, of Atlanta died peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. Hirsch was the son of Frances and Jake Bressler and is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sharon Bressler; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Andreas Schmidt, Berlin, Germany; son and daughter-in-law Alan and Diane Bressler, Atlanta; grandsons Aaron Schmidt Bressler and Jake Bressler; sister Ellen Mills, Atlanta; brother and sister-in-law Richard and Linda Bressler, Atlanta; and his many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Born and raised in Atlanta, Hirsch graduated from Grady High School, went on to the University of North Carolina and traveled the world in the U.S. Navy. Respected across the business community for his integrity, Hirsch enjoyed a long and prosperous career in insurance and later real estate. He was committed to his community, serving on the board of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, as president of B’nai B’rith, and as a longtime baseball coach and commissioner at Northside Youth Organization. He realized his passion for all things outdoors, living out his final years in the North Georgia mountains, where he made a difference in the Blue Ridge community, actively supporting theater and arts and serving as a regional library board member and as Fannin County’s first water commissioner. Rest in peace beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and
friend. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chabad of Georgia Education Fund or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. A graveside service was held Thursday, Aug. 11, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Yossi New officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Lenore W. Franco 90, Atlanta
Lenore W. Franco, age 90, of Atlanta passed away Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Milton and Rebecca Waronker and wife of the late Aron Franco. She is survived by her four children, Marilyn and Alan Cristal, Robert A. Franco, Lilly and Mark M. Antebi, and Anita Franco; grandchildren Michelle Cristal, Jason and Julie Cristal, Michael and Rena Antebi, Sara Franco, Alex Franco, and Lucas Jernigan; great-grandchildren Rebecca, Adin and Amelia; and sisters-in-law Edith Waronker, Cecile Waronker and Leah Greenspahn. Lenore was born and raised in Atlanta and married Aron R. Franco on April 13, 1945, before moving to the Belgian Congo in 1947. With the upheaval of the revolution occurring in the Congo, Lenore and the children resettled in Atlanta in 1961. An Ashkenazi by birth, Lenore became a true Sephardi wife, mother and grandmother. She loved Congregation Or VeShalom, where she was very active.
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OBITUARIES Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. The family asks that donations be made to Alzheimer’s research or Or VeShalom. A graveside service was held Sunday, Aug. 14, at Greenwood Cemetery with Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Bernard Gillman 86, Duluth
Bernard “Bernie” Gillman, age 86, of Duluth passed away surrounded by his family Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at 10:22 a.m. after a long series of health issues. He grew up in Atlanta and attended public schools. He was a 2½-year graduate of Boys’ High School and a three-year graduate of Georgia Tech, where he was third in his class with a B.S. in chemistry. Bernie served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1951 and received an honorable discharge. He later joined his father in the paint manufacturing business and became president of the Atlanta Paint Manufacturing and Coatings Association and owner of S.L. Gillman Paint Co. Inc. Bernie was married for 54 years to his beloved wife, Florence, and has two children, Debbie Deboisblanc and Jeffrey (Kimberly) Gillman; three grandchildren, Evan Gillman, Jessica (Parker) Nealis and Ryan (Amy) Creech; and seven great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charitable organization of your choice. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. A graveside service was held Friday, Aug. 12, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Bernice Katz 79, Sandy Springs
AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
Bernice Stillman Katz, 79, of Sandy Springs passed away Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. She is survived by her devoted husband of 54 years, Bradley Katz; a son, Stephen Katz, and his wife, Pamela; daughter and son-in-law Connie and Scott Hartley; and grandsons Ryan and Myles. A wonderful and loving wife, mother and
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www.atlantajewishtimes.com grandmother, Bernice touched many with her graceful style and generous heart. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Donations may be made to Temple Beth Tikvah in Roswell or the Alzheimer’s Association, ALZ.org. A graveside service was held Thursday, Aug. 11, at Arlington Memorial Park, Sandy Springs. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Randy Nordin 68, Dunwoody
Randy Alan Nordin, age 68, of Dunwoody, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. Randy was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of Phyllis and Nathan Harry Nordin, and grew up in Richmond, Va. He graduated with a degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He earned his J.D. from Emory University Law School. After working in a private practice and for the state of Georgia, he returned to his beloved Georgia Tech, where he served as general counsel until his retirement. Randy was a lifelong learner and enjoyed a variety of intellectual pursuits and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Terry Newman Nordin; daughter and son-in-law Rebecca and Michael Landis; grandchildren Nathan Henry Landis and Presley Isabelle Landis; brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Nancy Nordin; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Susan and Rick Linkwald; and nieces and nephews Eric Lee Nordin, Rachel and Bill Linkwald, and Erica Linkwald. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, the Winship Clinic of Emory University or to a charity of your choice. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. A graveside service was held Thursday, Aug. 11, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Martin Schneider 79, Dunwoody
Martin Schneider, age 79, of Dunwoody passed away Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. He was born in Dallas, Texas, the son of Harry and Sarah Schneider. He attended Southern Methodist University, graduating with a degree in industrial engineering. He became a sales representative for Mattel Toys at the company’s inception, rising to sales manager for the Southeast. As an auto racing enthusiast, he persuaded the company to sponsor a car in Trans Am racing, the Hot Wheels Camaro, which won its first race. He and his wife, Barbara, and sons, Eric and Hal, followed the car on the circuit, and the couple also attended Formula One racing. A family tradition was for Martin, Eric and Hal to get up early on the weekend to watch races shown on TV. Martin drove a Corvette for many years and later drove a BMW. Martin’s other interests were World War II military history, Winston Churchill, tennis and golf. He believed in physical fitness and worked out regularly on a punching bag and speed bag in the garage and at a gym. An active member of Temple Sinai, Martin and the late Judge Joel Feldman started a men’s club, which later became the Brotherhood. The group held breakfasts with speakers and a series of New Year’s Eve parties with dinner and dancing. He also volunteered with Temple Sinai’s USO group, organizing the volunteers and helping serve meals. He arranged for the Falcons cheerleaders to entertain the troops over the Christmas holidays and gave footballs to the troops to take on their missions. As a toy salesman, he organized the representatives from other toy companies to hold annual auctions of their samples to raise money for Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, now part of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Over several years the group raised enough to furnish a room. Martin delighted in his grandchildren, Nate, Andy and Evelyn Schneider, but unfortunately did not meet baby Addie. He could not decide on his grandfather name and said the children would name him. As Martin liked the “Rocky” movies, he’d call people with “Yo!” and that became his name. A family graveside service was held Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Ron Segal officiating, followed at Temple Sinai by a memorial service and shiva. Shiva also was held on Thursday at Barbara’s home with Rabbi Brad Levenberg officiating. Martin also will be missed by his daughtersin-law, Suzanne Schneider and Katherine Schneider, and nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Respect Sounds Right Our grandson, Zellik, saves his money. Birthday gifts, Chanukah gelt, allowance, random acts of kindness from family and friends — all of it gets put away for “something special,” which is determined by some sort of boy logic. No spontaneous purchases of candy or trendy T-shirts for this 10-year-old. We’re talking technology. I would like to attribute his laudable behavior to our oft-repeated admonition “Be careful with your money,” but I think it’s really Zellik’s natural practical personality. Zellik is a boy who looks before he leaps and who prefers to leap when the outcome looks 90 percent rosy. Then there’s that other pearl of wisdom we constantly repeat: “Be polite, no matter what.” I’m telling you this for a reason. Zellik earned $100 by selling several items through a consignment shop. He thought long and hard about saving or spending it, but, as it happened, fate stepped in. Our grandchildren and I were on our way to the latest “Star Trek” film, but we got stuck in traffic. We turned around, and as we headed home, the kids called out, “Let’s go to Target!” “Why not?” I thought; Target is often as entertaining as a movie. Granddaughter Miriam headed to the books and records; Zellik headed toward the tech aisles. He wanted to see how far his $100 windfall might take him, and I agreed that it was his money to spend however he chose. He spotted a set of gigantic, highquality, bright-green headphones, with some ancillary devices included. The posted price was $59.99, and Zellik told us that this superior item is usually more expensive. Miriam suggested that we walk around the store for a while, allowing Zellik to think about the purchase, giving me a chance to look at sale items and enabling her to explore the shoe section. A half-hour later, Zellik decided to buy the headphones. “They’re the last ones on the shelf,” he reasoned, “so I better get them now.” “Let’s go home and look on the Internet,” I suggested. “If they’re really such a great price, I’ll take you right back to Target to buy them.” Zellik is a sensible kid (see above). We rushed home, and Zellik was right. The best price on Internet sites was $69.99. Back we went. The headphones were still there,
and Zellik took them to the cashier. When she rang it up, we saw that, including tax, the total was nearly $75. Zellik and I looked at each other, and he explained to the cashier that the price on the shelf was different. She scanned the package again and again and came up with the same $69.99. “It says $59.99 on the shelf,” Zellik said calmly. “I’m sure.” Now, remember, Zellik had $100,
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Zellik sports the headphones he was destined to own.
so he could have paid more, but there was a principle here. “Can somebody please check?” he asked, polite as can be. I wasn’t optimistic, but whatever the outcome, a teaching moment was upon us, and I had to let it play out. The cashier called the manager. She listened to Zellik’s story and followed him to the shelf where the headphones had been displayed. We didn’t know what the manager would do, and we were concerned when she stepped behind the counter, took my credit card and canceled the sale. “The headphones were obviously in the wrong place,” the manager said, “but I don’t think you switched them. I’m going to accept your price.” Zellik was thrilled, and as a bonus he got a powerful lesson in customer service. On the way home, I told Zellik his good manners played a big part in the manager’s decision, and we agreed that she probably felt good about helping a kid. There were so many disparate pieces to the experience: the $100 bonanza, the missed movie, the mis-displayed, last set of headphones, Zellik’s patience, the sympathetic manager, the gift of a perfect teaching moment. I’m sure it was beshert, Zellik’s destiny, to own those headphones, so everything had to happen just as it did. ■
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By Chana Shapiro cshapiro@atljewishtimes.com
“School Terms”
By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Medium
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29. They’re in Rehovot? 30. School exams on the Avot? 32. Support the shul, e.g. 35. Black-eyed Rosh Hashanah item 36. Sorts (of Hasidim) 38. Breastplate item 41. Deborah or Hulda, e.g. 44. Letters that might run the Tikun app 45. When Norsemen violate the Second Commandment, he’s sometimes involved 47. ___ name (Waze tag) 48. Carmel Forest, for one 50. Postpone until after DOWN Shabbat, with “off” 1. Start of a holiday? 51. “Shawshank” triangle? 2. A Dead Sea dip might 52. Rambled on, like an soothe one overzealous rabbi 3. Sound made by many 54. Has faith roaming in Israel’s alleys 57. Some Shabbat table 4. Foot of one described in sides 3-Down 59. Judaica reference 5. Schluff sound publication: Abbr. 6. Loathes (like Netanyahu 60. Lug regarding the Iran deal) 62. ___-ran, like Bernie 7. Scarlett Johansson voiced Sanders one in “The Jungle Book” 64. Bristles in many a 8. Newman’s ___ cholent 9. Eradicates (Amalek) 65. Bubby might do it 10. Having one is good if 66. Like Jonah on the run Israel’s gas prices get too 69. Nahal center? high 70. Sat. morning talk 11. Talmidai Chachamim in 71. “Be a wise man ___ school? fool?” (Ecc. 2:19) 12. “If the Messiah came” 13. Age at which David LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION became king 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 O H S I R A A P P A S K 18. One is OK 13 14 15 16 S A E N E R A R E B I O for a “peaceful 17 18 19 20 E D L C G I H O N O R E D house” 21 22 23 24 H A F T O R A H T H R O N E 23. ___ HaZeh 25 26 27 28 24. “Seinfeld” S L I M E I R E M A N S 29 30 31 uncle A S E R E T H A G G A D A H 32 33 25. Need to B A S E C O M E I N 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 pay back an U H S I N S P E D C H I 41 42 43 (interest-free) S C O P U S A R A D 44 45 46 47 48 loan H A T I K V A H C A R U S O 49 50 51 26. Total in A Y I N E N O A R Y E H 52 53 54 55 56 Ginsberg and R E T A I L H A V D A L A H Kagan’s group 57 I L L I C I 58T 59R I O 60E N E 61 62 63 64 28. El Al B E E E S H C A R S A R 65 66 67 68 competitor, S T Y H R S T H E O T S 31 once AUGUST 19 ▪ 2016
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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EDUCATION
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torah Fun va'etchanan 5776 Moshe davens to HaShem to let him enter the land of Israel, a request that is denied. However, HaShem does show Moshe the entire land. Moshe continued his last speech to the Jewish people including not to “add or subtract” anything from the Torah, to study and perform mitzvot and that HaShem is close to them whenever they call. Moshe mentions that HaShem commanded him to teach the Jewish people the laws. We are not to make a god of any image, animal or constellation. The Jewish people are warned that the failure to follow HaShem will lead to exile from the land. The Jews are reminded of the awesome miracle that HaShem spoke to all of them and they were brought out from the midst of another nation. In short, HaShem has shown Himself and His wonders to the Jewish people. The Ten Commandments are reviewed and Moshe recites the first two parts of the Shema. .
WORD FIND
Can you discover the Secret Message? Find and circle the bold, italicized words from the Torah summary in the Word Find. Write the unused Word Find letters in the spaces below to spell the Secret Message. Have Fun!
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TEFILLIN
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CROSSWORD Complete the crossword by translating each Hebrew 2 3 4
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ACROSS 3. ( שש5:13) 4. ( אהב5:10) 7. ( עבד3:24) 8. ( ראה3:28) DOWN 1. ( קרא4:7) 2. ( גבורה3:24) 5. ( אזן5:1) 6. ( שנא4:42)
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What are tefillin to be:
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ESINSWT _______ ATBSBHA _______
Hint: The Ten Commandments
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