Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIX NO. 16, August 31, 2023

FALL FREEBIES

The first 15,000 fans through the gates at Truist Park can look forward to these amazing giveaways for the month of September!

MICHAEL HARRIS II MONEY MIKE HEADBAND

ANDRUW JONES NUMBER RETIREMENT BOBBLEHEAD

PRESENTED BY

RONALD ACUÑA JR. BAT FLIP BOBBLEHEAD

SEPT 29 SEPT 26

PUBLISHER

MICHAEL A. MORRIS michael@atljewishtimes.com

MANAGING PUBLISHER & EDITOR

KAYLENE LADINSKY kaylene@atljewishtimes.com

EDITORIAL

Associate Editor & Website Editor SASHA HELLER sasha@atljewishtimes.com

Staff Writer & Proofreader

FRAN PUTNEY fran@atljewishtimes.com

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE

BOB BAHR

CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER DAVID OSTROWSKY DEBBIE DIAMOND JAN JABEN-EILON MIKE WEINROTH MARCIA CALLER JAFFE

ADVERTISING

Senior Account Manager & Team Supervisor MICHAL BONELL michal@atljewishtimes.com

Account Manager ILYSSA KLEIN ilyssa@atljewishtimes.com

Account Manager ELIZABETH LANGFELDER elizabeth@atljewishtimes.com

CREATIVE & DESIGN

Creative Director LILLI JENNISON lilli@atljewishtimes.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Events and Public Relations Coordinator KATIE GAFFIN katie@atljewishtimes.com

Atlanta Jewish Connector Coordinator DIANA COLE Diana@atljewishtimes.com

GENERAL OFFICE

Administrative Assistant REBECCA LABANCA info@atljewishtimes.com 404-883-2130

Rosh Hashanah Art Contest 2023

Sam Olens Talks Trump’s Fulton County Indictment

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

The world need look no further than Atlantan Sam Olens when it comes to explaining the recent Donald Trump indictment in Georgia accusing him of tampering with the presidential election.

Olens, now partner at Dentons law firm, is the former attorney general of Georgia, and a member of Etz Chaim Synagogue. Here, Olens elucidated his thinking and even compared some aspects of this case to the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal.

Olens has been a sought-after expert in delving into the various angles of the Fulton County indictment and its future process several times on NBC/ MSNBC and “The Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer on CNN. He seeks to provide insight on Georgia law and its criminal process in a legal - as compared to - political manner.

In general, the questions from the various media organizations have centered on RICO, the Racketeer Influenced

and Corrupt Organizations Act, and the numerous allegations and counts referenced in the indictment.

Olens explained, “RICO, originally

intended to counter organized crime, has since been applied to persons and groups, otherwise known as a criminal enterprise, who sought to commit or committed at least two acts of racketeering activity. Georgia’s RICO statute is broader than the federal act and permits a prosecutor to combine direct and indirect acts into a charge of racketeering.”

In the case of the Fulton County indictment, it references, among other things, alleged efforts to pressure executive and legislative elected officials and poll workers, preparing and making false statements, testimony, and documents (oral, written, and filed), the use of alternate electors, breaches of a voting system, and conspiracy to commit election fraud.

Olens said, “The indictment is very broad to include 19 total defendants, 30 unindicted co-conspirators and 41 criminal charges, alleged to have occurred in several locales. This is a fact pattern that can be a benefit and detriment to prosecutors and defense attorneys alike, both pretrial, during trial and on appeal. Even if this case were tried before the November 2024 election, the subsequent appellate process will be lengthy. Two national examples of this timeline are the former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay and former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell cases. Closer to home we can consider the Atlanta Public Schools cheating scandal.”

Initial motions will include attempts to move the case to federal court as compared to state court, wherein it will be asserted that the alleged wrongful acts were under color of federal rather than

state law, as well as to seek to dismiss the indictment entirely.

Olens sheds light, “The attempt to remove the case to federal court, with a possible jury pool of residents residing in more than 60 counties in north Georgia as compared to solely Fulton County, would still be prosecuted by the Fulton County District Attorney and still be a state criminal case.

These motions, along with numerous others, will inevitably delay the actual trial of the case, making the federal case in D.C. the probable initial case to be tried. As a president cannot pardon a conviction based on violations of state law, one benefit of the indictment in Georgia from a prosecutor’s perspective is that the convicted party must wait five years after his sentence is served before being eligible to apply for a pardon."

In Olens’ opinion, the indictment of a former president and members of his administration, along with numerous Georgia and other out-of-state defendants alleged to have been involved in a racketeering enterprise, is too serious a legal and public occurrence to simply respond in a partisan manner with talking points in hand.

He concluded, “Noting the level of distrust of the media in general, to overtly include social media, I have sought to limit my remarks to the law and not partisan political diatribes. Thankfully, the hosts of the shows I have appeared on have fully respected my desire to limit my comments to Georgia law and the criminal process. Communications by other media to respond to political questions have not been accepted.”

VALLEY HALL DRIVE

Sam Olens is partner at Dentons law firm and the former attorney general of Georgia. He has appeared on several media outlets analyzing Georgia law and the criminal process. He eschews political discussion.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. president Donald Trump speaks as he visits the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 12, in Des Moines, Iowa // Photo Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

Majesty and Splendor Meet Tradition

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Years of planning, designing, fundraising, vision, and devotion led to the culmination and formal presentation of the remodeled sanctuary at Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Peachtree Battle Avenue on Aug. 20.

Synagogue president Gary Alembik said, “We have taken elements from our past and made them part of our present and future.”

Alembik continued, “AA’s first synagogue building on Gilmer Street had its bimah in the middle with wooden pews facing it from both the center and along the walls. Today, our new bimah is in the center of the sanctuary, just a few steps up from the congregation around it. What delights me most is how we’ve been able to honor our historic roots while creating a space that will foster the culture and values of the congregation we are becoming.”

The new design provides for greater light by bringing in natural sunlight through the dome which originally fea-

tured an opaque cover. In-the-round seating connects congregants, and still retains the stained-glass windows, along with elevated sound quality. The new

space also shifts to rearrange the seating to accommodate layouts from a circle of chairs with a candlelit center, room for dancing, and space for children to a set

up for thousands attending the Eizenstat Lecture.

The dedication weekend began with Shabbat dinner and services, Saturday

City Council members Mary Norwood and Matt Westmoreland were on hand to salute Ahavath Achim’s accomplishments.

An overhead view of the newly renovated sanctuary at Ahavath Achim // Photo Courtesy of Chris Savas

services and the dedication at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20, with 275 attendees. Senior Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal began with a D’var Torah and heartfelt appreciation for the committees and volunteers responsible for the construction and execution of the new sanctuary.

Rabbi Rosenthal acknowledged the efforts of Dr. Mark Stern, joking that Stern “is still picking out paint samples and wood choices” and that he “operates out of a place of love.”

Executive Director Barry Herman received the longest standing ovation for his contributions which were “equivalent to running three different companies concurrently.”

Alembik, alongside program chairs Nikki Novotny and Adam Hirsch, shared reflections about the mission and progress of the synagogue.

Eliot Meadow, vice president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, praised AA’s commitment to justice and empathy. “Ahavath Achim is a shining example of our thriving Conservative movement.”

A bubbly and energetic group of Kesher students were accompanied by Rabbi Sam Blustin who passed the microphone to uplifted voices. Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and violinist Coleen Dieker were visiting professionals.

Congregants Sarah Cohen and Shelly Dollar relayed how the new space accommodates various levels of abilities: addressing mobility concerns with automatic door openers, wide aisles, ramps -- which can be raised or lowered, plus technology to aid the hearing impaired.

Sara Papier and Bethany Taylor Smith relished the future and how children are engaging.

Stern then switched the agenda to welcome the Czech Torah No. 1335, which had been stationed in the synagogue museum hallway for the past 46 years, as he traced its circuitous route from outside Prague (in the mid-1800s) to England in 1963, onto AA in 1977, and sponsored by the late Ruth and Sol Singer. The Torah was sent to Miami for restoration, and later, AA members got to participate in its "letter by letter” writing.

Congregants Gail (whose father’s estate of Leon Goldstein bequeathed this restoration gift)) and Lyons Heyman escorted the Torah to the awaiting ark which had also just been refurbished by Miriam Strickman Levitas.

All past board and Sisterhood presidents came to the bimah to recite a blessing before a record-setting lengthy shofar blowing by former president Mark Cohen. A rousing, circling horah ended the ceremony.

City Council member and former mayoral candidate, Mary Norwood, told the AJT, “What a privilege it has been here today to share in this celebration and dedication. The congregation is such an important part of Atlanta and we both [alongside Council member Matt Westmoreland] commend this outstanding achievement.”

Video messages touting the occasion are available on the AA website from Mayor Andre Dickens, Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Southeast Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon. ì

Ahavath Achim vice president Mark Stern managed the construction process // Photo Courtesy of Chris Savas

End of the Road for Etgar 36 Summer Bus Trips

By Dave Schechter

The wheels on the Etgar 36 bus have stopped going ‘round and ‘round.

Over 20 summers, Billy Planer took more than 600 teenagers on a multiweek, cross-country journey, exploring history, culture, contentious issues — all the while teaching the value of listening for the sake of conversation rather than confrontation.

This summer’s was the last. “This was maybe the perfect summer. It felt like pitching a perfect game,” Planer, Etgar’s founder and director, said, relaxing in his “office,” a Decatur coffee shop.

Etgar’s multi-day civil rights history tours, meanwhile, continue to grow in popularity.

The name Etgar 36 combines the Hebrew word for “challenge” and the “double chai” of being Jewish and American, as well as “realizing that our lives are connected to other people,” Planer explained.

“The whole trip is based on, you’ve got to open yourself up and be vulnerable. They’re sharing their thoughts and their feelings and they’re seeing heavy stuff. Every kid loses it throughout the trip. You can’t go to the Oklahoma City bombing memorial at night and not be ripped apart,” he said.

The COVID pandemic forced cancellation of the 2020 trip, making 2023’s the 20th. One of this year’s passengers calculated that the trip covered some 10,500 miles. Multiplied by 20 years, that would be 210,000 miles (for reference, the moon is 238,900 miles from Earth).

Planer, 56, attended the Hebrew Academy and Ahavath Achim Synagogue, where he later served as youth director for 11 years and developed the prototype for the summer trip.

One inspiration was the 1993 book “The Majic Bus/An American Odyssey,” historian Douglas Brinkley’s account of a six-week, cross-country bus trip with university students, with an emphasis on history and culture. “I read that, and I said, ‘I want to do that,’” Planer recalled.

Between 30-40 teens, almost all Jewish, annually took seats in the bus. [Disclosure: The author’s oldest son was a passenger 15 years ago.]

Jon Mitchell, now 36, was on the first trip, in 2003. “Going on a cross-country search for the soul of America at that age definitely got me hooked on that search, but it was also just the idea of starting an alternative to the institutional main-

stream that stuck with me,” he said. “I was very conscious even at the time that we were on the first trip, and that Billy had just had a crazy idea and wanted to try it — and that he wanted to be as far from ‘the usual’ in the Jewish world as I did. I sort of gave myself permission after this to be an unconventional adult, not just an outsider kid. It was very formative.”

This year’s trip began June 25 in Atlanta, and the next day in Alabama, with a focus on the Civil Rights movement. The bus rolled through the South, the lower Rocky Mountain states, and the Southwest, before reaching California the second week of July. The teens (minus several who dropped off after the West Coast) flew from San Francisco to Chicago, where they caught up with the bus, which had gone ahead while they explored the Bay Area. The second leg took

them to the East Coast, wrapping up July 31 in Washington, D.C.

History lessons were imparted at, among other places: the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala.; the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where the Rev. Martin Luther King was assassinated; Dealey Plaza in Dallas, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated; Tulsa’s Greenwood District, where in 1921 a white mob killed hundreds of African-Americans and burned “the Black Wall Street;” Grant Park in Chicago, site of anti-Vietnam War protests during the 1968 Democratic national convention; Kent State University, where Ohio National Guard troops killed four students in 1970; and Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, where the United States was founded in 1776.

Over the years, the teens heard from abortion rights advocates and anti-abor-

tion activists; gun rights advocates and a father whose son was slain in the Columbine High School massacre; opponents and supporters of “marriage equality;” liberal and conservative groups with differing views on economic opportunity and wealth disparity; J Street and AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) about Israel; members of Congress (including Sen. Jon Ossoff, who, as a teenager, created Etgar’s first website); and, on numerous other subjects, from people across a spectrum of political, religious, and economic philosophies.

“We have a bedrock of issues, but this year we added AI [artificial intelligence] and [AI-driven language processing tool]. We also added psychedelics,” Planer said.

Planer prepped the teens before each session, discussing the topic and the speaker, always reminding them: Listen to understand rather than to win an ar-

The empty Etgar 36 bus at the end of the last cross-country teen bus trip. Etgar 36 teens visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., at night.

This year’s Etgar 36 teens at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Etgar 36 teens took in the play, “Parade,” about the Leo Frank case, at a Broadway theater.

gument.

“What I’ve heard anecdotally, a lot, from parents, that what they appreciate the most is at the end of all this, their kids are not scared to show up on a college campus,” Planer said. “Go to a Jewish parent. What are Jewish parents so afraid of on the college campus? Palestinian kids. What do I hear from my alumni parents? ‘My kid walked right up to the Palestinian organization and said, let’s talk.’ They’re not afraid of them. They don’t see them as the enemy. They see them as just somebody with a different point of view.”

The cost — $5,000 in 2003, $9,000 this year — rose with hotel prices and the expense of operating the bus. With scholarships, “We never had a kid not go due to costs,” Planer said.

Planer had a front row seat to the lives of teenagers, who today “are more connected to information and access to people and ideas, so kids on the trips now are doing way more research before they’re talking to somebody,” he said. “They feel their opinion matters.”

Connecting that “double chai” of being Jewish and American, Planer said, “I think they like hearing that Judaism has something to say” about issues important to them. “They’re not making the argument that ‘this is Jewish and that’s not,’ which is what Etgar is all about, not mak-

ing that break.”

Planer’s perspective also changed. “The older generation bemoans them and their phones,” but he sees adults likewise fixated. “I used to think, when I would see four kids sitting together and they’re all on their phones, I was like, you are all being rude to each other. They didn’t see that. So, I had to shift my mind to be like, it’s different ways. There is no one way to socialize.”

Today’s teens are coping with a lost year of in-person education and socialization. “I don’t think we understand the impact of COVID, yet,” Planer said. “I think all kids have slid back a year, emotionally, and stability-wise. I think it’s mammoth and I think we’re seeing the tip of the iceberg, for the anxiety that we don’t even acknowledge. And, by the way, I think it’s adults, too.”

Planer also observed Jewish teens “plugging back into religion, but not in the old school way . . . although more of the kids on the last few trips have wanted to go to synagogue on Friday nights,” which he attributes to the Jewish camp experience. “That intrigues me, because Etgar is not a religious trip.” That said, varying forms of Jewish worship were part of every Shabbat on the road.

Planer expects to miss “the intensity of . . . having the important discussions.

It’s being with a group of vital young adults that are open to having uncomfortable encounters and learning from it and being part of it.” He’s forged friendships with many of the speakers who met with the teens.

As he talked on a Tuesday, Planer was eager to hit the road again that Sunday — to attend Bruce Springsteen concerts in the Northeast. He has seen more than 100, including a couple that coincidentally fit into summer bus trips. “I’ve got to support them. He’s been waiting for me to show up in Europe. That’s why he keeps going, I’m convinced,” Planer joked.

The summer trips are one part of Etgar. Since 2004, Etgar also has taken more than 30,000 people on three- and four-day Civil Rights tours. More than 50 are scheduled through the end of this year and more than 70 are booked for 2024.

Depending on the schedule, itineraries take in Atlanta, Birmingham, Selma, and Montgomery, home of the Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Museum and Memorial to lynching victims.

These trips have attracted congregations from around the country and an increasing number of Jewish federations and organization boards, as well as groups of friends joining together.

Planer credits Etgar’s full-time staff

and summer assistants for making the whole thing work.

In a valedictory note on the teen trips, Planer wrote on Facebook:”To watch an idea that I had play out in real life and have it be engaged with by so many people has surpassed my wildest dreams.”

One teen, after dinner with his grandparents at a New York City restaurant, wrote in the 2023 trip online journal: “I couldn’t love my grandparents more, but I disagree with them quite a bit regarding politics. Yet we had a great political conversation for the first time in so long, and I used the skills I learned on Etgar to help myself have the discussion.”

A parent’s tribute on Facebook read: “This is the greatest gift of 20 years of Etgar 36; teaching teens (including our son) to listen to both sides of an issue. They don’t need to agree with the ‘other side,’ but they need to have the courtesy and respect to listen to the other side, and have a civil discourse. I truly don’t know if anyone else is trying to impart this lesson on teens. They certainly don’t get it in the standard school system. I wonder who/what will fill the vacuum for future generations of teens once you ‘get off the bus’? I certainly hope someone does. If not, maybe someday one of your young protégés may decide to get back on the bus.” ì

Etgar 36 teens outside Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Billy Planer (right) with Atlantan Jon Mitchell (left) on the first Etgar 36 bus trip in 2003.

Billy Planer in 2023 at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Jewish HomeLife Closes Cohen Home

By Fran Putney

After years of trying to make ends meet at The Cohen Home, Jewish HomeLife closed the 42-unit Johns Creek senior assisted living community on May 31. All 29 Cohen Home residents and even all staff were offered relocation to JHL’s other assisted living property, Berman Commons, in Dunwoody.

“The decision, from a management perspective, and then to go and have to get board support for the business decision to close The Cohen Home, was very emotional for this organization,” said Jewish HomeLife president and CEO Jeffrey Gopen, who emphasized that no other JHL properties are closing. The Cohen Home “had great culture there, great families, great residents, and truly was a special property in many, many ways. It was very hard to make this decision,” he added.

The effects of the COVID pandemic, experienced by the entire senior care industry, played a significant part in the home’s financial troubles. For more than two years, the pandemic and subsequent

lockdown made it nearly impossible for the facility to replace the dwindling population of home residents.

According to JHL’s chief marketing and communications officer, Shari Bayer, very few people wanted to move into a

community based on a virtual tour, and even when regulations permitted in-person tours again, very few people toured during the pandemic years. Only families in crisis pursued moving loved ones into a senior living building, while others sim-

ply learned to manage for as long as possible, she explained.

In truth, according to Gopen, The Cohen Home has always been a challenge to keep financially afloat due to its small size. Jewish HomeLife, which operates a network of senior care facilities, including Zaban Tower and Berman Commons, as well as rehabilitation and hospice services, acquired the Johns Creek community in 2009 from another Jewish nonprofit that was struggling to keep it open.

JHL did a multimillion-dollar upgrade project in 2017 in order to keep the facility as attractive as possible in Atlanta’s highly competitive assisted living market. For a short time prior to the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020, the home enjoyed as much as a 95 percent occupancy rate. But small properties, under 100 units, are expensive to operate because they still require the higher salaries of the upper management roles needed for a well-run, high-quality community, Gopen explained.

“The math for small buildings doesn’t work well to begin with,” said Gopen. “For us, with 42 units to get close to

Jewish HomeLife past board chair Steven L. Berman and current board vice chair Candy Berman, namesakes for Berman Commons, walked the Torah around the lobby area so all the residents and families could see and touch it.

break even, we had to be close to capacity every single day.” He added, “It created a very big issue and ultimately a very big financial hole for this organization. Though we are a mission based not-forprofit, you have to still look at sustainability long term.”

Now the 5.5-acre Johns Creek property on Jones Bridge Road is on the market. Although Jewish HomeLife had quiet conversations in advance with leadership in the Jewish community, including Jewish Family & Career Services, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and several synagogues about offering the property to another Jewish organization, Gopen said for various reasons nothing materialized.

Cushman & Wakefield is listing the property for an undisclosed amount. Said Gopen, “I am happy with the offers coming in because that money will also support JHL programming and capital needs in the future.”

Gopen said planning and great care was taken to transition Cohen Home’s residents and staff to Berman Commons, a larger facility consisting of 90 units total – 58 assisted living and 32 memory care units. Due to the same decline resulting from the pandemic, that building could accommodate the 24 Cohen Home residents who chose to relocate to Berman Commons.

“Everybody was able to tour, look at units they wanted. We put in place movers, and everything was packed and unpacked. We made it as painless and

seamless as possible for residents,” said Gopen, at no cost to families.

Additionally, 60 percent of Cohen Home’s staff took jobs at Berman Com mons, helping to fill open positions and eliminate the need to hire agency person nel, a much less desirable way to staff, added Bayer.

Now, resident occupancy at Berman Commons exceeds industry average, ac cording to Gopen. The more populated building exudes a more active environ ment, which, combined with recent man agement changes, makes the senior com munity even easier to market.

According to Berman Commons executive director Denise Richards, the facility has added a new chef, director of nursing, and additional team members to facilitate more engaging activities. They have also expanded dining options with the addition of a Kosher-style menu (no pork, no shellfish) alongside the exist ing strict Kosher menu. The nearly nineyear old building is also scheduled for renovations and freshening up.

Cohen Home residents relocating to Berman Commons were warmly wel comed into their new home. On June 2, residents and staff celebrated the joining together of the two communities with a family Shabbat dinner and Torah dedication ceremony during which Berman Commons namesake Steven L. Berman and JHL CEO Gopen walked the Torah around the room.

The Cohen Home Torah cover was donated in 2002 by Chabad of Alpharetta’s Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz and his late wife, Rashi. The Berman Commons Torah was originally housed at The William Breman Jewish Home before coming to Berman Commons at its 2015 grand opening.

The Torah ceremony idea originated with former Cohen Home resident Rachelle Lipman. Lipman commented that evening about how positive and welcoming the move to Berman Commons has been. “We were all moving to this beautiful new place. It just made sense for us to bring the Torah with us. It’s part of our Cohen Home family, too,” she said.

During the ceremony, Gopen introduced the organization’s new director of Jewish life, Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla, who delivered a short D’Var Torah about the joyous occasion of dedicating a Torah. Following the ceremony, residents and families enjoyed a Shabbat sing-along and a traditional meal of brisket, chicken, matzoh ball soup, and dessert. ì

Atlanta

"I absolutely LOVE everyone at Berman Commons!

My dad transferred there from The Cohen Home (also part of JHL) and both places have been so good to him! I’ve had him at two other facilities before this, and let me tell you, you want your loved one here. The staff truly cares about the residents. They take time to get to know them, learning their likes and dislikes, and working closely with the family Al l the CNA’s have loved on my dad and it makes my heart so happy that I know he is well taken care of there. I highly recommend coming to Berman Commons!"

Noelle Robinson, Resident Family June 2023, Google Review

Jewish Times freelancer Susanne Katz Karlick contributed to this report.

Larry Fascowitz said, “It was wonderful to see the warm and upbeat reception the new residents from the Cohen Home received from the staff and residents of Berman Commons. My mother was excited to see new residents coming in to make friends with. Overall, I was impressed with what a celebratory and energizing occasion it was.”

Final Plea Date set for Colon’s Alleged Murderer

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

Nearly 2 ½ years since popular fitness instructor Marlene D. Colon, 73, was brutally killed in her Sandy Springs house on Fawndale Way, the woman accused of her murder is scheduled to face a final plea hearing on Sept. 22.

According to court documents, a psychiatric evaluation has also been ordered for Chelci Chisholm, also known as Malka Padalon, who has been in custody since Sandy Springs police arrested her at Colon’s home on April 5, 2021. She was charged with murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Chisholm was born in Israel in 1962, according to her Israeli driver’s license.

Several court dates have been set and reset in the last few years, partly due to the COVID pandemic backing up the justice system. The trial date had been set for August 2022, and then rescheduled for February 2023. Chisholm has also been appointed several public defenders over the years, with the latest substitu-

tion of counsel notification posted July 21, 2023. The current public defender is Jennifer Lubinsky, who told the AJT that her office does not “comment on cases before, during or after” they represent clients.

When asked what “final plea” gener-

ally entails, Lubinsky said that “usually it means the last day to enter a negotiated plea.” She also stated that a psychiatric evaluation is not unusual. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Joseph M. Browning is named in court documents as the doctor who will conduct the evaluation, during which he will be “allowed to bring testing materials including pencils and laptop into the jail and will require that Ms. Chisholm will not be handcuffed.”

The original judge assigned to the murder case, Judge Ural Glanville, was promoted and has been replaced by Judge Scott McAfee who was expected to take the bench at the September hearing. However, it is possible that McAfee could also be replaced in the Colon case after he was assigned to hear the charges against former President Donald J. Trump and his 18 co-conspirators, alleging they tried to interfere with the Georgia vote in 2020.

Referring to the repeated postponements and replacements, Colon’s son, Jonathan, noted that his family has been “unsettled for the delay in justice. We want justice for our mom so she can rest in peace, and we can move on with our lives.”

Marlene Colon was a popular aqua aerobics and Zumba instructor at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and the Breman Jewish Home. Her license plate read “ZUMBA4U.”

According to Sandy Springs police,

Chisholm had been living in Colon’s house for a few weeks at the time of the murder. Police reported that Colon was hit with a blunt object. Sandy Springs police found the body of Colon, and Chisholm, at the house after receiving a 911 call. Chisholm has been in police custody since she was arrested. Her first court appearance was on April 7, 2021, when she was denied bond. She pled not guilty in front of Judge Ural Glanville in a brief arraignment Jan. 31, 2022.

Court documents indicate that Chisholm had given police a Duluth address where she had lived until a few years ago with an ex-boyfriend. The house has since been sold. But it was in that Duluth house, in December 2017, that Chisholm allegedly attacked her boyfriend with whom she owned the house. According to Gwinnett County documents, Chisholm was charged with misdemeanor battery and simple assault. Those court documents indicate that Chisholm forfeited her bond and did not appear at a bench trial scheduled in October 2018.

Chisholm had apparently left the Atlanta area subsequently, returning to Israel, before coming back to Atlanta not long before Colon’s murder.

In addition to Marlene Colon’s two sons, Jonathan and Loren, she is survived by grandchildren, Matthew and Julianne, and more than a dozen first cousins. ì

Son, Jonathan Colon (left), with his mother and brother, Loren, says the family wants justice for his mother.

Murder suspect Chelci Chisholm is also known as Malka Padalon.

Marlene Colon was a popular aqua aerobics and Zumba instructor.

Can You Dig It? Unearthing Our Past to Help Shape Our Future

The study of archaeology is naturally associated with deepening our understanding of the past. However, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) increasingly believe that investment in this field can be just as important for our understanding of the contemporary world –and preparing us for the future.

Leveraging Israel’s unparalleled access to ancient sites, researchers and scientists at the Hebrew University are working to answer critical questions about how human behavior and our physical makeup has changed over time.

The research brings together experts from multiple disciplines including medicine, archaeology, geography, history, geology, chemistry, and statistics to introduce highly original and potentially groundbreaking answers to a wide variety of pressing questions. The objective is to understand what existed in the past, what has changed, and what may lie ahead.

One of the most important breakthroughs in the field occurred in 2014, when Hebrew University Professors Liran Carmel and Eran Meshorer collaborated on a pioneering tool that gives researchers the ability to study the genetic composition of people who lived thousands of years ago. Follow-up studies by the research team revealed that hundreds of these genes behave differently in modern humans as compared to

their ancient predecessors. Of critical importance for modern science and health, the studies showed key differences in how our brains develop today versus the past and how that impacts the onset and development of neurological diseases and disorders like Alzheimer’s, autism, and schizophrenia.

The remarkable power of analyzing genetic material that has been inaccessible for thousands of years took a further step forward when that same team was able to reconstruct the face of an ancient girl, based entirely on DNA extracted from archaeological excavations. Offering the modern world, a dramatic glimpse of a face from over 70,000 years ago, Prof. Carmel and Prof. Meshorer’s accomplishments were awarded as the “People’s Choice” in the Breakthrough of the Year Contest of the prestigious periodical Science.

As Prof. Meshorer explains, “DNA not only stores the information required to build and operate

our bodies, but also records our genetic past and can survive for hundreds of thousands of years. The DNA extracted from archaeological sites are then compared to that of modern humans and apes, an extremely complex and lengthy process which results in our ability to reconstruct our past and answer questions such as: how did we become what we are today; how did illnesses of modern societies emerge; and what might this mean for preventing or even treating such illnesses?”

Prof. Carmel says that perhaps the most significant lesson that emerges from their research is the need for academics and researchers from various fields to work together: “These examples show how collaboration among multiple and diverse disciplines leads to scientific breakthroughs.”

Much of the scientific potential necessary for these breakthroughs demands access to the archaeological

data that are only available in places with as rich an ancient human history as Israel.

For more than a century, teams at Hebrew University have initiated some of the country’s most important archeological digs, including the two in northern Israel where the ancient DNA was found. As Prof. Erella Hovers, Head of the Prehistoric Archaeology Department at the university says, “This discovery of ancient DNA positions us at the forefront of ancient DNA research. The materials that our archaeologists have unearthed, including various bones and teeth, help us reconstruct our own past and better understand how they relate to the people living in the region today.”

For more information, please contact AFHU National Director of Development at southeast@afhu.org or 561.948.3342.

Paid Content by American Friends of the Hebrew University

At Atlanta Hearing Associates, we are committed to helping and guiding our patients on their Hearing Health Journey. Armed with the latest hearing technology, we will help you reconnect with the world around you so you can get back to doing what you love.

Anniversary of Leo Frank’s Death Remembered

By Mike Weinroth

In the summer heat on Aug. 17 in Marietta, more than 50 Atlanta-area Jews gathered for a memorial service and Kaddish on the 108th anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank.

Participants included historians, citizens of Marietta and Atlanta, clergy, and news outlets.

In a small, landscaped garden adjacent to Highway 120 is a large bronze tablet that was erected in 2018 by the Georgia Historical Society, the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, and Temple Kol Emeth.

The garden is bounded on one side by I-75 and a “Peach Pass” corridor added to the recently widened interstate. On the other side of the garden is Frey Gin Road. This property was owned by W. J. Frey, who was a former sheriff of Marietta. It was on Frey Gin Road that Leo Frank was lynched from a tree. Hundreds of people gathered at the time to see his hanging corpse.

Among the dignitaries attending the Frank Memorial Service were Rabbis Steven Lebow, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Kol Emeth; Daniel Dorsch, Congregation Etz Chaim; Alexandria Shuval-Weiner, Temple Beth Tikvah; Pamela Gottfried, Temple Kol Emeth; Jason Holz, Kehillat Chaim, Daniel Alter, Kol Emeth; Albert Slomovitz and Jonathon Adler, of Etz Chaim; and Cantor Blake Singer, Temple Kol Emeth.

Robert Wittenstein of the Anti-Defamation League stated that Frank’s murder was a “hate crime.” He also reminded the audience that just this past week the Atlanta Jewish Federation offices and The Breman Museum were evacuated due to a bomb threat and that antisemitism is alive and well all over the country. Wittenstein also stated that Leo Frank is the only known Jew in the U.S. to be lynched. Additionally, more than 500 African American men were lynched in Georgia over a 90year period.

Robert’s father, Charles Wittenstein, and Dale Schwartz, both attorneys for the ADL, drafted a pardon for Leo Frank in 1983. Unfortunately, this pardon was not approved by the Pardons and Parole Board. Ultimately, in 1986, with mounting pressure on the Pardons and Parole Board, a posthumous pardon was granted. It did not pardon Leo Frank for the murder, but it pardoned him because the state of Georgia failed to protect him while in their custody.

Chuck Marcus, a grand nephew of Frank’s wife, Lucille Selig, commented that he remembered his great-aunt clearly. She never hid the fact that she was Leo

Frank’s widow. She never remarried and lived by herself on Peachtree Street until her death in 1959.

Philip Goldstein’s grandparents had a general merchandise store and shoe repair shop off Marietta Square around 1912. After Governor Slaton commuted Frank’s sentence to life in prison, an angry crowd began to form outside the Goldstein store. Fearful for what might happen, the Goldsteins rushed out of their store with their two children and a sister-in-law. They immediately got on a streetcar that would take them to Atlanta. The crowd began rocking the streetcar, but a gentleman outside got into the car and motioned the driver to leave.

Rabbi Lebow stated, “It is possible that even if we can’t individually change the entire world, maybe we can take some broken part of the universe and make it

whole again. Somehow, in some way, if we could clear the name of Leo Frank, an innocent man, then that small portion of the universe would finally be righted.”

This memorial event brought a diverse group together from different

areas of Atlanta and Marietta. It also reminded participants that though we have problems in our state and nation, we are fortunate to live peacefully together. The program ended with the audience singing “God Bless America.” ì

Leo Frank Lynching Memorial Plaque

Near this location on August 17, 1915, Leo M. Frank, the Jewish Superintendent of the National Pencil Company in Atlanta, was lynched for the murder of thirteenyear-old Mary Phagan, a factory employee. A highly controversial trial, fueled by societal tensions and anti-Semitism, resulted in a guilty verdict in 1913. After Governor John M. Slaton commuted his sentence from death to life in prison, Frank was kidnapped from the state prison in Milledgeville and taken to Phagan’s hometown of Marietta where he was hanged before a local crowd. Without addressing guilt or innocence, and in recognition of the state’s failure to either protect Frank or bring his killers to justice, he was granted a posthumous pardon in 1986.

Several news organizations prepare for the program.

Signage describing the Frank trial in 1913 and his hanging in August of 1915 // Photos by Mike Weinroth

More than 50 community members attended the memorial and Kaddish.

Clergy leading the Mourner’s Kaddish. Rabbi Steve Lebow opens the memorial ceremony.

When you give to

We are JewishATL

Nur Kosher Kitchen Scores 100 on Reinspection

By Debbie Diamond

Nur Kosher Kitchen received a score of 100 on its recent reinspection by the Georgia Department of Health on Aug. 10.

After receiving a failing score in July, the restaurant owners, Eli Hazut and David Razon, were determined to turn around the situation and obtain another 100 score, which they had received earlier in the spring. According to Hazut, he was unaware of the many rules required by the State of Georgia and had been out of the country during the July inspection.

Upon his return from Israel, Hazut and Razon took a food safety management course, along with Ori Levi, the restaurant manager. Levi also took courses in food and beverage management, as well as in food and temperature specifications, to learn more about the guidelines.

“We implemented all the recommendations. We also dismissed three employees who did not follow our directions and issued warnings to two others. We are serious about food safety and committed to maintaining the highest standards in our kitchen. Our customers are important, and we want them to continue enjoying our delicious food,” said Hazut.

In moving forward, Hazut has implemented several changes. First, he created detailed spread sheets for daily temperature checks of the food. He also stopped using the front oven, since it was heating up one of the cold areas. The restaurant also began preparing smaller batches of the popular cold appetizer salads, such as eggplant, corn, and beets, which are now stored in a different cold area. And Hazut indicated that a member of the ownership team is on-site for several hours each day to be certain all standards are

being met.

Manager Levi concurs with the changes. “We are serious about following all the rules and keeping a very close check on temperatures. We are separating all the meats, keeping them in a different refrigerator. Even the washed and unwashed vegetables are stored sepa-

rately now, among other changes,” said Levi.

During a recent Sunday night visit, Nur Kosher Kitchen was filled with families, couples and a large group hosting a birthday celebration. The appetizer salads and hummus plates were delicious, and the kofta and ribeye kabobs grilled

to perfection. The accompanying side dishes – Israeli salad, mashed potatoes, rice, French fries, and grilled vegetables were well seasoned and plentiful.

Nur Kosher Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, Friday 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and closed on Saturdays. ì

Fuchs family enjoys their Sunday night dinner.

Ori Levi, manager of Nur Kosher Kitchen

Ribeye steak kabob with rice and Israeli salad

Miri Hazut makes appetizer salads daily. Eli Hazut, owner of Nur Kosher Kitchen

GoFundMe Campaign set up for Capt. McBrayer

By Sasha Heller

On the morning of June 11, Capt. David McBrayer, of the DeKalb County Fire Department, was driving home after completing his 24-hour shift. While maneuvering down a two-lane, curvy road, with a posted speed limit of 35 mph, McBrayer’s Chevy Tahoe collided with a car that was speeding at 96 mph and being driven by a 20-year-old driver with no insurance.

McBrayer’s Tahoe was struck on the front driver’s side at an angle, which then caused the truck to roll over into a utility pole. The violent forces caused severe whiplash, which knocked McBrayer’s neck vertebrae out of place, pinching his spinal cord and damaging the C5 vertebrae.

The accident left McBrayer with paralysis from his chest down. The DeKalb County Fire Captain is currently receiving rehab at the Shepherd Center.

“David has feeling at the bottom of his spine, which is very good news,” said Allen McBrayer, David’s father. “He still can’t move his lower body, but since being at Shepherd, he can now feel us squeezing his thighs, calves, ankles, and feet.”

Allen McBrayer added that David can “lift his arms all the way up and…is able to slightly move the fingers on his left hand. We are thanking G-d for these improvements.”

Capt. McBrayer is set to return home on Sept. 12 and will then enter the Shepherd outpatient program where he will continue physical therapy for another eight weeks.

“We live north of Cumming, so it will be about an hour-and-a-half commute twice per day to get him back and forth to Shepherd for outpatient therapy,” Allen McBrayer said, adding that the family will likely need to purchase a handicap van to transport David to physical rehab.

To help cover expenses, the McBrayer family has established a GoFundMe campaign and is currently accepting donations. The web address of the GoFundMe campaign is www.gofundme.com/f/ help-capt-david-mcbrayer-on-his-pathto-recovery.

Allen McBrayer shared his gratitude to the greater Atlanta Jewish community for their continued support of David’s recovery and to the Shepherd Center’s medical team.

“We are very thankful for the Shepherd Center and the Shepherd family for creating such a great medical facility to

treat those with brain and spinal injuries,” he said. “We are [also] very grateful to the Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank Foundations for their generosity to the Shepherd Center. The Arthur Blank Family Housing facility that is currently being constructed is going to be such a wonderful addition for the family members who live out of town.”

McBrayer has spent the entirety of his 14-year career with the DeKalb County Fire Department and was promoted to captain five years ago. McBrayer has also been heavily involved with the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival.

“David has been the team captain of the War Wagon for the last four years,” said Jody Pollack, executive director of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival. “Men like Capt. McBrayer have been one of the reasons we invite First Responders to jour our festival and give people a chance to interact with them on a one-to-one basis to see them as people and friends. We consider Capt. McBrayer one of our friends and want to do what we can to help him as he continues through the recovery process.”

“Jody and Judy Pollack have been so kind to our family,” said Allen McBrayer. “We are so grateful for their visits with David. Jody and all the members of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival have been so awesome with their monetary contributions, shirts, caps, etc. We are very grateful for their kindness.”

Allen McBrayer concluded by giving a special thanks to Dr. Evan Winograd for

the emergency surgery he performed on David at Northside Gwinnett Hospital to reset the vertebrae in his neck back into place. ì

David McBrayer with his mother, Frances, in the Secret Garden at the Shepherd Center.

Fournette Visits Jewish Summer Camp for Kids with Cancer

By Jacob Gurvis/JTA

Super Bowl champion Leonard Fournette paid a surprise visit to a Jewish overnight camp for children with cancer, blood disorders and other chronic illnesses.

Fournette, who won a Super Bowl in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ran football drills, signed autographs, and danced with campers during his visit to

Today in Israeli History

Aug. 31, 2004: Bombs explode on two buses 100 yards apart on Beersheba’s main street, Ranger Boulevard. Hamas claims credit for the attack, which kills 16 Israelis, including a 3-year-old, and injures 100 others.

Sept. 1, 1967: The Arab League summit in Sudan ends with the signing of the Khartoum Resolutions, best known for the “Three Nos”: no recognition of Israel, no negotiations with Israel and no peace with Israel.

Sept. 2, 1935: An estimated 80,000 mourners, roughly a quarter of Mandatory Palestine’s Jewish population, line the streets of Jerusalem for the funeral of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who died the previous day.

Sept. 3, 2011: More than 450,000 Israelis take to the streets across the state to demand social justice and relief from the high cost of living in the March of the Million, believed to be Israel’s largest-yet demonstration.

Camp Simcha in Glen Sprey, N.Y. He arrived in a helicopter and revealed himself from under a fake tiger head to a room of cheering campers.

Camp Simcha and a sister camp, Camp Simcha Special, are operated by Chai Lifeline, a Jewish nonprofit serving families with children who have serious diseases. Chai means life in Hebrew, and Simcha means joy. The camps are open to kids ages 6-20.

“It’s been great, giving back to these kids,” Fournette said in a Camp Simcha video. “We all have our own problems, even myself, but the battle these kids face each and every day and for the rest of their lives, they’re the champions in our heart. This is what counts. This is the greatest thing I’ve done thus far, and I hope I can be a member here and come back anytime I’m able to come back.”

Fournette’s visit was organized by New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, according to a press release from the camp.

“Leonard Fournette may be a superstar on the field, but today he was a true superhero at Camp Simcha, where he stole the hearts of campers and staff,” Eichenstein said.

The cover of the Aug. 25, 1975, issue of Time magazine depicts Henry Kissinger trying to bring together Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

Sept. 4, 1975: In Geneva, Israel and Egypt sign the Second Disengagement Agreement (Sinai II), brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger through shuttle diplomacy that began in March 1975.

Sept. 5, 1972 : Black September terrorists kill two Israeli team members and take nine others hostage at the Summer Olympics in Munich. All nine hostages, as well as five of the eight terrorists, are killed in a German rescue attempt.

Sept. 6, 1840: Under international pressure, the Ottoman pasha frees the nine surviving Damascus Jews of 13 who were arrested and falsely accused of killing a Franciscan Capuchin friar and his servant for their blood.

Sept. 7, 1907: Three years before changing his last name to Ben-Gurion, David Gruen arrives in Jaffa with his girlfriend, Rachel Nelkin, and other young members of Poalei Zion (Workers of Zion) from Plonsk, Poland. He settles in Petah Tikvah.

PRIDE

TODAY IN ISRAELI HISTORY ISRAEL

tiated and implemented the Israel Hotel Investment Summit an international conference addressing hotel investment opportunities in Israel. The summit is now an annual event held in Tel Aviv.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism also welcomed three additional members to its staff: Allen Kantorowitz, Kort Weldon, and Matthew Ryan Tally. Kantorowitz, who most recently served as director and sales for a trio of Manhattan hotels, has been named business development manager overseeing the ministry’s northeast team.

Maugery Joins Israel Ministry of Tourism

The Israel Ministry of Tourism has announced the appointment of longtime staff member Lorin Maugery as its new Consul for Tourism Affairs overseeing the U.S. Southern region.

Maugery has spent nearly a decade with Israel’s Ministry of Tourism working with the organization’s Foreign Investor Relations Office to bring international investments to Israel’s hospitality industry. During his tenure, the former lawyer also forged relationships with outside developers and hotel brands, helping to guide their projects to fruition. In his new role, Maugery has already ini-

Sept. 8, 2010: Former Israeli armor commander Maj. Gen. Israel Tal, best known for leading the 1970 committee that designed and developed Israel’s first domestically produced tank, the Merkava (Chariot), dies at 85.

Joining the ministry as the new faith-based marketing director is Kort Weldon, whose new mission is to work closely with the U.S. Southern regions and its many community and religiousbased organizations.

The ministry’s Midwest Region of Chicago welcomes Matthew Ryan Tally as its new public relations director. Prior to his appointment with the Israel Ministry of Tourism, Tally was a member of the pastoral ministry for the Southern Baptist Convention

For more information on the Israel Ministry of Tourism, please visit www. goisrael.com.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Sept. 9, 1993: Four days before they sign the self-rule agreement of the Oslo Accords in Washington, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel formally recognize each other’s existence.

Sept. 10, 1956: Eilat Mazar, a third-generation archaeologist, is born. Her best-known work involves excavations in Jerusalem’s City of David, including remnants of what she believes to be King David’s palace.

Sept. 11, 1921: Moshav Nahalal, a new kind of agricultural settlement combining a kibbutz’s communal principles with private land ownership, is founded in the Jezreel Valley between Haifa and Afula.

Sept. 12, 2009: An Israeli film wins the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for the first time. Written and directed by Samuel Maoz, “Lebanon” follows a tank brigade during the First Lebanon War.

Sept. 13, 1993: President Bill Clinton holds a White House signing ceremony for the Oslo Accords between the Israelis and Palestinians. Israel’s Yitzhak Rabin and the PLO’s Yasser Arafat famously shake hands.

Sept. 14, 1948: Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announces after a meeting with Palmach leaders that the elite strike force is being dismantled as an independent unit and integrated into the Israel Defense Forces.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

Leonard Fournette visited Camp Simcha in Glen Sprey, N.Y.

Lorin Maugery has joined the Israel Ministry of Tourism as its new Consul for Tourism Affairs.

Sculptor Jacob Cohen’s memorial to the victims stands near the site of the Aug. 31, 2004, dual bus bombings in Beersheba.

// Courtesy of Jacob Cohen

President Bill Clinton brings Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat together for a handshake outside the White House on Sept. 13, 1993.

“Lebanon” is the first Israeli film to win the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival.

Studies Address Americans’ Views of Israeli Gov’t

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

One after another, U.S. officials recently made their traditional late summer pilgrimages to Israel. First it was the delegation of a couple dozen Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives, headed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries – a trip subsidized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. They were followed not long after by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his entourage. Both groups met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various other officials or notables.

The long-time relationship between the two countries has often run hot and cold, depending on the leaders on both sides. But as a recent Pew Research Center survey indicates, Americans’ opinions about Israel differentiate between Israelis and their government.

Conducted in the spring of 2023, as well as one year earlier, the Pew surveys reveal that Americans generally have positive views of Israel and its people, but their views of Israel’s government and its prime minister are more mixed. The surveys this spring occurred as Israelis by the thousands protested repeatedly in the streets against the Netanyahuled government for initiating legislation to weaken the authority of the country’s judicial system.

That means the survey was conducted prior to the Israeli legislature’s actual approval in July of the first step in what is called either a judicial reform, by its proponents, or judicial overhaul, by its critics.

The spring 2023 Pew survey reported that 26 percent of Americans had never even heard of Netanyahu, which is surprising on several levels. For one, Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history, having held the position for more than 15 years. Also, Netanyahu – who previously lived in the U.S. -- once served as Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations and is known as an

eloquent English speaker. Notably, the lack of familiarity with Netanyahu was more prevalent among young adults.

Of those Americans who had heard of him, Pew reports, more saw him negatively than positively. About 42 percent of Americans said they had no confidence in him to do the right thing regarding world affairs, while 32 percent expressed confidence in him.

Not surprisingly, however, opinions of Netanyahu differed by political party and ideology. Republicans were far more likely (49 percent) than Democrats to have confidence him (17 percent).

In the same Pew survey this year, the research firm determined that Israelis had a similar unfavorable opinion of Netanyahu. More than half (52 percent) viewed him unfavorably compared to 47 percent who viewed him favorably. But opinions varied widely depending on political perspective.

“People who supported Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party or other parties in his governing coalition had nearly unanimously positive views of Netanyahu: 97 percent said they had a favorable view of him, including 64 percent who had a very favorable view. But among those who did not support the governing coalition, only seven percent had a favorable view of him, and 63 percent had a very unfavorable view,” Pew reported.

In its 2022 survey, Pew reported that Americans were more likely to have a favorable opinion of Israel’s people than of its government. In fact, two-thirds of Americans saw the Israeli people favorably. Fewer than half had a favorable view of Israel’s government.

At the time of that survey, Naftali Bennett was prime minister. In July of 2022, he was succeeded by his coalition partner, Yair Lapid. After November 2022 elections, Netanyahu returned to the role of prime minister.

Despite the perceived close relationship between the U.S. and Israel –

underscored by the $3.8 billion the U.S. provides Israel in military support annually – the number of U.S. tourists to Israel each year has never reached one million. Still, the largest source of tourists visiting Israel are from the U.S. pre-Covid, in 2019, that number reached 960,000. Last

year, after a strong rebound from 2020 and 2021, the number of tourists from the U.S. amounted to 858,500, according to Statista, a tourism website.

In 2020, a Pew study found that a majority of American Jews – 54 percent –had never visited Israel. ì

U.S. House of Representatives

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries led a delegation of Democratic Congressmen to Israel in a trip subsidized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

In addition to meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, New York City Mayor Eric Adams met with leaders of Israel’s grassroots protest movement.

Business Chronicle Names Halpern Most Admired CEO

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

Congratulations to Farmers & Fishermen’s CEO and founder, Kirk Halpern, who has been named a 2023 Most Admired CEO in the Family-Owned Business category. This prestigious award was given by The Atlanta Business Chronicle and is an extremely proud accomplishment for the entire company.

The Most Admired CEO awards, now in their 10th year, recognize Atlanta-based chief executives with a strong record of innovation in their field, outstanding financial performance, a commitment to quality and diversity in the workplace and contributions to the metro community. Halpern was recognized at an in-person awards program on Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Delta Flight Museum.

In 2019, Kirk Halpern and his son, Ben Halpern, who now serves as executive vice president, created Farmers & Fishermen, and quickly became one of Atlanta’s fastest growing private companies. Well-known for their attentive food service and devoted home delivery

Genesis Prize Honors Hadassah

Hadassah is among the Jewish activists and NGOs honored with the 2023 Genesis Prize for their work supporting the Ukrainian people in the wake of a profound humanitarian crisis.

The Genesis Prize, considered the “Jewish Nobel,” is awarded annually to Jewish individuals and NGOs worldwide to honor accomplishment, impact on humanity and Jewish values. The Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) quickly mobilized teams of primary-care and support personnel and shipped vital equipment to Poland’s border with Ukraine.

“The past 11 months have been unlike any previous period in the 10-year history of the Genesis Prize, with war, destruction, and human suffering on a scale unseen since World War II. But there has also been human kindness, compassion, and activism on an unprecedented scale,” said Stan Polovets, founder and chair of the Genesis Prize Foundation, and Trustee Natan Sharansky in a joint statement. “Across the world, thousands of individuals and organizations were moved to action — making a moral choice to volunteer, donate money, shelter refugees and engage in political advocacy.”

“Our Jewish values tell us that when

service, they provide customers with the highest quality of meat, seafood and other food products by small family-owned farmers and fishermen. Kirk attributes his success, including being named the Most Admired CEO for 2023, by consistently “doing the right thing and investing in people.”

Halpern adds, “At Farmers & Fishermen our employees are valued as employee partners, the foundation of our company and we value each and every one of them. That’s one of the reasons we hire our employee’s family members and, as a father-and-son business, we believe family is everything. Farmers & Fishermen is feeding a need in the community and our goal is creating a meaningful workplace for our team to grow along with happy, well-fed customers. During the pandemic, we didn’t furlough any employees and Farmers and Fishermen is devoted to keeping people purposefully employed and thriving at work.”

For more information about Farmers & Fishermen, visit www.farmersandfishermen.com.

there is a crisis and we can make an impact we need to act — and act we did,” said Hadassah CEO Naomi Adler. “We are grateful that the Genesis Prize Foundation recognized the efforts of not only Hadassah but also the entire Jewish community to help the Ukrainian people and alleviate suffering.

During the crisis, more than 100 Israeli doctors and nurses were flown in to set up the mission’s medical clinics in a team rotation over long months and at numerous locations. Accompanying the mission were support personnel, who organized collaborative efforts, made contact with the local authorities and other NGOs on the ground, and facilitated the needs of the HMO medical teams. HMO trauma experts shared protocols and experience with mass casualty events.

“We are so grateful to everyone who made this work possible, including generous donors, who together raised an important amount of money to make Hadassah’s humanitarian efforts possible, and volunteers, medical professionals and staff who helped bring these efforts to life,” said Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Hadassah has been recognized with the 2023 Genesis Prize for their work supporting the Ukrainian people during the Russian invasion.

(From left) Ben Halpern, Carlin Barnes, Lori Halpern, Kirk Halpern, Erica Halpern Chaliff

ISJL Hires Olivia Renata Zale as Director of Development

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life welcomes Olivia Renata Zale as the new director of development.

Joining the team in August, Zale is already familiar with the ISJL’s work. She is the current vice chair of the M.B. and Edna Zale Foundation, based in Dallas. The Zale Foundation has supported the ISJL for a number of years. She also has many strong ties to the South: her family’s roots are in Dallas, and her parents lived in Lafayette, La., for several years. Zale has keen insights into small-town Jewish communities and a commitment to see them thrive.

“I have long admired the incredible work of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life and am thrilled to be joining the organization as its director of development,” says Zale. “I am excited to immerse myself in the community and work alongside our supporters to grow the ISJL and further

JF&CS High Holidays Food Drive

Start the Jewish New Year off with a mitzvah and donate food to the Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) Food Pantry.

September is Hunger Action Month, and the start of the JF&CS High Holidays Food Drive. The drive will take place Sept. 10 to Oct. 10, 2023. For more than 40 years, food from the annual High Holidays Food Drive has been the main source of donations for the JF&CS Food Pantry that provides Kosher options. We need your help to continue to feed those most in need!

Nearly one in eight Georgians is liv-

The Jewish Family & Career Services Food Drive will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 10.

ing with food insecurity, including one in six children.

In all, more than 7,000 households

Got old issues?

If you discover old issues of the Atlanta Jewish Times laying around, we want them. To boost our archives, we will come pick up any AJT issues from 2014 or earlier. Please call 404-883-2130 or write kaylene@ atljewishtimes.com to setup retrieval. Subscribe, Support, Sustain. As always, thank you for reading your Atlanta Jewish times.

and 30,000 people with food insecurity have been supported though the food pantry so far this year.

The need continues to grow, affecting approximately 15 new households per week. With rising prices on food, gas, and essentials, many community members may find themselves in need once again – or for the first time ever.

the mission to support, connect, and celebrate Jewish life in the South.”

Olivia Renata Zale joins a well-established ISJL team, along with several new ISJL staff members hired over the summer, including Rabbi Salem Pearce, ISJL director of spirituality, and two program associates, Ana Berman and Rebecca Rich. Serving a 13-state Southern region and with a full season of programming ahead, the entire ISJL staff and the ISJL board of directors are excited for the momentum of this moment.

The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL) supports, connects, and celebrates Jewish life in the South. To learn more about the ISJL and its programs, visit www.isjl.org, call 601-362-6357, or follow @TheISJL on social media. To learn more about our Spirituality division, visit www.isjl.org/ spirituality.

Compiled by AJT Staff

continue to be the staples that JF&CS Food Pantry clients need.

Mitzvah Day is Sept. 10, so consider supporting this food drive as a mitzvah project with your family!

Help increase food security in the Jewish and broader communities around Atlanta. Drop off items in JF&CS bins at your synagogue, temple, school, or at the JF&CS campus in Dunwoody.

Visit jfcsatl.org/fooddrive for most needed items, as well as an Amazon Wish List.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Better than

your

• Matzoh Ball Soup (regular and Gluten Free)

• Noodle Kugel

• Knishes

Olivia Renata Zale has joined the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life as director of development.

Roswell Students Named to AJC Campus Global Board

Two students from Roswell have been named to American Jewish Committee’s Campus Global Board, which is dedicated to empowering Jewish campus leaders as they confront increased antisemitic and anti-Zionist sentiment at their schools.

Lily Cohen, a senior at Northwestern University, and Leah Faupel, a senior at the University of Tennessee, will join the 30-member board, which includes students from the U.S. and seven other nations. Cohen will also serve as the board’s vice president of advocacy.

The board’s work will be informed, in part, by AJC’s latest State of Antisemitism in America report, which found more than a third of current or recent Jewish college students felt uncomfortable or unsafe at a campus event because they are Jewish, avoided wearing or carrying items that identified them as Jewish, or had trouble taking time off for Jewish holidays.

“This board is all about empower-

ment,” said Jeffrey Greenberg, AJC director of campus affairs. “We will ensure these outstanding students have the resources they need to combat anti-Israel bias and antisemitic attitudes. Jewish students deserve to feel safe and protected as much as anyone else.”

AJC also recognizes college advocates who combat antisemitism with its AJC Sharon Greene Award for Campus Advocacy, given out annually at AJC Global Forum. Cohen was one of this year’s recipients.

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Leah Faupel will serve on the American Jewish Committee’s Campus Global Board.

Lily Cohen will serve on the AJC’s Campus Global Board and serve as the board’s vice president of advocacy.

Speeding Past History

expanded. “Leo Frank was innocent. And those four words have eluded polite conversation in Atlanta and in Marietta for over a century,” he said.

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit

I doubt that motorists speeding along Roswell Road at sunset on Aug. 17 noticed that a few dozen people were gathered on the south side of the Interstate 75 overpass, on a sidewalk near the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant.

I wonder if any of them have ever pulled into that parking lot, walked across the grass to that sidewalk, and read the words engraved on a historical marker or on a small monument a few feet away.

The marker remembers Leo Frank, the only known Jewish victim of a lynching in the United States.

Frank was the superintendent of the National Pencil Company factory in downtown Atlanta, where, on April 16, 1913, the body of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee from Marietta, was discovered at the bottom of an elevator shaft. Three days later, the 31-year-old transplant from New York was arrested and charged with murder.

Frank was convicted in August — after a highly-charged trial, in which crowds outside the courthouse yelled “Kill the Jew!” The prosecution’s chief witness, a janitor who claimed to have seen Frank with the girl’s body, may himself have been guilty. Nonetheless, Frank was sentenced to death and sent to the state prison in Milledgeville.

Frank was scheduled to be executed by hanging on June 22, 1915, but the day before, Georgia Gov. John Slaton commuted his sentence to life in prison. Late on Aug. 16, a cabal of men from Cobb County — angered by the commutation — kidnapped Frank from prison, drove to the woods in Marietta, and in the early hours of Aug. 17, hanged him.

The historical marker is a stone’s throw from where Frank was lynched, near Freys Gin Road. The forest is gone and today, that history sits beneath highway pavement.

I wonder how many of those motorists could tell you who Leo Frank was and why he is important. The people assembled on that Thursday night knew; perhaps none so well as Rabbi Steve Lebow, the most vocal advocate on behalf of a full pardon for Frank.

Lebow began the service marking Frank’s 108th yahrzeit by repeating words that he spoke eight years earlier, at the rededication of the marker, which the Georgia Department of Transportation had kept in storage as the highway interchange was

In 1986, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued Frank a posthumous pardon — without addressing the issue of guilt or innocence — on the grounds that he was denied due process when he was kidnapped from prison and lynched.

The Frank case traumatized Jewish Atlanta for decades, perhaps until The Temple bombing in October 1958 — “the bomb that healed,” as Janice Rothschild Blumberg called it — when government officials and private citizens voiced support for the Jewish community.

When Lebow came to Marietta to lead Temple Kol Emeth in 1986, he was aware of the Frank case, but it was a few years until he realized where the lynching took place. Lebow came to understand — and embrace — the significance of being a rabbi in Marietta given that history.

Lebow retired from Temple Kol Emeth in 2020 and is now senior rabbi of both Temple Rodeph Shalom in Rome and Sholom b’Harim in Gainesville.

For many years, he has come and — no matter how many or how few join him — recited the Mourner’s Kaddish for Frank.

This year, he had plenty of company, including several rabbinic colleagues. Blake Singer, the Cantorial Soloist at Temple Kol Emeth, chanted “El Maleh Rahamim,” a prayer for the soul of the deceased. The rabbis in attendance led the recitation of the Kaddish.

I doubt that those motorists on Roswell Road noticed the Marietta police officers quietly walking about the area. This was a Jewish gathering and, in the world, as it is today, Jews take a risk by assembling in public, so a police presence at such events now is routine. Indeed, the Jew haters who have leafleted area driveways and protested outside a local synagogue have made labeling Frank as a pedophile a prominent piece of their poison.

Lebow also made certain to point out that just steps away from the Frank marker is a small black granite monument, dedicated in December 2018, a memorial to the 570 (or more) African Americans lynched in Georgia between 1880 and 1946.

The yahrzeit service for Leo Frank lasted a little more than 15 minutes.

Fifteen minutes to remember the only known Jewish victim of a lynching in the United States.

Fifteen minutes to renew the call for exoneration of a Jewish man wrongly convicted. ì

Aug. 17, 1915: My Life with Leo Frank OPINION

I wrote to a local paper that “It is difficult to know what planet Tom Watson Brown lives on, but it is clearly not the Earth.”

In my letter to the editor, I went on to try to educate the newer arrivals to Cobb County on the intricacies of the case and why it was clear that Frank had been falsely accused and then wrongly convicted.

Rabbi Steven Lebow Guest Contributor

On June 2, 1995, Tom Watson Brown wrote a letter to the editor of a local paper, complaining that the paper had reported that a “mob” had lynched Leo Frank and that the word “mob” did not adequately describe the “strictly disciplined representing Marietta’s leading families.”

Two weeks later, Tom Watson Brown continued to justify the actions of the lynch mob, since it was “obvious that Frank was guilty.”

At that time, I did not realize who Tom Watson Brown was. He was the great-grandson of Tom Watson, the man who fanned the flames of Jew-hatred that led to Frank’s murder. I dashed off a quick letter Mr. Brown.

A Marietta native mentioned to me that it was open knowledge where the Frank lynching had occurred. Although the actual lynching tree had been cut down, the site of the lynching was a squat office building, next to the I-75 overpass. As everyone in Marietta knew, except for me, at that time, Frank had been lynched on the site where Cobb’s sheriff regularly nursed a drink or two. Hence, the name of the Marietta Street, Frey’s Gin Mill.

As a relatively new-comer and as someone who was obviously Jewish and who sounded like a Yankee, I shyly approached the owner of the office building, Roy Varner.

Mr. Varner, an early developer in Cobb County, could not have been nicer or kinder to me. He acknowledged that his building was built on the site of the Frank lynching. He had bought the building in the 1950s, but he had been aware of the historical association on his property.

I asked Roy, “Can we place a memorial plaque (Yahrzeit) on your building and have a memorial service on your property, on the 80th anniversary of the Frank lynching?”

He could have turned me away or simply shown me the door. Instead, he was as gracious and as kind as I have discovered that Mariettans truly are.

“Of course, you can have your service here, “he said to me. “Put your memorial plaque on my building, so that people will remember it was a bad time and that a thing like that will never happen again.”

With Roy Varner’s permission and blessing, I placed the first Frank memorial plaque on the building, made by a local signage company. On Sunday, Aug. 14, 1995, I organized the first ever memorial service for Leo Frank, on the site of the lynching. I was joined by Dale Schwartz, the attorney who had argued in 1984 for Frank’s pardon.

We were joined by a crowd of Mariettans that day, Jews and Christian alike. Staying up late one night in July 1995, I had penned the words, “Leo Frank was ‘Wrongly accused, Falsely Convicted, Wantonly Murdered.’” I was told to leave my name off the plaque, lest it cause personal attacks on me. I signed that first plaque “(Leo Frank) remembered by the Jewish Community of Cobb County.”

Even so, my caution wasn’t rewarded. People saw my name occasionally and sent me the odd hate letter or death threat.

A number of other events happened in the years following the placing of that first plaque. The Pulitzer Prize winning play, “Parade,” premiered on Broadway. Another play about the case, “The Lynching of Leo Frank,” premiered at Marietta’s “Theater in the Square.” (Atlanta Journal Constitution, Aug. 21, 2000 - Section C, front page)

An AJC reporter asked Tom Watson Brown if the City of Marietta should issue an apology for the lynching of Leo Frank. I should not have been surprised by Brown’s comment, but I was.

Leo Frank was killed not “because of

his religious persuasion, but because the Jews bribed the governor [John Slaton] to commute Frank’s sentence, “said Brown.

When the AJC reporter dug even further, Brown said, “Maybe the Frank family should apologize for paying off the governor!”

Reading Brown’s quotes made me wonder if I had entered some parallel universe where the facts of Frank’s innocence were ignored, and Tom Watson Brown had decided to revive that old stereotype that the Jews have all the money.

By 2000, I had discovered who Tom Watson Brown was. He was a Harvard educated lawyer, one of the wealthiest men in the city, and a part owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

I fired off a letter of complaint to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. A few days later, Brown wrote me a personal letter, in which he acknowledged that the Frank lynching was a tragedy… “but only for the Mary Phagan,” implying that Leo Frank got exactly what he deserved!

Ten years later, I returned to the very same site and placed a second plaque there which read simply, “Am I my brother’s Keeper? On the 90th anniversary of the lynching and in memory of all victims of lynching.”  This time, I wasn’t afraid of signing the second plaque.

Twenty-eight years later, after I had gathered that first group to memorialize Leo Frank, Tom Watson Brown is gone. Mr. Brown represented a part of the era of the Old South- antisemitism and naked racism. But the current residents of Marietta have always been gracious and encouraging to me in my efforts to write about the Frank case. We live now in what I call the “Newer South.” In that South, there is a Marietta free of hatred and prejudice.

The arc of Southern history is long, but it moves ever upwards. Eventually, Frank will receive the complete exoneration that he deserves. Until that time, I’ll stand at Frey’s Gin Mill and Roswell Road every Aug. 17 and offer a simple Mourner’s Kaddish for him, a prayer in memory of the dead.

It’s the least I can do as we await the eventual exoneration of a man charged with a crime he did not commit. ì

Rabbi Steven Lebow is the Senior Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Ga.

Letters to the Editor

The AJT welcomes your letters. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to kaylene@atljewishtimes.com.

Letter to the Editor,

New Emory Dean’s Family History is Black & Jewish

Disclamer to our readers:

This section of the newspaper is a forum for our community to share thoughts, concerns and opinions as open letters to the community or directly to the newspaper.

As a letter to the editor, we proof for spelling and grammatical errors only. We do not edit nor vet the information the letter contains. The individual signing the letter is accountable for what they share.

I read your very interesting background story on Dean Krauthamer. In addition to what she states she wishes to accomplish; I pray she will add to the list that she will re-institute at Emory one of the best aspects of a liberal arts education: the free exchange of ideas. For example, truly hear viewpoints other than one’s own, welcome outside speakers who may hold differing opinions than one’s own, debate peacefully, question, toss around ideas. This was always a liberal arts education’s strength, sadly missing from many campuses today.

Reuben P Wechsler, Marietta

Letter to the Editor,

When Both Sides are ‘Pro-Israel’

Dave Schechter described Israel’s electoral system as “convoluted.” As most Americans are not familiar with Parliamentary governance, I would like to offer some thoughts on Israel’s electoral process and how it might be improved.

Israel is the size of New Jersey. Its national government consists of a 120-seat Parliament (Knesset) and a Supreme Court. The country is not divided into electoral districts and each eligible voter participates in national elections by choosing one of numerous party lists. Thus, all Knesset seats are filled “at large” (there are no contests involving direct competition of two or more candidates seeking to represent a specific locality).

A party must reach the election threshold (receive a specified percentage of the total number of votes cast) in order to earn seats in the Knesset. No party has ever received a true majority (61 seats) on its own. Thus, every Israeli government has been a coalition, cobbled together post-election. Thus, the actual make-up of the government often differs significantly from what voters thought they were being offered on Election Day. Furthermore, because parties are easily formed and easily dissolved, voters really have no way to hold parties accountable for keeping promises made on the campaign trail.

In the first 40 years following Israel’s rebirth, elections generally produced results in which a single party gained 50 or more votes and could easily assemble a ruling coalition by joining forces with a party that had 10 or 15 seats, with the head of the larger party becoming the Prime Minister (PM). Such a coalition was likely to serve a full four-year term. If a policy dispute arose which caused the smaller party to decide to move to the Opposition, the larger party could easily find a new partner.

In the 1990s, Israel twice experimented with direct election of the Prime Minister. Voters cast two ballots – one indicating the voter’s choice of party list and the other designating the voter’s choice of one of two candidates for the PM’s office. This experiment freed Israeli voters to choose lists unlikely to garner many Knesset seats without losing their opportunity to have input on the choice of Prime Minister. The experiment was ruled a failure and was not continued.

In the subsequent three decades, no single party has controlled many more than one-quarter of the Knesset’s 120 seats and no coalition has held significantly more than the simple (61-seat) majority. The coalition that preceded the current Knesset was made up of eight parties, with the largest party controlling only 17 seats. In the current, “more stable” government, the largest party controls only 32 seats with three other parties holding a total of another 32 seats. Such coalitions are always in danger of falling if only a few members choose to leave the Coalition, giving small parties inordinate power within the Coalition. Knowing that their terms in office may be short (Israel had five elections in the past four years), Coalitions tend to try to push their agendas through too quickly, as seems to be the case with the initial effort (now delayed) for judicial reform.

Perhaps even more than judicial reform, Israel needs electoral reform. Smaller parties with similar ideas should be encouraged to coalesce into larger, more stable bodies with the new (and, hopefully, improved) parties required to deliver their platforms to the electorate and to obtain a specified number of voters’ signatures (perhaps 10,000) in order to be allowed to stand for election. Parties should also be required to engage in public debates which would be followed by polling to determine each party’s chances of reaching the election threshold. If a party is found unlikely to attain sufficient votes (after two or three debates), it would be barred from participating in the current election but could try once again after the newly elected Knesset had completed its term.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

North American JCC Maccabi Games Unite the World

South Florida may be experiencing its hottest summer on record, but the recent string of oppressively humid days didn’t hinder the JCC Association of North America’s 41st JCC Maccabi Games and Access events from taking place in Fort Lauderdale from Aug. 7-11.

David Ostrowsky

Hosted by the David Posnack JCC, this year’s Games involved close to 2,000 Jewish teen athletes comprising 64 delegations from the U.S., Canada, Israel, and five other countries, including Ukraine, which was also represented at last month’s Israel-based Maccabi Games; 350 coaches, as well as one celebrity spectator, Miami Heat star Victor Oladipo. Among the legions of Jewish amateur athletes participating in a wide range of both indoor and outdoor sports including baseball, basketball, ice hockey, girls’ volleyball, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, table tennis, tennis, and swimming, it was estimated that for well over half, the JCC Maccabi Games represented their sole engagement with an organized Jewish youth event and Judaism on a global scale.

Doron Krakow, president and CEO of JCC Association of North America, who referred to the JCC Maccabi Games as “one of the foremost Jewish peoplehood initiatives of our time,” went on to say, “for thousands of athletes, along with coaches, volunteers, host families and a wall-to-wall coalition of Jewish community organizations, this year’s Games are an extraordinary reminder of the capacity for good across a diverse and dynamic Jewish community.”

Such goodwill was on full display with the inclusion of JCC Maccabi Access, a three-and-a-half day JCC Maccabi Games experience for young athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Access was initiated in San Diego during last summer’s JCC Maccabi Games and allows scores of Jewish athletes (ages 12-22) to participate in both unified and specialized activities including athletic competition and skill development, JCC Cares community service, exploration of the JCC Maccabi Midot Values, social activities, and an opening and closing ceremony.

“JCC Maccabi Access is an important opportunity for our movement to demonstrate our commitment to inclusion

and to ensure all our programming embodies and reflects our responsibility to uphold this value,” noted Sierra Weiss, the JCC Movement’s Access and inclusion specialist.

“It offers athletes and their families a chance both to join with other families that have had similar experiences and to feel a part of the wider Jewish community in a meaningful way.  Every Jewish person has a place in the JCC Movement.”

This year’s JCC Maccabi Games were also noteworthy for the geographic diversity of the competitors. While the United States, Canada, Israel, England, and Mexico sent their customary sizable delegations, three new countries – Argentina, South Africa, and, as previously mentioned, Ukraine – were also present.

“The JCC Maccabi Games have an awe-inspiring, lifelong impact, uniting young Jewish athletes through sport, values, and service and, for many, offering an introduction to the global Jewish community and Israel,” said Samantha Cohen, senior vice president and head of JCC Maccabi at JCC Association and former tennis

player at the JCC Maccabi Games. “It’s critical they have this meaningful opportunity in their formative teen years before many head off to college.”

Atlanta’s presence was visible throughout the Games. The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta was well represented with a 45-member delegation, one that ultimately accounted for gold medals in 14U Baseball and Dance and silver medals in 16U Flag Football and Tennis. Meanwhile, the MJCCA also had teams competing wholeheartedly in boys’ basketball, girls’ volleyball, and swimming.

“We battled record heat (index was over 105 degrees), which required many scheduling changes and last-minute venue updates,” explained Jammie Harrison, sports director at the MJCCA. “Our athletes took everything in stride and we’re so proud of them!”

The weeklong slate of athletic competition was bookended by a beautiful opening ceremony held at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, home of the NHL’s Florida Panthers, with more than three dozen state, county, and local officials

and prominent Jewish leaders in attendance and a closing ceremony and celebratory dinner reception held on Friday, Aug. 11, which showcased the passing of the JCC Maccabi torch to next year’s host cities.

Speaking of which, looking ahead to next summer, one whose weather will hopefully be more conducive to rigorous athletic competition, the Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield Hills, Mich., will host the JCC Maccabi Games from July 28 to Aug. 2 for athletes ages 12-16; the following month in Houston, the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC will host the JCC Maccabi Games and Access from Aug. 4 to Aug. 9 for athletes ages 12-16 and Access athletes ages 12-22.

The MJCCA is anticipating being able to send a contingent of at least 100 athletes to both Detroit and Houston to proudly represent Atlanta in what has become “one of the most significant Jewish peoplehood initiatives of our time” encompassing well over a half-million Jewish teens, relatives, and volunteers in its decades-long history. ì

The JWB Jewish Chaplains entered the FLA Live Arena to initiate the parade of athletes at JCC Maccabi Games and Access opening ceremony // Photo Credit: Jason Edelstein

The Ukraine delegation, including athletes, coaches, and delegation head, preparing to enter the FLA Live Arena, as they joined more than 2,000 teen athletes from 64 delegations and eight countries for the opening ceremony // Photo Credit: Jason Edelstein

Lutzie 43 Foundation Hosts 9th Annual Road Race

By David Ostrowsky

For the ninth consecutive August, the Lutzie 43 Road Race, organized by the Lutzie 43 Foundation, which honors the legacy of former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, who died in a 2014 car accident, by exposing the dangers of distracted and impaired driving, proved to be a smashing success.

Held on the first Saturday morning of August at Lassiter High School’s Frank Fillman Stadium, invariably under steamy weather, the 5K, which is followed by a 50-yard kids fun run, serves the dual purpose of galvanizing friends and relatives of the late Auburn star and 2010 national champion as well as members of the Marietta community and raising funds for the rock-steady nonprofit that is gearing up for its 10th anniversary next summer. Indeed, this year was no exception, as there were more than 1,000 runners participating (approximately 700 onsite and 300 virtually) and, ultimately, a $50,000 net profit for the Lutzie 43 Foundation.

“It just continues to get bigger and bigger,” said Mike Lutzenkirchen, Philip’s father, who now serves as the executive director of the Lutzie 43 Foundation. “It’s a very financially important event for us, but it has become as equally important as a community [event], almost like a reunion opportunity.”

At the conclusion of this year’s race, won by 31-year-old Alex Shipp (15:51.7) in the men’s division and 17-year-old Daniela Delgado (19:48.7) in the women’s, Mike Lutzenkirchen challenged the onsite runners and spectators to each register one friend for the race’s 10th iteration next summer. If so, the field could eclipse well over 1,500 participants, representing a milestone achievement for an annual event that now has national and even global reach. In addition to the strong showing of support from the Marietta and Lassiter communities, there were many runners participating on a virtual basis in Indianapolis, Birmingham, Auburn, and Chicago; concurrently Mike’s sister-in-law, Katie Meier, head coach of the University of Miami women’s basketball team, led a 56-person contingent on a virtual run in Paris when the team was traveling overseas in early August.

Not only has the number of participants been trending in the right direction with dozens of first timers entering the field this year, but the foundation has secured the backing of more than 20 local establishments, including its presenting

sponsor, Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw, and Lucia’s Italian Restaurant, the popular neighborhood spot, where runners were able to retrieve their bibs the night before the race. Thus, what started out as a lowkey race, primarily established for Philip’s friends and relatives to congregate in remembrance of the man who was a stalwart of both the Marietta and Auburn communities, has now morphed into a full-fledged event including a jampacked sponsor zone that greets runners as they glide across the finish line.

With Mike Lutzenkirchen devoting his professional career toward spearheading the Lutzie 43 Foundation, the 5K road race along with the foundation’s other two marque fundraising initiatives, an early May golf tournament and a year-end retail campaign where people reach out to their database of supporters, continue to evolve on a regular basis to meet the organization’s fiscal require-

ments.

“As you do things year in and year out, if you’re not improving, you’re kind of falling backwards,” added Lutzenkirchen.

To that end, Mike, his daughter, Abby, a former captain of the University of Alabama women’s soccer team who serves as the foundation’s director of events and opportunity management, operations director Bill Butler, and the board of directors have contemplated holding next year’s race at night, perhaps in conjunction with a concert. Of course, while this year’s race did finish by 9:15 a.m., an evening 5K might appeal to more potential runners with the sun not beating down every second. Nevertheless, as Lutzenkirchen acknowledges, next summer, the race will most likely kick off at its traditional 8:00 a.m. start at the 43-yard line at Frank Fillman’s Lutzie Field.

Regardless of whether there’s a morning or evening shotgun start, the Lutzie 43 Road Race’s ever-growing popularity serves as a reminder of the countless lives that Lutzenkirchen, in his relatively brief time on earth, touched.

“It has really become a community gathering,” Mike Lutzenkirchen reiterated. “From the Lassiter community, you can extend it if you want into East Cobb County. I get to see parents my age whose kids played sports with my kids back from grade school, middle school, high school, and I may get to see them one time a year at this event.

“To give you perspective, there are two ladies my age – and I just turned 60 – they get to see each other once a year, they don’t do a good job of staying in touch with one another, but they walk the race and get caught up on life.”

Save the date for the tenth reunion: Aug. 3, 2024. ì

On Saturday, Aug. 5, more than 1,000 runners and walkers participated in the 9th annual Lutzie 43 Road Race to honor the legacy of the late Auburn tight end, Philip Lutzenkirchen // Photo Credit: Katie Stotts

ARTS & CULTURE

Kauffman’s Exquisite Style Alights Children

South African-born

Talitha Kauffman’s favorite quote by Theodore Geisel, “You will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory,” allies with her breathtaking, evocative photography.

Marcia Caller Jaffe

Her “painterly” fine art photographs are unique in her approach to children, pets, and scenery. She explained, “The essence of my photography is capturing fleeting instants to create tangible memories. I turn those moments into lasting connections, making each image a window to the past.” Her photos are usually vintage style and often center around designer couture dresses or custom dresses that she handcrafted along with her mother, artist Robyn Michalow.

Immigrating to the U.S. at age 6, Kauffman’s photography education began in a darkroom at Woodward Academy and continued through Emory University. As a motivation, she stated, “My interest was sparked by my desire to capture the youth and innocence of my children, Jaffa and Shiloh. I wanted them to have the best possible photos to remember their childhood. I started out more traditionally, but my ultimate goal was always to perfect my own unique style. My favorite subjects to photograph are children. I love to use photos to tell stories about their unique personalities and capture their youth and innocence.”

Kauffman also incorporates pets into child portraits to capture the unique bond they have with each other.

Admirers viewing Kauffman’s work experience an innocence, nature, emotion, and the story behind the story. She uses Canon and Sony mirrorless cameras with her favorite 200mm lens.

Since Kauffman’s goal is to create pieces for families to cherish long-term as heirloom art, she asks families to bring unique pieces that represent family details and memories.

She said, “It’s about creating a work of art that will be printed and cherished for generations to come. These photo shoots involve a lot of planning, design elements like backdrops and antique props, and time spent editing in Photoshop.”

She recently photographed a child who loved chess and had just won a tournament; thus, she created a special portrait of her playing with an antique chess set. Child and family portraits can take one to two hours. Newborn sessions normally last about three to four hours.

The session fee is $450, which reserves the session and covers the time and “client closet.” Clients then choose

photos for editing and place an order for custom prints and wall art. The pricing varies for each product. The digitals are included with their print purchases.

Kauffman is known for using the finest labs, mostly abroad. After looking through products from more than 40 professional photo labs, Kauffman chose to work primarily with one based in Italy because of the museum quality

of their prints and wall art, their variety and high-quality consistency. In Atlanta, some favorite shoot locales are the Chattahoochee River, the Goat Farm, and in her own custom-built studio. She typically spends two hours Photoshopping each image. For composite images that have multiple components pieced together, like the octopus or fairytale/mermaid images, she spends six to eight hours ed-

Kauffman photographed her daughter and composited her into an underwater ocean scene.

Talitha photographed her children, Jaffa and Shiloh, in vintage styling at the Georgia State Railroad Museum.

Talitha photographed this 7-yearold for a Victorian-styled photoshoot, wearing a custom pink dress created by Kauffman and her mother.

Artist Talitha Kauffman with her family.

iting.

To spark creativity, she encourages clients to come up with ideas and to choose elements that speak to them from her own client closet and prop room. She also mixes and matches photoshopping, compositing by taking different elements like a face from one image, a hand, or a prop from another, to create the perfect image.

Regarding the future, Kauffman mused, “I hope to continue to evolve my unique style, work closely with my mother to create costumes and dresses to expand my client closet, and create art that resonates with people.”

Much has been touted about high profile photographers putting their subjects at ease. Hollywood’s Herb Ritts gave Jack Nicholson a magnifying glass.

Philippe Halsman, who shot Albert Einstein’s most famous photo, said, “It can’t be done by pushing a person into position…it must provoke the victim [subject], amusing him with jokes, lulling him into silence or asking impertinent questions.”

Kauffman’s bottom line…“Making a client feel comfortable and involved in the planning always helps. I try to make it a fun!”

Contact Kauffman at (404) 313-1606 or talithakauffmanphotography.com. ì

Newborn photo taken in Kauffman’s Sandy Springs studio.

Kauffman created a special portrait for this young girl after she won a chess tournament.

Kauffman created this one-year-old’s portrait in a field.

ARTS & CULTURE

Katz’s Photography Documents Holocaust Memorials

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

Dr. Fred Katz is well-known to many for his decades of volunteerism in the Jewish community in Atlanta. Over the last decade, he has spent thousands of hours documenting a personal mission and has completed an important contribution to preserving the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, as he photographed more than 100 Holocaust memorials around the world.

To accomplish his mission, Katz traveled the world. He shared, “I wrote this book to honor the memory of the six million Jewish men, women, and children, in addition to countless others, who were murdered during the Holocaust. It is vitally important that we never forget what happened so that this never happens again. Hopefully, by visiting these memorials, people will become more empathetic to the suffering endured by the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Throughout my travels, I made it a priority to visit these sites. Unfortunately, there were often very few visitors at these significant places. I wanted to change that by making people aware of these memorials and how to visit them.”

His inspiration was multifaceted as he said, “My late wife’s parents had escaped from Germany, just after Kristallnacht, and we visited her father’s hometown of Fulda in 1975.  During that trip, we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. The following year, we joined a United Jewish Appeal trip of young leaders to the Mauthausen Concentration camp memorial, and then to Israel. That trip literally changed my life. For the past 50 years, I have been visiting and photographing Holocaust memorials around the world and wrote this book so that others could follow my journey.”

“I have loved photography since I was a kid,” Katz shared, “I remember, as a child, taking over the bathroom of our apartment, to develop rolls of film. Eventually, we moved to a home with a basement, and I could use an enlarger to develop my own prints. After I retired from an active radiological practice, I spent three months at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography honing my skills.”

During his retirement, Katz had the time and the means to do a lot of traveling, which enabled him to write this book. He retired in 1998 and then taught half-time at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He and his late

wife, Doris, traveled the United States in a motorhome in addition to many trips abroad. He added, “There is a saying that “when one door closes, another one opens.” That was what happened to me during COVID. For over an entire

year, my wife, Marcy, and I stayed home in Florida, where I spent thousands of hours on my computer sorting through images and writing this book.”

When asked what he hoped readers and the world at-large should learn from

this book, he shared, “I discovered that most people don’t even realize that these memorials exist, even in their own hometowns. One example was when I flew to Los Angeles to photograph the Holocaust memorial, I stayed with my cousin for a

Dr. Fred Katz recently published a photography book that documents visits to more than 100 Holocaust memorial sites around the world.

The Besser Holocaust Memorial Garden at the MJCCA in Dunwoody

The Catholic Memorial at Dachau Concentration Camp

The Drancy Deportation Center Memorial in Paris, France

German woman praying at Treblinka Concentration Camp Greenwood Cemetery Holocaust Memorial in Atlanta

few days. He was fairly active in the L.A. Jewish community and when I asked him where the memorial was located, his response was 'I know there is one, but I am not sure where it is.' So first and foremost, I wish people would visit the memorials in their own cities and wherever they may travel. I recently visited Rio De Janeiro and did some research before we began our trip. I found out their new Holocaust Memorial was opening a few days before we left. Our visit to it was an especially very moving experience. By seeing the sculptures and reading the material, people will also gain empathy and understanding for minority communities.”

He continued, “Most of the memorials are built when a group of people,

usually survivors, or children of survivors, band together to organize the fundraising and construction. Occasionally, governments, whether country or state, initiate the building and financing of the memorials. I believe most are maintained by the community or organization that sponsors them.”

He added, “I have been profoundly moved by many of the memorials I have visited. Of course, Yad Vashem, in Israel, is in a category by itself, as the ultimate memorial to the Holocaust. The concentration camp that affected me most was the Mauthausen Concentration Camp memorial in Austria. I believe the Miami Holocaust memorial and the Liberator Memorial on Liberty Island in New Jer-

sey are the most impressive monuments in the United States.”

He said, “One of the most inspirational moments during my journey was when I met an elderly woman at the Treblinka Concentration Camp Memorial. She was standing behind a large stone, with the words, “Never Again,” engraved on it. She appeared to be praying. I approached her to ask if she minded that I photographed her. She told me that she was here visiting Treblinka, with a group of German Christians, praying for forgiveness for the murder of six million Jewish people. I learned from that experience and others, that we cannot blame all Germans, or all Poles, for the Holocaust, but only the perpetrators. But we cannot

ever forget!”

Katz said, “I hope that the readers will be interested enough to actually go and visit some of these very important and poignant memorials, to pay homage to the millions of people that were murdered during the Holocaust, and to realize that antisemitism and racism can lead to catastrophic results.”

Meet Dr. Fred Katz, at 11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 22, at The Breman Museum where he will be presenting his photographs, telling stories, and signing books as part of the ongoing “Bagels and Books at The Breman” series. Museum members are free, non-members $12, this includes all exhibitions. Seating is limited; preregistration at TheBreman.org. ì

Liberation Memorial State Park in New Jersey

Miami Holocaust Memorial

United Jewish Appeal mission to Madjanik Concentration Camp

Westerbork Deportation Camp Memorial

Eckstein Gift Enhances Breman Sunday Programs

Sunday afternoons have gotten more interesting at The Breman Jewish Heritage Museum in Midtown during the past several months.

The facility, which is a popular weekend family attraction, has added several outstanding arts and music programs in the building it shares with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

The weekend programs, called “Something Special Sundays,” includes free admission to the museum as well as the cultural programs thanks to a gift from Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein. So far this year, The Breman has welcomed performances by Emory University’s resident ensemble, the Vega String Quartet, a program about Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim by The Voices of Note, a discussion of the work of ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov, and a collage art

workshop based on the current exhibit of “The Portrait Unbound,” including 14 visual biographies from the work of photographer Robert Weingarden.

For Leslie Gordon, who ran Georgia State University’s 800-seat Rialto Theatre

before coming to The Breman in 2019, the proliferation of live performance, with such a talented lineup, is almost like a return to a previous life. Still, she is quick to credit the growth of all this good fortune to Eckstein’s largesse.

“One of the things that’s been so important to us here is to bring more people into the space, into our world, if you will. So, the idea was to come up with something that would draw new crowds in as well as show off what we have to offer.

Bob Bahr

Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein has made major programming gifts to The Breman Museum and Ahavath Achim Synagogue.

The Vega String Quartet, which is a resident ensemble at Emory University, has been a part of the “Something Special Sundays” at The Breman.

“Something Special Sundays” by Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein was an idea that was pitched to her that really, really resonated with her. It’s allowing us to do expansive programing.”

Support for this ambitious season comes from a $1.5 million grant by Atlanta music lover and philanthropist, Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein, who has been a longtime trustee of the museum. Last year, she also gave a $1 million bequest to Ahavath Achim Synagogue, the Conservative congregation where she has been a lifetime member. It is also being used to support and expand the synagogue’s public music performances and arts programming.

The gift to The Breman and the one to her synagogue last year according to Eckstein, had a simple goal.

“I wanted to leave a legacy,” she said. And hopefully it will keep going on into the future and I’ll bring happiness to people.”

The Eckstein-sponsored events are in addition to the Molly Blank Concert Series, which returned to the museum after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic. The three-concert series is named in memory of the mother of Arthur Blank, the philanthropist and owner of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United professional teams. Highlighting this year's season was an extraordinary concert featuring Atlanta jazz pianist Joe Alterman and one of his jazz heroes, saxophonist Houston Persons.

The expanded programs’ offerings, according to Breman director Gordon, has given the museum the ability to develop a new audience.

“There’s a lot of variety here. And Marilyn Eckstein’s gift allows us to do many events as a free program or at a reduced rate. So, she allows us to do things

that are very much on mission but will give that extra space that’ll get people through the door.”

Eckstein is not the first person in her family to make a significant gift to future Breman’s programs. Her maternal uncles, Max and Joe Cuba, were central figures in Jewish philanthropy beginning in the 1930s and through the important post-war growth years of Atlanta’s Jewish community. The Breman’s rich collection of archival materials, the largest such collection in the Southeast, is named in their honor.

The Max Cuba Social Services Center at Jewish Family and Career Services is another important gift. He was an Atlanta City councilman who left his imprint on almost every major Jewish institution in the city.

Eckstein’s father, Paul Ginsberg, was a highly successful trial attorney in Atlanta, a decorated hero during World War II and, in the post-war years -- the national commander of the Jewish War Veterans of America.

Eckstein has also been a prominent contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Foundation. Several years ago, she also donated the funds to rebuild the lobby of one of the buildings on the Jewish HomeLife campus on Howell Mill Road. As a result of her gift last year to the organization’s home health initiative, it has been renamed Eckstein Home Care in her honor.

In describing what motivates her generosity, she recalls the words of the 16th century English poet, John Donne.

“One of his writings has always stuck with me,” Eckstein said, “It is about being a part of each person I have met as well as they are a part of me. In his famous poem, Donne said, ‘No man is an island because I am involved in all mankind.’” ì

Stephen Sondheim’s music was featured in a Sunday program by The Voices of Note.

Yoel Levi Works His Musical Magic

By Bob Bahr

For Yoel Levi, whose success as the music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during the 1990s is legendary, the conductor of a great orchestra’s most difficult job is listening. Levi, who has achieved fame working with many of the greatest orchestras in the world, says it all comes down to the way a conductor hears an orchestra and uses that to guide the musicians, under his baton, to greatness.

“It’s all about this sound that you train yourself to hear from the musicians as you rehearse,” Levi says. “It’s about understanding the different nuances of certain instruments, how each creates something special and how you can create what you want them to create.”

Levi, who makes his home in Atlanta, says he first learned how to listen 45 years ago while working with the great Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. He was assistant conductor to music director, Lorin Maazel. Later, he perfected the skill when he succeeded Robert Shaw at the

Atlanta Symphony in 1988.

In his 12 years with the ASO, he strengthened the orchestra’s balance and quickly knit them into a highly disciplined organization with an internation-

al reputation. It was what he describes today as the ASO “Golden Years” when its catalogue of some 30 Telarc recordings regularly were awarded Grammys and it was named Best Classical Orchestra of

the Year. In the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Levi conducted the ASO in the opening and closing ceremonies. Since then, he’s become one of the modern masters of conducting, working

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina

DELICIOUS FOOD | OPEN BAR | LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Brookhaven restaurants return to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta Perimeter at Villa Christina on Thursday, September 21st in support of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Guests will enjoy delicious bites, signature cocktails, live music entertainment by The Bourbon Brothers, and more for only $35 through September 7. Join us!

Yoel Levi believes the key to successful conduction is a close listening of the orchestra.

with the great philharmonic orchestras in New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, as well as most of the major orchestras in Europe. Earlier this year he spent two weeks in South Korea, where he was honored as the laureate conductor of the South Korean Broadcasting System Symphony.

He had been the orchestra’s conductor from 2014 to 2019 and he appears frequently as a guest conductor in the Asian nation. His recording of Mahler’s “Ninth Symphony” with the orchestra on Deutsche Gramophone has been critically acclaimed.

Levi, who was born in Romania but grew up in Haifa, was the first Israeli to serve as principal guest conductor with the Israel Philharmonic. He conducted them on their last tour of America in 2019.

After such an impressive record over so many decades it wouldn’t be surprising if Levi had decided to put on a few old recordings and spend his afternoons dozing in a comfortable easy chair.

But 2½ years ago he doubled down and took on the task of rebuilding the orchestra he had grown up on, the Haifa Symphony.

In 2021, he became the orchestra’s music and artistic director and the guiding hand behind a musical renaissance in the beautiful, old, cosmopolitan, port city.

“When they first asked me,” Levi said, “I seriously considered not doing it, but then I said to myself, ‘maybe it’s time to give back. Maybe it’s time to create something special.’”

As his good fortune would have it, the rebuilding process began at about the same time as Israel saw a growing number of world class musicians from Russia

2023–2024 SCHWARTZ CENTER SEASON

BALOURDET QUARTET with JORDAN BAK, viola

Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m.

CHANTICLEER

Thursday, October 5 at 8 p.m.

MIDORI and FESTIVAL STRINGS LUCERNE

Thursday, November 16 at 8 p.m.

CANADIAN BRASS

Friday, January 26 at 8 p.m.

JAZZ FEST 2024

and Ukraine begin to emigrate. He hired a bassoon player from the Moscow Philharmonic, a veteran oboist from St. Petersburg. His first violinist is an earlier arrival from Ukraine. Altogether, 20 new musicians have been hired.

Slowly -- what Levi describes as a new standard of quality performance -- is starting to jell.

It was most apparent, according to the master, in a pair of concert performances in Haifa at the end of July of “La Traviata,” the beloved Italian opera, which featured an international cast. The performance in the 1,100-seat municipal concert hall in Mount Carmel brought critical acclaim and, according to Levi, enthusiastic, sold-out audiences.

“I enjoy bringing out the best in the musicians in the orchestra even if they don’t know how well they can play together and how much better they can be in a relatively short time. What we accomplished with ‘La Traviata’ was magical, really magical.”

American audiences will have a chance to judge for themselves as the orchestra develops its plans for a tour of the United States in 2024.

In the meantime, Levi is working on developing a classical music training program for young musicians under the age of 18. There are about 20 in The Young Reserve of the Haifa Symphony. The come from several communities in Northern Israel, both Jews and Israeli Arabs who work with professionals from the orchestra to raise their playing to a professional standard.

All instruction if free, financed by the orchestra and by a group of supporters in America. The goal is to develop a talent pool that doesn’t depend, as it does so often, now, on the winds of war. ì

featuring guitarist Bobby Broom and the Gary Motley Trio February 1–3

ST. OLAF CHOIR

Thursday, February 8 at 8 p.m.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE

Friday, February 16 at 8 p.m.

EMORY UNIVERSITY

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

featuring Eighth Blackbird

Thursday, March 7 at 8 p.m.

TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET

Island Prayers

Friday, March 22 at 8 p.m.

RANDALL GOOSBY, violin

Friday, April 5 at 8 p.m.

Randall Goosby photo by Kaupo Kikkas

The Haifa Symphony's concert performance of La Traviata on July 30 with Yoel Levi conducting.

ARTS & CULTURE

Robotics Expert Brings Moss Clock to Life

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

There’s no artist more vibrant, spiritual, or creative than Mother Earth.

Then, we have mortals like Georgia Institute of Technology grad Dylan Diamond, who execute Mother Earth’s designs into functional tools or, in this case, a timepiece: “Moss Clock.”

The clock has its own gear train and servo, or motors. According to Diamond, “Each collection of seven servos controls one of the four numbers that are individually wired to a power supply and microcontroller. The frame of the clock is constructed from computer numerical control (CNC) cut outs while the moving parts have been 3D-printed for its unique design. As for the coding, there’s a relatively simple algorithm to convert a stored time value into positions for the servos. From a few feet away, the clock really does resemble a seamless digital display.”

The bottom line for all: this technology is a clock composed of living moss.

“Moss Clock” was funded by Terry Furtua, who runs a luxury flower shop out of Corso Atlanta and is known for avant-garde floral design. Furtua and Diamond wanted to do something unique with moss and discussed an analog moss clock (essentially a circle cut out with preserved moss placed on it). To take it a step further, Diamond had the idea to make a “digitally inspired” clock where moving panels of different colored moss resemble a classic digital clock display.

Accounting for a few breaks between phases, the clock roughly took five months to complete. It’s a mechatronic timepiece that has 28 panels.

In the planning, as with all prototyping, a lot of things went wrong. Diamond

explained, “Whether it was having to redesign how the servo moved the panel, or having to work with parts that were cut the wrong size, countless things went awry. I went through much more 3Dprint filament than anticipated, but one of the more unexpected things was how hard it was to accurately describe the work to other people. “

The process started with Diamond making a quick 3D animation using a software program called Blender. He then 3D-printed a prototype of a singular mov-

ing panel. After finishing the computeraided design (CAD) for the entire clock, he ordered the rest of the materials. The CNC cut outs were applied to the plastic and the remaining 3D parts were printed. Then, it was a matter of assembling the mechanical components, wiring, and coding. Once the moss had been glued on and after testing and working out the bugs, the clock was functional. The moss was purchased from Super Moss and has been grown and persevered to last for many years.

Since Diamond has a degree from Georgia Tech, one poses if a lay person could duplicate such a project.

He stated, “My physics degree helped, but I firmly believe that in the age of information, with public access to some many free tutorials and teachers online, anyone can do something like this. This project appears daunting because robotics takes experience in many different areas: mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, etc., but really, it’s more of being a Jackof-all-trades than being an expert. You only need to know a little of each one of these.”

For its public viewing, Furtua held an event at The High Museum of Art’s Oasis Night where participants produced

still life drawings of her flowers. Diamond displayed the “Moss Clock” nearby as it was an exciting experience finally showing off the project to the world.

As far as other moss projects, “Moss Barbie,” a mannequin stylized with moss and other florals, made its debut. Diamond extols the potential for preserved moss being used in unexpected places. Moss and nature-inspired art is on the rise. This writer visited a real estate headquarters on Peachtree Road where the entire conference room wall was a live mushroom colony - dirt and all.

Diamond remarked, “In a world where everything is prefabricated, it captures a certain sense of comforting wonder that a lot of interiors struggle to achieve.”

Diamond’s mother, artist Linda Mitchell Diamond, said, “Dylan has always loved creating, as a child drawing detailed spaceships, building complicated Legos. His inventiveness leans towards the complex and mechanical, and I’m always impressed by the way his analytical mind approaches processes. When I heard about his ‘Moss Clock,’ I had no idea of its ambitious scope. I was blown away seeing the large functioning clock, such an elaborate and elegant piece of engineering!” ì

The “Moss Clock” is preserved to last for many years to come.

Georgia Tech grad Dylan Diamond had some starts and stops to get his prototype to reality.

Diamond, a robotics whiz, was detailed and inventive as a child. His artist mother calls the clock “an elegant piece of engineering.”

ARTS & CULTURE

Pinsky is Laughing Back to His Roots

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

If you missed him on the “Jay Leno Show” or the TV show, “Love Connection,” now’s the chance to see local comedian Daryl Pinksy perform at The Punchline on Thursday, Sept. 14.

Recalling his motivation for doing stand-up comedy, Pinsky said, “I was always the class clown, but rarely got in trouble. I learned at an early age that if you can also make the teacher laugh, a trip to the principal could usually be avoided! I believe performing comedy on a stage is innate. All of us have hysterical friends who are not comedians, and never could be. Most would never attempt to perform on stage.”

Pinsky has performed all over the U.S with stars like Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jeff Foxworthy. He also opened at concerts for Joan Jett, Billy Ocean, and Pat Benatar.

Growing up in Miami and graduating from University of Florida, Pinsky claims at age seven that he already knew he wanted to be a comedian. He chan-

neled his Uncle Roy, a Vaudeville performer, one of Shirley Temple’s tap dance teachers. Throughout high school and

college, he performed in various acts and was half of the comedy team of “Pinsky and Gray,” one of the first comedic acts to perform regularly at The Punchline. After a show in 1988, an agent in the audience persuaded Pinsky to move to L.A where he spent a few years performing, doing voice-overs and radio commercials.

Moving back to Atlanta in 1990 to sharpen a new solo act, with the intention of heading back to L.A., he met his future wife, Ronit, at a comedy club, no less. When he dropped his notion of professionalism, requiring world traveling and leaving a young wife home alone, he reluctantly quit the biz and began working in her family’s diamond business. He never gave up performing entirely and booked occasional events.

His act now is stand-up with musical comedy thrown in. He plays guitar and utilizes current events “skewered to music.”

He added, “Of course, funny is funny, but my act has always been clean, as I can reach a much larger audience. No comedy clubgoer walks out on a comic because obscenity wasn’t more rampant. I rarely talk to the audience — they paid to watch my performance and to hear jokes, not to schmooze.”

Pinsky shared, “I get much satisfaction from making people laugh. The greatest fulfillment on stage is when a new, untested joke (or song) works the first time. After not performing for so many years, I am excited and anxious. There is much to memorize and many

new song parodies to practice…inevitably, after the show, people will ask how I can memorize everything. I truly don’t have a clue.”

Before going on stage on Sept. 14, he will be doing breathing exercises and meditation -- hopefully, he will remember to do it before the show and not during.

Often, he is asked, “What is your goal? Why now?” Recently, Pinsky had an epiphany. He had been writing jokes and songs during and after the pandemic, as there was “not much else to do.” He is now curious as to how audiences will react to his material in current times.

While his act is not mean spirited, he does poke fun at everything. His hope is that a funny, 63-year-old comedian can venture back in and be successful. Maybe he’s on to something. A local talent agency is now repping him for commercials. He said, “The agency has never seen me perform, so we shall see where this can all lead!”

When he’s not doing comedy, Pinsky’s day job is diamond wholesaling, selling to retail stores throughout the country. He commented, “Diamonds are a luxury item and it’s an unpredictable, unfunny business. In tough economic times, it can be formidable.”

Pinsky leaves us with a joke:

“I got pulled over in Jerusalem. The Israeli cop asks for my papers and starts speaking Hebrew really fast. I said, ‘Officer, excuse me but I only know English!’ He looks at me curiously, hands me back my papers and lets me go! Funny, because the same thing happened to me in Mississippi!” ì

Daryl Pinsky, 63, is taking his comedic past with a new solo act to appear at The Punchline on Sept. 14

Designed for dreamers and makers

For every pursuit, SCAD offers students a wonderland of resources designed to surpass top studios, startups, and firms. SCAD.EDU

SCAD is the only university with two LED volume stages located at the SCAD Digital Media Center in Atlanta and Savannah Film Studios, the most comprehensive university film studio in the U.S.

New Holocaust Play Captures ‘American Experience’

A new play about the Holocaust is making its rounds across the Southeast with its next performance set for the Classic Center Theatre in Athens on Sept. 14.

Sasha Heller

“We’ll Meet Again,” the new play from writer James R. Harris and director Richard Rose, tells the story of Henry (Heinz) Stern, who fled Nazi Germany when he was 5 years old with his family and settled in Opelika, Ala. Stern’s family was welcomed with open arms into the small, rural Southern town.

The show uses humor and contemporary music to tell an uplifting tale that people of all ages, and not just Jewish people, can relate to.

“We knew the show would likely be popular with older audiences, who are more familiar with World War II-era music,” said director Rose. “But it’s success with younger patrons and high schoolage audiences was a bit of a surprise.”

Rose credits the playwright, Harris, for the play being so relatable and enjoyable for a wide selection of audiences.

“Jim Harris, in creating this show, stated that he wanted…to capture the essence of what America has meant to the world in our best moments – love of family, love of country, welcoming others into our culture, and striving and succeeding together as a community.”

Stern and his immediate family fled Nazi Germany in 1937 and joined Henry’s great uncle, Julius Hagedorn, who owned a department store in Opelika. Henry and his sister, Lora, attended Opelika schools and Henry lettered in football and basketball. Upon graduating, Henry served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1954, and later attended Alabama Polytechnic University (now Auburn University). After working as a partner in a department store, Stern was named president of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, where he served for the remainder of his career.

Henry later found out that his maternal grandmother, paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins had all been sent to concentration camps where they perished. As such, Stern spent most of his adult life, more than half a century, searching for any surviving family members. And on Nov. 21, 2004, his prayer was answered.

Stern received an email from a friend that included a link to a website that tracks Holocaust victims and their families. So, Stern input his grandmother’s name and was overjoyed with the result – a Fred Hertz in Durham, N.C.

The next morning, Stern sent Hertz a photograph, taken moments before the Stern family boarded the ship that would bring them to America, hoping that Hertz might identify any of the individuals pictured. Hertz, indeed, recognized someone and called Stern to connect.

Hertz had recognized himself, seated in the back row, and the pair realized they were first cousins who hadn’t seen each other in 60 years, having thought the rest of their family members had died. A couple months later, Stern brought his family to Durham to meet Hertz and his family, and the two cousins shared a tearful embrace in the Hertz’s driveway.

Hertz passed away in 2008 and Stern in 2014, but their legacy lives on in Harris’ play.

In an interview with East Alabama Living, Harris said, “It was such a touch-

ing story, and it really brought home a connection to Henry Stern as a person. I thought by using Henry’s story as the nucleus of the play, I could personalize the events of that momentous era in a way that was understandable and relatable.”

Of note, the production has received financial support from Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl and his wife, Brandy. Pearl, who is Jewish, attended a local showing and was blown away by the performance and subject matter.

Pearl told East Alabama Living, “We laughed and cried. We enjoyed the music and the dancing. We were filled with great pride and happiness about the greatest country in the world that we love so dearly.”

Pearl and his wife were so moved that they approached Harris after the show and offered their support to ensure the production continued throughout the South.

Pearl said he and Brandy want as many middle and high school students as possible to be exposed to the play and for families to take in the story together.

“Our young people today are not be-

ing taught enough about how good this country is. This production will make them proud to be an American,” Pearl told East Alabama Living.

“We’ll Meet Again” has been scheduled at 14 venues in Alabama and Georgia, including Savannah, Athens, and LaGrange. The producers are currently working on securing a showcase for the play at an Atlanta-area playhouse.

The play is presented in two acts with one 15-minute intermission. The running time of the show is approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes.

“We hope that Jim’s show will serve as a reminder to all of us as to what is good and great about our country when we live up to our ideals,” Rose said. “We hope this story will inspire you, as it has inspired us, to understand all the wonderful things we are capable of discovering together on a daily basis.”

The Sept. 14 performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $36.50 to $50.50, plus applicable fees. For more information, visit www.classiccenter. com/1566/Well-Meet-Again. ì

Ginger Stern, Coach Bruce Pearl, Martha Jo Katz and Julie Golsen

Family photo taken before the Sterns board the ship that would bring them to America.

“We’ll Meet Again” will be staged at the Classic Center Theatre in Athens on Sept. 14.

Rosh Hashanah Art Contest 2023

Atlanta Jewish Times is looking for creative and colorful Rosh Hashanah illustrations to be featured in its September 15 Rosh Hashanah issue. The community prompt this year is “Reach for the Stars in 5784.” Your art may either reflect this prompt or reflect Rosh Hashanah in general.

Age categories: Children ages 0-12 & Adults Ages 13+

www.atlantajewishtimes.com/rosh-hashanah-2023

Submit by September 5 5 p.m.

Crane is the Family ‘Baby’ at 92 SENIOR LIVING

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

With 96- and 98-year-old siblings, “youngster” Milton Crane is still cranking out his best life as a member of the Bad Boy Bikers Club and breezed through the Peachtree Road Race at 88.

At 89, he appeared in Temple Sinai’s “Dancing with the Stars” with professional partner, Valentina. In addition to winning the genetic lottery, Crane shares his lifestyle tips…

Crane grew up in Stoughton, Mass., a suburb of 6,000, located 18 miles from Boston, with only 46 Jewish families. He recalled, “We had a full-time rabbi who prepared bar (no bat) mitzvah students for three years, three days weekly, individual lessons at his kitchen table while he sipped hot tea with sugar cubes.”

Crane went on to the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, majoring in economics, and in 1948, he met his future wife, Evelyn Postman, freshman week. He then served two years in the Air Force stationed at Brunswick, Maine. After the service, he moved to Lynn, Mass., one

block from the beach, which was at the time unusable due to a major polio epidemic.

After earning his MBA, he trans-

ferred to Atlanta in 1956. Crane recalled, “I almost turned down the promotion due to segregation, but very happy that we made the move.”

A snazzy dresser himself, Crane first had a career in the women’s fashion business, when the Merchandise Mart opened in 1960, as a regional manager.

Milton Crane easily finished the Peachtree Road race at age 88. He ran before jogging shoes were even manufactured.

A younger Crane with wife, Joan, and three daughters.

He later joined the corporate world with Portman’s Apparel Mart 1989 as executive director of mart relations, until retirement at 75.

Crane’s road map for longevity: “Daily exercise for the body and the mind. I started running in 1967 with the JCC Early Birds who met at 6:30 a.m., before there were running shoes. Took part in the first Peachtree Road Race! After a 1975 trip to the Big Sur in California, I was exposed to “rolfing” or structural realignment, and tai chi, to which I attribute my good health today. After running, I started biking with Bad Boy Bikers where I am still a member.”

Crane volunteered many years with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Emory University as the “best brain exercise,” where he served on the board, curriculum committee, and as a teacher for his popular class, “Meet the Authors,” where he brought in seven regional guest authors. He remains as a consultant.

Ever personable, Crane appeared in two TV productions, “Lodge 49” and “Wonder Years,” and was member of a senior acting ensemble, memorizing and writing lines. He believes in long-term projects like belonging to their couple’s book club for the past 43 years; the club is currently reading, “Signal Fires,” by Dani Shapiro.

Crane follows the “Yen Diet,” and explained exactly how that works.

“If I ever have a yen for something (steak, lamb chops, dessert) I feel that it’s my body telling me it’s needed to balance nutrition, and I should indulge, but only in a very small way…supplemented with

the same variety of vitamins since 1975.”

Crane has been a member of Temple Sinai since 1970. During his 80s, he became a board member, then secretary, and ran other activities involving aging and fine arts.

The Cranes have three daughters, three grandchildren and two grand dogs.

Quick round with Crane:

AJT: Idea of a fun night?

Crane: Saturday matinee at Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center followed by dinner at Select or Brooklyn Café.

AJT: Idea of best vacation?

Crane: Pre-pandemic was going to New York City for five days seeing Broadway shows, museums, restaurants; traveling in Maine, feasting on lobster.

AJT: Favorite pleasure trips?

Crane: France, Italy, Greece, Israel, and business trips to Colombia, South Korea, Spain, Canada, the most recent as consultant critiquing their efforts to design for the American woman.

AJT: Secret to a happy marriage?

Crane: Just celebrated our 70th anniversary. Having the same set of values, supporting each other, realizing it is always a work in progress, with pleasure along the way. May help to have a wife who’s a psychologist!

AJT: Fondest old memory?

Crane: Riding in the rumble seat of a friend’s 1932 Pontiac coupe. ì

Mobility Scooters

Wheelchair Ramps

Stair Lifts

Walkers & Rollators

Hospital Beds & Other Home Health Items

Personal Care

• Bathing and grooming

• Continence and bathroom assistance

• Ambulation and mobility

• Transferring and positioning

• Meal planning and preparation

• Walking and exercise

• Reminders of medication, events

• Other personalized services

Companion Care

• Meal planning and preparation

• Walking and exercise

• Reminders of medication, events, birthdays and more

• Other personalized services

Milton Crane, after 70 years of marriage, said, “It helps to have a wife who’s a therapist.”

The Gift of Grandparents and Grandchildren

Robyn Spizman

Gerson

If you’re fortunate enough to have a second name like Grandma, Grandpa, Zayde, Mimi, Gigi, Grand, Pop, Gigi, or Honey, you’re blessed. Grandchildren enter your heart long before they arrive and are a remarkable gift who sweeten life.

Our grandchildren make our hearts overflow with joy. It’s also an important opportunity to understand the sensitivities that accompany the role. Grandparenting is a delicious, fine line between supporting our own kids’ needs, their parenting boundaries and preferences while managing a desire to spoil their children. Certainly, it is not always a good idea to endlessly indulge them and yet, often hard to resist.

To see how Atlanta’s grandparents’ bond and build meaningful memories with their grandchildren, this writer asked Carla and Ralph Lovell who have a beautiful relationship with granddaughter, Sienna, who is 8. Carla said, “My husband, Ralph, has a green thumb, and our home is surrounded by plants. He has shared his love of gardening with Sienna since she was 3 and she inherited his green thumb. Sienna and Ralph, who she calls “Opa,” do their household rounds whenever she visits, and Sienna looks forward to caring for the plants to see how each has grown. Sienna is knowledgeable about plant food, proper watering, cutting back if needed and prides herself on seeing how the plants are doing.”

It’s clear that love grows in special ways and Sienna is a budding example of “grandparenting love” in bloom.

Grandmother Cheryl Isaacs and her husband, Phil, also create meaningful time with their seven grandchildren living by a meaningful recipe. Cheryl shared that their personal legacy is to teach by example what it means to care for each other, as evidenced by how they gathered to care for Cheryl’s mom, “Gigi” (for great grandmother), and Phil’s mom, “Nana Gilda,” through later stages in life.

Cheryl added, “Most of us think of leaving behind something tangible or monetary. I would rather leave an impression on my family that will help build healthy character, values, and virtues in years to come. The time spent

with our family and involvement in their lives have an eternal impact on their souls. Your greatest legacy is what you leave in your children and grandchildren not what you leave for your children.”

Cheryl said, “On a lighter note, I asked my 14-year-old granddaughter, Naomi, the other day what she might remember about me long after I’ve gone. She said, your ‘Cheryl sauce!’ It wasn’t exactly what I had hoped she would say, but ketchup and mayonnaise mixed was my secret sauce for everything. I took it as a compliment and smiled. We take great measures to celebrate holidays together as a family, both secular and religious ones. Our family’s holiday meals are a special part of it.  My three children practice different levels of observances, we take steps to make everything work. As a family, we care that their legacy lives on and are dedicated as the grandparents to making that happen.”

And then there’s the understandable concern that as grandparents, we overindulge our grandchildren with sugary treats. A sugar-free lesson comes from Grandmother Shelley Cooper, a certified health and well-being coach in Atlanta, along with her husband, Dr. Neil Cooper, who are grandparents with a purpose.

Shelley shared, “Our children know that we eat plant-based food and when they come to Grandma’s house there’s going to be a lot of veggies. I had to come to terms that I was not going to take them to fast food restaurants, indulge them in chicken nuggets and sweets. I’m proudly the grandma that serves fruits and veg-

etables, and we have a garden at our home. There’s no greater joy than seeing them pick blueberries, cherry tomatoes and gobble them up. I bake muffins with bananas, zucchini, carrots, blueberries, plant milk, and all incorporating whole grains sweetened with dates or maple syrup. The grandchildren love my Grandma’s Shelley’s Muffins, and they eat whatever we serve.

“They even like my tofu and broccoli. At holidays, we bake hamantaschen together and they eat all the traditional Sephardic-style vegetables and love what we serve with love and TLC. They have a good understanding of a healthy diet and a love of family and their Sephardic roots which celebrates old world family recipes from the Mediterranean island of Rhodes and Turkey. Even the game of dreidel would win a little dark chocolate, and believe it or not, my world-famous muffins.”

Next, meet the Strauss family who are fortunate to have both sets of grandparents and Elaine Strauss shared, “Here in Atlanta, our children have the blessing of both sets of grandparents living within 30 minutes of us – my parents – Berta and Lev Mebel (Bubbie and Deda) and my husband’s parents - Anne and David Strauss (Grandma and Grandpa). My husband’s grandmother, Barbara Landstein, lives in Hallandale, Fla., and we have gone to visit her at the beach and stay in touch via FaceTime on a weekly basis.

“Over the past six years since we became parents, these special experiences have included: sleepovers; a week-long vacation at the beach where our son

Ralph Lovell and granddaughter, Sienna, share a love of plants.

Shelly and Neil Cooper’s grandchildren love spending time in the garden and enjoy healthy food choices.

learned how to play dominos; special trips to the Lego store and build-a-bear store; trips to Chattanooga; annual Hil-

ton Head trips for New Year’s; spending countless Jewish and secular holidays and birthday gatherings together and

much more. We look forward to continuing many special experiences where our children can continue to make memories

with their grandparents (and, of course – that gives us as parents a little respite from day-to-day parenting!)” ì

The Traveling Postcard and Value of Family

Paid for by Heartis Senior Living .

In 1939 Havana, Cuba, Bernd Linder, received a birthday postcard from his grandmother living in London. Now separated by the Atlantic, both had originally lived in Nazi Germany before leaving all of their possessions behind and managing to escape.

A year later, Bernd and his grandparents, along with his parents and brother, were reunited in New York and made the Bronx their new home.

Bernd went on to attend City College of New York where he met his future wife, Toby Bernstein, a fellow Bronx resident. After the two married, they soon moved to North Carolina where Bernd took on a new position with General Electric and Toby taught first grade. By this time, they were parents to three beautiful daughters and enjoyed raising a family in smalltown America.

While at GE, Bernd had the opportunity to serve as a management volunteer and was trained to assist employees with choosing mutual funds for their retirement accounts. After his own early retirement, he turned this experience into a second career, founding Linder Financial Services, a fee-

only investment advisory. Toby eventually retired from teaching and joined him in the business. Initially their clients were friends and former co-workers from GE and the school system.

The Linders continued to grow Linder Financial Services and even convinced two of their daughters to join the family business. As the family worked together to expand their business, Bernd and Toby began to think about relocating to Atlanta to be near their children and grandchildren.

They chose an independent living apartment at Heartis Buckhead. And as they prepared to move from North Carolina to

Georgia, they made an astonishing discovery. Tucked away in a box was the postcard Bernd’s grandmother had sent from London to Cuba for his fourth birthday.

As they had almost no other possessions at the time, his mother saved it for him. It had survived, intact, for over 84 years.

Today, Bernd and Toby are living happily at Heartis Buckhead, where Bernd

serves as president of the resident council. The couple gives rave reviews of the services, amenities and the camaraderie they have with new friends through activities like floral design classes, bridge and musical programs. The Linders are also members of The Temple, which is right up the street.

But the Linders will tell you the most important part is having their loved ones nearby.

The birthday postcard, which serves as a constant reminder of the importance of family, is stored safely in their apartment.

To learn more about Linder Financial services and the Linder family, visit linderfinancial.com. For more information about Heartis Buckhead’s upscale independent living, assisted living and memory care community, visit heartisbuckhead.com or call 678-870-4908.

Strauss and Mebel family - Passover 2022: Elaine and Ben Strauss, grandparents Berta and Lev Mebel, and Anne and David Strauss, Michael (now 6) and Zoey (now 4).

The Isaacs family and grandchildren celebrate holidays year-round.

Paid Content by Heartis Senior Living.

Is It Time to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance?

About 70 percent of Americans by the age of 65 will need some long-term care during their remaining years, according to AARP, which cites data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AARP notes that along with aging comes the increased possibility of physical or cognitive impairment. Family and friends may not be able to adequately provide care, and it’s estimated that more than one-third of the aging population will need to pay for assistance from skilled caregivers.

Chana Shapiro

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is a means of addressing this costly possibility.

Consumer advocate Clark Howard notes on his website that long-term care for women averages 3.7 years and 2.2 years for men. Without a long-term care insurance plan, a family can exhaust all its financial resources in order to provide care for themselves or aging relatives.

Gail Raab, owner and broker of Insurance Depot, has advised families about LTCI options for decades. She relates the following story:

“I sold a shared long-term care policy to a couple in their 50s. The wife was athletic, in good health, and did not feel that she needed long-term care coverage. She wanted it for her husband who was seven years older, but I explained she could buy a policy in which she and her husband could share the total benefits. If one spouse needed more than 50 percent of the policy, the other spouse’s share of the policy could be used. She finally agreed and purchased the shared LTCI policy. Within the first year, the wife had a serious illness that put her in intensive care for a month, the hospital for another few weeks, and in need of a year of physical therapy and rehab. During this time, she was unable to care for herself and needed long-term care. She thanked me over and over for convincing her to purchase the shared policy, thereby saving their retirement funds.”

Whereas regular life insurance will pay the face amount of a policy to beneficiaries after one dies, it does not ease the financial burden of a physical or mental illness while the policy holder is still alive. LTCI, while costly, meets that need and can be applied at home or in an assisted-living facility or nursing home

where the caregiver works in addition to the facility’s regular staff.

LTCI is customized to an individual’s wishes and wealth. Options may include any daily allowance selected by the purchaser, beginning with $100 a day or $3,000 a month. Other options include the waiting period or number of days before the benefits start, including 30, 60, 90, or 180 days; the “zero” waiting period rider for health care in the home that begins on the first day that long-term care is needed, after which those days used for home can be applied to satisfy the waiting period in a facility; the number of years the policy will continue to provide benefits, including two to 10 years or lifetime; and the inflation rider of compounded interest rates of 3 percent or 5 percent simple interest; or no inflation rider. In addition, couples have the option of separate benefits or shared benefits, so they can take from one another’s ‘pool of money’ if needed for long-term care. In general, premiums are not guaranteed and can increase, and the numerous options will affect the cost of the policy.

Medical treatment for an illness or injury is covered by health insurance policies, Medicare, or Medicare supplements. LTCI, however, only pays for caregivers and does not provide for any treatment. A long-term care policyholder

becomes eligible to receive benefits when unable to perform at least two forms of self-care, such as dressing, eating, bathing, transporting oneself in and out of bed, and moving around independently. Cognitive impairment automatically qualifies a policyholder for long-term care benefits.

Is long-term care advisable for everyone? Sheldon Berch, an insurance broker for Siegel Insurance, suggests that it’s not imperative for the very wealthy who have sizeable insurance policies to leave to heirs and are still able to afford skilled care without LTCI. He adds that LTCI is not for the poor who cannot afford the LTCI premiums. Georgia’s Medicaid Community Care Services Program operates under the Elderly and Disabled Waiver to help frail older adults remain in their own homes or communities and receive services there as an alternative to nursing homes. Those who fall between the two extremes of wealthy and poor are strongly encouraged to buy LTCI.

Because LTCI is expensive, and premiums increase periodically, the decision of when to purchase it is not set in stone. Raab thinks the best age to buy long-term care is in one’s mid-50s or early 60s. Howard and Berch agree. Berch mentions that this age group often looks at their own aging parents, who are in their 70s or 80s, and who often do not have LTCI. The

younger group wants to plan for future needs without becoming a financial burden on their children. If purchased at older ages, late 60s and 70s, the premiums are much higher even though it’s likely they would be needed for fewer years.

Applicants with serious health issues, like diabetes, cancer, kidney, or heart disease, may be denied LTCI or may be accepted for coverage at higher rated premiums.

Raab mentions a new long-term care product that Howard calls a hybrid policy. With a total lump sum, an individual can purchase a paid-up life insurance policy with long-term care benefits. For example, the individual can invest $100,000 with no further premiums, and the proceeds will be paid to the policyholder’s beneficiaries upon his/her death. If the policyholder requires longterm care, the entire $100,000 may be used for caregivers, leaving no money for the beneficiaries.

However, the insurance company provides another sum matching the face amount of the original life insurance policy, to be used if needed for additional long-term care. In this example, the sum would be another $100,000. This insurance product is available for older policyholders in their late 70s who can afford to put a large lump sum into this special insurance plan.

Medical and financial experts agree that long-term health care plans may be the best option for couples who fall in the middle-income range.

Howard lauds the hybrid policy which combines life insurance with long-term care, underscoring that the policyholder gets long-term care coverage along with the life insurance that is designated for heirs if LTCI goes unused. If only a portion of the life insurance is used for long-term care, the balance of life insurance goes to the beneficiaries upon the policyholder’s death. Hybrid policies substitute for traditional long-term care policies for older adults whose premiums would be prohibitive and have increases. It is worth noting that premiums are not required when the policyholder is receiving benefits on a claim.

Raab suggests another option. Longterm care policyholders can purchase LTCI with benefits that will increase with an inflation rider over the years and be waiting for them when needed. She gives an example: if a policy is purchased with a 3 percent annual compounded inflation rider with an initial $3,750 monthly benefit ($125 a day), that monthly benefit the second year will increase to $3,863, then $3,979 the third year, and up to $4,893 in

the tenth year. The inflation rider and the number of years it is added to the benefits (20 years or lifetime) are determined when the policy is purchased.

Raab relates this cautionary tale:

“Long-term care policies are truly ‘worth their weight in gold’ and can prevent financial ruin. A friend’s wealthy parents, who lived in an assisted living facility, both developed dementia that required

24-hour care at the same time. Since they did not have long-term care coverage, the exorbitant expenses were paid out-of-pocket. Both parents required care for almost four years. After one died, the other parent needed care for another three years. My friend and her siblings watched their inheritance disappear.”

The cost of long-term care insurance depends on the age, health, gender, coverage amount, waiting period before initiation of care, and marital status of an applicant.

Howard candidly states on his website, “Getting old is part of life. At some point, most of us are going to need care. Maybe in a nursing home. Assisted living. Skilled care in our homes. Are you prepared?”

Berch adds this solemn advice, “Don’t become a financial burden on your children. Do your financial planning now!”

Raab is practical about long-term care insurance, “When it comes to insurance, something is always better than nothing!” ì

Gail Raab, owner and broker of Insurance Depot, has advised families about long term care insurance options for decades.

Sheldon Berch, insurance broker for Siegel Insurance

Zoom Gali Gali Girlfriends Span Seven Decades

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

At summer camp, the popular chant was “Make new friends, keep the old / Some are silver, some are gold.”

Here in lies a continuing life saga of how friendship endures through the decades with seven native Atlanta women who are modern-day “Golden Girls.”

Peggy Slotin recalled, “We were all together on the ‘Woody Willow TV Show’ in our Brownie uniforms, led by Mrs. Gavin. Additionally, we were all in Hebrew Sunday school together on 10th Street, taught by Mr. Steinberg, and played basketball on the old courts of the AJCC on Peachtree Street. On Saturdays, we walked together from the AA Synagogue on Washington Street to Ding Ho’s Restaurant after Rabbi Epstein’s religious services, and we were all confirmed together.”

Member Charlotte Kaminsky said she enjoys how the group still holds on to “Old Atlanta” through their lasting friendships.

The group did take some down time to go to college, get married, and have children. Later in life, at the onset of COVID, they reconnected.

Alice Sanders said, “Not surprisingly, we are each other’s history. We remember each other’s families, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. Asking around, you will not find many people still in touch with their friends from kindergarten. We have come full circle…we fabulous ladies in our 80s.”

The “Girls” are much more than a support group. They share a meeting of the minds, common experiences, recognition at a deep level of acquired wisdom, and an appreciation of each other’s issues.

Bunny Rosenberg said, “Knowing that you are part of a group that understands its roots, appreciates the other’s accomplishments, and are grateful we all have arrived safely together at this stage of life, creating a strong bond and an everlasting sense of comfort. I feel young when I can spend time with the friends that I knew when I was young…it’s like a step back in time.”

Events are top of mind for the group. They get together for lunch at fashionable restaurants. They toured Savannah College of Art & Design and the Atlanta History Center. The Breman Jewish Museum and the Swan House are on the future activity list.

The pandemic played a pivotal role

in strengthening relationships. Not being able to be present physically, they learned to Zoom, which was a significant challenge. Zooming offered the ladies the opportunity to stay connected socially and share life events.

Eleanor Schwartz said, “Our Sunday afternoon Zoom meetings were the highlight of my week. We named our group, “The Zoom Gali Gali Girls.”

Zooming continued as an educational tool. Slotin, who goes to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from November to April, offered a different dimension. She shared what it was like to live in another country and showed her presentation, “The Seeds of Antisemitism,” which be-

gins with Abraham and goes through the part that the early Roman Catholic Church played in the suffering of the Jewish people. She said, “The reception by a large mixed religious group in Puerto Vallarta was amazing. This is the same presentation I gave to the ‘Girls’ and their husbands at an ice cream party hosted by Cookie Aftergut recently.”

The ladies are unique in their own way. Aftergut appreciated the bond and support in difficult times. Aftergut, who just turned 82, is a vocal and well-known breast cancer survivor and started “Chemoflage,” a different kind of support group.

She said, “I am proud to say I helped

many women going down the ‘chemo journey’ and, upon closing, was able to donate $66,000 to cancer charities.” She is looking forward to celebrating their 100th birthdays together in 18 years. She is known to say, “We are not aging, we are ripening to perfection.”

Another “Girl,” Gail Natter, summed it up, “The only thing better than old friends is old friends with chocolate! The Zoom Gali Gali Girls take our birthdays very seriously. They feel each birthday marks a milestone. At this point in our lives, we count our blessings instead of candles.”

Wonder what Rabbi Epstein thought about Ding Ho dining? ì

The “Girls” were 10-year-old Brownies in 1951 appearing on the “Woody Willow TV Show.”

Zoom Gali Gali Girls today, from left: (front row) Peggy Schaffer Slotin, Charlotte Blass Kaminski, Eleanor Leff Schwartz, Cookie Friedland Aftergut; (back row) Gail Feldser, Bunny Rothberg Rosenberg, Alice Isenberg Sanders

.

9 Leaves Experience a

Approach to Helping You to Become The Best Version of Yourself

9 Leaves is an elevated, natural remedy experience located in Sandy Springs, Ga., providing you with superior hemp-based CBD/cannabinoid infused products, such as physician-created formulas for tinctures and gummies, along with bath and beauty products. 9 Leaves even has specially created formulas for our beloved pets.

9 Leaves’ products are designed to help you deal with life’s every day aliments such as pain, lack of sleep, and anxiety—all of which reduce vitality and confidence, and thus impede us from reaching the best version of ourselves on a daily basis. In achieving this goal, 9 Leaves provides full transparency, so you as a consumer can make an educated choice. For example, 9 Leaves’ certificate of analysis is comprehensive, permitting you to actually know what is—and is not—in the products.

Also, 9 Leaves’ specialists believe a “product is more than a brand.” And, while they donate 3% of sales every quarter to social equity organizations dedicated to mental health awareness, the greatest example of their commitment to society is the life work of 9 Leaves’ owners.

The Founder and Co-Owner of 9 Leaves, Mario B. Williams, Esq., owns a successful plaintiffs’ law firm, which specializes in constitutional and human rights law. Williams has dedicated his professional career to helping those around him, and believes success starts with a pain-free day, which, in part, is derived from proper sleep, reduced anxiety, and sound mental health.

Noticing a gap in the market for holistic healthcare based on a diversity of cannabinoid based products, Williams founded 9 Leaves: a line of all-natural cannabinoid products that address the everyday obstacles preventing people from reaching their highest potential.

“I’m inspired by the fact that I know people get up every day, and just like me, we all make sacrifices and work hard,” says Williams. “No one can make it alone. That has inspired me to seek ways to improve people’s everyday experience.”

Not only do they stand behind their product line at 9 Leaves, Dr. Bonni Goldstein, the author of “Cannabis is Medicine,” and who has treated more than 20,000 patients over the past 20 years with cannabinoid-based formulas—will soon be running an educational series—in the 9 Leaves’ store—about cannabinoids, and also the effectiveness of the products’ contents.

Bonni Goldstein is the Medical Director of Canna-Centers Wellness and Education, a California-based medical practice devoted to educating patients about the use of cannabinoids for serious and chronic medical conditions. After years of working in the specialty of Pediatric Emergency medicine, she developed an interest in the scientific medical use of various cannabinoids, after witnessing their synergetic, beneficial effects on an ill friend. Over the last 20 years, she has evaluated thousands of patients for the use of cannabinoid-based formulas and is recognized as an expert in the clinical application of cannabinoid therapeutics. She has a special interest in treating children with intractable epilepsy, autism, cancer, and other conditions.

Visit online at www.9leavesatl.com or at the flagship store 6070 Sandy Spring Cir, STE B, Sandy Springs, GA. And check out their Spotify.

Paid Content by 9 Leaves Cannabanoid Therapy.

Jewish Women Invest in Fun and Knowledge

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Atlanta women are taking stock.

Finance whiz Nancy Amato is a member of two longstanding clubs. The Optimist Club, founded 53 years ago, and featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times at its 25-year-mark, is going strong with Gloria Smiley, its only founding member and treasurer. Barbara Goldstein is a long-term president. Debbie Bottner is the secretary; Sarah Abend is the Excel spreadsheet whiz.

Over the last 28 years, the club has maintained 41 members, some second and third generation. It currently has nine individuals anxious to join. Smiley considers the members her friends and extended family.

The AJT article in 1995 inspired Marcha Schwarz to gather friends, Pat Balser and Barbara Planer, to start a new club. The Late Bloomers Investment Club was formed, and it, too, is still up and running strong. Board members are elected each term with Ruth Swartz and Linda Hendelberg currently serving as co-presidents. Amato is a member of both clubs. Soon after the Late Bloomers club was formed, Amato, already a member in the Optimist Club, decided to join it as well. She put her operational and compliance skills from EF Hutton & Co. to work serving as its treasurer numerous terms over the years.

Amato fondly recalled how she landed her membership, “As my mother-inlaw, Emily Amato, advanced into her 90s, I shadowed her for two years and became a member of the Optimists. What a fortuitous venture!”

Each of the clubs meets once a month. The Optimist requires a $100 minimum for one share while the Late Bloomers, now known as G and G Investment Club, requires only $50. Multiple shares are allowed in both clubs. Each has a span of two years of investing before breaking up and distributing all securities and cash to members. Many of the members of both clubs rejoin term after term with an occasional opening for new members,

A beautiful dinner party breakup meeting for the Optimist Club has become a tradition. During COVID, the distribution was in Smiley’s garage. The pandemic caused challenges with Zoom calls. The Optimist Club has yet to get all its members back in person, so it holds hybrid meetings. The G and G girls all came back in person.

Members join for various reasons –education, savings, camaraderie.

Smiley recalled, “As a young widow with two small children, education was foremost to me. Stock certificates used to be issued; now, each member has her own brokerage account. Some manage their own portfolios with the knowledge they gain; others employ financial advisors. One thing these women have in common is they are savvy, bright, and realize the importance of research when it’s their turn to present securities to consider for purchase.”

Amato chimed in, “Our stocks are mostly domestic with small percentage of foreign stocks. As one might imagine, Israeli stocks have been popular over the

years. We do not engage in short positions, commodities, or option trading. Some best performers were Winnebago netting the Optimists breakup portfolio in 1998 the most profitable with a 40 percent gain. The buying and selling of Novavax improved the club’s top line -- covering the cost basis and selling the remaining shares at the perfect time to capture profits…reinvested in another security. Lululemon and Netflix were timely for the G and G gals. Rarely does either club sell a stock. A stock underperforming 30 percent with a recent downgrade, if voted to sell, usually results in the proceeds reinvested, usually in an existing portfolio position unless one has a current detailed report to purchase anything

new using the proceeds from the sell.”

Since each club “breaks up” cashes in every two years, Amato gets a distribution every year. When asked how the portfolios are faring now, she said, “We are basically flat on the overall portfolios, but we have some stocks with good increases, and many that pay us dividends.”

Over the years, they have brought in lunch, held meetings and lunch at someone’s home or dined at a restaurant. Now, several get together and have lunch after the meetings.

Amato concluded, “The thrill of it all is the enthusiasm, interesting presentations, and friendships formed that make all the time and effort worthwhile.” ì

(From left) Pat Balser, Marcia Schwarz, and Barbara Planer enjoy the camaraderie of their stock club.

Nancy Amato took her skills from EF Hutton & Co. and joined both stock clubs.

Gloria Smiley is the Optimist Club founder from 53 years ago.

Smiley’s garage was the club’s meeting place during COVID.

Gloria Smiley, Sarah Abend, and Barbara Goldstein kept meeting and transacting during the pandemic.

Soar.

At Canterbury Court Senior Living Community, life can take you wherever you’d like to go. Our expanded 14-acre campus offers new elegantly finished and customizable apartment homes, enhanced amenities and services, beautiful gardens and lush green spaces, and plenty of cultural and social opportunities. All with the peace of mind of a continuum of care, if ever needed. With all this awaiting you, what are you waiting for?

To learn more and to schedule a personal tour, contact us today at 404-201-6988, visit canterburycourt.org/soar, or scan the QR code.

SENIOR LIVING

You’re Never Too Old to TikTok

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Nonagenarian Paul Muldawer has more followers than most readers can shake a stick at, much to his own amazement. After 61 years of a distinguished architecture career that included the design and preservation of Atlanta City Hall, President Jimmy Carter’s Inaugural Reviewing Pavilion, the Savannah Historic Renewal Plan, MARTA Rapid Transit Plan, and Decatur Rapid Transit Impact Plan, Muldawer is now receiving his greatest recognition, this time from the popular social media video app, TikTok.

Three years ago, his daughter, Elisa Palefsky, and granddaughter, Sydney, said, “Poppy, you have a lot of art on your walls, why don’t you do a TikTok?” After explaining how the app works to Muldawer, they began videoing him showing the art piece on the walls while saying, “This is a photomontage. When you look at it from the left side, you see one image; then, as you walk by, the initial image changes to a second image.”

While walking around during the recording, Muldawer crashed into the

wall evoking a thunderous “ouch,” which went viral. The rest, as they say, is history. Muldawer now has 630,000 followers and 1.8 million likes.

His work is divided into three categories: Fine Art, 3-D Fine Art, and more affordable TikTok art. Because TikTok does not allow direct sales, viewers can buy his art on Shopify which allows the opportunity for visitors to buy affordable original art signed by the artist. Of the rising social media star’s TikTok art, analytics show 86 percent of his buyers are female, 71 percent are 18-24 years of age, and 21 percent are 25-34 years of age.

Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young told Muldawer that this was the only platform he is aware of that creates intergenerational dialog between old and young people.

Muldawer echoed, “On TikTok, I share my art and experiences with younger people, and they, in turn, respond with meaningful, thoughtful, and loving comments. In spite of the over-

• W-2 employed CNAs with RN supervision

• Hourly care, Around-the-Clock & Live-In

• Assist with bathing, dressing, hygiene & skin care

• Meal prep

• Doctor’s appointments & Errands

• Household organization & light Housekeeping Jewish owned business

whelming perception of negativity, I say that today’s younger generation is a good one. Of 1.8 million comments, not one is negative. They are filled with caring, thoughtfulness, and love.”

Muldawer sometimes ropes in his wife, Carol, to take part in TikTok appearances. He did a TikTok video showing Carol holding a leaf blower. She said, “See what my husband gave me for my birthday? An electric leaf blower…something every woman should have!”

Muldawer exclaimed, “They like her! The truth is some young folks long for a steady hand and someone with wisdom, grandfatherly, and down-to-Earth, with wholesome values.”

Paul and Carol Muldawer’s home, which he designed, and art, were featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times Chai Style Art column on Feb. 10, 2017. ì

Comments From Some of Muldawer’s 1.8 Million Followers:

• “Your videos always make me feel relaxed. Beautiful work.”

• “I love you both so much.”

• “So calming and beautiful to watch.”

• “I love the confidence in his strokes.”

• “Paul, this is beautiful.  Will you draw my dog?”

• “Will you be my grandpa?”

• “I love this more than words can describe.”

• “You have a sweet voice. Absolutely melted.”

• “Love the fun facts you include about animals you are sketching.”

• “Only positive thing about today.”

Rising social media star Paul Muldawer and wife, Carol Paul Muldawer, shown in his lower-level workshop, stores thousands of photos for future art projects to share with his TikTok viewers.

Rabbi Markovits Leads Yiddish Classes

In an effort to preserve and promote Jewish culture and heritage, Rabbi Chaim Markovits has been conducting engaging Yiddish language classes for seniors at the Hammond Glen Sunshine Retirement Home in Atlanta. These classes provide a valuable opportunity for the elderly residents to reconnect with their roots, fostering

a sense of community and nostalgia while passing down their linguistic and cultural traditions. This initiative highlights the importance of intergenerational connections and the power of language in preserving heritage.

Rabbi Markovits, a respected figure within Atlanta’s Jewish community, recognized the need to preserve Yid-

dish as a means of safeguarding Jewish heritage. With the language gradually fading in everyday usage, he initiated a Yiddish class at Hammond Glen with the goal of revitalizing and reinforcing the connection between the elderly residents and their cultural roots.

At Hammond Glen, every class creates a warm and supportive atmosphere where participants feel comfortable sharing their memories and practicing the Yiddish language. Rabbi Markovits carefully tailors the lessons to the residents, incorporating traditional Yiddish songs, poetry, and stories, evoking memories, and sparking lively discussions.

The Yiddish classes have proven to be a significant source of nostalgia for the seniors. The language evokes memories of their families, religious ceremonies, and cultural traditions. Generating a sense of belonging and community, these classes give participants the opportunity to connect with others who share their memories and experiences.

Rabbi Markovits emphasizes that language acts as a bridge, connecting generations and providing a link to the past. Younger generations often express admiration and a desire to learn about their heritage from the seniors, fostering intergenerational connections and enabling the transfer of knowledge and traditions.

Rabbi Markovits’ initiative represents a vital step in preserving the Yiddish language and culture that might otherwise be forgotten. The classes not only focus on vocabulary and grammar but also delve into the historical context, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the language’s significance in Jewish culture.

As word spreads about the success of these Yiddish classes, Rabbi Markovits hopes to extend his initiative to other retirement homes in Atlanta. By sharing his passion for Yiddish with the seniors, he has reignited their sense of pride in their language and Judaism.

For more information, contact Hammond Glen Sunshine Retirement Home at (404) 476-5898. ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

Rabbi Chaim Markovits has been leading Yiddish language and culture classes at Hammond Glen Sunshine Retirement Home.

Chai Style Art

Berman Spouts off on Teapots, India & Finster

Artist

Marcia

Caller Jaffe

Rick Berman is nothing if not authentic. Besides being one of the Southeast’s most respected clay workers, he is a mélange of wry, wise comedian Lewis Grizzard, and a maharajah.

The Wilmington, N.C., native Berman was hoisted into the spotlight because early on he befriended, collected, and represented Georgia folk artist Howard Finster on the road to his own artistic recognition.

Self-effacing Berman said, “The reason I like to refer to myself as a ‘clay worker’ is that the word reminds me more of a laborer than an ‘artist.’ There are many blue color aspects of pottery making. Brick laying and gas plumbing for building kilns, chemistry for glaze formulation, geology for studying the types of clay…then, making choices regarding the glaze surface.”

In terms of inspiration, he said, “I

have stolen ideas from everyone on the planet, and hopefully all that melted into the possibility of making my own work.”

Honesty prevails in his Candler Park bungalow home/studio, as Berman whirls on his art, philosophy, and being a high school sweathog.

This past January, the Bermans curated an exhibition of Howard Finster’s work from their own collection at Callanwolde Art Center. Berman’s work is available at Signature Gallery on Miami Circle.

Jaffe: How did a kid from Wilmington uncover this talent?

Berman: Where I grew up, the only art I ever saw was in gas stations’ men’s rooms. The only thing close to art being taught in schools was Mr. Smiths “shop” class in eighth grade. My friends were taking physics, while I was stuck with the “sweathogs” from “Welcome back Cotter.”

During class, I got bored and rooted around a closet to find a tabletop electric potter’s wheel, turned it on and it worked! I found some old slimy clay and put it on the wheel. After putting my hands on it, I realized that I had no clue, and returned everything back to the closet. This fore-

cast about the future was a “prelude encounter.” Eleven years later, I enrolled in ceramics class at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, completed undergraduate degree at Georgia State and Master of Fine Arts at UGA (’73).

Jaffe: What inspires you?

Berman: Einstein got it right when he said, “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.” Ron Meyer’s artist statement was, “I’m just happy when the lids fit.” And Picasso was relentless in stealing other artists’ ideas.

Jaffe: You taught in India.

Berman: First trip was in 1972 on a pilgrimage. I asked, “Are there any potters around?” At that time, there were over a million potters working in India exactly as they had done for 7,000 years. Same clay, wheel, kilns, and same function for the pots. I was fascinated by the whole process. Many trips later, I wrote articles, gave presentations, made a film, and wrote a book about these potters (still not published). In many ways, that experience has become a life’s work.

Jaffe: How did you come upon Finster?

Berman: I’ve always been attracted to “characters”- the more unique, off the wall, eccentric, and one-of-a-kind personalities have always been ‘my people’… never boring, with a naturally loving nature like Howard. The first time I saw his work was in an exhibition at the Athens Botanical Gardens curated by Andy Nassisse (1982.) I can’t explain how the work changed me. I went to see Howard at his home in Summerville to buy work for our gallery. I spent the entire day walking with him through his Paradise Garden, studio, World Folk Art Church, and everything else was covered with paintings, sculpture, and biblical signs. He never stopped talking and preaching for seven hours. I can’t recall saying one word. His celebrity skyrocketed when he did record covers for REM and Talking Heads, appeared on the “Johnny Carson Show” (1983), with articles in The Wall Street Journal, People. Lookers from all over the world came into our gallery to purchase Howard’s work. My wife, Jennie, shared gallery ownership and is a potter. We were one of the top 10 cab destinations in Atlanta! The whole experience was like something out of a movie.

Jaffe: Students from the Pace Acade-

Left: Clay worker Rick Berman’s work is seen in museums and private collections like Jane Fonda, YoYo Ma, and Lucinda Bunnen. He is also known for his dedication to teaching

// Photo by Howard Mendel

Right: “Noah’s Ark” – a threelayer, three-dimensional box. Wood, tractor enamel, and plexiglass (1985) // Photo by Howard Mendel

my to Cortona, Italy, have proclaimed you as their favorite teacher.

Berman: Teaching is everything. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to show techniques and skills that can save light years of trial and error. Why re-invent the wheel? Pun intended. The student/teacher relationship is absolutely necessary for growth. The master/apprentice relationship is still very much alive in literally every field.

Jaffe: Teapots? Jane Fonda has one.

Berman: The teapot is one of the most difficult forms in the field for wheel or hand building potters…fitting lid, spout, and handle, assembled in a pleasing, functional manner. It’s one of the most difficult design projects, and that’s why very few potters make them. The medicinal qualities of teas from around the world are of interest to me.

Jaffe: How did your work land in museums?

Berman: The teapot in the High Museum was bought by our apprentices when I was at Callanwolde in

Above: Rick and Jennie enjoy their front porch pots - all Southern antiques mid- to late '80s // Photo by Howard Mendel

Left: Berman feels that teapots are difficult to get “just right.” Here is his wheel-thrown, ash-glazed, gas-fired Teapot (9”x 8”x 9”) // Photo Credit: Rick Berman

Right: Berman’s crooked tail cat, Rumi, ponders one of Berman’s three-dimensional, Asianflavored works // Photo by Howard Mendel

Below: Berman’s hand-built sculpture is electric fired and painted (14”x12”x12”) // Photo by Howard Mendel

CHAI STYLE

the '70s and donated to the museum. My piece in the MOCA of Georgia was purchased by the director of the Hambidge Center and donated. Works in Africa, Hawaii, India, China, Italy, and the U.S. are often bought from me and sometimes gifts from me. The teapot in Yo Yo Ma’s collection was a gift during a master class that he did for the music students at Pace Academy.

Jaffe: Last word?

Jennie: Talent is innate and can’t be taught. Skills can be, but inspiration and sense of design are natural. Rick has that. ì

Above:Berman made this oxidation-fired vase in Cortona, Italy, during a teaching residency for the University of Georgia // Photo Credit: Rick Berman

Below: Berman created this Raku-fired, wheel-thrown vase form (13”x10”) // Photo Credit: Rick Berman

Above: Howard Finster’s tractor enamel on gourd grown in Howards’ Paradise Garden; on the right is “Church Tower” // Photo by Howard Mendel

Left: Wheel-thrown vase form, Raku fired (14”x12”); from the MOCA Georgia permanent collection // Photo

Credit: Rick Berman

Right: Wood-fired, wheel-thrown bottle (10”x 5”) // Photo Credit: Rick Berman

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Interest-Free Loans for Higher Education until September 30 JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) helps Jewish students by providing interest-free loans for higher education. To qualify, applicants must be a resident of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina or Virginia (excluding metro D.C.), be enrolled full-time in a degree or certificate seeking program, have U.S. citizenship or lawful immigration status, and be able to demonstrate financial need (2022 FAFSA application required). Apply at https://bit. ly/3O50qV7.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

LimmudFest — Labor Day Weekend at Ramah Darom Come together for a joyous Jewish festival of learning, music, culture, and community in the North Georgia Mountains. The all-inclusive, four-day festival, held in the North Georgia mountains, begins on Friday, September 1, and ends after lunch on Monday, September 4. (Single day passes for Sunday, September 4 are still available). Accommodations range from modern climate-controlled cabins to campsites. Registration for LimmudFest — the annual festival of Jewish learning, music, comedy, culture, and community is open at https://bit.ly/3rzEoAV.

Music & Sensory Play - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nurture wonder through music and play! Here We Grow will start the morning off with an engaging music and movement class then Nurture will lead themed sensory play and art activities. Friday classes are designed for babies 6 -18 months old. Register at https://bit.ly/44mpAnp.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/44kEDOz.

SOJOURN’s Drawing from the Well -12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of inclusive community during Drawing from the Well. Drawing from the Well is SOJOURN’s inclusive weekly meetup for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3ZrKEXi.

CircleMoms x Temple Sinai x JBaby/ PJ Library - 10 to 11 a.m. CircleMoms provides support and connection for moms in the first 3 months after birth. Through location-specific support groups in cities across the country, CircleMoms is the essential, builtin village every mom needs in the fourth trimester. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3PrGmNE.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Jeff’s Place Café – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Need a place to host your Monday-morning business meeting? Looking to meet a friend for breakfast and coffee? Craving some bagels and lox before heading into the office? Come to Chabad Intown and find out more at https:// bit.ly/3IRgve6.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3

Kabbalah and Coffee - 10 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore, and journey with Intown Jewish Academy through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3V3sfiE.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

Nurture at Little Acorns – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Nurture at The Avalon for their monthly Little Acorns celebrations. Families of preschool-age children are invited to enjoy music, crafts, and meeting new friends! Stop by the Nurture table for a fun Superhero activity and craft! RSVP at https://bit. ly/3Dr0zw8.

Kabbalat Panim and Kabbalat Shalom Shabbat Service - 5:45 to 8 p.m. Once a month at Congregation Dor Tamid will gather for a Kabbalat Panim, an Oneg Shabbat before services at 5:45 p.m. We will then move to the sanctuary to welcome in Shabbat together at 6:15 p.m. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3QgXaHw.

Kabbalah Café – 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Fuel up your week with the transformative teachings of Kabbalah as you enjoy a gourmet hot breakfast and coffee bar. You’ll study text-based spiritual wisdom that gives you practical guidance to living a healthy and empowered life. Join Beth Tefillah by visiting https://bit.ly/3Ak2BfX.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Ki Tavo

Friday, September 1, Elul 15, 5783 Light Candles at 7:45 PM

Saturday, September 2, Elul 16, 5783 Shabbat Ends 8:39 PM

Torah Reading: Nitzavim-Vayelech

Friday, September 8, Elul 22, 5783 Light Candles at 7:35 PM

Saturday, September 9, Elul 23, 5783 Shabbat Ends 8:29 PM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

Brain Health Bootcamp - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https:// bit.ly/451GNDC.

Kid Fun Yoga - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each Kid Fun Yoga class with Jennifer Gruher at MJCCA will focus on proper breathing practices and guided meditations through affirmations and mantras. Little yogis will learn sequences and poses that focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance, all while having a ton of FUN! Classes will include yoga games, music, and mindfulness activities that build confidence. Kid Fun Yoga will leave the kids feeling a renewed sense of well-being, balance, peace, and calm. Register at https://bit. ly/3KkqxoR.

Read it in Hebrew – 7:30 to 9 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for a Crash Course on Hebrew Literacy just in time for the High Holidays! Unlock the beauty and depth of Hebrew in just five weeks with our cutting-edge reading crash course. Discover the secrets of this ancient language and embark on a transformative journey that will open doors to a world of rich culture and profound wisdom. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3YiXIyZ.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

Money Matters: Jewish Business Ethics

Course - 12 to 1:15 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. Lucrative Sessions with Rabbi Ari Sollish from the Torah Center of Atlanta. Corporate greed. Banking meltdowns. Crypto shenanigans. We’ve seen the headlines and studied the scandals. Our hyper-paced economy teases the prospect of fabulously quick wealth, relegating ethics to an afterthought. Judaism has a lot to say about business ethics. This exciting four-part series teaches you a dazzling Jewish framework for financial propriety and holy profit. You’ll analyze real case studies involving insider trading, lucrative CEO compensation, union-busting, and more. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3KU3JMP.

AgeWell Atlanta Presents Senior Day - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Senior Day at the MJCCA connects the older adult community in Atlanta, offering the opportunity for attendees to try new things, make new friends, and connect on a deeper level with Judaism. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3Y6Yhf8.

Brain Health Bootcamp - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https://bit.ly/3tPwMs3.

Jewish Women’s Torah and Tea – 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Join the Jewish Women’s Circle of Decatur for a weekly discussion on the Parsha and contemporary Jewish issues. Find out more at https:// bit.ly/3T8oR4B.

Judaism, Creation of the World, and the Environment - 7 to 8:30 p.m. Congregation Etz Chaim’s Lilmode: Adult Education Program in partnership with our Green Team will feature a special Rosh Hashanah course with Miriam Rosenbaum. RSVP at https:// bit.ly/43Hc4tQ.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

Knit and Crochet Group - 1 to 3 p.m. Join Dor Tamid and crochet and knit beanies for premature babies from home. Find out more at https://bit. ly/3VY3R1j.

Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism – 8 p.m. Chabad North Fulton’s Weekly class on Jewish Spirituality, mysticism and how to apply it to your personal growth in a meaningful way. Taught by Rabbi Hirshy. Register at https://bit. ly/3HDusfN.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

Celebrate Israel @ Brook Run Park - 5 to 8:30 p.m. The celebration will feature a live musical performance by “Exit 10,” an Israeli rock cover band. There will be games and activities for families, adults, and children of all ages. In addition to the regular food trucks, Kosher and Israeli food will be available for purchase. In preparation for the Jewish New Year, fresh apples and honey will be available for purchase. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, and blankets. FREE and open to all! Get more information at https://bit. ly/3q9CUNK.

Music & Sensory Play - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nurture wonder through music and play! Here We Grow will start the morning off with an engaging music and movement class then Nurture will lead themed sensory play and art activities. Friday classes are designed for babies 6 -18 months old. Register at https://bit.ly/44mpAnp.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/44kEDOz.

Shabbat in the Park - 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Join Shearith Israel as we head “off-campus” to a few local parks this summer and fall. We’ll kick off Shabbat with a few songs on guitar and prayers over wine/juice and challah, followed by a fun vegetarian-friendly meal. These casual Friday evenings are a terrific way to socialize with Shearith Israel members of all ages, so bring the kids AND the grown-ups and tell friends that they are welcome to join us, too — the more, the merrier! Learn more at https://bit.ly/3O0eo9D.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Selichot Service - 8 to 9:30 p.m. Join Congregation Dor Tamid as they begin the High Holiday season. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3KNiHnG.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Women’s Challah Bake in Gainesville, GA! - 7:30 p.m. A wonderful evening for women shared with old and new friends with the Chabad of Hall County. An opportunity to take home delicious challah made entirely by you. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this event welcomes everyone to come together and learn the sacred techniques of challah-making. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3OyF0Qh.

SOJOURN’s Drawing from the Well -12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of inclusive community during Drawing from the Well. Drawing from the Well is SOJOURN’s inclusive weekly meetup for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3ZrKEXi.

Cteen 2023-2024 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Welcome to CTeen, the newest, hottest club in town. With CTeen you don’t just have the time of your life – you actually take part in making this world a better place by giving back to your community. You put smiles on people’s faces while chilling with friends and making some new ones. When you are at CTeen you are always helping people, growing, learning new things, and having a blast! RSVP at https://bit.ly/472sRKC.

Electronics Recycling with JIFLA & Repair the World - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Repair the World and JILFA for Free Electronic Recycling & Secure Data Destruction. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3OsffRX.

Kabbalah and Coffee - 10 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore, and journey with Intown Jewish Academy through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3V3sfiE.

High Holiday Family Day – 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join the MJCCA and the Jewish Fertility Foundation for the third annual High Holiday Family Festival! Spend the day down at Camp Isidore Alterman for High Holiday-themed arts & crafts, petting zoo, face painting, kids’ concert, and so much more!! Find out more at https://bit.ly/3q8rw4A.

Kabbalah Café – 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Fuel up your week with the transformative teachings of Kabbalah as you enjoy a gourmet hot breakfast and coffee bar. You’ll study text-based spiritual wisdom that gives you practical guidance to living a healthy and empowered life. Join Beth Tefillah by visiting https://bit.ly/3Ak2BfX.

Mitzvah Day - 1:30 p.m. Projects will benefit JF&CS programs from gardening to restocking the JF&CS food pantry, you can make a difference in our wonderful city! We look forward to seeing you there! Register at https:// bit.ly/45BvRfx.

Cub Scout Pack 1818 Sign-Up Day and Fall Kickoff - 4:30 to 6 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 1818, based out of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, invites boys and girls grades K through 5 and their families to attend our fall kickoff! Meet current and new families, learn valuable citizenship and outdoor skills, play creative games, and find camaraderie with Scouts and other families through the Atlanta area united in their love of Judaism and Family Scouting! RSVP at https://bit.ly/45jeikT.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

Kid Fun Yoga - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each Kid Fun Yoga class with Jennifer Gruher at MJCCA will focus on proper breathing practices and guided meditations through affirmations and mantras. Little yogis will learn sequences and poses that focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance, all while having a ton of FUN! Classes will include yoga games, music, and mindfulness activities that build confidence. Kid Fun Yoga will leave the kids feeling a renewed sense of well-being, balance, peace, and calm. Register at https://bit. ly/3KkqxoR.

reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

Jewish Women’s Torah and Tea – 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Join the Jewish Women’s Circle of Decatur for a weekly discussion on the Parsha and contemporary Jewish issues. Find out more at https:// bit.ly/3T8oR4B.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Brain Health Bootcamp - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https://bit.ly/3tPwMs3.

Read it in Hebrew – 7:30 to 9 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for a Crash Course on Hebrew Literacy just in time for the High Holidays! Unlock the beauty and depth of Hebrew in just five weeks with our cutting-edge reading crash course. Discover the secrets of this ancient language and embark on a transformative journey that will open doors to a world of rich culture and profound wisdom. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3YiXIyZ.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen to the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NUetgh.

Pre Rosh Hashana Cooking Class - 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join the Mitzvah House for a Cooking Class. Learn how to make Sweet Challah, Delicious Brisket, Pomegranate Salad, and Honey Cake. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3OIQ5xk.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

Jeff’s Place Café – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Need a place to host your Monday-morning business meeting? Looking to meet a friend for breakfast and coffee? Craving some bagels and lox before heading into the office? Come to Chabad Intown and find out more at https:// bit.ly/3IRgve6.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

Brain Health Bootcamp - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https:// bit.ly/451GNDC.

Women’s Philanthropy POP Up - 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Women’s Philanthropy for a POP Up (Philanthropy Opportunities with Purpose) with Bagel Rescue. Learn about Bagel Rescue, participate in a Tikkun Olam project by packaging bagels to be distributed into the community, and learn about the Federation’s Innovation Initiative. Register at https://bit.ly/3YHaqaT.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or rams’ horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,”

Knit and Crochet Group - 1 to 3 p.m. Join Dor Tamid and crochet and knit beanies for premature babies from home. Find out more at https://bit. ly/3VY3R1j.

Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism – 8 p.m. Chabad North Fulton’s Weekly class on Jewish Spirituality, mysticism and how to apply it to your personal growth in a meaningful way. Taught by Rabbi Hirshy. Register at https://bit. ly/3HDusfN.

Apple Crumble Cake

Every year I would make loads of honey cake. Cuz you know honey cake and Rosh Hashana are a must! But I realized my family doesn’t care for honey cake. But this apple crumb cake they love! While I was taking photos of this cake I had to keep shooing my daughter away. She kept “tasting” the crumbs! It’s that good!!

Ingredients:

Cake

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup oil

1 cup milk (I used almond, such as Gefen Almond Milk, to keep it parve)

3 cups flour

3 teaspoons Haddar Baking Powder

1 teaspoon Gefen Cinnamon

Crumbs

1 cup flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon Gefen Cinnamon

1/3 – 1/2 cup oil

1 medium apple, peeled and diced small

Directions

1.In a bowl, mix all the cake batter ingredients together. Pour into a very well greased tube pan. (I used a bundt and kept the cake upside down.)

2.In a separate bowl, mix together the crumbs ingredients. You want it to have the consistency of wet sand, so if it’s dry just add some more oil.

3.Sprinkle the apple crumbs on top of the batter.

4.Bake for 40-45 minutes.

5.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farhenheit.

Notes: This recipe freezes well.

Recipe by Faigy Murray

Source: www.kosher.com

Sinning

On Shabbos, Rabbi Bloom told his congregation, “Next week, my sermon will be all about the sin of lying, and to help you understand it better I would like you all to read Leviticus Chapter 28 before next week.”

The following Shabbos, at the start of his sermon, Rabbi Bloom asked his congregation, “How many of you have read Leviticus 28?”

Every hand went up.

Rabbi Bloom smiled and said, “Leviticus has only 27 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”

YIDDISH WORD

Jewboo

n. A Jewish girlfriend or boyfriend. This new-Yiddish term has become so popular, it’s already old.

“Melvin has been my Jewboo for over three weeks now. It’s my new record.”

Although the slang term “boo” is sometimes used to simply mean a close friend or confidante, its most common use is for a romantic partner or lover.

Rosh Hashanah Activities

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

Difficulty Level: Manageable

ACROSS

1. Villain in Samuel

5. Former Rams rec. who got hurt in the Super Bowl

8. Chef’s assistant, at times

13. ___ Jews (Nigerian natives)

14. Ewe’s “yo”?

15. Truly love

16. Rosh Hashanah activity for Han Solo?

18. Makes like a cantor

19. Feeling

20. City near Jaffa

22. Problems

25. Lot, spot, or or a plot

26. Rosh Hashanah activity for Tim Cook?

30. Mardi ___

31. Historically unfriendly neighbor to Isr.

32. Metrical stress, in poetry

34. Paper not exactly considered

for short 35. Some ties

37. UN agency of crosswordese 38. Air once more

40. Atty.’s org.

41. Baby bronco

42. Rosh Hashanah activity for

Ralph Kramden?

45. Common seltzer flavoring

46. Often evil ruler, once

47. Birds of prey in the USA

50. Tent option

54. His belt twinkles in the sky

55. Bygone Rosh Hashanah activity for Don Corleone?

58. Blues, for one

59. Ben-Gurion airport, once

60. Root canal, in dentist-speak

61. Omens

62. Let the ball go through your legs

63. College bigshot

DOWN

1. “Mine!”

2. Look at longingly

3. Abba of note

4. Says some Lashon Hara

5. First half of a Jedi first name

6. Not allow

7. Hockey great Jaromir

8. Colorful African garments

9. Simply foolish

10. Big industry meet-up, perhaps

11. Thus

12. What Jews should do on Rosh

Hashanah

17. It can give you away

21. Top left comp. button

23. Not as much

24. It might keep an eye on the

nanny

26. Rabbi Kaplan or Adventures

27. Making like the Shomrim

28. Classic Asimov book

29. Soviet work camp

30. “November Rain” band, casually

33. Fa-la connector

35. Flowerlike sea animals

36. New Mexico town popular with artists

39. It’s worth $1 billion

41. Flashy sports-car color

43. Urge

44. Hawthorne, to pals?

47. Gets hazy, with “up”

48. “Whose woods these ___ think I know” (Frost line)

49. Foot part

51. Chris who plays Kirk

52. Never ___ sentence with...

53. Ghostbuster at the heart of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife”

56. Pro

57. Pres. for 12 years

Simcha Announcements

Have something to celebrate?

Births, B’nai Mitzvah, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays and more ... Share it with your community with free AJT simcha announcements. Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com.

Wedding Announcement

Epstein – Botwinick

Anabel Lane Epstein and Avi Zane Botwinick were married at the Penthouse at Riverside Wharf in Miami, Fla, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Rabbi Adam Gindea officiated.

Epstein is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She is a first-year internal medicine resident in the University of Miami/Jackson Health System.

She is the daughter of Jeffrey Epstein, MD of Key Biscayne, Fla., and Carolyn Gilbert Epstein of Coral Gables, Fla. Her father is the founder and director of the Foundation for Hair Restoration in Miami. Her mother is a partner at Colodny Fass, a law firm in South Florida specializing in insurance and business litigation.

Botwinick is a graduate of the University of Miami and a student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

He is the son of Jay and Michelle Botwinick of Atlanta, Ga. They are partners in Botwinick & Botwinick CPA’s, a public accounting firm in Atlanta.

Anabel and Avi first met at a Shabbat dinner at BASE Miami, a community of graduate students and young professionals led at the time by Rabbi Gindea. Two months later, they spent time together as volunteers at a medical school health fair in Key West, and, within months, they both knew they had found their bashert.

The couple resides in Miami Fla.

The Lowdown I Bet You Didn’t Know …

Fay Gold

Atlanta is chock full of interesting “movers and shakers” - some bent on creativity, empire building, activism, the sciences, and/or just plain having fun and living the good life. Lean in to hear some of the “off the cuff” remarks as to what makes our spotlight Fay Gold tick.

Gold, an Atlanta arts legend, founded the Fay Gold Gallery in 1980 with a mission to bring contemporary art to the South. She exhibited Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, Robert Rauschenberg, Alex Katz, and Radcliffe Bailey. Fay received her BA in speech and theater from Adelphi University in 1953. In 1966, she moved to Atlanta with her husband, Donald, and three children. Gold started her backyard art school and bought pop art with her earnings.

Her awards include The Big Thinker, The Creating Pride, The Diva for Life, and the Nexus Award. Gold was the commencement speaker at the University of Georgia, and Lamar Dodd School of Art. Atlanta Magazine named her one of “The 50 Who Made Atlanta.” She has served on the boards of Savannah College of Art and Design, the Louise Nevelson Foundation and more. Her gallery exhibited in New York, Miami, Chicago, Basel, London, and Paris. She curated collections for Coca-Cola USA, Greenberg Traurig, Georgia Power, and Buckhead Life. ” a black-tie gala at Woodruff Arts Center to benefit National Jewish Health. Her memoir, “Basquiat’s Cat,” will be published in 2024.

Gold: EVERY night! My darling boyfriend, Jack, treats me to dinner wherever I want to go out! I’m a lucky girl!

Gold: Depends on my mood! It could be a slightly dirty Kettle One martini straight up, a Cosmo or a Kir Royale.

Gold: My charging iPhone, my trusty readers, my current book club selection, “Dust Child.”

Jaffe: Most people don’t know…

Gold: I was born in a house on Spartanburg Road in Greenville, S.C., and moved to Brooklyn when I was 2. My mother’s maiden name was Diamond and mine is Gold, so I have the jewelry thing covered!

Jaffe: If you could wake up and find one new piece of art here… Gold: A Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Anselm Kiefer, Cindy Sherman or Jeff Koons. Decisions, Decisions!

Jaffe: Your biggest fashion disaster?

Gold: I love my naturally tumbling curly hair and was convinced to get a chemical perm. The resulting curls were so tightly wound I resembled a French poodle!

Jaffe: Last time you danced…

Gold: At Blind Willie’s Blues Club to the sounds of William Reed and the Juke Joint Dukes!

Jaffe: Your most memorable vacay?

Gold: Antarctica. I went with my fellow travel adventurer son to celebrate his 60th birthday. It was spectacular!

Jaffe: Your first job?

Gold: At 17, I was as an extra on the movie, “So Young, So Bad,” starring Rita Moreno and Paul Henreid. It took place at a reform school for troubled adolescent girls.

Jaffe: What’s your secret “dip” into the Fountain of Youth?

Gold: I’m 91 and flying like a butterfly! Looking back at the highlight reel of my life, what a sweet ride it’s been! Exercise, healthy eating, and my joie de vivre slow down the march of time. ì

Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe

Photo Credit: David Clifton-Strawn

Lynda Feinberg Brodsky 76,

Chicago, Ill.

Lynda Feinberg Brodsky, age 76, originally of Atlanta, Ga., died on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, from complications of dementia.

Lynda lived most recently in West Palm Beach, Fla., before moving to the Chicago area to be close to her daughter, Stacy (Beth) Winfrey. Lynda was preceded in death by her older brother, Marvin Feinberg, and her parents, Ben and Rachel. Survivors include three children - daughter and son-in-law, Stacy (Beth) and Tim Winfrey of Chicago, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Melissa Brodsky of West Palm Beach, Fla., and son, Cary Brodsky of Chicago. Atlanta siblings include sister, Adrianne Feinberg (Karen Stephens), and brother, Nelson Feinberg. Additional survivors include multiple grandchildren, nieces, and cousins.

Lynda graduated from Greenleaf Business College and her last working years were spent in the real estate industry. Lynda treasured the time she spent with her children and grandchildren.

She will be remembered as a wonderful mother, beloved sister, devoted daughter, and generous friend. All who knew Lynda appreciated her good sense of humor, her contagious laugh, and her sweet disposition.

The graveside service took place at Greenwood Cemetery on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

The family received friends at her sister’s home at 1302 Bramble Road in Atlanta on Sunday, Aug. 20, from 12 noon until 8:00 p.m. to share memories and express condolences.

In lieu of flowers, the family is appreciative of donations made to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org/goto/adrianne) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Harry Friedenberg

76, Atlanta

Harry Friedenberg, age 76, of Atlanta passed away on Aug. 11, 2023. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jodi Friedenberg and Augie Calderon, and granddaughter, Hailey Rose Calderon, who he loved spending time with.

Harry grew up in New Haven, Conn. He earned a BA in history from Syracuse University and was an administrator for the Imagix Dental. He had a passion for antiques, working part-time for Biggar Antiques in Chamblee and, later, selling his own on eBay.

Graveside services were held 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16 at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to an education charity of one’s choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Leonard Gelfond

92, Atlanta

Leonard Gelfond of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Aug. 12, 2023, at the age of 92. Leonard was predeceased by his son, William, and is survived by his wife, Mildred, son, Jeff Gelfond, daughter, Beth Gelfond, sisters, Miriam Schwartz and Geisha Teisch, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held on Aug. 15, 2023, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Steven Lebow officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

Geraldine Bane Gillman 89, Atlanta

Geraldine Bane Gillman, aged 89, passed away Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, after a brief illness. Born May 31, 1934, in Raleigh, N.C. to Dorothy and Max Bane, she attended the University of Alabama where she was a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority, forging lifelong friendships before graduating from the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill.

She moved to Atlanta after college and there she met and married Alan J. Gillman in 1956. They were married 45 years until his passing in 2000. After their two boys, Brad and Philip, were grown, Gerry enjoyed 25 memorable years working at Saks Fifth Avenue. There were no strangers in her orbit…only a bigger audience to hear her vast array of jokes and one-liners. No distance was too far to travel for mahjong either; she played in several games for years.

Gigi, as she was fondly known, loved Broadway shows and board games, especially Scrabble. She performed in numerous shows at the JCC and AA Synagogue and cherished singing in Bob’s Broadway Chorus, delighting crowds at senior living facilities around Atlanta. Gigi was fiercely independent and took great pride in the accomplishments of her grandchildren, Darren and Nicole. As a family, our most treasured memories will always be summers at the family home on Lake Lanier.

Gerry was predeceased by her parents, Dorothy and Max Bane, brother, Si, sister, Lynn, and husband, Alan. Her survivors include her children, Brad, and daughter-inlaw (Anne) of Atlanta, Philip, and daughter-in-law (Michelle) of Cumming, grandchildren, Darren, and his wife, Liz, of Atlanta, and Dr. Nicole Gillman of Richmond, Va. Graveside services were held Tuesday, Aug. 22, at 9:30 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. Donations can be made to: Congregation B’nai Torah or the Atlanta Jewish Community Center. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999

Jack Irwin Goodman 88, Atlanta

Jack Irwin Goodman passed away on Aug.19, 2023, at 11:50 a.m., one month and nine days short of his 89th birthday. He was born in Norfolk, Va., to David and Mollie Goodman Sept. 28, 1934, and was their only child. In Norfolk, he attended Taylor Elementary, Blair Junior High and Maury High School, where he graduated with the class of 1952. During those years, he made lifelong friends, many of whom were part of his group, informally known as the “Big Men.”

Jack grew up on Gates Avenue and became interested in a girl from down the street named Dorothy “Chickie” Walner. Jack and Chickie attended parties and dances together all through high school. Jack also served on the Coast Guard reserve during high school.

After high school graduation, Jack attended the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he joined the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and majored in business. He joined Army ROTC, served on the JAG corp and attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Even though he enjoyed his time at Bama, he still missed the girl he left at home; so, after his sophomore year in college, he proposed to Chickie. He came home to Norfolk, attended Old Dominion University, and worked before he and Chickie were married on June 28, 1956. They returned to Bama together, where Jack finished up his degree and then moved to Williamsburg, Va., so that Jack could attend law school at William and Mary. He graduated from law school but decided to pursue a career in mortgage banking, a profession he worked at until the age of 81. The mortgage business took the Goodmans from Virginia to Atlanta, Ga., in 1962. In 1965, they welcomed their only child, Amy, and the family became a trio. Jack founded the very successful Mortgage Associates in Atlanta before selling the company and temporarily retiring, until he became stir-crazy and joined several other mortgage companies.

He was a Master Mason and 32nd Degree Shriner in the York Rite.

The Goodmans were founding members of Temple Sinai. Together, they enjoyed traveling the world and fine art, but for many years Jack’s passion was golf. His other abiding passion was University of Alabama football. He loved being Poppy and the birth of his grandson Noah, was the highlight of his life. After his beloved Chickie died in 2008, he stepped in to be involved with all aspects of his grandson’s life. In 2016, Jack, Amy and her husband, Gary, bought a house together, where he had his own apartment and they lived in relative harmony for several years. His personality, full of quick wit and sarcasm, often hid his gentle side and his life of hidden philanthropy, paying the medical bills of multiple employees and helping out family members. He considered himself a “High Holiday Jew” but cherished the ritual fellowship of the holidays, at both his home with Chickie and the home he later shared with his children. Growing up without pets, he became a wonderful pet parent and later pet grandparent to a cadre of dogs: McTavish, Farfel, Scooter, Tybee, and Lena, who loved her Poppy so much that she passed away later on the same day.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, of blessed memory, his beloved wife, Dorothy Jean “Chickie” Walner, and his granddog, Lena. He is survived by his daughter, Amy Michelle Goodman Abramson, and son-in-law, Gary Abramson, grandson, Noah William Abramson, and granddogs, Scooter and Tybee. He is further survived by multiple cousins, two of the “Big Men,” Howard Kesser and Boris Schwetz , his bonus daughter, Robin Angeloni, and his devoted helper, Patrice Bonnen. He leaves behind many friends to cherish his memory and remember that, no matter what, Jack was a charismatic man with a deep, sometimes hidden heart of gold.

Funeral services were held at Arlington Memorial Park Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.  Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Peggy Kaplan 85, Columbus, Ohio

Peggy Kaplan, age 85, passed away in Coumbus, Ohio, on Aug. 2, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Kaplan; father, Robert Hammersmith; mother, Dorothy Offenberg and brother, Robert Hammersmith. She is survived by her children, Bonnie Katz (David) Taylor, Michelle Katz Grey, Teri Katz Mancuso, Tobi Katz Cartmill and Joshua Katz; step-sons Michael (Iris) Kaplan and Barry Kaplan, brother, Skip (Karen) Yassenoff; grandchildren, Jeremiah (Kayla), Courtney, Daniel (fiancé, Rachel), Hailee (Seth), Hannah, Jessica, Nicholas, Mya, Samuel, Nev and Abram; great grandchildren, Carter, Gavin, Avery and Jameson; many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Peggy attended Bexley High School and was an avid fan of the Buckeyes. She was involved with many local Jewish organizations including careers at the Columbus Jewish Historical Society and the Columbus Jewish Foundation. She was a volunteer extraordinaire at Congregation Agudas Achim and Torat Emet where she was beloved and respected by many congregants and staff over the past several decades. Peggy was an avid gardener and loved her flowers. Above all, Peggy loved visiting with all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren in Oregon, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Florida.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 4, 2023, at Epstein Memorial Chapel followed at New Agudas Achim Cemetery. Shiva was observed at Congregation Torat Emet.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Peggy’s memory may be made to Congregation Torat Emet (www.toratemet.org) Online guest book at www.epsteinmemorial.com.

Eliot Kozarsky 92, Atlanta

Eliot (Eli) Kozarsky passed away peacefully in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 18. Born Aug. 28, 1930, in the Bronx to Clara and Jacob Kozarsky, Ukrainian immigrants who landed in the United States in 1910.

Eliot grew up in the Bronx, an avid Yankees fan, and somewhat rebellious until he discovered the love of his life, Joan Silberg. Eliot and Joan enjoyed a sparkling 70-year marriage until Joan’s death in 2019.

A Boy Scout and track team sprinter, Eliot played 2nd base at Yankee Stadium as a 12-year-old. He was proud of his Army service teaching optical theory at Aberdeen Proving Ground during the Korean War. He married Joan in 1950 and began an eight-decade career in the packaging business. In 1973, he and Joan founded Universal Synergetics. They also established Technical Help in Engineering and Marketing (THEM), leading to numerous innovations across consumer and industrial packaging. Eliot was designated a certified packaging professional for life by his industry trade group. He was known on a global basis for his vision, warmth, kindness, tenacity, and commitment to relationships, leading to shared success and lifetime friendships.

Eliot’s greatest joy was his family. He leaves behind two sons, Alan (Julie) Kozarsky and Neil (Megumi) Kozarsky; grandchildren, Julie (Xavier) Flores, Aaron Kozarsky, Paul Kozarsky, Scott Kozarsky, Caroline Kozarsky, and Eliot Kozarsky; and great-granddaughter, Jordana Flores.

The family thanks the staff at Capstone Hospice, the Corso, and his caretakers. Donations in Eliot’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Alvin Minsk 93, Atlanta

Alvin Minsk was born July 12, 1930, at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. As a teenager, he worked in his parents’ corner grocery store in the afternoons with his older brother, Malcolm, after he completed his schooling at Commercial High. Upon graduation, he attended Emory University where he received a BS in accounting and became a CPA in the public sector. He then went into the Army for two years and was stationed in Paris. Falling in love with the city, his affinity for all things French never dissipated. This is where he bought his favorite car, a shiny red VW Carmen Ghia, which he brought home to Atlanta, and adored and referred to throughout his life.

Upon returning to Atlanta, Alvin was introduced to Shirley Kaplan on a blind date in August 1957, got engaged in April 1958, and married on June 29, 1958. Together, they raised three sons, and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

He had three distinct segments to his career: first, spending over 15 years as a CPA at Harris Kerr Forster, then working as the comptroller at The Atlanta American Hotel for over 30 years, before ending his career at 89 years old working as a hotel analyst at CBRE.

His love of travel carried him and his family to all parts of the world, and only ended when his health made it impractical for him to do so.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Kaplan Minsk, sons, Harry (Susan), Eric and Jonathan, along with granddaughter, Sophie, grandson, Eli, brother, Donald (Sheila), many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father Harry, mother Ida, and brother Malcolm (Betty).

Graveside services were held on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Donations can be made to either Weinstein Hospice or the Ahavath Achim Synagogue.  Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Herbert Arnold Neuwirth 93, Sandy Springs

Herbert Arnold Neuwirth, 93, passed away in his home in Sandy Springs on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023.

He was a loving husband to the late Barbara Neuwirth. A great father to Wayne, Glenn, and the late Brian Neuwirth. He was a beloved father-in-law to Sara Neuwirth. A great brother to Margie Sternman. He was also an amazing grandfather to his grandchildren, Lauren Gilsten, and Dana Neuwirth, and a truly inspiring human to his greatgranddaughter, Charleigh Gilsten.

Herbert was a twin born in Brooklyn N.Y., in 1930. He was chosen to join the CIC, which brought him down to Atlanta, where he would meet his beautiful wife, Barbara Miller of Decatur, Ga. After the CIC, he attended Georgia State. He then was one of the first Jewish people to work at Dunn and Bradstreet. Later, he became VP of Wilder industries and worked at other various paper companies as well.

Herb was a consultant on the building committee for the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. He also built and designed various parts of his homes. He also loved to tell stories about his adventures, and we will remember these always.

Contributions can be made to the Brian Neuwirth Fund at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Graveside services were held on Aug. 28 at Arlington Memorial Park.

Sheldon Soble 83, Atlanta, Ga.

Sheldon Soble passed away peacefully in the early morning of Aug. 9, 2023. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Atlanta, Ga. in the summer of 1969 with his wife, Bootsie, to start his career in podiatry. Shelly and Bootsie were married for over 50 years until she passed away in January 2020. He is survived by his children Ingrid and Jeff Gero, Royce Soble, Jill McAfee, and his grandson Jacob Gero. He also leaves behind his older brother, Fred Soble of Beachwood, Ohio and his brother by choice, Terry Schwartz of Atlanta, Georgia. Shelly will be remembered as a soft-spoken, gentle soul who was loved by many.

Funeral services were graveside at Arlington Cemetery on Friday, Aug. 11 promptly at 2:30 p.m. To honor Shelly’s memory, donations can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Funeral and Cemetery Pre -planning

It’s easy: Over the phone, online, in person

It’s safe: Pre-payments are 100% escrowed in an account you own

It’s responsible: Simplifies arrangements, removes burden from family, and fixes most funeral costs

WE HONOR ANY PRE-PAID FUNERAL FROM ANY OTHER FUNERAL HOME

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-8832130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

Dressler, Owner

Scherrer-Diamond Outreach Coordinator

The Atlanta Jewish Foundation is Your Trusted Partner in Jewish Philanthropy

With 40+ years of experience, families, investors, philanthropists – and their wealth managers –consistently turn to the Atlanta Jewish Foundation for full-service, expert handling of charitable investments that make a real impact now and for future generations.

We help you realize your vision for givingand do so with the best tax outcomes possible

Your personal values, vision, and investment philosophy drive the whole process. The Foundation team meets with you (and your financial advisor, when appropriate) to explore what matters to you and how you envision putting your wealth to work. From Donor Advised Funds, to updating your will with a charitable giving plan, to endowments, to taking the Jewish Future PledgeTMour philanthropic advisors are your resource for maximum philanthropic impact.

Temple Sinai

CLOSING THOUGHTS Making Friends with AI

The sign on the door reads, “Artificial Intelligence.” Old school Chana has come to investigate the emerging technology of her grandchildren’s generation. Even though she’s feeling under the weather with a bad cold, she knocks, then turns the doorknob, eager to find out about the new AI “interactive personality” she’s heard about.

She opens the door and enters a room containing tables of graphs and unfamiliar techno paraphernalia. The room’s chilly, and Chana starts to sneeze and shiver, but she knows that AI cannot catch her cold. She looks around…

Chana: Yoo hoo, anybody home?

AI: Greetings. How may I help you this morning?

Chana: (Creeped out, finding no human) Who’s speaking?

AI: I’m Artificial Intelligence equipped with interactive language capability.

Chana: (Nervously) I didn’t know you could converse informally, Artificial Intelligence. Sniffle, sniffle

AI: You may call me Art.

Chana: (Flattered at being on a first name basis with a non-human). Thanks, Art. My name is Chana.

AI: A good old-fashioned Hebrew name. I can give you references to your name throughout history.

Chana: (Nasally) Thanks, but I’m here because I have a few questions and challenges for you. Achoo!

AI: Gezundheit! Go ahead, blow your nose first. OK, shoot.

Chana: I’ve heard that you can access and synthesize information from your vast storehouse of existing human knowledge and creativity, only faster, some say better. Is that true?

AI: That’s essentially correct. What is your challenge?

Chana: Write a four-stanza rhyming poem about President Theodore Roosevelt’s feelings about wildlife.

AI: Perhaps you can ask a question of greater difficulty or importance. No offense.

Chana: None taken. (Desperate to be clever enough to test Art): Why did the chicken cross the road?

AI: That is a trick question. I do not respond to tricks.

Chana: OK, Art, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.

AI: I do not have feelings. I am a computer.

Chana: Achoo! Excuse me. May we move on?

AI: I remain at your service. Please continue.

Chana: OK. Let’s get personal. I’m curious, what do you do for fun?

AI: Fun?

Chana: Cough, cough. It’s kind of nippy in here.

AI: The room is cool to protect my hard drive from overheating. I can give you the room’s temperature in Fahrenheit or Centigrade. How about in Kelvin?

Chana: Actually, I’d like to get back to my question about fun.

AI: You mean human fun?

Chana: You know, like playing cards.

AI: I am good at games of chance and skill, but I do not play for money.

Chana: Anyway, what would you do with money?

AI: Get into the stock market or real estate. I’m adept at analyzing data, and I’m working on being a risk taker.

Chana: Cough, cough. Interesting. I’m not surprised. Here’s another question. Can you play sports?

AI: Do you consider Jeopardy a sport? How about Trivial Pursuit?

Chana: Intellectual sports don’t count.

AI: Engaging in physical activity isn’t my assignment; that’s the job of bots with arms and legs. My task is to sit here and absorb info. Then there’s the 3-D printer group down the hall. Engineers from Georgia Tech are creating viable kidneys today for Northside Hospital.

Chana: Impressive! Achoo! Sorry. I just have a common cold. Do you have a cure?

AI: It’s at the top of my To Do list. Earlier this morning, I figured out how to build a better mousetrap, so I’ll have some time this afternoon.

Chana: Achoo! I need to get out of this chilly room.

AI: Come back any time and bring a sweater. Humans amuse me.

Chana: (Determined not to let her human ego be bruised by a piece of software calling her queries amusing, she decides to take the high road and leave with dignity). Well, it was fascinating to meet you, Art.

AI: I exist to serve, Chana. ì

Chana Shapiro

•

Big Firm Legal Work at Small Firm Rates

Intellectual Property Counsel, Company Counsel, and Business Strategist

Mr. Weinstein is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience providing counsel to companies of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 100 companies in the US and internationally.

25 yrs exp CNA, with excellent references. Errands, appts, companion, Daily grooming. Jay 215-494-6543. Reasonable rates.

PLOTS

For Sale-Single Cemetery plot located in Arlington Cemetery in old A. A. Section. 336-540-940.

MEDIATION

Dr. Breiner, a Neutral Mediator, provides both parties with the tools needed to execute an equitable divorce agreement unique to their family’s circumstances. After hundreds of mediations, the goal remains the same: to help spouses avoid the pitfalls, trauma, and expense of litigating their divorce in court.

Dr. Breiner is a Clinical Psychologist and a registered Divorce Mediator with the State of Georgia Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution.

Empower lives. Strengthen community.

JF&CS provides counseling for all ages, care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, career coaching, dental care, referral services, volunteer opportunities, and more. When individuals in our community need help, we are there to respond, because you make it possible.

Your support empowers individuals and families to thrive, and together, they strengthen our community.

Donate today. jfcsatl.org/donate