Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCIII No. 50, December 21, 2018 by Atlanta Jewish Times

IN TWO WEEKS: YEAR IN REVIEW

VOL. XCIII NO. 50

SIMCHAS

DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 13 TEVET 5779

Creating Your Signature Simcha PAGES 16-28

THE EXCHANGE

JEWISH ATLANTA’S FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND SHARK TANK EVENT SHOWCASED 11 FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS.

JEFF'S PLACE

CHABAD INTOWN'S NEW BELTLINE CAFÉ SERVES A DEEPER PURPOSE FOR JEWS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION.

CHAI STYLE HOME

LAUREN & MARK CHEKANOW HONOR THE ORIGINAL CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THEIR CANDLER PARK RETROFIT.

Mollie Rosenberg & Corey Friedman Wedding, Photography by The Decisive Moment

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kaylene@atljewishtimes.com Atlanta Jewish Times is printed in Georgia and is an equal opportunity employer. The opinions expressed in the Atlanta Jewish Times do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, Ga. POSTMASTER send address changes to Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

For Jewish couples and teens at the cusp of Jewish adulthood, this time of year isn’t just about winter holidays and the New Year. It’s an opportunity for change and recognition and discovery. Not to mention the ultimate simcha, aka party. In this issue, we offer tips from the experts on how to be a good mitzvah guest, how to plan for the big event, personalized floral arrangements, centerpieces and lighting, just to name a few. We also take you to the newest simcha venues, including kosher catering at Zoo Atlanta’s new Savanna Hall, overlooking the new elephant habitat. We introduce you to Robbie Kukler, who heads hospitality giant the Fifth Group and its restaurants, known to host many area simchot. Then there’s the new app by Randy Kessler, divorce attorney to the stars. He can hook you up with a custom-tailored video for your wedding or mitzvah from a sports, movie or music celeb from his list of high-profile clients. If simcha planning makes you hungry, we have our weekly Keeping It Kosher and recipes for simcha appetizers. How about a movie to go with those munchies? We have a review of the latest movie about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “On the Basis of Sex.” We also interview a local doctor who returned from visiting her homeland of France to tell about her encounter with the Yellow Vests movement. The protests have recently turned even more anti-Semitic. Interfaith relations are the basis of a few of our stories this week. We share the grand opening of Jeff’s Place, which will have 12-step recovery meetings for Jews who may not have felt comfortable with those offered in Christian-based settings. Our intern Charlotte Morrison reports on a discussion about the winter holidays between fifth-graders from The Davis Academy and Mount Vernon Presbyterian School. Much reading to keep you entertained as you prepare for the turn of the calendar year and celebrate your milestones, successes and simchas. We won’t be with you next week, but stay tuned for what we have in store for 2019. ■

CONTENTS LOCAL NEWS �� 4 BUSINESS �� 13 ISRAEL NEWS �� 14 OPINION �� 15 COVER STORY �� 16 SIMCHAS �� 18 ARTS �� 31 CALENDAR �� 36 COMMUNITY �� 38 KEEPING IT KOSHER �� 47 BRAIN FOOD �� 48 OBITUARIES �� 49 CLOSING THOUGHTS �� 50 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 3

LOCAL NEWS IDF Legends Inspire Atlanta’s FIDF By Marcia Caller Jaffe Friends of the Israel Defense Forces delivered a riveting program for its annual donor appreciation event, “Legends and Heroes of the IDF,” held Dec. 10 for the first time at City Springs. The keynote speaker was Brig. Gen. (Res.) Eli Ben Meir, the man who was credited with taking out the Syrian nuclear reactor. In 2007, he masterminded Operation Outside the Box, which resulted in the destruction of the Syrian radar site in Tall al-Abuad. During the pre-program reception, current IDF members, lone soldiers, and retired military mingled with avid FIDF supporters. “One of the first things I did upon moving to Atlanta was to seek out this organization as a top priority,” said attorney Joshua Spielman, who is new to the city. “I have relatives who served in the IDF and believe the FDIF’s mission to be critical.” Ronald Scheinzeit agreed, “Every FIDF event has been super special.” Rabbi Michael Bernstein of Congregation Gesher L’Torah kicked off the program by connecting the occasion to lighting Chanukah candles. “The IDF is an ongoing miracle that is sometimes hidden. We act as the ‘shamash’ (helping candle) so the light can shine and be seen.” Seth Baron, FIDF Southeast region executive director, thanked the audience for fulfilling its call to support the soldiers. “Our job is to look after them. Their job is to look after Israel.” Baron recognized Bobby Cohen, the national FIDF president, who came for the event from Washington, D.C. Baron had just returned from a visit to Israel where he met with the brigadier general and colonel for the FIDF Southeast’s adopted Combat Intelligence Corps and

With a wealth of experience are IDF members Netanel Rappaport (Israeli Air Force maintenance), Maj. Yaniv Hassar (liaison officer for Warner Robbins) and Mike Carmel (manager of F15 fighter jets).

witnessed live-fire exercises as the IDF’s special forces commando units were involved in a 10-day exercise in both the north and south of Israel. “They praised our work back home and shared our one goal of protecting the State of Israel and staying strong,” Baron said. A video was shown to describe the touching, now defunct Operation Good Neighbor, where Israel’s soldiers helped thousands of Syrians who approached the border fence in search of support and medical treatment. Over three years, tons of food, diapers (180,000 cases, for example), clothing, and medical care were supplied by the IDF. “We could not be bystanders and watch 200,000 Syrians suffering during their civil war (201316) in the Golan without helping them,” said Maj. Efi Ribner, who was part of the lead team at the Syrian border. “In July of 2018, when Israel was approached to covertly rescue the Syrian White Helmets humanitarian forces that had been declared ‘enemies of the state’ by the Syrian government, there was no question of what to do. We escorted 500 of them into

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Israel, then on to Jordan for safety. These Syrians were frightened, but trusted us, who they had been taught was their sworn enemy, and fled everything they knew with nothing but their passport and clothes on their back. … Our goal is to change hearts and minds.” Garry Sobel, Southeast regional FIDF chair and member of the FIDF national board of directors, spoke of his deep personal connection to IDF soldiers and the 40 lone soldiers serving in the Atlanta area. “That is the power of our impact on the IDF. We are moving hearts and moving the needle. FIDF Southeast region grows dramatically every year. For four years in a row, we have topped $1 million in donations, and with the three weeks remaining in 2018, we plan to hit $1.7 million in this final push.” As chief of the IDF Intelligence Corps starting in 2005, Ben Meir explained his role in overseeing the intelligence arm that identified the Syrian nuclear reactor. He detailed the political and military considerations that made it difficult to convince Israel’s military and government of the reactor’s existence. And he outlined the events that led to the decision to destroy the reactor 11 years ago.

Guest speaker Brig. Gen. (Res.) Eli Ben Meir poses with Renee Evans, a long-standing FIDF supporter.

When Ben Meir’s team members initially approached him with intelligence about a nuclear reactor, he had a gut feeling that this was significant. Over time, his regular briefings with the prime minister shifted the operation from unlikely to necessary. When the United States was approached, then President George W. Bush said that the U.S. would not join in the attack, but that Israel could do “what needed to be done.” Based on the advancement of a water pipe used for cooling the reactor, and fearing exposure of its covert plan, Israel convened an emergency cabinet meeting to approve the classified strike. Amid Israel’s denial of the strike, Ben Meir had to keep the details secret until the operation was declassified last year. In response to more immediate news, Ben Meir explained the rising pressure with Iran, which now has expanded power. “They have dozens of sites … and now control five capitols in the Middle East.” In terms of his military accomplishments, Ben Meir concluded, “I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. Napoleon himself said, ‘I like to pick lucky generals.’”■

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Ronald Scheinzeit chats with husband and wife IDF team Bar and Gal Levy and Greenberg Traurig attorney Joshua Spielman (right).

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1994

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The year he received his undergraduate degree in molecular biology, graduating cum laude at King’s College. He received his doctorate of medicine from Penn State. DeJoseph completed his residency in otolaryngology/ head and neck surgery at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and was one of only 38 surgeons selected worldwide to undergo further specialty training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in affiliation with Emory University.

The number of facial injectables performed at Premier Image each year.

2017

The year DeJoseph was co-chair of the national meeting for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, sharing knowledge with leaders among the most talented facial plastic surgeons from around the world.

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Percentage of patients that are referred by friends and family and other physicians.

The Atlanta ZIP code in which Premier Image recently opened their new state of the art Cosmetic and Laser Surgery Center and Med Spa (6085 Barfield Road NE, Ste. 100)

The number of board certifications DeJoseph holds: American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board for Laser Surgery.

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10,000+

The number of facial surgeries and laser procedures DeJoseph has performed in his career.

Out of 42 Fellowship programs in the U.S. for specialized training in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery.

150+ The number of QT Mini face- and necklifts performed by DeJoseph each year.

Average amount of days it takes to recover from DeJoseph’s trademarked QT Mini face-lift and neck-lift. He’s known for delivering natural results, low downtime and minimal bruising.

1970

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LOCAL NEWS

The winning team Catchball headed by Rachel Gurvitch (center).

Co-chairs Steven Richman and Nancy Freedman chat with Aprio’s Robert Arogeti.

Community Circles Shark Tank Innovators By Marcia Caller Jaffe Jewish Atlanta’s first-of-its-kind Shark Tank event at a packed auditorium of The Temple Dec. 12 showcased the Israeli-style Women’s Accelerator and the inspiring

6 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ideas of its initial 11 female entrepreneurs. A woman-led startup designed the incubator program based on an Israeli accelerator for women, Yazamiyot, which was then implemented with the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

“We were delighted that Federation partnered with us and supported the accelerator as part of its innovation initiative, then gave the ladies a community platform at The Exchange,” Hub Central Founder Orna Sharon said of the Federation’s program in which aspiring innovators meet experienced entrepreneurs. “The accelerator and incubator are part of Hub Central’s work to bring Israeli innovation and creativity to Atlanta, reignite Jewish imagination, and inspire the next generation to connect with Israel in a modern and meaningful way.” Sharon plans to continue working with her fellow female entrepreneurs through an incubator program starting in January. Established entrepreneurs and business hopefuls mingled during the reception featuring A Kosher Touch feast of mini chicken shawarama, open-faced petite tenderloin on grilled baguette, sweet and sour meatballs, potato bourekas, salad in a jar, and old-fashioned soft ginger molasses cookies. During the reception, Jori Mendel, Federation’s vice president of innovation, said, “The women are excited to give their ‘pitch’ tonight. Some came with ideas, some with passion, and some with real businesses; but they are all able to learn from each other. I have seen them invite peers to attend functions and share resources. These relationships are as important as that of a mentor.” Program co-chairs Nancy Freedman and Steven Richman primed the crowd. Freedman spoke of her family’s long history with the Federation ranging from her summers at Camp Barney Medintz, trips to Israel, Jewish day school attendance and her mother's service as the Federation’s first female president to her parents’ use of senior services towards life’s end. She kept her comments upbeat by interspersing jokes about Jewish scenarios and charitable giving. Richman referred to Federation’s dynamic role in the community and specifically the internet age where even the night’s winner was selected by the audience’s

LOCAL NEWS

The Federation’s VP of Innovation, Jori Mendel, poses with Dr. Brett Mendel; Mark Silberberg, Federation chairman; and Orna Sharon, Hub Central founder.

Future innovator hopefuls: Mayan Cohen, Karen Rosenberg and Sharon Youval.

instantaneous vote on cell phones. After tallying the results, the winner was the orange-clad Catchball team, based on an Israeli sport brought to Atlanta by innovator Rachel Gurvitch. The other startup businesses ranged from wellness and alternative therapy to educational tools and jewelry. The women’s pitches presented during the evening were well-timed, well-rehearsed and upbeat. After the presentations, the professional mentor panel took the stage. Robert Arogeti, Brad Ruffkess, Garrett Van de Grift, and Tal Postelnik Baum fielded questions, the last of which was, “How have your Jewish values influenced you/your business practices? Baum: “As a restaurateur, I want to introduce Israeli food to employees and customers as ambassadors to Israeli food and Judaism.” Van de Grift: “I want to guide my son along in a Jewish values experience.” Ruffkess: “I was ADD-driven as a youth and figured I had 5,000 years of Jewish survival and fitness inbred. Besides that, I want to hedge my bet and put the thumbs on the scale by funding my rabbi.” Arogeti: Joking, he said, “I am mastering my retirement as the CEO of Aprio.” During the dinner, I asked Eyal Postelnik about his pride for his daughter, Tal, one of the mentors and

a restaurateur who owns Bellina Alimentari at Ponce City Market. A high-tech entrepreneur who produces the navigation systems for GM cars in South America, he said, “I am excited about Tal’s success every day, but especially today!” Rabbi Michoel Lipschutz commented on her creativity, “Every day G-d is renewing us; that is one of the basic tenets of Judaism.” ■

Rabbi Michoel Lipschutz shares naches with Eyal and Aviva Postelnik over their daughter Tal’s restaurant success (logo inset).

The night’s winner, Rachel Gurvitch, celebrates with Shiri Tzuk. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 7

8 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

LOCAL NEWS

The building sits directly on the Atlanta BeltLine at 730 Ponce de Leon Place.

Jeff’s parents, Veronica and Jon Kraus, along with his sister Rebecca, cut the ribbon as the doors open. The opening of Jeff’s Place featured a welcome from Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, Jewish teaching from Chabad Intown Rabbi Ari Sollish, speeches from recovery organizations, and some words from Jeff’s family and friends.

Jeff’s Place Opening Gives Hope By Rachel Fayne The dedication and opening of Jeff’s Place on Dec. 13 filled an unmet need in the Jewish community. Someone who has experienced 12-step recovery programs might know how isolating it can feel as a Jew. Many of these programs have Christian-based elements that can leave some Jewish men and women out of the fold. When Veronica and Jon Kraus lost their 29-year-old son Jeff to addiction earlier this year, they vowed to do something about the problem by giving back to Chabad Intown, an organization where their son spent much of his time. With a large donation from the Krauses and funds from the sale of its previous building, Chabad Intown has opened Jeff’s Place, a café sitting directly on the Atlanta BeltLine in Chabad’s new building. It will function as a standard café during the day with self-serve coffee and prepackaged foods, and will include a work space with games. But the café will be open for the recovery community Sunday through Thursday evenings. Jeff's Place has been approved to hold Families Anonymous meetings, a 12-step program for relatives and friends of addicts. The first will begin in January with hopes to expand the number of meetings and hours open as time goes on. Also in the works for the cafe are the launch of other 12-step meetings, plans for fresh and kosher food to be made on-site, and a series of frequent speakers. Jeff’s Place brings together two groups Jeff dedicated his life to: the Jewish and recovery communities. “There’s a definite stigma that exists within the Jewish community,” Chabad Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman said Crowds gather in Jeff’s Place for the first time just after the opening. Justin Milrad of The Blue Dove Foundation (inset left) speaks about the need for recovery through a Jewish lens.

in his welcome speech. “Churches have them, but almost no synagogues hold 12-step meetings. Why is that? The more we become comfortable speaking about it, the more we can literally save lives.” Jeff’s Place will also work within many partnerships, including relationships with the Blue Dove Foundation, an organization that addresses mental health/ substance abuse within the Jewish community, and HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse), an organization within Jewish Family & Career Services that provides recovery support and tools. “A Jewish lens in these recovery meetings really matters,” explained Justin Milrad, co-founder of The Blue Dove Foundation.

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“We are a proud, strong people, and we need to talk more. Connection matters. Community matters. And that’s why we’re here.” Opening night featured speeches by Milrad and Daniel Epstein, program director of The Berman Center, Jeff’s former sponsor and friends, his parents and sister Rebecca Izzo. The evening concluded with Jeff’s family ceremoniously placing the mezuzah on the door of Jeff’s Place, a ribbon cutting and refreshments. “We will try every single day to have Jeff live on through this space and through the people we help,” Rabbi Schusterman said. “The Talmud says one who saves one live, it’s as if they saved an entire world. That’s our mission.” ■

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LOCAL NEWS

AJA Gets New Gym

AJA Head of School Rabbi Ari Leubitz greets attendees and offers remarks celebrating the opening of the new gym.

By Eddie Samuels A mother’s love of sportsmanship and great-grandparents’ journeys to America were recounted at the opening Dec. 14 of a new Atlanta Jewish Academy sports center and gym in their relatives’ memory. Members of the Zisholtz and Minsk families recalled their relatives and the lessons learned from their lives at the opening of the new Vivian Zisholtz Sportsmanship Center and the Ida E. & Harry Minsk Gymnasium. Stephanie Zisholtz Fishman spoke about her mother’s love of sports and Hannah, Rebecca and Sarah Solon – three AJA students – remembered their great-grandparents as U.S. immigrants. The late-morning ceremony began with opening remarks from AJA’s Head of School Rabbi Ari Leubitz to more than 100 teachers, students, community members and donors. Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul reminded everyone of the groundbreaking ceremony just eight months earlier for the gym and the importance of the com-

10 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

munity that would occupy the space. “Without the people and the community in that space, a building itself is meaningless,” Paul said. “The space itself is secondary to what it enables us to do.” Following the opening remarks, attendees braved the rainy day for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Leubitz and Paul, along with Barry Zisholtz, and Alan, Betty and Malcom Minsk, cut the white ribbon to a new era of athletics and sportsmanship at AJA. Leubitz explained that the fundraising for this project was phase two of the school’s expansion, following the completion of the upper school. “The financial goal overall was over $14 million, and we are almost there, with various naming opportunities at the gymnasium still available,” Leubitz said. “We hit the ground running. Our fundraising efforts began immediately, and support was tremendous.” A schoolwide pep rally followed in the new gym, where sports teams were recognized individually, and students

Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul discussed the importance of community in defining the role of the new gym.

practiced their Jaguar cheers. Upper school boys’ and girls’ basketball teams were the first to break in the

Stephanie Zisholtz Fishman speaks about her mother, Vivian Zisholtz, after whom the new center is named.

new gym in matches against The Cottage School Saturday. First were the girls, who dribbled their way to a 51-43 victory, fol-

LOCAL NEWS

Donors and community members lined up for the ceremonial ribbon cutting of AJA’s new gym and sportsmanship center.

AJA students of all ages enjoyed a pep rally in the newly completed gym.

Crowds listened as speakers shared their hopes for the new gym and recalled stories about those for whom it was named.

lowed by the boys who routed TCS, 50-27. The wins were fitting firsts for the new space.

AJA students showed off their school spirit, practicing their “Let’s go Jags” cheers.

Leubitz emphasized that while the gym itself is a physical space, it enables so much more for the school, and the

community. “The kids will play, exercise and learn life lessons, but they’ll learn so

much more. They’ll learn to be builders,” Leubitz said. “AJA is giving our children the tools to be builders.” ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 11

LOCAL NEWS

Dr. Cooper’s Yellow Vest Encounter By Marcia Caller Jaffe Protests involving the Yellow Vests – known as the Yellow Jackets in America – took an ugly turn this week in France, clashing with police and embracing antiSemitic messages in the streets and on social media. For the first time, synagogues in France closed their doors because of security concerns. One such sign hanging over the road between Paris and Marseilles referred to French President Emmanuel Macron as “the whore of the Jews” while others implied that it was wealthy Jews who had chosen Macron as their president and that they are responsible for the current economic situation. Last week 37 tombstones and a Holocaust monument in the Jewish cemetery outside of Strasbourg were desecrated with swastikas and the “14 words,” a slogan used globally by white supremacists and neo-Nazis. Members of the Yellow Vests movement encouraged protesting Chanukah celebrations, claiming that France suffered while Jews were celebrating. Atlanta Psychiatrist Annie Nataf

with me, and I went Cooper Ruspoli to church with her. grew up in Paris, Post-Holocaust horwhere she graduatror and guilt were ed medical school. prevalent, and After completpeople bent over ing a residency at backwards to be Emory University, welcoming. In my she settled here – school, my prinstill managing to cipal and teacher visit France three were part of the times a year. This [French] Resistance, last trip, November and the school halls 2018, she landed in had Holocaust arthe middle of the tifacts and chilling incendiary Yellow exhibits of soap and Vest protests that lamps composed of we see on national Dr. Annie Nataf Cooper Ruspoli victims. news. Dr. Cooper The first time I felt anti-Semitism shares her first-hand experience about life in France, anti-Semitism and Presi- was after the Six-Day War when [President Charles] De Gaulle disseminated dent Macron. negative words about Israel. Jaffe: Many don’t realize that France Jaffe: Based on what you observe has the world's third largest Jewish population, 480,000. Growing up in Paris in now, do French Jews feel more threatthe 50s and 60s, what was Jewish life like? ened? Cooper: Absolutely, there is more Cooper: I went to public schools and Jews were well-integrated. My best security in synagogues, Jewish schools, friend was Catholic; she went to Temple stores etc. I would call it “a very tense situation.” Anti-Semitic acts are up 69 percent since the beginning of 2018. After the April murders, school shooting, and grocery store attacks, we have seen cemetery desecration, swastikas on walls, etc. These Yellow Vest demonstrations have brought out people from the extreme left and extreme right, both of which are anti-Semitic for different reasons. Jaffe: Last month you went to Paris to visit family. What did you experience in terms of the Yellow Vest demonstrations? Cooper: Everyone is supposed to have these yellow vests in their cars incidentally. The demonstrators that I saw in the countryside were peaceful. They approached us at the grocery, and although they took over the toll road booths, they were friendly and explained their grievances and circumstances. Their grievances stemmed from the gas tax, the past increased emphasis on diesel cars, the reduction of local train stations and public transportation that allow working folks to get to their jobs. This was done in the interest of reducing climate change. Unfortunately, the working class has to feed their families and don’t care about this. The anger increased as Macron did not come out initially to address the complaints.

12 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jaffe: What we saw on TV was not peaceful. Cooper: Agitators and bad people took advantage of the situation by looting and swarming the side streets. My sister who lives off Les Champs-Élysées (an affluent area), said she was very fearful and could not open her windows for fear of smoke inhalation and blasts. Wealthy areas were targeted to cause more disruption. Jaffe: Macron has since coalesced? His approval rating was less than 18 percent. Cooper: Yes, he removed the gas tax, acknowledged grievances and increased the minimum wage. Also, in France there is an overall depression and general dissatisfaction … about France being or not being in the European Union. Note that Macron was portrayed in newspapers as “The Whore of the Jews,” as his past was working with the Rothschild family, associated with the very rich. Jaffe: What is happening now to lower the anti-Semitic rhetoric? Cooper: The Minister of Education issued a movement beginning in 2019 to monitor schools and tamp Pro Palestinian exhibits expressing sympathy towards Arabs actively portraying Israel as “bad.” Also 300 celebrities and politicians, including ex-President [Nicolas] Sarkozy (reputed to have a Jewish grandparent), signed a document in support of the Jewish people. Jaffe: Do you see an increase in Muslim population? Cooper: I saw rows of immigrant camps (in general) living in boxes, probably illegal; but no one cares about deporting them, and they receive government assistance. There is a feud over a December 2018 move to affect asylum rules and pay into the blocs instead of hosting more immigrants. (“Host Migrants or Pay, France and Germany Propose” EURACTIV/Reuters Dec. 7, 2018.) Jaffe: On the lighter side, what’s the best part about returning/visiting France? Cooper: Ah, I love the food, shopping and family back in France. Also, our house in Bordeaux in the countryside is where we spend quiet time. After all, my early memories are there. Nice that new memories in the States feature my three grandsons! ■

BUSINESS

Exterior and interior views of the new Waldorf Astoria in Buckhead.

Waldorf Opens in Atlanta By Roni Robbins While it won’t offer in-house kosher catering, the first Waldorf Astoria in Atlanta allows kosher food to be served in its facility through an off-site caterer, the hotel reported Monday. Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, which replaces the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta, joins a handful of hotels in Buckhead that allow such kosher arrangements. The Grand Hyatt Atlanta and the Intercontinental Buckhead Hotel are certified by the Atlanta Kosher Commission. Hotels that can accommodate kosher events are listed in area visitors’ guides, said Sam Massell, president of the Buckhead Coalition. “We are hoping the Waldorf Astoria can, as well.” The Waldorf Astoria hotel offers 11 function spaces. The ballroom “is drenched with natural light and has a stunning terrace” that can accommodate up to 250 guests, according to the hotel’s website and Laura Ford, a Hilton spokesperson. “The private garden is a lush and beautiful place for an outdoor ceremony,” the website states. The 42-story building designed by Jewish architect Robert A.M. Stern has 127 rooms, 10 of which are suites. Suites offer a residential feel with a separate living area and private terrace overlooking

Peachtree Road. The Presidential Suite has dual balconies with ample views of the Atlanta skyline and guest rooms feature dark wood, marble bathrooms and expansive windows. Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead also features a 15,000-square-foot spa with 14 private treatment rooms, including two couples suites and a 60-foot climate-controlled indoor pool overlooking a private garden. If that’s not enough TLC, there’s a high-tech fitness center, yoga studio, steam room, vitality pool, relaxation areas and spa boutique. Massell called the hotel the “crown jewel of hotel flags known internationally. So much history, so many celebrities, dignitaries,” who have stayed and entertained there. “They bring a cachet to Buckhead that is very exciting.” The Waldorf Astoria joins Buckhead’s eight luxury brands, including those with five diamonds and four-star Forbes ratings. Massell said he believes the Waldorf Astoria chose to locate in Buckhead because of its reputation as a second Atlanta downtown known for its nightlife, fine dining and shopping centers. There are about 30 hotels in Buckhead with 6,576 hotel rooms, 3,000 places to eat and 1,500 retail units bringing in about $3 billion in annual sales, he said. ■

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ISRAEL PRIDE

News From Our Jewish Home to series, there would be eight episodes in the first season.

Israel Plans for French Immigration Superstar Richard Gere is set to star in the U.S. adaption of an Israeli drama series.

Richard Gere Expected to Star in Israeli Drama Series

Apple announced earlier this month that it is close to ordering an American adaptation of the Israeli drama series “Nevelot,” according to Variety magazine. Richard Gere is set to star in the project. The story centers around two elderly Vietnam vets and best friends who find their monotonous lives upended when a woman they both loved 50 years ago is killed by a car. Their lifelong regrets and secrets collide with their resentment of today’s self-absorbed millennials, and an act of self-defense snowballs into a tragic series of events. The series would be written by Howard Gordon, who would also executive produce along with Warren Leight, Gere, Dror Sabo, Lee Yardeni, Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Rachel Kaplan, Peter Traugott, Yoram Mokady, and Mirit Toovi. Gordon and Leight would serve as co-showrunners. The project originated from Fox 21 Television Studios, Teakwood Lane Productions and Keshet Studios. Should it go

Israel is creating a plan to boost immigration of Jews from France, Times of Israel reported Dec. 9. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett to create a special body to absorb an estimated 200,000 French Jews whose numbers have swelled because of a wave of antiSemitism in Europe. While the number of Jews immigrating from France has risen quickly over the past decade, Bennett believes there are hundreds of thousands more ready to immigrate, or make aliyah, the process of repatriating to the Holy Land. “There has been a historic missed opportunity on the part of Israeli governments over the past few years, and it is the subject of immigration from France,” Bennett said in a statement, the Times reported. France, like many of its European neighbors, has witnessed a major spike in anti-Semitic crimes and harassment over the past several years. Jews not only face a threat from traditional sources, such as neo-Nazi hate groups, but also increasingly are singled out for criticism by left-wing groups who frame their antiSemitic rhetoric as “anti-Israel criticism” or “pro-Palestinian activism.”

Today in Israeli History Dec. 21, 1973: A Middle East peace conference opens in Geneva under the auspices of the United States and the Soviet Union, although U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger keeps the Soviets in the dark about progress made in private by Israel and Egypt toward their 1974 Disengagement Agreement. Syria skips the conference because Israel refuses to recognize the PLO as the Palestinians’ representative. The conference ends Dec. 29 and never reconvenes. Dec. 22, 1948: A cable to the State Department from U.S. envoy Julius Holmes recounts the concerns about Israel expressed two days earlier by British Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin. Because of immigrants from Communist-controlled countries, Bevin worries that Israel will become a Communist state within five years, posing a threat to the Suez Canal. Dec. 23, 1789: The French National Assembly spends three days debating the issue of Jewish rights without coming to a decision. Abbe Jean Siffrein Maury de14 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The influx of Arab and Muslim migrants to the continent has also brought with it classic Islamic anti-Semitism, which is prevalent throughout the Arab world. “There are 200,000 Jews in France who want to immigrate here, and all the state systems are simply not prepared for this,” Bennett warned. He believes more needs to be done to increase and support this immigrant community in Israel.

Israel Aerospace Industries/World Israel News

Partial privatization of Israel Aerospace Industries includes the Arrow missile defense system.

Netanyahu Orders Partial Privatization of Israel Aerospace Industries In his role as defense minister, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the partial privatization of Israel Aerospace Industries, which accounts for up to half of Israel’s defense exports and is valued at about $4 billion, according to World Israel News.

de Gaulle prevented the boats’ delivery when they were ready. The boats arrive in Haifa on Dec. 31. Painting by Adolf Wurtmuller

Count Stanislas de ClaremontTonnerre

clares that Jews form a separate nation with their own laws. Count Stanislas de Claremont-Tonnerre says, “The Jews should be denied everything as a nation but granted everything as individuals.” Robespierre, on the other hand, argues for the rights of Jews. Sephardim gain emancipation in January 1790; Ashkenazim have to wait until September 1791. Dec. 24, 1969: Israel uses a fake shipping company as a front to purchase five military boats and sneaks them out of Cherbourg, France, defeating a French arms embargo enacted after the June 1967 war. Israel had ordered the naval craft from shipbuilder Felix Amiot before the war, but French President Charles

Dec. 25, 1918: Anwar Sadat, the president who leads Egypt into the 1973 Yom Kippur War and signs a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, is born into a family of 13 children in Mit Abu al-Kum, Egypt. He is part of the Free Officers movement that overthrows the monarchy in 1952, becomes Gamal Abdel Nasser’s vice president in 1964 and is named president in 1970. Peace with Israel follows his November 1977 visit to Jerusalem. He is assassinated by Muslim extremists during a military parade Oct. 6. 1981. Dec. 26, 1864: Yehoshua Hankin, who personally buys 30 percent of the land owned by the state of Israel at its independence in 1948, is born in Ukraine. He and his father make aliyah in 1882, and he makes his first land buy for the Yishuv (the area of Jewish settlement) in 1890, when he purchases a plot that becomes the town of Rehovot. His knowledge of Turkish bureaucracy, land law,

Netanyahu asked his director-general and the director of the Government Companies Authority to begin preparing for a quarter of the company’s stock to be sold to the public by mid-2019, Israel’s business daily, Calcalist, reported. Netanyahu would like to speed the process, which involves several time-consuming steps. This is necessary because of IAI’s intimate knowledge of the country’s defense needs. The government cannot allow this information to be exposed in the detailed activity reports it would have to file on a quarterly and annual basis after the stocks are sold. Mechanisms are being established to ensure that foreign parties cannot become too powerful within the company. They will not be allowed to buy more than 4.99 percent of the shares. Directors to the board will be appointed only by the government. The state-owned giant was approved for partial privatization in 2014, but it started to gain ground within the past 1½ years. Reuters reported that IAI’s Chief Financial Officer Eyal Younian was seeking permission to sell a 20 percent stake in the company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. He said his reasoning was to help IAI become more commercially competitive by raising money to finance acquisitions abroad in a better way than borrowing funds either directly from the banks or by issuing bonds, which would include paying interest. ■

and Arabic language and culture is key to his land-buying success. A drawing by a Sderot schoolgirl in November 2008 depicts her and her friends as targets of Kassam rockets fired from Gaza.

Dec. 27, 2008: Israel launches Operation Cast Lead in Gaza after Hamas breaks a 6-month-old, Egyptian-brokered cease-fire. Nearly 12,000 rockets have been fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip in eight years, including roughly 3,000 in 2008 alone, before Israel launches the 22-day operation with three goals: to stop rocket fire at civilians; to stop Hamas terrorist attacks; and to stop weapons smuggling into Gaza. ■ Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details.

Atlanta United Fans Love Their Uncle Arthur If you search online, A couple of weeks ago, on Dec. 8, Atlanta United you can find lists of the gave Blank the best imagwealthiest, and even the inable Chanukah present, most despised owners in the championship of MaAmerican sports, but no jor League Soccer. Before a mention of the “most loved” deafening home crowd of or “most popular.” 73,019, the second-year team There is no question defeated the Portland Timamong Atlanta United FC bers 2-0 to win the 2018 MLS fans who holds the latter Dave Cup. titles. Schechter Two days later, Blank It’s Uncle Arthur. From Where I Sit addressed thousands of jubiThere is a unique bond between the soccer team’s devoted fol- lant fans, who ignored the wet and chill lowers and Arthur Blank, who also owns as they lined downtown streets for a paa football team called the Atlanta Fal- rade and flowed into the stadium’s “back yard” for a rally. cons. “I could walk around and thank evConsider the scene on Blank’s 75th birthday, Sept. 27, 2017, which coincided ery single person here, but the greatest with a 3-0 win against the Philadelphia tribute belongs to you, our fans. You’re Union at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The unbelievable. God bless you all. You did supporter’s groups, whose members an unbelievable job supporting this team stand, bounce up-and-down, and sway throughout the year. … I want to thank side-to-side, all while singing throughout you for responding with energy and pasthe games, chanted “Uncle Arthur” as the sion and caring and love for this team multi-billionaire approached their end of and for our great city. I could not be the stadium. They serenaded Blank with prouder of anything than I am today of “Happy Birthday” and, in turn, received seeing you all out here, with great diversity and great inclusion. God bless you all pieces of a large cake.

and thank you so much,” he said. Team president Darren Eales proclaimed, “Atlanta has the greatest owner anyone could wish for, in Uncle Arthur.” I have been a soccer fan for nearly five decades, dating back to the first article I wrote about soccer for my high school newspaper. With a daughter and two sons, my wife and I were soccer parents for 20 years. I probably watch more soccer on television than anything else. It is, Audrey has said, the “other religion” in our home. Atlanta United has transformed my wife – once the self-proclaimed “worst soccer mom,” known to read newspapers at her children’s games – into a jerseywearing, full-throated fan (even if the offside rule still confuses her). In various combinations, our family has attended every game since the March 5, 2017, debut at Bobby Dodd Stadium. If all Blank had done was bring Atlanta a team in the top flight of American soccer, dayenu, it would have been enough. But this team has become much more than its trophies. I was glad to hear Blank laud the diversity and inclusiveness of the Atlanta

OPINION

United fan base. The decals, banners and flags visible around the city, and the level of player engagement, are a testament to how well his organization has integrated the team into the community. A year ago, when Blank received a lifetime achievement award from the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta, he said that Americans were at “a time in our nation’s history where the notion of inclusiveness, diversity and equality is being challenged. Hard lines are being drawn, and people are again being segmented by many who, in my view, are more interested in political positioning than they are in demonstrating and championing the ideals of a great country.” There is no such segmenting among Atlanta United fans. Every time we enter the stadium, seeing people of various races and ethnicities, hearing a variety of languages, we are struck by how much the fans represent the diversity of Atlanta and, indeed, the United States. That, as much as the championship, is the legacy Atlanta United is building. So, thank you, Uncle Arthur. Unite and conquer. ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 15

SIMCHAS

Olivia Griffin Photography // Rabbi Peter Berg (pictured above and right) officiates the wedding of Emily

Grein to Chase Warden as he breaks the glass in Highlands, North Carolina Nov. 12, 2016.

Creating Your Signature Wedding Ever heard the phrase “a signature wedding”? Even if it doesn’t ring a bell, the idea behind it is something every engaged couple desires for their special day. A signature wedding is as unique and individual as a written signature: it tells us who this bride and groom are and what they have imagined their wedding day would be. Creating a signature wedding means using every touchpoint as an opportunity Jim to infuse your personal style and leave a lasting impression – from the choice of White bridal gown and save-the-date announcements through to the sparkler send-off at the end of the wedding celebration. A critical element in the creation of a signature wedding is the décor. Imagining and designing a décor for your wedding day can be the most exciting part of the planning process. Why? Because it is the part of the that most reflects the preferences and personalities of the bride and groom. It is not only the part that makes the most significant statement during the day itself; it also will be the stage that will capture your precious memories, through wedding photos and videography. So, how do you create your signature wedding? After getting engaged, hiring a wedding planner and choosing the date and venue, you’re ready to choose a wedding decorator who can turn your vision into a reality. Working with your decorator early in the process allows you to curate a thoughtful and intentional décor concept that is quintessentially yours. You’ll want to meet to begin discussing the décor in the beginning stages as it can impact choices you’ll make with other vendors for other areas of the wedding. Being able to tell other vendors you’re working with what your wedding will look like and what atmosphere will be created will help them make unique suggestions to complement 16 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

your design vision. In the initial design session with your decorator, share your vision and your excitement. And don’t be afraid to run ideas by your decorator. It’s your wedding! An excellent decorator is also a good listener. Your input is needed to begin to develop an idea of what a signature wedding just for you would look like. In my opinion, no idea or detail is too small or inconsequential to be discussed. A signature wedding often begins with one of those small details or new ideas. Conveying your thoughts and wishes to your decorator has now become easier than ever with the help of online platforms such as Pinterest, Etsy and Instagram. They provide a great way to see, capture and share ideas. Be creative and use them as inspiration so that you can successfully share your wishes for the various décor elements, including: the setting for the bedeken (unveiling of the bride); the style and floral selection of the bridal bouquet; the design for the chuppah; a unique ceiling treatment; personalized centerpieces; sweetheart table décor; and specialty linen selection. All of these are areas to express your personalities. The experience of shaping the décor elements of your wedding day can sometimes seem overwhelming, but an experienced decorator will guide you through every detail of the selection process – discussing each of the elements with you while making suggestions that will bring all your preferences together cohesively. From there, you should receive a detailed, well-thoughtout décor concept for review. From this initial proposal, you’ll be able to firm up your thoughts and ideas and set a realistic budget. Lastly, your decorator should offer you a final design session in which you will see examples of the cen-

terpieces, a mockup of what the chuppah will look like, samples of the fabrics to be used and choices of candleholders for your tables. The final design session can be very exciting and put you totally at ease knowing your signature wedding will be exactly to your hearts’ desire. ■ Jim White is owner and senior event designer at Jim White Designs, Inc. Jim has been decorating for weddings and B'nai Mitzvahs for 38 years.

SIMCHAS

The head table from the wedding of Katie Grein and Mark Littman at the Ritz on Oct 12, 2015. Signature Wedding Wish List Chuppah: Having a chuppah fashioned from birch tree trunks is not a new idea. But how about painting them with a wash of silver and combing crystals with garlands of flowers rather than large floral bouquets at the top of each leg? You can mix elegance and organic elements if your designer blends them carefully to create something truly magical. Sweetheart table: Decorating your sweetheart table in a personal style with special chairs and cascading florals is a great way to add a signature touch to your reception. Taking this a step further, what if the sweetheart table was framed by a beautiful backdrop of your choosing? Ceiling treatment: A ceiling treatment over the dance floor can give your wedding a distinct look as well. You don’t have to limit yourself to draping fabric on the ceiling in a starburst pattern. Imagine panels of greenery and sparkling lights with crystals to achieve the effect of dancing under a starlit garden arbor. Table arrangement: How about having your wedding party and family sit at tables that fan out from the sweetheart table? Envision these highlighted with dramatic chandelier-like designs of flowers and garden foliage that flow onto the tables rather than predictable large arrangements with multi-level candles. Centerpiece designs: You may want to consider centerpieces incorporating contemporary lanterns and fairy lights for your low designs to be unusual. Lanterns are not just for outdoor casual weddings. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, so they don’t block one’s view. Mood lighting: Instead of budgeting for up-lighting in your room, why not consider projecting celestial stars on the ceiling and blooming branches on the backdrop behind the band? Also remember that pinspot lights, highlighting your feature tables, are a great way to add texture to your setting. Floral display: Want a dramatic backdrop for the band and dance floor? Consider having a floral wall 14 feet tall that incorporates crystal chandeliers. Perhaps you’d like to consider oversized arbors to lift your reception setting. The arbors can be 20 feet by 12 feet so you can place dining tables in them, thus bringing an out-of-doors feeling to your ballroom and giving more dimension to the celebration setting as well. There are many ways to customize the décor elements of your wedding. Just be creative and be open to new ideas from your event decorator.

Photos by The Decisive Moment // Décor from

the wedding reception of Mollie Rosenberg & Corey Friedman at the Atlanta History Center May 13, 2017.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 17

SIMCHAS

The zoo's new event space, Savanna Hall, overlooks the elephant habitat.

Zoo Atlanta Building Kosher Kitchen The Atlanta Zoo is going kosher. For the first time in the 129-year history of the zoo, guests in the new Savanna Hall will be able to dine from a dedicated kosher kitchen. The new kitchen and kosher experience incorporate menus from the zoo’s catering partner, Proof of the Pudding, and are part of a $50 million Bob renovation of what was once Bahr the home of the Cyclorama, a Civil War exhibit that moved to the Atlanta History Center. The new Savanna Hall is expected to open in the first quarter of 2020. It joins a small group of special event venues in the Atlanta area that offer kosher dining. Zoo President and CEO Raymond B. King, who is responsible for significant jumps in attendance and fundraising, acknowledged the unique marketing possibilities for the new facility. “When we began to consider the pos-

sibilities of Savanna Hall, we envisioned a venue that would be an inspiring canvas for a wide variety of special events,” said King, who has frequently been named among the most admired nonprofit CEOs in the city. “We recognized the need for Atlantans to have an exciting new venue with the builtin capacity to execute large scale, high-end kosher events.” The total renovation of the classic 1921 structure will create 25,000 square feet of meeting space and will include a two-level circular ballroom that will seat more than 600 for a banquet or party or nearly 800 for a reception. As an added incentive, the city is building a new and badly needed parking deck next door to the building. For those considering a unique bar or bat mitzvah party or other simcha in the next several years, the new space will have a panoramic glass walled view of the new

The Savanna Hall concept includes conference rooms. 18 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

SIMCHAS

One of two outdoor terraces adjacent to the ballroom allows for an immersive savanna experience.

six-acre outdoor African Savanna, a natural habit space for giraffes, zebras, ostriches and other animals. The ballroom will also feature two outdoor terraces, one covered and one open-air, for an immersive experience of the savanna. The venue looks out onto a new elephant habitat, which adjoins the savanna. It will include among its facilities a large pool, two waterfalls and an indoor elephant care center. The space will triple the number of animals that can be seen at any one time. The zoo, which already has bookings for the building’s inaugural year in 2020, sees the kosher facility and the wildlife experience as a major advance in its effort to position the zoo as an important competitor for local special event dollars. Jennifer Smith, the zoo’s senior director of events and catering sales, was hired last year to help market the new facility. She stressed what she sees as the distinct qualities of the new space. “It is a very unique space. It is certainly unlike anything you can see really anywhere in the city of Atlanta or outside the city of Atlanta because of the ballroom overlooking the African savanna habitat and the wildlife that we will have there.”

But just a 20-minute drive from the zoo, the Georgia Aquarium broke ground this fall for a new $100 million addition. The new project will create a million-gallon shark exhibit with floor-to-ceiling acrylic windows and interactive features that will put visitors nose-to-nose with some of the most fascinating creatures in the sea. Just like the zoo, the aquarium features a kosher kitchen and catering for its Oceans Ballroom, which seats 1,000 guests. The kitchen has been a part of Bernie Marcus’ plans for the aquarium since its opening in 2005. The new emphasis on kosher dining is part of the rapid expansion of the kosher food market at the retail level, which is now worth nearly $25 billion annually, and growing. The acceptance of kosher catering and kosher food service in public facilities may even be outstripping retail, according to Kosher Today, an industry source. For enterprising event planners, the kosher facilities at two of the biggest attractions in the region offer attractive new possibilities. We might just see in the next few years an elegant kosher evening dinner amidst African wildlife followed by a kosher dessert, just a few miles away – among the sharks. ■

Renderings of the ballroom depict corporate settings, as well as festive social gatherings. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 19

SIMCHAS

Randy Kessler, creator of the app Starsona, where fans can buy personalized video shout-outs from their favorite stars.

Get a Simcha Star Shout-Out By Marcia Caller Jaffe Imagine your child’s bar mitzvah with a sports theme and the party screen starts with a video of an NBA player: “Mazel Tov, Eric. Hope your weekend is a great success and that you keep up your interest in b-ball. Best wishes from me, Dominique Wilkins!” Or your first wedding dance is to a recording star who opens it with a personalized greeting to the bride and groom. Afterwards, you can keep up the vibe by posting it on social media. It’s possible through an app, Starsona, the brainchild of divorce lawyer Randall Kessler.

20 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

“I have been fortunate to get to know many stars as high-profile clients – athletes and entertainers, business and community leaders – and observe their generosity towards charities and their willingness to always stop and talk to a fan, take a selfie, or even to do a personalized video for a fan,” Kessler said. “Then, on the other hand, I often get asked to see if one of my clients would do a happy birthday video for someone’s child or friend.” Starsona now has an amazing group of stars available to do personalized video shout-outs for special occasions. Just open the app, select a star, and indicate

Former professional boxer Evander Holyfield, one of the celebrities available on Starsona.

what type of message and for whom it should be created. You can request a video from superstars such as DJ Drama, Judge Hatchett, boxer Evander Holyfield, or five-time Mr. Olympia Vince Taylor, or choose a celeb from The Real Housewives or an Olympic gold medalist. Here are some other stars to choose from: NBA: Wilkins, Paul George, Kyle Lowry, Mario Chalmers, Kenyon Martin, Gheorghe Muresan or Tyronn Lue NFL: Champ Bailey, Michael Boley, Braylon Edwards, Heath Shuler, Andre Rison Pop Music: T-Boz from TLC, The Dolly-

rots, Da Brat, Dawn Robinson from En Vogue. The star sets the fee, gets paid 75 percent and can designate which charity the rest will help support. And it’s not only an app; it’s available on the web. Starsona.com allows you to request a video from anywhere in the world with internet access. Next, Randy, how about a “Jewish star” category? ■ Randy Kessler is past chair of the American Bar Association family law section, a litigation professor at Emory University School of Law and author of “Divorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future.”

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 21

SIMCHAS

Mitzvah Manners for Teens If your teen is on the bar and bat mitzvah circuit, or about to be, he or she will likely attend some parties without you. Teach the rules for good guest behavior to ensure everyone has a good time. Attend the Service This may seem like a noShelly brainer. But with jam-packed weekends and tons of activi- Danz ties, some teens think it’s okay to skip the Torah service, but go to the party anyway. Teens should always try to be there for the service, but exceptions can be made in certain situations, especially if you know the mitzvah family well.

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Bring Your Best Manners “Please” and “thank you” never go out of style! Saying them to everyone you encounter is the right thing to do. Everyone should be treated respectfully, whether they are the guest of honor’s relative or the person serving soda. And remember to thank your hosts before you leave and wish the guest of honor “mazel tov”!

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Pocket the Phone You go to a party to celebrate the guest of honor, right? Checking social media and texting buddies can be done on the way to or from the celebration. Be in the moment and try the entertainment and experiences offered to you. A lot of planning went into this event, and your hosts don’t want guests gaming on their phones instead of joining the fun.

Stay in the Area Some venues have security to make sure guests don’t wander outside or too far away from the party. Others may not. For your safety, and to not be rude, don’t leave the celebration area, or camp out in the bathrooms or lobby. Share with Others The green screen props may be awesome, but don’t monopolize the photo station by taking pic after pic with different friends. Remember that others want to experience it, too. The same goes for edible treats, dance floor tchotchkes and party favors. Take just enough for you and leave the rest for other guests. Guest of Honor Rules! If you’re in line for food or photos and the guest of honor comes to stand behind you, let him go first! He’ll be stopped everywhere he goes by well-wishers and relatives, so when he finally gets to have a bite or enjoy the entertainment, let him jump the line. Follow the Golden Rule The golden oldie still applies. Think of how you’d like your friends to behave at your party, and act that way. This will also ensure you get invited to more! ■ Shelly Danz is founder and chief party officer of Atlanta Party Connection, atlantapartyconnection.com, which connects mitzvah and wedding clients with top vendors, secures exclusive deals and discounts on services, and provides planning tips and inspiration. APC also produces four events a year. The next Bridal Extravaganza is Feb. 17 at the Southern Exchange. The next Bar & Bat Mitzvah EXPO is March 10 at the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 23

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SIMCHAS

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Robbie Kukler sits at the helm of Atlanta hospitality giant, the Fifth Group.

Fifth Group Continues Growth By Rachel Fayne If you’ve been to a wedding, bar or bat mitzvah or a restaurant in Atlanta, you’ve likely been a patron in one of hospitality giant Fifth Group’s businesses. South City Kitchen, Ecco, La Tavola and Lure are just some of those restaurants. Fifth Group’s Bold Catering and Design is also consistent in its popularity for memorable celebrations. At the helm of the Fifth Group is Robbie Kukler, who works with and mentors the operations, marketing and recruiting teams while also focusing on the company’s growth and development of new concepts. With more than 10 restaurants, as well as a catering and design company, he often has his hands full. Although Kukler’s home growing up in Flint, Mich., was full of family members in the medical field, he knew from the age of 14 that he wanted to be in the restaurant business. Being a positive force in someone’s special event or making sure a customer has a memorable dining experience is part of what propelled him into the industry as such a young age. “It’s the purpose of what we do in our company,” he said. “We want to provide the opportunity for people to experience joy, and that comes in all forms and fashions. People in our company love being a part of it, no matter what it is in the company they do. Ultimately, we’re all here because we love being a part of people’s experiences.” As a longtime board member and advocate of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, as well as a major fundraiser for the Atlanta Hunger Walk Run, Kukler credits his faith and connection to his spirituality, in part, for teaching him to give back. He’s a longtime member of Temple Sinai, where both his children had their b’nai mitzah. Kukler’s father, a Holocaust survivor and

family physician for 50 years, instilled in him the importance of tzedakah and giving to the less fortunate. “My father always taught me about giving back, doing good things, and being involved in the community,” Kukler said. “Part of that is because I was raised Jewish, and part of that is who my family is. Giving has always been a big part.” Kukler and the Fifth Group have no intention of slowing down. Serving elevated European fare, Ecco just opened its third location in Buckhead. The Fifth Group recently hosted and sponsored a Sunday Supper for 250 people to benefit the Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency assistance to restaurant workers. The fundraiser was organized, in part, by Bold Catering and Design. Pastry chef Eric Wilensky’s creations were a standout. This year will also mark the Fifth Group’s 25th anniversary. “We’re so thankful for the millions of guests who have dined with us and for our incredible staff members,” Kukler said. “We do a lot every day to make sure these events are special for so many people. We’re living our dream doing this.” ■

Bold Catering and Design is known for elaborate decor and food options for celebrations.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 25

SIMCHAS

Am I Behind? Mitzvah Planning Guide By Shelly Danz entertainment like a photo booth, caricaturist or a food truck? Book that soon.

If you’ve gotten your teen’s bar or bat mitzvah date, you may think it’s so far off that you don’t need to do anything yet. Think again! It’s time to get your mitzvah planning on track. Here’s what to do now and later. First Thing Create your guest list. Your teen’s friend groups may change in the next 12 to 24 months, so keep that fluid. But you know your family and friends, so buckle down and create your spreadsheet of names and addresses. Why? The size of your party dictates the size of your venue. Also, any special considerations among your guests should be accounted for when choosing the place, like handicap accessibility, vegan catering, etc. Two to Three Years Would you believe that some vendors get booked two or three years out? It’s true. The first mitzvah vendors you should book are what I call the big three: event venue, musical entertainment and photographer. These are the ones with the longest lead time and the categories

26 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

that most shape your celebration. If you find one you like, at the Bar & Bat Mitzvah EXPO or through a friend’s party or recommendation, get that contract set. Then you can relax. For a little while … Year to Date At about a year from your date, start securing your celebration and kiddush caterers – if they are not included with your venues – and booking a hotel block for out-of-town guests. Consider the location of your celebration versus your synagogue, especially if you’re having a nighttime party. Guests will want a quick trip to their beds after all that dancing! 10 Months Following these steps, at about 10 months out, make your weekend plan to include what you’ll do for Shabbat din-

Six Months Once you hit the six-month mark, it’s time to really roll. Now you’ll finalize the guest list with addresses, order invitations and kippot, shop for tallit and party favors and finalize your meal plans outside of the celebration itself. ner and Sunday brunch, along with any weekend downtime your out-of-towners may have in the schedule. About this time, you should also start speaking with decorators to get proposals, whether you have a theme or just some ideas of what your teen wants. You should also start gathering photos of your teen if you plan to produce a montage. If you’re not doing it yourself, start looking for a vendor for this. 8 Months At around eight months out, you should start looking at invitations, send save-the-dates if you plan to, book a videographer, and finalize décor plans. Consider if you need transportation for guests in between events and make those arrangements. Will you want specialty

Final Plans Inside the six-month window, there are many details to check off, and final decisions to make. For an easy month-by-month to-do list, download www.atlantamitzvahconnection.com/tips-tools/bar-mitzvahplanning-timeline. You’ll find that when you see the entire roadmap, with each task outlined, it will feel much more doable. And remember that event planners can help you through this process, so you can minimize the stress and maximize the joy of this exciting time. Mazel tov! ■ Shelly Danz is founder and chief party officer of Atlanta Party Connection.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 27

SIMCHAS

Kosher Simcha Starter Foodie Fun Try these flavorful kosher starters to prepare your guests for the simcha fun.

Salmon en Croute

Cook and prep: 3 hours Servings: 6 Contains: Wheat Preference: Parve

Salmon, spinach and potatoes are wrapped in puff pastry and baked to crispy perfection in this easy take on the classic French dish. An elegant appetizer dish for the holidays, a simcha or dinner party. Preference: Parve Difficulty: Medium Occasion: Simcha Diet: Pescetarian Cuisine: French Ingredients: 1 cup frozen spinach 5 egg yolks, divided salt pepper 2 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled 1 roll Gefen Puff Pastry

“Tzimmes” Stuffed Capons with Apple and Honey Crumbs

2 pound salmon side, cut in half lengthwise

Difficulty: Medium Occasion: Simcha Diet: Gluten free Cuisine: Ashkenazi

Ingredients: 1 medium-sized butternut squash (about 2 pounds) 2 tablespoons refined coconut oil (or oil of choice) 2 cups shredded carrots 2 tablespoons Gefen Honey, plus more for drizzling 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice plus ½ teaspoon orange zest 1 tablespoon sugar 2 eggs, beaten 6 chicken capons (dark meat chicken cutlets with skin on) 1/2 cup Gefen Corn Flake Crumbs 1/2 cup apple chip crumbs (Blend apple chips in food processor until crumbs form) salt and pepper, to taste

Garnish (optional): arugula pomegranate seeds

In a large pan, cook your frozen spinach on high heat for about three minutes and drain well. Add three egg yolks to the spinach and season to taste. Thinly slice your potatoes on a mandoline (they should be paper thin). Assemble and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350 F. Tape two large pieces of Gefen Easy Baking Parchment Paper to your surface and lightly roll your puff pastry into a large rectangle about ¼ inch thick, 9 inches wide, and 15 inches long. Place your salmon in the center of your puff pastry and season well. Spread the spinach over the salmon evenly. Top with the potato slices and season. Carefully flip one side of the pastry over the salmon, then remove the tape fortifying the paper and pull the parchment paper back without the pastry. Do the same to the other side, then tuck in the loose pastry edges. Transfer to a baking sheet. Score the top of the pastry with a small paring knife. Beat remaining two egg yolks and brush all around the pastry. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the pastry is crisp. If desired, garnish with arugula and pomegranate seeds. Note: You can make this in advance by just refrigerating it after rolling it. When you need it, just continue by scoring and brushing the pastry and baking. ■ Recipe: Rikki Junik

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Prepare the Tzimmes: Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with Gefen Easy Baking Parchment Paper; coat with cooking spray. Cut the butternut squash in half, lengthwise, and remove seeds. Place on the baking sheet, cut side down; bake until roasted and caramelized, about 1 hour (peel should be browned in spots). Scoop the flesh from the squash into a bowl and set aside. Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan and add the carrots. Sauté until softened. Add the sugar and sauté for two more minutes. Add the roasted butternut squash, honey, orange zest and juice, and mix well. Remove from heat. Season with salt to taste. Assemble and Bake: Reduce oven heat to 350 F. Set up a dredging station: Place the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. Mix the corn flake and apple chip crumbs and place in another shallow bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Lay the capons skin side down and fill with a heaping spoonful of butternut tzimmes. Roll the capons around the filling and secure with toothpicks. Dip capons into the beaten egg mixture, shake off the excess and dip into crumbs. Place in a greased baking dish (divide into two pans, if needed, so as not to overcrowd the pan). If there is any extra tzimmes, place it in the pan alongside the capons. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and drizzle with honey. Raise oven heat to 400 degrees F and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Variation: You can also use boneless chicken breast for this recipe; adjust cook time accordingly. ■ Recipe: Chanie Apfelbaum | Source: Family Table by Mishpacha magazine Photography: Moishe Wulliger | Food Styling: Renee Muller

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 29

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Photos by Laurie Sermos // A faux cow print bench

sits alongside a bar constructed from an old door with an ice storage cabinet. Lauren saw the idea of a bar with an inlaid ice bin, and worked with a reclaimed furniture carpenter to design it using an antique door, customformed galvanized steel trays and glass panels

Lauren and Mark Chekanow relax on the repurposed wood stairs in front of the brick wall that was restored from the original fireplace.

Chai Style Home

Young Family Honors the Original with Seamless Retrofit Lauren and Mark Chekanow studied the craftsMarcia: What is the history of the home’s project? manship, process and details leading to the demolition Mark: We began in 2013 and completely tore and rebuilding of their Candler Park home. This “new down everything to the foundation by working closely generation” couple had the insight into how to rear chil- with Richard Stevens, our architect, and Century Craft dren in a meticulous architectural restoration in which Homes, our builder. And interior designer Chelsea the house was essentially rebuilt with upDunbar helped us incorporate and bring grades. One wall at a time, each piece capall of our ideas together. It only took nine tures the feeling of world treasures from months. Many of the original elements like faraway places with textures and the richbricks and fireplace structures were taken ness of materials. off site and rebuilt in what you see here. Both University of Florida “Gators,” the The wood steps are reclaimed from the Chekanows escaped Wall Street and Madioriginal house. Even the hinges on the cubson Avenue to settle here. Mark is director bies in the art room are recycled. of investor relations at SWM (SchweitzerMauduit International), and Lauren heads Marcia: How did you work together as the Marcus JCC Intown Outreach for Young Marcia a team? Families. Lauren: Mark has a strong voice and Caller Jaffe “Our goal was to have an open, inviting leans towards bolder colors than me. I am space with a good entertainment flow and the ability to more classical. So, I kept him from going overboard and see throughout. … Our children and their friends love we met in the middle. He likes orange where I temper to play outside and we wanted an easy indoor/outdoor it with gray and pale blue. Ultimately, we like the same feel where we could see all the outside activity from any- things. where in the house,” Lauren said. Mark: Lauren is the project manager, and I’m in

charge of sourcing, which means anything from the copper kitchen fixtures from eBay to finding unique vintage items at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, to getting great deals on high-end brands on Amazon. Great efforts were made to restore things like the huge 20-foot exposed steel beam that separates the kitchen from the living room. It was brought in by a commercial crane. It was one of the first structures to come in that we built around. The guest powder room console is from reclaimed wood from the original floor system. We found an amazing carpenter, Justin Rishel, who built several custom pieces. It was really fun to brainstorm, sketch ideas, and see him bring them to life using all reclaimed materials. Also, we like to patronize merchants where some profits are plowed back into charitable endeavors. Marcia: Describe your back yard. Lauren: We wanted an indoor/outdoor feel. Beyond the screened-in patio are the tree house and garden, where often blackberries, strawberries, broccoli, pomegranates, Meyer lemons, tomatoes and figs grow. It took 50 dump truck loads to flatten the dirt grade. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 31

ARTS The art room overlooks the outdoors and has ample storage for toys in cubbies made from reclaimed wood, old windows and tin panels.

The sun porch looks out on fig, blueberry, pomegranate and lemon plants. The family also rents chickens.

Marcia: What did you want your décor to “say”? Lauren: We collect art from all our travels: China, France, Spain, Italy, Arizona. The Buddha came from Chiang Mai, Thailand. We’ve gotten into some fun ‘pickles’ getting artwork home, especially from a long trip through Europe. We have some shabby chic things: a birdcage from a garage sale, the horizontally-placed door that is the bar and handily stores ice. The framed butterfly drawings were from an old French textbook that we bought at a street market in Nice, France, which we then had a local art shop frame. A clay-fired mask from Sedona is next to a Dali.

Mark: We mixed it up. Rug from West Elm, chairs from IKEA, and Lauren’s great- grandmother’s Gold Symphony china, which we actually use. The dining room is very transitional from old to new. We like a blend, so things are changeable.

Marcia: What’s very unique art-wise?

Marcia: What goes on in the kitchen? Lauren: I used to have a specialty dessert business.. Now I cook primarily for family and entertaining. I spent a lot of time selecting just the right counter quartz from pictures of slabs. I wanted something in my color palette that was calming, earthy and not too busy. We had it driven down from New Jersey.

The spacious kitchen has stainless steel fixtures and Lauren’s specially-selected quartz transported from New Jersey. 32 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The adjacent arts and crafts room, our “mudroom,” has built-in counters with old tin sheets pressed into recycled window frames. Mark: The screened porch is used for book club meetings and as an entertainment gateway to the outdoors. The furniture is from AuthenTEAK and Angel Market in Decatur.

The guest bath counter is made from recycled wood. The light fixture was the first item the couple bought for the project.

ARTS Lauren selected an eclectic orange fabric for the comfy sectional. The credenza houses antique dolls and clock.

The couple wanted to “mix up” the dining room with new and old: a birdcage, grandmother’s china and a rug from West Elm. The two photos are the couple’s originals taken while road-tripping across France.

"We like a blend, so things are changeable." Mark: My grandfather gave me this original drawing of Humphrey Bogart entitled “Play It Again Sam” by Ferdie Pacheco, Muhammad Ali’s ringside “fight doctor.” Also, the crimson oils were from a small boutique in Bordeaux, France. Lauren: We bought a very unusual copper, curved roll sculpture at a gallery in West Palm Beach. It was originally over our master bed, but had to be moved as I was concerned it could fall in

Top: Mark inherited this original painting of Humphrey Bogart, “Play It Again Sam,” by Ferdie Pacheco, Muhammad Ali’s “fight doctor.” Bottom: Lauren and Mark bought this original Buddha in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Chekanows are proud to show the original drawing of the Candler Park home they rebuilt in nine months using much of the original material.

the middle of the night! Marcia: What are your most unusual, bizarre repurposed items? Mark: The light fixture with Edison-style bulbs over the bar is constructed from an old chicken feeder. Lauren: I think it’s pretty cool that we rent real chickens. Can’t get more practical and bizarre than that! ■

Photos by Laurie Sermos // Crimson paintings by

Bordeau Macio share a front entry wall.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 33

ARTS

New Justice Ginsburg Film Needs More Ginsburg By Bob Bahr “On the Basis of Sex” is an often effective and dramatic American history lesson set amid the early professional life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It follows her from her first days as a Harvard Law School student in the mid ’50s to her successful fight in 1972 to help overturn America’s long history of discrimination against women. The film, which opens here next week, stars British actress Felicity Jones as the young wife and mother who confronts, early on, the difficulty of being a woman in a legal profession long-dominated by men. Armie Hammer is her husband, Martin, also a brilliant lawyer, who becomes a fully supportive partner in his wife’s pioneering effort to update women’s legal status. Together they formed part of the backbone of an effort, often led by Jewish women in the 1960s and 1970s, to gain for those of their gender in America the same advances in civil rights that were being extended to blacks and other racial minorities. There were women like Betty Friedan, who published the best seller, “The Feminine Mystique,” in 1963; Gloria Steinem, who helped found Ms. magazine in 1971; and Bella Abzug, the fiery Congresswoman who, with Steinem, helped found the National Women’s Political Caucus around the same time. Yet, as is often the case in Hollywood, “On the Basis of Sex” makes almost no reference to Ginsburg’s Jewish heritage or the prophetic tradition from which it sprang. Despite a capable, professional performance by Jones, moviegoers are not likely to confuse her with the iconic justice. Even with Jones’ specially capped teeth and greyblue contacts, she seems, in this film, just like another smart, successful lawyer striving to do good in an era of liberal change in America. One wonders how the film would have turned out with Natalie Portman as the star. She hung on during the four-year development process of the film, but had to drop out because of scheduling difficulties. It’s the same with the too handsome, too tall Hammer. In real life, he’s the greatgrandson of Armand Hammer, the late billionaire Jewish oilman and financial wizard. Together, Jones and Hammer as upwardly mobile New York lawyers don’t seem to be a couple who could find Brooklyn, the heroine’s birthplace, with a map. Still, the movie comes to the screen with the backing of several heavy hitters in the media world. It is a presentation of Fo34 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Opening during the busy holiday season is an indication of producers' high hopes for the film, starring Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer.

cus Features, the production arm of Comcast; Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg’s production company; Participant Media, which produced the recent hit documentary about Ginsburg; and the Chinese internet behemoth, alibaba.com. With that kind of financial backing, you can expect a concerted marketing push to position this film for the Academy Awards, which are scheduled for February 2019. What sets the film apart is the story, a well-told tale of legal strategizing and maneuvering that pits the Ginsburgs and their supporters at the American Civil Liberties Union against John Mitchell’s Justice Department during the Nixon years. Screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman, who is Justice Ginsburg’s nephew, has given Jones some snappy dialogue. One example is her banter with Mel Wulf, who headed the New York office of the ACLU and thought Ginsburg was taking on a losing cause. Wulf: You will lose, Ruth, and when you do, you will set the women’s movement back 10 years. Ginsburg: You don’t get to tell me when to quit. Wulf: Get your emotions in check. Ginsburg: You first. There are several moments in the film that capture the Ginsburg magic, but her brief, wordless cameo at the end of the film is a telling reminder of what is missing from the film. In the end, this effective slice of legal history could use more of Ginsburg’s unique blend of fire and ice. For that, you’ll need to see the wildly successful “RBG,” the documentary that was one of the most viewed nonfiction films of the past year. Save “On the Basis of Sex, which opens here Dec. 25, as a reminder of how far and how fast women have progressed in the past 50 years. But don’t forget the documentary. As the pop music classic from the late 60s put it, “ain’t nothin’ like the real thing.” ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 35

CALENDAR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21

School’s Out Camp – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. When your child’s school is out, MJCCA Day Camp is in! It offers a variety of exciting, engaging activities for your kids during school holidays and teacher work days. Activities include sports, arts and crafts, science and more. $60 for members, $80 for the community.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Vayechi Friday, December 21, 2018, light candles at 5:15 p.m. Saturday, December 22, 2018, Shabbat ends at 6:14 p.m. Shemot Friday, December 28, 2018, light candles at 5:19 p.m. Saturday, December 29, 2018, Shabbat ends at 6:18 p.m. tion and more information, go to Meetup event page, www.bit.ly/2PxsizD.

WED., DEC.26 – FRI., DEC. 28

lanta from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Instructed by Jewish leaders Rabbi Josh Lesser, Rabbi Analia Bortz, Marita Anderson and Michael Levine, who will take you on a journey and dive deeper into your Jewish roots. Free for members, $5 for the community. For more information, www.bit.ly/2OyA7W2.

Brain Health Boot Camp – Jewish Family & Career Services, 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, from 3 to 5 p.m. This can help maintain and enhance your memory and brain function. $25 per class, $200 per semester. For more information, www.bit. ly/2Ob6bCB.

School’s Out Camp – Marcus JCC, 5342 and 50s for a night of fun, friends, food, drinks and dancing. $20 in advance, $30 at the door. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2rhLtno.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22

Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. When your child’s school is out, MJCCA Day Camp is in! It offers a variety of exciting, engaging activities for your kids during school holidays and teacher work days. Activities include sports, arts and crafts, science and more. $60/day for members, $80 for the community.

Boston Brass & the Brass All-Stars Big Band – City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, at 8 p.m. Perennial favorites Boston Brass have teamed up with all-star brass players from around the globe to produce an unmatched sound. The ensemble of all brass (trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas with a jazz rhythm section) features fiery big band arrangements of classics in a setting that will delight audiences of all ages. $25 to $35 per person. For tickets and more information, www.bit.ly/2SIZHJA.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24

Jewzapolooza! – Hudson Grille, 6317 Roswell Road NE, Sandy Springs from 8 to 11 p.m. What’s a Jew to do on Christmas Eve? Join Atlanta Jewish Singles 40s

36 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

AJS Night Before Xmas Matzo Balls, Buffet, Dance w/ DJ – AJS is having a big event at 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve for Jewish singles with nothing to do, and to celebrate the group’s six-month anniversary. There will be an all-youcan-eat buffet dinner, including matzo ball soup, followed by dancing to the sounds of one of Atlanta’s best DJs. Member pricing is $30 after Dec. 18. Non-member pricing is $5 more, but membership is FREE to join. At-thedoor entry will be $35 cash. For loca-

WED., DEC. 26 – FRI., JAN. 4

Holiday Camp at CDT – Congregation Dor Tamid, 11165 Parsons Road, Johns Creek, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Ages pre-K through 5th grade. Crafts, singing, dancing, movies, outdoor fun and more. $75 per child per day, siblings $10 off per day. To register and for more information, www.dortamid.com.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27

Drop in Jewish Mindful Meditation – Marcus JCC, 3542 Tilly Mill Road, At-

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra New Year’s Celebration – City Springs, 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, at 8 p.m. Ring in the New Year in style at City Springs with an evening of music and celebration with the Grammy awardwinning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performing a program of orchestral pops favorites, featuring trumpeter and vocalist Joe Gransden and vocalist Francine Reed. $45 to $55 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, www.bit.ly/2AQAohl.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2

Open Play Games: Mahjong, Bridge, Etc. – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open play tables are set up every week on MJCCA’s Main Street on Mondays and Wednesdays for you to enjoy popular

DECEMBER 21-JANUARY 13 strategy and skill games. Free for members, $5 for the community. To RSVP, www.bit.ly/2OWdP0h.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6

Men’s Club welcomes SE Regional Political Director Darren Kendall – Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join us for brunch and listen to speaker, Southeast Regional Political Director Darren Kendall. He will address the impact of the recent elections on the U.S.-Israel relationship, legislative priorities for the new Congress and what the 2020 electoral map portends. $7 per person. For more information, www.bit. ly/2QQ3bwO.

Anti-Semitism Summit: Navigate, Communicate, Advocate – Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive Atlanta, from 3 to 6 p.m. For 6th grade and up. In response to the mass shooting in a Pittsburgh shul,

Atlanta's Jewish community is coming together for an evening of learning and support for students grades 6-12 and the people who care about them. With a panel discussion and age-appropriate, facilitated breakout groups, they will explore various questions. Presented by the ADL Southeast, Temple Sinai, JumpSpark and community partners: The Breman Museum, Bet Haverim, Or Hadash, Creating Connected Communities, The Epstein School, Hadassah, IAC, JF&CS, NFTY SAR, Beth Tikvah, The Temple and Camp Coleman. To RSVP, www.jumpsparkatl. org/program/antisemitism-summit.

MONDAY, JANUARY 7

Rosh Chodesh Society – Larger Than Life – Chabad Intown On The BeltLine, 730 Ponce De Leon Place NE, Atlanta, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. For centuries, Jewish values have shaped the moral compass of Western society. “Larger Than Life” presents key Jewish values that were so influential in molding our civilization. This course focuses on areas outside the domain of the synagogue and Jewish ritual, and shines a spotlight on the Torah view of social and ethical responsibilities. Each lesson of this course will contain an applicable, resonant, changeyour-daily-life personal takeaway message for every woman who attends. For more information, www.bit.ly/2C9hMev.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 13

Atlanta Jewish Life Festival – Georgia Aquarium, Ballroom Entrance, 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join all of Jewish Atlanta at the Georgia Aquarium to celebrate Jewish culture and Atlanta’s thriving Jewish community. Mark your calendar and save the date or register now to be part of this big event, www. atlantajewishlifefestival.com. ■ Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. Please contact community liaison, Jen Evans, for more information at jen@atljewishtimes.com. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 37

COMMUNITY

AJLF Dives into Jewish Culture at Georgia Aquarium Tickets offered at a bargain rate and include Aquarium entry. There’s a new festival in town and it aims to become Atlanta’s largest consortium of Jewish organizations gathered in support and promotion of Jewish life in Atlanta. The inaugural Atlanta Jewish Life Festival, presented by Atlanta Jewish Times, will be a celebration of Jewish culture and community. The single day fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, at the Georgia Aquarium. “AJLF is the result of our vision to create a festival that brings our diverse Jewish community together in a celebration of our culture and unique contributions,” said Michael Morris, AJT owner and publisher. “We’re excited to showcase the wonderful variety of Jewish food, music and art to the public while educating people about our prosperous establishments contributing to society,” Morris said. Festival-goers can expect an interactive day of live performances, traditional foods, Judaica art and a community bazaar spotlighting dozens of Atlanta’s Jewish organizations, all prominently set before the breathtaking backdrop of beluga whales, blacktip reef sharks and blue spotted stingrays. A few festival highlights include: • Yummy fare from kosher and kosherstyle vendors such as Pita Palace, A Kosher Touch Catering, Baroque Culinary, Revolution Gelato, Cinnaholic and Ali’s Cookies, Israeli coffee and tastings of Israeli wines. • A stage sponsored by Atlanta Jewish Music Festival will rock the Aquarium’s main atrium with performances by entertainers: Scott Glazer’s Mojo Dojo; As of Yet: A Laurence Rosenthal Project; Friction; Congregation Bet Haverim chorus; The Epstein School; and MJCCA Dancers. • A special exhibition on Jewish life contributed by The William Bremen Jewish Heritage Museum and the Simon Wiesenthal Center. • Kids' activities including face painters, a magician, henna and caricature artists. Tickets include entry to the aquarium for the entire day. AJLF single tickets cost only $18. A deeply-discounted family pack 38 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 39

COMMUNITY

Fifth-grade girls from Davis and Mount Vernon schools work together in a team building activity.

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lives. When asked about the Fifth-graders from The importance of the event, DaDavis Academy and Mount vis’ Rabbi Micah Lapidus said, Vernon Presbyterian School “We hear from students that came together Dec. 13 for a day they want to meet kids from filled with interfaith learning different backgrounds and and bonding. A total of 111 studifferent faiths and we love dents – 58 from Davis and 53 that idea and we support that from Mount Vernon – united idea and so we tried to reach on Mount Vernon’s campus to out to schools that we thought make new friends and share Charlotte would be good a match for us, how they celebrate Christmas Morrison and Mount Vernon is a great and Chanukah. match for us.” To kick things off, stuStudents rotated through three differdents enjoyed snacks of latkes and Christmas cookies while they worked in pairs ent activities. One was a discussion of holito compare and contrast aspects of their day symbols, where Davis kids explained

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Rev. Bruce Wilkes (left) and Rabbi Micah Lapidus talked about why unity between the faiths is now more important than ever.

Students engage in discussion about their similarities and differences.

the miracle of Chanukah and the meaning of the Star of David, and Mount Vernon students shared Christmas symbols like the Advent wreath and the nativity. “As we were discussing the lights on Christmas trees and how they are reminders of the light in the world, one of the Davis students raised her hand and said, ‘That’s like Chanukah! We have candles; it’s called the Festival of Lights!” She recognized that we both look to light as

Diane Foster of Mount Vernon (left) shares the meaning of the nativity scene.

a symbol for what G-d has done for us,” said Laura Filyaw, one of the administrators from Mount Vernon. The other rotations included a discussion of Christmas in pop culture and a team-building activity in which students were challenged to move a hula hoop from person to person. Students learned throughout the day about their similarities and that they work better together. “I liked going into the classes and doing all the activi-

ties and learning about Christmas and how we’re all the same. We’re all people and we do the same things,” said Davis student Gabe Swartz. The day ended with a discussion about what the students learned, and a joint prayer led by Rev. Bruce Wilkes and Rabbi Lapidus. “I liked just hanging out with new people and getting to know people,” Davis student Peyton Frank said when asked about his favorite part of the day. ■

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Menorah lighting at Emory University in Oxford, Ga.

Roving Rabbis Light up Georgia skar, director of Chabad at Four yeshivah students Emory University, arranged from Brooklyn, N.Y., used their for the students to travel to Chanukah break to spread Oxford, Ga., where Emory’s light across the state of Georsister school is located. They gia. They traveled around Atbrought along a 6-foot menolanta in a rented recreational rah for a lighting ceremony vehicle, dubbed a “mitzvah at the center of campus, artank,” outfitted with large ranged by the Jewish Student signs, blaring Chanukah muUnion of Oxford. sic and an oversized menorah. Rabbi Isser “At the Oxford College of Their mission: Spreading ChaNew Emory University, outward nukah warmth and light along displays of Judaism are few their path. They arrived in Atlanta in the middle and far between. However, this Chanukah, of Chanukah, Dec. 5, and joined the 6th an- as we lit the giant menorah on the quad, nual Jewish Heritage night at State Farm Jewish and non-Jewish students stood to celArena. There, Nick Ressler, coordinator ebrate this incredible miracle: the miracle of basketball operations for the Atlanta of Jewish light emerging from rural Oxford, Hawks, lit the menorah at half court. The Ga.,” said Olivia Dietzel, who will graduate rabbinical students brought energy and Oxford in 2020 and Emory in 2022. From Oxford, the boys headed back dancing to the fans, even having a dance to Atlanta, where Chabad Intown Director off with Harry the Hawk. On the morning of Dec. 6, they brought Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman organized a the light of Chanukah to assisted living cen- grand menorah parade. The “mitzvah tank” ters and widened the smiles of senior citi- led the 30 cars as they displayed religious zens and their families. As afternoon hit, freedom from the Atlanta BeltLine to Lenox the bochurim (students) headed for Georgia Mall. “We saw all the vans with menorahs on Tech where they held an impromptu Chanukah party with tasty doughnuts and them and we were so excited. The last van latkes. The university students, who were stopped and handed us a menorah for each between finals exams, joined in lively danc- family,” Suzanne Pichulik Eisenberg texted Dena Schusterman, director of Intown Jewing and singing. Leaving Atlanta, Rabbi Zalman Lip- ish Preschool.

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Mendy Grossbaum shares a Chanukah message with senior citizens at The Fountainview Center for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Children share the beauty of Chanukah at Phipps Plaza. To see more photos, visit AJT's website.

COMMUNITY

Harry the Hawk poses with students at the 6th annual Jewish Heritage Night.

That night, the bochurim headed for Midtown, East Atlanta and Little Five Points, where nightlife included menorah lightings and games of “Drinks and Dreidels.” They spent Shabbos in the Sandy Springs area where they were graciously hosted by the Congregation Beth Tefillah community. Saturday night, it was back to the streets, where the cold and rainy weather couldn’t keep the lively bochurim away. But this time, they had reinforcements, as members of the community came out to join and encourage the students on the “tank,” including visiting Rabbi Yossi Friedman of Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters. Hopping from Buckhead to Midtown to Decatur, while fans watched Atlanta United playing for the MLS championship, made the halftime and postgame menorah lightnings more exciting. You could hear chants of Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” and Rabbi Avremi Slavaticki, director of Chabad of Decatur, thanked the mitzvah tank for stopping in and igniting the Decatur spark. On Sunday, Dec. 9, children were invited onto the mitzvah tank as they headed out to the malls of Atlanta. The children invited the Jewish mall employees to light the menorah, offered them delicious sufganiyot, and performed a Chanukah dance. “Many of the people working in the malls are from Israel and were so thankful to the children for reminding them how Chanukah is celebrated at home,” said Rabbi Alexander Piekarski of Chabad Israeli Center. In all, the Yeshiva students handed out 400 chanukiyah to Jews across Georgia who would not otherwise have a menorah to light at home. ■ Rabbi Isser New is associate director of Chabad of Georgia.

The Chanukah Mitzvah Tank makes its way around the state. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 43

COMMUNITY

Goldsteins Host Innovations in Saving Lives By Marcia Caller Jaffe Each day we get increasingly inspired by Israel’s example of Tikkun Olam. On Dec. 11, mega hosts Carrla and Jeff Goldstein featured at their Sandy Spring home heroic members of the United Hatzalah, which provides free rapid emergency response in Israel. UH responds to 1,000 emergency calls throughout Israel every day, 365 days a year. The average response time is three minutes. When volunteers respond by ambucycle, traditional ambulance response time for navigating traffic is drastically reduced. Dr. Paul Scheinberg spoke at the informational evening about his personal experience in 2018 traveling en route to Israel. “While over the ocean, maybe over Ireland, I was experiencing chest pains. Making the decision not to land the plane, I wanted to get to Israel, where I knew people and could get the best care (wise decision or not). United Hatzalah was there for me, and tonight I plan to donate a defibrillator to help others.” Teenager Gabe Jack Stein, in his orange UH jacket, commanded the stage when speaking about raising $65,000 in bar mitzvah donations in 2016 to fund an ambucycle. The Howard School student said, “I sleep well at night knowing that part of me and my late 4-year-old cousin – in whose memory I raised the money –[as a volunteer cyclist] is riding around Israel saving lives. I even get emails showing the daily activity of my cycle.” Eli Beer, UH founder and president, has

Dr. Paul Scheinberg, who recently had a heart attack on a plane en route to Tel Aviv, relives the details with Rabbi David Kapenstein.

received numerous awards for this mega project he started in 2010, among them, the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum award. He has combined a GPS dispatch system, ambucycles and a cadre of thousands of volunteers to make a difference through innovation, sustainability, reach and social impact. The video Beer showed declared “Consider us like a free Uber. The difference between life and death can be three minutes. We are ‘politics free’ with over 3.5 million lives saved by 5,000 volunteer medics. Here you see an ultra-Orthodox volunteer serving alongside a Muslim.” Gavriel Friedson, deputy director of international operations of UH, moved to Israel from Florida at age 10, where he became fascinated with emergency medicine. “I was the only kid who was taken to school in a fire truck and picked up by an ambulance.” The youngest ambucycle medic, he is proud that UH “is not station-based, but communitybased.”

Hadassah Officer Installation

Back row: Marsha Fish, Sydelle Silberman, Anita Walters and Judy Roseman; middle row: Sandye Charlop-Geller, Livia Sklar, Linda Lieberman, Lana Krebs, Nancy Ulbricht, Michele Weiner-Merbaum, installing officer; seated: Terry Nordin, operation vice president, and Anita Golden Otero, president.

Hadassah Metulla had its 2019 installation of officers Dec. 9 at Altobeli’s Italian Restaurant. The new officers are enthusiastic about creating new and informative programming for 2019. Hadassah is a glob44 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

al organization that provides care for more than 1 million people annually without regard for race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or nationality. The organization is also a constant advocate for the preven-

COMMUNITY

Gavriel Friedson, deputy director of international operations of United Hatzalah, hosts Jeff and Carrla Goldstein, Eli Beer, United Hatzalah president and founder, and Gabe Jack Stein, who raised $65,000 for UH for his bar mitzvah project.

Beer became fascinated with EMT services and the passion to save lives as a young teen. You have to be officially meshugana to do this, ... to be called at any second and leave your work or family. Israelis invented chutzpah, ... and initially, when the ambulance authorities dismissed my idea to monitor/share their calls, I had to develop a walkie talkie system to hook in. ... Atlanta is one of our best cities because Atlanta loves Israel. We need $35,000 for each cycle and $2,500 for each defibrillator. Right now there is an imbalance, as we have only 1,900 defibrillators per 5000 medics.” To expand the UH model, Beer travels to Vancouver, Brazil, Panama, Lithuania, Ukraine, India and the United Kingdom. Next is Uganda. Beer said, “That’s pretty ironic considering what happened there at the Entebbe massacre. … One of my next goals is New York City.” Beer ended the evening by presenting a silver dreidel to the Goldsteins for their 19 years of contributions and service. ■ To learn more and contribute, go to www.IsraelRescue.org.

Sophia Schwartz, the youngest member of Metulla, received a certificate of appreciation.

tion of violence. Sophia Schwartz, the youngest member of Metulla, received a certificate of appreciation at the event for her commitment and good will while representing the future of Hadassah. ■ ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 45

COMMUNITY SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Happy Birthday Irma Landeman

Irma Landeman celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this month with her family. They celebrated at Friday night Shabbat services at Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit senior living in Sandy Springs. Photo courtesy of Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit

Wedding

Seltman-Kooden Marc and Sharon Seltman are happy to announce the marriage of their daughter, Whitney Seltman, to Ross Kooden, son of Joanne and Michael Kooden of Savannah. Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim officiated the ceremony that took place over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2, 2018, at the Buckhead Intercontinental Hotel. The “man of honor” was Jake Seltman, brother of the bride, and best men were Aaron Kooden and Elliot Kooden, brothers of the groom. Whitney is the granddaughter of Herbert and Eleanor Seltman of Delray Beach, Fla., and the late Willie and Jackie Berman, formally of Mobile, Ala. Ross is the grandson of Dave and Ruth Rothfarb, formally of Atlanta and now living in Delray Beach, and Barbara Kooden and the late Lou Kooden of Savannah. Following the wedding, the couple enjoyed honeymooning in Hawaii. The newlyweds live in Brookhaven, where Ross works for MillerCoors as a Southeast regional marketing manager and Whitney is an optometrist with Eye Consultants of Atlanta. ■ Photo of the couple by The Decisive Moment

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. Email them to submissions@atljewishtimes.com 46 | DECEMBER 21, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

KEEPING IT KOSHER

Jewish Joke of the Week Tickets, Anyone? Yitzhak and Freda go to see “Fiddler on the Roof” on stage. This is the most sold out show of the year. Somehow, they’ve been lucky and manage to get the best seats in the front row. But they notice there’s an empty seat in the row behind them. When intermission comes and no one has sat in that seat, Freda turns to the woman sitting next to it and says, “Pardon me, but as this is such a sold-out show and, with such demand, we were wondering why that seat is empty.” The woman says, “That’s my late husband’s seat.” Freda is horrified and apologizes for being so insensitive. But a few minutes later, she turns around again. “Without meaning to be rude or anything, this is an incredibly hard show to get into. Surely you must have a friend or a relative who would have wanted to come and see the show?” The woman nods, but explains, “They’re all at the shiva.”

Red Wine Veal Roast Cook and Prep: 2 ½ hours Servings: 6 Contains: Gluten Preference: Meat Difficulty: Medium Occasion: Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah Ingredients: 4 tablespoons canola oil, divided 3- to 4-pound shoulder or neck veal roast, in a net 3 cloves garlic, crushed or 3 cubes Gefen Frozen Crushed Garlic 1 tablespoon flour 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup sliced red onion 1 cup sliced baby bella mushrooms 1 cup sliced red, orange, and yellow peppers 1 cup Shiloh Secret Reserve Merlot or another merlot or cabernet wine 1 cup Tuscanini marinara sauce Heat two tablespoons oil in a large pot. Smear the crushed garlic all over the veal roast. In a small bowl, mix the flour, paprika and salt, and coat the veal with the mixture. Add the veal to the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides. Remove the veal from the pot. Add two more tablespoons of oil to the pot and sauté the onions, mushrooms, and peppers for two to three minutes. Add wine and marinara sauce and return veal to the pot. Bring to a boil and lower heat. Cover the pot and cook at 350 F for two hours, checking every half-hour to ensure that there’s still enough liquid in the pot. (There should only be enough liquid to cover vegetables.) If it looks like it’s boiling out, add some more wine, sauce or even some chicken soup stock. Cook until the veal’s internal temperature reaches 145 to 160 F. Recipe: Chaia Frishman | Source: Family Table by Mishpacha magazine Photography: Moishe Wulliger | Food Styling: Renee Muller

Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com

Yiddish Word of the Week ‘a vádeh ‘A Vádeh – Yiddish: ‫אודאי‬, pronounced ‘ah-váh-deh; from the Hebrew adj. ‫וָ ָדאי‬, pronounced vah-dáayi, certain, preceded by the Yiddish indefinite article (‫א‬, ‘a): adverbial interjection “Certainly, surely, really,” used to give more weight to a statement. Can be doubled for additional emphasis. Example 1: • Motel says Martians are Jewish. • That’s baloney. • He says they are the real Jews. • That’s ‘a vádeh baloney (This is nonsense). • He says they speak Yiddish. • That’s ‘a vádeh un ‘a vádeh baloney (This is really nonsense). Example 2: • Hon, I won’t be home for dinner tonight. • ‘Is gut (‫ – איז גוט‬That’s good)! • I won’t be home for breakfast tomorrow either… • ‘Is ‘a vádeh gut (‫ – איז אודאי גוט‬That’s even better)! Rabbi Joab Eichenberg-Eilon, PhD, teaches Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic at the Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, eTeacher Group Ltd.

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BRAIN FOOD Give a Little Tzedakah By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficultly Level: Challenging 1

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ACROSS

1. Rugged rock 5. “The Joy of Cooking” author Rombauer 9. Capital east of Jerusalem 14. Composer Schifrin 15. Skyrocket 16. Notable Frank work 17. Like one who might need tzedakah 19. Basic building material 20. One who might fast in Nisan 21. Word with “Asia” or “Ursa” 23. Sheridan of “Ready Player One” 24. Law that probably wouldn’t go over well in Israel 26. More than a kook 28. Shin preceder 30. Jewish wit 33. Booth, for one 37. Popular video recorder, once 38. Canadian capital? 39. Basic principal for giving tzedakah...or a hint to solving this puzzle 43. Go for the bronze? 44. Enthralled 46. Pinpointing 48. G-d, with “the” 52. Gilbert of “The Connors” 53. Despondent

temporary 27. Deliver 61-Across 29. Make like Ty Cobb, 36% of the time 31. Snapchat’s CEO Spiegel 32. Like Yom Kippur services 33. Farm measure 34. For those in trouble, it could be hot 35. Making like one performing some tzedakah mitzvot in Israel 36. Coyotes group, for short 40. Apple letters 41. Org. of which Lebron James and Kobe Bryant were never part DOWN of 1. Some school groups 42. James who played Rockford 2. Kind of house, Western style 45. “In Cold Blood” author, infor3. “___ ha-shalom” mally 4. Wicked Biblical city (Var.) 47. Suit makers 5. Archipelago unit: Abbr. 49. Mandela of note 6. Priceline booking, at times 50. “100 Years... 100 Movies” gp. 7. She played “Blossom” 51. Bolted forward 8. McNichols and Market Square, 54. Cautious (of) e.g. 56. Walk leisurely 9. Jewish addition, sometimes 57. Bee-related 10. Cambridge, MA sch. 58. “Here, I’ll do it” 11. Tzedakah before Pesach 59. Bicolored seal hunter 12. The IDF, e.g. 60. Chicago mayor Emanuel 13. “The Big Board,” for short 62. Former Giants guard Chris 18. Unwed father? 65. System starter 22. Unified 67. Slalom curve 25. Rav Ammi’s (talmudic) con-

55. Drummer for “The Electric Mayhem” 59. Man-mouse link 61. Script contents 63. Split to unite 64. Contributes to Yelp, perhaps 66. Trait of one who gives a lot of tzedakah 68. A Marx 69. You are, in espanol 70. Paper purchase 71. David’s eldest son 72. Inks 73. Word after Auld Lang

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25 Years Ago // December 17, 1993 ■ Chabad of Georgia lit its menorah for the first time inside

15 Years Ago // December 19, 2003 ■ The AJT featured Nancy Meyers, the director of “Something’s Gotta Give.” The romantic comedy starred Jack Nicholson as roguishly charming record company executive Harry Sanborn, and Diane Keaton as no-nonsense Jewish playwright Erica Barry. The screenplay reflected Meyers’ life around the year 2000, when she found herself 50ish and single. ■ The bat mitzvah of Michelle Moscow of Roswell was held Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at Temple Sinai. Michelle is the daughter of Billy and Sharon Moscow. She is a seventh-grade student at St. Francis School.

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the Georgia State Capitol. An October federal appeals court ruling cleared the way for Chabad to move its menorah indoors from where it had been erected in the Capitol plaza in previous years. ■ The bat mitzvah of Gabrielle Barbara Tiven of Atlanta took place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Congregation Ahavath Achim. Gabrielle is the daughter of Kenneth and Marjorie Bloomberg Tiven.

“Something’s Gotta Give,” featuring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton, was based on director Nancy Meyers’ life.

50 Years Ago // December 20, 1968 ■ The Jewish National Fund of Atlanta announced that Lt. Varda Ackerman of the Israel Defense Forces would be the guest speaker at the Music Festival sponsored by the local Council. The festival was held Saturday, Jan. 11, at 8:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. ■ Camp Judaea announced a new program for b'nai mitzvah classes. The classes enabled children who had their b'nai mitzvah right after the summer to enjoy the summer camp and also prepare for their coming mitzvah.

Edna Adler

OBITUARIES

88, Atlanta

Erna (Edna) Adler, 88, of Atlanta, died Nov. 25, 2018. Edna was born in Frankfurt, Germany. Her family, including her mother, father and sister Hilda, escaped Germany soon after Kristallnacht, arriving in New York via The Netherlands, in 1940. Her family settled in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York, where she met her husband Ludwig (Lou) soon after the end of World War II. They married in 1952, and after a brief stop in Connecticut, moved to Atlanta in 1963. Edna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, as well as an active volunteer in the community. Over the years her volunteering was spread over a wide spectrum of the community, including, among others, American Red Cross, Congregation Beth Jacob, Yeshiva Atlanta High School, Fernbank Museum and Congregation Beth Tefillah. She knitted hundreds of beanies for premature newborns. If she saw a way she could contribute her time to a cause, she was there to help. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Yitzchok (Leslie), David (Eve) and Stuart (Karen). She was also blessed with nine grandchildren: Ariela (Yehuda), Talya (Daniel), Hillel (Shana), Miriam (Yerachmiel), Jonathan (Hila), Kayla (Eitan), Aaron, Noah and Jonah, and 12 great-grandchildren to date. A graveside service was held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park Nov. 26, 2018.

Stephen Harris Salowitz 71, Atlanta

Stephen “Steve” Harris Salowitz, 71, of Cumming, Ga., died of complications from Parkinson’s disease Dec. 12, 2018, surrounded by his wife and daughters. Steve is survived by his wife of 48 years, Ellen; daughters and sons-in-law, Alyson and Michael Hartman of Alpharetta, and Jennifer and Lee Engel of Roswell; grandchildren, Grace and Maddie Engel, and Reid, Josh and Sam Hartman. He is also survived by his brother and sister-inlaw, Eric and Karen Salowitz of Sun Lakes, Ariz., and loving brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephew. Steve, son of Jack and Rita Salowitz, was born and raised in New London, Conn., where he met and married his high school sweetheart. He taught elementary school before moving on to a career in engineering with Stone and Webster for 36 years. His career brought him to Forked River, N.J., Baton Rouge, La., Huntsville, Ala., and Abingdon, Md. He retired to Georgia to be close to his daughters and grandchildren. Steve was an avid Alabama fan and longtime Boston Red Sox fan. He was happiest being at the pool or beach and surrounded by family. After having grandchildren, he became known to most as “Gippie.” Prior to the rapid decline of his health, Steve enjoyed his last days at a family celebration, where he was able to spend time with many of his extended family and friends. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 23 at Congregation Dor Tamid in Johns Creek. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson.org. Arrangements made by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. ■

Death Notices:

Kenneth Frankel, son of Temple Sinai member Ted Frankel (Sidelle z”l) and brother of Craig Frankel (Jana Eplan). Kenneth died Dec. 11. His memorial service took place Dec. 14 at Temple Sinai. Michele Halter, beloved wife of Sinai member Stan Halter. Michele died Dec. 13 at the age of 75. A service to honor her life will take place at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18 at Temple Sinai.

‫זיכרונה‬ ‫לברכה‬ Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, 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. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 21, 2018 | 49

CLOSING THOUGHTS My Undaunted Uncle Joe Uncle Joe, my late mother’s baby brother, is the only living family member of my parent’s resilient generation. He lives the good life (discounting hurricanes) with his wife and nearby children and grandchild in Fort Myers, Fla. We don’t get together very often; however, I call to check on him from time to time. Chana: I haven’t talked to you in a few weeks. Everything all right? Joe: I missed my favorite program. I Chana had to wait an hour in the doctor’s office Shapiro this morning. Chana: Was it your foot doctor? Joe: Which foot doctor do you mean? Chana: The one for your toe. Joe: You mean my former toe. Chana: Oh, no! Joe: Yeah, I guess that’s why people hire other people to cut their grass. But who wants to pay a kid to do something I can do myself? Anyway, I can still walk. Where do I have to go, anyway, except to buy a lottery ticket? Chana: What did the doctor say? Joe: Why talk about that? Chana: The first thing you said to me was that you waited a long time to see a doctor. Joe: Forget it. Let me tell you about the bicycle. Chana (with trepidation): I thought you stopped riding a bike years ago. Joe: Well, I didn’t. Now it’s too broken to fix, so I de-

cided to try one of those three-wheelers. I got a discount coupon in the mail. Chana: You fell? Joe: I didn’t get hurt. Just my shoulder. Chana (alarmed): What happened to your shoulder? Joe: Nothing like the last time. Chana (more alarmed): There was a last time? Joe: Never mind. What’s new with you? Chana: Well, we still need a lot of repairs downstairs after the sewage flood. Joe: Sorry to hear that. Speaking of floods, I forgot to tell you about our lot. Chana: You mean your next-door property? Joe: What else? In the last hurricane, it flooded, and our neighbor’s dog got stuck in the shed for a couple of days. Chana (horrified): Did it die? Joe: No, but it got scared. So now the dog’s in pet therapy for the trauma, and I have to pay. Chana: I know I sound like a broken record, but shouldn’t you put a fence around that lot? Joe: Fences cost money. Anyway, the dog seems just fine to me. My insurance will pay for the dog, but not for a fence. I’m not made of money. Chana (taking a deep, cleansing breath): Well, it’s your decision. How’s Nan doing? Joe: She’s back home. It turned out to be her meds. I told her she’s overmedicated, but who listens to me?

Chana: Is that what the doctor said? Joe: Doctors don’t know everything. Now they want her on something different. Insurance pays. Chana: But is she feeling like her old self again? Joe: Between you and me, her old self wasn’t such a pleasure. But, she’s back to bossy as usual. Chana (a bit concerned): Can you put her on the phone? Joe: She’s outside. Chana: Will you ask her to come in to talk to me for a minute? Joe: She’s got the hood up and can’t hear me. Chana: Hood? How cold is it there? Joe: The car hood. Remember she’s taking that online car course? She decided to find the oil stick and check the oil. Chana: Actually, that’s pretty admirable. But please don’t let her get under the car for anything. Joe: It’s safer than last week. Chana (ready for anything): What happened last week? Joe: She fell off the ladder when she changed the bulb in the bathroom. I told her I’d do it, but she got there first. Chana: Why didn’t Danny or Ronnie come over to help you? Joe: I know better than to ask them. They never let us do anything ourselves, and they just want us to move out of this house. I always change my own light bulbs, and I’m going to keep on doing it. Chana (finally getting it): I understand. It’s your life! I’ll call next week to see how the new bike’s working out. Does it come with a helmet? ■

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