Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIX NO. 24, December 31, 2023

NEXT ISSUE: HEALTH & WELLNESS

VOL. XCIX NO. 24

DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 19 TEVET 5784

Year in Review

2023

Vickery Rose

New Year.

New Possibilities.

This year, resolve to celebrate, connect, and live life to the fullest!

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Mitzvah Madness 24

Save The Date Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 11am

Georgia Aquarium 246 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30313

JOB OPENINGS VOTED BEST NEWSPAPER & BEST WEBSITE BY THE AMERICAN JEWISH PRESS ASSOCIATION 2022 AND 2023

Want to Serve our Community in a Career that is Rewarding in More Ways than Your Bank Account?

We are looking for YOU to fill one of these positions. We offer competitive salaries, benefits, PTO and both national and Jewish holiday time off.

BOOKKEEPER

RECEPTIONIST

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Atlanta Jewish Times has an immediate opening for an experienced administrative professional with office bookkeeping skills. Must be a quick learner who is highly organized, able to multitask in a fast-paced environment, and provide support at the executive level. Duties include creating and managing invoices; processing payments; day-to-day bookkeeping; reconciling monthly statements; maintaining calendars and scheduling appointments; handling phone calls and correspondence; and assisting in various projects and community events as needed.

Requirements: Work experience as an Executive Assistant, bookkeeper, or similar role; strong MS Word and Excel skills; experience with QuickBooks; ability to work independently; familiarity with database management; outstanding organizational and time management skills; excellent verbal and written communications skills; discretion and confidentiality. Salary is negotiable.

The Atlanta Jewish Times has an immediate full-time opening for a dependable and organized individual to assist with front office tasks including circulation and subscription development.

Responsibilities include customer service; answering phone calls and greeting visitors; handling subscription renewals and development; compiling and posting events online and in print; generating Excel reports; assisting in community engagement projects; and supporting staff with misc. tasks as needed. Direct knowledge of the Atlanta Jewish community a plus. $15-$20 per hour.

As an Account Manager, you will work with market leaders and trailblazers who know and trust us to deliver news and information that impacts their business. You will have a seat at the table with the business community’s most influential and affluent professionals.

We are looking for select individuals who are driven to succeed and value high expectations. Qualified candidates thrive in a dynamic, challenging, and hard-charging environment. They are confident selfstarters with a results-focused orientation and a proven track record of exceeding expectations. With a strong desire to represent the best of the communities that we serve, AJT enthusiastically invites diversity, thought and experience.

Salary plus commission: $50k-$125k annually.

WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT COORDINATOR The web and social media author / content coordinator is responsible for the content and images used on a website. You will coordinate planning, research, write copy and edit the content as posted on the website and social media platforms. Responsible for growing audiences on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Along with maintaining a posting schedule, you will regularly create platform-specific content including text posts, videos, and graphics. You must have a good eye for trends and an understanding of social media metrics, WordPress, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Search Engine Optimization, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram required. The ideal candidate possesses strong writing skills and a drive to jump into our fast-paced and friendly office. A knowledge of Judaism and the Atlanta Jewish community preferred. $28k-$45k annually.

We are looking to fill all positions as soon as possible.

Send your resume to kaylene@atljewishtimes.com to schedule a Zoom or in office interview.

THIS WEEK PUBLISHER MICHAEL A. MORRIS michael@atljewishtimes.com

MANAGING PUBLISHER & EDITOR KAYLENE LADINSKY kaylene@atljewishtimes.com

EDITORIAL Associate Editor & Website Editor

SASHA HELLER

Happy New Year from Your Friends at the Atlanta Jewish Times Cover Photo: 2023 was quiet the emotional roller coaster for the Atlanta Jewish community, featuring some of the highest highs and lowest lows in recent memory.

sasha@atljewishtimes.com Staff Writer & Proofreader

FRAN PUTNEY fran@atljewishtimes.com

CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER DAVID OSTROWSKY DEBBIE DIAMOND JAN JABEN-EILON MARCIA CALLER JAFFE RACHEL STEIN

ADVERTISING Senior Account Manager & Team Supervisor

MICHAL BONELL michal@atljewishtimes.com Account Manager

ILYSSA KLEIN ilyssa@atljewishtimes.com

CREATIVE & DESIGN Creative Director

LILLI JENNISON

In preporation for the New Year, Atlanta Jewish Times will be closed Dec. 22-Jan. 3.

NEWS ��������������������������������������������������� 6 ISRAEL ���������������������������������������������� 16 BUSINESS ���������������������������������������� 18 SPORTS �������������������������������������������� 20 OPINION ������������������������������������������� 22 YEAR IN REVIEW ������������������������������� 24 ARTS & CULTURE ��������������������������� 46 CHAI STYLE ������������������������������������� 47 CALENDAR ��������������������������������������� 50 OY VEY ���������������������������������������������� 52 BRAIN FOOD ������������������������������������ 53 OBITUARIES ������������������������������������� 54 CLOSING THOUGHTS �������������������� 56 MARKETPLACE ������������������������������� 58

lilli@atljewishtimes.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Events and Public Relations Coordinator

KATIE GAFFIN katie@atljewishtimes.com Atlanta Jewish Connector Coordinator

DIANA COLE Diana@atljewishtimes.com

GENERAL OFFICE Administrative Assistant

REBECCA LABANCA info@atljewishtimes.com

404-883-2130 The 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 www.atlantajewishtimes.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-3345 IS PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC © 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector Atlanta Press Association American Jewish Press Association National Newspaper Asspciation Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 5

NEWS Blank Family Foundation Gives $8M For Mental Health

By Bob Bahr The Blank Family Foundation has announced a series of grants totaling $8 million to boost mental health programs locally and nationally. Among the grants that were announced Dec. 14 were several that were specifically aimed at enhancing programs for young people.

There is a serious concern that 50 percent of all lifetime mental illness develops by the age of 14. Particularly alarming is the record number of people who took their lives last year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most recent statistics, released in late November, showed that nearly 50,000 people committed suicide in the United States last year.

Young people particularly are experiencing a mental health crisis, especially if they are teenage girls. A survey in March by the CDC found around one in three high school girls in the U.S. have seriously considered attempting suicide and more than half of teen girls, 57 percent, reported

Recently passed legislation in Georgia is aimed at closing the gap between Georgia’s third place ranking in the nation for mental health needs and 48th place for spending on them.

feeling “persistently sad or hopeless.”

In announcing the grants, Arthur Blank, who co-founded The Home Depot, expressed his concern about the mental health of young people.

“It’s imperative that we support

Latest statistics indicate that half of all lifetime mental illness issues develop in the first 14 years of life.

those who are in crisis and help where possible to aid in personal health and, in turn, impact community success. Our young people need our support now more than ever and I’m very proud that our family foundation is making a long-

term commitment to invest in solutions.”

Among the grants that were made was a $1 million grant to the Greater Atlanta Georgia Youth Mental Health Funders Collaborative, which is comprised of a group of 40 donor organiza-

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NEWS

JAN 5–JAN 7 On the Coca-Cola Stage

“CRITIC’S PICK! A CULTURAL PHENOMENON. A brisk, smart provocation… and a belly laugh funny show!”

– The New York Times

JF&CS launched its new mental health program, Be Well Teen Mental Health, in March.

tions which was established six years ago to fund locally focused mental health initiatives. Last year, the Collaborative made a half dozen grants to both non-profits and Georgia state initiatives. They were intended to close what Bonnie Hardage of the organization sees as the immense gap between mental health needs and the state’s ability to provide care.

According to the most recent statistics, more than 10 percent of children aged 3 to 17 reported issues around anxiety and depression. Hardage pointed out that Georgia is third in the nation when it comes to the prevalence of mental health disorders and is 48th out of 50 states in spending on access to care.

“We don’t have enough mental health providers to address the current situation.

And, therefore, pediatricians are becoming mental health providers. Counselors in schools are becoming mental health providers. Parents are becoming mental health providers because, for kids, you have to meet them where they are to ensure that they have a sense of well-being.”

Rebecca Brown, LCSW, of Jewish Family & Career Services, said that despite adding additional staff in the past several years there is still a wait list for appointments. And conditions have only worsened since the pandemic. Brown is also the BeWellATL Manager. BeWellATL, a newly launched initiative of JF&CS, is dedicated to promoting the well-being of Jewish young people, age 12-26, providing support and tools to respond to the growing mental health concerns, as well as resources for parents, caregivers, and Jewish professionals.

“There are plenty of statistics that say anxiety and other disorders among young people increased during COVID. And we’re still experiencing that. It's changed the world for everyone. We launched the

Horwitz-Zusman Child & Family Center back in August 2021 and hired more child and adolescent therapists so that we could meet the need.”

Therapists now make regular visits and/or provide education programs to at least four Jewish day schools in the city – at The Epstein School, Torah Day School, The Weber School, and the Atlanta Jewish Academy.

“We are trying to serve as many people as we can by being creative and working with our community partners like the day schools, to actually take the service directly to those who need them, and not force them to wait until we can see them.”

The Blank Foundation is only in its second year of making grants for mental health, Last year the foundation made grants totaling $5 million with the aim of adding a range of needs along with what the funder calls a “continuum of mental health, from crisis to stability to flourishing.” But the foundation’s Elizabeth Brown admits the foundation is making its way slowly and cautiously as it attempts to determine where its money can best be spent to make the most difference.

“What we’re seeing,” Brown commented, “is foundations like ours saying we have to have the combination of heart and generosity and learning and strategy to be an investor in the solutions for mental health. So, the conversation and philanthropy and the funding and philanthropy is really opening up.”

Blank’s interest in youth development work goes beyond just the field of mental health. His foundation has just announced the largest grant that the Atlanta-based Morris Brown College has received in the past 20 years. The historically Black institution has been given $3 million to expand its hotel training program for college students. ì

Following acclaimed engagements on Broadway and around the globe, Award–winning writer and performer Alex Edelman brings his solo show to Atlanta.

Tickets at alliancetheatre.org/ justforus 1280 PEACHTREE ST NE // ATLANTA, GA 30309

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 7

NEWS

MODI Live! Alive with Moshiach Energy

By Marcia Caller Jaffe A sold-out crowd of Jews “in the know” were thrilled to pay for laughs with internationally acclaimed comedian MODI at the Variety Playhouse on a cold Thursday night, Dec. 14, for his first Atlanta appearance.

A cross section of ages and theologies, most of whom had seen some of MODI's schticks on social media, agreed with the entertainer that in view of today’s darker times, 90 minutes of backto-back laughs were well deserved and well executed. The “thing” about MODI is he’s edgy, current, and correct in his observations, but he doesn’t cross over into vulgarity and foul language. Good comedians, often truth tellers, don’t necessarily need to.

Those of us who are fans know what topics to expect and were delighted to hear them, some repeated with new twists. The professionalism about MODI is that he doesn’t stop for a breath and truly gives his all into performing ... loud and clear, with the right emphasis on the right words. And he can really sing the brochas and a rousing “Hatikvah” which closed the show.

Fan Rabbi Joshua Heller came to see MODI’s comparison of Sephardic to Ashkenazi Jews, the former of which is much more verbal and expressive. MODI compared a Sephardic hamotzi to a subdued Ashkenazi one, where the Sephardi drags out each word … pointing to the challah repeatedly back and forth to his wife, who kneaded it, and yelling L’chaim at every breath.

Israeli-born MODI joked about the way Sephardi name newborns after living adults vs. Ashkenazi who might select a tragically dead relative, “Who would do that to a child? You’re named after a cousin who died at 9 of diphtheria… if you’re going to pick a name, go with someone like Hugh Hefner, who lived a playboy life until the end.”

MODI’s favorite word, goyim, is well, an underlying theme, as he referred to a group of fans who were not Jewish and felt compelled to explain our often-unexplainable customs. He offered, “How do you explain shiva (mourning after funeral) to someone? Ask, oooooh how did they die? Who was the doctor, feigning concern.”

One of the most uproarious explanations (and also famed pianist Joe Alterman’s favorite bit) was MODI’s explanation of a Shabbas elevator which is preprogrammed to stop on every floor 8 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Fan rabbis lined up to pose with MODI. (From left) Dena Schusterman, Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, Rabbi Chaim Listfield, MODI (in burgundy suit), Rabbi Joshua Heller.

MODI performed for 90 minutes nonstop, revealing “insider truths” about Jewish traditions.

(From right) Donna, Ari, and Jonah Leifer were excited to learn about MODI since they were first-time fans and not familiar with his work.

(From left) Stefani Fishman, Mindy Zisholtz, Hal Scherz, and Barry Zisholtz are “die hard” MODI fans.

The Variety Playhouse was sold out for MODI’s first and only Atlanta performance.

for 24 hours. “It may be what Hitler and Goebbels experienced which made them go over the edge in anger.”

MODI’s analysis of the Royal Family is this writer’s most favorite scenario. Thursday night, MODI updated the Queen’s funeral where they “lugged the body around for 23 days like tracking an Amazon package. Jews plan a funeral if someone [old] in Florida is taking a nap just in case … waiting with a shovel.”

MODI is particularly expert at describing royal jewelry and who landed what gems. “Kate got the beautiful necklace. Megan got earrings from Zales, holding up the rear procession like a nebach.”

The most current news comment was about the testimony of the three

female college presidents. He decried, “Where did they dig up three such ugly gahargit women with no makeup. For heaven’s sake, run a comb through your hair; more importantly, who wove in their not-so-hidden antisemitism.”

MODI, who is married to his manager, Leo, addressed head on the “gossip” of his homosexuality.

“Married life is great. The main yenta in our building is on my floor. Leo is a millennial and has good manners like saying ‘you’re welcome’ vs. ‘no problem.’ He’s 22 years younger … my mother said instead of losing a son, she gained a grandchild. I gained a tech expert. Leo has a watch that doesn’t tell time … I have a gold Rolex so I must be doing OK.”

And then there was MODI's recounting of trying to perform during COVID on zoom. “And who remembers having temperatures taken at the door answering formulaic questions about COVID, ‘Do you have any body aches, sniffles, etc.? Every Jew wakes up daily with four COVID symptoms!”

Pre-show, Dr. Barry Zisholtz and medical partner, Dr. Hal Scherez, told the AJT that they had just returned from the Republican Jewish Coalition in Vegas where MODI performed. Zisholtz said, “After hearing Steve Scalise and new Speaker Johnson, it was a welcomed addition to laugh with MODI.” Check MODI’s website to see what the next stops on his tour will be. ì

NEWS

She’s A Maccabee Awards Winners Announced Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association of Georgia (JIFLA) has announced its 2023 Maccabees. In its fourth year, She’s a Maccabee has become an annual JIFLA Chanukah tradition. JIFLA honors powerful women in the Jewish community who use their skills, talents, passions, and love for Judaism to make the community a better place.

In keeping with the JIFLA mission of supporting and strengthening the Jewish community, these inspiring women model Jewish values of tikkun olam (repair of the world), tzedakah (giving back), and chesed (acts of loving-kindness).

“We want to highlight the vital role women play in our community and celebrate their contributions,” said Nancy Weissmann, executive director of JIFLA. JIFLA creates opportunity and financial stability for Jewish people in Georgia via interest-free loans and financial education. Sixty percent of JIFLA borrowers are women. With a JIFLA loan, they are empowered to achieve self-sufficiency both personally and professionally.

She’s a Maccabee applicants are nominated by community members, and honorees are chosen by JIFLA’s executive staff and previous awardees. This year’s winners include Emily Cohen, Tova Isaacs, Rose Lubin, Liz Rose, and Emily Scheinfeld.

the most challenging points in their lives.

However, her life is not just about work.

She is also a loving mother to three children, one of whom has special needs. Her experience with her son has ignited an interest in advocating for special needs inclusivity within the Jewish community. At the family’s synagogue, where she serves as a board member, Emily took the lead in helping build one of the few congregation “sensory rooms” for children who need a calming space during services. Overall, Emily’s tireless dedication to her work, her family, and the special needs community is truly admirable.

Sgt. Rose Lubin

Tova Isaacs

Emily Cohen

Emily has all the qualities of a Maccabee, and the world deserves to hear it!

She is a very humble woman and abhors self-congratulating gestures. After waking up at around 4 a.m. every morning to competitively swim, Emily spends her workdays (and often sleepless nights) as an OB/GYN caring for women at some of

rent situation in Israel and Gaza, and being a mom with young children. She is real, she’s to the point, and she cares about sharing Jewish life and traditions.

Day and night, Tova works tirelessly for her shul and community. From leading the security team to coordinating programs, hosting meals, baking for others, and beautifying mitzvos, Tova Isaacs is a true woman of valor. She’s a powerhouse: generous with her time, resources, and spirit. She is a tireless advocate, and at the same time, she regularly opens her home to guests, including many out-of-town visitors. Safety, security, and protecting the Jewish community is Tova’s passion and she has proven herself to be a true warrior. She has made it a top priority to be a leader in the safety network for the synagogues and local day schools, constantly improving security, obtaining grants, and checking procedures while enhancing communication capabilities between them. Her leadership has ensured a strong connection to local police and the broader Jewish security initiatives throughout Atlanta. Tova is an absolute hero, and she greatly deserves this honor!

A true Maccabee warrior and Israeli Lone Soldier, Rose is one of Atlanta’s own.

Born here, with many ties to the community, Rose attended Jewish day school and graduated from Dunwoody High School.

Following graduation, Rose followed her lifelong dream, making Aliyah and joining the Israeli police force as a lone soldier in the old city of Jerusalem. Rose was brave, strong, and determined in her life and service to Israel. Her choices and actions exemplify the true warrior and hero she is to so many people around the world. She touched countless lives; over 15,000 attended her funeral and thousands more visited with the family during and after shiva. May her memory be a blessing and always be cherished.

Liz Rose

Liz has been a great addition to the Jewish community in Atlanta and nationally. Using her platform of more than 50,000 social media followers she has been able to share stories and thoughts and comments about Jewish life, the cur-

Emily Scheinfeld

If you are looking for a strong warrior woman, Dr. Emily Scheinfeld is the one. A professor of health communication at Kennesaw State University, she teaches, challenges, and inspires local students to do and achieve more every day. Emily maintains many leadership roles through alumni organizations, various professional service programs that help students and colleagues, and the Smith County Historical Society where she is an associate editor and graphic designer. When she is not doing this, Emily enjoys coaching Maccabi volleyball for Team Atlanta and providing her graphic design skills for small businesses, students, and nonprofits. Additionally, she is an active member of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue and involved in the Jewish community at KSU. Most amazingly, she founded L’dor V’dor Judaica, which rescues unwanted Judaica and rehomes it to the Jewish community here in Atlanta at no cost. Emily’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. Her commitment to making Judaica accessible shines as a valuable service for the community. In a world where tradition often comes with a hefty price tag, Emily’s dedication to rescuing pieces of Jewish culture from estate sales and thrift shops is a testament to her passion for preserving heritage and ensuring that every Jew can embrace that tradition without financial constraints. ì For more information on the She’s a Maccabee Award and to learn about JIFLA’s loan programs please visit JIFLA.org.

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 9

NEWS

Ceremony Spotlights Threat of Antisemitism On Dec. 12, Shine A Light, AntiDefamation League Southeast, National Black Empowerment Council and National Center for Civil and Human Rights hosted an intimate menorah lighting ceremony and brief program on the threat of antisemitism at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

Signifying more than a celebration of the Festival of Lights, the event was a powerful testament to Atlanta’s commitment to coming together, fostering understanding, and celebrating its shared values. In a world that often seems divided, this gathering illuminated the principles of hope, peace, and respect that bind us all.

The event kicked off with a candle lighting and blessing over bread from Rabbi Joshua Heller, senior rabbi, Congregation B’nai Torah, and featured remarks from several notable attendees including Chris Carr, attorney general of the state of Georgia, who discussed the strength of the Jewish community in Atlanta and worldwide, and the importance of standing together during these turbulent times.

Carr said, “Although it’s deeply distressing that we must gather because of a rise in antisemitism around the world, it is truly an honor to publicly and proudly stand with the Jewish community -- not just in Atlanta, not just in the state of Georgia, but around the world. The Jewish community in our state is strong, it’s vibrant and it’s courageous, and I cannot tell you what it means to me personally to be standing here shoulder to shoulder with you tonight.”

Darius Jones, founder and president, National Black Empowerment Council, noted, “In our unity, may we always find the strength to face adversity, confront injustice and build bridges toward a brighter future. So, as we illuminate these lights, let them serve as beacons of hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit of our collaboration.”

“We have to continue to pray and understand that just like radiation that drives out cancer -- light, communication, allyship, and community drives out antisemitism and every form of hate … We stand together tonight praying with our feet and believing that we are creating a community that is big enough for us all,” said Doug Shipman, Atlanta City Council president.

Jill Savitt, president and CEO, National Center for Civil and Human Rights, said, “We are all interconnected, and our fates are intertwined, and we gather to affirm that a hate or injustice directed against any group - is a hate or injustice directed 10 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Eytan Davidson, ADL Southeast Regional Director, speaks at the Dec. 12 ceremony // Photo Credit: Jolie Loren

Chris Carr, Attorney General of the State of Georgia // Photo Credit: Jolie Loren

Rabbi Joshua Heller, Jill Savitt, Chris Carr, Eytan Davidson, Darius Jones, Doug Shipman, Lee May // Photo Credit: Jolie Loren

The Dec. 12 program was held at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights // Photo Credit: Jolie Loren

against us all. We reaffirm that the way to combat it is to stand together to provide each other with support and comfort and to call out any injustice that we see.”

Eytan Davidson, ADL Southeast regional director, added, “The alarming rise of antisemitism demands our collective attention and concerted efforts to

Shine A Light, Anti-Defamation League Southeast, National Black Empowerment Council and National Center for Civil and Human Rights hosted an intimate menorah lighting ceremony and program on the threat of antisemitism // Photo Credit: Jolie Loren

combat hate in all its forms. In partnership with Shine A Light, we are coming together tonight to stand up and speak out against antisemitism. We thank all allies who stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community, working towards an Atlanta free from racism and intolerance.”

To learn more, visit www.

ShineALightOn.com and follow on Instagram (@ShineALight_On); X/Twitter (@ ShineALight_On); TikTok (@shinealighton); and Facebook (@ShineALightOnAntisemitsm). ì Compiled by AJT Staff

NEWS

Friendship Circle Holds Race Despite Downpour

By Debbie Diamond Heavy rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of nearly 400 runners, walkers, and supporters who came out for the first Friendship Circle of Atlanta 5K, 1-mile walk and festival at Brook Run Park on Sunday, Dec. 10.

Held during Chanukah, the event raised close to $62,000 for the Friendship Circle of Atlanta, an organization focused on acceptance, inclusion, and friendship for people with special needs and their families. The non-profit hopes to reach the $100,000 goal by year-end through community donations.

The theme for this year’s inaugural event was “As You Are,” a moniker co-founders Rabbi Shlomo and Chanky Freedman said “captures the essence of inclusion, where everyone belongs just as they are, regardless of their abilities.”

The fun-filled day was an extension of the larger mission of Friendship Circle in support of unity, acceptance, and friendship between members of Atlanta’s Jewish community and individuals with special needs and their families.

“We were just blown away by the excitement and turnout by all the people who participated and were undeterred by the rain. There was so much to celebrate,” said Chanky. “With this yearly event, our aim is to bring the wider Atlanta Jewish community together with our participants and help expand our work through fundraising and involvement,” she added.

Michelle Frank placed first in the 5K, followed by Suzanne Bressler and Mendel Adelman. The teen winner was Nuriel Shimoni Stoil. Following the run and walk, the Friendship festival offered a wide array of activities for children and adults, including rides on a mechanical bull, face painting, a petting zoo, air hockey and foosball tables, inflatable ax throwing, Chanukah crafts, a roaming dreidel, and food from Keith’s Corner BBQ food truck.

The event was organized by Sara Varon, who was credited by the Freedman’s with “expertly synching every single detail.” From the starting line ceremony to the close of the festival, the day went off without a hitch, according to those in attendance.

Varon said, “We planned this event for months, and every detail was considered. But at the end of the day, the weather was the one thing we couldn’t plan.

Our event was going to happen, rain or shine. There’s no way to move a 5K in-

Co-directors Rabbi Shlomo and Chanky Freedman with family at the race.

The Grant family, recent immigrants from England, attended the event.

Runners, rollers, and walkers line up for the race.

5K teen winner Nuriel Shimoni Stoil

5K first-place winner Michelle Frank

The Tocker family, supporters of Friendship Circle, recently moved to Atlanta from South Africa.

Sara Varon, event planner, and her parents, Sabi and Robin Varon

doors. Everyone who came to support Friendship Circle showed the unconditional love they have for the organization and their fellow Jews,” she said.

And runner Mendy Kessler echoed

Varon’s sentiments. “I felt the incredible energy of everyone there despite the rain -- or maybe because of it,” he said.

Corporate sponsors for the event included Congregation Beth Tefillah, Clas-

sic Tents & Events, Diversifood Associates, Inc., and Northside Hospital.

To volunteer, learn more or contribute to Friendship Circle of Atlanta, please visit www.fcatlanta.org. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 11

NEWS

Impresario Andy Expands Region’s Art Horizon

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On Dec. 3, hundreds of arts fans viewed and partied at sculptor and photographer Steven Steinman’s 4,000-square-foot studio, located in the trendy Zonolite district, for one of the art events of the winter season.

The “Art Adventures Holiday Party,” hosted by the Steinmans, whose own home was featured the Atlanta Jewish Times Chai Style column on Nov. 21, 2017, capped off the end of 2023 with the monthly Art Adventures tour series, where Andy takes participants to various venues, from galleries to private homes, viewing noteworthy art collections.

Guests on Sunday came from as far away as Texas and Tennessee.

Art Adventures is Andy’s brainchild, where for the past 11 years she has organized tours by primarily conducting live events at local venues. During the pandemic, her tours went virtual via Zoom, featuring museums across the country and drawing participants across the United States, Europe, and Israel. Over the years, it has grown in popularity, regularly drawing professionals, artists, gallery owners, and a panoply of others who want to widen their artistic horizons.

Guests attending on Dec. 3 included Dr. Harvey and Eve Mannes (featured in the AJT Chai Style column on Dec. 8, 2017), architect Tom Ventulett, artist Susan Cofer, Dr. Malcolm, and artist Lynette Joel (featured in the Chai Style column on Feb. 26,2016), viewed an array of Steinman’s work, which predominantly features metal sculptures in the round crafted from recycled materials. They also got a sneak peek at new pieces Steinman plans to roll out in spring 2024 at his 50-year retrospective exhibition hosted by the City of Atlanta.

Other Jewish artists included Joanie Levine, Mitzi Rothman, Judie Jacobs, Gail Wegodsky, and Margery Diamond, who showcased their work alongside more than a dozen other local artists.

A passionate painter whose condo doubles as her studio, Levine displayed abstract impressionistic paintings featuring soft palettes of yellow, green, and orange.

Rothman, a University of Georgia grad and one of Atlanta’s top animal portrait painters, featured a series of canine pieces.

Wegodsky, who taught at Kennesaw State University and has had work auc-

12 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Joanie Levine displayed abstract impressionistic paintings.

Mitzi Rothman is best known for her pet portraits.

Margery Diamond, Jewish nature expert, displays her book.

tioned by Sotheby’s, showcased pieces capturing slices of life reminiscent of Norman Rockwell.

The party also featured author Margery Diamond, whose book, “Torah and Trails,” is available on Amazon. Diamond is an avid hiker and photographer, and her book provides a visual trail guide connecting Judaism with nature.

Visitors dined on an enormous “Sweet Table,” rich with hand-crafted baked goods and fresh fruits and cheeses, prepared by Andy, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in London, and Sherry Habif, an Atlanta caterer and wedding planner.

Ruth Klopper also assisted with the food,

Steve and Andy Steinman hosted the event at Steve’s studio.

Judy Jacobs, who recently retired as an art teacher at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, featured a series of abstracts in bursts of white, red, black, and green tones.

Gail Wegodsky’s work captures slices of everyday life.

Ruth Klopper and Sherry Habif dished the food “art.”

showcasing her famous triple chocolate cookies.

A cadre of volunteers, coordinated

by Dori Hurwich, executed the logistics.

John Hyjek organized the studio as well as the participating artists. Leslie Gerber and Julia Ogletree were “the greeters.”

The party drew accolades from artists and attendees like Irwin Wheeler, who also displayed his work, labeled it “a great meeting of artists, patrons, and volunteers. With few exceptions, everyone was extremely welcoming and appeared to respond positively to my art.”

Artists Eleanor and Alan Stecker came from Barnesville, Ga., and empha-

sized that the party was “so much fun.”

Carol Wien called the event “Atlanta’s art party of the century, with a list of who’s who in the Atlanta art scene,” likening it to Truman Capote’s 1966 Black and White Party at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

Wien also noted the colorful outfits “bedecking the ebullient ‘A List’ crowd … and the food fruit kabobs, cookies, and chocolate confections were ‘to die for’ -- along with the yummy sherbet punch -- all emanated an air of cozy camaraderie.” ì Media consultant Liz Willding Robbins contributed to this article.

NEWS

India and Israel Make for Winning Relationship

By Marcia Caller Jaffe The Consul General of India sponsored a post-Chanukah program and dinner on Dec. 16, to celebrate and illuminate the positivity between the two nations.

Located on Glenridge Drive in Sandy Springs, the Consulate hosted a cordial local Jewish crowd including Israel’s Consulate General to the Southeast, Anat Sultan-Dadon, and Dov Wilker, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, and a variety of other diplomats.

India’s Consul General Shri Ranush Babu Laksmanan welcomed the crowd with “Hag Hannukah Sameach,” and spoke of the small but vibrant Jewish community in India consisting of mostly businesspeople “who are happy in India.”

He extended warm greetings to Jewish friends with the hopes soon of peace and light, “since we have had good relations over two millennia, as Jews in India identify as Jews and also are immersed in Indian culture.”

A particularly enlightening program highlight were comments by Nissim Reuben, a Jew “of color” who was raised in Ahmebabad, India, who led Chanukah blessings, songs, and prayers in Hebrew and his native accent from an Indian maksor (prayer book.). Fluent in five languages, Reuben grew up in the famous Bene Israel Congregation and left for the U.S. at age 32, and now resides in Washington, D.C. as the assistant director, Asia Pacific Institute, for the AJC. As he spoke from the heart, Reuben explained that there was no antisemitism growing up in India. He said, “There are only around 5,000 Jews left in India; and Muslim children attend the schools that were once for Jewish children. Muslims are trusted to care for our synagogues; and never has a stone been thrown.”

He said the good relations continue as India and Israel share an airport terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. Historically speaking, he revealed a Jewish general was credited for liberating Bangladesh by cutting off Pakistani aggressors without using weapons or swords. According to Reuben, “What he did have was the Shema prayer.”

And basically, Jews are embedded in Indian society, while Prime Minister Modi visited Israel. He said, “Israel is in our hearts, but India is in our blood!”

Comparing the 15-year anniversary of the Mumbai Massacre to Oct. 7, Reuben said he would stop short of discuss-

India’s Consul General Shri Ranush Babu Laksmanan welcomed Israel Consulate General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon.

Sari Earl (right) enjoys her volunteer work with the American Jewish Committee alongside Sucheta Kamath and Nicholas Harvey.

Dinner guests mingled with the flag of India and AJC banner in the background.

Israel Consulate General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon lights the menorah.

The beautiful trompe l’oiel ceiling graced the lower lobby of the consulate.

AJC’s Dylan Rice chats with Nissim Reuben, who flew in from DC for the event.

ing politics and ended with a rousing Namaste (I bow to you) and G-d Bless India!”

Later, he shared with the AJT that about 85,000 Indians have immigrated to Israel, and an additional 30,000 have temporary visas working as caregivers.

Also, next to the U.S., India is Israel’s second strongest trade partner.

Consulate General Sultan-Dadon came to the podium to state that it was beautiful being among friends “celebrating light in dark times.” She was firm that Israel will be victorious against all odds as it faces yet another evil.

She said, “We must be free from Hamas, who on Oct. 7 declared a goal of our destruction. We did not choose this war. Israel has the right and responsi-

bility to defend itself. Oct 7 should have been a worldwide call, and it’s astonishing that there is not full clarity to some -- too few are standing up against antisemitism.” She praised the 30 years of diplomatic relations with India, whose prime minister did condemn the Oct 7 attacks. She said, “This [terror] is a threat to the entire free world, not just Israel. We will win this war, and all who stand for life and freedom will prevail over evil!”

AJC's Wilker praised the Indian consulate for this night’s demonstration of solidarity “for the courage to bring together the Jewish and non-Jewish communities as others turn away.” He explained the importance at the local level to work for this solidarity. He re-quoted

former Israel Prime Minster Naftali Bennett, saying that “India and Israel as an alliance constitute 20 percent of the world’s population.” Earlier, Reuben referred to Wilker as “the dean of the AJC.” Guests relocated to the lower level where a bounteous traditional vegetarian Indian buffet was served. Various members of the Jewish community mingled and spoke of their relationships with peers and fellow committee workers through the AJC. Sari Earl, former Delta Air Lines attorney and executive with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, stated, “It’s important that we support our brothers and sisters and show up for each other in both good and bad times.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 13

NEWS

Birthright Launches Expansive Volunteer Program

By Bob Bahr For Kat Shambaugh, a 25-year-old data processing consultant in Atlanta who visited Israel with Birthright a year and a half ago, the desire to go back had been in her mind for some time. Then she heard that Birthright was sponsoring volunteers for two-week visits to the country.

“I was actually working with friends to see if we could plan something for this upcoming summer. And then I heard that Birthright was looking for volunteers and I was like, oh, an opportunity to go back to Israel. I’m going to hop on it.”

By Nov. 20, she was on a plane bound for Tel Aviv to join one of the first groups of volunteers that Birthright had organized to get the late fall harvest in. The group she joined were mostly Americans from big cities plus a few from Canada, a French woman, and another from London. They commuted back and forth each day from where they were staying in Tel Aviv to a farm in Central Israel, where they picked strawberries, peppers, and cucumbers. Everywhere she went Shambaugh found Israelis so impressed by her willingness to help them out in a time of need.

“They were all very appreciative of the fact that we would take time out of our lives and come all the way to Israel in the middle of a war and help them. I always was having to remind myself that this is not a vacation per se. Like there’s a war going on in the background. But it was worth the possible danger for me at least, to be able to serve and help the people there.”

So far, more than 4,000 graduates of the Birthright program have volunteered for the trip, willing to pay their way to Israel to provide desperately needed help on farms and kibbutzim across the country that has lost much of its work force.

They are either in the IDF, or in the case of foreign contract workers, they have gone home.

It is what the director general of Israel’s Agriculture Ministry has called the worst labor shortage in Israel’s history.

Last month, the ministry estimated that the country needs 40,000 farm laborers to make up for the loss of foreign workers, mostly from Thailand, who left on flights back to Asia paid for by the Thai government. Another 10,000 to 20,000 Palestinian farm workers who live in the West Bank have been blocked from entering the country. The Agriculture Ministry says that the primary need is working hands that can help Israeli farmers.

14 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Birthright hopes that volunteerism will help strengthen the ties between Birthright program graduates and Israel.

Volunteerism is likely to continue to be an important part of Birthright programs in the future.

Birthright has been happy to help.

Not only because agriculture is crucial to Israel’s economy but because programs that bring volunteers to the country strengthen ties between Israel and Jews around the world.

Ilan Wagner is a vice president of Birthright in Israel heading up the recruitment of graduates of the program like Shambaugh, whom he sees as renewing their commitment to Israel.

“The initial Birthright experience in Israel may have given them a connection,” Wagner says, “that we are now able to translate into an action that takes that connection a step further. It’s a very different experience than being here on a 10-day trip or even on a summer intern-

Kat Shambaugh picked strawberries, peppers, and cucumbers in her two weeks as a Birthright volunteer in Israel.

ship.”

Wagner knows the importance of connection, not just through his work with Birthright, but in his personal experience over nearly 40 years as an Israeli citizen. He grew up outside Boston and made Aliyah in his mid-20s after working for a year in Israel. Now 62, and an important leader in the Birthright movement, he sees how a commitment to Israel can grow when the right opportunities are created.

“We do think that this element of volunteering is going to become an important element of everything we do, whether it be standalone volunteering programs, which we’ve been doing for several months going forward, or the integration of this kind of the values

behind volunteering into other types of frameworks. And so, I think there is a moment now to sort of rethink about all of our programs and what we want to do in the future as we go forward with the rebuilding of Israel.”

For Shambaugh, who grew up with little commitment to either Israel or Judaism, coming back to Israel last month has only deepened what she feels about her faith and her spiritual home.

“The two weeks that I spent there felt so special getting to meet Israelis and actually help them with something so concrete, felt like doing the ultimate mitzvah. And it was a mitzvah also for myself. To be in community with other Jews and surrounded by so much love.” ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 15

ISRAEL PRIDE

TODAY IN ISRAELI HISTORY

View of the Herod’s Palace hotel in Eilat, Southern Israel // Photo Credit: Moshe Shai/Flash90

Israel Among Conde Nast Traveler’s 20 Best Countries The past two months have been challenging for Israel, but good news has arrived with the announcement of Conde Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, which ranked Israel as the eighth Best Country in the World.

In addition, Tel Aviv was the third most Googled city in 2023.

Celebrating its 36th iteration, the

Today in Israeli History Dec. 31, 1973: Israelis elect the eighth Knesset. The Alignment wins 39.6%, keeping Prime Minister Golda Meir in power. The election was postponed by the Yom Kippur War, whose backlash forces Meir to resign in April 1974.

The Times of London carries a report on the 1837 Safed earthquake in its March 1, 1837, issue.

Jan. 1, 1837: An earthquake estimated at 6.8 on the Richter scale starts a landslide that kills thousands and causes extensive damage in the Jewish and Arab sections of the Upper Galilee mountain city of Safed (Tzfat).

Jan. 2, 2002: Israeli navy commandos leave Eilat in helicopters at night to intercept the Karine-A, a ship carrying 50 tons of Iranian weapons to Gaza. The Israelis seize the shipment before dawn Jan. 3 without firing a shot.

Jan. 3, 1919: Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Emir Faisal, son of Sharif Husayn of Mecca, pledge mutual respect and cooperation between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. The mandate system blocks their accord.

16 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Readers’ Choice Awards is likened to the Oscars of travel where readers serve as the “academy” nominating their favorite countries around the world. This year, more than 500,000 people participated in the magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards survey.

“This news is such a hopeful sign,” said Eyal Carlin, tourism commissioner to North America for the Israel Ministry of Tourism. “Being recognized by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best countries in the world is heartening. This news is sure to boost the morale and spirit of our many travel partners and stakeholders across the country as well as the people of Israel.”

This year, Israel marked its 75th anniversary and has been attracting travelers near and far with its breadth of history, attractions, future developments, and unearthed past. A 2,000-year-old synagogue in the city of Migdal was uncovered by a team of archaeologists, Tel Aviv had hosted one of the largest Pride celebrations since COVID, tourists were enjoying Jerusalem’s emerging dining scene while others were discovering its unique wine country flourishing in the Negev Desert.

Jan. 4, 2006: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 77, has a devastating stroke en route to Hadassah Hospital after feeling ill at his home in the Negev. Surgeons save his life, but he slips into a coma from which he never recovers.

Yahya Ayyash was blown up while making his weekly call from Gaza to his father in the West Bank.

Jan. 5, 1996: Yahya Ayyash, who made bombs that killed more than 80 Israelis after he joined Hamas in 1992, dies in Gaza City when the Shin Bet sets off explosives in his cellphone during his weekly call to his father.

Jan. 6, 1942: Rabbi Jacob Moshe Toledano, a native of Tiberias who is the chief rabbi of Alexandria, Egypt, returns to the Land of Israel to assume the post of the Sephardi chief rabbi of Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

Jan. 7, 2010: The University of Haifa’s Gershon Galil announces that he has deciphered a pottery shard inscription found at Khirbet Qeiyafa from the 10th century B.C.E., the earliest-known Hebrew writing yet discovered.

VR4Good has been assisting Gaza evacuees in a variety of ways.

VR4Good Aids Evacuees from Gaza Periphery, Soldiers VR4Good, a volunteering network of the Israeli technological virtual reality community, was created with the outbreak of the war in order to provide a quick and bureaucracy-free response for evacuees from the Gaza periphery and the north and wounded soldiers.

The project includes mobile VR complexes that reach the location where the evacuees and injured are staying. The VR complexes provide a diverse and broad solution including: anxiety relief, escapism, mindfulness, cognitive therapy, physical rehabilitation, education and experiential learning. The project has Jan. 8, 1978: Rose Luria Halprin, a twotime national president of Hadassah who played a key role in the construction of the Mount Scopus hospital and held top positions in the Jewish Agency, dies at age 83.

Jan. 9, 1873: Hayim Nahman Bialik, Israel’s national poet, is born in Radi in northwestern Ukraine. Influenced by Ahad Ha’am’s cultural Zionism, he writes “In the City of Slaughter” after visiting Kishinev after the 1903 pogrom.

Jan. 10, 2000: Seven days of talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara, focusing on trading the Golan Heights for peace, end without resolution in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

A monument to the victims of the Egoz sinking stands on Mount Herzl.

Jan. 11, 1961: The Egoz, a ship leased by the Mossad to secretly transport Moroccan Jews to Israel, sinks a few hours after leaving Al Hoceima on its 12th immigration trip.

Forty-four would-be immigrants drown.

over 60 activities in hospitals, IDF bases, hotels, dormitories for people with disabilities and more.

“The field of virtual reality is relatively new to the people of Israel, because only a few years ago they started selling glasses to the consumer at home,” one of the members said. “I believe that every professional in the fields of medicine, education and training is obliged to train in the field of virtual reality. This is a tool unprecedented for healing the mind and body, I invite everyone to open their pockets and contribute to improving the physical and mental condition of our brothers in Israel.”

Compiled by AJT Staff Jan. 12, 1981: Hamad Abu-Rabia, the first Bedouin to serve in the Knesset, is fatally shot by the sons of a political rival outside the hotel where he stays while the parliament is meeting. It is the first assassination of a Knesset member.

Emile Zola was convicted of libel in February 1898 over the “J’Accuse” letter he published in a French newspaper Jan. 13, 1898, and he lived in England for more than a year to avoid prison.

Jan. 13, 1898: L’Aurore publishes a 4,500word front-page letter from acclaimed writer Emile Zola under the headline “J’Accuse” (“I Accuse”), charging the French government with antisemitism in the Dreyfus Affair.

Jan. 14, 2018: Aiming to expand trade, Benjamin Netanyahu pays the first state visit to India by an Israeli prime minister in more than 15 years, reciprocating a trip to Israel

by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017.

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

ISRAEL

U.S. Plans for Two-State Solution Appear Stymied

By Jan Jaben-Eilon In anticipation of his meeting with a high-ranking U.S. official in mid-December, Israeli President Isaac Herzog told The Associated Press that it was premature to speak about the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Talking about a potential two-state solution so soon after the surprise Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 is inappropriate, he said.

“What I want to urge is against just saying two-state solution. Why? Because there is an emotional chapter here that must be dealt with. My nation is bereaving. My nation is in trauma,” said Herzog who fills essentially a ceremonial role.

“In order to get back to the idea of dividing the land, of negotiating peace or talking to the Palestinians, etc., one has to deal first and foremost with the emotional trauma that we are going through and the need and demand for full sense of security for all people.”

His stance reflects a survey conducted by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Jerusalem-based Israel Democracy Institute.

The question posed was whether Israel should agree or disagree to pursue the two-state solution in order to continue to receive American assistance.

“President [Joe] Biden has repeatedly stated that the large-scale assistance Israel is receiving from the United States is dependent on progress toward a fundamental solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, on the basis of the two-statesfor-two-peoples formula. In your opinion, after the war, should Israel agree or not agree to pursue this direction?”

According to the IDI, the Jewish sample revealed that a majority (75 percent) of Jewish Israelis on the political left said they support making progress toward a two-state solution to the conflict in return for American assistance, “as part of the plan put forward by U.S. President Joe Biden.” In the political center, a large minority (45 percent) agreed, while on the right, only a small minority (21 percent) agreed.

The survey was conducted during the week at the end of November when Hamas was freeing about 100 hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, in exchange for approximately three times that number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The timing might be notable in that Israelis were feeling somewhat more optimistic while seeing their loved ones released from captivity in Gaza.

Indeed, the Israeli Voice survey found a rise in public optimism about

“In order to get back to the idea of dividing the land, of negotiating peace or talking to the Palestinians, etc., one has to deal first and foremost with the emotional trauma that we are going through and the need and demand for full sense of security for all people,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

both the future of Israel’s security and the future of democratic rule in Israel – the latter being the main source of division in the country in 2023 before the Oct. 7 massacre.

“This trend, seen by some as a form of ‘rallying to the flag,’ has also been found in other countries in wartime when the state is able to demonstrate what are seen as successes on the battlefield with a relatively low number of casualties among its own forces.”

That finding might change by the end of December as an increasing number of Israel Defense Forces soldiers have been killed since the November survey was taken, along with the end, at press time, of an exchange that allowed live hostages to be released. Rather, the IDF has retrieved only the bodies of some hostages, and on Dec. 15 the IDF reported the tragic shooting by its soldiers of three hostages reportedly waving a white flag and expecting to be freed by their countrymen.

Prior to Oct. 7, there had not been any serious negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians to attain a two-state solution for nearly a decade. Israelis lost a sense of security on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists and its allies easily breached Israel’s border and killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted some 240 more people. Israel counterattacked from the air and soon after with a ground incursion, killing, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry, more than 18,000 Palestinians.

The Biden Administration, which Israelis believe has been both emotionally and militarily supportive of the country,

has reiterated its belief that negotiations toward a two-state solution must be renewed after the war, under the leadership of the Palestinian Authority which

rules parts of the West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated emphatically that his right-wing government will not support placing the Palestinian Authority in charge of Gaza. Even though the Biden Administration has urged Netanyahu to plan for the “day after” the war, the Israeli government has not described its plans for the Palestinian enclave.

In fact, some members of his government have even suggested that Israel rebuild settlements on the Gaza Strip, which Israel has dismantled in 2005.

Israel’s Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu was reported as saying Dec. 15 that Israel “should fully occupy the Gaza Strip” after the war and develop settlements on the strip of land where some two million Palestinians live.

However, an early December Hebrew University of Jerusalem survey showed that a significant majority of Israelis (56 percent) oppose annexing and resettling Gaza, while 33 percent support such a move and 11 percent remain uncertain about their opinion on this issue. ì

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! from The Robin Blass Group

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 17

BUSINESS Hawks Celebrate Chanukah Night

Max Nominated for Human Services Award

On Dec. 11, the Atlanta Hawks held their annual Chanukah Night, which included a beautiful halftime menorah lighting ceremony // Photo Credit: Atlanta Hawks

By David Ostrowsky While the Atlanta Hawks, amidst an early season skid, fell 129-122 to the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Dec. 11, at State Farm Arena, the evening was far from a total loss.

During halftime of a game that was noteworthy for reserve guard Bogdan Bogdanovic pouring in 40 points on 10 made three-pointers, the franchise put on its annual menorah lighting ceremony as part of “Chanukah Night.” This year, per its track record, the holiday festivities were organized by the Chabad of Georgia in conjunction with the Consulate General to Israel of the Southeast and local Jewish organizations.

The candle lighting ceremony, held at center court of the Hawks’ home arena, featured David Lubin, father of Rose Lubin, the 21-year-old Dunwoody native who was serving as a Border Police officer in Jerusalem’s Old City precinct when she was murdered in a stabbing attack early last month; Anat Sultan-

18 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Dadon, Consulate General of Israel to Southeastern U.S. (she was present last year as well); and Jami Gertz, Hawks principal owner, who is married to Tony Ressler and likewise belongs to the Jewish community. Representing the Chabad of Georgia – an organization that consistently has a prominent role in this event that galvanizes broad swaths of the greater Atlanta Jewish community -- were Yale New and Rabbi Isser New, associate director of Chabad of Georgia. Along with the lighting of the menorah, a Chanukah song was performed by Ber Cohen, Avremel Chazanow, and Matt Needleman.

This was the ninth consecutive winter that the Hawks have held Chanukah Night. Meanwhile, it was the second consecutive Chanukah Night in which State Farm Arena had a sold-out crowd. Looking ahead to next year, with Chanukah not starting until sundown on Dec. 25, the tenth anniversary of the celebration will in all likelihood not be until the last week of December.

Robert Max was recognized for his dedicated service with the Jewish War Veterans organization.

On Dec. 6, Robert Max was honored as one of the nominees for the Cobb Collaborative Jack Vaughn Jr. Human Services Award. The Georgia Cobb Collaborative engages and empowers local organizations to improve outcomes for families in Cobb County.

Max was nominated by Helen Scherrer-Diamond for his tireless work with the Jewish War Veterans. Max has been the Commander of the Department of the Southeast of the JWV for over eight years and served concurrently for several years as Commander of Atlanta’s Post 112.

Max has been with the Atlanta Jewish War Veterans Post 112 for more than 40 years. He is a proud leader and proud supporter of all military branches and reservists of all faiths. Max has attended most National JWV organizational events. He is very personable, proud,

and professional. He has brought in many new members, both patrons (nonmilitary members) as well as those who served in all military branches and/or in the reserves.

Max represents the JWV at many other organizations’ events to honor those who served. He still works at Novelis as a senior IT manager. He has helped JWV with many presentations, bringing in military presenters and using his skills with social media. He has developed many new programs and initiatives in concert with the Atlanta Post Board.

Board meetings and member meetings are consistent and well attended and professionally handled. Max is a very wellknown, well-respected, generous, and kind leader.

Compiled by AJT Staff

BUSINESS

AJA Volleyball Invitational Nets All-Around Win

Thank you, Atlanta!

AJA finished in third place in its first annual Girls Volleyball Invitational and Shabbaton.

As we bid farewell to 2023, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our valued clients, friends and family. Your trust and support have been instrumental in making this year a resounding success for all the lives we have touched, and we look forward to continuing our partnership and delivering even greater value to you.

Your success is our priority, and we are committed to providing you with exceptional service, innovative solutions and unwavering support.

The Atlanta Jewish Academy hosted its inaugural Girls Volleyball Invitational and Shabbaton from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

By Sasha Heller Score a victory all around for the Jewish sports community as the Atlanta Jewish Academy hosted its inaugural Girls Volleyball Invitational and Shabbaton.

The tournament, which ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, brought together eight Jewish schools from around the U.S., including: Berman Hebrew Academy (Washington, D.C.); The Frisch School (Paramus, N.J.); Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls (Teaneck, N.J.); Maimonides School (Brookline, Mass.); Magen David Yeshivah School (Brooklyn, N.Y.); Northwest Yeshiva High School (Mercer Island, Wash.); and Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy (The Bronx, N.Y.).

AJA Girls Volleyball Coach Justin Katz explained that the idea for the tour-

The inaugural Girls Volleyball Invitational at AJA brought together teams from eight Jewish academies from across the country.

nament was inspired by the success of the school’s recently launched flag football program.

“In 2021, we came up with an idea to run a flag football tournament and Shabbaton for the high school boys,” Katz said. “After two years of success running that, we decided to run something for the girls. Since no other Jewish school was running a volleyball tournament in the fall, we decided to organize the event.

The amount of support we had from the parents was tremendous, so we knew we had identified an opportunity.”

Once the competitive volleyball action ended, the invitational gave way to the second focus of the gathering – the AJA Shabbaton, which included a special Shabbat service hosted by Congregation Ohr HaTorah.

We wish you a prosperous and joyous 2024 filled with happiness, growth and continued success.

Am YIsrael Chai!

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 19

SPORTS Mark Cuban Sells Dallas Mavericks to Adelson Family Throughout this century, there have been few, if any, owners of major North American pro sports franchises more flamboyant, David Ostrowsky controversial, and entertaining than Mark Cuban.

But now the 65-year-old Jewish celebrity boss of the Dallas Mavericks, who made his fortune through the sale of startups MicroSolutions and Broadcast. com in the 1990s (when the Mavericks were considered one of the worst teams in North American pro sports) before purchasing 85 percent of the franchise for $280 million in 2000, appears to be stepping down from his role as principal owner of the wildly popular NBA team.

Late last month, Cuban agreed to sell a majority stake of the Mavs – for a valuation in the range of $3.5 billion -- to the Adelson family that operates the Las Vegas Sands casino company. Miriam Adelson, the widow of Sheldon Adelson, the multi-billionaire casino tycoon and founder of Las Vegas Sands who passed away in 2021, serves as the controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands while her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont, is president and chief operating officer.

Cuban, who coincidentally just announced that he was leaving the popular business TV program “Shark Tank” after a 16th season next year, will keep shares in the team and retain complete control of basketball operations. To fund the landmark purchase, Adelson is reportedly selling $2 billion worth of Las Vegas Sands stock, or approximately 10 percent of her stake, according to an announcement from the company.

In a statement released by the Adelson and Dumont families regarding the impending sale of the now perennially contending NBA franchise, it was noted that “The Dallas Mavericks are one of the world’s most successful and recognizable sports franchises. The team has won an NBA championship, has a long history of attracting international superstars and has been supported by a dedicated and passionate fanbase and leadership group led by Mark Cuban.

“The Adelson and Dumont families are honored to have the opportunity to be stewards of this great franchise. Through our commitment and additional investment in the team, we look forward to 20 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Mark Cuban may be relinquishing his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks, but the celebrity billionaire promises to remain a fixture of the franchise // Photo Credit: League Operations Communications & Media Management

partnering with Mark Cuban to build on the team’s success and legacy in Dallas and beyond.”

Under Cuban’s stewardship, the Mavericks showcased several of the league’s global superstars (Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic, Steve Nash) and captured their first-ever NBA Finals in 2011 five years after nearly winning it all. But despite such international star power, Cuban often remained the face of the rejuvenated franchise, what with his track record of oncourt histrionics that often drew the ire of late NBA Commissioner David Stern (a titanic Jewish sports figure), not to mention a yearslong string of hefty fines.

Even following the impending transaction, Cuban, who in addition to being a reality television star has recently founded a company aiming to lower the costs of prescription drugs, will still cast a long shadow over the franchise. Currently, he owns approximately three-quarters of the Mavericks, with the remainder possessed by a handful of minority owners.

Per a recent New York Times report, following the expected sale, Cuban will own roughly a quarter, and the Adelson and Dumont families approximately threequarters, with the rest spread among a passel of minority owners.

Belying his typical loquacious man-

ner and accessible persona, Cuban refrained from speaking on the record following reports of the Mavericks sale; meanwhile, the Adelson and Dumont families, mindful of the multifaceted NBA approval process for an ownership change, did not comment beyond the aforementioned statement.

In addition to building the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, Miriam’s late husband Sheldon developed several other casino resorts in Singapore and Macao. Aside from his business ventures, Sheldon Adelson, along with Miriam, were known for being prominent Republican benefactors who contributed significantly to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign as well as ardent supporters of Israel and Jewish campaigns. They have reportedly donated close to $500 million to Birthright Israel over the past couple decades.

Miriam was born in Israel and has made noteworthy philanthropic contributions toward initiatives to improve Jewish relations in America.

If this deal is approved, which could happen before New Year’s but is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and approval of the NBA Board of Governors, Adelson would become only the third woman to be the principal owner of an NBA franchise at this hour,

joining Los Angeles Lakers’ Jeanie Buss and New Orleans Pelicans’ Gayle Benson.

Jody Allen operates the Portland Trail Blazers as chairwoman of the Paul G. Allen Trust.

Regarding Cuban’s future endeavors, there was speculation that selling his majority stake in the Mavericks was a sign that he was gearing up for a presidential bid, which he seriously considered in the last election cycle. While that does not appear to be the case – based on his recent statement to NBC News – it is quite possible that Cuban, in addition to wanting to spend more time with his three teenage children, may pursue a new business endeavor that he mentioned last year: partnering with the Sands Corporation to construct a new Mavericks home arena in downtown Dallas that would double as a casino resort, should Texas legalize gambling.

But in addition to betting still being outlawed in Texas, other significant headwinds to that plan include land acquisition, obtaining financing when interest rates remain sky-high and getting construction approvals.

To date, however, Cuban has not made any public comments about his motivations for recently selling the Mavericks. ì

SPORTS

Retzlaff is 1st Jewish QB at Mormon Institution

BYU junior transfer Jake Retzlaff is a legit dual-threat quarterback with the ability to pick apart secondaries and pick up first downs with his feet // Photo Credit: BYU Athletics

By David Ostrowsky This past autumn was a season of firsts for the Brigham Young University football team.

After decades of playing in lessregarded conferences as well as an independent, 2023 marked the first season the school competed in the vaunted Big 12 conference.

It was also the first season that BYU, the country’s preeminent higher education institution of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, had a Jewish quarterback. It was, in fact, during a Nov. 4 game at West Virginia that junior transfer Jake Retzlaff made college football history when he started under center for the Cougars.

While the game’s outcome (37-7 loss to WVU) may have been forgettable, that a Jewish student-athlete was assuming such a prominent role for BYU – a school where the overwhelming majority of students are Mormon, and no more than a handful identify as Jewish – was a momentous development.

“It’s incredible,” Retzlaff remarked to the AJT about being a trailblazer at America’s flagship Mormon university.

“It’s pretty awesome to be able to represent religion at this high of a level and this big of a stage, nationally.”

Even before he got the starting nod against West Virginia (it was a solid debut as the school’s new QB finished 24-42 for 210 yards), Retzlaff’s ascension to the BYU active roster following two years of football at community colleges (first Golden West, then Riverside City College) created serious buzz on the school’s picturesque, mountainous campus in Provo, Utah.

For some BYU students and football players, being classmates and teammates with Retzlaff was their first-ever exposure to Judaism. Naturally, the school’s athletic department wanted to parlay this oncein-a-lifetime situation into a prime learning experience, so back on Oct. 3 during Sukkot, it arranged for a kosher food truck to provide a festive team meal in honor of the holiday. This was also a first for BYU football.

“It is significant being a Jewish football player,” acknowledged Retzlaff, who had a bar mitzvah last decade and counts Chanukah as one of his favorite holidays.

“Every team I played on growing up, I was the only Jewish kid on the team. The only difference [in playing at BYU] is that religion is emphasized. I’ve had team prayers before games while growing up. When a coach or player or anybody says a prayer, I like to use that prayer as it is mine. I take part in that. Obviously, when they get to ‘in Jesus’s name’ is kind of where I stray off a little bit. But other than that, I take all those words to heart, and I embrace all the meaning in those words.”

After a sophomore season at Riverside City College in which he put up eye-popping numbers (4,596 yards and 44 touchdowns), the gunslinging quarterback was drawing serious attention from big-time programs. BYU, bracing for its inaugural season as a Power Five school, simply offered him the most realistic opportunity to play meaningful minutes.

That it was a Mormon-based institution factored very little into the equation.

“I didn’t really have much expectations to be honest with you,” said Retzlaff.

“I knew that it was going to be different, coming into a religious institution that

There were many fascinating Jewish athletic storylines in 2023, but perhaps none bigger than Jake Retzlaff emerging as BYU’s first-ever Jewish QB // Photo Credit: BYU Athletics

BYU is. It’s been incredibly surprising, and it’s been incredible how supportive everybody is around here of me and my religion. Because they are so religious themselves, they respect me and my religion. It’s a pretty awesome thing.

“The transition was definitely something, but it wasn’t too crazy. The transition is more being at a religious school versus being the only Jew.” Meanwhile, there was the other transition – leapfrogging from community college to the Big 12. Looking back now, nearly a year after committing to BYU, the most trying time was last spring when he had to adjust to new teammates and a fresh playbook while dealing with tonsillitis that required multiple surgeries.

“It was brutal, nothing went right,” admitted Retzlaff. “It was really tough to deal with. The most annoying part was that I was at football practice and not being able to participate at all.”

When Retzlaff got off the pine and participated in game action for the first time as a BYU Cougar, there was a month full of games remaining, all against the iron of the conference: West Virginia, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State.

A far cry from junior college competition, indeed.

“Obviously it didn’t help being on the sideline all year, but I was still locked in all year and still ready to go at any moment,” added Retzlaff, whose best afternoon came against the Oklahoma Sooners when he threw for a pair of touchdowns in a slim 31-24 loss to the perennial Big 12 juggernauts. “I was always one snap away from being in.”

From a purely football perspective, being the starting quarterback at BYU

means playing the same position that was once assumed by NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young when he was a BYU Cougar back in the early 1980s. This connection wasn’t lost on Retzlaff when he was weighing his options a year ago.

“It’s pretty incredible,” said Retzlaff, who hasn’t yet had the chance to meet Young but whose mother and aunt did run into the school’s most recognizable alum when they were on campus earlier this fall. “Obviously, a legend of the game, on top of being a legend of BYU. That’s part of the reason that I came here. It wasn’t just that the quarterback history was recent, but it was historic within this program.”

As Retzlaff showed signs of being a serviceable game manager down the stretch for a BYU team that finished 5-7 in its first season of Big 12 competition, the redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining is in the running for being the Cougars’ starting quarterback for 2024 and 2025 – something the coaching staff had envisioned when they recruited him out of community college.

Retzlaff, however, has even grander visions.

“I’m just excited to go compete in this conference for two more years and after that hopefully play well enough to get a shot at the league [NFL],” he explained.

When asked to put that goal in the context of his current team’s situation, Retzlaff responded, “my focus is on getting better now and preparing for next year. We had a little baptism in Big 12 football this year,” before pausing for a split-second and acknowledging that the latter stadium is “ironic coming from a Jew.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 21

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22 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

OPINION The Year Ends. The Scars Remain.

I have this moment every day, often in the early morning when the dogs take us out for a walk.

The sun could be shining, or the sky could Dave Schechter be clouded over.

From Where I Sit The air might feel warm with a light breeze or cold, damp, and blustery.

My inner monologue goes like this: Good morning, world. I’m still here.

It started the morning following my return home from the hospital in late April after suffering a heart attack.

The first day back I shuffled around the house and went back to bed. On the second day, I walked to the end of the driveway and back, with an escort — just in case.

With each successive day I walked farther, down the hill to the corner, then halfway around the block, and then a big achievement, all the way around the block. The latter included walking up an incline, which at first, I could not do without stopping. As the weeks went by, hills became easier and one block became two, and then three.

Eventually, I was allowed to walk without an escort.

The routine was pretty much the same with swimming. I began by walking in the pool. Then I mixed walking with swimming, building one length at a time, until I was able to measure my swimming by yardage.

After robotic bypass surgery in June, I had to start the process over again, walking to the end of the driveway, etc.

In early May I wrote a column titled “My Heart Attack Has a Nickname,” after which I didn’t write again for nearly two months, lacking the mental stamina (writing is work). I resumed the column at the end of June, with “As I Was Saying.”

The heart issues also forced me to hit pause on reviewing edits for a book I am self-publishing. That delay meant that I would not have a copy in my hands by the end of this year, as I had hoped. I am eager to achieve that milestone (after dragging the story along with me for 30 years) and move on to other projects.

The heart attack, surgery, and recovery dominated the middle five months of the year.

A few days after the heart attack, from my bed at Emory University Hospital, I wondered aloud whether I would be able travel to Maine and paddle a kayak on the lake by the

family cabin in the woods — and if I couldn’t, what was the point?

An irritated young cardiologist bluntly rebuked me. That should not be your concern, he said in no uncertain terms. You are lucky to be alive.

His words stayed with me when we traveled to Maine in late August. That first kayak outing was a “shecheyanu moment,” as I wrote in this space afterward.

In late September, we finally took the trip to Barcelona that we were forced to cancel in March 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. My column for the AJT’s Oct. 15 edition was to have been about the medieval Jewish quarter in the Spanish city of Girona.

Then came Oct. 7 and the Hamas-led terror attacks in Southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

Needless to say, I pulled the Girona column, which would have been out place.

Two days after the terror attacks, I learned that my extended family in Israel had suffered particularly hard. A dozen people on my family tree — people I did not know — were missing in the immediate aftermath.

They were descended from or related by marriage to descendants of my great-grandfather’s twin brother, who emigrated in 1882 from Romania and helped found what today is the Israeli town of Zichron Yaakov.

A mother and daughter kidnapped by Hamas were released relatively early in the hostage drama. The bodies of three elders, murdered on Oct. 7, were buried even as seven other family members were held hostage in Gaza. As I write this, a 38-year-old man remains a captive. His wife, two children, and mother-in-law were released on Nov. 26, along with his slain father-in-law’s sister and her daughter.

The only ray of sunshine in this darkness has been newfound contact with several cousins — highlighted by the extraordinary coincidence of meeting two who came to Atlanta as part of a delegation of hostage family representatives.

When this ordeal is over, if there is a family gathering in Israel — similar to one my wife and I attended many years ago — I hope to be there.

For now, the physical reminders of this year are visible when I take off my shirt and see in the mirror the still-healing scars on my chest from the robotic bypass.

As for the psychic scars, I never was one to have a regular gratitude practice — but now I have that daily moment.

Good morning world. I’m still here. ì

OPINION

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

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

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

Letter to the editor,

Amid raging battle, as explosions intensely light up the sky in Gaza, a disturbing anti-Semitic war continues to heat up around the world. Protest rallies supporting anti-Semitism and terrorist ideologies have spread across many college campuses and elsewhere, exposing a hazardous and clueless population.

An unfathomably dangerous Middle East situation of enormous concern, this wildly barbaric bloody invasion by Hamas terrorists that began on Oct. 7, resulted in horrendous torture and slaughtering of countless innocent victims. Along with incredibly cruel acts of violence, death and destruction, Hamas must be held accountable for at least two hundred people abducted and held as hostages.

Evil strategic activities set forth by other foes of Israel as well, particularly Lebanese Hezbollah militants, add to these complexities on multiple fronts. A network of terrorist proxies by Iran, built up since 1979, continues to infect the region.

The Donald Trump administration, according to U.S. Ambassador and State Department Counterterrorism Coordinator Nathan Sales, “has been relentless in its use of sanctions tools to increase pressure on the Iranian regime, not only for its support of terrorism around the world, but for its manifest human rights violations at home.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be highly commended for his strong inspirational leadership in these extremely difficult times. He recently asserted, “We have to win to protect Israel. We have to win to safeguard the Middle East.

We have to win for the sake of the civilized world... If we don’t win now, then Europe is next and you’re next. And we have to win.”

God bless the Israel Defense Forces. My prayers are for the safety of all innocent victims and for Israel’s survival into the future.

David L. Kaliner Las Vegas, Nev.

Letter to the editor,

Jewish Atlanta’s Big Tent closed to Anti-Israel Left – Dec. 15 If a group of people want to burn down the tent, do you let them in? The name “Jewish Voices for Peace” is at odds with its rationalizing violent attacks on Israelis and calling for the end of Israel.

Judging by the number of young people at the massive pro-Israel rally in Washington in November, support for Israel is strong. Moreover, the antisemitism since Oct. 7, not least on campuses, has encouraged many young Jews to affirm their identity.

Compare Israel to its neighbors. To the northeast is Syria, where the Assad regime has killed over 500,000 people in the ongoing civil war. To the north lies Lebanon, with its economy and government shattered by Hezbollah’s stranglehold. To the south lies dictatorial Egypt. To the east lies the authoritarian monarchy of Jordan, and the oppressive corrupt Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. And then there is Hamas run Gaza. Why replace Israel with a copy of these? Nor would a one state solution work, given that Palestinians favor genocidal groups like Hamas.

Israel is far freer than any of its neighbors. Its Arab minority is well represented in medicine. Problems on the West Bank stem largely from Palestinian rejection of every peace process. The civilian casualty count in the latest war that Hamas started, is less than in recent wars in Yemen, Tigray, and the Ukraine.

Doron Lubinsky, Atlanta

Letter to the editor,

Jewish Atlanta’s Big Tent Closed to Anti-Israel Left – Dec. 15, 2023 This article uses the terms “anti-Israel” and “anti-Zionist” interchangeably. However, they do not have precisely the same meaning and the differences provide insight into the question of which groups should be excluded from our Big Tent and which should be welcomed in.

Many Haredi (fervently Orthodox) Jews do not recognize the authority of the secular Israeli government. Yet, Haredi Jews live in Israel and acknowledge that the modern State of Israel sits in the Jews’ ancestral homeland. While many secular Israelis resent the fact that Haredi men generally do not serve in the IDF, the Haredim, nonetheless, do contribute to the well-being of their fellow Israelis. When my daughter was being treated in an Israeli hospital some years ago, I saw Haredi women providing visitors with sandwiches and Haredi men arranging for prayer services attended by patients and their visitors. Uri Lupolianski, a Haredi Jew, founded Yad Sarah, an organization which lends out medical equipment and supplies a variety of services to the sick, elderly, and lonely (regardless of their religious affiliation or level of observance). Following the Oct. 7 attack there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Haredi men volunteering for military service explaining that; while Torah study exempts them in quiet times, they are required to fight when Israel’s people face an existential threat. These anti-Zionists deserve a place in our Big Tent.

In contrast, the members of Jewish Voices for Peace and If Not Now, although often labelled “Pro-Palestinian” are, in fact, “anti-Israel.” Dave Schechter mentions JVP’s support for “the Palestinian freedom struggle.” But anyone who has followed the actions of the Palestinian leaders since the Oslo process began thirty years ago should recognize that the Palestinians are not working to build a State in which the people can become productive citizens. All their efforts have been focused on attempts to delegitimize and dismantle the nation-state of the Jews.

IfNotNow calls for an end to “Israel’s apartheid system” and demands equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis, ignoring the fact that Israeli Arabs have full civil rights (including the right to vote and serve in the Knesset and on Israeli courts, the right to volunteer for service in the IDF, the right to receive and render medical care in Israeli hospitals, and the right to study and teach in Israeli schools). IfNotNow also ignores the fact that, in signing the Oslo Accords, Israel did what no Arab country had ever done for the Arabs of Palestine, affording them the opportunity to live under the administration of leaders of their own choosing.

The problem – those leaders have enriched themselves on monies donated for the people’s benefit; taught their people to hate Jews, incited them to kill Jews, honoring and rewarding those who answer the call; and flatly rejected multiple Israeli and U.S. proposals aimed at ending the conflict. As anti-Israel groups, JVP and IfNotNow do not deserve a place in our Big Tent.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

Letter to the editor,

Jewish Atlanta’s Big Tent Closed to Anti-Israel Left – Dec. 15, 2023 We Jews who follow current events are aware of the multiple viewpoints that Jewish people have regarding religiosity, politics, the Jewish experience, and attitudes about Israel and its existence. Living in a country in which we are such a small minority, many feel uneasy when Jewish issues arise prominently in the news. I feel that the younger generation have a poor grasp of the history of the Jewish people and what led to the establishment of the State of Israel. Rabbi Richard Baroff’s article about some of the pogroms which decimated communities throughout history would be instructive to these individuals.

Obviously, we have a number of young Jews who are poorly lacking in their knowledge about Israel and what its existence means to the Jewish people. Unfortunately, they are fed left wing ideology in academia which can be instrumental in formulating opinions. The settler colonialism argument is nothing but a rehashing of Marxist theory which has always been a staple of these leftist ideologues. It is upsetting that many of these Jews could not condemn the rape, murder, and torture perpetuated by the Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. What does this tell you about their sense of decency and morality? These individuals who purport to be concerned about human life and suffering are complicit in Hamas’ wish to destroy all Jews. They belong in Hamas’ tent not ours.

Gilbert Ludwig, Alpharetta

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 23

YEAR IN REVIEW

2023 Year in Review January

AJFF Returned to Theaters Students Visit Polish in 2023 Death Camps

The Meor students stand at the entrance to Auschwitz.

The 2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival will run from Feb. 13 to Feb. 26.

After relying on virtual viewings during COVID and the ensuing quarantine, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in 2023 returned to theaters, holding engagements at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and four other venues.

In an interview with the AJT in January, AJFF artistic director and executive director Kenny Blank said, “First and foremost, we do want to return back to the original magic by being back in theaters. We’re really putting the priority on that in-theater experience. There is no replacement for watching these films on the big screen the way they were intended to be seen. We want to give our audience an important opportunity to dialog around those films, with other festival goers, and also with the film artists that we’ll be welcoming right there in the theater with them.”

24 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

And the 2024 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is right around the corner, as it will run from Feb. 13 to Feb. 26, with select titles available to stream Feb. 27 to March 27.

This year, the festival showings will be held at the following locations: Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center, Tara Theatre, The Historic Plaza Theatre, Georgia Theatre Company Merchants Walk, and Springs Cinema & Taphouse.

Early access ticket packages are available through Jan. 5, 2024. Member pre-sales begin Jan. 17, 2024. Reserved seating selection commences Jan. 29, 2024.; and tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan. 31, 2024.

The AJT is a presenting sponsor of the 2024 AJFF. Full details of this year’s festival can be found at www.ajff.org.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Earlier this year, the Emory University group, Meor, organized an enrichment trip to Poland for a group of college students hailing from several campuses.

Rabbi Yaakov Fleshel, one of Emory’s Jewish chaplains and director of Meor, the Jewish leadership training program, led the group. Fleshel had led groups of students to Poland eight times with Meor, which is Hebrew for “enlightenment.” This year’s tour group included students from Emory, the University of Pennsylvania, and Boston University.

Along with the historical/educational aspect of the trip, students emotionally felt the reality and consequences of unchecked antisemitism, and they continued to process their experiences during the trip.

Meor works in partnership with the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, and the trip was also heavily subsidized by a number of Jewish philanthropists and past partici-

pants, many whose lives have been impacted by a Meor Poland trip. The group always traveled with full security.

Launched in 2005, Meor’s unique brand of Jewish leadership training, sophisticated text-based study, and experiential education programming highlight the importance of Jewish values, identity, and participation in community. In more than 15 years, Meor has impacted more than 18,000 undergraduate students, encouraging them to connect with Judaism on their own terms and in their own time.

In 2016, Meor established postuniversity programming to ensure that its alumni would have a sustained Jewish framework for continued growth as young Jewish professionals. Now, in its second decade, Meor continues to relate to young Jewish leaders who seek community and continuity.

Compiled by AJT Staff

February

YEAR IN REVIEW

‘Repulsive’ Antisemitic Flyers in Metro Atlanta

By Dave Schechter On the morning of Feb. 6, even before the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, a stern-sounding speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives addressed what he termed “a repulsive incident” over the weekend — the distribution of antisemitic flyers in the driveways of homes in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.

“Saturday night, under the cover of darkness, communities in north Fulton County were visited by an old enemy: hatred,” Republican Rep. Jon Burns said.

“I know all of you join with me in taking such actions very seriously…We pause this morning to reiterate that hate has no place in Georgia,” prompting the chamber to rise in applause.

Without mentioning her name, Burns said that one of the driveways “littered with this garbage” was that of a member of the House. Jewish Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch posted on Twitter (now “X”) that her husband found three plastic bags with differently worded flyers in the driveway when he went outside Sunday morning to bring in the newspaper.

“Welcome to being a Jew in Georgia-my driveway this morning. @SandySprings_PD came and took for testing.

Govern yourselves accordingly, GDL and Anti-Semites who seek to harm/intimidate Jews in Georgia. I’m coming for you

with the weight of the State behind me,” Panitch posted.

At the time, the House Judiciary Committee was considering legislation that would adopt a formal definition of antisemitism and “require state agencies and departments to consider such definition when determining whether an alleged act was motivated by discriminatory antisemitic intent.” [The legislation did not receive the necessary floor votes in 2023 but is expected to be on the 2024 General Assembly calendar.]

Police in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs investigated the flyers, which were placed in baggies, weighed down with corn kernels, and flung into driveways in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday.

Panitch, who is a criminal defense attorney, said that distribution of the flyers may violate statutes on trespassing and littering, depending on the municipal code in individual cities.

The homes reporting finding the flyers included residences near the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and Congregation Ariel, which is located on Tilly Mill Road.

The flyers are similar to those distributed previously elsewhere in the Atlanta area, in Georgia, and throughout the nation by a group calling itself the Goyim Defense League. In previous months, similar flyers have appeared in Cobb, Bartow, Muscogee, and Paulding

The Goyim Defense League once again distributed antisemitic flyers in Atlanta, this time targeting homes in Dunwoody and Sandy Springs.

counties.

The Anti-Defamation League describes the Goyim Defense League as “a loose network of individuals connected by their virulent antisemitism.”

Among the messages on the flyers was “Every Single Aspect Of The Jewish Talmud Is Satanic.” Another stated: “We disavow violence. This is not intimidation. This is a PSA about a Jewish mafia that has hijacked our country!” Another claimed: “ADL. Established in 1913 to protect Jewish child murderers and pedophiles.”

Eytan Davidson, regional director for ADL Southeast, said in a statement: “Flyers like the ones discovered early Sunday morning aren’t meant to target individuals; rather they are meant to intimidate and scare entire communities. Those who distribute such hate-

ful filth may be exercising their right to free speech, but that doesn’t mean law enforcement can’t and won’t investigate these actions and the people and groups behind them. It’s important for officials to speak out forcefully when hatred like this crops up so community members and neighbors know they aren’t alone.”

Later in the Monday session, a visibly upset Panitch, flanked by several of her colleagues, addressed the House chamber. “This weekend, it was my turn to be targeted. Unfortunately, it’s not the first time to be afraid as a Jew in the United States,” she said. “The flyers we received demonized Jews, Judaism, and Jewish culture. They’re filled with the classic antisemitic tropes about Jewish power and control. They came from a group famous for their outright antisemitic lies and Holocaust denial.”

Orthodox Jewish Woman Rabbi Makes History

By Dave Schechter History was made Feb. 1 as the opening prayer in the Georgia House of Representatives was delivered by Darshanit Miriam Udel, an Orthodox rabbi and professor at Emory University.

Udel was introduced by Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, who greeted the chamber with the words “Shalom, y’all,” not once, but twice.

Panitch said, to applause from the chamber, that, insofar as could be determined, Udel was the first Jewish female rabbi of any denomination to lead the House in prayer.

Udel is one of the first Orthodox Jewish women ordained, choosing the title, Darshanit, meaning “interpreter of

Darshanit Miriam Udel (left) and Georgia Rep. Esther Panitch after Udel delivered the morning prayer in the Georgia House of Representatives.

text.” She is the Judith London Evans director of the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies and associate professor of Yiddish Language, Literature, and Culture.

Udel recognized “a little bit of history that we are making here today” as she began her remarks, a davar based on the coming Shabbat’s Torah portion, “Shab-

bat Shirah,” the Sabbath of song.

Video of Panitch's intro and Udel speaking can be found near the beginning at this link: www.legis.ga.gov/video/house.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 25

YEAR IN REVIEW

March Jewish Activists Oppose ‘Cop City’ Construction

By Dave Schechter Protests and legal procedures related to the planned Atlanta Public Safety Center — derisively referred to opponents as “Cop City” — will continue in 2024.

Within the protest movement is a small cohort of Jewish young adults, who feel religiously, politically, and ideologically apart from Atlanta’s mainstream Jewish community.

The controversial project calls for construction of an 85-acre, $90 million police and fire training center, on 300 acres that the City of Atlanta owns across the city line in DeKalb County. The area in question is bordered by Key Road SE, Bouldercrest Road, and Constitution Road SE. One major theme of protest has been the militarization of police, that the training site will teach “urban warfare” tactics that will be employed against minority communities and to train police from be-

yond Georgia. Conservation groups contend that development will degrade the tree canopy in Atlanta — sometimes called “the city in the woods.” Residents in the heavily minority neighborhoods worry about flooding in low-lying areas.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has called the city’s existing training facilities “woefully insufficient.” The new facility would serve the police and fire departments, the 911 call center, and K-9 units.

Plans call for a shooting range, a “mock city” and a “burn building,” with the remainder of the acreage developed for recreation use.

The protesters call the woods “Weelaunee,” meaning “brown water” in the language of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe, for whom the South River Forest was home until about 200 years ago. After being displaced by white settlers, the tribe was forced west, to what the federal government called the “Indian territory” in Oklahoma.

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A banner strung between the trees near the planned site of Atlanta’s police training facility.

The training center land has been, over time, the site of a plantation, a Civil War battlefield, and a city prison farm. Police have used sections as a firing range and for explosives disposal. Tires and other debris have been dumped there illegally.

Protests began soon after the city announced plans in April 2021. The past year saw marches and a music festival, as well as vandalism and clashes with law enforcement officers posted around the construction site.

Media attention grew after Jan. 18, 2023, when a protester camped in the woods adjacent to the construction site was killed during a police “clearing operation.” The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that Manuel Esteban Paez Terбn fired a handgun, wounding a Georgia State Police officer, before being killed by return fire.

An autopsy determined that the 26-year-old known as “Tortuguita” suffered 57 gunshot wounds. The GBI announced in October that no criminal charges would be filed against the state troopers.

More than 60 protesters have been indicted on charges that include violation of the state’s terrorism statute, in an alleged conspiracy to attract “anti-police, antigovernment, and anti-development people from around the country.” The American Civil Liberties Union called the indictments a “breathtakingly broad and unprecedented use of state terrorist, anti-racketeering, and money laundering laws.”

The year ahead also will see continuing legal action surrounding efforts to place a referendum on the proposed training center on the November ballot.

Much of the “Stop Cop City” activity took place in DeKalb County’s 136-acre Intrenchment Creek Park, which draws its name from the creek separating it from City of Atlanta property.

Jewish opponents held religious events in the park. Before it was closed to public access in March, they observed Shabbat

and Havdalah, held High Holy Days services, built and occupied a sukkaht, lighted a menorah during Chanukah, planted trees on Tu B’shvat, and gathered for a Megillah reading on Purim.

Their activities — and anti-Israel politics — rankled some in Atlanta’s mainstream Jewish community. “Despicable” was an adjective used in emails circulated among communal and religious leaders, which also included a statement of support for the training center and a caution to Rabbi Mike Rothbaum, of Congregation Bet Haverim, who led Shabbat services in the woods and participated in other events.

In an article published in March by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Rothbaum said of the protesters: “They’re living Jewish values more legitimately, more sincerely than some of the biggest institutions.”

In an email obtained by the AJT, Jay Kaiman, president of The Marcus Foundation, wrote: “You have created [an] adverse relationship with local law enforcement . . . Think hard about the path you are pursuing as a leader of the Jewish community.

Anyone of these law enforcement officers would take their lives to protect you.”

Two Jewish activists, Ayeola Omolara Kaplan and Adam Brunell — “a queer Black woman [and] a white agender person” — published an article on the online site, Atmos, titled, “Why Cop City Goes Against Jewish Values.”

They wrote: “For many Jewish Atlantans like ourselves, our Judaism is deeply tied to the effort to defend the forest from Cop City — and the interlocking issues it raises: climate justice, police militarization and violence, nature conservation, and racial justice . . . As Jews, we have stood in solidarity with the Black community in Atlanta before. It is now time for us to do so again. This is not just a question of Jews standing in solidarity with another community. It’s also about Jewish people standing up for each other: Black Jews are impacted by this, too.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

Antisemitism Definition Debate to Resume in 2024

Josh Pastner Enjoying Time Away From Court

Georgia General Assembly had a long day on March 29, 2023, when they failed to adopt the antisemitism definition.

By Dave Schechter When the Georgia General Assembly convenes in January for its 2024 session, proponents of legislation to define antisemitism will try for a third time, their efforts the two previous years having fallen short.

The goal — a 2023 legislative priority of Jewish Atlanta’s major communal organizations — was to place into Georgia’s legal code a reference to the “working definition” of antisemitism created in 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. An estimated 1,100-plus bodies worldwide — including more than two dozen U.S. states — have, in varying ways, adopted or endorsed the definition.

The IHRA definition reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The debate came as antisemitic flyers were being thrown onto the driveways and lawns in several area counties — including the north Fulton County home of Jewish Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, the bill’s leading proponent.

The legislation would have made the IHRA definition the standard for determining whether antisemitism was the motive for an act of discrimination or a criminal offense. Supporters said that the definition would aid prosecutors as they considered whether to apply Georgia’s hate crimes law, with its enhanced sentencing for bias-related offenses.

Opponents shared Jewish intramural arguments about defining antisemitism, and legislators heard concerns — rejected by the bill’s backers — that the measure could be used to curb free speech, particularly concerning Israel.

The House passed a bill that was amended by a Senate committee. The amended bill needed approval by the full Senate and then, per legislative procedure, by the full House. The measure died on the Senate floor without a vote.

The outcome peeved supporters, who claimed the backing of 90 percent of the state’s Jewish population.

“It was devastating to watch the Georgia Senate, for the second year in a row, ignore the cries of Georgia’s Jewish community for help amid escalating antisemitism,” Panitch, a co-sponsor, told the AJT. The 2024 debate will be framed by public displays of antisemitism that followed Israel’s retaliation against Hamas in Gaza after the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Former Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Josh Pastner has enjoyed the last year spent away from the sidelines.

By David Ostrowsky On March 10, the Atlanta Jewish community received some disappointing – though not shocking – news when it was announced that the Georgia Tech men’s basketball team was parting ways with popular head coach Josh Pastner. In seven years coaching the Yellow Jackets, Pastner compiled a 109-114 record, which included a 53-78 mark in ACC play.

Speaking to the Atlanta Jewish Times a couple days after he was dismissed from his post, Pastner remarked: “I was extremely blessed to be able to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Georgia Tech for seven years. We had a lot of success and accomplished things that hadn’t been done in decades. I loved every second being the head coach.”

Since last spring, the 46-year-old has maintained a very active media presence by being a regular on “The Field of 68 After Dark” college basketball podcast (also simulcast on Sirius XM) and making guest appearances on ESPN radio, FOX sports radio, and cbsnews.com. He has also done some public speaking engagements, including at the National Association of Basketball Coaches Championship Basketball Clinic in Atlanta back in May. It remains to be seen whether Pastner, who’s spent 14 years as an NCAA Division I head men’s basketball coach, will patrol the sidelines again.

Georgia Tech, meanwhile, under new head coach Damon Stoudamire, has only lost one game at home thus far and remains in the middle of the pack of the ACC standings.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 27

YEAR IN REVIEW

April

Antisemitism Bill Fails in Georgia Again

Atlanta Remembers the Holocaust

(From left) Attorney Mark Goldfeder, Marietta Republican Rep. John Carson, and Sandy Springs Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch at a Georgia House Judiciary Committee meeting earlier this year.

On the last day of its 2023 session — and for the second consecutive year — a bill to define antisemitism failed to clear the Georgia General Assembly.

The legislature adjourned without the necessary votes on the Senate and House floors to send the bill to Gov. Brian Kemp.

Incorporating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition in the state’s legal code had been a legislative priority of Jewish Atlanta’s major communal organizations.

The political machinations began in the House but died in the Senate. The House passed a bill that was amended by a Senate committee. The amended bill needed approval by the full Senate and then, per legislative procedure, by the House. But that didn’t happen, leaving supporters — who claimed the backing of 90 percent of Georgia’s Jewish population — upset.

“It was devastating to watch the Georgia Senate, for the second year in a row, ignore the cries of Georgia’s Jewish community for help amid escalating antisemitism,” Jewish Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch, a co-sponsor, told the AJT. “I thank the House, including Speaker [Jon] Burns, Majority Leader [Chuck] Efstration, and lead sponsor John Carson for 28 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

understanding that a safe Jewish community is a safer Georgia — and I question the leadership of those who can’t or won’t see it.”

The IHRA definition reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The House bill included the language of the IHRA definition. The Senate’s version included only a reference to the definition, not its text.

The legislation would have made the IHRA definition the standard for determining whether antisemitism was the motive for an act of discrimination or a criminal offense. Supporters said that the definition would aid prosecutors as they considered whether to apply Georgia’s hate crimes law, with its enhanced sentencing for bias-related offenses.

The Georgia General Assembly returns to session on Jan. 8, 2024, where it will once again take up consideration of the antisemitism bill.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Individual sunflowers, a sign of hope, were left on the Greenwood Cemetery Memorial during the 58th annual remembrance service.

The 58th annual service of Holocaust remembrance at Greenwood Cemetery on April 16 was a multi-generational observance. Speakers included Sen. Jon Ossoff and Ilse Eichner Reiner, a 93-yearold survivor of the Holocaust.

Speaking before the roughly hewn stones of the Memorial to the Six Million that has been built in the cemetery, Ossoff renewed his commitment to remain alert in these challenging times.

“The rising tide of antisemitism and hate demonstrates just how far we have to go and how we must be ever vigilant and always prepared,” Ossoff said. “And so, among the members of both parties and in both houses of Congress who led the Joint Task Force on antisemitism, I will remain vigilant and committed on behalf of Jews in Georgia and across the country and around the world.”

Children, particularly the direct descendants of Holocaust survivors, were involved in the service. Eleven children,

each carrying a large sunflower, placed the flowers on the outsized concrete slab at the memorial, as a sign of hope for the future.

Reiner, who mentioned that she was frequently bewildered as a young person surrounded by such enormous evil, credits her inherent optimism for helping her to survive.

“What helped me to get through all this was hope. And I would say to everyone, ‘you must never, never, ever give up hope. Because without that, you are doomed.’ And I didn’t say, ‘if I survive, I’ll do this or that.’ I would say ‘when I survive. I always thought of happier times in my life.’ In my case, I was uplifted a lot by my Jewish faith and by my Jewish memories.”

The 59th annual memorial service is set for 11 a.m., Monday, May 5, 2024, at Greenwood Cemetery. For more information, visit www.atlantajewishconnector. com/events/59th-annual-communityyom-hashoah-service-of-remembrance/

May

YEAR IN REVIEW

Midtown Shooting Affects Jewish Atlanta On May 3, a tragic scene unfolded as mass shooting took place in the offices of Dr. Scott Kleber, a Jewish internist.

One person in Kleber’s office was killed while four others were injured.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office identified the deceased victim as 38-year-old Amy St. Pierre, an employee at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The other shooting victims were identified by authorities as Lisa Glynn, Georgette Whitlow, Alesha Hollinger, and Jazzmin Daniel – all women. The police say Glynn was shot in the abdomen, while Whitlow was shot in the arm and Hollinger was shot in the face.

Atlanta Chief of Police Darin Schierbaum identified the shooter as Deion Patterson, 24. According to news reports,

his mother had taken him to a doctor at Northside Midtown to try to obtain a prescription for a drug to handle his anxiety. He had been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard until earlier this year and had previously sought care through Veterans Affairs.

The shooting victims ranged in age from 25 to 71. Northside Medical Midtown officially reopened on May 8, while the Laureate Medical Group offices reopened soon after. According to Northside Hospital, two of the shooting victims were Northside employees who work at the Laureate Medical Group.

The Northside Hospital Foundation has established a fund to support those affected by the shooting.

This screenshot, taken from a CNN telecast and posted to Twitter, shows the crime scene outside of Dr. Scott Kleber’s medical office in Midtown.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Dignitaries Join Community to Celebrate Israel’s 75th On April 26, Gov. Brian Kemp and a “who’s who” packed crowd came to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary, Atlanta style, at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Ever gracious, global speaker and CNN producer Nadia Bilchik walked through the lively program of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Consul General of Israel to the Southeast, Anat Sultan-Dadon, Governor Kemp, performances by The Epstein School and The Davis Academy school choirs, Luma Dance Company, Lapidus & Myles, and Yinon Sahar & Chen Cohen Exit 10 Atlanta.

Bilchik spoke of the diversity of the crowd as a testament to Israel’s broad base of support. In between, the Light for Israel Awards were presented to Georgia State Sen. Tonya Anderson, Gov. Brian P. Kemp, Krystal Bracy, Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., Dr. Robbie Friedmann, Darius Jones, Michael A. Morris, Doug Ross, Samantha Strelzer, and Helen Zalik.

Videos from dignitaries who were unable to attend were presented, including Sen. Jon Ossoff, Sen. Raphael Warnock, and Mayor Andre Dickens.

Keynote speaker Kemp, with wife, Marty, was generous early on with his time chatting and posing for photos with

An estimated 800 guests attended the Israel at 75 celebration at The Woodruff Arts Center.

admirers. His formal remarks extolled the state’s unwavering support of Israel

with $1.2 billion in trade between Georgia and Israel, while exports increased

213 percent over 20 years.

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 29

YEAR IN REVIEW

June Neo-Nazis Spew Hatred Outside Cobb Synagogue On a warm Shabbat afternoon, June 24, a handful of extremists carrying swastika flags and hateful messages against Jews, paraded in front of Chabad of Cobb on Lower Roswell Road. Cobb County Police stood between the hate mongers and the synagogue where congregants were enjoying afternoon Shabbat services.

The night before, the same group of extremists protested outside Temple Beth Israel in downtown Macon, even using a bullhorn. The next day, hundreds of people congregated outside the Temple to stand against antisemitism.

They gathered across the street during the “rally” of extremists, taking photographs and videos and yelling at the handful of right-wingers standing in front of Chabad of Cobb.

Chabad of Cobb Rabbi Ephraim Silverman said, “We are extremely apprecia-

tive and thankful for the outpouring of support and concern from all segments of the community. We have been in communication with Cobb County officials, who have identified these individuals as part of a small group that travel around the country in order to spread their hateful message. Their goal is to provoke the Jewish community into helping them spread their message via social media posts etc.”

Indeed, the next day, Chabad of Cobb held an open house for the families of its Camp Gan Izzy, which was scheduled to start Monday, June 26. One camp employee said she was not nervous about going to the synagogue, “just disappointed that antisemitism is still so present in the world we live in today.”

Goyim Defense League protests Chabad of Cobb in Georgia with Nazi flags.

Kemp Tours Israel and Meets Top Leadership

Compiled by AJT Staff

Netflix Matchmaker Connects with Local Fans

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu carved out close to an hour to meet with Gov. Brian Kemp.

At the end of May, Gov. Brian Kemp, his wife, and three daughters headed to Israel with a delegation of Jewish and non-Jewish community leaders, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s distinguished author and political writer Greg Bluestein. Another prominent member of the Jewish community, Emanuel Fialkow, a commercial real estate investor, also joined the group.

Fialkow detailed, “Between meet-

30 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ings with Georgia businesses set by Trade Commissioner Pat Wilson and his team, the delegation enjoyed guided tours of Israel from the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, City of David, Tel Aviv, and Galilee.

Gov. Kemp, along with Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon, visited with Israel’s foreign minister, President Isaac Herzog, and with Netanyahu.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Aleeza Ben Shalom (center) was on stage revealing the panel’s innermost thoughts about finding spouses and empowering the audience to be connectors.

The evening of June 14 delivered an electric crowd of mostly, but not exclusively, young professionals who came to adore, be photographed with, and learn from, arguably the world’s most famous matchmaker, Aleeza Ben Shalom, who has been raking in the accolades from her wildly popular Netflix series, “Jewish Matchmaking.”

Since ticket response was so overwhelming, Chabad Intown's Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman and his Young Jewish Professionals group had to change venues to the Tara Theatre to be able to accommodate the crowd of 450. Atlanta was the final stop of Ben Shalom’s whirlwind 10-city tour.

Compiled by AJT Staff

YEAR IN REVIEW

July

AJT Wins First Place for Best Website

the award categories included divisions based on the publications’ subscription totals, so that publications of relatively equal size can squarely compete against one another. However, the Best Website category included no divisions, as all eligible AJPA publications competed against one another, with the AJT’s website taking first place.

Associate editor and web editor Sasha Heller said, “We challenged ourselves last year to take an already great website and make it better. Now, the challenge is to repeat.”

Heller continued, “Having a viable website in today’s industry is essential for any publication. And it’s one of the reasons the AJT is successful … the website is just one part of our media footprint, along with our print editions, AJT Connector, Jewish Time Michael Morris, AJT owner and publisher, proudly podcasts, newsletters, holds the first-place award for all to see. and social media presence.”

Heller added that he feels the AJT’s

By Sasha Heller site is popular because its sleek, moduThe Atlanta Jewish Times once again lar design is tailored for mobile devices, won Best Website at the American Jewish but the user interface also works well on Press Association conference as part of desktop computers. “It’s the best of both the 42nd annual Simon Rockower Awards worlds and that’s important because ceremony held July 11 at the National roughly half of our website traffic comes from smartphones and tablets and half World War II Museum in New Orleans.

According to the judges’ report: “The from desktop systems.”

AJT freelancers Jan Jaben-Eilon Atlanta Jewish Times has a polished, modern website. It is easy to navigate and Dave Schechter also won personal and follows many principles of good web awards for their local reporting and edidesign. Its social media, newsletter, and torial selections.

Since the Oct. 7 attack of Israel by subscription links are displayed at the top, as they should be. Its latest news sec- Hamas, the AJT has dedicated ample tion includes timestamps, which is im- space on its homepage for featured coverportant for showing that the site is fresh. age of the war, both with locally sourced The events section includes two types of stories and editorials as well daily wire content from the Jewish Telegraphic formats to attract reader interest.”

It’s relevant to note that most of Agency and Times of Israel.

Jewish Braves, Like Team, Look Forward to 2024

Max Fried will enter free agency at the end of the 2024 season.

By David Ostrowsky There were times during the 2023 season when the Atlanta Braves had three Jewish players on their active roster. Perhaps such a scenario will play out again in 2024, but it won’t be with the same trio of Max Fried, Jared Shuster, and Kevin Pillar.

Shuster will not be returning to the Braves this season as he was dealt, along with a handful of other players, to the Chicago White Sox for reliever Aaron Bummer last month. For Shuster, one of the organization’s most highly regarded prospects a year ago and one who got called up to make a couple spot starts in the second half, the move to a pitchingstarved White Sox team that finished with a 61-101 record will likely provide him with more opportunities to live up to his considerable potential. Despite the mounting pitching injuries that derailed one of the best regular seasons in club history, the Braves still have a passel of capable arms and Shuster’s odds of cracking the Opening Day roster (which he did last year) were not particularly great. With Chicago, he could certainly be slotted into the back end of the rotation at the onset of the season.

Pillar came as advertised: a solid veteran clubhouse guy who capably han-

dled left-handed pitching, either as a platoon outfielder or pinch-hitter for starting left fielder Eddie Rosario in the late innings. Coming off a season in which he hit .228 and socked nine homers, the 34-year-old journeyman outfielder, who started in two of Atlanta’s four NLDS games, enters free agency. Given his age and rich injury history, it’s possible that he may have played his last game in the big leagues. But given how popular he was in the Braves’ clubhouse, it’s also certainly possible he returns on a one-year deal or attracts the attention of another ballclub looking to add a veteran presence to their roster.

Barring a blockbuster trade, Max Fried will most definitely be returning to the Braves in 2024, but beyond this season his future in Atlanta remains very much in question. The talented lefty will be 30 when spring training camp opens and is headed into his final year of arbitration before hitting free agency. Generally speaking, players don’t want to deal with the distraction of contract related matters when the games begin, so the window for signing Fried to an extension is closing quickly. There have been recent reports that the Braves and Fried’s camp had engaged in talks about an extension prior to last season, but of course nothing materialized.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 31

YEAR IN REVIEW

Westminster Students Re-Queue for Jewish Culture Trip

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Earlier this year, the AJT reported a riveting story where prominent Jewish alums of The Westminster School sponsored student and teacher/escorts to explore Jewish culture abroad.

This coming January, a cohort of Upper School students from Westminster will once again have the opportunity to explore Jewish culture, antisemitism, and the psychology of hate through a special course built around immersive study and travel to Poland and the Czech Republic.

The course, “Voices of Resilience,” takes place during JanTerm, which is a three-week special session in which all Upper School students study a topic in depth through a single experiential, interdisciplinary course. There are more than 40 courses to choose from, and those that involve international travel, like “Voices of Resilience,” require an application process. For this upcoming trip, a whopping 71 students applied to participate in the course and 19 were accepted, which is the maximum number for the course.

The continued success of the “Voices of Resilience” trip to Poland has inspired another set of Westminster students to embark on the program in January.

“Voices of Resilience” starts with a visit to Atlanta’s Breman Museum in Midtown, where students explore the museum’s exhibits and have the opportunity to talk with a Holocaust survivor.

The travel component of the course takes

the cohort to Washington, D.C., to go to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum before continuing on to Poland and the Czech Republic. From Warsaw to Krakow to Prague, students spend time at a range of historic sites, includ-

ing concentration camps, museums, and synagogues. Hands-on experiences like challah baking lessons, volunteering at the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow, and sharing Shabbat dinner at the Chabad House Prague further immerse the students in local Jewish communities and encourage intercultural dialogue and exchange.

“Although the course syllabus and itinerary of field trips both here and abroad will be largely the same as in the two previous years of Voices of Resilience, the global context has changed drastically,” notes Adam Koplan, director of performing arts at Westminster.

Koplan served as a faculty chaperone for “Voices of Resilience” last year and will accompany the group again in 2024.

He continued, “This trip, so powerful in years past, promises to be all the more so this year given the terrifying rise of antisemitism globally. We hope that we are creating witnesses and activists who will always stand against antisemitism and indeed all forms of hate, with passion and clarity.”

For Teen Actor Sherman, the Shows Go On

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Readers cheered “Bravo” when the AJT shared the accomplishments and aspirations of budding teen actor Jacob Sherman.

Since last spring, Jacob has turned 15 and has been intensely training in musical theater. He performed in “The Prom” at Orbit Arts Academy, directed by Broadway’s Eric Sciotto. Eric will be directing another show this summer, “Mean Girls,” for which Jacob is planning to audition.

The Shermans were delighted that “Prayer for the French Republic,” in which Jacob played the role of Young Pierre, a serious child who had to grow up too soon, won the Suzi Bass Award for Most Outstanding Play in 2023.

The young ingénue was honored to be a part of that important work and said, “Now with what is going on in the world, it is even more relevant and has an even a deeper meaning that will always stay with me.”

Furthermore, that cast is a family on and off the stage. They still stay in touch and support each other. According to dad, Scott Sherman, “It’s pretty magical to see.”

Jacob just auditioned for “42nd

32 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Actor Jacob Sherman (center, pink shirt) is looking forward to roles in 42nd Street and auditioning for “Mean Girls.”

Street,” and secured a spot in that ensemble. In 2024, he plans to hone his dancing and tapping skills while continuing to train in all other aspects of theater.

Dad Scott stated, “Jacob wants to continue training and dreams of spending his life as a performer. He has been lucky to have so many mentors in his life

Jacob Sherman continues his training in theatre arts with the hopes of spending a career in the spotlight.

at a young age. When he isn’t training, he is trying to see all the amazing shows Atlanta provides and make as many trips to Broadway to fill his passion.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

Leven, Radow, and Coles Have Major Impact on KSU

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Propelled in part by philanthropic gifts from Atlanta’s Jewish community, Kennesaw State has grown to be the second largest university in Georgia.

By Bob Bahr Major financial gifts to Kennesaw State University over the years by Michael Coles, Mike Leven, and Norman Radow, have had a major role in the growth of the suburban Atlanta school during the last quarter century.

Coles, who is the honorary namesake of the Kennesaw College of Business Administration, gave the university its first seven-figure contribution in 1994.

Leven, who spent his entire career in hotel management, made a $5 million contribution to expand its School of Management, Entrepreneurship and Hospitality in 2015.

Radow, who made his first contribution to Kennesaw in 1998, played a major role in restructuring the university’s privately financed Kennesaw University Foundation. In 2020, he donated $9 million to Kennesaw College of Humanities and Social Sciences, which set a record for individual giving at the school.

Leven is particularly proud of the fact that many of the students are the first members of their families to attend college. That, and what Leven sees as a strong work ethic and a desire to succeed, is what sets KSU students apart from many elite institutions in the northeast.

“The school always had a very diverse body of kids who loved what they were doing and loved the education they were getting,” Leven observed. “Every kid that I met seemed to enjoy the study, the learning experience, and the environment. And this year, everyone who graduated from my hotel management program had a job waiting for them.”

It’s part of the reason Leven believes that Kennesaw has managed to avoid much of the upheaval and the overt acts of antisemitism on some college campus-

es following the war between Israel and Hamas. The president of the University of Pennsylvania was recently forced to resign following what many perceived to be a lack of support for Jewish students there.

At Harvard University, there is considerable debate over whether the president of that institution, Claudine Gay, who was only recently appointed, should keep her job. A story in the New York Times recently quoted Harvard’s Chabad rabbi as saying that “Jew hate, and antiSemitism is thriving on this campus.”

Statements by university presidents at Cornell and MIT have also called into question their support for the safety and well-being of Jewish students on their campuses.

Radow and his wife, Lindy, had a brush with pro-Palestinian violence when they were swarmed by a mob on Nov. 10 while on a visit to New York. Police had to intervene to escort them to safety.

“As to the rise of antisemitism on campuses, we are devastated to not only see it mushroom in many places, but to witness its institutional acceptance, if not support, at too many colleges,” Radow commented. “We are glad to see Kennesaw State University is not accepting it, nor tolerating it. But even there, we need to be bold in not just suppressing it, but in creating a long-term climate where anti-Semitism is extinguished at its source.”

The donations and innovations that Leven, Radow, and Coles fostered have helped to grow Kennesaw from one which was mostly commuter based to a school which, today, has a large resident student population. With 43,000 students, it is the second largest university campus in Georgia.

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YEAR IN REVIEW

August

Ladinsky Named Top in Her Field and President of AJT AJT Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky earlier this year was selected as the Top Editor and Managing Publisher of the Year 2023 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and excellence in the publishing industry.

Ladinsky’s impressive repertoire of roles includes the Chief Operating Officer of the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, a non-profit organization that encourages the expression of support, inspiration, and education of democracy and peace in the Middle East. Before her current role, Kaylene was the President & Owner of Atlanta’s Impress Express for almost

Kaylene Ladinsky

12 years.

In previous years, Kaylene has

which include the Best Jewish Newspaper in America, the Best Jewish Website in America, and the Best Jewish Essay in America. She has also been honored with the Unwavering and Faithful Friendship to Israel Award by the Consulate General of Israel.

In addition to her successful career, Kaylene remains active in her community. She is the Secretary of the American Jewish Press Association and the National Newspaper Association, COO of the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, and the founder of Americans United with Israel.

been bestowed with the coveted Simon Rockower Jewish Journalism Awards,

Compiled by AJT Staff

U.S. Travelers Flocked to Israel in Record Droves

By Sasha Heller Before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, Israel had been experiencing a spike in tourism rates.

Whether it was celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary, or just visiting family, friends or touring the country, U.S. travelers flocked to Israel in the first half of 2023. Travel rates from the U.S. rose 12 percent over the same period just four years prior. And in June alone, visitors from the U.S. spiked 13 percent compared to June 2019.

According to Christopher Elliott, travel expert and senior editor at Forbes, tourists to Israel in the first half of 2023

El Al Airlines plane is seen at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv // Photo credit: Jakub Porzycki/Getty Images/JTA

wanted to experience not only the wellknown destinations, such as the holy

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sites of Jerusalem and the bustle of Tel Aviv, but places many aren’t all that fa-

miliar with such as the Negev Desert wine route or SCUBA diving at an underwater archaeological excavation site, as well as one-of-a-kind experiences, such as a sleepover at a Bedouin camp or attending the International Jerusalem Jazz Festival at the Israel Museum.

Since the Oct. 7 attack, travel from the U.S. to Israel has mostly been limited to war-related passengers, either reserve IDF soldiers, volunteers, or family members of soldiers and victims.

It will take time for Israel’s tourism numbers to reach the levels of early 2023 as the nation is still at war and will have to rebuild its tourism industry once the war ends.

September

YEAR IN REVIEW

The Smart Bet’s on Brodzki

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Jewish-oriented fundraiser-turned professional gambler Marcus Brodzki was overwhelmed by the response to the AJT article, “Jewish Fund Raiser Raises Stakes with Poker,” and said, “I was energized and shocked by the reaction from the many Atlanta Jewish Times readers. It has been heartwarming to hear from so many in our community.”

And now he’s adding a coaching wing to his brand. Since the article was published, he secured his first finish “in the money” at a World Series of Poker circuit event in August, finishing 96th out of 2,500 entries and most recently finishing 78th out of 1,300 entries at another tournament in November. Additionally,

Marcus Brodzki finished “in the money” at a World Series of Poker circuit event in August, finishing 96th out of 2,500 entries and most recently finishing 78th out of 1,300 entries at another tournament in November // File photo

he recently co-chaired the ORT America charity poker tournament, alongside Steven Cohen and Nata Saslafsky, at which over $3,000 in support of ORT America was raised with more than 30 tournament participants.

Brodzki stated, “It’s been six months since I took the plunge at professional poker, and I’m excited to continue the journey. If you are looking to upgrade your skills and become the best player at your weekly or monthly friendly poker game or are looking for feedback on your tournament or cash game poker strategies, please consider reaching out to me. I offer coaching services that make a perfect gift for you or the poker player in your life!” Learn more at www. peachtreepokercoaching.square.site.

Elvis’ 1968 Comeback Had High Holidays Message

By Bob Bahr The streamer service Paramount+ debuted a new documentary about Elvis Presley, “Reinventing Elvis, the ’68 Comeback Special,” just before this year’s High Holidays.

The online service probably didn’t think the production was anything more than a nostalgic look back to an important turning point in the career of the legendary performer. But, examined more closely it carried an important, but appropriate, message for the Jewish season of renewal.

The documentary, which told the story of how Presley, who had a greatgrandmother who was a Jewish immigrant from Lithuania, agreed to do a winter holiday special for NBC. The story was a tale of second chances for the singer, whose career and popularity were in real trouble. Presley had spent much of the previous decade in a string of forgettable movie roles with largely forgettable music soundtracks. Their lackluster success had called into question whether Presley could still excite audiences as he had done when he first appeared on TV in the 1950s.

The director of the 1968 project, Steve Binder, producer, Bob Finkel, and music director Billy Goldenberg put together a program that was designed to show off

Presley’s still considerable musical talents but with a renewed emphasis on his charismatic ability to move audiences.

They managed to sell the concept to the network NBC, which was gambling, what amounted to over $11 million in 2023 dollars and to the sponsor, Singer sewing machines. They had even managed to outfox Presley manager Tom Parker, who thought Presley was doing a show filled with holiday music standards. But when it came time for Presley to walk out on stage, he balked. At the last minute, Binder, who was largely responsible for putting the production together, was forced to confront Presley in his dressing room.

The singer was fearful of resuming his career on television, with its direct appeal to a massive nationwide audience. In the string of over 30 movies in the 1960s, there was none of the risk and challenge that a national television audience now offered. He sat in his dressing room, as Binder relates, paralyzed with fear. Eventually, Presley relented, and he went on stage, still unsure of whether he still had the magic that could bring the show to life.

As it turned out, once he began singing, he slipped easily into the stage persona that had helped to revolutionize popular music. The performance was capped by an electrifying performance of a tune written especially for the show, “If

Elvis Presley’s NBC appearance was the first time he had appeared before a live audience in a decade.

I Can Dream,” which was inspired by the many tragic events of 1968. Presley had conquered his fears and in the true spirit of the Jewish holy days, renewed himself.

The show, with an important assist from its Jewish American production team, was seen by the largest audience of

the 1968 television season. The success of the production led directly to seven years of Presley’s performances in Las Vegas at more than 600 shows. It redefined him as an entertainer and the style his shows inspired had a lot to do with remaking Las Vegas as a show business mecca.

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YEAR IN REVIEW

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Joe Alterman and Stephanie Friedman have emphasized the joy in their relationship.

By Bob Bahr Joe Alterman, whose marriage this summer to Stephanie Friedman removed him from the list of Atlanta’s most eligible bachelors, will celebrate romance in a Valentine’s Day concert. Alterman, the executive and artistic director of Neranenah, the Jewish music festival, will join his longtime friend, saxophonist Houston Persons, in the Studio Theater of the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center on Feb. 14.

The concert, which is entitled, “Isn’t It Romantic,” will feature romantic favorites from the Great American Songbook of popular music classics, including the 1932 classic by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, which lends its title to the lovers’ holiday concert. The two last played together in March of this year as part of the Molly Blank Concert Series at The Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. The 88-year-old Persons, who still maintains a very active performance schedule, is among Alterman’s closest friends in the jazz world. Another close friend and musical inspiration, Les McCann, was the subject of a CD that Alterman released shortly after his marriage.

In the AJT’s August story of the Alterman and Friedman pairing, it was noted that the ceremony at the peak of

summer was held in one of Atlanta’s most idyllic settings, Ray’s On The River.

The ceremony took place on the banks of the Chattahoochee River under a chuppah draped with a large tallit from Alterman’s family.

Both Alterman and Friedman share a lifelong interest in music, He performs regularly at some of the top jazz clubs in the country, including the Birdland and Bluenote jazz spots in New York City and Winter’s Jazz Club in Chicago. She grew up playing the banjo and ukulele in her parents’ Bitsyland Band and she performs as part of Humorology Atlanta, which entertains in area hospitals. Friedman also serves as director of theater education and the summer drama campus to the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.

Alterman opened Neranenah’s new season this month, with a pair of concerts that offered a musical accompaniment to Chanukah and the year-end holiday season. The group, in a rare tribute to the cantorial repertoire, presented Cantor Gideon Zelermyer, from Montreal’s Shaar Hashmayim synagogue, on Dec. 10. Alterman then joined vocalist Dara Starr Tucker at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in a musical exploration of the Black and Jewish experience in this country.

October

YEAR IN REVIEW

Terror Attacks in Israel Stunned, Shocked Jewish Atlanta

By Dave Schechter Jewish Atlanta reacted with horror and concern in the immediate aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led terror attacks in Southern Israel, as the death toll and the number of Israelis and others kidnapped mounted.

Jewish Atlantans with friends and family in Israel checked on their welfare, while others reported receiving expressions of sympathy and prayers from nonJewish friends and even strangers.

“Reach out and check on your Jewish friends. We are not ok right now.” was the message posted on “X” (formerly known as Twitter) by Democratic state Rep. Esther Panitch, who is Jewish and represents a North Fulton County district.

In a message to his congregation, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim, wrote: “It didn’t happen once.

It happened twice. Twice on my walk home from shul on Simchat Torah, I was stopped by non-Jewish neighbors. I had never met either of them; but they saw my kippah. There was a steady flow of tears in the eyes of one as she grabbed my arm.

She told me she had been watching the news all weekend. ‘I am praying for you and your family and for all of your people,’ she managed to say in between sobs.”

As a community rally in support of Israel was being planned, Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast Anat SultanDadon, posted on “X” a video of Hamas members with kidnapped Israelis and attached the following message: “Viewer discretion advised. The images that you are about to see are not from a horror movie. In the past 36 hours Israelis have been butchered in their homes by Hamas terrorists. Children and mothers taken captive. The dead bodies of women desecrated in the streets of Gaza. Listen to the cries of the victims. Remember each and every one of them.”

Communal organizations and individuals including political figures, also reacted publicly.

Ramah Darom issued a statement that included: “We have been in touch with many Ramah Darom community members living in Israel, including our Mishlachat from this past summer.

We’ve learned that Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose extended family attended our Passover retreat for many years, was at

Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people and taking nearly 250 hostages.

the outdoor festival and is still missing as of this writing. As well, we learned that a member of our summer Mishlachat from 2021 was also at the festival and received minor injuries. We have reached out to both families to offer our support.”

[Note: At this writing, Goldberg-Polin remains a hostage in Gaza.]

Two Jewish U.S. diplomats from Atlanta also issued statements.

Amb. Michele Taylor, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United National Human Rights Council, told that body: “I sit before you today, representing the United States of America, with a heavy heart following the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians starting on Oct. 7, 2023 . . . The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times.”

Taylor requested a moment of si-

lence from the Council “to remember the victims of these appalling terrorist attacks.” Video posted by her office showed representatives from member countries standing in silence.

Amb. Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, issued a statement that read in part: “I am aghast at the scale of the onslaught by Hamas terrorists,” which later termed “the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is Jewish and has spoken of relatives living in Israel, was in China as part of a bi-partisan congressional delegation also visiting South Korea and Japan. His office issued a statement that said: “Senator Ossoff strongly condemns in the strongest terms Hamas’ indiscriminate and murderous assault on our Israeli allies. This evening, he spoke with Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon to convey Georgians’ support for Israel and the Israeli people, and our outrage and grief at

the murder of Israeli civilians.”

Ossoff’s fellow Georgia Democrat, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who also is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, posted on ”X”: “I’m deeply saddened and alarmed by this morning’s news out of Israel. We must condemn terrorism in all its forms. Praying for the victims of this disturbing violence and that peace may prevail.”

Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who led a state delegation to Israel in May, posted on “X”: “This is an egregious act of war upon one of our nation’s greatest allies. The federal government must be swift and unequivocal: America stands with Israel and her people!”

In the same time frame, a demonstration in support of Palestinian Arabs took place in front of the Midtown Atlanta building that houses the Israeli consulate. The 75–80 protesters carried Palestinian flags and banners that included “Stop U.S. Funding of Israeli Apartheid” and “End All U.S. Aid to Israel.”

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 37

YEAR IN REVIEW

Father of Local Israeli Murdered on Oct. 7

By Jan Jaben-Eilon The AJT first reported that the father of local Israeli Avishay Ben Zvi was killed in the Oct. 7 massacre conducted

by Hamas terrorists from Gaza just days later. The 80-year-old man who had Parkinson’s disease was one of 46 people murdered that day on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Of those, 34 were members of the kibbutz, located less than two miles from the Gaza border, and 12 were Thai employees.

According to Ben Zvi, in addition to those killed, 77 were abducted from the kibbutz where he grew up. As of Dec. 13, 40 had been released from their captors and 31 were still held hostage, nine of whom are age 70 or older. The bodies of six others were still in Gaza. “The kibbutz is keeping a file with their names,” he told the AJT. On Oct. 6, before thousands of Hamas terrorists and their allies burst across the border by land, air, and sea, killing at least 1,200 – mostly civilians – Kibbutz Nir Oz was home to about 400 people. Now surviving residents have been internally displaced, living in a ho-

Amitai Ben Zvi, shown along with his caregiver, now a hostage in Gaza, was 80 when he was shot and killed Oct. 7.

tel in Eilat and many of their homes have been destroyed, burnt to the ground.

Ben Zvi’s family learned of his father’s murder thanks to the quick thinking of the elderly man’s Filipino caregiver, who managed to call a friend to say that he was being kidnapped and taken

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hostage to Gaza along with more than 200 others – again, mostly civilians – that included citizens from the U.S. as well as many other countries.

On the first day of the temporary truce Israel and Hamas agreed to, which included trucks of aid driving into Gaza as well as the release of women and children hostages taken from Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held

by Israel, Ben Zvi and his family were shocked. In addition to 13 Israeli hostages freed – 12 of whom were from Kibbutz Nir Oz – 10 Thai workers and one Filipino caregiver were freed. The latter was Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, 33, who had worked for the Ben Zvi family for four years.

“We were surprised he was released,” said Ben Zvi who lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz from the time he was about one year old until he was 25. He has lived in Atlanta for about a decade. “We saw him in the Red Cross pictures,” but Pacheco and the 10 Thai workers who were also released the first day were not on any lists of hostages released by Hamas.

“Jimmy is like a kibbutz member because he worked for the family,” emphasized Ben Zvi, who noted that his brothers, Gilad and Ido, greeted Jimmy at the hospital to which he was taken after his release. “He lost weight during his captivity,” said Ben Zvi. The temporary agreement called for 50 Israelis to be freed during the initial four-day truce. The truce was extended a couple of times but ended after a week.

Some foreign nationals, not included in the agreement, were also released by Hamas.

For Ben Zvi, it’s been a harrowing

couple of months. Although he moved away from the kibbutz 25 years ago, he still considers the community his family.

He is on two Israeli WhatsApp groups, one of which includes about 200 former residents who have moved away. The other group consists of the dozen or so people who grew up in his age cohort.

There were 11 children in the younger Ben Zvi’s cohort, born in 1973. Each age group was given a name; his group was called Erez, which means cedar in English.

Ben Zvi said all of the former residents of Nir Oz are helping to support the kibbutz in any way they can, whether it is picking crops such as avocados, gathering food and clothes or providing transportation to the evacuated residents, helping the elderly or raising donations to help the survivors.

According to Ben Zvi, a donation event for Kibbutz Nir Oz is scheduled for Jan. 6 in Roswell, where he will be speaking.

“It’s a strong community,” he said.

“From far away, I can see that everyone is supportive of each other.” He added that his friends and relatives won’t give up on regaining the freedom of the rest of the hostages.

Estimates are that it will take three years to rebuild the kibbutz, but “not everyone will decide to return there. It’s very hard with the memories of those who died,” said Ben Zvi. Meanwhile, survivors of Kibbutz Nir Oz may live in apartments newly built in Kiryat Gat in Southern Israel. There’s talk of building a community center for the residents who are accustomed to more communal living.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Atlantan is Glad Her 15 Minutes of Fame is Over

By Jan Jaben-Eilon On Oct. 7, air raid sirens started blaring about 6:30 a.m. Israelis may have been familiar with the sound, but thousands of American Jews in Israel temporarily soon learned that a war against Israel had been fired by Hamas in Gaza.

At that time, no one knew the war would continue for months or that thousands upon thousands of rockets would be launched to almost every major city in the country.

But they and their fearful relatives still in the U.S. knew they needed to leave. Among them was 17-year-old Fayetteville resident Lyla Caplan who had been attending the Union for Reform Judaism Heller High based on the Alexander Muss High School in Israel campus in Hod Hasharon in the middle of the country. On that scary Saturday morning, Caplan was on a field trip in Jerusalem with her fellow students when she was awakened by the sirens and banging on her hotel room door. “It was terrifying,” she told the AJT. The group returned to the Muss campus hours later and slept in the campus bomb shelter until a plane could be arranged for her fellow Heller students as well as dozens more high school students attending various Muss programs.

While Caplan and her friends were being told they would need to leave Israel long before the end of their programs, unbeknownst to them, an Atlanta-based CEO of Israeli travel agency Kenes Tours was frantically trying to orchestrate their safe escape.

Cheri Scheff Levitan modestly told the AJT that she “didn’t do anything anyone wouldn’t do,” but as she narrated on Facebook her adventurous attempts to organize a flight for the students to anywhere from which they could return to the U.S., she was hailed by many parents as a hero.

On Thursday, Oct. 12, after an overnight in Rome, about 100 students landed in Boston, from where they traveled on to their home cities and eager parents’ arms.

After the AJT broke the story, Levitan was heralded in both local and national news for her persistence and amazing achievement. “After getting the kids home and the publishing of your [AJT] piece, word certainly got around. I was on Atlanta’s ABC and CBS affiliate channels, CNN with Anderson Cooper and on the Mark Aram radio show/podcast,” she recalled, adding that the Atlanta JournalConstitution also wrote a story.

Fayetteville resident Lyla Caplan, 17, (on left) with a friend before the war started in Israel on Oct. 7.

“Through Facebook, many parents found me and thanked me,” said Levitan.

“I am glad that I personally was able to help the kids, families, and JNF-USA in meaningful ways during a very scary time. The experience was very emotional, humbling and gratifying, but I’m glad my ’15 minutes of fame’ are over.”

As one parent wrote, “What you did was a miracle to get these kids on a plane. The fear and guilt that these parents are experiencing knowing that they sent their beautiful children for an amazing life experience and instead it turned into a war zone!!! What a true mitzvah!!!”

Jewish National Fund-USA, which operates the Muss program, is a client of her company, Kenes Tours. Two days after the war broke out, a JNF executive called her with a plea, “Cheri, can you get our kids out?” she recounted days after she returned to Atlanta.

“I had been a parent of a Muss student,” she said. Along with her thoughts of parents of current students, she thought, “if anything happens to these kids, what are the liabilities of a major non-profit?” One of her sisters who lives in Israel questioned how she could arrange the complex operation, but she decided, “I can do this.”

El Al wanted $1 million to charter a flight to take the teens out of Israel. “No one can okay an expenditure like that,” said Levitan. After she arranged for IsrAir to transport the kids to Rome, she called JNF at 4:30 in the morning, saying, “I need you to say yes. What I cared

about was getting all the kids on one plane.”

Levitan credits a team of people al-

most across the globe with the myriad details and arrangements. “It was a major group effort in which everyone pulled together. I told my team not to take no for an answer. It really did take a village,” she said.

While Levitan was focused on getting the students out, she was also searching for her own way to leave Israel, and running back and forth between her hotel room and the stairwell in her hotel which was considered the “safe space” when Hamas rockets were flying overhead.

“My first experience with bomb shelters was when I was 12,” she recounted. She knew the drill: shoes by the door, bottled water, keys ready and phone charged. She slept in her clothes. When she eventually got on her El Al flight for London – after a terrifying few moments delayed on the tarmac hearing rockets overhead – she said she felt sick.

“I was very nervous,” she said. Once the plane cleared Israeli airspace, she had a good cry. And when Wi-Fi became available, she got to work. “I worked the entire flight.”

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YEAR IN REVIEW

Delta Cancels Atlanta Service to Israel Indefinitely

By Jan Jaben-Eilon In early December, an Israeli plane took off from Eilat headed to Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv. As passengers watched in fear and amazement, rockets could be seen outside the windows, many, if not all, intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system known as Iron Dome.

American airlines aren’t willing to take those kinds of risks. As the war was launched by Hamas on Oct. 7, thousands of rockets and their interceptors dotted the skies over many Israeli cities, preceded by piercing sirens warning residents to flee for safe rooms, stairwells, and bomb shelters. And foreign airlines delayed, then canceled their flights to and from Tel Aviv, some for the immediate future and some indefinitely.

Delta Air Lines direct flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv fall into the latter category. A statement released by the Atlanta-based airline said, “Delta is continuously monitoring the security environment in Israel to inform cancellations to our flight schedule to and from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.”

After the initial onslaught on Southern Israel of thousands of terrorists and marauders from Gaza on Oct. 7, at least 1,200 people were killed, thousands injured and approximately 240 taken hostage into Gaza. After calling up more than 250,000 army reservists, Israel started bombarding Gaza and eventually launched its ground offensive. Within a week of the outbreak of hostilities, the U.S. State Department raised its travel

Delta is not the only U.S. airline to cease service into or out of Israel. Within a week of the outbreak of hostilities, the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory to Level 3, asking citizens to reconsider travel to Israel.

advisory to Level 3, asking citizens to reconsider travel to Israel.

For Atlantans and other travelers around the Southeast, it was a particular disappointment when Delta stopped its Atlanta nonstop service to Israel. Delta had only reopened its nonstop flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv in spring 2023, after a long hiatus. Delta had last operated that route in 2011. When it announced the resumption of direct, nonstop Atlanta flights, Delta boasted that the launch brought the “total of weekly Delta flights to Tel Aviv to 13, from three U.S. hubs – Atlanta, Boston and New York-JFK.” At the time, Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern U.S. said, “We welcome the important decision by Delta to reinstate direct flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv, a decision long awaited by many. These direct flights will serve to further strengthen the close relations between Israel, the State of Georgia and the Southeastern

U.S. and we are confident that they will have a significant and positive impact on our relations in so many fields including political, economic, academic, and cultural exchanges.”

Hamas put an abrupt end to that confidence.

After at first suspending its flights between Tel Aviv and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport in October, a few weeks later Delta announced that its flights between Tel Aviv and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport “will continue to be canceled.” The airline cited U.S. State Department travel advisories as part of its security guidance and intelligence reports as the basis for its flight cancellations.

Delta, however, made a distinction between suspended Israel flights to and from JFK Airport and the flights between Atlanta and Boston; the latter are canceled indefinitely.

The airline directly contacted Atlanta travelers who had flight reservations to Israel before Oct. 11, 2023, when flights were stopped, offering a special travel waiver. The waiver allows those travelers to rebook their travel on available flights through Sept. 6, 2024. “This waiver allows these customers to process their own changes via the Fly Delta app, My Trips on delta.com or by calling Delta Reservations for support.”

Many Delta travelers received a credit, from which they can “purchase” other Delta flights. But at least some of those have to be redeemed by April 2, 2024, and the travel must begin no later than Sept. 6.

Atlanta travelers determined to fly to Israel, of course, always have the option to fly on Israel’s national airline, El Al, which flies out of JFK, Boston, and Miami. But if the travelers want to use their Delta credit or are committed to flying on their home-based airline, there is another option for traveling to Israel.

They can book a flight on Delta to one of the many European cities the airline continues to fly to, and then book a ticket from there to Tel Aviv. Atlantans can fly direct to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London Heathrow, Paris, Madrid, and Milan. But it also flies to Athens, Greece, where passengers can choose to fly El Al for the short hop-skip-and-jump flights to Tel Aviv. El Al, for instance, flies five nonstop flights per day between Athens and Tel Aviv. El Al also flies between Tel Aviv and London or Barcelona.

Thousands Gathered for Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival

By Sasha Heller With Israel at war with Hamas, this year’s Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival took on special meaning as thousands gathered at Brook Run Park to take part in the annual bonanza.

The event, now in its 11th year, was presented by the Hebrew Order of David and featured 21 cooking teams competing in four categories: Beef Ribs, Beef Brisket, Chili, and Chicken. The winners for each category were as follows: Grand Champion – Burnt Offerings; Beef Ribs – Burnt Offerings; Beef Brisket – 8th Day BBQ; Chicken – Carolina Chopped; Chili – Carolina Chopped.

The AJT held a community raffle to

40 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Team Grillin’ Barbie-Ques, a.k.a. the Atlanta Jewish Times staff, are pictured at the festival.

give away four ATV/Go-cart vehicles. The winners were: Sandra Glassman, Heath-

er Barnes, Deborah Hatherley, and Nathan Katz. Also won in the raffle were a

pair of toy grills, won by Elana Horawitz and Avi Tohar.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Life In Israel Changed for Former Atlantans

By Jan Jaben-Eilon Days after the Oct. 7 surprise Hamas attack on Israel that included thousands of rockets launched against much of Israel, as well as an attack by its militants against outdoor concerts, communities, and army bases along the Gaza border, former Atlantans now living in Israel expressed resolve but uncertainty.

Former Congregation Or Hadash Rabbis Mario Karpuj and Analia Bortz reported from their home in Jerusalem that they were “safe, but we’re not okay.”

Former Atlantan Adam Frank, also a rabbi, told the AJT, “Life here is changed forever.”

Atlanta native Zach Rosenzweig, who lives with his wife, Yoella, and son, Ariel, in Kfar Saba in the center of the country, told the AJT that it was a “painfully dark and horrific time to be an Israeli and Jew. When you see Israelis being killed, entire families erased and know it could have been you. I think of my wife and son.”

But Rosenzweig, son of Michael Rosenzweig and Shelli Bank, said there’s “incredible resolve nationally. We have no choice but to fight this, despite the grievous divisions and mistakes that led to this attack.”

More than two months since the war began, Rosenzweig acknowledged that both his family and the country as a whole are still in a kind of shock.

“Frankly, our reality isn’t easy,” the former student at The Epstein School and Weber admitted. “I think most Israelis are having similar experiences, regardless of where they live or their personal connections to daily events. It still feels like we’re wading through a fog, and it’s difficult to separate our individual lives from the national tragedy and trauma.”

He said that “there’s nothing particularly remarkable about day-to-day events here in Kfar Saba. We’ve been lucky to experience very few sirens since the war began. We don’t know anyone fighting in Gaza, and we don’t spend much time worried for our safety. But Israel’s collective experience carries an emotional intensity that weighs on every person, and it colors every moment of our personal lives.”

Not surprisingly, Rosenzweig said, “the most significant events in recent weeks have been the hostage releases and the deaths of soldiers. We feel deeply affected by these developments, and they’ve filled our lives with a mix of complex emotions. All of us waited anxiously as the hostages were freed, not knowing whether they might be prevented from leaving Gaza, and it’s excruciating to know that 135 abducted Israelis, including women and children, are still being held in Hamas captivity. The daily deaths of soldiers are painful and heart-wrenching, and they remind us of the sacrifices we’ll continue to endure until the war ends.”

When Rosenzweig served in the Israel Defense Forces, he was in the spokesperson unit. While there, he helped monitor social media. He is now the Israel-based representative for the U.S. organization Israel on Campus Coalition, doing the same kind of work, at the same time finishing up a PhD at Hebrew University.

“I’m continuing my work with ICC, which I still find very meaningful,” he reported. “This is a type of service. It requires monitoring what’s happening closely. There’s a lot of work involved in exposing U.S. audiences to what is happening.”

As a family, Rosenzweig said, “We try to contribute what we can. Yoella works as a teacher and volunteers occasionally in Kfar Saba. Ariel is cute and cheerful as can

Zach Rosenzweig with wife, Yoella, and son, Ariel.

be, and luckily, he seems oblivious to the situation as an 18-month-old baby.”

Rosenzweig reflected the desire to help his fellow Israelis, as did other former Atlantans. Bortz and Karpuj reported lining up to give blood and accumulating all kinds of supplies to bring to survivors of the attacks along Gaza who were transported to hotels along the Dead Sea and in the south to Eilat, as well as supplies for the 300,000 reserve soldiers called up for duty. There were so many cars delivering the supplies to the hotels that the parking lots quickly filled, said Bortz. “People are taking destiny in their own arms,” she said.

They symbolize the incredible surge in volunteerism as noted in a recent Hebrew University survey. That survey showed that nearly half of all Israelis had performed some kind of volunteer work since the war began.

“A noteworthy proportion of volunteers (25 percent) are identified as ‘spontaneous volunteers,’ previously unengaged individuals who have stepped up during the conflict.

This surge in participation marks a departure from routine volunteering trends, with only 20 percent having a history of regular volunteering,” according to Hebrew University, which released the survey results to mark International Volunteer Day which was held on Dec. 5.

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 41

YEAR IN REVIEW

November Jewish Atlanta Embraces Visiting Families of Israeli Hostages

By Dave Schechter As much as nearly 2,000 people can, the audience that filled the sanctuary at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Oct. 30 embraced the six Israeli men and women on the bimah.

The objects of this figurative hug represented not only their own family members being held hostage in Gaza, but also the families of Israelis among the estimated 240 people then being held captive.

Behind them were posters of the men, women, and children kidnapped on Oct. 7 during a modern-day pogrom in communities in Southern Israel and at a music festival in the nearby desert. On the hostages’ 24th night as captives, the visiting Israelis made no effort to conceal the toll of the ordeal, speaking in pained, emotional terms about their families.

Shani Segal and Yael Nidam came on behalf of Segal’s cousin and Nidam’s sis-

ter-in-law, Rimon Kirscht, who with her husband, Yogev Bokhstab, are among the hostages. “We always hear about Southern hospitality — and the brisket. I just want to say to everyone here, thank you, from all of us. You know the past three weeks have been horrible, but it feels like home, so thank you,” Segal said.

Earlier in the day, Hamas had released a video of three women held hostage, Kirscht among them. “This has been a true roller coaster. The moment we saw the video we felt, both of us, she’s alive.

For three weeks, we did not know if she’s alive or dead,” Segal said.

[Note: Kirsht was released Nov. 28 as Israel exchanged jailed Palestinian prisoners for women and children among the hostages. Video of Kirsht staring down and saying something to one of her Hamas captors went viral on social media platforms. Nidam flew to Israel when her sister-in-law was released. At this writing, Bokhstab remains a hostage.]

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42 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Approximately 2,000 community members gathered at Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Oct. 30 for a vigil to honor the hostages taken during Hamas’ attack on Israel // Photo Credit: Southern Exposure Media Group for Consulate General of Israel/Southeastern US

Or Sella — whose family on Oct. 7 counted 12 members missing — said: “Sooner than later, I’ll come back to being a musician and a music producer. All of us and a lot of families in Israel . . . this is who we are, families of hostages.”

[Note: Two of the family members, a mother and daughter who live near Chicago and were visiting family at Kibbutz Nir Oz, were freed on Oct. 20. Ten others were at Kibbutz Be’eri. Six of them were visiting from elsewhere in Israel, taking advantage of the Sukkot holiday period.

The bodies of three — two men and a woman — were identified nearly two weeks after the attack and funerals were held. Six of the seven others — women and children representing three generations — were freed Nov. 25. At this writing, one man remains hostage.]

Or’s cousin, Dafna Sella, carried a message from the sons of Eviatar and Lilach Kipnis, two of the three family members killed at Be’eri. Their funerals were “one of the darkest times of our family,” she said.

“Her sons asked us not to revenge on behalf of their name. In the darkest times, the darkest parts of our personalities sometimes get out,” Dafna said. “Our family sent a message of peace. I feel like I need to ask you on behalf of Lilach and Tali, don’t seek revenge.” Overcome by emotion, she was unable to continue.

Ilan and Sandy Feldman spoke on behalf of Sandy’s sister and brother-inlaw, Aviva and Keith Siegel. “What happened to us, to all of us, is something unprecedented . . . it’s bigger than us. I

feel strongly that our personal response to this situation needs to be bigger than us,” Ilan said.

[Note: Aviva Siegel was released Nov. 26. At this writing, Keith Siegel remains a hostage.]

On their way into the sanctuary draped with Israeli flags, the audience passed through a room where an elongated, U-shaped Shabbat table had been set up, with a separate children’s table in the middle. On the back of each chair was the photograph of a missing Israeli.

Before the hostage family members spoke, Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon told those present in-person and watching online that the brutality of the Hamas attacks “has shaken us to our core.”

“To those who are now choosing silence in the face of the atrocities committed against our people, your silence is shameful. There can be no forgiveness or your disgraceful silence over the burning alive of our children. History will judge you,” Sultan-Dadon said.

The conversation with the hostage families was moderated by Dov Wilker, regional director of the American Jewish Committee, who expressed his admiration for the men and women sitting to his left.

“The strength that you all have to be here and to share the story is absolutely incredible,” Wilker said. “We have to share their stories. We have a responsibility. We are the ones who are able to amplify that message. We are the ones who own that responsibility.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

Jewish Power Trio Revitalizes Dunwoody Village The trio of Jewish restaurant owners, David Abes, Billy Kramer, and Geoff Melkonian have transformed a oncelanguishing Dunwoody Village into a vibrant, bustling hotspot.

Abes, owner of DASH Hospitality Group, has opened a series of restaurants in the heart of the village, with each offering their own unique menus and customer experiences: Bar{n} booze {n} bites; Morty’s Meat & Supply; and most recently, Message in a Bottle, which serves seafood. The series of dining establishments are set around an outsized communal courtyard with outdoor bars and a stage for live performances.

“I’ll see people sitting at this table one minute and then the next they’re over at another table and that’s what I love. But I also love the nights when you don’t know anybody and they came from Sandy Springs or they came from Ro-

The trio of Jewish Dunwoody restaurant owners: (from left) Billy Kramer, Geoff Melkonian, and David Abes // Photo Credit: Lauren Menis

swell,” he says.

Kramer’s NFA Burger has taken Dunwoody, and most of Atlanta, by storm, as the restaurant routinely sells out of their burgers due to incredibly popular demand. Based out of a Chevron gas station, NFA Burger has been named Best Burger

in Georgia by Food and Wine Magazine and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as well as one of the Best Burgers in America

by Thrillist. While he has been asked several times, Kramer says he has no plans of moving to a larger establishment and is quite content with meeting the current

levels of demand each day.

Melkonian operates Breadwinner Café, which has carved its niche in the Dunwoody market. The popular bakery offers fast casual and European-style pastries, as well as soups, sandwiches, and salads. The café has been mentioned on “The Today Show,” and included as one of Oprah’s favorite things.

While the trio are proud of their accomplishments and impact they’ve made on the community, they recognize they are just part of a larger group of restaurateurs who are invested together in helping Dunwoody Village flourish.

“We are all invested in making sure that there’s a lot of success and options for the community, from people who really enjoy being in the community,” Kramer said.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Lubin’s Family Continues to Honor Her Short Life

By Jan Jaben-Eilon The Atlanta Jewish community was shaken on Monday, Nov. 6, when the news started circulating that Dunwoody High School graduate Rose Lubin, 20, was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old Palestinian in Jerusalem where she was on duty serving as an Israel Defense Forces Border Police officer. Another officer was also stabbed but survived the attack.

Rose had immigrated to Israel in 2022 and was serving as a “lone soldier,” meaning without her immediate family living in the country.

Immediately, members of her large extended family in the Atlanta area as well as her rabbi started sharing their shock and memories of the young woman who had long been considered exceptional.

And many of them started arranging plane reservations to Israel so that they could attend her funeral at Mount Herzl National Cemetery, Nov. 9.

Thousands attended the funeral, including her parents, David and Robin, and stepmother, Stephanie, her two brothers, Alec and Joseph, and a sister, Lily. She also had a four-year-old half-brother, Isaac.

Rose was the eldest. Members of the Halpern, Hirsch, and Oppenheimer families also attended the funeral, just as they had attended the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces at an annual gala in Atlanta in May. At that event, Congregation Ariel Rabbi Binyomin Friedman recalled Rose said her parents were her heroes because they

supported her life-long decision to move to Israel and join its army.

Just weeks after returning from Israel, her parents are continuing to “honor Rose and all she stood for,” according to a great uncle, Steve Oppenheimer. Among those efforts are pending resolutions in honor of Rose at the Georgia Senate, Georgia House of Representatives, more than a dozen other state legislatures, a likely resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives and possible recognition in the U.S. Senate.

Her mother was recently invited to Philadelphia and spoke at three community events.

At her funeral, Rabbi Friedman said Rose stood out. “She was color, music, skipping, laughing, painting, and writing. She was life itself.” Before he left for Israel to attend her funeral, he noted that “she was an exceptional woman, sensitive and perceptive. As a little child, she was mature, a writer, performer, artist, and she thought deeply about everything. She would share with me what she wrote for school. She was mature way beyond her years. I told her father that she was special.”

At the funeral, her father described her as an all-American kid, but “wore her individuality every day.” He pointed to the fact that she changed her hair color and her distinctive clothes regularly, and never wore matching socks. He also admitted, “I was nervous about her joining the IDF, but I was glad that her hair color” would revert to her natural color – rather than red

Sgt. Rose Ida Lubin was laid to rest at Mount Herzl cemetery on Nov. 9 after being stabbed to death while on patrol in Old Jerusalem City.

or blue – and what while in the army, her socks would finally match.”

In his own eulogy, her brother, Alec, called Rose “my big sister, my first friend and my first best friend. She was the most free-spirited person I’d ever known” and the “most understanding person I ever met.” He said she loved to laugh, although it came out more as a snort. “There was nothing fake about Rose.”

Her stepmother, Lynne Keating Lubin, said that Rose never knew a stranger.

“You couldn’t help but love her.”

The more than hour-long funeral ceremony concluded with a gun salute after dozens of colorful wreaths of flowers were laid upon her grave. They represented numerous Israeli and security organizations, but also one wreath that was purchased by the Atlanta Israeli community.

More than one person who knew Rose compared her to a comet shedding light

while speeding across the universe. “That was Rose,” her step-grandmother Lynne Keating told the AJT. She related that one of Rose’s four siblings said that their sister accomplished more in her small lifetime than many people do in many more years.

Keating noted that Rose had long planned to join the IDF. When she was seven or eight, said Keating, her young friends would say, “I want to be your friend.” Lubin would respond: “I have to tell you that when I’m 18, I am moving to Israel and I’m going to be in the IDF.” In a short video not long before she was killed, Lubin sent her family “shabbat shalom” greetings, waving to them and telling them that she loves them.

Rabbi Friedman said his congregation participated in a memorial for Rose at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and would be “dedicating other projects to Rose throughout the year.”

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 43

YEAR IN REVIEW

Oct. 7 Atrocities Video Sickens Atlanta Audience

By Dave Schechter [Reader caution advised. This article includes descriptions of events on Oct. 7, when terrorists attacked kibbutzim and towns in southern Israel and a music festival in the nearby desert.]

A 43-minute video of atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7 — compiled by the Israel Defense Forces — left the audience at a Nov. 9 screening angry and appalled.

Several also were vexed by the relatively small number of invitees who showed up to watch “Bearing Witness to the October 7 Massacre.”

The Israeli consulate sent hundreds of invitations to news media, academia, clergy and communal organizations, law enforcement, and elected officials.

Roughly three dozen people turned up for the screening at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

“We invited very broadly,” a clearly disappointed Israeli Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon said afterward. “I am grateful for those who

44 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A house where 40 Israeli civilians were held hostage in Kibbutz Be’eri, Oct. 11, 2023 // Photo Credit: Lazar Berman/The Times of Israel

are here,” was all she would say when asked about the invitation list, though she noted that none of the invited university presidents attended. [Note: The Con-

sulate said that a larger, but unspecified number of people attended a subsequent screening.]

Rabbi Peter Berg, senior rabbi at The Temple, called the video “horrifying” and “the worst 45 minutes I can remember.”

Berg said: “Also horrifying -- no ministers showed up. No university or school leadership showed up. Countless invitations were extended. A few rabbis. A few news outlets. A few law enforcement officials. A few communal leaders. Watching real footage of Hamas trying to eliminate the Jewish people in an empty room . . .

Never felt more alone.”

Eric Robbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, called the footage, “Horrendous and sickening. I had to close my eyes through much of it. For me it made it all that much more real and that’s important for everyone!”

Robbins called the attendance “very concerning and I’m not sure what it means, but it left us feeling quite alone.”

The video was produced in response to two issues Israel faced in the aftermath of Oct. 7: Claims that Israel overstated the savagery of the attacks and assertions that the brutality was justifiable as a legitimate act of resistance by Palestinians oppressed by Israel.

“Bearing Witness” contains a fraction of hundreds of hours of recordings from the body cameras and cellphones of captured or killed terrorists, the cellphones of Israelis (some taken by the terrorists who killed them), car dashboard cameras, home security systems, and Hamas social media. Much of the video

previously has been accessible online, some previously used by news media.

The video shows the terrorists hunting — moving street by street, house by house, room by room, and in the desert by pursuing fleeing festival goers in open territory and by setting up ambushes on roadways.

The terrorists shot their victims, in some cases multiple times, even as they lay dead; threw grenades into safe rooms in homes and in shelters at the concert.

Some were found zip-tied to other people or with their hands bound behind their backs. Houses were burned, trapping victims inside.

The video is replete with bloodstreaked walls and floors, bodies lying in random positions, and bodies burned beyond recognition and mutilated so badly (including at least one that appeared to be missing a head) that the work of identifying the dead was taking weeks to complete.

“As much as I thought I could prepare for it based on prior descriptions, I was stunned by the glee that I saw from the terrorists as they were killing innocent civilians just trying to live their lives,” said Democratic state Rep. Esther Panitch.

“Bearing Witness” showed the bodies of those whose families had approved of their use. The video showed the deaths of 138 people, young and old, men and women, individuals, and families. Many of their faces were blurred, particularly those of children, some of whom were shot while in their beds.

The first screening was held Oct. 20 for international journalists in Tel Aviv.

Since then, the video has been shown in 30 countries.

“I decided to go to the screening because, as the invitation said, we have a responsibility to bear witness to what happened on Oct. 7. In the same way that I have watched footage and viewed photos of the horrors of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem and other places, I felt an obligation to watch this footage to be able to tell the story, especially when it feels like the rest of the world has forgotten,” Rabbi Loren Lapidus, of The Temple, said.

In the video, a police officer wearing a body camera arrives at the site of the music festival few hours after the attack there. He calls out for the living but there are no answers. Talking into his radio, he counts off the dead found in and around a refreshment tent, until he can go no further and says, “I have dead people, everybody’s dead.”

December

Rabbi Berg Delivers U.S. Senate Opening Prayer

YEAR IN REVIEW

Pro-Palestinian Protester Sets Self on Fire

A security guard suffered burns when he attempted to stop the protester from setting themself on fire // Photo Credit: The Associated Press

Originally reported on by AJT Dave Schechter Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple delivers the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate on Dec. 12.

On Dec. 12, seven hours before sunset and the lighting of the sixth candle of Chanukah, Rabbi Peter Berg, senior rabbi of The Temple, delivered the opening prayer before the U.S. Senate.

Calling the occasion “fun” and “an honor,” Berg told the AJT that while the role of guest chaplain required him to keep his remarks parve — a Yiddish word meaning “neutral” — regarding politics, he deliberately used the metaphors of light and darkness in reference to the antisemitism afflicting the Jewish people.

According to Howard Mortman, the communications director for C-SPAN and author of “When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill,” more than 400 rabbis have delivered an opening

prayer in either the U.S. Senate or House, dating back to 1860.

Mortman posted online that Berg, senior rabbi at The Temple since July 2008, was the first rabbi to serve as guest chaplain in the Senate since March 2022 and the first from Georgia since February 1966. He also was the first Georgia rabbi to serve as guest chaplain in either chamber since October 1999 and the first from Atlanta since November 1983.

Berg was invited by Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff to deliver the opening prayer.

When he was sworn into office in January 2021, Ossoff used a book of Hebrew scripture once owned by Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, who led The Temple from 1946 to 1973.

Compiled by AJT Staff

A protester with a Palestinian flag set themselves on fire Dec. 1 outside the Midtown Atlanta building that houses the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast.

This story was covered internationally and according to Reuters media, the person, whom officials did not identify, is in critical condition, Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference.

“We believe this building remains safe, and we do not see any threat here,” the chief said. “We believe that was an act of extreme political protest.”

The woman was in critical condition after wrapping herself in a Palestinian flag and setting herself on fire. It happened just after noon outside the building that houses the Israeli Consulate in Midtown Atlanta. Michael Harris, a se-

curity guard who attempted to intervene, was also injured. Both were taken to the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital.

WBS-TV Atlanta reported on Harris’ condition, “He has a burn on his hand. He has a burn on his leg between his knee and his ankle. He has another one on his ankle on his left side. He has some burns here,” said Douglas Harris, the security guard’s brother.

Romona Kea is Michael’s sister-inlaw. She’s concerned this will affect him mentally.

“Post Traumatic Stress. Just the thought of it. He’s going to also need a mental evaluation in reference to that,” Kea said. “That’s just for anyone. If it was me, I would need some mental evaluation to have to deal with that.”

But they said things could be worse.

The identity of the protester that lit herself on fire still hasn’t been revealed.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 45

ARTS & CULTURE Glasser Leads with Beads

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Julie Glasser magnifies her bead weaving with intricate, realistic, and whimsical creations that begin with everyday items.

In composing her business model, Glasser doesn’t stop at crafting -- she makes her mark by selling bead boards, patterns, and tutorials. Imagine a Yamaha piano with 88 keys, a “lighted” menorah, and Lladro sculpture composed of tiny beads.

Of her own talent and vision, Glasser said, “I made a beaded yad for my oldest daughter for her Bat Mitzvah. I created the entire thing, soldering a handout of sterling silver wire and using copper tubing for the rest. I covered the entire thing in seed beads, weaving them in a spiral design. The yad was used again for both my younger daughter and her friend. Four years later, I ventured into my largest project -- beading a miniature version of my house using blueprints to make it to scale.”

Growing up in Michigan, Glasser was immersed in art and started making jewelry using seed beads and wire. After relocating to Atlanta, she took metalsmith classes at Spruill Center for the Arts, where she eventually taught bead weaving, sewing classes, and kid’s camp.

Since her artist mother introduced her to sewing in 1997 and bead weaving in 2002, she is entirely self-taught in both disciplines. She recalled, “In my earlier classes, everyone wanted to make jewelry, so I focused on designing mostly bracelets, having my work published over 30 times in various beading magazines and books.”

When the pandemic hit and Glasser was no longer teaching in person, she “back pocketed” jewelry making to concentrate on some more fun things for herself. In 2020, she re-created her favorite Lladro sculpture using seed beads, making a flower cart, complete with a beaded umbrella and potted flowers.

She recalled, “To this day, it’s one of my favorite pieces. Following that, I made a mini beaded Yamaha piano that was 4 inches tall and looked exactly like the one I used to have. I made hinges to open the keyboard cover, the top and the seat top. And it has 88 'keys'!"

Around this time, she joined a Facebook group for beaders and shared photos of her work. Glasser stated, “Each time I posted a photo, I would get hundreds of people asking, ‘Is there a pattern?’ They all wanted to make one of their own.”

In December 2020, she created her 46 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Master beader and tutorial creator Julie Glasser poses with her “Little Cat” Xiao.

Julie made a holiday space for Judaica to provide options to the well populated Christmas market.

Retro Bus and camper and other vehicles are some of Glasser’s most popular items.

Part of Glasser’s talent is getting the details in perfect perspective and guiding others on how to achieve the same results like this Crayola box.

first beaded menorah. She saw so many social media posts of Christmas related minis (all beaded), she felt like Jewish people were underrepresented in projects they could make and gift for the holidays.

Glasser continued, “There were plenty of bracelets with Jewish stars on them, but nothing spectacular. I wanted my menorah to be functional, so that I could put one candle in each night and ‘light’ it without an actual flame. After I posted a Happy Hanukkah with a photo, I got over 1,000 reactions and 600 comments asking for a pattern. Someone else saw this

Glasser put jewelry design on the back burner to make something more fun for herself like these exotic blooming cacti.

and offered to write the tutorial for me (me giving her photos and basic instructions), and my first 3D tutorial was born.”

Glasser had several more tutorials written for her, then found Affinity Publishers, and started writing her own.

Her process is to design and create a “mini” -- examples are cars, flowerpots, guitars, bowling set, Shabbat candles, mezuzahs, and menorahs, all to scale. She designs and beads each item, while taking photos of every step. Then she starts the process of writing tutorials, which are usually around 20-30 pages long. Glasser

takes and edits photos of the items, adds her logo, and then posts on both her website at www.julieglasser.com, and on Etsy store JulRiDesign. Each tutorial is available to download in PDF format.

Her most popular items are the Retro Bus, flowerpots, and cars. Her most recent tutorial is for four different miniature mugs and saucers, complete with steaming coffee/latte/hot chocolate inside. The only physical product that she sells is a lightweight, handmade travel bead board/bag constructed for beaders to use so they can bead on the go. ì

Chai Style Art

One of the Marzullo’s family hobbies is working on jigsaw puzzles. Thus, Robyn had these letters designed on the game room wall // Photos by Howard Mendel

Family Hits the ‘Gas’ and Pops the Top After two r e nova t i o ns , the Marzullos have arrived at the perfect family compound with young energy and sensational sparks Marcia of modernism Caller Jaffe and sentiment.

Powerhouse mom, Robyn (daughter of Honey and Howard Workman), ultimately took over the years of rebuilding to achieve just the right family enclave. The Marzullo Sandy Springs home is alive with Tony’s car collection surrounded by an expansive pool and patio area, and art that’s not too precious, but varied and creative.

They are just “out of the box” enough to combine University of Florida touches with winning the neighborhood’s Halloween’s top prize for creepy details, in front of the pristine symmetry of domestic bliss inside. Self-made business owner Tony said, “Life is just too short to be ordinary. That’s why I visited the Porsche facility in Stuttgart to get up close with

my cars.”

Robyn takes pride in daughters, Ava and Josie, as “self-advocating, kind and knowing who they are.”

Take a tour with the Marzullo’s Aussie doodle, Lozi, and Labradoodle, Penny, starting in the pool area that rivals South Beach splendor.

Marcia: How did you arrive at this open and livable renovation?

Robyn: A long story. We went through multiple builders and designers.

The end goal was to maintain the modest exterior with a floor plan for entertaining and tremendous family space in the lower level and outdoors. Coming out of COVID taught us that this home is “forever” and part of how we raise our family in togetherness. As for the reliability of the builders, I ended up doing all the “managing” myself. Starting in 2008, we knew we wanted to “pop the top” and open the ceiling expanse in the kitchen and living room.

Tony: Things that reinforce family life are the exterior putting green and a saltwater pool expanse (29’ x 20’). The girls especially like these funky plastic Spun chairs by Herman Miller also in the Museum of Modern Art. The firepit/patio

and its heating elements are conducive to indoor/outdoor entertaining right off the kitchen. A really clever family touch since we all like to do jigsaw puzzles is Robyn’s design of the MARZULLO letters which occupy a long wall downstairs.

Marcia: Your office is charming.

What were you trying to achieve?

Robyn: I started with the Japanese inspired wallpaper, Love’s Blossom, and carried through the light pink cabinetry.

Actually, my favorite piece is in the guest powder room -by Louis Icart. In the master bath is a subtle piece “Knot…not,” by R.C. Fulwiler. The Victor Vasarely pieces in the living room once hung in the men’s department at Neiman Marcus.

Marcia: What art do you collect?

Tony: We buy mostly local art. One favorite is the late Todd Murphy whose originals are in the dining room and living room on linen of a bird weeping.

There’s a De La Croix’s “La Parade” in the dining room. The Stacy Milburn artisan mirror is an abstract fun piece with deconstructed liquefied layers. And we treasure this original hand done needle point by our uncle, Eddie Goodman “Erte.” The set of nine ivory paper round medallion

sculptures in the master are from the Scott Antique Market.

Marcia: And furnishings?

Robyn: A wide swath of variety. The living room cocktail table is from Etsy, the chandeliers are from Gabby Home and Lighting Masters. We have studded lamps from ADAC. The floors are bleached and stained oak.

Marcia: Would you describe downstairs as a “man cave?”

Tony: Partly with the large projector/120” movie screen and sectional sofas; but the kids have the foosball/ pinball/Pac-Man games. We host 30 for the Super Bowl. Also here is my favorite collectable art, handmade smoked wood, and bead mask from the Masai tribe in Kenya. Behind the bar is a very cool original oil that Robyn commissioned for Father’s Day (by Pepper) of my favorite Porsche 993 Turbo. This particular car has special meaning since when times were not so good, I almost had to sell it.

So, I myself know the “ups and downs” of markets and the end result of hard work.

The painting by Fuller hung in the office of the Henredon CEO during the 1970s.

The Special Olympics piece downstairs

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 47

CHAI STYLE is from when I was on the Georgia Board of Directors.

Marcia: What is your business model at Gas Motor Cars in Marietta?

Tony: We take pride in selling rare and unique pre-owned automobiles. We will not sell a vehicle unless it’s truly flawless. Our business runs better and grows faster when we have no unhappy clients. We have a large selection of high-quality vehicles from Corvettes, Ferraris, Mercedes, to Aston Martins and, my “fav,” Porsches. We have an expert team who explains things “straight up” and the intricacies of owning such special vehicles. Being local, we have a ready-made clientele with high profile music, sports, and business “players,” but do business all over the U.S. Marcia: What’s so special about the University of Florida?

Tony: Are you kidding? I, like my dad, John, attended and played football. Dad was varsity and I starred in the TEP Nose Bowl!

That’s why we have the gator sculpture at the front door. Note the Gator orange and blue flooring in the garage. Our oldest, Ava, a current student at Weber, is Chair of Student Philanthropy, and “possibly” (finger crossed) could be a Gator class of 2029 to carry on the family tradition. Josephine, an Epstein student, is head of the Crew and Blue Club there (eighth grade).

Marcia: What do we see in your garage?

Tony: From left to right -- 2019 Porsche 911 Irish Green TARGA 4 GTS), 2023 718 BoxAbove: The Marzullo garage has University of Florida colors: orange and blue for flooring. Some very impressive cars rotate in and out at Tony’s whim.

Right: Tony stands by an original oil that Robyn commissioned for Father’s Day of his favorite Porsche 993 Turbo.

Below: Robyn designed the guest room in black and white with colorful accents.

Left: Robyn designed her office with Japanese-inspired wallpaper, Love’s Blossom, and light pink cabinetry.

48 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHAI STYLE ster Spyder by Deman Motorsport, 1955 silver 550 Spyder, similar to James Dean’s car.

Marcia: Last word. Who’s cooking in this immaculate kitchen?

Robyn: Certainly not me. Tony makes pasta or risotto. I order out from Canton Cooks. ì

The Marzullo master bedroom has a set of nine ivory paper round medallion sculptures from the Scott Antique Market.

Above: Josie and Ava share love with Aussie doodle Lozi and Labradoodle Penny while relaxing in Herman Miller plastic spun chairs.

Below: The backyard saltwater pool stretches 29’ by 20.’

The lower-level entertainment area hosts up to 30 for the Super Bowl on the big screen. The large painting (left) is by Fuller (1970).

The kitchen was part of the renovation, but Robyn says she still doesn’t do much cooking.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 49

CALENDAR

JANUARY 2 - 31

TUESDAY, JANUARY 2 Brain Health Bootcamp – 11 a.m.to 1 p.m.

Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp!

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

Women’s Workshop - 7 to 9:30 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for a paradigm changing workshop. Register at https://bit.ly/3v4AAt9.

Puppet Palooza Saturday - 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Piccadilly Puppets and Stage Door Theatre have teamed up to bring five individual puppet shows to the stage. The show is recommended for ages 3-8. Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3qN5ODB.

Jewish Women’s Torah and Tea – 8 to 9 p.m. Weekly women’s in-depth and fascinating exploration of the chassidus book of Tanya. Register at https:// bit.ly/3TlT4ja.

Knit and Crochet Group - 1 to 3 p.m. Join Dor Tamid and crochet and knit beanies for premature babies from home.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3VY3R1j.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3 Jewish Women’s Torah and Tea - 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Join the Jewish Women’s Circle of Decatur for a weekly discussion on the Parsha and contemporary Jewish issues. Find out more at https:// bit.ly/3T8oR4B.

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

THURSDAY. JANUARY 4 Brain Health Bootcamp – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https://bit.ly/3tPwMs3.

50 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6

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

SUNDAY, JANUARY 7

Hadassah Ketura Luncheon & Installation - 12 to 2:30 p.m. Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Ketura Group invites you to join us for a luncheon & 2024 Installation of the Ketura Board. Register at https://bit.ly/3thZTrl.

Kabbalah and Coffee - 10 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore, and journey with Intown Jewish Academy through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3V3sfiE. Kabbalah Café – 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Fuel up your week with the transformative teachings of Kabbalah as you enjoy a gourmet hot breakfast and coffee bar. You’ll study text-based spiritual wisdom that gives you practical guidance to living a healthy and empowered life. Join Beth Tefillah by visiting https://bit.ly/3Ak2BfX.

Melton at Etz Chaim: “OMG Can You Believe? - 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explore the BIG questions surrounding God with Rabbi Dan Dorsch at Congregation Etz Chaim for this Brill Institute/Melton School class. Register at https://bit.ly/48dTzQn.

Scholar-in-Residence: Masua Sagiv - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Congregation Shearith Israel, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, and Congregation Or Hadash are proud to welcome Masua Sagiv, the Koret Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies at UC Berkeley and a Scholar in Residence of the Shalom Hartman Institute, for a special presentation on this moment in Israel entitled “Navigating Deep Crisis as a People.” Sagiv’s work focuses on the development of contemporary Judaism in Israel, as a culture, religion, nationality, and as part of Israel’s identity as a Jewish and democratic state, and she co-hosts the podcast Perfect Jewish Parents. Register at https://bit. ly/3uYpXs3.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Torah Reading: Shemot Friday, January 5, Tevet 24, 5784 Light Candles at 5:23 PM Saturday, January 6, Tevet 25, 5784 Shabbat Ends 6:23 PM Torah Reading: Va’eira Friday, January 12, Shevat 2, 5784 Light Candles at 5:29 PM Saturday, January 13, Shevat 3, 5784 Shabbat Ends 6:28 PM

Knit and Crochet Group - 1 to 3 p.m. Join Dor Tamid and crochet and knit beanies for premature babies from home.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3VY3R1j.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 MONDAY, JANUARY 8 Jeff’s Place Café – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Need a place to host your Monday-morning business meeting? Looking to meet a friend for breakfast and coffee? Craving some bagels and lox before heading into the office? Come to Chabad Intown and find out more at https:// bit.ly/3IRgve6.

Ancient Wisdom For Your Life - 8 to 9 p.m. A weekly journey into the Torah’s relevance with Chabad of North Fulton. Find out more at https://bit. ly/41Aol45.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 ACT Session - 12 to 2 p.m. Gathering for JWFA’s 5th cohort of the Agents of Change Training (ACT) program.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 9 Brain Health Bootcamp – 11 a.m.to 1 p.m.

Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp!

With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https:// bit.ly/451GNDC. Jewish Women’s Torah and Tea – 8 to 9 p.m. Weekly women’s in-depth and fascinating exploration of the chassidus book of Tanya. Register at https:// bit.ly/3TlT4ja.

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

THURSDAY. JANUARY 11 Brain Health Bootcamp – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join a fun, social class to strengthen your mind and body to stay sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https://bit.ly/3tPwMs3.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

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

A Night with the Dads II: The Daddening - 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Dads are back at Stage Door Theatre with their awardwinning improv comedy shows. All shows contain adult language and themes. Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3sBkvtK.

Melton at Etz Chaim: “OMG Can You Believe? - 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Explore the BIG questions surrounding God with Rabbi Dan Dorsch at Congregation Etz Chaim for this Brill Institute/Melton School class. Register at https://bit.ly/48dTzQn.

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. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact Diana Cole for more information at Diana@atljewishtimes.com.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 51

OY VEY

JEWISH JOKE

OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM...

Dear Rachel, mohel (a trained expert ently became a certified course in England My nephew, David, rec ). He took an intensive ion cis cum cir of rite in performing the him affirmed that The mohel who trained ed. cat nti the au ly ful is reaching out and came back wlessly. Naturally, David fla ms for per d an s nd gain experience he has steady ha vocation. He is eager to new his ing ard reg s nd his side. In addito family and frie an experienced mohel at th wi rk wo ly on ll wi vel at his own and, at this stage, and will even agree to tra es vic ser his for rge cha tion, he will not a baby boy if they will children, who just had my ask to me nts wa w are understandexpense. David daughter and son-in-la My by. ba the e cis cum t if their hesitation allow him to cir a novice- and so am I! Bu ng usi of ht ug tho the ably nervous at experience he needs? how can David get the , ent tim sen c bli pu of is a microcosm Sincerely, Feeling Like a Jellyfish

Dear Jellyfish, Your family’s concerns are very understandable. This is their child and your grandchild! Naturally, you want to use an acclaimed expert for this minor surgical procedure.

Even the most experienced mohalim occasionally encounter complications, just like doctors when they perform procedures.

Can you explain your feelings to David? If he has healthy self-esteem, he will accept your hesitation without taking it as a personal affront. What it boils down to is that you believe he is a qualified practitioner, yet you don’t want to take any risks with your child/ grandchild’s wellbeing.

From David’s perspective, if everyone is afraid to employ him, how will he ever gain experience? This is essentially a more global dilemma. Whenever a person applies for a job, he is asked to list his experience. Employers typically prefer skilled workers. Yet, to get expertise, someone must give newbies a chance. Everyone has the right to choose what will be the best fit for his needs- someone qualified versus a less experienced candidate who displays talent and can be trained. Of course, due to the nature of David’s vocation, there are many strong feelings involved that are completely justified.

Ultimately, this is a decision that your children will need to make, and your job is to offer support for their choice. Naturally, if you are concerned about the baby’s safety, that must be expressed. But considering the facts, David has all the measures in place to perform a successful operation, including the placement of an expert at his side- like a resident doctor who works alongside a veteran surgeon.

Mazel Tov on your new grandson! May your children raise him as a good Jew, to follow in the Torah’s ways and become a source of pride to G-d, his family, and the entire Jewish people.

Wishing you a successful navigation of this dilemma, Rachel

A Penny A man walked to the top of a hill to talk to G-d. The man asked, “G-d, what’s a million years to You?” And G-d said, “A minute.”

Then the man asked, “Well, what’s a million dollars to You?” And G-d said, “A penny.”

Then the man asked, “G-d, can I have a penny?”

And G-d said, “Sure, in a minute.”

YIDDISH WORD Shlum Schlump n. A person who is dedicated to making peace among friends & family members yet always ends up making things worse.

“Sophie wasn’t speaking to Iris, so Myron, that shlum schlump, entered the scene, and now Sophie isn’t speaking to Iris, Meredith, or Myron.”

Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column Got a problem? Email Rachel at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com 250 words or less describing your problem. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time! Identifying details will be changed upon request.

52 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

From the Yiddish shlum, meaning “peace,” by way of the Hebrew shalom. A shlum-makher is a peacemaker. And schlump is Yiddish for “a person who is inept.”

BRAIN FOOD

Big Banks

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2023 | 53

OBITUARIES

Esther Lewyn 98, Atlanta

Spanning 98 years, Esther Lewyn’s life was a tapestry woven with strength, resilience, and love. Born in 1925 to Eva and Louis Sloan, immigrants who fled the antisemitic pogroms of Eastern Europe, Esther navigated a world vastly different from the one we know today.

Growing up amidst the Great Depression in Atlanta, Ga., Esther emerged from challenging circumstances with a determination that would shape her entire life. Through it all, Esther always kept moving forward, never letting adversity get in her way. At the age of 14, Esther faced the loss of her father, thrusting her into a world of added responsibility. Witnessing her mother shoulder the family grocery business alone, Esther developed a profound understanding of the importance of women being able to support themselves. This realization became a guiding principle throughout her life.

After graduating from Girls’ High, Esther pursued higher education vigorously, breaking barriers that existed for women of her generation. She attended Agnes Scott College at age 16 and then graduated from New York University. She excelled academically while supporting herself by working as a governess for a young girl in New York City. Although her dream of graduate education was initially denied due to gender bias at NYU, Esther persisted, ultimately earning a master’s degree in education from Emory University.

Esther embarked on an elementary school teaching career in the Atlanta Public Schools. She later tutored “practically every Jewish kid in Atlanta.” She was proud to be the advisor for the venerable Jewish sorority “D.O.Z” (Daughters of Zion) for a generation of young Atlanta Jewish women. In matters of the heart, Esther was not one to conform. Rejecting suitors who sought to control her, she found a partner in Bert Lewyn, a Holocaust survivor from Berlin whom she married in 1951. Their enduring marriage of 65 years was built on mutual respect, independence, and a shared commitment to family. He worshiped her, and she helped him move forward from a life of tragedy to a life of accomplishment.

Esther’s financial acumen was as legendary as her self-confidence. While many women of her era pursued the dream of marrying a wealthy man, Esther learned to think like one. After retiring from teaching, Esther worked with Bert at Lewyn Machinery, Inc., the business they founded, leveraging Esther’s savvy and Bert’s technical and relationship building skills.

As Esther and Bert’s business grew, so did their family. They welcomed five children over eight years and learned to balance the demands of work and child raising.

When the inevitable challenges of parenting arose, Esther responded with optimism and a determination to find the resources that would allow her children to thrive. Es-

54 | DECEMBER 31, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ther insisted that each of her children have the opportunity to attend the best public and private schools and tirelessly tutored her kids as needed, again focusing on the opportunities afforded by education. She had the same focus with her grandchildren, and ensured they also had superior access to great educational experiences.

A woman of style, Esther commanded respect and admiration. She dressed with elegance, dignity and confidence that left an indelible impression. She and Bert traveled the world, collecting an ever-expanding volume of museum quality art, and they commissioned leading artists to paint beloved family members, all lovingly displayed in their Buckhead home. Esther combined her love of the visual arts with a delight for the dramatic arts. She had season tickets for decades for many Atlanta venues and loved venturing to New York for the latest Broadway offerings. Her love for musicals and other theater inspired her children and grandchildren to pursue drama during school and professionally.

Quality time was Esther’s love language, and she never missed an opportunity to be present for her six grandchildren. Her fondness for storytelling turned family gatherings into memorable occasions. Esther and Bert built a mountain home in Highlands, N.C., and a beach home in Destin, Fla., as gathering places for children and grandchildren. Family also meant generosity for Esther. She shopped all year for Hanukkah celebrations where every child and grandchild received an overwhelming amount of gifts.

Nothing gave her more pleasure than to see each child unwrap their gift with a smile and a resulting hug.

Generosity also meant philanthropy for Esther. Bert and Esther’s names appear in buildings (the Atlanta Jewish Academy, in an endowment at Emory University, and in books they funded about American Jewish history and the history of the Holocaust.)

Achieving everything she set out to do, Nana’s passing at the age of 98 marked the end of an era. She will be very missed. Esther was not only a loving wife, mother, and grandmother but also a progressive matriarch, business savant and patron of the arts and the community. Her legacy, an inspiring tale of resilience, independence, and unwavering principles, will continue to influence generations to come.

May we carry forward the lessons Esther imparted by example and by deed and celebrate an astounding life. Esther, your spirit, strength, and indomitability shall forever be with us. May your memory be for a blessing, knowing that your legacy lives on in the hearts of the many who loved you. Esther was predeceased by her husband, Bert Lewyn, and her parents, Eva and Louis Sloan, and is survived by her loving family, Andrea Lewyn Krakovsky (Ed) and Cindy Lewyn; sons, Lawrence, Marc (Bev), and Michael (Helen) Lewyn; and grandchildren, Jake and Sloan Krakovsky, and Alexandra, Rachel, Sarah (Shep Gerszberg) and Rebecca Lewyn.

A memorial service for Esther was held at The Temple in Atlanta, Ga., on Dec. 1, 2023, with Rabbi Peter Berg and Rabbi Adam Starr officiating. Internment followed at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Ga., with Rabbi Ilan Feldman officiating. Contributions to the Geffen and Lewyn Family Southern Jewish Collections Research Fellowship of the Stuart Rose Library at Emory University, or to a charity of one’s choosing, would be deeply appreciated by the family. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Donald Joel Memberg

Ashira Charna Rabinowitz

Donald Joel Memberg unexpectedly passed away in his sleep at his home overnight on Dec. 10, 2023. He leaves behind a legacy of love, community, and friendship.

Donald was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Feb. 24, 1947, to Belle and Irving Memberg.

After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn and moving with his family to Rahway, N.J., Donald undertook a long but successful journey to earn his college degree. His journey led him to the University of South Carolina to study his passion, advertising. While a student there, he worked long hours in a jewelry store to be able to send money home to help support his mother and father. From there, he was offered a summer internship in Atlanta at an advertising firm that became a full-time job before he even graduated. He then transferred one final time to finish his degree at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he finally received his hard-earned degree in 1975. He always said he had transferred so many times that he had enough credits for a master’s degree.

Donald’s true calling in life was being a loving husband to Francine and father to their three sons. He met Fran at a young advertising professionals’ group in Atlanta. She also had found her way down south from Lancaster, Penn., via NYC around the same time he did. Together, they instilled a love and respect for Judaism into their sons’ lives.

There was a great sadness in his life that came when Fran passed away in 2016 after struggling for several years with a muscle disease. He worked to fill his soul by helping countless others in his community and his synagogue. He also was blessed with four grandchildren who never lacked the love and affection of their grandpa.

Donald is survived by his three sons, Larry (Lorena), Matthew (Jenny), and Michael (Beryl), his brother, Harvey (Andrea), and his father, Irving, along with his grandchildren, Daniela, Benjamin, Max, and Mila, as well as many other cousins and nieces/ nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fran, as well as his sister, Fran (the “original” Fran Memberg).

Donald was very active in and dedicated to his synagogue, Kesher Torah, in Sandy Springs. The friendships and bonds he made there were a big influence in his life, especially after the passing of his wife.

Many thanks, love, and appreciation are extended to his community family who have stepped up incredibly to help in this time of great sadness.

Graveside services were held Dec. 12 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kesher Torah or the charity of one’s choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Ashira Charna Rabinowitz, 20, of Atlanta, Ga., tragically passed away on Dec. 11, 2023. She is survived by her parents, Barry Rabinowitz and Debbie Derby of Atlanta, Ga., her brother, Matan Rabinowitz of Ofakim, Israel, her grandmother, Ruth Derby of Allentown, Penn., aunts, uncles, and many cousins. Ashira got her valuable Jewish education from Chaya Mushka Children’s House, Atlanta Jewish Academy, and The Weber High School. She was a student in the Business School at Florida State University.

Ashira bravely tried her hand in a wide variety of sports and activities, including gymnastics, hockey, basketball, and volleyball, but excelled for many years in competitive dance, including as team captain and tutoring younger dancers. Through high school she was active in the Friendship Circle and attended AIPAC conferences in support of Israel.

At FSU, she was an active member of the Delta Gamma sorority, where she had many close friends. She had a confident and positive attitude that combined with her extrovert personality and love of socializing create an enormous circle of friends who love her deeply.

Graveside services were held Dec 14 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that you make donations to either Tribe of Nova – an organization that supports survivors of the Nova Festival that was attacked in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, or to Friendship Circle Atlanta. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

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20, Atlanta

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, 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.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS Being 'Bageled' in PT One can receive Bageling or deliver it.

“Bageling” refers to Jew A using a Jewish word or phrase in a conversation with possible Jew B in orChana Shapiro der to ascertain whether Jew B is Jewish, too. Reveal-Bageling may be used to inform another Jew that you are also a Member of the Tribe. An effective Bageler never relies on words like kvetch or schlep because they’re used by everybody nowadays, so more esoteric words or phrases must be employed.

An acquaintance, Lana, taught me about Bageling and told me this anecdote.

She had chatted with a cute guy named Josh in her building’s lobby and elevator a few times. She learned that Josh had gone to Rutgers, was an actuary, and he lived in a studio apartment; she figured that he was a Jew, wasn’t a pauper, and he lived alone.

She decided she had nothing to lose, so she Bageled him, just to be sure he merited fur-

ther attention.

“You must know this neighborhood pretty well,” she noted the next time they met. “Where can I buy a mezuzah around here?” “I’ll ask my mother,” Josh answered.

“There’s a mezuzah on our door at home.”

The next time they met, Lana was surprised that, instead of answering the mezuzah purchase question himself, Josh gave her his mother’s cellphone number.

Although Lana’s Bageling had confirmed her expectations that Josh knew what a mezuzah was, he clearly wasn’t interested in her. He was passing her off to his mother.

Alas, Lana and Josh did not fall in love and get married; however, Bageling with “mezuzah” then adding a further Bagel (do you know where to buy one?) was a deft ploy.

Her hopes of romance were dashed, but her Bageling chops were right on.

Aside from its obvious use in dating screening, Bageling can appear unexpectedly, like what happened to me at PT. I’ve been undergoing physical therapy for a while, and I knew a bit about some of the regulars.

Not so the therapists, about whom I knew very little. Then, I got Reveal-Bageled by one of them.

I was exercising on a stationary bike, while one of the therapists, Mitchel, tried to rehang a clock above us, but it kept falling off. “You’ll have to use a stepstool,” I stated, never wanting to miss a chance to offer unsolicited advice. But instead of responding, “Who asked you?” he said, “The same thing happened last night when I tried to rehang our ketuba.”

“Ketuba?” I asked. I wasn’t sure I had heard him clearly because my audible panting may have muted his words.

“Yes, ketuba,” Mitchel affirmed.

I had been Reveal-Bageled.

“You’re Jewish?” I asked, stupidly.

“That’s why we have a ketuba,” Mitchel stated.

“How did you know I’d recognize the word ketuba?” I asked.

“I just knew.”

Was it my name? My hair? My thighs?

“You just Reverse-Bageled me. Do you know what Bageling means?” I asked.

“I can figure it out,” he laughed. Actually, we both laughed, which wasn’t easy for me, pedaling away on that bicycle.

Mitchel walked across the room to arrange an obstacle course of cones for me

to navigate. I expected no further Semitic interchange, but I soon learned that the large area has excellent acoustics. Mitchel’s ketuba revelation and my response had been overheard by another PT regular, whom I’d often considered to be a candidate for Bageling, because he and I once talked about living in Flatbush, Brooklyn, a heavily Jewish neighborhood. I didn’t know if he was Jewish or simply knew a lot about Jews. I decided to bypass starter Bagels and launch a select Bagel cluster his way. I mentioned that we used to buy our lulav and etrog before Sukkot in Borough Park, a neighborhood next to Flatbush which is an even more densely Jewish enclave. Were these Bagel words— lulav, etrog, Borough Park, Sukkot—enough to identify him as a co-religionist?

“I used to go with my Zaydie to the etrog markets in Borough Park,” he recalled.

So, my hunch was right: Mr. Flatbush was a Yid! He would have told me more, but his therapist beckoned him to the weights across the room. Mitchel, my therapist, was tired of our chatter, too. “Stay focused,” he chided, but it wasn’t my fault. He’s the one who started the whole thing when he Bageled me! ì

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