Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. 99 NO. 24, December 31, 2024

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Community of Giving Tackles Rise in Antisemitism

Compiled by AJT Staff

More than 500 people tuned in on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, for Jewish Family & Career Services’ annual Community of Giving: A Virtual Gathering. The event highlighted the difficulties the Jewish community has faced over the past year since the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel – and spotlighted some of the extraordinary work the organization has done to combat the destructive impact of antisemitism.

“The assault on Oct. 7 happened in Israel, yet it scars us with searing pain here in Atlanta as we pay witness to the continuing atrocities, the lack of global outrage, hostages that remain in captivity, and the rising worldwide antisemitism,” said Terri Bonoff, CEO of JF&CS. “It’s hard to express the depth of my own grief and anger surrounding all of this.”

Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeast U.S., joined voices with Bonoff and Jon Amsler, JF&CS board chair, and event co-chairs, Anat and Brian Granath and Sara and Ross

Kogon, in expressing the importance of the work JF&CS is doing to soothe the wounds and ease the fears from the backlash of Jew bigotry in the community.

“Jewish Family & Career Services is a shining example of an organization that has stepped up to address the growing needs in the community in this new and challenging reality, providing much needed assistance, strength and hope for so many,” said Sultan-Dadon.

During the powerful one-hour presentation, viewers witnessed emotional stories from clients, volunteers, and staff. All shared their heartbreaking experiences of how the surge of antisemitism this past year has dramatically affected them emotionally, psychologically, and physically – and how JF&CS has helped.

Attendees heard from a therapist who works directly with Jewish college students through the partnership between JF&CS and Hillels of Georgia called Be Well with Hillel, along with two courageous local Jewish college students; a member of the JF&CS Holocaust support team who cares for the community’s Holocaust survivors, along with a Holocaust survivor; and David Lubin, the bereaved father of Rose Lubin z”l – a Dunwoody resident who lost her life in a terrorist attack while bravely serving Israel as a member of the Israeli Defense Force.

Jews today live in a new reality where they do not always know where to find a safe space. Sharing the importance of having a Jewish human service agency to go to for support can help others find what they need. JF&CS has provided a safe space for so many over the past 14 months and will continue to be there for the community.

The event’s featured speaker was Jo-

nah Platt, actor, artist, and advocate, in conversation with esteemed TV personality, speaker and author, Nadia Bilchik. Platt and Bilchik discussed the advocacy work Platt is doing through his podcast – “Being Jewish” – wherein he has conversations with others to explore and normalize what it means to be Jewish in today's world. He has brought the modern conversation on Jewish identity, culture, and current events to a wider audience, influencing the broader culture for good. He’s also at the forefront of changing the vernacular of “antisemitism” to what it truly is.

“I had an inkling that the word ‘antisemitism’ … was too opaque for people,” explained Platt. “When you’re engaging in anti-Jewish bigotry or anti-Jewish racism or anti-Jew hate, you need to know that that’s what you’re doing. And having some sort of polite political historical term to sugarcoat that for you and make it feel less impactful is the opposite of what we need right now.”

This event was bolstered by two cochair couples who are heavily involved in JF&CS’ efforts.

“Now more than ever, the Jewish community is experiencing so much discrimination and hate,” said event co-chair Sara Kogan. “It’s important to share stories and methods to combat this prejudice. Jonah’s work in this area was highlighted throughout the Community of Giving program and resonated with all who attended.”

In addition to being a part of the virtual event, Platt joined JF&CS in-person

Jewish Family & Career Services

CEO Terri Bonoff (left) with featured speaker Jonah Platt // All photos by MTechProMedia | mtechpromedia.com (From left) Event co-chairs Brian Granath, Anat Granath, Sara Kogon, Ross Kogan

on Giving Tuesday for media and community visits, as well as a VIP event for event sponsors.

He started his day as a guest of Rick Folbaum on “Atlanta News First” in an early morning live segment to talk about his podcast and his participation with Community of Giving. During the VIP event, Platt had a one-on-one conversation with David Lubin.

They noted how both of their lives changed after Oct. 7 and advocacy and awareness became a part of their everyday lives. They each expressed the importance of Jewish pride and encouraged attendees to be outwardly, proudly Jewish.

“The future that I hope to see,” Lubin expressed during the presentation, “is where I can go to Israel and not be scared to get on an airplane or be able to go to my daughter’s grave and not have to worry about terrorist attacks. I look forward to that day when as Jews we’re not stressed about this, when we have more security … of being able to be who we are … And if we’re unified, we’re stronger,” Lubin concluded. “Stay unified, stay proud of who you are, stay proud to be a Jew!”

To summarize the stance that he recommends Jews should take, Platt quoted the musical, “Wicked,” which was his breakout Broadway role.

“We (the Jewish people) don’t need

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to be afraid of the bigots with no information who are shouting untrue things,” he explained. “There’s a line from ‘Wicked’ when Elphaba realizes the Wizard is a sham, and she says to him, ‘you have no real power.’ That’s what I feel like Jews need to wake up to, to realize these people (who are criticizing Jewish people and Israel) have no real power. Just because they’re abrasive doesn’t mean that they deserve to be heard more than we do, or that we should be afraid of them when they have such a lack of information and hateful ideas.”

“From start to finish, I truly felt that the event was a perfect reminder of the strength of our community,” said Sara Kogon. “The quality of the people involved in this event surpassed our greatest expectations – from college students speaking on their experiences with discrimination and antisemitism, to Jonah Platt sharing a strong message of combatting anti-Jew hate, everyone watching left empowered to make change in the world around them.”

If you missed this impactful Community of Giving presentation, you can still watch it with your $36 donation to JF&CS. Use the URL that follows to purchase your ticket and receive a personal link to the recording: https://t.ly/E168H.

Jewish Family & Careers Services Marketing contributed to this report. ì

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Jonah Platt (right) interviews David Lubin.

The event featured a delectable buffet.

Beth Tefillah Celebrates 40th Anniversary

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

The mood was beyond jubilant the night of Dec. 7, when Rabbi Yossi and Dassi New accepted the admiration of Congregation Beth Tefillah celebrating its 40th anniversary in Sandy Springs.

One of the early supporters, Jan Spector, told the AJT, “Rabbi New took a desert and made it bloom.”

A hilariously roaring comedy routine by CBT former president Jimmy Baron was second only to New’s emotional recounting of the four-decade-long journey, starting with nothing but a card table in 1984 to the Chabad of Georgia over which New now presides, including CBT.

New said, “Chabad schluchim from all over see our community in Atlanta as the crown jewel … what we have built now is a unique diverse concept where Jews, no matter the background or level of observance, are part of the same community.”

More than 360 revelers clad in black and white mingled in rows of weddinglike ivory florals arching over New’s son-in-law Eli Brafman’s New York style gourmet dishes -- salads, lamb, soups, vegetables, rice, dips, sauces, and desserts. A crowd favorite was the gravlax carving station.

Sarel New Brafman executed the décor. Pre-program, South Africans chatted about how their initial efforts helped form the base of CBT -- Dr. David Westerman. Sandra Bank, Anthony Natureman, Sheryl Westerman, Dr. Leslie Rubin, and Howard Aaron to name just a few.

Baron, a former actor and award-winning DJ, delivered a smashing and edgy run down of various members with much humor. “The Imerman Family Foundation donated the first house for $1. It was really worth $2, but Jews don’t pay full price … the neighbors didn’t want a shul in the neighborhood, but the Gentiles didn’t mind … folks were talking about a ruby ring, and Dassi New perked up, ‘Who’s got a ruby? Can she work on Thursday?'"

Rabbi New took to the stage and began with the early days when they arrived with not much fanfare. He said, “When we were returning from Australia for Pesach, I looked at Dassie and said, ‘No one even knows we are coming back,’ and she said, ‘No one knows we ever left’ … every mistake I made by myself, every good decision, I listened to my wife.”

New explained that this Saturday night was officially Sunday in starting a new parsha, Vayishlach, where Jacob expresses gratitude. New added, “I am

humbled. The definition of a happy fulfilled individual and with my two camps: family and community.”

Fueled by the attendance of his family, New stated that the oldest and youngest offspring live out of town, and the

seven in the middle are local. Most importantly, “they all get along with each other and are committed to the same values.”

Ron and Romi Elkounovitch toast Dassi and Rabbi Yossi New on their decades of accomplishments.

Artist Dan Mervis created this original ink drawing of the Rebbe. The Elkonouvitches bought it at auction.

Past CBT president and talented actor Jimmy Baron got the crowd laughing // Photo Credit: Sarah Slavik Photography

Rabbi New appreciates son-in-law Eli Brafman’s expert catering.

Jan Spector (right) had confidence in Rabbi New from the congregation’s inception.

The gravlax carving station was very popular.

He also paid respect to his late mother, father -- now 96, and Spalter in-laws.

A well-produced video traced the shul’s 40 years with detail and more joy. Various couples spoke about what CBT has meant to them in forming community. As a young child, Yossi was pictured with his family. Rabbi New recounted how he asked for the Rebbe’s (Menachem Schneerson, the father of the Hasidic dynasty) blessing. “Do I have your blessing?” which was corrected to “I do have your blessing,” referring to how one should think of oneself with positivity.”

The video’s acme was opening the exiting building concurrently with son (now) Rabbi Isser New’s bar mitzvah.

Local artist Daniel Mervis spent months creating an original black inked portrait of the Rebbe. He explained, “Much of this is improvisational. No one piece is the same.”

In a lively auction, Ron and Romi Elkounovitch, who also appeared in the video, bought the painting for $8,500. Representing the younger generation of South Africans, the magnanimous Elkounovitches brought their two upbeat Maccabiah-headed soccer playing sons to operate the photo booth.

CBT member Ian Ratner said, “CBT’s and Rabbi New’s philosophy of hope, love and positivity are the traits that lead to this. The proof of the pudding of the News fulfilling their calling is the vibrant cadre of children at schools learning and playing.”

Rabbi New landed the last words, “Here we are with people who can think differently, even vote differently. That is the uniqueness of our shul. L’Chayim, Mazel Tov, to the next 40 years!”

Rabbi Yossi and Dassi New, take a bow, and soak in the love. ì

Past CBT president Dr. Leslie Rubin chatted with Howard Aaron, both South African supporters.

Rabbi New’s family portrait. His speech noted that everyone has the same values and gets along very well // Photo Credit: Sarah Slavik Photography

Mireille and Anthony Natureman stand in front of historical CBT photos.

Rabbinical Association Panel Delves Deep

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

On Dec. 10, the Atlanta Rabbinical Association presented Georgia State Rep. Esther Panitch (House Rep. 51), Greg Bluestein (Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter), and Sam Olens (partner at Dentons’ Public Policy practice) to discuss how the November presidential election informs the Georgia state legislature and what it means for the Jewish community.

ARA president Daniel Dorsch, senior rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim, explained that the ARA has 85 members including educators, retirees, in addition to pulpit rabbis. He stated, “We use our voices to bring Torah to Jewish Atlanta. We don’t always agree … 10 rabbis, 100 opinions. We model disagreements for the sake of heaven … bringing holiness to the art of politics. We even have a prayer for those who work for government.”

Temple Sinai Senior Rabbi Ron Segal was the moderator. Bluestein posed what we don’t know yet regarding the Trump victory. “Will Georgia’s Republican party change? Become more MAGA? With (Governor Brian) Kemp heading the Republican governors … will he run for president? What mandate do Republicans have going forward? Kemp was smart and kept some space between him and Trump so as not to be blamed if he lost. Note Kemp doesn’t talk about abortion … things like IVF could be tricky.”

Olens, also former Georgia attorney general, stated

that the election was about the economy and paying grocery bills. “Harris never figured that out.” Olens pointed out that Trump’s executive orders would not be “rubber stamped” and have to go through procedures.

Panitch was concerned that nonprofit grant funding could affect IVF. Panitch shared that her own daughter had multiple gynecological surgeries, and that “nothing was going to keep her from becoming a grandmother.”

Panitch, the lone Jewish state legislator, made news when antisemitic literature was thrown by the Goyim

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Defense League in her neighborhood. Some House members stood with her for that, but did not vote for the HB30 bill that defined antisemitism. And post-Oct. 7, she felt more silence. She said, “There’s a risk bills could be hijacked and made worse. I don’t want to make bad laws. Think about transgender sports. No real problem here, no need for solution … It’s low hanging fruit … the optics of big men in girls’ sports … a waste of time.”

All agreed that Jews cannot “go it” alone. Olens said, “Jews (at 2 to 3 percent) don’t control Georgia. We need partnerships with other groups like the NAACP to be able to pass hate crime bills … the Islamic Speakers Bureau, the Episcopalian ministries … that help all minorities.”

Bluestein emphasized, “Go visit the state capitol. There are 236 lawmakers. They’re not hiding. Standing up matters.”

Panitch expressed concern that her party (Democrats) might slide left like dealing with a Democratic socialist from Smyrna. She said, “I know there are people I cannot move … we have to find allies in quiet ways like inviting for Shabbat.” Bluestein summarized, “We are not monolithic. I got a lot of feedback from both sides when I wrote that J Street was ‘centrist’ -- a reminder how divisive Israeli issues are, even within the Jewish community.”

Panitch mused that she was not elected to be the Jewish rep but feels the responsibility. “I was suspicious when Ossoff didn’t respond before the recent vote to ban arms to Israel, so I knew then he would vote ‘yes.’”

Bluestein stated that the state’s next races have begun. “Chris Carr took steps to run for governor. Half the state senate is already running for something. Lots of movement.”

Panitch urged audience members to run for office. “You are just as qualified as some of these other folks.”

Not a fan of Congress, Olens said, “They do little except name post offices, work 30 days a year and can’t come up with a budget … the only advanced country that can’t govern itself … that’s why we have so many executive orders.”

Brooke Rosenthal, ARA senior administrator and events coordinator, said, “I found the forum to be very informative and interesting. I think this type of event is worth repeating and building upon.”

Bottom line: Folks with all political stripes attended the event in harmony. Therein is the hope. ì

All about cordiality, Deputy General Counsel for the Georgia Democratic Party Matt Weiss chats with Dan Regenstein, Chief of Staff Georgia Department of Administrative Services (under Gov. Brian Kemp).

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Rabbi Ron Segal (far right) moderated the Atlanta Rabbinical Association panel, which included Greg Bluestein, Esther Panitch, Sam Olens, and Rabbi Dan Dorsch, president of the ARA.

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FIDF Touts Tucker, Heroes and Hope

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Approximately 300 people attended the Friends of the Israel Defense Force’s Legends and Heroes event at City Springs on Dec. 9 with special emphasis on power and hope since Oct. 7.

Media star Montana Tucker served as the emcee throughout the program and in interview with two IDF soldiers. FIDF Georgia and Southeast States Vice President Seth Baron welcomed the crowd and described 2024 as a year of challenge with war on all fronts.

He said, “Thanks to your support and compassion, the FIDF has been able to meet the critical needs of IDF soldiers, including the two amazing men here tonight, one of whom participated in eliminating Sinwar.”

Baron introduced Tucker as an actress, singer and social media phenomenon with 14 million followers, who finds time in her busy career to promote the good works of the FIDF, alongside her Grammy Award-winning show, “Bring Them Home.”

Apologetically hoarse from her recent trip to Israel where she volunteered with special needs children, Tucker related her passion back to her survivor grandparents and now her duty to speak up. Next up is her upcoming docuseries, “How to Never Forget.” She said, “I can remember the past without it defining the future. We can carry light, Torah and hope, though it’s painful to see the rise in antisemitism, and that the world doesn’t have our back. On my four trips to Israel, I saw trauma … bullets showered at children in safe rooms.”

Although she receives hate messages, she responds with kindness and stories that amplify the truth.

Israel Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon laughed that she could never imagine being introduced by Montana Tucker, and began by quoting Judah Maccabee, “’They come against us, but we fight … not merely as a campaign, but a fight for life’ … After a 14-month war with Iran’s proxies all around, we are proud, strong and sovereign … The IDF has weakened Iran and defeated extremists, showing the imperative for a free world.”

She emphasized that Israel does not choose war and that recent developments in Syria may effect change, “If not, we will do what it takes. This is not possible without the IDF -- 816 soldiers have been lost since Oct. 7, including seven in

the last 24 hours. Our hearts ache.”

Next, Lt. Col. Barak, 36, who has served as an operations officer the last 14 months and previously in active combat said, “I have witnessed a modern-day Holocaust. This enemy has no moral limits.”

He spoke of the horror of Hamas’ tunnel networks. “The thought of hostages breathing in that darkness … yet in the web of weapons storage and cruelty, we rescued six hostages.”

Tucker sat down to interview Lt. Itmark, 23, a platoon commander with young recruits who was told to “sweep and neutralize an area of Gaza.”

Little did he know that the evil Sin-

war (Hamas chair) would be eliminated by that sweep. While in prison, Sinwar was saved by Israeli doctors who removed his brain tumor. Itmar continued his role to counsel and help young recruits process. He stated, “I remembered why I became a commander.”

Long-serving FIDF national board member Garry Sobel recounted the role he and Karen Shulman played in the wee hours of Oct. 7, raising emergency supplies. He said, “We have no time to rest. Our only hope is in Israeli soldiers, with the FIDF meeting humanitarian needs.”

Before the event. Ben Levy, FIDF board member, chatted with outgoing

FIDF chair Karen Shulman. Levy told the AJT, “My grandparents were survivors. We are lucky enough to be in America, where our parents don’t have to worry whether we will come home at night. My part, giving money, is easy.”

Shulman described her involvement, especially since October 2023, working with soldiers as transformative.

Footnote: Tucker was almost removed from the Grammy Award ceremony for being “too political,” in a yellow hostage dress. She was lauded for using her voice to show Hollywood, especially those who are afraid of blowback, to stand up. ì

Montana Tucker served as emcee for the Friends of the Israel Defense Force’s Legends and Heroes event // Photo Credit: Jon Marks

(From left) Seth Baron (VP, FIDF Georgia & Southeast States), Montana Tucker, Karen Shulman (outgoing chair for FIDF Atlanta). Jeris Hollander (associate director, FIDF Georgia & Southeast States), Garry Sobel (FIDF national board member) // Photo Credit: Jon Marks

Montana Tucker wore this hostage statement dress to the Grammy’s.

Lt. Col. Barak said, “I have witnessed a modern-day Holocaust. This enemy has no moral limits” // Photo Credit: Jon Marks

JIFLA Announces She’s a Maccabee Award Recipients

Jewish Interest-Free Loan Association of Georgia (JIFLA) is proud to announce the 2024 honorees for She’s a Maccabee Awards, an annual Chanukah tradition now in its fifth year. This initiative celebrates extraordinary Jewish women whose skills, talents, passions, and dedication to Jewish values make a lasting impact on our community.

This year’s recipients are Sherry Frank, Tracey Grant, Susan Heidt, and Keri Kaufmann. Georgia State Rep. Esther Panitch received an honorable mention.

She’s A Maccabee was established to recognize modern-day heroines who embody the courage, leadership, and resilience of the Maccabees in the Chanukah story. Jill Wheatley, a past She’s a Maccabee honoree, reflected on the significance of this tradition: “A Maccabee actively practices Jewish ideals and customs with courage and tenacity. Their impact creates momentum within the community, inspiring others and creating a greater ripple effect.”

The selection committee was so impressed by the nominations of several young community members for their acts of service and leadership that JIFLA created a new category: Rising Maccabees. Starting in 2025, JIFLA will accept nominations for this new age group to recognize Jewish young women aged 18 and younger, celebrating and inspiring the next generation of Maccabees.

As the Maccabees represent powerful women, JIFLA empowers Jewish Georgians with interest-free loans and financial education. More than 60 percent of JIFLA borrowers are women, and with JIFLA’s support they are empowered to achieve financial independence and succeed both personally and professionally. JIFLA is committed to its mission to provide Jewish Georgians with a path to financial stability and self-sufficiency, ensuring they have the tools and resources to thrive.

She’s A Maccabee applications are open to the public and honorees are chosen by JIFLA’s executive staff and previous awardees.

This year’s recipients include:

Sherry Frank: She’s a leader in Black/Jewish relations and a women’s rights supporter. She builds up young leaders in the community to ensure the next generation is ready to take over.

Tracey Grant: Every Tuesday morning, Tracey’s home is filled with 20-plus women learning Torah and from each

other to enhance Jewish connection and traditions among the group and later in everyone’s respective families. The invite list is constantly expanding and reflects Tracey’s welcoming spirit of inclusiveness regardless of past involvement or background. As a past president of the Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta, Tuesday mornings are only a window into Tracey’s history of connecting Jewish women in Atlanta to their shared history through trips to Israel and programs back home. Tracey also participates in the One Good Deed program through JF&CS bringing compassionate companionship

to older adults in our community and is the current co-chair of the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

Susan Heidt: Her focus is volunteering for her synagogue, Backpack Buddies, The Sandwich Project, Breast Cancer Awareness, and JWFA.

Keri Kaufmann: Kaufmann leads Jewish Moms of Atlanta and stepped in to provide critical assistance during the 800-plus Hadassah/JWC Great Challah Bake partnership, created a member spotlight, and assisted with a powerful event that brought Kay Wilson here, educating

people of all ages and backgrounds. (Honorable Mention) Georgia State Rep. Esther Panitch: She never wavered in fighting for the antisemitism bill in the Georgia State House.

(Inaugural Rising Maccabee) Shira Preis: She uplifts the people around her by working at Camp Dream Street every summer, at a weeklong overnight camp for kids with disabilities. Another way Shira helps her community is with her work on the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Student Advisory Council. ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

Tracey Grant

Keri Kaufmann

Esther Panitch

Sherry Frank

Shira Preis

Susan Heidt

Chaya Mushka Capital Campaign Nets $1.3M

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Supporters of Chaya Mushka Children’s House (CMCH) braved the chilly Dec. 3 temps to kick off a significant fundraising campaign at the home of David and Mira Liniado.

The school’s mission is to provide a nurturing, Jewish, Montessori-based education as part of the Chabad Schools of Atlanta. During the event, parents, students, teachers and administrators attested to the hands-on, peaceful atmosphere where children feel respected, and parents are very involved. The older students are enrolled in Chaya Mushka Chabad Academy. Rabbi Yossi New, regional director of Chabad of Georgia, and Dassi New, preschool director, mingled with guests.

Executive Director Rabbi Isser New explained the theme of the event and campaign, which sprang from an invitation depicting childlike animal images. New described the four pillars: the leopard, the deer, the lion, and eagle. He said, “With our new goal of $1,000,000, we punch way above our weight class (over the previous $750,000). Our parents are like the leopards, our administrators are like the deer balancing multiple issues, keeping fast on the move; our teachers spar like eagles projecting joy with ease and happiness all around them; and lastly, our students are the lions -- empowered, empathetic and showing perseverance.”  Ultimately, the capital campaign netted Chaya Mushka approximately $1.3 million.

Rabbi New boasted about the school’s basketball team not having a deep pool of talent to draft 14 players. “Yet those players performed like champions with heart against schools with thousands of students.”

Abigail Teytel with poise represented the students and served as emcee, explaining how she has grown and flourished at CMCH for 11 years and formed valuable friendships. She extolled the school’s extracurricular choices, electives like yoga and financial literacy, fostering practical life skills, and meeting with IDF soldiers.

Shterney Adelman, representing the teachers, revealed that she teaches multiple class levels and has become buddies with her students over the years. She stated, “Our administrators listen, and we are one big team, and function as a place to connect.”

Parent Bez Avtzon spoke about how the school provides the balance he never got as a child. He said, “Our school has a

five-star experience on a two-star budget. We are all pioneers, and this doesn’t happen in one day. Growth comes with pain and challenges.” One donor pledged free lunch and snacks two days a week to give parents a break.

A joyous video of children at play and in class was screened. The Liniado home was aglow with a roaring fire, two buffet stations and lights strung outdoors by the pool. E. B Catering (Eli Brafman is a parent and donor) offered a lavish sushi display with warm lentil and butternut squash soup, farmers salad, fatoush salad, and fish tacos at one station. The dining area had bruschetta, mushroom popovers and a variety of sweets.

On hand was artist Anita Stein, who designed a unique print on sale for $120

unframed. By the entrance she held a live demonstration where she fashioned a print, in this case an azure wave, from a linoleum tile application -- first sweeping, then pressing.

During the pre-function hour, Mussy Groner, who teaches third grade, told the AJT, “The school is small and growing and adaptable. Also, as parents, our feedback is valued. As a teacher, the co-workers are supportive and foster an environment of learning.”

Mendel Groner, head of The Friendship Circle, added, “Our eighth-grade daughter has taken on a leadership role there and taken advantage of great opportunities.”

The Groner children are 2, 4, 8,10, 12, and 14. Groner’s own mother, Shternie

Lew, a reading specialist at CMCH, raised her hand as having the most children in the room. She commutes from Peachtree City a few days a week.

The school currently serves more than 100 students on two campuses, with a staff of around 25. They maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio. Each class is led by a team: Judaic teacher, a Montessori instructor, and an assistant. The curriculum includes practical life skills, sensorial activities, language development, math and cultural studies integrated with Judaic teachings, Torah studies, and celebration of Jewish holidays, including art, music, and gardening for further enrichment.

The phone fundraising marathon began on Dec. 4 for a 48-hour charge. ì

Chaya Mushka Children’s House administrators Virginia Henry (general studies principal), Leah Sollish (principal), and Dassi New (pre-school director), posed with Rabbi Isser New (executive director), and Yale New (far right).

Teacher Mussy Groner and husband, Mendel, are happy with the school from both the teaching and parental aspects.

David and Mira Linado hosted the Dec. 3 event.

Artist Anita Stein demonstrated her printing technique.

Rabbi Isser New explained the goals of the 48-hour fundraising campaign.

Ellmans Sponsor Creation of English Parasha Series

By Debbie Diamond

Elisa and Gavin Ellman wanted to honor Elisa’s parents, Simone and Julius Iteld, in a way that captured their lifetime dedication to Judaism and Jewish education.

With the recent publication of “The Parasha: The Iteld Edition,” by Koren Publishers Jerusalem, the Ellmans have memorialized the legacy of the Itelds with the five-set book collection for children. Initially published in only Hebrew, the Iteld Edition translates the Hebrew into English, beginning with Parasha (portion) Bereshit, when the world was created and Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, and ending with Parasha Vezot Haberakha, when Moses blesses the tribes of Israel and dies at 120, passing along the leadership mantle to Joshua.

“For years, Gavin has had a tradition of learning the parasha each week with our children. When we wanted to honor my parents, we contacted Koren Jerusalem to discuss ideas. It was important to us that future generations understand the Torah and how meaningful it is to us as Jews. This project was a perfect fit for us,” said Elisa Ellman.

The series was created by Israeli journalist, radio host and children’s author, Emily Amrousi, who retells each Torah story in a sweet, sensitive tone that reaches young readers. Each volume retells the weekly parasha in an engaging, understandable style that is accessible for children aged 5-12, as well as older readers of all ages.

Illustrated by Menahem Halberstadt, an Israeli illustrator, cartoonist, storyteller and art director, each page brims with color, warmth and imagination, helping children visualize and connect with the characters and events depicted. Halberstadt was a National Jewish Book Award finalist and received an Israel Ministry of Culture award for his previous work.

During the translation process, Rebecca Winter, PhD, the Atlanta Jewish Academy High School Judaic studies principal and a clinical neuropsychologist, reviewed the Hebrew text, ensuring that the English words reflected an egalitarian, Modern Orthodox viewpoint that any Jewish person would feel comfortable reading. Elisa also credits Rabbi Daniel Rose, director of educational projects, and Aryeh Grossman, director of development, at Koren Jerusalem, with helping to move the process forward to

Series of “The Parasha: The Iteld Edition,” available in a boxed set, published by Koren Jerusalem Publishers.

completion.

Each of the five books of the series is dedicated to a group of individuals important to the couple, including the Itelds, the Ellman children, their extended family, rabbis and teachers who have helped guide them and, finally, to Jewish service people in the U.S. military, IDF and to those who perished in the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

To commemorate the publication in late 2024, learning sessions were held on a Shabbat at Congregation Ohr HaTorah for adults and children. Four sessions were held, with one for infants through pre-kindergarten and their parents, another for kindergarten through sixth-grade students, a third for seventh grade through high school, and a fourth exclusively for adults. A panel discussion, “Bringing Family Members Together through the Parasha,” at Congregation Ariel in Dunwoody, was attended by approximately 50 people from throughout the community. Winter, Grossman and Marshall Duke, PhD, the Charles Howard Candler professor of psychology at Emory University, led the discussion. Rounding out the weekend, a reception was held at the Ellman home with author Amrousi present.

“What was especially meaningful to us was having the children’s sessions and seeing their love of learning Torah. We are very grateful to Rabbi Adam Starr at Congregation Ohr HaTorah for partnering with us and allowing us this opportunity to introduce the Parasha series in a thoughtful manner to our community and, hopefully, to the broader community as well,” said Gavin.

“My parents’ souls are being elevated every time a child reads a parasha from

these books. Both of them had a long history of supporting Jewish education and day schools. We hope to replicate their efforts. Our goal is to instill every reader of the series with a sense of Jewish pride

and give them ownership of their Judaism,” concluded Elisa.

“The Parasha Series: The Iteld Edition” is available at Judaica Corner in Toco Hills and on Amazon. ì

(From left) Aryeh Grossman with Gavin and Elisa Ellman

Israel Bonds Dinner Explores Healthcare After Oct. 7

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Bradley Young, executive director of the Southeast Division of Israel Bonds, ushered in the first Medical Division event at Congregation Or Hadash on Thursday, Dec. 6. More than 80 physicians of various specialties gathered to hear Dr. Arnon Afek, Director General of Sheba Hospital, and Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast, Anat SultanDadon.

Young welcomed the group by reinforcing that buying bonds is not a donation, but a fixed income instrument with safety and security. He noted that since Oct. 7, 2023, more than $4 billion has been committed worldwide. Or Hadash Rabbi Lauren Henderson gave a dvar torah and noted that her parents are both doctors; referring to the meeting’s topic, she posed, “Who will heal the healers?”

Drs. Amira Beeber, Michael Babrov, and Bruce Beeber introduced SultanDadon by sharing that Atlanta’s Jewish population at 135,000 ranks as the ninth largest in the U.S. and just under one percent of world Jewry. The Babrovs

noted that after the birth of their child, they plan to make Aliyah in the Nfesh B’ Nfresh program.

Ambassador Sultan-Dadon began by noting that it was the 426th day (from Oct. 7) where “we were forever changed … leaving leaders standing on the wrong side of history from cowardice and mis-

information.” She insisted that Israel does not seek war. “We don’t want to conquer Lebanon or Gaza. We want to live in peace … Iran is the root cause seeking destabilization … we have two choices: fight or be slaughtered.” She concluded, “We have 3,000 years of history -- a long and brilliant future awaits.”

Stuart Garawitz, Israel Bonds VP of national sales, shared a touching piece of history where Golda Meir and Ben Gurion came to Madison Square Garden 75 years ago seeking $250,000, and left with $25 million. Former Wall Street executive Garawitz mentioned recent negative events like a real estate bonds meeting where 100 protesters rallied outside. In another instance, funded by Iran and Qatar, Islamists threw red paint at Jewish homes at 3 a.m. to try to deter the sale of Israel Bonds. He ended by praising Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp who “stands up” by buying bonds “turning divest into invest.”

Keynote speaker Dr. Afek stated that Sheeba is the largest hospital in Israel with 2,000 beds, 1,700 physicians, 11,000 employees, and staff of 2,000. “During the war, we got the most severely wounded because of our highly skilled staff. Seventy percent of soldiers came to us. We were at triple capacity working night and day … and we performed perfectly … taking 69 minutes to get the wounded from the battlefield to a trauma center.”

He shared scenes of medical heroism where a wounded soldier’s leg prohibited him from flying, so they sent an ambulance. Another with an infection stayed in the ICU for 144 days, while they brought in specialists from all over the world and still lost him. Afek quoted Charles Dickens: “’These are the best of times and the worst of times.’ Iran’s spearheading missiles was a failure, and they know it … we are strong, and the pendulum

will reach the right balance again.”

He related a horrific incident where an Israeli driving a Tesla was able to escape because the terrorists shot at the front thinking there was an engine. He noted, “Craziness like Libyans being on the Human Rights Commission, and Syria, who knows who’s what there? So, we aren’t so nice, we have to be crazy … only Bitcoin is stronger.”

Open for questions, one doctor asked Afek if Israel was happy about Trump’s victory. He answered, “Yes, we feel he will be more supportive. Without his past action in Golan, where would we be? We may have to pay a certain price for it though. We cannot survive without American Jews.”

Dr. Steve Wertheim, president of Or Hadash, closed the program sharing that he first bought bonds in 1969, and continues investing for his grandchildren. He evoked 1991 when Israel was left hanging by President Bush, which could have been an economic disaster, before American Jews intervened. He also spoke of his recent trip to Israel with diminished tourism. “Jaffa was even empty. The stores were happy to see us.”

Jacqueline Miron, Bonds representative, left later in the week for an Israel Bonds staff delegation to Israel to visit the Nova Festival Memorial, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, an Iron Dome military base, then volunteering at Leket Food Bank. She told the AJT, “This trip is meaningful as we will witness why it’s so important to continue to raise funds for Israel.”

Israel Bonds has generated more than $53 billion in worldwide investments, according to Israelbonds.com. Currently, a five-year eMazel Tov Bond offers an interest rate of 5.84 percent (valid through Dec. 31, 2024). ì

Stuart Garawitz, Dr. Steve Wertheim, and Chuck Berk chat prior to the program.

Dr. Gavin Cohen, Manny Fialkow, and Dr. Stan Plavin share how they connect spiritually and practically to Israel.

Tobin ‘Raises the Bar’ for Chanukah Party

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

The Distillery of Modern Art hosted a crowd of 210 fun-loving and energized Jewish Atlanta barristers, judges and their spouses for the annual J-BAR Chanukah party on Dec. 18.

Atlanta Jewish Times in November touted the formation of J-BAR as a reaction to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas by “doers” Darren Tobin, and Judges Jay Roth and Stacy Hydrick. Now with some programming behind them, they are gaining traction.

Judge Roth said, “Last night’s party was amazing! It was full of heritage, tradition, Jewish history and good times. JBAR is still a child, in its youth, learning to grow and become a large part of our entire community. We are only getting started! Next year, we’ll do even better.”

Tax, personal injury, family, inhouse, real estate, workman’s compensation, corporate, labor, and litigation were just some of the specialties buzzing about in consummate networking. After the cocktail hour and buffet (food sponsored by E.B. Catering), Tobin called in the group to the ballroom, where he related to the group that Chanukah was about Judah Maccabee and “standing up,” and then virtually awarded J-BAR’s Maccabee Award to Georgia’s only Jewish state legislator Esther Panitch, who graciously accepted crystal candlesticks virtually from Israel where she is leading a group from her home state of Florida. Tobin called her a “true warrior” in her effort to successfully pass the Antisemitism Bill (HB30). Panitch accepted by saying she was “verklempt” and committed to continue fighting for “our rights with resiliency and creativity. Miracles happen when we work together for common goals … we know how to fight and when we get together, we win.”

Tobin jumped in to explain Pirkei Avot’s three pillars vis a vis J-BAR: Torah, good work (service of G-d), and acts of human kindness (charity). He explained, “Thanks to the judges, we have law enforcement. Programs like “pinch hitters” which let non-Jews off on Christmas.”

Then he focused on the third pillar, charity, when he showed a poignant video featuring Lev La Lev, a non-profit orphanage in Israel that takes care of children who are abused, neglected, or truly orphaned. They took in many children who lost their parents following the

attacks by Hamas. The money raised will support buying these children clothes and toys this Chanukah season. The money also will go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s “The Zone.”

Tobin concluded, “A large driving force of our mission is to support Israel and our community on a local level.”

The evening’s fundraising goal was $5,000, with Tobin pledging 10 percent personally. He expects to report a $10,000 total.

During the social hour, Judge Stacey Hydrick told the AJT, “J-BAR is getting bigger and better, membership has increased. We are planning programs with

the IDF, a survivor, and the Israeli Consulate.”

Judge Gary Jackson stated, “J-BAR is long overdue. We were the largest group that did not have an association, and we have found a lot of common ground.”

Tax attorney Doug Stein, one of the group’s original members, related, “Our goals are appropriate. We are organized, inclusive and geared to practices.”

Robert Port, fiduciary litigator, recalled, “We tried this in the 1990s and it didn’t work. Post-Oct. 7, with emails and a lot of communication, we have formed a great thing.”

Larry Gordon added, “J-BAR does really important work. I was stunned at some of the issues. We got involved with a situation where someone misconstrued the truth with some nasty anti-Israel comments. We wrote to the legal trial lawyers association which resulted in action.”

Judges Diane Bessen (Fulton State) and Abbi Taylor (DeKalb Magistrate) agreed, and said, “Tonight was an amazing opportunity to come together with our voices for good.”

To donate to the two charities, please visit https://donate.stripe. com/8wMaGTerZ1WYfZe000 ì

Lawyers Evin Somerstein and Rachel Elovitz chat with Judge Gary Jackson.

(From left) Attorneys Robert Port, Benjamin Fink, and J-BAR leader Darren Tobin network with Fran Cullen

Doug Stein and Larry Gordon enjoyed the lively artwork at the Distillery of Modern Art.

Kenneth Winkler mingled with Judge Stacey Hydrick and her son, attorney Danny Hydrick

Judges Diane Bessen and Abbi Taylor praise J-BAR’s good works.

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Schedule a tour and see all that The Piedmont at Buckhead has to offer.

Leadership Changes Hands at Added Touch Catering

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Over three decades ago, Sandra and Clive Bank transformed Atlanta’s bespoke entertainment landscape by founding a home-based business that evolved into a leading catering company. Operating out of a 9,500-square-foot facility with a stateof-the-art commercial kitchen in Sandy Springs, Added Touch Catering (ATC) expanded its services with A Kosher Touch (AKT) to solidify its position as a premier provider of upscale catering.

In a significant transition, the Banks recently implemented a long-planned succession strategy, formally transferring leadership to attorney Erin Lis and her husband, Moshe Lis. Erin now serves as president, overseeing sales, creative development, and the culinary divisions, while Moshe, an Israeli native, assumes the role of vice president, managing operations, including warehousing, logistics, and equipment.

Sandra Bank, renowned for her meticulous attention to detail, built a reputation for creating exceptional events. Often compared to Martha Stewart for her transformative “touch,” Sandra reflected on the decision to step back: “The timing was right because ATC and AKT weathered the challenges of COVID and emerged stronger. Being a boutique caterer allowed us to adapt more quickly than larger, corporate-oriented competitors, as social events rebounded faster.”

She commended Erin’s creative flair, deep client understanding, and ability to meet the business’s demands, noting: “She is young and has the energy for this demanding ‘weekend’ work.” While Sandra remains available as an advisor, she is taking a supportive, behind-the-scenes role to allow Erin to flourish independently.

Erin’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic were shaped by her upbringing in a family of immigrants and business owners. With a B.F.A. in interior design from the University of Georgia (2007) and a J.D. from Georgia State University College of Law (2014), Erin’s diverse career path has equipped her with the skills to deliver highly customized catering experiences. She upholds the company’s philosophy that “the difference between ordinary and extraordinary lies in the added touches.”

Currently, Erin leads a team of 15 full-time employees and numerous parttime staff. During peak seasons, such as December, ATC handles up to 30 events per week. Approximately 80 percent of

the business caters to the Jewish community, though Erin plans to further diversify the company’s client base.

Overall, the catering industry presents unique hurdles, from adapting to changing client demands to managing logistical complexities. For instance, ATC has introduced non-disclosure agreements to meet client confidentiality needs. Sandra noted the inherent unpredictability of the field: “Catering is not a science. Each event keeps us on our toes, as we’re only as good as our last performance.”

Clive Bank reflected on the personal

sacrifices involved, including working during others’ leisure time and the challenges of prioritizing family. Sandra shared insights into planning for guests’ varying needs, factoring in details such as weather, guest demographics, and event timing: “Do guests eat more after ‘Havdalah’ services when they’ve been at the synagogue since 5:30? Or at Shabbat dinners where many have only had breakfast after traveling?”

South African native Sandra describes her career as “unbelievable and fortunate,” emphasizing how her work fostered a sense of belonging after immi-

grating: “I worked tirelessly to give 110 percent to my clients, and while I may have demanded a lot from my team, I’ve been privileged to create exceptional events and develop wonderful relationships.” She also highlighted the loyalty of her staff, many of whom have been with the company for nearly two decades. Erin is determined to honor and build upon this legacy: “Sandra laid the foundation for everything we know about this business. My mission is to cultivate the next generation. With the groundwork firmly in place, we’re ready to elevate ATC to new heights.” ì

Sandra Bank and Erin Lis are the best friends and carefully planned the transfer of ownership.

Moshe and Erin Lis, a powerful team, like to also cook “mostly Israeli dishes” at home.

Added Touch Catering is known for its artistic displays.

Erin and Moshe Lis presented this fabulous strawberry heart confection at a wedding.

Married team Sandra and Clive Bank built the business from “ground up.” They now plan to travel and spend time with family.

Hot Off the Press, Get Your News for Free

Age old words: the only thing constant is change, so here we grow again. The mission of the Atlanta Jewish Times is to “Keep Jewish Atlanta Connected” and informed. The most effective way to accomplish this mission is to continue to distribute the newspaper free of charge in both its physical form and online.

As owner of the paper, I will continue to do so; however, I need a little assistance from YOU. Subscribing is crucial and we need to hear from you. The concept is to do away with paid subscriptions completely, offer everyone FREE home delivery and ask you to consider making a charitable, tax-deductible gift that supports communitywide distribution.

You have been receiving the paper in the mail at home since COVID, or you have been a valued subscriber. I trust you have enjoyed the ease as well as staying informed.

Over the next few months, at-home delivery will cease unless you go to www. AtlantaJewishTimes.com/subscribe-to-home-delivery/ or www.AtlantaJewishLifeFoundation.com and request delivery.

This is being done for two reasons. First, to ensure you still want home delivery; and second, you will consider a charitable donation of any amount to secure the communitywide distribution of the AJT. We will then remind you each year, by email, to consider sustained distribution for another year.

All donations are made to the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation for your charitable tax benefit. The AJLF is a 501c (3) nonprofit entity which supports many of the AJT’s activities.

Please keep in mind that I personally draw no compensation from the AJT or AJLF; and in fact, make up for the loss every year that I have owned the AJT. Given the rising cost of printing, paper stock and distribution, it is virtually impossible to create a quality newspaper on advertising revenues alone.

This is not unique to the AJT. Most Jewish newspapers around the country are supported by individuals, foundations or the local Federation.

I hope you will join in supporting America’s best Jewish newspaper as well as the journalists and editors that spend countless hours researching and writing its content.

Go to: www.AtlantaJewishTimes.com/ subscribe-to-home-delivery/ or www.AtlantaJewishLifeFoundation.com and request delivery home delivery TODAY!

Owner & Publisher

announced the

of “We

Moishe House Launches "We Are: Israel” Initiative

Moishe House announced the launch of “We Are: Israel,” a two-month engaging initiative held in various communities across Israel to showcase resilience and solidarity by uniting individuals through volunteerism and charitable contributions, fostering a sense of belonging and collective action. The initiative was created and organized by residents of Moishe House Tel Aviv, Moishe House Haifa and Moishe House Ramat Gan, out of a desire to be able to take action and help their communities after a difficult year.

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.

Jan. 1, 1995: The 1,500-page Agranat Report, the government’s official assessment of the IDF’s performance in the October 1973 war, is released, minus 48 classified pages, almost 21 years after the preliminary report was issued.

in January 2002.

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, 2004: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon orders the IDF to remove two illegal Jewish outposts, Tal Binyamin and Havat Maon, from the West Bank. The decision reflects Sharon’s shift from total support for the settler movement.

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Organizers expect 200-300 participants in the “We Are Israel” program through various activities and partnerships with multiple organizations and venues. Participants will have access to a curated list of volunteering events with various organizations including food drives, community clean-ups and support for families in need. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to participate in events at local parks, community centers, and events at Moishe House Tel Aviv and Moishe House Haifa, which will serve as central organizing hubs and opportunities to foster community connections.

For more information on this program and activities, please see:

Moishe House Tel Avivwww.instagram.com/moho_tlv_ rsj?igsh=YXhwdno2bzN5Ymds

Moishe House Haifa - www.instagram.com/moishe_haifa/

Moishe House Ramat Gan - www. instagram.com/moishe_ rg?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Compiled by AJT Staff

Jan. 4, 1935: A pipeline spanning 590 miles from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Haifa begins carrying oil from the Mosul fields to the Mediterranean Sea. Crude oil takes about 10 days to travel through the 12-inch-diameter pipe.

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, 1909: Moshe Sneh, known for leftwing politics and resistance to British rule, is born in Poland. He leads the Haganah from 1941 to 1946. He serves in the Knesset from 1949 to 1972, mostly with the Communist Maki party.

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.

Jerusalem Youth Chorus Receives $500K Grant

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC) is an Israeli-Palestinian music and dialogue project raising the voices of young leaders from East and West Jerusalem to the global stages of “America’s Got Talent,” TED, and beyond. Through the co-creation of music and the sharing of stories, JYC empowers

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, 1952: The Knesset ends three days of debate by voting 61-50 to accept more than $800 million in Holocaust reparations from the West German government over 14 years. The decision sparks protests and rioting.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara talk during a walk in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, on Jan. 3, 2000. // By Avi Ohayon, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Jan. 10, 2000: Seven days of U.S.-mediate 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 West Virginia.

Jan. 11, 1929: Rafael Eitan, the 11th chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, is born in Tel Adashim. He joins the elite Palmach at 16. As a paratrooper and pilot, he is wounded four times. He reaches the top of the IDF in 1978.

young singers from East and West Jerusalem to speak and sing their truths as they become leaders in their communities and inspire singers and listeners around the world. Even in times of war, JYC continues to meet, and its singers’ commitment to each other, and the power of their voices raised in harmony has only grown.

JYC has announced that they are one of just six organizations selected from hundreds of applicants this year to have been awarded a grant from USAID’s Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) fund. USAID awarded JYC $500,000 to help scale the group’s programming locally and vocally. This grant will be distributed over the course of three years.

MEPPA is a U.S. government program to improve relations between Israelis and Palestinians and create the foundations for a sustainable two-state solution. JYC’s program joins 28 other organizations under MEPPA to promote understanding, trust, and cooperation between communities.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Jan. 12, 1989: In the first competition for Israeli athletes in the Soviet Union since the Six-Day War, the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team beats CSKA Red Army in Moscow, 9792. Soviet Jews make up much of the crowd.

Jan. 13, 1922: Nahum Sokolow, the president of the World Zionist Congress’ Executive Committee, meets with U.S. President Warren Harding for nearly an hour during a U.S. tour to raise money for Jewish settlement. 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.

The Jerusalem Youth Chorus has received a $500,000 grant through USAID.

Moishe House

launch

Are: Israel,” a two-month engaging initiative held in various communities across Israel.

Israel displays weapons seized from the Karine-A, a ship bound for Gaza,

The western terminus of the Mosul-Haifa pipeline is seen at Haifa’s harbor in 1938.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir watches the broadcast of the Maccabi Tel Aviv-CSKA basketball game in his office Jan 12, 1989. // By Maggi Ayalon, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Israel Seeks 200 Global AI Experts

By TOI and Agencies

Israel is not only falling behind the U.S. and Europe when it comes to pulling in investments in startups that develop artificial intelligence-based technologies but is also facing a shortage in human capital in the field.

To address the shortage, Israel has earmarked $1.96 million to bring in at least 200 foreign experts over the next three years to help the Jewish nation keep pace with the fast development and adoption of AI models around the globe.

Currently, an estimated 300 to 400 graduates with advanced degrees enter Israel’s tech industry annually in AI research roles, far short of rising demand in the sector, according to the Israel Innovation Authority, which is in charge of setting out the nation’s tech policy.

“Expanding Israel’s AI talent pool is critical for maintaining its leadership in the field,” said Hanan Brand, startup division head at the Israel Innovation Authority. “The number of local academic graduates is insufficient, and the shortage grows annually.”

As part of the initiative spearheaded by the National Artificial Intelligence Program, three organizations have been budgeted with identifying global AI experts with advanced academic degrees and practical experience, including returning Israeli citizens or those eligible under the Law of Return.

The program has teamed up with Nish Hitech – Recruitment & Assignment LTD., which works with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS); the Gvahim organization, which assists new immigrants with building careers in Israel and is backed by the Jewish Agency; and ScienceAbroad, which collaborates with Nefesh B’Nefesh, Vanday Recruitment Agency, and Ocean Relocation.

Israel still ranks among the top 10 ecosystems for AI, but it is far from unlocking the full potential of the revolutionary technology as competition in the global AI race intensifies. Over the past year, industry leaders and tech entrepreneurs have raised concerns that Israel is missing the AI wave and needs to implement a long-term strategy to allocate money and resources to boost education and academic research, encourage startups, and provide the infrastructure and computational power needed to run AI models.

“The role of AI technologies in the

local high-tech sector is growing, driving substantial ‘technological disruption’ across industries,” said National AI program director Ziv Katzir. “Unlike other R&D fields, AI demands advanced academic backgrounds and several years of hands-on experience.”

Meanwhile, the growing and fast integration of AI technologies across various industries has resulted in a shortage of experts with experience in machine learning, image processing, natural language processing (NLP), and generative AI.

As part of the new program, the three selected agencies will identify global AI experts, match them to unfilled positions in Israeli tech companies, particularly startups, and assist with their relocation and integration into Israeli society.

“The high demand for workers and the stringent knowledge requirements results in a significant talent shortage,” Katzir added.

Israel is home to more than 2,200 AI companies, which account for a quarter of local tech firms, of which more than 60 percent are software companies.

“We believe this program will bring

hundreds of experts to Israel in the coming years, supporting the success of numerous startups and strengthening the local industry’s capabilities and global standing,” said Katzir. ì

Illustrative image of robots and artificial intelligence // Photo Credit: Phonlamai iStock by Getty Images

BYU’s Jewish QB Inks Deal with Manishewitz

David Ostrowsky

Brigham Young University junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff – BYU’s firstever Jewish quarterback -- had such an unexpectedly impressive 2024 season that he’s now getting a marketing platform similar to what was once afforded to Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Muhammad Ali among other sports luminaries. While Jordan, Woods, and Ali all had their iconic images grace the front of Wheaties boxes, Retzlaff became the first athlete to agree to a sponsorship deal with Manischewitz, the globally renowned kosher food company that specializes in matzo, macaroons and wine.

Thanks to the NCCA’s NIL (name, image, likeness) program, which empowers student-athletes to profit from their personal brands, Retzlaff, a one-time junior college quarterback, will be the beneficiary of his very own special-edition matzah and star in social media videos for the company that has been manufacturing Jewish delicacies since 1888.

“Manischewitz has always been part of my life,” the 21-year-old Retzlaff, who grew up attending a Reform temple in Pomona, Calif., said in a press release accompanying the announcement of the deal. “I grew up with matzo with peanut butter as my favorite snack, and every Passover, my family and I made matzo pizza together. At Chanukah time, our tradition was making potato latkes. Now, at BYU, I’m able to share these traditions with my teammates. This partnership is about more than football — it’s about creating connections and celebrating Jewish pride in ways I never expected.”

Retzlaff was able to land this historic sponsorship deal because he has not only wholeheartedly embraced being one of only three Jewish students at the Mormon flagship institution – this entire season he’s donned a Star of David necklace and gone by the moniker “B-Y-Jew” – but has wildly surpassed all preseason expectations in quarterbacking BYU to a 10-2 record and Alamo Bowl berth. In fact, after going 0-4 as the starting quarterback during BYU’s inaugural Big 12 season in 2023, Retzlaff was deemed to be among the conference’s lower rung QBs going into 2024. He immediately proved the naysayers terribly wrong. After passing for 348

yards and three touchdowns during a season-opening 41-13 romp over Southern Illinois, Retzlaff went on to compile 2,796 passing yards and 20 touchdowns for the regular season – one in which BYU had an undefeated record before dropping a pair of one-score, ESPN-televised games to Kansas and Arizona State on consecutive Saturday evenings in November.

The Retzlaff-led Cougars’ stunning run was truly one of the most compelling narratives of the 2024 college football season. Week after week, as wins started mounting and BYU emerged as a serious contender to play in next month’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the limelight on the program – and Retzlaff in particular – intensified. By early October, ESPN, Fox Sports, and CBS Sports were reporting from Provo, Utah, while interview requests for Retzlaff kept pouring in. The level of public scrutiny and nationwide fanfare was unprecedented for Brigham Young but it hardly fazed Retzlaff and his underdog mates.

Following his team’s convincing 4119 Week 6 win over Arizona in which he passed for a pair of scores, Retzlaff was asked how the team was able to focus on the task at hand with the outside noise reaching a crescendo.

“All that stuff is gravy,” reasoned Retzlaff, the only Division I starting quarterback of Jewish faith. “The No. 1 thing is taking care of business on the field no matter what. The national attention – it’s definitely something – but at the same time, you’ve got to keep the main thing, the main thing. I don’t think any group of people I’ve been around is better at that than this football team. . . . The national attention is great, the interviews are great, all the publicity is awesome and it’s so great for our BYU image, making BYU even bigger than it is. So, we love it, but we’re also so good at making the main thing, the main thing.”

Indeed, BYU took care of the main thing – winning –for the balance of October, reeling off three more wins before getting edged by Kansas and Arizona State (a team that made the CFP) to derail an undefeated season. But BYU bounced back from the killer setbacks to knock off the University of Houston, 30-18, in the regular season finale to punch their ticket to the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (Saturday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m.), arguably the biggest bowl game for BYU since the 1997 Cotton Bowl. During this primetime matchup televised on ABC, they will face the formidable Colorado Buffaloes, another Big

12 heavyweight and one whose two best players, quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter, project as top picks in April’s NFL Draft.   For Retzlaff, meanwhile, the NFL Draft may very well be in the cards, but perhaps not until spring 2026. He still has one year of eligibility remaining at BYU, an opportunity to further his case for being able to play at the next level.

Regardless of where his football career takes him, Retzlaff’s legacy as a titanic figure in the history of Jewish sports is secure. It was just last December that Retzlaff spoke in front of more than 200 congregants at The Chabad of Utah County’s first public Chanukah celebration in the historic Provo courthouse. Now this December, he’s the face of one of Judaism’s most iconic corporate brands.

“We are so proud to welcome Jake officially into the Manischewitz family this holiday season,” Shani Seidman, chief marketing officer of Kayco, Manischewitz’s parent company, said earlier this month. “He is such an inspiration, and we are honored to support his exciting football career and dream. This partnership represents everything the brand aspires to be — celebrating our heritage and bringing awareness to Jewish food and excellence.” ì

After an improbable rise to college football stardom this past autumn, BYU Jewish quarterback Jake Retzlaff has become a household name -- and the poster boy of Manischewitz // Photo Credit: BYU Athletics

Fried Will Always Treasure His Time with Braves

By David Ostrowsky

Should Max Fried go on to become the all-time winningest Jewish pitcher –and perhaps cement his legacy as a certifiable Hall of Famer -- it will not be for the Atlanta Braves. Earlier this month the two-time All-Star lefty finalized a $218 million, eight-year contract with the New York Yankees, Atlanta’s two-time 1990s World Series opponent. Fried receives a $20 million signing bonus, half payable on Jan. 31, 2025; the rest on Jan. 31, 2026. He will then get salaries of $12 million in each of the first two seasons and $29 million in each of the remaining six.

Fried, who will turn 31 next month, enjoyed a remarkable run with the Braves, posting a 3.07 ERA with 863 strikeouts over parts of eight seasons. The three-time Gold Glove winner and linchpin of the Braves’ 2021 world championship rotation -- his Game 6 masterpiece outing will forever have a special place in Braves’ lore -- was even better in his final 27 starts of the 2024 season, registering a 2.82 ERA, the third lowest in the National League.

But, ultimately, president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos and the rest of the Braves’ front office – despite being inclined to leap past the $241 million luxury tax threshold for a third consecutive winter -- weren’t willing to commit to an oft-injured pitcher who -despite all his regular season brilliance -has had a spotty postseason record of late (his career postseason resume includes a 2-5 record and 5.10 ERA) and would be nearing 40 at the latter end of the massive contract. Meanwhile, the Yankees, gunning for their first World Series title since 2009, were willing to outspend the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers in offering Fried the largest guaranteed contract ever given to a left-handed pitcher.

“When the Yankees say that they’re interested in you, you perk up and you listen,” Fried said during his introductory press conference at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday – a full week after the news first broke that he was headed to the Bronx. “There’s a standard and it’s an extremely storied franchise. I was excited to hop on a call and be able to talk with the group up here.

“I just felt like a lot of our values — what we value and the end goal was very similar and it was very just down to earth, easy to talk to and I felt really comfortable. … When it came down to it, it just felt right.”

Earlier this month, while contemplating his next career move, Fried toured an empty Yankee Stadium. Outside the home clubhouse was a sign plastered with a simple three-word mantra -- “Prepare. Compete. Win.” – that apparently left quite an impression on the Santa Monica native who once pitched for a gold medal-winning Team USA Juniors in the 2009 Maccabiah Games.

“I thought a lot about that,” Fried said in his intro meeting with the New York media. “And to me, as a competitor, and just to me as a player, it really resonated with me. Because at the end of the day, before I take the ball I’m going to prepare as best as I possibly can. When I get out there, I’m going to leave everything out there and compete to the best of my abilities and at the end of the day the one thing that we are out here to do is to win. For me, I couldn’t be more excited to be here.”

No team in major league baseball history has won more World Series titles (27) than New York. Now with one of the game’s truly elite pitchers fortifying an already solid rotation, the 2025 Yankees project as a strong World Series contender for the balance of the 2020s.

“Winning is a big priority for me,” Fried reiterated. “Every single year, the

Yankees come to spring training, the No. 1 goal is to win a World Series. It’s not to get to the playoffs. It’s not to do anything besides hold up the trophy at the end of the year. Knowing that I was going to make a potentially long commitment, I wanted to be able to be in a place that I knew I was going to be able to win year in and year out.

“I love playoff baseball, and I love to be able to have meaningful baseball at the end of the year and the Yankees are an organization that are going to do that year in and year out.”

The Braves, of course, promise to be a regular participant in October baseball for years to come and it was one reason that Fried during last year’s AllStar break expressed strong desire to return. Alas, talks between Fried’s camp and the Braves’ brass never got significant traction, leaving Fried to follow the same path to free agency that his former teammates, Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson, embarked on earlier this decade.

Ever the class act, Fried took to Instagram to express his gratitude to Braves fans – among so many others -- before his impending departure.

“To the fans, thank you for welcoming this West Coast kid and making At-

lanta feel like home,” Fried said. “It’s been incredible to play for you, feel your energy, and represent the Braves. As I head into this next chapter, I’ll always look back at my time in Atlanta with so much love. It’s truly been an honor.”

Now, the greatest Jewish pitcher of the modern generation is headed to the Big Apple, a city with an enormous Jewish population -- and supercharged fanbase.

“I think, personally, it’s the same game whatever city you’re in,” Fried responded when asked about the challenge of playing in NYC. “It’s still 60 feet, six inches, and you’re going up against another guy. They’re just very passionate fans and I can control what I can control and that’s to go out there and leave everything out on the field and compete as best as I can every single time.

“There’s no bigger stage than pitching in New York. There’s a different feel when you step into the stadium. You feel the energy and the buzz, and I can’t wait to kind of feed off of that.”

While the Braves do not visit the Bronx this summer, they will host the Yanks for a mid-July series – one that immediately follows the MLB All-Star Game, what may after all be Fried’s return to Truist Park. ì

After establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in the National League for the Braves, Max Fried recently landed an eightyear deal with the perennial World Series contending New York Yankees // Photo Credit: New York Yankees social media

Hadassah Ketura Hosts ‘Genealogy 101’ Program Davis Academy Creates Video for Rabbi Lapidus’ Song

The Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Ketura Group held a “Genealogy 101” program led by Ketura Advisor, Arlene Glass, on Nov. 17. Sources believe that genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States, just behind gardening. People are always curious about their origins. Genealogy, a hobby where one studies their family history to capture their previous generations, makes abstract history real. It may act to guide people in the future after seeing what happened in the past.

“I think of genealogy as one big scavenger hunt that takes you farther back in time to experience your ancestor’s life by learning about their history, clothing, customs and religion,” said Simone Wilker, Zionist Affairs chair for Hadassah Greater Atlanta.

Glass explains, “During my genealogy search I found relatives in Savannah that I never knew I had. What a surprise!”

Glass gave a fantastic, step-by-step presentation on how to start exploring family ancestry and create a family tree. The Golden Rule of Genealogy involves

starting with yourself and working backwards, adding one generation at a time. There were tons of practical information and tips, making it easy to understand. Glass also shared some great family stories, which were both fun and inspiring, and added a personal touch to the presentation.

“Hadassah members left feeling more connected to their roots and ready to dive into their own family history”, stated Rosalie Agrow, Hadassah Ketura Group President.

Looking for a great, different, Chanukah gift for your family member this year? Hadassah has an idea for an unexpected Chanukah gift. How about purchasing a gift subscription to a major genealogy website? The gift recipient, young or old, will be so surprised. And, most importantly, they will love and enjoy it because it is a gift that can be done together as a family. It benefits the giver and the recipient, which is exactly what Chanukah is all about.

Compiled by AJT Staff

By Susanne Katz Karlick

Rabbi Micah Lapidus, now in his 17th year as the school rabbi at The Davis Academy, is both a rabbi and Doctor of Education. In pursuing his Ed.D., he studied adolescent spirituality, an area germane to his work as a school rabbi. Through his research, he concluded that adolescent spirituality and all spirituality share a common feature: connection. As Rabbi Lapidus succinctly states, “Spirituality is about connection.”

As a musician, Rabbi Lapidus understands the power of music to connect. Lapidus shared, “It is the connective power of music that leads so many people to associate music with spirituality.”

Concurrent with this realization, Rabbi Lapidus began to compose, record, and share his music with the hopes that it might create even greater connection in his beloved Davis Academy community. Having created four albums of original music with The Davis Academy as well as many additional songs and compositions, Rabbi Lapidus believes in

the power of music now more than ever. So, too, does The Davis Academy, which just released a new music video of one of Lapidus’ original songs. Entitled, “Kol Yisrael,” this song and video are a message of hope for the Jewish community during these challenging times.

Because music is a powerful vehicle for connection, music has led Rabbi Lapidus to connect not only with his Davis Academy community, but with other communities, artists, and musicians -most notably, Rabbi Lapidus and Melvin Kindall Myles, a gospel singer who sings with the Ebenezer Baptist Church choir. “We have joined forces to create music that expresses our vision for a more loving, just, and peaceful world,” he says. They have had opportunities to share their music across Atlanta and beyond.

Rabbi Lapidus believes that spirituality has a vital role to play in helping our society and country move forward. He emphasizes, “Many people feel that these are divisive and polarized times. It is hope that my music will continue to create connections and bring people together.”

Rosalie Agrow, Hadassah Ketura Group President, welcomes members and guests to the Genealogy 101 program led by Arlene Glass (seated).

Rabbi Micah Lapidus sings to a group of Davis Academy students.

GA Interfaith Power & Light Donates Through ReWilding

Faith-based environmental nonprofit, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPL), has awarded more than $11,000 to 12 congregations across Georgia to pilot a new ReWilding program for sacred grounds. Sustainable land use is a pivotal and often overlooked climate solution. Projects across these congregations include invasive species removal, vegetable gardens that will supplement food pantries, native plants and pollinators, and rain gardens. These solutions manage food production, restore natural habitats, and help mitigate the worst impacts of rising temperatures and climate change.

Award recipients include Ahavath Achim Synagogue (Atlanta), Antioch Baptist Church (Albany), Cumming First United Methodist Church, Chestnut Ridge Christian Church (Marietta), Fayetteville First United Methodist Church,

Chanukah is Part of Interfaith Program at Emory

By Bob Bahr

First Presbyterian Church (LaGrange), Morningside Presbyterian Church (Atlanta), Roswell Community Masjid, Temple Beth Tikvah (Roswell), St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Columbus), St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (LaGrange), and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta.

“We know investment in the ecological health of faith communities has a rippling effect—improving the physical, spiritual, and financial well-being of entire neighborhoods and ecosystems,” says GIPL’s program director, Hannah Shultz. “When you plant more trees or build vegetable gardens, you offer new life to a community.”

A second round of grant applications will open in spring 2025. Visit gipl. org/rewilding to learn more.

Compiled by AJT Staff

An early lighting of the Chanukah menorah was featured at the Interfaith Winter Lights program sponsored by Interfaith Atlanta on Dec. 14. Representatives from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist faiths were also among those who participated in the program, which was held at Emory University’s Cannon Chapel. Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser, who serves Congregation B’nai Israel in Jonesboro, is president of the organization.

“Our presenters represented six different faiths and ranged in age from 5 years old to 65 years,” Rabbi Nemhauser said. “We are committed in our work, joining efforts to shed light and harmony throughout the Greater Atlanta area through song, poetry, reflections, and dialogue.”

This is the second year for the program, which was hosted by Audrey Galex of Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters and Maurey Allums, music director for Emory’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. The host for the program was Dean Gregory McGonigle, who serves as university chaplain at Emory and heads the religious life program there.

“It was a joy for us to be able to host Interfaith Atlanta’s second-annual Winter Lights celebration in Emory University’s Cannon Chapel,” Dean McGonigle commented. “It was a meaningful opportunity to gather with our Atlanta faith community partners and reaffirm our shared commitment to the importance of interfaith learning, understanding, and community.”

In addition to Judaism, the holiday of Kwanzaa also incorporates the lighting of candles during their celebration, the Hindu festival of Diwali celebrates light each Fall, and candles and lights of various sorts are an integral part of Christmas.

The Jewish chaplain at Emory, Rabbi Jordan Braunig, is one of five religious leaders that serve Emory’s student population. The Chabad program at Emory and the Hillel House are also affiliates of the university’s religious life program. A new three-story building that houses the program was dedicated on the Emory campus last year.

The executive director for Interfaith Atlanta is Samantha Berinsky, who took over the job in June. She was previously with Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs.

Jeanne Schultz from Temple Beth Tikvah, a GIPL grant recipient, is pictured in front of the community garden that the synagogue is expanding.

Representatives of several faiths, as well as an interfaith children’s choir, took part in the celebration.

Day 444 in Hostage Crises Then and Now

This column was filed on Dec. 23, 2024 — Day 444 of Israel’s hostage crisis. That number reminds me of the Iran hostage crisis, which ended on its Day 444 — Jan. 20, 1981 — when Ronald Reagan took the oath of office and succeeded Jimmy Carter as president of the United States.

On Day 1 — Nov. 4, 1979 — hundreds of Iranians stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking hostage several dozen embassy personnel and civilians.

[Leaving my newspaper’s office that night, I tuned my car radio to Larry King’s nationally syndicated talk show, where callers raged, some demanding that the U.S. bomb Tehran.]

Iranians harbored decades of grievances against the United States, most notably the U.S.- and British-engineered coup in August 1953 that removed Iran’s elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, and restored Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi to the Peacock Throne. A couple of years earlier, Iran’s legislature had voted to nationalize its oil industry, and the U.S. feared a tilt toward the Soviet Union.

The Islamic revolution that began

in 1978 — fueled by an often brutal response to dissent and a backlash against western influences — threatened the stability of a U.S. ally in the region.

The Shah left Iran on Jan. 16, 1979, for a “vacation” in Egypt, never to return.

Millions of people thronged Tehran streets on Feb. 1 to welcome the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on his return to Iran after 15 years in exile. [At a news conference that morning, I asked a U.S. senator what effect Khomeini’s return would have on U.S. interests. None, the senator assured me, the U.S. relationship with the Shah is solid. Ten days later, what remained of the Shah’s government collapsed.]

Carter initially resisted entreaties to permit the Shah entry to the United States. L. Bruce Laingen, as Charges d’Affaires the ranking U.S. diplomat in country, warned of possible consequences to U.S. personnel in Iran.

After debate in the upper echelons of the U.S. foreign policy apparatus, and external pressure from well-connected figures, Carter yielded. The Shah arrived in New York on Oct. 22, ostensibly as a humanitarian gesture for treatment of cancer and other ailments.

The fuse was lit in Tehran.

A couple of weeks after the Embassy was overrun, 13 female and Black hostages were released. The Shah left for Panama on Dec. 15, 1979. Six Americans hiding in the Canadian Embassy escaped Iran on Jan. 28, 1980. An aborted

rescue attempt ended on April 24 with the death of eight U.S. troops in a desert airborne collision. A hostage suffering from multiple sclerosis was freed in July 1980.

That left 52 American hostages, who were released as Reagan was inaugurated. After medical checks at a U.S. base in Germany, they returned to U.S. soil.

The symbol of the Iran hostage crisis was the ubiquitous yellow ribbon — inspired by the 1973 song, “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree,” by singer Tony Orlando and Dawn.

The ribbon’s proliferation began with a comment by Laingen’s wife. In an oral history, Penelope “Penne” Laingen recalled that a reporter expressed amazement at her calm, while the American people in general were seething. “Tell them to do something constructive, because we need a great deal of patience,” she said. “Just tell them to tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree.”

A yellow ribbon, frequently worn as a lapel pin, also has been a symbol of Israel’s hostage crisis, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led terrorists slaughtered 1,200 men, women, and children and kidnapped 251 more from kibbutzim, towns, and an outdoor music festival in the “Gaza envelope.”

Of the remaining 100 hostages — more than one-third of whom are feared dead — 96 kidnapped on Oct. 7, two are civilians (both with reported psychological issues) who crossed into Gaza in 2014

and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in the 2014 war in Gaza.

More than once, hopes have been raised — and subsequently dashed — when reports of progress in negotiations for a ceasefire deal and hostage release came to naught.

Benjamin Netanyahu was Israel’s prime minister on Day 1. He remained prime minister on Day 444.

Israel — and Netanyahu in particular — are due for a reckoning over the intelligence, military, and political failures that led to the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust. Netanyahu — whose three stints as prime minister total 17 years — has resisted creation of a commission of inquiry, such as that established after the 1973 Yom Kippur war, and whose findings led Prime Minister Golda Meir to resign in April 1974.

Netanyahu told TIME magazine in August that after the war “there’ll be an independent commission that will examine everything that happened before, and everybody will have to answer some tough questions, including me.”

The question, of course, is when that will be.

The Times of Israel has reported that incoming U.S. President Donald Trump told Netanyahu that he wants the war in Gaza finished, with the hostages returned, before he takes office.

Dec. 23 was Day 444. Unless something changes, the inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, will be day 472. ì

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit

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,

I agree with Dave Schechter. Reform Judaism recognizes the children of Jewish fathers as Jews if the children receive Jewish educations and affirm their Jewish status at the time of their bar/bat mitzvah ceremonies. We also must recognize that there are many people, both Jewish and non-Jewish, who have been urging Israel to work toward achieving a ceasefire in the hopes that ending the current fighting will bring peace to Israel and its neighbors.

These people fail to realize how the atrocities of October 7, 2023, changed the rules of engagement between Israel and her enemies.

Israelis were well-protected from the missiles terrorist groups frequently fired at Israeli population centers; they were accustomed to getting to their shelters quickly and Iron Dome destroyed most missiles likely to hit inhabited land. On October 7, families were burned alive in their safe rooms and having a personal weapon or two couldn’t stop gangs of rapists and murderers who set homes afire or broke through safe room doors.

Palestinians cheered when Hamas promised to inflict a thousand October 7’s on Israelis. Israel correctly concluded that its continued existence required a complete victory over Hamas, a demilitarization of Gaza, and a deradicalization of the Palestinians. Israel is not seeking revenge; rather, it is attempting to free Palestinians from Hamas’ abuse and laying the groundwork for future peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. Despite claims of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, Israeli forces are working hard to avoid civilian casualties and have been extremely successful in those efforts. https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/11/29/yes-the-idf-is-the-moralarmy-that-it-claims-to-be/

Toby F. Block, Atlanta, GA

2024 Year in Review January

Antisemitism Definition Bill Passes on Third Try

Compiled by AJT Staff

The third time was the charm for those wanting Georgia to define antisemitism.

On Jan. 25, the Georgia Senate and then the House passed a bill that added to the state code a reference to the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Because the legislation, known as House Bill 30, last year stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee, that is where its 2024 journey began. This time, the measure unanimously cleared the committee and then the full Senate 44-6.

Back in the House, a sizable contingent of supporters from Atlanta’s Jewish

community cheered from the gallery as Republican Speaker Jon Burns announced the result, 129-5. Standing in the center aisle on the

House floor, a beaming Jewish Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch hugged the bill’s chief sponsor, Republican Rep. John Carson. The IHRA definition reads: “Anti-

semitism 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 IHRA definition has been controversial less for that wording than 11 accompanying examples of antisemitism, particularly several that deal with Israel — among them accusing Jews outside of Israel of dual loyalty, comparing Israel to Nazis, calling Israel “racist,” “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination,” and applying standards to Israel “not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”

Jewish Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch receives congratulations on the House floor after passage of the antisemitism definition bill // Photo provided by Esther Panitch

Atlantans Rally to Support Boycotted Ali’s Cookies

Ali’s Cookies, located at 1561 North Decatur Road, dealt with pro-Palestinian protesters after the store owners decided to display an Israeli flag in the store.

Compiled by AJT Staff

The year started out with protest culture in full swing in response to Israel defending itself from attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah. Ali’s Cookies, located in the Decatur/Emory area, found itself the target of repeated vandalism.

Store owners Sabras Nofar and Sagi Shablis proudly displayed an Israeli flag inside the store, which garnered a nega-

tive response and led to the side of the building being defaced. The vandal was eventually arrested for his crimes.

Nofar said, “Oct. 7, 2023, that is a day that I am sure everyone will remember as Black Saturday. For me, and for every other Jew and Israeli, these horrors, this reality, is so hard to explain and to cope with, to know that my people suffered and still are, is heartbreaking. Since that day, the store hasn’t been the same.”

Bookstore Controversy Erupts Over Gaza War

Compiled by AJT Staff

Tensions were running high in January as protest culture swept college campuses across America. Charis Books & More, the oldest independent feminist bookstore in the South, became the target of criticism by women who say the Atlanta institution rebuffed their concerns about its pro-Palestine position and programming.

The women, most but not all Jewish, also are dissatisfied with the response from Agnes Scott College to appeals that Charis — the college’s bookstore partner — demonstrate a more even-handed position toward Israel.

Charis had been open about its proPalestine stance. A Nov. 9 Instagram post read: “As booksellers and as people, Charis stands with Palestine and joins the demand for an immediate ceasefire, cutting all military support to Israel, and lifting the siege on Gaza.”

Programming, particularly a Dec. 9

event, was at the root of the controversy.

A participant’s online promotion read: “A group of parents and educators will offer stories and maps to guide a conversation for kids about Palestine, colonization, and liberation and how kids and families can take action in their own communities. Geared toward ages 6-12 but all ages are welcome." A graphic advertising “Let’s Talk About Palestine! An Interactive Workshop For Kids and Their Families” included the logos of Charis Books and the Charis Circle.

One of the speakers told the children that on Oct. 7 people from Gaza: “broke down the wall, they killed mostly soldiers, Israeli and some Israelis coming out of a music festival . . . They also kidnapped 220 Israelis,” according to the notes.

A second speaker likened Palestinians “chased out of their homes” 75 years ago to European settlers who forced the Muskogee tribe off land in Georgia nearly 200 years ago.

A controversy erupted after Charis Books & More hosted a pro-Palestine event for children.

Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award Established Colon’s Murderer Receives 30-Year Sentence February

Compiled by AJT Staff

In February, The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life established a new award in honor of Sgt. Rose Lubin, the fallen Lone Soldier from Dunwoody, that recognizes Jewish community members who have displayed an extraordinary sense of Jewish pride.

In October, the Foundation announced that Ana Robbins, founder and CEO of the Atlanta-based nonprofit Jewish Kids Groups, would receive the inaugural $100,000 award.

Each year, the award will recognize an individual involved in the work of Jewish engagement and identity-building in North America, whose work specifically inspires or furthers Jewish pride. The award will be split between a $70,000 gift to the individual and a $30,000 grant to the program or organization they have created.

The Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award is named in memory of the Atlanta native who fulfilled her dream of Aliyah, at age 18, as a combat-trained soldier specializing in fighting terrorism. Deployed with the Israeli Border Police, Sgt. Lubin was off duty on Oct. 7, 2023, when she bravely

defended her host kibbutz and neighboring communities, helping injured victims to safety from near the Gaza border. Just weeks after the Hamas onslaught, Sgt. Lubin lost her life during a subsequent terrorist attack while guarding the Shalem police station near the Damascus Gate, one of the entrances to the Old City of Jerusalem.

Founded in 2012, Jewish Kids Groups provides children ranging from kindergarten to tenth grade with camp-style Jewish learning and companionship throughout the school year. Jewish Kids Groups’ flagship program, JKG Afternoon Community, features Jewish enrichment courses and weekday afternoon childcare.

“I am deeply honored that The Steinhardt Foundation has chosen to recognize me and Jewish Kids Groups with the Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award,” said Robbins. “The funds JKG receives from this award will enable Jewish children across the country to explore their heritage, forge lasting Jewish friendships, build a meaningful relationship with Israel, and ultimately ensure the strength of the Jewish community for generations to come.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

In February, Chelci Chisholm was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the 2021 murder of Marlene Colon, a popular local Jewish Zumba instructor.

The judge’s sentencing broke down as follows: 20 years for voluntary manslaughter; and 10 years for two counts (five years each) of obstruction of justice.

Chisholm, an Israeli native who is also known as Malka Padalon, had been renting a room in Colon’s home at the time of the murder.

According to the court, Chisholm will serve the first 18 years in prison with the balance suspended. Sandy Springs police had reported that when “officers arrived, they encountered the woman suspect in the garage holding an object and challenging officers,” which is why the dual obstruction of justice charges were included in the sentencing.

A group of nearly 20 family members and friends of Colon were in atten-

dance at the sentencing. Marieli Colon, Marlene’s daughter-in-law, and mother of Marlene’s only grandchild, shared in her victim impact statement, “Marlene was a powerhouse. She was dynamic and full of energy. She was a ball of fire. She was not like anyone else, she was unique, eccentric, she was full of life … She donated her time and skills at many assisted living communities and at the Jewish Community Center. Marlene wanted to help people improve their quality of life. Ironically, and most tragically, it was her kindness and overly generous nature that would lead to her death.”

Marlene’s son, Jonathan, in his victim impact statement, remembered his mother fondly.

“My mom … had a welcoming, warm heart as a pillar of our community, by opening her home to people in need, which ultimately cost her, her life,” Jonathan Colon said. In his statement, he condemned Chisholm for her actions and reminded the courtroom of the void now left in this family’s lives.

The Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award will be given to an individual involved in the work of Jewish engagement and identity-building in North America.

This memorial garden in the Colon’s backyard has been planted in Marlene’s memory.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Midway through a Feb. 18 forum with rabbis and communal leaders recently returned from a week in Israel, Rabbi Adam Starr of Congregation Or HaTorah said, “Take a moment and see what’s taking place here. We shouldn’t take this for granted.”

Starr appeared to be addressing both his fellow travelers and an audience of about 200 people at Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs.

Seated alongside Starr, whose congregation is Modern Orthodox, were rabbis from Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist Judaism, and leaders from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Anti-Defamation

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim speaks at a Feb. 18 Israel trip forum. Listening (from left) are Rich Walter, Jewish Federation vice president; Leslie Anderson, Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta executive director, and Eric Robbins, Federation president and CEO.

League, American Jewish Committee, and Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta.

Over an hour-and-a-half, they talk-

Jewish Atlanta Leaders Reflect on Israel Trip MARCH

AJLF Brings ‘Mitzvah Madness’ to Aquarium

Compiled by AJT Staff

It was a “maddeningly” good time at the Georgia Aquarium on March 3 at the fifth annual Atlanta Jewish Life Festival as thousands of community members poured into the Oceans Ballroom to enjoy a Kids Zone with children’s activities, listen to live music, meet with community partners, tour the aquarium, nosh on Kosher delicacies, and celebrate their Jewishness together.

Themed “Mitzvah Madness,” as a nod to the NCAA basketball “March Madness” postseason tournament, this year’s festival featured a Hoop Shoot Contest. After several hundred attendees -- competing in four age groups -- completed

the opening round, the top 12 scorers advanced to the championship for a final showdown. Each of the 12 championship contestants received Atlanta Hawks basketballs autographed by team mascot Harry the Hawk. Jonathan Kuttner notched the top score overall with 83 and took home first place; Akiva Shuster (72) finished in second place and David Minkowicz (67) came in third place.

Hosted by the Atlanta Jewish Times, the AJLF connects the extended Atlanta Jewish community with local Jewish organizations, assisted living facilities, schools, and camps while offering a selection of kosher delicacies and an assortment of local Jewish entertainers.

ed about what made this trip to Israel unique from previous visits, highlighting moments of significance, be it a place they visited, a scene they witnessed, or a

conversation that moved them.

The rabbis acknowledged the diversity of opinion among them, as well as the diversity of the movements they represent.

The panel included: Rabbi Binyomin Friedman of Congregation Ariel, Eytan Davidson, regional director for the AntiDefamation League, Rabbi Brad Levenberg of Temple Sinai, Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob, Rabbi Lauren Henderson of Congregation Or Hadash, Rabbi Mike Rothbaum of Congregation Bet Haverim, Rabbi Joshua Heller of Congregation B’nai Torah, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim, Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple, and Eric Robbins, then Federation president and CEO.

Purim Across Atlanta 2024

The Royal Purim Tea Party

was just one of several Purim-themed events across Atlanta.

Compiled by AJT Staff

The streets of Metro Atlanta were much more colorful and lively in March as local synagogues and Chabad organizations hosted their annual Purim parades and festivals. In every corner of town, costumed children (and some adults) enjoyed the festivities and volunteered in various commu-

nity-oriented service projects, like baking hamantaschen and packing gift bags.

Some highlights from this year’s Purim weekend included: a parade and festival in Toco Hills, Ahavath Achim Kesher students crafting baskets and baking hamantaschen, students creating gift bags with The Spicy Peach, a Royal Purim Tea Party in Dunwoody and more.

Thousands of community members gathered for “Mitzvah Madness” at the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival.

at Ashford Lane in Dunwoody

APRIL

Protesters Arrested at Emory Demonstration Robbins Resigns, Federation Searches for New CEO

Compiled by AJT Staff

Several anti-Israel protesters, including a pair of professors, were detained on April 26 after demonstrating on the Emory University campus.

The demonstrators constructed an “encampment for Gaza” and took turns riling up the crowd via a bullhorn and divisive rhetoric, including declaring their support for Gaza in Hamas’ war with Israel.

As part of their demonstration, the protesters called for an end to “Israel’s genocide in Gaza” and demanded that Emory sever any association with the Atlanta Police Foundation and Israeli Defense Forces.

Georgia State Patrol and Atlanta Police Department officers joined Emory campus police on the scene in an attempt to contain the situation. According to re-

ports, the officers informed the protesters that they were trespassing, and that the area would need to be cleared. Many of the protesters refused to leave and quickly found themselves tackled to the ground by some of the officers. Shortly after, officers targeted the crowd with a pepper spray-like irritant and then used a Taser on at least one of the protesters to subdue them.

According to The Emory Wheel, police officers donned gas masks and used zip ties to arrest individuals after tackling them to the ground.

Emory University President Gregory Fenves issued a statement after the incident, noting that several dozen individuals who were not Emory students staged the demonstration with the purpose of disrupting the Emory community and the school’s final exam schedule.

Eric Robbins announced in April that he will leave his position as President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta after seven years at its helm. Navigating the ever-changing, ever challenging landscape and carrying forward the mission of growth and cohesiveness, and sometimes emergencies, Robbins’ tenure included the obvious horrors of Oct.7, and reached back to events like the 2018 shooting in the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, which happens to be his hometown.

Renee Kutner, who previously

served as Federation COO, was promoted to take Robbins’ place to lead the Federation and assumed her duties on Dec. 1.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta CEO position is considerable in scope. It leads an umbrella organization that supports a plethora of issues grounded in philanthropy, including resources for healthy aging, those in need, Jewish education, inclusivity, pathways for families, leadership development, and community innovation and planning, in addition to supporting Jews globally. It is estimated that the Federation employs around 60 people.

Among their demands, protesters at Emory demanded the school sever any association with the Atlanta Police Foundation and Israeli Defense Forces // YouTube screenshot

Compiled by AJT Staff

Eric Robbins stepped down as CEO of Federation on June 30.

Atlanta Gathers for Yom HaShoah Memorial

Compiled by AJT Staff

In May, an estimated crowd of more than 500 participated in the 59th anniversary of the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the Memorial to the Six Million at Greenwood Cemetery.

This year’s Holocaust speaker was George Rishfeld, a child survivor from Poland, who was saved by a Catholic family that put their own lives at risk. Later in life, Rishfeld coordinated efforts to have this family recognized by Israel as “Righteous Among the Nations.” To this day, Rishfeld wears his St. Christopher’s medallion alongside his Star of David.

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff brought greetings from Congress and shared his family’s account of navigating the Holocaust

with the loss many relatives.

Sen. Ossoff told the story of his cousin, Nathan, who survived the Holocaust and spoke to the importance of hearing from Holocaust survivors and keeping their stories alive for future generations.

This 59th anniversary was particularly meaningful as those that attended could see the freshly completed restoration of the Memorial on both the exterior and the interior. A major part of the restoration of the memorial was the extensive cleaning of the 150 plaques which were taken down to be hand washed and rewaxed. The six large torches that hover over the memorial were refinished and required new gas lines to be installed as well as a redesign to accommodate a new electronic lighting system.

The Epstein School’s 50th: A Golden Celebration

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, The Epstein School hosted a gala on May

Compiled by AJT Staff’

Marking its 50th anniversary, The Epstein School hosted special events and programs for its supporters throughout the school year. The grand finale was the school’s annual gala in May, aptly named, “Celebration.”

The 50th Anniversary Celebration Chairs, Sara Kogon and Alli Halpern shared, “Celebration 2024 was a raging success – we hosted over 600 guests, our annual fundraising campaign far exceeded our anniversary year goal, and the night-of-the-event endowment fundraiser, Funding our Future blew past its goal in less than five minutes. To date, we have raised over $1.245 million this year.”

“Our year-long anniversary has certainly provided an opportunity to nurture the connections we have with families across our 50-year history; equally, it has provided an opportunity for us to bring our community together, allowing us to showcase our school, and for everyone to experience the magic that is Epstein,” said David Abusch-Magder, PhD, (Dr. D) Epstein Head of School.

Throughout the venue, decade vi-

gnettes depicted an era in the school’s history with original photos and accessories illustrating the time period. The 1970s included photos of friend groups, class photos with teachers, Rabbi Epstein with students during their milestones, and more. The décor included a lava lamp, disco ball, yearbooks from the 1970s, and other fun memorabilia.

The '80s was a pivotal time for the school, moving to Sandy Springs and branching out into its own space. The photos and accessories highlighted the shift to digital pop culture, the prevalence of music videos, personal computers, cell phones, and more. During the '90s, Epstein built a second building at its new home in Sandy Springs which elevated the trajectory of the school. The theme of construction for this vignette included building supplies, tools, and even the original shovel that broke ground on Colewood Way almost 30 years ago. To illustrate the 2000s, nearly 100 pictures accented the illuminated chain-link display wall with photos from classrooms, milestones, Shabbat, school plays, Maccabiah, and so many other special moments for the Epstein community.

9, 2024, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, the site of the school’s founding in 1973. The theme of the evening was Epstein50, brought forward in signage, seating, table décor, room décor, and more.

George Rishfeld, a child Holocaust survivor from Poland, was this year’s featured speaker at the Yom HaShoah ceremony // Photo courtesy of Karen Lansky Edlin

JUNE

Universities Struggle with Graduation Protests Atlanta Gathers for Holocaust Survivor Day

Compiled by AJT Staff

In June, several major universities around the country still had to contend with violent protests against Israel and the war in Gaza.

At Stanford University, which had scheduled its graduation ceremonies for June 16, police were called in on June 5, the last day of spring classes, to clear proPalestinian demonstrators who barricaded themselves in the university president’s office.

Thirteen demonstrators were arrested after they broke into the office and caused what the university described as “extensive graffiti vandalism on the sandstone buildings and columns of the Main Quad” that included “vile and hateful sentiments that we condemn in the strongest terms.”

The university indicated that all of the students who were arrested were being suspended and those who were scheduled to graduate this month would not be allowed to do so.

Emory University also had to take action in late April against protesters

who set up tents on the university’s quadrangle as preparations were beginning there for commencement. Emory President Gregory Fenves had campus police call in officers from the Georgia State Patrol and the Atlanta Police department. Twenty-five demonstrators were arrested, some forcibly, by officers.

Across town at Morehouse College, the historically Black college had President Joe Biden as their commencement speaker. Several students there, some wearing keffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarves, turned their chairs and sat with their backs to the President as he spoke.

At Columbia University, where protests have been intense, the school in early May cancelled its main graduation ceremony opting for smaller ceremonies at individual colleges there.

At graduation exercises at Harvard, May 23, about 1,000 students walked out during the ceremony in protest against the decision by the Harvard Corporation, the school’s governing body, to bar 13 undergraduates who were arrested for protesting the war between Israel and Hamas.

Compiled by AJT Staff

On June 5, Holocaust survivors, their families, volunteers, and guests gathered to enjoy a day of celebration and commemoration. Approximately 150 people, including 55 survivors and their family members, gathered on Holocaust Survivor Day for lunch and entertainment in City Springs. Holocaust Survivor Day, designated as June 4, is celebrated any day that week, and was created to honor survivors and celebrate their strength and resilience.

The Atlanta event was hosted by the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF) of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, in partnership with Holocaust Support Services of Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS). Holocaust Survivor Day was graciously sponsored by Seed the Dream Foundation, Jewish HomeLife,

Sue and Gary Saban, and Cherie and Gary Aviv.

“This event is so special to me and to the survivors” said Cherie Aviv, founder, and chair of HSSF at Federation. “It brings our community together in such a meaningful way.”

The enthusiasm in the air was palpable – survivors and guests entering the space immediately felt the celebration in the air. A survivor noted, “The room, table decorations, flowers and entertainment filled the space with joy, and warmth we felt from all the guests, staff and volunteers was truly magical. “ Aviv emceed the event, with speakers John Paulson, Mayor Pro Tempore of the City of Sandy Springs, Eric Robbins, CEO/President of Jewish Federation, Terri Bonoff, CEO of JF&CS, and a video appearance by Johnathan Ornstein, CEO of the JCC of Krakow.

Nearly a thousand students walked out of the Harvard commencement to protest treatment of arrested student protesters.

Eric Robbins, CEO/President of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, pictured with Helen, a Holocaust survivor who had recently celebrated her 100th birthday.

Jewish Dems Praise Biden’s Decision to Drop Out Netanyahu Addresses Congress with Rousing Speech

Compiled by AJT Staff

The anxiety suffered by Jewish Democrats in Atlanta due to President Joe Biden’s abysmal performance in the presidential debate on the night of June 27 abated somewhat on the afternoon of July 21 when Biden abandoned his quest for re-election.

The news that the 81-year-old Biden had withdrawn and subsequently endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris injected a measure of hope and enthusiasm in a campaign that was lacking in both since that dismal debate night.

With just over 100 days remaining until the general election at that point, Jewish Democrats locally praised Biden’s decision and the pivot toward Harris.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Pres. Biden’s record and decades of service to the country are extraordinary and historic. Thank you, @POTUS. Vice President Harris is now absolutely the right candidate to defeat Donald Trump and unite our country. @KamalaHarris is prepared, ready to win, & has my full support.”

Michael Rosenzweig, a board member of the Democratic Majority for Israel, said: “President Biden acted courageously and put the nation’s interests above

his own . . . Ever since the debate, all attention had been focused on him, and the question whether he was still fit for office, rather than on the truly terrifying prospect of another Trump presidency. Biden understood that wasn’t going to change, that the relentless scrutiny of his every word and gesture would have continued, distracting voters from who and what Trump is. By stepping aside, he ensures that the campaign will now focus on the stark binary choice voters must make.”

Democratic state Rep. Esther Panitch said in a statement: “President Biden has led with integrity and character and has been the most successful President in recent memory. I am grateful for the Biden-Harris administration and their unwavering support of Israel and the American Jewish community. This is the only ticket that will preserve the rights of Jewish women. I support Vice President Harris for President and look forward to seeing second gentleman Doug Emhoff make history as the first Jewish spouse of a president.”

Former Fulton County Commission Chair John Eaves, G. Scott Rafshoon, the Georgia chair of J Street, Sam Olens, a Republican and the first Jew to win a statewide partisan race, also commented on

decision to drop out.

Compiled by AJT Staff

On July 24, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress and pledged to keep fighting in Gaza until Israel accomplishes “total victory” over Hamas and Iranian proxy terrorist groups.

“We’re not only protecting ourselves, we’re protecting you, he said. “Our enemies are your enemies. Our fight is your fight. And our victory will be your victory.”

Netanyahu’s address was surrounded by controversy regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, and of Netanyahu personally. The Israeli leader had faced mounting pressure from the U.S. and Israel to agree to a deal to release the hostages still held by Hamas in exchange for a ceasefire. Family members of those held hostage had accused the embattled leader of obstructing a potential hostage deal.

In his address, Netanyahu thanked President Joe Biden repeatedly and urged Congress to continue supporting Israel with weapons so the war-torn nation can “finish the job” more efficiently. Netanyahu also thanked former President Donald Trump for his policies toward Israel during his administration.

Regarding the hostages, Netanyahu said, “I will not rest until all their loved ones are home, all of them,” he said. “As we speak, we’re actively engaged in intensive efforts to secure their release. And I’m confident that these efforts can succeed. Some of them are taking place right now.”

Pets of Jewish Atlanta 2024

Pickleball champ, Lexi Davis of Dunwoody, graced the cover this issue for Pets of Jewish Atlanta

Compiled by AJT Staff

An annual favorite, the AJT’s Pets of Jewish Atlanta 2024 published in July. The first-place winner went to Abby Melnick of

Atlanta. Evan Mischner of Buckhead came in second place. Third place went to Oiro Plofsky. Pickleball champ, Lexi Davis of Dunwoody, graced this year’s cover. Prizes were sponsored by Big Daddy Biscuits.

Biden’s

U.S. President Joe Biden officially dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris // Photo Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/JTA

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on July 24, 2024, in Washington, DC. // Photo Credit: Drew Angerer/AFP

2024.

AUGUST

Athletes Gather in Detroit for JCC Maccabi Games Jewish Athletes Shine at Paris Olympics

Compiled by AJT Staff

In July, while dozens of world-class Jewish athletes were competing in the Paris Summer Olympics, hundreds of Jewish teens convened in Detroit for the JCC Maccabi Games, some of whom may be one-day Olympians themselves — perhaps even as early as the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

From July 28 to Aug. 2, Detroit, a city with a vibrant Jewish community, hosted the JCC Maccabi Games, otherwise known as the largest Jewish youth sporting event in the world, with over 1,200 athletes, between the ages of 12 and 16, competing in an array of team sports (boys baseball, boys and girls basketball, 3v3 boys basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball and ice hockey) and individual ones (boys and girls dance, golf, swimming, tennis, and table tennis). Across the country, JCCs in different regions have a specified number of athletes

allotted to them for the Maccabi Games and they decide which teams they want to send.

“We are most proud of our community coming together to host the Games for the seventh time,” shared Sarah Allyn, chief operating officer of JCC of Metropolitan Detroit, when speaking to the Atlanta Jewish Times last week.

The 2024 Maccabi Games also marked one of the most nationally and globally diverse displays of youth athletics in its history as there were 48 delegations on hand, spanning not only many regions of the United States but also countries such as Israel, Ukraine, Hungary, Mexico, and Canada. From a local perspective, Team Atlanta, whose delegation head consisted of James Harrison, Jack Vangrofsky, Todd Starr, Jessica Mencher, and Daniel Pomerantz, represented one of the largest contingents of athletes with nearly 100 local teens partaking in the events.

Compiled by AJT Staff

It may take years, even decades, to fully appreciate the spectacular feats accomplished by Jewish and Israeli Olympians in the 2024 Paris Games. It was an Olympics in which Jewish athletes from the United States, Israel, and Australia earned 18 medals (six golds, seven silvers, five bronzes). Only 15 other nations took home more hardware from this year’s Summer Olympics.

For Israel in particular, the 2024 Paris Games goes down in the record books as the country’s most glorious Olympics: its grand total of seven medals (three of which were earned on a single day, Aug. 3) represented a high watermark in Israeli Olympic history.

Making her Olympic debut, U.S. wrestler Amit Elor, 20, didn’t just win a gold medal in the women’s 68-kilogram weight class division. When she knocked off Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova 3-0 in the final at Arena Champ-de-Mars earlier this month, Elor became the all-time young-

est U.S. gold medalist in wrestling, male or female, and continued a remarkable personal streak of not having dropped a single match, at any weight class, since the Under-17 World Championships in 2019.

Unlike the narrative surrounding Elor, the Israel Olympic Committee harbored no such lofty expectations for Israeli windsurfer Tom Reuveny. Yet the 24-year-old Rosh Ha’Ayin native ended up earning a gold medal in the men’s windsurfing iQFoil event, which by his estimation, was the first time he had won a competition since the World Youth Championship in 2017.

The gold medal-winning U.S. women’s foil team had a vibrant Jewish presence as Jackie Dubrovich and Maia Weintraub comprised half of this year’s squad. After reaching the semifinals in the last five world championships and getting silver in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, the United States women’s foil fencers won the program’s first-ever Olympic gold in Paris by beating Italy, 45-39, on Aug. 1.

At the JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit, Team Atlanta had a prominent presence across different sports, including a robust baseball roster // Photo Credit: Evan Deutsch

Lauren Scruggs, Maia Weintraub, and Jackie Dubrovich of Team USA celebrate winning against Italy during the fencing women’s foil team gold medal match at the Paris Olympics, Aug. 1, 2024 // Photo Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images via JTA/Times of Israel

UP IN SMOKE: Is the Kosher BBQ Festival Cooked?

Compiled by AJT Staff

For the past 11 years, the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival, presented by the Hebrew Or-

der of David, has filled the bellies of community members with savory delicacies and filled their hearts with goodwill and Jewish pride. But unfortunately, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

In this series, entitled “Up in Smoke,” the AJT recalled the festival’s legacy, speaking with those who were heavily involved over the years, and discussing what plans there are for a potential replacement in the future.

Jody Pollack, the festival’s Executive Director, has announced that he is stepping down from his leadership position to focus on his family. In part one of the series, the AJT spoke with Pollack about his personal history with the festival and what it means to him to be a part of its legacy.

In part two, the AJT spoke with a panel including festival organizers and cookoff participants to recall the festival’s history from their points of view. The panel included David Joss (HOD leadership), Alex Schulman (festival deputy director), and David Kayser (Atlanta Kashruth Commission).

Part three, which has yet to be published, will include plans for future festivals, assuming the tradition is passed on.

Families Raise Funds Overnight for Ambulances

Compiled by AJT Staff

The parking lot of Congregation Beth Tefillah in Sandy Springs looked much different on Tuesday night, Sept. 10. That’s because nine generous families donated two ambulances at a cost of $115,000 each to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency services system.

This happened as a response to the Oct. 7 attacks and the feeling of doing something positive to help Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces overseas; and thanks to the fundraising effort of donor Judah Holland, who hopped on the phone – and in 18 hours had the whole project sewn up.

Holland said, “It’s all about the preservation of life. If you save one life, you save the world. Ambulances save a lot of

lives.” His wife, Hillary, added “Am Yisroel Chai.”

Noting that the donor families’ names were painted on the doors, the entire ambulance bodies will be repainted and equipped with Israeli reflective paint and state-of-the-art technology inside. Jessica Nessim, vice president of American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA), explained, “These are life support ambulances, and in other instances, we have bulletproof ambulances that cost $350,000. All have very detailed specifications laid out by the Ministries of Defense and Transportation … most importantly, while Hamas spreads darkness and tries to bring us down, we are about light and love.”

Nessim led the group in a red ribbon cutting, prayer for the State of Israel, and Shehehyanu blessing. Meanwhile, the spirited children of donors regaled in operating the lights and sirens on the parked vehicles.

Donors were: Mendel Chazanow and family, Fredric Garvett and family, Hillary and Judah Holland and family. Deborah and Julian Isakow and family; Erica and Randall Katz and family; Carol and lan Ratner and family; Bryant Riley and family, the Robinson and Ellerine families; and Drs. Mimi Zieman and Jeffrey Allen.

Couples Share the Art of Laughing & Forgiving

Compiled by AJT Staff

As an Atlanta Jewish Times tradition, couples take a look back at the “crazy glue” that binds them so sweetly together. Looking at decades, the average wedded bliss of the nine couples spotlighted here is 57 years, with legendary businessman “Turtle” Al and Renay Levensen at 63 years.

Not far behind, Sheila and Allan Bleich at 62 years, found that spark because she thought he looked good in his intern scrubs, never mind that she hadn’t washed her hair in a month. Mark Lichtenstein thought Brenda looked like a Swedish maiden, yet his future father-in-

law had to give him an ultimatum. The Weinroths bonded over flying a kite; and Arthur Bodner laid down his coat in the snow for Rita before he shipped out

to Korea. Ask Arthur Silver and Sydney Tourial if older guys have the edge.

The questions posed to our subjects were: years married, how you met, place of wedding, what the initial attraction was, and, ultimately, their secrets to a happy marriage.

The nine couples featured were: Renay and Al Levensen (63 years); Sheila and Dr. Allen Bleich (62 years); Susan and Dr. Sidney Tourial (59 years); Barbara and Mark Lichtenstein (58 years); Carla and Dr. Arthur Silver (58 years); Elaine and Dr. Jerry Blumenthal (55 years); Rita and Dr. Arthur Bodner (55 years); Linda and Michael Weinroth (54 years); and Esti and Dr. Rick Blue (50 years).

The Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival was all about grilling tasty food.

Jessica Nessim, vice president of American Friends of Magen David Adom, led the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly-donated ambulances.

The average wedded bliss of the nine couples featured this year is 57 years.

18 Under 18 Winners for 2024

Compiled by AJT Staff

Published just once every three years, the Jewish Atlanta’s 18 Under 18 may be the AJT’s most popular publication.

Jewish Atlanta’s 18 Under 18 are a remarkable group of young Jewish leaders, nominated by family and friends, teach-

ers, counselors, and founders of charities. Their achievements range from the academic to the athletic to the humanitarian and beyond. Many have been recognized by awards at the state or even national level. Many of them have founded their own clubs and charities. All of them have deep ties to their local Jewish communities. Their paths, even thus far, have been difficult. Some have overcome disease or loss. All have had the difficulty of making their way through the midst of a pandemic and into the realm of leadership, all in the interest of making a better world.

The 18 standout students are: Jaron Alexander (17); Gabe Elkinson (17); Sisi Elkinson (17); Matan Fleishman (15); Benjamin Ganz (17); Nina Leff (17); Hannah Lipman (16); Kitty Lubin (15); Oliver Mason (17); Sarah Menis (17); Lily Mosbacher (17); Zachary Notte (17); Abigail Richman (17); Leon Silver (17); Yehuda Siegelman (15); Rachel Slutzky (17); Abigail Smith (17); and Brady Solomon (16).

Jewish Atlanta Gathers to Memorialize Oct. 7 Attacks

Compiled by AJT Staff

Almost every seat in the 1,100seat, three-tier Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs was occupied Oct. 7 as the Jewish community remembered the 1,200 men, women, and children massacred in Israel one year earlier and called for the return of those kidnapped and still held hostage in Gaza.

Similar to the turnout for an Oct. 10, 2023, rally in the same venue three days after the Hamas-led terror attacks, a few thousand people again gathered on the lawn outside to watch the proceedings inside on video screens.

Scattered throughout the auditorium, a couple of dozen people who lost family members on Oct. 7 stood and then were joined by all in attendance as Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple recited the Yizkor memorial prayer.

Ofri Avigdor Betser, a resident of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where 64 civilians and 22 soldiers were killed, and 19 people

Thousands

taken hostage, told her harrowing story of survival that day.

Six members of Georgia’s congressional delegation spoke at the event, including Republican Rep. Mike Collins, Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde, Democratic Rep. Nikema Williams, and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.

“Tonight, all Georgians pause to mourn and to honor those who suffered such unspeakable horror one year ago,” Ossoff said.

AJT Switches to Donation-Based Business Model

Compiled by AJT Staff

For the last 100 years, the Atlanta Jewish Times has kept Jewish Atlanta connected and informed through vibrant local journalism and community engagement. And that will continue for at least the next 100 years.

However, as the saying goes, “The (Jewish) times … they are a-changing.”

In October, the AJT announced that it will no longer utilize a subscriptionbased model. In its place, the Atlanta Jewish Times will offer its readership free home delivery and ask that readers and supporters consider making a charitable, tax-deductible donation. The donated funds will go toward covering the costs of printing and distribution throughout the community.

The paper’s owner and publisher, Michael Morris, explained the rationale

behind the decision to switch business models.

“The newspaper industry, like all printed media, is changing. Online news is commanding a larger share of viewer experience, the cost of paper, printing and distribution is rising significantly, and advertising dollars cannot quite cover the cost of creating a physical newspaper,” he said.

To continue receiving the paper at home for free, readers will need to visit www.AtlantaJewishTimes.com/subscribe-to-home-delivery/ or www.AtlantaJewishLifeFoundation. com and request delivery.

Readers will receive an annual email notification that encourages donating to help support distribution costs. All donations will be made to the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit entity that supports a large portion of the AJT’s annual budget.

Jewish Atlanta’s 18 Under 18 are a remarkable group of young Jewish leaders, nominated by family and friends, teachers, counselors, and founders of charities.

The Atlanta Jewish Times is doing away with subscriptions and instead is switching to a donation-based model via the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation.

of community members, many draping themselves in Israeli flags, gathered on the lawn at City Springs and watched the ceremony on big screen TVs.

Marcus Leaves Lasting Legacy of Giving Daffodil Project Honors Lubin with Ceremonial Planting

Compiled by AJT Staff

Compiled by AJT Staff

Bernie Marcus, the multi-billionaire co-founder of The Home Depot whose philanthropy extended beyond the Jewish community and the city of Atlanta, including to Israel, died Oct. 5, 2024, at his home in Boca Raton, Fla. Born May 12, 1929, he was 95 years old.

The community expressed an outpouring of support and love for Marcus as the AJT published a 20-page tribute section, featuring statements from President-elect Donald Trump, Arthur Blank, The Breman, Hillels of Georgia and many more.

The Marcus Foundation, Inc. has been the primary vehicle through which Marcus and his wife of 50 years, Billi, have given $2 billion to more than 400 nonprofits over three decades. Their priorities have been Jewish causes, healthcare and medical research, children and youth development, free enterprise and

veterans’ services, and community support.

“None of the four – the Georgia Aquarium, the Grady Health System’s Marcus Stroke & Neuroscience Center, the Marcus Autism Center, and the SHARE Military Initiative at the Shepherd Center – would exist without Marcus,” Mike Leven, Marcus’ friend and then chair and CEO of the Georgia Aquarium, said at the time.

The Aquarium opened in 2005. Marcus, who provided an initial $250 million to fund construction, said that his favorite display was the whale shark, while his wife favored the beluga whales. The Autism Center treats more than 5,500 children annually.

In addition to his wife, Billi, Marcus is survived by son, Fred, of Atlanta; stepson, Michael Morris, of Atlanta, who is owner of the Atlanta Jewish Times; and several grandchildren. A daughter, Susanne, predeceased her father.

On Monday, Nov. 4, at Dunwoody High School several hundred students gathered in the auditorium for a ceremony held by the Daffodil Project, honoring the memory of Rose Lubin, the Lone Soldier from Dunwoody who was killed in action last year, as part of the season in which their millionth daffodil was planted.

“It far exceeded my expectations,” said Robin Lubin, Rose’s mother. “I was expecting just a few JSU students, Rabbi Neiditch, the principal, some family friends there, and some students. What ended up happening was they filled the auditorium with staff and students, the mayor, and a representative came, and a Holocaust survivor.”

“At first, it was supposed to be in the media room,” said Rose’s father, David Lubin, “but then it got so large they said, ‘we’re moving it to the auditorium’ because about 300 kids showed up, voluntarily, to listen to a Holocaust survivor – Hershel Greenblat.”

After watching a half-hour documentary on Greenblat’s life, students listened to him speak.

“If someone needs help, help them,” said Greenblat, in a video celebrating the millionth daffodil planted. “That’s what I want them to learn. And that’s what these flowers represent. They represent the hatred of what happened to these children, but they also represent a future, the future of a world that just doesn’t hate each other.”

Am Yisrael Chai’s Daffodil Project, whose long-term goal is to plant 1.5 million daffodils in memory of the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust, is marking the season with a special plaque at each planting location commemorating the one-million milestone. But at Dunwoody High School, and at several other locations around Atlanta and beyond, another will be joining it, containing a quote from Rose. The one at Dunwoody High School reads: “I am not going to wait for the world to do something great for me, I am going to do something great for the world.”

Rose’s family and student volunteers gather around the uncovered bulbs they had just planted.

Bernie Marcus, the multi-billionaire co-founder of The Home Depot whose philanthropy extended beyond the Jewish community and the city of Atlanta, including to Israel, died Oct. 5, 2024, at his home in Boca Raton, Fla.

Panitch Remains Only Jewish Legislator in Georgia

Compiled by AJT Staff

Esther Panitch had hoped that she would have Jewish colleagues when the General Assembly reconvenes in January, but election results suggest that the Fulton County Democrat will remain the lone Jewish voice in the state legislature.

Panitch won election to a second term in the state House from District 51, receiving 58 percent of the vote to defeat Republican challenger Derek Keith Gettman.

Five other Jewish candidates — four Democrats and a Republican — lost their bids for House seats.

Republicans maintained their trifecta under the Gold Dome, holding the governor’s office as well as majorities in the state House and Senate.

In the other state House races with losing Jewish candidates:

District 24: Democrat Randye Dugan won 32 percent of the vote in her effort to unseat Republican incumbent Carter Barrett.

District 45: Democrat Eric Castater received 42 percent of the vote in his bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Sharon Cooper.

District 47: Democrat Debra Shigley received 38 percent of the vote in her race against Republican incumbent Rep. Jan Jones, the second-ranking Republican in the House.

District 53: Democrat Susie Greenberg received 48 percent of the vote, losing by fewer than 1,400 votes out of nearly 35,000 cast, in her bid to unseat Republican incumbent Rep. Deborah Silcox.

District 86: Republican challenger Barry Zisholtz received 20 percent of the vote in his loss to Democratic incumbent Rep. Imani Barnes.

Republican incumbent Rep. Todd

Jones, who does not identify as Jewish though his mother is Jewish, won reelection in District 25, receiving nearly 61 percent of the vote to defeat Democratic challenger Elaine Padgett.

DECEMBER

Ossoff Rebuked for Israel Arms Sale Votes

Compiled by AJT Staff

Votes by Sen. Jon Ossoff in support of resolutions calling for a halt of U.S. shipments of specific weapons to Israel met with overwhelming, but not universal, criticism from within Atlanta’s Jewish community.

Ossoff, a Jewish Democrat who has talked publicly about relatives living in Israel, voted Nov. 20 in favor of two of three resolutions advanced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont. Those resolutions called for a halt to U.S. delivery of tank rounds and mortar shells. Ossoff voted against a third resolution that called for a halt to delivery of guidance

kits for joint direct attack munitions, known as JDAMS.

Sixteen Democratic senators, including Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, voted in favor of advancing all three resolutions, while another Democrat supported one of the three. Though the resolutions were defeated in the Senate by a large margin, their votes reflected divisions in the Democratic Party over Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist massacre of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 250 more.

Ossoff’s votes likely will be an issue when he seeks re-election in 2026.

The first-term senator explained his

“I remain steadfastly committed to the U.S.-Israel alliance,” the firstterm Jewish senator said.

votes in a Senate floor speech. “I remain steadfastly committed to the U.S.-Israel alliance, and I also believe we must be willing to say no, even to our closest

friends, when we believe it is in America’s national interest,” Ossoff said in closing.

The votes drew strong reactions, both positive and negative, from the Jewish Atlanta community and beyond.

An open letter signed by nearly 50 local organizations, synagogues, and schools, including Atlanta Jewish Times, condemned Ossoff for his votes. An op-ed published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, signed by 22 rabbis from the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform movements, chastised Ossoff and Warnock

Conversely, the AJT received a letter to the editor from Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, who lauded Ossoff for his votes.

A person wears a kippah with the words “Trump 47 Jewish Leadership” during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., on July 18, 2024 // Photo Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Times of Israel

Chai Style Home

Baron’s Life & Home Read Like a Best Seller

When single father Jimmy Baron asked single mother Kira Karlin to “meet him at the pool,” he meant it. On June 10, 2021, Atlanta Jewish Times (“Two Realtors Find Their Bashert”) touted their swimming pool/cabana wedding.

Now in domestic bliss in Sandy Springs, the couple has a nurturing home focused on family, memorabilia and yiddishkeit. The home designed to be lived in is a blend of Kira’s Russian roots and Jimmy’ s energy and a career in radio and on the big screen.

A relaxed Kira said, “Jimmy never learned the art of purging, so we have his childhood piano, items from his parents’ 1970s kitchen, a painting from his old bedroom, a 104-year-old Victrola, travel trinkets, and a wall of celebrity photos from his radio career. Plus, there’s a display case of autographed memorabilia in the living room, which I argued should be in the basement, but lost that debate.”

With an elaborate ketubah and for-

mal dining place setting in deference to hostages still in captivity, the Barons have unique mezuzot on every door frame; and then there’s Jimmy’s personal messages from Bill Clinton, Alan Alda, to Peter Max and Jimmy Stewart, whom he met driving a limo in LA, and Springsteen.

Marcia: How did you renovate the house, opening up spaces and making room for both families?

Kira: The prior owners did most of the heavy lifting. They raised ceilings, opened up walls, put in a pool, expanded the basement to include a theatre and guest suite. We added a bedroom and reconfigured a bathroom along with some landscaping. Our three boys have different interests, and the layout offers space for everyone to do their own thing.

Marcia: Explain the dining table place setting …

Jimmy: After 10/7, we set a full Shabbos table setting that remains on our dining room table every day as a reminder of the hostages. It’s one of the first things you see when entering our home; and we hope to be able to remove it very soon.

Marcia: How would you describe

your home decor?

Jimmy: We’re fairly eclectic without a specific style, but our home is filled with meaningful items and things of sentiment. Kira’s family moved from Russia in the 1980s with few possessions, but we do have two vintage scarlet chairs from her childhood home in Leningrad and various Russian items we picked up traveling there in 2021 before the war started. There is also original Eskimo art, and pieces from Thailand.

We love the unique mezuzahs on every door frame, as well as displaying many family pictures.

I’ve also had a diverse career path and enjoy reminiscing about the journey. I moved to California in 1979 to be an actor; and my first role was in “M*A*S*H*”. The script, signed by Alan Alda, along with my $208 paycheck, hangs in our basement.

Marcia: You also had roles in “Risky Business,” “Quincy,” and “The Facts of Life.” How did you land here from Chicago and arrive at being a top DJ at 99X?

Jimmy: In 1993, I was working at a radio station in Chicago when I was offered the chance to produce the new morning show on 99X here. My off-air

role shifted to on-air as it became clear that Steve Barnes, Leslie Fram, and I had great chemistry.

The experiences and people we encountered in my 13 incredible years at 99X were beyond anything I could have imagined. I’m still humbled when people say how “The Morning X” shaped their high school or college years (although my teenage son is usually mortified).

Marcia: You and Jimmy are realtors with Keller Williams. How do you work together and what are you telling your clients about the Atlanta market?

Kira: We’re a team, but generally each have our own clients and collaborate when needed. Right now, with low inventory, managing expectations is key. Buyers need patience and flexibility, viewing their first home as a stepping stone, not their “forever” home. Sellers should price updated, well-maintained homes right, as buyers are wary of big projects unless reflected in the price.

Marcia: Describe your Friday night dinners.

Kira: Shabbat dinners are the highlight of our week; we especially love hosting our boys and their friends. Typically,

Marcia

Caller Jaffe

Kira and Jimmy relax in their great room with DeKalb Animal Shelter rescue dogs, Marty and Bruno // All photos by Howard Mendel

8-10 guests. Homemade challah and matzo ball soup are staples, with chicken, and sometimes steak skewers or cabbage rolls, if I’m feeling inspired.

Marcia: How do you use the pool?

Kira: We love our pool and spend a lot of time there over the summer. We don’t winterize it because we love the view from the kitchen window year-round. Water is aesthetically more appealing to us than a dirty green tarp!

Marcia: What was it like being president of Congregation Beth Tefillah?

Jimmy: I served during COVID, which had its challenges but was very rewarding. I always felt my sense of humor helped manage frustrations, especially when decisions about masking and social distancing didn’t always sit well with every member. I don’t drive on Shabbos, so it’s great to live a few blocks from shul.

Marcia: How crazy are you about Bruce Springsteen? You’ve seen him 70 times? You know all the lyrics?

Jimmy: I’ve followed Bruce for 40 years. There’s simply nothing that moves me emotionally like his music and live concerts … and Kira, thankfully, gets that. For reasons I can’t put into words, his music reaches into my soul. I certainly know the lyrics to the few dozen that mean the most to me. And, yes, I’m hoarse after most shows.

Marcia: Last word …

Kira: If Jimmy was in charge of decorating, there’d be a ping pong table in the living room, and our ketubah would be replaced by a “Born to Run” album cover. ì

Above: The glittering entrance chandelier welcomes guests to the Barons’ Sandy Springs home.

Right: : The colorful mask painting is part of Kira’s Russian memorabilia collection from her upbringing.

Below: The scarlet reupholstered chairs are from Kira’s childhood Leningrad home.

Above: The Barons’ wedding ceremony was at the pool and cabana, where they love to entertain.

Below: The Barons maintain a dining room place setting representing the fervent return of the hostages.

Left: Kira designed this artistic collage of the family framed behind “bonds and chains.”

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1

Outdoor Menorah Lighting Ceremony-Lilburn City Hall - 7 p.m. Join Chabad of Gwinnett to light the Menorah, Chanukah gifts, and sing Joyous Chanukah songs. RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/yc42uc77.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

Kabbalat Panim Shabbat Service5:45 to 8 p.m. Once a month at Congregation Dor Tamid will gather for a Kabbalat Panim, an Oneg Shabbat before services at 5:45 p.m. We will then move to the sanctuary to welcome in Shabbat together at 6:15 p.m. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4caRiaZ.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

2024-2025 AJC Atlanta Board of Councilors - 12 to 1:30 p.m. In these critical times, it is crucial we speak with a powerful voice to educate the world about the dangers of antisemitism, protect Israel, and safeguard the rights and freedoms of all people. As a valued AJC leader, you will play a pivotal role in helping to advance our mission and defend our values. Our board meetings are an opportunity to gather with one another, learn from experts and guest speakers, and take action. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4eanZqI.

JANUARY 1-14

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Vayigash

Friday, January 3 Light Candles at: 5:24 PM

Saturday, January 4 Shabbat Ends: 6:23 PM

Torah Reading: Vayechi

Friday, January 10 Light Shabbat Candles at: 5:29 PM

Saturday, January 11 Shabbat Ends: 6:29 PM

The Sounds of Jewish America - 5:30 p.m. Join acclaimed pianist Joe Alterman for a fun and fascinating 4-part series that explores the profound Jewish contributions to music. This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s an exploration and celebration of the creativity, resilience, and cultural impact Jewish artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs have had shaping the soundtracks of our lives. From the golden age of songwriting to the Brill Building and beyond, this series promises insights, music and stories that will surprise and inspire. A must-see for music lovers, history buffs, and anyone curious about the deep connections between culture and music! Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl. com/2m2mcnbp.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Tot Shabbat - 6 to 8 p.m. Tot Shabbat is a Shabbat Program geared for children (second grade and younger) to laugh, meet new children, make new friends, and explore the wonders of Judaism in an exciting fun way! The service is filled with songs, prayers, blessings, stories, snacks, and a place where a kid can be a kid when they pray to God. This Congregation Dor Tamid service meets on selected Friday nights throughout the year at 6:00 pm. Each service is followed by a pot-luck Shabbat dinner. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3KW9PMj.

3rd Annual Georgia Legislature Welcome Shabbat – 6 to 9 p.m. American Jewish Committee is excited to welcome members of the Georgia Legislature, local elected officials, and judges to a Sabbath service and dinner to mark the beginning of the legislative session. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/mwzzrt2h.

First Friday January – 7 to 11 p.m. Come celebrate with Young Jewish Professionals on the Atlanta Beltline! Join Atlanta’s young Jewish community for a connected, cocktail-style Shabbat dinner filled with warmth, good vibes, and even better company. Purchase Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/mtmsbze6/.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

Family and Kesher Shabbat Experience - 9:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join Ahavath Achim Synagogue one Saturday a month for our new Family and Kesher Shabbat Experience! We will offer a genuine synagogue and community experience with special opportunities for our children to authentically experience Shabbat with their community, gain comfort in sanctuary space, rituals, and prayer, and prepare for his/her B’nai Mitzvah. Parents, grandparents, and special friends will have the opportunity to engage in these meaningful Jewish experiences with their children, grandchildren, and special friends. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ k8vy6xwb.

Sing-a-long Shabbat with Etz Chaim Preschool - 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Bring your child(ren) for a fun Shabbat morning sing-a-long with our Preschool Director, Lauren Chernau. Get more information at https://tinyurl. com/44ed9mr2.

Shabbat Morning Learners Minyan at Etz Chaim - 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Join Etz Chaim for a Learner’s Minyan designed for people of all ages at Congregation Etz Chaim. Each minyan will focus on a specific part of the Shabbat Service, from P’sukei D’Zimra through Musaf. Find out more at https://tinyurl. com/m8bz9b5c.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Blood Drive – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join Congregation Gesher L’Torah and do a mitzvah by giving blood. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/mrx48shw.

Keshet - North Fulton - 4 to 5:30 p.m. Join IAC for a true Israeli experience! We will meet for fun, learning, and of course community! We would like to open a few groups. Please register at https://bit.ly/3Rlcxi0 if you would like your child to be part of the Keshet family. Please indicate your child’s age.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

JFF National 10th Anniversary Celebration – 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Join us as will gather together to celebrate JFF’s 10th anniversary.  JFF is currently in 8 locations and we are so excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary with our national community. RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/23w2f77v.

KEEPING IT KOSHER

Hot Savory Corn Muffin Side Dish

Every single member of my family loves, loves, loves anything corn muffin-related. I make a fresh batch of corn muffins for break-the-fasts and it’s always the most popular item (maybe next to the sambousak. Calzones are already so ubiquitous that they’re taken for granted). A few weeks ago, when planning a meat menu, I knew that a savory corn muffin/ bread type item would go over really well. I envisioned that it should be not as sweet as a corn muffin and have chunks of corn so it feels more like a side dish than a muffin—but still have that corn muffin flavor that all of us love. If you love corn muffins too, this is the perfect excuse to serve it as a side dish (perhaps you want something hot out of the oven on a rainy day?).

Ingredients

Hot Savory Corn Muffin Side Dish

1 can sweet corn kernels, such as Gefen

1 can creamed corn

3/4 cup Glicks Flour

3/4 cup cornmeal

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup Gefen Canola Oil

1 egg

2 containers coconut milk yogurt (Greek yogurt would work as well for dairy)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Combine all ingredients in a 9×13-inch baking pan or oven-to-table dish. You can also mix in a bowl and add the batter to individual ramekins.

3. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes (less for ramekins). Serve warm or at room temperature.

Credits Recipe by Victoria

Kosher.com

Photography

by

Dwek

Chana Rivky Klein

The Jewish Dog

Hymie walks into his synagogue with his dog. The shammes immediately comes up to him and says, “This is a house of worship, Hymie, you know you can’t bring a dog in here.”

“What do you mean, I can’t?" says Hymie. “Look at him, he’s a Jewish dog.”

The shammes then notices that the dog has a tallis bag around its neck. Hymie then says to the dog, “Benjamin, doven for me.”

The dog stands on his back legs and says, “Woof, woof, woof,” then opens the tallis bag, takes out a kippah and puts it on his head, exactly in between his ears.

“Woof, woof,” says the dog who then pulls out a tallis and puts it around his neck.

“Woof, woof, woof,” says the dog who then takes out a siddur and starts to pray, rocking from side to side.

“That’s brilliant,” says the shammes. “Totally incredible. You must get him on TV and the movies and you could make millions.”

“You speak to him, then,” says Hymie. “He wants to be a doctor.”

YIDDISH WORD

Shpilksmooch

n. A lusty, unromantic kiss that implies that the kisser has more important things to attend to.

“If all you’ve got to offer is a shpilksmooch, I’m better off snuggling with the dog.”

From the Yiddish “shpilkes,” meaning “impatience or having ants in one’s pants.”

Animal Misnomers

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

ACROSS

1. Like David’s fight against Goliath, 5. Where Goliath lost his head

9. Make like Phelps

13. Earth, to the Greeks 14. All there 15. Juno, to the Greeks

16. It’s treif...but not as treif as it sounds

18. Ideal locale

19. Animated brother of Gru 20. Minor prophet: Abbr. 22. She gave Moses a hand? 25. It has no fins or scales...or stage presence

29. He talked to Mark about the Force

30. Big blood vessel

31. Land rights activist from Manasseh

32. Marlin searched for him

33. Miami quarterback, familiarly 34. Defenders of Israel, once 36. It doesn’t chew its cud or have split hooves...or fetch

39. Sherlock’s lady friend

41. Jake Tapper’s channel

42. ABC 1-Across with a smoke monster

45. Coat for a cat

46. 1994 action flick with the

tagline “Get ready for rush hour”

48. McGregor of “Big Fish”

49. It has neither scales nor a mane

51. David’s eldest son

52. Appetizer in Barcelona

53. “Cone” or “Cat” starter

54. Collar piercer, perhaps 56. It’s treif...but not as treif as it sounds

62. Designed for flight, for short

63. X or Black ride

64. Cabbage, in Ireland

65. Jury member, in theory

66. Ireland

67. One option for building a Mishkan?

DOWN

1. Seder plate item

2. Former NBA All-Star Gasol

3. Square root of IX

4. Nosh that isn’t a crop

5. Judith’s husband, in the Bible

6. Napkin place

7. I, in Eilat

8. Nanny’s companion

9. Bundle, for Ruth

10. One time wear, often

11. Fury

12. Superhero name ender

17. Stretch of time

21. Hair in a twist

22. Put the kibosh on 23. Sam Adams creation

24. It has its ups and downs

25. Rabbis often have sheets with them

26. Intern, for instance

27. Small French coin, once 28. He never appears in a scene with Luke in the “Star Wars” sequels

30. Slangy suffix with glitter or liter

35. One to look up to

37. His many tales featured many tails

38. Read “V’Zot Habracha”, e.g.

39. Things to consider

40. Wish one could undo

43. “Paulo” preceder

44. Opryland channel

47. Where a Golem roamed, per legend

50. Gadol ___

51. Combative Coulter

53. “You got it”

54. Yutz

55. Peg for Scheffler

57. A single may get you one, briefly

58. Done, in poetry

59. Artist’s shade

60. Abbr. for many Tzeddakahs

61. Schmaltzy stuff

OBITUARIES

Jacqueline Foreman Cottrill

76, Sandy Springs

Jacqueline Foreman Cottrill, 76, of Sandy Springs, Ga., passed away peacefully on Dec. 21, 2024. She was born in Alberta, Canada, and grew up in Miami, Fla., before moving to Atlanta as a young adult. Her mother, Alberta Foreman, preceded her in death in 2017.

Jackie had a flourishing career remodeling, designing, and building beautiful homes for many residents in Atlanta and the surrounding areas.

Her incredible eye for detail, along with her creativeness, led to many spectacular projects. She was highly respected and loved by those in the building community as well as many friends who will greatly miss her.

Graveside services were held at Greenwood Cemetery on Monday, Dec. 23, at 3:00 p.m. Please contact Dressler’s for additional funeral service information: 770-451-4999.

To plant a tree in Jackie’s memory, please visit website: https://www.alivingtribute. org

Gary Allan Glass 82, Atlanta

Gary Allan Glass passed away peacefully in his Atlanta home on the morning of Dec. 12. Born in Milwaukee, Wisc., on Feb. 27, 1942, he spent his childhood in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Atlanta where he spent most of his professional life working for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, where he retired as Chief Financial Officer in 2004.

He is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 56 years, his two children, Darren and Jessica, his grandson, Elliott, his son-in-law, Rogerio, and his dog, Lucy. A diehard Ohio State Buckeye fan, he loved traveling all over the world with Phyllis, sharing recipes with Jessica, talking about the Braves with Darren, and going on walks with his dogs who were probably his real favorites. He will be missed for many things, including his kindness, his generosity, and his smart sense of humor. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Lifeline Animal Project (www.lifelineanimal.org).  Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Sally Goldgeier

82, Seattle

A selfless, loving, dedicated mother, sister, daughter, wife and friend, Sally Goldgeier passed away Dec. 16 in Seattle, Wash.

Born May 18, 1942, in the Bronx to Evelyn and James Silver, she graduated from Queens College and soon began her teaching career at elementary schools in New York City. After moving to Atlanta, she taught English as a second language at The Epstein School, and later in several DeKalb County elementary schools. “If there was a revolution in that country, that’s where my new students came from,” she often said.

She met her future husband, Charles, on a blind date. They married in September 1963 and remained together for 57 years. Once in Atlanta, Sally quickly became part of the Jewish community as a member of Shearith Israel, Hadassah, and later Gesher L’Torah. Once she and Charles retired, they traveled the world, visiting Australia, New Zealand and Israel, and went on several cruises.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Evelyn and James Silver, husband, Charles, and son, Jimmy. She is survived by her son, Dan, and daughter-in-law, Valerie Nozick of Seattle, sisters, Martha and Jeanette Silver of Bayside, N.Y., and sister-in-law, Maxine McKeown of Las Vegas, Nev.

Funeral services were held at Crest Lawn Cemetery in Atlanta on Friday, Dec. 20, at 10:30 a.m. Shiva was held on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at: Congregation Gesher L’Torah, 4320 Kimball Bridge Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30022 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jimmy Goldgeier Scholarship Fund at Kennesaw State University, which honors the memory of Sally’s son by helping future architects pursue their dreams. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Dr. Stephen Margolis 83,

Atlanta

Dr. Stephen Margolis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully in Atlanta at the age of 83.

Stephen was born in New York City on April 2, 1941, the sixth child of Adolph and Esther Margolis. Growing up in New York, he spent many summers as a lifeguard and attended Ten Mile River Scout Camp, where he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Stephen attended Yeshiva College, and later received his medical and research training from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Sloan Kettering Cornell University School of Medicine, where his PhD in pharmacology and thesis research led to important drug development.

Stephen served as the Associate Dean at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, where he developed a unique intensive program that helped minority students succeed in medical school. This accomplishment led to an invitation from Atlanta’s Morehouse College to assist in establishing a new medical school, prompting his family’s move to Atlanta in the summer of 1976. Later, he was recruited to the CDC and Emory University during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. Stephen’s professional fulfillment came from the significant impact he could make on population-level health. His work embodied the big picture of public health: HIV prevention in Africa and the Caribbean, the establishment of the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and many other important initiatives.

Stephen was also a prolific author, co-writing a textbook on pharmacology and therapeutics in emergency care with his nephew, Jonathan Wasserberger, MD. In retirement, Stephen enjoyed serving as a docent at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, where he led engaging tours and shared many of his favorite stories about CDC’s history, advancements in science, and public health. His tours captivated visitors and often ran well beyond their scheduled time.

While Stephen was passionate about his work, his greatest love was his family, who were the center of his world. He was a loving husband to Rhoda, whom he married in 1964, and together, they became parents of twins, Jessica and Andrew. Jessica and Thaddeus Wright are parents to Alden and Isaac, and Andrew and the former Heather Goldsmith are parents to Juliana and Lilly.

Stephen was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, always ready to support his children and grandchildren. Left alone with his twin three-year-olds, he would lie on the floor, letting the children cover him with bandages and shaving cream. He was the one who would sneak sweets when Rhoda was trying to find healthy options, and he willingly rose before dawn to go fishing, no matter how dark or cold the mornings were. As his children and grandchildren grew, so did his capacity for love and devotion. He could never say “no.”

Stephen had many interests and was incredibly handy whether it was home improvement projects or building tree houses for his grandchildren, he could do it all. He was also an avid photographer and woodworker, crafting a beautiful heirloom cradle for his grandchildren and music boxes for his family. Stephen and Rhoda shared a love of collecting folk art and extensive traveling. Their adventures included trekking in Australia and New Zealand, hiking through Italy and the Czech Republic, camping in the Sahara, photographing wildlife on safaris through Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, visiting Iceland, and cruising the rivers throughout Europe. Many of these trips were shared with lifelong cherished friends, and along the way, Stephen formed new lasting friendships, entertaining others with his wit and remarkable sense of humor.

Stephen was known for his generosity and commitment. Together, he and Rhoda made supporting their grandchildren a top priority, leaving a legacy of love and dedication.

Stephen will be greatly missed by his wife of 60 years, Rhoda; his two children, Jessica and Andrew; their spouses, Thaddeus Wright and Heather Margolis; his four grandchildren; and a host of adoring friends, all of whom were touched by his warmth, humor, and remarkable life.

Stephen and Rhoda were members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue for over 40 years and, more recently, of The Temple in Atlanta. Burial will be private. For information regarding the Shiva and a livestream of the service, please contact Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. Donations in Stephen’s memory can be made to the ACLU or Planned Parenthood.

Arlene Peck 86,

Atlanta

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Arlene Peck, who left us peacefully on Nov. 19, 2024, at the age of 86.

Arlene lived a life defined by adventure, resilience, and an unshakable love for her family. She was a woman of extraordinary strength and determination—an accomplished journalist, author of two books (“Before Botox” and “Prison Cheerleader-How a Nice Jewish Girl Went Wrong”), television talk show hostess, prison reform activist, world traveler, and part-time actress. Arlene’s career was marked by her unwavering commitment to the causes she believed in, including her pioneering Zionist articles written decades ago, which often sparked controversy but also prophetically predicted many of the political dynamics shaping Israel today.

Beyond her professional achievements, Arlene made a profound impact on the lives of others. She was instrumental in establishing a program to provide kosher meals to Jewish inmates at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, as a founding member of the Atlanta Chapter of Technion, and she also made history as the first female Vice President of Congregation Shearith Israel.

Arlene’s personal life was equally remarkable. Her warmth and charisma shone brightly in her work as a television talk show host, where she interviewed legendary figures such as Gary Marshall, Ed Asner, Stan Lee, Jack Klugman, Steve Allen, and many others. Audiences were drawn to her genuine warmth, her sharp wit, and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

But perhaps the achievement Arlene cherished most was her family. Proud of her children and grandchildren, she would often quip, “If it weren’t for me, none of you would be here!” Her deep love for them never wavered, and she found endless joy in watching her grandchildren grow. Even in her final years, when her health began to decline, Arlene’s spirit remained unbroken, and she continued to be a constant source of love, wisdom, and inspiration.

Arlene’s legacy is one of strength, integrity, and an enduring love for those around her. Her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched will carry her memory forward with pride.

She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and a host of beloved family and friends. Arlene will be deeply missed, but her remarkable life and the difference she made will continue to inspire all who knew her. May her memory be a blessing. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Latch-Key Kids, the CB Radio and Piddle

Shaindle

Schmuckler

Shaindle’s Shpiel

Growing up in The Bronx, I experienced a safe childhood. I was surrounded by all my immediate family members, four aunts, four uncles, their respective children, my cousins, and a myriad of neighbors and their offspring. Of course, far be it for me to exclude the original Mrs. Goldberg. This Mrs. Goldberg lived in a strategically placed corner apartment on the fourth floor of the apartment building. She could see everyone and everything for many city blocks. She took very seriously her position as town gossiper, a position she bestowed upon herself. Mrs. Goldberg believed one of her key responsibilities was to report back to our parents on the behaviors and misbe-

haviors of us kids.

My apartment building was the equivalent of a not so typical small town.

Our dads worked, our moms worked at being moms. We walked to school, came home for lunch, and walked back to school; then we returned home. Our after-school activities included homework, playing outside, then dinner.

Wouldn’t you agree my dear friends, those were the days?

We kids always played outside. Some of our favorite activities were potsie, kick the can, hit the curb, stickball, jump rope, double Dutch, and creating complicated and innovative new games for the pink Spalding ball. I would take a guess that the origin of street art began with the multicolored chalk we used in gutter or sidewalk artwork.

Latch key was not a description known to us. Yet!

I was a working mom. My girls were part of a generation known as “latch key kids.” All of us working moms had keys made for our children in order for our

children to enter their homes after school.

They knew what a typewriter was/is. My girls could do their laundry; make their lunch, usually one or two slices of cheese between two pieces of bread. (This particular activity spawned a fascinating true story for another time.) There were times they remembered to clean their rooms, usually when friends were coming over.

On road trips, the girls would use our C.B. radio to talk to truckers and other C.B. enthusiasts who were on the road traveling at the same time we were. We had lots of C.B. friends. We sported our very own descriptive handles. Each of the girls had their own handle: the Seeker, Cajun Queen, Little Bear and Connecticut Yankee. No one was surprised to learn I was the Lady Silver Bullet.

On our road trips, the girls found creative ways to keep themselves entertained, despite cell phones, iPads and the Internet not yet having been invented.

They were always on the lookout for a piddle (an approaching car with only one headlight) or hunting for every letter

of the alphabet on passing billboards. ISpy was another quite popular pastime. Spying different colored cars or passing motorist’s hair color. My own personal favorite was playing with mommy’s hair. Each of the girls took turns. My hair was divided into four quarters. Each one of the girls reserved a quarter and created hairdos they believed to be prize worthy. Stopping at a gas station to fill up our car and our tummies drew many looks of total disbelief.

Are you reading this shpiel wondering, why do I bring this particular missive to you now? I write this in the hope you can look back on your own memories of a time when the world did not feel upside down. Remembering a time when we would awaken and see a sunrise without the inevitable announcement of yet another new world crisis.

The good news is Chanukah is around the corner. This year, let us all celebrate Chanukah acknowledging the many sunrises bringing miracles into our lives. ì

End your year bygiving back

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