Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCIII No. 2, January 12, 2018 by Atlanta Jewish Times

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Tickets for the 18th Atlanta Jewish Film Festival go on sale Jan. 17. To get you ready, we have reviews, schedules and other details to help you pick your flicks.

VOL. XCIII NO. 2

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Hadassah Seasons Fundraising With TV-Style Recipe By Leah R. Harrison lharrison@atljewishtimes.com Hadassah Greater Atlanta has cooked up an “incr-edible” competition to raise money for research into neurological diseases ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s. Riffing on Food Network’s popular show “Chopped,” the event features four teams, each including a nominated home chef-testant, a sous chef and a runner. “Almost Chopped!” will take place Sunday, Jan. 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Spring Hall, 7130 Buford Highway, just east of Doraville. Although the chefs on the TV show compete in three rounds — appetizer, main course and dessert — the abbreviated “Almost Chopped!” will have two timed rounds of cooking. In each round, the teams must incorporate all the ingredients in a mystery basket, using only the tools provided for food preparation. Broadcast journalist and food enthusiast Michelle Venter will preside as master of ceremonies. The competition will be judged by a formidable panel of Atlanta celebrity chefs, including Pano Karatassos of the Buckhead Life Group, Suzanne Vizethann of Buttermilk Kitchen, Mimmo Alboumeh of Red Pepper Taqueria and

“Almost Chopped” participants gather at Spring Hall for a run-through on Dec. 19: (from left) Hadassah Greater Atlanta President Sheila Dalmat; Kinneret Weismark, runner, Kathy Sheehan, chef-testant, and Pam Leinmiller, sous chef, Team Sugar and Spice; Andy Stenmark, sous chef, Team Hash Slingers; Barbara Lang, event cochair; Glen Caruso, chef-testant, Team Hash Slingers; Samantha Ellis, chef-testant, Team Samantha Lives Next Door; Holly Strelzik, event co-chair; Judi Schnitzer, sous chef, Team Jersey Tomatoes; Michelle Venter, MC; and (seated) Barbara Flexner, chef-testant, Team Jersey Tomatoes. Not shown are Michele Vernon, Rebecca Carey, Eliana Leader and Tristan Bjorn Stenmark.

Vincent Scafiti of The Farmhouse at Persimmon Creek. The “Almost Chopped!” chef-testants with their sous chefs: • Hash Slingers — Glen Caruso and Andy Stenmark. • Jersey Tomatoes — Barbara Flexner and Michele Vernon. • Samantha Lives Next Door — Sa-

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mantha Ellis and Rebecca Carey. • Sugar and Spice — Kathy Sheehan and Pam Leinmiller. The event co-chairs are Barbara Lang and Holly Strelzik. “We’re all very excited to be hosting the first-of-its-kind ‘Almost Chopped!’ ” Strelzik said. “What a fabulous and fun way to raise money for neurological re-

INSIDE Candle Lighting �� 4 Health & Wellness ��5 Israel News ��6 Opinion ��10 Education ��41 Food ��43 Obituaries �� 44 Crossword �� 46 Marketplace �� 47

search.” Tickets are $36 and include appetizers from High Roller Sushi and desserts from Seasons 52, as well as wine and other beverages. Purchase tickets, access team fund raising pages and find sponsorship opportunities at hadassah.org/events/ atlalmostchopped. ■

SAD PROM

High school proms often prove to be disappointments, and November’s MomProm so far has been a bust in terms of money raised for the Jewish Fertility Foundation. Page 40

JANUARY 12 â&#x2013;Ş 2018

MA TOVU

Straddling the Fence Might Not Be Possible

A Perfect World In a perfect world, you would maintain your friendship with both warring partners. As you said, you’re not divorcing Bob; Laura is. So what’s the problem? Laura will naturally crave your empathy and trust as her close friend. And since she feels terribly wounded by Bob, your continuing to befriend him will engender a sense of betrayal. “How can you be kind to him after everything I told you, after all that he’s done to me?” she cries out. “Don’t you care about me?” Your reassurances will fall on deaf ears. Much as a child seeks a parent’s protection from a bully, Laura wants to feel safe in the cocoon of your friendship — which means dismissing the man who hurt her. In this case, it’s one or none. — Donny Fuchs Another Sit-Down Now that I’ve reached the milestone of being half a century old, I face the world with a stronger stance. In my younger years, I worried about people’s reactions to my words and actions; now I find it empowering to be myself — unrestricted and unfettered. Every one of us has an obligation to do what’s morally right in whatever situation we encounter. If you’ve examined your predicament from

every angle and feel that both Bob and Laura are entitled to your friendship, it would be wrong to dismiss Bob, considering the time and effort you’ve invested in the relationship. So sit Laura down for a good, old-fashioned, heart-to-heart talk.

Shared Spirit Moderated By Rachel Stein rachels83@gmail.com

That’s another thing I dabble in at my ripe older age: advice giving. Try it; it’s a lot more fun than taking advice. Make time for another lunch date, even though it’s not her birthday. Imagine the following conversation. “Laura, I love and care about you, and nothing will change that. But I need you to understand something.” “Yes?” She’ll raise her eyebrows and look questioningly into your eyes. Whisper a silent prayer and soldier on. “The same way we’ve enjoyed a relationship with you for more than 30 years, we’ve also built a strong bond with Bob.” Take a meaningful pause. “I want to keep that bond.” Laura’s eyes narrow; she resembles an angry cat about to pounce. “Wait.” You hold up a hand, take a deep breath and continue. “If the situation were reversed, would you reject me or Lenny? Can you just toss out a relationship that has spanned decades, filled with shared joy and laughter, meaningful milestones, tears and tragedy, and feel justified in doing it?” “Well,” she might sniff. Grab her hand, squeeze it and gaze at her with empathy. Let warmth pool in your eyes so she can see it, feel it and practically touch it. “I know you, Laura. You’re too good for that. You would never toss one of us out. That’s just not what a friend does.” Understanding dawns in Laura’s eyes. “I guess you’re right,” she says. You breathe a huge sigh of relief. “You’re the best,” you exclaim, giving her a hug. And all’s well in the world — sort of. — Barry Kopps, life coach Have a dilemma for our readers to solve? Contact Rachel at rachels83@ gmail.com.

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Recap: Naomi’s close friends Laura and Bob are divorcing, causing Naomi pain and bewilderment. She had seen them as the perfect couple. But Laura said Bob is a confirmed narcissist and has doled out abusive behavior throughout their marriage. After umpteen sessions of marriage therapy, Laura is ready to throw in the towel. Naomi’s job, of course, is to remain a loyal, supportive friend while Laura navigates the divorce. But Laura expects Naomi to figuratively divorce Bob as well, now that she knows about his dark side. Naomi tried inviting Bob to join her and Lenny for a Shabbos meal and almost lost Laura in the process. Laura was furious at the “betrayal”: How could Naomi team up with the enemy? The dilemma: Is it possible to straddle the fence, even when a divorce isn’t amicable, and remain friends with both sides?

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Contributors This Week BOB BAHR JANICE CONVOY-HELLMANN RACHEL FAYNE • RABBI DAVID GEFFEN YONI GLATT • JORDAN GORFINKEL RABBI PAMELA JAY GOTTFRIED ALISA HABER • ELIJAH HARRISON LEAH R. HARRISON • JOSH JACOBS MARCIA CALLER JAFFE HAROLD KIRTZ • LOU LADINSKY VICKI LEOPOLD • MARCY LEVINSON ALLEN H. LIPIS • REBECCA MCCARTHY ERIC MILLER • TOVA NORMAN DAVE SCHECHTER • CADY SCHULMAN TERRY SEGAL • CHANA SHAPIRO ELI SPERLING • KEN STEIN RACHEL STEIN • BEN STONG PATRICE WORTHY JOE YOUORSKI

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POSTMASTER send address changes to The Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

Fertility advice. The Jewish Fertility Foundation offers “What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting” for couples navigating infertility at 7 p.m. at MACoM, 700-A Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Free; www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/support.

FRIDAY, JAN. 12

King Day service. The Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church speaks at the annual MLK Shabbat worship service at 8 p.m. at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown. Registration is $25 for members, $32 for nonmembers; www.the-temple.org.

SATURDAY, JAN. 13

Sushi and comedy. Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz delivers kosher stand-up comedy and all-you-can-eat sushi after a Havdalah service at 8 p.m. at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Johns Creek. Tickets are $15; www.chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000.

SUNDAY, JAN. 14

Bearing Witness. Holocaust survivor Hershel Greenblat tells his story of being born and sheltering from the Nazis in Ukrainian caves at 2 p.m. at the Breman Museum, 1440 Spring St., Midtown. Free; www.thebreman.org.

MONDAY, JAN. 15

Food talk. Nutritionist Melissa Hartwig speaks about “The Whole30 Fast and Easy Cookbook” and “The Whole30 Day by Day” at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free with RSVP to 678-812-4002 or at atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

TUESDAY, JAN. 16

Free-speech speech. Former University of California President Mark Yudof speaks about free speech and disruption on college campuses at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt, 3300 Peachtree Road, Buckhead. Free;

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Va’eira Friday, Jan. 12, light candles at 5:31 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, Shabbat ends at 6:30 p.m. Bo Friday, Jan. 19, light candles at 5:38 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, Shabbat ends at 6:36 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17

Women’s celebration. Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta honors founders Carol Cooper, Ilene Engel and Sara Franco while marking five years of impact with JWFA Ignites at 12:15 p.m. at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown. Tickets are $72; jwfatlanta.org/ignite.

this month’s coffeehouse evening of soulful music include Rabbi Brian Glusman, Drew Cohen and students from the Weber School at 7 p.m. at Alon’s Bakery & Market, 4505 AshfordDunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Free (food and beverages available for purchase); bit.ly/2jMQCQq.

Soldier’s story. Israel tour guide David Sussman discusses “My Journey From War to Peace” at an Atlanta Scholars Kollel event at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Ariel, 5237 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $10; www.atlantakollel.org/event_detail.php?event=357.

Shabbat Together. Temple Emanu-El Rabbis Max and Rachael Miller hold the first of a monthly series of dinners for people in their 20s and 30s. Email mmiller@templeemanuelatlanta.com or rkmiller@templeemanuelatlanta. com for information and registration.

FRIDAY, FEB. 2

FRIDAY, JAN. 19

Kaiman installation. Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies is the scholar in residence during the installation weekend for Rabbi Ari Kaiman at Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Morningside, culminating in a “Rock the Shtetl” celebration at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Emory’s Miller-Ward Alumni House, 825 Houston Mill Road, Atlanta. Get details at shearithisrael.com/ installationweekend.

Balser Symposium. The Atlanta Jewish Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and United Way of Greater Atlanta hold the 12th annual event for financial advisers, featuring speaker Harriet Warshaw of the Conversation Project on how to talk about death, at 7:30 a.m. at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center, 84 Fifth St., Midtown. Tickets are $75; register at jewishatlanta.org/balser by Jan. 19.

Sinai at 50. Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs speaks at 6 p.m. services at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs, before a 7:30 p.m. dinner celebrating the congregation’s 50th anniversary. The service is free. The dinner is $20; jon the wait list at www.templesinaiatlanta.org.

Scout Shabbat. Boy Scout Troop 73 invites all Scouts and former Scouts to join the troop at morning services at Congregation Or VeShalom, 1681 North Druid Hills Road, Brookhaven, to mark the 108th anniversary of the Scouts, the 68th anniversary of Josiah Benator’s leadership of the troop and his 83rd anniversary in Scouting. Free; 404-6331737 or orveshalom.org.

Acoustic Shabbat. The musicians at

SATURDAY, FEB. 3

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at the Atlanta Jewish Connector, www.atlantajewishconnector.com.

Remember When

10 Years Ago Jan. 11, 2008 ■ Atlanta native Beth Wenger’s new book, “The Jewish Americans: Three Centuries of Jewish Voices in America,” is the companion volume to the six-hour, three-part PBS series “The Jewish Americans,” which is premiering Jan. 9 on Georgia Public Broadcasting. Wenger holds the chair in American Jewish history at the University of Pennsylvania. ■ Eli and Rivka Monheit announce the birth of a son, Ari Naftali, on Nov. 2. 25 Years Ago Jan. 8, 1993 ■ Rabbi Juda Mintz’s suggestion for his Atlanta Rabbinical

Association colleagues to join him for Shabbat in Israel has led to the first multisynagogue tour of Israel from Atlanta. Joining Rabbi Mintz’s Congregation B’nai Torah in July are Congregations Beth Shalom, Etz Chaim, Shearith Israel and Or VeShalom and Temple Beth Tikvah. ■ The bar mitzvah ceremony of Daniel E. Breiner of Atlanta, son of Margaret and Joel Breiner, was held Saturday, Nov. 7, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. 50 Years Ago Jan. 12, 1968 ■ Dr. Marvin C. Goldstein has been selected to serve for a second year as the general chairman of Atlanta’s 1968 Federation Campaign. ■ Mrs. Clement Molkner of Atlanta announces the engagement of her daughter, Brita Amy Molkner, to James Michael Taratoot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Taratoot.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Crohn’s & Colitis Gala Set To Reignite Torch Feb. 3 By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com

(From left) Georgia Chapter President Michael Weinberg and gala chair Roberta Sirzyk are honoring Steve Morris, Barb Mays, and Sam and Gina Shapiro.

the foundation for education and support. They were always there for us, guiding, helping along.” “When I think of all the people who have been honored over the last 50 years, I feel humbled to be honored,” Mays said. “I became part of the CCFA family when our daughter, Meredith, was diagnosed with IBD. I do not know how I would have handled everything without my CCFA friends. “I was thrilled to be involved with CCFA. I was on the board of trustees, and I want to tell my story, raise money for research and help other parents answer questions related to their child. I’m hoping that the money raised at this year’s Torch Gala will propel a cure that will end suffering.” The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the largest nonprofit, voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for inflammatory bowel disease. The foundation’s mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from these diseases. The foundation finances research, provides educational resources for patients and their families, medical professionals and the public, and offers supportive services. The gala includes a seated dinner, live music and dancing, and live and silent auctions. Neal Maziar will serve as the master of ceremonies. ■ What: Torch Gala Where: InterContinental Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree Road When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 Tickets: $350 ($175 for those 21 to 35); www.crohnscolitisfoundation. org/TorchGala2018 or 404-982-0616 (Shannon Primm)

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Georgia Chapter will hold its 28th annual Torch Gala on Saturday night, Feb. 3, at the InterContinental Buckhead. Proceeds go toward critical research to better diagnose and ultimately cure inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Not coincidentally, most of the honorees, host committee members and committee chairs are Jewish, most of whom have personal family involvement with the diseases. The night’s honorees are Steve Morris, the Premier Physician of the Year; Sam and Gina Shapiro, the Citizens of the Year; and Barb Mays, the Volunteer of the Year. “This is personal because I have spent almost four decades taking care of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, and it is rewarding to be recognized for something that is often humbling, challenging and a privilege to do on a daily basis,” Morris said. “Individuals of Jewish ancestry are up to four times as prone to develop the disease. In fact, Crohn’s disease is named after Dr. Beryl Crohn, who with his colleagues, Oppenheimer and Ginzburg, described the first 14 patients at Mount Sinai in New York City with Crohn’s in 1932 — all of whom were Ashkenazi Jews.” Gala chair Roberta Sirzyk said: “I am excited about this year’s gala. I have been a member of the organization for 22 years. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the first year of college and have a very strong family history of this disease. I did not get involved until my son was diagnosed at age 8. Over the next 10 years my daughters were also diagnosed. You could say I hit the Crohn’s trifecta — three children, all with IBD. “When I was diagnosed, the medications were limited to a handful, and now there are so many alternatives. My children are all on medication and are in remission. I have three grandchildren, and my husband and I are committed to finding a cure for them.” Gina Shapiro said: “Decades ago our son was diagnosed with ileitis, which was not well defined yet as Crohn’s and about which there was very little conversation. The nature of the symptoms can be embarrassing in itself. Fortunately, we were referred to

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ISRAEL NEWS

Saudis, Israel Cooperate in Regional Chess Match Saudi Arabia hosted an international chess tournament in December, and Israeli chess players were conspicuously barred. This well-publicized ban is indicative of many such exclusions of Israelis by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states from a variety of international events. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia is not uninterested in pursuing closer ties with Israel. With regional unrest boiling over, Saudi Arabia and Israel find a common external threat in Iranian adventurism. Beneath this alliance of convenience, there lurks the common Riyadh and Jerusalem views of preserving the status quo or working for it. There is a history to it. In 1981, Saudi Crown Prince Fahd drafted an eight-point proposal for a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Fahd Plan, official Saudi policy for over a decade, perpetuated a long-standing pattern of Saudi strategic pragmatism in terms of international relations. Fahd saw peace between Israel

and the Arab world as a win for the Saudi agenda, a large part of which was strengthening diplomatic and military ties with the United States. It is not a coincidence that the Reagan

Guest Column By Eli Sperling & Ken Stein

administration’s controversial yet successful proposal to sell the Saudis advanced military aircraft was submitted to Congress the same year as the Fahd Plan’s formation. After Iraq’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait and subsequent long-term U.S. military intervention in the region, the Saudis accepted bolstering their alliance under American military protection. During the numerous U.S.-cosponsored Arab-Israeli peace processes in the 1990s, the Saudis quietly supported diplomatic solutions to the conflict. On numerous occasions, they offered millions of dollars to provide

economic aid to the Palestinians in an attempt to build scaffolding for an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. In 2002, after the collapse of another round of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and the Second Intifada, the Saudi regime issued an updated proposal for a two-state solution. Sponsored by Crown Prince Abdullah, the Arab Peace Initiative was lauded by the George W. Bush administration as “the first time we’ve heard any nation in the region talk about full normalization between Arab nations and Israel at the end of the peace process.” Since then, the API has undergone numerous iterations to adapt to changing circumstances. These

have included support for the idea of swapping certain settlement blocks for other Israeli land parcels (2013). Put differently, Saudi Arabia is seeking to reduce Palestinian-Israel tensions. While the exclusion of Israelis from the chess tournament seems like a cut-and-dried display of traditional dislike for the Jewish state, the two regional powerhouses see quiet cooperation as mutually important to national interests. We should not be surprised if the Riyadh-Jerusalem axis continues to grow slowly and in private. ■ Ken Stein is the president and Eli Sperling is the Israel specialist and assistant program coordinator for the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org).

More Information • Oded Eran, “Will Changes in Riyadh Lead to New Era in Israel-Saudi Relations?” Ynet News, Nov. 10, 2017, www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5040673,00.html. • Mordechai Kedar, “The Ten Commandments for Israeli Negotiations With Saudi Arabia,” Arutz Sheva, Nov. 20, 2017, www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article. aspx/21287. • “Israel and the Middle East: Seeking Common Ground,” a conversation with Prince Turki bin Faisal al-Saud and Gen. Amos Yadlin, German Marshall Fund, May 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOHmgzbh7XA.

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ISRAEL NEWS

Today in Israeli History Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details. Jan. 12, 1989: Maccabi Tel Aviv defeats the CSKA Red Army basketball team, 97-92, in Moscow in Israeli athletes’ first competition inside the Soviet Union since the Six-Day War in 1967. Jan. 13, 1922: Nahum Sokolow, serving as the president of the executive committee of the World Zionist Congress, meets in Washington with President Warren Harding, who offers U.S. support for Zionism. Jan. 14, 1925: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, one of modern Judaism’s most influential composers and spiritual leaders, is born in Berlin. Jan. 15, 1958: Dr. Israel (Rudolf)

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Other British officials likely drafted High Commissioner John Chancellor’s 90-page anti-Zionist dispatch to the British Colonial Office.

Kastner, accused of collaborating with the Nazis in the annihilation of Hungarian Jewry while leading the Judenrat in Budapest, is cleared of any wrongdoing by Israel’s Supreme Court. Jan. 16, 2003: The space shuttle Columbia takes off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:39 a.m. with Israel’s first astronaut, air force pilot Col. Ilan Ramon, among the seven-person crew. A large piece of foam breaks off the shuttle’s external fuel tank and damages one of the wings. The seven astronauts all die two weeks later when the damaged wing causes Columbia to explode on re-entry. Jan. 17, 1930: In a 90-page dispatch to the Colonial Office, John Chancellor, serving as the British high commissioner in Palestine, explains Arab grievances and argues for an end to the Jewish national home. Jan. 18, 1906: The first 40 students, all women, enroll in the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Jerusalem.

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ISRAEL NEWS

Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home Virtual headphones. Petah Tikvahbased startup Noveto wants to eliminate headphones with a technology that beams sound from your device directly into your ears. Noveto essentially has invented the virtual headphone. Using its own algorithms, Noveto finds your face using sensors and calculates the distance to your ears (they don’t have to be visible), and a tiny speaker focuses the sound there. Move your head and the sound follows you. No sound leaks out to disturb your neighbors. For now, there are limitations on how much you can move. So sports like jogging and skiing are out. Reducing autism risk. A study of 26,702 Israeli expectant mothers and 45,300 children by a team led by Haifa University researchers has revealed that mothers who take folic acid and multivitamin supplements before and during pregnancy are 73 percent less likely to have a child with autism. The results cast new light on a vitamin cocktail that is regularly recommended for pregnant women because of the connection between deficiencies, particularly of folic acid, and neural tube defects in children. Separating fused jaw. Doctors at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center successfully operated on a 2-month-old baby

tal of 76 million shekels ($22 million). Twenty-four kibbutzim invested in 19 startup companies. Kibbutzim are also renting space for entrepreneurs to set up businesses.

Photo by Samuel Magal, courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority

Israel Photo of the Week Homo Erectus’ ‘Swiss Army Knife’ Maayan Shemer, the excavation director for the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows a 500,000-year-old hand ax found with hundreds of others in a dig 16 feet underground near the expanding Arab city of Jaljulia in central Israel. The site is believed to be a center of flint tool production for the Acheulian culture of Homo erectus. Such teardropshaped hand tools have been called the Swiss Army knifes of prehistoric times because they are believed to have had many uses. Read more about the find at bit.ly/2CY6ACL.

born with a rare defect in which his jaw was fused shut. Worldwide, only about 50 cases have been reported. The team comprised orthodontists, anesthetists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Home for female lone soldiers. Over 6,000 lone soldiers serve in the Israel Defense Forces, and over 30 percent of them are women. The first home specifically for young women serving as lone soldiers, the Norton and Sylvia Alvery Bayit L’Chayalot, opened Dec. 2 in Me-

kor Chaim in Jerusalem.

New heights in co-working. Israel’s tallest building, the 782-foot Azrieli Sarona tower in Tel Aviv, is nearing completion. On two of its top floors the Teddy Sagi Group has launched Labs, its shared office venture. Labs will have offices, meeting rooms, workspaces, a convention hall, a studio, a projection room, a lounge and a gym. The master guitarist. Guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter and producer Steve Vai will hold a master class in Tel Aviv in March. The three-time Grammy winner was voted the 10th greatest guitarist by Guitar World magazine.

Sustainability award. SodaStream has been named a 2017 Sustainability Award product winner by the Business Intelligence Group for its eco-friendly sparkling-water makers. Studies show that SodaStream owners save an average of 550 plastic bottles each year.

Fly-in comedy. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld returned to Israel in December for two more shows, performing at Tel Aviv’s Menorah Mivtachim Arena. Later that week he visited the Ramon air base near the Egyptian border and had a photo opportunity in front of an Israeli F-16I fighter jet.

High-tech kibbutzim. Kibbutz investments into startup ventures increased 46 percent in 2017 from 2016 to a to-

Compiled courtesy of verygoodnewsisrael. blogspot.com, timesofisrael.com and other sources.

New Year, New Happenings in Israel

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Finally, winter has come — cold, rain, flooding, snow — and it all began Jan. 1. Someone was watching over us. Although the police had announced that the results of the Netanyahu investigation would be forthcoming in January, now the spokesman says the findings will not come until February. Some Israelis are very passionate about the allegations of corruption. On Dec. 30, about 10,000 Israelis demonstrated in the streets of Tel Aviv. None of my family has been out there. Most of them are not happy with what is transpiring with the government, but they are not into public actions. I am proud that they do civilly discuss the topic readily. I am surprised that some of my cousins who were liberal when they grew up in the United States are now quite far to the right. 8 Each person must have the opinions

that satisfy himself or herself. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fortunate that the Iranian

Guest Column By Rabbi David Geffen

uprising is transpiring now. Because he is accused of fomenting street protests in Iran, he can speak in English to the world to deny any accusations and criticize the Iranian government, pointing out its terrible shortcomings. Iranians are protesting because of small salaries, a shortage of food, an inability to purchase housing — sometimes even to eat. Part of the essence of the demonstrations is that the people are aware of how much money is being spent on armaments. As it turns out, the weaponry used in a recent

Hamas attack on Israel was made in Iran. In the wee hours of the morning at the start of the month, at least two notable laws were pushed through the Knesset by the governing coalition. One raised the number of Knesset members needed to vote in favor of any division of Jerusalem to 80, a twothirds majority. The bill is touted as a breakthrough, but all the newspapers reported about the big loophole in the legislation: A clause permits the Arab villages just outside Jerusalem to be given away with just a majority vote. I do not understand everything, but the newspapers and TV are reporting that the bill missed the boat because it was rushed through so quickly. The second bill appears to have more meaning — not spiritual. The problem in Israeli elections is that the government provides a certain amount of money to each party based

on its Knesset members. Of course, that is not sufficient, so private fundraising is done, making legislators beholden to those who give them money. The new legislation forbids private fundraising and says the government will cover all the election expenses of each party running. The analysis of this bill has just begun. The rush to finish the JerusalemTel Aviv fast train is on. By Pesach it probably will begin running. The hoopla caused by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz about building a line to the Kotel off the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv line and naming the station for Donald Trump was only Katz’s way of getting his name in the papers. In 1907 there was talk about building a light railway line in Jerusalem with a stop at the Kotel. There was no suggestion that the station be named for Teddy Roosevelt. ■ Rabbi David Geffen is a former Atlantan and longtime Israeli.

JANUARY 12 â&#x2013;ª 2018

OPINION

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Our View

Hate Crimes

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

The quest for hate-crimes law in Georgia has lasted so long you couldn’t be blamed for sensing the spirit of Don Quixote hovering over the state Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 3, when Rep. Meagan Hanson, the Anti-Defamation League and the new Coalition for a Hate-Free Georgia announced the latest legislation. Our state is one of five — along with South Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana and Wyoming — that lack such a law. We had one from 2000 to 2004, but the state Supreme Court correctly threw out Georgia’s statute for being too vague. If you’re going to increase penalties for crimes motivated by a person’s identity, you must specify the protected groups. You can’t simply say, “I know a hate crime when I see it.” Rising anti-Semitism and other forms of hate have sparked renewed interest in a hate-crimes law. Last March, people at the first event of the Atlanta Initiative Against Anti-Semitism expressed shock that Georgia lacked such a law, and one point of consensus after discussions that day was the need to support efforts to enact hate-crimes legislation. The AJT, however, has not supported hate-crimes bills — not because we’re in favor of vandalism and violence based on the victims’ perceived race, religion, nationality, disability, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, but because we have been unconvinced that such laws do anything. A murder, a rape or an aggravated assault doesn’t need to target a protected group to be despicable and worthy of heavy punishment, and the question of whether an act was motivated by hate can be a distraction from the crime committed. For example, Dylann Roof killed nine people in a Charleston church in 2015 and deserved to be convicted of murder and sent away for life. But he first was tried and convicted in a federal court to use the federal hate-crimes law. What did that accomplish? We believe that the government should enact the fewest laws possible. If legislation doesn’t have a clear purpose, it shouldn’t be passed, and we never saw a strong argument for a hate-crimes law, beyond the claim that targeted groups feel safer. That was the case until Jan. 3. Two points raised at the Capitol press conference persuaded us to change our position. First, only six police agencies in Georgia reported any hate crimes in 2016, though the FBI collects data about them. That’s an absurd refusal to face reality. Second, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said that when law enforcement leaders try to emphasize training and reporting on hate crimes, officers just shrug, figuring that if hate crimes were important, there would be a law. They are important, so there should be a law. The fact that so many Jewish groups, including the ADL, American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Community Relations Council and SOJOURN, are supporting this legislation says we and other communities need that added protection, and we need our law enforcement officers to take threats seriously. We therefore urge readers to contact their legislators or visit action.adl.org/georgia-hate-crime-laws and make it clear that this bill is important to you in 10 this election year. ■

Cartoon by Yaakov Kirschen, Jerusalem Post

The Film Paths Less Taken

narrative. A sad, real-life companion is “The TwinThe Atlanta Jewish Film Festival does a good job ning Reaction,” an experiment in nature vs. nurture of breaking down its lineup into useful categories so involving twins that might have appealed to Josef that, for example, if you want to see every Holocaust Mengele. “Bombshell” provides some balance with story captured on film, you know right away which the some of the good science can bring the world, movies to include on your ticket wish list. albeit with a reminder that sexism can pop up in the Just flip through Pages 38 to 42 in the festival lab as well as the boardroom or Harvey Weinstein’s guide, which you can download free at AJFF.org. hotel suite. But it’s fun to look You can follow at least a little deeper for more two tracks through Sepfocused connections. Editor’s Notebook hardic history and culture. For example, Mel By Michael Jacobs Check out “Challah Brooks is one of the headmjacobs@atljewishtimes.com Rising in the Desert: The liners in the documenJews of New Mexico” and tary about life after 90, “If “The Pirate Captain ToleYou’re Not in the Obit, Eat dano,” part of Shorts Program 4, for stories of how Breakfast.” But arguably America’s greatest living the Inquisition drove many Jews and crypto-Jews to movie funnyman also turns up in “Bombshell: The the New World, and, for comparison, supplement Hedy Lamarr Story” and “GI Jews: Jewish Americans those older stories of oppression and flight with In World War II,” so if you’re a fan, don’t miss those “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana” and documentaries. “The Last Tailor” for Nazi-driven moves to the AmeriSerious comic book fans should also hit one of cas. As a relevant bonus, you get to see “Iom Romì,” the five “GI Jews” screenings because Marvel Comics about Rome’s Jews, in a double feature with “Cuba’s master Stan Lee is one of the famous faces discussForgotten Jewels.” ing war experiences. You’ll also want to see “The The festival also has stories about the communiMighty Atom,” whose exploits involving steel may ties that survived and often thrived in the Muslim very well may have inspired some of the feats of world, including the feature “Remember Baghdad” strength carried out by Superman. And don’t forget and the shorts “The Outer Circle” and “El Hara” (part “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” — not so of Shorts Program 2) and “Rebel” (Shorts Program 3). much for the superb professional athletes, but for You can focus on Jewish-Asian connections with the mythical mascot of untold powers sure to be “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas” (much of it takes coming to a comic near you, the Mensch on a Bench. place in a Chinese restaurant) and “Futures Past” Steven Spielberg is an obvious theme this fes(Leo Melamed’s World War II survivor depended on tival with his Holocaust epic, “Schindler’s List”; “116 the heroics of Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara). Cameras,” about the holographic survivor stories Get caught up in the pro-press hoopla surrounding being created by the Shoah Foundation, which he “The Post” (speaking of Spielberg) and see reporters set up after making “Schindler’s List”; and, of course, getting the story at all cost in “The Body Collector” “Spielberg,” the documentary about him, which goes into detail about how “Schindler’s List” changed him. and “Budapest Noir.” Or go Canadian by following “Dreaming” (a Canadian production) with the MonA very different, very fictional Holocaust story, treal-based “Bagels in the Blood” (Shorts Program 3). “The Boys From Brazil,” is a good start for a series Just apply a little creativity for your own plan. ■ on the dangers of science with its “let’s clone Hitler”

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OPINION

A Drunkard of Ephraim Walks the Narrow Bridge rich food, Who are overcome by wine! Lo, my Lord has something strong and mighty, Like a storm of hail, A shower of pestilence. Something like a storm of massive,

Guest Column By Eric Miller

torrential rain Shall be hurled with force to the ground. Trampled underfoot shall be The proud crowns of the drunkards of Ephraim. That’s me. I am a drunkard of Ephraim. Or at least I was. Part of me will always be. The storm and the torrential rain were my life. The fear, the destruction and the chaos were my life, standing proud against the storm.

With a few denials and a few flatout lies, I would tell you my life was great. A mutter upon mutter, A murmur upon murmur. Now here, now there. And like the eye of a hurricane, it all came to a stop. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. It came to its end. Trampled to the ground, I needed help. Where do I turn? The hospital? There are medicines that can ease the pain and help with the withdrawal. There are therapists to help unpack the baggage of my life. There are 12-step recovery meetings where I can share my story with other people who know it themselves and tell me of their experiences. They help. But none of them can get me sober. The only thing I know is that I was not in control of my sobriety. It came from somewhere else. This disease of addiction has its own mind, its own willpower. It can take me down the road to chaos once again. My recovery comes from outside myself. It is in my belief in G-d, in

my connection with my father, who brought me this parshah to learn from, even after he is gone. My new pet peeve is polite silence. The part of our lives where we are too afraid to speak and too weak to ask when we need something on which our life depends. What if the answer is no? Maybe if I stay silent, I won’t have to confront the fact that I don’t know what to ask for. What if I’m asking for too little or too much? It isn’t just a matter of willpower. There has been a change in my biology, and I’m too ashamed to admit it. Truly, as one who speaks to that people in a stammering jargon and an alien tongue is he who declares to them, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest; this is the place of repose. No more shall Jacob be shamed; no longer his face grows pale.” Thanks, Dad. ■ Eric Miller is the former coordinator for Jewish Family & Career Services’ HAMSA anti-addiction program.

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

I am walking into the new year. The holidays are over. Christmas break and New Year’s Eve, and I’m still sober, walking the narrow bridge (gesher tzar meod) in recovery and no longer afraid with a few years under my belt. I thought I’d start the year with a commitment to the synagogue and boost my spiritual condition. I am reading the Haftorah for Parshah Shemot on Saturday, Jan. 13, in part as a tribute to my father’s yahrzeit. It’s hard to believe he died 27 years ago of pancreatic cancer. While I don’t believe in coincidences, I do believe in G-d, and if ever a connection could be made with my father, my higher power and my life, then this portion would be it. Book of Isaiah, Chapter 28: Ah, the proud crowns of the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is but wilted flowers On the heads of men bloated with

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OPINION

Striving for Civility in Our Community and Nation “Hate has a great unifying potential.” That is a quote from Masha Gessen in December’s Forward magazine. The Russian-American journalist has written “The Future Is History: How Totalitarianism Reclaimed Russia,” which won the 2017 National Book Award in nonfiction. Gessen tells the story of Russia’s post-Soviet evolution by intertwining the stories of seven Russians. She describes how Russia is being taken down a dark hole. She says, “Most Russians have literally never met a Jewish person. … (But) abstracted hatred is incredibly potent. There’s never the risk of having it challenged by the reality of living human beings.” A similar measure of hatred is happening in America. The current occupant of the White House is creating an atmosphere of hatred toward many groups. He is using it to rile up his supporters so that they will feel he is the only one who can be trusted.

He is creating a hatred toward the press by using the phrase “fake news,” by calling the press the “enemy of the people,” by calling out the press at rallies and by encouraging others to vilify

Guest Column By Harold Kirtz

the press. He also has fueled hatred toward Muslims, Mexicans, Haitians, Democrats — who will be next? Many of those who are wrapped up in such calls of hatred have never met a journalist, a Mexican, a Haitian, a Muslim — or a Jew, for that matter. Or they relate only in nasty terms; in the words of Senate candidate Roy Moore’s wife, Kayla, “We have a lawyer who is a Jew.” The antidote for this fueling of hatred is to resist such diatribes. As a community, we should not be divided by such calls and should do more to

foster and forge positive images and relationships. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta has sponsored several programs on civility and how to talk with one another despite differences in how we practice Judaism and how we regard the activities of the Israeli government. Other efforts in our community are seeking to make an impact on how we treat one another and members of other communities. For example, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta has the Front Porch, with many activities to showcase how elements of the community are serving others. The Front Porch is seeking to break down barriers so that every part of the Jewish community can appreciate and take advantage of what the community has to offer. Another example is the Atlanta chapter of American Jewish Committee, which created a successful Black-Jewish Coalition and is working with parts of the Latino and Indian communities to forge relationships of

racial and ethnic diversity. Jews’ history has led to values that are universal and have given rise to the modern view of human dignity. The experiences our people have lived through have led to the kind of nonpolitical, small-l liberalism that the American Jewish community has long endorsed and thrived under. What else can be done to establish a community and a nation that are not susceptible to the kind of hatred Gessen describes in her book — the kind that unifies one group against another? It is the job of every Jew to resist the calls for hatred toward others, no matter which side of the political spectrum each of us is on and from which such calls come. It is the job of every Jew to contribute toward a society based on mutual respect and civility in dealings with others and on truth in our political and cultural lives. We need to do more to create a community in which communication, cooperation and collaboration are essential elements in how we come together and work together. ■

ISN Panels Bring Magic to Interfaith Work

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela Returning from winter break, I feel accomplished. I completed my homework — an assignment I volunteered to do when all my students’ papers were graded and my report card narratives completed — for the Interfaith Speakers Network (ISN) of Atlanta. I agreed to write the Judaism section of its training manual during winter break because I believe that the ISN is harnessing the power of education to change the world, one panel discussion at a time. The ISN is composed of faithful adherents to six traditions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. These representatives serve on panel discussions that are educational and that promote conversation and understanding among people of different religions. Each panelist has a few minutes to present the basic beliefs and practices of the particular faith tradition, then the audience has time to ask the questions they may have always 12 wanted but never had the opportunity

to ask. The ISN goes wherever it is invited and teaches whoever wants to learn — middle and high school

From the ARA By Rabbi Pamela Jay Gottfried

students, college students, American Red Cross disaster relief workers, and mental health care professionals. The first time I served on a panel, it was in a county courthouse with a group of guardians ad litem who wanted to learn how to better serve their religiously diverse population. Neither decades of experience as a matriculated student earning advanced and professional degrees in Jewish studies nor decades of teaching Jewish studies in my professional capacity as a rabbi and educator prepared me for the experience of serving on an ISN panel. The ISN panels are unlike interfaith panel discussions and dialogues among clergy members. To be a presenter, one needs to be trained and

certified, but this certification is not about one’s academic or pedagogic credentials. It is about mastering the methodology of speaking about the foundations of one’s own faith tradition with a generosity of spirit toward people of different faiths. It is about being able to hold fast to one’s own religious beliefs while accepting that others’ religious beliefs are as meaningful to them. During the introduction portion, each panelist has only a few minutes to present three PowerPoint slides. Sometimes, if the panel is composed of only the Abrahamic faiths, the speakers for Judaism, Christianity and Islam have a full 10 minutes each. The information on these introductory slides is designed to highlight similarities and universal truths among the religions, as well as note differences in beliefs and particular practices of each religion. A moderator from the ISN serves as the timekeeper to ensure ample time for questions. Then the Q&A begins; this is when

the magic happens. Every. Single. Time. The moderator facilitates the Q&A, maintaining a balance of questions and flow of conversation among all the panelists, keeping the participants’ questions on topic and the panelists on task. The panelists, even if they have never met before the event, model how to have a conversation about religion in which everyone is genuinely interested in and learning from one another. In this unscripted interaction, it is apparent that a solidarity has developed among the panelists during the course of the presentation. Perhaps it is the simple act of serving together that strengthens the friendship and community among the panelists. Perhaps it is something greater, like a shared commitment to education as tikkun olam, repairing the world. Personally, I believe that whenever the ISN gathers a panel together and ignites a spark of human connection, G-d is present. ■ Rabbi Pamela Jay Gottfried is the dean of Jewish studies at the Weber School and a Rabbis Without Borders fellow.

2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

PREVIEW

Top left: Matthew Bernstein and Genevieve McGillicuddy discuss the documentary “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” at the 2018 AJFF preview party Jan. 4. Bottom left: Miguel Ángel Solá portrays Holocaust survivor Abraham Bursztein in the appropriately titled closing film of the festival, “The Last Suit.” Above: Sammy Davis Jr. (David Williams) helps sponsors get excited about opening film “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me” at the preview party. Behind him are jazz pianist Joe Alterman and Emory film professor Matthew Bernstein.

74 Films Will Roll at 18th Jewish Festival Wednesday, Jan. 17, one week before the festival opens with the documentary “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me.” The festival closes Thursday, Feb. 15, with the narrative “The Last Suit,” the story of an 88-year-old Argentinian tailor who travels to Poland in search of the man who saved his life during the Holocaust. The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is hosting the opening and closing nights, for which tickets are $36. The Woodruff Arts Center, which hosted the closing night last year, is the site of the festival’s third $36 screening: the ACCESS young professionals screening Saturday, Feb. 3, of the millennial rom-com “The Boy Downstairs,” including a pre-film party. Three screenings are planned Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 10 and 11, for the world-premiere documentary “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” which tracks the surprising success of the Jewish Americans representing Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic with the help of the Mensch on a Bench. Making its North American debut is the epic documentary “Russian Jews,” which is presented in three parts

to cover the entire history of its subject. Each piece is being screened twice and works as a stand-alone feature. “On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi” is a U.S. premiere documentary about the filmmakers’ nonagenarian grandparents, Holocaust survivors who reveal after six decades of marriage that the husband is gay. “On My Way Out” is paired for its two screenings with another short documentary, the Oscar short-listed “116 Cameras,” which focuses on the Shoah Project’s efforts to turn Holocaust survivors’ testimonials into interactive holograms. Featured is Eva Schloss, who knew Anne Frank and became Otto Frank’s stepdaughter after the war; Schloss appeared in Atlanta twice in 2017. The festival is presenting one other pairing of short documentaries: “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels,” about the Havana Jewish community, and “Iom Romì,” about Rome’s Jews. Festival-goers also can choose among four shorts programs, each with five films. Two of them are world premieres and are part of Shorts Program 3: “Wendy’s Shabbat,” about a

group of seniors who gather at the fastfood restaurant on Friday nights for burgers, fries and blessings, and “Rebel,” an Israeli film about a Sephardic woman trapped in an abusive marriage in 1950s Tel Aviv. Four other shorts are making their North American premieres: “Habesha,” in which Ethiopian Jews talk about life in Israel (with Atlantan Bailey Softness as cinematographer); “Chad Gadya,” an animated version of the Passover classic; “Open Your Eyes,” in which a visit to the eye doctor in Israel reveals truths about the Israeli-Arab conflict; and “The Outer Circle,” about British-Iraqi Jews gathering for a holiday feast. “Habesha” and “Chad Gadya” are in Shorts Program 1; “Open Your Eyes” and “The Outer Circle” are in Program 2. In this 24-page special section, conveniently arranged so you can pull it out of the newspaper and keep with you to help plan your festival schedule, you’ll find the full film lineup, reviews of most the movies, the nitty-gritty details you need about movie theaters and tickets, and a few feature stories that gaze through the festival’s lens at 13 the world beyond. ■ JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

A world-premiere feature documentary, the North American premiere of an epic, three-part documentary, and Israel’s Academy Award entry highlight the 74 movies filling 192 screenings in 23 days at the 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. The full lineup for the 18th annual festival was previewed for sponsors and media Thursday night, Jan. 4, during a party at the Atlanta History Center, and announced to the public the next day. “We are proud to continue an 18year tradition by bringing the most diverse and compelling films from around the globe,” festival Executive Director Kenny Blank said. “There is a universality to the stories told in this year’s lineup, with both sweeping and epic stories, personal narratives, unconventional perspectives, and stories that intersect with other communities.” Atlanta’s festival joins the much older San Francisco festival as the two largest Jewish film festivals in the world, each drawing a total audience in the neighborhood of 40,000 people. The AJFF also is Atlanta’s biggest film festival. Tickets go on sale at ajff.org on

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AJFF18

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

The Lineup, From ‘1945’ to ‘Winter Hunt’

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is screening 74 films from Jan. 24 to Feb. 15. The full lineup: • “1945,” Hungary, narrative, 91 minutes — The postwar tension rises in a remote town when the arrival of two Orthodox Jews forces people to face their wartime sins. • “116 Cameras,” United States, documentary, 15 minutes — The Shoah Project turns Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss’ testimony into an interactive hologram. • “Above the Drowning Sea,” Canada, documentary, 92 minutes — A Chinese diplomat in Vienna helps thousands of Jews escape the Nazis to take World War II refuge in Shanghai. • “An Act of Defiance,” South Africa and Netherlands, narrative, 123 minutes — A lawyer risks his career to defend Nelson Mandela and nine others, including Jewish anti-apartheid activists, in 1960s South Africa in this historical thriller. • “Almost Famous,” Israel, narrative, 95 minutes — Two high school siblings deal with instant fame when one of them makes it onto an “American Idol”-type TV talent show in this musical dramedy. • “A Bag of Marbles,” France, Canada and Czech Republic, narrative, 110 minutes — Two young Jewish brothers try to escape the Nazis in occupied France. • “The Body Collector,” Netherlands, narrative, 142 minutes — An investigative journalist tries to prove that a famous art collector was a Nazi war criminal in this thriller based on a true story (and sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Times). • “Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story,” United States, documentary, 90 minutes — The notorious Jewish actress is also a brilliant inventor whose work contributes to technologies such as wi-fi. • “The Boy Downstairs,” United States, narrative, 91 minutes — Zosia Mamet from “Girls” stars in a romantic comedy about a young woman who moves into the perfect apartment in Brooklyn, only to find an exboyfriend living downstairs. • “The Boys From Brazil,” United States and United Kingdom, narrative, 125 minutes — Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck face off in a thriller involving Josef Mengele’s clone-Hitler plot. • “Budapest Noir,” Hungary, narrative, 95 minutes — A tough, cynical reporter investigates a prostitute’s murder as the government moves toward an alignment with the Nazis. • “Bye Bye Germany,” Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, narrative, 102 minutes — Revenge comes on the postwar black market as Holocaust survivors sell overpriced linens door to door to guilt-ridden Germans under the noses of American military authorities. • “The Cakemaker,” Germany and Israel, narrative, 105 minutes — A German

Photo by Michael Jacobs

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival President Steve Labovitz (left) and Executive Director Kenny Blank build excitement for the festival at the sponsor preview party Jan. 4 at the Atlanta History Center. pastry chef moves to Jerusalem and works in the cafe owned by the widow of the Israeli businessman with whom he was having an affair. • “Challah Rising in the Desert: The Jews of New Mexico,” United States, documentary, 84 minutes — Several waves of immigration create a unique Jewish culture in New Mexico. • “The Cousin,” Israel, narrative, 92 minutes — A dark comedy explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of a liberal TV personality forced to reconsider his views after an Arab laborer he hires is accused of an assault on a teenage girl. • “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana,” United States, documentary, 46 minutes — Some Jews escape Nazi-dominated Europe to find refuge in Cuba. • “Death in the Terminal,” Israel, documentary, 54 minutes — Witness accounts and surveillance footage help re-create a terrorist attack on a bus station and its ugly climax. • “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas,” Canada, documentary, 52 minutes — The Jewish songwriters who created the soundtrack of the season are celebrated. • “Foxtrot,” Israel, narrative, 108 minutes — Israel’s submission for the foreignlanguage Academy Award shows military life at a remote outpost and the grief of parents who are told their son has been killed in the line of duty. • “Funny Girl,” United States, narrative, 155 minutes — A restored version of the Barbra Streisand bio-pic about Fanny Brice gets a 50th-anniversary celebration. • “Futures Past,” United States, documentary, 89 minutes — Filmmaker Jordan Melamed explores the modernization of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the life of its former chairman and his father, Holocaust survivor Leo Melamed. • “GI Jews: Jewish Americans in World War II,” United States, documentary, 87 minutes — Jews face anti-Semitism within their own ranks while battling the Nazi regime. • “Gilbert,” United States, documentary, 98 minutes — Comedian Gilbert Gottfried opens up about the life behind the laughs and the shrill voice.

• “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The Conductor Zubin Mehta,” Germany, documentary, 89 minutes — Stirring music supports this biography of the Israel Philharmonic’s music director for life. • “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” Israel, Japan, United States and South Korea, documentary, 85 minutes — Jewish American ballplayers, including ex-Braves Jason Marquis, Ryan Lavarnway and Nate Freiman, represent Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. • “The History of Love,” Canada, France, Romania and United States, narrative, 134 minutes — Derek Jacobi and Elliott Gould star in a romantic drama whose epic sweep carries from pre-World War II Poland to contemporary New York. • “If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast,” United States, documentary, 86 minutes — Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Betty White, Dick Van Dyke and other celebrities in their 90s talk about the joy they find in life. • “The Invisibles,” Germany, narrative, 110 minutes — A docu-drama presents the stories of Jews who managed to survive World War II in Berlin. • “Iom Romì,” Italy and United States, documentary, 31 minutes — Watch a day in the life of the Jewish community of Rome. • “Itzhak,” United States, Israel, documentary, 83 minutes — Violinist Itzhak Perlman is followed as he performs around the world. • “Jungle,” Australia, Colombia and United States, narrative, 115 minutes — Daniel Radcliffe, the Jewish actor best known as Harry Potter, portrays Israeli Yossi Ghinsberg as he gets more adventure than he bargained for on a trip into Bolivia’s rain forest. • “Keep the Change,” United States, narrative, 94 minutes — Two adults with autism meet at the JCC and fall in love. • “The Last Suit,” Spain and Argentina, narrative, 86 minutes — Facing retirement, an 88-year-old tailor in Argentina takes a final journey to Europe to find the man who saved him at Auschwitz. • “Let Yourself Go,” Italy, narrative, 98 minutes — A divorced psychoanalyst’s need to get into shape produces comedy after he hires a spirited, young, female physical

trainer. • “Longing,” Israel, narrative, 104 minutes — A confirmed bachelor has his world turned upside down in a tragicomedy when he learns that he fathered a son with his college girlfriend and that the young man has just died. • “Mamele,” Poland, narrative, 97 minutes — A Yiddish musical Cinderella story, set in Lodz and starring Molly Picon, returns to the big screen to mark its 80th anniversary. • “The Mighty Atom,” United States, documentary, 74 minutes — Born poor and sickly in Poland in 1893, Joseph Greenstein grows to become a world-famous strongman despite topping out at 5-foot-4 and 140 pounds. • “Mr. & Mrs. Adelman,” France, narrative, 120 minutes — A novelist’s death is the occasion to recall his decades-long romance with his wife. • “On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi,” Canada, documentary, 40 minutes — In their 90s, seemingly happily married Holocaust survivors reveal to their children and grandchildren that the husband is gay. • “Playing G-d,” Germany and Netherlands, documentary, 95 minutes — Ken Feinberg handles the overwhelming responsibility of administering settlements for families who suffered through disasters from the 9/11 attacks to the BP oil spill. • “A Quiet Heart,” Israel, narrative, 92 minutes — A gifted, secular pianist faces ultra-Orthodox fanaticism after she moves to Jerusalem and befriends an Italian monk and a mute boy. • “Remember Baghdad,” United Kingdom, Iraq and Israel, documentary, 69 minutes — Displaced Iraqi Jews look back at what was lost in the destruction of a oncethriving community. • “Russian Jews,” Russia, documentary, 86 minutes, 125 minutes and 126 minutes — Epic hardly begins to describe this creative three-part examination of the history of Russian Jews in and out of the motherland. • “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me,” United States, documentary, 100 minutes — Celebrity interviews, photos and video clips bring to life the complex story of the Jewish, African-American member of the Rat Pack. • “Saving Neta,” Israel, narrative, 90 minutes — A drifter meets four women on the edge, one in each season of the year, in an anthology of dramatic stories. • “Scaffolding,” Israel and Poland, narrative, 92 minutes — A troubled young man has new possibilities opened to him by a dedicated teacher, only to have his personal aspirations come into conflict with family obligations. • “Schindler’s List,” United States, narrative, 195 minutes — Steven Spielberg’s Holocaust classic about the salvation offered by

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JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

a German industrialist returns for its 25th anniversary. • “Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema,” India and Australia, documentary, 76 minutes — The tiny Jewish community plays a huge role in the development of the world’s biggest movie industry. • “Shelter,” Germany, Israel and France, narrative, 93 minutes — A Mossad agent and her ex-Hezbollah informer spend two weeks hiding out together in Germany in this spy thriller. • “Spielberg,” United States, documentary, 147 minutes — Steven Spielberg’s filmmaking career and the personal stories behind it are charted. • “Take My Nose … Please!,” United States, documentary, 99 minutes — Women debate whether to get plastic surgery in this funny look at female empowerment and the pursuit of beauty. • “The Testament,” Austria and Israel, narrative, 96 minutes — A dedicated Holocaust researcher digs into the cover-up of a massacre in Austria and finds disturbing information about his mother. • “The Twinning Reaction,” United States, documentary, 55 minutes — The Neubauer-Bernard study in the 1960s splits up twins and triplets to be raised by different adoptive families, then secretly has psychoanalysts follow them to explore the question of nature vs. nurture. • “Winter Hunt,” Germany, narrative, 75 minutes — A young woman pretends to have a car accident in the German countryside so she can confront a former Auschwitz guard and force him to confess his crimes in this tense psychological thriller. • Shorts Program 1 — “Shimala,” Israel, narrative, 9 minutes; “Habesha,” United States and Israel, documentary, 13 minutes; “Across the Line,” Israel, narrative, 30 minutes; “Chad Gadya,” United States, narrative, 3 minutes; “Stitchers: Tapestry of Spirit,” United States, documentary, 16 minutes. • Shorts Program 2 — “Open Your Eyes,” Israel, narrative, 14 minutes; “El Hara,” Tunisia and France, documentary, 16 minutes; “The Outer Circle,” United Kingdom, narrative, 13 minutes; “The Driver Is Red,” United States, documentary, 15 minutes; “Devil Wears a Suit,” Australia, narrative, 20 minutes. • Shorts Program 3 — “Wendy’s Shabbat,” United States, documentary, 10 minutes; “Bagels in the Blood,” United States and Canada, documentary, 5 minutes; “Rebel,” Israel, narrative, 17 minutes; “Compartments,” Israel and Germany, narrative, 15 minutes; “The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm,” United States, documentary, 19 minutes. • Shorts Program 4 — “The Forger,” United States and France, documentary, 17 minutes; “The Pirate Captain Toledano,” United States, narrative, 10 minutes; “Our Heroes,” Israel, narrative, 17 minutes; “Mustard Seed,” Canada and Germany, narrative, 9 minutes; “Spring Chicken,” United States, Mexico and Israel, documentary, 10 minutes.

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AJFF18

74 Films, 192 Screenings, 23 Days WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24

Opening Night Gala 5 p.m., Cobb Energy Centre Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me 7:30 p.m., Cobb Energy Centre

THURSDAY, JAN. 25

Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe The Cousin 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe GI Jews 8:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe

FRIDAY, JAN. 26

The Invisibles 11:20 a.m., Perimeter Pointe Take My Nose … Please! 11:30 a.m., Perimeter Pointe An Act of Defiance 11:40 a.m., Atlantic Station The Testament 2 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Shorts Program 1 2:10 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Jungle 2:35 p.m., Atlantic Station

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

SATURDAY, JAN. 27

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story 1 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Shelter 1 p.m., Atlantic Station Itzhak 1 p.m., Hollywood 24 Almost Famous 1:10 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Keep the Change 3:15 p.m., Hollywood 24 Let Yourself Go 3:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe The Cakemaker 3:25 p.m., Atlantic Station Schindler’s List 3:35 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Budapest Noir 5:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe 1945 6 p.m., Hollywood 24 The Cousin 6:20 p.m., Atlantic Station An Act of Defiance 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Keep the Change 8:15 p.m., Perimeter Pointe The Cakemaker 8:20 p.m., Hollywood 24 1945 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station

SUNDAY, JAN. 28

Saving Neta 11 a.m., Perimeter Pointe

Mr. & Mrs. Adelman 11 a.m., Atlantic Station Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story 11:05 a.m., Hollywood 24 If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast 11:10 a.m., Perimeter Pointe The Mighty Atom 1:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe An Act of Defiance 1:25 p.m., Hollywood 24 Shorts Program 1 1:30 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Keep the Change 1:50 p.m., Atlantic Station Shalom Bollywood 3:25 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas 3:35 p.m., Perimeter Pointe A Bag of Marbles 4:20 p.m., Hollywood 24 The Invisibles 4:35 p.m., Atlantic Station A Quiet Heart 5:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds 5:35 p.m., Perimeter Pointe The History of Love 7 p.m., Hollywood 24 An Act of Defiance 7:15 p.m., Atlantic Station The Cakemaker 7:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Scaffolding 7:55 p.m., Perimeter Pointe

MONDAY, JAN. 29

Spielberg 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Budapest Noir 7:30 p.m., Hollywood 24 The History of Love 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Bye Bye Germany 7:50 p.m., Atlantic Station

TUESDAY, JAN. 30

Spielberg 3:20 p.m., Atlantic Station Jungle 3:25 p.m., Hollywood 24 Above the Drowning Sea 3:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe An Act of Defiance 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Itzhak 7:20 p.m., Atlantic Station Mr. & Mrs. Adelman 7:20 p.m., Hollywood 24 Longing 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31

Schindler’s List 11 a.m., Atlantic Station

The History of Love 11:15 a.m., Hollywood 24 Mr. & Mrs. Adelman 11:30 a.m., Perimeter Pointe Shorts Program 2 2:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Let Yourself Go 2:20 p.m., Hollywood 24 The Testament 3:05 p.m., Atlantic Station Playing G-d 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe The Body Collector 7:20 p.m., Atlantic Station The Invisibles 7:30 p.m., Hollywood 24 Winter Hunt 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe

THURSDAY, FEB. 1

The Body Collector 12:35 p.m., Hollywood 24 Funny Girl 3:15 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Winter Hunt 3:45 p.m., Atlantic Station GI Jews 3:50 p.m., Hollywood 24 The Body Collector 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story 7:15 p.m., Atlantic Station Winter Hunt 7:15 p.m., Hollywood 24 Futures Past 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe

FRIDAY, FEB. 2

Budapest Noir 11 a.m., Atlantic Station Bye Bye Germany 11 a.m., Hollywood 24 Futures Past 11:45 a.m., Springs Cinema If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast Noon, Springs Cinema A Quiet Heart 1:25 p.m., Atlantic Station Itzhak 1:35 p.m., Hollywood 24 Keep the Change 2:20 p.m., Springs Cinema Winter Hunt 2:35 p.m., Springs Cinema The Invisibles 3:50 p.m., Atlantic Station A Bag of Marbles 3:50 p.m., Hollywood 24

SATURDAY, FEB. 3

The Body Collector 1 p.m., Springs Cinema Bye Bye Germany 1 p.m., Atlantic Station Scaffolding

1 p.m., Tara Above the Drowning Sea 1:10 p.m., Springs Cinema A Bag of Marbles 3:25 p.m., Tara Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds 3:35 p.m., Atlantic Station A Bag of Marbles 3:55 p.m., Springs Cinema Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels/Iom Romì 4:15 p.m., Springs Cinema Shelter 5:55 p.m., Atlantic Station Shalom Bollywood 6:05 p.m., Tara Challah Rising in the Desert 6:25 p.m., Springs Cinema The Twinning Reaction 6:35 p.m., Springs Cinema Young Professionals Night Party 7 p.m., Woodruff Arts Center Budapest Noir 8:15 p.m., Tara Let Yourself Go 8:20 p.m., Atlantic Station The Boy Downstairs 8:30 p.m., Woodruff Arts Center Bye Bye Germany 8:40 p.m., Springs Cinema Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story 8:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

SUNDAY, FEB. 4

Mamele 11 a.m., Springs Cinema GI Jews 11 a.m., Atlantic Station Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels/Iom Romì 11:10 a.m., Springs Cinema Above the Drowning Sea 11:15 a.m., Tara Almost Famous 1:20 p.m., Springs Cinema The Twinning Reaction 1:30 p.m., Springs Cinema The Boy Downstairs 1:40 p.m., Atlantic Station Take My Nose … Please! 2 p.m., Tara Shorts Program 2 3:35 p.m., Springs Cinema If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast 3:45 p.m., Springs Cinema A Bag of Marbles 4:25 p.m., Atlantic Station The History of Love 4:50 p.m., Tara Bye Bye Germany 5:45 p.m., Springs Cinema GI Jews 6:05 p.m., Springs Cinema The History of Love 7:05 p.m., Atlantic Station The Cakemaker

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AJFF18 2:45 p.m., Springs Cinema Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas 3 p.m., Springs Cinema Shelter 3:45 p.m., Tara

MONDAY, FEB. 5

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

Take My Nose … Please! 7 p.m., Springs Cinema Schindler’s List 7 p.m., Tara Saving Neta 7:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

TUESDAY, FEB. 6

If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast 3:40 p.m., Tara The Cakemaker 3:45 p.m., Springs Cinema Shalom Bollywood 7 p.m., Springs Cinema Foxtrot 7:15 p.m., Tara Russian Jews, Part 1 8 p.m., Springs Cinema Winter Hunt 9:10 p.m., Springs Cinema

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7

Take My Nose … Please! 11:40 a.m., Tara A Quiet Heart 11:50 a.m., Springs Cinema Mr. & Mrs. Adelman 2:10 p.m., Tara Russian Jews, Part 1 2:15 p.m., Springs Cinema Russian Jews, Part 2 7 p.m., Springs Cinema Jungle 7 p.m., Tara The Boys From Brazil 7:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

THURSDAY, FEB. 8

The Body Collector 2:30 p.m., Springs Cinema Russian Jews, Part 2 3:10 p.m., Springs Cinema The Boys From Brazil 3:20 p.m., Tara Jungle 7 p.m., Springs Cinema Gilbert 7:20 p.m., Tara Russian Jews, Part 3 7:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

FRIDAY, FEB. 9

The Cousin 11 a.m., Tara Russian Jews, Part 3 11:55 a.m., Springs Cinema The Boy Downstairs 12:20 p.m., Springs Cinema GI Jews 1:25 p.m., Tara Shorts Program 3

Remember Baghdad 1 p.m., Springs Cinema Saving Neta 1 p.m., Tara Shorts Program 3 1:10 p.m., Springs Cinema Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds 3:10 p.m., Springs Cinema The Mighty Atom 3:10 p.m., Springs Cinema Heading Home 3:20 p.m., Tara The Testament 5:30 p.m., Springs Cinema Longing 5:45 p.m., Springs Cinema 1945 5:55 p.m., Tara Heading Home 8:20 p.m., Springs Cinema Budapest Noir 8:30 p.m., Springs Cinema Itzhak 8:35 p.m., Tara

SUNDAY, FEB. 11

Remember Baghdad 11 a.m., Tara Scaffolding 11 a.m., Springs Cinema Death in the Terminal 11:10 a.m., Springs Cinema Almost Famous 1:15 p.m., Springs Cinema Death in the Terminal 1:20 p.m., Tara Take My Nose … Please! 1:25 p.m., Springs Cinema Longing 3:25 p.m., Tara Heading Home 3:40 p.m., Springs Cinema 116 Cameras/On My Way Out 3:55 p.m., Springs Cinema 116 Cameras/On My Way Out 6 p.m., Tara Challah Rising in the Desert 6:05 p.m., Springs Cinema Shorts Program 4 6:15 p.m., Springs Cinema 1945 8:10 p.m., Springs Cinema The Testament 8:10 p.m., Tara Shelter 8:20 p.m., Springs Cinema

MONDAY, FEB. 12

Spielberg 7 p.m., Springs Cinema

18 Jurors, 6 Awards The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is handing out jury-selected prizes for the second year. Six to eight films are in competition in each of six categories: narrative, documentary, short (40 minutes or shorter), emerging filmmaker, building bridges and human rights. The first three categories match the audience awards, which can go to any of the films in the festival, not just those in the juried competition. The nominees: • Narrative — “1945,” “Budapest Noir,” “Bye Bye Germany,” “The Last Suit,” “Longing,” “Saving Neta,” “Scaffolding” and “The Testament.” Serving on the jury are filmmaker Dan Mirvish, journalist Scott Orlin and Emory University graduate student Sara Grasberg. • Documentary — “Above the Drowning Sea,” “Death in the Terminal,” “GI Jews,” “Gilbert,” “Heading Home,” “Itzhak,” “The Mighty Atom” and “Remember Baghdad.” Serving on the jury are filmmaker Nina Gilden Seavey, filmmaker Brantly Watts and University of West Georgia student Taylor Hartley. • Short — “Across the Line,” “Devil Wears a Suit,” “On My Way Out,” “Open Your Eyes,” “The Outer Circle,” “Rebel,” “Stitchers: Tapestry of Spirit” and “Wendy’s Shabbat.” The jurors are filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper, film critic Curt Holman and University of North Georgia student Melissa Simpson. The Emerging Filmmaker Jury Prize recognizes a rising director who displays exceptional skill and artistry. The nominees are Alexandre Dean, “Bombshell”; Sophie Brooks, “The Boy Downstairs”; Ofir Raul Graizer, “The Cakemaker”; Rachel Israel, “Keep the Change”; Nicolas Bedos, “Mr. & Mrs. Adelman”; and Astrid Schult, “Winter Hunt.” The jurors are film reporter Alicia Malone, Tyler Perry Studios President Steve Mensch and Savannah College of Art and Design graduate student Gentry Parks. The Building Bridges Jury Prize honors a film that exemplifies the festival’s mission to foster understanding among communities of diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The nominees are “The Cakemaker,” “The Cousin,” “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas,” “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds,” “A Quiet Heart” and “Shalom Bollywood.” Judging the competition are film critic Shawn Levy, American Jewish Committee official Melanie Maron Pell and SCAD graduate student Alex Preston. The Human Rights Jury Prize goes to the film that most powerfully captures the perseverance and strength of those whose sense of justice guides them in the face of bigotry, inequality and persecution. The nominees are “An Act of Defiance,” “A Bag of Marbles,” “The Body Collector,” “Death in the Terminal,” “The Invisibles,” “Playing G-d” and “The Twinning Reaction.” The jury consists of Emory professor and novelist Catherine Dana, film critic Jessica Ritchey and University of North Georgia student Joseph Tiller. Emory film professor Matthew Bernstein and Atlanta Business Chronicle movie columnist Eleanor Ringel-Cater discuss the romance in the festival lineup at the preview party Jan. 4.

The Testament 7:30 p.m., Tara The Cousin 7:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

TUESDAY, FEB. 13

1945 3:45 p.m., Springs Cinema Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds 3:50 p.m., Tara Funny Girl 7 p.m., Springs Cinema Foxtrot 7:10 p.m., Tara A Quiet Heart 7:50 p.m., Springs Cinema

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14

Let Yourself Go 12:40 p.m., Tara Saving Neta

1:10 p.m., Springs Cinema Spielberg 3:10 p.m., Tara Shorts Program 4 3:30 p.m., Springs Cinema Mr. & Mrs. Adelman 7:10 p.m., Springs Cinema Keep the Change 7:40 p.m., Tara Let Yourself Go 8 p.m., Springs Cinema

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

Shelter Noon, Springs Cinema Playing G-d 12:40 p.m., Springs Cinema Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story 1 p.m., Tara Closing Night The Last Suit 7 p.m., Cobb Energy Centre

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

7:55 p.m., Tara The Invisibles 8:20 p.m., Springs Cinema Itzhak 8:30 p.m., Springs Cinema

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AJFF18

Lefont Theater Sold, Becomes Springs Cinema By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com After more than 13 years under George Lefont’s ownership, the Lefont Sandy Springs Theater has been sold to East Cobb resident Brandt Gully. The sale was finalized Nov. 8., ending Lefont’s four decades as a movie theater owner. The film enthusiast once ran such venues as the Landmark Plaza Theater, the Silver Screen in Buckhead and the Garden Hills Cinema. Lefont purchased the Sandy Springs theater off Roswell Road in 2004. It has been a core location for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. “It was about time to sell the theater,” Lefont said. “I’ve had the Lefont Sandy Springs theater for about a dozen years, and it’s been a great dozenyears, which I’ve enjoyed very much, but I think it was time.” He added, “I’ve been putting on a little age and think it was the best thing to do.” As an avid moviegoer, Gully hopes to tie the theater into the City Springs development half a mile away and to improve the experience for people in Sandy Springs. “I see Brandt Gully carrying on

East Cobb resident Brandt Gully will begin renovations at the Springs Cinema and Tap House after the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

where I left off … and think he will continue to book the kind of films our audiences have enjoyed over the years,” Lefont said. Gully has spent 20 years financing and advising entertainment venues and is the partner and co-founder of the investment banking firm EFA Partners, which helps raise capital for entertainment companies. He hopes to use his experience to help run the theater under its new name: the Springs Cinema and Taphouse. “For years I’ve seen an opportunity there to apply some of the things that I’ve seen other theater operators do around the country, whether it’s reclined seating, enhanced food and bev-

Get Your Seats

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Tickets for the 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, seven days before the festivl opens with "Sammy Davis Jr.: I Gotta Be Me," although sponsors and patrons get to reserve seats in advance. The standard ticket price, for general admission to regular screenings on weekends and after 4 p.m. on weekdays, is $15, up from $13 last year. Tickets to matinees Monday through Friday are $12. Children 12 and younger, students with valid IDs, and people 65 and older can get $13 tickets to evening shows, also up $2 from last year. Tickets for opening night, not including the pre-screening gala open only to festival sponsors and patrons, are $36. Tickets to closing night, including a dessert reception, also are $36. Both nights are at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, which charges an additional $3 fee per ticket. Tickets to the young professionals night (with a pre-film party) at the 18 Woodruff Arts Center also are $36.

Those special events cost $18 last year. The AJFF is using a new online ticketing system, Elevent. You have to register with the system at ajff.org/register. Once you’re signed up, you can create a wish list of all the screenings you want to attend, and as soon as sales start Jan. 17, you can log in at ajff. org, move those tickets to your virtual shopping cart, and check out quickly and easily. You can save a credit card with your Elevent account so you don’t have to keep re-entering the information. The Elevent system saves your order history, so you can reprint tickets if necessary. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 678-228-8872, but you’ll have to pay a $2.50 fee for each order. Tickets are available at the theaters on the days they’re serving as festival venues, starting one hour before the first show and ending 30 minutes after the start of the last screening of the day. ■

erage options, or asthetics.” Gully said. “I wanted to help the Lefont theater be a better fit for the Sandy Springs area.” Gully is focusing on repairs to the theater in time for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and will begin renovations, such as new electric recliners, refurbished restrooms and a lobby bar, after the festival. “There are a lot of different things going on in theaters around the country, but I’ve had my eye on this opportunity for quite some time. As I’ve walked through theaters across the country, I have developed an idea of what the theater should look like,” Gully said. The cinema will remain a venue for the 18th Atlanta Jewish film Festival.

“We know the film festival has been a big part of the community and the theater and hope to continue that and hopefully create an even better venue for the festival,” he said. Kenny Blank, the executive director of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, said the AJFF will continue to use the Springs Cinema for future festivals. “AJFF is forever indebted to George Lefont for his tireless efforts within the film arts community. We are thrilled to see Brandt Gully take the reins of this cherished neighborhood theater and excited to see the transformation to the Springs Cinema and Taphouse.” He added, “We look forward to returning to this venue for future AJFF programs and working in partnership with Springs Cinema to further our mutual love of independent and foreign film.” The timing may present some challenges for the renovations, but Gully hopes to have the cinema finished by the summer. He said, “Any time you do this amount of construction, you just don’t know the mechanical components involved, but our team has done a thorough job up to this point. … Our hope is to create a better venue, and we thank people for their patience.” ■

The Venues The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has shaken up its lineup of locations this year. Closing night is moving from the Woodruff Arts Center’s Symphony Hall to the opening night venue, the Cobb Energy Centre. The Regal Hollywood Stadium 24 off Interstate 85 in Chamblee has been added, and, because of renovations, Georgia Theatre Co.’s Merchant Walk Cinemas in East Cobb northeast of Atlanta has been removed. The Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Auditorium is being used only for the ACCESS young professionals night; last year it also held regular screenings. And after its sale, Lefont Sandy Springs is now the Springs Cinema and Taphouse. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway Cumberland area Jan. 24, Feb. 15 Springs Cinema and Taphouse 5920 Roswell Road Sandy Springs Feb. 2-15

Regal Tara Cinemas 4 2345 Cheshire Bridge Road Atlanta Feb. 3-Feb. 15 Regal Perimeter Pointe Stadium 10 1155 Mount Vernon Highway Sandy Springs Jan. 25-Feb. 1 Regal Atlantic Station 18 261 19th St. Midtown Jan. 26-Feb. 4 Regal Hollywood Stadium 24 3265 Northeast Expressway Chamblee Jan. 27-Feb. 2 Woodruff Arts Center, Rich Auditorium 1280 Peachtree St. Midtown Feb. 3

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AJFF18

Survivor Devoted to Honoring Righteous Japanese The annual Holocaust commemoration of Am Yisrael Chai provides a free sneak peek at the subject of one of this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival documentaries and a reminder of a narrative feature from two years ago. Leo Melamed and Chihiro Sugihara are the scheduled speakers at the Conscience and Action event Sunday night, Jan. 21, at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North in Sandy Springs. Melamed was one of perhaps 6,000 Jews who escaped the Nazis with transit visas issued by Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese consul in Lithuania early in World War II. Chihiro Sugihara is one of the diplomat’s grandchildren. Sugihara issued more than 2,000 visas, each good for a family, after his government three times told him not to. “This individual stood up for what is right. I’ve lectured all over the world, where I can, to make that point,” Melamed said in a phone interview. “This is a great man.” Hiroki Sugihara, the consul’s son, was 5 years old in the summer of 1940

when his father decided to issue the visas. Melamed said he heard the story from Hiroki after they had a Leo Melamed fled chance meeting Poland when he was 7. in Tokyo around 1980 and became friends. Hiroki said his father explained that the Jews had done nothing wrong and that he would be violating the dictates of his G-d (he was Christian) if he followed his government’s orders. Although he was putting his own family in jeopardy and later was punished, Sugihara gave out all the visas he could. The story is dramatized in “Persona Non Grata,” which the AJFF screened in 2016. The major difference between Oskar Schindler and Sugihara, Melamed said, is that Schindler benefited from protecting Jews because they worked for him. Sugihara got nothing but trouble for doing the right thing. That’s one of two messages he wants people to take away from the story of Sugihara, who was named one

of the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1985: People can stand up and recognize evil from good. Sugihara chose to help his fellow man, and “that is way up there in terms of deeds and courage and all the things that you can think of by being one of the righteous,” Melamed said. “I agreed with Hiroki to do everything I could in my life to sanctify his deeds.” The other message, he said, is that each individual can effect major change. “Here is an example of one person changing the lives of thousands.” Few have gone on to more prominence than Melamed, the former head of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. He changed futures trading twice: first by inventing financial futures (bidding on the future values of currencies, stock indexes, gold, etc.), then by created the computerized Globex system, which led to the end of the “open outcry” system of people buying and selling commodities contracts in a big pit. “This country, you know, it’s a miracle,” he said, to enable a penniless refugee to reach the pinnalce of industry. The Japanese government gave Melamed its highest honor, the Order

of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star, in November for his work in the global financial markets, his efforts in U.S.Japanese relations, and his success at spreading the Sugihara story. “You don’t get to meet the emperor on daily walks to the grocery,” he said. Melamed’s financial career and the turmoil of modernization on the Chicago trading floor are the cornerstones of the AJFF documentary “Futures Past,” the work of Melamed’s filmmaker son, Jordan. The film deals briefly with the Melamed family’s first visit back to his Polish hometown, Bialystok, in 2000. Melamed said his father never wanted to go back because there was nothing in Poland for him. “I could understand it intellectually. But when I went there, I understood it physically.” ■ What: Holocaust observance Where: Westin, 7 Concourse Parkway, Sandy Springs When: Exhibit at 6 p.m., program at 7, Sunday, Jan. 21 Admission: Free; must RSVP to www.2018remember.eventbrite.com

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com

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AJFF18

49 Reviews to Help You Choose What to Watch The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is as much about the conversations around the films as the movies themselves, so the Atlanta Jewish Times is opening the discussion with reviews of most of the 74 films in the 2018 lineup. (The following festival movies are not reviewed here: “116 Cameras,” “Foxtrot,” “The Invisibles,” “Iom Romì,” “Schindler’s List” and the 20 films being shown in the four shorts programs.)

Ambiguity After the Holocaust

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Movies are best when they provide a glimpse into a world we otherwise would not explore. The Hungarian-produced “1945” presents a slice of liberated post-Nazi Eastern Europe before the Iron Curtain fell. The film challenges us to consider what happened after. The genre of Holocaust film has become clichéd. While many profoundly important films have been made, most fit into the well-trodden tropes of “look at these atrocities,” “look at these Jews who fought against all odds” or “look at these non-Jews who did the right thing.” Almost all cast the Nazis as faceless, expendable aggressors, Jews as victims either succumbing or subverting that status, and the populace as backdrop or exposition. Above all, these films lack ambiguity. “1945” defies the banalities and is rife with moral ambiguity (ironically, it is shot in black and white). It is a Holocaust film without a single explicit Nazi. The Jews have a twisted, circumstantial authority. The wholly unexceptional citizens are the focus. In the wake of the Russian liberation of Hungary, a small village is sent into a frenzy with the rumor that two Jews, possibly relatives of the town’s liquidated merchants, are returning to lay claim to their relations’ former possessions. The townspeople have assimilated this property with varying degrees of ease. As the Jews threaten to upend the illicit social order established by the Nazis, the town’s clerk flounders to secure the ill-gotten gains through desperate and depraved end runs. The attempts and failures of the townspeople to reconcile their decisions during the short-lived reich expose the existential rot that has become the foundation of 20 this nominally bucolic society.

For anyone who has wrangled with the moral dilemma of the Auschwitz paymaster, “1945” asks in thoughtful complexity, “What responsibility does each of us hold for the actions of our governments?” This is precisely the sort of mature exploration of collective guilt and complicity we ought to be engaging in three generations later. Any student of history, philosophy, ethics or politics should take the time to see this film. Above all, the searching exploration of the toll the elders’ decisions take on the town’s youth makes “1945” an excellent film to watch with mul-

tiple generations of your family, all but guaranteeing an engrossing conversation over dinner later. — Elijah Harrison (Jan. 27, 6 p.m., Hollywood, and 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 10, 5:55 p.m., Tara; Feb. 11, 8:10 p.m., Springs; Feb. 13, 3:45 p.m., Springs)

Shanghai Surprise: Haven From Holocaust

China was in chaos in the 1930s. The country was coping with a civil war that pitted Nationalists against Communists, the invading Japanese were controlling more and more land,

and famine and disease were widespread. But for Jews fleeing the Nazis in Austria and Germany, China was a welcome destination. “Above the Drowning Sea” tells the story of Jewish refugees from Vienna who landed in the port city of

ish woman reuniting with a Chinese woman who had been her childhood playmate. “Mèimei, mèimei!” (sister, sister) the two cry as they embrace after 60 years of separation. — Rebecca McCarthy (Jan. 30, 3:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 3, 1:10 p.m., Springs Cinema; Feb. 4, 11:15 a.m., Tara)

Apartheid Fight Offers Lessons for U.S.

Shanghai, which had been functioning as a treaty port for almost 100 years, filled with Europeans. In telling such a big story, the documentary goes small, focusing on just a few of the 20,000 Jews who relocated to the city and on several Chinese people whose lives were linked to the new residents. After Kristallnacht, most Jews in Vienna were desperate to leave Austria, but before doing so, they had to find a country that would accept them. Defying his government, the Chinese consul in Vienna, Ho Feng Shan, signed visas allowing a few Jewish families to depart for Shanghai, then controlled by the Japanese. Word spread among the population that Shanghai offered a haven. By the time he was recalled to China, Ho had signed an estimated 5,000 visas. After his death in 1997, Yad Vashem named him one of the Righteous Among the Nations. The movie shows how the Jewish refugees made do among the Chinese. They were watch repairers, bakers and merchants. Jewish families often rented rooms from Chinese families, and Jewish and Chinese children played together. The Nazis wanted to exterminate Jews, and the Japanese viewed Chinese people as rats. So the Jewish and Chinese people bonded. A moving part of the documentary shows a Jew-

“An Act of Defiance” begins in 1963. The government of South Africa is facing increased resistance to its policy of segregation and apartheid. Attacks on the electrical system and government buildings seem to be a prelude to civil war. This story, based on real events, begins at 5:30 a.m. July 11, 1963. When some of the people in the resistance are caught, they are white and Jewish, and it leads to a trial in which the defense attorney is Jewish, defending Jews and blacks in a segregated country. The argument for the defense, which includes Nelson Mandela, is not that the men are not part of the rebellion, but that they are fighting a corrupt and unethical government. For the lawyer, it is a high-risk situation. It is not only a legal matter, but also a political one, especially because the defense counsel is also white and Jewish. The movie itself is not just a legal story, but also a film that deals with the defense lawyer’s family. They live in a white environment defending blacks rebelling against a white-dominated society. And they know that their house is bugged, so they must be careful about their conversations. The essence of the movie is whether apartheid can be conquered with the force of words and nonviolence and what the penalty is for fighting the system. The movie is clearly organized, spoken in English and Afrikaans with subtitles, and is worth your time, for it is part of the history of South Africa, and it has implications for the United States in how we deal with segregation, subtle as it may be. — Allen H. Lipis (Jan. 26, 11:40 a.m., Atlantic Station; Jan. 27, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 28, 1:25 p.m., Hollywood, and 7:15 p.m., Atlantic Station; Jan. 30, 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe)

www.atlantajewishtimes.com Feb. 4, 1:20 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 1:15 p.m., Springs)

Boys Will Be Boys, Despite Nazi Horrors

An Israeli Idol Worthy Of Being ‘Famous’

It’s true that the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has something for everyone. In the case of “Almost Famous,” the target audience is teens and tweens, or possibly their parents who never got over Dylan leaving Brenda on “Beverly Hills 90210.” Both groups will enjoy the teenage angst, the nerdy vs. mean girls, and of course the requisite heartthrob. For the rest of us, the film offers a fresh look at how Israeli culture is trying to mirror U.S. culture with music, television and instant stardom. Not to be confused with the American film of the same name set in 1973, this Israeli-produced “Almost Famous” is utterly contemporary, down to the cellphones, texting and social media. If you are a fan of “American Idol” or “The Voice,” you will enjoy this Israeli version of the reality-show music scene. The film delves into the typical high school problem of what it means to be popular and, more important, what it takes to be popular. How far is too far? But it is not just the kids who have to deal with this pressure. The spotlight is on the whole family, with a sharp focus on how the demands of fame disrupt marriages, young love and even “best friends forever.” All are caught in the glittery web and must decide whether popularity is worth the price. Tomer, the hippie-leaning, rising pop star played by Omer Dror, and his sweet but ferociously independent girlfriend, Maya (Amit Farkash), make a great couple, but is their love strong enough? Niv Sultan as the brilliant but nerdy kid sister, Shir, hopes to ride the coattails of her brother’s fame, but does she cross the line? In the end it is all b’seder, a fun pop show, and that’s OK with me. — Alisa Haber (Jan. 27, 1:10 p.m., Perimeter Pointe;

“A Bag of Marbles” (“Un Sac de Billes” in its original French) traces the steps of two young Jewish brothers through the timeline of Nazioccupied France. The film features an incredible story that winds its way throughout the country, exploring themes of identity, survival, faith and oppression along the way. The movie is the story of the youngest Joffo brothers, Maurice and Jo, and is an adaptation of a 1973 French autobiographical novel by Joseph Joffo. The film is presented in French with English subtitles, with Yiddish and German peppered throughout. The first act follows Jo and Maurice as they engage in the hallmarks of a normal childhood: games, pranks and sneaking cigarettes. Their forced

journey starts with the assignment of yellow stars of David, ordered to be stitched onto their clothing. Later, a friend offers Jo a bag of marbles in return for the star, a schoolyard trade with greater symbolic depth, as Jo is forced to trade away his Judaism for safety and survival throughout the film. The film chronicles the tragic descent of France’s Jews from oppression to persecution to brutality, targeted by the Nazis and French ultranationalists alike. The film’s many interrogation scenes are all traumatic, and the constant denials of faith required for survival never lose their impact. However, lovable characters and a sense of adventure against animosity keep a difficult movie from being merely a tearjerker. There’s a sense of love and warmth throughout the film as the boys continue to jab at each other and play pranks even in their journey’s

darkest points. “A Bag of Marbles” feels theatrical and enlightening, heartwarming and horrifying, all in the same story. The film, however hard to watch at times, never loses its sense of heart and leads its audience to a powerful, emotional payoff. — Joe Youorski (Jan. 28, 4:20 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 2, 3:50 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 3, 3:25 p.m., Tara, and 3:55 p.m., Springs; Feb. 4, 4:25 p.m., Atlantic Station)

Holocaust Truth And the Power of the Press

Holocaust films are a staple of any Jewish film festival, but it’s hard to tell a Shoah story that feels original. “The Body Collector” accomplishes that trick despite being based on a true story that played out in Dutch media and courtrooms from 1976 to 1980. Because it’s as much the story of a reporter, Hans Knoop, as of its title character, war criminal and art collector Pieter Menten, “The Body Collector” has extra value at this time of distrust in the media and the free use of the “fake news” label for disagreeable reports. (The AJT is sponsoring the film.) Knoop, the Jewish editor of a weekly newsmagazine in the Netherlands, gets a tip that a prominent art collector who is auctioning off some of his holdings not only stole much of his art while collaborating with the Nazis in Poland, but also led a pair of mass executions of Jews and non-Jews. Through flashbacks, the film leaves no doubt about Menten’s guilt. The tension comes from whether he will meet justice and whether Knoop will emerge as a journalistic hero or see his career destroyed. The flashbacks, while essential, are the weakest points of the film. The strongest are director Tim Oliehoek’s intercuts of Knoop’s family life, investigation and office battles with Menten’s life in a home with Europe’s largest private pool and struggles to maintain his elite position amid protests. In one powerful sequence, Knoop sees the human remains being pulled from a pit in Ukraine at the same time Menten finds dead geese in the poisoned water of his beloved pool. The conflict between good and evil is revealed in the contrast between the

victims and the reactions of Knoop (a strong Guy Clemens) and Menten (a terrifyingly bloodless Aus Greidanus). “The Body Collector” avoids the trap of over-heroizing newsmen and newspapers. Knoop is driven to find the truth and get justice, but he makes mistakes, has faults and doesn’t look like Robert Redford or Daniel Craig. And at least one colleague is as monstrous as Menten. — Michael Jacobs (Jan. 31, 7:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 1, 12:35 p.m., Hollywood, and 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 3, 1 p.m., Springs; Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m., Springs)

Meet the Brain Behind the ‘Bombshell’

“Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story” details the intriguing, sexy and often tragic life of arguably the silver screen’s most ravishing and vivacious actress. This documentary is full of movie clips and interviews with friends, family and producers, including Mel Brooks, and features Hedy’s voice from a decades-old recorded interview recently uncovered by the film’s director, Alexandra Dean (a lengthy interview by Fleming Meeks for an article in Forbes). Dean artfully weaves together Hedwig Kiesler’s early life as a student keenly interested in science; her first forays as an actress, including her starring role in “Ekstase” (where her nude performance was considered too scandalous for American theaters); and the rise of Nazism in Austria, culminating in her clever escape from her country and from her first marriage to Nazi sympathizer Fritz Mandl. Hedy’s career in Hollywood was launched by a chance meeting with Louis B. Mayer of MGM fame in London soon after she left Austria. While movies would pay the bills, consume most of her time and ulti-

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AJFF18 Continued from page 21 mately define how she was remembered, they were not her passion. Her family, her assistance to the war effort against the Nazis and her entrepreneurial escapades dominated her agenda. She is known for having six wealthy husbands and steamy relationships with many others, such as Howard Hughes and some of the Kennedys, but not for successfully raising two children essentially on her own. She is known for entertaining our troops, not for raising $25 million in war bonds. She is known for her work in front of the camera, not for being the first female actress to produce her own movies. Finally, in an astounding piece of history, Hedy holds the first patent for the concept of encrypted radio transmission using a system she called “frequency hopping.” Several prominent scientists claim that patent was the basis for the creation of radio-guided torpedoes and missiles in the 1960s, GPS in the 1970s, and wi-fi and Bluetooth technologies today. “Bombshell” offers a newfound respect for one of Hollywood’s most beautiful and enduring actresses. Clips of her movies will leave you wanting more. When she walked into a room, she seduced men and women alike. This film has played at a dozen film festivals, including Tribeca, Aspen, Boston, San Francisco and Jerusalem; now it is Atlanta’s turn. — Michael A. Morris (Jan. 27, 1 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 28, 11:05 a.m., Hollywood; Feb. 1, 7 :15 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 3, 8:50 p.m., Springs; Feb. 15, 1 p.m., Tara)

Familiar Girl Finds Her ‘Boy Downstairs’

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“Girls” has been off the air for over six months, and Zosia Mamet, known for her scene-stealing portrayal of “Girls” fan favorite Shoshanna Shapiro, is beginning to break free. Her first leading role post-Dunham is Diana, a writer, in New York University graduate Sophie Brooks’ debut feature as a writer and director, “The Boy Downstairs.” Brooks’ freshman outing, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2017, maps the relationship between Diana and her Jewish boyfriend, Ben, played by Matthew Shear (“Mistress America,” “The Meyerowitz Stories” and the upcoming TNT series “The Alienist”). Four years before the opening of 22 “The Boy Downstairs,” Diana leaves

Ben in dramatic fashion on the steps outside his picturesque Brooklyn apartment before going to London to work on her writing. When Diana moves back home to New York and needs an apartment, her best friend, Gabby (Diana Irvine), connects her with real estate agent Meg (Sarah Ramos), who helps her get an open apartment that just happens to be in the same building as Ben’s new digs. Brooks cuts between times fairly frequently, juxtaposing the start and development of Diana and Ben’s relationship before London with the pres-

ent as Diana tries with little success to reconnect with Ben. While the juxtapositions keep Brooks’ pacing feeling peppy, she finds mixed success with her route narrative as a whole, her tone falling somewhere between indie rom-com and mumblecore musings. Brooks pulls no punches as we see Diana struggle with the feelings she doesn’t want to have for Ben, and it’s always clear that the two Brooklynites will find their way back to each other. There are moments of genuine comedy — most vividly when Gabby hooks up with a typical hipster jerk who stops her mid-undressing to seriously inquire about her thoughts on Radiohead — but overall the film falls in the ether between comedy and drama

without ever quite achieving dramedy. It’s commendable that Brooks avoids clichés associated with indie romances, and she successfully navigates the waters of her first feature. While “The Boy Downstairs” isn’t particularly remarkable, it bears the marks of the beginnings of an assured career for Brooks as she continues to find her voice. — Josh Jacobs (Feb. 3, 8:30 p.m., Woodruff; Feb. 4, 1:40 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 9, 12:20 p.m., Springs)

Pick Peck for ‘Boys,’ Oys

Of all the films being screened at the 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, only one has Laurence Olivier, Gregory Peck and 94 clones of Adolf Hitler. If you’re a millennial, “The Boys From Brazil,” which was released way back in 1978, might be one of the best thrillers you’ve never heard of. The film centers on an insane plot by a fictionalized version of the infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele (Peck) to make clones of Hitler in Brazil and place them all around the world to help launch the Fourth Reich. Hot on Mengele’s trail is aging Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman (Olivier), who is based on Simon Wiesenthal. The chilling confrontation between the two men at the end of the film delivers a terrific climax, and even though the film has its drawbacks, it still holds up 40 years later. Olivier, fresh off his performance as a bad-guy Nazi doctor in 1976’s “Marathon Man,” plays Lieberman too stiffly. It’s the same for English actor James Mason as Mengele’s Nazi compatriot Eduard Seibert. Of all the characters in the film, only Peck as Mengele really lets loose and plays the cartoonish Nazi villain that the story demands. My favorite moment of the film occurs after Mengele has just strangled a man half to death at a party. The man’s wife screams for a doctor, and Peck turns around and snarls, “I … am a doctor, idiot.” “The Boys From Brazil” is at its best when it embraces the zaniness of the plot and you don’t think too hard about the details. If you can make it through the two-hour running time, the movie is def-

initely worth a watch if only for Peck’s over-the-top performance as Mengele. — David R. Cohen (Feb. 7, 7:50 p.m., Springs; Feb. 8, 3:20 p.m., Tara)

Too-Bright Lights, Big City

I love film noir. I like Budapest, historical fiction and Hungarian cinema. But I don’t care for “Budapest Noir,” which feels much longer than its 95 minutes while failing to achieve the classic noir mood. The problems start with the lighting. Noir can succeed in color, but it requires a darkness that visually reflects the spirit of its underworld. But this “Budapest” is bright and almost cheerful despite depicting a city falling under the shadow of fascism in 1936. The voiceover is a key facet of film noir, but here it is eye-rollingly clichéd from the start, when we hear reporter Zsigmond Gordon (Krisztián Kolovratnik) tell us that for some people Budapest is a city of darkness and for others it’s a city of lights. As a result, it sometimes seems more like an homage to “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” than to “The Maltese Falcon.” Gordon is investigating the killing of a Jewish prostitute, a story the police, the government and various criminals want him to drop. It’s a good enough setup for a noir film and features the obligatory layers of booze, dames and corruption to distract him from his task and from love interest Krisztina, who’s just back after a crusading effort to photograph the evils of the Nazi regime in Berlin. But too many details — the fascist prime minister’s funeral, Gordon’s history as a boxer and a reporter in Chicago, attacks on Jews eight years before they were rounded up — are distractions from the storytelling. Kolovratnik is strong within scenes, then seems to be doing a Robert Mitchum impression when the camera inevitably follows him as he swaggers away.

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“Budapest Noir” isn’t a bad movie; just don’t expect it to live up to its name. — Michael Jacobs (Jan. 27, 5:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 2, 11 a.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 3, 8:15 p.m., Tara; Feb. 10, 8:30 p.m., Springs)

When Laughter Is Survival

It’s not often that you hear “comedy” and “Holocaust” in the same sentence. But “Bye Bye Germany,” directed by Sam Garbarski, is indeed a comedy of sorts. Moritz Bleibtreu as dapper David Bermann is full of wit and charm in this tale of a band of Jewish refugees in a U.S.-run displaced persons camp in 1946. Bermann is a conniver who has devised a plan to sell overpriced linens to the guilt-ridden German housewives in the region around Frankfurt. The scheme serves as a backdrop to an unfolding story of how Bermann survived the war as a “comic to the commandant” while being held in a concentration camp. A hint of romance is thrown in as beautiful American intelligence officer Sara Simon, played by Antje Traue, digs into Bermann’s questionable past. The

flashbacks to the war that her interrogation uncovers are heart-wrenching and hilarious — and almost unbelievable. Could he really have been a court jester for Hitler? Simon is determined to discover the truth. But what ties the film together is the small group of survivors who make up the sales force for this vagabond venture. As they try to normalize their lives, each one has his own reckoning with the past, sometimes with devastating consequences. Individually, they are broken men, yet Motek, the jaunty, three-legged dog that has befriended them all, suggests there is hope and a chance for redemption. The goal is to save enough money to leave Germany behind and forget the past. The result is a beautiful period film done with grace and finesse and more than a bissel (little bit) of humor. — Alisa Haber (Jan. 29, 7:50 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 2, 11 a.m., Hollywood; Feb. 3, 1 p.m., Atlantic Station, and 8:40 p.m., Springs; Feb. 4, 5:45 p.m., Springs)

Slice of Family Life Tastes Bittersweet Ofir Raul Grazier, the writer and director of “The Cakemaker,” serves up a look into the delicate issues of relationships, loss, desire to belong, pathways for self-expression and the complexities inherent in balancing grief with the responsibilities of life. The talented cast includes Tim Kalkhof, Roy Miller, Sarah Adler, Zohar Strauss and Sandra Sade. The story begins when Oren (Miller), an Israeli businessman on one of many trips from Jerusalem to Berlin, enters a bakery and has an immediate connection with Thomas (Kalkhof), a

German baker. All his desserts are passionately prepared and visually exquisite. Oren consumes the Black Forest cake. We hear of Oren’s devotion to his wife and son, even though he engages in an ongoing sexual relationship with Thomas. In his last, hurried departure home, Oren forgets his keys and the cookies Thomas has prepared for Oren to give his wife, Anat (Adler). After several failed attempts to reach Oren, Thomas learns that his lover has been killed in a car accident in Jerusalem. I would’ve liked more time to fall in love with Oren, as it would have bonded me more deeply to the characters, but this is where the plot widens to embrace varied themes. Thomas travels to Jerusalem and eats at the kosher cafe Anat has opened, never revealing that he knew Oren. Soon, he’s working there, pouring his passion into the dough of his German cakes and cookies, which bring success to the cafe. Meanwhile, Oren’s brother, Motti (Strauss), disagrees with Anat’s choice to hire a German, straining long-held religious beliefs. While Thomas’ desire to inhabit Oren’s energy is intriguing, the film moves at a slow pace. The film

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AJFF18 Continued from page 23 is well acted, but it appears as if the script or direction is nearly void of emotion. “The Cakemaker” unravels the individual struggles of each character, joined by the common thread of grief that weaves them together. The abrupt ending is unsatisfying, but the film is still worth viewing. — Terry Segal (Jan. 27, 3:25 p.m., Atlantic Station, and 8:20 p.m., Hollywood; Jan. 28, 7:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 4, 7:55 p.m., Tara; Feb. 6, 3:45 p.m., Springs)

German transplant Solomon Spiegelberg, a successful Jewish businessman, and his brothers created a wholesale business that served New Mexico and the Southwest. As a friend of Bish-

Spicy Fun In the Southwest

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“Challah Rising in the Desert” begins with, well, with challah. Three guys are making challah in what looks like a dining hall and are talking about putting green chiles in their challah because, well, you know, they’re in New Mexico, and everyone in New Mexico loves green chiles. It’s a little startling — wonder if it’s any good — but so is this entire documentary about Jews in New Mexico. This funny film has more unusual characters than your average small Southern town. And everyone interviewed, save one or two people, wears the silver and turquoise jewelry found in the Southwest. We hear from old hippies, chanting rabbis, former commune members, descendants of Spanish settlers who arrived in the 1600s and transplanted New Yorkers who like the wide-open West. We meet people who are descended from Jews who vamoosed out of Spain during the Inquisition as conversos. Some of these descendants grew up attending Catholic churches but also lighting candles on Friday nights without knowing the origin of their traditions. Some young women with breast cancer learned about their Jewish roots in a roundabout way: a genetic analysis revealed widespread occurrence in them of the BRCA gene mutation common to Jewish women. We learn about Jewish merchants who arrived by wagon before the Civil War and eventually established stores in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, created cemeteries, and helped start congrega24 tions.

op Jean Baptiste Lamy’s, Spiegelberg helped pay for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe. When Spiegelberg decided to marry, he went to Germany and returned with his bride, Julia. The couple had eight children, but Julia never adjusted to life in the Southwest. Today, their mansion is a hotel and is, the owner says, haunted by Julia. — Rebecca McCarthy (Feb. 3, 6:25 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 6:05 p.m., Springs)

Peace for ‘The Cousin’ Slams Into Ethnic Fears

The stares. The suspicions. The accusations. Life as an Arab in Israel is dissected in “The Cousin,” directed by Tzahi Grad. The movie explores the dynamic of Jewish-Arab relations by following Naftali (Grad), an Israeli artist who hires Palestinian worker Fahed (Ala Dakka) to renovate his studio. The intrigue begins when a young girl is attacked, and the villagers assume Fahed is guilty. The gossip leads to an arrest, and the young Palestinian

is questioned and slapped around. Despite his release, the villagers still think Fahed is guilty, and they act out against the worker. Compounding the situation, Fahed is afraid and behaved awkwardly around his employer’s “well-meaning friends,” leading innocent actions and mistakes to be interpreted as signs of guilt. The irony in the film is that Naftali is working on a project to house Israelis and Palestinians on the 1967 border for negotiations. “Palestinians and Israelis just need to talk” is a line in the promo video, and when Fahed questions Naftali’s vision, calling it naive, Naftali replies that it’s “not impossible.” The film reveals what happens when good intentions are tested against the reality of bigotry and bigots justify their views with unfounded claims. The film dissects the denial that is present when Naftali is faced with the truth that his friends and family harbor such views. Naftali is caught in the middle, trying to prove Fahed’s innocence while controlling his own irrational suspicions. In the end, Grad proves that world peace is great in theory, but any resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict begins in individual hearts and minds. — Patrice Worthy (Jan. 25, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 27, 6:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 9, 11 a.m., Tara; Feb. 12, 7:50 p.m., Springs)

Cuba, Jewish Refugees Polished Relationship

Against a background of rumba, salsa and photos of old Havana, eyewitnesses tell the story of 12,000 Jewish World War II refugees in “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A Haven in Havana.” “We escaped just by a hair” and “It was a time of complete uncertainty” are typical comments in the film. During the Battle of Dunkirk, French and Belgian Jews made it to Spain and then were able to get visas to Cuba. American doors were not open to them. In contrast to Europe, Cubans had an unusual acceptance of foreigners. The Jews found a warm and welcoming people in Cuba but were not permitted to work and initially were detained in camps. They were assisted by the American Joint Distribution Committee, but life was poor and challenging until they developed their own industry pol-

ishing diamonds. Jewish refugees established Havana as the diamond-polishing capital of the world on equipment they built themselves. Making a deal with the government, almost all Jews were able to work in this thriving industry. The story of the Jewish refugees and the hospitality they found in Cuba is fascinating one and worth knowing. — Vicki M. Leopold

(Feb. 3, 4:15 p.m., Springs; Feb. 4, 11:10 a.m., Springs)

Mistaken Identity Leads To ‘Death in the Terminal’

If there is one word to describe the documentary “Death in the Terminal,” it is suspenseful. From beginning to end, viewers are left hanging as they try to piece together the events that led to the death of an Eritrean man mistaken for a terrorist at a Be’er Sheva bus terminal in 2015. Eyewitness accounts from Israeli soldiers, police and civilians paint a vivid picture of the deadly attack, while video footage captures the events. Civilians are seen passing through the otherwise-empty station before gunshots ring out. Seconds later, surveillance reveals men and women running in different directions, except for an Eritrean man and an Israeli soldier who lie semiconscious on the floor. What happens next will leave you in shock: Soldiers and officers take turns kicking and beating the 29-yearold Eritrean until paramedics arrive. Although the interviews within the documentary are repetitive, they help shape the perception of the incident and provide background as to what took place. Still, the documentary leaves much to ponder, such as who the Eritrean was, what led officers to identify him as a terrorist among a large crowd, and how the incident is being handled

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in Israel today. Viewers must interpret the crime scene themselves and separate fact from fiction as they try to piece together the terrorist attack and its aftermath. The award-winning documentary is enthralling and a must-see. — Sarah Moosazadeh (Feb. 11, 11:10 a.m., Springs, and 1:20 p.m., Tara)

issue of how to make it through a holiday that neither celebrated. Directed by Academy Awardnominated director Larry Weinstein, “Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas” is a

Silver Bells, Jewish Stars

“Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas” is a charming musical documentary about a group of Jewish songwriters who wrote some of the most famous Christmas songs of all time. The history of the “soundtrack to Christmas” is told through narration, musical numbers, re-enactments and old movie footage mixed with interviews with contemporary composers, authors and comedians. In other words, this film has a little something for everyone. The stories behind “Let It Snow,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “White Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” “Silver Bells,” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Winter Wonderland” are all explored amid performances by Steven Page, Dione Taylor, David Wall, Kevin Breit, Aviva Chernick, the Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Tom Wilson. Most of these Christmas songs are not religious but reflect the feeling of warmth during the winter, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jingling bells, snow and the unity of the season. Out of these heartfelt songs, Jewish composer Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin) wrote not only the biggest Christmas song, but also the biggest song in history, “White Christmas,” introduced by Bing Crosby in the film “Holiday Inn.” He was part of a movement of Jewish songwriters who changed their names and started writing Christmas music. In telling the stories behind these songs and their composers, the film breaks into a colorful musical. The numbers are set mainly in a Chinese restaurant, and the film explains why Jews eat Chinese food on Christmas Day. The Chinese and Jews were the two largest non-Christian immigrant groups in America at the time, and they shared the

fun, lighthearted film that will put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. — Jen Evans (Jan. 25, 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 28, 3:35 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 9, 3 p.m., Springs)

Babs in the Beginning

Like a someone who has taken good care of herself, “Funny Girl” remains appealing 50 years after it was released. It features superstar Barbra Streisand in a loose adaptation of the life of Fanny Brice, a Brooklyn native who became a successful singer and actor. Streisand shines like the superstar she was already becoming. It’s amazing to see her and co-star Omar Sharif, so young and sexy, and to enjoy that fabulous, young voice singing classics such as “People” and “Don’t Rain on my Parade,” both by Bob Merrill and Jule Styne. The story opens with a mature Fanny Brice reflecting on her life before she takes the stage in a production of Broadway producer Florenz Ziegfeld (of follies fame).

We see her as a teenager “with skinny legs” trying to become a chorus girl — unable to suppress her exuberant personality, she messes up a rollerskating number and ends up delighting the audience with a rendition of “I’d Rather Be Blue.” Her performance also delights Nicky Arnstein, played by Sharif, who corrals Fanny after the show and predicts her rise to stardom. She is smitten, but we sense their relationship will end badly. Soon, Fanny is asked to audition for the legendary Ziegfeld. Fanny argues with Flo about what, exactly, she will sing. When the show opens, presenting an array of scantily clad young women as spring, summer, fall and winter brides, Fanny appears in a white wedding gown — with a pillow simulating pregnancy. She sings the requested song but plays it for laughs. While Ziegfeld steams, the audience loves both it and Fanny. Her career seems secure. But, of course, her personal life isn’t. The suave Arnstein turns up again in her dressing room, congratulating her and trying to take her to dinner. When she refuses, he agrees to accompany her to her home in Brooklyn, where her saloon-owning mother is throwing a party in her honor. Fanny’s mother, Rose, recognizes Arnstein for the career gambler he is. It takes Fanny years to come to a similar conclusion. — Rebecca McCarthy (Feb. 1, 3:15 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Springs)

American Dreams Exchanged

Leo Melamed rose from a child refugee from Nazi-occupied Poland to become the chairman of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which he built into a dominant global market by expanding from commodities (pork bellies, corn, wheat) into financial futures (currency, stock averages, gold). His son, Jordan, followed him onto the exchange floor and rode high enough to drive a Lamborghini and have a Playboy playmate as a girlfriend, then gave it up to head to Hollywood. His first feature film as a writer-director, “Manic,” with the debuts of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoe Deschanel, took Sundance by storm in 2001. The documentary “Futures Past” picks up the story of the Melamed father and son and the exchange in 2007.

Leo Melamed’s 1987 innovation, a computerized exchange called Globex, has become so efficient in the era of highspeed Internet that the “open outcry” system of floor trading is imperiled. Jordan Melamed’s film career has crashed, and he’s making this documentary as a last gasp. A shoot he expects to take a few months instead stretches over eight years, thanks to conflicts with his father, his personal financial crisis and the global financial collapse of 2008. We’ll never know what film Jordan Melamed would have made if he could have completed it in 2007, but the documentary that concludes with the final day of open outcry in 2015 is a fascinating look at the American dream as it rises and falls like a stock index and ripples through one Jewish family. We see Leo Melamed through his son’s eyes: a business titan who rides the front edge of his industry’s waves

even as they swamp friends and colleagues and who can’t or won’t understand his son. We also see the 2008 recession through Leo Melamed’s eyes. “I went to sleep last night in America. I woke up in France,” he complains about bailouts (the Chicago Mercantile Exchange survives without any). “We’ve nationalized everything.” He should be proud of his son, whose film skillfully balances the personal and the public. — Michael Jacobs (Feb. 1, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 2, 11:45 a.m., Springs)

Fighting for Right With America’s ‘GI Jews’

Throughout “GI Jews: Jewish Americans in World War II,” there are moments when you want to pause the film and reflect on the stories told by men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II. These members of “the greatest

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AJFF18 Continued from page 25 generation” served because they were Americans, many of them first generation, the children of immigrants from Europe. They served to dispel any notion that Jews would not fight for their country. The film includes interviews with Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Henry Kissinger, but the strongest content is the reminiscences of men who would not become household names. In its 87 minutes, “GI Jews” tell their stories, beginning with life before the United States entered the war, even as American Jewry heard reports about Nazi atrocities. Though most of the film focuses on the war in Europe, to which many of the Jews in uniform had familial and emotional connections, the experiences of troops in the Pacific theater are not ignored. Interviews and archival footage take the audience through basic training, deployment overseas, the fears of the Jewish soldiers in combat, and their reckoning with the death and destruction in their midst. Some memories prove painful to retell. “GI Jews” includes extraordinary moments, such as a Shabbat service led by an aspiring cantor then in uniform near an active battlefield in Aachen, Germany, on Oct. 29, 1944, broadcast on radio in Germany and by NBC in the United States. Another is the service conducted by Rabbi David Max Eichorn, serving as a military chaplain, at the Dachau concentration camp on May 5, 1945, just days after its liberation by the U.S. Army, as American Jews in uniform encountered nearly skeletal fellow Jews who had survived. — Dave Schechter (Jan. 25, 8:45 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 1, 3:50 p.m Hollywood; Feb. 4, 11 a.m., Atlantic Station, and 6:05 p.m., Springs; Feb. 9, 1:25 p.m., Tara)

Gracious ‘Gilbert’ Behind Grating Voice

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To be honest, I got to review the absorbing documentary “Gilbert” because no one else wanted to. For those of you familiar with Gilbert Gottfried — from his appearances on late-night TV, from his Xrated, off-color roasts, or from 26 his fall from grace as the Aflac

spokesman — it’s probably his grating, kvetchy, high-pitched, nasal voice that comes to mind. Before watching this film, I also thought of Gilbert as an annoying, mediocre, fingernails-on-the-chalkboard kind of comic who was odd in a way that repelled me. What director Neil Berkeley manages to accomplish in this 98-minute film, however, is rather remarkable: He humanizes Gilbert and makes him sympathetic. The viewer gets a glimpse at 62-year-old Gilbert’s rather unassuming life, riding buses to gigs, collecting hotel toiletries, and living in a New York co-op with his smart, beautiful, loving wife and two adorable children. Gilbert also has a couple of sisters with whom he maintains close relationships and who adore him. Further, famous comedians appear throughout the film and clearly revere Gilbert, calling him “the comics’ comic” and helping the viewer realize that Gilbert the comic and Gilbert the person are not one and the same. The film helps us understand that Gilbert the comic most likely grew out of Gilbert the person’s insecurities and defense mechanisms and that Gilbert himself is as surprised as the rest of us that his personal life is so normal, especially in light of his quirks, the emotional torment he survived growing up, and how he imagined his life would

turn out. This is a well-crafted psychological study of how someone who doesn’t exactly fit society’s mold uses his idiosyncrasies to advance rather than retreat and, in so doing, creates a stage persona who may make audiences cringe but who beneath it all is a sweet, affable guy just doing the best he can. Although this film may not endear Gilbert to you as much as it did me, one thing’s for sure: It will give you pause before labeling anyone a misfit, and that alone is worth the price of admission. — Janice Convoy-Hellmann (Feb. 8, 7:20 p.m., Tara)

Mehta Conducts Himself With Global Grace

I have to admit I wrongly assumed Zubin Mehta was Jewish. It’s also easy to admit that somewhere within all of us is the confidence that we could stand onstage and wave a wand with emotion and conduct an orchestra while the musicians do what they are trained to do. But “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The Conductor Zubin Mehta” is implicit with the magic of how one of the greatest living conductors, a Parsi from Bombay (now Mumbai), finds his way to becoming the Israel Philharmonic conductor for life. An octogenarian, Mehta is a peripatetic maintaining U.S. citizenship, keeping homes in Florence and Tel Aviv, and conducting in Berlin, Montreal, Florence, etc. His first wife, a Canadian, is now married to his brother. Mehta is married to an American actress, Nancy Kovak, who acknowledges in the documentary that his fellow Indians were always disappointed that he married “outsiders.” Not mentioned in the biographical film is that Mehta acknowledges having an illegitimate Israeli son, born in 1991. Mehta claims to have the heart and emotions of an Israeli. He refused to play the German national anthem in a concert in Germany and courageously played “Hatikvah” as the encore instead. “That’s just part of my chutzpah,” he says. When he first played German music by Wagner in Israel, members of the crowd booed and approached the stage in protest. Mehta played on. That being said, there is some oddness in German being the tongue he

uses in this subtitled movie. He gave a benefit concert for prisoner Gilad Shalit on the border of Gaza to show solidarity. A man of peace, he longs for the days when Arabs and Jews can hug each other. Mehta begged Prime Minister Menachem Begin to allow him to go to Egypt as a calling card for peace. He takes one political jab in the film by bemoaning that “settlement upon settlement continues to be built.” A highlight of the movie is his Italian performance with the Three Tenors, who had no jealousy and were great friends; thus, Mehta conducts them the night before a soccer championship for which they all cheered. Above all, the film touts Mehta’s graciousness, absence of ego, and love for and trust in his musicians. Remember that IPO is not just a stock offering, but also the initials of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, the home of one great conductor for life. — Marcia Caller Jaffe (Jan. 28, 5:35 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 3, 3:35 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 10, 3:10 p.m., Springs; Feb. 13, 3:50 p.m., Tara)

Touching All the Bases

Team Israel’s surprising success in the World Baseball Classic last March was one of the best stories of 2017. If you didn’t spend late nights and early mornings following along with the AJT’s live-blogging of games, you missed out on a lot of fun. Team Israel was Jewish America’s at least as much as Israel’s: Every player was an American eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return. “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” a documentary making its world premiere at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, is a joyful reminder of why we embraced this team, whose key players included ex-Braves Jason Marquis, Ryan Lavarnway and Nate Freiman.

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A Sour Love Story

“The History of Love” starts as a fairy tale somewhere in a country village in Europe where anything is possible and life is good. A boy and girl fall in love, but the coming German army creates havoc. They must part with their families to find refuge. They trade promises of reunion and letter writing. Several years pass, and when Leo finds Alma in New York, she is married. She explains that he had stopped writing, and she had delivered his baby and

needed refuge. Alma has saved Leo’s letters and stories. Leo has written a book based on their love and sent it to a childhood friend living in South America. His friend copies and destroys Leo’s manuscript, then publishes it in Spanish under his own name. A simultaneous story follows a teenage girl whose father’s death has left the family devastated. Her mother smokes and gardens. Her 10-year-old brother has become observant and believes that he is one of the 36 lamedvavnikim (righteous people) who have the potential to save the world. The teen girl, who has become the “parent,” is afraid of falling in love and has a personal mission of finding a suitor for her mother. Her mother is asked to translate “The History of Love” from Spanish into English. The mother is ecstatic because she is familiar with the book and named her daughter, Alma, after the book’s “most loved woman” character. Thus begins the attempt to tie the stories together. Derek Jacobi and Elliott Gould,

dialogue. What starts out as a fairy tale for the characters ends up as a nightmare for the viewer. — Vicki M. Leopold (Jan. 28, 7 p.m., Hollywood; Jan. 29, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 31, 11:15 a.m., Hollywood; Feb. 4, 4:50 p.m., Tara, and 7:05 p.m., Atlantic Station)

Enjoy the Feast of Life

both excellent actors, over-dramatize as two old Jewish men, making them at times look like buffoons. As the old Leo, Jacobi is clumsy and silly and not anything like the young Leo, who was serious and charming. The story within a story within a story is confusing, involving flashbacks and a timeline that is nearly impossible to follow. The Jewish theme does not work, and the story might have been better explained without it. The viewer is presented with fragments that never come together to provide adequate content and sentiment. The sound and music overpower the

“The Company Built On Customer Referrals”

We all spend our days worrying about growing old and facing our impending mortality instead of trying to live each day to its fullest. “If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast” paints a far different picture on aging. The documentary is hosted by Carl Reiner, who at 95 still writes every day and has published five books since turning 90. Along with Mel Brooks, 90, and Norman Lear, 93, he leads us on a journey through the eyes of several celebrities and personalities who remain vibrant at 90 or older. Reiner, Brooks and Lear tell us that humor is essential in life. They say that “if you can’t laugh, then your life is empty.” The documentary aims to change our mindset from growing old to grow-

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Directors Daniel Miller, Jeremy Newberger and Seth Kramer capture all the excitement from the team’s qualification as the 16th and final entrant in the WBC through its sweep of the first round in Seoul and its tough elimination in Tokyo. It helps if you like baseball, but “Heading Home” is a grand slam even if you don’t know a home run from an infield fly because of the team’s people and how they come together. It’s impossible not to like stars such as Josh Zeid, the Vanderbilt and Tulane product and former Houston Astro seeking redemption from a failed qualification attempt four years earlier; Sam Fuld, the former Oakland A’s center fielder whose surgically repaired shoulder barely allows him to throw but who can’t pass up one more chance to play; Ike Davis, who has struggled to live up to his early success as the Jewish first baseman of the New York Mets; Cody Decker, whose big-league career consists of 11 hitless at-bats for the San Diego Padres in 2015 but who will always be remembered for introducing the Mensch on a Bench, Team Israel’s mascot, to professional baseball; and Jerry Weinstein, the Colorado Rockies coach serving as manager, whose trust and calm demeanor help get the most out of a team derided as has-beens and wanna-bes and as the Team USA JV. It’s fun to see organizers fill out the roster with the help of Facebook and photos of gravestones, ketubahs and b’nai mitzvah. It’s emotional to hear how much baseball means to people such as journalist Jonathan Mayo. It’s powerful to watch the players tour Israel, many for the first time, to see what they’re playing for and to plant the seeds for a future generation of Israeli players. Like Team Israel last year, “Heading Home” might be an underdog, but don’t bet against it in the competition for the festival’s favorite documentary. — Michael Jacobs (Feb. 10, 3:20 p.m., Tara, and 8:20 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 3:40 p.m., Springs)

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AJFF18 Welcome To An Inescapable ‘Jungle’

Continued from page 27 ing better with age. The following is a small sample of the inspiring personalities in the film: • Ida Keeling, 102, is an American track and field athlete who continues to compete. • Stan Harper, a virtuoso classical harmonica artist, arranger and composer, performed until his death at 95. • Irving Fields, an American pianist and lounge music artist, performed three days a week until his death in 2016 at age 101. • Stan Lee, co-creator of Spiderman, is an American comic book writer, editor, film executive producer and publisher who continues to write daily at 95 and wants to meet mortality in front of his typewriter. • Betty White, the American actress and comedian, looks spectacular at age 95. The highlight of the film is the segment featuring Dick Van Dyke, the actor, comedian, singer, dancer, writer and producer, who at 92 remains as vibrant as ever. In a moving scene, Van Dyke is shown with his wife, Arlene Silver (40 years younger), recording a song called “Young at Heart” together at Capitol Records. It’s the perfect summation of the documentary. The film gives proof that age is just a number. Every day you can wake up and have breakfast is a good day. — Lou Ladinsky (Jan. 28, 11:10 a.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 2, noon, Springs; Feb. 4, 3:45 p.m., Springs; Feb. 6, 3:40 p.m., Tara)

‘Itzhak’ a Stirring Masterpiece

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Enter Itzhak Perlman dressed in a Mets uniform, cap backward, and riding on a scooter to play “Take Me out to the Ballgame.” It’s the opening scene of the documentary “Itzhak” and is an exhibition of what will unfold: the story of the gifted and active musician, the devoted husband and family man, the philanthropist, the sensitive teacher, the good friend, the humble humanitarian, and the man proud of his Jewish heritage. This is a celebration of his life. In this movie of top-notch clarity and acoustics, we see Itzhak and Toby, his wife, in 28 their Manhattan apartment

and their New York City life. We also see Tel Aviv, his home, and pieces of his performances around the world. At 72, Itzhak, crippled as a child from polio, has aged well. Handsome and reflective, he elaborates on his challenges in pursuing the dream of being a successful violinist. His parents sacrificed much to support and encourage their talented child to play the violin. When they realized his ability, his needs came first, even though others first saw his disability. At 13, he was asked by Ed Sullivan to perform, even though he and his wife believe that perhaps Sullivan just wanted to “help the poor cripple.” He found his way to Juilliard from there and still performs and instructs music students. This documentary is also about Toby and their marriage. Toby explains that she is his biggest supporter but also his biggest critic. A musician herself, she adores his music and explains how “we are lucky that we have the ability to be moved by music.” Only a handful of people are known worldwide by their first name. Itzhak Perlman is one of them. — Vicki M. Leopold (Jan. 27, 1 p.m., Hollywood; Jan. 30, 7:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 2, 1:35 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 4, 8:30 p.m., Springs; Feb. 10, 8:35 p.m., Tara)

The story of Israeli backpacker Yossi Ghinsberg, lost in the Amazon jungle for three weeks in 1981, seems too fantastical to be true at first viewing. But it all actually happened. The 2017 film “Jungle,” which stars Daniel Radcliffe (forever known as Harry Potter), details the real-life struggles of 21-year-old Ghinsberg, who in search of adventure is convinced by a mysterious Austrian guide named Karl to search for a lost Indian tribe deep in the Bolivian rain forest. Ghinsberg and two friends go into the jungle, but the adventure of a lifetime turns into a nightmare when Ghinsberg is separated from the group and must survive on his own without a knife or any kind of survival training. The real Ghinsberg survived 20 days lost in the jungle by foraging for berries and fruits and finding eggs in nests. He almost drowned after an extended rainfall. Another time, he woke up covered in leaches. With eye catching set pieces, solid acting and some gruesome scenes, “Jungle” is a thrilling movie. Highlights include the acting of Thomas Kretschmann as the mysterious guide Karl and a scene in which Radcliffe’s Ghinsberg pulls a parasitic worm out of his forehead with only a pen knife. Radcliffe, who is Jewish, convincingly portrays an ambitious but gullible Israeli adventurer who is the son of Holocaust survivors. Several flashbacks in the movie reveal Ghinsberg’s Jewish upbringing in Israel and his motivations for exploring the rain forest. Another strange bit of trivia: Outside this film, Kretschmann is known for his portrayals of German military officers in World War II films. “Jungle” is the kind of film that has you yelling at the screen for the first 20 minutes, trying to get the main character not to go into the jungle. But he goes in anyway, resulting in a satisfying adventure/survival film. — David R. Cohen (Jan. 26, 2:35 p.m., Atlantic Station; Jan. 30, 3:25 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 7, 7 p.m., Tara; Feb. 8, 7 p.m., Springs)

Finding JCC Love Across the Spectrum

The winner of the Founders Award for best U.S. narrative feature and the award for best new narrative director

at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, “Keep the Change” is a game-changer of a movie. It is anything but average: a love story between two autistic adults at a Jewish community center on the Upper West Side of New York. The lead actor, Brandon Polansky, is deceptively debonair with striking good looks, always behind dark glasses and in trendy black clothes, making you think he’s almost too suave to play a man with autism. But you quickly learn that the glasses are part of a mask to hide the tics and turns that are real in every sense of the word. Polansky actually does have autism. As does co-star Samantha Elisofon, who plays the delightful and beboppy love interest Sarah, who has an “easy-peasy, lemonsqueezy” way with words. Although a fictional story, the film has a documentary feel, owing partly to the fact that the lead actor is essentially playing himself. Director Rachel Israel got the

idea for the film while working on her M.F.A. in 2013 at Columbia, where she watched Brandon develop a romantic relationship with a classmate at a community center that serves adults on the spectrum. Quirky and full of humor, this movie is reminiscent of the book “The Rosie Project,” which has yet to be released as a film but which also offers a fresh look at autism with an extremely handsome leading man. “Keep the Change” shines a light on how a high-functioning adult on the spectrum can try to assimilate and on how, ultimately, the more important goal for each of us is to learn to be true to ourselves. — Alisa Haber (Jan. 27, 3:15 p.m., Hollywood, and 8:15 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 28, 1:50 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 2, 2:20 p.m., Springs; Feb. 14, 7:40 p.m., Tara)

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‘Last Suit’ Sews Up Survivor’s Story

“The Last Suit,” directed by Pablo Solarz, introduces Abraham Bursztein (Miguel Ángel Solá) as a relatable, 88-year-old man on the brink of being placed into a retirement home by his children in a Buenos Aires suburb. The resourceful Holocaust survivor leaves the day before move-in and takes off on a journey that the audience won’t completely understand until later in the film. Abraham’s memories from the Holocaust and from the period soon after it are shown in classic sepia and intertwined with current happenings as the film progresses. The first stop in Bursztein’s journey is Madrid, where he visits his estranged daughter and asks her to fund the rest of his trip after his hotel room is burgled. The story is studded with characters who either show us a different side of Bursztein’s character or give us a glimpse into his past, starting with his sister in Madrid and his fleeting friendship with Senora Gonzalez (Angela Molina) at the hotel. His meeting with a German anthropologist alters Bursztein’s feelings about Germany that lingered after the war, and the kindness of a Polish nurse delivers him to his tearful destiny. “The Last Suit,” which closes the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, begins with a seemingly sad octogenarian and ends with closure that the audience at first doesn’t even know Bursztein needs. The rough edges of this tough Argentinian are slowly softened to reveal a man finding what he has searched for his entire adult life. — Rachel Fayne (Feb. 15, 7 p.m., Cobb Energy)

Let Your Disbelief Go

We first meet witty yet fatigued psychoanalyst Elia Venezia after a day at work as he picks up his wife after Friday services at her synagogue in Rome. His neighbor has disabled the lift in their building for Shabbat, and his sad state of fitness becomes clear long before he reaches the third flight of stairs to their apartment. A quick trip to the doctor confirms his immediate need to diet and work out. A visit to a disco gym

‘Longing’ Meets Desire For Dark Comedy

and a bad experience with a spin class bring him to exuberant Zumba instructor and personal trainer Claudia, about whom Elia initially says, “I prefer diabetes to someone like her.” Faced with the need for a regimen, however, he chooses her as the least of three evils. So begins the action in the Italian film “Let Yourself Go.” Claudia is a good foil for the crusty, stingy and inflexible Elia. The two develop a spicy repertoire and an easy professional affection, and, through their time together, he begins to make necessary changes. Somewhere around midway, however, things go awry. With the entrance of a too-greasy ex-boyfriend and an overly mischievous child, things turn from believable to farcical, and the winner of the 2017 Italian Golden Globe for best comedy shifts from endearing and entertaining to slapstick. While it is easy to like Claudia’s good nature and boundless energy, her lack of good judgment, penchant for deception and tendency for hijinks stretch the boundaries of even the most receptive viewer. At 98 minutes, “Let Yourself Go” is a good half an hour too long. — Leah R. Harrison (Jan. 27, 3:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 31, 2:20 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 3, 8:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 14, 12:40 p.m. Tara, and 8 p.m., Springs)

In many ways, the Israeli film “Longing” is full of contradictions. It is a dark comedy in which lost opportunities for a different life are suspended between hopeful and absurd, laughter and tears, a dream of the future and an unchangeable past. It begins when Ariel Block (Shai Avivi) meets with his ex-girlfriend and finds out she was pregnant when they broke up 20 years ago. Block, a single and successful Tel Aviv businessman, soon embarks on a journey to Akko (Acre) to connect with the son he never knew existed and will never get to meet. Avivi draws the audience into his plight as he struggles to explore his new life as a father. Ariel himself is a contradiction — his desire to never have children and his desire to fulfill his fatherly duties; his gentle, kind, open heart and his relentless persistence; his strength in fighting and his calm acceptance of defeat. His character is deep, easy to connect to, not always easy to like, but someone you want to continue to know after the film ends. The supporting roles are all well-acted, and writer and director Savi Gabizon made the shots compelling and special without being so different that they disturb the audience’s sensibilities. The story is told artfully through compelling dialogue and moments of silence. The winner of the Audience Choice award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and the Ophir (Israeli Oscar) for best screenplay, “Longing” approaches complex issues — unrequited love, suicide, drug use, sexuality, child abuse, abortion — but never delves into them. Instead, Gabizon keeps the audience focused on Avivi and his strange and oddly sweet journey to become a father. For someone who appreciates dark comedies, “Longing” is a great choice. — Tova Norman (Jan. 30, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 10, 5:45 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 3:25 p.m., Tara)

Yiddish Classic Good to See, Tough to Read

The 1938 black-and-white Yiddish film “Mamele” hits the big screen again 80 years after its debut, but this time with English subtitles. “Little Mother,” as it’s known

in English, owes the subtitles to the National Center for Jewish Film at Brandeis University. Actress Molly Picon plays Havche, who has taken on the role of caring for her siblings and her shady “businessman” father in the absence of a mother in their home in Lodz, Poland. This task proves to be more than a full-time job as she struggles to peddle goods on the tough streets for fair prices and to make sure her brothers are happily finding love and that her sisters are finding their ways to future family and financial stability, all while neglecting her own happiness. The funny and quirky screenplay that showcases Picon’s singing abilities and comedic talent also depicts many aspects of Polish life in the late 1930s. “Mamele” was the last Yiddish film made before the Nazi occupation of Poland in 1939. The new English subtitles are the one negative of the film. In some scenes where the lower portion of the screen images are very light, the white font

of the subtitles is nearly impossible to read. There are also short scenes for which there are no subtitles. But for all the non-Yiddish-speaking generations who have only heard stories of “Mamele” and never seen it on the big screen with any sort of “helper text” for an English understanding, in an age when excerpts are likely to be on the Internet, now is the time to catch a glimpse at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. — Marcy J. Levinson (Feb. 4, 11 a.m., Springs)

An Atomic Powerhouse

Joseph Greenstein was born into deep poverty in northeastern Poland in 1893, and, because of tuberculosis, he was supposed to be dead by age 18. In a certain sense, that’s what happened. Sickly, weak and scared of following his father into an early grave,

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Greenstein was looking for an escape when the circus came to town while he was a teenager. Badly beaten for trying to sneak in without a ticket, he caught the attention of a strongman and wrestler who just happened to be Jewish and took sympathy on his plight. Greenstein left with the circus the next day and, while traveling through Russia, down to India and as far east as Japan over the next year, that weakling disappeared, to be replaced by a young man devoted to strength, fitness, nutrition, good health and the power of mind over matter. After immigrating to Texas and having a chance meeting with Harry Houdini and his manager at the gas station he owned — lifting Houdini’s car with one hand and changing a flat tire with the other — Greenstein became the traveling strongman known as “The Mighty Atom.” Steven Greenstein, his grandson, has made a documentary of that name to tell the story of a man who pulled airplanes with his hair, twisted horseshoes, nails and steel bars with his bare hands, and chewed through steel chains and spikes — performing unbelievable stunts well into his 70s. He did it all as a proud Jew, wearing a Star of David on his singlet and once beating up an entire meeting of German American Bundists in New York. Steven Greenstein takes the story beyond his grandfather by exploring the continuing art of “the steel game” and the body’s potential for great feats when the mind doesn’t act as a brake. He produces a loving, moving, entertaining and powerful tribute through interviews with family members and strongmen, newsreel clips, photos, and other artifacts, all bonded with excerpts from a radio interview with the Atom himself. — Michael Jacobs (Jan. 28, 1:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 10, 3:20 p.m., Springs)

Love, Literature Will Keep Them Together

Nicolas Bedos, a French theater director, actor and comedian, and actress Doria Tillier, his real-life wife, co-wrote and star under his direction in “Mr. & Mrs. Adelman,” a quirky comedy/drama about

a French couple. The film spans more than 40 years of the characters’ complicated relationship, from the 1970s to the present, in a behind-the-scenes, almost reality TV look at their private lives, families, love and contempt, as well as his therapy sessions. The film begins at the funeral of Victor (Bedos). A successful writer, he has many fans who are mourning his death. To escape the crowd at her home, widow Sarah (Tillier) holds a private conversation with a journalist who wants to know more about the woman behind the man. There is even the suggestion that she may have killed Victor herself. The flashback of their lives is revealed as she tells her story. At the start, Victor is an egocentric, mediocre writer who appears to express himself more in the physical realm than the mental. He’s self-absorbed and occupied with how he measures up, both professionally and in the size of his private parts, discussed at length in his therapy sessions. Sarah, a doctoral student of poetry, falls in love with Victor and improves his writing with her edits. He moves on to other women while she tries to reestablish a connection to him by dating first his best friend, then his brother. Although not religious, Sarah is Jewish and assists Victor with his first novel, about a family of Holocaust survivors. Victor declares one morn-

ing that he “feels” Jewish and takes Sarah’s last name, Adelman. Their roller-coaster life includes the birth of a son with disabilities, Victor’s announcement that he’s bored with his wife, resulting in her extreme behaviors, and the birth of a daughter who, in her father’s eyes, can do no wrong. The family dynamics are disturbing and uncomfortable to watch. Then the couple’s aging process becomes the focus. The startling ending is gripping, and secrets are revealed. The fast-paced “Mr. & Mrs. Adelman” is interesting and holds the viewer’s attention throughout the film. — Terry Segal (Jan. 28, 11 a.m., Atlantic Station; Jan. 30, 7:20 p.m., Hollywood; Jan. 31,

meaning of long-term relationships, particularly marriage, and the personal sacrifices people sometimes make to hold families together. On another level, this film poign antly looks at the dissonance between how we project ourselves and our lives to the world, nowadays with Facebook posts and Instagram photos, and what our actual lives are like. Indeed, it’s a wonderful example of the adage “You never know what goes on behind closed doors.” In its brief 50-minute run time, so much is unearthed, and the impact on the viewer is palpable. It is one of the best documentaries I screened this year. — Janice Convoy-Hellmann (Feb. 11, 3:55 p.m., Springs, and 6 p.m., Tara)

Unenviable Omnipotence

11:30 a.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 7, 2:10 p.m., Tara; Feb. 14, 7:10 p.m., Springs)

Coming Out After 60 Years of Marriage

The gifted directors of “On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Popi,” Brandon and Skyler Gross, are the grandchildren of Nani and Popi, and they handle the story of their Holocaust survivor grandparents’ 60year marriage in a sensitive way. This is not a home movie, but rather an intimate and insightful film exploring what at first seems to be the perfect marriage but ends up being a sham. We learn early on that Popi has been a closeted gay man; later, we come to understand what Nani did and didn’t know with regards to her husband’s sexuality. I sometimes felt like a voyeur, privy to information best kept private, but it’s a story that needs to be told, especially given the shift in attitudes toward LGBTQ people, ensuring that the tragic situation shown here will eventually be looked at as a historical relic. At its core, the film explores the

How do you determine the dollar value of a human life? Who should have the power to make such decisions? In the aftermath of highprofile disasters, including the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the answer often is Kenneth R. Feinberg, attorney at law, a special master in the field of victim compensation. Feinberg is the subject and, indeed, the narrator of “Playing G-d,” a well-produced (the camera work is excellent) documentary screening twice at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Throughout the 96-minute film, Feinberg explains — in an assertive tone, with the accent of his native Brockton, Mass. — how he balances the law with the emotions of people whose loved ones have been killed, whose livelihoods have been damaged or whose financial security is threatened. Feinberg sits in his darkened den at home, watching television with the sound off while listening to classical music (he appears partial to Wagner and Mahler). “During the day I see the worst of civilization. Death. Anger. Frustration. Tragedy.” The music is “the height of civilization,” he says. “The contrast is remarkable.” In America, one response to largescale pain and suffering is cold, hard cash (“bloody money,” a 9/11 family member calls it) that comes with a string attached: Once the money is accepted, the right to sue for damages is waived. The government, the courts and

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corporations retain Feinberg to keep the messiest piece of the process at arm’s length. Feinberg evinces empathy for the men and women who beseech him, but he remains duty-bound to the law. To those on the receiving end of his judgments, Feinberg is either an honorable man with an impossible task or a heartless villain protecting the interests of the powerful. Either way, you will not envy Feinberg. — Dave Schechter (Jan. 31, 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 15, 12:40 p.m., Springs)

monk who teaches her how to play the organ and how to stand up for herself. News of her rendezvous soon reaches Sirad’s ultra-Orthodox neighbors, who attempt to push her to the edge. Although the narrative provides a decent portrayal of some challenges Israelis face while living with Haredim, it fails to capture a viewer’s attention for long. Furthermore, each scene

A Slow Dance Among Israel’s Haredim

If you’re looking for a film that highlights Israel’s Orthodox community, “A Quiet Heart” is for you, but if you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you up all night, you should pass. After a series of failed attempts to grab recognition as a classical pianist, Naomi Sirad (played by Ania Bukstein) moves out of her parent’s home in Tel Aviv to a Haredi neighborhood in Jerusalem, where she strives to rediscover who she is. While Sirad tries to manage a new job, get over a boyfriend she hasn’t seen in eight months and deal with an ultraOrthodox neighbor who frequently chastises her, she also attracts the attention of her neighbor’s mute teen son, who occasionally breaks into her apartment to play the piano the previous tenant mysteriously left behind. It’s not long before things take a turn for the worse when Sirad receives threatening letters demanding that she leave the neighborhood and labeling her as a missionary. To find solace, Sirad begins visiting a monastery, where she befriends a

takes an excruciating amount of time to build, and the plot depends on too many chance encounters and revealed secrets. I find the 92-minute film one hour too long. — Sarah Moosazadeh (Jan. 28, 5:20 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 2, 1:25 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 7, 11:50 a.m., Springs; Feb. 13, 7:50 p.m., Springs)

A Glimpse of Iraq’s Glory

The heritage and culture of Iraqi Jews are among many insights brilliantly captured in the documentary “Remember Baghdad,” which chronicles Iraq’s Jewish population before coups and geopolitics turned lives upside down. Before Saddam Hussein’s reign and under British rule, many Jews lived lavish lives in Iraq and owned small businesses. They practiced their

religion freely, and many had Muslim neighbors they frequently visited and invited to their homes for card games late into the night. Many would later describe this period as some of the best years of their lives. As the documentary travels thorough Iraq’s history, viewers receive an inside look at a community that is often overlooked. The film presents the lives of Iraqi Jews such as David Dangoor and Eileen Khalastchy as they recount their childhoods before the coup d’état that swept through the country and led many Jews to flee the only home they knew. As an official selection of the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival and UK International Jewish Film Festival, “Remember Baghdad” is sure to give filmgoers a memorable lesson on history they might not know about. — Sarah Moosazadeh (Feb. 10, 1 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 11 a.m., Tara)

Russian Jewish History Vividly Retold

The story of the Jews who at some point answered to the Russian czars or the Soviet commissars is the history of most of today’s Ashkenazi Jews, so plenty of people should be interested in the epic documentary “Russian Jews.” They won’t be disappointed by this sweeping, creative approach to its subjects and their effects on Russia and the world — at least until the death of the Soviet Union in 1991. “Russian Jews” is broken into three parts, each being shown two times at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival: through the Russian Revolution; 1918 to 1948; and after 1948. While they use the same techniques to enliven history — most notably the world travels of

excited and exciting narrator Leonid Parfenov and the animation of photographs so that, for example, Catherine the Great speaks to us — the stories become more focused and personal as time advances. Part 1 largely presents generalities about the Jewish people, most of whom toiled in anonymity within the Pale of Settlement until the 19th century, when opportunities developed after reforms under Alexander I. But it’s not just a tale of Tevyehs and pogroms (a word you’ll wait 36 minutes to hear). You’ll find repeated insights into Jewish life in the Russian Empire, none more important than the fact that Jews, like other nationalities, were swept into the czarist expansion: “And so the Jews did not come to Russia, but Russia came to the Jews.” The film shows a growing Jewish impact on the arts, then an outsize role in the revolution, although the Jews involved with the Bolsheviks and even more radical groups often came from affluent families with little connection to their Judaism. We’re told that five of the nine people at the first congress in 1898 of what became the Communist Party were Jewish, as were 17 of the 30 people on the train Lenin rode into Russia in 1917.

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With Jews officially equal to everyone else in the Soviet Union, Part 2 tells the tale of the people through the stories of individuals, from politicians such as Trotzky to artists such as Chagall, and delves into the heavily Jewish world of Odessa, which Parfenov demonstrates is locally pronounced “Adesa.” That lesson in dialect is an example of some of the humor I fear we non-Russian speakers miss while reading the subtitles. Another comes in the aftermath of the assassination of the White Russian leader in exile in Paris. The subtitles say the police detectives were outsmarted by a graduate of a Minsk technical school, but you can hear Parfenov mock those sleuths with a reference to Agatha Christie hero Hercule Poirot. In Part 2, we learn that every nonJewish leader in the Soviet Union’s early days had a Jewish wife and that the Soviets were first to deploy Jews as global intelligence assets. We also see how Stalin gradually, violently purged Jews from the government — until he went to war against Hitler. Judeophilia and the propaganda work of the Jewish Antifascist Committee became tools of the state until 1945. Part 3 shows how that Judeophilia flipped to official Judeophobia as soon as the war ended, although “Russian Jews” says the Soviet Union was the first nation to recognize Israel, in part because of the hope that a nation of kibbutzim led by socialists with Russian roots would align with the Soviet Union. But Israel’s rebirth also inspired a new longing in the increasingly oppressed Jews, many of whom “Russian Jews” says would have been happy to remain good Russians if they had only been given the chance. For example, three great Jewish writers — Osip Mandelstam, Boris Pasternak and Joseph Brodsky — were persecuted for trying to be Russian poets when the state required them to be Soviet ones instead. The film thus casts the refuseniks as part of the broader Jewish involvement in the Soviet civil rights movement and tracks Jewish emigration’s role in U.S.-Soviet relations. After more than 5½ hours of details and insights, however, the end of “Russian Jews” feels abrupt, racing through the final decade of the Soviet Union and not pausing to address the millions of Jews who in the end poured 32 out to settle in Israel and the United

States. The film’s faux happily-ever-after conclusion perhaps tells its own story of life in Putin’s Russia. — Michael Jacobs (Feb. 6, 8 p.m., and Feb. 7, 2:15 p.m., for Part 1; Feb. 7, 7 p.m., and Feb. 8, 3:10 p.m., for Part 2; and Feb. 8, 7:50 p.m., and Feb. 9, 11:55 a.m., for Part 3, all at Springs)

Sammy’s Star Reborn

Sammy Davis Jr. was one of the biggest stars of the stage and screen in the 1960s, but his journey to get there and his path afterward were complex, complicated and contradictory. The documentary “Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me,” screening on opening night of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, shines a light on the entertainer’s personal life and career as he navigated the civil rights movement and racial progress in 20th century America. An intelligent and incredibly talented man, Davis never attended any type of school. He started touring and performing at the age of 3 and later was one of the first black performers to sing standards and do impressions of white performers. Long before Barack Obama, Davis was the first free black man to sleep in the White House. As a member of the Rat Pack with close friends Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, Davis thrilled Las Vegas crowds with his myriad of talents. Some have called Davis the most talented entertainer in the Rat Pack for his skills as a singer, dancer, actor and comic. But he was also a figure shrouded in controversy. From his interracial marriage to Swedish actress May Britt in 1960 to his poorly viewed campaigning for Richard Nixon in 1972, Davis was accused by some of being a sellout who turned his back on his black American roots. Somewhat glazed over in the documentary is the motivation behind Davis’ conversion to Judaism after a seri-

ous car accident in 1954. Only a quick interview is shown in which Davis discusses the commonalities between the oppression experienced by the AfricanAmerican and Jewish communities in the United States. The film, directed by Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Sam Pollard, digs deeper into the motivations of Davis, who is portrayed as a sometimes tragic character with only the best intentions. For all his successes in life, the film leaves you with the question of how much bigger Davis could have been. — David R. Cohen (Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m., Cobb Energy)

Salvation Comes Through Human Contact

Across various seasons and settings in Israel and four vastly different yet ultimately connected life stories, “Saving Neta” illustrates the effect of stopping to observe and truly see the humanity in another person. Amid trouble and conflict in their own lives, four women have chance encounters with Neta: a single mom misconnecting in her relationship with her teenage daughter; a lesbian musician struggling with her feelings about becoming pregnant; a mother of two facing down the demise of her marriage; and a sister forced to make difficult decisions about the care of her developmentally challenged sister after the death of their mother. An enigmatic yet troubled drifter, Neta is the kind of unassuming soul who, through even the briefest contact, draws you in, engendering so many questions about his life that you more closely examine your own. In ways subtle and significant, the situations of those who encounter him are forever altered. Over time, Neta is changed for the better as well. Actor Benny Avni skillfully portrays Neta, undergoing a striking emotional and dramatic physical transformation through the course of the film. Critically acclaimed writer/director Nir Bergman awards the audience with meticulous cinematography and small yet satisfying details in the closing moments, which, upon careful reflection, cleverly come full circle with the opening scene. Saving Neta weaves a thoughtful story about the interconnectedness of us all, about paying it forward, and about the ripple effect that even brief encounters can cause.

— Leah R. Harrison (Jan. 28, 11 a.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 5, 7:50 p.m., Springs; Feb. 10, 1 p.m., Tara; Feb. 14, 1:10 p.m., Springs)

‘Scaffolding’ Crosses Many Dimensions

A high school senior in a special class of students with various challenges, Asher is a fetchingly impulsive and unfiltered Israeli teenager trying to puzzle his way to adulthood. He lives and works with his stalwart yet emotionally distant father, who owns a scaffolding company and values hard work over homework. In the Israeli movie “Scaffolding,” Asher is struggling to find a balance between the blue-collar ethic he has learned at home and his growing belief in himself that he can and should complete his high school education and dream beyond inheriting the family business. Underestimated by much of society, a ragtag group of students finds understanding and tolerance from Rami, their patient literature teacher and kindred spirit with issues of his own. In Rami, the students find acceptance and inspiration and gain the desire to achieve where society expects them to fail. The film could not be more aptly named. In “Scaffolding,” Asher’s father furnishes a disciplined framework for his life in addition to the legacy of the family business, while Rami reveals the possibility of another path. The insightful teacher encourages Asher to ponder and eventually ask questions about his relationships and his life, just as he stands on the precipice of adulthood, trying to find footing of his own. Asher Lax plays the movie’s main character, and Ami Smolartchik plays the high school teacher. Matan Yair, Lax’s real-life teacher, is the film’s writer and director. In “Scaffolding” as in real life, Asher’s teacher shows the impact one educator can have on the lives

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Say Shalom To Indian Cinema Stars

Around 100 years ago when the Indian film industry began in Bombay (Mumbai today), it was considered taboo for Hindu and Islamic women to perform in public, according to the documentary “Shalom Bollywood: The Untold Story of Indian Cinema.” How did Indian film producers and actors get their movies scripted and cast for the silver screen without women? Male actors played the female roles. And based on the old film footage included in “Shalom Bollywood,” the result wasn’t pretty. This documentary, which details the importance of Jewish Indian women in filling movie roles, doesn’t use the typical droll narration but instead applies a fun and at times tongue-incheek style of delivering information. From the early history of how Jewish women (“Anglo Indians”) numbered only in the thousands but came from what the narrator calls a more “progressive community,” the documentary introduces viewers to various Bollywood actresses, including the silent-era queen of the 1920s, Sulochana,

Mossad’s Boring Side

We can only hope real life is more exciting for Mossad agents than what they experience for most of director Eran Rikil’s fictional film “Shelter.” After completing a mission in Lebanon, Mossad agent Mona Rice, played by renowned Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani, is whisked away to a safe house in Hamburg, Germany, where she awaits further instructions. But Rice’s innate paranoia and her recovery process after surgery to alter her identity create challenges for her protector, Naomi, played by Israeli actress Neta Riskin. As each day passes, Rice and Nao-

mi must work together to maintain their secret identities from hotel guests and passers-by on the street. As time goes on, Naomi and Rice gradually forge a relationship as they disclose their deepest, darkest secrets to each other. When the time comes for Rice to leave the safe house, however, Naomi realizes that her mission isn’t everything it appears to be. Rice’s worst fears come true when her ex-husband, Hezbollah terrorist Naim Quassem, played by Israeli actor Doraid Liddawi, learns her whereabouts and assembles a team to find and kill her. As Naomi and other Mossad agents race to keep Rice safe, they also find themselves in a worst-case scenario. While “Shelter” is well crafted, each scene takes too long to develop and fails to capture a viewer’s attention. Moreover, the actors’ performances and the plot are dull and predictable, and although the narrative delivers an unusual story of revenge and self-sacrifice, this is one spy movie I wouldn’t hold my breath for. — Sarah Moosazadeh (Jan. 27, 1 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 3, 5:55 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 9, 3:45 p.m., Tara; Feb. 11, 8:20 p.m., Springs; Feb. 15, noon, Springs)

family members. Like the director, they’re as wellspoken as any industry veteran, and the film cuts cleverly between interviews and scenes, showcasing just how much his family’s story influences his work. The process and stories behind “Schindler’s List,” however, still make for the most powerful part of the film. This section showcases incredible behind-the-scenes shots and powerful commentary, made more personal by Spielberg’s stories of neighborhood anti-Semitism and internalized guilt in prior interviews. The documentary places “Schindler’s List” as a turning point for Spielberg as an artist and as a Jew, laying its many messages out beautifully. Additional chapters focusing on his other serious fare, such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “Munich,” prove similarly riveting. Highlights also include Spielberg’s early years, packed with visuals of a young, obsessive version of the director hanging out with friends who would also rise to meteoric heights. Martin Scorsese, George Lucas and more share their thoughts on the early Spielberg

Family Enlivens Spielberg’s List

An HBO documentary profiling the most commercially successful director in history, “Spielberg” is an entertaining walk through the ubiquitous filmmaker’s life, artistic origins and lengthy filmography. The film features behindthe-scenes footage, film clips and Hollywood interviews, but even more impressive is how the documentary comes to embody so many of the director’s cinematic trademarks. Steven Spielberg is as charismatic as any of his leads, and the film has great editing, shaping a documentary into Hollywood form, layered with well-placed scenes from Spielberg films of every decade to keep things from getting slow. The film features some of Hollywood’s biggest actors, from Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Craig to Richard Dreyfuss and Sally Field, but many of the most memorable interviews come from his

and, even better, stories of a generation coming of age artistically in Los Angeles. “Spielberg” should please any fan of his work and serve as an effective greatest-hits compilation for anyone unfamiliar. Those who aren’t fans probably won’t come away changed, with the most critical takes coming from Spielberg himself, but the film still serves as a solid, well-edited documentary with interesting commentary on family, faith and filmmaking. — Joe Youorski (Jan. 29, 7 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 30, 3:20 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 12, 7 p.m., Springs; Feb. 14, 3:10 p.m., Tara)

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of his students beyond the classroom. Lax does an admirable job of portraying a teenager who can be temperamentally explosive and subtle, thoughtful and contemplative. Released last May, “Scaffolding” won four 2017 Israeli Film Academy and Jerusalem Film Festival awards and received nine other nominations. True to Israeli cinematic style, Yair provides just enough detail to indicate where Asher’s path might lead, without tying things up in a neat little bow. The viewer is left to imagine the possibilities for Asher beyond the film’s pivotal and revealing conclusion. — Leah R. Harrison (Jan. 28, 7:55 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 3, 1 p.m., Tara; Feb. 11, 11 a.m., Springs)

“the one with the beautiful eyes” — aka Ruby Myers. “Shalom Bollywood” also introduces Miss Rose (Rose Ezra), Pramila (Esther Abraham), Ramola (Rachel Cohen), Arati Devi (Rachael Sofaer) and Nadira. Jewish contributions in Bollywood have been many. The first “talkie” in 1931 was written by a religious Jew, David Joseph Penkar. Jews had many firsts in Bollywood and are still active in all aspects of the film industry, not just in front of the camera as they were originally. This documentary by Danny BenMoshe is a fabulous gem deserving of a trip to the theater. It’s worth a few eyebrow-raising laughs to learn a few nuggets you can share at the watercooler or over coffee. There are so many interesting nuggets of information not only about the Jewish role in Indian film, but also about Bollywood and its transition from the first film to what it has become today. — Marcy R. Levinson (Jan. 28, 3:25 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 3, 6:05 p.m., Tara; Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Springs)

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Too Long by a Nose

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It is all about the nose … and the face … and women’s beauty. Using interviews and photographs of several women, “Take My Nose … Please!” explores the often-conflicted decisions to change and improve faces through plastic surgery. The documentary delves into the deep feelings women have about looking ethnic, looking old, looking their best and feeling good about themselves. Humorous clips of famous women who broke the taboo and championed the “work they had done” are shared. Phyllis Diller, Roseanne Barr, Cher and Joan Rivers are among the many who chat about their decisions, their right to make facial changes and the effects those decisions have on their lives. Seeing before and after photos of stars we know and love is appealing. This documentary informs us of the history of cosmetic surgery, which seems to have begun in earnest in the 1920s when singer and actress Fanny Brice, who described herself as a bagel amongst white bread, went public with her nose job. Following the story of two female performers, we are exposed to the world of plastic surgery and the complicated decision-making. What may interest some viewers is how doctors, during office consultations, are able to generate real-time computer images of how their patients will look after surgery. Happily, the stigma of plastic surgery seems to have greatly diminished, and women feel ever freer to look their best. Those who have a keen interest in nose jobs, face-lifts and the like or perhaps are contemplating a procedure may find the 99 minutes of this discussion fascinating. For the rest of us, it is at least an hour too long. — Vicki M. Leopold (Jan. 26, 11:30 a.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 4, 2 p.m., Tara; Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Springs; Feb. 7, 11:40 a.m., Tara; Feb. 11, 1:25 p.m., Springs)

A ‘Testament’ to the Truth

Director Amichai Greenberg’s “The Testament” is based on events on the nights of March 24 and 25, 1945, when 200 laborers in Lendsdorf, Austria, were spontaneously slain by their neighbors. The story follows Yoel, a 34 senior Holocaust researcher played by

Ori Pfeffer, as he attempts to uncover the mass grave of those 200 Jews. “The truth is not mine’ it is not yours. The truth is absolute,” he tells an Austrian reporter. But he is up against the Austrian government, which proposes to build a road through the area that reportedly contains the mass grave. He and his team have yet to locate the grave and are pushing for a freeze on the proposed construction. What begins as a search for the dead turns up an incredible deception that is too close for comfort and sets Yoel on a quest to find his true identity. Everything is a puzzle, and Yoel runs into more and more walls. Many Holocaust survivors deceived their families, never telling them they were in Auschwitz or even in the Holocaust. Looking for answers from the past when many deny the truth is nearly impossible. But Yoel finds that when you go looking for ghosts, you are guaranteed to find them, and those ghosts usually hold the keys to the past. That’s how the past works. The film reveals that moving forward is impossible without reconciling the past. Yoel’s life is at a standstill until the truth is revealed to him; then, to move on, he must acknowledge to himself who he is and accept that some questions can be answered only when you risk it all. — Patrice Worthy (Jan. 26, 2 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Jan. 31, 3:05 p.m., Atlantic Station; Feb. 10, 5:30 p.m., Springs; Feb. 11, 8:10 p.m., Tara; Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., Tara)

The Human Horror Of Real-Life Mad Scientists

At the beginning of “The Twinning Reaction,” it’s hard to see the true impact of separating twins to different

adoptive families. But the sense of loss the separated twins feel — without understanding why — becomes more and more evident as the movie continues. “The Twinning Reaction” explores the results of an experiment conducted by Peter Neubauer, a child psychiatrist, and Viola Bernard, a child psychologist, beginning in the 1960s. Jewish twins adopted through the Louise Wise Services adoption agency in New York were separated to study the impact of nature vs. nurture. The adoptive parents were never told that they adopted a twin or what was being studied. Therefore, the children themselves never knew they were twins. Only by haphazard circumstances did any of them ever find out. The study has been in and out of the news for years as different twins have discovered the truth. This documentary, named for the unique bond between twins that begins in infancy, follows some of the people who have learned that they were subjects in the twin study.

In a process that seems unthinkable now, these children were studied regularly for years without any knowledge of the reason behind the research. As the twins and their adoptive parents struggle to grasp the true loss and to understand the purpose of the study, it becomes clear that the lasting impact is deeper and more hurtful than originally thought. Writer and director Lori Shinseki aims to show the negative effects of the study, and, when seen through the eyes of the subjects, it’s difficult to view the experiment any other way. The audience sees all the twins and their parents — adoptive and birth — struggle with the time the siblings will never get back and follows the story of one set of twins seeking through legal action to get access to the study’s

results, which were never published and have been sealed by universities. “The Twinning Reaction” tells a unique story of loss, sacrifice in the name of science and questions that will haunt those affected for years to come. — Tova Norman (Feb. 3, 6:35 p.m., Springs; Feb. 4, 1:30 p.m., Springs)

A Cold, Calculated ‘Hunt’

“Winter Hunt” is about three people in Germany — a girl, an old man and his daughter — speaking German with subtitles that are very readable. The movie begins with the girl testing her ability to shoot a pistol. She then drives to the home of the old man and his daughter. In the first five minutes, not a single word is spoken. Throughout the movie, the music is dark, giving the sense that something awful is going to happen, but you don’t know what. Gradually, the story of each of the three people unfolds, and you come to understand what each believes and whether that belief is accurate. While the movie is set in 2014, the story is about what happened in October 1944. The story has a sense of reality about it, with each person doing what you think could have occurred. Each explanation of what happened in the fall of 1944 comes across as possible, with twists and turns all along the way. The acting is quite good for the entire cast. The title of the movie is about a painting in the old man’s home. It depicts a single man, hunched over and walking alone, and the question is whether the man is the hunter or the hunted or both. At the end of the movie, try to compare the last scene to the painting. While the story unfolds slowly, the dialogue keeps you mesmerized. It is worth your time if you have an interest in the Holocaust. — Allen H. Lipis (Jan. 31, 7:50 p.m., Perimeter Pointe; Feb. 1, 3:45 p.m., Atlantic Station, and 7:15 p.m., Hollywood; Feb. 2, 2:35 p.m., Springs; Feb. 6, 9:10 p.m., Springs) ■

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TV, Film Beautify Atlanta’s Economy Kalos Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kalos Hair Restoration and the K Spa, for the specialized treatments for which they used to have to travel back to New York or La-La Land. Atlanta’s TV and film industry has been a boost for many sectors of the economy, including plastic surgery

Guest Column By Ben Stong

and other cosmetic services. After all, while some actors on location here who must look cameraready will plan major nips and tucks, such as face-lifts and liposuction, months in advance, many other “faster acting” procedures are available these days, including touch-ups like injections of fillers, laser procedures, liquid eye-lifts, microdermabrasion and teeth whitening. This market for minimally invasive procedures has expanded rapidly, starting with the Botox boom. Just imagine how crucial it must be for those on site for a shoot in Atlanta to be able to readily get these services locally. It’s invaluable. And these services are not just for the actors, but also for all the TV and film support staffers who just want to look their best. This is a long list, including producers, editors, graphic artists, caterers, security personnel, camera operators, stagehands — you get the idea. All these jobs being brought to town mean that workers in other industries (like mine) can also help inject vibrancy into the local economy by buying homes, renting offices, taking families out to dinner, sending kids to college, employing people, paying taxes (not to mention mortgages), etc. The add-on benefits are huge. So as we prepare for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, this is a great time to remind ourselves that just by kicking back and enjoying a new film or chilling out by binge-watching a new series on Amazon, Hulu or Netflix, we are supporting our local economy. How cool is that? ■ Ben Stong (kalos-plasticsurgery.com) is dual board-certified in head and neck surgery and facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

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The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival is expected to attract nearly 40,000 moviegoers in its 18th year with a roster of more than 70 narratives and documentaries. As we prepare for this exciting cultural event, it is well worth noting that thanks in part to the film and TV industry, Atlanta is one of the strongest job markets in the country. Metro Atlanta hit an all-time record in October for the total number of jobs. It added over 100,000 employed residents in the preceding 12 months. How did this happen? After all, globalization marches forward, and staying competitive is harder than ever, right? Well, it happened because of a lot of hard work and entrepreneurial know-how. In addition, people in business and government had to be willing to go out on a limb to bring nontraditional jobs to town. Georgia’s generous tax incentive for TV and film production, known as the Entertainment Industry Investment Act, has lured production companies from New York, Hollywood and other towns. “Hands down, it’s the best entertainment tax incentive in the nation,” Craig Miller, co-president of the Georgia Production Partnership, said in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. As a result, Georgia is the No. 1 filming location in the world, according to FilmL.A. Gov. Nathan Deal announced film and television productions generated $9.5 billion in economic impact in fiscal 2017, including $2.7 billion in direct spending. Wow. As Alison Herman wrote for The Ringer in August: “The Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’ uses the Atlanta metro area as a stand-in for small-town Indiana; AMC’s ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ moved its characters from Dallas to the Bay Area without its production ever leaving the Southeast. At a much larger scale, Marvel’s interconnected megafranchise stays rooted in Atlanta even as its superheroes crisscross the globe on-screen, while ‘The Hunger Games’ appropriated local landmarks like the Swan House and MARTA train for its vision of the post-apocalyptic future.” I know about this surging local industry in part because some of those thousands of industry employees now come to my medical offices, including

JANUARY 12 â&#x2013;ª 2018

BUSINESS

Delta Air Lines is facing a series of lawsuits in New York and Philadelphia that claim a pattern of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel discrimination by the Atlanta-based company. “Delta Air Lines has engaged in a pattern of intentionally discriminating and retaliating against ethnically Jewish, Hebrew and/or Israeli employees and passengers traveling to Israel, based upon their race and ancestry, and of intentionally discriminating against non-Jewish Flight Attendants who have associated with Jewish Flight Attendants or customers, or were perceived to be so associated,” reads a civil suit filed in Brooklyn on Jan. 2 by Cynthia Fukelman, Tsipora Kuba, Young Sook Sanchez and Anthony Panza. All four worked as flight attendants on Delta’s New York-Tel Aviv route. Fukelman and Kuba are Jewish. Sanchez used her travel companion benefits for someone who is Jewish. Panza claims to have faced a hostile workplace merely for associated with Jews or Hebrew speakers. Two more plaintiffs emerged in Philadelphia, using the same lawyer as the New York plaintiffs: Brian Mildenberg of Philadelphia. Israeli-American Nahum Amir, a mechanic, and Yaron Gilinsky, a native of Israel, have filed lawsuits, JTA reported Tuesday, Jan. 9. Gilinsky’s case is being linked with the lawsuit of his fellow flight attendants in New York. The allegations in the lawsuits include being wrongfully fired or otherwise disciplined, being blocked from deserved promotions, being scrutinized for having Jewish travel companions, and being subjected to anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli comments. Amir said a manager accused him and other Jews of killing children in Gaza, JTA reported. In a statement Jan. 3, Delta said it “strongly condemns the allegations of discrimination described in this suit and will defend itself vigorously against them. As a global airline that brings people across the world together every day, Delta values diversity in all aspects of its business and has zero tolerance for discrimination.” The airline has not formally responded to the New York lawsuit, according to court records online. ■

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Lawsuits: Jews Face Bias at Delta

LOCAL NEWS

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With Fulton Deputy District Attorney Fani Willis and ADL Southeast Regional Director Allison Padilla-Goodman close by and other supporters of hate-crimes legislation behind her, Rep. Meagan Hanson explains the need for such a law Jan. 3 at the Capitol.

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The Anti-Defamation League, more than 20 coalition partners and top law enforcement leaders are standing behind an effort to push a hatecrimes bill through the Georgia General Assembly in this election year. Freshman Rep. Meagan Hanson (R-Brookhaven) is sponsoring the legislation, announced at a Capitol press conference Wednesday, Jan. 3. She said the bill is a response to too-frequent incidents across the country and in Georgia, from the bomb threats against the Marcus JCC early in 2017 to the racial threats and epithets unleashed at an 8-year-old’s birthday party in Douglasville recently. ADL Southeast Regional Director Allison Padilla-Goodman also mentioned swastikas being scratched into the side of the Center for Puppetry Arts and said a hate crime is committed every 90 minutes in the United States. “This bill is about protecting and preserving individual liberty when the freedom of the individual is under assault by violence or threat of violence by a hate crime,” Hanson said. Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs), who is the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and is retiring after this session, stood with members of the ADL-organized Coalition for a Hate-Free Georgia and other legislation supporters behind Hanson at the press conference. Sen. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody) was prominent in the crowd. Democrats in recent years have proposed hate-crimes measures that

have gone nowhere in the Republicancontrolled legislature. Rep. Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta), who has left the House, introduced House Bill 492 last year, but it never got a committee hearing. “Georgia is better than this, and it is time to show all Georgians and the nation that we take people’s identities seriously and protect them. We will not allow bias and bigotry to reign free, and we believe that everyone should be who they are without fear of violence,” Padilla-Goodman said. Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Fani Willis said the legislation is nonpartisan and represents American and Georgian values. She said Georgia, the home of Martin Luther King Jr., taught the world that hate is not acceptable. “One should never be targeted in our great state as a victim because of the skin tone G-d chose to cover them in, who they choose to love or for any infirmity, whether it be physical or mental,” Willis said. Georgia is one of five states without a hate-crimes law, joining South Carolina, Arkansas, Indiana and Wyoming and making it a focus of the 50 States Against Hate initiative that the ADL announced in Atlanta in August 2015. Georgia enacted such a law in 2000 with strong support from the Jewish community, but the state Supreme Court threw it out in 2004 for being too vague in defining a hate crime. Subsequent efforts to pass hate-crimes legislation foundered over the definitions and LGBTQ inclusion.

Besides the ADL, the Jewish organizations in the Coalition for a Hate-Free Georgia are American Jewish Committee, the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition, Bend the Arc, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, the Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon, the National Council of Jewish Women, SOJOURN and Tzedek Georgia. The coalition also includes LGBTQ, black, Latino, Muslim, Presbyterian, interfaith and social justice organizations. “At least on a national scale, it feels like the right time, and it feels like there’s a lot of interesting momentum and interest from different parties,” Padilla-Goodman said. “I’m getting a lot of really great feedback from both sides of the aisle, so I’m optimistic.” The Hanson legislation is based on the federal Shepard-Byrd hate-crimes law, Padilla-Goodman said. The ADL worked 11 years to get that measure through Congress in October 2009. Like the federal law, the Georgia legislation has two major thrusts: to increase the penalties for any crimes motivated by bias based on the victim’s actual or perceived “race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, mental disability or physical disability” and to improve law enforcement handling and reporting of such crimes. By comparison, the Waites bill, which remains on the table in the session that opened Monday, Jan. 8, enhances penalties only for certain violent crimes and does not address reporting of hate crimes. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan, who attended the press conference in support of the legislation, said the statistical tracking is important, as is the training for law enforcement on what constitutes a hate crime and how to investigate one to gain a conviction. Hate crimes affect entire communities, not just individual victims, Keenan said. But when their importance is emphasized with law officers, he said, “the officers ask, ‘Well, if it needs to be a priority, then why doesn’t the state have a law?’ You wind up dancing around the issue.” Hanson noted that only six police agencies in Georgia reported any hate crimes in 2016. In a state of more than 10 million people, that statistic shows that something isn’t right about the handling of hate crimes, said lawyer Steve Pepper, who has lobbied the General Assembly for such legislation as the past chairman of the ADL’s Southeast Region. The law enforcement officials at the press conference included Matt

Alcoke, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta office; Frank Rontondo, the executive director of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police; and Lou Dekmar, the LaGrange police chief and the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The international organization has led efforts against hate crimes for 20 years, established a model policy in 2016 for law enforcement agencies to identify and investigate such crimes, and is holding a summit in Washington at the end of January to create an action agenda for a multiphase, multiyear initiative to improve the response to and prevention of hate crimes. “I want to encourage the legislature to swiftly pass this important bill,” Dekmar said. Sen. David Shafer (R-Duluth), who is giving up his role as Senate president pro tem in the new legislative session as he runs for lieutenant governor, said everyone is against hate, but he wishes legislation could be crafted that protected everyone instead of specific classes. The bill’s inclusion of gender identity and sexual orientation could make passage tougher. The legislation defines neither term; by contrast, the federal law defines gender identity as “actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.” In her presentation at the press conference, Willis presented three Fulton cases since 2002 for which she wished a hate-crimes law covering sexual orientation had been in place. Only in the most recent of those, in which Marquez Tolbert and Anthony Gooden were scalded by boiling water by Martin Blackwell in College Park in February 2016, was the punishment (40 years in prison) sufficient, Willis said. Tolbert attended the press conference. People who criticized Hanson during her 2016 election campaign over tweets about transgender people from 2011 and 2013 have questioned her sincerity in introducing legislation to protect LGBTQ people now, but she said she is passionate about hate crimes after taking an ADL class. “I’m cautiously optimistic. I’m also a realist. I realize that we’re in an election year,” said Hanson, who likely faces a tough re-election fight herself. “But it’s a great time to get the conversation started at the very least, but I’ll be working with all my strength to make sure it gets out of committee and gets to the House floor, and then we’ll work from there.” You can read a draft of the bill at atlantajewishtimes.com. ■

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

LOCAL NEWS

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LOCAL NEWS

MomProm Fails to Fund Infertility Nonprofit By Cady Schulman cschulman@atljewishtimes.com

The event’s vendors described problems getting paid. Jodie Sturgeon, who owns For All Occasions and More, catered the event. She said she requested a deposit because it was a large order, but she kept being told that the check was in the mail. “When I saw Nicole, she asked me if I had received the check,” Sturgeon said. “I told her I didn’t, and she said it was in today’s mail and not to worry about it. Three separate occasions … she said it was in the mail, but I never received it.” Sturgeon said she has received $2,000 of the $5,100 charged for the event, and she said her attorney has received an additional $777.32. Another vendor, DJ Camille Weiss, said she received the full amount due, but it took six weeks. Weiss said Wiesen paid the deposit promptly but made excuse after excuse to delay paying the balance of $575, which included a $200 fee for Weiss’ sound system. At one point, Weiss said, Wiesen expressed surprise at having to cover that additional fee.

The Jewish Moms of Atlanta group is distancing itself from a November event after the organizer never delivered the money promised to a local nonprofit and hasn’t fully paid the vendors. Nicole Wiesen, who organized the first MomProm for the Jewish Moms of Atlanta, promoted the event in part as a fundraiser for the Jewish Fertility Foundation, and she posted in the JMOA Facebook group that the event raised $15,000 for the foundation. But Elana Frank, JFF’s executive director and founder, said a check from the Jewish Moms of Atlanta for $4,503 received Nov. 17 was not honored because of insufficient funds. The check was signed by Wiesen with the memo “MomProm Proceeds Net.” Frank, who had actively promoted ticket sales and sponsorships for the event because of the expected benefit for the foundation, said she could not comment other than to say she is consulting with attorneys and state authorities to address the situation.

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The IRS responded to a mid-November inquiry with a letter saying Jewish Moms of Atlanta is not a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

“The following week, I sent her an email, and I didn’t hear back from her,” Weiss said. “Another week passed, and Nicole said the check would be in the mail at the end of the week. Another week and a half goes by, and no check. I emailed her again to remind her.” Wiesen wanted to pay through PayPal, Weiss said, but she doesn’t use PayPal and instead agreed to take a credit card. Weiss said they agreed to meet at a venue where she was DJing, but Wiesen never showed up. Wiesen eventually said she would drop a cashier’s check in Weiss’ mailbox. The day after Weiss received the check, she heard about MomProm’s financial issues. “That was so shocking to me,” Weiss said. “Immediately, I thought, I have to deposit (the check). What if it’s not good? It looks as if it’s cleared. This is finally the end of the saga. When someone does something fraudulent, I just don’t put anything past them. I don’t know who they are.” Wiesen did not return repeated attempts for comment. The AJT contacted three event sponsors, two of which didn’t know about the financial problems; the third plans no action at this point. The AJT has obtained what appears to be a forged Internal Revenue Service letter, dated Aug. 31, 2016, and possibly based on a legitimate letter issued to the Jewish Fertility Foundation that day, declaring that JMOA is a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization that can accept tax-deductible donations. An AJT search of the IRS website did not find JMOA listed as tax-exempt. At least one concerned community member followed up with the IRS in mid-November and received a letter

saying the JMOA is not an IRS-recognized nonprofit. The AJT does not know how the letter was used. The sponsors the AJT talked to said they were not told JMOA had tax-exempt status. Keri Kaufmann, JMOA’s founder, issued a statement separating her group from Wiesen: “Jewish Moms of Atlanta (JMOA) is a Facebook group that was created to unite Jewish moms across the Atlanta metropolitan area, thereby filling a void within the Atlanta Jewish community. The group has over 3,500 members, both observant and non-observant, from Kennesaw to Alpharetta to the Old Fourth Ward. Members use the group to ask for advice, offer recommendations, sell something, schedule playdates, and advertise events to other members and within the Jewish community as a whole. Nicole Wiesen and I, along with other individuals over time, were administrators of the Facebook group. The Facebook group was not created to be a business or a charity, thus we did not form any business entity. If such an entity exists, it is without my knowledge or consent. “The Mom Prom was an event for the members of the JMOA community hosted by Ms. Wiesen, who, in addition to being an administrator, was a member of JMOA. Even though JMOA’s name was on the event, I, as well as the group’s other administrator, had no involvement in the planning or execution of the event. Ms. Wiesen has been removed from JMOA until all disputes related to the event have been resolved. “We do not have any additional details or insight to share at this time but hope we can all move forward together with the goal of being a warm supportive community to each other.” ■

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

EDUCATION

QUESTIONS

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com Mark Yudof had a front-row seat for the rise of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement on American college campuses as the president of the University of California from 2008 to 2013. Now as an emeritus law professor at UC Berkeley and the chair of the Academic Engagement Network’s advisory board, he speaks about BDS, free speech and academic freedom. In advance of a lecture Tuesday, Jan. 16, about those issues, Yudof answered AJT’s 4 Questions. AJT: What led you to pursue a career in education and law? Yudof: I spent two years at the Harvard Center for Law and Education and gained a great interest in elementary and secondary education. I was fascinated by the intersection of educational policy and law, particularly as they impacted low-income and minority students. I co-authored an

with Mark Yudof, expert on free speech and BDS

early casebook on educational policy and the law. I wrote a book entitled “When Government Speaks.” Later, as an adminMark Yudof istrator and constitutional law teacher, my focus evolved to higher education. Later still, I became concerned about the BDS movement, anti-Israel sentiment, anti-Semitism and the implementation of the First Amendment at universities. AJT: What was the most hostile experience you encountered on campus? Yudof: In many cases, meetings of the UC board of regents, on which I served as UC president, were disrupted, and protesters eventually were removed to allow the board to conduct its business. In addressing a student meeting at UC Riverside (by live video), I was interrupted and vehemently criticized because my spouse served on the Hillel International board. Protesters frequently tried to shut down my pub-

lic speeches, sometimes successfully. Twice, regents and I were unable to leave the venue we were using until police intervened. AJT: What are some university resolutions or achievements which have led to greater protection of free speech and increased opposition to BDS rhetoric at the University of California? Yudof: The list of positive Academic Engagement Network interventions, in collaboration with Hillel and other Jewish organizations, against BDS and for freedom of expression are many. AEN faculty worked successfully with others to defeat BDS initiatives at Illinois, Ohio State and elsewhere. Where student governments or student plebiscites

favoring BDS prevailed, we worked with presidents and chancellors and helped secure statements that indicated that BDS would not be university policy. We successfully urged the UC board of regents to adopt a statement on intolerance that specifically addressed antiSemitism on UC campuses. AJT: What is your perception of millennials’ level of knowledge about Israel and hate crimes today? Yudof: Many students embrace the notion that there is a hate-speech exception to the First Amendment. This is completely contradicted by the applicable constitutional cases. More education about democratic values and the Bill of Rights is needed. ■

Who: Mark Yudof What: “Freedom of Speech and Campus Disruption,” presented by the Academic Engagement Network and the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies Where: Grand Hyatt Atlanta, 3300 Peachtree Road, Buckhead When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 Admission: Free; RSVP to linda@academicengagement.org or 202-774-5824

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ARTS

Beth Tikvah Brings Back Berke to Laugh for Cause By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

When Temple Beth Tikvah hosts a night of comedy Saturday, Jan. 20, to benefit its annual campaign, it won’t be the first such event, but it will be homegrown talent Evan Berke’s first time as MC. Berke, who lives in New York, opened in 2013 at a Beth Tikvah fundraiser featuring local comedian Jerry Farber. Now he’s back, and he’s bringing some friends. “The comedy show fundraiser is something they’ve done before, and they are always doing great events to engage the congregation,” Berke said. “It’s pretty special to be able to come back and have the congregation trust my judgment to curate the content for the entire show. I’ve asked some of my hilarious friends to join me for the evening, and I’m very much looking forward to all the laughs.” On the card are local comedian Mario Troy, who has been featured on Comedy Central, and Nashville-based comedians Hannah Hogan and Dusty Slay. Hogan recently recorded her debut comedy album, and Slay was on “Last Comic Standing” and performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Jan. 2. Beth Tikvah’s Comedy Night 2018 starts with Havdalah, wine and cheese at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8. Tickets for the 21-and-older event include beer

Evan Berke

and wine. “I have to thank Ron Swichkow at TBT,” Berke said. “I love performing comedy, and Ron is always looking for fun things to do with the congregation. I’m very lucky that he thought of me. He’s given me the opportunity to not only give back to a community that I care about, but also to do what I love. Getting laughs at your jokes is one thing, but being able to do it in a setting like this takes it to a whole different level.” ■ What: Comedy Night 2018 Where: Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 Tickets: $36 general admission, $50 preferred seating; bethtikvah.com

Koresh Flies Onstage The internationally acclaimed, Philadelphia-based Koresh Dance Company is coming to the Marcus JCC at 5342 Tilly Mill Road in Dunwoody for two show: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Israeli-born choreographer Roni Koresh founded the troupe in 1991, and the company has developed a repertoire that ranges from passionate and explosive to intimate and restrained while performing in places such as Israel, Turkey, Spain, South Korea and Guatemala. Tickets for the JCC shows are $25 for members and $38 for others. Visit www.atlantajcc.org/boxoffice, or call 678-812-4002.

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

FOOD

Food Paves a Parsi-Jewish Passage to India By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

Chef Todd Ginsberg’s gefilte fish raised questions about traditional Jewish food.

Although most Middle Eastern rice dishes are served with yogurt on the side, the ingredient was cooked into the lamb biryani.

the burekas reminded me of, and learned from Hendi that those ingredients were also popular in Egyptian cuisine. The ladies and I were still finishing our appetizers when the waiter brought the first course: saffron and spinach matzah ball soup and chraime of bream gefilte fish. As a Sephardic Jew, I didn’t grow up eating traditional Ashkenazi dishes but have grown to enjoy them since my dad began incorporating them into our family Shabbat dinners. Still, you can imagine my surprise when Efstathion asked the only Jew at the table, “What’s gefilte fish, and how is it made?” I was not much help, but Hendi began to explain what gefilte fish is and how it is often found in big jars in supermarkets. I am pretty sure Hendi didn’t grow up eating Jewish food, and I found it fascinating that she knew so much about Jewish culture. Just when the ladies and I couldn’t stuff ourselves any more, our waiter brought out the last courses: duck breast, lentils and green olive sauce and lamb biryani — made of leg of lamb, garam masala, basmati rice, saffron, barberries, mint and yogurt.

Before we dug in, Hendi and I noticed that something was missing. Where was the yogurt that is customary to serve alongside Middle Eastern dishes? The waiter said the yogurt was cooked into the rice. Hendi and I looked at each other in disbelief. Iranians and Egyptians for the most part serve yogurt on the side. But we were happy to discover a modern adaptation of the menu and learn something.

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Food’s power to educate people about cultures united Parsi chef Meherwan Irani (owner of Chai Pani), Jewish chefs Todd Ginsberg (The General Muir) and Eli Kirshtein (formerly The Luminary), and Indian chef Archna Becker (Bhojanic) for Challah Walla, an evening of delicious food and discussion about cultural similarities between Jews and Parsis on Dec. 7 at The General Muir. The restaurant was packed, but I found a corner table with three other women, Rim Hendi from Egypt, Leah Efstathion from Greece and Kennedy Hawkins from Alabama, who were all as excited as I was to learn about similarities between Parsis and Jews. When I first heard about the event, I was excited to try some Indian food, but I never imagined I would gain a deeper appreciation for my culture or new friends. Before dinner, Irani talked about Parsis and Jews. He noted that Zoroastrians and Jews lived side by side thousands of years ago in Persia — modern Iran — until religious persecution forced them to flee to countries such as India. Parsis are today known as India’s Jews. Although they’ve diverged from their ancestors, traditional dishes have helped preserve their heritage. As the waiter brought our appetizers, we were awe-struck by the assortment of foods before us, such as burekas filled with squash and dates, as well as onion, garlic and poha samosas. I took one bite of the bureka and was instantly transported to my childhood. I grew up eating Persian desserts with ingredients such as rose water, saffron and crushed walnuts, which

Shortly before we finished our desserts — milk and honey basbousas and apple and honey cake — Hawkins asked, “How come Middle Eastern food tastes so good and other cultures’ food, such as Ireland’s or Germany’s, is often tasteless?” Hendi and I looked at each other and knew this was a question we could both answer. The Middle East has different climates and regions that help produce an array of spices, such as turmeric and saffron, not readily available for everyday cuisine in other countries. As we finished the last morsels of our desserts, I couldn’t help recalling American Jewish Committee Atlanta Regional Director Dov Wilker’s earlier comments: “I hope that your experience through food will not only translate into your stomachs, but also your hearts and minds, and will create an opportunity for you to share your story not just with people at your table, but with friends throughout the community.” How lucky I am that I am able to do both. ■

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OBITUARIES

Dell Asher 83, Atlanta

Dell Asher, 83, died Saturday, Dec. 30, 2107. An Atlanta native, Ms. Asher was the daughter of the late Oscar and Helen Lipsitz Spector. She was a graduate of Bass High School and attended the University of Georgia, where she was the treasurer of Delta Phi Epsilon and appeared in university theatrical productions. She interned at Crawford W. Long Hospital, where she trained to receive her degree as a registered medical technologist. In 1970 she started her own business as an estate and moving sale specialist. A member of The Temple, Ms. Asher was a former president of the Temple Sisterhood, a vice president of Hadassah, and a co-president, with her then-husband, Gene Asher, of the Temple Couples Club. Ms. Asher was a member of the Atlanta Artists Club and exhibited her enamel-on-copper pictures at the Piedmont Park Arts Festival and the Roswell Arts Festival. As a self-taught artist, she was completely surprised when all her art sold out at both venues. In addition to her other hobbies, which included cooking, entertaining, reading, decorating and antique collecting, she loved to travel. She took numerous cruises and traveled to Europe, Africa and the Far East. Ms. Asher was predeceased by her son, David Asher, and is survived by her daughters, Laurie and Susan Asher; her sister, Deanna Serenco of Memphis, Tenn.; and her dear friend Milt Sturman. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Suzanne Davidson 91, Alpharetta

Suzanne Davidson, age 91, of Alpharetta passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Melvyn) Padawer of Germantown, Tenn.; her son, Perry (Debbi) Davidson of Alpharetta; four wonderful grandchildren, Bryan Shai Padawer of Memphis, Tenn., Shelby (Adam) Wald of Merrick,

N.Y., and Travis Scott Davidson and Alyssa Joy Davidson, both of Alpharetta; great-grandson Isaac Joel Wald of Merrick; brother Dr. Albert (Rosalyn) Pinto of Atlanta; and many cousins, nieces and nephews, including her dear first cousin Vicki Grosswald of Alpharetta, who was like a sister to her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerome Davidson, and her mother and father, Julia and Perez Pinto, of blessed memory. Ms. Davidson was born Oct. 12, 1926, in Atlanta and spent time in Haddonfield, N.J., Montgomery, Ala., and Memphis before moving back to Atlanta in 2014 to be close to her son and brother and their families. Family was very important to Suzanne, and she loved them dearly. She also had a big heart and loved to help other people. While in Memphis, she was very active at Temple Israel and Hadassah. She loved playing canasta and volunteering as an usher at the Orpheum Theatre. She was a very talented seamstress, making tailored clothing and beautiful bedspreads and draperies for friends and family. She made receiving blankets for all her grandchildren and for her great-grandson, Isaac. She also used her sewing talents at her synagogue, where she made ornate costumes for holiday programs such as Purim. Suzanne loved to cook and entertain, making Sephardic dishes such as burekas, pastelles and spinach phyllo triangles. At the holiday season she would often make apple pies, sweet pastries and mandel bread for friends as well as for the doctors and nurses who took care of her late husband, Jerry. She would proudly put these treats into boxes to deliver to friends, and once she even packed an entire suitcase of goodies to bring to Atlanta. After retiring from the state government of Alabama as a secretary, Suzanne enjoyed traveling to places such as Branson, Mo., Opryland and Alaska and abroad to Israel, Europe, Asia and the Panama Canal, either with her husband, Jerry, or with her good friends Karen Davis and Rita Fiduccia. Suzanne will be missed greatly. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Brickmont Senior Living and Agape Hospice for their loving care. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Graveside services were held Sunday, Dec. 31, at Greenwood Cemetery with Rabbi Hayyim Kassorla officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Israel in Memphis, the National Kidney Foundation or the American Heart Association. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Morton E. Ellin 83, Sandy Springs

Morton E. Ellin, 83, of Sandy Springs passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2018, with his beloved wife of 62 years and his adoring children at his bedside. He was born March 28, 1934, in Chicago to Debbie and Edward Ellin, both of blessed memory. Mort enjoyed a successful career in sales. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Bunny (Bonita Lubin); daughter Elizabeth Stephan (Mark); sons Richard and Michael; grandchildren Travis and Daniel Ellin and Taylor, Blake (Emily) and Luke (Holly) Stephan; great-grandchildren Maddox, Isla, Duncan and Hunter; sister-in-law Barbara Ellin; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Mort was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. Everett Ellin. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. A memorial service to celebrate Mort’s life was held Sunday, Jan. 7, at Hammond Glen. Memorial donations may be made to Homestead Hospice or the Leukemia Research Foundation. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Eleanor Freemer JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

92, Philadelphia

Eleanor Freemer passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Abramson Center for Jewish Life outside Philadelphia on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, at the age of 92. She and her late husband, Paul, were Philadelphia natives who moved to Atlanta in 1964 when President Lyndon B. Johnson transferred many federal agencies south. She returned to Philadelphia two years ago. Eleanor was a writer and poet. Her poems and essays were published in the Jewish Exponent and Jewish Action Magazine, among other publications. In 1994 she and her friends the late Helen Tulis and Elizabeth Bowers published a collection of poems and memoirs, “Pieces of the Tapestry.” In 2014 her collection “All My Pretty Roses” was published on Amazon.com.

OBITUARIES In addition to her writing, Eleanor was known for her painting, elegant sewing, and cooking and baking skills. In 1972 her apple nut cake won the Philadelphia Jewish Times cooking contest. Eleanor was devoted to her three children, Nadine Bonner, Marcy (Martin) Karon and Philip (Edmond St. Romain) Freemer. She is survived by her children; nine grandchildren, Simcha (Randy) Lazarus, Miriam (Shimon) Simpson, Matti Bonner, Chana Bonner, Odelia Bonner, Rina Karon, Zvi (Chaviva) Karon, Aharon (Olivia) Karon and Nadav Karon; and 11 great-grandchildren. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Abramson Center for Jewish Life, 1425 Horsham Road, North Wales, PA 19454, or the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, 302 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, NC 28806. Arrangements by Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Raphael-Sacks, www.goldsteinsfuneral.com.

Daniel Hirsh 76, Atlanta

Daniel Hirsh, age 76, a native of Atlanta, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018. Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Marvin and Rita Hirsh; nephew Lance (Terri) Hirsh; great-niece Molly Hirsh; and a lifetime of friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the William Breman Jewish Home, www.wbjh.org. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Graveside services were held Sunday, Jan. 7, at Greenwood Cemetery with Rabbi Yossi New officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Brian Waronker 24, Atlanta

Brian Alan Waronker passed away Friday, Dec. 29, 2017, in Atlanta. He was 24 years old. Brian was born July 28, 1993, in Atlanta to Steve and Mitzi Waronker. He attended the University of Georgia, where he was a proud member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Brian graduated from the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University in 2016. He was employed by Halpern Enterprises as a research analyst and was building a successful commercial real estate career. Brian was an extraordinary young man who will be deeply missed. To know him was to love him, as he was exceptionally charismatic with a gift to make people laugh. His heart was as big as his 6-foot-3-inch frame, and he had a deep passion for all things related to family, friends and Georgia football. Brian is survived by his mother and father, Mitzi and Steve Waronker; a brother, Jeffrey Waronker; grandmothers Mary Lou Lazarus and Edith Waronker; aunts and uncles Sue and Harold Waronker, Robin and Steve Lazarus, and Jody and Michael Feldman; Waronker cousins Joni, Adam, Meredith, Cameron, Mindy, Matt and Mitchell; and Feldman cousins Jason, Brett and Kevin. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Temple Sinai, JELF or HAMSA. Funeral services were held Sunday, Dec. 31, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Brad Levenberg of Temple Sinai officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Manuel Cheskes, father of Congregation Beth Shalom member Issy Cheskes, on Dec. 30. Robert Fisher, 91, of Pikesville, Md., father of Congregation Beth Shalom member Jeffrey Fisher, Art Fisher and Madeline Fisher, on Dec. 31. Elaine Hirsch, 79, of Atlanta, member of The Temple, wife of Paul Hirsch, mother of Mira Hirsch, Abby Reish, Deva Hirsch and Joe Hirsch, and sister of Sandy Shulman and David Shulman, on Jan. 3. Alexander Vitebsky, 89, of Alpharetta on Jan. 5. Vyacheslav Vladimirovskiy, 60, of Suwanee on Jan. 2. Sol Youngwirth, 96, of Sandy Springs, husband of Grace Youngwirth and father of Lewis Youngwirth and Glenn Youngwirth, on Jan. 1. Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Associate Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@ atljewishtimes.com.

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

Death Notices

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Doughnut Encounter Confirms Sour Luck

JANUARY 12 ▪ 2018

It was pouring outside, and to keep my hair from looking like a mash-up of a cotton ball and a Brillo scouring pad, I put on my hooded raincoat and, for good measure, grabbed an umbrella. I was all set to drive in the pounding rain to purchase jelly doughnuts from Krispy Kreme for our family Chanukah party. Fully prepared to protect my frizzy hair during the sprint between my car and the store, I left the house. Unfortunately, I had failed to make sure that my car’s windshield wipers were securely attached. You may well ask, “Chana, why would you have to check something like that?” I’ll tell you. First, even stranger things have fallen off my car lately, and, second, I was already on a badluck streak. There was the incident of melted lipstick in my purse and the gang of feral cats camping near our front porch. Add the results of my doctor’s visit: I’m 5 pounds heavier and a half-inch shorter than last year. Oh, one more thing: I found fabulous new sneakers online and mistakenly ordered a man’s size. (They didn’t fit my husband either; I tried.) So you can understand the necessity of checking everything that could possibly go wrong. As I backed out of the carport, the passenger-side wiper flew off, and I had to decide whether to continue with half a clear front window. I could see out the driver’s side, but it was raining hard. Better not to take a chance (see above). I returned to the carport to borrow my husband’s car, and the 15-minute ride to Krispy Kreme was miraculously uneventful. Because I had to park in a space far from the entrance, I pulled up my hood and opened my umbrella. The raincoat hood is great for keeping hair dry, but it’s terrible for peripheral vision. That’s why I rammed my umbrella into an elderly gentleman who was holding a little kid in one arm and a box of Krispy Kremes in the other. He teetered precariously but didn’t drop either one. I apologized effusively, and, pos46 sibly because both his arms were full,

we did not come to blows. To minimize the evidence in case the fellow came back to settle the score with an umbrella of his own, I folded mine and leaned it against the wall in a corner, near four young women who had observed the run-in. They were all wearing cute little hats that perched on one side of their heads, and their vintage dresses and jewelry were just as charming. I com-

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ACROSS 1. Reveals 6. Maker of more than 50 percent of Israel’s cellphones, once 11. Stereotypical Jewish job, for short 14. Eternal light 15. Brings home 16. Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” e.g. 17. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 19. Spanish cheer 20. ___ water (stays afloat) 21. Fish that can pack a bite 23. False “handles” 25. “Bewitched” actor Dick 28. Lewis Black might go on one 29. Jacob’s father-in-law, in the Bible 31. Draft status of Steve Rogers, eventually 32. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 34. Digging, so to speak 36. Carson Daly’s old MTV show, for short 37. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 40. Kissinger org., once 43. “Kacha kacha” 44. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 49. Sound heard at the Machtesh crater 51. One who goes for the gold? 54. Hoover and Degania 55. Tragedies and betrayals, e.g. 57. Bayer who played a bar mitzvah boy on “SNL” 59. “Anything ___” (2003 Woody Allen film) 60. Sabras, in Israel 61. Heb___.com (Jewish dating site?) 62. It’s often on a Shabbat

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Chana’s Corner

plimented them on their garb, and two of them smiled at me, but the other two weren’t happy. “Gotta be careful with that umbrella!” one of them chided. “You could put somebody’s eye out!” another exclaimed. “People get their eyes poked out all the time!” With thoughts of “Oedipus Rex” flashing through my mind, I offered an explanation: “I have no peripheral vision when my hood is up!” Was I now considered a verifiable misanthrope, simply because of my offending hood? I couldn’t stick around to defend waterproof head coverings. It was time to buy doughnuts, grab my umbrella and leave. I turned to my task when a man standing next to me at the display case piped in. “I saw the whole thing. That guy should have watched where he was going!” Nodding in my direction, he emphatically declared, “She did nothing wrong.” I considered treating this benevolent soul to a doughnut of his choice, but then I’d look miserly if I didn’t treat the women, too. I thanked him for his support and paid the cashier. There were a few other patrons in the place, and I’m sure they heard every word; however, they prudently remained silent. I put up my hood, opened my umbrella and left Krispy Kreme quickly. Driving into our carport, I ran over something and backed up to see what it was. There was the errant windshield wiper, mangled and useless, a fitting relic of my lamentable streak of misfortune. ■

“The Shabbat Menu”

By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Manageable

By Chana Shapiro cshapiro@atljewishtimes.com

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

menu 67. Thurman of “The Avengers” 68. Computer collection that’s often “cleared” 69. Lasso loop 70. Word before Tamid or Kodesh 71. Regions 72. Former U.N. leader Kofi

betting on American Pharoah, for short 38. Home of the Tempio Maggiore 39. Notable name in terrorism 40. It’s needed for a swoosh 41. Sounds in Eli Roth or Wes Craven flicks 42. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 45. Sheldon who backed Trump 46. Big horn 47. Distance measures, in Israel (abbr.) 48. Cool ___ cucumber 50. Symbols that signify OK for some Jews 52. Brings back, as memories 53. CBS has an “amazing” one 56. Unlikely city to play dreidel in 58. Mom’s mom, to some 60. Start of a Shabbat song 61. Stage signal 63. Herzl or Sinai 64. Part of the seventh plague 65. “Miracle on Ice” team 66. “My tongue is the ___ of a ready writer” (Psalms 45:1)

DOWN 1. Recent Spielberg flop, with “The” 2. Draft pick? 3. Activity down the Jordan 4. Arab chieftain’s domain 5. Tennis champ Monica 6. ___ nap (wiped) 7. Klutzes 8. ___’at Shema 9. Org. that causes problems for some “citizens” 10. Biblical brother paired with Gad 11. It’s often on a Shabbat menu 12. Light lager 13. Had some of this puzzle’s theme 18. Chinese weight unit 22. Freudian issue 23. Locale for Shem, Ham or Japheth 24. Former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir 25. Went down, F A I T H like a sub I S S U E G H A N A 26. Chip you E V wouldn’t make A T M E a blessing on? R E I G N 27. Tefillat ____ M E N U (dew blessing) N U M B 30. Big kosher F A T A animal found in A G E S Yellowstone R E S P E 33. In Israel A B they’re kgs. G I L D A 35. Where S N A R L some won big A N G E L 1

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