Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. 100 NO. 2, January 31, 2025

• Have your documents certified in person

• Begin the process of transferring your medical license

• Interview with Israeli hospitals and medical clinics

• Discuss your Aliyah plans even if they are long term

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CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE

BOB BAHR

CHANA SHAPIRO

DAVE SCHECHTER

DAVID OSTROWSKY

DEBBIE DIAMOND

LAUREN MENIS

MARCIA CALLER JAFFE

MATTHEW BERNSTEIN

MONICA MASLIA

RABBI RICHARD BAROFF DD

ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON

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Cover Photo: Rabbi Alvin Sugarman z"l

Remembering Rabbi Alvin Sugarman

By Dave Schechter

“I put on my pants one leg at a time. I’m just one guy, trying to make sense of this chaos we call life.”

That is how Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman, of The Temple, described himself in a 2015 interview with Atlanta’s AIB Network.

Sugarman engaged in that quest from childhood until his death on Jan. 17 at age 86.

An Atlantan through and through, Sugarman’s association with The Temple was life-long, including his 53 years as a rabbi.

When he was born on June 3, 1938, the city’s Jewish population was 12,000, less than 10 percent of its estimated size today. Seven years earlier, The Temple, the city’s oldest Jewish congregation (founded in 1867 as the Hebrew Benevolent Society), had relocated from the intersection of South Pryor and Richardson streets to its current Peachtree Street home.

“As a city and as a community we evolve and change, and that’s what makes us human,” Sugarman told AIB. “Atlanta was a little village compared with what it is today.”

Sugarman began questioning “this chaos we call life” as a five-year-old, when his mother, Helene Marx Sugarman, died in December 1943 of breast cancer at age 41.

A well-meaning relative told him that G-d needed his mother in heaven. “Even at age five, how could it be that G-d needed my mommy more than I needed her?" Sugarman said as he discussed his spiritual journey.

In the spring of 2017, during a driving tour of the Atlanta he knew growing up, Sugarman said, “Addresses are so much more than a street number.” He pointed to the second floor of an apartment at 571 Boulevard, where he lived for a time as a boy, and recalled the last kiss he received from his mother.

Sugarman’s parents operated the Southern Five & Ten Cent Store on Georgia Avenue.

His father, Meyer Sugarman, struggled with mental illness until his death from heart disease in January 1964 at age 71. “He did his absolute best in raising me” with the support of other family members, Sugarman said.

“To say it was a complicated relationship is an understatement, but it certainly helped me understand when a

“These rabbis, the ones who have the guts to speak out now, they’re standing on his [Rothschild’s] shoulders,” said Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, rabbi emeritus at The Temple //Photo courtesy of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum

congregant came to see me and open up about his or her problems” with mental illness, Sugarman said in a 2020 interview with The Blue Dove Foundation.

Looking back, Sugarman could see how events years earlier led him to the rabbinate.

As an eight- or nine-year-old, he felt Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, of The Temple, addressing him directly during a High Holiday service. “He held the Torah and said: ‘It is a tree of life, to those who hold fast.’ And I felt this chill,” Sugarman said.

Following his confirmation at age 16, he delivered a sermon at a BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization) Shabbat service at Congregation Shearith Israel, speaking on “religion as a source of comfort during your darkest hours.” Afterward, the president of B’nai B’rith Women tearfully told him how she was moved by his words.

That was the moment Sugarman wondered whether he might want to be a rabbi. As a student at Emory University, he picked up a classmate’s brochure about Hebrew Union College and wrote — but did not mail — a letter to the seminary.

Travails with chemistry ended thoughts of becoming a doctor and he graduated with a degree in business. After Emory, he worked for six years for the Montag Bros. school supply and paper company as a salesman and as advertising and sales promotion manager.

On Sunday, Dec. 27, 1964, Sugarman was set up on a blind date with Barbara Dee Herman, who hailed from Jackson, Miss., and was in Atlanta visiting family.

“After dinner and dancing, midnight coffee, we stayed up all night talking . . . We both knew that night,” Barbara told the AJT in 2018.

Sugarman proposed that Thursday. “I knew a good thing when I saw it,” he said often.

They married on May 8, 1965, in Jackson. Three weeks later, over lunch at Mary Mac’s Tea Room on Ponce de Leon Avenue, Sugarman told his bride that, at age 27, he wanted to exchange the mercantile world for rabbinical school.

“Honestly, I loved working for Montag, but coming home, I just told Barbara, I said, ‘I don’t know how many more days I can take of deciding whether we should pack this six white, three blue and three pink, or six white, three blue and three lilac,’ you know? There just was something stirring inside of me,” Sugarman said in an oral history interview done for the Cuba Archives for Southern Jewry at the Breman Museum.

Sugarman recounted Rothschild’s reaction: “He almost fell out of the chair because, he said truthfully, that I had never said a word to him about becoming a rabbi.”

An uncle asked: “What kind of job is that for a nice Jewish boy?”

Sugarman was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform movement’s seminary in Cincinnati. Years later, he earned a Ph.D. in theological studies from Emory.

Three weeks after his ordination in 1971, Sugarman returned to The Temple as an assistant rabbi. Rothschild died on Dec. 31, 1973, and in April 1974, Sug-

arman became senior rabbi. He took on emeritus status in 2004, during the next few years serving congregations in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Florence, S.C. Sugarman was attending a New Year’s Eve party in Jackson, Miss., when he received a call from a tearful Robert Lipshutz, then president of The Temple, informing him of Rothschild’s death.

“The night that I was installed [April 26, 1974] I spoke about [Rabbi] David Marx building a bridge to the greater community, Jack [Rothschild] walking over the bridge, and my standing on the other side of the bridge to my congregation, beckoning them to join me,” Sugarman said in the oral history.

Like his predecessor, Sugarman was active in promoting civil rights.

“A major element of my involvement was Dr. [Martin Luther] King speaking in Alabama. My territory, as a traveling salesman, was in Alabama before becoming a rabbi, and you could witness the hatred on the part of some of the people in Alabama,” Sugarman said in 2022 interview with a New York University journalism program publication. “My dad died in 1964, and I started teaching religious school to eighth graders — just as a volunteer — and my subject was the prophets and their calls for social justice. The Klu Klux Klan was meeting at Stone Mountain, and I would tell my students “if Amos (the biblical prophet) were around what would he tell the Klu Klux Klan?”

When 29 Black adolescents and young adults were murdered in Atlanta between July 1979 and May 1981, Sugar-

Temple Rabbi Alvin Sugarman (left), accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Thomas Pickering, is welcomed to Jerusalem by Mayor Teddy Kollek (right) and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir for a Martin Luther King Day address in January 1986.

man urged Temple congregants “to participate in the reward fund and talk to their friends in the Black community to let them know that they did care, and we are one community.”

The late Janice Rothschild Blumberg told the AJT in 2020 that her husband lamented being unable to participate in civil rights marches, for concern about how such activity would be received by his congregants.

Sugarman was less constrained. “I did my shoe leather,” he told the AJT, including participation in a January 1987 civil rights march in Forsyth County. “We

share a history of oppression with Blacks. It’s in different forms and to different degrees, but we know what it means to be in an underclass, to be oppressed solely by virtue of birth –- we as Jews, they as Blacks,” he said.

Sugarman was senior rabbi when, in 1979, The Temple hired Rabbi Beverly Lerner, believed to have been Atlanta’s first female rabbi. “Alvin Sugarman gave me quite a bit of freedom to do what I wanted. He asked what I was most interested in,” she told the AJT in 2021.

On the silver screen, Sugarman appeared in the film “Driving Miss Daisy,”

based on the play written by Alfred Uhry, who grew up in The Temple. Scenes were set at The Temple, and Sugarman had a cameo as a rabbi — who calls himself Dr. Weil — leading the congregation in prayer. He also was interviewed for “Shared Legacies,” a 2020 documentary about the relationship between the Jewish and Black communities, focusing on Atlanta and the civil rights movement.

Sugarman reflected on his career in a 2021 article for the Central Conference of American Rabbis. “If there is such a phenomenon as a spiritual journey, I cannot think of a better way to do just

that than being a congregational rabbi. For not only have I experienced my own spiritual life, but I have tasted the spiritual lives of my members.

“I tried my best to keep not only the words of the prophets alive, but to turn those words into deeds, such as helping create a shelter for homeless couples and a shelter for homeless newborns and their families. What wisdom did I learn? I learned when people are given a chance to allow the goodness of their hearts to bloom, they will do so . . . I pray that my rabbinate has been pleasing in God’s eyes,” he wrote. ì

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Barbara and Rabbi Alvin Sugarman pictured at their 1965 wedding.

Rabbi Alvin Sugarman at the January 1987 march in Forsyth County, flanked by civil rights activists including Dick Gregory, Hosea Williams, Benjamin Hooks, Andrew Young, and others // Photo provided by The Temple)

Tu B’Shvat Seder to Feature Social Justice Themes

By Fran M. Putney

Combining the beauty of Jewish tradition with a modern message, the Atlanta community Tu B’Shvat Seder, co-sponsored by the Jewish environmental group Adamah Atlanta and The Temple’s Rothschild Social Justice Institute, will take place at The Temple at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12.

It will be the first in-person, community-wide Tu B’Shvat Seder since 2020, which also was celebrated at The Temple, with over 60 participants, just weeks before the COVID pandemic shutdown. The event continued virtually in the following years, but organizers are excited once again to be able to plan an in-person experiential program that celebrates the Jewish birthday of the trees, which in turn presents the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about today’s environmental concerns.

Said Adamah ATL Director Joanna Kobylivker, “It’s also not a coincidence we’re doing it at [The Temple’s] Rothschild Social Justice institute. When we think about

social justice, the climate is a huge driver of environmental justice. We are going to learn how extreme weather events do impact vulnerable populations first and worst. The Temple is so committed to social justice causes, trying to be problem solvers and providing resources, so it’s a very natural alignment. [We’ll explore] what can we do around environmental injustice here in Atlanta?”

Seder participants will enjoy a veg-

etarian meal and an interactive experience that includes the many Tu B’Shvat seder rituals. For example, like a Passover Seder, there are four cups of wine, but in a Tu B’Shvat Seder, the cups begin with white wine denoting winter’s potential for growth, with successive cups progressively mixing with red wine, until the last cup is all red wine symbolizing summer’s full growth. The Seder plate for this holiday features the seven species of Israel: dates,

olives, wheat, pomegranate, barley, figs, and grapes.

According to Ruth Menter, who heads up The Temple’s sustainability committee, the festivities will include a mix of music featuring Congregation Bet Haverim Music Director Rebekkah Goldsmith and others. The Seder will also provide opportunities for the sharing of blessings, table discussions, and words of inspiration from Rabbi Lydia Medwin, associate rabbi at

Gather, Celebrate & Advocate for Israel Together with Jewish National Fund-USA

Friends,

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Participants at the last in-person community Tu B’Shvat Seder enjoy the program. Rabbi Lydia Medwin (standing) leading the 2020 community Tu B’Shvat Seder.

The Temple. In addition, Jewish climate scientist Mark Papier will speak about the science of climate and weather, explaining why that is significant and why we are seeing extreme weather events.

“We want people to learn, experience, and have a good time,” said Menter.

Offering a summary of the origins of the holiday, Rabbi Medwin explained that in ancient times Tu B’Shvat (the 15th of the Jewish month Shvat) was the date when, the third year after planting a tree, you would tax it at this time “by giving a portion to the ancient Temple and to the poor as a first fruits offering, an offering of gratitude.”

Later, the Mystics, who believed that everything holds a little spark of the Divine, and food, when eaten, releases that Divine spark, evolved a kind of Seder around the different fruits that come from the Holy Land. In more modern times, she continued, with the environmental movement and climate awareness, Tu B’Shvat provides Jews a reminder of our connection to nature.

“What an amazing thing we have, this tradition of Tu B’Shvat, that connects us to trees specifically. There is a lot to be said about trees in our culture as a source of wisdom. Judaism compares trees to humans in lots of ways. And so Tu B’Shvat becomes an opportunity to speak about the trees, their impact on us, and our own impact on the planet. What is our job, from a religious perspective, in terms of caring for the earth and celebrating its bounty?” She added, “We need this earth to provide

us with everything to survive, so we’re allowed to till it, but also have to tend it, as we see commanded in the book of Genesis. Finding the balance between tending and tilling is part of what Tu B’Shvat helps us to remember.”

In addition to treating people to a nourishing meal, music and a seder experience, Kobylivker says another goal is to leave people with something more tangible. “We want people to feel inspired to connect to their Jewish roots and values of caring for trees and the natural world,” she said. “We also want to equip people with actions that we can actually do to honor [our natural world] on the other 364 days that aren’t officially celebrating trees.”

According to Kobylivker, Adamah, which has recently marked its first year in Atlanta, is also leading other Tu B’Shvat events, including a community tree planting on Sunday, Feb. 9, with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to help grow the city’s urban forest. The organization is also available to lead groups in customized holiday-related activities such as guided nature walks or children’s parties. Contact joanna.kobylivker@ adamah,org for more information.

Registration for the community Tu B’Shvat Seder can be found at: https:// adamah.org/event/adamah-atl-tubshvatseder/.

Recommended cost is $36 per person. The Seder is presented in partnership with: Adamah, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Congregation Bet Haverim, and the Rothschild Social Justice Institute (The Temple). ì

Myrtle Lewin, Ruth Menter, Joanna Kobylivker, Janna Diamond, and Amy Price at a 2024 Tu B’Shvat Seder at Adamah ATL Director Joanna Kobylivker’s home.

Bartal Dazzles at Israel Bonds Event

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Having spent decades rubbing elbows with politicians, world leaders, and stars, Yona Bartal spoke at the home of Jody and Shon Mekyten on Jan. 21 to support Israel Bonds. In conjunction with her book, “Inside the Room Where it Happens,” Bartal, along with husband, David, is on a multi-stop tour from Pittsburg, Cleveland, Miami, and Tampa, culminating in London. Some of her appearances are for the Shimon Peres Circle for Peace and Innovation, which she directs and started after Peres’ death.

Bartal relayed experiences about her role in the Israeli government in both the Peres and Rabin administrations where she visited Queen Elizabeth, socialized with Vladmir Putin, and befriended rock stars like Madonna, and American leaders including both Bushes, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter and Donald Trump (by text only). She recognized Trump for his role in getting the hostage release rolling. She did host Ivanka and Jared Kushner in Israel.

The petite Bartal showed slides as she spoke about being part of some of the most significant events that shaped modern Israel. She “dished” some secrets but wouldn’t reveal all. She was on duty when Rabin was shot. She was on hand with Queen Noor while President Hus-

sein (Jordan) signed the peace treaty. She has fond memories of Peres’ meeting with Queen Elizabeth II where he was only granted 20 minutes and ended up taking 45. Bartal was in charge of bringing dignitary gifts -- in this case she took from an Israeli museum a letter that

King George (Elizabeth’s father) had written. She laughed and said, “The Queen’s gift to us was a photo of herself.”

The audience gasped when she talked about her times with Putin where “he wanted to be sure that he was given credit ‘for defeating the Nazis.’” Also, she

Bradley Young, executive director of the Southeast Division/Israel Bonds, Yona and David Bartal, and Jackie Miron pose before the presentation // All photos by Bruce Miron

Tel Aviv native Shon and Jody Mekyten hosted the event. Jody said that she was happy to entertain in her home for good causes.

had his favorite song played which delighted him as he loudly sang along; but afterwards made every photographer delete it. She said, “It was scary as his bodyguards made sure one by one it was removed from all equipment.”

Other noteworthy experiences were being with the Clintons at their home in Chappaqua, N.Y. and headquarters in Harlem; and then there’s meeting Oprah.

Obama visited Israel before he became president. He said, “In the event that I become president, what could I do for Israel?”  Peres replied, “Be great for America, and that’s enough.” He later gave Peres the Medal of Freedom.

Bartal has also met President Xi, Mark Zuckerberg, Jerry Seinfeld (“who really stands up for Israel”), the Pope, Bono and Sharon Stone. She laughed, “Today, stars have more followers and are more influential than politicians. And Peres “Facebooked Zuckerberg, ‘Be my friend for peace.’”

Bartal fielded a question from Beth Friedman about counteracting college student unrest. Bartal replied, “Live with it because you do not have a real plan to deal with it like Qatar who is investing millions [to effect opinion].”

Local Israel Bonds registered representative Jackie Miron closed by recounting her recent trip to Israel where she met Bartal and was fascinated by the visit to the Peres facility, touting a plethora of innovations in science and technology from WAYZ to irrigation and medical advances which have contributed to world betterment.

Miron spoke of the safety and benefits of buying Israel bonds and that the money would be used now especially for rebuilding homes in the north. She said, “Israeli soldiers are amazing. Even the injured ones want to go back and fight.”

When visiting the post-Oct. 7 sites, she noted that it was mostly Israelis themselves, not tourists. She closed with, “Bonds are a loan with great rates from a 2-5-year maturity. They have never missed a payment. Buy for IRAs, grandchildren, or donate … and that way is a double mitzvah.”

Bartal was born in Vilna, Lithuania, and immigrated to Israel with her parents when she was three. She revealed that her real name was Tatiana, but an Israeli teacher made up “Yona” to sound more Israeli. The book, a fascinating read, is available on Amazon. ì

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Bartal used slides to show the depth of her experiences with public figures.

Jackie Miron chats with the Jacobys, who co-chair the Israel Bonds Advisory Committee.

Photo by Kim Kenney

ORT Women’s Auction Nets Nearly $5K

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Stacy Fialkow’s Sandy Springs home was host to 40 “power” women who understood the good works of ORT and came ready to bid “blindly” on wrapped boxes to benefit the charity. On a cold night, Thursday, Jan. 22, professional auctioneer Seth Weiner kept the crowd bidding, flowing, joking, and above all, raising money where 100 percent of the proceeds went to benefit ORT.

Event chair Beth Friedman thanked the host committee of Jenna Shulman, Jody Mekyten, Miriam Haviv, and Fialkow. Friedman recalled an equally cold night in 2014 where a similar ORT event raised just $1,880. Little did she know then that this night’s donations would almost reach $5,000. She recognized Daryl Lewis (whom she met at a post-Oct. 7 event), and Tin Drum Asia Cafe for catering the themed buffet with sushi, stir fried vegetables, tossed salad with ginger dressing, and salmon.

“We need to patronize Jewish merchants,” Friedman emphasized.

ORT Atlanta president Robbi Strauss gave a hard-hitting talk about ORT’S role in providing education, and mental and physical health well-being for Jewish children. “We say ‘never again’; and here we are in 2025. Let’s put our hearts and money where they need to go.”

Strauss shared that in the ORT facility near Gaza right after Oct. 7, students

were evacuated to make room for IDF soldiers to be brought in for a base camp.

A video was shown emphasizing ORT providing activities as escapes from unfortunate conditions, “by recognizing signs of PTSD with support and tools and time to heal.”

Southeast/Atlanta ORT Director Kenny Silverboard thanked past ORT

professionals, Jenna Shulman and Rachel Miller, for giving ORT Atlanta such a solid stable base. He reminded the group that ORT operates educational programs in 39 countries with cutting-edge classes including STEM, AI, and robotics.

Auctioneer Weiner, clad in a dazzling sequined dinner jacket, explained that the first 15 people to raise their

Home hostess Stacy Fialkow poses with event chair Beth Friedman

Fran Huff, Rhonda Gould, and Jami Kohn were among the first to arrive and show support.

Auctioneer Seth Weiner kept things lively and encouraged gift buying.

hands would pay $100, and pick any unopened gift. Purchasers ran for the stacks and showed “their booty” to the groups’ “oohs and ahhs.” Items ranged from mezuzahs, a bold metallic tea kettle, aromatic spa kits, spices, a giant wood charcuterie board shaped like the state of Georgia, Cartier menorah stationary, to a wine decanter set shaped like an airplane hangar. Then there was a pair of ostrich passport covers, and a Lucite matzo box. One of the highest sought after items was an original art glass creation by Terry Schwartz. At least two donors were online off-site showing their items by cell phone and promising to later deliver the goods.

The special fun came from each gift’s clue card that cleverly hinted about the contents. ORT donor Robin Brill kept things lively by bidding on items that were purple, her favorite color. She even bought an item if the note pad got thrown in to much laughter and applause.

Weiner didn’t let a second pass without a fun quip to accelerate bidding, “It’s at $150, gotta go to $180 for Chai! …  Doesn’t Am Yisroel Chai mean the highest bidder? … Whoever wrote these clues must help kids with bar mitzvah ceremonies … Jump to $100, ‘cause why not? … I’m not acting this way because I ate gummies. I did not!”

Then, to mix everything up and raise even more money, Weiner let anyone (the highest bidder) re–buy another’s treasure if it wasn’t their original “cup of tea.”

Earlier during the “mingling” dinner, Rhonda Gould, ORT board member, told the AJT, “I’m encouraged about the future based on who I see here tonight. The younger generation got more involved and motivated after Oct. 7 because it became more personal to them.” Gould was president of her ORT chapter, PALMWARD, in Florida before coming to Atlanta. Fran Huff drove in from Jasper, Ga., for the event. Brill said, “I was involved with career ORT here in 1990 in downtown Atlanta where we created a wonderful community.”

The only thing more prolific than the desserts that apron clad Fialkow circulated were those checks made out to ORT. ì

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Michelle Smith and Robin Brill chatted during dinner. Later in the evening, Brill was pumping up the bidding especially when it was her favorite color.

Pinch Hitter Leaders Thank Volunteers & Sponsors

Achim/Gate City Lodge of B’nai B’rith extends its sincere thanks to all the volunteers who participated in the Pinch Hitter program on Christmas Day 2024, and a special yasher koach to the volunteer hospital coordinators (noted with **) and their assistants (noted with *) without whom the Pinch Hitter program would have been impossible to produce.

The full list of volunteers, hospital coordinators and assistants is as follows: Amanda Abrams; Andrew Adler; Mark Alleman; Mary Alleman; Mimi Anapolle*; Vic Anapolle **; Leon Apte; Roberta Apte; Beth Arogeti; Joel Arogeti; Josh Astarita; Lisa Astarita; Joseph Berger; Anne Bernstein; Irma Bloch**; Mitch Block; David Bock; Debi Bock; David Bohn; Julie Bohn; Roberta Callahan; Karen Callen; Beverly Cohen; Mark Cohen; Eileen Cooley; Randy Crohn; Frances Cullen; Carolyn Dinberg; Steve Dinberg; Liza Dolensky; Ben Dorfman; Colin Dorfman; Wyatt Dorfman; Benjy Dubovsky; Rodney Eberhardt; Dan Epstein; Lisa Epstein; Karen Fedder; Brian Feinberg; Rob

Feldman; Sheri Feldman; Gordon Gipson; Adam Goldberg; Ava Goldberg; Lindsey Goldberg; Millie Goldberg; Roy Goldenberg; Michele Goodelman; Sara Grubel;

Dave Hankin; Larry Hankin; Lee Hankin; Sharon Hochdorf; Amy Hurewitz; Lena Hurewitz; Gary Jackson**; Matthew Kaler; Ricky Kaplan; Philip Karlick; Su-

sanne Karlick; Ann Kay; Leslie Kopel; Pamela Kowan; Betsy Kramer; Rich Lapin; Camille Lefkowitz; Mike Levin; Tanya Levin; Aaron Levine; Alexis Levine;

Carolyn Dinberg, Mike Levin, Sharon Hochdorf, and Steve Dinberg lend a hand at Dunwoody Place.

Cindy Sedran, David Rosenthal, and Milt Rosenthal are pictured helping out at Berman Commons.

Myrtle Lewin; Catherine Lewis; Robin Lewis; Eric Liberman; Julie Liberman; Jeanie Lipsius; Katia Lord; Rosanne Lutz**; Gilbert Lyons; Carole Masters; Barbara Mays; Alex Merriam; Janet Mills; Barry Minkoff; Lauren Moret; Leslie Moscow; Scott Moscow; Benny Moses; Emma Moses; Lucy Moses; Opher Moses; Ellen Nemhauser; Jeffrey Nemhauser; Janice Nodvin; Nikki Novotny; Greta Oneil; Jennifer Pearlman; Molly Pearlman; Leslie Penuel; Helen Perkel; Hannah Rosenberg; Kellee Rosenberg; Andrea Rosenthal; David Rosenthal; Milton Rosenthal; Sandy Rothbard**; Rosemary Routman; Marci Rudich; Julia Sacks; Sandy Sarlin; Gregg Schulemson; Alex Schulman**; Jenna Schulman; Marci Schulman; Cindy Sedran; Leon Shelkoff*; Alex Shindnes; Dan Shmalo; Gwenn Silverman; Stan Silverman; Will Simmons; Rae Sirott; Rita Sislen; Stan Sloan; Allan Slovin; Ben Sokolik; David Sokolik; Sharon Sokolik; Terri Spiegel; Andrew Traub; Sue Traub; Beverly Tyler; Wayne Tyler; Joyce Warner; Jill Wilson; Lane Wolbe; Al Wolmer; Mona Wolmer ì

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Thank you to the sponsors:

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Lauren Moret and Sandy Rothbard are pictured volunteering at the Marcus Trauma Center.

Bernstein & Bahr’s Best Bets at AJFF 2025

Matthew Bernstein & Bob Bahr

These six films, our Best Bets for 2025 at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, were selected from the 22 documentaries and 38 dramas that make up this year’s Silver Anniversary program.

The AJFF opens on Feb. 19 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre with the comedy drama, “Bad Shabbos.” Tickets go on sale for all the films on Feb. 6.

Bernstein: “Come Closer” is an extraordinarily compelling film by first time Israeli director Tom Nesher. It’s the story drawn from Nesher’s real-life experiences of a young woman who loses her brother, Nati, and cannot let go.

What is most striking about the film is that Nesher succeeded in her determination not to make a heavy mournful film but one her younger brother would enjoy, a film full of life and celebration.

The film is immersive and sensuous and authentic in its depiction of 20-somethings in the party scene of contemporary Tel Aviv. The film’s plot and characterizations are surprising in all kinds of ways and the performances in this provocative film are fearless. It won four of Israel’s top Ophir Awards including Best Picture.

Bahr: “Quisling The Final Days” is an exceptional drama from Norway that examines the final months in the life of Vidkun Quisling, the leader of Norway during the Nazi occupation. His name has become synonymous with betrayal and traitorous conduct. But in his own mind he is unshakeable in his belief that all that he did, he did for the sake of Norway.

The director, Eric Poppe, has set out to create not just an indictment of this stubborn, self-centered fascist, but a study of what make a mind like Quisling’s work. Poppe’s goal is not unlike that of the Jewish writer and philosopher, Hannan Arendt, who in much of her work probed the authoritarian mind and significantly wrote about it in her coverage of the trial of Adolf Eichman in Jerusalem in 1961. The banality of evil, she called it, and it is on full view in "Quisling."

Bernstein: “Halisa,” set in the multiethnic, impoverished neighborhood in southwest Haifa, is a carefully crafted character study of Sarah, a pediatric doctor, who has been trying to get pregnant for two years while, ironically, spending each day working with children.

The star of the film, Noa Koler, gives

a master class in acting, and her performance carries the film.

This year’s AJFF program is remarkable for the number of films that portray effectively, movingly, and authentically, women’s experiences in Israel.

There is “Come Closer,” of course. There is also “Pink Lady,” and “Highway 65,” among others. “Halisa” is one more and it has the further distinction of being the work of a first-time woman director, Sophie Artus.

Bahr: “The Property,” is a delightful Israeli comedy that’s based on the prizewinning graphic novel set in the years following the end of the Cold War. The veteran Israeli actress Rivka Michaeli, in a bravura performance, brings along her granddaughter on a trip to Poland, where she hopes to reclaim an apartment abandoned by her family during the Holocaust. Instead, they both find romance in Warsaw and a new appreciation of the past. Family dynamics, with all its twists and turns, is behind much of this humorous film, which teaches us lessons we can all take to heart.

Bernstein: “Elie Wiesel: Soul On Fire,” is a terrific, wonderfully crafted documentary that illuminates the life’s work of this Nobel Peace Prize winner, which was to share with the world his experiences as a death camp inmate and survivor.

This production uses Wiesel’s own spoken words to talk about his life, his values, and his disillusionment. Particularly marvelous are the black-and-white, ink animations from illustrations by the

Best Bets celebrated 10 years of selections with presentations at Temple Sinai and The Temple, where this cake was part of the refreshments.

“Tatami,”

renowned artist, Mark Podwal.

Obviously, in a time when Holocaust denial and antisemitism is at an all-time high, “Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire,” is a much-needed reminder and inspiration for all of us. This is a true profile in courage.

Bahr: “Tatami,” can best be described by three words which often aren’t used together in the film world. It’s a sports political thriller based on real events. During a championship judo competition in the central Asian country of Georgia, a female Iranian wrestler is pressured by officials back home to withdraw from the competition rather than face an im-

portant match with an opponent from Israel.

To do so would shatter years of preparation and training and she must balance the risks of not following orders and the rewards that match might bring. What gives this suspenseful film of life on the tatami, the judo mat, a special authenticity, is the fact that it is the first film to be jointly produced by Israeli and Iranian creative teams.

Matthew H. Bernstein is Goodrich C. White professor of film and media at Emory University. Bob Bahr has had a lengthy career at CNN and CBS News and writes frequently about media for the AJT. ì

is a thriller created by a team of Israeli and Iranian film makers.

“Quisling: The Final Days,” is a profile of Norway’s Nazi leader during World War II.

“Come Closer” is Tom Nesher’s provocative drama based on her experiences as a young woman who loses her brother and cannot let go.

“Elie Wiesel: Soul On Fire,” is about the Nobel Prize winner’s life as one of the foremost writers of the Holocaust.

Jewish Fertility Foundation Launches Campaign

By Bob Bahr

The Jewish Fertility Foundation, the rapidly growing Atlanta-based nonprofit, is planning to accelerate its expansion over the next five years as it grows into a major national organization. Speaking at the organization’s annual fundraising dinner in The Stave Room, Elana Frank, founder and CEO, announced an ambitious long-term capital campaign.

“We look ahead with a bold goal to raise $18 million over the next five years to support 10,000 new Jewish intended parents and expand JFF’s impact nationwide to do this.”

It’s a big step up for the organization that provides grants and other financing to help prospective parents afford the steep cost of fertility treatment and, over the past 10 years, has helped 363 women with their medical expenses. So far, 223 children have been born as a result of the aid, including one birth that coincided with the dinner on Jan. 14.

In her talk that evening, Frank recalled how the organization came into being a decade ago after she returned to America from living in Israel. Two of her three children were born there with fertility treatments provided at no cost by the country’s national health insurance program.

In America, getting that kind of help was expensive. She soon found herself discussing infertility and its cost in America with friends at the Marcus Jewish Community Center in Dunwoody.

“I remember sitting in the JCC baby pool in Dunwoody, and it was the first time that I ever braved a conversation about my infertility. The pool moms and I discussed how infertility feels like being stuck in a constant cycle of hope and heartbreak, and then they spoke about the extreme cost in America One woman shared that her twins cost about $60,000.”

Almost three-quarters of patients receiving in-vitro fertilization treatments in this country go into debt to receive them. The cost of these treatments can range from $12,000 to $25,000 for each pregnancy regimen or cycle. Sometimes several cycles of treatment are necessary before a pregnancy is successful and there is no guarantee that multiple attempts will result in a birth.

However, in the last 25 years the success rate among many women has more than doubled

The Society for Assisted Reproduc-

tive Technology points to statistics that show a success rate of almost 65 percent of live births per new patients under the age of 35.

But paying for the treatment is another matter. In half the states in this country, medical insurance does not cover fertility treatments. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 21 states now mandate the coverage, and 16 states make the treatments a part of Medicaid. For those undergoing the demanding treatments, there can be painful physical and emotional consequences. Without insurance women often give up after a single try at pregnancy.

A study in 2018 described psychological stress as the most important reason couples discontinue the treatment. Over the past 10 years, the Fertility Foundation has made grants totaling $2.5 million. Today, the organization serves more than 1,000 clients in 10 locations across the country.

But the potential need is enormous. According to recent medical statistics, one woman in eight experiences medical infertility, but among Jewish women the figure jumps to one woman in six. About 17 percent of them seek treatment. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the organization has seen a 76 percent increase in fertility grants and what they describe as a surge in individuals seeking greater connection to Jewish life.

Both the Marcus Foundation and the Zalik Foundation have been important contributors to expanding the fertility organization’s infrastructure and grant making.

The Marcus Foundation has also been instrumental in expanding the work of JScreen, another important Atlanta medical nonprofit that provides genetic testing and counseling for a wide range of conditions such as Tay-Sacks

disease, which is more likely to occur in the Jewish community.

The featured speaker at the Fertility Foundation dinner was Dr. Matt Goldstein, CEO of JScreen, who joined the organization after his oldest daughter died of Tay-Sacks disease. In a deeply moving presentation, he described her agonizing death and how a combination of genetic screening and fertility counseling led to the birth of his son, Ezra, a two-year-old who is healthy and thriving today.

He praised the work of the Jewish Fertility Foundation for what it has accomplished for him and others during its decade of work in the Jewish community,

“We are in a time,” Dr. Goldstein pointed out, “when we have incredible tools and immense knowledge and capability to ensure that we bring healthy children into the world and to keep healthy families and communities around to nurture them.” ì

Jewish Fertility Foundation aims to raise $18 million for its work over the next five years.

The Jewish Fertility Foundation says its work has helped to bring 223 babies into the world.

All three of Elana Frank’s children were born through the help of fertility treatments.

Memorializing Atlanta Film Executive Steve Mensch

By Bob Bahr

Steve Mensch, who managed the Tyler Perry Studio in Southwest Atlanta and who was a well-known and wellliked figure in the motion picture business in America, died last month. One of his passions was flying and he was killed when the single-engine plane he owned went down near Homosassa Springs, Fla. He was 62.

Mensch was an active member of the board of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, where he served as a judge for the film competition and, in 2021, as festival chair. The newly published 25th anniversary AJFF program guide has a page memorializing the film executive and it’s also part of the organization’s website. The page is headlined, “An Industry Trail Blazer, A True Friend To All.”

“True to his name, Steve was mensch in every sense—kind, humble, and generous. Whether through his mentorship, his service to AJFF, or his contributions to broader Atlanta community, Steve gave generously of his time, expertise and heart.”

Matthew Bernstein, Emory University film and media professor, served as an officer of the board while Mensch was active in the organization.

“He had this wonderful, laconic sense of humor.” Bernstein remembers. “He did countless quiet acts of kindness connecting people and institutions. The Atlanta production community has lost one of its golden stars and will never shine as brightly again.”

Mensch served as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Film, Music and Digital Entertainment in Georgia and was an effective ambassador for the film production community here as chair of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition.

With his considerable influence, Georgia’s TV and motion picture and production community has grown considerably in recent decades. Last year, it ranked first in film production in America by Business Facilities Magazine. Film and television production was a $2.6 billion business during the last fiscal year in Georgia, fueled in large part by the generous tax credits productions earn.

When the AJT interviewed Mensch for a story about the growth of Georgia as a production center, he likened it to a stool with three legs.

“We’ve got studio infrastructure like our sound stages which can be up

to 39,000 square feet each. We’ve got a trained established crew base under strong union leadership and got support from government legislation. Without any one of these three the level of work would be untenable.”

For 10 years, he managed the studios at Turner Broadcasting in Midtown, before spending a year in China and returning in 2015 to manage Third Rail Studios, one of the first of the new crop of large

sound stages that could accommodate huge, complex Hollywood motion picture sets.

In 2016, Mensch was hired by Tyler Perry to rebuild the U.S. Army’s old Ft. McPherson in Atlanta into a modern production center. Mensch transformed the historic 330-acre site, which Perry had purchased for $30 million, into one of the largest production facilities in the country. It features 40 buildings on the

National Register of Historic Places, 12 large sound stages, 200 acres of green space and a substantial backlot of outdoor stage sets.

A memorial service was held at the end of December at the Tara Theatre, a place that Mensch loved and supported. Mayor Andre Dickens, Tyler Perry and Charles Rivkin, president of Hollywood’s Motion Picture Association, were among those who attended. ì

Steve Mensch (right), a board member of the AJFF, with executive and artistic director Kenny Blank.

Tyler Perry, shown here on the grounds of his studios in Southwest Atlanta, which were managed by Steve Mensch.

Steve Mensch was fondly remembered as a real mensch.

Guests sign a memorial book at the Tara Theatre where a service remembering Steve Mensch was held.

Get Involved

Become a Sponsor

Sponsors are vital to the success of the festival. They enable us to host this one-day celebration of Jewish and Israeli Arts & Culture, while bringing together the Atlanta Jewish community. Sponsorship also gives visibility to over 4,000 attendees estimated to attend the festival. Whether you want to make an impact on Jewish Atlanta or you’d like to showcase your business to a wide audience, sponsorship of AJLF will fulfill your needs.

Community Partners

The Atlanta Jewish community is rich with organizations making a difference in the lives of others. Festival booths are available to community agencies looking to market their services and broaden their client base and exposure to Jewish Atlanta.

Visit www.atlantajewishlifefestival.com to apply today.

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Shout-out "thank you" from main stage

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Family pass or two tickets

Sandy Springs Arts Foundation Honors Joe Alterman

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

A fabulous evening was recently held with a purposeful fundraiser at Lion’s Gate, a magnificent rental venue and estate receiving glowing reviews, to raise money and awareness of Sandy Springs Arts Foundation (SSAF), a mission concentrating on arts outreach to public schools.

Joe Alterman, world-renowned master pianist and a Riverwood High School graduate, was honored that evening as one of Sandy Springs’ shining stars, receiving SSAF’s inaugural Champion of the Arts Award celebrating his achievement and support of public schools.

Alterman performed a lively and masterful selection of music to a packed house with resounding applause as he played and shared with donors about how rich his public-school experience was and impactful his art instruction has been on his career. The Foundation’s mission is “to elevate all Sandy Springs residents through the arts.” SSAF

achieves its goals by not only supporting arts programming, but also by underpinning grassroot art nonprofits in Sandy Springs. To make the night especially memorable, Alterman entertained guests, educating them about the history of selected songs.

Throughout the evening, students from Sandy Springs Charter Middle School performed a variety of selections of holiday and jazz music. A live auction

was held to raise additional funds and add to the liveliness of the evening. Trips, jewelry, dinners, and works of art were bid on and the evening raised almost $40,000.

According to Meade Sutterfield, board chair of the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation, “SSAF supports the arts programs in the public schools in Sandy Springs. Drawing on the generous contributions from businesses and individual donors in Sandy Springs, the Foundation works with teachers to support their ongoing visual arts, dance, drama and musical programs. Our goal is to give the resources to the teachers to allow these programs to soar and to make these activities available to any student regardless of economic position. A second prong of this effort is the live Annual ArtBeat event at the Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs. Last January, the event drew 450 student performers and 900 parents, friends and delighted guests to an event free to all. ArtBeat 2025 will be held on Feb. 7 at the Byers Theatre.”

Sutterfield added, “Although a love of the arts is a driver for our Foundation,

the greater good is that students who take advantage of schools arts programs have higher grades, graduation rates and college attendance than others. These art programs give students another reason to value school and find their way forward.”

While there is much to be accomplished, students with an education including the arts have higher GPAs, standardized test scores and lower drop-out rates. As seven of the 11 public schools in Sandy Springs are Title 1 (40 percent or more of the student body comes from economically challenged households), SSAF’s work is so needed.

Maureen Darcy, executive director of SSAF added, “Art has the ability to uplift. It builds bridges between cultures, and brings us together regardless of ethnicity, religion, or age. Appreciating the arts positively affects both our well-being and the ability to build a sense of community. Simply put, it transforms.”

For more information about SSAF, please visit www.ssarts.org. To learn more about Alterman, please visit www. joealtermanmusic.com. ì

Joe Alterman received the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation’s inaugural Champion of the Arts Award // Photo Credit: Anna Yatskevich

The Sandy Springs Arts Foundation honored local musician Joe Alterman, celebrating his achievement and support of public schools // Photo Credit: Jason Born Productions

Fundraiser Unites Generations for a Night of Comedy

By Monica Maslia

Last month, l’dor v’dor took on a new meaning at Congregation Or VeShalom (OVS), the oldest Sephardic synagogue in Atlanta, founded in 1914.

Earlier in the year, fundraising chairwoman Debra Tennenbaum was tasked with putting together an event for the synagogue to raise money for ongoing membership and community programs. However, Tennenbaum’s idea was a bit different than what the members at OVS typically see.

“It was just as important to make it an opportunity for many generations of members to come together, as it was to raise the money,” said Tennenbaum. “Usually, our events individually attract one to two generations, but this event brought in members whose ages ranged anywhere from 10 to almost 100! It was truly an event that all generations enjoyed.”

The idea of a comedy show was not just going to be a comedy show. It was going to include Atlanta’s comedy legend Jerry Farber and a younger generation of comedians whose performances would relate to a broader audience.

“It was remarkable how old and young greeted each other with such warmth. It was pure magic,” said Farber.

Among the young comedians who took stage were Louis Galanti, 33, whose father and grandfather both served as president of OVS, and Lily Maslia, 27, who knows the comedy scene

all too well by following in the footsteps of her dad, Richard Maslia, who did standup when he was in college at Georgia State University.

“Performing at the synagogue I grew up in was a deeply cathartic and full circle experience,” said Lily Maslia, one of the comedians at the event. “I’m so grateful I got to be a part of the OVS community and so appreciative of being invited to perform alongside Jerry and Louis.”

Another key component of the event was to showcase the talent of the multi-generational band called Six Tenth a Minyan. The band performed covers across the decades such as songs by The Beatles, Alannis Morisette, and Sir Elton John. Members of the band include lead singer and high school senior Stella Galanti, Robert Beton, David Falkenstein, Peter Gleichman, Tony Jansen and OVS’ very own Rabbi Joshua Hearshen.

Galanti says, “Comedy night at OVS was a new experience for me. While I’ve been performing in front of crowds for more than half my life, it’s usually been as a solo act. Collaborating and teaming up with fellow musician congregants— many of whom had multiple decades of experience on me—was both a learning experience and a blast! They taught me so much, and I truly had an incredible time!”

The event attracted more than 225 attendees from the Atlanta community, exceeded the fundraising goal of $20,000 for the evening, and included a diverse

crowd from across Jewish Atlanta, making it a success on multiple levels.  Community members also enjoyed

Camp Gan Israel

Sephardic delicacies at the event -- hundreds of burekas and biscochos were consumed amongst the crowd. ì

Comedienne Lily Maslia performs her routine at Or VeShalom’s comedy night fundraiser.

(From left) Todd Galanti, Julia Galanti, Stella Galanti (lead singer of Six Tenth a Minyan, OVS’ multi-generational band that performed during the event), Janet Galanti and Randy Galanti

Leo Benatar and Louise Benatar enjoyed the comedy night // Photo Credit: Debra Tennenbaum

IDF Soldiers Perform in Moving

Tribute

Following the success of the previous tribute event held about a month ago, which attracted 2,300 soldiers, KKL-JNF employees continued to demonstrate a spirit of mutual responsibility. The event,

Today in Israeli History

Jan. 31, 1961: Prime Minister David BenGurion resigns, triggering Knesset elections, to protest a Cabinet decision a month earlier to exonerate Pinchas Lavon for his role in a botched spy operation in Egypt in 1954.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini arrives in Tehran from exile in France on Feb. 1, 1979. // By sajed.ir, GNU Free Documentation License, via Wikimedia Commons

Feb. 1, 1979: Two weeks after the Shah fled, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Iran after 15 years in exile. He guides Iran’s transformation into an Islamic republic and ends decades of close military and economic ties with Israel.

Feb. 2, 1965: The Knesset revises the Absentees’ Property Law to allow the government to take over and use property that is considered abandoned and is held in a waqf, an endowment created under Islamic law.

Feb. 3, 1980: Hanna Rovina, “the high priestess of the Hebrew theater,” dies in Ra’anana at 91. Born near Minsk, she gave up teaching Hebrew to make her stage debut in Moscow in 1918 with what became Habima.

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME ISRAEL PRIDE

dedicated to honoring and supporting IDF soldiers wounded in the war, was initiated by the chairman of the KKL-JNF employee’s organization, Israel Goldstein, and took place on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at the Reading 3 venue in Tel Aviv.

Two wounded IDF soldiers took to the stage, becoming central figures of the evening. Mordechai Shenvald, a tank crew member who was severely injured by an anti-tank missile in Gaza in November 2024 while repairing his tank under heavy fire, created a special moment for the audience by performing with Subliminal, Israeli rapper, singer and record producer, in a musical collaboration that captivated the crowd. Later in the evening, Elimelech Talala, a 21-year-old from Harav Le’at, a combat soldier in the Kfir Brigade, who was severely injured by an explosive device in Gaza in May 2024 and almost lost his leg, fulfilled a childhood dream by singing a duet with Israeli singer Itay Levy, moving everyone in attendance.

Compiled by AJT Staff

One in Five Israeli Tech Firms Moved Abroad During War

One in five Israeli tech companies and startups moved part of their operations and personnel overseas in recent months as foreign airlines’ halt of service to Israel during the war made it difficult for them to do business and raise capital. Meanwhile, at least 50 percent say they are running out of funds in less than six

Feb. 8, 2005: Israel’s Ariel Sharon, the Palestinian Authority’s Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II close a summit in Sharm elSheikh, Egypt, by declaring the end of the Second Intifada.

Feb. 9, 1953: The Soviet Union’s embassy in Tel Aviv is bombed, injuring three people, in an attack blamed on the Kingdom of Israel terrorist group. Despite Israeli apologies, the Soviets break off diplomatic relations.

months, according to a survey by the Israel Innovation Authority.

The survey, conducted among a sample of 664 tech executives in November, after the U.S. elections and before the ceasefires reached with Lebanon and the Hamas terror group in Gaza, showed that attracting and obtaining critical financing continued to be the most pressing challenge during the war, in addition to grappling with operational disruptions caused by prolonged military reserve duty, flight cancellations, and global investors’ caution.

“We see companies struggling not only with capital raising and meeting development and sales targets but also with their very ability to operate in an environment deeply affected by the security situation, massive military reserve callups, and flight restrictions that complicate the management of global relationships,” said Israel Innovation Authority CEO Dror Bin.

Feb. 4, 1921: In Salonica, the Conference of Greek Zionists adopts a resolution declaring that the education at Alliance Israelite Universelle Schools does not support Jewish national aspirations and calling for a new syllabus.

Feb. 5, 1879: Engineer Pinhas Rutenberg, credited with bringing electricity to British Mandatory Palestine, is born in Ukraine. He moves to Palestine in 1919 and builds out the grid, including hydroelectric plants of his own design.

Feb. 6, 1951: Israeli soldiers launch an overnight raid on Sharafat, a village of about 200 Arabs just south of Jerusalem, in retaliation for a deadly Arab raid into Israel. Nine villagers, including five children, are killed.

Feb. 7, 1974: Followers of Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook launch Gush Emunim (Bloc of the Faithful), a settler movement determined to establish a permanent Jewish presence in the lands captured in June 1967.

Feb. 10, 2009: Tzipi Livni’s Kadima wins 28 seats in the election for the 18th Knesset, but Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, with 27 seats, is the effective winner because it is better positioned to form a governing coalition.

Feb. 11, 1986: After eight years in a Siberian labor camp, Anatoly Shcharansky is released to American custody in Berlin and flies to Israel, where he arrives under his new Hebrew name, Natan Sharansky.

Michael Shmerkin awaits the judges’ scores at his second Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, in 1998. He finished 18th; four years earlier, he was 16th in Lillehammer, Norway. // Screen grab from YouTube video by Mintaka Alnilam

Feb. 12, 1994: The Winter Olympics open in Lillehammer, Norway, with an Israeli team for the first time. It consists entirely of figure skater Michael “Misha” Shmerkin, who finishes 16th. He was part of the wave of ex-Soviet immigration.

Feb. 13, 1955: Prime Minister Moshe Sharett announces at a news conference that Israel has acquired four of the first seven Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qumran through a $250,000 purchase facilitated by two Hebrew University faculty members.

Feb. 14, 1978: President Jimmy Carter announces a plan to sell advanced fighter jets to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia as one, all-or-nothing package for congressional approval, drawing immediate Jewish criticism.

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

(From left) Chairman of KKL-JNF employee’s organization, Israel Goldstein, together with musician Mordechai Shenvald and Subliminal // Photo Credit: Alex Kolomoisky KKL-JNF

An illustrative image of program developers, startups and innovation // Photo Credit: scyther5; iStock by Getty Images/Times of Israel

Compiled by AJT Staff

A Jewish family is seen in 1917 in Salonica, where the Alliance Israelite Universelle opened a school in 1873.

Natan Sharansky has his wife, Avital, by his side after his arrival in Israel on Feb. 11, 1986. //By Nati Harnik, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Hostages’ Release Carries Emotional Impact in Israel

By Bob Bahr

There was a sense of relief and even what Maya Fidelman describes as joy when she heard the news about the latest release of hostages in Israel. Fidelman, who now works for an international consulting firm in Tel Aviv, was with the Israel Consulate in Atlanta from 2017 to 2020 as deputy consul general. She was a political adviser as well, having served previously in Jerusalem in Israel’s Foreign Ministry. She returned to Atlanta recently on a personal visit.

For Fidelman, the release of the latest group of four hostages on Saturday, Jan. 25, brought a renewed sense of optimism and hope for the future.

“I am more than happy to see the hostages coming home. We waited over more than 15 months for this, and it is wonderful to see them walking and smiling. But I’m sure they went through so much before they were released. Nobody knows what scars they are going to carry for the rest of their lives.”

The Saturday release brought to seven the number of Israel’s hostages that have been released since Sunday, Jan. 19, when the first phase of a three-step ceasefire plan went into effect in Gaza.

Under the agreement, 30 Palestinians will be released in the coming weeks for each civilian hostage and 50 for each soldier. A total of 33 hostages held by Hamas will be released during the first period of the truce.

The latest release of hostages has taken place 471 days since the brutal attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, that led to the capture of more than 200 hostages. It’s believed that perhaps 87 of them are still alive somewhere in Gaza.

The attack and the subsequent war, Fidelman says, has taken its toll on her and her family. A 25- year-old cousin and her fiancé were survivors of the October attack on the Nova Music Festival at Re’em near the border with Gaza.

They survived for 15 hours in hiding, while Hamas terrorists roamed freely, killing many who tried to escape from the festival, including a couple who were close friends who took the wrong road out of the music site. Only hours before, the two couples had been happily enjoying the music and the infectious happiness of the gathering.

Fidelman describes their deaths on Oct. 7 as “a second Holocaust.”

“The most frightening part of this is that the second Holocaust was not in some far-off place, it was in the state of

Israel. It was a Holocaust in our country, our own land and all in a single day.”

A total of 364 died at the festival near Re’em and nearly 800 others died in the 21 communities that were attacked. One of them was a good friend who had studied together with Fidelman, when both were students in the political science program at Tel Aviv University. His body was recovered only a few weeks ago.

Then, last month another cousin, serving with an elite unit of the IDF, was killed in combat in Gaza. Fidelman said he died believing he was fighting for a lasting peace. Her experience she says is not that unusual for the small, closelyknit nation that is Israel today.

“Everything that has happened is personal, in a way. Everybody knows someone who knows someone who has been killed or wounded in these many months. We are a small country with a lot of uncertainty about the future. There is a lot of anger that this war has gone on too long and that decision makers have not done enough about the kidnappings.”

It is widely believed that the agreement that was finally reached this month was essentially the one that President Joe Biden had proposed in May of last year and had been endorsed by the UN Security Council. Foot dragging by both Hamas and Israel’s government was said to have resulted in repeated delays in the agreements that was only reached just before the new administration took office this month. One report described the ceasefire as the result of a “remarkable” effort by both the old administration and the new one.

It came, as Fidelman describes it, at a time when a sense of political and psychological fatigue was settling in on many of her neighbors in the community

outside Tel Aviv where she lives.

“There is a sense of fatigue, but it’s held in check by the fear of survival, The fear of losing that sense of surviving is actually stronger, and it doesn’t let us feel

as much of the fatigue that we are experiencing. We all have an inner drive to keep going. not to show that we are too much of the strain that all of this has brought us.”

Maya Fidelman served as deputy consul for Israel in Atlanta before returning home. She is now an international business consultant.

Roni Gonen (right) is reunited with her mother after her release on Jan. 19 // Photo Credit: IDF

Released hostage Emily Damari (right) and her mother after Damari’s return on Jan. 19 from Hamas captivity // Photo Credit: IDF

Mercedes-Benz Stadium Hosts College Football Final

David Ostrowsky

It went a lot smoother this time.

When Mercedes-Benz Stadium first hosted the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game in January 2018, the facility was barely six months old, unequipped to handle the logistical nightmare that ensued when President Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president since Jimmy Carter in 1981 to attend a game that resulted in a college football national championship. The magnified security presence via the Secret Service protocol resulted in tens of thousands experiencing exorbitant delays – some waited well over two hours and didn’t arrive until after kickoff – while huddling outside in the cold rain as multiple entry gates had been closed.

The throngs of frustrated Georgia and Alabama fans jockeying for position to reach the metal detectors while struggling to access their mobile tickets on their smartphones amid spotty Wi-Fi and cellular service were not shy about voicing their displeasure. And for good measure, during pregame warm-ups, raindrops trickled down from the leaky roof around the 20-yard line near Alabama’s end zone.

But this year, for the 77,660 fans, many of whom paid not hundreds, but thousands, to watch Ohio State prevail over Notre Dame for the 2025 national title, a culmination of the inaugural CFP 12-team tournament, such issues were largely rectified – while millions were watching around the world. When ESPN opened its broadcast by showcasing the exterior of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the outside concourses were barren. By the time the ceremonial coin toss that fittingly featured Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, went down at 7:45 the stadium was fully awash in Ohio State red and Notre Dame green. And it was only fair that fans got to their seats on time with a chance to grab some of the stadium’s exceptionally affordable refreshments, because many paid astronomical prices to get in the building – by mid-afternoon on gameday a single admission ticket soared well over $4,000 with fees.

It certainly helped that there wasn’t

the presidential factor (the biggest celebrity on hand was probably LeBron James), but clearly the vastly improved stadium operations proved to be the real difference-maker. Though outside MSB the arctic temps descending on the region made for an unfortunate narrative, the operation inside MSB’s walls hummed along just fine and sparked no negative sidebars for the 2025 edition of the CFP championship game.

“If you were to match a sport and a city together, you will not find a better combination than college football and Atlanta. It just goes hand in hand. We are college football here. It’s part of our culture. It’s part of our DNA, and we do it really well. And in order to do it really well, you have to have a fantastic stadium. And it showed off last night again why we have the top stadium in the world,” remarked Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council, during the following morning’s host committee news conference. “Both from just a fan experience and aesthetic wise, it just sets up so well.”

It is no coincidence that Atlanta was the first city to host the College Football Playoff National Championship for a second time. With its walkable downtown serving as a hub of pregame festivities –the Georgia World Congress Center was buzzing with interactive fan activities while Allstate Championship Tailgate took over Georgia International Plaza and The Home Depot Backyard – and close proximity to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta is a strong candidate to host further CFP

title games and is, in fact, slated to host next year’s Peach Bowl, which will serve as one of the semifinal games. And even though the bone-chilling cold was not exactly conducive for tailgating and all the other pregame pageantry, the vast majority of fans were hearty Midwesterners very familiar with the frosty conditions.

“Everything that went on here in Atlanta was just spectacular,” exclaimed Rich Clark, executive director of the College Football Playoff, during the host committee news conference. “Along with the game, the events that surrounded the game were really spectacular, too. Well attended. Even with the cold, we still had people come to the concerts, to the taste of the championship, to the fan fest, and Playoff Playlist Live! All of those kinds of things really went well.”

The first College Football Playoff championship game to fall on MLK Day and on a presidential inauguration day was an entertaining affair with relatively few penalties, turnovers, and serious injuries. When Notre Dame started off with a clock-chewing opening drive capped by quarterback Riley Leonard waltzing into the endzone untouched for a 7-0 lead, it appeared the Fighting Irish had a chance to be crowned national champs for the first time since 1988 until Ohio State, powered by quarterback Will Howard and running back Quinshon Judkins, reeled off 31 unanswered points to take a seemingly commanding 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter. Though a stubborn Notre Dame squad trimmed the deficit to 31-23 with 4:15 remaining,

the Buckeyes pulled away for their first national title in a decade.

Irrespective of the game’s final outcome, the opportunity to play in front of a national audience at one of North America’s most renowned multipurpose stadiums was not lost on the dozens of scholar-athletes who suited up for this year’s big game.

“It [Mercedes-Benz Stadium] is a futuristic place to play. It’s incredible,” remarked Leonard, whose Notre Dame team actually played Georgia Tech at MSB back in October, during a media session earlier in the week.

Added Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, “the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it can’t be compared to.”

Following next year’s Peach Bowl, the CFP championship game will move down south to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., before heading west to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas – where it was actually supposed to be played this year before a scheduling conflict bumped the location to Atlanta -- at the conclusion of the 2026 season. Though there is no official future date for college football’s crown jewel event to return to Atlanta, the men’s college basketball Final Four is coming to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the first time in 2031 – more than a decade after Atlanta was originally slated to host the marquee college hoops event. And, of course, well before the 2031 men’s Final Four, Atlanta will be the epicenter of the sports universe when it serves as the backdrop to this year’s MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15. ì

Though the weather was far from ideal, Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a perfect setting for this year’s college football championship game // Photo Credit: Mercedes-Benz Stadium social media

Lurie’s Eagles Soar to Super Bowl Showdown

By David Ostrowsky

After Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts barged into the endzone from a yard out to give the Eagles a commanding 40-23 advantage with 12:26 left in last Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field, the FOX telecast flashed to a beaming Jeffrey Lurie in the owner’s box.

For the past decade, the Eagles’ principal owner celebrating during nationally televised postseason games in late January has become an all too familiar scene amidst his team’s run of being a perennial Super Bowl contender. Indeed, this year is no different as the Eagles, by virtue of their 55-23 pasting of the Josh Harris-owned Washington Commanders, are headed to Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs, who are gunning for a threepeat.

The Eagles will make their fifth Super Bowl appearance and third since 2017, when the franchise won its first-ever title, a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots, owned by Robert Kraft, in Super Bowl 52. That the Eagles would come out of the NFC this year seemed like a pipe dream back in September when Philly dropped a Week 2 home game to the Falcons amid questions about team chemistry and potential coaching instability. But since the end of September, the Eagles have lost merely once and, after posting the most ever points in a conference championship game, loom as a legit threat to dethrone the mighty Chiefs in the Big Easy.

When he was being interviewed by FOX commentator Terry Bradshaw during the postgame ceremony awarding the NFC champs the George Halas trophy, Lurie didn’t buy into the narrative that it was shocking to see the Eagles, the franchise that he has presided over since 1994, in their second Super Bowl in three seasons (in Super Bowl 57 two years ago, the Eagles fell to the Chiefs, 38-35.)

“Well, it’s kind of expected, I think,” answered Lurie, who was raised in a Greater Boston Jewish household and received his doctorate in social policy from Brandeis University before leaving academia to assume an executive role at General Cinema Corporation, the film company founded by his grandfather, in 1983, and later, starting Chestnut Hill Productions.

“The most unselfish, humble group of players, coaches led by Nick [Sirianni],

Howie [Roseman] and his staff, I mean the best fans in the world. It’s a pretty strong cocktail. I like that cocktail. It’s great to be back and we’re there to win it.”

Should the Eagles avenge their Super Bowl 57 loss next Sunday, Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ executive vice president/general manager and two-time NFL Executive of the Year and architect of the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history, will surely get his flowers for assembling what many consider to be the most stacked roster in the NFL. Roseman, who was raised in a Jewish home in Marlboro Township, N.J., and currently belongs to Har Zion Temple in Penn Valley, Penn., has garnered a sterling leaguewide reputation for his outside-the-box thinking in acquiring discarded players and sound judgment in offering extensions to the right personnel.

As for this year’s Super Bowl run, Roseman campaigned hard for the organization to acquire free agent running back Saquon Barkley, who was coming off a few uneven, injury-riddled seasons

with the New York Giants. Some pundits thought Roseman and the Eagles’ brass were foolish to shell out a massive contract to an oft-injured running back in his late twenties; but, of course, Barkley continues to have one of the most sensational seasons in league history. Meanwhile, during last April’s NFL Draft, Roseman seemingly fortified his roster for future years of sustained success by making all the right moves.

“We’ve gotten great contributions from our rookie class,” noted Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni in his press conference following the NFC Championship Game. “That’s a tribute to Howie and his staff and all the work they put in to get the right type of guys in, first and foremost.”

Certainly, it hasn’t always been a pleasure cruise for Roseman during his time as Eagles GM/executive VP of football ops, which started in 2010. Back in 2015, he was, for all intents and purposes, relieved of his role of overseeing personnel after losing a power struggle with

ex-coach Chip Kelly. Five years later, on the heels of a disappointing 2020 campaign, legions of Eagles fans were calling for Roseman to be outright fired. But two years after each of those flashpoints, the Eagles found themselves in the Super Bowl.

And now they find themselves back for the third time in eight years.

“Great organization that we have, starting with Mr. Lurie, Howie,” reiterated Sirianni. “I don’t think I’ve shied away from how much those guys mean to me. Again, you can’t be great without the greatness of others. And it starts with Mr. Lurie. Howie does a great job of getting guys in here. Just to have that solid GM that’s been through everything is huge. A great partnership I have with him.”

Kansas City will surely go down as the team of the 2020s, but with nine trips to the postseason in the past 14 years and three NFC crowns and counting, the Eagles, backed by the leadership of Lurie and Roseman, have established themselves as the class of the NFC. ì

Over the past three decades, since Jeffrey Lurie assumed control over the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, few NFL teams have enjoyed such a sustained level of success // Photo Credit: Philadelphia Eagles social media

Hadassah Ketura Installs 2025 Board

On Jan. 5, Terry Nordin, president of Hadassah Greater Atlanta (HGA), installed Rosalie Agrow as the 2025 Hadassah Ketura Group president as well as the new Ketura Group board at a festive lunch at the home of Dale Millman.

Simone Wilker, advocacy chair for Hadassah Greater Atlanta, presented information about a new study by Hadassah researchers that highlights how gender bias in the Israeli and American emergency rooms impacts treatment.

“Women are viewed as exaggerating or hysterical, and men are viewed as more stoic when they complain of pain,” explains Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel, a physician at the Hadassah Medical Organization.

Scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Hadassah Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, both in Israel, and the University of Missouri and Marshall University in the U.S., analyzed more than 21,851 discharge notes of patients who came into the ER, with non-specific pain complaints without a clear underlying cause, such as headaches.

The analysis found that women were

10 percent less likely than men to have a recorded pain score, ranging from 1 to 10, that helps to inform physicians about the severity of pain. After initial assessment, women waited an average of 30 minutes longer than men to see a physician and were less likely than men to receive pain medication. One might think that a female doctor would see things differently than her male counterpart, but the gender of the physician did not matter. Males were more likely to be prescribed medication for pain, even if they were treated by a female doctor.

Wilker added, “Hadassah strongly supports women’s health. Sex bias has no place in medicine. Adequate pain treatment is critical for patients’ mental and physical health. Therefore, I am encouraging our Hadassah members to be strong and advocate for themselves when they enter the ER.”

Agrow explained, “I will continue to lead our Hadassah women in supporting Israel, fighting antisemitism and standing up for women’s health. I am so proud that Hadassah conducted this study which addresses the bias as to how

women’s pain is perceived and treated in emergency care settings.”

For more information about Hadassah, go to www.hadassah.org.

Compiled by AJT Staff

National Jewish Book Awards Winners Announced

The Jewish Book Council has announced the winners for the 74th National Jewish Book Awards, North America’s longest-running awards program in the field of Jewish literature. The winners of National Jewish Book Awards will be honored on Wednesday, March 12, at an in-person ceremony in Manhattan. The host of the 74th National Jewish Book Awards will be author Dani Shapiro, the author of 11 books, including two National Jewish Book Award winners, “Signal Fires,” and “Inheritance.”

Select winners include:

“10/7,” by Lee Yaron (St. Martin’s Publishing Group)  - Jewish Book of the Year Award Everett Family Foundation Award

“Songs for the Brokenhearted,” by Ayelet Tsabari (Random House) - JJ Greenberg Memorial Award in Fiction

“The Story of Your Obstinate Survival,” by Daniel Khalastchi (University of Wisconsin Press) - Berru Award for Poetry in Memory of Ruth and Bernie

The Jewish Book Council has announced the winners for the 74th National Jewish Book Awards.

Weinflash

“The Safekeep,” by Yael van der Wouden (Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster) - Debut Fiction Goldberg Prize

“Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew,” by Emmanuel Acho and Noa Tishby (Simon & Schuster / Simon Element) Education and Jewish identity Award in Memory of Dorothy Kripke

Compiled by AJT Staff

Newly installed 2025 Hadassah Greater Atlanta Ketura Group Board, board advisors and attendees, from left: (front row) Rosalie Agrow, Suzy Wilner, Fran Redisch; (second row) Gail Vanovitch, Joan Solomon, Ellen Weinberger, Leora Wollner; (third row) Terry Nordin, Gerry Taratoot, Susan Adair; (back row) Simone Wilker, Dale Millman, Rhonda Wise. Not pictured – Arlene Glass

First Lady of Israel Visits Atlanta

On Jan. 12-13, the First Lady of Israel, Michal Herzog, made a significant visit to Atlanta, where she was honored at the Lions of Judah International Conference and engaged with students from the local Jewish community. Her visit highlighted the strength of Jewish identity and the importance of resilience in the face of global challenges.

On Jan. 12, Herzog was a distinguished guest at the Lions of Judah International Conference, held in downtown Atlanta. Herzog was honored with the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award for her unwavering advocacy in addressing and condemning sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to the resilient women of Israel, acknowledging their courage and strength since the tragic events of Oct. 7, 2023.

On Jan. 13, Herzog continued her impactful visit by participating in a special program coordinated by the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern United States and hosted at The Davis Academy. This gathering brought together students and faculty from five prominent Atlanta Jewish day schools: The Davis Academy, Atlanta Jewish Academy, The

Weber School, Torah Day School of Atlanta, and The Epstein School. The program began with a meeting between Herzog and the heads of the five schools, followed by opening remarks from Amy Shafron, head of school at The Davis Academy, and Israel’s Consul General to the Southeastern United States, Anat Sultan-Dadon.

A video presentation showcased the schools’ ongoing activities and collective efforts to support Israel in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks. Herzog addressed the students, highlighting the importance of embracing and celebrating their Jewish identity, especially during times of heightened antisemitism. She spoke passionately about the strength and unity of the Jewish people and encouraged the students to remain resilient and proud of their support for the State of Israel.

Following her address, Herzog participated in a Q&A session moderated by Daryn Mand, a student from The Weber School. This interactive session allowed students to engage directly with the First Lady, asking insightful questions about Israel post-Oct. 7, leadership, identity, and global Jewish solidarity.

Compiled by AJT Staff

(From left) Weber School student Daryn Mand leads a Q&A session with First Lady of Israel Michal Herzog on Jan. 13. Herzog was honored at the Lions of Judah International Conference and engaged with students from the local Jewish community during her visit to Atlanta.

Hostage Release Process a ‘Roller-Coaster’

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit

For several months, Dina Fuchs-Beresin has worn bracelets bearing the names of five Israeli women held hostage by Hamas — Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, and Agam Berger.

The five were abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, when terrorists overran their Israel Defense Forces observation post at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, roughly 875 yards from the Gaza fence.

Fuchs-Beresin, a former journalist and long-time Jewish communal professional in Atlanta, decided that these women — unarmed observers whose unit reported suspicious Hamas movements in advance of Oct. 7 — “deserved to have us know their names.”

“They did everything right,” she said. “They told their superiors. They told their families. They alerted what they saw . . . and it didn’t help them.”

Fuchs-Beresin ordered the bracelets from the online marketplace Etsy and has made a point of looking at each of the names every day as she places them on her wrist.

On that “Black Sabbath,” as some Israelis call it, 1,200 men, women, and children were slaughtered in terrorist attacks on kibbutzim, towns, and an outdoor music festival in the “Gaza envelope.”

Approximately 250 men, women, and children — including the bodies of some already dead — were kidnapped

and driven into Gaza. As of Jan. 27, some 90 men, women, and children remained captives of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and company.

The first phase of the current ceasefire calls for the release of 33 hostages in exchange for a much larger number of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Previous reports were that 25 of the 33 on the initial list were alive.

Three women — Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Rami Goren — were released when the agreement took effect Jan. 19.

Albag, Ariev, Levy, and Gilboa were freed Jan. 25, after 477 days in captivity. Israeli media report that, per a list the government received from Hamas, Berger will be released soon, possibly on Jan. 30.

According to those reports, Arbel Yehud and another hostage would be released the same day as Berger and that three more hostages would be freed on Feb. 1.

One name mentioned as possibly being freed in coming days is Keith Siegel, a native of North Carolina, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza with his wife, Aviva. She was freed Nov. 26, 2023, in an exchange of hostages for jailed Palestinians.

Damari reportedly asked her captors to first free Siegel, whose daughter is a close friend from their childhoods at Kfar Aza.

The Siegels’ family was one of three that spoke at a rally in support of the hostages, at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue on Oct. 30, 2023.

Another family represented at that event came from the Israeli side of my family tree. I have written about them often

in this space over the past 16 months.

At the time of that rally, funerals had been held for three older family members murdered at Kibbutz Be’eri and seven were hostages in Gaza. Six of the seven, women and children, were freed in a Nov. 25, 2023, exchange. The seventh, Tal Shoham, a husband and father, is on the list of 33. His 40th birthday is Jan. 30.

A few days after the ceasefire took effect, I heard a suggestion that the first hostage release warranted some sort of local celebratory event.

Don’t get me wrong.

The smiles, the tears, and the hugs between the young women and their families are rays of sunshine cutting through an otherwise gloomy sky. Their families have earned the right to celebrate.

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But dozens of hostages remain in Gaza.

Not all will return alive.

Some will emerge to learn of family and friends murdered on Oct. 7.

Some will be reunited with family and friends who themselves were kidnapped and later freed.

Some will learn of family and friends murdered in Gaza by their captors.

None of them should have been there in the first place. Oct. 7 would not have happened without intelligence, military, and political failures that, we are reminded, led to the deadliest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.

In a letter stating his intention to resign in March, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi wrote: “On the morning of October 7, under my command, the IDF failed in its mission to protect Israel’s citizens . . . My responsibility for this terrible failure accompanies me every day, every hour, and will remain with me for the rest of my life.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown no indication that he will follow Halevi’s example. His governing coalition in the Knesset recently rejected a proposal to establish a national commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attacks.

Speaking to CNN a couple of days before the ceasefire took effect, Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, called the process “a roller coaster . . . There are so many factors that could cause the agreement to collapse — one rocket, one misstep, or one wrong decision.”

This is the fear of the hostage families, particularly those on the initial list of 33 to be freed. “These families are living through unimaginable pain. This is not just a political crisis; it is deeply personal for them and for all Israelis,” Klein said.

The bracelets worn by Fuchs-Beresin are just one example of how the hostages also have become a personal concern in Atlanta’s Jewish community. ì

For the last few months, Dina Fuchs-Beresin has worn bracelets bearing the names of five Israeli women held hostage by Hamas — Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Naama Levy, Daniella Gilboa, and Agam Berger.

Cheers to 100 Years

In recognition of the Atlanta Jewish Times celebrating its 100th year from its first edition in 1925, the AJT will re-publish articles from the Southern Israelite from editions dating as far back as 1929, the earliest edition available through the Digital Library of Georgia. All of the Southern Israelite editions, from 1929-1986, can be viewed at gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn78003973/

Please enjoy this retrospective of Jewish journalism in Atlanta and across Georgia, and thank you for supporting the Atlanta Jewish Times for the last 100 years.

Cohen Raises Funds to Prevent Teen Overdoses

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Mady Cohen has played girls’ flag football since the eighth grade and is now on the Dunwoody High School varsity team. She is also passionate about helping others who feel isolated and is a student activator in the school’s Whisper Program, created to help students fight loneliness by promoting simple conversations between students.

In May of 2024, Cohen went into action after the tragic overdose death of a fellow student. She researched Narcan, the drug used to rapidly reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency. She read medical journals about the fentanyl epidemic.

Cohen said, “I didn’t want to see another family suffer a senseless loss.” She wrote to the school administration with a plan of action, including staff training and easy access to Narcan. The law requires the school to maintain just one box. She felt that the high school was too big for one box, and stated, “We need to be able to get to someone who may be far away from

certain locations. Seconds matter!”

Cohen learned more about addiction and recovery as she met with leaders at the Georgia Council for Recovery. She heard firsthand accounts of individuals who have been impacted with addiction

and how recovery is real. The families who have lost someone to addiction have inspired Cohen to fight long-term. She has even educated some of her peers who are struggling with substance abuse, including providing resources.

When queried by the AJT, Cohen answered, “Jewish kids aren’t less prone to drugs. Common risk factors include family history of abuse, mental health conditions such as depression, genetics and even low self-esteem or social rejec-

Narcan has become a valuable resource in combatting the opioid epidemic.

EDUCATION

tion. This is not a Dunwoody High School problem; this is an epidemic that can affect anyone. We need people to stop thinking just because their school has not had a tragedy that it doesn’t mean there are no drugs in their school.”

The school can order Narcan in bulk for a discount, but it’s not free. Cohen warns, “Narcan is not the solution, but a helpful tool. Education is the next piece. I want students to get a deeper education on the risks they put themselves at when they take drugs. One doesn’t know what’s in the drug. One pill can kill!”

Cohen dug in to raise money. She spent hours talking to news stations. She spoke at churches, recovery centers, with school staff, and parents at a PTSO meeting.

Thanks to Cohen having raised double the amount of funds that she needed, Narcan will be strategically placed in many areas of the school to allow for easy access. Weeks after Cohen’s supply of Narcan was distributed, another student suffered opioid poisoning; Narcan was there, and the teacher reacted. The student was revived and transported to a local hospital.

Cohen’s work is not done. She is working on more distribution of Narcan to be stored and accounted for in more classrooms, informative posters, and guest speakers. For her senior year, she plans to form a student club to get other students onboard to fight the problem.

Cohen’s research found data from 2021 showing that Georgia’s total over-

dose deaths for 15-19-year-olds increased 163 percent with deaths involving fentanyl increasing 775 percent. From 20192021, the proportion of overdose deaths involving fentanyl increased from 25 percent to 80 percent. Fentanyl-involved overdose deaths increased at a faster rate among adolescents compared to adults (20-plus years old). Deaths involving fentanyl increased 800 percent among adolescents, 3.7 times more than adults.”

(Drug Surveillance | Georgia Department of Public Health)

Opioids may cause breathing to stop, and death can occur in four to six minutes. If one suspects an opioid overdose, immediately administer the nasal spray Narcan. Then immediately call 911 and administer the second dose. Narcan works on fentanyl and opioids but doesn’t work for alcohol poisoning. Administered Narcan is safe to use even if opioids are not present in the system. Side effects include slurred speech, pinpoint pupils, sleepiness or unresponsiveness, very slow shallow breathing (maybe snoring), and cold, clammy skin. Teens need to know about Georgia’s 911 Amnesty Law which provides protection to anyone calling 911 if they suspect an overdose. No one involved can be arrested, prosecuted or convicted for drug offences based on their call.

Walgreens created a five-minute training video to help save lives that can be watched here: youtu.be/ Z2Gmh2jW7Uc?si=77EW7zBZ8oPWwmi ì

Mady Cohen is a junior at Dunwoody High School and plays varsity flag football. She plans to major in psychology and kinesiology and hopes to practice sports psychology.

Check Out These Boredom Busters for Kids

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

With the winter months and cold weather having arrived, kids are looking for something fun to do. Here’s some memorable boredom busters. You’ll find aisles of smiles filled with things to do like art projects, games and clever ideas at Learning Express located in Buckhead. Look for age-appropriate items that increase hand-eye coordination, develop critical thinking skills, and inspire creativity.

Begin with a Boredom Buster List – Celebrate a boring day when there’s nothing to do and encourage the kids to make a list of things to do. Your antiboring, boredom buster list will become a treasured go-to resource that promises hours of fun and encourages kids to learn how to entertain themselves.

Create an Arts and Crafts Closet or Drawer – Fill a special area with art supplies ranging from paper to markers, crayons to stickers and more. Involve the kids in selecting a few things to add to it. Include recycled magazines for collag-

ing, glue sticks and a variety of materials for crafting.

Have a Family Paper Plate Awards –

Enjoy an award ceremony and give each family member a paper plate award. Let the kids make awards for family, friends and anyone they appreciate and value. All they must do is write the name of the award on an uncoated paper plate and

High Meadows Camp

For more than 50 years, High Meadows Camp has provided campers an authentic, exciting outdoor program on 42 acres of woods, farmland, and unique facilities.

Camp is open to 5-year-olds through rising ninth graders. Register today at www.highmeadowscamp.org

Session 1: June 2 - June 20

Session 2: June 23 - July 11

Session 3: July 14 - August 1

decorate it. Awards could include Kindest, Most Fun, Most Thoughtful, Neatest Award, Biggest Helper, and beyond. The paper plate awards will become a tradition in your family. Drum roll please! Get Artsy - Arts and crafts projects are the ideal way to transform a rainy, snowy or cold day into an opportunity for fun. Learning Express’s wide range

of creative projects include Buddha Paint with Water for ages three and up. The Buddha Board Enso immerses kids in the creative process. Paint on the surface with water and watch as your art emerges, only to fade away, leaving a clean slate and ready to begin again.

Skillmatics Presents Peel and Press Foil Fun – A magical art and craft activity

Faber Castell’s "How to Draw Faces" kit

Learn-to-crochet kits are a big hit.

The Splatter Studio is a creative experience the entire family will enjoy.

set … With a variety of themes from unicorns and rainbows to outer space, Pell & Press Foil Fun is a simple ready-to-go no mess, no stress art project. The assorted foil colors, a thin paper that’s bright and colorful, is easily pressed on the selfsticking surface once the paper is peeled. Kids can transform them into a work of art, stickers and more.

Learn to crochet! Tweens and teens will love The Woobles Learn to Crochet Kit and more than 500,000 people have learned crochet with their step-by-step video tutorials. Each learn-to-crochet kit includes a special yarn, custom-made for beginners and re-started for you to get right into practicing the main crochet stitch. Recommended for ages 12-plus and whether you are righty or left, stay patient as this is a lifelong skill worth mastering and kids ready to learn the art of crochet will get hooked.

Ready, Set, Draw – Faber-Castell presents a kit called “How to Draw Faces.” This step-by-step guide teaches the basics of drawing faces, showing kids how to know where to place facial features proportionately. It breaks drawing down to easy to do and follows guidelines so that anyone can learn to draw a face. Your young artist will be especially pleased with the simple details that make drawing a cinch.

Family Game Day or Night – Doggy Showdown from MindWare is a wonderful game for kids ages three and up ideal for boosting kids’ hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. One child can play this game or take turns. Starting with the beginner puzzle cards, a child slides the attached pooch pieces into the order that matches your puzzle card without worrying about long set-ups or

EDUCATION

lost pieces. Another fun card game is “Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza,” which lets players take turns saying “taco,” “cat,” “goat,” “cheese,” or “pizza,” while flipping a card face down, and the first person who slaps the pile when the spoken word matches the card wins the pile. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

Left Right Center – With three dice and at least three players or the entire family, your kids and entire family of all ages will love the game, Left, Right, Center. Each player starts with three coins, chocolate, or any item you wish to play with. Each dice you roll tells you the action you must take. “L” means pass a coin to the left, “R” to the right, and if you roll a “C,” you put a coin in the center and a dot, you get one pass. This is a game of pure luck, lightning speed and fun for an entire family.

The Splatter Studio – If you’re looking for an exciting experience and outing, book a session at The Splatter Studio which lets kids, and the entire family create works of art from a canvas to a 3-D sculpture. The Splatter Studio has a world of possibilities and will create a memorable and magical moment. www. thesplatterstudio.com

Lights, Camera, Action! Together with the kids, make family-friendly videos on your iPhone. Get ready to wish a special relative or friend a happy birthday, say thank you for gifts received during Chanukah, or get well-soon videos for someone who is under the weather.

A boring day doesn’t have to be boring. Inspiring kids to be creative will help the time purposely fly and enjoy. For more information visit: https://learningexpress.com/buckhead ì

Peel and Press Foil Fun

The Original Buddha Board inspires kids to paint and paint again with water.

Davis Teacher Inspires Fundraising by Weber Students

By Debbie Diamond

The Weber School’s Teen Rams Against Cancer kicked off its Student Visionaries campaign earlier this month with a goal to raise $95,000 in 2025 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).

Led this year by Daryn Mand, a junior who has been involved in the campaign for years and was last year’s lead fundraiser, and Jagger Kaye, who is new to the campaign and brings tremendous energy to the effort, the two and their team hit the ground running on day one.

There are 18 members of The Weber School team this year. Each student created a list of 50 contacts and sent customized notes to their group, requesting donations. The team also made colorful postcards that they mailed out to their contacts and placed on school and area

specific evenings to donate 20 percent of the receipts on selected nights to the campaign, and other restaurants may

Both Mand and Kaye point to Kendrick Phillips, director of visual and performing arts at Davis Academy, as their

inspiration for the campaign. Philips was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia nine years ago. According to Mand and Kaye, who both attended Davis, Phillips fights the battle each day with strength and fortitude.

“Though her cancer has been a battle, she perseveres every day. We are in awe of her fight. Ms. Kendrick has been a source of constant support and inspiration to so many of us, making our commitment to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s mission even more personal. Her brave self has taught us to stay strong and, most importantly, smile, no matter the circumstances. Until there is a cure, Ms. Kendrick will live with her cancer for the rest of her life,” said Mand.

During the past two weeks, the team began work on adding raffles to the fundraising mix. For a $10 raffle ticket, students will have the opportunity to win premium prizes such as headphones, an iPad, sports paraphernalia and gift cards. With almost a month left to go, the team feels certain they will reach and likely exceed their fundraising goal.

leadership, business development, project management, and presentation skills.

“The Weber team always hits and frequently surpasses their goal. We at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society appreciate their commitment, hard work and willingness to come up with new ideas,” said Smith. Atlanta, in fact, is the second largest campaign in the United States.”

Daryn Mand certainly went outside the box when she solicited the involvement of her grandmother who happened to be in town with a number of philanthropists for the recent Lions of Judah conference. Her grandmother shared information about what the Weber team was doing, and her friends and fellow Angelenos quickly joined in the effort, contributing generously to Teen Rams Against Cancer for LLS.

“Weber is a very giving community, and we all want to support each other. We have been so happy with the response so far. Many of the team members this year have a personal connection with Ms. Phillips, and we want her to know how much we all support her,” emphasized Kaye.

According to Reid Smith, campaign development manager for LLS, the Student Visionaries program equips students with leadership and business skills that will serve them well as they progress in their personal and professional journeys. Through the initiative, students acquire valuable expertise in effective

Last year, participating Atlanta schools raised $2.4 million. The goal this year is $2.5 million. Weber’s team last year exceeded their goal of $65,000 and raised $82,000. Donations help fund research, find a cure, and support patients and their families. Donations may be made at https://events.lls.org/ga/svoyatlanta25/tramsagain. ì

(From left) Daryn Mand and Jagger Kaye will lead this year’s Teen Rams Against Cancer for The Weber School, benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Kendrick Phillips, director of visual and performing arts at Davis Academy, is the team’s inspiration for this year’s fundraising campaign in support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The Weber School’s 2025 Teen Rams Against Cancer

Sinai Parents Get the Scoop on Teen Pitfalls

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Temple Sinai parents discussed contemporary parenting and potential legal pitfalls with approximately 100 attendees coming in person or virtually on Sunday, Jan. 12 for the presentation, which was co-sponsored by The Epstein School, Davis Academy, JumpSpark, and The Weber School.

The event fell under the umbrella of the Greenwald Family Parenting Endowment Fund, established to bring topical speakers to Temple Sinai. Keri Greenwald said, “Our goal is to support community parenting and learn from the best as we strive to raise mensches.”

Whether drinking alcohol, using fake IDs, driving under the influence, or sexting, the risks are many and can have long lasting and serious consequences. Abt cautioned parents to take steps to educate themselves and their children.

The event was directed to high school and college students along with their parents to address current issues in the criminal justice system affecting young adults. The featured speaker stated, “Criminal allegations vary among age, demographic groups, and geographic location within Georgia. We see everything from murders to sex crimes, drug crimes, theft, and even white-collar crime … we see all types of cases that vary among groups, based on demographics and other factors.”

The featured speaker concentrated on DUIs, drug use, what to say to police in various situations, sexual misconduct, and how to avoid problems with law enforcement and the courts. He added, “How easy is it to get drugs? Very, very easy, if you want them. How easy is it to access porn? Very, very easy, if you want it.”

The National Institutes of Health released statistics showing increases in teen pornography usage. The report cited lockdown during COVID as one factor. The average age of first exposure to pornography is 12. Boys are more likely to engage than girls. In the U.S., 68 percent of teens found pornography on the web. In terms of drinking, six percent of drivers in Georgia between 15 and 20 years old involved in fatalities had consumed alcohol. Car accidents are the leading cause of teen death. The statistics are plentiful and jarring.

Sexting is something that young parents themselves did not grow up with. The featured speaker noted that sexual desires are common among all humans. “The real issue is how we act and react to

about a variety of topics.

those desires, and whether we have the education, training, and upbringing to avoid problems.”

He mentioned controls that can be placed on cell phones, particularly ones belonging to minors. The featured speaker covered “scary” critical issues, including fentanyl in street drugs, overdose prevention, and its alarming prevalence. He also addressed what to expect if pulled over, legal ages for various activities, the consequences of teen sexting, and how Georgia law differs from other states.

The featured speaker noted that the vast majority of his clients never see prison or get a criminal conviction on their record. His legal fees are not based on an hourly rate; instead, he uses flat fees based on what charges the individual is facing.

Regarding the featured speaker's presentation at Sinai, Greenwald related, “What struck me most was the lasting impact of his talk. Our child and her friends discussed what they learned all afternoon; and parents expressed gratitude for addressing vital topics. One student was so inspired that she asked Jay to speak at her public school.”

Rabbi Natan Trief concluded, “Jay did a great job laying out in concrete detail what are some of the problems and pitfalls that may confront our teens. He talked about sensitive topics … even parent-hosted parties. Though synagogues don’t normally host such speakers and/ or topics, we thought it was important to be able to frame the conversation around Jewish values in a Jewish space. After all,

our kids are going to be exposed to challenging decisions, and Jay was a perfect person to help facilitate the conversation.”

Have ideas for impactful speakers? Email kerigreenwald@atlantafinehomes.com. ì

Keri Greenwald brought fellow Temple Sinai member and criminal attorney, Jay Abt, to speak to the temple’s youth

EDUCATION

Greenblat’s Survivor Story Educates Thousands

By Lauren Menis

Hershel Greenblat is on a mission.

For the past decade, the 83-year-old Holocaust survivor has been telling his story to groups all over Georgia and beyond, mostly to middle and high school students.

“The reason that I continue to educate is that I want them to know that what happened was for only one reason -- hate. We have to do everything in our being to bring hatred to a stop and bring respect for everyone.”

His message of the importance of being a good person and standing up against hate has become his calling. At The Breman, Atlanta’s Jewish Heritage Museum, where he speaks two to three times a week during the school year, Greenblat stands in front of a group of seventh and eighth graders. The kids, riveted, hear the story of young Hershel, born Grisha Grinblat, in a cave in Ukraine in 1941, to parents who met, married and started a family while evading German troops.

It’s an almost decade-long saga of toughness and against-the-odds survival. The young family lives underground for months in one of the many Ukrainian caves where resistance fighters and others find refuge. Then, after Greenblat’s mother is injured by shrapnel during a skirmish with German soldiers and in need of medical attention, they travel across Eastern Europe by foot and horsedrawn cart, often sick and hungry and avoiding capture. They arrive in Russia, where Greenblat’s father spends two years in a Russian prison for stealing a loaf of bread from the bakery where he works.

Then, there is a daring escape from Russia under cover of darkness in a packed cattle car to a U.S.-run displaced persons camp in Austria. There, a comatose Greenblat is handed to a camp nurse who tells his parents he is unlikely to survive. But he does, and five years later, the family, now with three children, find their way to safety in the United States.

In his talks, Greenblat doesn’t shy away from the atrocities committed by the Nazis. The audience hears how his father’s entire family was wiped out in a concentration camp gas chamber and most of his mother’s family by German firing squad.

“When I stand in front of you and tell you how my family was murdered,” he says, “you, and everybody in this room are my witness. Five, 10 years from now there won’t be someone able to stand

here. And you’ll be able to say, ‘I heard it. It happened.’”

But, as essential as bearing witness is, Greenblat’s eye is on the future and teaching these kids that their actions matter. “There is no room for hatred, there is no room for discrimination. We have got to get this world a little bit better,” he tells them.

“I thought that this was a very enlightening experience,” says 13-year-old Riverbirch Middle School student Alisa Ivanovska, who had come from Suwanee to hear Greenblat speak.

At the Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs a few days later, Greenblat spoke to the entire middle school before taking part in The Daffodil Project, planting daffodils to honor the children lost in the Holocaust. His audience is changed by hearing him speak. You can see it in the way they listen, and in the reverence with which they line up to shake his hand and thank him afterwards.

“His story was super inspiring and so adventurous and so brave, and I really like how he gave us a message to go forward,” says eighth grader Ella Medlin.

Andrea Videlefsky, founder and

president of The Daffodil Project, which has planted more than one million daffodils, says of Greenblat, “He’s kind, caring … and he develops the most incredible relationships with each of the students that he speaks to.”

Greenblat is tireless, a man with a purpose, not only speaking at The Breman numerous times a week but also with The Daffodil Project and Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, both of which take him all over Georgia. There are many other speaking engagements, to students at Georgia State and Kennesaw State universities as well as to organizations in many other states. Last year, he was invited to attend the International March of the Living, where he marched from Auschwitz to a subcamp of Birkenau with students from all over the world. There, with his granddaughter by his side, Greenblat broke down in tears in the gas chamber. This work he does is hard.

Ironically, until about a decade ago, Greenblat never talked about his background. He was busy, he says, working and raising a family. It wasn’t until after he retired, when he saw “No Place

on Earth,” a documentary about a family that survived living in the caves of Ukraine, that his history came back to him.

“Sitting there and all of a sudden, watching this movie, my whole life flashed,” he says. Afterward, during the question-and-answer session, Greenblat found himself raising his hand and telling his story for the first time. A few days later, he got a phone call asking him if he’d like to be a speaker at The Breman Museum. Now, he is a man reborn.

Greenblat has become a grandfather figure to many of the teens he’s met during his talks and travels. His phone is full of texts from them, checking in, telling him their news. After Oct. 7, when one young woman decided to spend a year in Israel instead of going to her first year of college, she told Greenblat it was because of him and his story.

For Greenblat, the future is bright. When he speaks to young audiences, he always tells them about his ulterior motive for being there. “His name is Eli, my great-grandson. He’s in the second grade. I want to make a better world for him. And you all are going to do it.” ì

Hershel Greenblat (center) survived a decade-long run from the Nazis that took his family across Eastern Europe, into Russia, Austria and finally the U.S.

Hershel Greenblat speaks with a pair of students at Mount Vernon School.

Hershel Greenblat speaks with students several times per week to educate them about the atrocities of the Holocaust.

EDUCATION

A Thousand B’nai Mitzvot & Counting

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Some know Dr. David Frankel as a dentist -- but his real “drills” may be the teacher to student kind.

He is currently working with 40 students and had five bar mitzvahs in the last few weeks of 2024; then, shortly thereafter, he added three new students. His sessions are 30 minutes long, averaging three lessons per month per student. Calculating the time is mindboggling. For 35 years, Frankel has worked four days a week as a general dentist while tutoring four to five students on weeknights and up to 16 students on Sunday.

At Frankel’s “home” shul, Congregation Beth Tefillah, 99 percent of his students are boys. The one female student from CBT had her bat mitzvah at AJA where she read the Torah in a female assembly. His other students have been from: B’nai Torah, Ahavath Achim, Beth Jacob, Ohr Hatorah, Ariel, Shearith Israel, Temple Sinai, and Chabads of Cobb, Alpharetta and Intown. As much as he would like to be at every student’s bar/bat mitzvah, he can only attend walkable events.  For B’nai Torah students, he walks 3.5 miles each way.

If that doesn’t make him busy enough, Dr. Frankel has been coaching baseball for more than 30 years. Many of his former students played on his Maccabi baseball teams. This past summer, his team won gold in Detroit and is determined to repeat this summer in Tucson.

If the Frankel name rings a bell in tandem with education, David’s father was Dr. Ephraim Frankel, head of school at the Hebrew Academy of Atlanta in 1967, when the family left Ottawa, Canada, and planted roots here in a “modern

Orthodox home.”

In 1983, David was a junior at the University of Texas. As a source of income, he became the local USY advisor and a bar/bat mitzvah tutor with his first 10 students. His real inspiration stems from his father who taught David and his two brothers. Ephraim was a stickler for articulation, accent and grammar.

David added, “He taught me in reverse order, starting with the last verse of an Aliyah or Haftorah and working forward. I still incorporate this method today!”

While he uses a structured approach to teaching, he notes that every student’s learning style and needs vary. He explained, “I seek to adapt to all types of learning. The most important ingredi-

ent to success is finding a way to connect with each student. Once I get to know them, I try to become their biggest support.  The belief that I have in them provides the confidence to achieve way beyond their expectations. The bond that exists between the student and teacher is very unique - and the nachas (satisfaction) that I feel with each bar/bat mitzvah is what keeps me going!”

Frankel has tutored many twins and many brother/sister/cousins/friends b’nai mitzvahs and has helped prepare adults who never had a bar/bat mitzvah or who never had the opportunity to read Torah/Haftorah. He added, “I had one brilliant student who was handicapped since near birth. The parents were skeptical if she could have a bat mitzvah. She

turned out to be one of my best students!”

Delineating parents’ roles, he said, “I always tell the parents that they have no responsibility in this learning process. It is my job to prepare each student and to make sure that they adhere to the process. Many students have some period in their preparation where their motivation wanes. This is a real challenge for me!”

If coaching for the English D’var Torah is needed, David defers to the child’s rabbi or Frankel’s brother, Danny, who, according to David, “is the real scholar.”

Frankel receives compensation for his service, but if a family is unable to pay, he waives any charge. An avid sportsman, Frankel plays golf, softball, tennis and pickleball. His “true sports love” is baseball. ì

David Frankel coached the 2024 Maccabi Atlanta 16U baseball team to a gold medal in Detroit last year.

Dr. David Frankel teaches Manny Pargman in 2018 in his dining room // All photos by Sees The Image Photography

The Frankel family took a “roots” trip to South Africa in 2023. Pictured are Shana, David, Ariel, Jody and Micah. Not pictured are oldest son, Adam, Miriam Leah (his wife) and his kids: Nechama Zissel, Epraim, Sara Vichna, Eliezer and Shlomo Zalman.

What’s New at Sleepaway Camp for 2025?

It’s never too early to start planning for summer vacation, especially when those plans involve sleepaway camps. Below you’ll find a selection of updates from your favorite summer sleepaway camps. From upgraded facilities to expanded staff resources for mental health, this is shaping up to be a summer to remember!

Camp Barney Medintz

Camp Barney Medintz is excited to introduce an integral enhancement to our camper support system, even further strengthening our commitment to community and camper care.

We are proud to announce the creation of a role on our year-round team dedicated to community care. Emily Shapiro, who has been a vital part of Camp Barney since 2008, evolving from camper to staff member to assistant director, steps into this new role focused solely on social, emotional, and mental well-being. With an advanced degree in clinical social work and a specialization in disability studies from the University of Georgia, Emily is uniquely positioned to provide ongoing support to our campers and their families. Emily will work closely with campers, parents, and guardians – not just during the summer months – but throughout the year to ensure campers are set up to have an impactful and positive camp experience. She will also supervise our inclusion and community care teams who are onsite all summer, fostering seamless collaboration and ensuring that every camper’s mental, social, and emotional needs are met both during the summer and beyond. This year-round approach strengthens our ability to provide personalized care and enhance the overall camp experience.

“The Den” remains an integral part of our community care program. This sensory cabin serves as a calming space for campers, using proven methods to help them process emotions, recharge, or learn coping skills. It also serves as the headquarters for our on-site community care team during the summer, ensuring immediate access to professional support.

At Camp Barney Medintz, our mission is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every camper can thrive. With the addition of a year-round team member dedicated solely to community care, we are better equipped than ever to meet the diverse needs of our campers and provide them with transformative experiences.

Camp Blue Ridge

Here in the breathtaking North Georgia mountains, Camp Blue Ridge is gearing up for another unforgettable summer—complete with some fantastic new additions that we’re thrilled to share with you!

First up, we’re proud to unveil our brand-new music pavilion! This beautiful space will be the new home for our guitar, keyboard, ukulele, drums, and vocal programs. The pavilion even features a roll-out stage, perfect for concerts where campers can show-

case their musical talents. Many of our campers arrive at Camp Blue Ridge as beginners, picking up an instrument for the very first time. By the end of the summer, they’re not only jamming in a band but might even find themselves center stage as the lead singer. We can’t wait to see our campers shine in this inspiring new space!

And that’s not all—we’ve given our cooking classes a flavorful upgrade! With allnew camp-themed recipes and upgraded ovens, this summer’s culinary program is bound to be a hit. Campers will also get hands-on experience preparing for special camp events, adding a whole new layer of excitement to the kitchen. And, of course, the famous Color War Bake-Off is back and bigger than ever. We can already taste the delicious creations our young chefs will whip up in their quest for victory!

At Camp Blue Ridge, we’re always looking for new ways to help our campers learn, grow, and discover their passions. This summer is shaping up to be our best one yet, and we can’t wait to welcome our campers back to the Blue Ridge family.

Camp Blue Star

We are pumped for summer 2025! Get ready for our big kitchen update with our new executive chef and her incredible culinary team. With brand new Color War and Maccabiah themes, we also have some new camp-wide, special day programs in store. If you love taking care of animals, you will be amazed with our brand-new, state-of-the-art Farm & Barn center. From newly expanded mountain bike trails to a new stage in our HeRo amphitheater, we are keeping on keeping on.

Camp Barney Medintz has created a new staff position on the camp’s yearround team dedicated to community care and campers’ mental health.

The mission of Camp Barney Medintz is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where every camper can thrive.

Camp Blue Ridge is always looking for new ways to help their campers learn, grow, and discover their passions.

If you love taking care of animals, you will be amazed with Camp Blue Star’s brand-new, state-of-the-art Farm & Barn center.

Camp Blue Star has expanded its camp favorite biking trails.

CAMP

Camp Coleman

This summer, URJ Camp Coleman is thrilled to introduce a variety of exciting updates that will enhance the camper experience and ensure that every participant has an unforgettable time. We’ve carefully crafted these changes to prioritize camper wellbeing, foster creativity, and create an overall fun and balanced atmosphere. Here’s a preview of what’s new at Coleman for Summer 2025:

Upgraded Aerial Circus Arts Program

One of the most exciting new additions to our camp offerings is the upgraded Aerial Circus Arts program. This program will take your campers to new heights— literally! We’ve enhanced our circus arts activities with state-of-the-art equipment and additional coaching to make this a truly exhilarating experience. Whether it’s learning the art of trapeze, aerial silks, or other circus disciplines, campers will have the chance to push their limits in a safe and supportive environment. The upgraded program will not only inspire confidence and strength but will also provide a fun and creative outlet for expression. This thrilling new activity is sure to be a highlight for our campers this summer.

Increased Staffing for Mental and Physical Health

At Camp Coleman, camper well-being has always been our top priority, and this summer, we’re taking it even further. We’re proud to announce increased staffing levels dedicated to both mental and physical health support. Our expanded team will include more counselors trained in mental health first aid, as well as additional medical staff to ensure a safe and healthy environment for everyone. Whether it’s providing emotional support or responding to physical needs, our team is here to ensure campers feel supported and cared for throughout their time at camp. This increase in staffing allows us to give each camper the attention they deserve, creating an even more positive and safe camp experience.

New Morning Snack for Taste of Coleman through Nachshonim

To kickstart the day with energy, we’re excited to introduce a new morning snack for campers in the Taste of Coleman through Nachshonim units. This snack break ensures campers are fueled and ready to engage in all of the fun, learning, and adventure that Camp Coleman has to offer. It’s just one more way we’re making sure our campers feel nourished and energized for the day ahead.

Camp Coleman has upgraded its Aerial Circus Arts program with state-of-the-art equipment and coaching.

In response to the hurricane that deeply impacted our community, Camp Judaea is introducing a Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) weekend.

CAMP

Camp Judaea

Camp Judaea is thrilled to unveil exciting updates for summer 2025! Rooted in Jewish values and set in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, our camp is always growing and innovating to ensure each camper has an unforgettable experience. Here’s what’s new this year:

Outdoor Cooking Studio

We’re adding a brandnew outdoor cooking studio where campers will learn hands-on culinary skills while connecting to nature. Campers will have the opportunity to master Israeli cooking recipes from start to finish with friends in this new space full of creativity and teamwork.

Enhanced Teva (Nature) Programming

Our updated Teva program offers even more opportunities for campers to explore all things Teva! Highlights include encounters with animals, guided hikes on our scenic trails, and engaging nature-based activities that deepen their connection to Israel, Judaism, and the natural environment.

Silent Disco Fun

Get ready to dance the night away with our brand-new silent disco equipment! This exciting addition adds fun new programming to our evening activities!

Tikkun Olam Weekend

In response to the hurricane that deeply impacted our community, Camp Judaea is introducing a Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) weekend. This meaningful initiative will engage campers in hands-on service projects, fostering a sense of responsibility and compassion while making a positive impact.

Camp Ramah Darom

Sababa Beach Camps

Sababa Beach Camps is excited to be returning to Israel this summer with a three-weeks-at-camp and three-weeks-in-Israel experience this summer for rising high school sophomores through seniors.

Sababa continues to offer the best beginner, intermediate, and advanced instruction in surfing, sailing, scuba diving, and ocean discovery. We are growing our Surf and Sai Plus programs to help campers who want even more lessons in their chosen specialties. This program allows for more individualized instruction in surfing and sailing.

We have hired an art educator to help our campers express themselves through art and use art as a spiritual outlet.

6 Points Academies

URJ 6 Points Sports Academy

Exciting things are happening at Camp Ramah Darom for Kayitz (Summer) 2025! Our brand-new program center will be ready, giving campers more indoor space for activities, including a multipurpose room, music rehearsal space, fitness center and dance studio. The waterfront is also getting a major upgrade with new docks, boats and water slides, making lake time even more fun! Older campers will have a slightly different schedule, allowing them to sleep an hour later and enjoy new free-time options. Our youngest campers will experience Sababa (Great), a new period where they can try activities like science, climbing and dance. Plus, we’re introducing a STEM chug (elective) filled with exciting hands-on projects. We can’t wait for an amazing summer!

Flag football was added to our sport major roster during Sessions 1 and 3; Gymnastics is now offered in Session 1 in addition to its typical Session 3 offering; we have added a camp rabbi to our summer team to raise the standard for Jewish life; Zoe Sellers joined the full-time team as the assistant director of engagement and operations.

URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy

Technical theater is the newest major at URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy, where campers will learn about lighting, set design, sound, costuming, stage makeup, prop management, stage management, and more.

Erin Levine joined the full-time team as the newest assistant director of engagement and logistics; Biology was added to the Sci-Tech workshop to evolve the offerings for our scientists, where campers will dive deep into the study of living organisms—particularly plants—through the scientific method; The Programming and Coding workshop will focus on Python programming language this summer.

URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy

Technical theater is the newest major at CAA, where campers will learn about lighting, set design, sound, costuming, stage makeup, prop management, stage management, and more; campers will enjoy a newly renovated arts center, including a newly renovated theater; parent tours will now be offered during Opening Day dropoff to allow families to immerse themselves in camp and enjoy the beauty of the Westtown School; Rookie Day will be bigger and better than ever, encouraging rising second- to fourth-grade campers to try out CAA on July 27, 2025, for a day full of activities and camp fun! ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

Rooted in Jewish values and set in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains Camp Judaea is always growing and innovating to ensure each camper has an unforgettable experience.

Camp Ramah Darom’s new program center will offer campers more indoor space for activities, including a multipurpose room, music rehearsal space, fitness center and dance studio.

Sababa Beach Camps offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced instruction in surfing, sailing, scuba diving, and ocean discovery.

Yehaskel Crafts Challah Boards, Guitars & More ARTS & CULTURE

By Chana Shapiro

Follow a stone path into the back yard of a family home on a quiet street in Toco Hills, and you will find a wellequipped, fully functioning woodworking shop.

This space is the creative domain of wood craftsman Josh Yehaskel. In that shop, a visitor spots unfinished guitars, new planks, salvaged wood, exotic woods of many natural colors (including purple), a mammoth piece of gorgeous driftwood, worktables, saws, and scores of interesting tools, all of them objects suggesting an owner who is a craftsman with extensive training and long experience. One would not guess that Yehaskel is practically self-taught and relatively new to woodcraft. His personal odyssey is a tale of boldly trying new things and welcoming challenges that have led to pleasure and innovation.

Yehaskel claims that he and his wife, Ilana, moved from New York “to avoid struggling with strollers up and down subway steps in the summer heat, just to reach a park.”

About a year after they bought a house in Atlanta, Ilana set her heart on an expensive Restoration Hardware-style bed headboard. Yehaskel recalls thinking, “It’s just wood. I could probably make this.”

He found the exact headboard reverse-engineered on the Internet, which allowed him to duplicate the headboard through following the steps by which it was made.

Yehaskel had not built anything before and had never used a power tool, yet he was determined to follow the plans, under the tutelage of his experienced friend, James, who taught him woodworking basics and loaned his tools. The headboard was successfully built! This considerable feat, created with his own hands, was just the impetus Yehaskel needed. He loved working with wood, and he was hooked.

To continue building, Yehaskel started by buying the same tools he and James had used—a miter saw and a drill. “I found other plans that seemed easy enough to follow: a desk, a table, a stepstool,” Yehaskel says. “Realizing how much fun I was having and how quickly I was outgrowing the limitations of building outside on a Sunday, I leaned into the hobby and created a space to allow me to really make some sawdust.”

Yehaskel, a New Jersey native who attended a Modern Orthodox Day School

and the Torah Academy of Bergen County for high school, also spent a few years as an EMT on the Fair Lawn, N.J. Volunteer Ambulance Corp. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University in New York, where he was student council president in his sophomore year, and for about three years he was in the Yeshiva Drama Society. He studied political science and sociology, with a focus on terrorism. For a time, he wanted to be a CIA analyst.

Yehaskel is the co-owner of Monarch Recruiting, where he works with media, entertainment and tech companies to help them build their teams. He spends his days on the phone and in front of his computer, so he treasures time in his own space, where he can work with his hands, pursue new ideas, and listen to classic rock, country, and classical music.

Yehaskel’s shop resonates with projects and possibilities; however, his oneof-a-kind challah boards have generated quite a buzz. Each board is sui generis; the board you designed for your own Shabbat table or given as a gift will be 100 percent unique.

“There’s something special about creating centerpieces of family gathering,” Yehaskel affirms. “Some people love how the knife marks create a patina representative of family events over time, while others prefer to use the ‘no show’ side for their cuts. Word has spread organically, mainly through people seeing my boards at Shabbos tables or through my workshop content on Instagram.”

Currently, a Yehaskel challah board ranges from $350-$400, depending on the species of wood and complexity. “Each piece is commissioned and custom-

made,” Yehaskel explains, “often starting with a shop visit or video chat to discuss style and select woods together.” He shares videos of the board’s step-by-step creation which encourages people to see “behind-the-scenes of their board being made from slab to Shabbos table,” generating an appreciation for the finished product.

Yehaskel’s favorite quote addresses the relationship between buyer and creator. “When buying from an artist/maker, you’re buying more than just an object/painting; you are buying hundreds of hours of failures and experimentation. You are buying days, weeks and months of pure joy. You aren’t just buying a thing; you’re buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a moment of someone’s life. Most importantly, you’re buying the artist more time to do something they’re passionate about.”

To avoid mistakes, every project requires careful planning and meticulous craftsmanship, especially true with the electric guitars Yehaskel builds. He notes, “I don’t even play, and I have zero musical ability, so when a guitar is completed, I bring it to a couple of talented guitarists whose feedback I greatly value.”

He got into guitar-making to find a new project that would push his skills, and which seemed daunting, even impossible. “Every guitar took me a month to complete, but I savored every minute. In making guitars, if I mess up a specific step of the build, I have to start over, which makes the endeavor pretty thrilling. My shop is littered with those mistakes. I keep them around to remind me never to make the same mistake again.”

Yehaskel sees his guitars as art that musicians can use to make their own art, “a really surreal feeling.” Technically, he considers the electric guitars his biggest challenge, with many steps that need to be executed perfectly and in exactly the right order. “That’s what makes it exciting,” he states.

Asked to name a favorite project, Yehaskel responds, “That’s tough. I make honeycomb boards for Rosh Hashanah that have sold out faster than I can make them, and I’m proud of that one because it was a unique idea of mine that I’ve never seen anywhere else. I’ve worked on so many meaningful projects, from integrating chuppah glass into a challah board for newlyweds to crafting a Shabbos candle tray for a bat mitzvah girl, using wood from Beth Jacob’s sanctuary renovation. Each project where I bring someone’s vision to life is the most satisfying.”

Is there other equipment he’d like to own? “The only upgrade I’m interested in is actually going retrograde. I’d love to find a drill press from between 1920 to 1959.” (note: it’s a device for drilling holes in hard surfaces like wood. The drill, held in a rotating spindle, bores into a clamped piece of wood). He adds, “Since drill press safety features haven’t changed much over the decades, you actually gain quality by going back in time. Plus, they look cooler and would really add to the shop’s vibe.” One might argue that the shop’s current vibe is already quite impressive, even without a vintage drill press!

Arrange to view Yehaskel’s work or visit his shop. Find him on Instagram @ Josh_Yehaskel. ì

Josh Yehaskel pictured with a handmade, hand decorated electric guitar.

Yehaskel’s shop includes an impressive assortment of tools for woodworking.

Chai Style Home

A Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Family Resort

Mira and David Liniado functioned as a team to transform an older ranch into a new construction house spanning 8,100 square feet, seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, with ample space for family and guests.

Mira said, “Our home reflects a clean, modern aesthetic with sleek lines and timeless finishes and incorporates authentic wooden beams sourced from Amish country in Pennsylvania and Brazilian Ipe wood on the front façade and the wooden deck off the back. I label the style ‘rustic modern.’”

David concurs, “As guests enter, they might say, ‘This house is modern, but it doesn’t feel stark and cold—it’s elegant, familiar and sparse at the same time.’ Hearing that reassures us that we achieved our goal. We went for a blend of classic and modern with stone accents, light colored brick that is not painted for less maintenance.”

The exterior has blue stone steps alternating with grass and large modern rocks for a natural feel (although not conducive to conquering in stiletto heels). The roof line combines flat areas with a low-pitched roof line to create a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired look.

Both Mira and David are native Atlantans. Mira runs Emuna Real Estate Group, specializing in helping families and individuals navigate buying and selling homes, while David is a serial entrepreneur, currently the president of Aces Yachting and founder of 19Y Advisors, supporting global projects for Fortune 500 companies and startups.

Share their energy bathed in natural light and designed room by room as a response to the space.

Marcia: Fill us in on the history of the house.

Mira: We purchased it as a ranch in 2014 and took two years to design our “perfect plan,” combining a love for modernism with a place that would be warm and inviting to raise our family. Basically, we started from scratch and built it.

As a 1950s ranch, the previous owner lived here for 50-plus years, but we saw the potential. The lot is at the end of a

dead-end street with tons of privacy and almost an acre, with 400 feet in depth providing a true “resort feel” outback.

David: We worked with Canonbury Homes and collaborated with their architect. The entire building process surprisingly only took approximately 10 months, more than half the amount of time that designing the plan took. A great example of how critical a vision and plan are before breaking ground.

Marcia: What drew you to your art and furnishings?

Mira: My favorite piece is the diptych in the dining room with muted neutrals which harkens to the Western Wall. We have several abstracts by Mia Stone. The floors are seven-inch white oak. Some unusual touches are the dining table which took 12 men to install. The primary bedroom has a sliding barn door that sets the office apart. We consulted with several interior designers, perhaps Brittany Odom more so.

David: Because we are Sephardic, our family has collected meaningful items from Egypt and Syria, adding layers of heritage. I like that the furniture is in neutral tones, tying in a serene

and cohesive atmosphere. The window expanse brings in natural light. One of the most eclectic things we have in the dining room is a Dogon ladder from Africa. Notched ladders are used by the Dogon people to access the upper levels of granaries, climb onto the flat roofs of houses, and bridge clefts in cliffs.

Marcia: How do you use the lower level?

David: It’s a hub of activity and relaxation with a home theater, gym, “big kid” hangout space, a cozy lounge area, basketball hoop, and ping pong area. We host tons of kids, and we feel so blessed that our kids and their friends love spending time here. It’s wonderful to see them enjoying the space while giving us the opportunity to “keep a close eye” on them.

Mira: David is being modest. Also, in the lower level is his extreme workout and training equipment and tons of medals that he earned completing triathlons, and marathons -- ranging from Idaho, New York City, Lake Placid … including five IronMans!

Marcia: How does the entertaining and cooking flow?

Marcia Caller Jaffe

Mira and David pose with labradoodle, Charlie, in their living area leading to the pool and western exposure out back // All photos by Howard Mendel

Mira: We love hosting, whether it’s big Shabbat meals, casual gatherings by the pool, or events with 200-plus guests for our kids or synagogue. Our kitchen is designed for seamless entertaining, with a large island open to the living space, a scullery, and a hidden pantry to keep everything tidy while hosting. The bar area features a wine cooling system and pellet ice machine. The indoor-outdoor flow makes entertaining effortless, allowing guests to enjoy both the pool area and the outdoor fireplace. Also, I have a “green thumb” and display my arrangements.

David: Mira’s best dishes are traditional Sephardic recipes, modern Israeli-inspired dishes such as Mujaddara -- a mix of lentils, rice and grilled onions, and stuffed grape leaves. We also enjoy my mother-in-law’s secret recipe for honey laden nutty walnut baklava.

Marcia: It’s been said that a husband/wife team doing a renovation brings on stress and angst.

Mira: David played an important role in the design process, particularly with creating functional spaces like the kitchen and outdoors, like the walk-out backyard area with an oversized pool, several deck areas, outdoor kitchen and fireplace hang-out area. While I leaned towards the more rustic and traditional look with clean lines, David’s input ensured we balanced aesthetics with practicality. Our tastes complement each other. Some say that building a home can be the hardest thing a couple does together. We love the process and are about to break ground on our next project.

Marcia: Last word …

David:  As we are always looking for ways to use the house to the fullest, here’s a fun nugget: we rented it out for season two of “Queens Court,” now airing on Bravo. See it there. ì

Above: The home exterior has blue stone steps alternating with grass, large modern rocks and Brazilian Ipe wood for a natural feel. exterior shots courtesy of Mira Liniado

Right: David Liniado is “fit as a fiddle” earning athletic medals – including five IronMans, and numerous triathlons and marathons.

Below: The glamorous primary bedroom in champagne tones has a custom sliding barn door to separate the office.

Above: The luxurious pool and yard depth lends a resort feel.

Below: The Liniados selected abstract art against alabaster walls and a modern black metal stair railing.

Left: Mira enjoys preparing traditional Sephardic dishes as well as designing her own floral arrangements.

FEBRUARY 1-14 CALENDAR

January 19 - February 2

Food Drive for Camp Jenny - Join Congregation Dor Tamid to help give children from Atlanta urban schools an opportunity to receive tutoring and support. Memorial Day Weekend the children attend Camp Jenny at Camp Coleman for hiking, sports, team building, arts & crafts, attention from big brothers and sisters, and lots of encouragement for the future. We need foods that kids can make themselves such as Ramen cups, mac and cheese cups, oatmeal packets, canned soup, peanut butter/ cheese crackers, and granola bars.

Saturday, February 1

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

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

Senator Ron Wyden, It Takes Chutzpah – 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. “It Takes Chutzpah” chronicles Senator Ron Wyden’s remarkable political career. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at just 31 years old after spending his 20’s advocating primarily for seniors. In his four decades in Congress, Wyden has sponsored some of the most consequential laws for our society and his new book takes readers behind the scenes to see how these battles were won. Purchase tickets through MJCCA at https://www.atlantajcc.org/

Sunday, February 2

The Spirit of Victory - 10:30 a.m.to 12 p.m. Join Chabad Intown for “The Spirit of Victory,” Stories of Courage, Faith & Sacrifice from the Frontlines. Lt. Col. Daniel Jacobs was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After his success in the IDF Special Forces, Daniel became an officer and led his soldiers in the Intafada war. Since Oct. 7, he has commanded 600 soldiers, spending two months in Gaza. Daniel is a dynamic and skilled communicator with an intimate knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing Israel today.

How to Deal with Family Estrangement

- 11 a.m. Are you estranged from members of your family? Are you having problems coping? Feeling sad or angry? Join Congregation Dor Tamid for a discussion with Rabbi Beiner from JF&CS. She will share research, resources and anecdotes as we look for ways we can cope with family estrangements.

HGA Myrtle Wreath Honorary Awards

– 11:30 a.m. Hadassah Greater Atlanta honors community leaders with the Myrtle Wreath Award. For decades, Hadassah’s highest honor, the Myrtle Wreath Award, has been given across the country to those who have made significant contributions to their community. Hadassah Greater Atlanta is proud to honor the following recipients: Phyllis Mayson Cohen, Myrtle Wreath for Leadership, Rita and Bill Loventhal, Myrtle Wreath for Philanthropy, and Esther Feuer Panitch, Myrtle Wreath for Advocacy.

Young Philanthropy Fellows: Cohort 2 Session – 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Welcome to the Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s hands-on fellowship for Jewish youth. This fellowship program enables Jewish teens in Atlanta, ages 13-15, to truly affect change in the local community. Learn more at https://tinyurl. com/232828vy.

Keshet - North Fulton - 4 to 5:30 p.m.

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

Thursday, February 6

You+2 Antisemitism Panel – 7 to 9 p.m.

AA’s Antisemitism Committee welcomes you, extended family, and friends of all faiths who stand with the Jewish people and Israel to join us for a panel discussion on antisemitism, Israel, and media coverage. The program will feature a conversation with three panelists, including Anat Sultan-Dadon (Consul General of Israel), Dov Wilker (regional director, American Jewish Committee), and Josh Levs (award-winning broadcast journalist, fact-checker, and host of “They Stand Corrected” podcast), moderated by Lisa Cohen (journalist and media consultant).

Friday, February 7

Tu Bishvat – Shishi Israeli - 6:30 p.m. You’re invited to a special community Shabbat dinner in celebration of Tu Bishvat! Join the Israeli-American Council (IAC) for a meaningful evening of connection, delicious food, and family-friendly fun.

Saturday, February 8

Shabbat Together - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Join Congregation Or Ve Shalom for a Kavanah minyan and children’s services followed by Kiddush lunch. Learn more at https:// tinyurl.com/3jnazd5e.

Shabbat Shirah - 7 to 9 p.m. As we face uncertain times, this year’s Shabbat Shirah concert unites two cultures steeped in rich traditions of fortitude and freedom, resilience and hope. Along with Congregation Bet Haverim’s nationally acclaimed chorus and band, the program will showcase Lapidus & Myles as well as Gospel singers.

Sunday, February 9

Bubbles and Giggles Bubble Show –10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Step into the enchanting world of Bubbles & Giggles– a mesmerizing bubble show designed specifically for preschool age families! Join our bubbly host, Anastasia, as we embark on a whimsical journey filled with magical bubbles of all shapes and sizes. Watch in awe as the air comes alive with shimmering rainbows and floating wonders, captivating the imagination of your little ones.

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

MJCCA & Neranenah Present Comedy for Peace – 7 to 9 p.m. Join the MJCCA and Neranenah for a night of laughter with a purpose at Comedy for Peace (CFP)! No politics. No judgment. Just lots of laughs. CFP brings the best Jewish, Christian, and Muslim stand-up comedians together for an inspiring and unforgettable evening of laughter. The comedy troupe embraces tolerance and unity and proves that we can make a difference in the world, using humor to foster understanding and unity. Let’s laugh together for a better world!

Tuesday, February 11

An Evening In Conversation with Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join the Zalik Foundation for a discussion on the limits of Tikkun Olam and the power of Jewish peoplehood: where we’ve strayed in our mission and a plan to get on track.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Bo Friday, January 31 Light Shabbat Candles at: 5:50 PM

Saturday, February 1 Shabbat Ends: 6:47 PM

Torah Reading: Beshalach Friday, February 7 Light Shabbat Candles at: 5:56 PM

Saturday, February 8 Shabbat Ends: 6:54 PM

Torah Reading: Yitro

Friday, February 14 Light Shabbat Candles at: 6:03 PM

Saturday, February 15 Shabbat Ends: 7:00 PM

Empowering Parents: Navigating the College Admissions Process - 6:30 to 9 p.m. Are you ready to guide your high schooler through the college admissions journey with confidence? Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jump Spark for the second annual Empowering Parents: Navigating the College Admissions Process, an informative and engaging program tailored for parents of high school students in grades 9-11. Gain invaluable insights from top experts in the field. You’ll leave with practical tools and knowledge to help your teen navigate this critical milestone.

Tu B’Shvat Woodworking Night - 7

p.m. Celebrate Tu B’Shvat—the New Year for Trees—with a creative and hands-on woodworking experience with special guest, Brendan Pozsgai!

Thursday, February 13

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

Friday, February 14

B’teavon - B’teavon is a 4-day culinary exploration through the tastes, history, diversity and connections of all things Jewish food culture developed in partnership with The Gefilteria (co)LABS at Ramah Darom. This is an adult program welcoming guests age 21 and up.

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

Scholar in Residence Dovid Taub - 6 to 9 p.m. Join Chabad Intown for a warm and welcoming community Shabbat dinner with scholar-in-residence Dovid Taub!

Valentine’s Day Singles Shabbat Dinner - 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Single on Valentine’s Day? Celebrate Shabbat with Kibbitz & Konnect! We’re hosting dinner for our entire Kibbitz & Konnect community. Optional services will be followed by dinner. Seating by age group. Dinner & wine included in ticket price.

to

KEEPING IT KOSHER

White Chocolate and Blueberry Bundt Cake

Ingredients

Batter

3 large eggs

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons vanilla sugar

2 and 1/3 cups Glicks Flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup Gefen Almond Milk

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 and 1/2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries

1 cup white chocolate chips

Streusel

1/2 stick margarine, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup Haddar Brown Sugar

2/3 cup Glicks Flour

Glaze

1 and 1/2 cups Gefen Confectioners’ Sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon oil

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Prepare the streusel: Place ingredients into a resealable bag and mix until it becomes a crumby consistency. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine eggs, oil, and sugars until light and fluffy, about five minutes.

4. Add the flour, baking powder, and baking soda, and mix until just combined.

5. Then add the milk and lemon juice and mix until fully combined.

6. Fold in the blueberries and white chocolate chips.

7. Line the bottom of a Bundt pan and spray the sides. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle the streusel on top.

8. Bake for 50–60 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

9. Allow to cool.

10. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze: Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix until smooth.

11. When cool, remove from pan and drizzle the glaze on top.

Recipe by Pessi Piller kosher.com

and photography by Chay Berger

JOKE

The Plane

A rabbi and a priest are the lone passengers on a plane. Suddenly, the plane’s engines conk out. Immediately, the priest grabs the only parachute and jumps out.

The pilot asks the rabbi, “How will you survive?”

The rabbi answers, “Don’t worry about me, the priest took my tallis bag by mistake.”

YIDDISH WORD

Piddle kemfer

n. A person who devotes himself to minor, often ridiculous causes.

“Max is gathering signatures for his homeless guinea pig initiative. He’s a regular piddle kemfer.”

From the Yiddish “kemfer,” meaning “fighter.”

Styling

BRAIN FOOD

Isolated Dwellings

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

Difficulty Level: Medium

ACROSS

1. They might fall out of trees when it’s cold in Florida

8. Iconic celebrity dog

14. Israelis might wear them to a wedding

15. “___ corrected”

16. Andy Dufresne or Hannibal Lecter, e.g.

17. Key ideal in a marriage

18. Kohein Gadol who was also a shofet

19. “Oily” moshav near Jerusalem

20. Be the pilot

25. “Did NOT need to know that”

26. Montreal Canadien, familiarly

29. Learning locale

31. ___ bid

33. Mollify

34. Court paper

36. 1990 film classic....or an alternative title for this puzzle

40. British “Thank You” singer

43. Plants anew

46. Van Gogh classic

49. Neighborhood that grew into the city of Tel Aviv

50. 1980s Atari alternative, briefly

51. Pretend to be

53. Secular spelling of a Shas member

54. Holiest location in Judaism

56. Org. known for its tree work

58. They’re more lenient in the Mishna

60. Gum option

64. Bagel option

65. Sounded like an old floor

66. Recurrent themes

67. Wemby and The Joker, for two

DOWN

1. “Makes sense now”

2. Street feature, circa 1900

3. Discourteous

4. Abbr. on tubes of toothpaste

5. Some look forward to one on Shabbat

6. Drink in a chalet?

7. Yavne to Hebron dir.

8. Composer Franz

9. “That’s ___!” (“Too bad!”)

10. Spend an evening at home

11. Great Rav Baba

12. ___ words (that is to say)

13. Oilers, on NHL scoreboards

21. Certain potatoes

22. With a bow, to the orchestra

23. Kosher taste?

24. East, in Spain

27. Director Aster

28. Adoptive daughter, in a sense

30. “... ___ pin drop”

32. Extract, as a splinter

35. Where judgements are made

37. Start of the third parsha

38. Division of Labor, briefly

39. Brain surgeon’s sci.

41. It’s all the rage?

42. Even more of a dreamboat

44. Many a corny pun

45. Movie without stars?

47. Part of a cold-weather cap

48. Crook’s plan

52. “Tall” accounts

55. Furthermore

57. Pogs, Furbys, et al.

59. “The buck stops here” pres.

60. Email option, for short

61. Word between “facts” and “facts”

62. Variety of Buddhism

63. Pareve milk source

OBITUARIES

Alice Becker Berman

94, Atlanta

After 94 years of life, Alice Becker Berman passed away on Jan. 21, 2025. Alice was born on Sept. 1, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to Moishe and Ethel Becker. Alice and her sister, Leah, grew up closely together as their mother died at a young age. Her parents were deeply dedicated to the rights of workers; the family was active in supporting workers’ rights to unionize to protect jobs and income.

She met David Berman when she was 22 through his sister, Lucille. In 1953, David and Alice were married, and David’s work soon took the new family to Ithaca, N.Y., where Dave taught at the Ithaca College School of Music for 35 years. They had three boys: Steve, Michael, and Daniel.

While raising her young family of three boys, Alice decided to earn her degree and she matriculated part time earning her B.A. in speech therapy and, soon after, earning her master’s degree from Ithaca College. Alice then worked in the Ithaca Schools as a speech therapist. After many years of teaching, she decided to change careers and became a residential real estate agent where she quickly became one of the more prolific agents in town.

Alice and David built a family for their three sons Steve (Gita), Michael (Judy), and Daniel (Lauren) that reflected the same set of values their parents had modeled for them back in the immigrant days of Chicago. Social justice was a dominant theme in the family. The family co-founded the Ithaca Association for Jewish Studies, a weekly Sunday School for Jewish students to learn about Jewish history and values, and she enrolled her children in Young Judaea, a Zionist youth movement in which they are still active. Alice and David took the family to Israel for a year sabbatical in 1965 and, later, the family became very active in the fight to secure freedom for embattled Jewish brothers and sisters in the Soviet Union.

In 1989, Alice and David retired to Sarasota, Fla., where they continued their activities in the Jewish community. They were co-founders of the Congregation for Humanistic Judaism of Sarasota. David led the choir, and Alice was one of the lead singers. They were also active in Americans for Peace Now and never missed an opera show, Broadway play, or symphony concert in the years they lived in Sarasota.

Alice’s greatest joy was her eight grandchildren: Mara, Aviva and Shira Berman; Oren and Noah Berman; and Eitan, Gil, and Matan Berman. She would regularly take them on trips, host them for a week for her infamous “Camp Bubbie,” and visit them while they were in college. The eight grandchildren have already grown to 10 greatgrandchildren with surely more to come.

Alice and David enjoyed a beautiful marriage of 71 years together. She had an incredibly adventurous spirit and organized trips for the two of them all over the world. She was a devoted wife until the end, always being his best advocate for medical care. The two of them served as role models for the rest of the family on how to keep a lively, loving marriage and family.

In 2019, Alice and David moved to Atlanta to be closer to family. Although these years were difficult with COVID and aging, she enjoyed simple pleasures and relished in visits by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of Yiddishkeit, the importance of family, and not being afraid to tell it like it is. She will be missed by all who knew her. May her memory serve for a blessing.

Please direct donations in honor of Alice’s life to the following organizations: Young Judaea, Red Tent Abortion Fund, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Milton Frank 86, Atlanta

Milton “Butch” Frank III, MD, husband of the late Cookie Arnovitz Frank, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 13, 2025. He was born April 19, 1938, to Milton Frank Jr. and Zimmie Wise Frank, of Huntsville, Ala.

Butch was a Renaissance man. In his formative years, he joined the National Boys Choir, earned the Eagle Scout Award, excelled in football, and was high-school valedictorian. He attended the University of Alabama on a football scholarship and was Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant’s first fullback and linebacker for the Crimson Tide in 1958. As a premed student, he was a fraternal member of Zeta Beta Tau, achieved membership into the prestigious honorary societies Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa, and was president of Jasons Society.

He caught the eye of Cookie Arnovitz and began their over 60-year love affair. Butch received his medical degree at Vanderbilt University, trained in internal medicine at University of Washington, and completed a fellowship in cardiology at UAB. Butch served in the Army’s medical corps during Vietnam and was stationed at Fort McPherson in Atlanta. Butch spent his entire medical career in Atlanta where he was a founding partner in the Laureate Medical Group, and the team physician for the Atlanta Hawks for 25 years. He took so much pride in practicing medicine, providing excellent care by active listening and thorough exams and served as a mentor to many younger physicians at Emory University and Grady Hospital. Additionally, he volunteered his time at Camp Barney Medintz every summer for 30 years as camp doctor and was active and committed to the Marcus Jewish Community Center throughout his life.

Butch treated every human with kindness and compassion and knew no stranger. Butch’s spiritual journey was enriched by his love and respect for The Temple, its clergy and community. Butch is predeceased by his wife, Cookie Arnovitz Frank, his parents, Milton Frank Jr. and Zimmie Wise Frank, and his brother, Morris “Buster” Frank. He is survived by his children: Amy Sue and Neal Maziar, Buddy Frank and Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel, and Steven and Ivy Frank; his grandchildren - Megan and Adam Kaye, Jake and Stephanie Maziar, Hailey Jane, Madelyn, Lila and Charlee Frank; and his great-grandson - Mitchell Adam Kaye III. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Temple and Camp Barney Medintz. His funeral service was held on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at The Temple. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Anita Freedman

98, Atlanta

Anita Freedman passed away peacefully on Jan. 19, 2025, in Atlanta at the age of 98.

Anita was born in Atlanta, Ga. on Sept. 22, 1926, to Max and Mae Fagelson. Anita enjoyed a warm and happy childhood with older sister, Yvette, making memories surrounded by family in Atlanta and across the southeast. Anita graduated from Girls High School in Atlanta and attended University South Carolina.

Following college, Anita met her beloved husband and soulmate, Sidney Freedman, on a blind date, after which, they married just months later. Together they built a beautiful family — five children — and traveled the world together, everywhere from Laos, China, and Vietnam to Italy, France, and Israel. They were married for 68 years when Sidney passed away in 2016.

Anita also was an active member of the Atlanta Jewish community, first as a congregant of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and then Etz Chaim. She was also a member of Hadassah and ORT. But perhaps what she was most famous for was her weekly Shabbat dinners that brought her enormous family together every Friday night to enjoy delicious homemade soups, challahs, dishes and desserts. An avid and well-trained home chef, one of Anita’s love languages certainly was food. Holidays at her house were marked by the gentle aroma of kreplach, challah and tzimmes, and family members also savored their birthday Shabbat when they would choose the menu that week. She loved bringing her family together in these moments and relished the opportunity to create memories and traditions around the Jewish holidays.

Anita also was an experienced mahjong player, active in stock club for many years, and served as a loyal Hawks fan, even if just in support of Sidney.

Anita was predeceased by her daughter, Linda Idelson (Charles), and is survived by her daughters, Peggy Freedman (Larry), Sandra Freedman (Mac), Kathy Schwartz (Herb), and her son, Ken Freedman (Robyn), as well as her niece, Debbie Shuping (Andy), as well as grandchildren, Ileanna Digiacinto, Jennifer Idelson, Monica Green (Aaron), Melissa Bank (Shaun), Michelle Nance (Patrick), Margaux Gutierrez (Jared), Erica Nooromid (Michael), Chaim Schwartz (Menucha), Hilary Freedman (Michael), Morgan Dolezal, Valerie Shuping (Sam) and Graham Shuping (Harley) and 26 great-grandchildren.

The family also wishes to thank Anita’s caregivers for their loving and dedicated care and support. They very much have become family.

Graveside funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Ga. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anita’s memory to Chabad of Downtown Roswell 1036 Canton Street, Roswell, Ga. 30075,  www.chabaddtr.org/, Congregation Etz Chaim, www.etzchaim.net, 1900 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, GA 30068, or Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway, Atlanta, GA, 30328.  Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Alan Friedman

78, Parsippany, N.J.

Alan Friedman, 78, of Parsippany, N.J., passed away Jan. 20, 2025. Alan was a C.P.A. and veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves. He received his MBA from C.C.N.Y. in 1967, and retired as president and C.E.O. of Envios De Valores La Nacional Corp. He previously served as chief financial officer of both Western Union and MoneyGram. Pre-deceased by his first wife, Elaine, in 1984, Alan leaves his wife of 30 years, Linda, daughter, Diana Cole (Eric) of Johns Creek, Ga., son, Matt (Tracy) of Mass., grandchildren, Ethan, Sasha, Briana, Eli, and Leo, and his brother, Edward.

Services were held at 11:30 a.m., Jan. 22, 2025, at J. L. Apter Memorial Chapels, located at 486 Pompton Ave. in Cedar Grove, N.J., with interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Alan’s name to the ASPCA.

Blanchette Ichay 92,

Atlanta

Blanchette Ichay, 92, of Atlanta, passed away Jan. 11, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rabbi S. Robert Ichay, brother, Benny Leiberman, and sisters, Janet Sanenz and Gizel Zamero. She is survived by her son, David Ichay, granddaughter, Megan Ichay, and brother, Henry Leiberman (Fanny).

Blanchette was born and raised in Switzerland. She met Robert when he was completing his rabbinical education in France. They moved to England around 1957 and then to Salisbury, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). In 1969, they immigrated to the United States where Rabbi Ichay began his career at Or VeShalom as an assistant rabbi. Blanchette became and stayed active in synagogue life, Hadassah, and the Jets Program. She worked as a French/English translator and enjoyed painting. She especially loved spending time with her granddaughter and son and other visiting family.

Funeral services were held 11:30 am on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Congregation Or VeShalom with Rabbi Joshua Hearshen officiating. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Or VeShalom. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Joan King

79, Sandy Springs

Joan King passed away peacefully at her home in Sandy Springs on Jan. 20, 2025. Joan was born on Sept. 13,1945, in Worcester, Mass. She was the devoted daughter of Anne and Fritz Eden. Joan was the valedictorian of her high school and attended NYU on a full scholarship where she studied German and math. Joan met the love of her life, Stephen while at NYU and they were married in 1966.

Joan worked as a computer programmer for 18 years at AT&T and eventually went on to earn her MBA from Georgia State University. Joan was a founding member of Congregation Etz Chaim where she served on numerous committees through the years. Joan was incredibly witty and creative, wrote poems with ease, was a great cook, created beautiful mosaic art, had a heart of gold and had a joyous laugh. Joan never had a harsh word for anyone and would help anyone in need anytime. She was adored by her family and her friends who were like family. She is survived by her loving husband Stephen, her children, Lisa Coleman (Bryan), and Traci Thaler, and her granddaughters, Grace, Jolie, and Mitzi.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, at Etz Chaim Synagogue. Donations can be made to Congregation Etz Chaim. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Irwin Morton Levine 92, Dunwoody

Irwin Morton Levine, 92, of Dunwoody, Ga., died peacefully at home on Jan. 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and extraordinary mementos and art, symbolic of a fruitful life well lived.

Born on April 18, 1932, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Jack and Fannie Levine, Irwin, often affectionately referred to as “Irv,” grew up in Vidalia, Ga. Irwin attended and graduated from the University of Georgia with a business degree. He later joined the United States Air Force, serving his country with distinction, rising to the rank of lieutenant during which he was recognized by his commanding officer for his first-rate analytical skills. These skills would prove to serve him well professionally.

After Irwin’s honorable discharge from the service, he attended and obtained his law degree from Emory University and entered private practice in Atlanta, lasting over four decades. Irwin was well known as a compassionate, resourceful, fierce and creative advocate for the marginalized communities he served and respected by his fellow attorney peers and judges alike for his relentless pursuit of justice for his clients.

To say that Irv was a true Renaissance man does not begin to do him justice. He traveled the world - both near and far and, in the process, collected beautiful, bright and expressive works of art from different cultures, making friends in the process across the globe. Not only did Irv derive immense pleasure from his travels, but also from delving into a variety of ethnic foods, both of which he shared with his loved ones.

He was a longtime member of Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, where he took great pleasure in the sense of community and spirituality.

Irwin was an activist throughout his life. He opposed war and was a proponent of peace, so much so that he routinely wrote letters to political, community and religious leaders and the United Nations sharing his views and ideas on how to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

Above all else, Irv’s greatest achievement was his family of four children, his beloved wife, Cathey, and her children, his grandchildren and their loyal-beyond-words dog, Huck, and countless pet dogs he doted on throughout the years. This full family shared in Irv’s love of tennis, snow-skiing, traveling and everything culinary.

Irwin is predeceased by his loving younger brother, Stanley Levine. Survivors include his beloved wife, Cathey Steinberg, children, Melanie Levine, Jennifer Grosshandler and spouse, John, Sam Levine and spouse, Darlene, Kenneth Levine and spouse, Stacy, stepchildren, Lauren Silberman and spouse, Keith, and Jill Bhan and spouse, Vikram. Irwin is also survived by nine grandchildren: Max, Lev, Jess, Chazzie, Sara Ann, Rachel, Jay, Andrew, and Kira as well as many beloved Levine and Goodrich cousins, nieces, and nephews.

In what can only be described as a purpose-driven and “job well done” life, Irwin will be missed by friends, family and other loved ones whose lives he touched.

Funeral services were held at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Dr. NW, Sandy Springs, GA, on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 12:00 p.m. Immediately afterward, a procession continued to Crest Lawn Memorial Park, 2000 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA, for the burial. Shiva was observed at the home of Irwin and Cathey that evening, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be sent to Congregation Temple Sinai. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Andrew Cary Lipman

51, Atlanta

Andrew “Andy” Cary Lipman, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, friend, and tireless advocate in the fight against cystic fibrosis (CF), passed away on Jan. 17, 2025, at the age of 51. Born in Atlanta, Ga. Andy was diagnosed with CF at birth, a challenge that shaped his life but never defined his unrelenting spirit and can-do attitude. Andy’s journey was a testament to his courage and positivity. He defied medical expectations and lived far beyond his initial prognosis. Inspired by the memory of his sister, Wendy, who passed away as an infant due to CF, Andy was known as a leader, a hero and a warrior in the CF community. He lived a meaningful life of service in his tireless quest to improve conditions for people around the world living with CF.

Andy’s deep roots in Georgia shaped his identity. He was a proud graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, an active member of Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) fraternity, and an Alumni Board Member of the Terry College of Business. Andy was a passionate sports fan who bled red and black for his beloved Georgia Bulldogs and cheered fervently for the Atlanta Braves. His love of sports wasn’t just about the games; it was a reflection of his loyalty, optimism, and belief in overcoming obstacles.

A talented wordsmith, prolific author and inspirational public speaker, Andy gave voice and encouragement to the CF community through his books, including “Alive at 25: How I’m Beating Cystic Fibrosis, The Drive at 35: The Long Road to Beating Cystic Fibrosis,” and “The CF Warrior Project” series. These works share stories of resilience and hope, motivating countless individuals to live boldly in the face of adversity.

In honor of his sister, Wendy, Andy and his family founded the Wish for Wendy Foundation, which has raised nearly $5 million for cystic fibrosis research and support. His philanthropic efforts were a source of promise and progress for the CF community and his impact extended far beyond fundraising. Andy’s commitment was recognized globally, as he carried the Olympic Torch in 2001 and was featured on NBC’s, "The Today Show."

Of all of Andy’s amazing accomplishments, his greatest treasures were his family. He is survived by his devoted wife of 22 years, Andrea, their two beloved children, Avery and Ethan, his loving father, Charles Lipman, and his sister, Emily Lipman Mahar. He was predeceased by his mother, Eva Lipman, his grandmother, Nana Rose, and his mother-in-law, Roberta Valentine. Andy brought his trademark humor, love, wit and wisdom to every family member, valued friendship and individual he met.

As Andy often said, “I have cystic fibrosis, but cystic fibrosis will never have me.” His life embodied this mantra, showing the world how to rise above challenges with grace, determination, and an unyielding belief in the power of community and hope. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to go to the Wish for Wendy Foundation thereby ensuring Andy’s work to find a cure will continue.

Until his last breath, Andy was as generous as he was brave. He donated his organs to give the gift of life to others. In addition, his lungs will go to CF Research at the University of North Carolina, where his daughter, Avery, is a freshman.

Andy Lipman’s legacy lives on in every life he touched, every barrier he broke, and every warrior he inspired. Live your dreams, love your life. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Evelyn Rothstein Satisky

79, Raleigh, N.C.

Evelyn Rothstein Satisky, 79, of Raleigh, N.C., passed away on Jan. 1, 2025, at Rex Hospital, which is also the hospital in which she was born.

Born on June 20, 1945, in Raleigh, N.C., Lyn was the beloved daughter of Al and Sara Rothstein. She grew up in Raleigh and was a proud member of, and a leader in, Beth Meyer Synagogue and the greater Jewish community.

Lyn graduated from St. Mary’s School, where she was valedictorian, and from UNC Chapel Hill. Throughout her life, Lyn exemplified the values of kindness, compassion, and love. She was extremely devoted to and proud of her large family. She was also everyone’s favorite mom, at least partly because she kept everyone fully fed. She had an incredibly big heart, and she loved and cared for so many people.

Lyn is survived by her loving family: her loving and devoted husband of 59 years, Howard (with whom she had been with since the age of 15); her sons, Keith (Graham), Brian (Shelly) and Mark (Elana); her grandchildren, Jake, Luke, Aly, Jay, Ava, Brett and Chase; her brother, Gilbert (Margaret) Rothstein and sister, Harriet Karesh. She was predeceased by her parents, Al and Sara Rothstein. Her memory will forever be a blessing to all who knew and loved her.

A funeral service was held at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 at Beth Meyer Synagogue, followed by burial at Raleigh Hebrew Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Beth Meyer Synagogue, the Jewish Federation Greater Raleigh, or the charity of your choice.

Barry Paul Savransky

67, Atlanta

Barry Paul Savransky, 67, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer at his home in Atlanta, Ga., surrounded by his loving family. Born on July 25, 1957, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Morris and Terry Savransky, Barry was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend whose warmth and love touched everyone he met.

Barry attended Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in communications from Cleveland State University. He began his professional journey at the family business, Klausner Barrel Company, where he worked for over a decade before pursuing a new career path. For more than 25 years, Barry excelled as an executive recruiter, specializing in hospice and homecare, helping countless people find their dream jobs while providing care and compassion along the way.

Barry was a man who held his family closest to his heart. He was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of his children’s endeavors, a devoted lover of family pets, an avid tinkerer with DIY projects, and a passionate baseball fan who cheered on the Braves with unwavering loyalty. With his genuine kindness and magnetic personality, Barry had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel valued and special. He consistently put others before himself, exemplifying generosity and love in every aspect of his life.

Barry is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Kim; his children, Megan Savransky, Brandon Savransky, and Ashley (Steve) Hazel; his brother, Alan (Ceci) Savransky; his nephew, Michael Savransky; his niece, Ally (Walker) McKenzie; and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his dear parents, Terry Turner (Bubbie) and Morris Savransky (Poppy Moe - PM).

A commemoration of Barry’s life was held on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Breakthrough T1D formerly JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) or the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

Barry will be deeply missed for his kindness, humor, positive spirit, and unwavering belief that people will “do the right thing.” His legacy of love, laughter, and selflessness will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Lynda Epstein Schaffer 80, Atlanta

Lynda Epstein Schaffer, 80, of Atlanta, passed away on Jan. 22, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Lynda, a native Atlantan, is predeceased by her parents, Harold and Mildred Epstein. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Joel; her daughter, Ellen (Dan) Kathren of Richland, Wash.; her son, Steven (Rachelle) Schaffer of Johns Creek, Ga.; grandchildren, Joan and Mia Kathren, and Hadley and Jenna Schaffer; and her brother, Dr. Joel (Lyn) Epstein of Long Beach, Calif.

Lynda grew up in the Virginia Highland area of Atlanta, attending Morningside Elementary School and Henry Grady High School. She went on to the University of Georgia, where she was a member of Sigma Delta Tau sorority.

Lynda was deeply devoted to her family and friends, and she had a passion for traveling the world, especially cruising with her friends’ and loved ones. She also dedicated much of her time volunteering with ORT, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Little League sports and the PTA, always eager to support school activities.

Known for her incredible culinary talents, Lynda will be remembered for her cooking, especially her sugar-free baked goods, casseroles, and traditional Jewish meals. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice. The funeral was held on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at 3:30 p.m., at Arlington Memorial Park 201 Mt Vernon Hwy NW, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328. Rabbi Michael Bernstein of Gesher L’Torah will officiate, along with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman

86, Atlanta

Alvin Marx Sugarman, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, a beloved rabbi, and a dedicated public servant and leader of the Atlanta community, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones on Jan. 17, 2025.  Born on June 3, 1938, at Georgia Baptist Hospital to Helene Marx and Meyer Louis Sugarman, Alvin liked to say he was born on third base of the old Atlanta baseball park which began his lifelong love and devotion to his favorite team, the Atlanta Braves.

Growing up in Atlanta gave him great joy and a sense of pride in his community. He had a love of learning which began at Morningside Elementary and Grady High School, and continued with earning both his undergraduate and later Ph.D. degrees at Emory University. Alvin cared deeply about the relationships he formed with friends and maintained numerous close childhood friendships throughout his entire life.

He began his professional journey in the business world at Montag Inc. selling paper products, but his search for answers to life’s questions led him to Hebrew Union College and the rabbinate. Alvin served as senior rabbi for over 30 years at The Temple; the very place where he grew up, was confirmed, and attended services and Sunday School as a boy.

Alvin’s love story with Barbara Dee (née Herman), his wife of nearly 60 years, was one of true devotion. They met on a blind date in December 1964, and he proposed just five days later. Alvin adored Barbara and wanted the world to know, often expressing his love for her in heartfelt Facebook posts.

In midlife, Alvin became an avid runner, often running eight miles from his home to The Temple wearing his signature Hawaiian shorts. He delighted in sharing stories of delivering the invocation before running the Peachtree Road Race. He got a kick out of being called an “Academy Award winning Rabbi” and loved sharing that he was listed seventh in the credits of “Driving Miss Daisy,” where he played the role of Dr. Weil, the rabbi at The Temple.

Alvin believed deeply that we are all children of God, no matter what race, religion, color or creed. This conviction guided his actions and relationships, inspiring countless others with his kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to helping those in need. He ensured that not a single day passed without doing something to uplift someone else, and wherever he saw a need, he tried to fill it. Ahead of a deep winter freeze in Atlanta in 1984, he tirelessly spearheaded an initiative with The Temple’s lay leadership to find a solution for Atlanta’s homeless. Forty-eight hours later, the doors opened to what is now the Zaban Paradies Center, the first and only shelter in Atlanta for homeless couples. Following Zaban’s success, he called on churches in the Peachtree Corridor to join The Temple in establishing the Genesis Shelter (now called Our House), for homeless newborn babies and their families.

He was a member of The Atlanta Rotary Club and actively served on numerous boards throughout his career. Of particular importance to him in recent years was his work on Emory University’s Board of Trustees and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he was not only a member of the Board, but a patient.

Alvin was a passionate advocate for social justice, interfaith work, and civil rights, working tirelessly to build a more equitable and connected community.  His dedication was recognized with countless awards including the Martin Luther King Jr. Award, the Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee’s Selig Distinguished Service Award, and the Emory Medal, the highest honor Emory University bestows on its alumni. He was appointed by Gov. Joe Frank Harris to the first Georgia Human Relations Commission, was asked by Ambassador Andrew Young to dedicate the Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Jerusalem alongside Mayor Teddy Kollek, and worked alongside Hosea Williams to help lead the 1987 Forsyth County protests.

In spite of his intense focus on the community, Alvin made time for and cherished every moment with his family, offering them unwavering love, support, and laughter throughout his life.

Alvin was predeceased by his parents, his brother-in-law, Donald Herman and sister-in-law, Barbara Jean Herman. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Sugarman, his daughters, Lanie Kirsch (Greg) and Leah Siegel (Blaine), his grandchildren, Amanda Knock (Phil), Aaron Kirsch (fiancée Erica Thomas), Noah Siegel, and Ryan Siegel, sister-in-law, Carol Herman, brother-in-law, Floyd Herman, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and his extended family and friends who will forever carry forward his memory and legacy. Alvin Marx Sugarman’s life was a testament to the power of faith, love, and service. His memory will continue to inspire those who knew him and those whose lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing.

The family has requested that Alvin’s memory be honored with donations to Our House, The Marcus Center for Autism, and The Temple. A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 19, at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. The service will be livestreamed. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Philip Sunshine

94, Atlanta

Philip Sunshine, 94, an Atlanta native and respected member of the city’s business community for over 60 years, died on Jan. 19, 2025, at his home of glioblastoma. Philip was born Dec. 17, 1930, the youngest child of Harry Sunshine and Lillie Shemper, both immigrants from Russia who settled in Atlanta in 1921. A graduate of Bass High School, he went on to receive a degree in accounting from University of Georgia in 1952.

OBITUARIES

After serving in Denver, Colo., as first lieutenant in Air Force Intelligence, Philip returned to Atlanta in 1955. That same year he married Janet Kaminsky of Savannah and, by 1960, three children filled their loving home. He joined Sunshine Department Store, the retail business his parents had founded in 1925. With the company motto, “Sunshine for Everybody,” his father, Harry, had established the family’s spirit of generosity, providing customers with a free first-pair of shoes for their babies, lollipops for children receiving care at Grady Hospital, and raincoats for the crossing guards at Atlanta’s public schools. Over the decades, five stores opened in the metro Atlanta area.

Philip absorbed his parents’ formidable work ethic, setting an example for his own children, often saying “there are no shortcuts to success.”

He developed one of the first covered shopping malls in the city and eventually focused exclusively on commercial real estate. Fair-minded, and exceedingly optimistic by nature, Philip rented retail space to the city’s new immigrants, aware of the fact that his own parents had arrived in America nearly penniless. A “hands-on” landlord, he made the rounds to check on his tenants— driving Atlanta’s highways to be sure his properties were well-maintained until his retirement at 92.

Ever-active in civic affairs, Philip was president of the Retail Merchants’ Association in the 1970s, a life-long member of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue where, for many years, he was the notoriously witty M.C. for the monthly birthday breakfast, a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, a generous contributor to the Scottish Rite Hospital, Jewish Family Services, Weinstein Hospice, and many other organizations.

He was an avid golfer for 70 years and looked forward to his weekly gin game. Philip was predeceased by Janet Sunshine, his devoted wife of 57 years. In 2014, he found love again and married Mona Tekin Diamond, former Turkish Honorary Consul General for Georgia, who introduced him to Turkish culture and her community of friends in Atlanta and Turkey. They shared an active life of travel and companionship for over a decade, including the creation of the Sunshine Symposium, an international conference of cancer research, in partnership with Emory Winship Cancer Institute and Koç University Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.

She survives him, along with her three sons and their families. Philip was also predeceased by his eldest daughter, Paula Sunshine. He is survived by his children: Ilene (Robert Hamburger), Steven (Ann) Sunshine, and son-in-law, Bob Kagan; his seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Also predeceased by older siblings, Irving Sunshine, Shirley Levin, and Florence Bernes, Philip’s survivors include his brother-in-law, Allen (Charlotte) Kaminsky, sister-in-law, Dale (Zvi) Barzilay, and sisters-in-law, Ann Kaplan and Betty Jacobson.

True to his name, Philip Sunshine had a bright spirit. He will be deeply missed, but his integrity, sense of humor, and love of life will forever inspire those who were fortunate to know him. Funeral services were held 10:00 am on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 with Rabbi Rosenthal officiating. Private burial followed at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: City of Hope, Attn: Annual Giving, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, (https://www.cityofhope.org/giving/givehonor-or-memory); Jewish HomeLife, 3150 Howell Mill Road, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30327; Sunshine Symposium, checks payable to Emory University, mailing address: Emory University Office of Gift Accounting, Attn: Jennifer L. Morton, Suite 1400, 1762 Clifton Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30322, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

Robert M. Goldberg

West Point, 1982: University of Michigan Law School, 1990: Member of Wealth Counsel and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Accredited Veterans Administration Attorney

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THOUGHTS

Connection between Biblical Israel, Syria Runs Deep

We all remember from school that the two most ancient of the world’s civilizations are Egypt and Mesopotamia.

In fact, Syria, which is in between the two river valley civilizations, is just as old. The three cultures -- Mesopotamia, Syria and Egypt -- defined the Fertile Crescent, seminal to our study of the origins of much of human history. Abraham and Sarah traveled just that path, in their case moving east to west, through the Fertile Crescent, from the Mesopotamian Ur of the Chaldees down into Egypt, before settling in the Land of Israel.

Abraham and Sarah passed through Aram, roughly what became Syria, as they travelled that fateful path. At that

time, approximately 38 centuries ago, Aleppo and Damascus were already standing as towns. Aramaic (the language of Aram) would become -- after Hebrew -- the second language of the Jews, the first language of the Christians, and of many other peoples. The Aramaic alphabet would become the original writing system for almost all the alphabets of Asia. Eventually, it would be this Aramaic alphabet that would replace the older Paleo-Hebrew letters as the new Hebrew writing system for the Torah, the Jewish Bible, the Mishnah and Talmud, the siddur/machzor (prayerbook) much other rabbinic literature, and modern Hebrew today.

The Torah itself refers to the patriarch Jacob as a “wandering Aramean.” This could also refer to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. The matriarchs, Rebekah (wife of Isaac), Rachel and Leah (wives of Jacob) were themselves Aramean. The connections between the Biblical Israel and Syria were long lasting and very deep. The Torah teaches us that Abra-

ham’s servant, Eliezer, was from the Aramean town Damascus. According to tradition, Eliezer was the servant sent by the elderly Abraham to Aram/Syria to obtain a wife for his son, Isaac, from Abraham’s kinsmen.

King David, hundreds of years later, was very much involved in Syrian politics. The Jewish communities of Aleppo, Antioch and Damascus go back thousands of years. Syria, like Eretz Yisrael and the Levant, in general, was the subject of many invasions: in the Bible -- including the Babylonians, Egyptians and Persians; after Biblical times -- the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders, Ottoman Turks and others controlled the country. Syria became largely Christian and then Muslim --always containing Jewish communities that were sometimes thriving, sometimes struggling.

In the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire could not survive the First World War. The French received the mandate of the League of Nations to control Syria, which ended after World War II. With

the United Nations’ partition plan, which preceded the establishment of the State of Israel in 1947, the Syrian Jews were attacked, even suffering pogroms. Syria became the implacable foe of the State of Israel from its inception to the present -- joining the wars in 1948, 1967, 1973 and supporting terrorism of both the left (P.L.O.) and the right (Hezbollah) against the Jewish State. The Assads, both father and son, made common cause with revolutionary Iran against the West.

Now the dictatorial Assads are gone. The future of Syria is far from secure. Some of the rebel groups are, for us, as Americans and Jews, certainly suspect. But there is a real possibility that the future for Syria, after 13 years of civil strife, might be brighter; also that Israel, after more than 75 years of Syrian hostility, may finally have a neighbor to the east who is not an implacable enemy. The rapid changes in the Middle East which we are seeing this year represent both a great challenge but also, hopefully, a great opportunity for peace. May it be so. ì

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Actual residents catching up on the boardwalk.

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Rabbi Richard Baroff DD

Ready to Explore Jewish Summer Camp?

At Jewish overnight camp, kids discover who they are and who they want to become while racing across ziplines, jumping into lakes, singing around campfires, meeting their best friends and learning important life skills.

Thanks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and One Happy Camper, you might be eligible for up to $1500 off your camper’s first summer at one of these incredible overnight camps. For more information, email jewishcamp@jewishatlanta.org or reach out directly to the camp of your choice.