No 30, July 27 The Atlanta Jewish Times by Atlanta Jewish Times

PARENTING THROUGH BURGAS & AURORA ATTACKS Talking to Your Kids About Terrorism

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8 Av - 14 Av 5772, Vol. LXXXVII No. 30

THE Weekly Newspaper Uniting the Jewish Community for Over 85 Years

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

HALLIE’S HAIRCUT MITZVAH

Epstein Student Donates for Those Undergoing Chemo

PAGE 13

REMEMBERING THE PAST, EMBRACING THE FUTURE Congregation Etz Chaim’s Rabbi Paul Kerbel Travels Eastern Europe, Germany PAGES 16 & 17

FIDF LAUNCH! Young Leadership Holds Smash Event Page 10

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news

My Takeaway from Atrocity FROM THE PUBLISHER By Cliff Weiss

Publisher

s you know, last week there was a tragic attack upon Israeli tourists in Bulgaria.

It is difficult to discuss events like this with my 10-year-old son. He needs to understand some of the dangers in the world, but I do not want to scare him. I am sure that many of you have similar concerns. I want my son to be proud of his Jewish heritage; not live in fear because of it. After careful consideration, I decided to take this opportunity to focus on a positive aspect of this horrific event. This picture was taken at the scene of the attack shortly after the explosion. In the center of the photograph is one of the Israeli victims of the terrorist bombing; behind her are two medical staff members of the Mogen David Adom; and in front of her is an IDF soldier.

This scene was possible because within just a matter of hours, two Israeli Hercules airplanes landed in Bulgaria with 25 medical personnel and approximately 100 police and IDF members to provide the medical treatment and security for the injured Israelis. This is an amazing immediate response. There is probably no other country in the world that has both the ability and the commitment to assist its citizens on such short notice, regardless of time, location or circumstances. Think about it. In a time of crisis, there was no debate about whether they were Orthodox, Conservative, Reform or unaffiliated. Believe me, the terrorists did not care either. We are a community, and we take care of ourselves regardless of our differences. Yes, it is easy to say that we are American Jews and so we are safe, but history teaches us that we can never fully let down our guard.

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Yes, I am proud to be an American, but when I think about events like this, I am proud of Israel as well.

we should not wait for a tragedy to become involved in the Jewish community. .

This week also marks Tisha B’Av. As I recall all of the destruction and the atrocities committed against us – just because we are Jewish – my heart swells; with sadness, but also with pride. After all of the centuries of crusades, pogroms, inquisitions and exterminations, we are still here!

And that regardless of the bad

Granted, there are only about 14 million of us out of approximately 7 billion people worldwide, but we continue to survive. Our strength cannot be measured in size, but in our convictions and achievements. Here is the lesson that I will teach my son: that we have a proud heritage and that in times of need, we take care of each other, but also that

PROF. ROBBIE FRIEDMANN ASSESSES SITUATION, AFTERMATH By Suzi Brozman

AJT Contributor

n July 18, a Swedish citizen carrying a fake U.S. driver’s license allegedly boarded a bus full of Israeli tourists near Borgas, Sweden. Setting off a bomb, he killed at least five Israelis, most of them young people, all headed to a resort. Details are continuing to emerge as this is being written.

“I have two reactions,” Prof Friedmann said. “On a personal level, it’s disgusting and despicable. There’s no other way of describing the wanton murder by those who feel entitled to kill.

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An Atlanta Expert Comments on the Recent Terror Attack in Bulgaria

To try to understand how and possibly why this kind of event can happen, I called Robbie Friedman, Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University.

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publicity and undue scrutiny Israel might receive, the Jewish State is a great country and very good at protecting and caring for its people.

“On a professional level, it’s unfortunately a recognized pattern that has gone on for decades in the war against Israel. The terrorists choose targets that are soft and relatively easy to carry out attacks on. They want to have plausible deniability. “Look at the attempts of the past year in Turkey [March 2011], Bulgaria [January and again this week], Thailand [January, February], Azerbaijan [January]; India and Georgia [February]; Kenya [July]; and Cyprus [July]. It’s not that difficult to

have something in your backpack and get on a bus to harm unsuspecting civilians.” Friedmann also said that there are always discussions in the intelligence world about possible scenarios, but he doesn’t think the Mossad knew about this particular attack; otherwise, they would have warned Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev when they met with his government last month. “There are political ramifications to this type of event,” Prof. Friedmann said. “They can be gamechangers. Those in the business follow this closely.” But Israel, he says, knew immediately after the attack what was going on. Israeli intelligence experts pointed the finger at Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, which is already known to have instigated a number of recent attacks including those in Buenos Aires (1992 against the Israeli Embassy, and again 1994 against AMIA the Jewish Community Center). “These are the same people who tried to murder the Saudi Ambassador to the U.S.,” Prof Friedmann said. “Iran is the biggest supporter of terrorism that is state-initiated and also implemented by non-state actors that serve as their proxies.” Professor Friedmann, who is also Director of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange, is the author of several books and articles on terrorism and anti-Semitism.

AJT

news

A Jewish Parent’s Power Toolbox for Helping Kids Cope with Terror in News TALKING TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT VIOLENCE IN BURGAS, AURORA AJT Contributor

t was a tough week on the news ticker for parents. First came the heinous attack on an Israeli tour bus in Bulgaria, and that was followed only days later by the incomprehensible tragedy in Colorado. Questions of how to talk to our children about these headlines have weighed heavily ever since. How do we explain how a few moments of summer fun – a bus ride to a beach resort; a carefree night at the movies – could turn on a dime into a mass-murder scene? How do we reassure them that all movie theaters aren’t dark, scary places with deranged killers lurking in the wings? How do we help them grasp the reality that some terrorist acts specifically target Jews and Israel? As Jewish parents, we have a unique set of challenges. But we are also fortunate to have a unique set of resources in our rich Jewish tradition that can help us navigate even the most daunting of parental hurdles. The following suggestions – pulled straight from our “Jewish Parent Power Toolbox” – can provide

a purposeful roadmap toward helping your kids cope with terrorism and other difficult topics. • The Shema: “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.” The Shema is considered the most important prayer in the Jewish religion as it perfectly and succinctly reaffirms of our faith and connection with G-d twice a day. The imagery of terrorism our kids see on the TV, Internet and social media can make their world feel frightening and out of control. By saying the Shema, this sense of powerlessness is replaced by spirituality and belief in a higher power that will help guide and sustain us through good times and bad. • The Haggadah: The word haggadah means “a storytelling.” Sharing tales of overcoming hardship is part of our religion by design. From Passover to Purim and everything in between, we reassure our children of the power of perseverance and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life (MARIAL) at Emory University has shown this premise on a more scientific level. A long-term study by MAR-

IAL found that children whose parents told family stories at the dinner table had significantly better coping skills than those whose parents did not. • Tikkun olam: Repairing the world. Senseless acts of violence like these confirm that our world is indeed in need of repair. Joining forces with your child to pick up litter in a park, volunteer in a soup kitchen or doing other acts of tikkun olam can feel like your own little triumph over evil – a tiny step toward restoring that which was broken and tilting the balance scales toward good. • Tzedakah and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving kindness). There’s no doubt that the tragedies in Aurora and Bulgaria shake us to the core. But rather than focusing on the horror of what’s transpired, encourage your children (and yourself) to channel your energies into feeling compassion for the families that were affected by these tragedies by collecting tzedakah for Israel and making cards for the people in the hospital. Such activities can help facilitate the cognitive shift from fear to the healthier compassion.

• Instill Jewish courage. There is a beautiful Hebrew song based on the sage words of Rav Nachman of Breslov. “Kol haolam kulo gesher tzar m’od v’haikkar lo l’fahed klal,” it goes: “The world is a very narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to fear.” “Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the overcoming of fear,” writes Rabbi Harold Kushner. This is not to suggest that we encourage our kids to throw caution to the wind altogether. They should always be sensible and vigilant. But then it’s time to move forward - taking bus rides to the beach, munching popcorn at the movie theater, walking that inevitably narrow bridge with a zest for life and faith in the world’s ultimate goodness – make sure that you enjoy the journey together. Editor’s note: Sharon Duke Estroff is an award-winning educator and author of the popular parenting book, “Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?” (Random House). Her parenting articles appear in over 100 publications including Parents, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and the Jerusalem Post.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

By Sharon Duke Estroff

organics 101. More and more people are becoming fans of organic foods these days. Which is why you’ll find more organic offerings than ever in the Publix GreenWise Market sections of your neighborhood Publix. But if you’re still wondering what organics are all about, here’s the lowdown. Organic foods are produced without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, added antibiotics and hormones, genetic engineering and irradiation. They’re also minimally processed, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) strictly enforces proper production and maintains the following categories: “100% Organic” products contain only organically produced ingredients (excluding water and salt). “USDA Certified Organic” items contain 95% or more organic ingredients. “Made with Organic Ingredients” means that a product includes 70–94% organic ingredients. Some people say organic food tastes better. Some like the fact that organic crops are healthier for the land. Many people simply prefer food that’s completely natural and produced without chemicals. Whatever your reasons, if you appreciate what organic food has to offer, you’ll be happy with the many choices at Publix. Learn more at publix.com/greenwise.

Publix GreenWise Market Organic Apple Sauce is USDA certiﬁed organic.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

AJT

IF YOU ASK ME

Dear Young People of 2012 AD

It’s Time to Spread the New “Wealth”

A REQUEST: SLOW DOWN!

UN STUDY ON HAPPINESS YIELDS SURPRISING RESULTS

By Cliff Mazer AJT Columnist

– except minus hands (and thumb dexterity, too). Metaphorically speaking, I feel stuck at the starting line

Dear Young People,

while everyone else breaks out of the blocks with tremendous speed, agil-

ou know who you are. In

ity and endurance.

fact, unfortunately, if you

are reading this, you are

line on my technological stumps, a

probably NOT a part of

technological torso (and/or tortoise)

I’m sitting there at the starting

the group to whom I address this.

in a 400-meter race to the future of

everything.

I mean the young people who are

perpetually busy on their laptops,

iPhones, gaming systems; listening to

you down over the years for being stu-

dubstep remixes and mash-ups when

pid about history, current events, lit-

they are not working on their remark-

erature and do-it-yourself knowledge

able abs or doing yoga/pilates.

(such as how to fix a broken toilet,

about which you don’t have a clue).

Do you and your cohort of techno-

Okay, I admit it: I’ve put a lot of

philes with oversized texting thumbs

have ANY idea how difficult it is for

myself feel better because I have no

older people to stay current with the

idea what an “open source” is, what

rapid pace of technological change

quantum computing is about, or what

and innovation? It’s exhausting and

these information data “clouds” are

humiliating. Can’t we just take a

going to do for everybody. I just hope

break for a year or two?

it doesn’t rain all weekend so that I

can rake my yard.

Could I just call a short “time out”

Really, I was just trying to make

until I catch up with all the mobile

apps, urban dictionary terms and ac-

rake is either. It’s the weird device

ronyms for everything you hipsters

that came before the blower, another

and tech nerds take for granted?

thing you don’t use because you are

too busy taking over the world and

If it wasn’t for “South Park” and

my sons, I wouldn’t know anything.

I know, you don’t know what a

sharing your files instantly with

It’s irritating waking up and seeing

everybody.

a new term online, another major

change in how coffee is made or an

different.

I have a file cabinet. I guess that’s

innovative development in how one starts their car; this leaves me and my generation in the dust…again.

You know that South African guy,

the double amputee running in the London Olympics? Everyone is happy for him and feels proud of his accomplishment, and so do I.

Now, imagine him without his

“Blade Runner” prosthetic legs and feet. That’s how I feel technologically

P.S.: What the is a “mashup”?

Editor’s note: Cliff Mazer, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist who lives in Sandy Springs and has a thing for pirates. He has sons ages 26, 25 and 23.

By Noga Gur-Arieh AJT Columnist

fter rating the nations of the world mostly on a financial basis, the Earth Institute at Columbia University recently published the first-ever “World Happiness Report” at the request of the United Nations. The report contains information on various “happiness measurements” collected to create a “life evaluation score.” It provides a glance at how citizens of different countries grade their social status, political freedom, social networks, absence of corruption, mental and physical health, job security, family life, etc. After gathering all the data into 158 pages, the researchers provided lists of both the happiest nations and the unhappiest nations; the happiest place on Earth, according to this report, is Denmark, while the unhappiest place is Togo (a small nation in Africa.) The United States is ranked 11th, and Israel is in 14th place. I must say I was kind of surprised with the results. First of all, I was positive the happiest place on earth was Disneyland, and secondly, Israel’s placement so close to the U.S. – and in a pretty high spot – was news to me. We are under an everlasting security threat; we have a high rate of car accidents; the average temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit; we disagree with many governmental decisions; and most importantly, all we ever do is complain. The United States, on the other hand, is the land of opportunities. Whenever I visit, I feel like I am in a fairytale; all your dreams can be realized there! The American life has always appeared to us Israelis as idealistic and far better than ours; so either all those Israelis who participated in the study were planning their next trip to the States, or we are actually happy – almost as much as you Americans. Maybe living in such a small, warm place is the secret ingredient

for happiness, but my family and friends were as shocked as I was to read the list. Still, I must say, we all had a great day that day; I mean, it is always nice to read a firm fact that we are happy, and I guess sometimes we need official research to tell us that. I’m glad this report was published. As important as studies on the finances of the world’s countries are, what really makes a place nice to live in is how happy the people who live there are (and not how much money they make). A happy place is usually a place of profit to the world. A person who enjoys life will do his or her best to keep his or her surroundings in good shape. Happy people will probably recycle, work out, make donations and be patient with others. I must admit that there is something to the point that happiness cannot be measured; financial status can be established as valid fact, while the enjoyment of life cannot be calculated unequivocally. But even if the numbers aren’t accurate and no one is as happy as the numbers show – it doesn’t make any real difference. From now on, this semi-accurate measurement will be the world’s best measurement, and everything will be straightened by it. This measurement shows the world has really developed, and that humanity changes. We no longer appreciate money the most. We really believe that money can’t buy love. Now the only thing left to do is to take those results, and do some good. It is time to give a little push to the unhappy places, the places where poverty and famine dominate. It is time to take the “Western progression” and give back, even if that’s just putting a smile on one Togolese face. Editor’s note: Noga Gur-Arieh visited the U.S. to work at Camp Coleman after finishing her military service in the IDF. She is now back in Israel, working as a journalist.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

AJT

IF YOU ASK ME

AJT

According to arlene

Atlanta Eruvim Attract Scholars EXPLORING JEWISH SPACES By Arlene Appelrouth AJT Columnist

tlanta is the seventh-most popular state for visitors. More than 35 million tourists come each year.

Some come to see our wonderful aquarium. Others want to go to concerts or be in the stands watching Atlanta’s teams play baseball, basketball or football. Lots of people come for conferences and regional business meetings. After all, Atlanta has a lot to offer. Recently, I met three people whose reason for coming to Atlanta was unique. The three – all graduate students at The University of Virginia – formed a think-tank out of their shared interest in Jewish spaces. They were able to raise grant money of more than $17,000 to visit Jewish communities in the U.S. and create a project to present to the other grad students in landscape architecture. When I was at Young Israel of Toco Hills for a Shabbat lunch followed by a scholars-in-residence speaker, Rabbi Adam Starr introduced Isaac Hametz, Isaac Cohen and Rae (Rachel) Vassar. What is a “Jewish space”? I wondered while waiting to hear more about what their intentions were. “Some people think a Jewish space is a good Jewish deli,” one of the students quipped.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Atlanta has a lot to offer, but a good Jewish deli is not on that list. Were they interested in our synagogues? The MJCCA? Maybe they were comparing Jewish museums. The answer to all three of the above questions is “no.” The three students were in Atlanta to check out the eruv in Toco Hills. “What’s an eruv?” you may ask. 6

An eruv, according to Wikipedia, is “a ritual enclosure that traditionally observant Jewish communities construct in their neighborhoods as a way to permit the transference of objects from one domain type to another. “For example, carrying an object from indoors (a private domain) to a public street (a public domain) on Shabbat, which they would otherwise understand to be prohibited by Jewish law (halakha).” The eruv permits traditionally observant Jews to carry keys, tissues, medicines or babies with them and to use strollers and canes. The presence or absence of an eruv affects the lives of people with limited mobility and those responsible for taking care of babies and young children. Emory’s Professor Dr. Rabbi Michael Berger explained that one of the purposes of constructing eruvim is to encourage communal interaction. “An eruv enables Shabbat to have a social dimension, “ he said. “Constructing an eruv out of wires and strings creates the feeling that the community is all one and connected.” Atlanta has five eruvim (which is Hebrew and is plural for eruv). That in North Druid Hills – also known as the Toco Hills Eruv – is the oldest and was constructed in 1992. There are also eruvim in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Alpharetta and the Virginia Highlands area. The trio of grad students was interested in the Toco Hills Eruv because some of the boundaries have been created by streams and forests in addition to the wires and strings that are used as markers to make an area one community. As landscape architects, Hametz, Cohen and Vassar are interested in the use of space as well as the aesthetics of the space. Atlanta was their

first stop in what will be a six-week project that will take them from the American east coast to the west coast. All three were glad that Atlanta was the first place they came.

Toco Hills area when the eruv was first constructed.

“The people we met take so much pride in this community,” said 28-year-old Vassar, who was raised in a Zionist home just outside Philadelphia.

“Like night and day,” he said. “It was unbelievable. Even the very first week they had a block party. All of a sudden you would walk the streets, and you would see guys going to synagogue; then sometimes they would go home or to an early minyan, and the women would go to synagogue.”

Hametz, also 28, was raised in an Orthodox home in New Jersey. He was impressed with the Southern hospitality – especially that on Shabbat, extended by Young Israel mem-

Cohen, Hametz and Vassar are on their way to Los Angeles. They will also be going to Chicago, New York and St. Louis. According to their website (aspatialpractice.org), the proj-

“‘An eruv enables Shabbat to have a social dimension,’ [Dr. Rabbi Michael Broyde] said. ‘Constructing an eruv out of wires and strings creates the feeling that the community is all one and connected.’” bers – that the group received during their visit. “Everyone we met was warm and gracious,” Hametz said. During the time they spent in Atlanta, the three grad students accompanied Rabbi Ariel Asa, who for 10 years as been the official eruv inspector. Before every Shabbat, Rabbi Asa spends a minimum of three hours checking to make sure that all the wires and strings are properly attached in the eruv, which covers more than four square miles. Boy Scout troop 613 also went with the students and Rabbi Asa to check out the eruv. Dr. Joseph Tate, an obstetrician, is the president of the corporation that manages the North Druid Hills eruv. He remembers how things changed in the Orthodox synagogues in the

ect’s goal is to “harness the untapped creative possibilities that exist at the nexus of Judaism and design.” They are posting blogs, videos and tweets as they explore. The three have an entrepreneurial spirit and are enthusiastic about exploring the social and material nature of the different eruvim in the five cities they have chosen. They intend to construct a model eruv when they get back to school. Editor’s note: Arlene Appelrouth earned a degree in news-editorial journalism from the University of Florida and her career as a writer and journalist spans a 50-year period; she currently studies memoir writing while working on her first book.

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ask bubbe

How to Show You Care ASK PEACHY BUBBE

Dear Bubbe, here is a lady who I work with who is a good bit older than I, but we have become friendly. Yesterday I heard that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

her a card or call her, but what? I hear that chemo can take away your appetite, so bringing her a meal doesn’t seem like a great idea. She is such a nice person, that I’d really like to do something meaningful or send something useful.

I don’t want to ignore this, but I’d like to do a bit more than just send

“The 6th District could have no one better than Josh Belinfante in the Senate. We need Josh in the State Senate. He’s a proven leader who understands the legislative process like few others I know. Josh Belinfante’s leadership, integrity and intellectual capacity is needed in our State Senate.”

- Co-worker in a Quandary

“Our community needs an effective voice in the State Senate. We need Josh Belinfante. He knows our neighborhoods, so lets send him to the State Senate to be our voice.” — MAX BACON, Smyrna Mayor

Dear Co-worker, How nice of you to want to help this lady out at such a difficult time for her. There are lots of things you can do for her that don’t involve a meal. First of all, ask if you can drive her somewhere she needs to go. She will probably need to have a port installed for her chemo to be administered, and

“Reforming Fulton County is long overdue, with Josh Belinfante…we can make it happen. Josh helped us create Sandy Springs, and we need him in the Senate so that we can ﬁnally reform Fulton County.

“I urge you to support my friend Josh Belinfante. Josh has the background and passion for our community to hit the ground running on day one as a strong advocate for reform in Fulton County.”

— EVA GALAMBOS, Sandy Springs Mayor

— REP. EDWARD LINDSEY Majority Whip

— SAM OLENS, Georgia Attorney General

Josh Belinfante. Ready: Former Chief Counsel to Governor Perdue Former High School Teacher Attorney with Robbins, Ross, Alloy, Belinfante & Littlefield

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Proven Conservative Reformer

she cannot drive herself for that because she’ll have some sedation for it; it’ll probably take less than two hours of your time. And at the end of chemo, you could offer to take her back for the port removal. Or, if it is allowed, ask her if you could take her to chemo one day and stay there to keep her company. That’s a time when she might love to have a friend to chat with for the two to three hours that the infusion takes. Lots of patients feel fine on chemo day (the next day is a bit rougher), so bring snacks! A great gift would be a pretty tote bag for her to take her reading material or means of entertainment to chemo. If the office would like to do something as a group, an MP3 player loaded with her favorite music will help to pass the time. If the office is huge or the budget more sizable, the ultimate entertainment would be an iPad or similar device. Just about every chemo facility these days has free wireless to help keep patients entertained. If she is already a techie, an iTunes gift card will help. Also, if you bake, bring by some muffins or banana bread or homemade soup. The nausea isn’t constant, and sometimes she might like a delicious snack instead of a full meal. And those things can go into the freezer until she is ready to eat them. Most of all, just stay in touch. Your friend will probably be staying close to home for a couple of months and will appreciate a phone call, email or card. This lady is very lucky to have you for a friend. - Peachy Bubbe Editor’s note: Submit your questions and have them answered by one of the AJT’s four Bubbes! Email your concern(s) to submissions@atljewishtimes.com, and you might just get a little free – but valuable – advice!

AJT

health & wellness

Getting Around to Exercise THE TIME IS NOW!

here?

ou have decided that you want to begin a safe and effective exercise program. Now where do you go from

The first step is to understand why you want to do this. Is it to lose weight, get stronger, become healthier, look or feel better? The more clarity you have regarding your intentions, the easier it will be to establish your goals. Let’s say you want to lose weight. That is a common intention, and it should be translated into a goal that is realistic, specific, measurable and timely; an example would be, “lose 10 pounds in 60 days.” With that goal in mind, it is time to take action…now! If you wait for a better time, it will never come. We can all come up with reasons as to why we should hold off on exercising. You might want to wait for when work slows down a bit, when the children get a little older, when you feel better, but the fact is, exercise will help you be more productive at work, provide you with more energy to raise your children and will make you feel fantastic! The hard truth is that there are no good excuses as to why you cannot get started on the road to better health. One of the first clients I ever trained was in his late 60s, clinically obese and had more health and physical challenges than I had ever heard of at that time. He had undergone heart surgeries, had severe knee and shoulder limitations; the list went on. He reluctantly came into a health club for the first time in his life only because his son, who brought him in, was understandably concerned. After going through an initial assessment, it was clear that he could not move very well, his ability to sustain more than a couple minutes

It was slow going, and surely frustrating for him, at first. With a will to be around for his family, however, he kept at it, and in a matter of weeks, he was walking into the health club with water bottle in hand, towel draped over his shoulder and looking a whole lot better.

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“If I knew it would make me feel like this, I would have begun exercising 20 years ago!” he said. This gentleman convinced me early on that if he could do it, then anyone can. Do not wait; walk into one or more health clubs in your area and ask for a trial membership, and if they offer a complimentary fitness assessment and/or personal training session, take advantage of that as well. Share your intentions and goals with the folks there and get started.

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Prior to making a long-term commitment to any one club or personal trainer, be sure you get a good feeling for the facility, members and staff. If you believe you can safely and effectively work out on your own without a personal trainer, or have the knowledge and ability to exercise at home, more power to you. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing and however you are feeling, there is no time like the present to take control of your health. Editor’s note: Jeff Rosenblum, BS, is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer and president of Posture Plus Fitness (postureplusfitness.com), providing inhome and on-location personal training as well as group presentations and corporate wellness programs. He is also a personal trainer at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, where he trains MJCCA Total Health members.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

AJT Columnist

of any physical activity was not good and he felt as if his productive years were behind him.

lI NE ST W IN G

By Jeff Rosenblum

AJT

community

FIDF Atlanta’s LAUNCH! Party a Blast NEW CONNECTION TO ISRAEL FOR ATLANTA’S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS By Ginny Adams AJT Contributor

n July 12, more than 200 of Atlanta’s Jewish young professionals gathered at Tongue & Groove to check out the Friends of the Israel Defense Force’s LAUNCH!, the first Young Leadership event honoring the soldiers who protect Israel’s borders every day. Nofar Avigal, an Atlantan and former Lone Soldier, expressed her gratitude as she shared remarks about her service and the experience she had being so far from her family. “It means so much to the soldiers, and to me, that people like you think to love us,” Avigal told the audience. Brad Oppenheimer, the FIDF Atlanta Region’s Young Leadership chair, expressed why this cause is a priority for him. “These people, who are younger than most of us in the room, are dedicating their time to the military while most of us at that age were enjoying college and starting new careers,” he said. “We need to show our support; we can’t take them for granted.” Attendees could buy raffle tickets for a chance to win Matisyahu tickets or a cash prize. At the end of the night, lucky participant Julie Bitton donated her cash prize back to FIDF; her generosity made it possible for this chapter to fly a Lone Soldier home to visit family.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

The FIDF Lone Soldiers program is especially relevant to Atlantans, as almost a dozen families in our area have loved ones currently serving in Israel’s armed forces. Lone soldiers have challenges that are unique: They don’t get to see their American friends or families on weekends or for holidays like other soldiers, and the financial and emotional struggles are distinct. With its Flights for Lone Soldiers Program, FIDF enables lone combat soldiers to travel back to their homes to visit loved ones. Between enabling one more individual to do so with Bitton’s donation, the terrific crowd and the great time had by all, LAUNCH! was a huge success.

“Engaging young people in the 10 Atlanta community is so important

because they are our future leaders,” Caryn Liss, FIDF Atlanta executive director, said. “We are working hard on programming for our Young Leadership Campaign and feel so grateful to have had such an amazing turnout at our LAUNCH! event.” Editor’s note: Ginny Adams is FIDF Atlanta’s development associate. Hundreds turned out for FIDF Atlanta Young Leadership’s LAUNCH!, which raised funds for the FIDF’s programs for lone soldiers. PHOTOS/courtesy Ginny Adams

AJT

COMMUNITY

Consul General Honored with Key to City of Savannah

Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson presented Consul General Opher Aviran with the key to the city on July 18.

CG OPHER AVIRAN AND MAYOR EDNA JACKSON EXPRESS PARTNERSHIP SYMBOLICALLY

Consul General Aviran was visiting Savannah on an economic mission with a delegation from the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FICC). Mayor Jackson recently returned from the International Conference of Mayors in Israel. PHOTO/courtesy the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast U.S.

Local Makes Aliyah with Help of Nefesh B’Nefesh LOUBSER AMONG THIS YEAR’S 5,000 OLIM

arah Loubser, 20, of Alpharetta, made aliyah to Israel on July 11 on a Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight that left out of JFK airport in New York. Loubser will be moving to Jerusalem, where she plans to attend Bar-Ilan University for the Mechina program (pre-academic).

Sarah Loubser on the Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight that was on its way to Israel. PHOTO/Shahar Azran

Nefesh B’Nefesh is celebrating its 10th anniversary this summer, marking a decade since its inaugural charter aliyah flight in 2002. The milestone comes as the organization prepares to welcome over 2,500 North American and British Jews making aliyah this summer on two charter and seven group flights in cooperation with the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the Jewish Agency. In 2012 alone, Nefesh B’Nefesh will bring 5,000 newcomers to Israel.

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community

Where is Religion Headed? PROF. MICHAEL BERGER OF EMORY SPEAKS ON CHANGES AND EFFECTS ON JUDAISM By Suzi Brozman AJT Contributor

ou may be familiar with the old gospel song, “Give me that old-time religion, it’s good enough for me.”

But is it? Not according to Dr. Michael Berger. The Emory professor spoke at the William Breman

Museum last week on the changing face of American religion and what it means for Judaism.

said. “We’re being swept along with the current in which we’re swimming.”

An overflow audience heard his analysis of the current state of religion – not just Judaism – in today’s world because, as he showed, the trends we see in Judaism reflect what’s happening in American society in general.

His main thesis is that the Judaism most of us older than 45 grew up with was consonant with American religion.

“The problem isn’t just us,” he

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

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“That’s changed,” he said. “Other social trends changed that affected Jews even more because they had pinned Judaism on ethnic and familial links, both of which have weakened in the last 30 to 40 years.

This direction in religion began in the middle of the last century. Jews held on to tradition longer, largely held together by the dual issues of Israel and the struggle for Soviet Jewry. But the other factors that cemented Jews together – familialism, ethnic identity and cohesive Jewish neighborhoods, largely dissolved or weakened in recent years.

Federations, long the backbone of Jewish communal activity, are having a hard time identifying where they belong in today’s Jewish world, as mem “So we shouldn’t bership in Jewish combe surprised at some munity centers has pretty significant dropped, and people are Dr. Michael Berger. changes within Julooking to express their daism, because they individuality through actually reflect the their philanthropic givbig changes in American religion ‘out ing, rather than giving to federations there.’” or UJA and letting the professionals He sketched the trends that affect decide how to allocate monies. people’s attitudes towards organized Day school enrollment is down, religion. Among them are changing but then, all private schools have lifestyle choices: People marry later, suffered as well. Synagogue memif at all, have children later and di- bership has dropped significantly, vorce often. They move around, resist while independent minyanim have affiliating and change religious affili- burgeoned. People still want to learn, ations as easily as changing brands but do it in non-traditional ways – of detergent. through Limmud, Kollel and other In fact, some 44 percent of Ameri- independent venues that tailor their cans do not belong to their childhood offerings to what people want. faith. Cultural activities have often re A major change, Dr. Berger as- placed “religious” study, with film serts, is the attitudinal shift from festivals becoming an almost quasi“dwellers” to “seekers.” Dwellers religious activity. want the kind of established com- In the future, Dr. Berger sees munities they were born into, with smaller and more engaged religious established buildings and traditions. communities. Religious affiliation They see a truth that is established, will dwindle, but those who remain eternal. will be more engaged. He also sees Seekers, on the other hand, don’t Birthright, which forges bonds beneed a building to feel the spirituali- tween young adults and Israel; and ty of the moment. Many contend that camping, which establishes Judaism they are spiritual, but not religious. in children with its very effective Following Claude Levi-Strauss’s combination of immersion and intenidea of “bricolage,” they are willing sive exposure, as helping to sustain to tinker with religion, taking a bit religion in the next generations. here, a bit there and constructing In other words, parents are the what works for them, rather than most important influence on the fuautomatically adopting their par- ture of Judaism. Parents who model ents’ faith and practices; this has religious activity and affiliation, will had a profound influence on Ameri- raise children who reflect their valcan religion. ues and continue, to some extent Today, people still think there is at least, the practices and beliefs of a G-d. Traditionally, Jews saw G-d their parents. as wanting us to be good, but today, people tend to see the deity as wanting us to be happy. The current trend Editor’s note: The lecture was sponis moralistic, therapeutic Deism – a sored by The Atlanta Chapter of Albelief system that works because we pha Omega International Dental Fraternity. are diverse, and it is inclusive.

AJT

community

Hallie Kaplan Gets a Cut for Pantene Beautiful Lengths THIRD-GRADER’S MITZVAH TO BENEFIT CHEMO PATIENTS BY JESSIE MILLER Editorial Intern

ach year, over one million men, women and children are diagnosed with some form of cancer. Through the surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, their bodies take a harsh beating; it is the support of family and friends that makes all the difference. One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss, and organizations like Pantene Beautiful Lengths have made it their mission to create free real-hair wigs for women with cancer. Hallie Kaplan, a third-grader at the Epstein School, recently donated eight inches of her curly brown locks to Beautiful Lengths. At only 7 years old, Hallie will touch the life of one woman fighting cancer by giving her the gift of hair, something so easily taken for granted. Several years ago, Hallie was at a salon when she saw a woman pull her hair back and cut off the long pony-

tail. Right then, Hallie made the decision to grow out her own hair; Hallie soon forgot the resulting exchange with her mother, but kept growing out her hair. One year ago, Hallie’s schoolmate and close friend Nolan Goldklang was diagnosed with leukemia. After struggling to tell her daughter, Hallie’s mother Karen Hallie before her cut, holding up the resulting donation, and after. Kaplan explained Nolan wouldn’t feel well for a while and Hallie wants to keep growing out change someone’s life. would lose his hair, but hopefully he her hair and donating as many times Editor’s note: Looking for a way to get would get better. After visiting Nolan as she can. in the hospital, Halli’s determination “I thought it was cool, but after involved in the global fight against cancer? The Atlanta Jewish Times to donate was renewed. when they showed me the hair, I proudly sponsors Relay for Life Ru On July 12, Hallie finally was had to hold it and I thought that was ach Atlanta, the first-ever American ready for highly anticipated hair cut. creepy,” she said. Cancer Society relay to be held on a Within minutes, years of waiting Hallie has even inspired other Sunday (not conflicting with your were over, and she was left with an children to donate their hair. At a Shabbat observance)! Get ready for eight-inch ponytail ready to be sent young age, Hallie has done a gener- the Oct. 14 event at relayforlife.org/ to Pantene, where it will become a ous mitzvah, a great example of how ruach. beautiful wig. something as simple as a haircut can

The first 100 registered guests will receive a $10 mall gift card upon check-in at the event.

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JULY 27 ▪ 2012

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AJT

outreach

OUDC Delegation Visits Atlanta DIVERSE YOUNG LEADERS LEARN CITY’S CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY

ach July since 1995, Operation Understanding DC’s high school delegation has united a selection of African-American leaders with a similar group of their Jewish counterparts to travel to Atlanta on their annual OUDC Summer Journey. They visit the important Civil Rights hot spots, including “Sweet” Auburn Avenue, the grave site of Dr. Martin

Luther and Coretta Scott King and The Temple.

from war-torn Romania to the United States.

But what makes this experience especially unique and transformative for the students is the personal connections they make in the “city too busy to hate.”

Afterward, OUDC participant Dan Younger shared, “I was so impressed with the determination of Ben Walker. He survived the Holocaust, and his story after was important. He made sure to do the best for his family.

At the William Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum, the bunch heard from Holocaust survivor Ben Walker about his escape

Some of this year’s Operation Understanding DC participants marvel at Atlanta landmark The Temple. PHOTO/courtesy Rachael Bregman

“His story represented the American Dream to me: He was able to be so successful after going through so much. It impressed me that he worked so hard to get his family into a secure situation.” They also spoke with Janice Rothschild Blumberg, who was rebbetzin at The Temple when it was bombed in 1958, and whose husband, Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, was an outspoken supporter of civil rights and racial justice. Her comments about the community’s response impressed the students as an example of how to be allies to those in need. “It was moving to learn how many people stepped up to help The Temple during that time,” said delegation member Jaleelaj Thompson. “We learned that members, neighbors and congregations across the country helped in rebuilding efforts. It gave me hope in humanity that everyone came together.”

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

From Atlanta, the students headed to Camp Ramah Darom, where they celebrated Shabbat with the campers and led them in a prejudicereduction workshop.

All of these experiences are part of their OUDC Summer Journey, which takes them from New York to North Carolina and throughout the Deep South as part of their year-long program of experiential education and leadership training. OUDC’s mission is to build a generation of African American and Jewish community leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation while working to eradicate racism, antiSemitism and all forms of discrimination.

AJT

Mensch of the Month

Mensch of the Month for July: Sid Cojac A GIANT AT JUST OVER FIVE FEET TALL school, returning at 11 p.m. He worked as an apprentice and soon became a full-fledged printer. Ready to start his own business at age twenty-three, he did so first in The Bronx and then in Manhattan. Hard work and good fortune helped him become a successful entrepreneur, and he spent the rest of his life in the printing business in New York and in Charlotte, N.C.

Sid Cojac is the amazing and beloved role model for everyone who has the good fortune of knowing him. One hears the mantra over and over again from Sid’s friends, colleagues and members of various organizations that he is part of: “When I get to be 98, I want to be just like Sid Cojac.” Sid Cojac Cojac was born in a Harlem, N.Y. tenement apartment in the year 1913 to an Orthodox Jewish family. In addition to his parents, Sid had three brothers and three sisters, all of whom are now deceased. Just to put things in perspective and to marvel at this year, consider the following events that occurred in 1913, the bar (or is it bat?) mitzvah year of the 20th century: The President of the United States was the newly inaugurated Woodrow Wilson; Jim Thorpe was signed by the New York football Giants; and the 16th Amendment on the income tax and the 17th Amendment requiring the direct elections of United States Senators were ratified. Needless to say, Cojac has lived his life in a changing world, but it is certain that he has embraced that life. Sid has always advocated a relevant education to go along with a person’s energy and motivation. He attended P.S. 184 and James Fennimore Junior High School in Harlem and completed his formal education at Harlem Evening High School. It was not unusual for Sid to leave his home at 6 a.m. and work and go to

In terms of his religion, he was brought up in a strictly observant home; Judaism was an integral part of the Cojac family orientation. Still, in a reflection of the times, Sid remembers his bar mitzvah being a 10-minute affair on a Thursday morning in 1926 when he read from the Torah and then went about his routines and his father went to work.

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He continued going to cheder (Hebrew school) until he was 17 years old, and religion today remains an important part of his life in one way or another. When he lived in Wantagh on Long Island, he was part of the group that formed Suburban Reform Temple, a successful religious venture that met his and the community’s needs for many years. He is currently an active member of the Reform Temple Beth Tikvah in Roswell. He has a strong sense of faith; a copy of the Ten Commandments sits on the dashboard of his car, and he says that if everyone followed them, most of the world’s problems would dissipate. Why is Sid Cojac admired and acknowledged as one of the great inspirations of not just the Jewish community, but the entire Atlanta area? He is a role model of what everyone should aspire to as they become “mature adults” and “super seniors.” Despite his 98 years of normal aches and pains, he is guided by magnificent experiences and he has a willingness and desire to learn, do, think and basically LIVE.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

e is extremely well-known and admired at HuntcliffSummit, the senior independent living Sandy Springs community where he lives. He is the “mayor of Main Street” at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) in Dunwoody. He is the honorary commissioner and founder of increasingly popular sport of Pickleball at the MJCCA.

- as nominated by Ed Feldstein 15

AJT

home & abroad

The Pity of It All A REPORT FROM GERMANY AND EASTERN EUROPE By Rabbi Paul David Kerbel AJT Contributor

week into a two-week study tour of Eastern Europe, I found myself sitting in the Budapest airport waiting with my group of 40 for a flight to Prague. Next to me was an older Jewish couple from West Palm Beach, waiting for a flight to Zurich.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

I asked the husband what brought them to Budapest. He was a ‘Holocaust’ survivor who had emigrated to the United States and returns to Budapest every two years to visit his family that stayed in Europe.

He, in turn, asked where we were going. I described our journey that had begun in Poland the week before; we had visited all of the synagogues, memorials and historical sites in Warsaw and Krakow and spent a day at Auschwitz. “Oh,” he said to me, “I could never go there.” I know that some Jews feel that way. Maybe at one point I felt that way about both Poland and Germany. But for some time, I knew I had to visit. After years of study – at the Jewish Theological Seminary, at Hebrew University and Yad Vashem and via my self-directed immersion in the history of and aftermath of the Holocaust

Memorial for the 50,000 Jews deported from the Grunewald Train Station in Berlin. The memorial along Track 17 lists each of the deportations from Berlin to the concentration camps. PHOTOS/courtesy Rabbi Paul Kerbel

– this journey was the inevitable next step. I needed to go. It was time.

Warsaw and Krakow, Changed but Not Undone by Nazism and Communism Our journey began in Warsaw. We visited the last remnant of the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto; the memorial at Mila 18; the Jewish Historical Institute, a research center on Jewish life in Poland and the Holocaust; and the Jewish cemetery with its mass graves and memorial to Janus Korchak, one of the brave and selfless individuals who died in the Holocaust. It was at this memorial that I bumped into my son Micha’s USY Poland/Israel Group, and I got to

give him a hug and take a quick photo before we each continued to experience Poland in different ways. It was amazing to see the transformation taking place in Warsaw, Krakow and all of the cities we visited as each rebuilds only 23 years after the fall of Communism. In contrast to those times, food was plentiful, and today new malls with the latest luxury goods can be found throughout the former Communist countries. Riding a train through the Polish countryside to Krakow, we arrived in the center of the city to begin our explorations. Here lived one of the greatest rabbis of Jewish history, Rabbi Moses Isserles (the Ramah), at whose grave we recited kaddish.

Our tour also took us to all of the synagogues in this beautiful medieval city, and we learned much of the rich Jewish history of Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz and Lublin, the home of three million Jews since the expulsion of the Jews from Spain.

Auschwitz, a Site of Horror, a Site of Learning Early the next morning, our scholar-in-residence Professor Stephen Berk prepared us for our visit to Auschwitz. As historian Laurence Rees wrote in his recent history of the infamous concentration camp: “We must judge behavior by the context of the times, and judged by the

part of the population in the world who will speak out if it ever happens again to us or anyone else in the future? My parents visited Poland in 1975, and now my sons have all visited Auschwitz. It was important to us to teach our children. It is important for them to imagine the scenes of the greatest crime perpetrated against our people; for them to hear the stories of what took place in Auschwitz and Terezin; for them to see the barracks, the isolation cells, the crematorium, the piles of shoes and hair and suitcases and the thousands of cans of Zyklon B gas – created by a Jewish scientist as an insecticide for lice – in the killing fields of Auschwitz, where

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context of mid-20th century, sophisticated European culture, Auschwitz and the Nazi’s ‘final solution’ represent the lowest act in all of history. Through their crime, the Nazis brought into the world an awareness of what educated, technologically advanced human beings can do as long as they possess a cold heart.” I was haunted as I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau. The sun was shining and the trees and flowers were in full bloom, but I could not shake from my mind the stories, the sounds of horror, the acts of evil and wickedness that took place here. The death toll just for Jewish victims was 1,100,000 here. Invited to lead a memorial service at the end of the day by the ruins of the crematorium, I tried to hold back the tears that came as I thought about what happened here. My only comfort was seeing thousands of middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults from many countries visiting that day. Will they understand what happened to my people? Will they be a

1 million Jews are buried, just a portion of the 6 million of our people were killed for the crime of being Jewish.

I will never forget that day.

Berlin and Trip’s End But as important as it was for me to visit these places of evil, it is important for us to remember that each of these countries was a haven for the Jews. Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Hungary were homes for the Jews for as much as 1,700 years, and each of these countries had a history of rich Jewish culture. Each of these countries produced “golden ages” of literary, scientific and political achievement; some of the greatest and most important works of Jewish rabbinic literature and Jewish law were written in these lands. And in every field of endeavor, the Jewish people made significant contributions in philosophy, medicine, science, industry, literature; there were many rich bursts of creativity and contribution to the societies where Jews lived and made their homes amidst periods

We ended our trip in Berlin, where I visited for the first time Pottsdam – the town that hosted the meetings of Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill, as well as those with President Truman after Roosevelt’s death – and also the mansion in Wansee where the decisions regarding the Final Solution were made in January of 1942. Finally, we listened to the Cantors Assembly – the American association of Conservative cantors – perform in the concert halls of Berlin seven decades after Hitler took his own life. What I learned on this trip is that the history and life of our people in East Central Europe and in Germany was richly textured and complex. We cannot make sweeping generalizations or look at each country with a monochromatic lens. When we think of Poland, we cannot only think of Auschwitz, and when we look at the history of the Jews in the Czech Republic, we cannot only look at Terezin. The Jewish people and their gentile neighbors were enriched by their lives and histories in these places, and we need to know about that part of our history as well. The late Jewish philosopher Emil Fackenheim wrote that the “11th

Commandment” is “to remember the Holocaust.” On this trip, I sought to fulfill his edict, but there is so much more. The Israeli historian Amos Elon wrote a wonderful book on the rich history of the Jews of Germany from 1743 to 1933 entitled “The Pity of It All.” When you read this book and see what Nazi Germany did, you can only wonder what would have happened if Hitler had not been born or had not risen to power. But as I learned at Auschwitz, “there is no ‘why’ here.” The best we can do is see the evidence, learn the stories, remember what once was and what happened in the death and labor camps and try to make sure this never happens again, to us or to any people anywhere in the world. Editor’s note: In August, Rabbi Kerbel begins his 10th year as a rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in East Cobb. He serves on the board of trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel. In June 2013, he and his wife will lead a tour of Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz, Budapest, Prague and Terezin. If you are interested, please write to Rabbi Kerbel at ravkerbel@etzchaim.net.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

of anti-Semitism, pogroms and expulsions.

AJT

tisha b’av

Hopes, Past and Present TISHA B’AV’S MESSAGE TO ME By Rabbi Yaakov Thompson AJT Contributor

t the time of the release of the issue you hold in your hands, we are in the midst of “the nine days.” This term refers to the first nine days of the Hebrew month of Av that lead up to the Ninth of Av (observed on July 28 and 29 this year). The Ninth of Av, known as Tisha B’Av, commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. It is considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, and it also marks a turning point in Jewish history – the only analogy that we can make for ourselves is to imagine the end of all Jewish institutions that preserve us as a people. The destruction of the Temple meant that the entire basis of religious and cultural life for our ancestors came to an end, and thus those surviving the destruction had to face the challenge

of “re-creating” themselves. As a reaction to this crisis, a new phase of Jewish history began, “rabbinic Judaism,” which would replace the religion based on sacrifice and Temple worship. This truly was a critical moment; by all the rules of history, our people should have disappeared in the ashes of the Temple, buried by the results of war and defeat. Instead, we reemerged with a new way to worship that could travel with us anywhere and adapt to all the changes that the next 2,000 years would bring. So despite what the historians of ancient peoples might write or posit, here we are, marking the events that occurred so long ago. As I mentioned, Tisha B’Av is the saddest day in the Jewish year, but it is also a day that we can use to better understand some of our happiest days. Just as we marvel at the strength and courage of those who survived the Shoah, so too we should marvel at

the courage and faith of our ancestors, who – even in the face of destruction – chose to rebuild rather than to go quietly into the history books of “dead cultures.”

tions are shrinking, that our numbers are shrinking, and many know that we will only survive these dangerous times by re-creating the ways in which our communities work together.

While Tisha B’Av tells a tale of defeat, it also teaches lessons of victory. Just as the happiness of Passover is a journey from slavery to freedom, the sadder tale of Tisha B’Av is a journey from destruction to rebirth.

I am hopeful because we have survived such conditions in the past. For me, this is the message of Tisha B’Av.

As a student of Jewish history, I find hope for the Jewish future in Tisha B’Av. There are many voices that warn of the slow death of the Jewish community; they tell us that our institu-

AJT

israel

Reflections INTRO TO A SERIES By Suzi Brozman AJT Contributor

ong-time readers of the Atlanta Jewish Times may remember that several years ago, I was sent to Israel by the United Jewish Federations and the Jewish Agency to report on the rocket attacks on Sderot and Ashkelon. It was my first trip to Israel, and I arrived in our homeland on Yom Yerushalayim – a day of celebration in Israel.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

I returned to Israel this past year, spending nine months studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, but now – as I set out to chronicle some of my experiences in these pages in coming weeks – it is that first trip at which I look back, upon which I reflect.

Editor’s note: Rabbi Yaakov Thompson is a regular contributor to the South Florida Jewish Journal; more of his writing can be found at yaakovthompson.blogspot.com.

And as we approach Tisha B’Av, the day on which we mourn not only the loss of the two Temples but other tragic losses throughout Jewish history, I find myself reflecting more and more. As a rabbi asked recently: What are we mourning? Do we know what we’ve

lost? How do we relate to Jerusalem, to the long-destroyed Temples? Do we know and understand the nature of Judaism’s holy city, of the Temple, of the 2,000-year exile that resulted from the destruction of the Temple-based society in Israel? Such questions resonate with me, as I recently lost my dear mother. As I put her affairs in order, sorted through her belongings and sat with her friends during the week of shivah, I came to know an entirely different woman than the one ensconced in my memory as “Mom”; I met a clever woman, one loved by her circle of acquaintances, a bridge master, a caring friend, a strong and occasionally obstinate woman (well, THAT part I knew already!). And now, as we traverse the sad and mournful nine days, I’m thinking about how the knowledge of my mother changed my feelings about her, my memories of her and how it really altered the mourning process for me. Perhaps, after living in Jerusalem for most of a year, I’m now rethinking how I relate to the loss of the city in so many ways – we have the territory, we have the Kotel, but what about the spiritual connection between Jews and G-d that ancient Jerusalem, with its Temple, sacrifices and rituals provided? Where are we without them, and how does that loss affect us in today’s busy, secular-infused life in exile, or even in Israel for that matter? So here, I’d like to begin my reminiscences with a piece I wrote standing at the Kotel on that first day in Eretz Yisrael. My feelings about Israel have grown, deepened and become nuanced, but I hope they can inspire you to consider your relationship to Judaism, to Israel and to the process of mourning what has been lost. I hope to inspire you to contemplate how we can change our lives to help regain the majesty and holiness that was ours so briefly, so long ago. Editor’s note: See reverse for Part I of Suzi Brozman’s series of Reflections.

AJT

israel

Hello to Israel NOTES FROM A FIRST-TIME VISITOR

n Sun., June 1, 2008, I left Atlanta for my first trip to Israel. The initial half of the trip is to be a media fact-finding trip to the South – Sderot, Ashkelon, Beersheva – days and nights filled with speeches, tours and visits to schools, municipalities and other locales to make us comprehend the constant threat the residents live under. Perhaps we can come back home and describe their plight in a way to make people in the States take notice that the Palestinians are not the only ones suffering in this miserable conflict. We landed. The airport could have been in any big city, but not the road to Jerusalem. I take in the arid hills laced with ancient stone terraces; olive trees and other bits of greenery; sudden Arab towns; a security wall to keep Palestinians from shooting at cars; Israeli soldiers, guns slung over their backs; and, of course, the signs in English, Arabic and, most significantly, Hebrew. I’m determined to improve my reading ability in this old and new language. My driver pointed out which areas were Jewish, which Arab. That is, when he wasn’t trying to drive his van into some other car’s trunk as he fished in his pocket for a notebook or talked on the phone or found some other reason not to pay attention to his driving. Who worries about Kassams or Grad missiles when they’ve got Israeli drivers to contend with? Suddenly he pointed ahead and said, “Look, Jerusalem.” And there it was, sprinkled across the landscape, not the picture postcard of the Temple Mount or the Dome of the Rock, but a mass of ecru buildings seemingly tossed at random across the hills. Seeing so many Israeli flags flying caused a thrill I never expected to feel. Today is Yom Yerushalayim, the anniversary of the date Israel reunited Jerusalem and reclaimed the Western

Wall, which had been in Arab hands since 1948. It’s a big day. Will the tears of joy ever stop? Walking down to the Kotel surrounded by tourists – from the U.S. and many other countries; with Africans in tribal garb; Haredi Jews; some religious men in knee pants and long socks, some in every shape of fur hat, and marching students and soldiers – I, the rationalist, the one who still balks at the faith that is trying to creep into my spirit, cried and pressed my hands, my lips and my forehead to the ancient stones, echoing the memories and hopes and prayers and devotion and despair of centuries of Jews before me. Is this how Christian pilgrims felt at Canterbury, or crawling up cathedral steps in Mexico on their knees? I don’t think I’ve ever before truly contemplated the effect of place on human reactions. I marveled at the fervor of women young and old as their prayers poured out to the silent stones. I looked at a tiny girl tucking a carefully folded sheet of paper with a prayer written on it into crevice after crevice until she found a sticking place for her words to G-d. I saw the old women begging and I remembered the homeless on Atlanta’s city streets, people crying for a pittance from those of us who have so much. And I, who disdained those who beg instead of working to support themselves, found myself pulling out my wallet. How much did they need compared to what I have? I don’t face the possibility of bombs every time I enter a market or a restaurant; my only fear

in boarding a bus is the driver’s skill. People have told me I’d have a hard time leaving here after a week, that I’d be changed by my visit. It’s happening already, and the woman who used to be angry when a Jewish organization dared suggest dual loyalty by opening a meeting with Hatikvah finds herself wishing she could transport all Jews, especially the skeptics, here for one day, one afternoon, one Yom Yerushalayim. Then they could see the flags proudly waving; the soldiers sauntering along, tall and strong and confident;

the students, vibrant with the anticipation of life yet to come, not focusing on the possibility of death or injury; and the rest of the people of this glorious land taking for granted what I hold so newly and gently in my heart. It is a precious gift of love and dedication and belonging, not just to the land, but to all that it stands for: history and faith and blood and hope and even death. And perhaps most of all, it stands for continuity, a people that has survived against all odds, persevered and thrived on less than nothing in this world, but everything possible in the world of the spirit. That one person would die for this hot, dusty desert is incredible. That an entire nation gives its beautiful, hopeful youths for it is just a fact of life.

This land is mine. G-d gave this land to me; not to someone else, not just to some anonymous Middle Eastern Jew with curly hair and dark eyes and a guttural language spilling from his or her lips, but to ME, to every Jew who has ever lived or who ever will live. Would I fight for Israel? That’s a tough question. I feel a strong national allegiance to the United States of America, and it always has been that way for this Navy brat with veins brimming with saltwater. But Israel’s claim on my heart is different. Not “my country” in the same contemporary political sense, but mine by right of birth, by rite of history, by write of Torah.

system, of my self.

Not just my blood and my physical heritage, but the peoplehood in my very DNA – in every fiber of my physical, spiritual and emotional being – says if I am a Jew, if I define myself by this millenniaold tradition, then I accept Israel as part and parcel of that, as the core of my belief and faith

Will this feeling last? I can’t know. But I do know that Israel has made an indelible impression on me. Walking where our patriarchs walked, feeling the golden glow, the holy aura of Jerusalem, seeing places memorialized in the Bible, just being in the land so many of my ancestors were willing to die for, has created in me a yearning to return, to be a part of this endless continuum of Jewish life and Jewish history. I begin to understand the prayer we repeat every year during Pesach, “Next year in Jerusalem.”

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

By Suzi Brozman AJT Contributor

AJT

ARTS & LIFE

Kosher Movies: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) DIRECTOR JOHN HUGHES’S RAW COMEDY STRESSES SELFLESSNESS By Rabbi Herbert Cohen For The Atlanta Jewish Times rabbihjco@msn.com

n many synagogues, there is a sign out front on which is emblazoned a quotation from Psalms: “May G-d always be before me.” I always assumed that it related to the context of prayer, encouraging a person to focus on the Divine rather than on mundane matters. But now I think that King David, the Psalmist, was referring to life itself. The maxim instructs us to think always of what G-d expects of us before we act: “Would He approve of what I am about to do?” It is a fact that we are tested daily in the woof and warp of everyday life. We encounter people who irritate and situations that are unpleasant; do we respond appropriately to the many negative stimuli around us, to the bothersome things that can turn a good day into a day of anger and malaise? This is the essence of “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” a raw and sometimes crude comedy that shows us what happens when we don’t think

is paying for his outpouring of anger and frustration. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” depicts a worstcase scenario, but clearly the emotional cost of overreacting when under stress is clear.

that G-d is in the room, when we lose it and then feel terrible for the mess we have created. It is a mistake we often make when we assume that our needs always come first or that ours are the only needs that count. The film opens as Neal Page, a marketing executive, tries to get home to Chicago from New York for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to be with his family. At the airport, he meets Del Griffith, a verbose salesman, who strikes up a conversation with him.

Neal begins to see Del for the gentle, caring person that he is, not just as the obnoxious boor he assumed he was. Nearing their destination, the pair are worn out physically but enriched by a friendship born from adversity.

Neal is not interested, but things get even worse when Neal’s flight is delayed and he is bumped from first class to coach and is seated next to Del. Due to snow in Chicago, the plane is routed to Wichita, Kansas, where the flight to Chicago is cancelled altogether. Del helps Neal find a hotel, but there is one problem: The room only has one bed. Moreover, Neal is neat and Del is very messy, which makes for a tension-filled night where tempers flare. The next day, more complications ensue, these involving trains and automobiles. Catastrophes pile up until they finally arrive in Chicago on

Thanksgiving Day. Happily, something good happens during their eventful journey home. Neal, a sensitive soul at heart, gradually realizes the heavy price he

As Neal reflects on his nightmarish experience, he feels connected to Del because of their shared adventure. Time is a healer, and Neal feels relieved when the moment of crisis is over. Realizing that he will be able to share Thanksgiving with his family, Neal thinks of others who may not have the loving support system with which he is blessed. Seeing things from the aspect of eternity motivates him to seek out Del, who may not have a place to go on this special day of family celebration. Adversity often makes us appreciate what we have. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” is an urban horror story played for laughs, and it reminds us that we can avoid a lot of pain if we keep our emotions in check and do not respond to every provocation.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

If we are aware that G-d is before us, then we become more thoughtful, make better decisions and lead healthier emotional lives.

Editor’s note: Rabbi Cohen, former principal of Yeshiva Atlanta, now resides in Beit Shemesh, Israel. koshermovies.com.

AJT

food for thought

A Chilled Starter for the Hot Days RECIPE OF THE WEEK

By Jason Apple AJT Contributor

his second summer-ingredient recipe would go great with a main course of the grilled fish tacos with lime chipotle dressing (see the July 13 AJT).

The Kitchen Man’s Watermelon Gazpacho Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

2 cups ¼-inch-diced watermelon 2 cups orange juice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 seedless cucumber, cut into ¼-inch cubes 1 small yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into ¼-inch cubes 1 small onion, cut into ¼-inch cubes 2 medium garlic cloves, minced 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced (optional) 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, basil or cilantro Salt and freshly-ground black pepper

Directions V

REG

IN E

SE R

OVER

Process ½-cup of watermelon, along with the orange juice and oil, in a blendG ATLA IN er or food processor until pureed. Transfer to a medium bowl along with remaining ingredients.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Dinner Reservations Suggested

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AJT

education

Registration for the SAT and ACT has Changed NEW OPTIONS, REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTRATION By Dr. Mark L. Fisher AJT Contributor

ow important are your SAT and ACT scores?

Generally, quite important. True, many schools – especially private colleges – look at the total individual and often scrutinize one’s application. But, grades in high school courses are no. 1 on the list of factors to be considered followed by test scores. Test scores are utilized by colleges for two reasons: admissions and financial aid – and this includes both need-based aid and merit aid. If the college really wants you, the financial aid package you receive may be one that pleases your family. And when it comes to merit aid, a certain score may earn you money. If the score desired by a college for full tuition is a 1400 on the SAT or 32 on the ACT, then you need to obtain those scores to be considered for most of the tuition, if not all. For example, at Yeshiva University, these high scores mean just that: most or full tuition. The SAT cheating scandal this past year – when a college student took the test for high school students – led to major changes in how one applies for these college admissions tests for the 2012-13 school year. Seniors who took the SAT as juniors are in for a big change in the registration procedures.

First of all, when you register for the SAT or ACT, you will now need to submit a current, recognizable photograph (uploaded or mailed; optional for September ACT but required from there on out). Your photo will appear on your admission ticket, so when you come to the testing site, your photo will already appear on the roster. What are these photo requirements? Let us be more exact: The photo must truly represent you as you are NOW, so no middle school or group photos. It should be a full-face view, properly focused and exposed and passport-type or wallet-sized (2by-2 up to 2-and-a-half-by-3 inches and at least 640-by-480 pixels). When submitting the photo electronically, the file format must be .jpg, .gif or .png. When submitting your photo by mail, write your full name, date of birth and high school code on the back of your photo and then tape all four edges of the photo to the form, using transparent tape. Don’t use paper clips, staples or glue. Testing agencies will be supplying this photo to your school when they send along your score. Thus, your high school will see your photo along with your scores, so your photo better be you, or your school will have to report that the picture they see along with the score does not appear to be the student that they know.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs.

On test day, you still have to bring identification such a driver’s license, passport or school identification card. For further security, you need to sign a statement attesting to the accuracy of your personal information and acknowledging that you know that impersonation is punishable by law. For Sunday test-takers, know that the first time you register for the SAT, you must register by mail. That is because you need to send a rabbi’s letter informing the SAT that you are observing the Jewish Sabbath on Saturday and therefore need to take the Sunday test. Also, in this case the test center code is 01000 with no second choice; all Sabbath observers across the country have the same test center code. You will be placed at a Sunday center, which for metro-area students will likely be Yeshiva Atlanta. If you are placed in some faraway place, call the SATs immediately and get your test center changed. For the ACT exam, you may go online – even for the first time you register – and sign up for Sunday testing. Yeshiva Atlanta has an ACT test code of 163501 and gives the ACT in September, October, February and June. For the SAT, Yeshiva always offers the test on the Sunday after the Saturday test date. There is one exception this year because of Sukkot: The Oct. 6 SAT will be given on Oct. 14 at YA. This probably holds true for most schools across the country that administer Sunday testing. Even standby testing will have new rules; in fact, there will be no standby testing for the SAT. You can’t just walk in to the test site and say that you want to take the test, hoping that extra tests are available. Instead, there will be a wait list option, but you must go online to the SAT site and request wait list status. This happens after the late registration ends but at least 5 days before the test date; that means the Monday before your intended test

date. Want to change your test center or test date? Give advance notice to the SATs. These changes must be made by Wednesday three weeks before your new requested test date. No, you can’t just walk in on the test date and say that you want to change your test date because, for example, you were sick the original test date; check the College Board website for the specific instructions. For the ACT, you must register for standby PRIOR to the test. You should make that request by the Monday before the next test date. Of course, the photo requirements still hold. Once in a while, a parent completes the registration form for a student, but that is not a great way to complete the application. The parent will not be at the student’s college to complete form. Students need to apprize their parent of the new procedures; otherwise, you may find that your registration is returned from the testing agency. Just like 9/11 changed the way we travel, a cheating scandal changed the way registration for the SAT and ACT transformed the process. Don’t wait for the last minute to register; if all of a sudden you can’t find a digital photo and the deadline for registration is approaching that day, you may wind up paying a late fee. Why pay extra because of procrastination when you should take action beforehand? For any late-breaking changes, one should always consult the websites of the College Board or the ACT; that’s the final word. Make the process smooth by achieving your objectives in a timely fashion. Editor’s note: Dr. Mark Fisher (drmarkfisher@bellsouth.net) is a college and career consultant at Fisher Educational Consultants) and is the college counselor for Yeshiva Atlanta.

AJT

education

Shearith Israel Dr. Oberman Goes Back to Camp Welcomes Rabbi YA HEAD OF SCHOOL ENGAGES IN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Marshall Lesack NEW EDUCATION DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED

ongregation Shearith Israel announces that Rabbi Marshall Lesack has joined its community as the synagogue’s new education director. Rabbi Lesack will be leading the synagogue’s Machaneh Shai education program. Founded two years ago, Machaneh Shai offers an alternative to the traditional religious school model with an experiential program of engaging learning and experiences. Through Machaneh Shai, Shearith Israel’s students benefit from the best practices and cuttingedge research in the field of Jewish education, making learning a rich, engaging experience for children from kindergarten through high school. The program emphasizes experiential education, personal religious development and whole-family learning and provides a fun and hands-on way to learn about Jewish traditions, prayers, Torah, Israel and Jewish history.

r. Paul Oberman, Head of School at Yeshiva Atlanta, went “back to camp” this summer and took part in a program called Machon Kol Tzofaich. The program was sponsored by Camp Stone, an Orthodox Jewish summer camp located in Western Pennsylvania with a vision to cultivate within every child that walks through its gates an unwavering lifelong commitment to am Yisrael, eretz Yisrael and Torat Yisrael. The Machon itself was a week-long conference about experiential education. Dr. Oberman and the other educators participating spent many hours discussing and brainstorming various experiential programs and will bring what they learned back to their respective schools.

For hands-on experience, Dr. Oberman visited a model of Israel from Biblical times, where he used a Chumash to guide his steps (and retrace those of b’nei Yisrael). His math skills came in handy, too, as he and the other members of his group were asked to calculate how long their treks would have taken in Biblical times, using the scale provided for the model. Of course, being at summer camp, Dr. Oberman was re-

quired to have some fun. Glass blowing, tree planting, even high and low rope courses were on the agenda. “It was a lot of fun reliving the summer camp experience,” Dr. Oberman said. “But more important for me was the chance to engage in ongoing learning. We constantly stress the importance of continual learning to our students, and how better to reinforce that notion than having the head of school be, in a sense, a head learner.”

Dr. Paul Oberman

“I am very pleased to welcome Rabbi Lesack as Shearith Israel’s new Education Director,” Rabbi Hillel Norry, Senior Rabbi at Shearith Israel, said. “Rabbi Lesack will bring an incredible energy, ability and skill to the job. He is a talented educator who will bring greatness to Machaneh Shai.” Shearith Israel, founded in 1904, is an in-town Conservative egalitarian synagogue located in the Virginia Highlands/Morningside area of Atlanta.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Rabbi Lesack was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2008 and also holds a master’s degree in Jewish education. For the last four years, Rabbi Lesack has been the assistant director at Camp Ramah Darom in Georgia; he previously worked at Camp Ramah in the Rockies and at the Solomon Schechter High School in Westchester.

AJT

WHAT’S HAPPENING

This Week’s Highlighted Events

Friday

JULY

a.m. beginning July 31. Congregtion Beth Shalom. (770) 399-5300.

National Jewish Retreat, “ExpeFri., July 27 rience Heaven on Earth” with the Dive Into Shabbat, open swim Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. Tues., followed by poolside song and July 31 through Sun., Aug. 5. Hyatt prayer with Rabbi Brian Glusman. Bonaventure in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Sat., July 27, 5 p.m. MJCCA’s (877) 573-8732 or jretreat.com. Zaban Park. brian.glusman@ atlantajcc.org. Friday Night Funnies, come for a Shabbat dinner followed by and improv comedy show at Dad’s Garage. Fri., July 27, 7 p.m. $35/person Private Residence. mhorv00@gmail.com or (770) 722-3834.

Sunday

JULY

Sun., July 29

Safe Sitter, class for 11-to-15year-olds offering babysitting skills. Sun., July 29, 9 a.m. MJCCA. linda.citron@atlantajcc.org.

Tuesday

JULY

Wednesday

AUG

Wed., Aug. 1

Thursday

AUG

Wed., Aug. 8 Thurs., Aug. 2

Camp Sunday Open House, check out the Camp Sunday program (pre-K through 2nd) that begins in September. Thurs., Aug. 2, 5 p.m. MJCCA. (678) 812-3881. Fri., Aug. 3

Fourth Annual Union for Reform Judaism Community Shabbat, join the URJ for their community Shabbat Service and dinner, with guest speaker Rabbi Jonah Pesner. Registration required. Fri., Aug. 3, 6:30. $18/adult, $9/child. Temple Emanu-El. templeemanuelatlanta.org.

Siyum Hashas 2012, the 12th cycle of the worldwide Daf Hayomi Program celebrating the completion Dive Into Shabbat Intown, open swim followed by poolside song and prayer with Rabbi Brian Glusman. of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Sat., Aug. 17, 5 p.m. Emory’s Student Activity and Wed., Aug. 1. Check of $54 reserves Academic Center. brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org. a seat in Congregation Ariel’s section. MetLife Stadium (East Ruther- Sun., Aug. 5 Blankets and Bagels, music, activities and brunch ford, N.J.). (770) 390-9071. for parents and their children ages one to three. Torah Studies: “The Jewish Festival of Love,” join the Intown Jewish Academy for a class about the 15th of Av. Registration requested. Wed., Aug 1, 7:30 p.m. $20 optional textbook fee. Intown Jewish Academy.

Wednesday Night Live: Michael Tues., July 31 in Mesopotamia, Michael FroGod and the Brain: Mind, Body man will be discussing his most & Soul, class with Steve Chervin recent trip to Iraq. Iraqi Chai tea will and the Lisa F. Brill Institute for be served. Wed., Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. Jewish Learning. Tuesdays 9:30 $5/person. Congregation Shearith Israel.

Texas Hold’em Poker, join CBS for a night of poker. Beer, soft drinks, and snacks will be served. Sun., Aug. 5, 6:30 p.m. $20 donation/person. Congregation Beth Shalom.

Spring Awakening, presented by MJCCA’s Company J. Wed., Aug. 8 through Sun., Aug. 19. Tickets starting at $12. Morris and Rae Frank Theatre at Zaban Park. (678) 812-4002 or atlantajcc.org. Torah Studies: “Homeland or Holy Land?” join the Intown Jewish Academy for a class about out dual allegiance to Israel. Registration requested. Wed., Aug, 8 7:30 p.m. $20 optional textbook fee. Intown Jewish Academy.

Thurs., Aug. 9

COH Pool Party, come for music, games, swimming, and food. Everyone is welcome. Thurs., Aug. 9, 5 p.m. MJCCA’s Zaban Park. rainanadler@yahoo.com or (678) 779-6938.

Fri., Aug. 10

Rockin’ Shabbat and Barbecue Dinner, prospective members are invited to join CBS for a fun and family friendly service followed by a delicious BBQ dinner. RSVP requested. Fri., Aug. 10, 5:30 p.m. $12/ adult, $8/child. Congregation Beth Shalom. office@ bshalom.net or (770) 399-5300

Sun., Aug. 5, 10 a.m. Congregation Or Hadash. rabbianalia@gmail.com.

Servicio De Shabbat Featuring Friday Night Shabbat Jam, come and experience Shabbat Jam. Fri., Aug. 10, 6:30 p.m. Congregation Or Hadash. rainanadler@yahoo.com or (678) 779-6938.

CBS Brunch and Tour, prospective members are invited to join Congregation Beth Shalom for a brunch and a tour of their facilities. RSVP requested. Sun., Aug. 5, 10:30 a.m. $10/adult, $5/child. Congregation Beth Shalom. office@bshalom.net or (770) 399-5300.

Shabbat Ethnic Dinner, celebrate summer with OVS and enjoy a delicious Mexican dinner following evening services. RSVP requested. Fri., Aug. 10, 6:45 p.m. $18/member and $20/non-member. Congregation Or VeShalom. office@orveshalom.org or (404) 633-1737.

Honey from the Heart, join ORT Atlanta and pack honey to make their fundraiser a success. Must be 16 or older to volunteer. Sun., Aug. 5 to Tuesday, Aug. 24. sdgerstel@yahoo.com or (770) 579-2145. Bearing Witness: Albert Baron, the popular series of First Sunday presentations by Holocaust survivors continues as Mr. Baron presents his riveting personal story of survival. Sun., Aug. 5. 2pm The Breman Museum.

Sat., Aug. 11

Shabbat Services and Kiddush, prospective members are invited to join CBS for services and Kidduch. RSVP requested. Sat., Aug. 11, 9:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Shalom. office@bshalom.net or (770) 3995300.

AJT

from camp with love

Letters from Camp Barney SUMMERTIME ADVENTURES

JULY 27 â&#x2013;Ş 2012

Eli Benveniste wrote a letter home from Camp Barney Medintz shortly after his arrival.

Place your family’s special New Year’s greetings in the AJT and have it seen by the entire Jewish community! Call 404-883-2130 or email jsilberblatt@atljewishtimes.com

Best Wishes for a Very Happy New Year

E L P M

from your friends at

Make your mark this holiday! Have your greeting seen by all in the AJT!

A S Merrill Jones

Investments

May the New

E L P M

Health, Happiness, and Prosperity!

Ruth, Donald, Casey, Aaron, and Meg

L’Shanah Tova Tikatevu

PLE

SAM

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Goldman Family

Happy New Year!

Shanah Tova!

LE LE The P P Bonnie and M M Blumenstein SAMike SAFamily Finkel

To our Family and Friends,

L’Shanah Tova

E L P AM

The Klug Family Linda, Paul, David, and Jaime

L’Shanah Tova! Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

E L P M

Lilly, Allen, Sami and James Fineberg

AJT

tell & kvell

Births Leif Francis Stein

dam and Joanne Stein of Lawrenceville announce the birth of their son, Leif Franics, on Dec. 22, 2011. He weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19-and-a-half inches long. Leif has a sister, Melina, 8 and is the grandson of Harvey and Joyce Goldberg of Clark, N.J. and Rochelle Stein of North Miami Beach. At a brit milah officiated by Dr. Mark Safra and held Dec. 30, 2011 at the home of the family, Leif was given the Hebrew name Laib Yonah in memory of paternal great-grandfather Leo Stein and maternal great-grandmother Frances Warner.

Garber-Kohan

rs. Marianne and Stephen Garber joyfully announce the marriage of their daughter Arielle Daniels Garber to Raphael (Rafi) Lev Kohan, son of Marilyn and Allen Kohan of South Orange, N.J. The ceremony was conducted by Rabbi Philip N. Kranz at The Foundry at Puritan Mill on May 19, 2012. The couple met during their freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis and now reside in Brooklyn, N.Y., where Rafi writes for GQ as well as other publications. Arielle continues to pursue a career in development, most recently for The New York Botanical Garden.

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JULY 27 ▪ 2012

Weddings

AJT

d’var torah

Parshat Mattot-Massei THREE MAJOR LESSONS By Rabbi Thomas P. Liebschutz Congregation Ner Tamid and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association Due to an email error, Rabbi Liebschutz’s d’var Torah for the portion Mattot-Massei did not appear last week. The AJT apologizes for the confusion and publishes Rabbi Liebschutz’s d’var Torah this week.

he double Torah portion Mattot-Massei concludes the Book of Numbers, Chapters 30 to 36. With their completion, we chant chazak, chazak v’nitchazeik, meaning: “May we be strengthened (by G-d) and reinvigorated by what the Torah has taught us.” Let’s dwell on this endearing custom for a moment; especially in these difficult times, who among us does not look for strength from words found in the sacred texts of the Jewish people? We all yearn for enlightenment and faith, hope and wisdom from studying Torah and hearing it expanded. This is one of the ways we are drawn closer to the Source of all Being, the Holy One Blessed be G-d. Praying with a kehilah, a congregation of fellow Jewish learners and seekers, heightens our experience. Judaism is a communal faith. We observe it as individuals, but we find it most meaningful when we are together with others in synagogues and study groups or studying with a chaver (“friend”). We call this latter form of study kitot-kitot, and it is a time-honored Jewish way of learning and spirituality.

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

It happens through text. G-d speaks to us in many ways, but as Jews, uniquely, through holy texts: Mishnah; Talmud; Midrash; commentaries; codes and contemporary texts, including liturgy.

Study strengthens us. This is why we say: “Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik.” It is our way of saying “thank you” to our ultimate wisdom teacher. The Book of Numbers recounts what happened to our people, their achievements, trials and tribula-

tions, during their wilderness wanderings. Mattot-Massei concludes: “These are the commandments and regulations that the Lord enjoined upon the Israelites, through Moses, on the plains of Moab, at the Jordan, near Jericho.” This double-portion reflects three major themes. First, the passages on vows reflect on the legal status of Jewish women; second, the Midianite war passages elicit discussion on how Jewish tradition treats the subject of war in biblical and postbiblical rabbinic texts; and third, the passages in which Moses envisions the Land of Israel’s projected future settlement speak of Cities of Refuge. These themes prompt us to ask: “What is the Torah coming to teach us?

Women’s Legal Status First, we are taught that Jewish women were considered in certain respects almost like chattel; in biblical and early post-biblical times, they were controlled either by their fathers or their husbands. Their legal status was derived primarily through the men in their lives. In general, divorced women possessed the most autonomy, and this included the right to make vows that men could not negate. The other autonomous category of Jewish women was those who entered their majority without marrying; of course, in pre-modern societies this was rare, as marriages were arranged by parents. We do not derive consolation here knowing that the status of nonJewish women at the time was similar or worse. What is comforting is that, over time, these restrictions in Jewish law have been alleviated or eliminated; modern Jewish adult women primarily answer to themselves, whereas in Mattot a married woman’s oaths and vows – and those of a minor daughter – could be nullified by her husband or her father if, upon first hearing them, he did not approve. The famous case of the daughters of Zelophedad mentioned in Massei

also raises another point: Did women have the right to inherit family lands, meaning real property? Moses, faced with the daughters’ urgent request, turns to G-d for advice.

ment, meaning wars fought beyond national borders for the accumulation of wealth or territory; wars to annihilate or subject another people; or wars to assuage a leader’s ego.

With G-d’s help, Moses permits them to inherit, and we learn from this case that Torah law is never static. It evolves according to the needs of each generation in what we call “progressive revelation.”

In conclusion, a dynamic concept of Torah is better than a static one. Torah is not an ancient, outdated text; it is constantly reinterpreted to meet the changing needs and insights of our people, becomes a living document. The voice of Sinai, G-d’s voice, is still heard and more relevant than ever. In this progressive Torah process a paradox occurs: While the interpretations of Torah evolve, the text of Torah remains the same. But it is this paradox enables us to preserve ourselves as Jews.

War: When Is It Justified? Second, Mattot teaches us something about the status of war in Jewish tradition. Mattot speaks of the ferocious war Israel was compelled to fight with the Midianites. Whether our reading leaves us comfortable with what went on will be left for you to decide. But what we should know is that the Talmud asks, “under what circumstances the Jewish people should engage in war?” Obligatory wars, known as milchemet chovah, occur when other nations are poised to strike Israel’s borders, threatening the destruction of everything Israel holds dear. Here Jewish law is quite clear: We are obligated to protect life, liberty, property and the nation itself. But even here, fighting is permissible only if all other means of resolving issues peacefully have failed. Under halachah, Jewish law, no one is permitted to self-destruct, and this also applies to nations. Other impermissible wars discussed in the Talmud are: wars of aggrandize-

Settling the Land, Providing Safety for the Accused Third, we are taught about the future settlement of the land. In Mattot-Massei, this applies to the territory the tribes of Israel would eventually occupy and to the establishment of six Levitical Cities of Refuge; in particular, this latter concept was extremely far-sighted. In biblical times, people committing involuntary manslaughter were given places of refuge, safe sanctuaries, where they could remain until their cases came to trial. Once entering these cities, no one could harm them. This sounds very modern. We live in a land where one is considered innocent until proven guilty, but this was not always the case; revenge for a deceased or injured relative often took place in ages past. But our rabbis soon negated the lex talionis provisions of our Bible. They interpreted the “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” passages to apply only to monetary compensation. Until the rabbis did this, however, Moses’ plan for people temporarily to dwell in safety in Cities of Refuge in the Land of Israel was a huge step in the right direction. Now we better understand why in synagogues, upon completing a biblical book or a tractate found in rabbinic literature, Jews have the unique custom of chanting “chazak, chazak v’nitchazeik.” It is done out of appreciation for what we have learned about our history, ethics, laws and rituals, faith and values. In gratitude, we sing out to G-d, saying: “Thank you.” Editor’s note: Rabbi Thomas P. Liebschutz is the spiritual leader of Congregation Ner Tamid of West Cobb and a member of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

Parshat Devarim THE ESSENCE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A JEW By Rabbi Paul David Kerbel Congregation Etz Chaim and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association

evarim is different from all of the other Books: With the exception of 37 verses, there are only two speakers in the Book of Deuteronomy: G-d and Moses. Devarim represents a unified theme and voice, with consistent repetition. There is a beginning, a middle and an end to this book. The context: The people of Israel are now encamped on the East Bank of the Jordan in the land of Moab, on what would today be the fertile farmland of the Jordan overlooking Jericho, the Dead Sea and the Israeli Jordan Valley Region. Moses will soon transfer leadership; his days in this world will soon come to an end. Moses will not be allowed to enter the Land of Israel, so here in the diaspora, he delivers his final messages, testimonies and sermons to the people. These are history lessons, of sorts: After 40 years of wandering, as the people are about to conquer the land with Joshua as their leader, Moses reminds the people of Israel who they are, where they came from and how they will succeed in the future. The essence of what it means to be a member of the “children of Israel” is explained and repeated throughout these sermons for the Israelites using the following major themes: • There is a close relationship beteen G-d and the People of Israel. • The people of Israel have a responsibility for fidelity and faithfulness, not unlikely the responsibility that comes with marriage; they are also meant to observe, maintain and enhance a covenant made at Sinai between G-d and the people of Israel for all time. • The people must know “the rules” and must observe them, thus paving the way for living the way of Torah.

• This covenant is not about the past; it is about the future and it is up to us to ensure that this relationship is nurtured and grows into the future. • The laws and commandments of the Torah, a significant number of which are presented in Devarim for the first time, require faithfulness and a commitment that we will observe them. From the 1990s until today, one of the buzzwords of Jewish life has been the idea of “Jewish continuity.” In the Book of Devarim, G-d and Moses create the Biblical idea of Jewish continuity as an overarching theme. Teaching our children. Loving our fellow human beings. Living a moral and ethical life. Listening to, understanding and observing the commandments. Creating Jewish communities filled with the love of G-d and love and of our fellow human beings as well as a desire to bring other community members closer to Torah. The way to live a Jewish life is draw closer to Torah, not farther away. Not to observe enough to simply “get by,” but to add to our repertoire of mitzvoth and ma’asim tovim (good deeds) with knowledge, thought, care, reflection and action. It is our responsibility not to observe Judaism “by rote,” but to observe with a clear understanding that our commandments were a means to an end as the biblical prophet Micha taught us: “to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your G-d.” This Shabbat, may we reflect on our contributions to Jewish continuity. Editor’s note: Rabbi Paul Kerbel is a rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim, Marietta and a member and the immediate Past President of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association. He is proud to be involved in the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Hillels of Georgia and the Masorti Foundation for Conservative Judaism in Israel.

Atlanta Synagogue Directory CHABAD

Congregation Shearith Israel 1180 University Dr. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.shearithisrael.com 404.873.1743

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Chabad Intown 928 Ponce De Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.chabadintown.org 404.898.0434

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Congregation B’nai Torah 1633 Hwy 54 E Jonesboro, GA 30238 www.bnai-israel.net 678.817.7162

Chabad Israel Center 5188 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30324 www.cicatlanta.com 404.252.9508

Atlanta Chevre Minyan Druid Forest Clubhouse North Crossing Dr. Atlanta, GA 30305 www.atlantachevreminya.org

Congregation Dor Tamid 11165 Parsons Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 www.dortamid.org 770.623.8860

Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Rd. Suite 120 Kennesaw, GA 30144 www.jewishwestcobb.com 678.460.7702

Congregation Shema Yisrael 6065 Roswell Rd., #3018 Atlanta, GA 30328 www.shemaweb.org 404.943.1100

Congregation Ner Tamid 176 West Sandtown Rd. Marietta, GA 30064 www.nertamidonline.com 678.264.8575

Guardians of the Torah P.O. Box 767981 Roswell, GA 30076 www.guardiansofthetorah.org 770.286.3477

Congregation Rodeph Sholom 406 East 1st Street Rome, GA 30161 www.rodephsholomga.org (706) 291-6315

Nediv Lev: the Free Synagogue of Atlanta 3791 Mill Creek Ct. Atlanta, GA 30341 My.att.net/p/PWP-NedivLev 770.335.2311

Temple Beth David 1885 Mcgee Rd. Snellville, GA 30078 www.gwinnetttemple.com 770.978.3916

Chabad of Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 www.chabadofcobb.com 770.565.4412 Chabad of Gwinnett 3855 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 770 Norcross, GA 30092 www.chabadofgwinnett.org 678.595.0196 Chabad of North Fulton 10180 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.chabadnf.org 770.410.9000 Congregation Beth Tefillah 5065 High Point Rd. Atlanta, GA 30342 www.chabadga.com 404.257.9306

Conservative Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. Atlanta, GA 30327 www.aasynagogue.org 404.355.5222 Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Rd. Atlanta, GA 30360 www.bshalom.net 770.399.5300 Congregation B’nai Torah 700 Mount Vernon Hwy. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.bnaitorah.org 404.257.0537 Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy Marietta, GA 30068 www.etzchaim.net 770.973.0137 Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.gltorah.org 770.777.4009 Congregation Or Hadash 6751 Roswell Rd. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.or-hadash.org 404.250.3338

Orthodox Anshi S’Fard Congregation 1324 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.anshisfard.com 404.874.4513 Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 www.congariel.org 770.390.9071 Congregation Beth Jacob 1855 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.bethjacobatlanta.org 404.633.0551 Congregation Beth Yitzhak 5054 Singleton Rd. Norcross, GA 30093 770.931.4567 Email: anatoliy@bjca.com Congregation Ner Hamizrach 1858 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.ner-hamizrach.org 404.315.9020 The Kehilla of Sandy Springs 5075 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.thekehilla.org 404.913.6131 Young Israel of Toco Hills 2074 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.yith.org 404.315.1417

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Congregation Bet Haverim 2676 Clairmont Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.congregationbethaverim.org 404.315.6446

Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 www.bethtikvah.com 770.642.0434 Temple Emanu-El 1580 Spalding Dr. Atlanta, GA 30350 www.templeemanuelatlanta.org 770.395.1340 Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St. Roswell, GA 30075 www.kehillatchaim.org 770.641.8630 Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30062 www.kolemeth.net 770.973.3533 Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30327 www.templesinatlanta.org 404.252.3073 The Temple 1589 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309 www.the-temple.org 404.873.1731

SEPHARDIC Congregation Or VeShalom 1681 North Druid Hills Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 www.orveshalom.org 404.633.1737

Traditional Congregation Shaarei Shamayim 1810 Briarcliff Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.shaareishamayeim.com 404.417.0472

JULY 27 ▪ 2012

AJT

d’var torah

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Jerome Klein, age 88, of Sarasota, Fla., died July 11, 2012 while staying in Lawrenceville, Ga. Jerome was born in Union Hill, N.J. He graduated from the Rutgers University School of Journalism. He wrote articles for newspapers and magazines before entering the field of public relations. There he specialized in health, serving pharmaceutical manufacturers and hospitals in public relations and serving as a consultant the United Nations World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. During World War II, he enlisted in the Signal Corps, belonged to the 9th Infantry Division and was awarded a Purple Heart Medal in the Battle of the Bulge. A strong supporter of Israel, he joined Volunteers for Israel for a tour of duty with the Israeli army. He also volunteered to assist Russian Jews emigrating to the United States via Rome, Italy. Most importantly, Jerome was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Evan and Suzanne Klein, Duluth, and Nelson and Kimberly Klein, Bethlehem, Penn.; and grandchildren, Jonathan, David and Joshua. Services were held at the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, with full military honors. Sign our online guest book at edressler.com. Donations may be made to Jewish Family and Children Services of Sarasota Manatee Inc., 2688 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34237. Arrangements by Dressler Jewish Funeral Care.

6/29/12 8:11 PM

WILL BE MISSED BY MANY Simon Miller died peacefully in Atlanta on June 25. He was the dearly beloved significant other of Judy Cohn; devoted father and father-in-law of Donna Miller and Rob McCoy, Linda and Gary Kless, Howard Miller and Jennifer Hartman; deeply cherished grandfather of Jared and Ross Heft, Andrew, Chad, and Cameron Kless and Matthew Miller Cummings. He was predeceased by his parents Faye Miller and Raymond Miller. He was the dear brother and brother-in-law of Leatrice and the late Wilbur Berger, Avrum and Louise Miller, Audrey and the late Stan Aronchick. He will be sadly missed by his many good friends, nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of 2nd floor-South at Saint Joseph’s Hospital. Funeral services were held on Thurs., June 28 at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel. Shiva was held at a private residence. Contributions in Simon’s memory may be made to The Canadian Lung Association at (416) 864-9911 or lung.ca or The American Lung Association at (202) 785- 3355 lung.org. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

JEWISH PUZZLER by Kathi Handler (bookssss@aol.com)

Crossword Clues Across 1. Deliverance from danger prayer 6. Eat (Yid) 9. Buckwheat groats 14. Cohanim? 15. Feh!! 16. Swift scribe 17. Pesach month 18. Kunstler org.? 19. Suez or Panama 20. First lady 21. Samson’s sweetie 24. Exist 25. World for Koufax 27. Neither’s partner 28. Jerusalem mount 29. Seduce 31. 2,101 33. Father (Yid) 36. Supreme (Abbv) 38. Candles, feathers and ___ 42. Son of Gad 44. Vav with a dot 46. “__ Hall”, Allen film 47. Night spirit 49. __ Kippur 51. Ellis or Cypruss 52. Khazars’ homeland 54. Ramat Gan specialty 56. Diplomat and orator 59. Bissel (Eng) 61. Nachmanides 65. Capp or Jolson 66. Kern and others 68. “__ Maamin”, Wiesel work 69. Extent

71. Hug, kiss, hug 72. Like Madoff’s funds 74. Nosh (Eng) 75. Biblical fishing device 76. Hungarian sculptor 77. Karpas 78. Hirsch, initially 79. Amos and Micah Down 1. Tay-Sachs carriers 2. Israeli wood 3. Shylock 4. Arkia stat 5. Bagel maker 6. Israeli Mountain 7. Polio vaccine inventor 8. Greeting 9. Political party 10. Yoelson 11. Commandment site 12. Shema starter 2wds 13. Woody or Steve 22. Father of Edomites 23. Tsahal must 26. Primo Levi or Modigliani 28. Herzl movement 30. Arafat’s gang 32. Auditor 33. Prayer for dew 34. Rabbi Isaac Luria 35. __ Aviv 37. Chatchke (Eng) 39. Switch positions 40. Bubkes 41. Prophesy 43. Tis, to Nelly Sachs

45. Chazzer (Eng) 48. Afikoman action 50. Slight bit 53. Copland and Spelling 55. Makes the Tsimmes 56. Genesis creation 57. Shofar’s sound 58. Starring voice of “Up” 60. Calif. Senator 62. Yellow Star? 63. Noodge 64. Scientist, Bohr 66. El Al vehicles 67. Night flyer 70. Schmooz 73. Ashdod to Jericho (dir)

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