Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCVII NO. 5, March 15, 2021

NEXT ISSUE: PASSOVER

VOL. XCVI NO. 5

MARCH 15, 2021 | 2 NISSAN 5781

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CONTRIBUTORS THIS WEEK BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER FLORA ROSEFSKY JAN JABEN-EILON MARCIA CALLER JAFFE ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON SHAINDLE SCHMUCKLER TERRY SEGAL

Sweet Abode The pandemic has focused our attention on health and safety, but also our homes, gardens and kitchens. With Passover around the corner, the AJT offers holiday recipes and a look around our sweet abodes to learn how we can spruce up one of our largest investments. We bring you stories from home designer trends to tips about spring cleaning, and from healthy eating to gardening advice.

Our AJT staff and correspondents share their favorite Passover dishes, from a cocktail to traditional seder fare topped with delectable desserts. We also offer side dishes and breakfast items to fill your post-seder week.

Three Atlanta chefs also contribute their Passover recipes and a real estate developer, who doubles as a home cook and foodie, talks about the cookbook of freshly prepared meals he developed during quarantine. Learn the best vegetables to plant in the spring and how some are connected to our Jewish agrarian history, not to mention the seder table.

Food is a big part of our Jewish tradition and this issue. You’ll find within these pages a dining piece on Firewall Food Stop sandwiches, pizza and hummus bowls with a Mediterranean flare.

We’ve got a story about how Jake’s Ice

Cream opened a new gallery showcasing young artists. Students at The Epstein School have joined in a challenge sweeping social media to eat cereal blindfolded.

Our Treasure Trove is a collector of Superman memorabilia and we offer a snapshot of recent Purim events around the city.

Meanwhile, the AJT offers the latest on lifesaving vaccines, a COVID outbreak at The Davis Academy, recent Zoombombings in Jewish Atlanta, a proposed change in voting opportunities and how the Jewish community is helping fight food insecurity.

Don’t miss our next issue, one of the biggest of the year, as we delve into Passover, how it’s different than before, and what the community has to say about the season celebrating freedom. ì Corrections & Clarifications: In our recent simcha issue, the last name of a grandparent in “Marion’s Fun Factory Bat Mitzvah” should have been Stonberg. Also, a software issue at press time caused a glitch in our Feb. 28 Chai Style Art. View the corrected version at https://atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com/chai-style-art-sculptors-artprovokes-conversation/.

Cover image: Developer and cookbook author Marc Pollack with wife Robin in their garden. Copyright by Marc Pollack, all rights reserved. Cover photo is by Deborah Whitlow Llewelyn, DWL Photography.

CONTENTS NEWS ������������������������������������������������� 6 ISRAEL NEWS ������������������������������� 12 BUSINESS ��������������������������������������� 15 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 16 HOME & GARDEN ������������������������ 18 PASSOVER RECIPES ����������������� 29 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 36 DINING �������������������������������������������� 40 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 41 KEEPING IT KOSHER ������������������ 48 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 49 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 50 CLOSING THOUGHTS ����������������� 56

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 5

NEWS Addressing Hunger in a Pandemic

By Nathan Posner On Sunday, March 7, many Georgians participated in the Hunger Walk/Run, albeit virtually by walking and running throughout the state. The walk, typically held in person, helps to raise funds for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. Started in 1984, the event has gained extra significance during COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began last year, Atlanta has seen the issue of food insecurity grow dramatically, including in the Jewish community. The combination of the pandemic’s financial crisis and schools moving online, leaving many children without their usual food source, has created a greater need.

The Hunger Walk helps to fund community-based efforts to combat food insecurity within Jewish Atlanta and beyond.

At Jewish Family & Career Services’ Kosher Food Pantry, the pandemic has caused a major increase in demand, the pantry’s new manager Jennifer Weissman told the AJT. “There is so much need because of COVID. People have lost their jobs, experienced illness, and people with small children may not be receiving school meals if their children are at home.”

Under the initial management of Jean Millkey, the pantry’s demand grew from 17,500 pounds of food distributed between July 2018 and June 2019 to over 161,000 pounds of food distributed between July 2020 and now. Over those same periods, the pantry expanded from serving 1,900 people to over 9,700.

The service is not only helping to alleviate the issue of food insecurity, but helping promote self-sustainability, Weissman said. “If we can provide people food, we are also enabling them to pay for other things: medication they need, their phone bills or utilities, … and have success in other areas of their lives.”

The pandemic has also caused JF&CS to increase the size of its pantry, said Faye Dresner, JF&CS chief impact officer. “PreCOVID, our food pantry was a small office, serving primarily our own internal clients.”

It moved Sunday to large trailers outside the agency’s Dunwoody office.

JF&CS also is making it easier for people to access the pantry. “Starting this week, we are opening up our hours for drop-in services,” Dresner said. “People in the past had to make an appointment or get a referral to come to the pantry, and we are changing that and now saying anyone can come Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11 to 2.”

Weissman, hired in the past month, is a registered dietician with a background in 6 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Top, Faye Dresner is chief impact officer at Jewish Family & Career Services.

Above, Second Helpings Delivery and Fleet Operator Enzo Albana Galateo Campos loads a pallet of food from Coolray Field last month.

public health. She told the AJT, “We really wanted to get rid of the barrier for our clients.”

While the pantry is run by JF&CS and offers kosher food, it helps to serve the wider Atlanta community too with only 20 percent of the food pantry clients identifying as Jewish. For a populaton of only about 2.5 percent of the total community, the fact that 20 percent of JF&CS’s clients are from the Jewish community indicates there is a significant food insecurity among Jewish people in Atlanta, Dresner said.

In particular, Jewish seniors over 60 have been hit hard by the pandemic. They make up about 80 percent of Jews accessing the pantry, she added.

“Our biggest challenge is getting the word out beyond the affiliated Jewish community to make sure that Jewish people all over the metro area know this resource is here for them whenever they need it,” Dresner said.

JF&CS is also helping those in need with direct financial assistance through its Emergency Assistance Program, “with the goal of helping people achieve self-sufficiency.”

JF&CS also partners with other programs in the Atlanta area to address the Jewish community’s food insecurity, including

Top, Jennifer Weissman is the new manager of the JF&CS Kosher Food Pantry.

Above, volunteer shoppers purchased food early in the pandemic for the pantry.

Open Hand Atlanta, the Atlanta Community Food Bank and Second Helpings.

Laura Samnadda, director of nutrition services at Open Hand Atlanta, told the AJT about the organization’s current involvement with Jewish Atlanta. “We serve clients in many of the senior living communities through our senior contracts: The Zaban Tower, The Jewish Tower and The William Breman Jewish Home, among others.” In addition to supporting the community, Open Hand receives support from it with regular funding from the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, she said.

Open Hand has seen a “huge increase in the amounts of clients we serve through our home delivery meals throughout the pandemic,” she said.

Second Helpings, another Atlantabased organization targeting food insecurity, redirects food otherwise discarded, increasing its efforts during the pandemic.

“We have pivoted during the pandemic to also pick up prepared meals and meal kits through partnerships with companies like HelloFresh and acclaimed chefs,” according to executive director Andrea Jaron.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank also directly helps the Atlanta Jewish com-

munity, said Heather Moon, public relations manager.

“In addition to Hunger Walk/Run, the Jewish community is involved with the Food Bank in a few ways. We provide educational support with Hunger Seder via our education team. We also partner with our Jewish community through Operation Isaiah, an annual metro-wide food drive. The Hunger Walk itself is no small event, with 60 percent of funds being raised by Jewish teams going to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, which manages those funds for distribution.

Harper Landau, the Birthright Israel Fellow at the Federation, is helping manage those funds and the partnership with the Hunger Walk. The Federation is one of five faith-based organizations partnered with the Hunger Walk, serving a key role. “We are a fundraising umbrella for all of the organizations and teams that fall under the Jewish umbrella,” Landau said.

Even though the race was canceled in 2020, it raised about $81,000 to allocate to the community, she said. There are a variety of programs and organizations the funds support, from the Kosher Food Pantry to a number of backpack buddy programs in which synagogues pair with schools to give children backpacks full of food. The latter target students that rely heavily on the schools’ meal programs so they are can receive food over the weekend when they aren’t able to access that food source. In response to the pandemic, Landau said, “We saw almost every organization had an increased need and a major increase in the people they were feeding on a daily or monthly basis.”

According to its website, the Atlanta Community Food Bank has seen a 300 percent increase in inquiries from people seeking food assistance.

Dresner at JF&CS told the AJT, “16 percent of the population in Atlanta is food insecure, that’s up 47 percent from 2018. …

Before the pandemic 16 percent of kids were food insecure, and now it is estimated one in four kids.”

The funds from the Hunger Walk will help address food insecurity but will only put a dent in the issue heightened by the pandemic. While students are likely to return to schools this fall where they will again receive food, and there’s a possibility of an economic recovery helping people afford food again, food insecurity is likely to continue to be an issue, according to those interviewed for this story. The infrastructure and programs being funded now, however, will continue to address the problem. ì

NEWS

Davis Academy Reports No New COVID Cases

By Dave Schechter The Davis Academy reported Feb. 24 that there were “no new student or faculty” cases of COVID-19 at the K-8 school, which is recovering from an outbreak of the coronavirus that required briefly suspending school and then forced schedule changes.

In her Feb. 24 notice to Davis Academy families, Head of School Amy Shafron wrote that “we look forward to a ‘fresh start’ for all of our students,” when all are back on campus beginning today.

Shafron echoed that sentiment in a Feb. 26 notice, writing: “As we wish continued Refuah Shlema (prayers for healing) to those who are ill in our kehillah with COVID-19, and as this time of Distance Learning culminates, we begin to anticipate the joy of a safe and healthy return to campus for all our students and faculty. Earlier in the week our youngest students exuberantly returned to campus with massive amounts of books, papers, and supplies, bounding into school with big masked smiles and welcomed energy. We cannot wait to welcome the remainder of our students and faculty on Monday.”

The Reform Jewish day school was struck in February by a COVID-19 outbreak that particularly affected students in a middle-school cohort and a first-grade cohort.

When roughly 20 percent of the faculty were sidelined, either by testing positive or when protectively quarantining, all students were sent home for distance learning Feb. 17-19, because “ . . . we simply do not have enough teachers who will be in school this week to provide enough instruction and coverage to ensure a safe, in-person learning environment,” according to a Feb. 15 notice to families.

Students in third through eighth grades remained home the week of Feb. 22, while students in lower grades returned to campus, except for those with a sibling in middle school, who studied from home.

In the Feb. 24 notice, Shafron said, “While we are comforted to know cases are on the decline, there is more work to be done to keep us headed in the right direction.”

Families were informed of updated guidelines on how student cohorts will

About 20 percent of Davis Academy faculty were sidelined, either by testing positive or when protectively quarantining, and all students were sent home for distance learning Feb. 17-19.

Left, Davis Academy Head of School Amy Shafron wrote to parents that, “While we are comforted to know cases are on the decline, there is more work to be done to keep us headed in the right direction.”

transition to distance learning should a student or teacher test positive; when and for how long not only students who test positive, but also family members, must quarantine; the opportunity for families to use the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test to permit students to return to school sooner; implementation of an online dashboard to inform families about COVID-19 cases among students, teachers and staff; and a commitment to provide an on-site vaccination clinic for faculty and staff when permitted by the state. Gov. Brian Kemp announced Feb. 25 that teachers and staff in public and private K-12 schools, pre-K programs and daycare centers would be eligible to receive vaccinations beginning March 8.

Notices sent to Davis Academy families earlier in February suggested that some parents had not been truthful in reporting exposure to COVID-19 or in following the school’s protocols to prevent exposure and spread of the virus.

The Feb. 24 notice said: “We continue to ask, at least temporarily, that social and extracurricular activities be limited. We recognize that some may believe that outdoor activities, for example, while distancing and mask-wearing with a limited number of friends in a student’s cohort may be ‘safe’, while others believe that dinner with only one friend or one other family is ‘safe’.

Our best interest is what is the safest for your children and families, and our faculty and staff. Ultimately, we request that all choices made be held to at least the same standard as we have communicated and

as we practice at school: consistent mask wearing, social distancing and hand washing.”

Davis Academy has not responded to requests by the AJT for comment

or additional information.

The AJT continues to seek comment and additional information from The Davis Academy. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 7

NEWS

Kemp: Georgia Vaccine Priorities on Target

By Dave Schechter Darryl Konter remembers hearing Dr. Tom Frieden, then director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say more than once: “Vaccines don’t end pandemics.

Vaccinations do.”

Konter, a 68-year-old Dunwoody resident, worked for seven-plus years on CDC’s anti-smoking efforts. Frieden’s words came to mind as Konter talked about his own experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

When Gov. Brian Kemp added Georgia’s 65-and-older population to the priority tier for vaccination, Konter quickly applied and received his first Moderna shot in midJanuary, and his second in early February, at a parking lot site operated by the DeKalb County Board of Health. “My primary motivation was self-preservation, and was really the ability to help get back to a more normal life,” which Konter said includes the opportunity for he and his wife Roslyn to travel.

During a March 3 briefing, Kemp rejected criticism based on Georgia ranking last among the states in the percentage of its adult population that has received a first vaccine dose. “I think we’re doing very well for whom we’re targeting,” he said. “The media

Far left clockwise, The state’s initial 83,000-dose shipment of the Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine will be earmarked for use by educators and school staffs.

will always focus on the worst number, not the number that matters. I think that’s what’s happening in this case.”

Back on March 2, 2020, Kemp announced the state’s first two positive tests for the novel coronavirus designated SARSCoV-2. In the year since, the state has recorded more than 823,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 56,000 hospitalizations, and more than 15,300 deaths with a confirmed link to the virus.

Kemp preferred to talk about how the state has administered at least one dose of vaccine to 860,000 Georgians age 65 and older, nearly 60 percent of that age cohort,

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Elana Himmelfarb, a developmental disability specialist, is looking forward to resuming inperson interaction with her clients.

“I think we’re doing very well for whom we’re targeting,” Gov. Brian Kemp said during a March 3 vaccine briefing.

compared with a national average of 49 percent. The 65-plus population accounts for more than three-quarters of the state’s COVID deaths.

“I believe that we have done more than most any state to protect those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, with the limited supply that we have been given by the federal government,” Kemp said. He added that his goal was to “prioritize those most at risk for hospitalization and death. I’m convinced our approach has been the right one.”

Georgia’s priority group began with frontline medical personnel and first responders and then expanded to those 65 and older. It expanded again March 8 to include teachers and staff in public and private K-12 schools as well as in pre-K programs and day care centers; adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers; and parents of children with complex medical conditions.

As the state expands its eligibility roll, the federal government has increased Georgia’s weekly allocation, most recently to 223,000 doses from 198,000. The state’s initial 83,000-dose shipment of the Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot vaccine will be earmarked for educators and school staffs, to help meet another Kemp priority. “As I have said many times before: every student belongs in the classroom five days a week. Full

time. As soon as possible.”

A CDC report issued Feb. 26, based on a study of COVID-19 transmission and spread in the Cobb County/Douglas County school district, found that “initial infections among educators played a substantial role in inschool SARS-CoV-2 transmission and subsequent chains of infection to other educators, students, and households, highlighting the importance of preventing infections among educators in particular.”

Overall, the state has administered first doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, both of which require a second, “booster” shot, to 1.29 million Georgians, 12.2 percent of the state’s adult population. Including U.S. territories, only Puerto Rico trailed Georgia in that category. The state ranked better in the percentage of its adult population to have received two shots.

Kemp said that the state had administered 2.1 million total doses, including first and second shots. As of March 3, Georgia statewide had received about 3 million vaccine doses, meaning that more than 900,000 doses remained in refrigerators. In addition to the state’s apparatus, the federal government allocates vaccine to pharmacies, grocery chains, big box stores, hospitals and health clinics. “We can’t control what the federal government is sending to other people that the state is not administering itself,”

NEWS Kemp said. “We can’t Meanwhile, more control who’s holding than 11,000 people second doses; I don’t have gone to a Facethink they should be dobook page — “GA COing that.”

VID VAX APPT HELP The governor also (unofficial)” — where announced that on Georgians are providMarch 17 the state will ing each other with open five more largereal-time tips, virtuscale vaccination sites, ally around the clock, adding to four that on where appointbegan operating a few ments are available. weeks ago. The nine That is how Mark state sites will have a Berger connected by combined capacity to phone with “Melissa,” vaccinate 45,000 people in a Walmart pharper week. macy in Morrow, Ga., Now that they have their vaccinations, The White House and scheduled a secDarryl Konter (here holding announced March 5 ond Moderna dose for his granddaughter Summer Konter) and his wife Roslyn look that the Mercedes-Benz his 60-year-old sister forward to traveling again.

Stadium soon will beNanci, who is developcome a federally manmentally disabled and aged, eight-week vaccilives in the Atlanta nation site capable of administering 42,000 Group Home. doses per week. The federal government will “I think it is wonderful that these route vaccine directly to the stadium site, volunteers are willing to help complete separate from the state sites. strangers navigate this challenging proKemp touted major declines in the cess during a very challenging time. At number of cases and the number of deaths in the end of the day, we are all safer the recent months. “We’re not seeing the kind of sooner everyone gets vaccinated,” Berger outbreaks as in the past,” which struck nurs- said. “The fact that the federal, state, and ing homes and long-term care facilities hard, local governments could not coordinate he said. this effort, even though they had months to figure this part out, is disappointing for an advanced country like ours. There are shots available and being wasted.

It’s just a matter of matching arms with doses.”

The Facebook page also led Elana Himmelfarb to a Tuskegee, Ala., pharmacy, where she received her first shot of the Pfizer vaccine and where she will return for her second.

Himmelfarb is a self-employed, certified developmental disability specialist, who works primarily with young adults “Vaccines don’t end pandemics. and adults with autism and other genetVaccinations do,” Darryl Konter recalls ic- or neurological-based issues, and with Dr. Tom Frieden, then director of Georgia Tech’s program for individuals the CDC, saying more than once. with developmental disabilities. She is still recovering from a June bout of COHowever, the latest White House report VID-19. “I’m a long hauler,” as people like on the states’ COVID-19 response provided her are known. Himmelfarb said that she a cautionary note, as Georgia ranked sixth joined the Facebook group out of desperin new cases and seventh in new deaths per ation and “When I got on and saw what 100,000 adults, for the week of Feb. 20-26. people were doing it was just so heartenKemp was asked if he would follow the ing.” example of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and lift all Georgia has not yet added college COVID-19 restrictions. “That’s something I’m educators and staff to its eligibility roll, certainly looking at,” Kemp said, adding that but comments on the Facebook page sugwhile Georgia did not impose a statewide gest that an untold number have found mask mandate, an “impressive number” of Alabama welcoming.

Georgians were wearing masks and follow“Some of my clients are not able ing social distancing guidelines. “We can’t [to use Zoom]. The lion’s share are, but let our guard down. We’ve got to keep doing are really hungry and need more facethis for another month or two, to get closer to to-face, one-on-one” interaction, which true herd immunity.”

Himmelfarb is eager to resume. ì

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NEWS

Jewish Groups Wary of Georgia Voting Bills

By Dave Schechter Depending on where they live, the ability of Sabbath-observant Jews in Georgia to cast their ballots on Sundays during early, inperson voting may be imperiled by legislation now before the General Assembly.

In the aftermath of the 2020 general election, the Republican-controlled state House and Senate are considering measures that would limit absentee voting, restrict the use of ballot drop boxes, alter the days and hours of voting, and change other regulations.

One provision of a bill passed 97-72 by the House on Monday would require counties to offer two days of early voting on weekends, but counties would have the option to schedule those on consecutive Saturdays, or on a Sunday and the following Saturday.

House Bill 531 now goes to the Senate, which is developing its own voting bill. The legislature is scheduled to adjourn March 31.

The only Jewish member of the General Assembly, state Rep. Mike Wilensky, a Democrat from Dunwoody who represents the 79th District, voted against the House bill. In a floor speech before the vote, Wilensky said that if a county chooses to schedule early

voting on consecutive Saturdays, “This will be extremely painful to religious Jewish voters in Georgia. Saturday is our day of rest and most religious Jewish people cannot do many things on Saturday, including voting. So this would cause religious Jewish people to not have the ability to vote on weekends at all.”

Before the House vote, Wilensky told the AJT, “None Republican Rep. Jan Jones said Democratic Rep. Mike of the changes in this vot- that the bill accommodated Wilensky, the only Jewish ing bill makes voting more observant Jews “by allowing member of the legislature, secure; it only makes voting for a Sunday early voting warned that the bill “would more difficult. I see no necesday, in the counties that cause religious Jewish people sity for this bill and I am 100 choose to offer it.” to not have the ability to percent against it.” vote on weekends at all.”

The second-ranking House member, Speaker Pro Tem Rep. Jan Jones, a Republican from Milton it was available. who represents the 47th district, said that only Jones backed the bill but acknowledged 16 of Georgia’s 159 counties [including some in the religious issue. “I’m sympathetic to our metro Atlanta] offered Sunday voting before practicing Jewish and Seventh-day Adventist November’s general election and six did so be- friends, who do not vote on their Sabbath, on fore January’s U.S. Senate runoffs. Opponents Saturday. The bill accommodates them by alof the bill said that tens of thousands of Geor- lowing for a Sunday early voting day, in the gians took advantage of Sunday voting where counties that choose to offer it,” she said dur-

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ing debate.

A coalition of Jewish communal organizations, activists, synagogues and clergy see that accommodation as inadequate. A letter released Monday, in advance of the House vote, expressed “concern and dismay” about the bill, citing, in particular, the weekend voting issue.

The letter, coordinated by the Jewish Community Relations Council and bearing more than 110 signatures, said: “By allowing advance voting on Saturdays, but not on Sundays, the General Assembly would impose a substantial burden on Jewish Georgians who observe the Jewish Sabbath and are not permitted by their religious practice to vote by writing or using a mechanical device . . . By limiting voting access in a manner that disproportionately impacts the Jewish community, the State of Georgia will create substantial burdens and potential disenfranchisement for portions of our community.”

The coalition suggested that Jews would be unintended victims of legislation aimed elsewhere. “The burden on Jewish Georgians cannot be justified by any legitimate reason put forth by the General Assembly. Restricting advance voting to one day of the weekend does not provide any additional security or integrity to the conduct of elections in Georgia, the purported reason for election bills put forward this year by the General Assembly,” the letter said. “Rather, it is widely suspected that the restriction on Sunday advance voting is meant to curtail Black voters from participating in ‘Souls to the Polls’ voter drives following Sunday morning church services.”

The leaders of communal organizations that signed the letter included: Eric Robbins, CEO and president, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, president, Atlanta Rabbinical Association; Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president, Southern division, Anti-Defamation League; Dov Wilker, regional director, American Jewish Committee; Harold Kirtz, president, JCRC-Atlanta; Terri Bonoff, CEO, Jewish Family & Career Services; Nancy Weissmann, executive director, Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta; and Sherry Frank, president, National Council of Jewish Women, Atlanta section.

The rabbis included: Joshua Heller, Congregation B’nai Torah; Joshua Lesser, Congregation Bet Haverim; Mark Zimmerman, Congregation Beth Shalom; Lauren Henderson, Congregation Or Hadash; Michael Bernstein, Congregation Gesher L’Torah; Jesse Charyn, Temple Beth David; Alexandria Shuval-Weiner, Temple Beth Tikvah; Spike Anderson, Temple Emanu-El; Ari Kaiman, Congregation Shearith Israel; Ron Segal, Temple Sinai; Peter Berg, The Temple; and Brian Glusman, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. ì

NEWS

Understanding Zoombombing

By Roni Robbins

Cobb County police traced the incident to teenagers, mostly from Europe and posThere have been 15 Zoombombing in- sibly Nevada, connected by an online video cidents reported to the Anti-Defamation game and who communicated through soLeague’s Southeast regional office in Atlanta cial media their intent to disrupt an unproin the past year, according to tected Zoom meeting, accordAllison Padilla-Goodman, vice ing to Etz Chaim Executive president of ADL’s Southern Director Marty Gilbert. He Division. More than half of said he got the police report those targeted the Jewish coma week after the incident, Feb. munity, she said.

19, that one person trolled The most recent incident the internet for an easily actook place during a funeral cessible Zoom meeting and service Feb. 28. There were another texted through social about 30 guests on Zoom and media calling for “reinforce20 intruders took control of ments” to disrupt the Shabbat “It was a first for us and the service, Eddie Dressler of service. it was deplorable,” said Dressler Jewish Funeral Care Cobb Police said the inEddie Dressler of Dressler told the AJT. vestigation is currently inacJewish Funeral Care.

“It was a first for us and tive. “There did not appear to it was deplorable,” he said. “I be any imminent or viable think it lasted about 10 minthreats to the safety of the utes until we took control. I congregation,” according to immediately implemented Public Information Officer S. recommendations from A. Barner in a statement to the Zoom for future live streamAJT. “This incident appeared ing and I feel confident to be juveniles interrupting their recommendations will the [synagogue] service with prevent future disruptions. intentions of causing a scene.

We’ve informed and heeded Since the popularization of Neil Rabinovitz is advice from the ADL, FBI, and Zoom, ‘Zoom Bombing’ has community security director become a pastime where local law enforcement.” for the Jewish Federation The AJT asked Padillahackers enter unsecured of Greater Atlanta in Goodman and Community meetings for the sole purpose Security Director Neil Rabino- partnership with the Secure of entertainment.”

Community Network. vitz about the recent events, Barner told the AJT it the increase in Zoombombing is “extremely hard to trace” during the pandemic and how it occurs. hackers and technology crimes and espeZoombombing is basically a group hi- cially if the perpetrators aren’t even in the jacking the Zoom platform’s screen-sharing country. feature to project graphic verbal and visual Gilbert described the incident as the content to unwitting meeting participants modern version of crank calls, except with in an attempt to shock and shut down those modern technology and much more “hurtgatherings, according to a compilation of on- ful and graphic” comments. The synagogue line definitions. initiated tighter Zoom security following the The cases of Zoombombings in the Jew- incident after having kept Shabbat services ish community have trickled in throughout open to anyone who wanted to attend, he the pandemic, a period when more people said. turned to the video teleconferencing platIt was the second such Zoombombing form Zoom for such gatherings as office of an Etz Chaim Shabbat service. The previmeetings, synagogue services, activities, sim- ous incident occurred April 3. chas and family holiday celebrations, accordRabinovitz said perpetrators of Zooming to Rabinovitz, who handles security for bombing, if apprehended, could be charged the community through the Jewish Federa- with state or federal crimes, depending on tion of Greater Atlanta in partnership with the circumstances. As examples, he cited: the national Secure Community Network. “disrupting a public meeting, computer inBefore the recent funeral Zoombomb- trusion, using a computer to commit a crime, ing, the latest incident in Jewish Atlanta hate crimes, or transmitting threatening occurred Feb. 13 when an online Shabbat communications.” service of Congregation Etz Chaim was amAnother incident this year in the Jewbushed by the hurling of anti-Semitic, neo- ish community occurred Jan. 23 during a Nazi and racial slurs and profanity, including Gesher L’Torah shiva call. On behalf of the some in the Zoom chat feature, along with a synagogue, Executive Director Doug Konkel few graphic pornographic images. released a statement on the disruption.

“Our solemn gathering to memorialize is listed along with the Federation’s security a beloved member of the congregation was documents for responding to active shooters, disrupted by a Zoombombing. Like other bomb threats, high holiday security planning institutions of faith, the COVID-19 pandemic and cybersecurity in the age of COVID. has required us to resort mainly to technoRabinovitz said Zoom logical approaches to carry bombers are instigators. A out even our most personal group may or may not have and sacred gatherings. a place or plan for how to dis“Even though we have rupt, he said. They use porn prepared ourselves for these or other shocking negative kinds of hurtful attacks and means “to get a rise out of we were able to protect the people” and that’s easy to do call with relatively little damin religious services, he said. age done to its sanctity, these “That’s why it’s so incummalicious attacks on our combent upon our organizations munity, even if virtual, are a to have security procedures.”

“Some Zoombombers are terrible reminder of the hate He said its very easy to opportunistic. They take and bigotry that still lurks and secure Zoom events with just advantage of poor security the reason we have needed to a few clicks. Such measures settings,” said the ADL’s provide security whether in include requiring registraAllison Padilla-Goodman. person or online.” tion, using waiting rooms, vetAsked if certain synating those who ask to attend, gogues or groups were being refusing to admit those who targeted by the latest Zoomare unknown unless they bombing, Padilla-Goodman provide further identification. responded, “Some ZoomThe host can prevent anyone bombers are opportunistic. from unmuting themselves They take advantage of poor and if intruders gain access to security settings or are eager the meeting, the chat can be to have opportunities to write disabled and the unwelcomed terrible things. Sometimes troublemakers can be immeEtz Chaim executive they are targeting classes or diately removed, Rabinovitz director Marty Gilbert open events. We also have said. described the Zoombombing documented a lot of others “What we see in the comincident as the modern that are geared to specific munity is they try to balance version of crank calls. communities or people and being open and welcoming some of those involve extremand accessible” with the need ists or bigots. for a secure meeting, he said. The Jewish “In other words, there is just really a groups want to be open for out-of-town relawide range based on what we have observed. tives or people not as computer savvy to have It’s not that specific synagogue or events are easy access. being targeted. It’s really about how public He compared the lack of security to events are.” locking synagogues or homes 364 days of When cases of Zoombombing occur, the year and on the last day intruders get she said, the synagogues usually take stron- through. The consequences of posting open ger security stands and they typically aren’t Zoom links are security breaches, he said.

Zoombombed again.

Rabinovitz stressed the importance of Both she and Rabinovitz said the Jewish reporting incidents to local law enforcement community has to keep their guard up when and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Cenit comes to security breaches. ter, www.ic3.gov.

The Jewish community isn’t alone Incidents can also be reported to the when it comes to being Zoombombed. In Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s comAugust, internet trolls targeted the Rev. Ra- munitywide security network, https://jewphael Warnock when he was running for ishatlanta.org/what-we-do/our-initiatives/ the U.S. Senate, according to media reports. we-secure-the-community/, the Secure ComThe perpetrators hurled racist slurs, showed munity Network, DutyDesk@SecureComNazi symbols and pornographic images as munityNetwork.org, or 844-SCN-DESK. ì Warnock began to speak on a Zoom meeting To learn more about securing your netof the Hall County Democratic Party, the re- work, review the Secure Community Network’s ports indicated. video conferencing best practices, https://jewIf it’s any indication how Zoombomb- ishatlanta.org/wp-content/uploads/SCN_Coling has become part of the security threat lateral_Video_Conference_Best_Practices.pdf. landscape in the Jewish community, information on “video conference best practices” ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 11

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME of purposes.

Some interesting finds have come from the study, according to Hebrew University professor Leore Grosman. She said the humans at the time “preferred walking two kilometers to the Sea of Galilee to fish for their preferred kinds of fish, as opposed to being content with the fish that flowed in the nearby river.”

Leore Grosman/Hebrew University//

The Nahal Ein Gev II archeological site excavations

Study Reveals Diets of Early Humans in Jordan Valley

A new study released by a partnership between the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the University of Connecticut has revealed the diet of early humans, who lived over 12,000 years ago, in the Jordan Valley.

The study focused on the remains of animal bones found at an archeological site near the Sea of Galilee, and indicated that the residents in the area at the time chose to eat certain species, and had developed specialties in fishing and hunting them. They seem to have been particularly fond of large carp and geese, and processed animal skins for a variety

Today in Israeli History

Yonatan Sindel/Flash90//

Theater-goers at the Khan Theatre in Jerusalem on Feb. 23.

Jewish Movie and Arts Scene Return to In-Person Events

While theaters have begun to open back in Jerusalem with socially distanced screenings, to limited success, other areas of the arts have returned and been

cerns about conflicts with Jewish law had long blocked such a statement of support for core human rights among the laws that operate as a constitution.

March 18, 1974: OPEC lifts the oil embargo it had placed on the United States in the fall of 1973 for resupplying Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The embargo quadrupled gasoline prices and produced long lines at gas stations.

King Hussein meets with President Richard Nixon at the White House on March 28, 1972, but fails to win any official U.S. statement on his proposed federation with the Palestinians.

March 15, 1972: In a radio address, Jordan’s King Hussein proposes a JordanianPalestinian federation encompassing the West Bank and Jordan under his monarchy with a regional capital in East Jerusalem and a national capital in Amman.

March 16, 1722: Berlin’s Jewish community is reorganized under a new constitution after Prussian authorities issue statutes regulating the community. The Aeltesten Reglement reinforces Jewish communal autonomy.

March 17, 1992: The Knesset enacts the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty. Con12 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

March 19, 1999: Israeli playwright Hanoch Levin’s final play, “Requiem,” makes its debut at the Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv. The play is based on three short stories by Anton Chekhov. Levin dies of bone cancer at 56 in 1999.

March 20, 1917: Yigael Yadin is born in Jerusalem. After becoming the second IDF chief of staff in 1949, he retires in 1952 and turns to archaeology. His excavations include Masada, Hatzor, Megiddo and the Dead Sea caves.

March 21, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to 600 university students in Jerusalem and the state on TV and radio. He pleads for a two-state solution with the Palestinians while declaring that “Israel is not going anywhere.”

more successful. On March 15, 2020, Israel’s government ordered all cultural venues to shut down, and were allowed to reopen in late February under special guidelines.

Those with the green pass, who have either recovered from or been vaccinated against COVID-19, are being allowed to attend cultural events and centers, such as theaters. Music clubs are reopening as well, with “intimate” shows compared to the usual large shows. Museums, unlike clubs and theaters, are open to all, even those who haven’t been vaccinated.

communities, as it is on its way to reaching the highest level in decades.

Floodgates near Kibbutz Degania and at the mouth of the Jordan River will be opened to prevent it, rerouting some of the water towards the Dead Sea. The lake is now 18 feet higher than its most recent low level recorded in 2001, with more water expected to flow into it from the melting snow on Mount Hermon.

There is hope that if rains continue, and the floodgates are open, that the water will help to replenish the Dead Sea, in desperate need of more water.

Sea of Galilee Almost Full After Years of Drought

This year’s rainy season, along with blizzards in the north of Israel, have led to the Sea of Galilee approaching flooding levels after years of droughts. The sea is only 20 inches away from flooding nearby

Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90 //

Children go for a swim in Lake Kinneret in the Sea of Galilee.

March 22, 1988: The Knesset repeals a British Mandate-era law banning sex between people of the same gender and thereby legalizes homosexuality in Israel. The repeal is the culmination of a 10-year legal struggle.

March 23, 1915: A Jewish unit of the British army is formed in Egypt with about 500 volunteers, many of whom had been expelled from Palestine. What begins as the Assyrian Refugee Mule Corps becomes known as the Zion Mule Corps.

March 24, 1966: An instructional program in math targeting seventh- and ninthgraders in 32 schools becomes Israel’s first TV broadcast, 10 years after Jordan and six years after Egypt launched domestic television channels.

March 25, 2019: A rocket destroys a house in Mishmeret, so the IDF bombs suspected Gaza military locations. Thirty rockets then are fired from Gaza into southern Israel. Egypt brokers a cease-fire to prevent an all-out war.

President Barack Obama speaks in Jerusalem during his March 2013 visit to Israel.

March 26, 1979: Six months after signing the Camp David Accords, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and U.S. President Jimmy Carter sign the

Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty.

March 27, 1949: Elisheva Bikhovsky, one of the “four mothers” of modern Hebrew poetry, dies of cancer at age 60 in Tiberias.

Though not Jewish, she was the first woman to publish a volume of Hebrew poetry in Palestine.

March 28, 1932: The first Maccabiah Games open with athletes from 18 countries (some sources say 14 or 21) in Tel Aviv. The Maccabi World Organization grows out of a federation of Zionist sports clubs established in 1903.

March 29, 2002: Israel calls up 30,000 military reservists and announces Operation Defensive Shield in response to a particularly brutal month of the Second Intifada.

During the 19-day campaign, Israel controls most West Bank cities.

March 30, 1135: Moses Ben Maimon, known as Maimonides and the Rambam, is born in Cordoba, Spain. (Some sources say the year is 1138.) His family lives in Morocco and Palestine before settling in 1166 in Fustat, Egypt. ì Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

ISRAEL NEWS COVID Travel Restrictions Impact Atlantans and Israelis

By Jan Jaben-Eilon When Gita Berman’s daughter Mara had her baby Carmi in Israel in June, the Atlantan was anxious to travel to the country to be there for her daughter, and to see her latest grandchild. After several frustrating months, Berman finally received special permission to enter Israel, despite the pandemic.

In those days, only Israelis were allowed to fly to Israel.

Since the end of January, even Israelis were banned from inbound and outbound flights through Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel’s only international airport. The government made the decision out of concern that COVID variants were being brought into the country.

But when Israelis were caught abroad after the government suddenly announced its airport closure, a few humanitarian flights were arranged to bring some Israelis home.

Some, but not all, and initially only El Al was allowed to provide those flights.

When the U.S. government interceded, arguing that the exclusion of its airlines broke agreements with Israel, Delta and United Airlines were finally allowed to provide rescue flights for Israelis going home.

The daily quota of passengers was raised from 600 to 2,000, then lowered to 200, leaving many Israelis clamoring for one of the few seats available.

As of March 7, 3,000 Israelis per day are allowed to return to the country. The government approved the plan to loosen the restrictions following a backlash that heightened as a result of the upcoming March 23 Israeli election. Israelis are only allowed to vote in person.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute, Israel is the only democracy in the world barring entry to its own citizens in its COVID clampdown.

One of those Israelis who labored for approval to return to Israel was Nachman Shai, who was a visiting professor at the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel at Emory University until last year, when he went to Duke University. At first, he was denied his travel application for permission by the governmental committee that was reviewing requests on a case-by-case basis.

“It was quite a strange and long struggle with the government. It took over a week,” he told the AJT, “and my case was unique. I’m the only Israeli running for the Knesset and trying to get home.”

Shai had served in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, from 2009 to 2019, representing the Kadima, Labor and Zionist Union parties.

He is number eight on Labor’s list in the upcoming March 23 election. (The latest polls indicate that the most Labor candidates expected to attain Knesset seats is seven.)

“I was booked for a flight but then the government lowered the number of Israelis allowed in from 2,000 to 200, so my seat was canceled. I was told no reason why I was denied entry, and no reason why I was allowed” a seat, about a week later. Shai explained

Nachman Shai returned to Israel March 3 to campaign for the Labor Party list in the upcoming Israeli elections.

that he didn’t want to use his connections in Israel to obtain permission, but he sounded frustrated with his efforts.

“I need to go there and campaign. I need to go to TV studios. And when I get back, I will need to quarantine,” Shai said, despite the fact that he has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. Also, while on the Duke University campus, he was being tested nearly every day. “I’m waiting to hear how long I must be in quarantine.”

His first flight had been booked on United Airlines, but when that was canceled, he booked a seat on El Al on March 2. On March 1, Shai tweeted that again, Israel denied him entry. Shai finally arrived in Israel March 3.

At the time Berman’s granddaughter was born, “the Israeli government was issuing special visas for foreign grandparents who enter the country to celebrate a birth, bar/bat mitzvah or wedding. You had to provide documents and agree to quarantine and show proof of health insurance covering COVID,” Berman said. She ended up spending the month of September in Tel Aviv, two weeks of which were in quarantine. But spending time with her daughter and three grandchildren there was worth it. ì

Before Gita Berman was allowed to fly to Israel to see her new grandchild Carmi, last summer, she had to “provide documents and agree to quarantine and show proof of health insurance covering COVID.”

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Gita Berman surrounded by her three Israeli grandchildren Yogev, Carmi and Nevo last September in Israel.

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ISRAEL NEWS

Conversion Ruling Elicits Strong Reactions

By Jan Jaben-Eilon Predictably, the reaction to the recent Israeli Supreme Court ruling that allows residents of the country who are converted by the Israeli Reform and Conservative movements to become citizens is as varied as any opinions among Jews. Similarly, the predictions about the long-term ramifications of the ruling are just as divergent.

In general, the non-Orthodox communities in both Israel and Atlanta are welcoming the court ruling, while those in the Orthodox communities are either condemning it in rather florid terms or questioning its legitimacy.

Temple Sinai Rabbi Ron Segal sees the Israel Supreme Court ruling as another step toward the recognition of the Reform and Conservative move“This is an important step along the journey ments within Israel. That recognition of growing acceptance” of non-Orthodox “has been advancing for quite some Jews in Israel, said Rabbi Ron Segal. time,” the Reform rabbi said. He noted how in 2012 Israel started compensating Reform rabbis who serve govern- tive movements in Israel, it feels like a ment positions in communities there. great victory after so many years of peRabbi Miri Gold of Kibbutz Gezer be- titioning the court to apply the existing came the first non-Orthodox rabbi in law.” However, he noted, “It does not Israel to have her salary paid by the change in any way the monopoly of the government.

Chief Rabbinate on issues of marriage.”

“This is an important step along In fact, the Israeli Supreme Court the journey of growing acceptance” of clearly pointed out that its ruling was the non-Orthodox Jewish communi- not a religious ruling, but rather a civil ties, said Segal, who until recently was ruling, meaning that issues of religion president of the Central Conference of dealing with lifecycle events such as American Rabbis, the Reform move- marriage and divorce are still under ment’s rabbinic group. the authority of the Chief Rabbinate In its statement, the CCAR says the ruling “means that hundreds of longtime Israeli residents, who have converted to Judaism through the Reform and Conservative movements’ rigorous and meaningful courses of study may now register as olim [immiRabbi Mario Karpuj, left, noted, “It does not change in any way grants] and claim the monopoly of the chief rabbinate on issues of marriage.” their rightful status as proud Israeli citizens. This ruling is of Israel. There is no civil marriage in a long-overdue, significant and cele- Israel. bratory achievement for Israel and the This ruling focuses on Israel’s Law Jewish people.” of Return, which gives foreign-born Rabbi Mario Karpuj made aliyah Jews, or anyone with a Jewish parent, last year with his wife Rabbi Analia grandparent or spouse, the automatic Bortz, both founding rabbis of Congre- right to claim Israeli citizenship. For gation Or Hadash in Atlanta. He said, decades, those who have converted to “For those in the Reform and Conserva14 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

conversion, finally deciding that a decision had to be made in cases brought to its court in 2005.

Not surprisingly, the ruling – however restrained – upset the ultraOrthodox community in Israel. In advertising for the upcoming March 23 election, one party compared Reform Jews to dogs.

In Atlanta, Beth Jacob Rabbi Ilan Feldman’s reaction was much more moderate. “By definition, the Supreme Court can’t decide who is Jewish,” he said, referring to the longtime controversial question of “who is a Jew?” He noted that the Supreme Court “didn’t claim to have jurisdiction over who is a Jew. In the general debate, someone in the world can’t be Jewish just because someone says so.”

Feldman’s question for Reform Beth Jacob Rabbi Ilan Feldman and Conservative rabbis is, “what kind stated, “By definition, the Supreme of conversion would you not accept?

Court can’t decide who is Jewish.”

And tell me what gives you the right to object? If someone started another non-Orthodox Judaism outside Israel Jewish movement, would there be some have been able to gain Israeli citizen- bottom line?”

He proposed the scenario of Jews ship. This new ruling only applies to for Jesus saying that converts into its non-citizens living in Israel, many of movement would have to accept Jesus. whom are married to Israelis.

“Would a Reform panel accept that, or “The Court effectively completed say it’s outside the law?” the arrangement for the recognition According to Feldman, the longof conversions, all based on previous term ramification of the ruling is that court rulings, and from now on all con“Israel ceases to be a place where we version routes accepted by the Jewish can all agree on certain standards.

I people, when conducted in Israel, also don’t think the best way to promote have official recognition of what is perhaps the most important Israeli law: standards is by legal control.”

But he emphasized that he’s “not a fan of forcing people to live a certain way.

The best way to establish religious change is to be inspiring. If you put yourself into requiring a standard, that puts people off.”

Regardless of Feldman’s approach, leaders of the ultraOrthodox parties in Dr. Shuki Friedman is a director at The Israel Democracy Institute.

Israel are already suggesting ways to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling. the Law of Return,” stated Dr. Shuki Indeed, these parties Prime Minister Friedman, director of the Center for Benjamin Netanyahu relies on to form Religion, Nation and State at The Israel a coalition government have stated Democracy Institute. that they won’t join his government Friedman added that the Supreme Court had hoped for 15 years that the unless he agrees to invalidate the recountry’s legislature, the Knesset, cent conversion ruling. ì would determine what constitutes a

Craig Habif Joins Habif Properties Craig Habif joined Habif Properties March 1 as vice president, the property management company announced.

Craig is an Atlanta native with more than 16 years’ experience in commercial real estate. He spent the past 6 ½ years with Jamestown where he was general manager at Ponce City Market, a 2 million square-foot adaptive use development in the heart of Atlanta. Craig’s responsibilities included financial and operational Craig Habif becomes third oversight of the project including office, retail, restaugeneration at the company. rant and residential components.

Prior to working with Jamestown, Craig managed a portfolio of over 2 million square feet for Lincoln Property Company.

At Habif Properties, Craig will work alongside his father, Michael, and grandfather, Morris, to oversee and expand a portfolio of 46 properties. Habif Properties provides management and leasing services to more than 250 tenants located primarily in metro Atlanta.

“We are excited to welcome Craig to Habif Properties. Craig brings together three generations of our family with a combined 114 years of real estate experience. His extensive knowledge and understanding of market dynamics in Atlanta commercial real estate will be a great asset to our team,” said Michael Habif, principal of Habif Properties.

Mark Rosenberg Named to Chairman’s Club

Mark Rosenberg is recognized among the firm’s top financial advisors.

Mark Rosenberg was named to Morgan Stanley’s prestigious Chairman’s Club. Rosenberg is a managing director and financial advisor for Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management office in Atlanta.

The Chairman’s Club is an elite group composed of the firm’s top financial advisors. The appointment recognizes Rosenberg’s consistent creativity and excellence in providing a wide range of investment products and wealth management services to his clients, according to the company’s press release.

Steven Kleber Joins NAHB Board Steven Kleber, a home and building products industry veteran, has accepted an invitation to join the National Association of Home Builders Global Opportunities Board.

Kleber, who is founder and principal of Kleber & Associates, an Atlanta marketing communications agency, is also president of the National Remodeling Foundation and immediate past president of the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Center for Kitchen and Bath Education Steven Kleber said he’s and Research. In addition, he serves on the board of The anxious to work with others Home Projects Council. in the industry to further “I am honored to be an active member of the Global global housing needs.

Opportunities Board and look forward to working together with the many dedicated and talented individuals across the industry to help further the important needs for housing globally,” Kleber said.

BUSINESS BRIEFS Amy Saul Mollengarden Recognized by Georgia Super Lawyers Amy B. Saul Mollengarden was named a 2021 Georgia Rising Star while others in her practice Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery were also recognized by Super Lawyers in 2021 in the area of family law.

The accolades are the result of a rigorous selection process that evaluates outstanding lawyers throughout Georgia from more than 70 practice areas.

Saul Mollengarden has been recognized for two consecutive years as a Rising Star.

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Amy Saul Mollengarden has been named a Rising Star two consecutive years.

Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation Announces Leadership Change The Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation on March 1 announced the implementation of an executive transition plan in place since the summer in which Andrew S. Borans (Florida State, 1980), executive vice president and chief executive officer, will retire from Left, Andrew Borans is retiring as CEO of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation and Jay Feldman has been promoted to COO. his CEO role at the Foundation effective May 31.

As a part of this transition, the Foundation’s Board of Directors has also promoted Jay S. Feldman (Central Florida, 2003) to managing director and chief operating officer.

“Andy has left an indelible mark on Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) over the past 41 years,” said Daniel Hays (Georgia Tech, 1995), the Foundation’s chairman of the board. “His personal commitment to the development of leaders for the Jewish community, his fight against antiSemitism, and his support for the State of Israel are unmatched.”

Borans has a 41-year history with AEPi. In December, Feldman was promoted to his new position. He has been part of the AEPi Foundation leadership team since 2011, when he joined as its first full-time employee.

“We are very fortunate to have a committed and talented professional like Jay on our staff to expand on the great work that has been done at the AEPi Foundation,” Hays said. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 15

OPINION Decades of Nazi-Hunting Winding Down A dozen years ago, on the website of an Atlantabased cable network, I published a blog titled: “What to do about those Dave Schechter old men?”

From Where I Sit I began by asking: “What would you do about a small number of men, the youngest in their 80s and generally not in the greatest of health, who immigrated to the United States after World War II and have been living working-class American lives for decades? They have wives, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They also stand accused of participating in the extermination of 6 million Jews and countless others in Nazi concentration camps … What do you do about these old men, let nature take its course or find them, prosecute them

16 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

and deport them?”

Where the former has been too slow, the Justice Department has pursued the latter — but that work may be nearing its end.

On Jan. 20, the United States government returned 95-year-old Friedrich Karl Berger, a resident of Oak Ridge, Tenn., for more than six decades, to Germany, where he remained a citizen.

The Justice Department said that Berger was removed because of his “willing service as an armed guard of prisoners at a concentration camp where persecution took place.” That was the Neuengamme subcamp near Meppen, Germany, where, in the winter of 1945, prisoners held in “atrocious” conditions were “exploited for outdoor forced labor” and worked “to the point of exhaustion and death.”

With Berger’s deportation, “There are no cases in any U.S. court at the present time involving alleged participants in WWII-era Nazi-sponsored acts of persecution,” a Justice

Department spokesman told the AJT. Think about that: 76 years after the end of the Holocaust, there may be no more Nazi perpetrators to pursue in the United States.

Even as “investigative activities continue,” the Justice Department spokesman acknowledged that “actuarial realities will no doubt bring these prosecutions to a conclusion in the intermediate future: the vast majority of the persons implicated in the perpetration of Nazi crimes are no longer alive, and the population of such individuals who are both alive and medically capable of being brought to trial is dwindling rapidly.”

In his 2014 book, “The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler’s Men,” journalist Eric Lichtblau wrote that upwards of 10,000 Nazis entered this country after World War II. “Thousands of Nazis sneaked in on their own, easily gaming the American immigration system. But hundreds had help .

. . ,” Lichtblau wrote. That help came from American intelligence officials, who saw them as potential spies and informants against Soviet communism, which had replaced German fascism as the focus of U.S. national security.

Not until 1979 did the Justice Department create a Nazi-hunting unit, several years after The New York Times corroborated what a whistleblower told Elizabeth Holtzman, a Jewish congresswoman from New York, about the Nazis’ presence.

Holtzman accused U.S. authorities of creating “a safe haven for alleged Nazi war criminals” and an “ugly blot on our country.”

Over 42 years, the Justice Department has won cases against 109 men and women, “more cases against persons who participated in Nazi persecution than have the law enforcement authorities of all the other countries in the world combined” — which seems more an indictment of the effort made by other nations.

For many years, Nazi hunting was the mission of the Justice Department’s Office of Special Investigations. In 2010, the unit was folded into the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, which prosecutes perpetrators of human rights violations found within U.S. jurisdiction.

The American military veterans who liberated Nazi concentration camps are also aging. Last September, there were 325,000 living World War II veterans; by this September, the government estimates that there will be 100,000 fewer.

There are an estimated 80,000 Holocaust survivors in the United States. What I wrote in 2009 remains true today: “They tell their stories to schoolchildren, religious congregations, and anyone else who will listen and remember. When they are gone, so will be living testimony to the horrors at Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald, Treblinka, and camps too numerous to list. Future generations will have the survivors’ recorded histories, along with the records kept by the Nazis, who thought history would thank them for their diligence; the investigations by the OSI and Nazihunters in other countries, and museum exhibits about the period that set a standard for inhumanity.” ì

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verture Powers Ferry has introduced a visionary standard of 55+ living and is taking the term “active adult” to an exciting place along the way.

Their goal is to provide residents with maintenance-free living in premium apartment homes, while creating endless activities for residents in a similar phase of life.

Active adult living is often understood solely by its guidelines. By encouraging an interconnected community culture, Overture Powers Ferry seeks to break the outdated perspective of senior living. Through their Soul program, active adults can embrace the 7 Dimensions of Wellness - Fitness, Wellbeing, Spirituality, Intellect, Social, Eco-life, and Pursuits. By collaborating with like-minded neighbors, welcoming new forms of joy into their lives, and pursuing invigorating challenges of their choosing, residents lead a purpose driven life.

Creating an engaging lifestyle can be challenging in today’s COVID environment.

That’s why the Lifestyle Coordinator at Overture Powers Ferry is dedicated to filling the community’s monthly calendar with contests, movie screenings, fitness classes, cooking demonstrations, educational seminars, and more. From the stimulation of learning to the

energizing quality of good-natured competition, events are highly diverse and sure to keep residents engaged.

The emphasis at Overture Powers Ferry is fostering an environment where residents can carve out their niches, living every moment well, and with the freedom to take the day in whatever way they see fit. Families can be rest assured knowing their loved ones are benefiting from a broad menu of activity options orchestrated by experienced and friendly team

members.

Overture Powers Ferry is centrally located at the intersection of Powers Ferry Rd and Windy Rd SE, near Windy Hill Athletic Club, The Battery and Truist Park, upscale restaurants, the Chattahoochee River and numerous state of the art medical facilities.

To discover more about Overture Powers Ferry’s engaging 55+ lifestyle, be sure to visit their website at OverturePowersFerry.com or call (470)437-3138. ■

PAID CONTENT BY OVERTURE POWERS FERRY ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 17

HOME & GARDEN Interior Designing Women M i n i malist, rustic, shabby chic, coastal, Hollywood glam, Bohemian, modern farmhouse or the forever eclectic, designers uniMarcia versally agree Caller Jaffe that during the pandemic, the value, sentimentality and comfort of homes surged. From white brick exteriors to vibrant colors inside, we welcome the outside in and the inside out, redefining “Home Sweet Home.” Opportunity comes with change.

Explore what these seven interior designers share about their experiences and trends. And no, it was not difficult to find all Jewish ones.

Andrea Turry Designs With the pandemic spurring home evolutions, Turry received numerous requests to redesign the most essential rooms – bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Her trends in early 2021 include florals, bold patterns, and color – particularly blues and greens.

“We are seeing many new and great-looking ‘performance fabrics,’ which are easy to clean and withstand wear-and-tear. They come in many textures and colors, patterns, velvets, wovens. Another new dramatic kitchen trend is black cabinetry. Black is a neutral that works well with color. The more traditional subway tiles of the past, used often in kitchens and bathrooms, are being replaced with more interesting shapes like hexagons and honeycombs. As we move through 2021, we will continue to see trendy, updated living spaces.”

18 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Bressler Brown Interiors For this upcoming season, Debra Brown sees bright yellow and light gray trending.

Neutral palettes with a pop of color in artwork, accessories and pillows really add excitement.

Patty Benator created this custom kitchen with dual cabinet finishes, waterfall island, terrazzo with glass and natural stone, quartz countertops with porcelain tile backsplash.

Debra Brown is shown in a sitting room with white chairs and linen windowside panels with an art selection of a handmade paper piece on the wall.

The room is neutral highlighted with navy blue.

Wallpaper is very popular and with choices of amazing new prints and designs.

Brown explains, “Since families are spending more time at home, they want comfort and functionality. Clients are having fun with home office design by incorporating unique lighting, cool colored desk chairs and more spunk into an ordinary office.

“My mother/partner, Linda Bressler Wand and I have different styles, and merge our thoughts to bring our clients’ personal tastes to life. During the pandemic, our business has been steady. With so many staying and working from home looking in the same old spaces day in and day out, projects that were on the back burner for years are coming to fruition.”

ily celebration can easily be achieved.

Renewed guest retreats that include added living space, small kitchens and children’s corners are accommodating extended stays for visiting guests, while also adding value to the home,” Benator said.

“Creamy whites, grays, pale blush tones are our blank canvases. Adding rich navy, citron or celery greens, rose or blush can enhance a neutral palette. Accent walls of interesting wood, metal or a stunning wall material is also a simple refresh. Trends are inspiring, yet don’t take a ‘trendy’ style so far that you’ll be stuck in 2021 going forward.” She concludes, “Mixing texture, finishes and styles will achieve ‘your’ wow. There are no rules in design. Every home should reflect its owner with their signature.”

Patty Benator, PSB Designs

Andrea Turry poses in a powder room she designed using hexagon floor tiles, a graphic wall covering, forged brass vanity with a quartz top, oversized sconces and a custom designed mirror.

Concepts in design throughout 2020 and into 2021 have not changed, Benator said. Re-imagining and creating beautiful, functional details, she said, should continually be specific to each clients’ lifestyle.

“Formal dining rooms are more casual.

Allowing this space to function as work or study vignettes are the new norm. Making the work/study space disappear for a fam-

Julia Larrabee put finishing touches on a master bath that she designed. She notes the trend to making the home a sanctuary.

Amy Spanier, S.N.O.B. and I.D.E.A. Gallery

During COVID, Spanier’s clients discovered that their homes weren’t sufficiently warm or therapeutic and needed more spaces for office, meal prep or pets.

Recently she placed numerous mirrors and 19 pieces of colorful figurative “feel good” art, mostly abstracts on walls where there was previously nothing. She states, “We go outside to experience better brain chemistry amidst color and trees. Bringing that concept inside, I just did a 6-foot-wide Spanier designed this townhouse from the ground up by 4-foot photo enlargement of as a mixture of modern and antiques. Cindy Crawford woods and mountains.” sofa from Rooms To Go, end tables and lamps from She now trends towards color.

Interiors Market, rug from Westside Market.

“Aesthetically I came to realize that the old neutrals yielded

HOME & GARDEN that limit how they will personally use the space. They should use the budget on themselves and not for some ‘future’ resident. Thus, we see a trend to want new spaces, especially bedrooms and baths, to be like a sanctuary using monochromatic, complimentary, and sometimes bold tones to walk into the extraordinary.

“It is also important to use smart design, like removing a neverRickles brings the outside view inside in this beautifully designed used tub and replacing it with an Buckhead condo mixing clean lines with a modern sensibility. open, ‘wet bath’ shower enclosure.

Fabrics are from Gianti and Kravet Couture in jade velvet.

Or, replacing fixed walls with glass and use wall-mounted vanities to to color: emerald green, navy blue, delicious visually open up the space. It’s not just about orange red/persimmon; and everyone loves making the space new or different but makblue. I designed a little girl’s room in aqua that ing it more usable and enjoyable.” was originally planned for taupe. We painted several brick exterior homes solid white!”

Linda Rickles Interiors

Julia Larrabee Designs Larrabee concurs that the pandemic has influenced remodeling/refreshing personal spaces. Master bedrooms, master baths and new kitchens are high on clients’ lists.

“We encourage them to let us design the space for them and not focus on traditional reasons like ‘resale’ or other ‘what if’ influences

Rickles believes that more time is being spent at home with the main priority of making spaces very comfortable, multi-functional and unique.

The trends she sees are bringing the outside inside by making outdoor views focal points. She uses lots of plants and trees to incorporate colors of nature, especially different shades of green and blue.

“Color trends are relaxing and grounding like Sherwin Williams Color of the Year Urbane Bronze. The Benjamin Moore Color of the Year is Aegean Teal. It’s the blue of the sea reflected in the sky.

Pops of yellow are ontrend, representing the sun. They also infuse a feeling of hope for the future.”

spaces, we saw a wonderful trend toward adding bright spots of color ‘rays of happiness’ as those spaces were organized and brought to life for fulltime use.

“We worked on creating comfortable and joyful spaces for family gathering after work and school. For This sunporch in Virginia-Highland from cg interiors has furniture by one client, we convertPaolo Lenti, represented by Switch ed a dining room into Modern. Fabrics are proprietary to the cg interiors a family lounge with brand and are rated for outdoor use.

Caryn Grossa custom banquette Grossman chose a lively combination man’s current projects incorporating chaise of purples, blues, violets and greens. include single-family lounges for movie homes in Virginiawatching after dinner.

Highland, Candler Park, and a loft on Edge- The banquette is a custom design, wrapping wood Avenue. three sides of the dining room. Laid end to end, At the start of the pandemic, “we initially it would total 30-plus feet. It’s upholstered in saw a sharp drop in renovation projects as a rich cobalt blue performance velvet by Pecontractors and suppliers struggled with staff- rennials Fabric that is fade resistant, mildew, ing and material shortages. It’s now easier to mold-resistant and bleach cleanable. Outdoor anticipate and navigate those challenges, and spaces and sunrooms saw a jolt of color as they clients are moving forward with expansions became places for socially distanced cocktails and renovations. While most of our clients and casual snacks with neighbors.” ì either already had home offices or converted

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 19

HOME & GARDEN

Home Sweep Home Spring Cleaning

By Robyn Spizman Gerson As Passover and spring arrive, it’s time to clean out the chametz to prepare for the holiday. Many of us have been “quarantine” cleaning and getting organized since the pandemic hit. Overflowing closets and disorganized drawers are becoming a thing of the past.

“It’s always time to get organized.

Creating functional systems that also look beautiful gives you a chance to feel calmer and more in control,” said Clea Shearer, who with Joanna Teplin are nationally recognized organizers, authors and founders of The Home Edit.

“Sorting by color is just another form of labeling,” Shearer said. “Since kids learn by color, we also suggest sorting items in rainbow order as a labeling system. Don’t confuse organizing with cleaning. If you don’t create a sustainable system first, a mess is bound to reappear.

If you take the time to think through your habits, your home and your lifestyle, you can create smart solutions that you’ll be able to maintain.”

Teplin added, “The biggest mistake we see first-time organizers make is thinking they need to tackle their entire house at once. Instead, start with a drawer. The knowledge and confidence you gain from a smaller project will motivate you to tackle the larger portions. Next, start every project with an edit.

Photos courtesy of The Home Edit// This means removing every Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin item from the space, groupare creators of The Home ing them into categories, Edit, a business which makes and purging what you no getting organized easy. longer want or need. Rolltivity & Organizing carts have proven to be a helpful solution. Each kid has their own ing professionals), and we store their supplies on it. Create is a former realtor a spot for current, on-going, or pending and co-owner of projects. Having a specific spot will de- The Student Orgacrease piles of clutter that can otherwise nizers of Atlanta.

Her company Put accumulate.”

Atlanta certified professional or- It There focuses ganizer Michelle Cooper, a member of on helping clients NAPO (National Association of Produc- get organized, and she suggests these organizing tips: ■ Assess a space: How do you and your family members use the space?

Pick a location to work and arm yourself with all necessary supplies: trash bags, Sharpies, donation boxes, and a tote or laundry basket to relocate items.

Closets, pantries, garages, offices and more!

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need a system for bills to pay, papers to read/file/scan, etc.

■ Schedule regular maintenance: Paperwork should be processed daily, but do a weekly catch up on those that are laying around.

Closets should be evaluated seasonally. Toys should be reviewed twice a year (definitely before birthdays and Hanukkah when there is an influx).

■ Downsizing or merging households: Purging is essential and it can be emotional.

Even once you have decided to part with items, do you donate it? Sell it? Who wants it?

Having a neutral, third party help you cull through your belongings can be invaluable.

Stephanie Jenkins, owner of Simplify with Stephanie, offers stress-free services Examples of home spaces in relocation, deorganized by The Home Edit. cluttering and or■ Purge: Start ganizing as well as small. Pull items out of one drawer or cabinet or pick one preparing homes for an estate sale once area of a room. Group like items together the house is decluttered. She said she beand then go one category at a time, pick- lieves, “When a house is organized, nothing out the items that work best. Only ing lives on the floor; it’s easier to keep after you have purged and decided what clean and everyone is happier.”

The entire organization industry is items will live where should you shop for booming, according to Dale Cardwell, a proper bins or baskets. consumer advocate and founder of Trust■ Donate: Find an organization that Dale.com, a free research and referral pulls at your heartstrings and feels business. “The past year has seen an exworthwhile. A few choices for clothing plosion in the home improvement space. plus other household items includes Closet makeovers are especially high on Goodwill of North Georgia or the Comthat list, because they create beauty and munity Assistance Center. efficiency.”

■ Create systems: Label everything.

Regardless of which area of your Create an efficient, easy-to-use paper home you target, with a little elbow management system. Papers kept for grease and a plan, you are in for a more reference and retention purposes need a organized life. ì file cabinet or storage area. Action papers

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HOME & GARDEN

Home Staging Shows House in Best Light

By Flora Rosefsky Selling a home can be compared to internet dating, according to Stephanie Jacobs, Atlanta chapter president of the national Real Estate Staging Association.

The vast majority of potential buyers are looking at pictures online of homes first before stepping into a home, she said.

“What we don’t want are potential buyers swiping to the next photo when doing searches. Instead, we want them to love the home, telling their real estate agent they are ready to ‘have their first date’ to see it.”

That’s why Jacobs believes it’s important to understand how decorating and staging a home differ.

When decorating a home, it’s about the current homeowner and their taste and style, she explained. “Staging has nothing to do with my taste, or the current homeowner’s taste. It’s all about appealing to potential buyers and the location of the home.”

Jacobs, owner of Staged by Stephanie, and two other real estate agents, Ariel Baverman and Jill Ginsberg-Wright of Keller Williams Realty shared with the AJT ways they work with sellers to prepare a home for sale.

Jacobs lets sellers know that “light, bright and clean are what sells.” For the outside, she may suggest “fresh pinestraw/mulch, pressure washing, bright pots of flowers on either side of the front door” and for inside, “neutral paint with pops of color in blues and greens.”

Wright said her stager gives detailed advice about how best to place the seller’s furniture and belongings or if the seller moves out, the stager works with what furniture is left. Sellers will hear about what to pack and what to leave, to do re-

Stephanie Jacobs is owner of Staged by Stephanie and Atlanta chapter president of RESA.

pairs or updates. Questions Baverman might ask about staging are: “Do we just need paint, and maybe flooring and lighting updates?”

The stager and agent work as a team to ensure the best scenario for prospective home buyers. Putting the seller’s house at the top of a buyer’s must-see list eventually leads to a signed contract in a short amount of time, according to those interviewed for this story.

Not until the home is perfectly staged should a professional photographer capture the home on film, Jacobs said. Most stagers have the real estate agents choose their photographers, but some stagers provide the service themselves, she added.

Done right, Jacobs said, as soon as buyers step through the front door, the home staging allows them to experience

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She remembers seeing a listing where she knew it had been staged while being owneroccupied. There wasn’t a TV anywhere. No papers. No piles of shoes near the door. She noticed ribbons tied around the hand towels. Even though it was obviously staged and there must have been homework crammed into drawers, the buyer was able to envision that the house was perfect and signed the contract. But staging A “before” living room waits to be dramatically and selling an occupied house changed by a home staging professional. has its challenges.

According to those interviewed, a staged house is not how most people live. Especially when the house is occupied, getting rid of items you don’t use on a regular basis, following up by putting them into storage takes up the majority of staging efforts. People just cannot connect with an empty space or personal items all over.

Baverman likes to compare staging to getting ready for a red-carpet event. Before After being staged, the living room painted white the home gets photographed and with windows without shutters, blinds and is shown to prospective or curtains show more light and space. buyers, it needs to be in stellar condition, she said. Wright agreed, saying a stronger emotional connection with the that for showings, the “goal is to always property, resulting in buyers making an have the home look like it does in the phooffer. tographs, freshly cleaned and staged.”

Baverman said, “We are selling not During showings, if a buyer sees a just a house, but a lifestyle and vision that sparkling kitchen online and then walks goes along with it, that this house will in to find dirty dishes everywhere, it’s a have more storage than you have now, huge deterrent, she said.

Getting everyone that your life will be clutter free, easier out of the house, including pets, can be and enjoyable. Messes don’t exist.”

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How sellers prepare their homes for sale, or home staging, is believed to have started in the early 1970s by Barb Schwartz, a Washington real estate agent.

“People love a good transformation,” said Atlanta real estate agent Jill GinsbergWright. “Watching their home dramatically change by staging can be very exciting, especially for all our HGTV addicts out there.”

The National Association of Realtors reported in 2019 that 83 percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home and that 28 percent of sellers’ agents said they staged all sellers’ homes prior to listing them for sale. The most common rooms that were staged included the living room (93 percent), kitchen (84 percent), master bedroom (78 percent), and the dining room (72 percent).

In a 2018 RESA study of 634 homes, unstaged homes spent an average of 107 days on the market before staging. The homes were sold an average 25 days after staging. Homes that were staged prior to going on the market sold in 18 days, on average, and a home staged first spent 86 percent less time on the market.

erful e early

HOME & GARDEN

Jill Ginsberg-Wright is a real estate agent, who with her husband Cory is part of The Wright Home Team at Keller Williams First Atlanta.

challenging, but it is well worth the effort, Wright said, and “you shouldn’t be inconvenienced for long in this market.” In addition to decluttering and specific cleaning chores, stagers bring in more light and space in rooms by choosing neutral paint colors in hues of white and pale gray.

Jacobs said the biggest difference in staging a vacant home is how other

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Home Staging with large abstract painting Using non-specific abstract art and primarily white painted walls, furniture and accessories in a Sandy Springs living room shows how staging allows buyers to imagine decorating the home with their personal preferences.

furniture, art, décor and accessories are brought in and where the owner’s furniture remains when the home is occupied.

And there are times when stagers bring in their own décor and art that are not taste specific such as installing a monochromatic shade of white abstract painting with a splash of light blue, Jacobs said.

Carefully positioned green plants adding

Less crowded bookshelves in this staged living room gives the prospective buyer a sense that there will be plenty of room for his or her own collectables.

their colors and textures become another design component, she added.

To find finishing decorative touches, Jacobs said she shops for her staging inventory at HomeGoods, Target, Amazon and a lot of trade accounts she has from being an interior designer and stager, and she also enjoys using the work of local artists.

When it comes to making a good investment, Jacobs told the AJT that even in a seller’s market, because of staging “you will get more money and a faster sale.

Without staging, you are literally leaving money on the table.” ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 23

HOME & GARDEN

Furniture Pro Opens Midtown Store

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Furniture entrepreneur David Herckis parlayed decades of retail experience to launch a new Midtown concept – smack in the middle of the pandemic in October.

Designer Furniture Outlet was founded by three longtime furniture men in the former Forsyth Fabrics building off Huff Road.

“COVID-19 caused people to spend more time at home and, as a result, they were fixing up their homes. Atlanta did not have a place to buy high-end fine furniture at great prices. This well-known building was available.”

Herckis, who grew up in Savannah, got a degree in industrial engineering/management from Georgia Tech – where he was also a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi – before serving four years in the Air Force. Then he went into management training in furniture at Macy’s. He ultimately landed at Ethan Allen Carriage House, which has six locations, with late father-in-law Ike Feldman.

Another market factor that fortuitously affected the business model was concurrently Neiman Marcus’ filing for bankruptcy and closing their Last Call arm. As a result, Herck-

24 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Cockwise from left: David Herckis, former president of Ethan Allen Carriage House, took over the Forsyth Fabrics store in Midtown with his new DFO concept.

Herckis says that Persian and traditional rugs are stuffy and outdated. Shown is a transitional updated look with a pop of color.

This dining and bench set can be mix-andmatched with the option of all chairs.

is was able to recruit their luxury retail brand staff veterans and brought in the entire team from Neiman’s.

Herckis and partners, through their years in the industry, were able to quickly work arrangements with many prominent factories. The two other partners are: Dan Thomas (and daughter Karen) owner of Townhouse Galleries stores in northern Alabama and Ben White, owner of Summer Classics outdoor furniture, Gabby furniture and Stanford Furniture upholstery company.

Herckis said, “We three were able to see opportunities while many retailers struggled.

Many of the factories will not allow us to promote names to prevent market disruption.

Again pointing to the pandemic, DFO dedicates a huge space to the outdoor driven market. The building is 15,000 square feet, and customers are driving from Florida because they can leave with product versus waiting for orders which these days can be backed up. In addition to outdoor and indoor assortment, DFO has decorative accessories, lamps and rugs with the back wall perimeters lined with bolts of upholstery. Herckis relates, “For $5 to $10 a yard, you can walk away with a top-of -the-line fabric like Summer Classics.”

You have to come in to see what brands we have. We give white glove service and easy delivery. The interior designer community discovered us, and we are doing a large business with them.”

Herckis shares trends coming forth more prominently as a result of the pandemic: • Casual versus formal furniture with the emphasis on function and comfort.

• Outdoor furniture has evolved into a major category. Atlanta has a climate that is pretty much year-round for outdoors. And think about COVID safety. Modular sectionals are popular because they allow the consumer to change the configuration.

• Wood finishes are in light colors, light gray being the dominant color. Fabric colors are also very muted light colors. The advent of ‘performance’ fabrics that don’t stain and easily clean make it easy for families with children to use these light neutral colors.

• Machine-made rugs that are well made with good fibers are much cheaper than the old hand knotted. Very little demand exists anymore for true oriental rugs.

• Lamps are a big selling category.

Brass and lucite lamps are popular for their clean transitional look.

• In high-end furniture, the interior designers are playing a much bigger role than ever before. People are using them more for guidance and creativity and realize that designers can really make a positive difference.

“Bottom line: Everything is available for immediate delivery and customers love the instant gratification,” according to Herckis.

DFO uploads Facebook and Instagram photos regularly to show new stock.

It is located at 1190 Foster Street, NW, off Howell Mill Road. ì

HOME & GARDEN

The ‘Quarantine Cookbook’

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Marc Pollack, a home cook/foodie, did not set out to write a book. His notion was to jot down his ideas alongside iPhone photos as a lark for 67 days, starting last spring, in a self-discovery journey of non-repeating home-prepared menus.

Later, he sought out experts to create a hardbound book and got a small printing order with the goal of culminating in a charitable “do-good end game.” By late last year, that first run of books had sold out.

Pollack pivoted from being a leading developer in residential real estate for notable projects such as Atlantic Station, Lindbergh City Center and The Battery Atlanta, to focus on homelessness and affordable housing.

The book specifically benefits the Gateway Center, which addresses barriers that prevent those from transitioning out of homelessness. Previously, he co-founded the Atlanta Affordable Housing Fund to address the city’s staggering divide. “Before the pandemic, nearly 3,200 people experienced homelessness in metro Atlanta,” he said.

Pollack grew up in New York with maternal home cooks. He recalls, “Some of my relatives were poor Eastern European Jews from Romania with wonderful simple recipes.” His interest in cooking began in college, when he eschewed junk food. “I always had three pots of something cooking on the stove.” As further evidence of the scope of Pollack’s heart, his first vocation was special education teacher.

“Quarantine, it turns out, wasn’t all that bad.” Although he and wife Robin did not host dinner parties with friends, they cooked with fresh ingredients from her extensive garden. Credit throughout the book is given to Robin, Marc’s favorite “critic” who’s been featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times with her own gardening expertise.

He stated, “I cooked constantly under Robin’s eye.”

Marc prefers to buy locally, even “uber locally” in the backyard with Robin tending to oregano, rosemary, leafy lettuces, arugula, varieties of tomatoes, eggplant, collards and turnips. Robin, a former art instructor at the Chastain Arts Center, created all the distinctive pottery photographed in the book to plate the food.

The book is a handy size, 144 pages, broken into bite-sized categories including Equipment; Appetizers; Salads and Soups; Fish; Meat; Eggs; Sandwiches and Starches; Vegetables and Sides; and Drinks. Marc’s notes are etched in a casual friendly font akin to him sitting nearby espousing Hot Tips and Quick Tips. Recipes are not laden with exotic labor-intensive ingredients. Many have under six mouthwatering suggestions: Pasta in Raw Tomato Sauce, Cauliflower and Ginger Soup, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Botham Burgers, Spatchcocked Chicken, and Sautéed Grouper in Peanut Sauce, just to name a few.

Pollack’s tips: Oils: Use olive oil only as a “finisher” or dressing.

EVO does not do well at high temperatures. Cook with peanut, safflower or canola oil. Grapeseed oil is a first choice, always leaving the flavor to speak cleanly for itself.

Wine: Pollack prefers European red wines, sometimes white for salad and seafood. He notes that Califor-

nia and Oregon also have quality domestic wines.

Pre-COVID the Pollacks went on an Atlanta Botanical Garden tour to South America to get knee deep in wine tasting. “There are really no rules when it comes to wine.”

One pan dishes: Use cast iron to sauté on stove top or in the oven, keeping the moisture in transferring locations. “It’s the best way to cook a filet!”

Pollack’s easy favorite in the book: grilled eggplant. “I like the simplicity of it and the final outcome.”

Above, Marc Pollack, who has impressive residential multi-family real estate “cred,” prepares wonderful meals and focuses on giving a lift to homelessness.

Bottom line: Pollack combines culinary gusto with advocacy. That’s his winning recipe. ì To purchase the book, visit https://www.acappellabooks. com/pages/books/239657/ chez-marcs-quarantine-cookbook.

Right, “Chez Marc’s Quarantine Cookbook” is a colorful easy compilation of recipes illustrated with wife Robin’s handmade pottery and home grown garden delights.

Alyza Berman Milrad

Gail Evans

Libby Gozansky

Amy Zeide

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 25

HOME & GARDEN

Lessons Learned in Israeli Farming

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Ella Padawer used pandemic pivoting to land in an Israeli farming program, thanks to Hillels of Georgia and a loan from the Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta.

“My goal was to make the most of this time of uncertainty in the world to recenter and focus on things that I believe matter most: personal growth, forming meaningful connections, and building community with sustainability at its center.”

Padawer, originally from Israel, moved to the Cleveland, Ga., area at age 7. As a member of Shalom b’Harim synagogue, she attended White County High School and was a Bronfman Youth Fellowship participant before receiving a Bachelor of Art in music in 2018 from Georgia State University. Meanwhile she worked with Jewish nonprofits InterfaithFamily and In the City Camp.

Following graduation, Padawer served as an AmeriCorps member in New York City with education nonprofit Blue Engine. She then taught English as a foreign language in China pre-pandemic.

Evaluating COVID options, she learned of the Masa Israel Journey program EcoIsrael on Hava & Adam Eco-Educational Farm in Modiin, Israel. The program enabled Padawer to study sustainability, farming, communal living and herbal medicine.

Following her five-month Masa experience as a participant, Padawer just completed her stint as a Masa team leader for new Eco Israel participants, which expanded her role in curriculum and specific areas of study at the farm.

One of her favorite activities was mud building. “We learn earth-building techniques with light straw, cob, earth bricks, and different layers needed for mud structures to remain intact. What I

In her workshop, Ella Padawer enjoys living communally with simplicity and awareness to energy and natural patterns.

Sustainability as a Way of Life

enjoy most is using my hands and getting dirty, allowing the repetitive movements to shape a technique based on the material’s consistency and the location of the work. It’s truly therapeutic!”

In terms of farm food prep, Padawer joked, “We didn’t really use recipes for food on the farm. It’s a play by ear/eye/ smell/taste kind of place. I love sabich, a sandwich with fried eggplant and hardboiled egg. I’ve been getting into chickpea omelets. What I love about Israel is how cultures fuse for a taste of the Jewish people, everyone putting their own spin on classic dishes from around the world.

“Cooking in a vegan, sustainable kitchen means using leftovers creatively with new ingredients and spices, varying ratios and preparation techniques through trial and error. When preparing food for my community, I keep in mind nutritional content, the mood, weather, what’s ripe right now, what did we have yesterday. We cook for about 20 to 50 people, so it’s a challenge!”

Padawer’s interests: Permaculture Design When you design systems and spaces or just live life through a permaculture lens, the goal is contributing to the creation of permanent culture: longevity, selfregulation, efficiency and simplicity. Take soil, it is a living, breathing entity that is rarely treated with the respect it deserves.

By giving soil time to rest, planting diverse species that will supply appropriate nutrients and keeping it covered to prevent degradation, we practice permaculture.

Herbal Medicine: Using natural ingredients and native plants to care for the body, mind and soul.

■ Know how to make toothpaste, deodorant, essential oils, balms, tinctures, soap and more, all from natural materials, most found on the farm.

■ The beauty of herbal medicine is the multifunctional nature of each plant and finding ways to take advantage of the gifts growing around us.

Living communally in a place that follows natural patterns closely brings awareness to energy use and what “needs” are. If it’s sunny, then I use the heat of the sun to warm water for a shower. If it’s raining, I don’t.

Padawer’s tips we can practice at home: ■ Ground cover is everything!

Use all kinds of material like cardboard, mulch, dry leaves, tree trimmings to keep weeds at bay while protecting the soil.

■ Collect roof rainwater to conserve water by attaching a gutter, filter and tank to your roof.

■ Use plant nitrogen fixers before planting vegetables. Legumes are wonderful nitrogen fixers (clover, alfalfa, soybeans) and when they die, they release nitrogen into the soil, making for rich nutrient crop content.

She concludes, “I do not know yet where all this knowledge will take me, but it’s needed here in Israel and the rest of the world. The practical skills and theoretical discourse are transferable to many different fields and areas, which is what I love about the farm!” ì

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w w w . s a v o r y g o u r m e t m a r k e t . c o m 26 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

HOME & GARDEN

Doctor Finds Home-Grown Remedies in Gardening

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Gardening supplies along with hair dye and cooking equipment have flown off the shelves and e-commerce sites in pandemic popularity. Dr. Nathan Segall, who is overseeing a COVID-19 vaccine trial, has seen the benefits as a lifelong gardener.

“Gardening is a pastime as much as a hobby. It engages the senses as well as the intellect and connects us to the environment in a way that is hardly duplicated in any other way.”

Often considered a top U.S. hobby, gardening is gaining popularity during the pandemic. According to national health sources it provides psychological benefits for body and mind. And with practice, patience and experimentation, gardeners are at home digging in the dirt with thoughts of soil, seasons, insects, water systems and light sources.

Segall’s interest in “the outside” comes from growing up in Montgomery, Ala., in a plant-filled neighborhood on a bicycle picking plums and blackberries.

He reminisced that gardening seemed more common “‘way back when’ before air conditioning gave us an excuse to go inside homes for internal environment which made us less apt to appreciate our immediate [outdoor] surroundings.”

Similarly, I shared with my own father, Harry Caller, an interest in gardening. Together we built and painted the woven white trellis slats for crimson roses. A double-edged family joke was that he mysteriously acquired cow manure, which “stunk to high heaven” to produce cantaloupe sized tomatoes in all varieties: pink Duchess, acid free yellow, to traditional Big Boys. The aroma of those leaves and stems lives on.

In his current home, Segall has designed and developed many gardens on about 3,350 square feet, which he describes as “a large postage stamp and perfect size for an individual in which to potter.”

His garden has sun in the front and shade in the back with paths connecting to a water feature. “It would be described as eclectic with many themes, as I consider myself an impulsive gardener.”

His water feature has swans holding up the pan of water with a little boy grabbing the fish as water spouts from its mouth. Two goldfish and occasional bullfrogs inhabit the pond.

Segall’s small garden has several collections: hydrangeas, Japanese maples and mini and maxi hostas, which have

Clockwise from top left, Nathan Segall poses in his home garden by his swan water feature.

Dr. Segall recommends a garden space for contemplation and daily visits to observe small changes.

Segall suggests tea roses for fragrance and beauty.

Segall is a fan of mini and maxi hostas, which provide joy throughout the years.

provided interest and joy over the years.

In addition, he has several plants from his mother’s garden in Montgomery, which serve as a memory of her passion for gardening.

“My mother liked roses and pecan trees. We had gardenias blooming outside our windows in the summer, which were almost intoxicating.”

Segall combined his love of gardening with that of (pre-COVID) traveling.

After his trip to Japan, he was inspired to design a small Zen garden amid a seat that allows him space for contemplation.

Other visits: Winterthur in Delaware, a du Pont family garden; Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia; Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park, “a must,” along with its botanical gardens, Zea-

landia in Wellington, New Zealand, an evolving wildlife ecosanctuary. “Gardens in Atlanta that I enjoy are the Atlanta Botanical Garden and the Smith-Gilbert Gardens. When my wife and I travel, gardens are always a treat and provide interest of the environs that you cannot get otherwise.”

Segall references “how to” gardening books that help with seasonality and chores, and magazines provide ideas and suggest plants for different spaces.

“Robin Lane Fox’s column in ‘The Financial Times’ is a treat and is always fun to read.”

Dr. Segall practiced internal medicine, allergy and immunology locally for decades. Currently as he is working on COVID vaccine trials, he states, “It has

been an incredible ride and one that I treasure, but waiting to get off of.”

Segall’s tips for starting and maintaining a garden: ■ Diversity of plant material aides in preventing disease.

■ Select plants that you like.

■ Spend time in your garden almost on a daily basis. It not only gives pleasure and familiarity, but a sense of how things change in each season and with the time of day.

■ Use as little insecticides as possible ■ Plant hybrid tea roses for beauty and fragrance.

■ Put bird feeders and hummingbird feeders in a space that you can visualize from your home. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 27

HOME & GARDEN

Spring Vegetables with Jewish Roots

By Stephanie Nissani As vegetables are harvested and flowers begin to blossom, it is evident that spring is suffusing on time to fill our Passover seder plate with the appropriate vegetables symbolizing various parts of the Exodus story.

Some of these spring vegetables are a reflection of the Jewish agrarian calendar, a calendar that defines the agricultural connection to nature and the land. The Jewish people have a strong agricultural background as seen through the three main pilgrimage festivals: Sukkot, Shavuot and Pesach.

So, what are those vegetables that grow around the time of Passover, or Chag Ha’Aviv? The AJT spoke to a few horticulturists with expansive knowledge of gardening.

“In Atlanta, we start planting spring vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, swiss chard, variety of lettuces, radish, beets and turnips,” said Wendy Kohn, a Central Fulton Master Gardener. She explained that the agrarian calendar coincides with Passover. “I think the foods we eat during Jewish holidays are in direct relation to what is available from the garden.”

28 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Clockwise from left, Friedberg (right) and Aluma Farm co-owner Andrea Ness in front of the okra field.

Andy Friedberg, at the Aluma Farm stand.

Vegetables freshly picked

by Wendy Kohn.

As we prepare to set the seder plate that represents our enslavement, a few of these spring vegetables are included. Maror, which can be horseradish, lettuce, endives and even radish mix (chazeret), symbolizes the bitter times in Egypt as slaves. Karpas, which can be either celery or parsley, symbolizes spring, and the haroseth represents the mortar slaves used for bricklaying.

“Much of the Passover seder focuses on fruits of the soil and points us towards the significance of the land from which the vegetables arise and cultivates in us is a deep appreciation for land. Our identity is connected to the foods we eat,” said Rabbi Ellen Bernstein, a pioneer in the Jewish environmental movement who has appeared in Atlanta. Her Passover haggadah, published last year, links the biblical story of Exodus with the environmental teachings about the creation of the world in Genesis.

Aluma Farm near the Atlanta BeltLine grows about 100 varieties of vegetables annually, said co-owner Andy Friedberg. He stressed the nutritional benefits of vegetables. “When you farm and/or eat seasonally, you connect with the cycles of the year in an intimate way.”

His mentor once told him that each season carries unique ties to the function of nature, Friedberg said. “Winter is a time of dormancy, a time to rest, plan and subsist on things like root veggies and cabbage.

Spring is a time of rebirth and hope. With trees budding and flowers emerging, farmers are beginning to work the soil and start new seeds with the promise of new growth and fresh vegetables.”

Friedberg said he believes fresh produce aligns with the seasons. “The spring vegetables are unique in that they generally thrive in times when our bodies are craving fresh, green produce to cleanse our bodies of heavy winter foods and a more sedentary lifestyle. They are detoxifying and full of nutrients that our bodies need to feel and perform their best.”

In the same way, festivals in the Jewish calendar stem from our agricultural roots.

Shavuot, (Chag Ha’Katzir) for instance, represents the beginning of the harvest, the first fruits of the season and the time to pick wheat and barley.

Friedberg concurs, “The seasons tie into the Jewish calendar in as much as the harvest festivals are marked by harvests.

“Farming through the seasons, one naturally gets tied into the rhythms and cycles of nature and the connection to the awe and the mystery of something bigger than ourselves.” ì

PASSOVER RECIPES Asher Family Enjoys Haggadah They Created

By Robyn Spizman Gerson “Our Family Haggadah” was created by Spring Asher, an Emmy Awardwinning former television producer, and members of her family. The haggadah, developed in 2014 and updated several times since, is a family-friendly compilation for seders at home or Zoom-style, ready for coast-to-coast family togetherness. The seder service is a simple, 65-page interactive telling of the Exodus.

New York Times food writer Florence Fabricant last year recommended it as family friendly and appropriate for a remote, Zoom seder.

In her April column, Fabricant wrote, “Here’s a lively Haggadah that’s kid friendly and easy on the budget, making it reasonable to distribute multiple copies at home or to send to others to participate in a remote Seder. It’s the fourth and improved edition of the book filled with children’s drawings. It suggests (and explains) an orange on the Seder plate (but it’s not so up-to-date that it includes a remote Seder, as dictated by the 11th plague, Covid-19.) It has all the songs, easily followed and presented with guitar chords.”

Since its creation five years ago, the Asher family has enjoyed the haggadah, originally illustrated by all the grandchildren and cousins who are now grown and living across the United States, from Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington, D.C., to San Francisco and Oregon. “‘Our Family Haggadah’ is a tradition, and no matter where we all are, it brings us together during this meaningful Jewish holiday,” Asher said.

First-time seder participants, grandparents and interfaith families can use the haggadah to engage in the songs and stories of Passover.

The Ashers never miss a seder without sharing great-grandmother Helen’s favorite recipe of “Forgotten Cookies.”

Now a fourth-generation family recipe that celebrates l’dor v’dor, from generation to generation, Helen Asher made them, and they were always a hit. Asher added, added, “I made these cookies until my daughter Dr. Juliet Asher took them over as a family tradition. Her daughters, our granddaughters Samantha Golden, 14, and Jackie Golden, 11, are now the bakers. They are perfect for Passover and pop up at other occasions throughout the year. They are as easy as they are delicious.”

“Our Family Haggadah” is available on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/OurFamily-Haggadah-Asher/dp/0692350144.

Forgotten Cookies While there are many variations of the Passover cookie; here’s one that has lasted four generations.

Yield: 40 cookies 4 egg whites at room temperature 2/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 pinch salt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup finely chopped

pecans, optional

Left, Forgotten Cookies are a fourth-generation favorite.

Below, an example of the family-friendly haggadah creatively illustrating Elijah opening the door.

Bottom, “Our Family Haggadah” was originally illustrated by the grandchildren who have now grown up, but their family tradition continues through the years.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cookie sheet with foil. Grease with butter Beat egg whites until foamy. Use hand mixer or electric mixer on medium. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until you get stiff peaks.

Add vanilla and salt. Blend well.

Fold in pecans with spatula and chocolate chips by hand.

Drop dough on cookie sheet by teaspoonfuls.

Put cookies in pre-heated oven.

Turn off oven and leave closed overnight.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Enjoy! ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 29

PASSOVER RECIPES

Three Chefs Dish Out Passover Tips

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

very sweet.”

Hanein shared this recipe with the AJT:

Suzanne Hanein, an experienced Sephardic cook, shared that during Pesach, Sephardim eat rice and green beans, which traditional Ashkenazi Jews eschew.

“This does not Suzanne Hanein translates include corn, her Sephardic Mediterranean dishes into Passover. black or navy beans; but we are able to have dolmades, grape leaves stuffed with rice, for example.”

She explains that in step with the Mediterranean diet, a lot of Sephardic dishes are tomato-based. Instead of traditional gefilte fish, they have white fish or salmon cooked in tomato sauce with garlic, onions and fresh parsley. ”Our haroseth is not applebased, but boiled dates and raisins pureed through a handheld gadget from Egypt. We top it with chopped walnuts. The paste is

Pesach Roasted Squash Casserole 4 pounds yellow summer crook neck squash, cut in large chunks 1/2 cup matzah meal 4 eggs or egg whites, or egg substitute) 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, diced Pinch of garlic powder, salt, pepper Preheat oven to 425 F. Grease a 9-by-13 Pyrex dish or casserole. Put the squash and onions on a cookie

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sheet. Add the olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder and mix well with your hands.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until soft and a little crispy. Put eggs and matzah meal in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Add the squash and onion mixture and fold in gently until well incorporated. Pour the mixture into the casserole dish. Sprinkle with matzah meal and lightly spray with Pam or other spray oil.

Cook for 35 to 40 minutes at 350 F until bubbly and crispy on top.

T e r r i Hitzig Bogartz, pastry chef and maven of savory dishes, experiments with Jewish comfort food and recipes she has never before prepared.

“Passover is Terri Hitzig Bogartz is a really good a pastry chef who also time to prepare likes savory dishes and chopped liver. trying new things.

I also experiment with different apple varieties for haroseth and drop in some sangria.”

Her tips for running a “ship-shape” kitchen: use a scale and convert to grams to get precise measurements and consistent results; dig in and use your hands for forming shapes; and try new flavors like passion fruit and hibiscus. When asked about preparing a seder, Terri joked, “Going to my mother-in-law’s who will do the real work.”

For a sweet dessert, try Bogartz’s recipe for:

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Preheat oven to 325 F. To make the crust, combine nuts and dates in a food processor and blend until mixture resembles crumbs. Press mixture into 8 mini tart pans or 10-inch tart pan.

Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool.

To make the curd, combine the eggs and sugar in a double boiler over medium heat. When combined, add the puree. Add the butter cubes. Stir until thick, about 15 minutes Pour curd into cooled tart shells and garnish with whole blackberries Enjoy!

Devoted home cook Debbie Wexler’s meringue recipe came with a weather caveat: “Sugar absorbs rainy day humidity and could result in something akin to bubble gum Debbie Wexler poses in front and marshmal- of her spice shelf which she lows. Always refreshed for spring at the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. prepare meringues in a dry atmosphere.”

Wexler used this spring pre-Passover time to trek to the DeKalb Farmers Market to refresh spices.

“Over time, spices lose their ‘oomph’ and gradually deteriorate. Some spices like nutmeg, cumin, coriander and often black pepper are better in their whole form and grinded at home. Herbs like dill and cilantro are best bought fresh and can be frozen at home and made into paste.” She cautions that frozen they will be flavorful, but not attractive for plating. She advises to always have plenty of fresh ginger and garlic on hand.

Here’s how to make Wexler’s holiday treat, which she says offers a nice alternative to macaroons.

Passover Meringues Blackberry Curd Tart with Date and Nut Crust 1 cup toasted almonds 1 cup dates 3 eggs

30 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

1 cup sugar 1/2 cup blackberry puree 1 stick butter, cut up into cubes

3 large egg whites, room temperature is best 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar or lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch, or potato starch

PASSOVER RECIPES

For chocolate chip: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup mini or regular chocolate chips For almond: 1 teaspoon almond extract 1/2 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted and cooled Preheat oven to 250 F. Line baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil.

In bowl of a mixer (whisk attachment if you have one) place egg whites, cream of tartar or lemon juice. Beat on slow speed until foamy, then add the salt.

Slowly speed up the mixer until the eggs have increased in volume and are opaque. Here is where the magic happens.

Mix the starch into the sugar, added gradually. Add the sugar mixture with the mixer running gradually, about a tablespoon at a time. Beat until fluffy and shiny and hold a peak when you lift the beater from the bowl.

Gently fold in the extract and nuts or chocolate. If using nuts, save some for sprinkling on top. If using chocolate chips, fold them all in. Be careful not to deflate the egg whites; proceed gently using a silicone or rubber spatula.

Drop the mixture by tablespoons onto the prepared sheet. It helps to use two kitchen spoons, one to scoop and one to ease it off the other spoon. Bake for 30 minutes.

Lower the oven temperature to 225 F and bake for another 2 hours. The meringues should be pale in color and feel light and dry.

Turn off the oven and leave the meringues to cool in the oven with the door propped open. Place on rack and store in airtight containers when completely cool.

They will keep for days.

Lemon-Seasoned Sea Bass on Arugula with Pomegranate Cream Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors shares a delicious sea bass compliments of their Atlanta Chef’s Pantry featuring Vagn Nielsen, founding executive chef of Proof of the Pudding. It recently was featured on Good Morning America.

Start to finish: 55 minutes.

Servings: 4

Four 8-ounce sea bass portions 4 cups arugula For pomegranate cream: 1 pomegranate 1/2 medium onion 2 cups vegetable stock 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup heavy cream

Season the sea bass with lemon pepper seasoning and sauté in skillet on high for about 10 minutes.

Garnish the arugula in olive oil and season with salt.

For the pomegranate cream,

sauté the onion in oil and the crushed pomegranate stock and wine. Cook for about 10 minutes, then strain and add the cream and cook for another 5 minutes.

When serving, build the arugula in a ring mold, top with the sea bass and serve in the pomegranate cream.

Farmers & Fishermen present this recipe by Vagn Nielsen, founding executive chef of Proof of the Pudding.

Note: The recipe, including its ingredients, instruction and cooking times are suggestions.

Make sure raw product is fully cooked before consuming. ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 31

PASSOVER RECIPES

Sangria

By Michal Bonell

APPETIZERS

Goldbergs Famous Chicken Soup Matzo Balls Chopped Chicken Liver Smoked White Fish Salad Traditional Apple Walnut Charoset Homemade Gefilte Fish Potato Latkes

MATZO FARFEL KUGELS Classic Plain Spinach, Mushroom & Onion Farfel Kugel

Let’s liven up this year’s seder with allspice and Manischewitz – L’Chaim!

Sangria is an alcoholic drink from Spain made with red or white wine. Sangria also contains fruit juice, typically such as orange juice and assorted cut up fresh fruit, like apples, oranges, grapes, berries, or anything you prefer.

ENTREES Honey Horseradish Roasted Chicken Cedar Plank Salmon Goldbergs Famous Brisket Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

One 750-ml bottle red Manischewitz 1 cup orange juice 1 large or 2 small apples, cored and cut into chunks 1 medium navel orange, sliced 1 cup red or white grapes, optional 1 teaspoon whole allspice 3/4 cup brandy 1/2 cup Triple Sec Two 12-ounce bottles of ginger ale or club soda, optional, to lessen sweetness.

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy!

Modified from recipe in Kitchen Treaty, https://www.kitchentreaty.com/classic-redsangria/

Hungarian Style

MENU ADDITIONS Shank Bones or Chicken Necks Beet Horseradish Choice of Red or White

Hard Boiled Egg Bitter Herb Charoset Whole Seder Plate (Plate not included)

SIDES

Homemade Mashed Potatoes Baked Yellow Squash Casserole Green Beans

DESSERT Coconut Macaroons Fresh Fruit Salad Flourless Chocolate Cake

Brisket

By Diana Cole

(Sold whole or per slice)

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One 4-pound beef brisket Low sodium beef broth, enough to cover brisket 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup red wine, enough to cover brisket 1 package onion soup mix 2 beef bouillon cubes 2 onions, thickly sliced 3 carrots, chopped 3 celery stalks, chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half Salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a large deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Season the brisket generously with black pepper.

Place brisket in the pan and cook until the surface is a rich brown color, not burnt, but dark. Lift the roast and scatter the onions in the pan. Place the uncooked side of the roast down onto the onions. Repeat the browning process.

Add the garlic, carrots and celery to the pan and fill with enough broth and red

wine to almost cover the roast. Place the onion soup mix and beef bouillon into the broth.

Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cover with a lid or tight-fitting aluminum foil. Simmer for 4 hours, turning the roast over once halfway through. The roast should be fork-tender.

Remove the brisket to a serving platter. Bring the broth in the pan to a simmer, scraping the bottom to loosen any browned bits. Cook until reduced to a thin gravy. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed.

Adapted from “Jewish Grandma’s Best Beef Brisket,” Allrecipes, allrecipes.com.

PASSOVER RECIPES

Mashed My Mother’s Matzah Brei Potato Kugel with Onions and Mushrooms

By Stephanie Nissani

By Anna Levy Missing the taste of kugel this Passover while you are avoiding noodles? Try this Passover-friendly kugel, which replaces noodles with potatoes. This recipe is a favorite from my Aunt Elsie.

Servings: 6 2 ½ pounds large, unpeeled potatoes, preferably Yukon Gold 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 medium onions, chopped 1/2 pound small mushrooms, sliced 1/4 cup fat free chicken broth 2 large eggs, beaten 1/2 teaspoon paprika Salt and pepper, to taste

I was first introduced to my mother Isabelle Shavit’s great recipes for matzah brei while sitting in our kitchen in Israel at the age of 6, and I loved it so much. Eating it brings back childhood memories.

I don’t know where she got it. The way I know my mother, she takes one form of recipe and improvises the rest. It always comes out very delicious. Great for breakfast or lunch.

2 matzah boards 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 4 large eggs, beaten 1 tablespoon water or milk 1 tablespoon of coconut oil for frying Fine sea salt, large pinch, more to taste or less if making a sweet brei.

For carmelized apple topping, optional:

Passover Pancakes

By Lori Gluck

Preheat oven to 350 F. Boil potatoes in water until tender. Drain and cool. Peel potatoes while still warm. Set aside.

Heat oil in large skillet. Add onions and sauté until golden brown. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper. Beat peeled potatoes with electric mixer on low speed until coarsely mashed. Beat in broth and eggs until just blended. Stir in half of the onion and mushroom mixture.

Grease a 6 or 7 cup casserole dish. Put half potato mixture in casserole. Top with remaining onion mushroom mixture, then remaining potato mixture. Sprinkle top with paprika. Bake uncovered about 50 minutes or until top is firm and light golden brown at the edges.

1 1/2 cups matzo meal 1/2 cup potato starch 1 1/2 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 eggs

1/2 cup water 2 tablespoons oil Whisk together matzo meal, potato starch, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix eggs and water.

Add to dry mixture and mix well.

Lightly coat a frying pan with oil. Lower heat to low.

Using a spoon or ladle, pour in the batter. Cook on one side until bubbles form. Flip and cook for about another minute.

If the batter begins to thicken, add a

2 apples 2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons butter Cinnamon, pinch or to taste In a large bowl, whisk the eggs well. Add the matzot, broken into small pieces, the milk/water, melted butter, and salt, if needed, depending on whether you are making sweet or savory matzah brei. Stir everything well.

Coat a large skillet with coconut oil. Pour in the matzah mixture and let it sit, stirring occasionally to form small pieces. Turn pieces so all sides are browned.

To make a savory version, top with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraiche and a pinch of black pepper and chives, to taste.

If you want to make a sweet version, you can top with caramelized apples. Cut apples lengthwise. Add cinnamon and sugar and sauté over butter until apples are brown and crispy.

You can also top your matzah brie with honey or maple syrup, whipped cream or ice cream, or bits of pecans.

Matzah brei is delicious hot, but can be eaten cold too. Enjoy!

little water to thin out. Remove when done and repeat.

Add fruit, chocolate chips or syrup, if desired

Passover Veal Chops

By Shaindle Schmucker This was my mother Paula Wieden’s recipe.

4 veal chops Vegetable oil for frying 1 cup matzah meal 2 to 3 eggs White pepper, to taste Salt, to taste Use frying pan large enough to hold the chops.

Cover bottom of pan with oil.

Salt chops.

Add salt and pepper to batter of eggs.

Soak chops in batter.

Coat the chops lightly in matzah meal.

After pan has been heated to the sound of the sizzle, add chops.

Brown slowly to be sure chops are cooked in their center, about 10 minutes per side.

Serve hot on plate with a vegetable of your choose.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 33

PASSOVER RECIPES

Homemade Horseradish

By Flora Rosefsky Before tasting my cousin Judy Lizzack’s homemade horseradish, I thought the supermarket variety jars of horseradish put out during the festival of Passover were bitter enough to remind us that we were once slaves in Egypt thousands of years ago. I still made the “Hillel Sandwich,” combining sweet haroseth (fruits and nuts mixture) with the horseradish on matzah during the seder. If I opted for straight horseradish, my eyes and those of others would literally water and even burn.

Lizzack uses the raw horseradish root for her seders. Her prepared horseradish, made with sugar, primarily accompanies the traditional gefilte fish course during the seder, throughout the week or with roasted meat dishes. But I use it during the haggadah reading.

When visiting the Lizzacks one year, I took a look and taste of her sought-after homemade horseradish recipe, handed down by four generations from her husband’s family without any written instructions. Before COVID, Lizzack put her 10 pounds of horseradish into small jars to be given out as Passover gifts to family and friends to use for their seders, including her Orthodox rabbi in Fair Lawn, N.J. What follows is my cousin’s recipe now written down for prosperity.

3 pounds fresh white horseradish 4 large or 5 medium red beets 2 lemons, slices or wedges with skin ½ cup sugar 1 tablespoon kosher salt

Fill large pot with 2 quarts of water.

Peel and cut beets into about 1-inch cubes.

Place beets in water and boil for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes, add lemon, sugar and salt.

Boil another 10 minutes.

Note: While the beets are cooking, set up multiple lit candles of any size or shape on 34 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

counters on each side of you when working with the raw horseradish. “The flames will reduce any tears 100 percent,” Lizzack said.

Peel and cube horseradish and place in bowl.

When beets are ready (test with fork for tenderness) use a large glass measuring cup to scoop out about 10 pieces of beets with a little juice. Too much liquid may make it overflow when processed.

Place beets in food processor along with three handfuls of the cubed horseradish.

Blend using processor’s metal blade. As you blend, you can add a little more beet juice.

Blend until consistency and color is what you like. Adding more beets and juice makes the mixture darker. Do not let any white horseradish pieces show through.

In making 3 pounds, you may need to repeat this process two more times.

Tips: When you open the processor, do not put your nose over it to smell.

Place the mixture in another pan or bowl and cover till ready to put in individual jars. My cousin suggests using glass canning jars with seals. And when putting the mixture into the jars, hold a candle in your left hand to prevent the shutting of your eyes, she said.

The jars can stay refrigerated for several weeks after Passover and freeze well in the canning jars for up to a year or more. Lizzack said, “Even if you use the frozen horseradish mixture, to defrost for Rosh Hashanah or Chanukah, the ‘heat’ should remain.”

Eggplant, Tomato and Cheese Bake

By Flora Rosefsky When seeking out an easy vegetable dish that is both moist and crispy in its texture, look no further. This eggplant, tomato, cheese bake that I literally put together on my own turned out to be a perfect dish for Passover, or for any time throughout the year. For starters, it helps if you like eggplant. This can be a main course if you eat several pieces or as an accompanying vegetable side dish for a dairy or fish meal.

Servings: 10 to 12 pieces 2 eggplants 4 medium red tomatoes

(I like organic) Mozzarella cheese, shredded,

medium-sized bag 2 cups matzah meal

3 eggs 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Cooking spray Garlic salt Salt

Matzah Pizza

By Terry Segal Matzah Pizza is always a favorite Passover treat in our home. It often heralds the first use of the barbecue grill in the spring.

The family gathers on the deck to bite into the crispy, smoky, yummy pizza, and if we’re lucky, our fresh basil is already growing in the herb garden to place on top as the crowning jewel.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Peel eggplants. Cut off ends. Cut eggplant into slices ½ to ¾-inch wide.

Sprinkle some salt on both sides to draw out moisture. Let stand for a few minutes and then pat dry. Set slices aside.

With a fork, mix eggs in a shallow dish.

Have a plate or shallow dish filled with 2 cups matzah meal.

Dip each eggplant slice in egg mixture first, then dip the slice in the matzah meal.

Set aside coated slices on large plate.

Repeat the process until all eggplant slices are coated.

Cut off ends of tomatoes. Slice tomatoes in medium slices and set aside.

Coat the bottom of a large frying pan with cooking spray. Add olive oil and vegetable oil.

On a medium to high heat, fry each coated eggplant slice until medium brown and then turn them to brown the other side. Be careful not to burn them.

Lower heat if needed to fry them more slowly.

When done, transfer onto brown paper bag paper to soak up some oil.

Set pan-fried eggplant pieces in a large rectangular dish like a Pyrex coated with cooking spray.

Put one tomato slice on the top of each eggplant piece. Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt on each tomato slice.

Liberally sprinkle shredded mozzarella (or cheddar) cheese on top of each slice.

Put on middle oven rack and bake about 35 minutes until cheese melts yet retains some crispiness around edges.

Pieces can be frozen by wrapping tightly in heavy duty foil or be put in a freezer container.

(When not for Passover, coating can be corn flake crumbs or Italian bread crumbs.)

Servings: 2 2 whole matzot 3/4 cup marinara sauce 3/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese 4 tablespoons shredded or grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon each, dried basil, dried oregano, garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes Sea salt and pepper, to taste Fresh basil, optional

Preheat oven to 350 F and set to bake or this can be made on your barbecue grill.

Gently heat the marinara sauce in a small saucepan so you’re not putting cold sauce on the matzah.

Spread half of the warmed marinara sauce on each matzah. Don’t go quite to the edges so it doesn’t drip. Sprinkle first the mozzarella cheese and then the Parmesan on top of the sauce. Season with the herbs and spices.

Carefully place each matzah directly on the oven or grill rack. Bake 1 to 3 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling. If using the oven, bake for about 10 minutes until the cheese melts.

Remove from the oven with a metal spatula, on to a pizza peel, tray or plate.

Top with a fresh basil leaf or two, optional.

PASSOVER RECIPES

Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter Bites

By Terry Segal This perfectly satisfying dessert can replace the canned macaroons from the store.

They are easy to make and melt in your mouth. I always have to make more for second night seder, no matter how many I make the first night.

6 ounces unsweetened flaked or shredded coconut 1/3 cup coconut oil (can be melted, but very soft is best) 1/2 cup creamy almond butter 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate broken into chunks

In a bowl, stir together the coconut, coconut oil, almond butter and vanilla extract until well combined.

Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, form 1-inch balls and place on a small parchment lined tray (like the size of a brownie pan).

Place in freezer about 20 minutes until they harden.

Meanwhile, melt the chocolate over a double boiler, adding a teaspoon of coconut oil to make the chocolate smooth. To do this, fill a 1-quart pot of water and bring to a boil on the stovetop. On top of that pot, put a larger 2-quart pot. In the larger top pot, place the chocolate and oil. As the chocolate begins to melt, stir it until it is smooth.

Remove the balls from the freezer and coat them with the chocolate mixture.

Because of the heat on the almond butter, rather than swirling them in the chocolate, I prefer to spoon chocolate over each ball, allowing excess to drip back into the pot.

Place each ball back onto the lined tray and put in refrigerator until cold and ready to eat. Keep refrigerated.

If you have extra chocolate, you can crush nuts into it and drizzle or schmear on to matzot for matzah chocolate bark.

Flourless Chocolate Cookies

By Judy Lipis

Final Phase Coming This Spring

2 1/4 cups powdered sugar (or caster sugar) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon instant coffee (I use decaf) 3 large egg whites 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 to 2 cups chocolate chips (I like mini-chocolate chips) 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

ONLY

5

REMAIN

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Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper, then grease the paper or the cookies will stick.

Mix dry ingredients together. Stir in egg whites and vanilla until smooth.

Using a teaspoon, drop dough onto baking sheets 3 inches apart. Bake cookies 6 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. They should appear shiny on top with some crackles.

Let cookies cool on baking sheet before removing them. If you try to remove them before they are cool, they tend to crumble. ì

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COPYRIGHT © 2020 SOUTH HAVEN BUILD PARTNERS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE ACCURATE BUT IS NOT WARRANTED. ALL RENDERINGS, FLOOR PLANS, SITE PLANS, AND IMAGERY ARE ARTISTS' CONCEPTS AND ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE ACTUAL DEPICTIONS OF THE HOME OR ITS SURROUNDINGS. SITING OF THE HOME WILL BE DETERMINED BY LOT CONDITIONS. DESIGNS AND FLOOR PLANS ARE SUBJECT TO ERRORS AND OMISSIONS AND MAY CHANGE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

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CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 2021 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Awards Show – 7 p.m. Although the 21st annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival concluded Feb. 28, there’s still one last show for you to enjoy – the 2021 Awards Show! Join the festival for a presentation of the Jury Prize and Audience Award winners. The program will be available to stream for 72 hours. More information found at http://bit.ly/2ZSA8vw.

Parent Series – 8 to 8 p.m. The Epstein School presents Creative Ideas to Nourish the Jewish Body & Soul.

Learn more at http://bit.ly/2O4esdr.

THURSDAY, MARCH 11 Blood Drive – 9 to 3 p.m. LifeSouth Community Blood Drive at Chabad of North Fulton. All donors will receive COVID–19 antibody testing!

Register at http://bit.ly/3rkKrEJ. Electronics Recycle Event – 10 to 2 p.m. Drop off electronics at Temple Beth Tikvah. Please bring either working or non-working technology: servers, laptops, monitors, computer towers, power cords, network equipment, printers, scanners, fax machines, cell phones, keyboards, mouse, cables or home stereo equipment. These items will be donated to students and the school. More information found at https://bit. ly/3uVFIvf

MARCH 10-23 Hadassah Metulla Self-Compassion Program – 11 a.m. Self-compassion is an evidence-based acceptance practice to realistically meet and work with our challenges while coming from a position of strength.

Through stories, research and interactive activities, Tracy Fink of The Tortoise Institute will explore how being kind, curious and less judgmental about our own difficulties can build sustainable resiliency. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3dsRZRr. Uncoupling: A Divorced and Separated Support Group – 5 p.m. Jewish Family and Career Ser vices p r ov i d e s support and resources and a safe place to process and share experiences related to divorce and separation.

Open to men and women of mixed ages. Issues explored are trust, rejection, custody, holidays, in-laws, infidelity, finances, communication, letting go, and what is brought up. To register, contact Helen Kotler at 404210-9571 or Julie Zeff at 619-818-6917.

Annabelle Gurwitch, You’re Leaving When? 8 p.m. The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta presents this Book Festival event.

Annabelle Gurwitch gives voice to a generation hurtling into their next

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact community relations director Diana Cole for more information at Diana@atljewishtimes.com.

36 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

chapter with no safety net and proving that our no-frills new normal doesn’t mean a deficit of humor.

Register at https://bit.ly/2NxRmuY. Think Different – 8 p.m. Study with Intown Jewish Academy one of the single most transformative Jewish spiritual texts written in the last three centuries with master Tanya teacher Rabbi Ari Sollish. More information can be found at https:// bit.ly/2MGGxq1.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13 TOM at Georgia Tech: Makeathon – 8 a.m. Tikkun Olam Makers at Georgia Tech is part of TOM Global, a movement of communities that creates and disseminates affordable solutions to neglected challenges of people living with disabilities, the elderly and the poor. The TOM: GT Makeathon is a culminating “hackathon” style event where Hillels of Georgia and GT students work in teams with “need-knowers” to create a prototype specifically for their need-knower’s challenge.

Visit https://bit.ly/3dkHwaD to register.

Purim Off Ponce 2021 – 7 to 10 p.m.

The Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender & Sexual Diversity is hosting a fabulous drive-in party at the 15th annual Purim Off Ponce.

The signature fundraiser for SOJOURN is designed to raise funds to affirm and empower LGBTQ+ people across the South by building inclusive communities inspired by Jewish and universal values. Learn more at http://bit.ly/3edHNN2.

Kabbalah & Coffee -- 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Discuss, explore and journey with Intown Jewish Academy through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required.

Find more information at https://bit. ly/3kN0vMO.

Round and Round: Understanding Israel’s Ongoing Election Saga – 11 to 12 p.m. On March 23 Israelis will head to the polls for the fourth time in less than two years. Facilitated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, hear a panel of prominent Israeli “insiders” unpack how Israeli elections work, how Israeli politics impact Diaspora Jewry, what issues will define this election, and how the structure of the electoral system has contributed to this lack of stability.

More information found at http:// bit.ly/3uNQiEE Atlanta Jewish Women and Girl’s Summit -- 3 to 4:30 p.m. The Blue Dove Foundation is teaming up with Making Jewish Places and PJ Library Atlanta to host two Atlantabased workshops for Jewish women and girls ages 8 to 12. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3uXssWS.

ASK – Tribute to Jewish Learning Celebration – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Atlanta Scholars Kollel presents a community event of 350 people celebrating Jewish Learning. Honoring leaders

with entertainment and food. More information found at https://bit. ly/2LUkD2z.

Faith & Fortitude – 7 to 8 p.m. A Historic Evening with Marion Blumenthal Lazan Holocaust Survivor and Author presented by Intown Jewish Academy. As a young girl, Marion Blumenthal Lazan she experienced the terror of Kristallnacht and the horror of Nazi death camps, including Bergen-Belsen. Her story is a lifeaffirming, inspirational narrative of survival, reconciliation and endurance, and renews one’s faith in humanity. More information found at https://bit.ly/3qmXfch.

MONDAY, MARCH 15 What Does it Mean to be a Woman of Israel? 12 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for a lunch and learn w i t h Miriam Rosenbaum in partnership with Etz Chaim Sisterhood. Rosenbaum helps us take a deeper look at three different Jewish women’s lives from our text: Tamar, Ruth and Batsheva. Each woman’s story involves sacrifice, determination and an intense desire to promote the Jewish people. Register at http://bit.ly/36KN62i.

ORT Atlanta Women’s Seder – 6 p.m.

Join ORT Atlanta for a special night with women, about women, at the 21st annual Women’s Seder. Open to any woman 12 years and older; join us for food for the mind and for the body. Register at https://bit. ly/3jWD9nq

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 No Cost Boot Camp 4 Divorcing Women Virtual Webinar – 6 p.m. Are you separated, considering or currently in the process of divorce? This is a difficult and emotional time. You have questions. We can help. Learn how to navigate this process from a legal, information gathering, financial and emotional perspective and avoid some of the most common pitfalls of the divorce process. Find more information at https://bit. ly/3jWxMFa.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei Friday, March 12, 2021, light candles at 6:25 p.m.

Saturday, March 13, 2021, Shabbat ends at 7:21 p.m.

Vayikra Friday, March 19, 2021, light candles at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 20, 2021, Shabbat ends at 8:26 p.m.

Keeping the Faith During COVID: Hillel Civic Dinner – 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Keeping faith becomes an increasingly important issue as many of us find support in cultural and faithbased organizations. In this Civic Dinner, we welcome Elliot B. Karp, CEO of Hillels of Georgia, to discuss how Hillel and other campus organizations can help students keep their faith on campus with creative programming, safety best practices, counseling and support. At a time when gathering is limited, Hillel offers innovative ways for students to connect with their faith community.

Register at https://bit.ly/3dykRIh Women of Weber: The Inspiration and Impact of Jewish Cuba with Olivia Rocamora – 8 p.m. To describe today’s Cuban Jews is to describe the historical buildings and vintage cars that surround them: they are vibrant, they are resilient, and they are open to all. This small, but mighty community is all that we desire for the next generation of American Jews to embody, which is why Rocamora has made it her mission for students to step foot on this island, to use their Spanish as the gateway to people and culture, and to challenge and expand their Jewish identity. Join Rocamora as she paints a picture of Havana, Cuba.

More information found at https:// bit.ly/3aq5saT.

SUNDAY, MARCH 21 Re-Discovering the Land of Israel with Atlanta Israel Coalition –10 to 11:30 a.m. The Atlanta Israel Coalition, in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern U.S., the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Herut, and the Evans Family Foundation, presents Re-Discovering the Land of Israel, a series of five virtual tours of Israel with tour guide David Sussman. The Biblical Heartland of Gush Etzion

tour includes the Path of the Patriarchs, an ancient mikvah, biblical agriculture, Roman roads, and stunning landscapes. Register at http:// bit.ly/30g0eIP.

Book Festival with Lisa Scottoline – 8 to 9 p.m. “Eternal” is the culmination of a lifetime of work: a sweeping historical epic fueled by devastating true events. Named for Rome, the Eternal City, this moving novel lifted from the pages of history is the book that Scottoline was born to write. It will be forever etched in the hearts and minds of readers, as will the powerful truth it asserts — what war destroys, only love can heal. Presented by the Marcus Jewish Community Center Book Festival. Register for the Zoom link at https://bit. ly/2N4oFWY. Kabbalah & Coffee – 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Discuss, explore and journey with Intown Jewish Academy through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required.

Find more information at https://bit. ly/3kN0vMO.

MONDAY MARCH 22 What Does it Mean to be a Woman of Israel? 12 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for a lunch and learn taught

by Miriam Rosenbaum in partnership with Etz Chaim Sisterhood.

Rosenbaum helps us take a deeper

look at three different Jewish women’s lives from our text: Tamar, Ruth and Batsheva. Each woman’s story involves sacrifice, determination and an intense desire to promote the Jewish people. Register at http://bit. ly/36KN62i.

Community Services: Anti-Defamation League – The Coronavirus Surfaces Fear, Stereotypes and Scapegoating: A blog post from ADL to help provide accurate information, explore emotions and, most importantly, play a role in reducing stereotyping and scapegoating. To read more, www.bit.ly/3dp5a3t.

Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function –The ACFB’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone toward access to food for all. The Text for Help is ‘findfood’ (no space). Responses will include a list of three different nearby pantries and their contact information. For more information, www. acfb.org.

Israeli American Council – IAC @ Home brings you the most innovative content online while helping build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another.

IAC @Home lets you enjoy a coastto-coast community right from your own home. For more information, www.israeliamerican.org/home.

JF&CS - Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS is here to provide emergency aid for individuals and families. Please call 770-677-9389 to get assistance. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

JF&CS - Telehealth Counseling Services – Now offering telehealth options via phone or videoconference for current and new clients to help our community during this crisis. For more information about our therapy services or to make a telehealth appointment, email us at therapy@ jfcsatl.org or call 770-677-9474.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 37

JF&CS - Telehealth Older Adult Services – Aviv Older Adult staff are there to help provide resources, care plans and support for you and your family. Call AgeWell at 1-866-AGEWELL (1-866-243-9355) to find out how they can help. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

we the power of

Together we thrive.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale. For updates and more information, www. bit.ly/3ahrNVM. Please send Community Service Opportunities to diana@atljewishtimes.com.

Synagogue Livestreaming Services:

and powers everything WE do here at The Piedmont.

It’s like being part of a super supportive family of waiters, chefs, housekeepers, ZEST® activity coaches, care & wellness teams, and even a bunch of really friendly and fun neighbors, all helping is all about. Experience the Power of WE at The Piedmont at Buckhead senior living community.

Temple Kol Emeth Services – Shabbat services on Fridays at 8 p.m.

View our services on www.kolemeth.net or www.facebook.com/ Temple Kol Emeth-Marietta, GA.

Please call 404.496.5492 today to schedule your personalized tour.

404.496.5492

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38 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

EQ UA L HOUSING OPPOR T UNI T Y

Congregation Shearith Israel – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times through Zoom. They are counting participants in these Zoom services as part of a minyan, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish.

To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit.ly/2wnFWlD.

Temple Beth Tikvah Livestreaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ TempleBethTikvah/ or www.bit. ly/2ZlCvrr.

you thrive. This is what “we’re in this together”

650 Phipps Boulevard NE Atlanta, Georgia

Congregation Or Hadash – Shabbat services Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday morning services at 9:15 a.m. Minyan Sunday and Tuesday mornings. To participate and get Zoom link, www.or-hadash.org.

Temple Beth David — Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat morning service and Torah Study every Saturday at 11 a.m. on our YouTube channel, (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2GcbAI_ HdLRSG5hhpi_8Cw).

Connection is key to a longer and more vibrant life,

C A R F-ACC R E D IT E D INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES

Congregation Etz Chaim – Erev Shabbat Musical, Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services at 9:30 Join in for weekly livestream Shabbat services. To join, www. bit.ly/3gWL02s.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Shabbat evening services at 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. To watch and for more information, www.bit.ly/38dS4Ed. Congregation Beth Shalom’s Virtual Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

Zoom minyan Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

For more information, www.bit. ly/3gY0mUK.

Temple Sinai Livestream Services – Temple Sinai has live Shabbat services on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. For more information and to view services, www.bit.ly/2BXRfTF. The Temple Livestreaming Services – Find live streaming services here, www.the-temple.org.

Please send Synagogue and Temple Streaming Services to diana@atljewishtimes.com.

Check the Atlanta Jewish Connector for updates: www.atlantajewishconnector.com. ì

CONNECTOR CHATTER Directory Spotlight www.atlantajewishconnector.com

PJ Library

Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA)

In conversation with Nathan Brodsky, family impact manager How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

Inspired by the success of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in 2007 Harold Grinspoon (of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation) created PJ Library, a program that brings monthly age-appropriate Jewish-themed books at no cost to families raising Jewish children.

Locally sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, PJ Library in Atlanta aims to support Jewish families throughout our local community.

How do you cater to the younger members of the community?

The Atlanta community has distributed over 494,000 PJ Library books since 2008 to more than 13,000 Jewish children ages 6 months to 9 years old, and over 25,000 PJ Our Way books since 2016 to over 1,200 Jewish children ages 8 ½ to 12 years old.

How does your organization help the community?

In addition to providing books, the PJ Library Initiative serves as a wayfinder, connecting families through engaging and age-appropriate programming that focused on Jewish values and holidays.

Localized PJ Library and PJ Our Way programming provides opportunities for families to further conversations around Jewish themes and connect to the larger Jewish Atlanta community. Families can join our localized Facebook group to further connect with other Jewish families.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

PJ Library will continue to support families’ experiences through free Jewish books and meaningful Jewish experiences. Over 5,300 children receive a PJ Library book every month, and we plan to reach even more families.

We look forward to continuing to meet the needs of Jewish families throughout Atlanta for years to come and sustaining Atlanta as a strong Jewish community.

In conversation with Nancy Weissmann, executive director How long has your organization been in Atlanta? 11 years How do you cater to the younger members of the community?

We assist Jewish individuals and families in the Atlanta area who are struggling with financial stability in challenging times. Interest free loans are often used to help in an emergency – such as being furloughed due to COVID-19 – or to enhance the life of a child by sending them to Jewish summer camp.

We also work with young couples who want to start a family through adoption or fertility treatments.

JIFLA recognizes that younger people often view others as more deserving of financial assistance. But many in our community are suffering with student loan and credit card debt. We are working to address these concerns two ways. We have recently launched a Young Professionals Committee.

Additionally, we have created a task force to understand the best practices for alleviating the burden that student and credit debt plays in the lives of many in our community.

How does your organization help the community?

JIFLA has provided over $1 million in loans to Jewish families and individuals in metro Atlanta. These loans have helped pay for rent, food, car repairs, new roofs, continuing education, computers, dental work, medical evaluations, fertility treatments, Jewish summer camp and more. We provide the unique service of enabling our community members to live their best life with dignity and compassion.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

Our loan volume is growing each month. We are working to expand our reach into the community so all those who are suffering financial instability are aware that JIFLA is here to help. In the years ahead we will continue to serve as a safety net for the Jewish people of Atlanta. We are an adaptable organization – creating a portfolio of COVID-19 loans this year – we will support our community through the challenges ahead.

Limmud Atlanta & Southeast

In conversation with Howie Slomka, Limmud Atlanta & Southeast board president How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

We hosted our first Taste of Limmud events in 2008 and 2009 and have spent the past 10 How does your organization help the community?

Labor Days hosting our three-day Jewish Learning Limmud-Fest at Camp Ramah Darom. Most Jewish communities are unfortunately and indelibly fragmented into denominations and sects and suffer from the spectrum of religiosity.

Limmud is the one place where the entire Jewish community can be Jewish together, How do you cater to the younger members of the community?

We invite Jews of all ages to join, and this has created a natural draw for younger unaf- learning and celebrating Shabbat together. We invite all and accept all and allow a filiated Jewish singles and families who are still seeking their spot in Jewish Atlanta and pluralistic acceptance of our differences. But when a Limmud session begins, the divisions fade, and our entire community learns together. It is the only Jewish event their communities.

I can think of where young, old, Reform, Orthodox and unaffiliated can not only be together, but be actively Jewish together. That not only “helps” the community, but it Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

We will still be learning together, and helping all Southern Jews realize they are never also creates a community. too old to go back to Jewish camp for a long, wonderful weekend.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 39

DINING Funky Firewall Serves Fixins Especially during these staycation times, what better way to expend energy than to get pickup exploring some of the city’s Marcia Intown neighCaller Jaffe borhoods?

If we can’t visit New York City, take a trip to Harlemesque Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard for some wholesome well-thought-out sandwiches, pizza, and hummus bowls piled super high. Owner Sam Eidus opened Firewall Food Stop in its current format in May 2019. Prior to that he operated a food truck that visited festivals and neighborhoods serving Neapolitan pizzas and Italian fare.

A native of Westfield, N.J., Eidus moved to Atlanta in 2003 and took jobs as a prep cook and line cook, working his way up to sous chef learning his craft at restaurants and catering companies.

Sam Eidus honed his skill by working as a line cook and sous chef before starting his own food truck concept.

[300-square-foot] shop open. “ When asked why Westview, a stone’s throw from the eponymous cemetery, he replied, “Our customers are extremely diverse. Our little neighborhood, where I also live, is a great community. I see repeat customers of all backgrounds. Some come just for pizza, some for our sandwiches, and some for the hummus bowls. While others will get all three. “ To combine with his knowledge of Mediterranean food, Eidus traveled in 2017 to Israel, where he experienced the communality of eating hummus. He recalled, “My friend Amir explained their typical lingo is ‘let’s go wipe some hummus.’ Friends, cold beer, warm pita, and incredible hummus. It was an activity.

Not just a meal. The saying also speaks to

So after only two weeks of indoor dining, it had to shut down. The transition back to takeout with necessary COVID procedures was smooth, and Firewall has been able to weather the storm. Post COVID, it will have indoor and patio dining, and procure a beer and wine license.

The pita is not traditional white and doughy but Eidus’ more distinctive darker blistered crisp version. “We not only make it in house, we make it to order, along with all our breads. Every piece of bread we make is baked when it’s ordered.”

What we had: Eidus’ famous hummus, a shareable bowl. It’s what’s on top that counts. We added pickled carrots and celery, sautéed mushrooms, pearl raw onion, North Afri-

“Most of what I know about running a restaurant I learned at Dish Dive. I was admittedly pretty green when I set off on this endeavor, which is part of the reason it took 18 months to get this little

Left, Gardener Pizza: Ricotta, lemon, garlic, spinach and tomato make for an artsy pie.

Right, Flying V: Vegetarian sandwich with roasted cauliflower shawarma has a sweet touch with pecans and pomegranate molasses.

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40 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

the proper texture and temp. One simply can not wipe cold dense hummus with soft pita. Also, I learned about raw white onion. For me, it is the perfect compliment to showcase an incredible hummus. If I’m having one bite of hummus, it’s going to be on a raw white onion petal.”

Eidus hovers over the details, which he supervises with great care. He revealed that the secret to good hummus is fresh squeezed lemon, fresh ground cumin, soaking and cooking one’s own beans, and using high quality tahini. Firewall only uses Soom tahini.

“Great hummus is about texture and temperature. It should never be served cold. Room temperature is best. It should be somewhat light and airy in texture. The technique takes years to refine. We’re always trying to find little tricks and tweaks to make it just that little bit more delicious.”

Pre-pandemic Firewall was set to expand from a tiny takeout shop into the next unit in the same building. Construction had just finished when COVID hit.

can tomato stew. The slightly ripe green olives were the best topping.

Flying V sandwich: roasted cauliflower, hummus, greens, pecans, onions, pomegranate molasses. Well-stuffed, the sweet molasses and nuts add a surprise twist.

Gardener Pizza: Beautifully presented with seasoned ricotta, spinach, tomato, lemon and garlic.

Eidus gladly subs for cashew cheese if requested. The pie is on the thin side instead of a heavy deep dish.

Other menu items include meats that are aptly named: Southern Italian, Sloppy Jeaux (imagine Bourbon Street) and Flying Crescent.

Bottom line: Definitely not fancy, but well thought out. Inspiring to see an owner like Eidus dedicated to his concept. ì Order online at firewallatl.com and you’ll get $5 off your first $20 order.

Hours are Thursday through Saturday 3 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Get the Scoop and Help Kids

COMMUNITY

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Entrepreneur Jake Rothschild has his feet firmly planted in the frozen treat world, the eponymous Jake’s Ice Cream, with plans to expand both geographically and with extended product lines.

Rothschild also is a community neighbor with a good heart, using his platform, beginning in late February, to open Outside the Lines Gallery for young artists next to his own space.

“The idea has been with me since I was making art myself as a youngster.

Once COVID hit, I thought about children cooped up unable to interact with others, but still able to express themselves artistically. As part of my own response to the pandemic, I formed a nonprofit, Hunger & Hope, to help the community by providing cooking classes, incubation for new food businesses, art classes and this gallery space for artists under 20.”

The first show is “Love and Art in the time of COVID” and features the works of teenagers Drennan Barnes, Zoe Dunaway and Kate Fineman. Work that sells will be split 50/50 with the artists. Hunger & Hope will use its portion to offer art classes to inner city children. No single piece will be priced over $100. Each artist will contribute around four pieces.

Jake explained, “We will not have sculpture, but only things that can be hung on the wall. I am not judging work quality but want kids to feel free to use self expression and not be afraid to put it out there.”

Rothschild grew up in Gastonia, N.C., and attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. While a junior there, he developed an instant allnatural hot chocolate mix that landed him in Money magazine. He relocated to Atlanta in 1988.

He founded Jake’s Ice Cream in 1999 with a determination to follow in the fictional footsteps of Willy Wonka. In the legend of Wonka, Rothschild said, “It was my favorite movie as a child, and I loved how unbridled Wonka’s imagination was. Everything was outside-the-box thinking. I’ve since created the hot chocolate mix, an oat-based ice cream called Haute Milk Ice Cream (by Jake’s) and we are now developing a high protein, low carb, gluten-free pasta line.”

Rothschild has also founded The Cooking School, which has locations in the Old Fourth Ward, Hapeville and College Park.

Now for the yummy creamy goodies.

Jake’s creates ice creams on site in a 6,000-

Left, Jake, a native of Gastonia, N.C., has plans to open another location and expand product lines.

Right, Children enjoy their ice cream at Jake's.

square-foot facility with 12 employees.

Jake’s has a giant 10-by-10-foot freezer.

Currently the shop is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When winter thaws, it will go to six days a week. Rothschild has nailed the delivery formula with dry ice packaging. “We deliver anywhere inside the perimeter. Orders $30 and over are free, under $30 has a charge. Orders have to be placed 72 hours in advance. Flavors are kept fresh and constantly rotated.

Our customers determine the flavors by emailing us what they want.”

The most popular flavors are Chocolate Slap Yo Mama, Brown Shugah Vanilla and Devyn’s Animal Cracker. Devyn’s

is named after its inventor, Devyn Edelstein, who was 2 years old when she recommended Jake’s make it. She is the daughter of Amy and Dr. Bruce Edelstein who recently appeared in an AJT Chai Style Home story.

On a light note, Chocolate Slap Yo Mama was named by an attorney customer who recycled the Deep South phrase, “This is so good, it makes you want to slap your mama [hopefully on the back] and cuss your preacher!” Chocolate Slap is gluten-free oreos, gooey fudge sauce and mini chocolate chips.

Rothschild’s next venture is producing elegant pies. “You’ve never seen or

Artwork is produced by children to benefit Jake’s nonprofit Hunger & Hope.

Above, Drennan Barnes with her artwork.

tasted anything like it before. Then we have plans to open an additional Jake’s location in our new development at The Village [Makers Market] in downtown Hapeville.” ì Jake’s Ice Cream is located at 660 Irwin Street in the Irwin Street Market.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 41

COMMUNITY

Paige Alexander Empowers Women at The Carter Center

By Bob Bahr Well into her first year as the CEO of The Carter Center, Paige Alexander has begun to put her stamp on the future direction of the former president’s international programs.

Those include conflict resolution, health and human rights. More than 2,000 people in 80 countries work for the center.

Alexander, who grew up in a politically influential family, just announced a new initiative to help empower women in Atlanta and a dozen other cities around the world.

The start of the campaign, entitled “Informed Women Transform Lives” is timed to coincide with March as Women’s History Month.

The campaign is designed, she says, to give women, regardless of their place in society, access to practical information that men may already have.

“Everyone deserves to have the information to make their life better. And that’s something I grew up with in Atlanta. I think that was part of the civil rights movement here that there has to be equality. President Carter believed in this and our programs

42 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

have believed in this. And this is just part of a continuation of equality across the board.”

For Alexander, the return last summer to a city where she graduated from the Pace Academy in the 1980s was “a homecoming for me.”

She met her husband prior to the 1988 Democratic convention, when a group who had volunteered for Michael Dukakis, the party’s presidential candidate that year, stayed at the family home.

Her father Miles is a prominent Atlanta attorney and her mother Elaine has been a lifelong political activist. Her brother Kent is the current president of The Temple.

Growing up, she often found political leaders such as former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young and Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson sitting around the family dinner table.

For the last 35 years she’s worked on international development projects in Washington and in Amsterdam, where she’s lived for the last decade. That kind of background, she points out, has given her an appreciation for the impact that information can have.

“This program was designed around that concept, that information is power and if the women don’t have it, then half of society is not getting the information and the power that they need to be productive citizens. So we really do consider it a basic human right to have access to that information.”

President Carter, who is 95, and his wife Rosalyn have retired from active participation in the work of the center. But their presence is still felt. For almost 40 years, the former president helped create what is generally thought of as a model for what such a center could be.

In 2015, his book “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” addressed some of what he considered the urgent questions surrounding the human rights of women. Alexander said that in recent years the former president has looked at policy through what she describes as “a gender lens.”

Although there was a surge of interest in the project that surprised even longtime staffers, there was likely little enthusiasm in Israel for working with Carter. Part of the reason is the disappointment that the former president has expressed in the government of Israel in the last 25 years.

Another of his books, “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid,” written in 2006, was a scathing denunciation of Israel’s policies in the occupied territories on the West Bank.

Carter, at the time, condemned the Jew-

Top left, Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982.

Above, The Carter Center’s new program sees access by women to information as a critical human right.

Left, Paige Alexander comes to The Carter Center after a 35year career working on international development projects.

ish state as promoting a kind of apartheid there that was worse than the racist policies of South Africa.

Important Jewish leaders such as Arthur Blank and Stuart Eizenstat, who wrote a long appraisal of Carter’s record as president, stayed on the center board. But the American Jewish community is generally thought to have distanced itself from the former president.

Alexander, who grew up in a family that has had a strong record of support for Israel, said she’s talked to the former chief executive about his views.

“We had a very open conversation about Israel, about my time working in the West Bank. These were important elements I wanted to have a discussion with him about because, obviously, I come at this as an American Jew. I’ve read his book. The title might be one thing. The book is something else. And it actually holds water this far into this, much later. And it is important, I think, that we address equality across the board and we can’t have blinders on. And that’s an important element of the work that The Carter Center does. And so I’m really pleased to be a part of it."

Going forward, there’s a new team at the helm: Alexander as the CEO and the president’s grandson Jason, a former Georgia state senator, has succeeded the former president as chairman of The Carter Center board. ì

COMMUNITY

Epstein Supports Cereal Challenge

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

The challenge the Roots created of pouring cereal is quite ordinary for most, but a Atlantan Karen Garber Shulman and daunting task for Zachary, who will progresher husband Matt understand what it means sively lose his vision over time. Kellogg’s inito be a friend where distance is not a bar- tially donated $10,000 and then also offered rier. They are supporting their University to donate $100 for anyone who does the chalof Arizona college friend Jared Root and his lenge with either Rice Krispies or Fruit Loops, wife Rachel who have takes a video, posts to a personal family misInstagram and tags sion that spans the them. miles.

Shulman, an EpThe Roots are stein parent, said, “My parents of a 9-year-old husband Matt, who is son Zachary, who was on the Usher 1F board, born deaf and has a and I are dedicated genetic disease that afto this important enfects Jewish children. deavor. We are proud This New Jersey Jewish of the Epstein commufamily brainstormed nity that both teaches the idea with their and inspires our kids friends to raise awareto care for others and ness and funds for regive back. I know the search into Zachary’s Roots feel incredibly condition. They cresupported by our efated the Cereal Chalforts.” lenge, which offers David Welsher, a small taste of what Epstein’s associate life might soon be like head of school and elfor Zachary. The chalementary school prinNine-year-old Zachary Root posing with lenge, sweeping social cipal, was so moved by his favorite cereals. Kellogg’s brand recently offered to donate $100 to Usher media, asks people to the challenge himself, 1F for anyone who participates in the blindfold themselves he joined in and even challenge and tags them on Instagram and make a bowl of FaceTimed Zachary using either Rice Krispies or Froot Loops. cereal. to get to know him.

Zachary was born with Usher Syn- “I had the honor to meet Zachary and his drome Type 1F, which is the leading cause of dad. Here is an amazing young man, going inherited deaf/blindness. Zachary’s father through a unique challenge, and yet his spirit Jared Root said, “Usher 1F is one of the 19 Ash- couldn’t be higher. He is making changes, kenazi Jewish genetic diseases on the stan- inspiring others, and raising awareness all dard testing panel for young Jewish couples. through this cereal challenge. I am beyond Approximately 2 percent of all Ashkenazi proud of him.”

Jews carry the mutation.”

Susanna Ames, Epstein’s middle school The #Usher1Fcerealchallenge tries to principal, also had her students participate. raise awareness about the syndrome and Head of School David Abusch-Magder, addfunds in a race against time to find a cure. ed, “I’m so excited to challenge myself and The Shulman family along with many other others to see the end of usher 1F and make families in the Atlanta Jewish community are sure the leading cause of deaf-blindness is in supporting the Roots, including those at The the rear view for all humanity.” The Epstein Epstein School.

School is now challenging all the local pri-

Left, fourth grade students at The Epstein School Avery Shapiro, Sara Shulman and Ava Gruenhut complete the cereal challenge using their favorite Rice Krispies cereal.

Right, Epstein Middle School students Abbey Deckelbaum, Devin Sonenshine, Jake Shulman, Marion Kogon and Ari Oshins also complete the challenge alongside Middle School Principal Susanna Ames.

vate schools in the area.

“For the first time, a cure for Usher Syndrome type 1F is within reach,” said David Corey, one of the eight leading scientists Usher 1F Collaborative is funding. “The Usher 1F Collaborative is working to make that cure a reality by raising awareness and funds. In the laboratory, a team of scientists brings diverse

skills to develop new therapies. We do believe a cure is achievable, and every member of the team is dedicated to that goal.” ì For more information on how to get involved and donate, visit https://www.usher1f. org/cereal-challenge.html

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 43

COMMUNITY

Purim in the Pandemic AJT correspondents and community leaders share their Purim experience this year, mostly outdoor events, car parades, costumes and contests.

Honk Out Haman

Cars, Crawl and Color War

By Chana Shapiro The Purim Crawl, on Feb. 21, took the place of the planned 30th annual Purim Parade. The possibility of safely managing a communal event with marchers, school groups and floats, followed by a festival, food and entertainment, was discussed with medical advisors. Consequently, instead of an event that could spread COVID-19, a family-friendly, car-based event was planned and co-chaired

by Sarah Faygie Berkowitz and Melanie Frank and family.

Sara Davis.

The free event, to which all past Purim Parade participants were invited, was a multiactivity, clue-following, all ages welcome “crawling” experience. There were 199 vehicles in the procession with members of many different synagogues driving slowly up and down streets as they followed clues.

Cars lined up in the Beth Jacob parking lot, where a 9-foot Queen Esther and costumed volunteers entertained. Vehicles received clues and kits with activities to engage kids. Radio station 90.3 WAPC and a YouTube channel provided music and live reporting on crawl activity, while a drone recorded the fun from the skies.

Crawl competition winners were best-dressed car: The family of Rabbi Avram and Shira Rubin and the family of Rabbi Yaakov and Hannah Fleshel. The family of Rabbi Tzvi and Temima Oratz were best-costumed; Zevi Gopin won the candy-guessing game; Josh and Ilana Yehaskel family won the raffle, and the family of Rabbi Mordechai and Leah Pollock won the scavenger hunt.

“I’m hoping that next year life will go back to normal, but this was one of the silver linings of celebrating during a pandemic,” said participant Davida Graber.

A week earlier, on Feb. 14, Beth Jacob congregants were invited to The Adar Games. In the jovial spirit of Purim’s Hebrew month of Adar, a rollicking color-war competition was announced, and the entire Beth Jacob membership was divided into two teams, Purple Reign (chaired by Josh and Sari Joel) and Orange Crush (chaired by Shlomo and Elisheva Storch).

There were challenges for all ages and abilities, linked through a Zoom Room. After a week of neck-and-neck rivalry, including a debate, trivia challenge and poker tournament, Orange Crush won.

Thirty cars signed up to participate in Congregation Etz Chaim’s in-person Drive-In Megillah reading Feb. 25, while dozens of our families participated virtually from home. In addition to free popcorn and soda, the synagogue unveiled its Marvel Avengers-themed megillah text on its new 20-foot screen, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch told the AJT. “The megillah reading was the perfect multi-generational activity that included all age groups in the synagogue and the greater East Cobb community. All had a wonderful time singing Purim songs and honking their car horns whenever Haman’s name was read aloud this year.”

Etz Chaim also hosted a Costume Car Contest Feb. 28. The cars drove around to the outdoor sanctuary, where the religious school students cheered them on. This event was followed by a traveling Purim carnival called Purim Around East Cobb in which there were nine host homes in three neighborhoods with groups rotating to three homes in a neighborhood.

Games in those sites included large Connect 4 and Jenga games, basketball, fishing and more. There was also a different prize bag at every home that fit with the neighThe Feibel family, Lori and Gavin, were the winners of the car costume contest. borhood theme, including superheroes, luau and pirates.

There was also a Virtual Purim Party in which participants received a goodie bag with prizes and Purim activities and played Virtual Scavenger Hunt. More than 150 people participated in these Purim Around East Cobb activities, which were funded by the Making Jewish Places initiative of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, said Engagement Director Heather Blake.

“In normal times, my kids would have been part of organizing our synagogue’s Purim carnival with the youth group,” said member Esti Kleinman. “So they obviously were excited to have an opportunity to do so as a hosting family and they had a BLAST!”

Wheels and Spiel

By Dr. Terry Segal Temple Beth Tikvah kicked off Purim a week early with Mishloah Manot, the religious school fundraiser with festive cards and gift baskets sent and received, along with monetary donations to Jewish Family & Career Services.

Education Director Suzanne Hurwitz emailed the AJT, “I’ve always loved Purim (the story, dressing up, Hamantaschen ... what’s not to love?!) and didn’t want the pandemic to stop our members and the community from having a great celebration.”

For decades Cantor Nancy Kassel has written the scripts for the Purim spiel, cast the actors, directed rehearsals, and this year, orchestrated our individually filmed segments with the production crew. Temple member Jon Marks joined Kassel in creating this year’s script for the Taschie (short for hamantashen) Awards Feb. 25.

The pre-recorded ceremony was hosted by Lori and Andy Goldstrom, with these categories, winners and characters: Best Megillah 44 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Best Megillah Chanter: Cantor Nancy Kassel as Opera Woman

Chanter, Cantor Nancy Kassel as Opera Woman; Best Heroes, Rebecca and David Halusic as Esther and Mordecai; Best Villain, Steve Cohn as Haman; Best Royal, John Restler as King Ahasuerus; Best Dancer, me, as Vashti; Best Dressed for Services, Rabbi Shuval-Weiner, as herself; and Best Producers, Ted Nathan and Ron Swichkow, as themselves.

The rabbi led the megillah reading on Zoom Feb. 26 with the wish that next year the congregation be together in person.

And on Feb. 28, cars of costumed families drove to 11 stations as part of the in-person CARnival. The stations included: Shushan Supplies, Grogger Guess, Esther’s Megillah (put the Purim story in the correct order) Vashti’s Fortune Telling, Shushan Wax Museum (for photos) Make Some Noise, Car DeCARation, Mordechai’s Mishloach Manot, TBT’s Red Carpet, Feed Hangry Haman and Haman’s Lots.

There were prizes, smiling faces and joy at safely seeing teachers and classmates in person.

COMMUNITY

Walking the Red Carpet

Queen Esther’s Gambit and More

By Shaindle Schmuckler

Chabad Intown’s spirit of Purim was high this year despite concerns about the pandemic, said Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman.

Face masks, social distancing and lots of hand sanitizer were obvious additions to this year’s Sober Purim Party, YJP’s Purim Party “Queen Esther’s Gambit” with 65-plus masked Young Jewish professionals gathered at The Plaza at Ponce City Market, the Chabad director said.

There was also a drive-by megillah reading for the families Young Jewish professionals enjoying a Sober Purim and children of the Intown JewParty at The Plaza at Ponce City Market are Tova ish Preschool. To close out the Asher, Shimon Hurwitz and Max Aaron. celebrations, a megillah reading on the BeltLine right before candle lighting and Shabbat was welcomed with challah and chicken soup, Schusterman said. Sober Purim was sponsored by Jeff’s Place, Arden’s Garden and HAMSA (Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse).

Purim may have been different this year, but Chabad of North Fulton, not wanting to miss out on the masquerade fun associated with Purim, held a “drive up” program Feb. 26 called Purim on the Red Carpet. Families drove up to the Chabad parking lot and walked up the red carpet with their costumes to receive a special prize, said Rabbi Hirshy Minkowitz.

“It is known as one of the happiest days on the Jewish calendar, yet this year Purim carries with it somewhat of a somber touch,” said the Chabad director. “It marks almost a year since the COVID lockdown came to Atlanta [with] synagogues and community centers shut down the week after Purim 2020 and now almost 12 months later, we find ourselves with life not fully back to normal.

“It was important that we find ways for the Jewish joyous days to be celebrated. One of the things we learned in the last year is that there is always another way to keep our original traditions going while maintaining the highest standards of safety and COVID guidelines.”

On the red carpet, each person had the opportunity to perform all four of the Purim mitzvot, Minkowitz said. Mini Purim baskets were available to take and give to a friend; coins were available to give to charity; sandwiches could be made into a Purim feast; and there was an opportunity to hear the megillah read, he said.

A week before Purim, on Feb. 21, Chabad of North Fulton hosted a virtual Family Hamantasch Bake. The program was sponsored by the Making Jewish Places initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

The initial goal was to enroll 25 families for the online program, said Rabbi Hirshy Minkowitz. But due to overwhelming demand, it was expanded with an enrollment of more than 110 people, he said.

Each family received a baking kit in advance that contained all the supplies needed to make hamantashen, including a personalized apron, rolling pin, all the ingredients and toppings.

Tzvi, Mordechai and Mendel Hertz Chabad also organized a Purim basket delivpose in front Chabad Purim backdrop. ery program in which over 300 families received a mishloach manot food basket for Purim delivered to their door.

Chabad youth director Rabbi Gedalya Hertz said he was glad the synagogue could offer such a memorable event. “Purim is the holiday that kids remember most because of how much fun it is. We are grateful that despite the COVID challenges, 2021 won’t be any different for them.”

Falafel and Street Fun Congregation Beth Shalom celebrated Purim with an interactive online megillah reading on erev Purim and an in-person Purim celebration in the parking lot Feb. 28, according to education director Linda Zimmerman.

More than 120 people joined together for games, crafts, a costume parade, hamantaschen and a children’s megillah reading – all with masks and social distancing, she said.

“Congregants enjoyed visiting in person with their Beth Shalom community and looked forward to more opportunities to come together in the future. Delicious food A costumed Rabbi Mark Zimmerman was provided by the Adamah Falafel Food Truck.” leads the Purim celebration.

And for children, grades 6 and older, the breakout room “Standing Up for Your

By Flora Rosefsky Beliefs” used Queens Vashti and Esther as role models The email announcement to members for speaking their minds for of Ahavath Achim Synagogue members was a equality and beliefs. heads-up about how Purim would be celebrated Instead of a large Puduring this COVID year: “Pour your favorite rim carnival this year, AA drink of choice, put on your silliest costume, offered three different famand sit back in your favorite chair as Purim ily Purim activities. Families comes live to you in your living room. Services baked hamantashen, crewill feature the AAbsolute band setting your ated Purim face masks and favorite tunes to the liturgy, a spirited megilcrowns, created a puppet lah reading and commentary sure to make the show and virtual costume words pop off the screen, and late-night break“parade” from home. outs for adults only to gather and have some fun Aurelie Weinstein expressed Jackie Nix, AA director of as a community.”

Purim as abstract art she created youth & family engagement, in the AA art workshop.

For those who virtually attended the Zoom said that in spite of the panPurim Feb. 25, they had ample opportunities to celebrate the holiday at home. The Break-Out-Room one-hour demic, synagogue programs such as for Purim prove there choices for adults included a study session led by Rabbi Neil are new and more personal ways to connect with each other Sandler. For those who chose art, Stephanie Jacobs taught on deeper levels than might have taken place at the tradihow to create an abstract painting expressing the emotions tional carnival.

“I look forward to bringing back the larger in-person of the holiday. Sara Papier led a workshop, “Mixology with Mordecai.” A hot link was provided to a shopping list of sup- events we are all missing,” she said. ì

AA and Cocktails

Virtual Baking On Feb. 23, Jewish Fertility Foundation partnered with PJ Library to bring Atlanta-based JFF alumni families together for a virtual hamentashen-making experience. JFF hired Debbie Lewis, a Jewish Sandy Springs resident and the owner of Red Spoon Bakery, to teach young families how to make hamentashen. The program also included Purim Reagan Polli rolls out dough for hamentashen. music by Hannah Zale of In The City Camp, noisemaker arts and crafts, and Purim storytime with PJ Library stories. PJ Library provided PJ Purim books and Purim-themed coloring sheets to all attendees.

plies for those who wanted to make some new cocktails.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 45

COMMUNITY

Superman Comes to Toco Hills

“Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound!"

By Chana Shapiro

Robkin’s granddaughter, Leah Rhodes, poses with “Christopher Reeve” at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York

office was near a comic book store next to a bank. Every Friday, which was pay day, I headed to that store, where I purchased comics and collectibles. I lived in New Jersey and would go into Manhattan to visit the Warner Brothers store, where I found Superman clothes, T-shirts, clothing, hats and jewelry. It was also thrilling to visit DC Comics in Manhattan, where I met the editor, Mike Carlin, and his staff.”

Over the years, Robkin acquired countless Superman comic books and toys, many of which she gave to her grandchildren, great-nephew and neighborhood children. She regrets that she sold many classics, which are quite valuable today and are very difficult to find. “Because I regret selling many comics, I went to a store last year where I located a few special ones. I still have many, many Superman comic books; however, one comic that I sold included an article to the editor that I wrote, and I would love to find that one.”

A favorite item from the collection is “Superman: The Movie,” a DVD of Christopher Reeve’s first Superman film.

“Christopher was believable and charismatic, and his convincing acting drew

Marcia Robkin was born in Atlanta, married in Atlanta, and after living in a number of other cities, returned to Atlanta a few years ago. Her huge Superman collection, assembled over more than 30 years, has accompanied her to all her homes and is still growing. It is so exten-

Left: This vintage desk clock’s Superman flies when the alarm sounds.

Right: Three large cookie jars serve as kitchen sentries.

Marcia Robkin has been collecting Superman memorabilia for more than 30 years.

sive, she cannot display everything at one time in her Toco Hills apartment. Fortunate visitors may get to see items that have been stored away, including vintage comic books, Christopher Reeve memorabilia and tabletop figurines Robkin tells the AJT, “I always read the Superman comic books, however, the strongest connections for me were the radio and early TV shows. My insurance 46 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Robkin’s sets of salt shakers are either for dairy (brick wall), meat (hand on hips/circle), or pareve (phone booths).

me into the character. When Christopher Reeve was injured while riding a horse, I was distressed, and I started compiling a scrapbook. Before I moved to Atlanta, I called the Christopher Reeve Foundation in New Jersey and mailed them the scrapbook. I still own his books and other memorabilia. Certain Christopher Reeve movies are special, including ‘Somewhere in Time,’ and ‘Deathtrap.’ ‘Rear Window’ and ‘A Step Toward Tomorrow’ were made after his injury. He was a dedicated actor, director and author.”

Robkin considers her most valuable item to be an unopened case called The History of Superman Collection, a set of three Superman dolls, each a subtly dif-

COMMUNITY ferent model from the 1940s, ‘70s and ‘90s, accompanied by background comics of each figure.

The Toco Hills resident is an inveterate collector, and she finds Superman items everywhere. “When I was in Israel and took my grandchildren and greatgrandchildren to The Lego Store, there was a Superman key ring! I have Superman figurines, vintage items, framed art, clothing, cookie jars, door and car mats, an umbrella and books. My collection is too vast to be fully displayed in my apartment, and I have items stored in boxes, cabinets, bookshelves, even my clothes closet. I have three boxes in my son’s attic in Brooklyn. I particularly appreciate my family’s indulgence in my collecting."

Robkin, a grandmother and great-

times (and Brooklyn, if you can count that as travel!) I crave variety and have been an office clerk, secretary, office manager, junior hostess with the USO, babysitter, tutor, and even did my own legal work. But my interest in Superman has always been a constant.”

There is a strong Jewish connection to Superman. Two young Jewish boys, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who lived in Cleveland, Ohio, created the superhero and the Superman legend. Siegel wrote the adventures and Shuster illustrated them in Action Comics and DC Comics, beginning in 1938. The backstory is that Superman was born on the planet Krypton; he was named Kal-El, which in Hebrew means “Voice of G-d.” He was sent to earth in a small spaceship as a baby by his parents,

Mazal Tov to

Rebecca Birch winner of the

Robyn Berger Emerging Leader Award

Power of Inclusion 2021 Honorees Learning Support Program | Atlanta Jewish Academy Vicki Kayser | Beth Jacob Preschool Kayla Prather | Camp Judaea Rebecca Birch | Camp Ramah Darom Ashley Cohen | Congregation B’nai Torah Jaime Schwartz & Nikki Pollack | Diamond Family Religious School at Temple Emanu-El Omri Peled | Congregation Dor Tamid Items from Robkin's valuable collection of Superman from the '40s, '70s and '90s accompanied by comic books.

grandmother, currently relishes FaceTime with her family. She is an avid reader; enjoys classic movies and select TV shows and participates in Zoom classes. Active in the arts, she sings, plays the piano, has been part of many choirs and musical groups, has been an actress and written poetry.

She was working as a mashgicha (kosher supervisor) until the pandemic hit.

“I love to travel. I’ve been to Israel many

moments before Krypton was destroyed in a natural cataclysm. The actual Superman comic stories begin with his career as a superhero in Metropolis where Clark Joseph Kent (Superman’s earth name) was a reporter for The Daily Planet newspaper.

In the face of spreading fascism, Siegel and Shuster created a hero who “fights a never-ending battle of truth, justice and the American way,” an apt hero for our time. ì

Teen Leadership Board: Aura Avrunin, Ari Gabay, Lucas Jannett, Shayna Leibowitz, Noah Meltzer, Celia Rappoport, Tehilla Robbins, Marnie Sara | Friendship Circle of Atlanta Residential Managers of the JF&CS Group Homes: Gwen Heard, Tamara Cain, Uyi Osagie, Tamara Stainback, Allana Thompson, Watasci Woods, Gabrella Hill | Jewish Family & Career Services Youth Mental Health First Aid | JumpSparkATL Talya Gorsetman & Jay Kessler, Melton Inclusion Class | Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta Jennifer Wampler | Shearith Israel Linda Siegel, Temple Beth Tikvah Early Childhood Education Center | Temple Beth Tikvah Mickey Rosner | Temple Emanu-El “Gaining A New Perspective” | Temple Sinai Stacy Brown | The Davis Academy Ali Katz, Epstein Learning Lab | The Epstein School Keith Nash | The Temple Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Bracha Schulgasser | Torah Day School of Atlanta Rachel Slomowitz, Special Needs Hanukkah Program | PJ Library Kira Berzack | The Weber School

atlanta.jewishabilities.org ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 47

KEEPING IT KOSHER Easy Nutter Butter Chicken (Gluten-Free)

JEWISH JOKE

This fun, easy almond butter and chicken combo is perfect for your next weeknight meal or Passover menu for some much-needed variety.

Cooking and Prep: 15 minutes Servings: 4 Almond Butter Sauce 1/2 cup Gefen Roasted Almond Butter 6 tablespoons coconut aminos (or soy sauce, during the year) 3 tablespoons Manischewitz Honey 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon white vinegar 1/8 teaspoon cayenne Chicken 4 chicken cutlets, cubed 3 tablespoons Manischewitz Potato Starch (or flour, during the year) Vegetable oil, for frying Chopped almonds, for garnish (optional) Prepare the Sauce In a medium bowl, mix all sauce ingredients. Set aside.

Prepare the Chicken In a zip-top bag, toss chicken and potato starch until fully coated.

In a deep fryer or large pot, heat a few inches of oil to 350 F. Add chicken, being sure not to overcrowd the pot. Fry about 5 minutes, or until internal temperature reads 165 F. Transfer chicken to paper towels to remove excess oil. Toss with prepared sauce.

Garnish with chopped almonds, if desired, and serve.

Source: Modified from kosher.com recipe by Chana Landman.

Meet the Parents A family of yarmulkes go out to dinner to meet daughter yarmulke’s boyfriend.

The night goes well, the family loves her boyfriend and after a great meal the family and boyfriend go their separate ways.

The father yarmulke then looks over at his daughter and says, “He’s a kippah!”

Mazel Tov Millie Kinbar Millie Kinbar celebrated her 100th birthday Feb. 24. Her youngest daughter Suzan arranged for a huge yard sign in front of Kinbar’s Hammond Glen retirement community on her birthday.

“What a day we had for Mom, full of surprises, and were thrilled to share it all with her, as she had been happily vaccinated along with her fellow residents,” Suzan said. “Mom enjoyed a lovely birthday lunch in the dining room at a decorated table with some of her friends; everyone sang happy birthday and enjoyed the big cake we had brought over. Staff even presented Four generations helped Millie Mom with champagne and were incredibly gracious Kinbar celebrate her 100th birthday. and kind.”

Later in the afternoon, Millie took part in a traditional Hammond Glen happy hour, where she was serenaded by the singer while she danced in her chair to the music. Then came the lively surprise car parade, where Millie happily shared in her birthday festivities with friends and family, cards and presents, and all passed (and some danced) by her beautiful birthday sign” created by Sign Greeters.

“It was lovely and exciting and a happy festive day, but we did miss all of our family who couldn’t be with her/us because of COVID,” Suzan said. “This year was certainly a different kind of celebration, but still one that allowed all of us to share in Millie’s 100th birthday from near and far.”

48 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Submitted by Nicholas Bonell

YIDDISH SLANG OF THE MONTH Briebrei n. Matzah brei with melted brie cheese.

“Nathan made his wife briebrei for breakfast. She kvelled,” was delighted.

So much tastier than bubbie’s matzah brei.

Basically, matzah brei is Jewish French toast, bread soaked in egg and fried, except the bread is unleavened. Some say it is the texture of cardboard left out in the rain with a similar taste. Maple syrup topping doesn’t begin to help. Today’s Jewfoodies add delicacies to the mix, like French brie, a soft and subtly mild cheese with a gooey texture to die for.

Yiddish slang modified from Daniel Klein’s book “Schmegoogle: Yiddish Words for Modern Times.”

BRAIN FOOD

Emoji Holidays

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1. Censor's sound 6. One busy at the start of 8-Down 9. Sprint 13. Wayne Gretzky, at the start of his career 14. Zurich peak 15. Megillah read on Tisha B'Av 16.

18. Potok protagonist 19. Word with "Cone" or "Cat" 20. Letters asking for help 21. Princess Leia's adopted last name 22.

25. King in “The Iliad” 28. Gal, in Scotland 29.

31. Play clay 32. Like King Saul or Amar'e Stoudemire 36. Tel Aviv to Hebron dir.

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40. Eden in Miami 41. Caffeinated drinks that can be cold or hot 43. Trip up 44.

46. Important no. for newspapers 48. Skyy, for one 49.

55. He turned the Nile to dam 56. Newsworthy time 57. Brew that often has a bitter after

taste, for short 60. Took sudden notice 61.

64. Yak, yak, yak 65. Animated dad of Edith, Margot, and Agnes 66. Harry Potter’s protector (to Potter’s surprise) 67. With it 68. Violated 16-Across 69. Bad spellings?

27. Furniture chain from Scandinavia 30. AKA Rabbi Nissim of Gerona (whose name looks like he did a marathon) 31. TV Device that might come with a monthly fee 33. City in southern Israel 34. Secure 35. ___ Dodi 38. Rainbows, for example DOWN 39. Big name in Israeli footwear 1. They become men or drugs 2. Animal that didn’t harm Daniel 42. Dwight often pranked by 3. Friend of Mr. Noodle (Jim) Halpert 4. Cry upon seeing a mouse 45. ___-CAH-TOA (trig mnemonic) 5. Israeli fruit?

47. "G-d willing!"

6. Bars for guitars 49. Speaks gratingly 7. Like a thick carpet 50. Tara's Scarlett 8. 44-Across usually starts in 51. Job's Biblical tester this mo. (but not this year) 52. Cold people might lack one?

9. Revulsion 53. Verbally fight 10. After, b’Ivrit 54. Capture 11. Rishon follower 57. Theater giant?

12. Bad Boko 58. Skunk seeking amour 15. Lawman Wyatt and his brothers 59. One of Zeus's sons 17. Nittany Lions' sch.

61. Letters on some 21. How some baseballs are fielded NYC-bound luggage 22. Cinch ___ (Hefty bag brand) 62. Tough timber tree or fire residue 23. Coverage options, briefly 63. Word on both sides of “on” 24. Baseball's Felipe, Matty, or Moises and “by” 25. "Hey! You!" 26. Fiendish plan, perhaps

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ered around a peace monument near the 14th Street entrance to the park to pay tribute to the victims and to support an end to Middle East violence. While many of the participants were college students, a number of prominent rabbis spoke. ì Congregation Beth Jacob had a special post-Purim treat, with Atlanta’s Varsity Jr. catering the synagogue. The traditionally non-kosher restaurant, a staple of Atlanta since 1928, went through a one-day cram course to prepare, and was overseen by Beth Jacob member Ron Walkman. The enthusiasm for the specialty food was evident in the numerous empty plates throughout the synagogue.

15 Years Ago// March 1, 2006 ì A record number of Purim revelers turned out for Toco Hills’ annual Purim parade last week. Costumes included a “Miriam Poppins” to a matched set of people-size mustard and ketchup dispensers. Some 40 synagogues, Jewish day schools and community organizations marched along Lavista Road from the Toco Hills Shopping Center to Congregation Beth Jacob. Outside the synagogues, activities were available for children as adults ate from the indusAtlanta’s Varsity Jr. catered 50 Years Ago// March 12, 1971 a special post-Purim trial-size grill. treat at Congregation ì This is the first year that Israel will be among the featured nations ì Coffeehouses featuring Israeli entertainment have been set up on camBeth Jacob in 1996. in the Macon Cherry Blossom Festival. Many in the Jewish community had puses, and a series of Jewish residences have been established on madjor state eagerly awaited the choosing of the Jewish state, scouring the list of nations, looking for it each universities, Ivy League campuses, and others. The coffeehouses have succeeded in attracting year. There will be programming by the local Hadassah chapter leading up to the festival, and hundreds of students through their activities, which include reading of literature and serving both congregations in the area are involved. Chip Koplin, past president of the Macon Jewish Middle Eastern food. At the Jewish house in Cornell University, in addition to providing kosher Federation, grew up in Macon and said he would never have expected in his younger days for food, they sometimes operate as a commune, hosting guest lecturers and artists.

Israel to be honored. ì Several Jewish students were among those in the Atlanta area to receive high scho25 Years Ago// March 15, 1996 lastic honors. Charles Stern, Fred Spector, Ronnie Karp and Howard Levine were among the ì Atlantans gathered in Piedmont Park on Monday to remember bombing victims in winners. Many of them focused their in-school efforts on science-related topics, with others Israel after the recent string of bombings in the Jewish state. About 60 Jews and gentiles gath- winning prizes for their scientific endeavors. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 49

OBITUARIES Erica Portnoy Aronin

Theodore (Ted) Bleiman

Erica Portnoy Aronin, 59, passed away Feb. 26, 2021, 5 ½ years after first being diagnosed with cancer. During that time she continued to live life to the fullest with unmatched determination and enthusiasm while inspiring so many.

Born in a New York City hospital, Erica liked to say she was from New York, where she spent the first 24 hours of her life before moving to join the rest of her family in Englewood, N.J. She and her family subsequently moved to Charleston, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C., where she graduated from Charlotte Country Day School. While in high school, Erica served as BBYO District 5 Nsiah.

After graduating from Ohio State University, Erica moved to Atlanta in 1984 and began what became an incredibly successful sales career at MCI/Verizon, first interrupted by a nine-year retirement to focus her time on raising her family and finally retiring after her cancer diagnosis in 2015.

Family and friends were the center of Erica’s universe. She and husband Don married in 1994 and instantly became a family of three as Erica embraced her new role as daughter Kelsey’s “bonus mom.” With the birth of Carly in 1995 and Cassidy in 1997, Erica was a dynamo as she invested herself 100 percent in her roles of wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend and, ultimately, grandmother.

Erica had a unique intrinsic ability to make anyone who was around her feel like they were the most important person in the world to her. She exuded a genuine warmth, modesty, sincerity and positive outlook, along with a smile that would light up the room, which instantly attracted people to her. To know Erica was to be loved by her and her many friends and family will continue to be inspired by her memory every day.

Erica’s cancer diagnosis led her to Emory Winship Cancer Institute, which became another passion of hers. It wasn’t enough for Erica to just be a patient at Winship. Her “Lungs ‘N Roses” team continues to raise money for Winship every year and everyone on her team always looked forward to the new T-shirt design for the annual Winship 5K. Whether it was becoming a patient family advisor, participating in the annual Winship fashion show, sitting for a recorded promotional interview session or serving as a speaker for staff orientation, Erica was committed to doing everything she could to help make Winship the best possible cancer treatment center.

Erica is survived by beloved husband Don; her daughters Kelsey (Geoffrey), Carly and Cassidy; and her grandson Mason.

In addition, Erica is survived by her mother Marilyn Goldsmith; her father and stepmother Gil and Lynne Portnoy; her sister Suzanne Denberg (David); her brothers David Portnoy (Devorah) and Mark Portnoy; and numerous nieces and nephews who adored their Auntie Erica.

Donations may be made in Erica’s memory to Emory Winship Cancer Institute or Temple Sinai. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Theodore (Ted) Bleiman, 79, died Feb. 20, 2021. Born Aug. 9, 1941, he was the son of the late Eileen and Oscar Bleiman, loving and respected brother of Leo (Jill) Bleiman, Jay (Patricia) Bleiman and Susan Bleiman. Ted was a dear companion of Sheila Cutler, and former husband of the late Janice Stein. He also was a dear cousin, a fond uncle to his nephews, great nephews and nieces, and a friend to many. His friendships were true, wide and lasting.

Ted was a self-educated electrical wizard, had a great mind, was a mentor to many, and had a heart of gold. He was generous of spirit and would help anyone in need of a helping hand on a moment’s notice. Due to the COVID pandemic, funeral services and shiva, along with a celebration of his life, will be at a later date. Donations in his memory are requested to be made to a charity of your choice. May his life be for a blessing. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

59, Atlanta

50 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

79, Atlanta

Melvin Brodofsky 79, Marietta

Melvin Brodofsky, 79, of Marietta, died March 1, 2021. Born in Sunflower, Miss., Melvin was preceded in death by his first wife Ruby. He is survived by his wife Carole; son and daughter-in-law Adam and Natasha Brodofsky; and daughter Eva Brodofsky; along with five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held March 3 at North Atlanta Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chabad of West Cobb. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Adrienne Joy Cohen

Pearl Wolkin Cohen

Adrienne Joy Cohen, native Atlantan and treasure to the community, passed away March 3, 2021, under the loving care of her husband of 40 years Kelly Iny. Adrienne and Kelly were sweethearts and soulmates, and they enjoyed entertaining friends in their beautiful Buckhead home. Adrienne was stylish, elegant, smart, savvy and vivacious.

The couple shared wonderful travels to Israel, many European and South American countries, and cities across the U.S. and Canada. Adrienne also ventured to Russia. Adrienne graduated from Druid Hills High School, attended the University of Georgia, and graduated from Emerson College in Boston.

In Atlanta, she worked as vice president for McCann Erickson, where she wrote ads for Coca-Cola; Cole Henderson Drake; Weltin Advertising; and McDonald & Little. She also wrote stories about Atlanta’s Music Museum, the Regency Hyatt House, and Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Always adventuresome, Adrienne was lured to New York City for nine years in the 1960s as advertising copywriter for Madison Avenue’s Young & Rubicam (at that time the third largest ad agency in the world) and its affiliate, The Marschalk Co. Ms. Cohen is listed in Who’s Who in America; Who’s Who in American Advertising; Who’s Who in the South and Southwest; and Who’s Who in the Media and Communications. Adrienne designed Eastern Airlines Destination Cities for Young & Rubicam as well as The Wings of Man, depicting Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. To her honor, Orson Welles became the spokesman for this radio campaign that Adrienne created.

She wrote more than 60 radio commercials. The Cannes Film Festival featured her TV commercial. Adrienne and Mr. Welles traveled to London, France, and Hollywood on the project, and she also worked with Sir Laurence Olivier. This campaign earned Adrienne four prestigious Clio Statuette Awards, two Clio Certificates of Merit, and two Silver Awards, which are considered the Academy Awards of the advertising business.

With 11 Clios in all, Adrienne also received the International Broadcasting Award for World’s Best Radio Campaign.

The following is a selective list of other of Adrienne’s accounts including: General Foods, Lipton, Publix Super Markets, McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, Simmons Mattress, Scottish Rite Hospital, Sun Banks of Florida, Omni International Hotels, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cousins Properties, The Equitable Building, Arrow shirts, Wrangler jeans, Hanes, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Galleria, CNN Headline News, Cox Cable, Turner Communications, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Opera, High Museum of Art, HartsfieldJackson International Airport, Gulf Oil, Six Flags Over Georgia, Kodak, Georgia Power, Georgia Pacific, BellSouth, Equifax, Goodyear Tires, American Express, Johnson & Johnson, and Honda.

The Adrienne Cohen Collection 1963 to 2000 exists in the archives of Georgia State University. For years, she was an active member in The Alliance Theatre Guild.

Adrienne was a good friend and enjoyed learning about interior design, reading and writing poetry. She even acted in Theatre Atlanta.

Adrienne was preceded in death by her parents, of blessed memory, attorney Louis S. Cohen and Ray Cohen. She is survived by her devoted husband Kelly Iny and his sister Eva Dloomy, dentist (California), and Eva’s children Avi, Sauly and Shirley.

Adrienne and Kelly were proud to be lifelong members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, where Adrienne’s grandfather Abraham Jaffe was a founding member and served as rabbi and cantor. The family is grateful for the kind care of Weinstein Hospice and thankful with great affection to Rabbi Neil and Susan Sandler, licensed master of social worker, and Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Adrienne Cohen to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or cancer.org. May Adrienne’s name be for a blessing and may she rest in peace. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Pearl Wolkin Cohen, 95, of Atlanta, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter Feb. 22, 2021. She was born in The Bronx, N.Y., on Sept. 22, 1925, to Nathan and Ida Wolkin, and came to Atlanta in the early 1940s, where she lived with her beloved sister Anne.

She married Marcus Cohen in 1948 and was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Pearl was a member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue for over 60 years. She was an avid mahjong and gin player, loved a good joke, and had the sweetest personality.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Marcus; her brothers Max, George and Sol Wolkin; and her sister Anne Lichtenstein. She is survived by her four children Harvey (Cindy) Cohen, Jeffrey (Cheryl) Cohen, Steven Cohen and Lisa Cohen; five grandchildren Richard (Leslie) Cohen, Brian (Andrea) Cohen, Pamela (Aaron) Behar, Adam (Kim) Cohen, and Alex (Katherine) Cohen; seven great-grandchildren Sari Behar, Lila Behar, Hadley Cohen, Finn Cohen, Jake Cohen, Jaden Cohen and Emma Cohen; sister Anita Hacker; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

She will be missed by all those who knew her. Graveside funeral services were held Feb. 23 at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to Mazon, the Atlanta Community Food Bank, or a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

85, Atlanta

95, Atlanta

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

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 51

OBITUARIES

Mary Zakheim Ginsberg

Nancy Pollard

Mary Zakheim Ginsberg was a first generation American born in Atlanta in November 1919 to Gussie and Israel Zakheim. Raised in Grant Park across the street from the Atlanta Zoo, Mary fell asleep each night to the sounds of lions roaring and elephants trumpeting.

As a teenager, Mary and her older brother Benny worked in her parents’ grocery store, where they learned about entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. During World War II, Mary worked for the federal government in Washington, D.C., but returned to Atlanta after the death of her father. Thereafter she worked as a secretary for Rabbi Harry H. Epstein and as an executive assistant at the Kelvinator company.

In the mid-1950s, Mary was introduced to Max Ginsberg and in 1958 they married, a union that lasted over 50 years until Max’ death in 2008. After the birth of their son Jonathan, Max and Mary purchased the Southeastern Drug Journal, a pharmaceutical trade magazine, with Max serving as the editor and publisher and Mary responsible for daily operations.

In the 1970s, Mary developed the first offsite continuing education program for pharmacists, allowing them to obtain their yearly continuing education by mail, a program that continues to this day.

Mary’s most cherished roles, however, were that of a mother to Jonathan and motherin-law to Jodi, and later as a grandmother to Jessica and Jake. Bubby Mary was kind, funloving, thoughtful and patient and she was always ready to pack her bag and join her family on beach trips to Hilton Head or the Florida panhandle.

Mary enjoyed good health and independence well into her 90s and thanks to her longtime love of exercise and her positive outlook, she never suffered any significant medical issues. She did develop dementia in her last few years and our family will forever be grateful to her dedicated caregivers Judith and Theresa for making Mary’s final years comfortable and pleasant.

In addition to her immediate family, Mary is survived by her nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all of whose lives were enriched by knowing her. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Congregation Or Hadash, The Epstein School or Weinstein Hospice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Nancy Diane Goren Pollard was born Jan. 20, 1945, to Rhoda and Marvin Goren, while he was stationed at an Air Force base in Big Spring, Texas, during the waning days of World War II. She died peacefully on Feb. 24, 2021, in her home in Atlanta surrounded by her loving family and loyal Shih Tzu Paisley.

Nancy was a California girl at heart. She grew up on Rodeo Drive (before it was Rodeo Drive!) and was the student speaker at her Beverly Hills High School graduation in 1962. After graduating from UCLA, where she was a member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, in 1966, she began her career as a second grade schoolteacher in Daly City, Calif.

She married Zane Pollard, the love of her life, on June 25, 1967, and they spent 53 wonderful years together, time that included living in Japan in 1968 while Zane was on tour of duty in Vietnam. Nancy and Zane moved South in 1974 with their two young boys to settle in Atlanta.

Nancy’s calling and life’s work was raising and running the family, and she excelled at it. She was deeply literate and instilled a rich appreciation for history, English, music (she was an excellent pianist) and the pursuit of a life of learning into her children and grandchildren. She was a gifted artist whose creativity could enhance any event.

Nancy was also known as a wordsmith and skilled performer and she both composed and starred in a wide variety of performances including family holiday celebrations, weddings and synagogue events that could be described as nothing short of sheer brilliance. Her most famous role was that of Moses, which she took on to deliver her annual Passover Seder rap, retelling the story of the Exodus with her unique flair. She had her own special sense of humor and a legendary laugh. She was an avid gardener and a lover of animals, including many dogs over the years — dogs that loved her as much as she loved them.

In the late-1970s, Nancy volunteered extensively settling Russian Jewish immigrants into the community and helping them obtain housing and employment. She was a longtime docent at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum and the Anne Frank in the World exhibit.

Nancy was most happy on family trips to the beach with her children, daughterin-law and grandchildren. She was completely devoted to her grandchildren and even had the joy of taking them on trips to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, always with the intent of instilling a love of country and patriotism.

It would be hard to overstate the void left by her worldly departure, but her incredible and indelible legacy will reverberate through future Pollard family generations.

Nancy is survived by her devoted husband Zane; son, Dylan Pollard, of Marin County, Calif.; son and daughter-in-law Derek and Jill Pollard of Atlanta; and Nancy and Zane’s beloved grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara and Huck White of Wayland, Mass., and Linda and Ned Congdon of Danville, Calif.; and her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Judy and Jerry Dubrof of Alpharetta, Ga., and Babs and Rob Jackson, of Alexandria, Va.; as well as many dear nieces and nephews.

Donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to the Anne Frank in the World exhibit at 5920 Roswell Road, Unit 209, Atlanta, Ga. 30328. A private funeral was Feb. 25. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

101, Atlanta

Rhoda Lichtenstadter 86, Mount Laurel, N.J.

Rhoda Lichtenstadter, 86, of Mount Laurel, N.J., died March 3, 2021. She was the mother of Steven (Jan Adler) Lichtenstadter, the late Mark (Debra Bromson) Lichtenstadter and Jill Lichtenstadter; grandmother of Justin (Natalya Alpert) Adler and Andrew, Matthew and Emily Lichtenstadter; great-grandmother of Celia and Benjamin; and sister of Stanley (Fran) Peck.

Contributions in her memory can be made to The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org or Jewish Women International, www.jwi.org Arrangements by Platt Memorial Chapels, Inc., in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Beverly Ann Talansky Miller 82, Atlanta

Beverly Ann Talansky Miller, 82, of Atlanta, passed quietly Feb. 26, 2021. She was born Feb. 21, 1939, in Philadelphia, Pa., to Charles & Sara Talansky. She was married for 47 years.

She was predeceased by husband T.C. and daughter Sherry.

Beverly was born in Philadelphia and raised in Canton, Ohio. After high school, she attended Ohio State, Kent State, and Miami (Fla.); before finally graduating from Kent State in 1960. After college, she moved to Atlanta, where her parents and siblings had relocated.

She is survived by sister Lenore Zisser (Steven); brother Gerald Talansky (Cyndi Ratcliff); son Robert Miller, Atlanta; grandson, Clark Miller, State College, Pa., East Hampton, N.Y.; granddaughter Jessica Miller, East Hampton, N.Y.; nephew, Brian Cohn, Kennesaw, Ga; niece, Alison Cohn-Shoemaker; grandnephews Owen, Graham and Finn Shoemaker, Knoxville, Tenn.

Graveside Services were held Feb. 28 and viewable via Zoom link on www.DresslerJewishFunerals.com. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be sent to: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

52 | MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

76, Atlanta

ONE CANNOT LIVE

BY MATZO ALONE From Seder to Snacking and Everything in Between

U

P

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MARCH 15, 2021 | 53

OBITUARIES

Barbara Cohen Schatten 90, Atlanta

Barbara Cohen Schatten of Atlanta, Ga., passed away peacefully Feb. 20, 2021, at the age of 90. Born in Atlanta, she graduated Girls High and then Smith College in Massachusetts, where she earned a bachelor’s degree of fine arts in music. Barbara was a lover of the arts and music, gardening, traveling the world and particularly enjoying celebrating Jewish holidays with family.

During the past 40 years, by far her favorite pastime and love was spending time with, and speaking to, or about, her 15 grandchildren.

Ms. Schatten is predeceased by her husband of 48 years Dr. William E. Schatten and their eldest son Dr. Samuel J. Schatten. She is survived by children Gregory M. Schatten, Kenneth H. Schatten, Karen (Richard) Shmerling and Rona (Randy) Nelson; daughter-in-law Janet Schatten; grandchildren Jeff (Kimary), Alan, Todd and Michael (Yani) Schatten, Caroline, Julia, Charles, William and Elliot Schatten, Michelle (Josh) Guterman, Brian and Elena (Matt Mishkin) Shmerling, and Katherine, Eric and Anne Nelson; great-grandchildren Sam, Milo, Olivia and Charles.

Donations may be made in Barbara’s name to Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., Atlanta, Ga. 30327, aasynagogue.org or the charity of your choice. A graveside funeral for family members was held Feb. 23 Arlington Cemetery with a simultaneous virtual Zoom service. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Thomas Dale Ziff 70, Sandy Springs

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Thomas Dale Ziff of Sandy Springs, Ga., passed away peacefully Feb. 26, 2021. He was 70.

Tom was a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather. He dedicated everything to his family, particularly taking care of his wife in a way that was an inspiration to his children. He will be missed by his friends and clients.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents Harry and June Ziff and his beloved wife Barbara Ziff.

Tom is survived by his children David Ziff (Julia Tiessen) of Atlanta and Erin (Jacob) Slosburg of Houston, Texas; three grandchildren Philip, Esther, and Roman; and brother, Richard Ziff of Florida.

A private funeral was held Feb. 28.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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56 MARCH 15, 2021 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CLOSING THOUGHTS A Week That Will Live in Infamy It all s t a r t e d around 4 a.m. Sunday night when our alarm’s beeper went off. We got out of bed but found Chana Shapiro n o t h i n g amiss with doors and windows. My husband Zvi disabled the network, and then we got back to sleep. Zvi reset the alarm Monday, and everything seemed to be working fine until 2:30 a.m., when the beeping woke us up. Zvi disabled it again.

We keep our alarm on every night, which obviously we couldn’t do under the circumstances. Instead, to protect ourselves, Zvi placed a heavy wrench under his pillow and I decided that a blast of spray paint would be an effective intruder deterrent. I put a can of high gloss black on my night table. We still haven’t heard back from the fellow who monitors our security system, so we keep our weapons handy. In the meantime, let me ask, how would you feel if you depended on a big wrench and spray paint to get some sleep?

Monday, I opened my email to find an e-invoice for our new roof. We had made some changes to the installation, rendering the bill incorrect. I called the roofer, who told me to change the amount on the e-bill and pay with our credit card as planned. When I clicked on the space where I was instructed to make the change, the original charge went through, meaning I paid the wrong amount.

The transaction was immediate.

A call to the credit card company informed us of a fee to stop the payment, and the cancellation charge was substantial. That’s how I learned that if an online bill is incorrect, don’t try to fix it yourself unless you have a tech degree.

Tuesday, I drove to Goodwill. The night before, I had crammed boxes and bags into my wagon’s “wayback.”

At the Goodwill drop off, the rear door wouldn’t open, and I couldn’t unlock it with my car key or the driver side master lock. While the Goodwill worker and a few amused bystanders watched, I climbed over the back seat and dragged everything out, only to

discover that the overload had pushed against the inside door lock lever so that it couldn’t move. I released the lever, emptied the contents and climbed out. The worker gave me a receipt and left with a full cart. The next day, I realized that I had also given Goodwill a bag of my dry cleaning.

Wednesday, our oven broke. To be more precise, we have a double oven, and the pair are connected to a single master board. Consequently, both ovens broke. The repairman explained that they couldn’t be fixed because the parts are no longer available. Apparently, appliances become obsolete when they reach the ripe old age of 12. He then assessed our frequently malfunctioning 12-year-old cooktop, which must also be replaced. It’ll be a while until the new appliances arrive, giving us ample time to test the capabilities of our George Foreman grill.

Did I hear you ask how much this is going to cost? Plenty.

Thursday, Zvi and I realized that it was cold in our house, and our thermostats agreed. At the end of the day a heating pro came and declared that our furnace was fine, but our gas line had been shut off and was locked.

Friday, I spent several hours doing detective work with the gas company, which finally concluded that there had been quite a mess-up, and they’d immediately have the gas line opened.

Half the investigation time was spent getting the $300 gas line reconnection fee removed. Five days later (another way of looking at “immediately”) the gas was restored. You might think that living without hot water or heat can be a grand adventure in flexibility and fortitude, but that’s what the Polar Bear Club people who go swimming in frigid water and Colorado winter campers believe. As for us, we learned that one can never have too many space heaters.

There is a possibility that these incidents were random and they happen to everybody, but it’s also possible that we’re victims of malevolence, suffering from someone zapping us with the evil eye. If you’re mad at me for any reason, I apologize. Just let it go already. OK? Enough is enough. ì

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