Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCII No. 19, May 12, 2017

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JEWISH ROOTS

HOME & GARDEN, PAGES 28-34 ELEGANT FUNCTION RUG FAMILY

Sustainable agriculture is bringing together chefs and nonprofit groups. Page 28

Interior designer Beth Brown puts her own swivel on her Buckhead house. Page 32

Andrea and Jason Moattar extend a half-century tradition of Persian finery. Page 34

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VOL. XCII NO. 19

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Bennett: IDF Defends Free World

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com When Adina Karpuj Bortz made aliyah from Atlanta and joined the Israel Defense Forces in 2015, her mother, Congregation Or Hadash Rabbi Analia Bortz, learned the value of Friends of the IDF. “I was happy to see her go, as that was the goal as proud Zionist parents, yet it then dawned on me: Who will hug her and console her tears? Who would welcome her home after a long day and prepare Shabbat dinner? Yet, little did I know that FIDF would be her mom away from home,” the rabbi said Monday night, May 8, during the annual FIDF Atlanta gala at the InterContinental Buckhead.

More than 750 people, including veterans of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence, gathered for the fundraising dinner and heard keynote speaker Naftali Bennett, the head of the Jewish Home party and Israel’s minister of education and Diaspora affairs.

“Beyond the minister of education, I am the minister of Diaspora, which means I’m your minister,” Bennett told the Atlanta crowd.

He spoke about Israel’s accomplishments the past decade.

In 2016, Israel raised more than $6 billion in investments into startup businesses, but strictly because of Israeli entrepreneurship, not because of advanced

Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett speaks at the FIDF gala May 8.

degrees or technology, Bennett said. “The IDF is more than a defense force; it is an Israeli ethos. We have various Jews, Haredim, Moroccans, and the key to success is to just get in and create new bonds.”

All are united in the sacrifices involved in launching and sustaining the Jewish state, he said, noting that the nation’s founders scheduled Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) right before Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) “to remember the price individuals paid to obtain Israel” and Yom HaShoah (Holo-

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caust Memorial Day) a week earlier as a reminder of what can happen if Jews ever lose Israel again.

Stories of IDF service were presented by Sgt. Mauricio Glucksmann, who escaped from Venezuela to serve in the IDF and later attended college on an FIDF Impact scholarship, and by Lt. Ofir Asulin, who showed resilience in returning to serve her country after a fellow soldier risked his life to save hers.

During an interview with the Atlanta Jewish Times, Bennett spoke about President Donald Trump’s plan to visit Israel on May 22, 10 days before a decision is due on whether to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

“I hope President Trump realizes that Israel is the epicenter of the free world in a very tough area,” Bennett said.

“Israel is surrounded by Hezbollah, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas on all our borders, yet we are a thriving democracy, and we are defending the West, the free world, there.

I encourage President Trump to realize the value and to also connect on a personal level to Israelis.”

Bennett thanked FIDF and Atlanta’s Jewish community for their unyielding support. “We in Israel care about every Jew in the world and hold ourselves responsible to that endeavor, and knowing you are there for us in return means everything.” ■ • More from Bennett, Page 9

INSIDE Calendar ��������������������������������������� 4 Candle Lighting �������������������������� 4 Israel News �����������������������������������6 Opinion ���������������������������������������12 Business ��������������������������������������18 Education ����������������������������������� 24 Obituaries �����������������������������������35 Marketplace �������������������������������36 Crossword �����������������������������������38

MAY 12, 2017 | 16 IYAR 5777

Maccabi Returning to Atlanta

The Marcus Jewish Community Center will be one of the hosts for the JCC Maccabi Games in the summer of 2019.

It will be only the second time Atlanta has hosted since the annual North American Olympic-style games were launched in 1982 in Memphis. After serving as one of five hosts in 2001, the Marcus JCC was selected to host in 2007 but withdrew because of financial problems.

“I am thrilled that we are bringing the JCC Maccabi Games back to Atlanta,” center CEO Jared Powers said. Jewish teens receive an “amazing experience where they not only compete in sports they love, but also build lifelong friendships and cultivate a deeper appreciation of Jewish values.”

More than 1,000 Jewish 13- to 16-yearolds are expected to come to Atlanta for the games, which now include 15 sports.

Serving as a Maccabi host site should be “a community energizer and galvanizer,” the Marcus JCC said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bring our community together.”

Hosting will involve donors, sponsors and a variety of volunteers. Amy Rubin and Libby Hertz are serving as the Maccabi Games co-chairs, with Garrett Van de Grift as the games adviser and Lisa and Ron Brill as the honorary chairs.

The Marcus JCC said that after issues involving money or timing prevented the center from hosting the past decade, the stars finally aligned for 2019 with the right leadership to secure initial funding.

The 2017 games are taking place in Birmingham, Miami and the Albany, N.Y., area. Orange County, Calif., is one of the 2018 sites. ■ • Two more Atlanta fencers headed for World Maccabiah, Page 37

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MAY 12 â–ª 2017

MA TOVU

My Holy Mission As the American saying puts it, “Happy wife, happy life.” Or “When Mama is happy, everyone is happy.”

We live in a changing world. We are busy with jobs, larger homes, more stuff, and in general life is more complicated than in previous generations.

I have a master’s degree and worked in the corporate world for

Hand of Hashem

By Mindy Rubenstein mindy.rubenstein@yahoo.com

years before having children and on and off since. When I was staying home or working freelance, I felt guilty for not earning more money for our family. When I was working outside the home, I felt guilty, too.

But I recently changed my attitude, even before reading this book, so its words were more powerful. I sat down with my husband and explained that my primary role is not bringing in an income. I will earn some money, but the primary responsibility is on him to support our family financially.

He realizes the importance of this, and we are making it work.

Before, as I would schlep laundry up and down the stairs, pick up toys, wash dishes, and shop for healthy food, I felt somewhat burdened.

Now, as I straighten up my home each day, plan and prepare meals, make sure my children are dressed appropriately and pray for all of us, I feel as if I am doing holy work.

The Holy Temple had many mundane daily activities, but the attending Kohanim and Levites did their tasks with burning enthusiasm.

When we see the home as a miniature Holy Temple, which it should be, cooking, cleaning and caring for our families become acts of holiness.

I still find time to use my brain and skills, but I know that my primary responsibility is to take care of myself so I can be a physically, spiritually and emotionally healthy mother and wife.

Except when I’m not. Some days I still struggle to pray, to ask for help.

For now, the book remains off the shelf as an ongoing source of inspiration and guidance. It is two steps forward, one step back. For the most part, with G-d’s help, I am fulfilling a sacred mission: guiding myself and my family in the right direction. ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

The pretty pink paperback has remained on my shelves for years, in various homes, packed and unpacked, placed neatly again and again. I don’t remember where it came from, whether I ordered it, found it in a bookstore or received it from someone.

I have heard people talk about the book as the epitome of essential reading material for couples.

Yet, for me, it had remained largely untouched.

Called “Women’s Wisdom: The Garden of Peace for Women,” it was written

by Rabbi Shalom Arush in Hebrew and translated to English by Rabbi Lazer Brody. Originally, there was a husband’s version, and it was so popular that women demanded their own.

The title comes from King Solomon, who said in Proverbs that a “wise woman builds her home.”

As women, we have a cosmic responsibility to develop ourselves as well as our husbands and children. I know this because I started reading the book recently.

It tells of a midrash about a husband and wife who were pious and righteous but remained childless after 10 years of marriage and divorced. The pious man married an evil woman and became as evil as she. The wife married an evil man and transformed him into a righteous person.

As women, we possess tremendous strength and influence — for good and for bad. When I read that, I felt a huge amount of pressure. But it’s not as complicated as I thought.

Our strongest power is our capacity to pray — for ourselves, our husbands, our kids, our homes.

Prayer, the book says, is the epitome of giving.

Another essential way to be inspired to love, both ourselves and others, is to see the good within a person. Every person possesses weaknesses as well as good points. We can strengthen a person, Rabbi Arush says, by looking for his or her strengths.

When someone senses that he is being observed and his good qualities are being noticed, he feels loved and wanted.

Everything in this world depends on marital peace, the rabbi says, from material wealth to spiritual strength to the redemption of the world. It all depends on shalom bayit (peace at home).

Building a good, peaceful home is the most significant mitzvah we will fulfill in our lifetime.

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SARAH MOOSAZADEH

THURSDAY, MAY 11

Spiritual recovery. SOJOURN hosts a three-part series on faith in addiction recovery for the LGBTQ community at the Phillip Rush Center, 1530 DeKalb Ave., Atlanta, at 7 tonight, May 25 and June 8. Free; www.sojourngsd.org.

Film screening. The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival launches its AJFF Selects series with the Israeli romantic comedy “The Wedding Plan” at 7:30 p.m. at Lefont Sandy Springs, 5920 Roswell Road, Suite C-103, Sandy Springs. Tickets are $13; ajff.org/weddingplantix.

sarah@atljewishtimes.com

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MAY 12 ▪ 2017

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CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

THROUGH JUNE 11

“Atlanta Collects.” The second part of the exhibit of privately held art, covering contemporary work, is at the Breman Museum, 1440 Spring St., Midtown. Museum admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and educators, and $4 for children 3 to 6; thebreman.org or 678-222-3700.

THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2017 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

Widows and orphans. Rabbi Moshe Miller supports the Tzarkei Naomi Fund by talking about “Rising Moon,” his new book on the Book of Ruth, tonight at 8 at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills; during Shabbat May 13 at Congregation Ariel, 5237 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody; and at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 14, at Congregation Ner Hamizrach, 1858 LaVista Road, Toco Hills. Free; tzarkeinaomi.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 13

Beth Tikvah celebration. Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell, holds a gala dinner to mark its 30th anniversary at 7 p.m. Tickets are $118; tinyurl.com/TBT30gala.

Rabbinic comedy. Rabbi Bob Alper performs standup comedy at 8 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. Tickets, including a dessert

Emor Friday, May 12, light candles at 8:12 p.m.

Saturday, May 13, Shabbat ends at 9:12 p.m.

Behar-Bechukotai Friday, May 19, light candles at 8:17 p.m.

Saturday, May 20, Shabbat ends at 9:18 p.m. reception, are $20 in advance, $25 at the door; templesinaiatlanta.org.

SUNDAY, MAY 14

Lag B’Omer sundaes. The Kehilla in Sandy Springs, 5075 Roswell Road, offers a play, crafts, music and ice cream from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The cost is $5 for one child, $8 for two, $10 for three or more; www.thekehilla.org.

Lag B’Omer bonfire. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, celebrates with lunch and marshmallows over the fire from noon to 1:30 p.m. Lunch is $5 in advance, $6 at the door; bethshalomatlanta.org or 770-399-5300.

Lag B’Omer barbecue. Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., Virginia-Highland, serves burgers, hot dogs and a bonfire from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Free; info@anshisfard.org.

Lag B’Omer fun. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Johns Creek, presents music, games, Rocco the acrobat, and, for a fee, barbecue from 4 to 6 p.m. Free; www.chabadnf. org or 770-410-9000.

Lag B’Omer show. The Chabad Israeli Center, 4276 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Brookhaven, adds a BMX show to the bonfire and games from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 (maximum $25 per family), not including food; www. cicatlanta.com/events or 404-252-9508.

Lag B’Omer picnic. Chabad of Cobb hosts a picnic at East Cobb Park, 3322 Roswell Road, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. with food, games, music and family fun. Admission is $12 per adult, $6 per child or $36 per family; www.chabadofcobb.com.

Lag B’Omer barbecue. Chabad of Gwinnett holds a neighborhood celebration with food, sports, games and a scavenger hunt at 5:30 p.m. at Dean Field, 4901 E. Jones Bridge Road, Norcross. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the park (free for moms); chabadofgwinnett.org.

Teen party. Chabad of North Fulton holds a Lag B’Omer bonfire party for eighth- to 12th-graders from 8 to 10 p.m. at 320 Hall Court, Alpharetta. Free; admin@chabadnf.org.

TUESDAY, MAY 16

After-school art. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, offers the Jewish Art Zone from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for kindergartners to second-graders. The session is $15; www. chabadnf.org/jaz or 770-410-9000.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Babyccino. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, offers a session for mothers and their babies up to age 2½ at 10 a.m. Free; hs@ chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000.

THURSDAY, MAY 18

Frankly Speaking. NCJW Atlanta, 6303

Send items for the calendar to submissions@atljewishtimes.com.

Find more events at atlantajewishtimes.com/events-calendar.

Remember When

25 Years Ago May 8, 1992 ■ Black and Jewish leaders are searching for ways to mend fractured race relations after violent demonstrations last week in downtown Atlanta in response to the acquittal of four Los Angeles police officers in the videotaped beating of Rodney King. The violence shocked civil rights supporters in the Jewish community because it “made us realize that racism is still there,” said Lois Frank, co-chair of the BlackJewish Coalition.

■ The bar mitzvah of David C. Miller of Sandy Springs, son of Star and Leonard Miller, took place May 4 at the Kotel in Jerusalem.

■ Lisa and Bill Foltz of Marietta announce the birth of a daughter, Victoria Marlene, on April 21.

50 Years Ago May 12, 1967 ■ Syrian terrorists have adopted tactics that Israel’s acting military chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Ezer Weizmann, likens to those used by Viet Cong guerrillas. Over the weekend, Syrians who had set up a position inside Lebanon fired seven 60mm mortar shells at the Israeli border settlement of Manara, damaging one house.

■ The Atlanta Jewish Community Council and Israeli Consul General Zeev Boneh invite the entire community to join Israel and Jews around the world in the celebration of the 19th anniversary of Israel’s statehood at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at the Atlanta Jewish Community Center. Highlighting the entertainment will be Israeli singer Zigi Binor.

■ Mrs. Annabelle Greenbaum of Charlotte announces the engagement of her daughter, Michelle Adriane, to David Irwin Strauss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Strauss of Augusta.

The wedding will be Sept. 10 in Charlotte.

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

CALENDAR Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, hosts its monthly discussion group moderated

by Sherry Frank at noon. Free; RSVP to christineh@ncjwatlanta.org.

The Tasting. Jewish Family & Career Services hosts its annual fundraiser for the Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living Program at 7 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead, 3300 Peachtree Road. Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door ($50 and $75 for those under 35); www.thetasting.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Book club. Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Metulla Group holds a discussion on “Small Great Things” by Jodi Picoult at 1:30 p.m. at a home in Sandy Springs.

Free; Barbara Shoulberg at brsgolf1@ bellsouth.net for details.

to 6 p.m. for kindergartners to second-graders. The session is $15; www. chabadnf.org/jaz or 770-410-9000.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 Selig Award dinner. American Jewish Committee Atlanta honors Beth and Gregg Paradies, with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner and speaker AJC CEO David Harris at 7 at Flourish Atlanta, 3143 Maple Drive, Buckhead. Tickets are $180; www.AJCAtlanta.org/Selig2017.

THURSDAY, MAY 25 Tzedek Award. New Israel Fund Atlanta honors Janice Rothschild Blumberg at 7:30 p.m. at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown. Free; RSVP to atlanta@nif.org or 212-613-4426.

Israeli Art Weekend Ahavath Achim Synagogue is hosting the Safrai Art Gallery of Jerusalem for a celebration of Israeli art from Thursday to Sunday, May 18 to 21.

Gallery owner Menachem Safrai is bringing over 1,500 oils, watercolors and lithographs from more than 100 Israeli artists for the four-day, pop-up gallery, with prices ranging from $80 to $6,000.

The art celebration starts with music and refreshments for opening night from 6:45 to 11 p.m. May 18 and concludes with a family art project for parents and their children ages 7 and under from 10:30 a.m. to noon May 21.

Sisterhood is co-sponsoring coffee and conversation with Safrai from 10:30

Susan Sandler, who is co-chairing the art weekend with Dely Pardo Harber, visits Menachem Safrai at his gallery in Jerusalem recently.

a.m. to noon May 19, and light food and beverages will be provided from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. May 20. (The art remains on display but is not available for purchase during Shabbat.)

Tickets, good for all the events, are $18 for ages 22 and older, $10 for 13 to 21, and free for younger than 13. Visit www.aasynagogue.org for more information. ■

SUNDAY, MAY 21

Book signing. The Kehilla Rabbi Karmi Ingber signs copies of his new book, “Where the Heavens Kiss the Earth,” from 10 a.m. to noon at Judaica Corner, 2185 Briarcliff Road, Toco Hills.

Kabbalah talk. Rabbi Ari Sollish discusses Kabbalah with Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Metulla Group at 1 p.m. Free; Sandye Charlop Geller at sandyecharlop@gmail.com or 678-4432961 for details.

Kosher Day. The Atlanta Kosher Commission hosts Kosher Day at the Atlanta Braves’ 1:35 p.m. game against the Washington Nationals, with food from Keith’s Corner Bar-B-Que available for purchase at the Batter’s Eye Deck near the Home Run Porch at SunTrust Park, 755 Battery Ave., East Cobb. Tickets are $11 to $18; groupmatics.events/event/ BravesKosherDay.

Or Hadash bar mitzvah. Congregation Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Road, Sandy Springs, concludes its yearlong celebration of its 13th year with a party at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $54; www. or-hadash.org/event/coh133.html.

TUESDAY, MAY 23

After-school art. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, offers the Jewish Art Zone from 4:30

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Molly Blank concert. The Molly Blank Concert Series concludes at 5 p.m. with NPR’s “From the Top” featuring Jewish composers, themes and musicians at the Breman Museum, 1440 Spring St., Midtown. Tickets are $49 for museum members, $10 for students (code “music10”) and $59 for others; thebreman. org.

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ISRAEL NEWS

Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home Double the hospital. Jerusalem’s Herzog Medical Center is opening a 270-bed expansion on May 16, nearly doubling the capacity of the hospital, which now has 330 beds. Herzog, founded in 1894, specializes in geriatric, respiratory, mental health and psychotrauma care, treatment and research. The eight-floor expansion includes a 200-bed emergency hospital built underground to withstand missiles and protect against chemical attacks. The new pavilion is Israel’s first hospital built to the highest international LEED rating.

Clean flying. Israeli aerospace engineers have developed and patented a process that can be used on aircraft in flight to produce hydrogen from water and aluminum particles safely and cheaply. The hydrogen can be converted into electrical energy for many of the aircraft’s functions. The invention could pave the way for less-polluting, more electric aircraft in place of the hydraulic and pneumatic systems powered by the main engines today.

Parallel evolution. Researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot have found about 6,500 genes that are expressed differently in men and women, leading Shmuel Pietrokovski and Moran Gershoni in the molecular genetics department to describe human evolution as an interrelated “co-evolution,” with each sex responding to different pressures and priorities in natural selection. Aside from explaining, for example, why infertility is relatively common in couples, the findings emphasize the importance of working at the genetic level to understand different disease dangers and drug reactions in men and women.

Cause of neurodegenerative diseases.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva have made progress in identifying the factors that

Israel Photo of the Week

Gone to Market

Photo by Mark Neiman, Government Press Office

Despite recent diplomatic tensions between their respective governments, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (left) and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier enjoy a night out at Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda Market on Saturday, May 6, shortly after the arrival of the German and his wife, Elke Budenbende, in Israel.

cause dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. The common consensus is that aging is the result of the accumulation of DNA damage — the body’s failure to implement processes to completely repair its DNA over the years. Sporadic Alzheimer’s disease affects about half those over the age of 90, suggesting that the causes are mostly related to age.

Accessible tourism. Traveling abroad presents many challenges for people with special needs. A new service in

Israel, Yad Sarah for Tourists, provides personalized assistance to foreign tourists. Without charge, Yad Sarah for Tourists arranges the loan and delivery of medical and rehabilitative equipment to a tourist’s hotel or a host’s residence, such as an electric hospital bed, shower chair, wheelchair or crutches.

The service recommends tour guides specializing in clients with special needs and provides advice about tourist sites with easy access. For a fee, tourists with disabilities can hire a specially equipped vehicle for travel.

Rio mayor’s support. The mayor of Rio de Janeiro spoke up for Israel before some 2,000 people during a celebration of Israel’s Independence Day. Marcelo Crivella, whose four-year term started in January, has been a longtime friend of the Jewish community and the Jewish state, which he reportedly has visited around 40 times. “Israel is proud of its 69 years of fights and victories.

It has shown to the world that it is a strong democracy surrounded by the most barbaric atrocities and totalitarian regimes,” Crivella said during the celebration April 30. “Israel, which has a total area equivalent to half of Rio de Janeiro state, is very important to us.”

Compiled courtesy of Israel21c.org and other sources.

Israel Edges Toward Majority of World’s Jews

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

May is both Jewish American Heritage Month and the month during which Israel declared its independence on May 14, 1948. Each year, just before Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics releases census data for the Jewish state.

This year’s report indicated a continuation of a trend that has been evident for years: Israel, which already has the largest Jewish community in the world, will soon be home to a majority of the world’s Jews.

Israel’s population surpassed 8.5 million this year, of whom 6,484,000 are Jews. Israel’s Jewish population represents 74.4 percent of the country and 43 percent of Jews worldwide.

This remarkable population growth in just under 70 years is impressive, especially when one considers that at the country’s inception, 6 it represented less than 6 percent of

the global Jewish population. Mostly through aliyah, Israel’s Jewish population and share of world Jewry have increased, while the number of Jews who live outside Israel and the United

Guest Column

By Rich Walter

States has declined precipitously.

Demographer Sergio DellaPergola of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem predicts that this trend will both continue and accelerate.

In his 2015 report on world Jewish populations, DellaPergola writes, “But significantly, according to all scenarios, the Jewish population is expected to diminish somewhat in the US, to increase substantially in Israel, and to diminish at variable rates in

the countries in the rest of the world.

From initial near equality between Jewish populations in the US and in Israel, each assessed at 5.6-5.8 million or 41-42% of world Jewry in 2010, in 2050 Israel is projected to become the absolute majority (56-57% in our scenarios, 51% according to Pew), while, by all scenarios, the US is expected to comprise one-third of the world total. The rest of world Jewry will be between 1.5 and 2.5 million in 2050, or 11-16% of the total.”

Digesting the data presented above, readers may wonder why I led this article with a comment about Jewish American Heritage Month.

This May, as we reflect on the rich and diverse history of American Jewry, we should also take note of American Jews’ role in the birth and growth of the state of Israel.

From Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, who stated in 1915 that “loyalty to America demands … that each American Jew become a Zionist,” to the

record amount of money raised in the aftermath of the June 1967 war, American Jews have made many important financial and political contributions to Israel’s development.

As demographics continue to shift toward a Jewish state that is home to the majority of the global Jewish population, what will define the relationship of the two largest communities into the future?

How will the differing attitudes of what it means to be Jewish in Israel and the United States affect the relationship? What role will global anti-Semitism and political efforts to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish state have on each community?

The demographics are clear. Understanding how best to work within that framework will be crucial moving forward. ■ Rich Walter is the associate director for Israel education at the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org).

ISRAEL NEWS Today in Israeli History

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

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

May 12, 1965: Just two decades after the end of the Holocaust, Israel and West Germany begin formal diplomatic relations after a period of increasing economic and social ties that began with the payment of reparations in 1952. The fruitful relationship is mutually beneficial.

May 13, 1975: A wide-ranging agreement on expanded economic cooperation with the United States provides short-term relief to Israel’s struggling economy. The deal is signed after a two-day economic summit in Washington led by U.S. Treasury Secretary William Simon and Israeli Finance Minister Yehoshua Rabinowitz.

May 14, 1947: Soviet Ambassador to the United Nations Andrei Gromyko proposes a unitary state for Palestine during an address to the United Nations but vows to support partition if it is deemed the only workable solution.

May 15, 1941: The Palmach, an elite strike force of the Yishuv’s military organization, the Haganah, is founded to defend Jewish settlements from a possible Axis attack and from Arab aggression in case of a British retreat.

The Palmach consists of six units: three ground forces and aerial, naval and intelligence units. It goes on to play a significant role in War of Independence.

May 16, 1916: The secret Sykes-Picot Agreement is negotiated as a way to divide the former Ottoman territories in the Middle East captured during World The Sykes-Picot Agreement gives War I between France Syria and Britain and Lebanon, while Britain France. gets Iraq westward May 17, through Palestine.

1977: Bolstered by the support of Jews from North Africa and the Middle East, Likud wins a landslide electoral victory, ending 30 years of Labor hegemony over Israeli politics and earning Menachem Begin the job of prime minister.

May 18, 1973: Avraham Shlonsky, a renowned Israeli poet, editor, and translator, dies in Tel Aviv at the age of 73. ■

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ISRAEL NEWS

Photos by Jordana Fried, Rose Gold Images

Young Israel Rabbi Adam Starr (center) celebrates with Jay Cinnamon (left) and congregation President Hillel Glazer.

Israeli flags are put through the drills of Atlanta Jewish Academy’s daglanut team.

Dancing for Israel’s 69th Birthday About 500 people attended Young Israel of Toco Hills’ family celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut on Tuesday, May 2, at Mason Mill Park. The event for Israel’s 69th birthday included food from Steve Gilmer of Kosher Gourmet, live music and daglanut (flag drill) by Atlanta Jewish Academy seventh-graders. ■

AJA helps get the crowd up and dancing during the Independence Day picnic.

Israeli Chutzpah, Cooperation Key to Innovation

By Patrice Worthy

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Yom HaAtzmaut is a time to celebrate all things Israel, and Temple Sinai and Hadassah partnered on Israeli Independence Day, Tuesday, May 2, to take stock of Israeli innovation.

The event featured information tables with products made in Israel and a panel of experts who explained why Israel is ahead of its class in innovation.

The panel included Alpha Omega CEO Anthony DeCarolis; Nitzan Gilady, an Israeli filmmaker serving this spring as an artist in residence at Emory; Russell Gottschalk, the founder and executive director of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival; and Rachel Schonberger, the Atlanta physician who chairs Hadassah Medical Organization.

Though from vastly different fields, all agreed that the size of Israel and the character of the people make it a forerunner in innovation.

“Where most countries have 10,000 neurologists, Israel may have 75, and out of the 75, 60 might be outstanding. There’ certainly not a lot of room for messing up,” Schonberger said. “And you see the small size of Israel on Memorial Day, and in that crowd 8 there’s not a single person who has not

Photos by Patrice Worthy

Attendees at Temple Sinai’s Yom HaAtzmaut celebration enjoy Israelinspired food, including hummus, falafel, Jaffa oranges and couscous.

lost a family member or close friend in one of Israel’s wars.”

The small size and cooperation are elements that add value to Israeli culture, Schonberger said.

The confidence of the first settlers paved the way for others to add to the milieu of cultures and spirit of cooperation, Gottschalk said. Gottschalk, who follows Israeli music and brings Israeli musicians in for the festival, said the cultural evolution can be heard over decades of music.

“Jewish music started off as mostly Ashkenazi; it was about strength and was very masculine. … They were building a country,” he said. “Then the statehood came in 1948, and you have an influx of all these different opinions. You

have Mizrahi and Sephardic Jews, and you have these different types of Jews being confident and making these connections. It’s everyone being confident and being outgoing.”

It’s the Israeli confidence that drives so many to excel in their fields, Gilady said. He told a story about asking a flight attendant to make sure his bag was handled correctly, resulting in a back and forth because “all Israelis think they are right about everything.”

“We want to know everything. We want to always be the manager. We want to be right. I think it also has to do a lot with chutzpah. That’s an Israeli thing, asking to check. ‘No, I have to check.’ ‘No, I know better than you,’ ” Gilady said. “I think that’s something

Panelists Nitzan Gilady, Rachel Schonberger, Anthony DeCarolis and Russell Gottschalk discuss innovation in Israel with moderator Julie Katz.

that is in our soul: We always want to be the first one to be right.”

It’s the drive to be right and be best in class that makes Israel great, DeCarolis said. As the CEO of a leading medical technology company based in Nazareth, DeCarolis said he can’t talk enough about the Israeli drive.

The first time he rode to the Alpha Omega headquarters, the driver pointed out all the ethnic neighborhoods. At first, he was taken aback by the segregation, but when he got to the company, he was pleasantly surprised that Muslims, Christians and Jews ate lunch, laughed and worked together.

“We are very adept. We have physiologists who know in the brain where certain anatomical structures are and the anatomical structures using electrodes. When you think about this, we’re a small company in Nazareth, (a city) with 60,000 people. To develop a technology and maintain a technology … it’s amazing,” DeCarolis said. “If you brought a computer from Apple and it failed, you would say, ‘I don’t want to buy another Apple product,’ but this technology works procedure after procedure after procedure. It’s a concentric base of individuals who want to excel, and that’s the leading edge.” ■

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ISRAEL NEWS

Bennett Emphasizes Hard Work, Strong Jewish Ties

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishimes.com

Naftali Bennett speaks to Atlanta Jewish Academy students, parents and board members about preserving Jewish identity through education in the United States.

time.

“Historically, the Diaspora would either make aliyah or a donation, but that has all changed,” Bennett said.

“How do we help Jews stay Jewish and connected? This is the first time Israel has had to invest toward that endeavor — although not without internal debate, as most would like the money to be invested in Sderot, Israel, rather than Columbus, Ga. Yet how do we ensure the future of Jews?”

He said more than $200 million has been donated over the years for campus outreach by Hillel, Chabad and Olami.

Young Israel of Toco Hills Rabbi Adam Starr suggested further efforts to bring Israel into the U.S. education system so it does not feel like a foreign country. AJA has maintained a connection to Israel through Israeli teachers and curricula.

“There is an incredible diversity about what Israel means from the left to the right and what keeps individuals Jewish,” Congregation Shearith Israel Rabbi Ari Kaiman said. “Conservative Judaism in America is diverse with minor differences, yet we want children to continue having a deep sense of culture and home in relation to the Jewish community, Israel and what the Torah means.”

Bennett said, “In Israel we have to be very open-minded, as we now have a Jewish home, yet we need to be more creative to help preserve a unique connection between Jews and Israel in an applicable way.”

AJA 12th-grader Mayan Schoen noted a shift in religiosity because of various elements within Jewish education, but she said that learning from teachers in Israel and through experiential education often helps.

To re-emphasize the positive aspects of the connection between Israel and Jewish education, Bennett stressed a strong Jewish identity. “Each and every one in Israel is there for you, but you should also be there for us. Speak up and never fall silent.” ■

Joined by Barry Sober (center) and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Eric Robbins (right) at the FIDF gala, Norman Radow says, “Of all my charitable contributions, the FIDF scholarship fund is the most impactful in terms of effecting lives.”

FIDF gala photos by Marcia Caller Jaffe

Elaine and Jerry Blumenthal flank FIDF scholarship recipient Mauricio Glucksmann, a native of Venezuela who is studying government in Israel after his military service. As a child in Venezuela, Glucksmann was kidnapped.

His parents sent him to Mexico, then to Israel, where he joined the IDF in 2012.

Atlanta physician Nathan Mordel spends time with three Israeli soldiers at the gala: Lt. Ofir Asulin, Maj. Barak Ganot, and Sgt. Eitan, a lone soldier from Miami who is a paratrooper.

Israeli basketball legend Lavon Mercer, an IDF veteran, stands behind and towers over (from left) recent congressional candidate Ron Slotin, Eti Lazarian, Sloane Barras and Felicia Voloschin.

Israel Forms Security Ties In a Rough Neighborhood

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com The Iranian nuclear deal did not satisfy Israel but may have improved the Jewish state’s relations with some of its Sunni Muslim neighbors.

“The Iranian threat has caused or brought together very unlikely partners in the Middle East that all realize a radical, maniacal regime that will get ahold of a nuclear weapon is a threat to the entire world — to Saudi Arabia, to Egypt, to Israel and to America, for that matter,” Israeli Education and Diaspora Affairs Minister Naftali Bennett said in an interview during his visit to Atlanta for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala Monday night, May 8.

Media outlets, most recently The Wall Street Journal, and Middle East observers have said Israel is working with Saudi Arabia and Egypt on security matters.

“We must all create a very powerful coalition, which we are doing and have done so over the past few years, in creating a coalition of joint forces to oppose that,” Bennett said, adding his hope that the Trump administration will help make that combined effort effective.

Bennett would not provide specifics but said, “Once you define the ob-

jective to check Iran and its activities in dispersing terror and in acquiring a nuclear weapon, once you have that objective, it is achievable.”

Bennett said he does not believe the upcoming elections in Iran will improve the relationship between Israel and Iran. “The basis of the Persian people is a very good one. They are smart, and they want their lives. But they have been hijacked by a very bad regime from back in the ’70s, and I hope that they will one day relieve themselves of that regime. But until that time, we have to take the threat very seriously.”

Bennett also spoke about the latest UNESCO resolution denying a Jewish historical or legal connection to any of Jerusalem. The resolution passed 22-10 with 23 abstentions Tuesday, May 2.

“The U.N. in some sense has become ridiculous theater, a theater of absurdity,” said Bennett, who heads the Jewish Home party. “Every time they come up with a rule that says, for example, Jews have no connection to Israel, they don’t undermine Israel; they undermine themselves. So it’s just becoming ridiculous and in a sense also meaningless.”

He said Israel has cut ties with UNESCO “until such time as they begin 9 to act reasonably.” ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

When Naftali Bennett served in the Israel Defense Forces, he knew a soldier named Emmanuel Yehuda Moreno who worked his way to the top of the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces unit.

“Moreno was not exceptionally talented or fast, but he worked hard to make his way to the top,” the Israeli minister of education and Diaspora affairs told Atlanta Jewish Academy students Monday, May 8. “We are each given a set of gifts, but we must always work hard to become amazing. There are no shortcuts.”

That lesson applies to the education system itself, which has expanded to improve the integration of Arabs into Israeli society at a younger age, Bennett said. Hebrew is now taught in kindergarten instead of third grade, creating a positive trajectory through education toward employment for a million and a half Arabs.

Although the cost of education has risen between the public and private sectors in Israel, Bennett assured AJA students that most Israeli students attend public schools, including his children. “The education may not be perfect, but we should avoid segregation at all costs, as obtaining an education in Israel is by and large free.”

He added: “Most children today are bored and are smarter than generations prior. Half the jobs no longer exist, yet we must continue preparing children for the future.”

Bennett explained the shadow education system, which involves executing ideas to get the job done. “Innovation is overrated, and entrepreneurship is underrated. At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words.

The informal training received in the IDF prepares individuals for this form of thinking. It enables one to expand their capabilities, plan, change and adapt, which are standard attributes one needs in life.”

Israel has a youth movement in which kids oversee other kids and gain leadership skills.

“We assign real challenges to kids at a young age and let them thrive,” Bennett said.

He spoke to AJA fifth- to 12th-graders about academics and schools in Israel and emphasized the importance of preserving Jewish identity in a difficult

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ISRAEL NEWS

U.S. Rabbi Finds Home in Israeli Politics

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

When Rabbi Dov Lipman informed his grandmother he was moving to Israel with his wife and children, the last thing he expected was praise, but a phone conversation before his departure proved otherwise.

“While traveling on a boat from a displaced persons camp to America, my grandmother often recounted that something was not right and the boat should have turned toward Israel instead. Thus, when she heard the news, she was overjoyed,” Rabbi Lipman said.

“Despite being far from her grandchildren, she expressed how happy she was they were growing up in the Jewish state.”

The story was one of many the former Knesset member shared Thursday, May 4, during an appearance at Congregation B’nai Torah sponsored

by Nefesh B’Nefesh, which helps Jews make aliyah.

Rabbi Lipman said he will never forget that when he was making aliyah, the plane’s pilot announced that he was there to take the passengers home.

“Those words really hit me, because it made me realize that after 2,000 years of moving from country to country, due to persecution and pogroms, after countless wars defending our right to exist, the Jewish people had their own country. Here we were.”

After arriving in Israel, Rabbi Lipman began teaching Judaism and settled in Beit Shemesh, where he immediately noticed the diversity of Jews.

“There were Jews from all over the world with different nationalities and cultures, which didn’t always necessarily get along.”

Although Rabbi Lipman had no experience in politics, he got involved in political activism when he noticed

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Photo by Sarah Moosazadeh

Rabbi Dov Lipman speaks at Congregation B’nai Torah about his experiences as a new immigrant to Israel and his entrance to Israeli politics.

signs in the Haredi community demanding that women dress a certain way. Rabbi Lipman joined other community members in spray-painting over the signs, but they continued to reappear.

Annoyed, Rabbi Lipman advised volunteers to spray-paint over only the last word on the signs, which then read, “It is forbidden for women to walk on the street in clothing.”

The offensive signs failed to reappear, and the incident led Rabbi Lipman to re-examine those in power in Beit Shemesh. He left teaching shortly thereafter to pursue politics.

Moving to Israel posed various obstacles for Rabbi Lipman, including the language barrier and new culture.

With hard work and dedication, he tackled both.

“I just wanted to get involved, establish unity and bring a voice from the religious side,” Rabbi Lipman said.

TV journalist Yair Lapid, the head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, approached him to discuss bridging gaps within the religious community. After a brief conversation about breaking

down religious barriers, Lapid named Rabbi Lipman No. 17 on the party’s Knesset electoral list.

“I didn’t think I would be elected and just wanted to be involved; however, Lapid reassured me by saying, ‘Lipman you’re in.’ ” Rabbi Lipman led a two-month campaign throughout the country. “I really got to know Israel during that time and learned that its No. 1 natural resource are its people.”

When Yesh Atid won 19 seats in the January 2013 elections, Rabbi Lipman had two weeks to learn a new profession as he became the first American-born Knesset member in 30 years.

Rabbi Lipman’s new career presented opportunities but also involved great sacrifices, such as renouncing his U.S. citizenship. “I came home to a letter one day, asking me to revoke my citizenship, and was stunned. It was very emotional and difficult for me to do so, as on one hand I was grateful to the U.S. and the countless opportunities it presented, but also had a passion and duty to my new home.”

Entering politics also pushed Rabbi Lipman to face his own fears. “I was afraid my Hebrew would not be good enough and had to work hard to close the gap with a tutor until I felt comfortable speaking without any concern. I also quickly realized that the environment within the Knesset was very tense, until one day my colleague turned to me and urged me to scream and bang on the table. The room went quiet as my fellow Knesset members saw a breakthrough in respect and passion.”

During the 19th Knesset, Rabbi Lipman worked to pass legislation in four areas: public health, the environment, protection of animals from unnecessary suffering and incorporation of Haredim into the workforce.

He also assisted in foreign affairs, using his position as a platform to change people’s perceptions of Israel. “I was very upset when I heard the French accuse Israel of causing flames in the Middle East due to the settlements. Most people do not realize the amount of venom and hate out there against Israel, yet I inform them that Israel does stand for human rights and justice, and we should continue educating our students on college campuses to do so as well, as in 25 years they will be the new leaders.”

Throughout his time as a member of the Knesset, Rabbi Lipman said, “I saw unity among Knesset members that I wish all of Israel could see. Two separate parties could be fighting during the day but would pray together and visit each other’s relatives in the hospital despite political differences.”

During the 2014 war in Gaza, Rabbi Lipman encountered sadness and tragedy as he saw soldiers sacrifice their lives. “Our schedules changed as we were now visiting hospitals, sitting shiva and meeting soldiers,” he said. “It was difficult but also inspirational.”

Two memories that stand out are when he took ice cream to Israeli soldiers, who were in disbelief about receiving it, and when 30,000 Israelis turned out for the funeral of a lone soldier, Max Steinberg.

Rabbi Lipman elaborated on his view of Israel’s future.

“People often ask me if I am pessimistic or optimistic about Israel’s future, and the answer is not always simple,” he said. But despite threats from the likes of Hamas and Hezbollah, “I am also nothing short of optimistic as I look at how much we have accomplished. After 69 years, war after war, Israel still stands and is still in its infancy, and there is no greater thrill than to be a part of that story.” ■

ISRAEL NEWS

Conexx Gala Honors Deal’s Ties to Israel

By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com

Gov. Nathan Deal and Ambassador Judith Varnai Shorer attend the Conexx Gala. Deal spoke of meeting the Israeli consul general at a Lake Lanier event marking the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics but only now appreciating how well being from Be’er Sheva acclimated her for the Georgia heat.

“Israel has been a good trading partner,” Deal said, citing the example of Haifa-based Zim, which he said is No. 5 among container shipping companies in using Georgia ports.

Conexx President Guy Tessler said such business relationships help secure Israel’s future by strengthening its economy, but Fanning said the U.S. is a big beneficiary as well, in part because of Israel’s leading position in countering cyber and physical terrorism.

The combination of energy, national security and economic factors makes the U.S.-Israel relationship increasingly important, Fanning said.

Besides Deal and Southern Co., Conexx recognized three award winners: • Israeli Company of the Year — Tosaf, which makes additives and colors for the plastics industry at plants around the world, including Bessemer City, N.C. • Community Partner — Atlanta Jewish Times.

• Deal of the Year — Ra’ananabased NICE’s $135 million purchase of Nexidia in business analytics industry.

The biggest winner of the night, however, may have been Steve Horn, a partner with accounting firm Williams, Benator & Libby and Conexx’s treasurer. His ticket was picked in the night’s raffle, earning him a luxurious trip for two to Israel.

“As Conexx honors the best in Southeast-Israel business, it’s important to remember the economic value that Conexx as an organization brings to the Southeast,” Tessler said. “We have facilitated relationships and interactions valued in the billions, ultimately supporting the economy of the Southeast and Israel. The awardees at this year’s gala illustrate the importance of continued strong ties as a way to create prosperity. There is so much more we hope to do.” ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Georgia’s formal presence with an economic office in Israel goes back 23 years, exactly one-third of the existence of the modern Jewish state.

The office resulted from an economic connection launched two years earlier when Gov. Zell Miller signed the Georgia-Israel Exchange Agreement in 1992, the same year Conexx was born as the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce in the Southeast.

“Our partnership with Conexx is strong, balanced and forward-thinking,” Israeli Consul General Judith Varnai Shorer said during the gala at the Twelve Atlantic Station, which event chairman Adam Feinberg said was the most successful appearance of what used to be called the Eagle Star Awards.

The gala served as a simultaneous celebration of Israel’s 69th birthday, of the five award winners (including the Atlanta Jewish Times), and of Gov. Nathan Deal’s two terms as governor, which will end in 20 months.

Deal’s leadership has enabled Southeastern companies working with Israeli partners to flourish and helped Conexx fulfill its crucial function of providing “the kind of foundation where people can come in and really create a better life for everyone they touch,” said Thomas Fanning, the CEO of Southern Co., which received the award for U.S. Company of the Year.

“I want to personally thank Governor Deal for his unwavering support for the state of Israel,” said Ben Fink, the board chair of Conexx: America Israel Business Connector.

Most speakers during the night sent some superlatives Deal’s way, including Tom Glaser, Conexx’s founding executive director, who presented him with the Tom Glaser Leadership Award.

Glaser said he suggested when Deal was the governor-elect in 2010 that he follow the examples of predecessors Miller, Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue and lead a business mission to Israel, and Deal said it was something he hoped to do.

In 2014, he made good on that conversation by leading such a mission, which included Paul Bowers, the CEO of Georgia Power.

Deal thanked Conexx for being the primary mover and organizer of that trip, which he said has helped keep Georgia and Israel on the right track.

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OPINION

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

Our View

Happy Birthday?

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

One of the many things that makes Israel unique in the world is the response to its birthday.

We don’t remember international condemnation for the United States on the Fourth of July, for Canada on July 1 or for France on July 14 (mazel tov, by the way, to French President-elect Emmanuel Macron on his landslide victory May 7 over the scary Marine Le Pen). But while Israel’s friends sent their best wishes when the Jewish state celebrated its 69th birthday on May 2, others couldn’t resist spoiling the party.

Even as the saber-rattling between the United States and nuclear-armed North Korea increased to a level not seen in decades, even as the presidents of Turkey and Venezuela made public efforts to consolidate oppressive power, and even as Syria continued to bleed out, an agency of the United Nations took time to condemn Israel on its Independence Day. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in its ongoing competition with the U.N. Human Rights Council to be the world body’s most anti-Israel arm, enacted its latest resolution denying any Jewish history anywhere in Jerusalem and labeling Israel the “occupying power” in its own capital.

We won’t waste time parsing the text of the resolution, introduced by the Arab nations of Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar and Sudan and passed 22-10 with 23 abstentions and three of UNESCO’s 58 member nations missing the vote. Some argue it’s not as bad as other resolutions UNESCO has passed because it acknowledges Jerusalem’s importance to “the three monotheistic religions” and avoids using “al-Aqsa,” “Haram al-Sharif” and “al-Burak” as well as “Temple Mount” and “Western Wall.”

Regardless of terminology, however, it is a resolution that denies Jewish history and culture and thus violates the supposed purpose of a U.N. agency created to protect cultural heritage. The measure shows again that the United Nations, meant to be a vehicle for peace and understanding, has been twisted to serve as a weapon against the countries that strive for the ideal of pluralistic, representative democracy.

We dream of a not-too-distant future when Egypt, at least, can break Arab solidarity and not sully its shaky reputation by associating itself with such diplomatic attacks on a country with which it is at peace and with which it maintains valuable security cooperation. We hold no such hopes for Qatar and Sudan, which are tightly controlled by anti-Semitic, terrorist-supporting governments.

We salute the 10 countries that stood up for the truth and voted against the resolution: the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine, Paraguay and Togo. Italy deserves particular praise for its early declaration that it would reject any such resolution.

Those seeking a silver lining note that similar UNESCO resolutions received 33 yes votes last spring, then 24 last fall, so support is falling. But we can’t get past the resolutions’ persistent backing from Russia, China, South Africa, Brazil and Sweden.

A lie, after all, is a lie, regardless of the diplomatic games behind it. But perhaps UNESCO did send a valuable, welcome birthday gift by clarifying how 12 few true friends Israel has. ■

Cartoon by Yaakov Kirschen, Jerusalem Post

Israel’s Core Political Support

We tend to think of Israel as an issue for the It’s rare for a politician in Georgia to rise as high as U.S. government and thus properly part of politics Cagle without being brought to Israel. The pro-Israel related to the president community is too effective and Congress. at nurturing up-and-comFor example, many ers as friends. of us eagerly await a You could see the Editor’s Notebook decision from the Trump evidence around the social

By Michael Jacobs White House regarding hall at the History Center. mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com the promised move of the Politicians and activists U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, across the party spectrum due by June 1 under federal were there, including law, and I hope questions about Israel are raised if people involved in this fall’s elections in Atlanta, and when congressional candidates Karen Handel which will replace Kasim Reed, a strong advocate of and Jon Ossoff debate before their runoff June 20.

Israel, in the mayor’s office after eight years.

But events around Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s InThe man Cagle is running to replace, Gov. Nadependence Day, served as a reminder that all Israel than Deal, had his moment in the pro-Israel spotpolitics are local. light the night after the Yom HaAtzmaut reception A prime example was the Israeli Consulate Genwhen he received the Tom Glaser Leadership Award eral’s birthday bash for the Jewish state May 2, at the from Conexx for his work building Georgia’s busiAtlanta History Center. The keynote speaker was Lt. ness relationship with Israel. Those efforts included Gov. Casey Cagle, running for governor next year. signing last year’s anti-BDS legislation and leading a Cagle wasn’t there because he’s a Republican or business mission to Israel, something Reed also did. because Israel wants you to vote for Cagle in 2018.

While religious belief often provides the knock He was the speaker because, as head of the Georgia of opportunity for a relationship with Israel, busiSenate, he helped smooth the passage of pro-Israel ness is the key to unlock the door. legislation, including the anti-BDS bill last year.

For those who, like me, live in Georgia’s 32nd Cagle expressed what sounded like heartfelt Senate District, it’s worth remembering that when support for Israel, rooted in his Christian belief in we vote in the runoff Tuesday, May 16, between Genesis’ declaration that people who bless Israel will Democrat Christine Triebsch and Republican Kay be blessed. His opposition to the boycott, divestment Kirkpatrick, we’re choosing a replacement for the and sanctions movement also sounded sincere. man who was the General Assembly’s most active If BDS is Israel’s current war for survival, the advocate of Israel, Judson Hill, who wrote the antibattlefields are places such as the Georgia Capitol, BDS bill Cagle supported and Deal signed last year.

Atlanta City Hall and college campuses. While Israel Triebsch and Kirkpatrick haven’t made Israel an has suffered a few defeats on the university front, it issue, and I haven’t had a chance to ask them about has dominated among state and local governments. it. Plenty of other issues provide a basis to choose Perhaps the biggest surprise of Cagle’s speech between them. Whoever wins, I hope her supporters was his acknowledgment that he has never visited and advisers remind her of the crucial role she can Israel, a failure he said he hopes to remedy soon. play in supporting one of Georgia’s best friends. ■

OPINION

How Jewish Atlanta Gets From Here to There

traffic to reach services and programs.

Another is cost.

“This concern is most often focused on two aspects of Jewish life: the high cost of education and other activities for children (e.g., overnight camp, preschool, Hebrew school), and synagogue membership. Additionally,

From Where I Sit

By Dave Schechter dschechter@atljewishtimes.com

respondents mention being shut out of the JCC and other Jewish programs and activities because of cost.”

Jewish options may be preferred, but non-Jewish choices often are made because they are more affordable.

Robbins suggested that, because synagogues are the only brick-andmortar institutions spread throughout the Jewish community, organizations might expand their reach by situating services and programs in available synagogue facilities.

One trend highlighted by the survey is that, as baby boomers age (and desire to “age in place”), the services offered to those 65 and older will require adjustment.

As opposed to Federation’s demographics-based reports conducted in 1996 and 2006, this survey focused on programs and services.

Though the report breaks down respondents by such categories as residence, race, income and education, its methodology prevents extrapolating to create a demographic profile of the community.

The 2006 estimate was 120,000. If, as believed, the Jewish community has grown at the same rate as the metro population, then slightly more than 130,000 is a reasonable figure now.

By denomination, 40 percent of the respondents identified with the Conservative movement (compared with 18 percent of American Jews who identify as such), suggesting the Conservative congregations did a particularly good job of promoting the survey.

The Reform movement accounted for 36 percent, and 12 percent identified as Orthodox. Those classified as secular/just Jewish accounted for 9 percent, and 3 percent were “other” (Reconstructionist, etc.). ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Fourteen months ago, as the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta sought a new chief executive officer, I compared the agency to “an aircraft carrier, an enormous craft that requires time to pivot in the water.”

Last June, before Eric Robbins took the helm and began to chart a new course, Federation asked Jewish Atlanta to evaluate the services and programs available in the community and to project needs for the future.

The conclusions, drawn from the responses of 3,364 people, suggest that the status quo has failed segments of the community.

One of the people interviewed for the March 2016 article about Federation’s future said, “Instead of raising money for the annual campaign, make it about directing people to Jewish institutions. … Federation needs to be the marketing firm for the community.”

Addressing the product comes first, before the marketing.

Robbins, a self-described disruptor, recently told the Atlanta Jewish Times’ Jewish Breakfast Club, “We need to change, to experiment, to fail.”

Suggesting that Federation is needed less (though still needed) for its fundraising prowess than for its potential to coordinate offerings of several dozen organizations, he added: “What got us here will not get us there.”

Here’s one idea for a new slogan: “Federation: It’s not just for your checkbook anymore.”

No? The survey found that longestablished, “legacy” organizations do a good job serving the clientele they’ve always served.

However, because Atlanta is a “patchwork of smaller, Jewish communities, NOT one single, unified Jewish community,” the current structure is “not especially welcoming or supportive, especially to those outside the already engaged ‘core.’ ” Those feeling themselves “on the margins,” as the survey report put it — or “under-engaged,” a phrase used by another Federation official — include the LGBTQ community, Jews who come from outside the United States, singles (particularly older singles), those who are divorced and Jews of color.

One cloud is the distance people must travel in Atlanta’s nightmarish

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OPINION

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Why Karen Handel Deserves Jewish Vote

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I recently had a discussion with a friend who is supporting Jon Ossoff, and he provided me his rationale.

“First of all,” he said, “Ossoff’s Jewish … so he’ll support Israel and Jewish causes.”

Really? That has not been the case with recent Jewish Democrats. Unfortunately, Jewish Democratic representatives and senators voted almost universally with President Barack Obama’s dangerous 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

And Jewish Democrats supported Obama’s December 2016 abstention on U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, which improperly designated all the territory Israel captured in the 1967 as illegally occupied “Palestinian land.”

“But Ossoff will support Israel,” he said.

Really? If you review credible polling, you’ll see that Democratic support for Israel continues to drop, and liberal Democrats sympathize almost as much with the Palestinians as with Israel. Republican Israel support continues to grow.

“But,” he told me, “I’ve known Ossoff for eight years, and he’s the kind of guy who’ll be his own man and shake things up.”

Really? His campaign has received almost $10 million in donations, with approximately 95 percent of the money from out-of-state sources, much of it from anti-Israel J Street supporters because they know he’ll be a rubber stamp on their issues.

They know this because Ossoff worked for one of J Street’s favorite members in Congress, Georgia Rep. Hank Johnson, the same Hank Johnson who compared Israelis to “termites” during last summer’s Democratic National Convention.

“Realistically,” I asked him, “do you think a 30-year-old with no realworld or significant business experience, whose campaign is paid for by the DNC and outside sources, will act independently of Nancy Pelosi’s wishes?” I doubt it.

Karen Handel and the Republicans, on the other hand, have been great supporters of Israel and Jewish causes. Karen supported the Republican-led legislature’s passage of anti-BDS legislation last year, prohibiting any company from doing business with the state of Georgia if it boycotts,

divests from or sanctions Israel.

She supported Iran divestiture legislation passed by the Republicanled legislature a few years ago. And she has always been supportive of Georgia’s decision to purchase Israel Bonds.

Guest Column

By Chuck Berk

Karen is thrilled with President Donald Trump’s appointment of Nikki Haley as the United States’ U.N. ambassador. Haley has demonstrated courage and moral vision in shaking up the United Nations and is the most outspoken and best U.N. supporter of Israel in many years.

And Karen is a proven leader.

As the chairwoman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Karen turned a $100 million deficit into a balanced budget without raising taxes. As Georgia’s first elected Republican secretary of state, she reduced expenses by 20 percent.

Karen led the state’s implementation of photo ID for voting, which became the national model for the law and has been held by the courts as reasonable and effective. She successfully defended and implemented the law during the 2008 presidential election, which saw record minority and overall voter participation in Georgia.

The U.S. and Georgia Chambers of Commerce have endorsed Karen. The Washington Examiner reported that Ossoff met with the U.S. Chamber to gain its support, but questions about his beliefs made it “crystal clear” that he holds liberal views akin to those of Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders.

So, as a Jewish voter, you have a choice. You can choose a young, inexperienced person who will be a rubber stamp for Pelosi, who lives outside the 6th District and who can’t even vote for himself.

Or you can choose Karen Handel, a proven, mature, conservative leader who has a record of getting things done, who has been supportive of Jewish issues, and who has worked and lived in the 6th District for 25 years.

She seems like a pretty obvious choice to me. ■

OPINION

Letters to the Editor Palestinian Plight

I read with chagrin the statement in the article about how much Atlanta’s Arabs and Jews have in common (“Atlanta’s Arabs, Jews Share So Much,” April 21) that “Jews cannot see the disaster that Israel’s creation has caused on my people.”

The statement in and of itself is a total misplacement of issues. Had the five surrounding Arab nations accepted Israel and the new Arab nation that was also created, there would be no refugees. Every refugee would still have the option to live on the land on which he/she lived in 1948 — or the land on which his or her ancestors lived — and be part of a democracy.

The Arabs created the harm to themselves by refusing to recognize Jews’ historic ties to the Holy Land and choosing to waste countless billions of dollars in futile efforts to destroy Israel.

It is the Arabs who blame the Jews and Israel for all their world’s wrongs when, in reality, it is their own corrupt governments and intra-Arab wars that are the real enemies. It is the Arabs who still refuse to grant citizenship to the refugees and instead use them as tools to incite hatred and fuel terror.

The time has come for the rest of the world to tell the Arabs: “Enough is enough. Israel is here to stay and is not the reason for the Palestinians’ plight and your own. The reason for the unemployment, poverty, shortage of water and electricity, etc., lies solely on the shoulders of your own governments.”

That is the root and route to peace in the Middle East and a better life for Arabs and Jews.

— Nathan Salant, Hoover, Ala.

I was so surprised (shocked might be a better word) that you printed my engagement announcement from 50 years ago. Do you think that people will figure out how old I am?

I am sure you will be thrilled to know that my friends actually read the four lines in your newspaper, and Rabbi Lisa Gelber from the Epstein School posted it on Facebook. But, most of all, thank you because my son, Dov Wilker, the executive director of American Jewish Committee in Atlanta, is very proud of his mom because she got her name into your newspaper. I feel like a big shot.

— Simone Wilker, Washington Township, N.J.

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

50 Years Later

15

MOTHER’S DAY

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

The Case for Simplifying ‘Love Your Fellow’ Facebook. Like it. Instagram. Double-tap it. Snapchat. Snap it. Twitter.

Tweet it. Pinterest. Pin it.

Follow. Like. Friend. Share. Repeat.

It is the best of times to stay in touch but possibly the worst of times to develop authentic relationships.

Rabbi Akiva said that “Love your fellow as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) “is a great principle in the Torah.”

The sage Hillel took this one step further and said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. This is all of Torah in entirety; the rest is commentary.”

Is loving another a commandment? Can an emotion be forced?

Wasn’t the Torah given to help us be successful? Is it a realistic expectation?

Hasidic philosophy comments that if one knows how to love “yourself,” you can then love another the same. Self-love is indeed a modern expression of self-esteem, but what the Hasidic masters are referring to is the focus on soul.

When you strip away all the externalities, culture, skin color, talent,

beauty and economics, at the core we are an equal piece of the divine. What is not to love?

But sometimes it takes a faraway trip with spotty Internet connection to truly connect to another.

Our two eldest children are spending their year abroad in Australia. Our

Guest Column

By Dena Schusterman

son is studying and working in Sydney, and our daughter is studying in Melbourne. Down under and halfway across the world, we Facetime, WhatsApp and talk on the phone.

With today’s technology, they are practically in our living room on a daily basis. Minus the hugs and kisses.

When our daughter Rachel (aka Shelbelle) told us of her plans to travel to Florence, Italy, for a Passover job, then finish her trip in Venice for the weekend post-holiday, we mused about meeting her in Venice. When con-

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sidering a 25-hour trip to Australia, a 10-hour flight to Europe sounds like a breeze.

We booked tickets. Buon viaggio!

We just got back from our trip, five days of connecting on a deep level.

Modern conveniences like Facetime are incredible, but there’s nothing like spending days walking, talking, holding hands, and giving hugs.

We spent Shabbat with Rachel, her two friends and newfound blood relatives in the Jewish Ghetto. As the sun dropped behind the apartment buildings and into the canal, Jews from all walks of life and every corner of the world converged in the center of the Venetian Jewish Ghetto. We prayed (or just showed up for dinner), ate and sang together.

As Rabbi Tzvi Freeman says, “We are not a religion; we are a soul.” The conversations were an intermix of Italian, Hebrew, English and French, as far as I could tell. The peals of laughter were universally joyous. The customs were as varied as the colors, shapes and sizes of people around the long tables, but we celebrated Shabbat together as a big, vibrant family.

On Sunday morning we said our goodbyes, Rachel off to Melbourne, and my husband and I on a train to Florence. We had a day and a half to tour all the sights that our girl insisted were unmissable.

We walked a lot. We talked, caught up on life and toured the ancient sights: the Uffizi, David (someone tell Michelangelo that our people are circumcised), the Ponte Vecchio, the Arno and the Piazzale Michelangelo. We downloaded a tour-guide app and toured the city offline.

Aside from dinner at the local Chabad rabbi’s home, we were alone and serene in a crowded city.

Our last few hours, before our early morning flight, we booked a tour through the hills of Tuscany on vintage Vespas. When we arrived for our scheduled Vespa driving “refresher,” we met our tour guide, Fabio, and the four other couples who would be riding with us.

Fabio called us “Mom” and “Dad” the entire trip because, well, he met our daughter and her friends first.

As we were adjusting our helmets with the option of placing a clean beanie-type hat underneath the unwashed helmet, one of the guys in our group casually mentioned how much the beanie looks like a yarmulke. (Did he drop a bagel?)

There were subsequent handshakes, hellos and where-are-youfroms. The group included a couple from Australia, two Britons, a Ukrainian and this dude from Weehawken, N.J., with his Russian wife.

After our driving lesson, we were off into the hills of Tuscany. We made a few stops on the way, each time taking pictures of the glorious views and hearing more about the area’s history, the olives and grapes, and UNESCO’s rules for paint colors.

Our final stop was a private estate where you are served local wine and cheese and can walk the gardens. We had kosher snacks and did our own thing. The gardens and views were magnificent. It was a perfect way to end our trip.

As we were ready to head for the ride back into Florence, our new friend from New Jersey said, “You know my best friend’s daughter is at Emory.”

Us: “Cool. Is she Jewish?”

Him: “Yeah.”

Us: “Wonder if she goes to any of the Chabad at Emory Shabbat dinners.”

We talked some more. My husband got a ping on his phone, and his WhatsApp was working. He was starting to answer messages. He was walking away from the group.

Our friend from New Jersey came back toward us: “Hey, my best friend wants to know if you know Rabbi Lipskier?”

My husband looked up from his phone: “Yeah! We are in the middle of texting about the kids and carpool!”

Here we were in the faraway hills of Tuscany. I was reminded once again of how strong is the urge to connect and how natural is the bond. No matter where you find yourself, no matter how far from your home, the human and Jewish connections are magnetic.

How can you not make eye contact and give a wink — “Reminds me of a yarmulke” — when you encounter a fellow who is part of your own divine core?

Our trip was fantastic, besides the physical beauty, and getting a break from all our small kids — the enduring memories will be about the relationships, the ones we strengthened and the new ones we made. That to me is the undisputable best of times. ■ Based on the Rosh Chodesh Society’s series “Small Truths.” Dena Schusterman is a mother of eight, a wife, the rebbetzin of Chabad Intown and the executive director of the Intown Jewish Preschool.

MOTHER’S DAY

Mom Is Calling “At My Pace: Lessons From Our Mothers” might be the perfect book for Mother’s Day, but not necessarily for mothers. Instead, it’s ideal for anyone who needs a reminder that it’s a gift to have a mother.

Jill Ebstein, who collected and edited the 38 stories as a follow-up to an “At My Pace” anthology of women’s stories, made several excellent decisions in the book’s structure: limiting each writer to one story of 1,000 words or fewer to convey one lesson; organizing the stories by the ages of the writers (under 40, 40 to 60, over 60); and, most important, including sons among the writers.

Too often, we think of mothers passing wisdom to daughters and sons learning from fathers, but that’s not the way parenting works — fortunately in my family, in which daughters have been scarce through the generations and we have depended on the gifts women have brought and passed down through the Jacobs line.

I don’t want to say every Jewish man will be able to relate to the open-

ing story of the collection, Noah Gardenswartz’s “Life’s Not Fair,” about the lesson his mother imparted at his bar mitzvah celebration. But I can’t think of any who wouldn’t nod and smile while reading it.

Ebstein, the sister-in-law of my rabbi in the years when I transitioned to adult, husband and father, writes that she sought a diverse group of contributors, but more than half are Jews.

That lineup might not work for everyone, but it does if you are Jewish.

Some stories are colored by the Depression, the Holocaust or the immigrant experience. One memorable mom from Florida never was apart from her husband for 65 years, except for one night in Atlanta for a Hadassah meeting. Not all the stories are positive, especially the three from anonymous writers.

Reading this book won’t make you love your mother more, but it should help you realize what she gave you. ■ At My Pace: Lessons From Our Mothers Collected and edited by Jill Ebstein SizedRight Marketing, 200 pages, $15

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com

17

BUSINESS

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

Learn How to Spread Trust in Core Values What one question can make or break a relationship? Win or lose a customer for life? What is the question that creates a bond between people?

The deeper we look into business concepts, the more we realize that our actions and behaviors in business mirror our actions and behaviors in life. This holds true for a vast majority of people.

Occasionally, we find a person who can be Dr. Jekyll at the office and Mr. Hyde at home or vice versa. Most of us, however, are congruent in our work and personal lives. Our values drive our actions and behaviors. Our values are with us wherever we go.

Every person has a unique set of values. People like to do business with other people who have a similar set of values.

Put into other words, people do business with people they like and trust.

Think about your relationships and the decisions you’ve made in your life. The bigger the decision and the closer the relationship, the more

weight you give to one question: Do I trust this person?

The answer can shape our lives.

The most powerful currency that cuts through all our experiences is the value of trust in building relation-

Coach’s Corner

By Jason Adler JasonAdler@johnmaxwellgroup.com

ships. Once lost, it is impossible to regain. So, too, getting customers, clients and employees to trust you can be complicated, but it is imperative for success — perhaps more important than sales.

If you get others to trust you, it’s easier to grow and nurture your business and give everyone excellent service in all areas of business.

What is the direct relationship between values and trust? Trust must be earned, sometimes quickly. It is much easier to trust someone with similar values. Many of the barriers to trust are removed when people’s values are

in alignment.

The value I see as being the most important, beyond honesty, integrity and respect, is to place a value on people for who they are.

Beyond that, the leaders of an organization must exemplify values to breed trust among the rank and file.

How can this be done? Let’s examine the three simple steps to creating values-based trust in your organization: • Have leadership create a core values statement to guide your organization.

• Hire and onboard all employees based on their alignment with those core values, not just their skills.

• Work on team building to create and foster a culture of trust among people.

A core values statement should be written, visible and broadcast everywhere. It should be on all your hiring materials, on the walls of your business, and, yes, on everyone’s business cards.

New hires should be celebrated, welcomed and immersed in company culture. That is the path to a well-run

organization. It is never too late to create this.

It is easier as a startup but can be done with a more mature company.

Examine your life and your business. Do you trust people and inspire people to trust you?

Stephen M.R. Covey says, “Over time, I have come to this simple definition of leadership: Leadership is getting results in a way that inspires trust.”

So it seems that trust is one of the foundational parts of life.

It would be sad if we all lived by the axiom “In G-d we trust; everyone else pays cash.”

We all should strive to be a trusted spouse, parent, friend, colleague, leader, etc.

In the words of the 18th century poet George MacDonald, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved.” ■ Jason Adler is a John Maxwell-certified executive coach (www.johncmaxwellgroup.com/jasonadler) helping people and their organizations hire and keep quality employees.

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Members of the community nominate who they believe are the Jewish Atlanta’s rising leaders in business, philanthropy, education, religion, community action, and are under the age of 40.

A nominee must be Jewish, be at least 25 years old and must not have turned 40 before July 14, 2017. You can nominate yourself, a client, a friend, a peer, your boss; anyone who meets the criteria. Nominees are judged on their business success and their achievements as an active member of Jewish Atlanta.

The deadline for nominations is Sunday, June 11, 2017.

Visit atlantajewishtimes.com/40-under-40 for more information.

BUSINESS

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

Cantor’s Daughter Sings a Song of Fitness

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com Judaism and fitness were entwined for Desiree Nathanson growing up in Sarasota, Fla., and inevitably led her to open her own studio, Interfusion Fitness.

As the daughter of a cantor, Nathanson frequently accompanied her mom to synagogue and often served as a backup. But in addition to attending synagogue, Nathanson’s parents worked out every day.

“I think that subconsciously shaped me and got me to where I am today,” she said.

Nathanson’s father had a stroke before she was born. He was left partially paralyzed but continued to work and took on the role of a stay-at-home dad, doing the laundry, cooking, and driving Nathanson to dance recitals and Hebrew classes.

“My father’s disability influenced me to be more inclusive of others in fitness and provide them with the opportunity to participate. My parents also made it a point to always have dinner as a family, which helped me realize the importance of bringing people together,” Nathanson said.

She began dancing at 4 years old when her parents enrolled her at a YMCA. She later moved to Florida Ballet Art, where she spent two to three hours a day, six days a week, practicing jazz and modern dance.

By the time she entered high school, Nathanson was burned out.

She quit the recitals but later returned to dance school.

After graduating from the University of Florida, where Nathanson joined the Dazzlers dance team, she became a dancer for the Atlanta Hawks. She was soon asked to become the official train-

Photos courtesy of Desiree Nathanson

Desiree Nathanson teaches a fitness course at her new studio, Interfusion Fitness.

er for the Hawks dance team when her old coach from Florida, Donni Frazier, asked her to judge a few auditions and choreograph some workouts.

Nathanson remains a member of the team, occasionally serves as a backup host during games and trains boot camps twice a week when her schedule allows.

Before acquiring her own studio, Nathanson taught for nine years at another location and offered personal training sessions alongside her fiancé at private homes. After an old talent agent asked why she hadn’t opened her own studio, Nathanson began looking for space.

Since opening Interfusion Fitness in Brookhaven, Nathanson has been determined to create an environment that is welcoming to everyone, regardless of shape or background.

“We focus on strength and health as opposed to weight loss. We want to

ensure that clients are exercising efficiently and safely while having fun,” Nathanson said. “I was tired of hearing people say they got hurt while exercising and wanted to change that. I never mention burning calories and think we shouldn’t put too much emphasis on aesthetics.”

In addition to teaching cardio, dance and yoga, Nathanson has offered a course in krav maga. “It’s been something we wanted to do, and my clients were very enthusiastic about the opportunity.”

To help teach the course, Nathanson invited Matt Clanton from Griffin, who has a black belt in krav maga and elite defense tactics. “The course taught us a lot about being alert, especially nowadays when everyone is on their cellphones,” she said. “I would like to schedule more classes since it sells itself and is very informative.”

In addition to serving as a mem-

After dancing with the University of Florida Dazzlers, Desiree Nathanson went on to become an A-Town dancer for the Atlanta Hawks.

ber of the board of the Eating Disorders Information Network for a third year, for which she participated in a celebrity dance challenge and won the judge’s choice award, Nathanson has written her own health and wellness book, “Formula 5: The Five F’s to Better Health,” has been involved in Atlanta Pride, and looks forward to partnering with Jewish organizations to help raise awareness of the importance of fitness.

Nathanson’s strong connection to Judaism and passion for fitness have remained with her throughout her personal life and career.

“I’m a creature of habit, and the interests I’ve adopted since I was 4 have stayed with me,” she said. “My Jewish upbringing has made me sensitive to other minorities, as I am often mistaken for not being Jewish. This in turn has made me want to educate others and become more inclusive.” ■

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

CDC Head Watching Bird Flu From China

By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com One of the most pressing public health issues in 2017 isn’t the Zika virus or Ebola, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; it’s the flu.

Anne Schuchat, who became the CDC’s acting director after Tom Frieden resigned at the start of President Donald Trump’s administration, said Zika remains at the top of the organization’s list of concerns, but a new strain of flu from China, H7N9, has disastrous potential if it reaches the United States.

“We’ve been tracking it since 2013 when it emerged. Most of the human cases result from contact with live birds, and 40 percent of infections result in death, and almost everyone that gets it needs to go to an intensive care unit,” Schuchat said. “What’s scary right now is that in the fifth year of this we are seeing the strains change and adapt away from the vaccine we produced against it.”

The CDC is working on a new vaccine for H7N9 in the event the strain starts spreading from person to person instead of bird to person.

“One of the reasons we have people working in 60 countries is because a threat anywhere is a threat everywhere,” Schuchat said. “So we always have to take flu strains seriously because the threat of a global pandemic could be a catastrophe.”

Schuchat, who grew up in a Conservative Jewish family in Washington, was working at the CDC in 2009 when H1N1 slammed the United States. Several Jewish summer camps, including Camp Coleman in Cleveland, were forced to cancel sessions as a result.

The flu is usually invisible in the summer in the United States, but in 2009 a new strain was detected in late spring and caused a large wave of infections, leading to those camp cancellations. When school started back in the fall, H1N1 took off.

“It was pretty disruptive,” she said.

“But we were lucky in 2009 because most elderly people were already protected against it from a strain they had when they were young.”

Schuchat, who has worked at the CDC since 1988, is hardly the Clifton Road-based agency’s first Jewish director. Frieden, who was director from 2009 to 2017, is Jewish, as is Jeffrey Koplan, the director from 1998 to 2002.

Acting CDC Director Anne Schuchat is in charge until a permanent director is nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate.

Frieden played a key role in fighting the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Koplan was the director during the 2001 anthrax attacks and spurred anti-terrorist improvements to the CDC infrastructure.

Asked why she thinks three of the past four CDC directors have been Jewish, Schuchat said her family put an emphasis on education growing up.

“I certainly grew up in a family that was really focused on education and achievement,” she said. “My parents really valued the opportunities they got. My dad grew up when there were quotas for Jewish people at universities. I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity to lead.”

In nearly 30 years at the CDC, Schuchat has experienced numerous public health scares. A main character in the 2011 medical disaster film “Contagion,” Erin Mears, is partially based on Schuchat. Kate Winslet, who played Mears, consulted with Schuchat while preparing for the role.

Interim directors are not usually appointed permanent CDC directors, but Julie Gerberding, part of the interim management team after Koplan resigned, was appointed to the role.

“This is a temporary position for me,” Schuchat said, “but it’s really been great to represent the agency in different ways and to contribute. This is such a special place. People are so passionate about protecting people, and the chance to serve in a leadership role here is really a privilege.”

Koplan, who is now the vice president for global health at Emory University and worked with Schuchat at the CDC, praised the acting director.

“She’s a highly skilled, talented public health professional who does superb work,” Koplan said. “She has the highest integrity, makes wise decisions and has worked on a wide range of difficult issues.” ■

HEALTH & WELLNESS

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

Moms on Hearing Mission Make Legislators Listen Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Monday, May 8, requiring insurance companies to cover hearing aids for children after a long, difficult effort by two mothers to make such health insurance coverage standard.

Sara Kogon and Kelly Jenkins, both of whom have hearing-impaired children, struggled for more than six years to enact a law to help kids like theirs.

Kogon’s son Gerald, now 7, failed three newborn hearing screenings at Northside Hospital and was diagnosed with mild to moderate hearing loss.

“We never had it in our family. It was very traumatic for all of us. You take a lot for granted, I think, when having babies,” Kogon told the AJT. “I called the insurance company, but they told me hearing aids weren’t covered because they were considered a cosmetic device,” the Jewish community member said. The company told her it would be better if she allowed Gerald to go completely deaf because then he could get cochlear implants, which would be covered.

“Are you kidding me? I thought that was absolutely ridiculous,” Kogon said. “If you do not stimulate the nerve for hearing, eventually they go deaf.

A cochlear implant is what you give a child when they are totally deaf. You’ve destroyed the nerve through lack of stimulation, so they do brain surgery.

They said, ‘Sorry, that’s the best we can do.’ ” Jenkins, mother of Sloane, also 7, was equally infuriated with the system, Kogon said. The two met at the Atlanta Speech School, which their children attended; the women became friends and decided to fight back.

“We bonded immediately. We joined forces and said, ‘We’re going to fix this,’ ” Kogon said. “The whole goal was to get insurance companies to cover the hearing needs of children.”

Hearing aids typically cost $6,000 and must be replaced every three to five years. “We were so lucky to be able to provide that for Gerald,” Kogon said, but most parents can’t afford it. “This has to change. We want everyone to have that.”

Kogon and Jenkins created Let Georgia Hear, a resource center for parents that other states now use as a model, and they began pressuring legislators at the local and state levels for changes in the law, all while being

Jack McConnell (left), an Atlanta teenager who was diagnosed as a newborn with hearing loss and has worked for much of his life to get hearing aids to more children, joins Kelly Jenkins and daughter Sloane, Sara Kogon and son Gerald, state Rep. Penny Houston, and state Sen. P.K. Martin to celebrate the signing of S.B. 206 on May 8.

full-time mothers to their other kids as well.

“We started going to the Capitol, to sessions, making inroads and friends,” Kogon said. “We had no idea. We were just two moms. We were like lobbyists, but not paid, obviously.”

With help from Sen. P.K. Mar-

tin (R-Lawrenceville) and Rep. Penny Houston (R-Nashville), Senate Bill 206, known as Jack’s Law after Atlanta teenager Jack McConnell, this year passed the House on a vote of 155-5 and cleared the Senate on a vote of 57-6.

The Hearing Aid Coverage for Children Act will take effect Jan. 1, 2018.

At the signing ceremony, Gov. Nathan Deal is surrounded by leading S.B. 206 advocates Sloane and Kelly Jenkins, Sen. P.K. Martin, Jack McConnell, Sara and Gerald Kogon, and Rep. Penny Houston, among many other happy families.

Their work is not done, however, Kogon said. “It takes more than a hearing aid to teach a child how to speak.

Is it a traveling audiology booth, a networking system for parents on training, resources for listening and spoken language? We’re looking at ways to bring services to rural counties.” ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

By Kevin Madigan kmadigan@atljewishtimes.com

21

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Legacy Heritage Better Together Program brings together Bet Haverim teens and Cohen Home residents.

Teens, Seniors Now Next Dor Neighbors

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

By Suzanne Hurwitz

22

A peek inside the Cohen Home on any given Sunday reveals residents benefiting from life-enrichment activities, high-quality care, delicious meals, and caring volunteers and visitors.

But recent Sundays have brought a new level of excitement to the assisted living community in Johns Creek.

Cohen Home residents have enjoyed visits with teenagers from Toco Hills’ Congregation Bet Haverim, who arrive with video cameras, smiles and questions for their older friends.

Under the guidance of Bet Haverim’s education director, Emet Ozar, who is acting as the project manager, along with educator Alisa Bouer, digital media producer Ori Salzberg and the staff of the Cohen Home, the senior residents and their teen visitors are embarking on a joint project: a video documenting the dialogue and encounter between the teens and residents.

The project will feature segments of the interviews exploring the life experiences of the seniors. The teens are also taking photos of the residents and of objects that hold meaning for them.

The Reconstructionist synagogue acquired a grant from the Legacy Heritage Better Together Program, designed to encourage meaningful interaction between the young and the old.

The seniors and teens have transcended age barriers to form bonds of friendship.

“When taking a closer look into our society’s reluctance to preserve the experiences of the elderly, you begin to realize how much we are missing out on,” teen participant Jordan Walter said. “Why are kids in school writing family history papers more inclined to search for their answers on Wikipedia than call their grandparents?”

This endeavor is a testament to the often-overlooked values of the older generation. As the teens and seniors spend time together and became more comfortable with each other, the questions, answers and stories flow.

And, as Jordan and the other teens have learned, the two generations have much to learn from each other.

Named Next Dor, playing off the Hebrew word for generation, the project highlights many values integral to Judaism: the importance of learning, the commandment to respect our elders, and the necessity of passing down traditions, stories and Jewish pride from generation to generation.

The 10 young adults, who are past their b’nai mitzvah celebrations, have chosen to remain actively involved with their synagogue and Jewish life.

“My involvement with Next Dor is one that has affected many aspects of my life that I never expected it to,” teen participant Sophie Reiss said. “When I first learned about what it entailed, I was drawn to it, expecting at the very least to hear interesting stories that would be helpful prompts for my creative writing class. What I have been getting out of this program has been so much more important. My meetings with Elaine, a resident at the Cohen Home, gave me a new perspective on our constantly changing world and taught me the importance of activism and friends and family.”

Libi Ben-Yoar said: “This experience has really made an impact on me and has made me really appreciate the art of passing on experiences from generation to generation.”

Program director Ozar said she looks forward to seeing the Cohen Home residents each time to learn more about their stories. “In the beginning, I was convinced that the residents were

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Selma Burke (left) welcomes Alia Adler to her beloved wall of artwork at the Cohen Home.

Estelle Showe shares a photo with Jordan Walter.

Phyllis Fielding and Kyle BenYoar get to know each other.

Elaine Sachs and Sonny Cohen are surrounded by new young friends from Bet Haverim.

too different from me and from the teens … that we had grown up in such different eras that it was too big of a gap to fully cross over. But their stories of love and marriage, having children, life struggles, sadness and joys, are the same as mine. That has been a beautiful thing to learn: That no matter the time or era, we have the same human ties and experiences that bind us together.” “I love seeing the teens interact with the seniors,” Salzberg said. “They are discovering as much about themselves as they are their interviewees.

Many of the teens have shared with us how this experience has given them increased self-confidence and opened up new perspectives. From the artistic perspective, this is an incredible opportunity to create something unique.

Over the course of the year we’ve seen relationships grow, and we’ve seen the teens develop into young adults.”

The Cohen Home’s executive director, Melissa Hyatt, shares the staff’s excitement about the project, which coincides with extensive facility renovations costing $2.5 million. “Our residents are gaining so much from this intergenerational experience,” she said. “Seeing the two unrelated groups of people come together on this project is incredible. We look forward to the teens’ visits and hope our relationships continue long after the project is complete.”

The seniors involved with the project also are happy.

Eileen and Frank Seidman, for example, have formed a special bond with one teen, Maddy Laing.

“Maddy is very bright, warm and loving. It is a wonderful project, and the young adults brighten our days by being here and interacting with us,” Frank said.

Cohen Home resident Dian Biddle expressed enjoyment in being filmed and interviewed: “I loved being a star for a few moments. The teens, through their questions, have gotten me to think about things I otherwise had not thought about.”

The Next Dor project will culminate in a gala event, including live music, dinner and a viewing of a con-

densed version of the film in a condensed format, at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Cohen Home. Family members of home residents and of Bet Haverim teens will be part of the special celebration.

Soon after, the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum will show the film

and photographs, along with anecdotes about objects that hold importance to the participants. The Cohen Home residents will take a trip to the museum to see the display.

The Cohen Home and Congregation Bet Haverim are more than 20 miles apart, and the project’s partici-

pants are separated by more than two generations. But Next Dor has brought them together as if they truly were next door. ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Suzanne Hurwitz, who holds a master of social work, is the life enrichment coordinator at the Cohen Home.

23

EDUCATION

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Kennesaw State Fosters Young Writer

By Elizabeth Friedly efriedly@atljewishtimes.com

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Caroline Blair Berman is not a typical 19-year-old student.

After all, she’s writing her first novel, “Flight.”

Geared toward a teenage audience, the story follows a young man named Casper whose life transforms after he discovers the existence of an island populated by legendary creatures known as cryptids. Including Big Foot, and the Loch Ness Monster.

Casper finds himself pitted against a rich hunter bent on capturing the storied cryptids for profit.

“Flight” also explores issues such as alcoholism, abuse and the struggles of single parenting after Casper’s father leaves him and his mother.

A longtime fan of the supernatural, Berman uses Casper to ground the fantastic in reality. “I want to depict him as that everyday man,” she said.

“He has a job. He’s 21. He doesn’t have a girlfriend — yet.”

Berman has been writing fiction since she was a child. Born in Rich-

24

Caroline Berman (center) receives a Mentorship Award at a presentation with WellStar College of Health and Human Services Dean Mark Tillman (left), Writing Center coordinator Milya Maxfield, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency Executive Director Sean Casey (second from right) and academy Executive Director Ibrahim Elsawy (right).

mond, Va., she grew up in Albany and later metro Atlanta. She graduated from Alpharetta’s Mill Springs Academy. Her family attends Temple Sinai and plans to visit Israel for the first time this year in honor of her younger sister’s bat mitzvah.

She attends classes through Kennesaw State University’s Academy for Inclusive Learning and Social Growth, a post-secondary educational experience for students with different intellectual and developmental abilities.

Berman audits university courses as well as classes tailored specifically to students, including social growth and development and career training.

The academy is led by Executive Director Ibrahim Elsawy, the recipient of the Carol J. Pope Award for Distinction for creating an inclusive, accessible, respectful and safe climate for all students, faculty and staff.

“One of the good things about the academy is that we change the expectations of the families” of students with learning differences, Elsawy said. “I think the impact of the program is not only for the children, but for the parents and the other students at KSU.” As a part of the academy, Berman began an internship at Kennesaw State’s Writing Center. She worked alongside center coordinator Milya Maxfield, who spoke highly of Berman’s contributions. The center has since offered her a paid position, and Berman was recognized with a Mentorship Award from the university.

Berman’s work consists of maintaining the center’s social media promotions. She creates weekly postings

for The Write Place, a creative writing club that meets Tuesday evenings.

There she receives feedback on writing.

“A lot of what we do in the club influences what we do with Caroline’s work,” Maxfield said. She and the other staff members proofread “Flight” in its draft stages, as well as work on world building and character creation, based on the weekly topic discussed.

“Flight” is several chapters from completion, but Berman hasn’t ruled out expanding the story into a series.

Her love of fiction spans the likes of the “Harry Potter” and “Wings of Fire” novels, ghosts and lore, and colorful characters such as Emotes — a media franchise devoted to fostering emotional intelligence in young people.

Perhaps one day her work will help children relate to the world through fantasy.

She hopes to reach peers and teens alike with the support of the academy and the Writing Center staff. Berman still credits her interest in writing to a childhood teacher. “She told me that I had a huge imagination and that I shouldn’t let that go to waste.” ■

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College Students Honored for Supporting Israel Students from Emory, Kennesaw State, the University of Georgia, Georgia State and Georgia Tech were among the guests recognized for their involvement in pro-Israel organizations at the annual dinner with supportive college students hosted by Ambassador Judith Varnai Shorer on Thursday, April 20.

The delegitimization of Israel on college campuses and effective use of social media were discussed.

“It saddens me to see efforts to delegitimize Israel, but you are our first line of defense. I was impressed to hear about the pro-Israel celebrations on every campus and thank you again for your influence,” Shorer said.

She and Hillels of Georgia’s Israel fellow, Moran Shaboo, presented awards recognizing students for their support for Israel. Emory graduate Jake Greenberg received Hillels of Georgia’s Ally of the Year award.

Addressing the need for further pro-Israel engagement on college campuses, Hillels of Georgia Executive Director Russ Shulkes explained the continual struggle Jewish students feel on campus and spoke of his own experience with undergrads.

“Most of the freshman class inherits their love of Israel from their parents, but that can be wiped out once on campus, and that scares me,” Rabbi Shulkes said. “We have students who want to be pro-Israel in a pragmatic way and make a difference, but the students here tonight only represent 1 percent.”

Rabbi Shulkes also spoke about the importance of using Israel as an inspirational platform for students to interact with others. “Find that happy place or commonality you have and bring it out. Perhaps you both study biology or are interested in science. Relay the innovations Israel has developed within that area to help others have a better perspective of Israel.”

The evening’s main speaker, Adi Luria, the digital media director at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, offered a short presentation on positive social media engagement and the ways that major U.S. events, such as presidential elections, can shift perceptions of Israel.

Luria said countries are like brands, and Israel’s brand is not attractive but is in the same class as the National Rifle Association.

Still, even though opinions about

Photos by Sarah Moosazadeh

Emory graduate Jake Greenberg receives the Hillels of Georgia Ally of the Year award from Consul General Judith Varnai Shorer.

the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are widely distributed, most people don’t care, Luria said. “The perception in the U.S. about Israel is often off; it’s a myth when individuals believe Israel is just like the U.S.” She said last year’s elections shifted U.S. citizens’ perceptions about Israel based on party alignment: Favor toward Israel increased among Republicans and decreased among Democrats.

Luria reiterated Rabbi Shulkes’ sentiments about the need to look at Israel beyond the conflict. “Pro-Israel students and individuals alike should instead mention Israeli moderniza-

tions, such as Waze, and the breadth of diversity in Israel, including that of the LGBT community. It may be very hard and take some time, but it will eventually sink in.”

On social media, Luria advised students to remain optimistic. “Find a channel that speaks to you and push it as much as you can. Tell people why it’s good content, and it will run.”

It’s important to know your audience, she said. “Relate it back to Atlanta if you have to. Know where you are coming from and who you are speaking with. Perhaps you and another student are conducting the same research. That will help you find common ground

Adi Luria from the Israeli Embassy urges students to engage in social media in a positive way.

while remaining pro-Israel.”

Luria also urged students to find and understand their opposition on social media. “Don’t fight with haters on social media, but if you see an opportunity, comment with facts and history. Know your information and use it. Individuals will see the comments and will inevitably stop arguing. At the end of the day, it’s not about how many followers you have; it’s about the quality vs. quantity. Follow your opposition and listen to their rhetoric; this will also help you communicate your message better.”

Yet digital platforms are just one path to interaction. Luria said a personto-person discussion is even better.

Shorer thanked all the students for their pro-Israel efforts. “It’s a wonderful sight to have so many students here from very diverse backgrounds passionate about Israel. Thank you for your support on campus and your involvement in pro-Israel organizations.

You may not always be popular or find it an easy thing to handle yourself, but continue to show your strength and resilience.” ■

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

25

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4 Shabbat Dinners, 1,350 Students at Chabad

By Patrice Worthy

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

For many college students, Shabbat dinner is just a fond memory nine months of the year, but Shabbat at Chabad makes the weekly observance a celebration of Jewish life and culture.

With the school year winding down, Chabad on Georgia campuses recently held mass celebrations of Shabbat: 500 students each at Emory and the University of Georgia; 250 at Chabad Downtown, serving Georgia State and Georgia Tech; and 100 at Kennesaw State. Altogether, more than 1,350 college students gathered for home-style Shabbat campus dinners with Chabad.

Chabad typically is a place where college students can relax.

“It gives them a break from the college environment. It’s not a dorm room or a classroom,” said Rebbetzin Miriam Lipskier, wife of Rabbi Zalman Lipskier of Chabad at Emory. “One of the gifts of Shabbat is to unplug. We ask them to take the Shabbat challenge and turn off your phones and talk to people in front you. There’s no pressure, but we suggest to people to take themselves up on the challenge.”

Providing a space where students feel comfortable in a religious setting takes skill, and Lipskier said that mixing and mingling are among the most important components of events like Shabbat 500. Both Chabad at Emory and Chabad at UGA hosted matzah balls for students to schmooze, with the hope of forging relationships.

“There’s the social element. It’s the hosting, meeting people and making meaningful connections,” she said. “It’s beautiful when people tap into their own roots and connect with their community.”

Shabbat dinner at Chabad at Emory typically draws 150 to 200 students, including some who are not Jewish but attend while hanging out with their Jewish friends and enjoying what has a reputation for the best food on campus.

“Everyone is welcome as long as they know they’re coming for Shabbat dinner and there’s going to be singing in Hebrew and there will be prayers in Hebrew,” Lipskier said. “I’m fine with people learning about Jewish life.”

During holidays, the turnout rises to around 300 students, so Lipskier is an expert at planning large Shabbat dinners.

For Shabbat 500 she enlisted the network of the Jewish students.

26 “The logistics are larger than nor-

Photo by Jon Marks Photography

Lisa Olens, the wife of Kennesaw State President Sam Olens, lights candles before Shabbat.

Students mix and mingle at the pre-dinner matzah ball at Chabad at UGA’s Shabbat 500 celebration.

mal. We had 50 tables, each with one host. We had a law student table, med student table, and tables for different frats and sororities,” Lipskier said.

“That’s how we expand the number.”

Students helped prepare the meal, set up tables and created the floral arrangements for each table. Lipskier depended on the students to volunteer with meal prep while she handled the technical aspects. Students even helped take care of her 6-month-old baby.

“It’s not a formal setting, but not a club or bar where you don’t remember who you met the next day,” Lipskier said. “Our objective is for Jews to meet other Jews.”

After a social hour, the dinner featured brisket, kugel, roasted chicken, rice and roasted vegetables. The dessert was sponsored by Ali’s Cookies, and eight students baked wookies, a cookie dessert available only at Chabad at Emory.

As they do every Shabbat, students stayed long after dinner to talk and sing, continuing until about 2 a.m.

The diversity in the Jewish community leads to great conversations, Lipskier said, but at Chabad labels don’t matter. What matters is that students are there.

“It’s important to reinforce they’re not just a nameless, faceless person; they have roots,” she said. “Being in the room with so many Jews helps them stay grounded and rooted.”

UGA has about 2,000 Jews among 36,000 students. The goal for Chabad at UGA is to connect the Jewish students on campus and create a sense of normality around Jewish culture, said its director, Rabbi Michoel Refson.

He and his wife, Chana, have hosted Shabbat 500 for seven years.

The event is an opportunity for unity among kids who may feel like a minority at the University of Georgia.

“They take away a sense of pride,”

Rabbi Refson said. “I always hear them say it was such a great feeling.”

It’s the same sense of pride that drives the Chabad center serving Georgia State and Georgia Tech, led by Rabbi Shlomo Sharfstein and his wife, Shifra.

It is easy for Jewish students to get lost amid the general student body, but Shifra Sharfstein said that’s why Chabad is necessary.

“The exciting part is that we had a lot of new faces, and the highlight was the students seeing a bunch of familiar faces from campus, but they didn’t know they were Jewish,” she said about Shabbat 250.

It was the second mega-Shabbat for the Chabad house serving Tech and State. She said the first year was more of challenge to prove they could pull it off.

“Last year when we came up with the idea, we brought it to the student board. Most of them had the same reaction: They felt it was impossible,” Sharfstein said. “We got 25 hosts and worked really hard to introduce them to new people. People were shocked when we pulled it off. They were shocked there were that many Jewish students on campus.”

For Chabad at Kennesaw State, the first Chabad 100 was a historic event.

The university has a growing Jewish population, and Chabad wants to enable Jewish students to have an authentic Jewish experience away from home, said Rabbi Zalman Charytan, the director.

“Historically, UGA and Emory have a larger Jewish population. The fact that there’s been so much growth in Jewish life at Kennesaw State is exciting,” Rabbi Charytan said. “This is the culmination of a great year for growth at Kennesaw State, and Chabad felt it was the right time to bring a mega-Shabbat to Kennesaw State.”

The Kennesaw administration has

Students from Georgia Tech and Georgia State gather for their second Shabbat 250.

The Lipskiers count on student help to prepare for Shabbat 500 at Emory each year.

been supportive of Chabad, and Shabbat 100 included university President Sam Olens and his wife, Lisa, and Provost Ken Harmon.

Rabbi Charytan credited the student government president, Erick Mulicandov, for “putting his heart and soul into making the Shabbat 100 a reality.”

“They are so thrilled and excited they’re having their own mega-Shabbat,” the rabbi said. “The students want people to know there’s an active Jewish community on campus.”

Drawing Jewish students closer to Judaism is the mission for every Chabad house on any campus, and Rabbi Refson said it’s always done with openness and understanding.

“You know they do Jewish things a lot of the time because their parents wanted them to do it or made them do it,” he said. “At Chabad, they are forging their own Jewish experiences. It’s important that no matter their background or where they come from, we keep them Jewishly engaged.” ■

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Film Review: Love Doesn’t Always Follow Plan

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com Finding true love doesn’t come easily for everyone, but if you put your heart and mind into it, love might be closer than you think.

That’s the lesson of the Israeli film “The Wedding Plan,” which is making its Atlanta debut as the first feature of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s AJFF Selects series Thursday, May 11, then will return for a theatrical release May 26.

After meeting the man of her dreams, Michal (played by Noa Koler) is ready to tie the knot, but she finds herself in a predicament after her ultra-Orthodox fiancé decides to call off their engagement mere months before the wedding. In a final attempt to prove love exists, however, Michal decides to follow through with the wedding, in the hope of finding a husband in time.

With the help of two matchmakers, Michal starts back at square one as she gives fate another chance. In between booking events for her mobile petting zoo and keeping family affairs in order, Michal goes on a series

The Israeli Academy Award winner for best actress and screenplay, “The Wedding Plan” (starring Noa Koler) is the first film in a series of out-of-festival foreign and independent films presented by the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival.

ence members on a romantic journey as Michal strives to discover who she is and what she wants out of life. As the day of the wedding approaches, Michal has yet to find a groom, leaving viewers wondering whether she made the right decision.

Chance encounters, challenges and new experiences throw her into a world of uncertainty as she fights to take destiny into her own hands and confronts G-d’s plan for her. Courage, pain and tragedy guide Michal on her journey as friends and family members support her quest to find someone she can spend her life with.

of dates, each proving more disastrous than the previous.

Each suitor takes Michal on a ride as he shares his own struggles in life and in finding love, yet he seldom shares Michal’s concept of love.

Reluctant to give up hope, Michal travels to Ukraine, where she bumps into her favorite Israeli singer. Sparks fly after a brief conversation, but is this the guy Michal is destined to marry?

Back in Israel, Michal faces a new reality when she discovers that her roommate has been keeping secrets from her until she learns the truth.

“The Wedding Plan” takes audi-

“The Wedding Plan,” written and directed by Rama Burshtein, will wrap audiences in confusion and laughter as people recall their own struggles and joys in finding true love. The romantic comedy explores the depth of human emotion and one women’s courage to find what she seeks despite all odds. ■ What: AJFF Selects presents “The Wedding Plan” Where: Lefont Sandy Springs, 5920 Roswell Road, C-103 When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11 Tickets: $13; ajff.org/weddingplantix

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Sustainable Agriculture Brings Jews Back to Roots

By Patrice Worthy

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

A few dedicated Jews in farm and gardening are making a difference in Atlanta as a grassroots organization known as the Jewish Farm and Food Alliance.

Composed of gardeners, chefs, farmers and social justice workers, the group aims to build a bridge between Jewish Atlanta and the sustainable farming movement.

It began as a few chefs who came together to host a Christmas Eve farmto-table Chinese buffet dinner at The Temple and grew into a loose organization holding must-attend events around the city.

When Jonathan Tescher began JF&FA, he had worked in sustainable agriculture and local food for 10 years.

He said he has many colleagues who also work in food and farming and share the same background.

“I looked around, and they were all Jewish,” Tescher said. “All my friends in the community are involved in social justice, and we’re interested in tikkun olam.”

The group includes professionals who volunteer at food banks, bring healthy food to underserved communities, create markets for small farmers and offer sustainable-agriculture education.

Tescher is managing a grant given to Clark Atlanta University to integrate technology into urban agriculture. He was inspired to bring his friends together to build a platform around sustainable agriculture and gardening.

He partnered with chefs such as Todd Ginsberg, Eli Kirshtein and Jarrett Stieber to host fun events that bring awareness to sustainable agriculture.

They have held two farm-to-table Chinese buffets at The Temple and a Sukkot dinner at Aluma Farm. Everyone volunteers the time to pull off the culinary events, which are labors of love.

Tescher said they couldn’t have done it the first two years without the help of Seth Freedman, the culinary director at PeachDish, a meal kit company that sources produce from local farmers.

Freedman, the point man for the Chinese dinners, said Jews are drawn to the movement because Judaism revolves around agriculture and food.

His upbringing and moral direction led Freedman down the path of seeking clean, honest and just food.

28 Though he doesn’t keep kosher, Freed-

Jewish Family & Career Services’ Giving Garden is one opportunity in the community for youths to connect with their Jewish agricultural roots.

Families plant beans at the JF&CS Giving Garden.

man cites kashrut as the preface to many of his food choices.

“You have Passover, which is deeply woven into food custom,” Freedman said. “Even on Shabbat I have a personal connection to my culture through the food on the table, like challah bread and the Kiddush wine. As a Jew, you’re automatically predisposed to recognize the importance of food in your life.”

Freedman was a chef at Bacchanalia, a restaurant that serves only farmto-table entrees, and was the program director of Seeds of Nutrition, an experiential program that teaches children about food and eating through classroom activities involving sustainable agriculture and gardening.

“I feel very strongly the fundamental knowledge of learning how to prepare food for yourself from fresh ingredients is key to changing your relationship with food,” Freedman said.

“The best place to start is with kids.”

As a part of Seeds of Nutrition, he led workshops for teachers on sustainable gardening. For Freedman, building a garden is more than planting tasty

At a family activity at the JF&CS Giving Garden, Emily Blustein leads the planting of sunflowers.

Photo by Kate Blohm, PeachDish

Seth Freedman says Judaism led him to pursue clean, just, honest food.

vegetables; it also involves planning.

Such planning is how JF&FA prepares the menus for its dinners, including the Sukkot dinner for 500 people in the fall.

Freedman uses the same system to create menus for PeachDish, where he keeps track of produce available during the season and plans meals according to each harvest. It’s a practice he said can be easily implemented on a smaller scale in the home.

“What grows together goes together,” Freedman said. “If you’re harvesting fresh tomatoes, you’re probably also harvesting squash, peppers and basil. Those ingredients can make a quick ratatouille or a primavera.”

Teaching people about gardening and sustainability is part of a larger movement, and Jewish Atlanta is ahead of a national trend, said Emily Blustein, the Hazon JOFEE fellow at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. She said it’s important to let people know anyone can garden.

“There’s a lot of ways for Jews to be a part of this movement. Growing your

own food is possible. You can start by getting a couple of planters and planting tomatoes and peppers. You can also grow your own herbs,” Blustein said.

Blustein is assisting Atlanta nonprofit organizations with gardens and will be involved with the JF&FA Sukkot dinner. She is also working on the Marcus Jewish Community Center’s garden for its summer camp program and is helping with Senior Day on Monday, May 15, when participants at the JCC will plant a Havdalah spice garden.

Her work also includes showing synagogues and day schools how to integrate farm-to-table programming.

Being involved in Atlanta’s movement for sustainable agriculture is exciting for Blustein, who said it’s a way to bring Jews back to their roots.

“Our history as Jews is connected to agriculture. We were farmers and pioneers of agriculture. So much of our culture and history is connected to the land,” she said. “There’s a blessing for trees and a blessing for vegetables. It’s a way to connect more to our Jewish spirituality.” ■

HOME & GARDEN

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Palmer: Editing Key to Functional Design

By Patrice Worthy Lisa Palmer is building a regional reputation as an interior designer based in Jackson, Miss.

With two locations of her retail store, SummerHouse, Palmer and her team are making a name for themselves with clients as far away as Houston and Kansas City.

Palmer is showing off her less-ismore design sensibility through May 14 at the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens at 3740 Paces Valley in Buckhead, where she re-created the look of the playroom, transforming it into an adult sanctuary for reading and relaxing.

The AJT caught up with Palmer to find out her secrets to successful interior design.

AJT: How did you begin your career in interior design?

Palmer: I was an art major in school and started out at Ole Miss.

They didn’t have a design major, and they didn’t have a program. I didn’t want to be a starving artist, so I transferred to get a degree in interior design.

the architecture of the home. I really do like when I’m working with clients and I can give them their vision they’re looking for.

The Lounge designed by Lisa Palmer at the Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Southeastern Designer Showhouse & Gardens

Lisa Palmer designs with a color a palette of green, cream and black

ing budgets?

Palmer: The budget is actually the last thing we ask about. A lot of people don’t know what their budget is, but they know who we are when they come here. They know we have high-end furniture, and they’ve done their research.

We try to meet realistic budgets, and we don’t have big trade-show-only showrooms in Jackson. We also don’t charge for design time.

put a lot of things in a home, so editing is important. When I’m done with a home, I stand there and take away things just to make sure all the right things are in the space.

I love masculine. Everyone says my favorite color is black, and I also use cream and green. I like the room to have a global feel, and that involves having a mixture of old and new items because it has to look and feel collected.

I also like good art. I always tell young people it’s important to start collecting art that means something to you, not just art that looks good over a sofa. I often start a room with a good piece of art. I also get inspiration from

AJT: What is your personal style as an interior designer?

Palmer: I’m not a super fussy designer. I’m kind of a less-is-more girl.

Our lives are busy, and I don’t like to

AJT: What was the inspiration behind the playroom at the showhouse?

Palmer: I didn’t want to do it as a playroom, so I did a lounge/reading room. Pantone’s color of the year is fern green, so I went with a palette of green and cream. Of course, I had to add a little black.

I knew I wanted to showcase Mississippi artists because we work with these artists all the time. We have a lot of art from Mississippi artists in the showroom.

I also wanted it to be fun, colorful and comfortable. I chose fabrics that were kind of fun and a little modern.

You see a combination of traditional pieces mixed with modern pieces, and there’s a global feel.

AJT: What was essential in creating a lounge or reading room?

Palmer: Seating that lends itself to conversation and good lighting. It just needs to feel comfortable. ■

AJT: Were you predisposed to furniture design as an art major?

Palmer: I didn’t have a huge passion for interior design. It intrigued me, and I was just wise. The passion grew, especially when I started taking fabric classes.

AJT: The fabric classes always do it.

AJT: What is your secret to being a successful interior designer, and what do you advise your team of designers to do in order to complete a project successfully?

Palmer: We ask a lot of questions.

When the job is complete and we clink the glass, mazel tov, we want our clients to be happy. We have a big interview process. It’s not just about creating a beautiful space because ultimately it’s their home. We ask them, “How do you live?” and “Do you want it light and airy or rich and cozy?”

AJT: How do you work with vary-

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Palmer: Yes, they do. I also had professors who were very passionate and passed that passion on to me. But there’s only so much you can learn in the classroom. I really got to love it when I got out in the business and started using it with people.

29

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Revert to Dirt – No Way! He knows not of spring.

So tell him what warm winds bring.

Like peaches and plums, apples and figs.

They’ll soon reappear with birds on the wing.

Please explain to him about spring.

The white blossoms of the pear tree outside my den window remind me of a midrash I just made up.

Picture the Garden of Eden in late March, and picture Adam sitting on a comfortable rock, his head spinning around to take in this exciting, brave new world that his Creator has made for him. For did the Lord not make “every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food,” as Genesis says?

It was vividly beautiful for a few months, then it grew cold. Earth’s first inhabitant needed more than a fig leaf to shield his shivering body. And, worse, the flowers died a doleful death, and the trees shed their leaves like the flowers shed their beauty.

For months, poor, benighted

Adam gazed at the corpse of what was once a fairyland. Bare limbs — fruitless limbs.

No more reaching out for a plump fig — fresh, you know, not trucked in from California. And free. Remember that this first human knew not the

Scribbler on the Roof

By Ted Roberts

meaning of that four-letter word, “work.”

Pondering the dead leaves and the no-longer-green grass, Adam thought, “I’ll revert to dirt.”

He sat by the big rock and mourned his departure. He linked his fate to the death of nature. “So short,” he repeated over and over. Soon it would end. “All this beauty will be a barren wasteland. The rivers probably will dry up, too.”

The Lord looked down on his first human creation. The angels took in

the scene: the tearful two-legged creature and the Lord’s sympathy.

Being musically talented, the more creative angels quickly composed a jazz chant: “He doesn’t know about spring. Tell him what warm winds bring. Like peaches and plums, apples and figs. They’ll soon reappear with birds on the wing.

Please explain to him about spring.”

This they chanted to the Creator of summer and fall and winter and spring.

Well, the Lord didn’t need any angelic advice. “The man is only lonesome and hungry. He needs a companion that’s bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh.”

So He put the man to sleep, formed Eve from a superfluous rib that he didn’t need, and reached over the horizon of time into spring for an armload of fruit.

Adam awoke and started chewing on a juicy peach, even as the Lord

gracefully and formally introduced him to the flesh of his flesh and the bone of his bone, which hardly seemed necessary. They were one.

But she explained to Adam that a nice, neatly swept-out cave was warmer than squatting by that big rock.

And she showed him roots and tubers and dried fruits that could satisfy his hunger.

But he was still morose. “Nature has fled Eden. Soon the Creator will terminate us. We’ll revert to dirt.”

Eve smiled, like one who bets on a race already run and won.

“We’ll see,” she said.

You know the end of the story.

The year’s cycle revolved, and spring smiled warmly on an impatient world.

Adam smiled, too. “Maybe life is longer than I thought. Life doesn’t end when the trees go bare and the birds depart.”

There’s more! There’s more! ■

“Life doesn’t end when the trees go bare and the birds depart.”

LET THE VOTING BEGIN! Cast your votes for your

Jewish ATL Favorites.

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

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Deadline for Entries, June 9

MEDIA PERSONALITY • Matt Chernoff • Mara Davis • Holly Firfer • Steak Shapiro • Bert Weiss • Other: ELECTED OFFICIAL • Andy Bauman • Mike Bodker • Michele Henson • Philip Goldstein • Renee Unterman • Other: CHEF • Todd Ginsberg • Eli Kirshtein • Ben Krawiecki • Jenny Levison • David Silverman • Other: MUSICIAN OR BAND • Joe Alterman • Nick Edelstein • Sammy K • No Komment • Prodezra Beats • Sammy Rosenbaum • Hannah Zeldin • Other: BAGEL • Art’s Bagels • Bagelicious • Broadway Cafe • Brooklyn Bagel Bakery • Goldbergs • Other: SLEEPAWAY CAMP • Barney Medintz • Blue Star • Coleman • Living Wonders • Ramah Darom • Other:

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For Handegan, ‘Design Is a Lot of Intuition’ ADAC is celebrating 30 years of Veranda magazine with a special installation of the seasonal Behind the Windows series, in which designers turn a vignette into a stylish room to showcase their talent and the furnishings offered at the design center.

Amelia Handegan, the owner of Amelia T. Handegan Interior Design in Charleston, S.C., created a vignette using an unexpected color palette that is intriguing and cozy. She talked to the AJT about her new book, “Rooms,” and about being a member of the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina.

AJT: You used pink in your Behind the Windows vignette. Most people shy away from pink in their home. What was your idea behind the pink?

Handegan: I think that pink right now is a popular color. But I don’t like it being a saccharine color, so it’s paired with a dark brown … so it turns into more of a neutral. We have a little lavender, sea grass and a striped rug.

So we bring the pink down from being sweet.

AJT: Is this in line with your style, or did you take a risk because it’s a vignette and you can show off?

Handegan: I think it’s very much in keeping with my style. I think the dark brown is driven a little bit for drama because it is a window, and the laser-cut panels we have on each end were also done to create an intimacy.

So we didn’t have this one big glass to look through, so you see through it as two panels. Instead of putting up curtains, we put laser-cut panels that you see through to the room.

AJT: Tell me about the animal print.

Handegan: It’s actually a jaguar.

It’s silk velvet from Clarence House.

A little bit of that in every room looks good. We do love that one silk velvet from Clarence House, and we use it in small bits, like chair bottoms or pillows, that you see in the room.

AJT: The room is quite dark. Is dark your style?

Handegan: I do like drama, so that’s a part of it. I do tend to study houses and the light they give, and sometimes they call for light, and sometimes they call for dark.

AJT: Tell me about the pieces in the

Jewish people and all their stories in all these little towns in South Carolina.

Amelia Handegan

Amelia Handegan’s “Rooms” represents 18 years of her interior design work.

room.

Handegan: On one side we have a regency table, and the other side a new Rose Harlow table, so one is old and one is new. In the other room, there is a console from 1840s England from Travis Showroom. A lot of rooms have that setup with seating and maybe a piece of furniture with a mirror.

AJT: How do you go about designing a room? Where do you start?

Handegan: For me personally, design is a lot of intuition, but I backed it up with the study of history, art history and color theory. Those are things you don’t think about on a daily basis, but they come to you in ways like painting the dark walls for the contrast to the pink. I just believe in intuition with interior design, and I think when you’re intuitive about it, it comes fairly easy.

AJT: You’re a member of the South Carolina Jewish Historical Society. Tell me about that.

Handegan: It comes from a point of history. My husband is Jewish, and he really got me involved in that. I grew up in a small town and had Jewish friends going to school, even though we had a population of 2,000 people in my town. I think that being involved with John, my husband, in the historical society is fascinating. It’s history.

Charleston alone had one of the biggest Jewish populations, bigger than New York and anywhere in the Northeast, in the 1800s, and so we found all these

AJT: What do you find most fascinating about the Jewish history of South Carolina?

Handegan: You think of it as being a small population, but what I’ve come to understand is it’s diverse, and the Jewish population has always offered so much to the community. A lot of places in Charleston, particularly some of the old stores, still have the names of the original Jewish merchants. I’m right around the corner from Bluestein’s. Bluestein’s has been there since the 1800s, and the sign is hanging in the design district, where they’re still selling clothing. All up and down the street in Charleston there were Jewish merchants, and even in my small town the pharmacist was Jewish and the drygoods owner was Jewish.

AJT: Tell me about your new book, “Rooms.”

Handegan: Some of the projects in the book come from 18 years ago, and some are from the present. My book is

traditional but paired down with modern touches. The inspiration is to show what I’ve done over the 18 years with photographs. I hope people can look at the book and look at the photos from 18 years ago and two years ago and not know which was done when, so I think it does that. I use a lot of murals in my work, and I use painters to do that.

AJT: What are three things you think people should have in their home when they’re starting an interior design project?

Handegan: As an interior designer, you hope it’s an empty house.

If it’s not, you hope they have some treasures that mean a lot to them and that they find value in because those make it home. Frankly, you’re hoping it’s something they value, but you think it’s great. I think personal items are important. Secondly, they should have a sense of being open-minded and looking at different options and seeing how their house can change by using an interior designer to help them see beyond what they have always had. Lastly, they should have a sense of humor — and a check. ■

Interior Design

DOWNSIZING OR REFRESHING YOUR

EXISTING HOME......LET ME HELP YOU!

CALL BO!

Serving the Atlanta area for over 30 years.

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MAY 12 ▪ 2017

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31

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Function Inspires Grace for Young Designer Many of the houses featured in this column have been owned by baby boomers. Here is a breath of fresh air: a young designer with a black, white and gray space designed around the comfort and activity of children.

Designer Beth Brown and her physician husband, Gavin, put their own stamp on a new home with Nellie Poston Custom Builders. Nestled in an older Buckhead neighborhood, the house has calm, clean lines, dazzling Jerry Pair lighting, swiveling chairs, and Schumacher New York New York wallpaper for the little gentleman’s bathroom.

Beth pulls together a concave sunburst mirror from Oregon, an IKEA playroom, a batiked department store comforter and eclectic items from local boutiques with a Jackson Fine Art photography collection and glistening natural-stone geodes. The decor is not fussy, but it makes a statement.

Jaffe: What inspired you to be a designer, and what is your training?

Brown: My mother (Lynne, Mrs. Jack Halpern) inspired me. She has impeccable taste and an incredible eye and could be an interior designer (she owns a jewelry store, Tassels). She taught me to appreciate beauty and incorporate it into my life and that living in a space you enjoy can enrich your life. Since I was a child, I read her design magazines — Veranda, Architectural Digest. She took me with her to select home items. It has just always been something I enjoyed and helped friends with. They were the ones who encouraged me to pursue interior design.

I trained with the Interior Design Institute and was privileged to work for Stewart Mohr Designs, a wonderful local firm.

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Jaffe: How would you define your niche in Atlanta?

Brown: I work mostly with young families, many of whom are owning first homes in which they want to invest.

Jaffe: Since you work with younger families, what are the up-andcoming trends in their lifestyle and design requests?

Brown: People want to still have beautiful pieces, but they want dura32 bility and usability. Functionality and

comfort matter a great deal. Further, many of the homes today don’t have the formal living rooms of old, reflecting the fact that people entertain more informally and don’t feel the need to have rooms that are just for show. I use a lot of Crypton or outdoor fabrics inside because they are forgiving and now have the same feel as other uphol-

Chai-Style Homes

By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com

stery fabrics. I love swivel chairs that could face a TV or be turned for adults to chat, stools that can be tucked under a console and pulled out for when company comes and someone needs an extra seat. Just like parents today, furniture needs to multitask.

Jaffe: Is it difficult being a designer and balancing your skill set with the client’s wishes? I once had a decorator who said she had to save me from myself.

Brown: It can be difficult at times, but part of the fun of my job is trying to help clients find a space that is beautiful, reflects their taste but functions with how they live.

Functionality is most important, and people get caught up in a look without considering its use. I love many different design styles — from midcentury modern to French country — so I do my best to fulfill a client’s vision. That said, I try to educate clients and help them realize that you have to make choices and have a common thread throughout your house. You cannot do it all stylewise, or it will look too schizophrenic. Further, proportion matters.

Jaffe: How would you describe your own home? What atmosphere are you trying to create? … How do you balance form and function, having young children?

Brown: I would describe my home as a transitional mix — clean lines with a little Hollywood glam and global influences. I like a little drama, but everything is comfortable. Window treatments are out of the way and aren’t fussy. Lots of natural light. We have wipeable sitting areas — acrylic counter stools, leather dining chairs and Sunbrella fabric on my sofas. I

A

B try to have designated play areas that the kids can make their own and I can close the door. I try to be organized with toys and clutter. Things have their own bins, and we try to put them away daily (doesn’t always happen).

But my kids have learned that there is a toy car bin, a Barbie bin, etc., and they are better about taking out the bins with which they want to play so stuff isn’t everywhere all of the time.

materials.

Jaffe: What do you collect?

Brown: Photography. I have pieces by Elliott Erwitt, Herman Leonard, Abelardo Morell, Todd Murphy, and local Atlanta photographers Dorothy O’Connor and Jan Lewin. I also collect geodes, vintage concert posters and Fornasetti plates.

Jaffe: What are some of the most unusual things you have?

Brown: Abelardo Morell did a special camera obscura series of Atlanta while the High Museum of Art was having an exhibit of his work; we have one of those series. I also have a Todd Murphy mixed-media piece in the breakfast room that is a dress stuffed with straw if you look very closely. I took an old Steve Penley oil from my parents. The African juju hats and necklaces in the master sitting room.

Jaffe: Yes, those are pretty wild. ■

Jaffe: If you could wake up tomorrow and have one new piece in your home, what would it be?

Brown: A console in my entry — something with metal to add a mix of

Jaffe: Do you have any special Judaica or inherited family pieces?

Brown: The mirror in my daughter’s room was in mine as a child. My late uncle’s Lalique pieces. We have some unusual mezuzahs by Israeli designer Yossi Swede that we received as a wedding gift and one from our first trip to Israel together.

HOME & GARDEN

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D

C

E

F

I

J Photos by Duane Stork

A: Beth Brown designed the shelves in the living room with a grass-cloth background around a concave starburst mirror.

B: Beth Brown is known for using durable outdoor fabrics indoors. In the background in the great room is a framed Todd Murphy mixed-media dress made from straw.

C: Designer Beth Brown poses in front of feathered African juju hats and authentic tribal necklaces.

D: A Kelly Wearstler chandelier highlights a set of geodes by Christopher Marley in the foyer. Beth Brown likes the sustainability of natural and geological materials.

E: Beth Brown repurposed this colorful Steve Penley oil painting from her parents’ house with a credenza by Environment.

F: IKEA furnishings in the playroom house toys in reachable and storable bins.

G: The breakfast room features a table and chairs from Crate & Barrel and the free-spirited dancer sculpture beneath an Ironies chandelier from Jerry Pair. The playground can be seen through the back window.

H: The young gentleman’s room has space to play on this Jonathan Adler faux zebra rug. The adjoining bathroom features Schumacher New York New York wallpaper.

I: A Dennis & Leen chandelier from Jerry Pair meets the need for lighting that contributes to a calm, clean look throughout. The dining table and chairs are by Bradley USA. J: The master bedroom features side chests by Oly and a Casablanca Malibu Star overhead fan. The photograph over the bed is by Atlantan Sandee O.

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

H

G

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HOME & GARDEN

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Moattar Family Keeps Weaving Legacy in Rugs

By Patrice Worthy

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

When Eddie Moattar died 13 years ago, his two children took over Moattar Ltd. Finer Rugs, the business he launched in 1963 and ran for 40 years.

Eddie came to the United States in the early 1960s after running a department store named Blue Star in Iran.

When the political climate shifted, he set his sights on the American dream, and he and his wife, Marcia, married in 1966, built an Atlanta empire based on antique rugs.

Moattar rugs can be found from the White House to Buckhead’s St. Regis.

“When we got married, I said, ‘What am I going to do all day?’ ” Marcia said. “He said, ‘Come to work with me.’ ” Eddie opened his first location, House of Persia, in Decatur, then a second location on East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead. The family eventually opened another store on Miami Circle and a showroom at ADAC on Peachtree Hills Road.

After five years of marriage, the couple had a daughter, Andrea, and five years later a son, Jason.

Jason is now the president of Moattar, and Andrea is the CEO. Andrea said her father’s vision is what persuaded her to continue his legacy.

“I love art, and I studied art history, but when I moved back to Atlanta, I applied at different art galleries and realized I wasn’t going to make any more money than what I made in high school,” Andrea said. “I talked to my father about it and he said, ‘You have no idea what you have under your nose.

This is an art gallery, except this type of art is woven, not drawn.’ ” She now sees that her father was grooming his children to handle his affairs in his absence and made the transition easy for them. “A lot of times it’s hard for parents to let go, but he trusted me to make the decisions on things like trends young people may like,” Andrea said. “He never held us back.”

Now Andrea and Jason spend their time attending trade shows and traveling to purchase rugs for their clients.

Moattar is a trade-show-only showroom, meaning the company sells only to interior designers and architects buying for their clients.

It’s a smoother process than selling directly to consumers, who might ask to see 20 rugs and still not know what they want, Jason said.

34 “Our bread and butter are our de-

Above: Jason Moattar, the president of the family business, says consumers might ask to have 20 rugs opened and still not know what they want.

Left: The Moattar Ltd. Finer Rugs showroom is packed with rugs from Turkey, China, India and Pakistan, as well as Iran.

signers,” he said. “In order to purchase something like this, you need to have somebody who has a bigger idea of what they’re doing for you. That’s why it’s great to work with designers because they know what they want.”

Interior designers can choose from an array of contemporary rugs in wool or silk and even customize colors.

Despite the traditional appeal of antique Persian rugs, Andrea said more contemporary rugs are popular because of their versatility. Moattar is bringing in a line from Iran made with bigger knots because such rugs are getting triple the price of those with smaller knots.

It’s the ability to stay on top of trends and navigate the market that keeps the Moattars relevant.

Walking through the showroom, Jason explained that selling rugs is like selling art.

“The more craftsmanship and the time it takes to weave it, the more expensive it’s going to be. But in antique rugs, it depends on the demand, and right now there is a demand for more

contemporary rugs,” he said. “An antique rug in traditional colors can sell for about $20,000. An antique in warm and red colors is going to be less expensive, but a rug made in Oushak, Turkey is about $45,000, and that’s not that bad. Oushak rugs are more in demand, and they’re all treated like art, so the prices are going to be different.”

The showroom walls are lined with antique rugs from Turkey, China, India and Pakistan. While the popularity of Turkish rugs is making them some of the pricier finds on the showroom floor, people are still paying top prices for Persian rugs, Jason said.

“Someone just came in and paid $135,000 for a Persian rug that took two years to make and we had in the showroom for over 20 years,” Jason said. “Some of the rugs here are over 150 years ago. Some of the Persian rugs here that were made for the French are over 120 years old, but because they have pinks and blacks, they’re not desirable, so that drives the cost down.”

Age is not typically the first thing the Moattars look at when buying for

the showroom. They usually find antique rugs through brokers, auctions and trade shows.

The siblings leave the buying to brokers because the political climate in many of the countries where the rugs are woven makes traveling unsafe, Andrea said.

“In Afghanistan and Pakistan, we would have to stay in a compound and have heavy security,” Andrea said. “I have a Persian last name with an American passport, and on top of everything else we’re Jewish.”

Eddie was the only one in the family who traveled to Iran to purchase rugs, and despite getting into fights on the way to school for being Jewish, he held on to his Jewish heritage. Living the American dream was about giving his children the opportunity to experience freedom.

“My dad loved this country so much. He wanted me and Jason to be fully assimilated, so he gave us American names,” Andrea said. “He was proud to be Jewish. Being Jewish and Judaism were important to him.” ■

OBITUARIES

Marion Feinstein 91, Spartanburg, S.C.

Marion Finke Feinstein, 91, of Spartanburg, S.C., passed away Friday, May 5, 2017, at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Born Nov. 7, 1925, in New York, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Anne Krein Finke and the widow of Seymour G. (Speedy) Feinstein. She was lovingly known by thousands of her students as “Miss Marion.”

After living in New York, her family moved to Springfield, Ohio, where she took her first dance class. When she was 12 years old, they moved to Spartanburg, where she continued her dance training and frequently took classes when she visited her grandparents in New York.

When Marion was 15, she met her future husband, Seymour (Speedy) Feinstein, while he was in the U.S. Army, stationed at Camp Croft. They were married three years later, and Speedy opened Marion’s, a ladies ready-to-wear store. After majoring in secretarial science at the University of South Carolina, she opened Miss Marion’s School of Dance in 1946. Miss Marion was named to Who’s Who in American Entertainment and Who’s Who in American Education. She received a resolution award from the Spartanburg County Council and from the South Carolina Legislature for her immeasurable contributions through the art of dance.

She was a member of Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and the Cecchetti Ballet Council of America. She was a former president of the Southern Council of Dance Masters and a former member of the Spartanburg Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was a member of Congregation B’nai Israel and the Sisterhood, for which she choreographed many performances. She was a lifetime member of Hadassah. Miss Marion had continued her artistic talent by painting. Everyone in the family has one of her special paintings, for which the family would like to give a special thank-you to her art teacher, Paige Davis.

Surviving family members are her children, Sandi Feinstein Friedman (Gerald) of Atlanta, Sheree Feinstein Kanter (David) of Birmingham, Ala., and Lori Feinstein Axelrod (Rob) of Spartanburg; grandchildren Jeremy Friedman (Melissa) of New York, Dr. Jared Friedman (Beth) of Atlanta, Dr. Gregory Friedman (Shari) of Birmingham, Corie Kanter McHugh (Jackie) of Charlotte, N.C., Jodi Kanter Warner (Clark) of Charlotte, Marisa Axelrod Cecil (Kent) of Spartanburg, Shauna Axelrod of Spartanburg and Steven Axelrod of Charlotte; great-grandchildren Jake, Zachary, Nate, Landon, Karis, Leighton and Lila Friedman, Mason Cecil, and Miles McHugh; brother Dr. Jay Elliot Finke of Atlanta; and many loving nieces and nephews. Along with her parents and husband, she was predeceased by a sister, Betty Finke Freed, formerly of Sumter, S.C. Pallbearers were Jeremy Friedman, Jared Friedman, Gregory Friedman, Steven Axelrod, Kent Cecil, Jackie McHugh and Clark Warner. Honorary pallbearers were Ben Stauber, Dr. Jay Bearden, Dr. Raul Lugo and Gary Polliakoff.

The funeral service was Sunday, May 7, at B’nai Israel in Spartanburg, conducted by Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz. Burial followed in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Seymour (Speedy) Feinstein Fund at Congregation B’nai Israel, 146 Heywood Ave., Spartanburg, SC 29302, or the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home, 686 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303.

The family would like to offer a very special thank-you to caregivers Dorothy Tolbert, Barbara Rice, Wanda Drummond, Susan Harris, Nancy and David Tran, and Paige Biggs and the staff of the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com. Arrangements by Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel.

www.atlantajewishtimes.com liam Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. Her memoir, “Nine Lives of a Marriage: A Curious Journey,” details her survival and life after the Holocaust.

Survivors include her son, Dr. Lewis Friedlander, Marietta; daughter and sonin-law Dr. Lynne Friedlander and Marc Goldman, Littleton, Colo.; and grandchildren Eva Marie and Katarina Friedlander and Jeremy and Ella Goldman.

Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. A graveside service was held Tuesday, May 9, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Eleanor Vrono 92, Atlanta

Eleanor Vrono, age 92, of Atlanta died Wednesday, May 3, 2017.

Eleanor was born in Atlanta on Nov. 17, 1924, to Jack and Rose Pfeffer Rothenberg. She grew up in Atlanta surrounded by a large, loving family. She graduated from Girls’ High in Atlanta and from Ohio State University. She married Harold Vrono on July 21, 1948. She was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, niece, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and aunt.

Survivors include Eleanor’s husband, Harold Vrono; a daughter, Robin Torch (Evan); sons Chuck Vrono (Marsha) and Don Vrono (Bekki); devoted grandchildren Jeremy Vrono (Megan), Samantha Torch (Aaron Konter), Zachary Vrono (Jodi), Jessica Torch (Stephan Kallus), Todd Vrono (fiancée Jamie Coffsky) and Leyton Vrono; and great-grandson Seth Vrono. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Fran Rothenberg and Irene Heller and many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her devoted and loving siblings, Mildred Shteamer and Marvin Rothenberg.

Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Ahavath Achim Synagogue or Weinstein Hospice.

A graveside service was held Friday, May 5, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Eva Friedlander Eva Friedlander, age 95, of Atlanta, mother, grandmother, author, designer and lecturer, died Sunday, May 7, 2017.

She was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1921 and survived the Holocaust.

Her experiences led her to become involved in the HIAS organization (HIAS.org), whose mission is to advocate for the protection of refugees and ensure that displaced people are treated with the dignity they deserve. She was an Atlanta interior designer and art appraiser. Eva was active in community civic organizations.

In her later years she began lecturing about the Holocaust, most often at the Wil-

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

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SPORTS

2 More Fencers for Team USA Two more athletes from Atlanta are traveling to Israel this summer to compete in the 20th World Maccabiah Games for Team USA, joining 14 others the AJT previously reported are bound for the games.

Michael Fazylov, a 15-year-old sophomore at the Walker School, and 16-year-old Sophie Goodman will compete in junior fencing in Israel from July 4 to 17.

Michael has met his $8,000 fundraising commitment, but Sophie, who found out she was selected for the games at the end of April, has only two months to raise the money.

Donations can be made at Sophie’s fundraising website, gofundme.com/ represent-the-us-in-israel.

The duo will join open fencer and native Atlantan Will Feldman in Israel in representing the United States. Open fencer Noa Allen, who the AJT previously reported would be competing, will not be participating in the games. ■

Michael Fazylov Sport: Junior saber fencing Age: 15 School: Walker School (sophomore) Current team: Arsenal Fencing Club Highest level of competition: National championships Awards or championships: Bronze medal at Regional Cadet Circuit Most exciting part of Maccabiah: “Meeting and competing with Jewish athletes from all over the world. It is an incredible honor to represent our

Go Kosher With Braves

country at an event of such magnitude that takes place in Israel. I have never been to Israel before and visiting for the first time to be an active participant in Maccabiah Games is symbolic and has a very special meaning for me.”

Sophie Goodman

Fencing Nationals 2016

Sport: Junior fencing

Fundraising info: gofundme.com/ represent-the-us-in-israel

Age: 16

Most exciting part of Maccabiah: “Being able to enjoy my passion and become more connected to my faith at the same time. Being able to represent the United States in the sport that I love and to be able to go to Israel for the first time.”

Current team: Georgia Fencing Academy Highest level of competition: Junior Olympic Trials, U.S.

What: Kosher Day Where: SunTrust Park, 755 Battery Ave., East Cobb When: 1:35 p.m. Sunday, May 21 Tickets: $11 (Sections 341 to 344) and $18 (Sections 150 to 151); groupmatics. events/event/BravesKosherDay or akc@kosheratlanta.org

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MARKETPLACE PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES

SunTrust Park is new 2017, but the Braves and Atlanta Kosher Commission are bringing back an old favorite.

Kosher Day 2017 is scheduled for Sunday, May 21, during the Atlanta Braves’ game against the Washington Nationals. Kosher concessions by Keith’s Corner Bar-B-Que will be available for purchase at the Batter’s Eye Deck, near the Home Run Porch.

Because of high demand in SunTrust Park’s first season, the event’s $11 and $18 tickets are selling quickly. Tickets must be purchased by May 12.

Kosher Day started 10 years ago to provide kosher food during at least one Braves game per year. Profits traditionally go towards Jewish education. ■

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

Slip-Sliding With Family My dad (z”l), Hy, his brother (z”l), Murray, and two of their cousins, Kenneth (z”l) and Jerry-Lilly (z”l), were among my cousins and uncles who contributed to the power and diversity of the New York workforce and to its bustling economy.

Kosher Butchers We were blessed with four kosher butchers in our family. These men were respected and adored leaders of the communities that sprang up around their shops. Young singles, newlyweds, first-time parents, police officers, mailmen (no mailwomen yet) and some middleaged women frequented their shops.

These butchers played the roles of tutors, psychologists, chefs, babysitters, mentors to the forlorn, comics, friends, financial advisers, marriage counselors, gurus of culture, parents and role models. They were at the center of their immediate communities.

Having a dad supplying his family with the best meat and chicken available did in no way guarantee a wife who loved to cook. When my husband and I joined my parents for Shabbat dinner, my husband ate at home first.

Mom (z”l) kept saying to him, “No wonder you are as skinny as a shtecken (stick); you hardly eat.”

Restaurateur One of my uncles, who served in World War II, moved with his young family from the Bronx to New Jersey — a very big deal in those days — to run a restaurant in his wife’s family factory. They were the first to own their own home, also a very big deal.

Visiting them was always a delicious feast that knew no bounds. On one of our visits, I volunteered to help my uncle wash the dishes. He proceeded to inform me that germs do not like cold water. Therefore, if you wash greasy dishes or utensils with cold water, the germs die faster.

I totally believed him until I realized he was in a state of hysteria — laughing, not crying.

MAY 12 ▪ 2017

Fabric Connoisseur One of my uncles, whose family lived with my bubbe and zayde, owned a successful shmata store.

Sometimes on the way home from elementary school, I would stop and visit. On occasion, I would spot him 38 from afar; he would be sitting outside

his shop on his wooden chair. He often had a little snack for me.

I was fascinated with all the beautiful fabrics. My uncle would name the various fabrics and finishes.

He explained why certain fabrics were considered fancy and some not, why some fabrics were perfect for a dress and others not. How much fabric I

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Candy Store Owner An aunt who lived with her family in my apartment building married a brilliant rabbi. Unfortunately, it was a great challenge to support a family as a man of the cloth, brilliant or not.

I remember the candy store he owned with his brother. Try to imagine this scene: all us cousins, and there were quite a few, descending on a store filled with more sugar than a sugar cane field and trying so hard to be respectful and polite but dying inside for that spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down or, in this case, makes the urge go away.

After selling the candy store, which I would guess threw all us kids into mourning, he worked in a slipper factory. Every Chanukah we would receive a beautiful pair of slippers.

Slipper Schlepper That would be me. My mom hated the way I walked in my slippers. I was the ultimate slipper schlepper. Mom could not listen to the sound it made on our wooden floors.

I, on the other hand, loved that sound. (I would guess my favorite game to play with my mom was opposites.)

So did I stop schlepping? Of course not, not even when my mom would shout, usually in Yiddish, “What’s wrong with your feet? Are they broken?” ■

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would need for myself to make a skirt.

He told me little stories, histories really, of where particular fabrics came from. He would show me how he measured the fabric for a customer. If there happened to be a customer in the store, he would introduce me as his favorite niece. I don’t know if that was true, but I loved hearing him say it.

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By Shaindle Schmuckler shaindle@atljewishtimes.com

“The Creator”

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

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ACROSS 1. Where many matzah crumbs land 4. Chuck Schumer, e.g.: abbr.

7. Like one with good midot 13. ___-friendly (like Israel’s new tax initiative) 14. State of one who saw the Red Sea split 15. Brie of “Community” and “Mad Men” 16. Bird accused by Lebanon of being an Israeli spy (seriously) 18. Daniel Radcliffe played one in several movies 19. Israel’s Sharon 20. Nightly (and daily) Jewish prayer 22. Yiddish-spouting tennis pro on “Red Oaks” 23. *Syrian Spadefoot, e.g. (rare amphibian rediscovered in Israel) 24. She played Carla on “Cheers” 28. Rav who was the first editor of the Babylonian Talmud 29. “___ ledodi, v’dodi li” 30. Belonging to an Eden resident 31. Shekel letters 33. “Do not fear, ___ I am with you” (Gen. 26:24) 35. Reed of rock 36. *Social justice fighter for Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews in Israel 40. Sound from a sacrifice 41. Rehovot to Bet Shemesh dir.

42. Org. that statistically isn’t as good as El Al security 43. Susie Fishbein and Gordon Ramsay, e.g.

45. Agency co-founded by Michael Ovitz 47. Larry Brown won this championship in 1988 with Kansas 51. 4 52. *American elitist stereotype hardly found in Israel

53. Mineo and Goodman’s Gal 54. Sandler’s “Spanglish” costar Téa 56. Blabs (some lashon hara) 57. Flying item in a Spielberg film 60. Legendary creator of the starred characters in this puzzle 62. Star in Ivan (Reitman’s) “Twins” 63. Start of Lag B’Omer?

64. Wts. of containers arriving in Haifa 65. Like Israel, compared with Russia 66. She must have had daughters 67. Spy org. that ceased operating before Mossad was born

“Veep” 26. Parsha next to BeHar 27. Sun Devil sch. where Al Michaels was a sportswriter 30. Fine works of Max Weber and Max Lieberman 32. Summer Shabbat dessert 34. Where Coors or He’Brew might be found?

36. Physicist Niels 37. Singer Lisa who has released four children’s albums 38. Nut no-no at many Jewish camps 39. Last name of singer Beck 40. Stage name of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch 44. *Sooty, e.g. (bird of prey found in the Negev) 46. ___ it (in my opinion) 48. ___ arms (possible declaration from David against DOWN the Philistines) 1. Kiddush ___ (monthly 49. Steve and Woody prayer) 50. Give the value of (a 2. Cars that appear in several German Colony home) Marvel films 52. Like Aaron Sorkin’s 3. Like many European Jews in dialogue the 1930s 55. Tref Eilat swimmers 4. King before David 56. Talmudic ___ (lore) 5. JFK alternative when flying 57. Mourned, in a Jewish way to 61-Down 58. “Woe unto us! For we ___ 6. Schindler portrayer spoiled” (Jer. 4:13) 7. Scraped, as with hoofs 59. Echad, at the Louvre 8. New Jews (in Israel) 61. Ben-Gurion letters 9. *Screenless monitor found around Be’er Sheva, e.g.?

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 10. Biblical bk.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 K I S S M E E W E S T S A after Kings II 14 15 16 I S H T A R M O L E A N R 11. AL home of 17 18 19 B O I L M A Y A M E E R S Kevin Pillar 20 21 22 S H A K E J A K E A W A K E 12. Make 23 24 25 A L E U R I O L E H Havdalah, e.g.

26 27 28 29 30 A K E D R A K E C A K E B 17. Hummus 31 32 33 D R O R I N S A B E ingredient 34 35 36 37 38 39 S A L A D S C I S C E L 21. Israeli port 40 41 42 M R G W O N G H E E 23. What Mom 43 44 45 M A K E L A K E B R A K E might assign 46 47 48 49 E L I U E S A C I D when getting 50 51 52 53 54 ready for a seder 55T A K E 56B L A K E 57S T E A K 58 R A V L A V I H A N D I N 25. Tony who 59 60 61 I N A O M E N A N E I N U has won Emmys 62 63 64 A S H G A N G H E R M A N with Dreyfus for

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