2018 EDITION
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VOL. XCIII NO. 20
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Soaring Close to Home
MAY 18, 2018 | 4 SIVAN 5778
Experience the indoor sport of free-falling in Cobb County, Page 20 INSIDE Candle Lighting ����������������������4 Local News ����������������������������� 21 Shavuot Calendar ������������������� 5 Home ������������������������������������� 24 Israel News ������������������������������7 Obituaries ������������������������������26 Opinion ���������������������������������� 10 Marketplace ��������������������������28 Business ��������������������������������� 13 Arts ������������������������������������������30 Staycations ���������������������������� 14 Crossword ������������������������������ 31
Staycations for the summer and beyond, Pages 14-20 Photo courtesy of iFly
After a quick tutorial on hand signals and body positions, each iFly participant gets goggles, a helmet and a flight suit for two minutes of flying on a 100-mph wind.
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Toward a Different Light the people around us. It’s a reminder to create and maintain wholesome relationships, those between each of us and G-d, and those between people. Unlike feel-good affirmations in self-help guides, blessings carry a
Light & Bones By Marita Anderson
powerful, intimate message anchored in the recognition of the divine nature of being. Meditation teacher Yael Shy writes: “Giving blessings is a very active practice, and a slightly presumptuous one — bringing holiness into space between human beings.” The call for G-d’s face to rise toward us makes us feel seen and supported, elevating our own faces. The priestly blessing has permeated Jewish family life, and parents are empowered to bless their children, traditionally at the beginning of Shabbat, by placing hands on their children’s heads. According to Rashi, the text of this blessing is written in a way that signals that it “should not be said in a hurried manner, but with concentration and with wholeheartedness.” Extending the theme of encountering faces, there is also a tradition of singing Lecha Dodi and welcoming the beloved bride — the face of Shabbat — to enter our homes. My husband and I have blessed our children every night since they were born. Keeping the cadence of the blessing, we sometimes insert other words, depending on our kids’ unique needs. Regardless of the conflicts, stresses and hectic schedules of the day, these words remind them that their faces are gateways for connection. The blessing offers them the possibility that we are all capable of becoming vehicles through which the mystery enters the world. That’s a powerful message, especially as our oldest son is moving into his teenage years, when many children are tempted to hide their faces from the gazes of others. As we carve out new paths of being human in a technologically advanced life, may we remember to lift each other up by seeing each other’s faces. And may we remember to bend toward the light of the natural world and toward that which is holy. ■
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
The past few years I have made time for meditation retreats, and friends are often curious to know whether I find it challenging. Without a doubt, the most difficult part of being in silence for a week is staying off technology, a practice with which I struggle. It is common knowledge that our most beloved gadgets were designed with features that trigger addictive behaviors. I am deeply aware of my longing for my iPhone when I self-limit access to it. We are all distracted and bored with and without our screens. My 9-year-old son was recently visiting a friend whose attention he could not reach because the friend was engrossed in a video game. After 20 minutes of waiting, he left the boy’s room, and the visit was over. It is not just kids who are having a difficult time connecting face to face. When we go out to dinner, we often see families sitting together, each person on a separate device. And let’s be honest: How often is the blue screen the last thing we see before we fall asleep? We are slowly learning to adjust to the reality of human faces bending toward the light of screens. On the one hand, I feel grateful for my pocket-size computer because knowledge flows freely and quickly through my thumbs. On the other hand, the endless words and images often make me feel numb and detached from my feelings. The speed of tech and the rate at which responses are demanded dim the senses. Most disturbingly, we often don’t look at each other’s faces. As if speaking directly to our times, there is a curious interruption in the Torah narrative of Parshat Nasso, in which G-d teaches the priests a special blessing for the children of Israel. There are several possible translations for this blessing, but the essence is this: “May G-d bless you and protect you. May G-d’s countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you. May G-d’s face rise toward you and grant you shalom.” (Numbers 6:23-27) The word shalom in Hebrew means peace, and it also means wholeness or completeness. Our prayer for this type of shalom helps strengthen our efforts in being mindful of the sacred, as well as the possibility of divine light being reflected in the faces of
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CALENDAR: MAY 17-MAY 24 PUBLISHER
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EDITORIAL
THURSDAY, MAY 17
CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES
The Alamo. Retired corporate execu-
Bamidbar Friday, May 18, light candles at 8:16 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Shabbat ends at 9:17 p.m. Shavuot Saturday, May 19, light candles after 9:17 p.m. Sunday, May 20, light candles after 9:18 p.m. Monday, May 21, holiday ends at 9:18 p.m. Naso Friday, May 25, light candles at 8:21 p.m. Saturday, May 26, Shabbat ends at 9:22 p.m.
tive Brandt Ross speaks about the Alamo at 10:30 a.m. to the Edgewise group at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free for members, $5 for others; www.atlantajcc. org/knowledgewise or 678-812-4070.
AJC annual meeting. American Jewish Committee’s Atlanta Chapter looks at how business, politics and religion have evolved in Israel’s 70 years over lunch at 11:45 a.m. at 103 West, 103 W. Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead. Tickets are $35; www.ajc.org/ atlanta or 404-233-5501.
Toco Hills, is one site for a national J Street discussion featuring International Crisis Group President Rob Malley, followed by a local conversation, at 7 p.m. Free; act.jstreet.org/ event/rising-moment_attend/114.
Editor
MICHAEL JACOBS
mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com Staff Writer
SARAH MOOSAZADEH sarah@atljewishtimes.com
Contributors This Week MARITA ANDERSON TOBY BLOCK RABBI DAVID GEFFEN YONI GLATT JACOB GLUCK JORDAN GORFINKEL LEAH R. HARRISON MARCIA CALLER JAFFE KEVIN C. MADIGAN RABBI JORDAN OTTENSTEIN LOGAN C. RITCHIE DAVE SCHECHTER SHAINDLE SCHMUCKLER CADY SCHULMAN RICHARD H. SCHWARTZ DUANE STORK JACOB ZACK
CREATIVE & MEDIA DIRECTOR DEBORAH HERR
Acoustic cafe. Rabbi Brian Glusman
Food trucks. Celebrate Israel@70 with the Marcus JCC, including kosher food, Israeli dancing, live music, performances by day school students, games and crafts, at Liane Levetan Park at Brook Run, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Free; www.atlantajcc.org.
The Tasting. The annual benefit for Jewish Family & Career Services’ Independent Living Program starts at 7 p.m. at the Grand Hyatt, 3300 Peachtree Road, Buckhead. Tickets are $100 in advance, $125 at the door; 501auctions.com/thetasting2018.
deborah@atljewishtimes.com
COMMUNITY LIAISON JEN EVANS
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CONTACT INFORMATION
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
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SATURDAY, MAY 19
Raising girls. Miriam Feldman leads a discussion for mothers of girls up to age 10 about raising the transmitters of the Torah at 5:30 p.m. at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills. Free; 404-633-0551 or www.bethjacobatlanta.org.
his book “How to Grill Everything” at 7:30 p.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for others; www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.
FRIDAY, MAY 18
Shabbat dinner. The Sixth Point holds OneShabbat pizza dinners in Dunwoody and West Midtown at 7 p.m. to get feedback on the organization. Free; thesixthpoint.org/event/ free-shabbat-dinner-discussion or monique.arar@thesixthpoint.org.
“Barbecue Nation” exhibit, running through June 17, the Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead, shows a short Southern Foodways Alliance film about Valentina’s Tex Mex BBQ at 7 p.m. Admission is $15 for members and $20 for others; www.atlantahistorycenter. com or 404-814-4000.
Teen swings. The Marcus JCC invites sixth- to eighth-graders to TopGolf Alpharetta, 10900 Westside Parkway, for lunch and play at noon. Tickets are $35 for JCC members, $45 for others; www.atlantajcc.org or 678-8124082.
Post-infertility support. The JewGrillin’. Mark Bittman speaks about
BBQ screening. In support of its
SUNDAY, MAY 20
MONDAY, MAY 21
GENERAL OFFICE 404.883.2130 KAYLENE@ATLJEWISHTIMES.COM The Atlanta Jewish Times is printed in Georgia and is an equal opportunity employer. The opinions expressed in the Atlanta Jewish Times do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, Ga.
and the Weber School’s Drew Cohen lead a musical celebration of Shabbat at 7 p.m. at Alon’s, 4505 AshfordDunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.atlantajcc.org or 678-812-4161.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
ish Fertility Foundation, 60 Lenox Pointe, Buckhead, offers a support group at 6:45 p.m. for pregnant women who had faced infertility. Free; www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/ expecting-after-infertility.html.
TUESDAY, MAY 22
Israel in the media. Bob Bahr leads a weekly discussion on public perceptions of Israel in the media age at 7 p.m. each Tuesday through June 5 at Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Sandy Springs. Free; 770-3951340 or templeemanuelatlanta.org.
Town hall on Israel. Congregation Bet Haverim, 2074 LaVista Road,
THURSDAY, MAY 24
Rosie the Riveter. Carol Cain, who portrays the iconic World War II factory worker at the Little White House and elsewhere, speaks about Rosie at 10:30 a.m. to the Edgewise group at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free for members, $5 for others; www.atlantajcc. org/knowledgewise or 678-812-4070.
Frankly Speaking. Sherry Frank leads a women’s discussion group on current events for NCJW Atlanta, 6303 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, at noon (bring your own lunch and NCJW provides the beverages). Free; RSVP by May 23 to christineh@ ncjwatlanta.org or 404-843-9600.
“Quieting the Silence.” The Blue Dove Foundation holds a discussion on Jewish mental health and substance abuse at 7 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. Free; tinyurl.com/y8gjpqx5.
SHAVUOT HAPPENINGS
MAY 18-MAY 21 Torah study. Rabbi Ari Kaiman and Ariel Root Wolpe lead a night of sound, sight, taste and feel at Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Morningside, starting with seudah shlishit at 7:45 p.m. Free; shearithisrael.com.
Study time. Rabbi Lou Feldstein
FRIDAY, MAY 18
Ice cream socials. The Marcus JCC hold two events to help families start Shabbat and get in the Shavuot spirit. Bring a picnic meal and splash into Shabbat at the Old Fourth Ward Splash Pad, 800 Dallas St., at 4:30 p.m., or do crafts while eating dairy treats at Menchie’s, 4475 Roswell Road, No. 205, East Cobb, at 5 p.m. Free; www.atlantajcc.org.
Israel@70. Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, East Cobb, focuses on Israel, including an Israeli-themed dairy dinner, starting at 8 p.m. Free; etzchaim.net/tikkun.
Dinner and study. Anshi Rabbi Mayer Freedman and his wife, Shani, hold study and a dairy dinner at their home, 1113 University Drive, Morningside, starting at 8:30 p.m. Free; 404-951-1026 or mayerfreedman @ atlantakollel.org.
Dessert and learning. Working with Congregation Dor Tamid and Temple Beth Tikvah, Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Sandy Springs, hosts two rounds of study sessions after desserts and schmoozing at 6 p.m. Free; templeemanuelatlanta.org.
of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, starts Shavuot at 9:30 p.m. with a dairy dinner honoring study leaders Rabbi Jeremy Wieder and Dr. Chaviva Levin. Dinner is $25 for members, $30 for others (study is free); www. yith.org or 404-315-1417. town Jewish Academy, 928 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland, starts its night with 10-minute talks at 10:30 p.m., followed by Chavruta Detective and the Sinai Files. Free; intownjewishacademy.org.
Food study. Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, examines food and hunger after Mincha at 7:30 p.m. Free; www. bnaitorah.org/shavuot.
MONDAY, MAY 21 Siyum and awards. Young Israel of
SUNDAY, MAY 20
Sundae breakfast. Chaya Mushka Children’s House, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs, offers an ice cream breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Free; www.bethtefillah.org/justforkids.
Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, honors three members and celebrates the communitywide completion of the Torah with a dairy reception at 5 p.m. Free; www.yith.org.
Ice cream. Congregation Bet Haverim holds adult learning at 10 a.m. and builds an ice cream mountain at 12:30 p.m. at the Friends School, 862 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur. Free; www.congregationbethaverim.org.
Ice cream. Chabad of Peachtree City, 632 Dogwood Trail, Tyrone, holds a Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:
www.atlantajewishconnector.com
This calendar is sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT.
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All-night learning. New Toco Shul, 2003 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, holds study sessions all night with Congregation Netzach Israel and Chabad of Toco Hills, starting at 11:30 p.m. Free; newtocoshul.com or 770-765-7485.
All-night learning. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., Buckhead, in partnership with The Temple and Limmud Atlanta + Southeast, hosts a night of study, including an all-night intensive on community in the age of radical individualism. It starts with Mincha at 7 p.m. and seudah shlishit (third meal with learning) at 7:30, and the study sessions begin at 9:30 p.m. Free; RSVP at www.facebook.com/ events/182283889088604.
Hamizrach, 1858 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, starts the learning at midnight. Free; nerhamizrach.com.
Scholars in residence. Young Israel
TED and more. Chabad Intown’s In-
SATURDAY, MAY 19
All-night study. Congregation Ner
children’s parade and reads the Ten Commandments at 10:30 a.m. and eats ice cream at 11:30. Free; RSVP to shternie@chabadsouthside.com.
Haim Haviv Owner
1820-C Independence Square Dunwoody, GA 30338 770-396-3456
Max Haviv
Graduate Gemologist, GIA Appraiser, NAJA
Late-night study. Rabbi Yossi Lew leads learning until you drop, starting at 11:15 p.m., at Chabad of Peachtree City, 632 Dogwood Trail, Tyrone. Free; www.chabadsouthside. com or rabbi@chabadsouthside.com.
All-night study. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, spends the night in study, starting
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Shavuot starts Saturday night, May 19, as Shabbat ends about 9:17 and continues until about 9:18 Monday night, May 21. The following are among the options in metro Atlanta.
leads Torah learning at the home of Congregation Beth Shalom Rabbi Mark Zimmerman, starting at 8 p.m. Snacks include sundaes. Call Beth Shalom at 770-399-5300 for details.
at midnight. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org for details.
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SHAVUOT
Applying Torah Values to Our Diets Because Shavuot is z’man matan Torateinu (the commemoration of the giving of the Torah), many religious Jews stay up the entire first night of the holiday to discuss Torah teachings. Those Torah teachings include that Jews should preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people and pursue peace. By becoming vegetarians, preferably vegans, Jews would partake in the diet most consistent with those teachings. Please consider: • While the Torah mandates that people should be careful about preserving their health and their lives (Deuteronomy 4:9 and 4:15), numerous scientific studies have linked animalbased diets to heart disease, stroke, many forms of cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases. • While the Torah forbids tsa’ar ba’alei chayim (inflicting unnecessary pain on animals, based on Exodus 23:5, Deuteronomy 22:1, 22:10 and 23:4, and other Torah verses), most farm animals, including those for kosher consumers, are raised on factory farms, where they live in cramped spaces and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight, exercise and any other enjoyment of life before slaughter.
• While the Torah teaches that we are to be G-d’s partners and co-workers in preserving the environment (Genesis 2:15, for example), modern livestock agriculture contributes to climate change, soil erosion, and air and water pollution and involves overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, and other environmental damage. This is an especially important consideration when some
Guest Column By Richard H. Schwartz
climate experts argue that we may soon reach a tipping point when climate change will spin out of control with disastrous consequences. • While the Torah mandates bal tashchit, that we are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything of value (Deuteronomy 20:19-20), and that we are not to use more than is needed to accomplish a purpose, animal agriculture involves the wasteful use of grain, land, water, energy and other resources. • While the Torah stresses that we are to assist the poor and share our bread with the hungry (Leviticus 19:9-
10, Deuteronomy 24:17-22), over 70 percent of the grain grown in the United States is fed to animals destined for slaughter, while almost 1 billion of the world’s people are chronically malnourished and an estimated 20 million people worldwide die from hunger and its effects each year. One could say dayenu (it would be enough) after any of these arguments because each constitutes a serious conflict between Jewish values and current practice that should impel Jews to consider a plant-based diet. Combined, they make an urgent, compelling case. That Jews should be vegetarians is reinforced by other Torah teachings. The first chapter of the Torah has G-d’s original, strictly vegetarian diet: “And G-d said, ‘Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed — to you it shall be for food’” (Genesis 1:29). A comparison of humans with carnivorous animals reinforces the Torah implication that we were designed to eat plant foods. Humans do not, for example, have the claws and daggerlike teeth of carnivorous animals. While G-d gave permission for humans to eat meat after the flood during the life of Noah (Genesis 9:3), biblical commentators believe that this was a concession. According to Isaac Arama, G-d provided a second
vegetarian attempt with manna while the Israelites were in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. When flesh was reluctantly provided in the form of quail in response to complaints, a great plague broke out, and many Israelites died at a place named “the Graves of Lust.” While the Torah speaks positively about plant foods, including the seven species of Deuteronomy 8:8, flesh foods are associated with lust and even called basar ta’avah, the meat of lust. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the chief rabbi of pre-state Israel, and others said the messianic period will be vegetarian, as was the case in the Garden of Eden. They base this conclusion on the prophecy of Isaiah (11:6) that “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb. … The lion shall eat straw like the ox. … No one shall hurt nor destroy in all of G-d’s holy mountain.” Jews who wish to live consistently with Torah teachings should sharply reduce or eliminate their consumption of animal products. Such a dietary shift would help revitalize Judaism by showing the current relevance of eternal Jewish teachings, improve the health of Jews, and shift our precious but imperiled planet toward a sustainable path. ■ Richard H. Schwartz, the president emeritus of Jewish Veg, is the author of “Who Stole My Religion? Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet.”
Shavuot Brings Us Closer to Sinai Experience
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
The sages tell us: “If the children of Israel needed the outstretched arm of G-d to free them from slavery, they also need a strong arm pointing them in the direction of becoming complete human beings.” Malka Drucker has suggested that “Shavuot celebrates the summer harvest and becoming partners with G-d to perfect the world.” For her, “the holiday marks the one time G-d came close and spoke to the entire people, all 600,000, standing at Mount Sinai in the searing noonday sun.” In Atlanta for Shavuot 5694/1934, HaRav Tuvia Geffen (my grandfather) of Congregation Shearith Israel said: “When Am Yisrael brought the bikkurim (first fruits) to the Beit HaMikdash, there was a feeling of happiness. The sorrow of the Omer had been concluded, and the new grain was a 6 sign from G-d that the days of summer
ahead would provide a deeper commitment to Torah and mitzvot.” “Bikkurim and Torah complement each other and reinforce our faith and desire to follow G-d’s will here on
Guest Column By Rabbi David Geffen
Earth,” the noted scholar Berel Wein said. “Shavuot is more than cheesecake and an all-night Torah learning experience. It is rather the reliving of Sinai and its value system, its lofty goals and the long road ahead.” Poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote appropriate words for Shavuot: We shape ourselves the joy or fear Of which our coming life is made, And fill our future atmosphere With sunshine and with shade.
The tissue of the life to be We weave with colors all our own. And in the field of destiny We reap as we have sown. Rabbi Bernard Raskas said: “What is the crux of the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments)? They must be written with a person’s lifeblood, or they are nothing. A believing Jew does not worship the Aseret HaDibrot; he lives them. He or she does not pay them lip service, but the individual gives them service of the mind and heart.” “In a day of change, my Jewishness blesses me with a stability that comes from rootedness in time and history,” Rabbi Morris Adler said. “It gives me the freedom to find my place uncoerced in the large expanse of a great tradition which does not seek to drive me into a cell of dogmatic imprisonment. Judaism enables me to join my efforts for justice with the universal struggle for human rights for all.” In Kibbutz Ashdot Yaakov, there is
a shoemaker who holds two doctorates from European universities. Dr. Sidney Greenberg was anxious to learn why this man made aliyah. A native of France, he described how a half-century ago he always talked about the need to “conquer” the Sea of Galilee, cleanse it of malaria and make it fruitful. Suddenly, he thought, “Why not me?” So to Israel he came, but he never stops asking, “Why not me?” Greenberg concluded: “The glory of the human race are those who ask ‘Why not me?’ when there is great work to be done — visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, cheering the distressed, fighting for truth, protesting injustice, ensuring morality throughout the world.” May our prayers be pleasing to You, O G-d, because the lips that speak them also speak words of hope and encouragement and great kindness to all. ■
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ISRAEL NEWS
A Hug and Soldiers’ Stories Tug on FIDF Hearts Kadosh, an artillery instructor, and Zachary Olstein, a combat engineer. Referring to the violence that day on the Gaza-Israel border, Deal offered support for the IDF in what was “certainly a rough day.” Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), a doubleamputee Army veteran of Iraq who volunteered with the IDF in 2015 before his election to Congress in 2016, said, “Today is just that perfect example that we are not going to surrender who we are. We are going to acknowledge what the truth is. … We will not surrender to the whim of everybody else.” Rabbi Natan Trief’s tale of not surrendering involved his fight to enlist in the IDF as a lone soldier at age 29. He
wound up serving in a combat unit specializing in search and rescue during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2009. His service was a prelude for the story of Lt. Shlomo, who served in Gaza in 2014’s Operation Protective Edge. He told of going into a terrorist tunnel in the futile hope of rescuing three soldiers who had been killed. He and another soldier were shouting to prevent fellow Israelis from shooting at them in the tunnel. “I knew that if there was a terrorist waiting for us, he could take action and kill me,” Shlomo said. “I was just hoping that the second soldier behind me could respond fast enough to protect himself.” The tunnel was wired with explo-
sives. “I was sure that I was going to die in that tunnel, but the only thing I could think of was preventing Hamas from kidnapping my fellow comrades, my brothers, my friends.” He survived to become a recipient of an FIDF Impact scholarship, a program that pays for college but requires its military-veteran recipients to do 130 hours of community service per year. Since the program launched in 2002, Sobel said, 13,500 Impact recipients have performed more than 5 million hours of service, making it the largest community service program in Israel. ■ See photos and video from the gala at atlantajewishtimes.com.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
A hug between an Israeli navy officer and his grandmother sent a powerful message at the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala Monday night, May 14, at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. That sailor, identified only as Capt. Y for security reasons, helped bring a German-built submarine home to Israel — a difficult assignment because his Polish grandmother, Judith, nearly died in the Holocaust. As Capt. Y recounted, she survived in part because a German soldier let the little girl and her mother go during an escape. But he did so out of spite, not mercy, saying Hitler would be sure that no Jews were left on Earth. Judith joined her grandson in traveling from Israel for the gala, held on the 70th anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, and joined him onstage for a presentation of IDF@70 pins and flowers by IDF soldiers to the Holocaust survivors in the room. “I am so excited to see a room filled with IDF supporters and also the soldiers in uniforms, sending a clear message, ‘Never again,’ ” she said, embracing Y in front of more than 575 people, a record crowd that raised more than $750,000 for an organization founded in 1981 by Holocaust survivors. “FIDF was their way to provide humanitarian support to thank the IDF combat soldiers for their sacrifice,” said Garry Sobel, FIDF’s Southeast chairman and a national board member. “And make no mistake: It’s the IDF soldiers that ensure that when we say never again, we mean never again.” FIDF’s CEO, Maj. Gen. Meir KlifiAmir, sent a similar message to an earlier VIP reception. “We have one of the best militaries in the world with the highest morals in the world. … Without a strong IDF, we cannot exist,” he said, adding that the second key to the amazing country Israel has built in 70 years is its strong bond with the United States. The bond was exemplified by the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem earlier that day. Klifi-Amir called it one of the happiest days of his life and praised President Donald Trump. “Today I’m a proud Israeli. I’m a proud Jew,” he said. “I’m a proud general.” Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal added his praise for Trump and his pleasure at seeing many young people in the military uniforms of the United States and Israel at the VIP event. They included two of Atlanta’s 30 current lone soldiers: Cpls. Daphna
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ISRAEL NEWS
Language of Diplomacy at play in ‘West Bank’ In the realm of international diplomacy and conflict resolution, precise language is of the utmost importance. Words and labels often contain untold meaning; the wrong turn of phrase or an incorrect translation can inflame tensions instantly. Perhaps no arena is more linguistically delicate than the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In late April it was reported that the United States’ ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, sought to use “Judaea and Samaria” in official remarks and statements when referring to what the international community widely refers to as the West Bank. Sources told The Associated Press that the Trump administration prevented him from doing so. The region between Israel and Jordan has been a flash point since it was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War of June 1967. Had Friedman been permitted to use Judaea and Samaria, it would have signaled a major shift in longstanding U.S. foreign policy. The phrase is the combination
of two ancient Hebrew terms. Judaea originates from the name Yehuda; it is the area southwest of Jerusalem that was ruled by the Israelite tribe of Judah from 934 to 586 B.C.E. Samaria (Shomron) was an ancient city
Guest Column By Jacob Zack
purchased by King Omri in the ninth century B.C.E. Over time, the name came to represent the area bounded by the Jezreel Valley and the Jerusalem Mountains. The Israeli military adopted the phrase in 1968. Although most often used by Israelis on the political and religious right, the resurrection of the use of Judaea and Samaria indicated that the Israeli government recognized the region to be a historically significant part of the Jewish homeland. The term West Bank, or ad-Diffah I-Garbiyyah in Arabic, was first used by
Jordan to differentiate the region from the east bank of the Jordan River. This differentiation was made necessary in 1949 when the armistice lines between Israel and Jordan were accepted. After two years of administration over the area, Jordan annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem on April 24, 1950. Only the United Kingdom ever recognized this annexation. Despite the recentness of “West Bank,” the term has been almost uniformly accepted as the “correct” way to refer to the region. Today, the phrase Judaea and Samaria is widely viewed as a biblical term. However, in the partition plan (U.N. Resolution 181) passed Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations uses the term to describe the region. The resolution states that “the boundary of the hill country of Samaria and Judaea starts on the Jordan River at the Wadi Malih southeast of Beisan and runs due west to meet the Beisan-Jericho road.” The term can more aptly be described as historical, given that it was used both earlier and for much longer than its Jordanian/Arabic counterpart.
The first Israeli prime minister to use Judaea and Samaria in nearly all statements was Menachem Begin, who recognized the significance of precise diplomatic language. Israeli prime ministers in Labor and Likud have followed his lead in adopting the phrase. In 1992, Yitzhak Rabin presented his government to the Knesset by stating that a final step toward a permanent solution must include Palestinian “autonomy in Judaea and Samaria.” In 2003, Ariel Sharon discussed “a democratic Palestinian state with territorial contiguity in Judaea and Samaria.” Benjamin Netanyahu said last year that “Israel will never withdraw from any Jewish settlement in Judaea and Samaria.” The term has never been implemented in any official capacity by the United States and would represent an unprecedented U.S. recognition of Israel’s historical claim to the region. ■ Jacob Zack is the academic research coordinator with the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org).
Embassy Opening Celebrated During Gaza Violence
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
The United States opened its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem on Monday, May 14, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence. “Remember this moment. This is history. President Trump, by recognizing history, you have made history,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the ceremony celebrating the move of the diplomatic mission from Tel Aviv. “All of us are deeply moved. All of us are deeply grateful.” It was the day after Yom Yerushalayim, marking the 51st anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, and the day before the Palestinian observance of Nakhba (Catastrophe) Day. The joyous ceremony in Jerusalem came while an estimated 40,000 Gazans launched the biggest and most violent of six weeks of border protests, including efforts to bomb and charge through the fence, gunfire, and incendiary devices. The result was the largest casualty totals of the March of Return movement, with 58 Palestinians killed and some 2,700 injured. “As we have seen from the protests of the last month and even today, those provoking violence are part of the problem and not part of the solution,” 8 Jared Kushner, representing his father-
Photo by Kobi Gideon, Government Press Office
Photo by Jacki Levy, Jerusalem Municipality
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat welcomes Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and the rest of the White House delegation.
in-law, President Donald Trump, said at the embassy ceremony. “What today is about is following through on what the president promised and believes and is also a recognition of reality,” White House spokesman Raj Shah said in Washington. The U.S. delegation in Jerusalem included Ambassador David Friedman, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and about a dozen Republican members of Congress. The work to convert a consulate into an embassy cost $400,000. “It is an honor to be here today to celebrate with dear friends of Jerusalem. Today is a historic day for the eternal capital of the Jewish people,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who
hosted a reception for the Americans. “When I began my work in public service for Jerusalem, our goal was to bring Jerusalem back to its former glory — to make Jerusalem great again. By taking the bold step of moving the U.S. Embassy to its rightful place in Jerusalem, President Trump is helping us make Jerusalem great again.” The embassy opening was a great day for Israel, America and peace, Netanyahu said. “A peace that is built on lies will crash on the rocks of Middle Eastern reality. You can only build peace on truth, and the truth is that Jerusalem has been and will always be the capital of the Jewish people, the capital of the Jewish state.”
Nations other than the United States expressed various degrees of outrage at the deaths on the Gaza border. South Africa and Turkey recalled their ambassadors, and other nations urged Israel to exercise restraint and even spoke of possible war crimes. None, however, offered meaningful suggestions for how to peacefully repel thousands of people determined to charge across a border and carry out violence. Directions issued by Hamas and interviews with March of Return participants revealed intentions to kill or kidnap Israelis. “We are here in Jerusalem, protected by the brave soldiers of the army of Israel, led by our chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot, and our brave soldiers,” Netanyahu said. “Our brave soldiers are protecting the borders of Israel as we speak today. We salute them all.” A White House statement said the embassy move will advance efforts to reach a comprehensive peace deal, to which the administration remains committed. Trump sees the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital as a condition of any peace deal while also insisting that the final status of Jerusalem is up to the Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate. ■
ISRAEL NEWS Zalman Shazar, Israel’s third president, appears on the 200-shekel note.
Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details. May 18, 1973: Avraham Shlonsky, a renowned Israeli poet, editor and translator, dies in Tel Aviv at the age of 73. May 19, 1950: The first two flights of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, which carries most of Iraq’s Jewish population to Israel by January 1952, take off from Baghdad for Lod via Cyprus with 175 immigrants. The airlift, also known as Operation Ali Baba, is planned and executed by the Israeli Ministry of Aliyah after the passage in March of an Iraqi law giving Jews a one-year window to emigrate. May 20, 2011: Arieh Handler, a native of what is now the Czech Republic who moved to Israel in 1948 and took a leadership role in the religious Zionist movement Hapoel Ha-Mizrahi, dies. He had moved back to London in 1956, then in 2006, at the age of 90, made aliyah for the second time. May 21, 1963: Zalman Shazar, a drafter of Israel’s Declaration of Independence who had helped Jews make aliyah from Russia in the 1920s, is elected Israel’s third president. May 22, 1975: After a breakdown in diplomatic talks between President Gerald Ford and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, 76 U.S. senators sign a letter stressing the importance of military and economic assistance to Israel and urging the president to stand with Israel. May 23, 1420: Austrian Archduke Albert V issues the Wiener Gesera, ordering all his Jewish subjects imprisoned and their possessions confiscated, after libelous accusations are made against an influential member of Vienna’s Jewish community. May 24, 1948: Going against the advice of top military leaders, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders an assault on the fortress of Latrun, considered a key to liberating Jerusalem.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Today in Israeli History
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OPINION
Our View
Tempered Joy
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Monday, May 14, should have been a day of pure joy for Israeli and American Jews. Not only did it mark, according to the non-Jewish calendar, the 70th anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, but it also fulfilled a 2-decade-old American promise to treat Israel like any other nation and place our embassy in that nation’s self-declared capital. Say what you want about President Donald Trump, but he made good on his campaign pledge to move the embassy — a vow broken by his three predecessors. Almost nothing is simple in the Middle East, but this is: Israel is a sovereign nation that bases its government in its capital city, Jerusalem. Foreign nations that have diplomatic business with Israel ought to put their embassies where the government is. We’ve seen people bewildered that Trump gave something to Israel without getting anything back, such as a freeze on settlements, and others outraged that he endangered the U.S. role as a neutral third party in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Nonsense. The president didn’t give Israel anything more than the respect owed any sovereign nation, and he obeyed U.S. law, rejecting the fiction adopted by Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama that moving the U.S. Embassy created a national security risk. If anything, the embassy move ends the practice of giving the Palestinians something — a refusal to treat Israel like a full-fledged member of the international community — for nothing. As for the peace process, there is none. The status quo failed to bring the Palestinians to the table for serious negotiations; perhaps the embassy move will shake Mahmoud Abbas (or his successor, if he ever leaves office) enough to spark peace talks. It’s worth a try, especially because the U.S. Embassy is in a part of Jerusalem that has been under Israel’s control since 1948. Putting the embassy there does not prejudge the city’s final status. So we join with most of the Jewish people in seeing the embassy move as a reason for celebration. Unfortunately, we rarely get joy without sadness. Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) is immediately preceded by Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day). Rosh Hashanah leads to Yom Kippur. Passover mixes the excitement of the Exodus with the grief of the Ten Plagues and the drowning of Egyptian soldiers in the Red Sea. So it was that nearly 60 Palestinians were killed along the Gaza-Israel border. We mourn the loss of life, and we regret Israel’s contribution to creating unlivable conditions in Gaza. But the “nonviolent” Gaza protests included bombs, Molotov cocktails, incendiary kites, firearms and thousands of people trying to break through the border fence into Israel, where they would inflict as much death and destruction as possible. The Israel Defense Forces shouldn’t be criticized for protecting Israel’s territory and people, and no one should misunderstand whose hands are washed in the blood of the Palestinian dead: Hamas’. We hope Israel will soon ease restrictions on Gaza residents, including traveling and fishing, and see whether kindness will win over some hearts and minds. As with Jerusalem, the status quo hasn’t 10 worked, so Israel should try something new. ■
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We Thought She’d Outlive Us All When my grandmother was born July 28, 1913, to Sylvester and Ida Greenwald in Pattison, Miss. — little more than a crossroads in the greater Port Gibson area — Leo Frank had not yet been convicted of killing little Mary Phagan. Babe Ruth was a year from his major-league debut as a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. World War I was more than a year away, and the GaGa attends president, Woodrow Wilson, would wait until after her 104th his second inauguration in 1917 to join the fighting. birthday The radio wasn’t a feature of home entertainlunch July ment, let alone television, cable TV or the Internet. 28, 2017, at Clancy’s. Her She was 21 years younger than the synagogue martini is on in Port Gibson, where her family worshipped before the table out moving to New Orleans, but she was still going of the frame. strong more than 30 years after the congregation family to attend college, the academic achievement there closed in 1986. she seemed most proud of was winning the Virginia Elise Greenwald Jacobs — GaGa to my brother Lazarus Medal as the top student in her Sinai conand me and then to my children because I failed firmation class. Perhaps my brother, Andrew, and I when trying to say her desired “Gran” — was simply learned something from that example, given that my a fact of life, as much a part of New Orleans to me career is in the Jewish community and Andrew is a as Galatoire’s, the St. Charles streetcar, the French religion professor. Market and the statue of Gen. Beauregard we could When my grandparents visited me in Ireland see from the third-floor apartment where she and during my junior year abroad at Trinity College, she my grandfather, Bernard (PaPa), moved in 1974. strayed from the martini GaGa was a toddler habit to sample the Guinwhen that statue was ness — they say it’s better unveiled in 1915; she was Editor’s Notebook the closer you are to the living in the St. Anna’s By Michael Jacobs Dublin factory — and nursing care facility sevmjacobs@atljewishtimes.com loved it, concluding that eral miles away when the it tasted like a chocolate city of New Orleans took milkshake. the general down one year I remember her sitting in some pub with her ago. My grandmother outlived a Confederate statue. pint and flashing the biggest grin when talking When Katrina hit in August 2005 when GaGa about the Guinness. That grin — the smile of a carewas 92, the apartment building flooded, and GaGa free Mississippi girl from a simpler time — never and the other residents were cut off. We lost contact changed and never faded, even as her body weakfor most of a week, then learned that she was safe in ened and her short-term memory faded. San Antonio, where she was flown with other evacuShe never lost her sharp wits, though, and “Jeopees after being rescued by boat. ardy!” remained a part of her daily routine. She spent about five months with my parents in Of all the amazing things about a life that Virginia, and I thought she would stay there. But as soon as her building was ready, she insisted on going spanned more than a century, what amazes me the most about GaGa is that her husband died in 1992, home. We were most of the way through Barack nine months before I married. This month Chris and Obama’s first term before she gave up the apartment I are celebrating our 25th anniversary, which means to live in assisted care. my grandmother outlived by more than 25 years the Like the Energizer Bunny, which first appeared man she had spent half a century with. on American television when she was 75, GaGa kept I remember how broken she seemed when facgoing and going and going — until, almost inconing that empty bed alone and how afraid I was that ceivably, the end came Friday, May 11. At 104, she naturally wasn’t the woman she used she wouldn’t last long without him. Fortunately, I was wrong, though I can’t imagine what it was like to be — the Newcomb-educated social worker, duplifor her to outlive everyone she knew and loved from cate bridge master and fabulous New Orleans cook. her own generation. She would eat matzah with margarine for The family gathered for her centennial celebrabreakfast every morning and have a vodka martini tion at Commander’s Palace in 2013, and it became a with an olive and a twist every evening. She loved tradition: a mini-family reunion in the heat and huolives enough that she couldn’t believe I, like my famidity of New Orleans in late July so we could wish ther, despised them, and every few years throughout my grandmother another year of health and love. I my childhood she would persuade me to try an olive think only once did she not feel up to the birthday again. It never went well. lunch at a top-notch Uptown restaurant. She nursed me through the chickenpox in New Now we have a hole in the calendar at the end Orleans when I was 4, and she taught me that it was of July. I have a feeling you’ll still be able to find us at a horrible Yankee habit to put ketchup on a hot dog. Commander’s or Clancy’s for lunch, perhaps with an A member of Temple Sinai on St. Charles Avextra vodka martini with an olive and a twist in the enue for more than 90 years, GaGa was not the most middle of the table. ■ observant of Jews, but despite being the first in her
OPINION
A Father, a Son and a National Pastime
was among his favorite movies. Hanging in my closet is the flannel replica of Gehrig’s No. 4 jersey I gave Dad as a birthday present. On a bookcase in my office is a thickly padded left-hander’s mitt, with no webbing between the fingers, that dated to Dad’s World War II Navy service. He wore that glove when he
From Where I Sit By Dave Schechter dschechter@atljewishtimes.com
taught me how to play catch. In his book “Fathers Playing Catch With Sons,” the poet Donald Hall wrote, “Baseball is continuous, like nothing else among American things, an endless game of repeated summers, joining the long generations of all the fathers and all the sons.” Dad’s loyalty was such that he sometimes wore a Yankees cap during his summer weeks in Maine, among Boston Red Sox fans. He remained a Yankees fan throughout 60 years living in the Chicago area. That is why, despite growing up in northern suburbs teeming with Cubs fans, I followed the White Sox. It was an American League thing. When Dad’s boss provided tickets to White Sox or Cubs games, his ritual included bringing homemade corned beef sandwiches and leaving around the eighth inning, to beat the traffic. The son repaid the father in 1996, when the Atlanta Braves played the Yankees in the World Series. My parents flew in, and I took him to two games at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. I have a framed photograph of us at one of those games. On those chilly October nights, he wore a Braves sweatshirt, albeit underneath his blue Yankees jacket. Dad died shortly after the 2012 major-league season ended. Over the next couple of years, I realized that I was paying much less attention to baseball. It took me a while to understand that because baseball had been part and parcel of our relationship, when he died, my interest in the game passed with him. I rarely check the standings these days, but when I do, I look to see how the Yankees are faring. Dad would appreciate that. ■
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
As the story goes, Solomon Schechter, then the president of the Jewish Theological Seminary, told the young scholar Louis Ginzberg as he joined the faculty, “You cannot be a rabbi in America without understanding baseball.” This anecdote has been repeated numerous times, despite a lack of evidence that Schechter actually said it or, for that matter, ever attended a game or knew anything about baseball. His grandson, however, was a fan. Baseball was a bond my father and I shared for more than five decades. Even as his faculties declined, baseball was an easy topic of conversation during my daily calls home. I thought about him while walking through “Chasing Dreams: Baseball & Becoming American,” an exhibit on display at the Breman Museum until July 15 (see Page 30). A central theme of the exhibit is the role baseball played in helping immigrants assimilate into American culture, particularly in the first half of the 20th century. If its intricacies confounded the adults, their children made the game their own, playing in the streets, vacant lots or empty fields. Baseball’s vernacular drifted into the newcomers’ English and provided a topic of conversation with people from outside their religious or ethnic community. The reclusive author Terrence Mann understood this phenomenon, observing, “The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.” My father was born in 1926 and grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He was a steadfast New York Yankees fan, in good seasons and bad. As a boy, he listened to games on radio, read newspaper accounts and, on occasion, saw them play at Yankee Stadium. Dad’s favorite player was Lou Gehrig, the son of immigrants, who dropped out of Columbia University to play professionally and whose demeanor contrasted with that of his most celebrated teammate, George Herman “Babe” Ruth. “Pride of the Yankees,” starring Gary Cooper as Gehrig,
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OPINION
70-Year Refugee ‘Crisis’
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Modern Israel does not sit on Palestinian land. After destroying the Second Temple, the Romans dubbed the Jews’ homeland “Palaestina” and exiled most of its Jews. Yet Jewish communities persisted there continuously. Even the exiled Jews retained their connection to the land via Hebrew as the language of prayer and study, expressing a longing for Zion in liturgy and literature. The Jewish population in the Holy Land increased with the birth of modern Zionism in the 1880s. Zionists bought land and improved its productivity, built schools and hospitals, and lobbied world leaders for a Jewish homeland in what then was a region of the Ottoman Empire. Many of the Arabs now calling themselves Palestinians (a title they rejected before 1964, when the Palestine Liberation Organization was founded) descend from families who entered the area only after Zionist activity began improving the living conditions. These Arabs were not distinguished from other Arabs in any way. They never had sovereignty over the land. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations gave Britain the Palestine Mandate. Britain used 78 percent to establish the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. In 1947 the United Nations proposed dividing the rest of the mandated land into a Jewish state and a second Arab state. The Yishuv (Jewish community in Palestine) accepted the proposal, but Arab nations did not. They went to war, hoping to prevent Israel’s rebirth, while saying the Arabs of the area were southern Syrians not needing or deserving their own state. By the end of the war, 400,000 to 750,000 Arabs had been displaced. Most found themselves within a few hundred miles of their former homes, living among people with whom they shared language, religion and ethnicity. They should have been the world’s easiest refugees to resettle. But Arab leaders told UNRWA (the U.N. agency whose only task was rehabilitation of these refugees from Palestine) not to find work or new homes for them. Fearing that the refugees would quickly forget Palestine if allowed to move on, the Arab League voted that no Muslim nation should grant them citizenship. They and their descendants were to remain in refugee limbo 12 until Israel could be destroyed.
The number of Palestine refugees registered by UNRWA has increased to 5 million or more, of whom no more than 30,000 actually fled the 1948 war. In contrast, 800,000 Jews thrust from their homes in the Muslim nations of the Middle East and North Africa in the decade after Israel’s rebirth were quickly absorbed and uplifted by Israel. Their descendants make up
Guest Column By Toby Block
most of Israel’s Jewish population. Egypt had gained control of Gaza during the 1948 war, and Transjordan had conquered the Old City of Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria (dubbing these areas “the West Bank” and dropping “Trans” from its own name). In 19 years of illegal occupation, neither Egypt nor Jordan attempted to set up an independent Arab state as a home for the Palestine refugees living under its rule. Both occupiers permitted their subjects to infiltrate Israeli territory to attack and murder Jews. Israel liberated Gaza and the West Bank in 1967 after Jordan allied with Egypt and Syria in a war aimed at destroying Israel and her people. The Arab League rejected Israel’s offer to trade land for peace in 1968. Israel eventually signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, but relations between Israel and both countries remain tepid. Today, all Palestinians in Gaza and 95 percent of Palestinians in Judaea and Samaria live under Palestinian rule. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has long refused to negotiate on Israeli proposals for the establishment of a Palestinian state while inciting his people to “violently resist the occupation” and richly rewarding those who answer the call. He insists that Palestine refugees will not become citizens of any state that could eventually be established alongside Israel. On this, he agrees with Hamas, which is encouraging Gazans to attempt to break into Israel. Having failed to destroy Israel by force, Palestinian leaders want to see Israel overrun by millions of people raised in societies that reserve highest honors for the murderers of Jews. ■ Toby Block lives in Northeast Atlanta.
3 Things You Should Do This Summer Rabbi Robert Schur (z’’l) of Fort Worth, Texas, used to tell his students at the end of every year of religious school that the summer was good for three things: Take a long walk, read a good book and make a new friend. It was a simple yet important reminder that each of us as Jews can use the upcoming summer months to recommit to that which is important in our lives. • Take a long walk. Find time for that which is important. The slower months of the summer, with their beautiful (if a bit warm) weather, urge us to reconnect with the outside and with our surroundings. Take time in nature, examining and exploring the beauty that surrounds us each day. To be frank, this is Rabbi Schur’s way of telling each of us to stop and smell the roses, if in a more athletic way. • Read a good book. It is great advice for any time of year, but especially as we begin the summer months with Shavuot, for we all have the opportunity to read and study from the Torah. There is a tradition of holding a tikkun leil Shavuot to study Torah all night (or at least really late) on the first night of Shavuot to make up for, what the midrash tells us, the many Israelites who fell asleep when the Torah was given. We at Congregation Dor Tamid have partnered with the other Reform congregation in North Fulton County
and will have a tikkun at Temple Emanu-El on Saturday, May 19, beginning with dairy desserts at 6 p.m. Take the opportunity that Shavuot gives us to read a good book, whether with us or at another tikkun
The View From Up North By Rabbi Jordan M. Ottenstein
(see listings on Page 5). • Make a new friend. This piece of advice, especially given to students about to go away for the summer but really for each of us, is truly a gift and can be connected to the other two. While reconnecting with our environment, while diving into the sacred words of Torah, we have the ability to meet others and create longlasting relationships. These friendships, created over shared experiences, can help enrich our lives as we come back from the summer to the new year next fall. Take a long walk, read a good book and make a new friend. These three pieces of advice enable us to reconnect, take stock in what is important, and enrich our lives through our relationships to knowledge, nature and each other. ■ Rabbi Jordan M. Ottenstein is the senior rabbi of Congregation Dor Tamid in Johns Creek.
Letter to the Editor Unite Against Iran
Now is the time for all of us to come together to defeat radical Iranian terrorism, regardless of our political affiliations. For American foreign policy to be successful, it must be bipartisan. The Iranian nuclear agreement is not a binding treaty, as it was never submitted to Congress for ratification. Its fatal flaw is the release of tens of billions of dollars upfront to an Iranian regime led by religious zealots. No restrictions were placed on Iran’s terroristic behavior or missiles program. We must believe them when they shout, “Death to America” and “Death to Israel,” and we must not help finance their military and terrorist activities. Economic sanctions and pressure are the best way to defeat this murder-
ous radical Islamic regime. The people of Iran are growing restive, as they have not benefited economically and have been repressed politically. The Republican Guard is being enriched and emboldened. They are on a rampage in Yemen, backing the Houthis; in Syria, supporting Assad; in Lebanon, via their proxy Hezbollah; and in Gaza, via Hamas. This is increasingly dangerous for Israel, America and Europe. It will lead to a nuclear arms race and eventually war. It is wishful thinking to believe that this Iranian regime will change. We must stand firm against this growing threat. The American people understand the increasing danger to our security. We can and must prevail. — Gail K. Ripans, Atlanta
BUSINESS
Starting Up Goza Tequila well, you can guess the rest). We pivot quickly and are unafraid to fail. We learn from our mistakes and improve. So far, our approach is working. This past year Goza Tequila was honored with the Spirits of Mexico award, a blind taste test of more than 50 tequilas, including some of the premium brands that are well known. Staying true to the brand and taste, Goza’s Anejo won best in the category, and our other two expressions also were recognized for their excellence: Reposado taking a silver award and Blanco receiving a bronze.
Guest Column By Jacob Gluck
Achieving this accolade gave Goza the stamp of approval and validation to move the brand forward and get further notice. In the past year, Goza has grown more than 200 percent and has expanded from Atlanta to New York to Texas, maintaining positive growth and rave reviews throughout. So, what makes our tequila different? The long answer touches on everything from the authenticity of product to smoothness of taste, the unique bottle design, and the relative affordability of a superpremium spirit. But at the end of the day, Goza Tequila is a story of what happens when you bring a startup mentality — usually reserved for tech companies — to a business and brand striving to make it in an industry that’s as old as time itself. At its core, Goza’s mission is to take the intimidation out of tequila. We focus on connecting today’s consumer to the smooth taste made from 100 percent blue agave grown to peak maturity. The truth is, Goza is not your sabba’s tequila. It has the superpremium taste you want and can be sipped alongside the highest-quality spirits from any category. Couple that with the rise of the burgeoning cocktail culture, and you have yourself a perfect recipe for a craft spirit made for the masses. At least we think so. ■
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
“So, what makes your tequila different?” That is the question we get asked the most by restaurant owners, liquor store retailers and consumers alike. For many consumers, tequila can be an intimidating proposition. If chosen correctly, tequila can be an expensive choice; if chosen poorly, the experience can make you never want tequila again. Goza has been in the tequila business only three years, but in both startups and the fiercely competitive spirits industry, that’s enough time to earn your stripes. We decided early on that we wanted to change the perception of tequila from a novelty spirit to one you can pull out any time of year for any occasion. For that reason, we made sure that quality was paired with affordability — because nothing says intimidating like a $60 bottle of tequila. We cannot out-Patrón Patrón. We knew that if we were going to succeed, we would have to find our own path. We’d have to do a lot more with a lot less, and we’d have to find creative solutions to the complex market challenges inherent in an industry as dynamic as the spirits business. So instead of focusing on all the ways in which our competitors had the edge, we chose to focus on the advantages that come along with being a startup. That meant aggressive, calculated risk-taking. Perhaps most compelling is the idea of creating a brand that preaches inclusivity, as opposed to the exclusivity so often espoused by our competitors. You don’t have to be rich, you don’t have to be a “boss,” and you definitely don’t have to wear a $5,000 Armani suit while riding a personal watercraft in Ibiza. With big branding dollars behind the spirits industry, our message sometimes feels too simple to be true; however, we’ve found that the complicated messages of those premium brands are the ones that are ignored by a large market of consumers. Like the Golden State Warriors (and the 2018 under-15 Maccabi basketball team I coach), we have been unafraid to jack the three. If we have a good idea, we can act on it immediately and are free from the restraints of a large bureaucracy, something that can hamper our rivals. We’ve even branded toilet paper (“Goza Tequila … it’s the” —
Jacob Gluck is the CEO and cofounder of Goza Tequila.
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Staycations When You Feel the Need for Speed By Kevin C. Madigan kmadigan@atljewishtimes.com
Photos courtesy of Porsche
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Writer Kevin C. Madigan is ready to hit the track at the Porsche facility near the airport.
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If you like the idea of driving a firstclass sports car way above the speed limit, Atlanta has the venue to do it. Porsche has maintained its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta since 1998 and opened a 27.7-acre facility next to the airport at a cost of about $100 million in 2015. It encompasses a museum, a driving simulation laboratory, a restoration workshop, corporate offices, technical training centers, an upscale
restaurant, and the showpiece of the place: a 1.6-mile “driver development” track where you can practice your wheel skills and learn quite new ones. “The track has 15 twists and turns like a country road and shows the everyday capabilities of the Porsche,” my coach, Tyler Fling, said before we set out. “Braking, accelerating and cornering all come together as one, making Porsches what they are.” The car we used was a 911 Carrera S, color Miami Blue, with a base price of $105,100 and a top speed of 190 mph.
It can go from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, but Fling explained that the speeds we would reach would depend on “your comfort level with the car and my comfort level with you.” He soon was telling me to “floor it.” Before we got to that point, I lamented the lack of a manual transmission. Fling replied, “What you’ll be going through is like drinking out of a fire hydrant. You put that manual into it, it’s like drinking out of two.” Fair enough. The gearbox in this model is
STAYCATIONS
Tyler Fling can coach Porsche novices through their choice of skills.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
dubbed “Porsche Doppelkupplung” (PDK for short) and has the capacity to make smooth, barely noticeable gear changes within milliseconds. The course comprises “modules” that present different maneuvering challenges: The Kick Plate, for instance, officially described as “a flushmounted, hydraulically actuated plate placed before a wetted epoxy surface,” throws the car into a skid. The Low Friction Circle is “a more advanced way to learn about understeer and over-steer,” Fling said. “It’s polished concrete that is wet; we add the extra element where you induce the slide and then correct the car, with vision, throttle and brake input as well. It’s probably the hardest thing to learn.” It was. You also learn to slam on the brakes at 70 mph while keeping control of the car (easy) and to slalom among cones without knocking one over (I knocked one over). “It’s all about being smooth,” Fling said, adding that the experience can be tailored to the driver. “If there’s something specific you want to learn, tell me. There is no set time length for any particular module, so you can stay for as long or as short a time as you want.” A separate option is the Off-Road Course in the Cayenne SUV model, featuring “21 different off-road obstacles, including a 1:1 ratio hill climb and a 45-degree vertical descent challenge.” Porsche also has an advanced driving school in Birmingham, Ala., with a 16-turn, 2.38-mile racetrack. More information on Porsche’s courses can be found at www. porschedriving.com/home. ■
The Porsche 911 Carrera S, with a base price of $105,100, is the vehicle of choice for the test track.
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STAYCATIONS
Stay Intown With a Day in Inman Park you’re across the street from the Eastside BeltLine. Kids love to hunt for Tiny Doors and people-watch at Old Fourth Ward Skatepark.
Adults and Teens
King of Pops brings flavor to Inman Park.
By Logan C. Ritchie lritchie@atljewishtimes.com Just south of Piedmont Park and Ponce de Leon Avenue, intown Atlanta’s east-west artery, lies Inman Park. Known for treelined streets and colorful Victorian homes, Inman Park is a popular place to jump on the Freedom Park Trail or Eastside BeltLine to explore the city by bike or foot. Here you won’t find a homeowners association; Inman Park, just 2 square miles, enforces strict historical preservation laws. Tucked between tattoo shops in Little Five Points and Martin Luther King’s former home in the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park hosts neighborly gatherings including book clubs, porch parties and neighborhood cleanups. Next April, don’t miss the Inman Park Festival — four days of home tours, live music, art, parades and parties. If you only have a day in Inman Park, here’s a guide to keep you entertained, engaged, and educated in Atlanta’s first planned residential suburb — a place Atlanta’s wealthy once used for their own summer staycations.
Adults and Kids Under 10
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Stop 1: Peruse Springvale Park is at Elizabeth Street and Waverly Way with free onstreet parking, no permit required. While little ones count the sunbathing turtles and gaggle of geese at the pond, parents can read up on Springvale Park’s historical marker (www.exploreatl.com/historical-markers.html). From this site during the Civil War Battle of Atlanta, Confederate troops launched an attack against the entrenched federal line to the east on July 22, 1864. In the 1890s, Congress refused 16 to add Atlanta to the list of national
Stein Steel’s mural looks toward the BeltLine.
military parks. The next national wave of Civil War battlefield preservation peaked in the 1920s and 1930s, but by then it was too late to properly save Atlanta’s battlefields. Later, the Georgia Historical Commission installed a marker for Springvale Park, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans erected a commemorative monument nearby. Stop 2: Pop Walk, bike or scooter down Elizabeth Street about five blocks to the neighborhood’s restaurant row at North Highland Avenue. At the end of Elizabeth you’ll find a walk-up window for King of Pops, a local popsicle vendor started by brothers Steven and Nick Carse with a couple of bucks and a used ice cream cart. Try Pineapple Habanero, Lemon Basil, or a seasonal pop like Blueberry Cobbler or Cucumber Lime. Stop 3: Play Just across from King of Pops at the corner of Elizabeth and Bernina, the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition invites visitors to rent adult bikes from a selfserve relay station and head down the Eastside BeltLine Trail. In just two miles see Ponce City Market, gardens, art displays, public pianos, and — voila! — you’re at Piedmont Park.
Adults and Kids 10+
Stop 1: Fuel Up Breakfast crepes at Julianna’s on Lake Avenue and Waddell Street are a neighborhood tradition. Look for a red sign, an old house (circa 1901) and onstreet parking. The eatery specializes in Hungarian crepes called palacsinta; the ingredients are handpicked, farmto-table fresh fruits and veggies. Try the Pecan Pleasure with Georgia-grown nuts or The Almighty with strawberries and Nutella. Savory op-
tions are just as delicious, and there are plenty of vegetarian options. Stop 2: Learn and Burn Did you know that much of the Battle of Atlanta depicted in the Cyclorama took place in Inman Park? Retired finance guy Steve Saenz, founder of Urban Explorers, is fascinated by Atlanta history. “We play, eat and sleep on the top of this major battlefield that few people know about,” he said. Join Urban Explorers on the Battle of Atlanta Tour. This pivotal battle, which took place July 22, 1864, covered a combat zone that includes the modern neighborhoods of East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Edgewood, Reynoldstown, Little Five Points, Inman Park and Poncey-Highland. As you walk with Saenz for three hours around Inman Park, get an overview of the neighborhood and homes; the history and significance of the Battle of Atlanta; and important things that happened in Inman. The group typically pops into a restaurant, like Victory or Ladybird. Because the start is at the Inman Park MARTA station, it’s a great day to get out of traffic and take an adventure. Saenz is open to private tours for families, including kids and dogs. He said that once guests start talking and making connections, friendships frequently form on tours. Y’all come back now, ya hear? Stop 3: Sweat It Out If you haven’t eaten lunch, head back toward your car on Lake Avenue and pop into Krog Street Market on the corner of Krog (rhymes with frog) and Lake. Chef Todd Ginsberg has two stalls inside the food hall: Fred’s Meat & Bread and Yalla. Whether you’re craving a burger and fries or shawarma and sabich, KSM has you covered. When you exit the main doors,
Stop 1: Help Inman Park is home to Trees Atlanta, a nonprofit citizens group that protects and improves Atlanta’s urban forest by planting, conserving and educating. Trees Atlanta TreeHouse is the education branch next to Rathbun’s in the Stove Works lofts. Drop-ins are welcome during the day; weekend projects are volunteer-driven. Sign-ups are encouraged at www. treesatlanta.org. Stop 2: Drive ATL Cruzers offers two ways to see Inman Park. While less mobile guests prefer the golf cart tour, teens find East Atlanta Segway Tours interactive and fun (something many teens are not). For two hours, rain or shine, the family hops on Segways, and off you go. Visit historical sites including Inman Park, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, Historic Old Fourth Ward, Oakland Cemetery in Grant Park and art murals in Cabbagetown. This tour allows for picturesque views of the city and involves more free time to glide on the Segway. Don’t forget a camera. Stop 3: Split Pose for a selfie in front of a Living Wall mural and walk through the ever-changing graffiti in Krog Street Tunnel. Split off from here to your destination, whether that’s the Atlanta Pop Up Chalk Festival, Atlanta Streets Alive or WonderRoot Artist Market. Inman Park is central to intown Atlanta; the sky’s the limit. ■
The Beath-Dickey House, whose renovation helped revive Inman Park, dates to 1890.
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STAYCATIONS
Barnsley Offers Timeless Home Away from Home
Photos by Sarah Moosazadeh
In addition to 32 cottages, Barnsley Resort unveiled its Inn in March.
By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com
starts in the low $300s. The suites start in the mid $400s, depending on the time of year. In addition to 2 acres of wooded gardens, where weddings and tastings are held, the resort contains the Rice House, built in 1854 by Rice Fleming of Rome, Ga. The old farmhouse now serves as one of the resort’s main restaurants. Attached to the house is the recently renovated Georgian Hall, which offers two ballrooms with natural light for corporate functions and weddings. Next to each other are the Woodlands Grill and Barnsley’s newly renovated spa, which I had the pleasure of visiting. The spa’s spacious rooms are unlike any I have seen and complement the new sauna. After checking in, I was ushered into an exceptionally spacious treatment room by my massage therapist, Joana. I received the lavender relaxation massage, which I highly recommend. As Joana gently massaged my arms, legs and neck, I fell into complete relaxation, and she began exfoliating my skin with two bristle brushes. The warmth from the staff followed me from the spa to Woodlands Grill, where an employee held the door for me to enter a dining experience
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Drive past Adairsville’s acres of farmland along a winding road known as CCC and you will see signs for Barnsley Resort. The hour ride northwest of Atlanta leads to an enchanting village that transports you to another dimension. I have always wanted to visit Barnsley, so you can imagine my excitement when I was assigned to write a piece for this staycation issue. Yet little did I know about the history and love story tied to the resort or the countless amenities offered, such as horseback riding, spa treatments and golf. Until 1988, Barnsley was owned by two property holders. It then was sold to Prince Hubertus Fugger of Bavaria as an investment. The resort reopened in 1999 but was sold in 2004 to Julian Saul, the Jewish owner of Queen Carpet, renamed Shaw Floors. He also owns Barnsley’s SpringBank Plantation, which offers shooting, fly-fishing, hunting and hiking. Intrigued by the concepts of architect Andrew Jackson Downing, cotton broker Godfrey Barnsley began building an Italianate villa for his wife, Julia Scarborough, in the 1840s. After his 35-year-old wife died in Savannah hours before Barnsley arrived, he abandoned the project, only to complete it in 1848. Barnsley was once composed of 8,000 acres but today encompasses 1,300, resort historian and museum director Clent Coker said. The property, once covered with 30 acres of gardens, still contains serpentine walks, a reflection pool (where Barnsley last saw Julia) and a fountain mounted in 1841. Next to the manor is the estate’s old kitchen, which Coker has turned into a museum with old photographs and relics from the Barnsley family. A five-minute walk from the 18
manor are 37 gothiclike cottages with over 90 bedrooms that originate from Downing’s books in the 1830s. Some of the cottages are known as manor cottages or mini-hotels, with individual entrances to bedrooms, while others are similar to a duplex featuring separate suites with king-size beds and woodburning fireplaces. The village has a pair of two-bedroom cottages and a three-bedroom Appalachian cabin for families. Barnsley also has five-, six- and seven-bedroom buildings. The multiple rooms come in handy for groups or executives who participate in corporate retreats or wish to be more convivial. With over 55 rooms, Barnsley’s new Inn, which opened in March, stands as a contrast to the village. British architect Edward Luchins’ drawings from the Edwardian period helped transform the Inn to look like an old house that was added over time. The interior is fashioned after a Victorian hotel and contains immense woodwork and dormer areas where people can sit and read. The Inn contains two suites. The Queen Suite, which is named after the Saul family’s carpet business, has two bedrooms with king beds. A night at the Barnsley Resort Inn
Godfrey Barnsley began building a villa for his wife in 1841. The ruins are part of the resort’s attractions.
The gothiclike cottages at Barnsley Resort are perfect for family or corporate getaways.
Ladybug takes a timeout from rides while standing in the original 1840s barnyard.
that was beautiful and relaxing. I was seated on the veranda overlooking the resort’s 18-hole championship golf course, built by Jim Fazio. As I sipped sweet tea, a waiter brought the spring menu. I ordered the Joyce Farms crispy chicken sandwich and a large slice of cheesecake topped with strawberry syrup, the most satisfying dishes I have had in a while. Besides Barnsley’s beer garden, which sometimes offers live music and crafts, the resort includes the original barnyard from the 1840s. Visitors can interact with rabbits, a baby goat, Winston the pig, Boss the hog and a donkey named Grover. The barnyard just received a turtle and an alpaca. Families can participate in teambuilding activities and ride horseback along 10 miles of trails showcasing the ruins, gardens and wilderness. The resort is busy from March through December but sees an uptick from March through May. Visitors also travel to the resort in September and October as the leaves begin to change color. I was attracted to the ruins before I drove to Barnsley, but the resort’s history, mesmerizing cottages and village have piqued my interest. I am looking forward to returning because my visit was relaxing, joyful and welcoming. Barnsley’s more than hospitable staff is what I am most eager to return to. Each person I encountered, from the Inn’s staff to the massage therapist and spa receptionist to the people passing through on golf carts, was eager to lend a smile or assist in any way possible. There are a lot of lovely resorts and beautiful spas, but what sets Barnsley apart is the history. The ruins are fun to visit, as are the gardens, and when you include the village, you feel as if you are a whole world and a few centuries away. ■
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STAYCATIONS
Find World-Class Fun in Cartersville
By Cady Schulman Cartersville may not be as large as some other cities in the Atlanta area, but take a short drive up Interstate 75 and you’ll find a town bursting with culture, shopping, restaurants and two world-class museums: the Booth Western Art Museum and Tellus Science Museum. Located just off Exit 293, Tellus has several fun events scheduled for this summer. In June, you can check out the treasures offered by mineral, fossil and gem dealers from all over the country at the annual Rockfest. Meet your favorite superheroes and future science superheroes at Superhero Saturday in July. In August, the museum will host one of its biggest annual events: Night at the Museum. Important people from science’s past and favorite movie characters like Darth Vader and Indiana Jones will come to life for one night. About 15 minutes away in downtown Cartersville, you’ll find the Booth Western Art Museum. Spend time wandering through the expansive museum, where you can get free admission on the first Thursday of every month from 4 to 8 p.m., and plan to check out some of the exhibits on display this summer. “Jay Dusard: A Retrospective — View Camera to Digital Derringer” is open and features photography, cowboys and landscapes of the American West. On June 28, “The Wildlife Art of Guy Coheleach” exhibit will open. Coheleach is recognized as one of the world’s best wild animal painters. You can celebrate the museum’s 15th anniversary July 7 with the opening of “American Ballads: The Photographs of Marty Stuart,” a photography lecture with Stuart, and Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives in concert at Cartersville’s Grand Theatre. After you visit the two museums,
The Tellus Night at the Museum mixes real scientists with not-so-real sci-fi characters.
you can stroll through downtown Cartersville, where you’ll find a variety of locally owned stores and restaurants. Meg Pie, under the Church Street Bridge across from the Booth, features unique clothing and hair accessories as well as home decor and greeting cards. Take a break from shopping at the store’s coffee shop, where you can enjoy a drink and dessert. If you love rustic and farmhouse decor, you’ll want to stop at Copperwood on Main, where you’ll find furniture, farmhouse-style signs, flowers,
With its modern cuisine, Table 20 is one of the new dining options in Cartersville.
cotton stems and more. When you need a break from store browsing and are ready for a meal, the options include Mediterranean cuisine at Taverna Mediterranean Grill and modern cuisine at the new Table 20. If you like burgers, pasta and other sandwiches, The City Cellar is a local favorite. After the meal, stop by Coconuts for ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice. At the Etowah Indian Mounds, you can step back in time and see the earthen mounds built where several thousand Native Americans lived from
The Grand Theatre in downtown Cartersville will host Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives on July 7.
1000 to 1550. The 54-acre site, just minutes west of downtown, includes six mounds, a plaza, a village site, borrow pits and a defensive ditch. Take the nature trail along the Etowah River and see a V-shaped fish trap. The Etowah Indian Mounds state park also features a museum with artifacts that show how the Etowah decorated themselves with shell beads, paint, complicated hairdos, feathers and copper ear ornaments. Objects made of wood, seashells and stone are also on display. ■
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Photos by Cady Schulman
Meg Pie, close to the Booth Western Art Museum, offers unique shopping and a coffee shop.
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STAYCATIONS
Indoor Flying’s a 100-mph Rush
Photos courtesy of iFly
Winds of up to 100 mph suspend fliers in the tunnel at iFly.
By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
There are not many places to get the stimulation of free-falling, which perhaps is why iFly (www.iflyworld. com) is different. Eager to experience the thrill of skydiving, I recently visited
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the Cumberland location to try the indoor sport. After entering and confirming your reservation on a touch screen, you are asked to step on a scale to make sure you do not exceed iFly’s maximum weight of 300 pounds. A friendly crew member then places a wristband on
Before entering the wind tunnel, you must take a 10-minute class with an instructor and watch a video to learn the proper signals and body positions.
your arm and asks you to wait at the flight deck viewing area until a flight instructor finds you. As you turn the corner, the first thing you see is a massive tunnel with people inside. One by one, people enter the flight chamber and become suspended in air while a flight instructor gently maneuvers them around. Indoor free-falling is a lot harder than skydiving, flight instructor Gilberto Guevara said, because you have miles and miles in the sky to make mistakes. Because the wind tunnel is a controlled environment, instructors and first-time fliers must work on what they are doing. But before you enter the flight chamber, you are required to take preflight training. My flight instructor guided me to a small room alongside other customers for a tutorial. We watched a short video about the proper body position and correct hand signals when entering the flight chamber, then had a quick review with our instructor. The most important thing to remember, Guevara said, is to relax and have fun. Once we completed our training, it was time to gear up. We each received a suit, helmet, goggles and ear plugs, then lined up inside the tunnel. Excitement and anticipation filled me as I awaited my turn. I was nervous but also eager to fly. I watched several people go before me, and I was ready to enjoy the thrill of free-falling. But nothing prepares you, except perhaps skydiving, for the 100-mph winds that instantly hit you as you lean into the chamber with your hips.
As heavy gusts slam your stomach, arms, legs and face, you feel as if the pressure is too much to bear, and you are so busy concentrating on the proper hand gestures and body position that you forget you are suspended. The two-minute flight lasts longer than you expect but leaves you feeling shaken. Some fliers experience a hot sensation and post-flight tingles in their body. As an extra precaution, I recommend tying long hair in a ponytail or braids to avoid getting it tangled. My second time into the flight chamber was much better. I am not sure whether my body got accustomed to the wind, but I felt more comfortable maneuvering around while suspended in midair. I felt as if I were flying, a feeling that was reinforced as my teammates cheered and clapped from the other side of the chamber. To add to the thrill of flying, our flight instructor spun each of us around the chamber while we rose to the top of the tunnel and back down. But just as I felt I was getting the hang of things, my time was up. I am not sure whether I will return for another flight — the throbbing pain on my right leg says no — but I haven’t turned it down. There are five levels you can master at iFly, which teaches skills such as turning 360 degrees and side sliding before getting to flips and other tricks at Level 5. Two flights start at $79 for firsttime fliers, rising to $101.95 for three flights and $149.95 for five. I am happy to have had the experience and am somewhat eager to try indoor flying again soon — but not too soon. ■
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
LOCAL NEWS
Jewish Home Auxiliary Honors 2 Top Volunteers moved in at age 97, I spent many afternoons visiting and encouraging her to attend the activities. It just seemed natural after she passed away that I continue as a volunteer.” Son Barry said, “I have been so proud of her work over the years — and I’ve benefited from the Friday challahs.”
Co-chairs Fran Scher and Ann Kay enjoy the piñata butterfly décor. (Not pictured is co-chair Sherry Habif.)
Jaffe’s Jewish Jive By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
Lewis concentrates her time at the gift shop, in meetings and in event execution. Auxiliary member Cheryl Joss pledged to get more involved as she perused the volunteer opportunities for 2018-19, saying, “Between the fiesta celebration, bingo, wine and cheese, bazaar day, game day and bake sale, there is something to interest everyone.” Steve Berman, a former board chair of Jewish Home Life Communities, made his traditional Motzi and urged: “We should direct our accolades towards the staff. Where would we be without them?” Event co-chair Fran Scher summed up the emotions of the day: “The Jewish Home is a gift to our community … and being able to serve it has been my pleasure.” Co-chair Ann Kay said: “I love being around the residents. I’ve been doing weekly cookie baking with them for years.” ■
Volunteer of the Year Sylvia Friedman is proud that her son, Barry, came from Lakeland, Fla., to honor her.
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Volunteer of the Year Lori Lewis works tirelessly in the gift shop and in event planning.
Brooke Blasberg, a former William Breman Jewish Home Auxiliary board chair, shares her passion for the organization with the new board chair, Nancy Baron.
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MAY 18 ▪ 2018
The annual lunch of the Auxiliary of the William Breman Jewish Home ushered in a glorious spring day adorned with huge butterfly centerpieces at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. The festive and meaningful event Monday, May 7, seated 225 women (and a few men). Added Touch Catering enhanced the room with tiers of desserts and bow-wrapped bouquets of pastries after the chicken breast salad and martiniglassed squash soup with popcorn. “It’s been a very rewarding privilege these past two years working with the executive board and getting to know these impressive ladies. But the very most gratifying part is walking into Srochi Hall to volunteer for the Chanukah party, the sweethearts ball, bingo or any function,” said Jodie Jackson, the auxiliary’s outgoing board chair. “Spending time like this with the residents of the Jewish Home reminds me why I love the auxiliary and the home. These events make everything we do worthwhile. At the end of the day, if you can put a smile on a resident’s face, see them laugh, dance, sing and enjoy their celebration, that is why we volunteer.” Two women were named the Volunteers of the Year: Sylvia Friedman and Lori Lewis. Friedman, whose son, Barry, came in from Lakeland, Fla., for the event, recalled her mother’s time at the Jewish Home. Speaking less than a week before Mother’s Day, she said, “When my mother (of blessed memory)
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LOCAL NEWS
Sea of Leaders Salutes Griens With AJC
Photos by Marcia Caller Jaffe
Honorees Lauren and Jim Grien enjoy the evening with daughter Katie.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
American Jewish Committee’s Atlanta Chapter honored Lauren and Jim Grien with the Selig Distinguished Service Award on Tuesday, May 8, at the Georgia Aquarium. The dinner was co-chaired by Diane and Kent Alexander, Lila and Doug Hertz, Karen Kerness, The Temple’s Rabbi Peter Berg, and Billi and Bernie Marcus. The Marcuses spoke remotely by video, joking that they were avoiding Atlanta’s pollen season. They kicked off beaucoup encomiums toward the extraordinary Grien team — the only couple in The Temple’s 150 years to have both served as congregation president. Patrice Worley, the director of worship and arts at Ebenezer Baptist Church, performed an emotional duet of “If You Believe … in Miracles” with Temple Cantor Deborah Hartman. “We are thrilled to honor Lauren and Jim, whose lives, leadership and work in the Atlanta Jewish and civic communities reflect AJC’s global mission,” said Dov Wilker, the AJC Atlanta regional director. Wilker urged the audience to take out their cellphones on the spot and complete an advocacy action. He was especially proud to introduce 17 high school students who recently went to Washington to represent Atlanta in AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow program. Keynote speaker David Harris, AJC’s CEO, joked about the aquarium venue and having Jewish-type fish: herring and smoked salmon. Described by the late Israeli President Shimon Peres as the “foreign minister of the Jewish people,” Harris has spoken at some of the world’s most prestigious forums, 22 including the 2017 Selig Award dinner.
Duke grad Dylan Grien says he was inspired by his parents’ support for Jewish causes.
He recognized the date, May 8, as the 73rd anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Harris, whose parents were Holocaust survivors, warned against today’s hyperpartisanship. “Bravo, we refuse that and insist on doing the right things,” Harris said. He scoffed at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ recent
High school students Rayna Fladell, Max Ripans and Jack Tresh attend the Selig Award dinner after recently visiting Washington with the AJC Leaders for Tomorrow program.
Jaffe’s Jewish Jive By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
anti-Semitic speech regarding the Holocaust, for which he later gave “a fake apology.” Harris said: “I take things like that personally. … We have peace with Jordan and Egypt. … How can we deal with unauthentic characters like them and Iran?” He recognized AJC partnerships with Germany, Japan, Israel and France, whose consuls general attended the dinner. Sandy Springs City Council member Andy Bauman, a Temple Sinai member, and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Evans also were present. Evans, competing against Stacey Abrams in the May 22 primary in Georgia, said she wanted to show support and raise awareness before the election. Jack and Lynne Halpern were her hosts. Much as the fantastic Paradies siblings did for their parents in 2017, the Griens’ three children, Katie, Emily and Dylan, were poised and prepared to tout the example their parents set for them in public service and family life. Mike Leven and Kent Alexander
Gubernatorial candidate Stacey Evans attends as the guest of Lynne and Jack Halpern.
Georgia Aquarium President Joe Handy chats with the honorees’ daughter Emily and her husband, Chase Warden, during the cocktail hour.
introduced the couple by presenting the Selig Award. Much as Spring and Tom Asher, the recipients of the 2016 award, met at Cornell, the Griens fell in love at Columbia Law School. More than one person referred to Lauren’s “nice legs.” Lauren and Jim alternated speaking. Lauren, a Duke alumna, was visibly moved by the previous tributes. She set the bar by becoming a law partner at Alston & Bird, then tapering off as the children became a priority. Both celebrated that they were open to changes in their paths as circumstances changed, “the unintended consequences of the decisions we make,” a reference to Jim choosing not to go to Stanford and meeting Lauren in New York instead. “We are now on the back nine, the 10th tee of life. … That’s when you get awards,” Jim said. “This is in an unfathomable honor. We get more than we give.” Lauren has devoted her working life to a wide range of civic pursuits, including the Atlanta Speech School,
Atlanta Women’s Foundation, Hebrew Union College board of overseers, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jewish Family & Career Services. A former AJC Atlanta president, she is in her second year as the president of The Temple. Jim was the head of corporate finance at Prudential Securities before joining TM Capital in 2001, where he became CEO. Being a trustee of the Marcus Foundation brought him in contact with Bernie Marcus, who jokingly called him “a putz for not asking him for enough money.” Since the aquarium’s inception, Jim has served as director, audit chair and treasurer, and he is a founding board member of Hands On Atlanta. AJC is the leading global Jewish advocacy organization, with unparalleled access to government officials, diplomats and other world leaders. Through those relationships, it can affect opinion and policy on issues such as anti-Semitism, Israel, and the rights and freedoms of all people. ■
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LOCAL NEWS
Caring Journey Helps JF&CS Raise $501,000
Photos courtesy of JF&CS Former Little PAL Scott Tenenbaum talks about the impact on his life of the PAL Program and his Big PAL, Joel Libowsky.
how his Big PAL, Joel Libowsky, affected his life and taught him so much — including how to tie his shoes — after Tenenbaum’s father died when he was young. The PAL Program is Atlanta’s only Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister program. The Avivs said that caring for their aging parents inspired their involvement in the JF&CS older adults program, now named Aviv Older Adult Services. Attendees watched three videos about clients from JF&CS programs that have made their lives better: IndependenceWORKS, Shalom Bayit and Holocaust Survivor Services. ■
JF&CS CEO Rick Aranson greets IndependenceWORKS client Randy, joined by Alterman/JETS driver Calvin Matthews.
The Community of Caring luncheon brings together (from left) event co-chairs Joel and Staci Libowsky, annual campaign chair Robin Feldman, agency CEO Rick Aranson, President Michael Levy, and event co-chairs Cherie and Gary Aviv.
Clinicians Anat Granath (left) and Amy Neuman escort Holocaust survivor Leon Asner, who shared his journey with JF&CS.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Nearly 600 people joined Jewish Family & Career Services on a journey at its annual Community of Caring luncheon Friday, April 27, at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. Using the theme of the JF&CS Journey — from hope to opportunity to a better quality of life and more selfsufficiency — the event raised a record $501,536 for JF&CS and kicked off the annual campaign, which has a goal of $1.6 million. The event co-chairs, Cherie and Gary Aviv and Joel and Staci Libowsky, shared their JF&CS journeys. Scott Tenenbaum, a former Little PAL in the JF&CS PAL Program, shared
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HOME
Share Some Schear Joy in Midtown A
B The Schears are no strangers to the arts and crafts market. Their new Midtown flat falls somewhere between sassy and folk-driven. Linda serves as the president of the Museum of Design Atlanta, where she oversees the board of the only facility in the southeast devoted exclusively to the study and celebration of “all things design,” offering rotating exhibitions and educational programming for children and adults. Abe, a partner at Arnall Golden Gregory specializing in retail leasing and international investment, chairs the Law Firm Management Committee of the International Bar Association, which takes him to meetings all over the world. “This allows us to see the local side of some very exciting cities, knowing nice people in many places,” Linda said. Speaking of exciting, the Schears recently downsized to One Museum Place. Their vibrant sea of art dances in and out of Linda’s own fantastical studio, where she turns out creations like her wood-drawer pyramid, carved, painted and adorned with collected knobs. Experience their assemblage of surprises and artful living. MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Jaffe: How did the downscale project from a Buckhead home of 37-plus years evolve into a one-floor Midtown condo? Abe: Linda was our designer. Much of the larger furniture and some of the art and accessories didn’t make 24 the move over. The huge Penleys of our
children (1993) of course made the cut. Linda: The building is new and opened in 2017. It took 10 months from contract to closing, time to get some walls moved to meet our needs, and we are very happy with the results. One big difference is not being
Chai-Style Homes By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
able to let Zelda, our sweet pit bull, wander about in a fenced yard. We’d previously given up having a formal dining room and did so again in our more limited space. Our expandable table can still seat 12, so we went with the open floor plan. Jaffe: How would you describe your style? Linda: High and low. We mix real art and fine furniture with craft fair and flea market finds, like the coffee table. It houses the “SCHEAR” letters from Abe’s grandfather’s grocery store sign in Dayton, Ohio, and is topped with glass. Our main theme is color. Vibrant tangerine, sea foam, marine blue, scarlet, lime and amethyst — all play off of each other on furniture, rugs and art. It all begins in the elevator lobby, which shouts, “We love color!” We eat and serve largely on ceramics and don’t own fine china. Jaffe: You’ve attended art and craft shows for the things you’ve collected?
Linda: We attended the Bellevue show, sponsored by the eponymous Seattle museum, years ago and brought back the spinning sculpture on the porch, the “Bird House on a Bowling Ball,” a funky metal side table, and we met an artist who later made us amazing “Crazy Plates.” We’ve had pretty good luck at shipping delicate, large items. The “Woman Running in High Heels” sculpture is from a gallery in New Orleans. Many pieces are from the American Craft Council show that comes to Atlanta each March. I saw this tongue-in-cheek dog ceramic in Amsterdam, loved its humor and had to have it (it looks like Zelda). I spotted this oil by Nisi in Ravello, Italy, not long after I’d lost my parents. It struck me as something they would have loved. I look at it daily and think of them and that lovely place. The small painting with a metal bicycle is from a tiny gallery in Antibes, France. We love to buy things while traveling because we bring home memories of the place as well. Abe: We also have some sentimental pieces inherited from my parents, like the 3D Agam and the Rookwood Pottery my mother collected. Northside Cabinet created the custom builtin to house and display that and other collections, including a host of small Nancy Kubale figures. The “Woman Jumping Through Hoops” wall piece is by local artist Kirsten Stingle. Especially sentimental is our ketubah by artist David Moss. Amazingly, we randomly met his son at a tour of the Great Synagogue in Rome 30-plus years after it was created. Jaffe: What are some of the most unusual pieces you have?
C Linda: Our daughter Hana did this dramatic, four-piece fiberglass sculpture while at the Minneapolis College of Art, and we framed it with wall paint to set it off. The 7-foot-tall walnut clock by artist Jim Borden (TimeShapes.com) works totally on weights and is a real conversation piece. We commissioned the rolling sunflowerlike ottoman of felted wool from a small shop while traveling in London. Our powder room holds our collection of signed Broadway play posters, Playbills and programs — a room full of memories for us. Jaffe: As president of MODA’s board, what are some exciting design themes being addressed there? Linda: Everything we see and use is designed by someone. MODA offers a look at how, why and what’s next. Prior exhibitions have included food, 3D printing, architecture, graphics, fashion, urban planning and so much more. The spring 2018 show is called “Designing Playful Cities” and addresses ways cities create sources of play for both children and adults. Jaffe: Last words. How did you get yourself inserted into the Cincinnati Reds oil painting? Abe: I grew up in Dayton. The Reds were my team, and I was a huge fan. It was a gift to myself I commissioned from my friend Bill Purdom. Linda: To me, home is where the art is. I like colorful things that make me smile, and meeting the artists makes everything more special. In my studio there’s a small Georgia O’Keeffe-inspired wall piece that says, “It’s not what you see, it’s how you see it.” That’s so right. ■
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HOME
D
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H: The hall alcove displays an oil diptych by Juanita Kauffman. The bouncing man sculpture on the right is by Nancy Kubale. I: Among the Schears’ collections are Nancy Kubale’s personality-filled ceramic figures. The same cabinet displays Rookwood Pottery inherited from Abe’s mother.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Photos by Duane Stork
A: The center cocktail table houses aluminum letters Linda restored from Abe’s grandfather’s grocery store in Dayton, Ohio. The functioning, 7-foot, weighted walnut clock is by Jim Borden. The white four-piece fiberglass sculpture on the wall is by artist Hana Schear, their daughter. The Schears commissioned the felted-wool sunflowerlike ottoman while visiting London. B: This angled, unique wall sculpture, “Woman Jumping Through Hoops,” is by local artist Kirsten Stingle. C: In the Schears’ elevator atrium, a metal sculpture with a yellow glass head greets visitors with a bouquet. Linda found it at an art fair at Perimeter Mall. She says their collection mixes “high and low” — fine art and furniture combined with craft fair and flea market finds. D: The Schears opted for an informal dining area with an expandable table that can seat 12. The scarlet, lime, tangerine, amethyst and blue tones carry through the main expanse. The Agam in the background, with an adjustable front grid that changes the visible colors, is from Abe’s parents. E: Abe and Linda Schear commissioned two Penley oils of their children in 1993, “long before he became so popular.” They recently downsized from their Buckhead home of more than 37 years to a new Midtown condominium. F: Friendly pit bull Zelda lounges on the master bed. Behind the bed is a painting the Schears purchased on a memorable night in New Mexico. G: A huge Cincinnati Reds fan, Abe had his own portrait painted in place of Johnny Bench alongside Sparky Anderson and Pete Rose in this oil by Bill Purdom. As a salute to the team, Abe’s baseball study/office has a red geometric metal light fixture from Lighting Loft.
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SYNAGOGUES
Kehillat Chaim Honors Its Founding Rabbi
Photos courtesy of Temple Kehillat Chaim
Rabbi Harvey Winokur and wife Donnie Winokur attend the Temple Kehillat Chaim gala May 5.
Temple Kehillat Chaim celebrated the career of its founding rabbi, Harvey Winokur, on Saturday night, May 5, less than two months before Rabbi Winokur becomes the Roswell congregation’s rabbi emeritus.
Rabbi Winokur will make the move June 30 but will work on special projects as he continues to serve the congregation where he has spent 36 of his 42 years in the pulpit. Rabbi Winokur began his career at The Temple in Midtown, then moved to Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs. He was one of the first rabbis in metro Atlanta to perform interfaith marriages. He founded Kehillat Chaim (Community of Life) in 1982 to provide a permanent home for his philosophy of inclusion. In 36 years, Rabbi Winokur has overseen its growth from a storefront congregation to a modern synagogue complex with more than 200 families. The congregation is multigen-
Rosa Lee Abraham 94½, Sandy Springs
Rosa Lee Abraham, age 94½, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018, while under the loving care of hospice at her home in Sandy Springs. She was born in Memphis on Aug. 29, 1923, and lived there for 89 years. She graduated from Humes High School and was happily married to Jacob (Jack) Abraham from 1944 until his death in 1999. Jack and Rosa Lee operated Abraham’s Deli at Main and Jackson in Memphis for almost 40 years. Rosa Lee was well known as a social organizer and was active on the membership, greeting and entertainment committees at Beth Sholom Synagogue of Memphis. She was also a member of Hadassah, B’nai B’rith and Just in Fun. She thrived on the busy social schedule at Hammond Glen. She loved her family and friends. Her joy of living was an inspiration to all who knew her. She is survived by children, Bruce and Helene Abraham of Roswell and Stuart and Jeanne Abraham of Minneapolis; grandchildren Stacy Abraham Monsour of Suwanee, Josh and Stephanie Abraham Rommer of Johns Creek, Ben and Brandi Ehrenberg of Dallas, Texas, Jeanne Martinez of Roswell; and Benjamin Abraham and Jonathan Abraham, both of Minneapolis; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her son Russell Abraham. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Graveside services were held Friday, May 11, at Beth Sholom Memorial Gardens in Memphis. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beth Sholom Synagogue, the American Parkinson Disease Association or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Lynne Elster 75, Aventura, Fla.
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Lynne Elster, 75, of Aventura, Fla., died Thursday, May 10, 2018. Lynne was a very proud mom and grandma. She loved giving back to others and doing charity. Most recently, she had participated in several mission trips to Israel through the Sar-El program. Her zest for life was infectious, and she will be missed by so many. Survivors include her daughter, Ilana (Jerry) Tolk; sons Eric (April) Elster and Jonathan (Julie) Elster; brother Cary (Donna) Rosenthal; and grandchildren Evan, Jordy, Hana, Sara, Jack and Sydney. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sar-El — The National Project for Volunteers for Israel, Birthright Israel, Wounded Warrior Project or the Son26
erational and diverse. “At celebrations and festivals, you find people coming together from all backgrounds and all life stages,” he said. “The temple isn’t the building; it’s the people.” Rabbi Winokur has served as the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association and of the Southeast Association of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. He spent time on the boards of the United Way of Greater Atlanta and American Jewish Committee’s Atlanta Chapter and was on the advisory board of the Drake House, a shelter for homeless single mothers. Rabbi Winokur advised the temple board of his plan to step back from dayto-day responsibilities over a year ago
to allow for a smooth transition. Rabbi Jason Holtz will succeed him July 1. During the gala, Alan Abrams, who co-founded the synagogue and was its first president, said of Rabbi Winokur, “What he’s done is truly revolutionary — creating a community from so many diverse elements that honors ancient traditions but still feels modern.” Current President Lori Dreffin said: “The rabbi is so unassuming, and maybe that’s the secret to his success. The congregation is not about him alone, but all of us together.” Rabbi Winokur will continue his work as a certified spiritual director and as a trainer and facilitator for Prepare-Enrich and the Mussar Institute. ■
tag Foundation for brain tumor research. The funeral was held Monday, May 14, at Beth David Memorial Gardens in Hollywood, Fla. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999, and Levitt-Weinstein Memorial Chapels, 754201-4134.
Stuart Flome 75, Atlanta
Stuart Flome, age 75, of Atlanta died peacefully surrounded by his family at Hospice Atlanta on Tuesday, May 8, 2018, after fighting a brave battle against metastatic prostate cancer. Born Jan. 24, 1943 in Queens, N.Y., to Albert and Beverly Flome, his fondest memories of growing up were playing stickball in Brooklyn and cheering for the New York Yankees, especially during the Mickey Mantle years. He played football, baseball and basketball at Forest Hills High School. Upon graduating in 1961, Stuart served in the Air National Guard and was active during the Berlin Crisis. When he returned home from serving his country, he studied at the University of Vermont. While in college, he had the honor of trying out for the Detroit Tigers as a pitcher. He earned a spot on one of their minor-league teams and fulfilled a childhood dream. After his baseball career ended, Stuart moved in 1968 to Atlanta, where he began his 50-year sales and managerial career in the garment hanger industry. That same year, he met and married Bonnie Nager. They had two children together, Jennifer and Jeffrey Flome of Atlanta. Stuart was an avid baseball and golf fan and player, hobbies he passed down to his son, Jeffrey, and his grandsons, Noah and Bryce. As well, music served as the soundtrack to his life, and whether at home or in the car, he always played Elvis, Buddy Holly, Rod Stewart, Leonard Cohen and other legends. He passed on this appreciation of music and lyrics to his daughter, Jennifer. Stuart was also known for his impeccable style and was always dressed to the nines in his favorite designer, Ralph Lauren. The great joys of his life were his children and his grandchildren. Among all the titles Stuart held in his life, “Grandpa Stu” was his favorite one. Stuart is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Simmons, her husband, Warren, and her stepson, Bryce, of Atlanta; his son, Jeffrey Flome, his wife, Traci, and their children, Noah, Jordi and Izzy, of Atlanta; his siblings, Robert Flome and Barbara Flome of Apple Valley, Calif.; dear relatives Bonnie Lass, Rob McLean and Cindy Flome; as well as two nephews and three nieces. The family would like to thank the Visiting Angels organization and offer special thanks to caregivers Nicole Harmon and Shawn Gilmore for their compassion, friendship and skilled assistance, as well as Hospice Atlanta and Weinstein Hospice for making Stuart’s final days comfortable and peaceful. A funeral was held Thursday, May 10, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Hospice Atlanta, Weinstein Hospice and Congregation B’nai Torah are appreciated. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
OBITUARIES
Benjamin Jacobson 82, Atlanta
Benjamin Milton Jacobson, 82, passed away Saturday, May 5, 2018. He was born June 16, 1935, to Bessie and Herman Jacobson, both of blessed memory. Milton was a native of Atlanta who graduated from Morningside Elementary School and Grady High School. He attended the University of Georgia, where he received a B.A. in business administration and was master of Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. After graduating, he served in the Army Reserve and was stationed in Columbia, S.C. After the Army he returned home to his family business, Sterling Jewelry Co. His love of Corvettes led him to become a member of Corvette Atlanta, where he served as president. He and his wife were avid shag dancers and were members of ShagAtlanta. Both of those endeavors resulted in friendships that lasted a lifetime. Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Arlene Kaye Jacobson; daughters Lori (Joel) London and DeAnne Jacobson, both of Atlanta; grandchildren Sarah Kaye London and Max Sylvan London; sisters-in-law Cindy Kaye, Phyllis Kaye Magrill and Loretta Jacobson; and brothers-in-law Barry Kaye and Stanley Magrill. He was predeceased by his brother Burton. The family gives loving thanks to his caretaker, Mike Neal. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shepherd Center. A graveside service was held Monday, May 7, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com.
Jane Zwig 81, Atlanta
Death Notices
Ira Diamond, 73, of Milton on May 7. Grace Garrison, mother of Temple Kol Emeth member Kelly Wittes, on May 11. Adele Levinsky, 94, sister of Congregation Beth Jacob member Jack Shenk, on May 8. Herta Sylvia Rapp of Orlando, Fla., mother of Congregation Beth Jacob member Sharon Habif. Harris Saunders Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., father of Temple Sinai member Susan Barry, Sarah Hodge, Cynthia Saunders, Nancy Schneider, Liz Saunders, Becka Saunders and Charlie Bennett, on May 6. Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Associate Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@ atljewishtimes.com.
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Jane M. Zwig of Atlanta, beloved mother, sister, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Thursday, May 10, 2018. Jane was born June 13, 1936, to Pearl and Maxon Margoles in Milwaukee. She lived her life with her best friend and identical twin, Joan M. Bloom. On April 7, 1957, Jane married the love of her life, Dr. Edward E. Zwig. Together, they traveled the world, always returning to the mountains of Colorado and the beaches of Nantucket. Their love affair lasted 55 years. Jane was an avid mah-jongg player, lover of classic films and admirer of fashion. Caring for her family was her source of joy. She took great pride in her relationships, building friendships that lasted a lifetime. Jane was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Dr. Edward E. Zwig, and is survived by her daughters, Marcy Solmson (James) and Carol Andersson(Mikael); her son, Andrew Zwig (John); granddaughters Stefanie Boxer (Joshua) and Catherine Solmson; great-granddaughter Eleanore Boxer; sister Joan Bloom (Dr. Eugene); and nieces Margie Albert (Ira), Stacey Schlafstein (Barry) and Robin Wolf (David). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association of America. Graveside services were held Monday, May 14, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Peter Berg officiating.
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ARTS
Breman Takes Swing at Americanization by Baseball
Lip Pike might be the first Jewish professional baseball player.
Photos by Dave Schechter
Baseball has always served as a tool of American assimilation.
By Dave Schechter dschechter@atljewishtimes.com
MAY 18 ▪ 2018
“Let your boy play baseball and play it well. … Let us not so raise the children that they should grow up foreigners in their own birthplace.” The above statement, from the Jewish Daily Forward in 1903, dates to a time when waves of Jewish immigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean, uncertain what lay ahead but hopeful of a life better than what they had left behind. Their elders may have lived with one foot in the Old World and one in the new, but the children wanted to be fully American. Baseball was an avenue to adopting that American identity. It was as true for the Jews as it would be for other immigrants from Europe, and for those who came from Central and South America, all seeking better lives, especially for their next generation. And at a time when baseball was no less segregated than many other aspects of life, African-Americans sought equal treatment on the playing fields. Quotes inscribed on large panels introduce the themes of “Chasing Dreams: Baseball & Becoming American,” an exhibit that runs through July 15 at the William Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum.
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“To the students of most of the parochial schools, an inter-league baseball victory had come to take on only a shade less significance than a top grade in Talmud, for it was an unquestioned mark of one’s Americanism.” — Chaim Potok, “The Chosen”
Jewish slugger Hank Greenberg (left) talks with Joe DiMaggio.
The Breman calls this a “pop-up” exhibit (not to be confused with a high fly ball), with its thematic elements drawn from a much more extensive display created by the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. While one monitor offers the baseball memories of men and women of various generations and ethnicities, visitors can use an interactive screen to look up Jewish major-leaguers by name, position or team. Playing overhead, just loud enough to catch your attention — and maybe trigger memories — Atlanta Braves fans will hear calls of major moments in the team’s history (think Sid Bream’s slide, Fred McGriff’s debut home run and Bob Horner’s four round-trippers in a single game). The Breman has supplemented the panels that outline the story with baseball memorabilia, some from the personal collection of former Atlanta Journal-Constitution sportswriter I.J. Rosenberg, now the president of sports marketing firm Score Atlanta. There is a baseball signed by the
members of the Atlanta Braves’ 1995 World Series championship team; a jersey worn by Braves pitcher Tom Glavine during Game 6 of that series, a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians, Glavine’s second win of the series; a bat belonging to Dale Murphy, a Braves slugger on less successful teams the previous decade; and an autographed poster of Hank Aaron hammering his record-breaking 715th career home run April 8, 1974, at the since-demolished Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Among the items lent by Rosenberg is a set of reproductions of plaques from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., autographed by the players. Other memorabilia include a lithograph autographed by stars of the Negro Leagues. Laurie Sedicino, the Breman’s curator, said other items will be added to the exhibit in the weeks ahead. “Chasing Dreams” recognizes perhaps the two best-known Jewish ballplayers, Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax. In the midst of a heated pennant
The Breman has supplemented the Philadelphia-created exhibit with Braves memorabilia.
The jersey Tom Glavine wore in winning Game 6 of the 1995 World Series for the Braves is on display at the Breman.
race, Greenberg, the Detroit Tigers slugger, hit two home runs to beat the Boston Red Sox 2-1 on Rosh Hashanah in 1934, but he did not play on Yom Kippur, and the Tigers lost 5-2 to the New York Yankees. For the next generation, Koufax, a dominating left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, joined Greenberg in Jewish icon status by sitting out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins, which fell on Yom Kippur. The exhibit acknowledges the history made by Georgia-born Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play in the modern major leagues, joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947; Roberto Clemente, the Puerto Rican who starred for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates; and Justine Siegal, the first woman hired as a coach by a major-league team. Those with a bent toward much older history may find themselves staring at large panel featuring Emanuel Lipman “Lip” Pike (born 1845, died 1893), credited as being the first Jewish professional baseball player and among the first professional baseball players. Pike played in an era when some ballplayers changed their names to sound less Jewish. A pair of Jewish Atlanta brothers, Marvin and Irving Goldstein, are remembered in “Chasing Dreams” for an off-the-field achievement, opening the Americana Motor Hotel, one of the first integrated hotels in the city, in 1962. The presence of the Americana helped persuade Major League Baseball to approve the move of the Braves from their former home in Milwaukee, as black and white players could stay in the same hotel. Known today as the American, the current owner has retrofitted the hotel with midcentury design harking back more than 50 years. ■
CLOSING THOUGHTS
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I was never particularly enamored with convertibles. I mean, convertibles with their tops down are fine for other people. People who enjoy wearing doubleknotted scarves or head-hugging hats to keep their hair in place or do not care about hair resembling a rat’s nest. People who are not concerned with the little nose indentations caused by sunglasses being glued to your face by the wind. I cared and care. I hate rats. I hate rat hair. I have a delicate nose. I do like and respect speed. I don’t mind holding on for dear life to the reins of a horse when he suddenly realizes he has a speed nut on his back. Before cellphones, there were CB radios. I loved talking to folks who were stuck in traffic with me. CBs were the original Facebook. One of the main rules of the road for CB enthusiasts: Do not use your real name. Everyone had a handle. My handle was the Lady Silver Bullet. I loved talking with the truckers on my CB radio. Truckers were the coolest people to travel with. They were always available to help, especially with directions. They were the original GPS system. When they realized I was a girl living up to her handle, they protected me. I could always depend on truckers warning me about the County Mountie, the Plain Brown Wrapper or the Smokey (CB lingo for police). When I was growing up in the Bronx, I knew two guys who owned motorcycles. I would long to ride on one, helmet on head. I did not care about helmet hair; motorcycle hair seemed so cool. In 1970, my hubby and I and our four girls moved to Tampa. Tampa, Fla., was an idyllic place for my girls to grow up. Lots of sunshine, always outdoor play, small-town living. So when one day the daddy of my four little girls announced he needed a motorcycle, who was I to say no way, Jose? We decided on a dirt bike. I loved riding the bike, and my girls and I loved being his passengers. Dirt bikes are designed to take dirt roads with ease. They are not designed to stop short on the open roads, and certainly not on the highways and byways. The year Rosh Hashanah fell on a Sunday evening, the father of my
children determined that he absolutely had to take the bike to pick up The New York Times to read with his morning coffee. My gentle reminder that the bike was not made for the open roads or sudden stops fell on deaf ears. Although I knew with absolute certainty, on this morning of one of our holiest holidays, there was nothing wrong with his hearing. By the way, did you read the title of this missive? Read it again.
CROSSWORD
By Yoni Glatt, Koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Medium 1
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By Shaindle Schmuckler shaindle@atljewishtimes.com
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Vroom. Off he goes to pick up the Times. Ring, ring. I answer the telephone. This is what I hear. “Mrs. Shucker, Mrs. Schnick, uhm,” and strange breathing. Enough! I asked in a not-so-friendly tone who it was. I was ready to hang up, thinking it was an obscene call, when the man at the other end said: “I am the manager of the McDonald’s. I am holding your husband’s driver’s license. Your husband was in a serious accident, but please do not come to this McDonald’s. We offered him a hamburger, fries and a shake, which he refused, and we all sat with him until the firetruck and ambulance arrived. They are gone now. He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital.” Wait! What? I called Brenda, who lived down the street and was our beloved sitter. She ran right over. I ran to a neighbor who was a nurse (this seemed important at the time), and she drove me to the emergency entrance of the hospital. I could not speak, so she spoke for me, asking about a patient brought in by ambulance, a motorcycle accident. The lady behind the glass looked through her check-in sheets and did not see his name or a motorcycle accident. “Have you checked the morgue?” My neighbor grabbed me by the hand and dragged me up and down the rows of beds until we found him. An awful hue of green but alive. To this day, green is not one of my favorites. We sold the bike. This Lady Silver Bullet still loves speed but no longer longs for a motorcycle. ■
Valuable Jews
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(on) 47. Moolah, in Israel ACROSS 49. Gregorius of the Yan- 26. One with the most 1. Cowboy Emmitt votes, usually 6. “___ the Dog” kees 9. 1930s French premier 51. 2007 NL Rookie of the 27. Tries to improve, as a lawn Leon Year 29. Vardalos of “My Big Fat 13. On the briny 55. “I’ll second that” Greek Wedding” 14. “New York State of 56. Mess up 30. Droop, as flowers Mind,” essentially 57. Big insurance carrier 32. Dreidel take 15. Philosopher Descartes 58. Jewish ice? 35. Jaffa or Zion 16. Artist whose only (solo) 59. “Bambi” villain? No. 1 was in 1975 60. Ben with a boring voice 36. 1994 Jeremy Piven film 38. Black, in Bordeaux 18. Pirkei ___ DOWN 39. Creatures on a slide 19. Compare 1. Easy mark 41. Annoying 20. 502, in Herod’s day 2. Train and bus overseer, 42. Part of NASDAQ; abbr. 21. Fossey animal for short 44. What a kollel member 24. Animal house 3. Where Larry Bird played does 25. More nervous coll. ball 47. Actress Sedgwick 28. Sarajevo’s land 48. Guitar bar 30. Make like Randy Savage 4. Giveaway, in poker 49. Delicately apply 31. Where a bat might be 5. Like a Lubavitcher 6. All hosts of “The View” 50. “___ Mine” (“Let It Be” found in the house 7. ___ Olam song) 32. Patel-Kidman film of 8. Two before Lev. 51. Michael Stipe’s band 2016 9. Smarts 52. Didn’t observe Yom 33. House, for ex. 34. Former Flushing struc- 10. Eponymous jeans makerKippur 11. “Dos” half 53. College, to an Aussie ture 54. A Bobbsey sister 35. What can be found in 12. Player in 34-Across, each of this puzzle’s theme once LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 17. Chain from answers A M I G O M U G S A C T S Scandinavia 36. Treadmill setting L A D E D O N O R S O R E 20. Celebrity 37. Cultivate B U E N O S D I A S S M U T chef Paula 38. Israeli sandals O V A R H E T T C A P E S M E S S O R E S L U R 21. Shamed 39. Less than right? C M O N C H A L E T S 22. Winter 40. “E.T.” kid S A C H A C H E S T N U T opening on 42. Entertained E L O G R A C I A S D R E 43. “So Long, ___” (“Hello, Broadway? C O M P U T E R E V E N T 23. Cosmetics S T O R I E S Dolly!” song) N A S I E A R S S U V E R R S mogul who 44. “Raiders of the Lost R E D I D A O L said “Beauty is L I S L E Ark” soundtrack grp. A N T I B I E N V E N I D O an attitude” 45. His, in France S T A N A N D I C O M E T 25. Set foot 46. Chernobyl’s loc. H O S E T A S K A D I O S 1
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MAY 18 ▪ 2018
Check the Morgue
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MAY 18 â–ª 2018