Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCV NO. 12, May 31, 2020

NEXT ISSUE: SENIOR LIVING & PETS

VOL. XCV NO. 12 | GRADUATION & PARENTING

MAY 31, 2020 | 8 SIVAN 5780

Saluting our 2020 Graduates

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MICHAEL A. MORRIS

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Contributors This Week AMY SAUL MOLLENGARDEN BOB BAHR DAVE SCHECHTER DENA SCHUSTERMAN ELLIOTT LEVINE FLORA ROSEFSKY JAN JABEN-EILON MARCIA CALLER JAFFE MARK FISHER MARTINE TARTOUR RACHEL STEIN SUSANNE KATZ TERRY SEGAL

THIS WEEK Raise Them Well The year 2020 will be remembered not only for the coronavirus, sheltering in place, masks and economic turmoil, but the impact COVID-19 had on education. Probably the most affected were the graduating seniors, denied their final moments of honor, reflection and socializing. In this issue, we take time to salute those seniors, most of whom missed out on proms, breakfasts, picnics and other senior send-offs, as well as the traditional commencement ceremony, tassel turns and cap tosses. Area schools share how they celebrated their seniors, including a variety of out-of-the-box parades and outdoor commemorations.

We spotlight some of Jewish Atlanta’s top graduates. Plus, we look at the changing educational landscape that has resulted from COVID and how schools responded with virtual learning. Our stories range from a children’s book about imaginary travel, to diverse aspects of higher education, including the emotional toll the health crisis has had on college students.

In our parenting section, we explore similar issues along with long-distance parenting, as in global separation, and

how young adults can find volunteer opportunities to fill their free time.

The AJT features an Israeli karate instructor providing online classes and offers tips for celebrating Shavuot while recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month.

Also, in this issue we help you understand the primary election next month.

Our news stories include a rabbi in Brunswick, Ga., where what has become known as a racially motivated killing took place. We share the latest report on anti-Semitism by the Anti-Defamation League; how Pope Pius XII withheld evidence of the Holocaust; an update on the reopening of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and the closure of its overnight camp.

While much has changed for parents and students during COVID, including the seniors we recognize in this issue, next week we return our attention to the older type of senior. And we also honor our furry companions, who probably got more attention than they are accustomed to lately – our family pets. Send in photos of them and they may just be on the cover of our next issue. ì

Cover image: The many faces of Jewish Atlanta’s family tribute graduates.

CONTENTS

NEWS ������������������������������������������������� 6 POLITICS ���������������������������������������� 14 ISRAEL NEWS ������������������������������� 18 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 20 GRADUATION �������������������������������� 26 EDUCATION ����������������������������������� 40 PARENTING ����������������������������������� 48 ART ��������������������������������������������������� 53 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 54 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 58 OY VEY �������������������������������������������� 62 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 63 NEW MOON MEDITATIONS ����� 64 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 66 CLOSING THOUGHTS ����������������� 68

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 5

NEWS Former Atlanta Rabbi Wasn’t Prepared for Brunswick Killing

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

three years at The Temple in Atlanta, she found her calling in Brunswick, where she When Rabbi Rachel M. Bregman first has led the Jewish community in the area learned about the recently released video for seven years. of the shooting of a 25-year-old African Bregman is part-time rabbi of Temple American jogger in BrunsBeth Tefilloh, but another part wick, Ga., she told the AJT that of her job is to be active in the she wasn’t prepared. wider community of Glynn “How can you be? I am reCounty. ally heartbroken to be joining The young single mother a small, but growing club of now finds herself amid a comclergy and community leaders munity crisis that has attractwhere a young black person is ed worldwide attention. On murdered for being a young Feb. 23, Ahmaud Arbery was black person,” the Brunswick shot and killed apparently rabbi said about the February while jogging down a Brunsincident that resulted in two Photo by Bobby Haven The wick Street. A half-minute vidarrests, but is still under inves- Brunswick News // Rabbi eo of the shooting was released tigation. earlier this month, after which Rachel Bregman said Bregman, formerly at The a father and son were arrested her congregants are Temple in Atlanta, is the rabbi “mad, sad and scared.” and charged with murder and at Brunswick’s only synaaggravated assault. A week gogue. later, William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., the man Given Bregman’s background, one who recorded the fatal shooting of Arbery, might have assumed that her whole life was arrested on charges including felony might have prepared her to be where she murder, according to the Georgia Bureau is, at this significant juncture in time. She of Investigation. calls it “divine intervention” that after “I have always been a social justice

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junkie,” Bregman, a Boston native, said of herself. She noted how she ran a soup kitchen while in rabbinic school in New York and traveled to Rwanda and Uganda to “better understand the complexities of the world.” As a community organizer, she’s also been heavGregory McMichael, center, and his son Travis McMichael, ily involved in hunwere charged with murder in the February shooting death of ger, homelessness, Ahmaud Arbery, photo on left, whom they had pursued in a anti-human trafficktruck after spotting him running in their neighborhood. ing and civil rights.

All of which may But she also notes that despite a pluhave led her to The Temple in the first place. ralistic sense of community, there’s seg“Knowing The Temple embraced a comregation based on color, social economic mitment to social justice” acted as a magstatus and whether one lives on the mainnet to Bregman. The oldest Jewish congreland or one of the islands in the area. gation in Atlanta, established in 1860, The Temple Beth Tefilloh was established Temple has long been in the center of the in 1886 and serves as the center of the Jewcivil rights movement. In 1958, The Temple ish community in the area. Bregman said was bombed by white supremacists in remost of her 45 family-member congregants taliation for Rabbi Jacob Rothschild’s critilive on St. Simons Island, followed

by Brunscism of segregation. wick and Jekyll Island.

“Everyone here is While at The Temple, Bregman mad, sad and scared,” she said.

“I think that served as the rabbi for Open Jewish Projas the story is evolving, there’s a sense of anect, connecting with thousands of young ger and hope that things will change.”

Jewish adults, and strove to educate the She noted the rise in white supremacommunity about the scourge of human cy in the area but pointed out that anxiety trafficking. in the Jewish community climbed after “Rabbi Rachel Bregman left an exthe white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally traordinary legacy at The Temple,” Senior in Charlottesville, Va., in August 2017. “A Rabbi Peter Berg told the AJT. “Relationbunch of progressive clergy members and ship building is at the core of her rabbinI wrote a letter to the local newspaper sayate. When there is a crisis, as there now is ing that there is no place for this here. Evin Brunswick, a rabbi who understands eryone signed it.

There was an outpouring the value of building strong relationships of support for the Jewish community.” is in the position to make the biggest difA little over a year later, after the ference. Brunwick needs Rabbi Bregman massacre in the Tree of Life synagogue now, more than ever before. They are so in Pittsburgh, Pa., the community held a fortunate to count her as one of their most huge vigil in the synagogue. A police ofinspiring leaders.” ficer for the next-door high school came According to Bregman, there are two over to guard the synagogue door. “We parts to this tragedy. One is police corrupdidn’t ask him to do that.

A lot of people tion, because there are concerns of a poare standing up.” lice cover-up. Two, is racism. “The global As Bregman talks about the developattention to the story may help end the ing story behind the murder of Arbery, corruption,” said Bregman, “but the police she underlines his name. “I want to repeat corruption seems easier to root out than his name,” she said, noting that the first the racism.” local story of the shooting just left it out.

Bregman describes the southeastern When a tragedy like this occurs, BregGeorgia area as “magic. I fell in love with man added, “it takes a minute to figure out it,” she said of her initial impressions what to do.

We are shocked, appalled, upwhen she was looking for her next rabset, and we want to respond in a helpful binic step after The Temple. “The people at and appropriate way.”

One way, she sugthe congregation are great. The hospitaligests, is to donate to the Arbery Scholarty is amazing, and I live by the ocean.” She talks about the Spanish moss draping the ship Fund, www.coastalgacaa.org/give. html. ì oak trees and the birds singing brightly.

NEWS

No Camp Barney, But JCC Plans Day Camps for Late June

By Dave Schechter The highlights from Friday’s “Dear MJCCA Family” email from Jared Powers, CEO of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta: The JCC will begin reopening June 1. “The first stage is likely to include fitness, limited group exercise, tennis, and access to recreational areas on our campus.

Our outdoor pools will not be open on June 1, but we are hoping to be able to open them shortly thereafter. Our indoor pool will open in a later stage,” Powers said.

“With deep sadness,” Camp Barney Medintz will not open for 2020. “We waited as long as we could to make a decision based on the safety of our camp community.

We are heartbroken, as I know so many of you reading this will be too,” Powers said.

Summer day camps and preschool camps at Zaban Park “tentatively” plan to start in late June.

The JCC, which interacts with an estimated 60,000 people annually, closed its doors March 13 as a precaution against spread of COVID-19.

Powers said that when it reopens “the JCC experience on June 1 will be different than what you are accustomed to. The COVID-19 pandemic has required us to raise our demanding standards to an even higher level with new protocols for the current circumstances, such as physical distancing, health screening, enhanced sanitizing, and installation of UV light in our HVAC systems.”

Jared Powers, CEO An amended execuof the Marcus Jewish tive order issued May 12 by Community Center of Atlanta, announced “with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp ingreat sadness” that Camp cluded guidelines to permit Barney Medintz would the opening of day camps, not open this summer. but not overnight camps.

“We have developed strict criteria so that these camps can start planning now to reopen with safeguards in place,” Kemp said. “We are hearing that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue guidance soon. When that happens, their guidance will control, but until that time, we will put out guardrails so people can make plans.”

“Camp Barney” has operated since 1963 and covers 540 acres in the north Georgia mountains near Cleveland, Ga. The camp annually attracts more than 1,200 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, from throughout the southeastern United States and beyond. According to its website, the cost of a two-week session begins at $3,170 for MJCCA members – slightly higher for out-of-town JCC members or nonmembers – and a four-week session begins at $4,865 depending on age and slightly higher for out-of-town or nonmembers.

Camp Barney families will be offered the options of receiving a refund, rolling the fees over to summer 2021, or reallocating to make a donation. Similar options were offered by Camp Coleman and Ramah Darom when they canceled their summer overnight camps last month.

Located in the North Georgia mountains, near Cleveland, Ga., “Camp Barney” annually attracts more than 1,200 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, from throughout the southeastern United States and beyond.

Since the closure, a variety of JCC programming has migrated online, including preschool and day camp programs, the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning, the Book Festival of the JCC, BBYO, and services with Rabbi Brian Glusman.

The anticipated loss of program fees and membership revenue forced the JCC to lay off or furlough more than half of its staff, according to an email Powers sent March 23 to the “MJCCA Family.” The JCC has not provided a figure for the number of employees laid off or

furloughed, nor for its total number of employees before the facility closed.

In the first round of grants made from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s COVID-19 emergency fund, the JCC received two allocations: $102,000 to fund three months of health insurance for furloughed workers and $32,000 to do the same for laid off workers.

In the March 23 notice, Powers said, “We have had to make necessary, though very difficult, decisions to ensure the long-term future of the Marcus JCC. . . . This very difficult decision is what will allow us to serve the community again in transformative ways when we are able to reopen.”

Summer camp programs generate more than half of the MJCCA’s revenues. According to the MJCCA’s tax return for the fiscal year that ended in August 2018, the most recent available online, 80 percent of its $24.6 million revenue came from “program service revenue,” while 57 percent of its nearly $24.8 million in expenses was “salaries, other compensation, employee benefits.”

The JCC is stepping up its fundraising efforts.

“Please consider a meaningful gift to help us open strong and continue to provide the programming – in person or virtual – that you have come to rely on,” Powers said in his May 15 email.

The JCC’s annual meeting, was scheduled for 7 p.m.

May 27, on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Powers said the meeting would “update our community on the MJCCA’s pathway forward.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 7

NEWS

Pope Pius XII Withheld Strong Evidence of the Holocaust

By Bob Bahr Pope Pius XII, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church during World War II, learned about the mass murder of Jews early in the war but kept the information a secret in the Vatican. That was the charge made by German historian Hubert Wolf, who is also a priest, and a team of scholars he assembled to study the recently opened archives of the church leader.

Wolf confirmed May 16 that scholars found new evidence the Pope misled the United States government about the systematic murder of Jews in Poland and the Ukraine.

The historian cited a previously unknown “Holy Silence,” a documentary about internal Vatican Pope Pius XII, was shown at the Atlanta memo, or AppunJewish Film Festival earlier this year. to, written in late September 1942

by Angelo Dell’Acqua, a close associate of the Vatican Secretary of State. He derided secret eyewitness reports of wide-

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spread atrocities against Jews in Poland and the Ukraine.

In an email from Wolf published in The Jerusalem Post May 16, he charged that Dell’Acqua’s memo might have helped to convince the Pope to withhold the information from the American government about the mass murder of Jews.

“In the newly discovered Appunto, Dell’Acqua questioned the credibility of Jews and Oriental (East European) Catholics alike by resorting to well-known anti-Semitic stereotypes. He attested to Jews a penchant for exaggeration and Eastern Catholics a lack of sincerity.”

The memo was written as top church officials were discussing how to respond to a secret report that had been received in Switzerland by The Jewish Agency for Palestine and passed along to American government officials. The report sent to the Vatican Sept. 27, 1942, detailed the mass murder of 100,000 Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto and an additional 50,000 who were killed in Lviv in the Ukraine.

According to the German scholars, a month before the Vatican received the report from the Americans, the Ukrainian archbishop of Lviv described how the Germans had massacred 200,000 Jews in his country.

In mid-September of 1942, the German researchers reported how an Italian businessman, Count Malvezzi, had told a high church official about the “incredible butchery” of Jews in Warsaw. Church officials withheld both reports from the American government.

The lack of concern by Catholic clerics at the time does not surprise Jelena Subotic, a professor of political science at Georgia State University and a scholar of the Holocaust. The

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Vatican officials kept silent about Ukrainian Archbishop Andrey Sheptytsky’s reports of “diabolical” massacres of Jews in August 1942.

Vatican’s records underline the fact that the murder of large numbers of Jews wasn’t a priority during the war, Subotic maintains.

“For many protagonists during World War II the murder of European Jews was not that important. There was large-scale indifference to the suffering of the Jews because of a variety of factors. Obviously, anti-Semitism is a huge factor, but also an understanding of Jews as somehow being different, not really being citizens, being part of the nation in Europe. So the atrocities committed against the Jews did not constitute a central core of what the war was about or a central core of what were thought then to be crimes against humanity.”

Nonetheless, President Franklin Roosevelt’s personal representative to the Vatican, Myron Taylor, pressed the Pope to speak out against Hitler and Nazi atrocities.

Throughout the war, the Pope remained silent.

Taylor’s mission and the Pope’s unwillingness to speak out were described in a documentary entitled “Holy Silence,” shown earlier this year at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. While the director of the film, Steven Pressman, called the work of the German researchers a “significant” and “very revealing” find, he told the AJT that he believes the record against the Pope is already clear.

“What we are dealing with is a pope who did not denounce the Nazis. He was skeptical of taking a strong stance against what the Nazis were doing to the Jews in Europe. He refused to support the allies, and I think that message, in terms of how Pope Pius XII responded to World War II and to the Holocaust, is not going to change significantly, if at all.”

Access to the millions of documents in the Vatican archive of Pope Pius XII was the culmination of a long and bitter struggle to make public the record of the church during the war years. Formal discussions between Catholics and Jews about opening the archive, which was supposed to remain sealed until 2028, were largely fruitless until Pope Francis stepped in to make the records public.

The archives opened March 2 but closed after only a week because of the spread of the coronavirus in Italy. Still, the dramatic disclosures after only a brief glimpse leads experts such as Wolf in Germany to tell The Jerusalem Post that the archives ultimately will provide an extraordinary window into the secrets of the Vatican.

“Finally we can try to answer all the open questions about Pope Pius XII toward the Holocaust based on the sources. The time for apologetics and polemics should at last be over.” ì

NEWS

U.S. Anti-Semitic Incidents Highest in 40 Years

By Dave Schechter When considered in total, the individual numbers in the Anti-Defamation League’s annual audit of anti-Semitic activity built a framework for understanding the scope of the problem in the United States.

Take 2,017, for example, the number of incidents in the United States in 2019 that met the ADL’s criteria as being anti-Semitic.

That figure is 12 percent greater than the 2018 count and the highest since the ADL began its annual audit in 1979.

Within the audit released May 12 is a reported 6 percent increase in incidents of harassment, a 19 percent rise in vandalism, and 56 percent more physical assaults on Jews in this country – more than half of the assaults taking place in New York City.

Head South and numbers 29 and 52, respectively, represent the number of antiSemitic incidents in Georgia in 2019 and in the four-state region handled by the ADL regional office in Atlanta, which comprised Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.

In both cases, the numbers for Georgia and the four-state region were fractionally lower in 2019 than 2018.

10 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Noticeably absent from the list of Georgia incidents was April 2019 events at Emory University, when pro-Palestinian activists posted mock eviction notices on doors in dormitories and at an off-campus residence as a protest against Israeli demolition of Palestinian houses.

“We categorize the mock eviction notices at Emory as anti-Israel political speech and those flyers didn’t include traditional anti-Semitic tropes, Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of the Southern division, said May 12. “If they had included tropes or if they had targeted Jewish students directly, we would have included them, but the audit generally doesn’t include anti-Israel political activism.

We do include anti-Israel content, just not political activism that doesn’t have anti-Semitic tropes or target Jewish students,” On April 12, 2019, Emory president Claire Sterk issued a statement that included: “Although Jewish students were not singled out, they and their families justifiably felt targeted, given the world in which we live.”

Two days later, a statement issued by Padilla-Goodman called that response “a step in the right direction,” that still “falls short of what is needed . . . to make sure that

anti-Semitism has no place at Emory mov- gia in 2019 compared with 30 in 2018, 58 in 2017, 43 in 2016, and 16 in 2015. ing forward.”

The 52 incidents in the four-state reAccording to the ADL’s 2019 audit, there were 171 anti-Semitic incidents nationally gion in 2019 compared with 55 in 2018, 74 in 2017, 56 in 2016, and 26 in that referenced Israel or 2015.

Zionism, of which 68 While the types of “took the form of white incidents in the region supremacist groups’ prowere similar state-topaganda efforts, which atstate, Padilla-Goodman tempt to foment anti-Isranoted that Tennessee has el and anti-Semitic beliefs. had “special issues with Most of the remaining inwhite supremacy,” havcidents were expressions ing been host to numerof anti-Israel animus that ous white supremacist incorporated anti-Semitic events. imagery or harassment During an online and demonization of Jew“We think that the numbers are news conference to reish students for their real pretty drastically underreported,” lease the report, ADL’s or assumed connection to Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of the Southern division, national executive direcIsrael.” said about the ADL’s annual audit tor Jonathan Greenblatt The ADL’s 2019 list of anti-Semitism. “I think we have referenced the February of Georgia incidents ina lot to be concerned about.” shooting of a 26-year-old cluded other incidents that “caused ripples in the Jewish com- African-American man near Brunswick, munity in Atlanta,” Padilla-Goodman said. Ga., and said it was “insane” that Georgia and four other states (South Carolina, ArAmong those noted in the report were: • “Kill more Jews” written on a Jew- kansas, Wyoming, and Indiana) lack hate crime laws that specify categories of bias ish student’s dormitory room white board.

• Swastikas drawn on a desk in a such as religion and race.

“The past few years have been the most Jewish teacher’s classroom; on the exterior of a Jewish family’s home; spray-painted on challenging in recent memory,” Greenblatt the front of a public high school; and posted said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a fresh platform for expreson a Jewish organization’s Instagram site. sions of anti-Semitism.

• Vandalism at “Violent anti-Semithe Waycross Hebrew tism has become all too Center in Waycross, Ga., commonplace,” Greenthat included broken blatt said, citing an ADL windows, a fire extinsurvey in which twoguisher sprayed through thirds of America Jews the sanctuary, bottles reported feeling less safe of drinks and crackers than a decade earlier and strewn about, and the more than half of responsterling silver topper to a dents reported experiencmenorah damaged. ing or witnessing an anti• P r o p a g a n d a “The past few years have been Semitic incident. reading “Better dead than the most challenging in recent The ADL’s 2019 rered” and “Reclaim Amerimemory,” Jonathan Greenblatt, port highlighted three ca” distributed at a synaexecutive national director, said gogue. during a news conference to release fatal incidents: A woman killed on April 27 when ADL’s 2019 audit of anti-Semitism. a white supremacist The ADL was contacted about more incidents in Georgia than opened fire at the Chabad of Poway, Califorthe 29 that met the criteria for inclusion in nia; the three people killed Dec. 10 in an atthe audit, and even then, “We think that the tack on a Jewish grocery store in Jersey City, numbers are pretty drastically underreport- N.J.; and the Dec. 28 attacks on a Chanukah ed,” Padilla-Goodman said. “I think we have party at the home of a rabbi in Monsey, N.Y., by a knife-wielding man who killed one pera lot to be concerned about.”

Two areas that stood out to Padilla- son and injured four.

In response to those incidents and othGoodman as she reviewed the 2019 report were the numbers of incidents reported at ers in a spate of attacks on Jews in New York K-12 non-Jewish schools (411 nationally) and and New Jersey late in 2019, a “Jewish Atlanin public areas, frequent venues for vandal- ta Solidarity Event” attended by 1,100 people was held Jan. 6, 2020, at the Byers Theatre at ism (655 nationally).

The 29 anti-Semitic incidents in Geor- City Springs in Sandy Springs. ì

NEWS

Conservative Rabbis Approve Virtual Shabbat Worship

By Bob Bahr The rabbinic arm of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism May 14 formally approved the use of electronic devices to stream worship services on the Shabbat and on holidays.

The historic 30-page legal religious opinion or teshuvah

by The Rabbinical Assembly’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards was written by Rabbi Joshua Heller, senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Torah in Sandy Springs.

“What this paper does is it gives it a roadmap for people who are thoughtful about Jewish observance to look at new technologies and Rabbi Joshua Heller has been with Congregation B’nai think about how Torah for over 15 years. they might apply them while staying within the bounds of Jewish tradition,” Heller told the AJT. The Sandy Springs synagogue, which has over 800 member-families, bought a computer to use in its sanctuary soon after the synagogue was closed to the public in mid-March. It also hired a non-Jewish technician to facilitate Shabbat streaming each week. Still, Rabbi Heller, who comes from a family of rabbis that goes back nine generations, has mixed feelings about putting a screen on the bimah during Shabbat worship.

“I think that using electronic devices is very much against the letter and spirit of Shabbat, but I also recognize that without some sort of virtual communication for most of the members of my community, the Shabbat worship experience doesn’t really exist.”

The Rabbinical Assembly’s opinion formalizes what has rapidly become standard practice in some Conservative synagogues, where religious leaders and their congregants have wrestled with the issue of how to observe the letter of the law against the use of electricity on Shabbat and major holidays while at the time providing the crucial experience of group prayer. Orthodox synagogues have firmly opposed any use of electronics on Shabbat and holidays.

According to Heller, his Conservative religious law commentary could be particularly important for those congregations thinking about how to prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which begin Sept. 18.

“The high holidays are definitely a big driver of this because even a lot of congregations that can come up with other solutions for daily or weekly use are going be thinking about this for the high holidays.”

On May 7, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the federal government’s point man during the COVID-19 pandemic, spoke in a conference call organized by the Orthodox Union. He indicated that the health crisis could still be very

much with us during the high holidays. “As we get to the fall, there will almost certainly be virus,” he said.

Still, depending on local circumstances, Dr. Fauci indicated that synagogues might consider a partial reopening, with limited daily prayer services.

In a statement released by The Rabbinical Assembly May 14, the CEO of the Assembly, Rabbi Jacob Blumenthal, noted that “restrictions on communal prayer will probably last for many months.” He urged his members to consider the religious legal decision in the wider context of these challenging times.

“We urge you to consider how to help your communities thrive during these times, rather than just survive,” he said.

Also May 14, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the first set of guidelines that those communities can use to help them decide how to begin to reopen. Although the guidelines only were aimed at how to restart schools, restaurants, childcare centers and other businesses, it warned that all workplaces not reopen unless they could protect those employees who might be at higher risk because of age or pre-existing medical conditions.

Health experts generally have indicated that increased testing for the virus and contact tracing be a priority in any plan to reopen communities. A coalition of religious and community leaders, called Georgia Alive, was recently formed to resist plans to reopen the state prematurely.

Heller, whose synagogue formed a health advisory committee composed of medical experts, including a mem-

The Conservative movement leaves the decision about how to handle electronic worship to individual rabbis and their congregations.

ber of the CDC, is not eager to reopen.

“Many of the things that we do in synagogue involve lots of people being close to each other, including people who are potentially at high risk of getting COVID-19 and people who are at high risk of spreading it. And so our advisers have said that we synagogues should definitely not be among the first institutions to open.”

For now, like many in the Conservative movement and elsewhere pondering when to reopen, Heller and his congregation will be staying close to their computer screens during Shabbat and for important simchas.

In early May, the synagogue hosted its first bar mitzvah on Zoom, and next month, it’ll be having its first wedding during the health crisis outdoors, and online. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 11

NEWS

JF&CS Shows Up During Mental Health Awareness

By Jan Jaben-Eilon This May was the 71st time Mental Health Awareness Month was observed in the United States. It came – and went – as the World Health Organization warned that a mental health crisis is approaching in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil – they all cause or could cause psychological distress,” Devora Kestel, director of WHO’s mental health department, reported in a presentation to the United Nations. She said governments throughout the world should be prepared for an upsurge in the number and severity of mental illnesses.

“The mental health and well-being of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently,” she added.

“We’re just at the beginning of a mental health reaction related to COVID-19,” said Dan Arnold, director of clinical services at Jewish Family & Career Services of Atlanta. “What we know is that the reactions to COVID – depres-

12 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

sion, anxiety, grief and loss – are going to extend beyond the physical conditions of COVID-19.”

Arnold said that one survey of Americans showed nearly half reported that the pandemic had affected their mental health. “I would say it’s probably more than half. And the economic fallout has barely started,” he told the AJT. Studies after the recession of 2008 showed that for every 1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, there was a 1 1/2 percentage increase in the suicide rate, Arnold noted. He called it a “shadow pandemic.”

JF&CS is trying to get ahead of the curve by adding more telehealth support groups to help specific populations impacted by the pandemic. The agency had already transferred its existing in-person support groups, such as one for survivors of domestic violence, to online versions.

“The non-COVID groups didn’t miss a beat,” he said, transitioning to Zoom the week after JF&CS’ building was closed in March. “We have added groups as we have heard from the community and identified ongoing needs.”

Among the new groups launched Some people just want to listen or want due to the pandemic are those for par- to build self-confidence to speak for ents of preschoolers, parents of elemen- themselves.

“We’re developing an effective teletary age children, parents of tweens and health model” from this teens, pregnant women, experience, Arnold said. a teen girls group chat, “I’m convinced some of college student group, these [new] groups will family caregivers supmorph from COVID port group, and one for groups to topic-related spouses/partners/siggroups, such as parentnificant others of those ing.” struggling with addition.

One limitation to Arnold sees these the telehealth model, groups as potentially JF&CS has discovered, preventative, providing is for the participants space for people to talk to find private space in about their experiences their homes where evduring the trauma of this pandemic. “We may JF&CS’ Dan Arnold hopes the new eryone is sheltered in ideally head off more in- COVID-related support groups will place together. On the other hand, Arnold said tense reactions.” be preventative and keep people from experiencing more intense his agency has realized All of the new supreactions to the pandemic. that in some ways, the port groups are free to the public, unlike the pre-existing ones telehealth method makes it easier for that have a nominal fee. Also different is people to participate. They don’t have to that individuals don’t have to commit to travel to and from JF&CS and they don’t attendance at the Zoom meetings; they have to get childcare. “We’ll learn from can come and go as needed. Participants this.”

One Atlanta man who has expein the pre-pandemic therapy groups had to commit to attend. Membership was rienced mental health support groups defined, Arnold explained, unlike with both before and since the COVID panthe new groups that have a “more fluid demic is Robert Gray, who is publishing a memoir that focuses on his battles with membership.”

The “closed membership folks de- depression. He said that his therapy support groups have moved velop long-standing from in-person weekly trust and intimacy with meetings to virtual each other and are able groups that meet twice to go more in-depth and a week. He told the AJT really establish relationthat people are experiships,” Arnold said. “In encing increased anxithe open membership ety and uncertainty and groups, participants are more stress. “We don’t presenting around the know when this is going same issue; there’s a to end.” commonality. They are His suggestions to there for the same purothers experiencing the pose so they relate more additional mental health quickly because of that challenges brought on common purpose. They Robert Gray writes about his battles with depression in

by COVID-19 include esrealize that they are not his new memoir, “Releasing tablishing daily routines, the only one experiencthe Bounds of Shame.” setting small goals for ing their feelings.” Individuals don’t have to totally explain what oneself, staying away from the media and focusing on what you can control. they’re feeling to the others.

Going forward into what is now a For all these groups, there are therapists who facilitate the discussion. JF&CS vast unknown, as the country and econhas been able to accommodate the new omy start opening up again, Arnold said groups with existing staff, with the ex- JF&CS knows it needs to make sure its services are available to people and “that ception of adding one member.

According to Arnold, the groups are we have the resources in the community. neither too large nor too small. “We want We need to be thinking about affordabilenough membership so folks have a com- ity and cost limitations. We’re committed munity to learn from, but small enough to serving the community in the way the so people can be heard and contribute. community needs.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 13

POLITICS 2020 Primary: An Election Like No Other

By Dave Schechter What if you held an election, but no one came?

That, of course, is hyperbole, but because of COVID-19 concerns or simple convenience, a staggering number of Georgians will bypass the ballot booths on June 9 and instead vote by mail.

The primary, which was scheduled for May 19 but delayed because of COVID-19, also includes the Democrats’ presidential preference contest similarly delayed from March 24.

Some 6.9 million active voters were mailed absentee ballot applications. The number of registered voters in Georgia is estimated at more than 7.3 million. By May 24, more than 1.58 million absentee ballot requests had been received at county offices statewide. Of all the statistics available from GeorgiaVotes.com, one of the most stunning is that more than 69 percent of 2020 early voter applicants did not vote in the 2016 primary election.

As for the party affiliation of those requesting absentee ballots, 48.7 percent had requested Republican ballots, 47.5 percent Democratic ballots, and 3.8 percent nonpartisan ballots.

By age, more than 42 percent of those

requesting absentee ballots were age 65 and stitution: “Of hundreds of cases heard by older and slightly more than 29 percent were the State Election Board over the past five ages 50-64. By gender, nearly 57 percent were years, 34 of them involved absentee ballots.

The most common allegations female and nearly 43 percent involved failures by county male. By race, 64 percent were election officials to process abwhite, 35 percent African sentee ballots correctly by inapAmerican, 1.5 percent Hispanpropriately rejecting them.” In ic, and 1.6 percent Asian. the 2018 general election, about

By May 24, nearly 3 percent of absentee ballots 617,000 people had voted by were rejected, “usually because absentee ballot or in-person they were returned after elecearly voting (which ends June Georgia Secretary of tion day, voter information was 5), with slightly more than 60 State Brad Raffensperger missing or signatures didn’t percent cast by people who will preside over an match,” the AJC reported. did not vote in the 2016 prielection featuring new To solve a potential probmary. voting machines and staggering numbers lem – counting that extraorThose voting in person of absentee ballots. dinary number of absentee will cast votes on the state’s new $100 million-plus system of touch- ballots – the state election board will allow screens and printouts, which allow voters election officials to begin opening ballots to check their ballot before inserting it into June 1. In the past, absentee ballots were not processed until election day. Even with this scanners attached to locked ballot boxes.

Absentee voting is controversial in measure, they will not be counted until June some quarters. The speaker of the Georgia 9. And the results of some races still may be House, Republican David Ralston, warned delayed by the absentee ballot count.

Polling places tend to be in schools, that absentee ballots could compromise the integrity of the election. Secretary of State churches and senior centers, places that Brad Raffensperger, also a Republican, cre- may be off-limits because of COVID-19, reated a task force to investigate allegations of ducing the number of sites available for voting. Raffensperger encouraged absentee fraud.

According to the Atlanta Journal Con- voting also out of concern that COVID-19

will depress the number of poll workers, who tend to be age 60 or older, a population that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention labels as at higher risk for contracting the virus. The state has purchased 35,000 face masks and 30,000 containers of hand sanitizer for polling places.

To protect those who turn out in person to vote early or on June 9, the CDC recommends that election administrators regularly disinfect equipment and enforce social distancing. But there appears to be no uniform policy on what election officials should do if a voter shows symptoms of the virus at the polls.

Georgia is an open primary state, which means that a voter need not be a member of a particular party to vote in its primary.

There are a dozen candidates on the Democratic presidential ballot, though all but one — former vice president Joe Biden — have ended or suspended their campaigns. The estimated 275,000 voters who cast ballots during early voting before the presidential primary was delayed do not get a do-over.

Otherwise, ballots are full of competitive races for U.S. House and Senate seats, as well as state, county and municipal posts.

Runoffs will be Aug. 11. The general election is Nov. 3. ì

Jewish Values Influence Political Candidates

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

“Was I aware that people wouldn’t vote for me because I am Jewish?” asked Olens When Sam Olens was elected attorney rhetorically. “Yes,” he said. In his campaigngeneral of Georgia in 2010, he was believed to ing around the state, when someone would be the first Jewish candidate to be elected to approach him to attack his faith, “I just went a statewide partisan office in Georgia. In the to talk to someone else in the room.” Olens upcoming primary election, there are Jewish told the AJT that he was raised “to undercandidates in Georgia stand the classic value of running for national giving back” to the comoffice, including two munity. for U.S. Senate, as well Likewise, Jon Ossoff as several competing in said his “Jewish heritage congressional districts. and upbringing profoundly In a state where influenced my worldviews. the Jewish population It has made me sensitive to is only 1.2 percent of authoritarianism, to scapethe total population – goating and the scourge of much of it centered in extreme nationalism.” The the Atlanta metropolicandidate for U.S. Senate tan area – one might said he came from descenexpect Jewish candidants on both sides of his Jon Ossoff’s ancestors dates to experience family who fled persecufled persecution on both particular challenges. tion. His father left Eastern sides of his family.

But, according to those Europe and his mother is candidates, their religion is not an obstacle an immigrant from Australia whose ancesto their candidacy; rather, it is one of the fac- tors were chased out of the British Isles. tors compelling them to run.

Ossoff, who raised his political pro14 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

file after nearly winning a congressional election to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Johnseat in the 6th District in a special election ny Isakson, Matt Lieberman echoed Ossoff. in 2017, contends that the “extreme right- “Being Jewish is not an issue,” he said. “Sure, wing politics of Donald Trump threaten there’s a small percentage of folks who are the idea and identity of America as a place anti-Semitic and for whom it would be an where people of all backgrounds and faiths issue. I wouldn’t be counting on their votes anyway.” can flourish.”

Lieberman, son of Before the former Sen. Joe Lieberpandemic limited man, who was also his campaigning to once a vice presidenthe phone and comtial candidate, said the puter, Ossoff said “timeless lessons of our he didn’t “encounfaith” have influenced ter a single hostile his campaign. “As a Jew question” about of post-Holocaust and his background as post establishment of he traveled across Israel, I know we’re not the state. The CEO supposed to wait for of Insight TWI, an a miracle or change, investigative telebut we’re supposed to vision production Lindy Miller never experienced antimake change. We must company, Ossoff Semitism when she was running for the do our best to make the said matter-of-factPublic Service Commission, she said. world better.” ly, “I think anyone Lindy Miller acknowledged that when who wouldn’t vote for me anyway, wouldn’t she was running for a seat on the Georgia vote for me because I’m Jewish.”

Running in a separate, Nov. 3 special Public Service Commission in 2018, she was

POLITICS

Renee Unterman is running for Congress in the 7th District.

Sam Olens said he was raised with the classic Jewish values of “giving back” to the community.

The election of President Donald Trump led Dana Barrett to politics, she said.

Being African American and Jewish sensitized John Eaves to marginalized groups.

nervous about experiencing “dog whistles” about her Jewish faith. But she said she “never once experienced anti-Semitism.”

According to Miller, Judaism is core to her being. “Justice is a calling for me because I am Jewish and of South African ancestry,” Miller said.

In addition to his Jewish background, John Eaves – running for Congress in District 7 – said his being African American sensitizes him to marginalized groups. This is especially important now, he said, because people of color, those in nursing homes and essential workers who don’t have a choice to

stay at home, “are put into a category of ‘the other.’” And these are the groups who have a high chance of dying due to the pandemic, he said. “I want to be a voice” for the marginalized groups, Eaves said.

While Eaves was born into his Judaism because his grandfather converted to the faith, Renee Unterman, who is running for congress in the 7th District, converted before she married her ex-husband. A former mayor and county commissioner, Unterman said that she was in office when her son died. “It was my faith that got me through that. Now I see people losing their

jobs and I know that it’s your foundation that gets you through tragedies.”

She added that a large part of her attachment to Judaism is her allegiance to Israel. Although she’s never visited the country, she believes Congress needs people who will strengthen the ties between Israel and the United States.

Former radio personality Dana Barrett said that she was never particularly political until Donald Trump was elected president.

“I was shocked and upset for the country. I changed my radio show to be more political.

Being Jewish, I see the rise in anti-Semitism

as concerning.” She admits that she has become more engaged with Israel and Jewish groups since she’s become a candidate for Georgia's 11th Congressional District. As a breast cancer survivor, what really drives Barrett’s campaign, however, is the issue of healthcare.

As for the challenge for Jewish candidates to get elected in Georgia, Lieberman points out, “We were close to electing a black woman for governor,” referring to Stacey Abrams in 2018. “There’s no reason to believe a Jewish candidate would run into more obstacles.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 15

POLITICS

Democratic Senate Race Headlines June 9 Primary

By Dave Schechter

face an incumbent with a formidable war chest.

As of March 31, the most recent deadThe marquee race in the June 9 priline for filing campaign mary is the Democrats’ finance reports, Perdue contest to select a chalreported having more lenger to face Republican than $9 million cash on U.S. Sen. David Perdue in hand, compared with the Nov. 3 general election. $1.825 million for Ossoff, This has become $435,700 for Tomlinson, known as Senate race No. and $279,148 for Amico.

1, in contrast with No. 2, Though election the open primary Nov. 3 forecasters currently rate to fill the final two years the race as likely or leanin the term of retired ing Republican, Perdue Republican Sen. Johnny warned in April, “Here’s Isakson.

Democratic Senate the reality: The state of The Democratic hopeful Jon Ossoff.

Georgia is in play,” accordheadliners in No. 1 are Jon Ossoff, a documentary production com- ing to audio from a call with “Women for pany executive who electrified the party Trump,” obtained by CNN. “The Democrats in 2017 in his unsuccessful run in the 6th have made it that way,” Perdue said.

“We have had our Congressional District; wake-up call in Georgia,” Teresa Tomlinson, the he said, citing the state’s former two-term mayor recent history of increasof Columbus; and Sarah ingly tight elections. PerRiggs Amico, executive of due said he needs to win her family-owned truck“twice the number of ing business, who was votes” than the more than defeated in 2018 by Re1.35 million he received publican Geoff Duncan in in 2014 when he defeated a bid to become lieutenant Nunn with 52.9 percent governor. of the vote. “The demoIf no candidate wins a majority of the votes Sarah Riggs Amico Democratic graphic moves against us.

But we can still win this if cast, the top two finishers Senate candidate. we get out and make sure will move on to an Aug. 11 that all of our voters vote. That’s what this runoff.

Whichever Democrat advances will comes down to.”

The leading Democratic trio have tied but somebody who’s been battle tested and Perdue to President Donald Trump at ev- doing exactly that for the last 17 years as a ery turn, highlighting, among other issues, business owner and business executive.”

Ossoff’s endorsewhat they view as a poor ments include Clarkston response by the White Mayor Ted Terry, who House to the COVID-19 dropped out of the race to pandemic. seek a seat on the DeKalb During an April 20 County Commission; Rep. online forum hosted by John Lewis, from Georgia’s the Jewish Democratic 5th District, whom Ossoff Council of America and regards as a mentor; and Atlanta’s Jewish DemoRep. Hank Johnson, from cratic Women’s Salon, the 4th District, in whose the 55-year-old Tomlinson Washington office Ossoff took a not-too-veiled shot worked. at her chief challengers.

Republican incumbent Tomlinson is backed “It’s not a starter job. It’s Sen. David Perdue. by former U.S. Homeland not a business. It’s going to require someone who . . . will be ready Security Secretary Jeh Johnson; former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes; former Sen. Max on day one. I’m that candidate.”

For his part, the 33-year-old Ossoff, Cleland; former Rep. Buddy Darden; former Atlanta mayor and who was a bar mitzvah United Nations Ambasat The Temple, said, “The sador Andrew Young; and margin of victory in Noformer Georgia Supreme vember requires massive Court Justice Leah Sears. youth turnout. . . . David Amico’s endorsePerdue and his allies will ments include the Comtry to turn my youth munications Workers of against me, but I believe America; the Internationmy youth is my greatest al Brotherhood of Elecstrength and will carry us trical Workers Local 613; to victory in November.”

Bricklayers Local 8; the The 40-year-old AmiSheet Metal, Air, Rail and co said, “They’re going Former Columbus, Ga., Mayor Transportation Workers to need a champion, not Teresa Tomlinson, Democratic somebody who’s new to candidate in the Senate primary. union; and the Southeastern Carpenters Regional how to survive and help working people thrive in a down economy, Council. ì

Crowded Fields in 7th Highlight Congressional Primaries

By Dave Schechter

280,000 cast. The Georgia State University professor faces a field that includes The most contested congressional former Fulton County Commissioner races in the June 9 primary are in the 7th John Eaves (who is Jewish), state Sen. Zahra Karinshak, state Rep. District, where Republican Brenda Lopez Romero, and Rep. Rob Woodall’s decision political activist Nabilah Isnot to seek re-election set lam. off a scramble among DemAs of March 31, the ocrats and Republicans. Bemost recent deadline for cause of the size of the fields, campaign finance reports, Aug. 11 runoffs are possible Bourdeaux had nearly $1.06 on both sides of aisle. million cash on hand; KarThe 7th covers much of inshak, $504,025; Islam, Gwinnett County and the $81,582; Eaves, $56,367, and southern half of Forsyth Romero, $37,545.

County.

Carolyn Bourdeaux On the Republican side, On the Democratic side, Carolyn Bourdeaux returns, having come the field includes state Sen. Renee Unwithin a whisker of defeating Woodall in terman; emergency room physician Dr. 2018, losing by 433 votes out of more than Rich McCormick; Lynne Homrich, for-

16 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

mer vice president for human resources was one of the first congregants helping at The Home Depot: businessman Mark establish Temple Beth David in Snellville, and was a member for an estimated 25 Gonsalves; and educator Lisa Babbage.

As of March 31, Unterman reported years before moving to Buford. Over the years as an elected official, having $726,326 on hand; she has been invited to and McCormick, $542,147; Homattended church services as rich, $273,150, Gonsalves, a guest, but she identifies as $154,030, and Babbage, Jewish.” $2,440.

In Georgia’s 6th DisUnterman was raised trict, former Rep. Karen Catholic and converted to Handel is seeking a rematch Judaism before marrying against Democratic Rep. Mark Unterman, whom she Lucy McBath, who defeated later divorced. In November her in 2018.

2019, Unterman’s campaign The 6th is carved from manager, Brendan Jaspers, John Eaves eastern Cobb County, northsent the AJT a statement that said, “Her son and daughter attended ern DeKalb County and northern Fulton Hebrew school, and each had a bar mitz- County. Based on data compiled in 2013, vah and bat mitzvah, respectively. She the Berman Jewish DataBank reported

POLITICS

Lucy McBath

Karen Handel

that Jews accounted for 8.38 percent of ported $966,366, far in excess of her rithe district’s residents, the highest per- vals.

In the 11th district, centage in any of the state’s former WGST radio host 14 congressional districts.

Dana Barrett, who is JewChallenging Handel ish, is seeking the Demofor the Republican nomicratic nod to challenge innation are former Atlanta cumbent Republican Rep. Falcons football player Joe Barry Loudermilk, who Profit; businesswoman is seeking a fourth term.

Mykel Lynn Barthelemy; The 11th takes in Cherokee entrepreneur Blake Harand Bartow counties, and bin; and businesswoman part of Cobb County in the and singer Paulette Smith.

Dana Barrett northwest metro area.

As of March 31, McDespite receiving treatment for stage Bath reported $2.61 million in cash on hand. Among Republicans, Handel re- IV pancreatic cancer, Democratic Con-

Zahra Karinshak

Renee Unterman

gressman John Lewis is seeking an 18th William Haston and Elaine Amankwah term from the 5th District. The 80-year- Nietmann. The 4th is made up of Rockdale County and parts of old civil rights movement DeKalb, Gwinnett, and icon faces a primary chalNewton counties. lenge from 32-year-old forIn the 13th District, mer paralegal Barrington where Democrat David Martin II, who has exScott is seeking a 10th pressed great admiration term, the incumbent is befor Lewis. The 5th takes in ing challenged by Michael central Fulton County, inOwens, Jannquell Peters, cluding the city of Atlanta, and Keisha Sean Waites. as well as pieces of DeKalb The 13th takes in all of and Clayton Counties.

Rich McCormick Douglas County and porDemocrat Hank Johnson, seeking an eighth term from the 4th tions of Clayton, Cobb, Fayette, Fulton District, faces a primary challenge from and Henry counties. ì

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Paid Content by Daniele Johnson ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 17

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Nati Shohat/Flash90 // A team works on a high-tech project.

WomenTech Starts Israel Chapter

A Paris-based global movement to promote gender diversity in the technology sector, The WomenTech Network, has set up an Israel chapter. Israeli female entrepreneurs were to participate in a 24-hour virtual conference May 27, The Times of Israel reported.

The Israeli chapter will officially launch the event, the theme of which is “Women Taking Up Space.”

The conference was to begin at 7 p.m. in New York City and present nonstop live programming for 24 hours. Over 150 speakers from around the world, including Israel, Thailand, Portugal, Macedonia, Peru and Canada were to offer keynotes, panels, interview, and workshops.

“We are living through unprecedent-

Today in Israeli History May 31, 1936: Zevulun Hammer, a National Religious Party politician who is elected eight consecutive times to the Knesset from 1969 until his death from cancer in 1998, is born in Haifa.

ed times, where our physical space is being challenged and confined, regardless of gender, age or nationality,” Ayumi Moore Aoki, the founder of Women in Tech, said in a statement. “We aim to encourage a conversation on how humanity can take up space on earth and beyond, in a more sustainable and inclusive manner for our future.”

Israeli Anne Baer, the CEO of iKare Innovation, will be presenting the role of women in the startup ecosystem. Inbal Arieli, an entrepreneur and author, will be presenting “Is Chutzpah The New Charisma? The Israeli Recipes to Success,” with venture capital investor Esther Barak Landes, the president of ProWoman. The panel will be moderated by Avital Bayer, CEO of HiPitched.

Stars Join Jewish-Arab Youth Chorus for Video

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries announced that Chinese authorities have given it a green light to market its Austedo treatment for Huntington’s disease.

China is the second country, along with the U.S., to approve Austedo, according to The Times of Israel.

The treatment addresses tardive

Jerusalem Youth Chorus director Micah Hendler put together a virtual musical collaboration of “Home,” The Times of Israel reported.

“This video really tells a story,” said Hendler, who founded the Jewish-Arab youth chorus based at the Jerusalem YMCA. “The process of making this was way more interactive and collaborative than ‘Here’s a choral arrangement, let’s sing it together.’”

Hendler asked local artists, including David Broza, Achinoam Nini, Mira

June 3, 1948: David Ben-Gurion, serving as prime minister and defense minister of the provisional government, accuses the British of aiding the Arab military effort in Israel’s War of Independence.

June 6, 1967: Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Abba Eban, gives an impassioned speech to the U.N. Security Council, arguing that enemies’ acts of war forced Israel to fight.

Teva Gets Go-Ahead for Huntington’s Treatment

June 7, 1930: Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David) is reborn as the emergency medical service for the Jewish community of Palestine in response to the Arab riots against Jews in 1929.

June 1, 1967: Israeli Prime Minister Levi Eshkol appoints Moshe Dayan to replace himself as defense minister. The move is part of an effort to create a unity government as war appears imminent.

White House photo // President Barack

Obama speaks to the Muslim world from Cairo University during his first Middle East visit in office June 4, 2009.

A poster promotes the third Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival.

June 4, 2009: President Barack Obama calls for “a new beginning” in relations between the United States and the Muslim world during an address at Cairo University.

June 2, 1990: The third biennial Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival opens on the campus of Tel Aviv University, whose film students and faculty founded the festival in 1986.

June 5, 1967: Israel launches a preemptive strike on the Egyptian air force, hitting air fields at 8:15 a.m. and destroying 204 aircraft within an hour, and the war quickly pulls in Jordan and Syria.

18 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

dyskinesia in adults and chorea associated with Huntington’s disease.

Huntington’s disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Chorea, which is involuntary twisting or writhing movements, occurs in around 90 percent of patients. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder characterized by repetitive and uncontrollable movements on the tongue, lips, face, trunk and extremities.

Teva’s shares went up after the announcement, and Austedo’s sales jumped 64 percent in the U.S. this quarter.

June 8, 1971: The first El Al flight using a Boeing 747 jumbo jet departs Lod for London and New York. The fully booked flight, captained by Oded Abarbanel, carries 400 passengers.

June 9, 1967: Israeli forces led by Maj. Gen. David Elazar launch an offensive into the Golan Heights on the fifth day of the Six-Day War. Despite heavy casualties, Israel gains control of the Golan before a cease-fire.

June 10, 1930: The Jewish Agency’s Frederick Kisch notes in his diary that all members of the Arab leadership in Palestine except the mufti of Jerusalem acknowledge the failure of their boycott of discussions about the future of the British Mandate.

Courtesy of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus // A

screenshot of Micah Hendler, center, conducting 100 singers and musicians in his rearrangement of “Home,” created during the coronavirus.

Awad, to sing or play any part of the song they wanted. The collaboration also included Ari Afsar, who played Eliza in “Hamilton” on Broadway and Joanna Jones, who played Eliza and Peggy in the show.

In all, 100 people were included in the production, including all the members of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus.

It took Hendler six weeks to arrange the piece, which included learning how to create the video.

“It wouldn’t have happened in any other time,” he said. “It really gives a glimpse into everyone’s lives right now.”

June 11, 1947: Emma Gottheil, one of the first female Zionist leaders, dies at her New York home at 85. A delegate to the Second Zionist Congress, she helped found a group that became Hadassah, named for her mother.

June 12, 1948: A mob attacks the Jewish Quarter in Tripoli, Libya, while North African Arabs are passing through on their way to fight against Israel’s independence.

In two days of riots, 14 Jews are killed.

June 13, 1950: The Knesset adopts the Harari Resolution, sponsored by Yizhar Harari, to outline a series of Basic Laws instead of crafting a constitution as a single document.

June 14, 2009: In a speech at Bar-Ilan University, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lays out his vision for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but avoids specifics about borders or Jerusalem.

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

ISRAEL NEWS Israel Gradually Reopens Schools Following Pandemic

By Jan Jaben-Eilon Israel closed down its society and economy because of the coronavirus outbreak earlier and more completely than the United States. So perhaps it’s not surprising that Israel has already started opening its schools to children who have been cooped up at home for the last couple of months.

The gradual school opening has not occurred without some controversy and a few glitches. Many parents hesitated to send their youngsters to preschools and daycare centers that partially opened May 10. And, after grades first through third and 11th and 12th resumed partial studies, students and faculty in one school in Rehovot had to quarantine themselves after a teacher tested positive for COVID-19, the illness that resulted from the coronavirus.

That school was to remain closed until May 27.

Still, as of May 21, full-time classroom activities resumed for private daycares, kindergartens and the previously opened grades in much of the

Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 // Israeli students wear protective face masks at

the Hashalom School in Mevaseret Zion, near Jerusalem, May 17, 2020.

country. Teaching in fourth through 10th grades was scheduled to resume May 19, except in areas that suffered widespread illness.

The expansion of school openings followed guidelines approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in conjunction with the National Security Council, the Health Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the Federation of Local Authorities and Regional Council Center. Each municipality was given some flexibility to set its own opening schedule.

The 10-point plan announced by the prime minister’s office May 14 stated that the country’s education system would begin fully opening “from age 0” except in areas that were centers of morbidity – which were mostly in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods and cities. An evaluation of these cities will be updated by June 1.

In the schools themselves, “hygiene will be fully and strictly maintained in accordance with Health Ministry directives,” including hand washing and maximum separation in the lavatories.

During recess, all students are required to wear masks, while pupils in grades four and higher must also wear their masks during classes.

Classrooms windows are also required to be open. However, after the country experienced a heatwave in mid-May, the Education Ministry asked the Health Ministry to reexamine the requirement of wearing masks. Subsequently, that stipulation was relaxed.

In addition, students will be required to maintain two meters, or about six feet, distance from each other during meals and other activities. Breaks between classes will be staggered to minimize the number of students in the corridors.

Even before entering the schools, each student must present a declaration of health.

Recognizing that the opening of the schools and society could result in another wave of illness and death, the prime minister’s office set up a team to prepare the educational system for that possibility. Currently, the school year is expected to end July 13. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 19

OPINION

Letter to the editor,

No. A “West Bank annexation” is not looming.

Israel will be formally delineating its borders in the disputed areas of Judea and Samaria.

Under international law, (League of Nations, 1922) Israel includes all of Judea and Samaria. The U.N.’s 1948 resolution to Partition Palestine is not law. The U.N. General Assembly makes recommendations, not laws. Only the Security Council creates law.

Even so, Israel was prepared to share its land with the Arabs, but the Arab League refused, waged a genocidal war and lost all moral claims. Still, Israel sued for peace.

The Democratic Party and their Jewish supporters have yet to realize there has been a paradigm shift. The days when Jews could be pushed around with impunity are over. Israel is ranked among the 10 most important countries in the world. It is a cultural and technological giant. Its military is formidable. It can take care of itself.

Israel will implement the American peace plan, with or without Arab participation. The Arabs can help modify the outlines of their state and get $50 billion for development, or they can refuse and stay on welfare.

Len Bennett, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Letter to the editor, After my quite emotional first reaction to Bob Bahr’s article I tried to answer myself questions about what truly presents the picture trying to illustrate German Christians’ behavior during Nazi rule in Germany. I did more research, found this picture in public domain and have to admit that some of my initial arguments were incorrect.

The timing of this picture is about right. It is September 1934, NSDAP [Nazi Party] rally in Nuremberg. The person on the right, greeting Hitler, is a Protestant theologian, Ludwig Muller, indeed Nazi well-wisher who became for a short period of time a Reich bishop, acting head of pro-Nazi faction of German Protestants. As a theologian he tried to rewrite The Bible and get rid of parts that he considered too much influ-

enced by Jewish thinking. He didn’t hold his post for long, though, as after less than two years he was no longer in Hitler’s political scope. Hitler consolidated his political might over German society and could do without Protestants.

The fact is that German Roman Catholics, unlike some German Protestants, were always a problem for Hitler because of guidance coming from Vatican. With encyclical from the Pope to the faithful being read in churches, raising issues of moral stand and asking for adhering to true religious and universal values following the canons of Christianity, Roman Catholics were a problem to Nazi officials, being in opposition to Nazi social ideas (1937 Encyclical “With burning concern”).

So I am very surprised that in such a generalized way you decided to illustrate the article about some possible misdeeds of Pope Pius XII using a picture showing a particular Protestant Bishop who tried to fulfill his religious and political ideas in accordance with Nazi social doctrine. He stands in the picture as if he was the leader of all German Christians or a Pope’s nuncio. This group was indeed in the minority. Of nearly 24,000 German clergy, only about 140 were supporting the system. And these were predominantly the Protestants, not Roman Catholics. Of all clergy imprisoned in KZ Dachau, 95 percent were Roman Catholics.

In my opinion such a picture, as an illustration of an article about role of Pope Pius XII during World War II, is obviously biased, especially when presented to readers who are possibly lacking historical knowledge about this time in Europe’s history.

Andrzej Staroscinski, London, United Kingdom

Letter to the editor, In response to Bernie Marcus’ defense of [President Donald] Trump’s endorsement of hydroxychloroquine, ”What have you got to lose?” President Trump often poses this question to the American people. By doing so, he is suggesting that people with the coronavirus take HCQ because it might cure the disease, and if it doesn’t, then they will have lost nothing.

This suggestion is inappropriate, incorrect, and reckless in the present situation, particularly when asked by someone with the power of the presidency but no medical expertise.

Such a question might be appropriate for a physician to ask a single patient with a disease for which all known remedies have failed. Or, more likely, it’s a question that such patients might ask themselves after their physician has explained all the risks associated with taking a drug that might be beneficial or that might just hasten their death.

But managing a public health crisis, such as exists now with the coronavirus, is not the same as a personal physician managing the healthcare of one patient. The task is much more complicated. In a public health crisis, there is no single person who is the patient. The entire U.S. population is the patient, and the physician is a team of public health experts, which, for this crisis, includes Dr. [Anthony] Fauci. The team’s task is both to prevent as many people as possible from becoming sick and to treat those who do become sick as well as possible. The fact that there is no known cure for coronavirus complicates the situation further because the public health team has to be careful not to cause further illness or even death by using untested treatments that might work.

One treatment that some physicians are trying is HCQ combined with other drugs. Sometimes people recover, and sometimes they die. No one knows whether those who recover did so because of HCQ or whether they would have recovered without it. We do know, however, that some died because the HCQ interacted with an underlying condition and caused the death. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology tell us that HCQ causes arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest among people with heart disease. But COVID-19 is an underlying condition that makes HCQ itself dangerous to certain patients.

So, when President Trump asks, “what have you got to lose?” and the patient is the U.S. population, the answer is: thousands of lives, not as Bernie Marcus suggested last week, a small subset of patients.

Dr. Karen K. Steinberg, retired chief of the Molecular Biology Branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ì

The AJT welcomes your letters. We want our readers to have an opportunity to engage with our community in constructive dialogue. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

20 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 21

OPINION

Time is Ticking for Hate Crimes Bill in Georgia

Dave Schechter From Where I Sit

22 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Back on Feb. 26, in the basement of Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta, I moderated a panel on hate crimes legislation – or, rather, the lack

of it -- in Georgia.

I began with the words of Vernon Keenan, then director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, at an Anti-Defamation League event in 2017. “I am tired of apologizing for the state of Georgia not having a hate crimes law,” Keenan said, in his archetypal Southern law enforcement voice.

Three years later, Georgia remains one of four states – along with South Carolina, Wyoming and Arkansas – without a statute.

The panelists were two members of the state Senate, one a Democrat and the other a Republican, and a Democrat from the state House. In attendance were activists from the Jewish, Muslim, Christian, African American and LGBTQ communities.

After the breakfast session, many of those in attendance walked over to the Capitol to lobby in support of a law allowing for enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by bias. The ADL, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, and Tzedek Georgia have been among organizations at the forefront of this effort.

It is possible that no one present knew that three days earlier, in an unincorporated area near the coastal city of Brunswick, Ga., a 25-year-old African American man, who was known to jog in the area, was killed by shotgun blasts during an alleged confrontation with two armed white men, a father and son, who had pursued him in a pickup truck. An autopsy determined that Ahmaud Arbery died from two gunshot blasts to the chest “during a struggle for the shotgun.” Investigations continue into the circumstances of the incident, and three men have since been charged with the murder.

Cellphone video of the incident, recorded from a vehicle traveling behind the truck, surfaced the first week of May, after local authorities had declined to prosecute. The GBI was brought in, and within 48 hours, the father and son were charged with murder and aggravated assault, jailed and denied bond.

The man who shot the video subsequently was arrested by the GBI charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

Based on lessons I learned early in my

career as a newspaper’s police beat reporter, I caution those who think this a slam-dunk case: Never bet on what a jury will do.

Nonetheless, the death of Arbery may — may, because, well, this is Georgia — achieve what all the polite lobbying has not, namely move the Senate to pass and send to Gov. Brian Kemp a hate crimes bill already approved by the House.

The General Assembly passed a hate crimes bill in 2000 but the measure was tossed by the state Supreme Court in 2004 as being “unconstitutionally vague.”

In March 2019, the House voted 96 to 64 in favor of HB 426, sponsored by Republican Rep. Chuck Efstration from Dacula, “to revise the criteria for imposition of punishment for crimes involving bias or prejudice.”

The measure would “provide for sentencing of defendants who commit certain crimes which target a victim because of the victim’s race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, or ethnicity.”

A finding of bias could add to a sentence of three months to a year in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for a misdemeanor or at least two years in prison for a felony.

The bill sits in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which must approve the measure – and its chairman makes no promises – before a Senate floor vote. Senate approval of the bill as written would send it to the governor. Amendments would require a conference committee to work out differences and return the bill to the House and Senate for floor votes.

And the clock is ticking, sort of.

Ordinarily, the General Assembly would have adjourned several weeks ago, but COVID-19 forced suspension of the session on March 13. Lawmakers will return in mid-June to finish their 2020 business, most notably approval of a 2021 state budget in a time of economic stress.

Because the legislature works on a two-year cycle, failure to pass a hate crimes bill this year means that the whole process would have to start anew next year.

Advocates are, to use a cliche, cautiously optimistic; though, after all their efforts, perhaps more cautious than optimistic.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution carefully noted that while Kemp said “conversations about legislation are already underway, and we will work through the process when the General Assembly reconvenes,” he did not endorse its passage.

In the grand scope of things, putting a hate crimes law on the books in Georgia should be important on a level with, say, reopening massage and tattoo parlors, nail salons and bowling alleys. ì

OPINION

Co-Parenting, Child Support and COVID-19 Our new world of social distancing, remote workspaces and virtual school creates many day-to-day challenges for all families. These Amy Saul challenges are Mollengarden exacerbated Guest Columnist for families who have been through divorce, are currently divorcing, or otherwise share custody. Likewise, the added stress of losing a job or being furloughed during these tough economic times raises questions regarding a parent’s financial obligations, such as child support and alimony.

Custody and Parenting Time While Georgia previously had a statewide “shelter in place” order, this did not apply to custodial arrangements. Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order, clarifying “that no provision of Executive Order 04.02.20.01 shall limit, infringe, suspend, or supplant any judicial order, judgment, or decree, including custodial arrangements.”

It further provided that “Essential Services shall also include the transport, visitation, regular care of family members . . . specifically including . . . children.” Accordingly, if another shelter in place order is issued, parents should continue to follow courtordered parenting plans unless that specific shelter in place order directs otherwise.

Over the last few months, family law attorneys have frequently been asked, “Do I have to allow parenting time when I know the other parent is not following public health guidelines, and is at risk for virus exposure?” The general rule of thumb is that parents should always follow a court order.

Otherwise, they could be held in contempt of court. However, there are always exceptions to the general rule, and each situation should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Consider consulting with a family law attorney.

The best advice for families is to engage in strong co-parenting. Parents should engage in standard co-parenting efforts, but also observe public health recommendations, create a protocol for both households, and communicate with each other so that everyone feels calm when transitioning children between homes.

Consistency will allow parents and children to feel more secure, and it can help keep everyone safe and healthy.

Economic Impact on Financial Obligations In addition to health and safety concerns, many people have had their work hours reduced, salaries cut or employment terminated. Many do not know how they will pay their basic living expenses, much less child support and alimony. Georgia law allows the modification of child support and alimony and gives special consideration to those who have suffered an involuntary loss of income.

Generally, to modify child support, the party filing a motion or lawsuit must show that there has been a substantial change in either parent’s income and financial status, the needs of the children, or that there has been an involuntary loss of income. Parents familiar with the process might be aware of the two-year rule on modification of child support; however, this rule, which prohibits modifying child support multiple times within a two-year period, does not apply to cases of involuntary loss of income. Many upcoming modifications of child support cases will fall in this category, and the twoyear rule will not apply.

Another important benefit of filing a modification of child support based on an involuntary loss of income, is that if proven, the modification is retroactive to the date of service of the lawsuit. Accordingly, the sooner a parent takes action, the sooner they may be entitled to relief. Further, if you do not file promptly, and fail to pay child support, you could be held in contempt of court.

Periodic alimony is also modifiable unless there has been a prior agreement that it will be non-modifiable. Similar to child support, to modify alimony there must be a substantial change in the income and financial status of either spouse. Contrary to child support, however, a party is not entitled to retroactive relief based on an involuntary loss of income. A modification of alimony is only effective as of the date of the judgment.

Notably, the term of alimony may not be modified, only the amount.

The bottom line is that while we are experiencing unprecedented times, you have options. Contact a family law attorney to obtain the appropriate advice for your unique case. ì Amy Saul Mollengarden is a partner at Boyd Collar Nolen Tuggle & Roddenbery, where she handles all types of family law matters with a focus on complex divorce and custody litigation. She also handles modification and contempt cases and can be reached at asaul@bcntrlaw.com or www. bcntrlaw.com.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 23

OPINION

We Are All Grieving We are all grieving.

Some of us are grieving loved ones who have died. Some of us are grieving with friends who lost loved ones.

Loved Dena Schusterman ones who died alone in hospitals. Loved ones who are unable to be there for their father or mother’s funeral.

Loved ones who are sitting shiva alone.

Some of us are grieving life as we knew it.

We are grieving stability. We are grieving structure. We are grieving family gatherings. Our children are grieving their activities. Their school day. Seeing their friends. Their routine. We are all grieving our rituals.

And as in all loss, we realize now that we never appreciated how good we had it. It is important to acknowledge how we are feeling. The tears. The frustration. The loss. The denial. You need to feel it in order to heal it.

24 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Because we are all grieving together, who bears witness to our grief? Who is there to comfort us when we are so wrapped up in our own pain?

There is a parable about a man who enters the most beautiful dining room. It is set with long tables, draped in velvet clothes, china, crystal, with polished silverware at each place setting. There are garlands of flowers stretched from one end of the banquet table to the other end.

The smells in the room are aromatic and pleasing; the man knows he will have a scrumptious meal. Then he looks around and the people in the room are skinny and shaking, they look miserable and he can see they are starving. Why is that so?

As they try to eat, their spoons are so long they cannot fit them into their mouths; in agony, they smell the smells yet cannot capture any of the food.

The man enters the next room and there is the resplendent scene repeated, but this time, there is laughter and gaiety – he notices that everyone is using their long spoon – to feed each other.

We have to be there for each other right now. We have to bear witness to our

neighbors’ grief and be there for them, despite our own sense of loss and bewilderment.

This was a poignant podcast I heard between Brene Brown and David Kessler.

I found myself nodding to so much of what they had to say. But then I listened again and thought about my own knowledge, my learning and my DNA, and the meaning I take from all of this.

What if our grieving over life how it used to be is appropriate for now? But as Georgia opens up – today the manicures and salons, the waxing appointments all opening their doors beckoning me inside – and then other states follow suit, there is a deeper layer of grief that we need to be aware of.

This is the grief that is slowly washing over me. I feel it like a trickle, the trickle before the flooding rises, submerging me beneath its raging waters.

It was a mad rush into quarantine, yet to me, there was catharsis in being in it together with everyone. This morning as my texts pinged and my emails dinged announcing appointments available, in whatever the new normal looks like, I

sensed that once again I could become submerged in the BC, before corona life.

My gut tells me that the real grief for humanity will be if we go back to all that was normal to us. If we go back to the toxicity of polluting our environments and the excess in materialism, to the human distractions and the family disconnection. If we go back to our long spoons, living only for ourselves.

We mustn’t. It will be compounding a tragedy.

Folks, be aware. A tidal wave is coming. Are you strong enough to stand up to it?

I felt it come this morning.

I took a few deep breaths.

I put on my sneakers.

I ignored the pull back into the vortex and ran. I ran into nature and chirping birds, a bubbling brook.

The manicure can wait; so can the wax. The pedicure, well, that I will have to negotiate. ì Dena Schusterman is director of Chabad Intown Jewish Preschool.

OPINION

Life at Home During a Pandemic Hello, I am a 13-yearold boy going to Dickerson Middle School.

I wrote a reflection on the world’s current situation from my point of Elliott Levine view at home.

Guest Columnist In my editorial comments, I shared what it feels like to be a teenager living in quarantine: While at school sitting in my desk bored as ever, I wondered how amazing school would be in the comfort of my home. Little did I know these wishes would come true. Enter Coronavirus 2020. Sitting at my desk in homeroom is how I would normally start my school day, but now I start by rolling out of my bed and falling on the floor. Instead of homeroom, I sit down at my computer ready to start my long day of homework. I am working at my computer calmly because there is no teacher to look over my shoulder to announce to read #18 correctly on the math test. I chuckle to myself realizing that I need to change my answer and go back to work on the equation.

Oh, how the days are different now.

They are shorter at the start, but then they just keep on going until it is time for dinner. “Boys, dinner.” My mom calls. Me and my brother rush down the stairs to see what we are going to eat tonight. “Ugh, Brussels sprouts, we both say together.” After dinner, SURPRISE, more homework. After dinner, I go to my locker, aka the floor of my room, to return my books and binders. Then, it is time for bed. I finally relax only to realize I have to do this for over a month more. This is what normal school is like during a pandemic.

I love gummy worms! However, when I eat too many, I get tired of them.

That is a lot like my family. I love them, but when I am around them 24/7/365 they just get annoying. In the house there are three interesting characters and one cute pet. My dad, a short, … well, no-haired funny and helpful person who will do just about anything to go scuba diving again. After the quarantining, my dad is going to teach me how to scuba dive and how to get certified, but in the meantime were forced

to be close to each other. I just cannot take his work calls and “The Bert Show” being constantly played in the background. Every time I go downstairs, I hear it playing every day, every minute, every hour. And, if “The Bert Show” is not on, I know he is on a work call and I must be quiet, and well, … I am not a quiet person.

But, one exciting thing we did was we put a new circuit board in our 3-D printer. So, now we can help print parts for masks to help doctors and nurses in need. My brother, Ethan, a typical teenager, camps out in his room all day with the occasional coming downstairs to get food and drinks. At least we know he is alive. Life with him is no different during a pandemic. Keeping us all organized is my mom, a mean, lean, cleaning machine. She is in the middle of it all, making all the plans and decisions while keeping us in one piece. While doing all of that, she also manages to do her own work. Then, it is the fluffy, cute and adorable dog, Snowflake. Whenever we come downstairs, she is always there waiting for more hugs, kisses and the occasional treat. I think she loves everyone being home because she is now getting more love than ever. Being confined with my family during a pandemic is very, very, very different than I thought. But at least we get along. … Well, most of the time.

One of the hardest things about a pandemic is not being able to do things with my friends. Normally I would be able to go to their houses and do whatever, but now all I can do is go biking and fishing with them. And ... while doing all of that, we have to maintain a 6to 10-foot distance, but at least I get to see them. Now in week 4 of quarantine all I have to say is that my fantasy to be home is not as great as I imagined.

To me, school at home is a dream and a curse! I am home, but I am without my friends. I have lots of free time, but nothing to do with it and school is a 24-hour class. I have also spent a lot of unwanted time with my family. It is an unreasonable demand for any teenager! My memories of the quarantine will last forever, and I will always remember the time rolling out of my bed, hitting the floor, and getting ready for my school days. Dreaming about staying home all day is no longer the paradise that people thought it would be. ì

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GRADUATION 2020 Graduation: Like No Other

By Roni Robbins For Atlanta’s 2020 Jewish graduates, there’s still a lot of pomp in their senior send-off, but they are also victims of extreme pandemic-induced circumstance.

The result was that planning graduation and senior recognitions in a global health crisis bred innovation and ingenuity in Atlanta’s private and public schools with Jewish students.

From “drive-thru” parades in which students and their families remained in their decorated cars, to 20 days of honoring seniors, including a virtual prom outfit reveal and “Friday Night Lights” athletic field light display, finishing high school in Atlanta this year has been anything but standard practice.

While some schools opted for the drive-thru or drive-in parades, pickups of caps and gowns, yearbooks and phototaking opportunities – not to mention virtual graduations – others stuck to their guns when planning in-person ceremonies – with restrictions. A few schools combined those options for a multi-faceted commemoration.

26 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Brooke Orenstein pops out of her red convertible as part of the Weber senior commitment day parade.

Hannah Rosenberg is headed from Weber to Ohio State University.

Sadie Levy is all about flag waving during the Weber commitment day parade.

For instance, on May 3, The Weber School had a senior commitment day drive-thru celebration in which the grads drove through the school’s parking lot announcing their intended college or gap year plans while faculty and staff stood by their parked cars waving and greeting them from a distance.

“This is a part of a larger effort to celebrate our seniors in a safe and socially distanced way,” Julie Crow, Weber’s director of marketing and community out-

reach, told the AJT. Still, Weber, like some other schools in Atlanta, is not letting a global pandemic stand in the way of the big day.

On May 15, Head of School Rabbi Ed Harwitz sent a graduation update to seniors and their parents that the ceremony would be held June 7 on The Weber School campus.

Harwitz explained that while maintaining appropriate and safe social distancing, “each student will be called

to the podium individually in cap and gown, turn their tassel and receive the personal moment of recognition and celebration that they deserve. Students who prefer not to receive their diploma in this manner will still be announced and recognized with their name and picture on our projection screens.”

A few Atlanta Jewish day schools are holding out for an in-person graduation.

Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael of Atlanta doesn’t finish the school year until June 28, which is

GRADUATION

Photo by apPhotoMarietta LLC // Bradley Rudy is surrounded by balloons and other

Photo by apPhotoMarietta LLC // Tal Brill shows off his diploma

also the tentatively planned graduation school together as 2-year-olds and 3-yearday for its 18 senior boys, according to olds. They have grown with the school and with one another. … It’s sad for evchief financial officer Beruriah Sawyer.

The six graduating girls of Temima, erybody.”

On their final day of classes May 15, the Richard & Jean Katz High School for Girls, didn’t want a Zoom graduation as the school organized a Zoom Senior Send was originally planned for June 11, said Off with hundreds in attendance to celadministrator Lora Fruchtman. At press ebrate the Class of 2020 with speeches, time, plans called for a graduation later videos and photo montages.

AJA volunteers also planned a virin the summer. “We wanted to make it special for them and are still considering tual Atlanta Jewish “Academy Awards” May 27. Instead of all our options.” the fancy dress of At the Atlanta the usual student Jewish Academy, awards, seniors the 22-member were asked to repClass of 2020 deresent different cided as a group to movie themes, Sarif delay their tradisaid. They will retional graduation ceive a “swag bag” until early August in the mail with before some head props centered off to colleges and around the theme others to seminarof the night. ies/yeshivot for a Outside the gap year in Israel, box ideas are also said Franeen Sarif, on tap for high executive director schools in Fulton of AJA and high County, accordschool team leader.

Courtesy of Fulton County Schools // ing to Brian Noyes, The students Riverwood International Charter School chief communicaare hoping it will in Sandy Springs grad cap message. tions officer for Fulwork out, Sarif said.

“If it is not possible, the students came ton County Schools.

“Some schools are holding ‘driveup with different ideas” to honor their achievement, she said. Those include thru’ celebrations; others are creating having a “drive-by” graduation in the scheduled, videotaped opportunities for senior parking area, where the students graduates to walk across the stage in cap have their personal decorated parking and gown to receive their diploma; some spot, spaced 6 feet apart, the distance of are planning a ‘drive-in’ style ceremony separation recommended by health of- where graduates and their families ficials. The idea is that each car would gather, in their cars, for an off-site celparade through the parking lot beeping ebration; and other schools are choosing their horns and showing signs of sup- professionally videotaped, virtual celebrations that feature each graduating port, Sarif said. “That’s the last resort.”

Most of the seniors “have been to- senior and applaud the Class of 2020’s gether for 13 and 14 years. A few came promising future.”

Meanwhile, “many schools also are in ninth grade, but the rest started our

in discussion with parent groups on graduation ceremony is set for Aug. 7 for ways to hold a large group celebration at summer graduates and those unable to a later date once crowd size restrictions attend virtually in June.

Cobb County schools postponed ease,” Noyes added.

“We want every senior to know graduation ceremonies to be held this when they finish school we recognize month.

“Both virtual and physical graduation and appreciate them for their accomalternatives are being considered, and an plishments,” he told the AJT. DeKalb County Schools disclosed update will be communicated by June 1,” two graduation ceremony options. In- according to the district’s Cobbcast.

“Our high school seniors have been person ceremonies were originally particularly immoved from May pacted by missing to June, but now senior trips, final the ceremony will performances and either be virtual or games, and their sea “hybrid face-tonior prom. … While face” with seniors we do not know and staff only, the what public health district reported. guidance will allow In announcfor over the next ing the new options weeks and months, May 8, the district we do know we said it wanted to will recognize and satisfy the desires honor the graduatof students for a ing class of 2020 in face-to-face cerea memorable way.” mony and “provide Gwinnett proper closure to County schools will the school year and Asher Hoffman recieves his diploma on have virtual graducelebrate this imMay 21, 2020 from Walton High School. ations May 20-23 portant milestone and in-person graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020.”

July 13-19 “should conditions allow,” the The two options are: • Virtual graduation ceremo- district reported on its website.

“Due to the effects of the global pannies the week of June 15-20, staggered demic, this year’s seniors were forced to throughout the day.

• Face-to-face graduation dates to endure a difficult and unusual ending to be determined in July or August, depend- their high school careers, which makes their accomplishments even more iming on health guidance at that time.

Seniors were to receive their year- pressive and worthy of celebration,” the books, caps and gowns and other items school district stated in a May 12 release.

CEO and Superintendent J. Alvin during senior week May 11-15 “as the seniors participate in celebratory virtual Wilbanks added, “The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed where and how this activities.”

Seniors who qualified officially year’s senior class completed their high graduated May 15, the last day of school, school career, but it cannot take away all and received their diplomas May 21. A that they have accomplished.” ì

decorations at his non-traditional graduation from Walton High School.

at Walton High School’s graduation parade.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 27

GRADUATION

From Jewish Day Schools Caroline Schneider, to North Springs’ Top Grad Valedictorian, The Weber School Compiled by the AJT

As valedictorian of North Springs High School, Avi Pearlman gave his speech about how adverse events breed unity to an empty school auditorium earlier this month. As a result of the global health crisis, his address to fellow students was filmed, along with those of the school’s other top 10 students.

Their words of inspiration were included in the virtual graduation video May 26 that also included each North Springs student walking across the stage, one at a time, to receive their diplomas.

“Of course, I’m very disappointed about the fact that I won’t be able to give a speech at a traditional graduation ceremony,” he told the AJT. “That being said, I’ve come to terms with what’s going on and I accept that having a virtual rather than inperson ceremony is a necessary measure.”

Pearlman attended The Davis Academy kindergarten through second grade and The Epstein School third through eighth grade.

He said he came up with his speech

28 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Avi Pearlman attended The Davis Academy and The Epstein School before North Springs High School.

ideas before COVID-19 shuttered schools, but the version he used was written after the quarantine began.

To net the top grad ranking, Pearlman earned a cumulative 103.321 on a 100-point scale.

He said he is planning to attend Georgia Tech in the fall and major in biomedical engineering with a potential minor in computer science. ì

Caroline Schneider, a straight-A student at The Weber School, will be honored as valedictorian at the school’s June 7 graduation. While students and their families remain in their parked cars, Schneider will deliver her speech on a stage with a personal microphone.

“Following the speeches, my classmates and I are going to have the opportunity to walk across the stage and collect our diplomas while abiding by social distancing practices (staying 6 feet apart).”

Schneider plans to attend the University of Georgia as a Foundation Fellow and major in political science with minors in criminal justice and Spanish. “I am very interested in going to law school after I finish my undergraduate studies,” she said.

During high school, she was involved in Mock Trial, Peace by Piece, Peer Leadership, the tennis team, and she volunteered at the Atlanta Speech School.

Schneider was also president of her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, a finalist for the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in social studies in 2018, and the STAR student for her graduating class. ì

GRADUATION

Grant Chernau Salutatorian, Pope High School Grant Chernau is the salutatorian of Pope High School in Marietta. He has a GPA of 4.708 and plans to attend the University of Georgia in the fall. Grant has many interests but has not yet decided on a major.

“Although he, like all of the 2020 class, missed out on so many celebrations, Grant has remained focused and positive,” according to his mother, Lauren. He was to receive his diploma during a drivethrough ceremony at Pope May 28. The school has not yet announced how graduation will be handled, but plans are to be revealed by June 1.

“Grant has been asked by the administration to write a speech, so we are hopeful that there will be a ceremony of some type,” said Lauren. ì

Seth Robbins - Florida State University You are a superstar in any arena. Never stop achieving your dreams.

Believe in you!

Your biggest fans, Mom, Dad, Lena and Scout.

Grant Chernau - Pope High School Mazel tov, Grant!

We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Aiden Okrent Pope High School

Mazel tov, Aiden!

We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Mallory Tessler - Weber Congratulations on your accomplishments.

We look forward to next year.

Grammy and Grumpy

Logan Katz - Davis Academy Mazel Tov on your graduation from The Davis Academy Love, Grandma Sus and Grandpa Philip

Rachel Urbach

Peachtree Charter Middle School Beyond proud of your accomplishments and excited to see what the next chapter brings. You are my shining star!

Love you always, Mommy

GRADUATION

Reflections on Graduation During COVID

By Susanne Katz

Isabelle Mokotoff

North Springs High School Graduate Even though it’s been two months since my last day of in-person schooling, this fact hasn’t fully hit me yet. Some weekdays, I’ll wake up, look at my phone and panic because it’s 10 a.m. and I’m late for school. This situation hasn’t become my new normal yet; every morning it takes a few minutes for reality to set. At this point, I’m done grieving the missed events like prom or a traditional graduation. I ended school on a sudden and strange note. There’s nothing in my power to change that. I hope that people are doing their part to flatten the curve so America can somewhat return to normalcy in the fall. ì

Abe Fallick Kell High School

Mazel tov, Abe! We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Libby Povlot - Cambridge High School

Logan Katz

The Davis Academy Graduate This year I graduated from The Davis Academy, but my experiences have been cut short. I can no longer perform in the school play; I can no longer go on a grade-wide trip to Israel; and I can no longer finish my Davis year knowing that I accomplished everything I wanted to. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected my year as an eighth grade student tremendously, and I am deeply sad that I could not finish my year. Despite these unfortunate circumstances, our teachers still found a way to communicate with us with fun and intriguing lessons. I have had Zoom lessons each day from all of my classes, and through these online meetups, I can still check in on all of my friends and teachers. Though I cannot achieve many of the things I wanted to do in my last year at Davis, I am glad that I still found a way to be connected. ì

Justine Stiftel - Bryn Mawr College Mazal Tov! Bright lights ahead!

Your admiring family Isadore Jackson - University of Georgia

Congratulations Libby!

We are so proud of you!

We can't wait to see what amazing changes you make in the world!

We love you!

Mazel Tov Izzy on graduating from UGA's Terry Business School!

Mom, Dad and Zac

Love, Mom, Dad & Aaron

30 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Samantha Fitch Woodward Academy

Bradley Rudy Walton High School

Mazel Tov Samantha! We are so proud of you. Can’t wait to see you soar!

Mazel Tov Rudy! We are so very proud of you. Wishing you great success on your acceptance and commitment to Mercer University as a double major in Music and Psychology!

Love, Mom, Dad, Jonathan & Misty and Millie

We Love You! Your Whole Family

Ariel Frankel

Avi Pearlman

University of Maryland

North Springs High School

Congratulations, Arielkie.

We are very proud of you and wish for you only the best the world has to offer!

Mazel tov again on being named valedictorian!

Mom, Dad and the gang

Carly Judenberg Walton High School

Your charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent will take you far in life. DFIU!!

Mama J, Classic Rob and Bahday

Caroline Schneider - The Weber Schol

You make us so proud!

Mama, Papa, and Zev

Ester Shimon - Walton High School Mazel tov, Ester!

We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department Reed Harris Turry

University of Georgia School of Law with Honors

Mazel Tov Caroline!

Congratulations on your many achievements.

We are excited for your next chapter.

All the BEST for continued success! So proud of your accomplishments in Law School.

Love you, Mom, Dad, Adam, Sophie and Daisy

With love, as ever, your Grandparents, Martha Jo and Jerry Katz (gogo & Big Jerr)

Hannah Feldstein & Darcy Denneen - The Weber School Congrats, Ladies! I will miss you and our Costco runs.

Best of Luck, Mrs. Geppert

Maddy Carter

North Atlanta High School Mazel Tov Maddy!

We are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments

Love, Mom, Dad, Ally and Happy

Josh Israel - The Davis Academy We are so proud of the young man you've become and your accomplishments while at Davis. We love you!

Love, Mom, Dad and Maya

Joseph Vogel - The Howard School

Lydia Morris - Furman University Mazel Tov on your B.S. in Health Sciences! We're so proud of all your accomplishments!

Love, Mom and Dad

Josh Doman

The University of Pennsylvania Summa cum laude, dual degrees from Wharton and Engineering! Congrats! So proud - we love you!

Mom & Dad (Laura & Alex Doman)

Jordan Mark - The Weber School You continue to amaze us each day, and we're so excited for your future!

Love, Mom, Mommy, Jacob, Shoshi & the guys

Garrett Colvin University of Pennsylvania Wharton School

Wishing you the best in your future endeavors and at Georgia State University at Perimeter

Mazel Tov Garrett on graduating Magna Cum Laude! Always stay humble, open, and committed.

Stanley and Dena Vogel

All our love, Mom and Jamie

Sarah Saltzman Emory University

Mazel Tov on your Bachelor of Science, Sarah! We are so proud of you! Mazel Tov on your acceptance to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School as a Deans Scholar!

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Mollie Nadolne Pope High School

Mazel tov, Mollie!

We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Matthew Cooper Pope High School

Congratulations to our son who makes us enormously proud! Go get 'em at Tech!

Love, Mom and Dad

Erin Edwards

The Weber School Congratulations Erin! I'm so proud of you! Go forth and use your gifts to bring forth positive change in the world. Stand firm in your beliefs.

Mom Iris Wickham - Lakeside High School We celebrate your milestone with lots of love. May you go from strength to strength.

Grandma Flora and Grandpa Bernie Rosefsky

Darcy Denneen - The Weber School

Mazel Tov Darcy!

We are so proud of you!

Love, Mom and Dad

Nathaniel Salzberg - The Epstein School

Jacob Seltman MD

Dear Nathaniel, Mazal Tov with lots of love and pride!

Mazel Tov Dr. Seltman!

Our world is lucky to have you as a new physician!

Maman, Papa & Tiffany

Mercer University Medical School

Mom, Dad, Whitney & Ross

Soccer Player Commits to Elon University

Riverwood International Charter School senior, Josh Francombe, commits to play soccer at Elon University in North Carolina.

Josh Francombe is among six Riverwood International Charter School student-athletes who recently committed to play their sport in college.

Because of social-distancing restrictions, no formal signing ceremonies were held. The students join 10 classmates from the Class of 2020 who have previously announced their intentions to play at the next level.

Francombe committed to play men’s soccer for Elon University in Elon, N.C. Several years ago, the AJT reported that Francombe played for the Atlanta United U16 team after he was team captain for Georgia United. He was called in 2017 to play for the Wales U16 team. He qualified to play for the U.S., England and Wales because his father was born in England and raised in Wales, where his Welsh parents lived before moving to the U.S. Ï ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 35

Tal D. Brill - Walton High School

Avia Zaken - The Weber School

B'hatzlachah and with a lot of pride and love...

Congratulations Avia!

Lots of good luck and success at Georgia Tech.

Very proud of you!

Mommy and Aba Amanda Miller - Vanderbilt University Keep smiling and share your beautiful inner light with the world.

All our love, Mommy, Daddy & Jessie

Samantha Berke

Riverwood International Charter High School We are so very proud of you and your accomplishments in high school.

Poppie and Bubbie Hendelberg

Leigh Shapiro

Emory University School of Law

We are so proud of you!

You knocked it out of the park!

Love you, Mom and Dad

Imma & Pops Eli Harrison - Alexander High School Congratulations on being named a Georgia Scholar for academics, community and school service and heading to Ga Tech.

We’re so proud of you!

Honey & Papa Nat (Gozansky)

Carly Judenberg Walton High School Mazel tov, Carly!

We’re so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Evan Crow - Walton High School We are so proud of you, Evan!

Go Hoosiers!

Love you so much!

Mom, Dad & Tyler

Sydney Gold

Daniel Katz

The Davis Academy

The Davis Academy

We are proud of your hard work and determination.

Good luck in High School!

Congratulations on your 8th Grade Graduation!

We are proud of you and we love you!

Love, Mom, Dad and Stella

Mom, Dad, Shoshana & Isaac

Shira Alperin

Riverwood International Charter School Shira: we are so proud of all that you've accomplished...

Mazel Tov! Ema, Daddy and Yoel

Micayla Pollak

Avery Caller Jaffe University of Southern California May you continue to fulfill your dreams and to help others.

Your admiring Caller/Jaffe family

Ariella Ayenesazan - Hull Middle School

Walton High School

Mazel Tov! You’ve accomplished so much.

Mazel tov, Micayla!

We're so proud of you!

We are so proud of you!

Congregation Etz Chaim Youth Department

Love, Mom and Dad.

Mollie Nadolne Pope High School

Fly high, Mollie — we’ll always be right here to catch you!

Mommy, Daddy, Becca and Benjy

Asher Hoffman

Walton High School Congratulations! Your graduation marks the end of one chapter and beginning of another.

Geaux Asher!

We love you, Mama, Dad and Willow!

GRADUATION

Emory Honors Lipstadt at Commencement

By Bob Bahr Emory University Professor Deborah Lipstadt was honored with the university’s prestigious 2020 Exemplary Teacher Award at this year’s commencement exercises May 11. It was one of the highlights of the ceremony that, for the first time in 175 years, was held online.

Lipstadt, who is Emory’s Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies, has achieved international renown during her 46-year teaching career. She was chosen, in Emory’s words, for “her dedication to transformational teaching, her demonstrated compassion for students and colleagues alike, and the vast scope of her contributions as a public scholar.” In accepting the award, Lipstadt acknowledged the importance that teaching has played in her life.

“The students – that’s what it is all about. It’s such an amazing job in that you get to help young people shape their lives, to challenge them, expose them to new ideas and learn from them in return.”

The professor has spent the last year on a break from Emory, as the Ina Levine Invitational Scholar at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. She has been creating an online teaching project to accompany her best-selling book, “Anti-Semitism: Here and Now,” published last year.

Michael A. Elliott, dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences, who nominated Lipstadt for the honor, paid her a glowing tribute.

38 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Professor Deborah Lipstadt was honored at Emory commencement for her work as a professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies.

Commencement speaker Bryan Stevenson’s work for racial justice has been supported by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

“Her rigorous and unflinching approach to research permeates her pedagogy, just as her passionate humanity underpins her meticulous scholarship.”

This is the second successive year that Lipstadt has been honored for her work with students. In 2019, she received the university’s highest award for student mentoring.

Eric Goldstein, director of Emory’s Tam Institute of Jewish Studies, nominated her for that honor. He said at the time that, “She has challenged students to think about the meaning of the Holocaust as an historical event and has also guided them in thinking about how

it has been represented in film and in works of art and literature.”

Students at the commencement also heard Alabama human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson, who delivered the keynote commencement address. He spoke out against the alleged murder of Ahmaud Arbery Feb. 23 in Brunswick, Ga. The 25-year-old Arbery was an African American man who was allegedly killed after a confrontation with two white men while jogging through a Brunswick neighborhood. Stevenson described the crime as one more killing in America’s long narrative of racial violence.

“He was hunted, and I believe wrongfully killed, because of this narrative that made us believe that we can act in this way. We have got to challenge that narrative.”

Three men have since been charged with murder for the killing.

Stevenson has achieved national recognition for his work in freeing prisoners on death row who have been wrongly convicted. His book, “Just Mercy,” based on his work, was made into a well-received motion picture last year starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.

He was also the subject of the HBO documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” in 2019, which was nominated for a highly respected Peabody Award. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in Atlanta has funded a teaching guide based on the documentary and has sponsored free screenings of the production.

In responding to Stevenson’s Emory address, university President Claire Sterk said, “it was especially fitting that Bryan Stevenson graced us today with a commencement address that emphasized the need for us as a society to affirm the humanity and dignity of every individual,” she said.

“The recent tragedy that resulted in Mr. Arbery’s death is a reminder that we, as a society, must stand for justice. It is an inspiring message for our graduates, our entire community, to hear and act upon.”

Sterk is leaving the Emory presidency and returning to teaching. Succeeding her is Gregory Fenves, currently president of The University of Texas at Austin.

Fenves, whose father was a Holocaust survivor, will be the first Jewish president in the history of Emory, which was founded in 1836 by the United Methodist Church. ì

Seth Robbins

Florida State University Mazel Tov. Remember “college is something you complete; life is something you experience.”

Love always Grandma and Grandpa

Sarah Saltzman Emory University

Mazel Tov on your graduation, Sarah! So proud of you! Mazel Tov on receiving a Dean's Scholarship from Johns Hopkins!

Love, Grandma

Tiffany Salzberg The Weber School

Dear Tiffany, Mazal Tov! We are so proud of you.

Love you so much!

Maman, Papa & Nathaniel

Sela Ratner

Atlanta Jewish Academy Mazel Tov Sela on your high school graduation. #inablink Luv the Ratner squad

Sarah Rosenberg The Weber School You are so hardworking, caring, and fun ! Mazel tov! Can’t wait for the next chapter.

Mom, Dad and Hailey

Student Council Seniors The Weber School Love you, bbbyyyeeee Gepps

Zachary Leaf North Springs High School Zack, we couldn’t be more proud of you. Always strive to be the best version of yourself.

Love, Mom, Dad and Jamie Rachel Denneen

The Davis Academy Mazel Tov Rachel! We are so proud of you!

Love, Mom and Dad

EDUCATION Jewish Education Impacted by COVID-19

By Dave Schechter A poster child for how COVID-19 impacted Jewish education may be The Weber School’s annual Passover haggadah assignment.

In mid-March, Weber transformed itself from a traditional bricks-and-mortar school to the virtual world, requiring everyone involved to “innovate, adapt, overcome.”

That included Rabbi Ed Harwitz, head of school at Atlanta’s nondenominational Jewish high school. “During most of my years as a teacher, I have asked students to prepare a commentary on their chosen portion of the haggadah for presentation during their family seder,” Harwitz said.

But this year, “One of our students suggested, ‘Let’s create a virtual haggadah.

He had the skills to be our haggadah master,” so the project was extended throughout Weber’s ninth grade, the class of 2023.

That student was Sam Menkowitz, a “digital native,” who took a template available online and wove into the traditional telling of the Passover story the commen-

40 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

When Atlanta Jewish Academy reopens its doors, “Everything is going to look a little different. It’s going to require a lot of flexibility on everybody’s part,” said Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school.

“For our generation and this community, this is a significant trial and a trauma in so many ways,” said Rabbi Ed Harwitz, head of school at The Weber School.

“My technological skills were definitely put to the test in coordinating and building our Haggadah on entirely virtual footing,” said Sam Menkowitz, a ninth-grader at The Weber School.

taries and design talents of his classmates.

“As a writer, I found it fun to be on the editing side of things for a change, and my technological skills were definitely put

to the test in coordinating and building our Haggadah on entirely virtual footing,” Menkowitz said.

Harwitz admitted that, “I was excited and open to it, but as a digital immigrant, my mind doesn’t even go that way.” Now, “This is going to become a Weber tradition,” created as a response to the circumstances.

In a considerable understatement, Harwitz said the school year now coming to an end “has presented a unique set of challenges and complexities.” There was no manual with instructions for what to do if a pandemic forced the closure of schools, sending administrators, teachers, staff, and students home to work in the virtual world.

“If you told me I’d be running an online school, I’d say, I can do that. Give me three years,” said Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school at Atlanta Jewish Academy. AJA, which was formed by the 2014 merger of Greenfield Hebrew Academy and Yeshiva Atlanta, is not only K-12, but also includes an early childhood development program.

Moving forward, the best parts of what have been learned the past three months must be brought back into the brick-and-mortar school world.

“It will never look the same,” Leubitz said. “There are things that we’ve been plunged into, that we had to experiment with and test, that probably wouldn’t have happened otherwise; opportunities that present themselves, that we’re going to harness going forward.”

Harwitz concurred, saying, “We fail to do so at our peril.”

Asked what has surprised or pleased

him the most, Harwitz pointed to Weber’s 200 students and 65 faculty and staff. “I’m never surprised by the creativity, the commitment, and the resilience of the students at Weber and the incredible hard work and focus of our faculty. I’ve never failed to be appreciative of the dedication of our parents to their children, but also for all the stakeholders, for our faculty and staff and our school in general,” he said.

Leubitz expressed similar sentiment about AJA’s 435 students and 110 staff, “our teachers’ resilience, our teachers’ flexibility, our parents’ understanding,” he said.

“We have turned the world upside down and in every aspect of life, and school is no different. . . . The teachers have been phenomenal. The parents have truly been understanding and supportive.”

Likewise from Amy Shafron, head of school at The Davis Academy, which is K-8 with 475 students and 85 faculty. “I’m exhilarated not only by the professionalism of our teachers, but by the resiliency of our hard-working students and the flexibility and deep commitment of their parents, not only to their children, but to the Davis community as a whole,” she said.

On short notice, curriculum built for a classroom of students had to be adapted to meet the needs of students whose homes became classrooms.

One notable contrast was that of students who welcomed their sudden independent status and those who missed the structure that comes within the school’s walls.

“Like things in life, everyone responds to it in certain ways. There are students for whom schooling didn’t work so great for

EDUCATION

Like her colleagues, Amy Shafron, head of school at The Davis Academy, said, “recognizing that just like ‘when we are together,’ some students need more independent enrichment, some thrive with project-based learning, and others enjoy learning collaboratively.”

them and they’re thriving in the virtual environment. There are some kids who do very well in school who are struggling in the virtual environment,” said Leubitz, who came to AJA in 2016.

The challenge was similar for The Davis Academy. “With virtual office hours, whole class Zooms, small group instruction, and even one-on-one lessons, we differentiated the instruction to meet the individual needs of each student, recognizing that just like ‘when we are together,’ some students need more independent enrichment, some thrive with project-based learning, and others enjoy learning collaboratively,” said Shafron, who has been at Davis for 16 years, including nearly 10 as head of school.

There were occasions, such as the haggadah assignment at Weber, when students became teachers and teachers became students. “I was surprised, but it shouldn’t have surprised me,” Harwitz said. “This was precisely the level of fluency beyond comfort that teenagers have with the virtual world, in the ways that they don’t recognize because they’ve grown up with it and in it,” said Harwitz, who came to Weber six years ago. “I teach them Talmud. They teach me Zoom.”

That same need to “innovate, adapt, overcome” will be necessary as administrators plan for a fall semester. Just as there was no manual when the virus forced schools to close their doors, there is no handbook for how to handle reopening

those same doors.

“We are going to open our school in the fall,” Leubitz said, “But people have to understand, and I think this is true for synagogues and schools. Everything is going to look a little different. It’s going to require a lot of flexibility on everybody’s part.”

There are the yetto-be-calculated costs of running what Leubitz termed a “COVID compliant school,” which involve everything from classroom size and teaching staff to buses, cafeterias, athletics and enhanced health and safety criteria.

And as for students, Menkowitz told the AJT: “I am newly The Weber School Haggadah challenged now with learning and planning on shifting terrain.

As a freshman in high school, of course I after I began to get into the swing of things. miss my friends. It has been further off-bal- All the more to look forward to next year or ancing as everything was uprooted shortly whenever we return to school.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 41

EDUCATION

College Students Face Anxiety About Uncertainty

By Paula Baroff

fall semester in whatever way, shape or form will take place, we realize this is going For college students and recent gradu- to be an ongoing and growing concern,” ates who are already worried about their Karp said. “We’re taking a very positive and futures, the current environment of the proactive stance.”

Karp emphasized that Hillels of pandemic can be a source of terrible stress.

Georgia views the stuElliot Karp, the new CEO dent and Jewish comof Hillels of Georgia, munity on campus “hosaid Hillel is taking a listically.” proactive stance when it He added, “We’re comes to the mental and not just concerned about emotional health of JewJewish identity, programish college students. ming, … we’re concerned “It clearly is someabout the whole person. thing of tremendous Well-being is so critical concern to us,” he said. in that respect.”

“Mental health and wellKarp said he is very being is something Hillel pleased that the Hillel plays close attention to, Hillels of Georgia CEO Elliot Karp said the organization is taking a staff and partners such but against the backdrop proactive stance on the mental as JF&CS have stepped of the pandemic we realhealth of college students. up as they have, realize many more students izing they need to take a more aggressive are affected.”

He said that along with concerns over approach when it comes to students’ menthe health of students and their family tal health during this challenging time. members, there are also stressors such as “Whenever we come through the other the impact of the economy. “All of this can side of this episode, the fact we were there produce enormous anxiety and pressures, for our students is going to help us create … therefore our staff is paying close atten- an even more compassionate and caring tion while talking to students,” Karp said. community for our students,” he said. “The The Jewish campus life organization will community embraces them, in good times be working with Jewish Family & Career and certainly when we’re all facing chalServices in the next few weeks to provide lenging times.”

Jaime Stepansky, training for Hillel proa child and adolescent fessionals to help them therapist with JF&CS, become more proficient runs a college student at picking up signs that support group for understudents need assistance graduate and graduate and to be more aware of students who have been what resources are availimpacted by COVID-19. able.

“We started the group Hillel has been acbecause we got an overtive in continuing onewhelming amount of on-one counseling over calls from young adults, Zoom, and over the past early 20s,” Stepansky few weeks “we’ve had said. “Certainly we’ve several occasions to seen a spike in that age work through challenggroup.” ing times. We’ve made The group is seeing referrals, we’ve provided Jaime Stepansky runs a a number of graduate financial assistance in support group with JF&CS students who lost job a couple of instances,” for college students who have and internship opportuKarp said. been impacted by COVID-19. nities because of the panAlong with training workshops for Hillel staff, the organization demic, and they worry about how they’ll be is working with JF&CS to develop a series able to make those up in the current job of workshops for students, during which market. “It would be an uncertain phase they will address issues of mental health anyway but the additional uncertainty has and wellness, how to cope with academ- magnified it for them,” Stepansky said of ics in the current environment, and how college students.

“I think really identifying that, this is students can spot the telltale signs in their a really hard time for this population beroommates and friends.

“Coming back, G-d willing, with the cause they had certain expectations that 42 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

feet.” were all crushed,” she said.

Psychology majors had to complete Stepansky said that a lot of the young people she’s talked to feel bad comparing a capstone culminating project for the dethemselves to other people who they feel gree, but Ireland, who had been planning have it worse. “I want to underscore as on presenting research at a conference, much as I can that this is a really anxiety- had to come up with a different plan to provoking time and being anxious makes meet that requirement. “There were a lot sense,” she said. “It makes sense to get sup- of adjustments,” Ireland said. “Everyone port if needed. I want to validate that, yes, was handling it as well as they possibly people are anxious because that’s what un- could.” Their lab can no longer meet in certainty and fear about the future lends person because KSU is still officially online only, so students have been learning about itself to.”

Rising Georgia State University junior research that’s already been done in their Julie Budd said finishing spring semester areas of focus and getting ready for when was much harder than she had anticipated, they’ll be able to work in person again.

“So far the Univeracademically and emosity System of Georgia tionally. Her professors hasn’t said they’re defiwere stressed figuring nitely doing online in out how to make their the fall. There’s kind of classes an online format, a general, oh gosh, how and not being able to see is this going to happen, people her age doing the how is this going to work was difficult. work?” Ireland said. She “It didn’t feel like noted that the changes learning; it felt like memhave been difficult on orizing information just the university end as to have it be done, and well. “I’m really close to a that’s not what college lot of my professors and should be like,” Budd I know they’ve been havsaid. “Balancing all of ing their hands full keepmy classes going online, ing things running.” summer plans, work, GSU student Julie Budd said Job searching and etc., was a lot to handle the semester was more difficult the grad school process at once.” than she had anticipated. have also caused stress, She said Georgia State gave students an extended spring she said. Before next year’s application break to adjust to the drastic change, process, Ireland is hoping to get a job in which was helpful, but the lack of human research, but it is made more difficult beinteraction was making it very difficult to cause of all the hiring freezes.

“I just found myself trying to help enjoy school.

Kaelyn Ireland just graduated from my fellow students stay calm during Kennesaw State University with a degree those weird uncertain times,” Ireland in psychology. “It was super weird,” Ireland said. “I’ve seen a lot of people trying to said. “Everything just kind of seemed like support each other and I think that was it was being pulled from underneath your really helpful.” ì

EDUCATION

Colleges Plan Summers Online, Fall in Person

By Paula Baroff

Georgia State University is delivering exclusively online classes throughout the As college students finished up the summer and expects needing to at least spring semester online, they are now won- partially continue online in the fall. In a statement by Wendy Hensel, dering what their future GSU provost and senior vice schooling will look like. Mercer president for academic affairs, University just announced it’ll said it’s possible a “substantial be open for in-person classes portion” of fall courses will be in the fall, with safety precauoffered online as the ability to tions in place across campus gather in groups may continue and rigorous COVID-19 testing. to be limited.

So far, other universities have “While much is uncertain, yet to make decisive announceGSU Provost Wendy one thing has become clear. ments, though most are planHensel said the college From this point forward, facning for potential in-person is developing online training programs ulty need to be trained for and classes, albeit with the possibilfor all faculty. skilled in online pedagogy in ity the situation could change.

Greg Trevor, executive director of media order to meet their professional obligations,” communications for the University of Geor- Hensel said in the statement. “It is no longer gia, said that UGA has established a series possible to be exclusively an ‘in person’ or ‘onof working groups to begin preparing for a line’ instructor. All teaching faculty should smooth transition to full operations in the be able to deliver content in a highly effective fall. The groups involve about 140 faculty and manner in both modalities.” To achieve this staff and are led by senior administrators. goal, she said GSU is building a central infra“The planning process is ongoing, so it would structure and support system and providing be premature to speculate about the fall se- a series of training opportunities for faculty.

Kennesaw State University also is only mester,” Trevor said. “However, we anticipate operating a relatively normal fall schedule offering online classes during the summer and is planning for potential face-to-face fall with in-person classes.”

courses, though new student orientation will emphasized that Hillel has been offering a large number of opportunities online. “It was be online, according to its website.

Emory University President Claire E. seamless. Everything we were doing in perSterk, along with other high-level admin- son on campus went virtual,” he said. “I think it’s fair to say we did not miss a istration, issued a statement beat.” promising an update by June 15.

Hillel’s virtual offerings “We plan for what we hope will include a variety of content, be an in-person instruction, from Jewish study sessions to albeit with many important yoga workshops and challah adaptations and protections in baking, as well as individual place to prevent the spread of counseling with Hillel staff.

COVID-19,” the statement said.

Karp said the organization has “While we would like to share Greg Trevor, UGA’s engaged 1,000 to 1,500 students with you a definitive decision executive director of about our status for the fall, media communications, during the quarantine.

Each Hillel will have to we are simply not yet prepared said UGA is planning for full operations, but it’s respond to how their universito do so and likely cannot for still too early to speculate. ties decide to open in the fall, so some weeks.”

For students, the transition to online the organization is planning for all potential learning hasn’t been simple. “We had to rely scenarios. “The key watchwords for us at Hilon GroupMe to ask other classmates ques- lels of Georgia is that we must be adaptable tions and professors would take a while to get and flexible. All of the planning we are doing back on email,” KSU student Julie Budd said. today may not apply tomorrow,” Karp said.

Hillel received an encouraging response She added that it was difficult for professors to rapidly move their courses online. “Videos from students who want to engage with Hillel even when they can’t be on campus, he said. and PowerPoints are just not cutting it.”

For many Jewish students, Hillel is an “It’s heartwarming to see. Even though we important aspect of their college experi- don’t know what tomorrow will bring, they ence, and Hillels of Georgia CEO Elliot Karp see the importance and value of Hillel.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 43

EDUCATION

SCAD’s Jeweled Palette Is an Artsy Option

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On the border between Buckhead and Midtown, the Savannah College of Art and Design took over the old Rivera Motel across from The Temple on Peachtree Street, only to become a tour de force unprecedented campus of art education. Branding and advertising expert Judy Salzinger is a SCAD associate chair and professor who is at home in this artsy milieu where education begets creativity and intersects with business.

“Students come from all over the world to immerse themselves in the diverse SCAD collaborative learning environment that crosses many curricula. I see many students who transferred from ‘academic’ institutions exclaim, ‘I wish I had started at SCAD! There’s nothing like being surrounded by the arts 24 hours a day.’”

As a backdrop, SCAD has 14,000 students worldwide. It is a private nonprofit accredited school with 40 majors and 75 minor pursuits. There are 700 full and part-time faculty members. Tuition is $37,575 per year for full-time and $8,350

for part-time (two courses) matriculation.

It’s mind-boggling to fathom the range of degrees: fiber beauty and fragrance, animation, cinema, art history, sound, game development, sculpture, interior design, illustration, graphic design, plus many more, including advertising and branding, and branded entertainment, which Salzinger teaches.

“We have ongoing major collaborative incubators like SCADpro, where collaborative innovation studios connect current and future creative business leaders to discover what’s next. During the COVID-19 crisis, as students learned virtually, our ‘Guests and Gusto,’ real time virtual talks for students offered amazing artistic forces like actor Jason Alexander or Juliet Blake, head of television at TED.” Listen in as Salzinger looks back and forward.

AJT: How did COVID-19 affect your routine at SCAD? Salzinger: I’m conducting eight classes a week on Zoom and Blackboard. After winter quarter break, it was a full transi-

SCAD has a diverse and collaborative learning environment that crosses many artsy curricula.

tion. We literally spent 24 hours a day preparing for this with the amazing support of SCAD. I still do group projects virtually, communication is excellent, and students have adapted incredibly well! I am able to give personal feedback in real time as well. SCAD already had an active eLearning program in place prior to COVID.

seek out our millennial students to design and innovate new companies are still mentoring SCAD students, giving input and conversely giving feedback weighing in on their student presentations.

Our students are continuously entering international competitions. In the advertising and branding department, students entered the Shark Tank Global Wellness Summit in Singapore. After winning first, second and third place, they flew to Singapore to receive awards and present their work to worldwide industry leaders seeking innovative ideas in the wellness sector.

AJT: What are some of the out-ofthe-box positions you’ve had that led you down this path?

Salzinger: My earlier career was in Manhattan, where I was part of an art directing team for Jim Henson’s “Fraggle Rock” pilot; was a designer of domestic fraAJT: What is the job grances at Revlon; and outlook for SCAD grads? designed a toy for The Salzinger: The Metropolitan Museum sky is the limit. I’ve of Art, among other projhad students get poects. When I moved to Atsitions at Instagram, Professor and associate lanta, I was fortunate to Wieden+Kennedy, Leo chair Judy Salzinger teaches work with top sponsors Burnett, Apple, Facebranded entertainment at at the 2002 Salt Lake book, Publicis, and SCAD. She is proud that SCAD Olympic Games and the many more top compastudents are poised to land 1996 Atlanta Games. In nies. Top-notch career jobs with industry giants.

2011 I taught at the SCAD opportunities! The SCAD Hong Kong location, which was incred- mission is to prepare students for their ible! I look forward to one day teaching future creative professions. We take that at SCAD’s Lacoste in southeastern France. very seriously!

AJT: How has the film industry impacted SCAD? Salzinger: Our students have major collaborative opportunities with Atlanta’s film industry as a hub. Many experts in production, film, and animation mentor our students. SCADshow is the main venue for SCADFILM and aTVfest screenings.

On a similar note, through our SCADpro program, Fortune 500 companies that 44 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

AJT: Closing thoughts about where we are headed?

Salzinger: I’ve had many conversations with students about their future opportunities. We will pivot as is necessary, and their opportunities may be different, but just as exciting. Think about all of the new ideas that have been created while being sequestered. It is an amazing time in history to innovate and be creative! ì

EDUCATION

Emory Professor Teaches World About Torah

By Bob Bahr When Jacob Wright stood before his students this month to discuss the Torah and the Tanach, almost 18,000 students were signed up to hear him lecture. The classroom for his popular course on “The Bible’s Prehistory, Purpose and Political Future” was literally everywhere.

The 47-year-old Jewish professor of Hebrew Bible at Emory University is one of the rising stars of the Coursera online learning platform that now reaches almost 50 million participants in 13 languages around the world. In the last three years, over 60,000 students have enrolled in his class, which was produced as a tuition- free offering at Emory.

The AJT caught up with Wright to ask about his huge following.

to adapt ourselves to collaboration. We couldn’t compete with the great empires so we had to reinvent ourselves.

Empires will come and go and continue to come and go. But the Jewish people spread our power out among the whole community and made it all about collaboration. They said we’re all in this together; our future is through our families.

AJT: What set the Hebrew scripture apart from the writings of other ancient people?

Wright: The nature of Hebrew biblical literature is that it requires someone to slow down and to get in between the gaps to fill out those gaps with the imagination. It’s about getting a community involved in questions about its own identity and provokes so many questions. This literature is about creating a community that will be activated and involved in arguing and engaged around a text. It’s not dogmatic. That’s not what the Hebrew Bible is about. And that’s not what the most beautiful forms of Judaism are about. The most powerful forms of Judaism in the Hebrew Bible, above all, are about questioning and keeping people invigorated around the questions, keeping them invigorated around the text.

AJT: What has it been like to face such an enormous number of students?

Wright: Just knowing that these thousands of people were doing this for the sake of learning was so, so beautiful.

I was floored by it. You see individuals from Bangladesh to China to Iran, to Brazil to Atlanta and from all over the world engaging with each other and sharing their own experiences and being really thankful for the opportunity to learn. Not needing a grade or thinking of it for professional purposes, but just the pursuit of wisdom. It was one of the most moving experiences of my Emory professor Jacob Wright professional life. believes that Jewish scriptures teach

Jewish sacred writings, according to professor Wright, evolved partly out of the need to cope with political power.

Wright: They may also be thinking about what are the big questions that face us. And they’re gravitating towards the questions of the humanities.

Instead of being pulled along by the news cycle and what CNN is saying versus what Fox is saying, I believe some of them have rightly set that aside and have gravitated towards big ideas and things

that have a longer shelf life.

There seems to be a new interest in ideas and history and all kinds of really powerful things that relate to the human condition. Teaching this course and helping people to appreciate that today I would say, with no exaggeration, has been one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. ì

AJT: What makes that approach of these ancient texts relevant today?

Wright: What I really wanted to emphasize was that the Hebrew Bible, as one of the greatimportant lessons about community. est achievements of AJT: What did your course have to say about the de- the human spirit, is both accessible and velopment of the Torah and the Hebrew relevant to concerns that we have around us today, like with the coronavirus. What scriptures?

Wright: Jews developed their sacred happens when cataclysm comes at us?

How are we to come together as a writings in response to all the challenges they faced in the ancient world. After suf- community? How do we cross lines of difering destruction and exile they used the vision to face threats to our collective exprocess of developing their sacred writ- istence? What happens when things that ing as a way to learn how to get along in we have taken for granted are no longer a world in which they were weak. That’s there? How do we reinvent ourselves? why women play such a huge role in bib- How do we come up with new strategies? lical literature. We had to learn the ways AJT: Do you believe that the challengof women. Women know how to co-exist in the world where they didn’t have pow- es we are facing today have influenced the er. But they still get things done. Jews had enormous interest in your class?

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 45

EDUCATION

‘A Virtual Hug for the World’ Comes at the Perfect Time

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Amanda Perlyn Jackson designed a free book for children to “see” the world from home. The mother and hotel executive made the best of her home time by writing and illustrating a book about a pretend journey for children. Perlyn Jackson, from Miami, created “A Virtual Hug for the World” to help support relief efforts during the pandemic. The characters “travel” to seven continents in seven days, always parting with a virtual hug for the places and people they have met along the way.

“During this tough time, I wanted to create a playful story to inspire kids and their parents to share kindness and connectivity with the world while using their imagination. I have always loved photographing my travels and drawing or painting them.

This is my second book of illustrations, but the first I have written and illustrated entirely on my own.”

Jaffe: So here you are at home with two boys. How did the book evolve?

Perlyn Jackson: Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I took a photo of my boys in front

of a world map hanging on the wall of the baby’s nursery. It’s also shown on the back of the book. When I looked at the image, I imagined them traveling around the world together on a journey. This led to creating pretend trips for fun, which turned into a story that I ultimately wrote and illustrated.

The book was drawn completely by hand using colored pencils on paper, which I later scanned into the digital book. The whole process took about one month working late nights, weekends, on my days off from my main profession.

Jaffe: What reaction have you gotten?

Can you measure it?

Perlyn Jackson: My heart is truly glowing with the response I have received. Many families, and even adults without kids, have told me the book has inspired them during these particularly difficult times. A few families, who had to cancel travel plans, told me it encouraged them to get creative at home to make mock trips to celebrate where they would have been, through food, music and other cultural learning.

I have received almost 4,000 visits to the website, www.virtualhugfortheworld.

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Amanda Perlyn Jackson created a free virtual book for kids to learn about worldwide cultures during shelter at home time. Sons Bennett and Sawyer are characters in the book.

Amanda illustrated the book over one month using colored pencils.

com/, in less than 10 days since launching April 23.

pandemic? How do you think your children will benefit or sacrifice from being at home?

Perlyn Jackson: This situation has caused much of the world to slow down and appreciate the little things, spend more time with our families, and rekindle connections we might not have otherwise. Viewing things from kids’ eyes can bring a sense of levity to tough times. It reminds us of the power of positive thinking and that it’s OK to believe in a little magic. I think my little ones have learned more than they sacrificed at their age.

Jaffe: What is your favorite page in the book?

Perlyn Jackson: I truly had fun illustrating and writing every page, but I have a particular heart for when they virtually visit Tanzania. My husband and I went to Africa for our honeymoon and some of the experiences they pretend to have are based on our real memories. This includes climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and visiting local villages to donate books and soccer balls. I hope one day Bennett and Sawyer will live this out for real.

Jaffe: What’s in the future? Will you turn this into a hardback book months out?

Perlyn Jackson: My primary goal was to share the story and give free and easy access online, but I would happily welcome a publisher to print hard copies!

Jaffe: As a temporary homeschooling mom, what’s your takeaway from this

Jaffe: Is there anything in the Jewish realm that can relate to this book?

Perlyn Jackson: If you dig a little deeper, the heart of my message is really aligned with the concept of tzedakah and charitable giving, whether is through our pockets or simply our hearts. The book is free, though readers are invited to make a donation through the website. Proceeds benefit charities supporting COVID-19 relief efforts. ì

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46 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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EDUCATION

High School Students: A Mass of Confusion Only a year ago, high school students went to a physical building and took classes face-to-face with faculty. Seniors made a deposit to a college to attend in the fall and embark on their full college experience.

Juniors were taking ACT and/ or SAT exams, reviewing colleges that seemed interesting, Mark Fisher visiting college campuses, even scheduling some on-campus interviews, and all that would be included in a college application. That was the way it was for so many high school students.

Now, all these students have entered a different world.

High schools and colleges are in a confusing dilemma. Realize that this article is being written in an academic world that is changing with each day due to COVID-19. Thus, two weeks from today there will be changes. And students need to keep abreast of the changes so that important dates and college adjustments are not missed.

Let us begin with the high school scene. For graduating seniors, several colleges changed their decision deadlines to June 1 from the usual May 1 deadline. Many seniors met the May 1 deadline and submitted a deposit. Now, another college, their new favorite choice, with a June 1 deadline, accepted the student. What will happen to the college to which they already paid a deposit because they want to attend that June school?

Most of your courses were online during this spring.

Did you receive grades or pass/fail for your courses? Gone were athletics and other activities that were in your favor?

Yes, those ACT and/or SAT dates were canceled. How many more chances will you have for either or both of those tests?

Will you be taking the tests in person or online at home?

Some colleges have doubted the validity of a test taken at home. Others will go with that situation.

And when will high schools be physically open again?

If school activities are not available, what did you do with your time when not doing homework? Creative endeavors?

Extra reading? Volunteer work? These activities and intellectual pursuits are a substitute for your extracurricular ventures.

A few reminders for upperclass high school students.

There is an Aug. 29, Saturday SAT exam and another one Saturday, Sept. 26. For Jewish students and others who don’t take exams on the Sabbath, you should check if an alternative Sunday test center is open for those tests. There is also a Saturday, Oct. 3, date. But that date is a double-header, both the Sabbath and the first day of Sukkot. The Sunday alternative is Oct. 18. All these dates assume that testing centers will be available.

The ACT exam schedule offers June 13 and July 18 Saturday test dates. View the ACT website for Sunday testing in Georgia and the latest updates.

If you are confused, you are not the only one. Many colleges have perhaps come to the rescue for rising seniors.

Every day, one or two colleges join the ranks of test-optional schools. One does not have to report either SAT or ACT scores. What if certain merit scholarships demand those test scores? Some schools are going test-optional for the first time. Will this be only for present high school juniors?

Or for a few years, or forever? Perhaps, the test-optional

choice will work well.

Of course, both testing agencies are looking at the CDC advisories, the geographic location of various states and political directives. The College Board (SAT) was supposed to announce any changes in their 2020 and 2021 schedule May 26. Students apply early for test dates. Why? Open test centers may have too many applicants for a given date and will not be able to take additional students. Perhaps, test centers need to use a certain distance between students.

That situation may mean more rooms for testing, but are there enough proctors?

What about viewing the situation from the college’s viewpoint?

Some of the options for the fall semester at colleges include: • Start the semester as usual on campus: Classes in the classroom, as always; athletics on schedule; extra-curricular activities on time, including Hillel and other Jewish student groups. At this moment, a few colleges have chosen this option.

• Some small classes, spacing available, but large classes online so students would not be too close together. A few activities, but not much. Masks may be recommended.

In some cases, the professor may be much older and is more at risk than the students.

• Students on campus, but all classes online for the first semester or until it is safe.

• Do not start the semester on time but wait until life becomes somewhat normal. Perhaps, start in November after Thanksgiving.

The above possibilities are just some of the discussions taking place at this time. We need to remember that colleges are certainly an educational endeavor. However, we also need to look at colleges as a business that needs to stay alive.

What if a college needs to enroll 1,000 freshman per year? The admission department winds up with 980 students, therefore missing the target. Imagine tuition at $30,000 per year. That means a loss of $600,000. For colleges, it could be far worse. There were small colleges in trouble financially before the virus.

What could happen with empty dormitories? That is another financial loss for the college. Same with activity fees. For colleges that score heavy revenue from athletics, especially football, there is another major monetary loss.

Perhaps, the football team will play, but the stands will be empty. Will single, not double person dorms, be available because of social distancing? What about the dining halls?

Will financial aid suffer because of reduced income?

While colleges visits are not available, how are you researching colleges? How is your counselor getting to know you better? You were not expecting parents to be unemployed but now the financial picture has changed.

Admittedly, this article just covered some of the topics and issues that did not exist prior to the virus. Welcome to the new educational world! ì Dr. Mark Fisher is a college and career consultant at Fisher Educational Consultants (www.fishereducationalconsultants. com) and a consultant for the College Planning Institute (www.

GotoCPI.com).

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 47

PARENTING Emotional Impact of COVID-19 on Families Parenting teenagers and young adults is daunting enough under normal circumstances, but traversing these transitional stages Dr. Terry Segal during the pandemic has increased the degree of difficulty exponentially.

Just when high school seniors were almost ready to fly out of the nest, governmental regulations and house rules clipped their wings, restricting their freedom. Some became rebellious, while others, stressed and depressed, with many choosing unhealthy ways to cope.

Parents must be present for their other children, spouses, aging parents, their own job performance, financial concerns and responsibilities, including self-care. There’s an emotional knot constricting the flow in all of these areas.

Many are seeking telemental health.

48 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

I’ve been a psychotherapist for over 30 years and it’s the first time I’m counseling others in a crisis in which I’m also involved.

Themes have emerged in the stories that highlight commonality more than differences.

Every parent who suddenly became a teacher and every student who was torn from their social circles has been thrown into the stress pit. One parent said, “The virus doesn’t scare me as much as coping with the rest of the stuff.” I asked parents to sum up their experience in a word or two. They felt: guilt-ridden, overwhelmed, resentful, angry, fearful, anxious, depressed and exhausted. The kids felt: frustrated, lonely, sad, bored and scared.

It all happened so quickly. When schools closed, they thought sheltering at home would last a couple of weeks.

Spring break upped the ante and families had to create house rules for the safety of its members. In discussing consequences of noncompliance, several parents decided that violators wouldn’t be allowed to live in the house. The price for lenience

on the issue? Possible death. Big stakes.

One mother said she told her daughter, “I’m not a drama queen but this is life or death.” She said her daughter rolled her eyes.

There are long-range side effects from those decisions. More than any other word, parents say they’re suffering from “guilt,” especially for enforcing consequences with their kids who have disregarded social distancing rules. College students were asked to move back into their apartments or stay with friends.

One mom said, “My daughter was shocked that I was actually not letting her in.” Parents said their children felt angry, rejected, and even unloved.

A single mother with health issues discovered that both her son and daughter, each in their 20s, had been breaking social distancing rules. Mom said, “I feel betrayed that they’d put their own desires over my health but, the truth is, I still wrestled with sticking to my rules or risking my life.” Each of her children moved into their respective apartments but now her son’s girlfriend is pregnant.

The mother is worrying about the future and second-guessing her decision.

Another mother discussed the sacrifice of always having to put her children’s needs ahead of her own. “When my kids were little, I nursed them when I was sick and got up in the middle of the night if they needed something. I can’t believe my son would put us at risk to hang out with his friends.”

A mother feels guilty because her daughter is scheduled to begin college this fall, across the country. Study abroad has been postponed. Mom said, “I don’t want her to go away now because, what if she gets sick?” The Dad asked his daughter to take a gap year “until life after COVID-19 settles down.” Their daughter told them she’d be fine. Both parents feel guilty about voicing their anxiety, but they fear that “young adults aren’t taking the virus seriously enough.”

Another Dad is conflicted about sending his daughter to college because much of her education may take place virtually. “I don’t want to spend a ton of money for her to sit in her dorm and take classes online. She could do that from home.”

The mother of a college freshman asked, “Am I a bad person because I’m telling my son to do something useful with his time, like get a job or volunteer, when I can barely function myself? It takes so much energy to be on the computer to do my job. I just want to mind-

lessly watch movies.”

One high school athlete shared his concerns about keeping up his strength and skills. He hopes to pitch in college baseball. “Recruiters and scholarship opportunities usually come in the summer, during travel ball, which may not happen now.” He said he also didn’t have closure with his senior teammates when the season ended abruptly. “It felt horrible. You build relationships with the class ahead and now I won’t be playing with them again.”

Kids are experiencing grief and loss.

They’re lonely, especially those without siblings, and are suffering varying degrees of depression. Many are becoming more addicted to screen-time.

Here are some coping strategies that can foster peace: • Breathe and be gentle with yourself and others.

• Communicate with non-judgment.

• Remember there’s no shame in asking for help.

• Remain flexible; things will be in flux for a while. Pace yourself.

• Lower your expectations. Set one to three tasks to accomplish each day.

• Covet your sleep, good nutrition, and at least 20 minutes of exercise daily.

• Limit your screen time and intake of “news.”

• Ground yourself in nature daily, without technology.

• Connect and laugh with likeminded friends and family.

• Journal feelings/experiences • Pray to Hashem. Meditate to listen for the answers.

• Don’t try to go back. Focus on moving forward.

Dr. Terry Segal is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a doctorate in energy medicine. She is the author of “The Enchanted Journey: Finding the Key That Unlocks You.” ì

PARENTING

Being a Jewish Mother From 6,000 Miles Away

By Martine Tartour My two sons live in France. I have been a resident in Atlanta with my fiancé for a year.

Since then, we created a WhatsApp account over which the whole family communicates.

I never have long phone conversations with them, since they’re not very talkative; let’s just say they’re boys.

On March 15, we all bought flights to New York for May. Confinement in France started on March 17. All our projects fell Martine Tartour has a Zoom meeting through overnight. The French had 48 hours every night with Victor, Antonin to decide where they wanted to be locked and his wife Anne in Paris. down, and for two months they were only allowed to go out for one hour a day, not fur- confinement, nothing changed. The phones ther than 1.6 miles from their homes. are always ringing between Atlanta and IsI would have given anything to be with rael, where two of my sons live, and Dallas, my children. I would have loved to be able where my other son Benjamin and his wife to share their fears because I could feel they have settled recently. needed to be reasPhone calls are sured. My 30-year-old less frequent with son Antonin conmy son Jonathan fined himself with because he’s ultrahis wife Anne, which Orthodox. We get was fine, but my along very well and other, 26-year-old son respect his choices, Victor, who is single, but he doesn’t have does not know how a smartphone since to live alone. Every it’s forbidden in his night I would call community. What Ursula Blumenthal online with son him, and every night, is permitted? Just a Philippe in Israel. They call each repetitively, he would basic phone with an other at least three times a day. open a can of soup internet connection, and cut cold chicken in it for dinner. So, I sent created for and by the ultra-Orthodox. He him a shopping list. lives with his wife and daughter near JeruI even guided him on Skype on how to salem, in Ramot, a city where the percentage make Osso Buco. And though it wasn’t some- of infected people was one of the highest in thing we usually do, we decided to have a Israel. I asked him to not kiss the mezuzahs family Kiddush via Zoom every Friday night. anymore.

Once a week, we would eat together – dinner This period was difficult for us because for them, lunch for me with the time differ- my son Philippe’s daughter Keren, 14, was ence – cooking the same thing to feel like we hospitalized with spontaneous pneumothowere all together at the same table. Today the rax in Israel. It was very hard not being able French lockdown is over; my younger son to get on a plane to be with them. Therefore, I has informed me that it is not necessary to planted flowers here in Atlanta, and take care call each other as much. He now knows how of this garden in place of taking care of her. to make Osso Buco by himself.

We did Passover together via Zoom with From Caretaker to Gardener Ursula Blumenthal shares how she mothers two sons in Israel; one in Dallas, Texas: I’ve always been a typical Jewish mother. I found the wife of my eldest son, Philippe, in a synagogue in Israel. He was 36 years old; it was time for him to get married! I was born in England; I lived in Switzerland and have been living in Atlanta for 42 years. My American husband David occupied the first chair of Jewish studies at Emory University.

I am very good at managing longdistance relationships. The best solution?

FaceTiming each other all the time. With the

Victor and Antonin sent to their mother a photo of their last walk in Paris before the lockdown in March.

Taymanova’s granddaughter Mila in London talking with her best friend in Atlanta.

can, and they have settled in London. The same year, I married an American, a brilliant scholar at Emory University, and I agreed to follow him to Atlanta.

I don’t teach anymore, but I’m a translator. Before the lockdown, my son and I did not speak much. I don’t blame him.

He’s very busy. I’m busy, too. And often he is more of a Jewish mother than I am: I am never careful enough; I should avoid going to the dentist since the virus; I should install an alarm system. He’s very protective, and very generous.

He sends me presents for Mother’s Day, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It’s his way of showing his respect and love, because I know he doesn’t say it with words. Yet since he has been working at home because of the pandemic, he takes the time to FaceTime while my little granddaughter Mila eats or plays next to him. To share these moments with me is new, and it makes me so happy.

Strangely, it makes me look on the bright side and enjoy the good things about this period. ì

those in Dallas and those in Israel. It was midnight for us and 7 a.m. for them. A first!

We’re adapting.

Gifts Reduce Distance Marianna Taymanova describes her relationship with her son in London: My son and I are very united by what we shared together. We left the Soviet Union in 1989, when he was barely a 7-year-old child, to move to England. My husband died 10 years ago when my son was 27. Since then we are very connected, while very different.

I’m a university professor; he’s a businessman, [head specialist in IT and operations].

Five years ago, my son married an AmeriATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 49

PARENTING

For Children, Social Distancing Has Its Pros and Cons

By Bob Bahr

breaks of measles, whooping cough and other diseases that can spread very rapidly and be deadly for children.”

Earlier this month the Centers for Disease Control Even though some parents have relaxed their concerns about the coronavirus and some families with and Prevention published a study that showed that docyoung children have begun to abandon social distanc- tors in the Vaccines for Children program had ordered 2.5 ing guidelines and venture out more often, Dr. Sarah million fewer doses of vaccines between mid-March and Gard Lazarus, a pediatric emergency room physician, has mid-April than during the same period last year.

Doctors who specialize in the stood her ground. treatment of children point out that Lazarus, one of the AJT’s “40 Unthey should receive vaccinations der 40” last year, still recommends early. In the first 15 months of life, that parents keep their children children may receive up to 25 shots, home. including five new vaccines that have But following social distancing been introduced since 1995. guidelines, as critical as they are, Still, the pediatric physicians may be creating other health issues. group advises on its website that On Wed., May 20, the same academy keeping children away from each of pediatricians that originally issued other and keeping them away from the distancing recommendations adults is what is most important launched a nationwide campaign to today. Children are still at risk, the get more children out of their homes doctors said, even though for some and into their doctor’s offices for reason they have had a much lower their shots.

Dr. Sarah Gard Lazarus is a pediatric incidence of the viral infection than The president of the American emergency room doctor who was one of adults, and therefore may be less conAcademy of Pediatricians, Dr. Sara the AJT’s 40 Under 40 nominees for 2019. tagious.

Goza, who practices in Fayetteville, “Staying home and physical distancing is still the Ga., argues that while it’s important to practice safe distancing, it’s also important to make sure children are up best way to protect your family from COVID-19,” Dr. Corian Cross of the Academy wrote on the AAP website, www. to date on their scheduled vaccinations.

“As states begin to open up and families move about healthychildren.com “Especially for younger children who may not unin their community, we are afraid that we could see out-

50 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

It is recommended that children older than the age of 2 wear a face mask.

derstand why they can’t run up toward other people or touch things they shouldn’t, it’s best to keep them home.”

It is advice Dr. Lazarus endorses in her own home for her 6-year-old twin boys.

“I am following the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, which is to try to limit engagement, and that any child that’s over age 2 and not at least 6 feet apart, is wearing a mask.”

But she admits that it is difficult and she worries that the virus is not only taking a toll on preventative physical health care but on the psychological health of children who have spent weeks at home, away from school and social activities.

“I’ve seen a big increase in depression and behavioral concerns among children in the emergency room. In general, it does seem like we are proportionately seeing a higher number of kids with behavioral health problems, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, drug use, all being part of that.”

Lazarus is also troubled by the psychological effect that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on her. Even during ordinary times, female physicians face much higher rates of depression than the general population, according to Medical Economics magazine.

When she comes home from the hospital, her children are old enough to know that they must keep their distance. They know that she could be contaminated, she said. Lazarus also acknowledges that it is hard for grandparents and other relatives who are not able to readily hug children as they would ordinarily.

“So technically there should be social distancing.

With our family it’s a risk- benefit analysis. My mother, on her birthday, really wanted to hug both my children and me. And that was a risk she was willing to take that I was nervous about. We don’t know what that means.

We don’t know what a lot of this means. So it’s all a riskbenefit analysis.”

Every day, she points out, adults confront their fears and make a choice. It’s also something she must recognize while she is treating children in the hospital.

“I always considered myself a very warm doctor. I like to give hugs and to pick up babies and snuggle them.

And that’s always been something that’s both rewarding to me and that the patient seemed to be responsive to. But now I can’t do what I would typically do to give parents or children the comfort that they usually get. For me, it has been very challenging.” ì

How Jewish Young Adults Can Roll Up Sleeves Kosher Food Pantry Jewish Family & Career Services’ KoMany Jewish high school and college sher Food Pantry meets food-related chalstudents, living at home this summer, won- lenges. “The JF&CS food pantry has grown der what they can do when other plans are tenfold since the pandemic started, and changed, canceled or put on temporary demand continues to increase,” said Deena hold because of COVID-19.

Goldberg Takata, JF&CS volunteer services Juliana Margolis, a rising manager. College students help senior at The Paideia School, is accept food and supplies donaone such student seeking ways tions on Tuesdays and Thursto occupy her time. “Because I days at JF&CS offices in Duncan’t leave the house this sumwoody. Mondays, Wednesdays mer, I’m looking for ways to and Fridays are reserved for volunteer to keep me involved client pickup and delivery. in my community.”

Takata said she would be A variety of volunteer opdelighted for any student, inportunities are available in cluding high schoolers, to orLily Brent, executive Atlanta’s Jewish community to ganize a food drive to support director of Repair augment a student’s interests the World Atlanta, the food pantry. Students can and abilities while providing a promotes volunteering collect food and essential supwith local partners. fun experience. plies such as cleaning and paper products in their neighborhood or through Repair the World friend groups. She told the AJT that she had The website of Repair the World asks: a wonderful student who was passionate “Stuck at home? Bored? Restless? Anxious? about food insecurity and collected food Now is the time to be a good neighbor.” donations from all her classmates and their Lily Brent, executive director of Repair families and brought the food to JF&CS. the World Atlanta, said to motivate young “That food fed multiple families and was people to volunteer, perhaps parents “don’t greatly appreciated,” Takata said. trust their abilities enough. They need to Because JF&CS serves people from know that they have the power to make many religious and ethnic backgrounds, changes. Tell them ’You can make a real both kosher and non-kosher food is acceptdifference for families who need food. This ed; however, kosher food is stored separateis your moment.’” ly. On JF&CS donation days, non-food items Young adults, for instance, ”can fill the are also accepted. void of volunteers created when senior citi”A list of needed items can be found on zens, who previously served as the JF&CS website, www.jfcsatl. volunteers, had to stay home in org. quarantine. “ Takata told the AJT, based College students can parton CDC guidelines, the JF&CS ner with Atlanta families needFood Pantry follows strict safeing emergency groceries, Brent ty protocols for those working said. Volunteers, who follow in the pantry or delivering food.

CDC guidelines, can pack and But students can also voldeliver meals with Open Hand, unteer at home, Takata said. All or help out on the farm for Truthey need are some art supplies Rabbi Daniel Dorsch ly Living Well. found at home to create greeting of Congregation Because of the current cards for JF&CS older adult cliEtz Chaim is a emergency food vulnerability ents, food pantry recipients and member of USCJ’s Southeast region situation in Atlanta, Brent told residents of one of JF&CS’ partteen engagement the AJT “our partnership with ners, Jewish HomeLife commucommittee.

Concrete Jungle now services nities. Cards can say: “Thinking 800 people (250-plus families) each week.” of you,” “Have a happy day,” “We’re all in this Given a list of groceries for an assigned together,” or other short positive messages family, CJ volunteers deliver their pur- with the student’s first name only as the sigchases, averaging $50, in a no-contact drop. nature. “Bright, colorful cards help those iso“As unemployment is rising and the crisis lated and alone feel connected,’ Takata said. continues, in addition to the 267 families For students who like to sew, JF&CS currently being served, we could add 50 needs more face masks for JF&CS Food Panfamilies a week with more volunteers,” try staff and for staff and residents of Jewish Brent said.

HomeLife. JF&CS will provide instructions For more information about Repair for how to make the masks and they can the World Atlanta and its volunteer oppor- be dropped off on donation days. Anyone tunities, visit www.werepair.org/Atlanta. interested in supporting JF&CS Food Pantry

By Flora Rosefsky

efforts can contact Deena Takata, dtakata@ jfcsatl.org.

PARENTING

there is often “a disconnect between active volunteering and the Jewish value motivating that action.” As one example, when a student is stocking pantry shelves in a food bank, it’s important not to separate that act from understanding how the action is grounded in tzedakah (righteousness), Dorsch said.

“Additional concepts often associated with volunteer work include the Hebrew words tikkun olam (repair the world), but also mitzvot, translated as doing God’s commandments.”

Oral History Project College students can also use their iPad, computer or phone while home to volunteer with an oral history project created

by The Breman Museum, Repair the World, and AgeWell Atlanta. While following health guidelines, volunteers can interview selected people in metro Atlanta’s Jewish community to hear their stories For more information about life during the COVID-19 Cecelia Borgman sorts about volunteer opportunipandemic. To volunteer for food for Repair the World the program, send an email to in compliance with CDC ties, consult these community resources: lori@loridavila.com. health guidelines. www.thebreman.org/ Leslie Gordon, executive www.trulylivingwell.com/ director of The Breman Museum, told the www.concrete-jungle.org/about-us/ AJT, “What we record is what future generawww.openhandatlanta.org/ tions will remember l’dor v’dor.” www.ncjwatlanta.org www.volunteer.handsonatlanta.org Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta is a member of UnitYou can find other ideas for communied Synagogue of Conservative Judaism’s Southeast region teen engagement com- ty service on the Atlanta Jewish Connector, mittee. He told the AJT that in today’s age, www.atlantajewishconnector.com. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 51

PARENTING

Black Belt ‘Zaydie’ Zooms Jewish Values

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

6 to adult) need some genuine excitement added to their home environment. “‘Bobby’s Karate’ is a blend of Jewish As parents get creative with pandemic homeschooling activities, Bobby Rosenberg, spirituality with traditional Japanese discia dashing youthful grandfather of 15, is run- pline. I start and end every class with a bow ning Zoom karate classes in small groups of courtesy and end with everyone stating and privately for children and adults. I’m our dojo kun – a karate tradition of everyone reciting a creed of conduct – where we one of them. quote derech eretz – reRosenberg operates spect for one another in out of Ramat Beit ShemJewish values.” esh, Israel. As soon as Bobby’s Karate forCOVID restrictions were mula combines his 30 enforced, he immediately years of experience in switched from teaching martial arts with love of in his dojo (studio) to long Israel and his observant distance teaching from background to strive home, as students were for skills to enter socisending him training videty with confidence and eos of themselves. Prior enthusiasm.

Students to the pandemic, many of Bobby Rosenberg, a grandfather are motivated to be conhis students were about of 15, is Zooming karate classes for sistent and fearless.

The to receive their next proall ages with his upbeat message and a dose of Japanese discipline. culture of his karate motion; and fortunately, he was able to continue training so that they school during the pandemic stresses a commitment to workouts – and to “fear only could advance to their next rank.

Rosenberg said, “The workouts and Hashem!”

Rosenberg notes that it has not been rank promotions are of extreme importance now as both children and parents (age hard to recruit students, since martial arts

52 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Bobby’s Karate, which operates from Israel, stresses good values in its Hebrew logo.

Rosenberg teaches that strength is about the positivity of character.

is the “fad of the decade.” His encouraging sessions start with “do what you can today.”

He states, “I have adults who are overweight or out of shape, and within a few months, they are ecstatic with their lifestyle change – strong, vibrant and flexible.”

Rosenberg is also known for success with kids at risk, ADHD or “on the spectrum” by Zooming private lessons. Some areas that are addressed are concentration, self control, normalcy, expectations, and an outlet for energy.

Rosenberg states that “everyone wants to be a superhero.” With a dose of love, he explains that within today’s cultural inclination towards violence, he provides a channel to express it. “Kids learn that to be Spiderman, they have to follow the rules, and learn that strength is not about who has the biggest muscles. We teach mind over matter. Willpower is the key to everything.”

A New York native, Rosenberg trained in Shotokan as a teenager with Rabbi Meir Kahane. After moving to Israel, he earned his third-degree black belt. Shotokan (literally “house of waving pines”) incorporates deep, long stances developing stability and leg strength. Its philosophy is not based on defeat or victory, but on the positivism of character, compassion, patience and confidence. Jean-Claude Van Damme and Wesley

Snipes are examples of black belts in Shotokan.

As a footnote, Rabbi Kahane was an infamous American-born radical purported to have worked for the FBI to infiltrate The John Birch Society, founded the Jewish Defense League, fought for the struggle for Soviet Jewry, and served in the Knesset. He ultimately was assassinated in 1990 while speaking to an Orthodox group in a Manhattan hotel.

Asked to leave us with encouraging words during this irregular time of pandemic transition, Rosenberg muses, “I often quote the famous Chasidic master Rebbe Nachman of Breslov: “It is a great mitzvah to be happy all the time, and to make every effort to avoid gloom and depression. All the illnesses people suffer come only because of lack of joy. …

And joy is the great healer! The main point is that one must make every effort and put all of one’s strength into being content.”

Join Bobby’s Zoom Karate classes and get the first week free. Continue for $15 a month for unlimited classes (at least 12 a month) per family, including unlimited access to Rosenberg’s library of video recorded classes. To sign up, www.mailchi.mp/1804726fad89/boobyzoom, Bobby’s Karate on Facebook, or www. bobbyskarate.com. ì

Weiner Uplifts Fans at MJCCA Virtual Fest

Photo by Andrea Cipriani Mecchi // Jennifer

Weiner Zoomed with 350 fans about social media, parenting girls, and her path to writing best-sellers.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On May 7, best-selling author Jennifer Weiner led a program on Zoom as part of the MJCCA Virtual Book Festival in Your Living Room LIVE series. The event was arranged by Pam Morton, director of author and events for the Book Festival of the MJCCA. During the program, Weiner quipped with CNN’s Holly Firfer, then took questions from a few of the 350 participants.

In her own convivial style, the author related the character in her new book “Big Summer,” who is figuring out her life as an “influencer,” to herself sorting through “Jen, the person versus Jen, the ‘thing.’” She said, “Is anyone real? I may feel unfamous, but still be a social media celebrity ‘avatar.’”

Weiner recalled that she fell into writing because she “certainly was not going to be a ballerina.”

She said, “Books were my life raft.

I was a lonely, weird kid and voracious reader looking at Dad’s medical books of nude bodies. Skipping from the second to fourth grade was also a mistake.”

Since some of Weiner’s characters are women dealing with body image and weight issues, singer Adele surfaced in discussion as someone who that very day went online with her new svelt body. “Weight changes everything.

Instead of being noticed for her comment about a poignant COVID-19 death, social media made it about Adele’s weight loss. We have to be careful to

not allow our daughters to give in to self-loathing with a mom pulling and pinching her clothing in the mirror [to appear thinner].”

Firfer posed the ever-present author question about the process of creating a novel. Weiner mused, “I suppose some books ‘poof’ right into the head and are downloaded fully formed, but most are out there waiting to be discovered. “Mrs. Everything” took three years to complete. I let the characters grow in my brain first, then outline a road map to what the last page will look like.” She referred to her background as a newspaper reporter in Lexington, Ky. – where she dated “all two Jewish men” – and the discipline of that training.

Whether Zooming from her laundry room or closet, Weiner is genuine and one you’d want as a “bestie.” She concluded, “During the pandemic, be kind to yourself. I now have no cleaning lady. I mop the floor and kids walk right over it. They leave towels all over.

I am not living the glamorous life of a best-selling author. It’s hard to work now when things are stressful and uncertain.” Her next projects are her young teen trilogy “The Littlest Bigfoot” and maybe a book about two women and their mistaken identity with the same name, which is now happening to Weiner.

Hints were dropped about a potential movie deal in the offing and finding funny “plus size” girls to play the lead.

Amy Schumer’s name was tossed out.

Firfer suggested Mindy Kaling. “She has the sense of humor but is not Jewish!”

I spoke with Jennifer two days prior to the MJCCA session. She noted that Atlanta was one of her favorite places “because of the fantastic Jewish community. I think I’ve been there for every book.” She spoke of the cancelation of her 12-city book tour now being conducted virtually. “Amid barking dogs and alarms going off, we may be finding that it’s more economical to do it this way” – using her kids’ web cam while hiding in her closet.

Prior to the pandemic, she was planning a women’s writers retreat on Cape Cod to share ideas about the business of publishing and other nuggets learned along the way. “I had my 50th birthday in March in quarantine, which has got me thinking: Next year I would like to give back, teach and share my good fortune.”

ART

Weiner’s current book recommendations: “Docile,” by K.M. Szpara – a dystopian future of the wealthy class.

“The Farm” by Joanne Ramos – High-end surrogacy as a business “If I Had Your Face” by Francis Cha – South Korean culture and its obsession with plastic surgery.

“If It Bleeds” by Stephen King – a collection of four novellas that leads to frightening places.

If she could take one book to a deserted island: Susan Isaacs’ “Almost Paradise.”

Weiner herself is a reader’s paradise. One of this journalist’s all-time faves was the unabridged CD of Weiner dishing her own life story in “Hungry Heart.” ì

“Big Summer” features Daphne as a once unpopular gal, now a plus-sized Instagram influencer dealing with the pitfalls of living out loud.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 53

MAY 31-JUNE 30

CALENDAR Virtual Classes and Events: SUNDAY, MAY 31 From Sinai to Seinfeld - A History of Jewish Humor – From 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join Rabbi Dan Dorsch for this intriguing online Melton course.

For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2Wo2NaA.

through brick walls. For more information, JewishGenealogy@ JGSG.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 1 Beyond Words: Understanding the Depth of Prayer – From noon to 1 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for a weekly virtual Lunch & Learn with congregant Miriam Rosenbaum. The entire community is welcome to join the Zoom class, www.bit.ly/2z8wVxv. Parenting Preschoolers in a Pandemic Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. A weekly free JF&CS support group for parents dealing with difficult issues during this unprecedented time. For more information, rbrown@jfcsatl.org.

OVS Shelter at Home Film Festival: “An Average Story” – From 1 to 2 p.m. Cinema OVS presents “The Shelter at Home Film Festival” – Have some popcorn, kick back and enjoy a hysterical Israeli comedy.

The film screening will be followed by a discussion with the film director, Yaniv Segalovich. To register, www.bit.ly/36fXoWB.

Baking for Balance: You Knead to Learn How to Braid Challah and Talk – From 1 to 2 p.m. What if the act of making the bread -- mixing and kneading, watching and waiting -- could heal your heartache and your emptiness, your sense of being overwhelmed? It can. End Mental Health Awareness Month by joining Jewish Teens Thrive, the Blue Dove and four-time award-winning author of “Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs,” Dr. Beth Ricanati, for a live virtual self-care challah making community gathering. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2WnCNMB Breaking Through Brick Walls in Your Genealogy – From 2 to 3:30 p.m. Past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia and long-time researcher Gary Palgon will hold a workshop to help break 54 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

cant others of those struggling with addiction. To register and for more information, sanderson@jfcsatl. org.

Monday Night Parsha – Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, from 7 to 8 p.m.

Delve into the weekly Torah portion, commentaries and how it can relate to your personal life. To join in with Zoom, www.bit.ly/2zpsgIl.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3 Jewish Atlanta Community Flagpole – From 7 to 7:45 p.m. This is a 35- to 45-minute weekly interactive virtual gathering sharing the words of community leaders, organizational leaders and community heroes, interwoven through song in a Facebook Live event. To join, www.bit. ly/3b212Eb.

other spiritual ideas. For more information and to register, Rabbi@ Chabadintown.org.

Cookin’ with Rabbi Ari – Live Online – From 8 to 9 p.m. Intown Jewish Academy classes and programs are designed to educate and inspire you. Get both with this live workshop of the best Shabbat and holiday recipes. Join with Zoom, www. bit.ly/2VF0ezB.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

High School Seniors Missed Moments Group – From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A free weekly JF&CS support group for high school seniors. A safe place to share how COVID-19 has changed and challenged you.

Learn self-care strategies, discuss next steps after high school and more. To register for more information, uzusman@jfcsatl.org.

Teen Girls Supportive Group Chat – From 4 to 5 p.m. Join Ina Enoch, Ph.D., and Rebecca Brown, LCSW, for a weekly free JF&CS support group. This will be a safe space for teen girls to talk about how they are dealing with difficult issues during these unprecedented times. To register and for more information, ienoch@jfcsatl.org.

Spiritual Study Group – 12 Steps – From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jeff’s Place Presents – Spiritual Study Group 12 Weeks – 12 Virtual Meetings – 12 Steps. A weekly look at the steps through the lens of Jewish thought.

Each week explore one of the steps and draw on Jewish resources. Explore recent Torah portions and

Pregnant in a Pandemic Support Group – Jewish Family & Career Services, from 1 to 2 p.m. Join Tzipporah Gerson-Miller and Ellen Zucrow, LCSW, for a weekly, free virtual support group for expectant mothers dealing with fears and concerns during this unprecedented time. Gain support and learn from others in a therapist-facilitated environment. To register, tgersonmiller@jfcsatl.org Why Georgia Needs a Hate Crimes Bill – From noon to 1 p.m. Georgia is one of five states in the nation without a hate crimes law. The time for change is now. Please join ADL, the Hate Free Georgia coalition, and leading influencers in the fight for a hate crimes law, and learn what you can do to join the fight. To register, www.bit.ly/2LMl5MM. Family Caregivers During a Pandemic Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. This weekly JF&CS group will provide a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings and help you to develop a network of support through an exchange of information and experiences. For more information, jgay@jfcsatl.org.

Parenting Elementary Age in a Pandemic Support Group – From 1 to 2

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

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

THURSDAY, JUNE 4 Significant Others of Addicts Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. This group is a free weekly support group for spouses, partners and/or signifi-

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

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Naso Friday, June 5, 2020, light candles at 8:28 p.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2020, Shabbat ends at 9:30 p.m.

Behaalotecha Friday, June 12, 2020, light candles at 8:31 p.m.

Saturday, June 13, 2020, Shabbat ends at 9:33 p.m.

p.m. A weekly free JF&CS support group for parents dealing with difficult issues during this unprecedented time. For more information, uzusman@jfcsatl.org.

MONDAY, JUNE 8 Virtual Travel Adventure to Israel – From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Enjoy a side of Israel you have never seen with the help of a licensed tour guide.

Join a “busload” of participants and experience biblical and modern Israel, famous tourist sites and off-the-beaten-path sites, Jewish National Fund projects and places, and hidden gems. Each registration includes one hour of touring Monday through Thursday, a break, and then one hour for a social dinner/ cocktail hour. Friday will feature a one-hour pre-Shabbat experience.

For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/3cMTJlA.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 Jewish Federation Annual Community Awards – From 7 to 9 p.m. Please join virtually for our Community Awards Ceremony.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 JELF’s Virtual No Go Event – From 7:15 to 8 p.m. Join us for a “live conversation” with best-selling author Angela Duckworth and Dr. Marianne Garber, educational consultant and JELF past president. JELF will also share a short video on the impact of COVID-19 on current JELF recipients during the pandemic. For more information, events@jelf.org

Ongoing: Chabad.org Presents Jewish Kids Activities Online – Jewish art projects, videos, games, activities and more.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2UgUFId. In the City Camps Presents – Virtual Camp – Every weekday afternoon from 3:30 to 4 p.m. In an effort to keep the community connected, they are giving their campers opportunities to see one another.

To watch and join in, www.bit. ly/2xhGR71.

Jewish Spirituality & Mysticism – Join Rabbi Hirshy for a weekly class on Jewish spirituality, mysticism and how to apply them to your personal growth in a meaningful way.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2wmSBFp. MJCCA Day Camps – Weekdays, 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Check in for weekday live activity sessions on their Facebook page. To participate and for more information, www. bit.ly/2wvLOcn. MJCCA Fitness – MJCCA will be posting daily workouts and conducting live workouts on the Fitness Facebook page. They also have a free option to help keep you active and working out at home. For more, watch here, www.bit.ly/2WHcSQz. MJCCA Book Festival in Your Living Room – Click to view MJCCA’s upcoming Book Festival virtual events, www.bit.ly/3bk1mi7.

MJCCA Kids' Athletics –The – MJCCA Athletics program encourages kids to stay active at home while school is out for an extended period of time. Action for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit organization that pro-

motes a focus on health, fitness and wellness in schools, has provided some amazing resources to keep kids happy, engaged and focused on their overall health while at home.

Click for activities to do at home for MJCCA’s Game On Activity Library, www.bit.ly/2wzY5MO. MJCCA BBYO – Tune in to BBYO On Demand, a brand-new virtual experience for teens worldwide. Enjoy amazing programming and a global event. Some of the sessions will even be led by our very own Greater Atlanta Region BBYO members.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2QFlCD2.

MJCCA Blonder Department for Special Needs – Please stay tuned to the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs Facebook group for daily activities, chats, workouts and more. For more information, www.bit.ly/2Jmpl4x.

formation, www.bit.ly/3af7wjA. Virtual Senior Center Zumba Class – DeKalb County Department of Human Services has put together a Virtual Senior Zumba Class video. To watch and join in, www.bit. ly/39hEVsl. Please send Virtual Classes & Events to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

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

MJCCA Aquatics – A few things that you can work on at home to keep your swimming abilities top notch.

Please see our swim skills guide that describes exercises for your child’s ability along with a picture.

For more information, www.bit. ly/3bmmlRC. PJ Library is Going Viral! – Mondays at 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 a.m., and every afternoon at 2 p.m. Every morning and afternoon, PJ Library is bringing to you fun, crafts, stories, Q&As, scavenger hunts, food demos and so much more. To join in and for more information, www.bit.ly/2WzFFqh. Repair the World – Repair the World welcomes you to sign up for its programming. Join them from the comfort of your home for a discussion on compassionate care for ourselves and our community.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2xhUsv5.

Virtual Hillel Connections – If you’re looking for community, connection and meaningful learning opportunities, or if you’re just bored and need a distraction during coronavirus cancellations, then you’ve come to the right place. Hillel has virtual meetups and online gatherings that bring you together with Jewish and Jew-ish students from around the world in real-time! For more in-

Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function –The – Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone toward access to food for all. The Text for Help SMS function recognizes two keywords – ‘findfood’ (no space) in English or ‘comida’ in Spanish. Each keyword will activate automated responses in the relevant language. When a person texts either keyword to 888-976-2232 (ACFB), they’ll be prompted for their zip code or address to enable location services for food pantries closest to them. Responses will include a list of three different nearby pantries and their contact information. If no pantries are located within a 10-mile radius from the zip code entered, the program provides information on the nearest food pantries in neighboring zip codes. For more information, www. acfb.org.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 55

Atlanta Jewish Music Festival Updates– Music is a powerful force. It heals. It can bring people together.

In the wake of the tragic events over the last few weeks, AJMF has reached out to its community seeking “healing music.” To listen, www.spoti.fi/2Uuq7BB. For information about the AJMF, www.atlantajmf.org.

Israel American Council – IAC @ Home brings you the most innovative content online while continuing to build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another. IAC @Home lets you enjoy a coast-to-coast community right from your own home. For more information, www.israeliamerican. org/home.

JF&CS -- Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS is there to provide emergency assistance for individuals and families. Please call 770-6779389 to get assistance. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

JF&CS --- Telehealth Counseling Services – Now offering telehealth options via phone or video conference for current and new clients to help our community during this crisis.

For more information about our therapy services or to make a telehealth appointment, email therapy@jfcsatl.org or call 770-677-9474.

For updates and more information, www.bit.ly/3ahrNVM. Marcus JCC Updates – The Marcus JCC will be closed until such time as it is advised by those agencies that it is safe to open. In addition, The Weinstein School, The Schiff School, The Sunshine School and their Club J After-School Program will also be closed. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QEAuRX. My Jewish Learning – Jewish learning resources to get you through these difficult days. For more information, www.bit.ly/3bms5dQ. YMCA of Metro Atlanta Outreach – The YMCA is activating all branch locations to deliver childcare for thousands of healthcare workers and emergency responders. They are distributing meals for early learners, families and seniors at YMCA sites and working with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to expand food pantries and offer food distribution to the community. The YMCA has implemented Operation R.E.A.C.H. to engage our seniors and vulnerable groups during this difficult time, activating resources and support to keep them connected and healthy. For more information, www.bit.ly/3aCHjM7.

Please send Community Service Opportunities to jen@atljewishtimes. com.

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

puter. Ahavath Achim’s Services are broadcasted from the main sanctuary and Ellman Chapel. Open to members and the community. To watch and for more information, www.bit.ly/33EJfAU. Congregation Beth Shalom’s Virtual Services – Sunday through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:30. For more information, www. bit.ly/3aDdUkX. Congregation Etz Chaim’s Virtual Morning Minyan and Shabbat Services – Sunday through Friday at 8 a.m. Join Rabbi Daniel Dorsch for livestreaming daily morning minyan and Shabbat morning services.

To join in, www.bit.ly/2W3ITSk. Virtual Wednesday Evening Minyan – Etz Chaim’s Sababa USY invites you to join them for Wednesday evening minyan at 6:30 p.m. They welcome the community to remotely daven with them for this virtual Mincha/Ma’ariv service. To join in, www.bit.ly/2W3ITSk. Congregation Shearith Israel – Live Zoom Service – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times in a virtual manner. They are counting participating in these live services as part of a minyan, or prayer quorum, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish. To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit. ly/2wnFWlD. Temple Emanu-El Live Streaming Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 6:30 p.m.; Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10 a.m.; and bar/bat mitzvah services Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.

Join in on Facebook at: www.bit. ly/2W0BHpT. Temple Beth Tikvah Live Streaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join in, www. bit.ly/2ZlCvrr.

Jewish Federation of Great Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale.

56 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Synagogue Live Streaming and Zoom Services:

Temple Sinai Live Stream Services – Temple Sinai will has Shabbat services on Friday night and Saturday morning. For more information and to view services, www.bit. ly/2YJf0rU.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Participate in services live from your com-

The Temple Live Streaming Services – Find livestreaming services here,

www.the-temple.org.

Please send Synagogue and Temple Online Services to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

Volunteer Opportunities: Creating Connected Communities: www.bit.ly/3bekKNI Ways to Help Through CCC: www.bit. ly/2vAXqdN Become a Virtual Tutor: www.mindbubble.org Donate nate for Emergency Groceries: www.pawkids.org Provide a Meal to Homeless Women: www.rebeccastent.org.

Package and Deliver Meals Through Open Hand Atlanta: www.openhandatlanta.org/volunteer Package and deliver meals through Concrete Jungle: www.concretejungle.org/ Help Atlanta Public Schools delivering food on bus routes as well as food distribution sites in kitchens and drive-through lines. For more information, www./bit.ly/2Uk7lga.

JFCS Kosher Food Pantry: www.jfcsatl.org.

Repair The World Resource: A onepage resource for caring for the sick in the time of crisis. For more information, www.bit.ly/2JamMlQ. Cards & Care Packages for Jewish HomeLife Staff: www. bit.ly/2WDncsY & www.bit. ly/2WDncsY Second Helpings Volunteer Opportunities: www.bit.ly/2UpkxQE Help with COVID-19: A list of additional volunteer opportunities: www.helpwithcovid.com Please send Community Service Opportunities to jen@atljewishtimes. com.

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

Connector Chatter Directory Spotlight

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

The Temple In conversation with Summer Jacobs How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

The Temple has been in Atlanta since 1867 and was Atlanta’s first official Jewish institution.

How do you cater to young members?

Our Young Professionals come together to have a good time, do social justice work and bridge our Jewish backgrounds with personal interests. We have a monthly Shabbat service, “The Well,” where spiritual prayer meets great music meets Judaism with Rabbi Sam Kaye and Rabbi Micah Lapidus. It’s a really unique experience. As an entryway into the evening, we have a Temple Connect group for Young Professionals known as “Well Done.” It is a group where our folks learn to make international recipes and a craft cocktail that is brought to The Well for everyone to enjoy. In addition to The Well, we have a men’s group known as “The Backyard” and a women’s group known as “Women Of the Well.” There is both separate programming for the two as well as overlapping programming. Our signature experience is a three-day yoga retreat in the mountains to balance our mind, bodies and souls.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

We see ourselves moving forward. Our dynamic community keeps building upon itself and creating opportunities for people to make a difference in the world and the lives of each other. In this way, as we continue to truly see each other, continue to love each other, continue to invest in one another, we will be creating community that is worthy of our past and inspiring and transforming our future.

OneTable

Apron + Ladle In conversation with Artie Antoniades

In conversation with Zoe Plotsky

How long has your restaurant been in Atlanta?

Our restaurant has been in business for a total of eight months – six months before COVID hit.

How do you cater to young members?

Our entire organization is created for young adults (and 93 percent of our staff are OneTable hosts). Right now, during shelter-in-place, we are supporting solo Shabbat dinners, events with just the people you live with, and virtual Shabbats. We’re also hosting weekly OneTable Live events with everything from yoga to trivia to cooking classes to camp reunions. Follow along @onetableshabbat on Instagram.

How do you cater to younger people?

We love having young people at our restaurant. We have really tried to focus on the latest food trends that we know appeal to millennials and the younger generation as well as more senior people. Examples are: chia pudding, buffalo cauliflower bites, and soft drinks called Honey Bee, produced at a small bee farm in Maine that has absolutely no sugar or anything in them but pure products. All our dressings and food is produced in-house with no preservatives.

We have two sections to our restaurant and one section is dedicated to an internet cafe, which is self-service, where our customers can sit down and do their work without being distracted by a server.

It also doubles up as a private room where mothers can gather together for lunch with or without their children.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

OneTable is designed to address the needs of our participants. So, in 10 years we’ll have iterated and evolved to be a form of support for what young adults need in 2030. We don’t know what that looks like yet, and we’re totally OK with that!

Where do you see your restaurant in 10 years?

We want to be a household name in Sandy Springs. The go-to place for healthy breakfast and lunch options and totally integrated into the community as we were with our previous two restaurants: Teela Taqueria and Tin Can Fish House. We are also considering expanding our concept over the next few years.

How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

The first OneTable Shabbat dinner was on April 15, 2016.

We fully launched in Atlanta with a staff person in January 2017.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 57

COMMUNITY Jewish Atlanta Celebrates Shavuot at Home

By Flora Rosefsky

If not using the book, Perry suggests other topics such as “What is your favorite story in the Torah?” or “What is a Jewish topic you’d like to learn more about as a family?”

To celebrate Passover at home, think seder. For Sukkot, it’s sitting in a sukkah. But what comes to mind when thinking of ShaOutdoor Adventures vuot, the third major As families shelter pilgrimage festival also in place at home during related to the Exodus COVID-19, Perry suggests when Moses received the outdoor activities while Ten Commandments at following CDC guideMount Sinai? lines. Families can con“Learning and seeknect with nature such ing a deeper knowledge as putting up small tents of Torah” is how Rabbi in the backyard or front Elana Perry describes lawns, where children how Shavuot is celebratcan imagine they were ed. Perry is the Jewish camping out while MoRabbi Elana Perry, director of the Federation of Greater ses was climbing Mount Jewish Education Collaborative, Atlanta’s director of the offers resources for Jewish educators. Sinai. Perry says families Jewish Education Collaborative. can pose the question: “What if you were In addition to this year’s Zoom commu- waiting for Moses to descend, what would nitywide Tikkun Leil Shavuot with evening you be thinking about?” Taking a hike up a study sessions sponsored by the Atlanta hill or a mountain trail to reenact the story Rabbinical Association, learning Jewish of Moses is another of her ideas. “This type text, reading books, viewing online YouTube of experiential learning helps children and videos, conducting family activities, and families to explore Jewish tradition while eating foods associated with the holiday are creating lasting memories.” ways to celebrate Shavuot at home.

In a BimBam YouTube, “What is Sha- Taste of the Holiday vuot? A Jewish holiday for Torah and LearnJewish education comes right through ing,” the narrator starts by saying Shavuot the kitchen. The calorie counter may be put is “the biggest Jewish holiday you never aside while Jewish Atlantans add cheese heard of.” Perry says she highly recom- platters, arrays of fruits, and cheese blintzes mends these “short animated BimBam vid- to menus to celebrate Shavuot. eos about many Jewish holidays or concepts In “The Jewish Holiday Cookbook -- an which are a great, accesInternational Collection sible free resource for of Recipes and Customs,” parents and children.” author Gloria Kaufer w w w. yo u t u b e . c o m / Greene organizes each watch?v=XEcwkaIjpmk chapter by holidays, with family favorite Family Education recipes and background How can families information on why parcelebrate Shavuot with ticular foods are selected. more learning, after finFor instance, Shavuot ishing a dairy meal set is known for the dairy on a table decorated with dishes served. fruits or flowers? Perry Greene explained recommends the book, Photo by Flora Rosefsky // Two that Ashkenazic Jews blintzes side by side resemble The “The 11th Commandfrom Eastern Europe traTen Commandments’ tablets. ment: Wisdom from our ditionally serve cheese Children,” published by Jewish Lights Pub- blintzes. When two are put side by side, they lishing. It has children answering the ques- resemble the Ten Commandments’ tablets. tion: “If there were an 11th commandment, Chilled fruit soups are popular, and the auwhat would it be?” She says that same ques- thor also noted the Sephardic siete cielas tion can be posed to all ages for family round- (Spanish for ‘seven heaven’) seven-layered table discussions at home. One published cakes filled with fruits and nuts to denote children’s answer was “No polluting the the seven weeks in the omer period before world.” Using Zoom can include more family Shavuot. members and friends in the discussion.

Ahavath Achim Sisterhood’s cookbook 58 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Doris Koplin’s recipe for citrus cheesecake is included in the Ahavath Achim Sisterhood cookbook “And It Was Good!”

“And it Was Good!” offers Doris Koplin’s citrus cheesecake recipe. Another local cookbook, “Seasoned with Love-- Culinary Treasures from the Breman,” contains over 30 cheese meal recipes.

Festival of Fruits “First Fruits” Rainbow Salad in Greene’s cookbook connects why Shavuot is often called the Festival of First Fruits. Using a wide assortment such as watermelon, papaya and pineapple or whatever fruits are available, one can add dates, avocado, or pomegranate seeds. Seven species mentioned in Torah are wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranate, olive, and date (Deuteronomy 8:8).

Using fruits to decorate a table, Greene suggested arranging “whole fresh fruits as a pyramid-shaped centerpiece to represent Mount Sinai.”

Jewish family education and Jewish holiday inspired cooking served at home doesn’t need to stop when Shavuot ends on the evening of May 30. Perry told the AJT “We can celebrate Jewish learning and Jewish living every day of the year!”

To learn more about the Jewish Education Collaborative, jewishatlanta.org/edcollaborative/.

And here’s a Shavuot recipe to try at home that combines dairy with fruit, reflecting two Shavuot food traditions: Citrus Cheesecake Doris Koplin’s recipe in the Ahavath Achim Sisterhood cookbook “And It Was Good!”

Graham Cracker Crust 2 cups graham cracker crumbs 2 tablespoons sugar 4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick), melted In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press mixture evenly into a lightly buttered 9-inch springform pan.

Photo by Flora Rosefsky // A fruit pyramid centerpiece can symbolize Mount Sinai. Shavuot is also known as the Festival of First Fruits.

Cheesecake 18 ounces cream cheese 1 cup sugar 1 pint sour cream 1 tablespoon lemon extract 2 eggs 1 tablespoon lemon juice Preheat oven to 350 F. In bowl of electric mixer, combine cream cheese and sour cream.

Beat 20 minutes on medium speed.

With a rubber spatula, scrape sides of bowl 2 or 3 times as needed during mixing. Add eggs and sugar.

On low speed, beat until thin and smooth. Stir in lemon flavorings. Pour batter onto crust in springform pan.

Bake 35 minutes. Turn oven off. Leave cake in oven 15 minutes.

Remove cake from oven. Set aside to cool completely. Refrigerate overnight.

Lemon Custard 9 tablespoons butter Rind and juice of 3 lemons 1 ½ cups sugar 3 whole eggs, bean 3 egg yolks Melt butter in top of double boiler.

Add sugar, lemon rind and juice.

Mix well. Add beaten eggs and yolks.

Combine well. Stir constantly over simmering hot water until mixture thickens. Pour through a strainer into a bowl. Refrigerate overnight for 4 hours. Spoon the custard over the cheesecake; spread gently. Let it chill until set. Remove from springform pan when ready to serve. ì

COMMUNITY

Spreading Hope and Joy: Personal Connections, Zoom Engagements, Drive-In end of year celebration.

Wayne Markman on his Harley getting ready for the lag Baomer parade

ADVERTISEMENT - Paid for by Chabad Intown.

By Ronda Robinson

It was an unusual end-of-school party May 20. Parents drove up to the Intown Jewish Preschool near the BeltLine and stayed in the car with their children. Each class had a different drive-in station.

In a sign of the times to help curb COVID-19, teachers wore face masks, said farewell and gave parents bags containing portfolios of children’s work from the school year. Then the parents inched their cars around the corner to the Park Tavern parking lot overlooking Piedmont Park for a tailgate party.

Everyone stayed in their vehicles and enjoyed individually packed sandwiches and entertainment by a balloon maker and a clown on stilts blowing bubbles.

After their busy morning, Melissa Kaplan, mother of two preschool children, gave a shout-out to Chabad Intown for being at the forefront of addressing many of the challenges people are facing during COVID-19.

“When the preschool made the hard decision to close because of the pandemic, they pivoted in 48 hours into this amazing online community,” Kaplan says. “Each preschool class met daily on Zoom. They made curated lessons for each class. They brought in all their specialties. We had art once a week, music once a week. They were so creative with how they engaged each student.”

Early on, teachers made activity bags filled with art, science and counting projects for children to work on at home.

“They had so many creative ways to engage the family,” enthuses Kaplan, a 35-yearold development professional and mom to

Ossey family says farewell at the Intown Jewish preschool year end tailgate event

2-year-old Eli and 4-year-old Sam.

Keeping Atlanta engaged in Judaism during COVID-19 Kaplan appreciates Chabad Intown for keeping her children and family engaged in Judaism.

Like the Intown Jewish Preschool children, Intown Hebrew School students have kept up their learning through the Zoom platform.

Says Jessica Morris, a 41-year-old working mother of two: “We’ve been really impressed as a family with their virtual community and programming. Both of my daughters have continued to participate in Hebrew School on Sunday mornings. It means a lot to the kids to have that continuity.”

Her elementary school children enjoyed a special end-of-the-year celebration with gifts from Intown Hebrew School. One teenage teacher even borrowed her parents’ minivan to deliver the gifts personally.

Serving Torah to adults who hunger for learning Chabad Intown serves adults as well during these challenging times. The rabbis and rebbetzins have provided Intown Jewish Academy Torah and Talmud classes, holiday bootcamps and even a mobile billboard and 20-car parade that passed by hospitals to acknowledge health care workers on Lag B’Omer, the day a pandemic ended in the time of the great second-century sage Rabbi Akiva.

The Intown Jewish Academy struck a chord with adults who hunger for learning and connection during these COVID-19 days.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Ari Sollish, various teachers have offered more than 80

Einhorn family say thank you to the Intown Hebrew school at the Shavout ice cream party and cheesecake giveaway

classes serving more than 1,000 adults during the pandemic.

Jeff’s Place at Chabad Intown hosts 12-step meetings. Meetings have moved online so members can participate from the comfort of their homes. For additional support for those struggling, Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman began a class providing a look at the 12 steps through the lens of Jewish thought.

One participant told Rabbi Schusterman, “My friend has three years in recovery. She said the way you explained addiction last night was the first time it really made sense. She also mentioned she’s really been struggling lately, and she left the session filled with a new sense of connection and hope.”

Other Jeff’s Place activities during these days and in recognition of May as Mental Health Awareness Month were a lunch-and-learn with Dr. Terry Segal, marriage and family therapist; a meditation with Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Jewish mysticism and meditation author; and a discussion about shame with Rabbi Shais Taub, an author known for his addiction recovery work.

A beacon of hope and positivity As Rabbi Schusterman explains, “We are focused on being a voice of hope and positivity and yes, even joy, doing what we can to lift the spirits of all who are directly and indirectly connected to Chabad Intown.”

He and his wife, Dena, are the founders of Chabad Intown on the BeltLine.

Stephanie Lewis, who says she is mostly a shut-in, feels the love. The online community Chabad Intown has created is a boon for this wife and mother. At 58 and suffering from Crohn’s disease, she views the menu of Zoom classes as a gift.

Cars lined up for thank you to healthcare workers lag Baomer parade

“My life has been immeasurably improved through Intown Jewish Academy online instruction,” Lewis said. She delights in daily Torah classes; Talmud study; live broadcasts to prepare for Shavuot – which is May 2830 – virtual Kabbalah & Coffee explorations of Jewish mystical teaching on Sunday mornings; and a Jewish Fireside Chat series with renowned scholars on Sunday evenings.

Chabad Intown’s online efforts have allowed Lewis, for the first time in many years, to share study and worship with fellow Jews.

The icing on the cake is knowing that one of her favorite teachers, Rabbi Sollish, is a few miles away at his home in VirginiaHighland, saying hello to people on Zoom by name, and talking about Torah – not COVID-19.

Help Chabad Intown lighten spirits In addition to online classes and events, Chabad Intown is reaching out personally to individuals in the community with phone and FaceTime calls to check on them and lift their spirits.

“People are hurting with loss of jobs and uncertainty. Our value to the community has never been felt more,” Schusterman said.

“Our work makes all the difference for so many during this challenging time.”

To ensure stability and continuity for this vital and essential organization, please consider a gift at www.chabadintown.org/donate.

Paid Content by Chabad Intown.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 59

COMMUNITY

Jewish World War II Vet in ‘National Geographic’ Special

By Paula Baroff

airline tickets to Atlanta,” Jeff Johnson of the Round Table said in a press release. “A tight Morton Waitzman, a World War II production schedule allowed for a selected veteran and former Emory University pro- few to make the cut and interviews were fessor living in Atlanta, was featured Thurs- filmed in January in Dunwoody during the day, May 21, on an international “National Atlanta World War II Round Table’s monthGeographic” documentary “World War II in ly meeting. I’m happy their stories of courEurope: Voices from the Front.” According age and sacrifice will be told by some very talented people at NatGeo.” to a press release by the World Waitzman is one of five War II Round Table in Atlanta, Atlantans who appeared in the “National Geographic” associdocumentary commemoratate producer Bethany Jones ing the end of World War II in described Atlanta as “the goldEurope, including fellow Jewmine for living World War II ish Atlantan Hilbert “Hibby” veterans.”

Margol of Dunwoody, who “I think it’s a big thing, was among the first U.S. solas far as I’m concerned, and diers to liberate Dachau, Johnof course as far as the local Morton Waitzman was at Omaha son said. community is concerned, Beach on D-Day. The documentary fothis is very substantial publicity,” Waitzman said. “National Geographic” cuses on the end of World War II in Europe, came to the apartment he shares with his as it is the 75th anniversary this year. Waitwife a few weeks ago with a camera crew zman was with the 29th Infantry Division and so much equipment it filled the apart- when he landed on Omaha Beach in France on D-Day, he said. “That represented the bement, he said.

“I offered up about two dozen World ginning of the end of the fight to defeat state War II veterans willing to be interviewed for Nazism. I emphasize that you should be the project and NatGeo immediately booked aware that Germany was the source of Na-

60 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

zism with Adolph Hitler. But there’s Nazism all over the world – right here in Georgia.

We’re a hot bed,” he said.

He was with his division during the liberation of Paris in August 1944. From France, they fought across Europe and liberated Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland.

“And of course we went out there with the Battle of the Bulge in Germany,” Waitzman said. He went on to liberate various slave labor and concentration camps.

“Eventually, early May 1945 we met the Russians and the war was over at that point,” he said. “I was there at the beginning of the end of state Nazism.”

Waitzman was at sea on the way to Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped.

He started to sail home and was discharged in 1946, then went to school. Waitzman became a professor at Emory and taught there for about 40 years, retiring in 1991.

His interview with “National Geographic” goes into more detail about his experiences in World War II, and records of his time in the war can be found in The Breman Museum’s archives.

Waitzman is active in the World War II Round Table in Atlanta and has been fea-

Photo by Jeff Johnson // Morton Waitzman was interviewed in his apartment for the “National Geographic” documentary “World War II in Europe: Voices from the Front.”

tured in numerous interviews, including a big CNN production about the war. “This was different,” he said of the “National Geographic” documentary, explaining how it’s a global production. The camera crew left his apartment and flew to Moscow to do interviews, then went to London. “It’s a big thing they were doing,” he said. “It is going to be shown worldwide and multilingually. Everybody knows ‘National Geographic’ and the quality of their work. … I was happy to work with them because I think the story has to be told.” ì

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JEWISH JOKE OF THE WEEK

OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM... d BY A would be overturne Dear Rachel, d the entire world – an – es ildren liv r ch r ou ou t as tha t from home Who would’ve dream of us are now working ny Ma … s. home les my no in es, I’m , dern tim Meanwhile PLAGUE??? In our mo they’re still in session. so l, oo sch te va pri d s atten learn on Zoom. My kid one rings. rk done. wo my get work, and my cell ph to office trying and try to tackle my r ute mp a niggling co l fee my I , on r some reason Picture the scene: I sit and my heart drops. Fo er, ch tea y’s nn Be of mber Caller ID shows the nu Benny’s progress. not be a rave review on ll wi l cal s thi t tha sensation say, but d in what you have to “Hello?”

As in, yes, I’m intereste ss. ne sk laints bri mp of e co of ton a ny eys nches into a lita I hope my voice conv a quick intro, she lau ter Af . do to job a ve I ha please, make it snappy, rk…” during “class.” r vio ha be y’s or completing his wo nn about Be es; he’s not studying jok s ck cra tion, would he ua n; sit tio ular classroom “He’s not paying atten If they were in a reg rs. me sim me school od ho blo to e my nly wasn’t my choic tai I listen carefully, and cer It ? son my le nd rently honest recess to have me ha ? If I could be transpa she be calling during -school police officer me ho a me a little empaco ve be Ha to have u’re his teacher. yo d an w, my kids. So, why do I no m oo ssr cla compasuld say, “He’s in your you’ve accessed your with Miss Pearl, I wo of this situation. Once ies ult fic n’t sign dif did I . the ck ing tra regard y back on thy for your students best way to steer Benn the t ou e ur fig d an x, toolbo sion, reach into your to deal with ” er. ch tea middle of my workday his up to be be interrupted in the to ve ha I Do el? ch What’s your take, Ra e? ing? Who is responsibl my kids’ online learn Signed, A Frustrated Mom

Dear Frustrated Mom, This pandemic has affected every person in the world in some way. Tragically, the loss of lives trumps any other difficulty. Next comes the bouts of serious illness that people have endured. For those who have been fortunate to maintain their health, the presenting issues may be economically related, or, as you are experiencing, a complete disruption of normal life.

Is Miss Pearl reaching out to you regularly, or is it just this one time?

Can you validate her concerns while explaining that you are working from home and are therefore unavailable to monitor Benny’s learning? In my opinion, that’s an easy out.

But let’s add another piece to this puzzle. What if you were not working, but held the position of a stay-at-home parent? In my opinion, the question still stands. Benny is currently “in class” under the school’s jurisdiction. So, why should a parent don a police hat?

This may be an unpopular stance, but here is my gut feeling. During the current upheaval, children need, more than ever, a warm and secure home environment. If we adults are struggling, imagine what kids are enduring! Without any warning, their entire lives have been upended. They need endless supplies of love and patience from the home front.

Don’t misunderstand. I don’t condone disrespect or not taking learning seriously. Do I understand Benny? Yes. Do I empathize with the challenges faced by an active boy who is being forced to learn from a computer screen? Absolutely.

In my opinion, Miss Pearl must figure out a system to attract Benny and get him to toe the line.

Benny, like the rest of us, must learn to acclimate to the new, hopefully temporary normal. Miss Pearl should encourage his participation and not hesitate to apply appropriate consequences, positive and negative, as needed. Parents, I believe, should stand where they’ve always stood. They should be interested, active helpers, available to assist and encourage, build and nurture. Transforming them into drill sergeants is not a fair expectation and could damage the parent-child bond.

Teachers (parents and kids, too) deserve a bonus for persevering through this Zoom learning. On a side note, it must be nice to be able to mute a kid who is acting out; imagine if they could do that trick in a real classroom!

Wishing you the best, Mom, in navigating your uncharted role. May we all stay well and be able to enjoy social closeness and a return to normalcy in the very near future!

Take care, Rachel Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column Got a problem? Email Rachel Stein at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com, describing your problem in 250 words or less. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time!

62 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Cure for Insomnia Dr. Myers has been looking after one of his patients, 80-year-old Freda, for most of her life. But he retires and passes all his patients over to the newly qualified Dr. Faith, who has just joined the practice. One of the first things Dr Faith does is to ask to see Freda, saying she should bring with her a list of all the medicines that have been prescribed for her.

Eventually, Freda has her appointment.

As Dr Faith is looking through Freda’s list, he is totally shocked to see that she has a prescription for birth control pills.

“Mrs. Cohen,” he says, “do you realize that these are birth control pills?”

“Yes doctor,” replies Freda, “they help me sleep at night.”

“Mrs. Cohen,” says Dr. Faith, “I can assure you that there is absolutely nothing in birth control pills that could possibly help you sleep better at night.”

When she hears this, Freda reaches over to Dr. Faith, lovingly pats him on his knee and says, “Yes, doctor, I know this, but every morning I get up very early, grind up one of the pills and mix it in the glass of orange juice that my 16-year-old granddaughter Suzy drinks when she awakes.

Believe me doctor, this helps me sleep at night.”

Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com

YIDDISH WORD OF THE WEEK Keppe

‫קאּפ‬ ָ Head (e.g. I needed that like a loch in keppe, hole in my head; German "Kopf", coll. "Kopp": "head"; German "Loch": "hole")

BRAIN FOOD

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24. Ironman Ripken 28. "As directed" starter 29. Coll. dorm overseers 32. Had something 33. Feathered farm resident 34. Snow or snap 36. One who might have recently made a name change 37. "At once!"

38. Winter hrs. in N.J. 39. Satirize 40. It's burned for its smell 41. Dessert mentioned in "The Godfather" 44. Rabbinic title. for short 45. Gold winner Raisman 46. Insurance plan, for short 48. Mich. neighbor 49. Lullaby composer Johannes 50. Controversial director Riefenstahl 53. Sign up for classes 54. Device with an HDMI input, these days 55. Bread boiled and baked 57. "Mission Impossible" composer Schifrin 58. Ramada, Sheraton and Holiday 61. Pebble Beach peg 62. Praiseful poem 63. "WSJ" rival

lunch 51. Suburban tree 1. Some years there are two 52. Mets All-Star Jeff 6. They may not see live sports too 54. Quattro predecessor soon 55. USY alternative 10. Thomas Hardy's "___ of the 56. Narcissistic state?

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22. Jewish orgs. with gyms DOWN 25. "The" to Jean-Luc 26. Lake locale of the Miracle on 1. Org. that's a cousin of the UJA 2. Singer Lipa Ice 3. Org. that's a cousin of the UJA...

27. "Got it!" and the ACLU 28. Letters on ships 4. Carriage driver's controls 29. Skywalker that's really a 5. Umpire's call Palpatine 6. " ___ a jolly good....

30. She, in Lisbon 7. Kournikova and Karenina 31. Black tie events, perhaps 8. "New Soul" singer Yael 33. Sinai, for one 9. Some red fish 34. Snake, to a mongoose 10. ___ B'Av 35. Miraculous state?

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Shavuot. The evening included traditional worship, dinner, study and discussion. Speakers included Dr. Stephen Koplan, Joe Accortt and Morris Abrams, who read and discussed poetry based on his Holocaust experiences. ì Because of efforts of The Epstein School third graders, a quilt to hang in the school included a patch signed by President Bill Clinton. As part of a literature and geography lesson, the students wrote to governors from every state asking them to sign a piece of felt for the quilt. Even President Clinton lent his signature to the project.

Remember When 15 Years Ago // May 27, 2005 ì Ted and Leslie Moradi announced the birth of their daughter, Ava Gabrielle, Feb. 25, 2005. Her brother Jacob was 2 years old. Ava is the granddaughter of Nelson and Linda Gold of Atlanta, Mahin Moradi of Dunwoody, and the late Mashallah Moradi. Ava’s naming ceremony was planned for the summer, and she was given the Hebrew name Feya in memory of her greatgrandmother, Frances Kaplan. ì Greenfield Hebrew Academy eighth-grader Maxwell Hellman took second place in the statewide Georgia Science and Engineering Fair when he wasn’t even in the country. Hellman was in Israel on a family trip, so he juggled six phone interviews with judges from the airport. Upon his return, he found out he’d taken second place in the microbiology division for his project on bacteria and toilets.

3

50 Years Ago// May 29, 1970 ì The award-winning Israeli film “Mazor” was entered into the 1970 Atlanta International Film Festival and was the highlight of the special showing at Memorial Arts Center [now The Woodruff Arts Center]. The film had not yet been released for public viewing either in Israel or the United States and was the principal attraction at the “Israel Night” scheduled in Symphony Hall during the film festival. ì Helen Wise, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Wise of Atlanta, married Michael J. Arnoldi May 26 at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Rabbi Harry H. Epstein and Cantor Isaac Goodfriend officiated. A dinner at the synagogue followed the ceremony. ì

President Bill Clinton was among politicians who answered a request by students to sign a patch for The Epstein School’s quilt.

25 Years Ago // May 26,1995 ì Congregation Anshe S’fard held a mishmor leil Shavuot, a study session prior to

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 63

NEW MOON MEDITATIONS Sivan: Refining Our Partnership With Hashem Rosh Chodesh Sivan began Sunday, May 24. Our task from the second night of Passover through the 49 days of counting the Omer is to purify our Dr. Terry Segal souls. We set New Moon Meditations the intention to refine our partnership with Hashem and, on the eve of Shavuot, Thursday, May 28, aspire to arrive elevated, worthy of receiving the Torah.

Just like the layers of a cheesecake eaten on Shavuot, there are layers in the Universe. There’s the sweet G-dly energy on top, the mundane thickest part in the middle, and the crusty, dark layer on the bottom. During Sivan we strive to become aware of what drags us into the lower realm, what raises the energy of our middle ground, and what actions we can take to pull G-d’s light, wisdom and love down into our everyday existence.

64 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

We get trapped in the lower levels when we forget to reach out to Hashem.

As we’ve been “Zooming” through life, short-circuited from adjusting to so many changes, it’s important to remember that we’re not alone and always in partnership with G-d. It’s up to us to invite goodness into our lives by performing acts of lovingkindness, especially when it isn’t easy.

In the story of the Book of Ruth, steadfast love and loyalty were exemplified in the relationship between Naomi and her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth. Regardless of their suffering, they remained true to their innate G-dliness and were rewarded with chesed, or loving-kindness, bestowed upon them by Hashem.

As a marriage and family therapist, I can tell you that the best partnerships are built on a foundation of trust, respect and communication that tackles the issues rather than each other. The best is actualized in each partner and there’s mindfulness in keeping the connection alive.

In assessing our partnership with G-d, we can focus on how we’re trusting and trustworthy, respectful, communicative and present. Have we prayed to G-d

or communicated our challenges during this pandemic? If we’re feeling lost, have we realigned ourselves through the list of middot, or Divine attributes? We each have a responsibility to become the best version of ourselves.

Sivan is the Zodiac month of Gemini, the warring twins. It highlights the struggle within us between the yezter hara of evil inclination and the yetzer tov, of goodness. The Hebrew letter is zayin, the crown.

The month is ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication. The tribe of Zebulun moved up and down through the layers by vacillating between valuing spiritual quests and acquiring material possessions.

The sense is walking and the controlling limb, the left foot, or physical side. On our pilgrimage forward, we’ll need to include the right foot, our spiritual side, in order to walk in balance.

There are many parallels of the journey our ancestors took to the one we’re on today. For decades, our society has enslaved itself to material possessions, putting work ahead of spiritual study, resulting in time away from self, family and community.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we’ve

been moving through the narrow straits, adjusting to our “new normal.” Our ancestors were charged with the same task. We have the opportunity to journey toward a promised land, but we must create it.

We know we’re showing up with clean hands. Can we also show up with full, open hearts? It’s our job to keep the earpiece to Hashem charged so communication flows in both directions. Especially in this busy time, let’s fine-tune our connection bringing G-dliness to our everyday tasks. There’s holiness in preparing meals, mopping the floor, reading to a child, and brushing our teeth.

Polishing our souls returns us to a state of purity. When we’re in touch with what matters, life becomes simpler. Kabbalists believe that there’s a present creation of the world. It’s not something that happened long ago. Each day, we have the opportunity to create the world anew.

Meditation Focus: Ask yourself, “What kind of world do I want to co-create with G-d? What can I bring to the partnership? Can I see G-d in all people and situations and trust that there’s a greater purpose to our challenges? ì

Is your pet the next cover star of AJT’s 2020 Pet Issue?

Submit your pet’s photo & a brief description to WIN* To enter, please visit www.atlantajewishtimes.com/jewish-atlanta-pets Nominations due June 3 by 5 PM

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 65

OBITUARIES

Sidney Buda

Steven Low

Sidney Buda, 88, of Alpharetta, died March 22. Sidney was born in London March 5, 1932, to Isaac and Fanny Buda. At the age of 15 his mother sent him to New York City to live so he could have a better future, as Europe was in such turmoil after the war.

It was in Atlantic City, N.J., that Sidney met the love of his life, Sheila, to whom he was married for 59 years. Sidney attended art school and eventually started his own business designing labels for food companies. Two of his most well-known designs were the genie on the Joyva halvah bar and the wrapper for the Wonder Bread company.

Sidney and Sheila moved to Alpharetta in 2010 to be closer to their son and his family. Sidney enjoyed having the time to paint, which was one of his passions. His favorite subjects were ships and seashores.

Sidney was predeceased by his wife Sheila. He is survived by his loving son Ian, daughter-in-law Bari, and grandson Alex.

Steven Low, 82, passed away May 17 after a long illness, unrelated to COVID-19. He was a loving dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Esther for almost 45 years. He lived an inspiring life. He was born in Berlin, Germany, and escaped Nazi Germany with his parents at age 2 to live in Shanghai, China, which was the only place accepting Jews at the time. After seven years of living in Shanghai, he and his parents immigrated to the United States to live in New York City.

Steve developed his passion of engineering while attending the City College of New York.

After graduating college, he took a job working at NASA in Washington, D.C. He worked on five Apollo space missions, including Apollo 11. After leaving NASA, he took a position as an electrical engineer working for the Federal Aviation Administration. He worked in Puerto Rico for the FAA for seven years, then moved to Atlanta for another job with the FAA. After he retired from the FAA, he found a new passion in teaching and taught electrical engineering at the collegiate level for many years.

Steve’s father Walter played piano as an entertainer on the ship to Shanghai, China.

(Prior to that he worked in a factory Germany.) Because Walter could play piano, the family had better living quarters on the ship. Steve learned to play piano from his dad at a young age and played his entire life. He loved classical and opera music and was an accomplished pianist. He also loved traveling, cruising, skiing and stamp collecting.

Over the years, Steve spoke about his Holocaust experience at the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

He is survived by his wife Esther; sons, Jonathan (Heather) and Elliot (Mallory); and granddaughters Florie, Finley and Teagan. He was a wonderful and caring person who will be sorely missed by family & friends. May his memory be for a blessing to you all. Funeral services were private in-person for family only due to COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum. Arrangements

by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. ì

88, Alpharetta

Robert L. “Bob” Gerson 92, Atlanta

Robert L. “Bob” Gerson, 92, of Atlanta, died May 20, 2020. Robert was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. At the age of 13, he moved to Atlanta with his family and served in the U.S. Air Force. He attended Boys High School and continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and then worked for WSB radio, WSB-TV, and the Atlanta Paper Company.

He went into the family business, Robley Hats, operating four stores including one at Lenox Mall. Robert was preceded in death in 2019 by his wife, Micheline Gerson, and his parents Saul and Mildred Gerson. He is survived by his daughter Cristina Cooper; step-daughter, Judith Hathaway; step-daughter-in-law, Corinne Kalker; sister, Betsy Kaplan; grandchildren Adam and Aaron Cooper; step-grandchildren, Rachel (Chris) Pourchier, Samuel, Nicholas, and Jeremy Hathaway, Alexander, Denali and Sean Kalker; stepgreat-grandchildren, Crew and Hawk Pourchier; and his caregivers Jan Champion, Annette Lewis, Cortes Moss and Kathy Williams. Special Thanks to Dr. Annie Cooper and Waters Pavilion for their many years of service, as well as, Nicole Hawkins, and, Alan, Iris, and Steven Lubel (special friends).

A funeral service was held graveside at Arlington Memorial Park May 24 with Rabbi Sam Kaye of The Temple officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

82, Atlanta

Jerry Kaufman 70, Atlanta

Jerry Kaufman, 70, passed away peacefully surrounded by family May 16, 2020. He was born in New York to Max and Dorothy Kaufman. They moved to South Carolina five years later. He lived his adult life in Atlanta.

He was a wholesale sales rep in ladies clothing for many years, traveling the Southeast. After his daughters were born, he wanted to stay closer to home, so he opened up Icy’s Cheesecake, a wholesale cheesecake company selling cake nationally. To this day he was still known as “Mr. Cheesecake.”

There was nothing that Jerry loved more or made him prouder than his family, always eager to share pictures and stories with anyone who would listen. If you ever needed a deal, he had the connections to make it happen. The ultimate character, friend to many, and a heart of gold, that was Jerry. He was there for his friends and family always willing to help without hesitation, truly loyal in every sense of the word.

He is survived by his wife Marcy; daughters Shaina Kaufman and Melanie Benator; son-in-law Keith Benator; and “the apples of his eyes,” granddaughters Jordan and Layla Benator. May he rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Beth Tikvah, National Kidney Foundation and JNF. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

66 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MAY 31, 2020 | 67

CLOSING THOUGHTS Spirituality for Real, Real Life

RABBI RUTH

The other day, I was working on my computer when a Facebook live post of someone singing one of my favorite spiritual poems, the piyut “Ana Bekoach,”

popped up.

I love this poem, so I stopped what I was doing to watch.

The music was lovely but the quality was less than perfect. About a minute in, a half-dressed child wandered in front of his father and lingered, giving us a view of his belly. The music continued and the dog came by. Then without warning, something happened to the camera, which prompted the singer to get up and check if he was still recording, which we reported back that he was. And so it continued.

Spirituality is a big word. So is meditation.

For me, they evoke visions of mountain tops or waves quietly lapping at the shore.

68 | MAY 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

This was not that.

I first learned to meditate through a rabbinic program that had multiple retreats spread out over two years. The first two retreats had been almost entirely silent. Other than Torah study and lectures, we did not even hear cars or maintenance workers. I grew to love this silence. Then on the third retreat when we were sitting in meditation, I heard a truck rumble along the main road of the center. Moments later lawnmowers began to buzz and people began to talk as they worked.

I beckoned to the teacher and asked her to please remove these intrusions on my silence. When she simply smiled and walked away, I was truly perplexed.

If you are lucky to be able to sit in peace on a mountain top or retreat in silence for day after day, then undoubtedly the quality of your meditation will be deep and you will have spiritual revelations.

But that is rarely the way life works.

In normal times, I would have rolled my eyes at the “Ana Bekoach” video. I would have wondered why the artist had not taken care to clear out the distractions, just as I was expecting my meditations teacher to

do.

But this odd time has broadened my understanding. Instead of turning away from the video, I embraced its slightly chaotic nature. Like my meditation teacher, I now too smiled at the distractions.

Spirituality may come at those pure moments of peaceful reflection and meditation, but if those are the mandatory prerequisites, that form of connection may elude us more often than not. Yes, it is important to set aside time for clear and uninterrupted thought and connection, but there is also great possibility for spirituality in the mess of daily life with all its imperfections.

Years ago, I had the privilege of sitting in a seminar with a well-known Israeli rabbi. In the middle of the lecture the phone rang and he answered it. He carried on a brief conversation with his wife about diapers for his granddaughter then reminded her that he was teaching and returned to teaching. I remember being offended by the interruption. It seemed disrespectful, at least by my American standards, to take a call, especially for something so trivial, in the middle of a class.

As we have sheltered in place I have watched many accomplished people navigate, with varying degrees of grace, the myriad interruptions that come from working and living together in our homes. Through this, I have come to see that seminar with the well-known Israeli rabbi in a new light, one that had been there all along but would take a global pandemic for me to see.

Far from being disrespectful to us, taking this call was instructive. Far too often the world of ideas and spirituality are presented or perceived as separate from the complications of daily life, from the mundane and the banal. But they are all part of the same whole.

From time to time, we may try and “get away from it all” and find the peace I found at the first two retreats I attended. But in taking the phone call about the diapers in the middle of a class on the book of Genesis, the rabbi was reminding us that in Judaism the spirit does not live apart from the daily life but within it. In real life, in the life expected for us by Jewish tradition, the goal is not perfect peace, but a spirituality that lives in the realities of our messy, complicated lives. ì

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Stella Tarica Gordon Tarica Tutoring Stellagordon835@gmail.com 678-592-3155 call or text • Writing and reading comprehension • Certified in 5-12 grade English curriculum • ACT and SAT prep • College bound and grad school essays • Georgia Milestone preparation 5-8

Serving students since 1986

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TWO BEAUTIFUL HOMES IN ONE!!

4 Bedrooms/3.5 Totally Renovated Baths “KNOCK OUT” 1,OOO Sq.Ft. Terrace Level IN-LAW SUITE/APARTMENT Featuring Fully Equipt Kitchen & Private Interior & Exterior Entrances.

Yosef Emanuel Garcia Yosefemanuel87@gmail.com

View Photo Montage at www.tinyurl.com/2615LakeFlairCircle

Our Services: Paint - Deck Repair - Backsplash - Tile Repair & Installation Kitchen & Bathroom Improvements - Renovations - Home Repair Services

Tom Sands 404-626-6579 Realty Professionals 770-491-1494

MARKETPLACE Development Corp. for Israel | 404-817-3500 Eleventh Series Jubilee Bonds 2.43% Eleventh Series Maccabee Bonds 2.28% Eighth Series Mazel Tov Bonds 1.83% Eighth Series eMitzvah Bonds 1.83%

KEEPING THE JEWISH SOUTHEAST CONNECTED

CAREGIVER

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: VISIT OUR WEBSITE

w w w. At l a n ta J e w i s hTi m e s .c o m

Professional, loving, experienced caregiver with great references!

Experience working with Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s patients, etc.

Please call – 404-431-2616

F O R M O R E O F W H AT YO U N E E D

You spoke. We listened.

Check out your new Atlanta Jewish Times.

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STANLEY PAVING

Asphalt Paving, Patching & Seal Coating

Specializing in driveways & small parking lots Family Owned & Operated since 1969

CALL NOW FOR 10% OFF SPECIAL 770.962.7125 770.480.1698 cell

404-883-2130

DESSERTS

CARS

MEDICARE

Everyone Knows Someone Who Loves Their SUBARU

Representing most major providers: Winner of Salesman of the Year Award for 3 consecutive years

Ralph Kurland Sales Representative 905 Ernest Barrett Pkwy, NW Kennesaw, GA 30144

cell: 678-665-1024 dealership: 770-419-9800 ext. 312 rkurland@subaruofkennesaw.com www.subaruofkennesaw.com

Call me to test drive any of our new or used cars!

MEDICAR

& YOU

E

Contact Bob Smith at

404-593-9663

Medicare Advantage, MedSupps, Prescription Drug Coverage

Bob.Smith4HEALTH@gmail.com

NO FEE or obligation to review your Health & Life Insurance options

Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Dental & Vision Final Expense Life Insurance From Obamacare to Trumpcare to BobcaresSM