Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCII No. 46, November 24, 2017 by Atlanta Jewish Times

VOL. XCII NO. 46 WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM

NOVEMBER 24, 2017 | 6 KISLEV 5778

Biggest Book Fest Event Canceled The national wave of sexual misconduct and harassment accusations cost the Marcus JCC its biggest Book Festival event ever when a Los Angeles radio host accused Sen. Al Franken of improprieties during a USO tour in 2006. Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, was a radio talk-show host and comic two years from his first political campaign when he forcibly kissed and groped Leeann Tweeden, she said Thursday, Nov. 16. She released a photo that appears to show Franken fondling her in her sleep. Franken acknowledged improper actions and apologized to Tweeden. Within hours of the news breaking, he canceled his appearance at the JCC for the Book Festival’s closing night Monday, Nov. 20. That talk, in support of Franken’s “Giant of the Senate,” sold out more than a month in advance. Over 1,400 people were expected to attend, making it the Book Festival’s biggest event. The JCC has not said how or whether ticketholders will be compensated. On the day Franken had been scheduled to appear at the JCC, a second woman, Lindsay Menz of Texas, accused him of grabbing her buttocks at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010. ■

Judy Marx, the ICI executive director, welcomes attendees to the luncheon.

Photos by David R. Cohen

Temple Sinai Senior Rabbi Ron Segal joins the Rev. Gerald Durley (left) and Imam Plemon El-Amin (right) for closing prayers at the Interfaith Community Initiatives luncheon Nov. 15.

William Nordmark (left) talks about what led him to start the Atlanta Friendship Initiative with fellow businessman John Grant.

Uncommon Friends, Common Ground By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com Businessman William Nordmark was upset last year about nationwide tensions between police and AfricanAmericans. “There were police officers who were called into parking lots and gunned down,” he told the more than 300 attendees at the second annual Interfaith Community Initiatives Friendship Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 15. “There were unarmed African-Americans being shot and killed while running away.” He came up with the idea of getting people of different colors together to have “deep, intentional friendships.” Nordmark’s first such friendship

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was with John Grant, the executive director of the ESPN Celebration Bowl. The two men have grown Nordmark’s idea into the Atlanta Friendship Initiative, a project that facilitates friendships between people of different backgrounds. Since the initiative officially launched in October 2016, Nordmark and Grant have connected 138 pairings. Each pair agrees to meet once per quarter for breakfast, lunch or dinner and once per year with their families. “We are all from the same Creator,” Grant told the crowd. “If any one of you was cut, would you bleed any color but red? We are all the same under our skin. Change does not happen by a desire to understand others; it is a reflection of

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your understanding of you.” Nordmark said he and Grant have spoken to leaders as far away as South Africa interested in participating in the project. The ICI luncheon at the Carlos Center Ballroom on the campus of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation included many representatives from the Atlanta Jewish community, such as Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Ron Segal of Temple Sinai, Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser from the Center for Israel Education, American Jewish Committee Atlanta Regional Director Dov Wilker and ICI Executive Director Judy Marx. The event exceeded its $50,000 fund raising goal. ■

GA. BDS DISPUTE

The two leading Democratic candidates for governor, Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans, split on anti-BDS legislation the state enacted in 2016. Now Abrams is being forced to defend her “no” vote. Pages 12-14

NOVEMBER 24 â&#x2013;ª 2017

MA TOVU

Voiding 30 Years of Trust manage to do everything. You have so much on your plate (I have several children with severe challenges) and cope so beautifully. I really admire you.” Although my physique may be shrinking, I always leave her office feeling a few inches taller. But Dr. Shot’s office is a schlep, and she seems to be on the verge of

Shared Spirit Moderated By Rachel Stein rachels83@gmail.com

retirement. She recently decreased her hours. As a side point, she is a gentile. So I waver, wondering where my obligation lies. Do I worry that leaving her will constitute a chillul Hashem (desecration of G-d’s name), causing her to think badly of Jews and their lack of commitment? Do I have an obligation to support a fellow Jew as she tries to build her practice? If I left Dr. Shot, I would try to cushion the process with the utmost kindness. In a heartfelt letter, I would express my deep appreciation for her years of devotion and quality care, explaining that I am switching only because a new doctor has moved into the neighborhood and offers hours that conform better to my work schedule. Surely such a humane, sensitive individual would understand and not feel pained by my decision, right? Honest communication is so important in relationships. After I’ve done my best to smooth her ruffled feathers, perhaps I am allowed, even entitled, to choose the option that works best for my lifestyle. Dr. Shot’s reaction is her choice and her problem. Well, isn’t it? Tried and true vs. new and convenient — not an easy choice. Maybe I can ask Dr. Pain for a free consultation, just to get an idea of her bedside manner. A sensitive soul, I appreciate a doctor who speaks to me and not her computer, who is willing to give me more than two minutes of her precious time without one foot slipping through the door. Perhaps this model is outdated. But what if it’s not and Laura’s words are corroborated? If this were your choice, who would get your vote? Respond to rachels83@gmail.com by Monday, Nov. 27, to have your suggestions printed in the next column. ■

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Loyalty is a highly prized commodity for me. I am proud to be a steadfast friend and cherish my old, nothing-like-’em relationships from way back when. My faded, worn house, scenic neighborhood and familiar stores are like stretchy, comfortable shoes that magically slip on and conform to my feet, and I have no wish for “out with the old and in with the new.” When my dry cleaner of 20 years closed, I slid into a semidepression. “Mrs. Green,” the owner would greet me with a wide smile, “how are you? The family? What are y’all doing for the holidays?” My loyal patronage was rewarded with congenial familiarity, and I lapped it up — until he closed up shop. Not long afterward, the neighborhood TCBY went out of business, leaving me blinking back tears. Losing two of my regular haunts in one month was a little much to take. For an even clearer picture of my trademark loyalty, hold on to your seats: I am fully committed to sticking with a cellphone that is already (gasp!) several years old. I have no interest in upgrading even though new models arise faster than I can say “iPhone.” In the same vein, I have been under the care of the same primary care physician for three decades. Dr. Shot (all names have been changed) is warm, caring, friendly and an excellent practitioner. Located slightly off the beaten path, she is worth every minute of the scenic drive. I was coasting along peacefully, satisfied with my routine, when waves of change rocked my boat. “You’ve got to try Dr. Pain!” said my best friend, Laura. “She’s amazing and is a two-minute drive away. She’s up on the latest medical information, has the perfect balance of warmth and professionalism — you’ll love her. And she’s also Jewish. We really have an obligation to help one of our own, don’t you agree?” Well, maybe, I guess. From then on, everywhere I turned, her name cropped up. So I am feeling torn. I adore Dr. Shot. She has seen me through life experiences and has watched me grow from a young mother into a grandmother. “You’re the best,” she never fails to tell me, treating me to a warm smile that beams from her silvery, bespectacled eyes. “I don’t know how you

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CALENDAR THROUGH DEC. 31

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DAVID R. COHEN

JELF exhibit. The Jewish Educational Loan Fund’s history is featured in “The Legacy of the Hebrew Orphans’ Home” at the Breman, 1440 Spring St., Midtown. Admission is $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and educators, and $4 for children 3 to 6; thebreman. org or 678-222-3700.

MONDAY, NOV. 27

Infertility support. A Jewish Fertility Foundation support group meets at 7 p.m. at the foundation office, 60 Lenox Point, Buckhead. Free; rsvp@jewishfertilityfoundation.org or 770-843-7413.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29

Cookbook talk. Food writer Deb Perelman talks about “Smitten Kitchen Every Day” at 8 p.m. at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta. Free; www.acappellabooks.com.

david@atljewishtimes.com Staff Writer

SARAH MOOSAZADEH sarah@atljewishtimes.com

Contributors This Week STACEY ABRAMS STEVE BERMAN YONI GLATT JORDAN GORFINKEL LEAH R. HARRISON MARCIA CALLER JAFFE HAROLD KIRTZ RABBI BRADLEY LEVENBERG MARIANA MONTIEL DAVE SCHECHTER TERRY SEGAL KEN STEIN RACHEL STEIN DUANE STORK

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POSTMASTER send address changes to The Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2017 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

THURSDAY, NOV. 30

European conversations. Shelley Buxbaum, former director of the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning, speaks about 19th century European salons to the Edgewise group of the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, at 10:30 a.m. Free for members, $5 for others; www.atlantajcc.org/ knowledgewise or 678-812-4070. Women’s discussion. NCJW Atlanta, 6303 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, hosts Frankly Speaking with Sherry Frank, a brown-bag luncheon discussion of current events through a Jewish lens, at noon. Free; RSVP by Nov. 29 to christineh@ncjwatlanta.org.

FRIDAY, DEC. 1

Scholar in residence. A wine and cheese reception at 5:45 p.m. kicks off a weekend of events with Rabbi Rachel Adler of Hebrew Union College at Congregation Or Hadash, 7460 Trowbridge Road, Sandy Springs, including a talk

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Vayetze Friday, Nov. 24, light candles at 5:12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, Shabbat ends at 6:09 p.m. Vayishlach Friday, Dec. 1, light candles at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, Shabbat ends at 6:09 p.m.

Corrections & Clarifications

The daughter of Michael Jacobson, the new co-president of Jewish National Fund in the Atlanta Region, attends the University of Georgia. The wrong university was listed in an article Nov. 17. on sex and gender at 7:45 p.m. (after the Friday service), a talk on ritual and metaphors at 12:30 p.m. Saturday (after the morning service and Kiddush), and a talk over brunch about making points with stories at 10 a.m. Sunday. Free; RSVP at www.or-hadash.org/ form/SIR-December-2017. Interfaith artists in residence. Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs plays host to Jewish American composer Michael Ochs and Palestinian songwriter Alaa Alshaham for Shabbat, including a sermon in song Friday at 6:30 p.m. and a concert, conversation and dessert reception Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP at www. templesinaiatlanta.org.

SUNDAY, DEC. 3

Springs St., Midtown. Free for society members, while nonmembers pay museum admission; www.jgsg.org

MONDAY, DEC. 4

Aliyah information. Nefesh B’Nefesh holds an information fair from 5 to 9 p.m. at Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road. Free; www.nbn.org.il.

THURSDAY, DEC. 7

On the grid. Former FBI agent J. Britt Johnson, now with the Southern Co., discusses protecting the electric grid with the Edgewise group of the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, at 10:30 a.m. Free for members, $5 for others; www.atlantajcc.org/knowledgewise or 678-812-4070.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

Chanukah workshop. Chabad Intown helps children build menorahs while celebrating with latkes, doughnuts and music at Home Depot, 650 Ponce de Leon Ave., Midtown, with sessions at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Free; register at www.chabadintown.org to get a gift.

Cholent cook-off. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, is accepting entrants for its cook-off, with preparation Thursday, Dec. 7, and tasting and voting today at Kiddush after morning services. Free; linda@bshalom.net to enter.

Genealogy in Belarus. Gary Palgon speaks to the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia about his research into the town of Lyakhovichi and how his techniques can be applied elsewhere at 2 p.m. at the Breman Museum, 1440

SUNDAY, DEC. 10

Chanukah bazaar. The 42nd annual Chanukah bazaar at Congregation Or VeShalom, 1681 N. Druid Hills Road, Brookhaven, runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3; orveshalom.org.

Send items for the calendar to submissions@atljewishtimes.com. Find more events at atlantajewishtimes.com/events-calendar.

Remember When

10 Years Ago Nov. 23, 2007 ■ Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta representatives came home from the United Jewish Communities General Assembly in Nashville, Tenn., energized and convinced that “what we have done in the past is not going to work for the future,” said Vincent Donroe-Wells, the new chief marketing officer for Federation. CEO Steve Rakitt is pleased with a plan to connect with people on Facebook and MySpace. ■ Greg and Deborah Golden of Atlanta announce the birth of a son, Ryan Eric, on April 18, 2007. 25 Years Ago Nov. 20, 1992 ■ The General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federa-

tions’ theme from Nov. 10 to 15 was Jewish identity and continuity, in response to a 1990 population study that charted a steady increase of assimilation and intermarriage. 50 Years Ago Nov. 24, 1967 ■ Atlanta’s Jewish congregations — all six — are extending full cooperation to the campaign to provide new facilities for residents of the Jewish Home. Plans call for Ahavath Achim, Beth Jacob, Shearith Israel and The Temple to hold simultaneous fundraisers Dec. 5. Anshi S’fard, with limited space, will join the Beth Jacob function, and Or VeShalom, because of special circumstances, will hold its event Dec. 10. ■ Dr. and Mrs. William E. Schatten of Atlanta invite their relatives and friends to the bar mitzvah of their son Gregory Mark at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue.

SYNAGOGUES

Thanksgiving Sets Jewish Mission for U.S. inhabitants thereof.” For me, a teacher of Jewish tradition, this means that America has a responsibility toward social justice. And I believe that this responsibility,

From the ARA By Rabbi Bradley Levenberg

shared with the Jewish concept of tikkun olam (repair of the world) and the command “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof” (justice, justice shall you pursue), makes Thanksgiving a Jewish holiday. We rejoice for the abundance of this great land, but we must also hear the divine summons to take responsibility. That is what America, at its best, is all about: a place to heal and repair a damaged world. Thanksgiving is a summons to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and house the homeless. We are meant to be a beacon of justice and freedom, not a second place of failed hopes and stifled dreams. That was the Old World. We are in the new. As we observe Thanksgiving, may our hearts pound joyously with the images and ideals bequeathed by pilgrims’ pride and biblical literalism. May we live up to the ideals from which we were born. And may our example be one of kindness, generosity and hope. ■ Rabbi Bradley Levenberg is the associate rabbi at Temple Sinai.

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I truly enjoy Thanksgiving. It is so American and so Jewish at the same time. The turkey, the pumpkin pie and the American spirit of self-reliance dressed in pilgrim costumes are all red-white-and-blue images. But the idea of leaving the land of one’s ancestors and going to a new land, bolstered by an irreplaceable optimism about the human potential to build a new and better world, is straight from the Torah. Read about Noah, the patriarchs, Moses and the prophets. Each experienced a summons to build a new and better world. Noah responded to the imperative command “Get yourself out of the ark.” Abraham responded to the imperative command “Get yourself out of the country and from your father’s house.” Every one of the biblical figures responded to a divine imperative to labor for a new and better world. They were the heroes and repairers of a damaged human drama. They dreamed of ladders to heaven, with each rung a step forward on behalf of equity, freedom and human dignity. No less the stalwart pioneers came to view this shore for precisely the same purpose. The Old World of strife and bigotry, of failed hopes and stifled dreams, was abandoned. Families uprooted themselves to grasp for a different destiny. They came to America because they believed in the capacity of human intelligence and imagination to illumine life with Israel’s ancient promise: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all

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ISRAEL NEWS

Photos by Marcia Caller Jaffe Hilbert Margol (left) and Ed Goldberg (right) support Brad Young, the Israel Bonds executive director in Atlanta, who proclaimed this a record year for Southeastern bond sales.

Kim Kopelman, the honoree’s wife, poses with Ilene Albert and Stephanie Schwartz.

(From left) Rabbi David Kapenstein, Daniel Wildstein and Barry Frankel say it’s a double mitzvah to buy bonds and give them as gifts.

Gavin Cobb, who presented the Star of David Award to Richard Kopelman, is joined by (from left) Melinda Cobb, Keri Greenwald and Marni Ratner.

Kopelman, Record Sales Celebrated at Bonds Gala

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The Atlanta Israel Bonds gala filled the Hotel InterContinental ballroom Thursday, Nov. 9, to honor Richard Kopelman, the CEO and managing partner of Aprio. That meant the room was filled with more accountants than seeds on an everything bagel. Andrew Haber, an Aprio assurance associate, said he admires Kopelman for being innovative and an industry leader. Barry Frankel, Aprio partner emeritus, said he recently finished reading the book “The Prime

Ministers,” which brought him even closer to his own passion for Israel. “I have been buying bonds for 40 years because it’s a great investment

Jaffe’s Jewish Jive By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com

with a such a good yield,” Ed Goldberg said during the cocktail hour. Millennial Mitchell Alterman

said: “This is my first Israel Bonds event. I would say that I inherited from my family a knowledge and love of Israel and its people.” Rabbi David Kapenstein from Kollel Ner Hamizrach said: “We’ve come a long way from associating an Israel Bond drive with Yom Kippur. Bonds are such a wonderful investment; they stand alone.” Marni Ratner joked, “I have known Richard for 25 years. I even kept an eye on him for his wife, Kim, while they were in different cities. They are wonderful people.” During the buffet dinner, the program rolled along. Young Micah Kopelman, son of the honoree, started things off by saying, “I hope you make my dad happy tonight by honoring Israel.” Rabbi Joshua Heller, Kopelman’s rabbi at Congregation B’nai Torah, reflected that the gala fell on the 79th anniversary of Kristallnacht, “except in this case we are rebuilding and celebrating.” Bradley Young, the Atlanta executive director of Israel Bonds, said that more than $70 million in bonds have been sold in the Southeast for a record year. “Even Warren Buffett has confidence in Israel Bonds with our impeccable repayment record,” he

said. Buffett hosted bonds events in New York in June that produced $150 million in sales. Rabbi Daniel Gordis, the senior vice president of Shalem College in Jerusalem and the author of “Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn,” was the keynote speaker. The founding dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies said Israel has “experienced lightning-fast success — zero to 60 in 20 years, empty to bustling. We cannot lose focus because of the quick success we’ve had so far. Israel Bonds was one of the earliest tools we had. Israel is an expensive place to build a country. Israel is not about a symphony or an army. It is about a change in the existential situation of the Jewish people. In 1945 we were powerless. Now we are not so worried. With history and turbulence comes responsibility.” Kopelman graciously accepted the Star of David Award. “Supporting Israel through bonds is in my memory as a family affair for many reasons,” he said. “Great fun on trips to Israel meeting prestigious folks like movie stars and generals. It’s a great business investment, and it provides security for Jews globally because we must be a people with a homeland.” And this we are. ■

Aprio’s Andrew Haber (left) chats with Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul, who was re-elected unopposed two days before the bonds dinner.

ISRAEL NEWS

The stockade wall is erected at Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin on Nov. 25, 1938.

Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details. Nov. 24, 1938: In the middle of the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt, a debate over British policy in Mandatory Palestine is held in the House of Commons. Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald says to applause that Palestine cannot settle most of the refugees seeking to escape the Nazis after Kristallnacht. Nov. 25, 1938: Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin is established under the framework of the “tower and stockade” movement, which takes place primarily between 1936 and 1939. That movement establishes Jewish settlements in strategic locations in defiance of British restrictions by taking advantage of a still-enforced Ottoman law that bans the demolition of an illegal building once its roof has been completed. Using prefab elements, Zionists raise the first building in one day. Nov. 26, 1949: Israeli folk-rock singer-songwriter and composer Shlomo Artzi is born on Moshav Alonei Abba, southeast of Haifa. Nov. 27, 1914: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee is founded with the merger of the Central Relief Committee and the American Jewish Relief Committee. Nov. 28, 1945: The Land Transfer Committee report reveals that Arabs in Palestine willingly continued to sell land to Zionists in the early 1940s despite a British prohibition. Nov. 29, 1947: The U.N. General Assembly passes Resolution 181 by a vote of 33-13 with 10 abstentions. The resolution recommends the creation of separate Arab and Jewish states in Palestine, linked by an economic union. Nov. 30, 1947: After the United Nations vote for the partition of Palestine on the previous day, violence ensues between Jews and Arabs in the British Mandate of Palestine. The first phase of Israel’s War of Independence begins.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Today in Israeli History

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ISRAEL NEWS

Jerusalem Visit Just 1 Example of Sadat’s Leadership Leadership is about knowing your objectives and implementing the tactics to get there. Leadership is also about choices and consequences. November 2017 marks the 40th anniversary of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem and his historic speech to the Knesset. Those were heady days. There was a genuine hope for a broad Middle East peace. The Jerusalem visit and speech were means to ends, not ends in themselves. Sadat saw negotiations as the means to regain Sinai from Israel. His long-term objective was to better the Egyptian economy and improve the lives of average Egyptians. He wanted to carve a noble place for himself ahead of his high-profile, charismatic predecessor, Gamel Abdul Nasser. Nasser was the pan-Arab leader who chose Arab socialism. He had closely aligned Egypt with Moscow and proclaimed the liberation of Palestine to be his central cause. In leading Egypt to a crushing defeat in the June 1967 war, Nasser lost the Sinai Peninsula and incurred a black mark on Egyptian national honor. Sadat negotiated with Israel because he needed to, not because he

had some hidden love for Zionism. Fortunately for Sadat, he had willing Israeli leaders in Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin and Moshe

Guest Column By Ken Stein

Dayan; they each sought creative ways to reach interim agreements and ultimately a peace treaty with Israel’s most dangerous existential threat. Sadat knew the key to Egypt’s future could be found in Washington as banker and mediator. He abruptly moved away from Moscow, distanced himself from his immovable Arab colleagues, and put Egyptian interests ahead of the Palestinian cause or the destruction of Israel. By embarking on the October 1973 war, Sadat had a narrowly defined purpose. The previous April, he had sent his national security adviser to meet with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and found the United States not interested in launching a negotiating initiative to have Sinai returned to Egyptian sovereignty. Sadat gambled by going to war,

but he created his own opening with the surprise attack. Through the CIA in the first week of the war, he reportedly told Kissinger of his interest in negotiations. This was reaffirmed by a member of Kissinger’s State Department, Joseph Sisco, who told me in a February 1992 interview that Sadat’s “decision to go to war was precisely to get what he wanted, a negotiation started with the Americans.” After the war, Sadat told his chief of staff, “Egypt was not making peace with Israel, but with the United States.” In Arabic, the Egyptian chief of staff told an Israeli counterpart at that time, “Halasna Filastin!” (We are finished with Palestine!) Between 1973 and his assassination in 1981, Sadat made other bold moves to keep negotiations moving forward, including his trip to Jerusalem. At his death, Sadat’s tally sheet showed he had successfully focused on Egypt first. Cairo had become Wash ington’s best Middle Eastern Arab friend, negotiated Israel’s withdrawal from Sinai, had Israeli settlements removed from Sinai, received large sums of American foreign aid, moved his economy toward capitalism and entered a long-term military supply relationship with Washington. The United States secured Egypt’s

switch, perhaps the most important victory for Washington over Moscow in the Cold War. For his decision to move Egypt dramatically in other directions, Sadat paid with his life. In the 1980s, Arabs boycotted and rebuked Egypt. PLO leader Abu Iyad said in January 1991, “The worst day in the life of every Palestinian was when Sadat went to Jerusalem as an Israeli flag flew over his head.” And yet by 1991 the PLO had embraced the possibility of reaching an agreement with Israel. November 2017 is also the 70th anniversary of the U.N. resolution that suggested the partition of Palestine into two states. One could ask how different the Middle East might have been if Arab states and the Palestinians had accepted the 1947 geopolitical realities of creating Jewish and Arab states alongside each other. Sadat proved that leadership is also about taking risks, being pragmatic, discarding crippling ideologies and looking over the horizon for the good of your people. ■ Ken Stein is the president of the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled. org), teaches at Emory University and is the author of “Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin and the Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace,” 1999.

Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home Turkey power. While turkeys at Thanksgiving are a centuries-old custom, a new study shows that turkey excrement may have a future as a fuel for heat and electricity. Treated excrement from turkeys, chickens and other poultry, when converted to combustible solid biomass fuel, could replace approximately 10 percent of the coal

used in electricity generation, reducing greenhouse gases and providing an alternative energy source, according to Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers. Fat-burning injection. Raziel Thera peutics of Jerusalem medical startup is developing an injection that melts fat

cells, with the potential to do a lot more than make you look better. Raziel’s drug removes fat cells and postpones the proliferation of new fat cells. Back after 20 years. Israeli fans were delighted by Aussie rocker Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ first Tel Aviv performance Sunday night, Nov. 19. Cave sold

out his two concerts at the Menora Mivtachim arena. He said he returned to Israel after 20 years to counter the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and make a statement for artistic freedom. Compiled courtesy of israel21c.org, timesofisrael.com and other sources.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

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NOVEMBER 24 â&#x2013;ª 2017

OPINION

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Free Avera

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Avera Mengistu is not a household name in Jewish Atlanta, but it’s time for that to change. His plight says a lot about Israel, the Diaspora and Hamas. Avera Mengistu, 31, is part of a family of 10 who made aliyah from Ethiopia in Operation Solomon in 1991. He was the playful rascal who brought light to the family home, befitting for someone whose first name means “light” in Amharic, one of his brothers, Ilan, told a gathering of the American Jewish Press Association in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 13. But that light had a dark side — mental illness — and Ilan Mengistu said that darkness began to dominate Avera after their oldest brother, Michael, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces’ Golani Brigade, became sick and died in 2012. Avera battled depression and rage and was in and out of institutions the next two years as his mental state deteriorated, his brother said. When he was home in Ashkelon, Avera had a habit of wandering off. On Sept. 7, 2014, he wandered all the way into the Gaza Strip, where he was taken hostage by Hamas. More than three years later, he’s still being held somewhere in Gaza. No Israelis and no nongovernmental agencies have seen Avera. No one knows how Hamas has cared for him. As Ilan noted, all those countries and international organizations that seem so concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza have remained silent. Avera’s case is a humanitarian situation, plain and simple. He never served in the IDF and never posed a threat to Hamas or any other Palestinians. It’s “cynical and cruel” that he has been kept from his home and his family, Ilan said. The irony is that the same reason Avera should be of no interest to Hamas is likely the reason his case has not created excitement in Israel: He’s not a soldier. He was not abducted like Gilad Shalit; he just wandered away. It’s time to bring Avera home. His family is pushing for an international advocacy campaign. That’s why Ilan and his mother, Agrenash, visited the AJPA and the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin mentioned Avera and his family when he addressed the General Assembly, and he met privately with the Mengistus. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, did the same a week later in New York. “The terrorists of Hamas have refused to even provide a sign of life to these suffering families,” Danon said. “All those who demand an end to the humanitarian plight for the residents of Gaza must also demand the immediate release of all Israelis held by Hamas.” Likewise, all those who campaigned for Shalit’s release, all those who were outraged when three Israeli youths were abducted and slain, sparking the 2014 Gaza war, just a few months before Avera was captured, should be just as angry and just as active now in lobbying elected officials for action. One of our people is being held hostage. It reflects how we Jews value human life if we organize to demand his release. It reflects how little Hamas cares 10 about humanity if it ignores those demands. ■

Cartoon by Yaakov Kirschen, Jerusalem Post

Coming Together at 30,000 Feet TV comedian/writer/actor Larry David fell flat we eventually made a special landing in Texas — El Nov. 4 on “Saturday Night Live” when he joked about Paso, not Lubbock. As the female flight attendant the difficulty of picking up women at concentration said several times, it was the same treatment any of camps. He was offensive without being funny. us would have gotten in the similar circumstances: David hits the right balance of offensiveness One person’s life was worth 175 people’s slight inconand humor on his own show, “Curb Your Enthusivenience. asm,” and the next night I was watching as Ed Begley As far as I could tell, no one complained about Jr. played a self-involved our hour-plus stopover physician seated next to at El Paso International David on a plane. Airport, where EMTs came Editor’s Notebook When a passenger aboard, checked out the ill By Michael Jacobs becomes ill, the call goes young man (he appeared to mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com out for a doctor. Begley’s be in his 20s) and wheeled character refuses to heed him away. the call, saying: “You ever The flight attendant been part of an emergency landing? Is that what you who had provided such crucial, calm assistance want, Larry, to spend the night in Lubbock, Texas, to the medical professionals then teared up as she at a Days Inn with a $15 voucher from Cinnabon? finally let the emotions of the possibly lifesaving Think about it.” situation overtake her. I thought about it three days later, Wednesday, I wish I could name her and the others on the Nov. 8, when a real call for medical help came over flight crew, as well as the passengers who heeded the the PA system 30 minutes into a flight to Los Angeles. call to provide medical care, but Southwest Airlines A doctor immediately raised his hand, and a played the corporate Grinch, refusing to provide any fascinating medical drama proceeded four rows information beyond a bland statement that did little ahead of me. For two hours, he chewed gum while more than confirm that it wasn’t all a dream. We did, providing care with just a stethoscope and decades in fact, make an unscheduled stop in El Paso for an of experience. A woman wearing a Michigan State undisclosed medical emergency. Medicine shirt eventually relieved him. No names, no details on the illness, no informaThe flight crew provided continual assistance. tion on his condition, no statistics on how often such One flight attendant donned a headset so she could emergency diversions occur, not even appreciation communicate directly with a medical consultant on for the way everyone responded. the ground. She reported the patient’s vital signs and To some extent, no one deserves appreciation. the doctor’s observations and brought back any sugThe flight crew was just doing its job. The passenger gestions from below. volunteers were fulfilling their medical oaths. The I could hear occasional coughing fits, but the rest of us were just along for the ride. crew provided as much HIPAA-compliant privacy as But in an era of self-importance, self-interest possible. We fellow passengers never were told his and selfishness, it was nice to see that a group symptoms; presumably, because we weren’t quarof Americans up in the clouds could collectively antined or advised to see doctors ourselves, it was recognize that some things are more important than nothing contagious. an on-time arrival, even if we didn’t get Cinnabon Just as Begley’s character on “Curb” warned, vouchers. ■

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

OPINION

Trump’s a Surprise That Keeps on Surprising working class: very little. I doubt that many of us are surprised. But what is a surprise, or what should be a surprise, is Trump’s reac-

Letters To The Editor

in the world; indeed, I don’t think it should be our goal to convert them. Rather, we should focus on providing the educational and spiritual background that will prevent the advent of another Richard Spencer and keep others from becoming his followers. In the same Jewish Times edition, Dave Schechter’s column, “School Anti-Semitism as a Teachable Moment,” highlights the effort to reach children and instill compassion and tolerance in them before they pick up harmful stereotypes and intolerant ideas. Do those efforts also frustrate Jacobs? We are all searching for ways to understand and counter the climate of hate and intolerance. To do so, we have to take one step at a time. If each one of us can reach just one person, that is success. Collectively, these efforts will make a difference. — Linda Davis, Atlanta, vice president, AJC

Interfaith Dialogue Works

Michael Jacobs in his column “Where Education Falls Short” (Nov. 3) expresses his disappointment with the recent American Jewish Committee Catholic-Jewish event “Repairing the World: Understanding Our Shared Responsibility” and casts doubt on the effectiveness of education in combating hate and prejudice. Jacobs has totally missed the point. If AJC’s many interfaith dialogues reach and educate even one person, that should be considered a net gain. In Atlanta, AJC is in regular conversation with representatives of the Baptist, Mormon and Muslim communities. That experience has enabled all of us — Jews, Christians and Muslims — to recognize the responsibility we all share to live peacefully and respectfully in this world together. Dialogue enabling us to understand the different paths we have followed makes that a lot easier. We are not so naive as to think we can reach all the Richard Spencers

Guest Column By Harold Kirtz

tion to the tax bill. He was exuberant about it, even though it would raise taxes at some point in the next several years on all those families earning between $10,000 and $75,000. That is the very group of people Trump promised would be favored in a tax bill, and that is the group of people who favored Trump in the election. That is the group of people who have felt shafted by the system for so many years. And now they are shafted again, including by the president who promised them a better deal. What we are learning more and more is just how unempathetic this president is. Nothing matters to him if it does not directly benefit him or reflect his large personality. He said during the election that

Correct Anti-Zionist Claims

I agree with Julie Katz that the “anti-Zionism” expressed by her fellow attendee at an interfaith lecture and discussion was anti-Semitism (“This Anti-Zionism Is Anti-Semitism,” Nov. 10). However, I wish Katz had used the

we would get tired of winning, yet he has won very little, except for his personal benefit. He just wants a bill passed so that he can take credit for its passage. It matters little to him who gets hurt by the bill. And he is greatly helped by the bill although he claimed not to be. One estimate is that he and his family will benefit to the tune of $1 billion. But we cannot be sure because he still refuses to release his tax information. Another surprising aspect of his presidency is how little he cares about how the world views the United States. He thinks that being a pal to autocrats and tin-pot dictators reflects well on him. He thinks that he alone can negotiate trade deals — and other agreements — better than anyone else. But what he is doing is making America weaker. He is making America a laughingstock around the world. He just gave China a gift by backing out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership; he did not even try to understand it and maybe strengthen it. The TPP was a trade arrangement with 11 other Pacific Rim countries, not including China. Now that the United States has pulled out, China will be the big player

in the Pacific, not us. Trump trumpets his ability to negotiate one on one with these countries and get a better deal. But this will result in smaller deals for the United States. As I write this, the Roy Moore controversy is embroiling the nation (and now Al Franken), and who knows how many others holding office will be brought low. But the Roy Moore saga is the most disheartening — a grown man trolling for and assaulting high school girls as young as 14 and 16. This man must be stopped. But the president, as of now, has avoided taking a stand (I hope, by the time you read this, he will have). But he is conflicted by his own history with women, including his words on the “Access Hollywood” tape and his actions at beauty pageants. Will he take the moral stand? It will be surprising if he does, but one can hope. We have learned that the depths to which we are subjected by this president have no limits. We can only hope that the current tax bill will be defeated or fall apart, that our relationships with other countries are not irreparable, and that moral stands are not beyond this president. ■

encounter to correct the woman’s mistaken ideas about Israel. Some common misconceptions: • Israel is a colonial state on Palestinian land. Even after the Romans exiled most Jews in 70 C.E., Jewish communities remained on the land that became the Palestine region of the Ottoman Empire. Even in exile, Jews maintained their language, Hebrew, for prayer and study of religious texts; their literature and liturgy were filled with a longing for Zion. The Jewish population increased in the 1880s as modern Zionists bought land and increased its productivity, built schools and hospitals, and established self-defense organizations. Most of today’s “Palestinians” are descended from families who migrated to Palestine after Zionist activity improved the economy and living conditions. Their language and customs were essentially the same as those of Arabs in the surrounding areas. When Arab nations invaded in 1948, hoping to prevent Israel’s rebirth, their rulers said the Arabs of Palestine were “southern Syrians” not entitled to a country of their own. • Palestinian refugees have a right to return to Israel. Between 400,000

and 700,000 Arabs fled the Arab-initiated 1948 war. They and their descendants have been forced into refugee limbo by Muslim nations that deny them citizenship. Palestinians are the only group in the world that passes refugee status from one generation to the next. They have their own U.N. agency but have been relegated to refugee camps for seven decades. Tiny Israel absorbed and uplifted 800,000 Jews expelled from the Muslim countries of the Middle East and North Africa within a decade of Israel’s rebirth. The descendants of these Mizrachi Jews make up the majority of Israel’s current Jewish population. • Israel is an apartheid state. NonJews, mostly Arabs, make up one-fifth of Israel’s population and have full civil rights. Jews and non-Jews attend the same universities and are taught by and do research with Jewish and nonJewish faculty. Jews and non-Jews are treated in the same hospitals by Jewish and non-Jewish medical staff. I urge all readers of the AJT to become acquainted with Israel’s narrative. Good sources of information include www.camera.org, www.honestreporting.com and israeled.org. — Toby F. Block, Atlanta 11 NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

The tax bill just passed by the U.S. House runs contrary to what President Donald Trump promised when he was running for president and is contrary to what he says the bill will do now. What does that show? It was predictable that this Congress would pass a tax bill that would greatly favor the top earners and corporations. That is what this Congress has said it wants to do. Congressional Republicans continue to argue that favoring the top earners would benefit everyone. Did you see the Gary Cohn interview at the Business Roundtable last week? Cohn is the head of Trump’s National Economic Council. The moderator at the meeting asked the gathering of businesspeople in the audience who among them would use the tax relief to increase business investment and hire more people. Five hands went up in a room of many dozens. Then Cohn asked a pertinent question that never was followed up: Where are the other hands? It was a demonstration of what the tax relief would do for the middle class and

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OPINION

Georgia Must Not Elect Pro-BDS Governor

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

I am a business leader, an active member in the Jewish community and a progressive Democrat. I am proud to see my fellow progressives, many of whom are Jewish, speak out against troubling trends in the United States, including anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies and an increase in overtly racist and anti-Semitic public demonstrations. In addition to those issues, I have long been concerned with the pernicious boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. BDS is a form of economic warfare and an attempt to delegitimize Israel, which is why I have closely followed anti-BDS policy developments throughout the country. While I, like many supporters of Israel, have some differences with policies of the Netanyahu government, we understand that Israel — the Middle East’s only true democracy, one of America’s staunchest allies and a place of refuge for Jews facing oppression around the world — must be supported, and we cannot stand by as its legitimacy is attacked. At its core, the BDS movement is trying to accomplish what 69 years of armed conflict have not succeeded in doing: the destruction of the Jewish state. Eugene Kontorovich, an international law expert at Northwestern University, wrote in The Washington Post that “the message of the BDS movement — Israel as a uniquely villainous state — is fundamentally rejected by the vast majority of Americans.” As the BDS movement has become more prominent, American elected officials at the national, state and local level have wisely taken action to protect Israel against it, and American

supporters of Israel like me are grateful for their efforts. In 2015, Illinois became the first state to pass anti-BDS legislation. In a statement after signing the legislation into law, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner

Guest Column By Steve Berman

said states must stand up to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel advocates. Since that time, more than 20 states have taken action in opposition to the anti-Israel BDS movement. Fortunately, Georgia was one of the many states to follow the example of Illinois. In 2016, Georgia enacted its own anti-BDS legislation, requiring those bidding for state contracts to certify that they are not participating in an economic boycott of Israel. As a progressive Democrat and supporter of Israel, however, I was saddened that a few Democrats in the Georgia legislature turned their backs on our party’s historical ties to Israel and fought the passage of the bill. Stacey Abrams, who was the Democratic minority leader of the Georgia House, voted against the bill and pushed other Democrats to do the same. Moreover, she was one of only a handful of representatives to speak against the bill on the House floor. I understand from pro-Israel activists who were at the Capitol to support the bill, many of whom are progressive Democrats, that Abrams refused to meet with them to hear their reasons as to why she and others in her caucus should support the bill. What gives me more pause is that

Abrams is not just any Democratic legislator. She is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, and she is touted by many prominent national Democratic organizations. EMILY’s List and NARAL have endorsed her, even though her opponent in the primary, Rep. Stacey Evans, is just as progressive on women’s issues, including abortion rights. The family of George Soros, the nation’s most prominent and largest donor to Democrats and progressive causes, has held a fundraiser for Abrams in New York. Democratic members of Georgia’s congressional delegation have come out in support of Abrams, including civil rights icon John Lewis and Hank Johnson, who was elected with major support from the Jewish community. Notably, Evans was one of the members of Abrams’ House caucus to vote in favor of the anti-BDS bill. It seems to be one of the notable contrasts in their otherwise similarly progressive records. It is my suspicion that those progressive organizations and community leaders who have rushed to endorse Abrams simply do not know of her record on BDS. Many members of the pro-Israel community with whom I have spoken about this matter have told me that it is a red line for them on political support — and it should be. In Illinois, Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, was forced off the ticket because of his unwillingness to oppose

Both Staceys Back Israel

the BDS movement. It is worth noting that his position was less disconcerting than Abrams’: He at least supported state anti-BDS legislation but stopped short of supporting comparable federal laws. Like Abrams, Ramirez-Rosa is considered a rising star among progressives nationwide, but he was held accountable by the Democratic establishment once his BDS position became known. Members of the Democratic Party in Georgia should hold Abrams similarly accountable. As progressive voices and power rise in the Democratic Party, those of us who are proud progressive Democrats and proud supporters of Israel must speak up in favor of maintaining and strengthening the Democratic Party’s ties to Israel. We should all take note that the BDS movement has been infected by anti-Semites whose only goal is to hurt the state of Israel. In Georgia’s Democratic primary for governor, we have a moment that will help us establish whether our party will maintain its strong support for Israel. Stacey Abrams’ tacit support for the BDS movement ignores years of solid Jewish support for the Democratic Party and brings into question whether this singular event disqualifies her as the standard-bearer of the Democratic Party in Georgia. ■ Steve Berman is the founder of OA Development and a Sandy Springs resident.

Two strong candidates who share the same first name are running in the Democratic primary for Georgia’s governor next year: Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans. Both women have strong records of public service; both stand solidly behind progressive issues, such as gun violence prevention, support of public education, support of women’s reproductive rights, immigration rights and many others. Both women faced financial challenges in childhood and prioritized education, and both women are lawyers. Many voters may find it difficult to make a reasoned choice on the Democratic side of this race; they should use every opportunity to get to know both candidates. Steve Berman’s challenge of Abrams’ loyalty to Israel represents divisive posturing that promotes polarization among Democratic Jews at a time when we should be seeking to unify progressive voices in an effort to tip the political scales in our state. As American Jews, we stand united in our support of Israel and our opposition to the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Both Democratic candidates for governor have affirmed their support for Israel and their opposition to the BDS movement. We encourage Georgia’s Democratic Jewish voters to find another way to distinguish between these two candidates. — Lois Frank, Valerie Habif, Joanie Shubin and Cedric Suzman

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

OPINION

My Vote on BDS Bill Reflected Wider Implications punish free speech, however abhorrent, is understandable, the law then becomes precedent. Boycotts have been a critical part of social justice in U.S. history, particularly for African-Americans. BDS is

Guest Column By Stacey Abrams

based in the anti-apartheid movement. While BDS has devolved into a weapon of oppression, the passage of SB 327 creates a precedent that could prevent a 21st century campaign similar to the actions taken by civil rights fighters (the economic boycotts of the 1960s and the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s). Leveraging this law, angry state actors could prevent future movements from taking root in Georgia by allowing the state to cut off funds for participation in a boycott grounded in a different injustice. My fears are not speculative. Just

this year, the Republican legislature approved a measure to deny funding to private colleges that try to shield undocumented students from draconian federal immigration tactics. I staunchly opposed that bill as well. During my 11 years in the legislature, I took great care to examine not only the best intentions of law, but also the ability of ignoble users to pervert law. Thus, even though the language of the bill specifically references Israel, I could easily and unfortunately foresee a time when a majority displeased by some speech or social justice effort invokes SB 327 in their pursuit of oppression — without the morality of the anti-BDS position. I can never fully comprehend the apprehension and fear of the Jewish community; however, I learned from Project Understanding and Project Interchange, as well as a range of engagements, to refer to my own experiences as a guide to better serve as an ally. My experiences at the Capitol required me to vote no on a poorly constructed bill with far-reaching implications and no safeguards. Steve Berman’s column wholly

Smile

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mischaracterizes both my position and my actions surrounding the vote. Our Democratic caucus discussed the legislation, and I declined to recommend a position, given the complicated nature of the bill. I did not refuse to meet anyone who requested to speak with me on the issue. As a candidate for governor, I commit to pursue the actions recommended by the ADL to counter the anti-Semitic BDS narrative: know the facts; study and distribute materials on why efforts to isolate and demonize Israel are wrong; get involved and share my personal connection to Israel; gather and publicize statements that oppose these campaigns; and organize or support local initiatives to promote Israeli goods. More important, I will proudly continue my efforts to center Georgia as a staunch political ally, economic partner and moral defender of the state of Israel. ■ Former House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams of Atlanta is a Democratic candidate for governor in 2018.

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NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

In 2016, the Georgia legislature considered Senate Bill 327, which targeted the decade-old campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. I closely read the legislation, not only as a member of the House of Representatives, but also as a staunch and consistent ally to the Jewish community. My vote on SB 327 now has led to questions about my fidelity to the existence and legitimacy of Israel. Let me be clear: I unequivocally support a two-state solution as the resolution of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, with Israel as the national homeland for the Jewish people. I reject the demonization and delegitimization of Israel represented by the BDS narrative and campaign. I am a proud 2003 alumna of the American Jewish Committee and Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition’s Marvin C. Goldstein Project Understanding Black-Jewish Young Leadership Retreat. I continued my engagement by visiting Israel through the 2011 Project Interchange program. I have been a repeat attendee at AIPAC’s annual legislative event in Georgia. I have supported civic and charitable efforts spearheaded by the Jewish community. For several years, I served as the annual sponsor of the Genocide Prevention and Awareness Month resolution as House minority leader, organizing an official audience with our entire legislative body. As a state representative, I consistently supported our state’s investment in Israel and our vocal support of Israel’s right to exist. I fundamentally agree with the critical nature of Israeli democracy, which embraces the core notion of free speech. SB 327, however, required a more complex analysis that harkened back to my application to Project Understanding: the integration of my experiences as an African-American in the South and the desire to provide the support and strength of condemnation to any anti-Semitic actions. The legislation takes the unprecedented step of denying state contracts to any business that boycotts Israel — shifting from a statement of principle to a matter of law and restriction of state funding. Judaism is a faith grounded in the importance of law, and the respect of the state of Israel for democracy is one of its finest features. While the instinct to use the imprimatur of the state to

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

LOCAL NEWS

Anti-BDS Vote Divides 2 Top Georgia Democrats By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is defending a vote she cast in 2016 against Georgia’s antiBDS legislation. Abrams, who was the House minority leader, was on the losing side of a 95-71 vote March 22, 2016, to approve Senate Bill 327, which established that the state of Georgia will not contract with businesses or individuals boycotting Israel. (Stone Mountain Democrat Michele Henson, who is Jewish, said that although her vote was recorded as a no, she actually voted yes, meaning that the tally should have been 96-70.) Georgia was one of the first seven states to pass legislation opposed to the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The law applies only to state contracts worth at least $1,000 and involves no investigation or extensive paperwork; a potential contractor just has to sign a statement saying it does not boycott Israel. Sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta), the legislation had the support of the Israeli Consulate, The

Stacey Abrams says she strongly opposes BDS despite her vote against anti-BDS legislation.

Israel Project, the Israel Allies Foundation and American Jewish Committee, among others. Amid the rush of the closing days of the 2016 legislative session, neither Abrams’ opposition to SB 327 nor the bill’s support from Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Smyrna) drew much attention. But now that the two progressive Democrats have resigned from the House to battle each other for their party’s 2018 nomination for governor, their split over the anti-BDS bill has emerged as one of their differences. (Steve Berman raised the issue in an AJT blog post Wednesday, Nov. 15, sparking the exchange of opinions

printed on Pages 12 and 13.) In an interview, Abrams said she opposes the BDS movement, which has taken “what is a legitimate tactic for fighting oppression and instead has tried to use it to demonize and delegitimize Israel, which is unacceptable, and there is no justification for doing so.” But she said she couldn’t support SB 327 as a mechanism to resist BDS because of the precedent for using the state’s power to stifle legitimate protests against social injustice. “Having spent 11 years in the legislature, I do not trust the best intentions of my fellow lawmakers,” Abrams said. Evans noted that more than 20 states now have passed anti-BDS legislation and that the Georgia law has produced no enforcement problems and sparked no court challenges. “I reject the notion that denying contracts to those participating in the unjust BDS agenda somehow puts at risk the right of others to use boycotts to achieve other goals that are just,” Evans said in written answers to questions. “Specifically, I think comparing BDS to the anti-apartheid movement is a misleading and troublesome tact.”

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Abrams said she and Evans approached SB 327 from different perspectives, both legitimate. “I bring a very specific personal and community history that has positioned me for these opportunities based on the success of the use of boycotts. As an African-American in the South, that is a necessary part of my history.” Because of the complex issues involved, Abrams said, she did not attempt to take a position on the legislation in the party caucus. She did, however, speak against the bill during a brief House floor debate before the March 2016 vote. She asked a series of four questions of Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City), who presented the minority report opposing SB 327. “What country will it be next? If it’s Israel today, will it be Canada tomorrow? Will it be England? Where will it stop?” Buckner said. Abrams’ questions did not focus on the precedent set by the bill, but on the complexity of enforcing it and the potential of disrupting contracts with thousands of small businesses. Abrams said in the interview that, like other supporters of Israel who have opposed anti-BDS legislation, she shares the goals of the bill’s proponents but differs on the means. “It is critical that we constantly defend the state of Israel, and I think it is the responsibility of every person of good intent to stand up for and to stand in solidarity with Israel,” she said. Evans, however, said words are not enough. “She expresses discomfort with the shift from being anti-BDS as a principle to backing that principle up with law. But the very job we are tasked with as legislators is to pass laws that conform with our principles.” Abrams, a veteran of the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition and AJC’s Project Understanding and Project Interchange (which took her to Israel in 2011), as well as a regular at AIPAC events, said she stands by her record of supporting Israel and working with the Jewish community. “It is unassailable.” While disappointed that Abrams didn’t vote for the bill, AJC Atlanta Regional Director Dov Wilker appreciated that she condemned BDS. He said the renewed discussion about SB 327 is an opportunity to remind people that the BDS movement is anti-Semitic at its core and that its goal is Israel’s elimination as the home of the Jewish people. ■

NOVEMBER 24 â&#x2013;ª 2017

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

LOCAL NEWS

How Sephardim Brought Chocolate to France

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

In our Sephardic Corner, we will write about the vicissitudes of the Jews who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula for at least 1,400 years (probably more) and, in 1492, were expelled from Spain. Each article will consider an aspect of the Jewish presence in ancient, medieval and early modern Spain until 1492, as well as an anecdote from the more than 500 years of diaspora in Europe, the Middle East and America. Sepharad is the Hebrew word for Spain. There is no consensus on when Jews reached the Iberian Peninsula. Some identify the biblical Tarshish with Tartessos, a civilization in the present-day provinces of Huelva, Sevilla and Cádiz in Andalucía. If this is true, contact with the peninsula dates to the time of King Solomon. The oldest archaeological findings show an established Jewish presence (tombstones with Hebrew or menorahs) from the second century of the Common Era. It is assumed there was a constant creation of Jewish settle-

ments after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. The lost war with Rome triggered the second great diaspora of the Hebrews. It is logical that their travels through the Mediterranean brought

The Sephardic Corner By Mariana Montiel

them to Hispania (Spain’s Latin name). Another theory is that some Jews from the elite class enslaved by Nebuchadnezzar after the First Temple was destroyed in 587 B.C.E. arrived in the Iberian Peninsula as refugees. Countless rabbis, doctors and scholars of medieval Spain produced poems and analyses of the Torah that are part of all Jewish ceremonies, not only the Spanish-Portuguese tradition. Their names will become more familiar through our Sephardic Corner. Among the best known are Maimonides, Hasdai ibn Shaprut, Samuel HaNagid,

Moses ibn Ezra, Solomon ibn Gabirol and Yehuda Halevi. We will also learn about more obscure scholars, such as Abraham bar Hiyya, the first great scientist of Christian Spain. He wrote the first treatise on algebra in Europe. The expulsions of Jews from other European countries during the 12th to 16th centuries, mainly from England and France, did not include large populations. The situation was different in Spain. The large Jewish population, occupying important positions in the economic and cultural life of Spain, made the forced departure traumatic. Over the centuries the exiled families had ambiguous feelings toward Spain, oscillating between resentment and nostalgia. Traditions were passed down from generation to generation in the language of their forefathers, Judeoespañol or Ladino. Ladino, its history and its contemporary reality will be the subjects of future articles. An important segment of Sephardim found success and fortune as protagonists in Occidental modern-

ization. Others went to North Africa and the Ottoman Empire. In the 19th century they were persecuted again, and many went to America. With their Ashkenazi brethren, Sephardim were victims of the Nazi nightmare, and they played an important role in the creation of Israel. We will come to know many details of the past 500 years as well as of the 1,400 years in Sepharad. We end with a story. A group of Sephardim arrived in France from Portugal and Spain in the middle of the 16th century. They settled as Marranos, or new Christians. They also called themselves the Portuguese Nation, the Jewish Nation or just the Nation. They fled from the Inquisition to Biarritz, a town of fishermen, and later went to Saint-Jean-de-Luz. In March 1619 a priest was giving Communion to a woman, and church members saw her spit it into her handkerchief. She was imprisoned; however, the population opened the prison doors and burned her alive. The new Christians decided to abandon this dangerous town.

They went to Saint-Esprit, in front of Bayonne, which became a prosperous city with the help of its new inhabitants. Feeling safer, these crypto-Jews began to practice their Judaism. Even though they were discreet, the Christian population knew they were Jewish. They therefore could not live in Bayonne and were able only to participate in wholesale trade. Because these Jews had relations with Amsterdam (another important city for the Sephardim), they participated in the commercialization of spices and cocoa. They brought the secret of chocolate manufacturing to Bayonne, making a substantial contribution to its growth and wealth. In 1761 in Bayonne, the Jewish population of Saint-Esprit was reprimanded for living in beautiful homes and leaving open the curtains on Friday night, allowing the Christians to see the Shabbat candles. However, the Sephardic families of Saint-Esprit had relatives and allies not only in Bordeaux and Peyrehorade, but also in Amsterdam, London and Hamburg. When a young woman, accompanied by her brother, would leave to get married in one of those cities, she would find herself with friends and relatives. The 600 Sephardic Jews of SaintEsprit at the beginning of the 18th century formed part of a much larger community; they were related in some way to those who had stayed in Spain and Portugal, as well as those across Europe, in the Caribbean islands, and on North and South American coasts. While many of their Christian counterparts saw the world as distant and strange, or perhaps even threatening, these Sephardic Jews received emissaries from the Holy Land, had relatives in Hamburg and Jamaica, and maintained networks of colleagues in London and Amsterdam. They saw the world in other ways. Beyond the familiar environment they shared with Bayonne’s residents, they belonged to a much larger world, encompassing much more than that of their neighbors, because of their Jewish heritage, which they held on to through many trials and tribulations. This is just one story from the great Sephardic diaspora. ■ The Sephardic Corner is a monthly contribution of Congregation Or VeShalom to the greater Jewish community. Special thanks to historian Alicia Benmergui and to her incredible popularization work on the history of the Jews. Many of these articles will be based on her presentations about the Sephardim.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

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When a product is more than a century old with a declining customer base, freshening its image is a priority. Such is the case with Conservative Judaism and the organization that links together some 600 congregations, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism — or, as its leadership now prefers to call it, just USCJ. A recent rebranding will be on display at the USCJ biennial, being held Dec. 1 to 5 in Atlanta. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend sessions under the theme “Dare Together” at the Marriott Marquis downtown. Ahavath Achim Synagogue member Margo Gold, the international president of USCJ, will address the gathering Sunday afternoon, Dec. 3. The roster of speakers includes representatives from several organizations in Jewish Atlanta. In a September interview, USCJ CEO Rabbi Stephen Wernick characterized the Conservative movement as a “dynamic and authentic Judaism,” a tagline repeated often. The use of USCJ rather than the full name is intentional, putting greater emphasis on kehilla, Rabbi Wernick said. A “synagogue is a building. A kehilla is a community, and we wanted to refocus people’s attention on relationships and not on structures.” Then there’s the C-word. “ ‘Conservative’ has become problematic,” politically and religiously, Rabbi Wernick acknowledged. “It no longer means what was meant when it was coined for our movement, which was to conserve tradition and change.” USCJ was founded in 1913 as the United Synagogue of America. The name changed in 1991 to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. (Full disclosure: The author’s family has historical and current ties to the Conservative movement.) Conservative Judaism has sought to provide a middle ground between the inflexibility of Orthodoxy and the post-halachic flexibility of Reform. The theme of the 2015 biennial was “Shape the Center.” That center has been shrinking and graying. Conservative Judaism represented 38 percent of Jewish households in 1990 but only 18 percent in the 2013 Pew Research Center study of American Jews. The Conservative movement has

an aging constituency. The average age of its adult members is 55, compared with 54 for the Reform movement and 40 for the Orthodox. Among adults ages 40 to 59, Conservative Jews reported having an average of 1.8 children, comparable to the 1.7 for Reform Jews but far below the 4.1 for the Orthodox. A focus of this biennial will be efforts to encourage young adults raised in the movement to remain (the unspoken hope being that they marry and raise children in the faith). Rabbi Wernick also said USCJ will double down on its engagement with teens to deepen their commitment to Judaism. An elephant in the room for Conservative Judaism is hinted at by a session titled: “Our Clergy Can’t Officiate at Your Wedding, But …” The Rabbinical Assembly recently reaffirmed its ban on Conservative rabbis performing interfaith marriages. There is concern among rabbis that the policy pushes away Conservative Jews who marry non-Jews and reduces the chance that the children of those unions will be raised in Conservative Judaism. The subjects to be addressed over the five days of the biennial range from reflections on the music of the late Leonard Cohen to increasing inclusion of people with disabilities to the simply titled “Kvetching 101.” A scheduled highlight away from the meetings will be a concert at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church featuring Neshama Carlebach, daughter of famed Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, and her gospel choir. Atlantans uninterested in the Con servative discussions, whose details are at www.uscjconvention.org, can get tickets for the Carlebach concert (which includes an address by Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt) and two other musical performances at the Marriott Marquis: a Havdalah show featuring Joey Weisenberg at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and a program on dynamic Judaism in Israel with Israeli prayer community Nava Tehila (plus a speech by Jewish Theological Seminary Chancellor Arnold Eisen) at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 4. Tickets for the performances are $36 each or $99 for all three at www. uscjconvention.org/concerts. Registration for the conference (iplanit.swoogo.com/USCJ2017) is $200 for one day, $499 for the three days of workshops and plenary sessions (Dec. 3 to 5), $450 for the Shabbaton (Dec. 1 to 3) or $899 for the full five days. ■

LOCAL NEWS

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When she visited the exhibit of Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger at the Marcus JCC in January, Atlanta Jewish Academy senior Maayan Schoen gained an understanding of Americans’ everyday struggles with hunger. Her Jewish response was a Thanksgiving fundraiser to end hunger through Mazon’s Food Fight campaign, which is raising money through Nov. 28 to support the food stamp program. Threatened federal budget cuts would slice $150 billion from the program over 10 years. Maayan hopes to raise $1,652, the average amount a food stamp recipient receives in one year; it’s about $4.50 a day. “I think anyone hearing that number is blown away by how small that figure is and how little food individuals receive,” she said. Instead of launching an online campaign, Maayan created Dessert for Hunger, a bake sale in which people could order pies and cookies. “I think there is something really powerful about associating food with what we purchase for others and tying it into Thanksgiving, which I also think is a Jewish holiday as it relates to one of the pillars of Judaism, hakarat hatov, which can also mean recognizing the good,” Maayan said. By the Nov. 16 order deadline, the bake sale had raised $685, said Maayan, who also is taking donations at give. mazon.org/fundraiser/1199478. All the proceeds will go to Mazon. Maayan had the desserts prepared for pickup Monday, Nov. 20, at AJA and Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Young Israel of Toco Hills. With each purchase, Maayan included a free gratitude jar containing slips of paper asking what people are thankful for on one side and offering a statistic about hunger on the other. The slips could be distributed to guests on Thanksgiving. “Part of the gratitude and recognizing the good is also understanding that we are fortunate to have food in front of us and have the ability to give it to others,” Maayan said. “The fundraiser takes a big issue and puts a face to it, which is important to me.” ■

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FOOD

Mediterranean Flavors Influence Atlanta Cuisine By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

When Israeli native Hagar Sides visited Kroger’s hummus section for the first time, she was fascinated and overwhelmed by the variety of flavors, such as red bean and edamame, and wondered what had happened to hummus. How had it evolved from Israel to the United States? The experience led Sides to organize and moderate “Y’alla Let’s Talk Shawarma,” a discussion about how Mediterranean cuisine influences American food with Yalla co-owners Jennifer Johnson and chef Todd Ginsberg. The idea developed after Sides noticed that people were more attached to their cellphones than face-to-face conversation, she said. “I wanted to create a space similar to people’s living rooms where they could exchange information and learn something new without hashtags and just talk,” Sides told the audience Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. After working as a lawyer at King

Rose

& Spalding, Johnson left her law career to open a small cafe in Atlanta. She now co-owns West Egg Cafe, Fred’s Meat & Bread, Yalla and The Canteen with Ginsberg. They have spent 10 years bringing Mediterranean cuisine from the suburbs to the city. “I used to go to Pita Palace, and it was one of my inspirations for Yalla and first introduction to shawarma,” Ginsberg said. He has continued to incorporate Mediterranean influences into his menus while drawing ideas from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s cookbook “Jerusalem.” “I think Ottolenghi and his partner, Tamimi, were ahead of the curve and started a trend that was bound to happen. … I think they are single-handedly responsible for everything that is happening in Middle Eastern food right now,” Ginsberg said. “It’s colorful and refreshing, and a lot of his food is not necessarily traditional, but that’s what people want.” After opening Fred’s Meat & Bread at Krog Street Market, Johnson and Ginsberg decided to open Yalla. “We wanted something fresh, and

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On a panel with Hagar Sides and Todd Ginsberg, Jennifer Johnson (left) explains what it takes to start and run a food business.

one of the things we thought we didn’t have enough of was Middle Eastern food,” Johnson said. Ginsberg traveled to Israel to try the cuisine and drew inspiration from Michael Solomonov’s documentary “In Search of Israeli Cuisine,” featured at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in 2016. “I never really thought about going to Israel — I don’t know why — but when the opportunity came, I went,” Ginsberg said. “Once you go there, there are a million reasons to go back.” Yalla presented nonculinary challenges. “It was the first time we had to think about anything political about food,” Johnson said. “We were careful and always referred to Yalla as modern Middle Eastern, but at the same time we are running a business and didn’t want to alienate people as if we were making a statement.” She said Yalla received anti-Israel tweets and messages. “We had to decide whether to defend it or go back and say that we never used the word Israeli and sound cowardly, but at the end of the day, I thought, ‘I’m just trying to feed people.’ ” Ginsberg said: “Feeding people is part of hospitality. It is a generous and intimate thing, and whenever I cook

for people, I want them to be satisfied and feel like they will remember the experience of me cooking for them.” Sides said there is no definition for Israeli food because the cuisine draws from other countries in the Middle East. “If you think about it, up until five years ago it was very hard to define American cuisine,” Ginsberg said. “We are 200 years old as a country. Israel is a quarter of that, so defining Israeli cuisine is hard, but it’s also a beautiful melting pot of culture.” Millennials are interested in trying new types of food, and Johnson said they enjoy the mix of Ashkenazi and Middle Eastern cuisine. “I think that’s how Middle Eastern food has become mainstream. Millennials are more thoughtful about what they are eating, where it comes from and consuming less meat than our parents did, which as a result of that has created a palate of different cuisines to choose from.” Millennials help the restaurant by spreading the food through social media, Ginsberg said. “Our parents didn’t have that, and back in the day, one person could tell 10 people, while today one person can tell a thousand people.” Sides said, “At the end of the day food connects people.” ■

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6 Time-Tested Methods for Cooking Your Turkey By David R. Cohen and Jerry Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com A Thanksgiving turkey is the largest food item many American Jews will ever cook. Often weighing 20 pounds or more, a turkey is bigger than an untrimmed brisket and almost quadruple the size of a chicken. We’ve had fun trying new ways to cook this mammoth bird. There’s no best way, but here are six of our favorite methods to get you in the holiday mood. Email david@atljewishtimes. com for any of the recipes. Beer-Can Turkey We’ve combined the beer-can, cannon and standup turkey methods into one entry. The general idea is the same: Cooking the turkey upright shortens the cooking time. Introducing beer just makes everything better. The beer (or any liquid) helps keep the white meat moist and adds a layer of flavor. The result is a succulent, tender, goldenbrown turkey. Pros: Variety of flavors, high awesome factor, speed (especially with turkey cannon), option to use the grill, which frees your oven for other dishes. Cons: Extra equipment (cannon, stand), awkward handling of a hot turkey, tough fit in a standard oven, storage of a turkey cannon.

Pros: Simple, traditional, great for novices and the unadventurous, predictable timing, great aroma. Cons: Tough to keep meat moist, experience and modifications (like a bag) needed to perfect technique, loss of oven availability, low awesome factor. Smoked Turkey Smoked turkey involves slow cooking over coals and woodchips for up to 10 hours. The result, a tender and juicy turkey with an intense smoked flavor, is worth the wait. Pros: Intense flavor, high awesome factor, can prepare in advance, frees up kitchen space, many varieties (wood

types, sauces, rubs), pull-apart meat. Cons: Special equipment (smoker), practice to maintain temperature, risks with fire and smoke, patience necessary, some don’t like the flavor. Grilled Turkey There are several methods, including rotisserie (if you have a large enough grill) and spatchcocking, which involves cutting out the backbone and laying the turkey flat. Spatchcocking is an easy route to juicy meat and ultracrisp skin. Also known as butterflying, it can be done in the oven as well. Pros: Fast, unusual presentation, frees up kitchen space, even cooking,

crispy and moist, fun word to say. Cons: Hands-on, easy to overcook. Turducken The crown jewel of zany Thanksgiving dishes, a turducken is a deboned chicken inside a deboned duck inside a turkey. The fat of the duck keeps the turkey moist and the chicken flavored, resulting in a decadent dish. Pros: Unusual presentation, high awesome factor, lots of meat, works with many cooking methods. Cons: Difficult to prepare and assemble the birds, tough to find kosher ducks (can substitute tofu, but then it’s turfu — never mind). ■

Roasted Turkey Each time we try a new method, we inevitably return to this classic the next year. This simple method looks, smells and tastes the most like Thanksgiving tradition. Season the bird with a bit of salt and pepper, baste it with turkey stock, and stuff it with your favorite dressing. The smell and taste will take you back to holidays past.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Fried Turkey There is probably nothing cooler than dropping a massive turkey into 5 gallons of 320-degree oil. It’s fast and easy and tastes amazing. But disposing of 5 gallons of used oil can be messy, and the oil can cost up to $50. Having 5 gallons of hot oil next to a flame can be dangerous. The National Fire Protection Association reports that turkey fryers are responsible for five deaths and more than $15 million in property damage each year. Pros: Fast, easy, delicious, frees up kitchen space, high awesome factor, fried meat — need we say more? Cons: Cost, special equipment, dissipating flavor, risk of immolation.

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Metal, Tours and Folk Art Connect Atlanta Couple Andy Smith and sculptor Steven Steinman met at an Atlanta art show 30 years ago. He was an established artist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Rhode Island School of Design, as well as a master of fine arts from the prestigious Pratt Institute and a doctorate from Capella University. She was also schooled in the arts, having earned a bachelor’s at the University of Arizona. While Steve was teaching at American InterContinental University, where he would work for 33 years and become the dean of the design school, Andy worked at Atlanta Magazine and later taught art for Atlanta Public Schools. Both were deeply entrenched in the Atlanta art scene, a bond they share to this day. They have continued to pursue their artistic interests throughout their relationship. Steve creates art, while Andy shares her interest and knowledge of art with others. Steve can be found in his studio “making beauty from cast-off metal,” using recycled auto and junkyard parts to create large sculptures. He has carved out a reputation in Atlanta and beyond for his large outdoor compositions, including the sculpture lining the walls of the Buckhead MARTA station, which covers the length of two football fields, and Woodruff Park’s Monument to Slain Police Officers. As owner and operator of Art Adventures, Andy conducts monthly tours to Atlanta galleries and other locations where fine art can be found. Recent venues include the Abernathy Greenway Park, the Booth Western Art Museum and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Steve’s latest exhibition, “Trash: The Art of Recycle,” is on display at the city of Atlanta’s Gallery 72, 72 Marietta St., downtown, through Jan. 11. Tune in while Andy and Steve discuss their separate accomplishments and their private art collection, including why they were both drawn to their favorite pieces.

Jaffe: Steve, can you tell us where your art has been shown? Steve: I’ve exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including the Museum of Contemporary Art, 22 the Hunter Museum of American Art

(Chattanooga), Elvehjem Museum (Madison, Wis.), the Brooklyn Museum, the American Center (New Delhi), Centro Cultural (Buenos Aries) and the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art.

Chai-Style Homes By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com

Jaffe: On what are you currently working? Steve: My latest sculptures, which focus on reuse and renewal, are constructed from recycled metal materials. They investigate the importance of recycling by using individual shapes made from industrial machines, automotive parts and junkyard scraps. I create them in large, unified circles. They illuminate the transition from junk to beauty while examining society’s wastefulness. Jaffe: Do you work in other mediums? Steve: I’ve explored a variety of other mediums over my 50-year career, including use of concrete, wood, bronze and fiberglass. I also am a fine-art photographer, shooting images that are thought-provoking and lyrical. They reflect urban and rural landscapes, capturing people in public places as well as the unlikely physical landscapes created by art, architecture and natural beauty. Jaffe: How have you been active in the Atlanta art scene? Steve: I was involved with Atlanta’s early art scene at Nexus Contemporary Art Center, serving on the Nexus board of directors and becoming a founding member of the arts advisory board for Studioplex on Auburn Avenue. Recently, I helped create the board of Cashin’s Sculpture Garden in Alpharetta, which exhibits a variety of regional Southern sculptors on a 150-acre farm. Jaffe: How do you create a sculpture? Steve: I begin each studio session thinking outside the box about what I want to say visually. The process begins on paper, then I weld the steel into abstract compositions. Once the shapes are made, I sand and grind the sculpture to get a smooth surface.

B Then I apply chemical patinas to unify and give it color. The final step is applying a sealer so the sculpture can go outside.

C gallery owners.

Jaffe: Describe your role in the Buckhead MARTA station. Steve: I was one of several artists asked to present ideas for the station. The architect chose my design, which took five years to complete. The Buckhead station is the city’s second-largest station and has the most art of any MARTA station. During the construction, I was on site to supervise. After it was built, I had a crew comprised of colleagues and students helping to paint the reliefs. The final sculpture elicits both a visual and emotional pilgrimage.

Jaffe: As a couple, which local artists do you collect? Steve: Some of our Atlanta artists include Herb Creecy, Ben Smith, Glen Eden, Mario Petrirena, Susan Loftin, Peg Morar, Vincencia Blount and William Mize. Our favorite piece was done by one of the most talented Southern contemporary painters, Vincencia Blount. We have two pieces by Howard Finster, a folk artist and Baptist minister who used divine visions as inspirations. Our Finster print depicts his iconic angels in a surreal landscape and was created at his famed Paradise Garden. We love our pottery pieces by Rose Cabat, who is in major museums around the world.

Jaffe: Andy, how are you connected to the Atlanta art scene? Andy: My memories go back to the ’60s when I was on the staff of Atlanta Magazine. In the early days, everyone knew each other, and it was a small community. Today, I remain connected through my Art Adventures tour business, which has helped me maintain relationships with the local

Jaffe: What are some of the most unusual pieces you have? Andy: We have a figure drawing by Lloyd McNeill on the back side of a Julian Bond campaign poster. I saw Bond one day on the side of the road. He had run out of gas. I gave him a ride and told him about the drawing, which he begged me to give him, to no avail. ■

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A: Steve Steinman’s creative base is his 4,000-square-foot studio on Zonolite Way. B: A Garuda wood sculpture from Thailand faces the Steinmans’ front door to scare off intruders. C: Steve Steinman combined oak, fiberglass and putty to execute this sculpture, which sits over a mustard Asian console. The bowl on the left is by Patrick Dragon, whose work is in the White House and Smithsonian; the wood box on the right is by Susan Loftin. D: Andy Steinman relaxes by a “happy” folk lamp created by Craig Carey. E: Steve Steinman’s “Pathfinder,” which he made from wood and paint, graces the foyer. F: Steve Steinman’s colorful sculpture design for the large Buckhead MARTA station took five years to complete. G: Among the Steinmans’ favorites is this onyxand-scarlet work made around 1960 by Vincencia Blount, known for her intellectual abstracts. H: A Steinman monument in Woodruff Park is dedicated to the memory of slain police officers. I: Andy Steinman says this ceramic lady by Peg Morar fits perfectly above her apricot couch.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Photos by Duane Stork; Photos A, F & H courtesy of Steve Steinman

LOCAL NEWS

Volunteer and founder Jody Reichel continues to oversee the JF&CS holiday gift program.

JF&CS Seeks Donations for Holiday Presents By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

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Thanksgiving marks the start of the secular winter holiday season, when many struggling Atlanta families seek assistance from local organizations. That’s where Jewish Family & Career Services’ holiday gift program comes in. The 22-year-old program founded by Jody Reichel, who continues to oversee the program and was just elected to the Sandy Springs City Council, aims to provide families the best holiday experience by offering them donated gifts and gift cards. “The mentality behind the program is to help clients create a holiday even though they may not be able to themselves,” said JF&CS young adult program coordinator, Jackie Nix. “The program gives our clients the ability to provide a nice holiday for their family and kids where they may not do so in any other way,” Nix said. “It also gives us the chance to provide exactly what the kids want, from their favorite toy to a type of clothing and anything they can think of.” JF&CS tries to be specific rather than generalize about the needs of clients. “We don’t just want to say we have a 4-year old and people should buy what they think is perfect for them but actually tell individuals, ‘This 4-yearold really likes Legos or Marvel Comics,’ ” Nix said. She added, “We try to make this as personal as possible so we can do the best job of buying gifts which are very specific to each family.” Since last year, the program has evolved from just providing Chanukah gifts to assisting non-Jews and older adults. The program has helped 74 families in the past year, including 25 with children under age 18.

“We hope the numbers will go down and remain static,” Nix said, reflecting a decrease in the need. “Our goal is to help our clients reach self-sufficiency and … support them in any way we can,” JF&CS marketing manager Chantal Spector said. “A big job for parents is making sure kids have a wonderful holiday, but when they are dealing with so much stress, based on whatever situation they are in, … we want to do anything we can to make their lives better.” One of the biggest challenges for the program is having enough money and gift cards to fulfill all the requests rather than provide just one present per child. “We really don’t like to skimp on any of the gifts, so these kids are not just getting one bag full of stuff, but four or five presents they would normally receive for the holidays,” Nix said. People can donate at www.jfcsatl. org/donate/hanukkah or adopt a family and go holiday shopping with them. Nix said the program is always looking for $25 gift cards to Target, Walmart or Publix, which can be mailed to the JF&CS office at 4549 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30338. In addition to the holiday gift program, JF&CS supports families at Passover through Maos Chitim, which helps with Passover-kosher food, and at Rosh Hashanah through a program led by the Hebrew Order of David. “Families that need help can come to us all year round, from the kosher food pantry to our counseling services and career services,” Spector said. “One of the most rewarding parts of the chair position has been witnessing so many of the same families donate gifts each year during the past two decades,” Reichel said. “These families have now raised their own children who are donating gifts, having learned the meaning of tzedakah.” ■

Chanukah ART CONTEST

We’re looking for a creative, colorful Chanukah illustration for the cover of the Atlanta Jewish Times’ Dec. 8 issue.

If you’re age 13 or under, send us your Chanukah-themed artwork by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27. Size: Standard 8.5” x 11” Materials: Anything that shows up bold and bright, such as crayons, markers or cut paper. We suggest taping your artwork to cardboard to protect it. Do not fold artwork. Digitally produced art is accepted. Artwork may be submitted as JPEG or PDF file. Age categories: 6 and under, 7 to 10, 11 to 13. To enter: Artwork must be mailed or delivered to the AJT office, 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328, ATTN: Art Contest; submitted through atlantajewishtimes.com; or emailed to editor@ atljewishtimes.com. (One entry per child, please.) Each artwork must have an entry form attached to the back or filled out online. All fields must be filled out for a work to be eligible to win: first and last name of the artist; age; grade; school; home address; parents’ names; phone number; and email address

GRAND PRIZE $50 Gift certificate to Binders. Winner’s art may be the cover of the AJT.

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Estelle Krieger Gordon, 84, of Richmond, Va., formerly of Atlanta, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Freda Krieger; a son, Alan Gordon; and grandparents Abe and Alma Krieger and Louis and Anna Tuck. She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Lawrence Z. Gordon, a native of Atlanta; sons Mitchell Gordon and husband Jeff Saunders and Richard Gordon and fiancé James Millner; sister Linda Miller; nieces Sylvia Miller, Amy Green, Julie Rodenstreich and Kimberly Rosenthal; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. Estelle was a lifelong member of Hadassah. She was an accomplished poet, receiving many awards. She was also an avid bridge player. Family was of utmost importance to her. Estelle and her husband were longtime members of Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta. They have resided for 17 years in Virginia, where they are members of Congregation Beth Ahabah. Estelle will be forever cherished as a devoted wife, awesome mom, and loving sister and daughter. A graveside service was held Friday, Nov. 17, at Hebrew Cemetery in Richmond. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

Michael Mescon 86, Sandy Springs

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

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Michael H. “Mike” Mescon passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. He was 86. Michael H. Mescon, whom The Wall Street Journal described as “the Pied Piper of Private Enterprise,” was first and foremost a family man. He married his teenage sweetheart, Enid, 65 years ago, immediately after they both graduated from the University of Miami. They originally met at a B’nai B’rith youth convention when they were both 12. Mike and Enid lived in the same house in Sandy Springs for almost 50 years. Mike was the son of Florence and Abe Mescon and, though born in Toronto, Ontario, grew up in Charleston, S.C., and graduated from Miami Beach High School in Florida. He was predeceased by a brother, Lou; a sister, Helen; and his daughter, Nance. Mike and Enid have two sons, Tim (Lauren) in Amsterdam and Jed (Phyllis) in Chattanooga. They have seven grandchildren living across the United States, from California to Georgia. After he graduated from the University of Miami and earned a master’s degree, Mike and Enid moved to New York City, where Mike completed his Ph.D. in human relations at New York University at age 23. In New York, Mike pursued his lifelong love of weightlifting under the famous Sig Klein in Manhattan, and Mike became a fitness fanatic before fitness became fashionable. Over the decades of his professional career, he would recommend gyms and fitness centers globally for road-weary travelers. After graduation from NYU, Mike immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent two years as a private first class at Fort Jackson, S.C. Mike maintained a close and proud link with the U.S. military for his entire life, including very active engagement with Veterans of the Vietnam War. Mike joined what was then the Georgia State College of Business Administration in 1956 and eventually became chair of the department of management and the world’s first holder of the Bernard B. and Eugenia Ramsey Chair of Private Enterprise (1963). He retired as the dean of the Robinson College of Business in 1990. Mike loved Georgia State, and, as an investment partner in the group that created Technology Park over 40 years ago, he gave his shares to Georgia State. Mike continued to teach a graduate course with Professor Harvey Newman in the Andrew Young School at Georgia State for many years.

OBITUARIES One of Mike’s great stories involved the late Richard Rich, the chairman of Rich’s Department Stores. In the late 1950s, when Mike was a young assistant professor at Georgia State and was also working as a consultant for Rich’s, Dick Rich challenged Michael by asserting that he “knew nothing about business.” Mike conferred with Enid and immediately took a three-year leave from Georgia State and went to work full time for Rich’s, managing what was the Stewart Avenue Center. Mike claimed it was the single best professional experience of his career. He received honorary degrees from The Citadel, where he held a chaired professorship, and the College of Charleston. Mike loved downtown Atlanta and for many years was active in the Y, the Commerce Club and the Atlanta Rotary and served in key leadership roles for many nonprofits, including the American Heart Association, Northside Hospital, the American Red Cross and many, many others. Mike was a distinguished academic, book author and champion of private enterprise. His co-authored introduction-to-business text, “Business Today,” was the world’s top-selling text and was translated into many languages, including Russian. Mescon founded the Georgia Council on Economic Education and the Association of Private Enterprise Education (APEE). For 20 years, he was contributing editor and co-authored a monthly management column for Delta Air Lines’ Sky Magazine, and he was a regular columnist for years for the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Some of the most popular articles were included in a book, “Showing Up for Work & Other Keys to Business Success,” for which he received the Georgia Author of the Year award from the Council of Authors and Journalists. Mike was a global consultant and founded the Mescon Group in the late 1960s with colleagues Carl Bramlett and Don Jewell. The Mescon Group became one of the largest academically based organizational design and business process engineering firms in the United States, specializing in plant restructuring in the pulp and paper industry, and was eventually acquired in the early 2000s by Aprio. Mike was also a proud co-owner of Carson-Schoenfeld VW/Fiat/Porsche in Marietta, part of his lifelong love for cars. Over the years, Mike served as a director for a number of publicly held corporations and served as a keynote speaker and consultant to companies across the globe. He was always in demand for corporate engagements and was an amazing speaker and thought leader, impacting many organizations around the world. To this day, so very many quote from Mike Mescon speeches, including “Show up, on time, dressed to play; you’ll never have to break a sweat.” He and Enid traveled to every continent and loved their time together and with family and friends. His greatest love was teaching young people at Georgia State University. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michael Mescon Endowment Fund at Georgia State University, PO Box 2668, Atlanta, GA 30301, www.gsu.edu/giving. Sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Graveside services were held Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with Rabbi Peter Berg and Rabbi Alvin Sugarman officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Lila Chapin, 97, on Nov. 13. Virginia Cunningham, 83, of Atlanta, mother of Kevin Cunningham and Chris Cunningham, on Nov. 12. Beatrice Garten, 92, of Boynton Beach, Fla., mother of Temple Kol Emeth member Jay Garten, on Nov. 12. Jack Hirsekorn, 89, of Sandy Springs, husband of Benita Adelman Hirsekorn and father of Rick Hirsekorn, John Hirsekorn and Jill Hirsekorn, on Nov. 12. Garrett Kaufman, 32, on Nov. 20. Alvin Kalish, 84, of Wellington, Fla., father of Temple Sinai member Loren West and Jeffrey Kalish, stepfather of Howard Titlebaum and Stacey Dratch, and husband of Ellen, on Nov. 8. Harvey Malter, 72, of Atlanta, husband of Temple Sinai member Karen Malter, father of Steve Malter and Laurie Goldstein, and brother of Linda Zalkin and Barry Malter, on Nov. 19. Farrell Salzman, 95, of Louisville, Ky., father of Temple Sinai member Martin Salzman and Elaine Breitman, stepfather of Randy Cohen, Michael Cohen and Todd Cohen, and husband of Carolyn Salzman, on Nov. 12. Sara Selk, 87, of Sandy Springs, longtime member of Congregation Or VeShalom, on Nov. 19. Tommy Williams, 54, of Decatur on Nov. 4.

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

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EDUCATION

JELF, Oglethorpe Share Drive to Make Difference By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

Higher education leads to successful citizens, says Oglethorpe University President Larry Schall, who will serve as the guest speaker at JELF’s 142nd annual meeting and year-end celebration.

“We’ve been internationalizing and globalizing our campus, both in terms of sending students abroad but also attracting international students to Atlanta,” Schall said. The university is scheduled to break ground on a new business school opening in the fall of 2019, thanks to a $50 million alumnus donation, Georgia’s largest gift toward education. Oglethorpe was the original host for Limmud when it launched in Atlanta early in Schall’s tenure, and the university president gained an understanding of economic disruption and its relation to higher education by driving Uber for one month. “The most interesting way to learn about the business was to be in the front seat, not the back,” he said. “It was a unique experience to see who used Uber and felt like a combination of psychological counseling between the passenger and driver.” Schall earned a couple of hundred dollars, which he donated to the university. He’ll speak about disruption in higher education at the JELF meeting. “I still think college done the right way does train people to be both contributing members of their community and financially successful,” he said. “Oglethorpe’s motto is ‘make a life, make a living, make a difference,’ and I think that captures what we try to do.” JELF’s annual meeting will include the installation of the organization’s new board president, Stan Lowenstein, who replaces Marianne Garber, as well as new board members Brian Banner, Greg Gaylis, Richard Jacobson, David Ransenberg, Emily Sauerteig, Adon Solomon and Gil Wolchock. ■

Who: Oglethorpe University President Larry Schall What: JELF 142nd annual meeting Where: Westin Atlanta Perimeter North, 7 Concourse Parkway, Sandy Springs

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Understanding higher education’s impact on students is one of many reasons Oglethorpe University President Larry Schall is serving as the keynote speaker at the Jewish Educational Loan Fund’s 142nd annual meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North. Although Schall’s involvement with JELF began a year ago, he said the same principles apply to the organization and to his university’s mission to provide quality education to students who might not have the necessary resources. “It always ends up being the last $2,000 or $3,000 that keeps students out of school or, once they start, forces them to leave, but our program, which JELF supports, helps provide the last few dollars to ensure a student can be successful, whether they go to Emory, Oglethorpe or a community college.” “Larry has helped transform Ogle thorpe University’s campus, its culture, and is on an upward trajectory similar to JELF,” JELF Director of Development Josh Schaier said. “We are all about innovation and empowering students at JELF, which is something Larry implements in everything he does.” As president the past 13 years, Schall has expanded the university’s presence abroad, increased the number of applicants, stabilized the finances and reinvented the campus. “When I first came to Oglethorpe, I got the sense that the institution was not as active a citizen in our community,” he said. So Schall, who is Jewish, helped establish the Center for Civil Engagement at Oglethorpe, which encourages students to work on issues related to hunger, poverty and health. He started a strategic initiative to grow the number of undergraduates. The student body has increased by 50 percent, sparking the construction of residence halls, a campus center, and a center for science and innovation. Oglethorpe launched overseas campuses in London, Barcelona, Rome, Athens and Cape Town, serving about 500 students from 60 universities.

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 Cost: Free; RSVP by Nov. 29 at jelf.org/event or 770-396-3080

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Kislev: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

NOVEMBER 24 ▪ 2017

Rosh Chodesh Kislev began Sunday, Nov. 19. This month is about dreaming, the victory of light over darkness, and miracles. It’s also about Chanukah, which begins on the 25th day of Kislev — the night of Tuesday, Dec. 12, this year. I always feel sad when I hear adults say, “Oh, Chanukah is for the children.” It isn’t just for them. We all have an inner child to nourish and keep active. Chanukah is the perfect time to do that. Maintaining a sense of wonder keeps us young and in touch with that spirited part of ourselves. Admire the bright candles in the menorah. Watch the flames dance on a window or mirror to double the reflection of joy. Take delight in the spinning of the dreidel. Imagine yourself spinning in circles with the freedom and wild abandon of a child. Breathe in the smells of the kitchen, which can unlock delicious memories of the past as new ones are created. Savor the tastes of latkes and applesauce or sour cream and the sweet, powdery, confectionary dessert of sufganiyot. Peel the gold foil off the gelt and let the chocolate melt on your tongue. Invite all your senses to the party. The zodiac sign of Kislev is Sagittarius. The Hebrew word is keshet, or rainbow. The sign is represented by the archer, a centaur who is half-man, half-horse. Rainbows are also featured because after the floods of Cheshvan, in the time of Noah, a rainbow appeared as Hashem’s promise that the whole world would never again be destroyed by floods. The symbol of the rainbow has taken on new meaning in our current culture. The rainbow signifies gay pride. In 1978, Gilbert Baker, a San Francisco artist, designed the first rainbow flag so gay men and lesbians would have a symbol of their own. It has eight stripes: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. According to Baker, those colors represent sexuality, life, healing, sun, nature, art, harmony and spirit. He actually dyed and sewed the material for the first flag himself. Along the theme of rainbows, 30 the Hebrew letter sameh appears to

be constructed of two bows. One may represent the rainbow, while the other is the bow of the archer. The tribe of Benjamin is associated with Kislev. Jacob’s 12th son, Benjamin, the only one to be born in the promised land, was known to be a skilled archer.

CROSSWORD

Dr. Terry Segal tsegal@atljewishtimes.com

Meanwhile, with rainbows on my mind, I found myself humming “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” while on the elliptical machine at the gym. I was doing my cardio workout to Judy Garland’s version from “The Wizard of Oz,” then suddenly switched to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ukulele rendition. My inner child had taken up the gauntlet to play and was having a field day. I pondered whether the song is a happy or sad one, so I looked it up. A composer by the name of Rob Kapilow developed a program called “What Makes It Great.” He analyzes the effect that musical pieces have on us. He concluded that “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” tugs at our heart strings because of what he refers to as “the leap” and then “the circle/yearn.” In the first line of the song, the low note of “some” and the high note of “where” create a leap from where she is in her mundane existence in Kansas to the projection of what life could be like if her dreams come true. There is a yearning for more, then the transformation that allows her to see that if she never had the obstacles in Oz, she wouldn’t fully appreciate what she had at home all along. “There’s no place like home.” It touches our hearts because we all want that feeling. Our inner child may just be the still, small voice of Hashem, sparking us to be fully alive and engaged in our world. To wrap this all up in a silver-andblue Chanukah gift, here is the Meditation Focus: If you’re the dreamer, caught up in the dream, what changes would you make or actions would you take to transform your life into one filled with wonder and gratitude? ■

“40”

By Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Challenging 1

21 24

60 64

ACROSS 1. King for 40 years 6. Home on the range 11. Ashcroft and Holder, for short 14. ___ in the hole 15. Husband’s chayil 16. Kosher charger 17. Where Jews wandered for 40 years 19. Oscar winner Mahershala 20. Jewish leader, once 21. Blessing ender 22. Monastery man 24. No-goodnik 26. Easter’s beginning? 28. Organization that spreads “haTorah” 29. Judge for 40 years 33. They need 40 se’ahs of water 35. Portfolio part, in brief 36. Knowing, as a secret 38. Expected 39. “Lav ___” (approximately) 41. Judge for 40 years 43. Doughnut finish 47. Opposite of a ques. 49. Sported 51. “Winnie-the-Pooh” baby 52. Navi who didn’t eat or drink for 40 days 56. King for 40 years 58. Robe for Caesar 59. Kwik-E-Mart clerk 61. ’90s show “seaQuest ___” 62. He played Sully 64. Olympics blade 66. Stone who recently played King 70. Shanah, in Spain

38 42

28 34

37 41

27 33

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37. Dodgers’ div. 40. Option for flight options 42. Apple letters 44. Give an uzi to 45. Jerusalem has a biblical one 46. Many, many years 48. “Shecket!” 50. Where to get a quick buck? 52. Fuel gas 53. Rental car 54. Snub, in a way DOWN 1. “The ___ Curse” (Dashiell 55. Knocks over 57. Burn the 34-Down Hammett novel) 60. Outcome of many a 2. Tolstoy’s Karenina Maccabee battle 3. Distillery items 63. A cereal elf 4. Baseball great often referred to mononymously 65. 11,000-foot Italian peak 67. Spiegelman classic 5. Wallace of “E.T.” 68. Marceau, e.g. 6. Be rife (with) 69. Santa ___ (hot winds) 7. Eppes follower 72. Girl’s “light” name 8. Connor McDavid of the 73. Adlon of “Better Stars, e.g. Things,” for short 9. Always, to a poet 10. James of jazz 11. Lawrence’s land 12. Half of wet-weather wear 13. Horse workers 18. He died with Korach LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 23. Gemara D E R E K S U F M A R C S locale I L A N A P R I I D E A L 25. Grande of A S S Y R I A N S C O B R A N A P A L M H A R B L I song E S S B A B Y L O N I A N 27. Free (of) A R E N A T W A 29. Carried out P E R S I A N S A B R A M 30. Stat. for A L D E N T E P A V L O V A Scott Feldman L I S A S S E L E U C I D T E E I P A D S 31. Tu ___ L F S R O M A N S Y D 32. Furrow E L E A Z A R N O S H E R maker A U D I O B Y Z A N T I N E 34. Shabbat S T E R N I O U T A R T S T E R S E T M Z O R A L S side dishes 71. Noah experienced 40 days of it 74. ___ Yisroel 75. Cosmetician Elizabeth 76. Particular parah 77. “Able was I ___” 78. It can be a pizza alternative or a pizza topping 79. He spends 40-day intervals with G-d

NOVEMBER 24 â&#x2013;ª 2017